Pumpkin Carving Contest!

We held our second annual pumpkin carving contest last night -- Started off with some Cincinnati chili for dinner, had our contest, and then capped things off with "s'more's" outside on our patio.

The contest competitors were Sam, JoDee (his girlfriend), Erin, Jason (her boyfriend), Vince, a couple of our neighbors, and me. We had a lot of fun and ended up with eight very different results.

Our 13 year-old neighbor boy was the judge, and he selected Sam's entry as the winner. So, here are some pictorial results. The pumpkin with the scary, glowing face is Sam's prizewinner.

Dog days

Here is a brief video of Erin working with our dog, Fergus. She is trying to train him to "recognize" his toys but Fergus is more interested in training her to give him treats!

Hey, Everybody. OK, now. Let's all think it together.....Glacier Park in two years. Holidays, Shel? Whoo. I'm still trying to celebrate Halloween. I went to a Halloween party this past weekend and was distressed. Everyone there was into the ghoulish part of Halloween. There were people who just attached strings of bandages onto themselves, and put black and white makeup on. They all seemed to be members of a group of extras on a bad horror film. Does this bother anyone beside me? I remember parties where people came as personalities or animals, or carrots, or queens, or you name it. Anyway, I was disappointed. I stayed about ten minutes and came home. (I went as a Victorian lady. Needless to say, I doubt I was even noticed. Perhaps if I had blood flowing down my back.) This past week held a big change. I gave Zip away. He is now a lesson horse at the Cedar Springs riding academy. He had done so much damage to the barn with his one fatal flaw (kicking the !@&*? out of the barn) that it took a handyman half the day to repair the barn this weekend. So now I have one horse, a mini-donkey and an intact barn. And yes, the people at the academy know all about it. He is being housed in a paddock with a shelter, but no official barn. Oh, these little silly concerns must seem ridiculous to one who is over in Baghdad right now. Rowan is now one year, and he is so cute. He is walking by himself, and is a very affectionate kid. We took him to a performance of "The Birdhouse Factory" which is a cute confection of a program where people do amazing physical feats. Kind of a cross between Cirque de Soleil and Monty Python. He loved it. He was so well behaved, and it was extra fun to watch him. He was just agog. That's all for now. Shel, good taste in books. Hal, let me know what you think of the book. For everyone else, we've been reading a book called Eat, Pray, Love. It's a chick book, but guys could learn a whole lot from it, too. Love, Julia

Thanks

Vince and Cathy,
I never did tell you how much I appreciate you're getting this blog up and running. I love the opening picture. It makes me want to plan for the next reunion!
M. Fulcrum

Yippee!! I did it!

I am now a formal member of the Grove Family Weblog. I am so excited! For those of you who don't have my new contact information, it is:
SSS (Single Sandy Smiley)
7191 N 82nd Plaza
Omaha, NE 68122
402-763-4648 (home) -- still figuring how to use my new phone
402-415-1996 (cell) -- this I know how to use, but sometimes forget to charge it

I love my new house. I will send pictures. I just now starting to put things away so I can find them instead of sorting through boxes. I have waaaaay too much stuff. Looks like another garage sale coming up. This morning, I figured how to turn on the heat -- good thing.

I'm looking forward to having folks visit!!
Love,
M. Fulcrum

Yeah, where is everyone?

I don't think they're too busy. Just scared. It's only a blog, people. If I can do it, anyone can! Hopefully Mom (aka Sandy) will post here in a few with her new digits and whatnot so we can keep track of her ; )

So I'm getting holiday talk started. I know, no one's ready, but I want to plan a trip up to the big O (it's SO far) and would love to see as many of you peeps as possible. Of course I'm speaking mostly to you folks around these parts--unless Aunty Julia needs a snow fix? Let me know if you guys will be around, and of any big parties you'd like to invite me to ; )

Love,
Shel

Are we dull or just busy?

Hey! I keep checking the Grove family weblog to see if any brave souls will post anything new. I guess we are all too busy. We can't be that dull (can we? )

The early Oct. weather in Lincoln has been hot, humid and crappy. Makes me want to move another blanket or two north. Outdoor projects require sweat bands and lots of water just for moderate activity. I should feel guilty complaining about heat with Wendy in Iraq enjoying the balmy weather in the "cradle of civilization".

I thought Wendy might post something by now but she must be too busy. I should mention that about 3 weeks or so ago Wendy's room mate was injured in a rocket attack and lost her foot. A very sobering event.

We watched Sam play a very rough game of rugby yesterday. No broken bones or severe lacerations but plenty of bruises. It seems to be a game where the players are grateful for any injury that allows a brief break in the action to catch their breath. It is amazing how many older guys they get to play. You can tell the older ones, they are the ones whos muscles cramp up so bad that they can barely walk after the game. Sam's team lost by one goal but gave their opponents a tough go. Pip pip and all that bloody rot eh?

Sandy has moved in to her new digs this weekend. Looking forward to getting up to O town to help her fix a few items.

Retirement is very busy. I spend many hours a week with volunteer work on church related duties. it is becoming more rewarding as I figure out what I am doing.

OK somebody comment on this post so we can tell you all are alive. Bye now.