Of Footballs & Pumpkins

Yes the countdown has begin, it's 100 days till Halloween ! We are soon transitioning into a new month and with the beginning of August comes football season. And hopefully with all this will come a cool down of the weather, okay I know that is not going to happen Texas is hot as hell. We are are Oakland Raider fans and they are not playing any Texas teams this year so no stadium fun for us.

Okay enough about Football as Morticia is lovely implying. I have to get a jump start on Halloween and fall decor because I didn't get to decorate or celebrate as usual last year because we were selling the house. Since I couldn't transition into the witchy flare everywhere, I gave it to my sister in law to throw her Hallow Birthday Bash, and said just bring it back when you move to Texas. She wont be here for many moons so I must start anew. A new dollar store opened up in town, and believe me that's big in these parts. We are in the woods and travel a few country miles to get to any retail space. But on the plus craft time is a must. When Halloween creations and ideas pop up so early in the blog , do not be alarmed...... be inspired.

Projections on Projects

The recent Beautiful Freaks Fest hosted by our Magaly has put my mind on Halloween. I've been working on this cross stitch project since the end of last summer and today I finally completed it. I feel now I finished this project I can move forward to new creative outlets and projects. 

What loose ends are you tying up with a pretty bow? Are there projects in the making or growing brain children waiting to be born?  I plan to make this July a productive one for sure.

All In The Name Of Hallow Fun

 October has been full of Halloween fun. Here is a re-cap of the past week celebratory fun. Every time we went into Walmart me went down the Halloween isles and played dress up.

 Pumpkins were carved on a day of rain and sun to spooky tunes of Pandora's Halloween Party station.

 Many theatrical song and dance were performed along the viewings of our favorite Halloween movies, and art was inspired.

Costumes and trick or treating at school to raise funds for my daughters 6th grade end of year trip was a hit.

My {M} turned the big 6 yesterday. We went to John's Incredible Pizza, the skating rink, and then cake and ice cream at home.

I hope this Halloween season was celebrated in many ways that brought you bliss! Today's celebrations will commence with taking the teens to see a scary movie since they have the day off (how lucky for them). Trick or treating will take place in the rain, but I'm equipped with a large black umbrella trimmed with red roses that can also serve as a method of protection in case any clowns get out of hand. Take time to reflect and renew, it is the Witches New Year after all.

~ Brightest Blessings to you all, and to all a good fright ~

Haunted Humpday Has Returned

As the title expresses Haunted Humpday has returned, actually it started a week ago and I feel a little like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date". For those new to Haunted Humpday it is an every Wednesday up to Halloween post about Halloween goodness and haunting tales. I usually don't have a ghostly story in my post but our hostess with the mostest Marfi of Incipient Wings always has a tale to chill your bones. So without further ado....

 Every year I go with the flow when decorating for Halloween and this year I have a strong urge to do a lot of Dia de los Muertos flair. This giant calavera is displayed at a dart balloon game booth on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the prize is a colorful skeleton...I must get one. Were going to the boardwalks 150th birthday celebration, there will be fireworks and fun!

I picked this book up on my latest thrift store trip. Everyday Grace seems to be the kind of book to take notes along with hence the notebook or perhaps will turn onto a few post, I just opened it yesterday. The feathers I collect everyday from my yard,  I give thanks and gratitude from my feathered allies for gifting them to me. The tiny pumpkin is actually aged rosehip from my roses. 

I'm in love with these witch hat earrings I made. I found a bag of six hats on discount at Michaels and was going to use them as adornments for mini besoms but they did not hang correctly but they fit perfectly on hooks. This was going to be an Etsy item but I decided against opening an Etsy shop after much mental debate and financial calculations. 

I actually made a physical sign for the online shop as a banner photo. Perhaps one day I will have a craft booth and then I can hang my sign an lure people to my goods and wares.

 Some more handicrafts I finally finished. The sachet is filled with lavender harvested from my yard. I come to realize cross stitching takes  quite a bit of time to complete a whole project, so I will probably resume it once the weather is cold and there is less outdoor work to be done. I'm off now to plan my Mabon celebration which I always seem to due last minute. 

Happy Haunted Humpday!

Hallow Miscellany

The past two days have been an autumnal dream with the breeze making everything dance around me. Short lived is this, a tease if you will of things to come. Still going hard with  90 plus degrees the rest of the week. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy Indian Summers which this most likely will be again. Oh how mother nature loves to mess with my mind. Fall is in the air.....some days, and is creeping into the homestead as well. Below is random hallow miscellany.

 I found this guy at the Dollar Store and he was the only one. I might just have to check other stores because these are poseable and would be awesome in pairs around the house.

 Iv'e taken up cross stitching again which I haven't done since my early twenties. It started by making items for an Autumn swap and I realized I still enjoy keeping my hands busy ( even though it does hurt to do so).

 This skull banner was bought at the Goodwill and is displayed across the tele to show the size and detail, but where it's going to be hung is still a mystery.

My intentions for the stop by the thrift store was to find some fall reads suggested by Goodreads becuae  my local library branches didn't carry any of them so I tried my luck elsewhere. I know your not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but that is exactly what made me grab this book. It's Stephen King and you can't go wrong with him right?

