A Fanciful Twist

October 31st

Happy Halloweeeeen!

Halloween is in full effect at our house.

I bet some of you are out trick or treating as I type...

We've had a wonderful Halloween so far.

You?

Mister ran out for a late afternoon appointment while I whip up our Halloween feast.

Of course, I snuck off to say hi to you and share some pics.

I have baked up a storm today.

Filling the dining table with all sorts of goodies.

It's all pumpkin happy and glowing in there.

The funniest thing is happening.

The gourds that grew way up high in the trees are slowly moving down to reachable heights.

The vines are drying and sagging, just enough to grab a few.

It's so interesting to see, and quite handy too, those sneaky vines.

I love treat making on Halloween, you?

It was a super lovely baking day.

Although, the caramel apples need to happen still.

I was watching the real story of Halloween on the history channel.

Did you see that last night?

Anyhow, I was particularly interested in the soul cakes.

So, this is my own version.

I'll make the traditional version in a couple days, for day of the dead.

These are turtle brownies with powdered sugar.

Want one?

I wish Halloween lasted more than one day, you?

It's weird how tomorrow, it's November, eeeeeek!

But for right this very moment, we have Halloween.

Hoooooray!

Goodies galore!

What would Halloween be without homemade caramel corn, I ask?

Have you tried this recipe yet?

It's scrumptious beyond words!

And it's always a hit.

It's going really really fast, I tell ya.

We carved a few pumpkins this morning.

Can you tell who carved the one below?

Haha, yep, ML.

Looks like some of our guests are arriving.

Seems they can't find their pointy hats.

As I set out our guests I said to Mister Lovee, "you know this is certifiable behavior..."

"Having doll guests and all..."

But he just shrugged, like it's so our norm, that it's no biggie.

Haha!

Poor man, I turned him crazy.

Anyhow, scoop up some treats on your way out...

Or, stay and party with us all night.

I am about to make a delicious dinner.

Then movies and sweets til we drop.

Don't forget a magic spell, or two, or three.

And beware of houses that haunt, okay?

We'll be here all cozy.

Waiting to hear your tales of this glorious night.

Yippppeee!

It's Halloweeeeeen!

I've been watching Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus.

What a good goooood day.

 

 

 But honestly, what is today without Midnight Margaritas???

 

Well, off I go.

My stove is calling.

 

See you extra soon!!

 

Love, V

Haaaaaappy Halloweeeeeeeeen!

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Beckons...

I can't believe it, I just can't.

Halloween looms, it's here, it's so near.

Thank you for the extra fun last minute annual Halloween party.

I looooved visiting everyone!

Although, somehow when leaving a comment on a newspaper website, I got signed up for google+ and now everything I do is under google plus.  So if I visited you under google+ I have no clue how that happened or how to sign out :)

It was such good fun.

Wasn't the masked man freaky?

He turned up with the masks without me knowing, we all got a fright.

Pups included, haha.

But now, here we are, the eve of Halloween.

It came too soon, too soon.

I panic with the time fluttering by so quickly.

Wowie.

I have been doing soooo many things around here.

Truth be told, for about 8 days I have been doing major refreshers around here.

Painting (of the wall and ceiling variety), fluffing, rearranging this and that.

Washing curtains, having cable guys move cables.

You know, all that sort of house stuff.

You know how you move a painting, and realize you need to paint the wall behind it?

And then all of a sudden you realize you need to paint another wall, and then another, and then another, and then another?  And all of a sudden you snowball into major home stuff?

That's what happened to me.

Also, the garden calls us.

It's bitter sweet you know, seeing the change.

It has been cool in the evenings, low 80's during the day.

Some plants think it's spring, others know, it's time to say good-bye.

The pups and I head out to check on things.

I am still bringing in pumpkins.

There are so many more than I realized.

I have not even started taking pumpkins off of the domed garden area.

There are dozens and dozens there.

And, I won't take this guy below until Thanksgiving maybe?

Unless we get some really random cold that is.

I am only taking the guys on really dry vines these days.

It's such an autumnal ritual for me now.

I am one of those people who needs full holiday immersion.

As I get older, it gets harder to feel engulfed in seasons in the way I neeeeeeed.

But the garden helps me with that in a major way.

Thank goodness, for my sanities sake, for pumpkins.

We pass some huge flowering morning glories...

On our way to the back, where the veggie garden is located.

I can't believe there are still pumpkins growing new and fresh.

Crazy Arizona warmth makes it possible.

There are over 40 of the little guys below.

And boy, they are hard as rocks.

I think they will last for a very long time without going soft.

Last year I bought one tiny pumpkin for 70 cents that had a HUGE long stem.

I couldn't pass it up because of the stem.

