i wasn’t ready to take down my halloween decorations just yet, so i decided to wait.  i’ll take them down this week.

this is my favorite corner this year:

i had found some old photographs in my great uncle’s basement that i decided would make perfect halloween decorations.  the first one is creepy, with some very disturbing-looking people in it.  the sides look like someone has taken some bites out of them.  the second one, i don’t even have words for, except that we howled with laughter when we found it…

[for the record, we don’t know any of the people in the either photo, and they are not related to us in any way, shape, or form!]

then i came upon this little decoration, which i thought would fit in perfectly with the old photos:

added a creepy little tree, a homemade “BOO” garland, and some candles, and i had myself a halloween buffet!

on sunday afternoon, i had my parents and mimi and papa over for a little “mini-party.”  [in truth, we have these sorts of “mini-parties” every time we all get together, whether it’s once a month or once a week.]

{chardonnay, hard cider, and popcorn}

{chocolate-covered sunflower seeds}

{tapenade on sugared crostini}

as we ate and drank, my saintly parents and grandparents helped me with all those projects that require more than one person [hanging pictures] or a special skill set [fixing my vacuum].  it was a wonderful thing for them to do.

and then we proceeded to go to dinner.  more food, more wine, more lively conversation and laughter, before they headed home to mansfield.

i love them so.