12_10-2012.pdf

Karen and James Lewis'

Karen and James Lewis Office: 573-247-5600 Cell: 573-247-4447 www.salem-missouri.net

Dear Friends,

Ghosts and goblins and witches, Oh my! A definite chill is in the air and the sound of children's laughter takes us back to our own days of trick or treat fun. So break out that perfect costume you have stashed away and come bob for apples!

This issue of Welcome Home magazine is filled with spirited fun and many ways to make the most of the trick or treat mentality. Ever wonder what they do in other parts of the world on Halloween? And how in the world did this holiday and all it's crazy traditions get started?

Have a fantastic costume idea but not a small fortune to finance it with? Guys, are you tired of feeling like a court jester and want to find a costume that will wow the ladies this year? All these answers and more await you in our pages. Come take a peek. . . We don't bite, we promise!

Please enjoy this issue of the magazine! Have an spooktacular October, and as always, Welcome Home!

If you have comments or suggestions please email us at welcomehome@activeezine.com , we love to hear from you! Also if there is a subject that you would like to see covered, let us know! We look forward to hearing from you!

Karen and James Lewis www.salem-missouri.net 573-247-5600 573-247-4447

Welcome Home!

Table of Contents 4

Recipe And Design A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.

5 The Halloween Spirit

Get geared up for Halloween!

6-7

8-9

10 - 11

Halloween Costumes For Men Come on guys! Slip into something stylish this Halloween.

Halloween Safety

Tips to help your child and family be safe this spooky season.

An Exclusive Halloween 10 must have tips for an amazing Halloween.

12 - 15

A History of Halloween or What Is Samhain?

Where did the holiday come from and who celebrates it?

16 - 17

Columbus And His Voyage Remembering the famed explorer and learning his story.

118 - 19 Products To Love!

Hot trends, technological wonders of tomorrow and so much more!

20 City Spotlight San Diego, CA. Experience the fun!

21 Businesses That Make A Difference Nestle, making a tasty difference in the world.

Welcome Home is for entertainment purposes only. This magazine is not intended to solicit other brokers始 listings. If you are currently working with another broker, please disregard this information.

All pictures courtesy of sxc.hu unless otherwise noted. Thanks to Wikipedia for Random Fact information and aid.

Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor The information provided in this publication of Welcome Home or on any website maintained

by U.S. Cybertek, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees (collectively Publisher) is intended as a general guide illustrating common methods of common practices, and the publisher makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever of the safety, effectiveness, or other characteristic of any methods or products described herein. Neither does the Publisher assume any liability for information published in any website or other publication to which reference may be made herein. Readers are cautioned to review and comply with all written instructions, safety bulletins, and other materials provided in connection with any of the products mentioned herein and all products used in connection with any of the methods described. Neither Published nor any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees shall in any case be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special punitive or similar damages arising out of your use of or failure to use any of the methods and/ or products described in this publication or any other publication or websites to which reference may be made herein. Publisher disclaims all warranties, and any warranty or guarantee of safety, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose lies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.

Recipe and Design Brew Ha-Ha Punch

This great ghostly brew is sure to be the talk of any Halloween party!

Ingredients • • • • •

2 cups sugar 2 quarts water 2 (0.13-ounce) envelopes lime drink mix 1 (46-ounce) can pineapple juice 1 quart ginger ale

Preparation: 1.

2.

Stir together sugar and 2 quarts water until sugar is dissolved. Stir in remaining ingredients. Chill.

Note: For a scary presentation, place punch bowl into a larger bowl, and add dry ice to larger bowl.

Southern Living, OCTOBER 1998

Spooky Spider Window Decoration

What You Need: • • • • • •

Printer Paper Black Construction Paper Yellow Cellophane Clear Tape Pencil Scissors

Instructions: 1. Print two copies of our spider and web pattern, available below, onto white paper and enlarge to fit your window.

2. Cut out the spider and web in two separate pieces to use as patterns.

3. Trace the pattern pieces onto black construction paper, flipping the web pattern to use for the bottom of the window covering.

4. Cut out the pieces, including the webbing indicated by the white within the web.

5. Cut two rectangles from black construction paper to use as side pieces that join the top and bottom pieces, and cut yellow cellophane to fit inside the window.

6. Tape the two web pieces, the two side pieces, and the spider to the cellophane, referring to the photo for placement.

7. Tape the finished cellophane panel inside the window frame.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com

The Halloween Spirit Halloween is a great party occasion, a truly unique chance for everyone to unload some stress and go back to a time when everything was much more simple, and dressing up in costumes made everything funny and great. This is one day you will want to celebrate, if not for the fun of it – simply for the relaxation and happiness it brings.

Halloween has its roots in past times, it has been celebrated for many years in many different ways, but the true idea of Halloween remains the same throughout times, it is about clearing all rational thought and having some plain old fashion fun for a few hours, spending time with the kids and thinking about treats and tricks.

In preparation for Halloween you will find yourself spending time on costume choosing and then costume finding, most of the original costumes are a combination of many different things put together, sometimes it does not even have to cost a fortune to combine some clothes into a spectacular Halloween costume.

