Autumn's Delight... Candy And Pumpkins

 

"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"

 

~Bram Stoker's Dracula 

 

 

Halloween night was great. We had triple cheese ravioli, shaped like bats and pumpkins, in a sweet basil sauce. We watched a ton of movies, and while we didn't have a single kid at the door, we get to keep all the candy to ourselves! But you know I would have rather given it all away. We just don't live in the kind of neighborhood where kids go trick-or-treating. The kids mostly go to churches in the area, or they go only to their friends houses. Maybe one day will be able to move into a new place where the neighborhood is a less dangerous. Things have changed considerably from when I was a kid. Things are so much more dangerous. If it's not coming at you by street violence,, a young man was shot by police right in front of our house a couple months ago, then it's coming from your own government refusing to fund SNAP benefits. Lack of food and a stable community, is what leads to higher crime, but have you ever tried to tell that to a republican?

 

Anyway, our punky turned out really good. It's a kitten, or terrifying kitty, or if you've ever owned a kitten you know it could be both! Hubby carved it, as he's the pumpkin artist in our house, and he surprised me with the kitty theme this year, in honor of the two new kitty additions to our house. We picked it out at Trader Joe's, on Family Day, as we usually do since moving out to the valley. Half Moon Bay was our favorite place to go for our Halloween pumpkins, but getting over to the peninsula now is just too hard. I miss it so much, but we have this tradition now, and it's still fun finding the perfect pumpkin! That's the key, finding the perfect pumpkin, and letting it tell you who and what it is. It's the same with people. Listen to the things they don't say. It's not the words or even the silence, it's the intuition you carry inside you, that tells the story. You only have to listen to it, and do not dismiss it. 

 

It was another great Halloween, and I am already thinking about next year and how to plan for my favorite day. Maybe I will make dinner next year and give dear hubby a break. I need to get one of those deluxe pumpkin carving sets, so I can surprise him too! I have no idea why we never invested in one. I guess with hubby being the artist, there was never a real need for one, but if I want to do one next year, I know it will be necessary. I am getting older now, and I have arthritis, and my hands shake mildly, so it's time to face it... I am not a kid anymore. Well, except for my love of all things Halloween!

 

Next Halloween is only 363 days away! Are you ready?

 

 

The Ghost Of Chocolate's Past

 

“Memories warm you up from the inside.

 But they also tear you apart.” 

 
~Haruki Murakami,

  Kafka on the Shore

 

Finally, the spare room is finished! To celebrate it actually being livable, and the last reminder of that god awful move behind us, we decorated it for Christmas, and went to Ghiradelli in Lathrop for some chocolate, a bottle of sea salt caramel topping and bag of peppermint baking chips. I wish I had been at Ghiradelli in San Francisco, because as I remember, they had a lot more choices of products, like my hubby's favorite, chocolate covered coffee beans, and the chunks of chocolate in a barrel, and it's San Francisco! My dad used to buy me the big chunks of chocolate whenever he visited the city. I was thinking about him the other day, he loved to grab a sundae there. All it took was a big Hot Fudge Sundae to put a smile on his face. Ghiradelli's chocolate is very distinctive. The Hot Fudge is amazing but our favorite sundae was the Hot Peanut Butter. They don't have it anymore... darn it!

 

Funny, it isn't even my memory, and yet I can see him sitting at one of their little tables enjoying the view, and devouring that delicious sundae. That was dad. Gosh, I sure am missing him right now. I think he would have enjoyed the Sugar Cooking chocolate squares I bought this year. Oh my... anyway, as chocolate goes, I enjoy it but by no means am I a chocolate fiend or anything, but there are definitely some memories around it. Like the memory of my sister always having a BIG box of See's candy on the table for Christmas eve. I did love so the Milk Bordeaux, and I don't know if I ever told her how awesome it was that she did that. Smooth, sweet the candy melted in your mouth. I haven't had one of those in ages. She and I were never close, and after a certain point we never spoke again, but she is gone now too, and I am thinking about her this Christmas too. Oh boy... sigh... I think I see another post about chocolate, and family dynamics, coming! 

Lathrop sure isn't San Francisco.

 

Punky's Big Day 2023

 

 

 

“No season appeals to the eyes as much as autumn; no season touches the souls as powerfully as autumn and no season invites us to the world of mournful thoughts as intensely as autumn!”

 
~Mehmet Murat ildan 

 

Halloween has come and gone, but it's giving me something to look forward to. And I already am! But it's not like my mourning got in the way of me enjoying the HELL out of yesterday! 

 

First we went to lunch

 

And we met this guy...

 

Then we had an amazing meal. I love Mexican food!
 

 Next we came home and made cakelets...

 

And then hubby carved a pumpkin... and it was glorious! Punky's name is Electra this year. Yep, it's a girl. Rare for us, we usually have boy pumpkins, but she just spoke to us and said, "I was born to be your girl!"

