Happy Halloween ALL!

I wanted to take a second to wish each of you a fun & festive Halloween this week-end! Mama had her surgery today @Baylor Dallas so I will be away a few days taking care of her. Thanks for all your prayers, and emails. Hugs to all! Valarie

Now, I love me a MOON PIE!!!

Had to share what I along with the angel grandson are making tonight! This recipe I found on the Pioneer Woman- Ree Drummond...love that gal! AND SHHHHH... SHE IS COMING TO DALLAS, December 1 for her recipe book signing!! Will you be there???

12 whole Moon Pies Banana And/or Vanilla
1 pound White Chocolate Almond Bark
24 pieces Oreo Cookies
1 package Brach's Candy Corn
1 package M&M Candy Pieces Or Resee's Pieces
1 container Fall Sprinkles
Small Flower Pots Filled With Candy Corn
Preparation Instructions
Unwrap large moon mies and place them on a large piece of waxed paper. (I found large moon pies at Wal-Green’s.)
Melt white chocolate almond bark according to package directions.
Remove tops to 24 Oreo cookies. Set aside the halves without cream. Keep the halves with cream for owl eyes.
To create owl wings:
Use a knife to spread melted almond bark on the lower half of the moon pie, in the outer segments. Shake fall sprinkles over almond bark and remove excess product.
To create owl eyes:
Use a knife to spread some almond bark on the dark side of an Oreo half. Press Oreo onto the moon pie in the top left side of the circle. Repeat, pressing another Oreo half onto the right side, cream sides up, creating the eyes. Place a small amount of almond bark on one side of an M&M or Reese’s Piece and press into the center of the Oreo cream to make the “pupil.” Repeat the process to create the other pupil.
Beak:
Spread some almond bark on one of the flat sides of a piece of candy corn and press into the lower center of the moon pie to create the beak.
Eyebrows:
Spread some almond bark on one of the flat sides of 2 pieces of candy corn and place each above the “eyes” with the tips facing outward.
Allow all the almond bark to harden by placing the finished owl on a piece of waxed paper.
Insert a popsicle stick in the lower center of the owl, about halfway into the moon pie. Put owls in flower pots filled with candy corn for decoration.
Let me know how yours turn out!!
Valarie
***** Edited to add**** For those of you that do not know what a moon pie is- you must rush out to try one!
A moon pie or MoonPie is a pastry which consists of two round graham cracker cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in chocolate or other flavors. The traditional pie is about the diameter of a hockey puck; a smaller version exists (mini MoonPie) that is about half the size. The four main flavors are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana. Three newer flavors, lemon, orange, and peanut butter are also available.

new lamp! OMG- I love goodwill!!

Check out - the Hobnail Milk Glass lamp and the crocheted piece I snagged @ Goodwill for $3 total. The lamp shade is one of two I found at an estate sale and planned on making chandeliers with them... however tonight I thought I would give it a try on the goodwill find... Yes, Yes, I know it's a bit large but I still heart it! Tell me whatcha' think!! Honestly - I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!
Valarie

Dinner is served~

I made dinner tonight for LOML ~ Rosemary Chicken & Red Potatoes! Glass of Merlot! Yummy! I have plenty of left overs -- won't you come join us? What was on your dinner plate tonight?
bon appetit!
Valarie

Dallas Conservancy's Open Garden Tour

LOML and I had "date" day today. It was a beautiful, sunny, 74 degree day here. We had an amazing time walking our way through fabulous gardens and driving by beautiful homes in the Dallas area. I snapped a few of my favorite. I hope you enjoy the walk... we did!
Hugs & Blessings- Valarie

Oh how I love Saturday!

I hope you enjoy your day! This is my dining table arrangement for today!
Hugs & Praise to all...
Valarie

Casper has a winner......

This is a shadow box that overlooks the bar area of the serving area on the patio. Several Halloween goodies inside the box (supersize photo to see) The cardboard chandelier is a Martha Stewart.. bought last year at Michael's, and then of course I gave it glitter glam!

