Happy Samhain 2011!

  Put a plate of food on your porch and a candle in the window, it's the Celtic New Year!

Happy Samhain/ Halloween!

Witchy Fitness Challenge - Week 4

   The Insanity has begun - and it was only the fit test today!

   That's right, I finally started the Insanity work outs today and it begun with a fit test to see where we were starting out in terms of fitness. It was rough! Lots of reps, just a little rest in between and man am I out of shape! It felt great once we were done, though, and I'm excited to see how these work outs help. The fit test will be done every two weeks to show you how much you've improved. Below are my results for today and I'll update them in two weeks:

Fit Test Results - Week One

Switch Kicks - 43

Power Jacks - 32

Power Knees - 66

Power Jumps - 20

Globe Jumps - 4

Suicide Jumps - 9

Push-Up Jacks - 16

Low Plank Oblique - 23

Samhain Crafts

      I'm a crafter and sewer and love home-made decorations. In fact, my daughter just turned one at the end of September and I can't wait until next year to make a costume for her!

      For today's post I'm sharing some ideas for Samhain/Halloween crafts for use in your own house during the season. Enjoy!

• Of course, there's the traditional carving of pumpkins. If you're not a great artist like myself, try using a stencil to help out.
• Make a Witch Bottle
• Create a Samhain Skull Garland out of felt
• Make easy Pumpkin Candles
• Make an Ancestor Tree
• Create an ancestor doll out of yarn, corn husks or apples

A Witches Tea Party

    Well today is the day for the Witches Tea party that is being hosted by the Frosted Petunias blog and I'm putting up my post early so I don't forget! My post for this year's event is a collection of Halloween prose from around the 'net. Enjoy!

   ~*~Note!! Only 2 more days left to enter the Deity Diva giveaway. Click HERE for details! ~*~


Month of Pumpkin:
  
   Get in the Halloween spirit with breakfast: Make French toast with pumpkin bread and top with hulled pumpkin seeds.

Have some cookies and get comfortable!

It's Halloween
It's Halloween! It's Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
On any other night.

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.

In masks and gowns
We haunt the street
And knock on doors
For trick or treat.

Tonight we are
The king and queen,
For oh tonight
It's Halloween!

HALLOWE'EN

Pixie, kobold, elf, and sprite
All are on their rounds to-night,-
In the wan moon's silver ray
Thrives their helter-skelter play.

Fond of cellar, barn,or stack,
True unto the almanac,
They present to credulous eyes
Strange hobgoblin mysteries.

Cabbage-stomps-straws wet with dew-
Apple-skins, and chestnuts too,
And a mirror for some lass,
Show what wonders come to pass.

Doors they move, and gates they hide,
Mischiefs that on moon-beams ride
Are their deeds, and, by their spells,
Love records its oracles.

Don't we all, of long ago,
By the ruddy fireplace glow,
In the kitchen and the hall,
Those queer, coofllke pranks recall?

Eery shadows were they then-
But to-night they come again;
Were we once more but sixteen,
Precious would be Halloween.

-Joel Benton

October's Party

October gave a party

The leaves by hundreds came

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

-George Cooper

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on
the feelings, as now in October."

- Nathaniel Hawthorne

I wouldn't change places
With anyone tonight
We'll carve pumpkin faces
And watch the witches flight
Every human heart will shudder
Every soul will shake with fear
Tonight, the creepiest
Tonight, the scariest
Tonight, the most wonderful night
Anything can happen on Halloween
Your dog could turn into a cat
There may be a toad in your bass guitar
Or your sister could turn into a bat
Christmas time brings the snow
Summer time brings the sun
But on Halloween your blood begins to run
Something's moving going down now
Anything can happen on Halloween
It's better than a video
Gremlins gonna mess up every cassette
From London to Idaho
April first can be fun
New Year's Eve is a ball
But on Halloween your flesh begins to crawl
Oh, I'm losing control
Anything can happen on Halloween
Your toenails grow long and your hair turns green
Your teacher could become a sardine
Your dentist could turn into a queen.
Has anybody seen my tambourine
I may start playing
Begin the begin
The craziest night you've ever seen
This hairy, scary, creepy, crawly,
Halloween.

