OOPS I MISSED A HALLOWEEN POST

OOPS I MISSED A HALLOWEEN POST, I sure did.  So I will attempt a 30 minute catch up.  that means mostly photos...throwing in a few family ones for posterity...fewer words...impossible...and no proof reading...that heads this toward disaster.  so here goes.

 it is true...one childhood is not enough...especially for halloween. we saw so many adults dressed up, and i mean dressed up. old to young to youngest, all join the fun. 

anyway this is my little attempt to bring painting into the picture. 

i never got the left side finished, anyway it tells a story of my scariest halloween as a child...story saved for another day. 

i took sooo many photos of our yard and porch, now i can't find them so obviously they are still in the camera and haven't been downloaded...such is life around here. but at least my sketchbook got a touch of ORANGE...i love orange in the fall but other times of the year not so much..orange and black were our junior high school colors and i really disliked them at that age...so juvenile.

 Good ol' harry was soooo popular....every other kid was a character from this fantastic series of books...this red robed harry is our grandson...doesn't he look like harry, or am i prejudiced and below next to the scarecrow is his sister...the littlest was Anna from Frozen...she disappeared (probably to refreshment table) so didn't get a picture.

we are still foraging for leaves, dried berries and acorns...but the pumpkin patch was the real find...we took a car full of tiny to tall, fat to skinny, smooth to lumpy pumpkins home with us. 

 the kids grandparents from "out west"came for a two week stay...what a fun time for everyone...they were a big part of our october excursions...

 somehow i managed to get a bit of painting done with an autumn palette...have a show next week so under a bit of pressure to paint and play around with the fun-sters!

kids and art just go together like cocoa and marshmallows...sweet, fun and sticky.  here we are studiously, painstakingly working on pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. no messing around, this is serious stuff to get it just right.

across the atlantic or pacific depending which way you fly are the kiddos that live in china...this is a serious holiday for the ex-pats who live there and none get into it more than their papa...

r

papa is concentrating on carving while YiYi sits in her princess dress amidst the seeds and pulp.  note the type of pumpkin they have....pretty cute. then it is off to the most amazing clay...love the colors.  lots of cute characters made by 12 hands.

back to north carolina,  the kiddos made lunches for some lovely women who find themselves without a home and staying at the salvation army. they were guests of a local church who give them respite, a warm place to sleep, and three meals a day. lots of volunteers are needed for such an undertaking, so our family did lunches and a breakfast. 

bags were decorated...sandwiches made...brownies...chips...and personally chosen tiny candy bars filled them to the top.  we drove them down to the church and met the ladies who are having their most beautiful weeks in a long time.  so friendly and welcoming. we left with new friends.

well if you made it this far, let me just wish you a very giving, creative, loving november.  there is always time to think of another. i know that you are finding your own ways of sharing.

smiles, sharon

ps...30 minutes turned to 60 but it was worth it.

A SWEDISH FAMILY TRADITION

Santa Lucia Day

Santa Lucia

a very special family tradition that dates back

 before computers!!!!!!!!

It is such fun to know that our adult kids now share this tradition with their own "spin on  things" with their children.

Some will have Swedish Oven Pancakes with tons of berry jam and whipping cream.

Others will choose a daughter to wear the Santa Lucia crown of candles, walk around the house singing carols and end with a delicious breakfast.

I LOVE being linked generation to generation.
Santa Lucia (Ella and Lulu, helper)  

In Sweden the little boys and girls wear pastel colored gowns topped with cone shaped hats, carrying stars. The daughter, who is the chosen Lucia, is dressed in white and a wreath of garland, set with candles.

In past years I have posted a bit about this wonderful Swedish tradition. If you would like a peek back in time you can click here. There is even a recipe for Swedish Oven Pancakes.

Another fun posting when Funny Bunny Two-Two was small can be found here. 

Heart Thought:  in my heart, family traditions are the icing on the cake when it comes to raising a family. The cool thing is: I know that each and every one of you have special moments in your lives that you dearly revere. Wish I could listen to your stories. 

Have a great week.
smiles: sharon

Read more »

You might also like:

Santa Lucia Day

Santa Lucia

s.furner fine art: Santa Lucia Day

Private Party

It just doesn't seem right

for a birthday to not start EARLY

as in "wee morning hours!"

After all it is a 365 day trek to hitch another year in one's

BIRTHDAY BELT.

