Last Week of October

Why do I feel like every time I sit down here to write, I am just too tired to do it properly?

I guess it's that time of year when our schedules get fuller and fuller and our lives start that breakneck roll toward New Year's Day. Every year when school starts I feel like I'm on a sled scootching toward the crest of a huge hill, sliding slowly but surely toward the edge. Then Halloween hits and, whoosh, I'm plunged down on a rapid descent that takes my breath away and makes my stomach do flips, going faster and faster, flashing past Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and coming to a sudden and sprawled stop in a snowbank just past New Year's Eve. And that's when I slowly get up, check for broken things, brush myself off, sigh and go, "So, now what?" And the slow climb begins again.

Halloween is in less than a week. And I'm just not ready. I think I say this every year, but this year has me worried because I've kind of left things to the last minute. The costumes aren't very demanding this year so I think I've slacked off a bit. I just need a sash (preferably red) for Redheaded Snippet's Ninja costume (she decided to dress up after all) and a fedora, whip and leather-like jacket for Man-Cub's Indiana Jones. Oh yeah, no sweat. WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND A LEATHER JACKET?

(This is the actual jacket and fedora worn by Harrison Ford in the actual movies as donated to the Smithsonian Institute, by the way)

At least I know what I'm going to be doing this week. No sitting around picking my nose and wondering, "Woe is me, what ever shall I do with my time," for me this week! I will be striking every consignment, thrift and second-hand store within a 20-mile radius. I just need a jacket that LOOKS like it could be leather. And it can be black OR brown. Even if it's CLOSE to the right style, Mom can probably alter it for me. After all, it doesn't truly feel like Halloween without a little sewing assignment for my mother. But without that jacket, I don't think anyone will know who Man-Cub is supposed to be.



Last night we had our annual Halloween pre-show with Lobelia and Lenny. It very nearly rained rivers, but we slopped out to a local farm and got our pumpkins and hot cider (even a few Winesap apples to boot). We made soup, hot ham and cheese sandwiches and chili, and Lobelia even found time to make a Dutch Apple pie. The kids took turns taking naps and playing the Wii and we all took turns holding and entertaining Vantastic. At one point, the boys were asleep and Redheaded Snippet was reading quietly on the couch, chili was simmering, the men were occupied elsewhere, and Lobelia and I simply sat at the kitchen table reading the paper and scanning coupons. It was weirdly peaceful. And so nice. The evening culminated in a great flurry of cutting, scooping and carving all the pumpkins we had chosen. We had to leave before Lobelia had finished hers, but all the others turned out really well and even got some window time before the night was through.



One truly frightening thing that happened last night was our discovery, upon our arrival home, that I had left the oven on all day long. I don't know if I have an alternate personality who is hell-bent on blowing up the house or what, but I just don't seem to be very safe in the kitchen lately! First the flambee incident and now this. The Viking looked rather weak in the knees when he realized what I had done. I had made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (don't look excited, they were from a can) and in the mad rush to get out of the house on time, I forgot to turn the oven off. I'm not sure what The Viking was more upset about, the prospect of the house blowing clean off its foundation or the gas bill we're going to get next month. I am a very bad girl.



But today is a new day, the start of a new week, HALLOWEEN week. My favorite aunt and uncle are visiting from out of town and we're having homemade soup and salad for lunch here at our house today. I'm making the soup and Mom is bringing the salad and bread. I might make homemade rolls anyway, but we'll see how the next few hours go. The weather has dawned clear, bright and crisp, exactly as it should be the last week of October.

Can you believe that? The last week of October already? It just got here! One more week and I'll be culling through Thanksgiving recipes! And changing the look of my blog, yay!

Redheaded Snippet has a play-off game this Tuesday for which the team gets let out of school early and I get to take Man-Cub out early to go spectate. Once the last week of October hits they schedule the games earlier so they don't wind up playing in the dark in case they go into overtime. Fine with me, I have no problem taking my kids out for early dismissal. In fact, I kind of like it; makes it feel like a Holiday. We'll be bundling up in our woolliest winter wear for this game--but I think I'll leave the peppermint out of the hot chocolate this time!

Oh well, it's time to start the soup. And things need to be tidied, swept and cleaned. Until next time...