Pumpkin Executions, 2009

So, Halloween was yesterday. Cora and I had been meaning to carve our pumpkins all week. We finally got to it yesterday. These noble gourds met their fates under our blades yesterday! Here you see Cora gutting hers. I'd already scalped mine.

Here is what our front porch looked like...still does. Looks all nice and Fall-y, doesn't it?

I think Cora's was a very classic look. It complemented our porch very nicely.

Given the shape of our other pumpkin (Thanks Mom and Dad) we decided to attempt a Frankenstein-esque carving. I looked for some on-line but decided to make my own, based loosely on some I found. Unfortunately, none of our Facebook "Friends" recognized it for the genius it was...Have a look. I think I did ok.

See the bolts in his neck? I think it's genius, really. Still, not everyone recognizes fine art when they see it.

We DID do some grocery shopping. I got the ingredients for Fajitas and began making it when I realized I had not picked up a fajita seasoning packet. I quickly got on-line and found a simple recipe. It turned out wonderful! I made REALLY GOOD steak fajitas.

Cora made pumpkin seeds...well, she didn't make them, she roasted them. I was amazed at how good they turned out! WOW!! I won't eat store bought if I have a choice, now!

No big plans today, I might do some cleaning. Cora is probably going to be working on a dress.

Busy Weekend

We went to Seattle to speak with the Bishop from Burundi. He happened to be in town and we thought it might be a chance to impress upon him our sense of urgency. We ended up spending a few hours discussing the adoption and things to expect in country.

Some of the things we learned were that the Bishop is working tirelessly to bring our kids home. (I say ours because we are not the only family with a child in Burundi anymore) However, his wish to help is not always enough. Others are helping, too. There are several ministers and government workers who are working to bring this adoption about. They may not have the same urgency that we do, but things are moving along. The next step is to be able to convince the state department that everything is on the up-and-up.

Other than that, we learned that culture and language differences have been and will continue to be a major barrier. When trying to get the answer to what we thought was a simple question, we ended up having to rephrase and re-word the question several times before we finally found the correct sequence of words to get the answer we wanted. For instance, we wanted to know who was BB's primary care giver. Because the Bishop is in charge of paying for BB's care, his answer was, "I am." It took several times, but finally we arrived at, "Who puts the food in his (BB's) mouth?" We finally got the answer. A young lady who attends a local college. So, one step closer...right?

We ended up staying for dinner and then driving home, where we arrived late.

Yesterday, we had a long slow morning. We ended up going to a local fruit stand. Dagdagan Fruit Stand. They have a delightful stand with a small hay bale maze filled with pumpkins. We bought some gourds and pumpkins and then brought them home to decorate our doorstep...and we my eventually dine on a few of them.

As we drove back toward Yakima to get a few items, we saw the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile...I just had time to clock one shot as it rocketed past.

And here is Cora as we walk in toward one of the stores we visited yesterday. I ended up buying a new jacket on Saturday. Cora got new shoes and we basically had a good weekend. I hope the rest of the week continues that trend for us and everyone!

Twenty-one

We had 21 trick-or-treaters. A whopping three times last year's count! One time we had over 100 trick-or-treaters, but that was in the years before the new development...now all the kids go there. I think a few might have come from school...I had been threatened by kids who said they would come for some candy, but I was not going to hand out my address and, besides, kids are mostly talk(mind you, I don't feel the least bit threatened by the kids, still a measure of privacy is nice).

We went to Costco and bought "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and we also bought dinner. We got home and my parents happened to be in town. They called and sked if they could stop by...we told them their timing was great since we had just gotten home. So, we visited with my parents and then watched the movie. Overall, it was a very nice night.

I got home after work and cleaned the house and also semi-decorated...that is I plugged in an electric pumpkin in the living room and moved our volunteer gourds to the front...I suspect no one took any of them, either, dammit. I even set up my ghillie suit next to the front door with the idea that if we had more trick-or-treaters than expected, I might hide under it and scare the bejeebers out of them...unfortunately the 21 we had came in groups and I never did use it.

