First Day Home From St Louis

We didn't get home until late on Tuesday night.  On Wednesday we got Meg settled in and she and I went out to run some errands.  Doesn't she look cute?

So Sassy and Photogenic.

We went to the library and got some books for Meg. Tomorrow the library has Story Time - we will ask Grandpa if he will take Meg - I have to work

  Then we went to the grocery store - we bought one of Dave's favorites - marshmallow treats.  I made a big meatloaf - we love leftovers for sandwiches.  The corn on the cob was so good.

The day went by so fast.  It was fun hanging out with Meg - we are enjoying her so much.  She misses her Dad, Mom and Alex - but we are keeping her busy!  I have to return to work tomorrow so Grandpa and Meighan are on their own.

Getting Ready for Halloween

It amazes me how popular Halloween has become.  I love the fall for many reasons:  college football games, cool weather and especially watching the kids having fun and preparing for the big night.

 Not only the kids have a blast but many adults join in on the fun also.  Dave found this wolf mask and hands - perfect to go along with our Little Red Riding Hood.  I just hope the kids aren't too frightened - Bandit was - he couldn't figure out that crazy mask.

We are ready to head west.  Dave delivered Halloween goodies to all of the other grand kids before we left.  Kari, Lance and Emerson are heading to Disney World for the holiday.  I bet it will be even more magical than usual - have a safe trip! 

The Best Halloween!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.  We had a blast.  We didn't get to St. Louis until the middle of the day on Saturday - just in time for the fun.

The kids and I went for a walk around 3:00 and we ran into Marilyn Monroe!  She had treats for the kids.The cutest Buzz Light Year~!!This picture is from Sunday - we loaded up to do a little shopping and Alex wanted to wear his costume.The cutest Little Red Riding Hood !!Adorable.The Wolf was lurking around all night.  The twins knew right away it was Grandpa, the little Sponge Bob didn't like him, so the wolf stayed in the background.Too Dark - my flash messed up.This cute Bichon was a Lady Bug.A few of their neighbors are really into Halloween.  So much fun for the kids - they loved it.They had to try on the wolf mask.Quite a stash.We didn't do the pinnata until the next night.  On Halloween, after trick and treating we took them to Macdonald's while Mommy and Daddy went out on a date.This was the toughest pinnata ever.  It just would not break, so we put it on the floor and ripped it apart.A few had to put the pumpkin to another use.As soon as we arrived, Alex had to bring every figure he owns to show us - he sleeps with all of these.Alex took this picture of his most recent addition.My handsome hubby.My handsome grandson.Bandit didn't have a costume, but he had a special collar.It was so hard to leave on Monday morning.  Meighan came back with us and will stay for 2 weeks.  This is the first time she and Alex have been seperated for this length of time.  We explained to Alex that he would be coming another time - we gave him a Woody figure to add to his collection.  He will be fine - I know they will miss Meg, but we are so grateful to have her for so long and will enjoy every minute. We stopped at a rest area and there was a playground - she loved this tire swing.  We had lunch at Cracker Barrell.Dave fixing Meg's little computer.We spent Monday night in Barboursville, West Virginia.  Meg did really well being in the car for so long.The trees had already dropped most of their leaves in West Virginia.

There was still some pretty fall colors left in Virginia.

The Costume is done!

This is the finished "Little Red Riding Hood" costume for Meg.  I was going to go to the post office today and it would be on it's way---didn't happen.  I was so busy at work I couldn't get there in time; so, I will go Saturday morning.  I think it turned out very good, especially since I hadn't made something like this in a long time.  I really enjoyed making it  -- I just hope it fits Meg and she likes it. --Aren't the pantaloons cute?The Cape -- very important for this costume - I am sure it will be cuter on Meighan.Little Red Riding Hood's basket -- we will take this on our trip to St. Louis.Goodies for all the grandkids. Dave bought that snake for Ian -- it grows when it is put in water.Tap this eye ball - it lights up and changes to a lot of different colors.  This is cool - I found a lot of the items from Pier One. It's for

Aidan.Sponges for Matlin and Emmy.Plus these bath gels!  So cute!Cute bags, also from Pier One.Dave picked this out for Ian.  Dave loves gargoyles.  Maybe I should get him one.

