spooks, storms, and spiders

Pumpkin carving with our missionaries.

                                Sister Torres, Elder Jones, Elder Ellis, Elder Perkins

Sister Wall, who was feeling under the weather, cuddled up in her blanket while  we were carving our pumpkins.

Shortly after setting our pumpkins out on the front porch, we hunkered down and waited for  hurricane Sandy to head our way.  Schools were closed and the missionaries were told to stay in. That night, the winds were howling, but we never did lose electricity, and we were spared the devastation that hit New York City and other coastal areas. 

On Halloween, our district meeting was held in the morning at our apartment. The Elders were very sneaky and played a Halloween prank on us after we left to run a mission errand. When we got home, both Carl and I were in our laundry room putting  some clothes in the washing machine. As soon as we lifted up the lid, we let out blood curdling screams, and jumped a mile. I thought a monster spider was living in our washing machine.

Now we've got to think of a way to get even with Elder Ivie and Worsham.  They are the rascals who trick us with their fake chipmunk whenever we do their apartment check. First, it was on the window sill, along with some real chipmunk poop (a little critter had snuck in through a crack). Next month, it was hiding in the vacuum cleaner, in the part Carl opens to change the bag. Last month, the chipmunk flew out of the microwave when we checked it, totally shocking us and  causing quite a funny reaction. They had fastened the chipmunk by a string to the inside of the microwave door. To get even, I left a fake mouse in their bathtub, along with some potatoes chips. They reluctantly admitted that it startled one of them,, who had taken off his glasses to take a shower.  So, as you can see, it is an ongoing battle. ( Never a dull moment in our mission assignment.)

On Halloween night, the missionaries were told to stay indoors, so we had our two sets of missionaries over for a little Halloween supper -- hot dogs,baked beans, carrot salad, yummy New York apple cider and Tim Horton's donuts.  A few cute little trick or treaters came by, and reminded us of our cute little grandkids who were doing the same back home in Texas and in Minnesota.