Trick Or Treat

I just love Halloween and miss so much making each of my four kids their Halloween outfits each year ala my grandmother Josephine - who always did the same for my Mom.

I've slacked off since they flew the coop. And now I've succumbed to TARGET doggy Halloween wear- maybe next year I'll get back to my Bernini.


How cute is my Betty Boop as Piggly Wiggly. She's sure to be a hit at the parade today.


Cindy Lou Who is not too happy wearing a Mullet and channeling Billy Ray Cyrus."I'm a girl remember"- she seems to be saying.



And- SNL put up the Halloween skit with Jon Hamm and the gang just in time.
Happy Howl-o-ween


If you're feeling artsy-craftsy-cooksy-
Martha knows how to do Halloween just right...













From Martha Stewart.com
Witch Cupcake How-To
This coven of witches is neither toil nor trouble. Heap on green icing; press on mini-candy-coated-chocolate eyes, a candy-corn nose, and licorice-lace hair and eyebrows. An upside-down chocolate ice-cream cone makes a wicked hat.



Boy do I miss hosting Halloween at my house-the scary room in the basement, making Witch Fingers out of Pillsbury Dough Breadsticks and herbs and of course special Witches Brew for the adults.


As Grand Girl says..
Knock Knock
Whose There?
Boo
Boo Who?
Awhl Kass don't cry...

Simply Maddening

Peggy
Pete
Betty
Miss Holloway
DonDraper...
What am I going to do with myself on Sunday nights at 10PM now that Mad Men is over???

I had NO IDEA last Sunday was the finale.

That was one of the best finales of all time. If you haven't had a chance to see it- there's an encore this Sunday at 10AM on AMC.

AND

SNL is having the best season I've ever experienced. Last Saturday was no exception.
Besides their hysterical political banterings about Biden and BHO and his wife, Jon Hamm- MR. MAD MAN showed his excellent acting skills( wish NBC put up the Halloween skit with him and the English accent),he was the host and Cold Play was the band. It was just about perfect.

Below are some of my favorite scenes if you didn't see it.There are a few more with Mr. Hamm in the SNL website-bathroom talk all the way.

If you have DVR or TIVO- I suggest "season passing" it this year and also the SNL special on Monday the 3rd.

Family

I just read a moving article about Stephanie and Christian Nielson and their family HERE.It has made my month to know that she is out of the woods- so to speak. If you have sisters of your own or ever wanted sisters- this article will make you realize just how special sisters are.


On the occasion of my baby sister's birthday,(Happy Birthday Caraboo)
I am keenly aware of how lucky I am to have three sisters. Each one is wonderful.Each one a giver in her own special way.

No one knows me like my sisters.
No one loves me in the same way.
We have a secret hand signal.
Do you?


This past Sunday, our priest Father Dowd gave a great sermon on love. He said that it can be easier to love those people who are not in our own family than to love those that are.

We know ALL their faults. I had never really thought of it in that way before.
Sound familiar?

He went on to say how important it is to love and give love to those in your own family members- it is what Jesus asks us to do.

My sisters make it easy to love them.

Stephanie and Christian Nielson's family have reminded me time and time again how important love of family is-blemishes and all.

Back from the Burgh

How great was that game?? Is it a preclude to Tampa 2009???????

But its a bit upsetting to see poor Western Pennsylvanians being beat up by those Jints and mocked by the rest of the country...


What do yinz think?



Gotta love that SNL.....

Lets Bop Around For Something Good

My great pal Sloan Wainwright has been a Florence Nightingale extraordinaire in supporting her strong and brave hubby George recover from the bone marrow transplant he had in January.It has been a VERY LONG haul for them.

George is a master builder and Sloan is a songbird as well as the creator of the well loved and missed Bakers Cafe- an institution in Katonah,which sadly closed, when she decided to pursue her musical career awhile back. Mornings have never be the same for me without the Bakers Cafe.

