Cauldron Cottage

Another new project I'm launching

2012-01-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

In addition to the myriad of projects I'll be taking on this year, I'm experimenting with setting up another blog devoted to Pagans who like DIY projects. If you're crafty, like sharing original recipes, or have another DIY talent that you would like to showcase, check out Pagan DIY to see what I'm interested in.

Thanks,
Lizz

A witchy New Year's Resolution

2012-01-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

When I first started studying Witchcraft and Paganism as a teen I was utterly obsessed. I have studied many different paths since then, and when I was finally on my own and living with other people, my spirituality took a back burner for a number of reasons. When living with roommates, I didn't feel like I would ever have the privacy to celebrate Sabbats of any kind, nevermind perform rituals or cast spells.

Meeting Chris was supposed to have changed that for me. We share similar beliefs and are drawn to partnering pantheons. But we've only performed one ritual together. Annually, we only celebrate winter holidays with a spiritual significance. I would like to change that in 2012.

Having an interest in ancient Roman deities and modern forms of magick can be challenging at times. They don't necessarily combine easily. For instance, the festivals that the ancient Romans participated in don't naturally align with the modern neo-Pagan Sabbats or our national American holidays. I think that has been what's been keeping me from coming up with ways to celebrate things other than Winter Solstice and Saturnalia; even though I'm really free to do whatever I want.

My challenge for this year is to start celebrating seasonal festivals in some way or another. I haven't decided whether I'll just "Romanize" national or neo-Pagan holidays or instead try to find ways to easily incorporate ancient Roman festivals into our daily lives.

To help with this challenge, I have purchased a copy of the book called Classical Living (see the link to the right). It is very detailed and inspired. The author provides ideas for easy ways to celebrate the ancient Roman holy days and still manages to keep from being preachy or overbearing. I only wish I had started reading it in December, because I would have loved to send my family some goodies made with honey, dates, and figs in honor of Agonalia.

I'll be sharing my progress with everyone as I go and I hope that I am able to help other Pagans in a similar situation with my adventure.

Under the weather

2011-12-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

I have been fighting a cold since Saturday. It has put a kink in my plans for baking and making things for the holiday weekend. I'm just so tired and my nose won't seem to stop sneezing. Sigh.

We exchanged Saturnalia gifts on Saturday. Beloved bought me two apps for the iPad. I'll have to share them with you after Christmas. They're both magick related. I am enjoying them. Meanwhile, I got her three novels about the ninth legion. Fun Pagan times!

I think I need to take a nap before dinner. Ciao!

Painting on my iPad

2011-12-07T19:37:00.001-08:00

I downloaded an app for my iPad that allows me to drawn and paint. I used to doodle a lot as a kid but haven't really sat down and attempted to be artistic in years. I think this app will change that. What do you think of my cimaruta?

You can get the app here:

Our gluten-free vegan Thanksgiving

2011-12-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

My partner has been vegan for almost a whole year. It was one of her New Year's resolutions, in a way. And she's done an amazing job so far. At the end of October she decided to try being mostly gluten-free as well. She has digestive issues and her original plan was to try the new diet out for two weeks before choosing it permanently. Well, it didn't even take two weeks to see a difference. She has a pretty happy tummy right now!

At first it seemed like we wouldn't have much at all to eat, but after some friends and I tweeted about some options I had devised a plan. And here are my recipes!

Chickpea Veggie Loaf

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces diced sweet onions (I buy mine already diced)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 large carrot, diced thinly

1 14.5 ounce can of chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and partly mashed

1 cup quinoa, cooked

1/4 to 1/2 cup veggie broth

3 tablespoons potato starch

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 inch pan with olive oil (I use a Misto for this). In a large pot or frying pan, warm the oil and cook the onions, garlic, and shredded carrot. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except broth. Mix up well. Add some of the broth if the loaf mixture doesn't adhere to itself. When the right consistency is reached, pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes (until a toothpick inserted comes out clean).

Long Grain and Wild Rice with Glazed Carrots and Pecans

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 cups wild and long grain rice blend

1 tablespoon margarine (for the rice) and

2 tablespoons margarine (for the carrots)

3 large carrots, sliced into rounds

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

1/8 teaspoon allspice

1/4 cup orange liqueur

Directions

Cook the rice according to the package instructions including the butter as a flavoring.

