Fall Activities

Bruce fell in love with Conner Prairie when he chaperoned Michael's 5th grade class a few years ago. He still talks about sleeping in the barn and getting a couple of boys literally out of their beds in the morning. Since then it seems we have made at least one trip to the Living History Museum every year.
So it was no surprise yesterday when he suggested we go.
The weather was gorgeous.
We had to renew out membership and this gave us the opportunity to spend the afternoon with James and Bethany. They were going to have their Headless Horseman Hayride in the evening and we stuck around for the ride and upgraded our membership to allow 2 youths and 2 adult guests to come along.
Since the Museum closes at 5pm and the activity didn't start until 6pm, Bethany and I went to McDonald's to pick up something to eat while James and Bruce lined up on the "members" side.
There were three lines and when they finally let people in we were given Hayride tickets for the 6:30pm ride. It was still light outside. We waited for about 30 minutes before they led us to the "loading dock". Two tractor-pulled double-wagons filled with straw were waiting there with movable steps in front to help the riders climb in. Good thing because Bruce was struggling a bit with his bum knee and was using his cane more than usual.
As we were winding through the wooded areas we noticed two horses carrying tall figures hovering around the big farm, and Bruce even saw one going after the first party some way ahead of us. All along the paths, there were spooks. A never to be forgotten one was the skeleton sitting on the pot in an outhouse... Bruce said he had a smile on his face... I only noticed that 'he' was reading the paper!!!
They also had Ichabod Crane's grave along the road...
That's what Grandpa Brindle nicknamed James when he was a little baby... Why? Who knows??? I had never heard of Ichabod Crane until then. A few years later the Disney Channel began broadcasting and it was then that I discovered the story of Ichabod Crane, the teacher who was chased by the Headless Horseman in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".
Disney's character was tall and skinny, huge nose and ears... NO resemblance to our James, that's for sure!!!...
I found an excerpt on YouTube (part 1 of 6)
Anyway, the rider came after us twice during the hayride and chased us up to the covered bridge, waving his sword.
It was about 15 minutes long and we got back to the starting point where we disembarked.
I think it would have been more fun and more spooky had it been darker...
We made our way through the 'midway'. Bruce bought a cup of spiced apple cider and we went home. The wind was too strong for a lift in the air-balloon but maybe next week they will let it go up.
People were eating popcorn, caramel apples, tents with Halloween themes...
We have plans to go back next week-end with Mike and Mitchell and James and Bethany too.
This goes on for another 2 weeks so we might even be able to take Jon and Sarah, depending on whether Sarah has to work or not. We'll try getting a later ride...

I love Fall. The leaves have begun turning colors: a gorgeous display!
I wish it could be Fall all year long!!!

GoodBye, Muriel, Till We Meet Again...

MURIEL BRINDLE
Peru Tribune, The (IN) - Monday, June 28, 2010
"Muriel Brindle, 85, Peru, passed away at 9:35 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Peru.
She was born June 1, 1925 in Vancouver, Wash. to Wayne A. and Grace H. (Whelchel) Safford. She married Richard L. “Dick” Brindle March 13, 1952 in Yuma, Ariz., and he preceded her in death Aug. 2, 2002.
Muriel was a homemaker and formerly employed at Senger’s in Peru. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and an avid reader and gardener.
Survivors include three sons, Bruce Brindle and wife Regine, Brian Brindle and wife Leanne, and Barry Brindle and wife Anita, all of Peru; 10 grandchildren, Jill Sharp and husband Jim, Melanie Reynolds and husband Joe, Richard Brindle, Michael Brindle, Jeremy Brindle, Michelle Dunnagan and husband Shawn, James Brindle and wife Bethany, Jon Brindle, Wayne Brindle and Brandon Brindle; two step grandchildren, Aubrey Hittle and husband Tim, and Eric Mathias and wife Amanda; four great-grandchildren, Kianna and Kaylee Sharp, Gage Caudill and Brianne Reynolds; and four step great-grandchildren, Ella, Ozwald, Aaliyah, Alivia and Logan Mathias.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a brother, Stanley Safford.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home, 105 W. Third St., with Bishops Scott Haupert and Alan Hileman officiating.
Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home."
Here's the PowerPoint Presentation that was shown at the funeral home.
With "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole, who was one of her favorite singers.

Le piano est de retour!

