Because this is SO our Mantra... I had to buy this Card for myself...
Yes... this is definitely me to a tee... especially during my Favorite Holidays where it's Magnified all the more! *LOL*
So... it's Halloween... and the last minute prepping has all been squared away... FINALLY!
Yes, I went back and worked out a Deal with my Friends Kathye and Ken for the Tim Burton Inspired Creation, which is a Signed piece by the Artist and I Love everything about it.
From the Whimsical hand painted Expression, to the hand made Outfit...
And down to the tiniest details like the Cat in the Trick-Or-Treat Bag... how Cute is that?!
We kept tweaking our Vignettes right down to the wire... and adding to them... which is our Custom. *Winks*
But the Outdoor Porch Vignette we waited until Halloween Eve to construct this year, since last year we had some Pumpkin Vandals by putting stuff out too early.
So this year I waited to buy my Heirloom Pumpkins at the last minute Halloween Eve. I so LOVE Heirloom Pumpkins and their crazy Shapes, Warts and varied Coloration. They were very popular this year so pickin's were slim but I got two that I really liked a lot... this one...
And this one... we'll toast, season and eat some of the Seeds and plant the rest in our Veggie Garden... and of coarse save the Stems for Velvet Pumpkin Creations.
The Kiddos always decorate their Pumpkins twice... the early decorations are Artsy add-ons to keep them fresh longer, until they will eventually be carved out as Jack-O-Lanterns later for Halloween Night...
Princess T really got into this part of the Decorating and went all out...
Prince R just wasn't that into this part of the Decorating so he went at it half-heartedly and Simplisticly before he was satisfied and done.
The Bohemian Cat Boys and Yul Love to be the Kiddos captive Audience as they're busy Creating... Curiosity and the Cat you know, they HAVE to see What's Up? Even the Shy and usually Elusive Rusty watches attentively, hopefully where the G-Force won't notice him, taking a back seat... he barely tolerates Adults nevermind annoying Children! *LOL*
Old Morris will usually take a front row seat... maybe because he's getting so Old now he needs to be up that close to even see what's going on? *LOL*
And Yul, well, he'll even Participate... since he's convinced he's more Human than Cat so he'll be right in the midst of whatever the G-Kid Force is busy doing. *Smiles*
Since I didn't have Time to bake this year I was fortunate that ALL Pies were on Sale for less than three bucks each... for that low Price why bake?!! *Whoo Hoo!*
So a choice of Pumpkin Pie and Apple Cider...
Or Caramel Apple Pie... your choice.
Another inexpensive 'Score' was this Mercury Glass Skully for only Four Bucks!
But my Prize 'Score' was a Fabu Gift from The Man that I've been Jonesin' for to Organize my Vintage Spools of Trims... a European Bottle Rack! We stopped by my Friend Shelly's Shop RUST AND ROSES on our way Home from an Appointment at the VA Hospital... what a Great Surprise to have him get this for me! Mwahhh... Love you Honey!
With many Retail Shops marking their Halloween Decor down to half price or seventy percent off already I also snagged a couple of inexpensive faux Mercury Glass Bottles with Cute Halloween Labels.
And Halloween Eve also meant carving out those Pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns so the G-Kid Force got busy with that...
Prince R doesn't mind the feel of the snotty Pumpkin Guts... and yes, his Toenails as well as Fingernails have Black Nail Polish... he's a very Goth Kid you know... *Smiles*
But Princess T, the very Girly-Girl, was another story... she thought they looked and felt like Pumpkin Boogers and she didn't like it one bit, though she did have some Fun pretending a Pumpkin Booger was hanging out of her own nose! *LOL*
And being very OCD and a Clean Freak she used up half a roll of Viva Towels wiping her Pumpkin and herself every few minutes to get the Pumpkin Booger Guts off of them both! *LOL* Needless to say she took three HOURS longer, with this compulsive Cleaning Ritual in process, than her Brother did to get hers carved! *Le Sigh*
Now, her Brother isn't without his own obsessive compulsions mind you... he's quite the Over-Achiever when it comes to anything Artistic... so he spent quite a bit of time pouring over Pumpkin Decorating and Carving Books for Inspiration...
And set about carving not one...
Not two...
But THREE different Jack-O-Lantern Faces on his Pumpkin! Grandpa said he was going for Four but was reminded that the poor Pumpkin might just collapse and cave in with that much detailing?!? After all, this isn't 'Halloween Wars' so its not as if you're gonna Win Ten Thousand Dollars Kid! *LOL*
Not to be Outdone, Princess T insisted that we carve at least two Jack-O-Lantern Faces on hers... she's Meticulous when it comes to her Detailing so two was all I could stand being her Assistant for, since an Eight year old needs a lot of help and Supervision with sharp carving objects, especially when an Annoying Big Brother is Micro-Managing us all! Didn't want him to end up with a Pumpkin Carving Weapon Assault by the Beast Princess! *LOL*
And THREE HOURS later, yes, we were finally done with hers. {Wiping sweat off my brow!} Prince R had finished his in less than Forty Minutes and sped off to his next Social Engagement... so at least I didn't have to worry about Halloween Smack Down 2013 between he and his Sister. *Winks*
Happy Halloween from our Home to yours my Friends!
Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian