Painful Doctor Appointment

Slept two hours last night and then had to get ready for podiatrist appointment. It was painful. Tommy's visit was painful, too. 

On the way home, we saw the church that sells food to pay off the church mortgage and bought lunch. It costs too much, but there was enough for dinner, too. I forgot the hamburger had two thick pieces of meat. So, planned dinner will move forward to Friday. 

It is dark and the spooks are out. It might actually rain here, so I brought in the Halloween trash bag with face on it. There is no use it getting wet after a month of no rain. Tommy will remove Skelli in a bit. No one can see him, just his eyes, and no kids will be out coming down this road. 

Tuesday night, I went to kitchen barefooted and screamed and staggered about moaning. Tommy was equally alarmed. I was so grateful I managed to keep my balance. I looked as well as I could and saw something quite large sticking out of my heel. 

When I got to my chair, Tommy looked and saw lots of blood. He pointed out three drops almost as large as a dime on the carpet. I asked him to get the Oxyclean for carpet spray bottle. After I took care of the spots, he spotted another about the size of a quarter. Then, I saw an even larger spot on a white plastic bag that I cleaned off before it dried. 

I still poured blood. That was actually a good thing, hopefully clearing out anything toxic from the puncture wound. Then, I put several layers of a Kleenex on the bottom of my foot.  Tommy could see a cut, doctor could see it, too. She said it seemed okay. 

What did I step on? Tommy dropped a chipped plate on the porch. It was already chipped and was being used under a plant on the table outdoors. Well, he walked in shards. I found another shard in the kitchen. Since Tuesday, he has been too busy to vacuum the kitchen floor or in front of my chair. 

He thinks I worry too much about shards of these cheap plates he has had for forty-four years. They are sort of a Blue Willow pattern and he won't give them up because someone gave them to him. Two went in the garbage Tuesday. From now on we use plastic under plants since he drops stuff. I know plates are prettier. 

The shard was only about 1/4" on each of four sides. That was large enough to leave a cut on my sole near heel. 

Rats! Kids just now showed up at the door. The porch light is off! But, Skelli's red eyes are on. So, Tommy needs to turn those off. I cannot figure out how to turn them off. We have nothing to give kids. Maybe a tiny fake pumpkin? They are gone now, giving up. These are the first in five years. Tommy just told me we have tiny bags of Cheetos. 

On September 28, we had our last rain. it looks like we will get rain later tonight. Tommy went out to remove Skelli. I looked out the door and Skelli was sitting on the walker like we would. Cute! He is in his box he came in, ready to sleep until next year.

Now, on to Thanksgiving! 

First, I need to box up Halloween. The plain pumpkins will stay out until after Thanksgiving. I have fall and Thanksgiving items to add the plain pumpkins, fake pumpkins, of course. I store Halloween and Thanksgiving together.

The weather will remain in 80s for the next week. 

How did Halloween go in your world? 

Are you making lists, mental or actually on paper for Thanksgiving plans? 

Exhaustion and Cancelled Appointment

 My sleep was so messed up that I have been exhausted all day. One time, I lay down for an hour nap, woke in 15 minutes, thinking Tommy had called me. Nope. Lay down for another then minutes, kept sleeping and waking up--about three times in ten minutes. 

So, nothing much was done, just got the laundry ready and Tommy washed and dried. We went out for 3 store ads. I shopped a bit. Good news is that my milk is on sale for 'only' $9/gal. Bad news is that there is a turkey breast thawing where the milk goes. 

One store had all the huge Halloween decorations down. I wonder why. I hope they were not vandalized. 

Quaker 42 oz. Old-Fashioned Oats were bogo, making them $4. Progresso Chicken Broth was bogo. I got one for $1.39. Of course, I needed bananas. 

The turkey breast thawing is going to be frozen for Thanksgiving. Tommy is going to find the frozen cranberries from the first of the year. So, we will have turkey and cooked and frozen cranberry sauce done for the Thanksgiving meal.

I cannot stand up to bake. So, I have a plan. I will get a small, folding table, put it in front of counter, find a chair, and mix things there. I told Tommy he would have to be present to hand me ingredients or whatever I need. He did not moan at all. I think he wants homemade baked goods. I want to bake some for the guy who takes out the garbage and brings in the empty can. 

Pumpkin bread and pumpkin are on the list of things to make. I cannot find a chocolate pound cake recipe to replace the one lost in the house. I want to bake a pumpkin pie without crust. But, Tommy wants a crust. So, I will bake another without crust in a casserole dish. I have not made a pecan pie in ten years or more. I may make one this year. 

I am afraid for us to put out the garbage on Halloween. It seems it will be a good target for vandals. I will probably bring in Skelli when it gets dark. 

We ate our only Halloween candy. Tommy said to divide them up. So, we each had twenty candy corn pieces. I ate both the pumpkins. 

Dinner was turkey, tomatoes, and turnip greens. I think Tommy had the same thing. Not sure since he eats different things than me most of the time. 

