A Good Read: Irish Ghost Stories by Padraic O'Farrell

Since today is Halloween, I thought it fitting to give a review of a book about true ghost encounters  Several years ago, we visited Ireland and I bought "Irish Ghost Stories" by Padraic O'Farrell. I finally got around to reading the book, and it was a nice compilation of stories from others in various places throughout Ireland. 

The stories were short, and some had nice cartoon-like illustrations. The book was enjoyable and will give you a good feel for the haunts of Ireland (although I'm writing a book about MY personal experiences coming out in 2024, I hope).  

   I learned that during the compilation and writing of this book, the author sadly passed away and others contributed to finish it. It's a good read, and recommended, especially if you've been to Ireland (although you likely will not have visited most of the places in the book because they are mostly residences! 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Celebrated people have had strange experiences. This book includes those of the actor Micheal MacLiammoir and of playwright and author Hugh Leonard (Jack Keyes Byrne). The Lord of the Dance, Michael Flatley, has acknowledged the presence of a ghost named Isabella in his Castlehyde home near Fermoy, County Cork. Oliver St John Gogarty also believed in ghosts. There are many well-known Irish ghost stories and Padraic O'Farrell tells some of them in this book. He has, however, leaned heavily on the side of lesser-known tales; most of them previously unpublished.

Fun at the local Dover, NH "Witches' Market"

We found another fun event near us, and that's the annual "Witches' Market" in downtown Dover, New Hampshire! There were tents and vendors outside (it was spitting rain) and inside a big gym-sized theatre room in Dover City Hall. Today's blog will explain what it is, and show you the pictures from our visit. We met our friends David and Dennis there, which made it more fun. So much to do in northern New England in the fall! 

(Photo: L to R: Tom, Dennis, David and Rob at Witches' Market indoor event)

 WHAT: WITCHES' MARKET - It's a local community even featuring vendors and small businesses who specialize in witchcraft, magic, herbalism, spiritual readings, tarot cards, and handmade goods. 

WHEN: It happened Oct 29th 

WHERE: Inside and outside of Dover, NH City Hall, 288 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 

COST: Free

(Photo: Dancer outside of city hall, and people dressed in Victorian-era clothing at the top of the City Hall stairs. Credit: RG)

(Photo: Tom and Rob enjoying seeing all the vendors on the inside, rain-free portion)

(BELOW Photo: Dover City Hall, with the outside vendors in tents lined up on both sides of the main street. Credit: RG)

(Photo below: This is one of the guys dressed up as a ghoul at the top of the stairs at City Hall!) 

Idiot of the Week: Another Insurrectionist Goes to Prison

 This week's idiot is another insurrectionist trying to overthrow the government for Trump. Now he's in prison.  Here's the story from a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. 

(Photo: Peter Francis Stager struck the Metropolitan Police Department officer with his flagpole at least three times  Courtesy: FBI(AP))

Arkansas Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach 

Defendant Beat Police Officer with a Flagpole

U.S. Dept of Justice Press release #23-411 July 24, 2023

WASHINGTON - An Arkansas man was sentenced today on a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Peter Francis Stager, 44, of Conway, Arkansas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to 52 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon on Feb. 16, 2023. In addition to the prison term, Judge Contreras ordered 36 months of supervised release and restitution of $2,000.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Stager was part of a large, armed mob that attacked police officers at the Lower West Terrace entrance of the U.S. Capitol building. At 4:27 p.m., police officers had been defending the archway opening to a corridor leading from the Lower West Terrace to the interior of the Capitol building for nearly two hours, advancing and retreating as rioters fought their way into the entrance. At this time, Stager was positioned toward the bottom of a set of steps that led to the archway, carrying a flagpole with an American flag affixed.

Stager watched as co-defendants attacked the police line and dragged a police officer, facedown and headfirst, out of the line and into the crowd of rioters. Once the others had dragged the officer into the crowd, Stager raised the flagpole that he was carrying and beat the downed police officer, striking him at least three times.

