Hard to find a darker mind than mine .... LOL! RUN to the store -- and you MUST buy better Homes & Gardens "Halloween Tricks & Treats" magazine -- now out!!! REALLY fantastic part ideas, food and names -- and LOTS of downloads for ideas. Check at BHG.com/spirits page 87!!! some of their ideas: how about a "Bleeding Brie" cut into a heart shape -- open up a "wedge" and have a little salsa or even green tomato jam pouring out ..... For yours: 1)Chunky Blood Salsa 2)Lab Leftovers .... (p.s. don't forget to buy a small cauliflower -- put it in a jar filled with water and a drop or two of green food coloring .... instant Spolied Brain) 3)Try the Bloody Brie; Chilling Cheddar 4)Gallstones -- or the Classic Nuts and Bolts. Jan at Hemlock Cottage

What was your first car? Have you taken a sight seeing trip? What is your favorite snack? If you could go to any place in the US, expenses paid, where would you choose? Do you dabble in cameras? Paint? Clothes making? Theater? Crafts? What is your favorite TV show? Which medium do you prefer for news? Radio, TV, Newspaper, Magazine Your most favorite book read in the past 2 years? Have you ever, or are you now, engaged in an unusual occupation? What is your favorite color for clothing?

Last year our theme was "The Magic of Volunteering" and the centerpieces were black top hats with white gloves and a wand. That was it. Back story on the candy buffet: I had gone to a wedding and they had the candy buffet set up. As I watched, repeatedly folks were pointing at something on the table and then engaging in conversation with someone. I thought it might be a good way to get our volunteers to interact with each other. If they elect to take some candy, fine. If not, that will be OK, as I have a place to take all the leftovers. To maintain our government funding we are required to host a recognition event, this is it. We have about 500 RSVP members and close to 200 come for the luncheon. Many don't know each other, this was my idea to get more interaction. If there are people who are diabetic and they elect to take some candy, then I don't have a concern. After working in a nursing home for several years, I am aware that some folks who are diabetic do not adhere to the proper regimen. Most diabetics won't have serious consequences if they were to consume several pieces of candy (I intend to have things like wax lips, buttons on a strip, bulls-eyes, Mallo cups, etc. all individually wrapped). The candy can or cannot tie into the 'theme' of the event. "Volunteers are sweet!" (that was my idea and the missus shot me down quickly). Some good ideas for centerpieces have been offered. The more options there are to consider the better. Thanks for the responses.

Happy Birthday, Erica! Emily, I'm amazed my cookbook reached you so quickly. Annie, you are so generous with the prizes - will be excited to get something in the mail - other than the overflow of catalogs, magazines, junk mail, etc. Annie, poor Emily will be be embarrassed to hold on the the envelope I sent my cookbook in. I only had one that was large enough and it was previously used so I put everything inside and wrapped the used envelope in paper cut from a grocery store bag. Do I get extra points for recycling? LOL Shirley, we may be close to getting some frost, but not tonight. I was upset that my pepper plants which I have tried to care for most of the summer are finally blooming and starting to grow peppers. I think they will be moved into and out of the garage for awhile. I not only want the peppers, but I want to save some pepper seeds! I haven't quite figured out the OBF football game. Some of you know I follow the Gamecocks at the University of South Carolina. They were not having a great year so far and then Coach Spurrier resigned this week and there was an interim head ball coach announced ... but the Gamecocks won their game today so maybe all of this will get straightened out. The teams we played the last two weeks have been very generous providing supplies for the flood victims, bottled water, and other assistance. My husband found a weather web site with a huge number of pictures of the flood. We were not here for most of those days - it looked so horrible. Of course, we worried a lot while we were away, but seeing it may have been worse. We still have water streaming through our horse pasture and it has been warm and sunny all week. We are ready for things to dry out. Well, time for bed here. Enjoy your day tomorrow! Jeanne