Autumn's Meadow

Is it magic?

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:33:00 +0000

*play video as you read this post*

Lyrics

Stevie Nicks - Crystal lyrics

In just a little over a week (Dec. 2) My husband and I will celebrate eleven years of living together and nine years of marriage. I have to admit more than once during those years I have, like most women asked myself what have I got into. Like any couple we have had our ups and downs. Most days I do count my lucky stars that I found someone to love. Lookng back now I do know how it had to be more than luck findng each other. If your a regular reader of this blog, you already know that Dean and I met in a chat room on the Internet. Having only known each other in person for 36 hours before we moved in together. I now realize just how crazy that was. Of course at the time I probably was more than a little crazy. I was in a bad marriage, desperate to find a way out. I was wishing for someone to save me. Thankfully that someone was Dean. Not only did he save me, he allowed me to find myself, to heal and to become stronger for what had happened.

Like in the movie Practical Magic Where Sally does a little spell where she writes down the qualities of the man she will love forever: he has one blue eye and one green eye, can ride a pony backwards, can flip flapjacks in the air, and his favorite shape is a star, I was looking for someone I didn't think existed.
Although Deans eyes are brown, and I've never seen him ride a horse, he does have a horse tatoo and his Internet nickname was PonyMan, I have never seen him flip flapjacks and I never thought about what his favor shape might be. I do know he is the man I wished for.

The weekend in review

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:48:00 +0000

This is my three day weekend,and it is going by way to fast. I spent the first two days getting nothing done other than spending time with my daughter and grandson. Of course I always enjoy that but I swear I never seem to have enough "Me" time.

Today has found me still in my nightgown and it is almost 4 pm. I did do some laundry and picked up over the living room a bit, but other than that I have vegged.
In the mean time I am making Chicken and Dumplings for supper and plan on watching some TV
I can't believe that Thanksgiving is Thursday. We will have our meal with my mom this year. It is the first time she has cooked for the family since she had her heart attack almost 3 years ago. I already know that will be a busy day and I have to be at work on Friday at the crack of dawn. We open at FIVE AM
We are about to start longer hours at work and I really dread them. I hate to say it but I really do hate the holidays. I will be so happy when January arrives.

Oh the bright side Rebecca and I did sneak off Saturday night alone to watch "New Moon", which is the second movie in the Twilight series. If you haven't seen it yet I can recommend it. Especially if your a Twilight fan.
While there we got a chance to talk to some of the other people (we waited in line about a half hour) and I was surprised to find that several people saw the first movie but haven't read the books. Read the books folks, you will be glad you did.

Anyway we joined about 400 other fans for the 7 pm showing. The auditorium we were in holds 500 and it was almost full. This was just one of three in that theatre that were showing the movie. I must admit I really enjoyed it, and those sexy scenes where Jacob has off his shirt did get me to wishing I was 17 again.

The price of movies is ridiculous and I can see why so many people wait for the DVD.
At lest it was a movie that I could walk away from and feel like it had been worth the $11.00 price of admission. Of course we won't talk about the other $8.00 I had to spend on a hot dog and soda.
On the bright side we had stopped at the dollar tree for candy, so eat your heart out AMC I got one up on you ha ha.

Sunday found me back over at my daughters house. Someone she knows was moving and they gave her a dinning room table and chairs for free. Her boyfriend was suppose to go help her and her dad pick it up, and I was going to stay with my grandson, but the boyfriend showed his true colors once again and refused to go help her. Her dad and I picked it up and moved it. (My husband didn't come because he was being a pain in my butt too....A story for another day ha ha)
Anyway we got all of that taken care of and then Rebecca and I went for lunch with Cody and on to the toy store. I had promised him a toy because he had received a good report card from pre-K. From there a quick trip to the grocery store and then home. Needless to say my day was gone by then.

I vote we should have two day work weeks and five day weekends? Anyone else agree?

