Author: Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life

I try to create a culture of celebration in our home. For life, for the little things, for wonder and for whimsy. I try to find the beauty around us and teach my son Wyatt to find it, and appreciate it and love it as well. We are a homeschool family, and we love it. We love the freedom it gives us to explore a topic or idea more deeply, and I like that I can adjust our schedule around Wyatt’s other needs. Wyatt has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and his week often has therapy, doctor’s appointments, naps peppered throughout which would make a traditional school schedule difficult. He is also an asynchronous learner, and I love that I can tailor learning to where Wyatt is at that moment. We have a house full of animals and will probably add more because we like a zoo. We have one cat, Miso, who is a rescue. She is 14 years old and my little floofy girl. We also have one leopard gecko, Luna, a pictus gecko named Harlow, a pacman frog named Freddy, and two crested geckos, Applejack and Oliver. We love all of our little friends! My husband Billy, Wyatt, and I are all curious, creative, stubborn humans which makes for some fun times around here. We love the outdoors, except we are not made for high temps so we retreat inside when the temps start to soar. We are nature lovers through and through. We are trying to downsize our lives too, to live more simply, to buy things that last and eat real food from small local farmers. (and of course Goldfish crackers) We live seasonally and are always up for adventure. We love books and reading, and can be found at the library at least once a week!

Friends’ Fall Day Trip

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Michigan11 Comments

Every year for the past seven years (minus the big pandemic years), my friends (Chrissy, Kelly, and Jill) and I go on a fall day trip. This was actually our first fall adventure after big COVID and it was so good to get back out together! We always have such a good time and this time was no exception. Although, our start was a little rough…

Our adventure started in Battle Creek. It…was not what we had been expecting. We read there were some museums and restaurants, a garden and an arboretum, and we were like ok, let’s try it. I knew the Kellog’s Factory was no longer open which was a bummer because I toured it as a kid and it was neat, but we were not prepared for everything to be pretty much closed down on a Saturday. Our first stop was the Welcome Center – which was closed. So we headed for the Leila Arboretum, and maybe since it was overcast and deserted, it was sort of creepy. We all had to use the facilities since we had actually really begun the journey at Starbucks and it had been a drive, but our only option was a portapotty by the side of the road. We were cracking up at how this day was starting off. We wandered over to the arboretum which was a bunch of carved trees. Not really what we expected, and while they obviously took some skill and time and talent, we had been expecting like a maintained garden and arboretum with many types of trees.

After checking out the trees, we drove over to the garden area, which was closed. So we headed to the museum, which I think has been closed for a very long time. We decided it was maybe time to eat since we were striking out everywhere. We went to Clara’s on the River for a quick lunch and drinks and decided over our meals that we were would drive back to Marshall, MI since things were not going as planned. The restaurant was very nice looking, the staff very accommodating, but the food was not great. And sort of expensive for what we got. I paid $17.00 for a small bowl of Kraft macaroni and cheese, y’all!

We finished up and got back in the car to make the short twenty minute drive back to Marshall. It ended up being a great decision! Marshall was hopping, with a Halloween festival and tours and people just all over, and it felt very alive and festive.

We started with a tour of the Honolulu House.

Just ten dollars to tour, and the guides did a a wonderful job! The house was build in 1860, and had a few different owners before going to ruin in the 1960s. The Historical Society scooped it up and began the restoration process, and they have done a beautiful job. It has a fascinating history; it was built by a former diplomat who had enjoyed his time stationed in Hawaii so much that he tried to recreate his life there, here. He died shortly after moving in, and the house was purchased by another family who ended up making some style changes, including adding the popular murals of their day to the walls.

Once we finished the tour we ventured outside and took a look at the porch. However, there was a tour set up there. It was a John Bellairs tour, a children’s book author who wrote The House with a Clock in its Walls. John Bellairs had lived in Marshall and the house that his book is based on is tucked away somewhere in one of the neighborhoods. We weren’t signed up so we didn’t go, but I plan to look it up to see if they are going to do it again.

We had read there was going to be a flea market nearby so we hopped in our cars and drove out of town to check it out. We must have gotten there too late since there were only 6 tables set up, and after a quick wander headed across the street to a place called Casewells Turkeyville. It was a large building chock full of stuff – an ice cream parlor, an arcade, a restaurant, a gift shop – it was huge. I could see kids having a blast there.

