Everyone here is traumatized.
October is over, and it is now November.
October is over?
Wha???
So, it’s been sort of hard to have to come back to reality.
You know.
Pumpkins turn back into frog princes…
Mushrooms sprout in the bell jar.
The norm 😉
Oh Ribbit, don’t make that face.
You can be a lil’ punkin again next year.
We’re sipping tea for our nerves…
What nerves?
I dunno.
Why nerves?
I dunno.
You know, that Christmas is everywhere really really fast maybe.
We love love love Christmas.
Love it to pieces galore.
More than galore.
But for some reason, the rush of it on November 1st makes us all…
Jittery.
Stomach butterfly-ee and nervous.
No rhyme or reason.
Maybe the reality of time passing like, more than a snap.
Like, crazy fast.
Do you feel like that?
I know Mombie has her tree up already.
Not decorated, but up and getting ready to be decorated.
I for one, stayed up way too late last night, so for me…
It’s still zombieville.
I just want to stare at the dreamkeeper in the mirror across the room.
From my squishy happy bed.
Even though she is right next to me.
I always stare, daring her to move her head, or say something.
Daring her to wink at me.
Of course, she only hums softly at night.
What I really want to do, is cuddle under the great wall of blanket.
And I will, just as soon as I leave here, me thinks 🙂
As you may know.
I have been crocheting this blanket for 7 years…
It is sooooo big, and soooooooooo heavy.
It could fit a triple king size bed by now.
But guess what?
This is my first time ever using it.
Ever, in 7 years.
It is getting quite chilly in the late/early night/morning.
And so, I decided to tie it off, and use it.
Gulp.
I found some comfort in having an ongoing project as such.
But instead of adding to it for 7 more years, I think I’ll just start a new one.
I am loving using it.
Like, heart exploding with joy, loving.
It is a tinge wonky shaped.
Like a giant rectangle gone mad, due to all the different winging it weaves.
You can’t really tell when it is on the bed.
But the one thing is that…
I have parts of it that I love for different reasons.
Like my cookie monster meets big bird section.
I love that space.
There is such giddy pleasure in making yourself something usable, isn’t there?
My heart skips a beat when I pull my blanket up to my chin.
And it makes me all warm.
And I open my eyes to it on bright brisk mornings.
I would be so proud of myself if I could make a quilt.
But I can’t.
Can I?
I am not sure I can sit still long enough to cut 10 million squares out, and sew them together.
If you have ever made a quilt, I think you are a rock star.
I want to make one.
I have to get in a quilt zen brain mood I think, if I even want to consider such a thing.
For now…
I think I will give myself the rest of the evening off.
I stayed up until 1 a.m. roasting and pureeing a HUGE fairytale pumpkin.
(+ straining the liquid out)
Then I got up to make pumpkin breads at 6 a.m. for a friend.
But I missed her, and didn’t get to gift them. Sadness.
Mister Lovee is happy to munch though.
So that is grand 😉
Only I am zombified now.
By the by, we had such a wonderful Halloween feast, followed by a scary movie…
And glowing drinks…
That I forgot to take hardly any photos.
For shame.
We enjoyed our tonic water and lemon lime Hansen’s sodas a ton.
I made caramel corn.
We had grilled salmon, buttered rustic potatoes, caramelized carrots.
Then we watched Los Ojos de Julia.
No trick or treaters in sight.
Darn.
Not that Matty would have been having any of that.
Ghosts and goblins screeching trick or treat would have put him right over the edge.
Right into full blown werewolf.
For sure.
Anyhow.
Off I go to see how the wartlings are doing 😉
Love, Vanessa
Vanessa:
Yes…I need to get back to reality too. Halloween is over and I’m always happy to know that Thanksgiving is looming. Darn it….they’re already starting to show Christmas commercials on TV.
We had a handful of trick-or-treaters, maybe 25 or 30. Now, after it’s all over, I feel a little sad. I don’t like the short days of winter. I’m ready to go right into spring the day after Thanksgiving. I would be happy to skip right over the whole of winter!
Can I tell you that I adore your blanket? I’ve watched you make this colorful warm thing for several years and I just love it. You are brave. I would be too scared to make up stitches and loops without following a pattern. I don’t know why it scares me. By nature, I’m a rule breaker.
