Dr. Jekyll's Laboratory

Some old medical books from 1970 hold a vintage microscope that views some rottin' pumpkin teeth.

Great Uncle Ed and Aunt Lou welcome you to a haunted Three Pixie Lane.  When I snapped this photo, my camera read, "Did someone blink?"  Spooky, spooky!

'Keep Dirty Hands Out!" of the potions and elixirs (candy, that is!)

Test tubes hold specimens of fish eggs, spiders' legs and some witch hair (Spanish moss!)

Trick or Treat!  A mortar and pestle blends some eyes of newts.

How about some Witch Hazel to cleanse your skin? 

A stack of books hold prescriptions and secret recipes.  I'll share one with you called, "Chicken Beak Stew."

How about a sip of a French elixir or some Spirit of Camphor?

Some brains are measured...beware, they are poisonous!

A suppository mold holds the goods in many colors.  Would you like one?

A special medicine is hidden here.  Take only one teaspoon of syrup four times a day.

Here is my secret recipe...

Chicken Beak Stew

Eye of Newt

Skin of Frog

Scales of Snake

Hair of Dog

Spiders' Legs and Lizards' Lips

Warts of Toad and Hornets' Hips

Turnip Greens and Chicken Beaks

A Cup of Bees

A Pound of Leeks

Claw of Vulture

Fur of Bat

Tail of Lizard

Meow of Cat

Smell of Wet Dog and a Cup of Fat

Stir it all together and let it brew on Halloween Night, you'll have Chicken Beak Stew!

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I combined all of my Halloween decorations for this mantle display.  I took the scarier pieces down, before my children got home from school!  These decorations will all be packed up now, as I get my home ready for a wedding shower.  I don't think the happy couple would like this kind of humor for their special event! 

"Where did you find..?"

For more details, check out my post, "Candy Anyone?" and "Chicken Beak Stew...BOO!"  Many of the great vintage labels came from the Graphics Fairy.  I burned the edges to make them look authentic.  A few of the labels are my own. The old medical books belonged to my dad.  The vintage microscope was purchased in an antique store.  The old medicine bottles have been collected through the years.  The candle holder in the blue bottle is from Wisteria.  The big black moon is from Pottery Barn Kids, purchased a few years ago after the holiday.   The test tubes are from Michael's.  The suppository mold is from my pharmacy days of making glycerin suppositories.  The swirl lollipops are from Target.  I cut the 'masks' and 'teeth' for the old pictures from black pages of a magazine and taped them to the front of the glass.  The black candle holder (TJMaxx) with the pumpkin is decorated with some gauze from the medicine cabinet.  The framed skeleton hand is from the Graphics Fairy!  I burned the edges and typed the words at the bottom in an old typewriter font.  Check out my other posts for more on the poem and the French script books! 

I have 'revamped' these Halloween posts to link to
The Nester's Fall Mantel Party and for the CSI Project Halloween Extravaganza on October 18th!



Check out all the other great link parties here!

 

Candy Anyone?

This fun, little display is on the island in my kitchen.  Growing up, my aunt always had something on her kitchen countertop for each holiday.  I remember loving this as a kid! 

I used only three colors, black, white, and orange to simplify this already 'busy' display!

The square candle holder displays a pumpkin with a 'relax' sign hanging from it.  'Relax' because nothing in here is really poisonous...or is it?  I will let the kids think the candy is!  I pulled apart some gauze from the first aid kit for the display.

This lovely French vintage label is from the Graphics Fairy.  Again, I printed it onto glossy photo paper and burned the edges for an authentic look.  I added a short hand script to make it look real!

This poor pumpkin head was on clearance a few years ago because it was detached...perfect for me to glue to a big candy jar and add some feathers to mask the glue.

I had another old label of some 'Spirits of Camphor' and burned the edges to give the look like something exploded in the lab.

The 'poison' label was from a Martha Stewart collection at Michael's a few years ago.  The Graphics Fairy has some great vintage ones.

The black and orange bubble gum was found at Homegoods.  I only put out candy that I don't like!  If it were a jar of M&M's, it would be gone in a day!  Candy jars and candle sticks were purchased at various places and at different times.  The 'relax' tag came in a set from TJMaxx.  Polka dot napkins are from Target.  The 'eek' tag probably came from Target, too!

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Enjoy making your Halloween fun! 

I always have so much fun joining these link parties!

Fall

Some cooler weather has arrived!  I opened my windows last night and listened to the much needed rain falling loudly on the lake below.  It was a hard rain, but it sounded so good.  The cool air, the sound of rain, a big quilt...all make for a peaceful sleep... 

I link to these wonderful sites!

