All houses wherein men have lived and died
Are haunted houses. Through the open doors
The haunted phantoms on their errands glide
With feet that make no sound upon the floors.
We meet them at the doorway, on the stair
Along the passages they come and go,
Impalpable impressions upon the air,
a sense of something moving to and fro.
There are more guests at the table than the hosts
invited; the illuminated hall
is thronged with quiet inoffensive ghosts
As silent as the pictures on the wall.
The stranger at my fireside cannot see
The forms I see, nor hear the sounds I hear;
He but perceives what is; while unto me
All that has been is visible and clear.
We have no title or deeds to house or lands,
Owners and occupants of earlier dates
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands,
And hold in mortmain still their old estates.
The spirit-world around this world of sense
Floats like an atmosphere and everywhere
Wafts through these earthly mists and vapors dense
A vital breath of more ethereal air.
And as the moon from some dark gate of cloud
Throws o’er the sea a floating bridge of light,
Across whose trembling planks our fancies crowd
Into the realm of mystery and night.
So from the word of spirits there descends
A bridge of light, connecting it with this,
O’er whose unsteady floor, that sways and bends.
wander our thoughts above the dark abyss.
(passages from) Haunted House
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1858)
The Everyday Home is proud to present its
Halloween Mantel for
The All Things Home Halloween Tour
Please visit the following Blogs today to see what
they will be sharing:
3) Just Us Four
I will be sharing details of several of these projects in the
next few days. This Saturday, please join me and five
other fabulous Bloggers for another
No-Sew Showcase: Halloween Edition.
I will show you the scary details of how I created the
No-Sew Mantel Scarf.
One more quick thing….
He’s back in stock! But, after all the pre-paid orders are filled,
I will only have SIX remaining, So get yours NOW by clicking
HERE!!!
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DD says
This mantel is terrific!! So many wonderful details and the total look is perfect in “classiness” and “spookiness”. You’ve done a fabulous job in combing just the right elements! Going back to look again…if I dare!
DD
View CommentKirby says
Longfellow? As a literature teacher, I LOVE it! And I can totally dig some cheesecloth.
View CommentSonya ~At Home with The Barkers says
This is good!! I’m not one to decorate “scary” but you did a great job. ~Sonya
View CommentSuzy @ Worthing Court says
Oooh…..creepy……scary. You did an awesome job on your mantel, my friend. All of the details are so cool!
View CommentBecca says
What a fun and scary Halloween mantel, Barb! Love the cheesecloth … and, the birds, spiders and “BOO” pumpkins are the perfect combination!
View CommentHeidi Colton says
what is that you draped over your mantel? Cheesecloth?
View CommentBarb says
Heidi – come back this Saturday for the No-Sew Showcase:Halloween Edition and I’ll show you how I made it. Incredibly easy. 🙂
View CommentShirley@Housepitality Designs says
Spooky mantel…bet the boys love it!
View CommentCynthia says
Barb love this mantel and it has just enough creepy for me.I don’t really do Halloween too much but you did such a fantastic and inspiring job!!
Cynthia
View CommentLinda @ it all started with paint says
It’s perfectly spooky! I’m always a big fan of the BOO … it’s right up there with the EEK!
🙂 Linda
View Commentlaura @Top This Top That says
okay,I am official scared and I am sitting in my office with the lights on!! 🙂
View CommentTherese @ Fresh Idea Studio says
Oooo! So spooky! I love all the awesome creepy details.
View CommentHappy Haunting!
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
Oh I love your mantel Barb, it looks fabulous. The night picture is a real wow. Hugs, Marty
View CommentTammy...circa-1929 says
Barb- loved it. I loved the poem woven throughout it also. You sure did an amazing job – I so miss having my mantel to decorate.
View CommentDebra@CommonGround says
wow, so much fun, loved that passage from Longfellow! Your mantel is “to die for”!!
View CommentYvonne @ StoneGable says
Oh shiver and shake! What a fun and ghoulish mantel! Just horribly creative and dastardly fun! I’m pinning and showing you off on FB! xo
View CommentCourtenay says
Ooo! I love all that spooky white cloth you have hanging over the front of the mantel! That’s too funny about us both putting spiders on plates. I see we both have white pumpkins that spell out BOO too! 🙂
View CommentKATHYSUE says
Barb this is absoutely SPOOKTACULAR! I bet the Grand kids just love this. The picts with the candlelight are eerily spooky!!
View CommentKathysue
Pam @ House of Hawthornes says
Your mantel is too spooky! In a good way! Love the rats.
View CommentHolly says
Perfectly spooky Barb! I love it!!
View CommentLori @Vintage Charm Restored says
Oh goodness!! I love it Barb!! So much fun!!
View Commentkelly says
Fantastic Barb! Quoting Longfellow, promoting “no sew” & offering up a cow. Love the mantel!!
View CommentChristy @ Our Southern Home says
Fabulous and spooky!!! I love Halloween and you outdid yourself! I need to get my act together and spook up the family room for the kids! XXOO Christy
View CommentJennifer @ Town and Country Living says
Love the Halloween poem. The BOO pumpkins are cute!
View CommentEllora @ Creatively Southern says
Love the mantel! It looks especially spooky with the lights in the dark, too! My favorite might the books… or the plate… well, maybe the spider plate. Oh do I have to pick just one??? Great decorating and enjoyed reading your post! Happy Halloween!
View Commentdebbiedoos says
Love it Barb and I love how many cool things are at the DOLLAR tree!
View CommentKerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
Love the mantel Barb… it goes so well with the Longfellow.
View CommentLeena Lanteigne says
Great decorations! Love the inclusion of the poem in your post! Happy Haunting! Leena
View CommentYvonne @ StoneGable says
SPOOKY! I love the picture with the candlelight! You always put so much work into all you do… thanks!
View CommentThe Style Sisters says
This is Awesome!! Wow you really went all out…I love the black and white theme…so fun! Come link up to Centerpiece Wednesday and share this idea with us. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/2013/10/centerpiece-wednesday-97.html
View CommentKarin 🙂
Angelina says
Love your Halloween mantel! I especially love the white pumpkins that say “BOO”!!
View CommentBarb says
Oh thanks. The pumpkins were my favorite part too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. ~ Barb
View CommentAudrey says
Those plates are fun! Thanks for sharing on the #HomeMattersParty this week. I hope you join us next week.
View Comment