Mirth and Musings Part 20

I love Hallowe’en parties.  They are my favorite parties to give, to attend, to plan and to savor.  I’ve traveled hundreds of miles for a Hallowe’en party and I would not hesitate to do so again.  As I’ve got older I think they become more precious to me, being the lone remainder of the nostalgic seasonal occurrences of youth.  I can no longer trick or treat, and I’ve no more schoolroom parties awaiting me.  Haunts are months of planning and weeks of production and since we are the dreamers and designers and do-it-yourselfers of our haunts, it holds little surprise for us.  The Hallowe’en party remains to offer that feeling of anticipated wonder.  We get to don a costume and be thrilled and chilled and immersed in the experience. An evening, a few precious hours to indulge in the spectral spectacle.  What is it that makes it all so special?  It shares all the common elements of every other type of party; music, food, decorations…and yet.  There is that something other…a sense of whimsy, of mystery, of funhouse fear that is singular and potent.

The most fantastic advice on how to give a Hallowe’en party must have come from the Dennison’s Bogie Books, please click pic to link to an archived site to read further on how to give just such a bash, with perhaps a dash of Monster Mash.

 

The Apothecary Witch

Cauldrons leave you maudlin?

Can’t handle coal or candle?

Is there perhaps, no craft in your drafts?

On tenterhooks from bulky books?

Got no notions of potions, perplexed by a hex?

In pains from tisanes, simples just too complex?

Whether extract, elixir, infusion or tipple,

tonic or essence or tincture or ripple.

She fixes your mixes, she’ll simmer and stew,

she’ll bubble your troubles away in her brews.

Do pesky beaus bother? Do grey hairs persist?

A cure for ague that you wish to resist?

Is it romance you seek, is it fortune you crave?

Her prowess is awesome, her customers rave.

Her prices are steep, but your problems she’ll heed

with skill and discretion – results guaranteed.

(Excerpt from The Apothecary Witch, by A.E.)

 

Pumpkinology

Odd that throughout this time of the year anything pumpkin spice can seem like the end of a bad joke, worthy of a suffering sigh. Its appearance in items it should never be uttered in the same breath with, a la pumpkin spice hummus or sausage or salmon create the stuff of ghoulish nightmares.  While the pumpkin parade of flavor combinations continues to surprise and revolt – I would like to take the time to point out my favorite go-to for pumpkin enhanced treats that offer no tricks, Trader Joe’s.

Once again, this strange little market offers a delectable dainty for an autumnal munchable in their Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Mix.  Simple one bowl mixing method gets you a lovely chewy cookie with amazing pumpkin flavor surrounding good-sized dark chocolate chunks that pair well with libation of choice; tea, coffee or milk. I also tried two variations – a quarter cup chopped walnuts which enhanced the cookie to amazing levels of yum, the addition of crunch-complemented chewiness was sublime.

My second variation was to add walnuts and flame raisins and this gave the cookie the trifecta of sweet, bitter and tang and while more interesting was almost too much of a good thing 😉 In any case, whatever variation you choose, do try these at home and tell me what you think.  October is a month-long excuse for indulging in sweets and these will see you through.

Fun with Shadows

My dearly Beloved was doing some shopping for me today and came home with this from our local Crate and Barrel.  It’s a drink dispenser holder and carafe and I’ve decided to use it as a candle luminary for the shadows! Apparently, though these are available online, the stores aren’t to put them out yet and so the kind folks at C&B dug these out of boxes just cause he asked, he came home with a set of glasses that match too.  Couldn’t wait to post the pic.  Enjoy.

Townscape2

(Click pic to link to site.)

The first catch of the Season!

IMG_5706

 

Was visiting my local Pottery Barn today, hoping to catch a glimpse of what I’ve seen on their website and was surprised to find a few samples of this years’ offering on a table in the back.  I grabbed a set of their Jack O’ Lantern Salt & Pepper set.  Was checking out at cash wrap and the nice lady “J” was pleased to show me a couple of treats “from the back”.  These included items not to be found on their website at this time! Yay! I purchased the above, a Black Cat Wine Topper, a Witch Hat Wine Stopper, a Crystal Skull Wine Stopper.  It was awful nice of her to give me the sneak peak and I really appreciated her thoughtfulness.  Can’t wait for more…

Arsenic & Old Lace a reminder against overindulgence

The day after Thanksgiving you may feel yourself in need of savory sustenance of a different variety,  I can recommend Arsenic & Old Lace as a lovely alternative to raiding the fridge.  The classic Frank Capra film starring Cary Grant, Peter Lorre, Raymond Massey and Priscilla Lane is a favorite to watch while waiting for the waistline to return to its usual proportion.  Instead of posting the usual shots of the movie, I present you with some fun visuals in the form of playbills. Enjoy and don’t forget overindulgence can be deadly – or at least really uncomfortable.

Arsenic-&-Old-Lace arsenic_and_old_lace_poster_by_jaydayne-d5f66zv arsenic-and-old-lace-broadway-movie-poster-1986-1020386303

Click each image for its source.

What’s your wish?

Love this scene at the end of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, 1973.  Each time I watch I wait for the moment Snoopy and Woodstock are left to their own celebration.  Here at the end of their meal is what I refer to as the “Wishbone Protocol”.  While I am thankful for many things, my wish is to always have my husband with me on Thanksgiving, he is a soldier and we’ve missed too many in the last twelve years of our twenty year marriage.   Although we share ”Anydays”, it is nice to have him here on the days when others are doing the same. So mine has come true. How about you?

A-Charlie-Brown-Thanksgiving-peanuts-26555451-500-375

Click image for source.