We only get callers round here if you put a lit pumpkin out. So no callers and I had a quiet night in by myself.
But Mochi the cat sat on the windowsill watching them go by, silhouetted against the light and putting on her own spooky performance.
We'd been away and only got back at 5pm. Quick dash around the supermarket (from which all trace of Hallowe'en had been eviscerated and replaced by Christmas) to buy sweets, got home and put out the pumpkin light. We had our first callers within 10 minutes, ultimately about 8 or 10 family groups called and we had nice chats with them. It's a good way of building community, sadly a few families have moved away since last year.
You could tell it had been Trick or Treat night last night by the number of sweet wrappers on the paths round here this morning :rolleyes: .
We haven't had anyone around for years, but there was a massive thumping at the door around 6.30pm. As we were both in a zoom meeting we weren't free to answer it - and we don't usually answer the door at halloween anyway. That was the first and only knock at the door we had.
I came close to the end of my patience with Halloween yesterday when I had to go into my local bank. They had decorated for Halloween, including large (around 50cm diameter) furry black spiders with red eyes, suspended over each of the ATMs. I'm not too good with spiders at the best of times and they really freaked me out. I had to ask one of the staff to take one down so I could get to the ATM.
Meanwhile, as it's now Fireworktide, there are loud Susplosions, Whizzes, and Bangs echoing round Arkland. A good evening for it, though - dry and mild (so far!).
No doubt there will be even more Noise, and Fiery Lights in the Sky, as the week progresses.
I have several friends with dogs who are terrified of fireworks and find this time of year immensely stressful. (Why are some dogs so absolutely and inconsolably terrified of fireworks? Even when they know they are safely at home with people who love and always protect them?)
It's odd what triggers animals. Our cat Molly was untroubled by fireworks, and would doze happily under the desk while Mr F played the loudest and bangiest shoot-'em-ups. But one game had a sampled wolf howl and which point she was up and twitching. This from a cat who'd never so much as met a dog in her entire cosseted life.
Think I'll ask our church children's worker if she could use them
Our minister encourages the kids of trick-or-treating age in our church to “tithe” the candy they get on Halloween, which is to say they set aside on piece of candy out of every ten. (They can decide which pieces.). The candy tithes will be collected at church next Sunday. Adults often bring their leftover candy to add to the ccollection.
Over the years, various things have been done with that candy, but it always involves people, often children, outside the church. This year, the candy will go into supplies for the lunches we provide three days a week for people experiencing homelessness.
In addition to candy bars and little toys, this year we offered boxed mac and cheese, and cheap 1-serving ramen. They were a huge hit. One older trick-and-treater exclaimed, "Mac and cheese! This is the best house ever!" or words to that effect.
Better read more carefully, he's describing the kind of cheap but okay grocery store food that comes in a box or wrapper and could be handed out at the door. Not Mickey D's.
In addition to candy bars and little toys, this year we offered boxed mac and cheese, and cheap 1-serving ramen. They were a huge hit. One older trick-and-treater exclaimed, "Mac and cheese! This is the best house ever!" or words to that effect.
Great idea if you get older trick or treaters. In my area you generally only get little kids with their parents and I'm not sure how popular it would be if you didn't give out sweets!
Sorry for the triple post but I've seen people talk about giving out bubble wands, little glow sticks, and stickers (little kids love stickers) as alternatives to candy or alongside it. Glow sticks and maybe some glow in the dark stickers sound like a great idea.
I'm sorry to say that the first thing i thought of was the fact that You-know-who has allowed food aid to millions of people to lapse (SNAP) and thus it's likely that some parents really would prefer cheap food to sweets.
The same might apply to deprived and poor areas in this country - the area of Our Town in which Our Place is situated is becoming more poverty-stricken by the year, according to official sources.
In all fairness, the local authority and many charitable groups are doing their best to help, although all FatherinCharge seems to worry about at the moment is the cost of keeping the church heated for the 20-25 or so who turn up on Sundays...
I love that idea @Pomona. We had fewer callers this year compared to last. I think it's because traditionally our late night shopping night has been Friday and many of the older teens work then.
I was chuffed on Saturday that one of our neighbours stopped on her walk to tell us how much her little grand daughter enjoyed our Halloween efforts. Apparently the little one couldn't wait to tell her parents about the hand coming out of the box to give out the treats. It made my day! We see so few of our neighbours, that getting to engage with them at least once a year is nice!
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But Mochi the cat sat on the windowsill watching them go by, silhouetted against the light and putting on her own spooky performance.
Think I'll ask our church children's worker if she could use them
So I've got a packet of sweeties (candy) to dispose of. I'll find a good home for it.
We haven't had anyone around for years, but there was a massive thumping at the door around 6.30pm. As we were both in a zoom meeting we weren't free to answer it - and we don't usually answer the door at halloween anyway. That was the first and only knock at the door we had.
Meanwhile, as it's now Fireworktide, there are loud Susplosions, Whizzes, and Bangs echoing round Arkland. A good evening for it, though - dry and mild (so far!).
No doubt there will be even more Noise, and Fiery Lights in the Sky, as the week progresses.
Mind you, it's teeming down with Rain here now, so Fireworktide is temporarily suspended.
Over the years, various things have been done with that candy, but it always involves people, often children, outside the church. This year, the candy will go into supplies for the lunches we provide three days a week for people experiencing homelessness.
If we're a Trick or Treater I'd flee into the darkness. I might even send for a priest to exorcise the area.
A Big Mac already has cheese on it, this is the boxed mac and cheese you make up on the stovetop (like UK Pasta n Sauce packets).
Great idea if you get older trick or treaters. In my area you generally only get little kids with their parents and I'm not sure how popular it would be if you didn't give out sweets!
In all fairness, the local authority and many charitable groups are doing their best to help, although all FatherinCharge seems to worry about at the moment is the cost of keeping the church heated for the 20-25 or so who turn up on Sundays...
Ahem. Apologies for the Hellish tangent.
I was chuffed on Saturday that one of our neighbours stopped on her walk to tell us how much her little grand daughter enjoyed our Halloween efforts. Apparently the little one couldn't wait to tell her parents about the hand coming out of the box to give out the treats. It made my day! We see so few of our neighbours, that getting to engage with them at least once a year is nice!