"Another Giveaway" Winner/Blessed Samhain

May I have your attention please. Quiet down, now, all you chatty people. Put down the Treats for just a second.

The winner of my "Another Giveaway" Sabbats book is:

Pumpkin Cottage (from the blog Pumpkin Cottage Press).  Congrats!! Please email me your mailing info.

Thank you, worthy readers all, who entered this giveaway!!

Now it is the Night we have been preparing for, Samhain. A blessed sabbat. However you observe this time, may it be all you wish it to be. And then the Earth will slumber.

Here is a video for you to celebrate Halloween. It is 4:58 minutes and very very creative and fun! Enjoy, please!!

Tron-Inspired Skeleton Dance 

Happy Halloween! Blessed Samhain! Be safe and happy.

 
 

We Dodged a Bullet

Our meteorologists here in Central New York are telling us we "dodged a bullet" as Hurricane Sandy turned inland in a location and lesser strength that eased its effects here. We had lots of wind, but very little rain, so far. More wind and rain is expected today. The power went out last night around ten'ish, so we all just went to bed. It was only out for a couple of hours, though, so there was coffee this morning, thank the Goddess!!

Our friends in New York City and New Jersey did not fare as well. Flooding and power outages, trees down and all kinds of damages. I hope to speak with a couple of my blog friends today, if they have power/phone service. My daughter texted last night that she was without power; she lives north of Albany, NY. I hope to talk with her too, today.

I am very thankful for our good luck here in the Syracuse area and send out wishes that everybody else affected by this storm are doing okay! Hopefully this will be it for weather-related problems!!!

I certainly have enough peanut butter and batteries to last a while!

Pssst!! Get Over Here!!

Grievings Blog People! Remember me? It's Rotten Darkspur. I was here last year about this same time. If you weren't around then you can check it out HERE  and HERE

I've been hanging around for a few days now....gotta a good deal on the astral plane. It's a lot easier this time of year, you know, thinning veil and all that, like I told you all before.

It's been dicey cos the Wiccan's gotten herself some felines since I been here last. I hate felines, all that hissing and spitting and claws and all. Not that I'm scared of the things, hell no! I got me some talons myself. Felines act up when I'm around and I don't want the Wiccan to get any ideas about doing one of those smoking spells, with sage and chanting and whatnot. That gets really irritating, plus it makes it impossible to get back in the house. I kind of caught her just before she's gonna do that Samhain, whatcha call it, cleansing.

Now don't get me wrong. I ain't here to do any kind of harm or crap like that. I just like checking out this side for a while, and I got me a good hidey hole nearby.

I am using the computer right now cos the Wiccan's downstairs somewhere playing with those bratty cute little felines. 

Get this, humans. There's a big storm blowing around somewhere down the coast aways. Really cool stuff with huge winds and rains and gigantic waves. I am hoping like crazy it is gonna blow this way. I love me a great good storm. I grab some of that energy swirling around and I am set. Keeps me pumped up and on this plane for quite a while.

And I want to be here for Samhain night. Go stretch all my legs and get some thrills scaring those Trick or Treaters. Now, now, don't get yer knickers in a bunch. I don't scare the little little kids. I like to take on those big teenager kids cos they are way too old to be competing for candy, and not even wearing costumes. Come on, admit it, you think it's great that I am gonna scare the bejeezers out of those kids.

So I better get going, cos I think those felines are headed this way, which means the Wiccan is coming and I don't want her to catch me typing. And remember, don't let on that I was here. No harm done, right? 

Hey, you all have been real nice to ole Rotten Darkspur. Maybe I'll see you again soon.(don't worry, you probably won't see me, lol! lol! lol! lol!)

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What??!! Another Giveaway??!!

Sweet Isis! Have we gone nuts here at Wiccan Writes? Nawww. A dear friend of mine, who is also the godmother of my darling offspring, went to a book sale at her library a couple of weeks ago. She called me actually, from the sale, saying there were some pagan books, would I be interested in any? I am not one to turn down books, nope. She picked up three books for barely a song during the last hour of the sale.
These books are incredible, perfect condition, mint even! In fact, sad to say, they look like they have never been read.

But, good for us. Of the three she sent me, two I have never read or own, but one I do own and have read a lot. So, my dear Wiccan Wreaders, I am giving away this book. (The other two that I am keeping and can't wait to read are: Celtic Wicca, Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century by Jane Raeburn and The Real Witches' Kitchen, Spells, recipes, oils, lotions and potions from the Witches' Hearth by Kate West.....these books sound fabulous!)

