All is Calm, All is Bright

Things are going well! My husband is off oxygen and breathing well on his own. Today he had his first solid food, and is taking his medications orally instead of through the IVs. Really great progress. Though it is rather dismal to be in the hospital at Christmas, he has a very positive attitude.

By the way, Pyewacket is doing great, too. The cone came off on Monday and his paws are beautifully healed. He is back to his fun and happy self and enjoying a Christmas squeaky mouse from his friend Walter the Beagle. Pixie received two little roly-poly mice with bells, and Gwennie received pumpkin dog biscuits. Walter is a very generous doggie.

A white Christmas but very cold.

Happy Holidays! Take care!

Briefly and Belatedly

Blessed Yule!! I am missing it by a day, but better late than never, I always say, belatedly!!

My husband endured a difficult six and a half hour surgery, but is doing okay. We want to get him through these next few days without incident, and then I think he will be "home free". Continued positive thoughts and prayers sent his way would be gratefully received.

Obviously our holiday celebration is on hold. I am sad to say little to no decorating or baking has occurred. We will just delay until things are better.

Sending warm wishes to all. Be safe.

Pixie Reports In

Meow! Hi! Pixie here. I am hanging out on the stairs because I am bored. My brother is stuck in jail. He can't play. But he is doing a bit better. Thank Cod! He has been me-OW-ing like crazy. Soon he will get out of jail and be able to walk around.

These stairs are kinda comfie. I think I will stay here for a nap.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone sending good thoughts to my brother.

Uh-oh. Here comes the dog. I better scat. Meow-bye!

Some good news, some bad news

Snow is very beautiful, isn't it? The evergreens painted with crystalline splashes of pure white. Snowflakes glittering like diamonds. Clean, fresh air with that crisp, cold sharpness. Cars stuck in icy snowbanks. Treacherous trips down the driveway to get the mail. Risk of frostbite while shoveling. Get the picture?!

Anyway.....medical update: my brother had a successful procedure on Monday, and hopefully this will help him for a while. That's good news!

My husband is really ready to get on with his surgery. December 19th! All will be well.

In the bad news: Our sweet little Pyewacket kitty jumped up on the flat surface of the wood stove chasing a moth, and badly burned all four paws!!!! Terrible. I rushed him to the emergency animal hospital. He is on pain medication and antibiotics; the vet recommended a special kitty litter called "Yesterday News", which is made from recycled newspapers and is smooth, soft and in pellets. He is also afflicted with the "Cone of Shame", and I have isolated him in our old kitty condo that they lived in for the first few weeks after we brought them home from New Jersey. (That was 17 months ago!!) We are miserable for him, poor little Pye-Pye.

Poor Pyewacket (and he just tipped over the litter box)

Frosty, but Fine

Blessings and peace to his family, and the world all over, as Nelson Mandela passes.

Ice and snow and blizzardy cold across the US. Stay safe and warm, people. Be very careful out there. We had icy rain here this morning. Not sure if the forecasters know what is coming next.

Medical news from the HomeFront. My brother is scheduled for surgery, Monday, December 9th. It is a procedure for his kidneys, which suffered during the two strokes a couple of years ago.
My husband has been cleared for reconstruction surgery on his colon on December 19th. New surgeon of course, and All Will Be Well!!!!!!

So hospitals are in the immediate future for us. Yule will still be observed, in and around and through these various events. I have met worst challenges, that is for certain!!

Gotta run. Keep those bird feeders full, and watch out for frosty weather.

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Snippets

So here we are full-tilt into that typically American season of "Holiday Shopping". Ugh. Maniacally obsessed consumers hunting for all those "fabulous" deals. I won't go near the malls and big name stores for at least a month, if then, really. I like to shop the small business, local craft fairs and online. And we do not go crazy with the credit card. We prefer simple things. I know there are a lot of people out there who believe, like me, that the Season is about peace, family, and celebrating the return of Light.


