The mogs blog, the meanderings of a cat through yarn and life

Writings

2012-01-22T16:00:00.000Z

I wanted to write about writing today.

I have not done my Morning pages for quite a while now, long before Christmas. I always used to do 3 pages of writing before I got up in a morning. It helped to get rid of the dross in my head and free my mind for creativity. I'm not sure why I stopped. I suspect a combination of pain, worries over Mr Mog and other stuff going on. Who knows why you stop a practice?

In the past I haven't sweated too much over missing a day or two, after all it is no good doing something if the time isn't right.

But I realised 2 days ago that I missed it. I missed that meditational aspect of writing anything that came into my head.

I suspect some of my reluctance came from the dark mornings, putting off doing something because it is dark. It hasn't helped me any. My head gets full of stuff and there is no room for creativity and beauty.

The muse prefers it if you concentrate when she calls. I know that I always feel better when I have done my pages. The knitting and spinning are other forms of creativity but the forming of words and sentences has always been my first love.

I want to recapture some of the journalling joy. The joy of the written word, the poetry of sentences. The outpourings from the poetic side of my brain.

It is still there, it has just been hibernating for winter's dark withdrawal time. A chance to sleep and recoup energies and inspiration ready for the first bud.

The first snowdrop dancing in the dark wet soil. A reflection of the moon's pale splendour here in the earth.

Solitary ones spotted at first, then whole clumps dancing in the wind. A beacon of hope and of summer warmth to come.

Then as other flowers show their heads the snowdrops retreat into the ground to be nurtured through spring,summer and autumn ready to begin their dance as winter returns once more.

I hope my returning muse is like the snowdrops, a little to begin with then pages full of joy and inspiration.

Imbolc is just around the corner now and I can't wait. I don't want to wish my days away but I want this turn of the wheel. I want it to bring good things, a staying of the disease for Mr Mog. A chance to enjoy many more days together in the returning sun and light.

I have started back on my studying also. My tarot cards are out once more and not just the daily card I always chose from my Wild Spirit pack but a new tarot. One sent for Yule, a gift from my friend Pixie.
The Gaian Tarot by Joanna Colbert.
Pixie and I had spoken about this a long while ago when Joanna first started to create the pack. Both taken with the imagery and both thinking of purchasing it when it was no longer a limited edition pack but a more accessible one.
To be honest I had forgotten but Pixie hadn't. It was such a surprise to open my Yule gift and find this . I have only nibbled at the edges but intend to work with the cards and see what comes of it.
I've also been delving in the library by my chair and pulled out other books, colour healing, numerology to name but 2. No idea why again but why not?
No preconceived ideas just going where the Goddess takes me.

A follow up

2012-01-20T09:03:00.000Z

BW those are not teal Hotter. I painted them myself with various colours of lumiere paints and in real life more of a sea green/turquoise. They do have quite a few navy shoes in at the moment? Plus if you go to an outlet store such as the ones in Gretna and Morecambe they can be purchased for around £30. If the colour isn't you you can always paint them with acrylics as I have done.The colour stays on with the lumeires and they polish beautifully with a clear shoe cream. There is also the added advantage that you can always change the colour at a later date. None of mine were anything like the colours they are now.
Ashling, good to see you comment. The link to the Cyberslam poetry is here
cyberslam poetry for brigid
Today is a day of promise. A day for creativity I think. Will it be writing, knitting, spinning or something else?
Who knows ? I await the Muse

Colour me a rainbow

2012-01-19T15:27:00.000Z

Sometimes we need a little more colour in our lives. It helps to counter the darkness of the days at this time of year. I don't know what it is like with you but the past 7 weeks we have had around 4 days of sunshine and no rain. The rest of the time it has rained at least part of each day.

So I thought you might like to see some of the colour I've been surrounding myself with. 2 shawls done in lace weight mohair, kid merino from Crystal palace to be exact. Both also beaded another new technique for me and one I found extremely difficult with my joint problems. I do like the finished shawls though and they are so light it is unbelievable. They also fit through my wedding ring:)
The next ones may seem a little odd.
I have lots of trouble getting shoes to fit with my joint problems ,again. One of my legs and foot is extremely swollen all the times and normal she's are difficult to find. That is one of the reasons I have my rainbow boots. But look what I found in Hotter, shoes that fit and are extremely comfortable. I purchased several pairs as I had vouchers from family which helped with the cost. The last Hotter shoes I had finally wore out after around 13 years so if these are anything like it will be money well spent. I can't tell you how fantastic it is to have comfortable shoes that even look good. They weren't these colours when I purchase them though.
I thought a coat of lumiere paints would brighten them up and they have.

What do you think?

Is this a BW blue do you think?

I wasn't too sure so did a couple of pictures of this pair to check it out.

I can very rarely have shoes with straps with my fat leg and foot so I feel like a child in a sweetshop wearing these.

Wouldn't you?

So what else has been going on chez Moggies?

Mr Mog has been busy constructing his model railway and it looks good. We now have a timber yard on there and coal place. I think he actually prefers the landscaping and the building to running trains and why not?

We are going to York next week and one of the first places to visit will be the National Rail Museum. Mr Mog has never been to York despite being a bus /coach driver so a first for him. We were supposed to be going before Yule but had to cancel due to the virus I had. I haven't been in 20 odd years but hope it is as good as it used to be. If anyone has any suggestions of places to visit please do let me know.

The week after next is the decision time oncology appointment. If Mr Mog's PSA is up again then they want to do a bone scan/mri etc to see where it is and if it has spread any more. If it has then chemo awaits. As you can imagine we are both working on positive energy that the PSA hasn't risen and that he can stay on the present 2 sets of medication. All positive energy received gratefully.

It is getting time to do a ritual cleanse of the house and boundaries, brushing away all negative energies and making space for positive spring energy to find its way here. Checked I have sufficient frankincense and lemon for the job. I will do it shortly before Imbolc then the new awakening seeds of creativity have somewhere to grow. I've already seen my first snowdrops, really early this year. Normally I have to scout around trying to see them for Imbolc itself, not this year they are all coming up already.

There is something truly magical and encouraging about snowdrops . Year after year they work their way to the surface through the worst of winter and shine like a beacon of hope .

And it is almost time for this,

Annual Cyberspace Poetry Slam for Brigid

will you be participating? I will again and I love following all the links to poems in honour of Brigid.

Today had mostly been....

2012-01-03T10:23:00.000Z

Today has mostly been waiting in for parcels to be collected and visitors to turn up.
I was going to put up pictures of my latest shawls but blogger doesn't want to play. It may be coming up time to move my blog elsewhere in the new year and suggestions of web hosts would be much appreciated.

So the parcels:-
Firstly a printer going back to amazon. Supposedly wireless but doesn't like to be so. It is a few months old but I don't print much so it was only the past few days that I realised printer plus iMac were not a happy couple on either wireless or cable.
After several goes at fix rounds I have given up and back it goes.
The second thing going back to the same place is a Roberts cd player. Mr Mog rather fancied a cd player as we haven't had one in quite a while. We tended to use the iPod or put CDs through the tv. The only problem with that is that you have a blue screen whilst playing. He did his research and decided on a Roberts . Seemed ok after first few plays where it ate the cd and wouldn't let it go for a while. Then this Yule Mr Mog was playing a favourite cd, medicine dance by Stairway, and it would not eject at all. We tried turning it off, unplugging, you name it we tried it. I looked on the Internet and someone suggested turning it upside down,that didnt work either. Because the cd goes in a slot there was no way to get it out . Back it goes and mr Mog is going for a cheap top loader player. Fortunately amazon are very good at refunds or replacements and that is one of the reasons we use them.
There was a third parcel awaiting collection.
Mr Mog ordered me a schacht matchless spinning wheel for Yule . Schacht changed the design of the wheel construction so there was some delay in it's arrival. It seemed it wouldn't be here until end of January as they wanted to get the new design sorted. The wheel actually arrived just a couple of days before Christmas and looked good. Mr Mog set it up and we had a go spinning some bfl. That seemed ok but as soon as I started to spin a merino silk mix it keep throwing off the drive band. We tried all sorts of things to make it work, even rang the production team in USA . Their suggestion? Sand the bobbins, sand the groove on the wheel. Now I don't know about you but this was a new wheel, would you want to get sandpaper to it? I didn't. The dealer we got it from offered to replace it and we said we would keep til after Christmas and try again with it. Mr Mog put it all back together and we tried again. It still wouldn't keep the drive band on.
On close inspection to use the wheel in double drive , which is my preferred spin mode, the band and bobbin don't line up correctly. I think scotch tension would be fine but that isn't what I want to use. I don't want another as I think it will be the same problem so that too went back today.
We were also supposed to get visitors on their way home from Cumbria, they haven't arrived .

But the day hasn't been wasted I have been spinning bright coloured fluff.
Today is the anniversary Of the death of Mr Mogs aunt, the one he as very close to, as was I,we have had a candle lit all day in her memory. She is often in our thoughts and we miss her very much.

I have been knitting beads and fine yarn, both new to me methods. The shawl I finished weighed just 31 gms without the beads and is still light as a feather with beads on.

Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T17:13:00.000Z

As we reach the longest night/shortest day of the year Yule is here. Tonight's dark will very soon give way to the light and the days will begin to lengthen once more. We will have all our lights out and reflect on the dark inner time of year before starting to light candles one by one to symbolise the return of the light. I hope your Yule and Winter Solstice brings you peace and a renewal of energy as the light returns once more.
Mr Mog went to hospital Monday and I'm afraid his PSA is up once more, only .3 but none the less the third month of it rising. After both Mr Mog and I told them how he still feels good within himself they have decided not to change treatment this time. He has to go back in 6 weeks and if the PSA has risen at all then a full body scan and a change of treatment dependent on the scan results.We know that chemo is inevitable but the longer it can be delayed the better as to be honest after chemo I don't think there are any other options except palliative care.
Mr Mog is a determined b***ar and if he or I have our way it won't be needed just yet. After all it is 7 months since the 12-18 months left diagnosis was given and he has not started chemo which is fantastic.
I think I was more upset, or showed it more, than Mr M did when they said the PSA score, but you know you have to put it behind you and look forward. Otherwise you wouldn't live but just exist.