The book I am giving away is called Sabbats A Witch's Approach To Living The Old Ways by the wonderful Edain McCoy. I have read several of Ms McCoy's books and enjoy her style of writing, her knowledge, spirituality and her Craft. Excellent author, highly recommended.

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This book talks about the "profound spiritual connection we feel to the change of seasons..and it shows how to intimately live that connection through meaningful ritual and craft...." (from the inside cover of the book).

It is a well-written book about the eight sabbats/eight sacred seasons. Also included are chapters on group and solitary rituals, spells, glossary, correspondence, symbols, recipes and a cross-stitch guide.

I know you will find this book a very useful resource.

Now, who would like this fine book?

Be a follower, leave a comment that you would like to have your name thrown into the cauldron and make sure I have a way to contact you in the event that your lucky name is drawn. Open to US and international readers.

The "Another Giveaway??" winner will be announced on the sacred sabbat of Samhain, October 31st before noon.
(and as always this little note: the winner must contact me within 48 hours or I will be forced, against my will, but I must be strong, to draw another winner.)

Okie doke?

An Autumn Gift

I am a lucky gal. Another friend has bestowed upon me a delightful surprise gift. A beautiful, hand-sewn apron arrived in the mail the other day. Not just any apron, this one has an Autumn/Halloween theme and I just love it. Please forgive the following photos; I could not figure out a good way to photograph the apron.

Oh my gosh, this is a little blurry, but I wanted to show off how beautifully this was put together, with its quilty squares. Please click on photos for a closer look.

The top part of the apron has this great Halloween scenery. Isn't it fabulous?

This sweet sentiment is sewn in just below the top of the apron.

Here's a close up of the squares that make up the rest of the front of the apron.

The back of the apron is a mysterious scene of ferns and foliage in these marvelous shades of blacks and grays.

A thoughtful gift, much appreciated, from a sweet friend who wishes to remain anonymous. I send her many hugs and many thanks for this terrific Samhain gift.

Closer It Comes

It's that time of year again. An October autumn. Here, the trees are almost finished their fabulous display of colors. Gazillions of leaves on the ground, flying through the air, fluttering along the streets.

Just a few days to go before the Big Night. Samhain/Halloween. Closer it comes, step by step.
Here's a few things from my Halloween collection to get this blog in the mood; the mood for howl-a-ween.

Today's newspaper is filled with listings for festivals, carnivals, trails of terror, haunted houses, pumpkin parties, diabolical cornfield mazes. The works. Scary, frolicky fun.

And it is time for the annual viewing of my favorite Halloween time movie.

Love this movie, the wonderful actresses who play three scary/nutty witches and the fun plot. This will perk up your "spirits" definitely.

Gotta love this time of year, dontcha?

Have fun preparing for creepy things crawling out of the woodwork. Got ghosts? Noticing funny bite marks on your neck? Are zombies reeking up the neighborhood? Don't worry. It's just Halloween.

Life Cycles

Friday evening, I received a phone call from my Canadian cousin. He calls to tell me his mother, my mom's sister, has passed away. This is a shock to us all. Though she was 87, she seemed in good health. My cousin lives in Ontario and my aunt had moved out to British Columbia about 10 years ago. They had just spoken on the phone over Canadian Thanksgiving; she was in excellent spirits and living a social life, with many friends, and her various activist causes.

I can't believe it and I am feeling a bit numb. Having lost my mom nine months ago, it was comforting to know my aunt was still around; she was the connection to my mom and my Canadian heritage.

My cousin had a "roller coaster" day that day. Three hours after receiving the call that his mom was gone, his wife's daughter gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Joy and sorrow. New life and bereavement. Life cycles vividly demonstrated.

Thankfully my cousin and I are close, both in friendship and distance. We will be heading up to northern Quebec to the place where all of us got together over the years. It will be early summer and the air up there, a combining of country farm fields, misty mountains and the St Lawrence river, will be special, sparkling and reminiscent of so many summers past. We shall raise a glass to our moms and honor them with great retellings of favorite stories, flavorful French-Canadian foods and a bonfire under the black velvet sky just inundated with millions of bright stars. The birch, pines, maples and abundant apple trees will add their comforting presence, soughing in the gentle breezes.

And a sweet memory will cause smiles and a few tears.  We shall feel the presence of these remarkable, beloved women, this I know.

