Do you have a friend who is a joy to be around…someone who truly loves life and when you’re together, you always have a blast? When my friend, Marie and I get together, it’s always non-stop fun and laughs. Marie’s enthusiasm is contagious and everyone who meets her is better for having known her.
Recently, Marie and I got together for one of our play dates which usually involves a little lunch, a bit of shopping and a lot of fun. When I arrived at Marie’s home, I saw it was already decorated for Halloween.
Each year trick-or-treaters come from far and wide. Cars line up down the driveway to see what Marie has created for them this year.
Marie, dressed in a costume she’s chosen for the year, sits here on the front porch and hands out treats to all the ghosts, witches and fairy princesses who make their way up the steps to the porch.
I was so excited when I started taking pictures and realized I had caught the Blue Hour after we returned from our day of shopping. (Read about the Blue Hour here: The Secret of the Blue Hour.)
It was so dark out, it was almost too dark for pictures. Can you imagine being a small child and trick-or-treating here?!
I love the lit orbs in the trees! I had always thought Marie bought these already lit but when I asked her about them on Monday, she said they are large grapevine balls that she strung with lights. She used different colors: purple and orange for Halloween, red and white for Christmas. Only the purple and orange ones are lit this time of year.
Marie has the same battle with squirrels that many of us do. I finally had to take down the lights under my pergola because the squirrels had chewed through the wiring in so many places. Why do squirrels do that? Can they not tell a non-edible, insulated wire from an acorn or pecan?! I guess they chew because they can! Fortunately, everything was in working order this season when Marie flipped the switch!
This is truly amazing in person, much prettier than I can really convey in pictures.
Let’s walk a bit closer up toward the house.
So much fun!
Since it was so late and already pretty dark when I started taking pictures this year, here are a couple of picture I took last year when it wasn’t quite so dark.
Truly magical!
I’ll leave you with this view of Marie’s backyard. The trees back here stay lit all year around. Marie is just starting to set up for a community service event she’ll be hosting here soon so that’s why there are so many tables. So pretty!
Are you decorating for Halloween yet? I need to get busy and do something for my front door. Today I’m working on a Halloween table I hope to share tomorrow for Tablescape Thursday.
Looking for a little more Halloween inspiration or a suggestion for some not-too-scary Halloween movies? Check out this previous post here: Decorate For Halloween
Hi Susan! I love your posts from visits to Marie’s house!! Her decorations are always so beautiful and inspiring! I have started my Halloween transformation … hope to finish up tonight! I love my Halloween décor and I only get a month with it every year so I always set up early so that I can get the maximum enjoyment time! Thanks for sharing Marie’s beautiful home!
Haha, at first I thought you said you ‘get’ up early to get the maximum enjoyment. Gloria, I was imaging you getting up when it’s still dark, and having your coffee with your decorations! Lol. 😀
Hi Susan: I am always so happy to see your pictures from Marie’s house!
Her seasonal decorating is an inspiratation to us all! Her front porch is just a magical display. I can’t wait to see her Christmas decorations!
I don’t remember the last time my jaw dropped that wide. Her house is STUNNING and the perfect backdrop for Halloween decorating. LOOOOOOVE!
I always enjoy seeing her home. I see the backyard is as lovely as everything else there. That’s quite a gem the built!
I love when you have pictures of Marie’s house!!! I would love to see it in person sometime!
Susan,
I always LOVE your posts on Marie’s home and this one did not disappoint!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
As someone who loves to decorate for all holidays and all Seasons, I so enjoy seeing someone else’s home who loves to do the same!!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hugs,
Debbie
What a double blessing to have a friend like Marie…as you are for her. Altho we now live in different states, I have several friends like that – in their own ways, they each lift me up whenever we’re together. As for us, we get to enjoy & be inspired by both of you! Thanks to you both!
No, I can not imagine trick or treating here as a kid. How awesome!
If she’s been doing this for years, I wonder if any have returned older now, and told her their memories.
Your night (Blue Hour) pictures are just stunning. I LOVE the blue sky! Perfect pictures! The tours of Marie’s home are always wonderful. Thanks for sharing your friend’s home with us.
I wish you and Marie were my friends…the things you do are the things I LOVED doing, at least I could live with so much more joy. Marie’s house looks beyond fabulous. The examples you share are magnificent! TFS.
Thanks, Juanita! Well, you are our friend even if it’s only virtually due to distance. Thank goodness we can share this way…I’m thankful for that! 🙂
They chew because they can! Haha, that made me laugh. Too funny.
And Susan, how lucky are you to have caught the blue hour again! It really makes everything look so magical! *Sigh* To be a kid again and be able to go trick or treating at THAT house. Wow.
