The Day After... Thanksgiving. Back to the Past.

©Eric S Chernenkoff

How will you spend your Friday after Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year?

Out of bed at 5 am? Clearing the war room table? Laying out the maps? Sorting the sales fliers? Powering up the laptop and PDA? Scheduling, scheduling and scheduling?

• Corner of Reading and Pennsylvania for gas and a breakfast sandwich at 6 am.
• Boardwalk and Mediterranean for the $19.95 DVD/VCR Combo Player at 7 am.
• Connecticut and St. Charles for the $29.95 Espresso and Cappuccino maker at 8 am.
• New York and Kentucky for the free Snow Bear with $50 purchase at 9 am.
• Marvin Gardens and Pacific at 10 for the $99 MP3 player.
• Etc.
• Etc.
• Etc.

This year, try something a little more tranquil and steer clear of the shopping centers and strip malls. Instead, route yourselves back to the 19th century. And, if you happen to live in the south-eastern region of Michigan, may I suggest you set your GPS to Martha and South Saginaw St. in downtown Holly?

©Eric S Chernenkoff

For over 30 years, Holly has been hosting the Dickens Festival. Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, the small village of over 6’000, steps back in time to 19th century London, England, as the village pays tribute to Charles Dickens and all his colorful characters.

The streets come alive with vendors, choirs and actors. Even local shop owners play a part, as you’ll witness Scrooge storming in and out of the village shops in an attempt to squeeze the proprietor's purses dry. You may spy Tiny Tim hanging out at a street corner, waiting for his father, Bob Crachet. In fact, the entire Christmas Carol story unfolds in the middle of the streets. And, if you are one of the lucky few, you may be recruited to play a significant part in the play.

©Eric S Chernenkoff

There are street parades; Punch & Judy puppet shows; chestnuts roasting on an open fire; fish & chips wrapped in newspaper; and more. Santa even gets in the act as he steps back in time and dons his 19th century robes to greet excited children.

If you do not live in South Eastern Michigan, check out your state’s tourism site, as there are several small towns and villages that host a Dickens Festival at this time a year. It's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the malls.

©Eric S Chernenkoff

The Holly 2006 Dickens Festival kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24th, and runs every weekend through December 17th.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit the Holly Dickens Festival website here.

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The Beetles: The Invasion Tour

©Eric S Chernenkoff

No. I’m not talking about George, Ringo, John and Paul. I’m talking about those pesky little boxelder bugs that have invaded the front of our home.

I have vainly searched for a safe and humane (Safe and humane for my family. Not the boxelders, I am not an advocate for bug rights. Sorry.) way to get rid of the horde of invaders to no avail. I may as well post a sign on the front of my house that reads: Boxelder Resort. I have also found that these little creatures love to bathe in the sun. Particularly, on light colored brick houses facing the south. Of all the luck, the front of our home faces south and is light colored brick. Perhaps I could make some extra pocket change by offering my resort guests towels, lounge chairs and sun block.

While the front of our house on a sunny autumn day looks like a set from an X-Files episode, I’ve learned that these insects are primarily harmless. They are a nuisance if they get into your house, but that can be prevented by ensuring all openings are tightly sealed and caulked. If they do make their way in, it’s recommended that you vacuum them up. Apparently, squashing the little critters can leave a nasty red stain and a most unpleasant odor wafting in the air. For the outside, certain insecticides have been suggested to help. And, there are even recipes for a soap solution that will wash your invasion away. I’ve tried several or the insecticides, and have found the invaders do not die easily. And, even when they do, it seems that for everyone killed, two more return the following day. Perhaps it’s time to give Muldur and Skully a call.

Concerned about contaminating my local air, soil and ground water with any more insecticide attempts, and satisfied that our visitors are not finding their way indoors, I’ve abandoned all attempts at trying to discourage their sun bathing on our home’s facade. In attempting to find opportunities and challenges, even in defeat, I’ve taken to photographing the pests. With their dark bodies and distinctive red markings, they make interesting subjects for macro photography.

Perhaps, along with guest towels, lounge chairs and sun block, I can now offer these little critters a nice photo album commemorating their stay at the “Boxelder Resort”.