After assaulting the police officer, Stager ascended the steps toward the archway where a second officer was lying on the ground, fending off attacks from other rioters. Stager stood over the officer and yelled, “Fuck you! Fucking traitor!” Later in the day, Stager was filmed pointing at the Capitol building and stating, “Everybody in there is a disgrace. That entire building is filled with treasonous traitors. Death is the only remedy for what’s in that building.” Stager went on to say that “Everybody in there is a treasonous traitor. Every single one of those Capitol law enforcement officers, death is the remedy, that is the only remedy they get.”

Stager was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Little Rock Field Office and Washington Field Office, which listed Stager as #80 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Heroes of the Week: Bostonians launched a project to Fight Florida Book Bans

 This week's heroes are Bostonians who are fighting back against Florida's Nazi-style book bans.  

(Photo: THESE 176 BOOKS WERE BANNED IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA ,By: Lisa Tolin)

Want to fight Florida book bans? These Bostonians launched a project to help readers in the Sunshine State.

Boston. com Oct 15, 2023 By Dialynn Dwyer

If you’re looking for a way to fight the growing movement of book bans in Florida, you’re not alone.

Helping readers in the Sunshine State is the idea behind a new project, BannedBooksUSA.org, launched by local tech entrepreneur and Kayak co-founder Paul English and Joyce Linehan, a former policy chief for the City of Boston and member of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

The platform allows libraries, educational institutions, and anyone living in Florida to receive a banned book for just the cost of shipping. Anyone can donate to support the initiative or “order a book that has been banned from local schools or libraries to be shipped to someone in Florida,” according to the initiative’s website. A dollar from every order will be donated to the Florida Freedom to Read Project.

English and Linehan are working together on the project with nonprofit Electric Literature and Bookshop.org, which donates profits directly to independent bookstores.

A September report by PEN America found that Florida now leads the nation in book bans — more than 40 percent of the book bans in the United States are taking place in the Sunshine State.

“If you look at the authors behind the books that are banned, they’re largely BIPOC, Black, gay, Indigenous,” English told GBH. “They’re people that have been marginalized with more attempts to marginalize them. And so what the bans are doing is they’re not letting these marginalized people tell their story. They’re instead trying to tell a very different story about American history and our society”

According to GBH, the cost of the project is being covered by a $100,000 investment by English.

 The West Roxbury native told The Boston Globe he was a regular at the local library growing up and that he knew he had to do something about the book bans when started hearing about the growing challenges to texts across the country.

“Not everyone can afford to travel around the world, but in books, you can,” he told the newspaper. “You can open your mind outside your bubble.”

Linehan told GBH she is alarmed by the ongoing restrictions across the country.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/lGMkigPQFY0

 

(VIDEO caption: PEN America and We Need Diverse Books presented a letter to the school board urging them to put the books back on shelves. These Authors discuss their award-winning books for children that were banned in Duval County, Florida (For STUPID reasons). Link to more info here: https://pen.org/banned-books-florida/)

“Intellectual freedom is the very cornerstone of our democracy and it has to be protected,” she told the station. “It’s a fundamental piece of the First Amendment rights that we have as Americans.”

If successful, the English and Linehan will work to expand the project to other states, including Texas, and Missouri.

Fun Short Mystery Book: Creature Cozies, edited by Jill Morgan

 Many years ago I found a paperback that collected short mystery stories written by well-known mystery writers, and that involved either dogs or cats. It's called "Creature Cozies" and it's edited by Jill M. Morgan. The book was published in 2005 (so I've had it a while in my box of books). Today's blog will highlight 4 of my favorites, and how the book helped me discover an author I wanted to read more from! 

   I bought it for 2 reasons. One, I love mysteries with dogs and cats, and two, there was a story in it by J.A. Jance, one of my favorite mystery authors - and she did not disappoint. In fact, I think her story, "Highest, Best Use," was a true highlight.  Three other stories stood out. One was my next favorite, "Crystal's Big Night" by Ed Gorman. I wound up buying 2 more of his books after reading this short story- also learned he's passed away. I also enjoyed the quirky, "Edelweiss" by Jane Haddam, and "Lost and Found," by Jan Burke as told from a dog's perspective. All in all, a fun read for any pet parent! 

