Witches Brew

Had a request for my recipe of this tasty drink and great on Halloween to simmer all day long so thought while I had it all typed out I would post it here for others:

1 gallon pure apple cider
1 apple (cut into quarters)
2 orange (I slice them w/ peel)
3-4 cinamon sticks
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup brown sugar (depends sometimes I don't put this try it both ways and see how you best like it)

You can simmer it on the stovetop or crockpot. I mix it all together in my slow cooker and let it just simmer for about 4-5 hours or yeah like all day because it smells oh so good. The upside with the slow cooker is it STAYS warm without the hassle of microwaving it later if you go the stovetop method. (think how cold you are after you finish trick or treating!)

A couple variations I sometimes do is put allspice and tie it up in some cheesecloth but pull it out after about 4 hrs or so.  Also toss in some cranberries.  Sometimes I pour a mixture of cranberry juice and cider about a 50/50 mixture... play with it find what makes your taste buds sing.

Enjoy:)

Samhain 2009 Fun

WOW what a jam packed week!! We finished our shopping for costumes, Did our jackolantern, pumpkin seeds yum, had a Party, hit the zoo sent the kids trick or treating by themselves for the first time while I stayed behind and handed out candy to the cute little ghouls that came by. We had quiet the turnout for little ones TT. NOW as I type this up the kids are all busy sorting and trading. Benjamin getting anything with least sugar such as fruit snacks, twizzlers and the like. Hope this awesome day/night was a great start to your new year:0)  Ours is starting off with a week in Bridger then back to Bozeman and shall see where life goes from there!!

How do we Celebrate and Decorate for Samhain

For our favorite time of year????  First off we....Honor the Dead It is a magical night when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. It is the final harvest, a time to give thanks, remember those that have passed on, and as the Witches New Year, it is time to make vows for the future.

Honoring the Dead

There are many ways you can honor the dead, starting with the simple act of setting out food for them. While you're at home and can properly supervise, place lighted candles in the windows to serve as beacons for the spirits.

Host a Feast of the Dead. Set a place at the table for the dead and offer them servings of the food you eat. Invite departed friend and relatives, ancestors and heroines. Ask the living participants to share a memory about someone who has died who was important to them. Light a candle or ring a bell for each person after you speak about them. In Feeding the Spirit we cut out or draw pictures of things the dead would like. Then burn them in the fire (or candle flame), saying something like, “George, I am sending you new clothes for your journey in the spirit world." or whatever just an example

You can also make an altar for your ancestors. Our family has an altar each year we set it up, decorate it with marigolds and add new objects: a milkbone and tennis ball for our beloved Pris, guitar pick a dead grandfather and so on. The putting pictures of your departed relatives in the middle of the altar, burning white and yellow devotional candles and incense, and talking to them helps give visuals. If you feel uncomfortable talking out loud, write letters. You can burn these too and imagine the smoke carrying your message. 

Getting children into the spirit of Halloween is not very hard, but teaching them about Samhain can be, especially when the holiday is so closely tied to death and often associated with fear. Pagans are not afraid of the spirits of the dead, however. We see them as our beloved friends and ancestors. While nobody really knows what happens when a person dies, most Pagans believe we move on to somewhere pleasant - Summerland, the Land of Youth, Avalon, and so forth.

It's important that children understand that Samhain is not an evil holiday and that scary things like witches and ghosts aren't really scary at all. Regardless of whether or not you want to address the issue of death with your child, teach him/her the origins of Halloween and the true significance of Samhain. Stress that the ghosts of our friends and ancestors are friendly and can help and guide us. Remind them that real witches are not bad

 In Decorating we use pumpkins, ghosts, leaves, black cats and anything else that talk to us at the moment such as spiderwebs, lights, dried apples with the fresh hint of cinnamon, and the list goes on.  Of course the great pumpkin carvings.  Here are a few shots from last year as we haven't gotten that far this year.... oh don't forget the oh so yummy pumpkin seeds keep them for baking:0)

So there ya have it more or less.  Basically have fun, share a story, make tasty treats, decorate, carve those pumpkins and let the lights help the ancestors find their way as they pass thru on this magical night visit with family current and past, Keep your rituals simple esp if including young children and of course their fav of the whole night aside from dressing up the whole fun of trick or treating just be safe out there.

Have an awesome Samhain

Samhain Childrens story

 I know I posted a ton of Samhain stuff last year but not going back to see if I posted this story or another one...few lol.  Its our favorite time of year.  This year it sounds like my little goblins are as follows: Inger-Cleopatra, Paige-Lion (ingers protector), Benjamin-Buzzlight Year with a cowboy hat of course, Chip-a Cow and Kelda one of her Anime characters.  Should be fun.  I think we are hitting up downtown here on the 30th then  the zoo on Samhain then later that night we are off to a party.  Well enjoy this Childrens story.  Pictures you can be sure will follow after our fun filled nights.

The little children ran up to the old man in the chair and yelled in unison and great excitement, "Grandfather, Grandfather! Can you tell us another story?"

With a smile and twinkle in his eye, the old man asked, "What story do you want to hear? I have told you the stories about the first seven Sabbats, why don't I tell you the last one? The one about Samhain."

With eager nods the children yelled out, "Yes. Please."

So the Grandfather settled himself comfortably into his chair and began to speak. "If you will think back and remember. The story for Mabon found the God dead and living away in Summerland. And found the Goddess returning pregnant, from a spirit quest, after she found the God and got his promise to return at Yule as her unborn child.

"But the Goddess aged from the elements, remember Winter is coming quick as we approach the end of October, was found dead in the wilderness. Or so the faeries that found her thought. They brought her to the Holly King, Lord of Winter.

