Merlin's Magickal Mistress

N.J. weather!!!!!!! Weird, but sooooo NICE!

2012-02-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

Love this holiday, it means Spring is soon here!!!

2012-02-01T05:08:00.001-08:00

Get well!!!

2012-01-31T06:28:00.000-08:00

This is for my friend at http://canwehaveanewwitchoursmelted.blogspot.com/

I told him to go make you feel better.... but I don't think he got the concept right! GIGGLE

To undo, what has been done

2012-01-30T13:49:00.000-08:00

SPELL TO BREAK THE POWERS OF A SPELL

You Need: black candle, water and a black bowl
Place the candle into the black bowl, fix the candle to the bowl using the wax
drippings from the candle so that it stands alone.

Fill the bowl to the rim with fresh water, without wetting the wick.

Breathe deeply and meditate for a few minutes.
When your mind is clear, light the candle.

Visualize the power the spell cast against you as living within the candles flame.

As the candle burns down, it will sputter and go out as it touches the water.
As it is extinguished by the water, the spell is broken.
Finally, dig a hole into the ground, pour the water into it, then bury the candle.

A SPELL TO REMOVE CURSES FROM YOURSELF

light 1 pink candle, 1 green, and a black candle.

Be sure that nobody else can see you (close all curtains, doors, windows, etc.)

Now, get a bowl full of water and put 3 drops of green dye in it.

slowly tip the bowl over each candle allowing them to be extinguished while at the same time chanting:

"Goddess, free me."

You must do this very slowly and imagine the spell being lifted from your body and all the good luck and fortune that will soon come to you and the evil that will go to the person that placed the hex/curse upon you.

SPELL TO REMOVE A HEX / REVERSE A JINXED CONDITION

This spell will remove any hexed or jinxed condition, whether real or imagined.

Fashion a poppet out of white felt or other white material.

Stuff the poppet with rosemary, lavender, and sage, and place on your altar.

Inscribe your name on a purple candle

Visualize as strongly as possible the hex upon you...feel its power and the strength it has had over you...Now take a handful of garlic powder and sprinkle it over the poppet, while strongly visualizing the hex/jinxed condition being broken.

Put as much feeling and emotion into this process as possible...now relax...allow the candle to burn down completely.
It is finished...the hex is broken...so mote it be.

SPELL TO UNDO A SPELL

After Midnight any night, waning moon

Anoint candles with rosemary oil
use white candles as many as you like.

You Need: one bead from a necklace you own (preferably a pearl-faux or not)
A small patch of black cloth, some string for tying. Incantation:

"I cast a spell asking, I now ask the favor of having the spell removed.
I understand to take back a spell means giving up something of my own to show my spirit is true and my intentions are good, I give this pearl/bead from a necklace I own.
I transfer the spell into the either, and render the spell dormant.
No harm may come from the cancellation of this spell.
No further power shall it have. This is my will -so be it." Place the

pearl/bead in the black cloth and tie up tightly in the string until you have wrapped the pearl/bead entirely in the cloth.
Dribble a bit of wax from the candles on your final knot you tie and
Then throw the small package away far from your home. Close circle and give thanks.

News!

2012-01-21T13:22:00.001-08:00

I started a group on Yahoo.

Jersey shore broom and brew

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coolseawitch/

were we can meet and exchange potions and spells, independent of facebook!

It's going to be a fun group... if you want to join just sign up, and remember to post one of your fav spells for the rest of us to share!!!!

Ohhh, and I should mention, I'm going to have another give a way.... and one of the things you have to do .... is join the group. giggle

I'll let you know what the prize is later... YOUR GONNA LOVE IT!

Russian Cooking

2012-01-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

It's seems that a lot of people think Russian cooking is super complicated! But it's not! Mainly it's putting things in pots, adding salt and pepper, and cooking it till it's dead! GIGGLE Spice's? We don't need no sticking spice's!

One of my favorite side dish's is Cucumbers. Yes, cucumbers.... but no dish is any kind of dish unless you add sour cream!!!

You slice and peel cucumbers, add salt, pepper, grated onion, and some dill... and of course sour cream

I make this dish all the time, just to snack on.

Even our complicated dish's like Blinni's are easy to make. I loved the potato Blinnie's my mom made. They were thin and lite like crapes, but hardy to eat because they were made with potatoes. They were always served with butter... and SOUR CREAM! LOL

Though some times my Mom would make... "verashotk". Honesty, I'm not sure where that came from, or if it's spelled right... but, you put:

Chicken, pork, fresh kielbasa, duck, and any other left over meat in a pot, and cook it down to a thick sauce. You remove the bones, and use the Blinnie's to scoop it up and eat it.

Then she also made Blinni's with out the potato, these were thinner, more like crape's...except they used yeast in them to make them light and fluffy. These were usually served with, of course, sour cream, and fresh fruit or some fruit Jelly on top.

And, yes, when I mention "Ducks blood soup" people go ewwwwwwww... and it is made with real, fresh, ducks blood, and lots of it.... but it's the most incredibly yummmy soup in the WHOLE WORLD! At least in my opinion. LOL

Basically, if it's not trying to run away, (and even if it is) put it in a pot and cook it down. A lot of organ meats make it rich and spicy. Kidney, heart, liver.... it all is added to the mix!

The only thing I never like was my Mom's "Tripe Soup" Loved the soup, but eating Tripe is like chewing an old piece of gum.... you can chew forever and never get it soft enough to swallow... but adding it to a soup gives it a fantastic flavor!

My favorite soup of all time was "Stafh" it's a weed that grows all over the U.S. When chewed it tastes like lemons! You probably have a ton of it in your back yard right now, and don't even know it!! It's also called sorrel! (and you can buy it to grow in most GOOD garden centers that have tons of herbs... our go find in in a yard and pick to your hearts content.

We kids, spent many a summer day in fields, picking this for our parents to cook up!!

In the summer go out and see if you can find it, I guarantee you will. Chew a piece and it's like chewing a lemon!!

Tons of this is added to chicken stock, and cooked. Then you boil potatoes, mash them up with some browned onions and salt pork!! You eat the soup by taking a spoon full of the potatoes, and dipping it into the soup. OMG!!! It's fantastic!!

No matter what others tell you... real Russian cooking is very basic, and rustic.

I don't think we have ever used any herbs for cooking besides some, Rosemary (and rosemary was only used with pork), dill (and dill was only used with cucumbers!), and salt and pepper! And of course SOUR CREAM! We use that in just about EVERYTHING!

Now to gross you out.... my Mom's favorite snack? She would pour a bowl of milk... add a shot glass of vinegar.. cover it and leave it till it turned totally sour and solid!!! Then she would put it in the fridge to chill, while she boiled potatoes. After is was nice and cold, you ate it with the boiled potatoes. Don't ewwwww, cause it actually tasted pretty good!!!! After all, that IS how Sour Cream is made... she just made her own!!!!

I'm still here!!!!

2012-01-19T09:09:00.001-08:00

My son was home for winter break, and I find it almost impossible to blog with him in the house. He runs in and out of my bedroom, for a cig, to tell me about the movie he's watching, to tell me about the monster in his video games... and so on and so on.... it's really quite annoying.

But he's back at school, so I took a few days to clean, and recoup my mind... and back to blogging I go.

It's actually cool enough to bring out the crock pot!!!! Whoooottttt!!!! It's been very warm here at the Jersey shore.... unusual for New Jersey..... but hay!, can't complain too much about warmer weather.

But it's cooled off a bit.... one in the 40's, so "Betsey", my crock pot came out. Now with my dietary restrictions, it's hard to make food of any kind... but this time I added... chopped beef, beef sausages, carrots, celery and some beef stock. I wish I could add scads of garlic... but I can't eat it, so salt and pepper will have to do.

Life is soooooooooo BLAND without GARLIC!!! My allergy reaction is so strong that at times I wonder if I'm turning into a vampire????

I also started some seedling in my nice south facing window. I have tomatoes (I went with Large Cherry tomatoes this year) Marigolds (the yellow daisy kind that I use to keep bugs away from my garden), and the big pot has some Leeks started in it! My step father used to grow leeks, so I'm trying them this year.

Pretty!!!!!

2012-01-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

I had to post this picture from my friends web site! It's new, and just the prettiest thing I've ever seen.... You can go buy it at: http://networkedblogs.com/sbR1j?ref=nf

And these are just allergy meds????

2012-01-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Take that BITCH!

2012-01-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

13 rules

2012-01-08T09:08:00.001-08:00

While this is very pretty, and you would love to have it so simple....In real life it just doesn't happen......My goals are different

1. Know yourself, and then try not to be like that!
2. Write your spells correctly this time!!!!
3. Remember!
4. Label your herbs!
5. Achieve Balance in your life and craft, and clear off your junk sometimes!
6. Be organized in storing your books and herbs, try to keep them in one place!
7. Keep your temper! Really....KEEP YOUR TEMPER IN CHECK!!!
8. Have fun, and try not to feel guilty about it!
9. Write down the moon phases!
10. Sometime you have to pig out and eat bad stuff
11. Try to get up off the couch at least once a day
12. Meditate, and try NOT to fall asleep
13. Remember to honor the Goddess every day!

Just take your pick!

2012-01-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

To you, and yours.....

2012-01-01T08:50:00.001-08:00

I'm not green?

2011-12-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

Checking out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day.

So what did we have back then…? After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have....

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right.

We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right.

We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.

And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Fab Store!!!!

2011-12-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

Girls check out this new Etsy store my friend started!!!!

http://networkedblogs.com/sbR1j?ref=nf

She's got some great stuff!!!! Just click on "Pagan Fancies", and have some fun. Read her blog too!!!!

WOW!

2011-12-28T05:08:00.000-08:00

When I first saw these, I thought.... cool! They can be grown in my area, are high in Vitamin C (good for me since I'm allergic to citrus, so I figured I could get my vitamins this way) And they are pretty also!

Then I read more about them.... and WOW, I'm totally impressed!!!!

Sea-buckthorn berries are edible and nutritious, though very acidic (astringent) and oily, unpleasant to eat raw, unless 'bletted' (frosted to reduce the astringency) and/or mixed as a juice with sweeter substances such as apple or grape juice.

When the berries are pressed, the resulting sea-buckthorn juice separates into three layers: on top is a thick, orange cream; in the middle, a layer containing sea-buckthorn's characteristic high content of saturated and polyunsaturated fats; and the bottom layer is sediment and juice. Containing fat sources applicable for cosmetic purposes, the upper two layers can be processed for skin creams and liniments, whereas the bottom layer can be used for edible products like syrup.

Nutrient and phytochemical constituents of sea-buckthorn berries may have potential effect in inflammatory disorders, cancer prevention or positive effect on bone marrow after chemotherapy or other diseases although no specific health benefits have yet been proven by clinical research in humans.

The fruit of the plant has a high vitamin C content – in a range of 114 to 1550 mg per 100 grams with an average content (695 mg per 100 grams) about 15 times greater than oranges (45 mg per 100 grams)

placing sea-buckthorn fruit among the most enriched plant sources of vitamin C. The fruit also contains dense contents of carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids, dietary minerals, β-sitosterol and polyphenols. Flavonols were found to be the predominating polyphenols while phenolic acids and flavan-3-ols (catechins) represent minor components. Of the seven flavonols identified, isorhamnetin 3-O-glycosides were highest quantitatively.

Sea-buckthorn fruit can be used to make pies, jams, lotions and liquors. The juice or pulp has other potential applications in foods or beverages.

