Peak autumn colours have passed quickly, and as November roars in (more like December this past week, with actual snow flurries on Halloween), Nature begins to fade into browns and greys. Early autumn and late autumn are really two completely different seasons here at the Homestead. This coming weekend we lose our later daylight as we switch back to Standard time (which I would prefer to have year round). Our Tuesday walk on the Greenway Trail was so different from the one a week ago. For one thing, it was freezing, with a blustery breeze and 39 F. For another, more fields had been harvested, leaving a brown and empty landscape surrounding us. And for another, most of the leaves had blown down from around the trail. A stark difference from65 F last week, and peak autumn colours.
We had our usual great Samhain festival here at home. The decorations went up last Saturday, and will remain up until at least Sunday. There was a wood fire, homemade pumpkin pie, great music, and the annual Tarot reading. We each pick 9 cards from a shuffled deck. Deb goes first, then after her reading is done the cards are placed back and reshuffled for my reading. For the first time since we've been doing this (2004?), we both selected the same card as our year card. I will post it here soon; it's perfect for us at the moment, at least. In addition, we each have card that helps guide us through the 8 quarters and cross quarters of the year. We mainly use the Arthurian Tarot, which is quite brilliantly adapted from the tradition Waite deck, but this year we will also use the Waite cards corresponding to our Arthurian picks, to deepen our reading. The cards are never used as predictions of any sort, but rather give us something to think about for the 6 weeks that they stay out (except for the year card, which gives us something to think about for a year).
Here are a few phone pics of our inside decor this year.
These are all low light photos. Deb was unable to carve the pumpkin this year, because of her cast. So guess who did the honours?
Deb's rather crowded Day of Dead altar set up. Yorick himself is sitting on a chair near centre. The black centerpiece at the rear is a mirror covered in black cloth, a traditional Offrenda feature.
Our wood fire burns cheerily. It was very welcome this year, as it was a cold and windy night.
This skeleton was a gift from my cousin Cathy.
Henry the Halloween Cat and Bruno the Gorilla team up every year for the festivities.
An old artwork of Deb's comes out but once a year. Other art on our walls are also changed at this time.
In health news, I got my flu shot last Thursday. This Monday we both return for our Covid booster, followed by Deb's flu shot about a week later. She is limited to the time when she can get such shots due to her infusion months. Also next Monday Deb returns for follow up x-rays of her wrist. Tuesday she returns to her podiatrist to get her new orthotics. Then it's back to the hospital Wednesday morning, hopefully to get the okay to remove her cast. Today she had to get her bi-monthly blood work done. Afterwards, we met with our financial planner, whom we will see again on Monday. On it goes. If all goes well, we will go to Detroit with friends on Saturday, mainly to see the Offrenda exhibit this year before it closes. Sunday is supposed to be the next piano get together, but I am a bit too flustered to concentrate much on piano performance just now. I am practicing, though.
In film news, there are three to report. Deb chose Lynch/Oz, a film from 2022 that explores the connections between many of Lynch's films with the 1939 version of Wizard of Oz. This is a fun documentary, narrated by several different leading independent film directors, and copiously illustrated with scenes from Oz and most of Lynch's major works. It makes if worthwhile to go back and see some more Lynch films.
DHH is an Indian film from 2017, my leaving choice for the week. It is a comedy drama about three young boys, about 5th grade, who hope to use magic to help them pass their exams. One of the boys has failed three times already, and is old enough to drive a scooter. They frequently skip out on class, and usually perform at the very bottom of their peer group. It is a long, but highly watchable film. Do they manage to use magic to help them pass? You bet they do.
My main choice for the week was Company of Wolves, from 1985, and based on stories and the screenplay by Angela Carter. Now showing on Prime/Shudder, this was probably our sixth or seventh view of the film, which tackles the darker side of folk tales very nicely. A good cast, great sets and lighting and costumes, and decent effects for the time enhance this tale of a young girl brutally coming of age. If you have never seen it, then I highly recommend it. If you have, then you should know that it is well worth more than a single viewing.
Now showing on Prime/Shudder.
Mapman Mike
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