All Hallow’s Eve

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

Soul Cakes anyone?

Don’t these look good? Soul cakes were given to children who went souling on All Hallow’s Eve. They were given in exchange for the promise of prayers for the deceased. It was believed that souls went to purgatory when a person died and prayers were needed to get them out. The Soulers carried hallowed out turnips with candles in them that supposedly represented a soul trapped in purgatory. It was also a good lantern!

The Irish immigrants brought this custom with them when they came to America in the mid 1800’s due to the potato famine. Like many customs, it changed to a night of song and treats. It took awhile for Americans to adopt the idea but they did. Trick or treating became popular throughout America in the 1950’s. Since costumes had been worn by the early Soulers to ward off spirits, that custom was borrowed too. Of course it was Americanized!

I don’t know why the veil between heaven and earth is thought to be thin during this time of year, but if you believe this, then it’s a good time for fortune telling. The early settlers celebrated the harvest with hard cider and fortune telling. My uncles told me stories of upsetting outhouses and buggies on Halloween. For these farm boys, it was a night of mischief which drove my grandmother crazy! I think they were letting off steam after working so hard to get the crops in.

I wish you all a Happy Halloween! Lots of candy will be given to children in costumes, but there will be no Soulers. There are recipes online for soul cakes for you bakers! But I’m sticking to raisin oatmeal.

Don’t text and Fly!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

She landed in my tree because of texting!

Witches and Halloween go together. A witch costume continues to be one of the most popular. Little witches in capes and pointy hats will be seen on Halloween and adult sexy witches will be at Halloween parties. I wonder what a modern witch would really wear? Yoga pants? Handwoven sweater? A cool hat of some kind?

Witches were originally considered wise women and healers. They did know how to use herbs and other organic materials for healing. Healings didn’t always work, so it is likely that was when they began to be blamed for all misfortune in the village. Witches also called upon the spirit world to help. Saul consulted the Witch of Endor according to the Bible. She accurately predicted the deaths of Saul’s sons and his. I’d say she was psychic!

I plan to wear my witch hat and enjoy hot cider this Halloween. I never learned to ride a broom, but it does sound like fun. If you do fly, watch out for the bats and don’t text while flying!

Apples Take Center Stage!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

Fall is not all about pumpkins!

The stores and restaurants are all touting pumpkins. Apples aren’t as big and showy but they have more uses. And as for pumpkin pie, I’ll take apple every time!

I did a little research and found that 2500 varieties are grown in the United States and 7500 are grown worldwide. The crabapple is the only apple tree native to North America. The Pilgrims brought the first apple trees and planted them in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Eve gave apples a bad rap in the Garden of Eden. Adam didn’t need to take it!

For me, apples are sheer delight. I love hot or cold cider and besides pie I make cake, crisp, and cobbler. Apples can also wear faces like pumpkins do, but pumpkins win in that category. I salute the apple for all it uses and great taste. Enjoy an apple or two and don’t forget ice cream for the pie!

Scarecrows Don’t Scare!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / Leave a comment

Too Cute to Scare!

People have smiling scarecrows in their yards which I love to see. This one is in my yard and a big black crow actually landed on its head! I read to be effective, a scarecrow should have tin pans tied on it so the sound and shine will scare the birds away.

I wondered what the crow was saying to my scarecrow while sitting on its head. Maybe the crow would ask why the scarecrow was hanging around my yard. I like to think the answer would be because she enjoys the flowers that are still blooming, the bubbling fountain, and the birds that eat at the feeder. It is quite lovely and my scarecrow gets to enjoy it in the warmth of the sun!

October days are the best! The cold nights and warm days with the addition of the leaves changing color makes it a a perfect month. I hope you all make time to be outside and enjoy this season, and give a scarecrow a smile as you pass. They really aren’t scary!

It’s the Little Things!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 2 Comments

A Joyful Sight!

Many people keep gratitude or blessings journals. I think a good question to consider are the things that bring you happiness that don’t involve another person. Lots of us would say a cup of coffee!

I was doing my annual switching of summer clothes to winter and pulled out my sock drawer. I immediately smiled. I love my variety of socks. They make me happy. Since it’s gotten cooler, I can wear them, and I have a very nice fall selection!

I remember a fellow teacher saying that writing with a sharpened pencil made her happy. The first snowfall makes a lot of kids happy! I would love to hear from my readers where you find little pockets of joy!

Beware of the Grammar Witch!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

“Tis the Season for Spells!

I think this year I’ll be a Grammar Witch for Halloween. As you can see I have a beautiful hat to wear. I know teaching language arts for over twenty years has made my ears sensitive to improper grammar, but honestly, can’t the writers of Hallmark movies get their pronouns right?

