Costume Fun

We really love Halloween at my house.

Costumes are thought out and planned. Halloween festivities and haunted houses are scheduled and marked on the calendar.

When we were invited to a Halloween party one of the other firemen put on, hubby knew he had to really go all out on his costume. One of the guys at the party dressed up as Jafar from Aladdin. You know, when he turned into a genie at the end, all red and scary?

Yes, super cool.

Anyway, the girl came with us as the boys had other parties they wanted to go to. She has a vampire costume and has worn it to two different Halloween events so far and decided to pull an old costume out to wear for our Saturday night party.

Rice Pudding, Baked Potato Casserole, Chicken & Gravy

Last night, after we got home from a COLD soccer game (47 degrees). They tied 4 to 4.

And while the youngest boy was at band practice.

I made chicken in gravy! It's my mom's recipe and super yummy.

Mine's not as good as hers is, no matter how close I follow her directions.

It's a mom thing.

Update with no updates

So, I haven't done any painting for the last couple of days, no updates.

I haven't even done much baking the last few days.

Sad, I know. I made a hamsteak and then browned pineapple in the pan from the juices.  Exciting stuff.

We had a few days of beautiful weather and I used the opportunity to take the bike for a ride a couple of times.

I met a Mary Kay lady to 'do my colors' Monday night. I took the bike.

Leaves, Cupcakes and Face Painting

No, I'm not posting more fall leaf pictures.

I'm talking about my mural. I did some more touch ups to the tree, and started my leaves!

Halloween Plans and Mural Updates

It's been edging closer and closer to Winter. The winds blow all the beautiful, vibrant colored leaves off the trees, leaving behind the bare branches. I was happily surprised this morning to see the sun shining, lighting up all the green and it felt like we had yet a few weeks of Fall left, even though the temp was 40.

However, the girl's soccer game last night was cancelled due to the cold, the wind and the rain. It definitely felt like Winter was treading too close last night.

We are making last minute Halloween plans. This weekend, we're going to try to make it to a Haunted House. The girl is a little too nervous to go this year. She did go last year, and did fine, until the pitch black hallways, then she walked into a wall and her bravado was gone. We will go with the older kids Sunday.

I'll take her to another local Halloween festival, prob Sat night. They have a train ride that's geared towards the younger kids.

The next weekend our gym is have a Spooktacular and I'll probably take the girl to that as well. Just for one more festivity before Halloween. They're only young once and I don't want to lose any of it.

Besides, more chance to use that costume of hers. :)

I think the fireman and I are going to a Halloween party. Not sure what we'll dress up as, but if we're going to do it, we have to figure it out soon. But the other fireman that are throwing the party get really elaborate with costumes and we haven't a clue where to start.

The fireman suggested: Sonny & Cher. We have a 1 1/2 inch height difference and if I wear some high heels or platforms and get a wig, we'll be set. We'll see. If we do, I'll def post pictures. He thought he'd stop by Goodwill to see about a retro suit. He'd need a wig, too.

If we go, it'll be my first real Halloween party. I'm kinda psyched,

On other news, I've been working on the mural.

Again, I forgot my cord for the camera, so this is a phone shot. Difficult to see, but mostly done.

I hadn't yet wiped off the chalk marks, it looks better without it. I have to say that I really love how the Delta Ceramcoat is matte to the satin of the wall paint. Makes the branches stand out.

This was the second night of painting.

Again, the white on hte left is from the chalk. The white onthe right is highlighting that I painted on. Just a few spots to draw the attention. I really love how the black shadows on the left side came out.

I could really keep tweaking this continuously, but I'm going to move on.

The roots. If you remember how they were before, which I was happy with, they have much more depth now than before.

Before shot.

My next step is to chalk in the roots along the wall. I am going to have some exposed roots leading away from the tree. Just so that the bottom of the wall won't be entirely bare.

I plan to try to do that tonight, and maybe start on them, if it's not too busy. We do have parent/teacher meetings tonight. So, you never know...

Photo Montage

It's well and truly fall. Well, you already knew that. I've been posting blogs about our fall field trips to apple orchards and the trees and the colors.

It's no secret that in our household, fall is the favorite of seasons.

Fall rules!

Paint Class and My Mural

So, this last weekend, I had my Social Artworking class. This class takes their simple to use canvas painting instruction packets and allows the student to learn the methods with a teacher present. My class was at JoAnn's Fabrics.

If you haven't heard of JoAnn's classes, please look into it. They have sewing classes, polymer bead-making classes and even teen-sewing classes. Awesome!

Sweet Fluffy Omelet

This recipe was found in one of my mom's old cookbooks. When I found it, I was in the middle of the Dukan Diet and frustrated because I couldn't do much to 'treat' myself. I tried a lot of the Dukan 'desserts' with no success. A few of them actually went down the sink. I was allowed all the lean protein I wanted, so milk, low fat (no fat) cheeses and eggs (two yolks) were fine. Also, sweeteners are allowed, in moderation. I finally found stevia as being the only sweetener I could use that I could stand. I don't like the idea of the chemical sweeteners, but stevia is natural, from a plant. It does taste slightly different, but if you're not overloading the sweetness, you hardly notice. Especially if you haven't had anything sweet lately.

This recipe is as it was listed in the cookbook. It wasn't listed as a diet recipe. I believe it's French in origin and takes a few minutes to make, so I don't make it everyday, otherwise, I definitely would.

Fall Fun

The weekend was perfect and wonderful.

I went to a Mary Kay party on Saturday, took the bike because the weather was perfect. When the hostess greeted me at the door she was laughing and said that one of the ladies inside was all, "Some lady just pulled in on a bike!" :)

We all had a fun time. They were all fireman wives. We had a lot to chat about, laugh about, grouse about.

Hubby and I went through the study together and made a pile for goodwill. I love consolidating. Lots of books we don't need/want. We were able to get rid of a curio cabinet in the living room that we didn't need. Means more space! I love empty space.

Sunday, we took the two youngest kids to the local apple orchard. Man, it was busy.

The girl with her best 'tough' face.

It's Friday and I'm Happy

It's Friday.

I slept in this morning because the girl had a late start at school. Didn't start until 10am. SCORE

I rode the bike in to work.

Work has been quiet and wonderful.

I have Elton John playing on my computer via my MP3 player. Tiny Dancer anyone? Philadelphia Freedom?

I have Chocolate Chip pie waiting for me at home.

Sunday we're taking the kids to the local apple farm just for fun. We're talking apple picking, kettle korn, apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple butter, pumpkins. We're talking corn maze.

Welcome fall, with your leaves and colors and weather!

And candy corn.

And I have this pic to make my smile.

Life. It is good, man.

Soccer and Pie

Last night my parents came down to visit and to see the girl play a soccer game. They won, by the way. :)
We ran by the local Italian restaurant and picked up a gallon of spaghetti and some sandwiches. I threw this  Chocolate Chip Pie in the toaster oven while we ate.

Oh. My. It was goooood.

Gooey, rich, warm. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. *sigh*

Painting

So, about the mural. I'm decent at drawing, but haven't done much with paint. I made a clock once and painted a coffee cup stencil on it. I used regular paint. I"m not sure how to use acrylics, which most people do on walls.

I have a grandma who paints tole art and landscape scenes. She can definitely, really, honest to goodness paint. So, I talked to her about it. She thinks I absolutely should use acrylics, rather than regular wall paint.