Paper Lantern Cord

Historians like to compare the Lewis-and-Clark, 1804-1806, westward expedition to our modern-day astronauts first landing on the moon. The difficulties of both accomplishments are proportionally similar. However, the 30-tons of supplies gathered and taken on the Corps-of-Discovery expedition’s 28-month perilous journey to the Pacific Ocean and back helped it to succeed immensely. In particular, the preplanned gifts for the Indian tribes helped the corps to deal with and honor them en route. Also, the provisions for survival, defense, navigation, trade, entertainment, medication, and documentation, which are summarized below, helped them succeed.

Boats. One 55-ft keelboat (shallow-draft freight type) having a 12-ton hold and 32-ft mast with square sail and 35 oars/push rods; two pirogues (flat-bottomed canoe-shaped with oars and a small mast and square sail): one 41-ft red and one 39-ft white; one 36 x 4.5-ft collapsible metal boat frame to be assembled and covered with animal skins later in the trip. Because the keelboat was too large for much of the upper Missouri and other outlying rivers, it was returned to St. Louis with the current artifacts and written reports during the early spring of 1805. It was manned by a small crew. The metal boat frame was never used for the lack of a natural sealing pitch from pine trees. It was abandoned in a sunken cache near Great Falls, Montana. The corps used dugout canoes instead.

Animals. Two horses (for riding on land, and for helping pull the keelboat upstream); one large Newfoundland retriever (Lewis’ personal dog named, Seaman, who aided the effort by retrieving game and by guarding the campsites at night).

Scientific/navigational instruments. Surveyor’s compass, hand compasses, telescope, quadrant, sextants, thermometers, level, chronometer, magnet, microscope, line reel, parallel glass (for reading the horizon), oiled bags for keeping the instruments in, and paraphernalia for storing collected plant and animal specimens and Native American artifacts.

Camping gear. Oiled canvases, waterproofing oil, nine tents, lanterns, 30 steels to make fires, flints, corn mill, tablespoons, tumblers, water flasks, fishing gear, drawing knives, whetstones, soap, cooking gear/utensils (brass/metal kettles/pots/pans, eating utensils), bedding gear, mosquito curtains, rope/cord/string, heavy sewing needles/thread, hanging hooks, flags, hogshead (large barrel), wooden boxes, kegs, oiled storage bags, lamps/lanterns, candle wicks/wax, candles, one box of friction matches, and one crewman’s personal fiddle (unofficially for campfire songs and entertainment).

Gifts for the tribes (21 bales). Pocket mirrors, sewing needles with cases, awls, knitting pins, small scissors, sewing thread, thimbles, silk ribbons, buttons, scissors, ivory/iron combs, burning/magnifying glasses, bells, Chiefs bundles (containing high-quality items), lockets, broaches, rings, handkerchiefs, calico shirts, bright-colored textiles/cloth, curtain rings, brass wire, rolls/twists of tobacco, axes, tomahawk-pipes, knives, brass kettles, corn mills, brass strips, fishing gear, powdered Vermilion face paint, earrings, armbands, 33-lb colored glass beads, American flags, and specially made peace medals/certificates. The corps also traded other items with the tribes, including their own personal gear and, rarely, arms and ammunition.

Tools (all kinds). Pliers, chisels, handsaws, buck-saws, two-man lumberjack saws, hatchets, axes, scrapers, shears, planes, cutting tools, augers, hand drills, whetstones, hammers, nails, squares, chain, files/rasps, anvil and bellows-forge with accompanying blacksmithing tools, spirit level, tape measure, English wood set, gold scales, iron weights, grease/oil, iron corn mill. During their journey, the corps built two stockade forts for their winter encampments: 1) Fort Mandan, North Dakota, 1804, and 2) Fort Clatsop, Oregon coast, 1805. They also built carts for transporting their goods around waterfalls and rapids, and they made several dugout/burned-out canoes for navigating the rivers and streams.