She is from an incredibly talented and prolific songster family, which includes her brother Loudon Wainwright,nephew Rufus Wainwright, niece Martha Wainwright and niece Lucy Wainwright Roche and her and George's son Sam McTavey Phew, the pure air and water in Northern Westchester must be "really something".

So if you have time- come out and join the party to celebrate this beautiful couple. They are a true example of what love, marriage and family is all about.

And if you can't come,try to support them just the same- just go to their website to find out how.

Keep checking their website for more fun,fun,fun events in their honor in the near future.


And if you get a chance-check out Sloan's music on iTunes or Amazon and buy one of her CD's- or two or five. One could spend an entire year just listening to Wainwright music- I sure have.

Here We Go...

Whose gonna win???????




I'm just hoping no one gets hurt...


AND


a down the road repeat ...


of February 2008.......



or February 2006???............

Or A COMBINATION OF THE TWO



Go Stillers

Go JINTS........


go teams go.......

goo goo gaa gaa...

Wow- I am impressed.

That new baby grandboy of mine must have been listening to my blog request yesterday.

He is SO SMART already.

It's always good to listen to wise ole' Grandma.

Now I can say "my grandchildren" instead of "my grandchild."

Double the fun.


God Bless you Now and Forever....

Boston Legal

My son the lawyer...Oy-Vay.

I'm so proud of him.

Didn't know I'd get so choked up in the Court Room as he was sworn in.

Maybe this
being a grandmother and the kids are now grown-ups thing
isn't so bad after all!



No baby yet.

Still waiting.

Tonight would be the perfect time.

Wellington are you listening??

Wasting Time

Waiting.

We all do it.
Some days we wait longer than others.

There are good waits and bad waits.

Some create fast heart beats and sweaty palms.
Others- frustration.
And even others- huge yawns.

Waiting stinks.

I'm sitting here waiting for my new grandchild to be born.

Hurry up baby blue.We're all waiting for you!

Off and Running

Have a fun weekend. I know I will...without the ole doggies and dead mole play-toys.

Let Freedom Ring

Isn't it great to live in a country where freedom of speech is a way of life??

We are blessed.

Ask anyone who lives in Russia,or the former USSR,East Germany,China,North Korea





love you Republican John Adams..

God Bless Democracy

and the Right To Vote

Polls as of yesterday

click CBS Obama 53% McCain 39% (what a shock!!)

And surprise- there are other polls out there that may show the true numbers....

click Zogby International Obama 48.4 % McCain 44.4% Undecided 7.4%

click Rasmussen International Obama 50% McCain 45%

if you are a Democrat- good for you. If you are Republican or Independent- don't believe the networks who think the campaign is over- it's not....


On a lighter side...It's fall- how bout a healthy Pumpkin Muffin???

WHOLE WHEAT PUMPKIN MUFFINS
4 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 c. brown sugar (loosely packed)
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter, melted *
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining and mix just until combined. Bake in muffin tins for 15 minutes. (8-10 minutes for mini-muffins) Makes about 3 dozen regular muffins. (Freeze some for after-school snacks.)

Here We Go ROONEY,Here we go...

Yippee.

I've had my first thousand hits.

Yesterday.

Thanks so much for reading.

Today is a great day.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a NieNie wish I'm working on.

AND

My cousin Tommy Rooney's campaign for Congress is looking good.I'm thinking he could have won on his own, with his impeccable credentials and character- but click THIS has not hurt.

Here he is introducing Sarah Palin in Florida last week.


He's so cute.

He was the altar boy at my wedding.

He is a decent, honest young man.Washington NEEDS him. America NEEDS him.

Go Tommy.

SUPER BALL...

I'm back.....

Would anyone like to get a signed ball by both Eli Manning and David Tyree with the Super Bowl logo on the ball???The auction ends next Saturday- October 18th in the afternoon. You can bid till then.

Who wouldn't like this for their- self,hubby,kid,friend,dad,uncle,cousin,boss,lover,etcetcetcetc

BID,BID,BID

Click HERE to place a bid.

