Preparing for Samhain

With Samhain just about a week away I spent the afternoon today preparing my Samhain altar. This altar has a very special meaning because it's where I'm also choosing to honor my ancestors and my two grandmothers in particular.

Isn't this wonderful? I found it at Michael's ~ on sale! The skeleton is one of the ways to honor one's ancestors during Samhain.

Here I have a basket of gourds and squash representing the last harvest of the season and the journey into winter.

Honoring my Grandmother
~ Mary Lubky ~
1921 - 1979
(She's pictured here holding my mom)

I chose to also honor Hecate on my Samhain altar. Hecate is a Dark Moon Goddess and deals with the more shadowy aspects of our lives. During this time of year she is considered in her Crone aspect and is the goddess of magic, ghosts, storms, the night, dreams, crossroads and animals, particularly dogs. She is able to see into all worlds and guards the border between this world and the spirit world. Hecate knows death and does not fear it, for death brings renewal through the fertility of decomposition.

While in her Crone aspect, Hecate is the goddess to turn to for protection, wisdom and magick. However, bear in mind that Hecate is not a Goddess full of tenderness and compassion. She is more prone to be stern with you if you brought a situation upon yourself. However, her wrath is swift and just to those who cause harm to a follower of hers, because those who seek her, honor her and do not fear her are in her protection and she does not take lightly to those who cause them harm. She does not tolerate nor does she coddle. Her actions are swift and without frills so when you do call upon her, be prepared for her swift actions and changes because it might not be what you expected.

Charge of the Dark Goddess, Hecate

I am the Queen of Magick, hidden in the deepest night.
I am the mystery of the other world and the fear that coils
about your heart in the times of your trial.
I am the soul of nature that gives form to the Universe.

My torches light the way for enlightenment and illumination.
My sickle of death cuts away things that are dead and no longer needed.
It is I who awaits you at the end of your spiral dance.
I am she who has no secrets but a thousand secrets.
I am the aged Old Crone of Darkness whose face of death
portends life anew and filled with Luna's secrets.
All acts of magick and mysteries are my rituals and
my greatest ritual is love itself.

You who seek to remove my veil and know my true face,
know that all your questing and efforts are for not
until thine own face beholds and knows the mysteries of thine own self.
For you to truly know me, you must look in your own heart
and know and accept thy self.

For those of you who call upon me and my powers for magick, beware!
For my magick is swift and without regards to the consequences.
Those that know me shall glide safely through troubles,
for it is my dark cloak of protection that is wrapped about you.
Close your eyes my child and call to me, for I am there,
within your darkness.

~ By Lady Hecate ~

Honoring my Grandmother
~ Mildred Elizabeth Bowers ~
1918 - 2005

Another view of my Samhain altar . . .

I'll have more to share with you after Samhain has passed because I'm also celebrating Halloween with a very special friend who's also coming to celebrate my 50th birthday with me. It will be a fun-filled, jam-packed weekend and one that I'm looking forward to with great anticipation!

Tea Party Under a Halloween Moon

Welcome to a 'Tea Party Under a Halloween Moon' here at the Manor. Many thanks to our lovely hostess 'Anna' from 'Frosted Petunias' for bringing us together to share in the festivities of the season and to delight in the full moon!

Poor Adelaide ~ looks like she missed her landing again . . .

I see the rest of you made it all right though . . .

Please come in . . . the Aunts are out back brewing up some tea and will bring it in shortly.

Well, yes, I have been decorating ~ how kind of you to notice!

Everyone needs their own Witchy doll . . .

Oh, don't mind Aunt Esmeralda ~ she seems to think her candied apples are to die for . . . literally . . . they're to die for . . .

Cousin Penelope is conjuring up some witch's brew in the parlor . . .

Follow me this way into the dining room . . .

Ah, I see some of my guests are making themselves comfortable . . .

Please, pull up a chair and help yourself to some delectables . . .

I picked these fresh this morning . . .

Yes Cousin Esther, Candy Corn does grow on stalks . . .

Anyone care for some hot apple cider?