I'm ticked

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:02:00 +0000

I'm really ticked off tonight. My husband and I went out for a nice dinner tonight at our local Applebees restaurant. The waiter was pleasant, the food good and we were happy. That is until we got home and I did a routine check on my bank account and found that we had been double charged. The bill came to $40.00 so this took a big chunk out of my account. I immediately called the restaurant and when a manager finally got to the phone (they hung up on me the first time trying to connect me) I was told that he could not find a mistake and that the charge would just drop off after 3 business days because they would only be charging me one time. THREE DAYS. My entire freakin weekend. I am so pissed. If they put the money on my card twice I don't understand why he can't simply take it off or better yet they should have given me the cash. My hands are tied because it is a weekend so I can't even call my bank to have a stop payment put on the second charge. I have been totally inconvenienced by this and all I got was a Oh I am sorry it will take three days!
Well all I can say is I am warning everyone I know to never us a debit card with this restaurant. As for me I don't plan on ever going there again. They have lost my business for good. At the very least the manager should have offered me a free meal for my trouble plus my money. I'm pissed!

*Update*
Saturday Morning
The second charge mysteriously disappeared off my account this morning. Funny how someone who "claims" they didn't make a mistake can fix things.

Four Score and Seven Years

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Four Score and Seven Years Ago....
Most of us reconize these words as the opening line to the famous "Gettysburg Address" given by President Abraham Lincoln , but did you know that today (Novemeber 18th) is the 146th aniveresary of that speach?

Having been invited to attend the dedication of a cememtery he stayed at the home of David Wills
When David Wills invited President Abraham Lincoln to stay in his home before the dedication of the Gettysburg military cemetery, he hardly suspected that America's most famous speech would be completed in his guest bedroom
Wills, a prosperous 32-year-old attorney, owned the largest house on the town square. Under his direction, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased 17 acres for a cemetery to honor the Union dead from the July battle. He arranged for the cemetery dedication on November 19, 1863, with Edward Everett as the main speaker. Lincoln was invited to offer "a few appropriate remarks."

Those few remarks now reamain an important part of American history.

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "

If you ever get a chance to go to Gettysburg please please go the National Cemetery you will be glad you did.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

kIds

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:47:00 +0000

I swear sometimes I really do understand why lower species eat there young when they were born. Today is one of those days. Someone tell me please why do kids blame their mom for everything. My daughter calls, WAKES ME UP, she is in a panic because she can't find her epiccard .She thinks she lost it so I stumble out of bed, half asleep, eyes still watering. I go to the computer and check her balance, I read her the list of the last 10 places she has been. She is upset thinking someone used it today because I tell her that the last post was today. She then panics cancels the card. then calls me back, I reread her the list and she says OH it probably wasn't stolen, now she is mad a ME because I told her the date and now she can't get to her money for 10 days. I don't get it. This is a 25 yr old woman who can't keep up with HER card and I am the bad guy here. Sigh

Sunday Stroll

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:46:00 +0000

Over this past weekend Dean and I went to Colonial Williamsburg. I always enjoy taking a trip back in time by walking the streets there. One of my favorite stops along the way is the beautiful Bruton Parish Church,
Built in the 1700 it was the center of worship for many famous men like Presidents Washington, Jefferson and Tyler, Leaders during this time were required to attend services. The cemetery itself is one of the oldest in this country and among the graves are at lest several hundred unmarked graves. I have done a short slide show and hope you enjoy it. I will post more from Williamsburg on my next post

Rain rain go away

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:54:00 +0000

I'm just checking in to let everyone know that we are ok here. Our area is in the middle of a Nor'Easter and we are getting lots of wind rain and flooding. Thankfully not much high water in my neighborhood, but lots of areas around us are bad. I talked to my sister in Va. Beach a couple of hours ago and she send me some photos of my moms house and those of her neighbors.

Touching My Heart

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0000

I recently found out about this annual event and I hope it touches your heart as much as it did mine.
Be sure and go to Wreaths Across America to learn more.

The Ham

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Sarah was sitting on the porch; shelling the last of the peas she had picked that morning. The Georgia sun was still low in the sky, but she knew by noon it would be blazing and the dew that had been on the grass that morning would melt away to the heat of summer. She was already hot and she wiped her forehead with her apron as thought about the day ahead of her. With a sigh, She looked out onto the empty dry fields remembering a time when they had been white with cotton. Now with no one to work them they had fallen to ruin. She did manage to keep the little garden going giving herself enough to eat, but times were hard with Floyd away fighting in the war. He left her behind signing up with some of the other men in the area and promising “To be home in a few weeks”. Those weeks had turned into almost a year. Their son Early Barto (Bud) had been learning to sit up when his daddy left. Now he was walking and into everything.

Sarah took the letter she had received almost a month ago out of her pocket and read it again.

