What to do with Unwanted Candy

Image Source

 So in our family Tootsie rolls are the "leftovers". No one wants to eat them for some reason. Unless they come in a sucker. Then DD will fight over them. At least until she's ate all the sugary goodness off of them.

So what can we do with tootsie rolls? Well you can make a sphinx like our creative friend here at ericfaller.com did. Or, you can cook with them!

Re-purposing tootsie rolls is a good way for them to be happily eaten. I know in my house I hate to throw any food away! It comes from not having much food as a kid. Throwing any food away is a travesty in my mind. After all there are plenty of others in the world that would very much love to have what you are all too willing to throw in the garbage.

Here is a fudge recipe using tootsie rolls. Taste of Home Tootsie Roll Fudge This looks so yummy! Here is a Tootsie roll rice Krispies treat. Oh yum! I think I might have to do this one. This same site also has a Tootsie roll devils food cake.

Who says you shouldn't play with your food? You could make a tootsie roll rose.

What kind of candy sits around in your home? And what do you do with it?

31. How do You Wish To Be Buried?

~Magickal Graphics~ Happy Halloween and I hope everyone has a blessed Samhain! I thought I'd talk today about how you wish to be buried once you reach your final end. I know death isn't often a topic people wish to discuss. I know I don't want to dwell on it. But all must come to an end, and that end is smoother sailing for our relatives if there is a plan made. I admit, I don't have a will. And I'm not sure my husband has any idea what I really want. But now that I'm publishing it here, its certainly going to be available for all to read just in case.

I use to say I didn't want to be cremated. I mean witch equals big burning fire! Hello? Didn't my ancestor get similar treatment? OK well bad example, she was hung. But somehow burning my body had less appeal. But then I thought about it some more.

Cremation has a long history. Historians believe it started approximately 3000 B.C in Europe.**Source It was only with the early Christians that we begin to see burials become popular.

So here is how I want my burial to go. When I die, I do want to be cremated. But I do not want an elaborate urn or a big funeral. I want those people who mattered most to me to scatter my ashes to the 4 winds and 4 elements. Keeping only a small vial of ashes for each person to carry with them as the 5th Spirit element. I'll leave my family to decide exactly where to scatter my ashes. But I would like them to visit a different state for each direction.

• In the North, Somewhere in Ohio. My ashes should be mixed with Earth and left in the corn fields my husband all too often teases me for loving so much.
•  East can be somewhere on the East Coast. My ashes should be mixed with sea water. Because in life I may not be able to visit the sea, but in spirit I will visit often.
•  West, well I won't make them go to the coast, but as far west as they'd like to go. Just reach a high point, and let air carry me away.
•  South, my old Kentucky Home. Build a fire somewhere in the woods with my ashes. Roast some marshmallows, and hear me laugh and dance around the fire.

And I have a poem I'd like them to read aloud.

Do Not Stand at my Grave

Do not stand at my brave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on a ripened grain,

I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning rush,

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

This is apart of 31 days of Samhain

 

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Samhain with Friends

So tonight we did Samhain at Innana's Spiritual Center. Lynn had a beautiful ritual prepared. I helped by calling a corner (North). We honored our ancestors in a private setting. I ate a portion of a lemon in honor of my grandfather. When I was a kid every weekend that I visited my grandfather, he would take me to the truck stop restaurant. My grandmother would order tea with lemon. I'd always eat the lemon and my grandfather would get a pucker on his face and say EW stop eating that. I did it to get that very reaction and it became a game over the years for us. So each year to honor and if I'm being truthful annoy him, I eat a portion of a lemon. I know anytime I do, he's standing there telling me to stop eating the nasty lemon. ;)

After ritual we all mingled and talked. Someone there was talking about if you've had a c-section that your energy ends at the scar. I don't really believe that. But do we have any readers that believe this or have heard of this belief? I suppose if you believe that your nerves is what carries the energy it could be true. I don't though. It was just interesting to hear another perspective.




~Magickal Graphics~





And a special Thank you to my DD. She babysat for me and earned an extra $5 for her allowance. :)

The Ultimate Chick Flick

 

You have to admit its true! lol

30. Share or write a guided Samhain meditation.

A Samhain Guided Meditation

By: SalemWitchChild

Oct 23, 2011

Lets begin by sitting in a comfortable position. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Become aware of each part of your body starting from your toes. Relax each muscle as you work your way up to your ankles, calves, knees, hops, arms, hands, fingers, shoulders, and neck. 

