Merry Christmas morning...

This is always fun with little ones in the house.... We didn't do much for each other (not really), but it's fun to watch the kids be excited. Leslie and Scott were down from MA, but had to drive up to his folks for breakfast later. Nice to see them both!

I got a GPS unit from Leslie and I got a great box from Scott! A REAL 'Gully' box!

I'll explain the 'gully' box. I always made sure I put granola bars, water, etc. in the car for a road trip, other than around town. This was in case we got run off the road and ended up in the Gully (hence the name), so we could live for a few days. Sometimes it's a joke in the family, make sure you have gully food (as we send people off).... Just a few in your pocket or front seat or wherever, nothing formal you see. Well, Scott got me a 'formal gully box'. Inside was the traditional granola bars (lots), bottled water, army knife scissors, seat belt cutter (who'd have thought?), a wind-up flashlight (no batteries needed) and two books... The Worse Case Scenario survival Book, and the Worse Case Scenario Survival Book, Extreme Edition. What a HOOT!

Accomplishments

Hey, the ornaments are put away....! Off to get a haircut, then up to sew!! If I shower really quick, I might get some sewing in on the few leaders/enders I put together....(part of yesterdays cutting up....)

The nice thing is that I am throwing lots of 'stuff' (boxes, stuff that should have been thrown away a while ago, clothes to the Goodwill stores, stuff in my car that will go to work on Monday, etc)...

Christmas Eve, oh yeah, and organizing...

Today I had the house to myself and I planned to organize the ornaments before putting them away. You see, we had a small flood in the cellar on Christmas Eve. Okay, I'll back up.

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have my family all get together for dinner. Since my Dad died (1993), my siblings decided to 'share' the hosting of the dinner so Mom wouldn't be overwhelmed. This year was our turn. Since our house is so little, I 'borrow' my Mom's house, and bring all the food and everything there. I had to work half a day, so I went out to mom's the night before, prepared anything I could ahead of time, stayed overnight and went to work in the morning. Then I came back to her house and finished the preparations. It rained this year... a lot. I'm very grateful that I had offers of help from my sister (dip and dessert), sister-in-law (jello dish), my daughter and her beau (salad and dessert) and my mom (gingerbread, and all her help cleaning and set up). We had a great dinner (although I 'fudged' a recipe and it didn't exactly come out right) and some fun games.... I had 106 Christmas trivia questions and teamed everyone playing up by age. Niece Kathy and I won. Also had those HUGE picture pages (Where's Waldo?) that were "Where's Santa?", each person playing had their own sheet and they had to find all the items in the photo (there was a list and boxes to check off of items hidden in the pictures). Niece Kathy won, again...(who invited HER?? LOL) and the last game we played was a sheet of 24 different Christmas songs depicted by cartoon pictures, you had to figure them out. Not sure who won that one (I think my daughter Leslie). By the end of the evening, we said our goodbyes to all and we bundled all my stuff in the car and headed home. Dear hubby had to acolyte at the 11pm church service, so he'd be home later.

As we got in the house and put things away, we noticed the foundation wall was drenched!! and the closet space behind it was slightly flooded. Not sure where the water was coming in from, but figured nothing else was too wet (upstairs closet, dry... ). We soaked up the water with towels, prayed it would stop raining, then went upstairs to finished wrapping gifts (Hey, I've been busy...), open up the couch for daughter and beau, put the presents under the tree, then head up to bed (it's now 1am).

Thankfully, the boxes that got soaked, didn't have anything in them that got ruined, but I think I'll buy plastic tubs to store the ornaments from now on. They are presently in small boxes, stored into bigger boxes... on the floor... in that little closet space that got flooded. Hence, the reorganizing.

Since I was using the sewing room as Santa's workshop, it was a disaster! Definitely NOT getting much sewing in, but I will eventually. (I have the week off from work). So, the plan for today was, I'll check on the 300+ emails and clear most of them out, just until 11am, then write my Christmas letter and send out the Christmas cards I hadn't sent beforehand (gee, I'm getting later and later every year) til noon, then do ornaments.

Well, in checking the emails, I got excited about the Happy Blocks (4.5"squares) on the Heartstring website, so I went up to 'just cut up a few'.... that's when the cleaning and clearing out of the sewing room happened! I did cut up about 10 squares, but I got so much of my strings/strips cut and organized, I actually remembered I had a card table up there!! Haven't seen it in months, it's been covered so by all sorts of stuff! Even organized a few of the 'scrap' boxes, as they were overflowing. Boy, do I feel good! HUGE accomplishment!

