The Pumpkin Formerly Known as Cinderella's Carriage

You all know the story of Cinderella.

When poor Cinderella wanted to go to the ball,
her Fairy Godmother appeared...

...and turned a pumpkin...

...into a carriage.

The trick was that, at midnight, the carriage
would turn back into a pumpkin.

Cinderella overcame all that.

She married the Prince and moved to the

big castle on the hill.

And her pumpkin returned to the pumpkin patch.

But the pumpkin had already experienced much

in her short life.  She had, after all, observed

a royal ball with dancing, champagne sipped from slippers

and a lot of tasty hors d'oeuvres.

So the next time a fairy godmother came through, 

Cinderella's pumpkin made a request.

Each night, at midnight, she would turn into a ghostly skeleton.

She could dance all night... 

...with werewolves and vampires...

...and other exciting creatures of the night.

Then, as the sun rose over the pumpkin patch...

...Cinderella's pumpkin would become a pumpkin once more.

She is available on etsy.

Fill her slipper with champagne and she may follow you home.

Cinderella's Castle
By Olszewski Studios [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


Pumpkin Patch photo by JR Conlin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64368327@N00



Ghost Tree
Photo by John-Morgan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24742305@N00

The Humpbacks are Coming! The Humpbacks are Coming!

In recent weeks, Humpback whales are being spotted up and down the US Pacific coastline in great numbers.  Why?

Because there's plenty to eat close to shore.  Robert Pitman, a marine biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in La Jolla, said humpbacks typically feed offshore but will occasionally come close to shore in search of small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines.

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/08/24/2198560/humpbacks-are-in-big-supply-off.html#storylink=cpy

What's more, the humpback population is rebounding.  Biologists estimate the population of humpback whales in the northern Pacific Ocean to be 20,000, according to Pitman. That is close to the number of whales before they were systematically hunted in the 1800s.

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/08/24/2198560/humpbacks-are-in-big-supply-off.html#storylink=cpy

Humpback whales have been on the federal endangered species list but, due to the recent surge. However, they have rebounded to the point the federal government is in the process of de-listing them.

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/08/24/2198560/humpbacks-are-in-big-supply-off.html#storylink=cpy

Apparently there is currently an abundance of fish in the offshore waters.  In addition to the humpbacks, dozens of dolphins and seals as well as hundreds of brown pelicans have been feeding on the bait fish.

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/08/24/2198560/humpbacks-are-in-big-supply-off.html#storylink=cpy

Blue whales, the largest of all existing creatures,apparently, are also on the rebound,  Big as they are, blue whales feed on itty bitty krill... which also appears to be in abundance this year.

(I'm not a humpback whale.  I'm a killer whale.)

Whales charms to celebrate

on etsy and eBay

Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/08/24/2198560/humpbacks-are-in-big-supply-off.html#storylink=cpy

Everything You Wanted to Know About Candy Corn (But Were Afraid to Ask)

• October 30th is National Candy Corn Day 

• One serving of candy corn contains only about 140 calories 

 

• Candy corn has 3.57 calories per kernel 

• More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces -- enough to circle the moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end. 

• Halloween accounts for 75% of the annual candy corn production 

• A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins. 

• Candy Corn was invented by George Renninger and produced by the Wunderlee Candy Company in the  1880's. In 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company, now  Jelly Belly Candy Company, started mass producing the candy, but, due to the lack of machinery, it was only made available seasonally from March to November. Its recipe has remained unchanged. 

• Candy corn isn't just for Halloween there is also:
  • Reindeer corn for Christmas (red, green, and white)
  • Indian corn (it's chocolate and vanilla flavored)
  • Cupid corn for Valentine's Day (red, pink, and white)
  • Bunny corn for Easter (pastel-colored)
  
  
• 
  
  Candy corn bracelets, earrings, and necklaces can be found in my eBay and etsy shops.
  
  

Goddess Garden - a Venus of Willendorf Bouuquet

Though the real one's carved of limestone

And this Venus of rose quartz

It's a better choice of gemstone

'Cause it rhymes with Willendorf.

(kind of)

Venus of Willendorf pendant is available on etsy