The true benefit of Halloween for us adults is the opportunity to have fun and relax for a while, live in the children fantasy world, and concentrate our thoughts on candy and the funniest tricks we can think of, if practiced well Halloween can be a nice break from the every day routine and business schedule, it can be a nice chance to spend quality time with the family, and enjoy the spirit of this special day.

Once you decide on a costume you should also start thinking of the tricks and gadgets you will want to have on you once you meet those people you will ask the candy from, although you should consider the other people safety you should also think about what can make the biggest effect on them, and what will also stay in their memories of this Halloween, a good Halloween joke can survive many years.

Treat yourself and your family to lots of candy and a nice Halloween gift basket, make sure you got all the things you want to have to hand out to those nice kids who will be knocking on your door very soon, and try not to think about costs of dental clinic visits too much on this day, after all one day will not make the difference between healthy or damaged teeth.

For one day we have a chance to go back to childhood and do crazy things, this is also a very good way to leave some stress and anxiety behind and let go for a few hours, spend some nice moments with your family and behave like you were eight years old once again, you will feel a whole lot better after this day, and your family will love that new side of you too.

Written by Celia Namart. Courtesy of Isnare.com.

Halloween Costumes For Men

Letʼs face it; Halloween was much simpler when we were just kids. I mean, you could just dress up as a clown or a ghost, and wonʼt have to worry about other people laughing at you. Now, itʼs a whole different idea. You have to find a costume that would look sexy, scary, or funny enough without making you look stupid, especially when youʼre with the ladies.

When Halloween comes around and you need a costume for a party, for the office, or for the kids who will be sure to come trick-or-treating, just follow these great costume ideas for men, and youʼll be sure to get noticed without being laughed at.

Men in Uniform – Itʼs not a big secret that women can go nuts over a man in uniform. Just ask the several other guys you meet who are wearing firemen, police, and soldier costumes. Dressing up in uniform is a great way to appear attractive and masculine. Uniforms always make great costumes, whether youʼre dressing up as a fireman, policeman, soldier, fighter pilot, sailor, etc. But just one caveat, though. If youʼre planning on attending a Halloween party with a group of other guys, make sure youʼre not going to appear as The Village People.

Pop Culture – Pop culture has recently given us a lot more choices for great costumes. You can opt to go dressed as a Survivor castaway, with some dirt smeared on your face, sandals, and swimming trunks. This is probably one of the easiest costumes you can assemble. You can also go dressed as Austin Powers, who seems never to go out of style. All you need is a velvet suit, ruffled shirt, pointy leather boots or shoes, and

lots of colorful accessories to make an appearance as the shaggadelic man of Mystery. The Man of Steel is also back in business as one of the preferred costumes, with the recent return of the latest installment in the series.

Sports – Another good costume idea is to go and dress up as your favorite athlete. Donʼt worry if you donʼt really know how to play the game; thatʼs not the point here. Whether itʼs baseball, football, basketball, or any other favorite sport, you can choose from lots of favorite sports icons to imitate. It would be a sure-fire hit, especially if some of the women arrive dressed up in one of those sexy tennis outfits or cheerleader uniforms.

And donʼt forget wrestling. You can have fun dressed up as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, or any other well-known wrestler. It would be more fun if you can also imitate the way they talk and move.

Construction Worker – believe it or not, a lot of women go for those muscular, sweaty men they walk by everyday in building sites, even if they wonʼt admit it. Wearing a tight pair of jeans, a white tank top or t-shirt, a construction hat and a tool belt will complete your get-up.

There are lots more of great costume ideas for men. You can either go out and visit costume shops, or you can browse the Internet. The latter is particularly convenient and practical. Lots of great costume shops online have a wide selection of costumes and accessories at very affordable prices.

Written by Azlan Idris. Courtesy of Isnare.com

Halloween Safety Tips to Help your Child and Family be Safe

Between the Harvest Festivals, Halloween parties and social gatherings, this Halloween season could be very busy for you and your family. This is why all parents should make safety the number one priority while having fun. It also never hurts to be reminded of the precautions all Halloweeners should take while gathering candy.

Before leaving the house, every person going out to Trick-or-Treat should be dressed appropriately. Begin by making sure attire is weather appropriate. The cooler the temperature, the more layers needed to keep warm. These layers should be easily removed as not to interfere with the costume if it gets too warm. Any masks being worn should fit so that vision is not obscured in any way.

Children can't be expected to be completely safe if surroundings can't be seen easily. Batman and Darth Vader costumes are popular this year, and their dark cloaks can make seeing trick-ortreaters almost impossible after the sun has set. Take the ultimate safety precaution by

purchasing reflective tape and place it on the back of the costume, which can be done without changing the appearance or effect of the costume. It also helps to add reflective tape to the side of shoes to add extra reflective surfaces. If a car approaches your child from any direction, enough reflective tape will give your child shape and the driver will be able to see the children. Glow sticks and other accessories are also great ways to make sure you and your child can be seen in the dark.

When moving from house to house, children should refrain from walking in-between parked cars and ideally, should only cross the street at crosswalks. Some neighborhoods are easier to navigate than others, but it is always better to visit houses on one side of the street at a time. Keeping on sidewalks and driveways and refraining from grass and other soft areas will help prevents slips, trips, and falls. Holes and dips in the ground are hard to see in covered areas. Blacktop and concrete surfaces should be used for navigation as much as possible.

