Storybook character costume parade and more fall fun

"I love the leaves I do not know why.
Is it their colors or how they fly?
They crunch and crinkle under my feet;
I pile them up and take a leap!"
~Beath Paulsen

Schools were out today so yesterday was the Storybook Character Costume Parade. Libby decided to be a vampire this year. Except at first she wanted to be either Bella or Alice from Twilight. Ok, so I'd dress her in jeans and a shirt and that would be her costume? So, she settled on more of a Dracula look. :-)

Thursday night after dinner Libby made our annual chocolate covered apples but this year both of us were very impatient when it came to making the apples so it was a little more frustrating than usual but they still turned out tasting delicious! :-)

We also finally carved "Maggie" her pumpkin. Libby drew on the face that she wanted and we both said goodbye to our beautiful pumpkin and then I pierced her perfect pumpkin skin and made Maggie into a jack-o-lantern.
Tonight after dinner we got a phone call from the mom of Libby's best friend Maddy asking i Libby could come spend the night. This was the only night this weekend that a sleepover would work so I agreed and she took a quick bath and got her stuff together and I took her over to Maddy's house. When I went into Libby's room to tell her she was spending the night with Maddy she started shrieking and jumping up and down...it was too cute! :-) I will be back over there to pick her up at 7:15am in the morning because Libby and I are meeting Karen and Amanda to go to another (and our last) fall festival. Tomorrow is going to be a busy, busy, busy day but I'm really looking forward to it! After the fall festival Libby and I have a family thing to go to in Starke for a few hours, then we'll come home to watch the Florida/Georgia game and then it will be time to get ready for trick-or-treating because Newberry is doing their trick-or-treating Saturday night so the children aren't up late on a school night. Sunday afternoon Libby and I are meeting a friend of hers at the corn maze for an afternoon of fall fun. This weekend is going to be amazing!!

"October is nature's funeral month. Nature glories in death more than in life. The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May. Every green thing loves to die in bright colors."
~Henry Ward Beecher

Tomorrow is the storybook character costume parade at Libby's school because they are out of school on Friday. They are also having their fall party and her teacher assigned Libby to bring in a veggie tray. Libby screamed, "That's a rip off!" on Monday when her teacher sent home the party assignments. :-) She said, "My friends get to bring in brownies, cookies, and candy and I have to bring a veggie tray?!?" I reminded her that just because she brings in a veggie tray that doesn't mean that's all she gets to have at the party! :-)

Besides putting together a veggie tray tonight Libby put together little "goody" bags for some of her friends. Libby is dressing up as a vampire so she wanted to give her friends fangs so she put together little bags that had red fangs, a little candy, and a bouncy ball with a spider inside. On the note we put "Have a "fang"-tastic Halloween!
After Libby was in bed I made her lunch for tomorrow and tried to come up with Halloween-ish things to call each of her food items for tomorrow. I was tired so please forgive my un-originality (and the boring labels)! :-) Her juice became witches brew, her grapes became goblin warts, her carrots became werewolf fangs, her marshmallows became ghost poop, her go-gurt tube became Frankenstein snot, her jello became vampire brains, and her turkey wrap became mummy fingers. :-)

"Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"
~Humbert Wolfe

We were Booed so we Booed them back!

About two weeks ago we were BOOed by our neighbors. For some reason when I mention that to people no one seems to have a clue what I'm talking about. :-) For those of you who don't know what it means to BOO someone you get together a little treat and attach a BOO sign with a little message/poem on it. The message/poem explains that you are being BOOed by one of your neighbors and you don't know who they are but once you've been BOOed you have to get treats together and attach the meesage/poem and then leave it on another neighbors door, ring the doorbell, and run like crazy because you are supposed to keep it a secret as to who BOOs which house. Well, in a neighborhood that has three houses it's not that hard to figure out who is doing the BOOing. :-) Two weeks ago we were BOOed and this weekend I finally got around to making a treat container and filling it with treats for us to BOO back.
Libby loved running up to our two neighbors, putting it on their door knobs, ringing their doorbells, and then running like crazy. She walked up to the first neighbors house and then ran like crazy after ringing thier doorbell but at our second neighbors house she darted up their walkway and then ran like someone was after her after she rang the doorbell. :-) She was a little too fast for me to get a clear picture at the second house but here is what I got:
Ok, like I said before I'm not much into Halloween. I don't have anything against Halloween but unfortunately for the holiday it falls during my FAVORITE time of the year - fall. So for me Halloween gets overlooked. But, at Libby's request I'm trying to get more into Halloween for her and decorate for a little longer period than the usual two days that I've put out Halloween decorations in the past. Tonight we finally got around to putting up our outside Halloween decorations. I think next year I will do it earlier in October because Libby was so happy tonight as we were putting the decorations up.
We put up the few jack-o-lantern things that I have and we added some orange lights. I WAS going to make a Halloween wreath this year but just haven't had the time. Oh well...maybe next year. Here it is with the flash on so you can see everything:
And here it is with the flash off:
And Libby wanted me to be sure to add a picture of her ghost...I think his name is Ghosty but I can never remember. :-)
It wasn't a lot but Libby was thrilled with the change. Her request for next year is more Frankenstein...she's fallen in love with him this year and wants more of him in our front yard next year. :-)

