Sunday, October 18, 2020

Ghoulies

 


This scene is at the end of our street - hubby walked Buddy this week and took the picture.  Someone obviously loves Halloween.   I have no idea where they got the gigantic skeleton but it looks pretty great.  Last year someone at the same house sat dressed as a mummy bride and scared trick or treaters.  We won't be doing Halloween this year, not because we don't support it but because we can't have people coming to our house with our situation.  Buddy will be much relieved as he truly hates everyone ringing the door bell for candy every hour or so.  I think a lot of people will be doing home parties for their families this year.  Last year we only had 28 trick or treaters and the year before 50.

Things are somewhat the same here, no plans can be made beyond household ones.  We do plan to do Christmas up in a big way this year.  Every single vintage decoration I have will be out.  We bought a bigger tree (used on our Facebook bidding site).  Heck, if I have enough decorations there might even be 2 trees.  Next weekend (my good weekend) our intention is to try and put up the outside lights on the house. No, we won't turn them on until late November but with surgery and everything up in the air, we both want to have a nice cozy Christmas.  

I have been stockpiling candied fruit...because, you know, the second you want to make fruitcake cookies which are our favorites those will become scarce on the shelf like canning jars have.  I have some frozen raspberries that I would like to try and make jam out of.  For the first year ever I missed picking blackberries this summer but I see they have some in the market from Mexico so I likely will go buy some and make raspberry blackberry jam with Mom which is hubby's favorite, even if we only get 5-6 jars out of it.  

We had a nice quiet Canadian Thanksgiving with Mom, hubby roasted ribs (sorry vegetarians) and I made potato salad and we had a nice pumpkin pie with real whip cream.  We then watched a documentary on the ocean, which we all find pretty soothing.  I highly recommend nature-based documentaries right now (stay away from the political ones).  People need a mental break these days and watching jellyfish float around does that for me. 

I am trying to return this blog to somewhere I can share things instead of only reporting my health so this blog is my attempt to do that.  Take care and stay safe out there everyone :)

41 comments:

  1. Some folks really get into halloween and I appreciate their efforts, for sure. Anyone who even attempts to "cheer up" the world gets my gratitude! Yes, Christmas will be different this year and it makes me sad... but I hope to overcome that feeling. We always have immediate family over & make a BIG to-do about Christmas & New Years... but I fear none of that will be happening. I just spoke with my son on the phone earlier today and I told him that we have to remember that this virus won't last forever... and we all need to be safe so we're around for the future, when the virus is only a distant memory. ~Andrea xoxo PS~ Turn on those outside lights the minute you put them up, if you wish. This year is different and we need to have joy where & when we can find it.

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    1. I do admit to turning some inside Christmas lights on in our bedroom = that plus a lava lamp and candles. Light therapy now that the days are darker is a real thing.

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  2. Hi Cheapchick! Last Halloween, I was in the US staying with friends who live in Forest Hills, NY. We gave away at least 10 pounds of candy if not more. Around 4 p.m. my friend had to rush to a store to get more candy. It was a blast.

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    1. Other years have been like that here...not sure why it dropped off the last few years. It was fun though. Always one of hubby's favorite holidays. This year he will have to love Christmas (he usually does but it is normally my bit holiday)

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  3. What fun on your block. Yes, if a bright spot to no house to house trick or treating itis pup will not be terrorized with the knocks and doorbells. I love tha tyou are going to do up Christmas-why not use the decorations. I too want to go a little more extravagant ins ide-get the village up music piping. Sounds good to me too.

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    1. We even bought extra which we never do (against my mantra but they are lights so reusable from year to year). Light is my therapy this year. If you can't do extravagant inside and outside you own home, where can you do it? Plus outside of medical expenses we are not spending hardly any money and not going to Alberta for Christmas like we normally do so bring it on!

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  4. My husband is delivering Halloween treat bags to "his" kids. They are the children that always stop and pat the dog when they are out on their walk. I only know their dogs names, lol.

    We don't have many children on our cul de sac, so it's best that he does it this way. He and oldmandog have the individual treat bags made up and in gift bags for the families and will deliver them on the 30th.

    Last year our house was targeted by the toilet roll idiots. We had just had the siding, windows and doors replaced and woke up to find eggs thrown against the house and garage doors, silicon caulk over the drive way and toilet paper hanging from the trees. Our garbage man told the husband that one house in every cul de sac had been targeted and it was all houses that had had some renovations dones.

    After that, I hate October 31.

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    1. I love the idea of delivering bags to his "kids". There are only a couple of kids on our street and they actually belong to one of my chemo nurses so I might make up a basket for them and drop it on their porch....I don't want her to think I am staking her but we already know where she lives since her dog got out and hubby rescued it :) I never really got the toilet roll thing, just a bloody mess.

