Peggy And The Plum Cake

Peggy and the Plum Cake. 

       It was the kind of cake that most people, I think, call raisin cake or fruit cake, if citron and other goodies are mixed with the raisins - but Grandmother called it Plum Cake, with a capital P and C in her voice. And it sounded so much richer, and more fragrant by that name as Grandmother spoke it, that Peggy would never think of calling it anything else. 

        This particular Plum Cake was for Peggy's birthday party - her eighth birthday. Peggy had seeded the Plums (great purplish blue raisins which Grandmother thinks the only sort fit to eat) and Grandmother had come out of her sunny room to the sunny kitchen to make it. On her last - her eightieth birthday - Grandmother had decided it was best for her not to eat any more Plum Cake herself. But she did enjoy making it for Peggy. It was round and full of plums, with pink frosting all over. There was a double border of red-and-white round candies, and "PEGGY" and an "8" done beautifully with them in the middle. 

       Peggy had sent out her invitations the week before, and every one had accepted, even the Brown twins, Theodore and Thornton, who were only five, but very fond of parties. 

       "Just eight of us," said Peggy, as Grandmother was setting the round table in the breakfast room. "And the Plum Cake will cut so beautifully into eight pieces." 

       Grandmother smiled as she went on laying the plates. Mother had had to attend a Committee Meeting, but Grandmother and Peggy felt quite equal to managing the party. It was to begin at three, with supper at six. 

Peggy serves her guests.

       All the guests came trooping in before three, and they had a merry time with games in the library. But they weren't two seconds in stopping when Grandmother opened the door and announced, "Supper is served, ladies and gentlemen." 

       Everything was good, but the beautiful Plum Cake was the center of their attention. When they got to Plum Cake there was a hush. 

       With a shining knife, Peggy cut it across, and across, and across, and across. Eight lovely three-cornered pieces. M-m- m-m, but wouldn't it taste good! She could hardly wait! She served it on little pink plates-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight-the plate was empty, and she had not served herself! Whatever!! Then it flashed on her. She had sent Theodore and Thornton's invitation together, and had counted them as one! But, oh, when it came to Plum Cake they counted two! Indeed, they did! 

       Peggy managed to eat a spice cooky with such a gratified expression on her face that none of her happy guests noticed that she had no Plum Cake. She laughed and talked and kept their cocoa cups and milk glasses filled, and the party came to a joyful finish just as the clock struck seven. Then there was a rush for jackets and caps and capes and bonnets, and soon Peggy was alone. 

       Grandmother appeared, smiling, "Did the party go off well, Peggy?" she asked. 

       "Beautifully," answered Peggy. 

      "Nothing went wrong?" 

       "Not a thing-to speak of!" cried Peggy bravely. "Everybody had a good time. And your Plum Cake was delicious!" 

Grandmother fixes the problem.

       Grandmother came close and put her finger under Peggy's chin. "How do you know?" she asked. "Hm?" And while Peggy was stammering, "Wh-wh-why-?" Grandmother hurried into the pantry, and came out with the most beautiful baby Plum Cake, with frosting, and red-and- white candles, and everything! Peggy stood speechless. 

       "I saw your mistake, when you were writing your invitations and naming over your guests," said Grandmother; "and, just for fun, I kept still. But I made that extra Plum Cake just the same." 

       "Oh, Grandmother!" cried Peggy. 

       "And now," smiled Grandmother, "I take the greatest pleasure in presenting it to my little granddaughter, who proved herself a perfect hostess and what I believe the boys would call a good sport!" 

       "Oh, Grandmother!" cried Peggy again. And when she had finished hugging her, she coaxed, "But, Grandmother, you must eat some of this Plum Cake! I know it will what is it you say? Oh, 'agree' with you!" 

       "I do believe it will!" said Grandmother. Minnie Upton

Fast Asleep

       A little girl was walking along the sidewalk pushing her doll-carriage very, very carefully. A big man came along and smiled at the little girl pushing her doll-carriage so very, very carefully. The little girl smiled back at the big man and he walked on. 