Food: Forty day menu (kept on board).1200-lb parchmeal, 800-lb common meal, 1600-lb hulled corn, 3400-lb flour, 560-lb biscuit mix, 750-lb salt, 3700-lb salt pork, 50-lb coffee, 2-lb tea, 100-lb dried beans/peas, 112-lb sugar, 750-lb salt, 100-lb hogs lard, 600-lb cooking grease, 30-gal wine, 120-gal whiskey (to get them to the point of no return), 193-lb portable soup mix (boiled-down paste of meat, eggs, and vegetables). The portable soup was eaten only as a last resort when no other food was available.

Obtained en route. Fruit (apples, cherries, raspberries, plums, grapes, currants, pawpaws), vegetables (squash, greens, melons, leeks/onions, artichokes, licorice, roots, greens, wappatos, white apples), meat (hundreds of fish/salmon, deer, elk, bison, antelope, bighorn sheep, bear, beaver, otter, duck/geese/brant, coot/plover, grouse, pheasant, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, wolf, dog, and colt/horse), and traded-for bear grease. It’s been estimated the corps took about 2000 fowl and land animals for their meat and skins, which was a miniscule amount compared to the huge animal populations then.

Extra clothing. Flannel/linen shirts, coats, frocks, shoes, boots, woolen pants and coveralls, blankets, knapsacks, stockings, and a few dress uniforms. Later in the journey, the crew made their own moccasins and buckskin clothing when their own wore out, or were traded to the natives.

Arms/ammunition. Brass cannon (swivel-mounted on the keelboat’s bow), four blunderbusses (large shotguns: one mounted on each side of the keelboat, and one on each pirogue), 15 Model-1803 muzzle-loading 0.54 caliber flint-lock rifles with slings, four pistols, several swords, espontoons (pointed walking sticks also used as spears/gun-rests), 500 musket flints, spare parts for muskets, 420-lb sheet lead for bullets, 200-lb of gun/rifle powder packed in sealed lead canisters, powder horns and pouches, hunting/outdoor knives, one long-barreled compressed-air repeating rifle, and the personal knives, rifles, and firearms of the crew, including Lewis’ dueling pistols. The repeating rifle was used mostly for show and demonstration among the tribes, not for hunting small game.

Medicine/medical supplies. (kept in walnut/pine chests) 600 Dr. Rush pills (laxatives), lancets (surgical knives), forceps (tongs), syringes, tourniquets, small dental/medical instruments, bleeding implements, tin canisters, glass-stoppered tincture bottles, 1300 doses of physic (cathartic), 1100 doses of emetic (vomiting), 3500 doses of diaphoretic (sweat inducer), other drugs, like, laudanum (a tincture of opium), mercury, nitrate salts, powdered barks/herbs, ointments, and other salts for blisters, boils, ache/pain, sores, sunburn, worms, and for increased saliva and urine output.

Books. Botany, history, mineralogy, nautical astronomy, natural science, almanac, large dictionary, Linnaeus classification of plants, requisite tables for longitude/latitude, and an early map of the Missouri River.

Writing/drafting implements. Pencils, quills, powered ink, brass ink stands, crayons, drafting/plotting tools, leather-covered writing journals, writing/map paper, draft/receipt booklets, oilskin bags to store records in, candles for writing at night, and sealing wax.

These vast amounts of supplies propelled the corps all the way to the Pacific Ocean through several difficulties, but also with high levels of success. However, while wintering there near the mouth of the Columbia River, their supplies and trade goods had dwindled. Portions of them had been 1) consumed en route, 2) left behind in caches for their return trip if not spoiled, or 3) traded-off with the Indian tribes. In particular, they ran out of colored beads, often prized by the native tribes. So, they traded the metal buttons from their remaining uniforms and clothing instead. They also started making their own salt from the sea water. In short, the provisions on their return journey would be much scantier than what they had departed with on their outbound one.

Because this situation was a precarious one, the corps rationed their goods on the way home. They probably avoided certain tribes they felt indebted to as well. Then, after arriving back in the North-Dakota plains where their earlier winter fort was located, they settled-up and parted with one of their interpreters and his wife, Sacagawea. Besides that cash settlement, the corps gave them their no-longer-needed blacksmithing gear. Shortly after that, they gave the brass cannon from the keelboat, which had been stored in one of the caches, to a tribal chief nearby, hoping to coax him into returning to the states with them. He turned the invitation down. But they found another chief, who with his family, would accompany the corps back St Louis and the states.