“My Darling Sarah,
I hope this letter finds you and little Bud doing well. I am fair. My bowels have been bothering me and I have not been well. I have been in the hospital in Virginia for a while now but I am getting better and will return to my unit soon. They are somewhere south of here. We can hear the cannon fire and if I look out my window I can see the campfires at night. I pray that this war will end soon and I can come home to you and little Bud. Give him a kiss for me and one for yourself.
Your loving husband
Floyd”

Sarah sighed and put the letter away. Walking into the house she took the cornbread that had been baking out of the oven and dropped the peas into the water boiling on the stove. She sewed on her quilt awhile resting and thinking of Floyd and how happy they were together before the war.

Baby Bud who was waking up from his nap interrupted her thoughts and she quickly went to him. After she had changed him and fed him some of the cornbread mashed with the juice from the peas, and a cup of milk she had got from the cow that morning she sat him on the floor to play while she ate her own meal. She sliced a tomato and ate it along with the peas and cornbread. She thought about going out to the smoke house for a ham, but then remembered she only had a few left and it was a long time until fall when the pigs could be slaughtered. She hoped she could find someone to do that for her this year but with so many of the men away that chore might fall upon her.

Sarah finished her meal and almost had the table cleared when she heard the sound of hoof beats and shouting from the road. She quickly grabbed baby Bud and ran into the yard. The rider stopped in the cloud of red dust out of breath shouting. The Yankees are coming, Not more than a mile from here. Hurry Ma’am hide, they will be here soon. With that he road off leaving her standing there. At first Sarah couldn't move, she was so frighten, then she realized she had to hurry. She ran inside with Bud telling him to sit and play, that she would be right back. She prayed he wouldn’t fall onto the stove while she was gone. The wood was still hot from the meal she had just cooked. She didn’t have time to think about that now she had to hurry.

She ran for the smoke house and took her hams down. There were two big ones and she had to carry them one at a time. She ran past the well and down the lane and into the woods. Sarah remembered where a big tree had fallen last fall when the heavy rains had come. It had rotted over the winter and now had a hollowed out place in the stump. She took the first ham hid it there and ran back for the other as fast as her legs would go. She put them both in the tree and looked around for some brush to cover it. She then took the cow and hid it by the river, praying they wouldn't find it. Then she ran back to yard and into the house. Baby Bud was still happily playing on the floor. Just as Sarah scooped him into her arms she heard the sound of horses coming. She looked out her window. There were men all around her house now pulling into a circle under the big oak tree at the end of the yard. Sarah straightened her hair and opened the door.

Ma’am I am General Smith, and these are my men. We have been commandeered by Union Army to take food for our troops. Sarah stood silent afraid to speak and watched as the men killed her pigs and chickens. They brought them into the house and told Sarah that they need to be cooked. The men were hungry. One man pushed her aside dipping his fingers into the pot of peas she had left on the stove and helping himself to the rest of the cornbread. They opened all her jars of food, throwing them to the ground and breaking the glass as they poured the food into a pan. They took every thing she had left from last winter. They took everything from her garden. Knocking down the fence post. Tearing the door off the barn. Sarah was angry, but she was more scared. She had baby Bud to think about. Who would take care of him if anything happened to her? Sarah did what the men told her and she cooked for the men for three days and nights, sleeping little. When the men were finally gone she breathed a sigh of relief and she smiled to herself. At lest the hams were safe and Floyd would be coming home soon. After all the war couldn’t last much longer.

The End.

Floyd and Sarah

This short story is a work of fiction. However

Floyd, Sarah and baby Bud were real people.

Floyd and Sarah were my great great grandparents. Floyd did fight in the Civil war and was in the hospital in Richmond VA for most of the war with diarrhea, The Yankees did come to Floyd and Sarah’s house and Sarah was made to stay up and cook for them for the three days that they camped around an old oak tree in her front yard. She did save her cow by hiding it and her hams by hiding them in an old tree and the men did kill all her pigs and chickens. Early Barto Barker was my great grandfather, he was born in 1861 so he was a baby during this time.

What is not known is the exact time of year that the Yankee troops were camped at Sarah house, nor how long she had to hide her things. . I do not know how many men arrived, but we do know from oral history that they stayed three days. We do not have any letters from Floyd to Sarah so that part I made up. Along with what she thought and what she ate and so on. I have only been given oral history of the event itself so the rest of the story is fiction.

