Alisha Harrison ~ Allyn, Belfair and Hood Canal real estate expert!

Today is a rather gray day here in the Pacific Northwest. A little cooler and drizzly. Our weather is changing. Gone are those lazy days of summer, although as a real estate agent, who really has time to be lazy?! Soon, our clocks will "fall back" and the days will grow ever longer, ever darker.

I find that things tend to move fast this time of year. As we move into the holiday season, there is always so much to do. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, (you name it,) then onto New Year's and new beginnings.

I think I am an anomoly, I like change. I embrace change. And the changing of the seasons is no different! I am looking forward to a slightly slower pace. I am looking forward to heartier meals. I am looking foward to movie nights. I am looking forward to cuddling up with my family on the couch. I am looking forward to sweaters and scarves and winter coats.

I hope you all have a wonderful Fall Season!

Ok, so if you read my last blog, you know that I am not a horror movie lover. As a matter of fact, I avoid them at all costs, except during the month of October when by compromise, I am forced to endure them. Check out my blog for more details of my suffering!

Well, last night I was forced to endure "Strangers" with my husband and some friends. Let me set the stage for you. We were in a very large house on Tee Lake which is a very remote part of rural Mason County. Now, since it's so remote out there, and you can't see anyone else's property from the back side of the house, my friends do not have any window treatments on the lake side, which of course is covered in windows to take advantage of the views. So, it's pitch black outside, and we are in a home with no window coverings, watching a scary movie. Goodie! (can you read the sarcasm in that??)

Let me start by saying, "Strangers" is an hour and 28 minutes long. Pretty short by industry standards these days. And my non-horror-loving review is that it was actually, pretty good! It was more terror than horror. And I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. And everytime the dog moved outside the window, I screamed, but that's another story all together! :) There were very few predictable parts. My only complaint is that the movie seemed to build up well, but the ending came up short. Anti-climatic was the general consensus last night.

So, would I recommend the movie, sure. My husband, the horror-loving-freak, enjoyed it, sans the ending. My friends enjoyed it. We were all freaked out, and that's the point I suppose. And while it didn't give my actual nightmares, it did make me shut my blinds when I got home (they are usually open as they are on the view side of my house and no one can see in them) because the reflections were freaking me out!

Yep, I said it. Horror movies. Another thing we do for love.

By we, I mean me!

It's that time of year again. Halloween. The witching hour. All Hallows' Eve, and all that jazz.

Just what am I going on about? Let me take you back a bit and explain myself.

I married a man who loves horror movies. All horror movies. He's a Twilight Zone freak. (Yea, I said freak) And a Hitchcock obsessive. (And I do mean obsessed!) Jason, Micheal, Freddy - you name it - he loves them. The Ring, The Grudge, Scream, Saw (what are they up to now, Saw V?) and I Know What You Did Last Summer, all of them.

He's from the Midwest, Ohio to be exact, and I blame that for his, shall we say, problem! See, we were there the first week in October and I couldn't get over how many homes were already decorated for Halloween, and to what degree they decorated! It's like a common trend!

Me, not so much. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm excited to pick out our pumpkin later this afternoon. And I am REALLY excited about taking our daughter trick-or-treating. And in years past (pre-baby) I enjoyed dressing up and attending costume parties. I even enjoy going to Haunted Houses. It's just the movies I'm not so psyched about.

So, as in all good marriages, we have an agreement. A compromise. I don't have to watch horror movies. He can't watch them when I'm home, unless he does so in a different room. But, he's allowed to go see them anytime he wants with any of his friends that also enjoy a good scare.

Then there's the catch. There's always a catch you see. The month of October is exempt of our rules. If there is a horror movie on, he's allowed to watch it. And, I'm supposed to watch with him, if I can stand it. I sometimes end up enjoying the film, however that's not usually the case. But, I watch them. Squeezing his hand as tightly as I can. Burying my face in his shoulder. Jumping and screaming at every little thing. I guess it's a good thing he's big and strong and can protect me!

So, let me have it... what do you think about horror movies? Old school? New ones? Remakes? What are the best? Worst? Or, are there any other sissified girlie girls out there (or girlie men?) that dread them? I can't be the only one!

I am looking forward to Halloween so much this year. I've always loved Halloween and this time of year. The change in the season and weather. The heartier foods we cook. Bringing the fall wardrobe out of storage and shopping for a few new key pieces. Wearing boots! But this year I am looking forward to Halloween itself! This is my first Halloween as a mom.

I'll be taking my 5 and a half month old trick-or-treating. She's too young some say - well I say "phooey!!" She'll be all dressed up (as a chili pepper of course, if you knew me, you'd understand!) and we'll go door to door, allowing everyone to ooohhh and aaahhh over her and how adorable she is.

That brings me to the point of my blog. Where to trick-or-treat. Some parts of the country have coordinated trick-or-treating, but not here. At least not that I've run across. In years past, I've accompinied friends to the mall for trick-or-treat. Whew, what a nightmare! We won't be doing that with our little darling. Thousands of children lined up in a circle going store to store only to have their pumpkins filled with various flavors of tootsie rolls?? I think not!

We will be trick-or-treating in a large subdivision in Allyn called LakeLand Village. It is a beautiful golf course community with over 650 homes that is very 'walking friendly.' Many of the residents decorate for Halloween. Some go "all out" with haunted houses and creepy yards. I have helped buy and sell a lot of properties in LLV, so I enjoy the opportunity to visit clients and show off my beautiful baby. (Again, getting the appropriate ooohhs and aaahhhs!) My daughter's grandparents, read: my parents, live there as well, so it's a great way to spend time with them as well.

So, if you are in the North Mason area and want a great place to trick-or-treat - LakeLand Village is it. They hand out great candy, it's safe, and a lot of fun. Let me know if you'll be out that way - I'll invite you over to my parents house for some hot chocolate or spiced cider - and allow you to ooohhh and aaahhh at my precious little girl! :)