In a frying pan, melt the vegan margarine and sauté the carrots and pecans until the carrots are cooked through. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. Ensure that the sauce made by the sugar and liqueur thickens considerably or you'll end up with "watery" rice.

When finished, combine the rice and the carrot pecan topping in a medium to large sized serving bowl. Mis well and serve.

Roasted Garlic and Fresh Parsley Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds baking potatoes, rinsed, scrubbed well, and cut into quarters

1 bulb of garlic (mine was approximately 12 large cloves)

1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

1/2 to 1 cup veggie broth

Directions

To roast the garlic, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Peel your garlic and place the whole cloves on a sheet of tinfoil, spraying lightly with olive oil to coat the garlic. Fold the foil over on two sides and fold the edges together, making a seam. Then fold the two remaining open sides into the middle of the pouch, creating an enclosed pouch. Place on a cookie sheet in case the oil leaks out and roast in your oven for 15 minutes.

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil for 20 minutes, or until soft. Drain the water and mash using your preferred method (I use my standing mixer), using the broth to create the consistency you desire. Add the roasted garlic cloves and your fresh parsley. Mix well.

Sautéed Green Beans

Rinse green beans in cool water. Trim the stems and ends. Sauté lightly in a frying pan sprinkling with garlic salt, to taste. Cook until your favorite level of crispness is achieved!

Chris's Artichokes

Beloved has loved artichokes her whole life. Her preferred method for making them these days is to trim the points from the leaves (sometimes they come that way already) and the stems and then boiling them in water for 20 minutes on each side (top and bottom). She also likes to lightly salt the water and adds a bit of lemon juice to it as well. To eat them, peel off the layers one by one, dipping the interior points in Vegenaise or oil infused with garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Yum!

And who goes without dessert on Thanksgiving? I think, though, that I'll save those recipes for two other posts...

Hope you had a great one, too!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

I hope yours was as awesome as mine was! Chris and I spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen. We made a veggie loaf from carrots, chickpeas, and quinoa (for the most part) as well as mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and fresh parsley, wild and long grain rice blend with glazed carrots and pecans, green beans, and artichokes. I also made gingerbread cookies and cream cheese (vegan) ice cream on Wednesday. It was a wonderful feast! I intend to share all of the recipes I used with you, but it may take me a few days to type up...

Hope your day was awesome!

Preparing for the holiday season

2011-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Beloved and I stopped by one of our favorite shops yesterday, Half Priced Books. There were having a half off sale (with coupon of course) and I took the opportunity to get a few craft books to use as inspiration for the holiday season.

The titles in question are published by Better Homes and Gardens and are called The Spirit of Christmas. I purchased the 1989 and 1990 editions. I find that it's easier to come up with ideas for crafts when I have pictures of other pretty creations to look at for inspiration. And these books are full of those.

Of course, my crafts will be Saturnalia themed instead of Christmas themed. That's just how I roll...

In the meantime, however, I have a four day weekend starting on Thursday. I'm planning on diving right into that floral design book I mentioned last time. One of the titles I'm considering is Magical Floral Arranging. Or Basic Floral Arranging for Pagans. The book will be fairly concise and will serve as a go-to reference for creative people that enjoy decorating for the Sabbats with artificial flowers and greenery. For the most part, the book will be for inspirational purposes and will be complete with correspondences, seasonal suggestions, and useful techniques. Step by step projects will be included as well.

When I've put together the initial manuscript I will be looking for authors and bloggers to write blurbs for the back cover, and to review it on their blogs, of course. If you fall into this category, I would love to hear from you!

Taking time to focus and savor

2011-10-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

For awhile there, I was doing really well with posting regularly! Visiting my family at the beginning of the month put a lot of things into perspective for me. I have a new focus and a new appreciation for what I have as well as a new directive or immediate goal for life.

I love making things and sharing my creative projects with you, but it's occurred to me that the time I spend on crafting things for my Etsy shop would be better served in publishing my creativity in books and collections of patterns. In our current economic climate, my target demographic seems more inclined to make their crafts on their own as opposed to buying those that I create. I think this is great, of course, and feel like my purpose would be better suited catering to other peoples' creative spirits.

That being said, I think I'll be closing my Etsy shop or at least putting it on a permanent vacation. All of the holiday things I intended to make and sell will now just be made for me and my ideas will go into a book I intend to publish for next winter. I'll also be putting together a little book of "floral design" inspiration featuring instructions on how to make my ribbon pentacles and crescent moons. I will also be working on that Seaside Enchantments book I mentioned a few months ago and am still dedicated to publishing that come summer.

