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A note on Sewing Fabrics

2009-01-17T21:29:00.002-05:00

As I sit here typing this, it is mid-September. For us here in Florida, it is still warm and sunny. Out west in Denver, my daughter has already put her children in long sleeves and wondered if it might snow. The fall colors are beginning their annual performance.

What has this got to do with sewing and the pictures? Everything. It's learning to judge your needs according to what you will wear the most. These shirts above came from three Simplicity patterns, yet each is unique because of the fabric. Design #'s are: 3893, 4552, and 7236 and can be purchased at http://www.simplicity.com/. Yes, they're Plus Sized. I'm not a shrimp. I've learned to ignore the pictures and go straight to the sidebar on the left to look at "Front and Back View" which are line drawings without the distraction of someone else's taste in materials.

Here in Florida, I invariably choose the versatility of a fabric known as broadcloth, a cotton blend that comes in a vast rainbow of colors as shown in the pictures. Broadcloth is lightweight, machine washable, and your choices of color and print are so vast most people can find something they like.

However, the lightweight aspect can be a problem if you life in a climate that is mostly wintery and chill. Fortunately, many of these patterns also allow for jersey, stretch velvet, and knits for those who live where the cold winds blow.

Think what this means, girls. Let's say for example you made one lightweight broadcloth version of #3893, view C. This little bugger is versatile, fits you perfectly, and kept you cool and comfy all summer. However, now it's fall and you've got to think about the holiday parties coming up. You take that same pattern and view and make yourself an elegant stretch velvet version and matching pair of pants from #4789 and maybe a brocade jacket from #4789, and you are set for the holidays!

Now let's assume you are a long term reader of this blog and remember my suggestion to make muslin copies of your patterns and save those delicate tissue patterns. (It's 7/8/08 for those who need to burrow in the archives a bit.) Don't forget this is your permanent pattern, and it's your right and privilege to alter your pattern to suit your unique shape. I had to alter the bottom portion of the shirts in #3893 and #7236 to be just a couple of inches wider at the bottom because my bottom is wider. LOL!

Now listen to Mama Lena carefully. Look at the picture of the green shirt above. Notice the glass bead charms used to enhance a plain old shell top? Take your time and wander around with your chosen material before you buy. Go look at ribbons and buttons. There are goodies there to satisfy every taste from the frou-frou ribbon roses to outrageous buttons and iron-on appliques full of bling. There are cross stitch patterns and fabric paints galore. I once ironed on a bright bling butterfly and then enhanced the design with glow in the dark fabric paint. Can you say show-stopper in a dark night spot?

In this time of tween girls clamoring for expensive names like Hannah Montana and the Cheetah Girls, what's a mother to do? Go to Wal-Mart to get ideas, and then shop at Simplicity, that's what. I can make a hot pink tee shirt with lots of iron-on bling that says Rock Star. I could take Designs #2833 and #2879 and create the $30 shirt in Wal-Mart for under $20 with more quality materials. Puh-leeze.

Don't you think it's about time we took back control of what our kids wear? Sure, I don't mind if they see another tween wearing a new fashion. Let them. I just get to save money by making better quality stuff myself at home where love goes into every stitch.

This Blog is Moving!

2008-11-04T08:53:00.002-05:00

I'm moving this blog to a new location: http://Third-Infinity.blogspot.com

Why the change? To get all my blogs on the same dashboard with the same login. I keep neglecting this blog because it's not with the others.

I've already begun to post at the new address. Please follow me there. It isn't pretty yet, but I do try to be informative.

Lena

craft to Craft: Halloween Eyeball Silverware to your Altar Ware

2008-11-03T13:18:00.004-05:00

I have lots of Sculpey! Think about this and what fun you can have beyond Halloween. Think of silverware with colorful handles and crystals embedded in them. Or Goddess symbols carved in them.

What about your own bland, boring table? Could you use some silverware made to match your dinnerware? Did you know that, if your glassware can take the heat, you could use Sculpey to make your goblets match too, by wrapping a bit of Sculpey around the base and maybe up the stemware? Are you getting the picture?

Okay, now go one step further. How about that altar? Could your athame use a facelift? How about your bolline? Do we need to go into the offering plate or incense burner? What could you do with Sculpey to make your altar unique?

For the Dumb Feast

2008-10-30T20:58:00.000-05:00

I don't do a dumb feast every year. How morbid can you get? However, I see no harm in a remembrance feast. Keep it short, sweet, and simple and your guests will think well of you. Don't forget to set that empty place at the table for our spirited guests, just in case someone does decide to show up.

Lena

Candy Spook House and Halloween Beanbags

2008-10-28T20:39:00.000-05:00

Another candy house, just for fun. Kids should enjoy themselves, and I like the kid in me to come out and play.

Cakes and Ale-- Pumpkin Bread

2008-10-27T20:54:00.000-05:00

This is my best Samhain bread, made for bread machines. It's easy and delicious. I skip the pumpkin seeds, personally, and just throw in some pecans. What can I say? I'm lazy.

Ghosts and Grave

2008-10-24T20:36:00.000-05:00

This grave has the best "post mortem" for after Halloween. Just when you could use a little fresh soil in your garden to wait for spring, all you have to do is drag the tarp to your garden on Nov 1. The tarp can cover any part going fallow, with the new dirt to hold it down until spring. Weed seedlings won't have a chance.

Pumpkin Nog-- For Cakes and Ale

2008-10-23T20:49:00.001-05:00

Who says we have to wait for Yule to get a nog? This is even diet! How cool is that.

BTW, if you right click on any image I post, you can use "Save As" to get it so you can have a copy.

Ritual Ideas for Samhain-- Pagans Only

2008-10-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

Samhain (October 31st)

8. HISTORY

Samhain to the Celts was their New Year's Eve even. That mysterious moment belonging to neither past nor present, or this world nor the other. It was a time when the herds were slaughtered and the meat salted, which also led to the use of salts in magic ritual as a disinfectant against psychic or spiritual evil. On this night also, the spirits of dead friends sought the warmth of the Samhain fire and communication with a living.

The divinatory aspect of Halloween is understandable for two reasons. First, the psychic climates of the season favored it, and second, the anxiety about the coming winter demanded it. The fertility ritual aspect was reflected in legends of gods and heroes. As such, it was a time of deliberate (and tribally purposeful) sexual freedom. That is primarily a Celtic tradition, as many other superstitions say to refrain from sex for fear that your former (dead) friends would take over your body and you might have A Change Child.

"So, Halloween was on the one hand a time of propitiation, divination, and communication with the dead, and on the other, and uninhibited feast of eating, drinking, and defiant affirmation of life and fertility in the very face of the closing dark." (Witches Bible Complete page 122)

"The feast itself, in the banquet sends, the original food was of course a proportion of the newly slaughtered cattle, roasted in the purifying Halloween fire, and doubtless having the nature of ritually offered first fruits. The fact that the priesthood had first call on the board divinatory purposes and that what they did not use provided a feast for the tribe, points to this." (Witches Bible Complete page 126)

B. THE ALTAR AND CIRCLE

1. Decorate with apples, pomegranates, plug-ins (as he is or cut into jack-o'-lanterns. If using jack-o'-lanterns, let the mark the four corners), squashes, marigolds, and chrysanthemums. The altar cloth and candles should be our range, to symbolize the harvest.

2. Foods-turnips, apples, corn, nuts, gingerbread, pumpkin dishes, meat, pumpkin cookies, candy apples, popcorn, and candy corn.

3. Drinks-cider, the mulled wine, pumpkin nogs and smoothies

4. The cauldron should be in the north quarter, filled with firewood.

See. RITUALS

1. This is the time of reflection, of looking back over the past year and friends who have passed on. Honor them, but do not call them to you. Leave the plate of food outside the home for the souls of the dead. A candle placed in the window guides them to the afterlife, varying apples "feeds" them on their journey.

2. Right on a piece of paper and aspect of your life you wish to be free of. Such as anger, a baneful habits, disease, or misplaced feelings. Burn it in a ritual. (Solitary Practitioner page 142)

3. Past life regressions are sometimes done in CIRCLE.

4. Scry eating into the past or future in CIRCLE

5. Return the corn dollies of last year to the ground. (See Imbolg)

6. Bobbing for apples. There were many divination practices associated with Halloween, many of which dealt with marriage, health, and the weather. Ducking for apples was a marriage divination based on the belief that the first to bite into an Apple would be the first to marry in the coming year. This is similar to the wedding tradition of throwing the bride's bouquet for women and her garter for men. Apple peeling was another type of divination to determine how long one's life would be. The longer the unbroken peel the longer the life of the one peeling it.

7. Have the high priest dress in "Man in Black" costume and charcoal for his space. He leads a chance within the CIRCLE.

8. Divination using tarot cards in CIRCLE.

9. At the close of the Halloween CIRCLE, please extinguish the altar candles to symbolize the dark half of the year now beginning.

10. This is an invocation. Wise one of the waning moon, goddess of the starry night, I create this fire within your cauldron to transform that which is plaguing me. May the energies be reversed; from darkness, light! From bane, good! From death, birth!

11. Carved jack-o'-lanterns

12. Finish any incomplete projects and payoff lingering bills, if possible, to close out the old year and begin the new year fresh.

13. Leave food out for the birds and other wild animals. Make a donation of food or funding to an animal shelter in honor of the spirit of animals who have died for your family's nourishment over the year.

14. Put pictures of ancestors who have passed on your altar for your Sabbat rite. Light a special candle for them. Visit the graves of your ancestors or if this is not possible, the nearest cemetery. Be still there and listen for the voices of those who have passed. Leave offerings of food and drink for them, and for the animals.

15. Have a mask making party in which you create masks to celebrate and represent your ancestry.

D. SYMBOLISM

1. Farewell to the God. The God dies, and prepares to be reborn at Yule.

.2. Time of sacrifice when animals were slaughtered to ensure food throughout the winter.

3. The feast of the dead, when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, sometimes called the Dumb Feast.

Scare up a Haunted House

2008-10-21T20:33:00.001-05:00

Who says we can only make candy houses at Halloween? Why not have the kids help with this project? Why not have the coven create them?

Indian Corn Treats-- Delicious!!

2008-10-20T20:46:00.000-05:00

Folks, you've just gotta try this tasty treat! YUUUMMM! I'm a sucker for Rice Krispie Treats, and this is close enough to make my mouth water.

