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Winter In Connecticut 2025
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Snow In Southern New England (2)
Category: Seasons
The First Christmas Present 🐘
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Kevin and I met in a club 25 years ago. He was with a couple of friends, who were friends with my friends. After a couple of drinks, we got into a conversation. When I was ready to go home, he gave me a ride to my apartment. Since he knew where I worked, he had shown up the next day. Usually, I don’t give out my phone number unless someone asks for it or I ask for theirs. But when Kevin was standing in front of me, I said, “Dude, I forgot to give you my number last night. If you want to hang out, give me a call. Maybe we can do something for Christmas together.” Kevin agreed, folded the note, and left. The same night, he called me. And we were talking over a beer in a bar.
The next day was Christmas Eve. I was on vacation leave for the remaining days of the year. Months ago, a friend of mine and I planned a small Christmas dinner for the night before Christmas. I asked her if it was okay if I brought a friend over. She said: “Well, it’s Christmas. Nobody should celebrate this special holiday alone.” Kevin picked me up from home. When I sat in the car and we talked a little, he opened the glove box and handed me a small present. I shook it to hear what might be in there. Kevin screamed: “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Later on, I found out why he did that. Well, the little elephant lost part of its trunk when I shook the little box. Even when the elephant doesn’t look perfect anymore. But it is a story worth talking about. It was very sweet of him since we had known each other for a couple of days. It was the first gift I got from Kevin. I still treasure these three wooden elephants to this very day.
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National Pfeffernüsse Day 2025
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Pfeffernüsse, known as ‘pepernoten’ or peppernuts, originated from Central Europe. A confectioner from Offenbach am Main, named Johann Fleischmann, is believed to have created the recipe in 1753. Since then, the cookie has become very popular, attracting the interest of many people, including renowned individuals like Felix Mendelssohn.
Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands are the countries most popularly known for this delicacy. In North America, the ethnic Mennonites are also very fond of pfeffernüsse. Today, the recipe is widely available, and the cookie is widely consumed worldwide. However, pfeffernusse is traditionally reserved for the holiday period, around December. This is in keeping with the tradition of its origins, as the cookie has been associated with the celebration of Saint Nicholas Day and Christmas.
The traditional recipe consists of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, mace, anise, sugar, butter, eggs, and flour. Popular nuts such as walnuts and almonds are also used to give the cookie some flavor. Leavening agents are applied to the mixture, kneaded, and then baked. They usually come out hard from the oven, but would soften after a few days. Also, they are tiny and are sometimes shaped like nuts, which is probably why they are called peppernuts. Nowadays, bakers make alterations to this recipe to include some other ingredients or remove some existing ones. While they generally have a spicy taste, you can easily adjust the spice you want. On National Pfeffernüsse Day, homemade peppernuts are made available for the family and guests.
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-pfeffernusse-day/
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Winter Wonderland (4)
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Winter In Texas ~ 2010
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Sunrise On The First Day of Winter/Yule 2025
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Happy Winter Solstice! ❄ Blessed Yule!
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The Fourth Advent Sunday 2025
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Blessed 4th Advent
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Winter Solstice/Yuletide 2025
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Our ancestors depended on the passage of time and seasons. And the best way to measure the seasons was by observing the Sun and the Earth’s orbit around it. The winter solstice is the time of the year when the Sun is reborn, announcing a new season.
On December 21, the day is shorter as the Sun seems to stand still at a lower elevation, making the night longer. But it is a transition period that ushers in a new season of more sunlight. Yule celebrations used to be tied with different pagan traditions, bordering on mythology and culture. Popular notions include the myth of the goddess giving birth to the Sun god. There is also the celebration of the surrender of power from the Holly King to the Oak King. Plus, the ancient festival of the Germanic people about the Wild Hunt and the god Odin is also around the same time.
All the above form the crust of the Yule celebration. But, as stated earlier, it is even more symbolic in that it helped our ancestors to determine times and seasons. Understanding times and seasons was usually the difference between life and death, food availability and famine, victory and defeat, and many other things. With the introduction of Christianity, the Yule celebration has been linked with Christmas traditions too. It’s thought that December 25 was chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ because it is the renewal period. Yule and Christmas both share certain similarities, and they often overlap as well.
:https://nationaltoday.com/yule/
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Addison Kaboom Town, Texas 2011 (1)
Kevin, Courtney, and I went with the kids and a stroller full of coolers, blankets, and towels from a parking garage to the Addison Circle, which leads to the entrance of Kaboom Town. Addison opens the gates around 4 or 5 pm. The earlier we arrive, the better our chances are of getting a decent spot. It was a very hot Independence Day weekend. So, we adults decided to pick a shaded spot under a couple of trees close to the water fountains and the bathrooms. Once our blankets were laid out, the girls wanted to play in the fountain and cool off. There was still plenty of time for the airshow and fireworks. By the time the sun is behind the horizon, the kids can rest and watch the shows. It didn’t take long before Sara was hungry and wanted to eat a sandwich. Thank goodness, we always bring our cooler with us. Katelynn rested with her Dad on the blanket for a little bit before she decided she was hungry, too.
… to be continued …
Last Day of Autumn ~ 2025
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Blossoms gone, just leaves remain
Rich and crisp, strong and tense
Defying all that comes their way
With crackled skin and golden veins
The sun picks out their curling tips
That waver in the autumn glow.
An almanac of vibrancy
Russet, ochre, fills the skies
As I tramp upon the shady floor.
But there, up there,
I see no birds nor hear their song
Yet I can hear October’s air,
Nature’s chanter plays her tune,
Its modest whistle rising high
A thousand leaves dance in reply
Rustling, brushing, side by side
Sweeping, searching, as they blow
In one last crazy dance
Caressing as they rise and fall.
The branches’ softly swishing tails
In unison, they flow
Like a thousand batons synchronized
Or violins in forest guise
Leaves cling tight to their trapeze
Swinging madly in the breeze
I marvel at their majesty
But know it cannot last
For soon the leaves will perish
And all this will be gone.
Author: Paul Colvin
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Aurum & Evergreen”
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Aurum & Evergreen
Festively blended with pink grapefruit and apple infused with pomegranate and cinnamon leaf, Aurum & Evergreen is a noble scent with ribbons of vanilla snow and Siberian Fir throughout.
Top: Sparkling Pink Grapefruit, Green Apple Peel, Valencia Orange
Mid: Pomegranate Juice, Cinnamon Leaf, Strawberry Jam
Base: Sugar Crystals, Vanilla Snow, Siberian Fir
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December Fog In The Naugatuck River Valley (1)
Morning Fog rolled in from the lake onto our property this morning.
Flake Appreciation Day 2025
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Snowflakes are a subject of thought and appreciation on Flake Appreciation Day. The event is celebrated around December when snow begins to fall in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Snowflakes can be classified into one of 35 different shape groups based on their size and shape. When water vapor in the clouds condenses into ice crystals, snowflakes spontaneously appear in nature. Snowflakes’ shapes are influenced by elements such as dust, temperature, humidity, and air currents.
There are different numbers of water molecules in snowflakes, which cause them to form a crystal pattern. Due to diffuse reflection, snowflakes appear white, even though they are composed of clear ice. Snowflakes are usually studied by putting a chemical compound on a glass plate and allowing a flake to land on the plate. The chemical compound covers the snowflake and hardens. The snowflake leaves its shape behind after it melts.
The history of snowflakes was greatly influenced by Wilson Bentley. He was born in 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. His work is significant as he helped discover that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. He used a type of photography that uses microscopes called photomicrography to take pictures of 5,000 snowflakes. Bentley published articles and books about his findings and donated some of his photographs to the Smithsonian Institution. He was the world’s leading snowflake expert and was referred to as ‘The Snowflake Man’ until he died in 1931.
:https://nationaltoday.com/flake-appreciation-day/
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Christmas Season (Part III) 2008 – 2009
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2008
Since Kevin’s homemade Christmas tree got positive feedback, he installed it again in 2008. The same year, I decorated a Christmas wreath for our girls.
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2009
Sara’s 1st Christmas; She was still so tiny.
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… to be continued …
Winter Sunrise In New England (2)
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Winter In Connecticut 2025
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Winter Wonderland (3)
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Christmas 2009
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Snow In Southern New England (1)
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Winter In New England 2025
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The Third Advent Sunday 2025
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Blessed 3rd Advent
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The Liberty By The Lake Fireworks In The Colony, Texas 2011
Liberty By The Lake 2011
Kringle Candle Company’s “Stardust”
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Stardust
Stardust is a heavenly constellation of bold florals, warm amber, and musky woods.
Top: Green, Lemon, Floral
Mid: Amber, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Orchid
Base: Benzoin, Musky, Oriental, Sandalwood
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National Poinsettia Day 2025
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That pop of floral color in everyone’s home means the holidays are right around the corner. National Poinsettia Day on December 12 also forms a cultural bridge between the U.S. and Mexico. Poinsettias, known as Euphorbia Pulcherrima, come in hundreds of beautiful colors. Even if you have a limited holiday decorating budget, strategically placed poinsettias can enhance your home in a variety of ways. Bottom line: What’s a holiday party without a gorgeous poinsettia plant on the mantle?
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-poinsettia-day/
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Gingerbread House Day 2025
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Nothing brings in the holidays like the smell of freshly baked gingerbread. But before the decorative cookie led the popularity contest on the holiday dessert table, baking gingerbread was acknowledged as a specific profession. In the 17th century, only professional gingerbread bakers were allowed to make gingerbread, except at Christmas and Easter, when anyone was allowed to bake it.
In Europe, gingerbread was sold in special shops and at seasonal markets that sold sweets and gingerbread shaped as hearts, stars, soldiers, babies, trumpets, swords, pistols, and animals. Gingerbread was especially sold outside churches on Sundays. Religious gingerbread reliefs were purchased for particular religious events such as Christmas and Lent. Decorated gingerbread was given as presents to adults and children or as a love token bought specifically for weddings.
