Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Wow....*lucky* we are!

Surrounding towns lost trees, power, etc. , but we were very lucky to only have flickering lights & rattling windows.  This is the worst of our damage:  
The front steps. Sorry for the fuzziness!  There is also a lot of wind high up.
As well as a grey colour...


 

Monday, October 29, 2012

All Hallows approaches....

...as does Hurricane (Tropical Storm? Major Storm Surge?) Sandy.  Have Hermit & Oatmeal Lace cookies bakes, reading/knitting materials, candles/matches, &
this lovely selection of dried rose buds & lavender, plus a hand-cast candle in a truly gorgeous black colour  (I am so incredibly pleased with this colour ), courtesy of Ms. Lilypads (yea! for contests, which also included a sweet soap & lotion).  Along with a slice of strong gingerbread, honey, & milk, these lovelies will be put to Great Use tomorrow night. Now all I have to do is find a container that I won't mind losing in the winds of Sandy.....

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Straight to Hel ( A visit to the Dark Side of Faery)

   There are two things that I have a major skeevy attack when forced to endure their presence: Barbie pink & glittery/shimmery/Disneyed fairies (Tinkerbell & her troop = gag reflex).  I am ever so much more comfortable with the complexities of the Elder Fae.  Somewhere close to being a second cousin thrice removed of the Dark/Elder Fae I find one of my favorite Complexities...the wondrous Hel.

(This poor quality image of a wonderful print of Hel.  Original painting created by the wonderful Linda of Heksebua)
   Daughter of Angerboda (witch & probable giantess) & Loki (now there's someone that I wouldn't want to meet up with in a dark alley).  Sister of the Midgard Serpent & the Fenris Wolf.  In appearance half dead, half alive...half beautiful woman, half corpse, which leads to her sacred colours of black & white.  Hel rides a black mare, accompanied by a pack of black dogs.
   Or, she did ride, before Odin had Hel & Her siblings seized & 'contained'.  Odin took to heart the prophecy that the three siblings would rise up & lead the Rebellion against him. Odin threw Hel as far as he could & so She landed in the Realm of the Dead (exceptions being those who died at sea or in battle. They go elsewhere), becoming its' Queen.
   There Hel seems content to spend her time, waiting for the moment of Rebellion to arrive. In the meantime, She has plenty to do.  Hel, you see, knows *everything* about *every* soul which passes her way.  It is Her judgement upon each souls' living which determined where it will spend eternity: in pleasant sun or damp gloom. Hels' decision is final.  No court of appeals in Her Realm!
   This is where I find Hel walking in the Darker Side, providing balance. 
   Modern Halloween is full of bright colours, luscious apples & pumpkins, lively games, gaily wrapped candies & treats, fantastic costumes, & childrens' laughter.  Halloween is a lovely round of Party & Spooky Story, where nothing can *really* hurt us.
   Then comes All-Saints/Hallows quickly, quickly on the heels of Halloween.  Here is the reminder that seasons change from warm-bright SummerHarvest to cold-bright WinterSleeping. A reminder of the frailities of living, where we can be hurt.  The thinned Veil allows us a brief time to once again visit, & honor, our Ancestral Dead, Glorious Dead, & Holy Dead.  Many of whom Hel is well acquainted with, as She has passed Judgement on all.
  For in Hel resides that Dark Reminder that, for all of our getting lost in the insanity of a sugar-induced live-in-the-second Halloween rush, there will, one day, be a Reckoning.  One day we will stand before Hel, waiting the Judgement of One who does not forget what we have done.....even if all we remember are the cavities the candies gave us.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The 'I Want's

Anyone who has been around young children knows the chorus reverberating throughout the household as October rounds into November is ' I Want That!'.   Finally. Grandchild #1 is now most selective about such pronunciations &  Grandchild #2 still gets easily distracted by what he already has.  However, Grandchild #3 has started the war-cry much earlier than the other two did.  She doesn't particularly know what 'it' is, but she wants 'it' nonetheless. Once #3 starts in, #1 chimes in with her desires, just in case the war-cry actually works with #3.  #2 starts up shortly thereafter because #3 & #1 are at it.  In the spirit of the game, I have decided to chime in...as soon as this has a commercial on when they're watching T.V., I get to add my own 'I Wants' !  This 'I Want' beats #2s' pair all hollow :)

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Just so you know....

My dragon glistens with all the colours of flame & water-flowing. Her eyes sparkle diamond-hard. Her voice is as fathomless as the galaxy is deep. Her voice is like that of the winds, blowing up storms so that they may speak to each other. It is her Choice that she came, her Choice that she stays. She is my Companion as I am hers.

Elijah

Thursday my little man turned 5! (i forgot where i put my camera, so couldn't post yesterday) We are combining his & Isas' birthday party so no pics until 4 Nov.  However, he got to open up the family gifts...from me & his sisters, from Great G'ma & G'pa in Nebraska, & from Mom/Dad. 
His Batcave Trio-block set.  It only looks like sister Isa is taking over ;)
Really!  Eli is playing with his new blocks! (just to make sure he had me pack them up to take with for his week-end with Oma)
Elijah was very pleased with his Birthday Crown he got at school. :)  Five years already, my sweet Sunshine, with many more to come!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

I get obsessed

I can pick up & put down a sewing project, a book, and/or an embroidery project.  I can't stop thinking about a knitting project, thought. It's all that I want to do...housework & letters be damned!  Only 10 more pattern repeats until I can do the final 6 rows & bind off....& so I'm off~~~

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Halloween cartoons...yea!

From the twists & turns of one of my favorite minds in online comics, Randy Millholland.  :))
One
Two
Three
Four
Five

Friday, October 5, 2012

Before & After

Before.....
And after...
While 3 little Imps add to a Whaling ships' Cauldron....


Thursday, October 4, 2012

See any difference?

From one week to the next. 
I am still left wondering how people manage to knit entire adult sweaters in one month.

Also, a little video 'cause it's October :)


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

It's October Contest time!

Some online friends are having wonderful Halloween themed giveaways. The  Laughing Vixen has started her yearly extravaganza.  Samhains Sirens have started singing in chorus, with giveaways, recipes, & more.  Spooky tales rule at the Pagan Culture Grims giveaway. Over at Heksebua , Linda has blog-hunt contest running.  When I won on of her competitions I received a beautiful painting that she created. :)  Lyns' witches are flying in for the month. The ever-amazing Red Tash is hosting the Hoosier Horror.  Plus, Jen Rue has a sweet book giveaway.  Check them out :)