Happy Halloween

Sugar, sugar Artist: Archies Lyrics Song: Sugar, Sugar Lyrics Sugar, ah honey honeyYou are my candy girlAnd you've got me wanting you.Honey, ah sugar sugarYou are my candy girlAnd you've got me wanting you.I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you(I just can't believe it's true)I just can't believe the one to love this feeling to.(I just can't believe it's true)Ah sugar, ah honey honey You are my candy girlAnd you've got me wanting you.Ah honey, ah sugar sugarYou are my candy girlAnd you've got me wanting you.When I kissed you, girl, I knew how sweet a kiss could be(I know how sweet a kiss can be)Like the summer sunshine pour your sweetness over me(Pour your sweetness over me)Sugar, pour a little sugar on it honey,Pour a little sugar on it babyI'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeahPour a little sugar on it oh yeahPour a little sugar on it honey,Pour a little sugar on it babyI'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeahPour a little sugar on it honey,Ah sugar, ah honey honeyYou are my candy girlAnd you've got me wanting you.Oh honey, honey, sugar sugar ..You are my candy girl ..

Continuing the walk

It is rather obvious that the movie March of the Penguins came to mind here…

On a Walk we SPIED…

As we began our walk it was apparent that we would be having others join us. Some would catch up with us later after they ate.

Leaves

The leaves are scampering all over the lush moist rich emerald green grass. The wind swooshes them to one side of the yard then redistributes them to other locations. There is almost a dancer like appeal to the motions of the leaves. The sky is a mix of a steel blue and apricot pinks and yellows. The tree trunks lend them selves to outlines of a deer or two as they sway to the sounds of the rustling leaves. One needs to squint to discern a branch from an antler. The white tail secures the actuality of a 6-point buck. The birds are in the mix of falling leaves, as one would swear a leaf had decided to reattach itself back to the tree -- it is merely a bird resting from their swooping to gather their breakfast. The Wood Ducks head are hard to see from the carpet of leaves that have settle on the creek. The cats chase each other up the trees and there is briskness in the air as Fall has descended into our neck of the woods. So begins my Saturday morning. In the background are noises of thunder rolling over the Canada waters of Brent Lake as Walter describes the wildlife that he has captured on video. From the playful otters to the Grape nut-eating Moose the sounds creep into my morning and make for an interesting mix. Later I will actually watch the DVD. Now it is time to begin the morning rituals of showering and making breakfast. Then we are off to retrieve my car…perchance to stop at Pier 1 and then to enjoy INSIDE the remainder of what will be a very laid-back cold and rainy day. Just the two of us!

Frogs are lucky! They eat what BUGS Them!

Here it is Almost Friday once again ~~~ I could tell you about the Dryer Repair man and how I called in on Monday and told a series of people all the information they needed on this particular unit. I could tell you that I told these same myriads of people I thought that the heating coil was the problem. I Could do that. But then I could also tell you that the WINDOW of opportunity I was given to expect a repair person was 8 am to 4:40 p.m. Then I suppose I could further go on about the man coming, going through the myriad of the same questions about the Pedigree of said dryer and then he said, after checking of course, “The heating coil went bad.” I suppose telling you that I responded to him “ I know I told everyone I talked to Monday that was the problem.” Then if I told you I had the audacity to ask the man,” well you do have that unit in your truck, right?” I suppose you are now rolling on the floor laughing as I tell you he said, WITH A STRAIGHT face mind you. “No”, we do not carry them because so and so company bought out the company that made your dryer and on that went…Ad nauseam I suppose that you might still be laughing after you read what I asked next. “Well then what does your store Now sell in dryer units? I might have added the Dryer du jour, but I did not. He said the company that bought out the company that my dryer was from was one of the premier until that this UN NAMED store carries…Are you with me so far? I stopped asking questions…I just get to wait yet another week for the Part to come in…Ain’t life GOOD?

As you Like It ~~~ Plus Pumpkin Pi

As a Thespian from High School days this seemed the perfect design for THIS pumpkin. All the World is a stage… From Shakespeare's As You Like It, 1600: As for Pi, well shucks I passed Master level Statistics class with a B so I can Boast, er maybe BOO st~~~~~~~~~ Besides its PUNNY!

