Welcome strangers

Wishing All and Every soul a Blessed Samhain.

May each of us find our hearts true home.

May a light shine ever to guide us as we travel life's bumpy roads.

And May we return from our travels wiser than we left.

BLessed Be XXX

A Stranger at the Door

Candles glowing in the windows,

Guiding home the wandering souls.

Flames together, softly dancing,

Seen through eyes replaced by holes.

Curling smoke, like fingers beckon,

Pointing out the entrance near.

If you knock will some one listen?

Will the people gathered hear?

Softly now, don't want to startle

Happy families having fun,

Think they might have heard your footsteps,

Call to you..."It's ok...come!"

"We've set a place for you to join us.

Welcome on this darkest night!

Join us as we celebrate,

Help us learn to do things right."

"Tonight we celebrate with Love.

Our Harvest rich we gladly share.

We wish all lost souls Hope and Comfort,

Welcome arms and hearts that care."

Quietly you walk amongst them,

Warmed by smiles and prayers serene.

Finding Love in Life so vibrant,

Feeling that, at last, your seen.

Now as night fades into morning,

Time again to leave for home.

Not knowing where your people are now,

Existing only as you roam.

But once a year you're filled with Hope.

Next time you'll make it there for sure...

Next time, you'll be the long lost love...

and not The Stranger at the Door.

BLessed Be XXX

POEtry in motion....

EDIT: Ok ...there will be a giveaway for this paty....

I is making a quick "POE-ppet" :D

Just looking at this poster, how could I resists joining Annie Walls blog party....bored my childlings rereading "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe repeatedly at them lol

While blog surfing one day I saw a list of "group names", you know the thing...

A pride of lions etc

Who gave these names I know not, but "an unkindness of Ravens" caught my curiosity...

Why an "Unkindness"?

Put on my "thinking hat", but nothing was flowing....

Maybe it was the wrong hat for this job?

Much better!

Now I was seeing things from the Raven's perspective...mwahahaha...

Unkindness of Ravens
(homage to Edgar Allan Poe's Raven)

By the light of fire and candle, reaching, trembling, for the handle,
Bidding enter unknown Vandal, opened you the chamber door.
With scarce a care for self or Master, heart beat racing, pacing faster
Opened you this chamber door.
In your hour of dark disaster, came I winging ever faster, til I perched upon the plaster, just above your chamber door.
Watching, guarding on the plaster, just above your chamber door.

I heard your voice with subtle quiver, calling out for sweet Lenore.
Felt the tingling, icy shiver, tapped on window to deliver warnings of the "open door"
Quickly tapping, thus unwrapping your desire for "open door".
Yet now with chiding, words deriding, thankless for my guiding hand.
You, ranting madly, laughing gladly, by the open window stand.
Pointing sadly, laughing madly,
by the open window stand.

"A message from my sweet Lenore!", to Angels high you did implore.
So sent they ME to speak with you from perch above your hated door.
Prattling, screaming, dimly dreaming of open door for your sweet Lenore.
But as I in my silence wait, I feel my "kindness" dissipate, while witnessing your witless state, in sadness evermore.
In ire I damn you, spite confound you....
Speak my message?
"Nevermore!"

Samhain Blessings to all...

Sweet dreams...

MWAHAHahahahahaa...... :D

Hortense has a new hat!

*Inspired by Rhissanna*

....but that is the least of the Queens worries.

 Ever since Harriet went away, Hortense has changed....

 She has taken to carrying a very strange looking doll she refers to as her "Little Poppet"
(Inspired by Ash-Lynn)

 If asked, Hortense claims it is a doll that belonged to Harriet when she was a Kit, and that it makes her feel closer to her absent daughter...

 She has opened the back seam to add fragrant Rosemary to facilitate happy memories...

 and has included two little trinkets.

 The heart shaped button signifying the love shared between mother and daughter, while the Rose charm reminds her of her daughters "rosey" cheeks....all fastened in with 2 pins(one red and one white).

Now there are those amongst you who may think this doll serves a more sinister purpose...

and you may be right.

Hortense is very sad about her daughter being so far away (even though she is in regular contact, and knows she is enjoying her new life). Horatio is off on his last voyage collecting roses for the Queen....she does so love her roses does the Queen of Hearts....

She talks about them constantly to Hortense while having fittings for her latest gown....which has the most darling gold heart-shaped buttons....and Hortense has to be very careful NOT to stick Her Majesty with the oh so sharp red and white pins as she twitches and prattles on.

