Way Back When-sday Hodgepodge

Hi Guys, long time no see! Glad to be back with The Hodgepodgers after a busy few weeks! If you would like to join in, click on the button below and head over to Joyce’s and follow the directions. Here we go!

1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn’t have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?

Halloween is a fairly low key event over here. We used to always have my folks and brother and SIL over for hot chocolate and cut out pumpkin cookies, and to see the kids all duded up in their Halloween finery, but the last few years we have mostly been on vacation on this date. We were home last year and had about 10-15 kids tops. Our subdivision connects with another sub that has more houses and they are closer together, hence a better cost to benefit ratio over there, or less walking for your candy, however you want to put it.

The last few pumpkins I purchased went uncarved and I finally took them to the field out back as a treat for the critters that live there. Honey and I have not gone to a Halloween party in YEARS, but we have collaborated on many a costume for the kids over the years. This year The Ab-Cat was the only one partying and she went as a hippie. As is often the case, we used a lot of what we had and I made a peace sign out of cardboard and aluminum foil for a necklace. She looked adorable!

For many years I baked the afore mentioned pumpkin cut out cookies, but not lately. Mostly because having a whole bunch of cookies present assures that we will eat way too many of them! We may save that recipe for Christmas and make them again with our nephew, Medium Goomba.

I always poll the family about what we would like to give out for Halloween because having so few Trick or Treaters guarantees that we will have leftovers. The last few years they have requested the variety bags of chips and we always have Snickers because they are our favorites and this is the only time I buy them. They were purchased on Monday, so let the festivities begin!!!

2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate

Hmmm, I can think of several things, but mainly I’m waiting for this little peanut and her folks to fly in tonight from Seattle for a visit!!!!! She will be 4 months old on Thursday, a whole 3 months older than she was when we last saw her!

It seems like she changes every week!

It sounds like she is getting quite smiley and chatty, and we can’t wait to get to know her better!

 
Hurry up and get here Moonpie, Grammie and Papa can’t wait to smooch you!

3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.

I will say more creative. I run with a very talented, creative pack, and while I can copy like a BOSS, I do not have the eye, creative spark, or whatever inspiration you need to actually create something out of nothing. But I sure admire those who have the gene!
4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?

I am a do-it-yourselfer painter and I find it a very satisfying venture! Nothing gives you more bang for your buck than painting a room. My dear friend Capri P helped me paint the entire main floor of our house about 15 years ago. I had never really done more than some cutting for Honey before, and I have now successfully repainted a few rooms on my own. Funny this question should come up because Capri P and I have been discussing paint colors lately. I really need to repaint and I am looking a little towards a more neutral resale color. I still like the color we have, but realize that it may be gold-er than trend dictates. We are in the market for something a little more greige, it will blend my warmer tones without going to the grey side. I have nothing against grey for others, but I have been there, done that, and I’m not going back. I think the last room we painted was The Ab-Cat’s bedroom, about 4 years ago.

The great room, kitchen, foyer and hallways are next up for a coat of paint. It will be a big job but I can do it! Except for the stairwell to the basement. I am going to have to get Honey on board for that,it’s tricky.

I like some wallpaper, but not all over . Our dining room is the only wallpapered room in our house and it’s one of my favorite rooms. We also have a border in our kitchen that is coming down the next time we paint. It’s served its purpose.
5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?

I am grateful for the blessing of old, good, friends! My good friend Mrs. Schmenkman came to town for her niece and nephew’s baby shower and we had a Capri reunion! The Capri’s are a group of gals, related by blood and marriage, and they graciously invited me to join them many years ago in spite of the fact that I have my own blood and marriage. From the left we have Capri D, Capri A, Capri P, Capri L, and me, Capri K

 
Love you girlies!!

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Here is our favorite little trick or treater!! Moonpie was a sweet little kitty cat!

And for the Way Back When-sday part of the post we head back to 1970! My brother Beeve and I on one of our favorite nights of the year!!! I was an 8 year old hippie with plastic flowers sewn on my skirt and my Mom’s groovy necklace, but for me it was all about getting makeup on! Pretty bold eyebrow statement there Mom! Little Beeve was a 4 year old Frankenstein monster, complete with scars and a dashing moustache and goatee!

The very first thing we did when we returned home was DUMP our bags and the trading began! Good memories!

Thanks for stopping by!

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