Okay, the Christmas letter will get written tomorrow and the cards sent out by the new year. AND the ornaments, too.

Almost Queen of UFOs AGAIN!

As a member of Stashbusters, I am on the UFO challenge and needed to make SOMETHING from my UFOs and move it off my list, before the 26th (today)-- I had a week-- before I was queen. Since I needed to explain my plight as to why they weren't getting done, I wrote a cute little 'ditty'.... here it is.

Oh no..... I can't be the queen! I'm just a scullery maid and I have so much to do with THE impending royal event!! I CAN'T be queen!! I can't be....

Even in this age of non-chivalry, won't someone come to my rescue?

Just three days of work, then I'm moved up to Cook for the Royal Christmas Eve dinner. The menus been planned (sort of), but the feathers not plucked (must I do THAT to?) The master's not demanding, but the peasant's aren't much help since they've become sharecroppers in another kingdom. I don't want to have to make a potholder, but I WILL! (Maybe I can use it for the 'dinner' I'm to prepare?...hmmmm.)

You see, I wasn't always a scullery maid.... I once had a sewing room of my own. In the tower.

I once had my garments all hung up with care, I admit that my ufo drawer's never bare, but I did have site of my sewing to do, but presents invaded my space ...what to do?

You see, gifts for the Royal event had to hide, Asked the peasants "Are they in there?", "No", I had lied. But it kept me from sewing and that I regret, I had items to make for the event that was set!

And then came the news, proclamation of sorts, I was soon to be Queen. Me? with my worts?? It couldn't be true, For I am not noble. Better sew something quick, or I'm in big trouble! (almost rhymes, doesn't it?)

'Sew' in there I went, fought the boxes and bags, and wrapped a few gifts and I wrote out the tags. Then I snuck those few gifts to the dungeon below, (They would go to a party, in a fortnight, just those. )

But once those were gone, I'd have space, yes, I would! I might manage to sew... a finish is good. For the UFO Queen, I was soon to become. I'll find thread, some old project, make my sewing machine hum.

My UFOs, I have 14. Many were done this year. Just nothing was recently worked on, I fear. My oldest is ancient, since 2004. Anything older I've thrown out the door.

I have just a week, what's the fastest to make? Some quilting? a binding? Oh I'm starting to shake!

Do I have something fast? I don't think so, I'm doomed! Can I make a potholder? To the tower I zoomed! I shall proclaim my performance, whether valiant or fail, Pray for help from the peasants, no matter how much they wail!

Do I have just one block an old project can spare? Can I sew it up quick? Do I hope, do I dare? I now must be off, the countdown begins. We will see what award this scullery maid wins.

Hope you enjoyed my Royal tale 'ditty', Took up sewing time to write it, and make it look pretty. So off I must go, like a flash down the hall. Hope your holiday's bright, Merry Christmas to all!

Wreaths Across America

I've always seen the clip on the news regarding the Wreaths Across America ceremonies every December. This year I decided to attend the ceremony at Hillstown Cemetery in Manchester, CT. This ceremony was started 15 yrs ago in Harrington, ME and this year they plan to place 10,000 wreaths on veterans headstones. They had 13 tractor-trailers head out this year and they will end up in Arlington Cemetery for a ceremony on a Sat in December.

The CT Rolling Flags, Inc. had a contingency at our local cemetery. In speaking with the veterans that were there, I learned this group had led the tractor-trailers once they got into CT with stops at Stonington, Old Saybrook, and Darien, CT.

Then they came back to participate at this cemetery in Mancester.

This memoriam to Cindy Beaudoin was painted on the hood of one of the trucks in the contingency.

Sherry Pratt-Totten, a member of the local DAR led the cemermony. What I didn't know until now was that 'this exact ceremony' was happening all across the nation EXACTLY AT THE SAME TIME. Whether at noon on the east coast, in Arlington, or at 9am in CA,... the Pledge of Allegience was said at the same time, the minute of silence (exactly one minute) adhered to, AT THE SAME TIME, and the same things were said to honor our fallen veterans. There were not too many people there, but from the conversations spoken before the ceremony, some of these people had participated before. Every branch was represented, along with the POWs.

