Halloween

Kirk and I made it through Halloween.  As seen in the picture, now that my children are grown, I dress up the dog!  I used to put angel wings on Rosie, but age does rate the priviledge of not having to wear a costume.  Our neighborhood is safe and comfortable for children to trick or treat and we had a steady stream from 6 to 8 pm.  The little ones were so cute.  Rosie sort of ignored them, but Gracie stood on the couch and spoke to them all. 

Calm, Serene Holiday Celebrations

Every magazine with a holiday theme has a headline concerning holidays and stress.  The all say "Read me and you will be able to manage your holiday stress."  Well, maybe not in those exact words, but close. 
Today is a holiday.  It is Halloween.  I am determined that this will be a good day.  One year Suzy changed her mind about her costume the night before, so she and I made a witch costume that night for her to wear to school the next day.  Another year she wanted to be a pumpkin.  We made a huge felt pumpkin and stuffed it with balloons.  The Halloween when she was in the 10th grade she had me make her a clown suit.  That was for a party with other band students.  A little later she made herself a "modest" Arabian Knights costume.
My favorite costume of Beth's was the "Gypsy".  We went to Lynnhaven Mall for the Halloween "safe" trick or treating that year.  I think my all time favorite of John's was the stegasaurus that Suzy helped me make.  But maybe it was Elvis, he had such fun in that one.
John is dressing up for two (2) parties tonight.  He is going as a Knight in Shining Armor.  Maybe this one is really my favorite.

A New Tradition

Okay, I now realize how foolish I have been to turn down opportunities to go to a therapeutic masseuse in the past.  Very foolish.  If I were wealthy, I would have one on staff and get a massage everyday.  This was the most calm I have felt in so very long.  I have decided that a massage is now going to be a new holiday tradition.  That means; Martin Luther King Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, (there's bound to be a holiday for August), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
For my birthday this year, Kirk gave me a session at a nearby Therapeutic Massage center.  This morning I dropped Gracie off at the groomer's and walked two doors down for my massage.  It was like drifting on a cloud.  I highly recommend it to everyone. 
Anyone know of an August holiday?

Cookie Dough

I remember times, after Thanksgiving, around my Aunt Mary Jo's table, making Cookie Dough Christmas Ornaments.  I remember Beth, our cookie monster, wanting to eat them!  I remember Suzy, concentrating and working so hard to get the painting on each one she made just right.
We used cookie cutters that had a good bit of detail, I think they were by Tupperware.  The ones I have on hand are generally made by Wilton and more about exterior shape than interior content.  I think they are in a big bag in a box up in the attic.  Oh no, another trip to the attic.  At least I pretty much know where everything is up there now.
As I recall, the recipe had a lot of flour and salt.  I'm sure I can find it on line.   This would be the perfect year for Ethan and Abby to begin this tradition.  Whether I make them here and take them to be painted in TN or I have the kids help with the baking depends on how brave I feel!  As a grandmother, I'm not as good with chaotic mess as I was as a mother.
If the rain stops for a while I plan on going to Red Wing Park today to hunt for Hedge Apples.  This will be a great Christmas Tree; decorated pinecones, cookie dough ornaments and hopefully painted hedge apples.
I found my camera.  Pictures will follow soon.

My Mother's Comment

Mama doesn't blog.  She doesn't email either.  She does write "real" notes and letters.  In today's "snail mail" I received her comment for my blog regarding pinecones.  She also sent me a picture of some pinecone candle rings.  Here's her note.
"Virginia McDaniel (Mama's stepmother) sprayed with silver and gold to make Christmas decorations.  She also sliced the bottom off those green balls from trees, Hedge Apples! and bored holes and sprayed silver for candle holders at Christmas.  I used to put the pinecones we got in Williamsburg and Jamestown in the log basket and kept on the hearth.  Pinecones are used in making X-Mas wreaths.  A pretty one would be pinecones, wine bottle stoppers, grapes and grape vines.  That could be used fall and winter.  I'm trying to think of more but I guess that's it.
Love, Mother"
Thanks Mama, I love it!  Now I'll have to tell  her she left a comment on my blog.

