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Post by shades on Sept 30, 2019 7:51:21 GMT
 History FactOn October 1st 1908, Henry Ford's Model T, a "universal car" designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time. October QuizName the artist and song from 1981. October and the trees are stripped bare
Of all they wear.
What do I care?
October and kingdoms rise
And kingdoms fall
But you go on
And on. |
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Post by 3piggles on Sept 30, 2019 21:06:31 GMT
It's not October here, yet, but I'm happy to welcome it in. All my Facebook friends will be posting White Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit, which I never heard of until Facebook. Apparently, it was used by some to welcome in the "ber" months, but most of the people do it at the beginning of every month.
The Song is U2, the October Song
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Post by Bean on Oct 1, 2019 6:56:20 GMT
October - it's pouring down with rain, I had to switch the lights on when I got up this morning as it's so gloomy, and the central heating clicked on for the first time because it's so cold. Bah!
Boris Johnson is currently being interviewed on the breakfast news programme I usually have on, so I've switched that off to ensure the day doesn't get even off to an even more dreary start!
I wouldn't have been able to name the tune from the lyrics, but I try to avoid listening to U2 whenever possible!
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Post by amber89 on Oct 1, 2019 8:50:44 GMT
Here, it's still sunny today. The last week has been warm and sunny (around 20C).
From tomorrow on, the weather will take a turn for the worse, with rain and cold weather.
A new semester started for me. I have only one lecture this term, but a very important one, that i need to pass from the first try.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 1, 2019 20:48:46 GMT
I'm sure you'll do a great job, Amber. I'll keep my virtual fingers crossed for you  Hubby said there's a hurricane headed your way, Bean. I hope it's not too destructive, or it loses its punch before it gets there. We've had our last hurrah of hot weather, I think. North country has already gotten snow, and while I doubt we'll see that for at least a month or more, we are getting frost by the end of the week. We start off that way for a while, then the killing frosts arrive, so I expect they aren't too far off. We'll get into the winter bleakness soon, so I'm glad I have the plant grow lights to give me a sense of sunlight! Hehehe, love your comment about turning off the morning show, Bean I can't get Cheetoh Top off my TV fast enough! The man just makes me feel ill! Amber, do Austrians do anything with Halloween, or is that just us here in the US? We have all of our lighted pumpkins out, and will put up the strings of colored leaves that go around the door. We do enjoy Fall I am not a U2 fan, either. I don't dislike them. I actually googled the words. Cheated |
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Post by Bean on Oct 2, 2019 9:23:43 GMT
*gasp* Cheating?! I think Shades should discipline you for that.
I believe the hurricane is losing a lot of strength before it hits us (it's being billed as an 'ex-hurricane'), so although it'll bring some stormy and unpleasant weather, it shouldn't be too bad. We're more to the east and I think the west is getting the brunt of it. Quite a few places in the UK have been flooded though, so I hope it doesn't bring too much more rain.
Good luck with your studies, Amber - I hope it all goes smoothly so you're feeling confident by the time you have the exam.
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Post by amber89 on Oct 2, 2019 15:25:21 GMT
I haven't seen the countryside, but my bet would be on a No. The Austrians don't really decorate for Halloween. Shops have some costumes and the international companies and start-ups have some Halloween parties, but it's not something really wide-spread. Also there are not really children going trick-or-treat-ing.
I have seen the countryside of Bavaria for Christmas and even there it wasn't so wide-spread to decorate the garden or the front of the house. Those that did decorate, did something small, like just a reindeer and a Santa.
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 2, 2019 21:31:31 GMT
We have people who go so far overboard with their Christmas decorating, there's actually a TV show called Decoration Wars, or something like that. Some do fabulous decorations that are worth driving around to see. Others do huge lighting set ups people can drive through, and charge to go through. It was worth it to drive through the lights display at the local race track. Very well done, and such a thrill for children. We're not ones to go overboard, but we do like to put out some seasonal decorations. We actually don't see them, but the neighbors do, and love them |
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 3, 2019 1:02:42 GMT
We have people who go so far overboard with their Christmas decorating, there's actually a TV show called Decoration Wars, or something like that. Some do fabulous decorations that are worth driving around to see. Others do huge lighting set ups people can drive through, and charge to go through. It was worth it to drive through the lights display at the local race track. Very well done, and such a thrill for children. We're not ones to go overboard, but we do like to put out some seasonal decorations. We actually don't see them, but the neighbors do, and love them As much as I like Halloween, I saw decorations for that holiday going up last week! I think there's such a thing as too much.
I don't even want to hear about Christmas until we're well into December.
