Pumpkins, Kitties, Witches and Books, Oh My!

Watercolors from 2015

*WHY IS IT CALLED “HALLOWEEN”?

The origin of Halloween and many of its customs can be traced to Samhain(pronounced sow-in, which rhymes with cow-in), an ancient pagan Celtic festival that was celebrated to mark the end of harvesttime and the beginning of the new year. The 2-day celebration began at sundown on October 31. The ancient Celts believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during Samhain, thereby making it a good time to communicate with the deceased and to divine the future. Samhain is Gaelic for “summer’s end,” a day to bid good-bye to warmth and light as the day length shortens.

Following the triumph of the Holy Roman Empire over Celt-occupied lands in the 1st century A.D., the Romans incorporated many of the Celtic traditions, including Samhain, with their own. This day was formerly known as Allhallowmas, hallow meaning to sanctify, or make holy. All Saints’ Day is known in England as All Hallows’ Day. 

Eight hundred years after the triumph of the Holy Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day, in honor of all Catholic saints. It was celebrated with a mass, bonfires, and people costumed as angels and saints parading through the villages.

Just as November 1 was once called All Hallows’ Day, October 31 was called All Hallows’ Eve. Over time, All Hallows’ Eve was shortened to Halloween.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Turnip lanterns predate pumpkins as jack-o-lanterns.
In ancient Ireland, revelers would hollow out large turnips,
or potatoes or beets, and carve them a demon's face to frighten away spirits.
They would light the turnips from within with a candle 
or a piece of smoldering coal.
They then placed the lanterns in the windows and doorways of their homes,
in the belief that the carvings would scare off evil spirits
and welcome deceased loved ones inside.
Irish immigrants arriving in the New World during the early 1800s
found the plentiful, easier to carve pumpkins ready substitutes for turnips.

One more interesting fact about Halloween.
Did you know that it was once celebrated on Thanksgiving?
You can read all about that on Mental Floss here.

*


I've been so busy knitting that I haven't done a lot of reading, 
but I did finish THE DEVIL'S DREAM by Lee Smith.
It follows several generations of a Southern family living in the Appalachians.
From simple hymns, old-time medicine shows, radio barn dances, sleazy rockabilly joints,
primitive recording sessions, to the Grand Ole Opry 
and tales of growing up in the Appalachian south. 
Lee Smith is a wonderful story teller and the lure of music is something I think
anyone can identify with. I even remember some of the songs mentioned.
Memories! 


*

Sometimes I think I visit Starbucks too often.
The barista knows what I'm going to order before I do!


*




This little fella flew in from Louisiana from one of my sisters by choice.
She knows how much I love owls and enjoy Halloween.
He's called a zipper owl.
I think you can see why.
I've never seen one like him.
He's a great addition to the Parliament!


Wishing YOU well, much joy and a Haunting Halloween!


Willy Nilly Friday
Five on Friday
Monday Social
Mosaic Monday

Remember:
"A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween."
~Erma Bombeck

* Information from the Old Farmer's Almanac.
You can see the entire article here.

Settle All Arguments With Ice Cream

Outside my window this morning, 
the sun is shining.
Fall made a quick fly by yesterday bringing us cooler weather and rain.
Cooler weather for three days is better than none.


I'm enjoying the water garden.
The water lilies are on their last blooms.
They like a lot of sun and as the sun moves toward winter
the lilies just don't get enough light.

A new fur-babe has been added to our household.
His name is Oliver. 
He is a Rag Doll with a little Siamese thrown in.
Oliver is a cuddly, sweet boy who has done a good job at
ignoring the hot air being blown at him by his adopted siblings.
He simply raises his fluffy tail and marches right through the middle.
Zoom!

Christmas is just around the corner.
Pure Wow had some helpful ideas on how to shop early for Christmas.
You can read the entire article here.
Here's six suggestions:

Make your gift list now.
Listen attentively to family and friends for hints.
Build a gift giving line into the fall budget.
Know everyone's sizes.
Buy in bulk. This one is for those who know they will need hostess gifts.
Consider Thanksgiving weekend your shopping deadline.

I finished the dark blue shawl and started another.
The dark blue shawl was made with Patons Classic Wool Mallard Teal.
The light color is Bernat Satin Sport that I found in my stash.

A few words of wisdom from the Fortune Cookie Journal:
"Settle all arguments with ice cream."

