In The Garden At Toadstool Condo

We have mushrooms in the garden at Toadstool Condo! Actually, we found them under the hedge along the walkway. They are the tiniest mushrooms I've ever seen in the wild, as you can see. They are pure white, very round and have a tall stalk. This is the mushroom forest - quite pretty. No luck yet identifying them, although I browsed quickly through my mushroom field guide and two other old picture books. And here is Ms. Nips, our resident squirrel. I was watching her as she tried to scare off the ducks and egrets and noticed how much bigger she's grown. Well, then, as she ate a cashew, I could see that the reason for that is she's pregnant! Baby squirrels on the way! Ms. Nips will come up to the walkway, but if we try to get near her she runs away - as it should be. She will wait nearby though for bits of bread, sunflower seeds and nuts. She also likes the duck scratch we put out for our duck families.

Tonight I will be celebrating the Autumn Equinox with a ritual of course. Here is an excerpt from one of the invocations which is adapted from a ritual by Stormwing:

The Wheel of the Year turns on and on,

What will be is, what was will be.

In this moment, between time,

I come to praise the bountiful, aging Goddess.

I give thanks and feel myself as a part of the

Relentless turning Wheel of Life, Death and Rebirth.

O Blessed Demeter, Lady of the Harvest,

Be with me here and witness my Rite.

Grant me strength and understanding

Throughout this season and always!

O Blessed Persephone, Queen of the Underworld,

Be with me here and witness my Rite.

Let me understand the changes, the mysteries

Of Life, Death and Rebirth.

O Great & Blessed Hekate of the Crossroads,

Be with me here and witness my Rite.

Teach me the secrets of Your Mysteries,

The ways of magic and knowing.

The time of change is upon us again,

The Equinox comes, the Wheel turns.

May I see and feel the presence of the Goddess within,

Though without, the Earth begins Her slumber.

May your harvest be abundant! Blessings Nine!

Autumn Blessings!

...that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people, passing at night on the empty walks, sound like rain... -Ray Bradbury

'Best I love September's yellow,

Morns of dew-strung gossamer,

Thoughtful days without a stir,

Rooky clamours, brazen leaves.

Stubble dotted o'er with sheaves ~

Morre than Spring's bright uncontrol

Suit the Autumn of my soul.'

~ Alex. Smith

"When the goldenrod is yellow

And leaves are turning brown -

Reluctantly the summer goes

In a cloud of thistledown.

When squirrels are harvesting

And birds in flight appear -

By these autumn signs we know

September days are here."

Beverly Ashour, September

The Autumn Equinox, which arrives Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 5: 19 PM EST, is a time when day and night are equal, a time of balance. I pay respects to the approaching darkness and the waning light as I consider my personal harvests; this is a time of turning inward and personal reflection. I gather thoughts about what I have accomplished and what plans and needs I have for the coming year. The wheel turns and the nights grow longer. I remember the Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, Persephone, as She hears the calls of the dead. I give honor to my deities and the spirits of the Land around me. The Autumn Equinox or Mabon is another step on the path of the Mysteries.

This is the Witches' Thanksgiving, so I celebrate, remember, feast and make offerings. I have much to be thankful for.

May your harvests be rewarding, fulfilling and abundant. Blessings nine!

Stitches, Pincushions & the Full Moon!

The weekend is ending too soon for me! On Saturday evening a few friends joined me for my Eleusinian Full Moon ritual. This was a simple ritual to honor Persephone, Demeter and Hekate, of course. We journeyed, divined and then took offerings to the lake and hedge circle; afterwards coffee and dessert and good conversation. A lovely evening.

I finished my Strawberry House sampler by Little House Needleworks this evening, so, I must decide: frame or little cushion? Decisions, decisions. Now back to my mother's nativity and Salem Remembered. Sampler Sisters of the Thread awaits and oh, yes I want to start it right now!!! No, no I can't - the nativity, the nativity - I must stitch the nativity!!! There, that's enough of that.

Oh the stresses of a stitcher with so many enchanting things to stitch.

Now, look at this adorable pincushion, a birthday gift from my friend Debbie! She will tell you that she is craft-challenged, but I will disagree - she created a superior design! I love this pincushion which she made in a real cast iron cauldron! A perfect gift for a witch, but then, takes one to know one, yes?

I have made a few pincushions over the years for fellow stitchers and friends - and of course myself - one in an old depression glass dessert cup, embellished with antique lace scraps among other things. So much can be done with them, adding all sorts of little embellishments - beads, ribbons, charms and anything else one can think of; sew it on, glue it on, whatever. I have a lovely book by Jo Packham, Making Fabulous Pincushions, which has inspired me. The pincushions in this book are to die for - exquisite! I should make a few more. Oh yes, why not, I need another project!

I have discovered WCPE, TheClassicalStation.org - oh wonderful, wonderful selection of classical music with a daily listing of what is being played at what time. I love that so I can find new recordings to add to my collection. Probably everyone else already knows about it, but I didn't.

