 elcome
to the Halloween Edition of the
(Bigsis Original Design)
Online Newsletter
Hi everyone! It's almost Halloween, and that means giggling ghosts and winsome witches will be trick-or-treating in your neighborhood. Black cats, ghouls and goblins; sugary treats. Great time to visit Halloweensville, the creepy home of the spooktaculier
World Wide Web Circle Of Friends!
Be sure to read all about Halloween and so many other interesting October happenings on the Celebrations Trivia Page.
Ruby has a beautiful new yellow sweater. Read all about it in her journal by clicking on the picture of her logo!
Email Ruby and don't be surprised when you see your message in her online journal! I know she would love to hear from you.
Wonder what great costume she will be wearing when she goes out trick or treating.
If you want to get your name on the list for Ruby to visit you, just drop a line to Daphne and she will add you. Who knows, yours just might be the name little Agos picks out.... as she is the one in charge of that from now on.
Messages from Members
The Legend of the Oven bird
Sitting outside the entrance of his hut, the Indian transformed clay into beautiful pots and shiny plates. It wasn’t in vain that he was known as the best potter in his village.
His joy was great, next day he would be marrying the loveliest young lady of his tribe, also a potter. But that night, the witchdoctor forecast great disasters coming from that marriage. Under that influence the chief forbade them to get married.
The lovers agreed to escape to the jungle where they would make their home.
During the night, they ran away, but the tribe pursued them firing arrows with poisonous tips and so killed the young lovers.
But the old tale has it that the couple did not disappear from the land of their elders; both were transformed into these lovely gentle, little birds who using their inborn ability, while singing, to model their nest of clay. And so the oven bird was born, hardworking bird of the Argentine countryside.
translated from: http://www.camdipsalta.gov.ar/INFSALTA/hornero.html
submitted by Daphne who invites us to visit Flora y Fauna of Argentina
Members Questions & Answers
I'm trying to get a skatepark established in Cedar, BC. Do any of you have any information on skateparks? Or if you have a skatepark in your neighbourhood, especially on or near a school could you please send me a contact name and number for me to contact. I'd be forever grateful. Vicki
To the Top
News & Announcements
Halloween is a "magical" night for all! Without a doubt the most recognizable symbol of Halloween is a pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern.
Pumpkins are indigenous to the western hemisphere and were completely unknown in Europe before the time of Columbus. In 1584, the French explorer Jacques Cartier reported from the St. Lawrence region that he had found "gros melons", which was translated into English as "ponpions," or pumpkins. In fact, pumpkins have been grown in America for over 5,000 years. Native Americans called pumpkins "isquotersquash."
Did you know that pumpkins are not a vegetable - they are a fruit! Pumpkins, like gourds, and other varieties of squash are all members of the Cucurbitacae family , which also includes cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
Pumpkin Facts
- The biggest pumpkin in the world tipped the scales at a whopping 1,385 pounds. This gigantic gourd was weighed in October 2003 at a pumpkin festival in Canby, Oregon.
- Of all canned fruits and vegetables, pumpkin is the best source of vitamin A. Just a half-cup of the orange stuff has more than three times the recommended daily requirement.
- The very first jack o' lantern was made out of a turnip.
FEATURED SITES
How about some Halloween sites; everything from games, ideas, music etc.
..hugs Liz. I will start sending Xmas ones soon so keep your eye on the Featured Sites section of the WWWCOF newsletter.
Tips & Recommendations for Halloween
- Feed your children a healthy meal before they set out. If they eat dinner first, they'll be less likely to dip into the treat bag for a "sample" before they get home. Ghosts and goblins with full tummies will find it easier to obey safety rules as well.
- Make sure that you examine every goodie in the trick-or-treat bag before it is eaten. Be wary of wrappers with tiny holes (perhaps made by sticking pins or needles into foods) and any item with a loose or torn wrapping. If in doubt, throw the food out or take it to your local authorities.
- Take out any possible choking hazards, especially critical for children younger than five years. These include gum, peanuts and hard candies.
Balloons are a choking hazard for young children. If your ghouls receive balloons in their treat bags, make sure you keep them in a safe place and supervise their use.
- Don't allow your children to eat any homemade treats such as popcorn balls unless you are absolutely sure you know who made the treat and that it is completely safe.