FALL BACK

~~~~~~~~~~WAY BACK TIME reverts to standard time at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time. Starting in March 2007, daylight time in the United States will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November. Meanwhile~~ I have been a cut up and I seem to be trying to catch a cold. Ya think the two might be related? HA Spiders and (Procyon lotor) aka Rascally Raccoons. A couple Pumpkins left to do today as well as continuing with Fall Housecleaning. Still awaiting the Dryer Repair man and the call that tells me the car is fixed. At least I have my “A” Drive restored. Ummmmmm is that like Take the A Train? Now to make a Pumpkin Pie!!! [Sly grin]

Brrrrrrrrrr Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Birdie

Or the first snow fall…not significant in terms of coverage but a reality of things to come. Of course this play on words winged its way onto my mind… Bye Bye Birdie

VOTE

November 7 is fast approaching - where will your vote fall on Election Day? Stay informed on some of the most highly contested races in the country with grassroots reporting by local Gather writers. The cartoon is for sure light hearted, or not, the message is~~~ get out there, be informed and VOTE! Two sites; the first that allows you to view by state Green Papers the last one By County!

Orion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...drifted majestically past my vantage point this morning[Saturday]. I did not venture outside to see if I could see any meteors. I was just content to watch all of these stars shining so beautifully. By the time breakfast was over we began our Quest. [My Quest actually]! There was even time for all to take a healthy break, they with Football and I off to an Open House at Averil Place. We got almost all of the wood split, the weather was great Saturday the food was good and having our sons here was super. Tuesday “THEY” say we might have snow but we are ready!

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

What a wonderful treat I received a new Cookbook from friends that visited here last month. Mary had written one and sent me a copy. Her Cookbook is wonderfully delightful. I am sitting in the Nook skipping through it. The Artwork is marvelous. The recipes most are quite new to me, so that is a FUN thing. My Sweetie is off Fishing again on the New River, just a day trip. Will be interesting as he and Phil picked the weekend of BRIDGE DAY. Bridge Day is the largest extreme sports event in the world and is held on the third Saturday in October every year in Fayette County, West Virginia (WV), USA. While he and Phil are simply going to canoe I imagine the hype will be a fun aside. October 21, 2006. We will be celebrating 27 years! The New River Gorge Bridge, 876' tall and the world's second longest single arch bridge, serves as the launch point for six hours (9am-3pm EST) of safe, legal BASE jumps. They will be fishing the Upper New River that will provide leisurely float fishing trips. Ha Lets hope they get some fish. Canada was a bummer in that respect this year. Our sons will be in; we will be splitting wood while my Sweetie plays. The couch and chair are in but we still await hubby’s recliner, which should be in by the end of the month. Post Script:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One son in, we went college food shopping then a wonderful lunch of Escargot etc. Return home to get a message the Fishing Trip was canceled due to high water on The New River. The water level last week 25 hundred Cubic Feet per second [CFS] now 10 thousand 700 now. Sweetie is safely home now we await other son and the WVU game.

It was Starring into my eyes...

There has been an abundance of Praying Mantis here this year. This one was hanging, actually still is this morning, on the window of my Nook. Happy Almost Friday and remember…Fri., Oct. 20, WVU vs. Connecticut 8:00 p.m.

I found this very interesting

Pretzel History Everyone has a pedigree – even the pretzel, the world's oldest snack food. In fact, you can follow the twists and turns as early as 610 AD at monasteries in Southern France and Northern Italy. Monks used scraps of dough and formed them into strips to represent a child's arms folded in prayer. The three holes represented the Christian Trinity. The monks baked the soft pretzels and offered the warm, doughy bribe to children who had memorized their Bible verses and prayers. The monks called it a pretiola, Latin for "little reward". From there, the pretzel transformed into the Italian word, brachiola, which means "little arms". The pretiola journeyed beyond the French and Italian wine regions, hiked the Alps, wandered through Austria, and crossed