"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."
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!!
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!)
I had to post this picture of my girlfriend's dolls!!!!! Aren't they GREAT!!!!
VISITING SALEMNow 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!!!!!!
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!
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!
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!!!!
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!!!!
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 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!!!
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!!!
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!
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!!!!!!!!
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!!!
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??? 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
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.
