Finally . . . Trick or Treat Fun on the Acre

Can you believe it is already November 2? I certainly can't!! So, before too much more time has past, Mimi wants to show you all the fun we had on Trick or Treat night in our little town.

Come on in, we were expecting you!

The fun started with our Pre-Halloween Dinner Party on the acre with several of our neighbors dropping by (we missed those who decided to skip town this year). We started this several years ago when Halloween fell on a week night. Since most of the neighbors worked & wouldn't have time to eat, Mimi & Granddaddy decided to give them a little treat. They all drop by for dinner, then dash off to hand out their treats. Miss Darlene & Mr. Wendell hosted last year.

What Halloween Party would be complete without Dracula and His Bride?

Mimi rearranged a few of the decorations before the party. Notice our pumpkins were all dressed & ready to trick or treat, too. Remember Mimi's Tutu candles from last year ~ Mimi got so carried away making your Tutu Trick or Treat Buckets I had to have something Tutu. Mimi thought she had gotten rid of those pesky ole spiders but they kept showing up everywhere, even on the food!

Mimi used the spider web tablecloth to add a little "spook" to the dessert bar.

Here's the Menu for the evening ~

Even our water was special for this night. Look at that beautifully delicious chocolate cake Miss Nell brought and what about Miss Sandra's cinnamon rolls? Both were yummy!!! The night was a little cool making Mimi's Brunswick Stew a hit. The witch's brew was tasty, too. Mimi's cupcakes had a surprise filling ~ they made quite a treat.

These Pumpkin Truffles (recipe from brownpaper--packages) were delicious. Since ya'll love Mimi's Red Velvet Balls, I know you will love these.

Guess what these guys were watching after dinner? Of course, our beloved DAWGS were playing those stinking ole Gators ~ notice Granddaddy was missing . . . the little spooks had already begun ringing the bell!

The game didn't turn out like we had hoped but it sure was exciting to watch. You know G-Dawg was glued to the TV instead of handing out candy until it was over. Then he joined me in the golf cart at the end of the drive. Wasn't Mr. Greenjeans so smart to suggest that we load everything up in it and sit out there? Sure made for an easier night. Wish he had thought of it earlier so Mimi would have had time to decorate it more ~ but just wait til next year!!

The ole black cat treated 325 + little goblins who were brave enough to stroll down our dark and spooky street. (Look at Mimi's whiskers ~ I didn't even notice until I started to take off my makeup late that night even though Granddaddy said that he asked, "Wearing your whiskers a little low aren't you?" One cute teenage goblin even said my cat ears made me look sexy . . . Mimi's thinking she had already eaten too much chocolate!) Sweet Josie decided she needed to sit for her picture and to eat her candy.

Wasn't she a beautiful butterfly princess?

The jack-o-lanterns that lined the street around our yards were certainly inviting don't you think? Mimi took this picture of Miss Darlene's from the golf cart but trick or treaters came before I got a picture of ours. Just imagine them all around the culdesac.

The next morning Mimi enjoyed a warm cinnamon roll with my pumpkin spice coffee before starting the big switch from Halloween to Thanksgiving decorations, all the while thinking of new ways to be ready for those little goblins next year. From the excited descriptions of your Halloween fun, it sounds like we all had a blast. Now just don't get sick eating all that candy!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

Tale of Flight on Halloween Night!

Once upon a night so dreary,

Five little gobblins were dressed so cheery!

All went out for a ride on Halloween night,

My, what a very delightful sight!

First, the witch flew this way and that

going right off without her cat.

She gave quite a fright as she flew through the air . . .

her broomstick of straw & all her GREEN hair!

See that butterfly flitting around?

Oh, how her feet never hit the ground!

Watch as she lights from pillar to post

hoping she won't encounter a ghost!

What's that all dressed in white?

Oh, it's only an angel come down to delight!

See that sweet smiling face

and how she floats around with all that grace?

But wait, here's a li'l punkin with such a silly frown!

I thought I saw her once as a clown

with a big ole nose so red and round.

Or was she an angel the sweetest in flight?

Did someone take her costumes and run off out of sight?

Never Fear!! Wonder Woman is here to save the night!

See that smile behind the mask so sweet

and look at those boots upon her feet!

There's no job too great or too small,

Wonder Woman will conquer them all!

Now you've heard the tale of flight

on this All Hallow's Eve night

with rustling leaves and blowing trees

black cats howling with delight.

Oh, what a spooky sight!!

As you're hurrying and scurrying around

don't forget to say "Thank You" and never frown!

Mimi's Little Munchins, this rhyme's for you . . .

A "made up" song to see you through!

Happy Halloween!!

In Tribute to Halloween . . .

