The Charmed Life

Bead Soup!

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:42:00 +0000

I'm taking part in the 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop Party. There are 200 participants who are partnered up. Each participant sends a selection of beads, a focal, and an intriguing clasp to his or her partner, and then the partner makes something out of it.

My partner is Cindy Cima Edwards and you can see her beautiful designs here:

www.zimaj.com

www.zimaj.etsy.com
www.cindycima.com

This is what she sent me.

Quite a beady bag of goodies. The teardrop shape is a cat's eye glass pendant. It's always hard to photograph cat's eye and get all its wonderfulness. This close-up shot helps a little.

There's a strand of mahogany obsidian and a strand of crazy horse stone. Obsidian is a stone that's associated with Pluto ~ the Greek god of the underworld and keeper of hidden treasure.

It's said to be a grounding stone that can impart the strength needed to stand on your own convictions against any enemy (hidden or otherwise). Mahogany obsidian is said to have a gentle energy that grounds and protects its owner. It can be used for strength in times of need, for removing energy blocks, and giving new life to purposes and goals. (You knew I'd go straight for the woo-woo, didn't you??)

There's a legend about the crazy horse stone, which, of course, I must share. Crazy Horse received a black stone from a medicine man named Horn Chips to protect his horse, a black-and-white "paint horse" which he named Inyan (rock or stone). He placed the stone behind the horse's ear, so that the medicine from his vision quest and Horn Chips would combine; he and his horse would be one in battle.

This is not the stone that Inyan wore into battle. It's actually a form of limestone that's been coated with resin. I'm guessing it's called crazy horse stone after Crazy's Horse "paint" horse.

Cindy added some Vintaj brass chain, which I'm showing here with the crazy horse stone. Cool, huh?

She also enclosed a Vintaj brass filigree flower... or perhaps something that grew where the Lakota went to battle? Those are Czech faceted bronze beads below it, next to the cat's eye.

There's the cat's eye teardrop again, and me struggling to catch its luster.

Here's a cool toggle clasp. It's Vintaj brass, and it's resting comfortably beside some Swarovski crystals and fresh water potato pearls.

Here are the pearls and crystals together. Quite a luxurious color.

And there are my faceted beads and the medallion.

And finally, the mahogany obsidian, the crazy horse stone, and the chain.

I have some wonderful colors and textures to play with here. Now the question is... what to make? I'm open to suggestions.

Calvin and Hobbes and Frosty and Freezy

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:56:00 +0000

Frosty and Freezy and Friends can be found here.

The Buddha Story Continues ~ the Second Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:35:00 +0000

The King heard about his son's unhappy mood and wondered what could have gone wrong. "Perhaps he needs more variety, " and so the King began to plan another trip for his son, this time to an even more beautiful section of the city."

Again, Channa prepared Kantaka. Again, they rode out into Kapilavastu.

The streets were decorated as before, and the people were happy to, once again, see the Prince. But deep in the crowd, Siddhartha saw a man who was, apparently, quite ill.

The Prince spoke to Channa asking about the man who was coughing loudly, his body shaking, crying piteously.

Channa explained that this man was sick.

"But why?" asked the Prince.

Channa explained that people could become sick for many reasons. He might have eaten food that had gone bad. He might have caught a chill. These things could cause his body to go out of balance and make him feverish.

The Prince was stunned. "Can even happy people become sick?" he asked.

Channa assured him they could. Anyone could be healthy one day and sick the next. No one was immune from all illness.

The Prince wanted to know how people could be happy and carefree, knowing that sickness could attack them the very next day. Then he asked Channa to turn the chariot around, He had seen enough for one day.

When he returned to the palace the Prince was even more unhappy than before. Nothing anyone did could make him smile. He spoke to no one.

When the King learned of his son's unhappiness, he was frantic. He had tried everything to make his son happy, but he had failed. He turned to his ministers for guidance.

The ministers suggested sending the prince out surrounded by singers and dancers and nobles of the court. They could go to a specially prepared garden with all sorts of entertainment and merriment.

The next time Siddhartha asked to visit the city, preparations were made to insure that his journey was filled only with beauty and happiness.

The King was certain that this time nothing would appear that could trouble the Prince in any way.

