Halloween, 2014: Missed it, Mostly

Sunday, November 2, 2014. We set the clocks back an hour overnight: so it's darker earlier now. We'll do the same thing in Spring, going the other way.

Happily, my computer checks the 'official' time for me, so the 'clock' at my desk is 'legal,' whether I pay attention or not.

I've been feeling under the weather this week: nothing serious, just enough to make me look forward to not feeling this way. That limited how much I got out and about: so I missed the Friday night/Halloween Mass at St. Alexius in West Union - I was looking forward to that.

Next week there should be more here. That's the plan, anyway.

Polka Mass and an Owl-O-Lantern

Sunday, October 26, 2014. Our Lady of Angels church had our yearly polka Mass today. I hope Nathan's Oldtime Band comes back next year.

Nathan's ... Band know their polka: and have the good sense to keep the tempo 'up.' They describe themselves as "Minnesota's youngest and most energetic polka/country band."


Before the polka Mass at Our Lady of Angels. October 26, 2014.

Halloween/All Hallows' Eve is this Friday. I'm looking forward to the trick-or-treaters.


An - owl-o-lantern? October 26, 2014.


Sunset. The sky lit up: just after I got back inside. October 26, 2014.

That sunset was mildly spectacular: right after I got inside and had the camera stowed. Oh, well: it's nice to know I've still got the old sense of timing.

Ready for Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving

Sunday, October 19, 2014. Some trees are ready for winter. Their leaves have turned color and fallen. Late starters, like on the corner across from my home, are pretty near their peak.


South Ash Street. October 19, 2014.

Some folks have their Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations out. I haven't spotted any Christmas displays yet, though. The yearly chow mein supper ended with a bit left over. The church is selling what's left at a few dollars a quart. Next week, if I'm reading the calendar right, we've got the polka Mass: and now I'm done.

Jack-o'-Lanters, Daylight Saving Time, and All That

Sunday, November 3, 2013. Thanks to Daylight Saving Time, I got an extra hour this morning. Sort of.

What an old Indian is supposed to have said about Daylight Saving Time is the best analysis I've heard: "Only a white man would cut a strip off the top of a blanket, sew it on the bottom, and think it makes the blanket longer."

My take on our biannual mandated jet lag and other goofy ideas:

• "Ben Franklin and Daylight Saving Time: Even Homer Nods"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (November 7, 2010)
• "I'm Blaming Daylight Saving Time: or, Not"
  Drifting at the Edge of Time and Space (March 17, 2010)
• "Daylight Saving Time, Again: Get Ready for Mandatory Jet Lag"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (February 23, 2009)
• "Daylight Saving Time: A Modest Proposal"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (October 26, 2008)
• "Daylight Saving Time Strikes Again"
  (March 8, 2009)
• "The French Revolution's Calendar: It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (September 22, 2009)

The season's first snow came on Tuesday, and was gone almost as soon as it fell. Even so, the light snowfall kept going, off and on, all day.


You can't see it, but tiny flakes of snow were in the air. October 29, 2013.
Halloween's come and gone, the next big holiday is Thanksgiving, and that's about all I've got this week.


Jack-o'-lanterns at the rectory. November 3, 2013.

Next week I'll probably have more.

Halloween 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013. Happy Halloween.



I'll be back Sunday, with something a bit closer to home.

First Snow

Sunday, October 28, 2012. We had a little snow on the ground this morning, and on some roofs. Most of what came down melted, making streets and sidewalks wet. They'd have been slippery, I think, if it had been a little cooler. Not that I'm complaining: we'll most likely have plenty of winter later.


Snow: just barely, Sunday morning. October 28, 2012.

That Halloween comes on Wednesday. I hope to have some photos of Sauk Centre's more exuberant yard displays next week.


A dusting of snow on Halloween decorations. October 28, 2012.

That's all for now, though.

Day Before Halloween, 2011, With Rain

Sunday, October 30, 2011. Tomorrow is Halloween, so 'happy Halloween,' a day early. My wife and #3 daughter have been cutting wicks for the Spiral Light Candle company. That's #2 daughter and my son-in-law's outfit. Aside from that, it's been a quiet couple of weeks in this household. I've had some sort of bug, and my wife's getting over something she ate. She's missed Soo Bahk Do Thursday of this week, and today.


