from the porches

trick-or-treat

Tonight, Halloween night 2008, Truett and I went to Merry Jennifer and Sam's to hand out candy while they took the children trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.  All their neighbors dress up and go all out in decorating their yards and homes.  Here are a few photos several houses down from Merry Jennifer and Sam's.

      

      

       

Tonight I have some important advice for parents of trick-or-treaters:

1.  Go with your child.  They act more respectful if you are with them.

2.  Parents, the candy is not for you so don't hold out your dadgum pumpkin bucket.

3.  Please, please, please don't hang a pumpkin bucket on both of your child's arms.  One bucket is enough, because if you come to my house, I'll ask,  "Which bucket is yours?"  Then I'll drop one tootsie roll in that bucket only. 

4.  Organize a party for the older kids with lots of Kit-Kats for treats.  I think 15 year olds are too old to trick-or-treat.  Plus, they're pushy!  When I told one teen that we were out of candy, he told me to go get him an apple or something.  Unfortunately, I had to tell this young man,  "I have nothing for you."

5.  If you send your older children out to trick-or-treat at least have them wear a mask!

6.  This isn't the 50's.  Ditch the pillow cases!  We don't have that much candy.

7.  If you know a teacher is handing out candy, don't send your teenagers to that house.  They'll be sorry they ever went there.

Actually, this sounds pretty negative even though I enjoyed my role this year.  It was indeed an eye-opener.  Since Truett and I have lived down a dark, desolate driveway for 35 years,we never ever had trick-or-treaters come to our house.  We took our children to Lake City neighborhoods; therefore, as old as I am I've never passed out the treats before tonight.

I'm afraid my teacher voice came through tonight.  For example, three teenagers leapt three steps onto the porch and stood in front of me.  Here's the dialogue:

"Yes?"  I asked.

 "We want some candy,"  one said. 

"What's the magic word?"  I asked. 

"Please."  he answered.  At least he had manners.

"Nope."  I said.

"Happy Halloween,"  another said.

"Nope,"  I answered.

"Happy fall?"  One asked.

"Nope,"  I responded.  They looked totally confused at this point.  They could have taken me out right then and there. Good thing Truett was sitting beside me.  Then a little girl squeezed between them and said,  "Trick-or-treat."

"That's it!"  I blurted. 

"Trick-or-treat."

"Trick-or-treat."

"Trick-or-treat."  

I dropped the candy in each of their pillow sacks and they turned and skedaddled.

Now here's the best part.  

       

                                         Cinderella and Belle

      

                                                   A shark!

       

                                                   Scooby Doo and Cinderella

       

                                          The Markham family

      

                           And they're off!  Wonder Woman is Christy, the baby-sitter.

Whew! 

halloween

Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!

      

Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy Halloween!  Happy!

ghost

  "Pull over now!"  I just saw a ghost.  "I have to take that picture."

      

 This is the most effective Halloween decoration I've seen.  It was in a two story lighting business in Gainesville.

       !!!

              

produce for sale

October is a month full of surprising sights.  These are a few photos I've taken around our area during October.  Sights that excite children and me as well.  "Let's stop there," I think, but we never do. So on Sunday afternoon I coaxed Truett into pulling over so I could take some photographs. 

      

 This is a local produce market near Alachua.  Let's take a closer look.

      

 It is supposed to be in the 30's here tomorrow morning, so I wouldn't be surprised if there is not frost on these pumpkins.  I've always wanted to visit this produce market, but usually I'm headed somewhere else or returning from somewhere else. 

       

  I guess putting masks on scarecrows is the "in" thing.  Personally, I think the masks are freaky.

      

This next photograph shows a man that waves his flag year round.  "Come in.  Come in," he beckons.

    

Now I think I'll go stare at the pumpkin on my table.   

weeding

I've been weeding out my day.  Pulling the gnarly thriving weeds out of my work life so I can move on and teach children. 

      

               This is a Troll tree (Wild Mulberry) and it shows the definition of gnarly .

  So since I've been home I've done a few things to help me weed:

1.  VOTE!  Yes, I did vote in the 2008 Presidential election and now I feel much better.

2.  Listen to Truett read to me for an hour from "The Week" magazine while we rocked in our rocking chairs on the front porch.  I forgot how good it feels to be read to. 

