Halloween

In some conversation about Halloween, I noted to Snowdrop that she'll likely stop trick-or-treating in another handful of years. Maybe by age 12... I offer as a possibility. She's dumbfounded. Why would anyone want to stop trick-or-treating? Why indeed... Maybe because it's cold outside on October 31st in south central Wisconsin?!

I remember when my kids were small and they'd finished their rounds -- first with me, then eventually just with friends, they'd sit at the kitchen table and go through their loot, offering up trades of dubious merit, especially with younger sibs (I'll give you two whole Hershey's kisses for just one of your boring KitKats!),  and I'd open the door to stragglers -- the older kids, with pillow cases instead of cute plastic pumpkins. Costumes that were little more than a sheet or a plastic spooky face. Trick-or-treat! -- they'd shout, grab and run to the next house. Somehow that felt wrong, though I can't really think why. After all, they liked a sugar rush as much as their younger counterparts. 

But the cold... oh, that Halloween cold!

This morning, indeed, we wake up to snow.

Not mountains of it. Just a dusting. I'd say a pretty dusting...

Except for the fact that it is snow and there is trick-or-treating tonight...

Breakfast, full of the Danish hygge that November calls forth. (I know it's not November, but it feels like November!)

Ed loyally pushes aside the quilt that keeps him company on the couch and joins me at the breakfast table.

I would love to stay at the farmhouse and hygge my way through the morning, but I have appointments, never ending appointments and so my morning is a little chopped up and when I come back I rush to bake the blueberry muffins that will fill up tummies quickly this afternoon.

And then it is time to pick up the kids.

It's not a normal farmhouse afternoon. We can't have that on Halloween. The kids have trick-or-treating dates and so I have to get them to their home where they get ready for the Big Night Out.

The question is -- will they wear their mitts? I can predict! Sparrow -- absolutely for sure yes. Snowdrop -- her fingers would first have to turn to icicles. Which they may in this weather! (In truth, a wet Halloween is far worse than a cold one. I speak from experience.)

Here they are: Pete the Cat, the Huntress, and a digger!

And they are off. Separately, with combinations of friends and parents.

I'm at home again, with Ed. We have a beautiful, quiet evening watching a PBS murder mystery. No trick-or-treaters come to the farmhouse ever. We're too remote. It's just us and the bats in the barn and the occasional owl that hoots at night. 

with love...