       Then a lovely lady came tripping along. As she met the little girl pushing her doll-carriage so very, very carefully, she, too, smiled and said: "What have you in your little carriage?" 

      "My baby," answer the little girl very proudly. The lovely lady smiled again at the little girl and passed on. 

      Soon another little girl came skipping along the sidewalk. When she met the first little girl pushing her doll-carriage so very, very carefully, she stopped. The first little girl stopped, too. 

      "May I look at your baby?" asked the other little girl very politely. 

      "Of course," answered the first little girl just as politely, and proceeded to part the little carriage curtains. 

      "Oh, oh, oh!" laughed the other little girl, peeping in. The first little girl kept smiling proudly. 

      "The darling!" exclaimed the other little girl clasping her hands in delight. Now what do you suppose she saw? A soft, little, white kitten fast asleep in the doll-carriage. 

      "I'm going to get mine, too," said the other little girl. 

      "Goody!" answered the first little girl. 

       So it was, in a little while, there were two little girls pushing their doll-carriages very, very carefully along the sidewalk, each carriage holding a tiny kitten. Was it any wonder that everybody smiled at them? Mary Tufts

Welcome To Your Birthday!

"Happy Birthday" gif with balloons.

WELCOME to Your Birthday,
Merry, bright and new!
Here's what I am wishing
It shall bring to you.

It will show you plainly,
So you'll know it's true,
That dear God in Heaven
Loves and blesses you.

It must make you happy,
Healthy, good, and strong.
It must bring you laughter,
Love, and friends, and song.

It must give you presents-
Every blessed thing,
That a Happy Birthday
Really ought to bring.

So, my dear, keep growing
All the years you live
With all sorts of blessing
Birthday days must give.

Last of all I promise
That my heart will send
True love to you always
Lovingly your friend.

Make A Paper Mache Tower of Vintage Holloween Lanterns!

My finished lantern tower from bottom to top includes a vintage Jack-O-Lantern, a watermelon
man and a classic black cat. Each character head is light-up with a battery operated, votive 
candle light. 

       The supplies needed for this project are: newsprint, balloons, masking tape, white school glue, paper mache pulp, parchment paper, permanent ink pens, Mod Podge and acrylic paints.

Left, the backside of my lantern shows the layers of newsprint, glue and masking tape. 
Center, above you can see that a then carved out the holes for the battery operated votives.
Right, on the front of the lanterns, I sketched simple shapes for the openings of the lanterns.

       Blow-up three smallish balloons to shape this version of a lantern tower. You can use larger balloons if you wish. My tower measures approximately ten inches tall, but any size is nice. 

       Next, shred a stack of newsprint and cover all of the surfaces of the balloons with layers of white school glue and newsprint. 

       Let the balloons dry over night in a warm dry space. 

       On the following day glue and tape the forms on top of each other to fashion a 'snowman' looking character. 

       Then cover this object again with newsprint strips and white school glue; leaving it to dry a second time over night. 

       Once the balloon shapes have dried, carve out three whole in the backside of the lantern to accommodate the battery operated lights. In the process of this the balloons will be popped.

       Remove the balloon material. 

       Use a permanent ink marker to sketch out the features of each face on the front of the lantern.

Above on the left and right, is the tower covered and reinforced using masking tape both inside 
and outside of my forms.

       I then cut out the openings for eyes, nose and mouth for each of my creatures.

       Then I covered the forms with masking tape to reinforce the tower before adding a final layer of paper mache pulp.

Above are photos of the lanterns once covered with paper mache pulp. 

       With the final layer of paper pulp, I sculpted the cat's fur, the melon's skin and my pumpkin's ridges and extreme grin. All of these characters are based upon antique variations most commonly used in similar candy buckets produced for the American Halloween novelty markets during the 1920s through the 1940s. 

Keep the paint layers heavy if opting-out of a coat of Gesso or primer as I did on this project.

       Paint each lantern a thick base color of your own preference. Because I did not use Gesso in this procedure, I opted to layer the acrylic on thick. Then I covered the surfaces with a layer of Mod Podge before adding even more details in a second coat of paint.

Here you can see the painted details of the faces.

