Fall Mantel 2012

Well, here she is...Miss Fall Mantel 2012.  I know what you're thinking...she bears a striking resemblance to last year's winner.  Had I not waited until the last minute I could have done a little shopping and invested in some new pieces, but I think it still looks pretty good.  The mirror is the only new piece (and I have no idea what those criss-cross lines are you see reflecting in it).  I do like the look of this new addition, but I am still just sick over what happened to the print it replaces.

In addition to the mantel, I was finally able this weekend to do a little decorating for Halloween. John-Heath still feels we have much we should add, and he is somewhat disappointed I have not put up our Halloween mice this year, but since he's been sick most of the weekend he hasn't complained too badly. If I have time tomorrow afternoon I may just have to make that little fellow some mice.

 I love this white ceramic owl and orange plumage.  They were bought last year at Chef's Market.  I wish now I had bought another set for the other end.

 And here are, what I like to call, my headstone bookends.  Don't they look like something you'd see on an old tombstone? 

Now this isn't part of our Halloween decor (although it is somewhat of a scary feeling to look at this picture and realize how fast time goes).  This is Ren's senior picture, framed by Melanie's, and it hangs on a small wall to the right of the mantel.  Since I had the camera out I thought I'd snap a picture of it, too.



That's all for tonight.  Have a frightfully wonderful week! 

Halloween Recap - Part 2

Finally, it was time for the big night! After running his coat through the washer to remove the grass stains and chocolate milk that hitched a ride home from school, it was time to get all dressed up again. He agonized over letting me touch up his moustache. Someone had laughed at him at school. “Because it’s funny", I said. I don’t think he was buying the “they were laughing with you not at you” explanation, though.

We made most of our normal rounds before heading to my sister’s for our family’s annual Halloween dinner and marshmallow roast. Some of our friends, however, did not have their porch light on when we passed so I am assuming they celebrated earlier. The night before. On October 30.

After stopping by to see John’s sister and mother we went to Ms. Susie’s and Mr. Joey’s (formerly aka “Halloween Man” to John-Heath because Halloween was the only time he was ever around him). Ms. Susie’s parents live next door and were outside when we arrived so he was able to trick-or-treat there, too.

This little trip to the Turner Station community is one of our most favorite stops. It’s also one of our longest, as we go in and visit for a while. Susie and I catch up on gossip, Joey and John discuss an assortment of different topics, and John-Heath just prowls. I’m just surprised he hasn’t asked to use their restroom yet to see what’s in their medicine cabinet.

Susie’s home is always so warmly decorated for the holidays it needs to be in an edition of Country Living. I really do love going there – even if she does have the cleanest, slickest floors known to man and I have come close to having my backside meet the hardwood many a time sliding across a braided rug. Of course, it doesn't help that I am the clumsiest person known to man.

During this year’s visit John-Heath slipped out the front door and was gone for a few minutes. When he returned it didn’t take long to realize where he had been when he tried to speak with a mouthful of candy. He had paid a return visit to Susie’s mom and dad seeking more candy.

Then as we loaded up in the car to leave, he hinted to Joey that Ren (who had sat in the car the whole time because she is sixteen and sixteen-year-olds are grumpy and whiny and too old for such nonsense) would like some candy. Joey, easily one of the most obliging men you could ever meet, went to get some, only to hear John-Heath say when he returned to our car with the candy, “She doesn’t need it so I guess I’ll just keep it.” Have I ever told you what a big sweet tooth my son has? It’s a good thing he regularly practices oral hygiene.

At this point it was roughly six o’clock. We were expected at my sister’s at 5:30. Sounds about right. However, we had one more stop to make – Ye Old Tyme Fudge Shoppe. Actually, it was my friend Jean’s house. She always treats her visiting spooks (and their parents) to her homemade fudge. We have gone since Ren was in Jean’s first grade class. Mmmmm! Chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, which is my personal favorite, and orange creamsicle fudge, which tastes a lot like an orange push-up. I’m not sure what we’re going to do when John-Heath gets too old for trick-or-treating. Maybe Jean will take pity on us and allow us to still stop by. I’d gladly don a costume for it.

Finally, we arrived at my sister’s. I always like to get a picture of John-Heath and “the boys” in costume together. “The boys” are my great-nephews and are always referred to as “the boys” by John-Heath. “The boys” weren’t in costume. They were in costume on Sunday night. October 30. The night before Halloween. Because my town officially celebrated on Oct. 30.


My sister had made Taco Soup, which was delish, and we had hotdogs and chips, an orange Halloween cake, and smores, and I got all domesticated and made EVIL EYE CUPCAKES (and a few that turned out looking somewhat like turkeys).