Apple Dip with Heath Bar Crunchies

Apple Dip

1/3 cup brown sugar

8 oz. cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

1 bag Heath Bar Crunchies

1/3 cup sugar

Apple Wedges

Combine both sugars and cream cheese.  Add vanilla and crunchies.  Let it sit for a few hours.  Serve with apple wedges!  This is so yummy! 

Recipe adapted from my sister!

The CSI Project Top 10!

When I jump for joy, my husband looks at me like I am crazy!  "What did you win?" he asks.  "My bee party was picked in the top 10 'Party Ideas' challenge!" I scream with excitement.  "So, what does that mean?"  he asks.  Seems he is looking for something tangible!  Well, it means all the hard work that we put into projects, someone thinks they're pretty cool!  That is reward enough for me!  You create something, you decorate for something special, you work hard at something and then what?  You share it with your family and friends, and then in blogland and you hope to inspire someone, in the same way that you are inspired!  As I sit here making a fool of myself, I knew you all would understand!

Thanks Shannon at the CSI Project!  If you want some great party inspiration, check out the 160 submissions (scroll down their site!)  There are so many great ideas to inspire you!

Hey Buddy, Ol' Pal

My son Mason.  He is one special little guy.  I have learned recently that I cannot protect my children all the time.  I cannot control everything.  I have to trust the Lord..trust, trust, trust the Lord.  I sometimes find myself saying it over and over again.  Mason has more trust than I do.   He woke me early one morning to go on the porch for some time alone ('without my sisters' he says) and to do a devotion.  We sat down in the quiet morning and he told me to sit on the other side of the couch, because he had saved a seat for Jesus.  He loves to read the devotion to me...this is our little thing, just the two of us.  When he was finished, he put his arm up and around 'Someone' and said, "Hey Buddy, Ol' Pal!" to his 'imaginary' or not so imaginary Friend.

  I told Mason, to bow his head, so we could close in prayer, and he answered, "Mom, you don't have to bow your head, just talk to God.  He is right here."

~

I believed him. 

My prayer for my children is that when they have difficulties, they will depend on Him.  Mason has more trust than I do.  I am working on it.

 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.  ~Psalm 9:10

Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek.  ~Psalm 27:8 

Mason is 7 years old.  This picture was taken a month ago to witness our dear friend's 77 year old mother being baptized in the lake!  My kids wanted to know why they couldn't 'swim' with her!

Apples, Hot Cider and More Apples

A lone apple acts as a paper weight for the napkins.

I pass a field every morning when walking my children to school.  These wildflowers (some might call weeds!) were so beautiful!  I had the mums, so stuck a few of those in the arrangement.  I hope these are still blooming in a month...

Some apple crate vintage labels help brighten up this beverage display.

Hot and Fruity Wassail will warm up the bones on a cool October evening.

I made a small pot to sample.

Another vintage label decorates the drink dispenser.  I love the color of the aqua blue and red!

Dish towels are the easiest and least expensive way to add color to a kitchen or any vignette.  Often, I am inspired by a simple dish towel!

A basket of cups is ready for guests.  I mixed ironstone and enamelware cups, white mugs and a few tin cups for the children.

Some cinnamon sticks are used to stir the cider.

Mason jars of candles and acorns will light up the evening night.

What do you do with all those apples?  Well...my children got a special treat of candy apples on this day!  My husband will make dried apple rings for snacks with most of them!

I packaged some of the crisp, red apples with a vintage label and gave away!  Apples are yummy and make such beautiful displays!

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Rob's brother is getting married!  We are throwing a shower for the happy couple in one month.  I am working on some different ideas to see what will work for a late October evening.  The hot cider station will be outside near the bonfire for folks to sip a little cup of fall! 

Hot and Fruity Slow Cooker Wassail

6 cups apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 cup honey

3 Tbsp. grated lemon rind

46 oz. can pineapple juice

Slices of orange or other fruit (optional)

Put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker and let simmer or cook on stove top.  Serve warm with cinnamon sticks.  "Wassail" is a term which refers to a warm, spicy punch served in the holiday season.  Your kitchen will smell good, too! 

Enjoy!   

(The recipe was given by a friend of my sisters.)

The beverage container was purchased at World Market several years ago.  Dish towels are finds from Tuesday Morning.  The tablecloth is vintage.  I searched the web for 'vintage apple crate labels' to find the ones above.  There are so many!  The large basket holding the cups was found at Buckett's in Charlotte, NC.  The blue enamelware mugs are from Wal-Mart.  The small blue tin cups are from a child's picnic basket purchased at Ross.  The ironstone cups were a recent flea market find.  A vintage lard bucket holds the flowers.  The old white chair is from a pair that I found at a flea market. Smaller baskets were collected through the years.   

I am joining these wonderful link parties!

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Thank you for the feature!