Five little pumpkins sitting on the gate, the 1st one said, "Oh my! It's getting late!" the 2nd one said, "There are Witches in the air." the 3rd one said, "But we don't care." the 4th one said, "Let's run and run and run." and the 5th one said, "Isn't Halloween Fun?!" Then, up came the wind, and Out! went the lights, and the 5 little pumpkins, rolled out of sight. Author Unknown

Can you believe it is almost Halloween?!!! I can't, but the hatchet man that Alison made in the front yard is beckoning to the imaginations of all the kids on our street right now, and I've been overhearing many of the spooky details concerning tricks they are planning on playing this year. By the way, did I ever mention that we live at the end of a long, dark, spooky dirt road? To tell you a secret, I use this creepy road to my advantage each year. There is always some scary story to tell about a road such as ours, or a tree to jump out from behind with red, battery powered, glowing eyeballs and the ugliest mask I can find, to strike a bit of terror into those would be evil do-ers who cross through our gate. (HA) As bits of costumes lie strewn about my house, I have been thinking about just what goodies should be in the cauldron for the monsters who will grace our doorstep this year.

Much planning goes into this particular holiday for our youngest daughter, Ali. Obviously inheriting a ghoul gene from somewhere in her father's dank, dark past, just What-to-wear for Halloween is as important as is What-to-give to the little creatures who come a knocking at our door. There is some social standing to be maintained in every neighborhood and the children always know who is giving out the best stuff. But before the first "Trick or Treat" is shouted at your front door this year, you may want to be sure that the hob goblins don't panic our little pig pals - of which mine think they are too old to dress up for the occasion.

Aconite is a remedy that we've spoken of many times here before. From sudden shocks and traumas to fear of fireworks, it is a remedy that no home should be without. At Halloween you will find it most beneficial for the animal who is frightened by all of the commotion of odd looking faces and multitudes of monsters coming to the door all evening ~ not to mention any frightened toddlers that you may have at home, too. Even before All Hallow's Eve arrives, it is wonderful to have about when frequenting Haunted Houses or Haunted Hayrides where getting scared half to death is the fun of it all. It is easy to forget that there are many of us out there who do not find enjoyment in this type of evening gathering. So, keep Aconite 30C on hand and use as needed. All Saint's Day will be issued in more calmly.

A kid's holiday like this isn't the only special event that can instill fear in an animal. Earlier this month I was estatic to be able to travel to Texas once again to vacation at the Ponderosa Mini Farm and attend the Texas State Fair where NAPPA had it's National's Potbellied Pig Show. My flight arrived at 10:30 on Saturday morning~ the last day of the show, but Carol Welcomb (from Michigan) met me at the gate and had me at the fairgrounds by lunch time. It was like a homecoming. To be able to see many of the people that I had met at the seminar held in May, and some of the pigs that were there for the show, was too wonderful for words. I walked into the barn and right away greeted my good piggy friends Gretel, Betsy and Ruth, as well as the Baldwin herd; Charlie, Sweet Pea, Charlotte and Glory. People and pigs were bustling everywhere and it was quite a happy-feeling place...for most. A quick hug from Kathleen and I was off check on little Frances pig who didn't seem to be enjoying the fair at all. For Frances it was not a happy place. I went into the pen to talk to her and she tried to pretend I wasn't there. After a short time coaxing her to talk, she revealed that she had suffered a frightening event. While taking a walk with a young human friend the day before, she started to panic as she could not find her way back to her pen. Upset and frightened, she wanted to go home and kept trying to leave the building. She was distraught, angry and becoming truly freaked out - all of which were quite the opposite of her normal, everyday self. She missed her herdmate Bernice and just wanted to go home. After a few minutes, she got up and started trying to bite me. Not surprising to me, but to her human it was unheard of - especially when she tried to charge her as well. She charged at the pen rails as people walked by and got a tad foamy at the mouth. Frances had been to a fair before and not suffered any distress like this! Luckily, Kathleen had remedies on hand, so we gave Frances Aconite 30C in her water dish. 15 minutes later we gave her another dose and put her in her crate for privacy. About 20 minutes later she was sound asleep, always a good sign that the remedy is the right one and is working. When I checked on her an hour later, Frances was apparently quite fine. At the end of the fair she was let out to eat before going home and all aggressive, fearful behavior seemed to be gone. When I spoke with her human the next day, Frances was quite back to normal. She and Bernice had been stuck together like glue ever since they had returned home and found each other in the dark. A few days later, you would have never known there had been a problem at all.

