Halloween Memories

When I was a very young child I could tell when Halloween was coming by the dried field corn that would magically appear on our porch. I never questioned where it came from. I just knew it was a sign that Halloween was not far off. 

The corn was all part of the area's Halloween Corning tradition. Teens would steal farmers' field corn and use it to throw at things. It was a harmless prank when they threw it on porches like ours, but much more serious when they threw it at passing cars. On the dark winding roads of my county, being surprised by a handful of corn hitting a windshield was dangerous. But the teens didn't see it that way. They just saw it as harmless fun while sneaking around in the dark and surprising people with the corn.  I don't remember any serious car accidents, but one of my friends in high school had several of her teeth ripped out by a clothesline as she was fleeing the scene of a corning. Needless to say, I was not allowed to take part in any of the antics, not that I wanted to. It seemed to me it was usually the popular crowd, who were also sneaking beer, who were the main perpetrators.

So what was happening back at our boring house? Trick or treating was always a big thing. Our costumes were homemade usually from things found around the house. We had a very limited area of houses we were allowed to go to and once we reached 12 years old, we were declared too old to Trick or Treat by my mother. Even with our limitations, it was always fun to get candy. That was back in the day when people gave out apples as treats and we had to make sure there weren't razor blades in them. I was disappointed when I was too old for regular trick or treating, but happy that I was able to go Trick or Treating for Unicef. That was usually done through a church group, and we would collect coins in slotted cardboard boxes for Unicef. If we were lucky, we would get candy along with the coins.

Not everyone had the same views on Trick or Treating as my parents. We lived in town, so we got lots of visitors - sometimes in the hundreds. Kids would come in from the more rural areas to Trick or Treat where there were sidewalks. Can't blame them for that, but I realize now that it was hard for my parents to provide something for all of the kids who knocked on the door with their limited funds. However, it just wasn't the country kids. Sometimes it was adults or very old teens with the stereotypical pillowcase. My mother did not have kind words for them. 

Wally &Theo back in Houston where the
weather was often warm for Halloween.

So what about when my kids went Trick or Treating? They usually stayed in the neighborhood wearing costumes we got from the thrift shop. They would come home, sort and inspect the candy, and then I would put most of it away for later. They stopped Trick or Treating in middle school, much like I did, but I know many of their friends Trick or Treated even when they were in high school. I don't necessarily think that that is a bad thing--or at least it didn't bother me as much as it did my mother. 

More stories to tell, but it's time to get ready for the kids that will be visiting tonight. We usually have 20 or so. I'm prepared for more and if we just happen to have some Reese's Cups leftover, well so be it. :)

Until next time...

Well, That's Annoying.

Pet peeves. Those annoying little things that really bug you, but aren't that important in the grand scheme of things. Do you have any? I do. And I'm going to grouse about them now.

First is how people are totally unaware of how they might sound on the other end of a phone call. In my job, I have to get information from people over the phone to help them. And it is a lot more difficult than it needs to be. People don't seem to think that they need to be near their phones or worry about background noise while they're on a call. I often describe the calls as sounding as if the caller has a bucket over their head because of echoes and general muddiness of the sound. Many of the calls are made from cars which produce a lot of background noise. And often, the caller is holding a simultaneous conversation with someone else that has no relevance to the call. If you are making a call where you need to impart or receive information, wait until you can do it in a quiet area without distractions. And get close to your phone. Things will go a lot smoother if you do. 

Also, I get annoyed the way most popular songs repeat the same couple of lines over and over at the end. I don't mind a regular repeat of a chorus, but the other just seems like the writer/singer can't come up with anything else and is trying to fill the allotted time for the recording. But everyone seems to do it, so maybe I'm the only one who gets bored with the repetition.

And TV has gone overboard with moving graphics. We don't need a crawler, flashing logo, and advertisements for other shows all while we watch the main event. Just because it is easy to do these things doesn't mean that they have to be done. Am I the only one who gets annoyed when these extra graphics are blocking the main content? Does anyone occasionally go into sensory overload when there are so many unrelated things happening at the same time?

That seems like enough grumbling for now. Do you have any pet peeves?

A Day in the Life- Wednesday

 Yesterday, Ward and I had a morning appointment in Annapolis, MD  We left early in case we ran into rush hour traffic, and even though there was a lot of construction, the trip went off without a hitch. We had been to Annapolis a couple of times before, but not for a long time, so after the appointment, we set off to explore the area. The goal was not to see all of the sights the state capital had to offer but to figure out the ins and outs for a future visit. As part of our search, we found a great place for lunch that had been recommended by the locals where I had a veggie sandwich (with both avocado and cream cheese) and Ward had a shrimp omelet. Delicious.