-Grand Wizard song from "The Worst Witch"

Celtic Handfasting & My Irish Wedding

   Happy Wednesday dear readers and Welcome to all those who have stopped by from Witch Blog's Real Witches of Halloween Tour! Today I'm doing a special post that is close to my heart, because not only is my blog being featured today but it is also the anniversary of my husband and I being together. Five, short years ago I began dating the most amazing, supportive and wonderful man I have ever known and last July 23, we married in a beautiful handfasting ceremony. The history of this ceremony is what I'd like to share with you all. (As well as some pictures from our ceremony)

   Also, I have my very first giveaway going on currently until October 31. Go HERE to check it out and enter!!  

Today's Month of Pumpkin:

 For a quick sugar fix, spread pumpkin ice cream between; oatmeal cookies or gingersnaps

Handfasting

  
   Handfasting is a late medieval term to describe making a marriage contract. It is actually comes from Old Norse: Hand-festa, which means to strike a bargain by joining hands. The original practice derived from Scotland, from the middle ages to the early 17th century, when people married by consent, without the church.  A cloth or ribbon is bound around the bride and grooms hands. It is a mutually agreed upon act that has signified, over the years, betrothal or even actual marriage, depending upon the context.

The last cord being tied around mine and my husband's hands

    Originally it was a betrothal or a promise of marriage between two people who would then spend a traditional term of a year and day together to see if they were compatible. After this time, and if they were in agreement the vows could be taken again and they would be considered married. The Handfasting ritual takes its name from the joining and tying of the hands of the couple to be wed, usually with cords. This is where the term "tying the knot" comes from today in reference to getting married. The Handfasting ritual would have been performed by an important member of the community - chieftain, Priest, Priestess, Shaman or Elder, who would have guided the couple through the ritual and presided over them as they exchanged vows in front of witnesses, probably the whole community. The witnessing of the ritual by friends and the community would make it law in the eyes of the community as no official records would have been kept until the introduction of a "Church based" wedding.

Our handfasting cords, made by me, and my bouquet

Our rings were bought from myirishjeweler.com and had
engravings from the Book of Kells

Traditional Celtic Wedding Vow

(We also used this in our wedding)

I vow you the first cut of my meat, the first sip of my wine,

from this day it shall only your name I cry out in the night

and into your eyes that I smile each morning;

I shall be a shield for you back as you are for mine,

no shall a grievous word be spoken about us,

for our marriage is sacred between us and no stranger shall hear my grievance.

Above and beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life

and into the next.

Tying the first cord

I was 7 months pregnant at our wedding so belly shots were
a must!



Irish Wedding Blessing

May the light of friendship guide your paths together.
 May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home.
 May the joy of living for one another trip a smile from your lips,
A twinkle from your eye.
 May the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts

The Claddagh; a symbol of Friendship, Love and Loyalty.
We used this symbol on our wedding invitation

You may now kiss your bride



Irish Wedding Traditions

It's good luck if it rains on your wedding

A man should be the first to congratulate the bride. It's bad luck if a woman gets there first.

It's good luck to rise with to the song of birds on your wedding day.

It's bad luck to put on your own veil; have a well-married woman do the honors.

The bride shouldn't take both feet off the floor when dancing with her new husband. It gives the fairies an edge.

Marry in white, everything's right

Marry in blue, lover be true

Marry in pink, spirits will sink

Marry in grey, live far away

Marry in brown, live out of town

Marry in green, ashamed to be seen

Marry in yellow, ashamed of your fellow

Marry in black, wish you were back

Marry in red, wish you were dead

Marry in tan, he'll be a loved man

Marry in pearl, you'll live in a whirl

The chime of bells reminds a couple of their wedding vows. That's why giving a bell as a gift has become an Irish tradition.

(Our wedding favors were small silver bells with a blessing on the card)

Many Irish brides carry a small porcelain horseshoe in their wedding bouquets for good luck

The wearing of Claddaugh rings are probably the most popular Irish wedding rituals. When worn on the right hand, the ring indicates that love is "being considered." When the ring is placed on the left hand the wearer is married or has been handfasted.

Witchy Fitness Challenge - Week 3

   I'm a little behind with my check in for Week 3, but there's alot going on in my neck of the woods.

   The Insanity exercising has not begun yet and probably won't get on an official start until next Monday. This week my family and I are doing some moving again so things will be all over the place until the weekend is done.