Such a lovely evening; sipping tea, browsing the pincushion book, listening to good music, life is good.... until.... tomorrow, 9:00AM and back to.............. roller sets!!! Did I mention I started beauty school a couple of weeks ago? At age 53? Yes, I did this and, challenging, but really OK. I like roller sets, especially now that I have the technique down - there is a certain secret for keeping those rollers just as they ought to be. I was going crazy until, finally, it all came together! Rolling hair is sort of like creating a zen garden, in a way, peaceful, quiet, providing the rollers do what one wants them to. My teacher is this wonderful, manic Latin woman, very talented and she keeps us laughing all day. If one of us becomes stressed or worried, she asks, "did I say you had to worry? No, so don't worry. Let me es'plain (heavy accent al-la Ricky Ricardo - really!) something to you, I'll let you know when you have to worry, so don't worry."

Really!!!

Blessings nine!

Plum Butter & The Goddess

Well, very early this morning I had my cup of tea and then went to sleep and here I am on a Sunday afternoon just finishing up a batch of plum butter. As I stirred the pot I remembered something I had written, in 2005 and posted to a group I belonged to, about another batch of plum butter. It was just

after Hurricane Katrina. I'd like to share it here along with pictures of today's endeavor.

My task today, which is no hardship really, is to make plum butter. The juicy garnet-colored orbs are truly a gift from the Goddess. I make fruit butters all summer, preserving them in faceted jam jars. They sit on a shelf until a gift is needed, especially at the Winter Solstice. I began giving homemade gifts many years ago. People so appreciate something homemade or handmade - it makes them feel comfy and mothered. Although not a mother to children, I still seem to do a great deal of nurturing through daily tasks.

I stood at the kitchen sink washing the fruit carefully, then slicing and placing the plums gently into my big jam pot. As I sliced then stirred, it occurred to me how much love I put into this act. A priestess of the harvest, lovingly preparing the gifts of the Lady to be gifts to those I love. What could be more nurturing than stirring love, and of course, my Reiki symbols, into the fruits of the Goddess.

This also makes me think of "women's work" - do we, modern women, feminists, dismiss certain tasks women do because we see it as patriarchal? Is it? I do embroidery which has long been considered women's work and dismissed as something negative or not worthwhile by some modern women. Is it really something that constrains my freedom, my creativity, my worthiness? Cooking for family and friends, does that restrict me? As I stir the plums, I consider how much love I gently stitch and cook into my various "womanly" pursuits; how I incorporate prayers, Goddess symbols and magic into embroidered samplers; how I stir healing prayers and love into my cooking. Yes, all these things I do with love - for those who receive my gifts, from the threads and the fruits themselves, and most of all, from myself to myself. Truly a lesson in the law of return.

My kitchen is filled with the sweet scent of fruit and spices, steamy and warm, a cat rubbing against my legs- how could this be anything but the greatest of pleasures?

Well, time goes by, four years since I scribbled and shared those thoughts. I am still stitching, making jam, baking and following where the Goddess leads me. I am still placing all those good things into everything I do.

Ya' know, life is really good!

Blessings nine!

(all photos copyright 2009, E. A. Kaufman)

(all entries copyright 2005-2009 E. A. Kaufman)

The Witching Hour

Luna, every woman's friend
To me thy goodness condescend
Let this night in visions see
Emblems of my destiny

~Mother Goose

Just after midnight, longing for a cup of tea. It was an interesting day. I resigned from my Pagan group finally. It has been brewing for months and I just did it. I feel peaceful, like a weight has been lifted - obviously the right decision.

As for Mother Moon, She is coming on full. A couple of friends will join me for ritual a week from tonight. We will gather around the cauldron and make welcome September. The year goes by and my beloved Autumn is almost here. I've already filled bowls with autumn herbs, leaves, twigs, mini pumpkins, broken cinnamon sticks, cloves, rose hips and other plant matter, topping them off with spicy essential oils that remind me of autumns past. A bit of fall decorations are ready to be scattered about as well.

Ahhhh.... all is right with my world. And now for that tea!

Blessings nine!

Witches, stitches, books & the color red!

Well, last week I turned 53 and my friends made sure I celebrated. While Mike and I celebrated quietly - my choice - I was taken out by friends for dinner & lunch four times!!! I am very blessed with my buds. My Mom sent some cash with which I bought a new witch for my collection - fell in love with this and couldn't resist. Thanks Cross Stitch Cupboard and Mom!

On the Everything Austen front, I have read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, which I enjoyed very much; very different and perfect for those of us who love Jane Austen and vampires! I know, it's a heck of a combination. I also read Jane Austen Ruined My Life and What Would Jane Austen Do? - both good reads too. I have yet to start the Austen sampler, but will get to it soon. So there I am with the challenge!

Stitching update: Haven't taken a stitch on the Nativity, but I am planning to work on it later today. The Strawberry House is coming along and it is very pretty indeed. So much to stitch and not enough time!

Stash Alert!!! New charts - Sampler Sisters of the Thread, which I am ready to start. I will be stitching it on 40 count pearl barley linen - love this! - Witches Nine and Cape Cod Girls, all three by The Primitive Needle, my favorite designer. I love that primitive look. I am making a small change color-wise on Sampler Sisters. The dresses for the three ladies with be stitched in red, old reds to be sure, keeping that primitive look, but I wanted some color. There is also another reason which I will discuss below. Received Witches Stitch Too by Homespun Elegance and Spellbound by Monsterbubbles which I will stitch on dark purple linen - yeah!!! Another addition for the witch wall.

