Yule decorating . . .

Wow! I can't believe we're already at the end of November. Where does the time go? I've been so busy with classes and getting my business up and running that it seems the time has just slipped away. Although, that being said, it also seems as if time has been standing still. I've been waiting patiently (which is a feat in and of itself for me) to move into my new space at the Harbor Wellness Center. The time has finally come and I'm going over today to clean up and do some painting. I'm a jumble of feelings, mostly good and positive, but there's that little creak in the door and I'm trying hard to keep out the nagging doubts.

I have managed to set up my Yule altar and get the lights out on the house. Half of them won't work and so I find myself replacing them, on the cheap. I found two lighted wreaths at ACE yesterday for $2.99 and spent $13 on a new lighted garland for our light pole. We still need to replace (or fix) one of the net lights along the front hedge . . . I'm leaving that mess up to Brian along with stringing electrical cords to my lighted window boxes. Once everything is taken care of, I'll share some pictures.

Here are pictures of my altar . . . hope you enjoy!

Gloomy Day Decorating

Well, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's so delightful . . . okay, so I'm not really a singer, but I try! Anyway, the weather here really is frightful, it's gloomy and raining and I'm trying to find ways to keep myself from giving in to the melancholy that's sitting just below the surface of my being. I'm doing pretty well by keeping my thoughts positive and of course, when all else fails, there's always a bit of decorating that can be done!

I'm always amazed at how an altar or in this case, garden window theme, comes together considering I always start out thinking I haven't got a thing to wear . . . or, ummm . . . a thing to decorate with. I started out by removing all the items and giving the window a good cleaning. Then I placed back the owls and green glass candy dishes. I added my favorite teacup, a tealight lamp that's been sitting in my basement for ages, a bit of greenery, some crystals and the glass dome that I didn't have a thing to stick under. Then inspiration struck! Why not fill it with pinecones?! And so I did. Voila! A beautiful new decorative scene for me to enjoy whilst I get dishpan hands doing dishes.

I hope you enjoyed this little break from the stroll and hope you'll be back again tomorrow for Day 9 of Stroll the Shops for Christmas!

'A Fanciful Twist' Halloween Blog Party

I'm so glad you stopped by today! Before we start the party I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Vanessa at 'A Fanciful Twist' for hosting this party! Be sure to stop by 'A Fanciful Twist' and partake of Vanessa's yummy post as well as links to all the other party participants!

I'm taking a bit of a different route this Halloween/Samhain. I've been intrigued with the colors of Black and Cream ever since I saw a layout in the fall Better Homes and Gardens magazine (I really need to purchase that copy!). It was gorgeous and it inspired me to create outside-of-the-box . . .

This time of year always makes me turn introspective and especially so since I turned 50 last year. I'm beginning to shrug off the old stereotypes of women being past their prime and over-the-hill. I certainly don't feel that way. In fact I feel better than ever and wiser too.

Season of the Crone

Crone of Winter's spellbound cold,
in Her cauldron of black are told
secrets ancient, truths and tales:
mystery Her light unveils.

She is wisdom, She is changes:
time and space She rearranges.
In Her hands, the card of Death,
for transformation is Her breath.

Crone of Winter, Grandmother wise,
look into Her gargoyle eyes.
Let Her lessons teach you well:
life is but a magick spell.

by
Gerina Dunwich

And as this time of year always does, it conjures up images of Witch's with warts on their noses, wearing pointy hats and flying on broomsticks . . . I think it's about time to leave those out-dated images behind . . .

. . . and relish a new image of the Crone . . .

"[The Crone] holds an unspeakable wisdom in the very cells of her body. The beauty and the horror of all life are held together in love. Being with her . . . we begin to see everything from two sides - the side that is totally in life, and the side that is already dwelling in disembodied soul. The Crone helps us hold the paradox."
~ Marion Woodman ~

I hope you enjoyed visiting today and have fun popping around to all the other delights waiting for you!

Mabon Blessings

Well, best laid plans . . . I was going to prepare a lovely feast for my husband and I tonight to celebrate Mabon, but he's in San Franciso this week at a conference. So I guess I'll make the feast on Saturday so that we can enjoy it together.

I was able to get my outside decorating finished yesterday just in time for the first day of Autumn today. The store where I purchased the corn stalks from just got them in yesterday morning so they're nice and fresh!

Tonight I'll have a light supper and then after the birds are in bed, I'll perform my rituals. I'll be performing a ritual to the Dark Mother, Demeter, as she's represented at this time of year, and her daughter Persephone.

The ritual welcomes the Dark Mother, and celebrates that aspect of the Goddess which we may not always find comforting or appealing, but which we must always be willing to acknowledge. It's a lovely ritual and one that honors Demeter and celebrates the Autumn Equinox.

I'll also be performing a Self-Dedication tonight which I'm looking forward to. Since the moon will be full tonight, and a time for new beginnings, I decided that now would be a good time to dedicate myself to my new path.

Mabon Altar

I found the Pilgrims at a lovely shop that I frequent and thought why not use them to represent the Goddess and God? I have pine cones sitting along the top of the altar, a basket of apples, pomegranates, a bundle of wheat, a loaf of whole grain bread and candles in the colors of the harvest. It's a beautiful altar and I'm looking forward to sharing it with Brian on Saturday.

An offering of pomegranates to Demeter.

The maple leaf rose bouquet I made the other day.

May the blessings of Autumn be upon you as you celebrate Mabon.