Booooo!

I am most fortunate to live in a neighborhood with large trees (even after the ash borer has done his damage) mature bushes and well maintained yards.  A neighborhood that sees some houses fully decorate for Halloween. How wonderful to take in the sights and enjoy the effort that my neighbors have put into creating a wonderland, some scary some tame, for all to see.  My yard is a muted celebration of Halloween, more Sesame Street than Michael Myers, more Barney than Freddy Krueger.

Most of my neighbors have the same displays every year.  Some build upon it to create fantastic light shows and creepy soundtracks.  There are some neighbors who express their displeasure in some of the displays be it for religious reasons or perhaps crabappleness - yes this is a word look it up (on second thought, unless you have a Zep Dictionary you may not find it). I respect all views but also respect the idea of creating something fun and playful.  My evening walk is made more enjoyable when I walk past my closest neighbor to find the lights jump on, a groan come out of the bushes and a witch fly through the air cackling.  The first time I walked by I almost burst an aorta, but now I am amused and gladdened that someone has taken the time and energy to entertain.  My neighbor a few doors down is a typical curmudgeon crabapple.  He is distraught every time a young child uses his driveway to turn around on their bike, never answers the door when a child comes to sell cookies (or popcorn, or wreaths, or you name it), throws a hissy if you step on his lawn and never responds to a hello, a how you doing, or even a how about them bears.  Imagine my surprise when in one of my walks he approached me and started a conversation about my direct neighbor.  "How can you stand living next to that guy? The lights go off at all time of day and night, that soundtrack of the groaning and the cackling, the people driving by in their cars and stopping! What an insane use of ones yard!" I replied "Yes! I know! Isn't it fantastic????".  "FANTASTIC! We have kids from all over riding their bikes to see it" "YES! I know!! Wonderful!!!". He looked at me, shook his head, turned on his heels and started to walk away. I yelled to him "Happy Halloween season!".  He looked back, sneered and said "stay off of my lawn!".  Sigh. I can't wait to see what happens at Christmas!

Holding myself accountable

Yesterday I was asking a colleague if they were going to add new blogs to their company's website...which got me thinking....when was the last time the Whine Press had new content?  It's time for the Dr (in a time lordy sense) to take her own advice and put pen to paper, or at least type to screen.

So here we go.  My skills are a year rusty but hopefully still entertaining (at least to Jim my partner in blog).  

This is the burning question of my day.  When did pumpkin become a thing? I know that pumpkins have been in our sights since 1584 but when did they become a thing?  For at least the first 400 years most of us looked to them for pies, cakes and breads with only your "Gourmet" readers incorporating it as a savory ingredient in entrees.  So wha' happen?  How did this gourd become a rockstar in the latte world? Insinuated itself into cheesecake, ice cream and both? (I'm looking at you Ben & Jerry's Smashing Pumpkins Cheesecake Ice cream) Been a Pop Tart? Been an M&M? So many categories that the humble pumpkin has infiltrated.  Who knew that all these years the pumpkin was sitting in its patch stealthily waiting for the right time to strike.  A time when vanilla, citrus, fruit flavors and chocolate are not enough variety! A time when people will spend over $5 for a cup of coffee with milk in it! A time when mothers scream 'MORE FLAVORS OF POP TARTS! MY CHILDREN NEED MORE FLAVORS!".  Pumpkin THIS IS YOUR TIME!!

I am however, drawing a line at this......