Quiet Witch Musings

French woman suck too.

Talked with Jessica about it a lot yesterday, Kelly and Luna too. I'm gonna try something new: common sense.

no time...no money...no help.... 'cept Kelly. I love my Kelly.

On a lighter note.... I'm voting for Obama.

I had not one, but TWO surprise birthday parties. And they were a complete surprise, that’s pretty impressive because I am not easily deceived once let alone twice! The first party was on Saturday, a supposed Pagan Center Mid Summer Night Dream Party, but with an added birthday celebration thanks to Kelly and Amanda. Then on Sunday Ed took me to the movies, afterwards we were suppose to go to eat at Moro's but when we stopped at home to pick up the baby - Surprise, everyone was in our backyard on our newly finished patio - haha!

We also took a day trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee while down south. The Mountains where gorgeous! It was so overwhelming beautiful all we could say was wow, wow, wow over and over again. I didn't know there were so many shades of green.















We also enjoyed some of the attractions of downtown Gatlinburg, The mirror house was wicked. I've always wanted to go in one.





We spotted a restaurant called Howard’s, so we of course had to eat dinner there. One of the best steak dinners I've even had!








Impressive Ripley's Believe It Or Not attractions..





And my favorite spot in Gatlinburg, Olge’s Broom Shop! Kelly found it when she went (last year?) and I had to go after seeing the beautiful brooms she came home with.



















My new treasures!

I finally found dresses in my size, nice in style dresses. Usually when I find dresses in my size they are tents and cover too much. The dresses I found are flattering with plunging necklines and in popular bold patterns with a vintage flair. I bought one in every color. The spring dresses have princess style sleeves and the summer dresses are spaghetti strap. I picked up a couple cropped sweaters to were on cool weather days.

Now that my hair has finally grown out I can curl it. Don't ever let me cut my hair again people! I looked old. I remember when I first showed Kelly the short hair cut I wanted she told me I would look like a chia pet, she was right, I didn't like it. I stocked up on clips, headbands and barrettes to help keep it up when it's hot. I like my hair best when it's curled with my 2 1/2 inch barrel curling iron or when it's thrown up in a loose french twist with the curly ends flopping on top of my head. I haven't been into jewelry lately.

I have a new april scent - lemon! I found a sweet sugary lemon body spray, I think I'll keep it as a April signature scent. I use lemon oil for spring cleaning too, so I think it's a nice parallel. fresh and clean and new. Next month, May, I switch to my Ya-Ya Jergins original Cherry ALmond lotion.

Don't forget: large heiress style sunglasses & big floppy hats.

Here I am trying on a silly vinatge hat at Greenfield Village and Angelus trying an old school boys hat.

Kelly hosted a Secret workshop last night that proved to be inspirational. I think I already practice much of the idea already, especially being a witch, The Secret is the basic principle of the 'craft, but I learned a few things last night and I love that Kelly is into it.

I'm going to keep a vision board here in my journal. Most of the vision board stuff I want to start with is self improvement in nature, but it may include material stuff in the future. Really, who knows! I could put anything in it right?

I also might use the Genie "your wish is my command" concept also from time to time. Basically, imagine I have a genie and make three wishes.



Damn, he's hot


At the workshop Kelly gave us a couple things that I plan to use. First is a gratitude stone. I love how simple the concept is - keep the stone someplace that I will come across often, I think I'll keep it in my diaper bag. Every time I find it, think of something I am thankful for.

Kelly also gave us some incense, and I got the idea to use them as Scent Magic. When I'm casting a spell or working some sort of magic I sometimes, purposely or accidentally, attach a scent to it. Later on, I may be guided or reminded with that scent of my 'craft intention. That is what I call Scent Magic. So when I'm working on my vision board, I'll burn a stick of incense. While on my travels and adventures I may be guided or reminded by scent of something I'm working on with my vision board.

Last Yule Kelly gave all the Em's a "Good Thoughts" jar with little folded pieces of paper in it of daily affirmations of good thoughts, wisdom and inspirations. I keep it at work now so I remember use it, I keep forgetting at home. I enjoy using it.

10 things to do in 2008 I've always wanted to do (or do again):

Play tennis - I'm thinking I'll take a class later in the year.

Eat sushi - Got a double date with Kenny already in the works, just waiting for him to set the date.

Do winter sports - especially Ice Skating, but also skiing, sledding and winter park hikes to feed the deer, build a snowman. I may not do them all, but I want to do some this winter.

Learn Archery - Ed used to bow hunt, so I got a teacher. Just needs some equipment and a little grace from Artemis.

Racquet Ball - Ed and I used to play on a semi-regular basis, I miss it. We would make up fun rules like the person winning had to play with their left, non-dominate hand.

Loose 100 pounds - 2 pounds a week for 52 weeks.

Make a quilt - I've already got a quilting bee scheduled with Pagan Center. I'm going to make one from Angelus' baby clothes. I'm using this as a guide: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cda/article_print/0,1983,DIY_13765_4412057_ARTICLE-DETAIL-PRINT,00.html

Hold an Esbat – I’ve clearly been spiritually amiss this last year. I'm going to overall try to focus on my favorite spiritual connectors, the moon being one. I've never actual had an Esbat before, so this year I'll make it happen.

