Countdown to new babies!!!

We have two new (furry) family members coming tomorrow.... and I can't wait!  Despite the pain in my ear (I keep dosing myself with advil - I think I have an ear infection :-(  I finally remembered batteries while out shopping so pictures will be posted!

Blessed be,
Cam

;-) & Geronimo!

Remember McIntyre's First Law:

"Under the right circumstances,

anything I tell you may be wrong."

It is also wise to remember
O'Brien's First Corollary to McIntyre's First Law:

"We don't know what the right circumstances are, either."

----- )O( -----

I just completed Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton.  I've read a few others in the series (I plan to read more...just have to get there!) and they're great!  Intended for the tween age (and good for reluctant readers), the series follows the adventures and travels of Geronimo Stilton (of New Mouse City, Mouse Island), a best-selling mouse author and editor of the "Rodent's Gazette."  Filled with tons of full-colour illustrations and pop-out words (i.e. in the sentence, "he walked by..." walked would be an illustrated/coloured word), the series provides a fun escape into various landscapes, times, cultures and creatures.  Running to almost 50 books (including the new graphic novel sub-series), this latest installment provides just as much fun and excitement!  The five/six stories included in the Kingdom of Fantasy "collection" can be read individually (as such, they're each probably half the size as a regular Geronimo Stilton book), or together as part of the ongoing plot (though the book itself is probably twice the size of a regular G.S. book).  However it's read, it's sure to be enjoyed!

----- )O( -----

Blessed be!

Cam

Blogger Love & Companion Blog

Favourite posts from various bloggers...

Caroline Gonzalez at http://magickshop.wordpress.com/

November 25, 2009 : Recycling Tips for Greener Witchery
November 23, 2009 : Herbal Cookies Recipe
November 8, 2009 : Votive Candles Made with Recycled Wax
October 10, 2009 : Free BOS Halloween Page for You!
September 19, 2009 : Peach Delights (includes recipes for "Peach Jam" and "Peach and Muesli Pockets" - yum!)

----- )O( -----

I've also started a companion blog - the The Witch's Cat Recipes.  I'm planning to store all the recipes I've tried (and want to try - guess which list is longer ;-)  and will add pictures of completed dishes when I get around to it. 

Already included (or will be in the next couple of days): Apple Crisp, Banana Bread, Bannock at Bows and Arrows, Black-and-White Cheesecake Squares, Chocolate Crinkles, Gingerbread Cake, Gingersnap Cookies, Lemon Blueberry Bread, Puff Pastry Wrapped Brie.

It's almost the full moon, but the cloud cover's heavy (and it's raining), so She's not very visible! :-(

Blessed be,
Cam

In the Kitchen...

Since M is still unwell, dinner is only being made for one (well, one and two four-legged bums... ;-) tonight - though with both of us having different working times, that's usually the norm....  I picked up a small half ham at the store (maple flavoured - yum!) and it's been cooking in the over with a few onion slices, salt and pepper added to the water.  Now that I'm comfortable making it this way, I would like to do some variations (I'm planning on doing some web searching after dinner!). 

I'm also having mashed potatoes - and I'm experimenting tonight!  I put in the usual milk and margarine, as well as some grated cheese, cream cheese, and parsley.  I put in a little too much milk, but it worked out in the end - nice and whippy!  It could have had a little more parsley (but I didn't want to overdo it!), and maybe something else...just not quite sure what! ;-)

I was going to bake for dessert, but forgot to pick up cocoa powder (there wasn't enough in the can at home) when I was at the grocery store.  I found a recipe that I want to try for "Black-and-White Cheesecake Squares" in an issue of "Martha Stewart" magazine - the picture looks absolutely delectable.  Since I'm working all weekend, it'll have to wait... :-(

I found a new blog today "Octoberfarm" - and I so want to try the recipe given for buns as well as the one for cobbler (and the berry jams and the butterscotch blondies ... :-)

Blessed be!
Cam

Recent Reads: Conway's Wicca

I'm slowly working my way through this tomb of a book (it's a full-sized trade paper just shy of 500 pages), reading chapters (which are generally short, especially in the first and second parts) in short spurts.  While it has some useful, basic information ranging from lists of various gods and goddesses to a dream dictionary, what I really like are the study questions/exercises given at the end of each chapter.  I'm planning to work through them...eventually ;-) 

Although I don't agree with some of the opinions and views expressed within the book, the author gives ample warning: 

"This book reflects my personal approach....  I do not pretend to have the ultimate word on Wicca, nor the only views available.  My views and opinions will not necessarily be those of other Witches or Pagans, nor should they be." (p. ix)

All resources are biased in some way or another, and this one is no different. 

