Pumpkins and trick or treating

We love carving pumpkins, and this year we no exception, even though Devin made a big mistake with his, and we had to find a replacement yesterday ( and had to pay by the POUND!!!

 

Devin was a bounty hunter from Star Wars  We gussied up his gun with glow in the dark paint and glow sticks.

Nathan came over and enjoyed the glow sticks too ( under very close supervision!)

 

Our daughter, Robyn carved a "Frozen" pumpkin.  Most of this she did free hand without using a pattern.  She loves carving pumpkins!

 

 

 

Devin's newer attempt at R2D2, looks good to me!

 

 

 

Jeremy made this cool slashed pumpkin, which has glow in the dark paint as well, for when the candles are not lit.

 

 

 

My son in law Robert, carved this amazing dragon!

 

 

 

Devin created this one, a momma and baby pumpkin!

 

 

 

More detail on the "Frozen" pumpkin.

 

 

 

Someone stayed in with his Grammie and helped to move around the tiny plastic gourds!

 

Devin got so much candy my teeth hurt!

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 30

 

Well, I do believe this is the last day of the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge, ( find other participants at The Simple Woman's Blog )  I must say I enjoy doing this and will keep up the blogging as I can.

 

 

The past few days we have been watching our favourite Autumn movie, the Disney movie, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".  I have been watching this for years with my kids ( and as a kid myself) and only just realized the narrator and the singing is done by Bing Crosby!!  I should have known that, I love Bing Crosby!!  If you would like to watch it online, you can find it HERE

 

Yes, I am sending my youngest out trick or treating this year, we haven't always done so.  Often we get pizza, watch Ichabod Crane and play games in the dark with flashlights.  I take the kids to The Freak Lunchbox to let them pick out their own candy ( and they have lots of candy and weird things, including squirrel underwear!)   This is the pumpkin my 19 year old son carved.  It has glow in the dark pain on it, and looks really quite scary in the dark ( for a pumpkin!)

 

Autumn Through My Eyes:Day 29

 

It is hard to believe October is almost over, this month just seemed to fly by.  Of course, the stores are now stocking up on Christmas things ( Costco started in late August!)  Slow down!  Why can't we just take things slowly and enjoy them instead of rushing and dashing about?

 

This morning dawned dark and dreary, and cool and then it got quite warm.  I wanted to stay nestled under my flannel sheets and quilts and linger there all morning, but we had a date with my grandson and some gardening to take care of.  It was dark all day long!  I didn't get much of the gardening done aside from collecting the moonlights to put them away for the winter.  Winter, I can hardly believe I am saying that word already!

Please check out the other bloggers participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge HERE .

 

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 28

 

I am participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge, you can check out the other bloggers participating HERE

 

 

Just a short post today, as I am off to work on some Christmas projects in my craft room with my youngest son.  He loves to build and create and paint!

 

 

 

'Tis the season for rosehips and berries.  I dehydrated some rosehips last fall, to use them in potpourri, and it took days to dry them down enough.  These are extra prickly beach roses, and you need long gloves, they are nasty to handle ( but nothing beats the scent of beach roses, sea air and seaweed!)

 

Bayberries are plentiful around here, I have a big patch of them at the top of our driveway. They can be used medicinally, though they are one of those herbs you have to be super cautious with.  You can also use the tiny blue berries for making candles.  Goodness knows how many teeny tiny berries are needed to do that. Bayberry smells wonderful, sort of a spicy, woody, piney scent.  I use it to decorate with throughout the Christmas season.

 

Cranberries grow all over the barrens at the seashore here in Nova Scotia, and they are yummy in muffins, and sauces and quick breads.  I found some in our front yard, but they are being eaten by the birds and are getting a bit mushy now.  This deep red is my favourite colour!

