Actually, we voted 2 weeks ago, but since tomorrow is Election Day, I thought I'd let you know how easy it was to vote.  

 

There was no wait, because we were there at 9 am.  Each person was given a baggie with a mask, a pen, a Q-tip, and an I VOTED sticker.  All we had to do was tell the person at the computer our name and address, (no ID required) and she gave us a ballot.  We went into another spacious room with about 10 voting booths, made our choices using the Q-tip on the touch screen, and gave our ballot to the official.  She showed us, as it was fed into the machine, that our votes were counted.  EASY!!!

 

Not sure what it will be like tomorrow, but it couldn't have been any easier to vote in person, in Murphy.  We love our town.

 

I HOPE YOU VOTED TOO!!!

 

Halloween is just a few days away.  Are you ready?  I am.  I love dressing up like one insect or another for Halloween.  

 

For years, I wore butterfly wings, but they were huge, and got me into trouble more than once.  So lately, I've gone for the ladybug look.  Too bad you can't see the antennae.  They are 2" silver styrofoam balls attached with springs on a headband.  They are kinda wiggly.  :D

 

Besides, I love the idea that the appropriate collective noun is "a loveliness of ladybugs."  This costume always makes me feel lovely.

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, a little early.

 

Have you ever wondered what's under those well covers?  Besides snakes...

 

Well...yesterday we were walking the loop, and saw Jim and CB down by well #7.  It's the one down by the creek, near the chestnut trees.  This is what we saw!!!  

 

They were obviously working on the well, but I asked anyway:  Hey, what's up?  The answer was very interesting, and I thought you might like to know about it.

 

CB was installing an Ultraviolet sterilizer to the wellhead.  See that silver cylinder toward the back?  That is the housing for a UV light bulb.  Well #7 has often failed the bacteria test, so this is a reasonable solution for this well.  Not all our wells need this type of treatment system;  they've tested fine for years.

 

I learned that the UV sterilizer doesn't sterilize the water, but disrupts the DNA of bacteria and viruses, preventing them from performing certain cellular functions, essentially disabling them from contaminating the water.  There will also be a 20 micron filter in line before the UV sterilizer, to filter out most of the particles so they don't interfere with the UV system.  

 

This method for water treatment has been in use since the mid-20th century, and is called Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, (UVGI).  Wikipedia has a good article if you want to explore it further.  Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

 

A number of residents have installed UVGI systems in their homes, and they offer a sense of confidence when the natural eColi blooms.  But don't think that it comes cheap.  There are perpetual costs:  the UV tube needs to be replaced yearly, and the 20 micron filter even more often, costing hundreds of dollars.  And that's true with the system installed on well #7.  Perpetual costs are part of solving problems like this, but focusing on the safety of the community is the goal.

 

Oh, in case you're  wondering:  these UV tubes are generally using the spectrum called UV-C which kills lots of stuff, (including COVID).  

 

 

THAT'S WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT.

 

 

 

I told you about Momma and Nanny and BeeBee peeling apples by hand, under the apple tree in the backyard.

 

Well, Momma gave me an apple peeler.  See that contraption on the counter?  It is fabulous for peeling and coring LOTS of apples. Then all you have to do is clean them up a bit and chop or slice for your apple projects.

 

This was our last day of making applesauce.  We canned 17 pints.   

 

WE ARE SO RICH!!!

 

Jim and Roxanne have made sure that NO crows will hit their garden this fall.  Their scarecrow display is great.  Makes me smile every time I walk by it.

 

So cheerful!!!

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

OK...Lately, I have had several friends ask how to make a comment on the blog.  

 

Up until yesterday, it was only possible to comment if you were logged into the website.  Which is fine for Five Forks residents, because you all have a login password.  However, visitors to the site can read the blog, but weren't able to login and comment.  Well, I changed that.  You can now add a comment without being logged in.  Comments will be monitored by the blogs' author, and then made public if appropriate.  Sometimes the comments may just be a personal note between the reader and the author, not for everybody to see.  Sometimes they may be great to publicize because the reader may not be the only one with that thought.  

 

So let's see how it goes.  I love it when you respond to my blog posts.  It lets me know you're reading them.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

We harvested about 4 bushels of apples from our trees.  Yay!!!  Our squirrel-proofing worked!!!

 

We started canning applesauce, but still have a couple more days to go before we are finished.  Sandy canned 30 quarts and as many pints from her 4 bushels of apples.  She worked constantly for two days.  We have also made apple pies, apple cakes, and fed a bunch to the deer.  

 

When we were little, there was an apple tree in the back yard.  We all have fond memories of Momma and Nanny and BeeBee sitting in the shade of the apple tree, peeling apples by hand.  They made a LOT of applesauce.  

 

And our friend, Ruby Whitman made tons of apple cake.  Her recipe is in the recipe section.  Try it:  it is easy and delicious.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

 

 

We got MUMS this week!!!  This is a 14" pot full of 3 colors of chrysanthemums.  It stands 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.  Gorgeous!!!

 

It came from Gracie's Nursery on the Blairsville Highway.  I know you've seen all the mums when you drive by.  Well, stop in and get some for your Fall decorating.  Do it soon, so you can enjoy them longer.  If you wait til the flowers are all the way open, you will have missed out on about a month of beauty.  

 

I'm sure you can buy them at Walmart or Home Depot, but don't you love to support the small businesses here?  Prices are about the same.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Yes, you can thank Patty Tegtman for the fabulous fall decorations.  

 

She and Bill made these adorable Folk Art Scarecrows and pumpkins, including the ones at the signposts.  She asked for a hay bale, which Jim had delivered.  Then we spray painted this great face on it.  (I bet you didn't know you have graffiti artists as neighbors.)    ;D

 

She's the mastermind behind the whole thing.  I just provided the transportation and cheerleading.  

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

I told you about Nancy's puzzle.  It has 1500 pieces, and now it's finished.  She did it in less than a week.  WOW!!!!!  

 

She's smarter than I am though; she put it together on their dining room table which is pub table height.  She could stand up or sit in a chair to add the pieces.  No bending over the coffee table.  

 

I'm excited to trade her and tackle this one this winter.  So pretty.

 

 

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING OCCUPIED?