Since I love Halloween and I am stuck on a budget, I looked at some DIYs on YouTube. I stumbled across Brandy’s “Making It My Own DIYs”. Her videos are so inspiring and make a Dollar store item look like it’s worth a lot more Dollars. It is so much fun to be creative. I fell in love with her Halloween Vintage Black Cat Sign in one of her videos. So, I gathered all the materials I could find in Dollar Tree, Goodwill, and Temu. And here is my own creation. I made it my own DIYs.
Colonization of the area today called Watertown began around 1657. At that time, the colony was called “Mattatock”, though it had several variations in spelling through the years. The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury (now Waterbury) by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council. The original Colony of Mattatuck, which became Watterbury, then Waterbury in name, comprised a much greater land area than Waterbury does today. Thomas Judd and other families were among the first investors to buy the land as a group. The Town of Watertown was officially incorporated in 1780.
Back in 2003, Kevin was on leave for Katelynn’s birth from Iraq. Before he had to go back for another couple of months, we went to the Commissary. Kevin looked in a box filled with ‘Jack-o-Lanterns’ and found the perfect pumpkin. That squash looked like it fell out of a painting or was in the story of Cinderella. Kevin knew he couldn’t be with us for Halloween. And I wanted to make something really cute for Katelynn. Kevin and I found a booklet, and we picked the perfect stencil. Kevin said, “I want you to make the pumpkin as beautiful as you can, capture a few pictures, and send them to me on Halloween! I will be stuck in Iraq, again. But I want to be a part of it! It is Katelynn’s very first Halloween.” Said, and done! Since our little family was ripped apart for this special day, the ‘Pumpkin 2003’ will always be my favorite. It was an emotional one. From that day on, I made a tradition out of pumpkin carving. Every year, Katelynn gets her stenciled ‘Jack’. And when Sara came along, she got her own ‘Jack’, as well.
I will introduce some pumpkins every Wednesday throughout October. Enjoy, and maybe get your own ideas! If you like to show me pictures of your Jack-o-Lantern, feel free to drop a link in the comment section below. I would love to see your artwork.
Eastern Gray Squirrel in Public Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Squirrel Awareness Month was founded in 1995 by a man named Greg Bassett, who had an encounter with a squirrel. After that, he founded the Squirrel Lover’s Club to educate others about these adorable little creatures. Squirrels belong to the rodent family. There are more than 200 different species of squirrel around the globe. There are many different types of squirrels, such as ground squirrels, flying squirrels, woodchucks, chipmunks, and others. Although squirrels are typically thought of as an undesirable nuisance, their presence benefits the ecosystem and, in urban areas, contributes to the attractiveness of parks.
Squirrels were not common in American cities until the mid-19th century. To have squirrels in city parks, you’d have to change the landscape through tree planting and building parks. You also needed to change people’s behavior by dissuading them from killing squirrels and instead encouraging people to feed the animals.
In 1847, the first recorded introduction took place in Philadelphia’s Franklin Square. New Haven and Boston followed suit a few years later, in 1850, bringing in squirrels. By the 1860s, the squirrel experiment had come to an end, with many squirrels either dying or being killed due to concerns that they might disturb birds and cause insect problems. However, squirrel releases resumed in the 1870s on a larger scale, as enormous parks were built in Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Chicago, and other big cities, providing a welcome habitat for squirrels to live and thrive.
Pitbull Awareness Month was formed in 2007 to assist in increasing awareness of the truth about pit bulls. Pitbull rescue and education group Bless the Bullys in Tennessee came up with the concept of National Pitbull Awareness Month, which quickly caught on and spread throughout the country. Pitbulls have been referred to as ‘nanny dogs’ for almost a century because of their loyalty, docility, and love.
Pitbulls were once viewed as a representation of American pride. They can be therapy and service dogs too. You can depend on them for anything. The traits that make these dogs such great companions — like loyalty, strength, and a desire to please their family — however, they have been misused by a small number of people, leading to criticism of the entire breed throughout time. They are perceived as being nasty, malevolent, and possibly deadly creatures. a portrayal that is far from accurate and is based more on the conduct of the criticized people than that of animals.
Pitbulls were bred for dog fighting, which was regrettably common at the time, but they were developed in England in the 18th century as a hybrid between a bulldog and a terrier to help reduce pests and rats brought on by the Industrial Revolution. Even before the breed was dubbed the American Staffordshire Pitbull in the 1980s, many who breed and own the dogs have long believed them to be devoted family companions.
