800 and Counting

800 hexagons? Well, no. Read on . . . .

Between the getting ready for the accreditation, surviving the accreditation (we're at 2/3 through at this point), miscellaneous small social events and baseball, precious little serious sewing has been done in the past week or two. Sitting in front of the late-night games, I've done a little hand-quilting on my CW baskets (picture available someday). But I've also had a lot of fun with something entirely different!

My great-niece Abby (the one of my sister's grandchildren I feel closest to) asked me if I'd piece a couple of Grandmother Flower Garden blocks for her. Now, I ask you, how could any self-respecting grandmother, particularly one whose next generation is scheduled to double, decline such a sweet request? Apparently Abby has asked several relatives to make these for her and she plans to put them all together into a quilt for herself. I've never made any of these before, and I've completed the two she requested and will be handing them off to her at Thanksgiving time. I've no idea whether I've done it correctly or not -- I didn't have any instructions, so I just sort of plunged in. After one false start, I believe I've got it right. The picture is lifted from the internet and is what I imagine Abby will end up with. Perhaps I'll have a chance to post the pic of my blocks.

I notice that this is my 802nd post! Which would seem to call for a give-away, wouldn't you think? And guess what! I'm heading out to Lancaster this weekend and surely will have ample opportunity to select precisely the right give-away.

If you'd like a chance to win this mystery gift, leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite Hallowe'en costume from your childhood was. Mine was sometime in the 1950s when not everyone had a television. My father helped me make a television out of a brown cardboard box and I had a Howdy Doody false-face to wear inside. With my plaid shirt. I sure wish I had a picture of it.




Comments

Anya said…
Congratulations on your 802nd post! One of my favorite costumes from my childhood would probably be considered politically incorrect today, but...hey, it was the 1960s. My long braids made it easy for me to be an Indian girl. Thanks for the chance, Nancy, and congratulations on the upcoming arrival of two new members of your family!
Congrats on your 802nd post! Good grief - that's a lot of blogging!!
My favorite childhood costume was Little Red Riding Hood. My mother dressed up like Little Red's granny since she escorted me. Her best friend dressed as the hunter and her little girl was the wolf. I have pictures and they are adorable (if I do say so myself)!
Anonymous said…
Congratulations on the 802nd post and the new additions. God is sure working overtime to bring such joy to our families - twins on this coast and two singles on yours.My favorite costume was one my mother made when I was just entering the teen years and was overly concerned at the time with not filling out. She made me a costume of a sexy broad. She and my dad took a styrofoam ball and cut it in half and installed lights on a battery that ran down my arm that I flicked off and on. She found a cigarette holder, made a short skirt and, of course, one of my school sweaters was very tight with those big boobs. I wore a blond wig (my normal hair color is very dark). Needless-to-say, I never did have much in the way of boobs except for that Halloween. I went back to being me after that night. I will look forward to your surprise.
Joanne Lendaro said…
Congrats on the 802nd!! WOW!! THat is quite an accomplishment! Okay, my very favorite was in 5th grade when I went as an old man, and my bag broke....one kind soul, took me in, tied the legs of my pants at my ankles and for the rest of the night my candy was dropped in at the waist. Funny, between that and my hips that's where it all lands now.... have a great time shopping!
quiltmamajb said…
Hello - have fun in Lancaster. I love the Quilt Shack, Zook's and the Old Country Store. Let's see....my favorite costume was Raggedy Ann - and I carried my doll that looked exactly like me. Thanks for asking....safe travels and congratulations on your baby news!
Karen said…
Congratulations on your 802nd post! Quite the accomplishment!
I remember being an angel one year. I was very shy and trick or treating was very hard for me so not alot of memories. I do remember my older siblings enjoyed the candy I got(I wasn't much of a candy eater back then-wish I could say that now!)
Nancy said…
WOW!! 800 posts.... Congratulations!!! I honestly don't remember a whole lot of Halloweens... so I'll go with the only picture I can find.... I was a Panda Bear when I was a baby. I used this picture in a power point timeline that I show my students as an introduction to a project that I have them make. I think the picture is saved on the PC... I'll find it and post it on my blog.

Halloween Hugs!
nancy
Tricia said…
800? Wow! Congrats! That's a whole lotta blogging.

My favorite costume from my childhood was the princess costume my mom sewed for me. It was really just a simple pink slip (nothing frilly) with a large, pink, pointy princess hat. We glued little color rhinestones onto the costume and it was perfect. I wore it multiple years too!
Abby said…
I love your blog. My favorite costume was Raggedy Ann. My grandma crocheted a head full of yarn hair for me!
Pat said…
My favorite costume was that of a fireman. My dad was a volunteer with the Second Alarmers in Philadelphia. That organization never fought fires, but if the blaze was 2 alarms or more, they woukld respond with their truck filled with coffee-makking equipment and sandwiches to feed the real firemen. One halowwen, when I got big enough to wear them, I got to go out in his real fireman's coat, real helmet, real fireman boots and a piece of garden hose coiled over my shoulder. We even smudged ashes on my face.

