Halloween aka All Hallows Eve

Halloween got started with a big laugh with the arrival of this card from my daughter, Kari:

Inside, she wrote:

Halloween was always a time of big celebration for us, from trick or treating when my children were young to decorating our barn for a party of junior high friends, to a scary ghost story complete with a deranged ax-wielding monster.

My kids are grown now, but I still enjoy seeing photos of them costumed for Halloween parties:

And the last time I dressed up for Halloween, about twenty-five years ago - dressed as an old crone and now I 'are' one.

The Veil Is Getting Thinner
    (Author Unknown)

"As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a whisper whispering.
I heard a whisper whispering,
Upon this fine fall day....

As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a laugh a' laughing.
I heard a laugh a' laughing,
Upon this fine fall day....

I heard this whisper and I wondered,
I heard this laugh and then I knew.
The time is getting near my friends,
The time that I hold dear my friends,
The veil is getting thin my friends,
And strange things will pass through."

Happy Halloween!

October Book Report

Eleven books to report upon for the month of October:

An Echo Of Murder is Anne Perry's 23rd William Monk mystery. I still enjoy the series but I'm beginning to see how formulaic they are.

The Way Of All Fish is the second in Martha Grimes publishing world crime spoofs. I love her 'conscientious hit men'.

Revolution is another YA book by Jennifer Donnelly, and was one of my favorite reads this month. This book may be aimed at a younger audience, but it is smart and interesting enough for older readers. A very good novel about love, loss and the power of music.

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio is about flower thieves trying to obtain the last surviving specimen of a certain camellia. It is told over time from WWII to 2000 using alternate story lines. This is a first time read for me by this author.

Walking In Circles Before Lying Down by Merrill Markoe is a cute little story about a woman who talks to her dog and can hear dogs talk back and the advice she gets from them. Some good advice cached in humor and a love for dogs. (Passed on to my son Doug .... because.)

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson is another of my favorite reads this month. Set in far North Ontario where heartbreak and hardships mirror the landscape. The tale of four siblings who try to stay together after their parents die in an auto accident. This is a slow, gorgeous story that unfolds over a period of twenty years.

The Little French Bistro by Nina George. If you remember how much I loved her first book, The Little Paris Bookshop, you won't be surprised that this was my very favorite read this month. I absolutely adore the way this author can write about love and personal fulfillment. I just hope she keeps writing these Little French books.

Murder In The Bowery is the 20th Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson. Frank, Sarah, Gino and Maeve again work together to solve the murders of a young socialite and a newsboy both found strangled in the Bowery area of New York City. I like these mysteries set in the 1890's.

Rise and Shine Benedict Stone is Phaedra Patrick's second book and another of my favorite reads this month. Similar in feel to her first book, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, but I liked this one slightly better - perhaps because of the setting, Yorkshire Moors, and Benedict's occupation, jewelry maker. I liked that the chapter headings described gemstones and their properties. For instance Moonstone: Release, Empathy, Intuition. Emerald: Equilibrium, Patience, Honesty. Or, my birthstone, Citrine: Warming, Generosity, Uplifting. 

Z by Therese Anne Fowler is a novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I started by being a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels and then became interested in his wife, Zelda Sayre after reading Zelda: A Biography by Nancy Milford back in the 80's. Zelda was a writer and artist in her own right, but was always overshadowed by her husband.

The thin little book at the bottom is One Small Photo by Becky Faber. It is a collection of poems and one short story that relate to military service, war, and the after effects of service. Bud and Becky have known each other ever since she married his best friend many years ago. The book includes Bud in her Thanks and Acknowledgements and was given to us by the author.

A Plethora of Great-Grands

There were pictures I didn't think to have taken yesterday - like some four generations ones. Darn.

The occasion was a baby shower for granddaughter Alyssa and the baby boy she is expecting in January. Her daughter, my great-granddaughter, Lily, is on the left.

