Boo at the Zoo 2011

It rained all morning, but cleared up and became quite hot and steamy by afternoon, so the Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo was able to hold their annual Halloween event, "Boo at the Zoo".



Once again, the students were very creative with their costumes and the areas they set up for the children to walk through. This year's themes were, super heroes, Toy Story, alien invasion, and pirates.

























Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

3 Cups unbleached white flour

1 Cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs

1 Cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

1-15 ounce can of pumpkin puree


Toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

grease muffin pans ( I use Pam baking spray)

Mix dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Stir well. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Fill the muffin cups and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Makes about 14 muffins

Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks 2011

The Tesla Ranger headed off to another great adventure tonight. This time it was "Ghouls, Goblins, and Greeks", the University of Florida's sorority trick or treating event.



Each house on Sorority Row chooses a theme.







The decorations and children's games go along with the theme and so do the girls' costumes. Here we were met by Willy Wonka:


Blaze competing with an Oompa Loompa in a ring toss game:


For this game, a very enthusiastic Blaze got to smash a pie (a pie plate full of whipped cream) into this girl's face:
















There were some fun costumes there, too.









The magician who tried to make Blaze's Nerf gun disappear:


The sorority girls are always very generous with the candy.


Tonight's haul:

University Graduate and Family Housing Halloween Carnival

Last night was the University of Florida's Graduate and Family Housing Haunted House and carnival.

There were lots of activities and games for the kids and lots of candy given out as prizes.















Mad scientists teach the Tesla Ranger how to make slime:





You see the pretty college girl smiling at Blaze? The perpetual flirt gave her the pumpkin he painted.


There was also free pizza, popcorn, and drinks.



The Costume Contest:

Blaze was the only child his age in the competition, so he didn't stand a chance against the adorable, tiny people,









but he did a great job and was a great sport about it.



There was also an adult costume contest, but there weren't nearly as many participants.





We waited until after the costume contest, when it was good and dark, to go through the haunted house and it was pretty scary.