Needless to say, except for their collected animal furs and skins, the corps came home much less supplied than when they departed 28-months earlier. Still, their west-coastal winter encampment and their return journey home could have gone much better if they had been able to replenish their tradable goods while near the ocean and Columbia River, possibly from a foreign merchant ship. Trade ships had landed there before. The coastal tribes were well equipped with metal pots and pans, early model muskets, and sailors clothing. A government draft signed by Lewis would have paid for these goods. Yet, few ships, if any, seemed to come that way during the wintertime.

Tent tarps are made from a variety of materials, including nylon, polyethylene, and canvas. When used as a camp tarp, it is tied down in such a way as to form a shelter. The tarps can be tied down with rope or cord, which is passed through grommets and then tied around trees or stakes. Some people use tent poles or other types of poles to help anchor their tarp; however, many people don’t use poles at all and manage to tightly secure their tarps.

Tarps don’t provide as much shelter as tents do, but they can go a long ways toward keeping the wind and rain off campers. Campers who use tent tarps should also use some kind of ground cover; this can be another tarp or any kind of waterproof ground cover. This will help keep you dry and will cut down on the number of insects that can get next to you while you’re sleeping.

It is advisable to purchase a camp tarp that is fire retardant, especially if you plan to cook under it. While you wouldn’t cook in a tent, many campers bring along tarps to rig up makeshift kitchens, or to stow their gear while they use the tents to sleep in. Even if you don’t cook under a tarp, though, one that is fire resistant is best just in case. You can also purchase tarps that are UV resistant, or heat resistant, so it pays to look them over carefully before you decide which one is the right one for you.

Camp tarps come in handy even when you’re not going camping. Many people use them when they have a backyard barbecue, birthday party, or any special occasion. They provide a good amount of shelter and can hold a lot of gear. They are also good to help keep the wind away when cooking out. Some people use tent tarps to provide shelter over a picnic table at the park, so they can enjoy a picnic without the hot sun beating down on them or the wind blowing their paper plates away. These tarps are so versatile that you can use them for a variety of purposes year in and year out.

Think carefully what purpose your tent tarps [http://www.campingtentguide.com/tent-tarps.html] will serve before you purchase them, as they come in several different sizes, and you won’t want to spend all the time and trouble to anchor down a huge tarp for one or two people to sleep under. You may find that you need more than one tarp if you use them at home and while camping. With proper care, a quality tent tarp can last for several years.

Fundamental jewelry creating methods comprise threading pearls onto a strand or string with reef knots singling out them. This threading technique is employed with pearls or more valuable jewelry constituents, as it produces a safer necklace or bracelet. Put into practice this technique on a string of fake pearls or beads before you attempt to thread your set of fine jewelry again. It’s not hard to become completely proficient in threading pearls, but it does call for continuous practice.

Cut off a 6 inch length of beading cord. Fold it up in half. Cut down the ends at a particular point. In this way, you find your beading needle.

Cut off a string of silk thread five times the wanted length of your pearl jewelry. The knots twisted between every pearl occupy more amount of thread than you might conceive. Wind one side of the thread through the loop made when you folded up the beading cord in one-half. Draw the thread sufficiently through the loop with the intention that it will not come to the fore.

Affix a paper clip at the unfastened side of your thread, at a length of 12 inches from the end. Sew all of your beads on the string to the paperclip. The thread must be solitary strand through the beads. The paper clip will hold back the pearls on the thread. You can also lay the wound pearls on a work surface wrapped up with felt, a fabric built of squeezed matted animal fibers. The felt will assist in preventing the pearls from straying and will defend them from a firm table top.

Pass a thread through your needle as well as through one part of your clasp and bind an a simple small knot to lock it in position. Insert the needle through the pearl nearest to the fastener. Bind a small knot again with the free thread about the thread already through with the bead. To create a knot, loop your needle about the pearl thread straightaway at the rear of the pearl, and after that put the needle into the loop. Slip the knot as approximate to the pearl as possible as you are bringing it through the loop. Drag the thread tight to form the knot.

