Short Today...

Good Morning!!!
       Today is going to be short, since I am determined to get some crafts, homework, and housework done. Just sitting here staring at my sink and wiggling my nose for the past 30 mins has not worked and I might be permanently cross-eyed if I keep this up. So,  grudgingly I shall pick myself up and go get dressed. Yes, I am still in pajamas but you can't blame I'm only on my third cup coffee, motivation for clothes takes at least four cups. The happiness, though, is that my grandmother was nice enough to drop off some yarn and a knitting needle yesterday, so me and little miss might learn something new today!!:) I wanted to find a quiet project, so I'm going to give it a shot.........
       Ok, just refilled got to get moving. I will take the time to post the video I found this morning which added another project to my ever-growing list. Much love to CharmingPixieFlora, this was a great easy looking video. Hope everyone has a good day!!!

Homeschooling the Little Ones

Good Morning Everyone!
          Today I'm thinking intellectually. It amazes me that so many parents have begun leaving all education up to the school systems, when learning begins long before our children ever get put in a classroom setting. As soon as our little ones are brought into this world they begin learning. Every experience is a new one to them and before everyone starts thinking I'm crazy and trying to teach my 20 month old trigonometry, let me explain.
          Newborns and little babies are learning trust from you. The whole let your baby cry it out thing always has bothered me. Yes, after leaving our babies in a room by themselves in the dark they will cry till they fall asleep and after a couple nights they will just quit crying when they are used to that routine. But, what are you really teaching that child? They don't just stop crying because they know it is bedtime, they stop because they learn not to depend on you to come anyway, so what's the point. I understand, sometimes, a mother just needs to walk away and regroup. Take a breath before putting back on our mommy battle gear and spreading butt cream under our eyes as warrior paint, before walking back into the line of fire. Yes, when you begin talking like this, by all means, take a break and regain that last sliver of sanity you keep. But, go back establish trust and let your child know that you will be there. They only know crying for communication, if you were in a different land and no one could understand you I'm sure after a bunch of frustrating attempts, you'd cry a little too.
         But, before I get way off subject, babies are also learning days and nights, motor skills, and about all the little things we forget to notice anymore. So, what is it going to harm to begin singing the ABCs or 12 pick up sticks, it's just going to get stuck in their heads sooner. With doing that my daughter can already count to 20 with help and she knows what leader comes after C when singing. Math can begin as early as them learning that if they have one cookie and I give them another cookie, WOW they got 2 cookies!!! YAY!!!
         In the end, learning is constant and never ending. Although it is up to the parent to support all learning and show the children the fun and amazement of knowledge. Which I have given up on the public school idea anyway so, I have to find way to make all this stuff fun. Even math and I can't stand math, may the Goddess help me when we reach algebra because that will be when my brain may just jump out of my head and run away screaming, "A+B=3" over and over again. With the knowledge that I might lose my brain to the insanity of algebra one day, I am still going to home-school my daughter.
          Public school are just not inspiring much hope for me. Most are overcrowded and understaffed. Some teachers have lost their joy of teaching because they are giving so many restrictions as to what is appropriate to teach and to which students are allowed to learn. I may be pagan but I completely disagree with taking holidays and the pledge out of schools. Believing in one God is not required to say the pledge of allegiance. Denying our children pride in our country and the unity of standing up together to speak is wrong. Most kids don't even notice that god is mentioned in it. Plus, it does not mention which god it is speaking of. Parents could take the time to explain that it is not the religion that matters, but the pride and respect we hold for our flag. I have, also, noticed that many students are dropping out by 10th grade and just getting their GED's. While their is definitely nothing wrong with a GED, especially since that was how I graduated, I know that most are doing just because they believe it is easier and they can be done with school. We don't want our children to be in a hurry to get out of school. We need to nurture the desire to learn new things and to keep them learning throughout life.
          Private schools are not much better in my area, because they are all focused on the christian religion. Long ago I knew a little boy who attended a christian private school in my town. He came home in tears one day because his teacher told him that Pokemon is the devil and since he watched it he was now doomed to the burning flames of hell, and yes she said that. He was 6 years old. How can someone say that to a kid is way beyond me, but me and his cousin were so ready to go show that woman what real hell could be.

