Day 151 - Look Both Ways...

How many times has your mother told you to look both ways before crossing the street?

This is why!

Day 150 - Snowflakes

Yes, for the last century or more pumpkins have been associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving...but truthfully, they are just as beautiful when used for Christmas! White pumpkins, especially, make beautiful centerpieces when surrounded by red and green, or sculpted with snowflakes as luminaries in the snow, welcoming guests to your home. Next year, try something diffferent...Carve your Halloween pumpkin, but stretch your imagination and use them for the ENTIRE holiday season!

Day 149 - Off With His Head!

It's amazing how creepy just a little pumpkin head can look all by itself....don't you think? Especially if it's screaming!

Day 148 - I Triple Dog Dare Ya!

While being snowed in the last several days, I had the opportunity to watch "The Christmas Story" over and over...and over....again! One of my favorite scenes was when Schwartz was Triple Dog Dared to stick his tongue to the flagpole...which he did....and all his friends left him there! So, to all the fans of this movie, this ones for you!

Day 147 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all both near and far, may your wishes come true wherever you are!

Day 146 - Christmas Snow

For the first time in more years than I can remember, we're having a white Christmas! Keeping with the snowy spirit, I turned pumpkins into winter luminaries. I think I'll save a few pumpkins every Halloween just for this! They're beautiful!

Day 145 - Catching Snowflakes

Just as snow starts to lightly fall, I love running outside and trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue. Even at ninety I'll probably still wheel myself outside to do it! I think this picture sums up how we all feel about catching those first few flakes of the season!

Day 144 - The Crash

Okay, so maybe sledding without opposable thumbs wasn't such a good idea!

Day 143 - Sledding!

Today woke up bright and clear...blue skies above, crisp fallen snow below...the perfect day for sledding! Just because pumpkins don't have opposable thumbs doesn't mean they don't like a turn steering the sled!

Day 142 - Buried Alive

Today we were buried...in snow! Living in an area that hardly ever if ever never rarely gets snow, it was a wonderful surprise to get a foot dumped on us...and not lose power! True, I can't get my car out of the yard and it might be days before doing so...but that's okay! The best part? My mind is working overtime creating. Images of pumpkins are dancing in my head...and the snow! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!

Day 141 - Snowy Skull

Over the course of the last few days we were hit with a Noreaster...a descent sized storm that left us with ten inches of snow! Loved it! Except that it buried my car! Before the ice set in, we decided to clean it off, but not before my son decided to use it as his blank canvas. I think his snowy skull turned out quite well!

Day 140 - After the Season

When pumpkin season is "over," this is how I feel. It's an exhausting process! If only I could spread it out all year! Now, for Zip this is a ten minute power nap....but it's how I feel all the time!

Wouldn't it be nice to feel THAT GOOD?

Day 139 - Pumpkin Claus

My son made me the perfect Christmas card in his German class today....meet Pumpkin Claus! I love this card! Written in German, it says, "Wir weinschen euch alle ein schones Weihnachtsfest!" Loosely translated, it says, "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

Day 138 - Blue Man

Carytown is a beautiful little mile of shops in Richmond, Va. It's a town within a town. And this Halloween it became Scarytown. Now, I couldn't get you the picture of the zombie postman riding his bicycle down the street, but I was able to get a snapshot of this Blue dude. He was finishing up a superhero costume though I couldn't tell you which superhero he was. Still, I just loved his blue glow!

Day 137 - Fruity Pumpkins

Here's an easy pumpkin project for the kids, especially if you don't have a pumpkin to carve! Grab an orange or a smaller clementine, and with your fingers you can carve out a little face on each. Make a whole army of them for your breakfast table! This is one time your kids won't mind eating something healthy!

Day 136 - What's Bugging You?

Let the buggy goodness continue! Today's creepy creation is a resin encased flower bug. This little bug has the most vivid deep orange coloration with black spots. The pendant's metal trim is a shiny silver and I've hung it from a black velvet cord for just the right gothic touch. If you'd like to get one for yourself, they'll be available on my ETSY site this Thursday, Dec 17th. Check it out!

Day 135 - You're Buggin'

I love jewelry that's, well, different. Pretty, a hint of sparkle, sweet at first glance...until you take a second glance and realize that pretty little pendant is a bug! This little ten spotted beetle is a shimmery gold, but I'll have a scorpion and other beetles to show you soon. I made a few necklaces this week out of these resin encased beetles, adding a gothic style velvet cord. If you'd like to have one of your own, you can order them through my ETSY site as of Thursday, Dec. 17th. Check'em out!