       The final step after painting on more details and another coat of Mod Podge, is to glue the parchment papers inside of each head. Parchment is much stronger than tissue paper and the lights glow just as nicely through it. 

       Once the parchment is dry, us pens or paint to add teeth, tongues, nose paint and eyeballs to the surfaces of the parchment.

Display a similar antique lantern on your fireplace hearth or Halloween table this year! These
are so much fun to make; every home needs a little nostalgia for the
 Autumnal calendar events...

DIY a Vintage Vegetable Automobile . . .

Whoever thought watermelons could be so spooky or mobile? See it also in the Tome of the
 Unknown from Over The Garden Wall.

       Now that I've made the car, I might as well make some veggie dolls! But, I'm afraid that will be a craft for next year . . .

Supply List:

• one dried gourd that is shaped like a watermelon
• newspaper or newsprint or paper bags
• masking tape
• white school glue
• acrylic paints, including: white, red, black, several greens
• 4 recycled ribbon rolls (for tires)
• wire to shape the steering wheel
• two wooden beads for headlights
• Sculpey for seeds to glue inside the tires
• Mod Podge
• paper mache pulp

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Draw where you will need to cut out the seats on the outside of a gourd. Cut out the top along this line.
2. Stuff the inside of the gourd with newsprint and then mask off the seat using tape.
3. Use a hot glue gun to apply the tires made from ribbon spools onto the sides of the veggie car.
4. Glue on the headlight lanterns; I used wooden beads for these. 
5. Shape steering wheel from wire and glue this in place.
6. Mix up paper mache pulp and apply a coat of this inside the ribbon spools. 
7. Sculpt small zucchini seeds with oven baked clay, cook and apply inside the tires to look like the photos below. I guess some folks think that these are cucumber wheels but I think they are zucchini wheels!
8. Coat the entire construction using either gesso, white acrylic or white enamel paint. Any of these will do.
9. Use acrylic paints to transform your auto into a watermelon car, just like the vintage one seen below!

The crank on the front of our "automobile" is a watermelon vine. The gourd has a carved away
top to make room for the melon pulp seating. The steering wheel is a wire "vine" too. 

The wheels are made from recycled ribbon spools. These are then filled in with paper pulp 
and then ''seeds'' are shaped using Sculpey. Glue these inside to mimic zucchini rounds.

This classic Halloween postcard is from the public domain. It illustrates a watermelon auto-
mobile with an anthropomorphic veggie driver. A Halloween witch and her black cat ride in
back while a black bat and half moon illuminate the night. See more veggie character dolls
on my pinboard here . . .

It's Time For Hallowe'en for Tweens

Hallowe'en.
The night wind whispers-Ghosts!
They are waiting for their hosts;
The waning moon is weary and will not be up till late;
Already there are shadows at the gate.
A word, half heard, that is whispered in your ear,
And a presence that is felt when no one else is near.
Have you been along the corridors alone-all alone-
And listened to the wind up yonder making moan?
Have you thought about it all,
The footfall in the hall
That comes and goes-comes and goes-
With the measure of a heartbeat of a life that ebbs and flows?

"The Ghost And Mr. Chicken" soundtrack

and more fun facts here...

More Spooky Tunes, Film and Stories: These Come With Lessons:

• "That Old Black Magic" sung by Jerry Lewis from another Spooky film I love "The Nutty Professor", this film has excellent message for teens inspired by the 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (silent film version), Read about the 4 Biblical Truths Behind Stevenson's novel.
• "Monster Mash" song sung by Bobby "Boris" Pickett, party song for kid's Halloween. Pickett merges two genres one based upon the dance crazes of his time and the other upon the strange films and stories told by Boris Karloff. See my listing of dance crazes here.
• "This Is Halloween" from the film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" by Tim Burton, the whole sound track is quite good and it has a unique twist and message for kids from the scriptures...
• Spooky tales narrated by Vincent Price in "Ghost Stories by the Fire" and a film "Evening with Edgar Allen Poe." Here he sings "Monster Mash" too, based upon humanity's undiscerning nature when it comes to Halloween. Price actively protested both religious prejudice and racial prejudice at a time when many would not in Hollywood. 
• "Remains of the Day" composed by Danny Elfman from the film "The Corpse Bride" - with an excellent message for kids! God's message in the story by reelparables.
• Carol's Creepy Comedies: Making fun in light-hearted fashion - "The Bat and The Beautiful, Starring an Unamused Wife" and song sung by Carol Burnett, Chita Rivera and Caterina Valente ala Morticia Addams "I Enjoy Being A Girl"

Aquamarine Gemstones for March Birthdays

Aquamarine brooch worn by
President Johnson's wife
during his presidency.

