Autumn Traditions

Hi Puzzlers,
It’s autumn, that fabulous time of year when most of the bugs are gone, the temperature has cooled and the leaves are changing from green to brilliant hues of reds, oranges and yellows. This year I want to make sure I do all my fall favorites, so I began making a list. My list contains some of the usual, like apple picking, and some a little more unusual like trekking to the west coast to see thousands of monarch butterflies take up residence in the coast’s eucalyptus trees.

This list of traditions got me thinking, “What do other people like to do in the fall?” So off I went polling the girls in the office, poking and prying to get to the good stuff. Below is the list we came up with. Who knows- maybe one of these will become your new autumn tradition!

1. Take a trip to pick apples, visit a pumpkin patch and don’t forget the corn maze!
2. Watch “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”.
3. Redecorate your home’s interior by moving the furniture around and changing out your decorative pillows.
4. Decorate your exterior with fall window boxes filled with mini pumpkins, gourds and tiny scarecrows.
5. Let the baking begin and eat pie! Pumpkin, apple, cherry, peach, pecan …I’ll have a slice of each please!
6. Next on to chili, stews and soup.
7. Don’t forget to wash it all down with some apple cider, hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte.
8. Need something with more of a kick? How about a spiked hot apple cider, or a pumpkin martini. (I haven’t tried this yet, but oh my yumminess, it sounds good!)
9. Next you’ll need to work it all off by raking some leaves or taking a hike so you can enjoy the crunching of the leaves under your feet.
10. Last but not least don’t forget to capture all your autumn adventures on film.

Happy Puzzling!

Meet Artist Kate Ward Thacker

Hi Puzzlers,

Today we would like you to meet artist Kate Ward Thacker. Kate’s lifelong love of vintage illustration, advertising, travel memorabilia and assorted ephemera has resulted in an unparalleled library of retro themes which she uses as inspiration for her designs in these collections.

As an avid artist from an early age, Kate Ward Thacker began selling her work at art festivals when she was in high school. After earning a bachelor's degree in design, she spent twelve years on commercial design projects while also developing and refining her painting techniques and style.

As a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Kate's talent and creativity were put to good use on theme park designs for Paris Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This creative atmosphere further enhanced her desire to turn to a full time art career, which she did in 1990.

Kate's vibrantly hued paintings are included in numerous corporate, public and private collections worldwide. She has shown her work for many years in galleries across the country. Also, some of Kates work has also been spotted on HDTV’s Color Splash with David Bromstad!

Happy Puzzling!

Wishful Thinking

Hi Puzzlers,

Wishful thinking is a gift from the heavens. Most of us experience it when we buy a lottery ticket and our mind wanders to the, “What if I won?” mode. We fantasize about buying lots of stuff and vacationing at exotic locations or hiring a chef, maid and butler. (Okay, no butler for me, but definitely a maid to do the cleaning and laundry). So you can imagine my surprise when this happened to me as I followed the bus to my daughter’s first cross-country meet.

My parental brain took over and made me delirious as I thought of all the possibilities for her future success as a runner! Make way, Sports Legend puzzle-here she comes! I imagine her winning every high school cross-country meet in our area, and then it’s on to the state championship. My delusions continue as I visualize her winning and winning and winning through the next four years of high school. Records are smashed under the force of her feet. The scholarships from Harvard, Yale and Princeton are pouring in, offering her more and more if she signs with them.

Next it’s on to the Olympics! (I warned you I was delusional!) Look out Lynn Jennings she looking to break all your American records. I call Memere (French for Grandmother) and say “Did you see her on the box of Wheaties, and don’t forget to tape the Nike and Pepsi commercials she’ll be starring in.”

We come to a grinding halt and park next to the other fourteen buses. As I watch all 75 pounds of her exit the bus I get filled with pride from the fact she has the fortitude to do this, and I laugh to myself wondering how many of the other parents were thinking the same thing.

Happy Puzzling!

Country Fairs

Hi Puzzlers,
I love this time of year when the weather cools down a bit and the leaves begin to change color, highlighting our beautiful mountains. The kids are back at school and life goes back to being very structured- well at least for me. I know for some that structure equals boredom but to save you from that boredom there’s always the good old country fair!

Country Fairs- Oh I’ve died and gone to heaven! How I wait so impatiently every year for the fairs to begin. There is just something about a fair I find hard to resist. I go and eat like I’ve never eaten fried dough, sausage subs, blooming onions and French fries before. My husband just shakes his head and laughs at my total and utter loss of control as I shove as much fair food into my mouth as I can, destroying my year’s worth of healthy eating in a single day.

I stroll the barns, sneezing up a storm, looking at all the livestock and farm equipment. I make my way past all the vendors selling their wares, stopping occasionally to watch the slicing and dicing of the latest new kitchen gadget I’ve gotta have. I stop at the midway to play a few games, jumping up and down like a crazy person when I win the tiniest of toys.

Next it’s on to the entertainment -you know-the horse and ox-pulls. I must say the skillet throw cracks me up every year, though I do suspect there is an art to throwing the skillet the furthest. Then there are the old-time performers blasting out tunes I haven’t heard since the 70’s or before. Oh wait! I’m not that old! Now it is on to the woodsmen with ax throwing and sawing stuff up. Talk about skill, one slip and you’re a goner.

By now I’m feeling like I need to sit but I continue to stagger through the crowds. I watch the people and wonder where they all came from. Are they as addicted to it as I am? Have they tried the baked stuffed potatoes at the Elks booth? How about the out of this world blueberry cobbler from the church? When I come to I find my husband has me seated at the horse track! Yee Ha- let the fifty-cent betting begin!

Happy Puzzling!