Thank you for entering my give-a-way! The winner is Cotton Pickin Cute! Pop over and tell her congrats - She is the winner of Halloween Paper Lanterns and a few more goodies!
Hugs to each of you!
Valarie

Casper has something for you....

Meet Casper... he is the emcee of the party! AND because I love all of you and so does Casper.... If you leave a comment and follow my blog .. - your name will go in a drawing on Thursday for 3 paper spider lanterns!! and a few other things!
Will you join me for the Monster Mash?
Valarie

Paper Lanterns anyone?

Mark off the list.. Paper lanterns are hung. Lanterns are a big bang for your buck. I use them often for all our parties.. they are inexpensive, colorful and easy to store. One of my favorite sources for paper laterns
Would love to hear your comments? Do you use paper lanterns?
Blessings to you today!
Valarie

Sharing Halloween on the patio-- Come on over!

Hey all.. This is where I will serve my food and witches brew so I am working on this today. You can decorate for this festive holiday very frugal! SO .. here we go... come along.. I bought the large and small skull at the Dollar Tree, painted with metallic paint, then rolled them in silver glitter. Silver candlesticks- A Goodwill find wrapped ribbon around the base then ran spider rings through the ribbon. The spider web fabric that everything is sitting on are actually kitchen towels bought at Wal-Mart. The black leaves around the skull on the silver cake pedestal is a 6 ft string of garland and I just twined them around the silver cake pedestal, bought the garland at Michael's. The paper napkins are sitting in a silver tarnished bread basket -another Goodwill find. Just a tip.. I always put any type of napkin- paper or cloth in a silver serving bowl to glam it up a bit. Hope you are having fun preparing for a fun holiday.
I'll by on my broom today!
Valarie

Spooky Halloween Drawing Here!!

Thanks to all for entering my give-a-way! Halloween is such a fun time of year with the cooler weather, the colors of the leaves changing and the entrance to the holiday season.
The winner of the drawing will win 1) a set of spider web placemats, 2) Bone Appetit cocktail napkins, 3) The Addams Family movie,4) 30 ft of Haunted House caution tape, 5) 30 ft of "Enter at your own Risk" caution tape, and of course your own bag of candy corn and maple nut goodies! AND THE WINNER IS... Gypsy Mermaid! "Web" your way over and tell her congrats!!
Please stop back by... more fun to come on this blog!!
Hugs to all..
Valarie

Something to CROW about!

I enjoy decorating with crows for Halloween. I put a few on the chandelier! AND I will share a secret with you.. There are alot of crows at the Dollar Tree! Don't forget to enter my drawing! Happiness to ya!
Valarie

No Trick... Halloween give-a-way HERE!

Do you love candy corn and maple nut goodies as much as I do? If so - please leave me a comment!! It's no trick- I am going to give away a Halloween treat!! Drawing on Saturday! AND OH YOU WILL SO LOVE IT!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Valarie

a little Halloween glam...

I found this RIP at the dollar tree - glittered the edges for a bit of Halloween glam... The black cat.. he has been around for many Halloween celebrations- he needed a make-over, put a bow around his neck. Adding little touches here and there and getting ready for a little Halloween bash! Have a great Thursday!Valarie

Flag is out....

Beginning to look like Halloween here... Will share more Halloween decor tomorrow.
sMIlEs!
Valarie

