Designing in Life

Of Halloween and Harvest

Happy Halloween out there.  I want to post this great door decoration from MegaSpooky for all of you to put into your file for next year.

I happened to have bought a "Bag of Bones" from Oriental Trading for a photo shoot.  If I had seen this wreath before turning over all the bones to our call center for decorations, I would have made this for them.

We are awaiting trick-or-treaters as I write this.  Usually we get about 6-10, since we live off the beaten path.  I always pack paper lunch bags full of treats to make sure they return next year.  Yes, I've been referred to as "that's the lady that gives us a whole bag of Halloween candy!"

As the season of growing closes for good, I've started to compile my list of what worked and what didn't for next year.   More carrots, more black beans, more strawberries (thanks Dave!), plant more cilantro and basil in July and maybe 2 less tomato plants...maybe.  Anyway, it is almost November 1st, and I still have a little pile of ripe tomatoes, that won't last long. 

 
I grew herbs close to the house, so they've been spared from the frost we've had.  I've been picking and washing them.  When dry, I take the leaves off the stalks and wrap them in paper towels, which help wick away the moisture and dry them. 

After they're dry, I just put them in glass jars and keep them out of the light.  This helps them keep their green color.   There are a lot more herbs out there, and I'll just keep cutting some daily until they're gone.

That's it at our house, gotta run, I hear little voices at the door!!!

Putting My Best Foot Forward!

Yesterday was Halloween party day at work.  Some people love to go all out, some just love the massive amount of food that is always served at lunchtime.  My dilema was what to wear.  I needed something that I would still be able to see where I was hobbling around on crutches without tripping.

Here I am, Dr. Foot, Head of the Podiatry Department.  Skeletal foot in my pocket and wearing a "Day of the Dead" bow tie.  Guess where I got that!

I'm on the mend and hoping to start driving next week.  In the mean time, I'm packing my candy bags for the costumed kiddie visits tomorrow.  Have a Happy Halloween in your neighborhood!

Progress Continues

No, not the indoor projects that are pending, but a roofing project that is in the works. 

We have needed a new roof on our garage and house for some time, so we finally called Frank Raymond, a local contractor who I've known ever since moving to Middlebury in the early 70's.  Frank helped build Fire & Ice, the restraunt, where I worked just a bit after it opened.

We have no soffits on the house, which is something we've always thought a bit odd.  They help keep water from getting behind the outer layer of a house because they hang over the roof.  So this is something being done also.

Nick has just entered his short hours, which means he is available to be the contractor's assistant, which Frank readily agreed to.  Nick spent one day this week helping put up scaffolding, carrying up supplies and helping with the building.  He really did love it.  Having not gone into the mountains for any hiking this fall, his trips up and down the scaffolding had to suffice.

Notice the soffit being built on the right roof eave.

Frank and Nick doing the ground work.

Scaffolding set for the day.

Ready to get working on the real work.

In the air.

So I'm not sure how long this will take, but know it can't be any more than a couple of weeks.  Nick is looking forward to helping out next week, although looking at the 10 day forcast, it won't be in the 70's like it was on this day – more like high 40's and low 50's.  Maybe his enthusiasm is short-lived.  Let's hope not!

What's NOT for Dinner

In trying to entertain myself as I sit on the couch (for hopefully not much longer) I came across this very funny version of pot pie.  From  Megan's blog, Not Martha, this is tenacle pot pie.  I bet kids would love it!

I also found the perfect dessert on her blog to go with the tenacle pot pie.

Absolutely not for dessert at the home of someone who suffers from arachnaphobia.  Just gives me the creepy crawlys looking at them.  I think I'll just stick with rice pudding!

A Weekend at Home

Before I get into my weekend at home, last weekend was spent in Leola, Pa, helping my sister-in-law with some projects around the house.  Closing the pool and fixing leaky bathroom fixtures (which had resulted in wet ceilings), were high on the list.

The pool got closed, and Nick and his nephew, Dave, fixed the pipes and ceiling, although someone will now have to paint to cover the holes that had to be cut out to access the pipes.

Dave and Nick enjoy their imaginary beers after finishing the projects.

The family got together for dinner that night. (Amy, Andrew and Steph...many others not pictured!)

We had a wonderful tomato florentine soup to start, then chicken marsala, (we added sauteed onion and garlic to the recipe), salad and baked potatoes.  We made our way to one of the Amish stands to buy desserts – notice I say "desserts."  It was all so delicious.

So, this weekend is a different story.  I had my foot operated on this week and have been anchored to the couch and an ice cooler that pumps cold water through my bandage.

This is pretty convenient if you want to chill your beer by your side instead of hobbling on crutches out to the kitchen to get it.

I am looking forward to going back to the doctor on Monday.  A new bandage will be put on without the tubes sticking out.  I have high hopes of being able to put some weight on my foot then, since I seem to have some interesting bruises under my armpits where the crutches are rubbing.

Wish me luck.

Belts and Buckles

I've been looking for a belt, but there are way too many choices out there.  I've been wearing a lot of turquoise lately, and thought maybe that would be the way to go.  Here's what I saw that I liked:

 

Then I ran into some interesting belt buckles:

So, do you think I'm in some South Western Cowgirl stage, or what?  Anyway, it was fun looking at all the incredible workmanship in the belt buckles.  Just too many choices out there to make any kind of decision, so I'll just keep looking.

Fall in Vermont

It really is an amazing and beautiful landscape out there.  We are experiencing peak foliage.  The highways and backroads are filled with "leaf peepers" driving slowly to take in the splender.  We have our own little foliage splender going on in our back yard.

While Beth and Jim (and those sweet girls) were visiting this past weekend, Nick and Jim hiked up Snake Mountain to take in the spectacular view.  It's not a hard hike, and the view is one of the best to be found.

Just before the clan left for home in New Jersey, Nick asked Chloe if she'd like to "drive the tractor." Phoebe got a chance too.  I think Nick had as much fun (if not more) than they did.

We're bracing for a good ole' Nor'Easter this weekend, so I'm afraid most of the colorful leaves will just be a thing of the past.  No doubt, though, there will be another beautiful fall next year.

Finally!!!!!

I have emerged from the depths of the hardest time of year at work for me...Christmas.  When everyone is enjoying the end of summer, I'm trying to figure out how to design holiday catalogs.  Believe me, snow in September is hard to come by.  Ahhh, but it's almost over for another year.

I celebrated a weekend of birthdays with Nick,my favorite two girls and their parents. Beth, Phoebe and I share October birthdays. It was a beautiful weekend.  Fall is coloring our world here in Vermont.

On Friday we went to Shelburne Farms.

The Farm Barn is full of animals that kids can pet, milk, feed and pick up.

Chloe has mastered the art of picking up Chickens.

Chloe, Phoebe and I got down to look at a calf named, "Latte."

We saw 10 little piglets and their big mama.

We had a great time.  When we got home, we went out into the garden and guess what we found!

Chloe and Phoebe were able to take their pumpkins home, but I'm afraid grandson, Sean in Florida might not get to see his.  There's always next year's pumpkin patch, though!

While I picked green beans in the garden, Chloe gathered ladybugs.

I know how lucky I am to have such a beautiful family.  A wonderful weekend was had by all.  I so wished it didn't have to end.