Halloween Confessions

I confess that I am a Christian and I celebrate Halloween.
I don't have a problem with celebrating a holiday that has strong pagan roots.  There are certain things in the Christian faith that are absolutes and there are other things that are matters of conscience, like enjoying an alcoholic beverage, dancing, or celebrating Halloween.  If something violates my conscience, I try not to do it – even if others in the faith don’t have that same conviction.  For instance, I stay clear of R rated movies, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is wrong to watch these films.  We have to make some allowance for each others’ personal convictions and learn to live together in harmony.  You don't have to adopt other's convictions, just be cognizant and respectful of them.  I try not to swear or tell off-color jokes, especially when around people who are offended by these things.  It is not always easy to know what the Christian absolutes are, and even more difficult to abide by them.  "In God’s world everything is either black or white. However, since none of us are God, we should be willing to accept a little bit of gray and to allow God to guide each of us according to His will for our lives."  Pastor Terry Covey

There are so many amazing things about Halloween.  On this night, more people walk their neighborhoods, often as a family, than usual.  A lot of neighborhoods experience community, instead of just coexisting.  Neighbors are going up to homes, ringing the doorbell and meeting their neighbors!  And doors are being opened and visitors are greeted with a smile, welcomed, and even given a treat!  Churches are also getting involved, doing what Jesus did and serving the community.  Their parking lots are full of cars, people, food, candy, and laughter.
In Thrill of the Chase, Alice C. says:  "October 31 isn’t the devil’s day any more than November 1st.  Everyday that we wake up and breathe another breath is a gift from God and one more opportunity to show His love. Closing the curtains, turning off the lights, and hiding (on Trick-or-Treat night) is exactly what Satan wants us to do. We are children of light so shine bright, especially on what is considered a 'dark day'."

In some of the research I did on Halloween (Huffington post 10/24/2014) I found that originally, you had to dance for your 'treat'.  I would do this!  "Most experts trace trick-or-treating to the European practice of 'mumming' or 'guysing', in which costume-wearing participants would go door-to-door performing dances, songs, and plays, in exchange for treats."

Father Danielson and Sister Valencia

I confess that I am sometimes a Facebook creeper.  Look at this cute photo of Dan and Vale I found, and took off Facebook.  Now I have someone to go to with all my Halloween confessions.  😜  And how coincidental that this was their costume for this year.


I confess that Friday night I had four beers, twice my limit.  When I woke up Saturday I was still tired and had a headache.  Look at the bags under my eyes.  (this photo was actually taken to show Monita on my lap.)





Rain started during the night and continued all day.  The temperature had also dropped (it was in the mid to upper 30's all day) and not a soul was seen on the golf course.  It was a quiet, lazy day with the gas fire going during most of it.


Monita has started scratching, chewing, and licking at her right shoulder, and has made a bunch of sores there.  I applied coconut oil which I heard would help, but then she licked it all the more (seen right).







Naps were taken by all, Joe and I included.
I confess that I never left the house all day long.  I made Joe walk the dog, in the rain, each time she needed to go out, and I stayed in my PJ's the ENTIRE day.  I did get this blog started, read, was a Facebook creeper, and sat gazing out the window.

Sunday morning when I took Maggie out for her first walk at 5:30, I nearly wiped out on the side deck by the garage.  It was covered in snowy ice and slicker than snot.  It didn't help that the dog was pulling on the leash, full speed ahead, for her first walk of the day.



I confess that when the sun came up and I saw this dusting of snow, I was ready to put all the Halloween decorations away and get out my Christmas stuff.  Christmas is by far my favorite holiday!

This was my view as I backed out the drive on the way to Church.  That is Monita sitting by Maggie at the front window.


And notice the snow covered roof.








I had to get gas and then went to Food City on my way home from Church.  The remainder of the day was almost a repeat of the day before ... LAZY! 



I did make it out the door to go to the gym.



First I dropped by Karen's to look at the lilac bushes she wants to get rid of.  This doe and her triplets from this spring were munching in the yard right across the street.
My workout included 30 minutes on the elliptical after lifting weights.  Then it was a quiet evening at home since Joe was at another poker gig, showing off his trophy.

I was up way too early Monday morning, and finally got out of bed at 3:00.  This photo, taken with a flash, shows the cats sleeping together on the dog's bed.  Monita had woken up and started licking and biting at her sores.

I quickly got caught up on my blogging, so started playing games on my computer.  Boy that can suck you in and pass a lot of time before you know it.  I also took a little nap in front of the fire before going to Ballroom aerobics.

My Christmas Cactus is starting to bloom.

I confess that I have always swiped all the best chocolates out of the treat bag before the trick-or-treaters come to our door.  However, once we moved here and I discovered that in Fairfield Glade we don't get any trick-or-treaters, I now buy all good candy, or give Joe the cast offs if there are any.  Usually the bag of candy is gone before Halloween night anyways.



It was still rather chilly, but at least the sun was shining, so the house seemed warmer.  Transitioning from summer, we keep the daytime thermostat set at 65 degrees but will set it lower as we adjust to the cold.







