Trick or Treat

So last night we were watching the Hallmark Channel (! I know!) because it was showing a Disney classic, "The Three Lives of Thomasina", which we hadn't seen in like, forever. Whoever wrote the music for this one, also did the music for Pollyanna, cause it sounded just the same. When I remarked on this, Lilly asked, "What's Pollyanna?", and I was astounded and guilty that she had never seen it. So we will be renting Pollyanna some time in the near future. We also decided that cable should have a Disney Classic on Demand channel, and I am not talking about the animated movies.

Later in bed we were discussing what other movies would be on this channel. We came up with, The Ugly Dachshund, Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion, That Darn Cat, The Love Bug, Old Yeller, Blackbeard's Ghost, The Shaggy Dog, and then there are others that we don't quite remember. Almost all starred either Dean Jones or Kurt Russell. Al was saying that there was a movie called "The Teenage Computer", which turned out to be "The Computer That Wore Tennishoes". And I am certain that there is a movie out there called "Bimbo the Wrong-Way Otter", but I could be wrong on that one too. Bimbo sounds wrong for Disney. I also think there is a movie about a raccoon named Rascal who makes a big mess in the house. Animals making big messes in the house is a reaccuring theme in these Disney movies.

I took 4 bags o' stuff to Goodwill yesterday. They only sat around for like...a month and 1/2 before I took them, so yay me! I also finished Lilly's Halloween costume, based on her own design. She is going to be a Ninja Bunny. I had to make fluffy numchucks to go with it. The outfit is pink and she has a fluffy bunny tail and bunny ears. It is long sleeve and long pants but unfortunately it is going to be cold tonite, so she may be a lumpy layered Ninja Bunny.

Last year we had hardly any trick or treaters which was sad. Except that all the kids at the library got my extra candy, so it was nice for them. Al is out getting candy now, so you can just bet that there will be Nestles Crunch and Mounds (he likes 'em) and SweetTarts (which he does not like and gives to Older Kids.) Unless on Halloween day, those choices have already dissapeared off the shelf. I have to carve my pumpkin today, which leads me to ask, why did I get such a big pumpkin again? So I would have even more glop to scoop out? What was I thinking?

Come back Indian Summer! I want more of you!!

Ginger Ale and Chicken Noodle Soup

Okay, it seems like a very long time since I've written anything here. I remember vowing to put the shut-off valve on the washer and that was accomplished.( Of course, while it was being installed, a fitting blew, spraying water all over the laundry room floor and making water spots on my kitchen ceiling...hey, wait a minute, isn't this why I am having this done?? So that doesn't happen?) Luckily we have some spray on Kilz, so the spots are gone. I need to find some ceiling white that will cover the Kilz, as it doesn't quite match.

Last week was something of a blur, as Kristin called, crying, on Tuesday afternoon. She was feeling very sick and her Doctor wanted her to get chest xrays. I jumped into my car and made the trip to Berea to bring her home. Luckily, she did not have pneumonia, but did have the flu, so got Tamiflu right away. I took her back to school on Sunday, (a beautiful day!), with plenty of chicken soup and other things to make sure she eats now and then.

I have still continued to make accomplishments, but most are nothing major. Some sewing here and there, although I did make a bedskirt for my bed, which was a fairly big job. I made the bedskirt out of scraps from the headboard material. I intended to buy a new bedspread as our old one is showing its age, but I can't seem to find the right color. Lands End has discontinued the green color, so I need to find something in a similiar color. I suppose white would work too, but something tells me that white would not be the greatest choice. I will keep looking.

I fell asleep in front of the tv last night and woke up around 12:30. I went upstairs to go to bed and stopped to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. As i was doing this I look up and there's Lilly (scared the poo out of me!) and she says, "I woke up!". I said, oh, okay. After I was done with the laundry, I went to kiss her goodnight and she wasn't in her bed! I thought...she thinks its morning and she went downstairs...and that is exactly what she thought. She gets up at 6:00 a.m. most days and goes down to sleep on the couch until I wake her up again. So I went downstairs and there she was asleep on the couch. I informed her that it was not quite 12:30 and she needed to go back to bed. I took her back upstairs and tucked her in. She was a bit shivery, and I thought a bit warm, but at that hour, she was not interested in taking any medicine.

