A Halloween Dog Experience!

 I love Halloween!  Its the favorite here over all of the holidays!  All the spookiness, the Halloween Bling (and the candy), and all the joyous, costumed kids (and grown kids) enjoying it!

This year for the Pumpkin - I grabbed some cookie cutters - namely a fish and a star and used those as the guide to help me carve the pumpkin!  It worked amazingly well!

I am one of those people who, without guidance, will totally destroy the eyes and the mouth of any pumpkin face - always just a knifecut too far!

I was thrilled with the outcome this time - and the fish are a fun homage to my kid who was a fisher of men and a fishing guide for a bit!

Ike thinks that a bite of pumpkin might be a great thing!  He dont care that theres fire in there!  We have to do the pumpkin thing for me - not because we get any trick or treaters - which we dont!  We live down a long dirt road, and then a long dark driveway, and we arent event the spookiest house on the street!  

We are also right in the middle of a snowstorm that dropped about 6" of new snow on us today - after we had school cancelled on Tuesday because we got 13" of snow!  Ain't nobody wanna try to drive out here today!  It's all good though!  I have Ike the excited about the pumpkin Dog!

Brix on the other hand is not so sure about the whole thing!  He might like a toasted pumpkin seed but keep that orange ball of weird flaming pumpkin away from him! He does love the pumpkin dog treats that I make with the guts and the "pumpkin leavings" though.  Those are his favorites!

You can get the recipe for my special dog treats HERE!

I hope that Halloween is more treat than trick, and that you have lots of everything you need to make it joyous - including your furry friends!

Blessed and spooky BE!

A little Spooky Bling to make your day!

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday!  Christmas is fantastic but Halloween allows us to be exactly who we want to be - no matter if we are feeling spooky, chilly, super, or villianous!  I can't always dress up in a costume at my work however, so sometimes the next best thing is the accessories!

I had hip replacement surgery recently and it as been really hard to get literally - back on my feet!  My creativity has taken abit of a dive, somewhat because im tired since they cut me leg off and reattached it, and partly because doing anything for any time at all wears me out and makes it ache!  So Im using some friend sources to get my Spooky Mojo going at the very least!

A few years ago I had the great fun of ordering some super cool jewelry from my friend Brooke,  a young artist who had been friends with Rye and who is now a friend of Reeds - her husband atually works with him!

Broomsticks earrings that came in an awesome coffin box!  

I also got some hanging bat earrings....

and they all fit in the coffin box for storage when I want to put them away for a minute!

Sporting the cool broomsticks earrings!  When this picture was taken I only had one set of earring holes open.  When I had one of the surgeries I had to take out all my earrings and I didnt get them back in before the other holes healed up.  I will be able to wear multiple pairs this year as I have been working on getting the holes back open and healed again since my hip surgery!

As if that wasnt enough - I have these amazing Ravens with black stone hearts and the silver moons with beautiful pink quartz hanging in the centers!  The creativity of all of these designs is really amazing!  I also have a wonderful cauldron necklace as well but the pictures of it are not available in my darn cloud for some reason!  Ill update when I can find those again!

The gifts come delivered (to me at least) in these super cool gift bags!  I live close enough and know the artist that I sometimes get "special delivery".  You can check out her newest designs here at her Etsy store WanderlustGemsAK or on her facebook page Wanderlust here!  She has new stuff all the time - I covet most of it greatly! 

 

And then there is this..... you know I can't be all the way out of the hockey world, even though I am mostly out now that our lives have taken a different direction and since I had a hip replace and can't go far at a time right now!  All my hockey moms know what this means! Also, since its a hockey shirt - its not breaking any Spooky rules! Brooke did not make the shirt but everything else you see on this blog is her creations! Check her out!

I hope you have wonderful friends to help you celebrate your favorite holidays in a way that works for you (and your bosses), and that you have creative friends to help you get through times when you might not be feeling the create from the Universe!

Stay tuned for a spooky gift blog coming up later this week - Goddess willing and the hip don't hurt!

