It was great weather for Halloween this year. No snow, nor rain, or cold temps, and yet the numbers were down for treaters tonight.
I had some tricksters too. Some first time ones. First timers because they knocked on the door and quickly ran away. But not that quickly. I heard the knock and sprinted out the door. One kid was near my bushes and I asked him why he was decorating them with shaving cream. Pretty soon J and L popped out of the house and when they got there, said kid left quick! LOL! The PE teacher apparently isn't running these kids fast enough if I caught up with them!
We found a couple of shaving cream cans near our street and decorated bushes with "Hi" on the street. Thankfully they didn't mess with my car in the driveway or my dog in the yard. I can live with a little shaving cream on my bushes.
What I really hate is toliet paper in my trees! That has happened twice in all the years we have lived here. That wasn't even Halloween when that happened! It was some neighbor kid that finally left the neighborhood and got married. Glad to see him gone in a lot of ways.
I made under 50 bags of candy and have 26 bags left. J is working on what we have left. I bought stuff that I knew we would eat (Kit Kat Bars and Pretzels) and what the kids like (the gummy body parts). I made 50 bags for my MIL's too. They have 10 left. They live on the main drag and we don't. So it makes a difference where you live in this town and if you are a teacher.
We took a tour downtown and the fountain was messed up. The bank was a total mess. I pitty whoever has to clean up that mess! For some reason it is hard to clean the side of the bank because of the texture covering their building.
Lights went out here at 9:30. Usually we turn them off by 9:00, but my hours were the same by the teacher in my neighborbood. It was a pretty meager Halloween this year.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Smashing Pumpkins and other pranks
It's official! Halloween is here. Well, sure today IS October 31st, but around the school area I saw a smashed pumpkin on the street.
This is just the beginning of things (pranks) that goes on in a small town. It could happen in a small neighborhood in a big town too. Smashing pumpkins is just the beginning. In our town our downtown is usually a busy place the night of Halloween. I know this because I used to take J and S in the car to search out teachers and friends houses to go trick-or-treating. Also from what I heard from S. Kids soap windows, and "decorate" the fountain in the middle. But what is so bad is the bad words that they write on the side of the buildings downtown. The bank has a hard time cleaning the side of their building up.
Sometimes fun (for some people) turns into destructive fun. And that's not good. People trash the downtown and other places with eggs, and shaving cream. Then there is some other bad behavior I choose not to write about.
I grew up in a large town and never remember doing anything like what I described here in this town. This is all still pretty foreign to me.
If you have a car and a garage use them tonight. I always fear what will happen to my other car so we leave a light out in the back to deter people from doing things. We actually need some more security lighting.
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Around our house, L didn't trim branches and we have real life spiders hanging down from the web. Our railing looks horrible....at least we have the Halloween effects down. :(
I made a limited number of treats and when I get through with these treats my lights will go out.
----
Our town needs to put on some type of party to deter people from bad Halloween behavior! But then again, that may not help as if the kids walk to wherever they could do their pranking on the way out there to the alternative party.
Oh well...it was a thought.
This is just the beginning of things (pranks) that goes on in a small town. It could happen in a small neighborhood in a big town too. Smashing pumpkins is just the beginning. In our town our downtown is usually a busy place the night of Halloween. I know this because I used to take J and S in the car to search out teachers and friends houses to go trick-or-treating. Also from what I heard from S. Kids soap windows, and "decorate" the fountain in the middle. But what is so bad is the bad words that they write on the side of the buildings downtown. The bank has a hard time cleaning the side of their building up.
Sometimes fun (for some people) turns into destructive fun. And that's not good. People trash the downtown and other places with eggs, and shaving cream. Then there is some other bad behavior I choose not to write about.
I grew up in a large town and never remember doing anything like what I described here in this town. This is all still pretty foreign to me.
If you have a car and a garage use them tonight. I always fear what will happen to my other car so we leave a light out in the back to deter people from doing things. We actually need some more security lighting.
-----
Around our house, L didn't trim branches and we have real life spiders hanging down from the web. Our railing looks horrible....at least we have the Halloween effects down. :(
I made a limited number of treats and when I get through with these treats my lights will go out.
----
Our town needs to put on some type of party to deter people from bad Halloween behavior! But then again, that may not help as if the kids walk to wherever they could do their pranking on the way out there to the alternative party.
Oh well...it was a thought.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Decorating for the Season
Halloween is tomorrow and usually I have my house decked out in wooden black cats, wooden pumpkins, or plastic pumpkins or at least something "halloweenish." The only thing "halloweenish" that I have is the candy for tomorrow. That's it. Boy! Am I ready for Halloween 08.
I think it's because S and J are older and they don't remind me. They don't say, "Mom where's the plastic pumpkin?" or "Why can't we get a real pumpkin?" No small little gourds either. I must sound like "The Grinch who stole Halloween!"
I'll be handing out the treats from my Target bags. Wow! I sure have the spirit.
When it's Thanksgiving I usually decorate the house with my stuffed turkey. Then I go a little out for decorating for Christmas. I don't do the whole 9 yards thing by decorating the outside of the house with lights. We never have done this. Oh, but we love (just L and me now) to drive around town to see everyone with their lights on their houses.
The older the kids get the less I decorate. Must be the sign of the times, or something.
I think it's because S and J are older and they don't remind me. They don't say, "Mom where's the plastic pumpkin?" or "Why can't we get a real pumpkin?" No small little gourds either. I must sound like "The Grinch who stole Halloween!"
I'll be handing out the treats from my Target bags. Wow! I sure have the spirit.
When it's Thanksgiving I usually decorate the house with my stuffed turkey. Then I go a little out for decorating for Christmas. I don't do the whole 9 yards thing by decorating the outside of the house with lights. We never have done this. Oh, but we love (just L and me now) to drive around town to see everyone with their lights on their houses.
The older the kids get the less I decorate. Must be the sign of the times, or something.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tis the season
What season you ask? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Christmas? No. Even though Halloween is pretty close. It's Political Season!
Once every 4 years I get the barage of emails from "friends," and snail mail from certain political parties. This year I got one from both of the candidates. One from my party and the other one. L got one from the other one even though he is not of that party! Nothing like getting slammed by that particular party. They just assume that if you have no party designation you might as well join there's. Ha! I think not. That's why you don't declare one. Before I became a member of my party choice, I was one when I first registered to vote. Then for some reason I had to declare one later down the line. I went with my current one because I liked most of their platforms and not all of the other one. It was a good fit. Sure I don't agree with EVERYTHING but my party is geared for the middle class.
I listen to the various shows of the Political Season. Hardball and Countdown. They both keep me well informed. Plus read Time and Newsweek magazine. I've tuned into all of the debates and know who I'm choosing.
Yet...in my email I still get people trying to persuade me to their thinking or these people "think" I think the same way as they do. I appreciate the ones who know what party I am of and they don't sway me. I don't intend to sway you either. I like it when in the most part I don't talk politics with people especially if they differ with me. But in the same breath I do love talking politics with the ones who agree.
I don't even talk to my brother, fearing that he doesn't think I like do. It just causes hurt feelings and bitter feelings. When I get emails from friends I have to delete them by the subject title. I just can't wait for this season to end.
I know there are people who are uninformed about certain political candidates religious values. They need to pick a paper or a book by said candidate and become more informed.
I am sick of the mud slinging between both parties and will be glad when it is over.
Once every 4 years I get the barage of emails from "friends," and snail mail from certain political parties. This year I got one from both of the candidates. One from my party and the other one. L got one from the other one even though he is not of that party! Nothing like getting slammed by that particular party. They just assume that if you have no party designation you might as well join there's. Ha! I think not. That's why you don't declare one. Before I became a member of my party choice, I was one when I first registered to vote. Then for some reason I had to declare one later down the line. I went with my current one because I liked most of their platforms and not all of the other one. It was a good fit. Sure I don't agree with EVERYTHING but my party is geared for the middle class.
