To Infinity and Beyond

What do you want to be for Halloween? A simple costume allows you to become just that. A chance to become an exciting person such as an astronaut or a princess.

I waited all night but I never saw one person dressed as an accountant. These kids just don't know how much excitement they are missing!

The Old Mill

It began in 1761 as a saw mill. In 1921 it was converted to a tea house. After WWII, it became a restaurant. There are massive fireplaces. Covered wooden bridges. Running streams flowing thru the property with water falls and dams.

There are pecan rolls served with the meals. And these days it is almost impossible to get a decent prime rib, but you can at the Old Mill.

Republican Coffee

I went to get a newspaper this morning at the train station. The local politicans were out and stood between me and my free paper. They cheerfully smiled at me. I snarled back at them. They then stated that their candidate Steven Levy had free coffee. Upon hearing the word "free" I became a changed person. I had to share the good news of free coffee.

I saw a fellow commuter sitting in his car. I tapped on his window. He opened his door. I told him that Steven Levy had free coffee.

He came out of his car seat as he said, "What!! Republican Coffee!".

I guess that Republican Coffee is stronger than columbian coffee and that it must be very bitter. In addition to Joe the Plumber the republicans also have a Cup of Joe.

Funny Faces

Something very sad happens when you grow up. You no longer put your fingers in your mouth to make funny faces. Maybe it happened as a result of having our hands smacked when we ate with our fingers. Whatever!

Children are the best comedy show in the world.

Apple Picking

In the spring we think about the apple trees. We hope that the rains will be gentle and not damage the blossoms. We are concerned about the beekeepers that bring their bees up from Florida to pollinate the blossoms. We hope that the summer weather will not be harsh and damage the apple crop.

But when the fall comes, the apple is king. There are apple festivals, carmel apples, apple pie, apple picking, apple cider, apple butter, apple trees to climb. Who wouldn't want to be here!

Don't Pull My Goat

We have so many idioms in our language. Don't pull my leg...Don't get my goat...Don't pull my goat. These get lost in translation. Visitors to our country can't understand their context, since they aren't met to be taken literally. Imagine a foreigner trying to understand "keep your pants on", or "you're getting my goat".

With a larger non english speaking population, it appears that our use of idioms is decreasing. You don't hear as many as you used to.

Get out of here! Are you kidding me?

Natural Selection

The harvest season is coming to a close. The field of pumpkins has been reduced to a scattered few. It takes the careful eye of Grammy to find the perfect pumpkin.

I love a good pumpkin pie, but would you believe that I saw a cake at the Big E that looked like a pumpkin!

The Blogger

Have you ever had a toy that you couldn't wait to hold in your hands and play with it? One of the fun things of observing grandchildren is that they awaken in you memories and feelings from your own childhood. After watching Eric, I remembered how excited I was over trains. The years may go by, but whenever I see a train set, I am drawn to it and have to stop, stare, and ponder its many moving mechanical parts.

The mechanical age has been replaced by the digital age. You can't even find train sets in toy stores. But the digital age has its own magical powers of fascination and intrigue. All you have to do is to see the excitement and fascination in Eric's face and the magic is there.

Who's Best Friend

Like his father before him, Eric has discovered that a dog will do anything to get some of your food. Buddy will sit patiently, look you in the eyes, lick your hand, beg, even do your taxes if you will just give him a crumb from your hand.

A dog may be a mans best friend, but a little boy is a dogs best friend.

Let There Be Light

It seems like a new beginning. Over 30 trees have been removed. I have so many trees that they were blocking the light and causing wood rot. Neighbors have said that it seems like a giant light went on.

I saw people looking at my house and having to shield their eyes with their hands as they squinted at my house. I saw old people out walking stop and point at the sun over my house. Neighbors are talking about the gardens that they can now have. As for me, I am thinking about fewer leaves to rake.

Shoe Repair

Grampy left his glasses in the car. He didn't think that he would be looking at things so close. So when Eric's shoe fell off, Grampy struggled to see the shoe to put it on. Someone "kindly" suggested that I try to feel for the heel of his foot and try to match that to the heel of his shoe. They also suggested that if that should fail, that I feel for his toes and try to match them with the upper part of the shoe. Eric was amused at my suffering and when I had his foot matched with the proper end of the shoe, he would quickly pull his foot out. It's not easy!

Three Amigos

Grampy is in his element with Ethan and Eric. Children are a joy and a gift. I am amazed at how much I receive from them. Their innocent trust in you can strengthen you. Their instant laughter at little things will change you from being grumpy to being jolly. The way they imitate you makes you aware of the little things that you didn't know that you did.

They are walking mirrors and reflect everything about them.

The Best Medicine

Laughter is the best medicine!  No matter how badly you may feel, after some serious belly laughs, you can't help but feel better.

 

If you are fortunate enough to be around children that are laughing, your spirits will be instantly lifted.

Tower Hill

Tower Hill is a botanical society that was having free admission this weekend to residents from Clinton. The guard at the gate looked like the guy in the peppridge farm bread commercials. Right down to his a-yuh. I asked why Clinton residents were free and he told me it was because they took pity upon us. There's a lot of love here!

Ethan and Eric had fun throwing leaves at each other and screaming. Somehow I got blamed for starting the leaf throwing.

Pumpkins

Fall is harvest time and that means pumpkins, apples, hay rides, carmel apples, hot cider and apple cider. It is fun to sit on a pumpkin, hold on tight to the stem and ride it until it throws you off. If Grampy tried this, the pumpkin would really be squash and not just a member of the squash family!

Pumpkin is derived from the Greek word pepon, which means large mellons. The French then adapted this but called it pompon. So when you see pompons, think large mellons. The early Greeks and the French, must have appreciated cheerleaders.

Monkey Business

Curious George is so popular that he has his own store in Harvard Square. He is big business!

Just as the tide comes in and goes out, toys come in and go out of our house. Toys came in when we had boys. Toys left the house as they grew up. Toys are once again coming into the house with grandchildren. Just like the tide, the toys go in and out.

I have to admit that a house is empty without any toys in it. I kind of like it when the tide comes in bringing the toys.

Invisible

In the Harry Potter books, Harry has an invisibility cloak to conceal himself.

In real life, if you want to be invisible, ride a motorcycle. People in cars going around curves just don't see you.

Buddy and I were coming back from our walk. This unfortunate scene was two blocks from the entrance to the woods. About six motorcycles were traveling together. The police had arrived but the ambulance wasn't there yet. It's not good when the rider is down.

Walk in the Woods

Buddy and I walk here every day. It is only Oct 4, but everything is changing. The humidity has disappeared and has been replaced by a cooler temperature. You can walk without sweating. The leaves are changing their colors.

Hunters are shooting their guns around me. I hope they know that I am out of season.

The Fishing Hole

At the Farm, Ethan likes to "fish". These are steelhead fish that you snag with a hook. This is very popular with the kids. They come to the fishing hole and they don't want to leave. Turns out that the real fun is in the catching of the fish. It doesn't really matter if the fish are real or not.

The Hat

The HAT is a highly prized possession. It is worn pulled down so far that your ears sitck out. The lid of the hat must be lower than your eyes, so that you have to look up, just to see down. You have to turn your head in order to see. All that matters is that the HAT is cool and was from Dad, it doesn't matter how it is worn.