Showing posts with label #Hemlock and Garnet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Hemlock and Garnet. Show all posts
We're feeling a little morose today.

It's our last Monday with you, but we're determined to make it fun!


Join us for our continued celebration as we count down the days to Samhain!








The winner of the Totem Medicine Wheel Report from The Secret Life of the American Witch is...

 

Paula J!


Today's Blogger: Silver Swan

Celebrating Samhain & Halloween, Samhain Siren Blog Post

That crisp chill is in the air, those muggy nights have turned refreshing, and the sudden explosion of growth and activity that was the last push from Summer is finally starting to calm down. Oh yes, autumn is finally here.

The best part of Autumn? The one night that the veil is at its thinnest. Call it Samhain, Hallowe'en or All Hallows Eve, 31st October is definitely a night to remember.

When I first started celebrating Samhain as opposed to Hallowe'en, my first thought was 'what do I do that's different to what I've done before I came onto my Pagan Path?' The ideas and lists that stemmed from that grew, but the essence of the question remained the same to me- can Samhain and Hallowe'en be celebrated together?

Over time I came to the conclusion of yes - yes it can. I'm notorious to friends and family for my love of Hallowe'en. If time would permit, I wouldn't be out of place in Tim Burton's Halloween Town, planning and prepping all year round! The energies that build towards thinning that veil spur me into action and I end up planning several activities for Hallowe'en that usually revolve around a house party, as well as planning my ritual and celebrations for Samhain itself. I love decorating for Hallowe'en, gearing my house out in commercial festivities and playing creepy music. For my altar, I decorate with a mix  of commercial and natural decorations, making use of the beauty of nature as Autumn begins in the UK.

Although celebrations start at night fall, my Samhain ritual tends to start once all the trick or treaters have finished knocking on my front door (though there are so few that actually come now!) so I won't be disturbed during my ritual. Samhain itself is a week long celebration for me, as I celebrate All Hallows Week, usually blogging about my festivities leading up to 31st October. After the chaos of working full time, planning for All Hallows Week, actually celebrating the week and Samhain itself, that first week in November is a relaxing one.

With Samhain marking the beginning of the Dark Half of the Year, I use the week after Samhain to plan out what I want to achieve during the darker months. I usually focus on developing my magickal abilities-meditation, tarot, runes, chakra/energy work, etc.

My celebration of Hallowe'en starts with music working its way onto my iPod- those classics that are so notorious with the 31st October. From there I begin to decorate my house- this is usually about a week in advance to the big day. On the night itself in between trick or treaters at the door, I cook a small feast for my fiance and I, and we watch horror movies, etc, until late when my Samhain ritual begins.

Here's hoping that this year will be a magickal Hallowe'en and a Blessed Samhain!








The Sirens Song with Jennifer Rasmussen


A little Beetlejuice anyone? Come on now! Jump in the line!



Today's Recipe with Autumn Earthsong


As I’ve said before, I love Autumn mornings.  And I love oatmeal.  This recipe is just pure comfort food to me.  Your family will love it.  As a matter of fact, double it and invite some friends or extended family over too!  Such a great way to start the day!

Overnight Apple- Cinnamon Oatmeal (slow cooker)
 *Serves 5-6

2 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/2 tablespoons butter, cut into 5-6 pieces
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional garnishes: chopped nuts, raisins, maple syrup, additional milk or butter


Coat inside of 3-1/2 quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all ingredients (except optional toppings) to slow cooker. Stir, cover, and cook on low for approx. 7 hours (slow cooker times can vary). Spoon oatmeal into bowls; add optional toppings, if desired. Store leftovers in refrigerator. Freezes well.
*Recipe can be doubled in 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Increase cooking time 1 hour.

Blessings and Love,
Autumn

Autumn Earthsong is back for the 3rd year as our resident Kitchen Witch. You may have seen her recipes in Imramma Magazine and The Sunday Stew as well.  Autumn has been a practicing Witch for 17 years and hails from Ohio. She is a wife, mother of two, and Nana to three busy little grandchildren.  Samhain is a favorite time of year for her….with her name indicating what Season she loves!  Cooking for family and friends this time of year is also a joy…..Especially this time of year!   Hearth, Fire, love of family and good food is how she brings Magick to her home.   You can also find her blogging at www.autumnearthsong.com.   She looks forward to sharing her recipes with you all and hopes that you have a very Blessed Samhain Season!