For example, in Finland, it is used as a nutritional ingredient in baby food. Fruit drinks were among the earliest sea-buckthorn products developed in China. Seabuckthorn-based juice is popular in Germany and Scandinavian countries. It provides a nutritious beverage, rich in vitamin C and carotenes. A specialty beer called Tyrnilambic Baie d'Argousier has been produced at the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels exclusively for the Finnish Market.

For its troops confronting extremely low temperatures, India's Defence Research Development Organization established a factory in Leh to manufacture a multi-vitamin herbal beverage based on sea-buckthorn juice.

The seed and pulp oils have nutritional properties that vary under different processing methods. Sea-buckthorn oils are used as a source for ingredients in several commercially available cosmetic products and nutritional supplements.

To overcome high acidity, juice made by adding five-parts water to one-part sea-buckthorn and sweetened to taste, put through a blender and strained, is said to taste like orange or peach juice. Sea-buckthorn leaves, dried and shredded, can be made into teas.

Different parts of sea-buckthorn have been used as traditional therapies for diseases. Grown widely throughout its native China and other mainland regions of Asia, sea-buckthorn is an herbal remedy reputedly used over centuries to relieve cough, aid digestion, invigorate blood circulation and alleviate pain.

Bark and leaves may be used for treating diarrhea and dermatological disorders.[Berry oil, taken either orally or applied topically, may be used as a skin softener.

For its hemostatic and anti-inﬂammatory effects, berry fruits are added to medications for pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiac, blood and metabolic disorders in Indian, Chinese and Tibetan medicines. Sea-buckthorn berry components have potential activity against cancer and dengue virus.

Enough said, I'm going to buy 2 of these little suckers and try my luck with them!!! They grow in china, by the sea.... and believe it or not, but living down the shore here in N.J. is just the right climate for them!

Have a Happy Yule!!

2011-12-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

LOL every one of these is right! LOL

2011-12-17T07:36:00.001-08:00

And that's the truth! :)P

2011-12-17T07:35:00.001-08:00

THE WINNER IS!!!!

2011-12-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

I use a "random name generator" to pick the winner! It's a cute app, and works great!!!

And the winner is.............COPPERWOOD!!!!!

Send my your address to witchbythesea@yahoo.com and I'll get it out to you next week! Thanks for all of you for entering!!!!

Five Flavor Berry

2011-12-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

Five Flavor Berry

Sweet, salty, sour, hot and bitter all combine for incredible flavor!

Vine is extremely vigorous, growing up to 3 feet a year to reach a height of 32 ft.. Tiny white flowers give way to red berries that can be used in teas or herbal remedies. Prefers part sun to full shade.

I wanted to try this one too, but it says in the catalog they had "crop failer" so it's not available

Planning for spring

2011-12-10T08:13:00.001-08:00

This is one of the new, and different plants I'm thinking of growing this summer.... very interesting!

You have to get 2, for cross pollination, but it might be worth it.

Sea Buckthorn

Small, tart berries appear in abundance on this 8to12-ft bush. winter-hardy shrub in late summer.

Citrus-flavored fruit matures in early fall and is wonderful in tea, jams, jellies and as a juice.

Very high in vitamin C, Sea Buckthorn has been used medicinally for centuries in Asia and Europe.
Silvery-green foliage makes this an ideal ornamental.

Plant male and female within 20 ft. of each other for pollination. One male will pollinate up to seven females. Does best in full sun. Potted plants. Zones 3-7.

I love my Tablet!!!!!

2011-12-08T08:36:00.001-08:00

My new tablet has a camera built in!!!! I love the damn thing!!!!

I can now sit in front of the TV, in the living room, and go on line!!!! WHOOOOTTTTT!!!!

Here are some pics taken with it. Took me a while to figure it out, but now I can leave the camera at home when I go to Conventions.... and just bring my tablet!!!

BEST THING I'VE EVER BOUGHT... and cheap too!!!!!!

Old Hippie in me!

2011-12-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm an old hippy. I admit it. All my life I've read "Mother Earth", a magazine on alternative living. If you've never read it, go and buy one, you will LOVE IT!!

With the philosophy of ..... re-use, re-purpose, and conserve.

So, when I saw these cute little pumpkins before Halloween I had a hard time buying them.... why buy when you can grow??? But, bought them I did, because it was way to late in the season to consider getting the seeds.... you can't find seeds in late September or October.

Now, after Halloween, I brought them inside, and put them on the kitchen window.

The trick of getting good seeds is to make sure the fruit is ripe enough. Another 2 months sitting in the sun, inside, and the pumpkins started showing spots of rot.....PERFECT!!! The seeds would be mature, and most of them would produce.

So I cut them open, scooped them out. Placing them in a strainer, I rinsed them with COLD water..... don't be tempted to use warm or hot, because that could kill the seeds.

Then I put them on a nice towel, and I'll allow them to dry all day long.... when dry, I'll pick out the bits of pumpkin still sticking to them, and put them in a jar! Sealed for the winter in a nice dark spot.... like my spice cabinet.

I do this with most of my seeds, from Marigolds, to.... well.... pumpkins. And next year in the spring I'll find a nice place to plant them..... and there you go!!!!

I may have bought the initial ones, but for years to come, I'll never have to buy another, just keep growing, seeding, and having fun!!

Just because.....give a way!!!

2011-12-02T04:34:00.001-08:00

No reason, except a friend bought me this.... thinking it was an ADULT XL.... and it turns out it was a CHILD'S XL!

I know I've lost lots of weight, but not that much! LOL

So, I'm giving it away..... if you have a kid you want it for, leave a comment.... that's all, no following, or posting, or any of the other stuff.... Just leave a comment.

I'll pick a winner... and you have it! LOL

Pain the the......... Just name it!

2011-11-30T16:01:00.000-08:00

It seems that almost everyone has a body part or function, that gives them fits all their lives.

My girlfriend Barb, it's her feet.... she has bone spurs, and constant problems with them

With me it's my EARS!!! 30 YEARS AGO.... yes, I said 30 years ago, I actually had surgery on my ears to insert tubes into them. The surgery was fine on one side, the other side... not so much, the tube came out within days of the surgery........ so It's my fucking PAIN IN THE ASS!!!

My ears get blocked.... ANYTHING can cause it... washing my hair, swimming, having a slight allergy attack, even sometimes just sleeping on that side will cause it..... so every month or so it's off to the doctors...... TADAAAA EAR INFECTION!!!

The doctor give me antibiotics.... but only for a few days.... I have yet to convince a doctor that I need MORE then just the regular dosage.... so after a few weeks....IT'S BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

I don't know if you've ever had a blocked ear.... BUT IT DRIVES YOU MAD! It feels like that whole side of your face is filled with super putty, you can't hear well, it feels disgusting, you can hear your heart beat in that ear, and that's freaky.... and if it pops, and drains.... yeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww that feel disgusting too!!!

The last time I went to a doctor that specializes in ears was 30 years ago.... since then I've just gone to doctors when it gets infected.... at least once a month.

WHY haven't I gone to a specialist????? I have no freaking clue.... no doctor, I've ever seen, has recommended it... so I just didn't.

But I HAVE HAD IT!!!! I'm going to a specialist as soon as I can call one in the morning!!!!!!!

Cave man vs Modern man

2011-11-29T04:24:00.000-08:00

I was at the mall with my girlfriend yesterday.... and she seem "obsessed" with finding me a "good man". I don't know why??? She's in a great marriage, has no kids, and doing fine.... why must she try to do the same for me?

But, I digress, she was nudging and poking me, every time some cute man waked past. "Is that your type, do you like him, isn't he cute?" I'm NOT in high school anymore.... CUTE.... is not what I'm looking for.

In almost every case of guys she pointed out.... they were on the phone, texting, working on a laptop....... and so on......

So, I decided to make a list of what kind a man I would fall for.

1. TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT IMPRESS ME!!!!

2. I won't talk to a man on a cell phone, cheaters, players, use cells.... give me a land line phone #, and you have a chance.

3. Can you start a fire, without match's?

4. Can you hunt, and actually catch something? Do you know how to fish?

5. Do you know how to cook?

6. Are you neat and clean, but not obsessive?

7. In an emergency, would you panic?

8. Do you know how to survive without technology?

9. Are you clean, fragrance clear (hate aftershave smells)

10. Are you in good shape? (weight doesn't matter, if you chubby and can still run, dance, and do stuff...good enough)

11. Can you keep my interest? (guys who do things, or tell story's.. over and over, and over are disgusting!)

12. Are you interested in me, and what I am, or are they too busy staring at my boobs?

13. Do you think all women are soft and need protection? (YUCK!!!)

14. Do you value my opinion?

15. Do you take charge.... gently... not oppressively. (like pick something to do... then ask if I'd like to do it... not leave all decisions up to me!)

16. Do you have an imagination??? (that's important.... most men are so dull they have no clue what fun is!)

17. And the most important one... do you do the beach, and water? If you don't...

I guess on the pro and con list, I lean more towards the "Cave man", then "modern man"!

What about you???? What type do you go for???

lol

2011-11-28T03:17:00.000-08:00

yes, I can!!!!! And I'm damn proud of it!!!!

WANT ONE!!!!!!!

2011-11-28T03:16:00.000-08:00

Stockings??

2011-11-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

The stocking is hung by the chimney with great care!

Yule

2011-11-27T04:48:00.001-08:00

Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, yule
pine scented log, our winter fuel.
oranges, nuts, and mulling spice
holly and ivy, greenery twice.
fires and family snuggled tight,
together and loving this longest of nights.
frost and snow twinkle without,
faces of love contain little doubt.
holding these friends and family close
with love and care in equal dose.
so now upon this magical night,
warm within watching starlight.
spices rare, and incense burns,
celebrate, with joy, a world that turns!

Wishing for Yule

2011-11-25T02:49:00.000-08:00

Since Yule is almost here, I figured we could all use a little help with getting the gifts we want.

SPELL FOR LUCK

wondering magic bring to me,

in this life the luck I need,

so all my angles can be seen,

and thus fulfill my every dream,

combined earth and fire,

bring forth my hearts desire,

guardians of the sea, keep all harm from me.

This should be done while lighting 4 candles of the proper color to represent what your wishing for. Repeat the above words 3 times to bring good luck and obtain your hearts desire.

THE WISHING WELL

Take any large bowl. Drip a few drops of different colored candle wax in the bottom of the bowl, then adhere a white candle to that spot.

The different colors represent diverse needs and goals, while the white binds this variety together in harmony.

Each morning, light the candle when you get up and put a coin in the bowl. Make your wish for the day. Blow out the candle before you leave the house.

Whenever you desperately need to have a wish fulfilled, remove a coin from the bowl and either plant it in rich soil (houseplants will do ) or throw it into moving water so that your message of need will be carried through the earth.

When the bowl is filled with coins, use all but a few (these "seeds" always remain in your bowl) for random acts of kindness, like getting treats for the neighborhood kids or helping a homeless person. Your generosity will return to you threefold!

MAGIC WISHING POWDER

The Great Outdoors (This could be your back yard, a park, or forest -- any place where the wishing powder will land on the earth when you release it).

Anything else you feel you need to personalize your wish. You will need to craft the wishing powder ahead of time.

Do this at home in a Circle or, if you don't mind taking your mortal and pestle along with you, you can make it outside where you plan to use it. (This isn't too hard to do if you're staying in your own backyard).