I think the best thing about those old Halloweens was putting together a costume -- no store-bought stuff.
Pat said…
Addendum to last post:

802 blog posts? You are, indeed, my hero.
floribunda said…
Congratulations on the big 802! I wish I were going to Lancaster with you... I went out on halloween every year growing up, but I can't for the life of me remember any costumes from my youth! One I still have from about 22 years ago, though -- I sewed a million little plastic spiders all over a long-ish red tshirt, made a thread web on the back, and wore it to a dance with black tights underneath.
Nancy said…
We were not really into the costume...just the candy LOL We always dressed up like Hobo's or bums...

I do remember the neighbor boy dressed up as a girl and he was 13 at the time... So daring back in the 50's...
Linda said…
802 posts??? Wow!! You've been at this a long time. It's hard to keep one's enthusiasm going for that long. Congratulations! As for my favorite Halloween costume as a kid - That's an easy one for me. One year I dressed up as Santa Clause, and that costume got a great reception at every house I visited. In fact, some people gave me double- hoping I'd be generous to them on Christmas. Ha!
Laurel said…
my favorite costume was a clown oufit that my father had made in orange and black, Congrats on your 802nd post!!
Laurel/NJ
WHaeser1@aol.com
Susan said…
Congratulations! Your blog is my favorite to read.
When I was a Girl Scout, I dressed as a thermometer. I drew the lines and numbers on a sheet and wrapped it under my arms with a red scarf tied around my head. I lost any chance at a prize after a juice spill made the numbers run down my front.
Linda K said…
Oh I miss Lancaster County and all of the fabric bargains!! Used to live in Lansdale, now outside Atlanta. Have a whoopie pie for me :-) I've been sitting here thinking about Halloween costumes and all I remember is the same as another poster- hobo or bum. Favorite costume that I made for my daughter was a butterfly- wired orange fabric wings with sequins, attached to a black leotard. Mystery gift from Lancaster??? Hope I win!!!!!! It will be great! Congrats!!
Trish said…
Congrats on the posts!

My favorite costume was "cousin it" from the Adams family. I don't know who made it for me but it was a brown sheath from head to toe and had nothing but brown strands of yarn cascading down to cover the whole body.
kdmade said…
My favorite to reminisce about is when I was in Lower School and I had no costume for the Halloween parade. In haste, my mother dug out her old mini dress (very mini on her, way down past my knees at that age)from the '60s that had little peace signs and said "peace" and "love" all over it. She braided my hair, gave me little fake daisies and said to just wander around handing out flowers and saying "make love not war". I must have looked at her skeptically because she said: trust me, at your school everyone will get it. And as we would all expect, everyone (except me) got it.
Liz said…
Congrats on a milestone post AND to your double delight grandchildren on the way.

Favorite costume - the year I was a bat - easy, in my dance school leotard and fishnet tap tights, with wings made from one of my dad's collarless clerical shirts...momma did some creative cutting of seams and scalloping the sleeves, just left a couple of buttons at the top. I swooped all over the house before trotting off to collect candy with the gang. Thanks for encouraging the memories !! ~~Liz
julieQ said…
Hi Nancy, thank you for your generosity. My favorite costume is when my mom dressed my up like Raggedy Ann! I had a red wig, a gingham dress...cute, cute! Congratulations on your 800th post.
Susan said…
Wow, 802 posts!! Congratulations!
I've never been a big fan of Halloween so the only costume I really remember from childhood is being an Indian. I tied my teddy bear onto my back as a papoose, I think. As I recall, that was my last costume since I was a sixth grader that year and that was the end of trick-or-treating. I didn't mind giving it up as I was shy and it was torture having all the elderly people in my small town attempt to talk to me-"Aren't you L and E's girl? Which one are you?" (I have two sisters very close in age to me).

Enjoy your trip to Lancaster. Are you looking for fabrics for those baby quilts?
quiltmom anna said…
Wow Nancy,
That is a great hexagon quilt you are making-
As for your question- hmmm I think it was much later in my life when I dressed up My favorite costume was when I was dressed up as the great pumpkin for Halloween - the year I was pregnant with my son. I still dress up as something- often a witch with a warty nose because I don't have much time to get a costume together. My kindergarten students think its great when I get dress up just like them. I am sure I dressed up as princesses and an old woman but I don't really remember costumes from my childhood.
Have a great time in Lancaster, Nancy-
It sounds like spring will be an exciting time in your household. We will wish easy pregnancies for the moms and the safe arrival for your grand babies.
Warmest regards,
Anna
Pati said…
Congrats on your 802nd post!! My favorite costume was from 1968. My mother dressed me up with an afro wig, big round sunglasses, jeans, and a big billowy flowered shirt. I had a play guiter and lots of grandma's big beaded necklaces on my neck. I won 1st place in the City of Umatilla Halloween festival. I have a newspaper picture and a small trophy in my "treasures" box.