Stones and Crystals with Jennifer Hodgson


Citrine

Citrine comes in a yellow to yellowish brown or smoky gray-brown color. Be careful when purchasing citrine to make sure that it isn't amethyst that has been heat treated.

Citrine never needs cleansing, it not only absorbs negative energy but also transmutes and grounds. Citrine can cleanse the chakras and act as an aura protector.

This crystal can activate the crown chakra and open intuition.

One of the many amazing things citrine helps with is manifesting wealth.

If you are looking for a crystal to carry to help with self-esteem and self-confidence this is the one you need.



Today's Giveaway from  Hemlock and Garnet Artist Loren Morris

I love the vintage Halloween postcards of yesteryear. For this plaque I chose a Halloween postcard that was published in 1909 by Taggart Publishers. This fun card features a witch with her two cats flying through the air on Halloween night. An owl joins them in front of a full moon.One of her cats is magical enough to fly without the aid of her broom.

I re-created this wonderful postcard in polymer clay and acrylic paints on an 8 3/4 inch x 11 inch wood plaque.

On the back of the plaque I have included a picture of the original postcard with it's description and I have also signed it.


Value: $125


Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)

Like/Get Notifications on the Hemlock and Garnet Facebook page . Come back, comment on this blog post and tell us that you did.

Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Visit the Saga's Cottage Etsy shop. Come back, tell us what you like best there.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!
Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question:

This sport, which originated among the Algonquian tribes of the St Lawrence Valley, is the oldest organized sport continuously played in North America. What is it?

This giveaway is open until 9pm EDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow  at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!

See you tomorrow for more Samhain countdown fun!
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Shiver Me Timbers!

It's a Trembling Tuesday here at the lair. It's also a Two-for-Tuesday with giveaways from Sosanna's Closet and from Hemlock and Garnet!!






Come see what we have to offer!







The winner of the author Sam Curtin  Book Giveaway is....

 

Sharon Rawson!




Today's Blogger: Author Sam Curtin


Spirit Meetups: Stanley Hotel

Every year I recount to you all my tales of spirits that I’ve come in contact with over the year. This year though is a little different; I’m going to focus on one place that I visited and the interactions and experiences I had there.  I am talking of course about my visit to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the hotel, it is one of the most haunted hotels in the country and was the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. Naturally, it has always been on my supernatural bucket list to check out.

This past May my husband and I went out to Colorado to visit friends and attend Denver Comic Con (which is a whole other story). Our first day in Colorado was a whirlwind of touring Northern Colorado sites, including the Stanley Hotel. We drove up the winding mountain road up to Estes Park that was reminiscent of the road in The Shining. Surprisingly, once we got to the top, it was pretty commercialized; there was a McDonald’s not more than a quarter mile from the entrance. Regardless, the place exuded energy.

As we walked up to the hotel, you could almost feel the vibrations of energy coming from the mountains, echoing off the hotel itself. After a long flight and countless tours of other sites I was pretty tired; however, the energy from the Stanley seemed to wake me up. It was invigorating and I was geeking out in every sense of the phrase.

We gathered in the basement of the hotel, where the tours started. We were informed there was a private party going on and unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to tour the main hotel area. At first I was bummed because I was dying to see Room 237 and experience all it had to offer. I was not disappointed though as we started the tour. The amount of spirits I saw, felt, or sensed was astronomical and I barely am able to skim the surface with this blog post; however, I will highlight the most important ones that stood out to me.

First place we started was in the tunnels beneath the hotel. Now it’s saying a lot about how much I wanted to go on this tour by the shear point of me going into a tunnel in the first place. Boy was I glad I did. We were all given a “Dum Dum” lollipop to hold in our hands. We were told that there were spirits of children that roamed the downstairs, including the tunnels, and they loved to steal candy out of people’s hands.

Many people in our tour group tried it, most to no avail. One guy ended up having his lollipop stick moving a little bit. That’s what I saw her. Next to the wooden door I was leaning on, a small girl with sandy blonde hair appeared. She looked up at me and then disappeared. The lollipop in my hand was promptly lifted up and dropped on the ground. I smiled and I heard a few gasps around me.

Even though I didn’t see the little girl I felt her presence in front of me; she was also in head whispering to me. I turned to the tour guide and asked her if one of the children was a blonde named Emily. She confirmed that was true and immediately asked me if I was sensitive. I nodded as I heard a few scoffs from the group but the rest were dead silent staring at the lollipop on the floor.