Only visit houses that are inviting. Houses without a light at the door or front porch, or without any light from jack-o-lanterns or other means or decoration should not be included in the list of houses to visit. Not only is it not safe, but obviously the tenants do not want visitors.

where the parking lot of the Church is filled with vehicles where drivers give out candy from their decked-out truck beds and lawn chairs next to their cars. These are wonderful places to take children because the people giving candy may already be a friend, therefore giving parents a more trusted source of treats. Parents are also able to socialize and have some fun themselves, too!

We all know of the importance of screening the candy our children receive during Trickor-Treating. Some communities offer free screenings with X-ray devices, which is an ideal way to make sure the stereotypical metal object hasn't been inserted into your child's candy. In addition to screenings, parents should check each piece of candy thoroughly before consumption. All candy should be wrapped or packaged well without any tears or punctures. Make sure the wrapper on the candy is still secure and bags are free of puncture marks or tears. If candy looks like it has been tampered with in any way, be sure to discard immediately.

Whether you decide to stay home and give out candy, or take a stroll or drive to your favorite haunts, be sure safety is first, no matter what! Enjoy your Halloween!

Although neighborhoods with larger houses in prominent areas are more appealing, it can be tiresome for smaller children. These houses take longer to go from door to door, ultimately causing small children to tire more quickly. If you drive to a neighborhood to visit, try to pick one with houses that are closer together to make the trip more productive with less walking.

Some of the best places to trick-or-treat isn't necessarily in a neighborhood going from door to door. Churches, malls and shopping center strip-malls often offer treats to those who stop by. Churches often offer forms of entertainment like "Trunk-or-Treating," Written by Rachael Towel. Courtesy of Isnare.com

An Exclusive Halloween 10 Must Have Tips

Halloween adds excitement to young and old. And the occasion demands style, trends, exclusive treats and more. Halloween styles, treats, decorations and more are the focus of magazines and websites bringing to a peak festival excitement.

To make Halloween exclusive we bring you some expert tips: 1. Surf the World Wide Web to see what is haute and happening this Halloween. Websites host Halloween exclusive blogs and send out alerts on celebrity costumes and latest trends to registered customers. So update your knowledge.

2. Plan your families Halloween. Sit down with young and old to decide on a theme: renaissance, films, comic strip heroes, or traditional witches and imps!

3. Design the entire Halloween around the theme you have decided. Decorations, invites, treats, bags and more could all feature the "theme." So where its Flintstones, the Adams Family, or the teachers at Harry Potter's school or Batman and Batwoman; plan the adventure well.

4. Learn how to take exclusive photographs for Halloween-create the atmosphere of eeriness use effects to bring alive "Halloween" create eternal memories for generations to come.

5. Plan the Halloween decorations to match your theme. Jot down the list and visit discount stores and online Halloween special stores to find the decorations you need. Begin the gathering of decorations well in advance. If you live in a neighborhood that's friendly then plan with your neighbors a Ęťstreet look' for Halloween. Think about it is may be fun!

6. Make Halloween a safe celebration by following safety regulations that protect the kids and your home and front yard.

7. Make sure the treats you prepare are healthy and free from allergens and other poisons. Read about safe Halloween treats and only buy treats manufactured by reputed organizations.

8. Teach the kids about not eating treats while trick or treating and about safety norms. If children are small they must be accompanied by older children or adults. See http://www.halloween-safety.com/ halloween_safety_treats.html for some guidelines.

9. Take care of pets during Halloween. Many pets fall sick or die from eating treats or from accidents. While dressing up the dog may be fun think about the pet's safety and needs.

10. If you are planning a party make sure yours does not clash with any other planned within your group of friends. Plan the party around your theme and let guests know about costumes etc. Choose suitable music and take care that you only use approved colors for drink and food. Check out websites like http:// www.halloweenpartybox.com/ for great ideas and buys.

Halloween can become a tradition in your family Many may not be aware but Halloween is an ancient festival; its origins lie in a Celtic celebration Samhain which was celebrated at the end of the harvest season.

Traditional decorations of Halloween include the jack-o-lantern carved from a pumpkin representing knowledge and that knowledge would always triumph over evil. So enjoy Halloween in the modern way and carry forward an ancient tradition.

Written by Matthew Pawlina. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com,

A History Of Halloween, or What Is Samhain?

Samhain, pronounced sow-wen, is a Celtic word meaning "summer's end." It is also the Irish Gaelic word for the month of November. Samhain is the last of three harvest festivals in the Celtic year, and it is the Celtic New Year. The Celts only recognized two seasons: summer, and winter. So, with the last harvest, the summer ends, and the cold, dark, dangerous days of winter begin. Any food that was not brought in from the fields by the end of the day on October 31, Samhain, was left in the fields and not eaten. It was considered to belong to the fairy folk at that point, and would make anyone sick who tried to eat it.

