Halloween

When Arianna was 2 years old, Bruno took her trick-or treating. By the time I got home from the office, they were done. They went to four houses -- maybe.

In subsequent years we've gone as a family. Although four years ago, Sharon escorted Bruno home after we visited our neighbors. And, three years ago, neither Sharon nor Bruno accompanied us at all.

I have issues with Halloween. Were it not for the opportunity to have some Daddy-Daughter time, I'd ignore it altogether. (Too creepy.)

Imagine my surprise when Arianna told me she'd been invited to go trick-or-treating with classmates. As disappointed as I was, I encouraged her (and Sharon) to accept the invitation. After all, Arianna seldom has opportunities to "play" with other kids.

As luck would have it, the Dundee neighborhood where she and her classmates trolled for candy celebrated the ritual, beginning at 3 pm. (In broad daylight . . . who'd have imagined such a thing back in the day?) Sleepy Hollow, in contrast, allowed tricks-or-treats beginning at 5 pm.



I. Arianna carves her first pumpkin




II. Arianna wielding a knife . . . under supervision




III. Arianna's first pumpkin

And so after she returned from her initial "grab fest", we went out together too . . . one more time.



IV. Another creative success -- Arianna masquerades as an "Autumn Fairy"




V. Arianna and scarecrow friends before heading out for Halloween, Pt 1

Leave Taking

Warm(ish) day allowed me the luxury of taking leave of the garden. This activity typically occurs in stages and is invariably dependent on the weather.

One characteristic of the 2010 growing season was "frugality". The few new plants I introduced to the garden were by and large picked either on sale and at big box stores. There were nurseries I never visited this year. As far as Mother Nature . . . she was frugal too. Especially, in giving up sufficient rain. After Independent Day it was extraordinarily dry. "Drought" may not have been a word used by experts, but I certainly felt the term appropriate.

Experimentation also characterized 2010. And with mixed results . . .



The raised beds were poorly sited. Although ample sun had been a realized goal, the distance from the house made most of my vegetables easy pickings for the deer, raccoons, squirrels and rabbits.

I'll pick the boxes up in Spring and set 'em up near Bruno's bed near the sunroom.

The native plants still capture my attention at this time of year. --Especially when they catch the evening sunlight or the breeze.





Amidst the brown and gold, surprises still can be found too. These Bachelor Buttons were sown from seed in May. They were slow to germinate, but persist with such an astonishing blue. I hope they return next year.



Of course year end clean-up wouldn't be complete without Arianna's arrival on the scene.

Family Fun Night

Arianna informed me that my pumpkin carving was without merit. That is to say, none of the St. Catherine voted for even an honorable mention in their annual competition.

Tonight was a busy night. Arianna was invited to two Halloween parties!

At Dickson Dance, where Arianna's enrolled in a tap class, her teacher asked her to wear her Halloween costume and prepare a dance that reflected the character she masqueraded as.

This year Sharon put together an "Autumn Fairy" costume. After rejecting several versions of Autumn Leaves, Arianna finally chose Vivaldi's Autumn to dance to. A bit of a challenge for a neophyte student of tap. Despite a case of nerves, Arianna's dance went well.

Then, after class, we went to St. Catherine, where Family Fun Night was held.

What can be said about Family Fum Night? From an old codger's perspective it's neither family -oriented nor fun. But, the kids like to get together and they have an opportunity to load up on candy.



I. Arianna as "Autumn Fairy"




II. Autumn Fairy and Red Riding Hood chat and enjoy a beverage

Pumpkin Carving

Bruno, Sharon, and Arianna got a laugh out of mingling the pumpkins they bought with the couple that were growing in the garden. I did a double take when Arianna led me to the patch and there next to my minis were a couple decent size fruit!

Maybe next year I'll find a better, more sunny spot.

As is our habit, Sharon and Arianna draw and I clean and carve.

Over

I heard earlier this week that October 2010 has been the sunniest on record (for these parts, naturally). All that warm, sun vanished Saturday morning. I was in the dentists chair, when the hygienist handed me my glasses and I exclaimed, "It's raining!" "Yeah, dreary fall Saturday," she said, and ushered me to the door.

Since the weather precluded the gathering of fallen leaves, Sharon suggested we drive to Woodstock to learn more about a fireplace insert. So, we headed north on Highway 47 to LifeStyle Energy, where we spent at least an hour talking to Wayne Pearson, the owner.

Although not as expensive as tearing up the basement floor and replacing the copper pipes through which the hot water passed to heat the basement, a fireplace insert is still a costly investment. Wayne talked to us about gas versus wood versus pellet. He also shared with us that he uses a pellet stove to heat his entire house. His demonstration convinced both Sharon and me that a pellet insert is a viable solution.

We're excited but still short of cash. If we're spared catastrophe, maybe we'll be set to move forward by Thanksgiving.

Imagine . . . heat in the basement again!

Not so fast . . .

Sore throats become sinus conditions over night.

Sharon and Bruno attended Lester's "showing" alone.

Arianna is still sick.

{sigh}

Odds and Ends

This evening Arianna and I went to 4:30 Mass. She recovered from her sore throat and is looking forward to tomorrow's Huntley art fair, where Uncle Lester is showing off some of his paintings.

