Sniff Sniff...the decorations are down and so am I!!

It is always a very sad day indeed when the decorations come down.... I always shed a small tear in my heart when I have to put away my make believe world.... BUT...there's always next year!!!

SooOOoOoOoo the party!!! To let you know how good it was...these are the ONLY pictures I was able to shoot before everything went blank...lol! I was able to shoot quick snaps when my guests arrived...only the first 6 (a couple didn't turn out) ...then I am not sure what happened really... the camera was set down and I began to celebrate ...that was the last I saw of my camera for the night...BUT...I hear that others were shooting pics like mad...so if I can round those up, and I don't have to pay to much in blackmail money and if they are fit to print...I will post later!

Suffice it to say... everyone had a great time .... we are a group of artists and musicians ...so as you may have guessed... craziness ensued. The weather was so fantastic...we were able to sit outside for much of the night on the patio ... not common for a late October evening. We were a crazed group of Beatniks, Pirates, Gorillas, Belly dancers, Zombie Gangsters, gypsies to an out of work Ninja!
Food was out of this world and I enjoyed my martinis and Cosmos. We very late in the evening played Pictionary...but as charades ...what FUN!!! Not even sure who won...everyone was laughing so hard it really didn't matter. Even though the moon was bright...we could see the Milky Way. We had very few Trick 'O' Treaters...as downtown was in full force so all the kids like good little zombies make their way there...and forsake the neighborhood candy givers...Oh Well...my BIG Party Kids had a good time...

Everywhere a guest turned I had things that moved and made noise, from flashing strobes to talking skulls, mummies that moaned to flying bats and big fat rats. What a Blast!!

So now that I sadly removed all signs that a crazy event took place....the memories will remain in my heart for a very long time...

I thought of you all and wished from afar that each and everyone had a Good Haunted and Fun Night...

Next Up...Bird Day!!!

Hugs,

Jodi (Wench/Pirate) Alwilda...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE...

Happy Happy Day (and Night) one and all...May the Spirits be kind and the monsters show mercy...

So what is everyone doing this evening? Halloween does not seem to fall often on a Saturday ...so I am guessing there will be much mirth and merriment...

We are having about 12 people over this evening...in costume ...for a night of good food, good libations and fun Games... I have been cleaning , cooking and organizing for 4 days ...

Now within 2 hours everyone will arrive... we are a crazy crew so things should be fun...I will pop pictures and post here in Bloglandia...

I myself am dressing as something I have never dressed as ...a Lady Pirate...actually it started out as a Wench, but in thinking about it...I preferred Lady Pirate with a heavy dose of wench added for good measure... this is a true first for me....but because I actually have a Lady Pirate in my Ancestry from the Bahamas I thought...what the hell...ARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! I will have Richard pop a few shots of me in my get up... Richard is going as a Pirate...which actually headed me in this sea faring direction...

Can't wait to see everyones costume here...please please please everyone...post pictures and share....this is the part I really love...

Halloween Hugs to All ...I will be thinking of you on this Bewitching Night...when the Moon is so Bright...

Jodi 'Pirate Alwilda'

Bewitching Stew...

Halloween Haiku

Been a Busy Weirded out Weekend!!

Did you ever lose a few days where when you look back and with questions asked..."What did you do" ..the answer surly will be "Everything, Nothing, I'm not really sure,"!!! Well that was my weekend. It has been filled with a little of this and a ton of that, accomplishing something, but really nothing, finishing what was once started , and started that which may never find an end... and all the while tidying up from past weekends of folly!

So now it is Sunday ... what seems like a week long weekend has boiled down to this day...as a treat to myself (and I figure I REALLY EARNED a treat) I decided to read my favorite Blogs and catch up....so many WONDERFUL words out there, so much buzzing in the lives of my Cyber Friends ...makes me smiling uncontrollably.... but one blog caught my Eye and my Heart...

as often it does...my friend PAM'S BLOG . OK, it's not just cause she mentions me in her blog.. it's because her words always strike a cord that is so familiar to my soul. She writes from a place we have all been , her thoughts so descriptively displayed through verse , and she challenges you to be just the person you wish to be and KNOW you are deep down inside.... I like this in Writing... "My firm belief...and I stand by this till the End... never hide the child that remains in us all , for the child is freedom ..... it never judges, it never grades, it never restricts.... it only offers a happy side to life ...helping to find the 'other children' out there ...hiding.

Pam is one of the Happiest Kids I know whose Playful Side begs you to join in ... and all meet up on the Playground called life!!!

Her Blog is not to be missed....truly!

So yes...it is true....I sit here on an early Sunday Morning , sipping my cuppa Hot Joe... reading and typing while all the while wearing my Witch Hat ...and hugging tightly the season ...that beckons the child in us all...

