Happy Halloween

I first blogged this story ten years ago...but I love to tell it every year at this time... 

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Because John always worked second shift, he NEVER, EVER had anything to do with Halloween, much less Trick or Treating.

I don’t think he ever saw the boys in their Halloween costumes.

Until the year Halloween fell on a Sunday, and John was home. Alone. Aye, yay yay…

Because, of course, I packed up the boys and our bags of candy and we went to Aunt Glad’s house in McCausland. LIKE WE DID EVERY OTHER YEAR...

As near as I can remember, John was watching football when we left…

Aunt Glad was in her recliner, and we were just receiving our first trick or treaters when the phone rang. It was John (this was long before cellphones).

J: I'm getting trick or treaters. Where's all that candy?
Me: (shocked, because I didn't realize our neighborhood had finally attracted trick or treaters!)   The candy is with us, because the boys are trick or treating here in McCausland.
J: What am I supposed to do? 
Me: Turn out the porch light, and they’ll quit coming.
J: I don’t want them to soap our windows. Don’t we have any candy in the house?
Me: NO. I BROUGHT ALL THE CANDY TO AUNT GLAD’S HOUSE. If you want to give them something, go down to Casey’s to buy some candy.

I gave him two good options -- turn out the light or go buy candy. But, then -- at that moment -- he looked around and saw the bowl full of mixed nuts in the center of the kitchen table.

Really?

Yep -- that’s what he did. He started dropping a few walnuts or almonds or even Brazil nuts (all of them in their shells, of course) into the bags of incoming trick or treaters.

Three groups of kids had come up to the house, and he put nuts in their bags...John was very pleased with himself…and then this happened…

He was standing in the door when the last group of kids walked down the steps…another group was approaching.

As they passed on the sidewalk, John heard a boy in the first group say to the approaching group…

“Don’t bother going up there. The asshole is giving away acorns…”

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I haven’t thought about that incident in a long time OMG…writing it down just now sucked me right back to that night when I came home and John told me that story. He was SO PISSED OFF.

Honestly…I’m sitting here right now, AGAIN -- laughing so hard I have tears running down my cheeks… Since it’s Halloween week, I just had to share...

Many years later -- we get lots of Trick or Treaters, and John prepares little baggies loaded with snack sized candy bars...

More Rockford...

No matter where you live -- I hope you think YOUR TOWN is the be-all, end-all. I hope you believe you live in the most friendly town, or the most exciting city, or the most beautiful rural area...

I've been very lucky in my life to be able to travel...a lot. Most of it here in America. I won't try to name all the States I've visited. But, when I think about it -- no matter where I went -- in each place, there is something special. A mansion, or a museum, or murals painted on buildings...

In these Times of Covid -- my traveling has been reduced to day-trippin. And there are sooo many interesting things to see and do within my 90-mile radius....

Rockford, Illinois is a good example....and, honestly, I haven't even scratched the surface of what this little gem of a town has to offer...

The Anderson Japanese Gardens....

I'm SO HAPPY Rhonda and I decided (at the last minute) to meet up there...

This is their fancy restaurant -- WHAT A VIEW.!

Rhonda made this spectacular rain coat.

This was a work day for us, of course....(touring the gardens was just to get us in the right mood)...

We were discussing the next issue of Inspired To Sew Magazine.

This issue is all about the scandalous Isaac Singer (and his 24 children...)

Rhonda wore proper rain boots.  I did not.

Water, Rocks, Plants...What more could a girl ask for?

 

Well.....okay...there's dessert. There must always be dessert...

Halloween 2020!!

This weekend is officially HALLOWEEN -- and I'm happy to say the kids are going to be able to do their traditional trick-or-treating. And they are thrilled...We'll see how it goes.

For one thing, it's not like anybody actually has to TOUCH a trick or treater...just hold out the bowl, and let them reach in and get their own piece of wrapped candy. duh.

And -- really -- if anybody is afraid of the virus coming into their house, they don't have to turn on their outdoor light....everybody understands that code...

Princeton won't have their normal Halloween parade...and they also won't be hosting the party at the community center.

So, like most towns and cities in America -- there won't be any large Halloween gatherings this year...and that seems like good old common sense. (Which, I've gotta say, I find is all too UNCOMMON nowadays.)

Lilly and Warren have been back to school full-time, five days a week since August. All the children wear masks, and there are many new rules and protocols to keep the grades separated. I have been surprised by how quickly kids adjusted to masks and social distancing. 

