Wednesday 31 October 2012

A hunting we did go!

This is a bit of a rushed post, as I have been out today trying to make contact with June Mac of Dezinaworld. She disappeared off-line a couple of weeks ago. I had her address, and hubby had the day off, so we drove the 94 miles to her house to check on her. She was out, but I left a note with my number and other contact info, and YAY!!! she got in touch tonight. Some one had hacked her puter and destroyed her blogs and FB accounts!!! But she is ok, just going to be off-line a bit til she has time to rebuild everything :S
So while your partying and remembering passed family and friends, give a thought to those friends you may not have seen for a while that are still in this realm. They might appreciate a message from you :D
A Blessed Samhain to you all!!!
Yes...I have been scaring the kiddies again, but if they want free candy!!!
I prefer fresh veggies...
Made a gorgeous rich Beef stew for supper(I haven't shown the raw steak as I have many veggie friends). I managed to get hold of some fancy coloured carrots :D

...and the pumpkins this year were small and juicy.

The purple carrot was orange inside...would look awesome grated on a salad :D
And as promised...homemade pumpkin pie! The apple slices are from my own garden. Don't know if the recipe I use is authentic, but then I rarely measure anything so it's a joyous surprise every year :D


Have a fun evening...and try not to get too scared...
MWAHAhahahahahaha.....
OH....and while I'm here...I would like to wish the anonymous arseholes that go round destroying other peoples hardwork , dark and disturbing dreams that haunt them til they change their ways!
You know who you are...be grateful I don't! Yet!

Blessed Be :D XXX
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Tuesday 30 October 2012

I like food!!!!

Amidst all the Samhain/Halloween celebrations, I like to take time to appreciate the earth's bountiful gifts...
especially food!
It is the time of year I like to eat roast vegetables, with rich sauces... 
...and watch pans full of colourful veg bubbling in vinegar...

to preserve them for the coming winter...

and find new nummy things to make with the Pumpkin flesh scooped out of the lanterns

This is Pumpkin Trifle!!!! I kid you not! Flavoured with cinnamon and maple syrup...I found it here
and of course there is Pumpkin pie...topped with slices of apple from my own tree :D
But I'll have to share that tomorrow as I haven't cooked it yet.

When the time is come, and you've folk to feed,
May you all be blessed with as much as you need!

Blessed Samhain  to you all!

 :D XXX
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Friday 26 October 2012

Lady Ophelia...from Russia with Love?

2 week catch-up again for Darcy's Postcard Challenge :S
Week 42 RUSSIA and week 43 FINLAND

The National flower of Russia is the humble Chamomile 
" My dearest Lillian,
I have visited many beautiful buildings on my travels, but nothing yet could have prepared me for the luscious extravagance of the Winter Palace. We have been visiting with Tsar Nicholas II and his wife the Empress Alexandria. Did you know they have only been married a month longer than Richard and myself? They are thinking of moving into this glorious creation of a building in time for Christmas. The ballroom is so large, your cottage would fit inside it at least 6 times!
I have to tell you, Her Imperial Highness is not the jolliest of people. I think I have only seen her smile once, and the Tsar seems totally dependant on her for his strength. I suppose it was a shock, becoming Tsar so suddenly.
No sign of baby arriving just yet, though Richard and Miss Francesca are both complete "nervous Nellies". If I get much bigger I am sure I will pop!
Yours affectionately, Ophelia xxx"

"My darling Ophelia,
Yes I was aware of the Tsar's rather rushed wedding. It was reported here at the time as being rather inappropriate, given he was still in mourning for his father. Oh, and he is not actually the Tsar at this time, his coronation will not take place until next year. I suppose it is just polite to call him by that title any way. As for his young wife, it is rumoured that the Russian people are not too pleased about having a German Lutheran for an Empress. The poor girl has tried all sorts to appease them, even taking on their religion.
I can not imagine why some one would want to live in such an enormous place. Even with it's incredibly ornate décor it must feel so empty. I would take my cottage, filled to the brim with happy children, over a grand palace any day.
The children are all settled to their studies now the nights are drawing in. Snow is expected soon, and with it the sadness deepens in young Geoffrey's eyes. Children should want to enjoy playing in the fresh snow, but I fear this year will be spoiled by the hurtful memories of last winter.
Your Loving friend, Lillian xxx"

The national flower of Finland is the LILY OF THE VALLEY
" My dearest Lillian,
After visiting with the Russian Royal Family, the Empress suggested I might enjoy a visit to the Imperial Alexander university of Finland, in Helsinki. 
Apparently the Finnish women are very forward thinking, and are encouraged to take up posts in nursing and teaching, whilst at the same time holding motherhood and nurturing in the highest regard.
Miss Francesca was rather hoping the baby would arrive during our visit here, knowing that the medical situation here is most advanced, both morally and scientifically. I got a bit upset. Confused as to whether my baby would be British, Swedish, Prussian, Russian or Finnish? What if my baby is born in a non-commonwealth state? OH GOOD GRIEF!!! I hadn't considered any of this before!
Your ever so slightly emotional friend, Ophelia xxx"

" My darling Ophelia,
Pull yourself together! Try not to worry about where your baby will be born. I am sure Sir Richard is an a position to make sure his child is born a British Citizen, wherever you may be at the time. Are not all children born in Embassies classed as being on British soil? To be on the safe side, you could always come home for a while.
What an unexpected place for you to be visiting. I never thought of you walking the halls of a great university.  Rather, more at home in a grand house, entertaining guests, or even having your own art studio. Although art and science are not mutually exclusive. I hope you pick up some ideas for how you would like to extend your education. Just because you will be a mother and a wife, it does not mean you have to give up on self improvement.
Your loving friend, Lillian xxx"
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Thursday 25 October 2012

Are all Fearies friendly?


