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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Going Batty!



Things are getting a little batty around here and this time it's not just grandma who's being eyeballed as the culprit! Our Spooky Theater has made its seasonal appearance and the ghost-puppets-in-residence have wailed and waited long enough for a new character to join the cast. We already know (yawn!) that big kid ghosts wear BOO-jeans and baby ghosts crawl around in BOO-ties while their mommies shop for food at the "ghost-ery store." But did you know that bats go to school to learn the "alpha-bat," love doing "acro-bat-ics" and invite their friends to "come over and hang around?" Probably not!






Its been my discovery that the best source of Halloween lore is on stage at a kids' puppet theater. Gathered behind the screen is a squirming, giggling, wiggling and worried crew, just waiting for kick off. Gathered in front of it is a sipping and nibbling rapt audience; grandparents, aunties, uncles and baby cousins. They've paid good money for admission, tasty apple cider and fresh homemade donuts, anxious now to find out "which animal is best at baseball?!"*









A home made puppet show is such an endearing endeavor, engaging grandma and the kids in a satisfying series of tasks that spark creativity and hone organizational skills at every age level. If you don't want to bother with a stage like mine, just curtain a doorway with fabric lengths gathered on a spring loaded rod. We've relied on comedy and joke-telling performances so far, and the puppets have all been made by me. Perhaps next year the kids will take a stab at making their own sock characters and writing an original story script.

I've added instructions for a sock bat puppet here, where you'll also find our ghosts and step by step photos for constructing a Spooky Theater. When the grandkids join me for dress rehearsal on the eve of the performance, we make cute and tasty mini-donuts on this nifty little appliance (see page 8) and sell them at our show's refreshment stand along with cups of cold cider.

*And I won't keep you in suspense any longer! Which animal is best at baseball? Why, a BAT, of course!

16 comments:

  1. OH what fun - and I have more jokes to tell the grandsons! Sometimes they just shake their heads at me - and sometimes they laugh. I love the ghost puppets and the bat. You always have such fun - I'd pay good money for some donuts and a cup of cold cider.

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  2. I love your bats - they're at eye level, are as cute as can be, appear interested in the conversation, won't get stuck in my hair, and I won't go screaming from the room, just smiling all the way. :-)

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  3. BOOjeans and GHOSTery store...LMAO :)

    TOO CUTE!!!! Brent & Kate are here...have to show them this bat from a grandma battier than me, ha ha

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  4. I do hope the grands make their own ghosts and bats next year! I know they will each have such personality!! I love Deb's comment -- a grandma battier than me. Works here, too! You are amazing!

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  5. I love sock puppets. They're such fun to make, and yours look just fabulous!

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  6. Oh, your socks puppets are so cute! jUST PINNED!

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  7. I just love your Sock Puppets and can see my little ones having hours of fun with these. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  8. You've thought of everything! I always wish I could join your family!

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  9. A bat, lol! My daughter will love that one! I love this cute idea - so fun for creativity!

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  10. Love the bat joke, can't wait to share with the kids! Perfect for a theater production.

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  11. First of all-I will be a grandma for the first time come January-so I LOVE the name of your blog!!! Secondly- I LOVE your adorable sock puppets! Lastly-thank you for sharing on the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! I will definitely being sharing your post!!!

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  12. Such a fun idea! Thanks for sharing with us at The Gathering Spot.

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  13. So cute! I've never seen coloured googly eyes before. If you're looking for another place to share your projects, I would love to have you stop by Etcetorize and join our Make it Monday party. It's open now :)

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  14. Hahah this is so cute and funny :)
    xx
    Mila
    milaslittlethings.com
    milawayable@gmail.com

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  15. Tweeted & pinned how fun! Thanks for sharing @DearCreatives party! Theresa

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