ABOUT THE BOOK: A clever cast of crime-solving canines and felines highlights an entertaining assortment of eleven mysteries, written by J. A. Jance, Jan Burke, Carole Nelson Douglas, Ed Gorman, Jane Haddam, Jill M. Morgan, Dick Lochte, Marlys Millhiser, Maxine O'Callaghan, Gary Phillips, and Noreen Ayres, accompanied by photographs of the authors and their pets.

Had an Amazing Event at Lakes Region Humane Society!

The  Lakes Region Humane Society (LRHS) in Ossipee, New Hampshire hosted me for the 5th year to give my lecture "Pets and the Afterlife: How pets communicate from spirit," and it was special. In fact, in today's blog you'll read how 2 dogs in spirit jumped into my vehicle to ensure their pet parents knew they are still around.

I give lectures to animal rescues as a fundraiser (they keep all the proceeds) and bring healing to grieving pet parents. This past October 14, I gave a lecture to an amazing group, many of whom had their own experiences! Today's blog is about this experience!

 

LRHS really appreciates donations! You can reach them at https://lrhs.net/home/ or Phone: (603) 539-1077. LRHS is located at 11 Old Rte 28, Ossipee, NH 03864.There are adoptions, events, lost and found pets, education, a foster program (they always need fosters), a Wish List for food, supplies, cash, and more. Please help them out!

The event this year was especially moving for me. I was able to share incredible messages from cats, dogs, and other domesticated pets. We laughed, cried, and felt relief from everyone who shared their own experiences.

On my drive over to the event, a black labrador retriever and a German shepherd showed up in spirit in my pickup truck to let me know they were coming as a message to their pet parents who would be at the event. One woman confirmed she had both types of dogs, while there were others who had black labs who passed. Those spirits were for all of those people, but especially the woman who had both!

This year published my Pets and the Afterlife 4: Spirit Cats book.

So many amazing experiences were shared! It was great to hear from a woman in attendance that she felt her cat in spirit sleeping against her thigh. Others reported seeing dogs that resembled their dogs in spirit. One person heard their dog bark after the dog passed. Another person shared a dream that their dog had healed in spirit. So many wonderful, healing experiences.

Coming back in 2024! Lakes Region Humane Society and I have already booked a return appearance for Oct 12, 2024, so you have 11 months to reserve it on your calendar!

(Photo: This is New Hampshire in October- on my drive home. Stunning colors!)

Trump suggested violence against the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

If you're a Republican, and you think the Republican party is pro-military, how about the latest from Trump, suggesting violence and death for the Joint Chief of Staff? Doesn't sound like military support to me. Here's the story.

 

Milley says Trump disrespected US military with execution comment 

Donald Trump casually raised the prospect of violence against the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Mark Milley 

By Karl de Vries, CNN Thu September 28, 2023

— Outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley believes former President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that he deserved to be executed after speaking with a Chinese general during Trump’s fraught final months in office is part of a broader swipe at the US military by its former commander in chief.

Speaking to CBS’s Norah O’Donnell in a “60 Minutes” clip released on Wednesday, Sept 27, Milley – who also said he will “take appropriate measures” to ensure his and his family’s personal safety in the wake of the former president’s remark – offered no regrets about his efforts to reassure his Chinese counterpart about the stability of the US during Trump’s efforts to stay in office. In a Truth Social post last week, Trump said the backchannel communications by Milley amounted to a “treasonous act” that was “so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!”

It’s a disturbing remark, even by the standards of Trump’s usual inflammatory rhetoric and the contentious relationship between the two men, and it is especially jarring at a time when Trump is the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination for president.

“As much as these comments are directed at me, it’s also directed at the institution of the military. And there is 2.1 million of us in uniform,” Milley told CBS. “And the American people can take it to the bank, that all of us, every single one of us, from private to general, are loyal to that Constitution and will never turn our back on it no matter what. No matter what the threats, no matter what the humiliation, no matter what.”