The same guideline goes for fresh fruit; avoid it unless you are sure you know who purchased the fruit and that it hasn't been tampered with. To be safe, wash all fruit before eating, and cut apples or pears into wedges and peel and section oranges.
- Only allow your children to trick-or-treat at familiar houses in your own neighborhood.
- Remove any perishable foods from the Halloween trick-or-treat bag and store in the refrigerator.
- Establish guidelines for how much Halloween candy may be eaten, and at what times.
DISCLAIMER: Tips reflect member suggestions and are not verified by the WWWCOF.
Mystery Member
No correct response to our clue from last week so time for another clue a new mystery member. This week's clue is that her favourite colour and scent is lavender. Remember she is from Canada and she collects salt and pepper shakers.
At any time you think you know who this member is please email me!
The clues can be found throughout the Circle of Friends Members site and elsewhere on the many online sites.
If you
think it might be you..........you never know it could be!!
Good Luck and.........
Have Fun!
If you have not completed your WWWCOF Survey yet please take a visit over to the Survey Page where you can easily complete and submit it online.
Remember to take a moment to enjoy looking at some pictures Pat, aka Bigsis, is continually publishing online for us.
More Photo Albums for your enjoyment!
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Crafts
Decorating for Halloween
Ghostly Furniture Covers-
To set a ghostly mood for your celebration, adorn party furniture with lots of white sheets. Old or new, it doesn't matter, just keep them white.
Creepy Black Bouquets-
Go to your local florist or flower counter at the market and ask for their dead flowers. They should be a bargain (if not free). Or you can use plastic flowers. Any type of flower or bouquet will work. If possible, hang the flowers upside down for a few days to dry out and get an aged look. When aged to perfection, spray the flowers with black gloss spray paint. Arrange the flowers around the party room to give a depressingly festive mood.
Instant Atmosphere With Coloured Lights-
Replace the light bulbs in the party room with colored bulbs (available at your local hardware, craft, or party store). Black, red, blue, and green light bulbs cast eerie (yet festive) glows. If you have a lamp that uses two bulbs, combine a red and a blue bulb to create a cool double-vision effect.
NOTE: Make sure the colored bulbs do not exceed the recommended wattage of your lamp and make sure to leave enough light to allow guests to easily move about the room.
Webs Overhead and Creepy Crawlies Underfoot--
Purchase spider webbing, plastic rats, spiders and snakes at your local craft or party store. Place the webbing on lamps (don't place too close to a light bulb), in the corners of the ceiling, across the tops of doorways-everywhere you want to create an aged and creepy look. Place the rats, spiders, and snakes in corners, under tables, and other unexpected places. In low light they look scary (and real!)
Ding Dong Our Witch is Dead-
Remember the famous scene from "The Wizard of Oz" where they pan-in to show the house fallen on the wicked witch? Recreate the scene in your party room. Purchase a pair of red and white striped socks, fill with other socks, newspaper or fiber-fill (pillow stuffing), place the socks under a chair or sofa (so the top part is hidden) and then place the foot part of the sock inside a pair of ladies high-heel shoes. You can make up a story about who "your" wicked witch was and how the chair or sofa came to be on top of her. Great party conversation.
Be sure to check out all the wonderful craft ideas in the WWWCOF Craft Site and add your own favourites or email Crafty Jayne who will be happy to add them to our ever growing collection.
Recipes
Litter Box Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 1 package white sandwich cookies
- 1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix A few drops green food coloring
- 12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent
Serving "Dishes & Utensils":
- 1 NEW cat-litter box
- 1 NEW cat-litter box liner
- 1 NEW pooper scooper
Directions:
- Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan.
- Prepare pudding and chill.
- Crumble cookies in small batches in blender or
food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to
1 cup of cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.
- When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl.
- Toss
with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the
mixture moist but not soggy.
- Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.
- Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable. Shape
the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls.
Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining white
cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over top.
- Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the
cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining
Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box.
- Place box
on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper.
Enjoy! This is a fun cake! It might look gross, but it does taste good! Ruth
Fun Tests & Quizzes
Before you go trick-or-treating this Halloween there are a few safety tips to make your experience both fun and safe. Take this Safety Quiz and see how you do!
DISCLAIMER: This section is indended for member amusement purposes only and the WWWCOF accepts no responsibility for individual outcomes, lol.
DON'T FORGET THAT THE CLOCKS FALL BACK ON SATURDAY EVENING - REMEMBER TO SET YOUR CLOCKS ONE HOUR EARLIER BEFORE YOU GO TO BED!
