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.

Times flying again and the year is swinging round to its usual quietude of Autumn nights and the cold Winter ahead. I have been amazingly busy of late trying to get into my Open University course and Tree is recovering slowly having had her surgery, so not a lot of time to blog really. Kat and Mattie came over to celebrate Samhain with us and we carved some pumpkins together. I carved a total of three designs in all as I couldn't decide which one I liked best. A cauldron with fire, a bird flying and a witch's face with a cat. I managed to drop Kat's pumpkin which was funny yet serious at the same time. Sorry Kat! Oh well.

It was a special Samhain this year as we said goodbye to a lot of things this year.

Anyway, Blessings to all and roll on Yuletide. Keep warm and may your wishes for the year ahead be fruitful.

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.

Stuff the recession !!

While everyone else is worrying about the recession (you know, the one were not supposed to be in, but are), Tree and I are feeling quite relaxed. After an interview or two I have got a job working at the Worcester Royal Hospital as a Ward clerk/Hospital auditor. Okay, put the cross down, auditors aren't that bad (unless you have something to hide). There is shed loads of training I can do as well, at the training centre on campus, thereby furthering my job prospects. It has been hard finding a job that wasn't going to give any money to "The Man" and we are both relieved how it has worked out. This of course means that we have a reasonable increase to our income so they can stick their credit crunch for all I care.

Job hunting has meant I haven't had much time to do anything else, including blogging, and any spare time has been eaten up by all the jobs I have neglected on the house. Frantic amounts of decorating, wallpapering and plastering have been a daily event, these past few weeks. Along with this, I have also managed to fit in converting a horrible old wall mounted gas fire into an open hearth with a beam for my mate Sarah. Nice !

Surprisingly, we have also found time to go and stay with Joy and Nige and are off again soon for another week before I start work. The advantage of my new job is that I will be able to transfer to Truro Hospital quite easily when we move to Cornwall, giving me and Tree some flexibility before we set up a business there. However, we won't be moving until the housing market has settled a bit.

As for the festivals, we are still going to work a select few like Nozstock, Bliss, Beautiful Days and Rock N Roots (if they honour their agreement re this years fiasco) and we will be able to enjoy them more knowing that we aren't depending on the income.

And now all that remains is to look ahead to the end of the month and Sahmain. Tree and I are off to stay in a cottage in Aberdovey to celebrate with a few friends. My mind is already turned to thinking about what we can get up to like Pumpkin carving, story telling in the dark and a big Sahmain fire to celebrate! Can't wait.

Samhain blessings

Happy Samhain to one and all. Last Saturday we had the party, for Elliotts 21st, round at Sandra's house and decided to go down the horror route as a theme. I was surprised how well thought out some of the costumes were and full marks go to Elliott, Michael, Katie, Torzee and Jermaine. Elliott's mask had the ability to bleed but, due to a leak, managed to drop blood on the kitchen floor. Cool ! Tree cooked up a mean veggie hotdog and later Elliott and I put on a firework extravaganza. The highlight being the Catherine wheel that didn't go round ! All in all we had a good time and Elliott enjoyed himself, which is what it is all about.
Tree and I will be observing a more serious ceremony on Wednesday, but without the costume.
So blessings to everyone and remember to take time to think about what has passed and what will be. Make wishes for the future and honour those that have passed. Light a fire and make herald to the coming gathering in of the light.

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.

Sahmain and the Dragon's breath

It's coming to that special time of year when you can tangibly feel the change of the seasons as we approach Sahmain. Tree and I were talking about how we will celebrate it this year and may decide to travel to Moseley Bog to join in with an open ritual there. We will light a fire of Oak at the very least.
The mornings have become particularly beautiful with the sun hanging low on the horizon and the shadows stretching out like fingers of grey. The Dragon's breath catches in pockets around the dips and valleys on the West side of the Malvern hills and reminds me of the mist that encircled us at Stonehenge for the Summer solstice in 2006.
Yesterday I met with a man called Yogiman Singh who read my fortune, but took no money, and said today and the 27th of December would be very lucky for me and Tree. Tree has a job interview today so we will see. I am a bit of a sceptic but I must admit he was very charismatic. He told me the initials of my parents surnames and their ages correctly. He also numbered how many children and siblings I have as well. Add to this that the name Lilly had significance, twice in my life, ( Grandmother and nieces names) and I was beginning to wonder if I was part of some huge wind-up. To cap it all, he told me Tree's name as my partner!! He told me I will live to a very old age, with no pain when I die. He left his phone number and said to call him when I became lucky with money and he would take a small token for his reading then. And then he left!! Curiouser and curiouser!