We decorated the tree when we got home from hospital ready for Yule and after tomorrow we will look forward to Christmas with good friends and family. After that there is New Year then ? who knows but there will be something else to plan and look forward to.

I am only human(VBG) so I know that my positive face may slip but I can put it back.

And Mr Mog? He is frustrated because of the damp days preventing his fettling the outdoor railway. Otherwise he is the same old moggie.
We had a day with friends yesterday dyeing and eating, chatting and generally having fun. That helps.

And you?

Finally, the winner

2011-12-19T10:26:00.000Z

I have been very remiss and I apologise. I did say I would choose the winner of the shawl giveaway on the 8th December.
There has been a lot going on chez Moggies so I have been distracted. Add in that today is oncology day for Mr Mog and it may help explain. So sorry about the delay and without further ado the winner is:-

Very Lazy Daisy:)
can you contact me with your address please? if you comment and leave your email address I won't publish the comment but will be able to contact you.

So what have we been up to this past few weeks? Looking back not a lot but lots going on. It took around 5 weeks for the viral infection to finally leave but of course having 2 lots of antibiotics, 2 lots of steroids and a steroid inhaler left its mark on my body. I've had lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and lots of live yogurt to combat it.

Mr Mog has been busy reorganising his railway both in and out of his shed. He has been waiting for several weeks now for a couple of dry days to paint the outside line area and relay the lines. Unfortunately I don't think we have had a day without rain for over a month. He is quite frustrated by it as you can imagine.

He is keeping well as far as we can tell although the Oncologist will prove or disprove that this lunchtime. We try not to worry about his visits although being human the night before and the actual day are always a little fraught.
The spinning still continues to hold us both in thrall and there is something very relaxing about sitting spinning as dusk falls with good music on the player.
I've been making shawls, nothing new there then:)
But I seem to be being drawn to the dark side of shawl knitting, very reluctantly but firmly.

First I thought I'd maybe like to try lace weight. Talk about shock horror. This from the person who said she would NEVER knit finer that 4ply.
Don't ask me why I want to go finer, I suspect it is just the challenge but who knows. I didn't have any lace weight yarn in the house but some friends thought they better encourage the path diversion and forced a skein of lace yarn on to me. They were just a tad too late however as when the urge came I just had to start knitting there and then. I searched the stash and found some Crystal Palace kid merino, very fine and slightly haloed. Probably as it is a mix of nylon, merino and mohair. As you may or may not know I've always had a love affair with mohair.
So the yarn is fine and very soft. I'm only on my second ball of it, they are 25g balls. The shawl is nearly finished. I did my own pattern for it and there will be pictures soon I promise.

BUT
not content with lace knitting I have gone a wee bit further. I also wanted to try beading.
I've threaded around 200 beads onto another ball of the yarn and intend to do the border with occasional beads.
Am I foolish? Most probably, I mean to say why try two new ideas at the same time and both of them challenging?
But there you go I suspect it may only be an occasional foray into the dark side but who knows? The muse calls and I follow her beacon wherever it takes me.

Yule or Winter Solstice is very nearly on us and we are putting up a tree and some sparkles this afternoon after the hospital. Have all our candles ready for the moment of dark turning into light. A time when we put out all the lights then start to light candles one by one to honour the return of the Sun King and the lighter days. What are you doing?

I had a few great ideas for painting Dorothea and I did as they suggested. Thank you:)

I telephoned our local garage and asked if they could help me with the spraying. I mentioned that I intended to take Dorothea to various wool festivals to display the shawls etc we have on sale for the Air Ambulance fund raising.

They very kindly took on the task of spraying her and doesn't she look great? The colour is a platinum silver and perfect for displaying shawls.

Mr Mog thought she needed some lights for Yule and she has the latest shawl to keep her warm.

The shawl is Dragonfly wings free pattern on Ravelry and the yarn is Posh Hannah.

Phew think that is the update so far. I'll let you know how Mr mog gets on at the hospital.

Yule giveaway

2011-11-29T15:34:00.000Z

I decided to do a giveaway for Yule to celebrate the turn of the wheel. You will find the item further down this post:)

I decided to pass Minerva, my shop model, on to a new home as she was a little too large for the craft room and too heavy when she needed moving. I obviously still needed something to display the shawls on so I decided to go for something a little more dainty.

Meet Dorothea. Why Dorothea? That is what she said she is called and who am I to argue with that?

I didn't like the duck egg blue or the black areas where the paint had rubbed off so the paints came out. I think this will be a very slow project and goodness knows how I will get the inside part painted. All ideas gratefully received. I'm starting with purple as a base coat then will add various Lumiere metallics and irridescents. Then finally a sparkle.

As you can see there is rather a long way to go yet.

I seem to be a little better thankfully. I had a chest X-ray on Friday, results tomorrow. The infection appears to be gone but I still have a very wheezy,tight chest. Possibly the asthma lingering rather than leaving with the infection which it usually does.
The doctor didn't know why I was still ill hence the X-ray. I'm hoping this may be the end of infections for the Winter.
Mr Mog succumbed to it as well, after all it seemed unfair to keep it to myself, he also is getting over it now.

So Yule or Winter Solstice. The shortest day, longest night of the year. A time to celebrate the turn of the wheel as it heads towards the light half of the year . I recently finished a new shawl and as the colours remind me of Holly I thought it might be a good gift for someone. It is quite a large shawl and very warm. The yarn is Zauberball 4ply so it isn't too heavy despite the size.

If you would like to be considered for the giveaway please leave a comment. I'll choose the winner on the 8th December which will hopefully give time for the shawl to get to you before Yule

I haven't shown any spinning lately have I? This first one is oatmeal BFL dyed in the copper colour way by Freyalyn I love her dyeing she has a great eye for colour. There are 590yards here and it weighs 104g

This is merino silk from the Threshing Barn There are 475yards and 117g here.

I seem to have a bit of a thing for merino silk at the moment. I've some of Freyalyns copper in Merino silk waiting to be spun up. There is merino silk on Tilly Traveller and Merino silk on the Victoria also.

Still here

2011-11-20T13:32:00.001Z

Sorry it has been quiet, I am still here.Mr Mog is doing well and his energy levels are a little better. He had a flu jab 2 weeks ago when I did and it made him a little off for a few days but he is a lot better now.I sadly am not. As you may or may not know we always have flu jabs because of my chest problems. Normally we get away with a sore arm and that is it. Last year we didn't and it laid us both low for a week. This year was much worse. I started to become ill around 2 hours after the injection and by evening was very bad. I rang the doctors next day to be told by the triage nurse it was a coincidence, give it a few days you will be ok. Next day Saturday we had to ring emergency doctor, I eded up with antibiotics. Tuesday much worse Mr Mog had to call in doctor, he asked for home visit was told ok if triage nurse says, she will ring back. Two three hours later the nurse rang and kindly allowed that we could have home visit. Doctor gave me new inhaler and steroids. Friday antibiotics finished. Steroids due to finish next day and no better. Doctor appointment after triage nurse assessed,more antibiotics more steroids. Still minimal sleep each night. I have to go back Tuesday for chest X-ray if no better.I had a little better day yesterday but then bad night and today is worse if anything.It would appear that I may have caught a viral infection as well as the effects of the flu Injection.Very very long time since I have ever felt as ill. Poor Mr Mog is shattered as of course he is doing everything and I am keeping him awake every night.So how are you?

Long ago memories

2011-11-07T16:54:00.000Z

I woke this morning with long ago memories and 2 songs.

A little background first, bear with me.

When a very small child I first contracted my health problems. I spent many a time in hospital from a baby and had quite a lot of operations.

It was decided that a spell of convalescence and a change of air might help. I lived in a small village near a mill town so not a really bad place health wise. However at the age of seven I was sent to the Lake District, Cumberland as it then was, to a school for delicate children.

As an aside I went back many years later to see what it looked like and it was then a school for maladjusted children. It wasn't when I was there though:)

Can you imagine what it was like in the late 50s being sent at such an age to a strange place? Not coming home for holidays? I stayed there for nearly 2 years.

My 2 uncles who were lorry drivers came to see me often and that was wonderful. My dad came once on his moped as he didn't drive, I think that was all. I didn't recognise him and didn't want to see this strange man who had arrived. I can remember making my self sick so I could finish the visit early. I never saw my mum until I went home after the almost 2 years I was there. By then she had had 2 more children so from having 3 brothers and sisters I now had 5.

Once I got used to the castle I loved it, I loved the woodlands that the castle was situated in and spent lots of time out there. My bedroom was a shared small dormitory in one of the turrets. We had wonderful staff and I found myself at the top of the class in our school. The teachers there instilled my love of reading and creating. I can remember weaving a scarf for my nanny, orange and vivid turquoise and she wore it:) I spent a fair bit of time in bed with various ailments but books and crafts helped take me away from the pain and discomfort.

When it came time to go home I cried, I wanted to stay there. The local doctor used to take me home to play with his children and one of the nurses and the main teacher ( Nurse Walker and Miss Crawford I think? ) were very kind and helped make the place not so frightening.

I can remember that it was for 7-11 year olds and the Cumbrian air was supposed to be beneficial for rheumatic fever, asthma and other ailments. As to that I don't really know but I think it certainly instilled a love of the Lake District that has never left me.