This is my first attempt at writing a short story and I hope you enjoyed it.

Gibberish

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000

*Update on previous post.*
Thanks for those who responded on the word GTYZBRG

I tired several forms of the word at my DMV website and the S has been taken in all forms. Also a dash between GTYZ-BRG is taken. We can only use 7 letters and I tried many variations of spelling and this is what was left. I just wanted to make sure others knew it was the word GETTYSBURG before I invested in the plate..Let me know
Thanks

what do you think

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:53:00 +0000

If I put GTYZBRG on a license plate would you know what it said or would you think it was gibberish? Send me a reply

Halloween Fun

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:17:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween. I certainly did. I had intended to write a post in time for the big day, but it snuck up on me and now it has come and gone. I had to work today, but did manage to find time for a little "clowning around"

When I got off work I hurried over to my daughter's house so we could take my grandson out trick or treating. He had a wonderful time with the little boy next door. They are just one day apart in age so they really enjoyed going trick or treating this year

(My grandson is the one in the green hat)

My ex husband came by and gave out candy to the trick or treat kids while my daughter and I took out Cody. When we got home we all joined in the fun of giving away the candy.

Yeah Candy!!

Cody clowning around in my wig

Maybe he will be a famous make up artist some day

So What Do You Think?

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Out of all the blogs I read, I haven't seen anyone mention the H1N1 flu. Are you worried about it? Do you plan on taking the vaccine?
It seems to be the hot topic in our area, and we are currently out of the vaccine. My sister who is a nurse did find a dose for my daughter who is 6 months pregnant, so she took the shot. We were really torn about it, but from all the news reports the flu is very very dangerous for pregnant woman and the majority of them who contact it have a high chance of both the baby and them-self dying. That is a lot more frightening than the shot.
The schools here were lining up kids for the shot last week, but my grandson had a fever from a cold and sinus infection and no one seemed to know if it was safe for him to take the vaccine. At his age he has to have the mist and will need it in two doses. By the time he was feeling better and my daughter had made plans to go get it for him they had ran out. It looks like it may be several weeks yet before our area has it back in.
I don't mind admitting, I'm a bit nervous. I don't want my grandbaby getting sick.

So what is the talk around your town?

Holiday Chit Chat

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Halloween is almost here!!
And I am ready!

Don't waste your money

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:03:00 +0000

I went to see the movie "Paranormal Experience" today, and guess what

IT SUCKED...

Don't waste your money on this film. It was the worst thing I had seen since "The Blair Witch Project". Not only did it not have a real plot, it was down right boring at times and by the time the movie was half was finished I was wishing I had brought along a book to read.

Something Abides

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Gettysburg, 1889: "In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream, and lo! The shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."

General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Former Colonel of the 20th Maine Infantry

What a day

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Today was one of those days..You know the kind that you are just ready to see come to an end. It started off with my husband calling me as he was driving to work to let me know that his car was blowing smoke from under the hood...Great I thought, just what we need. He managed to make it to work and took a quick look. Water had blown and we think it might be a busted hose. I told him just call and get a tow. We will have to deal with getting it checked out over the weekend.
At the end of the day I called him to let him know I was going to come pick him up from work so as soon as the tow truck gets there we can head out to dinner. I haven't been to the grocery store since before our vacation and cooking tonight was out of the question.
He informed me that he was on the phone with the dispatcher and I thought cool, they will be there by the time I was..WRONG...TWO...Count them TWO hours later the tow truck finally arrived and we were finally on our way to dinner.

We soon arrived at the local Cracker Barrel, found just a few people eating (it was now after 8 pm). Got our order in, got the food in good time, and ate..but that was it..We got the food and ate. The waiter never came back by, not once. I had already run out of tea, and had to take a sip of my husbands water to wash down the corn muffin that went down the wrong way. I coughed several times trying to get the tickle out and he never came over. Finally after both of us had the forks and napkins on the plate and I was reading the book I had brought along the waiter showed up with the check..

Guess what he didn't go home with tonight....Yep you got it..NO TIP
I know I probably should have left him a couple of bucks, but I honestly did not feel like he deserved it. I have got more attention from the kids in a fast food line than we did this guy. Maybe if more people would refuse to tip for bad service those giving it would take notice.
As for the car, it is sitting outside in the parking lot where it will probably have to sit for a couple of weeks. I think I have mentioned before in this blog that we don't have credit cards, so we will have to save up now to get it worked on. After the recent trip that isn't going to be this pay day

Sigh

Walking among the dead

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:47:00 +0000

On Sunday night Dean and I met up with fellow blogger Linda from" Are We There Yet?" and her daughter Amanda and Amanda's friend Darci for a "ghost hunt'.