Next time, The Ultimate Shock.

If you missed the earlier chapters, they can be found here:

Birthday of the Buddha
The Buddha Story Continued
The Young Prince
The Marriage Contest
The Pleasure Palaces
A Song Of Beauty
An Unexpected Sight

Buddha charms here and here.

A Murmuration of Starlings on a Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Two adventurers set out in a canoe and happened upon a starlings (collectively known as a murmuration) doing their amazing collective dance in the sky.

2012: Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:31:00 +0000

2012 is the Year of the Dragon. What does that mean?

The Dragon is the mightiest of the signs, and occupies the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac. Dragons symbolize character traits such as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and, if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in a big way, though often this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and unfulfilled.

While Dragons frequently help others, they are unlikely to ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons with their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer solitude and tend to be most successful when working alone. This desire for solitude can come across as arrogance, but this is not really the case.

Dragons are known for their tempers.

Dragons, risk-takers that they are, can suffer from stress and tension headaches.

In the job world, Dragons prefer leading to being led. They are best suited to jobs in which they can express their creativity.

Dragons will give into love, but they won’t give up their independence. Because they have quick tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life.

Dragons and the 5 elements

Metal Dragons – Years 1940 and 2000

Metal strengthens this already strong sign. Metal Dragons are more determined and will fight for what they believe in.

Water Dragons – Years 1952 and 2012

Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view.

Wood Dragons – 1904 and 1964

Wood Dragons also are willing to entertain the opinions of others. Their artistic side is strong.

Fire Dragons – 1916 and 1976

A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals and, as such, sometimes make wrong decisions.

Earth Dragons – Years 1928 and 1988

More rooted in the ground, Earth Dragons make better decisions because they act more rationally. While they are more supportive of others, they prefer being admired by others.

etsy dragons

eBay dragons

More about the Chinese zodiac

Three Little Kittens and a Cautionary Tale About Mittens

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:13:00 +0000

Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens."

"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie."
"Meeow, meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie."

The three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, see here, see here
For we have found our mittens."

"Put on your mittens, you silly kittens
And you shall have some pie"

"Meeow, meeow, meeow,
Now let us have some pie."

The three little kittens put on their mittens
And soon ate up the pie,
"Oh mother dear, we greatly fear
That we have soiled our mittens."

"What! soiled you mittens, you naughty kittens!"
Then they began to cry, "Meeow, meeow, meeow"
Then they began to sigh.

The three little kittens they washed their mittens
And hung them out to dry,
"Oh mother dear, do you not hear
That we have washed our mittens."

"What! washed your mittens, you are good kittens."
But I smell a rat close by,
"Meeow, meeow, meeow" we smell a rat close by...

Kittens and mittens here.

Siku, Polar Bears, and a (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Siku (the name means "ice" in Greenlandic), the polar bear cub, is living at a zoo in Denmark and is being hand fed with a bottle because his mother hasn't been able to produce any milk. The zoo has been posting videos and updates on a Facebook page that has quickly attracted more than 20,000 followers.

Video of Siku, the polar bear cub.
Polar bear charms here and here.

Why I No Longer Teach School

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It was winter and the kindergarten teacher was helping her students suit up to go home.

One of the little boys asked for help with his boots, and she soon saw why. Even with her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn't want to go on. By the time she wrestled the second boot onto his foot, she had worked up a sweat.

And when he said, "Teacher, they're on the wrong feet," she almost whimpered aloud. Sure enough, they were.

Pulling them off wasn't any easier than putting them on, but she persevered.

She struggled to remain calm as they worked together, putting the boots on the right feet. He then announced, "These aren't my boots."

She bit her tongue rather than yell at him. He was, after all, a small child.

So, with a sigh, she went to work, struggling to pull the ill-fitting boots off his feet.

Finally she succeeded... which is when he announced, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear them. She made me wear his hat. too."

Close to weeping, she knelt down again and, with a massive effort, wrestled the boots onto his feet once more. "Now," she said, where are your mittens?"

He said, "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots..."

Mittens, hats, and boots here and here.

Attack of the Zombie Snowpersons!

