IT'S THE SPOOKIEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR.......

Time to celebrate "All Hallows Eve"--HALLOWEEN......

 You might think that Dolly Parton is going to the party, but that is just me in the first step of creating my costume.....

 Since Dwight and I are going a members of the Venetian nobility in the latter Renaissance.....

 And The Count of Monte Cristo (or Casanova, if you prefer) says:  "I've got to get me some of that "Contessa" action........

 Soon we arrive at the spooky domain of the Montoya home.......

 Loaded with our contribution of Fangtastic donuts............

 The cast of characters:  Linda, the Good Green Witch of the Haunted Forest

 Her hubby Tim, a spooky clown...(check out that sinister action going on behind him)......

 Our Hostess Extraordinaire, Annabelle--how many blackbirds is she baking in that pot?

 Speaking of creepy ingredients for "meat pies", the Dread Pirate Waymundo is on R&R in London Town and his Sweeney Todd sweetie, Eileen,  has some sinister plans for him......

 "I'll get you, my Pretty!  And your little dog too!"  hisses Josina the Wicked Witch of the West.......

 He's a wonderful host, but Adolfo is also a creepy clown......

 The Capshaws are finding Venice a bit more spooky than they remembered it.........

 That cheerful Demon fan, Theresa, has morphed into Carrie and is taking her revenge at the prom.....

"I vant to drink your blood"--I don't know if vampiress, Terrie, was speaking to us or to her Carwash Man husband Richie--who I didn't get a picture of.........

 But the décor is fascinating....

 And the food is divine....

 Though a bit scary......

 But that doesn't keep the guests from sampling......

 "Gulp.....I wonder what's in this porridge?"........

 Let the festivities continue.....

 And the apparitions keep parading.....

 HALLOWEEN GOTHIC........

 "Hey pretty sailor boy, wanna stroll down the Victoria Embankment?".....

 "Shiver me timbers!, I don't know what to do!"......

Meanwhile, the Count and Countess are finding Venice to be a hazardous place to party.......

 And those devious clowns talk shop......

 My sad little Mammo-Grahms--I got the recipe
 from the Natl. Breast Cancer site, and dutifully made cute little breasts of varying complexions from faux-marzipan, but somehow, they turned out to be neither cute nor delicious..................

 "Hey, Roxanne........................"

 "Your boyfriend 's got a big nose!"............

 The feasting continues--especially on Annabelle's three gourmet soups......

 Look through the smoke to see what these three conjured up........

 Some delicious Witches' Warts that Linda made.........

 "Gee, I wonder what was in those Witches' Warts?"...............

 "Double, Double--Toil and Trouble....."

 Sometimes if you want something done, a girl has to do it herself...............

 Until a courtly Count lends a hand.....

 All too soon, the hour gets late, and we must leave the splendid home of our friends.......

But come All Hallows Eve..............

And especially if there's a Witches' Moon.................be prepared for haunting.........................................BOO!

REMEMBERING SUMMER 2013......

REMEMBERING SUMMER 2013....................

As we enter the autumn, it is fun to look back on some of the fun of this last summer......

Most of these photos are from batches that were too small to create an entire post or from huge batches (like trips) that I hope to work on come winter and so this is just a little sampling)

Early in the summer, Giano gets pretty dirty working on a project for his mother.....

And it comes out pretty nicely too--and it keeps a certain little "jumper" safe in the yard.....

Early this summer, we have a thrill when Santa Fe's hometown hero parachuted into the park right behind our house.....

En route to the dedication of his statue in front of City Hall......

On the plaza on our way to Tia Sophias because Frannie is treating me to breakfast, because.......

Today is my Birthday!................

Complete with a party and presents......

Lots of presents!.......

So, I guess they still need me, and I KNOW they still feed me, Now that I'm 64.....

In San Francisco, the summer starts with one of many summer celebrations, I think this is Pride Week......

And someone else who has become very dear to us also celebrates his birthday in June......

Cathedral Park is a haven all summer.....

Remember the old lyrics: "and no one's getting fat except for Mamma Cass"?  Well, I know someone else who's getting pretty chunky..............

 Is that the Capshaws on some tropical isle?--no, just at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.......

 Where we're off on a trip with the Core Kids......

 To attend a very special event--Gavin's graduation from Liberty High School.....

That's held in the arena of a Casino no less....

 At the party afterwards, Landon swims in the pool.....

 And Makenna practices the graduate thing....

And Chace is just his loveable self......

In Vegas we eat lots of good food.....

 Tour all the famous sights--some wholesome.....

 Some, not so much.....

 We enjoy the Fremont Street Experience.....

 Where Dwight has a wild ride on the zip line.....

 We hob-nob with celebrities.........(I just LOVE that Rock!)

And most especially get to spend some quality time with family that we wish we could see more often......

 In summer back home we get to enjoy our hometown on our morning walks....

 And the Cathedral is always beautiful!

 July 4th is a national holiday because......it's Dwight's Birthday! (and some other stuff too)........

 On the way down to the Plaza, I enjoy my own first handshake with Leroy's statue--something all Santa Fe's youngsters will be doing for years to come....

 We enjoy the car show.....

 And a Birthday celebration for Dwight with friends from the Class of 67--Dwight took the photo, but the arrow designates where he sat and enjoyed knowing that we still need him....now that he's 64!

A group of the cousins manage to be in town at the same time.....

 And the girls have a great time with their cousin from Ireland and her pal.....

 I get to work in the Bienvenidos booth downtown....

 with great people like my friend Juanita.....

And get to wear a different fiesta dress every time!.....

 Someone has surgery--and doesn't like it much.....

 And someone else gets a bath--and doesn't like it much either.....

The carefree wardrobe of summer.....

 And as the hollyhocks are blooming in Santa Fe....

 We're off on a road trip to California....

 Where our dear cousin Frisco hosts us the first night....

 And we visit Hearst Castle...

 And marvel at the opulence....

 And we arrive in San Francisco for our obligatory shot in Alamo Square....

 And attend both games of a Giant's double header......

 With our wonderful hosts who we also love so much.....

 We re-enact famous murders in the streets....

 And get to see all the girls we are so fond of at the Museum of Science....

 Are the streets vertical enough for you?.....

 We also get see an A"s game.....

 And someone else plays here too..............

 We even get to spend a night at the legendary El Rancho Hotel in Gallup on the way home....

 But it's great to be back home.....THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.......

Where the heart is....

 And the history.....

And all the furry little beasts too.....

 Meanwhile back in Berlin, Chiara is getting ready to leave....

 And so she is treated to a hearty going-away party.......

 And is soon in the bosom of her family and the land she loves.....(most of the photos of Kiki's visit are either in the Fiesta pictures or will come up in the Fall Photos.)

 So, we say a lingering goodbye to the joys of summer....

 The lazy days in the garden.....

 The adventures that beckon....

 All all the sweet joys that make summer, SUMMER!

But fear not!--for just as sure as this world turns on it's axis, Summer will come again and.......A GOOD TIME WILL BE HAD BY ALL!!!!