Thursday, October 31, 2013

All Hallow's Eve



We don't do much as far as anything celebratory for this holiday, except maybe eat a little more candy than normal.  In our nearly 18 years in our home, we have never received even a single trick-or-treater, but I usually buy some candy, just in case.  :)  My friend Claudia buys dilly bars and buster bars from Dairy Queen - maybe I should visit her this year...


Well, we've just returned from our trip to the beach.  The weather was absolutely glorious!  I couldn't possibly have wished for anything better.  The house was clean, open, bright, had amazing ocean views and the bed was comfortable.  We had a fire in the fireplace almost continuously and left the doors open to enjoy the fresh, coastal breeze.  I wore shorts and flip flops for walking on the beach.  Yep, the end of October in shorts and a sweatshirt.  There was just a trace of a breeze and we enjoyed every single minute of our time away.  The only fly in the ointment to an otherwise perfect holiday was, the hot tub.  It wasn't heating and I just tried it out briefly the first evening.  84 degrees is just not warm enough for a good soak.  This is the second time I've rented a vacation home with a non-working hot tub.  Just my luck.  I made up for it with long, hot showers...even took Ruby in with me once, and I think she enjoyed it.  Well, she felt much better after the showering part was finished anyway.  She was a sandy, ocean-smelling mess.  The dogs had a blast, of course.  Long walks on the beach, running through the surf, chasing seagulls and wayward bunny rabbits - what could be better?




I must have been in need of some rest because I went to bed early each evening and slept in every morning.  We ate all our meals in, except for one night out for fish and chips.  We even baked chocolate chip cookies.  Why is it that I never mind cooking while I'm on holiday?  I read a book, browsed magazines, watched movies and had several long, enjoyable and relaxing walks on the beach.  And of course, I took lots and lots of pictures.  Very low-key and exactly what we needed.  What a wonderful way to end a perfectly beautiful October.  I can hardly believe that tomorrow begins November.  Wow, where does the time go?  Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here and then Christmas...good grief!  I don't want to even think about Christmas yet.  It's depressing for me to think about how very commercialized it's become.  I always feel like Christmas is force fed to us all by being crammed down our throats...buy, buy, buy.  Hurry, hurry, hurry...don't let the holidays sneak up on you!  Bah-humbug!  Not this gal, I'll enjoy my Christmas slowly and without going into debt.  Thank you very much.  But I digress...







Apparently, we had some very cold nights and mornings in our valley while we were away.  My Nasturtiums which had completely overtaken the front porch, except a tiny entry spot near the front door, are shriveled up and dying.  Hopefully the plants underneath them were protected from the freeze and will survive.  And the horses!  In just a few days time, they have really gotten woolly.  And fat.  Our caretakers did not spare the groceries, and they like it just fine.  I've always said that I'd rather they be overfed, than underfed while we're gone.  Keep them happy and satisfied and they're less likely to look for mischief.  That's how we like to believe anyway.  So far it's always worked in our favor.

 












We'll see you next year October!  It's been grand!!

Stay safe everyone...Happy Halloween!!  

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Gorgeous pics!!!!!! Glad you had fun.

Carolynn Anctil said...

The ocean and warm breezes seem very far away at the moment. We've had below freezing temperatures and snow for several days now. I'm not enjoying it and am cocooning inside most of the time. Very cool house/fort thingy you found on the beach.

Grey Horse Matters said...

Wonderful pics! I love the beach too. You look like you had a wonderful time.

aurora said...

Sooo glad you got that long awaited, well deserved, beach vacay! Complete with gorgeous weather, amazing ocean views, cozy homemade meals, r-e-l-a-x-a-t-i-o-n, and the best part ~ sharing it with your loves!!

Comforting that your herd had good caretakers. Never the same as you would give, but well cared for - which is what matters.

Such fantastic photos Lorie. Especially the one of you with your labs, three truly happy smiles! I can hear the waves rolling in, feet sinking in the sand, and not only see but feel, that amazing vastness.....sigh, thanks for taking me/us to the ocean!!

Lea and her Mustangs said...

Oh Lorie, I am so jealous. I love the ocean beach. Would love to go ride on the beach, on my bucket list. Your pictures are wonderful. Make me almost able to smell the salt water. Love it so much. We are having snow, pelting rainand lots of wind. Its winter, even if the calendar does not say so. I have had this cough and cold for a month now. I think perhaps I will need to go to the doctor if it does not go away soon and I mean SOON. Take care my friend. Blessings