We moved out of the tunnels (thank the gods) and went to a different building where the banquet hall was. The tour guides encouraged us to explore and take pictures. She even asked if anyone knew how to play piano. Grant remarked he did and she told him to go up on the stage and play. As soon as he sat down I saw a man sit down next to him. Now Grant is a skeptic (science first with him) so when I pointed it out to him he rolled his eyes and started playing. The man next to him sat there quietly, looking at the keys in front of him.

From there we went into the basement of the banquet hall. That’s where I felt an oppressive weight on me as I stepped down the stairs. Suddenly my body felt like it was falling through the floor. It took quite a bit of coaxing from the tour guide to get me down there. But I clutched my triquetra necklace with my essential calming amethyst and walked past the vortex in the floor and down the hallway.

Then we went to the room that I still think about every day, as it was one of the best spirit experiences of my life. The story went that there was a transient woman named Lucy who once was known to inhabit this room. The guide had us all sit in the room, in the dark, and she had me sit in the arm chair right by the door.

As soon as I sat down, I felt a presence next to me by the open door. The tour guide shut the door and I turned to see a figure standing in the corner. Without explanation a smile curled my lips and I suddenly felt very calm, a complete change to how I felt stepping down those stairs into the lower level.

The figure moved closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. During most of the time in this room, Lucy stayed by my side. The tour guide tried to get different people to call out to Lucy and even had us sing “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Still, Lucy stood next to me, not leaving that space between the arm chair and the door. To no avail, the tour guide switched gears and tried to get the children to come to the room. A couple people in the group said they heard and/or felt something scurry past them.

The tour guide tried with Lucy again, this time asking anyone if they had a picture in their mind of what she looked like. At first I kept my mouth shut, wanting to see if anyone else would speak up. Then I sighed and told her I knew what she looked like. For some reason I had a picture in my head of a thin woman with long, wavy, strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes. I saw her wearing a long, ethereal teal dress and walking barefoot around this room. The tour guide had whispered the description to one of the other group members who then parroted back almost exactly what I had said (apparently the dress was more blue than teal).

Still Lucy remained next to me until we turned on the lights and started to exit the room. Upon exiting everyone noticed that those lollipops they had in their hands, in their pockets, next to them, etc. were now gone. Instead, they were piled up in the corner by the door, right next to where Lucy was standing. This made me smile as we left to go back to the main hotel.


The experiences I had and the feelings I felt while in the Stanley were unlike anything I had felt before, and if you have been reading these blog posts the past few years, you know I have experienced a lot in my almost 26 years of being alive. One day I hope to go back and explore more of the hotel.




Song of the Day with Jennifer Rasmussen


This piece is just so fitting for the season! I was going to go with the 1980s cartoon version but why do that when you can find a Tim Burton mashup to go along?



Today's Recipe with Autumn Earthsong
This is the last soup recipe I’m going to share with you this year.  It’s a good one!  If you like it less spicy, cut back on the jalapeno. 
Chicken Tortilla Soup

 2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium jalapeno pepper, chopped
1⁄2 medium green pepper
3-4 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken
2 cups frozen corn
1⁄2 cup dry white wine or 1⁄2 cup water
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

 Topping
1 cup tortilla chips 

 Sauté onion, garlic, jalapeño and green pepper with olive oil in a large pot until soft.
Add all the rest of the ingredients to the large pot and bring to a boil.  Then turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes or even more!
*Place this in a crock pot after it’s boiled as well and keep on low if you’d like.
Serve, topped with crushed tortilla chips 

 It’s so Good!  Enjoy!

 Blessing and Love,
Autumn
Autumn Earthsong is back for the 3rd year as our resident Kitchen Witch. You may have seen her recipes in Imramma Magazine and The Sunday Stew as well.  Autumn has been a practicing Witch for 17 years and hails from Ohio. She is a wife, mother of two, and Nana to three busy little grandchildren.  Samhain is a favorite time of year for her….with her name indicating what Season she loves!  Cooking for family and friends this time of year is also a joy…..Especially this time of year!   Hearth, Fire, love of family and good food is how she brings Magick to her home.   You can also find her blogging at www.autumnearthsong.com.   She looks forward to sharing her recipes with you all and hopes that you have a very Blessed Samhain Season!

Stones and Crystals with Jennifer Hodgson



Fuchsite



Fuchsite is green in color and is available from specialist stores. This crystal is great for channeling information regarding herbal treatment. 

This stone deals with issues from past and present lives. It is great for those who fall into savior or rescuer mode. 