The sun rose on a sacrosanct FURNER TRADITION....

a delightfully, puffy, bouffant, eggy, cardamon-laced

SWEDISH OVEN PANCAKE.

The BIRTHDAY BOY was ready for the party to begin...

another fully laden table with S.O.P., whip cream, jam and syrup,

fruit, juice, eggs to individual taste

and lots of crispy sausage.

HMMM somehow on this morning the sausage was missing its casing!!!!

Never matter, let the FEAST begin.

Please hurry with the picture taking so we can "dig" into those piping hot

Swedish Oven Pancakes!!!

Claudann joined the early morning celebration.

She brought with her a very fun present for the BIRTHDAY BOY,

a standing cot with blow up mattress.

Don't want our favorite GUY sleeping on the ground.

~~Really Grammy will you please put down the camera? We are

STARVING~~

After every little smidgeon of Swedish Oven Pancake was consumed,

everyone gathered in the living room for

the GRAND OPENING of special presents!

Remember those HIDDEN ELVES from the surprise party,

well they popped up again...

this time bringing a GAME of HANG MAN....

With Adam and Emily's help the BIRTHDAY BOY had to guess the words

describing HIS gift from the mischievious elves.

HE went through quite a few letters, repeating some,

wearing a perplexed expression

as he dug harder to figure out the words.

"OH, MY GOSH.....I GOT IT!" HE finally exclaimed. Elves are tricky people and these clever ELVES

knew what he had secretly been longing for.....

A TRAILER HITCH!!!!

HIS mom painted a special canvas to remind HIM of HIS

wonderful trip to FRANCE

and the wonderful shoreline of Cassis.

Cassis a sun drenched village, cradling hundreds

of boats with multi-colored sails.

SANDI saved her GIFT for LAST.

Think of the

BIGGEST SMILE

you can imagine.

That was on HIS face when HE opened a gift

for a weekend at an Austrian hotel

and

a SEAFOOD BUFFET!

The Birthday Boy's feet left the floor with JOY!

Now isn't that what you would expect from

CHRISTOPHER

Easter with Ashley-Anne and Daniel

This year spring, springtime and Easter all sprung up in a WINTRY melange of weather. Easter was no exception. Although chilly outside, inside was warm and toasty as we spent the day with Ashley-Anne and Daniel.

Grandpops had just returned from a four day trip to North Carolina, spending a wonderful time with Hunter, Molly, Kayla, Luke, Ed and Cathy. He had gone "down south" to have a cap put on his tooth by his personal dentist Hunter. But that took but moments, the rest of the time was full of fun activities and visiting.

Ashley-Anne and Daniel picked dad up at the airport then drove to our home

to spend a day together.

Dad is always ready for a delicious meal. So bring it on!

Daniel and Ashley had brought perfect lamb chops, steak, potatoes and other treats. Braving a bad cold and the even worse weather, Daniel barbecued the meat to perfection outside on the windy, wet deck.

Sharon always happy to cook with her tajine prepared a rather spicy Moroccan vegetable dish....spicy enough to unstuff the stuffiest of noses.

The talk was "a bit of this and a bit of that." Always wonderful to catch up with loved ones while dining on delicious cuisine.

Almost forgot the salad which was visually pretty and very yummy. Big juicy oranges, blood oranges, red onions, olives mixed with a dressing of spices and lime juice.

Not the traditional American Easter dinner, but the flavors of the mid-east shone through.

We did our best with table decorations...the few BRAVE DAFFODILS that had dared bob their golden heads out of the frozen soil, were brought inside to add a bit of color. You can't see the bird's nest filled with seashells and the family heirloom of tiny Germany dolls.

Dad's AI sauce reigned supreme!

Later we retired to the family room for more chatting, discussion concerning the challenges of raising a family at this time and of course funny family stories.

Dessert was delicious ANGEL FOOD CAKE crowned with really juicy red STRAWBERRIES, and vanilla ICE CREAM!

As we ponder the symbolism of EASTERwith its renewal of spring, life and the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST coupled with ALL BLESSINGS GREAT AND SMALL, we are all grateful for the blessings, joys and abundance in our lives.

Our family is truly BLESSED.

We are all very grateful for the GRACE in our lives.