Since I have the Impala title, I have called mower about four times. So, I had Tommy call. Mower said "okay." He said not one word more. Tommy screwed up and said, "was he willing to buy the car?" Bad choice of words! Now, it sounds like we are begging him to buy it. I know he thinks he can wait me out until I lower the price. NO WAY! I have other people interested. I have been saving it for him. 

Are you ready for Halloween?

Do you wear a costume?

Have a party or go to one?

Confused Monday and Resource to Print

I slept in three sessions to get my 8 hours. When I awoke at  end of second session at 11 am, I finally asked Tommy why Mike and Molly were on Sunday. He had to remind me that I saw AFV last night. I decided to go back for third session to sleep about 1 pm and woke at 3 pm. 

We went to The Pig for Dasani. Contrary to his wishes, I call CS and ask them to get the Dasani in a basket for him. Otherwise, he lifts two 24 packs, rolls them to car on his walker, lifts them into the hatch, and then brings them in once home. He has quit complaining and accepts the help. It is still rough on him. 

We shopped at Publix next. We needed turkey bags for the turkey breast. I did not spend an extra second or another dollar in there. We headed home.

We drove around a neighborhood to see Halloween decorations in yards in a different neighborhood. Since it was daylight, we saw no lights. But, it was enough. Boring enough?

We managed to get home in time to watch most of the news. That was it folks! We had calm, peace, or it was boring, however you want to play it. I have no objections how it is labeled. 

I discovered that even if my fob is in my pocket, just touching the door opens it. That is strange to me. Does your car work that way? 

Google "free printable Halloween book covers." These, once printed, can temporarily cover books to add a Halloween feel indoors. The suggestion was to cover tomes and stack. Let me know if you use this free resource and cover some books. 

Was your day boring?

Still no rain, none since Sept 28. Next predicted rain is Nov 1. 

Halloween Decorating

 

Me?

This must be me above, my sentiments, anyway. Carpets, too, are a problem.

Today, I slept until 12:30 pm, mainly because I did not sleep until about 6 am. Cleaner was going to come and called an hour ahead. Well, I realized I only had about 20 minutes to rest, so went to bed. I got to sleep about two hours because she did not come when she said. No problem. I was in my gown and stayed in my gown while she was here. 

I had her dust surfaces where I was going to decorate for Halloween. I mostly have pumpkins with which to decorate in here. So, I sat and she decorated as I told her. I have an orange watering can with black and orange fake flowers in it. Flowers have gold on them. Very festive. 

Since I made the decision not to have real pumpkins, it is so much easier. Plus, we don't have to buy and discard. I had many years of real pumpkins. I am done. All of the pumpkins are devoid of decoration except for two. One has a haunted house with big moon and bats flying around. The other is the only light pumpkin. It is carved with a light inside that has a cord to plug into the wall. 

I have fake fall leaves all about the room, strands of them. There is one very large pumpkin, round and tall. There are about two dozen small pumpkins of all sorts of autumn colors. 

On the front door is a plywood stack of three pumpkins. There is a safety green pumpkin for Trick or Treating sitting on the table. Tommy put a heavy rock in it to anchor it. He hung lots of ghosts of different sizes in the only tree without leaves, a dogwood. He put out a Halloween flag on the wire yard hanger. We hung my black bird and a pumpkin from the shepherd's hooks. 

I sat! She also put away some clothing in my bedroom, some to hang and some to store. In the kitchen she took out Tommy's old smoky glasses I hate, and we never use, he boxed them up and stored. I put in my pink glasses that we will use and my red glass salt and pepper shakers. There is much less on the counter between microwave and sink. 

I bought some glass looking plastic storage containers. They have never been used because I could never get the top off. Today, I sat with one in my lap and figured it out. Now, the oats from a small container are stored there. I taped the cooking method and measurements on the top. I remember, but Tommy may not. 

While I was sleeping before she came, Tommy completely cleaned off the very messy top of his bookcase and even dusted it! I had asked him once about three days ago. Good job. 

All the batteries in the tapers, and other candles had to be replaced. Now, I have the three on the bookcase set to come on for six hours each evening. I think I will reset them for four hours to save batteries. 

We must have ten pounds of batteries to recycle at a place that only sells batteries. They are accommodating and come to the car to pick them up from us. 

Lastly, she painted the mailbox stand with black paint. Then, she painted the mailbox with red paint. This is part of the Christmas decorating. Now, we must get new numbers for the mailbox. Tommy says the mailbox looks really nice. I didn't think he would allow me to paint it. Now we can tell people our house is the house with the red mailbox.

For dinner I had salad from lunch last week. It was amazingly fresh. A can of tuna with a bit of Miracle Whip was eaten with the salad with no dressing. Tommy ate some sort of soft taco type thing with lots of cheese and few vegetables, much less than was on the box it came in frozen. 

Halloween decorating is done. Dinner is done. 

I will mail my first Christmas card since it has to go halfway around the earth! It never gets there before Christmas. This year it will. This is the earliest I have ever mailed a Christmas card. 

Have you put out any Halloween or Fall decorations, even a pumpkin or Jack o' Lantern?

