My cousin Jill, the one I made the one-and-only wedding quilt for, has a gingerbread house party every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Some years, I get to attend. Other years, I miss it because I'm not in town. But she loves having this party, and it's a great arrangement, actually. A company called BBC Hollydays, based in the Chicagoland area, comes to the house, brings everything--the walls and roof, the bag of frosting, the base and box to take it home on, and a WHOLE BUNCH of candy and stuff to use to decorate. The whole package costs $30, but having made gingerbread houses from scratch and buying all the bags of stuff to decorate with, I know it's a bargain.

The son of the owners was our demonstrator and this guy works magic with a knife, gum drops, and Tootsie Rolls! My cousin's sons wanted to put dogs in the backyard of their house, and he made them three dogs, spots and all, out of two colors of Tootsie Rolls. Seriously, talk about talent! In fact, he made the tree in the backyard of my house out of jelly mint leaves.

(To view the image closer up, just click it and then click it again and it will enlarge in the new window.) To give you a tour, as you can see, flattened caramels were used for the windows, though I think I'm going to bring some of those gridded pretzels next year so I don't have to break pretzels to do panes. My reward for remembering to bring my box and base back from previous parties was the wreath on the door. I added pretzels as timbers for my Tyrolian-look house, though next time maybe I'll bring bigger pretzel logs.

Mints were used for the sidewalk and roof, with M&Ms filling in the gaps on the sidewalk. Since the gingerbread is dehydrated, you shouldn't really cover the whole surface with icing or it will rehydrate and get soggy and crumble, so there's gingerbread showing through on the roof, but that's okay.

And finally, I had to share my snowman. I thought I'd done pretty well with him, but my friend, coworker, and fellow Chicagoland native Cathy mentioned that he looked a bit like "Son of Svengoolie" circa 1980s 1990s from Chicago TV (and Milwaukee and South Bend, IN, according to wikipedia). And she's right. He does. It's the top hat and the quarter-M&M eyes. Next year, I'll remember the marshmallows.

I had the house at the office for a few days. The main prankster involved with last year's Santa Spud foolishness was eyeing it, so I got a little nervous and brought it home. As I took these pictures, he actually commented that he'd been brainstorming such a prank, so I think I rescued it just in time.

So there it is, a few hours spent being creative Thanksgiving weekend. My cousin and her friends are a lot of fun, so it's a good time even if your house collapses (which seldom happens, from what I hear). And I have the first of my Christmas decorations on display!

So this is the final installment of the Mr. Potato Head saga. I came into the office Monday to find him in this condition... his body, beard, and hat tossed aside, and a French fry container as a torso. And today, a confession. The coworker I originally suspected, Aaron, confessed to most of the mayhem. I say most, because even he was surprised the day the potato chip bag arrived. Turns out that someone else joined in the fun.

Another friend at work, Judi, told the story to her grandchildren. And her eldest granddaughter Kacha asked for the potato chip bag they'd just emptied at lunch and added her artwork to it. Like the fabulous grandmother that she is, Judi pledged assistance and planted the bag on the file cabinet for Kacha. So I especially want to thank them both for playing along and for joining in the fun. Even Aaron appreciated her involvement.

I couldn't bear to bring him home quite yet, so he's still at the office. But his story has certainly been entertaining to a lot of people, so thanks, Aaron!

It's a snow day here--my snowman ornament (right) looks pretty happy about it too! I couldn't be happier (since I don't have to go anywhere), because I have so much to do here. Presents to wrap, soup to make, scarves to sew, cards to stamp, boxes to ship, laundry to do.... I know everyone's lives get pretty crazy this time of year, and I'm no exception. But I always try to remember why it is I'm doing what I'm doing.

Dinner out with friends isn't just another holiday obligation--it's the chance to catch up and spend time in each other's company, hopefully alleviating some of the stress that we're all experiencing this time of year.

Spending time with family is the same--not an obligation but a wonderful opportunity to reminisce, build new memories, and reconnect with your roots.

Making things ties into that as well. I know that most of the people I make gifts for really appreciate them. And for those who don't, they make a good show of it. And some of the things I make get donated to those in need. In fact, the aforementioned "scarves to sew" will all go to a shelter. When I ran across fleece remnants at Joann's the other day, I couldn't pass up the colors or the price (hurray for remnant pricing!). So for a very small investment in fabric and time, I'll be able to whip up a bunch of scarves for the hat, scarf, and mitten tree at work. They were supposed to be due today and delivered today, but since we're closed due to snow, I have to believe that I can show up with them on Monday and I won't be too late. If I am, I'll just take them over to the shelter myself.

So much to do, so I'd better get at it. And oh, by the way, Mr. Potato Head spent Thursday safe and sound in the office.

