my favorite halloween moment

let's just say Fred was never really into the whole "P.C." thing, so the opportunity came to dress his girls like hobos and he sped the whole way to the goodwill to get us garbed up.

I like that we both look like complete crackheads in every photo.

I also like that my mom was a fly.  hmmm

and of course that every one of these was taken with a polaroid.

Halloween Parade

awesome parades in Oak Harbor, WA

I'm the angel

like always

painted ladies (and gents)

the pumpkin man was always enthusiastic about facepaint for his girls

(please note, fake nose, not a nosejob for me at seven)

the creeeeeepiest costume ever

mom and aunt anne.  basically mom terrifying aunt anne, who looks to be running away

...reincarnation....

and now, mom and dad's costumes reincarnated

(I was too shy to show off my spider legs)

early 80's blast

sorry Kee and Fred, couldn't resist

boo

happy halloween....

since i've taken quite a hiatus, I think I'll overdo it this week with blasts from the past

how cute were we?  guess who's who....

(actually, you probably noticed, neither of us are actually that cute in these.  start low, aim high...)

Ghost Chili

all that embodies the FALL

 leaf changing

dogs in Boligee 

photo courtesy of Troupe Brewer

attack of the pumpkin man 

Alabama football

turkey eating

and.....

Ghost Chili

1 lb large white beans
6 cups chicken broth

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium onions, chopped (divided)

1 tablespoon oil

2 4-oz cans chopped green chilies

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon chili powder

4 cups diced cooked chicken breasts (or more)

3 cups grated Monterrey Jack cheese

Combine beans, chicken broth, garlic and half of the onions in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are very soft, 3 hours or more. Add more chicken broth, if necessary. In a skillet, sauté remaining onions in oil until tender. Add chilies and seasonings and mix thoroughly. Add to bean mixture. Add chicken and continue to simmer 1 hour. Serve topped with grated cheese. Serves 8-10.

Great to serve for Halloween!

Week of Jimmy

Happy Birthday to Jimmy!  ... he turns the big 2-9 today!

a little homage to his life as it has shaped up thus far:

a scary preview of life on windsor

some facial expressions you're just born with

not to dissimilar from his face after 12 wings yesterday at the KickinChicken fest

jimmy crack corn

poor Jimmy & pox

yes, that is a headband

the awkward years

another preview

watch out

durham weeks, michael riley, jimmy, brett gray, chase allen, bill donovan, john bourgeois

oh so rugged

d-money and jimmy with bombs 

happy 4th! 

the domestic count

shooting pistols in Italy

you have to compensate by wearing things like this when you spend your days on the couch with the ladies instead of in the woods with your wife and father-in-law

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ghost writer

I was gone for the night with Jimmy to left to fend for himself  - again.  I then come home to find this:

In the past when I've blogged about Jimmy's various run-ins, I've always made a point to show the posts to him.

Upon query, he told me he had accidentally dropped my toothbrush off the counter and behind the toilet (ewwww).  Much more importantly, he wanted me to know that he saved it in case I might still want to use it (even worse).

Interesting way to warn.... He definitely has a flair for the dramatic.

Apparently he took a liking to the blog fame.  If this isn't a cry for attention, I don't know what is.  I kindof ignored it for a while.  But about a week after the incident he asked why I hadn't blogged about it yet.  If you give a mouse a cookie....

{p.s.  For those of you who'd already read this post and now see it differently - Jimmy had some Monday-morning quarterback 'suggestions'.  In the interest of an accurate presentation and a 'team' approach to blogging, I changed around the order of my presentation. Once again, a bit more dramatic to suit his creative side.}