Since 2007 I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch the Queen Elisabeth International Competition. This year is my favorite instrument: the piano.
when I last checked the website I was concerned that I would have to get a subscription to Belgacom to watch it this year but I was glad to see they opened it through a link on the Queen Elisabeth Competition site.
http://video.cmireb.be/live
I am still going to download the podcasts with iTune like I did last year but there is nothing like having a front seat to these wonderful cultural events.
The 3 Belgians who made the candidate cuts did not survive to the semi-finals: Stephanie Proot, Nicolas Franco and John Gevaerts. Their performances are also available in a podcast.
If you go here you will be able to see who played when.

And if you want to listen to the radio with commentaries from announcers, listen to Musiq3 who also sponsors this event. I love listening to what the expertise of Axelle Thriy and Michel Debrocq. Since I'm a complicated person I have at times turned the sound off the video broadcast to listen to the Musiq3 broadcast instead so I can benefit from the extra information.
If you want to try it, click on the "ecouter en direct" option at the top of the page, on the right.
You will need to download a program that will open in Windows Media Player and you will be able to enjoy the competition with me too.

Thank You Belgacom and Queen Elisabeth International Competition for thinking of us who live so far away!

Bicker Bicker Bicker

I can't believe I got myself pulled into the crazy Wives reality show!
But what else can I watch while knitting doll clothes!?
It's absolutely crazy to watch these women nit-pick at each other, say they're best friends and yet do nothing but hurt each others' feelings, giving their very subjective and edited version of events.
I don't even remember my High School years being this bad! and I went to an all-girls school!!!
I do know that girls can be horrible to each other though and not just to each other.
They can crush a young man's ego just as easily as they can a girl.
I guess there is not enough drama in my life...
In the latest show some of these women attended a private evening at Saks Fifth Avenue and I got curious and checked out their website. I found a gorgeous outfit I would love to have - if found in my size! - then I checked out the price tags!!! Who shops in these high priced stores!?
These are chic clothes but wow... what salty prices...
How do these stores stay in business?
Obviously there is still a lot of very rich people in this country.
or maybe it's just me. I can not imagine spending $1,000 for a sweater! In fact, I looked closer to see if I could see what stitch was used... might be able to make one for myself...
Do you think I could find the right yarn somewhere online?
Do you think I could sell High Fashion hand-knitted doll clothes online?
I'm building an inventory first... besides knitting cocoons and slings for Bethany's Photography budding business.

Cocoon

Fun thing to do while watching tv... eases the guilt of not doing three things at the same time...
I hope Bethany can use this in her photography.
If not, maybe it'll make a nice gift for someone's baby.
It really didn't take long at all.
And the variegated yarn really made a nice pattern.
You be the judge.

Vues de liège - Visite Virtuelle

The memories flood in whenever I see the Place St Lambert...
Maman worked at the Grand Bazar and we took the bus home there and in a way it often was a 'point de repere'.
In any case, whenever I think of Liege, it never fails: my thoughts take me back to the Place St Lambert where my feet walked so many times.
Genevieve M. told me she knew the person who created this photo display.
He sure did a splendid job! Enjoy!
Vues de liège - Visite Virtuelle

"If you start out on the right foot, you'll never have to retrace your steps."

Interesting words for today's horoscope...
"If you start out on the right foot, you'll never have to retrace your steps"

These words are definitely thought provoking.
They make my mind wander.
Things in life are not always that simple though.
How many times do we have to make long detours and end up back at our starting point?
The fun is the journey they say.
That journey is not always pleasant though but eventually we'll know why we experienced the things we did.

Some things happen because they are due to our choices, some to circumstances, some to other people's choices. We can't escape that but we can make the best of it and believe that God knows what we need better than we do and will not fail us in the grand scheme of things.

Step by step, like when we sew a garment or build a house, or just grow up.
If we fudge here and there, or cut corners, we soon find out that we have to go back and redo...
so why not do it right in the first place?

Like I use to tell the kids when they were little:
"Choose your destination and make your choices accordingly"

We all have different circumstances and are not all born with a silver spoon in our mouths or with a spoon at all... and life does throw us curves, sometimes in rapid succession.
We 'make do' until we have more time, more money.
Sometimes, that time never comes.
If it does, the work that would have been simple if done right at first, turns into a major remodel job. And then sometimes it's too late and the structure has to be completely replaced, but at least it gives us a chance to start on the right foot again.

My band-aid solutions make do for a long time but they have never been the permanent fix.

Food for thought.