I got a haircut, which is not normally newsworthy. But, I swear to you, when I looked in the mirror the next morning, my hair looked like a Briard. I am not kidding.

Hair of the Dog source

Turkey leftovers are gone. Good sandwiches, a delicious turkey soup (if I do say so myself) and now I am fine without turkey until next Thanksgiving.

cute turkey kid source

Now it is time to start moving everything around in the house to fit a Christmas tree somewhere. I think the house shrunk. Do you have that problem?

Hugs from Robin.

I am Back!

Wow, again, time flies. Two weeks without being in the blog-o-sphere!
Busy around here. Lots of medical stuff going on. Appointments, tests and so forth.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Everything turned out great and delicious. I love all the flavors of the celebration, the aromas and sights. Almost ended in disaster when kittens discover tablecloth. Claws attached and slowly dragging cloth towards the floor. Hissing and clapping of hands sent two felines flying down the stairs!

We have had lots of snow. And really cold. It is beautiful to watch from the warmth of the chair by the fireplace.

Thinking about Yule as the Wheel of the Year turns bringing Light to the Darkness. A favorite Wiccan celebration; but then all the sabbats are my favorite!

Wonderful book by Dorothy Morrison

Gotta come visit all my blog buddies. Hope all is well with everyone.

One of my Yule Fires

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Hi!!

What's new?

Fine, here.

Here's some roses. From the grocery store. It was raining, mixing with snow when I brought these beauties home.

The vet and I survived the appointment with the kittens for their annual check-up. Both felines were having naps when it was time to go to the vet. Just scoop up a sleepy kitty and thrust him or her right into the carrier. No problem!! The kittens are 18 months old now. Pyewacket weighs 11.8 pounds and Pixie weighs 9.2 pounds. And the vet gave me permission to continue calling them kittens for as long as I want!!

Pixie says, "Sure, call me a kitten. Just don't call me to go to the vet any time soon."

Eleven-Twelve-Thirteen

11-12-13! What a great date; at least in American format. Just wanted an excuse to type today's date.

I have been having some computer glitches, such as very slow, or freezing up.Makes blogging very frustrating. Hopefully I can get through this post with no problems.Fingers crossed.

About the doctor's appointment last week:I am happy to report that the new surgeon we met is very knowledgeable, confident and caring. He spent almost an hour talking with us and going over everything with us. He has formed a plan for my husband's care, and we feel very good about this. My husband feels more relaxed than he has in months!

Our daughter Raethan came for a weekend visit to celebrate her dad's birthday. A short but fun visit, with family board game time, good food and a trip to AutumnWood so Raethan could finally see our property for the first time. Cold, cloudy and drizzly did not keep us away.

Raethan at AutumnWood

Here is something interesting. Remember the old falling down building at AutumnWood I talked about last week? Nicarus and Raethan could not resist taking a peek inside. I was nervous about the roof collapsing, but all was well. Raethan went in briefly and took a few steps inside, while her brother held open the door. She said there are a lot of rusty old bikes, old tires, old milk cans, some kind of tractor and a weird looking pump. Her eyes lighted on a steamer trunk, and naturally she had to drag it near the light from the door to open it. Fortunately, nothing awful sprang out at her. Unfortunately the only thing in the trunk was a newspaper--no hidden treasure!! But the newspaper, though yellowed, moldy and torn was from August 2, 1942. We were able to read few pieces here and there. An article with recipes for vegetables from your Victory Garden, a coupon for postage stamps to use to send letters to "our boys"; 48 stamps for 5 cents!! Some of the advertisements were hilarious.  It was fun, but the paper got very brittle and fell apart.

I have to wrangle my kittens into carriers this afternoon for a visit to the vet; annual checkup. I am dreading it mainly because Pixie is a demon to catch. She does not like being picked up, so a stealthy plan is in order to  grab her without her being aware of the waiting transport. If she knows, she will take off to parts unknown, hiding under places we cannot possibly get to.  Wish us luck!!!

