While We're Waiting for Pumpkin Results...

This was a Halloween of three, count 'em THREE costume changes. We dressed up as athletic supporters at work, I was "goth" for a little shindig we threw at Lenore's crib, and then we went as crash test dummies to a party Saturday night in Algonquin. Here's some documentation:



Note, my old shirt was from an actual team I played on in 1979, a traveling summer league that was a total blast. After playing together all summer, we won first place that next year in our high school conference. My co worker (the one in SCUBA gear) looked at my shirt and was all, "Wow, 1979, I wasn't even born yet!" Nice. So much for feeling spry and sporty!



Here are a few shots from our costume party. It was an all-dessert party. What's not to like? Lenore set up her Mac with the photo booth, and we all had a little too much fun with it.

















But wait, there's more. This was from Saturday's party. Thankfully, no irony ensued as we drove across town to Algonquin dressed as crash test dummies.







An interesting way to present sliced ham.


Who doesn't have Jack Skellington in their living room?

Gourdgeous Entries!

Lots of fabulous pumpkin contest entries have been rolling in, and the judges are tearing their collective hair out trying to narrow down the field. Sucks to be them.
Meanwhile, here are all the entries. I made a separate kids' category this year, since we had three kids enter. The rest are all kids at heart. Winners will receive their choice of a potholder or a Dairy Queen gift certificate. I know what I'd pick.

First, we have pumpkins by:
Grayson, 8

Jaelyn, 6

and Carina, 7


Kids at heart (ages withheld) are, in no particular order...

Todd


Donna & Amanda


Lyla & Lynda




Lenore (Superhero Bill)


Janet & Pam


Greg


Denise


Dawn and Cathy



Austin


This is how the judges feel about having to pick just one:

Carving with a Glock .40

I think I'd be more impressed if he were further away. But hey, whatever works...I guess! I don't endorse this method of carving. Too noisy.

Sharpen Your Knives...

It’s that time again, people!
Enter the 100th* annual Perky Potholders pumpkin contest and just see what happens. Worst case, you lose. Best case, you win a homemade potholder, so really, there’s not much difference.

The rules are simple:
Entries must be received by 9 a.m. Monday morning 11/1/10.
It has to be a pumpkin you carved/decorated yourself in the year of 2010.
No whining.

Let the record show I have already received an entry, so let’s get BUSY! :)

*give or take

This entry was created by a raccoons, which I will make stew out of if I ever catch the bastard.



"Darling, my name is Ivana Winaprize."

(Sadly, she didn't.)

New Evidence from Infinity and Beyond

There is no refuting the fact that my brother is really Buzz Lightyear. In fact, I've gathered an abundance of new evidence, some of which I'll post here.

First of all, he's always hanging around in the kitchen. Coincidence? You decide.



The kitchen being, of course, where the food is, even if it's purple bread (he may have momentarily mistaken it for meatloaf, I can't be sure).



He likes watching football, even if it's not the Bears.



I don't even think my dad noticed what his son was wearing, by the way.



And mom was all, "Hey, good, you're here, put this on my Christmas list, wouldja? Why are you wearing white after Labor Day?"



Also, let's talk about that infamous grin.



"Buzz" also likes to go to Starbucks with me and Lenore.



"I'm partial to the "tall" size. Gotta fit into my spacesuit after all!" Yeah, uh huh.




Hmmm...doesn't Odie read this magazine? Why, yes, I believe he does! Interesting.



"Who wants pizza?!"



I rest my case.

And yes, that was purple bread. It was an actual recipe that called for raspberries, which I have a quantity of in my freezer from those summer forays into the brush. The bread was good -- just a hint of berry flavor, though we found the seeds a little jarring.



The squirrel didn't seem to mind though. (I dropped this piece on the floor.) Why am I feeding the squirrels when I hate them? I don't know. I think it was his hairdo. He's like a little squirrel monk.




And then this guy was all, "HEY! WHERE'S MY BREAD?!"



Purple and orange nosegays abound! Here are specimens from the first of the October collection.





In other news, I'm doing battle with skunks and some sort of varmint that's been chowing down on my Swiss chard. Like a LOT. I built a fortress of chicken wire and deer mesh, so we'll see if that keeps the little bastard at bay long enough for me to get a few more harvests before we hit the deep freeze. Speaking of which, I wore my first turtleneck of the season, and I'm not all that happy about it. I'm not ready to let go of summer (sigh). Also, I put the electric blanket on my bed (but not the down comforter yet), AND I had to cover some plants last night due to frost warnings. Guess I better get the boiler checked...