October is fading away, with Halloween giving the month a final goodbye. The nights call for flannel nightgowns to snuggle.
Millions of people dress up in costumes to celebrate Halloween. Many carve pumpkins to leave on doorsteps with lit candles inside. Children dress up in costumes to go door-to-door asking for candy and other treats. But how did Halloween get started?
Halloween got its name from “All Hallows’ Eve” as Oct. 31 was called in England centuries ago. It was the night when people prayed for the dead to prepare for All Saints Day, a celebration of Roman Catholic saints, on Nov. 1.
The tradition of pumpkin carving began on All Hallows’ Eve, when the Irish and some Europeans carved turnips and placed candles in them to represent the souls of people waiting to get into heaven.
The term jack-o-lantern comes from an Irish folk tale about a night watchman named Jack who was too selfish to get into heaven. He was also too much of a trickster for the devil. So, according to the folk tale, the devil sent Jack wandering the earth with a single ember inside a carved turnip, which became Jack’s lantern.
It is interesting to note that when the immigrants came to this country, they used pumpkins instead of turnips because they were more plentiful and easier to carve.
The age-old practice of belsnickling brought about people wearing costumes to engage in mischief. Many people don’t wear scary costumes but instead wear costumes depicting superheroes, characters from cartoons and books.
However one decides to celebrate Halloween, keep ever mindful of being safe.
The following recipe is of a delicious Apple Crisp:
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup softened butter
1 can apple pie filling
Stir all together except pie filling. Spread one half of the mixture in the bottom of a greased pie pan. Dump pie filling on top. Cover with remaining mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until brown. Serve warm with milk or ice cream.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
1. Never let one’s gas tank drop below half.
2. Remember to send thank you cards.
3. Eat at home.
4. Never skip soccer practice.
5. Pick up trash even if it’s not one’s.
Mornings have been very crisp with temperatures in the 20s, but rising to the high 60s…good fall weather. Farmers have begun the ritual of feeding cattle their daily dose of hay. Birds have gathered up their suitcases and flown to warmer weather in the south. Hummingbird feeders have been washed and cleaned as the birds have flown to countries like Mexico and further south. These are all sure signs that winter is not too far off.
The Hunter’s Moon historically got its name because of the cleared fields making it easy for hunters to spot animals that had fattened up for the winter months. The moon peaked around Oct. 25-26.
The time change occurs this Sunday…a reminder to change clocks back (fall back).
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.” — Kurt Vonnegut
“The real trick is to stay alive as long as you live.” — Ann Landers
“We are not given a good life or a bad life. We are given a life. It’s up to us to make it good or bad.” — Author unknown
“Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing in it.” — Jesse Owens
“My life is not perfect, but I’m thankful for everything I have.” — Anonymous
Sitting out on the porch on these beautiful days is the best place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Ruben and Krista Nieves have returned to their home in Boca Raton, Florida, and Bill and Charlene Rader have also returned to their home in Plantation, Florida. Others visiting with Willard and Judy Rader were Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney.
Saturday evening, Tracy, Bobbie, Kinsley, and Connor Armstrong had a birthday party for Cindy, Bobbie’s mother, at Brandywine Family Dining.
Rose Smith is spending a few days with her cousin, Phil Downs. They have been doing yard work and reminiscing about old times.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
•Sea otters hold hands while they sleep, forming groups called rafts.
•A $5.00 coffee every day adds up to more than $1,800 a year.
•Norway is known as The Land of the Midnight Sun.
•Snakes cannot blink.
•The cuckoo bird lays its eggs in other birds’ nests.
Concerns are for Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, “Bo” Boggs, Glenn Dahmer, Stanley Dahmer, Clinton Eye, Isaac Eye, Brenda Fisher, Carl Gant, Sue Hall, Clyde Hamilton, Chip Harper, Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, Keith Hoover, Mickey Huffman, Cynthia Hurry, Gary Jamison, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Keith Kimble, Lori Ann Lambert, Melissa Lambert, Skip and Roger Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Harold Michael, Dennis Mitchell, Dottie Mitchell, Tom Mitchell, Helen Nash, Willa Nelson, Ronald Pitsenbarger, Alda Propst, Eldon Puffenbarger, Willard Rader, Jimmy Rexrode, Robbie Sites, Carolyn Smith, Kitty and Curtis Waggy, Jr., the family and friends of Sandra Washburn and Edwin Wimer.