The proceeds will help with the medical costs of Stephanie, a fellow blogger (NIENIEDIALOGUES) and her husband Christian, who were in a horrific airplane accident in August.

If you know someone who you think would want to bid- PRETTY PLEASE forward my blog to them..Thanks so much.

A film on them is below..

All tuckered out..

See "yinzs" next week...

as Sarah says..."Say It Aint So Joe"

All the turmoil in the financial world has been trickling down to Main Street USA.

The darling women at my nail salon are hurting.

No one is getting their nails done(a way of cutting back I know).

But if your nails are looking bad....

and you have $12 to spare....

go out and get a manicure....

you'll be helping our economy, if only in a little way.....

With ALL this stress an uncertainty in the world right now

Sometimes its nice to just get petty and catty to make the reality go away.

SO...

Since Newsweek decided to do a close up of Sarah Palin on the cover with no airbrushing-big pores ,hairs and all...( I didn't- Ive shrunk a tiny picture from the magazine I bought )



She's such a dog huh? NOT....

I decided to give equal time-even though the front cover of NEWSWEEK will get more press than the NY POST.

While she is not touched up- this makes me wonder if Joe is??




Man+ Botox= eewwwhhhh

Call me a ditz brain.

Call me whatever you want.

But I don't feel comfortable having a man one heart beat away from the Presidency with BOTOX in his head...

PS I'm positive he's a really nice, decent man, who has dedicated himself to being a politician- which is one of the hardest, thankless jobs there is and that some "ditzy" person(not me - a Democrat) who is clueless suggested he do it.

PSS Click here and search for JOE Biden Botox - I cannot get the link to work-it's not my ditzy self -it's' the POST having internet problems.

That's so Cheesy...

Look what I found in my latest edition of FOOD AND WINE Magazine...

Who doesn't love FRESH rictotta cheese?
It's delicious AND expensive.

Who knew it was so easy to make your own...

All you need is whole milk, heavy cream, salt and vinegar!

Im trying it this week...

“I first tasted fresh ricotta when I was five,” says Maria Helm Sinskey. “My great grandmother, who was straight from Italy, made it at her house.” Fluffier, creamier and sweeter than even the best store-bought version, Helm Sinskey’s ricotta is also incredibly easy to prepare.

ACTIVE TIME: 20 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 3 HRS
MAKES ABOUT 1 3/4 POUNDS (3 1/2 CUPS)

* 2 quarts whole milk, preferably organic
* 1 cup heavy cream, preferably organic
* 3 tablespoons white vinegar
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
*

directions

1. In a medium pot, warm the milk and cream over moderately high heat until the surface becomes foamy and steamy and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the milk registers 185°; don’t let the milk boil. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the vinegar and stir gently for 30 seconds; the mixture will curdle almost immediately. Add the salt and stir for 30 seconds longer. Cover the pot with a clean towel and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
2. Line a large colander with several layers of cheesecloth, allowing several inches of overhang. Set the colander in a large bowl. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the curds to the colander. Carefully gather the corners of the cheesecloth and close with a rubber band. Let the ricotta stand for 30 minutes, gently pressing and squeezing the cheesecloth occasionally to drain off the whey. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl and use at once, or cover and refrigerate.

MAKE AHEAD The fresh ricotta can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Thanks to Bridget Koch for the great picture!!!

Recipe by Maria Helm Sinskey
From Maria Helm Sinskey’s Secrets to Homemade Ricotta
This recipe originally appeared in November, 2008.Food and Wine Magazine

I know its early but...

Baby it's gettin' cold outside.

How cute are these lights?


I don't know where I'll put them yet, but just looking at them makes me happy.Grand Girl will want to eat them but I'm gonna have to get some for her big girl room. They make me want to run out to Dairy Queen and get a swirl..

Roxie sells Candy Cane scented ones( little miniature ones) for the holidays- I'm def. buying some for the mantelpiece. They are SO CUTE ..They make me smile and wish for snow!!


www.jorabeels.com

Sarah Plain and Tall

Gotta love that Sarah. "Doggonit" she was great last Thursday during the debate.

