Snowmen greeting cards created with marshmallows and candy. But, I'd have more fun making them as a toilet roll version. An upcycled version with things from the recycling bin. I'm going to start saving finished toilet paper rolls and other bits and pieces and see what I can come up with. Everyone needs a project.
I buy at least one poppy pin from the Canadian Legion boxes or the people standing at the door of the grocery store, every year. I like the pin itself and I like supporting the Legion. The real problem is keeping the pins on. Also, not getting stuck by that long pin several times a day.
The solution I have found for both of those is to remove the long, bent pin and replace it with another pin, not from the sewing box but the jewelry box. I have been using a pin I got from an event in my town. It has the name and logo of the city I live in. Another idea is to put something on the end of the long pin to keep it from pricking you. But, this doesn't seem to work as well as taking the pin out and changing it for the short pin.
But, the Legion would prefer people wear the poppy correctly and remember the purpose it was intended for, both of them (fallen soldiers and helping the Legion financially).
So someone (probably more than one by now) came up with the idea of poppy centres. A pin which looks just like the original black centre of the poppy pin. A great idea! You can buy them online, but there will be a lot of orders as November gets close so order ahead.
You can also make your own poppy centre with a little glue and a blank pin from a craft supplies store or one of your own which you don't mind to cover with the black felt poppy centre (the one that comes with the poppy pin) and some glue. Instructables shows how they re-make the poppy pin centre this way. It's a great idea, simple and easy to do.
In 1915, John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Forces Artillery, wrote his famous poem, In Flanders Fields. Inspired by McCrae's poem, Moina Michael, an American professor and humanitarian, pledged to wear the flower year round. Anne Guérin, of France, began to sell handmade cloth poppies for people to wear. She donated money from the sales to help people after the war.
A poppy should be worn on the left side of your body, just over your heart.
The poppy came to Canada as a symbol of remembrance in 1921.
Traditionally, the poppy should not be worn after November 11th. They were meant to be left at the graveside after the ceremony, the moment of silence, on November 11th, at 11:00 AM.
The period of Remembrance is from the last Friday in October until November 11. So you could begin wearing a poppy in October.
If you find a fallen poppy, pick it up. The pins should be worn and disposed of respectfully. I keep mine pinned to a curtain. I don't like throwing them away and they look pretty in a group. I add more to the curtain every year.
The centre of the poppy pin was originally black, but changed to green in the 1980s (which I remember them being). The poppy centre went back to black again in 2002 because the original flowers in France were/ are red with black centres. The green centre was to represent the green fields in France.
There is a campaign, from the Peace Pledge Union, for a white poppy. The white is said to include everyone who suffered during war, the families, civilians, and soldiers. You may see purple poppy pins which represent service animals lost in war.
Take a look at the Poppy Store online, to support our Canadian Legion all year round.
Royal British Legion - In the UK they have a different, paper, poppy pin.
Not everyone gets into the hearts, flowers, romance and sentimental pink fluffy Valentine's Day. There are those who don't get into Valentine's Day at all, but then there are those who like to spike their Valentine's Day with a little dark humour. Those are the people who could be your creepy, Gothic, zombie Valentine.
I found this on a kid's blog, no link back to the original source. I couldn't resist adding it when it says everything in it's own creepy Valentine way.
Don't think of it as gross or gruesome. A creepy Valentine can be just as sincere, passionate and loving as a regular Valentine. Creepy Valentines can have the same heart, brains too. A creepy Valentine is just a bit more playful and looking on the light side of life, in it's own unique way.
There's no need to run away screaming... unless you want to be chased by your new Valentine. However, give them a chance to catch you. It's not easy to run when you're all dark and creepy (with parts of you missing in some cases). There's also an image to maintain - not every creepy Valentine wants to be seen running after their prey... I mean, sweetheart.
Scary, Spooky, Creepy Valentine's Day
What makes Valentine's Day so scary, creepy and spooky? For one thing, the pressure. On one hand, there's a lot of pressure not to be single and alone. On the other hand, if you are part of a couple, there's a lot of pressure to find the right gift, create the perfect evening and be romantic. I've heard of couples breaking up over Valentine's Day. Some men have said they deliberately break up before Christmas and Valentine's Day because they don't want the pressure to perform. Obviously, these were not great relationships anyway. But, it does show the horror of the looming holiday.
Should you get chocolates? I found fuzzy zombie chocolates in a Valentine box which you can make. They aren't edible, but they can be kind of cute. Like a candy you find in the bottom of your purse or under the car seat, something like that.
Share the love with a zombie Valentine T-shirt. Show her you really love her, or him by wearing your heart in the right place - visible to all.
Give your coffee or tea drinking Valentine a new mug. Or a Valentine key chain.
Of course there are always flowers. How can you go wrong with sending Valentine flowers?
Of course, it's easier to pick a Valentine card and send it in the mail. Snail mail, so you don't have to actually be there when it arrives. That way your Valentine has some time to cool off and find the humour.
Written by my nephew, Zack Brown.
My last minute As a person of my age I feel time slipping by And it's a feeling that I hate
But we all get older We all grow up And even though it can be good Sometimes it sucks
So here's to new year Full of magic and life And hopes that by next time I'll have grown in my age
Happy Birthday Zack. You're getting older, wiser but you're still lukewarm (not 18 and hot, yet).
The Christmas tree for your computer - or yourself if you spend most of your time sitting in front of the computer. This bright little tree can plug into one of the USB ports on your computer and it will light up and change colours.
When I think about Christmas it is the Christmas tree, all lit up, which comes into my mind first. I love the bright colours, the sparkling ornaments, the smell of everything around the tree as people tended to gather there. We had our tree set up in the front room. Usually, this was the forbidden room. In a house with four children the front room was the fancy room, no kids allowed. But, when it came to family holidays we gathered there, with the fireplace in winter.
We would make so many goodies: pumpkin pie, apple pie, gingerbread, sugar cookies and have them all out there with the tree and the fireplace. My Grandparents (and some of their siblings too) would bring boxes of chocolates and candy canes too. We turned down the electric lights so most of the light came from the colourful lights on the Christmas tree. In the room people chatted, played cards and other games. I can remember the smell of gingerbread, the sound of people and the glow of the tree.
We had an artificial tree because my brother was allergic to the real trees. I never missed the real tree. No pine smell but no dry tree, shedding pine needles either. Plus, we had the same tree each year. Bringing it out was like having a friend come back again each year.
Now, so many years later, most of the family is gone or living far apart in one way or another. I don't mind being alone at Christmas. I have had the kind of family Christmases which people make movies about, so there are a lot of great memories I can look back to. Mainly, I love getting out there and seeing lights and decorations and displays at other houses, other places and being put up and taken down again by other people. I can have my own little Christmas and make it as big or little as I want. I had all my Christmas training. I can now bake the pies, cook the dinner, put up the decorations and enjoy the holiday season in the glow of my own Christmas tree.
Having a little tree just for the computer is a great touch. I can bring Christmas to my desk and have the big tree in the other room too. Every room can have a tree all lit up!