We've only attended this Mass a couple times. It - like the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass - is a contemporary worship service. Very '70s: three guitars.

We started reading Little House again. Third, fourth time?

I love these books. They oughtta be filmed. I mean realistically. From Laura's point of view of course, but without the moralistic sentiment of Little Joe's loose interpretation. Were somebody to film these books, they'd be extraordinarily successful. They speak to so much that has gone missing in United States, but that is still yearned for.

Almost . . .

It occurred to me the other day: Arianna hasn't missed a day of school!

Shouldn't have even sub-vocalized the thought. Sharon called me at work this morning: Arianna is sick and would be staying home.

Seamstress

Since Arianna was off school for Columbus Day, she and Sharon spent time working on Arianna's Halloween costume.






Even Arianna got into the act . . .



A new gown for Vanilla, a Christmas gift from Grandpa a couple years ago.

Peculiar Day

Mrs. Zywot died.

Last night when Arianna and I returned home from her tap dance lesson, Sharon told us she'd received a phone call from her old neighbor, who let Sharon know that his Mother died. Mrs. Zywot watched over Sharon and Bruce when they were young; she ensured they got on the school bus because Bruno and Mildred left home for their jobs in Chicago well before its arrival.

Mrs. Zywot's health was already in decline a couple years ago. Although she was alert when we visited her on Mother's Day, she was not ambulatory and hated living in an assisted care facility.

Although Don - her son - was short on details of his Mother's death, he did express a wish to see Sharon at the Memorial Mass.

So, early this morning, the family drove down to St. Isadore in the "old neighborhood".

Don, his wife, and their son, Adam, were genuinely appreciative that Sharon and Bruno made the effort to attend Mass.

As is inevitable at such a Mass, one cannot help but reflect on family that's passed away. And, as well, our own mortality.

We had planned to start the day differently. And, after some conversation on the drive back to Sleepy Hollow, we decided there was no reason not to proceed with our original plans of picking apples in Wisconsin.

Originally, my hope was to find an cider mill not too far from home. Although I located one in Door County - a 5 hour drive - I'm beginning to think cider mills are uncommon.

Apple Holler was chosen as our preferred destination because of its proximity to Chicagoland and the variety of activities at the orchard.

We left the house at Noon and arrived at 1:45 PM. It was crowded. A beautiful, warm Saturday encouraged a crowd of people to get out and pick apples or pumpkins or just hang out.

Everybody got into the spirit . . . .



I. Grandpa shagging Golden Delicious (cane in hand)




II. Mommy tasting "free" samples while Arianna unpacks her bib




III. Arianna climbing trees




IV. Arianna climbing Daddy




V. Arianna's reach (with the appropriate boost) yields what she hoped for




VI. Post-picking activity: pig races




VII. Arianna and Grandpa

We were loaded down with the peck we picked. But, we got enough Golden Delicious, Jonathon, and Red Rome apples for pie, taffy apples, and plain ol' eating.

The Apple Holler Barn Restaurant was very tasty. Down home meals with abundant portions.

By the time we got home sun had set and we were all tired. Sun, exercise . . . just what little girls need to sleep well.

Where'd the day lillies go?

With the help of Bruno's old rototiller . . .



I busted up the violet-choked plot outside Sharon's and my bedroom window.



It'll be interesting to see the interplay between the violets and the daylillies. Both are extraordinarily hardy.

Courageous

We're counting down the number of baby teeth that Arianna still has. Earlier this evening, after a lot of wincing, she mustered up the courage to pick it out of her jaw.



The leaves one bottom molar left.

Interestingly enough, this tooth tonight and the one she lost last week were not put under her pillow. Did she forget? Has the conversation at lunch come round to whether there's a tooth fairy and she's now skeptical? Don't know. But, this like some many other changes leaves an impression that is bitter-sweet.

Spooky business

Now that the calendar has turned to October, Sharon is once again playing the role of seamstress.

We had a bit of drama about Arianna's Halloween costume a couple weeks ago. I refused to compromise my insistence that Arianna NOT masquerade as anything overtly evil. Since she thought she would be a witch, this lead to some discussion.

So, a fairy it is. An Autumn Fairy.

(A very slender -- waist 23" -- Autumn Fairy!)

Still more progress . . .

The "mail box bed" is coming along nicely.

All the day lilies are removed from their previous location. And, I started installing plants. Nothing new here -- except for the arrangement. Blazing Star will anchor the bed, but has yet to be installed.

Given the time of year, the bed looks . . . kinda sad.



We'll see in 2011 whether this location is suitable for what I've relocated from elsewhere in the yard.

Inventory

1. Achilea - Coronation Gold (Yellow) - Summer through Autumn
2. Salvia - Dear Anja (Purple) - Spring / Summer
3. Smooth Penstemon (White) - Spring
4. Liatris - Blazing Star (Purple & White) - Summer
5. Feather Reed Grass - Karl Foester - Summer / Autumn
6. Asclepias - Butterfly Weed (Orange) - Summer / Autumn
7. Hemerocallis - Common Daylily (Orange) - Late Summer
8. Agastache - Blue Fortune (Blue) - Summer / Autumn
9. Echinacea - Common Coneflower (Purple) - Late Summer
10. Aster - New England (Purple) - Autumn
11. Allium - Nodding Pink Onion (Pink) - Summer / Autumn