It's Halloween week! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Halloween week! 👻

It's hard to believe we are at the end of October, but here we are.  It came and went so fast and I intend to enjoy all things spooky this week.  I'm feeling that holiday vibe sneaking up on me and come Sunday there is no holding me back!  HOWEVER, we aren't there yet, so let's soak up the last week of October and celebrate how absolutely beautiful she is ♥

Our trees are in their full glory now! ♥

This weekend we had full sunshine and milder temperatures which was glorious. It's going to be like that all week and Halloween night is predicted to be in the high 60's - no rain!  If this were 10 years ago (even 5 years ago, really) John would be jumping for joy because that would mean he wouldn't have to wear a jacket over his costume.  Halloween was serious business around here. We would trick or treat for literally hours, and then go back to his friends house whose mom would do an amazing spread on her front porch of hot chocolate, coffee for the grown ups, cupcakes, and snacks.  

We did that for years. It was so fun! ♥

John still sees the friends on Halloween, but parents are no longer needed.  

Rightly so, but I still miss those days :) 

Anyway, we had a very relaxing weekend.  Rob and I went out for breakfast, went on a few walks, and I made us hot apple cider for the first time this season.  

It was yummy! ♥

I made John a cup too and remined him not to eat the cinnamon stick. It's just for flavor, not to eat.  The first time I made cider for Rob (probably 25 years ago) he ate the cinnamon stick!  I was shocked when I collected his cup and it was gone.  He said he ate it because he thought he was supposed to and didn't want to hurt my feelings! 

That must have been awful...but very funny to think of him actually chomping on a cinnamon stick. 

I've never let him live it down :) 

I spent some time in our back room reading on Sunday.  It was quite cozy (there is no TV in this room) and as you can see, I've turned on my Christmas village lights.  

Saturday night we will turn the clocks back.  Sunset is at 4:30 and this village will be glowing.  I'm thinking about adding a string of lights across the border. What do you think? 

This is what I think about while sipping tea and sitting in this spot.  

Remember....no TV in here ♥

Did you see the moon Saturday night?  

I snapped this pick during my after-dinner walk.  

The moon was lighting my way ♥

The sky was so beautiful that night.  Are you a moon person like I am? 

I have a busy week ahead, full of work deadlines, doctor's appointments, and lots of laundry, and chores that I conveniently forgot to do over the weekend.  It always catches up with me!

I did manage to meal plan, which is a huge weight off my shoulders going into the week.  I have all my groceries, so I won't have to be running out this week because I'm short an ingredient. I love that! 

Menu is as follows:

Monday - American chop suey, garlic bread

Tuesday- meatloaf with mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans 

Wednesday- chicken and mushrooms over rice, mixed veggies 

Thursday - pork cutlets with roasted potatoes, spinach, apple sauce

Friday - baked chicken, stuffing, corn 

It's not set in stone but having a loose plan of what I'm cooking and having the ingredients ready is so helpful.  However, if Rob comes home and says "let do takeout" then this plan goes right out the window! That's real!

I also finally got my Halloween candy.  I spent $60 at Walmart on two bags of candy that I hope will be enough.  We always have lots of trick or treaters, but when my bowl is empty, my light goes off.  When did candy get so expensive??!! I will not be opening those bags until Saturday. I put them out of my sight just to be sure!  

Have a lovely Monday, friends! ♥

I will you a week full of spooky movies, hot cider, and sweet treats.  I'm craving caramel corn and I think that will be our late-night snack tonight.  Want to join me? (recipe here) 

Byeeeee! 

Xx