It doesn't rain but it pours!

I LOVE autumn. It is my favourite season. We get all types of weather in autumn. So far, we have had some beautiful sunsets after glorious days of sunshine and we have also had our share of showers!

There are so many stories of flooding and disaster right now, it seems unfair to mention my 'little' problems. However, they are just as devastating when they happen and it takes a while to get them sorted after the time it takes to find the source. Take for instance, the boiler! Why do they choose to go wrong when the weather is cold and you need the heating on?

Then there's the water tank! The water heats to boiling point and bubbles over the tank on the flat roof and gushes through the bathroom ceiling on the 1st floor! It's happened on more than one occasion recently. (We have an old tank that needs to be replaced).

Just as I pulled the plug from the sink yesterday morning, I heard water spraying from a pipe that didn't sound like it was travelling through the pipe. Eek! That is another job to be done and it's getting expensive. We are being challenged to the limit right now!

Hoorayyy! We managed to get heating on by Thursday evening. I had been in hospital for a procedure on Tuesday and was hoping that it would be fixed by the time I arrived home! I HATE the cold. I am allergic to it! Thank goodness for my electric blanket. I LOVE my electric blanket.

OK...we've had the showers, now it's time for the sunshine - which is said to follow, so bring it on - pleease!

***HAPPY HALLOWEEN***

I hope you all have a wonderful day and evening whatever you have planned. Enjoy the 'spirit' of the season and don't eat too much sugar!

HALLOWEEN - Food

Halloween is a time to have some unusual foods - whether you are celebrating with a party or not. It makes a change to have something different. There are lots of seasonal foods around right now and in plentiful supply.

Pumpkins are a substantial food when it comes to decoration and eating - they serve both very well and you can use them in either savoury or sweet recipes. Last year I made a Pumpkin soup (as seen in my previous post) and a Pumpkin Pie with a meringue topping.

As for recipe ideas, you know by now that I do like to visit Martha Stewart's website here.

Last year, for my Halloween party, I made some 'disgusting' and frightful recipes that both delighted and earned gasps of ewww from my family. *Ü*

Quacamoldy!

 A 'severed' hand meatloaf with Monster Mash and Swamp weed!

A cream cheese and parma ham skull with bat toasts (not seen).

Worm rolls...

I think everyone was suitably entertained by the way food can be presented.

Check out this website for some more yummy and disgusting food!

Whatever you make or bake, please share, so we can all be inspired. *Ü*

Happy eating.

HALLOWEEN - Pumpkins

The big orange globes are beginning to appear in the shops now and it might be a good time to get your pumpkin design sorted. Maybe there is a pumpkin farm or patch near you, so you can go choose your own. There is a HUGE patch on our way to church which looks like a fun place to get some photos too.

Find those carving tools and check out these numerous ways to decorate your pumpkins. You could even throw a pumpkin carving party to keep the children occupied during the half term school holiday.

One of my favourite sites to visit at this time of the year is Martha Stewart. Click on this link to take you to a plethora of pumpkin carving designs and ideas - and they even show you what to do with the seeds.

For more inspiration, click here - and here.

I made a simple one here...

...and I covered this one with a mesh pair of tights. Don't stop at pumpkins. There are other lovely shapes and sized vegetables and ghourds to get you creative. Try a watermelon which has a nice deep red flesh...or butternut squash - or you could even be different and paint your pumpkin - black - or white or whatever colour you choose. 

I used the flesh to make this delicious Pumpkin Soup...

Ooo...that has made me feel hungry...I am off to roast a Butternut squash to add to my Korma curry sauce.

Have fun carving and designing and I hope to see you next time when Halloween food will be on the menu.

HALLOWEEN - Decoration

Now that the invites and cards are underway, it's time to decorate the house - whether you are having a party or not, those little monsters who come calling, like to know that they have dressed up all in good 'spirit'! *Ü*

One of my very favourite sites for ideas to decorate the house (or any other ideas for Halloween) is Martha Stewart. This link will give you about 16 homemade decorating ideas.

I have some 'scene setters' to line the walls in my room which give a totally different look and very cool when it comes to transformation. You can get them here - and a nice assortment of other decorations that you might need.

One of my son in laws at my Halloween party last year. *Ü*

Have fun planning... and next time, I shall be giving ideas of pumpkin carving.

HALLOWEEN - Halloween cards

Hello bloggers. I am back with more Halloween ideas for you. Not everyone will be having a party but some still like to send a card to family and friends, so here are some examples. First up is a set of free digital Halloween stamps with the edition of Simply Cards & Papercraft. Inside the centre page of the magazine are some examples of how to use your images. (Thanks MaryAnne for the headsup). *Ü*

Over the years, I have collected several hundred fonts and many of those are called 'dingbats'. That means that instead of a letter, each key has a little picture. Fonts are a good way of using images for cards and scrapbooking etc. Here are some dingbats for you to check out at www.dafont.com where these can be found. 'Hallocuties' is here.
Trick or Treat is a nice one that I have used several times and AEZ Halloween Dingbats is another cool one that I have used over again.

Scroll down and see there are lots more. Have fun creating and I shall see you next time. *Ü*

HALLOWEEN - Party invitations

If you are planning a Halloween party, you will want to send invitations.  Whether you decide to make them or buy them, the following can give you some inspiration. This one is from '2 peas in a bucket'.

This one is from the same site...

You will find more examples here and here. Please do let me know if you have made some and leave a link. It will be fun to share each other's ideas.

Stop by next time for some ideas for Halloween cards.

Have a Thuper Thursday peeps.