The Charmed Life

Bats are Creepy Bats are Scary

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:00:00 +0000

By Frank Jacobs

Bats are creepy, bats are scary

Bats do not seem sanitary

Bats in dismal caves keep cozy

Bats remind us of Lugosi

Bats have webby wings that fold up

Bats from ceilings hang down, rolled up

Bats when flying undismayed are

Bats are careful; bats use radar

Bats at nighttime at their best are

Bats by Batman unimpressed are.

These bats can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/cornerstoregoddess/tools/listings/query:bat

Day of the Dead, as Explained by the Beads and Charms

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:00:00 +0000

In Mexico and in Mexican-American communities around the country, it's the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), a celebration that honors lost loved ones and those who have gone before. It closely correlates with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on the Catholic calendar.

A Day of the Dead skeleton figurine on Alexander Henry sugar skull fabric

People commemorate the lives of lost loved ones by creating ofrendas ("offerings": altars and shrines), making sugar skulls as presents for the dead...

... hanging banners made of papel picado ("pierced paper" filigree), decorating with real or paper marigolds, baking pan de muerto ("bread of the dead"), visiting family graves, and maintaining a celebratory atmosphere.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back to the Aztec festival for the goddess Mictecacihuatl.

The holiday has spread throughout the world in Latin cultures. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations can also be found in many Asian and African cultures.

The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous cultures. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,500–3,000 years.

In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals as symbols of death and rebirth.

The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month.

The festivities were dedicated to the god known as the "Lady of the Dead", who corresponds to the modern-day Catrina.

In most regions of Mexico, November 1 honors children and infants; deceased adults are honored on November 2. November 1 is generally referred to as Día de los Inocentes ("Day of the Innocents") or Día de los Angelitos ("Day of the Little Angels"). November 2 is known as Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos ("Day of the Dead").

People go to cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed. They build altars containing the favorite foods and beverages as well as photos and memorabilia of the departed.

The intent is to encourage the souls to visit, so that they may hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.

During the three-day period, families usually clean and decorate graves; most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas ("offerings"), which often include orange Mexican marigolds (Tagetes erecta) called cempasúchitl (originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for "twenty flowers").

In modern Mexico, this name is sometimes replaced with the term Flor de Muerto ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or "the little angels"), and bottles of tequila ,mezcal, or pulque or jars of atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave.

An ofrenda with day of the Dead offerings

Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead"), and sugar skulls and beverages such as atole.

Atole is a hot beverage native to Mexico and Central America originating before the pre-Hispanic era. Traditionally, atole is made from nixtamalized maize dough.

The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased. Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrendas food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it no longer holds any nutritional value.

Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, speople spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places, people have picnics at the grave site as well.

Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes;[ these usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, candles and an ofrenda. Families spend some time around the altar, praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing, so that when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead;, Some even dress up as the deceased.

Art from the Day of the Dead Folk Art Gallery

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (called the calavera), which can be represented in masks (calcas) and foods, like sugar skulls. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes from plain rounds to skulls and rabbits, often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.

Whether or not you celebrate, take a moment to remember someone no longer with you. Wishing you all good memories.

Day of the Dead jewelry available on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cornerstoregoddess/search?search_query=day+of+the+dead&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

and on ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/Cornerstoregoddess/Halloween-/_i.html

Happy National Dog Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 22:00:00 +0000

A few quotes for National Dog Day...

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”

~ Charles M. Schulz

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

~Mark Twain

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.

~Josh Billings

"A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down."

~Robert Benchley

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love

as unconditionally as a dog.”

~M.K. Clinton

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”

~Charles de Gaulle

"Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog."

~Franklin P. Jones

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."

~Ann Landers

Dog charms and bracelet can be found here.

Real dogs can be found at the pound. Go find yourself a forever friend!

The Three Vegetarian Witches and Their Magic Stones

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time, there were three witches: Ursula...

Glenda...

... and Medea.

They lived together in a cottage in the woods where they mixed their potions by day and flew reconnaissance missions at night. Their familiars ~ an owl, three black cats, spiders, a few bats ~ kept them company. It was a good life.