Making long strands of wick into shorter strands. October 28, 2011.

Enough about me and this family.

Our Lady of Angels church had our annual polka Mass: Larry's Concertina Band from Rochester, Minnesota, did the music this year. I enjoy those polka Masses: but suppose they're not for everybody.


Larry's Concertina Band at Our Lady of Angels polka Mass. October 30, 2011.

Rain. We've been having rain. Not a whole lot on any given day, but we've been having rain. Damp, cool, wet, rain. I grilled burgers this noon, anyway.


October's not-so-bright, not-so-blue weather. October 30, 2011.

I haven't gotten out much recently, so here's a selection of photos from recent Halloweens:


Whoops. That's getting ahead of the season. December 21, 2008.


If that person's standing straight, the house is leaning. The top Jack 'o lantern looks a little worried. October 31, 2008.


I like this one: He's looking at the world from a new angle. October 31, 2008.


I get the impression that group on the right's having a heated debate. November 4, 2009.


Those are expressions you don't see every day. November 4, 2009.


Some of the costumes were downright cute: like this butterfly. October 31, 2010.

Here's my contribution to Halloween spookiness.



See you again, next week!

Very Safe School Bus Drivers

Sunday, November 7, 2010. Halloween's over: and after almost a quarter-century of living here, I still haven't seen the inside of "Monster Manor," in the fairgrounds across from Coborn's.

The midterm election's over, too: for which I'm duly grateful. The political ads for the state and national races - - - Well, it's over, and we've got a breather before the next one. I read in the Sauk Centre Herald that we had a pretty good turnout: 68% of the registered voters, ten points higher than the state average. I've suspected that we're a tad more likely to give a rip about what happens in our community: but I'll admit to a bias.

I love it here.

Take the front page headlines of this week's paper, for example. The first thing I saw was that Sauk Centre school bus drivers were "recognized for the superior procedures" after a surprise inspection. It's nice to live in a town where good news on the front page isn't a rarity.

Also in this week's Herald: Walt Junkin has played taps at military funerals here for 54 years. There's a pretty good write-up in the paper. And in the online edition. Something I didn't know: The VFW and American Legion posts here have a mechanical bugler.

Halloween, 2010: Jack 'O Lanterns and a Butterfly

Sunday, October 31, 2010. I no longer have much of a cold. Instead, both ears are so plugged that I can barely hear. At least it's a change of pace.

One more thing: It's Halloween. Which meant trick-or-treaters coming to the door, and a little temporary redecorating of the entry.


The family got a little creative this year. That blond wig on the plastic Jack 'o lanterns is a new touch, I think. October 31, 2010.


Clear skies made for near-ideal conditions. The young trick-or-treaters and their folks started showing up around 6:00. At least, that's when I noticed them. October 31, 2010.


Some of the costumes were downright cute: like this butterfly. October 31, 2010.

One family had quite a variety of costumes for their kids: including a sort of horse - with four legs - for one of the little girls. Maybe it was a unicorn. I didn't get a very close look.


By nightfall, almost all of the younger kids have made their rounds, and returned home. October 31, 2010.

That last photo, with the glowing set: grinning pumpkins, a purple spider on the roof, and someone with a greenish complexion, is the work of our across-the-corner neighbors.

The O'Reilly Auto Parts store looks like it's just about ready to open: but I mentioned that on Wednesday.

'October's Bright Blue Weather' - Sometimes

Sunday, October 3, 2010. October's been living up to its reputation for beautiful clear blue days so far. For the most part.

I took some photos of the Chamber of Commerce / Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center site from some different angles this week. Partly because the area looked good and was displaying some autumn color: partly to get some "before" photos. It looks like there'll be commercial development there in - a few years, probably.


Mowed yard between the Chamber of Commerce/Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center and Interstate 94. September 24, 2010.


Pretty much the same scene, just more of it. September 27, 2010.


The Interpretive Center, from the southwest. September 27, 2010.


Finally, the C. of C. & Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center's parking lot. September 27, 2010.

