Another beautiful season is happening in West Virginia.  The trees are creating a wonderful palette of color, the air is nippy, daylight hours are fewer and fall is officially here. Dave has a beautiful garden; really prettier than in the spring.  His kale and Swiss chard are up and growing for a great late harvest.  He has a wonderful crop of beets which I hope to be able to can. We cleaned the garden off this week and were able to get about 1/2 bushel of peppers, which I am saving in the case I get another mushroom or two. I have canned several jars of mushrooms and peppers and have the crock ready with saliati but I would welcome another one or two.  It is almost too late unless we have an Indian summer so if you know where there might be some mushrooms be sure to get to them this week. Fall is also the season to get the soup pot out.  I made a great potato soup last week and have everything to make a pot of vegetable soup.  Whoever said that soup is good for the soul knew what they were talking about.

 

I really enjoyed one of my birthday presents this week.  My sister, Cathy, got me two books and I read them both. They were written by Gayle Forman and the first was If I Stay, which was made into a movie and the sequel, Where She Went. It was a beautiful love story with all of the ups and downs of true love. I recommend them to anyone.  I am a fast reader but this just may be the project that you want to start for your fall reading.

 

I’m wishing happy birthday to two of my East View girls, Theresa Oliverio Westfall and Diana Frye. I hoe you have many more. Dave Alonso will be celebrating the big 82 and his son, Dave, observed his 57th birthday.  I guess birthdays just come and go, but then it is better than the alternative.

 

We have been actively campaigning for Mike and under most circumstances we really enjoy it.  It is great to be able to meet all my old friends and to make new ones. Once again we were in Weston at a candidate’s reception and I have enjoyed all the new friends we have made there.  I was able to share a copy of the San Giovanni in Fiore newspaper with Shelly Moore Capito.  The paper had a photo of her while she was attending a reception in Clarksburg. Although the paper is written in Italian is nice to look at the pictures.

 

Election Day will be here sooner than you think.  I hope you all intend to vote and that you have had the opportunity to meet and get to know those individuals who are seeking office.  There are plenty of opportunities and there is a lot of printed material out there.  I congratulate all of those who are seeking to represent us.  Campaigning is not an easy job.  It would be sad to think that our young people would not step up to the plate. There are those few who are nasty but as a rule most people are nice and really want to see and hear what the candidates have to say. We all have the option to choose who we want to represent us, and when those individuals throw their hats into the ring they know that someone is going to win and someone is going to lose. If you are against someone, I do not think it is necessary to be rude and cruel, remember they have families who this also hurts. Remember you can do early voting at the Mall or the Court House.