Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. What could be more fun than giving candy out to little kids. Somehow I always end up living in a place where there aren't many kids around. So, this year I'm going to Mom & Dad's because they get lots of trick or treaters. Here's what I'm going to wear. Hope I don't scare anyone.

Everything is different in Florida. Witches fly into palm trees. Splat!!!

Even the pumpkins are different .

I love how everyone decorates.

My kitchen table.

My favorite lava lamps.

There's definitely magic in the air on Halloween night ...

Hilary's Restaurant, Royal Palm Beach, FL

Yesterday we met Mom & Dad for lunch at one of our favorite spots. They just got off the golf course. Aren't they lookin' good?

Hilary's is known for the biggest corned beef sandwich 'in the West'. And, its the best.

Its so nice to be able to hang with them again!

Emily goes to Camp

It was a beautiful day when we took Emily to Camp.

Morgan was happy to see her.

Sebastian is ready to play.

Emily loves her cousins!

Thanks Stevie for taking such good care of 'The Monster'.

A 'Spooktacular' Sunday

I have always loved Boston since I first went to school there.

Its fun to take the 'T' into the city. You always see such interesting people! Who knows what that sideways peace sign means?





















Heading for Katie's I get off at Kendall Square. This is sure different from Maine!

Katie cooked up ghostly treats!



Here's some of my favorites.

Sarah brought these 'Fuzzy Things'

Judy's tombstones.

We loved playing with the Nintendo Wii. All those golf lessons paid off - I got a hole in one!

Thanks Katie & Raf for a fun day!

Lunch at Newicks's Restaurant - Dover, NH

The first stop on the way north, and the last stop on the way south - Newick's for a cup of New England Clam Chowda' and a lobster roll.

Located along the shores of Great Bay

Sarah & Nathan enjoy their drinks.

Always a special treat.

What's this?

Here's a hint - you can plant them or eat them.

Baked Stuffed Pumpkin

This is a great dish to take to a Fall Dinner Party.

Baked Stuffed Pumpkin

12-18 inch sugar pumpkin
4 apples peeled and cored
2 oranges, peeled, seeded, and chopped
½ cup maple syrup
¼ tspn. Cinnamon
1 Cup cranberries
¼ Cup Sugar
1 Cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
1 Cup Raisins
¼ tspn. Nutmeg

Chop cranberries and mix with sugar. Set aside. Scrub pumpkin. Cut out a 4-6 inch circle from the top to serve as a cover, using the stem as a handle. Scrape out and discard the seeds and stringy interior. Combine the remaining ingredients, and cranberry mixture. Spoon the mixture into the pumpkin shell. Top with the pumpkin cover. Place in a deep dish pie plate and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour until a fork penetrates the pumpkin easily. Serve directly from the pumpkin.

Note: This makes a lot of filling. I bake the rest in a baking dish.

Leaves

Beautiful Sugar Maple Trees

Red Tree & Trucks

The maple leaves have fallen. There's snow in the forecast....

Time to Plant Garlic

This time of year when everything is dying back, its great to plant something for next summer. Garlic should be planted mid to late October in Maine.

This year I planted two types – Persian Garlic & Music Pink.

Break the bulb into individual cloves. Plant 5-6 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. I use my bulb planter to make the holes.

In the spring, green tips will emerge. Cut off the flower tips, called scapes,

as they curl. You can use them in recipes instead of a clove of garlic - just chop them up.

Each clove becomes an entire bulb. Garlic is ready to harvest when 5-6 green leaves remain (early August). This year I left mine in too long, and the cloves separated.

Cure in a shady dry place until dry.

Monhegan Island, Maine

Fall is a good time to visit Monhegan Island, which is a small rocky island, 10 miles off the coast of Maine. We got up bright and early in the morning and drove to New Harbor where we caught the ferry.

Upon arriving on Monhegan, and stepping off the boat, we immediately felt the atmosphere of island life - relaxation and quiet.

After a stop at Barnacle's restaurant for scones, we hiked up the hill into the village where there are artist's galleries, shops, and a one room schoolhouse that is still in use today.

The old ice house.

There are no cars or paved roads on the island. But, there are some cool old trucks and chickens crossing the road.

We watched an artist paint the harbor and the yellow house.

Monarch butterflies enjoy the asters.

Once outside the village there are over 17 miles of hiking trails through a fir and spruce forest. The island is only 1 3/4 mile long by 1/2 mile wide, so we were able to hike to the other side where it was so clear we could see views of the Camden Hills.

We came upon these lobster buoys outside a fisherman's house.

Who wants to come with me next year?

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Octoberfest at the Union Church in Belgrade Lakes Village.