After this we headed back into Marshall, and into the little shops that line Michigan Avenue.

I loved that little dresser with a leaf! I couldn’t see us dragging it home though so I left it behind. It said it was a Canadian Maple dresser – so cute! However I did spend quite a bit of time in the independent bookstore! I particularly loved the banned books display. I ended up buying Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen because I loved it so much.

By the time we finished shopping it was time for dinner at Schuler’s. Schuler’s is such a beautiful restaurant inside, however we chose to sit outside this time around since Chrissy and I are not ready to sit in a restaurant yet. And here I share the big news! My brother and Chrissy are expecting a new little baby girl in March! I am so excited to be an aunt again to my newest little niece! So our family is being cautious right now with germs.

Our food however was insanely delicious. I got the English pot roast as did Jill, Kelly got the prime rib, and Chrissy got fish and chips. Everything was fantastic!

And full of good food and happy memories made, we headed back to our cars and home to our families.

We had such a wonderful day – I am so lucky to have my little crew of ladies to laugh and cry with, be silly with, and just enjoy life with.

Homeschooling Journey: John Henry, West Virginia, and Clementine Hunter

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn homeschooling5 Comments

Last week was a great week of learning around here! We are getting settled into a routine and getting used to the new curriculum and the things I am supplementing myself are going well. I designed my own literature arts curriculum for Wyatt and I to use and not to pat myself on the back, but we are both enjoying it a great deal. I am also winging it with music and art, and honestly it is all going together very well! We will see how that continues.

First, lets talk about John Henry. Wyatt LOVED the story of John Henry, but seriously, why did it have to end the way it did! We read the book by Ezra Jack Keats, watched the John Henry cartoon by Disney, and sang many many John Henry and railroad songs, including one by John Denver and another by Johnny Cash. This was by far Wyatt’s favorite though. I can’t tell you how many times we have sung this now. We talked about how brave and strong John Henry was, and talked about times Wyatt has been brave and strong as well. We talked about how machines and industrialization made life both easier, but also took jobs from many people, which was something that also came up when we read Paul Bunyan.

I read a few versions of John Henry, some mentioned states, other didn’t, but I ultimately decided West Virginia was a good state to accompany the story for our Social Studies portion of the week. There is a statue of John Henry in West Virginia and it seems to be part of their folklore so it made sense. We learned about railroads, about the state symbols of West Virginia, and chose some interesting facts and favorite things. I of course loved the history about John Denver’s song Country Roads, how he sung it in D.C. and received a five minute ovation. The song has naturally become the state song. Wyatt chose as his favorite fact the Mothman myth, which was just a little mention in the book that we use as our “spine”, The 50 States. Sometimes it is so 100% obvious he is my kid. As we read a bit more about Mothman, I learned we had just missed the Mothman festival in West Virginia! How cool would that have been to attend together as a field trip?

Art was also really cool this week. We learned about Clementine Hunter, and if you are unfamiliar with who she is, I encourage you to look her up! She was fascinating and brave and talented. We learned that she had a gallery show that she wasn’t even allowed to attend since she was Black, and so we talked a bit about that, as well as an age and developmentally appropriate discussion about slavery and racism. We read Art from her Heart, which is a fabulous picture book, and then recreated her painting of zinnias. I picked zinnias from our yard, brought them in, and Wyatt got to work. I helped him with the shape of the jar in the painting, but the rest was all him and I think he did amazing!

What We Used:

This section contains Amazon Affiliate links. In addition to the curriculum I am creating for him, we also use curriculum from The Good and the Beautiful, The Waldock Way, and Blossom and Root for phonics, reading, science, and social studies.

Disney’s American Legends || John Henry An American Legend || M is for Mountain State || Art from her Heart

Other Resources:

The Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer

Overall, a very good week here!

My Sunday-Monday Post!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized36 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Hi all! Last week was a pretty good week – we are figuring out our routines and patterns and things are starting to fall into place. On Saturday I also went out for the day with my friends for our annual Fall day trip. We had a blast!

Read Last Week:

I finished up The Agathas and I absolutely loved it! I even stayed up late a few nights reading it, which is something these days. Lol. I also feel inspired to read more Agatha Christie!

Reading This Week:

This week is all about ghosts! Sheets is a graphic novel while A Haunted History of Invisible Women is a nonfiction book I picked up from NetGalley.

