Halloween

While we didn't celebrate Halloween in any way when we were Amish we were quite aware of the night and the entire church was advised to not be out and about unless it was absolutely necessary. Not because we were afraid there might be some spirits roaming the earth, but because of the things that tended to happen that night.

Things we normally didn't have to worry about:

• Driving down the road and having screaming teenagers throwing fire crackers at your horse and buggy.
• Mailboxes being smashed with pumpkins.
• Some teens even thought it was hilarious to sit on the back of a truck holding buggy shafts and go down the road as fast as you can until you can't hang on any longer. The buggy would then be on its own and crash.
• A few years they burned down an Amish barn.

The first two happened every year, the last two got police involved and seem to no longer be a problem.

Even though we are no longer Amish, I still like to stay in the house on Halloween night.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Joyce's husband spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste, or be most willing to taste?
Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.

No one in our house goes hunting any longer. LV used to love hunting and would hunt deer regularly while we lived on a farm. Any deer he got we used, and were so thankful that, that particular animal would not be damaging our crops the next summer. Deer related crop damage used to be awful.

I have tasted rabbit .......delicious.
I've eaten venison ......... hate it!
We have had duck and goose ..... loved both. Especially the duck which I had prepared with an orange sauce.
I would try pheasant if I had the opportunity.

2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below?

 

Several years ago we went to Mt. Davis and climbed the tower. We were able to look across the mountains and were actually able to see three different states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. I normally don't like heights at all, but the view was worth it!

3.  Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in bird prints, knickknacks, fabric or pottery.

The only thing bird related in our house is a little salt and pepper set my parents gave me when I was five or six years old.

 

4. Tell about a time you 'killed two birds with one stone'?

I started doing this post last evening and was stuck when I got to this question. I woke up in the middle of the night and knew exactly what I wanted to write. I asked myself, "Should I jot it down real quick so I don't forget?"

I decided not to, especially since my notepad and pen are no longer right next to my bed. "I'll be able to remember in the morning." I told myself. 

Oh, the lies I tell myself!  I can not, no matter how hard I try, remember what it was.

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title?

His Eye is on the Sparrow

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?

The scene in the movie Courageous where the main character dances alone.

If you haven't seen it yet I advise you to have plenty of tissues handy.

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume.

Nope, no plans. We never went trick or treating as a child. Never carved a pumpkin. Never wore a costume.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

It's that time of year when we bring in the wind chimes to store them over winter. As much as I love winter, it always makes me a little sad to bring them in. Hearing them chime in the breeze is one of my favorite things.

Cherry Chocolate Bars

Do you remember the Anne of Green Gables books and how Anne used to have friends that she called kindred spirits and later referred to them as those who belong to the race of Joseph?

I have had a few friends like that, one of them is my friend Sonya. She and her children come over several times a month and somehow we have the tradition of always making some kind of dessert to enjoy together.

Last week we had these bars that are totally scrumptious!

Cherry Chocolate Bars

2 cups sugar
1¾ cup flour
½ cup cocoa
1 tsp. salt
5 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla

In a large mixing bowl measure all ingredients in order given. Mix well. Pour into a greased 9" x 13" pan. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes.

Once it has cooled combine:

1 - 8 oz. Cool Whip
1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese (softened)

Spread over the chocolate bars.

Over the cream cheese layer pour:

1 can cherry pie filling

Refrigerate for a few hours before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Preparations

There used to be such a sense of satisfaction when the last pumpkins and squash had been harvested and lined up in the basement. Carrots were tucked into a barrel filled with sand to be dug out during the winter months. Cabbage had been pulled out by the roots and was now resting upside down to be enjoyed over the next few months. Bins of potatoes and apples lined a basement wall while bundles of onions hung from the joists. Rows and rows of can shelves were filled to capacity with vegetables and fruits as well as meats.

The coal bin had been filled and the woodhouse had enough wood stacked in it that we could barely open the door to step inside.

Geese were flying south and  finally  with all the summer labor of preparing for winter we were ready for the frost and snows to come. I used to absolutely love this time of year. Cozy and happy, time to dig through the fabric cupboards and plan the sewing lists. Time to pull out the fun crafts that had been tucked away last spring. Ahh.... pure bliss.

We don't have a garden and all the intense preparations any longer, I miss it. But with out fail, every October I still get struck with extra creativity and lots of plans for winter projects.

Winner

I enjoyed reading all your comments about your Christmas preparations. but now it's time to choose the winner of Life with Lily. So with out further ado the winner is................

Comment # 16

Michelle said...............................

I have begun just a little. We do the 3 gifts representing the 3 gifts the wise men gave. A lot less shopping needs to be done ; 0)

Congratulations Michelle! Please send me an email with your address and I will get the book sent to you.