Haunted Hayloft

Just had to share this completely awesome pic from The Quirk Shop Blog

Haunted London

 
Despite my grief over the unexpected loss of my horse, Bonnie, I've decided to go ahead with this year's Halloween Haunt.  Working on everything that goes with planning and running a live actor/walk through outdoor haunt has helped to keep my mind off of what was a very emotionally excruciating experience for me.  Besides, she and Majik (my other horse) really enjoyed watching all the goings-on when it came to Halloween.  So, I shall honor her--my beautiful girl--with this year's haunt. Hope to raise some much needed funding for a local animal refuge as well. 
So, stay tuned to this blog to find out how a "Haunted London" Halloween Haunt does in southeast Virginia, USA!

My Beautiful Girl

Another Halloween approaches.  We will be moving after this year's celebration and so, I was hoping that this would be the very best Haunt that I have done.  I've worked ever so hard over the past year and have 20 actors lined up--should be fabulous...but...tragedy has a way of rearing its ugly head when you least expect it.
Many of you know that I have a LOT of animals that I care for--amongst them are my two babies--my horses, Bonnie and Majik.  On Tuesday morning, my beautiful girl--Bonnie--passed away....totally unexpected and completely horrific.  She was just 16 years old.  Colic is the number one killer of horses--they have delicate digestive systems and miles of intestines...every now and then, their intestines become 'twisted' and everything shuts down and well, you can imagine the rest:  horrible pain and suffering. This happened to my darling girl.
I have given birth three times in my life--I have gone through the deaths of my father and my father-in-law and numerous animal members of my family but this, by far, has been the most intense experience of my life.
I went to the barn to fix their breakfast and clean their stalls, etc., etc., as I have done for the past 10 years and knew that something was not right as soon as I glimpsed her stall.  I called the vet asap but all three of them were already out on emergency calls.  Within two hours, my beautiful girl went from having, seemingly, a bit of a problem with her back left leg to death--watching her fail and being completely helpless has been, to date, the most excruciating experience of my life.  All I could do is hold her head in my arms and will her to live which, obviously, did not work.  Two bloody hours of hell and disbelief. 
Anyway, guys, I love Halloween but I'm not sure I can do it this year.  Part of Halloween is remembering the Dead; honoring them and celebrating the life beyond but I'm just not sure I can do it this year.  My heart is breaking.