Armed with literature in hand for our next visit, we headed home mid-afternoon. Even though Ward had taken the day off, he begin working on a project that had been occupying his thoughts. I on the other hand sat down to let Annie on my lap to quiet her fussing. 

Leaving a quiet, slumbering cat on the couch, I went to the kitchen to do something that I had been meaning to get to for a few weeks now - process the apples we picked from one of our trees. We have two old apple trees in our yard and for the first time this year, we actually got a few apples we could use. They were not the prettiest, but that didn't hurt their taste. They made a delicious apple crisp.

Throughout the day, I continued to work on a project I'm doing for Ward's father. I am sorting through all of the pictures he inherited from his mother. Not an easy task because most of the pictures are not labeled and I don't know many of the people. However, I am making more sense out of things than I thought I might. And I have found some gems along the way. 

We had grilled burgers for dinner and finished out the evening much like many others - reading, playing computer games, and watching TV with cats on our laps. Last night we saw HGTV's Bargain Block which is another house makeover show. It's my current favorite.

It was an uneventful, good day. I'm planning another one of those today. And the next. And the next. :)

A few pictures:

Not only is Annapolis the capital of Maryland, but it also served as the nation's capital at one point.

It is also close to the Chesapeake Bay with a lot of water activity.

And that may be one reason why the US Naval Academy is located there.

I have black-stained fingers from cutting up these apples yesterday.

But the crisp was worth it. BTW, I used flavor instant oatmeal packets for the top. Ward bought a box to take backpacking and the rest have been languishing in the back of the pantry for years now.

One of the pictures I was able to identify - a young Ward.

Until next time...

Ward's Questions

I have my own version of Tuesday 4 today. I let Ward ask the questions. I told him there didn't have to be a theme and they could be as simple as, "What did you have for breakfast?" Instead of general questions, he asked specific ones that he's wondering about. So you can listen in on one of our conversations here about our everyday life. 

1. What's the plan for family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas?

For Christmas last year, we stayed home
and the four of us celebrated with the cats.

There is no plan yet. It's harder to coordinate with Ward's family so I asked them this question about a month ago. The answer was, "Let's wait and see what the status of the virus is." Things are complicated because not everyone is vaccinated and there are varying comfort levels with that. I think it's about time to bring the issue up again. Or we can just make our own plans without trying to coordinate with others.

2. What are we going to do with the lilac bed by the fence?

We had several lilac bushes which we enjoyed in our yard. However, one of them by a fence was always a problem. It spread like crazy and was hard to control because of the fence. We spent a lot of time trying to keep it in check without much success, so we cut it down last spring. I spent the summer trying to kill any new growth that popped up. Although there is still new growth, it has slowed down. Next, we need to dig out the stump and all of the runners - a big job for sure. Eventually, I plan to make it into an iris bed with irises I got from my aunt.

3. What are we going to do with the quince bush?

In the same part of the yard as the lilac stump, we have a quince bush. Except when it blooms in the spring, the bush is not very attractive. It has twisted growth and invasive vines growing through it. Ward wants it gone. However, I say one bush removal at a time. Next spring, the plan is to take a chain saw and severely trim the bush. Hopefully, we can control it better when it is smaller, If that doesn't work, we will remove it and replace it with something else. 

4. What's your vision of retirement?

Ward has been talking about retiring for years and he's going to pull the plug soon. The finances are in order and he's working out the details now. I, on the other hand, got a new position at the library just before the pandemic hit and I haven't had a chance to fully realize all of its potentials because of COVID restrictions. I plan to stay awhile because of this, not to mention the fact that I provide health insurance for us. So my actual vision of retirement is fuzzy because I don't plan to retire anytime soon. However, I am looking forward to more flexibility in Ward's schedule when he retires.

So there you have it. A few of the many things under discussion at our house.

Until next time...

Tuesday 4, October Thoughts

Most weeks I try to participate in the Tuesday 4 which asks four questions on various topics. Join me if you'd like.

1. What are your feelings about the month of October? Does it bring anything special to mind for you? Do you have memories to share? 

Growing up, we had a walnut tree in our yard and we would collect the nuts
to sell during the Walnut Festival.