       Aquamarine like the emerald is beryl, the distinguishing difference between the two gems being one of color alone, although some gem experts claim that ancient specimens of aquamarine show a more perfectly preserved surface polish than emeralds of the same periods. 

       The oldest source from whence aquamarine was obtained was India. It is possible, however, that the early supply was augmented in a limited measure by the Siberian mines. At one time, the best gems came from Siberia and Brazil, the latter country supplying clear, transparent stones of fine color in the utmost profusion. Very fine aquamarines are also found in the United States in Maine, Connecticut, North Carolina and California, and even more of these gems are found in France and Ireland.

       While aquamarine is rated as a semi-precious stone, its value varies widely according to the quality of the individual gem. Pale stones may be had at small cost, but the deep sea-green or blue-green gems often command very substantial prices. Aquamarines are to be had in a great variety of cuttings, but as a rule the best specimens are brilliant-cut in front, with the obverse side step-cut. 

       Aquamarine was highly prized by the Egyptians who believed that this gem exercised a powerful influence when worn as an amulet. It was generally engraved or worked into the shapes of birds or animals, and there are extant many fine and interesting specimens of such carvings by this people, some of them dating back to a period as early as 2000 B. C. 

       This gem was also well known in Ancient Rome, and was the only stone which the Roman jewelers cut with facets. Pliny (the Roman naturalist), suspected that the aquamarine and the emerald were the same or of a similar nature, a fact which was not definitely established until eighteen centuries later. Writing about 60 A. D., referring to the aquamarine, Pliny states: “There is not a color more pleasing to the eye than that shown by these gems which imitate the greenness of the clear sea.’’ Later, because of Pliny’s happy description of this stone, it received its present name. (It seems not amiss to call attention to the fact that in spite of Pliny’s enthusiastic appreciation of the aquamarine, he could have been familiar only with the comparatively inferior stones from Egypt.)

The Aquamarine is considered an alternative gem for the March birthstone. The Bloodstone is also given as a symbol of courage and wisdom for it's wearer if she or he is born during the month of March. 

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• The Birthday Flower for March Is: a Daffodil
• The bird selected to represent the month of March is a robin.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"

Moonstones for June Birthdays

Moonstone  Cabochon

       The name moonstone derives from the stone's characteristic visual effect, called adularescence (or schiller), which produces a milky, bluish interior light. This effect is caused by light diffraction through alternating layers of orthoclase and albite within the stone. The diffracted light varies from white to blue, depending on the thinness of the albite layers. More technically, this micro-structure consists of regular exsolution layers (lamellae) of different alkali feldspars (orthoclase and sodium-rich plagioclase). 

        The moonstone in legends, is reputed to be potent in providing its possessor with good fortune. It was believed that if it were held in the mouth it would refresh the recollection of the holder. Ancient apothecaries used it for the cure of epilepsy. The Romanticists believed that during the waxing of the moon it was an efficacious love charm, and during its waning it would enable the wearer to foretell the future. 

        Gemologists classify moonstone into several distinct varieties. Blue moonstone represents the finest variety of labradorite moonstone, with high transparency and strong blue adularescence. Blue moonstone can be found in Myanmar (formerly Burma), India, Madagascar, Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. Labradorite moonstone belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group and forms within the triclinic crystal system, appearing in colorless, white, slight orange, or green varieties with a blue sheen. Orthoclase moonstone belongs to the monoclinic crystal system and displays a mystical white glow in colorless to white, orange, yellow, or brown hues. Gem enthusiasts often refer to adularescent labradorite with a multi-colored glow as "rainbow moonstone," which is colorless and highly transparent. Adularia, named after the Adular Mountains of Switzerland, forms in hydrothermal veins in mountainous regions as colorless to white, cream, pale yellow to pink, or reddish-brown, glassy, prismatic, twinned crystals that frequently display a white to blue sheen.