... this sailor was from the Naval Reserves...

Even a mom/wife of a veteran placed a wreath in her loved one's honor.

Some were very quiet as they proceeded forward to the memorial,

many saluted.... I felt very special to be a part of this honored tradition and plan to do this again next year.

First Ice Storm of the year?

Well, kind of.... It didn't hit where we are, but I called my daughter in MA and they lost power at 2am. They don't expect to get power back until Sunday or Monday.

Anyone remember the Ice Storm of '73?

Quilt Bingo Mtg

Our Peace by Piece Quilters met for our last mtg of the year... I decided to have some fun. We all were to make 'bingo cards' from 2.5" squares (10.5" block). I brought dessert and prizes and we really did have a fun time. A baby quilt kit was the grand prize for covering the whole card and was won by Margaret M (and she had a baby in the family to make it for).

We did cut batting for a few of our new tops that have been made and some were taken home for members to put together. Not sure how much will get done, with everyone being busy this month. I have only put together a couple using the envelope-style method, and of course, it didn't work very well. I didn't catch all the edges and turned it inside out (several times) and darned if I didn't catch enough AGAIN! I took it home and while watching Survivor, I ripped it all out. I'll reposition it and try again. Or maybe just SITD and bind it.

Back to quilting!... sort of...

Well, I must get into the sewing room, if nothing more to at least make my DGD's pillowcases. I wrap their gifts in them (actually stuff them) for each gift giving occasion. I ran out of really good kids material for the bodies (yes, I REALLY did..... and besides I had a gift certificate I never spent for $50.00-- might as well use it up), so I went to Clover Hill Quilts .

I picked up a few really cute fabrics and only had to throw in $11 extra. GREAT bargain! And I plan to make something from most all that I bought. It was nice to see Lisa Salonia is the new owner!! Congrats on the purchase of the store. Good Luck, sweetie...

I bought some really interesting material that made me name the quilt before I even have the other fabrics picked out..... "Rainy Days and Mondays". I'll post a photo of that one later....

I even made a few bags for the prizes (our quilting group at church is having a quilt bingo game on Monday), made a few extra bingo cards in case someone forgets theirs.....

then decided to organize the Xmas fabrics neatly before putting them away

Check out the clock in my sewing room. I got it in Zoinks in Boston.

It's perfect for the mood I'm in while sewing.... I don't what time it is. It's my 'peaceful zone"...

But now 'Squirt' is home and I have to sneak back to the sewing room. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to work instead of keeping him out of "Santa's workshop" aka my sewing room.

Two Detours from Quilting

Just for the lack of photos in my Thanksgiving posts, I'm posting the 'leftovers' for the visual effect.

Okay, I debated whether to put this on my blog, but I think it needs to be out there. Let me preface it by saying I'm really a good cook. Okay, ... be real,... a great cook when I try (I had a GREAT teacher, ..mom). And yes, I'm modest, but also know I love to cook, so I enjoy it.

Thanksgiving in our house was on Friday (read the posts below), but since DH had to work, it wouldn't be until 6:30pm or so. Mom came over early in the day to help. I had pre-prepared things... cooking the onion, apple and celery for the stuffing ahead,... cutting up oranges- in half with the crown cut in the tops (these would hold my cranberry relish- not displayed in those orange crowns here, of course), etc.. ahead of time. Now that mom was over, I could start working on the dinner stuff. Of course the priority is stuffing the bird. I make a sausage stuffing, so I yanked out the bulk sausage, cornbread stuffing, broth, etc. and threw everything in my largest bowl (you need 'mixing space', you know). I stuffed the bird and put the leftover stuffing in a dish to cook separately and shoved everything into the oven. Whew! That's the hard part! Well, it IS!

(Edible Arrangement... boy, it was good!)

Unfortunately, (or fortunately) 6 minutes later, while rearranging things in the frig (pulling things off the back step-- it was cold enough out there-- to fill the space opened up by the bird being taken out), I discovered a container with...... ready? THE ONION/CELERY/APPLE MIXTURE!!!!

You never saw anyone whip out a turkey from the oven so fast! I gotta dig, scoop ... dig out the stuffing, ouch, didn't know a bird could start heating up that fast in the oven. Darn! What a ding-bat I am!! And I stuff BOTH cavities! It was gonna taste so much better with the 'moist' ingredients in it. Once I 're-stuffed the bird, ignoring my mom's laughter, back it went into the oven.... There! That's better.....

