Halloween!

I had a fantastic Halloween season! Since there were several parties and gatherings to attend, I thought I would make good use of my costume bins.The main costume of the year was "Maria the Vampire" (from the movie Eclipse). Ben was Jasper. I sewed most of the pieces myself. Everyone especially loved the eyes.

I also revamped my Christmas Elf (aka. Santa's little Ho) costume from for my ward's roller-skating party.

I went as Bella Swan to help my niece and nephew go trick-or-treating.

Lastly, pulled out my fantastic Witch hat and socks for Ben's family get-together on Halloween day.

Here are a couple of my favorite costumes that others wore:

Sewing Lesson on Linings

I confess. I use sewing patterns like I use recipes... as general guidelines that I rarely follow to the letter. I enjoy "improving upon" them to get what I am after, or skipping steps I deem unnecessary. I usually get away with it, but sometimes it teaches me hard lessons that involve a lot of action by my trusty seam ripper. And thus it was as I made my first piece of lined clothing. Linings are tricky! I called upon google and several people that sew to help me when I sewed myself into a corner but they were a confused as I. I was finally saved by a youtube video showing me the right way to sew lining on armholes of a vest.

For anyone (or me) that plans to attempt this again in the future, here are a few helpful hints:

Sew collar together first

Turn it right sides out before you attempt to sew armholes to armhole lining

Wrap lining around through the color to attach right sides together at armhole and sew so it looks like a long tube.

Then, you will be able to sew the side seams (lining to lining, fabric to fabric) down

(Kind of like doing pant-leg holes)

Lastly do the bottom hem.

If you do it in any other order, you will be stuck with a garment that will not turn right sides out and end up spending more time watching sewing you-tube videos and unpicking your work than you would like to admit.

It warms my heart...

To cook with all the autumn flavors... pumpkin, butternut squash, nuts, and apples...YUM

When I see this handsome face looking at me

When I get a phone message from this cute nephew of mine: "Hi Emmy, I goin' to bed. I love you. Bye!". I melted...and then listened to it about 4 more times.To see the vibrant array of colors every time I go outside.
To see so many reminders of how much God loves me.

I am grateful for the little things in life that make it worthwhile.

Hilly Billy Threat

My cousin is serving a mission in Georgia. He sent this picture in his email this week of a sign he found while tracting. Hilarious.

Logan Canyon

Logan Canyon typically has some of the beautiful autumn leaves in the world. This year hasn't been especially fantastic but we were still able to find some amazing views. Ben and I took his dad (one of the most amazing 80-yr old hikers I know) up to Blind Hollow yesterday. Seems it was also the first day of Elk Hunting...so he thought the orange was a good idea.

More on Maine

I finally got some more pictures, friends. Yes, these ones have people in them. No, the last few weren't postcards, they were taken by yours truly. It's harder to pick good ones with me in them...my photogenicity skills are lacking some days...especially when wind complicates things.

We hiked on the Appalachian Trail! We also spent a day at the outlet malls and spent some good money :)

We went on a hike to a "waterfall" (that was really a series of places where water fell over rocks). It was pouring rain, but we were stalwart in our plans to get out in nature, despite the weather. Here is the flooded trail. I have a lovely bruise the size of a grapefruit on my leg where I slipped on a root and fell. It was pretty and worth it anyway.We took a ferry out to Peak's Island, rented some old beach cruiser bikes and rode around the whole island. A very fun day.
One of our goals was to eat seafood every day. (we both love seafood too much to live in land-locked Utah). One night, I ate a whole lobster! Well, I wasn't brave enough to try the head or the mushy green stuff inside the belly, but the rest was fantastic. It was live only 15 min. before I ate it-so fresh and soo sweet that you didn't even need the drawn butter for it. YUM! Will definitely do that again.

Maine is Beautiful