2 parts sage * 1 part sandalwood * 1 part Tonka beans Grind, mix, and empower.

If you're feeling adventurous, customize your wishing powder to the wish you'll be making. (Example: Crushed rose petals for bringing love into your life).

Find a spot to make our wishes from. Take a handful of the wishing powder and begin concentrating on your wishes.

Put your energy and wish into the powder you are holding. When it feels like you can no longer hold the energy, let it fly. As the powder settles to the ground, visualize your wishes joining with the Earth, gaining power and strength.

As always, remember the Rule of Three when making your wish. After putting the energy out there, it's impossible to call it back. Remember the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for, you may get it."

Where to get Tonka Beans? You can do an easy search for them through any search engine to find them. Or use Vanilla Beans/pods as a Substitute

Things Dr.'s refuse to tell you!

2011-11-22T04:39:00.001-08:00

There are such little, natural things you can do for your health, that the doctors refuse to tell you about..... mainly cause if it ain't pills.... they don't care!!!

So take your pills, but do the natural thing at the same time to help them work!!!

Banana's: If you take high blood pressure pills or water pills.... eat one a day

They are also great for Crones disease! Feel it coming on.... eat a banana.

Works great for irritable bowl syndrome too.

And little know fact, if you keep eating the banana's when you feel an attack coming on..... the attacks get less and less and less.... till in some, they go away!

Molasses: Super high in Iron and potassium!!! Tastes terrible.... but once a week, put a tablespoon in a half a glass of milk, and drink it down!!! Yuckkkk! It will keep you feeling fine and energised!!! And won't rip your tummy apart like regular Iron pills! Great when your pregnant, getting older, or just run down!

Yogurt: Any kind of antibiotic, you must take yogurt with it.... don't like the stuff, take the yogurt pills..... prone to yeast infections? Yogurt a day helps prevent them.

Cranberry's: Fantastic for bladder or kidney infections.... Make sure it's 100% juice, not the fake stuff..... Just drink a large glass or two every day

Cherry's: got Gout??? eat dried cherry's or fresh ones to cut you gout attack in more then half! sometimes preventing a flair up from even starting!!!

Taking a pain killer, such as Tylenol does NOTHING, except kill the pain for muscle strains or inflammation.... You MUST take aspirin... aspirin reduces inflammation, Tylenol doesn't!

Surgery: Massage your scars!!!! Even when it's still stapled and fresh. Massaging the surrounding area prevents scar tissue from forming, and can make the resulting scar less noticeable, and puckered. I know it's painful, but DO IT!

Zinc: We all know what it does for the immune system... but most people take it every day!!! NO NO NO!!! Take ONE zinc pill a MONTH!!! Same rewards, but less of the complications it can cause you... like killing you! Moderation when it comes to Zinc!

And the old wives tale "an apple a day keeps the Dr. away" is true... you need the roughage!!! One apple a day will keep you clean and healthy..... P.S. Don't eat the pits!! They are poison. But DO eat the skin!!! No matter how much you hate skin (like I do) peeling the apple is the worst thing you can do!

And for all of you with Sulfur allergies.... CLEAN ALL FRUIT!!! Most fruit now is treated with sulfur to keep it from spoiling!!!

Wash it away!!! You mommy used to tell you that to wash off the pesticides, now it's for keeping sulfur from building up in your body!

And DO eat nuts!!!! But only a handful a day.... people who snack too much on nuts have been misdiagnosed with Gall Bladder problems.... to many nuts, mimic this uncomfortable syndrome!!

So if you doctor says it's your Gall Bladder.... check you NUT intake before doing anything!!!! Sometime just stopping the munching will prevent unnecessary surgery!!!

Kidney stone: White Flour and Sugar Products are a NO NO! Lack of vitamin A and an excessive intake of vitamin D is a MAJOR CAUSE! Tone it down, and take it up!

Avoid foods like alcoholic beverages; condiments and pickles; certain vegetables like cucumber, radish.

natural treatment: Kidney beans, also known as dried French beans or Rajmah, are regarded as a very effective home remedy for kidney problems, including kidney stones. The method prescribed to prepare the medicine is to remove the beans from inside the pods, then slice the pods and put about sixty grams in four litre of hot water, boiling them slowly for six hours. This liquid should be strained through fine muslin and then allowed to cool for about eight hours. Thereafter the fluid should be poured through another piece of muslin without stirring.A glass of this decoction should be given to the patient every two hours throughout the day for one day and, thereafter, it may be taken several times a week. This decoction would not work if it was more than twenty-four hours old. The pods could be kept for longer periods but once they were boiled, the therapeutic factor would disappear after one day.

Basil has a strengthening effect on the kidneys.In case of kidney stones, one teaspoon each of basil juice and honey should be taken daily for six months. It has been found that stones can be expelled from the urinary tract by this treatment.

Research has shown the remarkable therapeutic success of vitamin B6 in the treatment of kidney Stones. A daily therapeutic does of 100 to 150 mg of vitamin B6, preferably, combined with other B complex vitamins, should be continued for several months for getting a permanent cure.

My Favorite winter soup!

2011-11-21T03:22:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite soup for cold winter nights! It's hot, and spicy, and just plain yummmy!

Remember I'm Russian, so while it may seem strange to you.... you have GOT to try it!!!

1 large package of skinny ribs (don't use country ribs!!!! the skinny ones are the best)
1 or 2 large cans of sauerkraut (don't use the one in bags, the flavor isn't the same, go for the cans!) How many can you use depend on how much soup you want to make
1 large container of sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
Water to cover

Cut the ribs into pieces of 4 or 5 ribs at a time
place in large pot, with enough water to cover them, and bring to a boil
Let cook for 15 minutes..... then lower heat.

Add the large cans of sauerkraut (with the juice) and bring to a slow rolling boil for about 1/2 hour.

Add enough water to bring it almost to the top of the pan, usually 3 of the empty cans of sauerkraut

Add salt and pepper to taste (lots of pepper is best, but it's up to you)

then add the large container of sour cream, making sure to do it slowly, and stir, stir, stir.

Reduce heat to a low simmer, and let it cook for about an hour.

There you have it, tangy, creamy, and good. I always eat the soup, and save the ribs till the last.... the longer they are in the soup, the softer and better they are!

Lasagna Confessions

2011-11-20T07:42:00.001-08:00

My son was a very, very, happy boy when I told him that I'm making one or his favort foods for Thanksgiving..... Lasagna!

Now, on my blog, I have a HUGE confession!!!!

I'm Russian and Chinese.... we don't do sticking Lasagna!!!!

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT!!!

But, newly married, and the hubby says he wants me to make it...... I figured I would give it a go.

And I did, and it was fantastic!!!

So good that I made it for the Green room at a Star Trek convention.....

and Scotty, from Star Trek, went out and told a packed auditorium....

"I'm from NY, but I just had the best Lasagna in my LIFE, in the green room!!"

I was so thrilled, and from then on my friends called me the "Cook of the stars".

But that's not my confession..... the recipe is.

To start out I bought Ricotta cheese..... Lasagna is made with it .... right?

WRONG!!! It had the most disgusting taste I've ever had. Not Italian, don't like it!!! BLAAAAA

So I did my usual thing.... AND WINGED IT!

The night before making it, I would put two huge containers of "Cottage Cheese" in a bowl..... yes, you heard me COTTAGE CHEESE. Then I would mix it with tons of spices, garlic salt, oregano, parsley, and onion salt. And let it sit over night.

Then I made Jar spaghetti sauce, (always add an extra 1/2 cup of water to it... you want it loose!) add some extra of the same spices, and a pound of ground beef, and let it cook.

Now, the lasagna package say to pre -cook the noodles.

WHAT!!! that's more fucking work, so I just ignored it.

uncooked noodles, cottage cheese, sauce, and so on and on.

At the end I did add sliced mozzarella cheese to the top, but that's it.

And I covered it with alunimun foil, and baked it.

I took off the cover when it was almost finished to let it brown a bit.

AND NO ONE BUT YOU GUYS KNOW THIS!!! I made it for party's, and family gatherings, and all kinds of things, and know one EVER guessed that I use Cottage Cheese instead of Ricotta!!!!!!!!!

So don't tell anyone! OK?

The "Boy"

2011-11-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

The boy is home for Thanksgiving, so I won't be posting much! sigh

Ahhhhh the 50's

2011-11-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

No one could have survived the 50's without meds!!!

They did keep you warm!

2011-11-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

Ice Cream!!!

2011-11-15T16:40:00.001-08:00

I've been making my own ice cream. I'm tired of having to read every ingredient, on every box of ice cream, and finding out later it had something I was allergic to in it.

So I found this recipe for Indian Ice Cream.... It wasn't complicated, but it did use.... milk....evaporated milk.....heavy cream.... and so on.

It was way to rich to my tummy!!

And one day I was sitting there looking at some frozen blueberry's I had, and said.... what the hell... I'm going to try something!

Out came my blender.... I put the blueberry's (still frozen) in it, a little sugar, and then just added some whole milk...... and whipped the holy shit out of it!!!

It was all fluffy, and foamy. COOL

I poured the fluffy stuff into a glass bowl, and stuck it in my freezer.

Every hour or so, I would stir up the ice cream, getting the frozen and not so frozen mixed together, and scraping the sides down (cause the sides freeze faster you know)

I found that stirring it gently allowed it to stay fluffy and foamy while freezing.... and when it was done...........YUMMMMMMMMMMM!

For those old bats out there, I can tell you it tasted like frozen "Junket Rennet Custard"!!!! OMG it's fantastic!!! You younger ladies will have no idea what Junket Rennet Custard is, I don't think they have made it in ages....but believe me it's good!

Cold and creamy, and fluffy.... and no secret ingredients to cause my allergy's to flair.

Last batch I made with "Hersey's special dark chocolate syrup" I'M IN LOVE!!!!!!

sending out to the universe.....

2011-11-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

Just to be clear...... I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE IN NIGERIA!!! And I will not help you with your money, or your blessing!!!!

And if your going to send me a letter about a urgent matter at my bank.....MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY A BANK I USE!!!

And, NO, nothing is wrong with my AOL account (I don't have one) and NO, I did not buy a 5000 dollar TV on E-Bay.

And no matter what you think.... I DO NOT WANT TO SEE NUDE PHOTO'S OF YOU!!!

And a Post Office..."fail to deliver" why would the post office send me a E-MAIL??? They do NOT have my e-mail address..... just my street address....DUUUUHHHHH!!

I will not click on your link to join you on face book, dating sites, or another thing.... I don't click links!!! If you read my blog you can join me on face book..... but some stranger who wants ME to click to join THEM is outta luck!

And tape recorded "Suzy" I don't NOT want my carpets cleaned

And tape recorded "Mary" you can't have an important message about my credit card....CAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY CREDIT CARDS!!!!

And, NO, the FBI will not contact you by E-Mail.... if they want to talk to you they will knock on your door, not send out random E-Mails!!!

And the same goes for UPS, Federal Express, and the post office..... no one in their right mind would give out a persons e-mail address instead of a phone number.... for non existing packages that a non existing person is sending you!!!!!

Dear Spam:

GET A FUCKING LIFE!!!!

Thank you!

