The Night Before All Hallows Eve

Friday 8:00 pm

The night before a Gathering I am one busy Instructor, Cook, Baker.

One of the tables is almost set for dinner, one more to go. 

The banner is finished and hung.

The kits have made it to the table

but I have yet to decide how to display them

because there are so many.

I'll worry over that later.

I will be adding to the table decor as the evening goes on.

Meanwhile there is pumpkin bread and coffee cake

and cookies coming out of the ovens.

A few of the kits and the directions&templates folder. 

My printer is running non stop the week before

a class. In the cute little haunted house is a wonderful

snack munch mix. We get hungry when we're working so hard.

The supply cart is almost loaded up.

This is where students find all the extras to make their 

projects very personally theirs.

 

The tables in the garage are ready for the mess, 

drop cloths are down and every kind of paint and mediums

and texture tools and stamps are awaiting inspiration.

We have canvasses that are 24"x30".

We'll be painting up a storm. 

***

By the time you are reading this, 

it is Saturday and we are in full swing.

We started this morning with breakfast at 9:00

Dinner is at 5:00 to finish up the day.

My Gatherings are all inclusive.

All supplies included.

Meal(s) included. (even vino WoOt)

I can even put you up overnight in 

several guests rooms ( extra fees).

I do custom Gatherings for just you and friends,

or attend a scheduled one.

Email for info.

Have a great weekend friends!

z

Houdini's New Home

With a giant lump in my throat Houdini 

went to a rescue this am.

Because of the dog issues, 

(mine versus the magician),

 I was able to sleep a mere 2 hours 

and I could not face the dilemma

another 24 hours.

Before you tsk-tsk, let me tell

you the good news. After a 72 hour hold he is eligible

 for adoption and my friend wants to be 

the first in line and has already told them so, 

and they have her name registered

as first right of refusal. 

This way the owners can easily find him

 if they look, I am assured 

that I did everything I could, 

and he will have a great new home.

She loves the breed, has

2 now, and recently lost a beloved 3rd

after a long illness.

Still, I had some teary moments letting him go,

hoping I did the right thing.

At least he was out of the rain and cold last night.

It was me suffering, lying on the concrete garage floor 

on a thin little rug so he would feel safe curled up 

next to me in his soft cushy bed.

My two pooches did not sleep all night either.

I am still glad I took him in, and 

would do it again for another.

All that barking in the neighborhood

 last night was the doggie telegraph system

putting out the word - ruff ruff GO HERE ruff ruff

she loves us...she's a sucker good friend.

:D

Houdini

 

 

Meet Houdini

Houdini wandered into my back yard this am around 9:00

through my open front gate.  I was working in the yard, and "poof" there he was! I wandered out into the front yard looking for his owner..It was a him because he had already

lifted his leg on a few pots.

I did not see an owner anywhere,

but then he promptly took off at a gallop

out and down toward the main 4 lane!

I hurried after him and shooed him back into

the neighborhood and he disappeared. 

A few minutes later I see my neighbor across the street

tossing him fast and hard out his front door and yelling stay out!

Seems Houdini had crawled through his side gate

and then into his dog door and into his house.

I gulped a big gulp, knowing I would regret it and called him 

over and then put him into my back yard for safe keeping. He weighs about 1 lb and is uber friendly, though a little stinky.

I went inside to get a camera planning to make posters to put up around the neighborhood, figuring his owner may be at work and not know that he is loose. 

 

This is the best shot I could manage because you see Houdini is IN LOVE with me. Love at first sight. He will not leave my side, and begs to be picked up and carried and if I sit down he is not just in my lap, but on my shoulder where he balances while licking my ear. The odor that emanates is quite unpleasant

and since I have to love on him,

I have changed four times since 10am.

I put up a kagillion posters, and then continued to work

in the yard with only one problem.

Houdini kept disappearing, only for me to find him

inside the garage or the house.

Seems he quickly discovered he could crawl under the gate to the dog run, maneuver through 2 dog doors and come inside to play with Justice and Howie! Who oddly enough, though interested in him, were not that put out by his presence in the house.

 

Normally this would have caused mass hysteria, including poop flying out the back of Howie's ass in distress. His usual reaction. 

I won't bore you with what transpired the next four hours except to say it took 8 huge packing boxes, five 33 gallon trash bags and 15 very heavy concrete edge blocks to keep him out of the dog run....so far....Every time I think I've won, I hear pant pant pant at my feet here at my desk and he's BACK!

