Showing posts with label #Kathleen Lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Kathleen Lane. Show all posts
Welcome back to our October Celebration, you wayward wanderers!

You've stumbled upon a party, and you're the guest of honor. What happens here, stays here.. but, so much you ;)

Not to worry, we have plenty of things we can do to with you.


Come on.. don't be shy...





The winner of the Hemlock and Garnet giveaway by artist Loren Morris is....


Fearless Fallen Angel





Today's Blogger: Kathleen Lane

Change will Come

I have always heard the saying that "Change is the one certain thing in life". Looking at this time of year always reminds me of that saying and this has certainly been a year of change in my life. My husband has retired and rather than being gone for half the year, he is home for good. So one way of life has ended and a new one begun.

As this summer rolls to the inevitable end and the new winter comes in, the wheel keeps turning and new things come in with it. I was going through some papers and found my old bucket list. Looking at it I wonder why some of those things were important to me and I realized that I need to throw it out and start a whole new list. Some of the things I have already done and some of them just don't seem relevant anymore.

What would be something important in your future that you would like to achieve or experience? Is there someplace you have never been or something you have never done and it is still waiting? Did you start something and never finish it? Do you remember promising yourself that someday you would climb a mountain or write a book or take that trip to the Costa Rican rain forest?

Let each year end with a positive finish to some goal and if you can't decide what your future should be, let this time of the thinning of the veil guide you in your choice. Those who have gone over the bridge already can sometimes see our future in a clearer light. Listen to what they are telling you and open yourself to what they tell you.


The Siren's Song with Jennifer Rasmussen


Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I feel like somebody's watching me.








Today's Recipe with Autumn Earthsong



I love October mornings! Especially the ones with the blue skies, fluffy clouds, dappled sunlight through bright colored leafy trees, and a nip in the air.  This bread is decadent and perfect for those kind of mornings. Especially the ones you don’t have to go anywhere right away…or for a sweet treat by the fire on a harvest moon night!


Spicy October Morning Pumpkin Bread
*Makes 2

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1-1/3 cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
2/3 cup chopped walnuts

 Preheat oven to 350º.
 Combine flour and the next 7 ingredients (flour through cloves) in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine sugar and the next 5 ingredients (sugar through pumpkin) in a bowl, and stir well with a whisk until smooth. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
Spoon batter into 2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350º for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaves in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Sprinkle a little natural sugar on the top. Cool loaves completely.
If you are lucky enough to have a wonderful neighbor like I do, send the extra loaf over to them! They’ll love you for it!
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


Emerald

Emerald is an amazing crystal. It is not only a wisdom stone but helps to bring to the surface what is unknown. 

If you deal with claustrophobia then this is the crystal for you. This crystal also helps to overcome the misfortunes in life and can heal negative emotions.

If you are working on your psychic abilities this stone can help with clairvoyance.

Emerald is a great choice in helping to open the heart chakra and is very calming.



Giveaway from Touch of the Goddess!


Whether you are anointing candles or tools, taking a ritual bath, or setting up protected space, this set has the oils you need all in one place. Sanctuary, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are for working with those respective elements and the Elementals. Solaris and Luna give you help in working with these Celestial bodies and their associated Gods and Goddesses. Prosperity, Entice! Indulge your workings with the real essential oils. Frankincense, jasmine, cinnamon, just a few a the scents and magical essences all a part of this collection! Never again have to search for just the right oil, they are all right here together in one box!

9- 5 ml cobalt blue bottles in a a pretty turquoise box
Value: $35.00

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

Like/Get Notifications on the Touch of the Goddess 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 Touch of the Goddess etsy shop. Comment here and tell us your favorite item in the shop.

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 wrote the lyrics to Canada's national anthem?


This giveaway is open until 9pm PDT (midnight Eastern)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!
Welcome back, great ghoulish guests!

It's a Terrifying Tuesday here in the Siren's Lair.. we have fiendish delights to tempt you with.. come, join us.. IF YOU DARE!





The winners of the Blackthorn Hoodoo Blends giveaways:

First prize: Rogue Riversong!
Second prize: Johanna Lawson!

Don't despair!  If you didn't win the tea of your heart's desire, they have a special Discount Code on the shop all through the Samhain Sirens season for you at home.  Just enter "Siren" (no quotes) in the discount box and everyone (Including Sirens!) will get 20% off of your order. Valid NOW until November 7th.



Treasure Every Moment! by Kathleen Lane

Do you love Autumn and Samhain? Is this time of year something you eagerly anticipate or do you dread it because it is the end of the growing season and the prelude to the long days of winter?

A friend recently passed very suddenly and as I went back and reread some emails from her, I realized that her mail had slid from looking forward and begun to slip into the "remember when" category. As I read them it surprised me that I hadn't noticed the change at the time and I began to wonder if I was guilty of the same thing.

None of us are guaranteed the next year or month or even moment and if we are so involved in looking back or forward, we will miss the NOW. Today is full of bright new moments and we need to savor and bless every one of them.  I find that I wish time away during the months when my husband is gone. Instead of enjoying each and every day I can't wait for them to be done and to have him home again. How many glorious sunrises have I skipped over because he wasn't here to share them with? How often have I wished for a week to be over and done with?

Most years I start mentally preparing around the first of August for Samhain and I have made a note to myself to live each and every day as though it is the last one I will have. No more wishing for tomorrow or waiting to thank the Mother for this wonderful day, the next breath or the next spangled spider web on the bushes. For me Samhain has always been a time of ending and this year it will be a time of beginning and joy for another year lived hopefully to the fullest.












Happy Tuesday! I’m up for a lovely Ghouls Night Out. Won’t you join me?









The Witches’ Kitchen by Autumn Earthsong

To me there is nothing more wonderful than Autumn,  and crisp, blue sky Autumn mornings are the best!!  I’m not usually a breakfast eater…but for some reason in the Fall I want a good breakfast.  Whether it’s steel cut oatmeal with apples and brown sugar, cinnamon-apple pancakes or these yummy muffins….breakfast becomes more important for me LOL.  These muffins are good for breakfast or Anytime!
Autumn’s Apple Crunch Muffins
1 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, cut in pieces
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 cup Granny Smith apples, diced

TOPPING
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped  (I like it with pecans too) 
Mix well in small bowl.  Set aside. 

Preheat oven to 375* 
Mix sifted flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.  Cut in butter until fine crumbs form. Combine milk and egg and add to dry ingredients and mix well.  Stir in apples and stir just to moisten.  Spoon batter into a greased muffin pan, filling each cup two-thirds full. You can use paper muffin cups too if you prefer.  Sprinkle with Topping*.  Bake at 375* for 25 mins or until golden brown
*Makes 12 muffins

ENJOY, Autumn






Sosanna's Closet Witchy Hat Giveaway!


Win Sosanna’s Closet Special Edition Samhain Scrunch Hat.  This one of a kind hat retails for $55.00 in the shop but as a special gift to you for participating in the Samhain Sirens event it can be yours absolutely free.  Just following the instructions below to win.
A big thank you for participating this year from Sosanna’s Closet  - Unique Gifts for the Unique Witch
Like – Sosanna’s Closet Page – https://www.facebook.com/sosannascloset
Check out my webpage – www.sosannascloset.com 

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):

Who was the first Canadian in outer space?


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

1. Go to the Sosanna's Closet site. Peruse the site, and tell us what you like best about it.

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 on the Sosanna's Closet 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 midnight eastern time (11 Central, 10 Mountain, 9 Pacific) tonight. Announcement tomorrow, same time, same bat channel ;)

Questions? Email Serena.

See you tomorrow!