Blessing Spells

2011-11-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

SPELL TO BLESS A NEW RELATIONSHIP

Bake a fresh loaf of bread. Hold it up to the moon and ask the lady to bless the bread as well as the relationship. Break off a piece of the bread for your partner, as well as one for yourself as well. As you share time together, share the bread as well. Do not cut the bread with a knife or any other cutting tool. Just break off the pieces with your hands. Adding butter or jam might be a good idea to help sweeten things up a bit.

SPELL TO HONOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS

When presenting your house spirits with offerings of incense, candles or what not you can say this little chant:

"Wraith of the house, Take heart and live, To every chamber This light I give, To every corner This breath I send Approve and favor my willing hand."

MAGIC BLESSING OF WATER

" Oh Great Ones, My Goddess and my God, I call upon you, In need of your help, Bless this water, (Hold up small bowl of water.) Bless this water, With you power, With you purification, With you healing powers, Bless this water (put bowl down, and now use the water for power, purification and healing) With the water you so blessed, May this harm none, The spell is done, So mote it be and blessed be ."

MAGIC DWELLING BLESSING

Dwelling of Stone, Metal, Wood and Earth Silent One, Protective One, you of the four winds Dwelling of Health, Wealth Joy and Peace: Guardian Sustained you of the Earth Dwelling of Stone Metal Wood and Earth Secure One Peaceful One You of the Guarded and protected you be Cleansed and pure you be Peaceful and loving you be It is finished in Beauty It is finished in Beauty It is finished in Beauty

Cooking without Wheat!!!!

2011-11-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

When it comes to cooking and baking, you don't have to limit yourself to gluten-free cookbooks just because you have Celiac disease or a wheat allergy. In fact, most recipes can be easily made without gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley products. Here's how to convert a recipe to gluten-free.

Step 1: Swap the flour
Substitute all-purpose gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose regular flour at a ratio of 1:1. Coconut flour is fantastic for this! Try Bob's Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour. If you are baking items such as cakes and/or breads, add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum.

Step 2: Eliminate the flour
Try omitting the flour altogether. If you are craving peanut butter cookies, for example, try this simple recipe: 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar and 1 to 2 eggs (depending on how moist you want them to be). Blend ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Yield: six to eight cookies. (most health food stores also carry a Egg Substitute, that has absolutely NO eggs in it.... you'll have to experiment, but it works pretty good!)

Step 3: Create flour mixture
In place of flour in a recipe try a combination of 3 parts white or brown rice flour, 2 parts potato starch and 1 part tapioca flour/starch. Add 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum for every 1 1/2 cups of the flour mixture. (since I'm allergic to all of the above ingredients.... I use COCONUT FLOUR! You have to lessen the amount of sugar, but it works great!)

Step 4: Consider arrowroot powder
Arrowroot powder is another ingredient that can be used in place of xanthan gum, if you are having a hard time finding the latter. As a general rule, use one-half teaspoon of arrowroot powder for each cup of wheat flour called for in any recipe.

Note: Round up if the recipe calls for a partial cup.

Step 5: Experiment with ingredients
Other ingredients in the recipe may need to be adjusted when trying new flours and flour combinations.

For example, use 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder for every cup of flour used in a recipe. Some flours also may be a bit dryer, so you may have to add additional liquid ingredients such as water or oil, depending on what the recipe calls for.

UGH!! Ranting now!!!

2011-11-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

My sister royally pissed me off yesterday...... but I pretended she didn't.... but BOY, SHE DID!!!

We were talking about Christmas.... and she said "JUST DON'T GET ME JUNK THIS YEAR!"

REALLY BITCH!!!!

All I ever get from her is CRAP!!!!

Ugly, useless items..... even her taste in jewelry SUCKS!!!!

I say "ohhhhh, how pretty!!!! Thank you!!!"

THEN I FUCKING CHUCK IT OUT IN THE GARBAGE!!!

But I would never let her know that..... because I'm not that type of person.... a gift is a gift, even if you hate it, I would never let the other person know.......

The only times I've gotten something nice from her, was when we were shopping, and I actually picked something out myself, and she got it for me..... JUST 2 TIMES!!!

Once was a bracelet, and the other was an owl..... but she seems to think it was a million times.

I think over the years I've gotten every gift SHE was given, and she hated, so she gave to me!!!!

I've never used the ugly jewelry she's given me, or the purse's. Oh, and don't forget the disgusting "crab lights" and I could go on and on. I did like a spoon rest she got me, it was chipped big time, but I still used it.

This year I'm just going to get her a gift certificate..... I was going to get a BIG one for her, at her fav. shoe store...... but that's not going happen.... she's gonna get a small one, at a crap store. She hates wall-mart, so I should get her one there.

Well, probably not, cause I can't be a jerk even if I want to..... I'll still get her a nice one..... oh and ahhh over the crap she gives me.... and live with it!!!!

Oh I should mention, she once gave me a cute little wooden box, with Celtic symbols on it.... THAT WAS THE ONLY ITEM I'VE EVER LIKED FROM HER!!!!! And the only one I ever kept!! Besides the two things I picked out myself that is, they rocked!

Even when I was a kid, she always got me clothing to small, or too short for me! WTF I actually remember some of the HORROR outfits she got me, and how I was forced to wear them.... even though they were disgusting, and ill fitting.... I still wore them at least once!!

And don't for a minute think she has bad taste.... SHE DOESN'T! The stuff she gets herself is fantastic, and cute, and wonderful....... so, you can see what she thinks of me, right?????

Changed my mind

2011-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Instead of a laptop I got a "a TABLET" !!!!

Nice and small, about the size of a hardcover book.

Now, I can sit in the living room, watch TV, and still go on line!!!

It was a lot cheaper then a laptop, and I can take it anywhere!!!!

The only thing that don't like, is that I'm a trained typist....so the smaller keyboard, and the hunt and peck method of typing is a little hard to get used to ......but I will manage!!!

I'm gonna do it!!!!!!

2011-11-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

I've finally decided, after all these years, to get a lap top computer!!!

my desk top one is in my bedroom, and to use it, I go in, close the door (so the cat doesn't get in) and that it...... cut off from everything!!!! Can't hear or see the TV, can't hear the doorbell ring.... cut off!!!

Recently I was wishing I could sit on my patio and work with the computer, or just sit in front of the TV and play my games, take it to conventions, or blog....... ANYTHING but sit in my bedroom!!!

The house already is wireless for my son's computer.... SO WHY NOT!

So, I think I'm going to get one, and that's that!!!!!

And they are so cheap now!!! For around $300 I can get one that's better then the computer I'm using now!!!

My mood this morning

2011-11-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know I'm such a "nice person".... but there is someone I'm really disliking right about now!!!

A pushy BITCH, who thinks she can push me aside and do what she wants to! People, learn a lesson..... DON'T PUSH ME ASIDE!!! I get PISSED!!!!!

I won't do anything really bad to her...... at least not yet...... but it's coming to that point that someone (me, that is) is going to have to show her who the "Top Dog" is...... and this dog bites!!!!

What is your question?

2011-11-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

This here is, "seeing into the future cat".....

ask him a question..... any question.....

and check back on comments for his answer! (of course I will translate them)

It may be a good answer, or a bad one, or just a gigantic hairball hock up.... but your will get an answer!!!!!

you want me to do WHAT!!!!

2011-11-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

I'm NOT your freaking Fairy Godmother!!!!!

Thanksgiving Side Dishes by your Sign

2011-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving Side Dishes by your Sign

Thanksgiving is fast approaching — time to plan your feast! Fill your holiday table with gastronomic delights to please the stars... the celestial stars that is.

Check the birthdays of everyone on your guest list and then select enticing recipes to match their astrological tastes. The suggestions below take you through all 12 signs of the zodiac. You may find new favorites for yourself, too, and start a fresh tradition!

Aries (March 21 - April 19)Steamed Brocolini with Garlic Lemon Butter & Savory Pumpkin SoupAries individuals will be starving when they arrive at your door because their forceful, fiery nature burns through food at a rapid rate. These Rams are remarkably gregarious and will be delighted with whatever you choose to quench their hearty appetite. But they do love extravagant foods and pungent spices drive them wild. So serve them Steamed Brocolini with Garlic Lemon Butter and Savory Pumpkin Soup. Champagne will also be a big hit if you have it, but red wine will do nicely.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)Candied Yams & Cranberry Fruit SaladTaureans make courteous guests with their desire for simple, earthy foods... plus they are not picky eaters. In harmony with nature, determined and masterful, these Bulls have the ability to get along with everyone. Before dinner, you may find them showing off your garden to the guests, as they delight in the beauty nature provides. You can seduce them with voluptuous fruits, sensual delights and full-bodied wines. Include Candied Yams, Cranberry Fruit Salad and plenty of other courses because they like to leave the table satisfied.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)Wild Rice with Cranberries and Pecans & Orange-Pomegranate RelishGeminis love to be invited to dinner, sometimes more for the social occasion than the food. They are clever, quick-witted... and in their element when surrounded by family and friends. If there is a lull in conversation, don’t worry, with Geminis the banter never stops. The Twins have an intellectual response to food, but can be enticed with exotic ingredients, ethereal tastes and chilled white or sparkling wines. Wild Rice with Cranberries and Pecans, and Orange-Pomegranate Relish have what it takes to pique their curiosity.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)Biscuits & Mashed Yellow TurnipsWarm, nurturing, fun and outgoing, Crabs are an asset to any occasion. Make sure they know how yummy the food will be when you invite them, since the promise of a scrumptious meal will be more alluring than the graciousness of the host. They love foods that are comforting and almost any wine. Provide plenty – these guests have hearty appetites and will not want to miss a course. Tasty biscuits and Mashed Yellow Turnips are two comfort foods that will be greatly appreciated.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)Curried Creamed Onions & Spinach Salad with Oranges and WalnutsLeos enjoy being asked out to eat and are charismatic, fun-loving guests. Grand and luxurious evenings are most appealing. They want to be treated with the respect they feel they deserve, so the overall effect should be spectacular. These proud, self-confident Lions are generous, childish and loving and will be delighted with rich red wine – the best you can afford. For the dramatic tastes Leos will expect, serve Curried Creamed Onions, and Spinach Salad with Oranges and Walnuts.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)Corn Bread Stuffing & Green Bean CasseroleVirgos love an opportunity to be social and they get along with all types of people. Concerned with health and cleanliness, they can be very fussy about their food. But they will also be the ones most likely to stay behind and help clean the kitchen – so be sure to invite them! Virgins are open to new food ideas but they are also down-to-earth and not particularly extravagant, so serve them Corn Bread Stuffing and Green Bean Casserole.