It seemed strange going home, it wasn't my home and there were more people in it which made it crowded as we were exceedingly poor and lived in a 2 bedroom house with no electricity. My grandsons find it amusing that we had gas lighting, an outside loo that also housed a pig in between our necessary visits and if you got up in the night to go to the toilet and played the torch light on the living room walls they were crawling with cockroaches. My dad didn't work, he never did much in all the time I knew him. My mum went to work in between pregnancies but there wasn't much money.

So what were the songs?

I presume the other children taught them me, I certainly didn't make them up.

I had rheumatic fever, I had it very bad
They wrapped me in a blanket and put me in a van
The van was very shaky it nearly threw me out
and when I got to Broughton Towers I heard the kiddies shout
"Mummy , daddy take me home
from this convalescent home
I've been here a year or two and all I want is to be with you
In comes the doctor, Doctor Brown
asking questions all around.
Are you better?
Are you worse?
If you're worse I'll call the nurse
In comes the nurse with a red hot poultice
slaps it on and takes no notice
Ow said the patient that's too hot
Oh said the nurse I'm sure its not

That is all I can remember of that one
And the second one?

There is a happy land far far away
Where we get bread and jam three times a day
Fish and chips you never see
dirty black beetles in your tea
but they are gradually
fading away
fading away

Wollmeise giveaway

2011-10-18T15:40:00.002Z

I am giving away another 2 skeins of wollmeise. I started a shawl test knit for a girl on Ravelry in a skein of turquoise/green WM and it is awful:( Feels like cotton, very splitty yarn and not nice at all to knit with. Now searching round to find a NICE semi solid for the test knit. I need between 420 and 460 yards so most of my sock yarn skeins are too short.
But if you want the splitty, cottony (VBG) WM leave a comment. I'll draw winners Friday

Sometimes

2011-10-16T17:08:00.001Z

Sometimes I wonder where the time goes. The days speed by and I see the moon go from new to full and back to new in what seems an instant.
We are still here as you can see. I think we are filling the days while we can. Not from a pessimistic point of view oh no indeed we try to never be pessimistic but always looking forward with optimism. Trying and mostly managing:)but winter is a coming and the days will be colder darker and more condusive to inside pursuits.

We had a week in Cumbria a short while ago and it coincided with the heat wave. Who knew that October would have nights too hot to sleep? 26 degrees at 5pm is a change after the wet and cold we experienced before our holiday.

There were stunning views from the living room windows

Every day bar one was very hot and sunny

We enjoyed just pootling around Cumbria, visiting good friends and meandering around the various passes

It was so different to the last time we were up there just a few months previously

shorter days, earlier sunsets

Lots of dragon's breath to be seen most days

We saw this Herdwick the day it finally rained and we went over Honister Pass. Mr Mog stopped the car and I snapped 2 very quick pictures. I was really pleased when we put them on the computer and I saw how this one turned out.

Lots of Green Men faces to be seen amidst the leaves

The many pictures of the lone tree are for our friends Sue and Neil who also stayed on this site back in June

The lake you see is Bassenthwaite

I took lots of pictures on our travels, this is a very small selection:)

Mr Mog is doing well, his next oncology appointment is tomorrow morning so fingers crossed for that please.
Sorry I've not blogged much. I do have a post in the making from our visit to Farfield Mill the other day

2011-09-23T13:41:00.001Z

Still we have the pull of Equinox around us. Equinox seems to spread further each year. Some celebrate on 21st, some 22nd and quite a lot today:) Thank you BW.

We have a painting of a Rumi quote executed by a very talented friend of mine Pixie Sue. Her website is Inspired by Script. I saw a similar piece at Sue's house when we visited and fell in love with it. She very kindly made one for us

Not sure if you can see but there are subtle sparkles on it that glisten as you move near. I have this hung in the bedroom with a hare hanging underneath. This was one of Karen's pieces at Moonlight and Hares

Let the moving waters calm down reflects a large part of my inner journeying . To calm the busy mind, to let MY self free. We all have internal chatter. Our minds try to fill any blank moments with inconsequentialities. Shopping lists, "do I need this, that ?What about?"

When we sit and meditate or even just quieten the chatter for a moment it feels so different.

It is very hard to do.

We have to work on it. Each time we manage a little longer with a silent mind. Many meditation teachers tell us to simply acknowledge the thought that rises to the surface and then let it go.

Eventually our busy mind knows that at certain times it has to stay silent. This inner peace, inner space allows us time to just be.

No agenda often, but just a period of calm and inner reflection in a busy life.

It helps so much. I find it renews, it also empties the dross allowing room for beauty, for the place I am on the wheel or path of the year.

The morning pages I do are another way of emptying the mind when I wake each day.

Letting out the worries or even quite often creating pages that lead to a blog post. It is a discipline I enjoy. I don't write everyday but when I do I am glad I've done so.

I will leave you with this quote one of my friends posted today. Seems apt for Autumn Equinox and my ramblings this past week.

Honour the past. Live in the present. Look to the future.

Wollmeise /Alpaca giveaway Winners

2011-09-23T13:41:00.000Z

So many lovely comments and ideas on my giveaway. I decided to frog the shawl and thereby give 2 people a full skein of Wollmeise rather than both skeins to one.
With no further ado the winners are:-
Pink Wollmeise Shortstix
Blue Wollmeise Bex
Alpaca washed fleece Claire.

Can you all message me your addresses please and I can send these off. Keep an eye out there will be another giveaway soon and yes it may involve WM:)

Equinox

2011-09-22T16:40:00.001Z

Equinox already and the year is flying by fast.

Seems only yesterday it was Spring Equinox and now Autumn is here

Everywhere I look the colours have changed. The food available on the market has also changed.there is far more home grown fruit and veg to be seen. It is far easier to eat locally not globally. There are lots of different apples and plums.

The last of the summer's tomatoes at a bargain price. We have turned 12 pounds of local tomatoes into soup this past week and frozen it to give us a taste of Summer throughout Winter's dark days.

An easy recipe that doesn't tax brain or strength. Roast tomatoes with garlic cloves still in the skin. Add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or syrup and a slug of oil. When they start to caramelise and release their juice they are ready. Gently cook a diced onion, stick of celery and a carrot with a little oil or butter. When they are softened combine everything in a liquidiser with a couple of jar peppers from Lidl and a handful of basil leaves.Removing the garlic skin first. When cool freeze. The peppers from Lidl have a sweet/sour taste and lift the soup.

We also have blackberries sitting in the freezer ready to turn into fools or crumble. Will they fool us when we are eating Autumn harvest at midwinter? Probably not but sweet none the less.

At times like these I am glad that I am pagan. Not witch or shaman or heathen even.
But Pagan. Pagan for me means living the wheel of the year.Its highs and lows and turns from dark to light and back once more. Not just giving it lip service.
I am glad of the moons influence on my moods and emotions, the suns also.
Some people seem to play at Paganism. I'm a witch, a shaman or this that and the other. They love the trappings, the spells, the rituals.the candles and incense. The trappings are all to them.
But, Know thyself. This is part of my belief, my creed if you like.
My path is a journey through who and what I am. Making sense of it, working with my strengths and weaknesses.
Yes there is ritual, candles and smells. But as part of honouring the wheel, the Lord and Lady in all their aspects. It isn't something I can pick up and drop as the mood takes me.
It is who and what I am every day, all day.
The first time I realised the path I was on I didn't think of where it would take me or that it is a lifetimes work. Even beyond.
When I accepted this road I accepted all of it. Not snippets or moments of it.
I can't turn off the path I chose and most of the time I wouldn't want to.
But we are human after all and sometimes I rail at what befalls.
Sometimes I think there is no easy answer.
We can't pick and chose the bits to enjoy or to live. A spell here, a potion there.
Its all or nothing, warts and all.
And I am glad for all its meanderings.
It is who and what I am, who I want to be.
I do this for me, not to make friends or influence people.
Not to get rich or any such foolishness
But to be me

Equinox greetings

2011-09-21T13:36:00.000Z

Blessings of Mabon to you, may your harvest be a good one and may the things you let go bring space for new.

Autumn is well and truly on us now, cold damp mornings and the light nights are gone. Last night we needed lights on at 7pm.

at one time the thought of Winter used to fill me with despair. The loss of the light and the warmth.

Eventually I realised how beneficial the dark half of the year was. A time to take stock, to appreciate the harvest received from the years efforts. We need the dark half of the year for balance.

There are days mind when I long for the sun and the heat of summer. When everything aches and even standing is wearisome there are thoughts of summer days.

There are several Autumn poems I love.
This first from William Blake:-
To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not,
but sit
Beneath my shady roof, there thou may'st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe;
And all the daughters of the year shall dance,
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

and the well known one from John Keats:-

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.
                                 

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.


Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

After Apple Picking

by Robert Frost

My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a tree

Toward heaven still.

And there's a barrel that I didn't fill

Beside it, and there may be two or three

Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.

But I am done with apple-picking now.

Essence of winter sleep is on the night,

The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.

I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight

I got from looking through a pane of glass

I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,

And held against the world of hoary grass.

It melted, and I let it fall and break.

But I was well

Upon my way to sleep before it fell,

And I could tell

What form my dreaming was about to take.

Magnified apples appear and reappear,

Stem end and blossom end,

And every fleck of russet showing clear.

My instep arch not only keeps the ache,

It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.

And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin

That rumbling sound

Of load on load of apples coming in.

For I have had too much

Of apple-picking; I am overtired

Of the great harvest I myself desired.

There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,

Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,

For all

That struck the earth,

No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,

Went surely to the cider-apple heap

As of no worth.

One can see what will trouble

This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.

Were he not gone,

The woodchuck could say whether it's like his

Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,

Or just some human sleep.

An Autumn Greeting

"Come," said the Wind to the Leaves one day.
"Come over the meadow and we will play.
Put on your dresses of red and gold.
For summer is gone and the days grow cold

The colour and mood of the garden is changing now also. The Acer's leaves glow red in the sunshine and even at dusk have an otherworldly look to them

I have a ritual for Autumn Equinox. I use it as a time to let go of unwanted stuff. Not just physical but spiritually. I let go and send it on its way.