The food in the storerooms by this time was all the food you were going to get between this first day of winter and the coming spring. It had to last through the cold, dark winter months. Starvation was always a possibility. Livestock was slaughtered at this time, both to preserve meat for the winter months, and to cull the herd. With fewer animals to feed, the ones that were left would have a better chance of survival until spring. This is one reason why death and the dead are associated with this day.

Facing the long, deadly winter, unsure of your food supply, with no central heating, you would have to brave the elements and the dangers of the forest to gather all the wood you would need to keep yourself warm. With the days getting shorter and shorter, you would start wondering if the sun was ever going to come back. The wild animals would get hungrier and more aggressive as the winter got harder for everyone. All made this day, marking the beginning of the winter season, one of fear and danger. But it was also a day of celebration, akin to the

American Thanksgiving -- thanking the gods for the blessings of a bountiful harvest.

To the Celts, "between" times and places were very important.

At these points, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest, and communication between the fairy realm, the land of the dead, and the human world is much easier.

"Between" places include doorways between one room and another, or between inside and outside; or the seashore, marking the meeting of earth and sea. "Between" times include dusk and dawn, marking the transitions from night to day, and day to night; and in more recent centuries, midnight, representing the transition between one calendar day and the next.

The transitions between seasons are even more important "between" times. The transition from winter to summer at Beltaine (May 1), and the transition from summer to winter at Samhain, were the two most important days of the Celtic year; but Samhain was the most important, because it also marked the transition from one year to the next. Ergo, it is at this time that the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and communication between the world of the living and the world of our deceased ancestors, the fairy folk, and other spirits is easiest. This is also a good night for divination for that reason.

At this harvest celebration, when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, one's ancestors are therefore honored and venerated. Hospitality was very important to the ancient Celts. They would leave food out on their hearth, or out on their front step, as an offering to the

spirits of their ancestors, whom they believed would visit them on this night. Offerings of food or milk were also left out for the fairies, and some Wiccans today invite fairy beings into their homes to share their hospitality with them for the winter.

The Celts also extended this hospitality to wandering travelers and beggars, because Celts considered it very bad luck to withhold hospitality from anyone in need.

But the thinness of the veil between the worlds also allowed more dangerous spirits to wander into the human realm, so Samhain was also a time of fear and foreboding. These two ideas influenced our modern custom of "trick or treating" at Halloween (our modern name for Samhain). Today, wandering beggars in the form of children, dress up as horrible spirits that go from door to door begging for food, and threatening pranks if they are not appeased. That is a very recent tradition, however, invented in America.

The carved pumpkins we call jack-o'-lanterns also have their root in ancient hospitality. The Celts did not have pumpkins in the Old World, as we have here in America; pumpkin is a New World fruit. So rather than carving pumpkins, the Celts used turnips and gourds. They hollowed out the inside, and put candles in them to create a lantern. Then they would set a light out each evening to let any wandering strangers know that hospitality was available at that particular home. However, to frighten away the evil spirits that might also be out wandering, these home owners would take the precaution to carve ugly faces into the lanterns, to scare anything nasty away.

Many ancient pagan holidays, including those of the Celts, were adapted by the Christian church in an attempt to convert pagans to Christianity. Many of the traditions of Yule, such as the decorated evergreen tree, became the traditions of Christmas. Many of the traditions of the spring equinox, such as decorating eggs, became customs of Easter. And many practices of Samhain became the traditions of Halloween.

"Hallow" means "sacred." For example, "hallowed ground" means a place that has been blessed and is appropriate for burial. The suffix "-een" is short for "evening," the night before a holiday. Halloween, like our New Year's Eve, is therefore the celebration before the actual holiday, in this case November 1, dubbed "All Saints Day" by the Catholic Church. Halloween is also known as "All Souls Day," following the tradition that this is a time to celebrate the dead and commemorate them.

There are several misconceptions and outright lies that are spread by religious fundamentalists about Samhain every year, in an attempt to get Halloween banned. The first is that the holiday is of Druidic origin; the Druids were a priestly class of the Celts, but they were a very late manifestation of the Celtic religion. The Celts were practicing their religion for thousands of years before the priestly class of the Druids developed.

Another misconception is that the ancient Romans adopted Samhain and added their traditions to it; however, the traditions

of Halloween, as we know them, have come down to us from Ireland. Ireland was never conquered by the Romans. Samhain was also celebrated by the Picts in Scotland, but the Picts were never conquered by the Romans, either. The only territory in the British Isles that the Romans successfully conquered was England.

Another error is that Samhain is pronounced Sam Hane and is the name of a Celtic god of the dead. The Celts had no god of the dead. Samhain is also not pronounced that way, it is pronounced "Sow-ween," due to the odd way Irish Gaelic ended up being spelled when written in English letters. There is a very minor character in Celtic mythology that has a name with a similar spelling, but he has nothing to do with death or with that particular holiday.

Some people also claim that at this holiday the souls of the dead were supposed to move into the bodies of animals if they had been "sinful," and that human sacrifice was practiced. The Celts did not believe in sin, nor in reincarnation or the transmigration of souls. The Celts also did not practice human sacrifice, with the exception of the execution of criminals, which we still practice in America today.

Halloween in America is now a completely secular holiday.

