thirteen days of halloween: day 4-halloween themed LED light show

We've all seen those people who program their Christmas lights to dance to music. But I bet you've never heard of people programming Halloween lights to dance to "everyday I'm shufflin'"

13 days of halloween: day 3-trick or treating stats

I'm sure you guys, like myself, have always been at least somewhat curious as to some of the stats that are associated with trick-or-treating.
41 million trick or treaters from age 5-14. Keep in mind this isn't counting kids both older and younger, so that's a whole lot of kids

$ 2 billion spent on Halloween candy in 2009
           The three most popular candies being: • Candy Corn
                                                                                                • Mini Snickers
                                                                                                • Mini 3 Musketeers

1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are grown and sold in the US every year


Coolest halloween town names:  Transylvania Country, N.C   
                                                           Cape Fear
                                                           Tombstone, Arizona
                                                            Pumpkin Bend, Arkansas
                                                           Skull Creek, Nebraska

Thirteen Days of Halloween: Day 2-jack o lanterns

Sorry guys I haven't been near a computer in the past day or two. So here's day 2 of Thirteen Days of Halloween. Carving a jack-o-lantern has been one of my favorite halloween traditions, only second to scaring people. Here's the history of the jack-o-lantern and here's the link to the sight I got it from plus some really cool jack o lantern carvings.

The Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O'Lantern was not a pumpkin.The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.

Many years later, when Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was too mean and too cruel, and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth. He was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. Now Jack was scared and had nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between heaven and hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out Turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one. For that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O'Lantern".
On all Hallow's eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns.

Thirteen Days of Halloween: Day 1

Hey guys here's the start of my 13 days of halloween series where I post some fun fact/cool halloween thing every day until Halloween.

For my first day I figured I'd introduce you guys to a youtube account that I found somewhat recently. These guys have been making their own haunted house for the past few years. I've got a lot of respect for them because I've always wanted to make a haunted house but have never had the time/resources/skill to make one. Here's their youtube channel and a video of the behind the scenes of last years haunted house.

ain't nature grand

a really pretty video of the landscape out west

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell on Vimeo.

'The Rebirth' poem

This is a poem I found on a facebook sight devoted to German Shepherds (don't judge) and somebody had written this poem. I take no credit at all for this, I just thought it was really cute. Here's the facebook page if you want to take a look at some of the other poems and pictures of Shepherds

I haven't shared this poem that I wrote in a long time....it is about what happens when WE die and cross over to the other side, to see our beloved dogs again. I thought it would go well with the lovely story of Meredith and her beloved Abbey that I just posted a bit ago...I DO believe all of our pets go to Heaven...dogs, cats, all of them...we will see them again. Please feel free to share to your profiles if you wish. ♥

The Rebirth

I was standing in the middle of a field with all the dogs from my life
as the dewdrops danced gently on the flowers…

As the sun began to rise, to envelope us all,
kissing us with its light, peace slid around us to endower,

The feeling of being one, with nature and beast,
those running pieces of my heart on four paws began to surround me,

Their happy yips of joy, their yodels and cries,
I gazed in sheer amazement and wonder to watch as they ran free….

Look here mom, look at me, see me again so full of glee,
running, twirling so swiftly in a dance,

They were healthy and whole, and no longer sick or old,
their youthly beauty had me quite entranced.

They all focused on my wet eyes to see if I looked,
saying “watch me as I show off for you”…

And it was like days of old as I threw that stick high,
and my laughter would sound as they flew…

Across those verdant pastures we traveled as one,
to see them all together for the first time was bliss.

I savored each second of companionship I’d lost, my heart was mending,
For in an instant I had regained all those I had missed.

Next we saw a sparkling lake of azure blue…
with a mountain nearby where we heard the cry of an eagle..

Swooping and soaring, patrolling his avian kingdom,
an unfurling of wings that was almost unbearably regal.

There were creatures of every single shape and size,
each one of God’s creations was happily represented,

They lived together, no sadness, no fear, and no hunger,
in peace and harmony forever extended.

I roared with laughter as my furkids ushered me to the area
where there were angels stationed,

For their one single purpose (and they did it with love)
was to play fetch with the dogs of this heavenly nation.

For God had provided perfection for all His beloved creatures from earth,
He’d promised the faithful and true an afterlife extending.

This heavenly existence, this peaceful paradise, for each and every beast,
included happiness that was never ending.

When they left us on earth, we weren’t completely alone,
for they would leave behind a piece of their loyal heart that is true.

And they would take with them a piece of ours
as a payment for a lifetime of love given as their due.

Our dearest friends were provided for,
as they waited for the completion of their hearts again.

For although they may wait for us for days, months, even years to be reunited,
they wait because Man is a Dog’s Best Friend.

This exchange of love when their old lives were fading,
Once broken hearts are even now beginning to perfectly mend,

For now we are together, our hearts are complete,
to spend eternity in Paradise with our dearest friends.

© Cheryl Goede, 2011

13 days of halloween update

Just as a heads up I'll be doing a 13 days of halloween thing this year. It'll be starting on October 19th and I'm really excited. Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays from when I was a kid. So get ready for some cool stuff.

And even better I'll be doing the 25 days of Christmas, like last year. It got good feedback and I'm super excited for that.