I'm just your average grandma who believes in Bigfoot and ghosts and is fascinated by serial killers....
I mean, if a bad guy tried the front door, the kitchen door, and the patio door, and the red garage door, they might not have tried the back garage door and found out it didn't lock....we've been lucky. no one is safe from sticky fingers.
they also repaired Rip damange to kitchen cabinet. then we went to Chillicothe looking for stone to put on front of house. they were going to call with an estimate. and got hold of a roof sealer guy in the area. he sent an estimate.
lunch at Sonic. Hy-Vee. I met Taylore at Cameron and picked up Z. KJ had concession stand duty.
Katie & Brayden went home. will see them again in a few weeks for diaper kegger/baby shower. our 42nd anniversary.
you're a dead squirrel.
on a gravel road.
just lying there.
you cast a shadow.
you still exist.
I see you .
but you're gone.
set 2 corner posts and braced, first strand of barb wire rolled out.
all our meals were at Crazy Horse Cafe today. some days are just like that. Katie and Brayden here for weekend for a family friends wedding.
got to feel the baby kick. how is it possible that my little baby is having a little baby?
the smell of a locker gets me every time. brings back memories of processing pigs. the smells....ugh. just part of it. mowed at farm. shouldn't have to do that many more times this year. cleaned house. another scale victory. keeping at the steps is working, even with my non-calorie counting ass. I am writing down WHAT I eat. not portion size. (despite the recommendation of nutritionist, I still haven't bought a food scale.) but keeping myself accountable.
I took the 2 tail light bulbs Kevin replaced in Toyota and "made" them into hall way overhead lights in my Cardboard Farrar School House. worked on a couple of the grandkids books I'm making for Christmas.
satellite guy was here, and Kevin won't be missing any more football games in the foreseeable future. and we no longer have a 'dinosaur' receiver.
beef went to locker. kids placed their orders.
Katie called p.m.
I grabbed some tongs and thought I'd pick it up by the head and give it a toss outside, but it slithered onto the shelf above the stairs and I went to bed. I cleaned garage today and did not find a snake. so. I did find an old Wii and Ian wants one, so that's something. and found Koren's old farm building set, so cleaned it up for grandkids room. my creepy corner has now moved to the other side of the basement....onto and over my craft dresser. my Salem trip inspired me. I've made a Witch Shop and a Coven in the Woods. and a twig broom for my original witch.
Kevin made the first batch of chili for FB season. I browned up a huge pan of HB and put in the freezer for later use. that makes me feel like a real prairie wife providing for my kin.
finally made the lace ghost on the glass bottle. and made 3 little witches out of twigs and peach pits and acorn tops to go with the little cauldren I bought in Salem. hopefully they're to scale....will see tomorrow. dumped 1.5" out of rain gauge.
Kevin trudged out to farm alone after the rain stopped to work on fence. I had already cut out the baby stocking when I was putting quilt stuff away. I started on the stocking. I am not the best at understanding directions. there were a few meltdowns. I finally figured out my first problem and TA-DA! problem #2 hit me right in the face. after a short break, re-reading the directions, and watching the tutorial online, I realized that I was trying to put the wrong piece in the wrong place. problem solved. then I realized that the piece I'd cut to put there was the wrong color to block it out. I needed another piece of Grandpa Lije's blue shirt. there was juuuuust enough to cut it out. then I marked on the wrong side of it. couldn't be fixed. so I removed a pocket to have more fabric, which made holes in fabric. wouldn't work. so I cut out 2 other pieces, pieced them together. then STILL couldn't figure it out. meltdown #?. took a break. realized I was trying to attach it at the wrong spot. smooth sailing after that. the thing is, I made like SIX of these a couple years back when Katie found the pattern. ugh. I did get it done and it is adorable.
we have added another show and a pink jeep tour to our upcoming Branson trip.
I've recreated my favorite Haunted School House in my own fashion...of course it is fall. there are leaves. the school is decorated for Halloween. The Children are in their costumes. Mr. Potato Head is in The Principal's Window. The Shadow Man is in The Principal's Doorway. Big Barbie is in The Auditorium. there are candles on the table in The Library. rope lights on The Auditorium Floor. There is The Girls Bathroom with Bloody Mary on the mirror. Nerve Center with the big tv screen on wall. #thisdollhasseensomethings (now Agnes Allice Alloe Axsom) is sitting by the lockers. even have a tiny grave to symbolize the new ownership. Tracy & Deb have signed the blackboard in The Auditorium. The Front Doors are slightly ajar, mocking the No Trespassing and Smile You're On Camera Signs. I'm rather proud of this creation. I got the idea from a documentary with a guy who was on The Original Investigation and has went many times over the years. He made a perfect replica. mine is by no means perfect, it is The Farrar In My Mind.