Mimi has been V.E.R.Y. excited about the spider webs that the spiders are building in the corners of the windows outside ~ after all, it is Halloween!

Yes, I was excited until the cable man came yesterday to do some work outside and opened up the 'box' he needed to work in. He found . . .

A Black Widow Spider!!!!!

It was just right outside my door . . . YIKES!!!!!!! Do you know what the silly cable man said, "Go get a jar and let's put him in it for your Halloween decorations." Has he lost his mind??? Mimi loves Halloween and decorations but really only the plastic spiders, especially not the deadly kind of spiders! So while Mr. Cable Man was so excited to have one in a jar, Mimi was finding the first largest thing that I could use to kill him ~ the spider not Mr. Cable Man! The picture above is not Mimi's Black Widow ~ do you think Mimi even thought about her camera??? NOOOOOO!! I just borrowed this one off the web.

All night, Mimi could feel something crawling on her so, needless to say, it was a sleepless night. Today the other spider webs all came down Halloween or not!

But do you girls remember the zipper spider that lived by Mimi's back door at the country acre? Every year at this time, that little ole zipper spider built his web between the 2 shrubs and everyday Mimi would tear it down while he wasn't on it. The next morning when Mimi would go outside to drink her coffee on my little brick patio, there was the web right back with Mr. Zipper sitting there laughing at me.

Say "Hello" to Mr. Zipper.

Isn't he pretty? Much prettier than that ole Black Widow, don't you think? This Mr. Zipper actually lived at the A girls house for several years. Mimi took this picture to send to the C girls last year because they don't have Zipper Spiders at their house and, so far, Mimi hasn't found one on the city acre. Somewhere in my 'hole' I have a picture of my Mr. Zipper but who knows if we'll ever see it again.

Have ya'll ever seen a Black Widow spider up close? Mimi hadn't before yesterday and that was one time too many. But you don't have to worry about coming to visit Mimi because that ole Black Widow is just one little ole brown spot on the driveway. Mimi just squashed him as Mr. Cable Man said, "I can't believe you just did that." Well, sir, just go find your own black widow for YOUR decorations!

Sure hope some little trick or treater doesn't dress up like a Black Widow! Watch what box you open, girls!!

XOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

The Birthday Boy

Someone's Daddy celebrated a birthday while Mimi and Granddaddy were taking a little road trip ~ can you guess who it was?

Waiting on the ladies at the Mother's Day Tea Party

(Sorry, this is the only pic I have of you by yourself)

That's right!! It was the "A" girls Daddy . . . our 'adopted' son . . . our sweet son-in-law.

Can it really be 10 years ago that you became a very special part of this family? It seems like only yesterday. I'll never forget the first time I met you on one of my spring weekend visits to UGA when, with Scott as "my date", the 4 of us went to dinner followed by church on Sunday. (Not quite sure why Scott was along unless it was in case we needed backup.) I knew from the moment I saw you and Mande together that you were the one her Daddy and I had prayed for since her birth.

You haven't disappointed us either. Yes, ya'll had some rough decisions about jobs, where to live, and life in general but they were all worth it because look at how far you've come! The decisions you made together at those crucial times led you to a wonderful city where you met very strong Christian friends who have helped you grow in your faith and in your marriage. Could a Mama be any more proud of her children? No, not even one of those "other" Mamas (you know, the mean mother-in-law type of which I'm not, right?) !

And you fit so perfectly into our family of monkeys!

The perfect golf partner for Granddaddy . . .

Joining in on our wacky Christmas traditions . . .

Brotherly love and playing with your nieces in front-yard football.

Because we adopted you only 10 years ago, I don't have all the cute little baby pictures to highlight of you; but please know that you are loved just as much. Thank you, Jon, for being all that we prayed for and more and for giving us those three precious little girls to cherish!!

Happy Belated Birthday, Jon!! May God continue to watch over you and bestow His amazing grace on you as you walk humbly as His servant.

We love you all the muches!!!

XOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

No Place Like Home

Vacations are wonderful but I completely agree with Dorothy . . . "There's no place like home!" When Mimi gets all rested, girls, I'll show you all the pretty places we were last week; but for now, I just want to show you what we found when we got home . . .

A little ghost was hanging on our mailbox . . .

We've Been Boo'd!

While we were away, the Ghost of Moravia came calling and left the cutest little pumpkin bucket . . .

filled with all kinds of sweets and a wonderful pumpkin spice candle! This little note was inside . . .

Ohhhhh, we have to hurry, our time is almost up! But since almost everyone else in the neighborhood has already been boo'd, it shouldn't be too hard to decide who to boo.

Tonight when the wind is whistling softly through the trees, by the light of the silvery moon, Mimi and Granddaddy will sneak out down the street, ring a doorbell, then run fast on our little feet.

