Magic Beans and Fairy Rings...

The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy around our little pumpkin patch, with the littlest grandpunkin' visiting, just in time to celebrate her first birthday - along with finishing up a little something in time for her first fairy tea party (photos coming soon!).

The weather here has been beautiful, lately - nicely cool in the morning and evenings, with the sun warming just the right amount in the afternoons (so sorry if you're on the east coast, up to your jack o'lanterns in snow right now. Dear east coasters, Hope all is well and that you get your power back SOON. Sending warm thoughts of hot chocolate, your way!).

We have had light smatterings of rain, here and there over the past couple of weeks - as it turns out, creating the perfect conditions for fairy rings to form. Which I decided gave me the excuse to play  whilst pumpkin harvesting, as it's only once in a blue moon when you have a plethora of tiny pumpkins AND fairy mushroom rings, right in your own front yard. Not to mention a whole cast of characters ready to play the part - the gnomes and assorted beasties which the grandgirls have been gathering around the garden, all summer long.

Speaking of the garden, I've been meaning to tell you for months about the magic beans, growing there. Yes, magic beans - really! They change color. Called violet beans - similar to scarlet beans, if you've heard of those. Purple when they're fresh, but put them into a hot skillet or pot and - voila! They magically turn green. We planted them last spring and not only are we still picking them, we're harvesting ginormous ones, worthy of the Green Giant (or maybe his wife, Violet Giant).

Each time we'd cook a batch, I would try to capture their metamorphosis from violet to green on camera. However, they must have some sort of spell checking guarding against being caught in the act of turning green. Despite what it may look like, it's not easy being green...

Even now, there are still more beans out there, ripe for the picking. Think I'll throw some in our traditional Halloween pot of witches' brew. I've probably told you about it on Halloweens Past, but I can't find it right now. Here's a simple spell for it: Open a random assortment of canned soups (any of them - the more variety, the better! though probably not the creamy ones...) to heat in your cauldron. About a can per person - if there are only two of you, add an extra can or two, to make the spell more potent  it more appetizing. Add some interesting oddments - macaroni, spaghetti or even rice -- maybe a few meatballs or li'l wienies...Chop up some fresh veggies - or just toss some frozen ones, in. Dice a garlic clove or two up for it too - wards off vampires and the flu (its the season for both, you know). Add enough water or broth - or V8, if you have some - to bring it to your desired soupiness level. Bubble the cauldron till done. It's a little wacky looking, comes out a little different each time you make it, but it's quick and easy - and always tastes good on a cool night. Eeny meany chilly beanies for Halloweeny. Goes great with grilled cheese sandwitches too.

I don't think it will turn your prince into a frog, but then, on Halloween you never know what might happen (though you can always kiss him and change him back, I suppose...).

The sun's starting to set. Better fly into the kitchen. Almost time to fire up the cauldron and whip up a batch.

May the Great Pumpkin bless your patch with more treats than tricks, this year.

 

Comments

[Janet]

Everything about this post made me smile. Purple beans that turn green, fairy rings in the garden, and your witch's brew. I hope you have a Happy Halloween with lots of treats, too.

[stephanie]

So good to be here and catch up! Your teeny weeny pumpkin and fairy patch is wonderful AS ARE the magic beans!

Yes, light a candle tonight!
x..x

[rochambeau]

Fairy Rings made out of punkins? Magic beans?? AND a secret recipe for brew? You live in a wondrous world, that is why I adore you so much!!

Guess what? I saw some purple beans last week that look like snow peas. I will photo them for you.

Hugs
Tinker
Bella
xox
Constance

[gemma]

Once upon a time rocks with fun at your house!!! So happy you got to play with Lil' grand punkin, magic beans and fairy rings. Hope you continue to enjoy a beautiful autumn.