Holly Jolly Halloween

I don't think I am the only one who notices and complains (gripes, rants) every year about the signs of that merry retail season called Christmas popping up so early.  In July it is understandable for craft stores to have their Christmasy craft supplies displayed because crafters need time to work on their holiday handmade goods.  But it is the longest drawn-out marketing campaign ever.

Wanting to browse and shop for Halloween items is challenging when the stores have already relegated these things to picked-over clearance shelves or crammed into some small space back with the left-over summer citronella candles and mismatched flip-flops. I suppose a bonus is that some of these things are marked down, but damaged goods are not much of a bargain.

On a positive note, I have not heard Christmas music in the stores yet.

I would like to savor the season of Autumn with its many beauteous offerings, sights, smells, colors and the emotions that come with such beauty. It is a sacred time of year for me as a Wiccan. My thoughts turn inward as reflections of the past year help me to plan goals for the coming year. Wiccans spend this time in quiet contemplation, preparing for the special sabbat of Samhain when we will connect with Ancestors, say a final farewell to this year and begin the plans and goals for the coming year.

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The Wheel of the Year turns and each spoke of that Wheel offers something different to think about and work with, to help us make choices that reflect our Path of reverence for Nature.

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Fortunately we don't get caught up in mass marketing and excessive consumerism. Each day in the life of a Wiccan is a celebration: of Nature, of our planet and all living things upon it. And for that we do not need shopping day countdowns.

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Sending out warm thoughts and positive energies to all as the year draws to a close and Samhain beckons.

Soggy Sunday

Rain, rain and more rain. But the temperature is mild, possibly up to 70 degrees F today. Another good day for indoor tasks and watching the kittens explore the house. I talked about this on my other blog, PurrrrSnicKitty (link on sidebar).

Gwennie simply cannot accept the fact that kittens are now living with us. She is always looking at me with pleading eyes or running away up to her spot in the bedroom to reflect on her lot in life.

Lexie, on the other paw, takes everything in stride and enjoys playing with the kittens. They are no longer afraid of her and touch noses and bat at her tail.

My husband is going in to work for a while today (on a Sunday). So I plan to spend the afternoon with Johnny. You know....Johnny Depp. Just got the DVD from Netflix for Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides.  I think I shall be afloat on a sea of happiness! (lol....don't worry, my husband knows I have a thing for Mr. Depp)

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The 13th

Saturday has dawned bright and very cold. The first hard frost of the season occurring overnight. Any flowers still blooming are now done and we will be pulling up lots of blackened vegetation.

A sad mood today. October 13th is the date of my mother's birthday. She passed away 9 months ago. I shall fill a vase with her favorite pink roses and try to spend the day with smiles and not so much with tears.

Also a year ago today my brother suffered the first of two strokes. He has made progress in some areas, but has permanent disabilities in other ways.  But he is still with us and that is something to celebrate.

Nature is always amazing. This morning as we were having our first coffee, we heard the most raucous sound overhead. Thousands upon thousands of starlings passed directly above our house, filling the sky like an enormous black cloud. The sounds of all those wings and chirps and squawks was astounding. Despite the cold air coming in, we stood at the open door for a bit to enjoy this sight.

Bright blessings, and enjoy the weekend.

Freakishly Fast Giveaway Winners!

Okay, let's see. Seems I was supposed to tell you all something today. What was it? My memory has certainly been a problem of late. Hmmmm. I need a hint.

Oh, that's right! I remember now. Sweet Isis, how could I forget that I have a cauldron full of names for my Freakishly Fast Giveaway??!!

With the help of some crow friends and my Magickal Witchy Hat, plus the very Lucky Turkey Feather we are ready to see what we shall see!!

The names are written on pumpkin orange papers and stirred and charmed with the Lucky Turkey Feather. Our crows are ready to pick the winners!

The winner of Giftie #1: Spiders and Candle is:    

 WENDY S.

The winner of Giftie #2: Spooky Book is:

 

MRSDUNCANMAHOGANY

The winner of Giftie #3: Woodland Faeries 2013 calendar is:

AKASA WOLFSONG

I am very happy to have these wonderful winners as followers. It is always hard hosting a giveaway because I love you all and wish everyone could win. Thank you, all you wonderful friends, for taking time out of your busy days to read my blog. It is truly a thrill for me.

Dear Winners: Please email your snail mail addresses right away, okay? Thanks!!!! 

Have a super weekend!

