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Wednesday, November 25
Tomorrow is
THANKSGIVING!
Take tomorrow and Friday off to relax and enjoy a little R&R.
We will resume Zooms on Monday after our 4 day long weekend!
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
It was a nice and relaxing Art Club before the holiday break. Everyone enjoyed each other's company while coloring in a picture of their choosing.
Who's YOUR Turkey Soulmate?
Farm Sanctuary is giving you the special opportunity to find your turkey match! Which one of their rescued turkeys is most like you? Take the quiz below to find yourself your turkey twin!
~*~
https://www.farmsanctuary.org/news-stories/quiz-whos-your-turkey-soulmate
What is a Pumpion Pie?
What is a Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie? It's a seasonal staple, but do you know how far back this dreamy dessert dates?
I can tell you one thing: It certainly did not resemble the pie we know and eat today.
Tasting History is a unique cooking show that teaches you how to cook old time dishes with a history lesson interspersed beside the recipe. "Pumpion" was an archaic word for "pumpkin," and it shows. This recipe is from 1670!
If you are not a fan of the typical custard style pumpkin pie this might be a game changer. It resembles more of a fruit pie than its contemporary cousin and is filled with a variety of different sweet ingredients, apples included.
Be sure to listen as he dives into the history of pumpkin pie and how although pumpkin pie was not on the Pilgrim's dinner plates that pumpkin certainly was!
Arashi says: "I've got a couple lovely little pumpions right here!"
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Purple Cup Poll
If you're still interested in learning more about Thanksgiving or want to do some crafts, learn Native American prayers, and even learn more historic recipes then check out Many Hoops.
It is a resource site full of incredible information regarding Thanksgiving from a Native's perspective.
Monday, November 23
Purple Cup Poll!
You have until WEDNESDAY to take the Purple Cup Poll!
*~*
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
You can answer the survey HERE.
Cranberry Day: A local, tribal holiday
Martha's Vineyard is home to a very unique holiday called Cranberry Day that is celebrated on the second Tuesday of October by the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe.
This video informs us a little about this local holiday while also teaching us a simple indigenous game of chance called Hubbub. For even more information about Cranberry Day you can check out the link below!
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2017/10/09/every-october-marthas-vineyard-celebrate-cranberry-day/ideas/essay/
This holiday while we enjoy our cranberry sauce let us think back to the people and the land who cultivated and cherished these tasty fruits before us.
Did you know?
Cranberries are very closely related to blueberries. They are close cousins and are in fact not even berries at all but a class known as "epigynous" or "false berries." Unlike a true berry, the fruit grows from beneath the rest of the flower parts, and as the fruit ripens the flower stays attached and ripens as well.
Cranberries are also hollow. This is why they float while blueberries do not!
GUESS THIS:
Can you identify these strange objects?
All of these objects have some connection to Thanksgiving. Do you know what each object is and how it relates to the holiday?
The answers will be revealed on tomorrow's website posting, so don't give it away to people who are still guessing!
Object #1
Object #2
Object #3
Check back tomorrow for the answers!
Friday, November 20
Newsletter Update!
Today is the due date for all submissions for the October/November Newsletter! If you have anything left to submit then please e-mail them directly to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com)!
If all goes according to schedule the Newsletter should be out next week before Thanksgiving!
Purple Cup Poll
What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
2020 Celebration for the Turkeys
Tomorrow Saturday, November 21 from 2 PM to 3 PM Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal sanctuary and rescue, will be hosting its free virtual Celebration for the Turkeys. It does require registration beforehand!
~*~
Each November, we set aside time to reflect on the profound gratitude we have for the rescued animals who live at Farm Sanctuary.
Our Celebration for the Turkeys event features guest presentations and culminates in our famous “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony where we treat the turkeys to a celebratory feast. We hope you and your friends and family will join us virtually this year for this beloved tradition!
Saturday, November 21:
2 - 3 pm ET / 11 am - 12 pm PT
https://www.farmsanctuary.org/events/celebration-for-the-turkeys/
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be coloring in print-out sheets!
Participants will require one or two coloring pages and whatever they'd like to use to color them in with.
You can download the print-out sheets here!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This week's movie recommendation comes from Meg with the Netflix exclusive documentary My Octopus Teacher!