We had booked it earlier in the week via the Farnsworth House Inn. I had been on a tour with this tour company before and enjoyed it so I was looking forward to the hunt. We had been told we would be using real equipment and taken out and shown how to use it to "Hunt" Ghost. The area we investigated was interesting but the guide we got was young, giggly, and more interested in sitting on a log smoking cigarettes than participating in the tour. I have a review of the tour on my Ghost Hunting Blog so please stop over there to read about the tour. I did take a tour later in the week with a different company and both my husband and I got some photo's of "interest". I have them on that blog. . Even though the Farnsworth House Inn tour could have been better, it was fun meeting the "girls" and putting face with the name.Linda and I are talking about meeting again at Gettysburg in the future. I believe Linda is planning on doing a post about the tour on her blog and she has some photos from that night that you have to check out..SPOOKY...so be sure and go by to visit her.

Sky Watch

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:09:00 +0000

I haven't participated in Sky WatchFriday in awhile, but couldn't pass up the chance to show off these beautiful photos of the sun setting on Oct. 10, in Gettysburg PA.

Treasures Galore

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Sunday afternoon found me with some free time so we decided to go to one of the nearby antiques stores. I had seen this shop on my previous visits, but had not been there. I later found out it is only open on weekends so I was fortunate to find them open.

After looking around a few minutes the owner and I started chatting and the conversation lead to the history of the house and barn. Much to my surprise and embarrassment I found out that I was standing on The JacobWeikert Farm

For more information on the farm and additional photos click HERE

This home was not only used as a Civil War hospital during and after the battle, but is one of the most famous farms in the area.

I hope you will take a few minutes to read about this wonderful farm. It played an important part in the battle and I will also be telling you more about one of the young ladies from town who spend almost a week here during the battle itself in a future post.

For more information on the antique store, and photos of the inside click HERE

As I mentioned I love antiques so I did not leave empty handed. I bought an old blue medicine bottle and I also found this wonderful "treasure"

Of course you know me, so you know I had to ask if there was a ghost story. It was no surprise to me to find out that they had one.
The owner recounted one to me that involved her daughter. It seems that one day she saw an apparition of a soldier in her bedroom. Also the owner told me that on photos that she takes inside the home she always gets orbs. This again was not a surprise since the dinning room table was used for operating on the men. Arms and legs were cut off on the table and thrown outside the dinning room window
This table is now at the visitors center and I did go by to see it before I left town so I could take this photo. Sorry it is poor quality but was taken behind glass.

All in all this was one of the highlights of my week and the owners were very sweet and easy to talk to. I would recommend that if you get a chance to visit Gettysburg you drop by.
They are located on Tanneytown Road.

Walking The Charge

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Day two dawned cold and clear

After a quick breakfast we headed off to the beautiful Sachs Covered Bridge

We hung out there awhile chatting with a couple a few years old than us. They approached us asking if we had seen any ghost. We exchanged a few stories, I gave her the URL to ghost hunting blog and we moved on. We had plans to walk the fields where Pickett's Charge took place

This is where the battle took place on the 3rd of July
While the Union lost about 1,500 killed and wounded, the Confederate casualty rate was over 50%. Pickett's division suffered 2,655 casualties (498 killed, 643 wounded, 833 wounded and captured, and 681 captured, unwounded). Pettigrew's losses are estimated to be about 2,700 (470 killed, 1,893 wounded, 337 captured). Trimble's two brigades lost 885 (155 killed, 650 wounded, and 80 captured). Wilcox's brigade reported losses of 200, Lang's about 400. Thus, total losses during the attack were 6,555, of which at least 1,123 Confederates were killed on the battlefield, 4,019 were wounded, and a good number of the injured were also captured. Confederate prisoner totals are difficult to estimate from their reports; Union reports indicated that 3,750 men were captured.

It is about one mile from the Virginia Monument side to the Pennsylvania side. We had just arrived back when we saw this group of Scouts getting ready to walk across.

