Reblogged on WordPress.com
“From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW. . . ”
One of Icabod Crane’s sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long winter evenings with the old Dutch wives as they sat spinning by the fire, and listen to their marvelous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted houses, and particularly of the headless horseman, or Galloping Hessian of the Hollow, as they sometimes called him; all the while trying to win the affections of the Lady Abigail Van Tassel.
The Old Dutch Church was one of the favorite haunts of the Headless Horseman, and the place where he was most frequently encountered. Not far from the church, along the Hudson River was a wooden bridge; the road that led to it, and the bridge itself, were thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it, even in the daytime; but occasioned a fearful darkness at night.
As one strolls past the Old Dutch Church on a dark Halloween night, it is easy to imagine the shadow of the horseman rising up from behind the gravestones, many dating back to the 1600’s. Armed with a jack-o-lantern, the Horseman gallops along in search of his head; wherein lies the history of the Headless Horseman of Sleep Hollow which began over 200 years ago, and his spirit has lived here ever since.
Last year for my birthday, my sons surprised me with tickets for a “midnight” Halloween Walk through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. We were each given a lantern, and then followed our tour guide through the darkness, as we walked among the many tombstones. Along the two hour walk in 2-degree weather, the guide stopped at many of the Tombstone’s and gave a historical vision of the person that once was a member of Sleepy Hollow. I thought I knew so much of it’s history, but after the tour I learned more about some the strange events that have occurred at night in the Cemetery!
BBArtisans Team – October Challenge (PamelaBaker)
Apple Picking – Upstate NY
October is a time when there is a change in the air; pumpkin patches; apple picking; hot apple cider; changing colors of the leaves; the smell of apple wood burning in fireplaces’; and a time of “bewitching”! I have so many wonderful memories of all of these.
Sleepy Hallow, NY – Autumn Scene
Growing up, once Autumn arrived, there was always the anticipation of the many sites awaiting us; starting with a drive up the Parkway to see the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. Although we could look out our windows and see the Maple Trees changing from green to beautiful colors of oranges, reds, and yellows; I still love taking a drive up-County to see the palette of colors that only nature can produce. A few of the pictures shown here are from drives with friends to enjoy Autumn’s beauty.
Autumn Scene – Bear Mt Lake, NY
Or course my best memories are those of my grandfather taking my sister and I for what seemed like a long drive to Purdy’s Apple Orchard. Before we even got out of the car, we would already take in the smells of the many types of NY Apples, which would be our first adventure at the Orchard. After picking more apples than we could hold, we would end the day with hot apple cider, and warm homemade apple donuts.
Another one of our favorite places was the Apple Farm in Armonk. Although we couldn’t pick apples, there were plenty of baskets to choose among the many varieties of apples; and once again lured by the smells of the hot cider and donuts. When my children were young, I continued the tradition of taking them to the Apple Farm, where they would enjoy the same experiences I had as a child. This tradition was continued until a few years ago when they sadly closed the Farm in Armonk.
Of course, apple picking was not the only tradition carried on during October’s cooler days. There was always the excitement of going to the one of the many “Pumpkins Patches” to pick just the right pumpkin to take home and carve. Of course we always had to have the largest pumpkin in the patch, and my children were no different.
Keith (my son) in the Pumpkin Patch
Once the apples were picked, pumpkins carved, pies were made – it was time to start thinking about Halloween! My grandfather would take many of the neighborhood children and walk around, while we would run from door to door collecting as much candy as we could. Then once home, we would dump out all the bags and start trading candy. My children were no different when I would take them “Trick or Treating”, only to come home and follow the same routine of trading candy’s. Of course, Halloween wasn’t just that easy. Weeks before began the process of what would be the perfect costume! I guess it was the devil in me, but even when I was very young, I always wanted to be a witch. One of my son’s, from the time he was 4, wanted to be Dracula for years (I don’t have to name which one – but those who know us will figure it out)!! I always preferred to make their own costumes when they were very young. Now they are off to the Village (Greenwich Village, NYC) to the Halloween Parade. It is still as bizarre as the days when I would hang around the Village!
Adorable Infant Halloween Costume
Kelly (my daughter) as “Lucy” in Dracular – FHP Theater Group (I was the Costume Designer!
