Happy Halloween

Have a happy & safe evening. Many people have had to cancel or scale back plans. Or plans are on but there wasn't time to get ready. Here are some last-minute ideas.

 If you are able, please donate to the American Red Cross for storm relief.

xo

(vintage postcard via Vintage Holiday Crafts)

Paper Moon

"It wouldn't be make-believe, if you believed in me." 

Stay safe. No full moon tonight for us on the East Coast. xoxo

PS: Here's a great version of the song by Ella Fitzgerald

(photograph by Lissie Elle Laricchia)

Self-Portraits

This subject has been on the to-do list for some months now. Truthfully, it will fall to a photographer but if you'd like to give it a go (or want to improve/need inspiration), a few links:

The Self-Portrait Project

Five tips for better self-portraits.

Why you should take self-portraits (tutorial).

Famous photographers' self-portraits (in mirrors).

If the idea of taking a self-portrait makes you want to stuff yourself with simple carbohydrates, make this spiced applesauce cake. We are doing this very thing as a terribly large storm churns its way north. Be safe if you're in the path. The cat & obedient servant are packing up & heading to northern Virginia on Monday morning.

xoxo/gg

(photograph via Kottke)

Cat Bounce

In case you missed it: Cat Bounce. (via Swissmiss)

Back to campaigning. Only 11 days left. Please check to see if you are eligible for early or absentee-in-person voting. 

xo/gg

(photograph by Leslie Kirchoff)

Lighter

Not light as a feather (again, yet) but getting there. Ten pounds by ten. (Update: nope, 14 pounds, or a stone if you're British:)

Thanks to:

Ballet Beautiful at home.

Weight Watchers Online

Gina at Skinnytaste

Can You Stay For Dinner?

A great friend.

and lots of walking.

xoxo

(photograph by Sofia)

Autumn Decorations

If you're not planning on decorating for Halloween or want something autumnal that can hang around through Christmas & Hanukkah, a hand-sewn velvet pumpkin from Terrain might just be the thing. There are three different sizes & a portion of the price is donated to The Learning Community, a non-profit dedicated to providing free parenting resources.

For more traditional ideas (& really last-minute ideas), see Martha Stewart's pumpkin pages. 

A cute (& free) downloadable Halloween card (with envelope) to color.

If you're not into the whole earth tone thing, here's a white pumpkin with pink flowers.

And no one does better round-ups than Kim. 101 Festive Fall Tutorials.

xo/gg

(photograph via Terrain)

Calm

If only repeating the word would make it so. 

Meanwhile, you could:

 Listen to Peter Gabriel, live in Athens.

Look at beautiful migrating monarch butterflies.

Listen to a gorgeous reading of Ode to a Nightingale.

Play with Pusheen.

Remember Calm?

Have a lovely weekend. xo

(photograph by Julie de Waroqiuer)

Halloween Costume Ideas

You still have two weekends before Halloween, so get moving. Here are some ideas from year's past; here are some for children (no-sew!), even one for the cat. If you're accompanying children to a party or a block festival (raises hand), here are some easy poet costume ideas. Seriously easy.  

Sweet Paul has lovely costume & mask ideas (& instructions).

This bat headband is half-made & so easy that we're cutting out bats while campaigning! 

xoxo/gg

(photograph crop via Sweet Paul)

Tea Time

Actually, anywhere you are it can be tea time. We're busy with campaign calling & events this week but carving out time for calm is essential. 

If knitting or birds aren't your thing, Sweet Paul's Fall 2012 issue is out with wonderful chocolate recipes. Download here. (Maybe think about the knitting?)

ciao/xo

PS: Great tea for a recent birthday - highly recommend for everyday (along with Earl Grey).

(photograph by Liivia Sirola)

World Food Week 2012

It's World Food Week (& tomorrow is World Food Day); this year's theme is Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the World. Please visit this page for information, many good links, & activities that you can participate in with your family & friends. A visit to the World Food Programme site is a good idea, too, for action ideas.

(illustration via Agence Eureka)

Autumn Flowers

...are still here; don't despair. Dahlias, asters, & chrysanthemums to name three are at many farmers markets in our area & most likely yours, as well. Or maybe you know someone who has some in their garden & would like to share.

A few links:

Halloween. It's the same day every year but it does creep up. Start now (if you've not already).

An easy-ish fig tart.

 Bake or Break's new fall baking Pinterest board.

A Poem Guide for On Autumn by the lovely John Keats.

Thank you for the many kind messages of late. Have a lovely weekend. xoxo

(photograph uncredited - for now via Pinterest)

Happy Ladybug Day!

You don't know what that is, right? (Neither did we until a few days ago.)

Links to Ladybug Day:

The LD page.

The adorable Sesame Street video (which you probably do remember).

If you're still in the coloring page stage, some free ones (including a cute bookmark). For big kids, ladybug clipart.

xo/gg

(photograph by *Nishe)

Wednesday Wishes - France in Autumn

It's the only thing that would do today. France posts, French lessons, Alsace, & a Haven in Paris. Don't forget to Manger. And to sing - no matter what.

xo/bisous

(photograph by Johnny Santo Domingo)

In Case You Were Wondering...Obama 2012

There haven't been political posts here because we're not feeling up to much of anything--it must show. If we've done anything positive lately, it has been of the get-out-the-vote variety. You can do the same by visiting the Obama/Biden 2012 website. You can join with others at a call center or make calls (free) from your home. You could also volunteer to drive the elderly & disabled to the polls. There is a lot to do. It's now just under 4 weeks away. Do something. Please. xo

Some other political links:

The debate schedule.

A political poems sampler by The Poetry Foundation editors.

Reading this from outside the States? Allow the BBC to explain.

For relief, nip in to Comedy Central.

(Specialty campaign button --there are many -- via Democratic Stuff)

Picture That

Many of you take beautiful photographs. Go one more step & enter them in the ongoing (thru 30 November) National Geographic Photo Contest. And then allow your children to enter the Kids Photo Contest (age 6 through 14)  - why not?

Here are the rules. 

Wonderful galleries of entries (& free wallpaper, too:)

Do it!

ciao/xo

(photograph by Bleubird Vintage via Design Crush)

GG Flower Bulb Reminder

Why didn't you remind us?! White Flower Farm is our favorite vendor for bulbs & there are still many in stock. Whether you have a garden or a deck (we don't) or not, remember to start forcing bulbs now. You will be so very happy if you do this now.

ciao/xo

(photograph via Livet Hemma)

Banned Book Week

This week is the 30th anniversary of Banned Book Week (30 September - 6 October). Celebrate by attending an event (at your library, bookstore, or virtually) or reading a banned book. You might be shocked at the most frequently challenged books. Read those lists & weep; then pick yourself up, dry your tears, & do something. 

More reading posts. 

ciao/xo

(kitty via Caitlin's Pinterest board)

Blue Monday

Sometimes you just have to feel it. But quite often, you should do something about it/write something about it. That isn't working here today, the DIY approach; but who needs to write a thing when someone put together 101 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up? (No. 23 is on our list for tonight.)

ciao/xo

PS: It occurs that this post about unblocking is really a good list for cheering up, too.

(photograph by Melanie Rodriguez; her lovely online portfolios)