See yourself sitting in your home next to a window. You look out that window and see a willow tree with a Raven sitting in its branches. The Raven calls to you and invites you to the other realm. 

You walk outside and stand before the Raven and the willow tree. The Raven spreads his wings and the leaves of the tree transform into a shimmering doorway. This is the Samhain veil between worlds. 

The Raven calls you to follow as he enters the veil; you follow. 

On the other side you see the street of your childhood home. Ahead you see your ancestors are waiting for you outside of your home. Each have a message for you. Some just wish to be remembered, others have a message or advice to give. Listen to your ancestors and ask any questions you have now. 

The Raven calls and awaits you at the door to the veil. It is time for you to give your thanks to your ancestors for their love and advice. You follow the Raven through the shimmering veil once again. 

On the side of the living, you face the Raven and the willow tree and give thanks for their assistance. The Raven calls and promises to open the Samhain veil next year. 

Begin coming aware of your breathing and your body. Move your neck, arms, hands, fingers, legs, and toes one by one. You become more aware of your surroundings and finally are awake. Remember each message your ancestors gave you. Write them down so that you may reflect upon their advice. 

I hope you have had a wonderful visit with your ancestors. 

Blessed Be

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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29. Ever lived or stayed in a Haunted houses?

The Winchester House

Well I suppose I should have saved my last post for this one. If you haven't read it, I have a picture of an old road house I use to live in. Other than that house I can't say I've ever lived in another haunted house. Nor have I stayed in one. I would love to visit some though! Not the commercial haunted houses. But some that have sparked my interest is The Winchester House. I love watching the travel and history channels. So the story of Mrs. Winchester and all of the interesting rooms she added to it over the years would be interesting to just explore for hours.

I'd love to visit old castles and ruins too. They all spark my interest and I just know if I went there I'd be able to feel all kinds of energy and spirits.

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28. Have you ever had an experience with Spirits?

To say I have experience with spirits is frankly an understatement. I've been seeing them all my life. I remember as a child waking up to find someone leaning over my bed. They'd just be a shadow most of the time. Though once in awhile I'd get more detail. I'd later learn that sometimes they'd talk to me if I listened. I was always afraid of them until I was about 15 and began learning more about them.

This is the old roadhouse we lived in. We found it like this 

and 

cleaned it up. Image Source

When we moved to Kentucky we lived in a house that had about 200 years of history. It use to be an old "road house". If you don't know what that is, think bars and loose women! When we first moved there the elderly neighbor told us a lot of the history. It was known to be a bit rowdy and she had danced on the table tops in her youth. Shortly thereafter she went to live in a nursing home but we were always grateful to hear her retell its history. The house had a lot of activity in it. You could smell pipe smoke sometimes. (No one smoked a pipe in our home) My mother reported seeing two spirits. One was a Native American, another a civil war soldier. We found several arrow heads at the side of the house. We think that someone dumped gravel there and they were in that, but we can't be sure. We had enough to fill two trash barrels though!

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How did you choose the name for your blog?

When I first started my blog I really couldn't come up with anything but "Salem's Creations". I knew it had to have something to do with my username, SalemWitchChild. I've used the name for several years. Just google it and you can find me all over the net. But I didn't want it to just be SWC's blog. I consider myself to be a crafty woman. I just don't feel like I am crafty right now. I want to get back to sewing, I want to make my candles again, and I want to do more writing. And lately I'd love to try to crochet! I just don't have the $ to invest in materials and books on how to do it.

I have been doing some writing (Mostly for this blog) but I know I could be doing more if I had more motivation and time. Having a 5 month old limits what I can do.

I just feel like I haven't lived up to the name of the blog. What do you think? How did you come up with the name of your blog? If your not happy with it, would you ever change it?

27. Samhain with the Kids

Samhain is right around the corner and that means its time for my favorite holiday! Every year I've taken off work for Halloween to prepare for Samhain. This year since I'm not working I won't need to do that. This year, money is tight so we won't be able to do our normal 2+ Jack o Lantern carvings. So I'm looking for some inexpensive ideas for Samhain.