This is a mixed harvest this year, not all good but even the bad or negative things will have a positive side. We learn from and progress from all aspects of our life. Sometimes we wonder why it happens but there has to be a reason.
As part of my ritual I send out positive energy to the world to be used where the Goddess sees fit.
I wish you all you wish yourself. Remember if you send out positivity you receive it back. But the balance of life states that this applies to negativity also. Be careful what you wish for.

There are winners, soon

2011-09-17T18:19:00.001Z

Lots of comments on my giveaway and there are winners just need to get my act together and draw them. I decided to split the wollmeise and that way 2 people will get a skein each to play with. There is also the alpaca. I've been very busy photographing lots of yarn, fibre, spindles and a wheel. Having a major destash, we both are. Haven't done any spinning for a few weeks now due to very painful joints and have a lot of stash that could do to go to new homes. Also a Frank herring spinning wheel, not the smaller wheel the larger model. There are also several spindles including IST and wildcrafts. If you are on ravelry do take a look, there may be something you need:) Ive also got lots of Lornas Laces sock yarn on there and some wollmeise lace and Bugga.Part of this is going for fundraising for macmillan nurses, a worthy cause and one I try to support alongside the air ambulance and hospice.I think I've raised almost £200 so far for Macmillans Today has been rain most of the day and very cold. Hard to believe that a few days ago I went out with bare arms. Thursday morning there was ground frost.

Woolmisery (Wollmeise) and alpaca fleece giveaway

2011-09-14T09:42:00.001Z

I am giving away the above yarn. There is over 300gm in the 2 skeins of Wollmeise you see before you.
I've started a shawl, pattern is faraway so close, and I don't like it:( I don't want to frog it and make something else so I'm offering it to you. Leave a comment on the blog if you would like the yarn. I will post world wide. I'll draw a winner Friday morning. If you haven't tried Wollmeise this is your chance. I've made several shawls with it and socks but this just isn't working for me:(

I also have a giveaway for the spinners or felters, a pillowcase of washed white alpaca fleece. All ready to spin. Again just comment if you would like this.
I have also mentioned the giveaway on Ravelry and I know some of you are members there as well.

Today was brought to you by giveaway Wednesday:)

On a side note, very observant BW to notice the new colour:)

Thoughts on an Autumn morning

2011-09-13T15:43:00.003Z

The rituals of the day play out before our eyes.
Of some we are a part, of some merely an observer.

The sun will rise without our aid. We all believe it will and like a well oiled machine it appears above the horizon each day.

Some rituals we lead. The getting out of bed, the daily ablutions. Do we do them consciously or on automatic pilot?

We take part in a lot of the day as mere automatons.
Do we remember the first breath of the day?
The first view of morning.
Do we practice mindfulness as we go about our daily life?

Or do we just exist in these moments?

I find myself stopping, taking time to be in the moment.
To smell the faint aroma of Winter's arrival.
It wasn't too many days ago that the first breath of the day was warm. It smelt and tasted of a hot Summer.

Granted not many of those this year. But still, where did it go?
How come Autumn arrived so fast this year? How did the wheel change as it did?

The world looks different now. From the greens and yellows of Spring we now have golds and ambers and firey reds, turning before our eyes to brown.

Fruit on the hedgerows begging to be made into jams and pies or cordials.
My apple tree has proper fruit this year. The first since we moved in almost five years ago. I don't know its age but this years fruit is mature and lush. Not many but a crop none the less.

I will make a pie of them and give thanks to the Goddess for her harvest gifts.

The shawl I've just finished. I named it pumpkin field as it reminded me of the fields of pumpkins around this time. The yarn is Zauberball and crazy Zauberball.

We are ok chez Moggie, trying to enjoy each day to the full and not think of things we can not change. Not always easy but we try.
And you?

A little sojourn in Cheshire

2011-09-08T18:22:00.000Z

We have had a short break in Cheshire . Both Mr Mog and I love Chester and Ellesmere Port. As we had such good news at the hospital we decided a little break was in order. This time of year when the schools have gone back is ideal. Not too busy to get around. We always use the park and ride by the zoo, leave the car there then go in on the bus. It saves trying to fight our way round the one way system and trying to find a car park near enough town. Chester also has a brilliant shopmobility scheme. Saves having to take your own wheelchair in and is very reasonable. You can either pay for the day or for the sum of £15 use a scooter when ever you wish for 12 months. Guess which I chose?We have been to Chester many times but never done the tourist bus ride. This time we did and what a good way to spend an hour. A very informative soundtrack to describe events and buildings as you drove by. Quite often they have a live guide also. He was just finishing as we went on the bus but the recording was fine. Not too much information to overwhelm, not too little.We had lunch in Patisserie Valerie croque Monsieur and coffee for me, Darjeeling for Mr Mog. So many gateaux but we resisted. This was a relaxation after all the building works and hospital stress. BW I will post pictures soon of the refurbishment , better still you could come and visit and see them:) What I did notice on our way to Cheshire and around town is the autumn foliage. So many colours to see and absolutely loads of leaves on the ground under trees. A veritable carpet of russet and gold. There is a definite chill to the mornings now and autumn equinox is knocking at the door. I am pleased to have all the busyness over before the wheel turns inward once more. I have been browsing my books, wondering what aspect of my faith to study. Will it be more on the tarot?Perhaps it is time to do more work on the different pantheons.All of this attracts but I need to start slowly after the break from study. I don't want to overwhelm my senses with too much information at one go.I noticed that our stock of incense is getting low, time to get the incense cupboard open and the pestle and mortar in use. I fancy a change for our house incense and our home oils. Frankincense beckons, so does oak moss. I will have to see what to add to both, or either, for our home this winter. I like to change the aroma, I sometimes find that we get used to the same smell and to change it helps inspire and changes the atmosphere of the home.D you ever do that?

Thank you

2011-09-07T16:36:00.001Z

Thank you for all the positive thoughts sent this way. Mr Mogs appointment at oncology went well. He has to go back in 6 weeks. There is no need to start any trials yet as he is holding his own:) as you can imagine we are extremely pleased.We have nearly finished with the house tidying etc. Our friend A is coming back next Monday to paint the kitchen and the hallway. Then it is just the craft room to do and we are all finished. We have just been getting her to emulsion each room and have used the same colour throughout .( winter mist) form those interested.It lightens the place up and it shows off the artwork much better than the previous colours. This house is the first we havent decorated before moving in.As we have now been here going on for 5 years it is time to brighten it up.We are enjoying each day we have. All are bonuses after all

I was reminded

2011-09-04T19:37:00.000Z

I was reminded by a friend that I havent posted in a while. Sorry.It has been a little frantic here , we have had builders in and that can be a little fraught even with excellent builders such as we had. The wheel seems to have moved on suddenly and it is now most definitely autumn in a morning. Where has the summer gone? although saying that today has been delightfully warm and sunny. In other news our friend has been decorating for us this past week. Sadly something I am unable to do now and too much for Mr Mog to tackle on his own. Fortunately our friend loves decorating and she was glad to do it. On a totally different note it is oncology tomorrow and a chance to see how Mr Mog is doing. He had blood tests last week and the results should be at the hospital for the morning. He seems well enough in himself but as you know we have thought that all along. If I hadn't seen the bone scans and MRI results with my own eyes I would have thought it a particularly unpleasant jest. But seeing the cancer spread throughout his spine, pelvis etc I had to believe. So what does tomorrow bring? Watch this space. I do know that the positive thinking helps. I had a phone call from a friend of ours the other day who asked how things were going. He is not pagan, doesn't really follow any path that I know of, but informed me that every time Mr Mog comes into his thoughts it is with the same scenario. The Scenario being that Elvis wants to meet Mr Mog and by this friend thinking of Mr M it delays this meeting ever taking place. A great way to send positive energy dont you think?There is a hope from things such as this, and hope performs great miracles My health has been indifferent, so much pain that it keeps me awake of a night and when that happens the next day is long and tiresome. But in the scheme of things I would wish this pain for me kept the cancer for mr m at bay.I haven't spun much with all that is going on but have managed to keep knitting, shawls of course :)Pictures may follow shortly. I am sorry if my absence worried, thank you for thinking of me.

Rain Again

2011-08-11T07:36:00.000Z

I don't know about you but here the rain has been horrendous for days. Add in gale force winds and it is not fit weather for the builders to put up the conservatory. We have had a base down for several weeks. I was hoping that the build would have been completed for this weekend for Mr. MOg's birthday but it wasn't to be. I had started to arrange a party. This has been postponed til hopefully next week. I had invited good friends from various parts of the country most of whom could make it. However once I realised the delays I stopped inviting and started delaying.
Still the work will be done sometime I am sure and we are both looking forward to having an extra room . Our home is great but just that bit too small for entertaining more than a couple of people.
So what else has been going on? Lots in the outside world mostly crap as I am sure you know. Here we still wake up each morning glad that we have another day together. Sounds silly maybe to you but each day is precious. I know we all are aware that our lives on this spiral are a finite length but when you are reminded it brings it home. It makes you appreciate everything.
Good friends and family who are there for you if you need them yet not in your face. sunset over the sea and the smell of blackberries stewing gently on the stove .
The spinning is a little slow, my body is having a bad spell with scuffles to see which part hurts today. But knitting keeps me sane and shawls (of course) continue to appeal.
Not a lot here today but I wanted to say hello.

Rainbows

2011-08-01T16:18:00.000Z

Long time no speak. It has been a roller coaster time for various reasons.
The main one being Mr Mog's hospital appointment. Supposedly to discuss which trial to start on and to tick boxes as Oncologist said on his month of extra hormone treatment.