It’s pretty simple. Me is never the subject of a sentence. Me doesn’t go to the store and giving me a friend doesn’t change anything. I go to the store, and Jill and I go to the store. Easy, right? Me receives. Give it to me. Give it to Jill and me (Not I). For football fans, think of me receiving a pass!

I’ll be a nice witch who gives lots of candy, and I’ll keep my evil cackling to a minimum. But if I hear bad grammar, I’m casting a correction spell! I will banish any trick or treater who I hear say, “Do you wanna go with?” This seems to be the new ‘hip’ expression. To me it’s an incomplete thought. Is it that difficult to say “with me”? Beware! I’ll be listening!

Why was Dracula Afraid of Garlic?

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

Garlic can be deadly!

Bram Stoker was the first to write about garlic as a way to ward off vampires. I think it was because garlic made this Irish author sick. Garlic can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It also can make one’s throat itch and constrict. That’s what happens to me because I’m allergic to it.

Garlic was used by the Greeks and Egyptians for medicinal purposes and to ward off evil spirits. Stoker would have drawn upon this information when he decided that it could be used against vampires. I like to think he had a more personal experience with the smelly herb. Hey! It’s possible!

To me, garlic is scary. I react even to the smell of it. I was buying fresh produce at an outdoor stand this summer and there was a small basket of garlic by the cash register. My throat started to itch and I began to cough. The stuff is deadly! I can understand Dracula fleeing from the smell.

I know most people love garlic. I’m aligning myself with Dracula and avoiding it!

Dolls are Scary?

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These dolls can’t be scary. Can they?

I grew up playing with dolls, and I still love dolls. I have eight granddaughters and only a few love dolls. They prefer stuffed animals. Three of the granddaughters were visiting and I was told my dolls were scary. I was shocked! How could they all of a sudden be frightening?

Apparently they had seen a movie about a possessed doll and the doll named Emily looked like the doll in the movie. (Doll in the middle) I was asked to put her in the closet so they didn’t have to see her. I think being put in a dark closet is scary. At least they didn’t want me to go in the closet with Emily.

My former students (eighth graders) asked me to read a book about a possessed doll. I read it and liked it. I didn’t remember the name, so I googled books about possessed dolls. I found the title Bad Girls Don’t Die and was amazed at the number of books with this theme. Goodreads listed 128.

No wonder children now find dolls scary. I hope writers don’t decide to write about possessed teddy bears or about bacteria ridden blankies! I slept with my dolls every night and spent hours playing teacher and doctor with them. They were my silent friends, and I’m glad I never encountered a book about a possessed doll.

The teacher in me says, Be glad kids are reading! but it makes me sad. On the upside, I doubt if the American Girl Dolls have lost any sales over the scary doll books. Everyone knows they wouldn’t be possessed!

Squirrel Entertains!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

Gardeners become well acquainted with the critters who visit their yards. Deer, chipmunks, voles, groundhogs, rabbits and squirrels all enjoy my garden.

Last week I watched a cute little squirrel turning, twisting and chattering on the top of my split rail fence. A rabbit was sitting in the grass watching. The rabbit never moved. It just sat and watched. Its ears did twitch a time or two. The squirrel entertained for ten minutes and then a loud noise scared both the entertainer and audience away. It was unbelievably cute!

Picture books are filled with cute, smart animals that talk and say cute things. I can imagine what the squirrel said to the rabbit. The squirrel asked what the rabbit had enjoyed for breakfast (petunias) and the rabbit asked the same of the squirrel (tulip bulbs). The squirrel then asked if rabbit wanted to see his new routine. He told her a few jokes and then did his fluffy tail dance. All very cute, except they had once again eaten my flowers!

The ground hog likes my green peppers, the deer devours my lilies, Victor Vole eats bulbs and digs tunnels. The chipmunks won in the battle over my strawberry patch, so I no longer have strawberries.

My dad was a farmer and years ago when I complained about all the critters in my yard, he just smiled and said, Plant more, they need to eat too. Besides, they’ll win every time! So I plant more!

Silence is Golden!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / Leave a comment

I grew up hearing that saying a lot! Today I learned there was more to this ancient proverb. I read “Speech is silver and Silence is golden,” is just part of the proverb and the source is unknown.

I enjoy silence. It allows me to think. Ideas create stories. Reading in silence allows for images to form. When it is quiet, I can make connections between things I’ve seen, experienced or read.

I don’t understand people who run or walk with earbuds. They are missing out on what is around them. Birds do sing, people say hello and little children laugh! All those wonderful things can be heard on a walk through my neighborhood.

Even though I value my golden silence, I also value the silver sounds of nature and loved ones voices. I suspect there are others who share my feelings.