Thankfulness

Today will be a double post as I missed the first day.  Cordelia of Cordelia's Cauldron has started a 15 days of Thankfulness.  You can find the first post here.

November 10 - Day 1 - An author, artist and musician you are thankful for.

An author I am (as well as many other pagans)thankful for is Scott Cunningham.  Not only was he a great Wiccan author, but he had many books on the basic magical properties of herbs, oils, incenses and even food.  His books were written in such a way that is comforting and explains things so anyone can understand.  I'm certain I speak for many in the pagan community when I say I am saddened that I never got to actually meet this great teacher.

Bewitching by Jessica Galbreth

An artist I am thankful for is Jessica Galbreth.  She is in my opinion one of the great fantasy artists in modern times.  I am in awe of artists in general, as I can't draw to save my life, but I've always loved fantasy.  And faeries!  Jessica Galbreth has created a great collection of art that I always find beautiful.  She has faeries, dragons, zodiac figures, and goddesses.  I even have a figurine representation of one of her works.

Finally, a musician I am thankful for is George Michael.  He first started in Wham a few years before my time, but thanks to my mom I practically grew up on 80's music.  That and she love George's music all through my childhood and to this day.  I love his music because it bring my family together.  My mom, sisters and I can sing most of his songs by heart.  I love the wide range of emotion he shows from song to song.  Some are great for dancing and other more subdued or sorrowful.  So I hope you take a listen to the above video and enjoy the pop-y loveliness.

November 11 - Day 2 - 3 veterans you know that you are thankful for.

Three veterans I am thankful for are my biological father, my paternal grandfather and my maternal great-grandmother.

Now I don't know a lot about the actual military careers of my family.  They're the type not to talk about it.  My father was in the navy before I was born.  Without him I wouldn't be here, nor would I be the person I am.  We recently reconciled after several years of a strained relationship.  I feel much better for it. 

I'm not sure what division of the military my grandfather was in, but he did fight in the Korean War.  Unfortunately his health hasn't been doing well as of late.  I hope to be able to go see him before he gets too bad.  He's the silent type, but he always said goodbye with a big hug and a smile.

My great-grandmother passed several years ago.  She was in the navy when she was young and it certainly showed.  She was always a stern individual, but I loved her nonetheless.  My mom likes to say that I am a lot like her (I'm a serious person myself) and that we would have gotten along quite well.  She practically raised my mom, so I have a lot to be grateful to her for.

44 Days of Witchery

Picture of nature (water element)

A picture of the Oswegatchie River in Hailesboro, New York.  This was taken by Twinny in the back of my grandparents' property.

Pumpkin Pie: Now with Real Pumpkin!

It's recipe time ladies and gentlemen.  This is the same recipe that I used for the pie pictured in my last post.  First, getting the pumpkin.  I suggest using 1-2 pie pumpkins.  They're the smaller pumpkins that are about 6 inches tall.  They will usually have a sign or sticker indicating the type of pumpkin.

First you have to cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp.  Use a serrated knife, it will make the cutting easier.  Then use a microwave-safe container with a lid (or a microwave safe bowl with a plate covering the pumpkin... that's what I did) and put the pumpkin in the microwave for about 20 minutes.  The pumpkin will separate from the rind at the edges and will be easy to mash.  Then using an electric mixer, puree the pumpkin until it is smooth.  I suggest only doing one pumpkin at a time to see just how much more pumpkin puree you will need (if you need any at all) to make up the 3 cups.

Pumpkin pie filling
3 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 12 ounce cans evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground clove
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend until thoroughly mixed.  The batter will be soupy.  This recipe makes enough for at least two pies.

Pie crust recipe
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup margarine
4-5 Tbsp cold water

Combine flour and salt.  Using a pastry blender (or two forks), cut in margarine until the mixture is flaky and crumbles.  Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time and toss until dough is moistened.  Roll out dough on a floured surface until it is about 12 inches in diameter.  Transfer dough and press into a pie pan so there are no bubbles or tears.  

Pour batter into pie pan with crust.  Leave about 1/4 of an inch between the top of the batter and the edge of the pan.  Cover edges of crust with aluminum foil to prevent scorching.  

Bake for 15 minutes at 425 F, then lower oven temperature to 350 F and bake for remaining  45-60 minutes.  Take the foil off when there are 15 minutes remaining.  Pie is finished when a knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the pie.

A Surreal Experience

Today was an interesting day.  I found myself with 5 hours... to myself.  All alone in the house.  Which is a rarity in my family.  There are six people living here.  Momo and Ada (my mom and step-father), my oldest sister and her fiance, Twinny and myself.  