We started to discuss trials and then she said she better check his latest blood test to add to the form, it wouldn't be different she assured us but she had to check.
Well guess what? The PSA had gone down. Oncologist was astonished to say the least and reiterated that that shouldn't have happened. You are weird she informed Mr Mog. I wouldn't exactly call him weird, just different. I told her it was all the positive thoughts and well wishes being sent from around the world.

At this point she said he had better go away and continue on the 2 lots of hormone treatment. Mr Mog has to go back every month for blood tests and check up and if he gets any other symptoms or becomes tired he has to go and see them immediately. But we don't care:) We know it hasn't been cured but to be honest every week without chemo etc is a brilliant week.

We had our very first weeks holiday and broke it for one night to attend Mr Mog's appointment as it was at 8.30 in the morning. The pictures you see are from that week. We stayed in a log cabin in Cumbria and it was amazing. Views of the mountains and mainly Skiddaw and a long view down to Bassenthwaite Lake. As you can see we took things to do over the week. We had rain for some part of every day but it didn't matter we were content to be in the cabin watching the ever changing views.

We didn't go too far just one trip to Samye Ling Buddhist centre and a couple of trips into Keswick and Cockermouth. We had friends came over on 2 nights and we went out with a large group of friends on another evening.

We came back to gorgeous sunshine of course. It wasn't until the 3rd day of our Holiday that we realised why there was so much rain. It was Keswick Convention and it ALWAYS rains for that:)

We came back with several alpaca and Jacob fleeces as well.

I think I may have mentioned that I took up spindling recently? I was so thrilled with my Holly spindle from Jenkins that I wanted an oak one to balance the year. It arrived today and is just as beautiful as the Holly one

I love colour and when a friend of mine came over a few weeks ago with a sturdy large project tote I asked where it was from. Picperfic is a person of many talents:) She spins, dyes and sews to name but a few. I wanted a bag large enough and sturdy enough to carry knitting, spindling, ipad, phone, pills and other assorted stuff.
This is what Marianne came up with for me.

It holds a lot:)

Now for the rainbows of the title. I posted pictures a while ago of stuff I had acquired from a friend of mines new Etsy shop. TattyFleece is a fairly new dyer and specialises in rainbows:) I first of all got this, a Wensleydale Boa. You can wear it , spin it or felt it. Multi purpose clothing:) I also purchased some bags of rainbow curls.

Then last week I was sent a gift of a new shawl pattern on Ravelry Iris Goddess of Rainbow shawl. I mentioned in passing how it would be great to knit this in rainbow yarns.
Just look what the talented Tatty came up with:) Absolutely perfect for the goddess of rainbows. It is Blue faced Leicester sock yarn and there are approximately 400 metres in each skein. Well a Goddess needs a spectacular shawl don't you think?

Watch this space for the results. If you are in the market for rainbows do check out Tatty's Etsy site. There isn't any rainbow yarn on at the moment but you could always ask I am sure she could be persuaded:)

Walk on the wild(ish) side

2011-07-13T14:18:00.001Z

Let us continue our walk through the woods shall we?

There are many paths we could take, some like this are not as easy if you have restricted mobility but nice to take a peek down.

Imagine who or what you could meet as you meander down this lane.

More apples ripening in the sun

More flowers for your viewing pleasure

the Buddhlea is flourishing here, it loves waste land and will gain a toehold anywhere it can.

there were hedges of it

Rowan berries almost ready for collection for making jelly. Excellent with venison or cheese

the plant below reminds me of one we used to take stalks of and suck, it was very sour like rhubarb and we dipped it in sugar. I don't say this is the one so don't try this at home:)

Just look at this beauty anyone know what it is?

Comfrey or knitbone an old country remedy and one plant that the bees adore.

EDITED TO ADD the yellow flower is toadflax, thank you Jane:)

Banks of flowers

2011-07-13T13:45:00.000Z

Today we had a little meander to a newt pond. We haven't been there since very early this year and it has now been fenced off.Sadly dog owners were letting their dogs loose and they were trashing the pond as they went in and out. All the bank and marginal plants were destroyed.

The good news is that the fencing seems to be helping. while we walked around I took a few pictures. I love this walk as the paths are wide and wheelchair,pram and crutches friendly.

The crab apples are swelling nicely

It almost looked like an old cornfield

The Rosa Rugosa hips are massive, I wonder if they are any good for rosehip syrup?

Lots of varieties of cranesbills

and other flowers I don't know?

We saw lots of water snails in the newt pond but couldn't see any newts.

The colours were stunning and we virtually had the place to ourselves

The seed heads are just as beautiful as the flowers

Can you see one of my totems watching from the tree?

maybe here?

I like this walk because there is such a variety of plants to be seen. It is close to a power station and the company take care of the site.

Blackberries will soon be ready for collection and I can't wait. My freezer stock is almost gone.

I know convolvulus or bindweed is a pest but pictures like this remind me that there is beauty in everything.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Can you see the lizard in the above picture?

A lushness everywhere I looked

A man made stone circle

paths to who knows where?
Another post to follow as there are many pictures

Sunshine

2011-07-11T12:58:00.002Z

A most glorious day today with sunshine and warmth. Does my bones good to feel the heat. Mr Mog is out in his shed ~~playing~~, working on his train layout. I can hear him singing along to Status Quo and it sounds good.
Days like these are to be savoured, to be stored up against the unknown.
Thank you so much for the comments on my posts. As you can probably tell I've started to enjoy writing again. It helps to get the chatter out of my head. It has certainly made me feel much better about things. After all I remember a saying my Nanny had. "/The Goddess never gives us more than we can manage". So if you are listening my Lady please remember this.
This feels like a lull, a suspended moment to recoup energies, to be prepared. A week today we visit the oncologist and see how the tests are doing and if things have progressed any more. That is when we have to make decisions on Mr Mog's care. I say we but to be honest I can't make those decisions, much as I love Mr Mog and would do anything for him. This decision has to be his. It is awful to have to stand back, to remain silent. Obviously we have discussed things but that is all.
Mr Mog has a blood test tomorrow ready for next week, I've just rung the nurse to ask her to look at his body, there appears to be a rash, almost like lots of new moles coming. Now Mr Mog insists he had these already but he didn't. Yes he has a lot of moles but not these. I haven't argued but have asked the nurse to check it out, just in case it is something more.
I feel like a fussy hen worrying over her chicks, if I didn't love him I wouldn't do it.
But I do, so I do.

Lavender and bees

2011-07-10T09:34:00.000Z

The bees and I have an agreement where lavender is concerned. I only take a small amount this time of year and I ask permission to take stems from the various bushes. I'd guess that there is less than 2% of the total lavender crop here. I take some now for drying and more later in the season.
While we cut the stems they buzz around quite cheerfully, even landing on the stems and me. Almost as if they are checking the quality and the ammount of stems we have.

This will hang in Mr Mog's new workshop for a few weeks then most will go in the incence cupboard for mixing with other incense ingredients and for lavender bags for the fibre chests to help keep moths at bay.
The next lot will be dried for cooking and some used fresh.
I love lavender in biscuits, cupcakes,scones, sugar and lemonade to name but a few.
You can also infuse it in oil, make soap with it ,or my favourite, fizz bombs for the bath. The list is endless. Give it a try.
I never take too much at this time of year, or indeed any time. I leave a lot over the autumn as it still receives lots of visits from the insects around at that time.
The house and workshop smell delightful with this fresh picked harvest.

Positivity

2011-07-10T08:02:00.000Z

It is hard to remain positive when you feel your world has been torn apart. You wonder how you will get through the next minute, the next hour.
Your heart is full to bursting with all the emotion.
Some part of you rails at the injustice, why us?
But,
Your heart stops pounding, you take a deep breath and move on. It might be tiny steps, it might have a lot of stops in between but you do move on.
You start looking for the positive side, you explore the options.
Yes there are options.
After all you can sit and feel sorry for yourself every day, no one will stop you. It is your life.
Or, you can look on it as a new beginning. It jerks you out of the day to day and makes you appreciate what you have got. It makes you see the world differently. It gives you hope..
You got through this day and it was fabulous. What has tomorrow in store?
You are with someone you love very much and who feels the same about you. What's not to enjoy in that?
Sometimes I think that this cancer has been a good thing, it made me appreciate things more.
And that can't be bad, can it?

Holly spindles

2011-07-09T12:06:00.000Z

There is something about wood. It has a vibrancy all its own, an energy, an inner spark.
All wood has it but we can pick up on that energy more in some than others.

This new drop spindle that arrived yesterday reminded me of it.
It has been cut, seasoned and shaped into the item you see before you.
It has had characters marked into it. It has been waxed or varnished. I'm not quite sure without checking with its maker.
And yet,

When I opened the packaging and lifted it out I felt the energy of this piece of holly.

When I wrapped fibre to make a leader for spinning I could almost feel an eagerness in the spindle to begin.

The first turns of a spindle are always an experiment, when you have purchased without trying.
You don't know if you and the spindle will click.
I am a new spindler, I've only been spinning this way for just over a month.
It is totally different to wheel spinning. In this instance it is as if the spindle and I are joined, one being.
United in a purpose. A very strange feeling but very exhilarating.

The spindle came with 2 samples of fibre cushioning it. I've spun the first offering and it flowed on the spindle beautifully.
It will make a tiny skein when plyed with itself. Not enough for a large project but perfect for something special.
A gift to be cherished and enjoyed.
The spindles first offering. What will it turn out to be?
Holly is a hardwood and tales of its uses within magic abound. It equates with fire energy and its evergreen properties signify continuing life as it survives year round. A good omen ?
It is a witch tree and a joy to behold both with and without berries.
In pagan beliefs the Holly rules over the dark or waning half of the year. Are we seeing synchronicity here? It arrived just past the Summer Solstice i.e. in the waning part of the year. There are no coincidences are there? I thought I chose Holly because I like the tree, I am seeing now that the Goddess had more in mind when the idea came into my head.

