Hodge Podge And now it’s over

I don’t know about you, but I enjoyed Halloween this year, it might be because it will be one of the last few times we celebrate it. Most, not all, but most of our children are grown up or too serious for that celebration stuff and have out grown it. For me personally that’s such a shame, I love the giving out of treats and dressing up, going out into the night air with a great sense of expectancy, of seeing all the decorated houses and yards, children smiling, laughing as they go door to door. I even bake cookies to give out. We were one of the lucky ones that managed to get a pumpkin, I heard that there were shortages in Edson again this year. But we did manage to get one and will be carving it tonight and putting it out on the deck. I’m not however putting a candle into it, that just fills the pumpkin with toxic fumes and spoils it. I’m going to use glow sticks, this way if I wish to recycle my pumpkin as animal feed it won’t be toxic and of course there’s no chance of it catching fire. Candles are pretty, but you have to be so careful with the naked flame.

The seeds of our pumpkin I shall bake off in the oven after careful removal and washing, I’ve read that you can use melted butter and salt to season then bake in the oven after stirring, but personally I prefer to use a little oil, about a tablespoon or so, I’ve tried canola and olive, both seem fine to me and I spread the seeds out on a cookie sheet and bake them in the middle of the oven at about three hundred degrees until they are golden brown and I stir them through occasionally. When cool, they make great snacks.

Our children enjoy them. And they make a change from all that candy.

So, now Halloween’s done and dusted for another year, AND I hope everyone had a good time and didn’t eat too much candy. It’s time, to put the decorations away and tidy up a bit.

When you do that, think about this, Remembrance Day is next, not Christmas.

Already I see the Christmas decorations going out in the shops and supermarkets, its such a shame that these big chains do that. We need to show some respect and honour the fallen, not flash the tinsel and hang out the baubles. In my opinion, it’s too early for that. Saturday 11th November, that’s not time for lights and tinsel, baubles or advent calendars, it’s a time of reflection and gratitude, leave Christmas for December. Come on folks, let’s show a little respect and not put up any Christmas paraphernalia until after Remembrance Day please.