halloween hoppin day three . . .

It's the last day *and* my day, YAY! 

When I first read the criteria of this hop — I’m going to make this really simple this year, I’d love to see a project with “Purple” in it, but seriously I’ll be happy also if it doesn’t …What’s Halloween tho without a bit of purple? You are free to make something new, or show a past project you’ve created — I knew this was a hop for ME!  Anyone that knows me, knows I love purple! All you have to do is look at a few of my past Halloween blog hop projects . . .

Wicked Blog Hop

Witchy Stitchy Blog Hop

Pick a Pumpkin Blog Hop

And select pieces of my current Halloween/Autumn decor . . . 

. . . to understand I'm all about including purple in the festivities!  Because, after all, Marian, of Seams to be Sew (our lovely blog hop hostess) is absolutely right.  What's Halloween without a little bit of purple?! ♥

Of course, the possibilities were endless, so I was all over the board with my thoughts. But then a late afternoon/early evening out on the lake gave me my *light bulb* moment.

Where we fish on Lake Guntersville, out near the dam, there also happens to sit a protected brown bat cave, right on the water.

At dusk, the bats fly out of the cave by the hundreds, and boaters come from everywhere to see the spectacle. I caught a bit of the excitement on video as we were hustling back to the marina . . .

Isn't that so cool?!  It's amazing to sit amongst them on the water. And see the waning light of the sky and how it makes every thing look a soft purple?  BINGO! Then I remembered I had a really cute pattern from Quilt Doodle Designs (that I've had for ages) that would be perfect.  

Isn't he (she?!) handsome?  Soft and sparkly . . . that's how I like my bats.  And PURPLE!  

Of course, I couldn't do just one thing. (I mean, right?!)  I'm also a huge fan of candy corn.  Did you know you can actually buy purple candy corn?

Yep.  Never have had it, but I'm curious how it tastes!  Instead, I stitched up a few candy corn bean bags in Civil War prints and backed them with, well . . . purple.

Because I can! And the CW print I used on the back ... I just love it!  It reminds me of fangs.  And candy corns.  Perfect, non? I filled them with crushed walnut shells ... and didn't realize it until midway through the process that there was also lavender in the mix.  Rather appropriate for the look, I'd say. *wink*

So there you have it!  I think my coffee table is getting a little full.  I may need to give away a few things . . . maybe a candy corn or two, some wool acorns and a few other fall goodies?  If that sounds fun to you, leave a comment by midnight on Friday, make sure there's a way for me to contact you, and I'll do a random draw and try and get the goodies in the mail so you have them before the month ends!

Thanks, Marian for such a fun hop!  Be sure to visit today's other participants, too!

Wednesday, October 21

Words & Stitches

Kathy's kwilts and more

me! >>>   Count it *all* JOY   <<< me!

Quilted Diary

Flying Parrot Quilts

Seams To Be Sew

Happy Halloween Hoppin!

:)

halloween hoppin day two . . .

Tuesday, October 20

Songbird Designs

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Slice of Pi Quilts

Just Let Me Quilt

Appliqués Quilts and More

Scrapdash

Another great round up of blogs to hop through today!  Be sure to stop back by tomorrow, because it's *my* day--hooray!!

:)

halloween hoppin day one . . .

 Monday, October 19

Samelia's Mum

Just Because Quilts

MooseStashQuilting

Musing From the Grove

Ms P Designs USA

Morning Glory Designs

What a great round up; be sure to visit all these great blogs—Happy Hoppin!

:)

time out . . .

Hey, hey!  What a glorious, long weekend for me!  Our big meeting was Tuesday, and then the office was closed through Monday!  The weather's been just glorious for a five-day weekend!

Tuesday evening, Evey came home with me and had a sleepover.  We had lots of fun exploring, watching movies, and making cookies!!

She was very serious about her sprinkling duties!

While Evey and I were checking out the turtle sanctuary, I noticed a couple of water lily buds.  Sure enough, when I came out on Thursday to look, we had one in full bloom . . . 

Isn't it beautiful?  Very late in the season for us, and pretty timely!  We had our first freeze warning this morning, and I noticed that both buds were under water.

Todd and I took a trip down the back end of the Nature Trail, where I happen to know the acorns have huge caps!  (Side note:  I've noticed--at least in our woods--that the biggest acorns have smaller caps, but the acorns with the huge caps are itty-bitty!)