Cauldron Cottage really won't change all that much; you should still expect free downloads and tutorials indefinitely. :-)

Lunch at Pickity Place in Mason, NH

2011-10-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

This little restaurant is like no other. Pickity Place was established in the 1970's and is still owned and operated by the original family that began it. The premise is old-fashioned but wonderful; diners require a reservation for the five course luncheon which features perfectly sized gourmet portions of seasonal food. Some of the vegetables and herbs used in the dishes are grown on site. Pickity Place has an incredible cottage farm atmosphere and usually has its greenhouse brimming with plants for sale well into autumn and as soon as late winter. They are open year round and their menu changes once a month.

When I lived in New Hampshire, my girlfriends and I tried stopping by each month to try the distinct menus. It was a ton of fun and I miss being able to do it. The very first thing that I contemplated suggesting to my mother for an activity while I was there was having lunch at Pickity Place! So, let me show you around the grounds.

After parking the car, mom and I began wandering the grounds. It was her first time there so we made sure to be early. The restaurant building has an attached gift shop brimming with herbs, candles, curiosities, and old-fashioned charm. I could sit in this chair all day.

This is their "drying barn," though I'm sure when it's harvest time they need a bit more room than this. Despite being October in New Hampshire, the gardens were still full of herbs and flowers. Vibrant, voracious mums could be found at every corner.

Another gift shop is attached to their greenhouse. This one always has a Christmas room filled with sparkling ornaments and other holiday fixations.

A woman was painting pumpkins black in the greenhouse. A patron was asking her all about the greenhouse.

I hadn't seen anything like this in real life before! Had to snap a picture. This fairy house was handmade and was marked at $135. A collection of little fairy figures accompanied it.

Mom and I took a seat in some Adirondack chairs outside of the dining room while we waited for our reservation slot to be seated. When the previous diners were finished and the staff had made ready the rooms, they rang a little bell and all the people waiting for their luncheon were seated. The servers always wear little flower garlands in their hair, flowy dresses, and floral aprons. It's lovely! And so are they! The inside of of the dining rooms is decorated with fairy tale images (the house itself was the inspiration for the illustrations of the Golden Book version of Little Red Riding Hood!) and drying herbs.

A carafe of water with lemon in mint is always available. Coffee and tea are available year round while lavender lemonade is the perfect drink of summer and apple cider my favorite drink of winter.

Now, I didn't bring my SLR because I didn't want it to have to go through security on the plane. Unfortunately, my phone photos aren't great, but this picture of the cinnamon rolls and burnt orange butter came out the best. These were delicious, by the way.

And here's me and my mother, enjoying our luncheon. I have to say that everything was delicious, even the root vegetable salad with cranberry vinaigrette (and I usually hate salad dressing). My stuffed mini pumpkin was sweet and savory and its side of maple glazed vegetables was exquisite. Brownies with white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts was for dessert. They served them with vanilla ice cream and Frangelico whipped cream!

The main gift shop is one of my favorite places. My mother bought a gift for her sister whose birthday was the day before while I purchased a little book on how to make incense. I'm very excited for it!

They have herbs in tiny bags that you can take home for your own culinary projects.

The lighting inside is perfect for shots like these.

The thing I liked the most in the gift shop were measuring spoons and cups that were made of metal and very artistic, being topped and embossed with designs for winter holidays and more. Looking them up online I discovered that they're made by Ganz and available on Amazon.com.

Here are some more pictures from the day!

I had a really great time. I hope it isn't another three years before I visit again!

I have a new favorite shop on Etsy

2011-10-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Since getting back from New Hampshire I've started putting my dollhouse together. I've had this house since last Christmas and had only made so much progress on it as to painting and assembling the windows and door (which I will no longer be using because they don't match my house anymore).

I haven't taken any "progress" photos, but I'll be sure to share the piece when its finished. I would best describe it as Tudor-inspired. The interior and exterior are like white stucco. My original plan was to have the exterior, or even just one side, made from stone, but the stone texture I ordered from Miniatures.com is not what I expected.

Between coats of paint, I've spent a lot of time looking at miniatures on Etsy. The shop PixieDustMiniatures is a new favorite of mine! It's almost like she created her little miniatures just for me! Her products include little potion bottles, jack o'lanterns, bubbling cauldrons, and mysterious melting candles. If you're a fantasy dollhouse maker or would like to be one, you should really check out her shop!

