Wish List Wednesdays: Black Halloween Cat Top from Country Store

From Country Store

I recently purchased the Black Halloween Cat Top from Country Store and I can happily recommend this tee if you are looking for a fun and slightly spooky top for Halloween.  The material is a heavier weight 100% cotton with a bit of stretch, and I like the three-quarter length sleeves which give just the right amount of arm coverage.  Because of my broad shoulders and long torso I tend to have trouble finding tops that are long enough and also wide enough across the shoulders.  This tee fits perfectly, not too loose or too tight, just long enough, and not snug at the top at all.  I am going to enjoy wearing this shirt on Halloween!

Terrifying Tuesdays: Over the Garden Wall

From eBay

I have to admit that I am very late to the party on this one, but if you love a cozy and autumnal animated series with equal measures of mild spookiness and quirky humor, then I highly recommend "Over the Garden Wall" (2014), a ten-episode television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network.  The series follows the adventures of two half-brothers, Wirt and Gregory, who are lost in a fantastical forest called the Unknown.  As they attempt to find their way back home, they must evade a terrifying creature called the Beast with the help of an elderly Woodsman and an unusual bluebird named Beatrice.  In each episode the two boys have strange and mysterious encounters with a variety of characters in different parts of the forest.  There is also a short pilot episode, "Tome of the Unknown: Harvest Melody" (2013) upon which the series is based.

The DVD is available for purchase on Amazon for only $7.50, and includes all ten episodes plus the pilot episode.  You can also watch the pilot episode on YouTube.  Enjoy!

Mysterious Mondays: The Haunted South Book Series by Lisa Clute

From Amazon

If you are ready to get into the Halloween spirit but are not a fan of truly terrifying and/or gory reads, then The Haunted South series by Lisa Clute is for you!  These tales are considered cozy horror, and once you start reading you will understand why.  Each book in the series is an interconnected set of short stories set in Madison, Georgia, and features supernatural creatures and their interactions with the residents of Madison, who are not at all surprised to be sharing their town with fantastical beings.  In fact, for the most part both supernatural and human entities seem rather fond or at least amiably tolerant of each other, although at times both must work to come to a mutually agreeable understanding to coexist.  The first book, Monsters Under the Magnolias: Haints, Howls, and Hospitality in a Small Southern Town, is so entertaining and well written that I was quickly drawn into the hauntingly quirky world of Madison and had to read the next two books in the series as soon as I could get my hands on them.  I am hopeful that a fourth installment is in the works and will soon be available!

Wish List Wednesdays: Pumpkin Fair Isle Sweater from Serengeti

Autumn apparel has begun to make an appearance, and as autumn is my favorite season I always look forward to shopping for fall clothing.  My first purchase this year was the Pumpkin Fair Isle Sweater ($59.95-$69.95) from Serengeti, and I could not be more delighted with it.  I have been looking for a fall-themed Fair Isle sweater similar to the popular wool versions from Kiel James Patrick, but without the spooky price tag, and I finally found one!

My sweater is a cozy, soft cotton/acrylic blend rather than wool, but I actually prefer cotton as I am slightly allergic to wool and also find wool sweaters to be way too warm most of the time.  The fit is neither too loose nor too tight, and suits my rather hard-to-fit body type of overly broad shoulders and long torso (I normally end up buying tops a size too large to fit my shoulders and torso so the sleeves are usually too long and the waist too loose, but that is not the case with this sweater).

I am looking forward to cooler weather even more now, so that I can finally wear this lovely sweater!

Foodie Fridays: Brussels Sprouts with Peas and Cashews

I am so far behind on posting recipes that this one is from Christmas of 2025!  I watched a PBS Christmas cooking special featuring Mary Berry, and just had to make these Brussels sprouts from the show for our holiday meal.  I often serve Brussels sprouts for Christmas, but this was one version that I had never tried, and it was really tasty!  True to my naturally lazy nature, I used short cuts (pre-cut Brussels sprouts and frozen peas) which decreased the number of servings slightly but did not affect the flavor.  (I also increased the amount of cashews because I love them!)  I have made this side dish several times since then and am never disappointed, so if you love sprouts like I do you should give the recipe a try.

Brussels Sprouts with Peas and Cashews

12 oz. bagged microwaveable halved fresh Brussels sprouts
2 T. butter
2 large or 4 small shallots, thinly sliced
12 oz. frozen peas, thawed
1/2  C. salted cashew halves
salt and pepper to taste

Microwave the Brussels sprouts according to directions on the bag until tender.

Heat the butter in a large sauté pan.  Quickly fry the shallots for a few minutes.  Add the sprouts, peas, and cashews and cook for a few minutes until piping hot.  Season with salt and pepper and serve at once.  Serves 6.

Holiday Hits: Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, prosperous, and fun new year in 2026! 🎉🐶🎉

Holiday Hits: Season's Greetings!

From Homemade Gifts Made Easy

Wishing everyone Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas! ❄️🎅🎁🎄⛄️❄️