Happy Saturday! And the winners are ...

Good morning, my dear friends! I am now ready to announce the winner's in my "Countdown to Mabon Give-away" drawing. Of course, the cats happily offered to lend a paw or two to assist me...

Okay, here they are ...

The winner of the Mabon Wreath is Alice M. from her blog, "For the Love of Life: Alice's World!"

The winner of the Mabon Witch Bottle is Christine Fenner!

And the 8X10 framed "Painted Leaves" poem goes to Linda from her blog, "Moments in an Eye"! Linda , BTW, had asked me to pick a prize for her should her name be drawn. Linda, I hope you are pleased with the one I picked for you. ;)

Congrats to all of the winners and, again, many thanks to everyone who participated! As always, I would have loved to have been able to give you all something, but I am planning more give-aways in the near future. 

If the winner's could please e-mail me their address within the next three days at Ladycaer1964@yahoo.com, I would be happy to send you your gifts! As per usual, if I do not receive your e-mail claiming your gift within the three days, another name will will picked.  :)

Have a great weekend everyone!!

The rainbow after the storm ...

Last night, we experienced a very heavy, but swift rain storm with heavy winds. But for us, it was well worth it because this is the beautiful rainbow we were blessed with after it was all over ...  :)

Just a small reminder ...

Good day everyone! Just thought I'd give you a quick reminder that the give-away drawing is this Saturday the 14th! Thank you to all who have decided to participate and for those who are still interested and haven't done so, please enter your name before Friday evening! 

Good luck to all of you and I will catch up with you on Saturday!!

Brightest Blessings,

Kim
)O(

Remembering the Fallen

 

Today marks the 12^th anniversary of that fateful day on September 11, 2001. A day that held such tragedy that for most of us it be will forever embedded in our minds and hearts. And, like many other Americans, I remember where I was and what I was doing as if it were only yesterday. I heard the news at work while listening to a co-worker’s radio. It was Howard Stern whose talk show was being broadcast live from New York City. As we all sat glued to our seats and stunned beyond belief while he reported as it was happening American Airlines Flight 11 crash into the World Trade Center, we couldn’t help but to wonder if this was some kind of horrible joke!

Then, 57 seconds later a second airplane, United Airlines Flight 175, also crashed into The Trade Center. And, as if that weren’t horrifying enough, two more airplanes were reported hijacked by terrorists that morning - American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into The Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93, en route to The White House in Washington D.C. also to be targeted by the hijackers until its’ passengers bravely tried to intervene, crashed into the ground near Shanksville, PA. This tragic event was reported to have claimed the lives of approximately 2,977 victims which included 411 emergency workers who tried to rescue people and fight fires, 340 lost firefighters, and 23 NYPD officers. 

I also remember sitting outside on my porch steps that evening after lighting a tall white while praying for strength for the families of those who had fallen earlier that morning.  And so, just as I had so many years ago, I once again light a white candle ~ only this time it is in honor of those who bravely and heroically gave their lives in order to selflessly save others and to let them know that both their sacrifices and the tragic events of that day will never be forgotten.

Countdown to Mabon: Sliced Apple Pudding

Here's a yummy little "Hay Creek Festival" recipe I found and just thought I would share with you all. It is easy to make and a great treat for the coming Fall season!

You will need: 

6 tart apples, pared, cored and sliced
6 eggs
2 cups milk 
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 small cup of melted butter
1 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
A dash of nutmeg or cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Toss apples with flour, sugar, salt and butter and place in a 9x9 inch baking dish. Pour enough milk into dish to come almost to the top of the apples, but not cover them. Bake in preheated oven 45 minutes, until apples are tender. Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon to taste.

Hay Creek Festival ~ 2013

Well, it looks like yet another great year at The Hay Creek Apple Festival held at Joanna Furance! The weather was gorgeous, they had a huge crowd, and everything was just fantastic!! We love this event and never miss it! There is always so much to see and do from the special handmade crafts to the antique and classic car show ...

Musical entertainment both on stage and off

 

 

"Twinkles Animal Rescue Candles" sold by The Animal Rescue League

 

 

 

 

Homemade Applesauce

 

Glassblowers exhibit 

 

Scented Gemstone jewelry by Sculps Hill Herbs

 

 

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup & Chicken Pot Pie

 

 

 

Miniature ponies

 

And I met a very nice Hedgewitch/Herbalist named Linda Kerlin who lives in Elizabethown, PA. She owns a large Victorian Home and every year she invites the public to her Samhain/Halloween celebration! For those guests who are not Wiccan/Pagan, she explains the history of the Holiday of Halloween itself and the meaning and symbolism behind it. As for those of us who are Wiccan/Pagan, we already understand the ritual she is performing, but I think it is a very good idea since it educates those who have many misconceptions about witches, and Paganism in general ...

 

 Linda Kerlin

 

 

All in all, pretty awesome day! Have a great Sunday everyone!!!



A very thoughtful surprise and more crafts

  Happy Wednesday, my friends! Yesterday after I came home from work, I received a very sweet little surprise in the mailbox. It was a beautiful "thinking of you" card with a crow on it and enclosed inside was a gorgeous wallet sized aceo of a Mer-Crow called, "Mer-Crow Dancing!" This special card and gift came from a very special gal, my good friend and talented artist in her own right, Stacy from her blog "Magic Love Crow"!! ...

Thank you soo much, Stacy!! You sure know how to put a smile on my face, my dear sister!! Ironically, the same day I received the card, I had sent Stacy's birthday present out in the mail to her in Ontario, Canada. SHHHH, I can't tell you what it is, but I can tell you that I made her present specifically with HER in mind! Sure hope you like it, Stacy!!  ;)

Also, I thought that since I was "in the groove" after making the give-away gifts, I would make two more wreaths. The first one is called, "The Four Seasons of the Cat" and the second is, "The Wheel of the Cat" because it is more Wiccan/Pagan looking ...

Well, that is about all the news for now. Have a great rest of the week everyone!!

Brightest Blessings to you ~

Kim