“If we’re willing to die for that document, if we’re willing to deploy to combat, if we’re willing to lose an arm, a leg, an eye, to protect and support and defend that document and protect the American people, then we are willing to live for it, too.”

Asked by O’Donnell if there was “anything inappropriate or treasonous” about the outreach to China, Milley replied, “absolutely not. Zero. None.”

Milley made two backchannel calls to China’s top general, Li Zuocheng, that were revealed in “Peril,” the 2021 book by journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. In October 2020, as intelligence suggested China believed the US was going to attack them, Milley sought to calm Li by reassuring him that the US was not considering a strike, according to the book. Milley called again two days after the January 6 riot at the US Capitol to tell Li that the US is “100 percent steady” even though “things may look unsteady.”

Milley’s actions prompted sharp criticism from Trump and his allies, including calls for Milley’s resignation and that he be tried for treason. The general has defended his behavior during the last days of the Trump administration, saying his interactions were not only appropriate but that numerous senior Trump officials were aware it occurred.

Milley, who will retire at the end of this week, told O’Donnell he was not worried about his safety despite Trump’s recent remarks.

“I’ve got adequate safety precautions,” he said. “I wish those comments had not been made, but they were. We will take appropriate measures to ensure my safety and the safety of my family.”

Trump’s broadside against Milley sparked criticism on Thursday from his own vice president, Mike Pence, who himself has been the subject of Trump’s indifference to the safety of his closest advisers.

“There’s no call for that kind of language directed towards someone who’s worn the uniform of the United States and served with just distinction,” Pence told Phil Mattingly on “CNN This Morning.”

Fun Video! Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund's Weinerzilla (11 Min.) Movie

If you love Dachshunds like we do, you need to be a fan of Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund. Crusoe is one of the world's most famous Dachshunds, and has the BEST and most funny videos, calendars, tee shirts, books, and the BEST costumes (created by his dad, Ryan). Here's the latest one "Weinerzilla" and it's awesome!! After the surprise ending, there's a behind the scenes look at how it all came together. Enjoy!!

 It's the recently released blockbuster episode, WIENERZILLA!

https://youtu.be/cjJCCeIUgi4

Discovery! 8-year-old unearths Roman-era silver coin in school sandbox

Have you ever found anything as a kid while playing outside? Growing up in Massachusetts in the 60s and 70s, occasionally either myself or my brothers would find arrowheads from the Native Americans that lived in the area from before the 1700s. But one kid in Germany found coins that were over 2,000 years old!

(Photo: The front and back of a silver coin from the Roman Empire. The heavily worn coin was minted 1,800 years ago. (Image credit: Culture Department)) 

 8-year-old unearths Roman-era silver coin in school sandbox 

News By Jennifer Nalewicki live science, AUGUST 29, 2023

A young boy in Germany discovered a silver coin dating to the ancient Roman Empire.

An 8-year-old boy playing in a sandbox at his elementary school in Germany unearthed an 1,800-year-old silver coin minted during the Roman Empire's Pax Romana.

Overwhelmed with excitement for literally finding buried treasure in the schoolyard, the fourth grader — identified only by his first name, Bjarne — rushed home to show the coin to his family in Bremen, a city in northern Germany, upon finding it in August 2022. After his parents contacted authorities, archaeologists confirmed that the coin was a Roman denarius minted during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who held the throne from A.D. 161 to 180, according to a translated statement released on Aug. 11.

The heavily worn coin, which weighs 0.08 ounce (2.4 grams), was minted during a "time of coin deterioration" when the Roman Empire decreased the silver content in its currency, a direct result of inflation, Uta Halle, the state archaeologist, said in the statement.

Halle called the find "something very special," since it's one of the few times a denarius has been discovered in Bremen, according to the statement. While this region of Germany was never under Roman rule, it was inhabited by the Chauci, an ancient Germanic tribe that often traded with ancient Romans. This could explain how the coin wound up buried in German soil, according to The History Blog.

