Random crap with Uno.

[Unorthodox]

My second attempt at making pumpkin cookies...from scratch, no canned crap. 

The last attempt ended horribly (conventional recipe using fresh pumpkin instead of canned), if this one don't work, I may just give up on the idea.  Totally threw out the conventional recipes as crap for this purpose, and have instead come up with an original after extensive research into how pumpkin bakes...so pretty much took my wifes chocolate chip dough and replaced the eggs with the pumpkin. 

[Unorthodox]

This worked out lightyears better than the conventional recipe.  Tad too much cinnamon when I made the pumpkin puree, but otherwise very nice. 

[Rusty Edge]

Congratulations! It's always great when a kitchen concoction goes from concept to good food.

[Unorthodox]

All three kids actually like them!  (this is quite shocking, actually) 

I'm toying with the idea of creating some pumpkin sugar cookies.  Something I've never even heard of being done before, but I have a killer sugar cookie recipe. 

They do cook a little strange.  The pumpkin might keep it all together like eggs, but it don't cook the same as eggs. 

[Unorthodox]

Latest bug project, sorta. 

Over Halloween, I found a mantis egg sack in my corn.  Figured I would go back and harvest it to save for next year, as my garden alone could probably support a dozen mantids.  Well, by the time I went back it had fallen off the leaf (not a good sign), got rained on, and was sitting in a puddle.  I don't know if any could really survive that or not, but I salvaged the thing and dried it out, now debating what to do. 

I COULD (looks at hEt lurking) take that empty aquarium out of Kyle's room and rear any young that might survive through the early spring, just to ensure they don't get killed, you know...not out of morbid fascination, no....

[Rusty Edge]

I'm guessing the eggs drowned in the puddle,
 but I'm thinking this is an awesome idea. Are your camera lenses in order?

Besides...I know you're doing Vlad the Impaler next year according to Talia's idea, but I think that there's potential inspiration in the mantid rescue project for an awesome new Uno-monster. This could always be sold to raise money for sound, lighting, and other effects.

[Unorthodox]

Everything for next year is up in the air, to be honest.  I don't feel like going into it here/now as to why.  I might very well just be standing pat next year. 

The Barghest area was just a shade on the 'too scary' side, as we had about 5-10 groups unable to pass down that corn tunnel with him at the end.  Not sure how vlaad would go over on the general populace.  I'm still toying with the idea for a giant effigy as well. 

As for the Vlad idea, I have 3 corpses and 3 skeletons that could be turned to corpses real quick if we decide to go all impaler.  The question is HOW to impale them. 

I'm also getting a gorgeous new skull for christmas.  A painting "mistake" from my buddy scourge bought on the cheap.  Not up to his standards for selling to the public, but knows I'm just going to recast it myself. 

I have a rudimentary kit macro lens, would like some improvement there, but keep watching for a cheap camera.  Had one yesterday that turned out I was just a bit late on, so new body probably before new lens is likely.  New body would allow macro VIDEO...   

I would guess the eggs are all goners, yes.  But, with 500ish eggs in there, you never know.  I could always BUY an egg sack, just for kicks. 

[Rusty Edge]

Too scarey sounds like a selling point when dealing with commercial haunts.

Well, I once told you that the scariest movie I ever saw was "Quatermass and the Pit" . Mantid monsters sort of play into those Martian insect devil horror images in my subconscious.


That aside, mantids are just cool predators, without being dangerous in a Japanese hornet sort of way.

[Unorthodox]

Sorry for the extended hiatus, guys.  I'm struggling.  Hopefully everything will come together soon. 

[Rusty Edge]

Well, I hope everyone is healthy. Hang in there.

I'm currently reading an historical fiction called "Sunset of the Iroquois", about the nations being forced to choose sides during the Revolution. I thought of you as a read about sacrificing the first deer to the crows, so that they would not warn the other animals of the hunting party.

Good Luck!

[Unorthodox]

We've got that same weather pattern setting up that caused the winds to strip our roof and destroy the door a few years back. 

Basically, We're getting a cat 1-2 hurricane tonight.  Minus storm surge. 

I brought the Barghest in.  He's going to be part of our Christmas display, but I haven't staked him down into place yet.  Shame, really, I'm curous how well my staking method would survive the weather. He openly mocked the 50-60 we had in October, fully staked, but he was in a more sheltered corner of the yard then as well. 
 
Hoping the biggest loss will be the leaves I had been trying to use as a cover in the garden to help speed mulching the pumpkins.  Should have tilled in the leaves as well, apparantly, they'll likely just blow away now. 

[Unorthodox]

Well, the chimera is dead.  He was due for a rebuild this year, but the wind knocked him over (80MPH is his limit it would seem), and busted his snath (scythe handle).  About the only thing on him I couldn't easily fix, of course.  Gonna have to hunt for another snath now. 

[Unorthodox]

Alright, so we'll be putting out the "christmas" decorations this week. 

What's left of the Chimera will be wrapped in lights as usual, and the Barghest is likely to make a holiday appearance as well.  However, hEt suggested leaving Fred (skeleton with 'skin' on him) out as well, just putting a hat on him.  I'm a little nervous on that front.  I mean, sure, Fred was out all year and everything...but it was the side of the house, away from the neighbors that don't really care for that kind of thing.  Maybe I should slap up a Bob (clean skeleton) instead.  But then, a Bob would be much more prone to damage. 

[Unorthodox]

Fred's up and quite garish looking wraped in flicker flame lights...

[Unorthodox]

Watched The Village with Talia and Alec last night. 

Talia's seen bits and pieces as it's been on TV this week, and wanted to watch. 

Hilarious to see her cover her eyes every time the monsters come, peeking through fingers.  Show was that perfect mix that got them both worked up, but not nightmared.