Hello November

Good Monday morning friends. The last two weeks of October have me waving the white flag in November and looking forward to a quieter, gentler, less sugar-fueled month. 

As per usual I'm linking with Holly (Pink Lady Blog) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today to discuss our weekend shenanigans. 

Friday morning I had my hair appointment which lasts for hours but one does what one must. I like my stylist a lot. She's the same age as my girls and we're on the same page about a lot of things so always have a nice conversation. I read while I wait on the foil to 'cook' and then I'm in a good mood the rest of the day because fresh hair does that. 

I came home and made a pot of tortilla soup for dinner and then put together the treat bags for the dock or treat happening late afternoon. Kayakers paddle to the host docks for a sip and snack, and while it was a little brisk out there on Friday everyone had a good time. 

Most years we dress up and the kayakers usually wear costumes too. I didn't wear a costume this year because I honestly hadn't had time to think about it. Hubs did pull something out of the costume box in the attic and I wore my pumpkin t-shirt so we were festive enough. 

We gave everyone a sip of our homemade limoncello and I made savory thumbprints which were really good and definitely a keeper in terms of recipes I'll make again. (I used the recipe found here and it made two dozen so I'd double for a party). 

These thumbprints are a cheesy cookie with a dollop of pepper jelly in the center. I put them in cello bags along with some candy because it was Halloween after all. I've learned after doing this a couple of times putting the snack in a bag makes it much easier to pass to a kayaker. 

After they left hubs and I had soup and relaxed until the kids came by to show us their costumes. For the most part I don't post pics of their faces on my blog these days, but trust me they were awesome. They did a Monty Python theme with the boys as knights, my daughter as the witch, my son-in-law the coconut character, and little miss as the 'bunny'. She loved her costume. 

My Tennessee grands were completely adorable and had a great day. They even won the under-10 costume contest in their neighborhood. If you're a lover of children's literature you'll get it-

Saturday morning we watched college game day while I baked a coke cake. Yes. More dessert. I had signed up to bring something to a pastor appreciation luncheon we were attending on Sunday and my baking window was Saturday morning. 

This is an old recipe but also one that never-fails. That warm fudge icing is the best. I wanted something I could make the day before and easily transport and I remembered how much I used to love this when my momma made it. Still so good! 

Saturday afternoon we headed back to Daughter1's house for, guess what??? 

Yup. Another birthday party. 

Because Max's birthday lands just a couple of days before Halloween his parents had his party the day after. Thankfully the weather was perfect because they had a crowd. 

Also, that's a giant balloon. Spiderman didn't actually make an appearance. 

Hubs and I got Max soccer goals and most of the boys were happy playing soccer all afternoon. The party had a Superhero theme and my daughter had a few fun things they could do in addition to the ball game. There was a cardboard city she made that the kids could knock down wearing Hulk gloves, and they absolutely loved this. 

There was also a super hero frisbee toss, decorate your own mask, and capes for everyone. 

Pizza and cupcakes because what's a birthday party without food and candles on a cake? We got home just in time to watch the Vols play. Whew another brutal game and loss. 

Moving on...Sunday morning hubs got on the road to Tennessee to pick up his mom and bring her to the lake to spend the week with us. I went to church and then stayed for the lunch afterwards. 

I grocery shopped on the way home because we have someone coming to refinish our front door on Monday and I'll need to be home until the job is completed. Which may mean all day. Hubs and his mom will be home around lunchtime and then he'll manage the door project because that's his department. 

We have a few fun things planned with his mom, and she's excited to see the her Carolina great grands.  I'm getting a shot in my ankle and whoohoo! that will be a good time too. 

What kind of fun did you have this weekend? Hop over to our host blogs and tell us all about it.

Monthly Musings-October

It's somehow the end of October which means it's time for Monthly Musings hosted by Holly and Patty. This month's questions have a throwback feel to them and I love a throwback. Let's go... 

