Category Archives: Holidays
Halloween facts and some updates
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Early Jack o lanterns were carved out of turnips. I can’t imagine trying to do one of today’s ornate carvings on one of them instead of a pumpkin. However, I sure there were some crafty artisans who did carve some remarkable turnips. G and I have made a name for ourselves around here with ours but we can’t do them without a pattern.
Allentown, PA had the very first Halloween parade in the US back in 1915 (correction: the year was 1905) followed by Tom’s River, NJ in 1919. This year it will be held on November 2nd. Somewhere out in TV land there’s a picture of our old Malcolm on one of the Halloween floats. He always was a ham.
Although it is 2:30 a.m., it’s a balmy seventy degrees outside with a misty rain. Not bad for late October.
I called G this evening to check and see how she was. Her eye surgery went very well. She sounded quite chipper. She was also pleased to announce that she didn’t have a shiner this time.
I overheard her husband in the background saying, “If she keeps complaining about not having a shiner I’ll be glad to oblige.” Wiseass.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Halloween, Jack O'Lantern, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pumpkin, Turnip, Writer, Writing
We will soon be handing out candy
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Trick or Treat night is on Friday here. G and I are preparing for the après treating time party. It’s not going to be easy for her this year since she’s going in for her second cataract surgery today. However, she does plan to have a good time.
She just had the other eye done several weeks ago and couldn’t be more pleased with the results. She can see again! She’s excited enough that she plans to dress in costume and party hearty. She knows from the other surgery how fast she’ll recover.
She has a mask to wear because the only (slight) problem she had with the first surgery, was the bruise under her eye, she had quite a shiner for a week. Nevertheless, she still plans to bake and decorate a birthday cake for Little D. I can’t wait to see Little D’s face when she sees her cake. G is a very clever cake decorator.
I will take pictures not only of Little D but also of many of our costumed revelers on Friday. I’m glad I have a 2-gig card for the camera.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Birthday cake, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Halloween, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Trick-or-treating, Writer, Writing
The horrifying death of my fog machine
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I wasn’t going to buy anything else for Halloween this year since I did buy two rather large props. However, it seems I will be making another purchase. My fog machine is dead. I’ve had it for well over fifteen years. I was hoping it would limp through this year, no such luck.
I’d bought some fog juice and fog machine cleaner my last trip to Spirit Halloween. Last night I decided to get off my duff, drag the machine down from the attic, and clean it. I’m glad I did. The machine gave one gasp and died. I was horrified.
I can’t go without a fog machine all the kids around here look forward to our yearly display. Today I was supposed to go with G to Target to get paper Halloween plates and more candy (DH says we don’t have enough.) Little does G know that we’ll be making a quick side trip, more out of the way, but on the way.
Now I have to decide what size to get. Back when I bought mine, you didn’t have many choices there was only one available.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Decorations and Props, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fog machine, Halloween, Holidays, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Trick-or-treating, Writer, Writing
Stop me before I buy more!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Many of my Halloween decorations are old and worn out. Therefore, the last few years I’ve been buying new stuff and slowly throwing away the old, decrepit, and falling apart decorations.
I should have myself banned from Spirit Halloween. G and I went up there today to get HER costume. I should’ve left my money at home because I found another prop I loved. Yes, I bought it. Yes, she got her costume too.
What I went up for and intending to buy was fog machine cleaner and fog juice. I did get those.
However, I am the proverbial kid in a candy store. I also found something irresistible to any writer—fun pens. I now have a boxing vampire pen and two pens that look like blood filled syringes.
If I go to the store again, I may need an intervention…
Posted in Holidays, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Costume, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fog machine, Halloween, Holiday, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Parties, shopping, Writer, Writing
She wouldn’t trade birthdays with me
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We invited our new neighbor R and her daughter to come over for the post Trick or Treat night dinner at my house. When I found out that R’s daughter (little D) had Halloween for her birthday, I offered to trade birthdays with her but she said no. Darn it.
Little D is now excited to be coming over to a party. Knowing that it is little D’s birthday, G, who normally makes the dessert, is going to make a Halloween themed birthday cake. We’ve been scouring the net for ideas. Maybe our trip to Spirit Halloween this Thursday will give us some more ideas or, at the very least, spooky cake decorations.
I’ve already wrapped a small gift for our special birthday guest. Gee, surprising little D is going make our Trick or Treat night party twice as much fun as it usually is.
