Hands on, going green…
We have just had a gorgeous Big Chill weekend with Beloved's oldest friends from school, and the house has been filled with thirty people - assorted adults and Smalls - for the past few days. The Smalls were all in heaven, and we have had dreamy food and lots to drink.
My garden is still throwing out copious cucumbers and zucchini, and today, for brunch, I made vegan zucchini pancakes, which were delicious. For dinner last night we fell off the vegan wagon and made lobster rolls, serving them in those red plastic baskets, with Stew Leonard's best potato chips. Completely yummy, and the lobster salad, from Sheila Lukins' book, Ten, was amazing. I will say you could absolutely do it purely vegan, with firm tofu, vegan mayo and tofutti sour cream.
We found the baskets in the party store, and I shouldn't have been amazed, but slightly was, to see them putting out all the Halloween stuff. August feels a little early to be thinking about Halloween, but I came home thinking about what to do this year. The problem with Halloween for me is that when I find a costume I like - what? You're surprised I dress up? Of course! - I never want to change it. If I hadn't lost the Princess Leah dress I'd still be striding around the beach saying 'May the Force be with you', but a few years ago I purchased a Wicked Witch of the West dress, and I have to say, it's a good one, in fact, it's about the most authentic outfit there is. It wasn't cheap, and what I love most is painting my face green, adding big black shadows under my eyes (I don't actually have to add them, just make them a touch darker), then going trick or treating with the kids, and NO-ONE RECOGNISES ME.
The only thing is, last year I forgot to paint my hands green, so after we got back from the party store, before the guests arrived and while I was still in the Halloween spirit, I found these:
I think they are completely brilliant, and I am already cackling at the prospect of pulling them on to complete my costume.
I am also fantasising about jeans, boots, and sweaters. School is starting tomorrow - delirious with joy here - and I am ready for fires and falling leaves. I am also ready to get back to the library and carry on with The Love Verb - was Family Ties, but The Eskimo unwittingly retitled - she sent me an email referring to a Love Verb - and we all far prefer the new title.
Off to school to meet the new teachers, and recipes to follow shortly...