Adieu Dear Valentine

Roses are Red,

Violets are blue

Children are sweet

And love ART, too! Happy Valentines from the Boys and Girls Club

Two weeks before Valentines and all through the room, were the sounds of crinkling tissue and paper being clipped. Soft pastel was sketched on banners filled with hearts and hands. No one could resist the tactile softness of smearing pastel. Glue was applied by finger or brush. One cutie pie accidentally popped the lid off the Elmer's Glue and glue flooded down her new jeans and dripped into her "Lugg" boots. We nearly set off the fire alarm over that one!!!! One afternoon was devoted to creating valentines for loved ones and friends. They sure had a whole lot of friends, as fingers were flying creating little cards for giving. Some didn't forget a special card for a mommy or daddy.

The "teens" at the club put on a Valentine party for the "young ones" meaning those in elementary school.

Games, pizza, and staying an extra hour at the club.

Valentine Day was spent driving to North Carolina,

to visit Kayla, Luke, Hunter and Molly.

We haven't seen Luke since November. What a BIG boy he is!!! Personality, smiles and appetite galore!

His smile melts a grandparent's heart.

One doesn't walk very far holding Luke, sitting is much easier and safer.

We all think he will be crawling in March!

Miss Kayla welcomed us with adorable handmade Valentines all covered in candy hearts. Not a single candy heart was missing!

But in this photo, it would appear that she is getting away with something...hmm, maybe eating all those gorgeous blue and green "PEEPS."

Or perhaps it is Luke who is munching the PEEPS! He looks like he will keep his secret for awhile longer. Howard had some needed dental work done, spent one day driving around the Carolina countryside and playing with Kayla and Luke. Sharon was painting at a workshop, meeting more southern artists, and enjoying her Carolina artist friend, another Sharon. Sharon invited Sharon and a few other workshop attendees to her home for wine and "good old cold water," a tour of her home, studio and art and then dinner at a Thai restaurant. It was so much fun to go out with the painting ladies! Southern women are gracious, friendly and lovely to be around. The workshop was successful. Evenings were mostly spent at home with the children, tucking them in bed at night, reading and playing hide and seek. Grammy hid so well from Kayla, that when Kayla finally found her, and Grammy yelled "boo!" Kayla promptly shrieked and fell down on her bottom. We laughed a long time over that one. Our last day in Charlotte we drove to where Hunter has his dental practice, and ate at his favorite BBQ restaurant. Pretty good fare, especially tangy coleslaw on top of BBQ pork. Later in the evening we all went to see Madagascar at the dollar theater. Luke slept through the movie, along with Grammy, who was all tuckered out! Then the long drive home....to Havre de Grace taking with us sweet memories of a special Valentine week with Family.

SWISS BREAKFAST and the PJ PARTY

What do most kids, like the following little monkeys......

Zadian Ella and Ethan have in common?

These little monkeys LOVE CEREAL! The crunchier....the sweeter.....the better!

We start the day on a Cereal High--smorgasbord style.

Moving on now to a Very Special Present---have you guessed what PJ is?

NEW PJ'S!! and you thought it was Peanut-butter and Jelly sandwiches!!

Wearing our nifty new PJ's we climbed into the big bed, fluffy with pillows and feather comforter. Just like Ten Naughty Monkeys, we were floating in delight, keeping an eye on a brand new PJ party video, The Reef. All was well until one little monkey, who shall remain nameless got the creative urge to grab a huge hunk of slightly loose wall paper and zip"the walls came tumbling down" leaving exposed fiberboard. Our mouths as big as OREOS, we knew we would be in big trouble for this one! But first things first, the movie!

Later we all traipsed downstairs, heading for the CD player and "Mama Mia!" Wow were we wild little monkey dancers. There wasn't a dance move we couldn't think of or try! When Grammy Monkey decided her ears were going to pop, we started an art project. Hmm smart move, Grammy Monkey.

The evening FINALE involved BEAN BAGS!!! Sitting on the floor spread eagle, we started slowly zooming bean bags to one another. We pretended they were way too hot to touch, so we had to get rid of them FAST!!! Think Superman speed. Things revved up quickly and soon there were EIGHT BEAN BAGS going ROLY-POLY, HELTER-SKELTER ALL at once. Whoa, wait a minute! this is getting a little out of hand. How about a nice quiet book.

Well it really was late, so we grabbed some books and all four climbed into the big blue bed. WITH A SUPER-FRAZZLED Grammy Monkey in the middle, we all settled in, until one by one, little by little, each cherub monkey was slumbering away.

Thank you Bethany Brady Spalding for the wonderful BEAN BAGS you made for us. We love them.