He's back! The story that arrived with Mr. Potato Head Santa Spud was long and involved, but let me summarize. After losing his ear the first day, Mr. P took off, getting another potato head stand in for him (and meet with an untimely end). He went on an adventure and ended up getting mugged, drunk, and drugged (with catnip, though according to the article, that was not what he thought he was getting) which led to him getting assaulted by a gang of felines. About that time, he figured it was safer to hang out on my file cabinet, even if it was a bit monotonous, so he returned home.

I'm glad to have him back, and I might try to take him a few places for some adventures, chaperoned of course. Thanks to everyone for their concerns and warm wishes for his safe return.

First thing this morning when I came in, there was a letter on my keyboard that read "Where is Mr. Potatohead? Tell him to show his ugly mug or his tots are fried." His ear was enclosed as well.

Then later in the day, a "newspaper article" of sorts arrived (shown right). The picture's caption reads "After reading recent accounts of the mysterious disappearance, a local resident snapped this picture of Potatohead flagging down motorists." The headline reads "Fugitive Spud Spotted" with the underline "Witnesses report missing Potatohead seen in Brookfield."

As for the rest:

By Julienne French
Special to the Obfuscated Prose

Police now believe the peeled spud found Friday morning is not Mr. Potatohead.

New information comes after a photo was circulated to The Obfuscated Prose showing the legume on the lam, apparently hitchhiking in the direction of Milwaukee.

Authorities refuse to speculate on the whereabout of Mr. Potatohead, but this writer's investigation indicates the russet was heading for Gen. Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee.

Dr. Emil Prudhomme, the county medical examiner who investigated the body, said what was believed to be the remains of the mising vegetable was actually remnants of commercially produced chips with no common DNA, and that the ruse was intended to throw authorities off the track and buy time for an escape. "Seems like he taken his twice-shoot shotgun and headed for them hills or into the bayou, gar-on-tee!" said Prudhomme.

First, the update on Mr. Potato Head. As you can see, the pranksters have been back. The news report on the cabinet reads:

Mr. Potatohead found dead; foul play suspected
by Julienne French
Animated Priss writer

The body of famed vegetable Mr. Potatohead was discovered at his post early Friday. Police released few details except to say the circumstances are suspicious and they are investigating the death as a homocide.

A cleaner alerted authorities after she found the corpse on a file cabinet on the second floor. Mary Au Gratin, who has worked for Cheesy Cleaners for more than six months, told the Animated Priss Mr. Potatohead appeared to have been mutilated. "It looked like he'd been ... peeled," Au Gratin said, choking back tears. "Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the pale white flesh. It was awful."

Police refused to confirm that Mr. Potatohead was the latest victim of the serial killer known as the Milwaukee Mashers. "That kind of idle speculation leads to public panic," a spokesman said.

As you can see from the picture, this chip bag arrived today. Note the additional details added in the potatoes on the back of the bag--faces and Santa hats! I'm hoping this is the end of the saga, as I'd like to put the whole Mr. Potato Head saga (and Mr. Potato Head himself) to rest.

So I'm off work today and a coworker offered to send me a picture of whatever happened to Mr. Potato Head Santa Spud. But I was in no way prepared for the drama that unfolded overnight. As you can see, something bad happened. (My first clue was the tape outline, but the crime scene tape is pretty clear too.) I don't know if there's a ransom note, as I'm not there, but the potato peeler makes me think that it's bad, very bad.

Yes, it's day three and perpetrators have assaulted our hero once more. (For more of the story, read about the van Gogh vandalism and the nosy neighbor nightmare.)

Oh the horror! I came to work today to discover that my Van Gogh-ed Potato Head was not only missing his ear, but was now without his sniffer! At this rate, he'll be a naked potato by December 18! There is now great concern and distress among my coworkers (in a purely humorous way). We have now added a note written from said Head. The phonetics of it are the sounds of a noseless Potato issuing a plea:

Bleas redurn by dose. Danks. I woulddub devended byself bud I didund hear u cubbing.
Mr. P. Head

The mystery continues.

On a more creative front, I should be posting some completed projects tomorrow or the next day!

When I decorated my house the other night, I found that there were a few holiday decorations I didn't have space for, so I brought them into the office. Among them was Mr. Potato Head as Santa spud. Little did I know the tragedy that would befall us. Here you see the result of office hi-jinks—someone "van Gogh"-ed my Mr. Potato Head. I imagine that sooner or later I'll be presented with a ransom note, but until then, think fondly of my one-earred spud.

And for those who wondered, I did check his drop seat, the recommended storage area for his extra parts, and the thief did not hide his ear there.