   Goals for this week are:

• Stress less, or at least try to
• Drink at least 2 glasses of water a day
• Make a plan for how next week's exercises will go

   So, not too much this week but I've gotta start somewhere, right? How are the rest of you doing?

Celtic Calendar Discovered

      An early Celtic calendar construction has been found at a royal tomb in the Black Forest in Germany. Dated around Midsummer 618 BC this makes it the earliest and most complete example of a Celtic Calendar based on the moon. Follow the link HERE for more information.


Month of Pumpkin for Tuesday: (Do you know what else happens on Tuesdays? The show "Sons of Anarchy". Are you a fan too? Let me know!)

   Pack a PB&PB sandwich for lunch: Spread peanut butter and pumpkin butter on Italian bread.

   I've never heard of pumpkin butter! Anyone else?

Soul Cakes and Pumpkin Popcorn

   Soul cakes are a special treat that is mainly baked for and handed out at Halloween.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

 

Ingredients:

• 100 g butter
• 100 g fine white sugar
• 3 eggyolks
• 1/2 pound plain white flour
• 1 teaspoon mixed spices
• 40 g raisins or sultanas
• milk

Preparation:

 

Melt the butter in a microwave, then stir in sugar until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. Stir in the eggyolk, again aiming for smoothness.
Add flour and spices, stir and mix well, then add raisins. Add enough milk (slowly!) until you have a soft but still formable dough.
Form this dough into round, flat cookies with around 4 inches diameter and slightly less than an inch of thickness, arranging those on a greased baking tray. Then "carve" decorations into the cookies with a blunt knife - try Celtic spiral designs for that extra effect.
Bake the cookies at 180 degrees Celsius (360 Fahrenheit) for ten to fifteen minutes until golden brown.


Month of Pumpkin:

   Settle in for Monday-night football with pumpkin popcorn: Toss buttered popcorn with pumpkin pie spice.

A Fanciful Twist Halloween Party - Irish Traditions

   Today's the day - the fourth annual Halloween Blog Party hosted by A Fanciful Twist. Head over there to check out all the rest of the part-goers and let the blog hopping begin!

Also for those of you stopping by I am having my very first giveaway happening October 31! Click HERE for details and how to enter!



   For my party post, I'm sharing some Irish Halloween traditions I've learned about.

The Celts celebrated Halloween as Samhain, "All Hallowtide" - the "Feast of the Dead" when the dead could cross over and visit the mortal world. The celebration marked the end of Summer and the start of Winter.

   During the eighth century the Catholic Church designated the first day of November as "All Saints Day" - a day of commemoration for those Saints that did not have a specific day of remembance. The night before was known as "All Hallows Eve" which, over time, became known as Halloween.

   Below are some of the most notable Irish traditions:

   {*} Colcannon for dinner: Boiled potato, curly kale (a cabbbage) and raw onions are provided as the traditional Irish Halloween dinner. A recipe is listed below:

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1lb 6oz/ 675g potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 4 oz/100g curly kale, chopped (or Spring cabbage if kale not available))
• 1/2 cup scallions/spring onions, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup scallions/spring onions, finely chopped
• 1 stick/100g butter
• salt and pepper

Preparation:

• Simmer the potatoes in lightly salted water until cooked - when pierced with a sharp knife the potato is soft in the middle.
• Blanch the curly kale in boiling water for one minute. Drain and reserve.
• Chop half of the spring onions roughly and the other half finely. Add the roughly chopped scallions/ spring onions to the drained kale and pulse in a blender for 10 seconds.
• Drain the potatoes and add the butter. When the butter has melted, mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Add the kale mixture and mix.
• Finally, add the finely chopped scallions/spring onions and season to taste.

   {*} The Ivy Leaf: Each member of the family places a perfect ivy leaf into a cup of water and it is then left undisturbed overnight. If, in the morning, a leaf is still perfect and has not developed any spots then the person who placed the leaf in the cup can be sure of 12 months health until the following Halloween. If not.....

   {*} The Pumpkin: Carving Pumpkins dates back to the eighteenth century and to an Irish blacksmith named Jack who colluded with the Devil and was denied entry to Heaven. He was condemned to wander the earth but asked the Devil for some light. He was given a burning coal ember which he placed inside a turnip that he had gouged out.