I don't think the kids will miss the big group part of Halloween. It seems to me it has become more and more about the COSTUMES. They both LOVE dressing up, and pretending...

And, in case you missed the memo -- the new headquarters for CREATIVE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES is your local Goodwill Store!!

We've been stopping in every weekend for a month or so -- both Warren and Lilly are SO EXCITED about their Halloween Costumes. I figured why stop at just one?

Lilly found another pair of vintage high-waisted jeans -- and she decorated them with the same permanent markers we used to decorate the bathroom floor tiles...

Although, she found them on the Halloween rack -- they quickly became her favorite jeans...

The Goodwill store has ALL KINDS OF STUFF...

Lots of new items, too...

Warren loved this shark costume...

He wore it around the house for the last two weekends.

I had to make some adjustments so it would work (like, it was a size 5 -- and he wears a size 10)...

 It was the least I could do, as these kids know full-well -- sewing is my Grandma Super-Power!!

Anderson Japanese Gardens

Last Thursday, my Mystery Adventure was, once again, to Rockford, Illinois...

Rhonda Pierce lives in Illinois....and I live in Iowa. So it's a pretty easy get for us to meet halfway for lunch. WHICH WE DO. And it's fun to pick out a new town for our meets.

Last month, we hooked up with Deanna Springer (Beaver Dam, Wisconsin) -- in Rockford, Illinois. (you heard all about that). Because we ran out of time (all that pesky eating, laughing and catching up) -- we didn't get to the Anderson Japanese Gardens (this link probably won't work -- but you MUST GOOGLE IT...).

So, last week, Rhonda and I decided we should go to the Gardens before they close for the season. I got in my car, hooked up my Libby App, with a good Baldacci book...and a few hours later -- I WAS THERE.

It was a chilly, misty day, and masks are required (Illinois is adamant about masks).

This hidden gem was absolutely ASTOUNDING.

I don't know if anybody at that place enjoyed themselves more than we did that day...

A Japanese Garden requires three elements: water, rocks and plants...(the reflection is the big thing in this picture)

None of my picture do the place justice -- but I love this corbel on the bridge post -- it looks like an onion.

The original small gate (I didn't get a picture of the newer MAJOR big gate).

We actually had TWO docents.  Susan and Ed. Both very knowledgeable...and there was SO MUCH TO SEE AND LEARN.

I think Raked Gravel is such a wonderful idea, I'm gonna try to convince John this is what he should do around our flagpole. Instead of all that boring grass...

 

As Rhonda and I were both enjoying the Anderson Japanese Gardens, we remembered our visit to the Portland Japanese Gardens in 2018...

We were there for the Spring Quilt Market...and, at this point in time, you've gotta wonder when that might be happening again...

 

Mr.Anderson was inspired to create his Japanese Garden after a 1978 visit to the one in Portland. Rhonda and I both felt very lucky and happy to have visited both places.... 

But -- maybe happiness is more about attitude than luck...

The motto of this Japanese Garden is very powerful, especially during these uncertain times... 

 Be Content In This Moment...

Since I'm not into tattoos -- I think I'm gonna have to paint that on a piece of furniture....

Stone's Apple Orchard

One of the best things about living in the Midwest is the changing of the seasons. Of course, by the time January rolls around -- it's also one of the WORST things -- but, hey -- OCTOBER IS AWESOME.

There are so many wonderful outdoor activities for families in the fall. Pumpkin patches, Halloween -- and -- if you're lucky -- there might be a pick-your-own apple orchard!!

Stone's Apple Barn in Hampton, Illinois, has been welcoming families for over 50 years...

They have lots of things to see -- exotic birds...

Goats, sheep and lamas...

And HAYRACK RIDES through the orchards...

I remember taking Ross and Elliott on this same hayrack ride.

The scenery is so beautiful.

The bad news is that the orchards had been PICKED CLEAN by the time we got there! Clearly -- business was booming this year!

They had four different tractor/hayrack rigs going.  And -- the ride is ALWAYS FREE...which I think is amazing in this day and age.

Inside the Apple Barn -- there was even more to see...

And, fortunately -- LOTS of apples to buy.

Along with other Fall items...

We bought apples, squash, Apple cider, pears, pumpkins...

THANKS FOR A BEAUTIFUL DAY, Stone Family. Keep up the good work...!!

 

We had our first dusting of snow yesterday.  Today, I'll be wearing my favorite sweater...and I've got a hankering for some pumpkin pie. 

What do you love about Fall?