Tuesday, November 14, 2017
A few days before Halloween I arrived late at Richard's house to attend his and Roger's pumpkin carving party.
All of the Jack-O-Lanterns.
I quickly disemboweled my pumpkin.
Mine, front left.
On Halloween night I had only one trick-or-treater. One. I couldn't believe it.
I began work on my Offrenda (altar) for All Soul's Procession. I watched a couple of videos on how to make tissue paper flowers. Over the next few days I made a variety of flowers.
Tissue paper flowers.
I went to Home Depot and looked for something to make an arch. A worker suggested PVC pipe, which is quite bendable. I made a U, tied the ends with two twine lines. I then attached a fake pine garland, and then attached the paper flowers.
Completed arch.
On Saturday, Kevin vacated his room for the the next day and I set up the offrenda.
Above it is a set of photographs of friends who have died.
Tony, Bob, Donny, Sam, Jose, and Scott.
On the table are old photographs.
Photos.
On the side bookshelf was a large bouquet of roses. On the way to the Procession guests hand out flowers to people.
Roses.
On Saturday morning I made gingerbread and sugar cookies. Chris came over and helped me decorate them.
Cookies.
Menu for party: hummous and pita bread, chops and pico de gallo salsa, sour cream and carmelized onion dip and potato chips, olives, spinokopita, and a lemon cake. (note for next year, skip the sour cream dip). The lemon cake was really, really good.
Anthony helping out.
I spent most of the party doing other peoples' makeup.
Richard and Hiram arrived, always nice to see them. The following photos were taken by Richard.
David and Anthony.
Mark and Fred.
We walked to the procession. The women getting the flowers were so happy. Eventually the Procession arrived and as always I was moved by the creativity and the remembrances by those friends and family members who have died.
Procession.
And then I came home and quickly cleaned up since I had to head north for work again. Luckily, it wasn't too difficult. It was a very nice party.