Watch out these cute little things are demons dragging your children straight to Hell!!!

        With that, home-school it is. Here is some links I have found to help anyone interested and if anyone has any other interesting ones please post in a comment. Hope you enjoy and keep the joy of learning. Thanks!!! Hope everyone has a spectacular day!!!!

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/North_Carolina.pdf   

http://www.oakmeadow.com

http://www.cchsa.com/index.html

http://www.softschools.com

http://www.childcareland.com/free.html

 http://www.homeschool-curriculum-for-life.com/best-home-schooling-resources.html

 http://homeschool.calvertschool.org

http://www.education.com

http://www.home-school.com/groups/NC.html

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/familyandparenting/a/PaganHomeschool.htm

I have been sooo tired today....

There has been a lot going on it seems for me the past two days. Last night was the worst. I am currently attending school to achieve a degree in Education. I had the summer semester off and fall just began. With all that time in between I had forgotten how extremely horrible writing papers was for me. My little "Gabba" freak loves the computer, she uses it to talk with family out of state, which means my computer time must be during 3 different periods: early morning during breakfast, nap time, or bed time. Breakfast is me normally running back and forth between her, food, computer, cleaning, and especially the coffee maker. So, you see the dilemma there for serious study time. Nap time is slowly becoming my baking period. Which leaves bedtime. What you should also know is that once I start on homework I have to finish it that day. Every time I try to go back to something whatever I have written becomes completely annoying, so in the end I start the paper all over again. Well, last night I did not get to start my paper till 8:30 pm and I did not finish my paper till 2:30am. Why does it take that long, you ask? My horrible truth is I am a control freak. It must be what I deem perfect. Which means it doesn't matter if someone else thinks it perfect, it's not done, till it's done. Last night took forever to be done. When I finally finished I put my stuff away climbed into bed, closed my eyes, my body relaxed, and the next thing I know......Mommmeeee!? For the next couple hours it was up, down, up, down. My growing child is teething again. You know nobody makes new mothers realize teething happens EVERY time your kid gets a new tooth. My child is growing some pretty fangs, though. So, in response to last night I am thinking of some rest and peaceful sleep. I am grabbing some blankies, opening my window, and climbing into bed. :) Here is a old Irish lullaby for everyone to help them find their way to dream land............................

"Gartan Mother's Lullaby" 

*~an old Irish song and poem written by Herbert Hughes and Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil~*

Sleep, O babe, for the red-bee hums

The silent twilight's fall:

Aibheall from the Grey Rock comes

To wrap the world in thrall.

A leanbhan O, my child, my joy,

My love and heart's-desire,

The crickets sing you lullaby

Beside the dying fire.

Dusk is drawn, and the Green Man's Thorn

Is wreathed in rings of fog:

Siabhra sails his boat till morn

Upon the Starry Bog.

A leanbhan O, the pale half moon

Hath brimmed her cusp in dew,

And weeps to hear the sad sleep-tune

I sing, O love, to you.

Faintly sweet doth the chapel bell

Ring o'er the valley dim:

Tearmann's peasant-voices swell

In fragrant evening hymn.

A leanbhan O, the low bell rings

My little lamb to rest

And angel-dreams, till morning sings

Its music in your breast.

Sleep, O babe, for the red-bee hums

The silent twighlight's fall,

Aoibheall from the Grey Rock comes

To wrap the world in thrall.

A leanbhan O, my child, my joy,

My love and heart's-desire,

The crickets sing you lullaby

Beside the dying fire.

For video click http://youtu.be/FkbiDlvxMnM

 

 

Sweet Dreams Everyone!!!!

Good Morning!!!

Opps, I slacked yesterday on this blog but I accomplished a lot. Did everyone enjoy the crazy winds in NC? I love the storms that put energy in the air. I was inspired to clean and bake, even though I did completely ignore the mountain high basket of laundry living in the corner of my bedroom. It's funny because it's clean and I'm just procrastinating putting them away. Plus, it is just funny watching my darling man wake up and look at me and say "So I have no clothes?" and I respond by asking if he is going to help me fold them.:) His face is classic, a stunned kind of horror, like I just asked him if he wanted to go dance naked in the rain kind of look. But on to the fun part my baking. We had homemade pizza for dinner last night. My first experience making pizza dough.