Move your needle through the subsequent pearl on the thread and create an overhand knot again. Perform this step again and again until all the pearls have knots between each other. Fasten the left over part of clasp after the final knot in your pearl strand has been made. Cut off the surplus thread.

It is highly essential to know how to knot pearls properly, so that the pearls on that jewelry piece you are creating don’t displace and get on together. You can knot pearls to re-thread an assortment of pearls as well that you already possess. Giving money to a jewelry maker to re-thread pearls can be expensive. It is better to do it effortlessly at home.

Paper lanterns are used for a variety of functions around the house. As a string of lanterns they can be used as birthday steamers or any such celebration. They can be sued as lighting instruments of course, but there are many other uses you can get out of them. They are more for aesthetics than actual lanterns. But should you use them as lanterns you don’t have to worry about them catching fire as they tend to be made with fire retardant paper. You can use them outside but it is recommended to remove them in times of bad weather. While they are fire resistant, they are not invulnerable to water or strong winds.

What they are made of is paper the fits over a metal frame. The frame is collapsible and has a metal rod that locks the frame into the open position once the paper shell is in place. Some have candle holders in them as with Chinese paper lantern but most modern versions contain wiring for a bulb. Shapes include long cylindrical tubes, spheres and pagodas. You are probably most familiar with the white sphere lanterns, the big white paper lanterns with the ribs that hang from the ceiling by a long black cord. Then there are the traditional lanterns that are accordion shaped.

For the environmentally conscious there are eco-friendly lanterns made from 100% recycled materials. They use low energy bulbs as well. You can find the materials yourself and make a paper lantern if you are of the mind to and you can find wholesale paper lanterns for cheap if you buy them in bulk. To hang them you have to be somewhat careful as you can easily rip the paper and ruin your lantern. As they are for aesthetic purposes when it comes to lighting, paper lanterns are usually packaged flat and require assembly. Easily slide the frame into the paper shell, extend the expander that pushes the frame open and lock it into place. Then you are done. All you have to do is hang your lantern where you want it.

Clay pot crafts are a cute way to make home decorations. In clay pot crafts, clay flower pots can be crafted into a variety of decorative things that appeal to gardeners. Usually, the crafter begins with new pots. The pots are often decorated with paint as well as being tied together with rope or cord to create things.

Pots for clay pot crafts can be purchased in many different sizes, from tiny ones not more than 2 inches in diameter, to huge ones over a foot across. For a beginning project, start with smaller pots. The beginner should also choose clay pot crafts that don’t use too many pots in too elaborate a design.

An example of a good craft for someone new at clay pot crafts is to make a bell from two clay pots. Buy one pot that is about five or six inches in diameter, and another that is very small. You will use the small one as the clapper for the bell. You will also need some decorative cord, two large wooden beads, and paint in desired colours. You may also wish to purchase some glue-on jewels to decorate the bell. The bell makes a nice decoration for a front porch.

Cut the cord two feet (60 cm.) long. Fold the end over 3 inches (8 cm.) and tie in an overhand knot, making a loop. This loop is for hanging the bell from a hook or a nail. Now turn the larger clay pot upside-down. Pass the loose end of the cord down through the hole in the pot. Lay the pot on its side and slide one of the large wooden beads up the cord until it is about 10 inches (25 cm.) from the loose end. Now tie the cord around the bead so that the bead cannot slip from its position on the cord. If you have done this correctly, you can lift the pot by the loop. In clay pot crafts, the beads must be large enough to stop the cord from going through the hole in the bottom of the pot.

On the loose end of the cord, you are going to attach the small pot in the same way. Slide the small pot up the cord to make it easier to tie the other large wooden bead on the end of the cord. Now when you lift the entire arrangement by the loop, the smaller pot should hang freely inside the larger pot, making a pleasant sound when it claps against the larger pot.

Decorate the outside of the larger pot with paint as desired. You may like to paint it in black and white patches for a Holstein cow theme. You may also like to decorate the top of the bell with silk or dried flowers and greenery and a ribbon bow.

