Showing posts with label Kallan Kennedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kallan Kennedy. Show all posts
It's a terrific Tuesday here in the Sirens' lair. Come on in, don't be shy!

Before we go further, let's announce yesterday's winner! The number of items was 48! So, the winner is..........
Angie Crabtree!

 Congratulations! Be sure you get your mailing address to us for shipping.


Today's Music: Order of the Owl- Cu Dubh







Haunted Maryland by Kallan Kennedy


 Halloween- the very name conjures up all sorts of delicious thoughts.. ghosts, goblins, ghoulies of all sorts.. treats, comfort, and honoring the dead. I live in the great state of Maryland, and have been a resident for 15  years. 


A little history on Maryland 
Nicknames: The Old Line State. Also known as The Free State, The Cockade State, The Oyster State and The Queen State

 Formed: Charter given from Charles I to Lord Baltimore in 1632; it was the 7th state to enter the Union in 1788.

 Named: Maryland in honor of Henrietta Maria (queen of Charles I of England)

 Known for: Crabs, Oysters, Old Bay, The Star-Spangled Banner (Francis Scott Key was born here), Edgar Allen Poe and John Wilkes Booth.

 Haunted: In a 1993 article in the Washington Post, reporter David Montgomery makes the observation that “The State of Maryland is the single largest local owner of haunted real estate”.

 I am only selecting a few of these, as volumes can and have been written on the numerous haunting throughout Maryland. I’ve selected a few, and am providing some pictures that we (my family members and I) have taken over the years. As you can see from the brief history above, Maryland has a very old (comparatively speaking) history in the United States.

 The Susquehanna Indians lived in this area long before Europeans came to settle here. It is no wonder that we have such wonderful stories and hauntings to share. These stories are either well-known in Maryland or personal experiences from me and/or my family members.



The Jericho Bridge

 Built in the 1800’s, this is the last covered bridge standing in Harford County. It is also just a few hundred feet from the 242 year old Jerusalem Mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge itself is nearly 90 feet in length and about 15 feet wide. It’s completely made of wood and I can tell you from personal experience that the word ‘rickety’ is kind when driving through it. Legend has it that slaves were once hanged from its rafters during the Civil War. Maryland, while being a Union state, was very sympathetic to the South, and many night riders captured and sold back into slavery those that made their way along the Underground Railroad. Hundreds of personal encounters have been recorded there.

The most common is that when driving through the bridge, if one looks in the rear-view mirror, one can see a body hanging from the rafters. There have also been sightings of women in “old-fashioned” clothing walking around the bridge area, only to disappear upon closer looks. In the interest of ‘fair reporting’, I’d like to point out that at the Jericho Mill on weekends, there are a lot of re-enactments that go on, and women dressed in old fashioned clothing would be common.

 I have personally never seen either of these, but one of my family members did see a man in a black hooded cloak run out in front of their car in the middle of the night just before they crossed the bridge, and then he disappeared.
I've had an eerie experience at the bridge one evening. It was a few years ago at dusk, and a friend had taken me to the bridge to show it to me. As we pulled up in my car (probably 50 feet from the actual bridge) a fog appeared out of nowhere and enveloped the road to about 4 feet in height and covered the area all around the bridge. We slowly pulled up into the bridge and drove across, turned around and returned across the bridge.. the fog seemed to follow us ( and the temperature dropped drastically during this time as well) until we came through the bridge and to the Jerusalem/Jericho road crossing. As we looked back.. the fog had completely disappeared, as if it had never been there. Needless to say, we were a little creeped out by it ;)



Thomas Run Road

 Thomas Run Road is host to one of the top community colleges in the nation- Harford Community College. It’s also host to a strange ghost tale a little further down the road.

 There is a housing development back there called The Villages of Thomas Run (upper middle class neighborhood). Hundreds of witnesses of all ages over the years (dating back to the 1800’s, although the housing area hasn’t been there that long) have reported a man dressed completely in black with a stark-white face running through the neighborhood at various times, but mostly at night and in the rain. More than a few residents living near the woods have stated that someone is up to mischief around there- they will hear their doorbells ringing and when they answer, no one is around. Is it the “Tractor Man” (as he’s been affectionately named)?

