Skeletons 2026: The House, the House, the House Is On Fire

Hugh built our skeleton display early this month, despite the forecast calling for rain for most of October. I chose a fireman theme this year, which seemed fitting since we had a cops-and-robbers theme one year while Hugh was still with the department.

We used the wooden stable that Hugh built for my blow mold nativity at Christmastime for the house, which makes this the second time that the stable has been drafted for Halloween service, since it was the house that fell on the Wicked Witch of the East back in 2022.

The stable has seen better days, not gonna lie; this may be its last Christmas. But I digress.

We kept the props pretty simple this year; Hugh grabbed a handful of Junior Firefighter hats from the department, and we called that good enough for costuming. We already had a real fire hydrant, thanks to Oscar, who gifted it to us when he and Emily downsized to the new house this summer, and Hugh borrowed a decommissioned firehose, so other than the rope lights meant to convey running water I didn't purchase a single thing.

I love it when my displays are creative without costing me money or adding to the clutter already crowding my attic.

Speaking of clutter,  Hugh used cardboard boxes that had been stacked in the garage for the flames coming out of the roof of the house, and, while they didn't survive the rains, you can still get the gist of the display. Or, as I told Hugh last night when we pulled into the driveway after dinner with Shanti, the Man-Cub, and Goose, the fire department put out the flames. Good job, Ladder 526!

Bright side.

Anyhoodle, this is the skeleton display for 2026, marking the eleventh year I have used skeletons in my Halloween yard decorating. Our first display was pretty simple, and the designs became more elaborate each year, depending on the budget and my energy level. I don't regret a single one, and I hope to still be cranking out annual displays when Goose is old enough to appreciate them. Fingers crossed.

 

What's Up Wednesday, October 2026 Edition

 

Wow, October went by in a hurry! I feel like I blinked and missed half of it, but also enjoyed more of it than I expected, if that makes any sense. As always, thanks to Sheaffer and Shay for providing the writing prompts that actually inspire me to write; Lord knows I'm still struggling on my own.

What I've Been Eating

Hugh and I took a trip over the mountains, and we went to one of our favorite Italian restaurants, where we enjoyed our favorites: seafood linguini for Hugh and chicken piccata for me. We also had a truly excellent Mexican street corn dip in the hotel bar; bar food can be hit or miss, and this was definitely a hit.

What I'm Loving

More fun with TikTok; I love generating caricatures from photos, and these did not disappoint.

I also loved seeing Kristi meet the Goose for the first time. She has spoiled that child almost more than any of the family members have, which is saying a lot. 

What I'm Reminiscing About

Still going back in time to remember the earliest days of parenthood. Funny how holding a newborn comes back to you just like riding a bike.

What I've Been Up To

As I mentioned earlier, Hugh and I took a road trip this month; Hugh had a meeting in Denver, so I tagged along for the food and company.

That included my sister, whom I met for coffee and a tour of the Molly Brown House Museum. It was a lot of fun and quite educational; if you think you know the story of "the unsinkable Molly Brown", no, you probably don't.

What I'm Working On

While Queen B was home earlier this month, we had a craft-and-movie night. The movies were actually serial killer documentaries, but that is neither here nor there. The craft involved painting inexpensive Halloween pumpkin pails to look more vintage. It was easy, cheap, and fun.

I also cleared out the last vegetables from my raised beds and got them ready for winter.

Excited About

We just purchased Queen B's flight home for Thanksgiving. I know she was just here, but I am always excited to have a plan to bring her home again, and the holidays make it even more exciting.

What I'm Dreading

As I said last month, I refuse to allow myself to dread anything. I'm looking forward and upward, and on the bright side, and all the other terms for staying positive. It's become a mantra for me, and I'm not mad about it.

What I'm Reading

Still reading a lot of trash that isn't worth talking about. In my defense, it's like watching an old sitcom: the story is familiar, but it's comforting to know what is coming next. I'm assuming I will return to deeper topics at some point, but I'm not there yet.

What I'm Watching

Hugh and I purchased the sequel to Practical Magic. It was meh. That's the risk you take when you mess with perfection, Hollywood.

I've also sadly been watching videos of historic flooding in my hometown and the surrounding area, which has been heartbreaking.

What I'm Listening To

For most of the month, I've been listening to the steady beat of rain on the rooftop. Colorado has seen more rain in the past two months than in several summers combined. It has led to the flooding I mentioned above. It's clear outside now, so I hope things get easier for the folks back in Mayberry.

What I'm Wearing

I finally traded my sandals in for closed-toed shoes. I bought a cute new pair of boots, so I'm not entirely salty about it.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

Hugh had a minor surgery this week, so we won't be doing anything too exciting or strenuous. We might pop in on the kids and see Goose experience her first Halloween, but nothing dramatic. Then, I plan to get my Halloween decorations put away and to start on the construction of my Christmas village (yes, already)

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

My birthday, having Queen B home, Goose's first Thanksgiving, turkey and all the sides; the list goes on and on.

Favorite Purchase This Month

Starbucks stopped making the original Medicine Ball a while back, but Tazo now sells it as a concentrate you can buy in stores and online. My coworker and I taste-tested it and agreed that it is the real deal. Ten out of ten, would recommend it if you miss the original.

I Spoke Too Soon

Last week, I mentioned I planned to clear out my raised beds to prepare them for winter. Yeah, that didn't happen. The rains we experienced through September came back to our area, and near-constant downpours kept me from doing it.

Luckily, today was nice enough to finally get outside and tackle the task.

I gained a good three inches in height from the mud caking my rain boots on trips to dump garden refuse into the composting pile in our alley, but I can now pat myself on the back for wrapping up another (mostly successful, often frustrating) gardening season.

My final haul included one more cantaloupe, so that experiment was definitely a resounding success. 

The greenhouse is still going strong thanks to the heater Hugh installed, and I decided to transplant the parsley plant from the raised bed into a container, hoping it will survive there. My thyme, oregano, sage, and mint are still going strong in there, so I figured it was worth a try.

I'm not gonna lie, the tomato and pepper plants in the greenhouse are starting to look somewhat bedraggled, but they are still producing, so I intend to tend them for as long as they do. I also have a small lemon tree and a bay leaf plant that I'm relatively confident will survive the winter with the heater, so my goal of using the greenhouse year-round seems attainable.

Guess we will see.

But for the raised beds, it is game over for 2026.

I hope those fucking squirrels think it's permanent and relocate somewhere far, far away because, if they come back again next year, I am going to shoot first and ask questions later.

I'm kidding; I'm not that great a shot anymore.

But I will consider planting flowers so they no longer have a buffet to return to.