pumpkin patch and a carved owl

We brought Natalie back to the patch once again, and as she was having fun on train rides, I was going around the patch to take some pretty pictures of pumpkins. I also managed to find a few dried out pumpkin stalks that happened to just land in my purse. Rick called me 'the Stalk Thief' :)

face painting, one of her most favorite things...

a pretty pumpkin princess!

and with evening comes the transformation!

oh, scary!

Once home it was time for the pumpkin carving to begin. Originally she wanted a Harry Potter face to grace the pumpkin but had decided on an owl instead. She was such a great and steady helper with the pumpkin guts!

After toiling with the removal of the remainder pumpkin strings, I finally drew in the owl stencil and began the carving.

Whew! Careful work indeed but it was worth it and the time for the preview was upon us...

the hoot o' lantern aglow...

What a night indeed! And now we are preparing for the big day, the first time we will be trick or treating in our neighborhood. We are pretty excited as a few friends and baby cousin will be joining us as well. I read Nourished Kitchen's take on a better and healthier Halloween and thought I would share the link here as well. It is filled with a few wonderful ideas of this time of year and hopefully traditions I can begin to start with my family as well.

The Stalk Thief's goods! ;)

Happy (and safe) Haunting!

the fall festival is here

Yesterday evening we attended Nat's first Fall Festival at her school. She simply could not wait until it was time to walk on over and begin the festivities. She decided to wear costume no. 2 (yes, two costumes...) as a masquerader and we headed on over. I volunteered a bit at her classroom's booth (the bean bag toss) and once my shift was over I couldn't wait to snap more pictures of the event.


on our way...

welcome!


a spooky garden

her classroom's booth

nana and natalie, looking so very fine!

little ghosts on the swings, one seems to be smiling :)

beginning the parade

We had a wonderful time and I just couldn't stop telling my mom how much I loved it. It was so nice to see all the kids running around in their costumes having fun. A wonderful sense of community was around and I know Nat especially loved it...

found, made and sent

Several random things to share, all tied together :)








Obviously, it's no surprise that we keep making things into owls since they are our favorite (i.e. Nat at first wanted to carve the pumpkin into a Harry Potter face. Now she wants to carve it into an owl). So, more TP rolls get made into something a little nicer. With sequins eyes, twig beaks, felt wings and fabric heart bellies (hers is the floral belly, mine, the polka dotted one).



Letters, real snail mail, seems to be a dying art and a few of us are doing what we can to keep it alive. I sent out two letter invitations to two of my best friends hoping for a little get together next month. Sealed with silver wax and a 'G' emblem, complete with a Gary Cooper stamp :)

serena and tea!

The past few days I have been blessed with a few nice surprises. My aunt and uncle who live in Hemet came over to visit this past Saturday and we all had a great time. I hadn't seen my aunt in quite some time and it was so nice to see her looking healthy, well and jovial too! She brought a few gifts over and it was like christmas! We were blessed with yummy teas like pumpkin cream chai, pomegranate green tea and delicate white teas with honey sticks, tea pots and sets too.

Also this week I got a nice little owl post, literally, from my friend Mathyld. Serena the Wizarding Owl is home at last! She made herself quite comfortable upon arrival and even began to enjoy the new tea pots and such with us.


One of the first things Serena did was to peruse books we have all over the house.


She absolutely fell in love with my new owl tea pot my Aunt gave me. I told her how thrilled I was to receive it :)


Eager to use my first Yixing clay teapot (also given to me by my aunt), I made some delicious Blueberry tea given to me by a dear friend who lives in England right now.


Serena, a bit tired from her long journey from Paris, couldn't wait for a cup herself.


While we waited for it to brew, I showed her the beautiful Yixing Tea set that my aunt gave Natalie...


...and this absolutely darling porcelain set she gave her as well.


I think Serena felt quite at home!



Serena came just in time to be with us for this autumn season and I am ever so thankful to Miss Mathyld for sending her my way...