To Halloween or Not

This is last year's Halloween photo.  Such a joyous little face.  This year two of the grandgirls came over and carved pumpkins.  I didn't take pictures right away and they spoiled in an untimely fashion, pre-Halloween.  Collapsed actually, and grew black fuzz.  That's never happened before.  Piffle.

Last year we got a few dozen of high school or college age kids at the door, our neighborhood is two blocks from Whitman College.  Disconcerting to be looking up at the trick or treater, and they couldn't be bothered to make a feeble attempt at dressing up or putting a mask on.  I feel a Maxine moment coming on.  Oh yes, and then there were the large vans with lots of little Halloweeners being trucked in from miles away, how do I know? I asked.  I can't be po'd at the kids but something about that bothers me.  Some of the dentists in our area have taken a note from the police and are doing a buy-back, giving the kids $ for their candy or a toy.  Last year I gave out Halloween bubble bottles and plastic Halloween "jewelry."  The tall trick or treaters didn't seem to enjoy that so much.  Yup, I am definitely channelling Maxine.  I guess I will drive down to K-Mart and get some candy.  Those little ones are so cute, and shy.  Maxine and I will survive.  Maybe I should wear my black spook cape and a mask myself, nothing too scary, really don't want to scare those little ones.

By the way my favorite Maxine quote today is "At my age strappy shoes means sandals with velcro." 

Happy Halloween All

I'm surprised its been around a week since I've blogged. I think that's in part due to having started a journal. I've been writing down the things I dream and my thoughts about my new life as a single person. I read somewhere that women whose lives are changing tend to dream about houses and I sure have. Dreams about living in my parents home with them! Dreams about living with my soon-to-be-ex in someplace I didn't recognize; living with my sisters; living in hotels, caves, dumpy places, palaces, out in the mountains, in cities, once in a glassed in condo in a high tower. Last night it was just me, living in a ordinary, comfortable place by myself.

This is where I live. A house with boxes everywhere.

I've been going through stuff that was in storage and is now sitting in boxes all over the house. I am making progress. This carton above has been coverted into living space by my four year-old grandgirl. I thought she would have flattened by now but no, there's a pillow and a large pink blankie in there. It even has its own heat grate, er, vent. I guess you can live in a cardboard carton if it's in your grandmother's house. She won't be moving out anytime soon. And the other boxes have lots of things that belonged to my grandmother and mother and no one seems to want. Argh. I've been thinking of bundling up some of those in little boxes and sending them to my nephews' kids who probably don't have much that belonged to their maternal ancestors. Lots of inexpensive but interesting old and pretty costume jewelry. I don't know if that's a gift or a tag you're "it."

I also have a treasure trove of assorted art supplies. Every time I went on a trip and forgot sketch supplies I bought more. Now there's enough to supply all six grandkids here as well as the grandkids in Portland. I still have all my drafting tools from a former career as a tech illustrator pre-computer during the dark ages. Of course all done on line now and has been for what seems like centuries. There's a whole big box of just that stuff. And a box of old wooden thread spools which I'm sure I've had for over 20+ years. And my clear plastic magic wand. No one should lose their magic wand, no wonder things haven't been going so well lately. ;-)

I had grandgirl company this weekend overnight. As tonight is Halloween we carved pumpkins, two of them for the front porch and she wanted to do something she had seen and voila, our collaboration. It has a multi-light battery run flame like light in it so no porch fires or baked jack o' lantern. The big-un is eating the little-un.

This was a very happy artist. We had a good time, I just hope she didn't catch the sniveling cold I haven't been able to shake this last week. I actually slept 11 hours last night. Feeling really good today. Spending time with this little face probably was the real cure.