Saturday Sky

Wise Woman Ways

This year I signed up to take a course about wise woman healing. It is an apprenticeship type course, where we meet once a month for nine months. This year is part one of the course and there are two more years after this one.

Today was class number 4 and we made motherwort tinctures and st. joan's wort oils. I am having a wonderful time with this course. We have been shown how to make tinctures, oils, decoctions, infusions and balms/ointments. I've been introduced to plants I've not come in contact with before, like stinging nettle (it really deserves that name too). I've also been introduced to permaculture gardening, which is something I'm going to have to research.


{angelica}

I've been adding to my herbal garden, finding plants like stinging nettle, joy pye weed (also known as gravel root), anise hyssop, holy basil, self-heal, job's tears, calendula and comfrey. It's been fun adding plants of both medicinal and magical uses.

All these plants are of course causing me to spend most of my time in the gardens. If the weather is not bad and the sun is still shining, I'm to be found in the garden. I still have lots to plant and lots of sections to clear out before I can plant. It is good for me, it helps me exercise, it allows me to work out some frustrations (pulling up and clearing out sections) but best of all, it helps me to reconnect to nature and the earth.



I'm not sure that I want to become an herbalist, but I think that the things I'm learning will help to make me a better witch. :-)

Blessings
~*~

altars and herbs

On my other blog, I participate in the Photo Hunters project. This weeks topic was "Protect(ion)". After giving some thought to what I would like to photograph, I decided to use my protection altar for the shot. After taking a photo, I ended up taking photos of several of my altars.

I have several altars setup in my home. Each one is important to me and is used for various things, including rootwork/conjure jobs, witchcraft spells, and honoring ancestors or various Lwa.

Here is a peak at several of my altars...


blessing altar


enemy altar


an altar for Maman Bridgette - this photo is from last summer and the altar has changed a lot. i guess i need a more recent photo...


this altar is for Ayida Wedo

I have more altars than these. I have a money altar, my main altar and an ancestor altar. I also keep a St. Michael candle burning in my kitchen window (it faces THE neighbor's house) and have a St. Michael card there so it could be considered a small protection altar.

This week there were several herb sales around the area. Normally I go to the two big sales, but this year I just went to the one at our local farmers market. I really racked up on plants. :-)



I got several very cool plants of the medicinal/magical variety. I bought Holy Basil, Joe Pye Weed (also known as Queen of the Meadow or Gravel Root), Purple Coneflower, Self-Heal, Russian Comfrey, Foxglove, Calendula, Anise Hyssop, Lemon Verbena, Bay Tree, Pennyroyal, Blue Vervain. I also bought Parsley, Italian Basil, Oregano and Cilantro.

So, does anyone else grow their own magical/medicinal herbs or have altars set up in their home?

Blessings
~*~

Ostara

Ostara... the first day of spring. The natural world is fresh and new as it emerges from the winter sleep. To me, it is a time of growth, renewal... a chance to start fresh or explore something new.



I have been very busy this week and also full of inspiration and ideas. I've made a few things that I'll take to my friends shop tomorrow. Hopefully she will think they are appropriate to sell in her shop. If not, I have other ideas. I've been looking into opening an Etsy shop. I haven't decided yet if I will, but the idea is interesting.

This past week has been a time of purging for me. I've been cleaning and organizing things in my home, getting rid of things that no longer serve or that I never really wanted to begin with. I've taken stock of my oils and herbs, organizing them and grouping them in a more useful manner. I'm finding myself using them more lately and intend for that to continue and increase.

Happy Ostara, everyone. May the spring bring you a renewed sense of purpose in all that you are and want.

Blessings,
~*~

my world today

what i woke up to...






i'm staying home today to enjoy the beauty that i wouldn't be able to see from my office with no windows...

i hope that your world is beautiful to you today too...

blessings
~*~

keeping promises

So, if you'll remember, yesterday I said that I would be going back to work today and would only be taking time off in emergencies. Yeah..well...I'm not so good with the keeping promises like that. I did have every intention of going, but when I woke up this morning and took the beast out, this is what I found...



Yes.. I will use any excuse to avoid a place that I hate and despise with a passion. Honestly, though, I just feel nothing when I go there. I used to go in and look at my job as being productive and that I was useful to someone. Now, it is just this place that I loathe but yet, pays the bills. That is a very important thing. I try to remind myself that I am very lucky to even have a job as lots of people don't. So, I'm trying to work on my attitude about it. Therefore, I will be back to work tomorrow...