"This documentary follows filmmaker Craig Foster as he spends a year with a wild common octopus living in a cove off of South Africa. This film will amaze you as you discover so many mind blowing things about these incredible creatures. You will be in awe of the filmmaker who can hold his breath under water for a really long time while he observes and earns the trust of the octopus. They visit every day, and she reaches out to touch him and they become friends. I learned so much and even realized that the antics of Hank, the hilarious octopus in Finding Nemo, were based on real octopus behaviors. I highly recommend this film! It's one you won't forget!." - Meg
Thursday, November 19
You are getting very sleepy...
Do you believe in hypnosis? Albert Nerenberg is a famous hypnotist and filmmaker. Here upon the TEDX stage he explains the concept and power of hypnotism to an unwitting audience while giving them the greatest demonstration he can, hypnotizing them live and on stage! Looks like we have kung fu masters in the making.
So what does hypnotism have to do with chickens, The Matrix, and cats scared of cucumbers? Watch and all will be revealed.
Arashi says: "I am getting... very sleepy... WOOF. WOOF WOOF! BARK!!."
Wednesday, November 18
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Phyllis lead the Art Club gang in making custom napkin ring holders for Thanksgiving day! These will look great and festive wherever people put them.
"C" is for Conciliation
... I mean, Cookies!
If Monday's joke recipe got you down then we are here to make it up to you. How about a cookie?
These tasty treats are called World Peace Cookies because "if everyone in the world could have these cookies, there would be planetary peace." They are naturally vegan and superbly chocolatey to boot. Many thanks to Cindy for this submission!
Ingredients:
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1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
-
1/3 cup cocoa powder
-
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons (11 tablespoons; 5 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
-
2/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
-
1/4 cup sugar
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1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
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1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chip-size bits, or an equal amount of store bought chocolate mini-chips
Yield: Makes about 36 cookies
Time: 12 minutes cooking
For the complete step-by-step recipe check out this link HERE!
https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2016/11/23/world-peace-cookies
Recipe for
World Peace Cookies
Thin and crispy, soft and chewy, or cakey? What is your preferred type of chocolate chip cookie?
This short video demonstrates how to get exactly the type of chocolate chip cookie you prefer each and every time. Cookie perfection!
Tuesday, November 17
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Politics and Government! Share with us the sign for anything to do with government!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
2 New Species of Marsupials Discovered in Australia
What looks like a fantasy creature made by Pixar or possibly even the world's fluffiest stuffed animal?
A recent study has determined that the Greater Glider is not actually a single species like they thought... but 3 different ones! This has lead to the discovery of 2 new marsupial species.
Scientists initially figured the differences in size, color, and physiology meant these animals were simply part of a subspecies rather than a different group, but that is actually not the case. Through the use of DNA sequencing they discovered how different they really are.
The Greater Gliders, as we now know, are 3 distinct species. Like their name suggests they are capable of gliding short distances. Like koalas they are tree-dwelling and feast only upon eucalyptus leaves. They have a wide distribution around Australia and are roughly the size of a possum.
The 3 types of Greater Gliders are the Petauroides minor (top left), Petauroides armillatus (bottom left), and Petauroides volans (right).
Unfortunately they are very vulnerable due to habitat loss.
“Australia’s biodiversity just got a lot richer,” said co-author Professor Andrew Krockenberge, a researcher in the Division of Research and Innovation at James Cook University. “It’s not every day that new mammals are confirmed, let alone two new mammals.”
~*~
To learn more about this incredible new discovery check out these links below!
http://www.sci-news.com/biology/three-greater-glider-species-09031.html
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/australia/australia-discover-marsupial-glider-species-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html
Did You Know?
The Virginia opossum (more commonly known as the North American opossum) is the only marsupial found North of Mexico. In the United States it's typically referred to just as a "possum," so it's correct to call it either.
They are solitary, nocturnal animals. If you're lucky you might even get to spot a mama carpooling her family of joeys (baby possums) on her back!
Monday, November 16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COURTY!!
Yesterday was Courty's birthday! Happy birthday, Courty!
It's Pandamonium!
If you think your job is tough take a look at the life of a zookeeper in China tasked with maintaining the giant panda house! I guess if it's adorable it gets a pass, right?
Did You Know?
These are, of course, baby pandas. A full grown panda can reach about the size of an American black bear, about 4-6 feet long and up to 250 pounds.
