A Ring-Wraith and a Gentleman

The Elementary school Halloween parade was progressing nicely – down, around and back up from the park.  Scores of princesses and cowboys and little harmless monster characters were filing by. It was splendid weather - nothing chilling about the whole affair.  Then . . .

A lone figure appeared atop a grassy knoll just across the street from the school.  It was silent, wary.  Even the horse stood still, its presence more startling because of its unflinching, unnerving control.  The cloaked figure carried a broad sword, intricately and wickedly carved, close to its side.

It was my good luck that I was armed and dangerous myself.  I had my trusted 50D Canon with my powerful 24-70 mm ready to shoot.  And shoot I did.  First at  respectful distance.  Then, gaining confidence, I approach the thing, winging off better and better shots.  It didn’t speak, only reaching out its metal-cold hand in silent warning.  Incredibly, I venture to engage in conversation.  Would it know English?  I would send a print of my favorite shot back to the school with our 4th grade boys.  They were in Mr. Clarks class.  Or perhaps he would share his mailing address – if Ring-Wraiths had such a thing?  “I have a 4th grader in Mr. B’s class.”  It spoke!

In reality I found him to be almost jovial,  very friendly, obviously full of tender and paternal feelings, a great civic-minded citizen having appeared on other such occasions for the shivering enjoyment of many.  This new exchange left me with the only conclusion I could make.  Ring-wraiths have been severely misunderstood.  But not today.  Not here.  Not on Halloween.

A Cake for Liisa

We had a birthday celebration for my lovely Finland-born mother-in-law Liisa yesterday.  Here’s the cake that marked the once-in-a-lifetime event (you only begin your 70th decade once in your life!  She is such a young 70.  Alas, I left the camera home and don’t have the portrait to prove it on my blog.)

I saw Keli use these adorable edible acorns last week and decided to imitate the best.  She used a Hershey kiss for the bottom and a Nutter Butter Bites cookie for its cap.  I didn’t have those so I used our Grandma Nebeker’s Ginger Crinkle Cookie recipe instead.

3/4 Cup shortening

1Cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 Cup molasses

2 Cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. soda, 1/2 tsp. ginger, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and sugar.  Mix in egg and molasses.  Add dry ingredients.  Form small balls of the dough.  Roll in sugar.  Flatten slightly and bake @ 350 F for approx. 12 min.  Roll tiny balls for the acorn buttons.

Monticello Man

I’m just a little partial to this handsome trooper.  He happens to be provider and protector of our grandson and his mommy.  His favorite thing is NOT posing for his camera-happy mother in law, but he is always such a good sport.  And who can resist snapping pictures of a man in his uniform?  Not me.

  

Ben and Josh Seniors

Loved his black and red cowboy duds.  And his Western smile.

 

Dark and handsome, the guy and his trumpet.  A black trumpet!

Bling on the Farm

Today Jay asked if I could take some pictures of the Agriculture Day held at Snow College.  About 1800 FFA members from high schools across the state come together to compete in horticulture, livestock, farm machinery, soils and dairy judging.

I was surprised at all the beautiful bling that showed up in the arena.

   

 

I indulged in some critter photos too. 

Some great cowboys, cowgirls and Future Farmers of America converged in lil’ ol’ Ephraim today.

What Will Become of Them?

Specially selected pebbles from Log canyon have a  high purpose.  Mark and Kyle don’t know it yet, but they are about to do the transformation.  I’ll post tomorrow with the finished creations.

Garden Produce

Besides the raspberries (being the undisputed queen of the garden), I think the cosmos and zinnias and their colorful companions have been my favorite garden produce this year.

Standin’ Guard

Autumn roared in last night.  We were up Log Canyon viewing vistas we’d never seen before.  Just in time too.  After the wind and storm came through it won’t be the same until next years’ autumn.  It was dark on the way home and we were treated to a lightning show.  Wind and lightning put our boys on edge and this morning I found their critters had been set up for guard duty.

I turned them around so you could meet them.   l-r  Teddy-dog 1, Tige, Teddy-dog 2, and Coug.  I am glad Kyle and Mark are not too old to still need their buddies when it’s a dark and stormy night.