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five on Friday
Willy Nilly Friday
Monday Social
Mosaic Monday

This and That

Outside my window the sun is shining and it's going to be another hot day.
Fall made a very quick fly by and summer has returned.
Record heat by this weekend.

ARGHH.

*

I'm still trying to fool myself into feeling cooler by knitting!

I finished one shawl in cotton.

I liked the pattern.
Over the Sea to Skye pattern and cotton from Craftsy.

It wasn't difficult.
I do have to think about what I'm doing ... no multitasking while knitting!

So I started another one in this pretty blue wool.
Asymetrical shawls seem to be the in thing. 

*

I added a scarecrow to the entry way.
I found him at Michael's and could't resist bringing him home.






*
With the outdoor Halloween decorating done,
I've moved inside.
A few Halloween goodies have made their way beside the fabric pumpkins.




This is a painting by Ryan Conners - Kilkennycat Art.
She has an Etsy shop.
I'm not sure my Siamese, Cassie, 
would be willing to deliver pumpkins by broom!

*

Mr. Bones (I found him at Ross) has joined the sunflowers.




He makes me laugh. 

* 











*

Just in case you need some Pumpkin decor help.
Design Love Fest has some great ideas for pumpkin lanterns.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five On Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

I'll Be One of Those In Line

Welcome to October!

I love October.
It means, with a little luck, the 90 degree days and high humidity
will be fewer and farther apart and maybe we will see 60 degree mornings.
Relief!

Here's a little information about my favorite month:

October's birth flowers are the cosmos and the calendula or marigold.
Cosmos is a symbol of joy in life and love and of peace.
The calendula (aka garden, English, or pot marigold) represents
winning grace, grief, or chagrin in the language of flowers.

The October birthstone is the opal, which symbolizes faithfulness and confidence.



October Holidays:

October 9 is Leif Eriksson Day.
October 10 is Columbus Day in the U.S., which is always observed on the second Monday in October. 
October 10 also brings Thanksgiving for my Canadian friends.
Wrapping up the month is Halloween (All Hallows Eve) on October 313st.

October's full Moon, the Fall Hunter's Moon, occurs on the 16th.



It also means that I decorate for Halloween.
I have a theory about living on the Gulf Coast.
We go nuts decorating during the fall.
We don't get to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall,
so we have to make our own!

I've had the ghost for many years .. too many to count!

I like the old-fashioned, 50s looking, plastic decorations.
This year I added Hazel the Witch.



 





I'm all ready to enjoy October, Halloween and Pumpkins! 








Speaking of Pumpkins:
It is Pumpkin time at Trader Joes.
Oh, my! 







And, last but not least:

I admit it.

I'm hooked on Fixer Upper on HGTV.

I just keep watching no matter how many times I might have seen the episode.

This is the latest news -- they have a magazine.

It will hit the newsstands on October 11.

I'll be one of those in line!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Willy Nilly Friday

Five On Friday

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

Starting Early

I've been fighting a bad back and haven't been able to get out and about.
Here are a few fun things I did find this week.

Autumn arrived and the cornucopia makes an appearance.

You can learn more about the cornucopia and celebration of the harvest here.


In Musashi's Garden, the plumeria are still blooming.






Of all the pretty Autumn table-scapes I've seen,
I think I like this one the best.
Vibeke is Norwegian and her blog is gorgeous. 

Do you enjoy armchair traveling?
Do you love Paris and all things French?
Enjoy watercolors?
Then you should visit Paris Breakfasts.


On the way home from the grocery,
I noticed this:

A neighbor got the jump on Halloween!

Everyone knows I love Halloween,
but even I don't start this early!



I'll leave you with a few words of wisdom from
the Fortune Cookie Journal:

"Nothing good comes from jealousy but
there is good to be found in jelly beans."



Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Hints of Change

I went to Whole Foods and look what I found.
A hint that the seasons are changing.
The first pumpkins have arrived.
These are all carving pumpkins.
I guess, here in the tropics, they won't get mushy until they are cut!

*

I found the Dump Cake recipe I was looking for.
Here it is:

Autumn Dump Cake

1 can (29 ounces) pear pieces in light syrup, undrained
1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 package (doubt 15 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into thin slices
1/4 cup caramel topping, warmed

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
Spray 13x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Drain pears, reserving 1/2 cup syrup. 
Spread pears and apple pie filling in prepared pan; 
drizzle with reserved pear syrup. 
Sprinkle with cranberries. 
Top with cake mix, spreading evenly.
Top with butter in single layer, covering cake mix as much as possible.
Drizzle with caramel topping.