Giant pandas are an endangered species of bear found only in China.
Although belonging to the order Carnivora, pandas are folivores. This means they're herbivores that specialize in eating leaves. Bamboo shoots make up 99% of their diet, but they will occasionally eat other grasses, wild tubers, and even meat like birds, rodents, or carrion.
How would you feel eating just one singular food 99% of the time? Leave it to the pandas to know how to enjoy a good salad.
Recipe for a
Panda Salad
Ingredients:
-
12 Shoots of Bamboo
Wash, dry, and loosely chop your bamboo. Toss together in a bowl then enjoy!
Friday, November 13
Subh Diwali
Happy Diwali, the Festival of Lights!
This Saturday, November 14th marks the first day of a five day holiday known as Diwali! Some of you might remember Diwali from when Cindy's friend Leena came to LES a couple years back to teach us about the holiday and show us how to make traditional Diwali sand art called rangoli.
Diwali is a holiday celebrated across four different religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Each religion has different meanings behind the holiday, but each observance is about light and the triumph of good over evil.
Diwali Memories
If you are interested in participating in a Diwali celebration the Common Street Spiritual Center in Natick is hosting an online event this Sunday, November 15 at 10:30 AM.
"Diwali is the Indian festival of lights symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. All are welcome to join us for an inclusive, online celebration of this festival led by Swati Dave and other local Hindu leaders.
The service will include shloka and bhajan (prayer and devotional songs), performances by children and youth, a talk on Diwali and its significance, including a demo of customary sweets, and finally a discussion on what Diwali means in these times."
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be making Thanksgiving napkin rings!
Participants will only require the special provided materials, tape (or a stapler), and markers!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This week's movie recommendation comes from Courty with the 1987 War/Comedy Good Morning Vietnam! It stars Robin Williams as radio funny man Adrian Cronauer who was sent to Vietnam to bring a little comedy into the lives of the soldiers. It can be rented online through most major streaming services or for free on Amazon or Hulu if you have Cinemax.
"It's about he Vietnam War. I like it because it's funny." - Courty
Thursday, November 12
No, you aren't in a time loop. It's not Halloween again.
Time to Schüttel deinen Speck!
Lauren's friend Leah just uploaded her witchy flashmob dance onto YouTube for all of us to see! If you recall, this is a fun little dance people do to celebrate the German Springtime holiday of Walpurgis Night. Leah is the one in the middle.
The name of the song is "Schüttel deinen Speck" which translates to "shake your bacon." Dressing up as witches to a choreographed dance together to this song has become a fun tradition that people adopted to celebrate both Walpurgis Night in Germany and Halloween in the US.
Witches Word Search
Keep your groove going with this Witches Word Search that you can print out or play online!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/661722/witchery-stuff/
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Art Club prepped for Turkey Day with some cute little Thanksgiving cards! Gobble gobble!
Hugo the pony had a great birthday last Tuesday! This picture is from Horse SenseAbility's Facebook fundraiser for him. Check out their main page for even more pictures and a video of him with his goat buddy Nate enjoying a special birthday cake treat!
Join Ian and the Acoustic Jam at Mazi
TONIGHT!
Tonight at 6:00 PM at Mazi in Ashland!
It will be a live acoustic jam session with Ian singing.
Come on down!
https://www.maziashland.com/
Tuesday, November 10
Reminder that tomorrow is
VETERAN'S DAY
so we have that day off!
Enjoy your holiday, and we will see you all back on Thursday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN!!
Today is Lauren's 32nd birthday! Wahoo!
(It's also Hugo the pony's birthday today too!)
These are a few of their Favorite Foods
With all the talks about politics and what has been going on in our government these past few weeks it's easy to get burned out, but consider this one thing about any president: What are (or were) their favorite foods? Here is a highlight of just a few.
• 30th president of the United States Calvin Coolidge had a soft spot for pickles. He "had a sour reputation, and eating habits to match; he was said to constantly nibble on various foods, and most frequently pickles. He and first lady Grace Coolidge were also early American adopters of Chinese cuisine, thanks to a live-in steward who hailed from China."