 Bottom Road

 There is a ghostly tale on Bottom Road, which runs through several areas of Harford County and into Baltimore County, and there is a bridge over the Little Gunpowder River on Bottom Road.

 Sightings of a little girl (ages have been reported from 4-7) at the narrow end of Bottom Road in a torn, bloody dress, holding a bloody teddy bear and crying. The sight is so startling that most travelers who have seen it, have actually stopped to help the little girl and when they do, she disappears.

 Havre De Grace
Havre De Grace was almost the site of the nation’s capital. It has a long, rich history as a town. There are so many ghost stories in relation to the town that every year, the historical society does a Haunted Havre De Grace walking tour. Having personally taken this tour, I must say I’ve never seen anything ghostly (yet!), but the experience and the history lessons are well worth the admission fee.

John Wilkes Booth
Tudor Hall

 Yes, that’s right. The infamous killer of President Abraham Lincoln was born and raised in Maryland. His home, called Tudor Hall, is located in Churchville Maryland. Legend has it that JWB was actually never caught and that his alleged killing was reported to appease the American people. Some say he escaped to the Mid-west, where he lived a long life into old age. 

Others say he was killed and that he now haunts the grounds of his childhood home. Regardless, there is a tombstone in his family’s plot in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, which is the most-photographed in the site’s history.

 Edgar Allen Poe
What kind of Marylander would I be if I didn’t at least give nod to one of the most Halloween-y Poets to ever live? Well, I’d at least be disowned by my youngest daughter, who is an absolutely Poe devotee. For those who aren’t aware, many cities like to lay claim to this literary icon. New York, Philadelphia, Richmond were all places where he lived and worked. But, Baltimore is the city of this amazing author’s death and burial. There is an annual Poe festival which offers tours of his home (The Poe House) and of course, we have the Poe Society which cares for his letters and memorabilia. But of course, the most famous legend surrounding him is the one of the Poe Toaster. Every January 19 since 1949, someone (and no one has never known who) leaves a special present at the author’s grave site sometime between midnight and 6 am. Three red roses and a bottle of cognac are left at the foot of Poe’s grave. The man has always dressed in black with a white scarf that covers his face. It’s become such a tradition that people have come out to watch the scene unfold. Sadly, as of January 19, 2010, our visitor hasn't shown. No one is sure why the tradition started nor why he stopped showing up.

Elk Forge Bed and Breakfast
Elk Forge, MD
The 1700s building was once part of a mill where British soldiers came and demanded flour during the Revolutionary War. The miller put ground glass in the flour, but the soldiers caught him and hanged him for treason. The miller’s apparition, voice, and footsteps have been detected by witnesses.

 The Union Hotel
Port Deposit, MD

 The building, now a restaurant, is said to have been a hotel and tavern in the 1700s. Folks say it is haunted by a ghostly lady in a blue gown, who has been seen by the owner and some of the employees.































My family went there this past spring. While the food was delicious, and the ambiance was lovely, we didn't get any cool ghostly pictures.


 Spook Hill, Burkittsville MD

 This stretch of road near the battle site of Antietam is known for a mysterious phenomenon. Folks say that if you put your vehicle in neutral at the base of the hill, the ghosts of Confederate soldiers will push it back up the incline. Rumor has it that the ghosts believe they are still at war and pushing cannons and artillery pieces. There also have been reports of laughter coming from the woods.

 Here is a video from Discovery that speaks to the phenomenon.Note: This is a very busy road. If you choose to try this, please be sure you put your flashers on and stay buckled up. If you don't want the mystery ruined, don't watch the video ;)
I could go on.. as stated earlier, we're the most haunted state in the Union. But, you'll just have to come visit to see all of our ghostly mysteries!
Alexis) Kallan Kennedy is the brain-parent and sponsor of Samhain's Sirens. Her vision for this project was to bring together Pagan authors, bloggers, crafters and vendors under one umbrella to celebrate the Samhain season with the community. She has been blessed to find so many wonderful folks who wanted to participate. 2017 will mark the 5th annual celebration for the sirens.

