traveling up and down the blind highway

This year, our Thanksgiving table will be short of people, but full of memories.
My first memory of a gathering was at my Mother’s family.With four sisters and two brothers, it was quite a gathering. It usually occurred on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. My family gathered at my Mother’s parents along with aunts, uncles and many cousins to share grace, passed dishes and carry on several conversations at one time. The laden table stretched from the china cabinet in the dining room through the doorway and spilling into the living room. Several sized tables were cobbled together to form a large eating area. We sat in family clusters with adults keeping tabs on toddlers and babies. Grandma Cathrine and Grandpa Al presided at the table’s ends. Grandma near the kitchen to bring and distribute warm entrees. Before the meal, each adult and child was expected to verbalize what they were grateful for. When it was my two year old brother’s turn, he stated he was grateful that the prayer was over. Card games, conversation and coffee completed the evening. Sleeping children were carried to cars for the trip home.
The Thanksgiving meal at my Dad’s parents was much smaller. It included two aunts and one uncle along with my family and Grandma Jenny and Grandpa Clifford. There I had my first taste of mince meat pie. My brother Craig, told me that the pie was made from mice, but I tried it anyways. I learned not to trust my brother when it came to food.
If the Detroit Lions were playing and the game was close, all the men and my brothers took their plates to the living room to watch the end of the game. Both families played a running background of parades and football games. Grandma Jenny, my aunts and myself cleared the table and started to wash the dishes. I was left to find my own entertainment. There was a box of toys in the front closet for us to play with. The box held tinker toys, Lincoln logs and a tin holder for marbles for Chinese checkers. We were expected to play quietly while the adults conversed.
One year, my Mother volunteered to host Thanksgiving. Aunt Pearl donated a goose that she had been given. I remember the goose was greasy and not flavorful. That was the first year we had had macaroni and cheese . It is still served in memory of that first and only goose meal.
This year most of the cousins are celebrating with their in laws or close friends. I have found that my brothers are babysitting dogs, hunting or making phone calls to family members. On Face call or videos, another layer of memories are added to the family foundation.
John and I wish you a Blessed Holiday filled with memories.
*** Poem Passings
It seems like yesterday,
I was sitting at the kids table.
Reaching for another large olive and slippery Jack pickle.
Dessert was whipped cream covered, usually a wedge of pie.
We drank sparkling juice or Vernors pop.
Bowls of salty nuts and mints offered treats before.the meal.
With heads bowed, grace was recited.
A loud amen signaled the great tuck in.
We all took a walk before coffee and dessert.
Now, we skip the big meal
Going straight for dessert and coffee.
Smiling, we remember and we are grateful for the memories.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted November 25, 2025

This week, while many are preparing for a large Thanksgiving gathering, John and I are climbing into the crawl space to pull out the Christmas decorations. We will inspect items for broken dolls, burnt out colored lights and age wear and tear on the artificial trees.
My next task is to think of a theme for the outdoor display. We have had a different theme for 29 years.
some of the displays have included bringing a tree on a sled, A 6 foot lighthouse with cross country skiers and an ice rink. Porch displays included the interior of a classroom, a Thanksgiving feast, cookie making and a visit to Santa with a working fireplace.
Many displays are tacky if seen up close, but seen from the road, they are enjoyed by neighbors and friends alike.
So my job, for now is to create a different scene for 2025. Any ideas?
Poem
Recycling Ideas
Year after year, items are pulled from boxes and tubs.
To be inspected, tested and placed in silent tableaus.
Dolls are dressed for church or bed.
Stars and twinkling lights are hung from rafters.
Plastic has grown white with light exposure.
Trees show needle loss,
I wonder how many themes I can make?
Maybe I will wait to see if there will be snow,
to add to the mix.
After all,
I have until after Thanksgiving…
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 11/17/25