Though it still maintains some of its harvest festival roots, there is no longer any religious or spiritual significance to the practices of bobbing for apples, trick or treating, and dressing up in costume. Samhain, however, is still observed by Wiccans and other Pagans for its spiritual significance in the Wheel of the Year, the cycle of holidays that mark transition points in the natural solar cycle.

Because Samhain represented the transition between years, it could not belong to one year or the next. Since time did not technically exist during this period, other societal rules were suspended as well, creating the necessary atmosphere to allow people to vent frustrations, often by playing practical jokes on each other. This may be the precursor to the pranks practiced at Halloween today.

A lot of the associations of Halloween, from black cats to dressing up in costumes, to witches, are more associated with Germanic tradition and Walpurgisnacht, which is associated with May Day, rather than the Celtic tradition or Samhain. A couple of sources list Gwynn ap Nudd as a British god of the dead, and Arawn as a Welsh god of the dead, but there is no Irish equivalent.

Written by Vivenne D’Avalon. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com,

COLUMBUS AND HIS VOYAGE

One day a man appeared in Portugal, who said he was certain that the earth was round, and that he could reach India by sailing westward. Every one laughed at him and asked him how he would like to try. He answered that he would sail round the earth, if any one would provide him with ships.

People jeered and scoffed.

"If the earth is a sphere," they said, "in order to sail round it you must sail uphill! Who ever heard of a ship sailing uphill?"

But this man, whose name was Christopher Columbus, remained firm in his belief.

When a boy, Columbus had listened eagerly to the stories the sailors told about strange lands and wonderful islands beyond the water. He was in the habit of sitting on the

wharves and watching the ships. Often he would say, "I wish, oh, how I wish I could be a sailor!"

At last his father, who was a wool comber, said to him, "My son, if you really wish to become a sailor, I will send you to a school where you will be taught navigation."

Columbus was delighted at this, and told his father that he would study diligently. He was sent to the University of Pavia, where he learned all the geography that was then known, as well as how to draw maps and charts. He became a skillful penman, and also studied astronomy, geometry, and Latin.

But he did not spend a long time at his studies, for at the age of fourteen he went to sea. What he had learned, however, gave him an excellent groundwork, and from

this time forward he made use of every opportunity to inform himself and to become a scholarly man.

His first voyage was made with a distant relative, who was an adventurous and daring man, and who was ever ready to fight with any one with whom he could pick a quarrel.

In course of time Columbus commanded a ship of his own, and became known as a bold and daring navigator. He made a voyage along the coast of Africa as far south as Guinea, and afterwards sailed northward to Iceland.

At an early day he became familiar with the wildest kind of adventure, for at this time sea life on the Mediterranean was little more than a series of fights with pirates. Some say that during one of these conflicts Columbus's ship caught fire. In order to save his life, he jumped into the water and swam six miles to shore, reaching the coast of Portugal. Others say that he was attracted to that country by the great school of navigation which Prince Henry had established. However that may be, he appeared at Lisbon at the age of thirty-five, filled with the idea of sailing westward to reach those rich Eastern countries in which every one was so much interested.

He was laughed at for expressing such an idea. It is not pleasant to be laughed at, but Columbus was courageous and never wavered in his belief.

"The earth is a sphere," he said; "those foolish stories of its being flat and supported on a turtle's back cannot be true."

But those persons to whom he talked only laughed the more.

"Is there anything more foolish," they asked, "than to believe that there are people who walk with their heels up and with their heads hanging down?" "Think of a place where the trees grow with their branches down, and where it snows, hails, and rains upward!"

Everybody thought him an idle dreamer.

Columbus tried to persuade King John to furnish him with ships and allow him to test his belief. But King John cruelly deceived Columbus; for, after obtaining his maps and charts, he sent off an expedition of his own. He hoped in this way to gain the glory of the discovery. The sailors whom he sent, however, were not brave enough to continue the voyage, and returned, frightened by a severe storm.

Columbus was so disgusted by the treachery of King John that he made up his mind to leave Portugal and go to Spain. So, taking his little son, Diego, with him, he started on his journey. He traveled from place to place, trying to find some person who would help him make his ideas known to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. He thought that if he could talk with them he could persuade them to furnish him with ships.

One day he came to a convent called La RĂĄbida. Here Diego, who was weary and thirsty, begged his father to stop and ask for a drink of water. Columbus knocked at the big iron gate, and while he was conversing with the attendant a priest approached.

This priest was attracted by the noble bearing and refined speech of Columbus, and saw at once that he was not a beggar. He asked him what he wished, and Columbus related his story.

The good priest believed in him and said he would try to influence the king and queen to furnish him with ships.

The priest brought the matter before the king; but at this time Spain was at war with the Moors, and King Ferdinand had no time to attend to anything else.

Columbus was patient and waited. But as year after year passed and brought no prospect of obtaining the ships he wished, his hopes fell. After seven long, weary years of waiting, he was about to leave Spain in despair.

Just as he was leaving, however, a message was brought to him from the queen, asking him to explain his plans to her once more. Columbus did so, and the queen was so fully convinced that she exclaimed: "I will provide ships and men for you, if I have to pledge my jewels in order to do so!"

