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( Wednesday, October 29, 1997 COMMUNITY CALENDAR • LIFESTYLES • SPORTS • COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENCE • TV LISTINGS Pi if ■ t : p: ■ \,Z. Hi W -'■■■ ' k'.;S " v mm r;-. ;■ The Fruits Of Autumn While they may not match the orchard-grown varieties for size and quality, these bright red was one of the many signs of the changing season to enjoy during the Thanksgiving weekend in fruits on a gnarled, wild apple tree write a striking signature of fall against the autumn sky. It Clarington. Happy Haunting by Gillian Barfoot Staff Writer One couple's annual Hallowe'en tradition has become both an attraction and an inspiration for people people from the neighbourhood neighbourhood and across southern Ontario. "We have hundreds come here from all over," says Linda Westlake, as she leads a tour of the ghouls and goofy pumpkin people who populate her property at the edge of Enniskillen. Oh the front lawn, a green-painted pumpkin- headed Frankenstein, a mummy, and Dracula in a coffin accompany handcrafted handcrafted and painted lettering lettering -- festooned with black cats and spider webbing webbing -- wishing visitors a Happy Hallowe'en. Westlake explained that she put the webbing in place to discourage kids from picking up Dracula's head -- also a pumpkin. She pointed out a tableau which features an older pumpkin-headed figure figure wearing bunny slippers with a. young girl nestled in her lap. This character, which represents her Grandmother Cook, is wearing her old dress and hat and apron, she explained. Pumpkin Couple On the other side of the driveway, a pumpkinheaded pumpkinheaded couple is enjoying a ride in a buggy, Westlake pointed out the sparkles in their eyes, "That's Allan and me. That's the Westlakes," she said. "We're married 28 years and we still have a sparkle in our eyes!" A group of four straw- stuffed friends with goofy Grandmother Cook returns to wish Hallowe'en greetings to visitors to the Westlakes' home, ej wm ma ami ami umn i grins on their pumpkin faces are sitting around a campfire. "One kid said, 'That's what my Dad looked like the other night'," she laughed. She recalled the visitors who came from as far as Toronto and Lindsay last year to view her display, and added that busloads of people -- from senior citizens citizens to Brownies -- have stopped by to pose with the colourful characters. "I had 144 kids trick-or- treating last yèar," she added. "It's a family outing for the whole family -- and it's free!" Westlake explained she has decorated for Hallowe'en ever since she was a child. The couple have been living on the farm at Highway 57 and Concession Eight for 20 years. For the past eight years, the annual decorations decorations have been getting more complex. "Each year, we've added more -- because we've learned how to put up the decorations faster," she explained. It usually takes about a week to assemble the decorations decorations for the annual display, display, and the extended family is put to work stuffing stuffing the figures with straw, placing them, bringing in the pumpkins from the fields for Westlake to paint, and adding the finishing finishing touches. Preparations usually start at the beginning of October, she said, Sometimes she will sec an image she likes, such as characters from the Ghostbustcrs movies, which she will paint onto a pumpkin or a cut-out wood shape. She also makes some characters on request, "People bring me a pic ture so I can have it ready for next year," she said, describing the stages involved in creating a new decoration. She praises her husband, husband, who does much of the carting, as well as creating. creating. "Allan is great. He loves to help out," she said. "He's a very talented man. I'll draw it, and he carves it. I dream it up -- I've got the imagination, he calls me the Big Kid -- and he gets a real kick out of being able to create it." Carved Creations The Sunday before Hallowe'en is usually the time when the family pitches in to carve the pumpkins -- they usually carve about 60 -- and a small crowd often gathers to watch the carved creations creations come to life. The display is nearly as time-consuming to take down as it is to put up. Westlake describes how she washes and stores all the clothes -- a wacky collection collection of yard sale specials specials and castoffs -- and composts the straw stuffing. stuffing. But, in spite of all the work, she insists that it is worthwhile, "The only trouble is, we don't get out to drive around (to see other people's people's decorations)," she said. She is especially delighted when she can inspire others to create their own Hallow'ccn decorations. decorations. "It's more and more becoming a contagious thing," she said. "I do notice a lot of people have stopped decorating. decorating. Then they come in here and they see this and start up again." Many visitors who stop by also purchase pumpkins or gourds from the Westlakes, who provide suggestions on how to decorate decorate with them. "I show the kids how to paint the pumpkins, and they stop by here on Hallowe'en and say, 'Can you come out and see what I did?'," she explained. "I get excited for them because they are doing something new." The Westlakes both agree that the best part of the hard work is having people stop by to admire and visit with ' their Hallowe'en creations. "I think the whole thing is seeing the people come in. We love to visit with people. We walk around and listen to what people are saying," Westlake said. "I've heard people say, 'Why do you go to all this work?' But I just say, 'Look at all the people it pleases.' "To me, those things are so important. It makes me feel to good to see people people enjoy it. And the kids are so good -- they really, love it. Now we see why it's worthwhile." ns The characters and letters on the Westlakes' front lawn spell out Happy Hallowe'en for visitors from near and far. Linda Westlake adjusts the shawl of a sparkle-eyed Hallowe'en character who rides in the buggy with her husband. See page 8 for the Westlake's hints on Halloween decorating. ii mm ni urn i a alia asii an isn