But there were problems, as there always are.

The local markets carried limp produce, brown at the edges, unappealing and bland. There were no local farmer's markets and the ones that could be reached by broomstick had some anti-broomstick ordinances in place.

So Glenda, Medea, and Ursula started to grow their own produce.

They grew herbs for their potions and vegetables for their table. They grew greens and tomatoes and eggplants and pumpkins and giant zucchini. Ursula even rigged a particularly large zucchini to fly like her broom.

And life was good.

But there were problems, as there always are. Ursula became uncomfortable with the notion of using animal parts in their brews. Not only was it disgusting. Have you ever tried to remove the eye from a newt?

It was cruel. Ursula sat down by the cauldron with Medea and Glenda and told them her thoughts. It turned out that Medea and Glenda has similar reservations. They no sooner wanted to dice the tongue of a frog than sit through a Justin Bieber concert.

But witches throughout history had used these ingredients. They were in all the spell books. There was no Nouvelle Spell Cuisine from which to draw.

How could they make powerful potions without animal parts?

Still, the witches resolved that they would harm no more animals making their brews. They used their organic herbs and vegetables, and the potions were cruelty-free. Unfortunately, they weren't especially potent.

So again they sat down to think while the cauldron simmered and bubbled.

Medea started to pace. She walked the paths around the cottage, and as she paced, she noticed the various stones around her.

Some were volcanic, some sedimentary, some metamorphic. But each was different and unique. This gave Medea and idea.

She hurried back to the cauldron, rocks in both hands, passing some toads who fled at her approach.

"My dears," she exclaimed. "Look at these rocks!"

Glenda and Ursula stared, not sure what Medea's point could be.

"Think about it," she said. "Each rock is different and unique. Each, it might be said, has a unique power."

Glenda and Ursula had to agree. They had several volumes about rocks in their library. "Suppose," Medea continued, "we could obtain the same powers from rocks that we obtain from caterpillar knees. Suppose certain rocks could grant the same serenity we create with terrapin tonsils. Would that not be a wonderful advance?"

And so Medea and Ursula and Glenda went to their books. They read and researched and studied by night. By day they collected stones and rocks and amulets. They traded pattypan squash for quartz and rutabagas for aventurine and radishes for jasper.

Finally they were ready to begin their experiments. They mixed herbs and vegetables and served them in goblets carved of gemstones. Little by little, day by day, their potions became more powerful, more specific.

Each day was filled with new discoveries. Each night was filled with new recipes. Soon other witches flocked to the cottage to learn the mysteries Glenda, Medea, and Ursula had unveiled. They started to blog about their recipes, and even began writing a cookbook.

Their goal: vegetarian witches with potent organic brews. They would appreciate it if you would become a follower of their blog. And maybe put in an advance order on Amazon for the cookbook. They'd also appreciate it if you took the pledge: I will not make potions with toad tongue.

Glenda, Ursula, and Medea thank you for your support.

Ursula, btw, is pursuing her own interests, making better flying zero-emissions zucchini to replace brooms. She tried working with pattypan squash for a while, but found the aerodynamics challenging.

A bracelet with all their endeavors (except the zucchini) can be found here. And Medea's magical rock charms can be found here.

Thirteen Reasons to Adopt a Black Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 01:14:00 +0000

13. Black is very slimming.
Hold your black cat next to you and it takes away 10 pounds.

12. A black cat is a perfect companion for a rousing game of Hide and Seek.

11. A black cat can help you celebrate your inner Goth.

10. You'll save $$ on their Halloween costumes.

9. You can always find black cats in the snow.

8. You can't tell if they're dirty.

7. Black cats match any decor.

6. A lint brush isn't required for a black-tie affair.

5. In many cultures, black cats are considered lucky.

4. Black cats are like onyx, a beautiful gem.

3. Hey, they don't care what color your hair is!

2. Love knows no color.

And the number one reason to adopt a black cat...