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Post by Bean on Oct 3, 2019 6:55:37 GMT
I don't even want to hear about Christmas until we're well into December. Oh you're even harsher than me! I let it go once we're into December (and have already been ranting about Christmas stuff starting to be sneaked out in shops!). The kids enjoy winding me up, by asking me questions about what we'll be doing over the holidays, so I always tell them it's one present less for every time they mention it! We did little parties for Halloween when the kids were little, and do sometimes just have a small family thing now if the kids want to dress up in something horrific. But I'm not for things like trick or treating, which has never really caught on over here. It's the minority of people who are up for it (Bonfire Night is a much bigger deal), but year after year, the kids who do it go round every single house and make lots of people, especially the elderly, worried about having tricks played on them if they don't give the kids something. If people just went to the houses that were clearly inviting trick or treaters, it wouldn't be a problem. But no one seems to follow the opt-in system, and I know quite a few people who hide indoors with most of the lights off each year! |
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 3, 2019 19:49:26 GMT
We've always had a rule not to go trick or treating to houses with the front door light turned off. The police have to do something for the elderly who are afraid of the kids, and I totally understand why they would be. Mostly, the tricks aren't too bad, but for an elderly person, even having a big tree covered with toilet paper is more than they can handle. The point to trick or treat was always that, when you knock on the door and say trick or treat, you will get a trick or a treat, not that you will play a trick on the homeowner. It seems as if it's a bit out of control over there, as it can be over here. We just have a lot more experience dealing with it. I've never done specific Halloween decorations, as I consider lighted pumpkins as much a symbol of Fall as of Halloween. We don't get trick or treaters in our neighborhood, so no longer buy candy, which saves us a fortune, as candy has gotten really expensive. We never did costumes, except for daughter when she was little. Children's costumes, especially for the really little ones, can be absolutely adorable I really think Halloween celebrations should be held indoors, with supervision. When we lived in the suburbs, there were a lot of houses for trick or treating, but when we moved to the country, there were four houses in our neighborhood. Trick or treating had to be by car, so since my parents weren't going to drive us, it was the party at school, and that was it. The kids do costume parades during the day, with supervision, and local businesses give out candy as the kids pass. It's not a great tradition, having all that candy, so wouldn't be a bad one to change into something better. |
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 4, 2019 0:57:27 GMT
We never played any tricks on people who didn't answer their door. We simply moved on; who wants to get into trouble for that? At least, that was our philosophy. Our neighborhood varies over the years, lots of kids have grown up and for a few years it was relatively quiet. But now more kids are growing up and we have to make sure we have candy.
I used to know how much candy to buy, but now I just buy around 100 pieces and that seems to be enough. True, we have leftovers, but I'd rather have leftovers instead of running out too soon! I hate to disappoint the kids. |
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Post by Bean on Oct 4, 2019 6:28:15 GMT
I'm not sure there even has been loads of trouble over here, but some people have heard enough snippets about what might happen to worry about it. We're just in a kind of awkward in between place where it hasn't really been properly adopted as a holiday, especially by older generations, but there's enough information about what could happen (those images of toilet papered trees from the US don't help!) for people to think it could be a problem.
Mischief night used to be more of a thing here (and has been around for decades) - the night before Halloween, when kids just went out playing random pranks. There was no option to bribe them away with sweets! But I don't hear much about that now either.
I'm all for people celebrating Halloween with others who enjoy it. We had some good times with the kids and their friends when they were younger, and in recent years too.
How's your outfit coming together, Baz?
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Post by amber89 on Oct 4, 2019 6:46:41 GMT
I never celebrated Halloween. My father is very obtuse and after the celebration was imported to Romania my father refused to acknowledge it, on the basis that it's "American and not Christian". I gave up trying to explain to him the origins of the celebration. When I was a child and I was at my grandparents an uncle carved in secret a pumpkin for me and my brother. Last year I carved my first pumpkin with my husband and two years ago we baked some "Ghosts".   It was soo cold this morning, that when I got up this morning I almost expected to see snow or frost outside. I absolutely hate lectures at 8 AM. |
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Post by Bean on Oct 4, 2019 6:51:48 GMT
I bet secret pumpkin carving was quite a thrill! I love the really creative pumpkin carvings that some people do. Mine still look like an 8-year old's efforts! |
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Post by shades on Oct 4, 2019 7:51:40 GMT
U2 - "October" (1981)
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Post by 3piggles on Oct 4, 2019 15:47:40 GMT
Wow, some of those jack-o-lanterns are fabulous! I haven't carved a pumpkin in years. We bought a couple of ceramic ones with battery powered lights for outside, and some hard foam ones with plug-in lights for inside. Since we brought in the plants, the two plug-in ones are behind the plants. We have to find a place for the other one. That's sad about your dad just deciding Halloween was unchristian, and refusing to have anything to do with it. We have people who think that way over here, too 😢 We may have our first killing frost tonight, so we've been finding places for all the plants to winter over. We still have some to bring in, and have to set up one more rack, but for now, these plants have homes. Lots of plants, but not as bad as last year.    |
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Post by bazookagoof on Oct 4, 2019 23:19:25 GMT
How's your outfit coming together, Baz? All done!
I've been too busy to take a picture of the completed outfit, but you will not wait any longer than 27 days! Actually, since Halloween falls on a Thursday I don' know when he parties will be held. Either the week before, or November 1st!
I'd like to get a new picture myself, but it's inconvenient to find time to don all the gear, then set up the camera and try to get a halfway decent shot! Also, my wife and daughter have no sense of fun anymore, so I'd like to avoid all the odd questions about what I'm doing and why.
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Post by Bean on Oct 5, 2019 7:29:03 GMT
Boo to the party poopers, but fair enough! Glad everything's organised anyway.
Oh I missed your photos before, Amber, they didn't show up for me. Love the ghosts, and what a nice jolly pumpkin!
The plants look great, 3piggles. If I could remember to look after plants, it'd be nice to have some more greenery in the house like that!
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Post by amber89 on Oct 5, 2019 8:11:32 GMT
Ooh, that's a lot of plants!!
They look green and healthy. Nice to see that many plants!
Our apartment has a natural light problem, so no blooming plants survive. We can have only plants that like half-shadowed places. I have told hubby, if we ever get a balcony/terrace it will be covered on plants.
Here it's not yet frost time, but Fall shows it's claws. Waking up today at 6:30 in the morning for the lecture was a challenge. It was windy and rainy and so cold.
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