Fuchsite is a great crystal to amplify the energy of other crystals. Helps to release blockages and shift energy into positive channels. 





Today's Giveaway#1 from Sosanna's Closet

Two inches tall including bail - 1/2 inch wide - Wrapped in 20 gauge copper wire tarnished with tarnishing liquid.  One of a kind piece.  Includes satin cord. Retail value: $65.00






Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)



Visit Sosanna's Closet . Come back and comment on this blog post about your favorite item. 



Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).



Want extra entries??


1. Follow Sosanna's Closet on Twitter. Come back and comment that you did.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!
Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question: 

What was the name of Canada's flag before the Maple Leaf?

This giveaway is open until 9pm EDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!




Giveaway #2 from Hemlock and Garnet

Grunge Pumpkin just wants a home to stay in. He says that he doesn't light up but that he does bring the spirit of Samhain with him and that he is quite handsome with his wrinkles and black accents.

Grunge is on a 6 1/2" x 9" wood plaque, mixed media. He features a swirl of autumns colors with a polka dot background, and dirty leaves rest under him. A braid of twine edges the plaque and the smell of cinnamon encases Grunge, for a hint of the season every time you walk by.

Value: $30.00

 Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)



Like/Get Notifications on the Hemlock and Garnet Facebook Page. Come back and comment on this blog post about your favorite item. 



Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Follow Hemlock and Garnett on Twitter. Come back and comment that you did.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!

CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!
Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question: 

What is 7x7?



This giveaway is open until 9pm PDT tonight. Winners will be announced tomorrow at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!
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*CaCkles, rubs hands together*

Muahahahahaha!

Welcome our party on this Torturous Tuesday!



Brace yourself.. here we go!







The winner of the Touch of the Goddess Past Life Reading is...


Paula Lupi






Today's Blogger: Kourtney Leaf


The fall is upon us. Plants are losing their green, becoming brown and brittle. Animals of all sorts are preparing for the cold winter months ahead. The wheel is about to make its final turn before bringing itself back to the beginning. And I’m sitting over here like it ain’t no big thang.

Only, it so is. It’s time for some big changes. Not just those seasonal ones either. Though, I’ve been feeling quite disconnected with them as of late. I should probably be paying closer attention. Living in the desert can do that to a girl.

There isn’t anything dying or withering away here. The palm trees don’t change, and the grass… well it’s probably artificial. In the personal realm I’ve still got my job, plus another great career to begin. I’ve got a great new place to live, yet we’re still not owners. My daughters are moving up and in some cases outside of their regular comfort zones. Nothing has really changed. Yet, nothing has stayed the same either.

When I started writing this piece, I honestly didn’t know where it was going. But that right there is what it boils down to, isn’t it? Fall isn’t necessarily about letting things go. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be about the changes, however subtle or drastic they may be. And there are so many changes to revel in, to be thankful for.

And I am so very thankful. Thankful for all the things that life has thrown at me these last couple of years. Thankful that I’ve learned and grown from them. Thankful that I have such an amazing husband who I absolutely could not imagine going through all this without. Thankful for two beautiful girls who are more than I can handle most days, but wouldn’t change for the world.

So while I may be looking forward to the spring, when things are slightly less brown around here… I’m going to take the time this Samhain to enjoy the changing of the leaves (as scarce as they are here) and crispness of the fall air. To bask in the beautifulness that is change and to take every opportunity to share it with those that matter most.

Happy Samhain Everyone!




The Siren's Song with Jennifer Rasmussen


The Headless Horseman

One of my all-time favorite crooners (after Sinatra), Bing Crosby sings to us about the Headless Horseman







Today's Recipe with Autumn Earthsong


I’m planning a harvest party here soon for some friends and family and thought I’d share a couple of favorite recipes I always make.  One is my famous chili and one is a delicious appetizer that everyone loves!   Both are great for football parties, or the family coming over to sit around the fire and watch a scary movie!  We like to have these on Beggar’s Night after the kids have had their fun trick –or- treating!

Autumn’s Reuben Spread

16 ozs shredded Swiss cheese

16 ozs shredded cheddar cheese

28oz jar Sauerkraut, drained

8 ozs chopped corned beef or beef (I use Buddig)

1 1/2 cups Hellman’s mayo

Mix all ingredients well.  Place in a greased 9″ x 13″ baking dish.  Bake @350* for 45mins to an hour until brown & bubbly.
 Serve warm on rye or pumpernickel party rounds and put out a dish of Thousand Island salad dressing to garnish. This will get inhaled…I promise!!  Great warmed up the next day if you have any leftover!