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  5. I was so happy to see this post from you, but then discovered you had also blogged two weeks ago. I'm so sorry I missed that post. How did that happen? So good to see those wonderful pictures of you with buddy and your hubby at the beach. I can't wait to see your big tree covered in ornaments! I'm taking a blogging break until after the election because of some seriously scary comments, but I'm still reading blogs and commenting here and there. I'm afraid my troll might be a reader of all the blogs I visit, maybe even someone I know, so I'm afraid to write too much about myself right now. Sending warm thoughts and hugs to you!

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    1. I got one of the same trolls on that post. Just fyi someone they know how to take over a gmail link and pretend they are someone else like I have a gay blue state blog I read and they pretended to to be them and spew orange man ignorance and threats. Not sure how they pulled that one off but it was so obvious. I wish for 2021 peace and happiness and kindness if nothing else = enough of this garbage.

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  6. Families on our street with little children have 'decorated to the extreme' - as they do each year. This year we are not having treats - can't have any visitors for the over 65+ reasons - various illnesses etc in the home.
    I decided I will eat a couple of favourite candy bars from the one big box I bought and pass the rest to my 17 year old GS.

    Hugs and Love
    Joy

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    1. We did buy one box of chocolates because hubby would be definitey missing those if we didn't...

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  7. Yeah, Halloween will look different this year. We are planning on being back down here at the ranch for that night. For only the second time in 15 years we will not be sitting on our front porch welcoming trick or treaters.....some who are coming back as adults with their young ones.
    We may come back down here after the election. As in right away. No matter which way it goes - I'm afraid there will be a lot of awfulness happening.

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    1. Unfortunately this is the year that everyone thinks (regardless of political ilk) it is ok to behave like idiots online and in person. I think hunkering down in your safe home or home away from home is a very good idea. If only everyone chose to go the other way and spread some kindness instead.

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  8. Such a joy to see your post. And that skeleton is amazing. I want one -- just to sit on our terrace year-round.

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    1. He is huge. I am not sure where they got him but holy cow the kids are going to love him.

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  9. So glad to read your post:) A cozy Christmas with lots of beautiful vintage ornaments sounds lovely. Here in Sherwood Park, Alberta we had a couple of light dustings during the day. I am hoping the snow holds out until after Halloween. Our winters seem to go on forever!
    I'm not too sure how many kids will actually be out this year, so it will definitely be a different kind of holiday. Stay safe and stay strong! Sending lots of positive vibes your way!

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    1. Yes, we usually try and visit at least 3 of our kids in December in Alberta but this year it will be a zoom visit or three..... But lights and decorations will be up and Christmas will be there :)

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  10. I have seen man-sized skeletons, but never that large. I am going to try and overdo all three holidays since we are not going to any gatherings. Don't worry about reporting on your health since everyone will be interested in your well-being. I could not face the two programs where the two candidates each were interviewed. I have had enough

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    1. Keeping the tv off or on really old shows appears the best way to keep peace and tranquility, doesn't it?

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  11. I think everyone needs the happiness of holidays right now, even if we each keep it in our own way.

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  12. Oh my I just love that supersized skeleton. I love the way some people go the whole hog - and why not. Good to see you back posting again. Stay well and stay strong!

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    1. Thank you my friend. We usually put up some ghoulies outside but are skipping it this year, hopefully next year we can do it again

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  13. I do love seeing your blog pop up in my side bar!
    Do you read Sheila's blog (Ephemera)>? She's a near neighbour of yours and posted some wonderful photos of Hallowe'en displays in the neighbourhood at the weekend (https://sheilaephemera.blogspot.com/2020/10/leisurely-lunch-and-lets-go-for-walk.html)
    It's amazing that people go to so much effort to decorate. I think you should have the Xmas lights up now and all the Xmas trees, they bring you so much joy and you totally deserve that! xxx

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    1. Thank you for the link to Sheila's blog, she lives about a 3 hour drive away here on Vancouver Island, funny how small the world really is, isn't it?

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  14. I am so glad ton see you posting again because I have missed you being a part of my "blog family".
    The halloween decor on the street is great. I still have none out but will put up something before the big day.
    I am going all out for Christmas also. Son3 and DIL3 will be here this year and she has always been in Sweden for Christmas. I thought I might as well pull out all the stops.
    Sending you every good and positive thought and wish!

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    1. I love Swedish decorations at Christmas although I don't own any, they tend to go for more natural decorating materials, so pretty. Thank you my friend.

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  15. When I see a blazing light over the water in December I'll know it is your house! The more bling the better. You go girl!

