I'm very excited about this.  I have talked to both my siblings about it and they have given me some wonderful ideas.  They are excited about it too!  The house isn't much to look at, but the love that was shared in that house MORE than made up for the lack of money we had at the time.  My brother and sister and I always wore patches on our clothes, but we never knew we were poor.  My mother knew how to make even the simplest things seem magical and wonderful.  Ok, so let me think about the painting for a little while and try to decide what I REALLY want in the picture.  Oh, dear, of all the Halloween memories, how on earth do you choose the ones you really want to immortalize!? 

Susan then entrusted me with her most precious family photos... and her Halloween memories. One of many was of sitting on the edge of the hill with her father, studying the night skies, especially the constellation Orion, The Hunter. (Yes, all three are there in the painting.) When she received my first study painting, her response was what I always hope for:

First of all, let me say that when I opened your e-mail today to view your sketch, I was THRILLED!  I cried!  I couldn't see the details for the tears!  When I finally dried my eyes and saw the fabulous detail in that picture, I was flooded with the very warm memories of that house and my childhood.  Lew, you work wonders!  You have captured the view of the house I had in my mind and my sister and brother and myself going off to trick or treat.  It was wonderful.

I soon had the go-ahead to move on from the small study, to the actual painting. Some weeks later, the scanned image I sent her of the finished piece was met with equal enthusiasm. With that, I matted and carefully crated painting for shipment.  Within a few days, it arrived safely, and Susan  immediately sent the following:

Well, the painting found its way home!  What a fantastic painting!  This is wonderful.  It far surpasses any expectations I had.  I LOVE the little bat you added in one of the trees. That was great!  You truly did a fantastic job.  You have taken my fondest childhood memories and painted them for all to see for many years to come!  The colors are so warm and welcoming. It makes me want to put on my witch's costume and go trick or treating again!  I can't thank you enough for this.  This has been a fun experience and there isn't one tiny speck on that painting that I don't absolutely LOVE!  You are the greatest as far as I'm concerned.