Halloween and Jack-O-Lanterns

Our neighborhood is mostly democratic, or more accurately, our side of the state. I get really sick of all the Obama signs in every yard, so I had to show a little Republican spirit. I was surprised how many kids were for McCain. I got mostly "Go McCain" and only one "ahem...Obama" (under their breath, but loud and clear). Sarah, David, Leah and Grandma Lois came over to help carve pumpkins. They were all so cute on my front porch, but as soon as David and Sarah left there were only these two lonely pumpkins. Adam didn't carve any, he was the scraper-outer. He scraped out everyone's pumpkins. It was so nice! And I made pumpkin seeds, which I love, but sadly found out they are not fun to eat warm when you have a mouth full of metal fillings. My teeth started to hurt right away, too much direct contact I guess, with them being flat, so I started swallowing them way too soon, and now they are scratching my esophagus. I had to wash them down with the nasty green juice Adam was drinking because I was too lazy to get up and get something normal to drink. We usually have tons of kids come by so we bought tons of candy. Not sure why there weren't as many kids this year, but we have lots of left-overs. Walter really enjoyed Halloween this year. He even helped himself to the candy. Wrapper and all. I'm going to have to keep it out of his reach or you know where he will be once Adam and I fall asleep! Yep, he's smart enough to wait for the perfect moment. All the trick-er-treaters thought he was so cute, and really tall like a horse. Some of them even ran away as soon as I opened the door. It was so funny to see 5 or 6 kids walk up to your door and run away as soon as you open it. I'm not sure where they were going to go, Walter is much faster than they are. He just ran around with them. It was really funny. The scardy cats wanted away from him, and he wanted their candy. So he stuck his face as far into everyone's candy bag as he could get. Next year he will get a costume; this year was too busy. Maybe I'll dress him as a horse since he sorta has the figure already. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween.

Christmas Ornaments

I have been really busy today making ornaments. I promised Adam's aunt last year that this year I would make her ornaments for her Christmas party. Her theme is supposed to be a more Victorian style, with the pinks, golds and maroons. As you can see in the second picture I strayed from the color pallet just a little. I might have to make more that go better with the theme. She said I could use a little of the blues and greens, but I don't think they are the right shades. That's ok though, because I'm supposed to be making lots of ornaments really fast for an art fair Rachael and I might join in November. We still have not made up our minds. But I have lots of family that would love an ornament if the art fair doesn't work out. The second to last picture shows the mug I poured using the mold I made. It turned out pretty good. Looks better than some of the other things I have poured. The last picture demonstrates what happens when you don't clean up after yourself or along the way. It's in the basement though, so it's ok. No one has to see it but me and the kitties.

I was also busy today painting baseboards. Adam and I are trying to get everything done in the house that we've put off for so long. While Adam was putting in a small piece of the baseboard... using the air compressed nail gun, he managed to put a nail through two of his fingers. I guess it's pretty painful, something I would recommend trying to avoid at all costs. I felt very sorry for him. But it got me out of having to keep working. I went to the craft store and when I got back several hours later, Adam had finished the hallway. I don't think he will be doing that tomorrow though, his fingers are getting pretty big. I can't talk him into getting a tetanus shot, he thinks he is fine. Sure hope he changes his mind.

New Beds

When I was little we had a "looking room" it had white carpet, a white couch and mom's piano. It was the forbidden room. We just looked at it, so that it would always stay clean for company, because it was the first thing they saw when they walked into the house. My living room is not a looking room, but it could be because we never use it, we never go in there and it's the first thing you see when you walk into the house. But my kittys won't stay out. So when we know we are having company, we have to vacuum the cushions or pull the sheets off of the couches. I thought if I bought them both their own bed and put it in the window where the sun shines that they would stay off my white furniture. So far, so good. They seem to love their new beds. Ellie (the white one) especially loves hers. She sleeps in it all day long. Dea, the little devil still has a seat on the couch once in awhile, but not as much. I think she likes her new bed but she feels she has to remind me she's the boss.
Walter's bed is not new, he got that this summer while we were camping in Holland, but he's so cute. He loves his bed too.

Making a Mold (second try pic at end)

• First things first; you gotta build a wooden frame an inch or so bigger than the item.


• Then you need to find something to stick into the middle of your mug to create a hole at the top of the mold.



• Then you will need to pack clay on one half of the mug. Right down the middle with the handle on the side like it is shown in the picture. The two imaginary halves must be identical for the item to be able to slip out of the mold.



• Now place the mug in the center of the frame, push the round object that is inside the mug to the wall of the frame. This is going to be the opening when it's complete.



• Start packing clay around the mug, only covering the one half of the mug. Build up the clay around the opening area.



• Put water in your bucket first, followed by the potters plaster. Never the other way around (water to the powder). Add the powdered potters plaster to the water until it builds up and begins to stick out of the water. It should be just thicker than pancake batter.



• Everybody says you gotta stir it with your hand. Not sure why, but that's how it's supposed to be done. Stir it until all the lumps are gone. The lumps seem hard to get out at first, but if you just keep stirring, they will dissolve easily and pretty quick too.



• Spray your walls, mug and clay with Murphy's Oil Soap so that there is a thin layer on everything the plaster will stick to, then pour it in and cover up the mug up to about an inch or 2 over the mug.



• After about 20 min. take the sides of the box apart, it's easier to get to the clay this way; pull all the clay out.



• First half done. So far so good.

• Put your sides back together and pack the clay up around the opening of the mold. Blow all the dust out that slipped in while you were messing with the clay, (try not to spit your gum out when you do it). Spray again with Murphy's and make another batch of plaster; pour it over the top then when it has sat for a few minutes, about 20, you can take the walls off and try to split the two halves. That is the easy part. Getting the cup out was not so easy. I didn't have my clay exactly down the middle so I chipped the edges trying to pry it out of the mold. but I think I can pack it with clay before I use it. It almost looks like a real mold that I bought!

Here us round 2. I think it turned out better. The lines didn't get chipped as easily.