Libra (September 23 - October 22)Black Eyed Peas with Sausage & Waldorf SaladLibras like to keep all their options open so they can go whichever way the wind blows, but if you can get a commitment to your invitation, it will be a very rewarding experience. People and surroundings are important to these charming, romantic and refined natives. The Scales have a burning desire for harmony, are concerned with fair play, and utilize their diplomatic skills to ensure the evening is full of laughter and stimulating conversation. Delight them with interesting dishes like Black Eyed Peas with Sausage and Waldorf Salad.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)Pecan Stuffing & Fig-Walnut SaladWhen you invite passionate Scorpios to dinner, be prepared to serve an excellent meal. They strive for perfection and will expect the same from you. Serve them plenty of rich red wine... and then be prepared, because they will tell you exactly what they think. When they say they loved your meal, you will know it is the truth. Serve them Pecan Stuffing and Fig-Walnut Salad to appeal to their mysterious side.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)Macaroni and Cheese with Parmesan Cheese Topping & Sage GravySagittarians can arrive at your door dripping from a rainstorm and still be enthusiastic and jovial – they have the ability to make the absolute best from any situation. These jokesters of the zodiac will be quite happy to provide the entertainment, as they love to be surrounded by people. They are extravagant and overindulgent, so have plenty of good wine on hand. Macaroni and Cheese with Parmesan Cheese Topping, and Sage Gravy will appeal to their zesty personalities.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)Collard Greens with Maple Cured Bacon & Roasted Root VegetablesWorkaholic Capricorns can be a challenge to get to your table... so tempt them with mention of the fine foods you will be serving. These guests possess a black sense of humor that can add just the twist your party needs. Caviar and champagne are two Capricorn favorites – but they love all kinds of foods, as long as they are high quality. The mixed, caramelized flavors of Collard Greens with Sweet Onion and Maple Cured Bacon, and Roasted Root Vegetables will satisfy their tastes.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Baked Acorn SquashYou will want to have at least one Aquarian at any gathering. These unique, futuristic creatures are one of the friendliest, most social signs. Water Bearers are open-minded, unprejudiced and mix well with all kinds of people. Be sure you maintain the discerning eye of the well-organized host, as Aquarians can become so caught up in the social side of the affair, they forget to eat all together. Serving Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Baked Acorn Squash will bring them back to earth. See

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)Sweet Potato Biscuits; Southern Oyster Dressing Pisces love convivial gatherings, so – although the last of the 12 signs – they will most likely be one of the first to accept your invitation. They are natural comedians with just the right mix of mystical, sensitive, inspirational and impractical humor. The Fish will love whatever you provide and can quite easily convince themselves and others that a simple meal is a feast. But you can be sure that Sweet Potato Biscuits and Southern Oyster Dressing will be their special favorites.

Chant

2011-10-31T06:28:00.000-07:00

"Dark Mother, ruler of the night, Goddess of death and rebirth, Hear and behold Your child this night as I honor Thee and Thy realm. I stand humbly before Thee, asking for Thy blessing and favor. Lift, now, the Veil between the worlds, as this time-out-of-time begins, That I may commune with my ancestors as they journey to the Summerlands."

Don't eat too much today!!!

2011-10-31T05:18:00.000-07:00

The HORROR, THE HORROR!!!

2011-10-31T05:17:00.000-07:00

yeppers!

2011-10-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

That's what I keep telling everyone!!! Party was cancelled last night do to snow (everywhere but here) so it's on for tonight!

Food is still good, people are still coming, and good times for all you lovely witch's!

It missed us!!!!

2011-10-30T04:01:00.000-07:00

First time in the last 2 years.....THE NOR'EASTER MISSED US!!!! WOW!!!!

Everyone else in New Jersey got socked with a major, record breaking, snow storm.

But the Jersey shore was SPARED!!!!

I mean, we have been getting slammed with Nor'easter's the last few years.... it's so nice to say that this time it LEFT US ALONE!!!

We did get a slight dusting for about an hour, before turning back to rain... but that's it!!!!!!

WHOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!

Of course, this is probably the 1st and ONLY time we will be spared, but it was nice!!

This is too funny! but true!!!

2011-10-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

LOL

2011-10-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

My friend posted this on Face book...... enough said!

This is great!

2011-10-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Dressing up at a convention, in a non-specific costume is cool.... no matter what you look like!

But, if your going to dress as a specific caricature...... BE REAL! GIGGLE

You can't say... "I'm Picard" if you look like the above guy!! LOL but you CAN say your just a star fleet officer....

cause I don't care how they show it on the shows, some guys just aren't perfect!!! (or women!)

Well done!

2011-10-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

I had to post this picture of my girlfriend's dolls!!!!! Aren't they GREAT!!!!

VISITING SALEM

Now you can't say "I didn't know!!!"

2011-10-28T06:01:00.001-07:00

HUH!

2011-10-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Now there is a difference with how I play with my dolls, and how other people play with their dolls!!!

WISH I HAD THOUGHT OF THIS FIRST!!!!!!

Big Brother Is Watching YOU!!!

2011-10-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Back when I was in High School, I read a book that chilled me to the bone.

It was by George Orwell... and called .....1984

"Big Brother is Watching you!!!!"

That quote from the book, was the scariest thing I ever heard.

Imagine a world where you are watched constantly!!!

When the year 1984 actually came about, I gave a sigh of relief that the book wasn't a prophecy, and big brother wasn't up there watching every move I made.....

Unfortunately..... now it HAS come true.

OnStar (that helpful thing in new cars) is now stating that It keeps all information it gets while using the device in your car. And they can track you, and keep everything you talk about, even if your NOT actively using it at the time....... recorded.... forever

People using Cell phones can be tracked.... even if the phone is off.... by most law enforcement agency's.

And people actually have their cells phone set to broadcast to Facebook and such, their exact location!!!

I'm sure you seen the message on face book..."so and so has checked into chucky cheese on benson ave. Philly" or some such garbage like that.

And regular phone service has a program on it, that recognizes key words used by people talking, such as "bomb"or "terrorist plot" etc, and automatically lets the FBI and such know about it, and who was talking it on the phone.... and this is your land line, it's even worse on a cell phone!!!

Almost every street corner, banks, stores, and more have camera's trained on everyone that pass's!!! (we've all seen cop shows where they check every camera in the area for a person or activity) DOESN'T THAT BOTHER ANYONE????

They promote it as "keeping you safe" from the "bad guys"..... but at the same time, that's how it started out in George's book...... "keeping the people safe" to controlling every little tiny thing you do or say.

I think people need to get his book...... and read it AGAIN!

Now in this age, the book is no longer scary, but really happening.

Big Brother is REALLY watching you!!!!

On strike!

2011-10-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

My dolls are on Strike, just because I let my grand kids play with them this weekend!!!

Sigh ****** Such Diva's!!!!!

So, my Buddhas agreed to model the new witch hats I made. I think they look great!

Grand Kids!

2011-10-23T11:31:00.001-07:00

Left to right....Sabastion, Joshua, Elizabeth Paige, and Morganna.... Jamie is in the background in purple.

Morganna, the one on the far right is the one that had the aneurysm and strokes.... she's just as pretty as she always was!!! Wonderful recovery!!!

Home made Rock Candy

2011-10-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

You will need:
Sugar (lots of sugar)
Water
Food Coloring
Bamboo Skewers (most dollar store's have these)
Funnel
Jars or Glass Cups (use all those you've been saving for something)
Clothespins (check the dollar store for these too, since clothespins are not used much)

Trim down your skewers to a reasonable size to fit in whatever jars or cups that you will be using.

You'll also want to cut off the sharp point, so the kids don't hurt themselves.

Dip them in water, then roll in sugar.

Let dry completely and set aside.

This is very important, since it give the crystals something to stick to, so it can start to crystallize

Mix equal parts of water and sugar in a pot on med-high heat until dissolved. Then continue to add sugar until you have AT LEAST a 2:1 ratio. You can also do a 3:1 ratio. In other words....LOTS OF SUGAR!

I've used 8 cups of water and 16-18 cups of sugar and it made a lot.

You can definitely half the recipe. This makes a nice, sticky, sugary syrup.

Mix until completely dissolved and mixture starts to simmer.

DO NOT bring it to a boil or bring it to a certain temperature with a candy thermometer.

Allow your syrup to cool for 10 minutes. Then ladle into your jars using a funnel to catch spills.

It is still pretty hot at this point. Add your liquid food coloring to each jar, and stir it ... have fun with the colors!

Then attach a clothespin to each skewer (the ones you dipped in sugar and let dry) and place in cup.

Make sure the skewer aren't touching the bottom or sides of jar/glass.

They need room to grow. See the picture below

Place your jars in a warm location, like a window, somewhere with lots of natural light.

AND WATCH THEM.... It takes at least 7 days for the crystals to grow

7 days later......

DONE!

There will be crystallized sugar in the bottom of your jars/glasses. Just run them in hot water and chip it out with a butter knife. It comes out pretty easily.

UUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH

2011-10-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've been having a bad allergic reaction on and off for weeks. Couldn't figure it out.... but I did notice that it would come and go.... and they only thing I could think I had on those days was an APPLE!!!

I didn't test pos for apple allergies.... so I did a little detective work.

I noticed on the bag it said the apples were coated with wax or shellac to preserve them...... OK, no problem there, but I hit google and checked it out

Halfway down the article I came to this:

"Alkyl naphthalene sulphonates may be used as spreading agents on waxy fruits."

Sulfur!!!!!!!!

Of course.... the thing I'm MOST allergic to!!!

Took a week to figure it out. That's why food allergy's are so FREAKING WEIRD!!!!

No problem, now the next time I eat an apple.... I'll make sure I picked it right off of the tree!!!!!

I LOVE this!!!!

2011-10-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

New boots

2011-10-20T12:38:00.001-07:00

Now, I'm NOT a shoe person..... but I needed new boots.

The funny thing about losing weight, is that you can lose it in your FEET too!

Yep, I went from a size 8-81/2 to a 7-71/2 So all the boots I had were way to big.

I went to K-mart (not a store I like, but I was getting desperate... with winter coming and all)

And luck was with me!!!! They were having a buy one get one 50% off!!!! So I got two pairs as you can see by the picture.

They fit, and I also can use them for Steampunk if I want to, because of the buckles!

nuf said?

2011-10-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

Crazy clean posting

2011-10-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I decided, for some strange and totally crazy reason...... that I needed to clean under my bed!!

Not only clean, but I needed to MOVE the HUGE RUG under my bed also!!!!

The rug is like 20 feet by 25 feet, and I just wanted to move it ..... sideways...... can't explain it, just had to do it.

And that meant taking my bed APART!!!!

For those who know.... I have Fibromyalga.... and 8 years ago I went out and got myself a "Select Comfort" bed. BEST DAMN THING I EVER DID..... EVER!!!!!!

The mattress was easy, unplug the air hose's and lift it up and put it in the living room. Light as a feather!!!

But the undercarriage is another thing.

There is NO BOX SPRING..... instead there is this HUGE MUTANT LEGO foundation!!!!

Plastic, and HEAVY!!!!

So I figured out how to unhook it and take it apart... took a while, but you can't move it with out taking it apart because it weighs like 7 MILLION TONS!!!! (hehheeeehhe exaggeration, by just a bit!)

Never the less, done and done, then roll up the rug, turn it around, and unroll it again...... I'm not giving you details of this because honestly it was not my finest moment.... I actually remembered curse words my father used!!!! I impressed myself!!!

Then vacuum the rug.... and I admit, I have NEVER vacuumed under my bed!!! I couldn't get anything to fit under there, so it collected dust..... mega dust.

Then put the MUTANT LEGGO foundation together again!!!!! (A) TO (B) TO (A) TO (B)... fucking NUTS!!!! (thank the goddess who ever made this bed, didn't use the whole alphabet!!!)

Then dragged the flaccid mattress back on, and connected the air hose, and blew it up. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Best bed I've ever had, you conform the mattress to how you like sleeping.

Gets rid of all the terrible pressure points you get at night.... and actually made my fibromyalga almost go away completely!!!!

I still get some flair ups after I do a lot of work or heavy lifting.... but now at night, the joints relax, and the flair ups only last a day, not a MONTH like they used to!!!!

Oh and I also sprinkled a ton of salt under my bed, especially under the head of it. Always makes for sweet dreams, and gets rid of any bad aura you've gotten during your sleep.

