Where's the Ghoulish Spirit?

Seems like Halloween has faded with the years.
When I was little, I remember Halloween being such a huge deal.

It was such an exciting time back then, with decorations everywhere, carved pumpkins by each doorstep, tons of kids were all over the streets with one of a kind costumes and the candy was the real deal.

Where's the creativity these days? The costumes today are just plain horrible! not to mention expensive.
Little girls look like (?!!!^%$#) and boys, whatever new action figure that just hit the theaters.
Where are the Witches,Pirates,Princesses,Draculas,and Ghosts?

I noticed older kids come to my door, some taller than me! and they come back for more! you don't see carved pumpkins much anymore, and if you forgot to bring your pumpkin indoors you will find it smashed to pieces all over the street the next morning :(

Kids are not allowed to wear costumes in school,and trick-or-treaters go to organized events more than door to door.
What happened? Have people become too paranoid?
Aren't parents ruining the fun for their kids?
Ok, we'd hear stories of tampered candy but it never stopped us from trick or treating! Our parents verified all our bags, today parents steal all the good candy!

Maybe I've lost my Ghoulish Spirit this year,maybe the overpowering Christmas Decorations in all stores has turned me off completely...

This year, I decided to leave everything in my Halloween Bin.
There won't be any treats at my doorstep. And No tricks either.
Maybe next year It will be different.

But I will NOT pass up the opportunity to bake some really good pumpkin cookies and roast some yummy seeds :)

* UPDATE.
I gave in. I did Halloween only because it was for the kids and I started feeling guilty.

Harvest Festivals

I have one memory that comes to mind around this time. On a crisp autumn morning going to the country to visit my mom and dad. It would take nearly 2 hours from the city; you had to drive through some small towns. I can almost smell the air, with the landscape already displaying fall colors. What a treat to see the rows of pumpkins from the road. I recall one place we'd stop at, An outdoor market full of fresh produce.
On special occasions we'd get mom flowers, and during the holidays a fresh cut Christmas tree.
There was also a fair we could go to, go visit the horses and other farm animals, sit on a pic-nic table and have a snack to eat.
I miss those days, and I miss the simplicity of it all.
You could meet the farmers and have a sample of their baked goods.
By the apple orchards you could help yourself to a bag of freshly picked apples and leave your money in a box.

The Harvest Festivals here just aren't the same, thousands of miles away.

Dried Sweet Basil

I love the smell of Basil :) Basil has done very well in my garden. I was a little sad to snip the stems but it was time. Parts of it had started to flower.
I cleaned them and laid them out to dry under a cloth. Its been several days now, and this morning it is ready to crumble.
Dried Basil, great for sauces, mixed with olive oil and Pesto! Yummy!

Heat Be Gone

Well this is the perfect weather! The heat has gone now and the veggie garden has come to life! My Lettuce and Endive look perky and happy. The extended heat wave and damaging winds with hail wilted everything a while back, and I was worried about losing them. But this morning It felt good to see everything bouncing back. Gets my day started in the right mood :)

Loving October

It's October now, some heavy rains and hail have come through the Valley in the last 2 days and did lots of damage. The bamboo covering in my garden has caved in due to the heavy hail, the baby veggies, flattened. The yard, flooded. There are pine cones and branches everywhere. What a mess! The chickens ran for cover poor things, they're lucky to have a nice place to keep dry.


Just as I was feeling a relief from the heat this had to happen :( My concern was my veggies mostly, but it's not as bad as it first looked. Hopefully they will recover, while the rest of the place dries up. I'm very happy about the rain though, my rain barrels over flooded :)

The dogs were definitely excited about running in the mud and bringing it all over the house....

Well at least there was no Major damage and all ended with a beautiful double rainbow :)

Seasonal Changes

It's looking like we are done with the triple digits, some relief at last! this will surely help in the garden. I have beans, tomatoes, corn, carrots, broccoli and brussel sprouts that will soon be ready for transplant. This weekend I prepped the garden beds and formed mounds. I am beginning to think that my veggies are doing better in containers, I am almost afraid to move them in their new home :( The last transplant didn't work. Crossing my fingers and toes here...

My favorite Herb

Or at least one of my favorites :)
Summer Savory!
I just LOVE that smell! it gives everything so much flavor :)
It's so peppery and pungant.
I already ran out of it so I ordered more seeds and recieved them today!

End of Summer Compost

This year has been the hottest summer on record. Im so glad it's over. I'm Looking forward to spending more time outdoors in the garden. One good thing about this blazing heat is the result of my composted materials in the tumbler.
All the kitchen waste, plant clippings, newspaper, and chicken droppings gave me this wonderful dirt :D
I spread it all over my young vegetable plants for added nutrients.

Autumn has Arrived...

Today is the first day of Fall, and I can already feel a slight crispness in the air, Its my favorite season, and mornings are my favorite time of the day. My vegetables seem to have more life too. It's looking more promising in the garden :)
My chickens seem happier, their peeps and chirps have long gone, but their clucking
is a welcoming change. Soon I should have little surprises in their nesting boxes...

Autumn is renewal, it's a time where I reflect on small changes that need to be made. Both in my life and what surrounds me. I get craftier and more physical. This is where I think back at the times we'd go for long walks everyday with our dogs in the park and be in awe of the changing colors of the trees.

My sister, my best friend. I miss her. She has always been there for me, through it all. Although miles keep us apart she is still here, close to my heart. We've been through good and bad together. She has always been my rock. We've shared our secrets, lived together for years before I moved far away. Our dogs were our world, and still are. We have lost some, and cried together.
And today, her loving dog is ill, and will not be there to see the winter.

I hate to spend Autumn alone in this part of the world, knowing a part of me is feeling sadness today, and unable to be there for her. Sometimes renewal is good. Sometimes it is forced upon us. But this year Autumn will not be the same.

Baby Tomato

Dull Chairs with a New Life

A pair of plastic chairs were tossed in the trash down the street. I brought them home and I decided to paint them in pastel colors. All they need is a colorful matching pillow to be complete :) Now I have chairs to sit on in my garden.

My Pies turned out quite Tasty :)

Apple Pie Memoreis

Nothing beats the smell of homemade apple pie this time of year. The delightful smell of cinnamon brings back so many memories of my parent's home in the country.

Us siblings would take a drive up there to spend the weekend and make pies all weekend. Mom had lots of apple trees on her property.
There was no recipe, just us sisters and mom playing in the dough and slicing apples for hours...the fun we had, always laughing together.

We would cover all counter space with dozens of pies, enough for all of us to bring several back home. Then we'd bundle up, gather around the bonfire outside and joke all night. I really miss those days.
I miss my mom most around this time.

I haven't made an apple pie since her passing. I am thinking maybe this weekend that I should. And let that aroma take over my kitchen, like it did in hers.

Another Saved Treasure

It makes my heart smile when I save an old piece that could have been trash and forever gone in some landffill. when I find such timeless treasures I get anxious about getting started because I can see the potential immediately. I have used my sander and various tools on many, many pieces that came through my home, but this chair looks like it will be my most challenging project yet.

I cannot wait to see the stylish result of this piece! I can already see it sitting pretty in my room. :)

The Enchanted Forest :)