In other news, I finished my k2p2 scarf... or maybe I've already mentioned that? Anyway, here's a pic:



The beast is acting funny today. He's not eating and is sleeping constantly. I'm going to take him in tomorrow for a glucose curve. The roads are too dangerous for me today and plus his vet is not there. I don't remember if I mentioned that over the weekend we changed his insulin. He now takes an animal insulin instead of human insulin and he is taking much less. He was pretty wobbly this morning, so I guess it's good that I stayed home.

yeah.. I know... excuses... :-)

blessings,
~*~

Saturday Sky

Saturday Sky

Blessed Yule

Today is the first day of winter, hopefully we will have winter weather soon. I hope that everyone has a happy Yule.

Blessings,
~*~

Saturday Sky

a very cloudy, rainy day...

homework...

I think I've mentioned before that I'm taking an online Hoodoo course. I started in February of 2006 and have very slowly worked on it since. It took me a while to even finish reading the book, then I began working on the homework to turn in. There are eight total assignments, that we are to complete and mail in to the instructor. The last 2008 homework grading is on December 19Th and if I don't get at least some of the homework turned in for the grading, I'll become an inactive student. I really don't want to be deemed "inactive". I don't know why... I think it is the stigma that is associated with being an inactive student. It has been suggested by several students that becoming inactive is an insult to the instructor. I don't know if I agree or not. However, I am going to finish my homework and get them turned in. I really want my certificate!

I have already completed five of the eight, including the documentation to go with them. I have number six almost ready, just have to bag it up and type up the documentation. Number seven is creating an oil. I just finished mixing mine up, I had to come up with my own recipe and everything. This is something that I have never done in my almost 25+ years as a witch. I realized that as I was mixing it together. I'm constantly putting together herb mixtures for candle rubs, or herbal bags, but I had never tried oils. I wonder what I was afraid of. :-)

So, now I have one homework left. I have to make a "mojo bag". I don't expect it should be too hard. I think the hard part is deciding what type of bag I want to make. I'm leaning toward something like a blessing mojo.

Well, I'm going to finish typing up my current homework and then try to get started on number 8. Hopefully, I'll get to the knitting today. Speaking of knitting, I had to frog part of my second sock last night. I was turning the heel when I realized I'd forgotten to go to a smaller needle when I finished the leg. I've also started another pair in light blue that I hope to finish before Dec. 24Th as they are a gift for my mum. I guess I'll be busy knitting... no more early to bed. :-)

And because I really like to have a photo in my posts... I'll leave you with a photo of last night's moon.



Blessings,
~*~

Moon, yarn, roots...

After reading this post by Ivoryhut on The Pioneer Woman I was inspired to take a few photos of the moon. I've taken moon shots before and they generally come our something like this:



Now, however, after playing with my camera - believe me I have NO idea what I did, just messed with the buttons because a lot of what she wrote is currently way over my head - this weekend I was able to get a photo like this:


I'm much happier with the second photo than I am with the first. I think I'm going to have to go back and read all the photography posts that Ree has had on her site. They really know what they are doing and I think I could learn a lot from them.

In knitting news, I've finished the ribbing on second sock started over and will work on turning the heel tonight. Yay! I'll try to get a photo up later.

Oh, I've been working on my Hoodoo course homework. Only have 3 more to do (well 2 really) and then I can mail in my homework and hopefully pass so I can be a certified Hoodoo Rootworker. :-)

Blessings,
~*~

Saturday Sky

It has been a long time since I've done a Saturday Sky post. I thought it was time to start again.

The weather here has been strange all day. Strong winds, this morning rainy and sunny with clouds flying by so fast it makes me wonder where they are hurrying off to, or are they running from something?


I had thought of going to the lake house this afternoon to spend a few days. We haven't been up in a while and we need to, to settle it in for winter. One of the reasons we didn't go was because I had a bridal shower to attend today which would have set us to leaving late afternoon. Neither mum nor I felt like driving up the mountain in the dark so we postponed until next weekend, when we can have an earlier start to the day.

After seeing the weather forecast for the lake this morning, I'm very sorry we didn't go.

I would love to see the snow.