For a variation on this craft, make three of the bells and hang them from a horizontal piece of driftwood or other interesting piece of natural wood. When making hanging clay pot crafts, always make sure the beads are large enough and are tied tightly in place, because the clay pots will break if they fall to the ground.

Other clay pot crafts include making a large doll or scarecrow of nested pots strung together and painted. The doll can sit on a chair or a step of the front porch. Paint his face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a gnome, or a child. Clay pot crafts are especially suited to being displayed outside.

Mini-light strings, the marvel of modern decorating, can be difficult to repair when their bulbs begin to burn out, especially if a whole set of them goes dark at once. To help find and replace these small incandescent candle-shaped bulbs gone bad, here is a description of how they work.

Starting from the basic 3-wire whole string and working outward to the bulb sockets from there, these bulbs and their sockets are installed and work as follows.

Main sockets. These sockets are the permanent ones attached to the main wire that holds them and their bulbs in series. The bulbs themselves, which are seated in their own small plastic bases, fit into these main sockets where contact is made with the wire. The inner cores of these sockets are somewhat rectangular in shape. The final string of lights, which includes this main wire of sockets and their bulbs, are twisted together with the two extension-cord-like 120-volt circuit wires in a rope-like manner.

Bulb set. The bulb set is the bulb wire above, which usually contains 50 bulbs connected in series on one wire. Each end of this set is connected in parallel to the two circuit wires that plug into an electrical outlet or into each other to make the strings longer. Often, a single string of 100 mini-bulbs consists of two 50-bulb sets, each one connected separately in parallel to the two circuit wires. Thus, each set operates separately from the other one in the same string.

Bulb base. To confuse things a bit, the bulbs are held by two sockets so to speak: 1) the small plastic rectangular base holding the bulb itself, and 2) the permanent one on the bulb wire into which the bulb and its base are seated. Thus, before a bulb can be seated into its main socket, its two bare wires must first be inserted through the two holes in the bottom of the plastic base, and then wrapped vertically around the two grooves on the outer side of this base. This bulb and its base are then seated into the main socket where the two bare wires make contact with the bulb wire.

Bulb. When a new candle-shaped glass bulb stands alone, it has two bare lead wires protruding straight down from its lower end. These are the ones that wrap around its plastic base. From there, upward within the sealed bulb, these leads become small posts held steady buy a glass bead attached between them. Just above this glass bead a small wire is wrapped horizontally around both posts several times. It is called a bypass shunt. Above the shunt, the two posts protrude further up into the bulb where they are connected together by a fine-wire filament.

The filament produces the light when the string is plugged in or turned on. In time, however, the filament will burn itself out. At that moment, the current or electricity to the bulb starts crossing through the shunt instead to keep the rest of the bulbs in the series set lit. However, if that shunt goes bad after the filament does, the entire 50-bulb set will go dark because this bulb is no longer allowing electricity to pass through it properly. In this case, to repair the bulb set, one needs to find that bulb having the bad filament and shunt, and then replace it with a new one. Normally, a new one will be rated near 2.4-volts for a 50-bulb set.

Finding the bad bulb. Unless one buys a special bulb-set testing device, the fastest way to find a bad bulb with a broken or missing filament is to look at each bulb with a magnifying glass in front of a background light. The background light enhances this process for the colored bulbs whose filaments can be hard to see with naked eye. Also, a darkened or color-changed bulb might indicate a burnt-out filament, which will be easier to spot outright than by using the magnifier.

Otherwise, to locate the bad bulb, the repair person might have to remove and replace each bulb in the set one at a time temporarily with a new one known to be working okay while the string is plugged in. Normally, one or two extra bulbs already mounted in their bases come with a new string of mini-lights. When the bad bulb has been replaced with a good one, presto, the light set comes back on.

Conclusion. Much repair time can be saved by replacing a bad bulb soon after it goes out, i.e., before the whole set goes out. That is, this dark bulb is much easier to spot and replace while its shunt is still passing electricity to the rest of the set, which is still lit.

For information and diagrams on incandescent mini-lights and the testing of their bulbs, see the following sites.

