Down to the Wire

I have been crafting like mad, trying to get a bunch of Christmas presents done well before Christmas.

This year, I WILL BE ON TIME!!!

Ok, I will try. But I do have a lot of incentive. This year we are travelling down to my brother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving. Which means I want to have all of their gifts done so they can have them under their tree. Of course, that also means taking down gifts for the rest of the family in the area. And that also means birthday presents because December was a good month for those who celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.

This is me, only not young, male, or blond.

And no, I can’t post any of the stuff I’m making because there are some recipients that actually bother to read this fluff. So, y’all will have to wait until after Christmas. But that’s ok. I’m making plenty of other crap with which to bore you, so don’t despair 😉

Reasons Why I’m in Charge of Halloween Candy

Never underestimate Hubby on Halloween.

This year, our kids dressed up and went trolling up and down the neighborhood, while Hubby and I stayed behind. In the years past, we had a block party in order to “streamline” the Trick-or-Treaters into one area to make things easier on the parents, but this year was called off due to several neighbors moving away. So, we sat outside so that the kids wouldn’t be ringing the doorbell and driving the dogs crazy.

Normally, the evening would have entailed me exclaiming over the costumes and Hubby going off with the kids. Not this time. This time he was adding to the conversations.

Hubby: You know, we can go get the other snake and place it in the candy basket and let the kids pick through.

Me: Uh, NO!

Hubby: Oh, c’mon! It would be fun!

Me: You’re insane.

And then there were the costumes…. Hubby is not one to *ahem* gloss over anything.

Me: (pointing out a woman dressed as a so-called Little Bo Peep in stockings and high heels) I would NEVER be outside dressed like that!

Hubby: What’s wrong with it?

Me: Obviously nothing from your point of view.

Hubby: She’s sure Peeping out of it.

And the kids dressed like zombies got two pieces of candy, for obvious reasons.

Zombie Kid: TRICK OR TREAT!!

Hubby: Hey! A zombie! You’re lucky I left my shotgun inside.

Zombie Kid: Huh?

Hubby: Practice for the Zombie Apocalypse, you know?

Me: HERE’S SOME CANDY HAVE A GOODNIGHT!!!!

I think next year I’ll put him in charge, and videotape the whole thing. It’s the only way people will believe me 😉

Question to Ponder

Yesterday was a hectic day. ROTC returned from their Lex trip, Little One was still enjoying a sleepover in the afternoon, and Eldest wanted to practice driving. Short story: I didn’t get to enjoy a visit to a winery as planned. But no matter, because I did have time to make a turkey roast which was delish. And that’s what inspired the question:

Why do we wait to have turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas??

Now, obviously I didn’t do a whole turkey. That’s just ridiculous. But doing a boneless roast is not hard, and takes only a couple of hours in the oven, which is pretty much what meatloaf or a pot roast take to bake. From now on I think I will make a turkey at at least once a month.

Variety being the spice of Life and all, along with rosemary!

Checking It Twice, or Five Times to Be Sure

I have been making and revising the Christmas List™. This year it has been a bit more frustrating than before. You see, there have been changes to the List of which I have recently become aware. Nothing big, like new family members. I am aware of those changes! No, just little things, like color preferences, new style preferences, new hobby interests, etc.

Still, it’s not a big inconvenience, just a mild one. At least gift certificates and money are always failsafe. Come to think of it, so is food.

But I just can’t be trusted with purchasing chocolate. The stress of the season would force me to take advantage of that. Well, just having it around would force me to take advantage of that. Ok, “force” is not the right word. STOP JUDGING ME!!!!

Just for that, I’m going out to get another bag of Halloween candy. It helps with the stress 😀

I Need a Time Machine

It’s that time of year again. Pretty soon, little ghouls and princesses will be coming around to get their fix of sugar, and after that, little family members will be coming around for turkey and pie, and after that….

It doesn’t bear thinking about right now.