Do you only use fake pumpkins? Or, can you still manage heavy pumpkins?

I need the tshirt at the head of this post? Anyone else relate?

I have never painted a mailbox before. Have you? The post and box were in dire need of paint or replacing. This was cheaper!

What is the soonest you have ever mailed a Christmas card?

Absentee Ballots

 Last night, we sat and talked about what we were going to do today. We decided that getting an application for an absentee ballot was first on the list. Plus, we needed to get copies of our driver's license to send off with the ballot request. 

That sounds easy enough. Right? Not at all. We went to library and Tommy renewed his library card while I obtained one from his library. First, Tommy started off telling the woman our needs backwards. Then, while I was on computer, he was using the mouse to click on things. I don't know if it was the computer or his clicking around while I tried to work. But, we never found the site and information I found at home to make sure we could find the site easily. 

I sent him back to the front to ask a question and he never came back. It was so far to the front. I did not think I would make it. All the chairs were hard plastic molded kind. I told Tommy I was waiting in the car. Finally, he came out with all we needed. My back was surviving. My car seat is sooo comfortable. 

We picked up the grocery ads on the way there and some on the way back. I still have not looked at them. 

As we neared the house, Tommy exclaimed 'that was our mower.' Then, when we got home, the yard was mowed. So, I called mower and told him we were here if he wanted his money. He came back. He left and then we had something else to give him, so he came back again. Tommy usually writes a check but used cash today since he still has car money from when he sold it. 

Tommy was funny giving me a $50 bill to buy envelopes. He was cute being the bigshot, asking me if that was enough. 

I barely got into the house and went to sleep in my chair for about an hour. For dinner--chicken breast, two kinds of slaw, mushy tomato that I could not finish, and an apple. Tommy had chicken breast sandwich with bbq sauce, coleslaw, and mushy tomatoes. The insides of the tomatoes are the consistency of applesauce! He said I ate the last of one kind of slaw, the kind with kale. 

It is 8 pm, and I have to hang black clothes, use leg pumps, and fill out request for absentee ballot. It is not a lot, but it feels like it. We will mail it at PO tomorrow. We need to go to his credit union to deposit his cash. Also, take recycling to Publix. 

I think putting out our few Halloween decorations will be on the list for tomorrow. We also need to separate plants outdoors. Some are dead. Some are still alive. Tommy quits watering plants when they start to 'die' instead of reviving them with water. Maybe next year, I will just have bulbs. Maybe I will start packing tomorrow. The request for the absentee ballot is foremost. We do need to make reservations for hotel rooms! I keep forgetting.

Do you vote by absentee ballot? 

What are your plans?

From Sunday to Now

 Sunday night, I put the brown rice into 6 pint jars and 3/4 of a quart jar. I will freeze each of these for three days, then store in a cool, dark place. Contrary to what is published, brown rice does not have a short storage life at all. One-quarter (1/4) cup makes 1 cup of cooked rice which is one serving. I don't think I have ever eaten one cup of rice!

Tommy could barely find room for one pint in the freezer. I won't be able to store all the rice in the freezer. I may put a couple in the refrigerator. Then, I can put some near the ac vent until we turn on the heat. One time, years ago, I kept brown rice in the boxes in a room that was not climate controlled. That meant that six months out of the year, the rice was heated by the sun. Then, I decided to store it in the freezer. I was eating this rice for four years. This time, I will be more careful. Brown rice does not have the purported short storage.

Of course, I slept little Monday night, just enough to barely keep me sane! However, we had an errand today, and I lived through it. I have been surprised. I did want to nap but managed without. Cleaner was coming at 4 pm after work. 

Yesterday, I wanted tuna salad for dinner. I ate one sandwich. That meant today there was enough for another sandwich. I decided that I needed to quit eating a whole can of tuna for a meal. Silly. Ridiculous. 

She helped me look for some shoes. I did not find the shoeboxes, but I did find two other pair I wanted to wear. She went out to the back door, opened the storm door, sprayed with roach spray, came back in and locked storm door and back door. There was an outside roach inside last night. Se moved my reindeer to a better place, a closet. 

She was vacuuming when I noticed the little place/container for dirt had nothing in it. So, we took the thing apart. She had to use scissors to remove the baseball sized wad of hair from the brush on the bottom and up the hose. After her cleaning it in here and outside, she could not get it together. Neither could Tommy. He never can, so I took it and put it back together. She re-vacuumed living room, hall, bedroom, and dining room. She had done all this and there was nothing in the little visible plastic cannister!!! After the cleaning and vacuuming all over again, the cannister was full. It is a wonder that the vacuum motor did not burn out. 

We planned it. Just before time to leave, I had her put color on my hair. It appeared she was doing a very good job. Then, half hour later, I washed it out. Of course, Tommy comes into the kitchen to spot for me...lol. 

Just after she came, I put the pork loin roast into the bag. Tommy got it into the oven. As soon as I washed the color off my hair, we had food! I had pork roast and mixed greens from a can. He had that and other vegetables. 