Day 134 - Christmas Pumpkin

A friend gave me this beautiful pumpkin. It's amazing! The skin is marbleized in shades of red and green....it's the perfect Christmas pumpkin! It's so pretty I don't have the heart to carve it!

Day 133 - Pumpkin Head

You want to know the best thing about Halloween? Having friends to enjoy it with...friends who will do anything for you...even grow a big ole giant pumpkin head just for you!

Day 132 - CV Claus

Halloween isn't the only holiday with costumes! Meet CV Claus! Thanks to abcfamily.com, I was able to turn my cat's picture into a holiday snowglobe. Check it out, then make one of your own! Copy and paste this link to see it: http://bit.ly/5Vj55c .

Day 131 - Gourdgeous

Sometimes all you have to do to decorate your doorstep is to just set out nature's own little piece of artwork! Although I love carving pumpkins, the natural beauty of a variety of pumpkins and gourds is enough by itself to make a stunning display. You don't have to be an artist to appreciate a beautiful design...sometimes Mother Nature's touch is best left on its own if you really want something amazing by your front door.

Day 130 - Lucky Shot

Sometimes life cuts you a break. My cats are notorious for moving at precisely .3 seconds before you take their picture. I am forever getting blurry shots of the top of their head, the inside of an ear, or someone's left nostril. Until now. I heard a tiny little chirp behind me and lo and behold CVP is in the photo tent. Posing. And I MEAN posing...he even gave me time to get the camera and take several shots while he held totally still.

I pretty sure this was his Christmas gift to me!

Isn't he the most beautiful black cat you've ever seen?

Not that I'm partial or anything!

Day 129 - Finals

Like college students everywhere, I, too, have final projects due this week. And this photo tells you all you need to know about what they're doing to me! In my Drawing class, my final project has to be a self-portrait, drawn from life. Do you think this would be a good pose? Perhaps I should keep this face and go as a complete lunatic next Halloween?

Day 128 - Beautiful in Black

Sock Monkey was an odd, "ugly duckling," sort of kitten...but he has long outgrown his lanky features and a beautiful Halloween cat has taken form. Of our herd, we call him the Miss America of cats (or should I say Mr. America?). All he wants is World Peace...for all of us to just get along. He's been the peacemaker between our new kittens and the older cats and has truly brought comfort to the household. I pray his reign as Mr. America is a long one!

Day 126 - Pumpkin Patterns

Pumpkin patterns don't just refer to pumpkin carving. There are dozens and dozens and dozens of pumpkin varieties, and some have the most beautiful varigated patterns! This gourd has gourdgeous (sorry, I couldn't resist!) greens mottling its skin. Others have spots and stripes of red, gold, and amber. Next Halloween, don't forget that the leaves aren't the only things filled with Autumn's colors!

Day 125 - Uncle Sam

What would Halloween be without amazing costumes? Or the theater? My son's latest theatrical endeavor has him walking in a parade scene as Uncle Sam. Drywall stilts and velcro pants are amazing inventions! Since we're all vertically challenged in our family, we joke that this is the only way any of us will ever be tall!

I think tomorrow night we'll hand him a basketball so one of us will finally be able to dunk the ball!

Day 127 - Eye See You

Had this very cool little paper mache skull that I thought would make a great little Halloween artifact. We lit the skull with a flashlight and snapped a photo of it. The photo was just "okay". But when paired with a Photoshop filter? Creepy goodness!

Day 124 - Wild Things?

I've discovered Where the Wild Things Are! Slipping into a coma on the computer table. My hubby has succumbed to their charms and set up a little blanket bed by his monitor. This is what happens to Wild Things after a six hour play session. As you can see, Zip and Zoomies are still living the good life!

Day 123 - Indian Summer

Today's little pumpkin was created by Emma, a school friend of my son. It's so simple to do...a little splash of paint, beads, and a few feathers creates the perfect litttle pumpkin for Indian Summer, that last return to warm days before winter sets in...generally with a vengance. Which it did. Today. Waking up to thirty one degrees and frost so heavy it looked like snow! But with this little pumpkin we can hold on to warm thoughts and Fall's color just a little bit longer before embracing this season's red and green.

Anyone seen my coat?