A Halloween Stitch to Do

2008-10-19T20:23:00.001-05:00

I can no longer do countd cross stitch, so I'm sharing this with all my friends. Enjoy!

Lena

"Moth-eaten" Curtains Craft

2008-10-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

"Moth-eaten Curtains" are so easy, you'll laugh. Don't worry if you can't sew. Use fabric glue or spray adhesive for a quick fix with no needles or machine needed.

Mini Bundt Pumpkin Cakes

2008-10-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

Mini bundt pans are all you need to create these delectable treats. Go ahead. Right click on the recipe to save it for your own.

Lena

Spider Web Dip and Chips

2008-10-15T20:28:00.000-05:00

Even if you don't like the dip, do try the chips. I cut the tortillas using a pizza wheel to make quick wedges and serve with cheese dip or salsa. It's a quick snack people will appreciate any time of year.

Lena

Meringue Bones for your Party

2008-10-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

This is easier than you think. Give it a try.

Lena

Cooking Fresh Pumpkins

2008-10-13T20:42:00.001-05:00

A little hint or two on how to deal with those sloppy things. I personally use an ice cream scoop to scrape out the nasty stringy bits, and I open my pumpkin from the bottom.

For pies and other recipes, I'll use a tiny pie pumpkin. Those big honking pumpkins for sale as jack-o-lanterns make lousy food. They're grown for size, not taste. Get a pie pumpkin and be sure your recipes will be the very best.

Lena

Halloween Wine Bottles

2008-10-12T09:29:00.000-05:00

This is too fun not to do.

Halloween Fun: Specimin Jars

2008-10-11T09:29:00.001-05:00

Another thing is to put cooked spaghetti in a bowl with oil mixed with red food color. You'll get something resembling intestines.

Halloween Fun: Silhouette Curtains

2008-10-10T09:29:00.000-05:00

Imagine these eerie silhouettes in your windows. Fun, huh?

Lena

Recipe: Blithe Spirited Grog (Adults Only)

2008-10-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

I've had this recipe for about twenty years. We rarely drink, but our friends tell us it's delicious.

The Practical Pagan- Lunch Box Sandwiches

2008-10-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

For Samhain, use the large spooky cookie cutters. This small trick can really enhance your kids' prestige with their friends because they have "cool food."

Craft: The Bewitching Witch Statue

2008-10-07T09:29:00.001-05:00

This is much easier than you might think. However, that cheesecloth is very messy. This is not a project to do over the carpeting by any means.

Make the form and get ready one day, then proceed. Take your time.

Humidifier Plant Tray -- Winter for your Plants

2008-10-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

Think about it. If you live in a place where you shut in for the winter, your plants will be living in the same dry, heated atmosphere you do. They need moisture, same as you. Their leaves are their "skin" and it needs extra help.

This is an easy solution for just about any budget.

Craft: Coffin Tables and Ghost Glasses

2008-10-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

Note on the Ghost Glasses:

An alternative to the glassine is more permanent. Tape the handprint to the inside of the glass. Use glass etching solution and paint it on the outside of the glass. Follow the directions on the bottle of glass etching solution for wait time and rinsing. Oh, and don't forget to remove the handprint before washing.

Craft: Severed Finger Invitations

2008-10-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

This is too cool not to use, even though you need to start many days in advance of the party.

Can you imagine a little black box arriving in the mail with a severed finger with a ribbon tied around it as a "reminder"? LOL!

Halloween Craft: Tombstones

2008-10-03T08:31:00.000-05:00

I can't wait to do this one! This is easy work for a decoration that will last for years with reasonable care.

Just be aware you must test your paints to be assured that the ingredients will not melt the styrofoam and give you the effect you want. Please test the paint on a scrap of styrofoam.

Bloody Mary Pot Roast

2008-10-02T20:25:00.000-05:00

I used V-8 juice and a dash of hot sauce instead the Bloody Mary mix. It worked very well.

However, my itty bitty Dutch oven would not come close to holding the roast and veggies my DH likes in his roast. I used my grandmother's roaster instead.

Lena

The Frugal Housekeeper

2008-10-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

I've used the fabric softener trick, and it works.

Here's another: If you have ceiling fans, put a pillow case over a blade, close the end, and wipe in one motion. All the dust will fall inside the pillowcase and not all over your furnishings.

I use a sock to dust the furniture. I dampen it with spray polish and start swiping. When it's full, I drop it in the laundry and grab another.

Apple Recipes for Sabbats and Anytime this Fall

2008-09-30T14:06:00.000-05:00

These are worth printing out and keeping year after year. Who doesn't love spiced cider on a chilly day? The smell alone has been known to bring my men to their knees.

The spiced cider is wonderful in a crock pot, scenting the air while a sabbat takes place, and makes the best libation to serve with pre-made apple fritters.

Baked apples are a treat anyone can make in a hurry. Keep some delicious red globes around for quickie dessert to go with some of my other recipes.

Homework Help for Harried Parents

2008-09-29T13:37:00.000-05:00

Roast Pork with Mushroom Butter Sauce

2008-09-26T13:34:00.001-05:00

If you don't have dry white wine, apple juice or chicken broth will work.

Recipe: Creamy Squash Soup

2008-09-25T13:27:00.002-05:00

So...what's everyone doing for Mabon? We do a fruit bowl and a squash soup or casserole. This recipe is so beloved, it's in my BOS to pass down.

Creamy Squash Soup

4 cups cooked mashed butternut squash (you can substitute 2 cups of cooked mashed acorn sqash for 2 cups of the butternut)
2 cans (14 oz ea) of ready-to-serve chicken broth
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup whipping cream, divided
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Process half of the first 5 ingredients in a food processor or blender and pour into a large saucepan. Repeat with the remaining half. Bring to a boil over medium heat; gradually stir in half of the whipping cream, and cook until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat. Beat remaining whipping cream at high speed until stiff peaks form. Dollop on each serving of soup. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Makes about 7 cups.

Recipe: Apple Oat Bread

2008-09-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

I love my bread machine.

Gruyere Apple Spread for Bread

2008-09-23T13:17:00.000-05:00

Herb of the Month-- Garlic

2008-09-22T13:09:00.000-05:00

Garlic is very good for you! Don't forget a garlic braid made from sprouted garlic to hang in your kitchen. Just don't eat it. Replace every fall.

Recipe: Pork with Apple-Nutmeg Sauce

2008-09-19T12:56:00.000-05:00

This is delicious! I chopped the apple in my food processor, then added previously chopped onion and garlic and pulsed a few minutes.

Lena

Oven Dried Fruit

2008-09-18T12:51:00.000-05:00

Craft: Corn Dolly

2008-09-17T12:26:00.001-05:00

We tried this corn dolly last month. It works very well.

Mabon Incense

2008-09-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

Cakes and Ale-- Mabon Saucy Apple Bread

2008-09-12T03:54:00.000-05:00

Note this recipe has two sizes, depending on the size of your bread machine.

Harvest Pot Roast

2008-09-11T03:48:00.000-05:00

This is one of the few that actually tastes better from the oven than in the crock pot or dutch oven. I have a huge covered roaster left to me by my grandmother, so I load all the veggies in the bottom, add some stock or water, then the bouillion and roast. Sprinkle the herbs over the roast, and pop it in the oven for about 2-3 hours, depending on your oven.

I've served this since the 1980's, and it's a favorite with the DH. He looks forward to fall every year because he knows the Harvest Pot Roast is coming!

It's Library Card Month

2008-09-10T03:46:00.000-05:00

Need I say more?

A Review of Eyes of the Cowan!

2008-09-09T20:33:00.003-05:00

I don't often mix business with my pagan faith, but once in awhile I have to tell a story a certain way. Eyes of the Cowan was such a story. Valda and Blaze demanded their story be told as pagans, and I obeyed.

Please read this wonderful review from Sarai of Bitten by Books.

http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=899

You may purchase the book here, if you desire:

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=662

My thanks to Sarai and Bitten by Books.

Lena

Smelly Arts 101-- Overview

2008-09-08T07:31:00.001-05:00

First, go pick up Scott Cunningham's book, "Incenses, Oils, and Brews." Here's a link:

http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0875421288

This is the latest version. I have one of the earliest, with the Robin Wood cover, so mine will be different. However, my poor book has suffered in the long years of use, and has literally fallen apart at the binding. (sigh) Because we've used it so many times for Smelly Arts Workshops, as soon as you open it, the scent of incenses wafts up. I'm going to hate to replace it.

Anyway... IMHO, there's no reason why anyone can't have lovely incenses, oils and brews in their homes. Anyone who cooks likely has many of the most common ingredients like cloves, cinnamon, and allspice already in their homes. I've been known to throw a stick of cinnamon, a handful of whole allspice, and a pinch of whole cloves in a small pot of hot water on the stove minutes before guests arrive just for the welcoming scent.

I lucked into a small pot of Corning Visionware in the thrift store, and this is my favorite brewing pot. Visionware is glass, and therefore non-reactive. It won't affect your brews in any way, nor do you have to keep it for "witchy" things only. I do, but that's a choice, not an imperative. I highly suggest a trip to the thrift store to search for these ellusive brown glass pots. They're becoming difficult to find.

While at the thrift store once, I also lucked into one of the tiny potpourri crock pots, so I have one of those as well. They may be slower to heat up, but you don't have to watch them as much when you've got a little brew simmering. I rarely make up any large amounts of a brew requiring a regular-sized crock pot, but if I ever do, I'll get one. So far in the past twenty years, it's never been needed by my coven or myself.

Like many witches, I collect mortar and pestles for their esthetic beauty as well as their usefulness. However, I also keep an electric coffee grinder as well. I have one for grinding coffee, and another for grinding herbs. The top of the herb grinder is well marked with red nail polish so I don't confuse them.

You'll want to have a box of the snack-sized zip top bags handy, as well as a Sharpie and stick-on address labels as well. Write on the label what the scent is before sticking it on the bag. That way, if you make a mistake, you've only wasted a label. Don't forget to date it.

Of course, you'll want a place to test your creations, right? Right. So, this means a censer. Don't panic if you don't have one of the fancy kinds made of brass or ceramic. All you need is a heatproof container and sand or kitty litter. Put the sand in the container, and make sure there's enough sand to disperse the heat, just in case. Better too much than not enough! I've been known to use a terra cotta plant pot and fill it with kitty litter. Don't get anal, okay?

