It was "Old Home Week" at the Harris Street Church spaghetti dinner tonight. So many familiar faces that I couldn't begin to name them all. Food was fine and Cecilia and I had a good time drumming on the table with our spoons . . . Artist and former Harrisburger John Fischer, now living in Philly. was visiting in town today. He is still painting and sells prints of his works on the net these days. You can access his work at http://www.johnfischer.etsy.com/ . . .

Our holiday shipment of Bennington soy aromatheraphy jar candles arrived today. Price is still $14.50 and there are 24 blends that burn up to 70 hours. If you have a favorite, call or e-mail us to reserve yours . . . Dr. Coldren remembers Goldsmith Furniture for its exceptional customer service and asked if I also recalled the now-departed Earley's of Carlisle (I didn't). However this talk did awaken memories of the unfortunately named Burns Furniture which was just off the square on South Second. It was destroyed by fire one night and the flames were so hot they reportedly set off sprinklers in the motel across the street. How's that for your "wake-up" call, Madam? . . . Forgot to mention that I had fifteen seconds of fame in the October 9th issue of the Central Penn Business Journal. Nothing worth researching, but there was a picture of The Bare Wall sign just over my shoulder . . . A lot of you were amused by my fascination with the Susan Boyle saga. (She is the Scots singer who became a YouTube sensation when she appeared on Britain's Got Talent.) Well, I won't say that I get the last laugh, but I am happy to report that her debut CD is due later this month and it has become the biggest pre-ordered item in the history of Amazon.com . . .

A raw day with no customers, and we are so eager to show off all the new stuff. Slowly but surely our holiday offerings are emerging from the closets. Lots of new soaps and lotions are en route even as I write . . . Lee Spitalny has reminded me of yet another game with apples that we played as children. The fruit was suspended above us on strings and we stood on stools, hands behind the back, and tried to trap the goodies with our teeth. Not so easy as it sounds, and more than a few of us fell off the stool. Break an arm playing one game or drown playing the other. How did we ever live to tell the tale? . . . Despite her loss I want to congratulate Bridget Montgomery on her campaign to become a Dauphin County Common Pleas judge. Bridget has been a long-time customer and I worked with her mother, Malie, for many years at the State Library . . . Had a high-spirited phone call from John Goldsmith today. He is really enjoying his new life as a condo owner in Palm Springs, California. The complex is teeming with social life--a party almost every night. John sent numerous pictures of his new environment, all just ten feet or less from his front door. I chose the one with flowers (of course) with the pool in the background . . . And speaking of John, are there readers who remember Goldsmith's Furniture Store on Market Square? It was THE PLACE for home decor with a host of designers to help with the selection. John, Scott Geiger and Glenn Lyons are names which come to mind . . . and John, you never did find me that apple green ripcord bedspread that I wanted some thirty years ago . . .

Election Day over, the results being absorbed. The city strangely quiet as if in a coma. Many find the character and ability of the new mayor suspect and life seems to have stumbled to a halt temporarily. The prophecies of doom could be self-fulfilling if the paralysis continues for long . . . we must remember that we have an able-bodied council to direct and oversee accountability and other highly-qualified persons in our government who can intercede when necessary . . . we all expect confrontation, I guess, and with a decade or so of it nationally we are all tired and short-tempered . . . Jacquie Kirby Hensel in today for her annual cartload of Christmas cards . . . Joe Theurer is 86 today . . . congratulations to Jon Carfagno who got enough write-in votes to become Judge of Elections in our ward . . . Pictured: a sample of our Thanksgiving cards . . . This Saturday, 4-7 p.m., Harris Street Methodist Church is holding a spaghetti supper to benefit its food pantry . . .

Election Day. I am posting before the polls close so that my elation/dismay doesn't color this entry . . . Got a sneak peek at Ken Frew's book on Harrisburg architecture. Beautiful and elegant. A twenty-year effort, Ken says, not entirely joking. He can be proud of his accomplishment. Pricey, but I suspect it is worth it. Loads of photos . . . Our popular holiday mints arrived today. Priced at $15 per box this year. A great hostess gift and so yummy you will want one for yourself. Very pretty (click to enlarge). Because of the uncertain economy we cut our initial order by half; give us a call or e-mail to reserve yours. I still have time to order more if the demand warrants . . .

Down with the Halloween cards, up with the Thanksgiving ones (and some Christmas). Suddenly time is on a tear and we'll be hearing there are just so many shopping days left before Santa arrives. I am not yet ready for this . . . Since you seem to prefer the larger sized bottle of goat milk lotion with a pump, we are discontinuing the purse sized 2 oz. bottles. Those that are left are on sale for $2.50 at the check-out counter. The larger bottles will be here shortly . . . Please vote tomorrow for whomever you wish, but vote. Thank heavens this signals an end to mail box clutter; hopefully the jumble of signs littering the streets will disappear as well . . .

Back to standard time; dark at five p.m. We will all be in a funk for a while until we become accustomed to it . . . Mary, Chris and Mom Lingus have shared their bounty. After an iffy summer the fig tree burst forth with fruit and they shared with us . . . Eric has posted a really fine review of Harrisburg's mayoral campaign (link at left); too bad that so few people will get to read it. This is the kind of review we had expected from the Pat-News editorial board . . . St. Michael's Church, our local polling place, will be offering soup and baked goods for take-away on Tuesday . . . If you are getting a last look at fall foliage in Mt. Gretna, Eric Battisti's Taxi Service is the way to go--environmentally friendly and cheap according to JJ . . . (click to enlarge) . . .