Todos Santos

Today we are observing Todos Santos, or All Saints Day -- the day we pause to remember and honor our dear, departed loved ones.

As we do every year, we set out pictures and mementos that represent the family and friends who have passed:

This year, we also decided to make a nice dinner on Halloween, and, echoing Celtic traditions, start our remembrance the night before.

I started off by making barmbrack, an Irish quick bread chock full of raisins, for us to nibble on throughout the day:

This is a traditional thing to make at this time of year in Ireland. Absolutely delicious buttered, with coffee.

For dinner, I made muffin tin veggie pot pies, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes with chard, and these Remembrance Cookies:

They're shortbread with rosemary (rosemary for remembrance), and shaped like people, to call to mind the people who have passed on, and the things you love about them.

We also decided to have a little fun with decorating for the occasion -- pumpkins, jack o'lanterns, and a huge pile of fake leaves scattered throughout the house, on the floors and the counter:

Our appetizer course:

Even Lorraine got into the autumnal spirit:

Our friend Susie was on her way over to join us, when her uber was hit by someone running a stop sign. We are very grateful that everyone is ok! And we are planning to take her a care package of leftovers, barmbrack, and cookies later today.

Also, on the topic of gratitude, we had an incredible storm last week, with torrential rain and winds above 30 miles per hour. It blew down this 40-foot tree in the yard next door:

Incredibly, there is no damage, either to the retaining wall on our side of the fence, or to their property. Another huge thing to be grateful for!