Triple Cheese and Pepperoni

I made the one above and a green pepper and onion one too. I search online till I found a easy dough recipe and I found one that only required simple ingredients.

Don't worry I didn't put squash in it. I just don't have a lot of counter space. The honey is optional too.

Ingredients: 

2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast (1 envelope)

1 cup warm water (around 105 - 110 degrees F)

2 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

extra virgin olive oil

 Directions:

1. Pour water in a small bowl and dissolve yeast in the water.

2. In a large mixing bowl, stir flour and salt together.

3. Add yeast mixture and stir ingredients until they are smooth.

4. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.

5. With floured hands, knead the dough for 10 minutes, or until the dough becomes elastic and smooth. If the  dough is too sticky, feel free to add some flour and work it in gradually until it is no longer sticky.

6. Divide the dough into two balls and coat each ball with olive oil.

7. Coat two medium bowls with olive oil and place one ball into each bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size (approximately 1 1/2 hours). If you only plan on eating one pizza, place the other bowl in the refrigerator (lasts up to 24 hours) or in the freezer (if you want to save it for a later date).

(After it's risen.) It makes a "Tombstone" size pizza.

 8. Roll out dough onto a greased pizza dish and add your favorite pizza toppings.

9. Place in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the crust turns brown and the toppings are heated and melted, at 500 degrees.

 

Finished and already being eaten (Careful I burned the roof of my mouth getting to excited)

 My second project was not a planned one, but the best place to get the dough to rise is in a warm spot and I use the top of my stove while it's on. I didn't want to waste the gas by having my oven on but empty. I decided to make some scones for breakfast this morning.

Cream Scones

Ingredients 

2 cups all-purpose flour   

2 teaspoons sugar                                                                                                  

1 teaspoon salt             

1 tablespoon baking powder                                                                                  

1 cup heavy cream ( 35%)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.
3. Gradually add enough of the cream to form a soft dough.
4. Knead lightly on a floured board, handling the dough gently to retain the air needed for the scones to rise.
5. Roll out to a 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness.
6. Cut into 2 inch rounds with a sharp knife or use a cookie cutter.
7. Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving a 1/2 inch space around each one.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Easy Easy!!!! and you can add anything to them nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, fruits, butter, jam, anything.:) I made some chocolate chip ones but as you can see they didn't last long enough for me to even get a picture. I didn't expect them to be so good. The dough is also really easy to mess with and it feels good in your hands. The cream makes it really cold so it doesn't stick that much.

So I really did get a lot done if you forget about that evil pile of laundry. My kitchen was roasting after all that though so, I suggest if you have a small kitchen like mine to dress thinly and comfortably. There is still a lot I need to get started on though. I have a purse and skirt that has been needed to be made for 3 days now. Someone really needs to come up with a silencer for the sewing machine. I don't try to mess with it till little one is in bed and I can be 2 rooms away and she'll still hear it. I know some of you are wondering why I wait till she's asleep, well I have a very curious little girl who loves hearing the word "No" and has sneaky octopus tentacles for hands. Off I go to the million of things that need to be done.........................

Getting Motivated for the Day:)

Good Afternoon! Getting a late start on the day and trying to motivate myself into some projects. Hopefully after this dash of inspiration and dinner set out, easy and planned, I will have no issues:).

**@;'~;'~~**Inspiration**@;'~;'~~** 

**             &              **

**Motivation**

*

Every artist was first an amateur.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 If you would create something,
you must be something.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. 

Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.
Mary Tyler Moore

 

Women are like tea bags. 

They don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water.
E. Roosevelt

 

When people say, “It can’t be done,” or “You don’t have what it takes,”

it makes the task all the more interesting.
Lynn Hill

 

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
Danny Kaye

 

 Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like nobody's watching.
Anonymous

 

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.
Phyllis Diller

 

The beginning is the most important part of the work.
Plato

 

When written in Chinese, the word ''crisis'' is composed of two characters

-- one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.
John F. Kennedy

 

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.
Mark Twain

 

We are still masters of our fate.
We are still captains of our souls.
Winston Churchill

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

Albert Einstein

Think left and think right and think low and think high. 

Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!

 Dr. Seuss

 

My goal is not to wake up at age 40 with the bitter realization 

that I have wasted my life on a job I hate because

I was forced to decide on a career in my teens. 

Daria

 

You have to be someone.
Bob Marley

 

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all.
Emily Dickinson

*************For those wondering, Dinner tonight will be**************

Baked Potatoes covered in Spicy Chili 

and 

(left over) Creamy Chicken Noodle Pasta

*********YUMMY***********

Fall is in the Air

I woke up this morning and felt Fall in the air. I love the feeling of the seasons changing, like electricity that runs across your skin and a warm feeling in your chest. It's a magical time straddling two separate worlds. So, I felt like sharing information about the first fall holiday coming our way...........

Mabon
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 21st

     Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.  

       At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection. 

       Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with  everyday life.

 

Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Animals: 

Dogs, wolves, stag, blackbird, owl, eagle, birds of prey, salmon & goat, Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaur, Cyclops, Andamans and Gulons.

Element: water.  

Herbs of Mabon:
Rue, yarrow, rosemary, honeysuckle, marigold, sage, walnut leaves and husks, mistletoe, saffron, chamomile, almond leaves, passionflower, frankincense, rose hips, bittersweet, sunflower, wheat, oak leaves, dried apple or apple seeds.

Foods of Mabon:
Cornbread, wheat products, bread, grains, berries, nuts, grapes, acorns, seeds, dried fruits, corn, beans, squash, roots (ie onions, carrots, potatoes, etc), hops, apples, pomegranates, carrots, onions, potatoes, roast goose or mutton, wine, ale and ciders, breads, apples, pomegranates 

Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:
During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help bring the Sun's energy to you.clear quartz, amber, peridot, diamond, gold, citrine, yellow topaz, cat's-eye, adventurine. Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.  

Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance. 

Taboos: It was considered unlucky to cut down the very last of the Harvest, and so was also left to stand in the field by some traditions.

Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

30 Activities of Mabon for Personal or Family: 

1. Select the best of each vegetable, herb, fruit, nut, and other food you have harvested or purchased and give it back to Mother Earth with prayers of thanksgiving. 

2. Hang dried ears of corn around your home in appreciation of the harvest season. 

3. Do meditations and chanting as you store away food for the Winter. 

4. Do a thanksgiving circle, offering thanks as you face each direction - - for home, finances, and physical health (North); for gifts of knowledge (East); for accomplishments in career and hobbies (South); for relationships (West); and for spiritual insights and messages (Center). 

5. Decorate the table with colorful autumn leaves in a basket. Display the fruits of the harvest - corn, gourds, nuts, grapes, apples - preferably in a cornucopia. Or decorate with wildflowers, acorns, nuts, berries, cocoons, anything that represents the harvest to you. 

6. Plan a meal that uses seasonal and symbolic fruits and vegetables. You can serve bread, squash, corn, apples, cider and wine. 

7. Make some homemade wine or cordial gather and dry herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods. 

8. Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrowor cinnamon sticks. 

9. Make a protection charm of hazelnuts (filberts) strung on red thread. 

10. Make a witch's broom. Tie dried corn husks or herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender, peppermint, rosemary) around a strong, relatively straight branch of your choice. 

11. Make magic Apple Dolls Gifts of the Harvest can be used to make tools and emblems that will remind us of their bounty all year round. 

12. Look for colored leaves. Collect fallen leaves and make a centerpiece or bouquet for your home. Save the leaves to burn in your Yule fire. 

13. Visit an apple orchard and, if possible, pick your own apples. Hang apples on a tree near your home. Watch the birds and other small animals who will enjoy your gift. 

14. This is also the time for replacing your old broom with a new one. As the broom corn is ripe now, besom making is traditional and magickal this time of year. 

15. Begin the festival with a vineyard or orchard harvest. You might check the farm lands in your area to see if there's an orchard or pumpkin patch that allows customers to harvest produce for themselves. Traditionally Sabbat festivals begin at sun set on the eve of the Holiday. You can use the daytime hours of this holiday eve to prepare baskets for harvesting the next day.  

