Friday, October 31, 2014

HAPPY HALLOWEEN


Australians don't tend to decorate their houses for Halloween...



perhaps understandable, as it is Springtime here...


the jacarandas are in sumptuous purple bloom all over the city,
and there is nary an Autumn leaf to be seen.

Here are some photos I took a few years ago in Canada:



My daughter and her little boy, trick or treating..












DD made these little ghosts from strawberries, dipped in white chocolate..


and this old Australian favourite, chocolate Freddo Frogs in green jelly..


So, for something spooky, I give you the Australian Redback Spider.
 These spiders tend to live in untidy webs, in dusty corners, close to human habitation. 
They are highly venomous, but you get used to them being around. 
Australians are taught to beware of the webs, shake out shoes which have been left in accessible areas, and leave the spider alone.
 There have been no deaths since the development of an antivenin in 1956.

Happy, Spooky, Halloween!

Have fun...

xx




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25 comments:

  1. MassimoOctober 31, 2014 at 1:53 AM

    can I exchange the spring with the halloween ? :-)
    Happy spring week end !

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    1. PatriciaOctober 31, 2014 at 2:14 AM

      Sure, Massimo, anything is possible in spooky time :)

      Delete
  2. RosemaryOctober 31, 2014 at 3:12 AM

    I think that here in the UK we are what you might call 'on the fringes' where Halloween is concerned.
    I love the way that spider actually wears 'red for danger'.

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    1. PatriciaOctober 31, 2014 at 3:26 PM

      I am grateful that spider has a red mark too, Rosemary. It makes identification very easy, and prevents wrongful accusations towards perfectly innocent little black spiders!

      Delete
  3. Mike@Bit About BritainOctober 31, 2014 at 5:38 AM

    I think in the UK we mark Halloween rather than celebrate it - but it IS a great excuse for daft parties - not necessarily for kids! Oh - and creepy photos, of course... But best wishes for All Saints' Day to you and your readers...

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    1. PatriciaOctober 31, 2014 at 3:28 PM

      Daft parties are good. Mr C's birthday is actually on Halloween, and when he was 40 we had a super costume party - definitely not for kids! Thank you for your kind wishes.

      Delete
  4. Jenny WoolfOctober 31, 2014 at 6:27 AM

    Ummmm.... Definitely have a corny witch than a red back spider, thanks!

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    1. PatriciaOctober 31, 2014 at 3:28 PM

      Agreed - corny witches are far less trouble, Jenny!

      Delete
  5. VallypeeOctober 31, 2014 at 2:49 PM

    I agree with Jenny here! That said, I have never quite 'got' Hallowe'en having grown up in England in the days when Guy Fawkes was *it* and Hallowe'en was practiced more by the Americans. It's not really done so much here in the Netherlands either, but I love all the colours and the autumnal fare.

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    1. PatriciaOctober 31, 2014 at 3:29 PM

      Oh, I remember Guy Fawkes, which has been legislated out of existence in Australia. We loved making a 'guy' and having an enormous bonfire in the back yard.
      That said, we did have a couple of spooky visitors here last night.

      Delete
  6. Jennifer HaysNovember 1, 2014 at 8:29 AM

    That spider is so scary. I hope I never meet one like that! I always enjoy thinking about the opposite seasons we have, how your Christmas is in summer, especially. I hope you had a good Halloween and are having a good weekend.

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    1. PatriciaNovember 1, 2014 at 4:50 PM

      Yes, the redback is satisfyingly scary for Halloween time, I think. The opposite seasons make life interesting, always a very hot Christmas here. One day I would like to see a White Christmas. Off to my Dad's 94th this weekend.

      Delete
  7. Roses, Lace and BrocanteNovember 1, 2014 at 12:49 PM

    Halloween isn't a decorating time for us either Patricia.
    That's such a cute photo of your grandson and his orange bucket in his little costume!
    I remember the gorgeous Jacarandas and the scarey Red Backs from when we lived in Oz... you're right you do get used to them.
    There was a spider we had to look out for in swimming pools too but I've forgotten which one!!
    All Souls Day today, remember our family and friends who have gone before us.
    Enjoy your Sunday
    hugs
    Shane

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    1. PatriciaNovember 1, 2014 at 4:52 PM

      Yes, All Souls day, Shane, and thinking of some friends, recently deceased.
      Of course, you remember the Reds and the Purples - so typical of our region. I don't know the swimming pool spider, but I will watch out for him too. That cute photo of the boy and the bucket is one of my all-time faves - they didn't know I took it!

      Delete
  8. Sarah LizNovember 1, 2014 at 6:37 PM

    At least with the distinctive red mark you know it's a spider to avoid - some poisonous spiders are not quite so obliging in letting you know :)

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    1. PatriciaNovember 2, 2014 at 1:07 AM

      Very helpful, that red mark, especially for all the other spiders who might get accused of being toxic!

      Delete
  9. PatriciaNovember 2, 2014 at 1:05 AM

    Oh dear, I don't like the sound of the hybrid Redback, we don't need that! I have great memories of cracker night too, Val. We loved it, and looked forward to it all year. I like the Autumn seasonal decorations, but not so keen on the ghoulish stuff either. We did hand out sweeties to treat or treaters for a few years, but found it quite tiresome - one year almost 100 kids came to our door. This year I turned off the front lights and ignored them!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rustic Vintage CountryNovember 3, 2014 at 1:54 AM

    I think the scariest part of your post is the Redback.....yuk! I'm fully aware of it though as hubs spent many years over in Australia before coming back to the UK. Suzy x

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    1. PatriciaNovember 3, 2014 at 1:59 PM

      Redback succeeded in its mission to scare!
      Perhaps hubs learnt the classic Australian way to deal with them - hit with a rubber thong (sandal) :)

      Delete
  11. DarlaNovember 3, 2014 at 5:42 AM

    Would not be happy to encounter that spider. I'd enjoy one of those ghost strawberries though.

    Darla

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    1. PatriciaNovember 3, 2014 at 2:00 PM

      The ghost strawberries are absolutely delicious Darla, as you have rightly noticed :)

      Delete
  12. Amy at love made my homeNovember 3, 2014 at 5:55 AM

    Lovely to see your Canadian Halloween memories and to see signs of spring coming up in Australia too. xx

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    1. PatriciaNovember 3, 2014 at 2:01 PM

      Hi Amy, Spring was really nice for a few weeks, but moved on to Summer with scorching heat the past days. All my flowers died! Hoping for rain and we'll get more blooms. xx

      Delete
  13. LindaNovember 4, 2014 at 4:32 PM

    Gorgeous Gerberas...
    I am jealous!
    Enjoy your week...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    Replies
    1. PatriciaNovember 4, 2014 at 11:13 PM

      Thanks Linda, that Gerbera is the best, so prolific!
      cheers :))

      Delete

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