Pearls, symbolic of modesty and purity, are also considered birthstones for the month of June as well.

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• Birthday Flowers for June Are: Rose and Honeysuckle
• The bird selected to represent the month of June is a dove.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"

Legends and Facts Associated With Diamonds

The Crown Cameo worn by 
Crown Princess Victoria of
Sweden on her wedding day.
It is made of cameos, pearls
and diamonds.

       The diamond fields of Asia were discovered so long ago that its date is lost in antiquity. For thousands of years few people knew the location and it was shrouded in mysterious and dreaded legends. The stone was known by various names in different countries. One name was adamas from the Greek Adamant - the Unconquerable and the Latin adamare -to love, and adamas-hard. The Hebrews called it "the Samur" and in ancient times they believed it was a worm capable of boring through the hardest objects. With this worm, Moses was supposed to have engraved on the 12 stones of the High Priest's Breastplate the tribes of Israel. It was known as "the stone cutting all other stones." 

• People still mining for diamonds in Panna?
• The largest diamond mine in the world...
• Diamonds from the center of the earth from Modern Marvels
• How scientists have learned to make diamonds in the lab!

       There is a legend to the effect that King Solomon desired the aid of the Samur in building his Temple. The only creature who knew how to find the Samur was the eagle. The Wise King ordered his servants to climb to the eagle's aerie and when the mother bird was absent, to place her eggs in a glass bottle, and leave them in the nest. When the eagle returned she could not warm her eggs, nor could she break the bottle with her beak. Thereupon the eagle flew to the GEMS Samur Mountains to obtain the "stone which cuts all stones." Solomon's servants, the supernatural jinn, followed the bird, and brought enough samurs from the mountains to cut the blocks for the temple. 

       In the early part of the sixth century, before Christ, Prince Kie of Shu (China) visited the Emperor Wu, a descendant of the Emperor Wen. The courtiers asked him questions about the mysterious lands to the west from which so many curious substances came. Prince Kie replied, "In the Western Sea, the Mediterranean, there is a great island on which there is a forest of trees laden with precious stones. The place is inhabited by over 10,000 families-those of the artists who cut and engrave the gems. The country is called FU-LIN and in a direction northwest of the island is a ravine, hollowed out like a bowl hundreds of fathoms deep. Men throw meat into this valley and great birds take it up in their beaks. In the meat are found precious stones which have stuck to the flesh."

       Alexander the Great was supposed to have penetrated to a valley inhabited by terrifying serpents, the sight of which would cause a man's death. Alexander used mirrors as weapons and the monsters perished on observing their own awesome death-dealing reflections. In the 9th century, during the reign of Haroun-al-Rashid, Caliph of Bagdad, these tales became part of The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. As Sinbad relates, a giant roc carried him to the Valley of the Diamonds where he found serpents so tremendous they were capable of devouring elephants. 

       Diamond is said to typify Purity and Constancy and to have the powers of preserving peace. It also was said to have the powers of averting insanity and rendering poison harmless. The Constellation Taurus-the Bull-is the second sign of the Zodiac and exerts its influence from April 20th to May 19th. 

       Persons born under this sign are stubborn, rebellious to advice, proud and difficult to approach. The subject will be straightforward, just, inquisitive and shrewd. Such an individual has a superior brain, fit to command, to govern. These subjects are conservative of ideas. In love, fickle and jealous. The Taurus subject is long-lived; his friends, while many, may contain a large number of undesirables.

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• Birthday Flowers for April Are: Sweet Pea and Daisy
• The bird selected to represent the month of April is a duck.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"

Legends and Facts Surrounding The Peridot

silicate minerals

       Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: an olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on the percentage of iron in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow, to olive, to brownish-green. In rare cases, peridot may have a medium-dark toned, pure green with no secondary yellow hue or brown mask. Lighter-colored gems are due to lower iron concentrations.

