Halloween Themed Art Class

Even though we painted our pumpkins on Monday, we had Art Class with my Mom today. Halloween was the theme, for us, and mom painted flowers on Christmas ornaments. She is most comfortable with flowers, and usually sticks to that. Flowers are not my strong point, but I am improving. I had this huge pickle jar, and I painted a little girls witch, a black cat, and she is pulling her pumpkin in a wagon. It is not done yet. When I paint on glass, I like to add several layers to help make the paint more bright and a thicker coat. So. she will sit and wait until I return to her. I want to put Fall leaves all around it as well. This will become a seasonal vase, or a cookie jar, something like that. I won't sell it, because it will be way to expensive to ship. DJ drew, with colored pencils, a vampire hanging from a tree with a friendly owl. He is a super fast artist, and is always done way before anyone else. I don't know how he spits it out so fast, and it looks so awesome. Caitlin did a rock pumpkin, her words, with a black cat sitting on it, a dead tree with an owl, and a moon. She did really well. Her skills are improving all the time. She also is finishing sewing her doll blanket. We are starting to think about County Events for 4H. With the holidays coming, I have to stay on top of things and not get behind.

Tuesday was a regular day of school, and so will tomorrow be. Friday is test day, and movie day.  Oh and Caitlin got her new glasses.  No more red glasses.  I think I like these better.

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?

Halloween, sometimes called All Hollows Eve, Night of the Dead, and other creepy names. But why do we really celebrate Halloween? Why, did we start Halloween? Some cultures do you use Halloween, as a celebration of the dark side. For the most part Halloween is a fun celebration, to dress up and be someone else for a night.

Halloween started many years ago, in other countries. These other countries celebrated the end of Summer, and the season of the Sun. They prepared for season of cold, and long nights. October 31st was the day they chose to hold their festival, sometimes referred to as the Fall Festival, or Harvest.

When settlers came to America, they brought their holiday customs with them. Many of the settlers came from different countries. Of course all the customs have been joined and we have our own Halloween celebration. The most important symbol of Halloween is the Pumpkin.

The early settlers used to cut out other fruits and vegetables, and decorate them. The people of Ireland cut out and decorated Turnips. They hollowed out the Turnip, and put a candle on the inside. When the Irish came to America they used big, round, orange Pumpkins, and now we have our famous Jack-O-Lantern.

Years ago, in other countries, the poor would beg for food. They were called soulers, and people would give them soul cakes. The beggers would then promise that would remember the dead.

Here, today in America children dress in silly, funny, and scary costumes and go Trick Or Treating. The receive candy, and small trinkets in their basket or pumpkin of choice.

Halloween has become a huge profit maker for American businesses, and according to early polls people have spent more money on Halloween this year, than any other year. Some companies base their whole company on Halloween, and are actually closed the rest of the year. You can find almost any costume imaginable, now today. From celebrities, to super heros, prncesses, politicians, what ever you could think of. It has become one night of fun, a night to get away from the stress of the real world, and live in a fantasy. To be someone else for one night, isn't that something everyone wants?

Please remember your Halloween safety rules:

Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
Wear a light on your suit, or carry a flash light
Walk on walkways, not the street if possible
Go slow, kids run out in the street without thinking
Never eat any candy, before it has been thoroughly inspected by an adult
Have fun, isnt that the most important one






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Thanksgiving Dinner, No Serious Posts Today

I am taking a break from serious topics, and there certainly are plenty, and taking a lighter note today. Tomorrow is test day, so I have no Lesson Plans to post. It is freezing here again, in N Florida, and my hands are frozen, so I am typing with mittens on. Actually, I seem to type fast with them on LOL.

I am one of those strange people that plans 30-45 days ahead, for big events or meals. This probably stems from all the years of getting paid every two weeks, and having to plan or have no money to buy what you need, when it is time to make the big meal. My mom was here last Friday, so we went over the menu. We decided we wanted to try a few different recipes, and foods than our traditional Thanksgiving menu.

Turkey, of course, made with maple syrup butter. This will be our second time doing this kind, and it is delicious. I highly recommend it.
Bisquits with gravy- my mother hates store bought bisquits, I hate making them from scratch. So we compromised and she will make the bisquits and I will make the gravy.
Mashed potatoes- pretty much a given
Sweet Potatoe Casserole- this is a new addition to our menu, so I am looking forward to this.
Coleslaw- Cabbage salad whatever you call it. I am making it different this year. Cabbage, carrots, chopped cooked bacon, ranch dressing, possibly onions and red peppers. Does that not sound great. This will be another new try for us.
Cholcolate pie, instead of apple pie. Everyone loves chocolate and apple is just getting old
Some kind of Truffle my mom is making, I am sure it will be awesome.
Rolls with butter
Green beans with onions- Instead of the traditional green bake, we are going to do a all year favorite. Fresh green beans, sauteed with onions in butter, and extra virgin olive oil, with just a splash of red wine vinaigrette.
Stuffing, of course.
That is it, unless we decide to add more things. That is plenty for 5 people, and one dog. Have you started to plan your menu yet?

Our Ocean field trip, which was scheduled for earlier in Sept, has been rescheduled for next Friday. Hopefully it will warm back up, or I might have to order a snowsuit to wear. We hope to find some cool shells, to use in various arts and crafts projects. My mom will be going with us, as my husband has to work, and she knows the way to the specific part of the Gulf she likes to go to. We will have a picnic lunch, and just enjoy the beauty of the Ocean.

Yesterday, I posted we were finally making the Paper Mache Pumpkins, yeah ok. It was a big mess, and a big pain. They were white balloons, and we just ended up painting them orange, and then painting funny faces on them.