Years ago, my mother used to have a stapelia. It was the oddest-looking, stinkiest thing! How appropriate for yours to bloom in time for Halloween. Thanks for jogging my memory! Vicki

Two of my favorite fall vegetarian soups---peanut soup and corn chowder. Both can be made 1 day ahead. Peanut Soup ----------- 1T peanut oil 1 onion, halved, sliced 3 garlic cloves, minced 3T curry powder 4C chicken stock (I use veggie stock) 1/3C rice (uncooked) 3 carrots, peeled, sliced 1/2C creamy peanut butter 1 1/2t sugar Chopped green onions and/or chopped cilantro Heat oil in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and curry powder and sauté until onion is translucent. Add 4C stock and bring to boil. Stir in rice and carrots. Reduce heat and simmer until rice is very tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Puree about half of soup in blender with peanut butter. Return puree to saucepan. Stir soup until heated through, thinning with more stock if desired; do not boil. Mix in sugar. Just before serving, garnish with green onions and cilantro. Corn Chowder ------------ 1/2 stick butter 1 small onion, chopped 1/2C diced red bell pepper 1/2C diced green bell pepper 1/2t ground cumin 1/4t cayenne pepper 1/4C all purpose flour 1C canned chicken/veggie broth 1C milk (don't use skim) 1 16- to 17-ounce can whole-kernel corn, drained, liquid reserved Minced fresh cilantro (optional) Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and bell peppers, cumin & cayenne and sauté about 8 mins. Add flour and stir 1 more minute. Gradually mix in broth, milk and reserved corn liquid. Bring mixture to boil, whisk until smooth. Mix in corn and stir until corn is just heated through. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with cilantro if desired and serve. (This is also good topped with sour cream and/or shredded cheddar cheese).

Thanks all!! :) I'm exhausted -- JUST finished packing up and storing the decorations up in the attic (above the garage) My back is aching ...... time for a glass of wine -- and a bath!!! :) LOL! Zip!!!! 521!!!! Wow!!! We were very worried about running out of candy -- but we managed to make it through the evening -- starting about 5:30-9:30 or so ..... This was our largest number of kids in 20 years -- our street was full of cars -- and kids -- but everybody was GREAT -- and so careful -- and polite!!! :) And 2015 is coming!!! Halloween is on a Saturday night! So (after consulting with the neighbours ....) we are all sure that (if the weather is anything close to last night) there will be even more kids! :)

Now that my daughters are grown, I decorate forHalloween on the day of Halloween. After my first experience with kids either grabbing the candy or fishing through my caldron, I started making goodie bags. I drop one in each bag, get to oooo and ahh over the costumes, done! We get about 75 to 100. They come in large groups so maybe I answer the door 10 times. It really isn't fun because I don't know most of the kids. I used to love seeing my kids friends and the moms would all text each other when they saw each other's children.