The Great Lakes in general and Lake superior specifically, has spawned many mysteries and intrigue. The anniversary of the sinking of the largest iron ore freighter to work the Great Lakes shipping routes. It started it’s career on June 8th 1958 with many of the original crew on board at it’s demise in 1975.
The cause of the sudden quick loss of the large ship still is froth with mystery, but one theory after studying weather maps and satellite imaging from the time , date and location revealed two storm systems, one from the east coast and the other from Canada, converging in Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point as the Edmond Fitzgerald attempted to cross White Fish Bay, in sight of land. The crew and the ship were lost. Below is a fictitious account from the Ship’s cat, Jenny.
I am Jenny the ships cat and mascot of the Edmond Fitzgerald, the largest and fastest carrier on the Great Lakes. One of my duties, to keep the crew’s morale up while hunting for mice stowaways. Coming awake from my afternoon nap, I started my evening patrol. In the hull with a fat mouse in my teeth, I climbed the steps to the main living quarters, where my kittens were secure safe, behind the large cook stove. The two kittens, named biscuit and gravy, named for their coloring. One, sported several shades of browns. The other was a off white with specks of brown through out her fur. I fed and cleaned the kittens. Full of milk, they were soon asleep. Time for my shift.
First, I checked the bridge to find the captain busy reading charts and checking the radar. I rubbed against his ankle, he smiled as he scratched under my chin before returning to his work.
Other crew were taking readings of various pieces of equipment and were too busy for me.
I decided to go topside to assess the conditions. Snow and icy spray covered the deck. On the port side, the Whitefish Light house could be dimly seen through the gusting wind and pelting hail. I glanced to my left to see a large wave hurdling towards my ship.
Turning to retrieve my kittens, I was thrown to the starboard side. I noted with growing alarm, the groans and scraping of metal torn by the storm. The ship was breaking apart.
In the frothing waters, I could see an outline of a lifeboat. Though I feared water, I made a quick decision.
With all four claws open, I leaped from the sinking ship for the lifeboat and safety.

The Mighty Fitz

She was a grand lady.
Graceful, largest on the lake.
hatches, loosened in the storm cause water weight to form.
In less than ten minutes,
the Mighty Fitz was no more.
carolaspot@aol.com
Copyright 11/10/25

This is a list poem from the Carousel poetry group. It is an abecedarian poem. I started each line with a capital letter but no ending punctuation. Happy Fall.
Carol

Falling Leaves
by Carol Farnsworth
Aspen quake.
Birch blending
Cypress canopy,
Dangling dogwood.
Elderberries eaten.
Feverfew fronds
Gilded gourds
Hemlock rosy tips
Multi colored kale
Yellow linden foliage
Maple orange leaves
Nesting yellow nettles
Bronze oaks
Quaking lemon poplars
Rosie Sumac
Smokey tamarack
uveria vella coco seeds
Virginia creeper fiery
Willow holds leaves
Xylosma bus holly
Yucca creamy turns rose
Zinnias slow to be dormant
completing fall’s wardrobe.

carolaspot@aol.com

copyright 11-3-25

This week, I had a rude awakening with a visit to the Apple store. I thought we had sent up for a class on using my new I Pad. Showing up at the correct time, we were ushered to the training area to wait … and wait. We watched as customers came and left. Finally, John found an Apple clerk that was willing to help if I had any questions.
“How do you turn off the small touch screen on the keyboard?”
Because of the location of the screen, My index finger kept touching the screen changing where I was on the I Pad.
The Tech switched, tapped and scrolled through options
“Madam , I can make the screen need a tap instead of a touch but I can’t turn off the screen.”
“Really? I keep touching it. What do you suggest?”
“You could try to cover the screen with material”, the clerk suggested.
This was the only option offered, I thought aloud
“Get the manager.”
Thinking of my options, I whined,” What can I do to make this devise more user Friendly?”
The manager clicked and scrolled then used her phone to call another manager in the hierarchy of Apple’s store. I was given two numbers to call for Accessibility Support. I just wanted to disable a screen.
Now, I am discovering changes to the I Pad made during the help session at Apple. I wish I could go back to my old Non AI smart devise. Wish me luck!
*** Poem “I Get By With A Little Help From My Device”
I went to the experts, seeking advice.
“How do You disable this? Please advise.”
Swipe, tapping, scroll. What do they do?
“Cover the screen. That’s all you can do.”
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 10/27/25