For those readers not in the know. Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne) is the last of three harvest festivals. Its celebrated traditionally between OCT 31st and NOV 1st. It is the second time each year where the veil between worlds is thinner and we are able to communicate with our dead (The first being Beltane). It is a time to honor The Crone and our ancestors.

Sierra (My daughter) and I love to carve pumpkins for Samhain to scare away unwelcome spirits! So every year I spend at least a good day online finding exciting (and free) carving patterns. Perhaps this year instead of mutilating real pumpkins, we'll make our jack o lanterns out of paper. Or maybe we can find some other materials around the house. Anything round like a jar or ball would work. Obviously for those options we wouldn't use any heat source to light it.

Sierra as a Witch

Another thing I've loved to do is come up with an inexpensive option for dressing Sierra up. Last year we bought a witches hat and a wig. She wore an old dress and went Trick or Treating as a witch. By far this was my most favorite costume and it only cost me $5. Unfortunately in the move to Ohio the hat had an untimely death. So we'll need to come up with something new this year. Or perhaps I can convince her to stay home and hand out candy to the younger kids. That would make me a happy momma!

As far as the Samhain ritual, we are going to join up with Inanna's Spiritual Center. I've talked Rev. Lynn to do a ritual at her center. There is a small group that wants it to happen at the center too so hopefully it will be a night of ritual and companionship. I can't wait! We are doing it on the 30th so everyone can go without our jobs (For those who have them) and school interfering.

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Spiritual Commitment

Over on The Deepest Well, bloggers are talking about spiritual commitment. The question is if you've converted to Paganism from another religion, have you done a commitment ceremony, and renounced your previous faith? Or do you do a mix/mash of both faiths?

Aine says, "The "way" we find is not always our own creation.  
We are not always allowed to customize it. "


I disagree. I "label" myself as Eclectic Wiccan. The definition of Eclectic Wicca is: 

• A group or solitary may use a blend of beliefs and practices from several different pantheons 
• and traditions.
• A group could be an offshoot of an established tradition of Wicca, such as Gardnerian 
• orAlexandrian, but with modifications to their practice that make them no longer that
• original tradition.

• An individual may be creating his or her own tradition of beliefs and practices, and because
•  this system can't be defined as something else, it can be defined as eclectic.
• A solitary may be practicing what he or she has learned from publicly available sources on 
• Wicca, but not be using oathbound, initiatory material, and so recognizes that his or her practice is eclectic.

Now I never claimed another religion. I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where religion wasn't a "Birthright". Though I think my mother just assumed I'd be Christian, she never shoved it down my throat. Her version of teaching religion was throw a bible at me (literally) and say, "read this". I did read some of it, and most of it didn't sit well with me. However before I made the choice to label myself Eclectic Wiccan, I studied many different religions. My husband and other spiritual leaders in my life were instrumental in my education. In college I also took a theology class. 

Most religions have at least a few things I agree with. I find it easy to incorporate portions of many religions into my own practice. One of my biggest disagreements with organized religion is that I felt boxed in. There seemed to be so many rigid practices. IMO, our perception influences our reality. For example, one person might believe sage should be used to cleanse a home. If you don't have sage some might rush out to buy some before they can do a cleansing ceremony. For me, If I don't have sage, I'll use tobacco or some other herb. As long as my perception of that herb is a cleansing scent/smoke then it will do the job I'm performing. 

Aine says, 

"They want a certificate, a title.  They have barely performed a 
successful spell or seen on full turn of the wheel and suddenly 
they are teaching others. "

Well that is true. Everyone, especially but not limited to Americans, want instant gratification. However I don't believe that a "newbie" to the craft is unable to teach others. Yes their experience is limited so they will not be able to teach as much as someone who has been dedicated to the craft most of their life. But what is teaching if not the practice of exchanging ideas? They can certainly share their experience and knowledge thus far. If they are setting themselves up as a "Know it all, been there and done that, Pagan, then they are misrepresenting themselves and should be avoided. I'm certainly not saying that someone who has just completed a year and a day of commitment to Wicca should go write a book or start their own coven. 