Stop worrying - About all the hazards and dangers in the world, except one: Don’t eat yellow snow. (Thanks Kelly)

Be like that of a child - Words of wisdoms given to be by The Source via the Daughtry’s a couple years ago.


Ed’s List:
Win the lotto
Go back to Martial Arts
Put together a survival kit
He wanted to take over thr world, but desided it would require too much effort
Make pencils taste like bacon

Thanksgiving Dinner

Roasted Turkey stuffed with sage and onion stuffing.

Mashed potatoes with turkey gravy

Candied yams

Buttered Corn

Sweet Peas

Cheese onion bread

Hot rolls

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Apple pie



Mom helps me with "Tom". After filling the cavity with butter and stuffing, we rub him down with lots and lots of butter, and then throw a couple more sticks in for good measure. Cover his wings with foil, then put a foil tent over him and send him to the oven. We baste once or twice an hour, make sure to squeeze more butter into the stuffed cavity.

I'm going to try to make my own gravy this year, I know you take the turkey drippings and add flour until it’s like a paste, than remove it from the heat and add milk and chicken broth until the consistency is right. I bought canned gravy just in case - haha

The cheese onion bread is one of Raven's recipes, I tried out last week...yummy...I'll be tripling the recipe to make enough for everyone.

Cheese Onion Bread
1/2c onions chopped & Sautéd
4tb butter
1 egg
1 1/2c biscuit mix
1c grated sharp cheddar cheese
1tb dried parsley flakes.

Mix ingredients in a bowl, except 1/2c of cheese and butter.

Spread in pan, top with remaining cheese and butter

Bake for 20 minutes



Ed’s Aunt Zona is bringing the yams and Guila is bringing the potatoes.

I’ll be warming up Kelly’s breakfast casserole for us to eat while we watch the parade and I have crackers with various spreads and dips to munch on through out the day.

I got a lot of great birthday gifts. Some of the highlights..


A P-Touch label maker, just like Martha Stewart’s! I got that from Dad and Sylvia. It's sweet. I already used it to label my indoor green house herb garden I got from Luna....


2 pints of organic strawberries from Amanda, yum.. They are in peak season right from Amanda's Aunt’s farm.


Also got a fairy solar garden fixture from Jessica, a gift certificate for the scrapbook store from Julie, a manicure kit from Kelly, also a lavender bath set from Amanda, a bracelet made from crystals from Guila. It has mine, Ed’s and Angelus' birthstones. Ed it also taking me to eat at my favorite restaurant on Tuesday - Moro's.

Probably my favorite gift is a wickedly sweet mug from Jocelyn



I have to say, I got a lot of really cool gifts, my peeps really know me well!

The day started with Ed and me fighting, again. It's no one fault you see, I'm just pregnant with no patience and I want to be pampered. He has been working 10 hour days, on the evening shift, 5 to 6 days a week, so he is tired with no patience.

I cried most of the way to Amanda's Blessing Way/Shower, not because of Ed, just because. I cried when I seen Amanda, not for any reason, other than she hugged me. I cried at her Blessing Way, well, everyone was crying. It was actually pretty nice, to let myself cry. I felt good and felt special too, being pregnant. It was nice to be surrounded by all that feminine energy, singing and talking and crying.

By the time I left the shower, which was after the Blessing Way, I was exhausted.. so I cried my way home.

Then I went to Kelly's, she had A Practical Magic Pagan Center Movie night at her house and some Tarot Card readings (my reading from Kenny was good). I went even though I was tired, because deep down, I knew I needed to be with them. I laughed, I loved, I hugged and I felt comfortable and relaxed.

I drove home singing with the radio, singing "I got a brand new girlfriend" and "Dancing in the Moonlight". I took a quick walk around the block when I got home enjoying the summer night air, smelling bon fires and hearing laughter from Saturday night parties around the neighborhood. I'm on cloud nine.

I have few fleeting moments of contentment lately, people keep telling me it will pass, and I hope their right. But I don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow, maybe the same ol' depression, maybe this happiness will hang on. All I know, is tonight everything was right.

Hellllooooo roller coaster!!!

Lots of ups and downs. Not really happy with myself most of the time.

My sanity savers...
Practical Magic
Ya-ya
Mothers with real emotions I can relate too - Kelly, Julie, Vivi (from ya-ya's) - they are not afraid to love, to yell, to comfort, get angry, be trivial, be nurturing. They make me feel dysfuctionally normal.

When I was about 13, I found out at my great-grandma Crandel’s funeral that she had a nickname “Gyp” because the costume jewelry she liked to wear in elaborate amounts on her fingers, neck, wrists.. no place was left dull. It was a liking I quickly picked up and adored costume jewelry all through my teenage years, a style I’ve cast aside in my 20’s. Something’s calling me back to it now, maybe Kelly’s Jewelry party on Friday – The gorgeous and colorful gems and metals. It more than about Jewelry though; it’s about life. There is a poverity stricken dark side to Gypsies, but I’ve always interpreted the Gypsy lifestyle to be full of life, colorful, ornate and free. It’s time to get my Gypsy on.