I tend to do most of my creative stuff during the fall. I admit I like to dress up in costumes to greet the unsuspecting innocents trick-or-treaters. I am never scary intentionally. Notice the use of the word, “intentionally”. It matters. This year, I was toying with the idea of doing a Steampunk costume. I do own *ahem* some of the accoutrements needed, not to mention I can fashion out a wicked set of goggles in a snap, plus I’m pretty handy with glue and needles.

Costume by La Licorne Ailee via Deviantart

And as totally cool as that would be, I am more than 100% sure that most of the kids wouldn’t even know what my costume represents. I could always fall back on the ever-reliable Roman toga, but then I run the risk of kids yelling “ANIMAL HOUSE!!!”, when they should NOT know about that at their age. It’s a quandary. Oh well…never too late to start planning, right?

Time to rummage through the fixtures at Home Depot™ 😀

Calm Down

I ain’t dead.

I have been making flowers hosting guests doing school projects relaxing, and didn’t have much to say today.

Oh, the chair out on my lawn is empty, by the way.

Also, I think these are under my skin.

I can see a lot of orders for these in school colors in my future, and they look awesome in grey, in case any moms from the “other” school are wondering.

I may need an intervention 😉

SQUEEEE!!!!

The Nomstress is here, and we get to have some girl time today!!

Hubby: So, what are the plans for today?

Me: I am taking the girls to the Trollbeads store.

Hubby: Uh…

Me: *cuts eyes over to him*

Hubby: That sounds like fun for you!!

It’s a long weekend, and I need to relax. THAT’S FINAL!!

Anyway, gotta jet for now. I have an appointment with the felt department at Hancock Fabrics after the Trollbeads store, and after that, I have an appointment with a glass of wine lemonade. Hope y’all have a good one 😉

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

It was a great week, and wonderful to get away from the dry heat here to the humid heat there!

The first day we just unwound, enjoying the views and the sound of the water below. As y’all know, the second day we went bowling, and it was a blast, especially witnessing my failings at it. That evening we decided to try fishing from the balcony.

Seriously, how can one pass that up, right??? But unfortunately most of the fish were scared off due to the high traffic on the lake, so nothing bit. But Hubby is never discouraged. We got out to the store and get chicken livers for bait. Apparently, catfish really like that stuff.

Gutterballs

Our first day at the lake, I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise, waves lapping gently against the rocks, and herons flying overhead. The morning was tranquil, and made perfect by my cup of coffee.

But good things don’t last forever, and so we woke the kids and asked them what they would like to do on such a beautiful day.

BOWLING!!

Uh, ok. We drove 250 miles and rented a condo ON the lake so that we could do…. what we can do at home. But the point of vacation is to have fun, and so we headed out to the bowling alley. And I must admit, it sure was fun. I had a record-breaking 42 gutterballs in three games. But I also scored some pins, and apparently I was very creative about it.

Son: (after I scored ONE pin) Hey, Mom! Now if you score another pin, and then score two, and then score three, and then score five, you’ll be on your way to doing the Fibonacci Sequence!

Me: So, my plan to establish a pattern is working.

Son: Yep.

Me: Uh huh.

Hey, it was a great excuse to explain my lack of prowess 😉

Final Countdown

Yay!! Vacation time is almost here!!

Which is why I have spent all morning cleaning and doing laundry and dusting and organizing and throwing out trash and cleaning out the fridge and making lists.

Oh, and while mopping, Son found my missing glasses. WINNING!!

Yes, I have my apron on, and no, I don’t look THAT happy. Weirdly, that table resembles one I own. That creeps me out a bit. At least I don’t own that lamp. My aunt does, however.

Anyway, I shall be blogging from parts unknown next week. Well, some of the readers know where I’ll be, but let’s keep that to ourselves, m’kay? I just will NOT have time to devote to my adoring fans if they were to show up to stalk me.

Yes, I laughed at that, too 😉