Clover assures me that if I dress as Lil' Bo Peep, he'll insure that I have lost sheep to follow me around and hide behind my skirts while I search for them. I am not convinced that I should allow a big-eyed sheep to make my decisions despite how adorable he is. Besides, that costume would be far too easy. It would be last year's costume with sheep. Feel free to weigh in on this if you happen upon facebook, google+ or my email.

Costuming the house should prove to be an easier decision for me. I already have the paint and one room painted. Of course, the contractor decided it was okay to put fresh holes in my newly painted walls, so I'll be doing some touch ups when he is completely finished. Otherwise, it would probably be a lost cause.

The walls of the room I began to demolish in May are the next target of my roller and brushes. We may actually have that room finished by the end of the month which would make me completely happy. My brain is already plotting how to neatly organize the room for the complete happiness of myself and my husband. Who doesn't feel that cleanliness adds a sense of cheer to their environment? I've said this before...

On to other topics, I watched three sessions of General Conference this weekend and the other awaits me on the DVR. Many of the talks made me feel glad that I was able to help my friend move this weekend. I still feel that I could have done more if I had been able to show up earlier, but I think the little bit of help I offered was appreciated. So make time to help friends and family in need even if you think the only reward will be a clear conscious.

Clover, Bob Prickles, and Pepper have been holding meetings on top of the headboard. I begin to wonder what they are conspiring today. I fear I make wake up some morning covered in quills, wool, and fur so thick that I can't move. What else could they be conspiring except keeping me close at hand for their entertainment?

Our contractor commented this evening that my husband must always be entertained. I don't think he knows about the conspirators, so my normal odd comments must be the culprits. Of course, this statement increased my desire to hide away on the couch. I don't want to distract other people from working on the house. I spent about two hours painting walls today, so I think other people should be allowed the same joy.

Another joy of today was purchasing items for other people. I continue to be amazed by how people expect me to magically know exactly what they need. I do pretty well with such things, or my husband just says I do so I won't throw nitrile gloves and shims.

The scariest moment of the month thus far appeared during one of my many trips to Lowe's for paint and bathroom fixtures. As I turned in the direction of towel bars and toilet paper holders, a vision assaulted my eyes which caused my head to shake sadly before I managed to process what stood before me. A few days earlier, I had barely noted a thin layer of white batting draped across some displays. This morning, pine trees had sprouted from this "snow" to cause concern about the impending holiday. Then my brain and my Haunted Hayride t-shirt reminded me that I have plenty of time to finish my Christmas shopping and creating.

The next stop on our terror tour was a supermarket that I tend not to visit. They had a good price on candy which becomes truly important around this time of year, so we ventured inside their walls. Of course, a reasonable price can not eradicate the snobbishness of my nose. Memories of another store that never earned my loyalty entered my mind as my nose was assailed by a smell that can only be described as rotting seafood. I don't foresee more visits to this location in my future despite the friendliness of the staff.

My return home found me mowing the lawn while my husband worked on cleaning old varnish off of the floors, so we can eventually refinish them. Anyone who has heard my unending refrain of "I am not available in the evening because that is the only time I have with my husband" know this caused my heart some concern. We soldiered through it, however, and invited a couple more Friendly's monsters home after eating their creamy brains. (We now have six of these which is probably an indication that I have a problem, but no one is brave enough to sponsor an intervention.)

I spent the rest of the day working on some personal projects. I managed to finish three Christmas presents, but I have an extensive list and more miles to go before Santa congratulates me on my role as a good helper hobbit. If you would like to request my services, you might want to place your order early before I am buried in piles of paper and fabric so deep that I can't find my own toes. It tends to happen to me every year despite my best efforts to stay ahead of the holiday avalanche.

The whirlwind continues. Between quilts, handmade journals, writing, and remodeling, I may have forgotten to breath for most of this week. I took a minor break this evening to attend the infamous writer's group. If we weren't infamous before, we are now. We even scared a waitress so much that her eyes doubled in size when one of the members of our party called out, "consensual cannibalism". Some things never change, right?

In life, making up the difference only works when the other person is not giving negative fifty percent. Let me help with the math -50% + x = 100%. In this equation, we clearly see that the person actually doing the work must find x to make it all even out. 150% can kill you, particularly if most people expect it from you.

I admit that my life may not sound busy to other individuals. My own lack of desire to share every second of my day may contribute to that, but for those who really care, I can share a little here. Right now my activity plate is loaded from the buffet. I heaped on huge scoops of quilt-making, journal assembling, cleaning, house remodeling, food purchasing, cooking, organizing, beginning to make Christmas decisions, resigning myself to re-purpose a costume because I won't have time to make a new one, keeping people happy, trying to keep up with book club, wishing I had time to write, and trying to be nice to a large number of people who only see me when they need help or someone to blame...