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

You thought they were snowmen, didn't you? Jolly happy souls, made of snow, who occasionally came to life.

And sure, some of those snowmen and snow-women you see are the jolly happy souls.

Then there are... the Un Dead. The snowpeeps who are no longer among the living, who search for brains, who lose limbs and don't seem to notice or care.

Try the zombie checklist:

Snowman zombies are undead. This means they used to be dead, but are somehow reanimated .

Zombies don't walk. They shuffle, slide, and roll.

Zombies generally have their arms outstretched.

Zombies don't talk. They do make sounds -- usually something like "Aaaaaangh!" or "Braiiiiiiiiiins!"

Zombies wear dirty torn clothes, if they wear any clothes at all... like a castaway muffler or an old hat.

Zombies are usually covered in blood. Snowman zombies, having different circulatory systems and different eating habits, are covered in, well, snow.

Zombies look like they're sick. You know - kind of bloated, with little body definition.

Zombies have dead expressions and vacant stares. Their eyes might as well be two lumps of Kingsford charcoal.

Zombies crave brains. What do you think these are carrying in their hands?

Zombies will get up after you run them over with your car.

So what to do in case you meet up with a snowman zombie?

Best case scenario: Avoid the zombie in question. Failing that:

Some say decapitation works best and will stop a zombie in his tracks.

Cutting a zombie into tiny pieces with some sort of chainsaw works, but in the case of snow and electrical chainsaws there can be electrocution problems. A snow shovel should do the trick.

Hairdryer.

In any event, exercise caution and stay as far from the zombie snowperson as possible. The further you are, the less likely you are to have an arm or leg ripped off your body.

Zombies will lunge at you if they think they have an open shot at your brains. And on that subject, it is best to keep your head and brains covered.

The zombie snowmen in these earrings will actually protect you. You see, each one is already carrying a brain. So they won't need yours. If other zombie snowmen see them, they will think the brains are YOUR brains, and move on to someone else.

These protection zombie snowmen are available on etsy. Can you afford to be without them?

What Are You Doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Just quietly pondering the last year and listening to Diana Krall. Enjoy...

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve"

When the bells all ring and the horns all blow
And the couples we know are fondly kissing.
Will I be with you or will I be among the missing?

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same

What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night

Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose

Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:

What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year All. May the year ahead be filled with love, peace, happiness, and BrightandShiny moments.

I Heard a Bird Sing

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

by Oliver Herford

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember:

"We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,"

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

Spring butterflies here.

Thoughts on Winter Solstice

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Shortest Day

by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, revelling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us – listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This Shortest Day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And now so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

BrightandShinyThings for winter here.

Some Very Calvin and Hobbes Snowmen on a (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Snowpersons for all right here.

Hippo Brains, or Yes, Virginia, There is a Hobbit

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Scientists at the Natural History Museum believe that studies of ancient Madagascan hippos have led to a theory on the origins of the small brain of the 1-metre-tall human, known as the hobbit.

By examining the skulls of extinct Madagascan hippos, Museum scientists discovered that dwarfed mammals on islands evolved smaller brains in relation to their body size.

They now believe that Homo floresiensis may have had a tiny brain because of living on an island. This belief is at the heart of the debate of the hobbit’s origins, whose remains were uncovered on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003.

The team suggests that the hobbit became a dwarf after its Homo erectus ancestor became isolated on the large island of Flores many years ago.

‘The discovery of a small fossil human from the island of Flores with normal facial proportions but a brain the size of chimpanzee has baffled scientists,’ explained Natural History Museum palaeontologist, Dr Eleanor Weston, who led the research.

‘It could be that its skull is that of a dwarfed mammal living on an island. Looking at pygmy hippos in Madagascar, which possess exceptionally small brains for their size, suggests that the ‘hobbit’ was a dwarf resulting from its H. erectus ancestors being isolated on the island in the past.’

Madagascar has many diverse habitats and was once home to at least 3 species of hippo.

(these aren't them)

The team studied species of extinct Madagascan hippos and their mainland ancestor, the large common hippopotamus.

(this one's not really common ~ he's carved of amazonite)

One of the specimens used, from the Museum’s mammal collection, was a nearly 3000-year-old dwarf hippo skull belonging to the extinct Hippopotamus madagascariensis.