I am praying that his Mama will come searching for him and 

with one last face lick the little bugger will be on his way. I am fearful that his escape was not an escape after all and that he was shoved out a door in pure exasperation.

NO! I do not want another dog and this is not my style of dog, 

and don't leave me nasty notes about all God's creatures.

This is not my kind of dog, although adorable for some,

we all have our personal tastes. I prefer to see my pet's eyes.

 

I discovered that I cannot drop him off at a no kill shelter because he is not mine and Animal Control will take him to the.... well.....

the kill shelter, so a bed completely sheltered from the elements (and it is not too hot or too cold out this evening) has been made on the porch and he will be moved to the garage for the overnight.

 

Doggie Mama please show up for Houdini.

 Please see the kagillion posters and rescue Houdini.

Me.

He jumps from the chairs to the porch table and peers in my kitchen window. Every half hour I take pity and go out and love on him, which makes the other two dig at the doors in jealousy 

and frustration. I let them play outside a bit and then realized I know nothing of this dog's shot record..

OMG!!!

pant pant pant guess who's wet stinky body just touched 

my ankle! No *&^ WAY!

Ok... so it started raining and I didn't hear it..

the cardboard buckled and 

his less than 8 inches from the ground body

scaled over the four foot fortress and he's in.

 

Yep it's raining...See?

Did I not say a few weeks back I was dying for rain.

Is this some kind of cosmic canine joke?

I told my SIL, I am fearing this creature is 

a reincarnated unfriendly relative. 

Holy shih tzu!

 

 

So I just walked out to check the posters and

they're illegible because of the rain.

 

 Justice is barking at the dog door to the garage, 

where Houdini sits whimpering and where he is now

a soaking wet stinky dog.

Houdini, the master of escape, is

in the garage for the night, and my two are unable to go 

outside for business so accidents are imminent in this

very long, long, very long night.

Grabbing the towels....

I'm coming you wet little.........

Houdini

Fallish

It rained a little yesterday, giving me hope.

They say it will be in the 70's today.

Do I believe them?

I am putting out touches of fall.

I sold off nearly all of my Halloween 

over the past couple of years, so

it is only gourds and pumpkins now.

The last of the homemade pumpkins from the shop.

I did keep this rare black and orange

linen scarf just to put out in October.

An impulse buy I have grown to appreciate.

I kept a few : D

See the plump white in lower left?

My former bathroom towels hehe

Kitchen counter tote gets a nod to the season.

My pumpkin shade comes out for soft nighttime lighting.

 

The porch table trough abounds with more gourds.  

The thunder booms are now shaking the house. 
It makes Howie paw the tile as if he has a hidden bone? 
It also makes him poop in the garage, 
refusing to use the dog door during a storm.
BAD Howie!


Lately only the NW part of town gets the storm,
but I have hope. I climbed the tall ladder this am,
cleared the gutters and I'm good to go for a torrent.
Bring it on!!!

A small repeated plea.

PLEASE, PLEASE, pretty please, put your email

INTO your profile.

I answer every comment unless I cannot find you....

and Brenda, you left me such a sweet note the other day

but I cannot reach you.

So many of us request this, and

make note of it in our comment message, plead with you, etc..

Please hear us. 

Your blog experience will improve 

It will <3

z

Ghouls and Goblins on All Hallows Eve

 
I am nearly ready...
the mystery is intentional..
Can't spoil the surprise.
All Hallows Eve Gathering is 
nearly complete.
The kits are ready, the work cart is stocked,
the table decorations are going up...
only treats await preparation next week.

And glory be, they say our temps are dropping next week.

I have not been a happy camper with this heat, 

well I've been a bit witchy (b) .

Have a wonderful weekend all you lovely monsters.
( Oh crap, now I'm channeling Ga Ga)

z

First time linking up with Mosaic Monday

 

Silver Offerings and Insanity

With so much to do, 

Gathering class approaching,

yard work in abundance...

Who in their right mind would sit

and paint silver the bottoms of wee little acorns for hours

because they required several coats?

What crazy ass person would DO THAT?

Oh yeah, duh.... mwah.

If I am this crazy when kissing 60, 

what will I be like pushing 70?

Don't answer that.

 

The same "nut ball" (hehe) who painted and sold dozens
of these boxes many years ago.

Now that I see them again, I am tempted to try my hand at some new color ways, or should I say "lack" of color ways?