1. Favorite Halloween traditions? 

My own littles are grown with littles of their own now, so this will be a bit of a stroll down memory lane. We never made a huge deal out of Halloween, but we did costumes and trick or treating and always looked forward to that. 

My girls elementary school days were spent living in a cozy cul-de-sac in a small neighborhood so that's where most of the trick or treating took place. There were several other neighborhoods within walking distance of ours so plenty of houses. 

The dads typically walked the neighborhoods with the kids, and the moms stayed home to pass out candy. I enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up. It was usually cold and many years the kids would be wearing coats over their outfits which was a bummer, but sometimes necessary. There was usually a parade at school too, and parents came to watch. I remember that from my own elementary school days as well.  

When we moved to the UK Halloween was murky...do they celebrate or not? The girls went to a party, or maybe out with friends, the first year we lived there and dressed as '60's girls' which was super cute. 

2. Special Halloween dinners or spooky snacks? 

We usually had chili for dinner because as I said, it was almost always cold outside. 

3. What do you typically do on Halloween? 

Our neighborhood has had trunk or treats in years past, but I don't think one is going on in the neighborhood this year. There are many happening all around town, and organized trick or treating seems to be more common now than going house to house like we did as children. Also these trunk or treats have been happening since last weekend, so I guess Halloween is now a week-long celebration? 

Since moving to the lake hubs and I have been to a few Halloween parties and I love a good costume. 

This year we'll see the local grandkids and they have a fantastic family costume I'm excited about. My Tennessee grands also have the absolute cutest costumes and they live in a neighborhood where trick or treating is easy. I'll have to settle for a photo there though. 

No parties this year for hubs and I, but my grandson's birthday is the week of Halloween so we'll be celebrating him over the weekend. 

Our neighborhood does a dock or treat and that's fun! Kayakers paddle to various host docks for a sip and snack. We're hosting a stop here this year and will serve a limoncello sip with a savory cheddar and pepper jelly thumbprint. 

 

I've never made the savory thumbprints before but they sound good.  

4. Do you carve or paint pumpkins? 

Not anymore. We never painted but always carved, and the kids had fun with that. These days I have un-carved pumpkins on my front porch as decor. 

5. Favorite Halloween Candy? 

I had a candy question in the Hodgepodge this week, but as far as true Halloween candy goes I'll say a Reese's cup. 

6. What are you giving out for Halloween this year? 

We don't usually get trick or treaters here, but I do have treats for the grandkids who will stop by to show us their costumes. I have Reese's because hubs loves them, tootsie pops, and Starburst. 

7. Full size or fun-size? 

Fun size. I love the fun size. 

8. Favorite Halloween Costume of all time? 

This is a tough one. Hubs and I dressed as Austin Powers and his girl one year and that was a big hit. 

9. Favorite Halloween movies? 

None. I'm not a fan of horror or the whole Halloween movie genre. 

10.  What are the trick or treat hours where you live? 

Depending where you go it's 5-8, or 6:30-8:30.  

Thanks Holly and Patty for the link up...hop over to their blogs if you want to read more or add a post of your own. 

Note-I'm hosting a Day In The Life link up on Thursday, Nov 13th for anyone who'd like to participate. You'll find details at the end of this blog post-A Freshly Painted Hodgepodge.  These posts are always fun to read, and if you've always wanted to try one here's your chance. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 626

Here are the questions to the mid-week Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (October 29th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? 

3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'? 

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? 

5. Do you like surprises? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Trick or Treat! It's The Hodgepodge!

BOO! It's the Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions, add your link at the end of my post. Then head over to your neighbor there, and leave them a comment. What a treat!  Here we go-

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I think the older you get the more aware you become of the passing of time. I know I want to invest in things that matter for eternity. I want to stay healthy and active. Hubs and I enjoy going and doing and we have five grandchildren who I want to see grow up. 

