Martha ~ I don't think I can make it. I just checked the milage and it is 2777 miles from San Antonio, TX to Lunenburg. About 15 to 20 years ago my parents went to NS. They parked their RV on a shopping center lot. A couple of boys were pitching a baseball and it hit the RV. Those boys were so scared and ran home. Daddy got the ball and walked to their house to return it. You have to have a mental picture of Daddy, 6 foot 4 inches, stetson hat, jeans and western boots. He assured Brian that no harm was done. They became fast friends. Brian was in awe of this tall Texan. He said, are you really a cowboy? So daddy told him some tall tale about being a rancher, riding horses etc. None of which had happened since Daddy was a boy in Oklahoma. Daddy got some texas thing (?) out of the motor home and gave it to him. Brian came every day to visit them. When they pulled out heading home, their last view was Brian was standing there with tears waving goodby. He wrote to them over the next few months. The next Christmas the phone rang and it was Brian's father. He told Daddy that all Brian wanted for Christmas was to call the cowboy in TX. Isn't that a great story? I bet to this day that little boy remembers his cowboy.

No fancy preparations here. Heat with wood...use a propane campstove when I have to. We did plan on this by having backup gas heat that does not require electricity. I keep a 20 qt. stock pot on the woodstove for "washing up." Oil lamps, candles, lanterns, and an Aladin lamp keep us in light. We are both Ham Radio operators, so we have communication until the batteries run down on the hand-helds.... after that we have the radios in the vehicles in case of emergency. Our phones used to go out about 2 hours after the power failed...phone company finally fixed that problem. Mainly, I watch for signs of wet snow or ice and fill large stockpots with clean water and the bathtub with water for flushing. I make huge pots of stew and hearty soups in the winter and always freeze a few quarts...just in case. Keep some milk in freezer and since I bake my own bread, I nearly always have extra in the freezer. Most often when we loose electricity it is not extremely cold...wet snow and ice come at temps that just barely make freezing and slightly below. We were out of power for 6 days once...when it came it was barely cold enough to freeze down here on the lake, but 12 inches of wet snow fell in the surrounding area. The power crews ended up working in their shirt sleeves before the week was over. Back then the problem was 11.5 miles of rocky, hilly roads. Three of us with 2 chainsaws spent 2 hours cutting and dragging to get half way out before meeting others trying to cut their way in to feed cattle. Now we have Air Ambulance service, so a little less concern for our older, less healthy neighbors. That was 20 years ago...now the County shows up with a snow blade and salt for the bad spots. Hard to believe how much change has come about. The down side is that it took developement, and more permanent residents to make it happen.

First of all, you will get used to the noise. I'd visit Mom in FL whose house was a half mile away from the train tracks and the first day, I'd hear every train, but after that, hardly ever. Second, I think you need to get to know your neighbors...sounds like they are friendly types which is a good thing. I grew up in the country surrounded by lots and lots of land and few children because there were few houses. When I married and moved to an acre lot, it was terrible for awhile....all the traffic, the kids, the dogs, the mowers... Then I got to know my neighbors. And trust me, the chain saw isn't so loud when it's good neighbor Tim doing the sawing and you don't mind asking John if he could not mow on Saturday as you're planning on a memorial service for your Dad with lots of people coming.... And neighbors can be a great help, like when your snow blower breaks or when you need someone to feed the cat. I know our neighbor was glad for us when the house next to her's caught fire and the firemen wouldn't let her go home that night, so she spent the night with us. Every lifestyle has it's plusses and minuses. Change your perspective, seek the good, and then see where you're at. You may be surprised. BTW, we are now back home on 11 acres, but the area is so much more built up than when I was a kid. Even on our 11 acres though, I know when Bill is sawing or Jimmy is running his back hoe or when Norma is out mowing, or when Jessica's kids are playing with their dog. It's comforting.

Karen, yep, DGD knows Nana to well already. I'm always up to makin' a mess if it means having fun. Jane, your so right. Some of the best times aren't planned. We talked about how lucky the girls are that the guys jumped in to carve for them. If there would of been more time I can only imagine what they would of come up with. I was pretty impressed when DS cut a little bit off to be able to get them to sit up right and use the stems as noses. He even made me put candles in them so he could see how they would look lit up. Luvs, the popcorn balls were enjoyed by all we shared with and we shared with several. I really like my recipe and if anyone needs an easy one would be more than happy to share. Don't need a candy thermometer to make these. NanaK, sometimes I do better when events aren't planned. Is this known as flying by the seat of our pants?LOL Frou, I'll let the guys know you commented on the teeth. To bad I didn't bring all of them in so they would be orange but I kinda like having the different colors. I offered to paint them but they didn't think it was necessary and I think they were right. J, glad you enjoyed these. I'm not always sure what to share but since we don't have a discussion post guess this was just fine here. Jeanne, that is such a neat picture of GGS on that big scarecrow. Kids are pretty lucky now days when it comes to entertainment. We went out to mom's garden to pick pumpkins when I was growing up.LOL Luvs, glad to hear you and DGD had a fun time at the "punkin patch". Some times us Gramma's need to look the other way and not be over protective. Easier said than done huh? So glad you all enjoyed seeing the carved pumpkins. I'm thinking it may become an annual event for a few years and I'm sure it will take place at our HOME. DM was always game for messes at her place and I laugh when I think about it. She was also one who always fixed to much food for our dinners and I do the same. We live what we learn in so many ways. Punk