Kallan is a Celtic/Greek Wild Witch who lives in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.She has raised five children as a single mom and home-schooled them all. She is a proud grandmother of 3. Somehow, she was adopted by a wolf hybrid puppy ten years' ago, and has lived a life of regret and bliss ever since.
A United States Navy veteran; honorably discharged and proud to have served, she holds a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy, is working on degrees in History and English. Her passions are anything wild: her family, friends, writing, and reading. If it involves rivers and forests, you'll have her attention :)
You can find Kallan writing, teaching, and reading tarot/totems at Wildly Witch  If you have any questions or concerns during the season, feel free to email her directly at kallan.kennedy@gmail.com


Today's Recipe: Pumpkin & Cauliflower Garlic Mash

1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets (about 6 cups)
3 garlic cloves
1/3 cup spreadable cream cheese
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Place 1 in. of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cauliflower and garlic cloves; cook, covered, 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain; transfer to a food processor.
Add remaining ingredients; process until smooth. Return to pan; heat through, stirring occasionally. Yield: 6 servings.

 This recipe comes from "A Taste of Home"

Today's Giveaway: Pendulum Giveaway from Greybeard's Wand Shop

This pendulum is exotic Papaturro burl wood which is a beautiful hardwood from Central America, silver-plated hardware and chain, with tree charm. Comes with black velvet drawstring bag. 


Retail price: $35.00

Here's how to enter: You have until 11:59pm EDT to enter this giveaway. You MUST submit your email address in at least one comment to qualify.

US Residents: 
1st entry (mandatory): Go to Greybeard's Wand Shop. Peruse his wares. Come back and tell us what's now on your wish list from his shop. You can choose more than one item, but we need you to comment here about it.

2nd entry: Go to  Tree of Life Designs' Facebook Page. Like the page, and comment that the Sirens sent you.

3rd entry: Blog, tweet, or instagram this giveaway *your choice*. Come back and tell us that you did.

4th entry: Like the Sirens Facebook page.
Canadian Residents: Answer this question for 4 entries-


What is the capital of Canada?

That's it for today's Siren Fun! We'll see you tomorrow for our final Wednesday post of the season!
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It's a Terrific Tuesday here at the Sirens' Lair. Let's hit it!

Before we do, let's find out who won the Tree of Life Apothecary Smudging Set Giveaway. And the winner is....

Kellyanne Swensen!

Congratulations! Be sure you send in your mailing address to Kallan so she can pass it along to Dawn for shipping. Now, on to the festivities!

Today's Music: Black Magic Woman

Who can resist some Santana?

Cultivating the Dark with a Gothic Garden

By Johanna Lawson

 As Samhain approaches, we begin to prepare for the dark time of the year. The bright and cheery colors of summer are gone. For a gardener, such as myself, this can be a truly saddening time. Yet this gardening witch knows better. The dark half of the year is a time to dream, plan, and prepare for the gardens to come next year, to plants the seeds for future gardens to spring forth. It is not a place of fear but a place of rebirth. All witches often work with this balance in magickal practices and rituals, using the energies of both dark and light to bring transformation. In the garden, the dark often is forgotten, overlooked, and dormant among the sunny days of budding, growing and blooming. But what if we could cultivate the dark even in those glorious summer days by reminding ourselves that there is darkness even in the brightest of places? To do this, you need look no further than the gothic garden.

 In the Victorian era, the dark was embraced. Perhaps due to the gloom and doom of the period, this was a time that saw heightened interest in all things that go bump in the night, evidenced most notably in Victorian literature, architecture and recorded activities. The gothic garden grew out of this time as well, often becoming displays of morbid reflections on death and the darkness and drawing crowds of people seeking a fright. Some were grand and picturesque while others seemed unkempt with withering vines or decaying flowers, both by intent. Today, the gothic garden has made a comeback and gardeners are cultivating the dark in their own backyards.

 The modern gothic garden is grown with the dark in mind. Many commercial plant growers and breeders are developing plants with flowers that are black, deep purple, electric blue or blood red. Some of these include: ‘Blue Lady’ hellebore, ‘Black Velvet’ petunias, ‘After Dusk” dahlia, ‘Green Wizard’ rudbeckia, “Vino” or ‘Black Dragon’ coleus, and ‘Hello Darkness’ iris. There are also black hollyhocks, hyacinths, sunflowers, and ornamental grasses. To add some height and depth, there are several varieties of roses that come in deep and dark colors, most notably midnight black, deep purple or burgundy, and blood red. I will add here that using plants native to your region will attract wildlife like snakes, toads, and insects that are beneficial to the garden and make it just that more “creepy” to those who may already be a bit creeped out by it.

