Attention! Big Reaper of 2020 sign up and discussion thread!

I can't sign up, right now...probably not at all...due to us both being laid off due to Covid...me permanently and my husband temporarily, as we know, atm. (He was laid off until Sept., originally, but then found out they decided to close our local location and, if he stays with the company, he will have to commute to the main location. If he stays there, he doesn't even know if he will be able to keep his position/salary that he worked so hard to get to with 18 years with the company, or if he will have to take whatever position/pay they can squeeze him in at in the main location...which could be a major pay cut. He may even have to find a new job, which means losing 18 years of seniority and benefits, plus all his hard work to get where he is. It's all around bad.)
He was approved for unemployment, but hasn't been able to actually get anything from it, yet...even though he was supposed to, already. He can't get in contact with them, either...was put on a callback list. So, we have been without income, besides me selling the occasional small craft and my husband doing odd jobs for our neighbor and his parents. Since we won't hear from his job until, maybe August and he won't have a chance to be back to work there in any way until at least September...then I can't think it possible for me to be able to sign up by end of sign ups.
Long sob story over... regardless, I will still hang out in bethene's bushes with y'all and then watch to see what you all get. Happy Reaper Season!!

bethene, thank you for the hugs. {{hugs}} back!

Witchful Thinking, sadly, I don't have any kind of online shop. I usually just randomly make stuff when I'm feeling up to it and post it up on my FB page for friends and family to see if they want anything. (Right now, I have been sewing little stuffed fabric pumpkins. We bought a sewing machine and Cricut, this year...before the poop hit the fan, that is...and I have been learning to make fun items with those, as of late, but also make lots of other random crafts such as all the types of things y'all have seen me make for Victims over the years. We make larger things, too, but a bit too large or pricey for a SR, lol. Someday, it would be nice to have a shop. Right now, with so many people home and out of work, the crafting market is a bit too saturated to really make it worthwhile to open an online shop.) Thank you for the good thoughts!

Lol, if I had a Victim that lived, like, a few blocks away who liked the sewing machine and Cricut items that I have been playing around with and currently have the supplies for, like stuffed pumpkins, pot holders, fabric coasters, fabric bookmarks, vinyl personalized glassware, vinyl decals, paper crafts, face masks...LOL! That would be about the only way I could join, right now.

Stinkerbell n Frog, the "like" is for your mentioning you were sorry for my situation, sending good thoughts and glad I had a place like this to vent to (I am glad, too)...I "dislike" that your husband and Frog are having job issues, too, and about all the closings.

Who knows? Maybe some amazing, better paying, local job will suddenly pop up for my husband before the end of signups? Miracles happen...

So, since it's the last decent day of our short lived non-desert temp stretch (I don't live too far from our dear bethene, so I'm sure she probably has similar weather, if not a half day/day's difference), I shall stay up a bit later to get the Halloween string lights hung in bethene's bushes and around the bar...once the bar is set up. As stated, before, I can't supply the pillows and blankets like usual as, due to the dang virus, everyone should bring their own. I suggest the more colorful and festive, the better, to make it more fun in the bushes!!
Has anyone been working on getting the bar area set up? Ohhhh Aaaauditorrrrrr!!! Where are youuuuuuu????

Also...before "Certain Reapers" show up...you know who you are...might I suggest maybe EMPTYING the POOL and shutting off all connections to hoses/water lines near the gathering areas/bushes??? {{WitchyKitty gets her raincoat, umbrella and backup SuperSoaker ready, just in case...}}

Oh, and I mentioned in the previous thread that I'd post this, again, here...started making gerbil masks in case they want them. We don't think gerbils need them, but they are here in case they feel they do, or, like was said, they want to wear them in solidarity with any others wearing them.

Okay, for any who wanted it, here is our recipe for Apple Pie Shots:

~2 Gallons real Apple Cider (If you can get it straight from a farm/orchard, that's the best.) (Unsweetened, of course...not Apple Juice or such.)
~3 1/2 C Sugar
~5-6 Cinnamon Sticks, depending on size of sticks.
~750ml Bottle of Everclear (Name brand, don't get off brand! Trust me...yuck!)