I can't stress enough how important it is to not only be familiar with the first aid remedies, but also to have them on hand. You never know when they'll be needed. I'm so glad that Kathleen was thinking ahead for me. I had left mine in my suitcase. Frances was able to get some relief quickly because we had it there to give. By the way, you'll be happy to know that Frances will not be going to any more shows. Anyone wanting to see how beautiful she really is, not to mention how sweet, will have to visit her on her farm. She is being awarded the respect of staying home with Bernice the next time a show rolls around.

Because our pigs are such intelligent creatures, always willing to show us mere humans their 'problem solving' abilities with that lateral thinking ability of theirs, you should make the effort to find out where you left the Arsenicum album last. Synonymous with Halloween is, of course, candy. When we overindulge in the sweets it is bad enough, but should your pig find the goody sack hidden under a bed while it's owner is at school, all of that sugar and chocolate can have devastating effects. I know a little 10# dog who tracked down the Easter candy that was hidden in her family's house before it reached the baskets a few years back. While her family was out one afternoon, Micky helped herself to 3 of those big Cadbury Eggs, 2 dozen marshmallow yellow chicks, a box of chocolate cover marshmallow bunnies, 3 large hollow chocolate rabbits and about a pound of jelly beans! When her family returned home, found the destruction in the living room with the closet door ajar, they went off in search of Mick. A strange noise summoned them to the family room where she was lying on her back behind a chair shaking all over like in a seizure. No doubt, sugar shock at it's worst! Arsenicum 30C was given. About 4 minutes later she got up and wobbled over to her family and promptly regurgitated the whole mess of Easter goodies at their feet. Relieved from her afternoon of ravaging, she lied down and took a long nap. Waking at dinner time, she ate most of her dinner, got one more dose of Arsenicum, then proceeded to recover quite nicely. During this time, a better hiding spot was sought out by all.

Arsenicum is the #1 remedy for food poisoning - which fit the bill in this case. Micky's system had been poisoned by all of the sugar and chocolate. There is only one other remedy that is important to remember for the ills we suffer from overindulging in sweets - even though we may crave them - and this is Argentum Nitricum (Silver Nitrate). It not only has a great desire for sugar, people will also have a desire for cheese and salt. Argent. nit. will experience anxiety, apprehension, fear or fright. Unsteady walking and standing, especially when they aren't being observed, and they will have a desire to walk very fast as well. They are better from fresh, cool air and cold in general. Even a cold bath. Oh, and you should also know that it's a great remedy to have if you are taking a trip via the airlines, but have a fear of heights or airplanes, too. A dose or two the day before you leave, then as you head for the airport and again before boarding should instill a much appreciated sense of calm in you. After all, a vacation is supposed to be relaxing!

I hear spooky music wafting across the chilly night air now...no doubt Harry & Clover are being subjected to Alison's idea of soothing, after-dinner music. I think I know what is coming next, so I'm headed off to intervene before I find Harry running through the kitchen with a mask on his face or devil horns atop his head. Poor Harry - he's not cut out for this kind of fun. He's really a scaredy pig. The Aconite is on the counter, easily accessible, should Harry need it again this year, but I've yet to figure out the best ghoul remedy for Ali. Perhaps it's just a good fright...after all, "Like cures like", right? (HA)

...from ghosties and ghoulies, and long leggedy beasties, to things that go bump in the night, dear Lord, please deliver us. Have a Happy Halloween!

© Colleen Nicholson 1996