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You decorated my life
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 06:44PM 
My pirate skeleton recently obtained an equally skeletal bride.
Do you remember that song? Kenny Rogers? Haaahaa.
Anyway.
Brittany and Ember stopped with us for the night last Friday, on their way from Florida to Tennessee.
This is Pepper. He's getting restless.
TG and I saw them during our March visit to Oklahoma and again in June at a wedding, but Audrey and Dagny and Erica and Chad had not seen them since last Christmas.
There were tears shed as everyone hugged it out.
Brittany was still heartbroken over the situation at her grandparents' house, and she'd had to say goodbye to them that morning, and had not been getting enough rest, and it was all a bit much.
No more feathers, no more meat, but Cassius Crow is still pretty neat.
But everyone relaxed and Brittany told us about her hurricane adventures. I had made a big Crock Pot full of chili, so there was time to talk and just be together.
TG had gone with Dagny on a school field trip to Charleston that day (they toured the USS Yorktown), so we had to wait a little while for them to get home.
(After the school field trip was over, TG, who had driven separately, took Dagny to The Citadel to look around, and then to the home of his old basketball coach, who lives in the area.)
It wasn't chilly outside but we had chili inside.
It has continued warm and summery here, with cool nights and mornings, and lots of sun.
The leaves on our white oak in the front yard are beginning to change in earnest.
But you probably want to know about what is going on in Florida.
Brittany told us that Andrew, together with several men from the church where Brittany's grandfather is the pastor, had thrown themselves into gutting the house.
Go-withs include shredded cheddar, sour cream, and banana pepper rings.
First, everything had to be removed: every stick of furniture and every other soggy thing, is now out in the yard.
Brittany's grandmother, through frequent bouts of tears, was tasked with sorting her possessions, salvaging what she could and parting with what she could not.
Grandpa's late-model SUV was towed away, a total loss.
These are my only jack 'o lantern decorations. Boo.
People were (probably still are) cruising up and down the streets in pickup trucks, looking to haul off anything that has been brought out of houses, and maybe make a few dollars off it.
Brittany had to protect her grandmother's waterlogged and ruined furniture from disappearing, before they even knew whether there was any hope of saving it.
(The answer is, there probably isn't. Everything will have to be replaced. But still.)
Hop in and we'll go for a spin.
Of course, most of the neighbors are in the same position, what with the catastrophic flooding from a nearby canal having been pretty thorough and far-reaching.
At any rate by the time they had concluded what work they could do and Andrew had to leave to go back to Oklahoma, the four-bedroom ranch-style house was empty.
The hardwood floors had been removed and the bottom half of the drywall ripped out down to the studs.
And just like that, she was back in my arms.
Brittany sent me a video; the interior of the house looks like a partial cage, with huge fans running to help with the drying process.
A contractor will still have to assess the foundation and the entire structure to determine whether it can be rebuilt.
Building supplies which were already expensive and in short supply before the hurricane, are even more so now.
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Insurance adjusters are reluctant to give anyone the great good news that they're hoping for.
The last I heard, power was still out and there was no running water.
I have asked Brittany to write a guest post on this blog, to tell about her experience with Hurricane Ian and the havoc it wrought in the lives of her grandparents.
Meet Jerome the Scented Gnome. He has no discernible smell.
Brittany was born in Fort Myers and grew up in that area, so it was hard for her to witness the destruction firsthand.
She said she would do her best to write about it, and I'll encourage her to follow through on that.
Meanwhile it is already ten eleven twenty-two, and I wonder if I have time to turn around twice before it's November.
If you visit before Thanksgiving, you will see this wreath on my door.
I need to show you my October decorations.
Notice I did not say Halloween decorations. I don't do Halloween but I love October decor because I like cemeteries and skeletons and skulls.
I like them year round but in October I let them all come out to play.
We just got these pumpkins and mums on Sunday.
TG said during dinner on October first: I see all the creepy stuff is here.
But it's not meant to be creepy! I said. It's supposed to be campy and funny. Not scary. He took it back.
(If you recall, I had the table decorated ultra-autumn for Labor Day. Those decorations stayed on display throughout September and will make their second appearance for the month of November -- or, until the day after Thanksgiving.)