I am saying that they can talk with family and friends about what they believe. If something they say influences or teaches the people they are in contact with something new, then all to the good. When I was first starting out one of my outlets was Yahoo Religion's chat. I certainly learned something new every day. I also taught a lot about my beliefs. The exchange of ideas is never wrong unless your misrepresenting the information as "The one truth" or more than you really know. 

Aine says, 

In my opinion, it's too easy to dedicate to something without 
having to forfeit something else.  There is no risk, nothing to lose and because of this, it's too easy to commit.

For me, there was nothing to renounce before committing to Eclectic Wicca. But what a person has been in their past will always be with them. If they truly believe a portion of that path, then no amount of saying, "I renounce thee" is going to change it. My husband use to be a Sunday school teacher. He left Christianity when his church refused to marry his mother and step-father. (Mixed race marriage) Though he claims no religion, he'll tell you that what he believes closely resembles Native American Shamanism. That doesn't mean portions of the bible he once believed is totally unimportant now. Personally, I find most of the 10 commandments to be pretty good rules to live by. 

In closing, I'd like to leave you with this quote. 

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach." ~ Tom Robbins

26. Talk about Halloween colors. Black

Black has a bad view of being evil or only about death. When we think of black the Grim Reaper might come to mind. For me, Black represents change. This change might be unwelcome. I might view it as positive or negative. But it's change that I cannot stop. Its neither evil or good. It just is.

I am a person who hates change. I like things the way they are and to move something or to change the rules just throws a wrench into my day. Take my  family for instance. Living with MIL/FIL is a challenge in and of itself. Given my MIL's propensity for changing the furniture and other items around the house, it gets a bit irritating when I no longer know where things go! That's a minor change though.

Black happens to be my favorite color, and not because we associate it with the Fall and Samhain. I like to wear it, I like to make black candles. One of my best candles I've made is a black Lilly of the Valley skull. I wish I had pictures of it! I made it for a co-worker years ago and I was so proud of it. Unfortunately I've misplaced the pictures of my candles.

Its late and I'm rambling. I apologize!

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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I felt the Need to Bake!

So I felt the need to bake something sweet and yummy today. I followed Dancing Barefoot's Snickerdoodle recipe. 

My materials. I wrote down the recipe for quick reference in the back of my BOS.

Mixture without the flour added. Buttery, but still yummy!

With the flour added. Come on who doesn't lick the bowl!

The sugar and Cinnamon mix. I tried to make a little heart for added love. :) I may not be a Kitchen witch but
I think I'm doing a pretty good job. 

Just a dollop of batter. :) 

And all lined up on the cookie sheet.

OK, I don't know why, but they spread out and don't look like cookies anymore. But they certainly
taste like it! 

And like a bloodhound, when DD came home the first thing she asked is,
"What smells so good."

YUM!

The end. I hope you enjoy a cookie today.

Silly Boy

For your viewing pleasure, this is what we wake up to every day. One silly boy who loves to ham it up for the camera. His new favorite thing is to click his tongue.

My Writing

I have various writings around the web. I thought I'd make a single post with links to everything.

Creation - A first person short story about God/Goddess and her walk through the creation and end times of Earth.

Dragon Love - An All Hallows Grim Blog party story.

Beating Down the Devil

Prologue
Chapter 1

Humanly Goddess - This one cannot be read. But there is a little bit about it on this website.

Please Note: The following are erotica stories. You will be transferred to Literotica, which is an erotic fiction website. 

Callista and Logan Reunite

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3

Susannah Demands Attention

November is Inspirational Quotes Month

I've decided that I'm making November Inspirational and Motivational Quotes month. Once a day I will post quotes I collect from around the web and share how they impact my life or why they resonate with me. As we gear up for Thanksgiving and Yule a lot of people fall into depression. I hope that if your one of these people who always go into a depression at this time that my quotes can help lift my readers spirit and get you into a more cheerful holiday mood.

The holiday season means we are spending more time with family and getting ready to cook for Thanksgiving. I'm not a very good chef so I'll leave the cooks to give you Thanksgiving ideas. But I'll also cover some craft ideas and one or two family recipe's.

