Monday Medley--Robin wins an E-Book!

Does it drive you nuts that I am always changing my blog backgrounds? I like to have a seasonal kind of look. And sometimes there are special occasions. So I go to the blogger template area and browse their offerings. I am not techno-creative, you know, so I can't make my own stuff, or headers or buttons and all those neat, but totally confusing-to-me additions.

Anyway, guess what? I won an e-book!! Totally unexpected. It was all part of Magaly Guerrero's blog event. She is that terrific witchy writer, you know. Her blog is here: Pagan Culture  She has just released her latest story "AlmaMia Cienfuegos" and had 13 days of celebration. Visiting different blogs each day. Fun for all. The day Magaly visited Stacy's blog Magic Love Crow I left a comment there, and that's how I won my own e-book copy of Magaly's wonderful story. You should go visit Magaly's blog to find out all about her book and other writings.  Big thanks and hugs to Magaly and to Stacy too!

Now you know I don't have an e-reader, eek! Fortunately though my son Nicarus was home when I received Magaly's email with my gift from Amazon.com. He clicked through all the "stuff" and downloaded a PC e-reader function for my laptop. I didn't even know you could do that! (See, I know nothing, Jon Snow!) (oh, the Jon Snow thing is a reference to "Game of Thrones" in case you haven't read the book). Am I rambling? Yes, but never mind!!

Let's all of us have a really great week. Safe, sound, happy & healthy! Blessings & hugs from Robin.

A Merry Meet

A rainy, coolish day. But a little rain won't keep a Wiccan and her family, driving from Pennsylvania, getting together with a Wiccan in New York. Kim, also known as Lady Caer Morganna from her blog http://thewiccalife.blogspot.com/  along with her husband and his parents, are headed north to Ontario, Canada to partake of a cruise. In order to get from Pennsylvania to Ontario it is necessary to pass through New York, specifically, Syracuse NY. And who lives in the Syracuse area? Me.

So a few emails and phone calls later, a bit of geographic confusion on both our parts, we settled on a meeting place. The anticipation definitely built up over the few days before our rendez-vous. How great to meet someone in person that you have known close to two years! Between reading each other's blogs, commenting, emails, etc, a friendship grows. You all know how that goes, right?

Robin  (sitting) and Kim

Trying to lean out of the glare from the windows behind

A memorable time with giggles and chatter, chuckling and smiles. Great company! Kim's husband is very sweet and his parents are adorable! A true pleasure to meet them and enjoy a meal together.

Kim and I had gifts for each other. The photo below is of the beautiful presents Kim gave me.

Beautiful gifts from Pennsylvania Dutch country. I will treasure always.

Here is Kim looking at the journal I gave her.(a tiny bit of her hubby there too)

Our get-together was too short, of course; short, but sweet.  A heart-warming meeting of kindred spirits, Wiccan sisters, true friends. I am certain we will meet again.

Kim waving farewell

And off they go on their great adventure in Ontario. In spite of the weather, a beautiful day.

Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!!

Secret Partly Revealed

Tomorrow's the big day! It involves two Wiccans, a road trip and a Cracker Barrel. What can the Universe be thinking!!??!!

Wordless Wednesday--Can You Spot the Hummer?

Hummingbird in the Honeysuckle

(definitely click on photo for a closer look)

Use creative eye: does this leaf formation look like a hummer?

Raethan Saves the Day

Followed this advice over the weekend: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." So I did. Until my hubby puts the air conditioners back into the windows, I will not be turning that stove on.

We did barbecue though. Outside.

Raethan saves the day!! My darling daughter and her lovable husband were here for part of the weekend. She is a geek! I am not be insulting, she calls herself that. Raethan develops software and is very comfortable around technology. Unlike her adorable mother. She takes after her father (also adorable). Anyhoo, she sat down with my laptop and figured out the problem I have been having for the last month. The on-again, off-again internet connections. And it is now FIXED! Yes! A MacAfee security update selected "Net-Guard" somewhere; Raethan went in and unselected this option. And now all is well. She reads Forums to find out what others are saying about similar problems.
I should be able to post comments now. Frustrating to write out a comment, click publish and discover that one is no longer connected to the internet. That happened alot. So if you think I have not been visiting your blogs, I am sure I was there at some point, then disappeared into the foggy areas of limbo.
Thank you, Raethan for the fix!!!!

Coming up this Friday: An exciting event. Not going to say anymore for now. (tee-hee)

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Rosemary for Remembrance

Into tonight's fire, in the backyard, rosemary. It is dried and fragrant, harvested from last year's garden.  As the rosemary burns, we will remember and honor those who have gone before. The ones who gave their lives in all the wars, those wars that have come and gone and still rage today. Home of the free, because of the brave.  Memorial Day.

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love,
remember........

-William Shakespeare (Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)

Friday and a 3-day Weekend

Off to the grocery store early this morning; it is going to be hot hot hot and who wants to be shopping on a hot afternoon? well, not me. The store is filled to the brim with all the accoutrement for Memorial Day weekend. Bar-b-Que stuff galore, watermelons, colorful paper goods, citronella candles and the ubiquitous red, white and blue floral arrangements. The so-called unofficial start to summer.

Daughter Raethan and her hubby will be arriving tonight for the weekend. I hear the sounds of board games, clinking glasses and riotous chatter already.  Maybe some help in the garden.

Have a very safe weekend, especially if you are on the road traveling.

Here's a question that I saw somewhere?  Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?  Something to discuss on the drive to the big backyard barbeque!