Three ships were fitted out for the voyage. These ships were very different from those we see to-day. They were light, frail barks called caravels, and two of them, the Pinta and NiĂąa, had no decks. The third, the Santa Maria, had a deck. It was upon this largest caravel that Columbus placed his flag.

On the 3d of August, 1492, the little fleet set sail from Palos, entering upon the most daring expedition ever undertaken by man. The people of the town gathered on the wharf to see the departure of the vessels. Many of them had friends or relatives on board whom they expected never to look upon again. Sad indeed was the sight as the little caravels sailed out of the harbor and faded from view.

After sailing a few days, the Pinta broke her rudder. This accident the sailors took to be a sign of misfortune. They tried to persuade Columbus to put back to Palos, but he would not listen to such a suggestion. Instead of sailing back, he pushed on to the Canary Islands. Here his ships were delayed three weeks, after which they continued the voyage into unknown waters.

After they had sailed westward for many days, the sailors began to show signs of alarm, and they implored Columbus to return. He tried to calm their fears. He described the rich lands he hoped to find, and reminded them of the wealth and fame this voyage would bring to them. So they agreed to venture a little farther.

At last the compass began to point in a different direction, and the sailors became almost panic-stricken. They thought they were sailing straight to destruction, and when they found that Columbus would not listen to their entreaties they planned a mutiny. Though Columbus knew what the sailors were plotting, he kept steadily on his course. Fortunately, signs of land soon began to appear. A branch with berries on it floated past, a rudely carved paddle was picked up, and land birds were seen flying over the ships.

A prize had been offered to the sailor who first saw land, and all eagerly watched for it night and day. At last, early one morning, a gun was fired from the Pinta, and all knew that land had been sighted. The sailors were filled with the wildest joy, and crowded around Columbus with expressions of gratitude and admiration, in great contrast to the distrustful manner in which they had treated him a few days before.

The land they were approaching was very beautiful. It was a green, sunny island with pleasant groves in which birds were singing. Beautiful flowers were blooming all around and the trees were laden with fruit. The island was inhabited, too, for groups of strange-looking men were seen running to the shore.

At length the ships cast anchor, the boats were lowered, and Columbus, clad in rich scarlet and carrying in his hand the royal banner of Spain, was taken ashore. As soon as he stepped on the beach, Columbus knelt down and gave thanks to God. He then planted the banner of Spain in the ground and took possession of the country in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella.

This island he called San Salvador, because he and his crew had been saved from a watery grave, and also because October 12 was so named in the Spanish calendar.

Columbus supposed San Salvador to be one of the islands near the coast of Asia, but it is one of the Bahamas.

Thus was America discovered on the 12th of October, 1492.

The natives of this island were different from any people the Spaniards had ever seen. They were of a reddishbrown color, and had high cheek bones, small black eyes, and straight black hair. They were entirely naked, and their bodies were greased and painted. Their hair was decorated with feathers, and many of them were adorned with curious ornaments.

They were at first very much afraid of the white men and kept far away. But gradually they lost their fear and brought the Spaniards presents of bananas and oranges.

Some of them gathered courage enough to touch the Spaniards and pass their hands over them, as if to make certain that they were real beings. These men, whose skin

was so white, they thought to be gods who had come down from the sky.

When Columbus asked them where they found the gold of which many of their ornaments were made, they pointed toward the south. Then Columbus took some of them with him to search for the land of gold.

The next land he reached was the island of Cuba.

Thinking that this was a part of India, he called the natives Indians. He then sailed to Haiti, which he called Hispaniola, or "Little Spain." For more than three months Columbus cruised among these islands, where the air was always balmy, the sky clear, and the land beautiful. The sailors believed these new lands were Paradise, and wanted to live there always.

At length, however, they thought of returning to their home and friends. So, taking several Indians with them, and many curious baskets and ornaments, they set out on their return voyage.

This voyage proved to be very stormy, and at one time it seemed certain that the ships would go down; but after a time the sea grew quiet, and on the 15th of March they sailed again into the little harbor of Palos.

You can imagine the excitement.

"What! has Columbus returned?" asked the people. "Has he really found the East by sailing westward?"

"Yes, he has," was the answer. "He has found India."

Columbus was given a royal welcome. The king and queen held a great celebration in his honor at Barcelona; and when the Indians marched into court the astonishment of every person was great. The Indians were half naked; their dark bodies were painted, and their heads were adorned with feathers. They carried baskets of seed pearls, and wore strange ornaments of gold.

Some carried the skins of wild animals, and others carried beautiful birds of brilliant plumage. Every inhabitant of Barcelona rejoiced, and the bells were rung in honor of the great discoverer.

It was a happy time for Columbus. He felt repaid for all his suffering and trouble.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella now wished Columbus to go again to these newly discovered islands and search for the gold that was thought to be there. You may be sure Columbus was willing to go. So they fitted out seventeen vessels, manned by fifteen hundred men, and placed Columbus in command of this fleet. It was no trouble to find men who were willing to go on this voyage. All wanted to see the new world that had been found.