• Ronald Reagan must have really loved Easter because he had a hardcore case of the jelly bean munchies. He "first started eating jelly beans as he attempted to stop smoking, and he soon had an uncontrollable jelly bean habit that necessitated keeping a jar on hand at all time. His fondness for the candy led to an unofficial partnership with the Jelly Belly candy company during his time in the Oval Office."
• Believe it or not, even the 18th century had macaroni and cheese and president Thomas Jefferson was a big fan. "After spending time in France he brought back a number of new foodie favorites with him when he returned to America - including ice cream and french fries. His top Franco-dish, however, appeared to be macaroni and cheese - or as he called it, “nouilly á maccaroni.”
• It takes a New Englander to truly appreciate great New England cuisine, and John F. Kennedy showed his admiration through the down-to-earth classic New England fish chowder. "JFK was never reported to have much of an appetite, but he always saved room for a bowl of soup with his lunch, and more often that not he chose New England fish chowder, or more accurately, “chowdah.” Seafood was also a dinnertime favorite for the president."
To check out every president's favorite meals and munchies click HERE!
https://www.ranker.com/list/presidents-favorite-foods/stephanroget?
Monday, November 9
Selfie Game on Point
(Or on Paw-nt)
You might remember Simone Giertz from a TED Talk we all watched together a while back about "Why You Should Make Useless Things." It's pretty clear to see she's been following her own advice on her YouTube channel. She's done everything from turning her Tesla car into a pick-up truck to building a musical instrument out of 12 pairs of chattering plastic teeth. Useless things, right?
Well her latest invention might just be the best one yet: a dog selfie booth. Can Simone build a pooch-sized photo booth and teach her 3-legged dog Scraps how to take his own picture? Watch the video to find out!
Spoiler: It uses A LOT of Lego bricks!
You can check out Simone's channel full of more crazy builds and and science antics HERE.
Do you remember Stella the talking dog who could form entire sentences? She uses a similar button pressing method to communicate her thoughts and feelings.
Friday, November 6
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVELYN!!
Tomorrow, November 7 is Ev's 35th birthday!
We will be spending today's afternoon Zooms honoring and celebrating with treats and games!
~*~
• During today's 12 PM Lunch with Lewis we are having a BYOT (Bring Your Own Treat). Bring along something special to eat with your lunch as we wish Ev a very happy birthday.
• At 1 PM we will be playing games (her favorite thing next to chocolate) instead of our usual trivia day.
Sweet Treats in a Beat
Unfortunately we are unable to serve everyone a piece of cake, but as you might soon learn making your very own might just be, well, a piece of cake! If you don't have a sweet treat on standby and are craving that birthday experience then these super quick and super easy (and super delicious) mug cakes might be right for you. They don't use very many ingredients and bake up in your microwave in a minute. A warm, fresh cup of cake each and every time, and some recipes are even gluten free!
~*~
For the written instructions and measured ingredients for all of these recipes you can check out the Bigger Bolder Baking website below.
https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/1-minute-microwave-mug-cakes/
Are you vegan or just out of eggs? Check out this Egg Substitution Chart for your next recipe!
Nothing could ever compare to Ev's decadent triple chocolate Ghirardelli brownies. If you're craving something to really hit that chocolate spot then a 1 minute mug brownie might be more up your alley.
This is an egg free recipe by default! Add in some chocolate chips or nuts for a truly rich experience.
Join Ian and the Acoustic Jam at Mazi
TOMORROW NIGHT!
Tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM at Mazi in Ashland!
It will be a live acoustic jam session with Ian singing.
Come on down!
https://www.maziashland.com/
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be making Thanksgiving cards!
Participants will need a white or light colored piece of paper, colored construction paper (brown, yellow, red, and orange preferred), glue stick or tape, a pencil, and markers!
Looking for brown paper? A brown paper lunch bag or shopping bag from Roche Bros. does the trick!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This week Bobby brings us a blast from the past with the 1978 Musical/Romance film Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. What happens when the girl next door arrives at her new school only to meet back up with her Summer fling who also happens to be roughneck greaser? Worlds and cliques collide with singing, dancing, and forbidden love abound! It can be watched on Netflix or rented through most major streaming services.
"I like Danny Zuko and Sandy and all of the characters. I also like the music. You’ll like." - Bobby
Thursday, November 5
It's all in the
HANDS
"Don't shake hands!' this and "don't touch your face!" that. We're pretty sick of these new ways of life that we've adapted to over the past months, but is there a chance we might not go back to some of our old customs? Perhaps there is a reason we may want to permanently adopt these new strategies we've developed.