1. Black cats are the least likely to be adopted.

Black Cat Eyeglass Lanyard up for auction on eBay.
Proceeds will be used to buy cat fud.
My cats thank you.

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving Day

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Gilda is thankful for a place to hide when it's flea meds time.

George is thankful for a soft bed to sleep on (with no other cats on it).

Wee Pierre is thankful for plastic and plant material to gnaw.

Uncle Buck is thankful for chin scritches.

Esmeralda is thankful for her kitty friends.

Uncle Buck is thankful for a spot for watching everything.

George is thankful for his fluffy alligator.

Rhino is thankful for her safe view of the great outdoors.

Uncle Buck is thankful decor se can shed on.

Rhino is thankful for her beloved scanner.

Esmeralda is thankful for Duckie (and Moosie and Giraffe-ie).

Rhino is thankful for her mouse-duplicating machine.

George is thankful for a place to rest his weary head.

Uncle Buck is thankful for her human.

Schmedley is thankful for cat food.

Wendall is thankful for peanuts.

George is thankful for a dog who never sniffs his butt.

Gilda is thankful for a place to curl up for a nap.

Wee Pierre is thankful for head scritches.

Esmeralda is thankful for play time.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving
from all the creatures here
in the Land of BrightandShinyThings.
We are thankful for all of you.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 00:27:00 +0000

Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast,

And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased.
~Alice W. Brotherton

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.

~H.U. Westermayer

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

~Meister Eckhart

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.

~Edward Sandford Martin

On Thanksgiving Day, all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment - halftime.

~Author Unknown

Thanksgiving and autumn treasures here.

The Story of the First Thanksgiving, as Told by the Residents of the Land of BrightandShinyThings

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:18:00 +0000

The year 1620 the Pilgrims came over

The good ship Mayflower brought them 'cross the sea.

They landed at Plymouth Rock,

Then built up their houses.

At harvest time they started our Thanksgiving Day.

Okay. I admit it's not the whole story, and the illustrations are whimsical, but I learned the song in first grade and it's been stuck in my head ever since.

Thanksgiving BrightandShinyThings here.

Poppies for Vets

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Poppies for Veteran's Day

100% of the sale price for these charms goes to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a 17-member board of directors — is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year

Story of the Poppies

In the World War I battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the war-torn landscape. How could such a pretty flower grow wild while surrounded by death and destruction? The overturned soils of battle enabled the poppy seeds to be covered, thus allowing them to grow and to forever serve as a reminder of the bloodshed during that and future wars.

The poppy movement was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces in 1915 before the United States entered World War I. Selling replicas of the original Flanders' poppy originated in some of the allied countries immediately after the Armistice.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Poppies on etsy

Remember.

The Sad Tale of the Mindless Mice

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Nine Mice

by Jack Prelutsky

Nine Mice on tiny tricycles

went riding on the ice,

they rode in spite of warning signs,

they rode despite advice

The signs were right, the ice was thin,

in half a trice, the mice fell in,

and from their chin down to their toes

those mice entirely froze.

Nine mindless mice, who paid the price,

are thawing slowly by the ice

still sitting on their tricycles

…nine white and shiny micicles

etsy icicle micicles

Courtesy of Siddhant

Week After Halloween Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Day After Halloween

by Shel Silverstein

Skeletons, spirits and haunts.

It’s a Halloween sale:

A nickel a pail

For skeletons, spirits and haunts.

Skeletons, spirits and haunts,

More than most anyone wants.

Will you pay for a shock,

‘Cause we’re quite overstocked

On skeletons, spirits and haunts.

15% off all Halloween pieces in my etsy shop.

Enter coupon code Halloween15

Offer expires 11-08-2014.

Cats Sleep Anywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Cats

Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)

Cats sleep, anywhere,

Any table, any chair

Top of piano, window-ledge,

In the middle, on the edge,

Open drawer, empty shoe,

Anybody's lap will do,

Fitted in a cardboard box,

In the cupboard, with your frocks-
Anywhere! They don't care!

Cats sleep anywhere.