Posted Last Week:

Hello, Autumn

Spooky Season Cinema: Shaun of the Dead

Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Homeschooling Journey: Paul Bunyan, Wisconsin, Photosynthesis, and Grant Wood

Watching/Listening:

Billy and I have been watching Shakespeare and Hathaway and also McDonald and Dodds on BritBox this past week. I think we might start the new Lord of the Rings show this week as well. And since we are doing Spooky movies for spooky season, we watched Shaun of the Dead – this week we are watching Hocus Pocus.

I felt so much better after reading how many of you also struggle with listening to audiobooks! I feel like I am in very good company! This week I listened to my normal podcasts, nothing new, just true crime and ghost stories for the most part.

And that is it from around here! I hope you all have a great week!

Hello, Autumn!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized14 Comments
Photo Credit: Hilde Dorgelo-Feenstra

Last night at 9:04 pm EST, summer moved on to make way for autumn. And it is as if a switch literally turned off because we went from 88 degree weather on Wednesday, to 60 degrees and breezy Thursday literally overnight. This morning the house had a chill in the air that hasn’t been there for many months, and my soul smiled. I love this weather, I love this season. And it is here!

Today Wyatt and I are spending a good chunk of the day making our house cozy. I took down my brightly colored hearts banner that I leave up most of the year, and we will be replacing it with a banner of leaves. I will dig out all of our quilts and throw blankets to leave on the couches and ends of the bed, switch our sheets to flannel ones, bring in any plants that I still have outside. It’s time to get out all of our warm sweaters and flannels, our thick socks, to stock our tea supply with all of our favorites, English Breakfast and Earl Grey and Mint and Apple Cinnamon. I think this year I will even switch out my dishes, from my white and blue and yellow floral patterns for the persimmon Fiestaware we got for our wedding. t

I am also hoping to get to the farm market and nursery, to pick up a few early pumpkins to place around, and some rich colorful mums for the porch, mushrooms for soup. And this year they have photo areas all set up as well, and I want to take Wyatt’s “school” photo there, surrounded by the fall scene they constructed.

Leaves are changing here, seemingly earlier than normal. Our butterfly friends are on the move, along with other insects and critters and my bug hotels are awaiting guests. We are moving into the season of foxes and owls, and away from butterflies and rabbits here in my part of the world. Of mushrooms and fallen walnuts and hazelnuts and chestnuts to collect and leave in small bowls around the house, of filling bird feeders for the birds who stick around for the winter, jays and cardinals and tough little sparrows. My garden will be put to bed, I have already cut most of the zinnies and placed them throughout the house for the final blaze of color, showing us what we will be missing until next year. Squirrels are getting fat, and the little squirrel I named Bunny because he somehow lost his tail is bumping around here daily, looking for handouts.

Our fall calendar is filling up as well, full of plans for apple orchards and baking sessions, pumpkin carving, nature hikes and owl prowls, making leaf banners from wax and leaves, visiting Greenfield Village to see it all decked out for Halloween, backyard fires and cider. Simple things, for the most part, but simple things that fill us up. As nature slows down for a good long rest, we can as well.

Spooky Season Cinema: Shaun of the Dead

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn movies6 Comments

Oooo spooky…Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are are watching and posting about spooky cinema for the next two months, here and over on our Instagram accounts. We are starting fairly family friendly and working our way up to the scariest!! I love a thriller or chiller!

We are leaving the kiddie pool folks and are heading for deeper, scarier waters! Leaving behind more family friendly picks, we have moved into the realm of comedy and gore. This movie can get a bit gross, and if watching scary movies is not your jam, this might not be a good watch for you. However, if you are not put off by zombies and you know, zombie activities, then you will find that this movie is hilarious.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are a perfect onscreen duo, they never fail to make me laugh. Except for maybe in World’s End, which was not my favorite. Anyway, this movie was my first introduction to their genius (looking at you Lisa with that word choice) so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Before we go further, I have always been an avid horror movie watcher, even when they scared the heck out of me. I grew up in the 80s all! We had Freddy, Jason, Michael. Then it was the 90s and we had Scream, another movie I loved. In college my roomies and I would have a horrible horror movie night once a week because it was cheaper to rent horror movies than new releases. (remember that, renting movies at an actual storefront?) I have seen my share of horror and slasher flicks. For me, this is not a scary movie – gross, and sad a few times, but it didn’t freak me out. However, we all have our different levels and things that scare us. Like, I could not watch that tornado movie Twister. That scared me so much!!