The orange fairy lights look super cute at night.
(You know what happens the day after Thanksgiving.)
My October table runner is black with silver studs in a spider web design. I got the hearse at TJ Maxx several years ago.
Stephanie and her family gave me the pirate skeleton in 2020; I added his bride just this year, when I saw her at Kroger.
This lantern sits beside the front door. The "candle" lights up on a timer.
Isn't she darling, and are they not adorable together?
I have several sets of graveyard, skull, and skeleton salt and pepper shakers. You know: Here Lies Salt and Here Lies Pepper. Stuff like that.
The sugar skull S&P set was given to me by a friend, who also gave me the silver plastic skull drinking jug.
No bones about it: They were meant for each other.
The heavy clear glass skull, which holds a candle and glows ominiously, has been around for a long time.
Cassius Crow is a bird skeleton that chills in a hanging cage. He's cool.
There's a ceramic bucket, creamy white with black skulls all over it. It sits out on one of my island shelves year round.
Brittany, fresh from the hurricane relief effort.
I have two black pull-back cars, both Chevrolets -- a 1947 and a 1957 model. And yes, the grandkids take those down and play with them when they come over.
(I also have a fire-engine red car and a bright yellow one. We call them ketchup and mustard.)
Yes; you're right. I need a black Cadillac.
A friend got me this at the dollar store.
Speaking of black, there is a sparkly black raven. He's been around a while and is missing some toes but he's still in the game.
In the barest of nods to jack o' lanterns, I have a hollow ceramic pumpkin with the requisite triangle cut-out eyes and nose, that I sit on top of a candle. I bought it at Walgreens at least twenty-five years ago -- maybe longer. The sticker on top of the box it came in says it cost two ninety-nine.
A smaller scary-funny knick-knack depicting two little pumpkins sitting by a tree, also holds a candle.
Because everyone needs a skull pail.
This year I got three new gnomes. One set of two, a boy and a girl, I showed you a few weeks ago. I added Jerome the Scented Gnome and he sits in the wooden tray beside the autumn house and an owl salt shaker.
Have you discovered the salt and pepper shakers on sale in the Cracker Barrel general store? They are ninety-nine cents apiece and they have a bunch of them for every season.
That's where I get most of mine. They're basically irresistible. They make cute gifts too, when you want to give someone just a little something, or to tuck into a gift basket.
These sugar skull salt and pepper shakers contain neither salt nor pepper.
Outside, it's like this: on Sunday TG and I bought two pumpkins and a mum for the apple-green bench that sits beneath the oak tree.
Several weeks ago I found a very impressive lantern to sit beside the front door. It has a fake candle that lights up for five hours each night, on a timer. I love its big brass circle handle.
The black wrought-iron railing is spangled with orange fairy lights. It looks cute at night. We're the only ones on our street who have those.
You might say that I go nuts for skulls.
I was talking to Erica the other day about fall decorations and we were remembering that there was a time when -- for many years, actually -- I decorated for one season only: Christmas.
My house was always kitted out with stuff that (I hoped) was attractive and tasteful, but it was only at Christmastime that I brought out special decorations.
We decided that, pretty much before the year two thousand, fall decorations weren't as much of a thing. In the years since twenty-ten or so, websites like Pinterest and Instagram have helped to propel seasonal home decorating into the retail stratosphere.
There are orange fairy lights on the ledge too.
At any rate, the obsession with fall decorations is pretty intense and no doubt is big business.
All I know is that I like it. I like making a big deal out of all the seasons, especially in the areas of my house where everyone gathers when they come over.
Eventually, last Friday night, we devoured our chili supper with all the trimmings, and there was a key lime pie with a pot of coffee, afterwards.
Dagny loves this little house. I told her that after I am gone (for good), it's hers.
Following a good sleep and a quiet morning, Brittany and Ember left on Saturday a little after noon and made their way to East Tennessee and their new house.
They will be back for Thanksgiving, along with our Andrew.
And that will be here before any of us knows it.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Tuesday
Reader Comments (14)
Ember has really changed since we last saw her, they grow so quickly! She is cute as ever though.
I love that TG went with Dagny on the field trip, and took her to the Citadel.
