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!!