Very cold today. Flurries around and about. Stay warm and cozy, safe and sound!

AutumnWood Afternoon

A picture-perfect autumn day for a drive out to the country to visit our new property, AutumnWood. Sky-blue, golden leaves, acres of harvested corn fields. Blue jays calling and red squirrels chittering. And the neighing of two horses from the neighbor's barn. (click on photos for a closer look).

A beautiful old farmhouse is just across the road and down a bit. The most marvelous trees, including a grand old willow surround the front. I am looking forward to meeting the neighbors.

Nick works hard right by the front gate planting daffodil bulbs. This area is very rocky, so the digging was not easy. Just across the road is the barn housing two horses.

Here is a very old dilapidated structure that we did not know was part of our property until we saw the survey map. It looks small from this view but is actually much larger. It is covered in a multitude of vines and shrubs.

You can see from this view how long the building is.  Through the windows can be seen old farm equipment (we think). We will investigate in the Spring.

After planting bulbs by the gate, and further back near the entrance to the woods, we hung autumn wreaths on the gate. One small step in claiming this place as ours.

Questions

November showed up rather abruptly, as far as I am concerned. Oh, I knew it was coming; after all, I had been preparing for Samhain/Halloween for a while. Not too hard to assume November 1st would be the very next day.

And changing the clocks back. I actually wish we would stop doing the whole daylight savings time thing. Really, why do we still do it? Just one of the millions of things about Life I have no answers for.

We went to the funeral on Friday, for the young woman who was murdered. The funeral home was crowded with mourners and it was a difficult time on many levels. There are a million questions about this event too, and probably not much in the way of answers.

To perk up my mood a bit, I went to a Holiday Craft Fair at the high school. What a bust! Very small. Not much in the way of creative crafting, too many "store-bought" goods and grumpy vendors and crowd. I thought hand crafted items were on the rise these days, but apparently not around here. Wonder why?

Tomorrow my husband and I meet his new surgeon for the reconstruction surgery. He stopped going to the other doctor a while ago, you know, the one who screwed up so badly. With optimism and a list of questions to ask, we expect this time to have a really good experience. Believe me, he won't be signing one single paper until we are fully informed and satisfied of the competence.

Gotta run, off to AutumnWood today with my son to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Will they survive squirrels, crows, raccoons, and the ravages of serious winter weather? Answer coming to that in the Spring!

Who me? Eat bulbs?

Blessed Samhain 2013--Happy Halloween

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"As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a whisper whispering.
I heard a whisper whispering,
Upon this fine fall day...

As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a laugh a' laughing.
I heard a laugh a' laughing,
Upon this fine fall day...

I heard this whisper and I wondered,
I heard this laugh and then I knew.
The time is getting near my friends,
The time that I hold dear my friends,
The veil is getting thin my friends,
And strange things will pass through."
-   The Veil is Getting Thinner 

(author unknown)

"He Was Headless!"

"On mounting a rising ground, which brought the figure of his fellow-traveller in relief against the sky, gigantic in height, and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless!--but his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle!"
- Washington Irving, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

 

Headless Source

At a Loss

It is just a couple of days to Wicca's most sacred observance of Samhain. A time to honor our Ancestors and contemplate the ending of the year. The Wheel of the Year has gone through its complete cycle and soon we enter into the long sleep of Winter.

It is festive and somber both. Thoughts turn inward.

Yesterday, my son's close friend lost her sister in an unimaginably horrific way. She and another woman were stabbed to death by the sister's estranged husband. An "order of protection" did nothing to keep her safe. A brutal senseless crime, leaving behind devastated families and friends. My son spent several hours with his friend and her family last night, obviously a painful experience.

I am at a loss as to what to tell him. And when I talk to his friend there will be no words one can say except "I am here to support you in whatever way you need".