Autumn’s Chili (slow cooker)
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 lbs ground chuck
Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water
2 cans chili beans with sauce (mild or hot, your choice)
1/3 cup chili powder
Saute` green pepper and onion in 2 tbs oil in a large skillet or saucepan until softened.  Add ground chuck and brown, seasoning with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.  Drain meat.
At this point, I put the meat in a slow cooker.  Add all the rest of the ingredients to slow cooker.  Cook on high for 2 hours than turn to low and cook as long as you like.  I can leave this going most of the day!  I’ve been known to turn it to Keep Warm for a bit, then turn it back up again for second helpings J
Serve with crackers or corn bread and top with shredded cheese and sour cream! So so good!
*Serves 6

Blessings and Love,
Autumn

Autumn Earthsong is back for the 3rd year as our resident Kitchen Witch. You may have seen her recipes in Imramma Magazine and The Sunday Stew as well.  Autumn has been a practicing Witch for 17 years and hails from Ohio. She is a wife, mother of two, and Nana to three busy little grandchildren.  Samhain is a favorite time of year for her….with her name indicating what Season she loves!  Cooking for family and friends this time of year is also a joy…..Especially this time of year!   Hearth, Fire, love of family and good food is how she brings Magick to her home.   You can also find her blogging at www.autumnearthsong.com.   She looks forward to sharing her recipes with you all and hopes that you have a very Blessed Samhain Season!




Stones and Crystals with Jennifer Hodgson


Garnet

Garnet comes in 7 different colors, red, pink, green, orange, yellow, brown, and black. This is a very common stone and can be found worldwide.

Garnet is a great metabolism stone and is also very useful to have with you during a crisis. 
Square cut garnets are best when dealing with business matters and will help bring success.
Garnet helps to remove taboos and opens up the heart and helps with self-confidence. Garnet also not only inspires love but also devotion. This stone will also help to balance your sex drive. Also considered to be a commitment stone. 

Red Garnet also helps to control anger towards one's self.



Today's Giveaway from Hemlock and Garnet!


From the artist, Loren Morris: 

"I have always been fascinated with the painting, Depart pour le Sabbat, by the French artist Albert-Joseph Penot.
I wanted to re-create this lovely painting and give it dimension, using clay. This is a 10inchx10inch wood board with my version of  Depart pour le Sabbat. I created it using polymer clay and acrylic paints. I wanted to give the clouds a colorful look.  It has been sealed for protection. On the back of the plaque I have glued a picture of the original and signed."



Value of this giveaway: $150.00

Here's how to enter: (Canadians, skip this part and go to your section)

Like/Get Notifications on the Hemlock and Garnet Facebook Page. Come back, comment on this blog post and tell us that you did. 

Remember to add your email address to the page (if you don't want to post it publicly, simply send it via the contact form at the top of the page).

Want extra entries??

1. Go to the Hemlock and Garnet Etsy shop. Come back and tell us about your favorite piece in the comments section.

2. Tweet about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your tweet.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Comment with the link to your blog post.

4. Follow Samhain's Sirens on Facebook. Comment, and let us know you did (if you're already following, just comment and say so!)

5. Follow this blog so you'll be in on all of the fabulous fun throughout October! Comment here that you did.

That gives you 6 chances to win this fabulous prize!


CANADIANS: LOOK HERE!

Canadians, your country requires that you answer questions instead of participating the American way ;) So, we're bringing you some good old-fashioned trivia about your country this year. Answer the question correctly in comments (don't forget to put your email address in the comment!) and you'll be given 6 entries in the giveaway!

Here's your question: 

Who was the first explorer to reach Canada in 1497?


This giveaway is open until 9pm PDT tonight. Winner will be announced tomorrow at 9am EDT. Remember, we have to notify the winner in email first, so those email addresses are critical for you to qualify for the giveaway!

Good luck everyone!
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Welcome back, grinning gremlins!

We have some very witchy happenings today!

Don't forget to send in your forget-me-not tributes and photos to Serena no later than Thursday, October 23rd.

Are you remembering to give us your email address when you enter the giveaways? It's a legal requirement. Good luck!





The Winner of the Verbena Lane Botanicals Giveaway is...

Rebecca Powell!!!






Samhain: A Time to Remember My Fallen Leaves by Johanna Lawson


October has always been my favorite month, my most loved time of year, and Samhain my favorite of the sabbats. Perhaps it is because I am an October baby. Yet I think it is more so because of the month itself, the mystery of this turn of the wheel, all of the beauty amongst all the decay, and a time to remember my fallen leaves.