3.  Help prepare dinner when I would have rather have had a bowl of Grape Nuts.

In the end,I figure it this way.  Eight hours at work...and seven hours to weed...over and over and over again every week until I retire. 

sunday decision

Today Truett and my mom and I went to The Yearling Restaurant at Cross Creek for a late lunch or early supper ...lupper as we call it.  The Yearling Restaurant specializes in gator tail, cooter, froglegs, and fish.  While we were there we were entertained by Willlie Green , a blues guitar player.  Click on his link then click on his home page and you can hear his music.

               

 The atmosphere at The Yearling is rustic to say the least, and rather loud, in part because of Willie's singing.  I think the best thing to do at a restaurant like this is to eat and enjoy the music rather than to try to have conversation during the meal.  At least it would have been better for me, but I sat by mom.  Enough said.

           

Here's a photo of the Library Room dining area.  Of course Marjorie Kinan Rawlings' books were on display.

      

       

 This does look rustic doesn't it.  Of all things...a boat in the center of the library room.  It was a nice lunch however for a spur of the moment Sunday decision.

On the way home we had to cross Paynes Prairie so my good husband pulled over for me to photograph alligators.  The prairie had little water showing but plenty of fall color to it.  I did not see an alligator, but I know I heard one splashing under the hyacinths.

      

Mom yelled, "Don't fall over the edge!"  Truett's response,  "She'll learn to walk on water before her feet hit the ground."  And he is absolutely correct.  Alligators and snakes are not my cup of tea!

 

interesting sights

Going to Gainesville on a Saturday is always interesting.  As we waited to go in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium yesterday I saw these signs.

      

 I wanted to ask this fellow what church he belongs to.  Imagine 90,300,62 Gator fans decked out in orange and blue apparel and then this fellow shows up draped in red.

      

                         You can definitely tell it is an election year.

      

   Here is a truck loaded with green beans. I took this photograph as we were driving through High Springs on the way home.  I've seen trucks here in Florida loaded with watermelons, cantaloupes and peanuts, but never green beans.  I thought that was interesting.

      

           This tricycle photograph was taken in High Springs as well.

      

And do you recognize this?  It is the Hardee's star!  I took it as a sign to eat at Hardees for supper, but Truett thought otherwise. 

Have a great day.

the spoiling

I've had a wonderful day already and it's only 6:00 p.m.  It didn't always look like it would be a wonderful day.  As you can tell, the morning looks rather dreary.

      

 This is what Truett and I saw as we drove toward Gainesville for the Homecoming game against the Kentucky, Wildcats.   We did take our raincoats but I had a sneaky suspicion we would get soaked anyway.

      

 Then within minutes the clouds parted and the shone down on those lucky people ahead of us.  The weather report said 20% chance of rain, but I have my suspicions about that as well.

Yet, by the time we reached Gainesville at 10:30 a.m., the clouds had lifted and only a fine mist fell.  Things definitely were looking up.  The day was looking brighter already.

We stopped by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville because Truett had business there.  While he talked to his man I took photographs.

      

       

 After that we got a phone call from Merry Jennifer saying,  "The babysitter canceled.  Do you have those two extra tickets?  If so, may the kids use them?"

                                         H-A-L-L-E-L-U-J-A-H !

"Yes, we do,"  I answered.  And then the fun began: 

POPCORN. 

 COTTON CANDY. 

and a new treat: CRACKER JACKS!

Merry Jennifer and Madeline sat with Truett and me and then the spoiling began!  Merry Jennifer may blog about it so I won't because she took photos and I didn't.  I will tell you, however, about how much fun it is being a grandmother.  Today WAS one of those days where I loaded Maddie up on sugars and sweetly said,  "Good-bye dear." 

Oh, by the way, the Gators won the game 63-5.  That's spoiling all us Gator fans too. 

let the gator growl

Since you couldn't be there I thought you might enjoy Gator Growl.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1511793040/bclid452316393/bctid1873910901

Today is homecoming so we'll be off to the game vs. Kentucky Wildcats.

splash of color

Last weekend on my walk in the woods I saw more pretty wildflowers. 

                                    Here's a splash of purple amid the green leaves.

                            And a dainty white flower tipped in pink. 

          I strolled on into my yard and saw the Turk's Cap blooming.

It's odd how I saw no color when I entered the woods.  Everything looked drab and brown; and then as I looked deeper, I saw splashes of color all around me.