Post Halloween post..........

I did a lot last week prior to Halloween and then this week.  We had our first frost so I had to bring in all the plants and when I say 'all' I mean ALL.....I am such a softie!  I can't stand to leave them out there if they are in a container and some I even dig up....even though I know they will probably not make it in the house.  But I have to try else I will feel terrible!

 Even my green beans and wax beans as they are still producing although without pollinators in the house I doubt I will get much more...........

Miss Peeps was 'helping' me according to her but not necessarily according to me.............

I got them all in the house before the frost but then it took me 3 days of trying to find places for them that Miss Peeps wouldn't knock over or dig in them.......I also repotted quite a few.............

I think she was waiting until I left the room.....I can tell she has a plan............wide-eyed innocent she is not but she tries to give you that impression......... 

 I fixed a lot of eggs this week as I needed the energy and they really do fuel me when I have a 'big' day which has been every day the past 2 weeks..............scrambled eggs in the microwave are so light and fluffy....just don't cook them too long or they end up like rubber.....ask me how I know.......but done right they are my favorite way to scramble eggs in a butter greased pie plate......and English muffins with butter and honey..........the past 2 mornings I've made egg McMuffins...........

Threw more lights up....one can never have too many holiday lights....it doesn't look very professional but it works for me!

I've also been stocking the pantry and freezer 'just in case'...........I bought a big package of not organic but hormone and antibiotic free  ground beef and broke it up into 1 pound packages that I froze...........I used Press'n Seal and then labeled each package.........

I then put them all in a gallon size bag so I know right where to look in the freezer.............and I can also tell when I am getting low on ground beef if they are all in the same place............

I knit on my sweater on breaks as it is such an easy and relaxing knit....who knew?  I thought sweaters were difficult and I'm sure there are some patterns out there that are but not this one.....so far so good and it is zooming along..............the light blue yarn is where the stitches for the sleeves are hanging out until I finish the back and sides of the sweater.

I'm having company for Thanksgiving if all goes well.....my 2 sons and one grandson so I am motivated more than ever to clean and organize and try and get gifts done so I can send them back with them to Iowa but I may be delusional.......cleaned the frig really well....just the inside...the outside still needs to be done.

Yesterday I cleaned a bathroom too and today I vacuumed a lot and washed several floors until my back said to knock it off.......so I'm done for the day and I've been up since 3:30 and it is now 4:11 so I think that's a full day.  Now, I'll feed the girls get my pj's on and work on some Christmas presents if it's not too difficult.....lol!   By this time of the day I don't really want to concentrate too hard on anything.....I just want to veg and do veggie activities preferably from my bed.  I also cleaned the litter boxes yesterday, I rolled up the hoses outside and put everything away for Winter plus replaced outdoor light bulbs so the Trick or Treaters would  have plenty of light.  The girls love getting Trick or Treaters...it's really the only time anyone comes to our door......which is fine with me! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

 Some of my favorites....I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!  Turn those porch lights on!

 Just me and a few of my friends getting together for an afternoon tea...........

And the scariest witch of all!!!!!!  Every time I look at this picture the music replays in my head.....she was frightening alright...still is!

Happy Trails!!!!

Wally World, treasures and an amazing discovery!!!

Today was gorgeous, blustery, sunny and crisp.  A perfect day for a trip to Wally World!  I had ordered the pet supplies online but I didn't order my supplies so off I went.  I really went off my list today as there was Halloween and Fall stuff....that I needed! These candles were actually on my list...

and these 'melties'..............they are an integral part of my fall and so Hygge (hoo-gah)......

and I definitely had to get Halloween candy for the 4 or 5  Trick or Treaters I get.......hmmm......80 pieces....do you think I overdid it?

Packing tape was on my list but not the dispenser.  I struggle with that stuff every time I use it and I'm all about making my life easier as I age.....this is one item that should accomplish that....and it comes filled with tape already and it's refillable, of course............

Okay...so this wasn't on my list but $5.50?  Really?  Everyone else gets to dress up for Halloween why not me?  I'll wear a long sleeved white t-shirt under it but now I will be 'dressed' for one of my favorite holidays when those 4 or 5 kids come to the door!  I'm getting to be as round as a pumpkin so this shirt should look really good on me! LOL!

These were also not on my list but one can never have enough Halloween lights.....come on....

These were actually on my list for my bullet journal......