This Samhain will be significantly different for us. Thinking about this 24 year old woman's death, a mother of two young children, adds a more sobering element to this day and night of remembrance.

My Old PurrrrSnicKitty Blog Has Been Plundered

Thanks to Mary and Linda for emailing me about the blog I had taken down several months ago. The blog, PurrrrSnicKitty was intended to be a journal of our kittens. Apparently it got taken over by less-than-g-rated people. If my PurrrrSnickitty blog showed up in your blog lists, I want you to know, that it is NOT me.

Delete the blog PurrrrSnickitty immediately.

What a pain, eh?

Indeed!

Happy Friday! The end of a long hectic, anxious, happy, scattered week!!!

I am proud to say my husband and I are now officially "landed gentry", lol!! Thirty minutes cloistered with two attorneys, while high winds, rain and hail batter the office windows. Snow gathered around corners and temperatures plummeting. And we have just bought property further NORTH!! lol!!

And, now, my friends, for the announcement of the name of our new land.

AutumnWood

I think it is perfect for this place we found. Hopefully the weather will improve so we can get out there and plant spring-blooming bulbs and do a few other things.

Grandmother Maple--a perfect spot for a picnic

Thanks for all your happy words of support!!! Super weekend, everyone!!!

Events

Rain is falling tonight, dark and breezy outside. Chilly. But my shivers are more of excitement for Thursday's happenings. The finalization of the purchase of our land!!

Today was special too, my brother's birthday. We took him to his favorite restaurant tonight for dinner. He is doing okay; if you may recall two years ago he suffered two strokes less than a week apart, and has been dealing with the aftereffects, as well as severe kidney disease and heart disease. Not an easy road, but we are all doing the best we can.

And then a phone call from our darling daughter. She received a promotion today, and was calling to share her news. She is getting an office (with 4 walls,ceiling and a door); she has been in a cubicle for a long time. We are proud and happy for her. She works very hard and has earned this promotion!

Once we actually have the deed to the land in our hands, I am going to announce the name we have chosen for the property. It was a big job...we went over at least 30 different names (there were some hurt feelings, mostly on my part, as some names were rejected). But we all love the one we have selected. It is perfect!!

Bright Blessings from Robin.

Monday Melody--Aromatic Autumn

Sunday supper: Baked herbed chicken and a delicious casserole using a recipe from the talented and creative chef, Joyce at the blog OctoberFarm. I have made this casserole before and it is a favorite of the family's; it makes mouths water and stomachs rumble as the aroma of baking casserole wafts through the house. You must make this! Joyce says that even kids that won't touch a zucchini will love this. Click on the link to see the recipe and visit Joyce's great blog: OctoberFarm's Zucchini Casserole
 (unfortunately I forgot to snap a photo of the yummy goodness; all that is left is an empty dish)


A chill in the house the last couple of days. The family room especially is cooler than the rest of the house. So the first woodstove fire of the season. Just a small one. Stepping outside to look at the fabulous full moon, the aroma of wood smoke lightly drifting upwards immediately evoked autumns past. A comforting feeling.

And burning sage and rosemary on the night of the Full Moon is tremendously aromatic and most conducive to meditation and spell work. Smells so good in the chilly night air.

Happy Birthday today to my dearest friend and godmother to my children!! We love you!!

A Fine Autumnal Day

"It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet."
- Washington Irving, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

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We Have a Date

Official news! Attorney called us yesterday with a closing date on our property. Thursday, October 24th! Thank the Goddess! I made a solo trip out to our land just a couple of days ago. My mission was to snap some fall foliage pix. I didn't go into the woods, mainly because I was alone, it was muddy and we don't actually own the place yet. It was very pleasant though, listening to the call of unfamiliar birds, and the light breeze carried the aroma of earth, fallen leaves and clean air. (click on photos for a closer look)

Some trees are already bare and some are just now changing

One of the two deer stands--there will be no hunting on our property

View of the front of the property and a pile of wood waiting for our first bonfire

Next weekend, weather permitting, property deed in hand, we will be enjoying our place! Wish you could join us!!

