~ the witch is in!

I hope those trick or treaters get here before the rain and wind :-(

~ halloween host & hostess...

...all dressed up and ready to greet the halloween guests. :-)

~ halloween eve...

...these two started the celebration early :-)

~ calmly waiting...

...for trick or treating {in a couple of days}...and...enjoying the quiet. Today is the 1 year anniversary of hurricane Sandy -- maybe that's why the weather is so beautiful. In nature, it is all about the balance...

~ halloween quilt top...

Four days until halloween!  I have to remove the basting pins and correct a mistake on the pieced back.



I am not going to meet the dead line.  Eeeeek!

~ kitchen corner update...

Good morning!  Thanks for stopping by.  I was just about to throw my half cold cup of coffee in the microwave, and saw this photo-op moment staring right at me.  Yes, that is my philodendron sitting just beyond the gate -- waiting for a wash and trim before going upstairs to spend the winter in my sewing room.

Outside, the temps are dropping -- so that means its time to move a bit quicker indoors.  The kitchen corner is almost done!  The base and pantry cabinets are painted and installed -- complete with door/drawer pulls and soft-close dampers on the doors (love these!)
 


The high hat light fixture is installed, wired and working -- along with a new electrical outlet.  The countertop needs to be cut (again) so that it fits perfectly.  We also will be adding a "message area" on the wall, and, a decorative shelf.

Stay tuned...

~ c'mon trick or treaters...

...we're ready for ya!



Last year, even Hurricane Sandy couldn't stop the trick or treaters from coming to our house.  We had an unexpected 150 trick or treaters -- this broke our 2011 record of 120 trick or treaters.  This year, we are well stocked, and, ready! :-)

Yes, the two bowls on the top shelf and two bags on the bottom shelf are all filled with candy bags prepared for trick or treaters. We do have a bit more, unprepared... just in case!

Note:  Because of Hurricane Sandy, last year, our trick or treating festivities were delayed until November 5.

~ the transformation continues...

Every fall I purchase a few of these cute little $1 scarecrows.  They are only displayed for a short time, and then put away -- and usually end up in the trash because they get moldy.  This year, I decided to get a little more use from them.  I had 4 of them, so I cut a yard of white lightweight cotton fabric into 4 squares, draped a piece over the head of each scarecrow and tied at the neck with a bit of twine.  The most difficult part of the whole project was running down to the basement and back upstairs again while fetching art supplies from Sofia's stash.  Sofia is very particular about lending her paintbrushes and paint, so.. it was necessary for me to paint the eyes and then quickly clean up and put everything away before she came home from school. ;-)



Yes, as soon as she saw these, she knew...  You'll be happy to know that my punishment wasn't too bad -- I only got "the look" :-)

~ my gory girl...

...auditioning makeup for halloween...EEeeeek!

~ burlap pillow cover...

...for halloween :-)

~*~

~*~

I cannot finish my "halloween" quilt until some fabric (for the binding) arrives in the mail.  In the meantime, I needed a halloween theme pillow cover for the antique chair in my stairwell.  Since burlap is so popular right now, I decided to use that.  The center applique is a fussy cut piece from "the ghastlies" fabric collection.

~ getting ready for halloween...

...15 more days ;-)

~ fall vignette...

...side yard

~ my pretty girl...

...sitting on a bale of hay :-)



This year, as part of our fall outdoor decorations, we decided to create a little farm theme vignette in the side yard.  This vignette was totally inspired by the milk can in the photo -- it was a yard sale purchase :-)  It has taken quite a few days to piece the vignette -- a trip to the local farm for the bale of hay, another trip to the local farm for the corn stalks, a trip to the store for wood, a trip to the store for spray paint -- I'm sure you're getting the idea.

This is not the completed vignette-- we should have it done by tomorrow.  In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy a photo of my lovely daughter :-)