Breakfast, Covered Bridges, and the Seacoast

2011-10-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I returned from New Hampshire just yesterday and am admittedly behind on sharing my adventures with you. It had been my intention to update my blog everyday while I was there, but my father and mother and brother kept me so busy that I honestly did not have the opportunity! In any case, I'll continue with my stories now.

Thursday morning, my father and I woke up rather early and headed down to a little restaurant called the Brooklyn Bagel House. I remember when the place was first established. My mother and I ordered bagel and egg sandwiches from them frequently. Their menu has expanded considerably and I have to say that the veggie omelet I ordered was delicious. They have over 20 varieties of New England Coffee available everyday. I tried the flavor I believe was called Cinnamon French Toast. It was fab.

Dad and I spent awhile talking about this and that. The location had what appeared to be a regular patronage; a group of four men relaxing after eating their meals, a younger gentleman drinking a cup of coffee rather leisurely, and a woman reading a newspaper over a bagel and cream cheese.

Our next destination was the Wason Pond covered bridge (pictured above) which was completed very recently.

The area seemed very nice, walking trails, playground, serene water and all. An older gentleman and (presumably) his son stopped by as we were there. They were from a town further away and wanted to know something about the bridge. Timber framers, I believe he called themselves. My dad told them what he could, which was essentially that it was built over the summer with help from lots of volunteers.

From there, dad and I headed to the New Hampshire seacoast. We drove through Hampton Beach along the main drag so I could see the new amphitheater that's under construction. We wound our way through the winding seacoast driving past the elaborate houses and mansions that line the cliffs. We passed Odiorne Point, my favorite spot for exploring tidal pools and photographing ocean life in the northeast.

Once we arrived in Portsmouth, we found a parking space and began meandering through the streets. Our first stop was a giant chalkboard I spotted as we searched for parking.

Apparently this installation traveled from New Orleans where a woman erected it after Hurricane Katrina. Both my father and I participated.

Unfortunately, this is the last day the exhibit will be on display. Otherwise I would tell you to go!

Portsmouth was very enjoyable. Dad and I made our way through a lot of the shops in the Market Square area including Ireland on the Square, Macro Polo, and Le Roux, which was my favorite.

Every tourist town has an awesome kitchen store. It is simply a rule. I bought a lot of things at Le Roux including a decorative wooden spoon for scooping coffee (it's two tablespoons exactly!), Winnipesaukee Chocolates (they were both vegan flavors), some Soda Stream syrup I hadn't seen in our nearby Bed, Bath & Beyond, and peanut butter sweetened with maple syrup. I wanted to buy so much more, in all seriousness. Including these...

But my budget didn't allow it.

Our final stop was a bit down the street on the way back to the lot. Canine Cupboard is a wonderful dog shop that makes handmade treats in small batches and carries high quality products for dog and cat owners. I bought five or six treats for my baby boy (cheesy biscuits and a doggie cannoli, biscotti, and croissant!) and we bid Portsmouth adieu!

Pops and I drove around a bit more, had a bite to eat at Subway, and relaxed a bit that afternoon. For dinner, he took me to The Holy Grail Pub. The location was formerly a church and is now an Irish pub with authentic and artesian cuisine. It really is one of the finest restaurants I've encountered in New Hampshire. A welcoming atmosphere, delicious food, and honest to goodness prices.

What a way to spend a Thursday! My Friday adventures are soon to come!

Thanks for reading,

Lizz

My Trip to New Hampshire

2011-10-06T04:40:00.001-07:00

I started my day at 7am. Took a shower, ate breakfast, and left the apartment by 8:40. I decided I wanted to drive to the airport "as part of the excitement" and beloved did not argue.

There wasn't any traffic to be snarled in, so we arrived at ABIA just after nine. Missed the entrance to short term parking and had to circle around. Oops!

We also forgot that the terminals are upstairs and walked half the length of the airport just to turn around and go back.

I haven't flown in three years- in fact, the last time I got on a plane was to leave Austin to be with Chris in West Virginia. Same departing airport, maybe even the same terminal. I haven't left her since then, though we have spent time apart when she's visited family over long weekends. Being apart is very strange to me!

Checking my bag and getting through security were both easy. I made a point to check in at the airport on Foursquare (haha!) as well as at the cafe I got a cappuccino from. Waiting to board was relaxing.