Final Day to Enter

Today is the final day to enter my Freakishly Fast Giveaway. Winners will be announced tomorrow morning (Friday, October 12th)  Click on this link to read about it if you haven't already:  Giveaway

Samhain is just around the corner. October 31st is also known as Halloween. But it is much more than just a Trick or Treat day for Wiccans and Pagans. Also called the Last Harvest, it is the last sacred observance of the Wheel of the Year. A time to connect with The Ancestors and to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed through the Veil.

Setting up an altar or other special display that includes symbols of the Season, the Harvest, candles, incense, special mementos and photos of those loved ones. It is also the time to say a farewell to the Year, a time for reflection and meditation and to begin preparations for the Dark part of the year, as the days grow shorter. It is not all somber and sad. And most Wiccans celebrate with all the decorations and fun of traditional Halloween Hoopla! A time to "get your Spooky on", so to speak.

Blessings of the Season.

Freakishly Fast Giveaway

Greetings of the October Season!!! It is my happy task to announce a Halloween/Samhain Giveaway here at Wiccan Writes. Is that agreeable?

Very simple, very quick.

Be a follower, leave a comment that you would like to be entered. That's it.

All entries will be thrown in the cauldron and the winners will be announced on Friday morning, October 12th.

Winners?  Yes, I have gifties for three Wiccan Writes Wreaders.

First Giftie:

Spiders! A black candle with silvery spider web design and a Martha Stewart crafty silhouettes of 10 spiders for creating a creepy decorative sensation for Halloween, Plus a Jack-o-Lantern decorated shortbread cookie made by a local company here in Syracuse.

Second Giftie:

This creepy book, "Spooky Campfire Tales, Hauntings: Strange Happenings and Supernatural Lore, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman, Plus a Jack-o-Lantern shortbread cookie.

Third Giftie:

Llewellyn's 2013 Woodland Faeries Calendar, designed by Linda Ravenscroft and a Jack-o-Lantern shortbread cookie

Special Note: The shortbread cookies are tightly sealed, manufactured by The Decorated Cookie Company, Syracuse, NY and are best by 2/15/13. So they will be fresh and yummy for you to enjoy with a cup of tea.

This Freakishly Fast Giveaway is open to both national and international and Canada, too (hehehe)....okay, sorry Canada.

You will have 24 hours to email me with your snail mail address. If I don't hear from you within 24 hours, I will draw another name. Sorry, but as I said this is a Freakishly Fast Giveaway.

Okie doke??

Eh?

Happy Thanksgiving to relatives and friends in the North, Canada! I know a lot of families celebrated over the weekend. The aroma of roasting turkeys, hams and pumpkin pies was actually observed in upstate New York; something about the jet stream, perhaps? (snort) Anyway, hope everyone "up there" had a super holiday.

Speaking of "up there", my friend Stacy sent her giveaway prize to me from her Canadian neck of the woods. It flew down in a timely manner and landed in my mailbox. I am very enamored of this work of art and truly will treasure it. Stacy at Magic Love Crow blog is a very generous person and creates wonderful pieces of art. She has a love affair with crows and her art features these mysterious and marvelous black birds.

This is the painting, "My Hat", by Stacy. I love the colors, of course very Autumn-like. The Witch's hat is perfect, and the Crow in this picture is a little spooky. Click on the photo for a closer look.   Thanks a bunch, Miss Stacy-Crow Lady!!!

Gwennie update: our little Sheltie is recovering very well from her surgery last week. We are hoping for a nice long spell of good health for both our girls.

Are you busy this week? Can you believe that Samhain is barreling down on us, hurray! Try to enjoy every single day though. Don't rush around. Take time to savor the fall colors, the smell of the air and prepare for this last beautiful Turning of the Wheel for this year..

Saturday News

Happy Saturday! It is raining like the dickens here, and a little on the chilly side. That's okay; yesterday was a beautiful autumn day, so I don't mind a little rain. Especially since I have a lot to do inside.

I finally put up a new post on my other blog about our kittens, PurrrrSnicKitty.
If you have time, I would love for you to visit us over there.

A big parcel arrived from New Jersey. From our dear friend, artist and kitten rescuer, Sandy Sandy. (here's a link to her great blog: http://sandysandysweblog.blogspot.com/)

First and foremost is this beautifully framed print of her Bat painting. I won this in her giveaway. Please click on the photo for a closer look.

But Sandy didn't just send her artwork; the box was full of goodies.

