Bart

And yes, after a half-hour of nagging, Eitan gets a 'Bart Simpson' costume for this evening.  I think he does a rather good job of 'feeling' Bart in this photograph.  Sonnet, meanwhile, prepares for seven children who arrive inside an hour for the afternoon then 'tricks or treats.' The parents to show up later for a glass of wine or cocktail - probably much needed by all of us.  I shell a few hard-boiled eggs and Sonnet finishes off a poppyseed cake (which she slyly calls "spider egg cake" for the occasion).  Madeleine runs into the kitchen just now dressed in a jolly clown suit wearing a black wool cap with bloody knife protruding each side. She asks: "do you like it, Dad? Do you?" and I must admit - is it a happy thing or a sad thing?  There is some wrangling about rules governing the post-candy-collection with Eitan and Madeleine wanting complete freedom and Sonnet wishing to control their consumption.  I drop in with some order - "two pieces a day. That's it!" Sonnet looks at me angrily - no way are they eating two chocolate bars or whatever every day until the pillow case empty.  So we agree: the kids to turn over their score to mom, who will dole out the treats according to prudence.  This, I agree, takes the wind from the sails but it is sensible, dear reader. Oh so sensible.