Cornerstoregoddess cat charms on etsy and eBay.

Attack of the Cutesy Kittens

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000

No Thank You

by Shel Silverstein

No I do not want a kitten,

No cute, cuddly kitty-poo,

No more long hair in my cornflakes,

No more midnight meowing mews.

No more scratchin’, snarlin’, spitters,

No more sofas clawed to shreds,

No more smell of kitty litter,

No more mousies in my bed.

No I will not take that kitten—

I’ve had lice and I’ve had fleas,

I’ve been scratched and sprayed and bitten,

I’ve developed allergies.

If you’ve got an ape, I’ll take him,

If you have a lion, that’s fine,

If you brought some walking bacon,

Leave him here, I’ll treat him kind.

I have room for mice and gerbils,

I have beds for boars and bats,

But please, please take away that kitten—

Quick—‘fore it becomes a cat.

Well…it is kind of cute at that.

Cornerstoregoddess charms available on eBay and etsy

~Shel Silverstein

The Three Vegetarian Witches

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:00:00 +0000

Once upon a time, there were three witches: Ursula...

Glenda...

... and Medea.

But there were problems, as there always are.

And life was good.

But it was cruel, and Ursula sat down by the cauldron with Medea and Glenda and told them her thoughts. It turned out that Medea and Glenda has similar reservations. They no sooner wanted to dice the tongue of a frog than sit through a Justin Bieber concert.

Medea started to pace. She walked the paths around the cottage, and as she paced, she noticed the various stones around her. They were ordinary stones. Some were volcanic, some sedimentary, some metamorphic. But each was different and unique. This gave Medea and idea.

She hurried back to the cauldron, rocks in both hands, passing some toads who fled at her approach.

"My dears," she exclaimed. "Look at these rocks!"

Glenda and Ursula stared, not sure what Medea's point could be.

"Think about it," she said. "Each rock is different and unique. Each, it might be said, has a unique power."

Glenda and Ursula had to agree. They had several volumes about rocks in their library. "Suppose," Medea continued, "we could obtain the same powers from rocks that we obtain from caterpillar knees. Suppose certain rocks could grant the same serenity we create with terrapin tonsils. Would that not be a wonderful advance?"

A bracelet with all their endeavors (except the zucchini) can be found here.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Candy Corn (But Were Afraid to Ask)

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:00:00 +0000

October 30th is National Candy Corn Day

One serving of candy corn contains only about 140 calories

Candy corn has 3.57 calories per kernel

More than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year. That equates to nearly 9 billion pieces -- enough to circle the moon nearly four times if laid end-to-end.

Halloween accounts for 75% of the annual candy corn production

A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins.

Candy Corn was invented by George Renninger and produced by the Wunderlee Candy Company in the 1880's. In 1900, the Goelitz Candy Company, now Jelly Belly Candy Company, started mass producing the candy, but, due to the lack of machinery, it was only made available seasonally from March to November. Its recipe has remained unchanged.

Candy corn isn't just for Halloween there is also:
- Reindeer corn for Christmas (red, green, and white)
- Indian corn (it's chocolate and vanilla flavored)
- Cupid corn for Valentine's Day (red, pink, and white)
- Bunny corn for Easter (pastel-colored)
Candy corn bracelets, earrings, and necklaces can be found in my eBay and etsy shops.

Lewis Blac tells you the trth about candy corn here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1QRAXv9vUs

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 23:00:00 +0000

INVISIBLE BOY

by Shel Silverstein

And here we see the invisible boy

In his lovely invisible house,

Feeding a piece of invisible cheese

To a little invisible mouse.

Oh, what a beautiful picture to see!

Will you draw an invisible picture for me?

Visible mouse charms available on etsy and eBay.

Give a Hoot and Say "Bah!"

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:00:00 +0000

"THE FARMER AND THE QUEEN"

by Shel Silverstein

"She's coming," the farmer said to the owl.

"Oh, what shall I, what shall I do?

Shall I bow when she comes?

Shall I twiddle my thumbs?"