Now, after I rest an hour or so, I'll make the bed..... and finish vacuuming the rug.... put back the stuff I keep stored under the bed, and I'm done!!!!

Feels good to get my Fall cleaning started!!!!

Do you live romantic History???

2011-10-16T16:00:00.001-07:00

Then you should try my friend Jennifer Ashley's books.

Oh my!!!!

Rugged men in kilts, and romance...... sigh.... could you ask for more????? I think not!!!!

Then just for you.....

2011-10-16T15:56:00.001-07:00

Just for Wendy the (Very Good Witch try Allyson James

oh oh oh and her too!!!!!

2011-10-16T13:54:00.001-07:00

I'm on a totally wing with books this month, cause the boy is back at school... AND I HAVE MONEY TO BUY THEM!!!

Try Shara Lanel also...... oooooohhhhhhh, sexy!!!!!

Love her books, and that's not just because we are probably, sort of, maybe... related (we haven't figured it out yet) but because they are FANTASTIC ROMANCE'S!!!

So if you prefer romance more, give her stuff a look up. Yummmmmy!!!!

On the lighter side of mysterys.....

2011-10-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

On the lighter side of Mystery's, and super easy read.......

are these books in the "Flower shop Mystery's" by Kate Collins.

It's about a nutty little florist who just can't keep her noise out of murders!!!! They are very good!!! And the boyfriend....... yummmmmmmmmy!

Again, this one is quite a few books, so enjoy hunting them all down!!!

Soooooo goooooood!!

2011-10-16T13:06:00.001-07:00

I would highly recommend this series of books by Victoria Laurie!!!!

I went absolutely NUTS for it!!!!!

Not only funny, but riveting mystery also.

But, WARNING, she has a lot of books out.... so your going to have to do some major hunting on Amazon to get all of them...... and that's what I did!!!

The great thing about this series is that the Author Victoria Laurie is REALLY a Psychic!!!!

Yepper in real life!!! That's what attracted me to the books in the first place. She even has a web site where she does readings.

Her readings, in the book, are almost exactly like MY readings used to be..... before I gave it up. And I totally love the name she gave it....."Psychic Intuitive"

Back when I was doing it, most people would say..... "eeeeeeeeeehhhhhh that's totally creepy!!!!"
Basically, why I gave it up, tired of scaring people. (normals are such wussies!)

But the books are also well written, and addictive!!! Try them out, you'll like it!!!

New table cloth

2011-10-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

I picked up this cute table cloth at the "Christmas tree store" by me. If you click on the pic you'll see it's covered with skulls!!!!

And as you can also see I have a problem with Aloe plants!!!!

They keep growing and growing, and taking over my WHOLE KITCHEN!!!

The more I ignore them, the faster they grow!!! It's getting to be a problem..... but I don't have the heart to chuck them!!!

If anyone lives in south Jersey and wants some aloe, LET ME KNOW!!! PLEASE!!!

Bring some pots and I will give you a TON of plants!

Sigh

In the meantime I just ignore them.... but soon.....very soon.... I will no longer have a kitchen table!

Someone's been peeking in my kitchen!!!

2011-10-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

Fall Harvest

2011-10-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

So, about this time you've harvested all the herbs you grew over the summer... and probably they are hanging, drying, now what to do with them???

Here's some hints on using those herbs!

Altar Decorations
herbs bundles, sprinkles or wreaths are made by choosing plants for their specific magics properties

Herb Amulets and Talismans
Herbal mixes again utilising the herbs magics for clearing the space, for protection, for love, calming, energizing, healing,soothing the soul,the body, and spirit

Herbal Baths
Mixtures of fresh or dried herbs or oil preparations to add to your bathwater. Used to create a magical atmosphere, for cleansing and soothing the body and spirit.

Herbal Brews
Herbs infused in water, for outer applications but not ingested

Herbal Tea
are brewed in water, steeped until the right amount has been released then tea is then ingested.

Herbs for flavoring food
adding herbs to food for bring potent energies into the body. Used for clearing the body system, healing and magical, and of course, taste!

Herbs Healing
herbs used for their potency to aid in healing the body, the mind and the spirit
Herbs/oils are mixed into fat, beeswax, or other mediums.

Incense Plant
resin burned on top of charcoal to release the energy from the plant into the air. Incense sticks and cones are also used in herbs magics

Tinctures
Herbs are infused in alcohol, letting their energies be released into the alcohol

Herbal Perfume
Natural essential perfumed oils are used to anoint people, in herbs magics rituals using candles and sacred objects.

Herbal Soaps
Herbs and herbs magics oils are added to homemade soaps

Now, lets get busy!!!!!!!!

Dandy Dandelion

2011-10-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

It's the end of the year for your Dandelion crop, here are a few things that you can do with the last of the leaves and roots.

Please, make sure that the Dandelion HAS NOT BEEN TREATED WITH INSECTICIDE!!!! Only fresh, untainted leaves and roots should be used!!!

Dandelion Tea

Bilious Affections

Infuse 1 oz of Dandelion in a pint of boiling water for 10 minutes; decant, sweeten with honey, and drink several glasses in the course of the day.
The use of this tea is used in bilious affections, and is also much approved of in the treatment of dropsy.

Sluggish Liver: take 2 oz. of freshly-sliced Dandelion root, and boil in 2 pints of water until it comes to 1 pint; then add 1 OZ. of compound tincture of Horseradish. Dose, from 2 to 4 OZ. Use in a sluggish state of the liver.

Dizziness: 1 oz Dandelion root, 1 OZ. Black Horehound herb, 1/2 OZ. Sweet Flag root, 1/4 OZ. Mountain Flax. Simmer the whole in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain and take a wine glassful after meals for biliousness and dizziness.

For Gall Stones: 1 oz Dandelion root, 1 oz Parsley root, 1 oz Balm herb, 1/2 oz Ginger root, 1/2 oz Liquorice root. Place in 2 quarts of water and gently simmer down to 1 quart, strain and take a wine glassful every two hours.

For a young child suffering from jaundice: 1 oz Dandelion root, 1/2 oz Ginger root, 1/2 oz Caraway seed, 1/2 oz Cinnamon bark, 1/4 oz. Senna leaves. Gently boil in 3 pints of water down to 1 1/2 pint, strain, dissolve 1/2 lb. sugar in hot liquid, bring to a boil again, skim all impurities that come to the surface when clear, put on one side to cool, and give frequently in teaspoonful doses.

A Liver and Kidney Mixture: 1 oz Broom tops, 1/2 oz Juniper berries, 1/2 oz. Dandelion root, 1 1/2 pint water. Boil ingredients for 10 minutes, then strain and ADD small quantity of cayenne. Dose, 1 tablespoonful, three times a day.

Dandelion Wine

3 qts dandelion flowers
1 lb white raisins
1 gallon water
3 lbs granulated sugar
2 lemons
1 orange
yeast and nutrient

Pick the flowers just before starting, so they're fresh.

You do not need to pick the petals off the flower heads, but the heads should be trimmed of any stalk.

Put the flowers in a large bowl. Set aside 1 pint of water and bring the remainder to a boil.

Pour the boiling water over the dandelion flowers and cover tightly with cloth or plastic wrap.

Leave for two days, stirring twice daily. Do not exceed this time.

Pour flowers and water in large pot and bring to a low boil.

Add the sugar and the peels (peel thinly and avoid any of the white pith) of the lemons and orange.

Boil for one hour, then pour into a crock or plastic pail.

Add the juice and pulp of the lemons and orange. Allow to stand until cool (70-75 degrees F.).

Add yeast and yeast nutrient, cover, and put in a warm place for three days.

Strain and pour into a secondary fermentation vessel (bottle or jug). Add the raisins and fit a fermentation trap to the vessel. (insert a straw into the top, not touching the wine, and tape around the straw at the head of the bottle)

Leave until fermentation ceases completely, then add the reserved pint of water and whatever else is required to top up.

Refit the straw, and set aside until clear.

Rack and bottle. This wine must age six months in the bottle before tasting, but will improve remarkably if allowed a year. [Adapted recipe from C.J.J. Berry's First Steps in Wine making]

For a quick pick me up in the spring, add the leaves of a dandelion to your salads!!! Nice bitter taste, full of spring health and tonic!!!

Allergies

2011-10-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

I've talked about my food allergy's, but I don't think I've actually gone in to detail about the symptoms.

Most people hear food allergies, and figure you get hives.... and yes, that sometimes happens.

But bad food allergies are different.

And this isn't counting the ones where you wind pipe closes up... and you die.

So here's the list of things that happen.

If I'm awake when a food allergy hits......

I start feeling anxious, very anxious (hence a lot of people think they are having an anxiety attack)

But your feeling anxious because your heart beat is speeding up... that's the second thing you notice, then you get hot. No sweating, but just feeling hot, like you have a fever, a bad one.

Also included could be bad heart burn, the feeling like your going to get the runs... and sometimes you do! And did I mention the gas... whoooohooooo, gas bad baby!

After you take an allergy pill, you have to give it a good 15 minutes to a half hour, then you notice your not feeling so anxious, and the chills start. You get chills... why... who the hell knows, I guess cause you heart beat and body temp. is going down.

I always love the chills, cause I know the episode is over.

if you grab your allergy pills this can be over in a 1/2 hour. But even after all these years, when the first thing starts.... you think... anxiety attack???

Now if your asleep when it happens

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THIS.... AN ALLERGY ATTACK TO FOOD IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AWAY.... SOMETIMES IT TAKE HOURS BEFORE IT STARTS.

So don't think "it's not allergy's since I haven't eaten in hours... cause that's not right)

If your asleep, you can skip the anxiety, cause you won't notice it, the hot flash's are what you notice first cause it wakes you up.

Now another tricky thing is timing. Yesterday I snacked on sweet potato chips, nothing happened... nothing... then today I had some more... and BAMMO!!!

Sometimes you can have a little without a reaction, but a second helping will set you off.

And that's why It's so hard to detect.

Now, I'm NOT saying you have allergy's.... but if you are getting anxiety attacks, try going to an allergist and get tested!!!!

My doctor told me I was having anxiety attacks, gave me little pills for it too... but I didn't think that was the case, since I'm sort of a serene person.... so I went for allergy tests... and that's when I figured it out.

They don't test for everything, so if you still having problems and have eliminated the stuff the doc told you your allergic too.... then you go on the elimination diet.

The doc didn't test for Avocado's, or sweet potatoes, or garlic, onions and peppers. Neither did he check for rice, or corn or wheat!

I found all of those by doing the elimination diet.

What that is is a bland diet of salad, cheese, and not much else, give it a week (on the plus side you lose weight) then once a day add something you suspect may be causing problems..... just one thing... and wait.... then eat it again the next day.... If you go two days without a reaction... it's good!

Now wheat allergies gave me another reaction.... no attacks, but I always felt tired, couldn't walk far without feeling blah.. that's how I figured out it was wheat.... I went off it for a week.... and the reaction was startling!!!

I felt fantastic, loads of energy. If wheat is a problem, you are probably allergic to all glutten... like corn, oats etc.

Also with food allergy's, don't think one or two allergy pill will do.... you may have to keep taking allergy pill for 24 hours or more, till the allergen is eliminated (you know what that means, don't you... potty time!!)

With some bad food allergy attacks, I have had to actually keep benadrylle next to my bed, in case I woke up with it starting up again. And it has on lots of occasions!

BAD NEIGHBORS???