Bjarne won't be able to keep the coin, as finds like this one belong to the state, per the Bremen Monument Protection Act. But state archaeologists praised him for his "alertness and curiosity" and plan to give him two archaeology books as a reward, according to the statement.

Halle said she hopes the denarius finds a home at the Focke Museum in Bremen, where she heads the department of prehistory and early history.

Idiots of the Week: 4 Florida men "Church Bishops" of Fake Church sold bleach solution as ‘miracle’ cure

 This week's idiots claimed to be Bishops in their own made up church, then peddled "cure-alls" made up of bleach and other chemicals to profit. Their fake church,  Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, sold  $1 million worth of their “Miracle Mineral Solution” sold this fake, toxic "cure" to thousands. This is why people need to NOT Follow cults!!

(Image: 2 of the scammers on a live feed.  Screenshot via Brighteon.com)

Federal jury convicts 4 Florida men for selling bleach solution as ‘miracle’ cure for diseases

Jay Weaver , Yahoo News,

Wed, July 19, 2023 at 6:25 p.m. EDT

It took only 30 minutes on Wednesday for a Miami federal jury to convict a father and his three sons of selling a toxic bleach solution as a “miracle” medical cure out of a fake Florida church’s website to thousands of consumers across the country.

Mark Grenon, 65, and sons Jonathan, 37, Joseph, 35, and Jordan, 29, chose to represent themselves in their two-day trial in Miami federal court. But they said nothing during the trial, as if they were silently protesting the proceeding.

Only after the 12-person jury hit them with a quick verdict did one of the Grenons speak up. “We will be appealing,” Joseph Grenon said.

During the trial and closing arguments, prosecutors had a lot to say about the four defendants from Bradenton, portraying them as con men who used a phony religious front on a website, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, to sell $1 million worth of their “Miracle Mineral Solution” in video pitches as a cure for 95% of the world’s known diseases, from AIDS to the coronavirus.

“This whole Miracle Mineral Solution scheme was built on deception and dishonesty,” prosecutor John Shipley said during his closing argument, telling jurors that the Grenons “created a fake church to make it harder for the Food and Drug Administration and government to stop them from selling snake oil.”

But, “this was no church,” he argued. “This was a scam for money — an old-fashioned scam.”

The jury found the four defendants — all wearing beige inmate uniforms, pony tails and flowing beards — guilty of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and FDA, which regulates the food and drug industry, by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug, Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS). That conviction carries up to five years in prison.

Additionally, the jury found two of the Grenons — Jonathan and Gordon — guilty of two counts of violating federal court orders requiring them to stop selling MMS in 2020. Those counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The same contempt charges were dismissed against the father, Mark, and third brother, Joseph. When they were extradited from Colombia in 2022, the Bogota government turned over both defendants to U.S. authorities on the condition that they would only be charged with the conspiracy count, not the contempt charges.

The sentencing hearing for the Father and three sons was scheduled for Oct. 6. During the trial, Shipley and fellow prosecutor Michael Homer said the Grenons called themselves “bishops” and peddled MMS as “sacraments” to consumers in South Florida and other parts of the United States in exchange for a “donation” to the Genesis church, before the Food and Drug Administration cracked down on the family in 2020.

The Grenons were charged that April with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when they defied FDA and court orders to stop distributing the toxic MMS substance. Their criminal case was the first pandemic-related enforcement action in Florida. In public warnings, FDA said it received several reports of hospitalizations and life-threatening conditions as people drank the dangerous substance.

MMS is a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite that, when mixed with water and a citric acid “activator,” turns into chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp and paper.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga gave an instruction to jurors that the Grenons could not use the First Amendment, specifically religious freedom, as a defense for selling the dangerous product because their so-called church was not a religious entity.

In his closing argument, Shipley hit home on that point. “You cannot go out and create a fake church and violate the law,” he argued.

Prosecutors said the Grenon family’s religious front, the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, sold tens of thousands of MMS orders in violation of federal law since 2010.

 

Information from the Bradenton Herald was used for this story.