Now for the color red. Tonight, well actually last night as it is three AM, the Sisterhood gathered for our Blood Mysteries class. All priestesses are required to attend this class along with the students so off I went in the Strega-mobile. We watched the film Bloodtime, Moontime, Dreamtime by Roberta Cantow followed by wonderful discussion and sharing of moonblood memories. Here is a link to watch a six and a half minute sample of the film: http://originaldigital.net/bmd/index2.html#

All women ought to watch this beautiful film. No matter if one still bleeds or not, it is inspiring and empowering. Most of the women in the film wore red as they were interviewed, many danced in red dresses and stunning red cloaks, reclaiming moonblood as something beautiful, sacred and powerful - NOT a curse or something dirty. As I sat pulling skeins of thread for the Sampler Sisters, looking at the subdued, primitive colors, it came to me that I should dress the three women in red, in honor of all women, our power and our sacredness.

Blessings nine!

Austen Challenge - Two down, Four To Go!

OK, so I've watched Lost In Austen, thanks to Netflix and Sunday, I watched Persuasion -oh I do love that version - which I own. And now... I own Lost In Austen as well! It arrived today along with the paperback, What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown - thank you Amazon. I can't wait to get started on that. I also decided to stitch this freebie Jane Austen sampler I found on-line instead of the small design by The Sampler Girl. It has a row of women - Marianne, Elizabeth, Elinor, Emma and Jane, with those names below, a nice little border and flowers. As for The Sampler Girl, I will treat myself to one of the larger Austen samplers, just because I like them - decisions, decisions, which one? One other change in my list - I will read Jane Austen, A Life, by Carol Shields, instead of reading Persuasion again - which I can do anytime.

Other books recently acquired: Hekate Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este & David Rankine. This book is SO wonderful! So much information in one place about my beloved matron goddess. I also purchased a copy of Unbound, A Devotional Anthology for Artemis by Bibliotheca Alexandrina. One of my poems is included and of course I wanted a copy. It, too, is a very fine book.

Back to stitching: I also received the book, Bewitching Cross Stitch by Joan Elliot. I had to get it from England. I purchased the book for one design, Mother Moon. Yes, I know - am I crazy??? Well, no actually... it is a gorgeous design. Happily there are a few other designs in the book that I really like as well. So there!

On the Heirloom Nativity front, I am stitching the shepherds, well actually the pine trees next to the shepherds. It looks like this piece will not be ready for Christmas as I am heading back to school - yes, at fifty-three - at the end of August. Four nights a week will not leave much stitching time. Who knows though, perhaps I will stitch more than I think.

I did take a few stitches on Salem Remembered by Primitive Needle. I will have to get some photos up to show these pieces off.

Finally had some needlework from last year framed. All look divine. Cross Stitch Cupboard does a beautiful job framing.

Here's the revised Everything Austen CHallenge List:

1. Watch Lost In Austen - done!

2. Watch Persuasion - done!

3. Read "What Would Jane Austen Do? - begun!

4. Read Jane Austen, A Life.

5. Read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre - ordered and waiting for release!

6. Stitch the little freebie Jane Austen sampler.

OK - I'm updated!

Blessings nine!

I am Lost in Austen - Everything Austen Challenge

I have decided to join the Everything Austen Challenge - which actually began July 1st - I was still trying to finish my list of six Austen-themed things I will do. So here they are, one of which, I just accomplished:

1. Reread Persuasion

2. Watch the movie, Persuasion - the one with Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds

3. Stitch one of The Sampler Girl's Jane Austen designs

4. Read "What Would Jane Austen Do?"

5. Watch the movie - "Lost In Austen" - and thanks to Netflx, I just watched it this evening - a really wonderful, sweet, funny film.

6. Read "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda George and due out in August - OK, I know it sounds weird, but how interesting!

So there I am, I just have to pick out that Austen inspired needlework project.

Blessings nine!

Tarot, Eleusis & stitching

Another Sunday! Yesterday I spent the day stitching and re-reading The Homeric Hymn to Demeter (Translation, Commentary & Interpretive Essays by Helene P. Foley) along with tidbits from The Road to Eleusis (Wasson, Hoffman & Ruck.) To experience those mysteries, to know the secrets, I have a great longing for them - perhaps, someday, in someway, I will know what I need to about them.

Then I take this little test... and while this result is, of course, no surprise to me, there is Demeter! As usual for me, these mysteries seem to appear when I least expect them.

As for stitching, the nativity is moving along and I plan to do more today. I am hoping to do a little bit of something else as well, because I have a short attention span where stitching is concerned (other things also) so I need to move around to different projects.

Perhaps another nap! I love an afternoon nap. It is cozy and refreshing especially when followed by a lovely cup of Earl Grey. That is what Sundays are for, pleasures and comforts.

You are The Empress Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation. The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful. The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

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