 Dark shades are not limited to flowers. They can also be found in vegetables. Varieties of tomatoes such as ‘Indigo Rose’, ‘Cherokee Purple’, or ‘Black Cherry’ grown along with eggplant, some darker varieties of squash, gourds, lettuces and cabbage, and some blackberries, elderberries and blueberries would make excellent additions to the edible area of the gothic garden. In excellent contrast to the darkness during the day, a gothic garden could also include plants that bloom at night and are illuminated by the moon. Plants such as datura, ‘Moonlight’ caladium, yucca, jasmine, and, of course, moon flower vine are just a few with which to start.

 A true gothic garden is not complete without a witch’s herb garden. This part of the garden need not be dark in color, although there are some varieties with darker foliage. Let it grow wild into a tangle of fragrant and abundant herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, chamomile, and lavender. Some of the baneful herbs and plants, like aconite, nightshade and wormwood, could be interesting to add in a corner of the herb garden, cultivating the dark even further. Add a well-displayed “Poison” sign and see what the neighbors say then!

 As a Master Gardener, I must make a public service announcement here. Before planting anything, it is imperative to know the light, water, and soil requirements of the plants. A plant meant to grow in shade will wither in full sun. Another plant that needs little water will not thrive in a very moist area of the garden. Some plants grow better in sandy soil versus clay soil. Know what the plants need and the environment in which they will grow.

 Plants are not the only things used to cultivate the dark in a gothic garden. It is not complete without some décor and magickal design elements to bring the darkness to life. Wrought iron fencing rescued from an old house can be used around garden beds or as trellises. Statues and figurines of gnomes, dragons, gargoyles, and whatever or whoever speaks of the dark to you can be placed in, among and under plants. Adding bits of gnarled old wood will not only heighten interest but become places of refuge for beneficial garden insects. Old tree stumps can become homes to garden fairies and gnomes with some creativity. Create stepping stones with sigils and magickal symbols on them. In researching gothic gardens, I even saw stepping stones made to look like the phases of the moon, which would be amazing in the moon garden area.

 Cultivating the dark through gardening is a way to remind ourselves that the darkness need not be feared but understood as a place where transformation happens. In the dark, seeds lie dormant until spring and, from the dark, all life returns anew. Be with it. Embrace it. Cultivate it. It is then that the light returns.

Johanna Lawson is a longtime solitary-practicing witch. She is the author of a blog, Village Wise Woman, that documents her journeys on the Pagan path, through the changing seasons of her magical garden, and through the life of her small Pagan family. As a writer, her work has been included in several Pagan anthologies, including Pagan Writers Presents-Samhain and Pagan Writers Presents-Yule (Pagan Writers Press, 2011) as well as Paganism 101: An Introduction to Paganism By 101 Pagans and Naming the Goddess (Moon Books, 2014). Her work has also been featured in Circle Magazine (Spring, 2012).

Johanna is also a Master Gardener through the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program and is a monthly contributor to the Delaware County Master Gardener Newsletter with a column entitled “Plant Lore and Legend”. She is an avid gardener and budding herbalist, growing and harvesting her own herbs and flowers for use in both her magickal and medicinal cabinets. She is also an activist, fiercely defending the environment and nature through her work with such organizations as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Climate Reality Project.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she currently lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband and son, surrounded by her magical garden and a diverse “village” of family, friends and garden dwellers.

Johanna’s blog, Village Wise Woman, can be found at:http://johannavillagewisewoman.blogspot.com


Today's Recipe: Easy-Peasy Dinner Rolls

Kallan Kennedy


This is in honor of my grandmother, Helen Milya (Millie) Kennedy. She was an absolute bread-lover, and she was more like a mom to me than my real mother. She died from lymphoma on my last day of boot camp. Whenever I cook or bake something, I think of her, and how much enthusiasm she emanated with everything in life. She loved all of it. She was a bird-whisperer. She put her whole self into every aspect of her existence, and taught me how to see all that is around me from her childlike perspective. You all would have adored her, and she would have adored you back.