Gingerbread was also considered a form of popular art in Europe. Molds often displayed actual happenings by portraying new rulers, their children, spouses, and parties. Substantial mold collections are held at the Ethnographic Museum in Toruń, Poland, and the Bread Museum in Ulm, Germany. According to some food historians, the tradition of making gingerbread houses started in Germany in the early 1800s. The first gingerbread houses were the result of the well-known Grimm’s fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel.” After this story was published, German bakers began baking ornamented fairy-tale houses made from gingerbread. They were brought over to America by German immigrants and became popular during the Christmas season.
:https://nationaltoday.com/gingerbread-house-day/
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Christmas Season (Part II) 2006 – 2007
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2006
In the Christmas Season of 2006, Kevin, Katelynn, and I visited California. Since we celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Kevin’s grandparents in Anaheim, we stayed an extra day to go to Disneyland.
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2007
In December 2007, Kevin installed his first outdoor Christmas tree made of Christmas light chains. Everything was held up by a PVC pipe.
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… to be continued …
Winter Sunrise In New England (1)
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Winter In Connecticut 2025
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Winter Wonderland (2) ☃
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Winter In Texas (2008 – 2009)
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The Second Advent Sunday 2025
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Blessed 2nd Advent
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The Independence Day Parade In The Colony, Texas 2011
In 2011, Sara was old enough to take her to her first Independence Day parade. It was hot the whole weekend. But we were prepared. Plenty of water, sunscreen, and sitting in the shade helped tremendously. Katelynn and Sara both enjoyed the parade’s colors and candy. There were parrots, pirates, landmarks, Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, the Fire Department & Police Department, and so many flags. It was a wonderful event to see people from the community celebrating the 4th of July.
St. Nicholas Day 2025
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St. Nicholas derived from Nicholas of Myra and was a bishop in 4th-century Greece. He was known for selling off his own items and then giving the money to the poor. He would commonly leave coins in people’s shoes and dedicate his entire life to serving people who were sick and suffering. This is how he gained his saint status, and is what inspired St. Nicholas Day (also commonly known as Feast Day or the Feast of St. Nicholas).
One well-known story of St. Nicholas involves a dowry for a father’s three daughters. In the third century, it was common for fathers to offer money to prospective husbands. However, one poor father with three daughters did not have the money to do this. St. Nicholas paid for all three daughters’ dowries by leaving gold in their shoes.
As time passed, St. Nicholas Day began in different ways. In Italy, this day was celebrated with feasts, gift-giving, and festivals. In other European countries like Germany and the Netherlands, children would leave their shoes or special St. Nicholas boots in front of the fireplace or front door at night and find presents in them in the morning. The history of St. Nicholas and his good deeds was part of the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus and Father Christmas, which is why there are some current traditions of leaving gifts in people’s boots or shoes (or stockings).
:https://nationaltoday.com/st-nicholas-day/
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Christmas Stroll”
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Christmas Stroll
Inspired by fresh-cut Christmas trees and the hot mulled cider served during Nantucket’s Christmas Stroll, the company president’s father, Mike Kittredge II, helped design this bright holiday scent.
Top: Balsam Fir, Pine
Mid: Green, Moss, Sweet
Base: Spice, Winter Air
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Knecht Ruprecht & Krampus Folklore
In German folklore, Knecht Ruprecht, which translates as Farmhand Rupert or Servant Rupert, is a companion of Saint Nicholas and is possibly the most familiar. Tradition holds that he was a man with a long beard, wearing fur, or covered in pea straw. Knecht Ruprecht sometimes carried a long staff and a bag of ashes and wore little bells on his clothes.
According to tradition, Knecht Ruprecht asks children whether they know their prayers. If they do, they receive apples, nuts, and gingerbread. If they do not, he beats the children with his bag of ashes. In other (presumably more modern) versions of the story, Knecht Ruprecht gives naughty children gifts such as lumps of coal, sticks, and stones, while well-behaved children receive sweets from Saint Nicholas. He can also be known to give naughty children a switch (stick) in their shoes instead of candy, fruit, or nuts, in the German tradition.
Ruprecht was a common name for the devil in Germany, and Grimm states that “Robin fellow is the same home-sprite whom we in Germany call Knecht Ruprecht and exhibit to children at Christmas …” Knecht Ruprecht first appears in written sources in the 17th century, as a figure in a Nuremberg Christmas procession.
According to Alexander Tille, Knecht Ruprecht represented an archetypal manservant, “and has exactly as much individuality of social rank and as little personal individuality as the Junker Hanns and the Bauer Michel, the characters representative of country nobility and peasantry respectively.” Tille also states that Knecht Ruprecht originally had no connection with Christmastime.
Ruprecht sometimes walks with a limp because of a childhood injury. Often, his black clothes and dirty face are attributed to the soot he collects as he goes down chimneys. In some of the Ruprecht traditions, the children would be summoned to the door to perform tricks, such as a dance or singing a song, to impress upon Santa and Ruprecht that they were indeed good children. Those who performed badly would be beaten soundly by Servant Ruprecht, and those who performed well were given a gift or some treats. Those who performed badly enough or had committed other misdeeds throughout the year were put into Ruprecht’s sack and taken away, variously to Ruprecht’s home in the Black Forest to be consumed later or to be tossed into a river. In other versions, the children must be asleep and would awake to find their shoes filled with either sweets, coal, or, in some cases, a stick.
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Krampus is a terrifying figure found in parts of Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol, Slovenia, and Croatia, most probably originating in the Pre-Christian Alpine traditions. In Tyrol, he is also called “Tuifl”.
The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on December 6. On the preceding evening, Krampusnacht, the wicked, hairy devil, appears on the streets. He sometimes accompanies St. Nicholas. However, Krampus will at times be on his own, visiting homes and businesses. Saint Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and bundles of birch branches.
Europeans have been exchanging Krampuskarten, greeting cards featuring Krampus, since the 1800s. A Krampuslauf is a run of celebrants dressed as the beast and is still quite popular; many of the participants are fortified with schnapps. Over 1200 “Krampus” gather in Schladming, Styria, from all over Austria wearing goat-hair costumes and carved masks, carrying bundles of sticks used as switches and swinging cowbells to warn of their approach. In the past few decades, village Krampus associations have paraded without St. Nicholas at Krampus events throughout late November and early December.
Christmas Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005
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2003
Christmas 2003 was bittersweet. It was Katelynn’s first Christmas, but it was also our last Christmas in Germany.
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2004
In December 2004, we had a Dallas Holiday Wish Celebration. The Beach Boys had a concert, and even Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto came to visit and sing and dance in front of Dallas City Hall. I have it all on videotape footage and didn’t capture too many event photos.
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2005
In 2005, we bought our house in Texas. The same year, we celebrated Christmas/Yuletide in our new home.
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… to be continued …
First Snow of The Season 2025/2026
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First, the meteorologists mentioned 3-6 inches of snow for our area. But the weather system stayed further north. We were lucky; we got about an inch.
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New England Winter Afterglow In December (1)
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Winter In Connecticut 2025
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Merry Christmas, Mr. Grinch!
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This season, Mr. Grinch made it on our lawn. And he is “… A Mean One.”
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Winter Wonderland (1) ☃
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Winter in Texas (2004, 2007)
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Hello, December 2025!
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Wintry mornings wrapped in white,
Evening, calm and still,
Snowflakes dancing all around,
Sled rides down a hill,
Gatherings with loved ones —
Such a pleasure to remember —
all memories and special gifts
That comes with each December.
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Goodbye, November 2025!
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The First Advent Sunday 2025
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Blessed 1st Advent
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Rail Bridge”
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Rail Bridge
A fresh, masculine Fall fragrance starts with bergamot and orange peel and blends softly with exotic woody notes to complete the composition.
Top: Bergamot, Orange
Mid: Black Peppercorn, Apple, Floral
Base: Amber Wood, Patchouli, Musk
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Thanksgiving 2025
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May your stuffing be tasty,
May your Turkey be plump.
May your potatoes and gravy
have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
and your pies take the prize,
and may your
Thanksgiving dinner
stay of your thighs.
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November Mornings
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (13)
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Autumn At A Texas Creek
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Clouds & Branches In Late November (1)
November Skies
Our Yard/Forest In Late November (1)
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Autumn in Connecticut 2025
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Novembrrr”
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Novembrrr
Novembrrr brings a colorful, leafy medley, and on those cool mornings, evokes the senses with comforting, earthy, aromatic notes, frozen and frosty blue lavender, and white amber dusted with cool mint, along with chilled, sparkling citrus.
Top: Chilled Citrus
Mid: Blue Lavender, Spearmint, Peppermint
Base: White Amber, White Birch
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (12)
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Autumn in Texas 2012
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Kittens & Cashmere”
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Kittens & Cashmere
Crisp, frosty air blankets aromatic greenery, vibrant fir needles, and ice-dusted eucalyptus blended with soft hints of ambered woods, shimmering spearmint, and snowy white musk.
Top: Ozone, Green, herbal
Mid: Fir Needle, Eucalyptus Mint
Base: Herbal, Amber Musk
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Naugatuck River Valley Backyard Wildlife (2)
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American Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk & Eastern Gray Squirrel
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Our Yard/Forest In Mid-November (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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In The Autumn Sunrise Glow (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Our Yard/Forest In Early November (2)
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Autumn Amber 2025
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (11)
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Autumn at San Chester Park in Carrollton, Texas ~ 2012
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Knitted Cashmere”
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Knitted Cashmere
All cozy in cashmere on those crisp, cool Fall days. Knitted cashmere is a fresh, yet soft, silky scent with warm suede, neroli, and lily of the valley woven with warm patchouli, chestnut, and white woods.
