I like a good “fun way” to read for the holidays. This year I found three ways to enjoy the Halloween reading season.

The first is a traditional book. Last year I bought the book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to read during the season. Nothing is more natural than holding a book in your hands, becoming immersed into a well written story. I love the feel of a book. Not sure if I get it from my mother who would always have a paperback in her hands. Unlike her, I love a hardback book. It feels more sophisticated.

My second book find is a rather new thing from Target called unwrap a Thriller. They take 4 thriller books and do a mystery wrap and which one you get is all up to fate. To be honest I cheated and looked at postings on Instagram which book I would get. But the joke is on me because the clerk who picked it for me did not select book “D”. I got book “B”.

But it is ok, I was really fine with any of the books.

And finally the last book I picked up was shared on Instagram. It is called 21 Days of Fear.

So for 21 days you read a new envelope that holds a story, slowly unraveling the murder and mayhem.

I guess I should get started. Maybe I need to sit down tonight with a cup of tea and start a chapter before Halloween comes and goes.

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Last year Lenox released two Halloween houses. I was not sure if the houses were a one off release or a start of a whole new village. I was thrilled to find that Lenox released two new houses to the line.

These houses are just lovely. The detail makes it special pieces. I love the green glowing light in the Witches Apothecary.

I know the Christmas houses have been going strong for a long time and many people collect them. But if you know me, I am more about Halloween than Christmas.

Also I added to the collection a few new entertaining pieces. I bought this pumpkin platter because I have the mugs and serving bowl. Perhaps they will release a new piece every year.

They had these cute appetizers plates on clearance and snatched them up.

It never hurts to have some plates on hand. Speaking of plates, I noticed a new Halloween design on some serveing pieces called Haunted Village.

They have a cake platter, a set of plates and a snow globe. I strongly believe they will be releasing new items each year.

The plates have a different haunted house on each plate. Although I did like the cake platter I really don’t use cake platters much.

I really like this new design. I had been eyeing the Williams Sonoma plates but their stuff is very expensive and it would take a while to catch up. Lol. Might as well stitch to Lenox and do one piece at a time.

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Last year at Target I noticed some Halloween decorations called Blow Molds. Technically I was not that familiar with them per se but faintly recall those large plastic snowmen that were on people’s lawns. In the movie Skipping Christmas, Frosty, a large snowman blow mold was demanded to be placed on the roof. Oh yes, now I know what a blow mold is.

Just some info on blow molds: Blow Molds are the common term for hollow plastic decorations created through a plastic injection molding process called blow molding.

Blow mold technology involves filling a hollow steel tube with melted plastic and injecting it into a steel mold. Then, compressed air pushes the plastic into a mold and inflates it like a balloon, creating a thin-walled, seamless product.

Blow mold decorations typically are formed in a single color and then decorated with paint. They often are lit by one or two incandescent bulbs. Some modern versions are battery-operated.

Last year I bought three blow molds from Target. I love their Hyde & Eek Halloween line of decorations. I felt they were very nostalgic and I saw a few YouTube videos of what people bought. I bought three pieces. The owl, who hoots, turns his head and has glowing eyes. The witch hut where the door opens and a glowing witch is inside. There is spooky music and a witch cackle. And finally the cat cauldron, whose eyes and cauldron liquid glows.

This year I bought three more. Another awesome cat, this one turns her head and hisses and howls while intense green eyes glare at you. Because I love crows, I got one on the ribcage and a smaller one on a pile of bones. Both of these have light up bones.

I am tempted to get the cloaked pumpkin man called Lewis. Everyone seems to know who he is. I have no clue why he is a thing, Maybe he is Mr. Halloween himself. Who knows. OK, I just researched Lewis. Apparently Target had an 8 foot Lewis in a cloak who talks and says “ I am not Jack O’Lantern, my name is Lewis”. Apparently a woman did a Tic Tok video in 2023 about Lewis and it became a viral sensation. He ran out at all the stores and Target responded by creating different Lewis decoration since then. I guess he is a thing.

I also picked up three image pumpkins from Target that I think are blow molds. They feel like blow molds.

Soon I will be decorating for Halloween

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This year I decided to kick off the bucket list with a cute vintage Halloween diddy.

Since Halloween is my favorite time of the year, I cannot resist this cute poem.

Enjoy reading.

2026 is another year heavy on crafts. There are a lot of new crafting ideas out there, not sure if there is revived interest in crafts or just “influencers” trying to find something new to show. I am pulling back from making themed drinks as I struggle to find the ingredients to make the drinks. So it will be more generic.

Of course I will be exploring movies and shows to bring in the spook. This year my sister and I are going to watch those old timey vintage horror monster flicks. That should be fun.