I made the trip to Chillicothe to have GMC serviced. then rode along with Kevin to the chiropractor. he took me out to supper at Uprooted Kitchen, then we Halloween shopped at Tractor Supply (again.) this time, The Ghost Chicken rode home with us. it was only a matter of time, I guess....
spent my afternoon and evening creating my own little Farrar School. used the buttons and scrapbook pieces I recently ordered. my own little whimsical Halloween edition. put #thisdollhasseensomethings by the lockers. Mr. Potato Head is right where he belongs, in the Principal's window. I created The Library, Nerve Center, Girls Bathroom, Auditorium, Hallway, and The Principal's Office. still have to paint my white lines for the 'bricks.' decided it looks red enough for me, although you can still read the Lowes logos all over the box....Kevin planned an autumn Branson getaway weekend.
then Ann called in sick, and I went to get Izzy, then we went to get Zerelda and shop at Walmart for the girls to pick out Halloween sweatshirts and go to Dairy Queen....meanwhile, a storm blew up and the box got SOAKED. but I did make a homemade tiny Mr. Potato head and started on my Little #thisdollhasseensomethings. will see how it looks after it dries out....it's always something.
some basic house keeping. made a Witches Shop. started The Farrar School. made an Indiana State Sanatorium sign. redid my States I've Visited Map. I did it all bass-ackwards, as per the course, but it got done. eventually. did some more vacay TikToks. Katie called. had a nice long talk.
weight & measurement day. have lost 2 lb in last month. and some measurements have adjusted a teeny bit. I'm in it for the long haul. and I'm happy. first time I've seen 220 on scale in years. (tbh, the last several years my only weigh in was my yearly dr. appt.) yeah, I'm still fat. but not quite as fat. and in my head I definitely can feel the difference. I look in the mirror more. I try on outfits more. I don't automatically reach for the 5X. I was on the road last week, eating out every meal. some days I just hit my minimum step goals. and I stayed the course. slow and steady. I'm a wee bit proud of myself. I know, I know, pride goes before a fall. but I am optimistic that I am evolving. that I can eat in moderation. that I only need 1 Pepsi a day. that I won't just give up and throw in the towel. that I do get a little bit of a high from hitting step goals. that I can dance like a crazy person and call it exercise.
was blogging and going through pics, etc. about 12:30 A.M. thinking about going to bed. mom's neighbor called, she was being loaded into ambulance. so got dressed and headed to hospital. hung out till 5:30 a.m. when they decided to admit her. came home, caught a nap. then back to Trenton to check on her, go to HyVee. got a few things for her fridge, too. picked up clean clothes for her, fed cats. put out trash. back to hospital to deliver clothes. she might get out tomorrow. she said pneumonia and UTI. no wonder she felt so bad. home to watch Chiefs lose (again) with KJ & family.
Tracy planned our iteniary after we all consulted on what we most wanted to do. she bought tickets and booked tours and figured out the route. this used to be my job. and she is SO much better at it. I was also once the driver. now Chris has assumed that position. again....whoo hoo. now I'm along for the ride. and I'm lovin' it.
we bought witches dresses and hats. I made witch brooms. I also bought hotel quality sheets so we could be ghosts, and matching skull dresses to go get a drink in. (ended up eating at a bar our last night in Salem since eateries closed so early, so just did pics on the staircase. maybe next trip...)I painted my nails black. (it started chipping the next day.)
we brought bags of car snacks. that saved a lot of $ on road time munchies. I also took a cooler, which saved $ on drinks. I stuck to my 1 Pepsi a day rule, although there was a Sweet Tea, a Chocolate Shake, and some Lemonade in there. hit at least minimum steps every day, even with all the hours in the car. only did one of the daily exerices all week. I had notebooks in car and suitcase so I could remember everything. wrote down what I ate every day (as in actual foods, not portions and calories, etc.)