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    1. I am sure everyone has the same idea this year (hopefully) doing up Christmas. I am starting to decorate inside November 1, early, I know but won't put up the tree until we know about surgery. We did order some pretty awesome metal trees with lights for our back yard and they've already come in the mail, super easy to put up and down and all prelit. Can't wait to see those up.

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  16. My late sister and BIL built a new house in a new subdivision in a small western town. My BIL was having a great time handing out candy bars (big ones) saying here take two or three. Over 700 trick and treaters later they were scouring the cupboards trying to find anything sweet to hand out. Lesson learned.
    the next year there were still as many trick or treaters but the candy bars were miniatures.

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    1. We've never given out full size chocolate bars, but those houses were always the most popular when I was a kid lol

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  17. We don't do a thing at Halloween as we are usually on the road heading south. But I do love Christmas. When we started RVing not being home for Christmas was the most difficult thing to accept. So being home for the first time in 20 years is going to be special. In our big house we had three real trees and each had its own theme. Looking forward to open up 7 bins of decorations that I have not seen for 20 years. So wonderful to have you writing again. Sending positive healing thoughts.

    FYI I am only able to use Chrome to reply to blogs and it is a really pain to have Safari running as well. When I have a moment I will have to call Google and sort it out.

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    1. I am sure it will be fun for you to go all out with your decorations, many not seen for years this Christmas, you must take loads of pictures!

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  18. I bet that giant skeleton is something to see!!

    Christmas this year will be quiet here. I am not sure when my surgery will take place as there has been a fairly large uptick in Covid-19 cases here. Also the family member that is going to do the family Christmas get together is heading to Florida for a month... Not sure if I even want to be around someone who has been to a place that has that many virus cases even if they self quarantine.

    God bless.

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    1. Perhaps a smaller Christmas this year, for all of us is best. We are planning zoom meetings with the kids (3 time zones, takes planning) and a quiet Christmas with Mom who is in our Bubble and has the same/less exposure than even us. Thank goodness she doesn't live in a senior facility or it would be terrible and we would never see her. Fortunately she has her marbles and health and we are hoping to keep it that way.

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  19. That's quite the display! I've never been one to decorate for Halloween, Christmas is more my thing so the thought of two trees sounds wonderful.

    I had about 40 kids last year, so I bought a box of 50 bags of chips, which I'll hand out with tongs so there is little contact. The cats don't like the doorbell either, though thankfully they don't bark. I watch out the window so I get to the door quickly!

    Thinking of you, and hoping for a surgery date in the near future. Take care!

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    1. The tong idea is good, it will be interesting to see how many kids you get. Thank you so much my friend.

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  20. What a lovely upbeat and newsy post. Love love your attitude. Great idea to plan ahead for when you hopefully will be recovering from surgery.

    I wish I knew how to bid online or even where to start to find a site with neat things like you bid on. That is one of my favorite patterns of Mexican glassware. My daily wine glass is in that pattern, no matter that I clanged it and it has a small chip in the base. Last fall I saw that they still are selling items at Michaels Gallery in Mazatlan.

    In the next few weeks I will be opening 7 large bings of Christmas decorations that I have not seen in twenty years. That is going to be so much fun as I love Christmas as you do. I do now that I have lots and lots of strings of large outdoor vintage Christmas lights. Although as I type this a distant memory is telling me that I might have sold those at our huge garage sale in 2020 or maybe a year or two earlier. Dang, just found out that my computer is suddenly unable to do the number nine!!! Back to Christmas, I envy you being able to put lights on your tall cedar hedge. That was my plan for this winter along with the lovely tall 6' Alberta Spruce which I was also going to add decorations to as well. IN breaking news we have decided to use the money we have have used to go to Mexico this winter to remove and replace the hedge. It is very dry inside and sometime within the next 4 -5 years will have to be replaced. Dang,, my first Christmas in Canada in 20 years and I can't have my dream come true. There is reason for not delaying the project until the spring which I can't go into online.

    Good catch on the blowout catch, we pay about $40.00 for ours and they always come the Wednesday after Thanksgiving and have been since 2003.Hope the pizza and movie night turned out to be fun.

    So glad I set you up on Chrome so that I can reply to your blogs. We have -6C, going down to -10C this afternoon. It is beautiful but not ready to brave the cold for a walk.

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    1. I can't believe how much snow and cold you got. It got to minus 1 here yesterday - we are big wimps about it too!

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    2. Interesting, I have been checking this post to see if you approved my comment but it won't shoe in Safari so I had to come back here to Chrome. Grr, I hate stuff like this.

      Hopefully tonight will be our last -5C and we should warm up a bit. Guess what? We got one of those tress today at Home Depot. I can hardly wait until Dec. 1st.

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    3. So glad you got one of those trees - they are so pretty lit up in the dark

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