 This magazine was not on the list..........that's 2 magazines I bought this month.....I better be careful....I might be getting carried away............in fact I have never bought a knitting magazine and I have been knitting for a few years now.....this is a first..........but there were really cute Christmas projects in it and besides Halloween and Fall I REALLY love Christmas too!

And last but by no means least....look what I got in the mail from my daughter, her husband, the 2 grand boys and even the cat!  A darling card...so precious I want to frame it....I'm a real sucker for cute little animals.....especially cute little animals in Fall!  It's  unusual as it wishes me a Happy Halloween and a 'bright, beautiful Autumn'...2 wishes...one card!  Brilliant I say, brilliant!

Now, I bet you are wondering what my 'great discovery' was....well.....I'm going to tell you.......

Most of you know I make my own laundry detergent and there are a lot of people that do but I ran out of dishwasher detergent and wondered if there was a homemade recipe for that......it just so happens I found one on, where else, Pinterest.  I was skeptical but I thought I had nothing to lose and if it didn't clean the dishes I would go buy my regular detergent.  Let me tell you...it worked great!  I had mac and cheese, cookie sheets with stuck on cookie crumbs...all my usual hard to clean items that I throw in my dishwasher and it got it all!  In fact, I think there were some items that came out cleaner than they have ever been....like a white plastic spoon that had stains.....not any more.....and an old antique sauce pan that had some 'permanent' stains in the bottom.....not any more!  I would like to credit whoever published this on Pinterest but I don't have a clue.....I just copied the recipe....so here it is if you'd like to try it.............it is so simple......you'll thank me............

I have 2 wash cups in my dishwasher and I filled them both...one closes for the main cycle and the other is open for pre-wash immediately when the dishwasher starts.

3 drops of dish detergent

fill 2/3 full with baking soda

fill the rest with table salt

That's it!  Try it you'll like it!

Happy Trails!!!

  

It's Tuesday but what are you reading, listening to and/or watching?

I'm a day late and a dollar short as the saying goes but the Halloween boxes for the grand boys got off in the mail this morning and that's what's important.
I finished a 5 ***** book this past week and although it made for quite a lot of melancholy it was an unforgettable book.  It was fiction but in reality it really wasn't.  I have never been one to be impressed by movie stars or any stars for that matter except the ones in the heavens but this story affected me deeply.  My only explanation is that I was channeling their emotions at the time these events took place.....that's what it felt like as I am not a romantic at all.....pretty practical and down to earth although passionate about certain things. I would be very interested to know if this book had that effect on anyone else.  If you have read it or plan to read it please let me know!  Otherwise, I still highly recommend it.

   I started reading this little gem and although I have read a previous book on Hygge I have had 3 people recommend this one.  It went on sale in the Kindle store so I grabbed it.  I think I'm on chapter 3 or 4....interesting reading and let's face it.....one cannot read too many books on the art of happiness!
Amazon states: "
New York Times Bestseller
Embrace Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) and become happier with this definitive guide to the Danish philosophy of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.
Why are Danes the happiest people in the world? The answer, says Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, is Hygge. Loosely translated, Hygge—pronounced Hoo-ga—is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. "Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience," Wiking explains. "It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe."
Hygge is the sensation you get when you’re cuddled up on a sofa, in cozy socks under a soft throw, during a storm. It’s that feeling when you’re sharing comfort food and easy conversation with loved ones at a candlelit table. It is the warmth of morning light shining just right on a crisp blue-sky day.
The Little Book of Hygge introduces you to this cornerstone of Danish life, and offers advice and ideas on incorporating it into your own life, such as:

• Get comfy. Take a break.
• Be here now. Turn off the phones.
• Turn down the lights. Bring out the candles.
• Build relationships. Spend time with your tribe.
• Give yourself a break from the demands of healthy living. Cake is most definitely Hygge.
• Live life today, like there is no coffee tomorrow.

From picking the right lighting to organizing a Hygge get-together to dressing hygge, Wiking shows you how to experience more joy and contentment the Danish way.

I'm still savoring this magazine.........just an article a night.......very enjoyable............

I'm also reading this non-fiction...I know!  2 non-fiction books....I think I broke my own rule here.......it's very good so far and has some great tips, instructions and wisdom.  I especially like that there's a section on memoir writing broken down to make it easier.