Finally, you need the special charcoal briquettes made for burning incense. No, not the same thing as you dump on the charcoal grill every weekend! The briquettes I refer to resemble tiny hockey pucks, with a indentation in the center for dumping herb powders on. Each briquette can last an hour or so, and are perfect for the average home ritual.

Now, the reason we call this a Smelly Arts Workshop should be painfully obvious. The reason we wait until fall is so we can do this outside. We'll test a whole bunch of scents, so using the air outdoors makes perfect sense. Make just one of the stronger smelling ones inside and add just a little too much...you'll get the idea quickly. This is how you learn what a "pinch" really means!

Now grab up your BOS (Book of Shadows). You'll want to record what the formula you used was for each incense you keep. For instance, I'm highly allergic to eucalyptus, a common ingredient in some incenses. We substitute camphor. You'll find substitutions listed in the book. It really helps to note your personal formulas. After all, you may not remember next year what you did.

Now go find the recipes you want to do. You may have to make a trip to the local herb and oil shop to find some ingredients. Buy the pure essential oils, please. They do make a difference, even if they cost more.

Ready? Go make your own scents! More tomorrow!

Mabon Overview-- The Sabbat (with recipes)

2008-09-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

VII. AUTUMN EQUINOX (C. SEPT 21)

A. HISTORY

“The two Equinoxes are, as we have pointed out, times of
equilibrium. Day and night are matched, and the tide of the year
flows steadily. But while the Spring Equinox manifests the
equilibrium of an athlete poised for action, the Autumn Equinox's
theme is that of rest after labor. The Sun is about to enter the
sign of Libra, the Balance. In the Stations of the Goddess, the
Spring Equinox represents Initiation; the Autumn Equinox, Repose.
The harvest has been gathered in, both grain and fruit, yet the
Sun- though mellower and less fierce than he was- is still with
us. With symbolic aptness, there is still a week to go before
Michaelmas, the festival of Michael/Lucifer, Archangel of Fire
and Light, at which we must begin to say au revoir to his
splendor." (WBC p.116)
Unlike Lughnasadh, which marked the time of beginning to
gather the harvest and emphasized the sacrifice aspect of the
God, Autumn Equinox marks the completion of the harvest, and is a
time of thanksgiving for that abundance with an emphasis on the
future return of that abundance.
There are also legends mentioning the times and places of
balances such as the Equinoxes, dusk, dawn, and crossroads.
Places and times where/when it was neither one thing nor another.
These were reputed to be places/times when the veil between
worlds was thinnest, and great care had to be made to avoid what
we know to be psychic phenomena at such places and times.
Witches, of course seek such experiences, and often are found out
celebrating balances at balanced times. Indeed, the whole
religion seems based on Neutrality; not Good, nor Evil, but a
Natural Balance in all things. There can be no natural thing
without its opposite or counterpart.

This is also the fruit and grape harvest, so wine-making and Bacchnallia are all traditional. While we cannot reconstruct the great vats where women danced the grapes, we can still make a Bacchnallia of it with friends. A cider press is also traditional, and those are still affordable. There are wine and beer-making shops in many cities and many mail-order places.

B. THE ALTAR

1. ALTAR CLOTH AND CANDLES SHOULD BE RED, SYMBOLIZING FIRE.
2. DECORATE THE CIRCLE WITH AUTUMN FLOWERS, ACORNS, GOURDS, PINE
CONES, CORN SHEAF, ETC.
3. A BOWL OF FRUIT IS ON THE ALTAR.
4. OFFERINGS SIMILAR TO SUMMER SOLSTICE SACRIFICE OFFERINGS SHOULD BE NEAR THE ALTAR.
5. HAVE A SMALL BASKET OF DRIED FALL LEAVES ON THE ALTAR.

C. RITUALS

1. SCATTER THE LEAVES ABOUT THE CIRCLE, SAYING APPROPRIATE WORDS SUCH AS THOSE USED IN "SOLITARY PRACTITIONER" P.140.
2. WALK WILD PLACES, GATHERING SEED PODS AND DRIED PLANTS AS PART OF THE RITUAL. SOME CAN BE USED TO DECORATE THE HOME; OTHERS SAVED FOR FUTURE HERBAL MAGIC.
3. USING FRUIT FROM BOWL ON ALTAR, GIVE ONE TO EACH COVENER TO SYMBOLIZE REAPING REWARDS OF JOYOUS HARVEST.
4. A PHRASE TO BE USED FOR RITUAL OFFERING OF SACRIFICES IS, "WE OFFER A PORTION OF OUR FORTUNES TO GO WHERE IT MAY BE NEEDED".
5. HONOR DIONYSUS IN RITUAL BY MAKING GRAPE WINE.
6. BEFORE THE CIRCLE, GO TO A FARMER'S MARKET AND GET BUNCHES OF CORN AND WHEAT FOR UPCOMING RITUALS.
7. AS PART OF CIRCLE, GATHER MANDRAKE ROOTS FOR AMULETS. CARVE THEM INTO MALE OR FEMALE SHAPES FOR PROTECTION, OR FERTILITY.
8. Poetry

'Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods,
And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt,
And night by night the monitory blast
Wails in the key-hole, telling how it pass'd
O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes,
Or grim, wide wave, and now the power is felt
Of melancholy, tenderer in it's moods
Than any joy indulgent summer dealt.'
William Cunningham

D. SYMBOLISM

1. COMPLETION OF THE HARVEST.
2. DAY AND NIGHT ARE EQUAL.
3. THE PREGNANT GODDESS WATCHES THE WANING GOD DECLINE, KNOWING HE WILL BE REBORN AGAIN.

E. Suggestions for celebrations

1. Have a Roman Bacchnallia Feast. Have everyone bring a potluck dish, and recline on pillows all over the floor if inside or on blankets or sheets if outside.

2. Have a sedate wine tasting. Have everyone bring a favorite wine to share. You provide the crackers, cheese and fruit/veggie tray. Play classical music and pretend you are yuppie pagans. (grin)

3. If you are lucky enough to have a skilled herbalist/botanist available, let them lead an expedition into a wild place for seed-pod and mandrake gathering. If not, make a trip to a local Botanical Garden and grab one of those who work there to tell you all about the plants. Sometimes, at this time of year, you can wrangle a propogated plant from them, if you are polite and show great interest.

4. Have the whole group invest in a wine-making kit and appropriate recipes. Everyone gather to make wine, beer and/or mead. Here again, a potluck is appropriate.

5. Oktoberfest is also seasonal and usually held just after Mabon. Don’t be a Sabbat-go-to-meeting pagan. There are Oktoberfests held all around the country. Grab up your pagan friends, go, drink beer (in moderation!!) and eat all that delicious German food.

F. Recipies

1. Butternut Squash Casserole

2 cups cooked, mashed butternut squash
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. coconut flavoring
Crunchy Cereal Topping (following)

Combine first seven ingredients; pour into a lightly greased 8¬inch square baking dish. Bake at 350F for 35 minutes. Sprinklewith Topping, and bake 10 minutes more. Yield: 6_8 servings.

Crunchy Cereal Topping
1_1/2 cups cornflake cereal crumbs
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter, melted
Combine all ingredients. Makes 2©1/2 cups.

2. Acorn Squash Cake

1/4 butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup cooked, mashed acorn squash
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all_purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
Streusel Topping

Beat Butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add egg, beating well. Stir in squash and vanilla.Combine flour and next four ingredients in a separate container.Gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed after eachaddition. Pour batter into greased 9 inch square pan. Sprinklewith Streusel topping. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes. cool cake onwire rack. Yield: 9 servings.

Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Combine all ingredients. Yield: 1©1/2 cups

3. Creamy Squash Soup ( a real favorite!)

4 cups cooked mashed butternut squash (can substitute 2 cups ofmashed cooked acorn squash for 2 cups of butternut)
2 (14 oz each) cans ready_to_serve chicken broth
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup whipping cream, divided
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Process half of first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor, and pour into a large saucepan. Repeat with remaining half. Bring to a boil over medium heat; gradually stir in half of whipping cream, and cook until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat. Beat remaining whipping cream at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Dollop on each serving of soup. Sprinkle with nutmeg. 7 cups.

Review by Berdache, Jaysa, and Tira: Pretty good...Good color and taste.

Acorn Squash Bowls
Cut off tops of squash; cut a thin slice from bottoms tostand squash upright. Remove seeds, and brown tops of shells in a hot greased skillet.

Bread Machine Cherry Yogurt Bread

2008-09-04T03:24:00.000-05:00

This bread tends to sour easily, so watch your timing and have the bread machine go off about half an hour before you want to serve. That way, the loaf has time to cool and firm, but not enough time to lose that delicious moist flavor. Wrap it tightly and store in the fridge.

Equinox Cleaning

2008-09-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Equinox Cleaning

Is this like spring cleaning? Yes. Spring cleaning was a necessity in historical times when the house remained closed up all winter, gathering soot and smoke from the fireplace as well as the accumulated mess made when people are cooped up inside for long periods of time.

That being said, we all need to do a thorough cleaning now and then. I recommend doing so at the equinoxes. In fall, we’re getting ready to shut our homes up for the winter and the holidays. Friends will visit, parties will be thrown, and of course we all want to show our homes off to the best advantage. In spring, we’re driven to open our homes to the warm spring breezes.

However, let’s be honest. Very few of us have the time to strip our rooms completely one by one, washing anything that holds still for it. However, a few things can be done in a very short period of time.

First things first! Take down the curtains, carpets, and throws. Dump them in the washer and/or load them in the car for a trip to the dry cleaners. (Don’t drive off, yet!)

Now bring in three cardboard boxes or three containers. One is labeled “Keep,” another “Put Away” and the third labeled “Give Away.” Take everything off of the horizontal surfaces. Throw away anything that doesn’t fit in the box categories. Think about your knick-knacks and decorations. Are they seasonally appropriate? Do you have so many you can’t dust without causing destruction? Put some away and keep only the ones you love and are seasonally appropriate. For instance, I have a lovely ocean blue pitcher and tray in my living room. They reflect the light and sparkle all summer, but in the winter they’re horribly out of place. I’ll put them away for the winter, and replace them with a more seasonal item like my ceramic crèche come Christmas. (Yes, I said Christmas. Please, let’s be real. I may not celebrate Jesus’ birthday, but I do put up a tree and enjoy the season.)

