a New blog...

My son's Girlfriend Vicki has started her own blog, she is a beautician, practicing solitary who likes Pin-ups and pin up style and also enjoys painting...she has painted her room in all "sexy" Alice in Wonderland!

Please check her blog out and leave some love!

The Sexy Witch

a cheery hello!

 another card here for a challenge or 2

for Sassy Studio Designs (for OWH's birthday Bash)
and for Crafters Digital Art Center's progressive challenge

 Card stock By STAMPIN' UP, printed paper-orange, is specialty Homemade paper rec'd as a RAK, the green,blue and white striped paper is by OCTOBER AFTERNOON (I believe, I can't find the pad right now)

Digi image by JUST INKLINED, digi sentiment by TLC CREATIONS, 3D butterfly by K&CO., misc. ribbon, brads by MAKING MEMORIES, colored with PRISMACOLOR pencils and blending pencil.

Sketch by SASSY STUDIO DESIGNS

some challenge cards for OWH birthday bash challenges

I have 3 to share today:

Case the Cardmaker-Bev T.

Card stock by STAMPIN' UP-Vintage Violet, Going Grey, and Razzleberry,

BIC MARK ITS!, STICKLES by RANGER, "Wish" stamp by STAMPIN' UP, Vintage Violet Ink- STAMPIN' UP, Digi image by DESIGNED 2 DELIGHT

 Try Something Round, sponsored by ROBIN'S FETISH

Card stock by STAMPIN' UP-Old Olive and Summer Sun, Background image by DEZINAWORLD, punch by MARTHA STEWART, Ribbon by MICHAEL'S, Misc. Button, Foil swirl chipboard flourish rec'd as a RAK, BIC MARK ITS!,

Digi image by MELJEN'S DESIGNS

Case the cardmaker-KellyRae

this is a CAS card, and I took a view angles as I wanted you to see it without glare on the sticker label, and I wanted you to be able to see it is White Confetti card stock by STAMPIN' UP, and the pretty ribbon.

Candy corn stamp-$1 from MICHAEL'S, BIC MARK ITS!,  tuxedo black ink pad by MOMENTO, fine tip SHARPIE, Ribbon from MICHAEL's

on the inside it says in big orange letters-"Corny but True!"

I am also entering all 3 into the Anything Goes challenge sponsored by MICHELLE'S SCRAPBOOKING

you will have to scroll down a couple of posts, as her blog doesn't allow for linking to posts directly.

A hero card...my kind of hero!!

Card for Dude Time Doodles... heroes

Card stock by STAMPIN' UP, Printed papers by OCTOBER AFTERNOON and GRAPHIC 45, both digi image and digi sentiment are by TLC CREATIONS, Bon Appetit! stamp by STAMPIN' UP, Tuxedo Black ink by MOMENTO, I used BIC MARK-ITS! and a flesh, black and silver SHARPIE, and misc. ribbon

Practical Magic 2011- A Good Witch

This line so speaks to me, and I am sure, to many of you. Aunt Frances is indeed a wise woman. One should always be true to themselves, shouldn't they? Being one's self may not always make you popular, as sometimes our true selves may be different than what society expects from us, it may in fact be different from what our family or friends expect from us. However, not being true to ourselves often leaves us feeling unsatisfied, or thinking to our selves; "I should have, I could have".  For myself, it took many years of being walked on, before I said no more being phony, or sweet when it is not right to be so. I speak truthfully, honestly and forthrightly. If you are a friend of mine, you will know that what is coming out of my mouth is exactly what I am thinking. Sometimes because of this, it may take some time and effort on one's part to become my friend. However, the effort is rewarded with a good listener and friend, a caring and sharing person. A person whose girth is all heart.

It is because of my heart I think that I love this movie so very much! I can feel the love shining through in the hearts of this family, to the point of envy many times. I could list forever what I love about this movie.

However I chose to concentrate on a very special part of the wonderful Owens' home.