Score!  It's still relatively early in the season, so there weren't a ton, but more than enough for what I wanted them for:

Who knew?! They make such cute caps for crocheted pumpkins! Those pumpkins are rather addictive, and I even found a way to cut the stitches to make tiny little crocheted pumpkins!!  :)

I worked on several *secret* projects, too.  Getting ready for the Halloween Hoppin Blog Hop! It starts on Monday ... this coming Monday!!  Be sure to tune in; here's the lineup:

Monday, October 19

Samelia's Mum

Just Because Quilts

MooseStashQuilting

Musing From the Grove

Ms P Designs USA

Morning Glory Designs

Tuesday, October 20

Songbird Designs

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Slice of Pi Quilts

Just Let Me Quilt

Appliqués Quilts and More

Scrapdash

Wednesday, October 21

Words & Stitches

Kathy's kwilts and more

me! >>>   Count it *all* JOY   <<< me!

Quilted Diary

Flying Parrot Quilts

Seams To Be Sew

My date is Wednesday . . . and who knows?  There might be a giveaway!!

As for slow stitching Sunday? I've got plenty to choose from.  Though I made some progress on my "Give Thanks" (by Kathy Schmitz) stitchery, there's still a ways to go.

I am also midway through (another) crocheted pumpkin. I did mention that they were addictive, right??!

And I ordered this cute little wool pear ornament!  I've got it cut out and ready to stitch on at my leisure, so who knows?!

What will you be stitching on Sunday afternoon?  I'll be linking up to Kathy's Quilts and her slow stitching post.  And savoring the last day of my long weekend!! Enjoy!

:)

achy breaky head . . .

So.  This was the first morning in sixteen days (sixteen looooong days) that I've woken up without a nagging headache. Bliss! I was so relieved that I didn't even mind going in to work!  LOL! Happy September!!

It's been a long time since I've had a headache that persistent. No one (by that I mean no doctor), has every been able to figure out why I get them, and short of prescribing something that knocks me flat out, no one (see above note) has ever been able to treat them successfully. So yeah, I was really happy this morning!

They aren't migraines (I get those every once in a while), so while it's unpleasant, I can generally power through a day.  Which I did and got some stuff done . . . 

Yeah ... I made about a million sixty cream cheese mints for a "walk by" baby shower I co-hosted this past weekend.

Joc & the girls are coming by today to enjoy the leftovers!

Ann, of On Sutton Place fame, posted a recipe for an Apple Bundt Cake that sounded SO yummy, I had to give it whirl. I used my fun Nordic Ware mini bundt pan (that's actually a four-in-one). 

When you're just two, making a whole cake is problematic.  Because we either end up eating it all (which neither of us really needs) or it spoils.  And I *could* cut a regular sized cake up and send it along, but this way is so much prettier!

Don't you think?!  Joc will take one of these home, along with the mints!  The glaze for these was particularly good.  The end result was like a sophisticated and easier-to-eat version of a caramel apple.  You won't regret giving it a try!

I've done a little work on my embroidery project . . .

It's not coming along too fast, but it was hard to work those stitches with an achy head.

Ellie, on the other hand, has made terrific progress with her latest stitchery project:

Her stitches are so good!  All she has left is the dark brown outline.  Unless she does a little freehand, which she told me she wanted to do; add a few ladybugs up near the branch.  That's my girl!

I pulled the "T" blocks out of their case to line them up on a design wall for placement.  When I opened the case, my eye caught those lantern blocks (which finish out to an odd 7.25").  They were just. sitting. there.  I had an epiphany to use them for a border to the "T" blocks.  That way I could put a solid border of whatever size needed in-between, that would solve the problem of mis-matched block sizes . . .

I'm thinking of "Tea in the Oriental Gardens" or "Oriental Tea Party" or some name along those lines. But I decided I really liked the funkiness of it! Any thoughts?

The girls had their first day of CC (Classical Conversations) last week . . . 

Aren't they darling?! Edie was SO excited to be going to school! 

Earlier in the 'growing season', we weren't sure if we'd accidentally planted a watermelon or a pumpkin in the middle of our squash and cucumbers.

Now we know for sure! Hip hip HURRAH!  My very own home-grown pumpkin!

And speaking of pumpkins, I got in on the Halloween Hoppin Blog Hop, hosted by Marian of Seams to be Sew.

The main criteria is as follows . . . she'd love to see a project with “Purple” in it, but seriously I’ll be happy also if it doesn’t …What’s Halloween tho without a bit of purple? You are free to make something new, or show a past project you’ve created. Tell us a story, or tell us why you love Halloween. What’s your favorite monster?

Purple?  I can do that. [insert wicked grin here] 

Seriously though, there's a lot of wiggle room (I mean, you can share a past project -- it can't get much easier than that), and she's taking signups through September 11!!

My week is nearly halfway finished. I do enjoy that aspect of working four tens!

:)