You can read more about Boxelder bugs here at the Ohio State University.

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Surviving Halloween in 2007

©Eric S Chernenkoff

As Halloween has just passed, I began to think about how the passing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 will affect Halloween and the little trick-or-treaters next year.

Under current policy, DST ends on the last Sunday of October, which ends it just before Halloween night. Beginning in 2007, DST will end on the first Sunday in November. Well after Halloween night and giving an extra our of daylight for all the trick-or-treaters.

Currently, many communities in the Eastern Standard Time zone set the “official” start for trick-or- treating at 6 pm. At this hour, dusk is settling in and the sun is setting somewhere around 6 pm. (Obviously, the exact time of sunset depends on where you live within the EST region). In any case, it’s nearly dark outside at the start of the official hour of trick-or-treating, and fully by the time it ends.

While there are many more important issues that need to be addressed with the passing of the EPA of 2005, such as…

The airline industry claiming it will cost millions to adjust their schedules

Computers, VCRs and other electronic devices displaying incorrect times as many adjust for DST under current conditions

School children waiting in the dark for their school buses

Concerns over Halloween seems trivial. However, on occasions, I like to ponder the trivial.

©Eric S Chernenkoff


©Eric S Chernenkoff

So, will Halloween falling within DST affect your Halloween? Will communities continue with their current set hours?

As Halloween often falls on a school night, I speculate that official start times would not be pushed out by an hour. If they keep the current schedule, the little goblins and ghouls will be venturing out under daylight with their bags and sacks in tow.

Therefore, will the daylight hours affect those that make Halloween night a big event? Specifically those that transform their homes into a spine tingling B-Movie haunt, complete with black lighting, swirling fog, and props that range from glowing skeletons to inflatable ghosts all just for the sake of the trick-or-treaters?

With the additional hour of daylight, the atmosphere will certainly be less ominous. The black lighting and strobe lights will look like a garish dollar store sales event. The fog machine effects will appear as if you left your car running in the garage. I ask you, would any little witch or vampire truly have sweaty palms or beads of perspiration running down their spine as they approach a “haunted” colonial, ranch or duplex under these conditions? For all of us in the Eastern Standard Time zone laying awake at night wondering “What will I do?”, I suggest we ask.. “How do all of you that live in Pacific and Central time regions survive?”


©Eric S Chernenkoff

Happy Hauntings!

You can read more about the Energy Policy Act of 2005 here and here.

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You've Been Ghosted

©Eric S Chernenkoff

If you haven’t, and if you don’t have a clue of what I’m talking about, read on and you may want to start a new tradition in your neighborhood this Halloween.

“Ghosting” your neighbors is a relatively new Halloween tradition that seems to be catching on quickly. If it’s occurring in your neighborhood, you’ll know by the images of ghosts with the words “We’ve Been Ghosted” beneath appearing on your neighbors front doors or windows. The “We’ve Been Ghosted” signs are typically electronically copied drawings of a simple ghost on 8 ½ by 11 paper. More deluxe versions consist of poster board cutouts. If you see all your neighbors with these signs in their windows or taped to the front door, and you’ve been overlooked, then it may be time to stop yelling at the neighbor kids and hire yourself an experienced “How to be a Good Neighbor” campaign manager.

What is “Ghosting”? It’s a relatively safe and simple way to get the neighborhood kids into the spirit of Halloween, and a good alternative to the soaping and egging that has ruled for many years. You get two bags or containers (these can be brown paper bags, Halloween trick-or-treating bags, or even inexpensive plastic pumpkins), fill them with a variety of candy, stuff in a copy of the official “rules” and a copy of the “You’ve Been Ghosted” ghost in each, and deploy! Deployment is usually the best part of the Ghosting. It usually occurs after dark, but before the neighbors your ghosting go to bed. Take note: I said BEFORE they go to bed. Have your kids dress in their darkest S.W.A.T. style outfits and send them out with the goods. ( I strongly recommend that a responsible adult accompanies the youngsters. ) You drop the bag off at the front door, ring the doorbell and run. The idea is that the neighbor you just Ghosted doesn’t see you.