I listen to the various shows of the Political Season. Hardball and Countdown. They both keep me well informed. Plus read Time and Newsweek magazine. I've tuned into all of the debates and know who I'm choosing.
Yet...in my email I still get people trying to persuade me to their thinking or these people "think" I think the same way as they do. I appreciate the ones who know what party I am of and they don't sway me. I don't intend to sway you either. I like it when in the most part I don't talk politics with people especially if they differ with me. But in the same breath I do love talking politics with the ones who agree.
I don't even talk to my brother, fearing that he doesn't think I like do. It just causes hurt feelings and bitter feelings. When I get emails from friends I have to delete them by the subject title. I just can't wait for this season to end.
I know there are people who are uninformed about certain political candidates religious values. They need to pick a paper or a book by said candidate and become more informed.
I am sick of the mud slinging between both parties and will be glad when it is over.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Attention Restaurants!
Today while I was in Wichita (again!) at an appointment (not mine this time) I need to make a "pit stop."
I told L stop at "any restaurant" for the pit stop. We were also trying to figure out where we should eat this evening. When we stopped it was just a little too early to eat supper. So I walked into this particular restaurant on West Central.
I couldn't believe how badly this particular restroom looked! Since I am the "environmental specialist" at church (aka custodian), I look at how other restrooms in public places look. This one was BAD!
The chrome had green spots on it; the trash needed to be dumped; and the faucet on the sink looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in weeks.
I HAD considered eating at this restaurant but after being in that restroom I had second thoughts. I thought if anyone works at this restaurant and prepares the food and even uses this restroom I would seriously be compromising my health.
So we went to the upscaled Italian restaurant on Maize road. I know how clean their restrooms are. I have picked up pointers from that particular place.
Word to the restaurant owners out there: Clean your restrooms if you want more business!
I told L stop at "any restaurant" for the pit stop. We were also trying to figure out where we should eat this evening. When we stopped it was just a little too early to eat supper. So I walked into this particular restaurant on West Central.
I couldn't believe how badly this particular restroom looked! Since I am the "environmental specialist" at church (aka custodian), I look at how other restrooms in public places look. This one was BAD!
The chrome had green spots on it; the trash needed to be dumped; and the faucet on the sink looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in weeks.
I HAD considered eating at this restaurant but after being in that restroom I had second thoughts. I thought if anyone works at this restaurant and prepares the food and even uses this restroom I would seriously be compromising my health.
So we went to the upscaled Italian restaurant on Maize road. I know how clean their restrooms are. I have picked up pointers from that particular place.
Word to the restaurant owners out there: Clean your restrooms if you want more business!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Ramblings..
Today I made Pumpkin Cookies for the first time today. I had never made them, let alone ate them. After seeing a post made by one of my "Facebook" friends, (Kay), she was commenting about her Pumpkin Cookies. So I checked online and through the old church cookbook and found a good recipe.
Yesterday at the store in Wichita, I was checking to see the price of grated orange peel. I couldn't believe how much a little jar like that cost!! Unreal. It was $8.99!! That was the price for Archer Farms (Target brand) and even more at Dillons "Spice Islands," wanted like $11.00 for that spice! Sheesh! Wouldn't it be easier to just buy an orange, wash it throughly clean, and scrape a teaspoon of orange peel off than to buy it in a jar? So I opted not to use that particular spice. It really didn't make much of a difference. The cookies were great!! A big hit around here. Now I wished that I would have put that recipe in the NEW church cookboook. Oh well, just wait a few years and we will be putting out another new cookbook sometime down the line!
-----
S has been dealing with a leaf project at school. I have limited resources on looking up what kind of leaf I am pulling/snipping from a tree. I have an old tree golden book that my mom bought back in the 50's or early 60's. I help S try to match up what I have pulled with the picture in the book. It's not easy knowing what every tree is around here. Sure, the osage orange ones are easy to find (you know the one with the green bumpy "apple balls," that you wouldn't dare eat!). But when it comes to different species of oak trees, it's hard to say what type they are.