Mother Earth, weak and tired from the weight of ripened fruits and vegetables and branches of abundant leaves and flowers, is lightening her load, sending leaves from the trees in a flourish of gold, yellow, orange and red. The sun is warm yet the breezes are cool and crisp and the rich earthy scents of wood smoke and decaying leaves linger on the currents. Hearty and sweet aromas of beef stews, candied apples, and cinnamon waft from kitchen windows and transport me back to autumns of yesteryear.

Patios, porches, doorsteps and yards are adorned in symbols of the final harvest like hay bales, cornstalks, gourds, pumpkins, and the jeweled colors of chrysanthemums, breathtaking against the skeletal remains of summer gardens. Everywhere there is magic, an electrical charge of power rippling around me. The veil is thinning. Sometimes I think I can see it, a dark violet shimmer and wave in the night sky behind the stars, like a curtain on the stage of the universe. At times, I feel it, a gentle tug at my soul, nudging me to fly free into the dark. Samhain is near.

I spend most of October with death and decay as I put my garden to rest for the winter. The once bursting garden beds are now full of withered and brown branches, dried seedpods, and spent blossoms. I layer them with fallen autumn leaves, burying them to be reborn in spring. In whispers, I thank each plant for their beauty and abundance as I cover them for another year and wish them a safe and peaceful slumber through the ice, snow and harsh winter winds. I harvest the last of the herbs, bringing them indoors for drying, my kitchen becoming a fragrant final resting place for hanging bunches of herbs and a reminder of the life that was, just a short time ago, growing all around me. Most of my summer visitors have flown south for the winter. Those that remain find shelter in bird houses, wood piles, and mounds of twigs and fallen leaves. After all my plants and shrubs are safely laid to rest for the year and my feathered and furried friends have settled in for the dark time of the year, I leave gifts of thanks to the spirits of nature, to Mother Earth, and to the flora and fauna throughout the garden.

Indoors, I prepare my home to welcome the dead, my beloved dead, my fallen leaves. In and around the usual autumn and Samhain décor upon my altar, I place a garland of autumn leaves and to it I pin the pictures of the family and friends, the people and pets, who slipped beyond the veil. The pictures have become too recent, no longer the faded sepia or black and white photos of great-grandparents or grandparents but the colorful images of parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and childhood friends, bringing tears to my eyes and a heart-wrenching sob to my throat as I place them on the altar, hardly believing that they are no longer only a phone call away. I spend many moments just staring at their faces smiling out at me from among the brightly colored autumn leaves, speaking to them, hoping for a reply, sometimes imagining that they wave back at me like the photographs in the Harry Potter movies. Perhaps it is my old Catholic upbringing but I leave the pictures there through November 2nd, All Souls Day. There are some people in those pictures who would appreciate that.

Samhain arrives and I let the magic of the day take over. The pumpkins are carved with jagged smiles and triangular eyes and noses and then lit. The soul cakes are made and set aside for later in the evening. I cleanse and bless the house and gardens, clearing the way for those people in the pictures to drop by for a bit, even if it is for a minute. The dining room table is set for the Ancestor Feast, the traditional meal my mother used to make at Halloween – beef stew, biscuits, and a sweet treat, usually an apple crisp. As always, there is one empty seat at the table with a full place setting for whoever wishes to slip back through the veil and join us. Family and friends gather around the table and stories are told, laughter is heard, and tears are shed through dinner. We remember all of those moments captured in the colorful pictures on the altar and many more moments frozen in time in our memories. Yes, they are here at the table, laughing with us, crying with us, missing us like we miss them. As dinner is cleared away, I quietly mourn the fact that my son is “too old” to trick-or-treat now and page through my mental photo album of every Halloween costume he wore through the years.

As the night winds down, I head outside to my patio to light the Samhain fire pit into which are thrown bunches of dried herbs from my garden and slips of paper on which are written the things I wish to leave behind me now. I mourn what once was and embrace what will be. I celebrate who I was (because we all change with each turn of the wheel) and lay the old me to rest. I rededicate myself to my ever-twisting Pagan path and welcome the new me. I sit under the night sky and the parted veil and talk to my fallen leaves, sharing with them just as I would if they were still just that phone call away. The fire dies down to glowing embers, the ashes of which I will scatter in the garden, and I head indoors for another piece of apple crisp and some spiced apple wine in a spot close to my altar. The Jack O’Lantern smiles down at me from there as I look down the road a bit, with tarot cards or runes, at what may lie ahead.

