Happy Friday, Bookworms!
A few weeks back, Joules at Pocketful of Joules had a most delightful idea. She thought, “Christmas is ever so far away, let us bloggers give each other gifts because it is fun!” And thus, the Fall Fun Swap was born. (Joules is secretly the Queen. Shhh, don’t tell.)
Her Majesty Joules arranged for a group of bloggers to swap gifts, Secret Santa style. Since it’s a fall theme, we’ll call it Secret Scarecrow style. On Wednesday, I came home to this:
It’s a box of MYSTERY!
I contemplated naming the box and making it my new pet, but Jim decided that he had a sharp key that could handle the packing tape… Inside we found… MAGIC!
Oh, you wanted close ups?
First, let’s talk about the NUTCRACKER that’s a SCARECROW! So THIS is what nutcrackers do in the off season! I worried that they suffered a high unemployment rates, but it seems they’ve got it all figured out. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were lifeguards in the summer. We’ve named him Reginald vel Johnson. Jim’s a big Family Matters fan.
Oh the pumpkin? Yes he’s delightful too, isn’t he? His hat is downright Suessian- whimsy goes with everything, I tell you. And the candle? The delicious Yankee candle? It smells like heaven a spice cupboard. Seriously, we burn through so many fall scented candles… Pumpkin spice, apple cider, autumn wreath… It’s like my Secret Scarecrow KNOWS me.
I’m sorry, did my gushing not sound sincere enough? Because I don’t know if you really understand how freaking much we love Halloween here at the Gingerbread House.
Yes. We are THOSE people.
If by “gaudy” you mean “tasteful and fun,” you’d be absolutely correct.
Reginald vel Johnson looks quite happy in his new home with the Disney Haunted Mansion memorabilia.
The Dr. Suess pumpkin seems pleased to be with his kinfolk and the Halloween Tree.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my Secret Scarecrow! A secondary part of the Fall Fun Swap was to try and guess which blogger sent our gift. Utilizing exhaustive internet stalking techniques, I have come to the conclusion that my gift is from the lovely authoress from Life’s Too Short to Play Possum. (If I’m wrong, thank you Secret Scarecrow who is NOT the lovely authoress from Life’s Too Short To Play Possum!)
Unofficial poll for the bookworms- is anybody else out there THIS into Halloween?! We get between 250-300 trick-or-treaters every year… It’s pretty much the greatest thing ever.
JoulesDellinger
Okay, you had me at “queen”… Your house is AMAZING! It is so incredibly adorable that I want to come over and curl up in front of your TV with a big mug of hot chocolate. Actually, I want to do that anyways, but your house is super cute. So glad you liked your fall swap gift!
Words for Worms
Joules, there will always be a place for you in front of my fireplace!
Rachel H
OMG, I want to start blogging again just to be a part of that! 🙂 Yay surprise gifts! BTW, your house looks adorable!
Words for Worms
Rachel, COME to the blogosphere. We looooove you. Join us. (Do I sound ghosty enough?)
didibooksenglish
Love the nutcracker!!! I always wanted to collect them when I was litte. I was in the Nutcracker Ballet for 5 years in a row and loved it. They are always my favorite.
Words for Worms
I danced all the way through high school, but never did a production of the Nutcracker. Sad. Isn’t he the coolest though? I have a penguin nutcracker. Penguin Nutcracker and Reginald vel Johnson are going to have to battle for nutcracker supremacy…
didibooksenglish
Reginald all the way!
Ann
Ok..seriously jealous of your Halloween tree! I love the house decorations! We are all about it here too..and by all about I mean planning on hand picking through he kids candy to get the best stuff after hours of trick or treating. We get like four trick or theaters every year cause people arena fun in or neighborhood 🙁
Ann
Should say are not fun in our neighborhood.
Words for Worms
Our trick or treaters come by the van load from the unsafe neighborhoods in town. I think it’s great that we’re considered the good place to trick or treat. I don’t even mind shelling out the money to make little treat bags!
Heather Christena Schmidt
Off topic, your Halloween tree is fucking rad. Nice Scarecrow!! 🙂
Words for Worms
Thank you! I don’t know how well you can see it, but the lights are little ghosts and there’s a bunch of Charlie Brown ornaments on there. Lucy as the Bride of Frankenstein is my personal favorite. 🙂
Ashley@SorryKidYourMomDoesntPlayWellWOthers
Hilarious! Your house is so cute… Obviously I’m a failure I thee a few pumpkins on the porch and called it a day. But you are my holiday decorating goddess, you have the outside and inside decorated… The nutcracker is so cute and that was a perfect fall swap gift!
Words for Worms
Yeah, it helps that we don’t have kids yet. But actually, Hubs did most of the decorating work. He’s a Halloween Ninja.
lifestooshorttoplaypossum
I am loving this. I gave the MOST clues of everyone…so everyone seems to think I was their swap partner. LOL. It wasn’t me. But those are some fabulous swap presents! Keep guessing my friend!
Words for Worms
It wasn’t you?! Oh man. Now I must guess again. I was basing my guess on the fact that the packing info came out of Texas… Sugar beets! Perhaps it was the Bitch. She’s sneaky like that… Oh man. I’m just going to have to wait for Joules’ big reveal now!
Quirky Chrissy
Love it. I also love the Secret Scarecrow name. Did you come up with that? Because it’s AWESOME.
Words for Worms
Of course I came up with it. You know my only talent is naming things…
Quirky Chrissy
Unless they are cars. And then you suck at life. Jerk. Oh, that sounded mean. World: She named my car Melba Toast. and it stuck. 🙁
Words for Worms
Yeah? Well Melba Toast kind of sucked at life too. Or. Well. It wasn’t her fault you are such a bad driver!
lifestooshorttoplaypossum
Melba toast? seriously?
I guess mine being called “grapefruite” because it was a PEACH colored…PINTO…well that explains it all.
Lyssapants
I am THAT MUCH into Halloween, plus a bag of chips. Or in this case, a bag of candy corn. Go see my last two posts. Go now! Why haven’t you gone yet?
Words for Worms
I don’t know what’s wrong with my reader! HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THOSE?! They are all SO awesome! Mary Poppins?! Daria?! Juno?! I can hardly handle it. I dub thee: Queen of Halloween!
Lyssapants
I am honored. You may have a fun-sized candy bar for your trouble.
Liesel Hill
Way cute idea! 😀
Words for Worms
I wish I could take the credit, but it was all Joules. She’s awesome.
Lyssapants
Dude I’ve gotten 6 referrals from Twitter today (my first ever from Twitter).
You’re kindof awesome, THANKS!
Leah
This sounds like so much fun! And I love your Halloween decorations; your house is so cute!
Words for Worms
Thanks! 🙂 Sometimes I look at my house and I can’t believe I live in something so cute. Then it does something naughty like need expensive repairs and I’m like, “oh yeah. I own you. You’re lucky you’re cute.”