Somebody, please.....?!

The week has flown by, can't believe how fast October is going. A fantastic almost full moon last night, looking like a Halloween moon, with clouds floating in front, and some tall trees bare of leaves. Very inspiring for dark and not-so dark thoughts!

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Still no word on when we will close on our property....sigh. I think our paperwork is sitting on somebody's desk, under a pile of real estate catalogs!

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A terrible confession: I purchased a dag-gone Christmas magazine this week. What am I thinking? Not even Halloween yet, and I am looking at holiday decorating. Somebody knock me upside the head, please.

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I am a fan obsessed. My beloved "Outlander" books, by Diana Gabaldon, the Scottish-based story of time travel, historical romance and mystery, are being brought to life, even as I type this as a series for Starz cable channel. I have been following the process on various web sites and agonizingly waiting for the March 2014 debut of the series on Starz. The eighth book in the series is due out in March as well. Can somebody get me a brown paper bag to breathe into please?

Just two weeks till Samhain/Halloween. My witchy sense is tingling!

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Birthday Remembrance

Beloved Mother, sweet spirit, loving energy. Always and forever my inspiration.

October 13, 1915-January 25, 2012

To Our Friends Across the Border

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 To my French-Canadian family and to my wonderful Canadian blogger friends, enjoy the weekend and the great food!

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Great Pumpkins! And a Kitty Deterrant

A lovely friend named Suzan is a designer, stylist and crafter extraordinaire. I have been following her blog for quite a long time, and highly recommend you do too, if you like fabulous ideas for decorating and crafting, which I do. Click on the link to find her blog:  http://oldgreymareprimitives.blogspot.com/

On one of Suzan's posts last week, she featured her beautiful handmade pumpkins. Since she lives all the way across the country, there is not much chance for me to get over there to grab a few from her. So I asked if she would sell me some through the marvels of the internet, and she graciously agreed too.

So here are my new treasures:

Made from quilts, old blankets and good quality burlap, along with the most charming accents, these sweet pumpkins will be a part of my autumn decorating for a very long time. I am thrilled to have them. Thanks, Z!!

Now, let's turn our attention to those darn kittens of mine. There is a window in the kitchen, right next to the stove. Both of the felines have just recently taken an interest in sitting on the teeny tiny sill, to look out the window. This scares me since there are, upon occasion, hot pots and pans cooking on the stove.

In an effort to dissuade them from jumping up to the sill, I needed something to place on this narrow sill that would be non-breakable, and perhaps a little off-putting to them.

Soft, fabric candy corns. Very cute and old fashioned.

Three days now and nokitty has tried to jump up there. After Halloween, I will have to find turkeys or other autumnal items. What do you think of that, Pyewacket?

Huh?

Wordless Wednesday--Afternoon Tea

New York grown Empire apple with peanut butter--delectable

Rotten Darkspur Returns

Grievings all you human peoples. Remember me? I've been visiting the Wiccan every October for a few years now. You know, since the Veil between worlds is thinning and all. It was pretty cinchy getting across during the dark of the Moon. I love me some Dark Moon time!

So, are you guys as sick of the Wiccan going on and on about 'the beautiful autumn' and 'glorious trees' and all that sentimental, disruptive nonsense?  Sheesh, what can we do to shut her up, for cryin' out loud!

Now, me, I like creepy, dark places with ghoulish things slithering around. Don't you? Ominous sounds coming out of a graveyard at 2:00 am? Oh yeah, now that is a happy time! Set up a picnic and pour some bloody grog and nothin' could be finer!

Those dratted felines know I am here and are getting a mite fractious. Geez I hate cats! They got some kind of extra sensory deception or what ever you humans call it. I gotta get outta here before they let the Wiccan in on our little secret rendezvous.