Southwest has a new, fandangled boarding system which seemed to work well. Seats aren't assigned, either. I'm sitting next to a quiet gentlemen whose listening to music on his BlackBerry.

Here are some pictures from the flight.

I'm about halfway through "Secondhand Spirits" by Juliet Blackwell. Absolutely loving in. It is quite possibly my favorite fictional representation of crime solving magick users. I am especially glad to know that there are many more installments after the one in reading.

Should be landing soon, thank goodness. My allergies are not liking the plane at all.

So as I was walking to my gate after getting something to eat, I heard someone calling my name... And I turned to find my cousin Stephanie sitting there!

She's what I consider an adventurer. She ferries things up and down the east coast for a living on a boat. It's rather dramatic. Really was not expecting to see her at all.

My father and brother met us at the airport. My dad took pictures of us together. I'll have to share them. I don't even know when the last time we three cousins were photographed together.

In true Lizz Clements fashion I forgot a bunch of stuff. Went to the store before dinner and still didn't get everything I meant to! Ah, well.

Today we're off to the beach.

More vacation destinations being planned

2011-09-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

I talked to my father on the phone last night to figure out what he wanted to do for his birthday. For all intents and purposes, he wants to "play things by ear" and decide what to do based on what we feel like doing in the moment.

As of right now, he, my brother, and I will likely be eating at Bertucci's Wednesday night when I arrive. For Thursday, he thought visiting a newly constructed covered bridge on the way to the beach would be fun. I'm packing a sweater and a jacket, because the beach will likely be chilly! I miss the Atlantic a lot, and would like to see it again, despite the cold!

Depending on how much time we spend doing these things, we may also go bowling or miniature golfing before going to a restaurant in Hampstead he likes called the Pasta Loft. There's a performer there he likes that plays pretty regularly.

Friday is the day I spend with my mom and Saturday is his actual birthday. Still undecided on what we'll be doing then. He thought about visiting his parents, my grandparents, whom I haven't seen in probably four years. We'll see. A cousin may also be stopping by Sunday morning before I leave. Apparently to pick up a treadmill, but it will be nice to see her regardless ;-)

I have the days before and after my trip to pack and recover, respectively. I've been asked by beloved to put out "feelers" to my family for help in regard to moving up there in March. Still not sure if that's going to work out, but it is worth discussing. When it comes to apartments, the cost of living down here is a lot more affordable, but at the same time, I don't feel like we're going to progress financially if we keep renting in a metropolitan area. Beloved and I go back and forth about where we should be, physically, and often discuss New Hampshire, California, and West Virginia as viable living options. Purchasing a condo or small home is also a consideration. I just feel like the money we're spending on rent would be better served in a savings account. Furthermore, it's difficult working full time as it is, and the ability to choose a career path that we both love as opposed to one that we need for the money would be the ultimate blessing.

Oh, life. How confusing it is.

Wishing you well,
Lizz

Where did September go?

2011-09-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am not entirely sure that I've seen a month go by so quickly. Yikes!

In my last "real life" related blog post, I wrote about a highlight of my Austin autumns; the Pecan Street Festival. It took place this past weekend. I had requested some time off of work to attend, that day being Sunday, but when the day finally came beloved was stricken with headache. The temperature reached 103 degrees before she started feeling capable of moving. Needless to say, we forwent the festival.

It's all right, though, because I have far more autumnal festivities to look forward to on my upcoming vacation! My father's 50th birthday is October the 8th and he booked a trip for me to come visit for the occasion! Now, it will have been three years come Thanksgiving since I stepped foot in New Hampshire. Since moving to Texas, my father has visited twice and my mother once. I have not seen my brother since that Thanksgiving. I really am quite excited for this trip.

Dear old dad hasn't told me what he wants to do for his birthday, but my mother and I have made plans for the Friday I'll be in town. We have reservations at my favorite restaurant, Pickity Place, which serves an old-fashioned luncheon comprised of five courses. Two of my girlfriends and I used to visit once every month as they change their menu as frequently. The last time I went was just before moving to Austin the first time, in September of 2007.
According to their website, this is what we'll be dining upon while in their company:

Boursin Spread, Creamy Pumpkin Apple Soup with Clove Root Vegetable Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette, Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Herbed Chicken Fricassee over Red Beans and Rice or Baked Stuffed Mini Pumpkin with Arborio and Dried Fruit, Maple Ginger Roasted Vegetables, and Chocolate Nut Bar with Frangelico Cream.