Top: Lemon, Neroli, Lily of the Valley
Mid: Warm Suede, Patchouli, Chestnut
Base: Vanilla, Birch Wood, Tonka Bean
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Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In November 2021
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This afternoon, I took another peek at the leaves in Echo Lake Park. And with sadness, I have to say, the “Leaf Peeping Peak Season” is over. Here and there are trees still dressed in Autumn leaves. A lot of them are bare, now. I can tell that November has arrived in New England. Well, I will enjoy what is left for the rest of the season, before I experience my first real Winter in almost two decades.
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~ 11/01/2021 ~
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (10)
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Autumn at The Colony Nature Trail, Texas 2012
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The End of Daylight Saving 2025 (Fall Back) 🍁
Joshua was not happy when I told the pack that they had breakfast and dinner one hour later, from now on until March: “WHAAAT? Do we have to wait until dawn? What is this sorcery? I don’t understand it. But if you say so, I guess it is what it is. Only humans get this crazy idea of changing their clocks back and forth. And they are supposed to be the most intelligent species on this planet. … ” … As we can tell, Joshua is on a rant about the end of daylight saving. In the USA, Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and some Caribbean Islands, we will change our clocks one hour BACK.
Día de los Muertos ~ Day of the Dead 2025
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The ancient indigenous people of Mexico have practiced rituals celebrating the lives of past ancestors for around 3,000 years. The celebration now known as Day of the Dead originally fell on the ninth month of the Aztec calendar and was observed for the entire month. In the 20th century, the month-long festivities were condensed to three days called The Days of the Dead: Halloween on October 31, Day of the Innocents on November 1, and Day of the Dead on November 2.
La Catrina is one of the most recognizable figures of Day of the Dead, a towering female skeleton with vibrant makeup and a flamboyant, feathery hat. The Lady of Death, worshipped by the Aztecs, protected their departed loved ones, guiding them through the final stages of the life-and-death cycle. La Catrina that we know today was created in the early 1900s by the controversial and political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada. The artist and husband of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, included José’s La Catrina in one of his murals, depicting 400 years of Mexican history. His mural, “Dreams of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park”, includes himself and a young child holding hands with La Catrina, who is dressed in sophisticated garb and a fancy feathered hat.
Plans for Day of the Dead are made throughout the year. Toys are offered to dead children, and bottles of alcohol or jars of alote get offered to dead adults. Most families decorate their loved ones’ graves with ofrendas, which often include marigolds. It’s said that these specific flowers attract the souls of the dead to the offerings, and the bright petals and strong scent guide the souls from the cemetery to their family’s home.
Since the 1960s, when the Mexican government declared it a public holiday as part of educational policy initiatives, Dia de Muertos has been observed throughout Mexico. The tradition was inscribed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s Representative List of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
: https://nationaltoday.com/day-of-the-dead/
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Our Yard/Forest In Early November (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Witches’ New Year – Samhain 2025
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As the darkness now draws near
See the cycle of the year
As the light now goes within
Let the hallows dance begin.
Blessed Samhain Night!
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⛦ Blessed Samhain 2025! ⛦
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Now in the darkening of the year
The veil between the world wears thin
And those gone on ahead draw near.
In the hours of quiet remembrance
that the waning season brings,
We may feel their whispered presence
like the brush of a gentle wind.
Blessed Samhain!
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Halloween 2025
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This year, “Wednesday Addams” came for a visit from the Nevermore Academy. After I took some photos of her, she went trick-or-treating with the neighborhood’s ghosts and goblins. We all remember what happened last time Wednesday smiled, right? If you can’t remember, it might be a good idea to re-watch “Addams Family Values”.
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Black Cat”
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𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑪𝒂𝒕
Good things happen when this cat crosses your path. A complex blend of wood, citrus, and musk creates a bright freshness.
Top: Spicy Cinnamon
Mid: Clove
Base: Cedar, Frankincense
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DIY Dollar Tree Vintage Halloween Welcome Door Hanger
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This cute vintage door hanger was inspired by “Making It My Own DIYs” on YouTube. The only difference I made to my own hanger was that I didn’t make a bow and left it in its original state.
Here is the YouTube Video: “Making It My Own DIYs” by Brandy. It begins at minute 10:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-YmktOY304
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How I Carve My “Jack-o-Lanterns” For Halloween Night
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For the last five Wednesdays, I posted photos of the pumpkins I have been carving for Halloween. People were admiring my Jack-o-Lanterns and asked how I carve them. In this blog, I will explain it.
Before I even think about this carving process, I have to look for the right pumpkin in the store or at a pumpkin patch. The key points I’m looking for are:
- Does the pumpkin have any nicks or bruises?
- Does the stem look healthy and is not cut too short?
- Is the pumpkin big enough for what I would like to do with it?
- Does the pumpkin have a smooth surface?
- Do I really like the pumpkin, or should I keep looking for a better one?
A pumpkin should look healthy. Because it will rot if it has nicks, bruises, or the stem is cut too short. It should also be the right size for the pattern I have in mind. The pumpkin should be smooth and without warts. Having a bumpy surface makes it harder to apply the stencil and carve the pumpkin. Sometimes, I look at a pumpkin and think: This is not the right one, I just keep looking. Since I started looking for pumpkins at the beginning of October, there is plenty of time to find the perfect one for my project.
Usually, on October 30th, I begin to carve pumpkins. This gives me an extra day, in case I’m getting too busy on Halloween. I’ll let you know how I keep the pumpkins nice and fresh for a day or two before they have their big day on our front porch.
- First, I gather all my tools, bowls, stencils, and of course, pumpkins together before I begin with the carving. A couple of days ago, the girls and I decided on what pattern they liked to get carved into their pumpkins.
- After I opened the pumpkin with a kitchen knife, I got those gooey pumpkin guts out. (Usually, I cut it at an angle. The warmth of the candles shrinks it a little bit. That way it stays on the pumpkin and won’t fall inside of it.) When Katelynn was little, she always helped me and said, “We have to get the pumpkin-yikes out of it, before we can carve the pumpkin!” So cute! She still calls it “pumpkin-yikes”.
- I always use the scraper to clean the pumpkin from the rest of the stuff, which keeps the seeds in place. With this tool, I can thin out the walls a little bit more. If the walls are too thick, the pumpkin is harder to carve. But if they are too thin, they can break easier, while I’m carving. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten a better feeling about it, how thick the walls are supposed to be.
- The pumpkin is clean inside and wiped down on the outside. Now I can apply the stencil with some Scotch tape before I use the poker around the lines. Personally, I do not recommend getting the stencil wet for a better fit on the pumpkin surface. It takes forever until the paper is dry. I never have the patience to wait for that. And poking the holes into wet paper makes a mess because it will rip faster.
- As soon as the pattern is poked into the pumpkin, I remove the stencil. I always keep the stencil sitting next to the pumpkin as a reference. Sometimes a hole is not poked perfectly, or the holes are too close together. Some people use a crayon or another marker to connect the lines.
Once the stencil is removed, the carving can begin. A few years ago, I spent a little extra cash to get better carving tools. The tools, they provide with the stencil booklets are good for some carving. But I’ve noticed, I had to re-buy them, because they bent and/or became dull. I love this saw, as you can see in the picture. It has a bigger handle as well. - My little secret to keep the pumpkins in shape for a couple of days: I soak them with a splash of bleach in ice water. Some people wipe them with vinegar and use some vaseline to prevent them from molding and drying out. But I’m not a fan of the vinegar smell, and the vaseline just looks messy if it is not applied correctly.
When the “Jack-o-Lanterns” were still damp from soaking them in water, I lit them with a few tea candles to see how they looked in the dark. Katelynn and Sara can’t wait for Halloween night to get the pumpkins on the porch and show them to the kids from the neighborhood.
Are you ready for the results? Here are the “Jack-o-Lanterns” of 2017:
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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A Witches Brew Poem
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Witches Stew
Bubble, blubber, squirm, and gloop,
Boiling broth of bat’s tail soup.
Wobble, slobber, liquid goo,
Add the sole of one old shoe.
Spooky shadows dance around,
Of frogs and rats and snarling hounds.
Steam swirls rising to the roof,
Add one small ear and one old tooth.
Gnarly, scratchy, tickle, and itch,
Stir round and round to make it rich.
Mushy, sticky, sizzle and stew,
They’re making mischief just for you.
by Gareth Lancaster
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Autumn Rain In New England (2)
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The wind is strong, the rain is a soaker, and the leaves are falling. It’s a perfect day to stay indoors and drink some hot chocolate.
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National Candy Corn Day 2025
George Renninger, who worked at Wunderlee Candy Company, created candy corn in the 1800s. Working out of Philadelphia, he invented it to celebrate what he believed to be the beauty of corn juxtaposed with autumnal colors. Winter was cold, dark, and long, and the bright colors of candy would last for a long time, bringing optimism, joy, and a burst of sugar.
Specialized candy for Halloween turned out to be a winning idea, with different Halloween candies becoming increasingly popular over time. Wunderlee was credited for being the first to sell candy corn commercially, even though Goelitz, also known as Jelly Belly, is the most linked to commercial candy corn sales.
Candy corn began as food for chickens and was available only between March and November. It was originally a type of mellow cream known as “Butter Cream Candies.” The name was changed in the 1950s due to false advertising, as it had no butter inside.
The original method of making candy corn was to pour each color into molds separately, but this was a very time-consuming process. The recipe was sugar, corn syrup, and water. Later, marshmallows and fondant started being added, and then so was carnauba wax. Today, the recipe is pretty similar and gives us plenty of energy for trick-or-treating.
Halloween Season (Part V) 2012 – 2013
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2012
Kevin, the girls, and I went to a couple of fun events that season. Finally, we made it to “Boo at the Zoo” at the Fort Worth Zoo. The weather was perfect for some Trick-or-Treat time. And Sara had a Halloween Party at her daycare, where she could play games, have hot dogs, lemonade, and cake. Once in a while, it’s fun to splurge.
