Happy Sukkot!
Catch my decorating tips in US News and World Report and photos in Good Housekeeping!
One of the fun things about writing is the chance to talk to new and interesting people, especially other writers, and contribute ideas they can share. Today’s US News and World Report has an article about (what else?) Halloween that I contributed to thanks to author Geoff Williams.
Be the Best Trick-or-Treat House on the Block Without Breaking the Bank
The downside is that due to word count and space restrictions only a small portion of my content was used. Here are more ideas for your Halloween decorating:
“… I love creative, alternative decor for Halloween and go wild for themes taken from literature like Alice and Wonderland, the Wizard of Oz, and my favorite; an enchanted forest. My best tips for cheap decor are to incorporate lots of orange lights (buy off-season) or dramatic lighting; create uplights from cans and use things you have already have or find in thrift stores, think high-tide Halloween with a boat (real or a cardboard box painted to look like a dinghy) with fake holes, eerie lights, fog, tattered nautical flags referencing creepy shipwrecks or pirate raids. Or enchanted forest with fairy houses, trails of stones, fairy lights (t.p. rolls painted black with eye-shaped holes cut out; put light sticks inside) add signs,and strange sounds. I’d add a metal dress form with tattered white or gray thrift store dress, light the inside with black lights for a banshhee. Or grab dead branches, tumbleweeds, etc. (can you tell I live in the West?) Stuff a couple of prone or seated with their heads down in their arms “cowboys,” set up a fake campfire with cricket sounds and sad harmonica music. Mound dirt for a grave and put a pair of cowboy boots nearby with a clue about the demised – a rubber snake, a broken cattle brand…
The funny thing is that I personally don’t do creepy, but do love Halloween icons and alternative items like glowing orange beehives hanging from trees, pumpkins on posts of different heights, Wonderland tea parties with costumed guests. Novel or humorous decor is as much of a surprise as the macabre. Check thrift stores, your friends and best of all shop off-season for next year.”
Here are other articles that may be helpful in planning your festivities:
Here are other articles that may be helpful in planning your festivities:
http://www.deseretnews.com/search/google?q=pam+mcmurtry
https://familyshare.com/authors/pammcmurtry
Need more? Download your A Harvest and Halloween Handbook from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-harvest-and-halloween-handbook-pam-mcmurtry/1116031757?type=eBook
Heather and Tim were featured in Good Housekeeping’s 125 years of Halloween costumes, see #4 and #40:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g3888/halloween-costumes-through-the-years/?slide=40
If you are looking for ways to entertain your own little pumpkins, check out the Halloween party coloring pages in my Etsy shop: You can download and print 5 images for only 75 cents, there are 6 sets. Color away!
Hello Hill AFB!
Hello Hill Air Force Base littles – are you ready to read?
On October 26, I’ll be sharing harvest and Halloween stories and games at the Hill AFB library story hour.
Mother Goose and friends will be the special guests of our harvest and Halloween themed event.
Until then, here are a few of my favorite
autumn books and movies:
Until then, here are a few of my favorite
autumn books and movies:
When I was a child, I enjoyed Eleanor Estes’ The Witch Family. I don’t normally do witches for Halloween — but I haven’t been able to shake off my affection for this cute book. The heroines are two little girlfriends who banish an imaginary witch (or is she?) to a glass mountain. Into the adventure come a pretty little witch girl, a baby witch, mermaids, cats, Easter bunnies, and a magical bumblebee… things young girls find fascinating and fun. (Check Amazon.com).
Edgar Allen Poe short stories, Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles; Usher 2 or Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Fun and vintage poems, Little Orphan Annie, (…and the gobbleuns ‘u’ll git you if you don’t watch out!”) by James Whitcomb Riley and Hallo’een, (“Tonight is the night when dead leaves fly…”) by Harry Behn.
I have always enjoyed Mother Goose stories. If you are looking for an image replacement for iconic Halloween witches, Mother Goose might be a good candidate; the kindly old woman loves children and likes to tell good stories.
