Happy Halloween-Pumpkins of years past

MAKING JACK O' LANTERNS

Just take a golden pumpkin
Of quite the largest size,
Cut all 'round the stem, just so,
Scrape out the inside below,
And cut two holes for eyes.
And now fix a nose beneath,
And such a great big mouth with teeth,
And you've a jack-o'-lantern!

Then fix a tallow candle,
Just big enough to light,
And when it flickers, see him blink,
And when it flares up, see him wink
And smile so broad and bright.
This is the jolliest sort of a fellow,
With cheery face so round and yellow,
This funny jack-o'-lantern.

-Anonymous

Happy Halloween!

This holiday is one of our favorites and we always celebrated with carving pumpkins and decorating our house for the trick or treat kids to feel welcomed coming by. This year I feel a bit sad. With our upcoming move we don't have the time to decorate since we are getting our house situated for movers to come through and pack us, plus I did not want to fight trying to take frozen decorations off our deck and yard. Our boys are at the age where trick or treating is not the an event for them anymore they enjoy giving out the candy and so I promised them a Halloween party when we move into our new home for the future Halloween to come.

I did want to share some of our pumpkins from the past. We always loved carving them as a family and even when Bo would be gone the boys and I would still put our skills to the test. :)

Here is a look back at some of our pumpkins.
2004


2005



2006- The boys and I were so proud of this set. We carved it without Daddy around since he was gone for a military schooling.


2007


Last year I wasn't able to take pictures of our pumpkins before they became a frozen ball outside since it was in the negatives for Halloween last year. This year we just set up some fall decorations in the house like last year. Plus I have Pumpkin Spice candles burning in the house so the spirit is in the air.





When we get back stateside we will also take part in a tradition of going to the pumpkin farms for their festivals, corn mazes and picking out our fresh pumpkins.

This is Gentry Farms in Tennessee where we took the kids when they were younger.

















Enjoy your Halloween. Be safe trick or treating, on the road and at Halloween parties!

HALLOWE'EN

The ghosts of all things past parade,
Emerging from the mist and shade
That hid them from our gaze,
And, full of song and ringing mirth,
In one glad moment of rebirth,
And again they walk the ways of earth
As in the ancient days.

The beacon light shines on the hill,
The will-o'-wisps the forests fill
With flashes filched from noon;
And witches on their broomsticks spry
Speed here and yonder in the sky,
And lift their strident voices high
Unto the Hunter's Moon.

The air resounds with tuneful notes
From myriads of straining throats,
All hailing Folly Queen;
So join the swelling choral throng,
Forget your sorrow and your wrong,
In one glad hour of joyous song
To honor Hallowe'en!

-John Kendrick Bangs

Happy Halloween!!

Winter has arrived....

We were pretty lucky to start our October with beautiful fall weather this year. Last year it was already snowing in September. We had bets on whether or not Halloween would be snow free but just as everyone thought that we woke up to a winter wonderland the beginning of the week. I don't mind this time of year when the snow is just falling, it is pretty outside and the temperature is still warm. I do not like though the slippery roads and the drivers out there that are not cautious.

I am trying to take in every moment and day I am still here. This is my hometown and it will be hard to say goodbye to it once again because of a military move. But I am excited at the same time that we are heading to another beautiful state. Kentucky to most people is the Kentucky Derby and horse farms. Well it is but the landscape there despite how different it is from the majestic mountains here in Alaska is beautiful in its own right. I love the rolling hills and the barns. Now that I have a better camera and love to go out and take pictures, I am already thinking of those foggy mornings and barns with the rows of corn around them and the fall maple leaves in autumn through my view finder. It will be another change for my family but we are ready for it.

Here in Alaska, while states are still experiencing temperatures in the 80's, we have snow. It has fallen now and will stay, covering the pine trees and our backyards.

It was snowing this day with overcast skies as the snow covered the Pine and Birch trees in our backyard. This is what I see out my bedroom window.


Other days when the sun shines it illuminates the trees.






I love how the snow sparkles in the sun.


I will miss this little tree in front of our deck. I love how the sun illuminates the tree. This little area always seems to attract the Moose. I will miss their visits too.



In thinking of snow I asked Bo to make me some beads that resembled little snowballs.

This set was made with clear glass with Silver Lake Frit over it.





This bracelet was made with a light blue glass with the Silver Lake frit.




I am trying not to think of the things I will already miss before even moving...*SIGH* but here are a few...

My backyard visitors.


The Races.


Ice Art Championships


Creamer's Field




And just Alaska itself and her scenic landscape.

Thankfully I documented our 3 years here with tons of pictures. You can view most of them on my flikr site.

For now I will enjoy the sunshine and warm temps for Alaska.

On my way home from picking up the boys at wrestling practice I took the long way home and skirted the river. I caught it when the sun was setting and it cast a glow off the trees.

Moments in Time...

The month of October has flown by and now we will be celebrating Halloween. My kids are at the age where trick or treating is not a "cool" thing anymore but we love giving out candy. :) This year we were planning an actual Halloween party at our house but since we had word of our move we have been busy with going through the house to situate it for the movers to come in and pack us up. So I guess our first Halloween party will be at our new place next year.

As time keeps on ticking moments in our lives come and go. I always try to capture them at least in pictures because they are memories.

October came with many of those moments.

October 1st my husband was pinned his Captain rank. After being in the military for 18 years and 14 of those being enlisted this was a huge event for him and our family. The sacrifices we made for his career and all the moves came down to this one moment of being honored in front of 70 plus people to receive his rank. Since this will probably be the last one the kids are around for, we gave them the honor to be the one to strip his old rank and pin his new one.





Jared stripping his old rank.


Nick pinning his new rank on.








We are very grateful for the life we have lived. The military lifestyle is not always an easy one to be in but we have learned a lot, met great people and have grown as a family, and have been handed opportunities that we would have never encountered. We thank everyone who has been a part of our life and who has helped us grow and who has always supported not only my husband but also his whole family throughout our years.

As football ended for my boys. Wrestling season started. Jared was one of their lightweight wrestlers and jump back and forth from Varsity to JV depending on having a match or not. This week the head coach was able to talk Nick into getting back into it and so he too is on the team now and I cannot wait to take pictures of both of them wrestling.

The boys on Homecoming morning for their high school football.



Jared in his wrestling warm ups.



Days of duals against other schools they dress up. :)


October then ended with our Annual Holly Days Bazaar here on Ft. Wainwright. I have participated in it for 3 years now and have grown to enjoy the company of other artists and repeat customers and friends that stop by to say hello. This year was the best I have had out of the others but it was bitter sweet knowing this was my last bazaar here.

This was our table the second day of the bazaar. We had Bo's lampwork earrings and bracelets and pendants, my fused glass jewelry and I also had metalwork jewelry with silver, copper and brass.




Bo and I at our booth at the Holly Days Bazaar


We want to once again thank all our family, friends and repeat customers for your support of our work. We put the bar higher for every year and progress as artists because of your support. Thank you so much!

I know I have a lot to catch up on...just wanted to drop some eye candy before I leave this entry on some of the pieces that were at the bazaar.

Fused pendants


Fused glass rings


Fused Earrings


Bobby Pins


Metalwork earrings






Bo's lampwork bracelets







Earrings







Soon I will post more of my recent work. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
We have officially started winter here so I have to take my time driving on our icy roads here to get the boys and run errands.

Until next time.....