Merry Sahmain!

Where does the year go? It seems only like a blink of the eye and I'm back to carving another set of pumpkins. To celebrate this year, Kate and Matt came over to share a Sahmain meal and see the evening out. This year I created two carving designs. One was based on a Maori star which I carved with our initials to show, and celebrate, my love for Tree. The other design was of a figure holding a lantern to signify the importance of this time of year when we acknowledge the coming of the dark winter and take time to look back at the year. The lantern is a symbol of hope, a light in the encroaching dark and a beacon to light the way ahead.

Kate and Matt weren't able to get a pumpkin in time so came up with the brilliant idea of painting Kate's bump instead. Having the two them sharing this time with us meant a lot and I took time out to say a few words of hope and good luck for the future of our niece to be.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and Sahmain blessings.

Samhain Blessings.

We are here again, at that magical time of year, when everything old is passing and we look forward to the New Year ahead.

Tree and I celebrated in the usual way and Tree made pumpkin soup while I carved the pumpkin shell. This year I moved away from the theme of bats and wise women and chose to carve a wolf hound calling to the moon goddess.Using a new method of carving, I was able to create 4 layers of colour and I was pleased with the result.

Samhain Blessings and don't forget to make those resolutions.

Samhain Blessings.

Tree and I have just come back from a lovely weekend in Wales spent with our friends Shaun, Jane, Katie, Phil and Laura. We stopped at Jane's Aunties bungalow, just outside of Tawyn in North Wales.

Friday night was spent overeating and playing Halloween games, quizzes and telling the inevitable lame ghost stories. We all dressed up in Halloween costume with the cliche witches, vampires and ghouls making an appearance. Pumpkin carving was attacked with gusto and I was pleased to win "Best Pumpkin award" with my flying bats and signature paw prints. Other designs included Pumpkin Jack, A vomiting head, a cat and ghouls flying.

On Saturday we went into Aberdovey for a walk around the town, harbour and beach. The weather was cool and crisp and the colours in the hills were gentle pastels of heather and dried grass. In the evening we went to a bistro and had a pleasant time before retiring back to the cottage for more chocolate consumption. On the way back we stopped at the beach and let off fireworks.

On Sunday we rose later and had a lazy breakfast followed by a board game and then decided we should go out for a walk. Tree was not feeling too well and so we left her to sleep while we went out. The time seem to whizz by and, before we knew it, the time to leave came along.

All in all a lovely weekend and we have decided to do it all again next year.

Pumpkin Extravaganza and Elliott's 21st birthday

With Samhain just a few days away I have been busy with the preparation for Elliott's 21st birthday party today. He was actually born on Samhain but it was easier to have the party early this weekend. I have carved the first pumpkin and we did a test to make sure it worked as I have cut out the wrong bit before now and messed it all up. I am quite pleased with the result and my next attempt will be to use a three tone design and do a portrait maybe. I have also made a mask using an old gas mask and some odd bits hanging about. The teeth are luminous and the eyes light up from the inside. Again, this is my first attempt at using Fimo and I am happy with the finish.It is a little claustrophobic to wear, with all the wiring inside, but worth the laugh. I am on the look out for a voicebox to add that extra creepy feel to the whole thing. I will do a full post of the party photos in a future blog soon.