The owl asked, "Who?"

"The Queen, the Queen, the royal Queen—

She'll pass the farm today.

Shall I salute?" he asked the horse.

The horse said, "Nay."

"Shall I give her a gift?" he asked the wren.

"A lovely memento for her to keep?

An egg or a peach or an ear of corn?"

The wren said, "Cheap."

"But should I curtsy or should I cheer?

Oh, here's her carriage now.

What should I do?" he asked the dog.

The dog said, "Bow."

And so he did, and so she passed,

Oh, tra lala lala,

"She smiled, she did!" he told the sheep.

The sheep said, "Bah."

Jewelry available on etsy.

Hippo Pliés (and Watch the Flowers)

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 23:00:00 +0000

♪♫ Dancing hippos ♬♪

♪♫ In the garden, ♬♪

♪♫ Crush the flowers... ♬♪

♪♫ (Beg your pardon) ♬♪

♪♫ It's not easy ♬♪

♪♫ Finding slippers ♬♪

♪♫ When your feet are bigger than those of the Clippers. ♬♪

♪♫ Pirouette...♬♪

♪♫ (and watch the posies) ♬♪

♪♫ Arabesque... ♬♪

♪♫ (There go the rosies.) ♬♪

♪♫ Grand plié ♬♪

♪♫ (It's even grande-er than plié you plied the other day).♬♪

♪♫ Grand jeté, ♬♪

♪♫ (Can't get much grande-er) ♬♪

♪♫ Clear the way ♬♪

♪♫ To the beyond-er... ♬♪

♪♫ As we dance among the flowers ♬♪

♪♫ Calling it the Hippo Dancing of the Hours... ♬♪

Ta-dah!

Charm available on etsy

If Not for the Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 22:36:00 +0000

by Jack Prelutsky

If not for the cat,

And the scarcity of cheese,

I could be content.

Cat and Mouse charm available on etsy.

Tell Them Boris Sent You

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 23:57:00 +0000

with lyrics by Bobby "Boris" Pickett

I was working in the lab, late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

For my monster from his slab, began to rise

And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash, he did the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

He did the mash, it caught on in a flash

He did the mash, he did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east

To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash, they did the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

They did the mash, it caught on in a flash

They did the mash, they did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun

The party had just begun

The guests included Wolfman,

Dracula, and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds

Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

With their vocal group, 'The Crypt-Kicker Five'

They played the mash, they played the monster mash

The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash

They played the mash, it caught on in a flash

They played the mash, they played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring

Seems he was troubled by just one thing

Opened the lid and shook his fist and said

"Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist? "

It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash

The monster mash, it was graveyard smash

It's now the mash, it caught on in a flash

It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band

And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land

For you, the living, this mash was meant too

When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash, then you can monster mash

The monster mash, and do my graveyard smash

Then you can mash, you'll catch on in a flash

Then you can mash, then you can monster mash

Bracelet available on etsy.

The Haunted House on Howlin’ Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 23:00:00 +0000

Haunted

by Shel Silverstein

I dare you all to go into

The Haunted House on Howlin’ Hill,

Where squiggly things with yellow eyes

Peek past the wormy window sill.

We’ll creep into the moonlit yard,

Where weeds reach out like fingers,

And through the rotted old front door

A-squeakin’ on it hinges,

Down the dark and whisperin’ hall,

Past the musty study,

Up the windin’ staircase--

Don’t step on the step that’s bloody--

Through the secret panel

To the bedroom where we’ll slide in

To the ragged cobweb dusty bed

Ten people must have died in.

And the bats will screech,

And the spirits will scream,

And the thunder will crash

Like a horrible dream,

And we’ll sing with the zombies

And dance with the dead.

And howl at the ghost

With the axe in his head,

And--come to think of it what do you say

We go get some ice cream instead?

Bracelet available on etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/205388634/ghost-black-cat-witch-halloween-charm?ref=shop_home_active_1

Even Owls Get the Blues: the Blue Fantasy Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 07:01:00 +0000

The lovely Lisa Long, of A Grateful Artist, was kind enough to include some cool owl goodies in my packet of beads for the Blue Fantasy Blog Hop...