October has several pleasant and important things associated with it. First, it is the month of my sister's birthday (which, by the way, is today), my nephew's birthday, and my aunt's birthday. Next, I think October is usually one the best weather months - cooler weather, but not frigid yet. When we lived along the hot and humid Gulf Coast, October was finally the time when being outside was a pleasure and not something to be endured. 

The big deal about October when I was growing up was the Black Walnut Festival that my town held every October. It was a three-day event (it has since grown) and we got Friday off from school because of it. A carnival would come to town which was fun even though the rides made me queasy. However, the major events during the festival for me were the parade and marching band festival that was held on Saturday. I was in the band starting in fourth grade through high school and we were either practicing, performing, or competing throughout the festival. So many more things to tell, but let me just say it was a very special time.

2. Have you ever gone apple picking? Pumpkin picking? Any kind of picking including banjo picking at all? Do you bake pies with those fruits? 

Apples from the Shanholtz Orchard in Romney, WV.

I have gone apple picking in a commercial orchard and was excited by all of the different varieties of apples. However, most of my picking has been done in family gardens for vegetables and fruits of various kinds.

I don't make many pies, but apple is my favorite and the first one that I think of to make. I never go apple picking just to get apples for a pie. I like to eat them uncooked because I enjoy the flavor and juiciness of a freshly picked apple. I can find good apples for pies in the stores.

3. What is autumn like where you live? How about when you were a child? 

The marigolds were still blooming during this October snow.

Autumn is a transition season, but generally is a return to cooler weather with cool nights and warmer days. It is usually when we start having an occasional frost and every once in a while some snow. With this colder weather comes the end of the summer vegetables and flowers. Leaves change from green to reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. This leads to a lot of raking.

I grew up in a similar four-season climate and autumn was much the same when I was a child.

4. Autumn is not the same as Fall. Fall is the time when the leaves are actively falling.  What activities of Autumn/Fall do you enjoy?  Do you decorate your door or home for the season?

With the cooler (and less buggy) weather, we enjoy more hiking in the fall. This also gets us out to see the leaves changing on a grander scale than just around the neighborhood. Pre COVID, we also enjoyed visiting some of the many fall festivals that are held. 

Like with most seasons, decorations here are minimal. Right now I have a scarecrow and pumpkin on the mantel and a Halloween decoration on the door with a couple more fall-like things on inside doors. I may still get some real pumpkins for the outside if Aldi's has any left when I go next. I always say nature does the decorating for me. :)

Until next time...

A Little Getaway, Part 3

My husband and I recently took a short trip to Pennsylvania. You can read about the previous days here.

Today it was time to return home, but our only goal was to be home before dark. We decided to start the day with a return to the creamery to watch them make ice cream. Access to that was closed by the time we got there yesterday. 

Storytelling chair at the Bellefonte Library

Then we returned to Bellefonte, the town we had dinner in the first night. Bellefonte is a little town rich in history and is known for its picturesque Victorian architecture. As we wandered around town we struck up a conversation with a man who was mowing the lawn at the library. He told us several things we should see and insisted we go into the local museum and ask for Judy, which we did. It turns out that Judy gave a personal tour of the museum as well as advice on genealogy research. 

Our next planned stop was in Altoona about halfway home. There we were going to visit Horseshoe Curve, an important place in the westward expansion of the railroad. But on the way to Horseshoe Curve, I saw a billboard that advertised Altoona as the home of Boyer Candy Company, maker of my childhood favorite candy, Mallo Cups. Talk about nostalgia, I just had to see it and luckily, we found the candy factory in the heart of the industrial district. Unfortunately, they were not giving factory tours, but we did enjoy the outlet store and the candy history featured there (not to mention a few candy bars).

Then it was onto Horseshoe Curve. Horseshoe Curve was an engineering feat built in 1854 that helped trains make it over the Allegheny Mountains. It is still used today and we saw two freight trains go around the bend while we were there. Ward was almost as thrilled with the engineering and trains as I was at the candy factory. A day filled with something for everyone. :)

A few scenes from the last day of our little getaway.

Making ice cream is a complicated process.

A bench shaped like a book was in front of the library.
It had scenes of Bellefonte painted on it.

The Bellefonte Museum was full of interesting things, but this glass chain, in particular, caught my eye. My grandmother had one like it and we have never known its origin or purpose. Unfortunately, Judy couldn't shed any light on the subject.