The dog and cats can usually be found lying in the sun.
I confess that I had a third cup of tea after Ballroom Aerobics and finished off the good Halloween candy.  I still had some not-so-good stuff to give out if anyone should happen to come to our door.


After another short nap, I went to the barn.  I left there, on Amiga's back, at 1:15.  The young geldings and Zorro, came running up to their fence to check us out.








I met up with Jan and Betty on the woodland trail leading from Terry's pasture.  We covered about six miles back in the south east section of undeveloped roads in the Glade.  Here we are seen riding on Marmaduke (video). 


We also took a mowed path (utility easement) and ended up in farm country off Chestnut Hill Rd.  In this photograph you can barely see the American flag flown from the barn of this place.

Coming back over the spillway at lake Kirkstone, we stopped to let our horses look at some kayaks.




 









The shadows were getting longer and the temperature dropping as we headed for home.  Betty and Jan escorted me to the Holly Trail off of Stratford Dr.



Amiga and I had to high-tail it back because Joe had texted that we would be going to dinner an hour earlier than planned and at a restaurant 15 minutes farther away.







Zorro and Rocky heading back out to their pasture for the night, as I am quickly un-tacking Amiga.




Joe and I met Andy, Brian, and John (seen in red shirt) at Vegas restaurant in Crossville.  Great food, drinks, and conversation were enjoyed by all.

Soon after we got home, Joe and I watched the movie 'Taking Chance,' based on a true story about Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, who accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps (whom he did not know) back to his home town.  This sure caused me to gain a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made in war, than ever before.

I confess that I am afraid to watch scary movies.  Kid Halloween movies are about the scariest that I can handle.  I do not understand why some people enjoy feeling so scared.

Tuesday morning was spent here at my computer.  Monita is seeking my lap more and more often. 😺






I had an early lunch and then went out to work in the yard.  I cleaned out and brought in four potted plants, including the two tomato on the deck.  Then I started looking for a spot to re-home this → holly bush (July photo) that crowds the drive and front walk.







I picked up some large sticks, removed a dead bush from the corner of our house where the screened porch off our bedroom is, and I watered the red bud I had transplanted several days ago.



I decided not to put the holly there, because I hope to convert that porch into a sunroom / office and it will be in the way during construction.

So I decided on this spot (seen below) near our drive on the mailbox side.  I had to weed, dig up lots of iris bulbs, transplant a phlox, and pick up lots of rocks.




Once I had the spot ready, I had to wait on Joe to help me by using the SUV to pull the bush out of it's lodging.  I trimmed the bush way back and started digging it up until Joe got home from golf.

It wasn't too difficult getting the bush dug up, but I worried we may have done too much damage to its roots and trunks.  Time will tell.

I needed Joe's help to drag the bush up the drive and to it's new location, and I struggled getting it positioned just right in the hole I had dug.  But, seen below, is where I got the bush planted and it now lives.

It had gotten dark before I finished so the iris bulbs still needed to be planted and large rock and small rocks better positioned.  Again, in due time.





A few photos earlier, you can see the two yellow mums I put in the spot where the holly had been.  This area also needs a little more work... to be continued later. 

Below, you can see both the new and old location of the holly.  There is also a big difference in appearance between spring and fall.

















I had a half hour to feed pets, shower, and put on my Halloween costume.  But I made it and was on time at Legends for the Halloween Scary-Okee Party.  I had dinner with Mary, Janet, two other couples, and eventually Shirley (who came from band practice).  Seen right, the judging during the costume contest.  I was busy eating so didn't join in.  Karaoke doesn't usually lend itself to very good dance music, and tonight, some of the singing was quite bad.  But we still had fun, did a few line dances, and enjoyed joking around.

I confess that I DO believe in ghosts, or spirits in limbo, or something like that.  But I think of most of them as good spirits.  I also believe in something far scarier, so I don't mess with junk like Ouija boards.

Wednesday, 10:30-1:30 I was at Lady's Club.  Our speaker was Richard Cook who gave a great presentation on The Manhattan Project.  The slide show and history was fascinating.  I took special interest because I knew Uncle Bob had worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during this time.  I wish I knew when and where exactly he worked.  Here is a little of the history if you are interested.
 
I took these photos off the internet.

The Manhattan Project was a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons.  Project engineers had to quickly build this top-secret town (of Oak Ridge) to accommodate 30,000 workers--as well as build the enormously complex plants.  It was completed in 18 months.

This is a 1947 aerial view of the K-25 gaseous diffusion plant.  This building at Oak Ridge was the world's largest building, with over 1,640,000 square feet.

Y-12 is the World War II code name for the electromagnetic isotope separation plant producing enriched uranium (for the first atomic bombs) at the Clinton Engineer Works in Oak Ridge.  As the crow flies, this building is 25 miles from Fairfield Glade.

