Faith, Folklore, and Friends

 Anne reveled in the world of color about her. "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?”   ―     L.M. Montgomery,    Anne of Green Gables      First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.   ―     Ray Bradbury,     Something Wicked This Way Comes There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.   ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic...

 Anne reveled in the world of color about her. "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?” ― L.M. Montgomery,    Anne of Green Gables      First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.   ― Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.   ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yel...

I wrote about persimmons  here  a while back, but here is another perspective, surely more accurate than mine,  on  winter predictions using persimmon seed . Or, if you don't trust persimmons,  the trusty  woolly bear caterpillars  might tell you how high the heating bills will run. An infallible guide could be as simple as  watching your cat. I don't know what winter will bring, but here is a prediction I'm pretty sure about: it won't get here until after we have enjoyed October.

Saturday was our first fall day with sunny skies and a cool breeze.  We spent ours at the 48th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Athens, Alabama, along with about 15,000 of our friends and music lovers. What's not to love about a place with this many banjos? Who doesn't love fall music festivals? Its really  too bad that you can't smell the barbecue and the kettle corn and the steak sandwiches. We were treated with a concert by the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band to end our day. More tomorrow.

First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys. ~Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir: We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls, and calls each vagabond by name.    ― William Bliss

Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans, has a very sweet scent that reminds you of pineapples.  The leaves are soft and velvety, and is so beautiful growing at the corner of my front porch.   In its native Mexico, pineapple sage is one of the three most-visited plant species by hummingbirds.  Unfortunately, by the time it blooms here, most of the hummingbirds have migrated.  This year, it didn't bloom until October.   Both the blossoms and leaves are edible.  I have used them for tea and to decorate cupcakes.   Pineapple sage has been used for the treatment of depression and high blood pressure in traditional medicine. Of course, a hot cup of good herbal tea is good for just about everything. I have never been successful in rooting cuttings, but the plant usually comes back every year from the roots.  I hope it stays around for a long, long time.    

 Anne reveled in the world of color about her. "Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?” ― L.M. Montgomery,    Anne of Green Gables      First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.   ― Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.   ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yel...