A few of the large Victorian houses around Bellefonte.

Does anyone else remember saving the paper coins that came with the Mallo Cups and mailing them in for free candy? Today, you can get a T-shirt with the coins.

The train begins its climb.

Waiting for it on the other side. Ward took a video of the train traversing the horseshoe bend through the valley and up the other side. I didn't have the patience for that.

Instead, I spent my time wondering how this lone corn plant by the tracks was able to produce ears with nothing around to pollenize it.

We are home and ready to stay for a while. So, until next time...

A Little Getaway - Part 2

My husband and I recently took a short trip to Pennsylvania. You can read about the beginning here.

First up this morning was a visit to the Boals Mansion in Boalsburg, PA. Boals Mansion began as a farmhouse over 200 years ago and expanded into the mansion that is there today. It has been continually owned and lived in by the same family for over 8 generations. We have visited many old houses and museums but this one was different than any we had seen because it had so many original furnishings and items. According to the guide, they are still discovering unopened trunks and boxes in the basement or attic. I guess that's what happens when the house stays in the family generation after generation - it never has to get cleaned out.  

Besides the house, the grounds had a centuries-old chapel from Spain that had been dismantled and rebuilt on the grounds. One of the Boals' wives inherited a castle the chapel was attached to and she had it brought to PA. She also happened to be a descendent of Christopher Columbus and had some things belonging to him and his son.  It was only a few years ago that they found many letters and documents from the 1300 and 1400s among the things brought from Spain. Unfortunately, the house and chapel were pretty dark, so I didn't get many pictures (at least ones that weren't blurry.) 

The main house

On display in various rooms, were dresses found recently
 in the basement in seven unopened trunks. 

The original door to the chapel. It was made
from walnut with mahogany insets.

They occasionally still hold masses in the chapel today.

Almost as interesting as the mansion was this giant fungus we found on the lawn.
 Notice the quarter on top of it for scale.

After our very interesting morning, we headed north to Bald Eagle State Park for a little hiking. Bald Eagle Park is located on a lake and has multiple water activities such as boating and swimming. However, the season was over for those, so we had the park almost to ourselves. We hiked along the Butterfly trail and actually saw three butterflies on the few flowers that were still blooming here and there. That's a clue that more flower pictures are coming.

It was the day for interesting fungi.

We saw lots of black walnuts everywhere. This picture is in honor of the
Black Walnut Festival held in my hometown every October.

After a good hike at the park, we headed back to State College. We didn't make it in time to watch marching band practice again, so we consoled ourselves with ice cream at Berkey's Creamery on campus. The ice cream was made with milk from cows raised at the school. We topped off our ice cream for dinner meal later with leftovers from lunch. 

A good day overall, a very good day. 

Next time, I'll tell you about the sites we saw along our way home.

A Little Getaway, Part 1

This seems to be the year for Ward and me to take small trips. This time we went north to central Pennsylvania to the area around State College upon the recommendation from a friend.

The first day started out bumpy with a forgotten wallet and heavy traffic from a big accident. Even with these annoyances, the 3 1/2 hour drive went well. After checking into the hotel, we found our first destination - The Penn State Arboretum. You know me, I love gardens and this one did not disappoint. It was beautiful with winding paths throughout. And while exploring the arboretum, we heard something that excites me almost as much as gardens--the drum cadence of a marching band. We followed the sound and ended up watching marching band practice for a while. Even with the starts and stops, it was still a fun thing to view. After that, we explored a nearby town where we had dinner. I'll tell you more about the town on another day when we had a return visit.

I had battery problems, so I only got pictures at the arboretum, but I got plenty of those. Below are a few, she says using the word "few" very loosely. 

The thing I noticed the most about the landscaping was all of the plantings were layered. I knew the concept but had never seen it so beautifully executed in so many ways.

Datura metel

The gardens emphasized the importance of bees.
This bee house was one of many bee habitats we saw.

We were lucky to hear this impromptu lecture about how a beehive works. The beekeeper, who was visiting with his mother-in-law, was quite knowledgeable. 

This was the only rose still blooming in the fragrance garden.

This was a new-to-me black-eyed Susan. 

Also, a different kind of sunflower that I had not seen before.

This garden telescope was part of the Children's Garden, perhaps, my favorite part of the arboretum.

Model of coral in children's area.

Simulated cave environment in children's area.

Next time, I'll tell you about day two when we went indoors to explore local history.