The luncheon/shower was at Katrina's, so, of course, my only other great-granddaughter, Brynley (aka 'Grandma's Sweetie), was also there.

As were four of my great-grandsons. I can't remember the last time all four of them were together. On the left, Brock's three boys, Jack, Ridge and Sawyer. Katrina's son, Rodney, right, didn't want his picture taken.

Great-grandpa Bud had never been to a shower before. When asked what he thought of his first baby shower, he replied, "First, and maybe last." Ha. Ha.

It was a fun day with family. (L to R, Jen, Sawyer, Ridge and Shelly.)

Love this picture of my son, looking so good and healthy two years post cancer treatments, and the adoring look from his granddaughter, Brynley. (Unfortunately I snapped it when Katrina's eyes were closed.)

Expected Baby Boy didn't get all the gifts. Grandma Shelly said she could not pass up this cute furry vest for Lily.

Even though another great-grandson is going to make the ratio of boys to girls even more lop-sided, I'm glad Alyssa will have one of each. I am looking forward to seeing the new little one. And if Alyssa's promotion comes through, it will be even easier to see him/them when they transfer from far Northern Iowa to closer Northern Missouri. Fingers crossed.

The Treasurer of the Year

"October is the treasurer of the year,
And all the months pay bounty to her store;
The fields and orchards still their tribute bear,
And fill her brimming coffers more and more.

But she, with youthful lavishness,
Spends all her wealth in gaudy dress,
And decks herself in garments bold
Of scarlet, purple, red and gold.

She heedeth not how swift the hours fly,
But smiles and sings her happy life along;
She only sees above a shining sky;
She only hears the breezes' voice in song.

Her garments trail the woodlands through,
And gather pearls of early dew
That sparkle, til the roguish Sun
Creeps up and steals them every one.

But what cares she that jewels should be lost,
When all of Nature's bounteous wealth is hers?
Though princely fortunes may have been their cost,
Not one regret her calm demeanor stirs.

 Whole-hearted, happy, careless, free,
She lives her life out joyously,
Nor cares when Frost stalks o'er her way
And turns her auburn locks to gray."

October By Paul Laurence Dunbar

A Tradition Made and Kept

When my first child was born, my Grandma Bessie gave her first great-grandson a baby ring. I knew her son, my Dad, had a baby ring, but I never asked if it was a tradition in Grandma's family. I wish I had. I just thought it was a cute and different kind of baby gift.
When my daughter was born, her Dad's brother and wife (Uncle Chuck and Aunt Nancy) gave her a baby ring. I don't remember who gave my second son his, I may have bought it myself, but I know he had one.

When I began having grandchildren I decided to keep the practice going, buying baby rings for all four grandsons and five granddaughters and firmly establishing my own family tradition. It is one I have continued with my great-grandchildren, so far, six great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters. I have also given baby rings to some of my grand nieces and nephews.

I have another great-grandson on the way, due in January. Tomorrow there is a baby shower for him which prompted me to start thinking about buying another baby ring. So few jewelry stores stock them anymore that I have been ordering them online. Also, I used to buy gold rings until gold prices sky-rocketed, so the younger ones have been getting silver rings.

When I went online in search of silver baby rings, an intriguing offer came up on Etsy: "Vintage silver ring for a baby from 1934." I could see from the photo it was just what I wanted for a baby boy - a signet ring. But a size wasn't given. I have seen rings advertised as for babies but the size is a 3 or 4. But this one was so cute I decided to take a chance and order it.

In addition, the ring was in its original leatherette case from Wm. F. Grassmuck Sons, The Family Jeweler, at 617 Vine Street in Cincinnati. This is the picture on Etsy of the ring:

And this is how it fits on my pinkie - definitely sized for a baby. I am so in love with this ring. Bud asked if I'm going to be able to give it away. In looking it over I was surprised to see10K stamped inside, which means it is actually not silver, but 10 karat white gold.

