Halloween photos

Our front door is ready for the Trick-or-treaters this afternoon. Our newest soon to be trick or treater.

The boys finally decide to eat an eyeball........after dad did..............MUCH to mom's disgust.

I have had time to clean so spiders are all over the wall????

Fast and easy pumpking to carve..............I love it. I just cut one big hole for the mouth and scooped out some seeds. (sorry I didn't rotate it.)

Crisp in a jar

A friend of mine made these and said they are quite good. Here is the blog for the recipe /crisp-in-a-jar She said they are yummy and great for one person or 2 :-)

Royal Purple Belles bar maids

Here is my Red Hat group at our annual Halloween party. I am not happy that my photo is so blurry, I hope one of the other gals has a clear picture. We were German bar maids, one of our gals made 16 aprons for us, another gal made the pretty head pieces....see on bottom photo.

Thanks

If you read my blog, if you said a prayer, if you shared my worry about my step-son - Thanks!!! I got a phone call today telling me that E did have the test and has a follow up appointment next week! I certainly pray he is on the road to discovery and recovery!!!!

Can you believe it?

I remember what other 'blond' thing I did....that was so funny: I was reading email on my laptop before work the other day and have a cordless mouse ( I hate touch pads). The battery in the mouse kept dying and I couldn't navigate the windows and close down, so here I am trying to figure out how to shut the laptop down using the arrow keys..........should I try CTRL, ALT, DEL? I fooled around with the mouse and finally got it to work so I could shut down. Later, at work, while using the laptop and touch pad, I remembered my laptop has a touch pad too. How spoiled is that????
The latest news in the area is that Penney's is closing in January. That leaves us with Younkers and Kohls to shop at....one less choice. Penney's is the only store in a decrepit old mall that is to be torn down next year.
Off to work..........have a great weekend!!

Thoughts from a (not so blond anymore) passionate woman

Things that make you go HMMMM?
The other day I was making a casserole and used cream of chicken soup.....only it was chicken noodle, there is a slight difference.
The black car I was trying to unlock to put my purchases in was not my black car.
Here's a hint: ground cinnamon does not need to be kept in the fridge......I tried it and it doesn't make any difference.
I also figured out that I can't use the TV remote to call a friend.
I know there is another goofy thing I just did at work but I can't remember it. LOL
People call me a strawberry blond and I normally color my hair a little redder b/c I am naturally a redhead. Monday I got my hair colored (with low lights) in a salon and it's not much different that it was before I colored it. Today I went back and got darker low lights..........wow! now I'm a brunette.....I will just deal with it. I have finally decided it's OK to change hair color.
Lastly, I have an important and serious request. My steps-son is really sick and has given up on doctors. No one knows what is wrong, he keeps loosing weight. I would appreciate prayers for him. He has 3 young sons and a wife. He works, wife works part time and they do their best with the boys. Money is definitely an issue. This is really upsetting for me.
Thank you for stopping by and I do love the comments.

Hang onto the babies

High winds today, very high gusts are expected. In fact the weather man said they are calling it the 'Great Lakes Cyclone'. We will experience high winds all day until 7pm tomorrow. Good thing I just got my hair cut and it is short! If my scarecrow windsock is still out I am going to grab it and bring it in.
Yesterday was a good day. A friend called me (unexpectedly) and we met for tea and a nice visit. Then I had an appointment to get my hair colored, I am not happy.........it doesn't look any different than when I went in. The gal who did it was excellent, the color is just not exactly what I was looking for.
Next I was off to WalMart (woo hoo - said sarcastically) to get some groceries...........I forgot my list so had to guess at it. While I was there I picked up some ICY HOT for my back, they do not have BIO FREEZE and I think they aer pretty much the same.
I work today, Red Hat Halloween party tonight.
Work Wednesday.
Book Club Halloween party Thursday night.
Work Friday.
Making ham dinner on Saturday and having the boys over for some Halloween 'festivities'.
Then it's time to start packing for Florida. :-)
hope you are having a good week too!

Squirelly

Every morning when I sit at my kitchen table and check my email and blog I watch the squirrels run across my deck. Yesterday I saw this little guy sitting on a post about 6' from the back door. Since squirrels move fast I didn't get many photos........but this should give you an idea of my view into our backyard.

Halloween decor

I have been wanted to make a pumpkin totem for many years.........but never took action. Today, I finally did it! Thanks, MOM, for bestowing on me the attitude of "I can do it" and teaching me 'where there's a will, there's away'!!!

