Happy November!!!

WELL! After feeling like I was just totally uninspired about what I would use for my new Facebook cover image and desktop background for this month, and after some searching that didn’t initially net anything I wanted, I had a Eureka moment!

I searched “cozy” on Pexels and found SO MANY gorgeous things that I didn’t have room for the last 60+. And I use Picasa 3, which piles all the images into the collage space at random. Then you have to move them around one by one. It was really hard to see what all I was working with! But eventually, I whittled down what all I would be using.

Maybe some will argue that building collages with found images isn’t an art form, but it feels creative to me. I try to include a selfie or two, or a pic or pics I took almost as a signature, though I didn’t this time around.

Nonetheless, since ALL of the images came from Pexels, I can share the end result here!

SO! Halloween was pretty fun. Cold, but fun. I helped pass out candy off and on. My dad had to take a business phone call partway through, and then, I was on candy duty alone. I booted up a kid-friendly Halloween playlist on my phone to keep me company until he was done.

I’ll admit I ducked inside a few times to warm up. Had some ill-advised coffee. But I tried to contribute. There was a great moment where a little girl in costume looked at the bird on my shoulder and said, “Bye, Crow.”

When they’d run out of candy, my mom and I went out to dinner. The server loved my costume, even if she may not have known what I was. She said she almost thought the bird was real.

A friend and former coworker from a VERY long time ago said she would have recognized the costume even without explanation, which was VERY satisfying. And a long-distance friend I met online through my Arizona bestie called my costume idea brilliant.

I still have the manicure on from that night. I suppose I could share some day-of pictures? The nails glow in the dark. I had a great time listening to the new album from The Cure by the light of my fingernails, last night.

Crow Barbie on duty while there was still light in the sky (maybe not very Eric Draven-like of me, but hey…)

The press-ons I saved for Halloween proper and didn’t use the night of the October gallery show.

At the restaurant, because even Crow Barbie needs to eat LOL.

Today, I had off, which was a marvelous treat. I dropped off the library book I nearly misplaced, and picked up the one I had on hold. No late fees yet, knock on wood!!!

Then, I drove downtown, and tooled around the shops a little. I nearly went in for a coffee at a cafe I have frequented in the past. But by that point, I wanted to keep moving and kind of felt groceries were more economical. I did stop in at a local apothecary, for a couple things I needed.

And I walked past a cat shelter where the kitties can look out the big front window. A passerby said something about how there are a lot of cats in there that need to be adopted, but they already have some. “We do, too,” I answered, realizing after the fact that I am more of an “I” and less of a “we,” unless you count my parents, even if we don’t live together.

Headed to the grocery store from there. I picked up a Cobb salad, some ranch dressing, a tray of tropical fruit, breakfast burritos I can toss in the microwave, and some things from the deli for a couple easy meals: Chicken Piccata and Mac n Cheese. The chicken was marked down, too.

From there, I headed home and pondered my Tarot deck, with a little getting to know you type activity suggested by the Amanda Lovelace book I’m reading. I believe it’s Make Your Own Magic. But there’s no capitalization, on the cover or inside. Took some getting used to.

Journaled, ate, hung out with the cat, hauled out a little garbage, chatted online, perused the internet.

Eventually, the “cozy” image search occurred to me. And here we are!

While I was downtown, I took a couple selfies with some remaining fall decor I saw in like a little town square area.

It was a no-fuss, pull my hair up and forget it, and slip into a warm hoodie kind of day.

But the cashier at the apothecary complimented my fingernails, which was fun. I spent a lot of time alone today, so even that bit of conversation was most appreciated. Feels good to be out and about.

I suppose I could’ve asked an actual human librarian to check out my book, too, but the self-checkout always seems less confrontational.

I gotta get some sleep so I’m ready to rock tomorrow. But I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. Remember, you can keep it as spooky as you like, for as long as you like, even after October ends. Or not. Up to you. I’m leaning into cozy and witchy.

G’nite all! Enjoy the extra hour of sleep, if you live somewhere with Daylight Savings.