Fall festivalpalooza - Week 4

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on,
and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Today was week four of the fall festivals and this one was the "big one" - and it is also by far my favorite one. Debs, Karen, Kristina, Amanda, and I all met early this morning at Starbucks for some much needed caffeine and then we headed out to McIntosh. It was great as always and the fun part is always hanging out with the girls.

I got a necklace to match my beautiful bracelet from a couple of weeks ago (and I also got the beautiful earrings, too, so now I have a complete matching set!!). I also got an adorable little black spider, and two Halloween signs.




After lunch we went to eat at our usual spot that we go to after the McIntosh Fall Festival. The food at Mildred's was delicious and I even got to have my annual slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Mmmmmm!

After lunch Karen and I went with Debs because Debs was finally getting her ears pierced!! Woo hoo! I've been trying to talk her into that for a while now and she finally caved. ;-)


Today was filled with A LOT of laughter shared with some wonderful friends!! It was a great, great day!!!

"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods."
~William Allingham

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider. It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins. It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves. It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground. It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning and the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky. It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."
~Author Unknown

"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter."
~Nova Bair

Wonderful Monday

"Red and yellow painted leaves
hang idly within the trees
They break and sail along the breeze..."
~Wesley Mincin

Three weeks ago at work I was handed our biggest client to add to my work load (by the way, last week I celebrated my one year anniversary at work!) and today in conjunction with my annual evaluation I found out that I'm being compensated nicely for the additional work load (which I wasn't expecting!). What a way to start the day!!

Weekend recap

"The sweet calm sunshine of October, now warms the low spot
upon its grassy mold. The purple oak-leaf falls; the birchen
bough drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold."
~William Cullen Bryant

Our weekend started Friday night as we got ready to go to Jacksonville to see comedian Daniel Tosh. We got to Jacksonville about 10:00pm and met Debs and her husband and got settled in to laugh with the comedians. Daniel Tosh was as funny as always but the crowd was something else. Daniel himself had two girls up front kicked out of the show. Some time later a group of about six girls were kicked out for fighting and at the very end of the show a fight broke out on the balcony. Is there any wonder why I call Jacksonville the land of the crazies? :-)

We got back home just before 3:00am and I was in bed by 3:30. I was up at 7:00am to be out of the door by 8:00am with Debs. We were gone from 8:00 until 4:00pm in Lakeland for a memorial service. We were at my house for about two hours before we left to meet up with Ryan at his friend Brett's house to watch the AWFUL homecoming game for the Gators. We got home about 1:00am and I think I was asleep before I even walked into my bedroom. FYI -three and a half hours of sleep is definitely not enough sleep! :-)

This morning I got up and got ready and met Karen in Alachua for the fall festival that was going on there this morning. We weren't there too long - maybe an hour and a half but it was nice to have a fall festival to go to this weekend.

UF Homecoming

15 years ago today I was in New York City absolutely falling head over heels in love with the city...so when I saw this quote I knew it was prefect for today.
"Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?"
~Vernon Duke

Today is Homecoming for the Gators so that means that yesterday all schools in our county were off so Libby went to work with me. Libby and I took a 3 hour lunch and went to the parade. Libby wanted to take the pictures yesterday so I let her have the camera and here are some the shots she took:
(Well, I took this one but she took the others) :-)

"Mums and pumpkins, so rich in their colors reminds me of a fall rainbow after the summer showers."
~Sheri Bresnahan

My beautiful nieces

"Just before the death of flowers and before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season when nature is all aglow."

Here are a few pictures that my nieces sent to me from their homecoming that was on October 1st. Elizabeth's sash was for Science National Honor Society (yes, my nieces are gorgeous AND smart AND talented...they are stunning young ladies and I am extremely proud of them both!) and Della was the Homecoming queen for the Junior class. And yes, Elizabeth's escort looks to be a tad bit tall. :-)

Elizabeth:


Della:

Pumpkin patch

"A September to remember.
An October full of splendor.
A November to treasure."
~La Prevenchere

Today after work I picked up Libby and took her home to get changed out of her uniform and into jeans to head to the pumpkin patch. She complained about the jeans (rightfully so...our crisp fall weather we had last week isn't quite as "crisp" this week). But, she knows the drill...I make her dress according to the season - NOT the weather. :-) We looked around the pumpkin patch and found many interesting pumpkins that we liked and I took several pictures and then she found "the" pumpkin and we were all set.

