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And it's now totally in your head. Enjoy that image. :)

Sexualised pumpkins? The mind boggles!

Great tips and great links for more information.

Awww! That poor man. I can empathize. I used to get asked so much about the English Civil War and it was always awkward if you didn't know.

They do have a lot of names. I think they were planted in the open parts of the country to act as windbreaks and fences and were known as hedge apples. East Texas is close to Louisiana and French speaking people who tended to call them by their French name which got turned in to Bodark or Bodock.

They're common in the midwest. I've seen them in Illinois and Missouri. We always called them hedge apples. I never knew of another name.

Civil war buffs in the US are quite maniacal. They have memorized every small detail and conspiracy of every battle, so to be a tour guide you've got to be able to keep up. The first question our guide asked us was if we were civil war buffs. When we said no you could sort of see him relax a bit.

Loved your drawing of the shuttle going home. I recall watching the first landing so very many years ago on my tiny B/W television, so excited that I took a photo of the screen as the first shuttle returned to Earth and touched down. EF

What a magical experience though! I'm quite jealous of it.

The tour guide examination is far greater than what I had to go through for the National Trust! I just had to tail a tour guide for a bit, then do my research and collate my spiel. When I went 'live', a veteran tour guide joined the parties for the first day. Then I was declared good to go.

They appear much stricter at Gettysburg, but that's all to the good.

My husband and I spent a fascinating day at Gettysburg. A tour guide drove our car and spent 4 hours telling us all the details of the battle. To be a tour guide you have to pass a three-hour written exam and then take orals while you're driving a strange car. Then there's a two or three year wait until someone retires. So these guys know their stuff!

After, we sat in an observation tower just outside the battlefied park at dusk and watched the sun set. I felt sure that if I were to ever see a ghost it would be here. But nothing....

I really need to see this movie again, with your observations in mind. I think you're onto something here.

There is this! I'm hopeless in heels. I'd end up breaking my ankle. But they look amazing.

I can easily spiral out of control and miss the blessings I do have in my life. Thanks for the comment.

Thank you, thank you. I apologize for using a white background. I wasn't thinking....

We always had a star on our CHristmas tree growing up. You've got some beautiful ones here. Thanks for focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.