We are watching a 70s Zorro movie. Zorro is kissing a girl. I never knew he did that. I watched the half-hour episodes. Tommy tells me in the original Zorro movie, Zorro kissed girls. I am so shocked. 

I suppose I will have her color my hair from now on if she will. No one has ever done that. But, she is rough on my scalp. I can handle it. Well, I lie. A friend colored my hair and ruined my yellow kitchen floor. She let two huge spots drip and did not tell me. AND, she was a hairdresser. No, I did not twist her arm. She offered. 

She moved the huge box with three deer in it from one room to the closet of another room. She called me to see what she found. The ceiling of the closet was falling in and all black moldy. I told Tommy, panicked. He said it had been that way for forty years. He looked at it and shrugged. Yes, it had been that way for forty years. He looked and confirmed he knew it was there. So, he is going to live with mold. This is certainly hard on me trying to get this place fixed up! When I told him we were getting it fixed, he said Okay. Just now, he said it was only stained at first. There is also a water stain in the hall ceiling that he said has been there for forty years. There is a watermark over his chair, too, that I saw when I came here. He thinks he saves money. 

The beautiful weather today helped me relax in the car, put something over my eyes and rest. I think I did eat too many cookies today. When I want a Diet Coke Caffeine Free, I only drink what I want and give the rest to Tommy or toss it. I no longer drink it all because I opened it.

We are having a week of nice weather. For me, that means no rain. So, I can get appointments done instead of having to reschedule. Or, we can go shop for a car. 

I will leave another dinner of pork in the refrigerator and freeze the rest. Tomorrow, I will probably cook all the bscb. I forgot to cook the Brussels sprouts! Someone, remind me.

The carpet even looks better!

Do you become happy when the carpet is vacuumed? Or, when things in general look cleaner or less cluttered? 

Looking briefly at all the Halloween decorations has gotten me thinking about the holiday coming up. Are you thinking at all about Halloween yet?

Did you watch Zorro when it was a 30-minute show on TV? I never thought the mask hid his identity. 

My Barbie Clothes

 Remember the grab bag for which  I paid $2? Two items in it will become Barbie clothes. There were two pair of spandex panties. One was raspberry and the other was a pink striped. I decided these would be the basis of two new dresses for my Barbie. The elastic will serve to be the ovr-the-bust area so I won't have to worry about the dress falling down or my shaping it. I will make the dress as long as the material will let me. 

It will need sparkles or lace or tulle or something shiny around the top and bottom because these will be fancy dresses. The price of the panties is negligible. But, the price of the adornments will be more. This is where my stash of bits and pieces of lace or rhinestones would be handy. Alas, I no longer have these bits and pieces. 

For years, I saved these bits. It was not hoarding. It was probably what some would deem 'junk.'  There were strings of pearls, you know, the kind sold by the yard. I also had a stash of ribbon ends. Maybe some of you keep this kind of stash. 

The other day, I took a crimson grosgrain ribbon that was tied to a stack of four tiny plates and put it with my new collection of bits and pieces I save for decorating a bow for a package, doll clothes, and other decorations. But, I don't have this old well-stocked box now. I even saved brown grosgrain ribbon that I can use for Thanksgiving.

Do any of you save bits of ribbon or rhinestones to add to something you are sewing or gluing? Do you save bits of ribbon for embellishment. It is fun to have a little box to rummage in for something to complete a look for seasons or dolls or to put on ribbons on presents. Maybe is is just me.

Today, I bought two yard flags, the small ones, for Halloween. They were 90% off at Lowe's. I paid $0.49 each. 

One is two squirrels with a squirrel with bolts in his neck and another is a rabbit pushing a wheelbarrow with a stack of three pumpkins. Of course, I only have one of the holders, but that is enough. They are in an orange box now.

I was in Lowe's to buy a pair of pruners, the short ones, for Tommy or me, most likely him, to prune the flowers before we store them. Each pot might have one blossom, if any at all. Tommy broke a pair of scissors because he could not find our other pruners. I think I received the scissors for free from Harbor Freight, so no big deal they broke. He has used them on heavy cardboard and the tough plastic containers before, so it was their time to go.

We drove to Hoover to shop at that Publix, getting things for holidays, and bogo that was not here in Hueytown. Jimmy Dean one-pound rolls of mild sausage were 2/$4. In another store, Tommy noticed it was almost $5. We will want sausage balls a couple of times during the holidays. 

It has been 73 days since B'ham has had more than 1-inch of rain nd 54 days since we have had more than 1/2-inch of rain. Friday, it should rain, but not much. Hopefully, no more wildfires will occur. 

In Lowe's I met a really friendly woman, and we exchanged telephone numbers. When I asked her if I could have her number, she was eager and asked for my number in return. Lovely woman. 

Do you keep scraps of pretty things and ribbons to embellish something without buying new items all the time? 

Do you ever hit up Lowe's 90% Off sales after holidays? 

What cooking/baking supplies for the holidays did you buy this week?

Halloween Lingers

 Elephant's Child, I cannot post your comment or reply to it. Sorry, not ignoring you. 