Put the Give Away box in the car only after you’re done cleaning for the day. Put the Put Away box where it will annoy you until you do put everything away where they belong. Bag up the trash and toss.

Now that all the horizontal surfaces are cleared, dust using a lamb’s wool duster, one of the electrostatic dusters, or even a used dryer softener sheet. Please, no feather dusters. They just flick it in the air to settle back down later. What’s the point of that? Start from the top and work your way down.

Take the Keep box and clean everything you can. Wipe down every knick-knack, the sides of the potted plants, the pictures, and even the remotes. Set them out to dry.

Now vacuum anything that holds still for it. The furniture, the carpets, the tables, and whatever else is left in the room. Yes, that’s what that duster brush attachment is for. Use it. Same for the upholstery attachment. Move what furniture you can, but don’t give yourself a backache trying to move the sofa unless you can do so easily.

Now grab your keys and take the stuff to the dry cleaner, and stop by any charity box or thrift store to drop off the contents of the Give Away box. When you come home, put your reduced collection of knick-knacks back on the shelves and rest in your revitalized room.

Tomorrow/next week, you can choose another room and repeat the process. Pick up what’s clean from the dry cleaners while you’re dropping off the next load. My curtains are mostly all washable, so I only take the comforter in. However, I’ve included two opportunities for those who must dry clean their curtains.

I do the Public Areas one week, the Kitchen the next, Bathrooms, and on the last week the Bedrooms. By spreading out the dry cleaning from Week One to Week Four, I don’t faint when I see the bill! LOL!

Polymer Pen Set for your BOS or Desk

2008-09-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

First, let me give you the URL for a full set of instructions from the Carol Duvall show on HGTV.com. You will need to go print this out and see all the instructions.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_other/article/0,,HGTV_3239_1376361,00.html

IMHO, you should have a good pen dedicated to the task of writing in your BOS. (You do have a BOS, don't you? You aren't just gulping down anything you find on the net, are you? That sort of behavior will give your computer indigestion, and you don't learn anything that way.) Well, I'll assume for now that you have one.

We're entering the traditional time of year when --in my trad at least-- things turn much more esoteric rather than practical. As the seasons change to the colder months, we spend much more time indoors, and our Craft takes a turn toward indoor activities now that there are fewer herbs to gather, and less to do outside. The last of the fruits from our gardens will be preserved and put away to bring a little summer into the winter months. The rows of pickles, jars of tomatoes and herbs, and the fruit preserves bring much joy and satisfaction to our lives.

Soon we'll do the second of our equinox cleaning/cleansing, and prepare to shut ourselves in for the winter. We'll also make our new corn dollies to protect our homes and absorb negativity, allowing them to also gather energy beneath the altars until Samhain, when we'll ritually burn the old ones to release that negativity from our lives.

We'll do one last "smelly arts" workshop, preparing incenses, oils, and soaps in the cool air of fall this October. This must be done outside, since some of the incenses are the "throw it on the brazier and run" protection and cleansing variety.

In November, we make the ritual candles we'll use all year on our altars, allowing them to charge out of sight under the altar until they're needed. Most of us have saved candle stubs and wax all year, just for this one event.

All these recipes and instructions must be written down, as will the lessons on rituals, history, divination, and spellcraft. Who could remember it all otherwise? Even I, who've been doing much of this since I could walk, can't remember everything, and I don't try. I write it down. I don't depend on the internet. Files become corrupted, hard drives fry, and websites go down with alarming frequency.

This year, I'll have a new pen to record our adventures with, the old one having sputtered its last recently. I've chosen a beautiful silver and blue this time. Should be lovely.

Lena

What's in Season and Corn Fritters

2008-09-01T03:20:00.001-05:00

If you've never tried corn fritters, give these a whirl. I serve them for dessert with a pork roast.

Check out the zuchinni in the produce section! Yum!

Lena

International Coffee Coolers

2008-08-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Who can afford those expensive lattes, frappes, and other coffee treats? Not me! Not when I can make my own any time I want one for pennies!

For extra flavor, head over to World Market (if you have one handy) and get those flavored syrups like the coffee shops use. They even come sugar free! I've even added expresso crystals for an "extra shot" just like those expensive coffee shops.

Lena

What's In Season for August?

2008-08-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Besides all those luscious fresh items from the farmers' market, there's nothing like easy ice cream to enjoy after a hot day. I'm rabid to try the ice cream sandwich cake.

I love summer...

Lena

Recipe-- Egyptian Salad

2008-08-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not much for romaine lettuce, but this salad was intriguing enough just by its name to make me try it. Hey! Not bad! The dressing was the best part. That tangy dressing is well worth noting.

It's perfect for when you want something light and refreshing. A personal tip: chill the cider vinegar in the fridge. I keep a small bottle in the chill chest all summer.

Lena

Personalize Your Picnic and Be Prepared

2008-08-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

No pictures today, just great ideas.

1. Grab up a pair of storage totes with locking lids instead of a picnic basket and bulky cooler. If you can, get them in different colors. In one, you can dump a bag of ice and keep your drinks cool, and the other can stow all the "dry" supplies like paper plates, napkins, clear garbage bags (one for trash, one for dirty dishes and clear so you can tell which is which), condiments, utensils, can opener, swiss army knife (several jobs in one tool!) and a container of wet wipes for cleanup.

2. If you use plastic ware, consider using a Sharpie to mark each family member's name on their own personalized utensils, cups, and plates. This can cut down on confusion and sibling arguments. You'll save money and trees.

3. Grab an old tablecloth or sheet at the thrift store and decorate it to suit your personal tastes with fabric paint, buttons, and even embroidery if you're ambitious. Stick it in the "dry" tote and never have to worry about what to sit on again. If sibling rivalry is a serious problem, use a Sharpie to divide the table into each child's own "area." You can renew the marks as needed, and allow each child to decorate their area with handprints, their names, and other symbols of themselves. Long after they're gone, you'll have a lovely keepsake.

4. For outdoor rituals, don't hesitate to mark your cloth like an altar, noting where you'd like certain items to fit your trad. This really helps when you have others helping you set up.

The Pagan Garden-- Chamomile

2008-08-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Whew! Where did I get this much information on Chamomile? From Rodale's Encyclopedia of Herbs (ISBN 0-87857-699-1) Sorry about the crooked one. My poor book is falling apart after over twenty years.

I chose Chamomile because of its use --and upon occasion abuse-- by pagans and herbalists. While it is soothing, the tea can cause overdose. I know, I'm one of those who got overdosed and slept for nearly 24 hours!

Also, note that the oil is derived from the flower, so please don't give it to someone with a pollen allergy.

Coconut Rice Pudding

2008-08-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Whoops! Okay, so they're crooked. Still looks tasty. Skip the rose water if you like and just add a bit of water or coconut milk.

Fruit In Season: Plumbs and Plum Freezer Jam (Easy!)

2008-08-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Plums are in season and so good for you! They don't last long, so grab them and eat them. Or better yet, PRESERVE them! You won't believe how easy this is.

I used Ball brand Natural Gel No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin, 'cause I'm always dieting. Besides the Pectin, you will need about pile (about 3-4 pounds) of cut up plum, minus the seeds. You can also take the skins off by blanching them in boiling water for just a minute or two, then dumping them in ice water. The skins should just rub right off. Now here's the rest:

1 cup of unsweetened white grape or apple juice

Lemon juice if listed in the recipe inside the box of pectin. You will need it for plums or peaches.

Sugar and/or an artificial sweetner like Splenda

Ball Brand Freezer Jars.

1. Gradually add the pectin into the juice(s) until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil hard 1 minute, and keep stirring. Remove from heat.

2. Immediately add the prepared fruit into the pectin mixture. Stir vigorously for 1 minute. Stir in the sugar/sweetner, according to the guidelines inside the box. (Pay attention! Don't skip reading those guidelines.)

3. Ladle your freezer jam into clean Ball Freezer Jars, leaving 1/2" of headspace. Apply caps, and refrigerate until set, but NO LONGER than 24 hours if you intend to freeze. Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to a year.

Yield: 4-5 (8 oz) half-pints.

Recipe: How To Grill Fish

2008-08-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

I admit before I read this I was terrified of grilling fish. How simple can you get?

Craft: How to Make a Seasonal Garland

2008-08-19T07:12:00.001-05:00

I'm sure all of us have made chaplets for our heads at Beltane and the like. How simple can you get? No? Hmm. I'll have to make a note to tell you how. Lovely things.

Anyway...

Making a seasonal garland is as simple as braiding hair. Easier, in fact. Here's what you do. I'm going to assume you have access to *some* natural items like small branches of leaves and perhaps a few flowers, but not nearly enough to make a garland longer than the length of a coven's altar. Certainly not enough to encircle the magic space, if you desire to make a physical symbol of your will.

You'll need a length of rope at least long enough to cover your desired size, plus approximately one foot. I recommend cotton clothesline. Not only is it cheap, it's a natural material.
The greenery you've collected.
Silk flowers to fill in the gaps. Watch dollar stores for bargains, then fill in with a few very good pieces from craft stores if you need to save money.
Florist's wire or if you're really tight for money, use twine rolled up until it fits easily in your hand.
One permanent marker

Tie one end of the rope to the leg of a table, or at minimum a door knob and work while sitting on the floor. Double the rope up until you find the middle and mark it with the marker. This is your ending point. Lay the first bit of greenery near the doorknob or table leg and facing toward the end. Tie it down tightly, leaving the wire intact. Lay the next bit right up against it and wrap the wire to secure the greenery there. Contine adding greenery and wrapping unti the stem overlaps your middle mark. Stop. Tie off or cut the wire securely.

Now go to the other end and repeat the sequence, covering the rope with greenery in a pleasing pattern. Save one of the prettiest and fullest bits for the center to finish it off. I made one for Yule years ago, and we still use it now and then. They're pretty durable with care.

If you wish, you may also wrap the garland loosely with wired ribbon, feathered boas, or whatever suits your needs. While I never did this, another coven took the time to "write in Theban certain protective words and symbols on the wired ribbon." I learned of it when their HPS came to thank me for sharing the technique. (You'd be amazed what happens when you get three or more HPS' in the same room over coffee. No coven secrets of course! Just shared fun no worse than a gaggle of women at a quilting bee.)

