Craft Time: Spooky Ghost...

When I saw these cute little ghosts floating around the wonderful world of Pinterest, I knew I wanted to make one with the girls..

You will need:

Cheese cloth

black felt

2 liter bottle

Styrofoam ball

wire (optional)

liquid starch

spray bottle

hair dryer 

First make the form for your ghost by assembling your items like this..

You can get as creative as you want with poses for your ghost.  I didn't really want the ghost to have arms, but the girls did so we gave it arms;).  I forgot to buy a Styrofoam ball so we used a mini soccer ball and wrapped it in aluminum foil.  Place towels on your work surface.  The liquid starch will wash off the towels, but will be a mess to clean up from all other surfaces which is why I wrapped the ball in foil.

Once you have your ghost formed start spraying with starch.  Spray generously!

Once you are finished spraying, dry the starch with a hair dryer.  Remove the forms once it is stiff.

Craft Time: Halloween Spider Wreath...

This wreath was pretty simple to make and would be a great way to re purpose an old wreath that you have lying around.

You will need:

Twig wreath

white acrylic paint

paint brushes

spiders, birds anything you want on your spooky wreath

hot glue gun

First, paint your wreath and allow it to dry..

Once it is dry, glue on all your spooky items.  We decided to go with spiders mainly, but Mel insisted it needed a bird on it... 

A Visit To Kelsay's Farm...A Family Tradition...

For the past three years we have have visited Kelsay Farms.  The Kelsay family opened their farm to the public in 2007 so I'm not sure why we have only gone the last three years.  I didn't realize what we were missing!  We visited another pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago and while that one was also fun, I really like how Kelsay's provides the public with all the areas of fall family fun like pumpkins and a corn maze while informing the public about farming.

They have signs like this one hanging all throughout the farm.  I'm a farm girl myself, but even I didn't know some of these facts! 

They had three calves that were two weeks old.  This one was very friendly.  I think bottle calves may be in our future!  Maybe when it warms up a bit! 

All ready for the hay ride! 

All three of the girls loved the Corn Crib.  Jo thought it was almost as good as sand! 

It was a rainy and drizzly day, but Brad likes to go just as much as the girls and I do and that is the only time farmers can get away this time of year!  We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves! 

We had to go on a tour of the milking barn, of course.  Here is Amy telling us all the facts about the milking process... 

After the tour and our free chocolate milk (you get free milk after touring the milking barn.  How great is that?)  the girls wanted to try milking this cow by hand.  It's harder than it looks.  Good thing milking machines were invented in 1878! 

The Straw Bale Mountain is a favorite... 

This game is Mel's favorite... 

Jo thought she was pretty good at it... 

Face and hand painting... 

More games.. 

Next up was a reading of Rodeo Ron and His Milkshake Cows complete with our very own cowboy hats. 

After a fun day, it was time to head back to our own farm.  We can't wait to visit again next year!  

They also have a corn maze, Moo Choo Express, a kiddie play area for kids 5 and under, pumpkin bowling, and so much more!  If you are local, be sure to check out Kelsay Farm's website to see all they have to offer. They are open from 12-6 this week and Saturday from 12- 10pm and Sunday from 12-6 pm.  This is the last weekend they are open this year, so hurry!!;)

All opinions and photos are my own.  Affiliate links were used in this post. 

Halloween Craft Time: Monster Door...

I saw this idea in Family Fun magazine and thought it would be something fun and easy that the girls and I could make.  We had most of the supplies on hand except the black paper plates and the poster board.

The supplies I used were:

poster board (2 sheets)

large paper plate

small paper plate

various colors of construction paper

You can definitely get as creative as you want with this.  The girls couldn't agree on the hair color.  Mel wanted orange and B wanted blue.  So we compromised and our monster has blue and orange hair:).

B also wanted our monster to have red pupils.  She also designed the mouth herself and Mel wanted it to have red blood dripping from its mouth, that is what the red spots are on his teeth:)

I bet our door is scarier than your door! 

The girls also painted pumpkins.  This was also a cheap and easy craft for them to do. 

I think they are my favorite pumpkins on the porch.  Jo even decorated the little one.  She didn't really get the concept of a paint brush, so she just used her fingers. 

These next two photos have nothing to do with this post, but I thought some family members might enjoy seeing them.  Mel has a pretty creative imagination.  Last week she was a ninja! 

The belt from my bath robe makes a pretty good head band...or whatever those things are called that ninja's wear around their heads! 

Fine Dining in the Fields...Hungry Jack Casserole...

Harvest is well underway around here.  That means the guys don't always come home for lunch, but they still have to eat.  Sometimes they do have to settle for a good ole ham sandwich and chips.  They don't care.  Brad always says, "If it's brought to the field, I'm not going to complain."

My favorite dish to make and take to the fields is Hungry Jack Casserole.  It's easy to make, yummy, and fills up those hard working stomachs!  I also love taking casseroles to the field because they stay warm, even if the field is 25 minutes away!  The guys don't always stop to eat lunch.  Sometimes they prefer just a sandwich, but most of the time they stop because it could be the only time that Brad gets to see the girls during the day.  Sometimes they are already in bed when he gets home.

Bread, hamburger, cheese, baked beans and BBQ sauce.  What's not to love? 

Hungry Jack Casserole

2 pounds hamburger

2 tsp. salt

15 oz. can baked beans

1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce

4 Tbsp. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. minced onion

1 can refrigerated flaky biscuits

2 Cups shredded cheese

Brown hamburger;drain.  Stir in the salt, baked beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and onion.  Heat til bubbly.  Pour into a 9x13 casserole dish.

Cut biscuits into quarters and place on top of beef mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Top with shredded cheese and bake for about 5 additional minutes or until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

I am participating in Indiana's Family of Farmers Table Talk Series and received a gift in exchange for my participation.  All photos and opinions are my own.