In her book, “The Real Personages of Mother Goose,” published in 1930, Katherine Elwes Thomas describes her theory of the origin. “The statement is made in Vol. X of Americana: It is now concluded that Mother Goose belongs to French folklore, not to English tradition. Charles Perrault, Paris 1628, was the first person to collect and publish the Contes de ma mere L’Oye or Tales of Mother Goose, and though he did not originate the name, there is no reason to think that Mother Goose was a term ever used in English Literature. The tales of Mere L’Oye are taken from ancient legends of “Goose-Footed Bertha,” wife of Robert II of France. Queen Bertha is represented in French legends as spinning, with children clustered around her listening to her tales. From this arose the French custom of referring any incredible stories to the “time when good Queen Bertha spun.” (Have you ever heard of spinning a yarn?)
The French tales of Mere L’Oye are tales in prose: Little Red Riding Hood, The Fairy, the sisters who drop diamonds and toads respectively from their mouths, Bluebeard, The Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots; of which there are many parallels in folklore tales of many countries such as Cinderella, Riquet with the Tuft and Little Tom Thumb. Also an introductory note by William H. Whitmore in John Newberry’s “The Original Mother Goose’s Melody,” around 1760. “On the frontispiece is an old woman, spinning and telling tales to a man, a girl, a little boy, and a cat. .. Some writers connect the legend of Mother Goose with Queen Goose-foot Reine Pedance, said to be the mother of King Charlemagne.”
Halloween and Hollywood
Here are a few of my favorite movie choices that you might enjoy; all are G to PG 13 rated.
#1 on my list, Disney’s Halloweentown series. There’s Disney’s Hocus Pocus, Watcher in the Woods (super suspenseful but not gorey – look for Bette Davis), That Darn Cat (not really about Halloween, but funny anyway), Mr. Boogedy, Bride of Boogedy and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (remember Ichabod Crane?) Then there are the Harry Potterseries, Meet Me in St. Louis, and of course, The Wizard of Oz and Return to Oz. Some of these are fairly intense and you might share them with older children. There are Halloween movies for younger children featuring Winnie the Pooh, Casper the Friendly Ghost and other children’s literary characters.
Also check out television’s The Addams Family and The Munsters.
With a son in the military, I have a special place in my heart for those who serve our country and their families who support them. My son is overseas for 3 years and this is his son’s 1st Halloween. So for Ender and all of his kindred spirits this hour’s for you!
These treats were deployed to Afghanistan to a special unit there. I have a sneaking suspicion that the other soldiers didn’t get their goldfish crackers. Andrew?
Read up on fun and creative ideas for your Halloween in
Watch this spot next week for an article in US News and World Report that I contributed to!
LEMON HONEY CHEESECAKE
Lemon and honey are a sunny, unseparable pair in many recipes. Enjoy the duo in this slightly less-guilty delicious dessert. Prepare the graham cracker crust first, then add the filling and bake.
Serves: 16
Graham Cracker Crust
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs (use gluten-free if desired)
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup butter, melted
In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients and press evenly into the bottom and partway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Cheesecake Filling
40 ounces Neufchatel cheese (reduced-fat cream cheese)
½ cup honey
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt
¾ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, save additional zest for garnish
4 eggs
additional honey, thinly sliced lemon for garnish
In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, honey, flour, sour cream, lemon juice and lemon zest. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour filling into crust. Set the pan on a foil-covered baking sheet and place in center of oven.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center of filling is almost set. Cool. Run a knife around the sides of the pan to loosen crust, unhook the hinge of the springform pan and remove the outer ring.
Refrigerate cheesecake several hours or overnight before serving. Slice and drizzle with additional honey, add a lemon slice and zest to each bee-licious serving.
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 1/12 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.
Check out the Good Hosekeeping retro costume parade: #4 and #40
Check out the Good Hosekeeping retro costume parade: #4 and #40
2016 Halloween Costume Couture
My Halloween couture trade inside connection Rhonda Cowan, co-owner of Etoile costume and gift shop on Venture Boulevard in Tarzana CA reveals the hot trends for 2016. Rhonda and her sister Sandy outfit high-end Valley Girls and Guys and the studios. Look for their lineup at parties and trick-or-treat parades near you. From Rhonda,
“Trends…Deadpool, Harley Quinn, Joker, Harry Potter is still popular. Pirates are always popular, the 20’s never goes out of style along with Gatsby now.
Super Heroes always for kids! Especially Captain America, Thor and the villain Loki.