The first thing I did was to see what I could use to hold the pumpkins together, I found rebar(?) or some metal post with a pointed end in the garage...Eureka!!! It was a tall stake. Next I determined where I wanted my totem and watered the down soil so it would be soft enough to pound in my stake. I started the holes in the pumpkins with a screw driver (probably not the best solution, but it worked). Then I made sure each pumpkin fit onto the stake, pounded it DEEP into the soil and VIOLA!!! my totem. Normally I wouldn't put out such elaborate decorations but the grandkids enjoy it :-) I was going to wait until next week to make it but the weatherman is predicting cold, rain, and possible snow showers next week. :-( wahhhhh!!!!

A Neat Day

Yesterday was a pretty neat day.......I had a lot a lot of things planned. First I stopped at the thrift store and picked up a mask for my grandson and a couple of other items. Then I had lunch with one of my Red Hat friends and her sister at the place we are planning our Christmas party......the food was good, the company was good. I had some time to kill before my dermatologist appointment so I stopped at Goodwill and got a really cool pair of new silver flats and a fleece jacket. It's perfect for this time of year and can be worn as a sweater if I am cold at work. I checked out the Halloween store in town. It's got everything for Halloween........if you are into that. The dermatologist said I have no potential cancer spots :-). While I was at the dr my grandson called me...........so I called back and he wanted to know if I would to the the Fall Harvest party at school, I wasn't busy so I said sure. Mom brought him over and he played some computer games and we had supper and were off to school. We didn't know that the plan was to walk a mile and then go inside and decorate gourds. We were not dressed for walking and my back was aching so we only made 1/2 mile. It was nice to spend time with him, we have a special bond. His mom and brother were at Tiger Cubs and dad was working so I got to go. When I dropped him off Landon was up and fussing for his uncle & babysitter. I asked to hold him and started talking......Landon stopped crying and listened to me. It was sooooooooo amazing!!!! J wanted me to read a book so I read a Pokemon book to both boys.......the baby just listened and looked at the book. Three books later he was asleep. That was so neat, I have hardly seen him with his eyes open, he likes to sleep all day.

Men ( GRRRRR )

Hubby is being a selfish jerk this week so when I read this on Tracey's blog (link below) I had to post them here.

A Woman's Poem
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong.
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's rich and self-employed,
And when I spend, won't be annoyed.
One who'll pull out my chair and hold my hand.
Massage my feet and help me stand.
Oh send a king to make me queen.
A man who loves to cook and clean.
I pray this man will love no other.
And relish visits with my mother


A MAN'S POEM:
I pray for a deaf-mute gymnast nymphomaniac

with big boobs who owns a bar on a golf course,
and loves to send me fishing and drinking. This
doesn't rhyme and I don't give a shit

Read Tracey's blog here: http://tracey-craftyscraps.blogspot.com/

She has many thoughts to share.

Fashion faux pas? or Fashion statement? and more

You decide. I have made my decision...... (and yes, those are both of my feet-I didn't realize my toes were so deformed from arthritis). These are the shoes I wore to work last Friday-- the total outfit consisted of a pretty, dark purple shirt under a purple cardigan, and jeans. It was cold Friday morning so I grabbed a jacket and put on my shoes at the same time. Our closet contains the 'shoe mountain' where most of the time I just kick off my shoes. Well, Birkenstocks all look the same when they are upside down and the lights are off in the house. I slipped on my shoes and drove to work....When I bent over to uncover the computer tower at work that is what I saw and I burst into laughter, then panicked. I knew hubby was coming to town but he wasn't home. I called SIL and she was off work and very graciously agreed to bring me a black shoe. I probably could have gotten away with that at work........I am the only one who is in the office, my bosses come in once in a while but the guys don't really notice what shoes I am wearing. I usually run errands at noon and would have been very self conscious. Thanks Michele for bringing me a black shoe!
Saturday we went to my aunts funeral. It was good to see cousins whom I haven't seen in 30 years or so....but not under those circumstances. My mom's family did not keep in touch, my mom is very quiet and not a social butterfly.
Sunday morning I woke up with terrible back pain. After I finally got a chance to sit and ice it for a while it was better. Before I took grandson J home we went to the pumpkin farm to get a few pumpkins..............$23 later we left. Whew, they are expensive!
A busy week lies ahead.................hope a good week is in store for you! Thanks for stopping by.

Halloween Cards

This card is from my friend Jan..........I love it.

This card is from another friend, I can't remember who...and she didn't sign it.

This one I made at the Stamp a'long and it is my favorite. Hope you got some ideas from my cards.

