Halloween

[Aroura]

Thanks for the compliments guys and gals.

Halloween "treating" is indeed fading in America, but it is being replaced but even newer traditions. Most people do not buy or hand out candy anymore. I've noticed a trend to give away items instead of candy, too. Like pencils, notepads, little plastic figures, tops, etc. I actually like this, because otherwise my kid ends up passed out after the sugar rush, and my husband eats the rest of her candy (not good for either of them).

Mostly now, kids tend to go to specific locations instead of house to house. Like, the mall will have trick or treating for 2 hours, and the school or local church might organize a "Trunk or Treat" where local groups decorate a car or other vehicle and hand out treats. These are the best. Each vehicle will have a theme, and the adults dress up as well. There are often photo booths, cotton candy, hot dogs, hayrides, and other fun activities. This is way better than door-to-door, and what we do each year now. Anyway, a lot of the places have a toy or candy for the kid, plus a coupon or candy for the adult WITH the kid.

I have also noticed a trend that kids stop dressing up about in their tweens, but start again in their late teens. So basically, that "age of not believing" as Bedknobs and Broomsticks says, kids stop doing Halloween, but it becomes cool again in mid to late teens (lots of walking dead, zombies, car crash victims, vampires, and anything gory is popular for older teens).

I will keep dressing up for Halloween even when I'm an old lady. It is the one time of year when anyone of any age can play make believe and not be teased about it.

[robvalue]

Aroura: Wonderful costumes!

Halloween: The one night of the year you can give candy to kids and not get arrested.

[Aroura]

Oh yeah, and PUMPKINS!  



I know some people hate all the pumpkin stuff, but I adore it.  We go to a local farm every year now, and I buy fresh sugar pumpkins and the ones called cinderella pumpkins.  I cook these, and for about 2 solid months, my family eats fresh pumpkin:
Bread
Pie
Soup
Stew (this is pumpkin, chicken, peaches and mangos all in a crockpot with sweet curry)
Butter

And of course a couple of carved ones!



If you have never had fresh pumpkin butter, or pumpkin soup with cream, you are missing out!  I'm sorry for more photo's but I <3 Halloween, and we do a TON every year.


This is just some muslin with starch and a few felt cutouts, a little red light inside.  Place the muslin cloth over a balloon, spray with lots of starch, let dry.  Glue on felt eyes and mouth.  Viola!  Spooky ghosts, durable, cost almost nothing.

This one was a big project, but I really wanted a full scarecrow for decoration.  It's about 4 ft tall, and can sit or stand.  McCalls paid me $25 to use this guy on their website to advertise their fall sewing projects line!  I have better pics of just the scarecrow, but I love anything with my kid in it (sorry).




And lastly...My hubby and daughter last year.  As you can see, my husband is just as into costumes as I am (part of the reason we get along so well, I suppose!).  He did his own make-up, and always makes his own accessories, such as finding the top hat, and decorating it with skulls.  The wig was a rasta wig that he trimmed down, then drilled holes in the skulls and threaded them onto the wig.  He made children cry last year, no kidding!  One little girl came up to him at a party we were at and said "You look scary.  That is NOT a compliment!"  lol.  Kids.

Here he is Papa Legba (reusing his nice coat I made him) , and the little one is Elsa.  One of many Elsa's last year, lol.