We finally got a little rain near the end of October and the moisture was welcome after the warm, dry days we'd been having. The yard has turned brown and there's been no need to mow for a few weeks now. I don't know if it was the rain or the wind that accompanied it, but something brought down showers of leaves from the maples in the front yard. The yard and the sidewalk are covered with a carpet of crisp leaves and they crunch under our feet as we walk to the car or go to the mailbox.
We have only a few pecans on our tree this year, so we're harvesting a very small crop. I looked out one morning and saw three squirrels and a pair of crows puttering around under the tree. I've also spotted a blue jay in a nearby tree. By the time we share with nature's little critters, I may have to use nuts from last year's crop to even have enough for a pecan pie. It's black walnut season too and a few folks offered me the nuts in their yards; but, since I'd been busy covering news events and doing chores at home, I decided not to pick up any up this year.
I recently received a brown manila envelope from Aunt Mary in Kansas City. It's always a treat to hear from her as her correspondence usually contains a variety of interesting items. This one was no exception. There were several pictures, a couple of letters, a family obituary, a few newspaper clippings, Grandma and Grandpa White's "chewing candy" recipe and a delightful poem about a patchwork quilt. I took the poem to quilt class the next weekend and shared it with the ladies there.
I helped with fundraising in the Lions Club White Cane Day drive on the 17th and we were pleased to raise $200 for the Lions' sight conservation work. Then, the next week, I kept a scheduled appointment at the clinic for a mammogram and got my annual flu shot. A friend went with me and treated me to lunch at the Corner Cafe and More in Southwest City. She'd been telling me about the good food there and I was happy to get a chance to sample it myself. The portions were generous, so I ordered half a roast beef sandwich and a small bowl of broccoli cheese soup and that was a filling meal. I also admired the decor in the old drugstore building.
Our youngsters have been enjoying a visit from oldest grandson A.J., who's been home on leave from the Air Force. He has been through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and has completed tech school, learning construction trades, at Gulfport, Miss. He was home until Nov. 1 and, when he left here, he went to his new duty station at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. He's following somewhat in his grandpa's footsteps since Jim was stationed at Lackland and at McConnell, although his tech school was at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss.
I got to see A.J. and give him a hug when I went to pick up his sister and brother to go to the Berryville game the day after his arrival. He went to the game too, but in his own vehicle so he could go visit friends later. We were thrilled with the Lions' easy victory over Berryville and happy to hear about the win at Huntsville the next Friday. We decided not to attend the game last Friday since the weather was so rainy but were encouraged when we heard the score was tied at halftime. Unfortunately, a victory was not in the cards this week.
With the fall weather, our thoughts turn to heartier meals. On these cooler days, Jim likes to cook up something filling. He made a big pot of potato soup for supper Friday evening and there was enough left to feed us over the weekend too. My taste for sweets increases with the cooler weather. My friend Cinda sold popcorn balls to raise money for the Sulphur Springs library recently and I bought a couple and enjoyed them for a snack. I also bought some caramel dip, which is mighty tasty on both apple slices and pretzels.
This weekend, little ghouls and goblins were out in full force for the annual observance of Halloween. The rain that was in the area Friday night and Saturday morning moved out just in time for their trick or treating. Although the hospital, the Hiwasse community and some churches planned trunk or treats as a safer alternative to trick or treating, still there were several out on the streets. I went to the harvest festival at the hospital, took a few photos for the paper and sampled the entries in the chili contest and Jim was home watching the World Series. Guess we did our part to keep the youngsters safe.
Susan Holland is a longtime resident of Benton County and a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 11/04/2015