into Germany, where it became known as the Bretzel or Pretzel. In medieval times, merchants traveling to the Frankfurt Fair risked being robbed by bandits. In order to guard the tradesmen, the towns’ people would ride out, greet the vendors and offer them pewter pitchers of wine and loads of crisp dough on their spears, called Geleit-pretzels. Judging from historical accounts, one can only assume that medieval Europe was a particularly gruesome and barbaric era. People were sent to the gallows and guillotines for the most minor offenses. Legend says fate was kind to a young baker who fell asleep and left his turn of soft pretzels in the oven too long. When the fire died down, the pretzels toasted to a chestnut, golden crispness. Fortunately, the employer liked the nutty flavor of the hard pretzel and spared the young man's head. In 1440, a page in the prayer book used by Catharine of Cleves depicted St. Bartholomew surrounded by pretzels. They were thought to bring good luck, prosperity and spiritual wholeness. A decade later, Germans ate pretzels and hard-boiled eggs for dinner on Good Friday – the day of fasting. The large, puffy pretzel symbolized everlasting life, and the two hard-boiled eggs, nestled in each of the large round curves of the pretzel, represented Easter's rebirth. The pretzel gave birth to the Easter Egg Hunt. German children would look for hidden pretzels throughout their parents’ farms. Pretzels hiding places such as the straw lofts and barns eventually gave way to the modern tradition of egg hunts. It appears that the pretzel took part in many traditions and festivities throughout time. In 1480, folks in the Swabian city of Sigmaringen practiced the tradition of Brautelin, or "ducking", on Shrove Tuesday – the day before Ash Wednesday. Newlywed husbands, along with husbands celebrating silver and golden wedding anniversaries, paraded through streets and threw pretzels, oranges and candy to the crowd. Today, the men are spared the ducking, but the parades continue with fife-and-drum music and lots of good-natured teasing. There's evidence of the first street vendor in approximately 1483. Portable ovens on wheels allowed bakers to peddle pretzels from door-to-door. Pretzels were not only a part of history, but it probably changed history. Certainly you recall The Battle of 1510 – the Bakers take on the Turks. One night while the citizens of Vienna slept and dreamed of pretzels, the Turks tunneled under the city walls. The pretzel bakers were busy at work and detected the invasion. They gathered make-shift weapons and annihilated the Turks. In return for shielding all of Europe, the Austrian Emperor honored the pretzel bakers with their own shield – a coat of arms. The pretzel even showed up at Royal weddings. It's speculated that the term “Tying the Knot” originated in Switzerland in 1614 when Royal couples wished for happiness with a pretzel forming the nuptial knot – much like we use a wishbone today. Bon Voyage! The well-traveled pretzel made its culinary delight known throughout Europe and in 1620 rumor has it that it made its international debut when it landed with the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower. And where there are Pilgrims, there are Indians!!! Pretzels made great wampum. In 1652 an Albany, New York man and his wife offered these treats to the Indians. The natives loved the pretzels so much; they'd barter practically anything. Ironically, the town arrested the couple, because they were using “good” flour for the “heathen” while Christians were eating the bran flour. I wonder if the towns’ people knew of the pretzel's religious origin? The Palantine Germans, later known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought pretzels to America in 1710. German children wore the pretzels around their necks on New Year's for good luck.

What a Weekend

WVU won, the couch is here, my Sweetie and I got our Christmas early and I have a new birdfeeder. Life is good. I am mentally getting prepared for Thanksgiving. I even have my Christmas wish list almost prepared. Although the Christmas cards have NOT been thought about, I am on a roll. I raked leaves; soon I shall jump into them. I am even going to carve a pumpkin. I used to share this activity with our children but they are not in residence so I let that activity go. This year however…Ummmmmmmmm I shall do that this weekend, as once again I will become a fisherman’s widow. Autumn Leaves Originally a 1945 French song "Les feuilles mortes. "The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold

The Last Rose of Summer

Tweaking

The Sit In is still going on

but there is MORE!

Tweaker’s delight Rear-projection Home theater Surround Sound Subwoofer We are Rocking Now!

