October 8: Samhain's Sirens Wrong-Turn Wednesday!

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.