Seasonal wall hanging of red-winged blackbirds

Big bag of sage and a powerful quartz gem

Crazy bat window cling, a witchy sign and a chocolate bar

When I handled the quartz I felt a tingling in my hand and got goose bumps. Very strong protection power held in that piece of loveliness. The sage is going to be very beneficial for several rituals I plan this month, especially on Samhain itself (Oct. 31st).

I put that batty window cling in the kitchen window and he makes me smile everytime I see him. The Jersey Girl chocolate bar is so cute. I call my kitten, Pixie, a Jersey Girl, since that was were she was born.

Thank you, Sandy for the great print, and the goodies you added. How sweet are you? Very!!!

All for now, have a terrific weekend and enjoy this beautiful season!!!

Dragonflies, Autumn Amber and Cats in a Bag

To the Feydragon methaphysical shop in Oswego NY (Website) last night for the monthly pagan social gathering. What a great evening! More people turning up each time. Chatting and laughing with like-minded people is a great experience, as well as a "pick-me-up"; talking openly in a relaxed atmosphere about all things pagan is a balm to the spirit. And look what some of us made:

Dragonflies! Out of those maple seed "helicopters", and twigs and even beads for eyes. We laughed so hard doing this craft, making fun of each other's attempts to hot-glue tiny beads onto the end of a itty bitty stick!

The U.S. Post Office made a delivery to my house yesterday. I confess to making a purchase on Etsy (Zantana Creations). But really, these little dishes are perfect for Autumn. The beautiful amber color just screams for apple crisp and pumpkin mousse, don't you agree? Sure you do!

Depression glass cathedral sherbet dishes

Love the shape of the "cathedral" design

Okay. The above photo is one of the many attempts I made to capture a cute picture of the kittens peeking out of the top of this Halloween bag. (Wegman's reusable shopping bag). Kim at Witch Cats Blog is hosting a Halloween pet photo contest and I truly wanted to participate. 5-month old kittens have other ideas. Here, Pyewacket is zooming out of the bag, while Pixie is down inside giggling.

Speaking of kittens, I haven't posted on my other blog PurrrrSnicKitty in a while, but will be doing so today or tomorrow. These little cats are keeping me very occupied. And as you see from the above picture, my photo efforts leave much to be desired.

My little girl dog Gwennie had a rough day yesterday. Dental surgery to remove a couple of bad teeth, poor little thing. My vet said that Shelties are notorious for teeth trouble especially as they get older. She is 9 and 1/2 years old, so I guess that is true. She is doing fine today, just on a soft diet and antibiotics for the next 10 days. We have spent more time (and money!) at the vet in the last few months. And more to come, as soon, the kittens will be going for their, you know...."snipping" surgery, shhhhhh, don't tell them.

All for today. I have several other things to relate to you, but running out of time.

Bright blessings!!!

Wordless Wednesday-Beginning to Look Like Halloween

Merry Meet, October!

The golden month of October has finally arrived. In some ways, it seemed to take longer than usual to get here. A hot-hot, dry-dry summer caused the days and weeks to drag and drag on. Of course, I think we would have been complaining if it had been a cooler, rainier summer too. A love-hate relationship with weather!

Anyhoo..the autumn is now upon us and the Wheel of the Year is turning to its final spoke of the annual cycle. Samhain (pronounced sow-wen; sow as in cow) is at the end of the month and Wiccans, pagans and all manner of witches love this season. There is a lot to prepare for, get excited about and to think about, both in physical terms and in spiritual terms. The blog-o-sphere will be bursting at the seams with parties, giveaways, crafty stuff and photos, videos and a whole lot more. It will be spook-tacular.

To celebrate today being the very first day of a very favorite month, I wish to present you with a most delectable cake recipe. It is called "Grandmother's Apple-Nut Cake" and it is an extremely old recipe. Unlike most apple recipes, this cake has no cinnamon or nutmeg or brown sugar.  It's simple, and simply sweet.

This recipe makes an 8" square cake, but can easily be doubled.

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup chopped apple

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Combine egg, sugar and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix well. Before you add the apples the mixture will appear dry.

Stir in apples and nuts. I used one granny smith apple and one gala apple. Any apple good for baking is perfect.

Chop the apples into tiny bits.

Spread in a greased pan. (8" square).

It might seem there is not enough batter, but just spread it to all sides. It will increase in size with baking.

Bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 30 minutes. It will be golden, and toothpick inserted in center will come out clean.

This is what a perfectly baked side should look like.

This is delicious warm either plain, with ice cream, sour cream or whipped cream.

Please enjoy.