I used the seeds this year outside the domed garden area, and they took off like crazy, and made ever so many babies.  It's unreal.  I love that sort of nature magic.

There are some below.

The dance of dry and green is happening in every way.

The basil is hanging on.

And there are hundreds of tomatillos happening.

When you walk through the garden you get that wonderful buzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Bees everywhere during this fall spring in the desert.

It's wonderful.

I love seeing the growing things thinking it's spring.

Now we go into the large enclosed garden, to take a bunch of punkins that grew in there.

All those marigolds self seeded.

I love them so, they smell sweet and lovely.

I used some of these pumpkins on the porch and others for Halloween party fun.

So many shapes and sizes.

Gotta love those pumpkin creatures.

I roast and puree most of them, and freeze the puree for baking and making all winter, and spring and summer, until there are more.

Off we go through the front garden...

It's flower power goodness right now.

I just sit out there in the warm sun and chilly breeze.

Butterflies and bees fluttering around.

Dogs wrestling.

Thinking about things I want to paint and make.

And, I am in my own heaven.

I love my little world so.

Simple, perfectly imperfect.

It fills me up.

I can't explain it.

But now...

Now we must infuse with pumpkin love.

Are you sick of the pumpkins yet??

;)

I love all the varieties that turned up.

Pie Pumpkins, fairy tale, cinderella (rouge vif d'entampes), jack be littles, and a few mid size every day jack-o-lantern styles, to name a few.

We set them up here and there.

I have to confess, I am a bit late for Halloween decorating.

(although I did decorate my front gate a couple weeks ago)

Horse needs a ribbon.

I intend to do it up a little more today.

And plan a creepy meal for dinner tomorrow.

With all my little (and huge) pumpkins lined up for the occasion.

Someone needs a costume.

I don't know why?

I just LOVE autumn and halloween times.

There is a magic in it for me.

You too?

Memories of goodness.

The scent of a candle inside a carved pumpkin makes my knees weak.

I think of being so excited as a kid, dressing up.

All the adults would dress up too.

We would make caramel and candy apples.

And carve pumpkins.

There were festivals, and costume contests.

Everyone dressed up for school.

It was one day of dress up heaven for me.

Sparkles and cackles galore.

The sights and scents with me, tucked into my heart forever.

So wonderful.

Also...

I think the pumpkin king over did himself at my house this year.

Wasn't he extra kind as kind can be?

Truth be told.

Regarding Halloween...

I loooove the old fashionedness of it, and I love the commercialness of it.

(is that a word?)

Commerciality?

It's true, I can't lie.

But, the thing is...

I love seeing all the Halloween junk in the stores.

I looked forward to it.

I love bags of candy with names I have seen my whole life.

I love hearing witch cackles from creepy battery powered dolls in the drug store.

I love scary movies (even though I cover my face) and haunted houses.

 I love over decorated lawns, glittered faces and plastic pumpkins for trick or treating.

I love fog machines, and over crowded Halloween stores.

I love pumpkins and changing leaves and apple picking.

I love twinkling lights and chilly nights.

I love bon fires and hay rides.

And halloween make-up that won't wash off.

I love black and orange mixed together.

And I love how all the candy corn gets gobbled up in my house by a man with the sweetest tooth ever.

I love it all.

What can I say?

That's just me.

What about you??

 

 

Halloween, I love you.

:)

 

 

 

ps:  Does anyone know how to take a dark sap stain out of white carpet?

I am desperate, I have tried a bunch of things, and nothing will work.

Tips?

 

Halloween Party 2013!

Just when we thought it wouldn't be, we turn up 5 days before, and announce a party.  

So many of you jumped in, hooooray!

What sports, what kindred Halloween lovers, you're wonderful as can be!

Our teeny tiny 2013 party hit the spot for us.

What better way to soak in the spooktacular goodness of October?

I received a note inviting me to meet someone outside the flower garden arbor.

My my, how curious indeed!

Follow the path of popcorn and glitter and candy corn too it read...

So, I did.

I found a little tiny tea table, and ever so many garden pumpkins waiting for me.

Such beautiful pumpkins that grew in the garden, all sparkly and happy.

So ready for Halloweeeeen!

I spot a few fur babes...

Eyeballing the punkins.

And another sniffing around...

Wait sir, please don't eat the party trail, haha!

What a curious little table sitting right outside the garden I thought.

I snooped around a little.

Eager to steal a treat...

The pumpkins were chattering so loudly, I could hardly think.

Just then, I heard rustling in the flowers, so I poked around.

Sniffing garden blossoms, collecting some in my gown.

But wait.

What is that I see?

An apparition?

Behind the flowers, looking back at me?

Oh.

My.

Goooooodnessss!

Who on earth could it be?

Miles is worried...

Huuuuh?

He's not convinced it's someone we should befriend.

