Day Three Hundred Four 2013

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

No guts, no glory.


Grandson Knox was Thomas the Train, his most favorite thing in the world right now.

Because our Middle Tennessee town is in the path of some potential stormy weather tonight [rain, high winds, tornadoes], door-to-door trick or treating is postponed until this Saturday. Our church moved its annual trunk or treat into the church building tonight so kids in the community could have a safe and dry place to trick or treat in spite of the wet windy weather. There was a huge turnout, and although we didn’t stay for the meal, I heard over 50 pizzas were served.

This is Knox’s first year to trick or treat. He was a little intimidated by the large crowd and all the costumes, although he did get excited when he saw Batman.  He hasn’t learned the joy of collecting and eating all that candy yet. Maybe next year.



Grandson Elijah and granddaughter Shelby came to collect some treats. Elijah was Robin Hood. Shelby was the Queen of Hearts.






I’m so glad my niece Sarah still loves getting into the spirit of Halloween. This year she was Frida Kahlo, who was a Mexican self-portrait artist and is still admired as a feminist icon. [I didn’t know this until I Googled her, just so you know.]

My niece Julia also enjoys getting into the Halloween spirit. She made a lovely witch.

Daughter Holly got in the Halloween groove with this great orange jacket, black top with silver skulls, and a silver skull necklace she made.

I’ve been making chili for supper on Halloween night every year since my kids were little, so it’s become one of my fave traditions. This time I added white chicken chili to my menu.



Brother in law Don was feeling a little witchy tonight. He usually hands out my candy to the spooks who come by my house on Halloween while we take the kiddos trick or treating around the neighborhood [which I appreciate] but the spooks got rained out.


My sister Jane made these awesome treats ~ Nutter Butters dipped in white chocolate with chocolate chip faces.

They were totally deliciously decadent! And cute, too. Thanks for sharing, Jane!

Halloween was a little weird this year with no trick or treaters begging for candy at my front door. But that didn’t matter. We had a blast anyway. This is the most wonderful time of the year for me. Halloween, in my book, trumps Turkey Day and even Christmas with the fun factor every time. I hope the spooks come by this Saturday, or I’m stuck with two huge bags of candy. Happy Halloween, America! And sad farewell to October, my favorite month of the year.

Day Three Hundred Three 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!

My baby sister, Jane [an almost-Halloween baby] celebrates her 52nd birthday today. She’s a blessing to me and everyone who knows her and I’m so glad to have her in my life, not only as my sister, but also as my friend. Happy Birthday, Jane!! Love and hugs from me to you on your day of days.

Day Three Hundred Two 2013

The leaves in my neck of the woods seem to be taking their time changing colors. That’s OK. Once they turn, they fall. I’m so not looking forward to bare tree season.

Day Three Hundred One 2013

Bought a new Crockpot yesterday and thought I’d take it for a spin today. It’s the first time I’ve ever actually bought a slow cooker even though I’ve been using them since I’ve been married [40 years and counting]. Crockpots made their debut way back in the seventies. Someone gave us our first one for a wedding gift. It is burnt orange. I still have it. My daughter Holly gave me one of her slow cookers after she got married ~ she and her hubs ended up with three as wedding presents.  I was happy to have a modern one where you can remove the crock from the pot. Easier to wash. It was time for a new one, though. Spent twenty bucks for it at Wal-Mart. Not too shabby. Works great, especially after the smells-like-I’m-cooking-batteries odor wore off and the sweet and sour chicken and broccoli aroma took over. Tasted great, too.

Day Three Hundred 2013

Just like a ghost, you've been a-hauntin' my dreams,
So I'll propose on Halloween.
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.
~Classics IV

Day Two Hundred Ninety Nine 2013

I was thinking how out of place these blue and purple and pink hydrangea blooms looked in late October, the month of orange and red and yellow. I couldn’t believe they were still blooming at all. I wish I had cut the blooms and brought them into the house to enjoy.

Because this is what they looked like the next day after our first hard freeze of the season. How sad is that? I guess the only great thing about a hard freeze is that all the mosquitoes are officially dead and gone. Until next year, hydrangeas. [And skeeters]

Day Two Hundred Ninety Eight 2013

This was the best day EVER for granddaughter Shelby. After nine years of wearing glasses, she got contact lenses today. I know you can’t see them in this picture. But you can see how ecstatic she was to finally be rid of her glasses. She’s a gorgeous young lady, with or without the glasses, but now everyone can see just how beautiful those blue eyes really are. Congratulations, Shelby! I’m so happy for you!!

Day Two Hundred Ninety Seven 2013

These two have always made good grades and this report card was no exception. Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby each made one B and the rest A’s. Smart kids. I’m so proud of you both! Keep up the great work!