So, no one has found me? Can you not comment or just not reading my post. Tell me at lgd113@yahoo.com if you can read and if you can or cannot post. Thanks.

It is a slow start to decorating even minimally for Thanksgiving. The mums and big fake pumpkin are still out, plus the fall leaves. I had an orange watering can with black roses and orange peonies behind the three candles. So, I needed something else back there. Today, I bought a colorful turkey about ten inches high made of a very light something. 

I may get out all the tiny pumpkins and put them in a glass bowl with the leaves. I wanted a large cornucopia, but do not want to spend the money. Then, decorating is done. 

Okay, it is more than one Halloween item. In the grab bag I bought, there was a box of bright yellow pumpkins. I thought they were window stick-ons. No. Then, I thought they were to stick onto clothing or sew on. But, after picking them, trying to figure them out, I think they are iron-ons for clothing. I will wait until next year to figure it out.

Then, there was a package with a picture of three sunglasses-like items. No. Inside were a dozen pairs of cardboard glasses that looked like masks. Next year, I will post a picture. 

Third item was a banner that I thought would say HAPPY HALLOWEEN. But, there was a "U" in the mix of loose letters. There was a long ribbon to thread through the little holes at the top. So, there are three items to use next year or give away. It is all packed away, never to see the day of light until next year. 

All my plants are done. Now, we have to put the sleeping babies in the utility room. The lemon trees have been indoors for two days. They go back out tomorrow for a few days of high temps and sunshine. 

Something happened that never happened before. I ran out of bananas and apples on the same day. Horrors! So, they are on a list for Saturday. Exciting, huh? A peach sounds good. 

Saturdays we work around Auburn football and often include Alabama. Saturday, I have a list. Cook blackeyed peas, bake 9 bscb, buy apples and bananas, repair a necklace, make a return, buy a commode brush. Auburn plays Vanderbilt at 3 pm, so we need to get this done beforehand. It will be too dark early to do it afterwards. He plans to watch Alabama and LSU. Maybe I will bake something with the Granny Smith apples. 

What are your Saturday plans? 

Unexpected Halloween Night

At Walmart on Halloween night, many children were in costume and with their parents, either before or after Trick or Treating. Many adults were in costume, too. It was quite a sight.

I came around a corner and there were two children, a little boy about three of four and a little girl about five or six.  I said, "Oh, there is Batman!" The little boy whirled around with a huge smile. He was grinning from ear to ear and started talking, telling me he was Batman. Over and over. He was pulling at his cape, pulling something from underneath, telling me excitedly that he was "nego Batman." Well, it sounded like nego. I said, "Lego?" and he repeated it over and over. He was soooo excited.

He talked when his sister tried to talk and would not give her a chance, making her stammer and start over. He did not listen to me telling him to let her talk. I put my right hand on top of his head and looked right into his upturned face and he still talked. I took my left hand and put my finger close to his face and shushed him. That caused him to stop and grin from ear to ear again. I hoped his father would not mind my finger in his face. But, I was talking softly and looked at the father's face who did not seem to mind.

The little girl was dressed in a long-sleeve t-shirt, black pants, and brown boots. She said she was going to be a black cat when her mother put her hair up in cat ears.  She looked a bit disappointed, but I told her that would be a great costume, so she looked much happier.

The little boy asked me what my costume was going to be. I told him I did not have one. He looked at me, wrapped his arms around me and said, "I love you!" I almost cried. The little girl said she wanted to hug me. I hugged them as they hugged me. The little boy was the height his head was plastered to my breast. The little girl put her arms around my neck and leaned her head on my neck and shoulder.

These were not quick hugs!

The little boy started over with digging at his cape behind, talking about his "Nego" Batman. Finally, I helped him pull up his cape and look. He actually had on a furry Lego Batman something, costume or pajamas. It had a hood and he had a Batman cape on, too. I think they put on two costume parts. He could not say his Ls. Although, he could save "love."

I told the little boy my son liked Halloween, too. He came back and very seriously asked me if my little boy loved Batman.  He was so happy to hear he did. Of course, I got many more hugs.

Later, I found them again, and asked the parents if I could take the children's pictures in their Halloween attire. The children were soooo excited and the parents smiled broadly.

Then, the children started hugging me again and telling me they loved me. I commented to the mother that they were such affectionate children. She commented that they were her "snuggle bugs" especially the little boy.

They were concerned I did not have a costume and hugged me more. Finally, I said I had a costume but could not walk to go out and Trick or Treat. That elicited more hugging and "I love you" from both, especially the little boy.

That is just about the best Halloween I have had in years.

Big Mistake

I talk to exbf about twice a day. He was here last Tuesday for the Halloween lunch. We opened our candy and traded what we didn't want for what we would rather have. At the end of the meal, I put my purple bag in my purse. NOW, I remember he asked me to put his in my purse, too.

