friday feast: a soothing bowl of comfort for tough times

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” ~ Jimi Hendrix

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photo by Sharon Auberle

Syria. Shootings. Shutdown. Stand-off.

What to do when your government is broken and the world has gone mad? While everyone duked it out in public this week, our neighbor Jack quietly battled for his life in the privacy of his own home.

Jack was a writer and a recluse. Fourteen years living next door and I may have spoken to him three times. Amidst the din of discord and crazy agendas, foreign wars we’ll never understand, and a brand of racism and intolerance that continues to rear its ugly head, we all have our personal battles. Sickness and suffering aside, what saddened us the most was that Jack died alone.

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© 2013 S. Auberle

Looking for solace, I was happy to discover new-to-me Ohio poet and photographer Sharon Auberle. Her poem offered comfort, and her wonderful photos captured the tangible beauty in the world, reminding me how important it is to hold onto yourself by simply doing what you know and what you can, and being present in each moment.

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friday feast: ♥ my darling, my dumpling ♥

Not too long ago, I asked you to call me “Melon Head.” Would you mind changing that to “Apple Dumpling”?

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Of all the foodie terms of endearment — Pumpkin, Sweetie Pie, Babycakes, Cookie, Honeybun — I think “Apple Dumpling” suits me best right about now.

Fall (my favorite season) doesn’t officially begin until Sunday, but that familiar chill is already in the air. Hooray for apple season, deep blue skies, warm cider with cinnamon sticks, stunning rustic foliage, and friendly pumpkins on porches! I am basically *ahem* a little apple-shaped, can be sweet or tart, and would like nothing better than to wrap myself in a buttery, flaky blanket of dough. Did you know this past Tuesday the 17th was National Apple Dumpling Day? 🙂

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a little spook show

Thought you might like to see some of the decorations from this amazing Halloween party we attended in our neighborhood. The hosts are diehard Halloween junkies who transformed their house and yard into all that is weird, scary, and macabre.  Rattles, screams, creaks, billows of smoke, chain clanking and a lot of mmmmwwaahahahahahahaha’s!

Inside, an incredible spread complete with meatballs, fried shrimp, little pizzas, chili casserole and a cool treats table where you could scoop up candied popcorn, lollies, candy corn, gummy worms, and chocolate eyeballs. Popeye and Olive Oyl, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, a Jaw Breaker Machine, beautiful princesses and adorable Owlettes wearing striped neckties were in attendance. Enjoy!

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Copyright © 2012 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

autumn amblings, or, cornelius falls for fall

~ by Mr. Cornelius, especially for Julia

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” ~ William Cullen Bryant

Oh hello!

Do you know what the best part of Fall is?

It could be crunching leaves under your boots,

finding tree faces,

or going to the pumpkin farm!

I like all the funny bumpy squashes and gourds,

You really should see someone about that.

diving into the candy bin,

playing with the tractors and miniature horses,

 

doing daredevil stunts,

lending an ear,

 

liking dem apples,

 

baby, you can drive my car!

 

BUT. There’s something else that tops all.

Now you’re talkin’.

Mmmmm! This one’s still warm. Can you smell those cinnamon-y apples?

Apple Pie is a really really good part of Fall.

But even better is adopting a pumpkin friend and making him feel at home.

Don’t worry, we won’t carve him.

Come visit us soon, Julia —

before giant pumpkins take over the world!

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” ~ Emily Bronte

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P.S. Posting may be sporadic this week because of Hurricane Sandy. Wishing the best to all my East Coast friends. Stay safe and good luck!

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Copyright © 2012 Cornelius Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All pumpkins preserved.