The season's first frost took its toll on flowers and foliage in high places last week but didn't do any damage in my small yard. It served as a wakeup call to the resident birds, and they have been much more in evidence since then.
The seasonâs first frost took its toll on flowers and foliage in high places last week but didnât do any damage in my small yard. It served as a wakeup call to the resident birds, and they have been much more in evidence since then.
We have had beautiful days ever since and we all hope it is the start of a lengthy Indian summer. With special thanks to the weatherman, Wendy and her daughter Megan took their guest from Ireland (another Wendy!) to Vermont.
The same day, Susan and her daughter Stacy went to Hershey, Pa., for the big âhomecomingâ weekend when all grads and their families have a time of renewed friendships and some have a real reunion. Scott was there too, and attended the 15th reunion of his graduating class. Was it really that long ago? They both enjoyed seeing friends and former teachers and houseparents.
Susan attended some of the events and spoke enthusiastically of a special crafts show they visited. Perfect weather was the icing on the cake for both daughters and guests. Megan was along on the Vermont trip and had fun and did some school reading.
In earlier times when much thought and preparation entered into the costume production, there were many times when children came visiting on October 31st that we had trouble to determine which neighborhood child was behind that mask, wearing a home-rigged pirate outfit, a gypsy costume (wearing motherâs beads and bracelets), or an angel with homemade wings left from the Christmas pageant, or a bride wearing a lace contraption and sneakers!
In those times, Monroe consolidated school, where we lived, was the only school in town. The afternoon nearest Halloween was given over to a school-wide parade through the corridors, followed by room parties. The two churches on the center green joined together for an afternoon parade around and around the green. Each group returned to their own church hall, for parties with homemade goodies and sweet cider!
One year I bought yards of green burlap that never got used for a Christmas project. The next October it was fashioned into a Peter Pan costume â a longtime favorite.
One year a small girl arrived at the school on âparade dayâ minus a costume. Several mothers who were helping at the parties hurriedly took a bundle of newspapers, scotch tape, and staples, and fashioned the girl into the daily newspaper. It was a clever outfit and the youngster won a prize as the students paraded around the hallways!
The quote that ended last weekâs column was by Abraham Lincoln in a letter written in 1859.
Who said, âSomething is rotten in the state of Denmarkâ?