The Conservatory/Pantry/Kitchen

 

 

 

It is in here that The Aunts keep their herbs, and blossoms, and potions, lotions etc.

Herbal medicine is as old as time. All of our Ancestors used it. Many use it still. For many centuries, those who used the herbs and bark of trees and roots were referred to as Wise men/women, Holy men/women, Medicine men/women, and also as Witches. I now have a story to share and a giveaway.
***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

A Good Witch

By

Bernard Shaw

Next to the forest there lived a lonely elderly woman. She was poor and made a living of sorts by collecting herbs and roots in the forest. The herbs and roots she used to make tinctures and syrups for coughs and colds also for sinking fevers when it was deemed necessary. The villagers came from miles around asking her for help. She never refused to help even when the villagers had no money to pay for her medicines, tinctures and ointments. One day late in September a mother brought her young child that was suffering from a high fever for the woman’s help. The mother of the child had tried everything to get the fever down. The elderly lady that most people called the witch told the mother that she had no remedy for sinking the child’s fever all that she had in her poor home was for grown ups and she would have go and look for a special root that would sink the child’s fever without harming her. Making the mother a special tea for the baby the elderly woman went off into the forest to look for the root that would help with the fever. The poor woman walked for miles before she came across such a root. Carefully digging it out from the ground she cleaned it and placed it in her basket. Turning she went to walk back to her home on the edge of the woods. It was getting dark and she realised that she was in a part of the forest that she had never seen before. What was she to do? the mother was waiting at her home with the child that was ill. Sitting down in the forest she thought of a way to get back home as quickly as possible. Nothing came into her head it seemed as if the baby was going to die. At the edge of the clearing where she sat thinking a Fairy had been watching the elderly lady. As we all know Fairies can read a human brain like a book. The fairy decided that she would help the elderly lady. Turning she lifted her head and gave a gentle whistle. A most beautiful white unicorn came trotting into the clearing. The Fairy spoke to the elderly lady and told her to sit on the unicorns back and it would take her back to her home. In a matter of minutes the Unicorn stopped near the elderly woman’s cottage and left as quietly as it had come. Greeting the mother of the child the elderly lady took down a large pot and placed a few herbs with some water onto the fire. Carefully cleaning the root that she had found she cut it up and put it in the pot with the other herbs. Leaving it to boil for an hour she then carefully strained the juice into a cup and as soon as it was cool enough to drink gave the baby a few drops at a time. When the cup was empty the elderly lady felt the babies forehead and told the mother that the fever had gone. Then she poured some more of the juice into an old green bottle and told the Mother to give the baby a few drops if the temperature should come back. The Mother thanked the elderly woman and placed a halfpenny onto the table. It was really more than she could afford and the elderly woman smiled and thanked her. When the Mother returned home to her husband with the baby she told him how the elderly woman had spent the whole day looking for the special root for the child’s medicine. The husband asked how much the elderly lady had charged for curing the baby. He would not believe that she had treated his child for nothing. His wife was afraid to tell him about the halfpenny. The man only earned one penny a week for chopping wood. A week later the man was in the woods chopping down trees when he found a silver shilling lying on the ground. He did not see the elderly lady that had been watching him or the fairy that had dropped the silver shilling so that he could find it. From that day on the wood chopper and his family always had work and food and once a week they would go to the elderly woman’s house to see her and bring a few little cakes or a half a loaf of bread. They never forgot the kind old woman that many still call a witch.