We watched them awhile then headed off to do other things

Watching The Sun Go Down

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:51:00 +0000

We arrived in Gettysburg early in the day on Saturday and when we arrived at our campground our cabin was not ready for us. This was a bit inconvenient since we had plans to go to the Apple Harvest Festival and no pets were allowed but we made the best of it by taking about an hour and driving out to the battlefield.Since we camp near the Pennsylvania Monument this was our first stop.

We had never climbed to the top, so we left Lucy (the dog) in the car and started up. It was a lot of stairs but worth it when we saw these beautiful views from the top.

After walking around awhile we headed back and soon settled in at the cabin.

We finally arrived the festival where we found lots to see.

Of course what would an apple festival be without APPLES!

And APPLE TREES

We opted not to buy our apples this day but did get some before we came home from the Round Barn

The prices were very reasonable and we got a half of a bushel for just $11.00.

(This photo was taken after we got home)

We arrived back in Gettysburg before dark and was able to get photos of this beautiful sunset

(See yeserday's post for an additional photo of the sunset)

We were tired but happy as the first day came to an end

Baby It's Cold Outside

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:49:00 +0000

We arrived home safe and sound after spending five COLD days in Gettysburg PA. I don't think the temperature at night got out of the 40's and after being use to 70 degree weather I almost froze. I will be telling you a bit more about my trip in my next post and posting some photos. If it looks like I am wearing the same shirt in all the pictures it is because I was. I only took one sweatshirt with me and wore it the entire time. Don't worry I did have on a clean shirt underneath. Thankfully we did take a nice warm comforter for the bed, and we rented a small space heater for the cabin, so we did sleep warmly. While there we did get a chance to meet up with blogger buddy Linda and her daughter Amanda and Amanda's friend Darcy for a ghost walk. While I did enjoy meeting them, the walk itself was something less than I expected. All in all though the trip was wonderful and as usual I hated to come home.
I will tease you just a bit by posting my favorite photo from the trip...This was sunset on Saturday night.
Keep in mind that this is the raw photo and no color enhancements or any type of adjustments have been made. What you see here is exactly like my eyes saw the sun going down.

Apples, Battlefields and Ghost OH MY!

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:40:00 +0000

I took half a day off today so that I could finish getting ready for my upcoming trip this weekend. I think I have almost everything packed and ready for the car. I've been undecided as to what to take to wear while I am in Gettysburg. The weather is going to be cooler than I am use to, but I don't want to dress to warm and be uncomfortable the entire time. I finally settled on both jeans and Capri pants, and added both long sleeve, three quarter sleeves and short sleeves along with a sweat shirt and light weight jacket. I know I have to much packed, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I still have a few little things to gather up but for the most part I am finished. We won't talk about my husband but I will tell you that he doesn't have the first thing packed and has to do his laundry yet. It's ok though he has off tomorrow. I on the other hand am working 11-8, which is one reason why I was off this afternoon. I don't want to be running around here at the last minute trying to finish up.
I have to tell you that I am excited, and if you have ever read this blog more than once you know by now that Gettysburg is probably my favorite place on earth. I love not only the history but the town itself. As I mentioned in my previous post we plan on going to the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday. Since this also is my birthday we may find a nice out of the way place for dinner. Some time on Sunday I plan on walking the field at Picketts Charge, where the last fight of this battle took place. I tried walking all the way across on my first trip and was over come with emotion and had to turn around. I am determined this time I will make the one mile walk. (My header photo was taken in this field). If all turns out as planned we are going to try and hook up with a blogger friend of mine from Are We There Yet? for a ghost walk on Sunday night. She has a couple of things going on during the day, but if she makes it in town in time we will hook up. If not we hope to still meet the next day. I think it would be fun to put a face with the words so I hope things work out to meet her.
Anyway this is my last post for awhile but don't worry. I will be back late next week full of stories and photo's so be sure and come back by. In the mean time I am leaving you with a bit of Triva on Gettysburg. Enjoy your week everyone.

Facts about Gettysburg Monuments

1. Which state has the most monuments on the battlefield?

New York, New York has a total of 128 and Pennsylvania is a close second with 123.

2. How many Equestrian Memorials are there dedicated to generals on the battlefield?

Seven. There are memorials to Generals Sedwick, Hancock, Howard, Slocum, Reynolds, Meade and Longstreet.