Welcome to my post for my dear friend Magaly's All Hallows Grim Blog Party :D
This years theme is "The Darker side of Faeries"
Now most of you will recognise me as a friendly (almost 50) homemaker, who likes to get a bit busy in the art and craft department....but I can have a dark side too!
The first thing that sprang to my mind was to make a Faerie Godmummy(forgot to take a final photo) and she is hopefully already with Magaly by now :D


So then I had to make someone else. I was making a Witch out of wood, but she decided to get all jazzed up for the party, and disguised herself as a sparklie faerie :D

Hmmmmmmmmm.......thinks I...
Maybe I should disguise myself for the party too, just a new hat and a bit of lippy...


oh and hair...dreads to be exact :D My hair is too fine to dread(I think), so I bought some extentions from Woodland Wild called Elflocks....and I love them(though my kids said "your not going out to the shops in them are you?")

...and why not be a faerie for the day? Hubby likes the new/old me. He says I look more like me dressed like this. I certainly feel more like me :D

...and you all know I am a Garden Faerie....so I am going to kick the middle-aged thing into touch and reconnect with Nature(yes that basket is full of apples I grew)

(I love this pic...it is how I see me)

And last but not least, a canvas I painted called "Through the Veil"

A lot of people get all creeped out about reaching out to lost loved ones at this time of year. I try to think of it as them being on a journey in a region where there are few "hot spots" and poor phone signals. Samhain/Halloween, is the point where the signal is clearest. It is their(and our) chance to phone home and let us know how they are! If your family members where travelling abroad and you got an unexpected call or text from them, would you ignore it? Or grab the phone and chat for as long as you could? So what if it "might" be a wrong number or nuisance call...you can always hang up :D

...but the hand reaching out to you probably just wants to say "hello, I'm ok!"

Will you extend the hand of friendship? This Faerie ALWAYS does :D

From this Faerie's friendly heart
A wish for all before we part,
That love and frienships hold you dear
Til we meet again at the close of year.

A Blessed Samhain to you all :D
(and yes I know we're a week early, but Mags is moving house :D)
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Tuesday 23 October 2012

Playing Footsie with Tee and Darcy :D

An new challenge from Tee Thompson recently was to draw your feet/foot :D
So another WIP...I know, but at this time of year there are so many distracting sparklie things!!!! What's an old witch to do?
Started with a blank A4 sheet of paper...

then inked my foot(which doesn't look as poofy now anesthetic has cleared my system)

This is the kind of print I usually leave on the kitchen floor in the summer after cutting the grass :D

see spread out toesies from going barefoot so often :D

Now inspired by Darcy who was inspired in turn by some body else who's link I lost(will add when I find it)
Now I broke out my new Autumn promarkers and started to doodle....

Like I said....another work in progress, sorry :D
Enjoy :D XXX
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Friday 19 October 2012

Quick update for Brenda...a fellow Bumblebee :D

Just because I haven't shown any cards I've made lately(for quite a while actually), here are the first 2 Christmas cards for this year :D
Yes I snaffled me some more Anna Griffin product (like I don't have boxes full already)

and the shine is from the "snowy acetate" dome I have made on each card.
But now at Brenda's request :D, more of my little wooden witch, who is transforming herself into a Faerie so she can go to Magaly's Party on the 25th :D
Witchywoo needed some sparkle, so I have painted her with Twinkling H2O's

not forgetting her rear view!!!

Tempted as I was to dress her in black, she decided rich Autumnal colours were more appropriate for this particular party :D (sorry you can't see how shimmery she looks because the sun went in :S)

...and no Faerie disguise would be complete without wings. These are some I had printed out already on acetate.
Now to add some sparkle...but that has to wait for another day :D
Enjoy :D XXX
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Wednesday 17 October 2012

Witches are made of wood!

Still on a steady roll of Samhain/Halloween inspiration, I thought of the old adage that you could tell if a woman was a witch by throwing her into water. If she floated and didn't drown, she was a witch, because all witches are made of wood BWAH!
One of my favourite bits of wood is Magaly over at Pagan Culture, and she is holding a party for the season on the 25th of October called "The Darker side of Faeries"....I am so dressing up for that post!
She is also today's Give away Guest over at Samhain's Sirens..3 books to be won!!!! including Magaly's own "AlmaMia Cienfuegos"

I bought some wooden puppet blanks...
and glued pages with appropriate words on...

The word at the top of her head got cut down, and made a brilliant new word I though suited Magaly down to the ground "nounsaturated" :D

A thin covering of white gesso to give a good base to work on...

and a quick sketch to build my wooden witch from....

on the reverse the most obvious word was "bedlam", but it is accompanied by moonlight, monsters and beaut! Again, all terms I believe Magaly would associate with :D

I wonder if my witch will turn out half as energetic, and beautifully dark as Magaly would like ? :D
Enjoy :D XXX

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