YUM!

Afterward, weather permitting, we'll be stopping by an apple orchard and picking a bushel or two. In fact, the thing I dislike most about Texas is a lack of apple orchards! Even in West Virginia, which has weather that is better suited to growing the fruit, I searched and searched and couldn't find an orchard to go picking at. I love apple picking. The orchard I grew up going to, Mack's Apples, is one of my all-time favorite places. I guess it was so cemented in my being that I just assumed that they had such places throughout the country. It's one of the things I miss most about living in New England. Sigh. Alas.

It will be so nice to do these things again! I am beyond thrilled!

Last batch of autumn wall hangings

2011-09-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

I hope you're having a fantastic weekend. I spent the past few hours photographing four more wall hangings I created a couple of weeks ago. This will be the last batch of harvest and autumn themed ones that I do, assuming that my current listings are still in the shop come November. In any case, I listed three more pentacles and one crescent moon today. The color scheme is purple, green, and gold for these, instead of yellow, beige, and orange like those previous. Take a gander at the Decor section of my Etsy shop to see the listings.

As it stands right now, I think I'll be spending October concentrating a bit more on creating spellbook pages and crochet patterns. Here's to a autumn creativity!

Practical Magic Blog Party 2011

2011-09-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

I wasn't familiar with the term "blog party" until I came across it a few weeks ago while encountering the building excitement for this year's Practical Magic event. A blog party is, essentially, a period of time devoted to blogging in celebration of something specific. This weekend, the book or film entitled Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is the treasured creation being partied with the Practical Magic Blog Party 2011!

My first introduction to the story was through the film. I was new to real life witchcraft, and it gave me my first impression of what real witches may actually live like. Needless to say, it has influenced my practices, directed my creativity, and affected me on a magickal level! I was delighted to find an even deeper world within the novel and had a fantastic time getting to know the wonderful, witchy characters even more.

The Owens' home is the epitome of a witch's house. It's not only full of bits and baubles suitable for casting spells, but it's also pounding with life- the life of those who dwell within it but also the life which lives in the land beyond its walls. It's almost as if the house is a part of its plot of land. To call it "enchanting" is to be delicate!

One of the things that jumps out at me whenever I watch it is the film's use of roses, which are a very magickal flower indeed. They represent beauty, love, passion, danger, and so much more. Mythology even tells us that they're divine, created by the goddess of flowers, Chloris, from the body of a nymph deceased. Aphrodite, Dionysis, and the three Graces gave the Queen of Flowers her visual beauty, intoxicating scent, and timeless charm, respectively.

Roses have also been a part of my own family and are strongly connected to fond memories. My mother's father is a rose hobbyist. The fence around his property is lined with trellises of climbing roses. I will never see a rose and not think of him. When I first discovered witchcraft, I kept my ritual trappings in a large, antique trunk. A chalice filled with rose petal potpourri infused my tools with the heavy, floral scent. And, as a teen, my mother and I kept miniature roses on the front porch of our green, Victorian house. It was our first home after she remarried, and she and my stepfather spent themselves restoring it to a genuine grandeur. The kitchen had an embossed copper ceiling, for instance!

So, with that in mind, I created two downloadable Book of Shadows pages devoted to the use of roses in magick and spellcraft. Or for use in a regular scrapbook. It is, of course, up to you!

I've provided two options for you, as well. You can download the files as they appear in the thumbnail below if you want to print them on white paper. Alternatively, you can download the files without the vintage background and print them on a parchment like paper of your choosing. Below the thumbnail are your links!

"Rose Magick" (with vintage background | with white background)

"The Colors of Roses" (with vintage background | with white background)

I hope you enjoy the use of these pages in your personal projects. Until next year, thanks for reading!

Abundant Harvest

2011-09-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

My Harvest Crescent Moon Wall Hanging was added to this amazing treasury today! I had to share it. So many amazing fall themed items! Click on the image to check out the other items.

Free Book of Shadows Template (Medieval Inspired)

2011-09-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

Medieval Inspired Book of Shadows Page Template

Hello lovelies! I've been a busy bee. To the left is a preview of the scrapbook template I made today. I love digi-scrapbooking and I know there are a lot of other people out there who do as well. My area of utmost interest is scrapbooking magical tomes. Books of Shadows, grimoires, and collections of kitchen witchery are all current undertakings of mine.