Don't forget, you can like me on Facebook! I try to post at least once a day with my blog posts plus other blogs I find interesting or just daily thoughts on Facebook. So make sure you follow and who knows, maybe I'll do a little advertising for your blog too!

Hail & Merry Meet!

So Salem's Creations is being featured on the Witch Blog tour. So Awesome! My blog is relatively new but I have approximately 140 articles already! So sit back, relax and and welcome to my blog!

Here are some entries that I think you shouldn't miss.
Like my Facebook Page. That way you can get updates on my new posts right on your Facebook!

Read the About Me.

I love to write fiction, for the All Hallows Grim Blog Party I wrote a story called Dragon Love. Come check it out!

I've been doing the 31 Days Of Samhain. This is a party I started. Unfortunately I think only a few people picked it up. But I try to post their entries on the FB page and I make sure to read every one! Speaking of people I follow, I do follow a lot, but I make it a point to at least skim every entry. So if you follow me publicly, I will follow your blog too! Make sure I can find it.

• Remembering our Angel Baby
• Autobiography of my Granny
• The Journey (A Poem)
• My Breastfeeding Mommy Weakness
• The Perfect Marriage
• Energy Healing My Way
• The Importance of Grounding during Magickal Work
• The Unclear Path (A Poem)
• Thoughts on the Afterlife
• Soul Mates: My definition
• Living with a Bipolar Spouse
• Spiritual Protection
• Song & Meditation
• Salem's Elemental Meditations
• Air
• Earth
• Fire
• Water

There is plenty more content here. If your looking for something in particular you can use the search tool at the bottom of my blog in the Wibiya widget. If you don't see a topic you're searching for, please don't hesitate to email me and ask!


Also don't forget to grab my button. And if you email me at salemwitchchild@gmail.com and tell me you grabbed it, be sure to let me know where your button is and I'll add it to my scrolling list.


All day today I will have the chat room open. To enter click on "Join Chat". Its at the bottom right on the Wibiya toolbar. You can sign in with your FB or Twitter account. Looking forward to getting some visitors!

BB.

Robin

23. Share a Poem (written by you or someone else with credit) about Samhain/Halloween.

I wrote this poem in 2007 when I wanted to do babysitting in my home. I did get an interview to babysit one little boy, but it didn't work out. That's not to say this poem didn't work in ritual for me. It did bring me a little boy. It's just I was meant to do other things, and shortly thereafter I found a wonderful job that I loved doing even more than I would have loved babysitting.

So here it is,

Bring to me a person of means, 
who needs my service and works well with me. 


Whose children are wonderful and well behaved, 
who plays with Sierra and loves my name. 


I call to thee now notice my name, 
by the beginning of the new moon,


So mote it be

I know its not about Samhain, but there you have it. Maybe my writing will inspire someone today. :)

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I want to be a Gypsy

Living with my mother and then in March moved in with my MIL has gave me a whole new appreciation for MY household. I took it for granted before. I had forgot what it's like to live with other people and not be the "Top Mom" of the house. I keep looking on Craigslist at RV's for sale. There are a lot of them around here and for what your buying it's actually pretty cheap. Problem is we have two cars that wouldn't pull them.

I've told DH that I'd love to sell one car (IE The crappy car he bought earlier this year that I hate and wish he'd never bought), and try to get a truck to pull a camper with. DH has a collection of Kiss and Comic books that is well over 2K. Maybe we could find someone to trade.

I just really want out of this house and into our own space again. I think living like a Gypsy could be fun! Hell and maybe it would unplug us for a bit and get us into doing something more nature like. DH hates fishing and camping but I love it.

I see this as an inexpensive option but I think DH thinks I'm just joking. I'm really not! Though camping in winter might not be the best of options, it would certainly work!

What do you think? Doable solution or am I crazy?

22. Samhain Divination. Draw one Tarot card and tell us how it relates to your life.

Source

The 6 of cups: This card represents opening the heart to the simple pleasures of life. This card reminds us to follow the simple joy of youth and innocence. It teaches us to be in harmony with natural forces and allow old friends to enter our life again.

This card makes a lot of sense to me. This year has been all about change and getting back to my husbands (and mine) childhood homes. Though my family in Ohio is not on speaking terms, I do still consider Ohio to be "The homeland". Really, I have two home states, because although I will gladly bitch about how backward Kentucky really is, I've grown fond of it over the years.

