As I sit here at my computer writing this blog, I look out the window and see yet another leaf fall to the ground. They are gorgeous in color often painted by artists and used by designers as color choices for fall.
If you're a shopper there isn't a store that doesn't carry rust, gold and even red-colored turtlenecks, sweaters and jackets. It's not something new this year but every autumn.
I admit I actually love the colors and for many years took leafpeeping trips with my husband through the Adirondacks and the hills of Vermont oohing and aahing.
But now as I watch still more leaves fall to the ground, I think about my husband's daily chore blowing leaves off our driveway so we don't get buried beneath them. Here in Wilton we have to bag the leaves and they get picked up every Wednesday by the town. I can't remember when I started seeing those bags being sold in the supermarkets and Lowe's and Home Depot, but I know they weren't around when I was a child. I only remember jumping in the leaves even when they were in the road. What was I thinking? But it was so much fun.
My husband does have a mulching lawnmower, which according to an advertisement on television the mulched leaves make the best fertilizer for next spring's lawn. We haven't see an exceptional one yet. Maybe our soil isn't that great.
I am still trying to see the colorful leaves in a whole new light, but as yet another few fall to the ground, I'm having a difficult time thinking about more work before the snow flies. And then you know what that season brings!
My advice is don't look out the window while you're working on the computer unless you can see only the beauty in each falling leaf and not think about the work that awaits you tomorrow.

I am so fed up I'm about to scream. I can't wait for next Tuesday to arrive and the elections will be over.

The Saratogian recently did a survey to find out how many people were influenced by television ads and to no surprise 80 percent of the voters said they made no difference in who they planned to vote for.

Most people vote along party lines. But there are others, who look at the path our country is taking and feel there is a need for change. I am no politician. In fact, I'd be too honest to ever hold an office.

Why is it, all the candidates promise us change, but once they are elected they do what they want and not what is best for the people that voted them in. I sound like a cranky old lady, which to be honest at this point I am.

In the meantime, I will continue to do what I am doing hop from one channel to another when a politician tries to tell me how wonderful they are and how down right bad their opponent is.

Ok, I got this off my chest. But I still want all of you to vote on Nov. 2. It is still our privilege and if you don't vote you have no right to gripe when you don't like the way things are going.

There is something about the fall of the year that makes me want to bake. I can't eat it most of the time, but I have a hubby who does. He is an apple freak. He eats as many as 3 or 4 a day.
His favorite recipe requests are southern apple cake and my version of French apple pie. The southern apple cake was my mother's recipe and has been handed down through the ranks.
The French apple pie is one I had, but I added a couple of my own touches.
In case anyone would like to try either one here are the recipes.

Southern Apple Cake
(from the kitchen of Grandma Bootier)
4 cups chopped apples
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional but adds a nice texture)
Cut apples into small cubes. Pour sugar over apples. Let stand 1/2 hour. Add oil, beaten eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
Add flour, baking soda, salt and nuts to apple mixture. Grease and flour tube pan and bake 1 hour (set oven at 350 degrees. Start checking at 45 min. for doneness.)
I prefer to use a 13'' by 9'' well-greased pan.
Enjoy!

French apple pie
Pillsbury crusts that contain 2. (could make your own)
Use at least 6 good size apples (Macs are good; so are cortland)
Place apples in a large bowl with 1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar (adjust to your taste)
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
dash of ginger
About 1/2 cup raisens
About 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. lemon juice
Mix together
Roll out 1 crust and place in a large pie plate (9- to 10-inch)
Pile high with apples, press slightly with your hand
Roll out second crust and cover apples (flute the edges)
Put a dab of water all around bottom edge of crust efore adding top crust. Helps with leakage.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place foil around edges to avoid burning.
Bake until apples test done (about 45 mins. to 1 hour) However check from time to time.
Put the pie on a cooling rack.
Once cool put a thin layer of vanilla frosting on top.
Just mix 4X sugar with a little water for the frosting.
Enjoy!