I recommend storing the garland in a wreath holder, or a plastic tote. Take off the real greenery first. Silk greenery is best for long-term use, and you can add to the garland as money allows.

Lena

Report on Circle of Ivy Activities Meeting

2008-08-18T08:17:00.001-05:00

Report of Circle of Ivy Activities Meeting
August 17, 2008

Today’s Activities
We made corn dollies, as previously discussed in the July meeting, using the method found by KD on DIYnetwork.com, listed as Make a Country Cornshuck Doll. Directions were entered into Lena’s BOS for use next year, if needed. For those who look at my Blog, the directions were given on 07/17/08.
Members are also reminded that we will be doing our Smelly Arts Workshop for incenses and bath salts in October, and to please make sure you purchase the essential oils and powders of your choice. Also recommended: Epsom Salts if you wish to make bath salts.

Next Meeting:

Choices for next meeting to celebrate Mabon were as follows:

Fruit Preserving, Baked Apples, and Apple Butter
Sun Wheel of Grape Vines – Members are still welcome to collect grape vines after grape harvest in Lena’s backyard.
Witches’ Ladder and Onion Braids—Members are welcome to bring sprouted onions for a fast braid to next meeting, but will not be an official event.
Wine, Brews and Wine tasting party – rejected for financial considerations
Fall Garland
Rattles, Gourd Dippers, Gourd Birdhouses, and/or Horn of Plenty
Quilting Bee – on hold until January
Mabon Incense – will be made during Smelly Arts Workshop
Stone Magic—Menhirs, Patio Stones, and Stone Painting (on hold until rainy season ends)
Grove Blessing and Rite of Thanks

Short List of Chosen Activities
Fruit Preserving, Baked Apples, and Apple Butter—Please bring apples and fresh fruits of your choice. (Peaches, plums, apricots, figs, seedless grapes)
Make Rattles and/or Horn of Plenty—Paper Mache and dry beans or nuts in shells will be needed.
Grove Blessing and Rite of Thanks

Drink: Toast the Tropics!

2008-08-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I personally don't drink alcohol, but many do. As long as you're safely ensconced in your own home and don't intend to drive, please feel free to indulge. I'll be interested to know how these turn out. Write me, won't you?

Recipe: Tropical Snacks

2008-08-14T07:51:00.000-05:00

These snacks are crunchy and definitely low fat. Don't expect the taste of a potato chip!

Another thing you can do requires only a stack of tortilla chips, seasonings, a pizza cutter, and time in your oven.

Stack the tortillas several to a layer. Use the pizza cutter to cut them into wedges. Lay them out on a sheet pan. Sprinkle them with whatever are your favorite flavorings, such as chili powder for a Mexican flavor, creole seasoning for a taste of New Orleans, or garlic powder for an Italian flair. I've even sprinkled a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon to satisfy a sweet tooth. The choice is yours.

Bake in your oven for a few minutes. In mine, about 10-15 minutes was all I needed.

Set them out with a bit of salsa or cheese dip for the non-sweet ones, and enjoy. It may take a few tries to find your personal flavor. Be persistent. However, be warned they do not store well. After a few days they're more stale than yesterday's news. Break them up and use them on top of a casserole or something.

Recipe: Mexican Hero Sandwiches

2008-08-13T07:47:00.000-05:00

Baby, it's too hot to cook! Let's have something easy and delicious. Look at those sauces!

Craft-- Wall Art You Can Change with the Seasons

2008-08-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

Great Décor in a Flash

Whatever your decorating style, from formal to fanciful, wall art made with STYROFOAM® brand foam will enhance your home. Here are a few more ideas:

Papers: Cover it with scrapbook paper, textured paper, handmade paper, wallpaper, maps, travel brochures, newspapers, gift wrap, even household foil.

Photos: Create a personal photo gallery by ordering large prints of favorite digital snapshots from an online developer. Cut sheets of STYROFOAM brand foam to match print sizes. Adhere photos to foam sheets, cover edges with ribbon and hang.

Fabrics: Choose upholstery fabric, quilt fabric, scarves, bandanas, faux fur or table linens. Change your wall art every time you change your tablecloth by wrapping your creative foam canvas in coordinating dinner napkins. Wrap a square of STYROFOAM brand foam in a pillowcase for custom master suite style.

Many fabric stores sell Fat Quarters and remnants very cheaply. You might find a 1/4 yard of fabric perfectly in tune with not only your decor, but the seasonal celebrations as well. Think of a circle of sunflowers for Litha, a rectangular display of pumpkin fabric for Samhain, and wedding fabrics for Beltane, glued with lace and orange blossoms. (Do I really need to mention Yule?) Why, you could have an entire "wardrobe" of interchangeable shapes and colors for your walls! (I provided an example of a "picture" on fabric to give you ideas.)

Naturals: Get today’s eco-chic look by covering your foam canvas with textured or handmade papers and layer on twigs, bark, vines, leaves, grasses, moss, flowers, sea shells or river rocks.

Mosaics: Glue small tiles, beads and broken china onto the foam canvas, and then fill it with a grouting medium to create a lightweight mosaic.

Hang Around Awhile: To hang these custom wall art pieces, simply pin and glue a small sawtooth hanger to the top center back of each piece. Or, place reusable adhesive putty on each corner (the putty will not adhere to fabric). For more elegant effect, cut a length from luxurious ribbon and glue ends to top back corners of each piece. For multi-panel groupings, a level is an essential tool for professional results.

Click here for instructions for these and more home decor project ideas.
View some of the paper selections available at your local store.

Side Salad Garden

2008-08-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is more or less for the visual, though the text explains more. What's important is the concept of packing a small garden into a small space, like this tiny little side yard.

You can do this in a pot, and have salad greens even in winter if you do this now. Give it a chance to get going before the cold winds blow.

Native Jewelry Holder

2008-08-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

What a clever idea this is! My necklaces and bracelets for ritual use are varied and fun. I plan to use this project to put them on display.

http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/polymer-clay-native-jewelry-holder/index.html

Lena

Recipes-- Tropical Trifle and Dessert Gazpacho

2008-08-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Notes on the Trifle:

Fat Free pound cake is a royal pain to find. If you can't, you can either make your own or just get the regular one.

Trifle bowls are delighful to show off this dessert, but any good very large bowl will do.

Notes on the Gazpacho: I'm a recent convert to these. My first taste of a tomato gazpacho was memorable only for the nausea it induced. Needless to say, I was prejudiced until I tried my first cold fruit soup a year ago without knowing it was technically a gazpacho at all. Give it a try!

Recipes- Winning Snacks

2008-08-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Healthy, portable snacks are important these days. Who needs those tasteless cardboard granola bars or the expensive teensy "power" bars with more preservatives than a morgue?

Recipe-- Can-Do Tomatoes

2008-08-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

Craft- Air Dry Your Flowers

2008-08-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't this just the prettiest way to air dry your flowers? And who says it has to be just the flowers? Bundle up those herbs and get them hung, too.

Happy Lammas!

2008-08-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I hope you're enjoying your Sabbat by baking bread and enjoying the warmth of summer with fun things to eat and good friends to share with. I'll see you on Monday!

Lena

The Day Before Lammas

2008-07-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Let's do a fast inventory and prepare your altar in a stress-free manner.

1. Altar cloth
2. Candles
3. Incense
4. Salt
5. Cakes and Ale items and a platter/glasses for all.
6. Seasonal decorations

Do your make-aheads now. Bake the bread, and consider your drinks. If you're making the Slushy Punch, this is your last chance to get it frozen.

Do as much pre-prep as you can for tomorrow. Chop the vegetables and bag them, make the rice (if any), and mix any dry ingredients. Leave the butter out to soften tonight or early in the morning tomorrow, depending on when guests will arrive.

Set the table well in advance and have all the serving dishes, plates, glasses, and flatware laid out. Consider a large tub, cooler, or bowl of ice so guests don't have to keep opening the refrigerator.

Give the public areas of the house/covenstead a cleaning and asperge with lemon water to cleanse and freshen the area. Sprinkle new salt if things have been a bit stressful in your home of late. Don't forget the bathroom.

Are you traveling elsewhere to celebrate? What can you put in the car tonight to save time and worry tomorrow?

Lammas Recipe-- Choose A Grain Casserole

2008-07-30T10:27:00.000-05:00

This is a great "must go" recipe for leftover cooked chicken and cooked rice before it becomes something resembling a science experiment in the back of the refrigerator.

Lammas Recipe-- Southwest Spaghetti Pie

2008-07-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

The pasta forms the crust of this delightful dish that's fun to eat.

In these difficult economic times, stretching your food dollar becomes very important. Pasta, beans, and rice are all grain foods that are filling and inexpensive.

Lammas Recipe-- Sausage and Summer Squash

2008-07-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

This was surprisingly delicious! Even my DH, Mr. Meat and Potatoes, ate several helpings.

Lammas Recipes-- Muffins for any Occasion

2008-07-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

Muffins are an easy finger food bread to serve at Lamas. These two recipes fit right in with the grain harvest theme of Lammas without much effort.

Note the variations can be served at other Sabbats.

Lammas Recipe-- Easy Ice Cream Treats NO MACHINE

2008-07-24T09:21:00.000-05:00

Look at the Chocolate Ice Cream recipe below. No ice cream maker needed!

Craft: Upgrade your Flip-Flops! (LONG)

2008-07-24T06:08:00.006-05:00

It may be the dog days of summer for me here in Florida, but I know in other climates the weather may already be starting to cool while folks get ready for back to school.

I don't know about you, but my flip-flops are looking a little tired after a long summer of hard duty. They've had all this time to conform to my high arches, and they're oh-so-comfy! However, the thongs are looking just a bit dingy and worn.

In these hard economic times, I don't want to waste a perfectly good pair of shoes! So, I'm giving my flip-flops an upgrade with some scraps, ribbon, buttons, and a few beads leftover from other projects.

All you do is glue, wrap, tie or sew on your embellishments, and voila! For instance, I took a pair of gray dollar store flip flops, some gray satin ribbon, and two pretty maracasite-and-"pearl" buttons. I glued (I used household Liquid Nails) one end of the ribbon at the base of the thong and started wrapping the ribbon around until I got to the toe piece. Another dab of glue, and I continued wrapping all the way to the other side, securing with another dab of glue. Then I sewed the pretty buttons at the toe while I watched TV that night. Those ugly gray flip-flops are now pretty enough to wear on a hot summer evening when DH takes me out. Amazing.