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2013
In 2013, we decided we wanted to register for the “Family Fright Night Camp Out” in our city. It’s an annual event on the lake peninsula in Stewart Creek Park. We brought our camping gear, Halloween decorations, and lots of candy. The event has costume competitions, Halloween decoration competitions, scream competition, Trick-or-Treat, Movie Night, etc. The girls loved camping in the park. For the Halloween season, I carved five pumpkins. Three we used for the above event. And then I carved another two for the girls on Halloween.
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… to be continued in October 2026.
Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2021 (1)
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After I dropped off Sara at school, I drove to Echo Lake Park. I wanted to see how far Autumn had come along. Two weeks ago, there were barely any signs. Now, it looks quite different. Let’s give it another week or two, and the green might be completely gone. The dew and the fog helped to give it an Autumn feeling at the lake. A half a dozen ducks and a bunch of Canada Geese enjoyed this sunny morning as well.
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– 10/12/2021 –
My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part V) 2014 – 2016
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We have arrived at the last part of this year’s “My Jack-o-Lanterns” season. I can’t believe October went by so fast. Here are the pictures of the pumpkins from 2014, 2015, and 2016.
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… to be continued in October 2026.
Naugatuck River Valley Backyard Wildlife (1)
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Since most of the acorns are on the ground, we have a lot more squirrels roaming in our yard and on our pin oaks. This afternoon, I counted at least four squirrels and a couple of chipmunks just in our frontyard. Happy gathering, munching, and burying, little critters!
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DIY Halloween Black Cat Shadow Box
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Another cute little Black Cat Shadow Box I made for the Halloween Season.
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Our Yard In Late October (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Black Rock State Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025
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Autumn at Black Rock Pond
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Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025 (2)
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Autumn at Echo Lake Park
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National Black Cat Day 2025
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It’s National Black Cat Day on October 27th! Black cats need a little positive PR as their reputation as an omen of bad luck is well-known (and unearned, frankly). In the lead-up to Halloween, National Black Cat Day provides the chance for feline fans to show off their love for the oft-maligned but always iconic animal.
The black cat carries a unique status among the wide batch of different breeds. In some locales, notably Scotland, Britain, and Japan, the presence or appearance of a black cat is indicative of imminent good fortune and prosperity. Beyond these regions, though, public favor of the black cat runs sharply southward. In much of the Western world, black cats are considered to be harbingers of misfortune and wickedness. This unfortunate association stems from an image that will be familiar to many readers, which is that of the black cat serving as a companion to potion-brewing, spell-casting witches everywhere.
This relationship would prove to have severe consequences for owners of black cats in America in the early 17th century. As the Pilgrims established their occupancy on the east coast of the country, they maintained a strict suspicion of anything remotely tied to the perils of witchcraft. The black cat served as a symbol of the supposed evils and Satanic sympathies of witches, and as a result, those found harboring black cats would receive harsh punishments; some would even be sentenced to death.
While, in general, the fears surrounding the demonic potential of witches have subsided significantly, the black cat will be left wondering why it still must suffer the consequences of a damaged collective reputation. According to several animal advocacy groups and adoption agencies, black cats experience lower rates of adoption and higher rates of euthanization relative to other cat breeds. Because of this, National Black Cat Day stands as a fantastic opportunity to subvert these trends and demonstrate appreciation for an animal that could use a little luck.
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-black-cat-day/
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (9)
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Autumn Bradford Pear ~ 2012
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Our Yard/Forest In Late October (3)
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Autumn in Connecticut 2025
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There Was A Little Witch …
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Trick-or-Treat
There was a little witch
who kept her little bat
on the teeny, tiny tip
of her pointy, little hat.
She knocked on many doors
and cackled, “Trick-or-treats!”
while the little bat held out his wings
and gathered tasty sweets.
They shared a midnight feast
besides the Boo Lagoon,
Then flew on home to dream sweet dreams
beneath a candy moon.
by Penny Parker Klostermann
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National Pumpkin Day 2025
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Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons, and zucchini. Most people don’t realize they are fruits, not vegetables. These plants are native to Central America and Mexico, but now grow on six continents. Their history in North America goes back 5,000 years.
Pumpkins are indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. As Frenchman Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America in the 1500s, he reported finding what the French called “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin.”
We use pumpkins for both food and recreation — especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving.. Pumpkin pie has become a traditional part of Thanksgiving in both the U.S. and Canada. We also carve jack-o’-lanterns around Halloween, although the pumpkins we eat and those we carve are generally from two different types of winter squash. (Note: A gourd is usually considered inedible squash.) Remember — gourds get funny faces. Squash winds up on the dinner table.
Farmers generally plant pumpkins in early July. The fruit (yes, fruit) requires soil that holds water well. Crops suffer if there’s either a lack of water or unusually chilly temperatures. Still, pumpkins are rather durable and can regrow damaged vines if necessary. Even pumpkin seeds are a popular snack. Grocery stores often sell them both hulled and semi-hulled. They’re a good source of protein, magnesium, copper, and zinc.
The Halloween connection dates back to the 1800s. The term “Jack-o’-Lantern” first appeared in 1837, while the idea of a carved pumpkin, specifically, originated in 1866.
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-pumpkin-day/
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DIY Dollar Tree Halloween Haunted House
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I kept the haunted house simple. I used two wooden cutouts, Jenga blocks as spacers, popsicles as shingles and window shutters, a large ribbon for the windows, a rub-on sticker ghost, orange fairy lights, paints, and hot glue.
First, I painted the wooden cutouts and Jenga blocks with black chalk paint and let them dry. Meanwhile, I painted the popsicles for the shingles with a mixture of chestnut brown and black chalk paint. The popsicles for the shutters, I stained with anti-wax. When the cutouts were dry, I lightly brushed the one I wanted to use as the front with white chalk paint and let it dry again.
Next, cut out a big spider web ribbon in rectangles and glued them on the backside to cover up the front windows. I added the shutters in different directions to make them look like they are ready to fall off. I rubbed my little “Boo” ghost close to one window. Once the front was done. I glued the front and back sides together with spacers. I also added extra spacers to rest my battery box for easy access to them. Then I glued the shingles on the roof.
Last but not least, I wrapped the fairy lights around the Jenga block spacers. Now, we also have a big haunted house as a shelf or mantel sitter.
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Our Yard/Forest In Late October (2)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Wolf’s Bane” & “Fright Night”
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𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇’𝒔 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒆
While folklore suggests this unassuming yellow woodland flower might repel werewolves, we’re sure its delightful floral fragrance will have you happily howling at the moon!
Top: Floral
Mid: Amber
Base: Powder
𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
Fiendishly delightful citrus notes swirl intriguingly with rare wood accords to create a fragrance that will drive you batty with pleasure!
Top: Fruit
Mid: Patchouli
Base: Citrus
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Kevin’s DIY Witches’ Cauldron 2009
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Kevin worked on the cauldron in previous years. But it came out the best on Halloween 2009. He had to cut a hole in the bottom to fit a pipe for the fog maker. A purple light bulb was installed before he aligned the inner cauldron with some dark fabric. Kevin glued some eyeballs and bones on top of the fabric to make them look like the witch just tossed them for her brew in the cauldron. Of course, needed a stand and a “fire”. Kevin got some golfball-sized styrofoam balls, cut a small hole, and spray-painted them, so they would look like charcoal. Then he pushed red string lights in the precut holes to make the “charcoal look like it was glowing in the fire. Once the stand and the “charcoal” were in place, he set the cauldron on top of it and let the fog machine do its job. Ta-da! The witch had some brew cooking.
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Halloween Season (Part IV) 2010 – 2011
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2010
Katelynn loves going to the pumpkin patch because she can jump in the bounce house, go on hay rides, and pick a pumpkin. Sara just enjoyed crawling around between the pumpkins. Every pumpkin had to be tested by giving it a good slap on top. We also went to the Pirate Days. Unfortunately, “Boo at the Zoo” got rained out on the day we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. But it wasn’t the end of the world, either. The girls got out and had fun, anyway.
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2011
Aww! 2011 was one of my favorite Halloween Seasons of all time so far. Katelynn had a crush on “Marvin, the Martian” and wanted to marry him. That’s right. She loved this Looney Tunes character so much that we had to get her a plush Marvin. She said she wanted to become an Astronaut and be the First Woman on Mars. Over the years, her idea of flying to Mars has changed. But she still wants to be a Paleontologist, now.
Sara was the cutest little garden gnome I’ve ever seen. It was her first Halloween, and she could walk to the houses. But she still had a hard time catching up with her older sister. Her little feet were not fast enough. So, she called Katelynn to wait for her: “Kaitin, Kaitin! I want to go T’ick-o’-T’eat with you!” Sara wasn’t scared of any monsters either. Since we always made a big fuss out of Halloween, she must have thought it was normal.
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… to be continued …
Morning Fog In The Naugatuck River Valley 2021
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Before I drove Sara to school, I warmed up the car and captured some photos with my Nikon. The sun just rose above the horizon when I could see the fog past the trees in the valley. While we had no fog up on the hill in Watertown, Oakville was covered in a blanket. Sara’s school is about 300 ft lower in altitude than our home. The Autumn fog looked so pretty this morning.
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~ 10/12/2021 ~
DIY Dollar Tree Vintage Halloween Box
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This adorable Vintage Halloween Box, I saw on Pinterest. It looks very similar. But I put my own touch to it. Mr. Skeleton rests his foot on the bow. I just want to tickle it. He smiles and gives me his approval; he loves being a part of my DIYs.