My parents were on vacation this last week, but came home late today.  My two sisters and my sister's fiance went to a party.  Thus the alone time.  So what did I choose to do in those few hours of solitude?  


Cooking and cleaning.


First I made dinner for myself.  It was delicious, but weird only cooking for one when I'm used to cooking for six.  I had to use a little pan for my chicken and a saucepan for the mashed potatoes.  A saucepan!  The little pot you cook a can of soup in!  And I still ended up making too much mashed potatoes.


After eating I did what any responsible person would do.  The dishes.  It really wasn't so bad.  I could do them the way I wanted and listen to whatever music I chose.  Once I finished the dishes, I really got down to business.


I've been wanting to make pumpkin pie from scratch for awhile now.  I mean cook the pumpkin and puree it yourself from scratch.  So that's what I did.  My oldest sister cut the first pumpkin for me and I had pureed that already.  But I needed a bit more.  Luckily we had another pie pumpkin.  


I tried to cut it the conventional way, by hacking into it.  That wasn't working as fast as I wanted it to.  I had to find a better way.  So being the logical person I am, I got out a flat head screwdriver and a meat tenderizer and proceeded to use them like a hammer and chisel to break the thing open.  And you know something?  It worked marvelously.


I also made the crust from scratch.  As an aspiring chef I feel I should make as much food from their base ingredients.  It was annoying to try and make the dough the size I wanted and it kept sticking to the rolling pin.  But I beat the dough into submission and eventually got a lovely pie crust out of the deal.


My parents came home shortly thereafter.  Both of them said my pie looked tasty.

Once my siblings came home it was actually eaten.  Apparently my first pumpkin pie was a success.


And I don't even like pumpkin pie.

44 Days of Witchery

Witchy tools: athame.


The athame is a knife used in ritual.  Unlike the boline, the athame isn't typically used for cutting physical things.  Usually the athame is used for cutting a circle and other symbolic gestures.  Although some people do forgo the boline and use a sharpened athame for both ritual use and to cut herbs for magical purposes.  


The athame is also used as a symbol for the God, the masculine, with the chalice or cauldron representing the Goddess, the feminine.


Alright.  There's the short synopsis of the use of an athame.  I'm sure there is more but I just put down how I use mine.  Now for a description of my personal athame.


My athame is just like the one pictured.  My Ada(step-father) bought me my athame two Christmases ago along with a whole boatload of pagan items.  I do have an athame and a boline, so I only use my athame for creating and cutting my circle.

Movement: It's good for you!


So I'm going to try and take part in Jamie Ridler's movement practice this month.  To learn about it, click here.

I think the key to my success is not trying to over do things.  I'm off to a good start today.  We went to the mall and walked around a store or two for about an hour.  I might try turning on some music while I cook (something I don't usually do) and maybe dance around a bit between stirring or checking something in the oven.  I can't go too crazy though considering how self conscious I am about my dancing skills.  I might even look through the dvds in the house.  Maybe my mom has a good one I haven't tried.  Wish me luck!

Happy Belated Samhain/Halloween


Our Samhain celebration was low key this year.  No great lengthy ritual.  We didn't even get started until kids started trick-or-treating.  It was just me and Twinny this year for the most part.  First we went on a walk with our capes on.  If you own a cape or cloak you should do this, it's ridiculously fun.  Then we brewed some divination tea to help get the psychic energy flowing.  Then I lit an ancestral fire in my cauldron using sage infused rubbing alcohol. 


 After we ate dinner she and I made banishing bread to get rid of a bad habit.  You make a little person out of bread and infuse it with the intent to be rid of something as you make it.  We made ours for procrastination.  Poor Twinny isn't a big cooking person, so I kept ordering her around.  Apparently my Mother aspect was showing (even though I'm not a mom).  Sorry I was bossy Twinny!    


As the bread baked we used our many divination tools.  Twinny has two sets of oracle cards and some Chinese fortune sticks.  I have tarot cards, runes and the I Ching.  No tea leaves for me.  But our fortunes all seemed to tell us that we are in for a trying year.  I do believe in changing your fate, so I will do my best to be productive and move forward in this new year.


Once the bread was done we first showed it to my oldest sister and her fiance.  Mine turned out fine but Twinny's was a bit... wonky.  Endearing really.  Then we set forth on the task of burning them.  In my cauldron.  In hindsight this probably wasn't the brightest of ideas.  My bread man was almost fully black but not fully burned, so I stepped on him and threw him into the yard.  Twinny decided to tear hers into pieces to make it burn faster.  It didn't work very well.  


After disposing of our procrastination's remains we went inside and watched a Star Trek movie and I made apple crisp.  All in all it was a good day and a good sabbat.

Our cats Webster and Samantha, who passed away recently.