(This is 'Slumgullion'- like shepard's pie)

BTW, the dinner was delicious, even the stuffing! AMEN!

Second detour, I needed to make a few pillowcases for the Xmas gifts I bought on BF, for the granddaughters. I have a little bit of material that would be appropriate for their ages, 6, 4, 2, but not enough to make them Sunday. Need to hit a fabric store, I guess.... oh, Darn, THAT'S too bad. {:-) The quilting stuff will have to wait. I do have to finish making a few of the quilt 'bingo cards' for our church mtg on Dec 8th (Mon). Also, to make sure I have some prizes for the game. That's another post in Nov.

PS to the post below....

My alarm DID end up going off..... just not when I was there! Poor Hubby, who is a light sleeper, said he spent quite a while hitting all kinds of buttons in the dark to shut the #$@!* thing off!! LOLOLOLOLLLLL

Real Black Friday Virgin

Okay, Maybe the title of this post is misleading, since I have gone shopping on Black Friday, but I was in the stores by 7am. That doesn't really count, does it? Not after reading this post, okay? I just wish I'd brought my camera.

While at my sister's house on Thanksgiving (for dessert), Black Friday happened to be a subject that came up in conversation. (I'd gone early, just once, with my daughter Leslie, but not REALLY early. After all, I'm up usually at 5:30-6:30am every day, sans alarm clock.) Not ever slept out/camped out at the stores. Not even stood on those lonnngggggg lines! Til this year. A friend asked my husband "What's the chance that Nancy will make it out of the house AND be at Kohl's at 4am when they opened their doors?" When my husband made a 'zero' with his fingers, that clinched it for me!

I set my alarm (haven't used the alarm in YEARS, and did it without my glasses) for 3:15am, since I didn't have to do anything but 'throw' my clothes on and head out the driveway, ... and Kohl's is only 6-7 minutes from the house. I was so nervous that I'd oversleep and my DH would hear the alarm first, that I woke up on my own at 2:45am. I think I shut the alarm off, to keep it from going off later (in the dark, still no glasses on), snuck downstairs (DH is such a light sleeper), had my clothes on (no bra and no deodorant--Hey, I had on a sweatshirt!- am I sharing too much?) and was in the car by 3:25am. THIS was GOOD! Driving on the highway (two exits away) was a breeze- not much traffic at all,... a few trucks, but really nothing.

Kohl's is about 1/8th of a mile off the exit ramp, just on the other side of the Toyota dealer (which you are next to as you get to the end of the ramp). Once I got in sight of Kohl's store (at 3:35am, I might add), I realized why no one was on the highway.... THEY WERE ALL AT KOHL'S!! The parking lot, in front, was completely full! Along the side, it wasn't any better, as maybe 1/2--2/3 was full, also. I found a spot quickly enough, but the line was already along the front and down the side almost to the middle of this HUGE store! I would have jumped in line immediately, but -- I spied a 'lunch truck' right in front of the store...BREAKFAST! I didn't have my tea (or even grab a coffee to go) before I left and having breakfast, even a bagel, would have slowed me down, because you see, I wanted to BE at Kohl's early. So, I got a coffee AND a bagel breakfast sandwich (that's a treat!), with egg cheese and bacon!! Whooo Hooo! (I even knew the lunch truck ladies, since they used to come to our workplace in the next town over). Well, now... this could be fun!

I ate breakfast in line and it was done by the time the line started moving into Kohl's, ... I headed into the store, grabbed the GPS unit I was contemplating ($76.00), got a few other items on their Early bird sales and saw a 'WonderPets FlyBoat" for a GS , snagged it, then got in line. The LONG line. The one that you have to wait in if you want to check out. THE ONE LONG LINE!! But, in comparison to where I went next, this line actively moved... slowly, but it moved. I chatted with the lady in front of me, off and on, and even though I was getting tired on carrying my selections in my arms all the time (forget getting a carriage when you get in the store, they never have enough on a normal day), I managed to ask her to pick something off a rack we just passed and add it to my pile (for my mom). I even asked one of the 'line managers' to put a few pairs of 'something' (can't say in case the kids read this blog) on my pile. Okay, NOW I can't see much over the pile! One item, I had clutched under my armpit (and it goes to the floor!). I'd been hiking this 'thing' (can't tell you what, again) up and down, clunking it under my armpit, moving along in the line and it's starting to irritate me, BUT it's a GREAT sale, so .... oh, well, I'm almost at the registers. The cashiers have 'pom-poms' to shake to alert the 'line manager' they are open, and we got 'herded to the next open one'..... It moved along rather well, I thought (and I complimented the management on the 'breakfast trunk AND their system of handling the line inside....VERY nice experience!)