'We found that the brain sizes of extinct dwarf hippos were still up to 30% smaller than you would expect...' explains Dr. Weston. 'It may be advantageous to the survival of animals that become isolated on islands with unique environments, not only to become dwarfs but to reduce the size of their brain.'

So apparently these charmed hippos are perfectly suited to live on a small island, preferably populated with beady vegetation. You can find them here and here.

The entire article (without the CHARMing hippos, alas)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:34:00 +0000

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

by Clement Clarke Moore

’T was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tuna flakes danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

eBay Christmas
etsy Christmas

The Elves and the Shoemaker and Some BrightandShinyThings

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:52:00 +0000

Once upon a time, in a cottage hidden by tall pine trees, there lived a shoemaker.

He worked very hard and he was very honest but still, given the current economic conditions and the proliferation of WalMarts, he could not earn enough to live on. At last, all he had in the world was gone, except for enough leather to make one final pair of shoes.

The shoemaker cut out the leather so that he could make the shoes in the morning. He planned to awaken early, as was his nature and work ethic. Despite his economic woes, his conscience was clear and his heart was light. He counted sheep went to sleep.

In the morning, after finishing his meditations and some T'ai Chi, he sat down to work. To his great wonder, upon his workbench, he found the shoes, fully made. The shoemaker didn't know what to say or think. When he examined the workmanship, each stitch was tiny and perfect. The work was so beautifully done that the shoes were a masterpiece, in the shoe world.

Shortly thereafter a customer entered his shop and saw the shoes (since they were the only shoes there, this was not a great feat). They fit perfectly and the customer paid the shoemaker more than the usual asking price for the fine footwear.

With the money, the shoemaker bought enough leather for two more pairs of shoes. That evening, he cut the leather and laid it out on the bench. Then he went to bed and counted sheep. Soon he was fast asleep.

The next day, after meditation and T'ai Chi, he went to his workbench. To his astonishment, now two pairs of fully made shoes sat on the there, and the craftsmanship was as superb as on the pair the day before. They quickly sold, and for a good price.

The shoemaker used the money to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. He cut out the work again and, in the morning, found his work complete. Four pairs of shoes waited for him. These sold even faster than the previous three pairs.

Life went on like this for some time: what was prepared at sundown was ready at sunrise. Soon the poor shoemaker was no longer poor. He was thriving. He married his childhood sweetheart and moved her into the cottage, where they meditated and did T'ai Chi together.

One evening, around Christmas, the shoemaker and his wife were sitting by the fire chatting. He admitted that he would like to stay up and watch to see who came each night to do his work for him. His wife encouraged him, so that night, they left a light burning while they hid in a corner of the room, behind some curtains. Together they waited and watched.

When midnight came, two elves arrived. They sat at the shoemaker’s bench, took up all the work that was laid out, and began to work, shaping the new shoes. They were not only talented; they were fast and incredibly cute. The shoemaker could barely take his eyes off them.

They worked until their work was done, barely making a peep. Then away they went, faster than a speeding pullet.

The next day the shoemaker remarked to his wife that these elves had made them rich. They both agreed that, not only should they be thankful, but they should do the elves a good turn, as well. The elves had looked very cold the night before (they didn't have the hats then), and so the shoemaker and his wife decided they should make them some hats, and prepare a meal for them. Together the couple stitched hats of red, and made a feast of seed. That night, along with the prepared shoe leather, they set out the hats and food. Then they turned on the light and hid.

Before long, the elves appeared, hatless again. But this time they looked different.

These elves were thrilled with the hats, and donned them immediately. They were less interested in the seed, and went to work without touching it. They worked until they were finished, and disappeared into the night.

The next day, after they sold the shoes and set out new leather, the shoemaker and his wife made another set of hats and set out a meal of fish. Then they hid and waited.

Pretty soon, who arrived but... two different elves.

These elves were equally thrilled with the hats. Though they didn't seem much interested in the fish, they ate it anyway. Then they went to work, quickly crafting fine sets of shoes. When they were done, they ambled out into the night.

This time the shoemaker and his wives made hats and set out soup bones. And that night the elves came.