My mom hand quilted all of her life. Stitching stitching stitching by hand using her huge old quilting hoops. They were my grandmother’s and now I have them. My mom was in the middle of stitching a quilt when she got sick. She passed away before she finished it. I have the quilt still in the hoops just like she left it. The needle is still in the place she secured it the day she made her last stitch. 🙁
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
OH yes! I went Christmas shopping today, scary I must say how time is flying way too fast. If I don’t start now I won’t get it done. Bought some nice boxes at the $ Store to put salad croutons in for friends, they will go with jam and relish already made. Love homemade gifties too!
Your crochet blanket is so colorful and beautiful!
It took me over two years to knit a scarf, and I probably made it shorter than I should have, but it sounds like our projects carried on for different reasons! 😉
We put all our Christmas stuff up pretty quickly (tomorrow will be the big Halloween take-down, and boxes out for Christmas, but it takes a long time to put up, what with a tree in every room!) I’m not nervous about Christmas, I just would really like to enjoy it this year!
Oh sounds fun!! I am not nervous for Christmas itself per se, as I
adore the time. I think I am just nervous for all the things that need to
get done for/before Christmas, and how fast it all goes, like now to Christmas
is a ziiiiip of fast paced madness. Which scares me right before I plunge
into it all ;)))
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/1/2012 6:25:53 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I have been having the jitters too! Like, where did October go????? It flew by so quickly that I simply missed it, and now…now Thanksgiving is on the way, and then Christmas and EEKS! My friend and I just made plans to get these big goodie bags together to gift to our friends and teachers before winter break. I will not spill the secrets, but I’ll take pics and post on my blog when the time comes 🙂 Super excited for it! I can feel that tingle of magic in the air, like something has been waiting…a chill, perhaps, Jack Frost just around the corner, hoping to cover everything in winter wonder….I love that feeling! I even indulged in Christmas music the other day! And tonight I made myself a hot chocolate 🙂 Heaven, I say!
I am definitely thinking I need to make another pumpkin loaf because that bread was GOOD!!! Thanks again for sharing the recipe with all of us! And please tell me you have some new, fun and creative Christmas inspired crafts in addition to your other wonderful tutorials! I simply adore them!!!!! I have made the cotton ball Christmas trees, the snowflakes, and have yet to make the elf clothespins. Both were super fun! I love crafting 😉
Have a great start of November!
Gorgeous post!! Beautiful pictures!! Blankets acts as a tool for protecting the people during the winter season.
I loved your Halloween party this year! It was loads of fun, and candy for the eyes. ^-^
Life indeed got in the way of my partying this year… =(
But on the bright side, the kitty is feeling better & I’m feeling better too. ^-^
I’m still bummed I didn’t get my party post up & going. But life goes on, and at least I’ll have a good start for next year, right? Right. ^-^
I love your blanket! =D It’s amazing… I’m sure you’d be really good at making a quilt. I made one my senior year in high school for the project we had to do in order to graduate. I loved it and hated it all at once… XP
I learned the key was to work for a while, then get up & walk away. To go slow & pay attention, and not flip when I had to stitch rip the same square for the 7th time… ^-^
I also learned to turn off the sewing machine before trying to fix a tangled thread… but I learned that one that hard way, after sewing right through my pointer finger… eek… I bled like nobody’s business… XD Good thing I’m not squeamish about blood…
But I’m sure you won’t have any mishaps like that. ^-^
As for Christmas decorations… Ours go up after Thanksgiving. That way I can enjoy the Autumn decorations just a bit longer… ^-^
Hope you had good snuggles with your blanket! =D
XOXO
This is just soooo beautiful!
Have a good snuggle-nap! 😉
Oooh I love your blanket, and I adore your blog! I only recently came across this beautiful blog and I have to say, I am addicted! Every time I delve into your posts it is like literally like exploring a fairy tale and I sooo want to step through the screen into the beautiful images!
I recommended this blog on my blog, I do hope that’s ok!
Love and sparkles
Lara
http://www.fairygodmotheracademy.wordpress.com
Live*Dream*Sparkle
I agree, I find this sudden November rush towards Christmas a bit much, too soon too soon! And all the consumerist marketing that goes with, the message that we must buy MORE of everything.
