Good morning! Thanks again for stopping by for a cup. Is it nice enough to sit outside? It’s supposed to be another nice day, perhaps we can enjoy it before the rain comes. How’ve you been?
I’m at the point where I celebrate the end of every week, even every day, because it brings me closer to my hip surgery at the end of this month. I’ll try not to complain too much, but it’s consumed everything about my life since early September when things really started to get bad. Ugh. Such a pain, no pun intended.
How was your Halloween? Ours was quiet, not too many trick or treaters. We didn’t set up in the driveway with the fire pit like we normally do, just answered the door when they arrived, and got maybe a dozen kids. We did carve pumpkins (October 30th) which is CRAZY late for me, I like to do them at least a week in advance and light a candle every night up to and including Halloween. Bill did a wonderful replica of his tattoo he got in Sturgis and I went with my usual lack of creativity.
Then I settled in with my awesome Halloween throw my sister made me and watched my annual traditional movie. I have the 25th anniversary edition DVD and now it’s been 44 years. Wow.
The day of Halloween I noticed evidence of critter munching on my pumpkin, and it wasn’t long before we got footage of the culprit.
Now I’ll just leave them out for his dinner until they get really gross. I wish I could dump them in the woods somewhere as everyone on Facebook is suggesting, for the deer and other animals to eat. With my luck, I’d get busted for illegal dumping. I’d let them decompose in my garden, but I’m afraid they will attract other critters than squirrels. So, when they really get yucky I’ll pitch them, but until now, bon appetit, squirrels!
This weekend will be my first canning experiment as I whip up another jar of cowboy candy. This batch I promised my brother and they have to be canned in order to ship them. So I got all the equipment I need (I have no idea yet where I’m storing this huge pot) and will get that done probably later today. I can’t wait to hear how he likes them.
This is also my 5th straight post for Nano Poblano and I’d really like to finish the challenge this year! It’s always a fun time. I hope that November is eventful enough (in a good way) to keep this going.
I look forward to stopping by later today! I hope you’ve had a great week. Thank you as always to Natalie for hosting our Weekend Coffee Share!
Hi Kathleen,
We have only a few squirrels around us.
One has taken to climbing up on our roof and scampering back and forth over the vaulted portion, so we hear him scooting back and forth up there. I’ve not been able to figure out what up there attracts him because about the only thing it has to offer is the view.
In other news – Halloween was again a full bust for us. Our neighborhood up the street gets very few visitors and our home is well off the main road and it’s been years since anyone has ventured down our long driveway to visit the two homes down here. – so we have to buy our candy with no reasonable expectation of giving it out to trick or treaters.
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No reasonable expectation, I love it! Haha.. We had a squirrel pull away some siding and burrow his way into the roof of our dining room. Bill went out and nailed it shut with the squirrel inside and waited about an hour. When he pulled the nail and opened it, the squirrel shot out like a rocket. Ha! Bet he doesn’t try that again. Although he probably will.
We don’t get trick or treaters here (2 streets with no connection to the rest of the neighborhood without dealing with large, busy roads). It’s a bummer, because I love to decorate and hand out candy.
That squirrel is adorable. The squirrels and mice got all our fruits and veggies this year. Next year I’ll have to use netting.
Your jack o’ lantern is wonderfully creepy!
Thanks.. I didn’t do much decorating outdoors, but I did deck out the inside. It always makes my little spooky heart happy. I’m surprised the squirrels didn’t go after my garden this year. They will dig up small plants though. When I put my starts in I have to cover them with those plastic tents. Thanks for stopping by!
I completely missed your hip problem, I am sorry it bothers you, and great that you are getting help! The squirrel eating the pumpkin is so cute 🙂
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Thank you, I am counting the days.. Yes, the pumpkin looks quite awful now, but as we were turning into our driveway, I saw him having dinner again so I’m glad he’s eating.
How adorable that squirrel is eating the pumpkin. Great photos.
I know, I could not even be mad at him! LOL
Great pumpkin carving and also great footage of the cute squirrel. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Thank you, I NEVER have any original ideas when it comes to pumpkin carving. Guess I should try planning ahead a bit.
Fun photos! Cute squirrel! I can’t do scary movies though. My roommate and I watched “Nightmare before Christmas” instead. Cheers!
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I love that movie too!
Hi Kathleen – I’m so pleased for you that the hip countdown is on and you’ll be heading towards being pain free in the not too distant future. Those last few weeks are so tough and I sympathize with you – but soon you’ll be on the other side and on the mend. It’s such a lovely place to be after all that grinding pain.
Loved your squirrel visitors (we don’t have squirrels anywhere here – or deer for that matter) so I always think of them as cute (and not as annoying rats that some people describe them as when they’re being destructive). I guess our equivalent would be possums.
I am so happy I got my medical clearance today from my doc. One more hurdle in my rearview mirror. 21 more days. Yes, I love our wildlife, we have a resident rabbit that we see in our backyard too. It’s been a while, but we’ve also had possum and once we saw a raccoon scramble down our maple tree after dark.
Cowboy candy? Now that sounds interesting (something I will have to google….) And isn’t it wonderful that we can enjoy our coffee outside? This weather has been amazing lately! Hard to be mad at that cute squirrel!:)
Yes! We’re blessed with another warm Fall day today. Yeah, I couldn’t be mad at him. He was one of those gray ones with an adorable white belly. I LOVED the cowboy candy and will be making it again next year. Here is the recipe I used. https://bellyfull.net/candied-jalapenos-cowboy-candy/
I’m sure you’re anxious to get your hip surgery…will be thinking of you. The pumpkin and squirrel are so cute. A friend of mine just made cowboy candy. I had never heard of it.
I fell in love with it! I’ll be planting more jalapenos next year for sure. I really cannot WAIT until recovery. Thank you..
Lovely photo of the squirrel. The advice here is to roast the pumpkin seeds and leave them out as a treat for the wildlife rather than just dump the pumpkins.
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🙂 If I go to the trouble of roasting them I will probably eat them myself!