That Gently Urgent Reminder - Love Your People! The Eighth Year.

 Some of you may have heard that I had a total hip replacement a couple weeks back.  Hence another long distance between posts.  I wasn't able to sit up well and do any of the things!   I did it on the Angelversary of Rye.  I thought it would be the perfect day for me to be knocked the "f" out for the day.  I talked (sort of) with the hubby and he ws as ok with it as we get for anyting on that day and I m pretty sure Rye didn't mind.  It is self care after all.

Getting in the car after surgery.  Went home day one! 

Feet up and stockings on!  Had to wear them for two weeks and no showers - only sponge baths!  I was so glad to get those off!  It seems that I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive used to put me back together and the best thing that I coulld use for a while was "paper tape" and guaze bandages which were also not really my friend right now.

This is a small sample of the blistering rash like issue I had!  SO healing has taken longer than I expected and by also not being able to lift anything right now - I have been relagated to binge watching and book reading - doesnt break my heart a lot.....unless I have too much time to think about ALL the things!

Hubby washed my hair for me!  A few times!

I have had lots of folks check in, bring food, visit and loan me items to use while I heal - at least from the leg.

Brix and Ike are less then impressed with this new blockage in their way of getting what they want and getting under my desk as close as possible!  They also are not impressed about beinglocked out of the bedroom - but I cant have them flopping on the broken leg all night when I cant move good!  They're getting used to it!

This was our 8th Angelversary and although Ike never knew you, I feel like Brix knows and remembers with us!  Being knocked the "f" out only put off the inevetible of remembering and grieving and some smiling this year.  Your Brother got married and has had his one month anniversary already!

Not my photo - wedding friends photo of the happy couple!  Beautiful!

We have moved a little forward with it now it seems, and we can talk a little more about you and memories of you.  The surgery day was not a "hard greif" day but it was only a small respite for all the rest of the days.  

There are still what I call "memory bomb" days where we are bombarded by memories and big, huge feelings, and emotions and ...... ALL the things.

Hockey speech you made - I think 2011.  What I wouldnt give for a recording of that - my only voice recording of you is you saying "Yeah!  YEr and A**hole!"  It does make me smile and laugh though too!

Today is also 9/11 - that terrible anniversary that also brings up a plethora of memories, memorials, and emotions from all over the world really as people make remembrance of the lives lost there.  I am lost in emotion myself because although I did not lose anyone in that disaster, I am reminded all day to remember the losses - you are included - my biggest loss.

We will march on into the 9th year - we already have.  We will remember ALL the things and we cherish the memories.  We will find a way forward and still keep you close.

I hope you have people to help you get through whatever life throws at you!

Today is only only one day.... tomorrow will be another... and on every day I hope you Love Your People no matter where they are in the Universe!

Blessed Be!

Best Wedding Ever!!! The Kids Did A Thing Round Two!

It was a glorious day!  The Wedding Day had finally arrived! The dress, the shoes, the hair -all perfect!

Reedo so handsome in his wedding threads!  This is a preview picture from a few days before the actual event.

Here he is without the jacket - still so handsome, just a little more casual for the reception maybe....

The full on reception attire!  Remember this - it will be funny later!

Hubby trying on his finery - yes it is Camo - the kids said we could because it matched my dress!

So we got ready to go - Early!  I looked in the mirror as I brushed my hair and I painted the last coat of polish on my toes - not a perfect match for the dress but with my fancy shoes - perfect for the day!

In case you missed it - those are the fancy shoes and the fancy hair!

Out the door we went..... got 5 miles away and hubby realized he forgot his wallet at home!  "Will I need it?"  "I dont know!  Why would you?"  "I dont know!  We better go get it just in case!"  So much for being on time for everything!  So we went back and got the wallet and when he went in the house, Naughty Ike was so excited that he was back that he smudged Hubby right in the crotch with a giant drool of goo as only a Mastiff can do!  Ugh!  Cleanup on aisle 1!

After the cleanup and getting the boys back in the house - of course they escaped - we hit the road again - only a little but late and I texted the kids that we were running late but on our way!  I was frustrated but not panicked - we would make it before everything started!

