Halloween 2011

I wondered if last year had been our last Halloween. For the past couple years, Arianna has gone trick or treating with friends. So, when she was invited to go with her friend Peyton J., I didn't think she'd want to go through the neighborhood with ol' Dad. Especially given the fact that she designed her own costume this year.

I was wrong. It may very well have been the last dance, but at least I got one more go round the neighborhood with my daughter.


Shrunken heads. Dried apples. A craft Arianna and Sharon came up with.

This year everybody had a hand in carving pumpkins. Can you guess who carved which spook?

A skeleton made from plastic milk jugs. A school craft. (This is what I pay tuition for?)

Waiting for Arianna to return with a bag of candy.

Robie House

Arianna's History Fair project took us to Hyde Park today. Robie House, which I must have passed dozens of times in my years of comings and goings without a second thought, was Arianna's chosen destination.







Tours are conducted at many of the Wright homes throughout Chicagoland. Today was not especially crowded.




Since we arrived early, we toured the neighborhood to compare the various architectural styles and Arianna was able to snap a few pictures of the exterior of the house (above), including a picture of Dad.



No pictures were allowed in the house itself. We weren't certain why this was the case. Had it to with the Wright Foundation's concern with copyright infringement of design elements, or flash bulb issues?

Notwithstanding the prohibition, the docent who led us around the house and provided the background information was very knowledgeable and ready with answers to numerous questions. Arianna too was able to identify key architectural points and, I think, was excited by actually being able to see a house outside of the pages of a book.

Gypsy

Arianna is taking a lot of initiative in creating her Halloween costume this year. Oh, Sharon is still a close partner in this artistic endeavor, but Arianna's ideas are holding sway.

How many more years?

Litter

What a peculiar year it's been in the garden. We've had a lot of heat and moisture, which accounts for why the vegetable garden took off. Now, contrary to expectations, it's warm and dry. As a result . . . not much too look at as far as fall color is concerned. However, the leaves have almost completely fallen. Rare. For the hickories and oaks tend to hold their leaves, often throughout the length of Winter.

A bird's-eye view of the backyard.

Critter

I had done a double-take. Not knowing whether I actually saw a creature scurrying beneath the leaves and vines of the garden, I continued mowing the lawn. Didn't think twice about it.

Then, Arianna snapped a picture of a groundhog, who - apparently - is the critter enjoying the cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli.

We'd never seen a groundhog in the neighborhood before. So, the presence of this fur ball has caused a bit of a stir. I don't know whether we laugh more at his brazenness or his waddle.

Good bye

The Columbus Day holiday was jam packed with activities - Frankenmuth, Cider Mill, Charlie Chan movies, conversation, and lots of kidding around. But tomorrow Arianna is back in school, so today we're off.

In preparation for the journey, Arianna readies the GPS.




Leave taking is always difficult. It has always been difficult.




A bite to eat before at a Michigan rest stop near Battle Creek.




If there's ever any doubt about the flexibility of children, here's proof. A couple hours after our return to Sleepy Hollow, Arianna was thinking about Halloween.

Cider Mill

Another glorious Autumn day. Sun. Warm temperatures. A day just perfect for driving to the local cider mill and spending time outside.

In SE Michigan, cider mills are popular; there are many to choose from. Today we stayed close to Oma's, and went to Blake's Farm.




In addition to apples, a lot of pumpkins were available too.






It was crowded at the Farm. Wait time for donuts and cider was less than that for Aunt Christa and William - or so it seemed.

MI Birthday

Road trip!

This year my Mom's birthday coincided with the Columbus Day school holiday, so Arianna and I set off for Michigan Friday afternoon.

Arianna traveled well. She was patient, focused on her own activities, and never grumbled about the time it took to arrive in the metro-Detroit area.

Today my sister, Marikay, drove us to Frankenmuth. We visited Bronner's, had supper at the Bavarian Inn, and strolled along the banks of the Cass River.



I. Arianna and Oma outside Bronner's Christmas store




II. Wood bridge spanning the Cass River, Frankenmuth, MI

Later, after we returned to Oma's apartment, my sister Christa and her family -- who did not accompany us to Frankenmuth -- came by for cake and ice cream.






III. Christa, Marikay, Arianna and Oma

Aviary

Not much in the way of garden photos this year. But, today these opportunities couldn't be let to pass.



I. Asters, Goldenrod, and Monarch




II. Asters, Goldenrod, and Monarch




III. Finches

Incognito