The Fruits of Our Labor Day

Sixty-two quarts of plum tomatoes canned!  We spent the holiday coring and peeling and cooking hundreds of tomatoes with our friends the Osinski's.  Fifteen-year-old Susanna was planning on doing about a dozen jars by herself, although her mother really want 40 quarts to get the family through the winter.  So Pete and I said let's just do it -- add a few jars in for us and we'll help.  So while Isabel, Susanna and I cored and peeled, Mike and Pete headed to Agway for more jars and to the farm stand for more tomatoes. Mercator headed to the grocery store for more lemon juice. We had them all canned in a few hours, using all six burners on the stove plus a propane burner outside.  When we finished we sat down to a lunch of fresh caught bluefish, then all jumped into the bay for a swim.  It's amazing how satisfying it is to see sixty-two jars of tomatoes sitting on the counter.

I realized last night that summer is, for all intents and purposes, over.  The sun was nearly down by 7:30, and the garden is overgrown and shriveled.  This summer has been great.  We took advantage of the dry and not-too-hot weather.  We swam almost every day, had a terrific vacation, fun times with neighbors, a wonderful Fourth of July with our wonderful daughter and close friends.  I taught a class and took a class.  I even found a parking place at the Post Office every single time I went, although the village has been full of tourists.  No regrets this year.  I took advantage of every day.

Now it is time for the show season to start.  First up:  The Hallockville Fall Festival and Peconic Ruggers Rug Show.  This is such a fun day!  Be sure to join us.  Barb and I will have a booth in the Naugles barn, where the rug show will be.

The 34th Annual Hallockville Fall Festival & Craft Show

September 13 & 14, 2014 10am-5pm each day!

The Fall Festival is Hallockville's largest fundraiser of the year! Join us for the annual tradition-the North Fork's only true old-fashioned country fair for all ages!

Admission is $8 adults, $5 children ages 5-12 ( 4 & under free) 2 adults & 2 kids $20. Parking is available on-site.  **For the safety of all animals on display, please leave your dogs at home. Dogs are not permitted in the Festival grounds.**

Admission includes:

- access to over 50 artisan craft and folk art vendors- jewelry, baskets, clothing, artwork, soaps, candles, something for all ages & interests...plus Miss Ella's Shop which offers a variety of local gifts and souvenirs which benefit the museum, plus quilting fabric

- handmade rug show in the Naugles Barn by the Peconic Rug Hookers Guild

- folk art demonstrations including decoy carving, wood carving, basketweaving, rug hooking, quilting, and more

- hayrides, tractor pull and antique farm machinery display from LIAPA

- historic house tours including the 1765 Hallock Homestead & Barn,  1931 Cichanowicz Farmhouse

- special exhibit spaces including the 1876 Combs Decoy Carving Shop,  the "Defense of the Eagle" War of 1812, and model trains from the Railroad Museum of LI

- children's activity area and fun games like the popular Egg Toss

- animal and livestock displays including cows, horses, donkeys from the East End Livestock and Horseman's Association

- live music from the Eastbound Freight Bluegrass Band and a traditional dance performance from the Blue Spruce Cloggers

Additional amenities that are available for purchase include:

- children's mini train ride and pony rides

- food vendors including Maple Tree BBQ, Island Empanada, Ice Cream Truck, Rosie's Country Kettle Corn, and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company

Thank you for supporting our not-for-profit mission by attending the Fall Festival!