3. True or False, Gettysburg has more mounuments than any other battlefield.

True At last count there were 1,340 monuments. The reason for this is quite simple. In the days following the battle, those immediately touched by the death of fallen loved ones and the nation needed a way to express thier grief. Nothing as devastating had happened to the young nation and monuments were a way of showing honor. Also, the battle took place in the midst of the Victorian Age, a time when death was a morbid fascination.

4. What was the cost of the Virginia State Monument?

50,000. The Virginia State monument was dedicated on June 8, 1917 and unveiled by Miss Virgina Carter, a niece of General Lee.

5. In what year was the first Confederate monument placed on the battlefield?
1917. The first Confederate monument was from the state of Virginia. With the completion of the Tennessee State Memorial in 1982 each southern state was at last represented.

6. Which state has the names of all the soldiers who participated in the battle contained on bronze markers around the base of the monument?

Pennsylvania The height of the Pennsylvania monument is 110 feet. The base of the monument is 80 feet square and has a height of 9 feet. Around the base, and on the inner walls of the arches, are placed bronze tablets on which are recorded the names of 34,530 officers and enlisted men of Pennsylvania who participated in the battle. The monument cost $150,000 and was dedicated September 27, 1910."

7. Which state monument has the inscription "Your names are inscribed on fame's immortal scroll"?

Alabama Dedicated in 1933, the monument stands near the spot where Law's Alabama Brigade began its attack on Little Round Top on July 2, 1863.

8. Which state monument was added in 1929 to pay tribute to the 41 units that participated in the great campaign into Pennyslvania?

North Carolina The North Carolina state monument was designed by famous sculptor Gutzon Borglum.

9. On what anniversary of the battle was the Eternal Light Peace Memorial dedicated?

75th. The Eternal Light Peace Memorial was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 3, 1938. This was the last Joint Reunion of the blue and gray; this memorial was an enduring reminder of "Peace Eternal in a Nation United". A sodum vapor lamp, which replaced the original natural gas flame, burns 24 hours a day as a sign of the commitment by the two sections to coexist as one nation.

10. The 11th Pennsylvania volunteers monument has a bronze likeness of what?
: A dog The name of the dog was Sallie. On the field during and after the battle of Gettysburg, the dog stayed with the regiment's dead and wounded. After Lee's army retreated from Gettysburg on July 4th, members of the 12th Massachusetts found her still alive. The dog was weak from lack of food and water. Sallie was unfortunately shot and killed during the fighting on Feb. 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run VA.

11. The Virginia State Monument has a statue of General Robert E. Lee astride his favorite horse Traveller at the top. What did the sculptor use as a model for the horse?

Sculptor Frederick Sievers travelled to Washington and Lee University in Virginia to study the skeleton of Traveller on display there. A live horse, matching the shape and size of Traveller was then used as the actual model

More interesting tidbits about the battle

Several companies of black emergency volunteer militiamen were raised in Pennsylvania during the Confederate invasion. One of these saw action, when it was put into the lines with the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia at Wrightsville, on 27 June. The company, about 100 men organized at Columbia, suffered one man killed before Union forces were withdrawn across the Susquehanna, whereupon the Columbia bridge was burned.

Russel C. Mitchell, who fought at the Devil's Den and the foot of Little Round Top on 2 July as first sergeant of Company I, 1st Texas Infantry, a part of Robertson's brigade of Hood's division, was the grandfather of Margaret Mitchell, who wrote Gone With the Wind.

The dubious honor of being the first Union soldier to die in the Battle of Gettysburg apparently belongs to Cpl. Cyrus W. James, CompanyG, 9thNewYorkCavalry, while the equally dubious honor of being the first Confederate soldier to fall probably beongs to Pvt. Henry Raison of the 7th Tennessee Infantry.

When his brigade surrendered on 1 July, Brig. Gen. James J. Archer --the first of Lee's generals ever captured-- was brought to see Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday, who had been Archer's classmate at West Point. The latter greeted him in a friendly manner, saying, "Good morning, Archer. How are you? I'm glad to see you," to which the unchastened Rebel replied, "Well, I am not glad to see you by a damned sight!"

As Confederate Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell stood observing the attack of his II Corps on the afternoon of 1 July, he was struck in the leg by a musket ball and knocked down. His aides rushed to his side, fearing the worst. But the general just picked himself up, saying "I'm not hurt." Then he smiled, adding, "But suppose that ball had struck you? We would have had the trouble of carrying you off the field, sir. You see how much better fixed for a fight I am than you are. It don't hurt a bit to be shot in a wooden leg."

