I love decorating for Fall -- Fall being my very favorite season. I love pumpkins (not carved), the trees turning a riot of colors, leaves falling, a cornucopia of harvest, mums.
When my sons were little, I was way more into Halloween, of course. It was a very, very big deal. And I really loved it. I loved collecting a huge array of Halloween decorations and creating a cute/scary tableau every October. I still have a lot of the stuff in the attic in orange and black crates. I just don't get it out anymore. It's a lot of work. Hub doesn't care and doesn't notice. And while I have little grand girls, they are not here full time and I am. I'm the one who would decorate, look at, and put it all away. I'm just not that into the whole witches, Dracula, ghosts, Jack'O Lantern, black cat, big rat, hairy spider, cobwebby thing anymore.
But Angel was here last Saturday morning and I promised to take her to the Farmer's Market to choose a pumpkin for carving. She designed this cyclops woman (where that came from in her imagination I have no idea) and then I let her decorate our front porch. 
My only contribution was this disembodied arm hanging from the door knocker peephole. I get it out every Halloween; my one nod to the holiday in recent years. I like that it is sort of creepy and very easy to store and display.
Hub came home with a huge Costco-sized bag of candy yesterday. I have tried to hand out granola bars or fruit leather in recent years in an attempt to encourage healthy eating in the younger generation, but he goes for the Nestle Company (evil empire) Snickers, Twix, Reese's, M&M, etc mix. In spite of my resolve to not open it until the 31st, all Hub had to do was mention in passing something about how good a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup would taste during the 7th Inning Stretch of the Cubs v. Indians World Series game last night and I was into that bag like an addict scoring a hit of crack. Turns out those little candy bars are also a nice breakfast snack accompanied by a steaming cup of black coffee.
I will survive Halloween, though. I have to work too hard to overcome a sugar-binge these days. I've matured into decorating tastefully, not gaudily, and eating only a modicum of Halloween candy, not having to replace the empty bag before Halloween, as in years long past.
But if you care to stop by for a frightfully good time, I have set some Snickers aside which I can serve in a hollowed-out skull. Then we can hop on the scale for a truly terrifying adventure in self-recrimination. BOO!
At least, that's the view from here....©
I have trouble resisting peanut butter cups, too, and I always hope I don't have any left over. I have tried offering healthy side-by-side with the cups and some of the parents do appreciate them. Now, I hear there is a push to offer gluten-free and peanut free in blue painted pumpkins. Not going to happen in this household.
ReplyDeleteI would think it's quite normal to give up on decorating for this holiday once your kids are grown. Maybe it's time to let your sons and daughter-in-laws divide up your stash of decor that they may have some memories attached to.
Happy Halloween!
I read about that blue pumpkin thing. i don't leave treats out for the taking. I dole them out so I can keep track of how fast they are disappearing. I'm generous at first, then get panic-y I'll run out, so get stingier, then I realize I have a lot left and just start loading kids up as the evening goes on. I also get tired of the whole thing and shut it down fairly early. Bah Humbug. LOL
DeleteGood idea about letting my sons take what they want from the boxes of decorations. My oldest has two kids, but they don't seem to decorate much -- busy with work and grad school and life. I think all my decorating was a 'stay at home mom' thing. I always tried to create holiday memories. Not sure they cared, really. Kids adjust to whatever example is set. My younger son and his girlfriend just bought a house and will be moving soon. He will then have a place to store things. I'll try to pawn some off on him. LOL
My son, the Nurse Practitioner at UW Medical Center, has to work so my daughter-in-law will take four of the five kids out for local/neighborhood trick or treat. I shall watch the oldest (20) who is special needs. We shall take treats to the kids in our buildings (Evangelical, Muslim and Buddhist) and then spend the rest of the time making rice krispy treats for ourselves! My grandson shall wear his traditional witches hat and I shall wear my tri-color clown hair. I plan to spend a great deal of time smiling and laughing. As for decorations - I have two "Halloween pot holders" that I shall put on the table!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun, Sue. And just the right amount of festive decorating! I'll see you later, wearing my skeleton earrings I've had since my sons were in preschool! I've worn them every Halloween for over 25 years. :)
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