Halloween pumpkins in disguise

Halloween at the botanical garden

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Montreal's Botanical Garden in Montreal and the "Cour des petits monstres", a greenhouse in the main building where awaited 800 pumpkins in disguise and a gigantic 1,447 pounds pumpkin (over 650 kilos).

I took a few pictures of funny pumpkins with inspiring costumes. I thought it might give you some last-minute ideas to decorate a pumpkin this week before the big day! 

I've added a few photos of the Garden of Lights (open every night until 9 p.m., closes on November 3rd). It wasn't dark yet but you'll get the gist.

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updates and fun bits

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updates and fun bits

Fall colours at Belfountain Conservation Area

Belfountain open until October 27!

There has been years when Belfountain Conservation Area closed right after Thanksgiving long weekend. In 2013, it will remain open until October 27 (then closing for the winter). Belfountain's trail is not long but from it you can continue into the Bruce Trail.

Wondering what lies beyond Belfountain Conservation Area's frontier? 
Here are some photos taken two years ago when we walked beyond the conservation to admire more fall colours. Enjoy!

Walking towards the fall

Detail of the suspended bridge at the fall.

Accessing the grotto down the stairs by the suspended bridge.

Following the trail past the the grotto (Yellowstone Cave).

The gang is ready to walk into the Bruce Trail (signs in the trail indicated
we were leaving Belfountain Conservation Area).

We know we're on the Bruce Trail because we can see the blue markers along the trail.

We eventually get closer to the river, by the little Forks of the Credit Road.

We turned right on the road, and get a good view of the river.

We saw a vintage train ride over the road, part of the Credit Valley Explorer
scenic rail tours
(see creditvalleyexplorer.com)

Someone was selling honey in front of their house just before the bridge.

When I checked on Oct. 14, Credit Valley Explorer still had seats in their vintage train
for the Saturday October 26 tour. The rest was sold out.

We returned to the Bruce Trail by the river.

It's approx. 1.5 km to the small bridge inside Belfountain Conservation Area.

This little bridge leads to the other part of Belfountain trail
returning to the suspended brigde.

You access the trail by climbing up the stairs
which you'll be able to see once you've crossed the little bridge.

This is a fun little trail going up through roots and rocks.
Too challenging for people with limited mobility.

It leads to a boardwalk from which you'll be able
to access the suspended bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, you'll reach the Yellowstone Cave.

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My TOP-10 Halloween costume and decor suggestions seen on Pinterest

Pinterest to the rescue!

You'll find all these pins and more on my board Clever Halloween/Thanksgiving stuff on pinterest.com/NathaliePrezeau. 

For those who are as passionate about costumes and decor as I am, Halloween is pure bliss. 

I have my share of hours spent crafting costumes project which would always take much longer than planned (I remember a few all-nighters...). But thanks to Pinterest, it is now easy to find plenty of amazing (and simple) ideas to make our life easy.

Here are my TOP-10 Halloween ideas found on Pinterest.

The costumes seem relatively easy to make and there are a few home facade ideas too. I think I'll try the door decor this year. My 16-year old wants to be at the door to greet the little guys and we want to have some fun with this.

A few other good Halloween ideas

These three Halloween treats caught my attention. 

And the two following costumes are something, aren't they? One for a little boy on a wheelchair, and the other for a big boy... with a message? (He's dressed as 50 Shades of Grey!)

Thanksgiving fall colours... from a chairlift

My outing of the week!

A Thanksgiving chairlift ride on top of Kelso to admire the fall colours! See the Kelso page on torontofunplace.com for details.

The Fall into Nature festival is going on Thanksgiving long weekend (October 12 to 14) and the following weekend (October 19 and 20).

Nuit Blanche 2013 didn't sock at all!

What a great Toronto night!
I did not attend Nuit Blanche with kids but with two girlfriends. We went from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and had a ball. The weather was amazing. 

We loved the Clothesline Canopy strung with 5,000 pairs of socks! 





What I learned about the Après Nuit:
The 5,000 pairs of gorgeous socks we saw today will be donated to shelters! It's so cool!

I also learned that six projects will remain after Nuit Blanche.
The big Project #1 with 3,100 bikes by Ai Weiwei (a special exhibition of this artist's work is still at the AGO until October 27) will remain in Nathan Phillips Square until October 27.

Five more projects will be there until October 14: the neon writing of Project #3 also in Nathan Phillips Square; the wonderful Project # 37 made of a mountain of chairs in front of Metropolitan Church; Project #50, The Tanks in David Pecaut Square (which I really wanted to see but didn't have the chance); Project #7, Plastic Bags in Bell Trinity Square and Project #26 on Adelaide outside of Scotia Plaza (a video installation featuring singer John Kelly singing a mesmerizing Baroque song). 

Nuit Blanche 2013, Project #37

Cathedral made out of garbage bins

Dancer making gold confetti

Bike wheels turned into clocks