Halloween Wreath

This is a super simple (no-sew) wreath. All you need is a frame, some fabric and a couple of spiders hanging around ;D

Here's how I did it.

First I pulled out some leftover fabric I had from the celebration we had this summer for renewing our vows. I laid the fabric out on the floor on my cutting board. Then I cut four strips - trying to make them each about the same size.

Then I started weaving them into the frame I had in the basement from last year.

I kept weaving strips into the frame until it looked pretty full.

I tried to make it even and then I hung it up on the front door to see how it looked.

I tucked and pushed pieces into place until it looked the way I wanted. Then I started sticking little spiders onto the fabric.

I started with one I had used for a zombie fun I'd done a couple years ago. This one was a clip on - so super simple and free, which is always a good price.

Then I added some little spiders from a dollar store where I'd bought a bundle of them a couple years ago.

So, being that I had all the materials, this was a free wreath. I even had the wreath hanger.

But you could use any leftover fabric that is one color: black, orange, green, red would work really well.

If you make one, let me know, I'd love to see it.

Happy Halloween...even if it is a little early.

Friday the 13th - it's a Wonderfully Witchy Day

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to bake. And ideas pop into my head at the most random times and I just have to make them.

Here's one I had today.

It was all about olives...green olives with those pink palmetto centers...they're kinda spooky, if you ask me. And they made me think of ghouls and goblins and, yes, witches.

So here's what I did with them.

I took blue corn chips and some dough and made hands to come crawling out of the (corn chip) ground. Then I topped the olives with a witches hat (an ice cream cone dipped in chocolate).

The hands were super simple to make. I took some poppin dough and rolled it out to make fingers, I put an almond sliver on each "fingertip" and then I baked them for 10 minutes.

Super simple and yummy too.

Pineapple Salsa - Over Ripe Tomatoes Put to Good Use

This is a super simple Salsa recipe. And, if you like sweet salsa, this is the one for you. Or, if you have a lot of overripe tomatoes in your garden, here's an easy way to get rid of them in a tasty way

PINEAPPLE SALSA

1 CUP chopped tomatoes
1 CUP chopped pineapple
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/2 lime (juice)

Then I throw the ingredients in the blender and pulse two or three times. I pour it out into a pretty glass bowl and salt to taste. I like kosher salt. It's thicker and chunky...kinda like me ;D

Whale Watching

We went on a whale watching tour this weekend. I know, it's not wise for a woman who gets seasick to go out on the ocean but...I never said I was wise.

And, even though I did get sick, it's was worth the trip. We were surrounded by a pod of gray whales. I could see three at one time.

Now, I wasn't able to get any great photos because I was leaning over the edge . . . watching them swim around us...and other things.

But Fatina got some great tailshots.

It was like a trip right out of a brochure.

Shark Rescue

This poor little guy was getting batted back and forth against the rocks in a tidepool. The girls tried to set him down in an area where he could get back out to open water and survive. He had a couple gashes on his side from either being tossed against the rocks or . . . something worse. Maybe a sea lion had bitten him.

Either way, the little guy was struggling against the strong tide and the rocks. The girls sat him down and we waited for the water to wash him back out into deeper water.

We don't know if he made it but his chances were much better because the girls tried to help.

Miss Piggy

Pretty pumpkins take practice so I've started working on my Halloween display.

Here's the projects I've been working on.

Miss Piggy Pumpkins and minion pumpkins.I've done them two ways:

1) I've painted the pumpkins

And then as a second option, so there wouldn't be much clean-up, I used duct tape to cover my pumpkins in pink.

Both give a nice covering.

And I used styrofoam cups to make the nose and toilet paper rolls to make the ears.

I used some braided headbands and pearls to add a few more decorations. Now I have even more ideas for my next batch of pumpkins.

Wolves

Last March I volunteered at a wolf sanctuary. I just thought you all might like to see the difference between a wolf and a husky.

And if you want to hear the wolves howling (but remember they're loud), watch this:



The big difference between dogs and wolves is that dogs are generally smaller. Wolves ears go off the sides of their heads, while dogs ears go straight up. Wolves jaws are different - they can crush bones. And wolves should never be domesticated. They are meant to run wild.