Gun-Powder Trees on a Plot

Lots of celebrations at this time of year - obviously to off-set the snow we expect. Maybe 5 months. Maybe 6.

First off was Hallowe'en. T, naturally, dressed as a princess. Here the emphasis is on cuteness and candy, rather than gore and cash. T is the one who complains about walking precisely five minutes after we start. Strangely, that evening, she managed two hours. Luckily, the weather was a balmy top 60s, which meant thermals under the outfits, but not snow-suits, which were required last year.

Some of the houses were excellent, with spooky music and lights outside. The unwritten law (lore, I suppose) is that if the house lights are on, you trick or treat (I think some were hiding out in their cellars). the Lawn Nazi across the road (who goes out twice a day to mow his lawn, and it's not my epithet but from the estate over on the other side) left sweets out in a bowl saying "do not knock, help yourselves". These went in about the first 5 mins. Bridgjo was left at home to man the fortress, decorated with suitably spooky items, culled from Target and the Freecycle web-site - pumpkin lights, a giant cauldron etc. He didn't sit down for around all the time we were out. A few people were sitting around fires in their yards, handing out sweets, and then beer for the grown-ups.

It was a good way of introducing myself to all the neighbours (within a two-hour radius), without appearing too Jehovah-Witness.

On Wednesday, of course, it was Guy Fawkes. I googled "Bonfire Night" and "Guy Fawkes Minnesota" and found a blog dated 2004 of someone talking about this Guy Fawkes party their parents had gone to, and a mention of an article in the Burnsville paper. So I googled the paper, then searched the article, and found it, together with the organizer's name - Paul Ellerby - an ex-Brit who likes celebrating it. The article also mentioned that he was involved in curling. So I then googled the curling club in Burnsville, and his name, and it came up with a page about him, which included his company name. So then I searched on that company AND FINALLY FOUND AN E-MAIL ADDRESS! (Sore trigger finger by this time). Upshot was, I sent him an e-mail and he wrote back saying "of course, coma along: - so we did. He had a biggish piece of land - unfortunately no fireworks, as, although you can buy guns down the road, it is illegal to buy fireworks in Minnesota. But he had lots of people, food, drink, a big fire with seats around and a Guy. And, naturally, Morris Men and singing. It was an excellent evening!

Today was the first time T has woken-up to snow, and she was very excited indeed. She was one of the only ones to turn up to school suitabley attired, menaing taht non of the kids were allowed out all day. It prompted a letter from the head-mistress detailing the clothes the children are expected to have from now on in. ie they are expected to turn up roughly spherical. Bridgjo and I had to drive into St Paul for a Cultural Awareness training course (which was 6 hours of chatting a nice meal out - the trainer told us about Japan where he lived, we talked about Switzerland. I think US may have been mentioned once or twice). We were a bit concerned we couldn't make it back to pick her up at home-time, but luckily they have day-care after-hours there, so I called up the secretary so that she could sort it for us. We managed to get there just in time.

More snow expected this week-end.