I will see you soon, oh, yes I will, cos I know where you are!!!Ha Ha Ha!!

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Monday Medley--Marigolds, Movies and Moping

Woe is me! We were supposed to be heading to the attorney's office today to turn over a check and receive a deed to the property. Unfortunately, red tape has tangled up, and there is a delay. Sigh. Hopefully one day this week, though. A bit of moping on my part.

So much going on in the national and world news. I just can't take it and am not going to read anything for the next few days. More moping.

Today is Remembrance Day at Syracuse University. 25 years ago this week, Flight 103 was blown up by terrorists. 260 people died in Lockerbie, Scotland, including 35 SU students. I have no words.

I think it is time to pull out my Halloween videos. Hocus Pocus, of course, and Johnny Depp's Sleepy Hollow.  Good escapist fare!

And now I am off to collect marigold seeds from the horrible looking containers on my deck. They actually make a very nice Halloween decoration, all brown and scraggly. But I want those seeds!

Have a safe and happy week!

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Rainy Friday Greetings!

An end of another busy week, of beautiful autumn weather and becoming pumpkin-crazed!

Lots of re-organizing around the house and quick dashes to the hardware store.

A morning break (elevensies) means something seasonal is in order:

Coffee and luscious pumpkin bread

A late afternoon break also requires something seasonal:

Angry Orchard hard cider (love the face on the tree)

Beautiful weather enticed son nicarus and me to take a drive out to "soon-to-be-our property".

Looking to the left from our front gate: acres of corn fields

Nick examining a map of the nearby snowmobile trail

Not much longer and we will be enjoying the remainder of autumn amongst tall trees and starry skies. And dreams of next summer, with campouts and trail-blazing, bonfires, birdwatching, barbecues and dancing under a moon-lit sky.

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Enjoy the weekend! 

Wordless Wednesday--Autumn Bucks

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Ooops---just a few words. This image was sent to me by daughter, Raethan. She said it made her think of descriptions I had given her of our new property. There are deer on the property, including a very large buck. This photographer has captured Autumn in all its splendor.

October Arrives!

Around the blog-o-sphere this morning I see bunches of blogs greeting October with elation! It seems everyone loves October for myriad reasons, culminating with the most sacred Samhain observances (Halloween).

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Even as I type these words on this first day of October, I can hear a flock of crows cawing their messages to each other not far away. With the trees turning, there is that frisson of excitement, that unnameable sense of mystery, myth and wonder.

"Listen!  the wind is rising,
and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves!"
-  Humbert Wolfe  

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Here's wishing a wish of October beauty for everyone.  Bright Blessings!

Monday Miscellany

A fond farewell to September; what a beautiful month it has been. Busy one for the family, with all kinds of things going on. Most notably the buying of the new property--one week to go till we close, very exciting times!! Also, we have spent time consulting new doctors for my husband, and think we have made progress.  He has been experiencing more problems with the draining infection, but a new specialist has been seen and we have confidence this will provide a good solution. He will also be seen soon by new surgeons who will be providing the reconstruction surgery in December or January. This has been a long, long journey for my hubby.

Preparing for winter here has started. We have the chimney sweep coming today to take care of the fireplace and wood stove. (the cats are not going to like being shut into the bedroom).
A big stack of firewood should be arriving this week too. Cozy nights by the fire make a snowstorm a little easier to cope with.

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Friday night at the movies (in the family room). We watched "World War Z" starring Brad Pitt. Whew, did that have some intense scenes!  A different type of zombie. A good movie, a tad overlong.

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Looking forward to another busy week, beautiful weather and maybe even an artistic endeavor I am hoping to undertake one day this week. If I am successful in my creativity, I will take a picture.

Gotta go, Pyewacket is causing chaos in the dining room.

Pyewacket tells Pixie, "Don't tell Mom where I am hiding."