Blessings,
~*~

a nice walk on a cool day

On Tuesday, I met a couple of friends and we went for a nice long walk in the cool fall air. These are some of the things that caught my eye...



Just thought I'd share...

Blessings,
~*~

Happy Halloween!

Make sure your pumpkins are carved and your treats are ready...

Say a prayer for those who have passed in the past year. Be sure to honor your ancestors today, light a candle for them, leave them a plate of their favorite foods or visit the grave and leave flowers or something that they would like.

Watch for spooks and goblins tonight and be safe.

Have a blessed samhain...

Blessings
~*~

emerging from hiding...

I've been in hiding this week. From what, I could not say. I stayed home from work three days, sick, miserable, despondent. I don't know where this comes from or why it comes. I wish I did. I just try to make it through whole and sane.

Today I made it out of the house and went on small trip with my mum. It is our annual trip to the county to get Brunswick stew and also to a sell of one of our favorite artists. We had a wonderful lunch, bought several neat things at the artists shop including two prints, one for her that was already framed and another for me that is still there to be framed.

After that we went to this little "antique" store down the road. Last year I found a cool hatpin there and this year I found 4 old skeleton keys...


and a porcelain pincushion doll...



I'm so excited about the keys - I've been looking for skeleton keys for over a year. The doll is a real find even though the cushion part is in very bad shape, the doll is in great shape and I've yet to decide what to do with it. One of my favorite people makes jewelry with dolls like this. I could never make anything as fabulous as hers, but I want to do something with it.

Tomorrow is another short outing and then back to work on Monday. I have to make it back to work. I've missed too many days in the past two weeks. Ugh...

Blessings,
~*~

things not to do in a garden...

It has been a very busy week, both at work and at home. I think I mentioned in my last post that Saturday was garden cleanup day. Here is a photo of what NOT to let your garden become:



While that doesn't show the whole garden, it does show what we didn't get to on Saturday. And, it was in the worst shape. So, on Wednesday Mum and I had another garden party. 6 and 1/2 hours. I thought I was going to die. It was not a cool day at all and for the most part in the sun. After finishing the garden it was also mowing day. I'm still not sure how I survived. :-)

How did it turn out? Well, I still need to get straw to put down, but it is much, much better.

So, a note to anyone who might want to start a garden and mostly a note to myself...

This is a much better way to garden:

In my garden, I have 4 zucchini plants, 3 yellow crookneck squash, 1 grape tomato, 1 better boy (i think) tomato, 1 jalapeno, 1 habanero, 1 bell pepper and 7 or 8 rouge tomato plants. I also have several of last years freaky plant that showed up in the garden. The spot up front that is empty, is probably going to be filled with collards as soon as the time is right to plant them.

Enough about the garden, I have a question. I'm thinking of re-opening my other blog. Honestly, I miss it. I started that blog, because I needed to explore my "lighter" side. I'm a Gemini and have the expected two sides that come with being a Gemini. I've always felt that this blog represents my darker side. I like it better with the dark background and talking about darker stuff. Where as, the light and airy side wants clean, crisp lines and lots of light. It is a battle that I wage every day. Which side will I show today or even each minute. (It can change, minute by minute, believe me!)

So, if you have read both blogs or if you haven't but would like to check the other out. I'd really like to know what you think. I kind of gave up the other because I felt I was spreading myself too thin and running out of things to say. I have finally realized that I don't have to post every single day. Wow, what a concept!

Anyway, let me know, if you have an opinion. It doesn't mean that I'll take your advice, just that it would be nice to have it. :-)

With that, I'm off to get ready to head out from work. I think tomorrow I will be hitting the theater to see The Dark Knight. I'm absolutely can't wait!

Oh, and Happy Full Moon!

Blessings,
~*~

Whew...I'm glad that is done!

So yesterday turned out to be a banner day. After my counseling session on Monday, I felt such relief and set about turning my place/life around. Yesterday, I took the day off, only half a day really as I was getting the other half already, and got my car fixed, mowed my yard, ran tons of errands, did laundry and cleaned the kitchen.

I also talked to my neighbor about the latest goings on between us. She said her dad did all the work and he owns the house and she would talk to him. So last night he showed up and we had a nice conversation and I think we are both okay on where the line is and all that. I'm hoping things will improve between my neighbor and I and that I will be able to stay where I am.