Hero of the Week: Gavin Newsom: California governor signs law barring schoolbook bans based on racial, gender teachings

 While the conservative and Republican states are holding Nazi-style book bans and burnings for history and social issues they don't like, intelligent, welcoming, educated states like California are ensuring that kind of Nazi-era stupidity and hatred doesn't ever happen there. Today's hero is California Gavin Newsom, who just signed a law to prevent schoolbook bans based on race and gender. Bravo, Governor Newsom. Newsom also signed a bill Monday, Sept. 24, 2023 to increase penalties for child traffickers. Here's the story.

  Gavin Newsom: California governor signs law barring schoolbook bans based on racial, gender teachings

BY SOPHIE AUSTIN , Associated Press September 25, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday to ban school boards from rejecting textbooks based on their teachings about the contributions of people from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities.

Newsom called the measure “long overdue.”

“From Temecula to Tallahassee, fringe ideologues across the country are attempting to whitewash history and ban books from schools,” Newsom said in a statement. “With this new law, we’re cementing California’s role as the true freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the freedom to decide what’s right for them.” The bill takes effect immediately )(NOTE: It did on Sept 25, 2023) .

The topic of banning and censoring books has become a U.S. political flashpoint, cropping up in statesaround the country. Many of the new restrictions enacted by conservative-dominated school boards have been over textbook representations of sexuality and LGBTQ+ history.

The California bill garnered heightened attention when a Southern California school board this summer rejected a social studies curriculum for elementary students that had supplementary material teaching about Harvey Milk, who was a San Francisco politician and gay rights advocate.

A 2011 state law requires schools to teach students about the historical contributions of gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Newsom threatened the school board with a $1.5 million fine and the board later voted to approve a modified curriculum for elementary students that met state requirements.

The new legislation bars school boards from banning instructional materials or library books because they provide “ inclusive and diverse perspectives in compliance with state law,” according to a press release from Newsom’s office.

The bill cleared the state Legislature after intense debates about what role the state should have in curricula approved by local districts and how lawmakers can make sure students are exposed to diverse and accurate portrayals of history.

ALSO PASSED IN CALIFORNIA- Increased Penalties against Child Traffickers

Newsom also signed a bill Monday to increase penalties for child traffickers.

Democrats in the Assembly Public Safety Committee blocked the proposal earlier this year. Some lawmakers initially opposed it because they were concerned it could inadvertently punish victims of child trafficking.

After it was blocked, Newsom weighed in with his disapproval of the bill’s failure to advance, and lawmakers revived it. Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove, who authored the bill, later amended the bill to protect victims from being criminalized.

Fun Apple Picking in Wells, Maine!!

 Moving to New England was truly the best move we could have made. We love where we are- it's quiet, no traffic, no lines, everything in a short distance, we can see the stars at night, and there are even Apple Orchards nearby! So, we just HAD to go apple picking. 

(Photo: Tom and Rob walking through the apple orchard. Credit; R.G.)

There's nothing better in autumn in New England like apple picking and stopping at farm stands to pick out a pumpkin. Since we did the pumpkin thing earlier, we decided to use the Monday Columbus day holiday to pick some apples. Maine apple-picking season typically runs from mid-September into late October.

We went to the Orchard at Chase Farms in Wells, Maine. They have a bunch of varieties: Honeycrisp, Gala (our favorite), MacIntosh, and a few others. — Chase Farms has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1600s. The Orchard is down the road from the farm store. And apples are $2 per pound. They take cash, check, or Zelle at the orchard. They are open from 9-4 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It's located at 1396 North Berwick Road, Wells, 207-251-5700.

ROB NOTE:  I really loved this orchard because the trees were nicely planted in rows, and they were "Dwarf" Apple trees, so there was NO CLIMBING NEEDED! 

(Photo: Tom and Rob walking through the apple orchard. Credit; R.G.)