Have a Child Like Sunday Everyone and go look for that piece of clothing in your closet that is begging to be scribbled on...I sure am.

Hugs,

Jodi

"Hey,she's got a Licence to Fly....."

Were the last words spoken by my Bank Teller before she handed me my deposit slip and gave me a glare that still is burned in my brain. ...does NO ONE have a sense of humor these days????

If nothing else...I have one hell of a fun time during this season. Each October I like to make up little stories and have fun with the neighborhood kids by telling them I either fly or turn into something , each day they come over and hang out on the front porch waiting for something to happen ...I tell them that normally I fly only at night when they are in their beds fast asleep so they will seldom see me taking the broom out for a test ride. Then the next morning very early I set my beloved Besom Broom outside the front door and leaning up against the wall and along side my witch shoes and a small pail of pumice stone rocks that are just odd enough that I can easily tell the kids they are 'Moon Rocks' that I gathered the night before while on my flight... the kids are jazzed, I am jazzed and all seems right with the world.... But I have started to have fun with adults ... and it is surprising how gullible they really are... I have this whole season been wearing my home made designer witch hat out when I go to the market, to shop, driving , and the bank.... the reactions I get are priceless... all the way from "Where's your Broom"...I tell them "double parked, let's get this show rolling, fines on Brooms are a Bitch" ...to "please don't turn me into anything"..."not today" I say.... of course the kids are the best for reactions...it is amazing how just wearing a hat with a point evokes so many reactions ...

Now I started to carry my 'Flying Licence' with me in my wallet...it is the exact size of a driver licence, it is laminated...actually looks rather real. When asked if they can see my drivers licence for verification, I LOVE whipping that one out instead of the real one...the takes are priceless...all the way from laughter to serious almost fearful stares...I of course always say..."OOPS, so sorry, I always forget when I am and pull out the wrong one" sooo much fun... poor Richard, he tries to stay as far away as he can from me during this season... 'POOF' I am instant 12 years old' ...

Come fly with me, well fly well fly away!!!

Jodi (aka Mahulda Mugwart)

Recipe Time...YUM, Let's Eat!!!

OK...since I have been on a cooking kick lately...thought I would share a couple of my fav recipes for the season....

The Rum Raisin Cream Cheese pie Recipe and Pumpkin Spice Cookies...YUM!!!

PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES
4 3/4 Cups all-purpose flour

2 Teaspoons baking soda

3/4 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Teaspoon baking powder

2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 Teaspoons ground ginger

3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 3/4 Cups sugar

2 Large eggs

1 Teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 Cup molasses

1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and ginger in a large bowl; sift, and set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar. Beat, starting on low speed and increasing to high, until mixture is fluffy, about 2 minutes; scrape the sides of the bowl down once with a rubber spatula. Add eggs, one at a time, and vanilla; beat on medium speed until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.

3. Turn off mixer. Add molasses, and mix on medium speed until just combined. Scrape sides of the bowl, and add dry ingredients. Mix, starting on low speed and increasing to medium high, until ingredients are just combined, about 30 seconds.

4. Transfer dough to a clean work surface. Roll the dough into four 1 1/2-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.

5. Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap, and slice each log into 3/8-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies crack slightly on the surface, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

6. Now eat and enjoy…specially with a nice cup of hot cider.
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Rum Raisin Cream Cheese Pie
Crust:
2 cups graham crackers
¼ cup butter
2 Tablespoons sugar
Filling:
1/3 Cup Rum
1 Cup raisins
12 oz cream cheese
2/3 Cup sugar
¼ teaspoon. salt
2 eggs
2/3 Cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sour cream topping:
1 C sour cream
3 T sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
The day before, heat the rum in a small saucepan over low heat just until it comes to a simmer. Add raisins, cover and set aside over night until plump .
Crush the Graham crackers to a fine consistency (I do this with a rolling pin and the G.C. in a zip lock bag)…take 2 cups of the Graham Crackers put in bowl pour in the melted butter and sugar, mix well. Press and pack firmly into the bottom of a deep pie plate or I use a spring form pan lined on bottom with parchment paper and then press the Graham Cracker crust mix over that….set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the room temp. cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add sugar and salt and continue beating until well blended. Beat in eggs until smooth. Stir in cream and vanilla. Stir in raisins and any remaining liquid.
Pour filling into G.C. crust. Bake for 10 minutes at 400. Reduce heat to 350 and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer, until filling has set around the edges. The center should remain slightly soft; it will become firm as it cools. Cool for at least 1 hour. For topping … Stir together sour cream, sugar and vanilla until sugar dissolved. Spread over baked pie, concealing any surface cracks. Chill for 1 hour before serving.