My Birthday

I am 57 years old today.  Somehow that seems a lot closer to 60 than 56 did.  Getting older has never bothered me.  My 30's were better than my 20's and my 40's were better than my 30's.  The 50's started out well, but kind of went down hill for a while.  I have a tough time keeping my New Year's resolutions, so instead, I make birthday resolutions.  This year my resolution is to find the good in every situation that arises.  I know, it sounds like Pollyanna.
My dear friend, Melodye, gave me a birthday party last night.  We had a really good time.  The food, as usual, was superb and the company, perfect.  We played a game called Catch Phrase that is a wonderful party game.  I plan on getting one to take to TN next time I go.
Kirk and I are having a leisurely morning.  He's running to the market to pick up a Sunday paper and later we will go to the cooking class at Williams Sonoma.  It's going to be a great, lazy day, birthday.  We opted for watching "Hour of Power" instead of rushing to dress for church.  I'll go on Wednesday!
Pinecone, update:  I filled all the planters on the front porch with pinecones (a Martha Stewart idea) and along with chrysanthmums and pumpkin, the porch looks very autumn festive.
John says I am the only person he knows who views Martha Stewart's ideas as a challenge!

Searching & Scanning

I am amazed at how many pictures we have accumulated in fifty-seven (57) years!  What wonderful memories they bring.  I am also a little amazed that I was able to put the slide show for this blog together.  It confirms my theory that if you can read you can do just about anything.  Suzy loved the year she and Beth got the electric train.  Looking back at the first pictures with Santa brings back good memories too.  I took Suzy to the Santa at Cain Sloan (now Dillard's) in downtown Nashville.  With Beth, we went to Madison Square Shopping Center.  Suzy was so excited that day.  Now, John was at Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach.  There is a story to that one too.  I decided to take him to the mall during the middle of the day, in the middle of the week.  I figured there would be fewer people and we'd be in and out quickly.  It didn't work out that way.  There was a robbery in progress and a guy with a gun running around in the mall!  Scary then, but makes for a good story now.
Pinecone art is still in progress.

Family Photographs

So far I've gone through all the pictures I have stored on my computer and about half that are saved on discs.  Then, there is the antique Steamer Trunk, full to overflowing.  All of the pictures are dear to me.  I love seeing how we've all changed over the years.  I especially treasure the pictures from last year.

Pinecones and Fairy Lights

Look at my bowl of pinecones!

I was thinking of putting the wooden bowl of pinecones on the hearth, but Gracie steals everything I put there!  I really loved the cinnamon ideas from Melodye, once you cook them, you sprinkle them with cinnamon and they smell like Christmas!

An Additional Note on Pinecones

Baking pinecones create a truly unusual odor.  To be crafty/creative with them, your supply list should include Easy Off Oven Cleaner and Lysol Odor Remover Spray.

An Abundance of Pine Cones

I happen to have three (3) large and unattractive pine trees in my front yard.  They drip.  Constantly.  They drip sap and pine needles and pine cones.  They attract birds.  Birds drip too.  On my car.
I am going to turn a negative into a positive by using the pine cones to decorate.  I have been on line garnering ideas.  An important item that I learned is that you should bake the pinecones before you do anything with them.  This kills any insects that might be lingering between the petals.
The thought of insects in the pine cone petals is a little disgusting.  Actually the idea of killing bugs in my oven doesn't do much for me either.  Sounds like I better pick up some Easy Off at the grocery.
There are lots of things to do with pine cones.  Spray painting sounds easiest.  So, add spray paint to my list.  What do you do with scads of painted pine cones?  Pile them in your outdoor flower pots!
Do you have any interesting pine cone ideas to share?

Why am I doing this?

This will be the most difficult Christmas season of my life.
On July 31, 2009 my precious daughter, Suzy, lost her battle with cancer.  This will be my first Christmas in 38 years to not shop for a gift for her. 
This will be her sister and brother's first Christmas without her.  She was my first baby and took the role of big sister seriously.  She was an organizer and planner and when she told Beth or John to have a good time, she meant it!
This will be Eric, her husband's, first Christmas without her in fourteen (14) years.
But most difficult of all, it will be Ethan and Abby, her children's, first Christmas without her.
She loves all of us unstintingly, forever.  So, my Christmas gift to her will be to make this the best holiday season ever.  I'm not sure what that entails, or how I'm going to do it, but I do know there will be humor involved!  This blog will chronicle my journey.