 No, these are not gluten-free. No, I don't feel guilty. I love bread, and these are so easy to make. They go perfectly with a nice stew, chowder, or pumpkin soup. It's that time of year for comfort foods, and if you cheat, I promise never to tell ;)
Ingredients
3/4 cup of milk
3/4 cup of water
1/2 cup of white sugar (honey makes a great substitute)
1 tsp of salt
2 eggs
5 tsp of active dry yeast
5 cups of all-purpose flour (wheat flour works with this really well)
1/2 cup of butter (I use Irish butter), melted

 In a medium saucepan over medium heat: warm milk, water, sugar or honey, and salt. It should be really warm (almost hot) to the touch, but not boiling. Remove from heat, and mix in the eggs and yeast. Measure flour into a non-metal large bowl. Make a well in the flour, and pour the milk mixture into it. DO NOT STIR. Cover with a lid (you can substitute saran wrap or foil for this) and let stand for 20-30 minutes. Covering with a lid is the secret ingredient to these amazing rolls.

 Pour melted butter into the flour mixture and stir well (use a wooden spoon- metal will kill your yeast). Add more flour if this mixture is too sticky for you.  Knead lightly for a few minutes. You're trying to get any air bubbles to pop out of it without overworking the dough. 

 Pull off pieces of the dough and shape them into rolls. You can get creative with this, just remember not to overwork the dough when doing it. Place them on an ungreased baking sheet (parchment paper is recommended, but not necessary).  Let them sit again for 20-30 minutes. About 15 minutes in, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. 

 Bake for 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top. They are so moist and fluffy. You'll thank me for this one.
(Alexis) Kallan Kennedy is the brain-parent and sponsor of Samhain's Sirens. Her vision for this project was to bring together Pagan authors, bloggers, crafters and vendors under one umbrella to celebrate the Samhain season with the community. She has been blessed to find so many wonderful folks who wanted to participate. 2017  marks the 5th annual celebration for the sirens.

 Kallan is a Celtic/Greek Wild Witch who lives in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.She has raised five children as a single mom and home-schooled them all. She is a proud grandmother of 3. Somehow, she was adopted by a wolf hybrid puppy ten years' ago, and has lived a life of regret and bliss ever since.
A United States Navy veteran; honorably discharged and proud to have served, she holds a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy, is working on degrees in History and English. Her passions are anything wild: her family, friends, writing, and reading. If it involves rivers and forests, you'll have her attention :)

 You can find Kallan writing, teaching, and reading tarot/totems at Wildly Witch  If you have any questions or concerns during the season, feel free to email her directly at kallan.kennedy@gmail.com

Today's Giveaway from Hauntiture Creations



Tara does it again with a stunning Goblin Box!










This hand-painted piece of Hauntiture is a vintage silverware box, crafted to hold magical items of all sorts. Retail value: $80.00.

 How to enter:

US Residents


First entry:  Go to The Hauntiture Creations shop, peruse the amazing creations, come back here and tell us which is your favorite in the comments.

Second entry: Share this giveaway on your Facebook page (note: Facebook in no way endorses our giveaways). Come back, tell us you did in the comments (share the link, please).

Third entry: Share this giveaway on Twitter or Instagram (your choice). Come back, post the link to your share in the comments.

Fourth entry: Like the Hauntiture Creations Facebook page. Leave a comment on her Facebook page telling her you're visiting from Samhain's Sirens. Come back here, and let us know you did.

Fifth entry: Like the Samhain's Sirens Facebook page. Leave us a comment below letting us know you're a follower (hint: this is going to be a gimme if you do it now or if you've done it in the past. It'll be one of the entries for all of our giveaways).


Canadian Residents


For 5 entries, please correctly answer the following question in the comments section:


Where does the word Canada come from?
a) Jacques Cartier
b) Samuel de Champlain
c) Jean Nicollet



You have until 11:59p EDT to enter this giveaway. Winner will be announced in tomorrow's post. Good luck!


That's it for today. See you tomorrow for more Sireny fun!

Happy Samhaining!
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