Next Please!

It's a bit of a dreary day here so I am staying indoors and thought it might be the perfect time to move along to the dining room. I don't know what there is about this console table but, it still makes me happy every time I look at it. Maybe because, in some small way, it makes me think I'm in the Italian country side. Lol

I also still love the flickering attic light that I got from Grandin Road. I think it is just so appropriate casting its shadows on the "dearly departed".

So that is the dining room. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to fill that table with family...and pretty place settings...very soon.

I'm off to tackle a few little projects that have been on "the list" for awhile but I'll be back soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.
 

 

"Brewing" Up Some Fun

So it's time to go into the kitchen. I changed up a little in here..see if you can tell where.

For the last number of years, I have had the laboratory set up here with the large beaker set I got from PB. For some reason, I just wasn't into that anymore. In fact, I really didn't even want to use all of these potion bottles either but, I didn't have any other brilliant ideas without going out and buying a lot of new stuff, so...

The lab stuff from PB was kind of expensive-hence the reason I used it for so long I think-but, it has found a new home. My four oldest grand daughters-who all have their own apartments now-were going through the things I didn't put out this year and grand daughter #1 scooped the chemistry set up quickly! I know it will find a place of honor in her home for many years to come.

So that is the kitchen this year. Even though I'm not getting out a lot these days, I have had a bunch of company and that makes me so happy. I love using all of my holiday dinnerware and setting the table for guests. Honestly, I use all of my holiday stuff even if it is just me and I am eating alone. I figure if I have it, I might as well enjoy it. 

We are finally having another break in our temperature today and I have another 20 bags of mulch waiting to be spread, so off I go...but, I will be back. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Happy Halloween!!

Wow. It feels like I have been MIA for a long time...but, for very good reason! I last posted after my wonderful weekend and the start of one of my larger, outdoor projects. Monday brought a new week and lots of catching up to do. Then, on Tuesday, I had a hair appointment and many errands to run.

On Wednesday, my brother and sister-in-law arrived and they came to help me with more of the "heavy lifting" outside. They were here for two days and I can't even begin to tell you how many BIG chores we accomplished! Most of them are things I can still do but they would have taken me three times longer without the extra hands. I will say that the extra heat we are experiencing this year really makes these projects miserable. Usually I am doing the really big weeding and mulching projects in the autumn and spring and the weather is much less extreme than it has been this year. That heat totally wipes me out!

Then, on Friday daughter #2 came down and daughter #3 joined us on Saturday. Almost everything that was on my very long list and not done is now done as well! I'm starting to believe that old adage..."it takes a village". Lol

And so, I am at the start of yet another week and almost at the end of the day. I figure I better get some of the Halloween decor posted before it is time to put up Thanksgiving.

I changed up the front a bit. My old orange and purple "icicle" lights were pretty faded and the little jack-o-lanterns didn't do much for me any more so they are now just a memory. I also got rid of a few signs and kept things pretty simple-just a black lighted garland over the front window, the witch hat door hanger and the eyeball doorbell. Then, of course, the sign that I made so many years ago with the Halloween arbor and tombstones.

Enter if you dare!

My plan had been to move this sign to the family room mantle this year and re-do this vignette. Unfortunately, it is so tall I couldn't find anywhere else it would fit so, back it came.

I still love looking at all of our family costume party pictures.

I changed up the garland and the lights I used to use here. I bought this garland many years ago from Grandin Road and I love the way it drapes and hangs down over the mirror...wish I had more.

So that is this year's entrance. I can't believe how quickly the month is going! I am trying to savor the orange and black as much as I can because I really love it so much. I'll be back soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Where Does the Time Go?

 Wow, it sure seems like a long time since I have posted. I have been having some of the fun that my favorite season affords...lots of time outside, visits from friends, visits from family, decorating, etc. We have had some beautiful cool weather to go along with all of the fun as well.

Those of you who have followed my blog for a long time know that almost every week in October brings another big event to my family. But, with the kids all getting older and living in other places...not to mention all of their other adult responsibilities-not to mention the complications of the virus-I was thinking about the most I could hope for this year would be to have my three youngest grands here for an abbreviated weekend. Did I forget to mention that we also have two football games every week to work around?

In any case...and to make a long story short...my grand children got together without my knowledge and planned to all surprise me on Saturday morning. They all arrived and we took some time to catch up with each other. The kids wanted to do things "like the old days" but, if you know me, you know that that would have taken MUCH pre-planning and shopping. And so, we talked about some things we could do and decided to just go with it and have fun.

That also meant not taking pictures at every turn or making things any more complicated than they needed to be. Luckily, I had the supplies for the ghosts, two of the girls went to the store for food while the other three stayed here and got busy baking some pumpkin donut holes. We decided to make dinner simple, enjoy each other, grab some fast witch pictures...just because the kids have been doing that forever and they just wouldn't give that tradition up. Of course, by the time we got to it it was dark outside and finding a place where we all fit inside is difficult these days...mostly because of lighting but also because of how big everyone is now. In any case, this is the best we could get and I am thankful!

Here is a quick look at the ghosts we made...

...and Caitlin and Presley surprised us with some graveyard pudding.

After pictures, everyone got in their pjs and we all settled in to watch Hocus Pocus. The boys had never seen it so it was fun watching their reactions. It was kind of hard to hear the movie because these seven kids talked to each other non-stop and most of the talking was reminiscing about all of the things we have done over the years. I think they looked at every one of the thousand ( at least it feels like that ) photos I have out and talked about everything they remember from each of those pictures. I have got to say that it did an old Nana's heart good to hear all of the laughter and love in that room that night...I wish it didn't have to end.

The next day, we had one of their favorite remembered breakfasts before two of the girls had to head back to Tallahassee, one to St. Augustine and one to Gainesville. The three youngest spent the better part of the day here and my two grandsons and I went out and made a dent in the work needed behind my fence. What a beautiful family-filled weekend it turned out to be and I love them all so much for giving up their weekends to come visit me. I can't wait until we can do it again!

And, the weekend wouldn't be complete without a football update. It is hard to get pictures with my grandson at his home games because they hustle the kids straight into the field house after the games and don't let anyone down on the field because of the virus but, we were able to get some pictures at their first away game in Gainesville as the boys were heading to the buses and had to walk right past us. Also, since a lot of the family lives in Gainesville we were able to have lots of extra support.

So, that has been my foray into my favorite season so far. I did get my house decorated for Halloween but I still need to finish up the outside. As soon as I get that done, I will start sharing. I changed a few things up this year to make it a bit fresher but, I will admit, I still have a LOT! All four of my oldest grand daughters told me this weekend that they have inherited my holiday decorating gene. They said their friends think they're nuts but they can't help themselves. Like our favorite Mr. Monk would say. "it's a blessing...and a curse". Lol

I no longer have the option of using the old Blogger format so I am limping through this post as I try to figure out the new one and hope that when I hit the "publish" button, it will look something like I plan. We shall see. Stay safe and stay tuned.