Well, I found candy in mu purse several days after and wondered how I had two bags. Friday night, he warned me not to eat his candy. "Huh, what candy?" I could hear a barely audible moan. "The orange bag is mine." He explained and then I knew--I ate his candy! I told him so and then there was a grunting groan. Even though I apologized profusely, I could tell he was not happy with me. So, I promised I would get him some candy before he comes this week. I am thinking maybe I could dress up in costume and go out alone or get a kid to take out to Trick or Treat.

Sure, I could just buy candy for him, but I would prefer not to spend the money. Plus, there would be enough for me to eat, and I just don't need it. And, there would not be the variety he had.

Maybe I could just offer to buy some from a kid? I only need six pieces.

The reason I think this is a big mistake is that I don't take it lightly when anyone eats my chocolate candy or any candy of mine.  My children had to watch me like a hawk when they had Halloween, Christmas, or Easter candy.

I really hate I ate his candy, all six pieces of bite size or fun sizes.

Have you ever accidentally eaten someone's candy? Or did you eat it on purpose and regretted it? How should I get candy? Dress up and go out Trick or Treating myself? Find a kid to take out? Pay a kid for six pieces?

Spectacular Free Lunch and Other Food and Stuff

Since the eye doctor locked the door as I left and the phones were off, too, I had no idea if I should be careful washing my hair or not wash my hair. I envisioned having a multitude of holes in my eye that might get infected. Consequently, I did not wash my hair before Tuesday activities.

Exbf came and we went to the Tuesday free lunch. So, half the town has seen me in greasy hair. Plus, I was going to wear the only orange blouse I own. No, could not find it but I looked for all of three seconds since I was running late and he was waiting in the car. The blouse was on sale for $1, so I thought it was a good price for something bought to wear once a year.

The decorations for the lunch were the spectacular part. All the round tables had black tablecloths and a bouquet of dead and half dead flowers and weeds. Each place had a Halloween bag of candy. All the people who serve and cook and work in the eating area dressed in Halloween costumes/attire. The whole scene was quite festive.

We had some sort of Mexican dish--huge bed of lettuce, chopped tomatoes on top, chopped onions, cheese, salsa, sour cream and a pile of chips on the other half of the plate. Of course, I only had lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. I had the thinnest slice ever of pumpkin bread and the chocolate icing from a tiny square of cake and unsweetened iced tea.

I brought home a to go plate for both of us. They served me little cheese and practically no sour cream because they were running out. We went to store where I got an 8 oz container of sour cream. I had lots of shredded cheese, so I was able to fix my salad.  I ate all this well after dinner. He will probably eat his today.

For dinner here I had put carrots, potatoes, an onion, bit of dehydrated celery, two cloves of garlic, and bit salt in crockpot. He had two chopped German hotdogs with his. I had plenty of potatoes and found four carrots in the refrigerator, so we each had two carrots, one for dinner and one in leftovers. The onion had just started to go off, growing green in it. So, in a way I saved the food from doom.

With most of the potatoes I may make a potato, cheddar, bacon soup. I sampled this at Publix and loved it, unlike all the potato soup in my past. The cheese and bacon salvage it for me, I think. Daddy made potato soup, and I just hated it.

At the lunch the people I sit with are friends and relatives. They began talking about pecans and the trees one of them has. Last year, they got 25 5-gallon buckets of pecans. I was relating how I grew up with pecan trees, about 10 trees at both places we lived and how pecans were my favorite nut. I replace any nut in a recipe with pecans.

The woman with whom I sit at the lunch asked me if I would like pecans. We made plans for me to pick up some that day! So, I we drove over and it was given a quart bag of pecan halves. They had just come from the freezer, last year's crop. He sat in the car for the forty-five  minutes I stayed inside. After my late salad, I ate 10 pecan halves. I was in ecstasy. Then, she assured me she would give me more when this year's crop came in. Yesssssssssss!

I checked the potato I had planted and little bits of green sprouts had appeared. I thought they had grown out of the soil, but I think that the rain washed the soil from around the sprouts that were showing. I am debating as to whether to cover them again or leaving them exposed. Leaves are what should emerge.

Tuesday, I still felt awful with a lingering headache from the eye doctor, so I did not put the cabbage in the crockpot with the carrots and potatoes and onion because I lay down too long. The cabbage has been here forever and forgotten, so I will put that in the crockpot today with another bunch of potatoes and an onion. Maybe the potato soup will be cooked on Friday. hmmm

From the looks of my refrigerator, I don't need to go grocery shopping, or at least for vegetables. Plus, I have plenty of bananas and apples and grapes. The sweet potatoes are waiting, too. I won't need milk until Saturday, and I bought orange juice on Tuesday when I bought the sour cream.

I thawed a package of chicken legs to cook for exbf. A package of bacon is thawed for eating with eggs and for the potato soup. I am set for food!

Maybe I ate my Halloween candy. At the lunch each plate had its own bag of Halloween candy. Yes, I finished it during the day and last night. Hopefully, I will get more somehow...lol...not buying it because I will eat too much.

Storing Halloween

For many years, I did not need to stash Halloween items in a certain place. I did stash them, but just on shelves and drawers. However, since I have bought many things on sale and to send to grandchildren, I buy more, and I have needed a place to keep them all together. Actually, I have gotten more into Halloween as I get older...lol.