As far as the "simple pleasures", well I could read that in a lot of ways. Earlier I said I want to live like a gypsy. That would involve bringing the simple pleasures back to our life. We wouldn't have access to things like cable TV or the Internet. Both things Dh and I both love and find it difficult to live without. Yet there is a certain health benefit (Both spiritual and physical) of unplugging and being closer to nature. I've long said that I believe embracing our faith more and getting back to nature are going to be how Dh's mental illness is maybe not cured, but controlled.

I suppose what will be will be. I'm trusting in the Lord & Lady to guide us. I'm sure she will. But like anyone now, I'm impatient to get things moving! I have a feeling around the first of the year things will turn around for us. Which isn't soon enough for me. But we shall see.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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Update on Job Search

First I'd like to thank everyone who sent out their love and energy to help me find a job. As someone not accustomed to outside help, any thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.

The position I interviewed for yesterday just wasn't right for me. The staffing service was not accurate in their description of the job. I was thinking it was a clerical position. Its not. I would have been required to enter some data into their computers, but I would mainly be checking in mail and restocking their inventory which would require heavy lifting. Sorry to say but my back and feet just can't handle that kind of work anymore. I did a manufacturing job for a lot of years and toward the end of that job I was in a lot of pain. My husband was able to do some of the lifting for me so I never quit because of the pain, but if he hadn't of been there to take up the slack I would have left for that reason. I have a lot of experience in that area, and since It was a skilled job I could have made more money if I went for it again. But I won't because of the pain.

I guess I failed to inform the staffing service that a manufacturing job just isn't for me. Though to be fair, I said I am looking for clerical!

The job does sound excellent for my husband. So we are going to make sure they see his resume' again. Hopefully we can get him an interview. I know he would be good at it and the company sounds like a good one. So more love and energy for him would be a blessing!

24. What are you doing to prepare for winter?

It's hard to prepare for winter when you don't have your own house to prepare. We do have two cars though. Which reminds me, time to remind DH to "winterize" the cars; whatever that means. I pretend not to know much about cars, and DH does all the work. Perfect solution for me! *giggle*.

For winter, I'd love to be harvesting and stocking food. Buying or better yet making quilts, repairing or replacing winter clothing, etc.. Due to our living arrangement, I can't do those things. What I really need, is a home!

Can you tell the past few days I've been really irritated with our living arrangement? That's because MIL is irritated, which makes me irritated. I don't handle conflict well, even when its a "passive" conflict. She's not being rude or mean. But she's gone on a cleaning spree, rearranged our room, and then "jokingly" said if it's not kept to her standards she will throw away our stuff. I hate this passive aggressive crap. But I hate shouting and fighting even more. As a kid I suffered in a home with that kind of environment and I never wanted that for me or my kids again.

It's past time for us to be out of this house, but were stuck. HELP! I need someone to hand me a winning lotto ticket. Not that I'm not willing to work for what I want. But every time I try I don't seem to be getting anywhere.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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20. Tell us a Tale about an Ancestor of yours who has passed.

I've already wrote about my grandfather, who was a soldier in WWII. I'd like to point you to an older post of mine to tell his story. You may read it at...

My Grandfather was a Son of Biche'

On his personal side, my grandfather was on big hulk of cuddly bear love. I just remember him as a non threatening, very comfy man who I loved dearly. When visiting his house I only went to visit him and my great granny. I never understood how such a wonderful kind man could be married to such a horrid abusive wife. He would get screamed at by my grandmother and he'd just sit there patiently listening. Then comment in a mild almost bored manor about whatever topic she was going off on. He certainly taught me a lot about how to handle conflict and patience. He had a lot more than I do!

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Happy Birthday Sierra Belle!

Today is my daughter's birthday. I can't believe my baby doll is 10 years old! She has brought us such joy. When I was pregnant with Sierra my husband and I discussed the qualities we hoped she'd inherit. He wanted her to have his personality and my looks. Well she does have my looks, except she has his eyes. And unfortunately she has my timid personality as well. I know how hard it is to learn to stick up for yourself. Its really hard to do when you don't want to hurt anyone and would rather be hurt yourself than cause another person pain. I learned the hard way that I had to protect myself. Sierra hasn't learned that lesson yet.