WOOooooo HOooooooooooooooooooooooo

We are having a Sit In

The Official Sit In begins. We are occupying an area, THE NEW COUCH, for purely Social reasons! While we are children of the Sixties, we feel that this is a proper way to indoctrinate the new Couch and Chairs. We will continue our sit in today while watching today’s game. Syracuse (Homecoming) Noon v. WVU! GO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Big Day is here and it is Friday to Boot!

Today the couch arrives. The room is ready, painting done, artwork re hung, furniture that will no longer be in the room moved. Waiting is all that remains; this song popped into my mind. Anticipation by Carly Simon We can never know about the days to come

But we think about them anyway

And I wonder if I'm really with you now

Or just chasing after some finer day.

Anticipation, Anticipation

Is making me late

Is keeping me waiting…

Meanwhile, outside are 1-foot mounds of rotund mini ghosts…Again in Anticipation of a frost I covered the mums. By at least 9 am I can remove the sheets and feed the Koi.

Dinner already planned. Candles ready to be lit. Music ready, His and Mine, HA HA! We all know whose music will be playing, now don’t we! That’s ok; I am still listening to Angélique Kidjo.

Dolly Sods yesterday afternoon...

My Dentist’s Mother, and a dear friend of mine sent these wonderful pictures to me. They are wonderful and I hope you enjoy. For those of you that have visited Dolly Sods know it's a special place. For those of you who haven't, you should especially during the fall. You can see the blue berries bushes as the turn from green to red. The brilliant red color lasts for only several days before it starts to turn a dull brown. There are millions of these bushes that turn the ground cover into a sea of red. The Mountain Ash tree also displays red berries that add to the color. Add this to the contrasting dark green of the Red Spruce trees and you can understand the phrase “Wild Wonderful West Virginia!!!”

A Walk on the Wild Side and new CD’S

Yesterday I tried for 2 hours to get the log splitter started. I spent so much energy TRYING to start it that if I had, I would not have been able to use it. So Today I am paying the price. I relish the rain as I will not be tempted to punish my self. I did WALK my frustrations out yesterday as we walked in the woods. Castor and Pollux were my companions. This is the second day that I want to be totally absorbed in this CD. Some clips. As it begins to rain here, and while the outside work is finished, for today, I begin to enjoy one of my new CD’S. This past weekend I succumbed to my quarterly fill of new CD’s, So far I have gotten to listen to only two. That is purely my choice you see. While doing background research on Angélique Kidjo it really did not surprise me that she was somehow influenced by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Miriam Makeba and Carlos Santana.

Happy Birthday to our First born

weekend shots

Wood it Knot be?

The wood sang as the splitter ran its sharp teeth through the length of the different woods. One thing that was amazing was as we split some of the old Apple logs we could still smell a hint of apple in the wood. That is so neat! Sounds that radiate from some of the logs made me think of the pressure inside an old wooden ship as the forces of the water made the vessel creak and moan, much like the sounds from the movie The Perfect Storm. While our job was made easier using a hydraulic splitter, the aches are still there. The Briggs and Stratton engine purred on.The, or rather my goal for the morning was to get one section of wood split and re stacked. Then the plan was to fix the typical farm breakfast for my Sweetie and sons. Much to my surprise and delight when we came in our youngest son was already making breakfast. I seldom have anyone make me breakfast so this was an especially lovely moment.

By 4:oo p.m. I was ready to begin the second section of wood. While our one son took the other son back to school my Sweetie and I got that finished. Then off I went to the local 7-11 for some milk, I just sat in the car, allowing the heated seat to begin to relax my muscles. Man it felt good. As I was driving out of the driveway I noticed the Shrooms. Made a mental note to take pictures when I returned, if I could walk at that point. HA! These new photos are a recent up date to this post of last Monday. Yet another lovely evening outside with my Sweetie, Life is Good as we sat there and enjoyed the antics of our Koi. HA and as the cats ALSO enjoyed the Koi antics. Today will be easier; son and I will only be planting trees. ;0 Happy Christopher Columbus Day (1451 - 1506)

