Seymour Public Library to give pumpkins, decorating kits to kids

SEYMOUR - Come to Seymour Public Library and get a free pumpkin and decorating kit between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Oct. 14 and 15. 

The Library is at 46 Church St.

This program is a take-home event. We supply the pumpkin and a decorating kit and you bring it home and let your imagination do the rest. 

One pumpkin and kit per child. Please call the library at 203-888-3903 to guarantee a pumpkin!

It is very possible that we will run out of pumpkins, so this is a first come, first served program.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Osborne Homestead in Derby decked out for holiday season

DERBY - Area garden clubs have once again adorned the Osborne Homestead Museum for the holiday season, a tradition that goes back more than 30 years. 
This year's theme is "Holiday at the Opera." The house looks beautiful!

The elegant Colonial Revival-style estate at 500 Hawthorne Ave. is the lifelong home of businesswoman, conservationist, civic leader, and philanthropist Frances Osborne Kellogg. She died there in 1956 at age 80.
The museum is operated by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. 
Kellogg's uncle was an opera critic and she frequently attended the opera in New York City with him.   

Members of the Derby Garden Society decorated a bedroom (shown above) once used by Eva A. Little, who was Frances Osborne Kellogg's bookkeeper and companion. 
Kellogg gave life usage of the home to Little, who died in 1976 at the age of 101.

Please check out my story and photos of the decorations in the latest Valley Voice newsletter.

Recuperation journey: Happy Pie for Breakfast Day

I don't do Black Friday. Not my idea of a good time.

But I do indulge in leftover pie for breakfast.
Hmm ... should I have apple or pumpkin?

Today I'll visit the beautiful Osborne Homestead Museum that is decorated each holiday season by area garden club members. This year's theme is "Holiday at the Opera."
Today is the first day; the schedule is:

"Holiday tours will run through Dec. 17. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  

On Fridays, Dec. 1, 8, and 15, from 4-7 p.m., the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to display the shimmering glow of the decorations."

The museum is at 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby. Don't miss the beautiful decorations. They'll put you in the holiday spirit.

Celebrate the season at Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby

DERBY - Are you ready to hear some bel canto? Do you have your libretto?  Well put your opera capes on!  

2015 file photo of museum

It’s time to enjoy “A Holiday at the Opera” at the Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave. and learn about some of the world’s famous operas.  

Holiday tours will run from Friday through Dec. 17. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  
On Fridays, Dec. 1, 8, and 15, from 4-7 p.m., the museum will present “Twilight Tours” to display the shimmering glow of the decorations. 

For more than 30 years, volunteers have created the gorgeous holiday decorations at the museum.  
These talented and committed volunteers are Derby Garden Society, Garden Club of Orange, Long Hill Garden Club, Naugatuck Garden Club, Olde Ripton Garden Club of Shelton, Oxford Garden Club, Jen Plasky of American Institute of Floral Designers, Roxbury/Bridgewater Garden Club, Women Redefining Retirement Milford, and Ye Olde Kellogg Garden Club.  

This year’s holiday theme will pay tribute to Frances Osborne Kellogg’s love of the opera.  She frequently attended the Metropolitan Opera, and her uncle Henry Krehbiel was a famous music and opera critic.  
As president of the Women’s Club, Frances invited many opera singers, such as Caterina Jarbora, John Brownlee, and Marjorie Lawrence, to perform in Derby.  Because of her love of this musical genre, each room will represent operas seen by Frances and her family and friends.  

Holiday Farm Market

Visitors will also get a chance to support local farms and small businesses at the Holiday Farm Market in the Kellogg Environmental Center located behind the museum.  

The Holiday Farm Market will be held Dec.1 from 4-7 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon.  Choose from a wide variety of products, such as Connecticut Grown produce, meat products, beauty and bath products, scented candles, and more.

Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted.  
Kellogg Environmental Center and Osborne Homestead Museum are operated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.   

To register for group tours and for more information, call 203-734-2513, email donna.kingston@ct.gov, or visit www.ct.gov/deep/Kellogg.

This is a press release from Connecticut DEEP.

Recuperation journey: Fall is almost here

Solar scarecrow

This Friday is the first day of autumn, and as you can see fall decorating is in full swing at the Villers residence. 
Tee hee!

On Sunday I bought a multi-colored mum from Sunflower Farm in Orange, as I have in the past. 
It's green now, but I know it will be beautiful soon! 
I can't wait to watch it become colorful like the one I got last year: 

Happy almost fall!

Teens invited to decorate baked holiday treats at Derby Public Library

DERBY - The Derby Public Library, 313 Elizabeth St., invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to Teen “Baker” Space, a Holiday Treats Decorating program, from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 15.

Participant creativity will be applied to a variety of baked goods. 

All materials will be provided. 

Registration is requested. 

For more information, stop by the Library, call 203-736-1482, or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

This is a press release from Tony DeLos, young adult librarian, Derby Public Library.

Master's Table to host Halloween-themed dinner, costume contest in Ansonia