Halloween is close approaching

Looking back to my own childhood,  I remember going off to trick or treat.    When I was about 6,  I went as Zorro but I insisted that I needed to wear earrings.   Later when I was between 8 and 10,we lived in a community in North Vancouver called Norgate park.    My favourite stop was at the house at the end of the block where the woman made candy apples and she would invite us in and we would see her making them and then she would let us choose which one we wanted.   Yum.    So good.   Not sure that people can do that anymore.   Still remember wondering if she would notice if I knocked on her door twice.    Then when I turned 10,we moved to a new neighbourhood in Upper Lonsdale,where we were told not to knock on the door of the house kiddy corner to us.    The people were mean and a ghost lived there.   Or so the story went.

Then I was a mother and we moved to a small island.   In the 23 years here,  I have only had kids knock on my door maybe twice.   The tradition here is to go to the Halloween party put on by the Firemen.    They have hot dogs,hot chocolate and a huge roaring bonfire.   There are games and contests for the kids and believe or not,the first year we went,  I won the prize for best costume.    I did make a very good witch.  <grin>

The photo next to this,is my daughter,the Halloween Leopard,which I think was 1988.    Most years,we would celebrate the day at the Firehall but on occasions,we would find our way off island and she would be able to experience trick or treating.

Matty was a dinosaur last year.

I am really looking forward to this year.   I have already tried to convince them that Halloween on Mayne Island is the place to be but unfortunately this year it’s on Monday and messes with work schedules etc.     And I forgot to mention that Halloween party always ends with fireworks which are organized and set off my my son in law’s brother,Per.   Click here to watch it.

Chestnuts &Spiders

Living in a very rural area,we have lots and lots of spiders in our houses. Now spiders don’t bother me at all. I grew up in a house that had those huge ones and here they’re mostly cobweb spiders who aren’t very big at all. Today my friend,Christie told me that if you want to get the spiders to back off,all you have to do is set chestnuts around the house. Who would have thought.

So I did some googling and found about half the results said,yes,chestnuts work great for spiders and the other half said it’s a myth.     My thoughts …. can’t hurt to try.  Chestnuts are free.

Why would I do this when spiders don’t bother me.  Have you ever seen how many cobwebs these spiders can make in a short time?   They are all over the place.

May Day Celebration on Mayne Island

Every year there is a great May Day celebration here which includes lots of dancing,music,food,a parade and the traditional May Pole Dance.

Check out Toby Snelgrove’s photos.

Crowds

It’s Saturday of the May long weekend and once again the crowds descend on my little island. After having enjoyed having Dinner Bay park to myself for the last couple of months when I take Charlie there 4 or 5 days a week,today we were surrounded by crowds. Must have been at least 20 people there. Can you believe it? And those city dogs didn’t want to play with poor little Charlie who was really excited to see them.

Grannyhood

Growing up,I never had a grandmother close. One was in Germany and the other was in Scotland. I was in Canada.

So not having a role model,it's all completely new to me and I LOVE IT. It's so much fun having these lovely little babies to play with. Still learning what being a Granny is all about.