Hey, follow me...

Hiccups & Fairy Dust is packing up all the pixie dust, leaving the mushroom camp and moving to a new site. Even the name is changed, so you won't find the new site at the old address.


4 SQUARE WALLS
was created for me by my brilliant husband and his fellow, Matt, at White Dog Arts. It's fresh, clean and fun. At 4 SQUARE WALLS you'll find my usual chatter about things going on, things I've seen, heard and made, or wish I'd made.


You'll also see that the Photo Challenge comes back to life in a new format; or actually, several new formats. It's not just for locals anymore. So, my single reader in California can now join in the fun!


Snippets have also changed and I think you'll find snippeting more fun than before - especially since you won't need to be involved and write stuff and put yourself out there in the limelight all exposed in your prose.


Lastly, 4 SQUARE WALLS has a store. The shelves are empty right now, but I am seeking out some wonderful things that you won't be able to live without, so keep checking back.


It is very easy to subscribe to 4SQUARE WALLS, so you can get news of all the fun right away in your own inbox, as soon as it's published. And, it's easy to comment too, because I really do like to hear from you.


So, follow me to 4 SQUARE WALLS and check it out. In case I haven't given you enough links yet, here's one more. See you there!

www.4squarewalls.com

Chainsaw Ferret?

Yes, that's one of the things I've been working on this week. My son's costume of choice this year comes from this advertisement, which he and I saw on TV during the last week of August. We laughed so long we were nearly crying and we both knew immediately that he HAS TO BE THAT FOR HALLOWEEN.





If you really enjoyed that, check out the UNCUT version. It's even funnier - in a gross, gory, horrifying kind of way.

The body was pretty easy, and I sped right through it on Wednesday. The hood even, was pretty easy. Now, I still have to get to the difficult features - the different shades of fur that are inherent in ferret coats, the application of a "Hannibal Lecter" mask, and the chainsaw. It's not hard to get a chainsaw - just walk into the garage and get it. But, it's tricky to determine in what form your 12-year old son is allowed to carry a chainsaw around on Halloween night. For instance, is it enough that it's an electric chainsaw and he won't have a cord? Or, should I remove the chain, and replace it with a rubber band of some sort? I'm still working on this one.

During college, a bunch of friends and I went on a Haunted Hayride that was professed to be "too scary for little ones." One of the things they did to scare us half to death (and it REALLY worked, mind you) was to chase the hay wagon with a chainsaw that was running, but had a rubber band instead of the chain. They caught up to the hay wagon and picked on the lucky young ladies at the back and actually touched our legs with the running "blade" of the saw. I can tell you, we screamed our heads off. Even though we could plainly see there was no "blade", our brains told us NO, THIS IS NOT OKAY, YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOUR LEG CHOPPED OFF NOW. I'll never forget it.

As much as I'd love to provide such fond memories for my own kids, I just don't think that allowing my pre-teen, hormone ravaged, gluten enhanced, young son run around with a "live" chainsaw, in any form, is a good idea.

As for the other costume on my TO DO list, it's finished. Well, the part I had to make is finished. I signed off on the Sherlock Holmes black and white tweed capelet at 1:30 this morning. It's fully lined, with a large collar, and even has an invisible pocket where Sherlock will store her magnifying glass. That is, if I can FIND a magnifying glass. By tomorrow. And, if I can find a black skirt or pants that Sherlock will be willing to wear with her capelet, as she refuses to wear black leggings ALONE. "Like, MOOOOM, really. I can't wear JUST LEGGINGS!"

Pumpkins? What? Who said that? We're supposed to have pumpkins too? Okay, you provide the carved pumpkins. And whoever took my cool black owl from my front porch, please give it back. He is my friend.

Photo Challenge - Answer Week 21

Don't you love the little cottage in the Week 21 image? I do. I can think of a 1,000 uses for it. I know one reader would like to make it into a workshop. What would you do with it if you had such a space on your property? I'd really like to know. Shoot me a comment and tell me, in full detail! Or, if you're so inclined, draw a picture of your little space. I'll share the comments (keep yours anonymous if you like) and pictures. I'll give a prize to the one with the most detail.

Oh, this particular cottage is on a property on High Street, just out of town, close to the turn off to Harasecket Road. You know the one - green and white farmhouse, scarecrow in the garden, rolling field behind it.

The Photo Challenge is going to take a little break. I think just for two weeks. That doesn't mean that I won't post on the blog from time to time, but I won't be running amok with my camera trying to find interesting things to photograph, or baking or buying prizes for the photo challenge. I am told that my new site can be completed and up and running in that time, so I'd like to put all my efforts into that for a time and come back with a splash.

And it will be a splash because the new site is WAY TOO COOL FOR WORDS. I can't wait for you all to see it. Here is the tiniest hint of what's to come:

So, I'll be working on that for the next two weeks, and of course Halloween costumes for my own kids. Gotta get that Chainsaw Ferret going, and I've yet to hear my daughter's final declaration of costume choice. She's under pressure now.

'Till next time piccadillies.

On the Snippet

I'm snippeting again. The last snippet came from my son. He actually heard an employee say that to a customer once in a fast food restaurant. I'm not clear on any other details, but the images created in my mind by that quote are awesome.

Here's a new snippet for you. I hope you can have fun with this one.

"Let me try that. It's not magic."

Wow. Wouldn't today be the perfect day for a massage and a hot bath, and a glass of wine with apple slices covered in caramel? I think so. The beat moves on drummers. Until tomorrow.

Week 21! Photo Challenge

I can hardly believe it's been 21 weeks! Thank you all for your patience as I muddle (and not strawberry muddle, mind you) my way through my very busy costume season. I am about half way through - still need to finish Uncle Sam, create Chainsaw Ferret and whatever my daughter decides to be. And, the Girl Scouts are keeping me very busy with the Scarecrow thing, as well as work (oh yeah, I work full time too) and kids with homework and trying desperately to get my new site ready. Busy season. Haven't even had time to go apple picking yet.

There was no winner for week 20. The image was taken at the back of the row of shops in downtown Kennebunk, where the Tom's of Maine factory store is. Here are a couple of shots so you can see better.

I have those Milano's and Vanilla Tea sitting right here next to me. Hmm. Wonder how long THOSE will last. I also still have the "Flower Pot Scarecrow" that I made and offered as a prize last week. I think I'll offer that one again. It's just so timely, with the Scarecrow parade this weekend.

The image for week 21 is this....

And, as I said, the prize is this cute little scarecrow that I made especially for your fall flower pot, or to carry in Saturday's scarecrow parade in the Port.

If you don't win, but still would like a little scarecrow just like this one, get to the town green in front of the Captain Lord Mansion this Saturday between 2 and 5 and the Girl Scouts and I will sell you one! We've been making them for two weeks now. We have 45 of them to sell, along with lots of great baked goods. See you there! In the square!