After visiting Lowe's and looking in their garden department, I was 100% certain that Flute's tree is indeed a spruce one. This morning we took a little sprig off that tree and just as soon as I did a white truck came by with fireman tags. I thought it was the "tree police," coming after me! No it wasn't J, probably a friend of J. So Flute thanks for the piece of tree! :)
On the same subject of trees, we have two ornamental pear trees in our back. The one in the corner I referred to as "Grover." S told me for the longest time she thought that was the brand name of the pear tree. Actually it is a Cleveland pear and I gave it the name of Grover. Get it? Grover "Cleveland" Alexander (a baseball pitcher) or ( Grover Cleveland, the President). Ah, it worked for them when they were young. I handed her a leaf and said "This one's from Grover."
She didn't think I was funny anymore! :)
Yesterday at the store in Wichita, I was checking to see the price of grated orange peel. I couldn't believe how much a little jar like that cost!! Unreal. It was $8.99!! That was the price for Archer Farms (Target brand) and even more at Dillons "Spice Islands," wanted like $11.00 for that spice! Sheesh! Wouldn't it be easier to just buy an orange, wash it throughly clean, and scrape a teaspoon of orange peel off than to buy it in a jar? So I opted not to use that particular spice. It really didn't make much of a difference. The cookies were great!! A big hit around here. Now I wished that I would have put that recipe in the NEW church cookboook. Oh well, just wait a few years and we will be putting out another new cookbook sometime down the line!
-----
S has been dealing with a leaf project at school. I have limited resources on looking up what kind of leaf I am pulling/snipping from a tree. I have an old tree golden book that my mom bought back in the 50's or early 60's. I help S try to match up what I have pulled with the picture in the book. It's not easy knowing what every tree is around here. Sure, the osage orange ones are easy to find (you know the one with the green bumpy "apple balls," that you wouldn't dare eat!). But when it comes to different species of oak trees, it's hard to say what type they are.
After visiting Lowe's and looking in their garden department, I was 100% certain that Flute's tree is indeed a spruce one. This morning we took a little sprig off that tree and just as soon as I did a white truck came by with fireman tags. I thought it was the "tree police," coming after me! No it wasn't J, probably a friend of J. So Flute thanks for the piece of tree! :)
On the same subject of trees, we have two ornamental pear trees in our back. The one in the corner I referred to as "Grover." S told me for the longest time she thought that was the brand name of the pear tree. Actually it is a Cleveland pear and I gave it the name of Grover. Get it? Grover "Cleveland" Alexander (a baseball pitcher) or ( Grover Cleveland, the President). Ah, it worked for them when they were young. I handed her a leaf and said "This one's from Grover."
She didn't think I was funny anymore! :)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Flood
Last night I was informed that some friends at my church had a broken pipe in their basement with over 5 feet of water. All of their important pictures and documents were completely wet/damaged. They brought their stuff to the church.
I saw pictures of their lives, documents, and cards when their boys were born; and pictures of a grandfather turning 101! Education records that they kept on their sons were ruined. It was horrible!
I thought about my own stuff that I have been keeping in my closets and downstairs. I can only imagine how it must feel drying everything out and saving about everything that was important to them and their family lives. I would be devestated to have this happen to me. I think of the stuff in my basement. If that happened to me I would lose a lot more as my bedroom is downstairs.
Please say a prayer for S and T! If you know them well call them and ask what you can do to help them.
I saw pictures of their lives, documents, and cards when their boys were born; and pictures of a grandfather turning 101! Education records that they kept on their sons were ruined. It was horrible!
I thought about my own stuff that I have been keeping in my closets and downstairs. I can only imagine how it must feel drying everything out and saving about everything that was important to them and their family lives. I would be devestated to have this happen to me. I think of the stuff in my basement. If that happened to me I would lose a lot more as my bedroom is downstairs.
Please say a prayer for S and T! If you know them well call them and ask what you can do to help them.
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