Because of their recent passing, Prince and David Bowie costumes are in demand for adults…Michael Jackson is a perennial. Star Wars is surging again. Ghost Busters for preteens and teens.”
There you have it ghouls and guys, and for more Halloween fun be sure to download your copy of
A Harvest and Halloween Handbook from Amazon or BN.com.
and
And for great DIY costume ideas and instructions visit my Pinterest costume board: https://www.pinterest.com/pammcmurtry/costumes/
Thanks to the Deseret News for publishing
2 of my favorite recipes:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865664003/2-recipes-to-celebrate-the-natural-sweetness-of-honey.html?clear_cache=1
Shutterstock
45 days and counting…
I am so ready to start decorating for Halloween. My youngest son, living at home while he attends college, has informed me that if I start decorating for Halloween too early he’s moving out.
Gosh I’m going to miss that kid.
So it will be a few days before the harvest and Halloween make their appearance at McMurtry Manor; but not wanting to leave you hanging, here are a few of favorite blasts from the past.
Autumn decor featuring the portrait of g.g.grandfather Perus Sprague Tracy and Die Heilige Schrifte, my husband’s antique German Bible.
A sukkah for a Feast of the Tabernacles celebration.
Houndstooth check and a black cat for you cat and dog lovers.
A polka dot party in our Kid Cave.
Cool but not creepy Halloween decor.
Pumpkin Pie Cake… mmm I can smell it now.
A Halloween dollhouse to hide treats in for the treasure hunt.
Fun and games and more to come from
A Harvest and Halloween Handbook!
Get your Halloween inspiration when you download
A Harvest and Halloween ebook today
Oooh, I just created a breakfast that I hope you’ll try –
its nutritious and delicious!
French Toast Cracked Wheat Cereal
its nutritious and delicious!
French Toast Cracked Wheat Cereal
With a hand-cranked grain mill set on extra-coarse, grind whole kernels of wheat. Measure out
3/4 C cracked wheat
Place in a large saucepan, add
2 C water
1/4 tsp sea salt
Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20 – 25 minutes. Add
1 C chopped pecans or walnuts
1 C blueberries, fresh or frozen
Spoon into 3 – 4 bowls and sprinkle with
cinnamon
nutmeg
brown sugar, maple syrup or honey (optional)
Add milk and you have a protein-rich hearty breakfast that tastes and smells divine.
Two Little Mermaids Go Back to School
If you grew up in Coralsbed, love mermaids or the ocean, stop by Amazon.com to download your copy of A Mermades’ Tale. Shell and Pearl are 2 little mermaids who live just the other side of the tide line in a little village called Coralsbed. In their cozy sandcastles with their families, they learn the lessons of life, about school, making friends and even how to unmake anemone.
Each chapter has an activity, puzzle, poem or recipe to your littles to enjoy.
If you loved their story published here last year serially, you can now pick it up in one edition for your Kindle or phone. It makes a great bedtime story that you can read without turning on the lights!
P.S. If you would like to review A Mermades’ Tale on Amazon, let me know and I will send you a complimentary copy.
Back-to-School Tips
It’s that time again:
And 2 of the most important things your child will need for school:
Heaven forbid that your children will ever face the horrors of school violence, but I remember reading that during the Columbine High School massacre at least one potential victim was spared because she had been kind to the shooters. Kindness works on many levels.
Don’t hate me but I just finished my Christmas shopping.
You may not want to hear this, but girls and guys, I just finished my Christmas shopping. Don’t be a hater, I will share my secrets for getting 50 – 90% off Christmas presents for the 30+ people we exchange gifts with every year.
1. Watch for sales at your favorite retailers. I live near a DownEast Outlet that has a tent sale every July. They have deep discounts on Pottery Barn, Mark and Graham and other quality lines. A pair of $150 pajamas cost me $6 plus an hour with a seam ripper to remove the unwanted monogram or to sew a piece of ribbon over the initials on the cuff. I picked up a a red plaid (my addiction) wool weekend bag for $10 and a set of Pottery Barn luggage for 90% off – one piece even had my initials. Leather accessories are priced at up to 95% off. Many have monograms that can be altered or removed – sometimes I get lucky and find something for a loved one with their initial. Good quality scarves and travel blankets were $2 and $3 dollars and Pottery Barn velvet Santa bags were about the price of paper gift bags. Call your local DownEast, there may be more sales coming soon.