Of course this morning she has a headache and fever. Yesterday she had a sore throat, but managed the whole day at school and swim club too. So right now I am home, and waiting to see if Jane wants me to come in today. (Al can cover today, but not tomorrow) If I stay home, I may actually get something done! Right now, I feel the need for coffee.

Good health to everyone!

Diversity in the Workplace

I have tried to diversify my accomplishments a bit this week. I got Kristin's curtains done which was a big check off the list, I got 2 test bodices sewn for Kari's dummy dress, and cut out and sewed the skirt for that dress too. I also basted the skirt onto the experimental bodice so she could try it on. I think she has decided for the changed bodice. Which I think is called a "basque" waist. I cleaned out my kitchen junk drawer for the first time ever I think. I also added a couple more coats of drywall mud, but that is such a slow process it doesn't feel like I'm really getting things done.

Today Lil and I went through her closet and dresser and put her short sleeves in the dresser and hung up the long sleeved tops. She had to try on all of last years long sleeves to see what fit and what would be passed down. This is a job we always dread, but actually its not so bad to just do it and get it over with. I need to put some stuff together for Goodwill too and donate it tomorrow.

AND I NEED TO REMEMBER TO CALL THE PLUMBER AND HAVE THOSE THINGIES INSTALLED ON MY WASHING MACHINE SO I DON'T FLOOD MY ENTIRE DOWNSTAIRS!
(hows that Dad?) Of course, saying I have to remember to do this and actually doing it are two very different things.

At home we are fighting the battle of the Fruit Fly. Did you know that one fruit fly can lay 500 eggs? I think we have 100 fruit flies laying 500 eggs each...I am sick of seeing the little buggers. We have vinegar traps all over and have resorted to vacuuming them up, which is a lot easier than smashing them in your hand. There is a certain satisfaction in actually smashing one in your hand though...the odds are against you though - fruit flies fly fast. (say that 5 times fast!)

Oh, lovely October. You are my favorite month.

Okay, well now we can have Indian Summer

There was frost on the lawn this morning and the house was so cold that we turned on the heat and its still on, although I will be turning it off before I go to work. I also made Autumn Soup this morning which is making the house smell good and cozy. I made home-made applesauce last night because I realized that Lilly can't bite a whole apple with her braces and we were out of fruit other than apples. Back to Haslingers to replenish the apple supply during work break today. I also took the screen door off and replaced it with the storm door. So I guess I am doin' things.

My accomplishments are still crack-filling though, because it takes a long time before I am satisfied with it. I don't want to see that those cracks were ever there. I have lots more things I can think about doing though. If I am going to sew in that downstairs room I want to repaint it first, which means I have to prime it first. I finally got muslin to line the drapes for Kristin's room, so I can also do that. I need to have a day off to get something like that started...hello Friday!

Tiney goes to vet tomorrow for second set of shots and also to see if she has worms. I hope the treatment doesn't involve giving her pills because that is one of the most difficult things to do...getting a cat to swallow pills. It takes at least two people to do it. How do single cat owners give their cats pills I wonder? It boggles the mind.

Is anyone enjoying watching the PBS/Ken Burns movie about the National Park System? I have been watching it and it makes me want to go and visit them all. It also makes me feel very lucky that my parents took us out west when we were kids. I have wonderful memories of those vacations and the many beautiful places we visited. The Rocky Mountains, the Sand Dunes in New Mexico, the flat golden fields of Kansas...we really live in a beautiful country. I have mostly blocked the memories of Janet getting carsick. No seriously, thanks for that Mom and Dad.

Time to turn off the heat and ride the exercise bike.