Through The Garden Gate

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a day Finally a day that was pleasurable in many ways. The weather was ok, our sons were in, got daughters Birthday gifts mailed, and West Virginia won. Steve Slaton ran for 185 yards and scored a touchdown and quarterback Patrick White ran for a pair of scores to lead No. 4-rated West Virginia to a 42-14 victory over Mississippi State Saturday afternoon in Starkville. Most of all real conversation with my sweetie around our mini fire pit and a Moon that just would not quit. We even got some wood split and hope to do more today as well as plant some more trees. If I am really lucky The Guys will get the Christmas lights down. Then in my leisure [oh that is a funny line] I can begin that task and it will be more fun than trying to JAM it into a weekend when the weather is nasty and totally miserable. As I see it if the lights are up all that remains is after Thanksgiving all we need to do is FLICK a Switch. Friday the 13th is going to be special for us this year they deliver our new couch. Now that is a weekend to look forward to. I can see it now, WVU & Syracuse (Homecoming) at noon, new couch & chair, WOW! Ummmm when do we get the Plasma TV?

The Moon

The moon was totally amazing in the wee hours of this morning. It shone like a spotlight through the trees. The brilliance was astounding. Looking at it reminded me of a Nursery Rhyme I had read to our children. I see the Moon and the Moon sees me great memories. The Harvest Moon of 2006 is a big one--almost 12% wider than some full Moons we've seen earlier this year. Why? Because the Moon is near perigee, the side of the Moon's lopsided orbit that comes closest to Earth.

Rat Race

The last few days I have been so tired. I have been trying to assess why, then it dawned upon, me that since September 14 I have been running a rat race. Self-imposed but of course! While I feel all that was accomplished was definitely worthwhile, I wonder if come next year I will re think my enthusiasms. I can proudly boast that a lot of the outside work that was accomplished, with eldest sons help, did indeed spare my Sweetie time and frustrations. He then had time to concentrate on more important things at the office. Last Friday was the last of the horrendous outside TO DO for the season. Finishing the Creek Bank. While not really necessary, the walks down the creek banks and observations made the aches and pains seem negligible. Maybe this weekend he can begin to relax. Now all that needs to be thought about is getting Birthday gifts out, Thanksgiving to prepare for and getting some clue as to what to get people for Christmas. Did I mention I have already purchased some minor gifts? Actually I have two major ones, but those are for my sweetie. Oh YE GADS, I need to get those Halloween cards addressed! Happy Friday!

Aida

Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida is a musical bursting with contemporary energy. Not much more to be said other than the preformance was exherilating. Totally Awesome!

Low Impact Day

Our Monday was amazing, not only was the weather phenomenal, but they did a second cutting of hay. My Sweeties college roommate and his wife stopped in for an overnight visit. Haydn and Mary are really wonderful people. George was on his best behavior as well. Must be his age, Mellow Yellow! Which brings this song to mind…

Mellow Yellow

by Donovan released 1966

I'm just mad about Saffron

Saffron's mad about me

I'm just mad about Saffron

She's just mad about me Mellow Yellow…

Mary also arranges her spices in Alpha order and even wrote a cookbook, how kewl is that? I found out our couch and one chair is in, but the recliner and the credenza are not there yet. It is hard to wait until it is all ready to deliver, but we will.

Mid afternoon I took a walk in the woods. Do you know how long one has to sit still so the Chipmunks feel safe to come out? Next time I will not be sitting under a Hickory tree. As I began walking further down stream I could begin to distinguish the differences in the PLOPPS in the water of a walnut or a hickory.

Then I got Beaned! While many that know me will say I am hard headed, [and I am] getting a dent in my tête hurt. It was neat to gather some wild turkey feathers strewn under one of the nut trees. This morning came early as I sat out on the deck enjoying temperatures of 60 degrees. Listening to the crickets and woodland insects hum their mantra to welcome another glorious day. The occasional snort of a deer and the chucking of the turkeys 5:14 a.m. and the Rooster declares another dawn. Must be official now!

Mums the Word~~~~~