I received my wonderful box from Jeanette! It was full to the brim with bright orange and black wrapped surprises! I got: a wonderful Halloween kitchen towel. I love to change my kitchen towels for the season and didn't have a Halloween-themed one - thanks! a cute pumpkin votive candle holder with a scented candle in it a black and orange paper lantern a wonderfully scented potpurri mix a halloween wind sock a spider web wine/champagne goblet (so cute!) a spider on a spring a silver starred Halloween hat (sorry Jeanette - no digital camera to take a picture - my daughter kept saying "you're not going to wear that in front of my friends are you? - LOL!" a spooky hanging ghosty that emits an eeery sound - scares the daylights out of my little dog......... mummy's passion fruit tea bags and a ghost tin of chocolate kisses (oops all gone - how did that happen he he) Thanks Jeanette! Sue G.

Halloween is a fun holiday for me. It's all about candy and having fun. Here in south Texas, it can be 90 degrees or 60 degrees, depending on the weather! I made tombstones last year out of styrofoam, but the dogs knocked over the stack they were in and broke them when we were moving things out of our old shed. I put out skeletons, pumpkins, black cats, bats and ghosts. None of the gory, scarey stuff, just the fun kind. I don't like the blood and gore decorations. Save that for the commercial haunted houses. Halloween was definitely much more fun when my kids were younger. They don't seem to get into it too much, except to see what the trick or treaters are dressed up as, or to see how much of the candy bag they can devour before the 31st. I usually end up having to buy more candy, not because of the trick or treaters, but because of my kids (well, okay, us adults are guilty of digging into the candy bags, too!) Pat, I love the idea of the murder mystery party. A friend of my daughter's had one a couple of years ago and it was a real blast. Our HOA hosts a Halloween party for the little kids each year. Activities are bobbing for apples, face painting, ring toss, cake walk, costume contest, etc. One of the parents got industrious and made a cardboard box haunted maze for them to crawl through. They served punch and cookies and cupcakes and gave out goodie bags. Another parent provided the flat bed trailer and hay bales so the kids could take a hay ride. (The same person does this at Christmas for the neighborhood carolling.) Fun time for all that ends about dark so the kids can head off to trick or treat or parties. As for the bad side of Halloween, our humane society and animal control services stop adopting out black cats well in advance of Oct. 31st. Sad that there are weirdos out there that still commit outrageous acts, but we have been lucky that nothing has happened locally in a few years. ~Kathy

Well, I must not have walked under any ladders or had any black cats cross my path because boy do I feel lucky!! My seed packet has arrived with the most wonderful assortment of seeds. Are you sure it's not Christmas? Trading seeds is always fun, but with Alana leading the way, and everyones participation and fantastic seeds, this was the most fun trade ever. I have loved it all. Special thanks to you Alana for all the work and thoughtfulness. To each of the traders thank you for sharing all these seeds!! Must get back to my oohing and aahing. :)) Happy Halloween I'm off to see the Wizard! Jean/recipesaver2

Gosh I can't believe I didn't post about receiving Theresa's box!!! I must've written it late when I was tired and then turned off the computer before I posted it -- I'm a big dummy! Therea thank you soooo much. I received a pink AND a purple rueilla. I love these, they are so easy to care for and one of the few flowering desert plants that I really really like. And a white antique climbing rose. (So thoughtful Theresa, I just love this). Also apple cinnamon potpurri (I have this in a basket by the back door so you can smell it when you go in and out). And Apple cinnamon scented facial mask (I love these homey smelling things!) and fall-themed pot holders (mine are geting so ratty - thanks!), carmel apple candy corn and very nice bath bubble beads and a thanksgiving sun catcher for my entry window. And a big Busy Persons Guide to 20 Minute Gardens book - boy does that describe me - will certainly come in handy. Thanks soooo much Theresa, have a wonderful Fall!!!