Martha Stewart is the homemaking guru. She makes June Cleaver look like a diva that eats Bon Bons in the bubble bath all day. While executing all of her projects might be too much for any one person to take on, us mere mortals can execute most of them if, perhaps, we do one at a time.

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: The Holidays

Turns out pumpkins can be used for more than just pies and jack-o-lanterns! One of Martha’s crafts with pumpkins is to download and print out her witch and bat template. She has them available on her website. Place them over a “hole” cut into the face of the pumpkin (after cleaning the pumpkin of its insides) and you’ve got an enticing and eerily delicious centerpiece. Scatter some autumn leaves (store bought or yard picked) to complete the holiday setting.

Another pumpkin craft involves a pumpkin and lollipops. Buy the orange and black lollipops and stick them in the pumpkin, all over it. The final project will look like something from a science fiction movie and the kids will love it. Offer each trick or treater one and have them pull one out for themselves!

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: Weddings

Want a special way to say “thank you” to your guests? Make your own Thank You cards with a little help from Martha Stewart. One idea is to create postcards with a picture of the happy couple, and each is wearing a shirt especially made for the occasion, perhaps, “Thank you!” on one, or “We use it all the time!” on another. Be creative!

Or, instead of going the modern, trendy route, you can opt for something more traditional. Find a clip art sketch of any Victorian-era birds and copy them on to some card stock paper. By placing tiny “thank you” envelopes you create separately and placing them “beneath” their beaks, you now have beautiful, classic and three-dimensional thank you notes.

A wedding favor idea is get votive candles in three different off-white colors. Wrap them in corrugated paper, and tie with twine. Write messages on the inside of the paper from the bride and groom such as, “Thank you for sharing our day!”

Martha Stewart Arts and Crafts: Kids

Make Dad a coupon booklet for his birthday, holiday gift giving season or Father’s Day! Go to the Martha Stewart website for coupon template, print them all out then hole punch each in the top left hand corner. Secure with a paper fastener and you’ve got them all in a neat little bunch. Cut out a cover from a swath of fabric (any semi masculine material will do like plaids, stripes, solids), then attach to the blank top coupon by sewing it. Fill out the coupons for things such as Free Car Wash; Free Dog Wash; Free Leaf Raking, anything Dad will appreciate!

Elephant Feet is a craft kids will love because it makes them taller and it has the potential to make a lot of noise. Grab a couple 15 oz cans of tomato puree, poke holes in the sides, drain, rinse and clean. Paint elephant toenails with acrylics on the front, loop stretch cord – you’ll need about 5 feet worth for each leg – through the holes so the child can “walk” with the Elephant feet. More fun than actually stomping around in the jungle!

Bouncers are by nature inherently safe. Your children will be jumping on cushions of air, contained by soft colorful walls with mesh panels that allow you to observe at all times. However, accidents do happen and are almost always a result of inattention or poor planning. Here are some important tips to keep your event running smoothly and accident-free.

Before Set Up

You probably already know where your inflatable bouncer, slide, or game will go. Walk around that area with this checklist:

o Your area must be flat. Your inflatable cannot be set up on a slope.

o You will need at least 5 feet of space on all sides of the inflatable

o Make sure there are no overhanging branches or power lines that would be too close to the inflatable

o Do you have a sprinkler system? If so, make sure you know exactly where the sprinkler lines are and mark them for your rental company. They will need to tether your inflatable by staking it into the ground – with stakes as long as 40 inches!

o Find our where any underground gas, water, or power lines are located and have the locations marked.

o If you don’t know where your sprinkler lines are, or gas, water, or power lines, let your rental company know in advance so they can bring the appropriate amount of weighted sandbags to secure the inflatable

o Clear the entire event area of debris, including sticks, rocks, toys, and animal waste

o Do you have accessible power? Ask your rental company how many blowers your inflatables will use. You should have a separate 20 amp circuit available for each blower (they will have appropriate extension cords). If you don’t, let them know and you’ll be able to rent a generator to power the blowers

Weather

Bouncers, slides, and other inflatables cannot be used in inclement weather. In addition to rain, inflatables are not safe to use if the winds exceed 25 miles per hour. There’s nothing your rental company can do if the weather gets bad – make sure you know their cancellation/refund policy in case of inclement weather.

