Kheer under the moon on Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima is almost here, the night the moon is said to shine with all sixteen of its kalas, and in my house that means one thing: kheer under the moon.
You make rice kheer slowly, with full-fat milk, a little cardamom and a few strands of saffron. Then the bowl goes out on the balcony for a few hours in the moonlight, covered with fine muslin so the moonlight gets in and the insects don't. It's offered first, then shared, and everyone swears it tastes sweeter.
In Bengal they say Lakshmi walks the earth that night asking 'Ko jagarti?' Who is awake? My grandchildren are determined to be awake this year. I give them until 10:30.
Hunter's Moon on Monday, so the spring tides are building. Water came right over the bottom of the slipway this morning and the gulls looked personally offended. Moon's in charge, as ever.
With the moon swelling toward full, I've been making moon milk after evening sessions: warm oat milk, a little cinnamon, one crushed cardamom pod, a pinch of turmeric for the color, and honey stirred in once it's off the heat. Whisk until frothy.
I drink it on the back step with the porch light off so I can actually see the moon. Ten minutes, no phone, letting the day catch up with me. It doesn't do anything magical. It just reminds me I'm allowed to stop.
Moonlight through the sukkah roof
First night of Sukkot, and the moon came up huge, a breath from full, right through the gaps in the schach. You're supposed to be able to see the stars through the roof of a sukkah, it's practically the law, and we could see all of them plus the moon plus a curious raccoon on the fence.
We ate my lopsided round challah (round for the new year, lopsided for authenticity) in our coats. My study group has been reading about the ushpizin, the seven holy guests invited in over the festival, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David, each linked to one of the sefirot. So I set an extra place.
My partner asked if Abraham wanted soup. Obviously Abraham wanted soup. He's famous for hospitality.