It's so sad about Brittany's grandparents. I can't imagine how hard it is to go through everything and decide what you can keep. A family from our church has grandparents down there and lost everything too. A group went down to help.
You do need a black cadillac!
Yes, tTanksgiving will be here before we know it!
@Mari ... and also your birthday! Haaaaha yes it is sad but every day (I hope) things will become a little clearer to them. Not just Brittany's grandparents, but everyone who has suffered these devastating losses. So sorry to hear that some of your church friends had loved ones in that situation too. I was so happy that TG went with Dagny to Charleston and took her to The Citadel. She will never forget that day with her papaw! xoxo
Wow, your decorations are awesome!! And I will be making a trip to both Kroger and Cracker Barrell tomorrow!! They are bth very close. I especially love the beautiful green bench decor, crow in the cage, little wooden house, But I thnk my favorite are the divine pirate and bride skeletons!! So very sad about Florida, my prayers have been with them.
I still cry every time someone sends pictures or videos of the destruction. I have so many friends that have lost so much and are going through such a hard time. Someone I work with is on vacation in the Panhandle and text saying she was "sitting on the beach having a drink why was I so crazy to leave Florida". My reply was that if I hadn't I wouldn't be sitting on a beach having a drink but cleaning up the aftermath of Ian. Our old house was flooded over 5 feet on the main level. I am glad that Brittany's grandparents seem to have had a lot of help. I can't even imagine the emotional and physical toll this is taking on everyone. Continued prayers for everyone experiencing this and their families.
Your decorations are gorgeous and everything looks awesome Jenny!!
I love all your October decorations, especially the Here lies Salt and Pepper shakers! Too cute. I feel so bad for Brittany's grandparents. I can't imagine losing practically everything I own and having to deal with looters on top of it! Little Ember sure is cute and smiling big to be with her grandma again! I do some fall decorations but Christmas is usually when I decorate the most. Last year I put my tree up the week before Thanksgiving and I'm doing that again this year! Oh, and I'm going to have that Kenny Rogers song in my head all day now! XO
@Ginny ... Oh I hope you get some salt and pepper shakers at Cracker Barrel! That's where I get all of mine, even the boxed sets that are more than $.99 ... they're just so clever and cute! And I hope you can find the skeleton bride at Kroger! She was on sale for about four dollars!!!! xoxo
@Lori ... Haaahaha yep you would be doing cleanup and not sitting on a beach for sure ... BUT friends of ours who live in Charleston, when we called to check on them as Ian was rolling their way, said, we don't know, we're on the beach with friends in the Florida panhandle and it's nothing but blue skies and balmy breezes! So there you go. And we were thankful that Ian had no tricks up its sleeve for South Carolina except some debris here and there from wind in the trees. I'm so sorry about the flooding at your old house. Even though you no longer live there, it must be hard to picture that. I'm glad you like my efforts in the realm of fall decorating! I don't do as much as some but I do more than I used to! Onward and upward, haahaa xoxo
@Jeanette ... I'm toying with the idea of putting up my tree (it's a small one and in the front room, where nobody hardly ever goes except me, haahaha) before Thanksgiving, so we can light it up on Thanksgiving night. And I could have all the Christmas table decorations sitting there waiting to be put on the table the morning after ... you have inspired me! I think I will do it! Can't wait to see your pictures! xoxo
Oh my goodness, I just laughed "Meanwhile it is already ten eleven twenty-two, and I wonder if I have time to turn around twice before it's November." I feel the same way. ;-)
Your decorations are fantastic.
Ember is so sweet.
Continuing to pray for all in Florida, and please do keep us updated.
Carla
@Carla ... haaahaha I mean it's just dizzying how fast it goes! I turned the calendar over to October first about fifteen minutes ago! Ugh! Yes Ember is a precious little thing. Thank you for your prayers. xoxo
You are right, Thanksgiving is barreling down on us! That chili is making me hungry. I think I like toppings more than the actual chili, though! I enjoyed seeing all of your Fall decor. There is a street taco restaurant nearby with a giant sugar skull in the window. It is a work of art. I’m with Dagny on loving that wooden house.