Apples have been around for nearly 10,000 years. Not only are they a common fruit to consume, but apples have also been highly involved in cultural contexts. Originating from the Malus sieversii species in the mountains of Kazakhstan, the earliest apples were wild and pretty unpleasant to consume. These were very different from the delicious modern domesticated apples — the Malus domestica — that we know today.
Through domestication and globalization, over time, apple varieties became more civilized and better for consumption — so much so that they have been eaten as dessert in China for more than 2,000 years! As apples traveled along the Silk Route and eventually made their way around the world, apple cultivation was on the rise. With an emphasis on the fruit’s size, color, firmness, and acidity, grafting was widely used to conduct optimal breeding. The cultivars — cultivated apples — were originally stored in frostproof cellars by farmers. However, as apples became one of the leading fruits of the multibillion-dollar industry, advancements were made in their storage. In the 1960s, the U.S. used the first-ever controlled atmosphere storage facility designed for apples.
Not only have apples been integral to the food industry, but they have also been a central character in several cultural contexts. This hasn’t all been positive, though. Literary texts around the 16th century started to mention the apple as the Forbidden Fruit that Adam and Eve ate. Famous painters of the time hopped onto this rumor as they showed Adam and Eve resting under apple trees. Even Disney played a part in the apple’s bad rap with the Poisoned Apple in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” That being said, being an apple also has its pros. It is considered the Fruit of Knowledge, it is essential for a Thanksgiving dessert spread, and it is arguably the star of fall (sorry, pumpkin). There is no better time to celebrate it than in October — National Apple Month.
National Raccoon Day was brought to light through the efforts of a young Californian girl in 2002. She spread awareness of the significance of raccoons in the ecosystem. The following year, International Raccoon Appreciation Day became widely accepted among those who share similar dreams.
Raccoons are medium-sized, nocturnal, omnivorous, and furry animals, with dark masks around their eyes. They are highly ubiquitous animals that live in dens, on trees, and wherever food exists. Their original habitat is mixed forests, like in North and Central America, Europe, and Japan. The European Union prohibits transporting, importing, breeding, commercializing, or intentionally releasing them into the environment. They pose no threats to us, though.
We collectively work to clear the misconceptions surrounding these animals and look for practical steps to help save their habitat. Remember, just like all other animals, raccoons have their role in the ecosystem. Without them, the balance we have cannot remain the same.
Originating in Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean, kale was cultivated for consumption as early as 2000 B.C. Cabbage variants with curly leaves were in supply in 400 B.C. Greece, alongside the flat-leaved ones. These early variants are said to be the predecessors of what we now call kale. The Romans called it Sabellian kale.
The first mention of cabbage in Western Europe emerged in the 1200s, specifically regarding hard-headed cabbage. Records from the 1300s highlight the differences between loose-leafed kale and hard-headed cabbage. In the 1800s, Russian traders brought kale into Canada and subsequently the United States. David Fairchild, a USDA botanist, gets the credit for introducing kale to America. He brought it from Croatia despite disliking cabbage, kale included. The easy nature of cultivation and its affordability were responsible for its popularity in Croatia. Desalination of soil was another great benefit.
During the Second World War, the Dig for Victory campaign promoted kale cultivation in Britain. At the time, the vegetable was the perfect candidate for cultivation because it provided crucial nutrients lacking from meals due to rationing. Kale was typically used for decoration in the U.S. It gained recognition as an edible food during the 1990s because of its rich nutritional value. The 2010s saw kale gain popularity, becoming a diet favorite despite other vegetables being just as rich in nutrients. National Kale Day was founded by Chef Jennifer Iserloh and Dr. Drew Ramsey to celebrate the health benefits of kale and its many culinary applications. They entered a petition at Change.org aimed at giving the observance legitimacy.
American Coot at Josey Ranch Lake in Carrollton, Texas
The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step, which facilitates walking on dry land. Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called a “raft” or “cover”. The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.
October Autumn leaves of red and gold that crunch beneath your feet, Pumpkins on front porches, candy corn, and trick-or-treat, Tart and tangy cider, apples ripened on the trees, A hint of winter is coming on the chilly autumn breeze.
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My favorite month has arrived! October has all the beautiful Autumn activities I like the most. We can go pumpkin picking at the farms, wear sweaters, while shopping for Autumn goodies, and eat and drink a lot of Pumpkin Spice everything. and watch the leaves finally turning in beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red. In the meantime, decorations will go up to make our house and yard look more spooky for the Halloween season.
Under The Harvest Moon 