Bernard Shaw Copyright 2005 http://members.chello.at/fairy-tales/fairies.html Listed 04/18/2005 "There is a little witch in all of us"   The grandkids, hehe  "Pico" above "Ceasar" below (and above-he is a polydactyl)    My familiar & Baby; "Pretty" who was not in the mood for a photo shoot TADA!! now if you have stayed with me thus far you will be rewarded! 2 lucky readers and commentors will each be picked by random generator for 2 prizes. first prize a BN sealed DVD of the movie (pictured above) and a ONLY READ ONCE copy of the book (pictured below) ****you MUST put your email in your comment, or the comment won't count.  ~~I'd love it if you are or would become a follower, but it is not mandatory  The winners will be chosen Friday the 30th at 9pm est Brightest Blessings! Susan  *Special thanks to my son Thomas, for setting up and taking 2 needed photos (woodsmen) out in the rain, and helping with the indoor photos of my striped socks and animals, er familiars! Please visit the rest of the Practical Magic parties

Happy Mabon!!

Merry Meet and Happy Mabon!!

 

This is my first real alter. What do you think?

The corn and the Macintosh apple are real. I will be using them in a little while, 

along with warm cider and a corn muffin.

Eventually The wreath pentacle will have a braid cord of gold, silver and white. Being it will be round, the braiding will make for a much better form, than the ribbon is here. I just to go with a wreath, as I can decorate it for each Esbat and Sabbat.

This is the ritual I'll be performing tonight:

Mabon Apple Harvest Rite

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is celebrated in many ways around the world. It is a day of balance, with equal amounts of darkness and light, but soon, winter will arrive. In some Wiccan traditions, it marks the time when the Sun King descends into the underworld, from which he will be reborn at Yule.
In many pantheons, the apple is a symbol of the Divine. Apple trees are representative of wisdom and guidance. This apple ritual will allow you time to thank the gods for their bounty and blessings, and to enjoy the magic of the earth before the winds of winter blow through.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: Varied

 The apple is the symbol of the Divine in many cultures. 
Honor the old gods with an apple ritual at Mabon, the second harvest Sabbat.

Image (c) Getty Images 2007

Here's How:

1. Decorate your altar with symbols of the season -- a basket of gourds or small pumpkins, colorful fall leaves, acorns, vines, grapes or blackberries. You'll also need a pair of orange candles to symbolize the harvest, a cup of cider or wine, and an apple.
   If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now.
   
2. Light your harvest candles. Face the altar and hold the apple in both hands. If you can do this rite outside, raise the apple up to the sky, and feel the wisdom and energy of the gods coming to you. Say:
   The apple is sacred, a symbol of the gods,
   and holds the knowledge of the ancients inside.
   Tonight I ask the gods to bless me with their wisdom. Slice the apple in half across the middle. Where the seeds are, you will see a five-pointed star. Place the two halves in the center of your altar.
   
3. Say:
   Five points in a star, hidden inside.
   One for earth, one for air, one for fire,
   one for water, and the last for spirit. Turn to the north, arms raised to the heavens, and say:
   The world passes from light into darkness,
   and the golden fields of the earth bring the promise
   of food and nourishment through the winter. Face east, and say:
   I stand on the threshold of the darkness,
   and know that the summer breezes give way to autumn chill,
   which bring forth the blazes of color in the trees.
4. Next, turn to the south and say:
   I call upon the wise ones, the ancient gods,
   as the sun moves away and fire fades,
   to be replaced with the chill of the night. Finally, face west, and say:
   I will reflect on the guidance of the gods,
   and let the cool autumn rains wash over me,
   cleansing my heart and soul.
5. Raise the cup of wine or cider to the sky, and toast the gods. Say:
   The wild god returns this night to the belly of the Mother.
   The mother goddess tonight becomes the Crone.
   As the Wheel of the Year turns, the earth dies a bit each day.
   I willingly follow the old gods into the darkness,
   where they will watch over me, protect me, and keep me safe. Sip from the cup, and as you drink your wine or cider, think about the power and energy of the Divine, in whatever aspect you choose to honor.
6. Extinguish one of the candles, and say:
   The wild god has gone to rest in the Underworld.
   I look to the darkness for renewal and rebirth. Extinguish the other candle, and say:
   The mother goddess has entered her most powerful stage.
   She is the Crone, the wise one, and I ask for her blessing. Stand in the darkness for a moment. Reflect upon all the changes that are to come, and those things that will stay constant. Feel the energy of the gods as you connect to them, and understand that even though winter is coming, the light will return again.
   When you are ready, end the ritual.