2. Target toy sale. Target is getting ready for Christmas merch and is marking toys and games way down. I picked up Monster High and Barbie items for 50% off. Disney clay animation movie-making kits were about 70% off. Baby toys, art supplies and games are on clearance too; many at 75% off.
3. Barnes and Noble clearance sale. B&N not only marks down all kinds of fascinating books, but toys and readers are also on sale. The clearance begins at 50% off, but if you can hold out, after about 3 weeks goes to 75%, then $2 an item. We will be well-read this Christmas.
The only problem I am still having is that Christmas paper is not yet in stores. Fortunately I had a few rolls put away and was able to find some $1 red and white striped and polka dot rolls at Michael’s. Make sure you grab a few rolls after Christmas for next year if you want the jump on wrapping before the busy holiday season. I am so excited that I am wrapping all of the treasures and stashing them so I can enjoy a peaceful and creative holiday season without the mad rush to shop in December. I’ll have time to bake and visit family and friends and focus on the real meaning of Christmas – the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Down time? probably not. I’m waiting to hear from a publisher about my manuscripts they are considering and I might just do another holiday candy window for City Creek Macy’s in downtown Salt Lake City. I’ll let you know.
Happy Pioneer Day
Today is July 24th, the date that Brigham Young and the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley after being expelled from their homes and businesses in Illinois and Missouri. One of my great, great grandfathers, Chauncey Webb, a blacksmith from Nauvoo, was with President Young’s company. I suppose bringing your blacksmith with you was like having your favorite mechanic on a cross-country move.
I read yesterday about some of the foods the pioneers enjoyed after they were established in the valley for a while. I always pictured the pioneer experience as sparse and desperate, but started looking at things differently when I learned about the abundance they eventually enjoyed as their crops and orchards matured. http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/entertainment2/58169927-223/cheney-utah-pioneers-mormon.html.csp
The eight currently in our household are anticipating our holiday celebration tomorrow. My daughter’s family has spent some time with us as they prepare for her husband to enter the CHP Academy in a few weeks. He will become another first responder helping protect the innocent and upholding the law like our soldier, our son who recently completed EMT training and our son who takes the Bar in California this week. What a great crop of men we have been blessed with. Because we have 3 young children at our home we will enjoy a child-friendly celebration with pioneer games based on authentic activities, a homemade chili and bread stick picnic and (non-authentic) smore’s – come on you have to have a bonfire at some point, right?
So here’s a cheer for Pioneer Day with a nod of gratitude to the hearty faithful souls who helped settle the wild west and build temples so families could be sealed together forever.
McMurtry Pioneer Day 2016
Picnic near the stream on our property
Games – Bean-GO (Could you have bean a pioneer?)
Stick horse racing with squirt guns for prairie fires and bison
Bean bag Toss
Musical Chairs
Indian Pictographs
Cookie making
A homemade chili and breadstick picnic on the grass with cold watermelon, grapes, peach crisp and coconut cookie s’mores.
Maybe a pioneer scavenger hunt with activities that pioneer children did (if the mood strikes.) Happy Pioneer Day!
Happy Birthday America!
I love this land of the free and the brave. After years of enduring a sluggish economy, government leadership I often question and watching our culture slip farther and farther from its moral moorings, I have once again found a reason to celebrate being American.
I have been contemplating human rights as I’ve worked on one of my holiday books and have come to the conclusion that the Old Testament and the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights are the greatest documents promoting Human Rights that were ever written. Between the laws of ancient Israel, the Ten Commandments and our code of law, we have been granted freedom and protections unknown through much of the history of the world. And even though our laws and hearts have had to be updated from time to time, we are still a beacon to the world.
So thank you Heavenly Father, Founding Fathers, our parents, soldiers and lawmakers for giving us the opportunities for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Congratulations Kaysville Rotary Club for another great 5K race to raise money for humanitarian youth projects!
We talked to Andrew and Annie from their 3-year assignment at their new duty station. It seems the 4th of July is not as big a deal in Europe. No fireworks, races, parades or barbecues for them this year. Thanks for foregoing the celebration to keep the flames of freedom burning bright for the rest of us. God Bless America.