Holly stands also for warrior magic and spiritual strength, do you think it is nudging me again? Perhaps we will need that strength in the months to come.
It does however push me towards balance. I think I now may need an oak spindle , what do you think?

Oh and for those interested the spindles come from here.
Not cheap but I got a piece of magic so what price that?

Of altars and spindles

2011-07-08T13:05:00.000Z

I have a book called Little Altars everywhere by Rebecca Wells. She also wrote Divine secrets of the Ya Ya sisterhood. I've had the books for quite a while now, I first bought them when I was doing paper crafts and mixed media.It came to mind yesterday when I was thinking of faith, beliefs and practices.
I know, I know such a weighty subject but stay with me.

I have many little altars around my home. They are on windowsills, fireplace,on chests, in the garden.
They all contain things that mean something to me and are special in one way or another.
There are statues of Bast, Anubis and Buddha. ( I told you I was an eclectic shaman:) ) There are Goddess figures, green men here and there.
Crystals, hag stones and pieces of wood are on there also.
Things that came into my life by various means and they stayed.
They all have meaning, all with a memory attached of when I got them , where and why.

I don't have a regular daily religious practice as such. I try to live my life mindfully and honour and follow the turn of the wheel and the seasons journey around us.

But these little altars jog my memory. They help remind me of places and times, they give me a focus to give thanks. To just be glad to be here in this now.

To be, not just to exist in a pattern of every day habits and deeds.

To sometimes stop what I'm doing and breathe.

We all do things from habit or routine and yes that is necessary sometimes.
We do however need that time of mindfulness, of being in the present.

For me, those little altars link me to that.

A space for oneness.

A silence of the babble within my mind.

We all have it and it is hard to stop, even for a second.
Those moments of silence help.

The journal and the morning pages do the same for me.
Anything that empties the clutter from my mind. To allow time for the day, for creativity. For my muse to visit.

I often add to my altars things that come my( our ) way. I also send others onwards when the need arises in another person. They are flexible and not set in stone.
Currently the main altar has a collection of cards sending healing and best wishes from all around the world.
People who also took a moment and in that space thought of someone else. They sent those thoughts for Mr Mog and I.
A magic all its own and very much appreciated, especially as quite a number of them are cyberspace friends and we have never actually met in person.
That doesn't matter though, we are all linked by the webs of kindness and small and large deeds.

On another note but linking in,
This arrived today from the US, a Jenkins spindle made of Holly that I had ordered. I almost dropped it when I opened the package there was so much positive energy within this small item. I tried spindling with some fibre they packed it in and Wow, think electric shocks running through the body, a tingling of old earth energy given by the Holly to me via Ed who turned it into this beautiful piece of working art.
I shall enjoy using this spindle and will honour the tree that gave it to me.

Femmes for Macmillan cancer support

2011-07-08T08:56:00.000Z

I meant to add to my blog post yesterday that if you would like one of the femmes then I am asking for donations for Macmillan Cancer Support. As you can appreciate a cause dear to both Mr Mog and I . You can either send cheques to me made out to Macmillans or Donate direct , more information is here
Can I ask for a minimum donation of £20 please? I will cover postal costs worldwide.
Thank you

Midnight's femmes

2011-07-07T16:30:00.001Z

These have been a long while in the creating. Started almost 8 months ago I think.

I think they were worth the time though, I feel such joy at seeing them completed. I don't know where they will end up living but that doesn't matter. It was the making that was important.

La Mariposa or lady of the butterflies. She brings the gift of inward travel . Her robes flutter in the breeze and through her graces we find the ability to travel the psychic planes using the butterfly wings of time and space. When a butterfly lands on a person her touch is barely felt. The journey we all travel sometimes needs this lighter touch. She tells us to be more playful, more in tune with our inner self.

Cailleache Goddess of the elements, weather and the sky. The charm she wears reminds us that we all contain the 4 elements within us. Earth our body, water our blood, wind or air our breath and fire our spirit. She reminds us to ground and centre before we do rituals and to balance all within us.

Uttarawaya lady of luck and fortune. In our home as children we always fought for the chicken wishbone and if we were lucky enough to win it we left it to dry for a day and then made a wish. We took one end of the wishbone and someone else took the other, as it cracked whoever got the larger piece their wish would come true. I don't say this would work with Utta's metal charm but the magic is still there for you to channel should you wish.

Melissande lady of the bees. She wears a charm that depicts a cross section of a honeycomb with a bee attached. Some of the cells are full, some empty, signifying the potential within us. Do we use it or leave it fallow? Bees are a favourite of mine. I have always talked to them and told them my news. As you can imagine the airways have been pretty busy lately:) Bees are symbols of fruitfulness and prosperity, the honey so golden and so life enhancing.

Aranhodd is the lady of rebirth, fertility and she weaves our cosmic fates and sands of time. Her name is a derivation of Arianhod which means silver wheel or round wheel and reflects the circle of life. She wears a silver charm containing zodiac symbols and the sun and moon.

Quercusta is the lady of the oak and wears a golden leaf of autumn. Oaks are a long living tree and she brings with her the majesty of their life cycle. She reminds us that there is no rush to do or be anything. To take time to reflect on where and what we are. To use the power of the oak to centre and to ground us.

As always if any speak to you feel free to get in touch, they all await new homes. I am always glad to trade them

Creativity and Cancer

2011-07-07T14:11:00.000Z

I have found that Mr Mog's cancer returning has affected both of us and our creativity.
Part of the reason I think was the suddenness of the return and the severity of the return. No half measures for us, all sweetness and light then wham 12-18 months to live.
So it became the reason for being and the only thing on our minds. Well that didn't leave much time to play or have fun.
Then it changed, don't ask me why I really don't know. Maybe it was the thought that we had to savour each day and live it to the full. Enjoy life and say to hell with cancer. After all it is saying the same to us.

So gradually light came back into the world. Having good friends and supportive family helped a lot. The fact that good friends are also creative helped even more.
We had many cards and gifts sent to let us know we were in peoples thoughts. Most of them we had never met in real life. So many offers of help, a voice on the phone or an email address to write to if we felt low and lost.
Tears on many days and total despair but with the joy that being together gave us.
Knowing that we were in this together, wherever the journey took us.

Mr Mogs new workshop was erected, not without its own problems.That is worthy of another long post but I will wait until they have finished the final tweaking before I say more. We had problems with new electrical items, one word of warning don't think buying local is a good thing. For us it most certainly wasn't.

Then came the day Mr Mog went in his workshop to tidy up, cue several hours later before he surfaced for a cuppa.
A smile on his face and plans for the new model railway that is going in there. Work benches built from scratch and cupboards fitted and filled.
Lots of " what if I build this, put this there, make this?"
It rubs off on a girl you know:)
I couldn't stand by and not play, after all the muse came knocking most firmly on the door. She told me to get the art stuff out. It lifted my spirits, it made me feel alive.
So what if Mr Mog has cancer? So what if they give us a time span for his life. They can be wrong and we are determined to prove them so.
None of us know if we will make old bones, we can't see that far ahead.
Cancer has done us a favour in many ways, it has taught us that yes life is too short. We shouldn't waste it. We need to grasp each day and make it ours.
Life is so sweet and is there to be enjoyed.
Cancer go to hell

The muse came visiting

2011-07-06T16:41:00.000Z

The Muse came visiting this week and for the first time in many a while she wanted to play with fabric. I was so pleased to see her as it has been a pretty dire month in oh so many ways.

Her first project was this:-

Titled When moonbeams reached the ocean they turned into pearls.

This has been languishing in a cupboard for a year I think since I last did anything on it. I dyed the fabric several years ago and did a combination of machine and hand stitching on it. The mermaid is a Laurel Burch print. I've added moonstone beads for the pearls and touches of crystal glitter here and there.

I really love working with fabric and had forgotten how much fun it can be.

This crown is made from a piece of knitting that I felted several years ago. It was Colinette point five I think. I cut the heart below out of it and the pieces left suggested they could be a crown.

All it needed was a little tweaking and a crown it is.

Quite a few months ago I started on some more femmes and then it didn't seem the right time to finish them. The time is now as the saying goes and several femmes now have shoes. There will be pictures when the shoes are dry and painted.

The heart is for a friend of mine, made from the same piece of felted knitting, stuffed with lavender collected from our garden last year.

A blog post would not be complete unless knitting showed its face. This shawl is called Into the green, named after one of my favourite author's books.The yarn is Jawoll Magic, pattern Shaelyn.

So what else is happening chez Moggies?
We have to go back to Oncologist in a couple of weeks and decide what treatment, there are 2 possible trials. One is unnamed treatment, 50% chance of placebos and we would not know what Mr M was on.
Second is chemo plus a n other drug and we would know. Think that is the more likely option. I don't personally think it right to give someone hope and only give them placebos.

Mr Mog looks really well and is enjoying long days playing in his new shed. You wouldn't think that his bones were riddled with cancer:( Long may this last.

A better day

2011-06-20T20:26:00.000Z

We had an appointment with oncologist today to discuss the cancer and treatment. She thinks Mr Mog would benefit from a possible trial treatment so she is sending us details and has changed( added to) Mr Mogs medication. We have to go back in four weeks for further blood tests and then find out if he is eligible for the trial.
She thinks the initial prognosis could be extended so while it wouldn't cure things it could delay the inevitable.

