Happy 5100th (Plus Two) Post

I don't look at my stats too much so I didn't notice that, on Tuesday, I posted my 5,100th blog post, until yesterday.

So today is #5102.  Yay me!

I never would have imagined, when I started blogging in 2009, that I would ever hit that milestone.    For that I have to give a big shout out to my readers.

Your comments and readership are what keeps me going, along with my enjoyment of blogging.  The ability to combine photography and writing is my main enjoyment, along with reading other blogs.

So, how should I celebrate?

How about some photos of autumn fall color?

Let's do it!

These pictures were taken yesterday on the Vestal Rail Trail.

Yellow and red and still enough green.

We may have our first frost Monday, and then the color show will truly begin.

Wordful Scarecrows #WordlessWednesday

Here is a collection of scarecrows from the 2023 Otsiningo Park Scarecrow contest in Binghamton, New York.

This is the eighth year for this contest, where various nonprofits, service organizations, businesses and individuals compete.  This year, the viewing dates are October 2 through the 23rd.  A winner will be announced October 27.

Some entries are scary.  Some are just plain fun.  Let's check it out.

A picture and a lot of words.  This is an anti-nicotine scarecrow.

Did you know it's a Barbie world for scarecrows, too?

I call this one a tribute to the late Bob Ross, a famous TV painter.

Feast.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

More Scarecrows 2023

Here are more scarecrows from the 2023 Otsiningo Park Scarecrow contest for your viewing pleasure.  This is the eighth year for this contest, where various nonprofits, service organizations, businesses and individuals compete.  It's all in good, clean, scary fun. This year, the viewing dates are October 2 through the 23rd.

There is an onsite voting box where spectators can vote for their favorite.

The Headless Scarecrow. 

This is the one I voted for.  I don't think there is a cash prize; just bragging rights. 

One more scary one - the haunted corn maze.

Super Mario Brothers.

I call this one the Little Mermaid on the Shell.

 Let's Garden.

There were 48 entries this year, the most ever.

A winner will be announced October 27.

Thank you for all those who commented on my first scarecrow post Saturday.  I hope you are enjoying this series.

Songs of Darkness and Night #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday. Once again it's time for music.

Let's introduce the Music Moves Me bloggers.

We blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and yours truly.

You are welcome to join our Monday music group.  It's so easy. All you have to do is join the linky above but your post must contain at least one music video.  No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.

This month our guest host is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy and her theme for this week is "songs relating to darkness/night."

We are not night creatures, and night and darkness may be scary times.

Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Music of the Night from the play Phantom of the Opera. 

Here is a classic song from 1927 that has been covered countless times.  I've chosen a1962 cover of Me and My Shadow, sung by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Night time can be a time of first times.

 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons December 1963 (Oh What a Night).

 Or it can be night fever time, as sung by the Bee Gees in their 1978 hit Night Fever.

Darkness Descends is an instrumental from Midnight Syndicate.  Don't think a harp can be an instrument of horror?  Think again.

Let's do one more.

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronnie James Padavona) was a local boy who grew up in Cortland, New York.  He played in various bands, including Black Sabbath, before co-forming the band Dio.  He was inducted into Rock and Roll Heaven in 2010 at the age of 67.  The cause of death was stomach cancer.

Finally, from 1983, the metal band Dio and their hit "Rainbow in the Dark".  

And that is a wrap.

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day October 2023

Fall is a time of beauty and also a bit of sadness where I live in zone 5b Southern Tier of New York.  We still have outdoor flowers to enjoy but their time is limited.  The first frost is right around the corner.  In fact, some outlying areas have already had frost but here in our valley, we haven't yet.

So there is no time to waste.  We are in a rainy pattern right now.  Who knows what the winter will be like, except it will be cold.  One day, all these flowers will be just memories to be cherished.

Let me start with fall flowers.

Japanese anemones.

Toad Lilies.

Sedum.

What remains of one of my two mums.  Last year we overwintered two mum plants in our garage in pots and they rewarded us with bloom this year.

A fall crocus I totally forgot I had in my front yard.  It's on its way out.

On the other hand, our pineapple sage is just starting to bloom in the last couple of days. 

Another late bloomer is this heuchera.  Its leaves aren't colorful like many heuchera (coral bells); you can see them in the bottom right corner.  The silvery leaves you see belong to Brunnera "Jack Frost", an early spring bloomer.

Literally the last blooms of our turtleheads.

Then there are my annuals that have been blooming all summer and patiently waiting for me to show them in my blog.

Fuchsia "Firecracker" (I think).

Fuchsia "They were on sale at Home Depot and weren't labeled with a variety name".

One more fuchsia.

This is an heirloom marigold we bought in Ithaca, New York, at a native plant nursery that has branched out into plants that aren't your ordinary plants.  They started out slow but exploded mid summer. 

Sunpatiens, which have become one of my favorite plants.  

Seashell cosmos.  Some are white and some pale pink.

Last but not least, beloved of my hummingbird (which left in early September for its winter home), cuphea. 

Let's enjoy those last days of flowers today for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, brought to us by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. Starting next month, I'll have to scrounge for flowers to show you.

Want to see more flowers from all over the world?  Visit Carol's blog and see who else is linking up this month.