Enter: huge orange Rubbermaid bin bought for one purpose. It's so easy to put things into it and successfully find your stash the next year. I have rarely bought a magazine Halloween edition for recipes or decorations, but I place those in the box along with pages ripped from magazines I am tossing. Because I want my cabinets for other things, not storage for things used once a year, I have begun to store ceramic Halloween candy dishes in this orange box.

I have one rule: I can buy no more Halloween stuff than will go into the mostly-full Rubbermaid container--no matter how cheap it is.

Maybe that container needs a good purging after Halloween.  My kids will love getting Halloween stuff eleven months early. NOT!

Your turn
Do you have a special place for Halloween items? A drawer or shelf or cardboard box? Do you have Halloween items stored in scattered places like I had for many years?

Halloween Costumes Past

As I related stories about my kids' Halloween to exbf, I thought I would share one Halloween. My son was about ten and daughter about eight. That made the baby three.

My son wanted to be the Fonz. If you remember, the Fonz wore a denim jacket at first. So, J wore his denim jacket and jeans and tshirt. The hair was important for the look, if you remember. So, at the last minute I just used Vaseline. As I was relating this to exbf, he moan, groaned, and laughed. The rest of the story I had not told him was that I washed my son's hair at least twice that night, once the next morning and several times a day for two weeks before it even looked like it might come out.

His moan, groan, and laugh puzzle me. But, he and a gang of guys did the same thing in college to attend some sort of musical revue from the same era. He said it took them all three weeks to get out the Vaseline. It appears I am not the only person to use Vaseline for hair pomade.

The daughter wanted to be Wonder Woman. The base for her costume was a red dance leotard. I made the gold wrist bands, head piece. and belt. She was thrilled. Since she had long dark hair, she made the perfect Wonder Woman!

I don't remember what the younger daughter wore! A dance costume would probably be my choice for her. It was so easy to put those costumes on and not have to worry about thinking up something. I probably put makeup on her.

The one other costume I remember was the year the younger was born on September 27, 1975. Kmart had a costume contest. One of the categories was the youngest Spook. I just knew I had this one won.
The baby had a soft, terry cloth sleeper--very pale pink. In my stash of fabric I found some pink fabric and made a bonnet with bunny ears. A pompom stuck on her behind transformed her into a bunny.

Since she was such a floppy/relaxed baby, she could sleep and still allow me to position her where the bunny ears and tail were visible. Her cute little face helped, I thought!

At KMart anxious parents gathered. Of course, the older children and I looked for the young babies. When it came time for judging, we all had big smiles, holding our babies, just knowing our own infant would win. My bunny won by about a week or two. She won a gorilla holding a yellow banana.

This gorilla/monkey holding the yellow banana sat in the corner of her baby bed for a long time. She loved it. Given the choice, she would choose something yellow when she was older. Then, she switched to pink.

My children were also a cowboy, cowgirl, a clown, a devil, ghost and Little Red Riding Hood. Yes, I made all those costumes. I think the older girl won a costume contest for her Wonder Woman costume.

When my daughter was married and living in NYC, she wanted a Wonder Woman costume again. I made all of it with her measurements. It fit perfectly! Whew! I have a picture somewhere, but not on my computer or I would share it.

Since I could sew and imagine, we never bought costumes, just gathered things from around the house or I sewed the costume.

Your turn
Did you ever sew costumes? Gather things from what you had? Buy costumes? Did your children ever win contests at Halloween?

Heating Up

We are breaking records right and left as the temperatures almost reach 90 degrees F in N Alabama. It was 87 on Saturday and expected to be the same today and on Halloween. There are record lows--highest lows--also. We have not had rain for 42 days and there is none in the foreseeable future. I think one day I had five raindrops on my windshield. That does not count.

I suppose all the little spooks can wear their cute Frozen outfits tomorrow night and not have to bundle up with a coat over their costumes.  When my kids were little, I was always sad for them as they wanted everyone to see their costumes.

When my son was five- and daughter was three-years-old and we lived in the Northern part of KY, we had the most amazing Halloween. It was so warm that the parents sat together in front yards and allowed the children to go to a few houses in sight, alone.

My daughter had to go to the bathroom and went across the street at our house. Soon, she emerged, pants down, and in her little-girl voice yelled, "Maaamaaa, come cleeean meee" as she stood in the open door with her panties around her ankles and a short top on. As we all laughed and I was trying to get up from the ground, she yelled again. People were laughing up and down the block. Yet again, she called out the same words as I was hurrying across the street. Now, she knew how to clean her own bottom, but she was still in the stage where I "checked."

A warm Halloween always reminds me of this incident. I can still hear in my mind her little voice ringing so true and cute.

The car ac decided not to work on Friday, making me think I had turned on the heater. No, I was sweltering and on my trip to the country. My house ac was turned off two days when the temperature dropped to lower 60s for two nights. Unfortunately, the sun sets on the back of the house, so the ac is now on for the unforeseeable future.