Until...... Road Construction!!!!!  Road construction with a pilot car on our One way in, One way out road!  20 minutes stopped the first time, them moved about 500 feet and 20 more minutes wait!  Horrors!

By now I am in panic mode!  It is 80 degrees and the car has no AC and I can feel my perfect hairdo soaking up the heat and frizzing completely!  Im wearing a faux velvet dress with a silk liner and Im sweating where ladies don't mention!  Hubby is also not happy - heat, sweat, wait & late....not a good combo for any man!

We just breathe......hold on and just breathe!

 Then we race to the wedding....as fast as the jalopy will go - and the law!

We were on time!  The beautiful kids had some hiccups too and so we were all able to be there for all the things!  Whew!

They started out by saying their personal vows to each other in a private ceremony before all the guests got there.  It was so beautiful and heartfelt!  I only cried a little, but I was so proud of them for making this choice and for the words of love that they said to each other!  It was truly a personal and deeply loving ceremony!

We also got some pictures taken before the ceremony too.  

Here they are in front of all the friends and family saying almost traditional vows.  It was humor, love and blessings all rolled into a truly beautiful ceremony - with a few comedy skits in it!  I laughed and cried - I think all the grown ups in the area who know us and Reed did!  Keyona's people too!

The happy couple after the wedding part was done and now onto the party part!

Me with Keyona after the wedding!  That is her reception outfit - mine is the green dress that I will wear again for another something!  Its comfortable and really wasnt too hot until.....

It is now 82 degrees! I am once again sweating where ladies shouldnt sweat! I am on the porch in the shade with one of my best girls Tyra Bogert!  She is amazing and beautiful and was willing to hold my hand and cry like we planned it like two old ladies at the wedding should the need arise - thankfully it didn't - we did good!

Note Reeds current reception outfit!  Way too hot for the Humphreys today!  NO pants!

After changing to my reception outfit (much cooler and air circulating) the mother son dance with my sweet son to the song he chose for us!  "I Thought You Should Know"  by Morgan Wallen 

Its the perfect song for us - lots of meanings and memories in that song!  I never thought the prayers were wasted - ever - and she is a lot like me.....  I love them both!

Hubby with our neice RaeRae.  Not sure if they are Captain Morgan or ??? They were enjoying the day - it had poured down rain for almost the whole week and we prayed for just one day of sun for the wedding!  We got the best day of the year!  Side note - Hubby did throw his back out a bit after this dancing with the best man Logan - and maybe running from the Groomsmen who wanted him to ride the mechanical Salmon!

Beautiful table settings for the reception!  They had such amazing settings and decorations, and the food was the bomb!  Keyonas stepdad and family made smoked brisket that was so delicious along with beans and potato salad like a big bar b que! They also had a Charcuterie Table!  It was amazing! I forgot to get a picture of the awesome spread!

All the groomsmen!  Not one bird (Rye Sign) showing here!  Aren't they all so handsome and appropriate!  We flipped the bird way less today than usual at gatherings, not sure why or maybe we just missed getting them in pictures today?  Sadly (lol) there was also no naked at this wedding or reception!  Word got around that Nana (Reeds Gramma) forbade it - and the streakers wife may have too..... only the streak knows!

The memorial table.... I always have mixed feelings about these at weddings, but I have come to understand that it is a way to have the physical presence there... even if in pictures.  We always have them in spirit - dragonflies abounded all day throughout the ceremony too.... and

They were with us today.  All of our people.

The happy couple on the mechanical salmon!  This was so fun to watch - I did not ride it as I currenlty have a hip that needs replacing - this was what Hubby was running from the Groomsmen to avoid riding!  The video is hilarious!  It wont load here so you will just have to believe me!  It was Reeds one request for the reception - a mechanical Salmon!  

We are anxiously awaiting the professional photos from the day - might see the bird more in those!  I will update when we ge them...

I hope you have sun, love, and great memories for all of your events..... Blessed Be!