 My Mom's Halloween Cat Photo Minutes before the "witching hour", I went upstairs and quietly got ready for bed. Nigel slept neatly tucked under the blanket; his breath soft and deep. I slipped into my side of the bed and recited evening prayers in silence. Off In the distance, something softly jangled. It stopped and jangled again; stopped again and began again. I would have dismissed the sound but it became more frustrated. It suddenly dawned on me that someone was testing keys in an attempt to unlock the door two flights below ! At that very moment, THE DOOR UNLOCKED and BANGED SHUT !!! HEAVY FOOTSTEPS of a MAN BOUNCED UP the FIRST FLIGHT ! ALARMED and TERRIFIED, I immediately jostled Nigel's arm and anxiously whispered, "Nigel, someone's in the house ! Wake up !" But Nigel was in deep sleep, obviously not comprehending. He shook me off and shooshed me with annoyance. Everything was completely quiet now. My ears were perked like a doberman. For a moment, I questioned myself about what I had just heard. Just then, THE KITCHEN CABINET DOORS BEGAN TO SLAM ! The housebreaker was obviously in a terrible rush, searching for something and CRASHING each cabinet door in hasty succession ! The clatter horrified me and my heart palpitated with panic. Without delay, the heavy feet thumped up the remaining set of stairs and ENTERED the bedroom suite where we lay !!! There had been no time to hide in the closet or under the bed. There was nothing within my reach that could be used as a weapon ! I KNEW THE STRANGER COULD SEE US NOW ! ! ! I begged God for our safety and pretended to sleep. I lay Frozen with fear, my heart beating hard with horror. His now cautious steps came closer and then a succession of swishing sounds followed by a ! ! ! SHOCKING SMASH ! ! ! as metal hangers clanged across the oak floor ! Everything fell oddly silent again... but that's when the very WORST happened ! THE INTRUDER BENT HIS FACE INCHES DIRECTLY OVER MY OWN ! I CLEARLY FELT and SMELLED HIS AWFUL BREATH ON MY FACE ! ! ! He was checking me out, watching to see if I would flinch... I thought my thumping heart would give me away for certain when... Nigel snapped on his bedside lamp and exclaimed, " WHAT THE HECK WAS ALL THAT ? " The breathing sensation instantly vanished. I bravely opened my eyes, uncertain what I would discover. Nigel and I were alone, sitting upright in bed. The ROOM was in TOTAL DISARRAY ! The contents of my large suitcase were strewn everywhere. Tops, slacks, socks, underclothes, that had been so neatly folded, were in corners, hanging on chairs and on lampshades. The bags of metal hangers had been kicked clear across the room; the contents scattered all over the floor ! Like a couple of eight year olds, we held hands and nervously TURNED ON EVERY LIGHT IN EVERY ROOM ! We opened every closet and scrutinized the front door. The triplex was void of anyone but us and everything else was in complete order ! We tossed my things into the case and HURRIED back to the flat in our pajamas. The remainder of the evening was spent wondering and trying to make sense of the event. Nigel admitted to waking at the kitchen clatter and had also been fear frozen. We didn't get any sleep that night. ! ! ! HAPPY HOLLOWEENIES ! ! ! ! ! ! MAY YOU ALL HAVE SWEET DREAMIES ! ! !
