Halloween is Upon Us

Halloween is upon us. I wasn't in the mood to decorate, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity either. So I got some cheapo stuff at the .99 store and did a bit of porch decorating. Pumpkins were too expensive so I passed on those.  If they go on clearance I'll grab one later. I like having one to use all the way through harvest and up until Thanksgiving.

I found some awesome gloves for my Slytherin witch costume at the .99 store. My only regret is I didn't snap up the white and pink ones too. They had no black. I imagine those sold out in the first day they were on the shelves. But I wanted acid green to match the Slytherin colors.

I volunteered to do face-painting at a Halloween event. Normally I charge for such things but I need to get my name out there in this community. I've been here a year and only had one gig. So yeah...free...but I'll hand out cards and have flyers. And if a paid gig comes up for Halloween night, I'm taking that one too. This one ends at 7 PM so that gives me time to do a midnight tarot party or something. Halloween used to be my most lucrative month of the year. I feel sad to not be booked for the big events.

The Slytherin colors are green, silver (gray) and black. So I was thrilled to get these gloves for .99. Score.

Ugh Housework

I envy my friends and family that are good at cleaning and love to do it. I apparently have no Mary Poppins DNA whatsoever. Every minute spent washing dishes is total misery. I never get to the point with keeping house that I can smile and say, "Oh that's so much better now that it's clean and organized." In fact when a house is too clean it makes me twitchy. I hate packing. I hate unpacking. I hate giving yard sales where people paw through all my stuff & want everything for $1. I hate moving furniture. And everyone I've ever had a relationship figures women clean house, that's what they do, and they are so sorely disappointed.  I should come with a disclaimer: Doesn't do windows, or floors, or scrub tile.

Now don't get me wrong. I can work in a yard all day and be quite content. I can sew beads on for hours on end. I can paint empty houses inside or out and I love it. But sit me in front of a junk drawer or a garage that needs a makeover and I'll either be angry for the next 8 hours or burst into tears or both. Part of it has to do with being an empath, and part of it has to do with psychometry. Touching things overwhelms me with emotions and memories of my kids growing up, my divorce, my unhappy childhood, friends that have died, jobs I've had and lost, moves made under great stress, etc.

If I was ever rich the first thing I would do is hire housekeepers and scullery maids. Then I could spend my life on things I'm actually good at instead of feeling like a prisoner in my own home.

Money Mind Shift Downward Spiral

I remember when the first dollar type stores came out. At first I was embarrassed to go to them. Then I thought I'd see what it was all about. I was surprised that sometimes I'd find cool things there, well worth a dollar. I started going there to pick up gag gifts, or sundries for my suitcase, or a convenient birthday card, but mostly I still shopped at box stores. It was kind of a lark to go there.

I realized I had a big mind shift the other day when I went to Dollar General. Generally I stick to the .99 store or Dollar Tree.  So I'm at Dollar General and they still have great deals but they are $1-$5. per item. It's still a quarter of the price of Walmart, Target, or other box stores. But in my head I'm going, 'Why would I pay $3 for this make-up when I can wait a few days and get something like it at the $1 store?' I suppose if there were a .25 Store I'd shop at it instead.  And I'm not sure when it happened, but now I can't even afford to shop at Walmart or K-mart or Target or Sam's Club or Costco. I never thought I'd fall this far out of the middle class. I never thought I'd have to scrimp and save enough to go to Dollar Tree. What's happening to me?

Summertime in the Mojave

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It's been a hard week. Triple digits didn't help any; and for 2 of those days I thought I had a fever. I feel like the worst of it has passed and I got to work on crafts today and move some boxes so I don't feel so claustrophobic in here. I've been thinking of all my passions and dreams and wondering where they all went.

I am happiest when the sun goes down.  In fact last night I sat in a camping chair way out back and fell fast asleep with the cool breeze caressing my face. When I woke up I was a little scared. I still have an irrational or rational fear that I'll wake up to find my foot in a coyote's mouth.

As I walked back to the house, I saw a huge shooting star so close to the ground and burning bright green. I wasn't even looking up at the time, but the light was so bright, I looked up to see what it was.

Pink Cactus Flowers

Sunflowers that grew all by themselves.

Sunrise in the Mojave

Poets Are Dreaming

Sometimes I stay awake all night because I still have a wild streak and rebel against those silly notions of wrist watches and grandfather clocks and bedtimes. The world is quieter, the stars are brighter, and I'm deliciously alone. Even the cat has gone to bed. The moon is waxing and set long ago. Somewhere sailors are navigating under the stars and writers are finishing up the final draft of their novels. Poets are dreaming of their first kiss or their last dance. Children are being conceived and ballet dancers are resting their sore and tired feet. There is magic in the dark that is gone with the light of day.

The Desert is my Front Yard

A few days ago when it started to cool off I went for a hike in the desert. My back hurt a lot, so it became a mosey instead, with frequent rest breaks. I got to take some beautiful photos though and thought I'd share them with you. I literally just have to walk across the street to get photos like this.

Cholla at sunset

Joshua tree at twilght

Family of Joshua Trees in Lucerne Valley CA

Sunlit cholla cactus

My favorite sunset photo from that day.

Striped rock

Through the creosote bushes.



Baby cholla

Sunset in August

San Luis Obispo Renaissance Faire Photos

After the joust.

Sword Dancer

Interesting Scimitar

Wish they were my drummers.

Greenman getting into the act.

My lovely eldest daughter

Hennin

Enjoying the joust.

Lance

Full of milk and very relaxed.

Mother and child

I used to work at this faire and now it has moved on without me. It is even in a new location. It moved from El Chorro Regional Park to Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo, CA. But since I was visiting my daughter and her family wanted to go, I got to go too. I made a red tunic so my grandson could be a pirate. I let out the seams in my daughter's bodice because she's a different size after giving birth five months ago. Her husband's garb didn't fit either because he's been working out and can't get into his shirts! So we did the best we could. I had not brought my garb on the train of course, so I made do with what I had. Surprised it all turned out so well though. Huzzah!

I want gold.

Grandson dancing with my daughter.

Persian Glass Dance