Month: August 2013

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79 Days and the Warmth of a Rich Legacy

One of the attributes that distinguished Israel’s autumn celebration from pagan festivals was the honor and respect Israel showed to the memory of departed family members. Their ancestors were loved and honored and their spirits invited to join the celebrations. 
The pagans, believing their ancestor’s spirits were dangerous and  harmful to them, tried to repel the spirits with fire, frightening masks and other means. 
Sharing stories of our ancestors helps keep the spirit of family love alive and brings comfort and security to our children. Through the prophet Elijiah, God established a sealing bond of love that transcends mortality and reaches into the hearts of the children, 
a power that God ordained to save the earth.  

From the Old Testament Prophet Malachi 4:5 – 6
 5 ¶Behold, I will asend you bElijah the prophet cbefore the coming of the dgreat and dreadful eday of the Lord:

 6 And he shall aturn the bheart of the cfathers to the dchildren, and the heart of the echildren to their fathers, lest I come and fsmite the gearth with a hcurse.
For more of the history of harvest celebrations see: 

http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/?keywords=pam+mcmurtry&qid=1374845872&ref=sr_1_1&ie=UTF8&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744

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80 days …an’ the gobble-uns ‘ll git you ef you don’t watch out

 
 
 
 
 
 
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE
by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

      INSCRIBED WITH ALL FAITH AND AFFECTION

       

      To all the little children: — The happy ones; and sad ones;
      The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
      The good ones — Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.

       

      ITTLE Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,

      An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,

      An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep,

      An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep;

      An’ all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,

      We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun

      A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,

      An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you

      Ef you

      Don’t

      Watch

      Out!

       

      Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,–

      An’ when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,

      His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,

      An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wuzn’t there at all!

      An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press,

      An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’-wheres, I guess;

      But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an’ roundabout:–

      An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you

      Ef you

      Don’t

      Watch

      Out!

       

      An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,

      An’ make fun of ever’ one, an’ all her blood-an’-kin;

      An’ wunst, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks wuz there,

      She mocked ’em an’ shocked ’em, an’ said she didn’t care!

      An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,

      They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,

      An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!

      An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you

      Ef you

      Don’t

      Watch

      Out!

       

      An’ little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,

      An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!

      An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,

      An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,–

      You better mind yer parunts, an’ yer teachurs fond an’ dear,

      An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,

      An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,

      Er the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you

      Ef you

      Don’t

      Watch

      Out!
Published in 1916, this was a lesson in good manners and morals.

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81 Days Out, There’s Time to be Creative

Halloween time can be so festive and exciting without being scary and creepy. I don’t want that stuff in my home, so I curate decor that is fun for autumn; bright and unusual without gore. Try incorporating intelligent humor and novelty in your decorating. 

Decorating idea from A Harvest and Halloween Handbook:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/?keywords=pam+mcmurtry&qid=1374845872&ref=sr_1_1&ie=UTF8&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744

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83 Days ’til Halloween, You Might as Well Play Outside.

A Good Buggy Croquet Game is a fun harvest of Halloween party game. Why not hone your croquet skills with summer practice?
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84 Days – Who’s Your Hero?

Yes, inside even the mildest of the mild – mannered, lives a superhero with amazing powers.
This one disguised himself as a football playing, good kid in high school. But when duty called, he went off to fight the bad guys as an American soldier; spending three years in hell so the people and country he loved could remain free and safe.

Now that’s a hero. 

http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374845872&sr=8-1&keywords=pam+mcmurtry
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?ean=2940148379744

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85; The Play’s Outside

Halloween seems to me to be one large theatrical production. Costumes, sets, imaginary creatures; the whole community’s involved – no wonder it’s so entertaining!
I have this ideas that it would be fun to have a cupboard dedicated to the art of costume. My little children had a box of dress-up clothes from their Aunt Allison. They spent hours dressing up and engaging in creative play. As summer winds down, it might be fun to pull out old costumes for your children or pick up a few new ones at your favorite thrift store and see what imaginative adventures unfold.
Teachers: As you prepare your room for the new school year, consider having a closet of wonders, or cupboard or drawer containing a simple prop or two to introduce the next book you will be reading aloud, or a math or science concept. Your class could try to guess what the items represents, It could be a fun way to develop deduction and reasoning and engage their imaginations.
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86 Days to Halloweeny!

The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes was one of my all-time favorite stories as a child. It is the tale of two ordinary little girls who banish the terrible head witch Nobby to a glass hill. If she remains there and learns to be good; they’ll let her leave for one night; Halloween. 
To keep her from becoming too lonely, the girls send a little blond witch named Hannah (who happens to look just like the two girls, Amy and Clarissa); and to keep little Hannah from getting too lonely, a baby witch with a tiny kitten arrives. Amy’s representative Malachi, an invisible bee, who spells (he’s a spelling bee), keeps an eye on Nobby and stings her if she gets out of line. 
A mermaid lagoon hidden in the crystal hill, witch school and a visit from Amy and Clarissa, fill Hannah’s days with adventure. But will Nobby get to come down off the hill for Halloween? The temptation of the Easter Bunny’s painting field filled with rabbits and eggs (her favorite foods) may prove too much. The Witch Family is a delightful story of redemption, the power of love and importance of friends. Even though I don’t usually do witches, this is one story I love. I found it recently on Amazon.com – enjoy!


 

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87 – Are We in Heaven?

Not yet, but the beauty of the earth in autumn is awe-inspiring.
I am grateful for the glorious world we are privileged to inhabit and the great love, intelligence (and power) that provided it for us. 

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88 – the Pumpkin’s Great!

This rich and delicious treat is very popular with pumpkin pie fans. Friends and followers on Pinterest have been uploading this recipe in record numbers; it is easy to make.
This is my son Andrew’s favorite Pumpkin Pie Cake.
PUMPKIN PIE CAKE

        Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

        From a box of yellow cake mix, remove one cup and set   
        aside. Make crust by combining remaining cake mix with:

1 egg

½ cup butter, melted and cooled                         

        Pat into bottom of a 9″ x 13” baking pan. 
        Mix together:        

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 large can pumpkin

1 ½ cups sugar

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

(or  1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice and 1 tsp. cinnamon)

2 (12 oz.) cans evaporated milk

        Pour over crust. Set aside. Mix together and  sprinkle over   
       pumpkin filling:

reserved cup of cake mix

½ cup sugar

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

½ cup butter, softened

1 C. chopped pecans (optional)

        Bake approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes or until pumpkin is set. 
        Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

You’ll find more delicious recipes in A Harvest and Halloween Handbook, get yours today!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/pam-mcmurtry

http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Halloween-Handbook-Artisan-ebook/dp/B009PA8ON6/?keywords=pam+mcmurtry&qid=1374845872&ref=sr_1_1&ie=UTF8&sr=8-1