This movie is about two buddies, Shaun (Pegg) and Ed (Frost) whose lives look sort of stale and repetitive to some, but they are content and happy. Without a doubt, their favorite place on earth is The Winchester Pub. It is like the Cheers Bar to them, where they go when they need to feel better. So of course when the zombie apocalypse strikes, where do they go? To The Winchester!

“Let’s go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over.”

I mean, it’s not too bad of a plan. We had a similar plan, but it was to head to the old theater in our town, which is sadly no longer there. I guess we need a new plan.

The two concoct a plan to save the people they love, including Shaun’s mother played by Penelope Wilton and Shaun’s stepfather played by Bill Nighy (love him!!) and head for the Winchester. You know, to grab a pint and wait for things to blow over. Perfectly reasonable. Except for all the zombies. Things go very awry, people die (one in particular always makes me terribly sad), there is an awesome scene set to a Queen song, and then by the end, things are a little better. So I guess the plan wasn’t too too bad?

I also have to give a nod to the social commentary that is part of this movie. Sure they are fighting zombies, but the movie illustrates how much like zombies people were before the actual apocalypse. How we are barely there, going to our jobs, performing the same tasks and duties over and over, being blind to the world around us at times. There is a scene that I love, where Shaun’s gang of people meets a gang of people that has a person that is a version of someone in Shaun’s group.

We do have to get through some sad, grody parts to get to the end, but – spoiler here – mankind prevails by putting the zombies to work, as it appears they have retained some of their humanity. And Shaun and his good buddy have not been separated, in case you were worried. Nope not at all. Although, their relationship is a bit different.

All in all, this is a pretty fun zombie movie. Kind of gross and kind of tense situations scary, but not Walking Dead gross, or Walking Dead scary. I had to quit that show!

Next week we are watching Hocus Pocus, I believe. Just in time to watch the release of Hocus Pocus 2 right after, if we felt like it. If you want to play along, feel free to post with us or just comment here! For Lisa’s take, which I am sure is much different than mine, click here!

And hey. You’ve got red on you. (iykyk)

Wednesday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized12 Comments

Hi all! Today the coffee is absolutely perfect! I brewed up Seattle’s Best Port Alley which is quickly becoming my favorite. I am sitting next to Wyatt on the couch while the sun rises, and there is this beautiful golden glow on the houses and trees outdoors, and along one wall of my house. Wyatt’s eating his Cinnamon Toast Crunch and all in all this is a pretty great moment.

Speaking of Wyatt, last week he became an official card carrying member of our local library! This month is Library Card Sign-Up month and I decided it was time he had his own card. I love the fact that we still use the library I grew up using, and my mom before me.

We also found the crow on the shelves so Wyatt won a little prize, and we explored the arts and crafts room that is available. All those die cuts! And I am not even responsible for them! (Like in my last job)

I talked a little in my Sunday post about Hawkfest, which we attended on Saturday with my brother, SIL, and niece Mermaid Girl. The kids had fun making necklaces out of “eagle talons”, and meeting all the birds of prey that were there. And so did I!

We love checking out the Metropark events that are available every month! Billy and I have been visiting the parks and these events for like 15 years and have become friends with the interpreters who put their heart and souls into educating people and creating curiosity and encouraging exploration. Pre-pandemic we loved going to our favorite metropark in the winter, hiking through the snow, then sitting in front of the fire in the Up North room talking to the interpreters. I really hope we can get back to that tradition soon.

Sunday evening meant more fun – Billy and I actually went out without Wyatt, and met up with my cousin Brian and his partner Katrina for drinks. We had a blast and talked so much and laughed and laughed. Katrina’s son just got married and for his honeymoon visited Turkey and India and Egypt – and even took a cruise down the Nile! (I of course immediately thought about Agatha Christie..) They took some gorgeous photos and it sounds like it was a dream honeymoon. I was also excited about my giant pretzel. I have been wanting one for weeks thanks to the Llewellyn Watts character on Murdoch Mysteries, and I finally got one!

And.. I am nearing the bottom of my cup and need a refill, so I will leave off here for today. What have you all been up to?

