Pancakes For Findus, Halloween, and Hauntings...

"The neighbours thought Pettson was odd. He certainly was absentminded. As far as Findus was concerned, there wasn't anything wrong with Pettson at all" - Sven Nordqvist (Pancakes for Findus)

It has been said, that when one reads Calvino they are haunted by his ghost and experience strange happenings. I don't recall having any hauntings because it was one of the "Books Read So Long Ago Which It's Now Time To Reread". Anyway, I hear that he only visits cool people, so that leaves me out of the mix. Recently, however, we've had a few magical experiences of another sort:

• We went out to buy some non-toxic silver paint for Satchel's homemade robot costume for Halloween and as we reached the car, Robert realized that the keys were magically locked inside the house. Luckily I remembered that I left the studio window open, in case of otherworldly mishaps, and he was able to climb in and retrieve the keys.

• Then a day or so later, when Robert flew to MO to drive his parents back to our nest to spend the week, he thoughtfully took the bus to the airport so that we could have access to the car and car seat in the event that we needed them during his three day absence. Upon his arrival in MO he noticed that the car keys had mysteriously appeared in his pocket.

• And yesterday, when Robert went to the market to purchase some applesauce for Satchel's irritable belly, he came back with three bags of tummy soothing treats, but the applesauce eerily disappeared from the lot.

In light of these recent events and my 45th birthday, I decided that another reading of the delightful, "Pancakes for Findus", and a batch of pancakes (with a couple of chocolate chips) would be fitting.



Findus is a cat who loves to eat pancakes on his birthday. His companion, Pettson, has a difficult time creating a celebration for his cat because his things are moved about by invisible, mischievous beings.

*This post is lovingly dedicated to the Griswold family of Methuen, MA!