Here is a link to the original “Dollar Tree Vintage Halloween Box” by Creating Through Chaos: https://creatingthroughchaos.com/dollar-tree-vintage-halloween-box/
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Horseshoe/Pequabuck Falls, Terryville, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025
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In 1851, Eli Terry constructed a dam on the Pequabuck River to provide waterpower for a new factory, the Terryville Manufacturing Company. Located on Canal Street, the shop made clocks and clock parts. Water from the pond was diverted down a canal to turn a water wheel that generated 35 horsepower at full speed. In 1864, the factory became the Eagle Bit and Buckle Company, manufacturers of harness bits and buckles for the Union Army during the Civil War. Eventually, locks for mailbag pouches were made here. Later, a sawmill occupied the site, and by 1908, it was a woodturning plant. A waterwheel powered the shop until 1913, when it was replaced by an electric motor.
: https://www.plymouthct.gov/interesting-places-in-plymouth
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My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part IV) 2013 – 2014
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Another Sunday has arrived to show off some of my Jack-o-Lanterns from the years 2013 and 2014. Some I carved for our local “Family Fright Night Campout”. And a couple of pumpkins I carved for Halloween night. The white skull pumpkin is from Courtney. She asked me if I could capture a photo of it. It looked so cool, I had to add it to my Jack-o-Lantern photo collection.
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… to be continued …
Our Yard/Forest In Late October (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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The Norfolk Historic District, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025
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The town of Norfolk was incorporated in 1758. Early growth was due in part to an industry that developed on the Blackberry River near the town center, of which no significant traces remain. Its main period of growth began with the arrival in 1871 of the railroad, which led to the town’s growth as a summer resort, marketed for its high elevation and fresh air. The town center benefited architecturally from the philanthropic activities of the interrelated Robbins-Battell-Stoeckel families, who contributed churches, civic buildings, and memorials to the town center. The major element of the town center, the former Stoeckel estate, is now home to the Yale Music School’s summer programs.
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Historic_District
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The Saville Dam & Barkhamsted Reservoir, Litchfield County, Connecticut In October 2025
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The dam is named after Caleb Saville, chief engineer of the ambitious project. Foundations for both the dam and the diversion tunnel were laid in August 1934. Then, the eastern branch of the Farmington River was diverted into a concrete conduit at the bottom of the dam site. Although the Saville Dam was completed in 1940, it was not until 1948 that the Barkhamsted Reservoir filled to full capacity.
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Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025
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Stratton Brook offers swimming, picnicking, fishing, cycling, interpretive programs, and more in a beautifully wooded setting with ADA accessibility. Originally called Massacoe State Forest, the park’s land was acquired to demonstrate forest fire control techniques along railroads. The railroad tracks have since been replaced by an impressive bike trail shaded by white pines and traveling over scenic brooks and through a covered bridge. Stratton Brook State Park Trail connects the Farmington River Trail to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
: https://ctparks.com/parks/stratton-brook-state-park
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Crescent Lake, Southington, Connecticut In October 2025
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Autumn At Crescent Lake
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (8)
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Autumn Bradford Pear
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Song of The Witches
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Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork and blind worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg and Howlet’s wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon’s blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.
(Macbeth)
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DIY Halloween Haunted Doll House
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One of my favorite projects was converting a Dollar Tree Dollhouse into a Haunted House. The wooden bottom with the fence came from Target; the rest of the items are from Dollar Tree. The house I painted with black chalk paint inside and outside. In the meantime, I hot-glued the trees as a background on the “property”. After the paint was dry, I lightly brushed it with white chalk paint to show the crevices. I used some Jenga blocks to raise the house because I didn’t want it buried in the peat moss.
Since the doll house had furniture and a couple of people, I used one person and a tissue to make a little ghost. For the eyes, I used bits of pipe cleaner. The haunted house also has nailed-up windows and a creepy spider. And I added more moss to the roof.
What would be a haunted house without a pumpkin patch and a graveyard? For the pumpkin patch, I found those little glitter pumpkins and tiny hay bales to raise one pumpkin up. For the graveyard, I used popsicle sticks, cut them to size, painted them to look like slate, wrote some funny names on the gravestones, and glued them across the pumpkin patch.
Finally, I installed orange fairy lights in the haunted house to give it a spooky look. I made sure I left space between the trees and the house for easy access to the batteries. I also kept the haunted house display simple. Could I have added some bats, more ghosts, witches, and trick-or-treaters? Yes. However, I didn’t want it to look too busy. And there is always room for another project.
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Our Yard/Forest In Mid-October (1)
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Autumn In Our Yard & Forest
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Kringle Candle Company’s “Candy Corn”
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𝕮𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖞 𝕮𝖔𝖗𝖓
Here’s the Kringle Candle Company’s take on the classic creamy vanilla, honey, and light spice that bedevils every autumnal sweet tooth. So far, this candle formula is my Halloween favorite.
Top: Creamy Vanilla
Mid: Sweet Honey
Base: Light Spice
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DIY Halloween Ghost Tassel Garland
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This garland was really easy to make. I used some pipe cleaner ribbons, twine, wood beads, a galvanized metal ghost, and yarn, which I had hung from a Dollar Tree Halloween sign.
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I counted 24 wood beads, painted 8 white, and 8 black, and then mixed black and white to paint the last 8 beads gray. The galvanized metal ghost I sanded for the chalk paint to stick better to the surface. I let the beads and ghost sit to dry.
Meanwhile, I wrapped a white yarn around my hand about 20 to 25 times to make a tassel. First, I drew some eyes with a marker on the little ghost. But I decided to use tiny bits of pipe cleaners for the eyes. Since it is a boy ghost, it needed a cute little bowtie, which I made from a ribbon and a pipe cleaner. The galvanized metal ghost is a girl and has a head bow.
In the end, I attached the twine to the girl ghost, fed it through the wood beads, and finished it by knotting it together with the boy ghost. Since I had a little happy accident with the knots, I just glued a little piece of ribbon around them to make it look like it belonged there.
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Kevin’s DIY Cat Eyes ~ 2008
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Kevin had a couple of motors he wanted to use for something neat on Halloween. He decided to make moving cat eyes. A couple of tiki candle holders, styrofoam balls, and spray paint needed to be purchased. The strings, wooden picks, black foam sheets, and velvet fabric we had lying around the house. Kevin also installed some mini light bulbs inside the eyeballs. So, they were glowing while they moved and stared at everyone.
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Halloween Season (Part III) 2008 – 2009
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2008
Katelynn wanted to help me with the pumpkin carving. So, I’ve got her a little pumpkin she could play with and get the pumpkin guts out. She always loved to say: “We need to get all the pumpkin yikes out!” And then she played with the gooey inside of the pumpkin.
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2009
Sara was only twelve days old when we celebrated Halloween in 2009. She was such a cute little Pumpkin. Katelynn wanted to help with the pumpkins again, while her little sister took a nap. Katelynn was very proud of being a big sister. She really enjoyed taking Sara out for her first Trick-or-Treat. All bundled up, we walked through the neighborhood and collected candy on this cool October night. The fresh air was good for the little munchkin.
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… to be continued …
Our Forest In Mid-October 2021
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There are still many emerald-colored trees in the forest. However, the golden colors become vibrant as October continues. I just hope we will get some crimson mixed in as well. Nothing in sight, yet. But I don’t give up hope. It’s still too early to say how the leaves will be at their peak in another week or so.
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– 10/11/2021 –
My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part III) 2011 – 2012
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Happy Halloween Season!
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… to be continued …
Our Yard In Mid-October (1)
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Autumn In Our Backyard
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DIY – Halloween Vintage Cat Shadow Box Shelf Sitter
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Last year, I worked on a Vintage Cat Shadow Box for Halloween. As usual, I got my inspiration from Pinterest and YouTube. I purchased items at Dollar Tree and ordered the rest from Temu and Amazon. I still have so much paint and brushes that I don’t have to worry about getting more for some time.
For the box, the half-rounds on top, and the risers on the bottom, I had to mix some colors of orange, cardinal red, and chestnut brown. I wanted to get it as close to the cat’s hat as possible. It became slightly darker. However, I was satisfied with the outcome. The trick to painting the half-rounds is to stick them on some tape. The tape prevents them from moving around. The same can be done with the risers.
For the inside of the box, I measured the inner space and cut some scrapbook paper to the size of the inner frame. Once I glued the paper to the back, I could work on the vintage cat sticker. The sticker itself was too flimsy. I stuck it to some cardboard to make it more stable. Behind the cat sticker, I hot-glued a Jenga riser to bring the image forward.
Something was missing. So, I decided to take one of those Halloween metal cutouts, paint it black, and let it dry before I used a white coloring pencil and drew some extra lines on the letters. The outer frame of the box still looked a little plain. I found some burlap and black ribbon. It just fits perfectly around the box. I added the two painted Jenga risers to the bottom.
The Vintage Cat Shadow Box can be used as a shelf sitter or as a tiered tray sitter. It can hang as a picture on the wall. The possibilities are endless.
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (7)
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Autumn Rain in Texas 2011
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Halloween Cat Poem
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Could Be Halloween
Yowling, prowling, growling cat
Why do you switch your tail like that?
Why do your eyes flash gold and green?
Could be–must be–Halloween!
Slinky, inky, blinky cat,
Why do you arch your back like that?
What scary creatures have you seen?
Could be–must be Halloween!
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The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part II)
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Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 mph (160 km/h) winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein’s summer home and retreat. Smith and Bassette also designed the north and south wings of the Governor’s Mansion in 1916. Truly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria in Germany. Standing 165 feet (50 m) tall and situated 1,000 feet (300 m) above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several dozen miles in all directions from the top-floor observation lounge. It is also the site of the first home elevator in Connecticut.
When Kevin and I reached the Heublein Tower, we went to the shop to purchase some water and snacks. While we ate, we enjoyed the view over the Farmington River Valley. It is prohibited to eat or drink at the observation lounge.