 

 

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 27

Today was just a day of quiet.  Chatting with my sister in law who went home yesterday (using Voxer). Freezing and shivering on a walk with Devin and the dog through the woods this morning.  A day off from school bookwork ( even after a week vacation with family)  to just be ( but unschooling instead - video making, Minecraft, and painting and designing a WW 2 ship display he made from scrap wood and driftwood. Painting signs and a special project for my niece Aly.  Oh, and of course.....laundry, and lots of it!!!!!!!

I know I already posted a photo of one of my favourite fall things (candles) but today was perfect to light candles and battery operated candles, as it gets darker outside so early and it was so chilly.  I went to a craft show yesterday and picked up some wax melts and they smell so good.  I bought Grandma's Kitchen and Hollyberry, and they just smell warm and inviting and homey.

 

This is the craziest lamp ever, but I thought it was unique.  I got it at a yard sale, where the woman was selling ALL primitive stuff.  Oh my, it was WONDERFUL!

 

I am participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge found at The Simple Woman blog.

 

 

 

 

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 26

I am participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge which you can find HERE

Today, my youngest son and I traveled over the bridge and Halifax Harbour to Dartmouth, to a craft show we enjoy.  I take him to this one each year, it is a "date".  We love to buy these teeny tiny mini cheesecakes ( the bottom crust is a mini Oreo!) and have a look around, and Devin usually does his Christmas shopping.

Now that Autumn is here and the days are getting shorter and colder, it is time to get some slippers. I usually wear Birkenstocks, and when I am distressing furniture or something, I tend to wear those. But  I found these amazing slippers today, and treated myself, as often times my feet are freezing! I even bought a pair for my grandson.

 

They are so warm, they fit so well and they are eco friendly!

 

They are made out of recycled wool sweaters.  Some are just slippers, others are boots, like the ones I bought.  They are warm, and they have a non slip bottom and I have already decided that I don't want to take them off!

 

These are handmade in Nova Scotia, but I don't believe they have a website or Facebook page unfortunately. 

 

These should take some of the chill out of the cold winter days to come!

 

Autumn Through My Eyes:Day 25

My brother and his family have been visiting all week, and they fly back home tomorrow.  I am feeling so sad and just empty.  I love having them all here.  The relationship with my family aside from my brother is tough.  Really just very difficult right now, and it was such a blessing having them here. 

I am posting a few photos of our day today.  We went down to a small fishing village nearby, and looked for more sea glass!  We had a great afternoon!

 

This is such an old house, and abandoned for quite some time I would say.  it has so much character.  And must have been built so well, withstanding hurricanes and winter storms.

 

 

 

 

 

Bleak, fall day, but at  least the rain stopped so we could go out for a walk!

 

 

 

If walls could talk....

 

My amazing sister in law, I adore her.  She is such a great sister and friend.

 

 

My baby brother and I. I wish they could move here, he keeps me laughing and makes me feel so wonderful.

 

My brother with his great nephew, my grandson. 

 

Sigh...I just feel tears welling up, I am going to miss these guys!  My niece and nephew have had such a great time too, and it was great that they all have so much fun together with my kids.

 

I am participating in the 30 Days of Autumn swap, you can read more blogs HERE .

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 24

 

The day when my family returns to Ontario is looming in the very near distance, and I am not liking it one bit!  The weather, aside from 2 days, has been terrible. Last night we had heavy rain and gusty winds, and today was not much better!  This is the part of fall I don't like, especially when the leaves underfoot and under tire become so slippery and like a skating rink!

 

On these dark dreary mornings, it is so hard to crawl out of a nice warm bad to get up and get going, especially since it is so dark first thing in the morning!  The flannel sheets and quilts are on the bed now, and are comfy and cuddly and perfect for snuggling.

Please visit The Simple Woman's Blog to read more about what others have to say as they participate in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge.

 

Autumn Through My Eyes:Day 23

Stormy, late fall weather has moved into Nova Scotia, which has been a bit frustrating when our family is visiting, but we are making the most of it and going out in the drizzle, fog, whistling wind and downpours anyway!  Earlier this week it was the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo, now it is a nor'easter, which does not seem to want to leave!