You held a stupendous Halloween party, Vanessa, thank you so much, it was my first one and I’m just sorry I’ve missed all those that have come before. But looking forward to next year’s halloween already! Beautiful images and soul enhancing words, you are an artist in every sense.
As for me, I’ve been walking the beach wrapped up warm at Kiki & the Gypsy, come join me if you fancy the smell of the sea air
Emalina
http://www.kikiandthegypsy.blogspot.co.uk
Sis, I feel totally traumatized that it’s November. I turned back into a frog! I woke up on November 1st with a raspy throat, bumps on my face, a green tone to my skin… it’s all because I am not a pumpkin anymore and I don’t like, I don’t like it, I don’t like it. No me gusta, no me gusta, no me gusta. I love Halloween. Nothing makes me as happy as Halloween does… NOTHING.
Do you want me to teach you how to quilt? I have made a few child-size ones. I am currently working on panels for a quilt to fit my bed. It is a process, but I allow myself a little time every day to cut or sew pieces together. It’s just like my writing, a little bit a day. You don’t have to cut 10 million squares… just 9 million. Actually, there are some patterns I have that you might like that require a few large squares and can cover a queen size bed. Once you start, it’s easier to imagine the next one, and the one after that.
Gotta hop away for now. Call me… you said you would call me back after your phone charged, but that was like 24 hours ago…
The fantasy is over…snow on the ground this morning ….I am so frazzeled…oh..mailing aboard..takes forever, must organize, I feel like the white rabbit….OH! I recieved the spectacular “Cottage and Gothic” giveaway yesterday, I was honored to win! (thankyou Mr.Lovelie for posting it so perfectly!) and the smell from the scache and stunning tags/sticker but the sent!oh…my……must have more! Thank you Tracy & Vanessa…….very much🖤Debi
Hi Vanessa,
I love all of your recipes but I have a gluten allergy. Do you have any gluten free recipes?
I am sorry Rebecca, I wish I did. But, I have not had the time to try
to come up with some gluten free stuff. Maybe one day 🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/2/2012 9:34:56 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Vaneeesasaa…
(make a wholecloth quilt!)
;P
Your blanket is so colorful! I love crocheting blankets!
I also like the frogs! There’s something about a frog with a crown! 🙂
Maybe it’s because I’m seeing the prince underneath!
I was just in Target today & it’s all eggnog & Christmas trees!
That’s the thing about holidays. There is so much prep work & anticipation then…BAM, it’s over!
My music channel on t.v. is playing Christmas songs already.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas. I just don’t want to be tired of it before it gets here.
I so know what you mean. All my Halloween decorations was taken down today, and it feels so empty. But I have a Monsterparty to look forward to (tomorrow) so that makes it a tiny bit better.
I know I`ve a looooot of washing, decorating and things to do before december 1st, and I get tired just thinking about it all (having fibromyalgia doesn`t help either), but I can`t wait to december…. it`s my favourite month 🙂
Your blanket is wonderful! I just finished a knitted blanket that I`ve been working on for at least 3 years. It`s not a big blanket, but big enough for me, and I`m so proud of it. Knitting is a very slow process for me because my joints and fingers starts to hurt after a short while, but I love to make things (it makes me feel alive) so I continue to make jewelry, knit, paint, draw and create strange little paperclay dolls. I simply can`t stop, making things is what I do 🙂
Miss Vanessa, It’s really hard for me to get back to reality. I love Halloween so very much, and your frogs with crowns all make me smile. I think that i will ad a croen to one of mine. It might help me to get motivated… I love the things in your home, oh so fun and colorful. The blanket that your knitting is wonderous…The colors are amazing.
All for now, I must put things away and pull out something ne to work on.
Hope that you and your family have a great week end…
I would just LOVE to enjoy Thanksgiving without the Christmas BUZZ!!!!
I agree I just feel we have become Christmas CRAZY because of the stores pushing things earlier each year! I want to just snuggle and feel thankful and relish in all that each holiday has to offer us.
Your blanket is beautiful with all its colors Vanessa!