I especially want to be intentional as a grandparent in spending time with them, praying for them, encouraging them. And for my daughters too who are in the thick of it with young children in the house. I want to be available for them when they are available. The flexibility in my daily schedule is a gift and I want to listen and support and laugh with them at all the funny things their babies say and do. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

Self-discipline.

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

We do celebrate Halloween. We usually go to a party and I enjoy dressing up. We have wedding festivities happening this weekend, so will be celebrating young love instead of Halloween.  

When the girls were growing up we carved pumpkins, chose costumes, and then usually the dads in the neighborhood took the trick or treaters out and moms were home handing out the candy. 

The dads enjoyed it as much as the kids, and they sometimes dressed up too. I don't decorate for Halloween per se, but I do put pumpkins on my porch and add some fall decor inside. 

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate?

I haven't had a lot of chocolate lately. I guess the last thing I ate would be the last thing I made. These chocolate peanut butter bars my sister gave me the recipe for. I've only had one but hubs has been enjoying them a lot. In fact I didn't take a picture when I made them and this is all that's left-

Super easy and no bake! The recipe is linked here-No Bake Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Squares

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

I like both. I need both. I enjoy plans but need down time to recover too. Last weekend was pretty laid back. I wrote about it in Monday's post-Monday Morning Quarterbacking

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I dug out a couple of Halloween pics from years past. This was last year's costume-

And an Austin Powers themed costume I loved from a few years back-

And one more of my girls from way back when...

Enjoy your Halloween fun, and I'll see you in NOVEMBER. Say what??

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 575

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share your answers. See you there! 

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 525

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Besides Thanksgiving (in the USA) what's one thing you're looking forward to in November? 

2. Do you like candles? Your favorite scent? How often do you burn a candle in your home? 

3. What gadgets did you use today? 

4. This question is a repeat from one asked in November of 2014, but I liked it so it's coming round again. Many of you weren't here in 2014. Okay, you can have fifty pounds of something (anything but money)...what will you choose? Also, since I mentioned it...what were you up to in November of 2014? 

5. 'Tis the season...what's something you're feeling especially grateful for today? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Art Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in October of 2023. Next week November is upon us and the holidays are coming up quick.  If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Trick or treating, hodgepodge style. Here we go-

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

I'm not sure I have a favorite. I love the ballet paintings of Degas, the gardens of Monet, and the birds of John James Audubon.  Why? I love ballet and the great outdoors. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

No not in the sense of having skill in drawing or as a painter or sculptor. I'm creative with words but I'm not artistic. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

Loading the dishwasher lol. 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

We don't dine out a lot because choices here in tiny town are pretty limited. We mostly cook at home or dine with friends in their homes. We don't eat fast food (maybe the occasional Chick fil-A when traveling). We love fine dining (our favorite) but again, it's a drive to get to so not something we do often anymore. We belong to a couple of wine clubs that pair wines with food and we enjoy that a lot. Hubs and I get lunch out maybe once a week? Dinner maybe once a week, probably less...depends on the week. 

A less than stellar experience? We met friends for pizza before a concert a couple of weeks ago. The show started at 7:30 and we met at the restaurant (one block from the concert venue) at 5:45. At 7 PM we went to check on the food (or lack thereof) and were told they hadn't even put the order in yet. Bother. 

The bar for restaurant service post-'you know what' is pretty low, but communication is key. If the server had given us an update on the situation (understaffed and overwhelmed) we would have had options. 

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

Some years we have something going on, and other years it's quiet. This year we're going to a party and will be dressing up. I do love a costume. I don't decorate my house for Halloween, but do put a few fall pieces out, mums and pumpkins on the porch, that sort of thing. Our neighborhood is hosting a trunk or treat if they get enough of a response. There aren't a lot of young children in our neighborhood. The kayak group is doing a 'dock or treat' and we're hosting a stop at our dock. You give the kayakers a sip of something and a small bite of something before they paddle away. Should be fun. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

This has nothing to do with anything which I suppose is the definition of random but...