The happily put on their new hats, sniffed the bones with disdain, made shoes all night long, and slipped away before the morning light.

The next day, the shoemaker and his wife made little red suits for all the elves they had seen. They set out seed and fish, and bones, and liver pate. Then they hid.

That night ALL the elves arrived. They donned their suits, ate their fill, ignored the shoes, danced the night away, and never came back again.

The good couple saw them no more; but everything went well with them from that time forward, as long as they lived. (And the WalMart went out of business.)

eBay Christmas
etsy Christmas

Skunks on a (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Cornerstoregoddess eBay Skunk Shop
Cornerstoregoddess etsy Skunk Shop

On the First Day of Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:09:00 +0000

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two Christmas angels and a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the eight day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight flying piggies
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine cups of coffee
Eight flying piggies
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten golden angels
Nine cups of coffee
Eight flying piggies
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven resting goddesses
Ten golden angels
Nine cups of coffee
Eight flying piggies
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve dancing skunkies
Eleven resting goddesses
Ten golden angels
Nine cups of coffee
Eight flying piggies
Seven barking Dachshunds
Six Lab Retrievers
Five white elephants...
Four brave sea turtles
Three starfish to wish on,
Two Christmas angels
And a black cat to sleep beneath the tree.

If you want to give them to your true love, too, they are here and here.

One Perfect Snowflake

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000

AccuWeather.com

AccuWeather

Cornerstoregoddess snow can be found here and here.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow... Okay. You Can Stop Now.

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Snowball

by Shel Silverstein

I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be.

I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.

I made it some pajamas and a pillow for its head.

Then, last night it ran away.

But first -- it wet the bed.

Plenty of snow for everyone in my etsy shop and my eBay shop.

Just the Candy Cane Facts, Ma'am

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Though Elvis beseeched Santa, "Don't fill my sock with candy," it doesn't seem like such a bad idea. And while we're on the subject, did you know...

The original candy cane had a shape different then the modern day design.

It was straight, all white, and hard.

The first candy cane was made over 350 years ago.

The first historical reference in America to the candy cane dates back to 1847.
A German immigrant from Wooster, Ohio decorated his Christmas tree with candy canes.

The red and white striped candy canes were first made around 1900.

Nearly 2 billion candy canes will be sold in the four weeks before Christmas and Hanukkah.

Zero-calorie candy canes and peppermint drops in my etsy store.

A Pack of Penguins on a (Nearly) Worldess Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:38:00 +0000

eBay penguins

etsy penguins

The Haunted Christmas Tree Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:46:00 +0000

This is the haunted Christmas tree forest ~ the place where and ghosts and spirits gather on cold long winter nights.

They decorate the trees of the forest with snowflakes and icicles, then dust them with frost.

Many think the sound they hear is the winter wind blowing but it is, in fact, the carols of the sprits, sung around the glowing trees.

They sing of Christmases long past and ponder who will join them for next year's celebration.

Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Future, and Christmas Present are always there.

Then, as the winds die down, all the spirits return to their secret haunts to celebrate in their own way.

Listen carefully and you may hear them this holiday season.

A bracelet of sterling silver, with a sterling silver Christmas tree charm, lampwork glass ghosts and skulls, flowers, trees and Christmas bells of pressed glass and crystal, each wire wrapped with sterling silver wire. The bracelet has an inside diameter of approximately 7".

Cost is $99. Shipping is free within the US and Canada. For shipping elsewhere, please inquire by leaving a comment.

Available on etsy, or by messaging me.

The Lights of Hannukah on a (Nearly) Worldess Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:52:00 +0000

Yaacov Agam’s World Largest Hanukkah Menorah
Lights Up New York City

Washington, D.C. Menorah

Rabbi Shimon Freundlich, Chabad representative to Beijing,
lights the menorah at the Great Wall of China

As Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah, menorahs are burning in a surprising corner of the world: Iran.

The Pig

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:52:00 +0000

The Pig

by Ogden Nash

The pig, if I am not mistaken,

Supplies us sausage, ham, and bacon.

Let others say his heart is big --

I call it stupid of the pig.

A passel of very intelligent pigs can be found in my eBay shop and my etsy shop.