The tradition of Jack O'Lanterns was born - the bearer being the wandering blacksmith - a damned soul. Villagers in Ireland hoped that the lantern in their window would keep the wanderer away. When the Irish emigrated in millions to America there was not a great supply of turnips so pumpkins were used instead.

   {*}  Snap Apple: After the visits to the neighbours the Halloween games begin, the most popular of which is Snap Apple. An apple is suspended from a string and children are blindfolded. The first child to get a decent bite of the apple gets to keep their prize. The same game can be played by placing apples in a basin of water and trying to get a grip on the apple without too much mess!

   {*} The Bonfire: The Halloween bonfire is a tradition to encourage dreams of who your future husband or wife is going to be. The idea was to drop a cutting of your hair into the burning embers and then dream of you future loved one. Halloween was one of the Celt 'fire' celebrations.

   {*} Blind Date: Blindfolded local girls would go out into the fields and pull up the first cabbage they could find. If their cabbage had a substantial amount of earth attached to the roots then there future loved one would have money. Eating the cabbage would reveal the nature of their future husband - bitter or sweet!
   Another way of finding your future spouse is to peel an apple in one go. If done successfully the single apple peel could be dropped on the floor to reveal the initials of the future-intended.



   {*} Anti-Fairy Measures: Fairies and goblins try to collect as many souls as they can at Halloween but if they met a person who threw the dust from under their feet at the Fairy then they would be obliged to release any souls that they held captive.

Month of Pumpkin

   Whipe up a new spread for bagels. Blend 3 ounces of cream cheese, 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree and a dash of cinnamon.

Have a Happy and Festive Irish Halloween!

Month of Pumpkin Catch Up

Monday's month of pumpkin goes along perfectly with my new job!

10/17:
  Bake low fat brownies for your co-workers. Swap pumpkin puree for half of the oil in your favorite brownie mix.

10/18:
   Try a new salad. Roast diced pumpkin at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then toss with spinach and pumpkin seed dressing. (See October 5)_

10/19:
    Pick up a pack of pumpkin ale for today's World Series opener. The sweet beer goes great with pretzels and mustard.

Getting Fit and Staying Fit

   Okay, so here we are - the Insanity DVD's are ordered, I've got a plan in motion and we're on our way. I'm a bit late to the party but better late than never. Here are my starting stats:

Bust: 41 1/2

(This measurement really doesn't have to go anywhere IMHO... I was a late bloomer what can I say?!)

Waist: 31 1/2

Hips: 43

   The plan for this week is to start drinking the correct amount of water. I was doing really good but then started to slack off. I also start my new job this week so moving around a lot more won't be a problem. I haven't worked in over a year since having my daughter so I'm actually kind of excited about going back. I'm also going to get back on my medication properly. I have post partum depression, OCD and Anxiety problems and ALOT of stress. Missing a couple of doses like I have been is not healthy.

   Hopefully I can see some sort of change within the first week, even if it's just feeling more energized and a little less stressed. And of course, I'll back it up with magic. To read over some great weight loss spells I discovered click HERE.

   And of course, today's Month of Pumpkin:

   Make a picture-worthy pumpkin pie, take a snap shot and e-mail it to yout Thanksgiving guests as an invitation.

Get Off Your Broom Fitness Challenge

   Can I be honest?

   I signed up for the Get Off Your Broom Fitness Challenge, but I haven't actually done anything.

                                       I know, I know... horrible.

   And I can find every excuse in the book; not enough money for the right food, my daughter interferes with being able to work out, we were moving and had a lot of stuff going on the past couple of weeks. But the real reason is - I've just gotten lazy.

   And it shows. I was doing great earlier this year at losing the left over baby weight plus a little extra I've gained over the last 2 years or so then my medication was changed and it through me off the wagon and I haven't exactly found my way back on.

   So what's the plan you ask? Well, it was Zumba, which I think I will continue, but to jumpstart everything my husband turned me on to the Beachbody Insanity work outs hosted by Shaun T.

   What we're looking at getting is a collection of 10 DVD's packed with plyometric drills on top of nonstop intervals of strength, power, resistance, and ab and core training moves. It's interval training at its, you guessed it, insane. It's a 60 day total body transformation process which I'm hoping will get us ready just in time for the new year. What I'm especially hoping is it will get me through the holidays without gaining anymore weight.