Homeschooling Journey: Paul Bunyan, Wisconsin, Photosynthesis, and Grant Wood

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn homeschooling6 Comments

Last week was a crazy week! It was our second week back and we were still working out our rhythm and routine. We also added in the subjects we didn’t do the first week back, so we had a very full second week! Music, art, phonics, reading, math, science, social studies… we did it all.

Let’s start with..music and social studies. Wyatt is absolutely loving The Waldock Way’s Traveling the States curriculum. It is by far his favorite subject that we cover. I have to admit, it is pretty neat! I loved geography and history as a kid, and even in college so it makes sense. I was even in school to become a Social Studies teacher when they got rid of that degree and I had to choose sometime else (I picked History – I should have picked Geography) Anyway, back to Wyatt and our school! I have been starting every school session with a folk song or song that pertains to our lessons and this week we listened to the Wisconsin state song as well as songs from Bunyan and Banjoes, and Voices From Across the Lakes. Wyatt loves this – and was super pumped up by the Roll Loggers, Roll song. It also tied in with our Literary Arts for the week. We have been making our way through legends and tall tales, and last week we read about the mighty Paul Bunyan, and Babe, his blue ox. I asked Wyatt who he liked better, Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan, and Wyatt is sticking by Johnny Appleseed.

Wisconsin facts we learned: toilet paper was invented there, which for some reason was hilarious to Wyatt, and that the first ice cream sundae was made there as well. Those were Wyatt’s two favorite takeaways. My favorite Wisconsin fact though is that Laura Ingalls was born there.

Science this entire year is all about plants, and we started at the beginning, with photosynthesis and how we get oxygen from trees. It’s still such a perfect design, that we need to live hand in hand with trees, as they use our carbon dioxide and we need their oxygen. We also had a very simple observation experiment to complete. We took two freshly cut leaves (I used my pothos) and put them in two jars of water. One was to be put in the sun, and the other in a closet. After an hour we needed to see the difference, were there any bubbles, etc.

Art this week was about Grant Wood, probably best known for his painting American Gothic. We read a few different books about Wood, looked at pictures of his work, and then we were supposed to make a sculpture over the weekend – but it didn’t happen. Note to self: Do not save work for the weekend, at least until the weather changes. Wyatt loved Wood’s sculpture work which were made out of just anything he found. I loved his portraits best, especially the portrait of his mother holding her snake plant, called Woman with Plants.

“Woman & Plant”, 1929 oil painting by Grant Wood, approx. 24″ high, collection of The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 4×5 transparency, Fuji Quattro scan. Painting is behind glass. Note: face and eyes painted “soft”, not out of focus.

The sculpture is named “Lillies of the Alley”, and I found this photo online at Antiques and the Arts, photo credit to Stephen Gassman.

What We Used: (contains Amazon Affiliate links)

Living Sunlight // B is for Badger // American Gothic // Grant Wood: The Artist in the Hayloft // Paul Bunyan

Bunyan and Banjoes // Disney American Legends

I am sure a lot of these resources can be found either available online for free or at the library.

We also use curriculum from The Good and the Beautiful, The Waldock Way, and Blossom and Root.

I am hoping to get my blogging situation with timing of posts, replies to comments, and visiting you all and commenting under control this week!

My Sunday – Monday Post!

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized31 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

We have been back to school two weeks and are slowly finding our routine. We have been starting each day of school with music and it just wakes our brains up and puts us in good moods. Overall, the week itself was weird but it had lots of good moments too. Yesterday we went to Hawkfest which our metropark system puts on every year and we got to see so many different raptors up close. This little screech owl is named Sparkle! She is so cute!!

Read Last Week:

I finished up This Poison Heart and started The Agathas. I really enjoyed This Poison Heart, and so far I am liking The Agathas as well!

Reading Next:

If I finish up The Agathas this week, then I plan to start a NetGalley read about ghosts – ’tis the season and all.

And Wyatt and I are still reading The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp.

Posted Last Week:

New Additions and a Road Trip

Book Review: Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Spooky Cinema Season: The Addams Family

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

Listening and Watching:

I was out in the evening a few nights last week, and so was Billy (we were weirdly social) so we really didn’t watch much. A Murdoch here and there, and then we watched The Addams Family together as well.

As for listening, I started two audiobooks but I am probably going to stop listening to them and instead just read them at some point. I always think because I love podcasts I should be able to listen to audiobooks but they just don’t work for me, which makes me sad.

And that is about it from our corner of the mitten state! How are you all today?

Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Hello everyone!! I hope everyone has had a great week! Mine was….eh. It had its ups and downs for sure. But such is life. And thankfully, today is Friday!

Our living gargoyle, or porch guardian as I like to call it. It’s always lurking about but this time was straight up posing for me. I am guessing it is one of the babies all grown up that hatched from the ootheca in the spring/early summer. It is gigantic and slightly intimidating honestly. I am afraid to weed in in it’s territory!

On Wednesday my friends and I got together for a much needed get together in my friend Kelly’s yard. The night was warm but not sweaty hot, and we had some catching up to do. It had been a super long time since we had gotten together. Summer gets busy! I took my normal spot on the couch – I love it because I can slouch and look at the evening sky, the swallows darting, then the bats start sweeping through. No more hummingbirds though, maybe they have started their journey south. The evenings are certainly much cooler, almost cold! I love it but I don’t think hummingbirds much care for it. My friend Kelly just got three more toads that she added to her toadarium (she has five – can you tell why we are friends?) so of course I had to go in and meet them.

I like how this one is giving me Jabba the Hutt vibes.

Then last night my mom, SIL, niece, and my SIL’s mother got together for craft night. It was also a very fun and relaxed time gathered around the table, our projects all jumbled up together. My niece and I were the painters of the group, the rest were knitting or crocheting. I was making little peg dolls, raccoons for Wyatt to go with the book we are reading, The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, and also a Little Witch Hazel for Mermaid Girl herself. I had a feeling a little someone might get interested in making them too so I made sure to pack up a few extra. And I am glad that I did, she made a whole little family.

Wyatt and I have a busy day today – yesterday school got derailed due to some sudden issues with a family member but we will schooch everything that we should have done yesterday to today and move art to Saturday. We are learning about Grant Wood and I was all prepared for a farm painting but Wyatt seemed more drawn to Wood’s found sculpture items so I think we will attempt that instead. Fingers crossed!

Spooky Cinema Season: The Addams Family (1991)

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized11 Comments

Oooo spooky…Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are are watching and posting about spooky cinema for the next two months, here and over on our Instagram accounts. We are starting fairly family friendly and working our way up to the scariest!! I love a thriller or chiller!

You can check out Lisa’s post here!

This week our featured film was The Addams Family, circa 1991, that mysterious and spooky, and altogether ooky family.

The Addams Family is a mad spooky creation that first formed in the brain of Charles Addams, a cartoonist with a sense of the macabre. His Addams Family cartoons first actually appeared in The New Yorker, if you can believe it, in the 40s and 50s and the characters were later developed into the original tv show. And if we want to play six degrees of Cary Grant (if you have read my summer classic movie posts you will know why) we can get there easily – apparently Hitchcock had Cary Grant namedrop Charles Addams in the classic movie North by Northwest. (If you want to read more about the cultural history of The Addams Family, The Smithsonian has this fantastic article)

When the movie came out in the 1990s, my teenage goth loving self was beyond excited. But of course being all gloomy and clad in black, I could only express that by the smallest of smiles. (Joke) I was very excited and I couldn’t wait to see it and it was everything I wanted in a creepy silly movie! And let’s face it, it is much more silly than it is scary, but that doesn’t diminish the fun of it by a long shot. All the little gags and jokes, and of course Wednesday Addams, who I always wanted to be for Halloween but never did it. The light hearted yet dark banter I think was more designed to make people widen their eyes at the audacity of it all, like a young girl chasing her brother around with a knife or putting him in an electric chair, just so matter of fact and nonchalant, rather than scare. As a teen I ate that movie up.

As an adult, I can see a deeper theme beyond the nonsense. The love of family, loyalty, that stick together through all adversities and do our best attitude. They just go about those things in a much different way. There is no doubt that this creepy family loves each other, very deeply. Morticia is a devoted mother, Gomez a devoted husband. They are generous, fun loving, and stand by each other through thick and thin. Not bad things to be, not at all.

There is a new series out now, produced by Tim Burton, which will reach a whole new generation of kids, 80 years later. It appears that the world is still entertained by this madcap spooky family, after all this time, which I think is pretty darn cool.

Next up is Shaun of the Dead. I am super excited about it because I love all those Simon Pegg movies!

Would anyone be interested in playing along with us, if we made this a linky? Let me know! Or if you don’t want to be so formal, just watch and let me know what you think of these movies in the comments every week!