*Mix Cider, Sugar and Cinnamon Sticks in a very large pot (You don't want a boil over, which can happen quickly if you aren't watching...it's a sticky disastrous mess! Make sure that pot is deep! Or, split the recipe and do two large pots if you don't have a huge pot.)
*Bring just to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour. (Your house will smell like Fall heaven!)
*Let cool to room temp, remove Cinnamon Sticks, then mix in the Everclear. (Adding the alcohol while the spiced cider is still hot can burn off some of the actual alcohol.)
*Bottle and refrigerate. (I usually just pour it right back into the cider jugs that I rinsed out, first. Some of the Cider evaporates during the boil/simmer process, so it still fits back in the jugs once you add the alcohol...if it doesn't fit, bottle in whatever you'd like. Some use mason jars, ect.) If you aren't using it for a party and using it all up at once, the alcohol content will keep your bottled Apple Pie Shots good in the fridge for many months to come...Just shake it once in awhile so stuff doesn't settle.

TIPS:
Some people like to leave the cinnamon sticks in the bottles/jugs...it gives it a little extra cinnamon flavor for when ready to serve. I wouldn't suggest leaving them in there if keeping for months, though.
If the cider you buy isn't fresh from the orchard or doesn't have a really good, strong apple flavor, you can drop several peeled apple slices into the pot while simmering. This will amp up the apple flavor. Just strain the Cider when bottling to get out the apple pieces and bits.
If you don't or can't drink alcohol, like me, you can just leave out the Everclear and have a beautiful tasting Sweet Cinnamon Spiced Cider, nice and hot! If you want both, do like I said earlier and just leave out a little Sweet Spiced Cider for yourself and others who don't drink before adding the alcohol. Adjust the alcohol you add, accordingly, for whatever is leftover.
You can add 1/2 or 2/3rds the bottle of Everclear to make it a little less potent, if you'd like.
The amount of sugar may seem like a lot...but that's what makes it taste more like a sweet apple pie than just regular cinnamon apple cider...hence the name.

Enjoy!

BR1MSTON3 said:

OMG there is an off brand of that stuff?!

And that would knock it down to say.... 188 proof? 😄

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Lol!!
It was just some other brand of grain alcohol like Everclear. I went to Hyvee liquor dept. and couldn't find the Everclear, so, when I asked the guy working there and told him what I was making, he insisted I try this "other" brand that cost a little less...as Everclear is kind of expensive...and that it tasted just as good, if not better. When I opened the bottle, at home, the smell almost knocked me out. I thought maybe it was just stronger or something. I had already made the cider and was ready to bottle, and didn't have time or money to go get actual Everclear, so I used it...but only half the bottle. It still made my expensive freakin' Apple Pie Shots taste like I poured straight Rubbing Alcohol in it! I couldn't even stand the smell of it, let along drink it, even with all the strong cider, sugar and cinnamon. Never again will I use anything but actual Everclear...just spend the extra few bucks! I don't know what that guy at the store was thinking...The rest of the bottle sat untouched in the cabinet for years until I finally just dumped it...

nicolita3 said:

When do we usually get our victim? Is it right after the sign up is closed? I'm just curious and getting a little excited.

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Yes, once sign ups are over, bethene matches everyone up and PMs you your victim, their info and their list. Then, you have until the shipping deadline to buy, make, thrift, ect. gifts that match your victim's likes and needs at a value of at least $20. (If you are good at bargain shopping or making stuff, you can fill up a box that looks like you spent way more than 20ish, lol.) Your victim should have their list posted over on the Likes and Dislikes Thread, too, in which they may have changed or added things, so be sure to check for that list, too! Remember, shipping cost is not included in your $20 minimum, so be sure to account for your shipping costs. Box size and weight, plus distance will make your cost go up. Once you ship, let bethene know and PM her the tracking info. Then, you just sit back and wait for your victim to post the goodies you sent them, and wait for your own box of goodies to arrive and for you to post, too! (There will be another thread for posting pics!)

Any other questions, feel free to ask!