During this second voyage, which was made in 1493, Columbus discovered Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and some small islands in the Caribbean Sea. On the island of Jamaica the Spaniards came upon the footprints of some strange animal which they thought to be a dragon. This dragon they believed was guarding the

gold which they supposed was on the island. So they ran back to their ships in fear. Later on they became used to seeing these footprints, and found that they were those of alligators. At Puerto Rico they suffered from a savage attack made by the natives, who shot poisoned arrows and threw javelins at them. But in most other places the natives were very friendly.

Columbus thought this land was a part of the east coast of Asia, and he could not understand why he did not find cities such as Marco Polo had described.

Columbus then sailed to Hispaniola, where he planted a colony, of which he was made governor. It was not an easy matter to govern this island, because of the jealousies and quarrels of the Spaniards. At length Columbus returned to Spain, ill and discouraged.

Columbus made a third voyage in 1498, during which he sailed along the coast of Brazil, and discovered Trinidad Island. Here his ships encountered currents of fresh water which flowed with great force into the ocean. This led Columbus to think that so large a river must flow across a great continent, and strengthened his opinion that the land was a part of the great continent of Asia.

After sailing farther north along the Pearl Coast, which was so called because of the pearls found there, he returned to Hispaniola. Here he found the Spaniards engaged in an Indian war, and quarreling among themselves. Some officials became jealous of him, bound him with chains, and sent him back to Spain a prisoner.

Ferdinand and Isabella were much displeased at this treatment of Columbus, and set him free.

A fourth voyage was made by Columbus in 1502, during which he explored the coast of Honduras in search of a strait leading to the Indian Ocean. In this venture he was unsuccessful. On his return to Spain he found his friend Queen Isabella very ill, and nineteen days after his arrival she died.

After Isabella's death the king treated Columbus cruelly and ungratefully. The people had become jealous of him, and his last days were spent in poverty and distress. He never knew that he had discovered a new continent, but supposed that he had found India.

Seven years after his death the king repented of his ingratitude, and caused the remains of Columbus to be removed from the little monastery in Valladolid to a monastery in Seville, where a magnificent monument was erected to his memory. In 1536 his bones were removed to the Cathedral of San Domingo in Hispaniola, and later they were taken to the cathedral in Havana.

When the United States took possession of Cuba, the Spanish disinterred the bones of Columbus again and carried them to Spain, placing them in the cathedral of Seville, where they now are.

Written by Victor Ezeaku. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Products To Love In October Oh, Halloween! Glorious season of disguise, mayhem, spooktacular scaring and candy! I wait with extreme anticipation for the halloween season every year for one reason. And no, it始s not the costumes! Toosie Roll Caramel Apple Pops are one of my seasonal favorite candies in the entire world. (coming in second only to Peeps). The soft creamy caramel that sticks to your teeth in the most delicious way and the sharp, tangy flavor of the apple pop deliver a sense of bliss that makes the Halloween season a magical place. Please click here for more information.

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Reviewed by Rural Jungle Testing

Want to impress your Halloween guests with something special this year? Right out of the classic sci-fi of the 1950s, all gleaming steel and aluminum with rubber hoses, it is a special effects triumph, standing over 47 inches tall. Plug it in and watch the horror!

Lights and a bubbler run on standard 110 volt house current. The spare brain floating inside is resilient gray latex. So realistic you can almost hear the moans of its lost owner.

The Dr. Karlosi Atomic Brain uses plain water; the lamp imparts a red glowing tint.

When the room lights are dimmed, the brain keeps on glowing as if alive! Please click here for more information.

Guys, have we got one for you! Be the smash hit of the party in this amazing outfit.

Let your inner warrior shine through and impress all the ladies this Halloween.

Defend your princess and slay all Gorgon's in this impressive Clash of the Titans Deluxe Adult Perseus costume. Includes tunic, molded chest armor , gauntlets and shin plates. Please click here for more information.

Products To Love In October Looking for a fun read in the spirit of the Halloween season? Check this out! Sure you'll miss plenty when you die: your loved ones, your favorite Italian dish, great sex! But what about the things you assuredly won't miss: incurable disease, telemarketers, butt acne! "6001 Things You Won't Miss When You're Dead" is a candid and funny catalog of life's miseries, irritants, and mystifying b.s. we can all do without. It's the perfect travel companion, bathroom book, or gift for a dying friend, and certain to make readers smile with the understanding that when they depart this world it will no doubt come with a silver lining. Please click here for more information.

Make you house smell like Halloween!

Discover the spooktacular autumn blend of Harvest and Spiced Pumpkin. Enjoy a refreshingly different approach to Halloween fragrance enjoyment with this unique combination of two true-to-life seasonal Yankee scents and the decorative possibilities of a distinctive, colorful look that is perfect for the occasion. And, of course, you can count on the renowned Yankee Candle reputation for exceptional fragrance quality and consistency from start to finish.

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Alice in Wonderland is back! and is more popular than ever. From the awesome Tim Burton created movie, comes this very cool Alice costume just like in the movie. Alice is a dreamer and very curious and now you can have your dream come true with this Alice movie costume. It has great graphics on the dress and comes with a petticoat to create a very full dress. Time for you to cross over to the Wonderland as your favorite character Alice! Costume Includes: Dress with petticoat and glovettes.