Okay, off to the next store.... and it's only 4:51am! Not bad timing, eh? (So I thought)

Up the road and into the 'mall area' (that should have told me something), I headed to Walmart. I always hear the horror stories of the line at Walmart, but I forgot how early it was. They didn't open until 5am, so the lines were actively in place. I thought Kohl's was long.....HA! What was deceiving, was that the line LOOPED (ever been to Disney? or in a queue at the movies?) a few times on the 'blind' side of the store. And what you COULD see from the parking lit was already long enough! Okay, in I went (to the line).... and once the store opened, the line went VERY quickly!! I got a few items (one for DH, since he needed this item - as his present one, died the other day- still can't tell you all yet), another GPS unit (Garmin, $97.00 this time- I'll compare them and return one) and headed for the register at the back of the store( I was parked near this exit door-- at the farthest end, but near here). This experience was one that I will say, I won't ever do again, ... at least not HERE anyway!

At the back near the garden area, one of two registers died! The human lines converged, Oh, GOD!.... Then some of the people started heading back through our line (what now!) with their bagged stuff. I guess the store people weren't opening the outside doors beyond the registers, so you had to weave yourself, with bags, through the craziness of the store to the doors at the front!! Oh, Hell, if that's the case, I'm going in the front lines (BIG MISTAKE). I must have stood in a line (in the front,... yeah right) FOREVER!! We 'inched (and I mean inched!) our way along this ling line and once I was able to see the registers.....OMG... the 'sea of humanity'!! I wish I had an aerial view of the 25 lines of humans converging to the 18 registers!! Standing in line, at some point, I heard someone say the back doors were now opened but I wasn't moving!! Not Again!

I DID make it out alive, but I vowed to NEVER do that store again! No matter WHAT is on sale! I even warned a few people in the parking lot that were headed for the entrance, of the check-out lines! But the nice thing, ... I was home by 6:45am! And I got gifts for 7-8 on my list. And I was fed.

Long post, but hope you enjoyed my adventure... I can now say, I've done "Black Friday" the way you should!

Thanksgiving Traditions

Here we are on the eve of a great holiday... where we have been doing a 'new' tradition, thanks to the girls. About 5 years ago, the daughters were spending the holidays with their respective boyfriends, and I couldn't see any reason to make a huge holiday dinner (is there any other, but huge?) for just Lee and I.

Lee & I went to our church's Thanksgiving eve service where they Bless bread that each family brings to the service and you take a loaf home. As I was waiting for Lee to disrobe from his acolyte robes, I glanced at the bulletin board near the door and read that a local bread co. needed volunteers for Thanksgiving Day. They sell their bread til noon all for charity. The nice thing is that the bread co building is 'just shy of' the finish line of our annual Turkey Day Race in town. We could always make Turkey Dinner on Friday when the girls were home. ... And the tradition started.

We've had a blast ever since. We get to see people in town, and those who've moved away, but came home for the holidays, and international runners (Kenya, Ireland, etc) and of course, since the main attraction is the race, we get to step outside (the owners remain inside to mind the register) and cheer the runners on....!!

We'll still have our dinner on Friday this year, with Leslie and Scott coming down from MA, and my mom's coming. (I'm most thankful for having my mom in my life still..... she's 80 yrs old and really spunky. Thank God for that!) Julie and Kai will be home, too. This year Les will be bringing dessert, mom is bringing squash and coleslaw & bars. Lee's work will provide the turkey this year (their gift to employees), so my day will be light. Can't wait to relax.....

Quilting Accomplishments

Last week we had a mtg of the Peace by Piece Quilters (at my church). We got a lot done, but the nice thing was that we had 4 quilts Blessed at our 10am Sunday service. (I never seem to get a chance to finish them in time to make it to the announcement part of the 7:30am service, and it's too bad because a lot of the ladies in the group go to that service. Anyways, I announced that we had one going out to a 2 yr old on Charlotte's Garden who's very sick, but that we had a few quilts with no particular homes to go to... yet. Well, a few people to come up to me right after the service and some (very shyly) asked if it would be okay to request one for someone they knew. Of course! That's what we do!!

