Most Important Ancestor Item

Grandfather's WWII wooden carved horse.

What is the most important item in your life? Is this something you might risk your life over? If there was a house fire and everyone was safe and I had time to get this item out of the house without major risk to my life, the above horse statue would be it. To others it's just a piece of carved wood. Pretty but otherwise nothing special right? To me it is everything associated with my grandfather.

Grandpa was a WWII veteran. Click link to learn more about his role in WWII. When he came back from the war he brought this horse with him. It originates from Germany though I don't know much more about it. After the war Grandpa kept it in his bedroom on top of his dresser. Each weekend that I visited the first thing I would do is go to his bedroom with him and he would show me the horse and tell me he brought it back from the war. He would remind me that one day when he died I would have this horse to remember him by. I wanted that horse right then. I always begged to take it home but he always denied me.

In 1994 I was living in Kentucky at the time. We learned that my grandfather had lung cancer and not much time left to live. So I went to Ohio to stay with my grandparents for awhile. In mid-December, my grandfather died. When my mother picked me up to take me back to Kentucky I was given a box and told not to open it until we got home. All the way home I held that box in my lap. I knew what it was and to be honest it disgusted me. When I finally did open the box I just wanted to give it back. If I gave it back, maybe it would bring my grandfather home. Of course I was old enough to know that wouldn't have been the case. I felt guilty for receiving something I really wanted only after someone I loved died.

Today the horse has an honor on my ancestor alter. (When I have the space for an altar that is). The horse along with a slice of lemon are symbols of my grandfathers presence. The lemon is because when I visited my grandfather we also had another tradition of going out to eat. My grandmother would have tea with lemon on the side. I would eat the lemon and my grandfather would tell me not to eat it because he could taste the bitter flavor of the lemon. I'd always laugh and eat it anyway.

I write this post today because for some reason this horse and my grandfather are on my mind. I have this irrational fear that I've lost the horse. Because I live with MIL most of my things are packed away. The important items went in boxes and is scattered throughout MIL's house. I haven't seen this horse in a year and I suppose that is the problem. Once in awhile I like to hold it, dust it off and commune with it for a bit. It's my way to recharge its energy. I haven't been able to do that for too long. I suppose I'll have to find it and set up the ancestor altar even for a short time.

Is there an item that is very important to you? Please share what it is and if you use it in your religious practice.

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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10. Suggest a website or book about Samhain

I really like Lulu.com for some books. It gives novice writers or those who don't wish to go to mainstream publishing a way to get their book out there. Some may be great writers but just don't want the whole exhausting experience of finding an agent/publisher.

The first book I'd like to share is:

Samhain in the Kitchen. This book gives good recipes plus your kids can color in the book! You get a two for one! Hey in this economy doubling up is a good way to save. :)

The next book is:

Circle Time: Samhain. This book includes activities for parents to do with their kids.

Another story plus coloring book is:

Samhain Comes to Willowgrove


I hope you enjoy!

This is apart of 31 Days of Samhain

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