The Festive Witch

 While the weather is still mildly warm, it is getting noticeably cooler, especially in the night. Autumn is almost here! Yes, it is my favorite season. Yet, there's no harm in enjoying the joys of autumn in the month of September before the official equinox. Afterall, it is apple season, currently. Pumpkin will always hold a special place in my heart, but as apple is an autumn fruit, which is more than welcome to sit upon my table, or perhaps in a glass or mug. Yes, by this, I mean cider. You could easily get these festive drinks anywhere now, but for me I avoid them like the plague. My reason is simple - they're not organic. Why does this matter? It has become increasingly common knowledge to understand that apple is one of the most harmful produces in the US due to pesticide. My own mother read a non-fiction book about a girl who grew up on an apple orchard where everyone in her family died of cancer. It is still on the dirty dozen list: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-do...

 This past Monday was September 1st, meaning that young witches and wizards in the UK return to Hogwarts for another year of school. In honor of the return back, we will discuss creative ideas and ways to celebrate the wizarding world. My personal ritual is to watch Sorcerer's Stone with a dinner of roasted chicken, corn cobbs, and a side of either potatoes, peas, and/or mushrooms. Perhaps a butterbeer to wash it all down and with some pumpkin pasties or rock cakes for dessert. This year, however, I did not have the luxury of performing this as I do every year, though I never have time to cook the dessert. In these cases, sometimes a pumpkin cake from my local store or an ice cream sundae is satisfying enough. I also make a point of having some Earl Grey tea as it is as English as you can get when you live across the pond. However, there are a number of ways to celebrate a return to Hogwarts. You could listen to the soundtrack, play games, or even host a party. A party could be som...