Since our current finances prohibit us from buying her anything, we are taking her to the pumpkin festival in Circleville, OH. She's also requested I make her a chocolate cake to be presented at the time she gets off the bus on her birthday. lol. I think I can manage that!

I also have a job interview today, so hopefully I will have even better news once I get home.

Edited to ADD:

Well I am home from the interview and I declined the position. More on that later. But we had a little birthday thing, I don't want to call it a party because it wasn't, for my daughter. Here are some pictures.

The Cake. Its a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing.

Daddy & Sierra

Sierra & me

The cakes on fire! lol. Please excuse the dirty dishes! 

A Good Energy Request

Hello everyone! I'd like to ask my readers to send good energy, thoughts, prayers for me tomorrow. I have a second interview at 1:30. I hope this job is right for me and I impress the company. We need the money so we can get off of assistance and find our own place. I know we are all tired of living with MIL. Its time to move on!

If you could please just keep me in your good wishes and send lots of positive energy I'd appreciate it! While I feel sad that if I get this job I will no longer be a SAHM, it's really past time I re-enter the work force. I do feel better that Dh will be a SAHD. It's important to me that Wyatt have at least one of us here. He is going to try to get disability which will take awhile to get. Money will still be tight even if I get the job, but it will help!

Thank you very much.

Robin

19. A Samhain Resolution

I've thought about this for a few days. Normally for a New Years resolution I say I make a resolution to not make more resolutions. Because inevitably I always don't carry through with my plans. I know my many flaws. I'm obese, I eat too many munchies, I'd like to fix my teeth, I have too many bills that need paid. There are several improvements I could do in my life. But inevitably they never get done for some reason or another.

Last year I finally decided I'd had enough of being overweight. So I joined curves and went on a diet. I charted how many calories I ate every day through Sparkpeople.com. I drank only water most of the time. Those times I did allow myself to indulge in Pepsi (My Achilles heel!) I kept it to one 8 oz can with dinner. I was doing anywhere from 1200 - 1500 calories per day which is what the trainer at curves suggested for me. I wasn't there long, maybe 5 weeks. I lost only 5 lbs. But the important thing is that I was starting to feel great. I had a routine, I was sticking to it, and I even began to look forward to my time at Curves.

Then we went to a family BBQ and the kids wanted to ride a horse. My mother owned a 25yr old Shetland Pony. He was barn sour*. We tried to lunge him but the little shit was lazy too. Needless to say he bucked, I grabbed the kid, the pony took off and knocked me down. I twisted my ankle and turns out I had chipped my foot yet again. I had chipped my other foot the year before on slick ice. I had to be off my foot for almost a month. I needed physical therapy, crutches, then a boot for awhile. I took off work because I couldn't drive with the boot on. Needless to say my weight loss routine was derailed. I did plan to get back to my weight loss plan, and then I got pregnant with Wyatt. Knowing that I was considered high risk because I've had a miscarriage before, I didn't want to take the chance of loosing our son by doing a weight loss plan.

So how does this relate to a Samhain resolution? Well, I make the resolution that I'll loose the weight sometime. It won't be today, not even tomorrow. But when I feel it's right to join a gym again (Because I need that kind of motivation) and when I have my own home again, I'll begin!

And as far as changing those other things, well with money maybe I will be able to change those too. But until then, I am beautiful in my own way and I'm happy with my life now.

Ponyboy, who was responsible for breaking my foot.
He is now re-homed with a no-child family.

*Barn Sour is when a horse will buck or rear and then race to the barn rather than be worked or rode. It happens when they haven't been rode in a long time and are use to staying in the barn or paddock.

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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18. What God(dess) do you involve in your Samhain rites?

Source

I don't believe its absolutely necessary to involve a specific deity in rituals. I've mentioned before that I am connected to Isis, but for Samhain I don't really work with her. I don't know why, her connection to life, death, and rebirth is strong. For Samhain, if I'm working solitary, I simply use "The Universal Energy". Or just Lord and Lady. If my husband is working with me, we may use The Great Spirit. All of them work for me. As long as I'm able to connect with that divine energy I don't believe it's important what we call it. 

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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