Also when was the handshake invented and why exactly do we do it?
All of these questions and more are answered in the video above.
♪
I want to hold your hand~!
♫
But fear not! There are ways to control your environment without having to touch it with your hands. What if you just touched it with your brainwaves instead? Greg Gage is a neuroscientist and is out to teach the world that brain science is accessible to all. Here he demonstrates a fun and slightly unnerving way (that was a biology joke) how one person's brain (and hand) can control someone else's!
Arashi says: "I'm still learning, but I think I'll get hand holding right someday."
Wednesday, November 4
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
During this week's Art Club everyone colored in a coloring sheet of their choosing!
Some participated in group while others completed theirs on their own.
Travis Roy &
The Art of Practicing Gratitude
(Thank you Cindy for this video submission.)
Travis Roy sadly passed away last Thursday, October 29th at the age of 45. He was an ice hockey player who, only 11 seconds into his first game for Boston University, suffered a debilitating injury that left most of his body paralyzed. Since his injury he went on to become both an author as well as a philanthropist.
He also gave an incredible talk upon the TED stage only a year ago. What is it that makes you appreciate life? Is it cozying up with a nice new book, eating your favorite food for lunch, preparing a meal for family or friends, or simply letting the sun shine in through your window on a particularly bright day? These are life's simple pleasures and in them, as Travis explains, we can start feeling more gratitude about the life and the world we live in.
In 1997 he formed the Travis Roy Foundation, an organization that helps spinal cord injury survivors and funds research toward a cure. If you are interested in checking out or offering support to the foundation then you can learn more at this link below.
https://www.travisroyfoundation.org/
Take the time now to truly consider your life's gratitudes. This ties directly into the theme of our upcoming newsletter about Gratitude and Thanks.
With this fresh on your mind take the time to consider: "What are you most thankful for?"
Tuesday, November 3
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Science! Share with us the sign for anything to do with science!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
NASA's Big Moonlit Discovery
Last Saturday was a super rare Halloween blue moon, so what could possibly top moon news like that?
If you are thirsty the last place you'd think to look for a drink is the moon, and rightfully so. Not only is it a bit of a drive but it's also never shown to have ever had water on its surface before.
But just the other week NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (or SOFIA) confirmed, for the very first time, water on the sunlit surface of the moon!
“We had indications that H2O – the familiar water we know – might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon,” said Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration.”
To learn more information about this incredible discovery and what it means to science and space travel check out this article HERE!
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-sofia-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-moon/
Planets Word Search
Looking for something to do? Then check out this NASA Vocabulary Words Word Search that you can print out or play online!
https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/116637/nasa-vocabulary-words-n-s/
Monday, November 2
Newsletter Prompt!
It's now November which means that our October/November Newsletter will be coming out soon! The theme of this newsletter is Gratitude and Thanks. Each individual will receive the prompt: "What are you most thankful for?" which will be featured on a page in the newsletter. We will be reaching out to you to gather your answers, but if you would like to send in your response directly then feel free to e-mail it to Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com)!
For those who have articles or segments to submit, we would like to have everything done and in by no later than Friday, November 20th.
One more day until
ELECTION DAY
Tomorrow is November 3rd, Election Day! Whether you have voted by mail, dropped your ballot off at a ballot box, went to early voting, or are planning to vote in person the day of, tomorrow is the day our nation completes their civic duty and submits their final say.
Your voices COUNT!
There's no better spokesperson we can think of than Courty to help get you riled up to vote! He submitted his ballot during early voting just last week.
No matter who you vote for, where your values lie, and the choices you make, it is your time to make those choices and make a difference.
So how did we get here? How exactly did we come up with the concept of electing a president as the head of our country? This video explains where our democracy originated from and how a president is to be decided.
Okay, but what is the electoral college? We've heard its name tossed about on election day, but the concept can sometimes be confusing. How does the electoral college come into play when tallying up your vote, and in what ways does it benefit or harm some people's votes?
If you plan to watch the tallies roll in, this knowledge is beneficial to understanding how our presidency is selected!
Friday, October 30
Once in a
BLUE MOON...
