New Orleans

Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to go to New Orleans. I have wanted to see the swamps in Louisiana, I have wanted to walk through the garden district. As I have gotten older I've added a few things to my list for New Orleans. I want see where Anne Rice lived, I want to visit a real hoodoo shop and see Marie Laveau's grave.

Well, in 10 days, I'll be on my way to do all those things, and a whole lot more. :-)

I've been invited on a trip to New Orleans. We will leave on Saturday, the 19th, and return on the 23rd (which happens to be my birthday). Not only do I get to do all the things listed above, I also get to meet attend a serious vodou ceremony. I am so excited. My friends and I are planning to take lots of pictures and I hope to have some good ones to post later.

I've been giving the vodou thing a lot of thought. I truly enjoy the ceremony and learning about the religion and I think I will continue to be a "believer", but in my heart... I'm a witch. I always have been and always will be. When talking to our Manbo, a friend and I asked if it is possible to be both, vodou and witch, and she laughed and said, sure... you're a vodou witch!

I'm not sure just how much I'm allowed to talk about in regards to the vodou and the things that happen. I don't want to say more than I'm supposed to, so I'll stop now.

Anyway, just wanted to give a little update on what is going on with me. I appreciate all the support from you guys about Jade. It has been very strange not having her around and now a strange black cat has shown up outside my house twice in the last few days. Jade used to lay in the windows, she would switch her window throughout the day, almost like she was guarding the house. Now this other cat has shown up. It won't come near me and I've only seen it at night (I say it because I don't know if it is a male or female) so the situation is a little weird.

On Saturday morning, my father had a cyst removed from his spinal column. I spent the entire day at the hospital with my stepmother. She was very worried, but he came through fine.

So, anyway, this is what I've been up to... planning a trip and helping my dad and dealing with the loss of Jade. I've also been working in my yard a little. Tomorrow I get my vegetable plants and get them in the ground.

Blessings,
~*~

She's gone...

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been so busy and also trying to care for my cat, Jade. Over the past few days she became increasingly worse and this morning I had to take her to the vet and have her put to sleep. She was in a lot of pain and was unable to eat and had trouble breathing. The sneezing blood had increased and it was just time to let her go.

I have not handled this well at all. I never thought she would be the first of my brood to leave me. Jade was my witch cat, my familiar. She left this earth one day after Beltane, on the day of the Full Moon, the Witches' Moon.

Her ashes will be returned to me either Friday or Monday. I am planning to put her ashes, along with a picture of her, on my ancestors altar.


You can see in this photo, taken this morning, that she doesn't look well. She seemed to be in so much pain. The doctor was very sweet and very caring and they let me be with her as she passed. I was the last thing she saw. She went very peacefully, as I loved on her.

Well, I think that is all I can say right now. I'll try to get back to regular posting soon.

Blessings,
~*~

Kitty update

It seems that my beautiful sweet Jade (who by the way is 14 not 12) has a tumor in her nasal cavity that is eating away at the bones. Right now there is nothing I can do. I am giving her an antibiotic and she is on pain medication. We are waiting until Monday for the Radiologist to read the x-ray to be certain that is what is wrong. Once it is confirmed I'll have a decision to make. I don't know what that will be.

Blessings,
~*~


(cross-posted on my other blog)

Healing thoughts needed

Please keep my sweet kitty Jade in your thoughts. When I went to feed her this morning she was on the washer (her favorite place) and it was covered in blood and she had blood running out her nose. She has been sneezing up blood and there is also blood coming out of her ear. I had to leave her at the vet this morning and I have no idea what is wrong or what will come of it. I'm anxiously awaiting news.


Please send healing energies to her. She is a sweet 12 year old.

Thanks
Blessings,
~*~


(cross-posted on my other blog)