   What I'm going to do now is add my own personal Fitness Diary to me sidebar underneath the button for the fitness challenge, much like Magaly over at Pagan Culture has done on her site. Here I'll share my check-ins, my goals (and failures...can't be afraid to share those too) and how we're (I say we, because my husband is doing the workouts along with me) doing with the Insanity workouts.

   So wish us good luck and for any of my followers out there who are also doing this challenge good luck as well! We can do it!

Divine Friday

Bloduewedd

(Welsh)

Pronounced Blow-dye-weth, she is created out of flowers of Oak, Broom and Meadowsweet by Math ap Mathonwy for his nephew, Lleu Llaw Gyffes in order to break a curse set on him by his mother, Arianrhod. After her birth she is immediately married to Lleu in the traditional way of a feast and consummation of man and wife. Shortly after Lleu decides to visit his uncle Math, leaving Blodeuwedd by herself. A huntsman known as Gronw Bebyr, lord of Pennllyn is hunting nearby and Blodeuwedd offers him hospitality, understanding that he is far from home. They quickly fall in love and sleep together that very night. Three days later he leaves with a plan to find out how to kill her husband.

When Lleu returns she rejects any of his advances, telling him she is worried about his possible death. Lleu laughs and explains that he can’t be killed by mortal means.  He continues with the series of events that must take place; he must not be on land nor in water, inside nor outside, on the earth nor in the air. He also tells her that someone would need a year to make a spear that could kill him and it could only be made while people were at mass on Sunday. Blodeuwedd sends word to Gronw who waits a year for the spear to be made and injures Lleu who, when poisoned by the spear, shapeshifts into an eagle and flies away. He does not, however, go unpunished. Lleu is nursed back to health by his uncle, Math, and descends upon the home of Gronw and Blodeuwedd where he kills Gronw in the same way he was injured; by a spear thrown on the banks of the Cynfael River.

Many scholars believe that Blodeuwedd fulfills the function of the archetypal Earth Mother or May Queen in relation to her husband’s role as sacrificial king. Another viewpoint is from feminist historians and writer’s who view her as a physically and mentally abused woman, forced to marry against her will. They see her as a victim who lashes out to free herself from her situation and choose her own life.

Blodeuwedd teaches us that balance and transformation are necessary parts of life. She encourages us to live life to the fullest and acknowledge our faults and attributes. Only when we have the courage to unite our two halves, will we be amazed by our innate power and strength.

Month of Pumpkin for Friday!

      Dress up your table for a dinner party! Halve a pumpkin, hollow it out and fill with water then float flowers in the water. (Or nice fall floating candles!)

All Hallow's Grim (And Giveaway!)

   Today marks the day of Pagan Culture's All Hallow's Grim party and for my party post I decided to share one of my favorite song lyrics by Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Follow You Into the Dark". It's a slightly macabre song about the infinite nature of true love, much like one of my favorite movies, "The Crow". I'd like to think that if it ever came to it, I would have the courage to follow my love, my husband of a little over a year now (we've been together for five total) "into the dark".

   If you've never listened to this song, go do it now!!

Love of mine some day you will die,
But I'll be close behind.
I'll follow you into the dark.

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white;
Just our hands clasped so tight,
Waiting for the hint of a spark.
If heaven and hell decide,
That they both are satisfied,
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs:

If there's no one beside you,
When your soul embarks;
Then I'll follow you into the dark.

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule,
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black,
And I held my tongue as she told me,
"Son, fear is the heart of love."
So I never went back.

If heaven and hell decide,
That they both are satisfied,
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs:

If there's no one beside you,
When your soul embarks;
Then I'll follow you into the dark.

You and me have seen everything to see;
From Bangkok to Calgary.
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down;
The time for sleep is now.
It's nothing to cry about,
'Cause we'll hold each other soon.
In the blackest of rooms.

If heaven and hell decide,
That they both are satisfied,
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs:

If there's no one beside you,
When your soul embarks;
Then I'll follow you into the dark.
Then I'll follow you into the dark.

   And of course, the Month of Pumpkin posts!

   Wednesday 10/12:

      Make a snack: Roast pumpkin seeds, then toss with dried cranberries and yogurt covered peanuts.