When we were ready to go upstairs, we had to climb 120 steps to the sixth floor to get to the Heublein Observation Lounge. From there, we had a 360° view. From the tower, Hartford can be seen at a short distance. When the skies are clear, the view reaches all the way across Massachusetts into New Hampshire. I spent some time on the bench up there and soaked in the panorama.
After resting for a little bit, Kevin and I hiked down the Tower Trail. My arch in my right foot was aching. So, I had to take it easy. New insoles or hiking shoes should fix this problem. Thank goodness, there is a shortcut trail that led us down faster. We took in the beautiful Autumn sights. After all, it was a perfect day to hike up the hill. The temperatures were in the mid- to upper 50s (12℃ – 14℃).
Simsbury, Connecticut – October 10th, 2025
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~ THE END ~
DIY – “Nevermore” Picture Frame & Bird Cage
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This is one of my projects, which I did late last year. I started with the frame I got from a thrift store. It was gold-colored. Originally, I wanted to keep it that way for a Christmas project. But I still had a picture of Nevermore. And I tried to put it to good use. I painted the frame with black chalk paint and lightly brushed it with gold. Once the paint was completely dry, I framed the picture. That was the easy part.
At Target, I found a birdcage; at the thrift store, I got some candle holders; at Dollar Tree, I purchased the flowers, bows, and other embellishments; and I had to order the raven from Amazon. The floor of the cage and the candle holder I painted with black chalk paint. When the paint was dry, I cut up a flower foam into the form of a cube and glued it to the cage floor. I had some black shredded paper that came as packing material with one of my orders. It became part of the nesting material when I wrapped it around to hide the foam cube. I centered the raven before I poked the flower stems into the foam to build the nest. Usually, I don’t glue the stems into the foam, so I can rearrange it for a later display. For the rim of the cage, I glued laces in place. Since the candle holder looked too plain, I made a bow and attached it to the neck. The creepy little spider gives it the extra little touch.
Inspiration from “Making It My Own” by Brandy – “Nevermore” Frame:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOH8-x59Fe0&t=9s
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Hiking To The Heublein Tower At Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, Connecticut In October 2025 (Part I)
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Yesterday, I planned a trip to the Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park. When we arrived at the park today, I wasn’t aware that we still had to hike 1.25 miles (2 km) with an elevation gain of 427 feet (130 meters) to get to the tower. Once we climbed up the steep gravel path, we reached the top of the ridge, where we encountered the western-facing view over the Farmington River Valley. The rest of the trail is almost flat with some gravel and tree roots along the way. I had to sit down a few times to take in the beautiful view while I was resting. But I was motivated enough to make it all the way to the tower. I was well rewarded.
Simsbury, Connecticut – October 10th, 2025
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… to be continued …
Kringle Candle Company’s “Witches Cauldron”
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𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒏
Primary notes of clove and cedar dance mysteriously with hints of incense, citrus, and other exotics to create this utterly bewitching fragrance.
Top: Cedar, Clove
Mid: Incense
Base: Incense
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Hop Brook Lake, Middlebury, Connecticut In October 2025
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Hop Brook Lake extends over three communities in New Haven County, Connecticut. These towns are Middlebury, Naugatuck & Waterbury. A dam was built across Hop Brook in Naugatuck, and the resulting lake is known as Hop Brook Lake.
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The Pollinator Garden
Pollinator gardens contain various native or native cultivars that produce nectar and/or pollen. These gardens enhance pollinator occupancy and contribute to maintaining healthy ecosystems by creating optimal pollination conditions.
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Autumn At The Lake
Hop Brook Lake is situated in the midst of a growing suburban area. This makes the 536 acres of undeveloped public land at the lake especially important to the surrounding community. The land is not only managed for recreation, but also for the benefit of the forest, wildlife, and water resources. The forest is comprised of a diverse array of trees, including white pine, maple, oak, hickory, ash, and dogwood.
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Lakeshore Trail
Wildlife is abundant in the area. Bird watchers will find a diversity of species, including hawks, turkeys, waterfowl, and songbirds. White-tailed deer, beaver, squirrels, chipmunks, and many other animals also make their home at Hop Brook Lake.
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Lake Winnimaug, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025
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I live in Watertown for the last four and a half years. However, today was the first time I went to Lake Winnimaug which is only three miles away from our house.
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Echo Lake Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025 (1)
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Autumn at Echo Lake Park
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Veterans Memorial Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2025
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Autumn Maple at Veterans Memorial Park
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Halloween Season In “Witch City” – Salem, Massachusetts (Part II) 2025
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The “First Church in Salem” and the Witch House reside next to the Ropes Mansion (Allison’s House/Hocus Pocus). Since both buildings and the Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery are connected to the 1692 Witch Trials, I post the photos in this blog.
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The First Church In Salem
The “First Church (North Church) in Salem” refers to the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, which, over time, has had different locations and branches. The current Unitarian Universalist congregation, one of the oldest in the United States, was established in 1629. The congregation split several times throughout its history, and one of these divisions created the “North Church”.
During the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, many of the accused and their accusers were members of the First Church congregation. The minister at the time, Reverend John Higginson, lived near the present-day Salem Witch Museum site.
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The Witch House/Jonathan Corwin House
The only structure still standing in Salem that has a direct connection to the witchcraft trials and is open to the public is the Witch House, on the corner of Essex and North Streets. This home, built circa 1675, was the residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin in 1692.
Along with his friend and fellow Judge John Hathorne, Judge Corwin presided over many of the examinations of the accused and their accusers, both before and during the trials. Some of the questioning took place in the Salem Village Meetinghouse (Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good were examined there from March 1-5), the Salem Town Meetinghouse, and local taverns. For years, many believed examinations also took place in this home on Essex Street, but there is no evidence to support that theory.
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Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery
The Charter Street Burial Ground, started in 1637, also known as “Old Burying Point” or the “Charter Street Cemetery”, is the oldest cemetery in Salem. Many early and famous Salem residents are buried here, such as John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem witch trials of 1692, and Samuel McIntire, Salem’s great woodcarver.
The convicted victims of the Salem Witch Trials were not buried in a single, marked location; their bodies were disposed of in shallow graves at the execution site, now known as Proctor’s Ledge. While there is no central grave site, some families may have secretly moved their loved ones’ bodies to private plots, so their exact burial locations are largely unknown. The Old Burying Point Cemetery is adjacent to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, but no executed individuals from the trials are buried there.
Salem, Massachusetts – October 8th, 2025
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~ THE END ~
DIY – Diddlina “Trick-or-Treat” Bag 2005
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Diddlina is Diddl’s girlfriend. When I was younger, I collected everything about Diddl and his friends. I even made my own journals by drawing pictures of them. In October 2005, I created Katelynn’s Trick-or-Treat bag myself. The bag I had from a previous occasion. I imaged the concept, traced it, and then glued the tracing to construction paper. The broom got some tinsel I found in an art supply store. I used a black pen to color the face, hands, feet, hat, and costume, giving it character. And voilà, Katelynn had a Trick-or-Treat bag like no other.
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Halloween Season (Part II) 2006 – 2007
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2006
… This Halloween season was completely different from last year’s. Katelynn was excited to go to “Trick-or-Treat”. She knocked on the doors with a happy “T’ick-or-T’eeeeat”. Since she couldn’t pronounce the “r”, the neighbors thought she was adorable and gave her a lot of candy. After three houses, we had to walk home to empty the bag before we could go out there and get more candy. Oh my, so much candy and no meltdowns anymore.
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The Munster Mansion in Waxahachie, Texas
In 2004, I heard about the Munster Mansion Replica when I watched VH1 while I was preparing dinner. I talked to Kevin about it. And one weekend, we drove from Dallas to Waxahachie. When we found it, we looked at it. The owner, Charles McKee, waved at us, and we waved back.
A couple of years later, I read in the Dallas Morning News that the McKees have these weekend tours right before Halloween. Kevin and I got a babysitter for Katelynn, and down we went to Waxahachie again. They used the big parking lot in front of a local school. A school bus and a limousine were busy around the clock, picking guests up and dropping them off. It was a long wait. But once we were on the property, we had a lot of entertainment. One of the firebreathers asked me to pull a nail out of her nose. I replied, “… before this happens, I will pass out.” Everybody in line was laughing. 😊
Once we made it inside the mansion, we were not allowed to capture photos or record any film. It made us pay more attention to the tour as well. If you like to see photos and documents, you can go to the official website and check it out for more information. Here is the link:
https://www.munstermansion.com/
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2007
In 2007, Kevin had to go to Trick-or-Treat with Katelynn. I was still recovering from a knee injury and would rather stay at home. It was fun. Katelynn was dressed in her “Snow White” costume and received plenty of candy, while the neighbors and I were busy giving out candy. I have to admit, I missed the door-to-door walk that year.
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… to be continued…
Our Yard/Forest In Early October 2021
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Happy Autumn Season!
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– 10/07/2021 –
Halloween Season In “Witch City” – Salem, Massachusetts (Part I) 2025
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After we dropped off Sara at the school bus, Kevin and I drove to Salem, Massachusetts. Since we wanted to meet with a couple of Kevin’s friends, the trip was planned in late Spring or early Summer. It was raining this morning. So, the chance that the town would be overcrowded was slim. And it proved to be the perfect October day to visit Salem.
We parked at the lot between Federal Street and Church Street. At the Witch City Mall, Kevin and I met with his friends. We had eaten a small breakfast on the road. So, we were ready for some brunch at the Red’s Sandwich Store. In other words, we had a second breakfast there. And it was delicious.
When our bellies were full, we walked through Salem. Since Kevin’s friends knew I had a creepy feeling towards Ouija boards, they guided us to the Salem Witch Board Museum.