Tips:

1. Leave the apples on your altar overnight, and the next morning, put them in your garden as an offering to the earth.
2. Feel free to replace the wild god and mother goddess with the names of deities from your own tradition.

What You Need:

• A pair of orange candles.
• A cup of cider or wine.
• An apple and something to cut it with. 

I'll be offering the apple, the corn, some cider, and some of the muffin to the earth and it's wildlife.

 Blessed be!!

sharing my alter with Inspire me Friday

a Christmas card-challenge

this card is another for OPERATION WRITE HOME'S BIRTHDAY BASH!

Challenge sponsored by May Arts Ribbons
to use ribbon on a Christmas card

 Pre made Card from DCWV Their Christmas 2009 collection,

Ornament Punch by STAMPIN' UP. Card stock is BAZZILL.

I used the punch on a red line sheet, peeled off one side stuck it on the card, and then peeled off the top, covered in clear micro beads. I outlined it in gold paint pen. then the other two are punched out of card stock, and placed with ribbons from my stash, I believe all were purchased at MICHAEL'S

the stamp; "merry & Bright" is from CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS, and I used gold pigment ink and Pirate gold EP by STAMPENDOUS

sharing this with Inspire me Friday

Quick Autumn Tag

Hello and Happy Friday!  You'll see me again later :)

Here is a tag I made for 2 challenges...The progressive challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center
and the spot challenge at Dezinaworld

2 views, 2 settings

Background, other than the strip torn from a book (A forsaken Garden), both backgrounds are by DEZINAWORLD

Digi image by GURUKITTY DESIGNS, Digi Sentiment is by TLC CREATIONS  (The Time you Enjoy Wasting is not Wasted Time)

Prismacolor pencils, flower rec'd as a RAK, fibers from my stash, lace trim from MICHAEL'S

sharing this tag at Inspire me Friday

just a quick down and dirty card

I had started this card a few weeks back, I finally finished it, it wasn't until I went into the file (after scanning it) that I noticed some "white spots" in my coloring.
so it is definitely NOT my best work, but I still think it is a cute card! It is for OWH and therefore i know it will be appreciated anyway. :)

Pre made card and envelope by COLORBOK, Mint melody card stock by STAMPIN' UP (retired).

Ribbons from my stash, Markers by STAMPIN' UP.

Digi image by MELJEN'S DESIGNS, and Digi Sentiment by DIGITAL DOODLING

entered into 2 of the birthday bash challenges at Stars and Stripes OWH blog.

a small rant

Have any of you ever had an opportunity to follow a blog, that is pretty much ONLY self-promotion?
When the person is called on it, some will argue or call the person a flamer. but most often, if they are TRUE to themselves, they left the comment slide, cause they are honest and basically agree. At the very least they allow for FREE and OPEN discussion, and freedom of speech.

Well, I have had a love/hate relationship with a fellow paper artist/blogger for almost a year now. (I've been a follower for well over a year...until it hit me, then the love/hate thing started)

This person IS AMAZINGLY TALENTED in the PAPER art world, but instead of publishing books, or submitting work to magazines etc. She jumps from design team to design team, and she ALWAYS, always upstages everyone else on the DT when there are blog hops. I have been FAITHFULLY watching this process. there is NEVER a time, when her work is on or near the same level as the other DT members...NOW, don't get me wrong Talent is talent.
However if you entire DT is making cards...don't make an elaborate fold up card village or box or something of that nature. I am talking about a deliberate over-doing it. I KNOW that there has to be at least a few fellow DT members of hers that get tired of it, or worse feel their work may be inferior.