I follow a site on insta called SBMowing. He has a landscape business and I think it's once a week he drives around, finds a yard that is overgrown, out-of-control, a community eyesore, and he takes care of it for free. There is something so satisfying about these videos and what he's doing. A little pick me up in a world that needs picking up. 

Here's the link-SBMowing

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 524

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there!

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

A Merry Halloween Hodgepodge

Boo! It's the Hodgepodge! If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. In two or three sentences describe yourself to someone who has never met you. 

I actually have an 'about me' tab on my sidebar, but it's in serious need of updating. For now let's stick to the prompt-

Married for 38+ years to my college sweetheart. Mother, daughter, sister, Nana. I love Jesus, books, words and finding beauty in the great wide somewhere. 

2. Will you celebrate Halloween this year? If you answered yes tell us how? Let's play this or that-chocolate candy or fruity candy? pumpkin seeds or pumpkin pie? Halloween party or scary movie? hay ride or corn maze? carve a pumpkin or paint a pumpkin?

We'll be spending Halloween with daughter1 and her family so definitely celebrating. The boys are so excited about their costumes which their crafty momma made. They live in one of those neighborhoods that has lots and lots and lots of children, the kind of neighborhood other people drive into so their kids can also trick or treat there. I'm expecting a lot of the fun kind of chaos.  

As far as this or that-chocolate, pie, party, hay ride, carve

3. What's something that scared you when you were young? Are you still afraid?

Our basement lol. If my mom needed me to get something from the basement I begged my sister to go with me, and she did the same. We eventually got over it, but even as a grown adults we disliked being sent to the basement to fetch something. No logical reason why, nothing truly scary ever happened in that basement, but it was a childhood fear that stuck. 

4. Your favorite soothing drink? 

Hot tea with a very small splash of milk. 

5. Are you thinking about Christmas yet? Does this make you feel happy or stressed? 

My September-October brain has not had a lot of room for thoughts of Christmas. 

Besides, I love the fall and Thanksgiving especially, so I don't want to move ahead too quickly. I guess I've thought about Christmas a very little bit in terms of who's coming when, and I've purchased a handful of gifts, but not enough to make a real dent in my gift giving list.  

I don't feel stressed thinking about Christmas. Not yet anyway. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I have what feels like a million random thoughts currently rolling around my head but for now let's all just take a deep breath and appreciate the Tennessee sunset in my daughter's backyard-

Happy Wednesday! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 481

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. In two or three sentences describe yourself to someone who has never met you. 

2. Will you celebrate Halloween this year, and if so tell us how? Let's play this or that-chocolate candy or fruity candy? pumpkin seeds or pumpkin pie? Halloween party or scary movie? hay ride or corn maze? carve a pumpkin or paint a pumpkin?

3. What's something that scared you when you were young? Are you still afraid? 

4. Your favorite soothing drink? 

5. Are you thinking about Christmas yet? Does this make you feel happy or stressed? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Happy Halloween! And Other November Things

I am obsessed with autumn this year. Every year I guess, but this year especially. 

I think it's the light. The light is pure gold and the lake off peak is gentle and still. 

I know the days are shorter, but the way the sunlight breaks through the trees makes up for that. Blue jeans, fires, cozy mornings, change...just give me all the autumn things. 

Hubs and I took a drive across the border a couple of weeks ago to have lunch at The Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway. 

Spectacular. 

Let's see...what else...hmmm... hey, remember Halloween? Ha! 

Cutest family ever. I love all the 'themed' costumes you see young families coming up with today. 

Speaking of cute, do you also remember the newlyweds? 

They were here this past weekend en route to their new home some distance south of us. West of us? Somewhere that's not here, but not too too far from here either. We had a wonderful visit as evidenced by this picture taken late Saturday afternoon-

And I'm sure you remember Hunley-

He won the Garden and Gun Magazine Reader's Choice award and continues to live his best life every single day. You can read a link to the article on their website here. 