I still want the house in the country and to live there, but it just doesn't seem very practical right now.

I did have one big scare yesterday, when I came home from running errands, I came in and put my stuff down and Dylan was not at the door to greet me (very unusual). I went to the bathroom and saw him lying on the bed as I passed the bedroom and thought that he would jump right up.

After taking care of business, still no Dylan so I went into the bedroom and looked at him, and I swear he was not breathing. There was no movement at all. I said his name a few times and there was no response, I started to panic and yelled his name and up popped his head and he jumped down and came to me. I guess this means his hearing is starting to go. I have noticed I have to repeat myself when I call him or speak a little louder. He also can't see at night. If it is dark, he walks into everything, including me. Oh my.

Now I am back at work and things are not as great as they could be. Hopefully, if I can continue to keep this good attitude, I'll be able to make it a little better.

Now for a picture...


This is also a photo from the beach trip... there is just something about the lights on the water that gets me on this one.

Back to work now...

Blessings,
~*~

Silent Sunday...

Everything seems so silent around here today. It has been a very quiet day with hardly anyone around. The shop was pretty quiet today and I only had two reading requests. Even the grocers seemed emptier than usual.

I went by Michael's Crafts and picked up a bunch of paints for a new project I'm working on. I tried getting back to work on them the other night, only to discover that the paints I had were very old and dried out. I got a lot of pretty colors and can't wait to see what I can make out of them.

It is pretty dark outside right now. I heard some thunder rumbling by a little bit ago. I think we are in for a few storms tonight. According to the last forecast I saw, we may have storms every day. My poor yard may never get mowed at this rate and my garden? Poor, poor garden... it is so overgrown with grass that I don't know how anything else is growing. I haven't been out there in a few days, so I have to go tomorrow and see if there is anything to be picked. Last time I was in the garden, there were a few jalapenos almost ready to pluck. I'm sure with all this rain, they are ready by now.

I'm still trying to make up my mind about the neighbor/move situation. Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from work, indicating that my pay grade has been increased and I'm now making about $150 more. That does not include whatever pay increase the state deigns to give us this year. My salary is pretty good and with gas prices the way they are, I don't know if moving farther out is going to help things. Trying to find a new job and start over is seeming very overwhelming. December marks 10 years at my company, I'll start getting longevity checks and as my mum says, if I can just hang on for another 20 years, I'll be able to retire, at 59. So, do you see my dilemma? So... c.o.n.f.u.s.i.n.g!

Anyway, I'm off to put away the stuff I bought today and see if any laundry needs to be done. I am very sleepy and really could do with a nap. Oh, and I've got to make some business decisions too, I need to figure out setting up an online shop and how to accept payments, etc. :-) Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Oops... I almost forgot the daily photo. Today's photo is from the beach and is of a brown pelican I saw while on a dolphin tour.


Blessings,
~*~

slow saturday...

It's a slow day today. I was supposed to spend the day working in the yard, but couldn't get out of bed this morning. We had some big storms yesterday with lots of rain and the yard is still very wet. I've not done much today except play on the computer. I've gone and joined the myspace world and have been getting familiar with it and playing with it.

I spent several hours yesterday clearing out magazines. I have hundreds of magazines that I just haven't been able to get rid of. I have lots of Martha Stewart's, Country Living, Country Living Gardener, and Victoria magazines. It is very hard for me to through them out. They are so pretty and I like looking back through them from time to time. So, what I've been doing is going through and cutting out things that I want to save, pretty pictures, decorating ideas, recipes, anything that catches my eye; then I dump the rest of the magazine for recycle. I just don't know what else to do with them. I don't have room to keep them and they are taking up valuable and needed bookshelf space. I have moved several batches of them into plastic tubs, but then the are just there and I forget about them, etc. Cutting them up seemed like the best solution. :-(

Oh, I made up a recipe last night that turned out to be pretty good. I will tweak it a bit the next time I make it, but I really enjoyed it. I took pictures as I made it and will post the recipe and pictures later.

I'm going to try to be productive today, I'm doing readings tomorrow and will not have much time tomorrow for household stuff.

More later... maybe ;-)

Oh, here is another photo from the beach trip, while fishing on the pier, several schools of stingrays came through. It was so magical to watch these beautiful creatures glide through the water...



Blessings,
~*~