Ah, I see you're admiring my tarnished silver service . . .

I've got my eyes on you!

My Mabon altar which needs to be changed over for Samhain . . .

I couldn't resist this little pumpkin when I saw it in the store . . .

There's nothing like the warm glow of candles . . .

Anyone care for an apple? I promise they're not poisoned {cackle, cackle} . . .

Thank you all so much for coming! We enjoyed ourselves so much it's gotten dark outside. Enjoy the decorations and be careful of the spiders!

Bailey~Before and After

I took Bailey to have him groomed this morning . . .

Before . . .

And after . . . he's so handsome! His hair is a little shorter than I would have liked, but with all the shaving he went through for his surgery and such it's probably for the best. It will grow in in a few months and all will be well!

The picture of contentment . . .

Driving Down the Highway . . .

Last Wednesday I left for a trip with my Dad down to visit my sister in Houston. Along the way, we stopped in Memphis and visited Graceland. I'd been before with my sister, but it was my Dad's first visit. He was most impressed by all the gold records and awards collected over Elvis's lifetime. An achievement which has been unsurpassed. There will never be another Elvis.

We arrived in Memphis late Wednesday night and camped over at the Graceland RV Park which was right next door to Graceland. In the morning, before visiting Graceland, I took my Dad's little dog for a walk in a wooded area adjoining the RV Park. As I was walking through the trees I came upon a stand of three trees which really struck me with awe. It was as if the Maiden, Mother and Crone were awaiting my arrival to pass on some long forgotten secrets . . .

This tree was magnificent . . . he reminded me of an old, wise grandfather . . .

This stand of trees struck me as a dance with the gentleman in the middle and the ladies dancing around him . . .

I spent about a half hour in the trees basking in their beauty and grace. I left feeling uplifted and ready to face the day.

Elvis's Graceland . . .

The magnificent living room . . . I love the stained glass peacocks!

And this picture of Elvis . . .

Elvis promised his mother when he made it big he would bring her to live in a big house . . . this is the room he had added on to the house for his parents.

The dining room . . .

Picture of Priscilla and Lisa Marie . . .

The kitchen where many fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches were made . . .

The media room . . .

The billiard room . . .

The Tiki room with it's working waterfall at one end of the room . . .

Elvis's gold suit . . .

Just some of his hundreds of gold records and awards . . .

Priscilla's wedding gown . . .

The office where Elvis spent his days 'taking care of buiness' . . .

A beautiful tree standing on the 13 acres that comprise the estate . . .

At this point my camera decided it's memory was full so I couldn't take pictures of the beautiful memorial garden at Graceland where Elvis, his parents and grandmother rest. There's even a plaque commemorating Elvis's twin brother. Graceland is a beautiful place to visit and definitely a step back in time . . . when Elvis ruled as the 'King' of Rock n' Roll.

After Graceland my Dad and I hit the highway and made our way to my sister's. We arrived at about 10 pm and after a quick visit, I went to bed, totally exhausted. After the weekend I went with my Dad to the Poodle Rescue where he had rescued his little dog 'Buddy' a few years earlier. Dad wanted to show the people there how far Buddy had come from when he was adopted.

I hadn't intended on getting a dog (as you know I have three already), but I just couldn't resist walking through the kennel. There, looking up at me, was the cutest little thing and I knew I was in trouble. Long story short, I adopted this little munchkin and flew him home with me. We renamed him Bailey (after Bailey's Irish Cream - my favorite drink) and because, well he has the coloring of Bailey's Irish Cream!

Bailey has made himself quite at home. All three of my other dogs accepted him without any kind of fuss and I'm relieved in the fact that he doesn't seem bothered by the birds and vice versa. It's as if he's always been here. I wonder if this was the reason the psychic I saw several months ago told me I 'needed' to go on this trip. Hmmmm . . .

Anyway, it's good to be home, settling back into my own routine and also getting ready for my friend Sharon's visit next weekend. It's going to be fun to share Halloween and Samhain with her and I'm really looking forward to her visit, which is a whole other story that I'll share with you at another time. For now, enjoy your day and . . .