Ren and I did too many imitations of Damon Wayans’ Major Payne character for my nephew and his wife, who said they would pray for us. Really, though, aside from a little, I will admit, salty language, parts of this movie crack us up.

PAYNE: What's the matter, boy? Are you deaf or just plain stupid?
RED-HEADED KID (trying to be helpful): Actually, sir, he is deaf.
PAYNE (to red-headed kid): Oh, I'm sorry. NOW DROP down AND GIVE ME 25 MORE FOR SPEAKIN’ OUTTA LINE!

All in all, this Halloween was great - both nights of it...but we're not nearly as wild and out of control as the above picture suggests.

Why I Wouldn't Have Won the Mother of the Year Award in 2000.

My daughter is, and has for a very long time been, a horror movie enthusiast. I shamefully admit to allowing her to watch Sleepy Hollow once it had been released on video.

Not this one...


but this one.

She was 5.

I did cover her eyes during all the right scenes, though...or, at least, I hope I did. You know how guilt can sometimes distort a memory over time.

Because of her love for this goose-bump-inducing genre, she is rarely fearful of “scary” Halloweenish things. She can sit through movies, read books and walk through most any haunted house (of the commercial variety) with nary a whimper.

But she will not, under any circumstance, go near a certain trunk in our house alone. Why? Well, check back later tomorrow and I’ll tell you.

Right now I have got to get warm. I just got in from the football game and I'm absolutely chilled to the bone. Brrrrr. A chilly night in Middle Tennessee for sure.

The Definition of October

The tenth month of the year creates different feelings among the members of my household. For John, it’s Will this month ever end? For Ren and John-Heath and, yes, even me it’s like Ahhh, October!

Fall is always an active time for our family. Ren’s birthday falls at the end of September but is inevitably celebrated in October. My father and sister also have October birthdays. And, of course, there are church hayrides, fall parties, football games, the all-important Halloween costume, and numerous trips to the stores in search of items for the previously mentioned. I think I shop more in October than I even do in December.

Then there’s the crème de la crème of the season (especially among small town kids)– a time-honored, yet shrinking tradition which single-handedly makes this Ren’s favorite month of the year…rolling!

Our new, temporary landscaping.

Now, some of my city friends may be wondering what “rolling” is. Well, basically, it involves decorating a person’s lawn with toilet paper, TP as the younger generation calls it. I know some of you may be thinking this would be a terribly ill-mannered thing to do, and it would be if done to the home of someone you didn’t like, but for the most part around here, it means you’re a friend and you’re worth the time and money I am going to spend pulling this prank. Kids in our town, and even here it is not done as much as it once was, will strike their friends, good neighbors, and favorite teachers and/or coaches. And, though John can quickly tire of Saturday mornings spent collecting (i.e. cleaning up) the evidence from a night of frolicking, even he admits he feels left out if we’re not hit at least once. So far this month we’ve had visitors four times.

Two of the newly placed hay bales. This had to take some effort. Round bales are usually moved with the assistance of an engine.

I must say my daughter’s buddies are getting more creative in their escapades. Recently, they managed to move several, large, round hay bales from our fields into our drive. This most recent time they came with a ladder. I’m not sure if they were planning on “kidnapping” Ren from her second story bedroom or wanted to lure her and her girlfriends out of the house and strike from behind and above, but that part of their plan was foiled. Anyway, the girls were waiting for them this time, staking out a spot on the front of our property in their darkest clothing and a little face paint with vinegar, honey, and Vaseline in hand. If they were going down, they were doing so with a fight.

Ready to protect the homefront.

Ahhhh...October!

P.S. The Vaseline idea backfired on Ren, though, as one of her visitors was able to wrangle it from her hands. Even after repeated washings she was left looking as though she had had a lice treatment for days afterwards.

Fall Mantel

You may want to sit down for this, but I have actually posted pictures of my fall mantel within the time frame I said I would. Who would have thunk it? And just in case the English teachers from my school are reading...I do know the correct word is thought. Thunk is just a funner word :)

Well, here she is. Miss Fall Mantel 2011.

If you'd like to see what it looked like last year go here. Not a huge change.

I don't know what I like the most. I think it's a toss-up between the white owl and orange plumes which I bought at a nifty little cafe or...

...these cherub bookends, which I think I got at Home Goods last year (but can't swear on it). Don't they look just like something you'd see on a gravestone? They're perfect for Halloween. Sadly, they've been on my mantel since January. Hmmm. I wonder what that says about me?

