Saturday, October 30, 2010

Happy All Hallows Eve

Jack-o-laternImage via Wikipedia Halloween 


Halloween is based on several ancient cultural celebrations, however most of the modern customs are based on the Celtic festival called Samhain, which means “summer’s end”, the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.

It was the Celtic New Year’s Eve, when the new year begins with the onset of the dark phase of the year, just as the new day begins at sundown.

People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living.


On that day all manner of beings were abroad: souls of the dead as well as fairies, witches and demons.


According to Christian history, the earliest form of All Saints' (or "All Hallows'") was first celebrated in the 300AD, and originally took place on 13 May. In the beginning the festival only commemorated the martyrs, but by 741AD, it came to include all of the Saints, especially those that didn't otherwise have a special day devoted to them. It was transferred to 1 November in 844AD when Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter's Basilica to All Saints.


Today's Halloween customs are a combination of Catholic, French, Irish, and English customs all mixed together.


From the French we get the custom of dressing up, which originated during the time of the Black Death when artistic renderings of the dead known as the "Danse Macabre," (dances of death) were popular. Dances of Death were acted out in public by people who dressed as the dead.


The wearing of costumes and roaming from door to door demanding treats can also be traced to the Celtic period and the first few centuries of the Christian era, when it was thought that the souls of the dead were out and around, along with fairies, witches, and demons.

Watch the window below....

Offerings of food and drink were left out to placate them. As the centuries wore on, people began dressing like these dreadful creatures, performing antics in exchange for food and drink. This practice is called mumming, from which the practice of trick-or-treating evolved.


From the Irish also came the carved Jack-o-lanterns, which were originally carved turnips. It was based on a folklore story about a man called Jack who liked to play practical jokes even on the devil and when he died he was refused entry to heaven and also to hell because of his actions. He was made to roam the earth as a ghost for all eternity with only a lantern to guide his way.


From the English Catholics came the custom of begging from door to door, the original form of "trick-or-treating." Children would go about begging their neighbors for a "Soul Cake," and in return they would say a prayer for the dead. Instead of knocking on a door and saying the threatening, "Trick-or-treat", children would say:

A Soul Cake, a Soul Cake, 

have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake!

Later on this was replaced with the chant:

Soul, soul, an apple or two, 

If you haven't an apple, a pear will do, 

 One for Peter, two for Paul, 

Three for the Man Who made us all.

SOUL CAKE RECIPE
Soul cakes are a bit like Aussie damper or the old-fashioned rock cakes.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
4 cups plain flour, sifted
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon allspice
3 tablespoons currants or sultanas
a little milk

Method:
- Cream the butter and sugar together until pale in colour and fluffy in texture.
- Beat in the egg yolks.
- Fold in the sifted flour and spices.
- Stir in the currants/sultanas.
- Add enough milk to make a soft dough.
- Form into flat cakes and mark each top with a cross.
- Bake on a well-greased baking tray in a hot oven until golden.

 Watch the window below....

A funny halloween video:

 

Some great Halloween costumes for Kids.

Clown
Light coloured sweat clothes that are too large. Decorate by using either fabric paint or markers. Tack on some large pop-poms, add a cheap wig, hat, and make-up. You may also stuff the extra space in clothing with tissue.

Scarecrow  
Over sized flannel shirt, faded blue jeans with stapled on patches, rope for belt and to tie at the cuffs of his jeans and sleeves, stuff the shirt and jeans with plastic grocery, or paper, a little bit of straw to hang out of jeans and shirt. Add a little bit of make-up.

1960s Hippy 
Hippy style clothing (long dress, anything colourful, geometric or paisley designs etc), vests, long wig, sandals, headband, anything with fringe on it or crocheted, lots of ribbons andbeads, and coloured sun glasses.

Old man
Dark paints (cuffed), and jacket, most any dress shirt, mans flannel hat, walking cane, wire rimmed-glasses. Gray the hair, with any of the commercial temporary colors, or dust with a little flour.

Old woman
Old style dress, knee-hi stockings rolled down a little, large black purse, hat or wig, wire-rimmed glasses.

Nerd
Slick back the hair, grab some pants that are too short, white shirt, white socks, pocket protector with lots of pens, dark rim glasses (don't forget to tape the corner, or at least paper clip it) briefcase, or backpack for treat bag.

Japanese Doll  
Paint face white using face paints or face cream and talc powder, paint cheeks rosy red circles. Hair in buns, use hair combs decorated with ribbon or strands of beads, white socks and thong slippers, and a kimono with a long satin sash around waist.

1950’s “Sock-Hopper”
It’s quite simple, just a round skirt, a white short-sleeved shirt, and some sand shoes. You could add some cat-eye glasses if you want.  Tie their hair in a ponytail, and wrap a scarf around it.

