As Halloween comes to an end . . .

We went to my sister’s haunted house this afternoon where goblins and ghosts and witches dwell. Would you like to come inside? Are you sure? It is pretty scary? You’re really, really sure? I was so frightened I needed to use the “batroom”. Distant relatives? A door opened, and a ghost came rushing toward us. [...]

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Telegram

News Flash! Seen lurking along cutoff; wizened woman with pointed hat and long nose sporting a wart. Known to carry a broom and cackle. Stop. Known to fly broom. Maneuvering somewhat erratic and failure to use turn signals may cause traffic delay. Stop. Air traffic control at O’Hare reported late night activity around midnight on [...]

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Sunshine

What a welcome sight our faithful sun was this morning. There it was, sending angel rays streaming through the windows, bringing  in early morning sunshine after a week of bitter wind. I felt as if a rainbow had come and touched down upon me. Our kitchen and dining room face the east, with walls and [...]

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Q and me and the Philadelphia Free Library

When we travel, I love to step into the local library. Whether the little library, housed in a house, old and charming and lit for Christmas and viewed from our room at the inn in Vermont, or the Concord Free library in Concord, MA where Alcott and Thoreau, Emerson and Hawthorne all have alcoves of [...]

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A mean wind doth blow

Oh, a mean wind did blow hard again today, catching up leaves in a whirlwind and tossing a few pots about, forcing the mighty sycamores to bend against their will. I worked a few hours in the morning, cutting back the hostas and ferns along the front, their leaves all yellowed and sad, the lady [...]

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Boundaries

The clouds opened up and rained down upon us early this morning and a mighty wind blew in and around the entire area in excess of  80 miles per hour. Drive time radio was consumed in weather and traffic reports as the Chicagoland area, and much of the country, attempted to start this blustery day. [...]

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Toasting your oats

When the leaves start falling with feeling and the temperatures threaten to frost the pumpkins, the soup kettle begins to simmer and the KitchenAid commences to whir. Gone are the dog days of summer when the barbecue grill is primed for many-a-meal and the urge to bake cookies and breads arises. Ah, the sweet smell [...]

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Gathering Leaves/Robert Frost

Gathering Leaves by Robert Frost Spades take up leaves No better than spoons, And bags full of leaves Are light as balloons.   I make a great noise Of rustling all day Like rabbit and deer Running away. But the mountains I raise Elude my embrace, Flowing over my arms And into my face.   [...]

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Stump the colors

We didn’t peak. Peakless. An Autumn without peak. Faded glory. The leaves were changing and starting to fall in a cascade of colors. Then, something happened. They turned brown instead. After some devastating rains this summer, causing flooding for so many, we are now in desperate need of moisture. I wonder if the hot spell [...]

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Howards End . . .

I don’t know how many times I have seen the movie “Howards End”. If it is on and I come across it in my cable wanderings, I will watch it. I don’t care if it is midway through or almost done or just beginning, my eye is drawn to the wonderful scenery and trappings of [...]

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