Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 63

Garden Notes
Here are some tips to help you pick
pumpkins for your fall displays. Press your
fingers gently into the bottom and around
the stem. The pumpkin should feel solid.
The best pumpkins also have a very hard
rind. You can test for this by pressing your
fingernail into the flesh. If your fingernail
penetrates easily, the pumpkin was picked
too early and will rot. Finally, check the
stem. Fresh pumpkins have green stems.
Dried out stems mean the pumpkin has
been off the vine for too long.
Factoids
Bald Eagles can see brighter colors than humans. They
can also see ultraviolet light.
There are about 2900 miles of streams running
through the Smoky Mountains, most of which remain
at or near capacity for the number of trout they can
handle, making it one of the last wild trout habitats in
the eastern United States.
The majority of the 4 million tons of junk mail that
Americans receive annually ends up in landfills.
Weather Notes
When birds and badgers are fat in
October expect lots of snow.
The clear skies of October are
perfect for viewing the Andromeda
Galaxy, which is the farthest thing
that you can see in the night sky
with the naked eye.
The crescent moon holds or spills
water for the coming month.
Regional Notes
Where do skeletons spend
Halloween? At the boneyard in
Loudon, TN. Built and maintained
by the Bone family, the display
includes an extremely tall skeleton,
skeletons on toilets and even
skeletons riding bicycles. You can
find this fun display at 9378 Vonore
Road, Loudon, TN.
EVENTS
4-7, Jenny Wiley Festival, Prestonsburg, KY, jwfestival.com
6-8, National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough, TN,
storytellingcenter.net
7-8, 15-16, Sorghum Festival/Apple Festival, Blairsville, GA,
blairsvillesorghumfestival.com
8, Molasses Festival, Whitetop, VA, funtober.com
13-15, Fall for Greenville, Greenville, SC, fallforgreenville.net
21, Bridge Day, Fayetteville, WV, officialbridgeday.com
29, Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival, Waynesville, NC, visitncsmokies.
com
OCT MONTH AT A GLANCE
Day of
Mo
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Day of
Year
274
Day of
Week
Su

Age
17
275 M 18
276 Tu
19
277 W 20
278 Th
279
280
281
F
Sa
Su
21
22
23
24
282 M 25
283 Tu
26
284 W 27
285 Th
286
287
288
F
Sa
Su
28
29
1
289 M 2
290 Tu
3
291 W 4
292 Th
293
294
295
F
Sa
Su
5
6
7
8
296 M 9
297 Tu
F
10
298 W 11
299 Th
300
301
302
Sa
Su
12
13
14
15
303 M 16
304 Tu
17
Reggie Jackson hits three consecutive home
runs, 1977
" Black Monday " on Wall Street, 1987
" Dizzy " Gillespie born, 1917
United Nations founded, 1945
Erie Canal opened, 1825
Theodore Roosevelt born, 1858
Statue of Liberty dedicated, 1886
Stock Market crash, 1929
John Adams born, 1735
" The War of the Worlds " radio broadcast, 1938
Halloween
sunrise sunset
Oct. 1 - sun rises 7:14; sun sets 19:05; length of day 11h 51m
Oct. 8 - sun rises 7:20; sun sets 18:54; length of day 11h 34m
Oct. 15 - sun rises 7:26; sun sets 18:45; length of day 11h 18m
Oct. 22 - sun rises 7:33; sun sets 18:35; length of day 11h 2m
Oct. 29 - sun rises 7:40; sun sets 18:27; length of day 10h 47m
Apollo 7 launched, 1968
Jimmy Carter wins Nobel Peace Prize, 2002
Cornerstone laid for White House, 1792
Dwight Eisenhower born, 1890
Chuck Yeager breaks sound barrier, 1947
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, 1859
skywatch
 New moon - 14th
) First quarter - 21st
 Full moon - 28th
( Last quarter - 6th
October's full moon is the Hunter's Moon.
National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough,
Tennessee.
Rutherford B. Hayes born, 1822
Chester Arthur born, 1830
George Westinghouse born, 1846
Appalachian Trail opens, 1923
Great Fire of Chicago, 1871
Columbus Day
Indigenous Peoples' Day
SIGNIFICA
Ford Model T goes on sale, 1908
Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
sworn in, 1967
JAY HURON
Kitchen Notes
BAKED APPLE PANCAKES
Ingredients:
PART 1
2 eggs
1 ¼ c. milk
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 ¼ c. flour
¾ tsp. salt
1 TBS baking powder
PART 2
2 TBS butter
4 large apples
Brown sugar
Directions:
Part 1 Beat eggs. Add milk and
melted butter. Sift flour, salt, and
baking powder and add to egg
mixture. Set aside.
Part 2 Melt remaining butter in
9x13-inch pan. Peel and dice
apples. Scatter over melted butter
in pan. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with
brown sugar and cinnamon, then
pour batter from Part 1 over all.
Bake at 400⁰ for 30 minutes.
Old Saws
A clear conscience makes a soft
pillow.
If you have much, give of your
wealth; if you have little, give of
your heart. ~ Arab Proverb
Scratch a dog and you've found a
permanent job.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 63
OCT
OCT
http://www.jwfestival.com http://www.storytellingcenter.net http://www.blairsvillesorghumfestival.com http://www.funtober.com http://www.fallforgreenville.net http://www.officialbridgeday.com http://www.visitncsmokies.com
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

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