Halloween

Astrid’s flowers are always the prettiest.  Greta is serving at a soup kitchen this morning with her Church. Bet she drives there! She said basketball was hard the first day…lots of running!

Ingrid is flying as a Monarch Butterfly today. Perfect fit as they’re both beautiful 🖤🧡🖤🧡

The picture of the butterfly on the Iron Weed Astrid took when she mowed another pasture Friday afternoon. She mowed around the iron weed. She also left some False Foxglove. 

My Grandparents were teachers. After Grandma married she stayed home and farmed. Schools wanted only single women then. Grandpa taught for a number of years. They went to what was called a Normal School that trained teachers. Grandma boarded with her Uncle Judge Joe Maples. She attended Clark’s Academy. Grandpa lived at Carrollton, AR and went to Carrollton Academy. They went to Eureka Springs to take their teachers’ exam. They both passed and could teach up to 8th grade with their licenses. Grandpa’s brother Jesse went to Carrollton Academy also. He became a teacher too. 

Astrid was interviewed yesterday on Good Morning Arkansas. She is a nurse for a nonprofit that supports members who need care. I think many have mental disorders. I watched and was proud. The group choice her to be interviewed. What a honor. She said it made her nervous. She had a list of questions she’d be asked, but the interviewer asked different questions. She said that was okay with her. She just tried to answered what he asked.

 

I videoed a little snippet of her interview.

October’s End

Looks like Laura decided to dress as her mother this year. She lost her puppy but sat on the poor pooch.

Starting tomorrow we have a big chance of rain for several days. I hate for the little children to have a rainy outing, but we really need rain.

Greta finally drove to school today I think. Yesterday she couldn’t because she had not paid for her parking pass. I wonder if she’ll take Ada to school? She will be in basketball today. There’s lots of running. She’ll be sore tomorrow. 

 

Thursday

Laura brought me lunch on the way to school. It was butternut squash soup. I had corn bread I’d made to have with my vegetable soup. It was really good with Laura’s soup. I must admit that I thought squash soup didn’t sound too good. I was pleasantly surprised. She said it had butternut squash, an onion, homemade chicken broth, salt, pepper and thyme.  

Soon my Penta flower will be frostbite. I hope I can remember the name. It really stood the heat of summer like the lantana plant does. 

These are both Maple trees. Ones in front of my house and one in back. They are completely different in color. Could they be two different varieties of Maple trees?

Greta is back at school today. I think she drove herself to school. After the volleyball team lost in the tournament, they stayed in hot springs one extra night. The booster club rented an Airbnb. They fixed their meals together. I’m sure the girls will have great memories of this team.

Greta had to keep up with all her school work while on the trip. The picture is from science class doing an experiment.

Wednesday

I’m a dud at Halloween fun. As a teacher, I dreaded all the holidays. Halloween was the top of my list. It was a long day filled with disruptive behavior. Now, it makes me sad that I was such a party pooper. 

My Laura takes dressing up for Halloween seriously. About the Holliday growing up she says— “Mom made me be a witch every year”. She had long red hair and made a great looking little witch. She got her love for dressing up from her Dad. He had a huge trash sack full of masks. He bought new ones each year after Halloween during the mark downs. Here’s a few I found of Laura’s characters.

Fiona

Jessie

Darla

Sally O’Malley

Anxiety 

Mrs. frizzle and Jessie

Tuesday

Astrid has a camera at her chicken house. I this this guy could smell the chicken feed.

I started my walk at sunrise. The hunters moon was big and pretty.

Sun came up then I could see better. My neighbor has a pretty Red Maple.

My maple by my porch is turning red. 

Astrid cut the dead headed grass in one pasture Sunday, now if we could get a little rain.

Today is my gym exercise day. I’ve added a little elliptical to the end of my workout. Today it took 2 hours. My knee hurt afterwards. I over did it a little. I washed my dirty car and it filled up with gas. 

Greta’s team plays at 6 tonight. Hope we win. 

Astrid is being interviewed tomorrow on tv about the nonprofit she works for. Hope I can catch it.
 

Harvest Moon is Shining

Greta is 16 today. She’s is off to the State Volleyball Tournament with her team. They will stay at Hot Springs tonight and will play at Bauxite, AR Tuesday. Another girl on her team has a birthday today too. She’ll be driving to school now. Birthday wishes!

Ingrid was in a baking mood. Fall baking! Cinnamon, brown sugar sticky buns with cream cheese icing and pumpkin bread rolls with pumpkin cinnamon filling and maple syrup icing🍁🍂🎃oh, they look delicious. 😋 

I was tired all weekend…not sick…just tired. I think it was because of the Covid Flu shot Friday. I’m looking to feel better today. I’m trimming the vines and trees along my lane and I want to wash my guest room bedding and hang them on the clothes line. Fleta is coming again November 11. Kay and I are going to travel north up hiway 7 and eat at Hagarville Grocery. We’re hoping to see some fall color along the way.
 

Sunday

Astrid had a pumpkin carving party. Afterwards the chickens had a pecking party.

Ada’s church had a hayride and she and Greta enjoyed it. Then at the soccer game she had a cousin friend to play with. Here they are sharing their seat.

I am filling my bird bath twice a day. The birds are so thirsty! All day they are flying in for a cool drink! His eye is on the sparrow!

 

Saturday

 

Astrid decorated the Powell farm for Halloween. It’s a spooky farm.

Sigrid is going to wear the poncho I made her…well, maybe, at least she modeled it. I made it last year.

I had my bird bath by the water hydrant but it wasn’t in view of my porch seat. I moved it so I can watch the birds getting a drink. They are really congregating there. Not much water to be found.

Unexpected gifts, ones I never dreamed I’d receive, have come to me from my cousin Mike Sneed. When our dear Winnie passed, Mike offered to share family treasures with me. Today by American Express a package arrived and inside was my Grandpa Powell’s cane. It’s too beautiful to even use. I often must use a cane now. I think this one could only be carried to church. R. M Powell was born in 1883 and passed in 1954. I am honored to use his cane. When I held the grip, I thought, he held this once. Amazing👩‍🦯‍➡️👨‍🦯‍➡️

Grandpa and Grandma— young and old!