Why is back/sciatica pain so weird? or I am seeing too much of my chiropractor

The one thing that my mom has given me that I will not thank her for is back problems. My back/Sciatica has been bothering me for the past 3 months............but now it is really bad. I have seen my chiropractor twice in 2 weeks. In addition to manipulation I've had the TENS and ultrasound treatments. I do feel better after yesterdays ultrasound. After work or before bed I ice for a bit too and that is helpful. So WHY do I wake up in the middle of the night (when I am sleeping 'properly' on my side with a pillow between my knees)???? I really hurt but all I can do is lay there and then it goes away and I feel almost fine when I get up later. Why? Why? Why does this happen????
I just needed to vent.

Updates

*** Yesterday I called Onstar and complained about the lousy service I received on Sunday. Even though I had the correct spelling and highway the person could not find the location. When I 'googled' the name it came up immediately. I sternly complained and got 2 free months (for them to prove themselves to me) from the supervisor. That helps b/c I was due to renew in Nov and now I will have until Jan.
*** Step-son went the the Dr today accompanied by his aunt. He has been in pain, can't eat, and has lost LOTS of weight. Monday they will do a colonoscopy to test for Crohn's disease. Aunt Deb went along b/c she has it and knows all the right questions to ask. Crohn's is a young person's disease :-( and unfortunately Deb know all about it. She is an excellent advocate for anyone with questions or concerns.
*** The Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood show was soooooooooo funny. Sister in law and I laughed so hard that most of my mascara was off. After seeing them it is easier for me to believe in improv......I used to think it was all set up, but now I can see that some people can think fast and are funny! Our Hubby's (who refuse to show emotion) MIGHT have smiled a bit. Two of my bosses were there and they agreed that it was FUNNY. I would have liked to stop for a drink after but our 'sticks in the mud' went straight home. (BIL had to work the next day). The area has such a nice theater with some great shows.
*** Our weather is still nice but it is cooling off.......the peak color (leaves) is over, in fact many trees are bare already.
*** Last night I went to the Stamp a'long and got to make some cute cards..........to be posted soon, I hope.

Corn Maze

This warm (77 degree) afternoon we went to the corn maze. I didn't realize we had to drive so far on HWY 151 and I didn't have my mapquest directions so I called Onstar to get directions..............they were overloaded and couldn't take my call. So then I tried calling the 800 number....it was a recording.....I called Onstar again and they could not find the place....grrrr.... Usually I am pleased with their service. We drove back 8 miles and stopped at a gas station for directions....and found out we were about 1 mile away when we turned around.
'the "boys" lead the way'

'reading the clues - which way now?'

Yes, we DID finally make it out after about an hour of wandering around in the cornfield. We all agreed that is was fun!

.

A Day in Clintonville/Marion

What's in Clintonville or Marion? (you might ask) 1) A beautiful small park filled with sunshine and covered by a carpet of red, yellow, and orange leaves. 2) My grandchildren playing soccer. It was really nice to see my son & daughter in law enjoying their son and daughter participating in a sport.

3) The most beautiful small town main street in the state when autumn is upon us.

4+) And my mom; sister; the graves of my grandparents, dad, and baby sister. I drove past my old house (in the boonies)....it was really interesting to see how the present owner has made many, many improvements. I knew that place had potential. I had some extra time for myself and took advantage of being in the area. Yes, it was a beautiful day. But I'd NEVER want to live there again. Sorry if I have offended any 'natives'.

I'm a winner!!!

I won 2 things today: a $50 gift certificate for Jewels by Park Lane. In order to redeem it I have to have a party. I don't know anyone who would come, much less buy jewelry. :-( I won that from a drawing I entered at the Women's Lakeshore Expo.
Tonight I called the radio station and won tickets to see : Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the Emmy nominated Whose Line Is It Anyway? They will be in town Friday night, hubby will even go with me to this! I was shocked when the radio announcer answered with "caller 9"(....the winning caller.) woo hoo!!!!

Finally!

Hubby's company finally has an order for pipe :-). He has been laid off every other week all of this year, So we are all really happy about this order....took them 2 years to finalize it. Previously they have made sample pipes and hubby has been to Thailand and Nigeria already to set up those pipes. He is MUCH happier at this job than he was at his previous one. The company web site states that the company "designs, manufactures, and deploys premium composite flexible pipe for some of the world’s most challenging subsea oil and gas production environments. We are the only manufacturer of unbonded non-metallic pipe for deepwater applications." I just wanted to share the good news!

Have you read.........?

What would you do to save your child? What this young, single, mom does and how it affects her personal relationships is the basis for this novel (although it could be a true story). Our book club just read THOSE WHO SAVE US by Jenna Blum. It takes place in Germany at the time of the Holocaust. I'd give this book a 10, the characters are complex and it's hard to guess what you'd do if in Anna's circumstances.
Our next meeting is at one of our members homes - a Halloween party! BUT, and it's a big but, we are to come in costume....a character out of a book. HELP!!!! Who can I dress up as? I haven't dressed up in years!