Festivals, 'Friends' and Food

We don't really celebrate Haloween here in France; we didn't even get one trick or treater at our house.  But my boys knew that something was going when  big cousin Salomé came by to show us her very sassy vampire costume (free entree to a nightclub).  We have a village association who organise various 'festivals' but the powers that be have now decided that Haloween is too American! So is Coca Cola who cares?  Thus it was up to me to make a little effort.
Costumes were out of the question as we only arrived back from holiday the day before and it still takes me an hour to thread up my sewing maching, so I made little finger fantom puppets and gave a Haloween theme to our Muffin Tin Monday.

On the eve of All Souls day we put together some photo's of departed loved ones; my mother, two grandmothers, Richards grandfather and my friend Nick, lit some candles, and encouraged the boys to ask questions about them.  They just seemed interested to know 'why' each one died, but we managed to slip a few happy memories into the conversation all the same.

And on the 5th of  November we had a 'small' bonfire night party.  The bonfire was TINY! (I didn't even managed to get a photo of it)  For a few days we have been having FOHEN, which is very strong warm wind blowing up from the south, this meant that the temperature was very agreable for eating outside but that having a big fire was not very prudent.
We had pumpkin soup and grilled seeds, bonfire baked potatoes, bara brith (welsh currant bread), toasted mashmallows and mulled wine, all in the good company of Jane, Walter and Luc. 
They all totted off to the Hockey game afterwards while Tino fell asleep watching The Aristocats and I made some novelty boot pegs.