Evening/Morning all: This week should bring more interesting news about Mallachie. Check the last few entries of the previous Weekly Chat for another photo of Queenie and other input from bloggers!
Hope you all got your clocks, microwaves, coffee pots, TVs, etc., organized for the next six months. And when did BST replace GMT, at least in the summer. In the US, standard and daylight savings time have had a long and fascinating (and apparently often confusing) history, given that we have three times zones for the contiguous states. DST is another matter, with most states changing but some not, but at least we don't have 30 minute increments like they do in Australia!
TerryM: The GE Help window is pretty clear re tours. I do recall that it took several "clicks" to get the thing started. Other folks commented on that and I had the same experience in the beginning but then it was okay. I tried to copy and paste some of the info onto your page, but it included boxes with images and they didn't copy. I'm sure other folks will have more helpful info. Good luck. Too bad lovely Queenie isn't around any more. When my daughter and I were away the other week, we stayed at a place which is a favorite "drop off" spot for folks wanting to "lose" cats. They had three cats when we were there, which hung around the garden entrance to the dining room waiting to be fed (by the staff). One night, the cats were served prime rib, all nicely chopped up for easy digestion!!!!
Alan: So. Are you treating us all to a trip to Loch Garten next year with your lottery winnings or will we be depending on the webcam again? :-)
Gary: Dying to hear about your English food outing (what was it really like?)
OG: We grow tomatoes outside here but my friends who do often fence them and other veggies in to keep various critters, including deer, from snacking on them; not to mention snails. My sister has expressed some frustration with EU rules - specifically not being able to buy French cheese off a market stall (I think that was it). Is following EU rules a bore or do you think it's generally for the good?
Two little ballerinas visited the opposite side of our street but we had no Trick or Treat'ers at our house. (Apart from the pair who were 3 days early.) So, likewise Gary, I'm glad I bought treats I like. LOL
I've enjoyed the flower pics. Hope they have cheered everyone who have not been feeling well. This is a wee bit of our crab apple pictured Oct 2008.
Unless Diane beats me to it I'll log on later tonight and start a new thread. (It's only 6:10 p.m. Chicago time as I write.)
Gary: That video is unbelievable! Glad the deer wasn't hurt and took good advantage of the situation.
Auntie: A friend has a lovely tradition I will be taking part in on November 1st and it's called an Ancestor Dinner or also a Silent Supper. There are 13 people in attendance and before the dinner begins, each person tells the name and the story of a loved one they'd like to honor that night. You then proceed to eat a 3 course dinner in total silence as a way of communing with your loved one and those of the other people in attendance.
TerryM: Thanks for the tip on the Crane viewing or lack thereof. I did see the cute Penguins today though.
Toodle-oo for now!
Funny story Gary, thanks. Been out for a meal tonight and only just got back so I will be up at midnight, but I'll leave the new thread in the safe hands of Caerann (or Diane!), I have had a little wine. I like the silent supper idea, although it might be quite hard to go the whole three courses without a conversation. I quite like a talkative meal too...
Terry in Cumbria
Thanks for the picture AQ, lovely. I hope you and Wattle stay as cool as you can.
As expected no trick or treaters so will have to eat up the peanut M&M's myself!!! LOL
Caerann, that sounds a nice idea, the meal. I think the silent meal might take some getting used but what a lovely gesture.
I will leave it to you guys to start a new thread, I can't bear the responsibility of it!!
Caerann: I will leave the new thread in your very capable hands.
I celebrate tonight and tomorrow in the old way, not as modern, commercialized Halloween (which to me is a sacrilege). For me, this is a harvest festival, a celebration of the end of the last harvest. It is the end of summer and the beginning of winter. I have the flu this year, but normally my activities would include building a bonfire, or at least lighting candles, to acknowledge the dwindling light and the turning of the wheel of the year.
For many of our ancestors, winter was a time of famine and hardship. Many people didn't survive the winter months. So the last harvest feast is traditionally a poignant time to honour those who have died. At the evening meal, I always set a place for those who have gone before. It's a time to tell stories about the ancestors and mourn the newly dead. (I have been to Silent Suppers. It is an appropriate and meaningful ritual.) I do think it's fun to tell scary stories around the fire in the evening with friends, because this is the transition to the darker part of the year. But, in general, for me, this is a time of preparation for winter, remembrance and respect for the dead, and serious personal reflection.
Dianne, thanks for writing that. I love the idea of setting a place for those who have gone before. You have also reminded me of why we have no halloween traditions here in Australia. It just does not apply to us at all! We are moving into the heat of summer, with long days of sunshine, not facing a grim and dark winter with the hope that our food will last it out! Our first fleeters faced severe food shortages during their first couple of years here, but that is a different story altogether.
Smiles, Jan.
Wattle 15 thanks you for your kind thoughts. The tree is beautiful and it must be special to you as you planted it yourself. I have been in bed most of the weekend unable to do much at all. I am so sore and my face is a horror story all on its own. It is my back that is causing me real problems. I must have really jarred myself when I fell. Thankfully it has slightly improved this morning and as long as I take it easy I will be OK. More and more bruising is appearing on all parts of my body so all in all I am not a pretty picture at the moment.
Margobird
autnie thanks for you kind thoughts. I spent most of the weekend in bed feeling dreadful. I seem to have hurt my back and found it very hard to get comfortable. My face is in a terrible mess and more and more bruising is appearing all over my body. I must have really hit the gound hard. I am lucky in that I have a wonderful husband who has pampered me all weekend. He didn't want to leave me on my own today but fortunately my back is a bit easier so at least I am up today. I will treat him to a nice dinner tonight when he comes home from work as he had to cook for me at the weekend. Have a good day.
Thank you Alan I have spent most of the weekend in bed with a very bad back. Even though I fell on my front it is my front it is my back that is so painful. My face is a real mess so will not be going out for a few days. More and more bruising appearing and all in all I am feeling sorry for myself. It has cheered me up though to know that people have been thinking of me and sending pictures of flowers, trees and of course lovely Clover.
Lidnybird thanks very much. I am very touched by all the kind messages and pictures that have been sent to me. I spent most of the weekend in bed with a very bad back. Even though I fell on my face my back seems to have suffered as well. Must have jarred my self when I fell. I am bruised in so many places I can't believe it and my face is a real mess I can tell you. Supposed to be going to see Bill Wyman ahd nis band on Friday next so am hoping I will look a bit better by then. Have a good day.