See the green flip-flops above? I did much the same with my pink flip flops to make them into bedroom "slippers" to match my favorite pink bathrobe. (Yeah, I like pink. Shocking, isn't it?) For this project, I had leftover fat quarters (1/4 yards of fabric, usually found by the millions for about a dollar in the back of Jo-Ann's) from a quilting project. I took my rotary cutter and the pinking blade, cutting 1"x6" strips. Again, while I watched TV, I tied them on the thong until it couldn't hold one more, alternating colors and patterns. They're surprisingly comfortable!

I may be pagan, but I'm not a skyclad person. Sorry, there are just too many hazards like sticks, ant nests, and other things for my feet to feel comfy walking around bare in my backyard. So, a special pair of enhanced flip flops are next on my list to make! Now I won't have to worry and still feel as if I have a special pair of flip-flops for our next outdoor ritual.

What could be more pagan than re-purposing/recycling those worn and tacky flip-flops into something you'd be proud to wear? Go green and enjoy what's left of the warm weather!

Lammas Recipe- Country Cassoulet

2008-07-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

I highly suggest the following additions and changes.

Cook up at least 1 cup of rice per person you're serving and serve this cassoulet over the rice. You can also mix the rice in if you serve buffet style.

Secondly, unless you're feeding small appetites or 1-2 persons, double or more this recipe.

Lammas Recipe-- Best Corn Bread

2008-07-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

This is southern-style corn bread, soft and sweet. It's so good, it can be served for a light dessert.

Pay attention to the Confetti Corn Bread. This one is especially appropriate for Lammas.

Lammas- Corn and Sausage Chowder

2008-07-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

COI Day today

2008-07-20T20:37:00.003-05:00

My coven, Circle of Ivy, met today. I call it a coven because that's the closest term to what it is. Only the HP and I actually do rituals together for Sabbats, but that's because everyone has such crazy schedules and most of my friends are solitaries by preference. We get together once a month to share projects and crafts with a pagan theme.

Today, I made a bread braid as an example of how to do one for Lammas. It's a simple thing. Yes, I cheated and used a bread machine to do the dough. So sue me. Unfortunately, it hadn't risen completely by the time everyone left to go home for their evening meal. Oh, well. It proved the point about how easy bread sculpture really is. I'll make a God Bread for Lammas next weekend.

Then we talked about making a trip to one of the local farmers' markets for cucumbers to make pickles. My friends were shocked to see how easy it is to make refrigerator pickles, especially using the Ball spice bags I picked up in Wal-Mart in the section where they keep the mason jars. Water, sugar, vinegar, cucumbers, and the bag of spices are all you need.

We had a lot of fun running around my yard picking figs off my trees and eating them right then and there, considering there was just enough to do so after the squirrels and birds had got there first! LOL! I don't really mind not having enough to preserve this year. We almost lost one of the three trees to carpenter ants and a winter storm, so we're short this year. Next year, maybe.

So, we've had our fun for this month and discussed upcoming projects. Next month, we'll make our corn dollies. Most of us still need to go get our corn husks and allow them to dry. This will take awhile in Florida, and may require that trick I mentioned about two air conditioner filters and a fan in this humidity! Whoa, it's been sticky here lately!

I'm not too sure what we'll do in September. Fruit preserves, most likely. Another trip to the farmer's markets should provide all we need, but there's always the grocery store. I've got two boxes of fruit pectin just waiting for the fruit and jars. Nothing like preserving a little summer sunshine in a jar for the cool months ahead.

I think we'll do a Smelly Arts Workshop in October. By then, the heat will have broken enough for us to use my gazebo out back. Sometimes those protection incenses can be hard on the eyes and throat, but they're too useful to do without. We might even combine it with soap making. We could all use a little ritual soap, and the craft stores now make it so easy, it's worth the time.

November is a real COI favorite-- candlemaking! We had a ball with this last year. I'm down to two of our ritual candles, so it's definitely time. This year, we've managed to collect a few more essential oils, so we'll have a bit more choice of scents. My aquistion goal before then: bayberry! DH has a family tradition of burning bayberry candles on Christmas Eve, so I'd like to indulge him with a couple of homemade candles.

Now those are just the coven projects! I've much more in the works privately to share, like getting a bit ahead on the holiday gifts. A few pagan friends could use a charm bracelet, my grandchildren need warm Halloween costumes, and of course there's all the holiday mayhem yet to come!

Lena

Lammas Recipe-- Any Fruit Coffee Cake

2008-07-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

This versatile recipe works for many Sabbats, depending on what fruits are available locally.

To make sour milk: For each cup of sour milk needed, place 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar in a 1-cup measuring cup. Add enough milk to make one cup. Stir. Let the mixture sit about 5 minutes before using.

Alternatively, you can buy buttermilk powder in the baking section of any good grocery store and rehydrate what you need.

Make a Corn Dolly for Lammas

2008-07-17T09:38:00.003-05:00

Since this is the grain harvest, unshucked corn is readily available for use making corn shuck dollies as goddess figures or protective decorations for the pagan household.

In any case, I normally make mine between now and Samhain, depending on the harvest. Then I keep it in its basket "bed" under the altar to absorb positive energies and be blessed.

At Imbolg, of course, I burn the old one to disperse the energies and negativity it absorbed throughout the year as a protective decoration. Naturally, of course, the new dolly spends her Imbolg night in her Bride's Bed before going on my wall.

In the meantime, my holiday decorations from Samhain through Yule can take her place on the wall. Keeps things from getting stale.

Does anyone change their dolly's accessories or colors to match the seasons? I'm thinking of doing this, but I'm wondering about the bother.

Lammas Recipe-- Corn Fritters

2008-07-17T08:27:00.000-05:00

These are easy treats to serve during the ritual Cakes and Ale. Just add a dipping bowl of maple syrup or honey.

The Apple Fritters are also perfect for Mabon.

Picnic Bread Basket

2008-07-16T08:47:00.003-05:00

Another idea is to save all those bread bits you hollowed out and make bread pudding with it.

If you've never made bread pudding, this is so "green" and pagan, you really ought to consider it. I save bread heels in a ziploc bag in the freezer. When I make bread and there's any leftover bread, it goes in the bag too. About 4-6 cups makes a bread pudding unless you're like me and have men with hollow legs.

Anyway, this sturdy bread is great for picnics, the beach, or any occasion where you need a sturdy edible container. It's great for fried chicken.

Organizing the Perfect Picnic

2008-07-16T08:39:00.000-05:00

What could be more romantic than a picnic with the sweetie? Besides this, I'll try to dig up my Bread Basket for Picnics. Yes, it's a basket made of bread you can eat. In the meantime...

Planning the Perfect Picnic
When you think of a picnic, do you conjure up idyllic visions of wicker baskets, red-checked tablecloths, and a baguette, cheese board and bottle of wine arranged artfully beside you while you lounge peacefully by the side of a lake? In reality, your last picnic may have involved bug bites, squashed peanut butter sandwiches, and collapsing paper plates. Take heart, though -- you really can have a storybook-perfect picnic! All it takes is a little planning.

* The Picturesque Picnic. A picnic just isn't a picnic without a charming cloth to spread out on the ground. A colorful, inexpensive tablecloth, sheet or blanket will make your picnic a delight to the senses, not to mention more comfortable, as you enjoy your cloth's wonderful ability to keep dirt and bugs off of you and out of the food. Instead of dragging along that boring old paper ware on your picnic, pick up a set of nice-looking, reusable plastic plates and cups. If you don't have a wicker picnic basket, let the kids decorate a large, sturdy box with contact paper and markers. Keep your tablecloth and special plates in your basket so you'll be ready to picnic whenever the sunshine and green grass call to you. Better yet, get one or two of those plastic storage boxes. One can be a “dry” box for the food and utensils, the other can hold ice and the drinks.
* Be Picnic-Equipped. One of the most indispensable gadgets to bring along on a picnic is a deluxe pocketknife. In addition to a knife blade, it should have scissors, a corkscrew and a can opener. When armed with one of these, you can handle any food or drink that needs slicing, peeling, trimming or prying open. If you do somehow find yourself stranded in the great outdoors with a lovely chunk of Cheddar and no knife to cut it with, just whip out your wallet: any plastic card can double as an impromptu cheese knife! For convenient cleanup of hands and faces, bring baby wipes or dampen several paper towels and put them in a resealable plastic bag. You'll also be glad you remembered a couple of extra plastic bags for garbage and dirty dishes (just don't get them mixed up! Use the clear trash bags.). Save money by saving all those little packets of ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and sweeteners in a resealable plastic bag. Clever food storage companies have also lately come out with disposable plastic storage containers that stack neatly. No more lugging home the Tupperware and spending an hour at the sink washing it all. It may seem silly and not very elegant, but a milk jug with a bit of water in the bottom frozen in the freezer will keep beverages chilled, lessen the chance of spills, and the small closeable opening keeps insects at bay.
· Perfect Picnic Food. Choose foods that don't require many utensils for serving or eating once you're settled onto your picnic blanket. Ideally, you should be able to eat most picnic foods with your hands, although we do advocate grabbing a few plastic forks to enjoy your favorite salad. There is certainly something very charming about a blanket holding a cheese knife and a tiny cutting board arranged with wedges of brie and gorgonzola. For all the other food, though, try to do most of the necessary slicing at home -- it's much easier to do in your kitchen (or to have the deli do it) than to attempt slicing meat, cheese, bread and watermelon for 6 people using a pocketknife. Desserts are best when already in individual portions, like cookies, brownies and cupcakes. Just remember that all sweet foods including fruits attract stinging insects.
· Emergency Kit. Choose and pack in the same stackable storage containers a few simple first aid supplies, like bandaids, insect sting ointments, sunburn sprays, sunscreen, and the like. If anyone is allergic to common outdoor items like bee stings, make sure you carry the appropriate remedy like benedryl or epi-pens.
· Getting Fancy about it. Believe it or not, you really can afford to get elegant with your picnic. The so-called dining pavilions available in Kmart or other similar stores are a worthwhile investment, with some minor changes you can make at home. Get the cheap ones without all that mosquito netting. Use old white sheets you can pick up in thrift stores and a box of safety pins or even clothespins to create your own side “walls”. A few spare clothespins to tie back the walls you want to open to catch a breeze are more than adequate. Should one of those summer showers threaten, you can still be cozy and dry while you finish your picnic. Take it from me, these really do work and are worth the trouble.