The Calutron Girls

Seen right, in a US government photo by Ed Westcott, are the women of the Manhattan Project operating calutron control panels at Y-12.  Known now as the “calutron girls,” the women, many just out of high school, outperformed their more educated counterpart, proving in a week-long test to have a better feel for how to adjust the knobs to optimize production than Ph.D. physicists.

The Calutron Girls were brought to Oak Ridge to unknowingly help build the atomic bomb.  The project, and whole town actually, was kept very secret.  Only a very small percent of people truly knew what was going on.  Security was very high and employees were inculcated to keep quiet about the work they did.  They were also discouraged from leaving town.  One of these ladies who joined us at Lady's Club had come along with the speaker.

After Lady's Club, I spent the afternoon in town shopping, getting house and pet supplies, food, and a few more plants for out front.  I accidentally broke off a few stems from the purple mum I got at half price, so put them in a little vase to add to my table decoration.

Since Joe was at poker till 2 am, it was a quiet evening at home (except once when the dog was going nuts barking).  I confess that when Joe is gone and the dog gets scared of something she heard, I spend the rest of the night slightly freaked out myself.

Thursday morning I used the notes I had taken during Lady's Club presentation, and did some additional research, to blog about The Manhattan Project.










Then I went out to work on straightening up the gardens (including some more planting) that I hadn't finished a few days earlier.  I added the purple mum, moved a little bush and added another little bush here in front.

Then Joe and I loaded tools and dog into the SUV and headed to Stratford Drive where we met Jan.

We hiked the trail, negotiating the creek so we wouldn't get our feet wet, and went up the hill on the other side.








A short distance in from the beginning of the trail near Wildwood, we stopped at the point where I wanted Joe to saw off the pointy part of a log that sticks out, crowding the trail, and worries me that it might cut a horses leg if they were to get snagged on it.

Then we slowly made our way back on the trail, Joe sawing and cutting out large obstructions, mainly roots.  Jan trimmed all the smaller branches and roots to widen the trail and I raked and removed leaves, rocks, and roots the other two had missed.

The pick-axe Joe bought at an estate sale did great at leveling the path going sideways along the hill.  I only got about half of the trail raked, while Jan and Joe just about totally cleared it of the new growth that has occurred in the past year. 

Joe was tired and ready to head home, but I convinced him to help me dig up one dogwood I had eyed and marked weeks ago.  It is quite tall and its branches don't start until probably ten feet up, although it has lost all its leaves for this year.  We had to tie the branches and had them sticking out the window three or four feet when driving home.






I had the new hole mostly ready, where I had dug up the red bud, so got the tree planted fairly quickly. 
You can see the branches go higher than the top of the bird feeder pole, but don't start until above the deck rail.






This tree will be less dense in foliage than the red bud, so we can see through it, but will provide the birds some protection while at the feeders.  I realize it's kind of hard to see the branches in these photos.

We ended the evening watching both our survivor shows.

Friday morning when I saw that the rain wasn't supposed to start until noon, I headed back to the riding trail to continue clearing rocks and leaves from it.  Maggie kept me company, but not twenty minutes after I started working, a little storm blew up.

The thunder frightened Maggie and she wanted to run for cover, but didn't know where to go.  I found 'shelter' (above photo) from the rain and had to encouraged Maggie to stay put with me under some denser foliage.  Fortunately, it was a very short storm, but we still both got quite wet.  At least it was in the mid 60s so I was plenty warm, even in just a wet t-shirt.

The rain had made it kind of muddy though.  Joe came at the designated time to help clear a difficult spot on the trail and then help me with another dogwood tree.  Just as he arrived, it started pouring again.  He said forget working on the trail, because it looked like this time the rain was going to hang around awhile.  I was already wet and muddy, so convinced Joe to wait while I dug up a second dogwood.

Just as I had the tree ready to put on a tarp and load into the SUV, the rain subsided.  We got the tree home and I planted it, seen here by the big tree with the duck house.

















I came in and immediately started laundry, stripping off my wet muddy clothes right there in the laundry room.  The cats decided the laundry basket was another piece of playground equipment.

 

I ate a late lunch, hung out, rested, and took some photos of our pretty back yard.  The colors have been magnificent this fall.
Once laundry was done and put away, the cat's in the bag... the cats resorted back to their bag to play in (video)... and now the cat's out of the bag. 















I went to the gym to lift weights and shower.  Since I had limited time, I saved my aerobic workout for an evening of dancing.

The party was at R-Place, where I met this group for dinner.  Donna is in the back right giving the peace sign.










Jeff Allen played guitar and sang to the music his whole band had recorded.  He was great.  There were many good sing-along songs and tons of dance music.

Well I hope you all had a  spooktacular Halloween.  Now that it has come and gone, I have one more confession to make.

I confess that on Halloween night, after my very young children had brought home a loot of candy and gone to bed, I would confiscate lots of it.  You see, it wasn't healthy for their little growing bodies. 😈 😒 😋  And of course, eventually, I ate all the good stuff.  And, some of it would even wind up in the kids Christmas stocking.  I am thrifty like that.