3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes 
or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
Cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Image from Dump Cakes booklet.

Good with a scoop of ice cream!

*

I always check out the flowers at Whole Foods
and I found some lovely tulips...
in Fall colors!

*

Then I went to Trader Joe's to finish my grocery shopping
and I found more flowers.
I think the iris is near the top of my favorites list.
I just love everything about them.

*

Meanwhile, in Musashi's Garden,
a little anole was shedding his skin.
It's busy around here!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Home Sweet Home

Mosaic Monday

SaveSave

It's September!

It's September!

Did you say "Rabbit, Rabbit" the first thing in the morning on September 1?

It's supposed to bring you good luck! 

I'm just hoping it will bring cooler weather.
How about highs in the 80s instead of 90s???!!!!
I'd go for that.

Down came the summer welcome sign from the front door 
and up went the burlap wreath.

It looks nice surrounded by the blue door frame.


I also changed out the flag that flies from the balcony.
The Scarecrow is flying high.




Then I went hunting for the fabric pumpkins.
I'm still looking for some of them,
but it's a good start.





Pumpkin Moonshine is one of my favorite little books by Tasha Tudor
and is always a Fall favorite.






When I'm not looking for fall decorations,
I have my knitting needles going.

I've made four (yes, four) Oblique Kerchief.
It's an easy pattern and the yarn is soft to the touch and easy to work with.

Now I'm working on the Ribbed Collar Bolero.
I have a stash of Lion Brand Homespun and this is an opportunity to use it up.
If I like the finished project, I'll make some more.
I've only "frogged" 4 or 5 times.
It is a simple ribbing, but trying to watch a baseball game
and having three kitties determined to sit on my lap and the knitting
makes dropping stitches very easy!
Knock on wood, but I seem to be moving right along now.

I finally got to my Stitch and Bitch group.
They are a crochet group that meets at a local restaurant twice a month.
Not much bitching, but a whole lot of stitching, laughing and eating going on.
They welcome knitters, too.







Now I'm looking for my little Dump Cake cookbook.
Autumn Dump Cake 
made with pears, apple pie filling, dried cranberries sounds good to me!










Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Home Sweet Home

You've Been Warned

I was nervous about the rain we had earlier in the week.

We sure needed the rain,

but I didn't want to miss the Rice University Farmers Market Summerfest. 

I put on my raincoat -- sure that it wouldn't rain as long as I had it on!

And I was correct.

The vendors were busy.

 I picked up some tomatoes from the young man in the orange shirt.
He works for Atkinson Farms.
He didn't have any of the sweet yellow tomatoes that I love,
but the red ones will be good.

 Peaches!
Probably the last of the season. 
I was very happy to get them.
They have been delicious.

 I grabbed a beer from Karbach Brewery.
I tried the Hopadillo this time.
The cans are such fun.
The stories are always good.

"He lurks in the shadows, waiting in bold anticipation.
He's surprisingly bitter.
Bitter about something.
Legend has it that he feasts on those with fresh hops 
coursing through their veins.
This dry hopped, 
Texas IPA has a flavor as defiant as the Hopadillo himself.
It's packed with the bracing bitterness of hops from around the world
that this creature craves.
He's coming to get you.
You've been warned."

 I enjoyed my beer while listening to a fine, young trio.

They performed a rousing rendition of Goodnight Irene
and other snappy tunes. 

Not a bad way to end a very rainy day.


*
Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday was this week.
Three cheers for Beatrix, her love of nature, her great illustrations, 
her wonderful books. 
Pure Magic!
*


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

A Whole Lot of Something

It is too hot and humid here.

Not fit for man or beast or the garden.

So, when the latest email from Pier One arrived,

I thought it might help cool me down.

Christmas in July! 

Pier One Email

So far, the cooling down hasn't worked!


2. Last week I was opening my first box from My Texas Market.
This week the kitties are opening their Kit Nip Box.

No surprise that Mina was the first to check it out.
She went directly for the cat-nip elephant.





It didn't take long for Cassie and Teddy to join in the fun.


3. A whole of something has been going on in the water garden.




I wonder if the fish will eat the eggs???


4. In the atrium, an anole was knocking at the door.

"It's hot out here! Let me in!"


5. I finished another lovie. 
This time a panda.




His eyes are a little wonky and his grin is lopsided,
but not bad for the first try. 

So far, I've made three owls -- all delivered far and wide.
Have another owl to make and then I think I might try a puppy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Saturday Critters