Monday, August 31, 2009

When My Dolly Died

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When - my - dolly - died, - when - my dolly - died,
I - sat - on - the - step - and - I - cried - and - cried;
And I couldn’t eat any jam and bread,
‘Cause it didn’t seem right when my doll was dead.
And Bridget was sorry as she could be,
For she patted my head, and “O,” said she,
“To think that the pretty has gone and died!”
Then I broke out afresh and I cried and cried.

And all the dollies from all around
Came to see my dolly put under the ground;
There was Luly Lee and Mary Clack
Brought their dolls over, all dressed in black;
And Emiline Hope and Sara Lou
Came over and brought their dollies, too,
And all the time I cried and cried,
‘Cause it hurt me so when my dolly died.

We dressed her up in a new white gown,
With ribbons and laces all around;
And made her a coffin in a box
Where my brother keeps his spelling blocks;
And we had some prayers, and a funeral, too;
And our hymn was “The Two Little Girls in Blue.”
But for me, I only cried and cried,
‘Cause it truly hurt when my dolly died.

We dug her a grave in the violet bed,
And planted violets at her head;
And we raised a stone and wrote quite plain,
“Here lies a dear doll who died of pain.”
And then my brother, said he, “Amen,”
And we all went back to the house again,
But all the same I cried and cried,
Because I’d a right when my doll had died.

And then we had more jam and bread,
But I didn’t eat, ’cause my doll was dead.
But I tied some crape on my doll house door,
And then I stood and cried some more.
I couldn’t be happy, don’t you see!
Because the funeral belonged to me.
And then the others went home, and then
I went out and dug up my doll again.

A descriptive reading for a little girl by Will Allen Dromgorle, from “The Twentieth Century Speaker,” 1899.

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

Hallowe'en Ghoulies


Look over your shoulder...do you hear footsteps?

An encroaching fear grips your chest!

Is someone following you?
Could it be another Ghoulie
come to get you?


Oh no! It's your worst nightmare!
RJC in his bloodiest costume ever...

All the little goblins didn't like him that year.
They were afraid to Trick r Treat at his haunted dungeon!


R.I.P.
1999

(Ya gotta love his enthusiasm!)

Son, Robert, who decorates with
graves and fog
and haunted music...even the lights
in the windows flicker as shadows cross the room!

Monday, August 10, 2009

The Halloween Tradition continues...

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The Fall Season hasn't arrived yet.....but I can feel it in my bones!!! Soon, Autumn will be in the air! Even though it is summer, and fall doesn't start for another 6 weeks, my thoughts are already on Halloween! The planning, preparing, decorating, crafting....it's my favorite holiday.

Growing up in Michigan, this time of the year was always very picturesque...colors of gold, orange, red, and brown covered trees and grounds. Blustery winds, chilling frosts, crisp apples being harvested, donuts & cider at
the Franklin Cider Mill
and pumpkin patches everywhere!
Nick Glazier 2006

As a child, my father loved Halloween and told us stories about himself and his friends going out on Devil's Night, pulling pranks.....oh, the stories he did tell! And being very artistic, he always created the best pumpkins for our house. We didn't "Trick or Treat" in those days, we went "begging". We would call out "Help the Poor"! It's so funny how the times have changed. We still beg for candy, but we call it Trick-or-Treating.

The tradition of loving this holiday started with my grandmother, Lillian Gertrude Bouchie-Morneau, who was born on Halloween, October 31, 1898. She loved black cats. It was in her blood! She would also read tea leaves in your teacup and would tell your fortune. We loved having tea with her and couldn't wait to sit around the table, reviewing our cups with their patterns of tea leaves, imagining what they resembled...then waiting to hear our fortune.

This holiday, fun filled with costumes and treats and spooky, scary ghosts and goblins, was easily passed down to my own children, John, Deborah, and Robert (all three are still kids at heart, just like their mother!) We reminisce every year about the time we did this or that...the year the school buses would stop in front of our house so all the children could see our fantastic decorations...and how much fun we all had sharing it together.


With a pot of homemade chili brewing on the stove to make our holiday complete, it was and is one of our biggest traditions. It just wouldn't be Halloween without it. To this day, it's what we have for our dinner in MD, SC and CA...who would want to break with tradition? We call each other on Halloween night to talk about the "Chili"! Seriously!

Skeleton Nick 2006

It all started because it was cold in Michigan, the chili was warming; and as the children dressed for the evenings festivities, there was no time to sit down and eat before running out the door at dusk to beg for candy. So a bowl of chili could be eaten in scattered bites while donning costumes replete with makeup for the night of frolicking on the streets with all the other children.

Grandchildren, Chris, Mimi and Brad (son John & Katie's children), have all grown up and I miss all the fun we had together when they were little but we have great memories! And this year, Nana gets to celebrate with yet another generation of little ones, grandchildren Nick 7 and Girlie 2 1/2 (daughter Deb & Steve's children), in South Carolina. We are already planning by phone how much fun we're going to have and the fun things we're going to make...decorations, yummy cookies and costumes.

You just have to love this holiday...
Family Fun at its best!

(Stay tuned for pictures of Halloween past and present!)

Just to get you warmed up, these pictures are of my son and daughter-in-law a couple of years ago in MD...I told you we go all out for this holiday!

John & Katie Corsaut 2007

Every attention to detail...aren't these homemade costumes the greatest!
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9/26/09

Choose Wisely!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Ghostly....Memories


The bride and groom, J & K
2007
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Halloween Happenings


I belong to this group...
it's everything HALLOWEEN!

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My new blog for Halloween Happenings...
It's the bewitching hour!
Time for all things spooky and creepy,
ghostly and fun!!!

Time for
Creating, Planning, Decorating,
Baking,
Costumes,
ENJOYING!
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