Halloween and more fall pictures!

We had a great Halloween!! Jonah had a party to attend, big boy that he is now, so we partied without him. Michael, Makayla and Conner joined us in our trek around the neighborhood in pursuit of candy! Then we came back to the Hamlet and Lynn started a fire in the firepit in the back yard. Here it is..along with Benjie and Conner's legs!

We had some caramel apples..not very pretty but pretty yummy!

And hot chocolate-with or without the coolwhip (extra creamy) and caramel drizzle...

And here's our gang-a blind SEC football referee, a pretty witch with killer boots and a spooky vampire...

Here's a few more pictures of the Hamlet, this time from this year!

This is the mantle in the living room. I have to admit, things don't show up against those red walls like I would hope. It's prettier in real life than pictures show.

This is from the tops of the kitchen cabinets...

A autumnal colored rooster, a berry garland and a white metal pumpkin...

A small vignette on the corner china cabinet...

My ever useful grapevine bunny, this time all filled with fall flowers and another berry garland...

And a silk flower arrangement from the living room.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your fall! I'll be putting Haunted Hamlet to bed now, but join me on Scarecrow Soup for more fall fun!!

Have a great Sunday!

Cathy

My Fall Home and A Tour!

Welcome to my fall home! I hope you enjoy your tour. Before we start, can I get you something to drink? How about a cup of warm apple cider?

While we're in the kitchen, let me show you some treasures! The white pitchers are part of collection of white pitchers...they are actually oversized cream pitchers. I use them for gravy boats and for syrup on family breakfast days! The boxes were a gift from my mom and dad a few years ago. The dried hydrangeas came from my brother, Michael's yard. Aren't they yummy?

I made the banner...I love the vintagy look of it. And the cabinet? $10 yard sale find! Score!

This is the top of my corner china cabinet. I just love these hat boxes too...they have a fallish look, with roosters on them, so they are perfect for my fall kitchen. I just love that pumpkiny color. I'm adding more and more of that color to my kitchen year round. It's just so warm and welcoming, don't you think?

This is our fireplace with another handmade fall banner. I love the fallish colors!!

OK, I know you saw the dates on these pictures! I confess, these are not new pictures! I just haven't had time to update my pictures. But things look pretty similar this year. I'll add more pictures over at Scarecrow Soup as soon as I get time!

Be sure to check out all of the other Magical Holiday Homes on tour!

Falling for Winter has some pretty things to show us! Don't you love the play on words in her blog title?

Another friend, Patty, has a post ready for us too!

And Aggy, my sweet friend, has some pretty things to show, too!

And a late entry, Haven Haunt has some ideas to show as well!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Later!

Cathy

Fall Tour of Homes

It's that time again!! My holiday crazy friends at Magical Holiday Home and I will be doing our second annual Fall Tour of Homes on Friday, October 16! If you want to participate, it's really easy! Just decorate your house for fall-or Halloween, or both-and then take some pictures of it. Post those pictures on your blog and then send me the link, either by leaving me a message here with it or by sending me pm at MHH, if you're a member there. I'd really like to have the link to the post, not to your blog in general..that way, if folks can find your decorations even after you've posted another entry.

I am toying with trying to add Mr. Linky or something like that. I'll make a decision soon-by the weekend, anyway and post it here.

So...get those decorations out, take some pictures and show off your hard work! I can't wait to see what all you have done!!

Happy decorating!

Cathy

Happy Fall!

Today is the first day of autumn!! I plan to wring every little bit of joy and excitement out of this season I can manage! I love fall...and all that that implies!

Some of my favorite fall things, in no particular order:

1. Pretty leaves

2. Cooler weather-cool enough for long sleeves, but not cold enough for a bulky coat!

3. Apples, pears, pumpkins and cranberries

4. Hot cider

5. Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks-my favorite fall guilty pleasure! I allow myself one a week, except that last week I allowed myself 2!!

6. Football!!

7. The Boo!Bash3 is coming in 32 days!

I am hoping to post at least 2-3 times weekly between now and the party. I have a lot to do...but I can't wait to party in the back yard with 60 or so of our closest friends and family on October 24!! I am planning my costume...it's a little out there, but oh, so me!! Stay tuned for more info in the days to come!

Boo!

Cathy

Hellooooo...

Fall is approaching, and that means the Boo!Bash3 will be here before you know it! I can't believe this is the third year for it! I am soo excited and can't wait to share my plans for it with you in the coming weeks. The date for this year's party is October 24. It's always the Saturday before Halloween. Next year, that'll mean it's the DAY before Halloween. This leaves Halloween open to attend other parties or carnivals or to trick or treat with the kiddies! Fun, yes?

In the meantime, over at Magical Holiday Home we are planning another Fall Tour of Homes. The date has been set, and details will be posted here on the host blog soon! You don't have to be a member of MHH to join in!! So get those leaves and pumpkins out of storage, and take lots of photos to share. I'll be giving you an email address to send a link to if you are not part of MHH. But if you're not, why aren't you? It's a great place to hang out year round, and it's about to kick into high gear with the beginning of all of the holidays and holiday plans. Check out Organized Christmas if you want to begin your own holiday prep plan. CEO has several of them to choose from. It'll make your holidays that much sweeter!!

Ok, see you in September!! I can't believe it's almost fall, ya'll but I am sooo glad!!

Boo!
Cathy

Spooky Jack O Lanterns and a Good Night!

The boys carved their own jack o lanterns this year...I helped with the lids, and they did the rest. We roasted the seeds and ate them all! They were nice big, plump seeds and so crunchy and good. I always love freshly roasted pumpkin seeds.

Here's Benjie cleaning out his pumpkin....


And here's the spooky result:
Count Spook-yala!

Here's Jonah carefully working on his...

And the masterpiece!

Jonah named his "Spookily"

We had a grand time trick or treating with our friends the Smecks...unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of that night! We ate chili, Mexican chicken stew, cheese dip, chocolate cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. Yum! Our favorite Halloween menu! We've trick or treated together for at least 9 years now!

I hope you've enjoyed the Haunted Hamlet this fall. It'll be going to bed now, but there will be periodic posts on Great Pumpkin Day, which is the 30th of each month. After all, we do have Boo!Bash3 to plan! Don't forget to check out Scarecrow Soup for all of the November doings of the Miller clan!!

Happy Haunting!

Cathy

More Boo!Bash2 pics!

This just in! More Boo!Bash2 pictures!



This was hysterical...and the runners-up in the couples costume contest (Mummies and Daddies division!)...a hunter and a white tail deer, complete with the white tail!!

And, the winner in the couples division...the newest bride and groom! This is my brother Mark and his new wife, Laura! Congratulations on winning, the contest and each other!! What a way to spend your honeymoon!!

The prettiest witch I've ever seen! And a pretty good looking shepherd, complete with lamb! Sorry this is so dark...

The Whoopie Cushion won the individual costume contest...but the sock monkey was a riot!! Too funny!!

Hannah, Billy Ray and Ellie May!!

The Flintstones (see below) won the group award, and Jacob (the younger Joker) won the Teenage Werewolf division. Thanks again to everyone who came and dressed up, and a special thanks to Mom and Dana (aka Grandmother Joker and Ellie May) for sending the pictures I missed!!

Boo!Bash3 is already in the works! Planned for the Saturday before Halloween, it is going to be bigger and better than ever!! Mark your 2009 calendars! (Stop laughing, Michael, or I'll tell everyone that you are Fred Flintstone! )

I'll post pictures from Halloween night this weekend!

Happy Haunting!!

Cathy