Blessed be,
Cam

Links: Green, Kitchen, Hedge, Solitary, and Miscellaneous

Links found while fiddling around on Yahoo Canada Directory after work.  Will look at them later in more detail (I'm off Friday, but work all weekend), but the "Lady of the Earth" looks promising...  Joined Witchvox and posted a profile (which, of course, I've already edited a dozen times!).  I should post a pic, but have to find (or take!) a decent one - ha ha!  [ed. I've copied my profile from Witchvox and posted it here under "A Little Bit of Me" - Cam]

Very rainy all day today - surprised I don't have a headache again from the pressure.   

Blessed be,
Cam

----- )O( -----

Green Witchcraft
"Ann Moura's Garden" - Contains information about nature spirits, divination, elementals, and herbs.
http://www.annmourasgarden.com/

Hedge Witchcraft
"Granny's Grimoire: A Hedge Witch Handbook" - Provides information about witch bottles, midwifery, tarot divination, and love potions.
http://www.unicorngarden.com/grimoire.htm
"The Hedge Witch's Garden" blog
http://hedgewitchsgarden.blogspot.com/

Kitchen Witchcraft
"Kitchen Witch" - Offering handcrafted soaps, lotions, incense candles, and potions.
http://www.kitchenwitch.com/

Solitary Study
"Blue Moon Wicca: Solitary Study" - Spiritual guide for those not working with a coven.
http://bluemoonwicca.org/solitary.html
"CollegeWicca.com: Solitary Sabbat Activities" - Holiday ideas for the solo Wiccan.
http://www.collegewicca.com/collegefiles/solitarysabbats.html
"Crystal Forest: Tips for Solitary Practitioners"
http://crystalforest1.homestead.com/tips.html

Other Resources
http://www.ladyoftheearth.com/listing-page.html

Backyard Birds

The feeder is as popular as ever - especially after it's been refilled!  I love standing at the kitchen window watching the birds...  Betsy (the cat) likes to chat at them from the front window, while Charlie (the dog) keeps a very close eye on the squirrels from any perch he can get... ;-)

I noticed a lone female Northern Cardinal when I got up Sunday morning (just sitting on the branch), but haven't seen her (or the male) since.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cardinal

We still get the clan of fat, little House Sparrows who squabble over feeding positions...

Source:  http://barrettswanderings.blogspot.com/2009/06/birding-in-chicago.html

...And the Black-Capped Chickadee's are getting braver!  I saw four of them taking turns yesterday, coming in to sit on a branch, taking a nibble, and then flying away again.  I usually hear them before I see them... 

Source: http://animal.discovery.com/guides/wild-birds/a-c/black-capped-chickadee.html

A lone Dark-Eyed Junco was back as well, nibbling on the feed that I put on the ground (since the Sparrows hog the actual feeder - we really need two - or more...)

Source: http://www.pictures-of-birds.info/page/2/

The pair of Blue Jay's came in during the late morning.  They chase everyone away, even the Sparrows!  But they tend to stay less than a minute or two (and they tend never to linger for the whole feeding session longer than half an hour), so the smaller birds come back during the breaks.  One Jay tried to feed from the feeder, but he ended up tumbling upside-down!  The pair then decided to feed from the ground as well...

Source: http://mygoodnewsfirst.com/Mission.html

...As did the quartet of Mourning Dove's that came in about mid-afternoon.  But then the squirrels decided it was time for them to eat, and they scared the Dove's away!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove

And then I noticed a new visitor to the feeder...

Source: http://www.wildbirdhabitatstore.com/index.php?_a=viewDoc&docId=49

A Red-Breasted Nuthatch!
At first I thought he was a chickadee, but then I noticed the orange belly and grey wings and smaller head stripes.  He's a fast little bugger (much like the chickadee's), and I saw him at one point hanging upside-down from a branch!

Of course, the squirrels came in to get their share as well.  The grey's are bolder than the small black's, who will feed along with the sparrow's and the bigger birds (the grey ones just scare everyone away!)

As I was looking for pictures of squirrels, I stumbled across articles as well.  I didn't realize that the Eastern Grey Squirrel and the Black Squirrel are the same species - the black ones are just a variation of the Eastern Grey!  The black's really do look smaller, but then maybe it's because the grey squirrels seem so much more fluffier...

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Squirrel , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_squirrel

Since I have to get my butt in gear (to get ready for work), I think that's all for now! 

Blessed be,

Cam