The contest was a lot of fun and he received over 90,000 votes. People had to detox from their phones and their Facebook when it was all over because friends, and friends of friends, and former coworkers, and their friends, and Boykin Spaniel lovers the world over were all in on this thing for an entire month. 

I've thought about the way we entered this contest on a lark and how it literally took off, and why that was. I've decided it was about so much more than a dog photo. I think people were so eager for a distraction from this upside down world we are living in, so hungry for a break from all things political, anxious to forget all the scolding and the judging and the lecturing and the shaming and the canceling, so much so that they devoted themselves to something simple, something happy...

A little brown dog, who for a time in the middle of a beautiful autumn and an angry world, connected us in a way that made us smile.

Let's keep smiling. 

Nothin' Scary About The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in October.  If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my blog, then leave a comment for the blogger before you.  Here we go-

1. Is Halloween a big deal in your neighborhood? Was it something you celebrated as a child? With your own children? Do you like candy corn? 

It's not a huge deal in our neighborhood, but it's not no deal either. There are not a lot of young children in our neighborhood and the driveways are long and the roads a bit dark so not ideal for trick or treating. Last year someone organized a trunk or treat in the clubhouse parking lot which was fun and made trick or treating easier for everyone. We don't get trick or treaters at our door, which is just as well because I tend to buy way too much candy and consequently eat way too much candy. 

We did celebrate when I was growing up, nothing over the top but it was a fun day and much looked forward to. We always had a costume parade at school and then we trick or treated around the neighborhood that evening. This was back in the day when you wore those plastic masks that covered your face, had tiny little slits for eyes, and a rubber band that went around your head to hold it in place. If you know you know and if you don't, well you're young and lucky lol. 

My dad always carved a pumpkin but we didn't do any extreme decorating. Early on in my blog life I wrote a (very wordy) post about my Halloween memories. I've linked it here if you're curious-It Was A Dark and Stormy Night...

We kept it pretty low key for our own children too. Costumes and trick or treating around the neighborhood with the dads leading the way. We carved pumpkins but again, I wasn't in to a lot of Halloween decor. 

As far as candy corn goes...I can take it or leave it. 

2. Are you a scaredy cat? About what? 

Hmmm...we probably all have one thing or another that would qualify us as 'scaredy cat'. I have done and still do a lot of things many people would define as 'living unafraid'...international travel, swimming in a deep lake, public speaking, etc. 

How about traversing a gorge in a hanging cable car? I'm fraidy scared but I still do get on them and go so does that really count? 

I know...bats. I am a scaredy cat when it comes to bats. Shudder. 

3. Last time you were somewhere that should have been busy but felt like a 'ghost town'?

Maybe a restaurant on a Friday night that would normally be hopping but these days is not?

4. Do you like chili and if so how do you like it? Beans or no beans? Meat or no meat? Beef or chicken? Spice or no spice? Favorite toppings? 

I love chili and I love chili weather. I make mine with beans-meat-spice, but can happily eat chili all sorts of ways. I tend to use beef but also have a white chicken chili recipe that's tasty. We like spicy and then hubs also needs a side of jalapeños because there's no such thing as too hot for him. I like shredded cheese and sometimes a small dollop of sour cream on mine along with a side of cornbread.

5. Would you describe yourself as a night owl? What time of night qualifies? What are you doing while everyone else is asleep? Do you then 'sleep in'? Define 'sleeping in'. 

Ha! No. What's the opposite of a night owl, because that's what I am? I'm an early bird and love the wee hours of the morning as the sun is rising, not the wee hours of the night after the sun has gone to bed. My level of productivity goes way down late afternoon, and sleeping in for me would be 7:30. If I'm still in bed at 8 am I'm probably sick. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." L.M. Montgomery

So is the little brown dog...

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