Pumpkin Children

Happy Halloween!

Last week my dear friend invited me to teach a seasonal needle felting class for the parents at her Waldorf Preschool. We shared  great conversation, a few finger pokes, and lots of warmth. Many lovely Pumpkin Children were born on our cozy autumn evening together.

Some of these will grace Seasonal Nature Tables, and I hear that some will even be gifts from the Halloween Fairy. Such fun...

Tear Soup and Pumpkins

Every year as the days grow dark and the rains start, so begins our time to spend more cozy nights together. The weekend before Halloween arrives, I like to host a soup and pumpkin carving party. Sometimes, it's a small, intimate event with just my husband, my youngest daughter, and myself. Sometimes we're lucky enough to have a grown daughter or dear friend join us. This year we had both.

The favorite soup in my own family was also my favorite as a child. To me, it was my mother's vegetable soup. It had been lovingly renamed Tear Soup by my oldest daughter, Ana, when she was a child. We all loved Arnold Lobel's children's books, and Owl at Home was a favorite. In one of the stories in this book, Owl makes Tear Tea. My daughter liked the saltiness the soup often had, and it has been called Tear Soup ever since. I know I can always tempt her to have dinner with us when I promise Tear Soup. 

Tear Soup is easily made. You can use the vegetables you like or have on hand.

This is my recipe...

TEAR SOUP

2 Small Onions, chopped

5 Garlic Cloves, minced

1/2 cup Chopped Celery

Small dash of Salt

Olive Oil

Tablespoon of Water

Combine above ingredients and cook on medium heat until onions are clear. You may need to add a bit more water.

Then add..

5 Potatoes chopped in 1-2 inch chunks (I used Russets)

3 Large Carrots chopped into large coin slices - about 1 inch rounds

4 Cups of Chopped Greens (I used Spinach, I usually use Kale or Chard)

1 Small Chopped Burdock Root (Has wonderful health properties,and blends in well with this soup.)

1 Small Can of Chopped Tomatoes (You can also use 2 Fresh Tomatoes after you remove the skin and chop them.)

2 Tablespoons of Chopped Fresh Thyme (You can use dried as well)

4 Cups of Water

Vegetable Bouillon 

Salt and Pepper to taste
1-2 Bayleaves

This should simmer all day long on low. 

It releases the vegetable's flavors, and cooks the vegetables to a nice consistency.

This time we had a Quick Cornbread to go with...

And for a treat, I oven-roasted Chestnuts to snack on while we carved  pumpkins after dinner. Just make an  "X" on the flat side of the chestnut with a sharp knife. Roast in shallow pan (or wrapped in foil) at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Eat immediately -- they're best very warm, and they tend to dry up after they cool. 

We had a lovely evening after a day that was a little too full...so nice to end the evening with such a lovely gathering as we ushered in the autumn season once again.


On side note, as a person who began my life long ago as a Jersey Girl, a former East Village resident, and the wife of a native Manhattaner -- both of us whom have many memories and loved ones living in the path of yesterday's storm, sending much love and prayers for help and healing to all of those affected by Hurricane Sandy. And, so glad my grown-up little girl has recently moved back from Brooklyn. 

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker...

Thus begins my task of melting and pouring beeswax to make these lovely star-shaped pilar candles for our dear ones. The scent of the melting wax warms my heart and sets the mood for my work to begin. 

December is the month of completing. 

Months of preparation bring me to December, the time to finish.

The beginning of pouring the candles ushers me into 

the time when the real work begins.

Beeswax candles are always a welcome and appreciated gift. They fill the room with love and light, and give off a warm glow like no other candles. 

I like to think that these candles my family gifts to loved ones warms the hearts of the recipients, as they warm our hearts with their love.

Our One Mold...makes for a slow go of it...but worth it.

Poured to the top...

2 weeks of pouring, and I don't mind a bit.