films

The Battle of Shaker Heights was on this morning while I was finishing a project for school. It had witty dialogue, and of course, Shia LaBeouf, whom I'ved loved watching since Even Stevens (anyone else use to watch that too?).

In this film, Shia's character Kelly is a seventeen year old, historical war-buff, and his perception of the people around him gives him his own agenda. When he's accused of having his own agenda he responds, 

"Of course I have my own agenda, what other reason is there to do anything?"

one purse and a puppy

I was able to have Thursday off this week, again, and instead of continuing the quilt (yes, this quilt), we had a one-day project. They were called Cute Jessi's instead of the trademarked name that Jodi C pulled the pattern from - oops. Last week I even helped her cut out all the patterns, and yet I still felt like a novice while sewing... until I looked at it last night upon completion. I love it: 

When I asked Tessa what colors she wanted she said purple and green so they compliment one another. I was really only supposed to have two colors, but I could not find a quilted fabric that I liked in either color. So I went bold and decided to match by not matching. The purple fabric is chaos with the brown, but the green adds just enough punch, that I think it works nicely. Oh Tessa, Merry Christmas. 

I made the pocket to be able to fit a cell phone in one pocket and then other, larger things, like makeup or a bottle of lotion, or a notepad (like I carry in my purse) for the other pocket. Tessa you better take good care of this heirloom!
Then the zippered pocket on the very front. ta da! Another ta da moment after I made Buckwheat look like a little scrappy puppy. I love his long Toto hair, but it was just becoming too hard to wash and clean because of the wet snow. Now he'll just have to be quicker outside:

pretty dang scrappy, but truth be told, he feels like velvet!

Halloween with the Reeders

Featuring....

Full dinner, including roast, potatoes, my first green bean casserole ever (turned out as a success!), pie, pumpkin cookies, and ...

Caramel Apples:

Musical Chairs:
Donut-String Contest:
El Guapo the Pinata: 
*while swinging at Guapo, we were listening to Nacho Libre music, and inside Guapo were all sorts of free candies and coupons. Including: Free Parking at the Reeder's (offer valid only once) and the movie Nacho Libre! aye, aye, aye! *notice the whoopie cushion costume? 

Limbo! 

and Pin/Stick the Wart/Gum on the Witch:
*while trying to avoid all the other pieces of gum. Go Megan!

new shag rug

... is really our front lawn. When we pulled up to our house tonight after driving around our neighborhoods a bit, I realized just how much our lawn looked like a white-retro shag carpet. Nature is just so chic.

first snow

Sunday night when Mark and I were driving to base, Anchorage's first snow of winter was falling. It was so beautiful! A little early, but still beautiful. That night, it was icy, slippery, and snowy, so I drove for the first time on icy roads. I chose to because Mark was in the car with me, and wouldn't be the next morning on my way to work. I did alright and learned some tips and cautions from my ice-skilled husband. 

Monday morning I saw 5 cars/trucks off the road and on their sides. I was warned that everyone forgets how to drive in the snow during the summer. Stupid. But I promise to not be 'one of those people.' Since Sunday and Monday, all the snow has melted. We are back to fall. But I am excited for winter!

a little off target

I only made it a DAY! My intentions were to make it an entire month, but I had today off work, and I found myself at Target after lunch. I started like this (not expecting to get anything much): 
And ended up with this: 
A sweater-thing for me, a shirt for Mark, long-sleeves for me, earrings, a purse, a cauldron, an adorable door mat (perfect for big winter boots), and a few other things that just looked like they needed a good home. Thanks a lot, Target. 

Even Mark decided to join in on the fun with me. We've missed you!

Chelsea, are you more partial to Alaska, now?

mushrooms

I wanted to post this before it gets too wintery up here. Did I get your attention with this cute little guy above? In Alaska we have the strangest mushrooms that grow everywhere. Some grow in circles, others grow in little town-formations, and some just grow wherever they want to. Our friends, the Cochrans snapped the little troll pictures a while back, and I loved them!  
This, above picture, was a huge mushroom somewhere behind our house. I took about 4 different angled shots of it, but this one was my favorite. I feel about the size of the little troll doll when I look at it. 
Another one courtesy of J & J C. I think they said that the troll was picked up by a family member of theirs in Europe. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking Norway. 
The above picture I took back in early August, right at the end of our yard; you can even see the clipped grass on the bottom left from the lawn mower. Notice the bright sunshine and clovers? mm.. it was so nice and warm then.
The parting shot. The mushrooms look just as real as the troll does. Thinking about mushrooms really makes me feel like a little kid again, and all the cartoons that used to be on; I'm sure you all remember the ones I'm talking about!

setting up for fall

Nearly all the leaves are on the forest floor outside, and inside, I'm setting out all my fall furnishings. It is such a cozy time of year! I love the scent in the air when the leaves are wet and on the ground, priming for the snow to come. This morning there was frost on everything outside; the sun didn't melt it until after noon. 

Back to the inside of our house. I have candles that smell like pumpkin, ginger, and cinnamon when burning, porcelain jack-o-lanterns that you place tea candles in so they glow. There are little gourds with leafy, spiraled vines. I have a fake pumpkin, and a few real. This time of year just makes me want to get toasty with a blanket and a mug full of soup. 

*the camera was on a landscape setting when I snapped this shot, so that is why it has the weird curve in it; in case you wondered. Please ignore the tags still on the stems. ha!