She watched over the goodies...

 

It was a good day.

 

Trick or Treat 2022 And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #39

"Across a golden Autumn tapestry appear the spirits of our ancient selves demanding recognition and reward for one haunted night. Sated, they retreat from winter's onslaught and retire to subconsciousness hibernation for another twelvehmonth."

 

~Stewart Stafford

 

 It's almost Halloween! I wanted to make this Halloween special because last year's was almost non-existent. I was pretty much an exhausted vegetable. My health was poor. I was exhausted and broken from the move and things were going pretty awful in general, and then Covid-19 hit us hard. But here I am, about a year or so later, and I am doing better and better each day, but I am still barely functioning in other areas of life, like cooking. I was hoping that by now I would be featuring a Halloween inspired recipe on my blog, or maybe show off my monster cake pan. Not monster as in BIG, but rather, it's a cake pan featuring the heads of different monsters, however it's a no-go. I will come up with something. I want to embrace stuff this year. Covid-19 is pretty much done with me at this point, I just don't want to say it too loud. So maybe I will make a simple cookie recipe, cut into bat and ghost shapes. We'll see! Stay Tuned.

 

Shhhhhh... don't disturb the ghosts of Halloween past.

~Me

 

 

 

The Black Parasol

"The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the move we've come to need Halloween."

~Paula Curan

October Dreams: A Celebration Of Halloween

 Isn't that a pretty parasol? Alan bought it for me, to go with my witch costume, based on the witches of American Horror Story: Coven, and this years chapter, AHS:Apocalypse. I decided to make this my costume because, while I might be 56, I still embrace the holiday with all my heart! It was my favorite day of the year as a child, contained in my favorite month, October, during my favorite season, autumn. I never get enough of it, and it all comes and goes way too fast! It's hard to believe I am on my way to my 57th Halloween, I just pray I make it! If I do, I am pretty sure I will again, embrace my inner witch!

I love the witches of American Horror Story! They are cool, and they have a purpose I appreciate... they fight evil, and isn't that refreshing? Someone, even a fictional character, fighting today's societal/political evil! The whole show is one of the best metaphors for the times we are living in that I have ever seen. Evil is running rampant on the earth right now, and it's absolutely overwhelming. So would say it always has run free on the earth, but it has never been so blatant about saying who it is, and why it's empowered right now!

It tells the truth just enough, to almost miss it when it is blatantly lying! It's evil. It's powerful. And on most days it feels like we have NO CHANCE of overcoming the soul crushing damage it's doing! But I still believe there is hope, and I am looking forward to our current evil being defeated, and hopefully a big part of that will take place next Tuesday, November 6th, with the 2018 midterm elections. God, I hope the democrats will win back the Congress. I pray we will take the Senate too, but I know better than to get my hopes up for both! And I also know better than to believe absolutely everyone who has a (D) next to their name. I know to listen closely to what they say, and what they do. It's not like democrats don't have their moments, and it's not like no one has ever lied and misrepresented themselves as to who they really were.

I was sad on Halloween night. A mere four children came to our door trick or treating. Four. Last year we had roughly fifty or so little ones visit us! The thing is, a couple years ago, in 2016 we had only a handful come by, so the only thing I know of that is the variable, is the national elections. The midterms this year, are much scarier than they were in 2016! Donald Trump keeps topping himself on his vile rhetoric, and there is a cruel, if not a full cloud of evil hanging over everything! This is another time that I don't want to speak to speak about in full here on Ellipsis, I just want to take things one day at a time, and move on from my sadness. 

The midterm election is next Tuesday. I have no idea what to expect, but history will record it, so I am just trying to not make the mistake of celebrating, or climbing into bed and not coming out, before I know what our fate will be! So, I think I will just share what was right about Halloween 2018, and place the bad stuff in a jar on the shelf marked the same way, Ed and Lorraine Warren marked the case that held the demonic doll, Annabelle.

WARNING... POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN! 

But, when those who have used pure evil to harm our country, are finally brought to justice, I hope those exact same words will be marked over their jail cells! 

And now onto Punky's big night!

And now, the Leaf Of The Day...

#42 Leaf Of The Day

November 2nd 2018

Photographed October 21st 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Quiet

~Me

 

The Day After Halloween

"There is October in every November and there is November in ever December! All seasons melted in each other's life."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

November is here. My favorite month, October, has gone to sleep for another year, and I miss it already! But it will be back in less than a year, so I have it to look forward to, so I am okay about that, but when October left, it also took the first part of Autumn with it. Yes, my favorite season is officially half over, and there is only about 6 weeks left to enjoy gathering leaves for my Autumn Leaf Project, and appreciate the slant of light that only shines during this time of year, and the slight chill in the air, on bright sunny days! While I love the colder weather, there is just something perfect about a bright sunny day, with just enough cool in it, to enjoy the warmth of my favorite sweater, and my favorite warm throw. 