Come take my hand sweeties, says the red headed man.

He hums a tune as he sniffs marigolds, on his way down the path to greet us.

His display is so lovely, he must be a-okay.

Should we run, or should we stay???

If we go, we had better grab these beauties and run!!

But you see, the Jack-o-Lantern cookies beckon me.

Licorice too?

And sweet kettle corn?

We mustn't go.

The trick or treaters line up.

Hey, it's okay, they say.

And so we cozy up, and have treats with Mister he.

He offers me one of my favoritest sweets.

Big Hunk, oh nougat and nutty me!!

We all want some, even Matty.

(don't worry, he didn't get any for real)

The thing is, the sir has a plan for us.

A plan for the past...

I nod as I chomp.

Nom nom nom.

He is inviting us on a trip to the parties from the past.

And urges us to run, as we are being chased!!

Just like that evening falls upon us, as we surge to Halloween parties of yore.

A magical swish and swash of this and that!!

And here we go!!!!

A celebration of how we arrived at our 6th annual soiree.

The first time we met, I recall it as if it was yesterday...

Halloween Extravaganza 2008

With a pump organ and late night dances around the cauldron.

(click on party links to go back in time)

In 2009, we made our way through the forest, to a haunted apothecary shop.

It was wondrous!

A Hauntingly Magical Celebration in 2009

And then, in 2010 we found ourselves in the most enchanted place.

A visit to Gypsies and Fortune Tellers!

It was quite the visit.

Remember the old woman?

Eeeks!

Then the next year, we met under the huge trees, oh it was a night to remember!

A Magical Bash under the trees in 2011

We stayed up way too late, under moonlight and candle.

It was amazing!!

A whimsical party at the cottage is where we were in 2012.

I loved that old fashioned evening.

And now, here we are today.

Our 6th annual bash, and we didn't have to cancel.

We made it!!

Thank you to so many for plunging at the very last minute.

I looove these parties.

It's a great way to mingle with you all, and to infuse our own world with the fun of putting it all together, and making memories.

Thank you for the fun and magic!!!!

Here's to another year!

Hope to see you here again for another Halloween party next year.

 

Much love!!

From me, and the characters around here who are great sports.

2 furs, 2 humans ;)

xoxo

 

The left hand side bar is filled with others throwing parties of their own.

Have fun visiting!

 

 

 

ps:  Please make sure that if you are throwing your own party, you leave your party link in comments.  It will serve as an archive, and more folks will be able to visit you as time passes.

 

 

You're Invited! 6th Annual Halloween Party on its Way!

It's time to talk about Halloween partying, woooo hoooo!!!

Haunted tea-time is on the menu for sure!

 

Can you believe this is our 6th Halloween party?!

 

You can visit any past parties here.

 

Better late than never they say ;)

Time to get our cackle on!

Pointy hats unite!!

With treats and tricks galore!!!!

Won't you join us in a few days???

Saturday October 26th.

Here is this year's flyer and button.

Just click on it for the larger version, and then click and save to your computer to use on your own blog.

Flyer

 

Button

 

Wondering what to do if you sign up?

If you are signing up to participate in the Halloween Party all you have to do is leave me a comment, with your blog link, stating that you wish to join in.

Then follow these 7 bits of advice (err, rules)...

1)  Share the flyer and/or the button on your blog as soon as possible and link back to me.  I will then add your name to the "Halloween Partiers" list in my LEFT hand side bar (which will go up soon), and link back to you. 

2)  On the day of the party, Saturday October 26, 2013, please make sure to post a Halloween Party post of your own, on your blog, linking to me.  Other partiers will be visiting you on that date. 

3)  IMPORTANT - On the day of the party, after you have your own Halloween blog post up and running, please leave a comment at my Halloween Party post, including your "Actual Party Link."  It will serve as an archive of all partier links. 

4)  Blog hop with the other partiers on the day of the event and have a wickedly delicious blast!

5)  The party usually lasts two days or more.  Leave your blog post up for a couple of days if you can.  It will take folks several days to make visits.

 6)  For a more enjoyable and easy visit for your guests, please remove word verification for comments during the party.  This will make things so much easier for everyone, and allow people to easily comment on your blog.

7)  Double check the list to make sure your name is on it, if you want it to be :)

Note:  If you sign up, please make sure you post a party post on your blog for Saturday October 26th.  If you sign up and later find that you can't make the event, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will remove your name from the list.

 

If you don't have a blog it's okay, you are invited to visit with us here and at participating blogs on the day of the event.

 

Hope you can join in!!!

 

I probably won't go crazy bonkers with my party, since I am still recovering.

And so sorry for the short timing.

But, you are free to share whatever you wish, big party or small, we love you all ♥

 Hope to see you there ;)

 

Loooove, V