The trees in Sauk Centre - and central Minnesota generally - seem to be individualists. Those photos you see of New England autumn landscapes, where square miles of hills are covered with brightly-colored trees? Around here, I've seen trees with bare leaves, full autumn color, and green leaves - on the same tree at the same time.


The northwest corner of the Stearns County Fairgrounds, near Lake Wobegon Trail. The nearby trees: it's summer there. The more distant ones? There, it's autumn. September 27, 2010.


Here's another look at those 'autumn' trees. This set, on South Ash by the Lake Wobegon Trail, put on a pretty good show most years. Including this one. September 27, 2010.


Here at the corner of South Ash and 9th, it's pretty definitely autumn. September 27, 2010.

I said that October had delivered it's signature "bright blue weather" - for the most part. Today was up to spec. Friday? Not so much.


"October's bright blue weather?!" The building at south 12th and Fairlane Drive is taking shape. October 1, 010.


That skeleton is hanging from the basketball hoop by a hangman's noose: right next to the cheerful pumpkins. And yes, there's something purple on the roof. An inflatable spider. October 3, 2010.

We're coming up on a sort of holiday marathon: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I'm looking forward to seeing what the folks in town who make a point of dressing up their yards do this year.

After Halloween, Before Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 4, 2009. A week ago I wrote about the seizure of a small dairy herd near Sauk Centre, in the Sauk Centre Journal Blog. (Not All Dairy Farmers are Like This (October 28, 2009)) It was breaking news then: and on the front page of this week's Sauk Centre Herald. (the article's also online) As I said last week, this sort of thing makes the news because it's so rare. I was very glad to see Keith Streff quoted: "This is a rare and isolated incident."


Above the fold: Sauk Centre Herald. November 3, 2009.

Several households still have their Halloween displays up. And, happily, this year there aren't as many broken Jack 'o lanterns around.


I get the impression that group on the right's having a heated debate. November 4, 2009.


Those are expressions you don't see every day. November 4, 2009.


That's a more traditional set of spooky Jack 'o lanterns. November 4, 2009.

There's more going on in Sauk Centre, like Toys for Tots and Thanksgiving stuff in the stores. But that'll wait until Sunday.

Halloween's Over, First Snowfall, Jack 'o Lanterns

Sunday, November 1, 2009. This afternoon was a fine example of "October's bright blue weather." A little late in the game: but I appreciated the sunlight and clear sky, anyway.

Sauk Centre got its first snowfall Friday, after (another) day of rain. There wasn't all that much snow, and it melted later: but it was a definite sign that winter's coming.


This winter's first snowfall. After rain. October 30, 2009.

I was going to take some pictures of Halloween displays people had set up: but in this weather they seemed more dreary than fun. Maybe next time.

It's been raining. Quite a bit. Drizzling, mostly, now that I think of it. Also overcast.


Holidays aren't for everyone. October 31, 2009.

Saturday was Halloween. There don't seem to be as many kids out, trick-or-treating, as there were in earlier decades. On the other hand, one of the youngsters who came to this household wore a 'traditional' sheet with two eye holes cut in it.

While I'm thinking of it: Hats off to everybody who keeps emergency services running 24-7-365. What looked like a traffic stop happened in this neighborhood. I've been in situations like that, and it's no fun being pulled over. On the other hand, it's nice to know that the police are
on the job.

Enough with the philosophizing.

Between the weather and the way I've been feeling, I didn't get out to catch the Halloween decorations this year. Almost didn't get out. On my way to church this morning, I saw a collection of Jack 'o lanterns.


Happy Halloween! November 1, 2009.

The next big holiday is Thanksgiving, so I figure the stores will have the things that go bump in the night down, and turkeys up soon.

More Dreary Weather

Wednesday, October 28, 2009. It's been raining. Quite a bit. Drizzling, mostly, now that I think of it. Also overcast.


More of "October's bright blue weather." October 28, 2009.

I was going to take some pictures of Halloween displays people had set up: but in this weather they seemed more dreary than fun. Maybe next time.

Which I see will be after Halloween.

By which time I should be feeling more up to
par. Right now, as Arthur Guiterman wrote, "Great Caesar's bust is on the shelf, And I don't feel so well myself."