During Your Event

Once things are under way you should have a yard or park filled with cheering, screaming children having the time of their lives. Here are a few things to keep in mind during the event:

o Sunscreen: the kids will be bouncing and playing for hours and probably won’t want to go inside ever again. Make sure they have sunscreen!

o Follow the rules: your inflatable will have a sign built onto it near the entrance posting the rules created by the manufacturer of the inflatable. Know them and follow them.

o No shoes, jewelry, food or drink: anyone entering your bouncer must remove their shoes, jewelry, watches, etc. This includes sharp object like keys from pockets. Anything that could fall out and scratch the inflatable. It’s safer all around, and you don’t want a repair cost deducted from your deposit! Likewise food, drinks, and gum should be kept out. Also note that no silly string can be used in an inflatable – the chemicals will damage the vinyl.

o Split kids by size: most significant injuries on bouncers come from having large kids mixed in with smaller ones. Bouncers are, well, bouncy. Regardless of temperament or intent, the kids will be bumping and falling into each other. Make sure that only children of about the same size are in the bouncer at any one time. Rotate them in and out in shifts by size.

o Getting out: the step leading out of a bouncer is inflatable and bouncy too, and getting out is awkward. This is the most common area for scraped knees and elbows. Make sure an adult is available to help people out of the bouncer.

o Supervise: jumping and sliding and climbing is great fun, but you want to make sure things don’t get out of hand. A responsible adult should be observing each of your inflatables at all times to make sure things stay under control.

With this information in mind you should be well prepared to host a smooth and problem-free party or event. We hope you enjoy your interactive inflatable and the attention that it’s sure to bring!

Halloween is a much loved time of the year we associate with ghouls witches and spooky ghosts. It is also a time, similar to how we would celebrate bonfire night by lighting up the sky with fireworks. An entertainment program involving rockets, Catherine wheels or roman candles – needs to be carefully planned. Sadly, although a fabulous time for human fun it is not much fun for pets. Keep cats and dogs safe in the home, while field animals need sheltering. When preparing your to-do-list for Halloween night make sure you add the necessary precautions you need to take to ensure your children, your pets, and your guest’s welfare.

Not wanting to spoil the fun but this is a prime time for accidents happening, in fact accidents dramatically increase when children trick-or-treat so bear this in mind.

Things you cannot afford to overlook if this Halloween night is to be an accident free zone.

The highlight of Halloween aside from trick and treating is dressing up, unfortunately dangers lurk that can be a hazard to your health from wearing Halloween costumes.

Tips to follow to stay safe:

1 If you have made your own Halloween costume or hired one then make sure they are flame retardant. And colorfast, so the color doesn’t run if it rains.

2 Allow ample time for making adjustments to Halloween costumes if needed.

3 Halloween costumes need to be a sensible length to avoid tripping

4 Sew or stick reflective tape to your children`s outfits.

5 Avoid weighty masks no matter how good they look. Use make-up instead. Face cosmetics should be hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

6 Wear comfortable, practical shoes. As trick or treating involves a lot of walking and running in some cases.

7 When children are fully kitted up keep them away from lit candles and jack-o’-lanterns.

8 Replica swords, guns and knives can look so authentic that they put the fear of god up people. In the UK, fake guns can land you in trouble with the law. Make sure they’re flexible and cannot harm anyone.

I think most parents today, who, although wish their child fun when trick and treating, – would rather have their kids stay at home to keep them safe. Kids are kids so therefore tradition upholds in the mind of a child. All we as protective parents can do is, “protect”.

Trick-or-Treating Tips:

The most important thing is to have children supervised and accompanied by an adult while on their travels. If this is not possible and children are of a suitable age and can think sensibly then what you can do is to supply and give advice.

Have them carry a torch with new batteries.

Give them money for a phone call.

Organize kid groups to go trick and treating – so the kids are not going alone.

Set them a curfew and make sure they wear a watch. If the curfew is not met, then it gives you time to go searching. Allow for a little extra time, as kids get excited on seeing other little monsters and may forget time orders.

