I never got around to doing a Halloween post, but here is the pumpkin my daughter and I carved. She picked this one out—it was huge! Halloween was warm for this latitude, a light jacket was all one needed to be outdoors. Normally I have a fire after trick-or-treating, but this year it was too warm. Yesterday, I spent some time cutting, splitting and stacking wood and bringing in some of last years wood and storing it on the back porch for when it finally gets cold enough to use the fireplace.
I had a friend here on Friday and half of Saturday. We spent Friday afternoon on the river, catching the last of fall’s fading splendor. Mostly it’s the oaks that are still colorful, the maples having surrendered their leaves. It was perfect weather to paddle, the temperature being in the low 60s.
I love it when the sun drops low, later in the afternoon, and the water shimmers with reflected light.
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Yesterday, I came across this quote from Sam Ervin, the late Senator from the Great State of North Carolina:
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"Let books be your friends, for, by so doing, you can summon to your fireside in seasons of loneliness the choice spirits of all the ages. Observe mankind through the eyes of charity, for, by so doing, you will discover anew the oft forgotten fact that earth is peopled with many gallant souls. Study nature and walks at times in solitude beneath the starry heavens, for, by so doing, you will absorb the great lesson that God is infinite and that your life is just a little beat within the heart of time. Cling to the ancient landmarks of truth, but be ever ready to test the soundness of a new idea. Accept whatever your mind finds to be true, and whatever your conscience determines to be right, and whatever your heart declares to be noble, even though your act in so doing may drive a hoary prejudice from its throne. And, above all things, meditate often upon the words and deeds of Him who died on Calvary for, by so doing, 'ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'"
What a great pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteIt was a gorgeous night for Halloween. No complaints! There will be time for fires :)
I hope you had a nice Halloween night!
ReplyDeleteIn Spain we have imported it very recently, basically for kids and grown-ups who like to party. There's always a good excuse to have fun, but Halloween has it's charm and magic.
Thanks for sharing that beautiful last passage of your post. It gave me a sense of enormous peace of mind.
That is one spectacular pumpkin! Nice job!
ReplyDelete"earth is peopled with many gallant souls"...I love that, and absolutely believe it to be true.
That last line was my college motto.
ReplyDeleteTC, I hope they'll be times for fires--I have many books waiting to be read
ReplyDeleteLeni, Halloween is being stolen more and more by adults--I have a strong commitment that it is a child's holiday
Epiphany, thanks! That is a nice quote, isn't it.
Kenju, I think both Sam and your college stole that line from someone else :)
Everyone talks at how warm it was for Halloween. Our police chief in all his wisdom deemed Friday to be "unsafe" and so we had ours on Monday when it was a blustery 35 degrees and falling fast. I think I need to forward your web site and the thousands of others who talked about their safe and warm adventures on Friday to him to see if he gets the picture.
ReplyDeleteGreat pumpkin. One of the few that doesn't look like it has been influenced by the Chainsaw Murders and other movies of that ilk! Halloween here was warmer than usual too, although we haven't needed a fire yet. But for the nice weather, we didn't seem to get the hoards of trick or treaters that we usually do. Really weird.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the quote and the beautiful photos. I especially like the last reflection.
That is an awesome pumpkin! I could never carve anything like that.
ReplyDeleteEd, I remember you writing about your Halloween experiences in the cold and rain--most years it's like that here.
ReplyDeleteKiva, thanks, Sam Ervin was a great man--a fellow Tarheel and Presbyterian!
Mistress, I bet you could! The pattern was obtained off the internet.
When I read this last night, the idea about summoning a book to my fireside seemed romantic. But this morning, the idea of being corrupted by the authors by the cozy fire seemed frightful.
ReplyDeleteMother Hen, What are you reading?
ReplyDeleteYour blog!
ReplyDelete:)
I remember Sam Irvin being interviewed after he'd retired from the Senate and was back home, ensconced in his law office. David Brinkley was interviewing him in his law library and noticed the high bookshelves with no ladder to reach the top. He asked Irvin what he'd do if he needed a legal tome from the top shelf. His response?
ReplyDelete"I wouldn't take the case."
Cheers.
VOTE TOMORROW!! YES WE CAN!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quote - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd that is a VERY impressive pumpkin!
A true fall post. I love the pumpkin carving and the beauty of the leaves in your neck of the woods.
ReplyDeleteThat quote is a keeper. The words are therapy for the soul.
Sage, the Greystone In is on South Third Street.
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