2011-10-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

BAD NEIGHBORS??? There are plenty of ways to get rid of them, without resorting to calling the cops every 5 second.... that just tends to make them mad.

Try some of these things instead:

1. Hand a five rod metal wind chime between you and the neighbor's house, this will suppress their bad energy.

2. Place a round mirror in the window, facing out toward their property, to defect their negative attitude right back to them. (you can get these at your local craft shops)

3. The strongest thing to do is place something with water between you and them. Such as a fountain, or rain barrel. Place some plants and fish in it if you want... this one is so powerful that you neighbor will probably move!!!

I placed a pentagram wind chime in one window, facing them, and in the second window a moon and sun wind chime. Since I have done that I can feel the negative effects they have on me going away!!!!

Plus they have actually started cleaning up their property!!!! I'm planning on getting a rain barrel to put out in the yard between us too! But in the meantime I'm putting a jug of water in my shed that's between us, maybe this will help some!

Now I live in a home, finding ways to do this when it's an apartment can be tricky, but look around and try to figure out how to do this. If it's you next door neighbor in an apartment, hang the wind chimes and mirror on the wall that connects you... facing them. You can also put a small water fountain on a table by that wall.

If they are below you, hang them off the balcony. You can also lay the wind chime on the floor above them. It doesn't need to be hanging!!!

Now this only works if they are actually "bad" neighbors.... not just people you don't like much. LOL

2011-10-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

THE CRONE

For I am old now,
the witch would sigh.
My cauldrons empty,
my herbs are nigh.
all the spells and potions
wither in the light,
and no longer prolong
the darkness of the night.
for I am old now,
no more spells for me,
the oldness of my magic
isn't what it seems.
I wish to cast one last spell,
to keep the night at bay.
but I am old now,
there is no longer the day.
So dampen the blazing fire,
free the souls I keep,
for I am old now
and all I wish for is sleep.

At last!!!

2011-10-01T02:07:00.000-07:00

Spread the news,
far and wide,
the Halloween moon,
is on the rise!!!

It's National Honey Month!!!! whoooooooooo

2011-09-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

From Mother Earth News

you fall, a victim of loose gravel. Your leg is a mess. At the local hospital, you’re given a cream to apply two times a day to keep infection at bay.

Returning home after a week of pain and aches, your leg isn’t healing as it should. A call to the local herbalist or homeopath, and it’s suggested that you apply honey to the wound. That’s too simple. “How can honey do anything to help this?” you ask. The reply, “Honey not only can heal, it will improve your overall health.

Modern creams and antibiotics may help heal, but they often have the disadvantage of killing tissue and causing scabs and scars.

But not all of us think to put honey under that Band-Aid or bandage. Results of a three year clinical trial at the University Teaching Hospital in Calabar, Nigeria, showed that unprocessed honey can heal wounds when more modern dressings and antibiotic treatments fail.

In 59 patients treated for wounds and external ulcers, honey was effective in all but one case. Topical applications kept sterile wounds sterile until they had time to heal, while infected wounds became sterile within a week. Honey was also shown to remove dead tissue from persistent wounds, helping some patients avoid skin grafts or amputations.

What gives honey its healing capacity? A combination, it seems, of several factors: Honey’s acidity, or pH, is low enough to hinder or prevent the growth of many species of bacteria, although this acidity may be neutralized as honey is diluted, with, for example, body fluids from a cut or wound.

Then there’s honey’s osmolarity, or tendency to absorb water from a wound, which deprives bacteria of the moisture they need to thrive. Hydrogen peroxide plays another big part. When honey is diluted (again, say, with fluids from a wound) an enzyme is activated to produce hydrogen peroxide which, as we know, is a potent antibacterial (who doesn’t have a brown bottle of this stuff in their medicine cabinet?).

Honey has also been shown to reduce the inflammation and soothe the pain of deep wounds and burns. And honey dressings won't stick to wounds, since what ends up in contact with the affected area is a solution of honey and fluid that can be easily lifted off or rinsed away. That means no pain when changing dressings, notes Molan, and no tearing away of newly formed tissue.

Why You Don’t Need Antibacterial Soap
If you choose “antibacterial” products because you trust them to kill germs, think again. According...

Medical Self-Care: The Seven Rules of Self-Care Seven laws for better health, including home...
“Honey is an ideal first-aid dressing material,” he adds, “especially for patients in remote locations, where there could be time for infection to set in before medical treatment is obtained. It is readily available and simple to use.”

But honey’s healing powers reach beyond wounds and burns.

There’s also evidence to suggest that the antibacterial powers of certain honeys, in particular New Zealand’s manuka honey, may be effective against the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, the main culprit in many stomach ulcers. Doctors have yet to prove this, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to give it a try in the meantime. Beginning and ending your day with a tablespoon of honey on a piece of toast may just calm the fire in your belly.

Some not-so-scientific research has also found that honey can speed alcohol metabolism to sober a person up. The high fructose content may help to relieve that morning-after hangover and the tired feeling that goes along with it. “Honey does not have to be digested before it is absorbed,” notes Dr. Susan Percival of the University of Florida’s Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. “It is already the two simple sugars, fructose and glucose,” which means, explains Percival, that the sugars from honey go directly to the bloodstream and can provide a quick boost when needed. Regular table sugar, on the other hand, is a disaccharide, which must be cleaved in two before digestion.

Along with fructose, honey enzymes enhance the digestive process to relieve indigestion. Daily use of honey creates heat and energy, wards off fatigue, and aids recuperative power.

Plagued by worrisome wrinkles? Honey softens and moisturizes for a healthy complexion. Beekeepers’ hands are often noted as being soft and smooth during honey season. To take advantage of honey’s skin softening potential, splash warm water on your face to open the pores. Then apply a thin honey mask, wash it off, and finish with a bit of cold water to the face. Dry skin cells plump up and wrinkles tend to smooth away. Dairy cream, whipped egg white, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or any fruit juice may be mixed into your honey mask.

Eating locally produced honey may also help to minimize the symptoms of hay fever and related pollen allergies, which leave so many of us sniffling and sneezing at this time of the year. John Heinerman, a noted medical anthropologist and author of Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices (Prentice Hall, 1996), notes that the best course of treatment is to take one tablespoonful of local honey after each meal, beginning a month before pollen season starts. He also recommends chewing some of the comb between meals. Being a hay fever sufferer himself, Heinerman says, “Although [honey and honey comb] have never actually cured my hay fever as such, I can testify that they have reduced the misery and aggravation of watery eyes and runny nose by at least 80 percent during the allergy season.”

As for trouble sleeping, or keeping asleep, studies show a large teaspoon of honey, taken 1 hour before bedtime works better then most prescribed sleeping pills!

But honey must never be given to children under 2 years old.

Celebrate national honey month, and enjoy!!!!

This thing has been a life saver!

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I bought this little box freezer about 8 years ago, and it has saved my life many a time over the years. It cost me $149 dollars. It's not big, like my moms used to be, because I have a smaller kitchen. Moms was almost 6 feet long!!!!!

It's empty now, cause over the summer my son has managed to eat just about everything that was in it, but that's cool.

I put the little bit left over stuff in my refrigerator freezer, and took the time to unplug it and defrost it, clean it out.... and plug it back in!

Cause this month it's being filled up again for the fall, winter, and spring.

My mom always had a huge box freezer in the kitchen, never really thought of why, but after getting just this small one... I totally understand!

When I get extra money... ie. tax check, extra payday, low bills month etc.... I go out and buy enough stuff to fill this beauty up!!!

Then for a least a year... if not more... I don't have to worry about food.

Sure I still have to get the everyday stuff, and canned stuff, but the meats, breads, and others are all stocked up and waiting for me.

Also, during the summer I freeze blueberry's, gooseberry's, jams (yes you can freeze homemade jams!) And all the other bounty from my garden.

When times are tough (like when you have to buy Christmas gifts for a TON of people) or the weather is so bad (Jersey winters can be a bitch!!) and you can't get out to the stores.... you have enough to last you till you can.

I found, if I fill the freezer to the top, I have at least a year or more that grocery shopping is just the basics. It really helps when your on a super limited budget! And to fill it with meats and such usually doesn't cost more then $300!!!

And, NO, I do not buy my meat from those freezer trucks that service households!!!! I find them very expensive, and the meat doesn't taste good.

I just do the sales at shop rite and other stores.

The trick is repackaging it all!!! I have one of those things that suck the air out, and repackage in freezer bags.... suck the air out.... and food lasts forever!

I also use it on leftovers, I package single servings for when I don't want to cook, and all I have to do is drop the bag in boiling water to heat, or microwave it.

Blueberry's from my bush, I freeze without making it juice.... so that I can reach in the bag and take a hand full out for my breakfast or pancakes, or baking.

I also buy butter in the six packs at BJ's, and freeze the rest. 2 of those packages last forever if you take the bars out one at a time.

This year I'll start a BJ's... getting butter, and those bags of prepacked breakfast foods for my son. I'll probably get my bacon, pork roll, and hot dogs there also.

Then to shop rite for the meats. I'll buy the big packages and break them down into individual packages. Like buying bulk pork chops, then package them 1 or 2 at a time for individual meals. I'll also get bigger things like pork roasts and London broil.

I'll also make a few different soups.... like split pea, and vegetable, in big pots, and then put them in Tupperware containers and freeze them.... when I want soup, run the container bottom in hot water, pop out the block of soup, and heat. Yummmmmmmm

Chili I do this way too. If I want a quick lunch, do the hot water stuff, and heat the Chile.

Single servings. After all, even when the boy is home there are only 2 of us!

And if something happens that month........ a big bill for medications, or Dr. Visits, or you have to buy a tire, or get the car fixed, you can feel free to spend the money knowing that food isn't the problem.

I'm ashamed to admit....

2011-09-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

I am not a shoe woman. I have like 4 pairs, and when one falls apart.... I go to wal-mart, and for less then $20 bucks, I buy another pair!!!

It's a shame to all womanhood, but that's me. I go barefoot almost all the time, even if I'm just running out to the car.... in 10 feet of snow..... I will go barefoot. And I never, ever wear shoes in the house.... unless I have company over. SIGH

And I don't collect purse's either.... I have 2, one light, one dark. And I've had them for years. I know I should be expelled from the sisterhood, but I can't see sending money on stuff like that!!!

Till I SAW THESE!!!!!! http://www.shopplasticland.com/c/Shoes.html&offset=60&sort=

I WANT THESE!!!!

OMG!!!! THESE TOO!!!!

AND THESE!!!!!

Of course they are like from $50-90 dollars each!!!! And that is NEVER going to happen, unless I find them at a flea market for like $5 bucks!!! But it doesn't stop me from WANTING THEM!!!! sigh

Damn, I miss this show!!!!

2011-09-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

weird costumes

2011-09-25T14:12:00.001-07:00

I've been looking at costumes!!! I got a HUGE kick out of this one!!!!

Life size voodoo doll!!!!

How easy and cute!!! though I would not Hug this guy if you payed me.... but I wouldn't mind playing with him a while.... giggle

Bright Blessings!!!!

2011-09-23T02:49:00.000-07:00

Got my Pissy on!!!!!

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'M SO TIRED OF THIS!!!!!!!!!! Why do people keep this old stereotype of witch's around, and seem to relish the pictures?????

I DO NOT HAVE WARTS, AND MY NOSE IS JUST FINE... THANK YOU!!!!

