Flashback Friday - Smiley Suprise

Richard makes me a bowl of oatmeal everyday to take to work. It is part of our morning routine I guess. I get in the shower - he gets the paper and makes coffee and oatmeal - I iron clothes - he gets in the shower. . . The same routine most mornings. Today when I got to work and opened up my oatmeal to stir the cinnamon - I got this. This is the part of my husband that I love so much after 27 years. It made my day!

Flashback - but not very far back - just to last year.
Last year Sadie was a ladybug. This was before kids rang the bell for Trick or Treat. She must have known something was up. I will have to take pictures of her tonight wearing her bee costume.

Hark! Hark to the wind!
'Tis the night, they say,When all souls come back from the far away-
The dead, forgotten this many a day!~Virna Sheard

Halloween Grins

Each year - I look forward to getting something new for Halloween - to add to my decorations. This was a gift from my friend Marcia. It is such a cute figurine - I was thrilled with it. He sits on my desk at work - and smiles his Jack-O-Lantern grin all day.
Another new doll that I made - the photos make her look a little morbid, but she really is sort of cute in a voodoo sort of way. Her hair has some glittery yarn in it, she has shells around her neck, and some black feather boa material around her waist. I think she is really fun - but then Halloween is my favorite holiday. Jennifer and I named her Melinda.
I had originally painted this doll body black with the intention of painting bones on the doll to look like a skeleton - but I didn't think I could get it to look the way I wanted it to look. So I just turned it into another little spooky Halloween doll. I think they are so much fun to make.
My friend Michelle gave me this yesterday. It is a little glass pot with a live pepper plant in it. Another cute addition to my Halloween decorations. I am going to hate to pack them all up and put them away.

"If there's somethin' strange in your neighborhood / Who ya gonna call?"
— Ray Parker Jr., Theme to Ghostbusters

Baby Girl Colors ~

I finally finished the baby blanket that I started for Lily. It is a little smaller than I thought it would be - I even checked my gauge when I started - (Something I very seldom do) - and I used a much larger hook than it called for. It still turned out on the small side - but it is very dainty looking - so it is fine. Jennifer has seen me working on it - so it will not be a surprise. I do hope she likes it. I originally was going to put brown ribbon through it. I am glad that I chose the lavender instead. It will go with everything that they have.
I also made Lily a little pink beanie this week. Always my favorite things to make - quick and easy. I am putting together a pink bag of stuff together for her. Then I think I will make a lavender bag of baby items - and keep doing different colors. I guess doing that goes along with my color matching issues. It is just so much fun making things for this baby.
The whole world as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color. ~ Hans Hofmann Quotes

Halloween Flashback

Ok - Maybe it is a little weird to take pictures in a cemetery at night. But the cemetery in my hometown is so - not scary - and it was such a great October night. It was a fun thing to do right before Halloween. I really wish I lived closer to Amy!!!!!!
You can't help but love my Aunt Sue - and her purple gloves!

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,

The first one said,"Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said,

"But we don't care."

The third one said,

"I see witches in the air."

The fourth one said,

"Let's run, and run, and run."

The fifth one said,

"Get ready for some fun."

Then whoosh went the wind,

and out went the lights,

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

Trick or Treat

These bottle of wine are the best things I have found this year for Halloween. I am not sure if I am going to actually drink them - I just love the labels. They had some others - Vampire... Zombie Zin... - but I liked these the best. "Trick or Treat"

Tis the Season - BOO!

I love the colors of this season more than any other time of year. - Boo seems to fit right in.
Jennifer came up with the name Lacey for this first doll that I made. It isn't a very eerie name - but she has the cutest black lace slip under her skirt - So Lacey it is.
We put up some Halloween decorations this past weekend. I don't know if the boys will get the front of the house decorated - but we made the patio feel a little festive for Halloween.

I finished two more dolls - similar to the first one. These will be on their way to Iowa this week.

Carving Pumpkins!!

Jake and Kasey were looking for something to do on Saturday - and decided to carve pumpkins.
I love it when they decide to do something like this.

They seemed to have a good time. Unfortunately - I got busy and forgot to take pictures of their finished jack-o-lanterns. Jake's was a skeleton head and Kasey's was a witch - standing over a caldron. Although, our weather being like it is here - the poor carved pumpkins will not last for long and they will have to carve some more as it gets closer to Halloween. I will have to get pictures of those.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,May luck be yours on Halloween. ~Author Unknown

Dolls in Progress

I stained some more dolls last night - These turned out a little darker and "stained" looking - but dressed for Halloween - that will be fine. Instead of putting them on a rack in the oven to dry them a little - I set them in a baking dish. They didn't dry as quickly. It's Friday - finally! - and it has finally cooled down enough to feel like Fall here. I think I will make a big pot of chili tonight. I love this time of year!

When witches go riding,

and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers,

‘tis near Halloween.

~Author Unknown

Package from Home

I received a package from my mom yesterday - which is always fun. She thought I should have these raggedy's. Halloween and Raggedy dolls - two of my favorite things!
She also sent these two towels that Grandma made years ago. I have the "Sunday" towel already. I believe these were split up and given to different people after Grandma passed away. So now I have Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I made these little paint chip notebooks yesterday. I found the idea here. I think they are such a fun idea - I want to make them in every color.

I need a name.

I have to make some more of these dolls - I think she is so much fun! - and I had a great time making her. I have 8 more cut out.
I still need to think of a name for her.
Eat, drink and be scary. ~Author Unknown

Baby Shower

I had one of the teacher's at work make this sign for Jennifer's baby shower. At the last minute I thought I better have something outside - so people knew they were in the right place.
... the Lily banner that I made. I love the colors! The little outfits that she got - the colors were beautiful. Not all pastels - but great shades of pink and purple.
These are the favors we made. Thank you Jennifer and Kasey for your help. I could not have done everything without Jake and Kasey's help. They helped me with the food, decorating, picking up the cake - and running to the store for last minute stuff, and hanging up the sign - then making sure the wind did not ruin it.
I love this picture of Jennifer. I don't know if Josh was too excited about being in the middle of this baby shower - but he did come out and join us when Jennifer started opening presents. She received so many cute things - which I think is making them more anxious for Lily to arrive. I know it is me.
Some more decorations. If you can guess how many M&M's in the jar - you win!