Mummy
Wrap yourself in white bandages (rolls of gauze)  Use splotches of green paint for "mold".  Use white make-up on face with "age lines" drawn on.  The stiff-legged gait works perfectly.

Pirate
Form a fake wooden leg by wrapping your bad one in brown felt.  Wear sailor pants or jeans with a striped top.  Tie a bandana around your head, wear an eye patch, carry an empty bottle marked XXX (for the "rum") and mutter "aargh" a lot.

Mother Nature
Decorate a skirt and top or vest with silk leaves in a random pattern using either glue or staples to attach. Decorate the skirt with silk flowers growing out from the leaves, ribbons, netting, strands of beads, feathers and other trims . Use the remaining leaves and flowers to decorate a face mask. Bend a wire coat hanger into the shape of a circle for a head piece. Gather some twigs and secure to the wire. Add leaves, flowers, ribbons etc to cover the wire.

Bunny 

Wear pants and top that is either pink, brown, or white, add a powder puff or large pom-pom to the backside, and a set of ears make from cardboard and a plastic headband. Now just hop on out and enjoy!

Turtle
Wear green top and pants with a piece of poster board attached to the back. Simple cut the poster board into a large oval, make random marks like a turtle shell, and paint.

Puppy
Wear top and pants either in brown, tan or white, either paint, or pin paper spots on. Make floppy ears from fabric and bobby pin to hair over your ears. The tale can be most anything, depending on what type of doggie you wish to be. Add a little make-up.

Kitten
Wear top and pants in either gold, brown, tan or white. Make ears from cardboard or stiff fabric, attach to head band or bobby pin in to hair. Tack on a simple tale on back of pants using fabric.
Spider 
Wear top and pants in black.  For the eight legs grab some cheap black pantyhose, stuff with any thing dark and light weight. Either sew, or staple to keep stuffing from falling out.

Lady Bug
Use a pair of black sweats and black sweat shirt (and a pair of black shoes). Use a large piece of cardboard and cut out a large oval. Paint it red with black dots. Staple black elastic pieces (in a loop) onto the board to make arm holes. For the antenna attach craft pipe cleaners with black pom poms on the ends to a headband. Pin to  clothing, add a little make-up

Cereal Killer
Attach little cereal boxes to a shirt, cut a slit in the boxes, glue in plastic knives into the holes, drip red paint running down from the knife hole in the box.

Bag of Jelly Beans
Blow up lots of different coloured balloons (make them fairly small to avoid bursting). Cut two leg holes in the bottom of a plastic grocery bag and two arm holes near the middle. Have your child stand in the bag and fill with blown up balloons. Cut out two rectangles from white cardboard and write on each piece "JELLY BEANS 2 CENTS EACH". Safety pins signs to front and back of bag. LOOSELY tie around shoulders with a colourful ribbon. Cut off excess bag around face.

Black Bat
Using a black umbrella and tights, Rip the umbrella in half. Discard the centre and innards of the umbrella. If you are fancy you can sew the edges of the umbrella  to the back of the body. If you don't have the time or patience to sew the umbrella you  can always use safety pins. 


Butterfly
Put on black sweats and black shoes. Use a piece of cardboard and paint them in colours of your choice. Draw the wings on the cardboard and then cut them out. Punch two holes toward the middle of the wings, put black ribbon through them and tie around shoulders. Attach pipe cleaners and pom poms to a plastic headband. 

Blooming Idiot!
Get a green body suit and some green tights and on your head wear a beanie hat. Glue fake flowers to the beanie hat and maybe pin a few on your body suit. Also it's fun if you paint some flowers on your face and arms and presto! Your a blooming idiot!


Ragdoll
Use a dress or pants and top that is too short or too long. Attach patches of fabric onto clothing. Sew or glue strands of wool to the rim of an old hat to make the hair. Tie the strands up with ribbons to make two ponytails or plait the wool to look like plaits to sit on either side of the head. Paint face with red circles for cheeks and brown dots for freckles.

Some of My Favourite Things on the Net
My favourite halloween cake....


My favourite Halloween charm bracelet...


My favourite Halloween costume...

Ribbon Witch Plus Size Halloween Costumes

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL! 
ri

Cheers,
Marieanne
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Friday, October 29, 2010

Friday Working At Home

 It took me two days but I got the dog's new house fitted out with a two storey, two bedroom for the three dogs. I just have to wait for some dry weather and then I can paint the interior.


James was able to swap his RDO with someone and get Friday off as well as Thursday for his birthday so he has a four day weekend.

Unfortunately, he still had to work at home. He put up the new digital aerial on the roof - I hate it when he gets on the roof without his fiddle.

We then put in the support posts for the back deck. While James dug the holes, I did some more weeding. It was like a jungle down there after all the rain we've had the past few months, everything has grown three times as fast.


