My Favorite Season Is Fall

I love fall for so many reasons, but most of all because of the colors.  Red, yellow,  orange, wine and greens are just gorgeous mixed together in the trees and on ground bushes.  Their beauty is wonderful to see. 

It's fantastic to ride the trails on horseback, or on the road by car, truck and motorcycle while enjoying the sight of the fall colors around you.  The air is brisk and to me it's energizing.  Even a nice long walk along the river can be invigorating, and a enjoyable way to get your exercise.  Wink!

The anticipation of hot apple cider, hay rides, cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over bon fires is high for  kids and adults.  Going to pumpkin patches to pick out pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving is a thrilling treat for everyone.

Pumpkin Patch in Weston, Missouri



The Ozarks

Just to give you an idea of how beautiful it is here in Missouri in the fall look at the photos below.  Even the photos don't do the season justice.

Along the Missouri River



Park College in Parkville, MO

 

The only drawbacks to fall is the ragweed and the coming of winter.  I don't even mind the coming of winter because all seasons are beautiful, and as long as I can stay inside when it's freezing out I can still enjoy the beauty.

Now you know my favorite season, what is yours?

Have a great week, and I'll see you next Sunday.

Sandra K. Marshall, Author

@ Eirelander Publishing
http://www.eirelanderpublishing.com
https://www.facebook.com/sandra.marshall.98
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Twitter - @AuthSKMarshall 

Happy Halloween

October 31st is Halloween.  This is a fun time for kids to go knocking on doors and saying trick or treat.  It used to be you could say, what's your trick? These days kids look at you as if you are crazy so most people just hold a bowl full of candy out and let them dig in.

Last year I don't know what possessed me, but when one group of kids said, "Trick or Treat," I asked, "What's your trick?"  I had to laugh because one little girl laid down and rolled around.  Actually, I didn't laugh at the time because I didn't want to hurt her feelings.  Instead, I said what a great trick. 

Halloween is a fun time for children to go door to door doing trick and gathering candy to take home and enjoy.  Unfortunately, there are dangers out there, so I'm hoping the adults will join in the fun and escort the kids around the neighborhoods. 

Even the older kids need to be careful and stay in groups.  Enjoy!

Have a great week, and I'll see you next Sunday. 

Sandra K. Marshall

http://www.eirelander-publishing.com

Trick or Treat

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow is Halloween.  The question I'm asking today is do you ask the kids who come to your door to show you a trick before you give them a treat?

When I was a kid, we had to perform before we got our treats.  I have to admit we received better treats than just candy.  We used to get wrapped up homemade cookies and pop corn balls and apples along with candy. 

Since, we usually had a foot of snow or more, we often were invited in for hot apple cider or something warm.  The homes we went to were in a farming community, and it was safe to accept homemade items.  Also, we went to town if the weather wasn't too bad.  That's where we got most of our candy, sometimes it was homemade. 

Happy Halloween everyone.  Come by and tell me what your halloween was like when you were young. 

Have a wonderful week. 

Best always,
Sandra K. Marshall
http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
http://www.skaymarshall.com

Halloween: A Night of Evil, or a Night of Fun.

You wouldn’t think trick or treating would be such a controversial topic, but it is among many. I’m going to give a bit of history for background here.

Halloween’s origins are believed to date back 2000 years ago when the Celts celebrated their new year on November 1st. On October 31st, they celebrated Samhain, a night that they believed the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. These ghosts were believed to cause havoc upon the land during this night. Supposedly, these spirits made it easier for Celtic priests to make predictions about the future. They would build bonfires to offer sacrifices of crops and the weaker animals that might not survive the winter. During the ceremony, the Celts wore costumes consisting of animal heads and skins, and told each other their fortunes. They may have used people as sacrifices, but I don’t believe this is confirmed. I will add that this is a very simplified version of what may have happened.
(Article by Diana Windgassen: The History of Halloween)

Some people believe that Halloween evolved out of the Catholic holiday called All Hallows Eve, which occurs before All Saints Day, a general celebration of the saints on November 1st. However, All Saints Day was originally celebrated on May 13, and in the Orthodox Church it continues that tradition. Pope Gregory III is credited with moving it in the 9th century to November 1st. Many Christians who are against Halloween celebrations believe that All Saints Day was moved to co-opt a Celtic Irish celebration call Samhain. The connection between these two celebrations is that Samhain placated or honored the dead and All Saints Day celebrates dead saints. This is the cause of much debate. (Is Halloween Christian, Pagan or Secular by Catherine Beyer)

Many Christians believe that we embrace and evil day of Satan when we celebrate Halloween. There are quotes from the Bible that testify to this. I could give you way more history on this, and I admit the topic of Halloween is a complicated one.

My question to all of you is do you think Halloween is evil or fun innocence?

Here is my take on Halloween: This holiday has been diluted regardless of whether its intent was to be evil or good. It has become a hodge-podge of traditions, and I believe we have made Halloween a different tradition from the originals ones. Evil is rampant everywhere in this world, and it’s there day or night. Yes, there’s more evil on Halloween night, but that’s because anyone can wear a costume and hide their true identity.

It’s fun for our little boys to dress up as super heroes and princesses, or anything they want to be. Heck, it is fun for all of us to masquerade once in a while.

I’ll be eager to hear the comments today. Grin.

Until next Sunday, have a great week.

Sandy