I think I’m almost as excited as little D.
I was disappointed to find that there aren’t Halloween birthday cards, only plain old Halloween cards. I’m sure that little D isn’t the only person to have Halloween for their birthday.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: A Halloween birthday, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Halloween, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Parties, Trick or Treat, Writer, Writing
2010 Halloween preparations begin
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I went back to Spirit Halloween today. This time I took G and my new neighbor R along with me. This was R’s first time in a Spirit Halloween. She was glad we’d gone during school hours and she had a chance to scope out the place without her young daughter. Now that she knows how to find the store, she’ll go back and take her daughter along.
At one point, we all trooped into one room to check out some animated props. There was a clerk in there, R was right behind me and didn’t see him at first. When he said hello I thought she was going to have a heart attack. She jumped, she screamed, and then she laughed. The rest of the time while we were in the store every time he saw her he apologized…again.
I bought a large animated prop. I couldn’t resist it. I now have a cloth barrel that has a ghoulish zombie rise from it with eyes flashing, and jaw moving moans. Both of my friends watched me spend the money. They were entertained. True, it is more fun to watch someone else spend money.
Posted in Holidays, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Decorations and Props, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Halloween, Holiday, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
My favorite time of year is getting closer
Posted by doggonedmysteries
September is almost over. Halloween will be upon us before you know it. Can you guess where I went yesterday? Yep, Spirit Halloween and I happened to find a new costume for this year. I could easily go broke in that store every year but this time I’d saved a few bucks just in case I found another costume I liked.
I’d kill to have a large front yard to decorate. I go nuts over their animatronics each year. Drooling over the darned things doesn’t make one popular with the staff. They do hate wiping up puddles. I keep telling myself that one of these days I’ll buy one or two. If I do, I can get rid of some of the smaller Halloween decorations.
I was in the store so much last year the manager recognized me as soon as I walked into the store. Heck, she even remembered my E-mail address.
I’m thinking of dragging DH there so he can see the animatronics and I’ll point out the few I’d love to have. You never know, he might decide to buy me one. Hehehe!
Posted in Holidays, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Costume, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Halloween, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Happy Labor Day!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I hope you all have a lovely day today. I’ll be back tomorrow.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A little flag waving in honor of yesterday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After a day loaded with food, fireworks, and military band music, it was nice to take time to remember why we celebrate the 4th of July.
The freedoms we have are precious gifts given to us by those visionaries who fought hard to achieve the birth of a great nation. What an amazing accomplishment. Do not let their dream fade in apathy.
Hang tightly to those freedoms and be proud of who we are as a nation.
This is a great country. It is my country and I’m proud of it. I am grateful to be a citizen.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Jewelry, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Necklaces, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Remembering those who have fallen and those who still serve.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My nephew in Afghanistan
May you all come home safe and soon!
Posted in Holidays, In memory of..., Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Memorial day, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, service men and women, Writer, Writing
Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
For many years, Dear Hubby brought me flowers, a cute stuffed toy, and chocolate candy for Valentine’s Day. I always made him his favorite dinner. Romantic isn’t it?
Multiple Sclerosis sucks. It is no longer easy for DH to shop. My PajamaGram was going to be my gift from him this year. It was supposed to arrive on the 10th. However, it still hasn’t arrived ‘due to adverse weather conditions.’ . According to the tracking, it is still in the last place it stopped before delivery here, waiting for weather conditions to improve. Does UPS deliver on Sundays?
Monday the forecast is calling for MORE snow.
Hawaii anyone? I hear that is the only state that didn’t get snow this year….
Posted in Holidays, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
A quiet NYE
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We don’t often party we are homebodies. Occasionally we go out for a NYE celebration. I am very glad we stayed home last night all snug in the house with the dogs and nothing to do but enjoy watching old Thin Man movies together. It had snowed off and on all day and then by midnight the snow turned to sleet. Driving anywhere in that sort of weather, would’ve been no fun at all.
We shared popcorn with the pups. They love it, beg for it, and will chase down the tiniest piece. Neither one is very good at catching. It’s always good for a giggle or two. I think it’s a Bull Terrier thing since none of ours have ever been great catchers.
A little after midnight DH went to bed. I turned the volume down low on the TV but continued to listen to the Thin Man movies while I worked. The pups were sleeping. The house was quiet. It was a perfect night, an enjoyable night, and a productive night.
Posted in Dog related, Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 