• What makes Peridot special?

       The peridot was the original topaz and was supposed to come from the "Serpent Isle" in the Red Sea. The legend was that the Island was guarded by jealous watchers who had orders to put to death any unauthorized persons who approached the Island. Even those with the right to seek the gem could not see the chrysolite in daylight. 

       Only after nightfall was it revealed by its radiance. The seekers then marked the spot and recovered the stones in daylight. The chrysolite, to exert its full power, was required to be set in gold. Worn in this way it dispelled the terrors of the night. If, however, it were to be used as a protection from the wiles of evil spirits, the stone had to be pierced and strung on the hair of an ass, and then attached to the left arm. 

       The island where peridots are found is now known as Zebirget or St. John and was the main source for this stone. Burma, Queensland, Brazil and New Mexico are other sources. The Constellation of Virgo-the sixth of the signs of the Zodiac-exerts its influence from August 23rd to September 21st. 

       This sign bestows cool reason, a spirit of equity, a merciful disposition and a taste for everything that is honest and straightforward. His will power, though firm, will be influenced through sentimental motives. He will be intelligent, ingenious and emotional. This person will have an inclination toward the liberal arts and a gift of persuasive eloquence.

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• Birthday Flowers for August Are: Gladiolus and Poppy
• The bird selected to represent the month of August is the woodpecker.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"

Legends and Facts Surrounding The Sardonyx

cabochons of red onyx or sardonyx

       Onyx is a typically black-and-white banded variety of agate, a silicate mineral. The bands can also be monochromatic with alternating light and dark bands. Sardonyx is a variety with red to brown bands alternated with black or white bands. The name "onyx" is also frequently used for level-banded (parallel-banded) agates, but in proper usage it refers to color pattern not band structure. Onyx, as a descriptive term, has also been incorrectly applied to parallel-banded varieties of alabaster, marble, calcite, obsidian, and opal, and misleadingly to materials with contorted banding, such as "cave onyx" and "Mexican onyx".

• The gemstones of Emperors, Soldiers and Romans...
• Striking gemstones with colored bands - legends from Rome

       The history of this stone extends back many thousands of years. The sardonyx was said to lend courage to orators and bashful lovers. Consequently, it is a stone of incalculable aid to a romantic lady. The Egyptians had many fine scarabs cut from this gem, and some of them are to be found in museums all over the world. The Romans were the first to choose it as the birthstone for August. 

"She, loving once and always, wears, if wise, 

Sardonyx and her home is paradise." 

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• Birthday Flowers for August Are: Gladiolus and Poppy
• The bird selected to represent the month of August is the woodpecker.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"

Legends and Facts Associated With Garnets

Garnet Andradite

       Garnet gems are found in every color, with reddish shades most common. Blue garnets are the rarest and were first reported in the 1990s. 

       Garnet species' light transmission properties can range from the gemstone-quality transparent specimens to the opaque varieties used for industrial purposes as abrasives. The mineral's lustre is categorized as vitreous (glass-like) or resinous (amber-like).

• Cosmic Geology talks about the garnet group
• The gemstones that stole Martha Washington's heart...
• Garnets 101 by Paul Deasy Gemstones

Legends:

       In Persia, the garnet was considered a talisman against injurious forces of nature, such as lightning and storm. 

      In the Middle Ages it was believed that the garnet was its own protection against poison and plague. The garnet was worn to attract health and cheerfulness. Like the ruby, it warned its owner of approaching danger by changing color. 

      According to the seers and astrologists of the past, the Constellation Aquarius-the eleventh sign of the Zodiac-exerted its influence from January 20th to February 18th. It endows the person born under it with a special aptitude for the fine arts. It gives him long life and lofty position, and makes of him an orator or author. An individual under this sign will have a graceful, gentle nature. 

"The gleaming garnet holds within its sway 

Faith, Constancy and Truth to one always."

According to The Farmer's Almanac:

• Birthday Flowers for January Are: Snowdrops and Carnations
• The bird selected to represent the month of January is an owl.

• Back to "What Are Birthstones?"