Sleepy Hollow

Football is probably my favorite sport.  When my Slovak neighbor asked me why, I thought a while and realized that my liking it has a lot to do with liking the fall season.  Football reminds me of pleasant sounds, pleasant weather, and pleasant food.

Monster Cupcakes - ok, not all fall food is perfectly pleasant...

I recently picked up a book of short stories by Washington Irving which included the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".   I remember thinking that was a scary story when I was a kid (I hadn't read it, I had just seen the Disney version - and it is scary!), but reading it as an adult, I see that it is a funny story.  Ichabod Crane is such a ridiculous character and his encounter with the "Headless Horsemen", while intense, is clearly a set up.

"Sleepy Hollow" is a quick read and should interest you if you are interested in early U.S. culture.  It's set about a generation after the Revolutionary War and gives heavy, colorful detail of the landscape, people, and food.  In fact, it's description of food is enough to make you hungry!

[Ichabod Crane]'s mouth watered, as he looked upon this sumptuous promise of luxurious winter fare. In his devouring mind's eye, he pictured to himself every roasting-pig running about with a pudding in his belly, and an apple in his mouth; the pigeons were snugly put to bed in a comfortable pie, and tucked in with a coverlet of crust; the geese were swimming in their own gravy; and the ducks pairing cosily in dishes, like snug married couples, with a decent competency of onion sauce

 I found it particularly interesting because it is set in New York, and I have copies of old letters that suggests that at least some of my ancestors lived there before moving south.

More fall...Halloween!

Soaring!

Karana

Fairy Princess

Elizabeth II  (I like the crown Annalise made for her and it was super cute in person, but with the way she is holding her hand, I think it makes her look like the Pope!

Irene is wearing the same dress Natalie wore to be Elizabeth I in the PEP Renaissance faire.  Elizabeth I was a red head, but Elizabeth II had brown hair when she was young, so that is the "real queen" we decided Irene should be!