Mirth and Musings Part 12 – Waxing Nostalgic

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Going to age myself a bit here, but couldn’t help it.  While sorting through my TNY  collection this Charles E. Martin cover made me smile wistfully as I remembered something from my childhood; something I couldn’t wait for when school days began in September as Halloween usually prompted the first one of the year.  The classroom party.  The chalkboard covered with the list of necessaries for a decent shindig and Mrs. Gresham or Mr. Argast signing up kids next to each one, invariably the “paper plates and napkins” and “cups” would go to that same kid in the front row whose arm would shoot up the moment the teacher asked.  I don’t know, maybe he was baking challenged.  The rest of us divvied up the cookies, brownies, other varied treats of no name, bottles of pop, etc for the Friday party. I remember classroom games, like heads up seven up and chalkboard hangman.  I remember a parade of students walking around the quad proudly displaying homemade costuming.  Teachers dressed as their alter egos (or true natures) best suggested.  Trick or treating room to room with each classroom decked out along its own theme.  The truncated lessons to make time to just enjoy the holiday undiminished by political correctness.  Madcap and mayhem would eventually ensue in the sugar tide, everyone going home clutching a paper plate with various goodies to enjoy over the weekend shared with family, if they survived the bus ride or walk home that is.

The first catch of the Season!

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Was visiting my local Pottery Barn today, hoping to catch a glimpse of what I’ve seen on their website and was surprised to find a few samples of this years’ offering on a table in the back.  I grabbed a set of their Jack O’ Lantern Salt & Pepper set.  Was checking out at cash wrap and the nice lady “J” was pleased to show me a couple of treats “from the back”.  These included items not to be found on their website at this time! Yay! I purchased the above, a Black Cat Wine Topper, a Witch Hat Wine Stopper, a Crystal Skull Wine Stopper.  It was awful nice of her to give me the sneak peak and I really appreciated her thoughtfulness.  Can’t wait for more…

Mirth and Musings Part 9

The holiday season provides ample opportunities for socializing amongst family and friends, coworkers, club members, and others and I look forward to such occasions with heady anticipation.  I’m usually a homebody, so this time of year is nice to step out and experience the excitement and expectations in the wind up to the big day and New Year beyond.  I hum carols to myself as I get ready to attend an event, package goodies to deliver as host gifts, wrap small gifts for friends I won’t see at the end of the month.  There is much that is undergoing change at present and just now it feels the time will slow briefly so that we can savor the season, I hope that you all find a little downtime to do just that.  Between parties, of course.

The New Yorker Magazine, Charles Addams, 1987
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Auds & Enns “…up to the Shoppe door…” vid & music

This is a quick bit of video footage taken by my husband (Redwire), he is very proud of the automated cauldron prop, it was the first mechanical prop I’d asked for and I think he did an amazing job putting it together.  This is the walk up to my front door and the entrance to our “Shoppe”. The music overlay is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode “Hush” a great piece of music called “Golf Claps” by Christophe Beck.

Just click here…Strolling to the Shoppe door

Pumpkinology

Once again I update you on the various scrumptious offerings in pumpkin flavored treats to be had at your local Trader Joe’s.  Already gone through the seeds you roasted in October?  These bags of Pumpkin Seeds will satisfy that crunch that ice cream and pie can’t meet. Healthful and delicious and great when watching football. Good at Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  An all-arounder that is too yummy to pass up! I’ve got mine.

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Professor Auds & Doctor Enns Malevolent Mercantile

Just a few pictures from this years haunt…finally.  More pics and vids coming very soon.  Check back.

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Exterior walk up to front of “shoppe”

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Interior shot, a bit grainy in the low light

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A close-up of the shoppe counter

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A bit of Malevolent Math being worked out by the good Professor…

 

Death to warm drinks

The packaging for this trendy extra large ice cube silicone mold by Fred claims “…nothing’s cooler than a crypt, icier than a lifeless stare, colder than fate.”. While that may or may not be true this 3D ice mold certainly produces an ice “cube” able to sufficiently chill a beverage without attendant watering down of drinks. Using this mold to follow the current trend in icing drinks is fun and would be a great addition to the Halloween themed bar, but comes at a cost as each lists for $10.00 on the Sur La Table website. So you’d need to purchase multiples to fill the needs for a party. I ordered four and the results are great, easy to use and look amazing. Lots of fun.

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