I bet you've guessed by now, that I live for this time of year, and it is really the only time I feel alive! It's like the earth has a smile on it's face, as it drifts off into a waking dream state for a year that we will never see again. I was so happy when 2016 finally died, I never want to see another year like it. So many artists passed away, and the 2016 election was... well... nothing short of devastating, but that is all in the past, and in a couple months we will move on to another year, and who knows what that will bring? I have decided to not deal with it right now. I choose to focus on one day at a time, and find beauty wherever it is. Whimsy too. Do I sound optimistic yet? 

The Whimsy Of Halloween 2017

 Punky 2017

Punky Enjoying Dinner Before Duty

 Punky On Duty Scaring Goblins Away!

The Candy 2017

The Beauty Of The Last Week Of October 2017

#1 Leaf Of The Day

November 1st 2017

Quincy, California

Mood: Happy
~Me :)  

November 1st 2016 Or Halloween Part Two!

"And I rose in rainy autumn and

 walked abroad in a shower of all my days..."

~Joe L. Wheeler

November 1st has always been more than just November 1st to me, it was and is Halloween: Part Two. You see, when I was a child, my friends and I were get together during playtime at school, or sometimes after school, and talk about what we got in our Trick or Treat bags, or how many other ghosts and ghouls we saw on our travels the night before! We always shared if we saw a genuine witch or vampire, which of course we never did, but we sure did hope for that! And while it never happened, I still hold some hope that one day, one autumn day I hope, I be lucky enough to not just see something of the other world, but photograph it. It should be a dark autumn day. Cold too. Halloween would be perfect, but it's a little too cliche! 

We didn't see many monsters at our door last night, which made Alan and I a little sad. We bought a TON of candy... which now... more for me! But we are in our first house and I worry that life will deal us a hand... a sad hand... and there won't be a lot of Halloweens left. I don't know. I think I am beginning to feel my age in some ways. I am okay, but I have a lot more grey hair this year, then I did last year, that's for sure! LOL. Life has it's own set of rules, and we don't get to change it's mind! It just is, what it is.

Anyway... enough of that! Alan and I had a wonderful day. We got take out from our favorite restaurant, and snuggled under a big blanket, and watched spooky movie, after spooky movie, until it was time to carve Punky and get the candy pumpkin ready! We watched Psycho, and The Amityville Horror, and The Messengers, and finished Halloween with, what else, Practical Magic! My favorite autumn movie! It was a good day. Every day we are together is a good day!

 Leaf Of The Day

November 1st 2016

 Mood: Happy

~Me :)

He Get's Me!

"There is nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book."

~Betty MacDonald

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Alan is such an amazing husband. He knows I love See's Candy, especially the Milk Chocolate Bordeaux with the chocolate sprinkles on top, so for Christmas he got me a $20.00 gift card from there so that when I was in the mood for a bit of candy here and there I could drop in and indulge. 

He gets it! He gets me! 

He knows that once in a while, all I want, is to curl up with my cats, and a great book, or guilty pleasure movie or television show, and just escape for a while. Am I a lucky girl or what?

I love that man!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

I am Keeping My Eye On Autumn...

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in it's sky, 

which through the summer seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!"

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

I was going to post these photos yesterday, but my plans changed. Never mind, I am posting them today! I had a pretty good time last week, while out with the new Nikon camera. Here are some photos of that day. Big surprise, they are autumn themed! :) I decided to visit autumn, and my favorite autumn tree, to finally do what I have been saying I was going to do for ages... document the turning of the leaves, on a tree I love like an old friend!

As you can see, the three is on it's way to making a loud, spicy statement! I love the pinks and deep purples, but you can't be in a sad mood when those crimson red leaves sail softly down to the earth. It always makes me hungry for cinnamon red hot candies. In fact, an autumn three in full party mode reminds me of all the candies you might get at Halloween. 

Red = Cinnamon Red Hots

Orange = Candy Corn

Green = Jolly Rancher Green Apple

Yellow = Lemonheads

Purple = Plum Saltwater Taffy

Brown = Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

I have a sweet tooth that goes straight to my soul.

I can't indulge the way I would like to, but I have found that adding a little bit of cinnamon to my diet does a lot to cut my sugar cravings, and actually helps my glucose numbers. I try to take care of my diet and manage my diabetes, and fortunately I do really good in the summer and autumn. A sweet potato with a dash of cinnamon and a dab of butter... yum... and usually doesn't raise my blood sugar. I have had that for lunch, on many an autumn afternoon. I am happy with a camera in my hand, sitting under trees!

See..

 

I can't wait to see where how the tree has progressed by next week!

:)

It's not summer or autumn, it's Sumtumn.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)