My All Hallows Eve Gathering is in 11 days.
Cannot wait to play and create with good friends. If I don't get back to work and get ready, my friends may turn to ghouls and goblins.
SHRIEK!


Z

IN THE PARK

HELLO

Does she have something?

Guess Not

See Ya


Joining Faded Charm for 
 White Wednesday

Pumpkins Delicious and Delightful



Brown vintage cutter quilt

Vintage Orange Plaid Blanket

Burlap here and there

 

Sizes and info in shop 
A Mare Of A Different Color

Pumpkins are in the shop

 

Pumpkins being added every week
 

look over there to the right ------>

or click here

Sunday In New York/ A Pajama Party with Donna

I'm joining some real friends in a

 virtual pajama party this evening.

To see our group, visit our host

Donna @ A Life Reclaimed

I'll be watching this, even though

 I just watched it on Sunday.

I love this comedy for many reasons,

 one of which is the brother's apartment. 

The tiny kitchen tucked below the bedroom 

up the spiral stairs...

The double tiered shutters to close 

at night for privacy...

perfect

The scenes around New York mean 

so much more to me 

now that my kids live there and I visit 

as often as I can, learning the rhythm and

the excitement of the city.

This is a light hearted ROM/COM romp that 

I have watched forever it seems.

I was 10 when it came out, 

so of course I did not see it in the theater

 but as soon as it hit tv, I was there.

I'll be watching curled up in the den, 

on the floral sofa in very mismatched pj's

 and sipping..let's see, I'll be sipping either 

some decaf coffee heavily laced with

peppermint mocha creamer,or some Chariot Gypsy wine.

Depends on how the day goes I suppose.

Munching? The only sweets in the house at the

moment are Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses.

Here is the link to the trailer.

Please check it out! 

Sunday In NEW YORK

Eileen Tyler (Fonda) is twenty-two years old and is 

suffering from her breakup with Russ (Robert Culp).

She comes to New York to visit her brother Adam (Robertson), who is an airline pilot. Eileen confides to her brother that she thinks she may be the only 22-year-old virgin left in the world. Adam assures her that sex is not what all men look for and insists he hasn't slept around. Of course, Adam is lying and is in hot pursuit of a tryst with his occasional girlfriend Mona. However, Adam's date with Mona has a series of job related interruptions. Meanwhile, Eileen decides to see if she can have some fun for herself in New York, and seems to find the perfect candidate in Mike (Taylor), a man she meets on the bus. But things get complicated when Russ pops in with a proposal and a mistaken assumption.

If by chance you decide to watch, and like it,

also check out Any Wednesday.

Another Fonda romp.

PUMPKINS

The pumpkin patch is overflowing

 with more on the way each day.

Chenilles and men's suiting, wools, and felteds.

Think I may have to keep a few 

for the porch.

Joining the delightful Kathleen

@ Faded Charm for White Wednesday

All Hallows Eve

Halloween is everywhere at Old Grey Mare.

 My Gathering class on October 8th is approaching.

"All Hallows Eve" projects are 

being completed and the kits are 

nearly ready for students.

The script on the cone is Poe's "The Raven"

Menus are being planned.

This year a light breakfast AND dinner will be served!

I'm not being coy by only giving you a sneak peek.

Students need to be surprised.

The air will FINALLY be cool, 

she says with fingers crossed.

The paints will be flying, papers will be snipped 

and untold quantities of glues

 and mediums will be used. 

Laughter, stories, sharing

with girlfriends, what could be better?

Wine comes with dinner hehe.

This year's advent canvas is 24x 30 

A BIG GIRL ******WoOt

Can you tell I'm excited?

My film list  from my prior post

prompted many other's suggestions,

and I was happy to hear so many others are as devoted

to film as I am. I finally explained to several gals that 

my favorite list is quite small here.

 I only listed the  ones currently stacked on my desk, when in reality it is 

quite extensive, probably in the 300's perhaps?

 "I am a film whore."

Yes, that is a quote from me.

When asked if I could recommend just one from the list

by a gal who had seen almost none of them,

 I had to recommend three..

so difficult for me; I love so many.

BUT.... from that extremely limited first list..I had to say

Creator - Same Time Next Year - My Favorite Year

Very few seem to know them.

 I ADORE them, am thrilled each viewing,

 and still weep every time, 

and I can tell you exactly when the tears will fall.

If you get the chance, give them a roll...

But don't forget also to see...

oh, don't get me started.....

z