Please click here for more information.

City Spotlight

San Diego, CA If you’re looking for a special place to take your family this year that offers endless fun, San Diego is ideal. This coastal city has great, sandy beaches and beautiful weather year round.

There is something for all ages to find to do in San Diego. With all of the family oriented attractions, you're sure to find something to please even the pickiest members of your family.

The San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, offers visitors a view of over 4,000 different animals. The Skyfari, which is a gondola lift, offers you aerial views of the park. This zoo is famous for housing the first giant panda baby born in North America. Currently, four giant pandas are on display. Some of the other major exhibits at the zoo include the Polar Bear Plunge. This exhibit houses 30 different species of animals including deer and polar bear. These animals are separated by a moat for safety, but when a visitor approaches the exhibit, it appears to be one huge enclosure.

Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is another great family destination. It showcases monkeys and other animals from the rain forests of Asia and Africa. The Wild Animal Park is an expansion of The San Diego Zoo. It offers views of a large number of animals from other continents. These animals are allowed to live in an expanded and open zoo setting. There are over 2500 animals at the park, and many of them are endangered.

Another option for family fun in San Diego is Lego Land. Who doesn't love those fun little building blocks from their

childhood? Now the entire family can ride on roller coasters that look as though they are built completely from Lego blocks.

Lego Land is an interactive park that is designed for children ages 2 to 12, but all ages have incredible fun at this family fun stop. You can also purchase Lego blocks by the pound. Your Lego purchases will be held at the front desk until you are ready to leave.

Sea World is another fabulous family attraction in San Diego. It is a marine zoological park that is built on 22 acres located on the shores of Mission Bay. It is home to Shamu, the world’s most famous killer whale. The dolphin shows are literally a big splash at the park and you and your family will not want to miss it. You just have to get a little water on you if you want the full Sea World experience. This is one of San Diego’s most beloved spots and there are over one million visitors to these gates annually.

The beaches of San Diego cannot be overlooked as a family destination. Coronado Silver Strand Beach offers access from four different parking lots, and the sloping shoreline makes the beach safe for children. The Del Mar location is another great family beach. This location is perfect for picnics and the grassy area above the beach has a large and modern playground for the children. A lifeguard is also on site so swimming can be done at almost any time.

Written by Jennifer McVey, courtesy of Isnare.com

Businesses That Make A Difference

Nutrition, Health and Wellness is Nestléʼs strategic direction. We want you to be able to make healthy choices about your food and beverages. We also believe that good food sometimes means treating yourself!

We aim to make your life more pleasurable because our products not only taste better; but they are also more nutritious.

Here we have listed some of the local sites that will provide you good local information about Nutrition, Health

The Company's strategy is guided by several fundamental principles.

and Wellness. We will change and add to these addresses from time to time, so be sure to come back often to check on the links for Good Food, Good Life. Nestlé with headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé and is today the world's leading nutrition, health and wellness company. We employ around 280 000 people and have factories or operations in almost every country in the world.

Nestlé's existing products grow through innovation and renovation while maintaining a balance in geographic activities and product lines. Long-term potential is never sacrificed for short-term performance.

The Company's priority is to bring the best and most relevant products to people, wherever they are, whatever their needs, throughout their lives.

Check out www.nestle.com to find out more.

Random Facts

This month's random fact is about the symbol of Halloween around the world: The Jack'O Lantern. A jack-o'-lantern (formerly also known as a Jack o' the lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween, and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. At night, a light is placed inside to illuminate the effect. Cool huh?

So where did this gourd get it's start? An old Irish folk tale tells of Stingy Jack, the man behind the story. One story says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen, when he met the Devil, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the thief stalled his death by tempting the Devil with a chance to bedevil the church-going villagers chasing him. Jack told the Devil to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods (the Devil could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin/Devil disappeared, the Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. The Devil agreed to this plan. He turned himself into a silver coin and jumped into Jack's wallet, only to find himself next to a cross Jack had also picked up in the village. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped. In both myths, Jack only lets the Devil go when he agrees never to take his soul. After a while the thief died, as all living things do. Of course, his life had been too sinful for Jack to go to heaven; however, the Devil had promised not to take his soul, and so he was barred from hell as well. Jack now had nowhere to go. He asked how he would see where to go, as he had no light, and the Devil mockingly tossed him an ember that would never burn out from the flames of hell. Jack carved out one of his turnips (which was his favorite food), put the ember inside it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern", or Jack-o'-Lantern.

So this year when you carve up your pumpkin, spare a thought for Stingy Jack. After all maybe your jack'o lantern will be the one to finally lead him to his rest.

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About Karen and James Lewis We have 3 grown children and 6 Grandchildren with a NEW GRANDDAUGHTER, SHARLEY, born on July 22, 2008!!! What a wonderful addition she is! She has a big Brother, Robbie and he adores her.

Jim and I have been married for 25 years and both of us are Realtors-.速 and in June of 2008 have completed our GRI to serve you better in your REAL ESTATE NEEDS. We both work as a "team" and love our job helping you find "JUST THAT PERFECT PROPERTY."

Call Me For All Of Your Real Estate Needs: 573-247-5600