I too think you should go for the GOLD! Make a larger square quilt like your SiS suggested. Maybe ask Family and or Friends to send you a square with certain specifications by you, of course! Start and see where it takes you! Just do it or it will HAUNT YOU! TEEHEHE! <3
Hi hi hiiii, Vanessa! Oh yes, definitely, I dooo feel the difference in the air at the dawning of November! I always try to get Christmas-y things started early, and by the time it is November 1, I feel like eeeeeeeekkkk! My time is so running out to get it all done early!
Oh, I am loving to see the reappearance of your beauteous crocheted blanket! I’m so glad you have decided to use it. I love the bright colors and different textures and that you think of things like Cookie Monster meets Big Bird when you look at it! How fun is that! ; ) My mother knows how to crochet, but not I. I’m sure she would teach me, but I haven’t yet taken the plunge.
I am so sorry you didn’t get to gift your pumpkin breads as planned. Yay for Mr. Lovee, who is willing to step in and consume the yummy goodness instead.
So happy that you had a wonderful Halloween feast! I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of holiday goodness you will have to show us in the weeks to come!
i love your blanket.
My hubby loved the pumpkin bread. I will be making that again next week.
My Halloween decorations are still up. I’ll get to those my next day off. My fall decorations will be out until I put up the Christmas. Our new tradition is my granddaughter and 1 or 2 of my great-nieces spends the night on Thanksgiving and we put the tree up on the day after. Emily informed me she is taller than the other two so can put things up higher (Just love those girls).
I have bought some Christmas gifts and made a couple. I have several projects going, too.
And I’m addicted to finding Christmas things on Pinterest.
today I took down all my lovely Halloween decorations until next year…but our Christmas tree won’t go up until the weekend after Thanksgiving. Tonight I crochet!
Your giant frog prince just may have stolen Queenie’s heart. He is wonderful especially with his dapper crown.
So glad you Halloween feast was scrumptious. I can definitely relate to an invasion of butterflies in the stomach and for me a batch racing around the ribs too with Thanksgiving just around the corner. I’m definitely of the full out nervousness this year but I have to remind myself this too shall pass and shortly thereafter a distant memory. Sometimes its just no fun being an adult -lol-
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
P.S. Quilt making has gotten loads easier these days with all sorts of new cutting and sewing techniques and shortcuts. I’m for sure positive you could make a lovely quilt lickity split!
How many warty frog princes do you own? They are soooo adorable!
Gosh! yes! I feel like something is wrong with this entire year we have experienced…it just went way too fast from October into November…it’s scary as I always think I have more time to be prepared from October 31st into November 1st which is my birthday. Turning the page on the calendar from October to November always is like, is it REALLY November already??? It’s like there should be some ‘grace period’ to recover from October, you know? Like adding a week’s reprieve of just empty days that don’t belong to any month in particular or something…a breather to get our breath.
Oh! Yes! And your wondrous crocheted blanket…I love the colors, so bright and magical, of course…just like you are!!!
hugs
Miss Teresa
I missed Halloween completely. I was driving. In the mountains…on my way home. I have so much candy left since I wasn’t here to give it away. The shoppes here have already put up their christmas decor. It is so sad and makes me not want to shop at all. I’m thinking of having a handmade christmas this year. 🙂
enjoy your rest!
love & blessings
~*~
The photos in this post are fabulous. I love the frog. Also the blanket–so colorful and fluffy and sparkly. I wish I could make one. But alas, I can only sew quilts.
Vanessa, I LOVE your crochet blanket! It’s so pretty with the rainbow of colors. I have tons of scrap yarn and I’m thinking that when I retire next Feb. that I’m going to start one myself. Did you do yours in single, double crochet? As a quilter, I’m here to tell you that you can totally make a quilt. In fact, you can buy squares already cut out called charm squares. Then you just sew the squares together however you want them. And, the actual quilting is the really therapeutic part. I hope you decide to make a quilt. Go to Google and look at some eye candy for nine patch squares or charm pack quilts. It will put your in the mood. 😉
What a dream. Your blanket looks so inviting….so soft and fuzzy…and I love the colors!
Side note, I’m trying to concentrate on Thanksgiving Day food and planning a menu, but the idea of twinkling lights and shiny-glittery objects galore keeps intruding on the bronze and russet fall colors. Of course I say this as my Halloween decorations still take up part of the dining room table, but that’s how I roll. I’ll probably take down Xmas stuff at the end of January or around Valentines Day. Hahaha.