Thursday, September 30, 2010

Decorating

We pulled out our fall decorations today and proceeded to decorate the mantles, put some jack o'lanterns about, and add swags of fall leaves to corner cabinets and doorways.  Both of us had a good time, but C. was especially pleased with getting in the fall spirit.  I'm posting a few photos of our efforts. 
Fall bouquet complete with large black spider

One of the jack o'lanterns that we have lit. 

Another group of fun fall stuff on a table in one of the halls

My favorite thing--a rolling eyeball that lights up!

Sparkly purple lights on the mantle in the master bedroom
We also made a couple of cakes.  The one below is a scary pumpkin cake that yours truly decorated. Okay, this was my first time using a pastry bag which definitely in and of itself is a creepy contraption to use.  I thought that the blue bats, spiders and webs was a nice touch.  C. wasn't so sure about my cake decorating abilities.  At least I managed to keep most of the icing on the cake.  Squeezing that pastry bag too hard could definitely have had less than desirable consequences.

Scary ghoul pumpkin cake
We made three of these cakes, each one decorated a little differently.  I took one to a meeting tonight where a sponsee shared his story.  It was his one year anniversary in Al-Anon.  I am glad that he persevered to get through the 12 steps and was willing to share his experience, strength and hope.  He asked what to do with the medallion that was tucked in the card.  I said that I carry mine in my wallet as a reminder of what the program means.  It was a fun day and a good evening. 

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of September.  And some cooler weather is finally coming our way.  I am content with so much today.  I am very grateful.

20 comments:

  1. "applause" The decorations are so beautiful Syd. I love how you Americans across the big pond enter into the spirit of celebrating the seasons..... much, much more than we do here. We Brits are a dull lot. :O) Everything is gorgeous but I LOVE the eyeball! lol I would so love to have one of those. :D And the cake looks really inviting - what a treat for the people at the meeting. I once had a go at squeezing icing from one of those bags. It was fun but needed a lot of concentration. :) I also think it's lovely that you and C both decorated the cakes. There's a saying, "The family that plays together stays together." Your post is causing me to think of what I'm grateful for and why I should be content. Thanks Syd.

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  2. love your cake. i'm not very good at decorating, but i hugely enjoy it, such fun, so i do it anyway...

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  3. you have so much wisdom. sometimes i wish i were a guy, in your area, in your meetings so i could have you as a sponsor. cake decorating abilities aside, you have a lot to share with a sponsee. I guess they have to want it. I stalled out at the making of amends, bc i felt that I had not done the 4th step correctly. a diversion tactic? possibly.

    anyway. loving the purple lights. and the wisdom you have shared here and there. I appreciate it.

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  4. Couldn't you have decorated for Spring instead...I mean there is still hope that winter will not come this year.

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  5. LOVE this post, Syd! Halloween is my favorite day ever (made even more special this year because it's my one year anniversary with my boyfriend) and your post made me feel very festive! :)

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  6. I don't cut my boys' hair and I don't try to decorate a cake. Two things learned from experience. I like your cake..it is one of a kind!

    ♥BOO♥

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  7. fun stuff Syd! I love the purple lites on the mantle, way kool! It's awesome that you guys can share stuff like that.

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  8. i love decorating for fall, we got ours out last week the girls just love it. as for the cake, not bad for your first time, mine are still horrible, at least i could make out the faces!!! i cannot even compete with you. and i have made a few

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  9. Wow Syd! Adorable bats! Celebrating the changing seasons puts us in rhythm with Mother Earth! Also a great way to be in harmony with C! I love baking...an act of creativity...great to be thankful for life's pleasures :) :) :)

    Robin

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  10. I think you did a great job on the cake. It is really cute. You did better than I could have.

    Have a great weekend, Syd.

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  11. The decorations are lovely. I've never been the "decorating type", and wonder if it has to do with a joy deficit. While growing up in a chaotic household with an alcoholic mother and a workaholic dad, there wasn't too much focus on pleasure...life was meant to be laborious, something to "get through". I'm fairly new to Alanon, and already feel the veil being lifted from that misperception. I love how your blog focuses on the beauty of every day things. It gives me a feeling of comfort and hope.

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  12. Your post today and your decorations and cake made me smile, not something I do often anymore, thank you for giving me the warm fuzzies today...

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  13. Cute cake and great decorations.

    I love decorating for holidays and seasons. I'm looking forward to decorating the yard for halloween with the niece and nephew (and hopefully my teen!) next week.

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  14. Love the mouths on the faces on the cake you decorated. LOL Keep practicing!:)

    It is still hot as crazy during the day but is finally getting cooler in the evening and early morning. It was actually below 70 (69.7) this morning. Heavenly.

    PG

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  15. All of this is gorgeous,I love the fall foliage with the googly eyed spider...too cute.

    I like the cake too, very nice on the decorations, the pastry bags are hard to use indeed and sort of awkward.

    Enjoy the fall.

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  16. beautiful beautiful beatiful!! fall's my fav season. :)

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  17. Autumn is here. My favorite season in the Southeast. Was it just last week it was muggy and 93? Ah...... sweet relief. Now we can get in the mood to decorate~

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  18. Beautiful cake. I enjoy the change of seasons. Fall is beautiful with the changing leaves and cooler weather here too. Squeezing the bag too hard...good message.

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  19. yum..cake! Rather cute rather than scary, though. I think you are too nice to make anything scary, Syd! But nice try...lol. Happy Fall!

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