The big day is finally here and I am looking forward

to the little trick or treaters to come knocking on my

door this evening.  We get some not-so-little trick or

treaters too but I figure if they’re brave enough to dress

up they deserve some candy.  We have two distinct bowls

to hold the candy (and two types of candy – may contain

nuts and nut-free).  One of the bowls is a black bowl with

half an arm clad in a purple sleeve and holding a wand

attached to it.

When someone takes candy from it a voice intones “Go0d choice”

or “Your future looks sweet” and other not too scary sentences

as the arm waves the wand over the bowl.  The other isn’t

technically a bowl but a replica of a skull with an opening cranium

and eye sockets that light up with red lights.  When someone

takes candy from the scull, it says “Happy Hallowe’en!” in a

scary voice.  I have to make sure I don’t offer it to very small

children as it could be quite frightening.

After the trick or treating is done for the evening, we join our

neighbours on the corner and one of the dads sets off fireworks

(we all chip in some money so we get quite a nice display).

The adults chat and imbibe and the kids run around working off

all the sugar they’ve consumed.  Luckily our street is a dead-end

and we don’t really get any traffic so it is fairly safe to stand

in the street, watch fireworks and hang out.

Hope you have a happy (and safe) Hallowe’en

too.

Dot

PS In case you’re wondering, one of my favourite books around

Hallowe’en time is:

Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance

9780811854528  $8.50

Chronicle Books/Raincoast