Cheers,

Marieanne

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Happy Birthday James 2010

Happy Birthday to my darling James,







Despite the day being cold, wet and foggy, James had a nice
birthday - any day off from work is a nice day for him.








We went to Hog's Breath Cafe for a relaxing 2 course lunch.
 
Luckily, the weather in Penrith wasn't cold so we sat in the courtyard.

James had their 18 hour marinated steak and I had fish.

Later, after dinner James blew out the candle on his birthday cake. Doesn't he look cute in his pjs.

This is his birthday presents. He wore his new brown shirt out to lunch and looked very smart, even if I do say so myself.


Cheers,

Marieanne
xxx

Monday, October 25, 2010

Easter Camping 2010 Hill End Sightseeing

On the Easter Monday we went west to the historic gold mining town of Hill End. There are still working gold mines in the surrounding district, unfortunately they don't do tours. Almost the entire town is a museum as many of the remaining buildings are from the 1850s. The size of the town today is only about a quarter of what it once was during the gold rush days. The main street used to be around 2klms long and full of shops and pubs. Today all those buildings are gone but one pub still remains and is open for business.

There were around 10,000 people in Hill End at the height of the gold rush era but today there are only a few hundred residents.


This is a view of the surrounding countryside from the lookout above Hill End. The road in the distance goes down to a modern day gold mine.

Well, I have to sign off for now but will finish this post later

Easter Camping 2010 Sofala Sightseeing

We did a bit of sightseeing while camping over Easter. There were a lot of people on the road travelling around the district looking at all the sights and activities.


Early Easter Sunday morning we went into Sofala just 2klm from our campsite. The village was busy preparing for their annual Easter fair. We looked around the market stalls and the few galleries before heading back to camp for morning tea.


Above and below are photos of  the main street of Sofala.


Below are some of the historic buildings in Sofala


Most of the historical buildings dating back to the gold rush days of 1851.


Old miner's huts combined into one house.


I can't remember what this building was used for, I think it was the old school house. Unfortunately, it's been left to fall apart.





Above is a cafe/restaurant in the main street.



Sofala general store.


On the left, is the Royal Hotel, Sofala's one and only remaining pub. Small on the inside but very nicely restored to almost original condition.

The town may be very small but it gets very busy on the weekends and when they have their local fairs and attractions, it is almost impossible to get into the town for the amount of cars and foot traffic.

Well that's it for today, check out the final part for this Easter Camping series, Easter Camping 2010 Hill End Sightseeing.

Cheers,

Marieanne

Easter Camping 2010

Well here we are Easter camping for five glorious days.


It may not look like much now, but wait till we set up camp.


Here's camping Jim and his camping dogs all set for five days of doing nothing much. Notice our small $60 tent - big enough for two but not for Bacci as well.


Here are some images of  theTuron River from our campsite....



It's all along this river system where some of the first gold discoveries were made and not far from here at Hill End is where one of the biggest single gold nuggets was found.
The water levels are low at the moment because the area hasn't had much rain lately.



The mornings were misty.....
 
The days warm and pleasant....


 And the nights were just cool enough for a campfire.


Then there were the views - well, lets just say that some were very entertaining to watch....


And the level of fun, just take a look at these faces....


As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words....


We couldn't catch Missie as she was off exploring the wild - she may not have seen much but oh boy those smells were sure intoxicating! And Toby, well he spent most of his time sulking because we wouldn't let him off his lead to go off and get lost exploring.





Finally, here's a brief glimpse at some of the local wildlife...


Believe it or not, but this is the best shot we could get of a dragonfly.

Well this is the end of the second post on Easter 2010. For the last segment, check out the next post on Easter Camping 2010 Sightseeing.

Cheers

Marieanne

Easter Camping Spot Runner-Up

Just wanted to get out more photos from our big camping trip in Easter. The weekends we spent driving across the countryside looking for a suitable camping spot was just as much fun as the camping trip itself. We must have done around 800klms over 3 weekends.

This is the first weekend looking at campsites. Here we are on our way to north of Bathurst and east of Sofala to check out a place called Turon Gates.


Most of it is on a dirt road that winds through the lush green hills studded with trees, sheep and farm houses.


The benefit of driving can be that you don't have to get out and open the gates. James opening one of a few  gates along this road. The gates are there to keep the sheep from wandering to the next paddock.


We stopped just beyond the gate on top of a ridge for morning tea and to let the dogs have a wander. The day was glorious and the views from here were superb.


We also saw lots of sheep and a few lambs.


Here we are entering Turon Gates camping area.


The place is dotted with many beautiful camping spots just like this. The down side is that you have to pay to camp, around $26 a night plus $6 for the dogs.


Well this will be somewhere we can g, sometime down the track, after we've tried out all the other free spots first.

Cheers,

Marieanne