On Thursday I attended the MVP Health Care, Mature Living Expo at the Wilton Mall.
When my managing editor, Barbara Lombardo, called to see if I would attend I told her I would, but I'm sure no one really cared to meet me. I was wrong. Lots of people - especially people from my past - stopped by to say hello. It was fun.
There were many activities planned for the day plus dozens of booths set up and lots of entertainment in one form or another.
The expo started at 10 a.m. and it was a good thing I arrived about 9:30 people were already asking about the continental breakfast The Saratogian was putting on. I kindly said it began at 10 a.m. and directed them to where it was or walked with them to the table filled with all kinds of donuts and donut holes and plenty of Dunkin' Donuts coffee in pourable boxes.
The coffee was caffeinated and believe me we heard about it. "Don't you know when people get older they take alot of medications and need to drink decaf?" one woman said. We apologized but that didn't help.
But most everything went well. There was a fun Zumba Gold demo from MVP Health Care. John Gray, a Saratogian columnist and an anchor on TV Fox, was great. He emceed a fashion show for seniors sponsored by Bon Ton.
The ladies, all past 50 years of age, strutted along a runway looking exceptional. I didn't realize how fashionable women can look with the right advice. Of course, there was a slight complaint from the audience.
"They don't have any fat models," someone said. I explained there were a couple with rolls around their middle. That didn't help.
Saratogian reporter Paul Post was there signing and selling his recent book "Soldiers of Saratoga County: From Concord to Kabul." He had a steady line of mostly men who had their tales to tell. But he did sell a few. It's a very good read and would make a great present for some man or woman in your life.
Even though some people took a lunch break, entertainment didn't stop. MVP showcased its dance troupe. The Racing City Chorus put on a wonderful performance and were rewarded with plenty of applause. Silver Sneakers did a demo where the older folks joined in. There were more dance moves and yoga for seniors.
The Saratogian had a drawing every half hour with good prizes from movie tickets to umbrellas to $50 American Express gift cards. There was lots of interest in them.
Also, no one walked away empty handed. Every booth had pens, candy, info and lots of other goodies to give away. And best of all, you could get a flu shot, have your blood pressure read and audiology screenings.
I must say, I'm one of the Golden Girls and I was exhausted when I left. But it was lots of fun meeting and greeting everyone. I hope they have another one before I get too old to attend. But as I tell everyone "you're never too old."

I vowed I would never be a grouchy old lady, but I am steaming right now. I am fed up with what is going on in the food industry.
My husband likes kilbasa and sauerkraut and I always bought a certain brand - Hillshire Farms. When I saw it was on sale I decided to buy it. Gee, I said to myself, it looks smaller than usual. Well guess what, it was. It is now 14 oz. instead of a pound, but the price is still the same. Who do they think they're fooling? First it was coffee that went to 14 oz. instead of a pound; then tuna fish is now packed in 1 and 1/2 oz. smaller cans. And even most ice creams have less volume.
I'm fed up. The government keeps telling us inflation is going down and we were also told the reason our Social Security didn't go up this year was because there was no inflation. Don't they ever go shopping? Fortunately, I can afford it, but what about families with children.
Please stop trying to fool us by giving us less for our bucks.
And while I'm at it I'm going to add a couple more gripes. Have you noticed the little seals they stick on fresh peppers and some fruits? They are so difficult to get off without digging into the produce. Also, every time I buy a can of cleanser to use in my bathroom I can't get the top off. I usually put my husband to work on it and then I just leave it off forever. Recently, I bought a brush free bowl cleaner and neither of us could get the top off.
It's about time merchants started thinking about who is buying their products. I know I'm in my Golden Years, but it's not just me that complains.
I'm going to put my foot down and not buy the products that don't let us know they are reducing the amount, but are still charging the same.
Let's all take a stand, maybe it will help.