A few of the books in our Halloween collection here in the Tire Swings household. Ghosts Along the Cumberland is an old favorite introduced to me by my husband when he was still just a really cool boyfriend. If you suffer from ADD like a certain blogger I know, then this is the book for you, as it is a collection of tales from folklore and most are very short.

Do you have a favorite book you like to pull out each Halloween?

I Am Thankful.

As we celebrate another Thanksgiving there are many things for which I am grateful. A few would include...

My Children
Yes, even though my husband and I read somewhere that childless couples are happier, I couldn’t imagine my life without them. Ren is such a good girl. As any other typical teen she can possess a smart mouth at times and her study habits could always be a little better, but she truly has a good heart. When I think of some of the girls around our town, pass other wayward-looking teens in the mall, or read comments posted by a few on web sites like Facebook, I become even more proud of my daughter. She has her flaws, and goodness knows we stay into it a lot, but I am sooo very thankful she’s mine.

And John-Heath? Well, he’s the most into-something-all-the-time little boy I know, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, there are times I could pinch his little neck off. But he’s just so darn sweet and funny and smart I can usually overlook much of what he does.

My Husband and Family
I am so thankful to have a good husband and such a close-knit family. I don’t have a large family (as I only have one sibling) but we are a strong one. It is also a blessing that I still have both my parents and that they are still in relatively good health.

My Job
I love my job! I have not always been able to say that. I work for good administrators and have good co-workers (though I have always been fortunate in the good co-workers department). I also have job security, and in today’s economical environment that is a HUGE blessing.

My Country
Even though I believe deep down in my heart that we are spiraling to you-know-where in a hand basket, I am still proud to be an American. I am thankful for the rights we have (though I personally feel those are being stretched to the broadest interpretation of the law) and the freedoms we enjoy. More importantly, I am thankful for our men and women in service who work to keep our country safe.

God has certainly blessed me this year. I hope you have been blessed, as well. Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!

Image credit

A Pictorial Halloween Wrap-up

Don't say I didn't warn you. A few posts ago I promised you pictures - and pictures I have delivered! If you are a visitor from afar, like maybe Bangkok, please forgive. These, I suppose, are more for family and friends, though you are most certainly welcome to look too. Enjoy!

Wednesday, Oct. 27

John-Heath's Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

With some buddies on the hayride.

A perfect little pumpkin. That orange gourd-like squash was pretty nice too.

It's hard work finding just the right pumpkin. This boy was getting tired.

You know what cures tiredness? Watching a pumpkin get shot from a giant gun!!!

That was awesome!!!

Thursday, Oct. 28

The Night Before the Class Halloween Party

Time to make the goody bags.

John-Heath helped by sorting and counting.

After a name tag, spider and some ribbon we're all done!

Time to take the costume and make-up for a test run. I must say that after this, a party, another party, and Halloween night, we got our money's worth from the colored hairspray and face paint.

Friday, Oct. 29

John-Heath's Kindergarten Class Party

John-Heath and his cousin Jessie the Cowgirl.

A monster and a Ninja make good friends.

I feel sugar-induced wildness coming on.

Saturday, Oct. 30

A Halloween Get-together for Friends from Church

Look at what showed up. Three monsters...

a creepy bride and her grandson...

a Christmas tree and mouse...

A glass of milk and a chocolate chip cookie...

a cereal killer...

a cat...(Jessie, notice that this is NOT posted on Facebook :>). Hope you approve)

A beautiful fairy...

and, finally, some girl dressed as a teenager who didn't feel good and chose not to dress up.

A wagon full of spooks.

Sunday, Oct. 31

Halloween

John-Heath posing on the front porch with his little pumpkin - the only one he wanted us to carve.

The first stop of the night. We typically only hit a few houses and these include Mr. Scott's and Ms. Rachel's (shown above), Halloween Man and Mrs. Halloween Man (a.k.a. Mr. Joey and Ms. Susie), Ms. Jean (she gives out homemade fudge so we will always go there, even when our kids have grown up and moved away), and family. Sadly, this was the first year we weren't able to visit with Ms. Mabel, as she has moved to an assisted living facility out of town.

Pooh has left the 100 Acre Wood to visit our hometown Trunk or Treat event.

Mr. Myers is giving Haddonfield, Ill. the night off and he's brought along some friends to celebrate Trunk or Treat.

My camera worked beautifully all night long - except for this one shot. If you'll look closely, you'll see John-Heath (in the middle) and Ms. Sherry (to his left). A better picture of them is below. If you'll look to John-Heath's right you'll see some other person. We think this may be the reason behind the paranormal activity going on here. ;>)

John-Heath with Ms. Sherry and her trunk.

My front door wishing you a wonderful Halloween 2010.