{ Other News }

 So some hallow goodies have made their way into the home before the intended Autumnal Equinox, and it's a good starting point. Turns out  September is not a slow down time and weekends are full of events to attend. Holly the Hermit must come out and socialize face to face which is really hard for me if I haven't let you in on this secret before. If it's family members I'm okay and mostly comfortable but new faces and situations start the heart pumping so loud  my whole atmosphere buzzes to a hum and I can't quite focus. I do a lot of grounding and wrapping myself in a protected bubble before I step out into the world. Well this post is full of miscellany isn't it? Have a great Hump Day and I hope the weather is treating you well in your corner of the world.

This is Halloween 2015

 On Friday {M} turned 5 and wow I don't know where the time has went since I gave birth to him. We celebrated by having a Halloween Birthday Bash. It was a great event with may spooky foods, treats, and games. I will have to give you a verbal run down since I didn't have time to take photo's ( a blogger nightmare for sure). The menu consisted of hot dogs, nachos and pizza. Punch with floating eyeballs, cake, orange & purple cupcakes, veggie tray with ranch in a small pumpkin, watermelon jack o lantern fruit salad were a few eats. We also had Monster bowling, Flying Ghost and Eyeball Toss as games.

We used sharpie to decorate mandarins. This was really fun, we filled a whole bowl.

                      The Law & Renaissance Man                              {S} & {E}                                          

 {S} on the left, {E} sitting next to him, {L}in all white, and {M} ninja on the top row. The rest are my nieces and nephews.

 The whole trick or treat crew! We were quite a parade going up and down the blocks. They night continued with outdoor viewings of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" & "Labyrinth" around a warm glowing Hallow fire.

3 Day Halloween Time Warp

It has been non stop celebrations at Casa Sol y Luna since last Thursday, from birthday, Halloween, and Dia de los Muertos. Lots of photos to share so I will break these post up into three. It's currently raining here in Sacramento and this is a new month blessing in itself. I'm baking a pumpkin in the oven as I compose these post because the outdoor duty's are on rain delay....and that's just fine with me.

On Thursday we carved pumpkins. Yes the children used real knives under supervision. If you teach children how to use tools correctly it benefits them and teaches them necessary skill sets for life.

My Renaissance Man ( yay I gave my husband a blog name instead of just my Hubby) helped finishing up the jack o lanterns. We have two carved but I only have a pic of one. Tooth picks as razor sharp teeth..very effective.

"The Lost Boys" was playing as we enjoyed our pumpkin night festivities. Which reminded me that Lizzie Borden's dress was still in need of something.

Good ol  Corn Syrup did the trick ! Very realistic and I saved money and time, I'm glad these items are in my cabinet. Tomorrow I will share the Halloween party pics.

The Pumpkins Have Arrived

Happy National Pumpkin Day! According to the news today is celebration of pumpkin anything and everything. A Sunday stop at the grocery store ended up with us bringing home six beautiful orange orbs. We didn't make it to a pumpkin patch this year, they have become over commercialized and pricey. This weekend was also our last minute yard touch up and decoration finishing.

 I think only the two youngest want to still carve pumpkins which means the teens will help them and actually do the carving. I have some wicked long black nails that would be difficult to scrape out guts, and my hands get extremely itchy.

These porcelain beauties were transformed into "Children of The Corn". Might be a bit much for my younger nieces and nephews but they are situated in a corner of the yard not in plain view.

Oh the tangled web we weave, hopefully the predicted rain will be light and my webs won't blow away.

 On Friday the Hubby brought home some lumber from work. He had a plan up his sleeve for a small yard addition that would work well for the Halloween party. {M} is such a wonderful little laborer.

I love my open  pumpkin corral! To add even more effect  the neighbors roosters were crowing and the baby chicks were chirping. I think our next move will have to be ranch of our very own were I can have lavender fields forever.

 I have a feeling many photos will be taken here. Halloween is just around the corner and ready to pounce at you with a" Trick or Treat" are you prepared?

The Crossbones Inn Welcomes You { H.H }

Casa Sol y Luna has been buzzing with excitement as each new decoration, monster, and things that go bump in the night are put into place. The clock is ticking and the numbers fly off the calender as Halloween creeps upon us. When it comes to decorating for Halloween I usually have the inside of the house and front porch done but this year {M} is having a Halloween bash for his 5th birthday so the back yard has been transformed.  We have snuck in some time to enjoy two new spooky releases. 

Welcome ...... we hope you enjoy your stay.

A humble hallow bed and breakfast awaits your weary bones, come sit for a spell..or two.

  

While your here please enjoy the  amenities our lifetime staff provides. Oh dearies your not afraid to step outside are you?

                   Hmm..I wonder what's for lunch?                  Care to toss in a coin and make a wish?

 All fresh ingredients for our meals are grown in "The Witches Magic Garden"

 Spiderella spins the finest silk linens, and keeps the bugs at bay in the garden.

 Some of our visitors have had an extended stay. With Dia de los Muertos around the corner the nightlife is jumping.

Beware extra studious guest our help might want to pick your brains.

 If you happen to have an emergency we have a resident doctor on site.

 Oh wait please don't run off, you look famished and haven't had a bite yet!

Just try and escape past my  Guardian Werewolf.

 I hope you enjoyed the tour of our hallowed digs. Rainbows in photos courtesy of the prismatic protective bubble I have over our space...One more Haunted Humpday to go till Halloween. Thanks again to the Haunted Humpday Queen Marfi.