Halloween Howl

Hey it's Halloween!!!  Happy Halloween!  Stay safe out there in your masks, your costumes and your flashlights.  Howl up at me!  I'll be shining down on you. 

Sincerely,

Melvin Moon

Lunar Samhain

Today, October 26th is Lunar Samhain. In Celtic tradition, this marks the beginning of the Lunar year. They had bonfires and parties to celebrate the darkest night.  I'm in a New Moon phase tonight which means you won't see me. I'll be up there, just sleeping for tonight, so you have to make your own light.

It was a Celtic tradition to hollow out  turnip, carve a face in it and put a candle inside. They lite the candle and placed the turnip in the window to keep evil spirits away.  Heather thinks pumpkins are easier to carve than turnips and a bit more hollow on the inside anyway, maybe that's why we use them for jack-o-lanterns today.

Heather's going to carve a pumpkin tonight and put a candle in it to celebrate Lunar Samhain.  I'm going to  gather your red balloons around me and get a long night's sleep so I can shine down on you on Halloween!

Sincerely,

Melvin Moon

Melvin Goes to Clark's Harbour Elementary

Heather and I had a grand adventure last week. As part of the Nova Scotia Writer's Federation, "Writer's In the School" Program
http://melvinsballoons.blogspot.com/2011/08/teacherslibrarians-bring-melvin-to.html,  we went to Clark's Harbour Elementary School!  Clark's Harbour is an Island on the Southern tip of Nova Scotia.  Heather and I think it is beautiful.  We drove on a causeway to get to the Island and saw lots of sandy beaches, waves, boats, and a lighthouse or two!

Heather read Melvin's Balloons to all the kids in the school, and the teacher's too!  We had a lot of fun talking about colors, writing, and the story of how Melvin's Balloons was created.

Heather read some of her other manuscripts (book ideas that haven't been published yet) too.  She got some really good suggestions and is going to make a few changes here and there thanks to the editing advice she got.  There are a lot of creative kids out there in Clark's Harbour.  Heather and I think there is an author or two in that group!

Everyone at the school made Heather and I feel really welcome.  It's because of people like the students and teachers at Clark's Harbour that writing is fun for Heather, and I can come to life.  We send green balloon colors to all of you!

Sincerely,

Melvin Moon

Happy Thanksgiving

In Canada, this weekend will be the Thanksgiving weekend.  I know that because I have been watching you making and coloring pictures of turkeys, pumpkins, and fall leaves. It looks like fun! It seems like the colors of fall and thanksgiving are reds, oranges, and yellows. Those are 3 of my favorites.  The fall colors help me feel safe and secure. When I feel like that I am brave enough to try doing things by myself and in my own way. The yellow gives me the energy to work on projects like getting ready for Thanksgiving. And Halloween is coming up soon too! 

It seems like thanksgiving means family get-to-gathers, feasts, walks in the fall leaves, picking out pumpkins, and a day off school! In some places it means parades, and that means balloons!!

Thanksgiving is about saying thanks for all the things you have and that nature has given you. That sounds nice. I'd like to say thanks for all the colors you give to me! Thank you for helping me to understand my feelings!

Sincerely,

Melvin Moon