   Today:

      Bake mini pumpkin muffins. Add 1/4 cup pumpkin pie filling and an extra egg to an 8.5 ounce box corn muffin mix.

DON'T FORGET!

I'm having my very first GIVEAWAY for this Samhain! Check out the blog post HERE for details on the giveaway and how to enter!

Month of Pumpkin & Luibh and Seoid

Monday 10/10:

      Spend Columbus Day at a pumpkin patch. Bring kitchen shears or garden clippers so you can snip thick stems!

Tuesday 10/11:

      Turn yesterday's harvest into pumpkin bread pudding.


   And of course, the monthly Luibh and Seoid. A little late but I promise I'm getting back on schedule!

Sage

          As a kitchen herb, it has a slight peppery taste to it and is one of the major herbs used in traditional Thanksgiving stuffing in the United States.

          The Greeks and Romans wrote that the smoke imparted wisdom and mental acuity. The leaves have long been burned to purify and cleanse a space; use in a smudge stick or burn in an incense bowl and brush the smoke around the room. They can also be burned to increase wisdom or gain guidance.

 Regular green sage can be used in rituals for protection, prosperity, fertility, money attraction, healing and business.

Hematite

          In the middle ages, hematite was known as ‘blood stone’ because during the cutting process the stone would turn the water used red. In greek, it’s name even means “bloodlike”. Native American folklore states that war paint made from it makes on invincible in battle.  

          The stone has a low magnetic property which is believed to interact with the iron in our blood creating better circulation. It normalizes blood pressure and body weight and increases resistance to stress, boosts energy, optimistic mood and will power. It also helps with anemia and bleeding (it is a principle blood purifier for stone healers) and enhances lucidity, concentration and clears the mind from negative patterns and thoughts.

           Color may vary from steel-gray to black and from brown to reddish-brown.

          Hematite can be used in workings involving protection, particularly of home or property. It has long been associated with psychic awareness. Can be placed anywhere on the body for healing or worn as a ring, necklace or pendant for continued healing.

Blog Giveaway

   I almost forgot, for Halloween I figured I would go ahead and try a blog giveaway! My very first one!

   So what's up for grabs you ask? A Deity Diva ™ created by yours truly! I have a couple of them up in my Etsy shop but the one for the giveaway is the Samhain Goddess pictured below:

  

Click the link HERE to read the entire description.

   Here's what you have to do to enter:

      ~*~ Leave a comment below describing your favorite Halloween tradition. I love hearing all about what others do for one of my favorite holidays of the year. ~*~

Extra Entries:

1) Follow my blog. Leave a comment below to let me know that you have

or:

2) Visit my Etsy shop and pick one thing that you like and let me know why. (Just a LITTLE bit of shameless self-promotion)  :)

And that's that! The winner will be drawn randomly at noon on October 31st and announced the same day. Please leave a way for me to contact you in your comment otherwise I'll have to draw again.

   I'm excited to see how this goes! Good luck!

House Blessing and Month of Pumpkin

Okay, now that we're all caught up...  :)

   As I said a couple of posts below, my family and I just made the move from North Carolina to Maryland so things are all over the place. Financially and job-wise this will be a good thing for us. We will finally be able to buy our own home and have a great place for our daughter, Rayne, to grow up in.

   So I'd like to share a few Irish house blessings I found. Any of these can be used as well plaques on your walls, card designs or even recite one or two while smudging the new place. (Which I intend to do for ours).

Irish Blessings

---

May you always be blessed

with walls for the wind

a roof for the rain

a warm cup of tea by the fire

laughter to cheer you

those you love near you

and all that yourheart might desire.



GOD BLESS THE CORNERS OF THIS HOUSE

AND BE THE LINTEL BLESSED

  AND BLESS THE HEARTH

AND BLESS THE BOARD

AND BLESS EACH PLACE OF REST

BLESS EACH DOOR THAT OPENS WIDE

STRANGERS AND TO KIN

  AND BLESS EACH CRYSTAL WINDOWPANE 

THAT LETS THE SUNSHINE IN.

AND BLESS THE ROOFTREE OVERHEAD

AND EVERY STURDY WALL.

THE PEACE OF MAN,

THE PEACE OF GOD,

THE PEACE OF LOVE TO ALL.

