Showing posts with label #Kourtney Leaf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Kourtney Leaf. Show all posts
*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 aboard, Naughty Nymphs!

We have some wickedly wonderful treats for you today!

Don't forget that when you participate in the giveaways, we need your email address (it's the law).

Forget-Me-Nots tributes and photos are due by Thursday, October 23rd for all who want to participate. Email to Serena, at samhainssirens@gmail.com







The winner of the Sosanna's Closet Witchy hat giveaway is:
Sharon Rawson!





I've never really been morbidly fascinated with death. I may have questioned the hows and whys, and  certainly the what-afters. But what I've really always been fascinated with is the history. As a young girl my mother would take me with her to tour cemeteries. I remember her and my grandmother perusing through doing grave rubbings. I also remember her picking out specific stones that had some sort of special to them. Whether they were extra ornate or the dates were somehow significant. Sometimes there wouldn't be a name, just 'Baby So & So'. And sometimes they would be so worn that the name was unreadable. But always I would be filled with a sense of awe at each of these stones. Each of them had a back story, each of them had a family. And whether the life laid to rest below that stone was one day or a hundred years, it impacted someone. It impacted the universe in some small, yet significant way. And for it to be memorialized in such a way, well... that takes love.

Each year around this time I try to give my girls the same kind of experience. Fortunately we’ve lived in some pretty spectacular places and finding a good cemetery to tour has never been too hard. A few years back we took a look at the Huguenot Cemetery. Located in the heart of historical downtown St. Augustine, FL and supposedly extremely haunted, it is a treasure trove of history. You can find my full post on it HERE.

This past summer I took a solo trip to Four Mile Cemetery near my childhood home in Cripple Creek, CO. I’ve spent a lot of time at this particular graveyard. Laid to rest here is a very close friend who died much too young. At first look it may seem that this site is a little too unkempt, maybe forgotten or uncared for. But if you look closer you can see that it is actually the sight of intense love manifested. All of these things, from the Pepsi bottles & cans, to the lighters and toys are gifts to our friend given in love.

Perusing around this cemetery I found several other grave markings that stirred something within me. Here are a few highlights:

The one on the left is inscribed:
Alice Root.
Dau. of
H.S. & Thirza,
Root.
Born April 1, 1882
Died Jan 6, 1883
~
Just as the morning of her life
was opening into day
The young and lovely spirit
passed from earth and grief away.

The top right was simple in form, an addition by the groundskeepers as a more permanent grave marker. There were several in a row. Some with dates, others without. Most with names, but several with only 'Baby' such as this one.

The last one, on the bottom right, I found to be very touching. A hand made marker, carved directly into a rough stone. One might assume that this might have been more the result of financial hardship, but I like to think it was done with respect to the couple buried here. An act of love rather than of monetary strain.

I could have spent all day walking around here. And I found so many interesting and touching markers that I’d love to share with you! You can visit me at The Multi-Faceted Experience for more pics and more info on the lovely and haunting Four Mile Cemetery.

Wishing you all a Blessed and Merry Samhain!  ~Kourtney












It’s a Witchy Wednesday! Today, I give you “Witchy Woman” by The Eagles. 

Now, if I could only get those sparks to fly from MY fingertips…




The Witches’ Kitchen by Autumn Earthsong

Fall is such a wonderful time still to go to a Farmer’s Market and avail yourself of some wonderful end of Season veggies.  I found this recipe in one of my Autumn season cookbooks and thought I’d share it with you. I won’t lie..I haven’t made this Stew but it’s on my list to make for sure.  It sounds like the perfect thing to have simmering in your slow cooker on Beggar’s Night…ready to eat before or after Trick or Treating with the kids!


Farmer’s Market Autumn Stew

1/2 lb stew beef, cut into small cubes
2     1/2" thick boneless pork chops, cubed
1 TB olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 apples, cored, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 TB quick-cooking tapioca, uncooked
1 cup apple cider
1 cup water
2 tsps beef bouillon granules
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
Salt to taste

Brown beef and pork in oil in a large skillet over medium heat; drain.
 Place vegetables and apples in a slow cooker; sprinkle with tapioca.
  Add beef and pork.
 Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl; pour over beef and pork.
  Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
 Add salt to taste before serving.
*Makes 6 servings

Sounds pretty good huh?!

ENJOY, Autumn

The read my blog visit www.autumnearthsong.com
To check out my herbal products visit www.etsy.com/shop/verbenalaneshoppe




Verbena Lane Botanicals Giveaway


All of these items are made with good oils and organic herbs. .  These are some of my most popular items I sell and I’m sure you’ll love them too! 
Good Luck!!
To see other products in my shop visit www.etsy.com/shop/verbenalaneshoppe
Thank you and Happy October!!!  Autumn






Five wonderful Witch -made herbal products for bath, body and healing. 
*a 16 oz jar of Eucalyptus Cold Remedy Bath Soak                    $20.00
*a 4 oz spray bottle of Happy Feet Spray                                     $ 6.00
*an 8 oz jar of Good Morning Sunshine Sugar Scrub                 $18.00
*a 2 oz tin of my healing Boo Boo Balm                                       $10.00
*a 0.5oz tin of my healing Crème de Menthe lip balm              $ 6.00

                                   Total price  for give away is ……….             $ 60.00! 




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 Verbena Lane Botanicals Page.  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 on the Verbena Lane 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.
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