In our small town, we have a centennial farm and market. We refer to it as Bos’s. There are 80 acres of crops and two green houses filled with plantings of vegetables and flowers from the farm’s abundance.
A trip to Bos’s must include a tour of the current offerings. In the center of the largest green house, you will find a golden feline named, Magnifacat. She reclines on the checkout counter, waiting to be stroked and admired. A warm shaft of sunlight encircles her body in a halo effect. She has held court six day a week, with Sundays off. After 20 years on patrol, She rests on her laurels. In those days, she was the mistress of her domain. For twenty years, she held court with customers and staff.
This spring, there was no graceful feline draped across the counter. Mr. Bos explained that Magnificat died in the winter. The green houses were not the same without her.
This fall, while visiting the market there was a new worker. A small juvenile milk chocolate cat examining my leg before continuing her patrol.
“Who is this”, I asked?
“This is Copycat.” was the answer.
The new cat was an offspring of Magnificat. Being younger and full of curiosity, Copycat roamed all the buildings, to meet and greet guest. In the evenings, She caught her share of mice that had taken up residence after Magnificat’s demise.
“But why the name Copycat?”
“We tried to find a name for her but nothing fit.”
One of the staff noticed the new cat patrolled the buildings like her mother before her. Except for the color, she was a clone down to her ability to catch mice. Hence, a copy of her mother’s behavior.

***. Poem
The Coronation
Magnifacat reigned for 20 years.
A much loved monarch, mice did fear.
A new generation will take her place.
Nimble feline, light on her paws.
Catching mice in her claws.
Like her Mother, she rose to take her place.
Long reign the Copycat.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyright 10/20/2025

On October 15, we will celebrate white cane day.   I have been a white cane user for many years. When I was first given a cane at the Rehab Center in Kalamazoo, if  I used it at all, it was as a walking cane. The cane was light weight and about 5 feet in length, solid. Unlike other schools, Western Michigan preferred the blind client to slide the cane’s metal tip across the sidewalk in front of the walker. The idea was a tapping cane could overlook a object on the sidewalk. A crack could catch the toe of an unobservant person. Since then, I have refined my cane use style and I use a folding cane.

   But those first trips  out with a cane found my cane folded and in my purse. One day, I was at a Mc’Donalds, I stood intending to use the restroom. Leaving my cane at the table, I felt my way to the wall and followed the wall to the restroom’s door. When I returned to retreave my purse and cane, I heard an employee remark.

   “Oh, I thought she was drunk.”

   After that, I had my white cane out and in my hand. It still took a long while to use the cane properly.

   When I was in Scotland, the sidewalks were narrow and raised from the road. Enthusiastically I swung the cane from left to right in a wide arch. People said nothing but jumped into doorways or into the road to avoid my cane antics.

   After my stroke, my cane was replaced with a heavy duty cane with a rolling ball. It helps with balance and not tripping on rough terrain.

   To this date, I own eight white canes. They can be found in the bike pack, hanging in the garage, folded by the front door and folded in my purse and knitting bag. I don’t leave home without one or more of them.

   This Halloween, the skeletons in my display will all have white canes as they travel the front yard to trick or treat. The adults will be kissing under an umbrella. a dog’s skeleton on a leash will be trailing behind the group. It is a great way to remind drivers that those goblins may be blind to cars as they collect treats.

*** Poem

Happy ghouls and goblins race.

holding bags with glow sticks encased.

Laughter echos down the street.

Loud shouts, “trick or treat”.

Orange carved pumpkins light the night.

Welcomes children, with candle fright.

Every porch light is lit.

Each offering a sugar fix.

Now midnight  is here.