We do celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating. Honestly, it is my favorite holiday memory as a child. What I don’t do is the horror. I don’t even like the skeletons. My husband had bought a glow in the dark skeleton, a hanging bat, and other stuff along those lines when our kids were younger and I got rid of all of it. No more doom and gloom. Just pumpkins and scarecrows!
Ember has grown since the last pictures of her! That is so sad about Brittany's grandparents house but glad that they had an opportunity to help out as they did with the "clean up". I hope they'll be able to rebuild it if that is what they elect to do. Been praying for the people down there especially for power and water to be restored. I'm glad Brittany and Ember had a chance to visit with you all before they went on to Tennessee and you'll be seeing them and Andrew next month for Thanksgiving! I'm sure the visit with you all was what Brittany needed! Such lovely fall decorations you have, Jenny! I'm not a decorator but it is always fun to see what others put up for the seasons! That was sweet too for TG to go with Dagny on the field trip and then subsequent excursion to the Citadel! Memories being made there!!
betty
@Bijoux ... I hear you re Halloween decorations ... I hate, loathe, and despise witches and anything that looks evil. I think skeletons are funny and skulls, while not necessarily funny, for some reason they make me laugh. I guess I'm weird. We too went trick or treating as children, but for me the only reason for that was to get candy, since I have a sweet tooth the size of a Buick. Our children did not go trick or treating, but rather we always had a family night with donuts and cider (TG's thing) and maybe a movie. They always got loads of candy at school and the church usually had a harvest night event where they got MORE candy, haahaha! And even though I live in a large, quiet subdivision, we NEVER get a single trick or treater. I have no idea why and I've stopped trying to figure it out. We used to be all ready with a great big thing of candy, and no one showed up and I'd end up eating it all. So, we don't even think about it anymore. OK now as for the chili ... I think you would like my chili, not least because it is so easy to make. I sort of made this recipe up many years ago and my family love it: For the big Crock Pot full (everyone's-coming-over size), you just brown three pounds of very lean ground round (the kind you don't have to drain) to well done small crumbs. To the Crock Pot add three cans each of Chili Hot Beans and Chili Ready Tomatoes. Dump in a packet of mild or original chili seasoning, and add the meat. Put in some water to get it to the desired consistency. Give the flavors time to "marry" while heating on low for several hours. I used to serve Fritos with this but we are trying to cut down on salt and so forth, so this time we had it with the low-salt Tostitos and although I don't add those to my bowl, everyone said they were very good! When it's just for TG and me, I use one pound of meat and one can each of the beans and tomatoes, and a half a packet of seasoning (two tablespoons). I make it in my big skillet! Nom nom nom on cold nights! xoxo
@Betty ... Yes Ember has grown! She is not even three yet and she's solid! She felt like a tank when I picked her up, haaaha! She's something. I too hope that Brittany's grandparents are able to rebuild their house. I think they're buying a camper and putting it in their driveway, to live in while everything gets sorted out. God bless them. And I agree that it was sweet of TG to go with Dagny, and spend time with her. Those two have a thing going on, haaaha! xoxo
So sad for all the horrors of Ian. Can't imagine how they ever dry places out.
Anyway, an unpopular thought..... All this coastal and canal water is going to continue to rise. When will people stop rebuilding, and give up the area? They have a hard time affording Insurance. Some don't. It will keep rising in cost. And I think all tax payers end up paying for a lot of aid.
Will it ever become accepted, to stop?
I know, like I said, a very unpopular topic.
Gentle hugs
💛 🌟 💛 🌟 💛
@Mari-Nanci ... you raise some interesting questions. As for the flood waters, they began to recede a few hours after they'd risen their highest ... at least in the Sextons' house, where at their deepest in one part of the house, they reached five feet. It's not flooded anymore, but you're right that it will take a lot in such a humid climate, to dry everything out. I haven't heard a progress report in a few days so I'm not sure what's going on down there. And I'm pretty sure that taxpayers will pay for A LOT of what gets done. Insurance companies will go broke over this. It's a calamity! xoxo
Beautiful photo of you and Ember plus Brittany looks so pretty in the shot you took. What sadness about the devastation in FL. Thank goodness people are rallying to help. I liked touring your October house to see the decorations. I have a friend who loves skulls and has so many in her collection.