This woman's very first line in her profile is , "I am a child of God." OK...so what is Christian-like behavior about deliberately upstaging your colleagues? After watching this go on, and on and on. I HAD to say something, the seeker-of-justice in me, just had to call it. I was NOT nasty about it, and I praised her work often in my comment. Again I say I was NOT nasty at ALL. initially my comment was published. A few days later it has been deleted, and it says..."this comment is awaiting moderation". I tried 3 more times to post comments to her blog today. NONE of them have been published, NOR have I got the "your comment is awaiting moderation" notice. I guess she has me blocked.

Where is the christian-like behavior here? Allowing the free and open discussion. Allowing for other's opinions. Allowing for freedom of speech????????????????...one of the 7 sins...PRIDE!!  (just one of the many reasons I am not an active christian any more, too many hypocrites. I will say, that at least she is a hypocrite with GRACE.

To me this behavior on her part, speaks volumes. As my husband put it; "You struck a nerve, you hit the nail on the head, the truth hurts, and she doesn't want anyone else to notice it." I have to agree.
Furthermore let me say this, for over a year, I was convinced she didn't actually read her comments, because I have asked her several questions, that have gone unanswered. One question in particular, not only have I asked SEVERAL times in the comments I left, but I also used her 'contact form". She has asked us to use her "contact form" with any questions. Why bother, if you aren't going to answer them? I guess she feels she is above the rest of us, that she is too good to answer questions. VERY SAD!

I apologize for my overuse of pronouns, as it is not my intention to be rude or disrespectful by not using the person's name. It is because I do NOT want to use this person's name.  I KNOW FOR A FACT, that several of my followers, follow this woman's blog also. Do not be mad at me for speaking the truth. if you do not think I am speaking the truth, take some time to go back in the archives of her blog, especially blog hop posts, and compare to her fellow DT members. Clearly you will see what I am saying is the truth.

You may already know the truth. You may already know who I am talking about. If you have figured out who I am talking about, I would say that you must has reached the same conclusions I have.

Winners of the 3 Gypsy Gothic Arches!

 FIRST, I didn't publish any comments that answered  the 3 questions until now.

2nd, everyone that answered the questions was correct on all 3, except 1 person, who got one answer wrong! That was amazing!

3rd, There was a small glitch and AlphaBetsy original post got deleted, it would have been 1 post before Frosted Petunias.  So now, you can see all the posts that have the answers, and they are in the order (time wise) that they came in, obviously some of the comments that were already posted (people who didn't answer the questions) would be mixed in here and there.

The questions and answers:

1. The "official" language of the gypsies is_Romani---a spoken only language with many dialects__.

2. There are approximately___over 12 million___gypsies living throughout the world.

3. During the Holocaust, a letter was used to mark a record of a gypsy by the Nazi's,  what was the letter? (though certainly not all gypsies were recorded)--- As gypsies could not read or write, many were not registered at the camps and if they were registered, a simple "Z" was placed where their name should be.

 

  The Winners:

Magaly Guerrero from Pagan Culture

Kim from Fairy Bell Cottage

 Nameless person from StoryBookForest

as long as I can get an email addy from your profile, I'll be emailing you. You'll have to Sunday at 3pm to have responded to my email with:

a full REAL name

mailing info 

if not, then the next comment in line with the correct answer will take your place for the Gothic arch.

The Gothic Arches will be mailed out at the end of the month (when my check comes)

Monday Muse- never enough

I had a MUCH different writing planned for today. However, I felt compelled to share these feeling with you. I will share the originally planned Monday Muse for next week.
******************************************************************

I recorded every show this weekend, and when watching the memorial and the reading of the names, I was crying, and had to stop at the Letter E, I will turn it back on and watch more. I am crying now. I balled like a baby 10 years ago...on and off for days!