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Salem Witch Board Museum
The Salem Witch Board Museum is owned and operated by John Kozik, a founding member of the Talking Board Historical Society. Working with the other members, they seek to preserve and uncover the history surrounding the talking board. The items contained in the museum are from his personal collection or donated to the museum for display and educational purposes. John is available for speaking engagements on the wonders and historic impacts of the Ouija board and talking boards.
Here is a video from CNN of the Ouija Board History and the Salem Witch Board Museum:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/travel/video/ouija-board-history-halloween-orig-ag
Once I listened to the history of the Ouija board, I wasn’t as creeped out anymore. Still, I would treat it with caution, until… one of Kevin’s friends dug deeper into the boards, which were donated to the museum. And that was the moment when the hair on the back of my neck was standing up. 😱
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It’s All A Bunch of HOCUS POCUS!
When we walked out of the Salem Witch Board Museum, we were all debating what we were going to do next. I mentioned the Hocus Pocus Filming Locations. I knew we wouldn’t make it to all the locations due to our schedules. But since I wanted to see Allison’s House (The Ropes Mansion), we all agreed to go there first. I wish they had decorated the Ropes Mansion for the holiday. However, it still looked exactly like they filmed it for the movie.
Our next stop was the Old Town Hall. The “town hall spell” in Hocus Pocus refers to the scene where Winifred Sanderson sings “I Put a Spell on You” at the town’s Halloween party. While the exterior of the Old Town Hall was used for filming, the interior party scene was shot on a soundstage. The spell used the song to hypnotize the townspeople, forcing them to dance until they die.
Kevin and I might have to visit Salem in the off-season for the third time. I would love to see the rest of the Hocus Pocus filming locations.
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Salem, Massachusetts – October 8th, 2025
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… to be continued …
My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part II) 2008 – 2010
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… to be continued …
DIY-Dollar Tree Jack-o-Lantern Shelf Sitter
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Kevin suggested, when I’m working on DIY projects, I could make one for Katelynn and send it with the other Birthday gift to Dallas. Since I still had the metal pumpkin from the “Happy Halloween” sign left over. I used a wooden stand-up pumpkin from Goodwill, which I got in a two-pack for $2. Target has the same sets for $5. With black and white chalk paint, pumpkin orange acrylic paint, Halloween scrapbook paper, Dollar Tree Jenga blocks, a “messy” bow, and a rope around the stem, I added some character to the pumpkin. On the back side, I worked on some Thanksgiving decorations. So, when Halloween is over, Katelynn can turn it around for the November holiday.
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Autumn In Our Neighborhood (1)
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Autumn In Early October 2025
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (6)
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Autumn At The Reunion Tower In Dallas, Texas
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When Witches Go Riding …
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When witches go riding
And black cats are seen,
The Moon laughs and whispers
‘Tis near Halloween.
~ Author Unknown ~
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DIY-Dollar Tree Vintage Witch Sign
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Do you remember me posting the Halloween vintage black cat sign three days ago? There was still the “Happy Halloween” panel left over. Brandy from “Making It My Own DIYs” had a very cute idea. But I did my own spin on it.
I had a black frame I got from Goodwill. The frame had some scratches, so I sanded it and repainted it with black chalk paint, then dabbed on PLAIDs “Pumpkin Orange” with a round sponge brush. Once the frame was completely dry, I glued a couple of Jenga blocks on the “Happy Halloween” panel before I secured it to the picture frame. Next, I did the little skeleton witch. Once she was done, I made a messy bow and added everything to the frame. Now, she looks more like a Halloween Skeleton Witch/Fairy. The project turned out great. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same as what we see in videos. It’s always good to bring our own creativity to the plate.
Brandy’s Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htCuIpYASOM&list=TLPQMDIxMDIwMjPnVXFfUuEHyQ&index=1
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168th Annual Fall Fair, Harwinton, Connecticut 2025
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After the Fall Festival in Watertown, we made our way to the Harwinton Fall Fair. Sara was thirsty and had a lemonade. A little further down the walkway, we had some bratwurst, and Sara had a chicken sandwich. We walked around for a little bit. Honestly, when you have seen one fair, you have seen them all. Since Sara was tired from her morning XC practice, we left early.
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46th Annual Fall Festival, Watertown, Connecticut 2025
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Kevin and I walked through the vendors’ aisles, while Sara hung out with a friend at the Fall Festival in Veterans Memorial Park. The festival had vendors with homemade items, food trucks, and an alpaca petting zoo. At 3 pm, The Rakes were supposed to be on stage. Since we planned to drive to another local fall festival, we missed the band again.
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Our Yard/Forest In Early October (1)
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Autumn In Connecticut 2025
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Halloween Kringle Candles 2020
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I’m so excited, my Halloween Kringle Candles have arrived today. In mid-July, the Kringle Candle Company had a special for their Halloween Kringle Tumblers. I believe they could be ordered only for several hours before the sale was over. Kringle Candle Co. had different Halloween candles later in the year, but I wanted to get my fingers on those tumbler candles. In July, I got an email from them saying when they have the sale ready for the Kringle tumblers. I, being crazy for Halloween and candles, had to go for that deal. The online store had plenty of selections to choose from. However, I went for four different scents and purchased six candles in total.
- 2 Witches Cauldron
- 2 Graveyard Night
- 1 Black Cat
- 1 Day of The Dead
Who is this Kringle Candle Company?
The original founder of the Kringle Candle Co. was no other than Michael Kittredge II himself. He was also the founder of the Yankee Candle Co., which has been in business since 1969. After selling candles nationally and internationally for the past 30 years, Michael Kittredge II sold the Yankee Candle Co. to Forstmann, Little & Co. in 1998. Michael Kittredge II retired from candle making.
In 2008, Michael Kittredge III, the son of the Yankee Candle Co. founder, made his first candle. And it came naturally to him to make and sell candles himself. In 2009, the Kringle Candle Co. was born and has the flagship store with the candle factory/packing, and shipping on an 18,000 sqft. property in Bernardson, Massachusetts. Over 10 years later, the company is still in business, growing its product line and sending the candles all over the United States. Many of the Kringle Candles can also be outside the USA.
Unfortunately, Michael Kittredge died due to cancer in Boston on July 24, 2019. He was 67 years old. May he rest in peace. And we are thankful for the millions of amazing-smelling candles over the past 50+ years.
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DIY-Halloween Costume 2004 🐑
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In 2004, I saw a little lamb costume for Katelynn. She was so cute. Unfortunately, I made the hat piece a little bit too big. But that was okay. She had a lot of fun getting candy on Halloween night.
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My Scandinavian Halloween Gnomes 2025
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Sven, Christoph, and Gunnar
Happy Halloween Season!
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Halloween Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005
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2003
This was Katelynn’s First Halloween. She was only 27 days old when I carved the Kitty pumpkin for her. The story behind the pumpkin itself can be found here under this link:
https://underthewhiteoakleaves.com/2022/10/01/my-jack-o-lanterns-2003-2007/
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2004
Katelynn was at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch for the first time. Oh, she had so much fun playing with the straw. Kevin and I had to fish it out of her clothes later. She was so busy throwing the straw in the air, it went everywhere. The next day, we dressed her up as a lamb. I made the costume myself. The head was a bit big for her. She enjoyed going to Trick-or-Treat with it.
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2005
It was the first year we celebrated Halloween at our new house. I made a DIY-Diddlina candy bag for all the goodies we would receive from going to Trick-or-Treat. On the other hand, Katelynn was still little and a bit unsure if she really liked this whole “Trick-or-Treat” thing. When we walked from door to door, she wasn’t very happy. Once she had some candy, it wasn’t nearly as bad anymore. But she did not like the door-to-door walk at all. A year later, this would be a whole other story. …
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… to be continued …
Black Rock State Park, Watertown, Connecticut In October 2021
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Kevin and I hiked in the park for a little bit. Unfortunately, I had the wrong shoes on. We didn’t make it far on the trail before we turned around. But we enjoyed the slow change of leaves. When we walked past a fish pond, Kevin saw a chipmunk and wanted to see where it hid after he went up a small hill. He found an entrance to a den. When he walked down, something jumped against his leg. Kevin looked closer and saw it was a frog. The little Pickerel Frog was patient enough for me to take some photos before it leaped across the trail to get back to the pond. Beautiful critters, we see when we go outdoors.
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~ 10/03/2021 ~
DIY-Dollar Tree Halloween Vintage Black Cat Sign
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Since I love Halloween and I am stuck on a budget, I looked at some DIYs on YouTube. I stumbled across Brandy’s “Making It My Own DIYs”. Her videos are so inspiring and make a Dollar store item look like it’s worth a lot more Dollars. It is so much fun to be creative. I fell in love with her Halloween Vintage Black Cat Sign in one of her videos. So, I gathered all the materials I could find in Dollar Tree, Goodwill, and Temu. And here is my own creation. I made it my own DIYs.
Brandy’s Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htCuIpYASOM&list=TLPQMDIxMDIwMjPnVXFfUuEHyQ&index=1
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Autumn In New England (2)
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🍁 Autumn at the Watertown Historical District 🍁
Colonization of the area today called Watertown began around 1657. At that time, the colony was called “Mattatock”, though it had several variations in spelling through the years. The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury (now Waterbury) by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council. The original Colony of Mattatuck, which became Watterbury, then Waterbury in name, comprised a much greater land area than Waterbury does today. Thomas Judd and other families were among the first investors to buy the land as a group. The Town of Watertown was officially incorporated in 1780.
