Kirk, wonderful Halloween decorations. Bart looks great in his witch costume. Hope he doesn't fly away! What are the two bright orange pumpkins in the lower left made of?

Love all the bears on the porch and the way you've decorated with them. Thanks for sharing that all these bears were gifts from students. You must be a very special person and looks like they know what you like.

The last picture makes me want to come visit, sit and chat awhile. So inviting. Get the wassail on and I'll be over.

Punk

Thanks, Punk, for the nice comments! Made my day! Come on over and sit a spell! It's been sooo cold here (down to 24 degrees last night) that I'll have spiced, hot, apple cider ready for you! :o) Those pumpkins in the first picture are made of metal. Found them at JoAnn Fabrics with our 50% off coupon! :o) Happy Halloween! Bear Hugs! Kirk

Love all your bears! I just really think it is so fun that you decorate the big one for each holiday--has to bring a big smile to the face of anyone who sees him.

You have a nice collection of ceramic jack o lanterns on your table. Bet they look sort of spooky all lit up at night.Your porch display along with the rockers really does look so inviting and homey.

I also really like the two halloween painted items from your students Mom--cute wood items always catch my eye!

Luvs

Well of course every photo has a bear in it. LOL. "Bart" needs friends like everyone else does.

I always love seeing your decorations, and that porch corner with the rocking chairs is one of my favorite places to dream of being! Tho not in winter there. LOL.

hugs, Karen

This is one of those "grin & bear it" moments! I am grinning over all your "bears" decked out for Halloween! Love 'em, Kirk!

Bart is certainly a welcoming sight for your visitors ...but my fav is that cute guy on your porch sitting on that rustic table (great gift from your DW!) The pumpkins, baskets of pine cones (another fav) & just everything in that porch corner vignette is cozy, comfortable & calling to sit & chat with "cider." TFS your little corner of the world! Jeanne S.

The just love everything on the front porch: chairs, rustic table, wonderful jack-o-lanterns, planted succulents, Fuzzy Wuzzy carved bear, even the old running shoes! Really nice arrangement.

OK. I have to ask. Is you last name Bear. Did you attend Cal Berkley? Do you have a special connection with bears?

Those decos are certainly the beary cutest that I have seen!! It all looks wonderful and a person can't help but smile!!
Thanks for posting,
J

Kirk, I love your bears all decked out for Halloween. That is so unique! I never would have thought to use bears in decorating for Halloween!

If I bring dessert, can I join everyone on the porch?

Here a bear, there a bear, everywhere bear, bear. I love them all. I even see one peeking out the window from the lamp shade. Thanks for all the pix.
Frou

What wonderful bear and Halloween decs you have, Kirk! Love them all, but especially your beautiful cozy and inviting front porch. BTW, I have that same bear lampshade (I was "peeking" in your window ;^)
We got ours about 8 years ago in Ft.Collins, Colorado.
Lynn

Wow! Thank you for the encouraging words! You all are the BEST! Thank you for allowing me to share my bears (and my obsession) with you. :o)

Oldalgebra, my love of bears came from a night of camping near the Canadian border. A bear attacked my campground. I learned so much about the grizzly since then. As a teacher, I started studying grizzlies with my fourth grade students. My students are known as The Grizzlies, our class mascot. We even save pennies and buy everyone a student designed Grizzly t-shirt. GREAT FUN!

My wife and I found the perfect property in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. Coincidentally, we live on Bear Creek in an area known as Bear Creek Crossing. I'm in BEAR HEAVEN! :o) (There aren't many bears around here...a black bear now and then.)

I love bears! :o) We have a bear wood carver down the road from us. I drool whenever I pass his shop! :o)

Hot cider is on! Our front porch is a wrap around porch overlooking the woods. Come sit a spell! Maybe we'll even spot a bear... Bear Hugs! Kirk

Oh, I should throw out this question for ideas. I enjoy decorating Bart, the bear at our road entance, for all of the holidays. Haven't come up with a favorite Thanksgiving idea yet. Tried a Pilgrim's hat one year but looked like a bear with a top hat. I bet you have some inspiring ideas. Thanks! Bear Hugs! Kirk

If Bart can't be a Pilgrim, he might made a good Indian!
Tho you could always ruin his dignity by making him a turkey I guess. LOL.

Karen who's not helping a bit.

Sorry I'm so late...pc problems..
but now that I'm here...I can't 'Bear' not telling you
how much all your Bears and cute Halloween Decorations are making me smile. They are all so unique and I just love your porch and how it's decorated too.
Do you get many Trick or Treaters or maybe, with such a Beary inviting display...perhaps a bear or two?
lol

jane

Thanks for the background information, Kirk. Makes all your set-ups so richer to know a little behind you bear obsession.

Now, are you sure Bart isn't a Beatrice? Maybe a Pilgrim woman's hat might work. (Oh my gosh, I just scrolled back and noticed the witch hair!) Perhaps the Pilgrims hat you used last year, but add a Pilgrim collar. I used to cut them out of construction paper for my second graders all the time. If pressed flat it looks like this:

Your signpost could point to William Brewster's cottage, Priscilla Mullins' vegetable garden and Squanto's (teepee?).

How fun. I bet the neighbors look forward to Bart's changing outfits. I know I would.

Oh....Oldalgebra! GREAT IDEAS!!!! I love it! I wonder what kind of material I could use for the collar to withstand the weather. I absolutely LOVE the sign idea too! THANK YOU! Stay tuned! :o)

OA comes up the GREATEST stuff, Kirk! Yeah, OA! I bet Carol could whip you out one of those collars with some scrap fabric...a nylon of sorts or something to withstand the elements of your blizzardly winter that you all endure! Or a rubber-y fabric would have more weight if you have a fabric shop nearby ...like vinyl for outdoor stuff. Have fun with Bart...errr, Beatrice or Babette! Jeanne S.

Hmmmm. I'm trying to think of something. I looked at Bart again. He doesn't have any shoulders to support much, so maybe you could find a bit of chicken wire and use it as "interfacing" between two pieces of fabric. Then find some white or off white vinyl or oil cloth and hot glue it to the chicken wire.
Make a paper one first to see if it's worth it because Bart doesn't seem to have lost much weight during last year's hibernation. Pilgrim clothes may not "hang on him" as fashionably as they did on Miles Standish.

a disclaimer...

No bears were harmed in the making of this thread.

Karen, You are BEARY funny! LOL Bear Hugs! Kirk