According to a blog I found about apple picking in northern New England (blog "Southern Maine on the Cheap") Many orchards sell by the pound. Some, though, rely on the traditional measurements, which are the bushel and peck. This denotes the size of the container for the apples. -A bushel equals 32 quarts. -A peck is a quarter of a bushel or eight quarts. As far as weight goes, here’s how that translates to a bushel and a peck:

(Photo: The orchard where we picked apples. Credit: R.G.)

A peck of apples typically weighs about 10 pounds A bushel of apples is about 40 pounds.

Depending on your local grocery store prices, picking your own can be a deal. And, the experience is a lot more fun!

News you may have Missed today!

Here's some news you may have Missed today!

BREAKING NEWS: (Why aren't they recommending Jail time?): Trump attorney Sidney Powell pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case  

(  10:11 AM EDT, Thu October 19, 2023)    Former Donald Trump attorney Sidney Powell has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case, one day before her trial was set to start.Fulton County prosecutors are recommending a sentence of six years probation. Powell will also be required to testify at future trials and write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia.As part of her guilty plea, Powell is admitting her role in the January 2021 breach of election systems in rural Coffee County, Georgia. With the help of local GOP officials, a group of Trump supporters accessed and copied information from the county’s election systems in hopes of somehow proving that the election was rigged against Trump. STORY: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/19/politics/sidney-powell-fulton-county-georgia-2020-election-subversion/index.html

TRUMP SHARES LINK REVEALING LETITIA JAMES' ADDRESS WHILE RAGING AGAINST HER

Former President Donald Trump on Monday shared a link listing the home address of New York Attorney General Letitia James while accusing her of committing a “miscarriage of justice.” This might pose a problem for someone under a gag order.

A surge in wealth has boosted most US households since 2020 

Assoc. Press: The net worth of the typical U.S. household grew at the fastest pace in more than three decades from 2020 through 2022, while relatively low interest rates at that time made it easier for households to pay their debts, according to a government report Wednesday. Why this matters:The jump in wealth - 37% for median households - occurred even as the brief but brutal pandemic cost 20 million Americans their jobs in 2020. While about $5 trillion worth of government relief aid helped spur a rapid recovery that regained lost jobs, the additional spending is believed to have helped fuel the worst bout of inflation in four decades.

3 GOOD NEWS STORIES IN  ELECTION FIGHTS

1)   1)  Racial Gerrymander Challenge Cleared For Georgia Trial

Georgia officials lost their bid to claim victory in a pair of suits alleging recent Peach State voting maps are racially gerrymandered, and a panel of federal judges have told opposing sides in the challenge to prepare for a trial.

2) Chesebro, Powell Lose Bid To Cut Charges Days Before Trial

The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen others on Tuesday said he would not dismiss charges against two defendants whose speedy trials are set to begin Friday.

3) 3)    Right-Wing Influencer Gets 7 Mos. For Vote-By-Text Scam

A onetime social media influencer who worked to convince Democrats in November 2016 they could cast votes by text message was sentenced Wednesday to seven months behind bars for what a Brooklyn federal judge called "nothing short of an assault on our democracy."

 ************************* 

NETFLIX IS HIKING ITS PRICES AGAIN.

The streaming giant said in its third-quarter earnings report that its premium ad-free plan in the United States will increase by $3 per month, to $22.99, starting Wednesday. Its one-stream basic plan will rise to $11.99 in the United States. All other plans, including its entry-level, $6.99-a-month ad-supported tier, will remain at the same monthly cost.

THREATS, INTIMIDATION BACKFIRE ON JIM JORDAN SPEAKER BID

An outside pressure campaign by conservative media and supporters of Rep. Jim Jordan's speaker bid appeared to backfire this week as the Ohio Republican has now failed twice to get the votes needed for speaker. An authoritarianism expert issued a bleak warning over the chilling death threats some House Republicans have received for not backing Jordan. Yet another vote is scheduled for today.  

DERIDED AS FEEBLE, BIDEN HAS NOW VISITED 2 ACTIVE WAR ZONES Mocked as old and bumbling by Republicans, Biden has now visited two active war zones in eight months — two more than all the previous presidents combined. Analysts weigh in on how people might perceive this.  