Yet, where there is death there is also life. I look around at all those who gather at the Ancestor Feast table and see my beloved dead in their faces, their habits, and their mannerisms, hear them in their voices and their laughter, and feel them pulsing in my veins. Many of them are present in the image I see in my mirror each day. I stroll around my garden and see the leaves mulching down to nourish the life that will grow in spring. The seed pods of this year’s plants will become next year’s plants. The costumes my son once wore may someday be worn again by his children. Parts of me fall way like the autumn leaves so that I may continue to grow. The wheel turns, the leaves fall, and life goes on.













Today’s song and video is sure to clear the sleep out of your eyes!
 How I wish I could move like this!




The Witches’ Kitchen by Autumn Earthsong

October is such a great month for kids…of course because it’s the same month that has Halloween!  The anticipation of the magickal night, picking out costumes, school parties, costume contests, visits to the pumpkin patch or corn maze…all too much fun!!

This recipe will be a hit with your kids…an easy snack mix to make and great to enjoy while watching Halloween movies.  It’s such a pretty mix too!  Serve in fun colored bags!

Beggar’s Night Snack Mix
2 bags microwave popcorn, popped
 1 bag candy corn
 1 16-ounce package white chocolate bark*
 Halloween sprinkles
 wax paper

Place the popped popcorn and candy corn in a very large bowl (you need plenty of room to stir the popcorn). Melt the white chocolate bark in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each time, until melted.
 Drizzle over the popcorn and candy corn and stir to coat each piece of popcorn. Pour the mixture over wax paper and spread into an even layer. 
Sprinkle with Halloween sprinkles and allow to cool for at least 15-30 minutes. Break into pieces.

Now I would make this even better by putting in some raisins or dried cherries and peanuts too if your kids aren’t allergic.  Pretzels, chocolate chips, Reeses pieces or candy coated chocolates in orange and brown and black can be substituted for the candy corn. Might take a bit more white chocolate if you do but well worth it! 

ENJOY, Autumn

Read my blog at www.autumnearthsong.com
Visit my herbal shop at www.etsy.com/shop/verbenalaneshoppe



Hemlock and Garnet Fortune Teller's Chest Giveaway

"Fortune Teller design" and comes with 8 herbs:

The chest has four drawers that are almost 2 inches deep. The chest has been decoupaged and handpainted.

The herbs that are included are:

Frankincense, Myrrh, Rowan berries, Sloe (blackthorn) berries, Hawthorne berries, Sweetgum balls, Sage, and Mugwort. They will each come in
their own little bag and will be labeled.

$50.00 Value


Rules: (READ CAREFULLY)

YOU MUST PROVIDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. If you choose not to share it in the comments, please use the contact form at the top of the page to provide your email address. You must provide your email address once per giveaway.

Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made in tomorrow's post.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)


CANADIANS READ HERE: You will be given X number of entries for answering the following (remember, we STILL NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS):

What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?

U.S. Citizens, and others- READ HERE:

1. Go to the Hemlock and Garnet Etsy Shop (it'll show up as Saga's Cottage).  Look over the site and tell us which product you like best.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (USE SEPARATE COMMENTS. If you throw them all into one comment, it counts as one entry only)

2. Be a follower of this blog. Comment that you are following us.

3. Like the Sirens FB page (come let us know you did in comments)

4. Like/Get Notifications for the Hemlock and Garnet Facebook Page. Let us know you did.

5. Blog about this giveaway (comment with the url for your blog entry)

6. Tweet about this giveaway (come back and give us the url for your tweet)

So, all in all, you get 6 entries for this giveaway! The deadline for entries is 8pm EDT tonight, as Loren is going out of town and needs to get it shipped out quickly. Announcement tomorrow, same time, same bat channel ;)

Questions? Email Serena.

Tune in tomorrow for a really big show ;) See you then!
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Welcome back to the third annual Samhain's Sirens October Extravaganza!

I'm Serena Siren, and I'll be your hostess for this month-long celebration. Each year, Samhain's Sirens gets bigger and better.

Our sponsor for these events is Imramma.com. If you are new to our soirée, welcome! You should start with our About and Rules pages first. Even our returning veterans (welcome back!) should check out those pages, just for review and to be sure you haven't missed any updates for this year.

