It is believed that the idea of the Jack O’ Lantern comes from an Irish folktale about Stingy Jack, a man who invited the Devil to have a drink with him. Not wanting to pay for the drinks, Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin so that the drinks could be paidRead more
National Bat Week is October 24 – 31! Since 2015 Bat Week has brought attention to the importance of these unique mammals, as well as the threats they face. Though feared and mistrusted, bats are shy and gentle as well as important to our survival. Bats help agriculture Bats are wonderful pollinators and help ensureRead more
What’s worse than steeping on a Lego? Stepping on a Jack. What’s a Jack? Something that kept me entertained for hours as a kid. A jack is a 6-pronged object which typically has four rounded ends and two pointed. It is a simple game, one that can be played alone or with a partner, andRead more
My kids and their cousins are reaching the age where we are once again seeing a flurry of engagement announcements and all the excitement wedding planning brings. A common tradition, the bridal shower, has been updated to match the times, but there are some other rather strange traditions that have held on. Some of theseRead more
We have been celebrating birthdays lately (and have another coming up soon), so we have had our dining room “lit up” on a couple occasions. With the family getting older, the room keeps getting brighter and there is less room on the cake. (Maybe we need bigger cakes.) Having a cake with candles isRead more
I just learned that we are halfway through National Moth Week. We have an entire week to celebrate moths! As interesting as I find this, as someone who suffers from lepidopterophobia, this is an event I will observe from afar. (My fear of butterflies stems from a relative’s misguided attempts at humor when I wasRead more
Every July, we go and sit with thousands of others to watch our local fireworks display. Since our town’s display has the distinction of being “The Best in the ‘Burbs,” and has for as long as I can remember, everyone goes, so we go early, to make sure we have a place to sitRead more
Carnival season is upon us and soon we will be seeing pop-up amusement centers in parking lots and the strange sight of rides on trailers on highways. Most prominent of these of course is the Ferris wheel, which in most cases can be seen for miles and is the first sign of a carnival inRead more
The attraction of soap bubbles is nearly universal. They are delicate and colorful. It is almost impossible to watch someone blowing bubbles and not smile. The temptation to reach out for them, whether to pop or catch them, is almost irresistible. Their unique properties have been the subject of study for both scientists and mathematicians.Read more
The hula hoop is a deceptively simple device that has remained popular for centuries. It has been used as a toy, exercise device and a tool to learn life skills. As early as 1000 BC, Egyptian children used hoops made of grapevines to play, either rolling them with a stick or spinning them around theirRead more