What would the catholic people think if I posted pictures of Jesus with a rotting complexion, bad teeth, and maybe warts and mole all over him?????

Tell me???

And his followers...... are they all ugly haggled crones????????

I do not condone this stereotype, I will NOT buy anything with this image one it.... AND PEOPLE WHO DO, ARE IDIOTS!!!!

I'm sorry, some people collect these old rotting images cause they think they are "vintage"!!!

But, vintage isn't always good!

There pictures are just a personification of their hate, and fear of those of us who practice the craft!!!

We struggle every day for acceptance of our beliefs, and at the same time this degenerate images are all over the place.

How can people accept us if others keep up the old stereotypes????? HOW????

I say we BAN ALL BAD IMAGES OF WITCH'S, AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW THEM!!!!

WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! WE ARE STRONG!!!! AND WE ARE PROUD!!!!!

And SCREW THE REST OF YOU who can't accept that!!!!!!!

Convention costumes

2011-09-20T12:35:00.001-07:00

I've decided to do something different for the Convention in February, I'm going to go old school, Klingon. Below is a picture of me and my friend Donna, years ago, in our Klingon garb.

But, I'm afraid over the years, and the million moves I've made, the costume is long gone.

Probably chucked out before one move or another.... so I'm biting the bullet and buying this one from a costume store on line.....

and NO, that is NOT ME!!! Please, I'm not that type of skinny bitch. LOL

From what I read of reviews the costume is a piece of cheap shit!!!!

But that's OK, cause I have a sewing machine, and the skills to make it over..... I just don't want to do it from scratch.... so I buy the costume and conform it to the way I want it!

I will add fur to the sleeves, braid, jewels, and make the boob opening MUCH bigger... (hay, I'm a 44DD, and I love to show my baby's off!)

And of course the headpiece, the nose will get chopped off, and the forehead will turn the color of my skin... thanks to the application of some paint and makeup,

(I know that most of the Klingon's on the show were black, but that doesn't mean I have to have a black forehead, it's latex, and can be painted!)

and the wig attached will get tossed, and a new full luxurious one will be attached to it, maybe a blond one.
(because all the reviews about the costume, say the wig in the picture is a lie, and the real one attached is like, just a few hairs!)

A little of this, and a little of that.... and it will look great!

The good thing about being a Klingon, your EXPECTED TO BE FAT, Klingon's mostly were, so no one will even notice your weight.... besides, what man will get beyond the boob thing?

Englishtown Market

2011-09-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

I love going to Englishtown Market in the Fall, it's in Englishtown N.J. and I've been going there since before I was big enough to see over the tables!

If you want it cheap, you head there over the weekend, and walk and walk and walk and walk some more!

They have quite a few Witchy shops there, and some Unusual things

There are 6 big buildings filled with venders, but most of the people set up in the field. At $10 a day for a table they bring all their yard sale shit there and make a fortune!

This guy sold everything, including the kitchen sink. I found some really cool vintage kitchen decorations!

And tons of stands from local farmers, with the best fresh produce you can get!

These Jeans were 2 for $5!!!! They may have "fallen off a truck" from somewhere, but you can't beat the price, and they are all new with tags!
Another guy who cleaned out his attic for the weekend

Tons of stuff! These scarfs that I've seen in the stores for 15 to 20 bucks each were just $1.00 each

It's hot, and dusty, but everyone makes the day of it, and enjoys

Plenty of food vender's inside and outside, I can't think of a thing you could want to eat that they don't have. There's even a vendor inside that makes bagels and pretzels fresh, right in front of you!

And I absolutely LOVE the guy who roasts peanuts outside, the smell from his big drum of roasting peanuts would make you swoon! Yummy

You have to be prepared though. It's good if you bring one of those 2 wheeled carts (I have one) or a couple of really strong men to carry all your shit for ya. But, you don't have to feed a cart, so I suggest that.

Bring cash, for the outside places, but inside the buildings they take charge cards. And most important of all.... never ask where they got their stuff!!! Better not knowing!

Lets make a list....

2011-09-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

A friend on facebook mentioned Johnny Depp, and I told her I had met him. And they were all excited.... and I realized over my life I have met a ton of TV and movie stars.... and it was never a big deal.

I never had a super crush on anyone, and never treated them like movie stars..... maybe that's why they seem to like me so much.... I don't have a clue. So I decided to make a list.

It all started when my Dad forced me to join the Young Republicans... yeah, he was into politics... big time... Me? Not a damn bit.
But with the republicans I met Ronald Reagen (way before he was prez) Clint Eastwood and I forget who that other guy was, all I know was that he was in movies.

Reagen was nice, but talked funny
Eastwood wasn't as tall as I thought he should be, and I was really disappointed he didn't have a cowboy outfit on.

Since then I've met many more.

I've met every cast member and crew member of all three star treks.

William Shatner asked me to join him in a threesome! (no way dude!)

Leonard Nimoy's brother Melvin, lived across the street from my Aunt Helen in East Brunswick, N.J. and I used to hang with the kids of both of them.

Avery Brooks from Deep Space 9 actually lived in Somerset N.J. where I lived... his girls were in my Brownie Troop.

Rene Auberjonois who played odo, loved me, cause I had the same name as his wife.

Colm Meaney, who played O'Brian, and I drank and smoked together at many a convention

Sulu? Well, I've met him, but actually hung out with his Mom more then him... he was always going for runs... and bitch, I don't run!

Scotty announce to a whole room full of convention people, that I made that best Lasagna he had ever eaten!!!

John Delance scared the shit out of me once, and he was a totaly hogie freak, made us find him hogies any time he came to a convention.

There is not one member of all the star treks that I haven't met, hung out with, had pictures taken, and even a few of them I dated.

I've also talked to Doris Day on the phone, but never met her in person (we were working on a Charity fund raiser)

I met Flip Wilson and Joan Rivers both while in Calif. on vacation, they were staying at my hotel.

Also that guy who pretends to be a girl... RuPaul I think his name is.

Keanu Reeves I met, and made him a cup of coffee

And that guy who played Batman... Val Kilmer

I swam with George Clooney in that same pool in Calif, though I had no clue who he was.

I met the guys who played R2D2 and the other robot... they came to a chocolate party I had at one convention.... didn't have a clue who they were either

Let see... who else
Tim Allen
Gillian Anderson (X-files)
Dan Aykroyd (met him in N.Y. once)
Hank Azaria

And there were a lot more, but my memorys blank right now.... I'll remember them later. LOL

Crafts to do for Mogon

2011-09-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Wreaths

Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-
sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of
gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the
Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrow
or cinnamon sticks.

Protection Boxes
You will need:

heather, sage, pine, or cedar incense
a box
white wrapping paper
a sprig of rue
a holly leaf
a tiger's eye bead
a piece of dragon's blood resin
Scotch tape
a pen with red ink

Light a stick of heather, sage, pine or cedar incense. Hold the box over the smoking incense to thoroughly saturate it with the scent.

Hold the herbs, bead, and resin in your hands. Charge them with energy, focusing on protection and safety for all who dwell within your household. Visualize a web of protective light encasing your home.

Then put the ingredients into the box and close the lid. With the pen, draw protection runes on the box, and wrap it in the white wrapping paper. Hold over the smoking incense again and say:

Amidst the Autumn's darkest nights
Our home be bound by brilliant light
A web of hope and joy and peace
Be woven now, all danger cease
By watchful eye, by lock and key,
Protect our home, so mote it be.

Make a witch's broom. Tie dried corn husks or
herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender,
peppermint, rosemary) around a strong,
relatively straight branch of your choice.
Decorate it any way you like, but be sure to use yellow or gold in some way.

Collect milkweed pods to decorate at Yuletide, left in bowls on the window sills, it attracts the faeries to your house.

Mabon Wine Moon Cider

4 cups apple cider 1/2 tsp. whole cloves
4 cups grape juice
additional cinnamon sticks (fresh ones if you can find them)
2 cinnamon sticks for cups
1 tsp allspice

In a 4-quart saucepan, heat cider and grape
juice. Add cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
Bring just to boiling. Lower heat and simmer
for 5 minutes.

Serve Hot with ladle from a cauldron. Makes 8 cups.

Putting the baby's to sleep for the winter

2011-09-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Knowing that the weather here at the shore can change FAST, I decided to put my gardens to bed for the fall and winter.

There still may be time, but then again, we are known for changing seasons with the speed of light!!

So I bought a teeny tiny bale of hay.

It was so cute!!! Lowes had it for under $2.00.... and later when I went to walmart, they had the same tiny bale of hay for $8.00!!!! Quite a mark up!!!!

Then I covered my strawberry's in the cauldron with a good layer of it, and put some little pumpkins on top for decoration... and to hold the hay down.

Yes, they are tiny pumpkins... giggle... I know it makes the cauldron look like it's little, but the cauldron is almost 5 feet wide, so the pumpkins are really that tiny!

Then I mulched all the pots that stay out for the winter, like the blueberry's etc... and brought in the pots of plants that I winter over in the house.

So now everyone is snug as a bug... ready to face the coming cold!!

Can someone make this for me???

2011-09-13T04:57:00.001-07:00

FarPoint

2011-09-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

FarPoint is a trek convention in Febuary....http://farpointcon.com/. I haven't gone to this one before, mainly cause it's in February!!! You take your chances going to a con in that month, and it's a small one too, quiet, understated.

2 years ago it fell in the middle of a HUGE BLIZZARD!!! It was labeled "SnowPoint" and people were stranded for days!!!!

But, I'm going to try it this year... what the hell.... I'm getting so aggravated with Shore Leave, and it's crappy hotel.... maybe it's time for a change! This one is at a different hotel, so I'm going to try it.

I going to wear my star trek costume......

And though it was a success, people were snapping pics of me constantly.... it did not go well with my hair!!!! Red hair, red outfit, just off putting I think.... so I went on line and found this really cool wig!!!

For all you old time fans you know Yeoman Rand wore one just like this.... with some modifications, but big and high! So, I'm going to try it with this costume and see how it looks.

What do you think????

Third winner picked....

2011-09-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

Leeanna decided to go with one of my plates, instead of the jewelry!!!!

So that means I have two items left. This necklace, and the tennis bracelet.....Should I have another give a way??? Hummmmmm

I'm thinking, I'm thinking

2011-09-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

YIPPIE!!!! Magaly picked the charm bracket!!!! I know she's going to love it!!!

Now for the Third and Last winner..... who has a choice of the heavy garnet and bead necklace or the tennis bracket....Leeanna from "can we have a new witch, ours melted" Take you pick my friend!!!

E-mail me at witchbythesea@yahoo.com, with your address (not the g-mail address) and I'll get your pick out to you

WOW

2011-09-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

SHE PICKED FAST!!!!!! Tea Witch picked the delicate oval garnet chain necklace....... 2 left!!!!!

And the next winner is......MAGALY!!!! E-mail me at witchbythesea@yahoo.com with your pick.... remember the delicate oval garnet necklace is gone... so pick another!!!

And the winners are.......

2011-09-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

Remember I'm going to have 3 winners!!! But, I will pick them one at a time so that the winner gets to pick what they want.....

AND THE FIRST WINNER IS..... THE TEA WITCH!!!!!!

E-mail me at witchbythesea@yahoo.com with your mailing address and your pick of gift!!!!

You have 1 week to respond, or I pick a new 1st place winner, so hurry up! LOL

Soon as she does that, I will announce the 2nd and 3rd winner and give them their pick!!!!

CONGRATS!!!!!