I danced with Michael Myers at The Haunted House in Cleveland, Ohio. I was also stabbed by Michael Myers AND Ghost Face. there were turn pikes and toll roads. some cash, some electronic billing. (watch that mailbox.) road construction. wrecks. a time change. we went through Missouri (duh), Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusets, New York, West Virgina, New Jersey (state law: an attendant MUST pump your gas.), Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. walked across the bridge to Canada. the toilet paper is squares, not a roll. it's not a bathroom, it's a Wash Room. got Canadian change buying a Wendigo book. we pissed off the Canadian Border Guard (this is a theme, us pissing off people. stay tuned.) by not noticing the second he waved us into his little glass building. he bitched about this the whole time he checked our passports. no passport stamp. (insert sad face emoji here.) it costs $1 in quarters or $1.25 in Canadian to get back into USA. and on the US side, didn't even check our bags to see what we'd bought. just took our word for it.
I wore spooky apparel. Friday the 13th Hoodie and Sweatshorts Saturday. Michael Myers Hoodie Sunday. Lizzie Borden T-Shirt Monday. (at The. Lizzie. Borden. House.) Witch Dress, Hat, Striped Socks, and Boots Tuesday. Jack Skellington Jersey Wednesday. Zak T-Shirt Thursday. Nightmare On Elm Street Campshirt Friday. and of course my Oddities & Curiousities Hoodie when needed.
I had compliments on my Art purse and striped socks. a few glares at my Zak t-shirt.
we did photo shoots. the skull dresses on hotel stairs. our Witch apparel walking around Salem taking pics at Spooky Place. one woman told her dog "Watch out, they'll put a spell on you." was it amazing walking 'round Salem dressed as a witch? YES. we also did ghost pics with sheets. we did these in the hallway, in the elevator- where a woman in a suit and a hotel nametag that I assumed was The Night Manager offered to take our pics in elevator-on the stairs, and we sat in the lobby for one pic when The Night Clerk, who'd been a tad grumpy but otherwise polite the night before when we'd checked in, yelled at us that "NO! That Is Not Allowed!" and went on and on about how she'd told us and told us and told us???? so we apologized and went outside hotel to take pics in front, and in the park. she glared at us when we came back in, as well. she wasn't on duty our last night.
there were Black Squirrels at Niagra Falls. a road sign told us that our location on The Massassachussets Turnpike was the highest elevation east of South Dakota.
we drove past cranberry bogs. we saw The Plymouth Rock. drove thru Boston. the accents. ❤️ the 12' tall skeletons. the display we saw in Salem leaving town. we had to pull off the road and take pics. we had to. the couple who lived there were out decorating. and they were so nice. they are truly living the dream.
Ann was our Witch City Tour guide. she is a middle school history teacher and really explained the whole witch trial thing. I thought it was the bread mold. it was the rigors of their religious life. all the rules. the constant fear of The Devil. parking in Salem is at a premium. our hotel was located to a lot of stuff. and it was haunted. so was our hotel in Gettysburg. at The Ropes Mansion in Salem, one of the gardeners gave me a flower he'd accidently pruned while working in flower beds. said he always gave these flowers to the first person to compliment the garden. I had on my witch outfit, so it was extra special. we did The Trolley Tour. The Ouija Board Museum. The Monster Museum. The Halloween Museum. The Bewitched Statue. Hocus Pocus locations. The Witch House. Ropes Mansion. Old Town Hall. also walked outside The House of Seven Gables. a huge fire destroyed much of Salem in the early days. a lot of Salem is wharves they filled in. Salem was once a major sea port. and pirates were a problem. we drove past the yellow Jason Vorhees house on the Trolley Tour. couldn't find it later. the yards are small but bursting with flowers. and the porches are very decorative. it's election time. campaign signs everywhere. lots of dogs being walked. Dead Horse Beach. historic houses. narrow streets. restaurants close early. saw Winifred Sanderson in Salem! Gallows Hill. wrought iron fences. homeless.☹️ street musicians.😀 rock walls. cobble stone streets. brick streets. wonderful little shops. I found an altar in one and wrote a note to Dad and John. I realized that night that it was John's birthday. I have trouble keeping track of the days anymore, especially if I'm not home with my calander and to-do lists. I really missed Kevin on the night time ghost hunt. all these couples walking in the moonlight holding hands. and me all alone. Tracy told me next time I could hold hands with her. 