This year the night of Halloween not only falls on a full moon (the first full moon on October 31st in 76 years!) but it'll also be a Blue Moon!
What is a Blue Moon? It is when two full moons fall in the same month. The first was the harvest moon on October 1st. The moon, unfortunately, does not actually appear blue.
Saturday's full moon will peak at around 10:49 AM but will look full the night before and the night after. To learn more check out this link HERE.
Also don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings Time too... and watch out for those werewolves.
It's All Hallows' Eve Eve!
That's a mouthful. Here are a few final videos that might interest and entertain those anticipating Halloween night.
Curious to learn how we got from old Halloween traditions to where we are now? Mina Le goes over a brief history of Halloween's origins before taking a deep dive into costuming traditions of the holiday that started over a hundred years ago. How did we go from dressing up in grass to sexy Spongebob? Watch and you will find out.
Fair warning, there is one segment that touches on racist depictions in costumes so bear that in mind if you are sensitive to this subject matter!
Music Club-ers might appreciate learning about this miraculous and strange musical instrument called the Apprehension Engine.
Have you ever watched a scary movie or scene and heard a sound that sent shivers up and down your spine? It's very likely you just heard sounds produced by this instrument. Maybe seeing their source will make them seem a lot less scary.
To learn even more check out the history and making of the Apprehension Engine here!
Disney parks are the most magical places on Earth, so how could they possibly be frightening? If you're a fan of visiting these places then you might be interested in learning about some of the scariest animatronic displays Disney parks all over the world have to offer. If you have "Submechaniphobia," or the fear of manmade objects submerged in water, then this may not be the video for you!
Purple Cup Survey Responses!
You spoke and we listened. This is what everybody had to say.
What is your favorite Halloween candy?
• Candy corn
• Plain M&Ms
• Hershey's bar
• Candy corn and 3 Musketeers
• Reeses, candy corn, and those little tin-foiled offbrand chocolates with the rice crunchies inside
• Reeses
• Raisins and fruit leather
• Mini chocolate bars
• Reeses Peanutbutter Cups, Reeses Fast Break, Snickers, and 3 Musketeers
• Sour Gummies
• Chocolate
Next Art Club Project
Next Tuesday for Art Club we will be coloring in print-out sheets!
Participants will require one or two coloring pages and whatever they'd like to use to color them in with.
You can download the print-out sheets here!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Cal saw last Tuesday's website post and remembered a time when tomatoes actually were terrifying in the 1978 parody horror film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! A spoof of classic B movies and made on a shoe-string budget, the story involves tomatoes who become sentient through unknown means and begin to revolt against humanity. It can be watched on Amazon Prime and rented through many streaming services.
"If you like tomatoes this will give you nightmares. This movie doesn’t have normal horror film monsters. It has an unusual band of heroes fighting the tomatoes. The leader of the unlikely heroes owns a pizza joint." - Cal
Thursday, October 29
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELISABETH!!
Let's have everybody wish her a very happy birthday today!
What is Dia de los Muertos?
And why is it not "Mexican Halloween?"
Dia de los Muertos (Spanish for "Day of the Dead") is a two day Mexican holiday that begins on November 1. From our perspective we might see the skulls, reverence of the dead, and colorful displays as Halloween, but that is not the case. It's actually tied closer to All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, but its cultural origins lie much deeper in indigenous customs and rituals.
Just like we learned Walpurgis Night isn't German Halloween, Day of the the Dead isn't Mexican Halloween either.
Then what is Day of the Dead? It's a time for those who have passed on to be celebrated and honored. Special alters called ofrendas are decorated with pictures as well as some of the favorite foods of the person they are honoring. People make colorful skulls out of sugar for decoration as well as treats. They even visit cemeteries because it is said that this is the one night the dead are allowed to walk with their loved ones on Earth once again!
Remember Disney's film Coco? That movie explored much of the culture and celebration of the holiday.
If you are interested in watching more great films about Dia de los Muertos then I recommend checking out the 2014 film The Book of Life as well!
Purple Cup Survey!
You still have until TOMORROW to take the Purple Cup!
*~*
What is your favorite Halloween candy?
You can answer the survey HERE.
Wednesday, October 28
Purple Cup Survey!
You still have until FRIDAY to take the Purple Cup Survey!