We have decided that positive thinking is the way to go, it certainly would help and makes us both feel much better.
So no miracles but a little hope:)

It's all about me

2011-06-16T07:04:00.000Z

When you have been living with uncertainty and fear for weeks it is a big relief to have an enemy you can face and fight.
It is the fear of the unknown that seeps into every aspect of your life. It permeates your waking and sleeping hours and despite all your efforts it won't go away.
It just mutates and multiplies. It scares you and you have nightmares. There are " what ifs?, why us?"
there is black, black despair.
You may wonder how having an answer can lift your spirits, especially such an answer of this magnitude. But it can and it has.
Being given bad news, or having bad news confirmed, in such a calm matter of fact manner as the consultant told us is brilliant.
It focuses your mind totally. There are no " what ifs". yes there is still fear, there are many tears both inside and out.
There is railing against everything you believe in.
And yet:-
knowing an enemy gives you something to fight, and if you are bloody minded, (as I have been known to be:))
Then you take it as a challenge. You won't believe for a moment that they can be right. You won't let it be 12-18 months.
After all you haven't known this soulmate for near enough long enough in this life.
There is so much you need and want to say to him. To enjoy with him.
So we will need a lot longer than that together Goddess if you please.
A lot more mornings like these where I sit writing my journal, glancing across to the sleeping figure of the man I love so much.
You can't take him yet, there are things we need to do together. We need to grow old together, and laugh about our aches and pains.
So I give you fair warning these Moggies are a fighting breed of cat, especially the female of the species. That would be me.
We fight for the ones we love. We have to, they are the biggest part of what makes us who and what we are.
Yes today IS all about me.
But under that it is all about my Mr Mog.
I won't lose him yet, or for a long long while.

Is that ok?
Please?
Thought I better insert a picture so you know there has been some knitting.

12-18 months:(

2011-06-15T18:42:00.000Z

That is how long they have said to Mr Mog. There may be chemotherapy, we will know more When we see oncologist after weekend. apparently it is in his pelvis, vertebrae and some ribs.And very aggressive. Not good at all

It has spread:(

2011-06-08T17:23:00.000Z

Over 2 hours in clinic as they were running late and one consultant got called up to ward for something. Sister had to go and get him back. Sitting really worried wondering what was happening and trying to keep strong for Mr Mog. Everyone called in except us, we were last. Went in to be told had spread to bones, no more info as they hadn't had a meeting to discuss results and treatment. They will do that this Friday. We have to go back next Wednesday for full explanation and treatment options. I asked why they hadn't rung us to postpone meeting rather than keep us worrying and waiting. They couldn't answer that.
So another week of worry before the full details are known.
Keep a positive thought for Mr Mog please

An update

2011-05-20T09:29:00.000Z

Tuesday we went to the hospital for Mr Mog's normal 3monthly check up. No sense of what was to meet us there, we were sat wondering how long the wait would be, the usual stuff. The consultant immediately wanted to examine him which set off alarm bells.
Apparaently the cancer is back and outside the prostate. This in just 3 months.
He is back on the stomach injections and today has an MRI or CT scan, not sure which as they rang yesterday with a cancellation and I my brain is not where it should be.
He has a bone scan planned in 2 weeks and then we go back to see the consultant soon after that. That appointment will tell us the extent of the cancer and what treatment there can be.
He can't have radiotherapy again so it will most probably be chemo.
I don't know what to do, how to comfort him when I am also very frightened. Scared that I will lose the man I love and the man I waited so long to find.
Scared of the battle he(we) may have to fight and how I can do everything I can to make it better.
I want to be able to kiss him better, to rub the hurt away some how and I can't.
This limbo time waiting for things to be done is the worst I think. Once we know we can fight it, we have something to fight against.
Now it is just trying to get through the days until we can see the enemy and where it has travelled.
This f%&*%*g cancer is such a nasty disease. It attacks in all ways and you never see it coming.
Faith kind of slips a little when you get news like this.
How are you supposed to attack it like it attacks your loved ones?
Is there anything I am missing? A piece of the jigsaw waiting to be found?We aren't sleeping as you can imagine. I'm trying to keep Mr Mog distracted with lunches out with like minded friends and the like but I know that doesn't really do much.
Still you have to try.
He has been very tired for the past few months and has a really bad back, of course my mind is linking it with the disease. Not to him, to Mr Mog I smile and try to be positive.
But sometimes the mind has a will of its own.

Its back:(

2011-05-17T15:31:00.002Z

Just been to the hospital with Mr Mog today and sadly his cancer is back:( Waiting for bone scans/mri scan to see if it has spread anywhere else. He has gone back on injections in the interim. There is possibility of chemo.
Don't know what else to say

A recommendation for Tatty Fleece:)

2011-05-03T16:25:00.000Z

I don't often recommend people as you know but I thought I'd tell you about a friend of mine who has set up an Etsy shop. Her name is Tattyknits and her etsy shop is Tattyfleece
Why am I telling you about her? tatty has the most amazing eye for colour which was one of the first things I noticed when we met.
But better than that she comes up with brilliant ideas for fibre. When you check out her shop ask her about her boas, I will say no more at this juncture .

Beltaine blessings

2011-05-01T12:15:00.001Z

It is Beltaine or May Day today and what an incredibly beautiful day it is. I've two posts for you but as they are very picture heavy I'll do one today and one tomorrow.

Yesterday we went to one of our favourite places Conishead Priory to walk in the woods, a tradition for us on Beltaine and indeed woods are the place on all the festivals for me.

The woods are looking absolutely stunning, the Goddess in all her glory. You can feel the energies and the power of the Lord and Lady at this time.

I love the priory gardens they are easy to get around but yet you feel as if you are in the first forest it is so quiet and so overwhelmingly stunning.

Comfrey or knitbone to give it its country name was a big part of my childhood. My nan used to wrap leaves of it around my sore joints to ease the pain. She used to make salves from it for when the leaves were not usable. I had to eat the leaves and drink an infusion as well. Sadly I still have my disease so it didn't cure it but it did help alleviate the pain. Nowadays they tell you not to drink it I think. Didn't harm me though, I'm still here:)
She also made the most foul smelling liquid to use on the garden because comfrey is a marvellous fertiliser. Mr Mog and I tried it several times and the results were great. We stopped after he accidentally spilt some across himself and it took a shower to get rid of the perfume.

We found out later that there was a better, less smelly way to make it. We had put leaves in a bucket and added water. Don't do that. The easiest way is an upturned pop bottle with the bottom cut off, put the leaves in there with a weight on them. This produces a concentrated liquid that is equally effective. Just add water to it when using.

So Beltaine, a fire festival and a time of great fertility in the land. What does it mean to you?

For me it is a renewal of energy, a time of meditation and insights. A time to enjoy creativity for its own sake and not for an end result. A play time. A what if ?time.

This past two days of woodland and nature have helped to ease the dark winter that still lingers in my bones and in my spirit.It tells me to let go of the past, accept what has been and be thankful for what it has done for me. I may not yet realise all the plus points but they are there. With the longer days and warmer weather the positive elements will come forth.

This view always reminds me of one of my favourite poems The way through the Woods by Rudyard Kipling where coincidentally? the poem of the day is Puck's song

They shut the road through the woods
Seventy years ago.
Weather and rain have undone it again,
And now you would never know
There was once a road through the woods
Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
And the thin anemones.
Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.

Yet, if you enter the woods
Of a summer evening late,
When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools
Where the otter whistles his mate,
(They fear not men in the woods,
Because they see so few.)
You will hear the beat of a horse's feet,
And the swish of a skirt in the dew,
Steadily cantering through
The misty solitudes,
As though they perfectly knew
The old lost road through the woods.

Puck's song

SEE you the ferny ride that steals
Into the oak-woods far?
0 that was whence they hewed the keels
That rolled to Trafalgar.

And mark you where the ivy clings
To Bayharn's mouldering walls?
0 there we cast the stout railings
That stand around St. Paul's.

See you the dimpled track that runs
All hollow through the wheat?
0 that was where they hauled the guns
That smote King Philip's fleet.

(Out of the Weald, the secret Weald,
Men sent in ancient years,
The horse-shoes red at Flodden Field,
The arrows at Poitiers!)

See you our little mill that clacks,
So busy by the brook?
She has ground her corn and paid her tax
Ever since Domesday Book.

See you our stilly woods of oak,
And the dread ditch beside?
0 that was where the Saxons broke
On the day that Harold died.

See you the windy levels spread
About the gates of Rye?
0 that was where the Northmen fled,
When Alfred's ships came by.

See you our pastures wide and lone,
Where the red oxen browse?
0 there was a City thronged and known,
Ere London boasted a house.

And see you, after rain, the trace
Of mound and ditch and wall?
0 that was a Legion's camping-place,
When Caesar sailed from Gaul.

And see you marks that show and fade,
Like shadows on the Downs?
0 they are the lines the Flint Men made,
To guard their wondrous towns.

Trackway and Camp and City lost,
Salt Marsh where now is corn-

And so was England born.

She is not any common Earth,
Water or wood or air,
But Merlin's Isle of Gramarye,
Where you and I will fare.

Primroses are always a surprise flower, they suddenly appear. Have you ever had primrose wine? Gorgeous flavour and brings with it all the magic of the Spring. Whenever I've made it I've only ever taken petals from a prolific area of the flowers and always asked before taking.

Bluebells here are mainly the native ones, a few Spanish have crept in but not too many thankfully.

Saxifrage is such a tiny flower you can miss it if you aren't watching closely.
These next 2 pictures are for Leanne She had been searching for hope and look what we found in the gardens there.

And a close up

As you can see the day was beautiful

Carpets of flowers and new leaves in abundance.

A gateway to a magical world.

Hope you enjoyed the journey and may your Beltaine be full of joy and hope.

Hieros Gamos?