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 Tina Sparkalina and Me on Halloween As we ate pungent Puttanesca Pasta, Nigel and I planned the week ahead. With both of us working on the Triplex Reorganization Project, it would be complete in a week, instead of two. This would give us time together before his Employer returned with wife and children. We went back to the triplex that evening to settle in til the job was finished. For the sake of convenience, we agreed to share the Master Suite on the top floor that had an adjoining bath. The other rooms had already been cleaned and made up. Did I mention that Nigel is a lifelong friend; like a brother to me ? So, dear reader, don't get any wrong "ideas" here. There NEVER has been, and NEVER will be any hanky panky between us. And, so it was that Nigel claimed the left side of the King bed by the window and I, the right, near the bath and door. Several paper sacks of metal hangers still leaned against the foot of the bed. I placed my suitcase on a bench against the opposite wall and removed my toiletries. Nigel used the bath first and reappeared with blue and white striped Brooks Brothers pajamas properly buttoned to the neck. He hobbled into bed, obviously exhausted, and immediately curled himself into a ball. He needed to fall asleep undisturbed, but I was wired, excited about my trip and filled with thoughts of things I wanted to see and do. I grabbed my book and went down a level to the kitchen. A cup of tea and a scone, { Nigel had baked the day before }, helped me unwind. The scones turned out to be OUT OF THIS WORLD ! { Best I ever ett ! } !!! THANKS NIGEL !!! for sharing something so out of this world, with the world !  Out of this World Tea Scones
WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 2 Cups all purpose flour 2 Tablespoons Sugar 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1/3 Cup dried currants - or - raisins - or - chopped dates - or - dried cranberries,{ OPTIONAL } 6 Tablespoons UNSALTED BUTTER at room temperature,{ A MUST ! } 1 Beaten Egg 1/2 Cup Whole Milk 1 Slightly Beaten Egg for brushing on top prior to baking WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 1. Preheat oven to 425. 2. Thoroughly stir flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. 3. Stir in dried fruit of your choice, if desired. 4. Cut in butter until the mix resembles coarse crumbs. 5. Add One beaten egg and milk stirring just until dough clings together. 6. Knead gently,{ 12 to 15 strokes }, on lightly floured surface. 7. Gather into ball, flatten and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. 8. Use a glass or a round pastry cutter and cut into 12 to 16 scones. 9. Place on ungreased baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between them 10. Brush scones with slightly beaten egg. 11. Bake at 425 for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy warm or at room temp, as they are... or accompany with whipped cream and strawberries, jams or anything else that pleases your palate ! I hope to read your comments about them ! Aint they the bestest ever ? TO BE CONTINUED...  It's soon to be All Hallow's Eve; the perfect time to tell a spooky story ! I could tell one of UFO's or Angel Visitations. But I think one about Ghosts would probably be best. You decide whether or not it ever really happened. No matter, truth is always stranger than fiction and even a vivid imagination has a hard time making up stuff, especially when there are witnesses. So...as all good stories begin... Once upon a time, and a long - long time ago, I came to visit a dear friend in London, who remains as close as a brother to me. At the time, Nigel, { who will laugh at his nom de plume which I have chosen more for his delight than his anonymity }, was employed as a Man's Man in London. In other words, he was a domestic; a Butler, despite the fact he studied under Julia Child for years and is an excellent Pastry Chef. His second floor flat on the Kings Road in Chelsea, directly faced the Royal Stable. Every day began with Royal Horse Guards in handsome uniforms of black, red and gold, effortlessly lining up 30 or so gleaming black stallions in the twilit morning sun. With an invisible command, the steeds swiftly raised their heads and legs high in unison and pranced, clip clopping in the early hour of silence, through the misty London streets. There was something ethereal about watching this display at the crack of dawn while having coffee that left me feeling good and strong for hours. Though I was on vacation and his people were on holiday in the south of France, Nigel was deep in the midst of reorganizing their triplex next door. I enjoyed spending my first day