Wish me luck on completing this bucket list.

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My family has been here a long time. I have several ancestors that served in the war. I captured a few to share their bravery.

Betsy is probably the most colorful. She braved the war to find her menfolk. The whole family was involved in the war.

Another ancestor is Robert Mason who saw a great battle.

The last but not the only is Elijah Whitten. He joined after the fall of Charleston.

There are many more ancestors who were involved in the Revolutionary War. But these three stood out as ones who put their lives on the line to help create this great country.

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I decided to make some patriotic themed drinks and food. The drinks did not turn out well. The tri color drink needs to have different levels of sugar content. I could only find sugar free white and blue drinks. So it ended up blending together. Cranberry juice on the bottom, coconut water and then Gatorade It tasted good but looked bad. The second drink was Gatorade ice cubes. I saw it on Pinterest. But the cubes did not really freeze well. I think I will give up on making these drinks I see as I can never find the ingredients. Lol

I do much better with food items. I can usually find new themed food much better. I got flag shaped crackers and make star shaped cheese.

Then I did a snack tray of patriotic goodies. Lots of cookies and snacks galore out there. It will take me forever to eat all this stuff but nice to find it in the store.

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I love to do jigsaw puzzles. Originally I only did puzzles for Christmas. You know, cozy at home, hot cocoa, puzzle, Hallmark Christmas movies playing in the background. But last year I expanded to Halloween. Since this is a special year I decided to do a July 4th puzzle. One of my favorite puzzle brand (Galiston) had just what I wanted.

This puzzle by Galiston is a Michael Storring design which I believe the same artist from the Halloween puzzle last year.

Halfway thru, so far very easy to find the pieces.

Completed in time. 500 piece puzzles are pretty easy and quick to put together.

Now onto the new exciting series. For a long time I have seen these companies that send you letters via snail mail for a whole year. You become involved with the characters and events. I decided to sign up for the American Revolutionary series.

Here is a sample of some content that I will receive. So for 12 months I will receive snail mail. I look forward to my first letter. This should be fun and exciting and if all goes well, maybe I can do another series.

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I love doing cross stitch projects and have many finished pieces (but rarely fully finished). I have been doing this craft since my late teens. I love how the industry has grown and there are so many great patterns and designers. Not like when I was young which was only white or beige Aida and DMC threads. Although I still love Aida and DMC there are so many other threads and fabric to choose from.

Being the 250th anniversary I wanted to do something special to commemorate the event. I have several in the pipeline which I know will not be done this year.

The one I am currently working on is from Lori Holt called Scrappy Americana Flag. Because this almost a full coverage piece it is taking me much longer to finish.

A lot of stichers are working on this one and I have seen many finishes. In fact my sister finished and framed this piece.

I only have the red stripes, the words and the border to finish.

Another stitch I have seen many people work on is Teresa Kogut’s 250th Celebration piece.

Other patterns I am interested in stitching are as follows:

I suspect none of these will be stitched before July 4th but some of them are easier so I may get them done shortly thereafter.

The Holiday Sampling from Primrose Cottage is part of a series that originally were the seasons. They now have branched out to holidays. I strongly suspect that a Halloween Sampler is coming soon.

I know my eyes are bigger than my stitching fingers but time will tell on which of these get stitched.

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I enjoy drinking tea, both hot and iced. I am always intrigued when one of my favorite tea companies comes out with a special blend during the holidays.

Smith Tea is a newer tea company to me but I have been eyeing their website ever so often. Well when I saw their patriotic red, white and blue tea for summer I could not resist.

Their three tea blends are Hibiscus Mango (red), White Peach (white) and Blackberry Jasmine (blue).

• 4 1-Quart Sachets of Hibiscus Mango Iced Tea: A bright mango forward infusion of juicy hibiscus flowers, orange peel and smooth rooibos. Caffeine-free for enjoyment any time of day. One sip and everything’s rosy.
• 4 1-Quart Sachets of White Peach Iced Tea: Delicate yet full-bodied white tea is rounded out with juicy peach, pineapple, orange peel and vanilla. A shimmering golden tea you’ll want in your glass all summer long, preferably poolside.
• 4 1-Quart Sachets of Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea: A dazzling sapphire blend of premium Jasmine Silver Tip tea, sweet blackberry, orange peel, and mango. The beauty of butterfly pea flower naturally makes it a brilliant blue.

So far I have really enjoyed the flavor of the tea, very refreshing and tasty. The only thing I am missing is the fresh fruit to garnish the teas.

You should check out their teas.

So here is to sipping a cold drink during summer!

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