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Swaps
Partners have been issued for the spoon swap! Have fun with this. When emailing Ruth to join a swap please include your full name, home address and email address. Thank you!! This helps her to give out the right addresses to your partner, also helps her to keep up a list of names so she has them for future swaps.
So every one lets enjoy this wonderful swap.
Happy Halloween!!
Swap Queen, Ruth.
Be sure to stay in touch with your partner throughout the swap. Let each other know when you are sending your parcel and when you receive theirs.
Be sure to contact your partner by email before you send out your swap hello; confirm their mailing address, etc. -- do not send out your swap until you have heard back from your partner.
Remember if you sign up for a swap and do not send a parcel to your partner you will not be able to swap again and you will miss out on all this fun!!
Watch this section for our International Swap Information. For more information please email our Swap Queen, Ruth. These exchanges are a lot of fun, they are inexpensive and are a great way to get to know some of the fantastic people who belong to this wonderful circle.
So every have a wonderful time doing these swaps.
Let's Do Lunch
More news about the Lets Do Lunch in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada!
We ( Shirley (Dee), aka Major Brat in Training, Patsi, aka Major Brat, Marie aka Peachy, Maxine, Dorothy and Angela) did lunch Oct 6th and I am just getting around to tell you about it...It was great!....but i have to tell you I snuck out of work ....Told a little fib.......Anyway I went and picked up Shirley (Dee), aka Major Brat in Training and headed for Tilbury ....Got to the restaurant called Rosies and went to sit in back because their booths only hold four.....NO WAY they wouldn't turn the lights on. Marie aka Peachy told them there was 6 of us ...NOPE they said so we left. They didnt want business that bad I guess?? We waited outside. We had no idea what Angela looked like so I asked a couple of ladies passing by.......nope! Then around the corner came this women waving and hollering HI. Then we knew and everyone hugged and told her we were going to truck stop. I am glad we went there they had great decaffinated coffee. We all ordered lunch and talked and talked It ended up I know of her family so we had a lot to say. We gave her the WWWCOF bracelet but just before we showed her ours. Angela said oh yea "I got one for xmas". Marie aka Peachy looked at me and I at her and gave it to her.....but as it turned out she couldnt have been more prouder to have received this one from the friends of the WWWCOF....The two hours flew by and it was time to go. But we will meet again. Thanks everyone for the great afternoon ....love Maxine HUGS
DISCLAIMER: If the Tilbury Times has a "Bouquets & Beefs" section in their newspaper I would be tempted to put something about the less than satisfactory treatment received by the folks at Rosies. Time for a chat perhaps with Bob Oudette! Just a thought.
JUST FOR FUN
Some Food for Thought
- I had amnesia once -- maybe twice.
- I went to San Francisco. I found someone's heart.
- Photons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic.
- All I ask is a chance to prove money can't make me happy.
- I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
- If the world was a logical place, men would ride horses' sidesaddle.
- What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?
- They told me I was gullible.... and I believed them.
- Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up,
he'll never be able to edge his car onto a freeway.
- Two can live as cheaply as one, for half as long.
- Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.
- What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- One nice thing about egotists... they don't talk about other people.
- When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a
nail.
- A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
- What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?
- My weight is perfect for my height.... which varies.
- I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
- The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.
- How can there be self-help "groups"?
- Is there another word for synonym?
- The speed of time is one second per second.
- Is it possible to be totally partial?
- What's another word for thesaurus?
- Is Marx's tomb a communist plot?
- If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?
- Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I'll show you a man
who can't get his pants off.
- It's not an optical illusion. It just looks like one.
- Is it my imagination, or do Buffalo wings taste like chicken?
submittd by my much older brotherWayne & Jenny, his lovely wife
Be sure to visit our Computer Humour site! Email Daphne with any computer jokes you have and she will happily add them to this collection.
I do hope you have enjoyed this newsletter, and I wish everyone a Happy Halloween. I would like to close this week's newsletter with this message from Arlene.
I wrote your name on a piece of paper but by accident I threw it
away. I wrote your name on my hand but it washed away. I wrote
your name in the sand but the waves wisped it away. I wrote your
name in my heart and forever it will stay.
Starting in November I am happy to announce that we will be bringing back our Member of the Month awards. Take a moment to complete the form below indicating your choice for the November, 2004.
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