Here's my pretty girl... (the bottom picture is of Libby with the pumpkin she brought home) :-)

The things I do for love...

"October's the month when the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins, leaves sailing down-
October is red and golden and brown."

Each year from September 1st through the weekend before Thanksgiving I decorate for fall. I use pumpkins (not jack-o-lanterns), leaves, scarecrows, etc. I use the wonderful hues of autumn - especially brown and burnt orange. I've never been a Halloween decorater but recently Libby asked me if we could please decorate for Halloween. Until she's old enough to have her own house to deck out in Halloween splendor I need to compromise and give her some Halloween during the month of October. I had a few things that were in the cabinet that I usually just bring out a day or two before Halloween so I brought those things out and borrowed a few of Libby's Halloween decorations that she has in her room (she has far more Halloween decorations than I do!). So for the next three weeks my entry table which normally has a fall display (and this is the only picture I have of it this year and this was taken the day of my fall ladies lunch)

now looks like this - and it's all for the center of my universe - my Libby!

Fall festival loot - Week 2

"O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather."

Today was Week 2 of our October Fall Festivalpalooza. :-) This morning I got to Karen's house at 8:00am with Starbucks in hand and we left to head to Jacksonville. It was a small set-up but Karen and I were both very satisfied with our finds. I got a bracelet that I adored and a pair of cute earrings.

The bracelet is a mixture of my favorite colors...brown beads with orange sparkles!

I also got a little wooden pumpkin display and a cute little candy jar with a sweet little witch on top for Libby.


Later we met up with Debs and Corey to have lunch together and then we headed back home. Going to fall festivals coupled with the wonderfully cool fall weather we've had the last week and this is starting out to be a perfect October!

Seems like Joseph Pullman Porter loved the month of October as much as I do!

"Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know
October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see
A veil of purple and brown and gold.
Thy beauty words have never told.
October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim,
October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o'erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete.
October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,
Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life's worth living when we say,
October!"
~Joseph Pullman Porter

"In the great silence of my favorite month,
October (the red of maples, the bronze of oaks,
A clear-yellow leaf here and there on birches),
I celebrated the standstill of time..."
~Czeslaw Milosz

Well, for the past two days I've missed blogging quotes about my favorite time of the year but that is because I've been sick, sick, sick, sick, sick!! It started Friday night when all of a sudden my throat was scratchy and sore. Saturday morning it was still sore and scratchy and by Saturday night I was getting pretty congested. By Sunday I was miserably sick...I was completely congested, sneezing, coughing and a terrible sinus headache. I didn't even make it out of bed on Sunday until 4:00pm. Ryan kept coming to check on me and brought me soup when I felt like eating but for the majority of the day I was hopped up on Nyquil and passed out in my bed. When I woke up Monday I still felt terribly sick but I had jury duty so I had no other choice but to get up and head out for the courthouse. I sat on the hard benches of the freezing courtroom from 8:30am until 4:10pm and for the first time ever I wasn't picked to serve on the jury! I had a high juror number so I never even made it into the jury box to be questioned before they found 14 jurors. Tuesday I forced myself to go to work but I was in terrible shape and they told me not to come into work on Wednesday...I didn't argue. :-) I spent yesterday resting and while I'm still sick (and still sound very nasal-y - cute, huh?) I am at least coherent these days. :-)

"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Fall festival loot

"The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps-
Does anybody know where it was borne?
Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of crescent moon
touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud,
and that is where the smile was first borne..."
~Rabindranath Tagore

I forgot to post pictures of some of my loot that I got yesterday at the fall festivals.

I got two Gator ponytail holders, an autumn bracelet for me, and four seasonal bracelets for Libby. She got bracelets for Halloween, Fall, Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day.

I also got these cute pumpkin salt & pepper shakers. I love them because they are short and fat and I adore short and fat pumpkins! And I also got the Harvest Blessings pumpkin which I thought was adorable. I was very pleased with everything I got yesterday and I can't wait for this Saturday when I'll be going to another fall festival!

Yay for the start of fall festivals!!

"Spades take up leaves no better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves are light as balloons.
I make a great noise of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer running away."
~Robert Frost

This morning Karen was at my front door at 8:30am on this wonderfully crisp fall morning with a pumpkin spice latte in her hands for me ready to go to some fall festivals. Now that's a girl after my own heart! :-) We went to the fall festival in Williston which was sort of small but not too bad. We also went to the fall festival in High Springs which we went to last year so we knew it was tiny but we went again, anyway. Isn't October wonderful? Cool weather and fall festivals - how perfect!

"When the trees their summer splendor
Change to raiment red and gold,
When the summer moon turns mellow,
And the nights are getting cold;
When the squirrels hide their acorns,
And the woodchucks disappear;
Then we know that it is autumn,
Loveliest season of the year."
~Carol L. Riser