Trick or Treat

Scarecrows bring on smiles or screams at Halloween

By: KATHRYN PALUSCIO

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"Entries
Photo
courtesy of Peddler’s Village
Entries


for the Peddler’s Village annual Scarecrow Competition will be displayed
through Oct. 28. Peddler’s Village is located on Routes 202 and 263
in Lahaska, Pa. A sampling of whimsical garden scarecrows is shown at left.

Though
the scarecrow is a dear fall friend,

we are half expecting to see it come alive

and hear its frightening howl as it chases us down some dark road.
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   Tattered clothes blowing in a crisp evening breeze, stiff outstretched
arms overstuffed with hay and that hauntingly mysterious face of pillowcase or
mask or pumpkin. What fascinates us so about the scarecrow?
   How is it that just a few fabric scraps, an old hat and some
rope become a seasonal symbol that can bring a heartwarming smile or a spine chilling
scream to every face, young and old.
   And no matter what body parts the scarecrow may boast —
whether they be wire and wood, cans and sheets or flannel and flower pots —
we feel the same way on a cold October night. For though the scarecrow is a dear
fall friend, we are half expecting to see it come alive and hear its frightening
howl as it chases us down some dark road. It is almost entirely true that no one
ever gets too close to a scarecrow on Halloween night, just in case!
   Yet, when we create a scarecrow and wriggle its sagging body
into that haunting position on the wooden post and tilt its hat to cast an eerie
shadow across its face, do we ever stop to think of its true beginning?
   Scarecrows date back to the times of ancient Egypt and Greece
where the strange figures have been discovered in the art of the time. Scarecrows
have been found in the legends and farming history of Germany, England, Japan
and in the stories of Native Americans.
   The name, "scarecrow," seems to say it all. The scarecrow
frightens the birds away from a farmer’s crop. Yet, if this is the true purpose
of a scarecrow, why do so many of us continue the tradition when most of our crop
gets double-bagged at the local supermarket? Perhaps we just like the idea of
scaring the trick or treaters on Halloween night.
   Whatever the reason, the scarecrow is here to stay. Not only
does the scarecrow make appearances in almost every neighborhood and store nationwide
come fall, but scarecrow festivals and contests are in abundance. The scarecrow
is even technologically savvy having found its way onto the Internet. Consider
http:// www.scarecrow.net.au, where one can build a scarecrow with point and click
rather than scissors and twine.
   This fall, you might get the scarecrow-making bug the minute
you realize you need a jacket to walk outside. So, how do you make a scarecrow
guaranteed to impress the neighbors and satisfy the little ones? How do you construct
a character that will last the whole season? Here are some tips guaranteed to
make your scarecrow a month long hit:
    • Casing the scarecrow
   When you think scarecrow, think containment. It is always best
to build a body using one or two pieces of clothing. Overalls and one-piece pajamas
work best. You can also consider stuffing and connecting large plastic garbage
bags. Pantyhose got a run? Consider using them for leg shapes.
   • Dress to impress
   Once your scarecrow has a basic shape, move on the next phase:
suiting up for the season. Scarecrows which look the best and enjoy longevity
standing up to the unpredictable elements have an inner casing covered by| many
layers — jeans and shirt or bathrobe covered by a jacket or coat. You might
want to double some layers such as covering the legs in sweat pants and then wiggling
on the jeans. Scarecrows can also be of the female variety — a dress or skirt
which fritter in the wind can make your scarecrow look like "she" is
in motion.
   You probably have all the supplies you need right at home. Look
around. There is no rule that says our whimsical visitor has to have guts of straw.
Old clothing and that bundle of newspaper set for the recycling bucket make excellent
stuffing — just be sure your inner casing is watertight (trash bags are perfect).
As far as attire goes…gloves, hats and scarves sleeping on the top shelf until
winter are fabulous finishing touches.
   • It’s all in the attitude
   How the heck do you get the scarecrow to stay up? Well, one
of the more common methods is constructing a framework with wooden sticks purchased
at the hardware store or lurking around the garage. One stick should be about
6 feet, the other about 2 feet. Use something strong like a 2-by-4. Nail or wire
the two together in a crisscross formation and bang the bottom of the long stick
onto the ground.
   There are plenty of sturdy options. The first step is to give
your front yard or porch a good hard look. Maybe your scarecrow is perfectly content
hanging from a tree or wrapped around a fence post. Your scarecrow might sit comfortably
in a lawn chair, a rocker or along the railings on your porch tucked under a blanket
or umbrella.
   And for the love of pumpkins, make sure your scarecrow does
something. Let the scarecrow hold a flag or lantern, reach out to grab visitors
or hold its own trick or treat bag.

"Scarecrow
Scarecrow making at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pa., provides fun for the whole family.

Photo courtesy of Peddler’s Village

   • Special effects
   Surprise passersby with some old farmer’s tricks. Create
some noisemakers! Let your scarecrow hold an old coffee can filled with salt or
pebbles which rattle in the wind or line its tattering clothes with carefully
placed jingle bells. Baby rattles are also a clever noisemaker idea. Insert reflective
tape or twinkle lights behind the eye holes for an especially striking face.
   • Top it off
   The pivotal piece of every scarecrow is the head, of course.
And the choices are many. Pumpkins and potato sack be darned — get wild.
Use a flower pot, spaghetti strainer or an odd-shaped gourd. How about a box or
a bucket? Maybe your scarecrow just wears a hood and is faceless. It could be
your scarecrow sends an environmentally conscious message by flaunting a plastic
jug noggin.
   No time to be Frankenstein? If you’re like many —
on the run during the week — the thought of gathering materials and building
your own scarecrow may already be giving you a migraine. You seem to have only
a precious sliver of quality family time on the weekend. Well, no problem there.
Just a short trip over the Delaware River and you and your family can be in scarecrow
heaven. There are two haunts which get the scarecrow thumbs-up award for the best
combination of scarecrow activities and Halloween family fun.
   • Through Oct. 28, Peddler’s Village, located
on Routes 202 and 263 in Lahaska, Pa., will display its entries for its annual
Scarecrow Competition. The scarecrows are displayed in and among the 70 specialty
shops and restaurants. For more information, visit www.peddlarsvillage.com.
   • Snipes Farm and Nursery offers Family Scarecrow
Making Workshops every weekend in October. The Snipes’ Land of the Scarecrows
— voted as one of the best scarecrow displays in Bucks County — is not
to be missed! Snipes Farm is located at 890 W. Bridge St. (just down Route 1 south
past Trenton), Morrisville, Pa. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through
Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays. For more information, call (215)
295-1138.