  I am reading my Halloween 'pick' and my daughter is reading it at the same time although she is a speed reader and will likely finish it much faster than I will...........it's very tiny print and slow going, very descriptive but well written for something from the 1700's....it's a classic so we will see how I like it....so far so good.......

I haven't been watching anything but binge watching Crochet Cupcakes podcasts.  I watched 3 episodes of Miss Marple but the English 'mumbling' that took place and her rambling at odd times made it so I really couldn't get the gist of it....they left so much out from the viewer there was no way you could have figured it out.  Plus, they played music loudly while the actors were talking....very strange.  I'll try again later with some more episodes but I wasn't impressed.
I would like to watch some Halloween movies but nothing really scary, violent or psycho! LOL!  I think I'll Google the best Halloween movies for children! Please share what you are reading, watching and/or listening to.  I'm trying to catch up with Daily Hope by listening to 2 podcasts a day and I'm still in Numbers in the Bible on Chapter 25.
Happy Trails!!! 

YOP Week #17

Hi everyone!  I was going to blog earlier as I was up REALLY early this morning but then I laid down for a bit and now it is 3:30 p.m.!  I  never nap but I made an exception today.  It's been another busy week around here.  I knew it was going to storm this weekend so I worked trying to get outside chores done this past week.  I did get grub granules spread on the lawn (I need more) to keep the armadillos from digging up the lawn.  I mowed the lawn and got my sidewalks swept, brought some plants in and put out the last of the Fall decorations.............

 a few more in the house........

and one of my favorites..........my fiber optic scarecrow!  Creepy huh?  He changes through a rainbow of color and at night he really looks creepy, lol!

I worked on my sweater on breaks but it is almost 400 stitches in one row so progress has slowed.  I only have 4 more rows before I split for the sleeves...........it's all bunched up on the needles......you can see my progress keeper there and it looks like about 3 inches since last week.....so far so good............

Most of my time was spent getting the grands Halloween box ready...........here are their 2017 Halloween collectible ornaments...LOL!  I saw a picture and tried to recreate,,,'nailed it'! NOT!  But they are pretty scary looking.  They're made of wool and my blanket stitch was really rusty.  I  made one for myself but couldn't finish it as I couldn't find the iris for the eye so I guess I'll have to cut out another one.  I made my own pattern too...can you tell...lol!  I think next year I'll order a kit...I am no artist!  They're supposed to be primitive and they truly are....ha! ha!  But they'll be added to the other ones I've made them over the years for their Halloween tree.

They're also getting books..............this is Grayson's..........

Uriah's...he loves Goosebumps....looks pretty scary to me!

and for Sam, I thought I would introduce him to The Hardy Boys.....book #1....we'll see how he takes to a good mystery...............these were all from Thrift Books...Grandma's on a budget! LOL!

I got these coffin boxes at the Dollar store to hold the ghost pretzels which I haven't made yet...........the 2 bigger boxes are for the adults..........

 But I have all the ingredients including the eyeballs......I'll show you next week how they turn out........what would a Grandma do without Pinterest?

and of course, I had to have orange wrapping paper................

I had wanted to finish my 2nd sock this week but that did not happen but I did get 4 squares done on my Cozy Memories Blanket...........those top 4 squares..............

I got some fabric in the mail that I ordered to make a mug rug for my daughter and a project bag for me but that hasn't happened yet either..............but isn't the fabric adorable?  I got it at the Fat Quarter Shop online............ 

This will be the back of the mug rug and the lining for my project bag............

I also got some stitch markers and a progress keeper from Maker's Haven that I ordered but they are pricey so I will have to make my own from now on but I needed an example anyway.........I do love hers....jewelry for your handwork!  There's another stitch marker but it is on my sweater as I was desperate for them!  I wanted some Halloween ones but didn't see any I liked really............so I got some fall ones with an apple and fall colors..............does anyone know of an Etsy shop or someone that sells great stitch markers and progress keepers?  I thought they showed up pretty good on my tablet with the back lighting.............

That's all for this week...hopefully next week the Halloween crafting will be done along with my sock and I will have 'sleeves' or the start of them on my sweater.  Tomorrow is Walmart shopping, more outdoor work and maybe some window washing.....the storms today brought in a cold front and it really is the end of summer now.....no more 80's even.....now it's low 70's or high 60's....perfect for working outside and the rain has been so cozy.  Great candle burning weather!  Have a great week!
Happy Trails and Happy Crafting and Happy Fall!!!