"When he saw her body he turned in bitterness and fled to his drinking horn in his mighty hall. But the faeries prepared Her body and laid in rest. Then they gathered all they could from far and wide and held a wake in Her honor.

"And they were gathered and mourned Her and most of all the death of their hope for the future. For how could they carry on without a Goddess to watch over them? But then the crowd fell silent as the oldest and ugliest lady any had ever seen hobbled into the hall.

"They all, to the last person, shunned her for they were disgusted at her hideous looks. But the old lady hobbled up slowly and in great pain, to the very foot of the throne of the Holly King. And looked up at Him as he turned his head away.

"After a long moment the old lady spoke, 'Do you not recognize me, my Son? I am your mother that you had given up hope on. Near death I was but I have returned with a promise of new life and light. That will come from my womb at the end of hope. When light is at its shortest. And on that day you shall pay for your arrogance.'

"The Holly King was struck to his heart with fright at these words and he ordered her to be locked away in the tallest tower. So that he may have hope of avoiding this doom that was laid upon him by his ancient Mother.

"But as we know, since the Sun is reborn every Yule, this did little to help the Holly King avoid the punishment for his arrogance. We also should know that it is on Samhain night, since the Goddess came back to us from death, that the veil is thin and torn in some places and that we may see other friends and family that have passed on. This is why we carve a pumpkin so that those familiar spirits can find their way to our homes. And when they are there we lay out the Mute Supper for them to gather strength for their journey back to Summerland.

"What was that little one, why do we dress up? Well we dress up so that those ghosts that are not our family do not take us back with them. They can't find out who we are, if we are covered up.

"Now run along children, have your parents help you carve the Jack O' Lantern and make your costumes. And let this old man rest from all this storytelling."

Paige Samhain 2008

Awww isn't she cute!!

She loves her kids

Hard to believe this is Paige's 2nd Halloween. Last year she was a witch, this year a ladybug. Who knows what next year shall bring. Personally I can't believe she allows me to dress her up...lol. Pris her mother NEVER would have allowed this in a million years. She hated when the groomers put bows in her hair. Paige simply has taken the word "pris" to a whole new level she loves comfort AND style as well as understands mudbaths can come in handy now and then;-) Her mother got her name simply by loving comfort and hated stepping in mud otherwise she loved being out with the cows.

Bug Samhain 2008

My little man decide he nearly had everything necessary after Gary, Carls, boss gave him a tshirt in his size that had the company logo on it to go TT as a towtruck driver. He had gone from he was going to be the Hulk, to Iron Man to Bumble Bee to being adament he should be a towtruck driver. At this time he asked Gary if he had a ball cap he could borrow from there Gary had more ideas such as the vest and gloves. Benjamin had intentions to wear his carhartt coveralls only for the first time in history of a Halloween night other than a couple years in Colorado it was much too warm for this. No fears dad he has no desire to be a towtruck driver this little guy has every intention on being a wheat farmer as he puts it.

Kelda Samhain 2008

Kelda's first time to go off with one of her friends without me on a holiday! Maybe I am more afraid she is growing up and realize before too long she won't really need me anymore?! So maybe in hindsight I am trying to hold on and she is trying to let go and move on to figure out who she is.

Inger Samhain 2008

Inger my tinkerbell insists she is always going to be my baby girl and best friend for life. How sad it is for me to think about that she will indeed grow up on me. Who knows maybe she will always be my best friend. I certainly hope so.

Samhain Fun 2008

Samhain Blessings

Well our favorite day of the year has finally arrived. Funny thing is this year aside from the pumpkin carving and reasons we celebrate Halloween we haven't really decorated like normal. So much has gone on and changes to life are on a daily basis. Today is also warmer so far than Halloweens pasts. Shall see if that keeps up or will go traditionally cooler and threats of snow.

Today has been crazy already. I got up early showered made sure all was in order with my resume as the mall is searching photographers and assistants for Santa Photos. I really want to go but something feels like it is holding me back. I said I would be in town on Wednesday they want information sooner. They really don't want me to email them a copy and show my work that way as they want to meet me in person...understandable. So with the hardest part done why am I not there? I can easily work this schedule around dispatching when we return to Bozeman....errr where ever we are moving. I mean if we go so I can go to this meet up so I can hand deliver my resume and show samples of my work AND we would already be in town for Samhain meeting tonight with our pagan group which my heart yearns for again this year. Our meetings are so invigorating and I am always so full of energy for hours afterwards. I think it comes down to finances that is stopping me even knowing going for this interview could bring in extra cash for a month. Also the kids would miss everything they were hoping to attend here locally.

Kids have already all been up since early didn't go to sleep until midnight as they wanted to welcome Samhain come in. They have most of their costume already on...even dressed up Paige in her Lady Bug outfit. Thru all of this already they were fighting so I said don't make me mad so early in the morning or we do nothing today. Life suddenly for some reason got quiet....guess they want to do things later. Aside from our regular Samhain traditions we are not doing school today.

I will post photos later of my little goblins. Until later.....

Samhain Blessings

May the light of the Goddess shine bright for the coming year.
May you forget and forgive so that you may grow and move forward
to the bright new beginnings.

Brightest of Blessings to all the coming New Year.

Samhain

This is our FAVORITE holiday. However this year more than in the past we are on a budget. Our budget just got tighter with the news of Ingers need for medical attention, but my kids were already given their budget prior and they are amazing in what they have come up with. they are in the finalizing process so when we get it together photos will follow. Don't forget your local Good Will's no telling WHAT you will find. Sometimes exactly what you already had in mind and other times new ideas pop up;0)

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