Your turn
Is your weather unseasonably warm or cold or just right? Do you have any memorable Halloween memories?

This Could Turn Me Off Halloween Candy!

In my head I was saying, "Nooo, tell me it isn't so!"

What does this list do for you? I probably won't buy anything but candy corn, but I want a snack-sized piece or four of Mounds and a handful of Tootsie Rolls. Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups cannot be that bad! Tell me it isn't so!

Make sure your chocolate goodness is not "Dutch processed," "Dutched," or "processed with alkali." I think all this candy is processed with alkali. That won't stop me...lol. However, I don't plan to eat much of anything.

Check out the bad news about Halloween treats right HERE.

Your turn
Which of the treats for Halloween trick or treat is your favorite to eat? If you buy treats, what do you hand out?

Can We Start Now?

outside the deli

Cheap fun here. Take your own Halloween pictures. This deli owner provides not only a decoration for the season but a photo op, all set up for people to take their own Halloween/harvest pictures. Octoberfest does not start until October 5th, but everyone is getting ready. Do you have an Octoberfest you attend?

The guy who owns the deli was still decorating as I took this picture. He said he will put another straw bale in the middle so people can sit for a picture. He also has a painted board scene that people can put their heads through the hole and take their own pictures. I love the people who put up free activities at festivals. Fun should not cost a fortune with a charge for each little bit of fun.

If you don't approve of Halloween on religious grounds, don't rain on my Jack o' Lantern. LOL I love the alternative traditions people are starting.

Your turn,
What are your favorite free activities at Halloween? Okay, what is your favorite frugal activity for Halloween?

Frugal Post-Halloween

Chocolate candy corn...yum

Right after Halloween I searched for candy corn. It was later in the day, so I assumed I had just missed on the clearance. Someone else had scooped up all the candy corn! Bummer  Then, exbf and I went to Walmart for something later in the week. There were about six carts of Halloween stuff, sitting in carts by the door.

"Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh!" That was all the sound I could make. The electric cart stopped and I waggled my hand as I just made that silly noise. 

"What?!"

"Get it, get it!"  I waggled my hand.

"What?" 

"Candy corn, candy corn, chocolate candy corn!"  I think I was bouncing on the seat by then.

You see, there were only two or three bags left of chocolate candy corn amidst a cart of regular candy corn and several people who were into that cart. I was ready to go into a tantrum to match any two-year-old. Or, I think I sounded like one. A guy was laughing at me and confusion of exbf who literally jumped to see what I wanted.

Whew! He got one for me and then proceeded to get the regular ones for himself. There was a cartful of the regular candy corn for him. At $1 for the hugest bag I have seen, I figured we still should share and save more money and calories. He does not like chocolate ones.  

At home we both tore into our respective bags. I put some of mine in a glass jar. The rest I put down to find a twist-tie and cook lunch. Later the next day, I found the bag still open. So, it is trash. Tonight, I got out the jar and started eating. I bite off all the orange and white parts and make a little pile of the chocolate, eating the chocolate last.

Right now, I feel like I ate a cup of sugar. Yuck! for the feeling. Yum! for the time just before I ate too much tonight and was still enjoying it.

(Another indoor shot with funny color graces my opening of the blog post once again.)

Your turn

Did you wait until after Halloween to indulge in Halloween candy? Or, did lucky you have children's candy to eat while they were at school?  I did that.  They got wise and hid their candy from me.

The Goblins Will Get You . . .

This picture is my favorite of all I have ever taken. Can you see the ornate, short silver-plated candelabra? It sits on four curved, ornate feet. It was only $1. You know me...parsimonious (frugal), always. The candles came with about 9 or 10 candles in a box that said "dripless candles."--$1, cheap for the box. Hmmm, so why are they dripping?

Read this poem aloud to someone tonight.

Little Orphant Annie
by James Whitcomb Riley
Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay, An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away, An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep, An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep; An' all us other childern, when the supper things is done, We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about, An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you Ef you Don't Watch Out! Onc't they was a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,-- So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs, His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl, An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all! An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press, An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'wheres, I guess; But all they ever found was thist his pants an' roundabout-- An' the Gobble-uns'll git you Ef you Don't Watch Out! An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin, An' make fun of ever'one, an' all her blood an' kin; An' onc't, when they was "company," an' ole folks was there, She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care! An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide, They was two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side, An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about! An' the Gobble-uns'll git you      Ef you                Don't                        Watch                                  Out! An' little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue, An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo! An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray, An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,-- You better mind yer parents, an' yer teachers fond an' dear, An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear, An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about, Er the Gobble-uns'll git you     Ef you               Don't                        Watch                                  Out! Your turn Tell me about a scary Halloween, a funny experience on Halloween, or something funny or scary that happened tonight. Just entertain us with a Halloween story, even if you read this two months later. If you don't celebrate Halloween because of religion or ideology, this is not the post to comment on that. I respect your opinions, just don't want to hear them today. But, I will visit your post if you email me and read what you say about it...kay?