16. Baking a pumpkin pie (from scratch if possible) is a wonderful way to bring in the fragrance of the holiday season.

17. Take a walk in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees. 

18. Adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

19. Do what you can to  improve your home and prepare for winter.

20. Pick a subject that interests the whole family. Go to the library or find other resources and study that subject. Together, share what you've  learned.

21. Look at old family photo albums or scrapbooks. Try to tell stories about each person in the pictures.

22. Cut an apple in half to show your children the star inside. This is a reminder that all life is  renewed in some way.

23. Bake cored apples filled with butter and cinnamon as a special treat.

24. Sing songs and talk about all the things you've done over thesummer. Make plans for the winter.

25. Make rattles out of empty gourds and sunflower seeds or seeds collected from nature walks. Use the rattles to make music or scare away bad dreams.

26. Look at your family habits and figure out what you can do to improve your conservation habits. Can you use less water or recycle more of your  garbage?

27. Make a Vine God (stick-type male figure with a hollow body) filled with foil-wrapped cornbread and sacrifice him on the campfire (or barbeque!). Give thanks to the god for his sacrifice and enjoy the cornbread.

28. Make a place mat using dried leaves, flowers and flattened seeds.

29. Make a wax paper leaf sun-catchers.

30. Special Kids Activity: Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Give each child a pine cone, a piece of string, and a spreader. (Plastic knives make ideal spreaders.) Place a jar of health-food store peanut butter (no added sugar or preservatives) and a tray of bird seed at each table.

Ask children to tie their strings around the small ends of the pine cone. (Young children may need help.) Show them how to spread peanut butter along the surface of the pine cone, filling in the spaces along the lower two-thirds.

After cones are coated in peanut butter, roll them in bird seed. Finally, let each child take his or her feeder home and hang it up, or scatter the feeders in trees around your home and enjoy watching the birds feast.

A Step Further: 

Buy peanuts from a health food store. Slowly pour peanuts into a blender to make peanut butter as students watch. You may need to add a little peanut oil to improve consistency of the peanut butter. Let students sample the freshly-made peanut butter before sharing it with the birds. WARNING: CHECK WITH PARENTS BEFORE DOING THIS. SOME CHILDREN MAY BE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS!

**********I hope everyone enjoys this and a special thanks to two websites that allowed me to gather the information together easily.

http://cronescottage2002.tripod.com/thecottageaugustmabon2002/index.html

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm

 Thank you:)*********************************

My New Bread Fetish

(Honey Wheat Bread & French Bread from my Kitchen)

I have determined this past month that I am no longer spending money on bread besides the occasional hotdog or hamburger buns we use. Stretching that food budget is getting ridiculous and as much as the man in my life loves his precooked processed foods, homemade is a healthier, cheaper option sometimes. So, I started with easy recipes for honey wheat bread  and french bread to get my confidence up for baking. They turned out wonderful and there is nothing better than the smell of fresh bread filling up your kitchen. They don't last as long as store bought, but I haven't had to worry about that since the loafs get eaten in about as much time as it takes to make them.:) So to spread the word of the awesomeness of bread making I want to post the french bread recipe for everyone. (Also if you look at the bottom of my page you'll find a link to Supercooks.com it is the best recipe website I have found because it searches for recipes from the supplies you have in your house and you can exclude items you don't have.)
Here's the recipe:

Homemade French Bread 

(makes 1 loaf)

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast 1 cup WARM (not hot) water (110 degrees to 115 degrees, Hint: Hot water kills yeast) 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons salt 3 cups all-purpose flour Cornmeal 1 egg white 1 teaspoon cold water

1.	In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, oil, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a stiff dough.
2.	Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down; return to bowl. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes. (Flour your hands it gets sticky)
3.	Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a loaf 16 in. long x 2-1/2 in. wide with tapered ends. Sprinkle a greased baking sheet with cornmeal; place loaf on baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes. (A warm damp dishtowel works good for covering)
4.	Beat egg white and cold water; brush over dough. With a sharp knife, make diagonal slashes 2 in. apart across top of loaf. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

See easy I hope more people try this at home. Enjoy:)