CITY AI CONNECT, FOR CITY LEADERS TO TEST AND DEVELOP AI TOOLS.

How it works: AI tools could track traffic patterns and help find solutions for congestion, for example.

• Chatbots can expand language access.
• One of the biggest benefits could come through faster paperwork processing, which the private sector is beginning to use. Cities could benefit from AI helping speed up applications for driver's licenses or qualifying for housing vouchers.

 

THEY PAY THESE RIGHT WING BROADCASTERS WAY TOO MUCH –Fox News' Bret Baier is asking $31.9 million for his recently built Foxhall home, a price tag that would be a city record if it sells. It took three years to build the five-bedroom house on a 1.5-acre lot. The Baiers moved in around last April, but bought a Palm Beach home to where they're relocating. (Wall Street Journal)

A Great Thriller Novel: The A List, by J.A. Jance (An Ali Reynolds Mystery)

J.A. Jance is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers, and I've read almost every book in each of her three series: The Sheriff Joanna Brady mysteries (that takes place in Arizona); The J.P. Beaumont Detective Mysteries (takes place in Seattle), and the Ali Reynolds (reporter) mysteries. The latest book is part of the Ali Reynolds series called "The A List."

Out of the three series, the Ali Reynolds character was my least favorite, but this book brought the character up to par with the others. This book had me from the start. I read this book in a week (which is super-fast for me). I took it everywhere! READ IT. You won't be able to put it down either.

Here's a review I totally agree with, that will give you an idea about the story:

In this timely "devilish page-turner" ( People ) from New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance, Ali Reynolds learns that no good deed goes unpunished. More than ten years after the sudden end of her high-profile broadcasting career, Ali Reynolds has made a good life for herself in her hometown of Sedona, Arizona. She has a new house, a new husband, and a flourishing cybersecurity company where her team of veritable technological wizards hunts down criminals one case at a time. But the death of an old friend brings Ali back to the last story she ever reported: a feel-good human interest piece about a young man in need of a kidney to save his life, which quickly spiraled into a medical mismanagement scandal that landed a prestigious local doctor in prison for murder. Years may have passed, but Dr. Edward Gilchrist has not forgotten those responsible for his downfall--especially not Ali Reynolds, who exposed his dirty deeds to the world. Life without parole won't stop him from getting his revenge. Tattooed on his arm are the initials of those who put him behind bars, and he won't stop until every person on that Annihilation List is dead. In this gripping suspense novel from "one of the finest practitioners of the suspenseful thriller" ( The Strand Magazine ), Ali Reynolds and her team race against the clock to stop this ruthless killer--before her own name is crossed out for good.

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes! Simple things made the day

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes yesterday!  Today's blog is about how I like celebrating a birthday, and what I did yesterday!  The end of the day provided me with a great weather surprise, too - thanks to three people on the other side. 

Things that made the day include  - Time with Tyler, Dash, Cody and Tom, of course!  Dunkin' coffee and a pop tart for breakfast (my daily routine). I did work 1/2 a day, and it was fine. But we drove to Dunkin' for coffee and a delicious egg sandwich for lunch. 

(Photo: Cody checks out the sod we laid down) 

Not fun, but rewarding - We laid down sod for about 3 hours in the afternoon... Not exactly on my "great birthday things list" but the yard looked better, so a sense of accomplishment is always good. 

Add in a workout after all that physical labor,  a dog walk through the woods, reading a couple of comic books, and then a nice dinner out. AND - as we were going to dinner, the day was topped off with a  rainbow from the spirits of my mom and dad and friend Ed.

I closed the day by watching an episode of my favorite TV show: "Murder She Wrote" (while Tom watched a violent horror movie in another room). Then, blogging and working on book #11.  Whew!  

That said, it was great. And thanks to family and friends, that's what really made it amazing. Wishing your birthdays are all good. I've learned to appreciate the simple things and that's the secret to enjoying a good life.

(Photo: A  rainbow from the spirits of my mom and dad and friend Ed on Oct 17, 2023 over southern Maine).