Hot Rod- Over the Stove Utensil Rack for under $20

2008-07-16T07:00:00.002-05:00

This idea is so simple, it's almost scary. For instance, I found this towel bar for $10 at Home Depot.

http://contractorservices.homedepot.com/StoreProducts/ProductInfo.aspx?cid=1008257&pid=3dee4a24-1e09-411a-a043-8c35de083ac8 .

For those with more room, a stainless steel rod on brackets is ideal. Hey, could you even hang towels on it? LOL!!

Kid's Bench made Fast

2008-07-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

This is almost cheating, it's so easy. Stock upper kitchen cabinets can be about $100 or less, so it pays to shop around.

Thinking Ahead-- Candle Magick Prep

2008-07-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

My dear friends, as the summer storms cause us to lose power, I do hope you're saving your candle stubs. Aren't you?

Cut the tops off your used gallon milk jugs and label them with the seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and black. (More colors if you need, of course) Drop your candle stubs into the appropriate bin. Bug your friends for theirs, if they have them. I tack my bins to the wall of my Working shed for easy sorting, but you may not have the room for this.

Do this year 'round as you use up your candles, especially your consecrated ones. Why waste all that lovely energy you expended? You don't just waste them, do you? I didn't think so!

Take the time to make sure of your stock of herbs, crystal bits, and other components like copal. Buy a bit at a time. The essential oils are frightfully expensive, aren't they? Think ahead to what candles you might need and what components you might use with them. We use a lot of healing candles in our coven, so we're especially careful to gather up components associated with healing. However, we're limited a bit by my allergy to eucalyptus and substitute menthol and mint. (Not good to have the HPS stop breathing midway through rituals, you know! LOL!)

Plan ahead so we can make candles in November and consecrate them at Yule. Much to do during the Dark Time!

Gardening- A Perky Pot Filter

2008-07-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've been "caught" plenty of times without my landscaping fabric, which is stored in a shed far from where I do my potting work. That big old roll is a monster to lug anyway, so this is a wonderful alternative.

By the way, my friends! Now is the time to get out the file and sharpen up those shovels. It will soon be time to dig bulbs for the winter and separate your perennials that have crowded each other to death.

Mark your calendars now with your first frost date and be prepared! Start saving those onion bags and old nylon stockings to hang your bulbs safely for winter storage in a cool, dry place.

While you're at it, start putting aside money for that bag of fall fertilizer. It's almost time for that final fall feeding in the Zones north of 6. You'll want to do this soon, if your first frost date is looming. Don't make your garden friends starve this winter because you were lazy.

The Sabbat of Lammas/Lughnasadh

2008-07-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

LUGHNASADH (AUGUST 1)

A. HISTORY

Lughnasadh (pronounced `loo-nus-uh') means the commemoration of Lugh. He was a fire- and light-god of the Baal/Hercules type. His name may be from the same root as the Latin "Lux", meaning light (which also gives us Lucifer, `the light bringer"). In mythology, the historical replacing of one god by a later form is often remembered as the killing, blinding or emasculation of the older by the younger, while the essential continuity is acknowledged by making the younger into the son or grandson of the elder.
In Irish legends, Lugh was the younger, superior god, replacing his grandfather, Balor. Lugh is also the type of god who undergoes death and rebirth in a sacrificial mating with the Goddess. Lugh was associated in Anglo-Saxon tradition with the corn harvest and the killing of the Corn King (Another facet of the God). In this manner did the pagans of so long ago celebrate the first harvest of corn.
In keeping with the pagan idea of balance, the autumn parallel to the `greenwood marriage' is the "Teltown marriage". The `Teltown marriages" are trial marriages which could be dissolved after a year and a day by the couple returning to the High Priestess who handfasted them and informing her of their decision.

B. THE ALTAR AND CIRCLE

1. Decorate the altar with sheaves of wheat, barley or oats, fresh fruits, breads, a loaf of bread fashioned in the figure of the Sun God, and corn dollies.

2. FOODS- BREAD (IN THE SHAPE OF THE GOD FIGURE), ANY EDIBLE
BERRIES, ACORNS (LEACHED OF THEIR POISONS FIRST), CRAB APPLES, ALL GRAINS, AND LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE. BAKED CAKE. This is a time of abundance, so a trip to a farmer's market will give you great ideas. Besides, what ARE you going to do with all the zucchini anyway?? Save some and have zucchini casserole and bread this winter when it will really be appreciated. The same goes for those baskets full of tomatoes. Your chili this winter will be all the better for it.

3. DRINKS- cider, berry drinks, and berry wines. My coven is particularly fond of Boone's Farm Berry wines. Who said you had to have a palate to be pagan anyhow?

4. Altar cloth and candles- Fire colors (red, yellow, orange) to symbolize the Sun. It is recommended that the altar cloth be decorated with sun symbols and grain. Any decorations that remind the Circle that it is the grain harvest are appropriate. I personally have an altar cloth I intend to stencil wheat sheaves on, but any good fabric store will be loaded with great fabric covered in fruit, herbs, suns, or wheat.

C. RITUALS

1. "REMEMBER THE WARMTH AND BOUNTY OF SUMMER IN THE FOOD WE EAT." EACH MEAL IS AN ACT OF ATTUNEMENT WITH NATURE. EAT SOME OF THE FRUIT ON THE ALTAR, WHILE THANKING THE GOD FOR THE SACRIFICE UNDER THE SICKLE.

2. PLANT THE SEEDS FROM THE FRUIT CONSUMED IN THE RITUAL.

3. WHEAT WEAVING (MAKING CORN DOLLIES, ETC.)

4. VISIT FIELDS, ORCHARDS, LAKES, AND WELLS DURING CIRCLE

5. Bake a ritual loaf of bread in the shape of the God. I personally suggest it be wheat bread, if possible. (It is recommended that this be done the day of Lammas, but not during Circle. Take the loaves home to share with the individual families.)

6. Make onion and garlic braids out of onions and garlic that have sprouted. Once the braids are made, consecrate them as protections for the house- especially the kitchen- then hang them in the kitchen. NEVER again use them for food! They now contain all the negativity they absorb from your household. Replace them with a new braid at Lammas, or as necessary. Bury the braid in your garden or in a pot for garlic or onions, returning them to the earth to be cleansed and renewed.

7. Do/share canning, pickling, preserving ideas and recipes. There is much harvesting to be done at this time of year. Plan to go blueberry picking, or some similar harvesting activity. Visit a farmer's market and buy a large amount of some vegetable to preserve, and then have the whole Circle get together to do it. (Pickling is smelly, but everyone gets a jar or two to enjoy during the winter. Any jam, jelly or preserve works.) Since the whole Circle shares the cost of the whole operation, the cost is minimal. Save for the initial cost of preserving equipment. Take donations for the big preserving "stock pot" and a box of jars. Let it be said that the Circle now owns the pot, and the jars, after use, must be returned to the Circle for use again next year. (This way you build up a stock of jars for the future.)

Fruits and vegetables are easy to preserve. Fruits need only be washed (and hulled if necessary) and stored in a plastic freezer bag with lots of sugar. You can also make fruit syrups by simply making simple syrup of sugar and water, add fruit and bring to a boil.

Most vegetables can be blanched or partially cooked and ladled into plastic freezer bags when cooled. It is really that easy!

8. Make vinegars out of the herbs from everyone's gardens and kitchens. Everyone brings a gallon (or less) or vinegar. Some bring white, some bring cider, some bring "vinegared" wine, some bring oriental rice wine vinegars, etc. Make vinegars for all to take home in saved jars. Suggest to the Circle that during the coming year, they collect pretty bottles to put their vinegars in for display. Have the Circle contribute toward corks for the bottles. (BUY THE CORKS AHEAD OF TIME!) Corks can be bought or ordered from beer and winemaking shops.

9. This time of year marks the beginning of the craft festivals and county fairs. Talk to the Circle about going as a group or as individuals to these and celebrate creation and the harvest.

10. Another way of preserving the "fruits" of this season is to sugar rose and violet petals. Dip individual petals in beaten egg, then coat with sugar. Let dry thoroughly, then store in a pretty jar or even plastic storage containers or bags. These will make lovely additions to a cake or ice cream as edible decorations.

SYMBOLISM

1. The time of year that marks the end of summer. The time of first harvest, when plants of spring begin to wither and drop fruit or seeds for our use.

2. The Sun God begins to wither and die. The harvest is like a "wake" for Him. Note that he begins to retreat farther south each day and the nights grow longer.

LAMMAS INCENSE

2 parts Frankincense
1 part Heather
1 part apple blossoms
1 part blackberry leaves
a few drops ambergris oil

This is a powder incense sprinkled over a lit charcoal briquette, or thrown in the ritual fire.

Okay, there it is. The "Reader's Digest Condensed" version of what I have on Lammas. I refused to mention the part about grain alcohol and Irish wakes. (grin) Many of us are in the midst of harvesting from our gardens, but a trip to a farmer's market might be fun anyway for those who can't go out and pick blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, etc. I suggest that Lammas be "split" into two days of activities. One, like the bread baking, can be on the day of Lammas, if your oven can handle the load. Use a bread machine to speed the process of rising and kneading. The second day can be for the canning and preserving of garden harvests and the "loot" from the farmer's market.

'Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods,
And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt,
And night by night the monitory blast
Wails in the key-hole, telling how it pass'd
O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes,
Or grim, wide wave, and now the power is felt
Of melancholy, tenderer in it's moods
Than any joy indulgent summer dealt.'
William Cunningham

Prepare for Onion Braiding

2008-07-13T08:37:00.000-05:00

Have you a few onions to spare, either from your garden or your pantry? If they're from your garden, it's time to pull them as soon as their tops begin to wither. Weren't you a smart witch to plant them?

If they're from your pantry and you have a few sprouting, that will do if you hurry. Plant them in a pot and treat them as a houseplant for a few weeks, allowing them to sit outside and feel the heat of summer's last rays. When they too wither, it's time to pull them.