(Of course, this one can be altered to read "Gods" or perhaps a particular god/dess of your choosing) 

 St. Brigid's Blessing:
May Brigid bless the house where in you dwell.
Bless every fireside every wall and door.
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof.
Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy.
Bless every foot that walks its portals through.
May Brigid bless the house that shelters you."

   And of course, today's Month of Pumpkin for Sunday:

Make granola: Mix 2 cups of oats and 1/4 cup each of pumpkin seeds, maple syrup and oil; bake at 350 degrees, stirring, for 20 minutes.

Tomorrow I will post the monthly Luibh and Seoid pages. This month they are Sage and Hematite. Happy Sunday

Month of Pumpkin - 10/7 and 10/8

Friday:
      Impress friends with Alton Brown's pumpkin soup - served in the pumpkin! See foodnetwork.com/wholepumpkinsoup

Saturday:

      Try healthier french fries; Cut a baking pumpkin into sticks, toss with oil and salt, and roast at 450 degrees for 20 minutes.

Month of Pumpkin - 10/6

   Have pumpkin gnocchi for dinner: Use sugar pumpkin in place of butternut squash in place of the recipe on Page 112. (I lost the recipe!)

Month of Pumpkin - 10/5

   Make salad dressing: Blend 1/4 cup each of toasted hulled pumpkin seeds and olive oil, 1/2 cup water, some lime juice and salt. Enjoy!

So far behind...

  Well, once again I am late in doing my Month of Pumpkin posts. My family was in the process of moving last week so things got kind of hectic. I will go ahead and do seperate posts for each day to catch up though. Sorry!

Giveaway at COAPSM

  Mrs. B is back! (Maybe...or at least for this awesome giveaway)

   Head on over to Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom and check out her giveaway for Raven Grimassi's "Old World Witchcraft". There's one way to enter, but multiple ways to get extra entries! Good luck everyone!

   Today is Tuesday and time for another pumpkin idea from Food Magazine!

   Whip up pie shakes for dessert: Blend 1 slice of store bought pumpkin pie, 1/2 cup milk and 1 cup of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

  I would also like to let all of you know about this GREAT challenge hosted by The Domestic Pagan. It's not a weight loss challenge, but a fitness challenge running from October 1 until December 31, the hardest times of the year when we are inundated with food, food and more food! As you know, I've been on a mission to lose the last remaining baby weight from my pregnancy and this sounds like a great motivator! Click on the badge in my right sidebar to read more and join up yourself! Let's all become healthy pagans this holiday season! 

Blog Parties and Tours

   I just realized... there are so many things going on this Halloween Season in this virtual blog world of ours! Blog parties, tours.... so much excitement!

   I'm a little late to some of these gatherings so I'm hoping sign ups aren't completely over with. Once I've gathered a list of what's going on I'll be sure to post them up on my LEFT SIDEBAR with buttons and links to everything. You already know about the Real Witches Halloween tour, but I'm sure there's more!

   Halloween here we come!

Sunday and Monday's Pumpkin tips!

  *I'm a little late.... seems to be my theme lately*  ;)


   Start your Sunday with a Pumpkin Spice Latte: Add a pinch of pumpkin pie spce to espresso and steamed milk!
















 Monday: Dress up your morning oatmeal: Stir in a spoonful of pumpkin puree and top with hulled pumpkin seeds!

   Have a great Monday!

Halloween Blog Tour

  Well, it feels like the Autumn season  has finally arrived here in North Carolina. Low 60's/high 50's and the local farmers are burning in fields giving off the fall smell I love. *does a happy dance*

   Today also marks the start of the Real Witches of Halloween Blog Tour, hosted by the Witch Blog. Click the Real Witches Link on the sidebar to head over and check out today's featured blog. My blog will be featured October 26, coincidentally mine and my husband's 5 year anniversary of being together.

  Speaking of my blog, during the entire month of October I will be sharing a really cool page I found out of the Food Network magazine "A Month of Pumpkin". Check back everyday this month to find new ideas on how to use pumpkins and their parts. Today's idea: Make pumpkin pancakes for brunch. Stir 1/3 cup each of pumpkin puree and chopped walnuts into 2 cups of batter. Enjoy!!

Let the countdown to Halloween begin!!