Thanks for the memories!
Unknown said…
Trick or treating came far too late to the UK for me to ever participate as a child although my kids love it and I really enjoy seeing all the kids in their costumes calling round to us. However taking a slight bit of artistic licence here the one fancy dress costume I remember from childhood was a time when I was dressed up for our village gala (sort of summer fun day/fete/parade) at the age of three in a Noddy costume (a little elf character from the Enid Blyton childrens books of that ere) I even won third prize but I'm sorry to say I've no idea which characters/costumes beat me to first and second
Anonymous said…
Congratulations on your 800+ posts. You blog is one of my favorites. I can only remember dressing up as a football player one year. So many years ago, and the mind is losing some(lot) of earlier memories. Thanks for your blogging. Cindy
Miriam said…
More than 800 posts!! Wow!!!

We don't celebrate Hallowe'en in Australia, but I can tell you about a favourite costume my Mum made for a fancy dress party when I was about 5 years old. I was a rainbow, complete with a little gold bag in the shape of a pot....there always is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!
Mum covered a dress in rows of coloured paper like a rainbow and made a rainbow shaped headpiece as well.
I thought I was gorgeous!
Amy said…
Here's to 800 more!

When I was in college in the late 70s, I went as the influenza bug - red tights, pink thermal shirt, blue shorts, deely bobber headband, a big yellow plastic sledgehammer, face and hands painted a lovely shade of putrid green. I carried glitter, and spread my charm all night long.

Best to you and your growing family!
The Calico Cat said…
I remember being a rubics cube.

Jacob will be a penguin this year.

Have fun in Lancaster.
Lori said…
Whay a brave soul to say yes to the Grandmother's flower garden! Very sweet too!
Congrats on the TWO babies on the way!!!
I really don't remember many costumes as Halloween just wasn't that big of a deal growing up. Before we even knew of the words politically incorrect I once dressed up as a Mexican! Wearing a big sombrero, poncho and mustache!

I wish I could go to Lancaster with you. Enjoy!
I loved being Dale Evans in my cowgirl outfit because I was so in love with Roy Rogers! I had a fringed skirt and fringed vest, a cowboy hat, and guns in a holster. I thought I was gorgeous! blessings, marlene
This is weird but I can't remember any costume from my childhood I liked. I know I loved some of them but the only one I do remember was one I hated. It was a Robin Hood costume and once I found out Robin Hood was a boy that was it-I hated it. My mother made me wear it anyways.
congrats tia! i love this! and that is exactly what the quilt is suppossed to look like. my favorite costume was probably when my gramom made me a dress out of old wedding dresses and a slik cape like thing or when i went as minnie mouse and my best friend went as mickey (with home made costumes that is)
Di said…
Congratulations on 802 posts. That is dedication. My fav Halloween costume was dressing up like a vampire - long black wig and my mom made me a black dress out of some shiny material with long drippy sleeves. We did heavy make up and everything. Boy, did I think I was cool, lol.
Tanya said…
I don't remember my favorite costume but I do remember my father painting up our faces every Halloween. And Indian, a witch a fairy. He was normally a hands off father so to have him do this each year was special.
802 that means you talk to much.........lol..........just joking I am nudging 600.......enjoy the trip.......it is lots of fun as you know........
802 posts! Congratulations. We don't do Halloween much out here, yet I was always fascinated by it when I saw stories about it on television. I loved the peanuts movies; especially "The Great Pumpkin". I really loved Charlie Brown's ghost costume with all the holes in it.
Hope you have a wonderful Halloween, and a great weekend away.
A tv with Howdy Doody inside....what a great costume!
My favorite costume was a punkin.
I dyed a white sheet orange, cut out each section and then stuffed it with newspaper and then made the top for my head out of felt. I wore a green turtle neck and tights....
We always made our own costumes, never bought them at the store..
Peggy
Anonymous said…
Congrats on the 802nd post! Wow! I don't if I would ever have that much to talk about! Your quilts are just gorgeous! I remember my favorite costume was dressing as Roy Rogers with the mask, hat and my "horse" was a stick horse (Romper Room). I think I am dating myself! Thanks for the chance. Pam
Anonymous said…
My mother, being originally from Lancaster county, but us living in Ethiopia---dressed us as Amish.

wardo8484@earthlink.net
Judi said…
As a family, we are still in Houston on vacation, so experiencing an American Halloween for the first time. We were talking the other evening about how, when Stan and I were children, there was no celebration of Halloween in the UK at all.

When Drew was a kid, we carved the occasional pumpkin and made pumpkin pie with the insides, but there was no Trick or Treating.

Drew reminded us that he DID dress up one Halloween, for a party. At the time, there was some kind of superhero thing the boys were into (isn't there always?) and one of the characters was a magician. I made him a cape, etc. and Stan created the essential cane with a crystal as the handle by using a walking stick and the top of the bathroom tap.

Drew said he is reminded of it every time he uses the taps in our bathroom. Isn't it amazing how you create memories without realising you are doing so?

We are all set tonight with our candy in a bowl - hope the local kids come because we go home tomorrow!

:)
Judi
Judi said…
Follow up on my last post..

We went out for our final dinner last night, and came back just in time o see a group of children with their parents.

I stopped them from moving on and dashed inside for our candy.

The children were very polite, each taking a piece....but thn I told them they had to have it ALL because we were going home in the morning. There was a bit of a feeding frenzy, which was great fun!

:)
Judi