A Moment of Silence~

Please pray for my brother-in-law and my dear sister "Fannie" as we go through this day together to remember the joy and love Mitch shared with all of us. Thank you for your prayers... Funeral services for Mr. Louie Mitchell "Mitch" Praytor, age 74, of Lindale, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009, in the Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Buddy Hicks and the Rev. Gary Chalk officiating. Burial with Masonic graveside rites will follow in the Hopewell Cemetery with services under the direction of Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Directors in Lindale.
Mitch died Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at his residence in Lindale. He was born on Jan. 13, 1935, in Lindale, the son of the late Weldon Mitchell and Mildred Louise Gibson Praytor. Mitch served in the United States Naval Reserves and worked for Nabisco, retiring in 1996 after 42 years. He served as president for the Tyler Lone Star Chapter of Football Officials and officiated at football and baseball games for 37 years, during which time he officiated two State Championship Football games and six State Baseball Tournaments. Mitch was a 33rd Degree Mason of the Lindale Masonic Lodge No. 848, member of the Dallas Valley Scottish Rite, York Rite, Lindale Eastern Star, Sharon Shrine Temple in Tyler, past District Deputy of the Grand Lodge of Texas and member of the Lindale First Baptist Church. Mitch was very service oriented and dedicated a lot of his life to football and baseball. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann L. Praytor on June 2, 1990, and son, John Keith Praytor on Sept. 14, 1981.
Mitch is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dwayne Mitchell and Pam Praytor of Lindale; brother and sister-in-law, Bud and Beth Praytor of Lindale; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pat Streetman of Mississippi, Nell Cox and husband Jim of Livermore, Calif., Sue and David Wortham of Nolanville, Shirley and Bill Abbott of Lindale and Laura and Gean Alvey of Lindale; sisters-in-law, Sharlotte Wilkerson and husband Ed of Edom and Shirley McHam of Lindale; two grandchildren, Cody Mitchell Praytor and wife Amanda of Forney and Haley Jayne Praytor of Rockwall; two great-grandsons, Layten Mitchell and Landon Jax Praytor, both of Forney; numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be the Lindale Masonic Lodge No. 848. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Battee, Gary Chalk, Monty Florence, Kyle Rutherford and other members of the Tyler Lone Star Chapter of Football Officials and Masons, Chuck Allard, Larry Blanchard, Ben Brown, Gene Conley and Leslie Tew.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.
Published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph on 10/12/2009

Recap of Parent Weekend at University of Arkansas!!

The drive up to Arkansas was beautiful! Fog on the mountain~
Streams and trees changing colors~
We strolled through the Farmers Market on the town square of Fayetteville.

Saturday am- we headed out to the Parent Tailgate Party!! then on to the game to "CALL THE HOG'S."
Finally~ Bedtime... we stayed here..Charming, Restored, 1904 Bungalow-style home conveniently located in Downtown Fayetteville near the University of Arkansas! and I have to tell you Sharon makes a amazing breakfast!! We loved it! We said our good-bye and headed back to North Texas!
The engineering student and LOML! Hope you enjoyed Arkansas!! Glad to be back! I missed you all! Valarie

WOO PIG SOOIE!!!

Hey girlfriends!!
Heading out to Arkansas for parent weekend!! Can not wait to find a few thrift stores along the way! Will share finds with all of you. Hugs to each of you and happy weekend!
Valarie

Why does rain make us so sleepy??

Good evening to all~~
Raining, raining and raining here in North Texas! Think I may crawl in bed and call it a day!!
Sweet Dreams!
Valarie

LOVE HAPPENS~

Tonight LOML had clients... so I treated myself to a movie, LOVE HAPPENS! and ... a jr size popcorn (unbuttered!) and a diet coke! I really liked this movie.. Carve out a few minutes for you and pop over and see it! You will be glad you did! I am thankful for each of you! Smiles and Happiness to you! Valarie

BABY CHICKS~

Wanted to share the little baby chicks I ordered from Karla! I spotted the roosters on Daisy Cottage blog...and then I spotted more little chicks here. I emailed Karla to question if she had any more and she had these!! Today when I checked the mail~ I could hardly wait to open the package... they were preciously wrapped with love, and Karla sent me a vintage scarf! Karla, thank you... I will make them a good home here in Texas! Stop by and see Karla's finds on ETSY! Smiles.. Valarie

House divided!!

WOO PIG SOOIE!!! Kids are home for the Texas A&M VS Arkansas game tonight at Cowboy stadium! You can only imagine what our house is like today! We are flying our flags high... however LOML and I are not placing bets on either team!! Hope you all have a great Saturday! GIG 'EM!! Valarie

playing with Tootsie today!

Please see the last two posts regarding my garden favorites this summer... as well please click on my label -Garden and Spring Garden for more! Please do stop by and see me again!!
Cheers!
Valarie

or maybe this was my favorite....

Ferns in double metal tubs...
Did you have fun today??? If so, please share the highlight of your day! I want to hear all about it!
Happy~
Valarie