Resource:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watertown,_Connecticut
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My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part I) 2003 – 2007
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Back in 2003, Kevin was on leave for Katelynn’s birth from Iraq. Before he had to go back for another couple of months, we went to the Commissary. Kevin looked in a box filled with ‘Jack-o-Lanterns’ and found the perfect pumpkin. That squash looked like it fell out of a painting or was in the story of Cinderella. Kevin knew he couldn’t be with us for Halloween. And I wanted to make something really cute for Katelynn. Kevin and I found a booklet, and we picked the perfect stencil. Kevin said, “I want you to make the pumpkin as beautiful as you can, capture a few pictures, and send them to me on Halloween! I will be stuck in Iraq, again. But I want to be a part of it! It is Katelynn’s very first Halloween.” Said, and done! Since our little family was ripped apart for this special day, the ‘Pumpkin 2003’ will always be my favorite. It was an emotional one. From that day on, I made a tradition out of pumpkin carving. Every year, Katelynn gets her stenciled ‘Jack’. And when Sara came along, she got her own ‘Jack’, as well.
I will introduce some pumpkins every Wednesday throughout October. Enjoy, and maybe get your own ideas! If you like to show me pictures of your Jack-o-Lantern, feel free to drop a link in the comment section below. I would love to see your artwork.
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Hello, October 2025!
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October Autumn leaves of red and gold that crunch beneath your feet,
Pumpkins on front porches, candy corn, and trick-or-treat,
Tart and tangy cider, apples ripened on the trees,
A hint of winter is coming on the chilly autumn breeze.
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My favorite month has arrived! October has all the beautiful Autumn activities I like the most. We can go pumpkin picking at the farms, wear sweaters, while shopping for Autumn goodies, and eat and drink a lot of Pumpkin Spice everything. and watch the leaves finally turning in beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red. In the meantime, decorations will go up to make our house and yard look more spooky for the Halloween season.
I LOVE OCTOBER!
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Goodbye, September 2025!
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It’s the last day of September. October is almost here!
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (5)
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Autumn Bradford Pear Leaves
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Our Yard In Late September (1)
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Autumn In Our Yard
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Autumnal Equinox/Mabon 2025
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Astronomically, it’s the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. Thus, Autumn (and Spring) equinoxes provide Earth roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. After another blazing hot Summer, the first day of fall signals cooler weather.
From the time of the Druids, the fall equinox signaled the end of the harvest. Then, winter preparations began. Families celebrated with parties and other social gatherings. Autumn lasts until the Winter solstice.
Today, city dwellers often head to the countryside — for example, rural New England, to take in the changing colors of the leaves. Symbolically, the fall equinox reminds us to be grateful for the “harvests” in our own lives over the years. This fall equinox, reflect on the bounty of nature and the possibilities for abundance in every part of your amazing life.
: https://nationaltoday.com/fall-equinox/
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (4)
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Autumn Photos with Sara in November 2010
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The Last Day of Summer 2025
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Today is the last day of the astronomical Summer.
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Dollar Tree DIY Autumn Mason Jar Shelf Sitter (1)
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For my DIY Autumn Shelf Sitter, I used one of those wood-pressed Mason Jars. I removed the original paper sign, galvanized metal, and bow before I sanded the “jar”. I cleaned it of the sanding dust and glued on the plaid scrapbook paper. Once the glue had dried. I sanded off the edges of the paper. For a nicer edge, I used antique wax on the sides of the “Mason Jar” and the “Hello Fall” wooden cutout sign. I waited a day to let the wax dry thoroughly.
The following day, I cut a styrofoam pumpkin in half and painted it with matte red, orange, and yellow from Folkart and Apple Barrel. And as a finish, I painted it with some gold. To bring out the ribs of the pumpkins, I painted the creases with antique wax. I also painted the stem for a more natural look. For all that, I used a thin brush.
In the meantime, I hot-glued the tie, bow, galvanized leaf, and “Hello Fall” sign to the “jar”. Since the pumpkin had some blemishes, I used some moss to cover them up. It worked perfectly sitting on the haybale. When I added the pumpkin on the haybale to the sign, I noticed that the shelf sitter can stand perfectly by itself. So, I didn’t have to add anything else. Usually, I glue a wood block for stability in the back. But it is not necessary, this time.
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (3)
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Autumn Willow Oak 2008
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Our Garden & Greenhouse Harvest (1)
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Compared to previous years, we haven’t been as lucky with our crops this year. However, we still have some basil, corn, cucumbers, green beans, parsley, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Today I picked more tomatoes and pumpkins.
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Dollar Tree DIY-“Happy Fall, y’all!” Pumpkin Shelf Sitter
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With a limited budget at hand, I always have to consider purchasing decorations from Dollar Tree and repurposing them to my own liking. There are many tutorial videos on YouTube, which give me plenty of ideas. Last year, I started with some Halloween decor. I’m still learning. It is a lot of fun to be creative and to accomplish something that I can be proud of.
The last couple of days, I worked on this pumpkin shelf sitter. The top left image shows the original purchased item. And the top right image shows my own style. Below, I will describe the process in a few photos.
I separated the pumpkin pieces and peeled off the decorative paper. After sanding and cleaning both pumpkins, I gave them a coat of white chalk paint. I let the paint completely dry. I picked one of my Autumn fabrics and glued it on the front of the taller pumpkin (I cut the fabric into a rectangle to the size of the pumpkin. It’s better to leave some fabric over the edges, which can be trimmed later.) Once the fabric was spread on the pumpkin, I brushed another coat of Mod Podge on top of it. Then I let it completely dry. The dried Mod Podge gives the fabric a paperlike texture, and the edges can easily be sanded off. Once the edges were sanded and cleaned with a baby wipe, I lightly tapped some antic wax around the edges of the pumpkin. (I always start with the wax lightly and add more as I go. This way I avoid getting too much wax on the fabric because it is much harder to correct it afterward.)
While I waited for the tall pumpkin to dry, I always worked a little bit on the smaller pumpkin. I mixed “Pumpkin Orange” with a couple of drops of “Chestnut” (Apple Barrel) and gave the pumpkin two coats. I always let one coat dry before I add another coat. Once the paint was dry again, I used my antic-wax around the edges. With a tissue and a small amount of antic wax, I drew the grooves to make the pumpkin look more realistic. Later, I stenciled “Happy Fall, y’all!” on the smaller pumpkin.
Before I glued the pumpkins together, I added a couple of Jenga blocks as risers. This gives the pumpkins a greater optical depth than being directly glued on top of each other. I still had a raffia bow, and I hot-glued it to the smaller pumpkin. For the tall pumpkin, I used burlap ribbons to make a lazy bow. And the new pumpkin shelf sitter is done.
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Our Yard In Early September (1)
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1) Maples & Shrubs; 2) Autumn Maple; 3) Autumn Wild Grape
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (2)
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Autumn Sweetgum Leaves
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Our Yard/Forest In Early September (1)
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1) Wild Grape; 2) Wood Aster; 3) Staghorn Sumac; 4) Common Pokeweed;
5) Autumn in our Forest; 6) Staghorn Sumac; 7) Goldenrod;
8) Knotweed/Smartweed
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Autumn Rain In New England (1)
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Sara was at a 5 K run from Cross Country at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury. She finished the run in time before the storms arrived in Connecticut. It was extremely humid in the low 80s before the storm hit. Meanwhile, the lightning strikes were intense. The thunder rumbled through the valley. They shook our house twice. The rain poured down so hard our new gutters couldn’t keep up with it. But after all this craziness was over, we were rewarded with a sunset.
☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩☂🍁🌩
Waxing Gibbous Corn Moon 2025
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DIY-Woodland Pumpkin Sign (1)
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I decided to make a Woodland sign since I still had another unused pumpkin wood sign. Recently, I ordered some rub-on transfers from Amazon. And they are perfect for making signs and ornaments with them, after coloring the pumpkin wood sign completely in white chalk paint. Once the paint was dry, I rubbed on the transfer sticker. As a finish, I used antique wax to stain the sign. Now, the wax is dry. And the sign hangs on our living room wall.
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My Scandinavian Autumn Gnomes/Tomte Nisse (1)
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🍂🍁🍂🍁 Happy Autumn! 🍁🍂🍁🍂
Kevin bought me a set of Autumn Tomte Nisse (Scandinavian Gnomes) a few years ago. I was so excited and could barely wait for Autumn. I remembered that I wanted to take some photos with these little guys. Here are the results of the first shooting. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do. Either way, I had a lot of fun with Sven, Christopher, and Gunnar. Yes, I picked some Swedish names for my gnomes as well.
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (1)
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Autumn Bradford Pear
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Hello, September 2025!
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September
Indian Summer breezes blow
the geese are taking flight.
A softly glowing harvest Moon
lights up the starry night.
The special warmth and happiness
we feel throughout September.
Will fill our hearts all Winter long
with beauty to remember.
Author: Unknown
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🌻 At The End of August 2025 🌻
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Summer is leaving silently.
Much like a traveler
Approaching the end of an
Amazing journey.
Darnell Lamont Walker
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Back To School 2025/2026 🍎📚
Today is the first day of “Back To School”. Our youngest, Sara, is the only child left participating in regular school. It is also her first day as a Sophomore in High School. 📚🍎🦉
Hot Summer Days (4)
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Baby Grackle in Summer 2011
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Hot Summer Days (3)
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Rainbow in late Summer 2010
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Summer Rain In New England (1)
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This afternoon, the sky rumbled for about three hours before it started to rain. We had some storms south and north of us. And finally, the storm came to us. The rain was needed. It hasn’t rained much in August. After the heavy rainfalls in Spring to mid-Summer, we still have some abnormally dry areas in Connecticut. No, the air is much cleaner and cooler again.
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First Signs of Autumn 2025
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It’s mid-August. And it’s beginning to look a bit like Autumn in our yard. Our Birch tree and the Virginia Creeper are always the first to show themselves in crimson and gold dresses. But as we all know, Summer is not over. The days are still warm, while the nights are cooling down enough to open the windows.
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Hot Summer Days (2)
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Summer Fireworks 2010
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Hot Summer Days (1)
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Double Rainbow in Summer 2008
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Under The Harvest Moon 