Homecoming Weekend

What do you think of when you hear the word "Homecoming?" What about parades, pretty cars with even prettier girls, 'fluffing' flowers, class reunions with old friends, spirit week with dress up every day, football games and homecoming dances?

Yes, and even a little "behind the scenes" activities!

Remember earlier Mimi told you she was working on something for Miss Pam's daughter, Paisley, because she was on the homecoming court again this year . . .

Here it is . . . the car!

Mimi made all the decorations except the beautiful signs for her again this year. Each year Miss Pam picks even more beautiful things to work with. Mimi's house is now one big glitter bowl inside & out. But that's okay because Miss Paisley is worth it!

Isn't she beautiful?

One little side note ~ when Mande was a little girl our home ec class had a "pretend" wedding and Mande was the flower girl for the beautiful bride . . . Miss Pam! Now, don't be looking at Mimi's feet with her flipflops on and certainly don't tell Granny!! Guess what else happened on the acre today?

Finally, a BAKING PARTY!! Miss Emily and her sweet Mama, Miss Amanda, hurried home from their little trip just to bake cookies with Mimi. Of course, Miss Emily was wearing the precious little apron that MISS JANICE was giving away earlier. Be sure to check out Miss Janice's wonderful blog next week ~ you might just see Miss Emily and Miss Janice wearing matching aprons! Wonder what Miss Janice will be making?

See that cute black & white checked paper inside the spider tub, that's how the cute little apron arrived from Miss Janice. You know what, girls? When Mimi woke up this morning, that big ole spider had spun a web all over the bucket and around all the goodies inside. Emily was so excited ~ she LOVED the spider web, she said! Mimi had to add a few things ~ cookie mix, cookie cutters, decorator icing for Miss Emily & her Mama to use at home along with some cookies, a sucker and coloring book so she could be occupied while the cookies baked.

Miss Emily and Miss Amanda reading the sweet note from Miss Janice that came with the apron.

Emily and I had lots of fun baking . . . it was just like baking with my Fabulous Five!

She even wanted to stick her hand in the flour to feel it like a few other little ones I know! She also wore the ribbon from Miss Janice around her neck as a necklace. Such a doll!

I believe she loved her apron ~ I didn't get pictures but she wore the apron home. Before they left, while her Mama and I talked, Emily fluttered around the front yard just glowing in orange and black, holding onto that ghost sucker.

Then, this afternoon we had three little "hurricanes" come flying onto the acre. It just so happens that my beloved high school is playing those hurricanes tonight for homecoming. Now don't ya'll come up here and beat us on our special night!!

Tomorrow bright and early we're off to watch the DAWGS on their Homecoming Day and watch the A girls Mama do a little dancing. Do you think she'll still be looking like this?

It will be fun to see Mande, Taylor, Heather and Emily all on the field together ~ all between the hedges while a little history is being made . . . we have a new Uga and he'll be "sworn in" tomorrow during pre-game.

Everyone else is sleeping soundly so guess Mimi better head that way, too. C girls, ya'll be watching for Aunt Mande tomorrow while you're cheering on those Dawgs!

XOXOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

Awwwww, Fall Mornings and Another Holiday

Fall mornings are just wonderful here in Dixie! It's finally cool enough for this . . .

breakfast on the deck. Granddaddy is on the golf course since it's a holiday so I'm just taking time to smell the roses in the last bouquet of the year. Cybil's Queen Elizabeth rose is always the last one to bloom ~ but it's still early so maybe there will be a few more blooms on all of your roses yet. Do you smell the mulled cider candle? And, yes, I'm still celebrating that little victory on Saturday between the hedges. Thanks "A" girls for cheering them to such a big win!! But I'm tryin' 'real' hard to be nice because . . . as I was told . . . one of the monkeys who traveled to watch the Lady Vols golf team in a tournament yesterday is just 'head over heels' excited about that group of orange-clad golfers . . . well, I did wear orange for 5 years! Moving on quickly . . .

I need my Fabulous Five here this morning for a tea party to honor . . .

Christopher Columbus

Yes, girls, it's another holiday!!! And I know I promised no more history lessons . . . but some of you are not in school today so just a short one! Let's see if the one who is in school learns this today . . .

Columbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and was first held in San Francisco in 1869. The first state-wide celebration was held in Colorado in 1907. In 1937, Columbus Day become a holiday across the United States. Since 1971, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October.

But why? To celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, specifically the Bahamas, which occurred on October 12, 1492.

See, Mimi told you it would be short because I have to get busy ~ Beulla & Betsy are calling me!

Happy Columbus Day!

XOXOXOXOXO ~ Mimi