I thought about what I wanted to share with you as I make my own Books of Shadows, and I decided that instead of making another finished page like I did with "Catechism for a Witch's Child" I should whip up a template that other scrappers can use for whatever purpose they choose.

This template kit comes as a compressed ZIP file. The page itself is a PSD file, so you will need Photoshop in order to use it. You can also try Gimp, though I am unfamiliar with the software. Additionally, different versions of programs and varying personal program settings may produce different results when opening, editing, or saving the template. In any case, the font Isabella is included and the two images I downloaded from Karen's Whimsy are embedded in the PSD file. Her website is a fantastic resource if you want to continue using medieval graphics and clip art in creating your Book of Shadows. Enjoy!

Download this kit now!

"On Mabon Night"

2011-09-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful way to start the day! I discovered that my Harvest Crescent Moon was featured in a treasury on Etsy this morning. What a beautiful collection. I'm so pleased to be a part of it!

Coffee and toast

2011-09-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

For years, I've begun my morning by enjoying buttered toast and coffee. It's a daily staple in my diet and I adore it. But coffee isn't something I'm supposed to have very much of. I have two heart conditions. One causes and irregular heartbeat and the other causes rapid heart rate. Caffeine contributes to both of these issues (as does stress). For the most part, it doesn't affect me to a great extent, but I can't help but feel like I should voluntarily refrain for the sake of my health...

I bought a tea at Whole Foods yesterday called "get charged." We'll see how that works. It's full of exotic herbs, including ginseng, with a roobis base. It's very tasty, and I'm hoping that it can power me forward on my early mornings.

But central Texas is beginning to show signs of autumn approaching, which excites me! It's been below 100 degrees more than a few times this week. The fall-time appointment of the bi-annual Old Pecan St. Festival is taking place next weekend as well. That's what means it's fall in Austin.

Last year, Chris and I brought Rusty. It was cool enough outside for the little man to wear his "mommy's all-star" t-shirt. He got to meet some farm animals for the very first time and he had a ball eating popcorn and other delicacies off of the ground while we wandered through vendors and installations. We couldn't afford to buy anything from the artisans or food vendors last year. This time I've got my eyes set on some fried dough...

Mutt Monday

2011-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

"LICK!"

Three new wall hangings added to the shop

2011-09-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

If you follow me on Twitter you would have seen preview pictures of two pentacles and a crescent moon that I've been working on this week. All three of these wall hangings are autumn themed. I'm in a very autumnal mood! In any case, you can see these little pretties on Etsy by clicking here. I hope you enjoy them!

My September Treasury Contest Entry

2011-09-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I recently joined a team on Etsy called the Witches of Etsy. They have a monthly Treasury making contest and I decided to join in on the fun and create one of my own. The only rule is that each item must be made by a Witches of Etsy team member. And look at the amazing things that just one team is capable of making!

My inspiration for the Treasury was a brisk, autumn evening. Dining outdoors while it's still possible, taking a nice walk through a nearby orchard, and then enjoying a relaxing night in with the natural smells of the turning wheel. In other words, how I used to spend my autumn afternoons in New Hampshire. I dubbed it "Scents, Flavors, and Colors of Autumn." Enjoy!

Lizz's Chunky Vegetable Marinara

2011-09-05T19:18:00.001-07:00

I love to cook. One thing that I'm especially fond of making is my very own marinara sauce, a recipe I developed to my personal taste. Most women who find themselves cooking dinner for others regularly have a favorite pasta sauce recipe. I thought it only prudent to develop my own, and I really wanted to share it with you. Not only is scratch made sauce more delicious than store-bought, it's also a lot healthier and more affordable. You can experiment with this recipe by trying different vegetables.

INGREDIENTS
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sweet onions, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 28 ounce cans plain tomato sauce
1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup white wine
2 carrots, sliced thinly
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 zucchini squash, cut in half lengthwise and sliced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS
In a large pot, warm olive oil on medium heat. Add the minced garlic and onions and saute until they begin to yellow, just a few minutes.

Add sauce, diced tomatoes, wine, and tomato paste. Stir well. Increase heat until sauce begins to boil, then decrease and allow the mix to simmer.

Add remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 and 1/2 hours until thickened to your liking!

Makes 8-10 servings.

Vintage copper jewelry findings

2011-08-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

These pretty things appeared in my mailbox today. Now, what shall I do with them...?