| It is almost Halloween so
Jan is trying her hand at pumpkin carving. They are harder than they look. |  |
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The end result with a candle inside. That called for a lobotomy to get it
in. |
| Some of the other folk
had much more experience with striking results. |  |
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One of the more original with the face being carved in the top rather than
the side. The stalk can then be used as a nose. |
| A different style using
thinner 'shaved' areas. For experienced carvers only! |  |
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Many properties in the USA have no fences around their gardens and they are
not big on gardening. The deer here go some way to explaining that. They eat
almost anything one tries to grow. |
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Shepherdstown is on the Potomac and a few days after superstorm Sandy, it is
rising and running fast. |
| ..An older style of house
in the US. Most houses have a timer frame and are clad with brick, or vinyl,
or as in this case, timber. |  |
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We were visiting the folk who hosted us the first time we came to the US. In
those days we danced in a Border Morris style in jackets like these. |
| The musicians are a major
part of the dance. Two teams are represented here, assisted by another very
competent musician. |  |
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Mixed teams are frowned upon by the purists but they do keep the teams in
existence and they are having fun. |
| The light was failing as
the dancers danced in a town full of trick or treaters. |  |
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Border Morris with its rag jackets is always colourful and very boisterous.
Sadly there are few spectators. |
| We went to a music
session at what could be called a local folk club. The fiddler is very much
a driving force of the group. By day he makes serious chocolates. |  |
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Here in Appalachia the hammer dulcimer is a key instrument. The player is
one of the top musicians and makers of these unique instruments. He is
certainly a fine player. |
| The owner of the building
played harp and sang. She has a fine voice. |  |
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Another musician playing flute, fiddle and piccolo. She is also a dancer. |
| The very image of an
Appalachian banjo player. He played several other instruments as well. |  |
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The leader played banjo as well. It is another signature instrument of this
area and its music. |
| The building is
relatively new but the design is very traditional. |  |
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