by Sharon | Jul 24, 2016
This does seem quite refreshing . . . after last week . . .
Yes, for one . . . my air conditioner decided to go on the fritz.
It was repairable . . . it was repaired . . . and much more comfortable with the three digit temperatures . . . which are to get a bit cooler this week . . . hopefully.
Oh, my thoughts are turning to the wonderful blissful fall . . . but, alas, it is much too soon to be yearning for fall . . . but I can pretend and get into the fall crafts . . . which goes into the Halloween thing.
Yes, it may be too soon . . . but better early than too late.
Halloween party preparations should be planned carefully and not rushed.
The same goes for the party favors.
I have all these great coffins to make. Have you tried them?
They do come together rather quickly, but they do need something more . . . and here I have a stack of these that need to be embellished and stand out . . . And to do that takes time.
I’ve been thinking of cobwebs and maybe pumpkins . . . perhaps a vampire, witch, ghost . . . a haunted house . . . or school . . . Something that would be more exciting than the candy inside the coffin . . .
I’ve always thought these would be good to hold a mini-album . . . or an original story . . . something creepy and spooky . . . but then, again, guests are into the candy . . . just like when we were children . . .
There are just some things we don’t outgrow . . . no matter how old we get.
But, decorating has to do with getting into the moment . . . the essence of Halloween . . . which is basically imagination . . . drawing others into our imagination . . . and sharing it . . .
Could be a bit lame . . . but worth a try.
These could go with the theme of your party . . . pirates, perhaps . . . witches . . . or the Legend of Sleepy Hollow . . . Whatever happened to Ichabod Crane?
That might be a lovely way to spend All Hollow’s Eve . . . figuring out what happened that fateful night returning home from the Van Tassel’s Harvest Feast . . . after Ichabod left crushed by Katrina’s refusal of his marriage proposal . . .
So caught up in his own imagination and the story told of the famed Headless Horseman . . . Yes, the ghost of the decapitated Hessian soldier in hot pursuit on his tail . . . Ichabod crosses the bridge near the Dutch burial ground — supposedly the ghost was incapable of crossing that bridge . . .
Ichabod foolishly assumed he’s safe . . . when the Headless Horseman throws his own severed head at Ichabod . . . knocking the heartbroken and terrified school teacher off his horse and “tumbling headlong into the dust.”
The next morning, Ichabod’s hat is found abandoned near the church bell bridge . . . and not far behind, a shattered pumpkin.
And . . . what are we to make of this?
Many do believe that young Ichabod Crane left Sleepy Hollow . . . and sought comfort in another village . . . with another farmer’s daughter . . .
Or was it more sinister? Did Ichabod get spirited away by the Hessian soldier . . . was he, Ichabod, now destined to ride through the night, reliving over and over again that fateful night?
Or was there an encounter with the town rowdy, Abraham “Bron Bones” Van Brunt?
Many do believe he dressed up like the Headless Horseman to run his rival for the fair Katrina affections out of town . . . Did he succeed? And did they work together to carry out this charade?
With a little imagination . . . you and your guests can come up with dozens of possibilities.
And the gift you make for each of your guests will be a paper craft coffin with an Ichabod Crane hat and a shattered pumpkin on top . . . maybe that bridge would be a good touch or the graveyard . . .
And, of course, there will be a lovely assortment of sweet Halloween candy inside.
Let me know what you think . . .
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Aug 19, 2015
It Depends Upon The Image . . .
For me, nothing is more inspiring than a field of bright orange pumpkins. And the fallen leaves . . .
I do love fall . . . and all that goes along with it . . . the crunch of leaves underfoot, the fresh crisp smell when the season changes . . . the cool nights and the cooler days . . . I love wearing sweaters and going to the various places that sell pumpkins right out of their pumpkin patch.
There are the hay rides, Halloween Parties and, of course, Halloween — and with that comes the carving of pumpkins . . . the nights in front of a fire . . . the ghost stories . . .