The same day I ordered the vintage ring, I also ordered a size 1 silver band, just in case. It remains to be seen which ring that new great-grandson receives.

Down At The Pond

I get so much pleasure watching the wildlife around the pond. Yesterday afternoon the heron was on the bank rather than near the water hunting for food.

It was preening.

"What happened to my head?"

Contortionist extraordinaire.

Last evening there was something dark moving near the water....

.....something I hadn't seen around the pond before although I have seen them on our deck when there's bird seed out.

The raccoon was reaching down into the water, searching around.

And obviously finding something to munch on. I wonder what?

These photos probably would have been better if I had remembered to change the setting to night landscape. Also if I had been on the deck instead of shooting through the window, but I was afraid it would leave if I went outside.

I took more than two dozen pictures each of the heron and the raccoon, all at 20x zoom except for the first one showing the trees where the heron is just a dot.
I probably take the most photos of the heron and the geese, but I've seen cats down near the water a couple of times and it is about the time of year when the deer are around more often.
I am so lucky to have the view I do, and luckier still to notice when there's something going on down at the pond.

Baking Squash and Brownies

Yesterday was a good day to have the oven going with those strong north winds continuing to gust. It was time to bake the spaghetti squash I got at the Winterset Farmers Market. Do you use spaghetti squash? I remember the first time my Mom planted some. They were a novelty and she loved trying new plants in her garden.

I usually only get one about once a year. I forget from one time to the next how much one squash makes. This two quart casserole was FULL by the time I got it all shredded. When I got the first half in the bowl I seasoned it with sea salt, coarse ground pepper and some Italian seasoning spice and some margarine.
I repeated that after adding the second half of the squash to the bowl. I also topped it with a little left over marina sauce - as much for color as for taste.

That is how we ate it for lunch yesterday, along with some broccoli, the last of my Farmers Market tomatoes and baked chicken (which I over-baked), a slice of bread and butter and a little brownie for dessert.

There is still a lot of squash left over. I might use it like spaghetti with a meat sauce over it for another meal and then freeze what's left so we don't get sick of squash this week.

Bud asked why I was baking brownies when we've been trying to avoid sweets. I told him, "This time of year, it's just what you do. It's like some unwritten rule. When the weather gets cold, you bake."

The Wind and The Water

Strong Northerly winds are bringing our lovely Autumn weather to an end. I hear Winter on their backside.
Late yesterday afternoon I stood spellbound watching as the wind pushed the water into design after design.

A little later, another gorgeous sunset. (With camera on auto mode.)

Changing the setting to night landscape made the colors more true to what my eyes were registering.

And then there was the heron in silhouette.

Standing on the goose nest platform.

 Waiting patiently?

Or was she watching the sunset, too?

Monday, Monday, So Good To Me

The weeks roll around so fast. Mondays, however, are not the onus they once were. Ha! The sunrise wasn't great, so here is a miscellany of the day so far:

Back when we toured the Texas Hill Country and stayed at Fredricksburg, I bought this holy water font/stoup in one of the stores there. I'm not Catholic, but I could say I got it in memory of my great-great grandparents who were, and came here from Ireland. Truth is, I liked its shape and bought it to use as a garden embellishment. This year the cardinal climber has it almost completely covered. I like the hidden aspect.

The volunteer zinnias only came up in a couple of spots this year. Their cheerful pink is always welcome.

I thought there would be more color in these trees by now. You can tell how windy the day is by how the water is being pushed.

A park squirrel chose one of the lake side benches for a lunch spot.

Ah, now there's some remarkable fall color.

Facebook reminded me that today is cousin Janet's 73rd birthday. For about 3-1/2 weeks we are the same age. The picture of her (right) and my little sister, Betty, (left) is the one I posted on Jan's 70th birthday. I wonder why I wasn't in this picture, too?

"Monday, Monday, so good to me,
Monday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be."