Halloween is a BIG deal in our new town. Fort Atkinson has a citywide decorating contest and a lot of people go all out. Walking through the neighborhoods is wild. I’m impressed by how many people get into the spirit.
There are lots of inflatables, which I’ve always found kinda lame. Great if you have little kids, I suppose, but too cutesy for my liking. No judgment if you’re into them, of course! They’re just not my thing.
Some houses, though, make up for that. Like this one.
That’s just my level of twisted.
And by the way, not being able to decorate for Halloween this year sucks. There’s not much we can do with a subterranean first-floor apartment that you access from an interior hallway. You might recall Tara and I going all out last year. Between the giant spider web, tombstones, creepy flamingo (of course), fog machine, and scary music, I’m pretty sure we had the best house in the neighborhood. In fact, we had so much fun, we stocked up on a bunch of additional decorations after the holiday, anticipating we’d really level up our Halloween game in 2022. Alas, that six-pack of giant spiders is packed away in storage and we’re forced to make due with admiring everybody else’s decorations instead. Wisconsin, we never saw you comin’.
Next year, though. We’re going to OWN IT. Mark my words.
Friday was Tara’s last free weekday before starting her new job, so I made it a point to accumulate enough hours to be able to clock out at noon. We wanted to drive into Madison and do a bit of exploring.
After checking out a global food market in Sun Prairie and walking around Williamson (“Willy Street” to the locals), we stopped by the Great Dane Pub for some food and libations, served by a couple of bewitching bartenders.
Afterward, we wandered around the Capitol for a bit, ending the evening at Trader Joe’s before making the drive home.
Fun afternoon and evening!
Saturday, we discovered a new-to-us botanical garden in Janesville. Proof positive that the town isn’t all strip malls and chain stores.
Even though we are now past peak fall colors and the trees are beginning to turn bare, the gardens were still gorgeous. And, they are in the process of setting up for a big holiday lighting display that kicks off November 22. There are over one million lights and people drive up from Chicago to see them. We’ll definitely be back to check that out.
It’s been unusually warm here and temps will be pushing 70º this week, so it won’t feel very November-like the first few days of the month. We’re hoping for rain and cooler temps by Friday.
How do you approach Halloween – an excuse to go all out, or just another day? Cute inflatables or blood, guts, and gore? Are you dressing up this year?
Mark My Words 
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