A Halloween Wedding...

Before I show you pictures of the wedding, I have to share Adam's pumpkins. One day while I was a work, he carved these. Pretty darned good if you ask me!


Yesterday I attended my very first Halloween wedding. My niece married the man she's been dating for several years. They're such a wonderful couple and I know they're going to be happy together for many, many years. Thanks for letting us share such a wonderful day with you!

And this is what a halloween wedding is like...

BSU fan and Raggedy Ann (my mom and Elmer's mom)


My sister-in-law (the mother of the bride) used to make prom dresses for all her nieces and her daughters. Below are three of the dresses she made in the 80s...






My niece as Rosie the Riveter


A few of the scary guests...




If you won't kiss the cook, he'll kiss you!


My 3 adorable grandkids!


Elmer's mom and her sister


These 2 were really scary! My granddaughter (she's 3) kept saying, "Let's get out of here!" every time she saw them. They were awesome.


And, the wedding cakes and topper - awesome!





My beautiful niece (sister of the bride)


The bride and groom. They're the most wonderful couple. Congratulations Abbie and Steve! It was an awesome evening!

If You Haven't Seen This...

it's hilarious! How many of your husbands have done this - raise your hand!

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My husband can gut a deer, a skunk, or any wild animal - but make him pick up dog poop or change the cat litter and that video is what he does every time! He's so entertaining!

Anybody Remember Kiddles?

These belonged to my sister. They're only about 2 inches high and were some of her favorite dolls.


Old hardware. It's one of my weak spots. These are some 1960s porcelain knobs that were never used. I think my daughter wants to use these on my mom's old bedroom dresser from when she was a little girl. Those white things, I can't remember what the heck those were but they're really cool!


I also love old enamelware and tin. You can do so much with it in decorating - but, this is going in the sale box. I just can't keep it all!


I loved Dick and Jane books! I found two old pages - they'd be so cute framed!


I LOVE the old sweaters with real fur collars! I saw where they're reproducing them this year because they're huge in fashion. This one is original - pre-Peta. I think my sister has her eye on this.


This is such a beautiful fur coat. Notice the purse that matches!


Even the buttons and collar are wonderful. They just don't make clothes like this any more! I just can't keep this either. Sigh...


And how cute is this! I found my mom's old diary. Actually, it belonged to someone else first, then she took it over.


Sorry mom, but this was too wonderful not to share. Seems Jim was pretty special! However, Glenda's friend in Hailey was obviously a dick - I wonder if she actually married him...


I actually made it though about half the boxes today and only decided to bore you with these few pictures! You're welcome.

Wait, I'm Trying to Downsize...

I spent the weekend going through my sister's storage unit. She has moved to Anacortes, Washington and is planning on spending the rest of her life sailing the world with her man friend. So, it was time to clean out her storage unit.

Boxes, and boxes, and boxes of stuff. First thing we did was decide what went to the Youth Ranch - two small trailer loads. After that, she took what she wanted (not much!) and Jacki and I took the rest. It was just like Christmas! My sister and I used to buy and sell antiques, we especially loved the McCall Antique Show that we did for a few years. So, it was fun to see some of the old stuff from the shows, things that dad had brought home to mom from when he was a Marine in the Korean War, vintage clothes, and yes, some things that I just said "Well, if you're going to take that to the second hand store, put it in my pile."

The entire back end of my truck is crammed with boxes. I think I have the day off today, so I'm going to unload it all and get started sorting. Can't wait to see what I find.

So why, when I'm trying to "simplify", did I bring home more stuff? Oh hell, who knows. Ok, I do know. Old things bring me such joy and comfort. I'm sorry, but for the next few days, I'm afraid I'm going to bombard you with pictures of some of my best treasures. If you don't love old stuff now, by the time I'm done with you, you will!

Too Cute...

Dewar's Candy...

Looks rather dumpy doesn't it? Inside, however, is a secret recipe I would love to have...

For many, many years, my uncle has sent our family the most wonderful Christmas gift. He lives in Bakersfield, Ca - the home of Dewars Candy and Ice Cream Shop. I had never heard of it either, until we got "the box". It's to die for.

For over 100 years, the Dewar's family has made the most wonderful carmels and vanilla taffy candies you've ever tasted. My personal favorite is the vanilla taffy with either peanut or almond filling. I can't even explain how good it is. One year, I had the means to actually buy a bunch of it and give it away as Christmas gifts. This year, I'm going to try to make some. I've found a recipe for vanilla taffy and I'm going to make some almond paste with teeny chunks of almond - just like they do at Dewar's.

Ok, if I could get even close to the same taste, I'd be SO happy! See that filling inside? That's what makes is so good...



So, after finding the recipe for Olive Garden's Alfredo Sauce this weekend, and successfully making it with the help of Jacki and Heather, I'm feeling confident and ready to try Dewar's Candy. My mother-in-law has a wonderful recipe for carmels, I think I'll make those too.

Maybe I can talk the girls into coming over and we can have an old fashioned taffy pull!

The Artful Bra Project...

Well, it's done. I'm delivering it to the Susan G Komen office today and it will be on display at the downtown Boise store by this afternoon. It's called "Bulletproof". The bullet was given to me by Sgt. Patrick Calley of the Ada County Sheriffs Office. Sgt. Calley is special to me - he was just a young boy at the time, but his father was the FBI Agent who lived and breathed the search for Claude Dallas after he killed dad. I will always have a special place in my heart for his entire family. The bullet was actually fired at a range so that it looks like it hit the bra but wasn't able to penetrate and it's right where my tumor was so it actually means something to me.




The bras will be on display throughout downtown until the end of October and will then be sold at auction. I plan on making a trip downtown in the next week or so and will take pictures of the other bras on display and post them for you to see. I'm anxious to see what other women came up with!



I guess all in all, I'm pretty happy with it. But then again, I've been working on it and looking at it for so long that I'm also kind of sick of it! I am, however, looking forward to doing another one next year!

I took a couple of cute pictures of the squirrel last night that I just had to share. She's gettin' so darned cute!

The Pictures on My Camera...

Here's a few pictures I found on my camera...

This is the devil cat...



And the only 1 of 4 baby squirrels that survived - I guess you probably don't want me to watch your kids do you?




I suppose this is a good time to tell you that the raccoons are gone. Yep the gang started causing too much trouble - it's amazing what 6 raccoons can do when they stick together. Tore up a neighbors hot tub cover, knocked over and broke another neighbors fountain, and, although I'm not sure these were ours but I don't know it wasn't them either, ate the 5-year-old Koi out of another neighbors pond.

We trapped them all in one night and transported them to a gal who's going to hopefully keep them contained until they're old enough to be released. They were great fun while they stayed in the pen, but after that, well, they're just like BAD teenagers out roaming the "hood" every night.

In Honor of the First Day of Fall...