Of course it would not be October without watching the Peanuts Cartoon “It’s the Great Pumpkin”! Now even my grandson, Zachary, is mesmerized by this iconic cartoon!
Peanuts Cartoon – “It’s the Great Pumpkin”
These are just a few of the many wonderful memories that the month of October so special!
October Challenge- Pam/MagdaleneJewels/Knits
For anyone who has a child with an allergy, or will be distributing (or leave out) Halloween Candy for Children this year, please read this Article. My daughter, Kelly, posted this the other day as Zachary has severe allergies, especially peanut (or any nuts) allergies, which if found in a piece of candy can be fatal! Thought this was important to share this with my readers!
Teal is the new black (or, actually, orange) when it comes to trick-or-treating this season.
Using the official color of food allergy awareness, the Teal Pumpkin Project was started to let neighbors know that if they see a teal pumpkin on someone’s doorstep while trick-or-treating that the house will give out small toys instead of candy to kids with food allergies.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) picked up on the campaign after an allergy group in Tennessee came up with the idea in 2013.
Instead of or in addition to candy, FARE recommends giving out small items like mini slinkies, spider rings, Halloween-themed erasers, or vampire fangs as fun, safe alternatives for kids with food allergies.
The project has grown quickly in the last three years, with households from 50 states and 14 countries participating last year, according to the project’s website. This year, hundreds of thousands of households have committed to distributing non-food treats on the holiday. You can join them by displaying a teal pumpkin on your porch, doorstep, or windowsill on Halloween night.
This year, the Teal Pumpkin Project has partnered with Michaels craft store, which is selling teal craft pumpkins online and in stores.
Fall Scene.Bear Mt. NY
And in the End – Treasury
On September 21, Etsy Administration sent out this Memo:
“We wanted to let you know that as of October 5, members will no longer be able to create new Treasuries or edit existing ones.
“Throughout the years, our community has curated Treasuries that have showcased the diversity of the Etsy marketplace while encouraging and collaborating with other sellers. However, our data shows that few buyers view Treasuries, and even fewer purchase from them. Based, in part, on this information, we are removing this feature. Read more about this in the Site Update.”
I do think Etsy should have done some research with the Etsy Seller’s as to their view of doing Treasuries. They mention that they based their decision on the fact that “few Buyer’s” were interested in viewing Treasury’s; yet I found in one of the discussions in the Forums, a Buyer who mentioned that they made many purchases from items they found while going through various Treasury’s.
Goodbye Baby and Amen – Treasury
As I was looking through the Forums to see other Seller’s reactions to Etsy’s comment that as of October 5 – there will be no more Treasuries; I came across this comment from Irina, whose Shop is: www.etsy.com/shop/AnyoJewelry.
“Many will miss treasuries and I am one of them. Treasuries were the way to find original true handmade artists, which were not on the first pages in search. Today if I want to buy something that is handmade, I have to go through pages and pages of manufactured/mass produced things and just give up.”
Since I started on Etsy in 2007, Treasuries were such an important part of promoting! I don’t know how many of you remember the days when there were only 333 Treasury spots. One would have to wait for an existing Treasury to expire, and a space would open. I can’t tell you how many nights I was up to 1 – 2 am waiting for that one spot as Etsy would give a count down by hours and minutes of when a spot may open. Unfortunately, half of the other Sellers’ on Etsy were sitting there also waiting for that spot. So even if you may have missed getting that one Spot, it brought on so much anticipation and excitement as to what was to come.
Looking back in my Treasury Archives – I came across one of my first Treasury’s:
We Are All Artists – 5.18.08
Since that time, of the many Treasury’s I have done, I have not only come across so many new Shops I might not have seen before, but have made many friends through posting their items on one of my Treasury’s, or being featured in one of theirs.
So now that we have come to the end of an “Etsy Era”; we are left to the option of Promoting ourselves and our Team Members. I am one who “never says never” – I hope to start doing my own version of Treasury’s on my Blog promoting not only Team Member’s, but bringing to light many other “handmade only” Sellers to your attention!
See you all then!!!!
Mayslake/Peabody Estate/Chicago
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