Thank you for reading!

The Scarecrow Contest Returns

Each year, Otsiningo Park in Binghamton, New York holds a Scarecrow contest. This year's contest is the eighth and runs from October 2 to 23.  It's open to anyone in our community.

Here's a sample of the entries.  I'll have more next week.

A lot of these are put up by non profits, some by area businesses, and some by individuals.

Scarecrow Shrek.

But this is a scarecrow contest....

Ross Park Zoo.  Our local zoo is one of the oldest in the United States.

And finally (for today), this exhibit asks "what is a scarecrow's favorite dish?" (the answer:  stuffing).  Entry #13.

What do you think?  Do you have a favorite?

Love flowers?  Join me tomorrow for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Puddle Photos #SkywatchFriday

While I wait for the fall foliage event to move into full gear, I am going to entertain you today with some puddle pictures on this Friday the 13th.

We've had a lot of rain here in the Southern Tier of New York.  Fortunately, we've escaped the flooding others have had.   However, the fall color isn't here quite yet.

Trees, a puddle, and, in the background, a river.

Puddles almost all in a row. 

Watching the sky is so much fun, even if it's from the vantage point of a reflection.

Joining Yogi and other sky watchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.
 

Be Like a Tree #ThursdayTreeLove

We all should aspire to be like a tree.

Trees are patient and do nothing before it's time.  This year, they are slow in revealing their fall color, alas.

I took these pictures October 9 at Salt Springs State Park in Pennsylvania. By a brook, only a little color was showing.

Here's a nearby view.

But a tree has lessons for us in all seasons.

Each year one of our parks has a scarecrow contest before Halloween.  This was one of the entries from this year's contest.  There is a lot of good advice here.  "Be Like a Tree.  Know when to let go.  Bend before you break.  Keep dancing.  Connect with your roots.  Stay grounded".

There's nothing here about patience, but perhaps I should add "Your time will come".

As it will for our trees shutting down for their long winter sleeps.  Yes, I will be patient.  The time for color will come.

Joining Parul at Happiness and Food for #ThursdayTreeLove.

Ye Old Cash Register #WordlessWednesday

During this year's Susquehanna County [Pennsylvania] Artists Showcase, we went into a store in Montrose, Pennsylvania where a talented graphite portrait artist was displaying some of his works.

Clock was not part of the cash register but I liked the look it gave this.

This store used to be a hardware store, and the current owners have the original cash register.

Until last year, according to the owner of the business, this cash register worked.  Now some of the keys are stuck.  Someone told her that if you open the register there is a reset panel at the bottom of the black section in the above photo.  She's decided not to try it.

What lovely decorative work on the body.

The other side of the register - the slot is where the record of the transaction came out.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday

A Comforting Apple Crisp

I am turning today to one of my favorite fall comfort foods - my annual apple crisp.

Each year it's a little different.  And, it's Weight Watchers friendly, so if you decide to try this recipe, please be warned that it is not the usual apple crisp you are used to, with butter and lots of sweetness.

Let's give it a try.

Fruit Crisp (9 inch square pan, serves 9)

1 1/2 pounds baking apples (I used Cortland)

3 Asian Pears (sometimes called "apple pears", but you can use regular pears if you wish.  I had Asian pears on hand).

1 tbsp raw sugar/stevia blend (or 2 tbsp white sugar) or to taste

2 tsp lemon juice

Method

Peel and slice cored apples. Add the sugar or sugar/stevia blend and mix well.  Add the lemon juice.  Mix all ingredients together. 

 Place in a 9 inch square baking dish that has been oiled or buttered.

Top with topping.  Again, please keep in mind this is an adaptation of a low-cal topping.  It may not suit you.

Topping

1 cup quick oats

1/4 cup brown sugar, unpacked

2 tbsp light Olivio spread

1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix topping together and top.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes or until the apple slices are the consistency you want (the pears may not soften as quickly).  Let cool, unless you can't wait to eat it.

The original recipe says you can leave peels on.  We peeled the pears but not the apples.  I think the apples should also have been peeled.

But oh, sniffing that cinnamon when it was baking.  Yum!

And yes, I'll make it more than once.

I like to serve warm.

Comfort food.  Ahhh...

Do you have a favorite fall season comfort food?

Mellow Music #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?

The Music Moves Me bloggers blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and yours truly.

You are welcome to join our Monday music group.  It's so easy. All you have to do is join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music video.  No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO MUSIC*.We alternate theme weeks and no theme weeks.

This month our guest host is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and today she picks a Freedom of Choice Week. I was in a mellow mood when I started to write this post and I decided to keep that vibe going despite a stressful day or two last week.

INXS's 1988  Never Tear Us Apart

Duran Duran from 1982 "Save a Prayer"

1983's True from Spandau Ballet. 

1975's I'm Not in Love from 10cc.

 

Finally, Simon and Garfunkel with The Only Living Boy in New York.

And that's a mellow wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.

Fall Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

Seen around town in the last week or so.

Bench (and photographer) shadow.

Tree shadow.

Leaf shadows, soon to be no more.

Fence shadow.

Joining Magical Mystical Teacher for #ShadowshotSunday.