Some say Hortense has a new hobby...no longer does she throw parties for all to laugh and dance while Horatio is away. Rather she organises quieter, more select gatherings...late at night...with soft, rhythmic music and steaming goblets of fragrant wine.

 The Queen has decided to confront Hortense about her secretive behaviour, but the ever ready Hortense distracts her with a new hat to match her gown...

 "..and look! You can still wear your crown too!"

 She follows up quickly by complimenting Her Majesty on the beautiful pendant she is wearing,

 before excusing herself and rushing away.

Not to be put off, the Queen grabs a candle and follows Hortense into the darkening night...

and catches up with her in the deepest, darkest part of the garden...

 "Just WHAT, may One ask, do you think you are playing at Hortense?"

Hortense invites the Queen to take a seat, and a very interesting conversation ensues...

but that is for you to hear another day.

...

Brought to you as part of " A Fanciful Twist's" 

Why not pop by and see what everyone else is up to?

Enjoy :D XXX

**EDIT**

Ok...felt guilty about not having a giveaway(need to hold on to Her Maj for future posts), so I have made a quick "poppet" and will pick someone from the comments on Samhain eve. It's pouch contains rose petals and rosemary from my garden/a small shell from an ancient beach  and a pinch of sage from a very witchy place(by sage I meant lavender, will add sage now)...so play nice children :D XXX

Pumpkin pie...with a difference :D

A Blessed Samhain to you all :D

I love the colours of Autumn, and the magic in the air as the earth prepares for it's long winter rest. 

It has become the time when we think more openly about death, and what may or may not come after.

With this in mind, I spend today cooking treats...yes all day...so that any visitor may find something to their taste.

And of course Pumpkin pie.

I found this fabulous cake mould in a supermarket for £1.99!!

blind baked my pastry base....

then added a thin layer of raspberry curd,

before pouring in my pumpkin mix.

 When set, the pie tipped out easily(some areas were a little undercooked so I put it back in the oven to dry out)

 And I couldn't resist adding a little colour :D

 Quite a fun and fitting addition to the table don't you think?

Though Samhain is a time for deep though and contemplation, it is also a celebration, so don't forget to have fun :D

Blessed Be, and Enjoy :D XXX

Just out of reach....

I have so missed blogging and sharing this last month...so on this day when we turn back the clocks(UK) and the nights grow even longer and darker heading into the Sabbat of Samhain, I feel the need to blog :D

Samhain aka Halloween is to me the closing up of the natural world for a well deserved rest. It is the end of the old year and beginning of the new. Every girl knows a New Year's eve party requires a special effort, so this year I made myself a tirara.....*every girl NEEDS a tirara*

And now, if your sitting comfortably, I would like  to share a spooky story....

As a firm believer in the paranormal/spiritual side of life I was thrilled when a friend contacted me to ask if I would be interested in joining her and a few others for a paranormal investigation. WOULD I?????

Bounced for weeks waiting for confirmation :D

On the night of the investigation we arrived at my friends workplace(an old site reused). She explained that it was her boss who had requested help, as one of his manager's had had a real scare and was struggling to do his job (big hairy metal worker types).

It was an awesome site, with large open warehouse spaces, machine shops and offices, but best of all....underground cellars...with stone walls and arched ceilings mwahahahahaha...:D

We were totally in our element . I paired up with my friend (she is the techy one) and I volunteered/begged to be allowed to go into the furthest recesses of the cellars.

It was beyond my expectations. We saw shadowy figures, listened to spirits whistle back at us, and got lots of "flashing light" responses to questions on our gadgets.

I know many people would respond with "it was just your imagination", that's ok I like my imagination, but it was my imagination that stopped me making the ultimate contact in the end.

You see, when I went to open a door into another room (which I remembered being there from before we went lights out) there was just enough light escaping from my friends night vision camera screen for me to see my hand. As I reached toward the handle, I saw my hand reflecting in the glass door panel and pulled up so as not to bang my nails against it (I hate that...it's like stubbing your toe). My friend turned on her torch so I could see the handle properly.....

I wouldn't have banged my fingers.....

the door was wide open....

As I described what I had seen I realised that "the hand" had been smaller than mine...and was the wrong way round. It should have been "thumb to thumb", a mirror image, but it wasn't.

So my "imaging" the door to be where it should ave been actually prevented me from holding hands with the spirit we had been talking too....

(simple line drawing by me)

So I would just like to close by reminding everyone, that if you are privileged enough to be offered the hand of friendship...don't let your imagination spoil the opportunity.

(And yes...it is a true story, that's why I haven't used any names)

Enjoy :D XXX

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