SNL was of course hysterical once again. Tina Fey was brilliant, and so was Queen Lativah.

NIENIE the beginning

I think this is a perfect Sunday post....

This is one of Stephanie Nielson's first posts in the NieNie Dialogues. It is my favorite. It is so inspiring. I'm sure you will feel the same...Click here for the post on her blog.




"Thursday, September 15, 2005
Nie Nie: on being Proud

I can sincerely come up with thousands of reasons why I am proud. I decided to come up with a few vital reasons to share. (Not in any particular order)
I looked up other words that mean ‘proud’ and words like arrogant, conceited, puffed-up, pompous, self-righteous and bigheaded came up. I hope I don’t come off that way…but if I do, I still am proud of this list.
I am proud to say I married the most amazing man on the planet.
I am proud that my husband is SO dang good looking.
I come from the great land of America. How truly blessed I am that I was born here where dreams can be achieved. I am proud to be an American.



I am proud that Christian cuts my hair-no charge (and since I don’t have any money it works out really great, because we find other ways of payment.)
I am proud that after high school I fell in love and got married
I am proud that I was born in such a large family and named after my father.
I am proud that I come from Utah.
I am proud that I am a Mormon-born and raised.
I am proud of my rich pioneer heritage.
I am proud that I breast-fed my first two children until the age of 15 months.
I am proud that I have loads of scrapbook albums for my family.
I am proud that I was a ski instructor at Sundance.
I am proud that I have never had a taste of any alcoholic beverage, never puffed tobacco, (or anything of the like) and desired or tried drugs.
I am proud to say I don’t own a R-rated movie- or watch them, for that matter.


I am proud that I had three children before turning the ripe old age of 23. I am proud to say that my husband is the only man that ever “knew” me.
I am proud and confident to say that Christian adores me for every reason possible.
I am proud of my curvy, athletic body that can support my desire to have children. (so is christian)
I am proud of my choice to put off school to have offspring.
I am proud that my father is a representative in the legislature in Utah and fights for values.
I am proud that my family thrives on a vegetarian diet. I am proud of my colorful walls in my house.
I am proud that all five of my brothers and one sister went on missions for the church and one sister serving now in England.
I am proud of my in-laws for having eleven children who are all excellent citizens.
I am proud that I drink distilled water. (Credited to the in-laws)
I am proud to say my favorite holiday is Halloween.
I am proud of my whole wheat pizza’s I make every Saturday night for my family.
I am proud of President Bush, and proud to say I think he is doing a good job.


To conclude, I can directly say: I am proud of this list."


To read more click here. You can donate to the right . And just as important, you can pray for her and her Mr Nielson and her family wherever you are.

Back from the Burgh

Phew...That was really hard.

I was bizarrely cool as a cucumber about reading my work in front of an audience until the event began. Then Jeremy got up to read his story (I was number five to read) He was such a natural in front of the mike.

Right then I knew I was in trouble.

I had to actually talk to people and not just read from my piece????

Somehow I pulled myself together and got through reading.I am glad it is over and wish I could rewind and do it once again, and not break up, and not have a dry mouth.

Oh well.

Hopefully the first time is the hardest.

And maybe hopefully(even better) I'll never have to do that again!

Pittsburgh in Words

The book doesn't really look like a book after all, but then again it is.

940

I'm as excited as a little kid on Christmas Day.

My first published piece in a book.

About the best Irish grandfather in the whole wide world.

You can read it whole in the "Pittsburgh in Words" site. Click here to read it.It's long- but please read the whole thing-pretty please- or wait and buy the book.

My only bummer is that the pic I gave them did not make the cut- one of my Nonno with his buddy Tim Mara so here it is for all to see. (property of me)


More details later, when I get back from the Burgh and the book launch and reading.

Big day-Sarah and I talking . Wish us both luck!!

Gearing up for the VP Debate tomorrow night...We Republicans Do have a sene of humor

It's gonna be fantastic. You go Girl...