Well, I think we might work outside this weekend, maybe get the last lawn mowing done and few other necessities...

BOOOOOO Is Like 8,000,000 Only Scarier!

"Look, the lights on, let's go get some candy!"

"Looks creepy, maybe we shouldn't."

"They're just dead flowers! Let's get some candy!"

"Oh...o.k."

A hand comes out of one of the flower pots and grabs the small one's legs! Something thumps on to the ground behind the big one who is screaming at even higher decibels than the small one. Two ghoulish arms reach around and...the screen goes black...the scream continues a moment longer and then that, too, ends...

We probably wouldn't get many trick or treaters next year if that happened...or maybe we would, what with us being so far from Nebraska...

Happy Halloween! I hope you all scare the bejeebers out of all those wayward spirits and they go back where they came from!

Looks like everyone posted on Halloween. I will attemp a more creative one this evening.... If not, though, I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday!

Costume Malfunction

By malfunction, I mean, it isn't there. I want to wear something for Halloween tomorrow, but I just don't think it is going to happen. I asked Cora to build me a Borg costume months ago, and, unless she plans on unveiling it early tomorrow morning(which I doubt), I have nothing to wear. I mean, yeah, I could go as a substitute teacher, but it's been done! I have some hats...and even a few helmets...I am not sure how they will work. So, I guess I just won't worry about it.

I have always liked hats. I guess it has something to do with that Bugs Bunny cartoon where a truck load of hats flips over and releases tons of hats into the wind. Each hat in turn lands on Bugs and Elmer Fudd, ad they each take on the attributes associated with the hats. At one point a bonnet lands on one of them and a top hat on the other, and one becomes the suitor of the other. Then a drill sergeant's hat lands on one and a General's hat on the other...it could happen! well, I can't afford not to be ready to instantly be able to fly a helicopter just by donning a helicopter helmet. How upset would I be if the opportunity came up and I did not own a helicopter pilot's helmet?


And you never know when a wormhole will open up and transport you back to WWI! You have to be ready!

or East Germany during the Cold War???

How about the Air Force? All I need is a silver bird!

or the 1930s? Play it again Sam! Where is the nearest speak easy?

And, my best guess is I should be ready to golf with this one...

and finllay, given my propensity for exploring Naval facilities I am not supposed to...the last one might come in pretty handy.

What do you folks think? Should I wear a hat for Halloween? I am teaching High School tomorrow. I enjoy popularity, if not extreme respect. Go figure.

I appreciate your suggestions!

Witch Way Are You Going?

I saw a witch yesterday. She was walking with a villager type person who was either her friend or her prey. Seems the local elementary holds a Hoedown this time of year, with pumpkins and fun activites tht the kids look forward to for weeks ahead of time. I suspect the witch and her compnion were headed in that direction.

I got home to a wonderful dinner of Corned Beef and speghetti squash! And some pumpkin shaped/flavored cookies! How awesome is that? Cora is such a good cook! I could get used to that...now, if only I could get orund to getting a full time job...

I taught Kinders yesterday. What a wild bunch. I teach the sme kids today. The second day is almost always better, since then the sub has a feel for that classroom's normal activities.

This morning I have been suffering from some sort of sore muscle/bone in my shoulder that seems to make breathing deeply not very much fun. Cora thinks a chiropractor might help...I think a 2X4 smacked into the right part of my back might help. Yee-ouch! I hope it figures itself out soon, it is MOST unpleasurable.

I Can Feel It Coming In The Air Tonight

Oh, I remember. I remember a time when the chill wind blew across the back of your neck and you could feel things were not right.

I remember when the dark was something to be avoided. I remember cold evenings and running to make it home before whatever waited in the shadows came out. I dreaded the cold claws, dark capes, sharp talons, cool blood, slashing teeth, and warm saliva. I knew it was only a matter of time before it came out and got me.

Halloween is near...and I feel the hair on the back of my neck rising. It is near...

It is time to dress up for Halloween!