One of the things my wife and I prepared for in the new neighborhood was a large increase in the number of trick-or-treaters coming by the house. We "candied up" for the night and were amply rewarded with a steady stream of goblins, princesses, devils, Darth Vader, Raggedy Ann, super heroes and an occasionally ghost.

Several youngsters made the rounds with mom and dad trailing along in the family car or walking. Then there was Carson Cunningham, who had the advantage of riding with his dad, Darren, in a three-wheel golf cart made by Westinghouse. I didn't even know Westinghouse made golf carts. A quick search on the Internet told me the company was in that line of business from the mid-1960s to the mid-70s.

Darren, who is in the process of moving into the neighborhood, looked like he was having as much fun playing in the golf cart as Carson was collecting treats.

Now that we've survived our first Halloween in the neighborhood, we're bracing for the next big event in the neighborhood in about a week.

Deer season opens.

Aside from a few of the male members of the population being gone for a few days that's not normally a problem. However, in this neighborhood it seems one of the neighbors has a special affinity for deer hunters and likes to make sure they leave for the deer woods well nourished.

According to Randy Caldwell, who is rapidly becoming known as the second best deer hunter in his family after oldest son, Ben, we have a neighbor who opens her kitchen and dining room up to deer hunters at 3 a.m. on opening morning.

Randy says Earline Hovis started this tradition several years ago and he even helped out by making her a sign to go in the front yard advertising the very first such event several years ago.

Early on there was some talk about making this breakfast a charity type event, but Jesse, Earline's other half (if you want to use the term "better half" feel free to tell her that one yourself) put an end to that idea. By most accounts, Jesse doesn't even get out of bed until all the hunters have gone and Earline's cleaned the table and washed the dishes.

Randy said he thinks Earline is partial to deer hunters over dove, duck or even rabbit hunters because deer hunters don't use dogs. It's not that she dislikes dogs, but she really dislikes what dogs leave behind when they come for a visit. She has a sign in her yard for that, too.

I think reservations are required, so be sure to call her early. The question making the rounds now is whether we'll have more deer hunters than trick-or-treaters.

* * *

Honey, I'm home

There's nothing like returning home after being gone for a few days and being greeted warmly by your loved one. That's sorta what happened last weekend when several of our finest ladies returned from a trip to the northeast.

One of C.H. Young's golfing buddies said they were a little surprised to see him out on the golf course the day after his wife, Sandy, returned from the trip.

"What did you say to her when she came through the door," he asked C.H.

"The same thing she says to me when I come home,' he replied, "Get those shoes off. I've been working on those floors the entire time you were gone."

For some very good reasons, no one really believed him.

* * *

Second career

It was also on the golf course last weekend I learned about Bob Redman coming out of retirement. Bob, who has prior experience in the news business as a DDD sports editor before wising up and taking up the more lucrative profession of photography, is apparently ready to get back in the sports reporting business. This time, though on the broadcasting side.

While playing with Jimmy Walker, Jingo Cole, George Workman and Bill Clevenger last week, Bob made a comment on one of Jimmy's putts that came awfully close to what the guys have heard a Golf Channel commentator make about some of the putts they see the pros make, or miss, as was the case here.

From there on, every time someone in the group mis-hit a shot they felt compelled to ask Bob for a little commentary on the subject.

It's good news time

Once again the major news media outlets showed their ability to focus on the negative news while giving short shrift to the good news that's out there. Last week was no exception.

This from the Associated Press.

"The economy picked up speed in the summer, growing at a brisk 3.9 percent pace, the fastest in 1 1/2 years and an impressive performance even as a credit crunch plunged the housing market deeper into turmoil.

"The latest snapshot of the country's economic health, released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, suggested the economy is proving resilient and holding up well despite strains in the housing and credit markets. Those problems intensified during the third quarter and rocked Wall Street.

"A second report from the department showed construction spending rose 0.3 percent in September, the best showing in four months. All-time high spending in both commercial construction by private builders and government projects more than offset weakness in home building.

"For the entire July through September period, individuals increased spending. U.S. businesses sold more goods abroad and boosted some investment at home. Those were main factors helping to push up overall economic activity during that period.

The third quarter growth rate was up slightly from a 3.8 percent pace for the three previous months. It marked the strongest showing since the first quarter of last year."

I thought that was worth sharing.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.