Day Two Hundred Ninety Six 2013

Grandson Knox fell asleep on his mom’s shoulder while eating a Popsicle and watching Spongebob this afternoon. His mom and dad moved a load of stuff from their old house in Murfreesboro to their new house here. Got lots more to do before they’re fully moved and settled in, so all three are pretty much tuckered out. As long as he’s got his Thomas trains, Knox doesn’t seem to mind all the upheaval.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Five 2013

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." 
~Nathaniel Hawthorne


Red maple leaves and jack o’ lanterns and pumpkin doughnuts ~ just to name a few things that make me wish October would stay all year.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Four 2013

Nothing worse than having to return to school after a two week break, unless it’s your teacher telling you it will be an easy day but it really isn’t because you have to do all this work, work, work. Not to mention all the homework [math!] you have to do when you finally get home. Grandson Elijah’s day certainly felt like a Monday and then some. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully a more tolerable one.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Three 2013

The squirrels who visit our yard are in hog heaven this fall. Our big walnut tree has produced a bumper crop of these baseball sized things. There are hundreds of them. They drop by the dozens all at the same time, and sometimes it sounds like bombs going off. The tree grows on the south side property line on our side, well away from our house, but the radius of the drop zone has reached all the way to our deck. We feel badly for our neighbor because the nuts bombard their roof with direct hits, so we debate whether or not to have the tree taken down. They’re all over the yard. It could be an ankle breaking experience if you’re not careful where you’re stepping. And I shudder to think what would happen to your skull if you should walk into the drop zone when those things are raining down. Anyway, if the squirrels are smart [which they are] they’ll be hoarding as many of these as they can for that cold snowy winter they keep telling us is coming.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Two 2013

FAMILY, FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP, FOOTBALL! [GO BIG ORANGE!]

It’s been a long time since this bunch of Tennessee Volunteer football fans [also known as my family] has come together on game day to watch a Big Orange football game. We used to do it every game every Saturday during the UT season, taking turns meeting at each other’s house, especially when the Vols were ranked in the top five college teams in the country. But I guess as our team dropped out of the ranks over the years, we gave up the get togethers and found other things to do on a Saturday during football season. We kept saying we need to get together again for a game, but we never did. Well, until today. My sister Ann and her hubs Terry decided this game ~ UT Vols against the South Carolina Gamecocks ~ would be a good one to come together and watch. The Vols have had their coaching problems lately, but this team and the new coach have shown promise this season. UT, unranked, lost to number six [at the time] Georgia by only a field goal in overtime two weeks ago. So never say never. We put on our Big Orange shirts and gathered at Ann and T’s house for great food [ribs, Ann’s homemade potato salad, T’s homemade baked beans, and Shelby’s homemade brownies, all so very yummy] and watched some SEC football.

We dug in to all that great food at half time ~ the Vols were leading.

You can probably tell by the smiles on our faces [well, except for maybe Ken and Knox] that the UT Volunteers were victorious over the Gamecocks ~ unranked UT beat eleventh ranked South Carolina 23 ~ 21. What a great game! Well played, Vols! So happy for the UT coach and the Big Orange team and of course Tennessee football fans, who are always pleased to hand Steve Spurrier a loss no matter who he’s coaching. Thanks for hosting the game, Ann and Terry! Good times!
Our happy group shot: from left back row: brother in law Terry, sister Ann, sister Jane [who ran her first half marathon this morning in a little over three hours! woo hoo! way to go, Jane!], nephew Alex, hubs Neil, grandson Knox, niece Sarah, niece Julia, daughter Kelly and moi.  Front row, from left: brother Ken, daughter Holly, granddaughter Shelby, and grandson Elijah. Always grateful for my family and the times we can spend together.

Day Two Hundred Ninety One 2013

I tell myself every Fall that I’m not going to buy mums again. I love to set them on the front porch with the pumpkins and such, but then I forget to water them and they die, and Neil always says he’ll plant them somewhere in the yard but that never happens. Then I saw this big old pot of pretty mums sitting outside at Wal-Mart a few days ago and I had to own it [less than ten dollars ~ not too shabby] What can I say? I’m weak.

I found this witch’s boot on Etsy which I think is a pretty nifty Halloween decoration and for only ten dollars [again, not too shabby]. It made a nice addition to my front door wreath. I always have more fun decorating for Autumn and Halloween than I do for Christmas. Love the colors of Fall! Happy TGIF, y’all!

Day Two Hundred Ninety 2013

Pieces of Thursday

Our sweet neighbor kitty Lily found some warmth and comfort in the scarecrow’s lap on this damp cold day.

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah on Fall Break [which is quickly winding down, much to their distress] pose with the Grim Reaper at Panda Garden restaurant after lunch.

Doughnut run to Ralph’s this afternoon [we were bored slugs, what can I say]. I enjoyed that one in the top right corner of the box ~ a pumpkin doughnut. Delicious way to celebrate October and gain back a pound [or two].

Day Two Hundred Eighty Nine 2013

It’s Wednesday [Hump Daaay!] which means it’s Senior Day at Fazoli’s which means old geezers like Neil and me get a spaghetti and meat sauce meal [including drinks] for half the regular price. It might not look like much, but for those of us who had Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch, this was heaven on a plate. Made my day.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Eight 2013

Me and my scarecrow. He’s happy to be out of the attic.

Autumn on my front porch