As of Monday, this one went to the 2 yr old (Critters in the Grass- above and the quilting on the back is by one of our angels, Mary Johnson in MN),

This one went to a lady with MS who has been having a hard time with her illness AND the home health aides she's had ... she now has NEW aides and will be getting our quilt (Heart Echoes), too,

This one went to a man (co-worker of a parishioner) who has been dealing with several health issues. His family is dealing with it as much as he is, so ...off goes another quilt (quilted with 'Angel Wings")

Another went to a little 9-month old boy in town who has neurofibromytosis (Space Odyssey)

This also has the Angel Wings quilted into this. The quilting was done by one of the other of OUR angels, Laura McCarrick.

Another one, "Clifford" was given to the sister of a parishioner, a 44 yr old who just got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Boy does it feel great for all of us to be able to bring peace to so many people who don't even know us... so peaceful.

I'm so ALIVE!!

Hubby came home earlier than expected and I rushed from the computer to prepare him for the 'bad news'.... When I told him what happened, he said, "So? That's okay... we can just glue it. Not a problem... it's fixable.

Whew! I love that man! :-*

I'm SO Dead!

You ever do something you know just got you in deep doo-doo with your favorite spouse(actually, my only one)....?

My hubby's favorite pinewood derby racer (the Penny Racer) was up on my bookcase (next to my chair at the computer). The operative word was "WAS"! I went to get something in the bookshelf that was a little too tightly in there, and in the process I 'nudged' the bookcase and something whizzed down from the top! =;0

YUP! You guessed it.... the Penny Racer.

And he's not home yet........

ooooh, I'm so dead.... The only thing that I hope saves me is the fact that when we were playing cards with my mom last night, he said I was a 'wicked good woman"! ;-)

I hope he remembers that.

I put it in front of his computer. Hope he can get it tweaked back in it's original shape.

:-(

My dream car....1954 Jaguar XK140 Roadster

My dear hubby found these photos of my favorite car.... enjoy the short drive.

Quilting Bingo

This is my bingo card. It's made up of 2.5" squares (25 of them) to make a 10.5" block. Each column is a color, although two of the columns are dual colors, with a black print in the middle.

Quilting Bingo is the game I'm having the ladies in my quilting group play when we meet in December. It was in the Fons and Porter "Love of Quilting" magazine, Sept/Oct 2006 issue. I printed out the calling cards

and they have one month (until our Dec mtg) to make their Bingo Card out of their (and my) stash.

Now I have to decide what to get for funky prizes....on limited funds. I'll bring my button box for those who don't have buttons to use to mark their squares.

Halloween capers!

This year Lee talked me into leaving our humble abode on Halloween night to go see the granddaughters. I LOVE this holiday and the tradition is to hand out candy, but keep track of how many kids came to the house. I think the most we've ever had was 61!

Well, this year, we went a few towns away and got to see the granddaughters (and gs Zackary, for HIS 1st Halloween!) Hubby Lee even dressed up in his acolyte outfit.

As we walked around their neighborhood, some people that we ran into actually called Lee, "Father'....thinking he was a priest...LOL

His son, Scott got to wear his glow-in-the-dark glasses and his daughter's wings that he'd painted with neon paint- she gave up on them, I think.

Even the females got in the fun! Our daughter Amber and DIL Diana (in the mask) had some laughs...

There is a family who carts some of the neighborhood families around in their wagon, pulled by a tractor. It was fun to see them go by... we also got to see the 'college kid's house' and the haunted cemetery in front of it.

The girls were dressed cutely...The Princess and the "Bee" (pun intended).

Anaka (in the middle) wouldn't let go of that donut hole for anything, but check out the extra photos link at the end of this post for what her big sister did to finally get a photo without the munchkin being in front of her mouth! LOL

Grandson Kai looked very debonaire with his swash-buckling outfit on. His mom Julie and her friend Andrew took him around our own neighborhood and over to see her dad on the other side of town.

It's great to have a 'stash of fabric upstairs, which is where the bandana and the sash came from. The pirate outfit originally belonged to Kai's Aunt Leslie when she was two or three. The striped pants were previously a skirt, but I sewed an upside-down "V" in the bottom to make them pants. Check out more Halloween photos.