My Family, though horror struck, did not seem to share my emotional depth in this tragedy. My children kept saying, "Mom, you don't know any of these people, and Uncle George luckily wasn't in the City today, why are you crying so much?"  I was like, "how can any of you NOT be crying?" My youngest said she cried in school when it happened and was announced and then all the classroom TVs were turned on. (they were in HS, my 2 youngest...freshman and sophomore...my oldest had graduated the year before)

My husband had just went back to work the Wednesday before, half days (being out of work since Father's day in June)after having 2 heart attacks 5 days apart in June, followed by a double bypass. My Mother (in Florida) weeks later had 5 bypasses...followed by complications. I could have lost them both. I then had another one of my kidney stones, and on Aug. 10 had to put my best friend down. "Honey" my beautiful 10 year old White German Sheppard,- Bladder CA. 

The summer of 2001, was ONE of the hardest times in my life, I count Sept. 11 in with that as it was still summer.  I will NEVER forget any of it. I was glued to the TV almost 24/7 napping here and there. I  called the 4 main hospitals that they were planning on sending the wounded to, to offer my assistance as an X-ray Tech and former Certified Nursing assistant. They took my name and info., told me they appreciated my offer to help, and would call if and when they were short with help. No call ever came, no call ever would come. it was apparent after about 4 days, the hope was disappearing. My hope disappeared. My innocence, what was left of it at that point in my life was sheared off my body, burned out of my soul, taken away from my dreams. My naivety was made appallingly obvious. My smallness palpable. My inner sweet child was screaming! 

I felt guilty, for what I am not exactly sure. My friends said it is because I FEEL things so deeply. My husband said it is because I was always trying to make things better in the world around me, and was quick to point out that basically, he tried to tell me that people suck and the world had gone to hell in a hand basket years ago. (my husband is 19 years older than I, and most likely had already lost all that I was losing that day, long before)  I think I felt guilty for being untouched in my home, with my loved ones and friends all safe from harm. I think I felt guilty because I was not one of  "those people" walking around with photos, and nailing posters up of their missing loved one. I very well could have been. My brother worked in NYC for a large cleaning company, I do not know if they had any contracts near the WTC or not. He wasn't one of the laborers, he was an exec. However, he was an exec of operations, which means he would go and check on things. EVER SO fortunately, he was working out of the NJ office that day.  I am crying again now, so much loss. The wound will never be healed for SO many. I weep for them.

As I watched some of the shows yesterday, I was shocked to find it all right there again, just under the surface, the deep loss I WAS feeling. Helpless, Hopeless, Useless, even slightly nauseous. There is NOTHING I could do for any of these people, except pray, light candles, meditate and send out peaceful and calming energy. Sadly, it will never be enough.

remembering...

do you remember where you were?

What you were doing?

How you were feeling?

Did you feel safe, at home, or at work in this; the greatest country in the world?

Have you ever had to make a choice, when neither was going to end well?

Especially one where your very life hung in the balance...in the hands of others...in the hands of an enemy?? to die now or suffer a while and then die??

Do you feel safe now? 10 years later. Will any of us who remember that day, ever be the same?

No, we will NEVER be the same...but in many ways the difference is a good one, we were reminded:

how precious life is

to spend more time with those we love

to stop bickering over crap that doesn't matter

to hopefully get rid of our prejudices and band together as one nation

to not take ANYTHING for granted

but like all slaps in the face, with time the sting fades

we forget

we loosen up

we go back to the rat race

we start to take things for granted again

DO NOT fall prey to indifference!

too many were lost

too many are left suffering

mourning, grieving still.

more are dying, from the fallout.

Do NOT let these neighbors, fellow Americans down

by becoming remiss!

Stand Tall, Stand Vigilant, Stand United!

Remember all of this great nation's history.

Some gave all, so we could have it all--

Life,Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness!!

WE ARE AMERICA,

the UNITED states of!!

One NATION of MANY peoples, under whatever God or Goddess one believes in, or doesn't.

Stay together, Stay the course!!

I did not forget the locations of the other great losses on 9/11/2001. I just chose to concentrate on the largest area of loss.

Goddess and God BLESS America, MY home sweet home!