Ribbons and Reinbeer

     All the boxes and bows and ribbons were gathered at the end of the holiday week to store away for another year. However, Miss Molly, who has some kind of radar for curling ribbon, managed to find a remaining bit for a little play time. In this photo of her is also displayed a gift that I crafted for the men in the family. The pear ale was purchased at the local market and chosen for its seasonal green background but the labels were created and printed from my home PC. The ale turned out to be quite tasty and the guys loved the motif...almost as much as Molly loved her ribbon.

Rudolph Doughnuts

     A busy day calls for a nutritious breakfast but during the holidays, sometimes fun beats out good sense. We all enjoyed our Rudolph mini-doughnuts but perhaps the dog was happiest - while breaking the pretzels to get antler shapes, pieces kept flying off the table!

Asiago Bread

     Asiago cheese is favorite in our house, whether it is featured in bagels, bread, vegetables or main dishes. This loaf was especially tantalizing, once while it was baking and then again when it reached the dinner table. Described in the recipe as an artisan bread, it nonetheless had a fine light texture with a slightly chewy crust; the Asiago flavor was subtle but heavenly. For one day we had to overlook low-carb observance...

Old Rolling Pin

     This red-handled rolling pin was used by my mother for decades. She was not the ardent baker that I am so it was used infrequently, which is perhaps why it is still in such good condition. Pies came out of the grocery freezer but the rolling-pin was indispensable for Christmas cut-out cookies. When the contents of Mom's kitchen were sold at an estate sale, this was one item that I kept aside and it was mostly for nostalgic reasons, even thinking that perhaps I could display it in some decorative manner. However I used it recently and much prefer it over my own plastic version, so in its second life, the pin will be usefully employed rather than relegated to a charming kitchen ornament. (Thanksgiving's pumpkin pie was a testament to its occupation.)

Zombie Baby

     A doll found at a garage sale inspired this project. I had seen pictures of zombie dolls used for Halloween props and hoped to try making my own at some point. This fellow seemed perfect for the project, especially since his body held a now-nonfunctional voice recorder that weighted him enough to sit securely on the front porch swing without being blown off by autumn winds. Rissy was eager to help and the first step was to color his face and extremities black with acrylic paint. When completely dry, we dipped a rag in white paint and rubbed it over the black to get a 'decomposed' look, leaving the lips blood red. The brown eyes were left untouched also and because they were movable, added an eerie touch. A striped shirt and blue pants completed his ensemble and while Rissy, who doesn't like clowns, thought them appropriate, I think next year I will dress my zombie boy in blood-stained tatters.

Curtain Call

     The sun had begun to rise and though the room was still dark, this skeletal fellow loomed just bright enough to cause a slight rise in my heart rate this morning. Although he is only a plastic window cling and I was the one who placed him there, that leering grin managed to startle me momentarily as I entered the room.

Autumn Wreath for Mom

     Of course, it's imperative for Mom to keep up with the other residents at the facility where she is now living. And since several apartment doors boasted Halloween decor and because holidays have always been important to her, she requested an autumn wreath to hang near her entry. After searching through the remnants of her Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, I gathered together two old wreaths that were skimpy on foliage, etc. and some leftover silk flowers and leaves from other arrangements. Combining them and adding a tiny birdnest (Mom has always been a bird lover) on top gave a richer fuller look to the finished wreath. I thought perhaps the orange gingham bow was just a bit too small but Mom loved it and is proud of her new fall flourish.