Pinnata for the twins.  We will have a party after Trick or Treating.  Mommy and Daddy will go out for their own little treat (some grown up time) and Grandpa and Grandma will have fun with the kids.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I love my days off - I usually sleep a little later, get up and lounge while I am having my coffee, but I couldn't goof off long today, I had a dress to get to working on.  I love sitting at my sewing table and looking out this window and watching the birds.  Pictures of my bird feeder at bottom of post.This is the bird feeder outside my window.  Now that we have gotten rid of a lot of squirrels, the birds are more plentiful.The dress bodice is done.Yeah, I am almost done.  I have to put the zipper in.I walked around the yard this afternoon, it was such a beautiful day.  Some more of our Halloween decorations.I still have a few zinnias blooming.This Angel Trumpet has so many blooms - we love it.This azalea is blooming - I thought they bloomed in the spring?Arbor Dave put in the front, we need to put plants in.

This morning glory is taking over the house, it's coming through the window.

Sewing and Decorating

The pantaloons for Meighan's Halloween costume are completed.  Now on to the dress!It's all cut out, so I will start sewing it tomorrow night.I put a few fall and Halloween decorations up.  I am really into white pumpkins.  I have had this sign for years.Fall fire place.Crazy Witch!I really do love pumpkins - all sizes, colors, shapes!I made Ina's cake again, it sunk in the center this time and I am not sure why, but it was delicious.I have been picking up some cute little things for the kids Halloween bags.I got this little black pumpkin at A.C. Moore in Roanoke last week.French Toast Candle - very yummy.I love this primitive cat.

I did a little outside decorating too, but it has been raining here for 4 days, hopefully we will have sun tomorrow.

Saturday night update

I finished the Little Red Riding Hood cape last week - it turned out pretty good, Can't wait to see Meg in it.On to the cute pantaloons and then the dress.A few pictures from the game last weekend.  We lucked out - no rain!  The game was fun and the Hokies won over Boston College.  Not so lucky tonight - Tech lost to Georgia Tech.

Virginia State Fair

 Our fair has been in the north of Richmond for as long as I can remember.  This year it was held north of Richmond in Caroline County.  Dave and I wanted to check it out.  The fair was just east of King's Dominion on the grounds where the Meadow Farm was previously. This horse farm was the home of Secretariat, winner of the Kentucky Derby about 30 years ago.  We lived in Caroline County very close to the Meadow Farm - it was beautiful with fields of green and white pickett fencing.  And it is a beautiful site for the fair.  Parking was on the opposite side of the road and these tunnels were the pathway to the entrance of the fair.This was the home of the owners of the farm, now the state fair headquarters. 

My favorite part of the fair -- eating!..I wanted to try everything, but after you have a few goodies you just don't want anymore!  One of my favorites is candy apples, there were so may varieties but I went with the old standard - it was yummy.Dave went for the cinnamon elephant ear - also very good.Dave loves these slushy drinks.There was fried everything - I stayed away from these although I wanted to taste everything.Then we had lunch - Dave's favorite is the sausage sandwiches; I had barbecued beef tips.We passed on all the rides.Lady Luck!Wow! Huge pumpkins.We loved the animals.We wanted to take this little guy home.Sheep sheering.A lot of Sheep.This Mama pig had 8 babies.This horse was big and beautiful.Baby chicks.My very favorite part of the fair.  This lady was spinning on a walking wheel - very similar to the one I have. She explained the whole process.  She is from Suffolk and offers classes.This is the part of wheel that I don't have - the working mechanism.  She told me to take a picture of mine and send it to her and she could probably find one that would fit so I could use it.It was fascinating to watch her.  She was the spinner for years at one of the plantations in the area.  She was lovely and I plan on giving her a call.  This cute little lady was working on that big contraption behind her, not sure what it was and I had to leave to go find my hubby - I had already been in this area a long time.

We enjoyed visiting the fair.  It was very clean and layed out very well.  I can't wait to go next year.

Knitting and Sewing

 Meighan wants to be "Little Red Riding Hood" for Halloween.  I saw this pattern at Joanne's and thought I would give it a try.

All the patterns in this packet are so cute.

  I have not sewn a pattern like this in a long time - wish me luck!

A lot of pattern pieces.  I can't remember that there were so many different style patterns in one envelope.

Cutting the pieces is a real chore for me -- I just want to get to sewing!

These were so fun to make - fingerless gloves for Amy.  I plan on making more for gifts.  I really want a pair - maybe in pink for lime green

Aren't the cables cute?  Very fun and not that hard - just looks that way.Hats to keep my two sweeties warm this winter.

I started this shawl - a gift; very easy to work on in the car during our fall travels.

Started this cute poncho too - love the color!