Plan their route so you know where they are at all times.

Tell them to stay on the pavement. Motorists will find it hard to see people wearing dark clothing unless wearing luminous armbands etc.

Tell the kids to respect people`s gardens and to trick or treat locally

Tell the kids to avoid unlit houses or not to accept an invite to go inside.

Give them a spare trick or treat bag — in case their existing bag is overloaded with treats..

Tell them not to approach pets.

Tell them not to cut across yards and to stay in built up areas.

Warn them not to accept rides from strangers.

Tell the kids to be polite and say “thank you.” This goes along way for getting treated well.

Be wary of sweets with loose wrappings, unwrapped or is homemade.

If you are still not sure about having the kids go out alone, propose an alternative like having a party instead.

Pet safety Tips:

Keep your pet in a quiet place away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. As much as we love the little horrors that come knocking, some little horrors, are, “horrors,” and get a thrill from mistreating animals, sad I know but fact. Pets are habitual animals and could become frightened or agitated at the strangeness of what this particular night brings.

Make sure cats and dogs are collared or wearing ID tags in case of an accidental getaway while opening and shutting doors to trick or treaters.

Keep naked flame decorations like candles and jack-o’-lanterns out of kiddies and pet`s reach. Not only is the issue of getting burned serious, but the house can be under threat from fire if a candle is knocked over and goes unnoticed with all the excitement.

Do not leave hazard items around where your pet can chew on-like streamers and fake spider webs. If the house is electrically wired to light up, then place electric cord and cabling out of the way to avoid someone tripping over them.

Its funny how kids have nightmares watching scary movies but when it comes down to the meet and greet of the actual characters come October the 31st it’s a horse of a different colour.

Spooky decorations, creepy costumes and candy-filled visions spur kids – and often the entire family – into a fun-filled frenzy on Halloween. But don’t let hidden dangers spoil the evening for your ghouls and booys! Here are ten simple Halloween safety and planning tips to help keep fright night from becoming a real scare.

10. Fill ‘em up first: Send trick-or-treaters off with a full tummy so they won’t be as tempted to eat candy before it’s inspected.

9. Have a Trick-or-Treating plan: Accompany young children at all times and send older kids out in a group with strict route guidelines and curfews – and a charged cel phone for emergencies. Don’t forget flashlights or glow sticks for everyone, both to see and be seen.

8. Remember safety basics: Emphasize to kids that Halloween night is no different when it comes to safety. Avoid strangers and dark houses, stay on well-lighted streets on a preapproved route, and take extra care when crossing streets.

7. Decorate with the littlest ghouls in mind: Make yard decorations safe and inviting to all. Secure electrical cords and strings out of reach, use glow sticks or battery-operated candles as light sources instead of real candles, and make walkways clear and accessible. If creating a particularly scary haunted yard, consider including a less-scary approach for younger trick-or-treaters (unless, of course, you want a bunch of leftover candy).

6. Costume for comfort and safety: Dress kids in costumes that are temperature-appropriate, allow free range of vision and movement, and are easily seen in the dark. Accessories like swords, knives and fairy wands should be safely blunted or flexible to prevent injury. Do costumes call for a spooky glow? Flameless battery-operated candles create a ghoulish candle-lit effect and are safe to carry.

5. Carve a safer Jack o’Lantern: Let little ones scoop the insides of the pumpkin and draw the face – always the best designs – but leave the carving to adults or older kids. Create a safer spooky light using glow sticks in two or three colors or battery-operated candles.

4. Check all candy before eating: Inspect candy before allowing kids to eat. Discard candy with broken wrappers, packaging that can be opened and resealed, or that appears tampered with in any way.

3. Keep pets inside all night: It’s safer and less stressful for pets, pet owners and visitors.

2. Prepare for unexpected scares: Assemble a portable first-aid kit to treat minor scrapes, burns or cuts, and include medications for asthma or allergies.

1. Have a get-home plan: Whether trick-or-treating, attending a party, or stopping by the neighborhood carnival, have a plan that works for everyone in case of separation. Identify a location to go to if separated from the group, and attach parents’ names, address and phone numbers to younger kids’ clothing.