Fall-ish

This is the old homeplace of a family on our road. No one has lived in the house for years, but some family members still maintain the land around it. I love to take photos of this place.

Here is my first photo on this gray day. The colors were much brighter than they showed in my photo.

So I used a filter to get back to the colors I saw without the camera. But I didn't like those power lines, or the blue tarp and blue barrel. They jarred.

And the photo was crooked.

So a little editing, and I got the photo I was looking for, that captures the real essence of the place.

I took this last week, along our little watershed lake.

At home, flowers are hanging in there. Here we are in November, and no killing frost. The lantana is so colorful this time of year.

Zinnias are still blooming brightly too.

And the canna keeps blooming and blooming.

Little pinks, planted late, are bright spots of color still.

And snapdragons I planted in the Spring are hanging in there. I wish these were perennials!

Hydrangeas in hairnets! At least the deer didn't eat them. They did eat most of the leaves, and some blooms before I put the nets on. These beauties are fading now.

One big begonia is still thriving. I may bring this one inside this winter.

Things are looking pretty tidy in the cellar. This is just one small section. It is nice to go in there and see all these neat rows of good food.

Tomorrow is election day, and we'll be going in to cast our votes, then wait to see what the results will be. In this deep red state, I don't expect any changes on the local level unfortunately.  But I am hopeful that other, more forward-looking states, will vote for a change.

And after voting, it's open mic night! A lady is stopping by to drop off a quart of sorghum molasses made by her father, a rare thing these days. I am thankful to see some of the old ways still survive.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Of Cryptids and a Play

50°f/10°C, overcast. Showers expected. 

The newest West Virginia license plate! It features 9 cryptids supposedly seen in our state. I could see the Braxton County Monster, Mothman, Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the giant turtle whose name I forget,  but there are 4 more.  Can you spot them? My license plate expires this month, so hopefully I can get one of these to put on my van. Fingers crossed!

The plate is the design of the late Jesse Corliss, who we had the pleasure of meeting one day while he was painting the mural on the Museum of American Glass in Weston, WV. Jesse worked for the state, but painted many murals across West Virginia on his time off. His untimely death from a seizure was so sad, but his legacy lives on. You can read his beautiful obituary here. I feel very fortunate to have met him, and to see how much he loved his work. 

Yesterday was a fun day. We drove to Clarksburg, WV, about 2 1/2 hours away, to see a play at the restored Robinson Grand Theater. I had bought tickets back in August to see this play based on the Sherlock Holmes story, Hound of the Baskervilles. This play, however, was a comedic version. How could that possibly be, I wondered?

The play was presented with a cast of just 4 actors, and it was fantastic fun. There was much audience involvement, and the actors were impressive. Obviously dancers as well as actors, they managed to play about a dozen roles, even down to a most extraordinary "hound".

Our son Aaron and his wife joined us for the play. We met for lunch first at the oddly named Whiskey Biscuit restaurant, which featured an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, along with beer and liquor (but no wine, very odd).

As we walked to the theater, we passed this surprising sight: a cannon made in Spain in 1795!

The carved stone plaque gave a brief overview of the cannon's history, but really didn't explain why it came ro be in Clarksburg. 

It was a fun day, well worth the long drive.

Today we must take Pip to the vet to see about meds for these two itchy scritchy dogs. I am sure they have some kind of mite, because they don't have fleas. I think Pip may have had them when he came from the animal shelter a year ago, and shared them with poor Buddy.  Luckily, this vet treats the shelter animals, and has Pip's records. I hope we can get this resolved. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Happy Halloween!

50°f/10°C, light cloud cover and a chill in the air.

Mr. Bones relaxing on the deck

I wrote this poem almost 20 years ago; strange how it seems like just the other day! I posted it back then, but perhaps it's time to share it again. 

GHOST HOUR

The whippoorwill's song is quiet
the lonely owl calls up the night
purple shadows in the gloaming
pass just beyond the window's light


The moon is riding high above
silver paints thick on golden leaves
that rustle in the frosted wind
and rattle drily at the eaves


Faces brighten at the fireside
backs huddle to the gathered dark
one voice raises in a story
about the time when spirits spark


When lonely careless maidens might
meet danger from some unknown hand
and strong men suffer deadly ends
from Satan's roving wicked band


The clock rings in the midnight hour
the voice is quiet, no one talks
all minds are on the black outside
and wonder if some demon stalks


But blue paint guards the window frames
and salt is scattered 'round about
blue bottles dangle on the trees
and keep the evil spirits out

Susanna Holstein c2008

Halloween, or Samhain, has arrived, and our weather today is perfect for this night of spooks and thrills--gray, a light breeze that creates rustling in the leaves, or is it something else, gliding through the woods?

I think we'll be out and about tonight, probably to Charleston for Brawl-O-Ween, a Halloween event held along Brawley Walkway and Slack Plaza, where the City has been very active in holding all kinds of special events. We have enjoyed going to several of them. Yes,I will dress up in my witch garb, as costumes are encouraged.  I don't think Larry will dress up though; he found his costume too cumbersome this year. We'll leave a bucket of candy at the top of our driveway,  as we did last year, just in case any trick-or-treaters come by. They never come to our house any more, as people are afraid of our driveway! Silly people. 

It has been a week of running for us, with Larry's doctor appointments in Charleston and Huntington,  booth restocking, and hauling mulched leaves from a friend's house to put on our gardens. I finished up two projects, an end table and a tea cart, but spent my time at home mostly on housework, cooking, and pricing things for the booths. I hate to see October end, as it's one of my favorite months---well, all the months are favorites, with the exception of June, July, and August!

What are your Halloween plans? Going out or staying home? Waiting for trick-or-treaters,  or do they give your house a pass too? 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.