Halloween 2013

It has taken forever for me to post but I wanted to document another Halloween.  These are just a few pictures of this year's Halloween.  I got rid of some of my decorations.  I decided that I had too much and got rid of a couple of boxes.  Luckily Marissa took most of them so it was easier to let them go.  I'm trying to keep life a little simpler.  Simpler you question?  Yes, this is simpler for me.  I didn't even unpack several boxes.  My husband felt cheated.  He likes all of it.  He was so sad when I put it all away for another year.  He likes how homey it makes the house feel.  (He's a keeper.  He'll even photograph all of it for me but he is probably cringing at my photoshop attempts.  I have so much to learn in that area.)

These pictures are some of the shelves in the cupboard in our dining room.

This is our dining room.  I love how big it is and yes, my husband and I usually eat at this giant table.  Yes, it is just the two of us most of the time.  I still love it.

  A close up of the Halloween mantel.  It's my "Ode to Edgar Allen Poe."  There are lots of birds and owls up there, old books, old cameras, a beaver skin top hat, player piano music, negatives on glass hanging from black ribbon, and watch faces.  I'm sure he would have had all those things.

 A close up of one of the negatives we found last year at Round Top.  Candice had the idea to use them as Halloween decor so she bought some too.  My husband taught me how to use copper foil and lead solder so I could use them to hang from the chandeliers and from the mantel.  Kind of spooky don't you think?

 I bought this typewriter for Candice and then couldn't part with it.  Good thing we found another one at Wimberley while I was there.  We made the crows last year.

Pumpkin pillows on the couch.  My girls and I all made the goofy ones on the right one year.

This is my pumpkin gourd collection from Jenny Gouchner.  A very talented local artist.

This is the centerpiece on my dining table.  You can see the glass negatives hanging from the chandelier in the top of the picture.  Again I stuck with the photography theme and used old pictures, feathers, old keys, and glass cloches.  I made the pictures holders by sticking wire I formed through wasp nests I glass glittered.  I think they are pretty cool.  I think you can click twice on the picture and see them better.  This is definitely not your typical Halloween decor but who wants to be predictable?

I hope you had a great Halloween.  Mine was filled with memories as I dressed up and made witches' brew in Logan's Halloween class, took grandkids to a neighborhood Halloween party for games, ate mummys (like pigs in a blanket) and tater tots for dinner with the family, and went Trick or Treating with 6 of the 9 grand children.  It was an almost perfect day.  We needed the Stringhams and Eli and Brenna for it to be perfect.

Valentine Exchange Number Two

 Stephanie had her Valentine Exchange Party Saturday the 11th.  There were 21 people to exchange with.  Each person was asked to bring 12 Valentine's to exchange.  Steph does it speed dating style.  Creed, my grandson, took over my speed dates.  He exchanged all my Valentine's for me and then wanted to keep everything.  He had a lot of fun doing it.  I forgot my camera so took everything home so I could take pictures and then let Creed have almost everything.  OK...I kept the chocolates.  They were delicious.   And, I couldn't give up those cute measuring cups and teaspoons either.

 Little rose post earrings put in a miniature flower pot.

leather covered bobby pins, vinyl "love", taffy

felt heart garland

 Pancakes with cinnamon frosting.  What great presentation.

A vintage valentine enlarged and embellished.

Amazing cake balls dipped in chocolate.

Letter pressed card with custom made pencils.

I shared these with Eli...delicious.

There were 3 of these in that little bag.  There was a gooey filling in the middle.

A cute card with an owl and fox tattoo.

A little shovel full of m&m's

Water colored "love" with a bit of chocolate.

Great presentation with delicious handmade chocolate

Steph made lots of sugar cookies that everyone could decorate and take home.  She had strawberries and grapes, and other treats.  Plus, she had lots of cute decorations.  Lots of Valentine love was had by all.

Valentine's Mantle

 I didn't post my finished Valentine's mantle.  It's a little over the top but Valentine's Day is a little bit cheesy anyway...you know cupid's, hearts, bows and arrows.

Valentine's Party

 I had my traditional Valentine exchange party February 7.  Here are a few of the potluck goodies everyone brought.  I made Stephanie's slider sandwiches.  They are so good.

 I snapped pictures of everyone as they ate...you know candid shots...don't shot me guys. 

 We had so much fun visiting as we ate.  I found many interesting things about everyone that we are not supposed to be revealed to others.  Needless to say, it was good for a lot of laughs.

 Here is my little Brenna and what she made for all of us.

 Cari made lip gloss and lotion for everyone.  Isn't she adorable?

 Corene made velvet cake in a jar.  It was yummy.

 She also added a tablet and pen so after the cake is gone, you can add your favorite sayings from your kids.

 Dana made these cute heart frames with hearts cute from Pride and Prejudice.

 I even had a heart that has Pemberley and Mr. Darcy on it.

 Emily made these "bird on a wire" pillows. 

 A couple of close up pictures.

 And, look at the cute material on the back.

 Heidi made these balls out of crepe paper.  She said it takes a large roll of crepe paper to make one.

 Brenna is going to make a little Valentine tree by adding a dowel and putting it in a pot.  I am going to add ribbon and use it as a kissing ball.

 Jill gave us decorated notebooks and encouraged us to write love notes to a spouse or one of our children and present it to them next year.  She also added fresh scented body wash.

 I used vintage sheet music (1926) and added a heart in an Ikea frame.

 Leslee had Eli cut some metal at the machine shop and made recipe holders and magnets for each of us.

 Her presentation is always amazing so I thought I'd take pictures so you could see for yourself.

 It came complete with a Salsa recipe that she brought for us to sample.  Yum.

 My birthday was the next day for everyone surprised me with a gift card to Hobby Lobby, a home made cake, a delectable cupcake, and these book full of Eli and Brenna's wedding pictures.  I love it.

We had so much fun and went home with lots of decorations and memories.  You should have one of your own.