exploring London on my own and planned to catch up with my friend for dinner. That evening found Nigel replacing every metal hanger in the Master's immense clothes closet with a new wooden one. I gathered the metal hangers and placed them in paper sacks at the foot of the unmade King size bed. We happily chatted and worked for hours until we realized it was too late for going out. London evenings have a foggy foreboding appeal, and this evening, being my first, seemed especially other worldly to me. I was glad when Nigel suggested we return to his flat to enjoy a quick Italian dish of pasta with savory Puttanesca Sauce. You may want to try this one on your Vegan dinner guests ! The beauty of this dish rests not only on the speed of which it can be put together, but also the flexibility dependent upon ingredients you have on hand.  ITALIAN PUTTANESCA SAUCE
YOU WILL NEED SOME OF THE FOLLOWING: BUTTER, { 2 Tablespoons } ONION, { finely chopped } GARLIC, { one to three cloves - mashed or minced } TOMATOES, { use a can of crushed or chop up several fresh ripe ones } BLACK OLIVES, { 1/2 Cup - if you have it - sliced or diced } GREEN OLIVES with or without PIMIENTO, { 1/2 Cup - sliced or diced } ARTICHOKE HEARTS, { 1/2 Cup - if you have it - marinated or canned, chunked } SUN DRIED TOMATOES, { a few or more pieces - if you have it - softened and chopped } CAPERS, { 1 teaspoon or more } ANCHOVIES, { 1 or 2 or 3 filets - a most excellent "secret" ingredient, if you have it, as they will dissolve and those who claim they don't like them will LOVE them here, if you dare divulge !!! } CHOPPED FRESH PARSLEY CHOPPED FRESH BASIL 1 or 2 CHERRY PEPPERS - chopped - OR - 1/2 tsp or more of RED PEPPER FLAKES - OR - a few splashes TOBASCO OLIVE OIL GRATED CHEESE WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU GOT:
TO BE CONTINUED...  Hamden hamlet hides just outside the college town of Delhi, where you'd be making an excellent scholarly choice to send your academic bound brat. There wont be a chance in heck of them getting into anything but an education here. If they've been especially naughty, their first winter will forever cure them. There simply is no choice but to study in conditions similar to the frozen tundras of Siberia. I'm not sure if it would be funny or cruel. Anyway, as I was passing through, I couldn't help but notice the Scarecrow on County Road 26 pointing to Donnelly's Farm full of colorful gourds and squash... and... of course, Mr. Tom Donnelly hauling huge pumpkins from his patch to the sales area, where his lovely wife, Ginny, was attentively assisting several customers. I enjoyed listening to in depth explanations concerning bees, pollination and the demise of dairy cattle in the area due to education - not government ! I thought to myself that men are kinda like pumpkins. It seems like all the good ones are taken or they've had everything scraped out of their heads with a spoon. So, have a look at the mini slide show here and do your Pumpkin pickin at Donnelly's where the scenery is gorgeous and the prices are ridiculously reasonable ! How 'bout their pumpkin totem that's lit up at night ! Very cool !  Wondering what to do this
Columbus Day Weekend ? Once you confirm your cabin at The Guest House B & B, and had a great night's rest, get up on Saturday, October 6 th., enjoy your included breakfast and go for a leisurely ride into the Catskills towards Downsville, where there'll be a day time Fair, rain or shine, in the Fire House on Main Street. You'll be able to purchase local Maple Syrup harvested in Spring, homemade jams, baked goods and local crafts. Be certain to buy a raffle ticket for one of the many lavish gift baskets created by the Reed women. The proceeds go towards a Scholarship Fund in honour of Brandon Reed, who died of a mysterious neurological disorder at the age of three. Continue on for ten miles to the Town of Walton. The American Cancer Society's Harvest Festival will have 100 vendors at the Fairground. End the day by enjoying a spectacular Fireworks display in the midst of the mountains while sampling delicious foods and listening to local music at the TASTE of the CATSKILLS FESTIVAL in Delhi, just a few more miles away. If you simply can't manage an entire weekend from NYC, take a nice day trip on Saturday or Sunday, straight up 87 or 6 to Stormville Airport Antique Show & Flea Market in Stormville, NY They'll have 600 vendors and Free Admission. or, even closer to home, on Sunday, October 7 th. try Nyack's Famous Street Fair They'll have 140 vendors. Just click on the highlighted names in this article to be linked to more informative sites. |
 Undine DeFilippo
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