Sunday Sampler

I wanted to share some photographs that our dear family friend, Chris sent me via email.  He has a great eye and a natural flair for capturing exquisite scenes from nature.

Pinecones on a snowy tree at Onondaga Community College

The stream that runs through our neighborhood

Frosted Post

Sunrise at Otisco Lake, New York

Sun Rising at Otisco Lake

We are experiencing more heavy snowfall today, and the thermometer is supposed to drop tonight to 2 degrees F tonight. May I just say, ACK!!!!!

I received some interesting comments and suggestions about the use of the funny little wooden "tray"/storage piece I wrote about earlier this week. The general consensus being that it was most likely built for sewing/knitting. Several suggestions encouraged using it as an altar; also suggested as a buffet accessory, or for gardening. I will not be taking it back to the thrift store, and will continue to debate how to use it. Thanks for all the ideas!!

Have a beautiful Sunday, and blessings to all.    Robin.

Friday, Out the Window

12 degrees F, at 6:30 am, and the sky is not light yet. Snowflakes, tiny at first, larger, fluffier by the second. Finally, to the east there is a slight lessening of dark. Soon the birdfeeders start filling up with small flitting movements, and hesitant chit chat. Seed hulls drift below, to the icy encrusted snow, to be gone over later by the mourning doves.

The old Yule tree, planted into the snow, slightly tilted, becomes the morning spot for the birds and their riotous kaffee-klatch. Mostly house sparrows, juncos and chickadees, soon joined by house finch, American gold finch, and the occasional dove. Fortunately, no sign of the hawk. The crows have done their duty, keeping the swooping thief away from the feeders.

No sign of a sunrise, other than the sky is a very light gray now. The snow is falling steadily. The birds continue their breakfast revelry and I step away from the window, on Friday to begin my own morning rituals.

It is definitely winter; and visit Mrs B today

Like Thor and his Hammer, Neptune and his Trident, Zeus and his Lightning Bolt::::::I present Nicarus and his Giant Icicle:

A cold wintry snowy January day. Keeping the wood stove burning, hot coffee brewing and a beef stew simmering. 

Please go to Mrs B's blog today. She has a very important post concerning injustice in Malawi. click here

Your Suggestions, Please--What is This??

So the declutterfest is continuing and making progress!  But look what I found in a corner.

I got this last summer at the thrift store.  It is handmade, very nicely put together.  I thought it was something I could find a use for at home. It is too small to be a side table as demonstrated next.

Son nicarus employs "this" as a fast food holder

It is not easily carried around, as the top part is too wide to use as a handle. The three slots are curious to me. Was this meant as perhaps a sewing aid? Buttons and pins and whatnots on the top, sewing items on the bottom? I suppose it could be used as a magazine holder, but too large for the bathroom, too small for the living room. And again, what about those three little spaces on top?

Another view for your contemplation

Any suggestions as to what this might have originally been built for? Any ideas what I could use it for now? I may have to take it back to the thrift store if I can't figure out how I can make use of it..  Danged if I know.

Wiccan Reads--The Way of the Green Witch

Finding inspiration is just a step away to my bookshelf. I purchased this lovely book by Arin Murphy-Hiscock about three years ago.  The Way of the Green Witch, Rituals, Spells, and Practices to Bring You Back to Nature (Provenance Press, Adams Media, Avon, Massachusetts, 2006) has been a real boon for me over the last few days. I am attempting to bring order, serenity and smooth-flowing energy into our home.  It is a large undertaking; there are other people living here, some are neat, some are not. And I have "stuff" everywhere.

What is a Green Witch? In Arin Murphy-Hiscock's introduction she writes: The way of the green witch is the path of the naturalist, the herbalist, the wisewoman, and the healer. (p.ix) This practice is usually solitary, highly individualized and free form. The green witch uses "natural elements to improved the well-being of the physical body, the spirit and soul, and the environment." (p. x) This is a difficult task in today's world. The urban life, the cities, industry, the chaos that is found everywhere; these elements hardly make for a peaceful naturalist's way of life. But there are many ways to live in harmony with this environment, and it all begins in the witch's own home.

The author writes in a simple, easy to follow style, not cobbling us with massive narratives of jargon and deep, philosophical ramblings, as is the case with some pagan books I have waded through. She is concise without being dry, and it is a pleasurable, informative, inspirational read.

Chapter titles include: Elements of the Green Witch Path, Listening to the Earth, The Four Seasons, Twigs, Leaves, Stars and Stones, Crafting Green Witch Magic, The Garden of the Green Witch, The Green Witch in the Kitchen; and several more chapters. I pretty much read three quarters of this book the other evening. I was in my glider rocker, the fire was crackling away in the fireplace and as I read, I realized this book had so much to offer me in regards to creating the environment I so desperately want in my home. I truly felt connected to this Green Witch's words and ideas. Although the Green Witch's path is not the Wiccan path, there are many similarities and common goals of both paths.

Included in this book are tips on cleansing and purification of the home, using the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) in a more personal way, creating shrines and altars and lessons to help you become attuned with your neighborhood, town, and other environments...this and so much more have really given me such a boost and enthusiasm for creating the atmosphere I want.

I expect to be referring to this book quite often over the next few weeks and am so happy that I came across it as I was re-organizing my shelves.

http://karenswhimsy.com

The Trouble with Mondays

The trouble with, "A place for everything and everything in its place" is that there's always more everything than places.  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

Yep, still working on this decluttering situation, of which I do not wish to speak. Have a good day!!!

Announcing the Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my First Ever Giveaway! Lovely comments were left, and I have to say this was a lot of fun. And now for the winner:

The entries are placed into my cauldron

Stirred around with my wand

Son nicarus, with eyes closed, reaches in

mxtodis123 is the winner!

Congratulations to MXTODIS123! Mary has a lovely blog, Avalon Revisited, which you can find here 
Mary, please email me with your snail mail info within three days. I am looking forward to sending your prizes off to you.

Blessings to all!!!   Robin