🤣 it is believed the witches were hung from locust trees.we only spent one night and a morning in Gettysburg. walked to Dobbin House...the oldest house in Gettysburg. ate by candlelight with period dressed servers. it was a surreal experience. then we walked through the misty streets back to our hotel. magical. the buildings are beautiful. I actually walked the streets where the battle happened. we also went to Little Round Top and Devils Den and drove through the park. again. surreal. we parked on the side of the road outside the fence at The Conjuring House. which is going up for auction on Halloween, so maybe someone will open it back up. but we could see it through the trees. We. Were. There.we did a tour at The Lizzie Borden House. I sat on the couch next to mannequin Mr. Borden. saw mannequin Mrs. Borden lying on the John Morse bedroom floor. imagine being killed while making a bed. ☹️ our tour guide Elena was a story teller. afterwards we drove by Maplecroft and went to The Bordens Graves.we went to Sleepy Hollow. found the old bridge. found Washington Irving's grave. found an adorable boutique. the leaves are turning. bought The Headless Horseman to read. not sure if I ever have???? saw black barns with tobacco ads.went to haunted Sachs Bridge. Avon Haunted Bridge. our last paranormal adventure was Indiana State Sanitarium... a wonderful set of crumbling buildings we could pay $25 to free roam from 10-5. these are my favorite ghostie things. no one hurrying you along. no being bunched with strangers. just take your own sweet time. stare off into space. ponder. soak up the atmosphere. Tracy found a pile of old hospital gowns, so of course we put some on and did pictures on the stairs. Tracy is so much fun. we started out in one building and exited another. somehow we got into the tunnels and didn't realize it. we thought we'd seen it all. went back in with Chris and we'd missed half of both buildings. staircases everywhere. grand staircases. back staircases. patient belongings just left. I climbed sketchy stairs. I walked on the roof. I brought home a rock. and I wrote a note to a ghost.we took turns buying gas. why didn't we think of this before? so much easier than trying to calculate gas money and split. we took turns paying tolls. The Hawthorne Hotel had a bed tax. I'm thinking $19? I wrote it down in one of notebooks I brought along.
there was getting ready for Salem, then there was Salem. but the day before: Donuts with Grandparents in Olathe with Coralie, Violet, & Millie. we spent the nite before in Olathe. after our wonderful morning with the girls, there was Halloween shopping for deb at Target and Spirit Halloween. and lunch at Longhorn. the specials are such a deal! half price of our usual bill. Chris & Tracy spent the night here before our epic adventure. AND the first Chiefs game of the season. yep. we lost.
I've started a notebook of sightings. and print out pics I screenshot for my Ghost Book. I have at this late date named her Agnes Allice Alloe Axsom. cause why not? tonight found her on Farrar Schoolhouse/Haunting at Farrar by Cardinal Crimes, 2 years ago, sitting on the stage in the auditorium. each sighting makes me happy. she is YouTube famous. I have recently found her on the floor, in The Principals Office, The Library, in odd corners, up on a speaker box on the wall, on top of lockers, on desks, in windows, on the bannister when you walk in the front door....investigators have interacted with her, a couple named her, all good clean fun.
we bought new overalls and gloves for fencing. car washed, detailed, vacuumed. cleaned out Rips box. Kevin said it stunk. I guess I'm used to it. trying on clothes. planning outfits. stacking clothes on bed to pack. busy, busy, busy.
got my steps in. caught up on laundry. put away clean dishes. vaccumed. visited Izzy. checked out new Mercer Dollar General. dropped off baby quilt to Karen. put out skeletons, hung ghost in tree, Bigfoot got his pumpkin bucket. finished up crafts. made phone calls (you know I hate 'em. I can't leave a coherent message to save my life.) the locker for butcher calf appt. the vet to board Rip in Nov. an appointment for baby quilt. and Martha Mae Maxwell arrived. I fixed her dress and she is sitting on top of the doll cabinent.
"we" ripped out woven wire fence behind farmhouse, strung and tacked up 3 rows barbed wire. cut down some scrub trees in the way. took out the gates that had blocked the hole cut in fence when Ron was doing demo and needed pasture access. a full days work. one more strand to go and attaching wire to hedge posts and that section will be done. a quick Izzy visit.
