Tired Old Sunflower

   I usually have a sunflower near my porch.  I keep feeders near the porch in the winter and some of the left-overs sprout and I let them grow if they are in a favorable spot such as this one. It was a special spot because the huge head on this one it is now leaning on the railing supports. Soon I will have goldfinch feeding on this one and I am surprised that none have feasted yet.  In years past I used to catch Roy in the photo sitting on the step enjoying the summer evening.

What a treat for the goldfinch:

Tired Old Sunflower:

 

  This year I have noticed hundreds of little frogs in the yard.  They are only out done by the huge numbers of crickets.  I will have to research and see if crickets "play dead" as a defense maneuver.  I lifted a box and at least fifty crickets were hopping away. One just popped over and "froze" without kicking or trying to make a get-away but after about 30 seconds turned over and escaped. Didn't take pictures of the crickets but here are shots of a little frog (barely two cm in length).  My hand has paint all over because I painted my newly updated bathroom.  I will post pictures another day of my bathroom.  I wish I had a macro lens. That is on my bucket list of purchases even if it comes with a new camera.

A frog in hand in worth two in a ..... never mind:

Also, I found a cicada shell and a pupa attached to the back door.

Fledged!

  Yeah, those bluebirds did not afford too many photo-ops!  They would stay perched on the power lines above the nest with a caterpillar dangling. If they saw me anywhere out in the yard they would not visit the nest.  They would stay like that eyeing me up for up to 15 minutes and I always gave in so that the little ones didn't have to wait any further. The little ones were funny. At first there was one that kept his opened beak sticking out of the hole.  Later on when I approached they would hunker down and freeze.  Yesterday I could tell that the feathers were sufficiently formed that they might leave the nest. Today I checked and they are gone.  I wasn't even able to count how many there were at the end.  Just seems impossible that there were still 5 little birds in there.  I bet they won't even return to my yard for a fleeting little visit.  I will just have to hope they return next year.  I will be posting a image that I found instead of my own.  :(

The 136th Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Hammonton , New Jersey

  The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and its religious procession has changed over the years and some bemoan this fact.  But I have no problem.  I am thrilled that the long tradition still exists.  Yes, the huge throngs of the faithful are gone but the yearly, largely cultural, events bring to mind the history of the town of Hammonton and a sort of reunion for relatives and friends.  I suggest that if you have refrained from attending the event you give it a try next year and try not to think so much about what it used to be.  It still remains a wonderful celebration for those who participate.




  See the vintage photo below:

   

   There have been many changes and some churches have closed but this one remains as the focus of the celebration and is where the procession begins.

Met up with some of my cousins:

Cousin Helen:

Cousins Anthony and Maryland:

Cousin Cristina and Sister Rosemarie looking at the map and spotting the Campli region, the area from where our ancestors came from:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel:

     There are still the faithful as evidenced by the numerous participants of wheelchair bound participants. There were people kneeling in  prayer and lighting candles at the station with the votive candles. Others were honoring their favorite saint by making donations that were pinned on ribbons draping the saint.  Years ago I remember people making additional sacrifices that were made like walking in bare feet or even kneeling along the route of the procession.  I saw several of the faithful with rosary beads but I didn't hear any "Hail Mary" prayers.  I waited until the end to approach the priests with my donation and I received a petite scapula--certainly a down-size from the ones I remember as a child but still very special. 

Candles are lit for prayer intentions:

The faithful:

Of course the town officials were present in the procession:

A thank-you goes out to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society:




http://mountcarmelsociety.homestead.com/

On the right is the president of the society, Louis Pantalone:

 Another participant band was the Verdi Marching Band playing traditional old time Italian-American music that seems not to have changed in the past fifty years.  I noticed that there were some young members giving me hope that this traditional type of music will continue in the future.  I got a a few "stills" of this band but I had to go to You Tube to find a previous video of the band! Now you can hear some of the um-pah music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRVtZ44lrk8


http://verdiband.com/

  It is referred to as an Italian Festival but with the influx of Mexican Americans, I was happy to see a troupe that was honoring Saint Guadalupe.  The dancing and drill maneuvers were worthy of a stage show presentation. The drummer kept the rhythm going, the maracas and the wooden beads on the skirts were a delight for the eyes and ears.  There seemed to be the older troupe with the red shirts and the younger group with the purple.  Both outfits were adorned with sequins and other colorful details and an embroidered applique of the likeness of Saint Guadalupe.

                Local Regional Hammonton High School participated:

  Some saints that I do not remember from my youth were added: St. Martin de Porres, Padre Pio, and St. Guadalupe. Donations were collected for the various societies that honored several saints including Saint Rita, Saint Theresa, Saint Anthony, Saint Joseph and others. There were 18 images or statues--many more from what I remember.

  In addition to the procession, there were special masses and novenas. There are the carnival rides including a side show and the games of chance. Other local organizations set up their raffle booths.  There has been an evolution of the favorite raffle.  When I was young it was a Cadillac that was given as the grand prize and then it went down to a less luxurious car and now it is a money prize with certain percentages of the take given away.  Last year over $20,000 was given away. There are stands for beer, lemonade, Italian ice, cannolis, religious articles, Italian sandwiches and Italian banners and T-shirts---just about anything that is designated as "Italian" stuff.  Definitely there is also a Hispanic presence as well.  I saw a long line at a tortilla-type stand.  My niece knew what they were serving but I am not familiar with Mexican food.  But in that long line there was only one couple that I could identify as probably Mexican---so much for Italian specialties!  And you can't forget the culmination which was an impressive display of fireworks.  Somehow they got the money for that. Fireworks are an expensive production in this economy but that hasn't changed from when I was little because I remember that they would go house to house to collect the funds for the fireworks.  And I haven't seen the ground fireworks in years so my guess is that they don't have that any more either.

  

 

Mikado

 I had my first experience at a hibachi meal at a restaurant called Mikado and I think it was in Marlton, New Jersey.  It was one of those hibachi restaurants where they cook table side.  The meal featured an interactive little show with broccoli flipping, utensil flipping and patrons trying to catch the morsels of food in their mouths. Eggs were tossed and there were plenty of skillful spatula/knife displays.  At one point there was a flame that shot up more than a foot but I can't remember what was burning or cooking at the time. The food was tasty and there were little dishes of dipping sauce. The fried rice was excellent but I am not a big fan of slightly cooked crunchy vegetables.

 I can't remember--did the egg go in his pocket?

Later I caught this strange propeller plane in the sky.  It looked like a flying whale.

 
I guess it is smart to hang your open beak out of the nest to get the first worm delivery.

Smithville

   Took a ride to Smithville with my sister and my nephew.  We were looking for a flag from Italy.  Most of the town celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and their Italian heritage.  A large percentage of the town's population claims to be of Italian descent.  Just visited a facebook page and it seems that Italians and non-Italians alike can't wait to get a good sausage and pepper sub at one of the food stands that will be set up there.

http://mountcarmelsociety.homestead.com/Feastweek.html


Vintage photo:

Playing around with the Paint program on the computer:

 

   It was another nice afternoon at a popular shops at Smithville.  Even if you didn't want to shop you could enjoy a pleasant stroll and watch the chickens, the ducks, and  pet dogs.  Under the roof near the bridge, I found a swallow's mud nest and I was able to get a photo.