*~*
What is your favorite Halloween candy?
You can answer the survey HERE.
Art Club: Gallery Showcase
Yesterday Art Club learned how to turn simple shapes into different Halloween drawings. Perfect for cards, decorations, or just fun!
Halloween is around the corner, but if you aren't sure how to celebrate this year don't fret! Holidays are a state of mind. Consider doing some of these ideas to keep your spirits thinking about spirits!
Decorate, Bake a cake,
Time to Celebrate!
LESers will recognize these familiar faces. If you're looking for a simple yet effective Halloween decoration and craft this year then think back to our yearly milk jug Jack-O'-Lanterns. Clean the jug out, draw on any face of your choosing with markers, and drop in a glowstick or string lights!
Want to make it extra spiffy? Fill the jug up with water (food color optional) then add your glowstick.
You don't have to be a props expert to make amazing monster window silhouettes. Cardboard, poster board, and even just simple paper can make a really cool looking decoration to hang in your window this season.
Trace your monster shape around anything you'd like and cut it out with scissors. Then simply tape it to your window to make your neighbors scream! You could also trace pumpkins, tombstones, ghosts, or anything else you like.
The YouTube video provides a link to two PDFs you can use to trace both the monster and the bat.
Here's Lauren's version she made out of a Cheerio's box! Spine-chilling and it might lower your cholesterol.
It's possible you've seen (or heard) something of Aurelio Voltaire's. He's a musician, comic book author, animator, and now YouTube star. (Lauren's also had the pleasure of meeting him in person!) It's no secret Halloween is his reason for the season.
In this episode of Gothic Homemaking Voltaire shows us how to make a very easy No-Bake Black Forest Cemetery Dirt Parfait!
If you're looking for something to really get your spirits up why not also check out these Halloween Cocktails you can make at home?
And if booze isn't your thing he's got a recipe for Warm Mulled Apple Cider too!
But honestly the best way to enjoy Halloween is to bask in the ambience of the season. There's no better way to do this than with the array of ambient Fall videos available for free on YouTube. Pop one of these on in the background and suddenly your day is a lot more magical.
Some great YouTube channels to check out for this are:
Calmed By Nature
Autumn Cozy and Cozy Autumn
and Relaxation Zone!
Tuesday, October 27
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is Halloween! Share with us the sign for anything to do with this weekend's holiday, Halloween!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Everyone's Favorite
Poison Apple
Okay, for real now. I will post something truly frightening. I bet you've eaten this poisonous fruit and never realized it before (and even enjoyed it!).
BEHOLD! The deadly...
Tomato?...
Okay, what gives this time?
If you can believe it, tomatoes were once given the nickname "Poisonous Apples" in Europe after they had just recently been introduced from the new world. Watch this short video to find out why and see what got everyone over their fear of this juicy little fruit.
If you'd like to get more facts then check out this article here that goes into even deeper details.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-the-tomato-was-feared-in-europe-for-more-than-200-years
Imagine... a world without pizza. Now that is a truly frightening thought.
Did You Know?
There is a part of a real apple that actually is truly deadly.
"[A]s you bite deep into an apple, you are confronted with something not so sweet in its core: tiny black seeds. Unlike the sweet tang of the fruit, the tiny black seeds are another story. They contain amygdalin, a substance that releases cyanide when it comes into contact with human digestive enzymes." But don't worry! "Acute toxicity is rare if you accidentally eat some of the seeds."
Click here to find out just how many apple seeds are enough to actually harm you.
Spoiler: It's a lot.
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/are-apple-seeds-poisonous
Purple Cup Survey
What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Monday, October 26
Be prepared for the scariest and most frightening thing you have seen all day! BEHOLD! Fearsome beings of the night!
Dracula, is that you?
Sorry, guys. Wrong video.
But lucky for you you may have learned that bats aren't necessarily the frightening figures we've come to associate them to be. There are a lot of misconceptions about the world's only flying mammal, and I think it's about time we set things straight!
Bats play vital roles in our world's ecosystem. Even though we closely connect bats to vampires and "drinking blood," there are only three types of bats out of the 1,200 species around that actually drinks blood. Almost all of the rest feed off fruit, plant nectar, and the bugs we don't want around (like mosquitoes).
Let's give these little misunderstood guardians of the night the proper recognition they deserve!
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