Actually, if Marie wouldn’t be opposed, I would be glad to trick or treat at her house even today! Does she allow adults to come begging? (I’m short so maybe I can ‘blend in’ with some of the bigger kids, lol.) I’d have to be wearing a mask though. And figure out a way to squish down the girls. But HOW MUCH FUN WOULD THAT BE!!??? Gosh, the house looks so pretty.
You know, I hope this doesn’t sound too nosy but you and Marie have shared so many beautiful decorating tips and ideas, I mean, SO MANY! I’d love to hear how you to met and became friends. Like you, she seems like another ‘friend.’ 😉
Thanks to both of you. I’ll be coming back and back and back to review this post, drool over the pictures and get fun ideas. This was the perfect day to post this! 🙂
You are too funny! I can see you now scrunched down trying to be 4 feet tall and trick or treating. 🙂
Well, it’s a funny story how we met, I don’t think Marie will mind me sharing it with you. One of Marie’s daughters e-mailed me to let me know she was in the car driving somewhere with her Mom (Marie) when Marie happened to mention BNOTP. She said she was surprised because she was also a reader of BNOTP and had no idea her Mom was reading it, too. In the e-mail she said her Mom would love to have me over for a visit sometime. I said, Sure, that would be fun and I’d love to meet her. A little later I got an email from Marie inviting me over and we’ve been friends ever since.
Pam, you may enjoy these pictures I took last year, too. It wasn’t quite as late that day so some of the pics are a little lighter and a bit clearer: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/beautiful-victorian-home-aglow-for-halloween/
What?!! Is that all it takes – an invitation and you’ll go? Haha, well, I guess we’ll all have to ‘invite’ you over to our houses! That is SUCH a coincidence though! That they were both reading the blog and didn’t even know it. And how wonderful for you to have made some great friends because of it! Wow, Susan, you probably reach a lot more people than I even realize. That is a cool story.
And thanks for the additional pics. I never tire of looking at them. 🙂
So glad you shared how you and Marie met because I was wondering the same thing! Her outdoor decorations are amazing and I always enjoy it when you share them!
*Sigh*… Susan… *Sigh*…
Sometimes there are days where I wish I were a kid again… and because of your post, today IS such a day! Oh… and of course, while we are at it… then I want to be a child in your or in Marie’s neighborhood! Can you guess why? 😉
~Hugs to you~
Cecilia
I often wish that, too Cecilia…we’ll just have to be kids in grown-up bodies. 🙂
I always enjoy your posts! Your Halloween banner is really great. Would you consider a post of all the banners you have used over the years? It would be fun to see them altogether.
Thanks, Mamie! The Halloween and Summer banners are my two favorites. I couldn’t wait until October got here so I could put it up. lol Check out this past post where you can see all of them together: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/yellow-cottages-and-white-picket-fences/
Wow, Susan, you’re the best!
Thank you for the link to your past homes/banners. Really enjoyed it, as well as spotting all the little banner details.
Thanks, Mamie!
Beautiful decorations. How does Marie power the orbs? Are they battery powered or are there hidden wires outside? Would love more info about the light spider web too. Thanks!
The orbs are lit by electricity…they have power running up the side of the tree to them. I’m not sure about the spider web. Maybe Marie will be able to answer that for us.
i have plugs built into the ceiling behind each pole. i tried to think to put them where ever i thougth i would want to hang a decoration. i must confess, however, i have had to add some extras over the 6 years we have lived here.
Everyone should have “joy” in their lives!! You and Marie must be “a pair!” franki
I love all your posts they inspire me and I am a dish nut also. Will we get
to see Marie’s house all decorated inside for halloween? I love seeing
her decorations.
Judy West
Judy, I did take some pics inside…will try to get those posted soon. 🙂
I WANT TO BE LITTLE AGAIN!!! AND I WANT TO TRICK OR TREAT AT YOUR HOUSE AND MARIE’S…you two have such beautiful and inspiring ideas. When my tree out front gets big enough I’m going to hang the orbs for Halloween…very cool.
🙂 Bobbi, it will be beautiful!
I loved seeing these pics! And I love Victorian houses…Marie’s house is beautiful! May I ask what state she lives in?
Sure, she lives in Georgia.
Thanks, Susan! I visit Cape May, NJ quite often, so you can tell I have a passion for Victorian homes. Maybe someday Marie will let you share the inside of her beautiful home.
Janice you can tour the inside in this past post. At the end of that post are links to tours of the other rooms in her home. I posted a tour of the inside decorated for Christmas over several posts and they are all linked here: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/tour-a-beautiful-victorian-home-decorated-for-christmas/
Thanks so much! First time I’m posting here, although I subscribed to your site a while back. Always look forward to seeing it.
I’d love for you to do a post on decorating large porches versus small and non-existent porch walkways