Here comes Halloween again, and this is the closest picture I had that somewhat resembled a pumpkin....As a kid, this was one of my favorite holiday, just behind Christmas, I think. I think what made it so special was: taking on a different persona, getting to stay out after dark (often on a school night), and getting ALL that candy. What could be better? And as I said in a previous BLOG, I was attired in a home-made costume created by my artistic mother who could also sew, certainly a lost art today! What is staggering for me to find out is that Halloween is the second biggest spending event in this country (Christmas is the biggest) and Americans spend over six billion dollars on events, costumes and candy! Eek! To think it started way back  when a Celtic festival was enacted to feed and ward off the dead who, they believed, came back this one night as ghosts. They dressed in disguise (costumes) to hide from these ghosts, and provided them with treats. This holiday also became, in the Catholic Church, All Hallow's Eve, and the next day is recognized as All Saints Day. The Jack-o-lantern also has its history steeped in Irish tradition where the peop[e first carved large turnips and potatoes to signify the end of harvest. Most important today, pumpkins are used and can also be eaten (pumpkin seeds are delicious roasted in the oven) providing a good source of Vitamin A and D. So, enjoy the day and evening and don't let anything scare you; life is scary enough!

Grandchild Ninja Ben

 

Grandchild "Cheerless Leader" Sara

 

Autuum, 2012

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted something on my BLOG! My computer gave out sometime in early September, and after spending 2 hours on the phone with our Provider with no results, I gave up. It sat dormant for quite awhile with me trying to see if it worked now and then, and thru some miracle, it just started working again! I don't hesitate, once again ,to say what a mystery computer are to me! It is all magic as far as I know!  And speaking of "magic," today I drove out into the country to enjoy the Fall foliage, and what a show! Fall is such a magnificent time of the year with all the amazing colors.....one of the earth's greatest gifts, I think. Fall is also the time of year when I get a little nostalgic about all the things I love about this time of year. And here are some of my favorites. What are yours?

I love to watch the Canadian geese in their V formations, honking across the sky..heading south, I suppose. I love the earth tones of Fall; the snap of Fall in the air and the crunch and wrestle of the leaves as you go walking through the woods. Home-made soups, apple pies and hot cider are favorites! I love to see the crops of corn and soybeans out here in the country turn their different colors until it is finally time to harvest. I love finding bird nests in the trees after all the leaves have fallen. I love apple orchards, home-coming parades (we live in a town with two major universities) and football games.

"Sleeping in" on a cool crisp morning with a window open, and seeing a big round harvest moon almost takes my breath away. Awesome sunsets over the empty cornfields are not bad either! Seeing deer in the woods and listening to the leaves fall from the trees is a delight along with a trip down a winding road to buy fresh maple syrup, special tea for the winter, pumpkins and apples at the country stores .I never want this season to end when I finally relent and bring out the hats, gloves and scarves for winter. Bah humbug! And this year, I am disappointed that The Cincinnati Reds will not be playing in the World Series. I was so sure they would. Oh well, maybe next year.  I am sure that we all have special Fall moments that fill up our senses and speak to our souls; what are yours?