Must be Halloween

. . . though it feels like the day after.  Another flurry of Halloween events has gone by, and, as usual, our pumpkins remain uncarved.  Isn't this a nice selection, though?  The small yellow specimens are Melonettes Jaspee Vendee, the complete harvest of half a dozen vines.  Have I mentioned that we had a chilly summer?  The others were grown by more expert hands.

While we were too busy with homework and concerts and soccer games to do any carving, the costumes were easy enough.  The boys assembled their own, with items on hand.  I appreciated that, except when some vital pieces were not as close to hand as they should have been.  But we arrived safely (if not punctually) at the Trunk or Treat with Scoot the Gangster, D2 as Sheriff Woody, and Rollo as a cowboy friend of Woody's with the Star Wars-ish name of R2B.  Don't ask me why.

The Caterpillar skipped the Trunk or Treat for a friend's Halloween party, after finishing most of his homework.  I believe he went as a convincingly stinky soccer player.  He wore a lab coat for the Halloween piano recital at the memory care facility (I hope he didn't prompt any unpleasant memories).  But this is how he dressed for another party, last week.  He and Scoot were assistants for the alarmingly mad, lab-coated scientist, Dandelionslayer.  I think the Caterpillar would distract the unsuspecting children while subtle Scoot would

. . . no, I should not reveal a mad scientist's secrets.

Happy Halloween!

Warm Wishes

After the brief flash of summer passed us by, I found myself ready to resume crocheting this project.  It was already large enough to cover my legs and keep me toasty at my work.  And now I have finished my first large afghan.  I used the "Sending Warm Wishes Afghan" pattern from 'Tis the Season to Crochet.  It is a fun book, but be sure to ask the publisher for any corrections before you begin a project from it.

Update:  This is the warmest afghan in the house.  You feel warmer as soon as you put it on.  I was half afraid that Dandelionslayer would hate it because of the gold color, but he uses it all the time!  When, that is, Scoot or I have not claimed it first.  I may have to try it again, in another color scheme.