We'll be hosting giveaways Monday through Friday, and our craft days will be Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, we'll take a break, but feel free to check in with all of our Stew Chefs over at The Sunday Stew as well.

Without further adieu, let's get started!





Welcome everyone!
We are absolutely thrilled to have you back with us again for our third year of the Samhain's Sirens October Celebration! As sponsor of this project, I am so honored and proud to be among this amazing group of people who so generously give of their time, talents and products for this event.

Our Sirens have been working since May to bring you the very best in giveaways, blog posts, songs, recipes and crafts. This is our gift of love to the Pagan community as the veil between the worlds thins, and we honor our ancestors, as well as those we love who have crossed over to the Otherworld.

Last year on Samhain, the community pulled together to honor our loved ones through "Forget-Me-Nots". If you would like us to feature your ancestors and loved ones, please send your tribute and photos to Serena by October 23.

Pumpkins, apple cider, hot chocolate, homemade breads, autumn leaves, the chill in the air... yes, it's October. For many of us, it's our favorite month of the year for all of these reasons and more. Halloween and Samhain are just 30 days away. As we prepare to cocoon in for our time of introspection, we honor our past and our birthrights. The Old Ways and gods call to us in a way that cannot be expressed adequately in words. We have a longing and a pull that is like no other time of year. We feel our connection to forever and to all who have gone before us. The tug of both life and death at their strongest now.

During this month, take time to breathe in the crisp October air, and celebrate the dance of life and death.

Sláinte,
Kallan











You heard it, too, didn’t you? Of course, you did. That’s why you’re here isn’t it? The Sirens called you. Well, my dears, welcome! I see no better way to start this off than with a little Alice Cooper.







The Witches’ Kitchen by Autumn Earthsong

Hello everyone and welcome to October and Samhain’s Sirens 2014!  I was thrilled to no end to be asked to be the Recipe Siren again this year.  I had so much fun doing it last year…. meeting new friends and sharing my recipes and I’m looking forward to doing it again!   I have a great batch of Fall-tastic recipes to share again.  Hope you try them out and let me know what you think!  So let’s get on with a month full of Samhain fun!



Boo-licious Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsps ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 16 oz can pumpkin
1 cup dried fruit of your choice..I like cranberries or raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (more if you like!)
Preheat oven to 350*  Grease and flour two 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pans.  Combine the first 8 ingredients (dry ingredients) in a large bowl and mix.  In a medium bowl, beat eggs, oil and pumpkin until blended.  Stir pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture and mix until well blended. Stir in dried fruit and nuts.  

Pour into loaf pans and bake for 75 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Turn onto a wire rack and cool completely.  
Blessings and love!
Autumn




Today's Giveaway comes from artist Loren Morris at Hemlock and Garnet.
A one-of-it's-kind Sirens Ouija Board! Retail value: $298.00
"This board features a super lightweight starfish planchette with felted feet that glides easily over the heavily protected board! My boards and matching planchettes are always themed!"














Rules: (READ CAREFULLY)

YOU MUST PROVIDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. If you choose not to share it in the comments, please use the contact form at the top of the page to provide your email address. You must provide your email address once per giveaway.

Drawing is held by random number generation and winner will be notified in email (that's why you have to have an email address listed). Announcement will be made in tomorrow's post.

Note: These giveaways are open to the U.S., Canada and where allowable. Void where prohibited.
Canadian residents, please pay close attention as by law, you have to use a different set of rules. Not to worry, we have you covered :)

CANADIANS READ HERE: You will be given the same number of entries for answering the following (remember, we STILL NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS):

What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?


U.S Residents and all qualifying others, READ HERE:

1. Go to Hemlock and Garnet Etsy Shop.  Choose your favorite item, come back here and tell us what you liked best. (don't forget that email address!)

 EXTRA ENTRIES: (USE SEPARATE COMMENTS. If you throw them all into one comment, it counts as one entry only)

 2. Be a follower of this blog. Comment that you are following us.

 3. Like the Sirens FB page (come let us know you did in comments)

 4. Like Hemlock and Garnet's FB Page. Let us know you did.

 5. Blog about this giveaway (comment with the url for your blog entry)

 6. Tweet about this giveaway (come back and give us the url for your tweet)

 So, all in all, you get 6 entries for this giveaway! The deadline for entries is midnight eastern time (11 Central, 10 Mountain, 9 Pacific) tonight. Announcement tomorrow, same time, same bat channel ;)

 Questions? Email Serena.

 See you tomorrow for more of our October fun!
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