... so while I created my pieces I started to ponder what would make owls blue.

Here's the Top Ten List of Reasons Owls Get the Blues.

10. Hooter jokes.

9. Summer solstice. All that daylight!

8. When the manicurist runs late at the talon salon.

7. Posing for a profile shot.

6. Being told to make some noise flying.

5. Not being able to find earrings for their faux ears.

4. When the witch chooses someone else as her familiar.

3. Trying to Facebook with relatives in Antarctica.

2. A stiff neck.

1. Tofu field mice!

Take a hop and see what the other BlogHoppers created:

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life (You are here!)

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Raissa de Guzman, Abloro

Jill Bradley, Jilly Beads

Famous Black Cats in History

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 01:00:00 +0000

I was perusing a list of famous black cats, courtesy of www.mchumane.org. They, of course, neglected to mention the black cats on this necklace.

And in these earrings...

They also forgot Mark Twain's black cat, Bambino, whose story you can read in Priscilla Maltbie's enchanting book.

But mchumane.org did list Black Pete (Mickey Mouse) (AKA Pegleg Pete)

Boo-Boo Kitty (Laverne and Shirley)

Isis (Star Trek)

Penelope Pussy Cat (Pepe Le Pew) (Penelope is technically a tuxedo cat, and, as such, gives me the opportunity to show you what an actual black cat looks like. See below.)

Pluto (The Black Cat, Edgar Allen Poe, from an Aubrey Beardsley print)

Salem (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)

Snowball II, Snowball V (The Simpsons) (That's Snowball II in the picture)

Socks (“First Cat” during Clinton Administration) (Again, Socks is a tuxedo cat. Let me refresh your memory about black cats.)

Sylvester (Looney Tunes) (Ahem. Sylvester is clearly a tuxedo. See picture for comparison.)

Winky (Escape from Witch Mountain)

Blackie, a cat that inherited 15 million British Pounds and thus became the richest cat in history. (Note the white paws. Comparison pic coming up.)

Baby, the world's oldest cat

The necklace and earrings are available in my etsy shop.

In Honor of National Dog Day: My Dog May Be a Genius

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 23:00:00 +0000

My Dog May Be a Genius

by Jack Prelutsky

My dog may be a genius,

and in fact there’s little doubt.

He recognizes many words,

unless I spell them out.

If I so much as whisper “walk,”

he hurries off at once

to fetch his leash…it’s evident

my dog is not a dunce.

I can’t say “food” in front of him,

I spell f-o-o-d,

and he goes wild unless I spell

his t-r-e-a-t.

But recently this tactic

isn’t working out too well.

I think my d-o-g has learned

to s-p-e-l-l.

You can adopt a genius dog in my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/cornerstoregoddess/search?search_query=dog&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

Meow So Pretty and the Cat Came Back

noreply@blogger.com (Corner Store Goddess) — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 22:09:00 +0000

The Cat Came Back lyrics by Muppets

Little Bennie had a cat that they wouldn't let him keep

So he put her up for sale at a price he thought was cheap

He took her to a neighbor to ask him for advice

He said, "Leave the kitty here. She can help me with the mice."

But the cat came back, she wouldn't stay away

She was sitting on the porch the very next day

The cat came back, she didn't want to roam

The very next day it was Home, Sweet Home.

Then Bennie met a man who was driving way out West

He would take the cat along as a special honored guest

The steering wheel was wobbly, he drove into a tree

The car was just a total wreck as anyone could see

But the cat came back, she wouldn't stay away

She was sitting on the porch the very next day

The cat came back, she didn't want to roam

The very next day it was Home, Sweet Home.

But the cat came back, she wouldn't stay away

She was sitting on the porch the very next day

The cat came back, she didn't want to roam

The very next day it was Home, Sweet Home.

Bring this kitty home.

On etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/198357821/cornerstoregoddess-onyxy-pendant-lucky?ref=shop_home_active_4