I may cheat this year and re-read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I usually save it for Halloween, but for some reason I want to get back into that story. It is a classic and has become a tradition at my house.
I even enjoy watching the Disney cartoon of it. It’s nice to revisit these characters . . . it doesn’t matter that I know what is going to happen, it is still an exciting story I can read over and over again.
Just like other stories you may never tire of reading or hearing again and again.
I may be torturing myself by bringing up this picture, but it is always nice to anticipate what is to come. I do find it relaxing and tranquil.
I know of people who absolutely love Christmas as much as I love fall . . . they begin planning their decorating and begin shopping early. We do anticipate what makes us feel good. Fall has that special thing for me.
I also know of some who are enjoying their summer. This is their season! They love the hot weather and going to the beach. They’re totally caught up in the season and savoring the BBQs and the camping and all that summer has to offer. It is truly invigorating to them. And the telling of ghost stories while sitting in front of an open fire. There is something about being outdoors, maybe in the woods and being inspired by the dark shadows of the night . . . and the shadows cast beyond the light of the campfire.
We all have our favorite season, some love them all and take them as they come . . . and enjoy every bit of each one from start to finish . . .
Without spring and summer, we wouldn’t have the great harvest in the fall . . . Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same now would it?
I do love Thanksgiving, but it does seem to get crowded out by Halloween and Christmas . . . sure we celebrate it, but it does seem to be a “filler” rather than an honest to goodness holiday we thoroughly enjoy.
Look at how Black Friday has moved to Thanksgiving Day . . . all to get the great bargains to kick off the Christmas Season.
I am much too old fashioned to give up my Thanksgiving for bargain shopping. I love the time with family and friends.
If I want a head start on Christmas, I do my shopping in July and August. Those are the times that feel right for me. I also stock up at the end of the season sales, too. That’s when I believe I’ve really gotten bargains. Yes, things may be picked over, but many times others have waited, too. It does seem like a fresh selection of ornaments and decorative pieces for next year. It’s just remembering where I put them . . .
We’ve really changed how we shop . . . with the internet. I remember reading somewhere that with all the mobile devices we think of shopping every time we go online. Is that true? Is that how you feel? Is that what you do?
It’s an interesting concept. I need to think about it and watch what I do each time I go online. I believe I check my email and do research for my blog posts, but deep down I may have masked over my desire to shop . . .
It does make sense. I do a lot of shopping online. I prefer it to going out in the summer heat and traffic . . . I feel as though I’m helping those who do need to go out to do their school shopping . . . I’m not taking up a parking place they could use.
Shopping online has become a natural thing to do. Check out various prices without running all over town. Many times we do this research, then, instead of buying it online, we go out, buy it and pick it up and bring it home.
I don’t know if this is happening in your neighborhood, but some stores are merely showrooms. They are there with merchandise, but you’re going to have to order it . . . that seems a waste, but it is helpful to see it before you buy it. That has been my experience for quite a number of years with furniture. It’s rare that I see something and I can have it delivered in a few days. There’s been that lag time of three weeks minimum.
So, the concept of shopping online is becoming much more appealing.
I do hope you’re enjoying your summer and anticipating the holidays to come . . . or you may be just too busy enjoying your various summer activities or getting the kids ready for a new school year . . .
Thanks for stopping by!
Please leave me a comment.
Sharon, Owner of TwoCansOnAString.com
by Sharon | Oct 26, 2014
This is definitely my favorite Halloween story of all time: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
This is the 1970 animated version for your enjoyment and that of your children.
No Halloween Evening is complete without reading this legend or watching the videos. I enjoy sitting in front of the fireplace after all the trick-or-treaters have gotten their treats and have stopped for the night. I may have a few pieces of candy left in my bowl of treats, but I prefer to have a nice hot cup of cocoa or tea. Then settle into this great adventure I visit once a year on Old Hollow’s Eve.
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 1
Legend of Sleepy Hollow Part 2
With a little imagination . . . you and your guests can come up with dozens of possibilities.