 

Standing well back from the edge, just in case the waves come too high ( and some did!)

 

Most of the leaves are gone from this part of the coast, and it is starting to look quite barren.  This looks like a winter sky to me!

 

 

 

Salty, frothy, angry seas.  They have been like this all week, and we can hear the buoys chiming at our house!

 

 

Please visit Peggy's Blog to visit other bloggers participating in the 30 days of Autumn Challenge.

 

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 22

It has been a devastating day for Canada, as gunmen shot and killed a soldier at our nation's capital, Ottawa, and then burst into the Parliament buildings, where one was shot dead.  Ottawa has been locked down as they continue to search for other shooters, and thankfully our Prime Minister was not there at the time.  You can read the continuing story HERE .  My heart goes out to the family of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo , who later died of the injuries he sustained at the hands of the shooter. 

There are no words to describe how I am feeling about this tonight. 

I am participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge, found HERE

Autumn Through My Eyes: Day 21

 

We had our first heavy frost this morning and actually had to turn the furnace on this morning!  Brr!  We discovered the furnace is not working as it should be, and making some pretty odd noises, so I guess we need to get that looked at before the snow comes.

 

One thing my family loves to do is to beachcomb and collect sea glass.  We enjoy doing this in the autumn, as that is when the storms and hurricanes kick up some good glass, and we can find some really great treasures. It is also easier to access some of the beaches we like to go to, as the grass is knocked down and it is not as tangled with briars and raspberry canes.

 

 

 

This has been one of our best sea glass beaches where we have found marbles, bottle tops, and bits of glass from the Halifax Explosion (which occurred in 1917).  They have built a marina here now, so the glass is not washing in as it once has.  It was still a nice way to spend a late fall afternoon.  It is now forecast to rain for the next 4 days!

 

We also were lucky to find some sea stars, sponges, sea squirts ( an invasive species) and to play with some sea anemones, which we found amongst the piers of the waterfront.  We have seen very few sea stars this year, so it was nice that my niece and nephew got to hold some.

To see what other bloggers are up to who are participating in the 30 Day Autumn Challenge, please visit the Simple Woman's Blog .

 

 

Autumn Through My Eyes:Day 20

 

Last night, I went to bed with my window wide open to let the breeze in, as it was quite warm.  I woke up very early this morning, freezing cold, as the temperatures suddenly dropped throughout the night.  Going out to fill the bird feeders this morning was a good reminder of the cold, frosty days to come!

 

My brother and his family is visiting this week, and this is what we were up to on this beautiful fall day.

 

 

Running and playing in the cold sea air at Crescent Beach.

 

 

 

We drove along the sand all the way down to the end of the beach.

 

 

My brother, my niece and nephew and I.

 

 

 

My sister in law and I, keeping each other warm.

 

I hope your day was good!

 

Please check out the other bloggers participating in the 30 Days of Autumn Challenge HERE .

 

Autumn Through My Eyes : Day 19

 

Only time for a short post today, as my brother and his family will be flying in shortly and spending a week with us. I am hoping the weather co operates so we can hike to some of the places they really love to go when they come. There is a definite change in the weather this week, I get headaches and all achy when the pressure changes, maybe I should get a job as a meteorologist! 

 

This is a page from the calendar my daughter makes me.  At Christmas, she makes me different primitive calendar pages and I love it!!  What a blessing she is, and she is so artistic and creative.  The amount of time she has spent on these pages is amazing, and they are so "me".  I am so thankful for her!  She started this because I once had a really nice calendar, which was by a famous folk artist, but the picture for October was a witch, and I just didn't want that up on my wall, even though it wasn't a scary one.  She made me a picture to cover that one up, and that is how this all started.  I get many comments about them from friends who come over.

And on that note , I better get going and get ready for my brother to come!
Please visit HERE to check out some other Autumn challenge participants!