Warning! Warning! Here is what can go wrong….

One year in our neighborhood one of our young star athletes was not as quick and sly as he should have been, and the neighbor he ghosted tackled him. Unfortunately, the neighbor had no idea what “Ghosting” was and misinterpreted the door ringing and the deposited non-descript bag on his porch as a Halloween prank, and darted out of his house after the kid. I don’t know what the neighbor was thinking, but with all the headlines in the news the past several years, perhaps he thought this 10 year old was a short terrorist and had just deposited a whole sack of anthrax on his porch. These type of neighbors you may want to avoid Ghosting. Or, choose not to ring the doorbell and leave the bag of goodies at a safe distance from any door where raging warlords can exit from.

It’s been an overactive Halloween season of Ding-dong Ditch in our neighborhood. This has put everyone in the neighborhood on high alert to try and catch the hooligans that are dinging and ditching. The warlords have especially raised their alert systems to red. Thus, it may not be the best time to be ringing doorbells and depositing mementos of friendship, as you risk bodily injury or a cold shower from the hose. This year we are simply depositing the bags by the front door and letting them be found in the morning. (Of course this raises other potential problems. Particularly with Mr. & Mrs. Raccoon and family.)

Be sensitive to who you’re a “Ghosting”. A doorbell ringing at night and the possibility of seeing dark clothed figures dashing out of their yards can be especially frightening for our seniors and anyone who lives alone.

So, if you play. Play responsibly. And, have fun!

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The Sounds of Autumn - Curnch. Crunch.

©Eric S Chernenkoff

Are the leaves that are piling beneath your tree and cluttering the flowerbeds; filling the gutters; littering the streets, and staining the driveway, causing you to wish that autumn will soon end? Do you find that the out-of-doors has an “untidiness” about it at this time of year?
Do you find yourself relating more with the likes of Felix Unger than Oscar Madison?


©Eric S Chernenkoff

Or, do you find the falling debris to be as a painter’s pallet covering the landscape with deep reds, golden yellows and burnt oranges? Does the “clutter” along the street scape enliven the season as you take a leisurely stroll along the streets in a quaint town? Are you one that loves to hear the “crunch” of drying leaves beneath your feet as you chase your son or daughter through the yard? When was the last time you grabbed a handful and tossed them high in the air, and took delight as they showered back down? When was the last time you spent time racking the leaves in a neat pile, then immediately dove through them? If you have a young son or daughter, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t…. try it anyways. It’s a good stress reliever.

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Strange Structures in Small Towns

©Eric S Chernenkoff

Historical small towns have some of the most interesting architectural finds to be found. While many large cities seem to be razing their turn-of-the-century buildings in lieu of modern development, or due to costs associated with trying to preserve and/or restore these structures, our small towns seem more apt and capable of preserving their historical buildings. As you travel through your local towns, keep a watchful eye out for these “hidden treasures”. Particularly, the “Architectural Oddities” that just don’t seem to fit in with the rest of the town’s design.

The above photo is of the Witch’s Hat Depot. And, it looks like it should belong in the eastern United States on not the Midwest. Particularly, it looks like something you would stumble upon in Salem Massachusetts. Instead, this “Architectural Oddity” is found in South Lyon Michigan. This structure was erected in 1909 and served as a passenger station in 1955. In 1976 it was moved from it’s original site to McHattie Park, and serves as the Witch’s Hat Depot Museum Additional information about the Witch’s Hat Depot can be found here at the Michigan Historical Markers Web Site.


©Eric S Chernenkoff


©Eric S Chernenkoff

The oddest of the "strange" I’ve come across is the Old Town Hall located on Main Street in Brighton Michigan. This building was erected in 1879. As you head down Main Street, whether your walking or driving, you’ll find yourself doing a double take of the building due to the odd angles of the main structure and the contrasting angles of the bell tower that sits atop it. No matter where you stand as you look at the Old Town Hall, it seems your eyes are playing tricks on you. It is also a tough building to photograph, as you just don’t know which side and which angle to photograph it at. Additional information about the Old Town Hall can be found here at the Michigan Historical Markers Web Site.

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