“Do not measure success by today’s harvest. Measure success by the seeds you plant today.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
Keep planting those seeds, friends. Seeds of wisdom and kindness. Seeds that encourage others to educate and improve themselves. Seeds that will someday grow into something more important than you.
These classic Halloween cereals were on the shelf in Circleville, Ohio in August. It has been years since I tasted these very sweet General Mills goodies but I’m tempted every time I see them.
I don’t typically eat cereal and I certainly don’t believe in this level of junk food for breakfast but, man, did these boxes bring back some memories.
Count Chocula and Franken Berry debuted in 1971 and were pioneers as the first chocolate and strawberry cereals on the market. Boo Berry came along the following year. There were eventually two other General Mills cereals inspired by classic horror film characters – Yummy Mummy and Fruit Brute – which are no longer in production.
When I was a kid they were available year round but today are only sold late summer through Halloween so better stock up while you can!
If you’re interested, General Mills published a web story in 2021 that shares a little about the original illustrations of the characters, recalls their status as pop culture icons and there’s even a tv commercial. Click here to read that story.
All of this talk of classic cereals marketed to kids has reminded me of Smurf Berry Crunch, another character driven cereal from my early eighties childhood. It also was made by General Mills as a delicious treat to enjoy while watching Saturdays morning cartoons.
What was your favorite cereal as a kid?
It’s Labor Day here in America. This has been a federal holiday since 1894 but it seems a lot of folks don’t know why it exists.
Yes, it’s the unofficial end of summer and yes, it’s a great time to travel and to get good deals on home appliances. But it was actually created because labor activists were pushing for a federal holiday that would call attention to labor issues and recognize the many contributions workers have made to the country’s health and prosperity.
Today, it’s a good time to remember and honor the American workforce. It’s a good time to remember how far we have come from the deplorable working conditions of the industrial age, long hours for low wages, the blatantly unsafe conditions of mining jobs, and the common use of child labor.
Modern people have no idea how easy we have it.
Charlotte Elizabeth Battles is a name you probably haven’t heard but she made history back in her day.
Born in 1864 to a family that owned the R.S. Battles Bank in Girard, Pennsylvania, she was educated, worldly and strong. Her father was Rush Battles, a farmer, lawyer and banker whose bank had been a local staple since 1859. When her father died, she was promoted to fill his shoes as bank president. The year was 1904 and she was one of the first women to serve as a bank president.
She ran this bank until it closed in 1946.
Let us pause here for a moment. Women didn’t get the vote until 1920. She successfully ran a bank for years before she could walk into a ballot booth.
But I digress. She gained fame in 1933 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered American banks be closed as part of the Emergency Banking Act and she refused to comply.
As a privately owned institution, she believed they were not governed by the state or federal government. In a letter to Roosevelt, Battles said “We’re minding our business, you mind yours”.
They remained open as they always had, placing no restrictions on deposits or withdrawals, but they did serve only existing customers that week.
The Erie Times News published a story about the incident under the headline “Girard Bank Says ‘Pooh’ To State And U.S. Edict.” The funny thing was that it wasn’t even big news back then. The story ran on page 11.
If you visit the Hagen History Center in Erie, PA, you will find a room dedicated to this pioneering business woman who thumbed her nose at the feds.
The exhibit tells the story of her life as a banker but also that of an artist, a world traveler, a gardener and what appeared to be a woman who embraced life fully.
She died in 1952 and her home in Girard is now owned by the Hagan History Center. That’s less than 30 minutes from the Hagen Center in Erie.
This museum has some amazing exhibits including maritime history, Frank Lloyd Wright’s field office, art and stunning mansions to tour. Go visit!
Today is Friday. We have made it to the finishing line before the long holiday weekend. At least, I hope it’s a long weekend for you. Wherever you are, I hope you will celebrate the completion of this week even if it’s just a little bit.
Buy yourself some grocery store flowers like the sunflowers I bought for myself a few weeks ago. Take a long walk in the woods after work. Stop by your favorite local bookstore and buy some fabulous book to kick your feet up with. Take a long, hot bath. Grab your favorite sandwich at the local deli. Pack a bag and take an impromptu road trip. Close the curtains to keep out the heat and have a Harry Potter movie marathon.
Do something that will bring you joy or peace or relaxation or excitement or whatever it is you need to help you say “it was a long week but I managed the stress and I am still standing.”
You deserve it. Now go.