On 3 July Lt. Col. Johnathan Lockwood, commanding the 7th West Virginia captured his own nephew, who had been wounded leading part of the 7th Virginia at the climax of the Confederate assault on Cemetery Ridge.

During the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg an estimated 566 tons of ammunition were expended, amounting to about 24 pounds for each casualty on both sides.

On the 4th of July, as the two armies lay glaring at each other across the bloody fields between Cemetery Ridge and Seminary Ridge, Robert E. Lee's pet hen caused a minor command flap. It seems that the bird, who rode in Lee's headquarters wagon and was wont to lay an egg under his cot every morning, thereby providing his breakfast, managed to get lost. Perhaps fearful that his little pet had ended up in someone's cook pot, Lee ordered a search. After a short time, the bird was found and returned to her proper place and Lee got back to contemplating his next move.

As the Confederate troops were falling back from "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg, British observer Lt. Col. James Fremantle said "I wouldn't have missed this for anything," to which Lt. Gen. James Longstreet replied "The devil you wouldn't! I would like to have missed it very much . . . !"

Union cavalryman Elon Farnsworth's promotion to brigadier general came so unexpectedly that he had to borrow a suitable uniform from Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasanton, which he was wearing when killed at Gettysburg four days later on 3 July 1863.

While enduring the Confederate bombardment atop Cemetery Ridge on the third day of Gettysburg, Union Brig. Gen. John Gibbon may perhaps have received some satisfaction from knowing that the enemy was using his The Artillerist's Manual as their basic handbook.

During the Gettysburg Campaign Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, reasoned that a good deal of money could be saved if the army did not supply uniforms to the many miliatiamen and volunteers who turned out to help stem Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, since the emergency was certain to be over before their own clothing wore out: Lincoln demurred, however, and the men got their uniforms anyway.

As a result of an argument over who's battery had precedence on the line of march, Capt. Pichegru Woolfolk, Jr., of Virginia's Ashlad Battery, was challenged to a duel with rifles at 15 paces by Capt. George W. Moody, of Louisiana's Madison Light Artillery; Alas for honor, the expected encounter never took place, for the Battle of Gettysburg interfered in the arrangements. Although both survived, the battle neither ever met the other again.

When Lee conferred with Ewell and Early on the morning of 2 July, they did so in the Adams County Prison on High Street in Gettysburg, which is now a library.

When Confederate artillery bombarded Wrightsville on 27 June, the only two structures seriously damaged were the offices of the "Sons of Temperance" and those of the "Native American Party" [i.e.,the "Know Nothings"], a matter which some took as a sign from heaven.

Apple Pies

autumnsbutterfly@yahoo.com (Patty) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:49:00 +0000

With my trip to Gettysburg coming up in just a few days my thoughts have turned to apples. Yes apples, I know I am a civil war buff, and a ghost hunting enthusiast, but today I am thinking with my stomach.
The National Apple Harvest Festival is taking place this weekend and we plan on being there.
Of course with a harvest festival for apples, guess what I plan on buying. Yep. Apples.
So that brings me to the thoughts of what I will do with them. When I was growing up I can remember going to my grandmother's house for family reunions. We always had fried apple pies. Hers where made from dried apples, but I am sure I can find a way to convert the dried mixture into fresh apples.
When I get home from the trip I will try and find some other recipes to share with you, but today I leave you with this one. It is my grandmother's recipe and is probably close to 100 years old.

Grandma's Fired Apple Pies

1 pkg. dried fruit
pasty dough
1/2 to 1/2 cup sugar
1 c. Water
Oil for frying

Cook the dried fruit in the water until tender,making sure they do not stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the sugar to taste and mash with with a potato masher. Have teh pastry dough ready. I use Bisquick, its simple and tender. Roll the dough out very thin into a circle about the size of a coffee cup saucer. Spoon about 2 T. of the fruit filling onto the center of the pastry and fold in half. Crimp the edges with your fingers to seal in the filling. Heat a large skillet and add about 1/4 inch of oil. When the oil is hot, fry the pies one at a time, until golden brown on one side then turn the pies over and fry until golden brown on the other side.
Delicious hot or cold.
Makes 6-8 large pies.

Please note. I ~~stole~~ borrowed this photo from the Internet and in no way take credit for it.