Halloween is done for another year.

carolaspot@aol.com

copyrighted 10/13//25 

From an early age, my daughter Ruth loved the speed and drops of roller coasters. Her first encounter with rides was at the local 4th of July celebration. It was a small loop roller coaster shaped like an alligator, she loved the bump in the middle of the ride. She rode it several times until it was time to leave.
Next there was the spinning cups at Disney and the tilt a whirl. John got nausea on the spinning rides, so I accompanied her on such spinning rides. I didn’t have enough vision to cause dizziness.
As Ruth grew, so did her taste for thrill rides. In sixth grade, She and two friends did a jump on cords. The photo taken by the park shows two girls screaming while my daughter was grinning from ear to ear.
The second trip to Disney found Space mountain, a inside coaster in the dark.
Finally there was a day at Cedar Point in Sanduskey Ohio. She and John tested their nerves on every coaster. I enjoyed the Magnum, a steel rollercoaster travels along the shores of Lake Erie after it’s first drop. The Millennium Force first hill is over 300 feet tall. There are several twists and three more hills. the initial drop can reach up to 93 mph. Finally, we waited in long lines to ride the Top Thrill Dragster it is a ride that bolts the rider straight upward 420 feet before it twists, coming to the starting point. It travels 120 mph.
For her 16th birthday, Ruth wanted to tandem jump from a plane. By this time, John and I were wiser and chose to watch from the ground. In this jump, the person is attached to the experienced jumper in the front, like a large bay carrier. At the correct altitude, the plane door is open and you move to the open door. Ruth was second to jump.
“I was talking to another jumper then he was gone and I was next.”
She recalled the force on falling through, the loud sound of the wind and having her heart in her throat. Counting to ten, she and her partner pulled the ripcord together. The parachute opened to slow the decent and jerked the jumpers. The chute floated slowly back to the ground.
Since that jump, Ruth has jumped into a current of upward air mimicking a free fall from a plane. I didn’t have to watch and worry. She did this with her husband. I wonder what she will try next?
***. Poem
Rocky heights
Zip line speed
steep ascents
downhill plunges
jumping ship
parachute strapped.
What’s next?
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 10/6/25

I heard about Meta glasses and how they could read text such as mail and poems. After receiving two recommendations from other writers, I decided to purchase a pair.
One of the users had purchased the glasses made by Ray Ban a year ago, when they were first available. She warned me if I order any extra features, the order could be delayed. The glasses have been available for the past year. I took a chance and ordered sapphire tinted lenses that would turn dark in bright sunlight. That was
in mid-July. As of this date, I am still waiting.
The order was lost, a new manger was hired and the glasses were in short supply, many excuses. I can’t go elsewhere. I have paid for the glasses in full. Each morning I open my email to read an email from this company, each month there a promotion for meta glasses.

Now, I read that there is a new version of these glasses. They are able to have more detail and sharper images. I just want to use the text feature to read my postal mail. I wanted to start a bible group in September. Now I am hoping to receive the glasses before my October birthday.
***. Poem
To See is to Read
I use to read with my eyes.
It got harder, words to surmise.
Straining to see, cause painful eyes.
Holding a phone to read text.
Soon I found, not the best.
Heard of glasses from Ray Ban.
Portable aid for on the go.
Order them, I paid the bill.
I’m still waiting, I’ve had my fill.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyright 9/29/25

Like many people, I will procrastinate what I want to defer or avoid. This works in the short term, but eventually, we must come to act.
Today is the first day of fall. Here in Michigan, our weather is calling for showers with highs in the 70’s, accompanied by a light wind of 6 mph. This is not fall like weather. The long term forecast calls for more of the same.
My garden resembles more jungle than trimmed plantings. I have postponed weeding and trimming vine plants, resulting with thirty foot gourd vines across the back wall, sweet potato vines that are escaping the fenced garden and morning glories wrapped around the patio rail and bench. I had to unwrap the trellis from coiling around the hanging nasturtium. Last evening the security camera recorded four deer, two skunks and several raccoons making their way to the leaf shaped watering trough. Nature has delayed fall to a later time.
Like my procrastinating, nature will turn down the heat, announcing the autumn harvest time. I will pick gourds to dry and give to neighbors, dig for potatoes and gather seed pods of morning glories and other flowers seeds to distribute.
For now, I will take my coffee to the porch and watch the jungle grow.
Gourd vines climb high on ornamental grass plants.
Sweet potatoes burst, escaping garden fence.
Porch railing and bench covered with glory greens.
I watch, watching the garden grow.
Soon Jack Frost will curtail jungle growth.
Starting the next season.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 9/22/25