Halloween Party

Last night was our Halloween party... and today I've been taking down all the decorations... what a difference a day makes.

The party, however, was great... one of our best yet up here because everyone kept talking and telling stories and changing seats so they could talk to all the neighbors. It felt like a real party, not merely a 'church supper' gathering, and after all the work that goes into these parties, it was nice to see that no one wanted the night to end.

Lots of costumes.... A punk-rocker couple (Best Costume Award), a Pregnant 73-Yr-Old (Best Pumpkin Award), The Blue Hair Group (Funniest Costume Award).... plus Johnny Cash and his wife June, the Mad Hatter, Nadine (Kim K-ish butt, gobs of jewelry, crazy mixed/matched clothes), the Zombie Hunter, witches and devils, country cowboys, and assorted outfits creatively done up with lights and Halloween decor.

The Blue Hair Group consisted of four of our friends (J&J, JAS, SK) three of them wearing blue wigs and using PVC-pipe walkers complete with yellow tennis balls at the bottom... all dressed in bathrobes and slippers and senior-citizen-ish accessories. They used PVC-drumsticks to beat out the Blue Man Group music on their walkers, and their announcer stood there in a pink wig and brown bathrobe telling a story about their entertainment history. Needless to say, they brought the house down.  These are the same four friends who did the 'Monster Mash' at our last Halloween party, so now of course we're all expecting this sort of entertainment at every party.

Potluck dinner was a smash.... lots of casseroles, sausage-balls and meat-balls, chicken, breads and vegetables, lasagna, deviled eggs, turkey rolls, cakes and cookies and brownies and chocolates. Can't have Halloween without chocolate. (It's a rule.)

Some of us got to talking about our up-coming Christmas party... and it was decided that we'll do an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.... crazy, festive, creative, unique, store-bought or hand-made sweaters packed with everything and anything that screams Christmas.  I told everyone about that last night and they all seemed excited about it... and they have plenty of time between now and mid-December to come up with a Christmas theme for their sweater. Should be lots of fun.

This morning we went up the road and had breakfast with J&J, JAS, and SK (who drove here from Austin for the party) and then I continued to de-Halloween the house when my husband and I got back. Everything Halloween is packed away in the boxes now... and I'll give myself a few days before I start taking out the Christmas decorations. At this time of the year, each holiday comes and goes so quickly, and I know I say that every year, but it's true.  We all really enjoyed this Halloween... and Thanksgiving is around the corner, and Christmas seems like a heart-beat away.

Enjoy every day, people.... every day is a gift, whether it's a holiday or not.