This and That ...

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope all is well! This week I am on vacation again and have a few things planned to do ... many of them not what you would consider very exciting. However, I am planning to get together with some old friends - and my sister Robin and I are also planning to get together next Sunday afternoon for a bit of "sister time."

And, I have added a couple of more little holiday decorations in the house ...

 Crow and Jack-o-lantern

One of my Jim Shore favorites - black cat and crow!

Well, that is about all for now. Until next time ...

 Have a blessed weekend all! 

Fall Wreath Giveaway details ...

Greetings all! As I mentioned earlier in my previous post, I am having a Fall wreath giveaway. The drawing will be held on Saturday, October 21st and all entries must be received via the comment section to either THIS post or my previous one by Friday, October 20th.   

As per usual, since my giveaways are my little way of saying "thank you" to my blog friends and followers, you must be a follower of this blog in order to participate - it is only fair. :)

Again, the winner of the fall wreath will be announced on Saturday, October 21st with information on how to claim it as well.

Thank you to all who expressed their interest.

Brightest Blessings!

.

A fall wreath giveaway?

Greetings everyone! It has been a long time since I offered a blog giveaway and I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in a fall holiday wreath? If so, please comment to this post and let me know. Thanks!

Throwback Thursday

"Sabrina & Barney"

 "Maggie & Chloe"

HAPPY 'THROWBACK THURSDAY!

Tuesday Re-Blog

A handsome master, Barbara Eden and, oh my! 

Everyone has heard of the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it!” Well, when it comes to the Djinn, no truer words were ever spoken. To say that they were “tricksters” would undoubtedly be a huge understatement! So who exactly were these so-called “Djinn” and where did they come from? According to the Koran, they were originally called the “Shayahteen” (Sha-ha-teen) and then later became known as the Djinn or Jinn. In Islamic scripture, they were made out of fire with no fixed appearance and, like the transformative element of fire, they could change their form and appearance – human or animal. Needless to say, they were far from the Hollywood-created version we call Genies. They were adversaries of humanity, but they were not; however, adversaries of God. They were said to have been created before man and may well predate both Christianity and Islam. In Zoroastrian Persia, before the coming of Islam, evil spirits called jaini were thought to cause disease and misfortune. The word djinn is derived from the Arabic “jinni” or demon and its’ root word is janna which means “to cover or conceal.”

In "The X-Files" episode, " Je Souhaite," FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate a case involving a female djinn who teaches them all about "being careful what you wish for ..."  and that no matter how clever you may think that you are when making the perfect wish, the djinn are almost always more clever in the end! In the final scene, the djinn offers Mulder his three wishes. He thought about it long and hard, and his first wish was for world peace. And in the blink of an eye, the djinn made everyone in the world vanish. Ergo, his second wish was to undo his first one, and his final and third wish was to free the djinn forever from her fate of damnation as such an entity.

Although, in Islam, they were originally believed to be good or evil, we in the Western world, view them much as we view demons – sent to ruin our world any way they can. Just like humans, the Djinn were held accountable for their actions and indeed Allah would take the day of the last Judgment to them.

It is also said that humans can call the Djinn forth to do their bidding. This is, of course, how the story of the Genie came about - along with the idea of free wishes. However, there appears to be no evidence that the Djinn could actually do little more than trick magick and perform minor spells and charms.

I, personally, do not believe in the existence of the Djinn anymore than I believe in the devil or Satan himself. As a student of mythology and ancient religions; however, I thought that the subject might make for an interesting read.

**************************************** 

Alexandria: A djinn? A genie?

Wendy: Now hold on a minute. Forget what our culture has made of the Djinn. Forget Barbara Eden, forget Robin Williams. To the people of ancient Arabia, the Djinn was neither cute nor funny. It was the face of fear itself. (taken from the movie, "Wishmaster") 

For my beloved Midnight ...

Midnight, Samhain 2015

This Samhain will mark the first major holiday without my sweet Midnight since I lost him earlier this year. He (along with the rest of my fur babies) absolutely loved lying underneath the Samhain (and Yule tree because I use the same tree for both except for the ornaments) every year. Last year, I had decided not put up the tree mainly because I was just too depressed at the time and was going through a lot. Little did I know that it would have been Midnight's very last chance to enjoy the tree he loved so very much.

Looking back now, I sincerely regret it and now that Kiki is not well I refuse to make the same mistake twice! Quite honestly, we never truly know how long we will be blessed with our loved ones be they human or fur baby. 

I would also like to believe that Midnight's spirit is still somehow enjoying his tree and, perhaps, he will even decide to lie underneath it from time to time ...

Since putting up the tree tonight, the rest of the cats are already enjoying it as you can see ...

Tabitha

Leo

 Kiki

Tabby and Kiki

And so it goes without saying that this year, most especially, the Samhain and Yule tree is dedicated to my beloved Midnight.

Fun Friday!!!

My sister, Aurora Skye and her kitty Pumpkin aka "Kitten Mitten" for her poly dactyl feet!!!