New-to-Me Store, Garage Fire, Halloween's Coming, and Torches

Sunday, October 25, 2009. I noticed a new sign on the storefront next to the Thread Shed on Main last week. I know: It's been there for a month - since September 21, - and It's A Dollar had their Grand Opening last week. What can I say? I've been a little distracted.


I've mentioned how gray October is: and dark. That car's running with headlights on, and it's early afternoon. October
22, 2009.

They still had their "Grand Opening" signs and balloons up when I went this week, to take a look around.


Pretty good selection, actually. October 22, 2009.

I talked to Kirstin, one of the co-managers - the other one's Sundae - and learned that the place is owned by John Johnston, is tied to Thread Shed and the Todd County DCA - and that the Sauk Centre Herald had done a pretty good write-up on them about two weeks back. I figured I'd look up that article - but discovered that we didn't have that issue in the house.

Despite its name, I learned that not all the items in It's A Dollar sell for a dollar. Some go at two or four for a dollar.


Oh, yeah: That got my attention. October 24, 2009.

Around supper time, I heard a siren on south Ash Street and saw an ambulance turn east, a block north of us. Then another siren, and this time it was a fire truck turning here at the corner of 9th and south Ash.

And there were a lot of red flashing lights off in the general direction of the school. My oldest daughter and I went to see what was going on: three units from the Sauk Centre Fire Department, and an ambulance were parked on that stub of East Street near the school, and a police car was blocking the other end of the street.


It could have been worse: a lot worse. That light on the roof seems to be some sort of flashlight. October 24, 2009.

When we got over to south 8th, I realized why so many units had come out. There was a bit of smoke coming from the back of a garage: and a fuel oil tank sat just back of the garage. This time of year, there could have been well upwards of a hundred gallons of oil in there.

The fire crew had to push a cinder block chimney over, but they got the fire out. And, in what I thought was a really nice gesture, helped get a tarp over the new hole in the roof.


Halloween's coming. October 22, 2009.

In the two-decades-plus that I've lived in Sauk Centre, I haven't been to Monster Manor. Not once. It's been open this weekend, and of course will be on for Halloween - which I see is next weekend.


The Marian Garden by Our Lady of the Angels church. October 25, 2009.

Statues in the Marian Garden by Our Lady of the Angels church got blessed this evening. A fair number of people turned out.

More about that another time.

October's Bright Blue Weather: And Otherwise

Wednesday, October 21, 2009. The flag at the National Guard armory downtown was flying at half-staff today. I think - but haven't found out for sure - that it's to honor National Guard Specialist George Cauley, who died recently, of wounds incurred in Afghanistan. There's more at the Minnesota National Guard website and KSAX.


National Guard Armory, Sauk Centre, Minnesota. October 21, 2009.

We had "October's bright blue weather" on Monday. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, sunlight, the whole works.


Harvest's happening. October 19, 2009.

Agribusiness is a very big deal here in central Minnesota: and messages on the 1st State Bank sign often reflect this.


Ironically, H1N1 showed up in a few Minnesota pigs this month. October 19, 2009.


I'd have been at the Harvest Graces Mass, but they say to stay home if you're sick. October 19, 2009.

The big holiday trio is coming up: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Quartet, with New Year's. Which gives some householders a chance to decorate their yards.


One of the more thorough Halloween displays. October 19, 2009.


Some folks put up a sort of combination display. This one would be fine for Halloween and Thanksgiving. October 19, 2009.

October's bright blue weather ended sometime Monday night.


"October's bright blue weather"? The poet didn't have this in mind. October 21, 2009.


Hardly the day to take a leisurely stroll. October 21, 2009.

Rain or not, some jobs won't wait. Like the fellow I spotted near Lake Wobegon Trail. Hats off, to everyone whose job takes them outside on days like this to keep the systems we all use working.


He's probably wondering why I stopped. October 21, 2009.


Tourist agencies don't emphasize it: but this is a fairly typical October day in Minnesota. October 21, 2009.

It's getting late, I'm still not feeling up to par, and there's more to do tomorrow. I trust that Sunday will be a better day. Dryer, anyway.