We'll braid them next month as one of our crafts. I've even a lovely charm to chant, thanks to Pauline and Dan Campanelli's "Wheel of the Year." (Credit where credit's due!)

Need More Storage? Look Up

2008-07-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is one trick I know and use. When you need more storage space, look up. Use the wasted space above windows and doors for shelves and cabinets.

I've often used the space above my bathroom door to store items in baskets, providing easy access. A basket hides those feminine supplies out of sight, and I didn't risk them getting wet under the sink. Rolled up towels that matched my bathroom decor also were kept handy in a very pretty way.

Now here's an added trick: Go buy those inexpensive stacking cubes or shoe racks like this one:

http://www.target.com/Storage-Cube-set-2/dp/B0015E7RQK/sr=1-8/qid=1215721910/ref=sr_1_8/601-3760784-7702548?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Acube%20storage&page=1

or this one:

http://www.target.com/itso-1x2-Cube-Shelf-Maple/dp/B0013TNRTS/qid=1215722099/ref=br_1_14/601-3760784-7702548?ie=UTF8&node=677485011&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

Screw them into the studs or on a ledger board which is screwed into the studs and you have a fast and easy storage system above anywhere. Paint them if you like to match your walls. Instant storage anywhere!

Lammas Recipe-- Slushy Punch

2008-07-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Lammas Recipe—Slushy Punch

Hint: Keep the slush in the freezer at all times in the summer for spur of the moment guests. For each serving, combine equal amounts of slush and carbonated water or lemon-lime carbonated beverage like Sprite or 7-Up.

1 cup sugar
2-3/4 cups water
2 ripe medium bananas, cut up
3 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
1 6 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1-liter bottle of carbonated water or lemon-lime carbonated beverage

Stir sugar and water together until sugar dissolves. Combine the bananas, half the pineapple juice, and orange juice concentrate in the food processor and whirl until combined. Add to sugar mix, and then stir in the lemon juice and the rest of the pineapple juice. Make sure it’s thoroughly blended.

Transfer this to a 13x9 baking pan or a similarly shaped freezer container for long-term storage. Freeze for several hours until firm.

To serve, let mixture stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. To form a slush, scrape a large sturdy spoon across the surface of the frozen mixture. Plop about ½ cup into a drink container, and add an equal amount of carbonated beverage.

Paint your glass to match the Sabbat/Season

2008-07-11T13:23:00.004-05:00

As I stopped at a garage sale this morning, I found the perfect sealed jar I'd been looking for to hold my incense. It's plain glass, and cost me a mere fifty cents. I also found a small glass goblet and a plain ceramic plate. Total spent: Less than $5. (I won't mention the other finds. They aren't important.)

But the jar, goblet, and plate are only plain for a few more days! I'll use Permenamel Paint on them this weekend to create my very own set of Lammas altar gear.

The link above takes you to the directions, and you must follow them. Remember drying time can take a few days, so don't wait until a day or two before your Sabbat.

Shopping List:
1 bottle PermEnamel Conditioner
1 bottle PermEnamel Thinner
1 bottle PermEnamel paint in my choice of color(s)
1 bottle PermEnamel Gloss Glaze

On hand:
Plate
Goblet
Jar
Q-tips
Paper towels because I'm messy
Paper cup of water
Set of brushes and sponges
Wheat Stencil

What could be easier than this fast, simple project? If you've already followed my instructions for making Sabbat boxes (See March 2008) out of stacking drawers, you're ready to make unique altar sets for each Sabbat as you find cool little ceramic or glass items to paint on garage sale jaunts or rummaging in your own cabinets for neglected pieces.

Have fun!

Customizing and Organizing Your Kitchen CHEAP

2008-07-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've always used the inside of my kitchen cabinet doors to keep my measurement conversion charts and most-used recipes handy. However, the sticky residue left by the tape always bugged me. These ideas offer alternatives with even more uses.

First we have the pegboard idea. Love this! If you haven't seen all the toys and storage ideas available for pegboards, pop by your local mega-hardware store and prepare to be amazed. You can even get jars to store your most-used spices this way! Bins for holding small items like those often lost gravy packets, and hooks for your favorite small utensils. No more frantic searches for the pastry brush. Woohoo!

Next is the chalkboard. I've done this before using a pantry door, but the inside of a cabinet door would work just as well. Note the eraser and chalk are stored in a small wire basket as well. (Or, perhaps in the pegboard cabinet door?)

Then there's the cork board door. Now that's a real treasure for pinning up the favorite recipes, coupons, tickets, paint chips, and other items. Handy and out of sight. Love it.

Finally, there's the option for those who can use magnets. While my kids are grown and gone, there are certain things that still end up needing a magnet until my refrigerator is a crowded eyesore.

Time to clean up that mess using wasted space. I'm digging out that chalkboard paint this weekend.

Living Green- Make your Own Grocery Bag

2008-07-10T14:36:00.003-05:00

Read all the directions. While this is somewhat confusing at first, in practice it makes more sense. It's worth the time and trouble to make your own distinctive bags, but I love my bags! I thought about spraying waterproofing spray in one or two, then placing in ice packs for my perishable goods. How practical can you get?

New Crafts Part Two: A Permanent Sewing Pattern

2008-07-08T08:53:00.006-05:00

Okay, so the pictures aren't great. (Click on the individual pic to get a better look) Here's the scoop. I made a sleeveless shell for myself out of this great green batik material I found on sale at JoAnn's Fabrics.

Simplicity 4552 is the pattern if you're interested. Here's the link:
http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4552

Very simple pattern! Only four pieces to cut -- front, back, neck facing, armhole facing. Big deal. Took me only a few hours to stitch it together.

Now here's the big deal. Note the charms hanging from the neckline? Those are leaf charms I got in the beading department for $2 for a whole bag. I used a pair of needlenose pliers to close the wire loops a bit tighter, measured from the center line, and marked at one inch intervals. Then I hand-stitched the beads on while I watched TV last night. Voila! A unique sleeveless shell with a secret pagan theme.

You see, I believe in wardrobes unique to the individual. I'm also a plus-sized woman. By sheer luck, my mother and both grandmothers also were home seamstresses with a belief in saving a dollar. I sewed my very first outfit at the tender age of twelve and wore it proudly. I made clothes for my children whenever I could, and that wasn't as often as I should have.

Now that I'm older and have more time on my hands, I love to make homemade items. Last year it was teddy bears for author gifts and family. This past winter it was fleece no-sew blankets and warm costumes for my grandchildren's Halloween.

This summer, I'm sewing for myself. I need new clothes desperately, and I absolutely refuse to pay the extortionary rates "Plus Size" shops sell for my size clothes, and in the most insipid colors imaginable. I don't give a rat's patootey what the latest fashion colors are, I look terrible in warm tones. When a simple suit of a tunic top and elastic waist pants will cost $40+ to purchase, I head to JoAnn's where I can spend about half that if I already own the patterns I want to use.

Here's a trick for those who already know how to sew: Buy a good pattern you like and enough of the cheapest muslin you can find to make all the outfit pieces you like. Stop by the notions department and purchase a can of Dritz Spray Adhesive. (Find this stuff! It eliminates the need for pins while cutting patterns.) At home, gather up a good Sharpie and your best fabric shears. You might want to make sure you have a good supply of Ziploc 2-gallon bags handy as well.

Cut out all the tissue paper pieces. Now lay out the muslin in a single layer and "dry fit" all the tissue pieces on the material. Lift each piece of tissue and spray the muslin with the adhesive. Return the tissue to that area. When all the tissue adheres to the muslin, cut out your pattern pieces. Now use the Sharpie to mark all the dots, darts, and triangles as well as the pattern number, piece number, and any other notes like "Cut on fold" or "Cut One." These will now become your permanent and much more durable pattern pieces, so attention to detail is paramount. As you remove each piece of tissue, carefully fold it and return it to the envelope for safekeeping. Once you're done, you can now put the pattern envelope and your muslin pattern in the ziploc bag. Make sure the envelope shows so you can find the pattern you need easily.

Now you won't ever have to worry about a torn pattern piece or one that falls apart where you have to use a tracing wheel ever again. Even better, a Ziploc bag is water and insect proof for storage.

Advanced seamstresses: Do you find yourself always altering a certain pattern to fit your unique shape? (Example: I am very long-legged. I always have to add a few inches to pants legs and skirts. For some reason pattern manufacturers don't consider "tall" a problem size, but they do for petites.) Make a muslin pattern piece with the alteration included. It's your pattern, darn it. Make it fit YOU.

The above advice also works if you want to use a regular size pattern and you're a plus size. There's a vest pattern I love which the largest size available was 18 Miss. Sorry, I'm a 28 Women. I laid the pattern pieces down and cut three inches outside the lines to make a larger version. I basted the whole thing together to make a muslin version of my vest. With a few adjustments, I had a vest in the size I needed. The pattern instructions don't differentiate. It's "sew this, now sew that." I took out the basting and had my pattern. (Screw you, designers for skinny women!)

Don't know how to sew? You can either find a friend to teach you, or pay for a class at JoAnn's if there's one handy to you. Machines can run as little as $150 in WalMart, and there's even an embroidery machine that not only does the simple stitches needed for everyday sewing but also time-saving embroidery stitches available at the touch of a button. Who says we can't have fun?

New Crafts Part One: The Flip Flops

2008-07-08T08:43:00.002-05:00

My mother works in one of those fancy day spa-beauty salons down in St. Augustine. When I visited Mom at home this past weekend, she pulled a pair of white flip flops from a bag to show me "the latest thing" the salon patrons are buying like hotcakes.

The white (dollar special) flip flops had white grossgrain ribbon wrapped around the upper thongs, then clusters of fake "pearl" beads sewn in three places on each shoe. That was it. Price tag? $20. I about fainted.

So, I went into my closet and dug out my brand new Wal-Mart $1 bin flip flops. I wrapped gray satin ribbon around the upper thongs, securing it with the strongest household glue I had. Then I dug into my buttons collection and found the pretty maracasite buttons with a faux mother of pearl inset. I sewed them on. Total work time: about one hour, maybe less.

Am I selling my pretty new "dress" flip flops? No. But it's fun to do this project. Now I'm eyeing the rest of my flip flop collection and wondering what other ribbons and doodads I have. Hmm...