I actually tested this theory today because that is what I do. I have spent many years being inexplicably invisible, and today proved no different. I stood off to the side as other people milled around me. I can understand the fact that people may not have noticed me being unassuming as I held up a closet door. In fact, I would probably have ignored me, too. However, when I finally started moving and someone who was walking right at me didn't register my existence. She kept walking toward me as if no one was there. Her eyes didn't even flutter in acknowledgement as I stepped out of the way. Just in time for Halloween, I decide to be invisible--best costume ever.

In other news, the hubby and I, more him, will be back to work on the aforementioned renovations in the morning. I can't wait until our house is mostly newly finished hardwood floors. Wish us luck and try not to be envious since all of you would have preferred the lovely bright orange carpet that we banished from the house.

I've been spending some time alone with my personality today. This has been deemed the most dangerous passtime that a hobbit could have. When I spend too much time hiding from the world, I tend to be very harsh. For instance, I feel like I have been lazy today.

My laziness finds me caught up on quilting my current project of choice. I also managed to squeeze in some cleaning and offer a ride to a friend in need. Most people would not be disappointed by this, but I find my writings neglected and my home organization less than stellar. I blame this on my brain fixating on finishing the aforementioned quilt so I can move on to my next holiday project. We all need goals, right?

I fear my traveling feet have been propped up on the couch too long. It has been a while since my last visit to the wild and wonderful west. Have I been missed?Probably not. Stores sell cookies, you know?

The husband and I plan to make another of our whirlwind trips in the following weeks. That should cure me of the wanderlust that sinks into my veins as the air cools and the colors that surround us change.

In the meantime, I can obsess over all things delicious. My mind is already plotting the meal of November. You know the feast of which I speak. I always struggle with making enough food without going overboard when I am in charge. I usually begin cooking three days in advance, so I can lounge around smelling the deliciousness...

Of course, this serves to remind me that the recent remodel has taken my mind off of one of my more important holidays. I pulled out my costume box yesterday. I think I have an old costume that can be repurposed to wow the few people who see me all decked out. Somehow, visibility goes down when one no longer meanders three blocks from where they park their car to where they park their butt. What are you going to be for Halloween? Will it wow?

Despite trying to convince myself that I would not begin obsessing over Halloween, I spent most of the weekend working on my costume. If I avoided my stash of fabric, my mission may have succeeded. Instead, I find myself hoping I finish my project before the doorbell starts ringing. That reminds me to worry about children too stupid to walk on the sidewalk to get to the front door who then complain after they trample my flower bed and climb two feet onto the porch because we didn't put stairs there. *rolls eyes* Of course, my favorite pet peeve is the parents who ask for a candy bar for the infant (too young to be eating solid food) that they dragged out into the cold and then expect another candy bar for them. As much as I love this fantastic holiday, trick or treating is a right of children...not adults.

I also spent some time boggling this weekend about the short memories of my friends. As I have been declared "the chick in the cloak" by drunk and sober strangers, who swear they know me, for years, the assumption that my cloak is worn as part of a costume amuses me. Despite seeing me wear the cloak many times last year, they still asked this question. I struggled not to roll my eyes. I may have failed but no one seemed to notice. Hopefully, I have pictures of my real costume to post for my admiring public tonight or tomorrow. Anyway, all this talk of the holiday makes me feel I should share some of my age old wisdom on the subject:

1. A friend is one "r" away from being a fiend, so don't let your friends be pirates this year.

2. Ghouls have goals. This year that goal involves sheets, so watch out, ghosties.

3. This year's premier costume is an angry bird, so don't dress as a pig. Go as bacon and save the birds the effort.

In other news, I touched base with a family member who I haven't seen or talked to in years. She found me, actually, so that has to be a good sign. I just hope that we don't drift apart like the shy, awkward women that seem to appear when we care about people in our family. I could spend hours trying to explain that and we would all end up lost in the woods without our tails. See what I mean?

Anyway, this interaction caused me to contemplate really old stories that I could work on for my nanowrimo. This idea has caused my hands to smell rather odd. The papers that hold my notes on this venture are over fifteen years old. They have experienced cats, cigarette smoke, wood burner smoke, and other varied aromas that I barely remembered until I was fanning through the pages. My final observation on the matter is that my handwriting has improved... Hopefully, this is the year I "win" nanowrimo...

Following up? We had about thirty-seven costumed visitors. My costume looked more like I was trying to be Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds than a faerie, but I can handle that. Keep dressing up...