Pumpkin Carving Party

Each year we gather together one afternoon, 

a few days before Halloween 

to scoop pumpkin guts and carve them into spooky Jack-o'-Lanterns.

The designs can be as elaborate or simple as you wish.

This is my Jack o'lantern I carved back in 2010 using a pattern and the nifty tools.

We've been collecting those Pumpkin Master patterns and carving kits for ages.  I'll pick them up on clearance after the holiday.  The tools work really good even if you prefer to do a more retro look with googly eyes and goofy grins.

I just love the way our front porch looks swathed in twinkling lights, faux cobwebs and adorned with all our pumpkins carved into jack o'lanterns with a candle tucked inside lighting them up.

Family and friends are welcome, the more the merrier! 

We extend the dinning room table to accommodate everyone and cover it with newspapers or an old plastic tablecloth, also purchased on clearance.

 That's one of my best friends and her 2 daughters when we were all younger.  Sometimes I make a big batch of chili or soup to slurp for sustenance while we all carve away, having a few laughs and listening to some Halloween themed music.

I'm crazy about heirloom pumpkins with all the vibrant colors and interesting shapes.  And we always take a sample taste of the raw pumpkin.  You should try it!  It tastes good.  Toasted pumpkin seeds are delicious and nutritious so I always bake a few batches while we're carving.

Don't the Jack O'Lanterns look amazing perched on our porches, grinning and ready to greet Trick or Treaters?

I just Love the green pumpkins with the traditional orange.  

That's my daughter, Emily, dressed as Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler.  She did a wonderful job creating this costume using some of my old/ vintage clothes & shoes that she then embellished.

All the photos were either taken by me, my awesome sister, Mary Ann 

or my Lovely daughter, Sarah. 

Visit her blog, Lostvestige for more of her fabulous photos.

Take me to the Fair

We Love our Dixie Classic Fair.  

It's that exciting time of year when our local fair opens.

I Love seeing all the thrilling rides

The Himalaya and the swings have always been my favorites.

There's so many tasty cute treats to try.

Cotton candy, caramel and candy apples, ice cream and funnel cake are my favorite fair foods.

Have you ever tried a Red Velvet Funnel Cake?  Only in the South!

And then there are some treats that might look cool but I wouldn't want to try!
Would you?

So many interesting things to look at.  I can almost hear the sounds and the smell the aromas of the fair!

Just another beautiful day at the Fair.

All the photos were either taken by me, my awesome sister, Mary Ann 

or my Lovely daughter, Sarah. 

Visit her blog, Lostvestige for more of her fabulous photos.

Goodbye, September

My favorite month!

I'm going to be raking and playing in the leaves.

Afterwards, we'll get cozy
in front of the fire
watching some of these great spooky cool movies
or Fearfest on AMC.

I know some of the world shares my obsession!

Isn't this pretty?  

I Love how simple and effortless it looks, 

just a few acorns and pinecones 

gathered perhaps during an evening walk 

then dropped in a darling Transferware teacup. 

Have a wonderful October!

What Inspires Me

Looking at this photo makes my heart soar!

Isn't it Fantastic?

Bet it smells fresh, earthy and wet.

The moss is so lush I feel like I could just reach out and touch it.

I imagine myself there walking, hiking or just day dreaming.


Looking at Beautiful things gives my mind a mini vacation. It raises my spirits, elevates my mood, fills me with wonder and gets my creativity bubbling.
What inspires you?

Highlights of My Week

How my Garden Grows:

One of my Moonflower vines finally bloomed! 

All summer I've been watering the vines all that I've coaxed from seed.  They don't usually bloom until late summer {I wish it was earlier!} but September is rather tardy, especially when I'm so looking forward to seeing these dazzling huge beauties.  

Moonflowers are a night blooming vine 

and the flowers are always white, about 8" across and have a

 wonderful light scent of Twilight with a touch of Jasmine mixed with vanilla.  

Each flower only lasts one night and fades in the morning.

Here's what I'm Reading:

I Love a good mystery! 

And this author writes these stories set in Crozet, Virginia 

{where we visited this summer} 

and part of the mystery is told, as well as, solved by the heroine's 3 delightful pets! 

There's a Corgi named Tucker, 

Mrs. Murphy is a tiger tabby cat and Pewter is a cantankerous grey cat.  

Such a fun read!

Eating:

Lately, we've been on a roasted vegetable kick.  It's so easy!
And the taste is incredible.

Doesn't that look pretty?  

Chop up bell peppers, red onion, zucchini, portabello mushrooms, carrots, 

any veg really!

Then toss with some olive oil and spread the veg out on a parchment lined baking sheet, 

sprinkle with some garlic salt and roast them under the broiler until they start to brown.

Here's what we're OBSESSED with:

Making Roasted Veg Burritos!  

Arrange the veg on a soft tortilla and sprinkle with some Cheddar Jack shredded cheese mix. Microwave for 1 minute, then roll up and enjoy.  

Sometimes I'll smear some yogurt on the tortilla before I put the veg on.

 Cosplaying:

Here's Emily dressed up as Lightning from Final Fantasy 

for an Anime Convention she went to with her Bff.  

And the coolest thing is she made the costume!  

She found the brown skirt & turtleneck at Goodwill, chopped them up and added zippers.  Then she got the fabric for the vest, cape and gloves and sewed them, embellishing using buckles, buttons, belts and clasps.  

I think she is so clever, creative and talented.  

PS that's an Arda wig she styled.

Even though this costume turned out so cool she is thinking about dressing up as one of those 

creepy nurses from Silent Hill for Halloween!  

For me, I'd Love to dress up as a 50's era nurse 

a la "Call the Midwife" & "Breathless" from BBC / PBS - think blue shift dress and apron, cape 

and of course that darling nurses cap!  

So what are your ideas for your Halloween costume?

O for the Love of Pumpkins

I absolutely Love it when I see pumpkins.

Aren't they gorgeous?

While out walking in Old Salem a few years ago we happened upon these delightful heirloom pumpkins decorating the front steps of this nifty old place.

In September we have a 

Fun Fall Tradition

 of taking a drive up to the Virginia/NC border {about an hour away} 

for pumpkin shopping at a darling country store.

Would you look at all those amazing Cucurbita!  

{That's the botanical name for pumpkins, squash and gourds}

My daughter Emily and our friend Alex look cute and Autumnal here don't they?

I love they way they have all the produce displayed.

To get up there we take the interstate past Pilot Mountain for a scenic drive.  Then we usually Lunch on cheeseburgers & fries at the Bluebird diner in Mt. Airy, the quaint town of Andy Griffith Fame, that ole tv show.

Then it's time to decorate with our pumpkins 

How about some darling spooky Krispy Kreme Donuts?

I Love all my vintage paper mache Jack o Lanterns!

Not very many people decorate the outside of their house for Halloween. Do you?  I Love Trick or Treating and want to lure those little beggars to my house so I can give them some candy and check out their little costumes.

Can't wait to watch this classic, get a proper fix of nostalgia

Don't these pumpkin scones look delectable?  I need to give this recipe a try!

Do you have a tradition involving pumpkins?

Here's What I Like...

Ever notice the sound of the night this time of year?

Doesn't matter if I'm outside taking an evening walk,

or upstairs in bed

I Love that sound!!!!

I hear it and makes me feel happy, cozy, comforted.

It's the nostalgic sound of the end of summer and beginning of Fall.

The sound of the garden going to sleep

Picture sunflowers, falling leaves, acorns

I also like the sussurus sound that cars make in the rain when they drive by.

And did you know that the word petrichor means the wonderful earthy scent in the air when it rains?