2011-04-27T18:57:00.000Z

I've been thinking about the wedding this Friday and how it might equate with the sacred marriage of Arthurian legends, then I couldn't remember the phrase I wanted. I woke up this morning with the words Hieros Gamos in my head and thanks to a friend who knows quite a lot about Greek myths I found out a little more and the correct spelling.
The link with the land and the fertility aspects of Beltane all come to mind. Add in the Freemason connection with Royalty and it does all link up, all be it speculative. So did the royals decide on the date because of all this or is it merely a coincidence?
It couldn't happen on Beltane itself because that is A Sunday and of course defender of the faith etc.
As it coincided with the May day bank holiday weekend was the Friday to give the masses a distraction from all the political stuff happening? At one time Friday was deemed a very unlucky day to get married or to move, Friday for crosses where weddings were concerned and Friday flit(move) short sit for moving house.
I am intrigued by the aspect of hieros gamos and its links with the fertility and abundance of Beltane and May Day and intend to research further.
The going off into the woods and the celebratory sexual aspect of it all.
Beltane for me is a joyous festival and this year particularly a letting go and closing of the door on the dark half of the year..
The sense of lightening of mood and of atmosphere that started to show itself a little at Ostara now becomes much brighter and more widespread.
Not just for us but for many people I know across the world. This darkness has affected so much of the world not just our small area.
We need the joy but we also need to be aware that the earth needs it too. She is hurting and this could be part of her way of showing us and also of showing us how it could be if we cared a little more for her. If we were more aware of our presence and its effect upon her.
Small steps would help, an awareness of the harm we do. A conscious attempt to heal her where we can. Mindfulness in all we do to her and to ourselves.
Even if we can't practice this minute by minute then a thought or two throughout the day would be a beginning.

Mr Mog has just remarked after reading my meander that perhaps they didn't marry on Saturday because they would miss the football, sounds equally feasible to me:)

Isn't it strange?

2011-04-26T17:25:00.000Z

I woke this morning with thoughts of the Sacred Marriage. No not the soon to be "royal" wedding but the sacred marriage of the king with the land as told in many stories/tales and poems. Think Arthur Pendragon for one.
Then it came into my mind about previous and present royals being part of the Freemasons and the Freemasons use of ritual magic.
Then I thought about this weekend and the turn of the wheel being Beltane, the time of the sacred marriage.
I wonder if the royal wedding is subconsciously linked with this? Of course they wouldn't get married on Saturday or Sunday(actual Beltane /May day) so is this the nearest to it and did they realise?

Coincidences, do they happen or not?
Of which:-

Several days ago someone got back in touch with me who I hadn't seen or heard from for a while. All well and good and great to hear from them.
Last night another friend rang us who we haven't seen in some time and invited us up to stay. Also very good.
This morning we had occasion to go to a nearby market town with a spinning friend. I jokingly said it wants one more friend from the past to make up my 3, everything comes in threes or seems to.

Imagine my surprise while leaving a cafe to have someone accost us and say he knew it was us by our back view:) Would that be Little and Large do you think:)
We hadn't seen this friend for quite some years and it was good to catch up. In conversation we mentioned that we now both spin, "so do I" said he and that he had an old wheel that needs some repair. Mr Mog has taken it to fix up for him when we get spare parts. This friend is a monk and apparently the spinning got him into Buddhism.

So there are no coincidences - are there?

Today is all about colour

2011-04-25T15:03:00.000Z

Today is a colourful day and I thought you would like to see some of the pictures. Above is my latest shawl, based on the Vixen pattern but modified somewhat. The yarn is Posh Elinor fingering. 1 skein of Waving Not Drowning and 1 skein of Nice Weather For Ducks. I think they go well together
Then keeping with the blue theme for a moment some pictures from the full moon the other night.

It was a very clear evening as you can see

Mr Mog has strung up quite a few solar lights around the railway and they always add a magical touch to the garden when the day fades.

A close up of the shawl modelled by Minerva my new mannequin

This was the pink fluff I made a donation for at Wonderwool, I've plyed it with a fine glittery thread, you can't see the glitter in the photo but it is there as a sheen more than overly brassy.

I had a few curls lying around and decided they would look better with a little colour so into the pan they went, they will become another free form shawl or wrap I think.

This outfit was a very pale greyish green and a bargain at the charity shop. Viscose always dyes OK so I thought I'd give it a go

As you can see it didn't come out too bad

While at Wonderwool I obtained a skein of Silver Sparkle lace yarn from Andy at Bluefaced.com. It is 75% extra fine merino, 20% silk and 5% Stellina which gives the subtle sparkle. 100gms has 800 metres. I wanted something citrusy so this also went into the dye pot with 3 different yellows, a touch of orange and a smidgen of lime green. I deliberately left some white showing.

The sun has shone here all over Easter so the roads and beach have been very busy. We have stayed at home, I usually don't like to go out on bank holidays if I can help it as it gets way too hectic for me.

The pain levels haven't been good this past few days, it is hard to focus on 1 sore point if there are lots. Distractions have included citrus and raisin muffins, spinning merino silk, finishing the shawl and starting another Elsewhere jacket. The jacket is being made with some destash yarn I purchased and there won't be enough for a full jacket. I'm going to do short sleeves or none and I'm going to adding occasional stripes or splashes of other colours to the dark purple/twilight I have.

I'm also rereading the Moonheart/Spiritwalk books by Charles de Lint as I felt the need for some urban fantasy:) I love Charles's books they always take me out of my pain zone with the poetry of his writing.

Beltane approaches fast, how will you be celebrating this turn of the wheel? We had hoped to go to Glastonbury but sadly both the places I like to stay are full up. I think it may be a Beltane at home:) I can feel the energies starting to rise and the warmth of the festival approaching.

Sunshine

2011-04-17T17:18:00.000Z

A glorious day today the colours are so vibrant. We went for a walk in the local park

I love the sunshine, it almost makes me purr with the warmth. It seems to massage my aching joints and body.

As you can see everything has well and truly woken up and the flowers are bursting out all over.

Lots of blossom everywhere and the park was full of bird song. I think the birds felt as happy as I did.

Magnolia flowers come in many shades from creamy white to deepest pink but I loved these with the blush of pink.

Colour always makes me smile and feel better. I don't like bland clothes and I don't like to spin or knit with dull colours. The colours I use do affect my mood.

So many shades of green in the park today from acid almost yellow to deepest olive.

We weren't alone on our walk, can you see this fellow?

The ponds have been restocked, hopefully the fish will remain.

Tulips are my favourite spring flower.

The chestnut "candles" are out. The flowers always remind me of church candles for some reason.

Last weekend we were at Wonderwool and I met the very talented Maureen Preen. She is a stunning artist who uses peg looms and weaving sticks to create with. She kindly donated some weaving sticks for the interactive area and showed us how to use them. Of course Mr Mog and I had to purchase our own set and this is the start of a bag I think, it uses Colinette point5 yarn.

This is a shawl I've just finished using Wollmeise sock yarn. I hated every minute of it. The yarn felt like cotton to knit with and hurt my hands.

I made a donation for this fluff that someone generously donated for fundraising for the Air Ambulance. I decided to spin it as it came and love the candy stripe effect. I now need to spin something to ply with it. It is unknown fibre but I love the effect of the different pinks.

It is the full moon tonight and the sky promises a lovely clear night so hopefully I'll get some pictures

Passing fair

2011-04-16T16:35:00.000Z

When ever anyone asked my Nan how she was she always said "passing fair". I've no idea why or what it actually meant but the saying came down to me:)

So, how am I? Well I'd say passing fair also. Not good, not as bad as I've been this past few months. Having said all that I had a really bad asthma attack yesterday, it came out of the blue and floored me.

But the days are lengthening, the sun is shining today and it is warm. What more can we ask? It is no use wishing for good health, a fortune, or other such impossible dreams if they aren't meant to be ours.
We just have to look on each small thing, each day, as a precious gift and enjoy it for what it is.

Too many people dwell on the negative, their glass is always half empty, never half full. some have nothing but negative things to say about others.
What good does it do them? It reflects back on them and it rebounds back also.

Far better to try and reflect the good things, the nicer side.

Not to be Pollyanna, that would be far too hard and unrealistic, but to try and be mindful in deed and word.

I've been knitting and spinning. Enjoying both very much.

The photos are a selection that made me smile. The shawl is on my new model her name apparently is Minerva. I made the most basic error making this, I didn't read the pattern. It was designed for DK yarn and of course I used 4ply hence the smaller size. The yarn is Zauberball.

The handspun is Humbug BFL copper colourway from Freyalyn's fibre. There is 85gms, 575 yards.

The penguins came to visit the other day and are now house guests. Miss Violet Jane Marple and so called Professor Rufus Isambardd. I suspect the title is an honorary one:) Miss Marple wears a handmade shawl and the Prof has a bell. Those who know us would say they are dressed in a very apt manner.

The hat is something I came up with to use some of my dyed curls.

The other 2 pictures are from our visit to Wingham Wools. A brilliant place to visit and they offer a great try before you buy service on spinning wheels. You can also book a play day where you are allowed to spin any of the fibres and take away the results. No charge. A very generous offer. All they ask is that you vary what you try so obviously not one fibre all day. They also have cottages where you can stay for a very reasonable fee, these are exceedingly comfortable and one has a bed settee and downstairs wet room/toilet so is ideal for those of us who struggle with stairs.
Phew think that will do for now, I do appear to be getting my blogging mojo back so expect more posts with hopefully less space in between

Karma

2011-04-12T15:58:00.000Z

I've been reading several things about negativity, partly from people's experiences with the negative button on Ravelry and the effect it has on them. Just 1 click of a button by some anonymous person can really hurt. They may be doing it for fun or for badness who knows? But the effect can be nasty. 1 friend of mine left Rav because of it, sad really when you see all the good things there. I disabled my disagree button many moons ago. I don't see any purpose to it, if someone doesn't like something I write that is their prerogative as it is mine to write. They can say they don't like something by all means but honestly not anonymously:) Sometimes I think we forget Karma and the three fold law. What we send out be it positive or negative always comes back threefold. It isn't easy sometimes to be positive and not negative.I try to think about the possible results of my thoughts and actions and try to do the right thing.
I don't intentionally hurt anyone by deed or word. Not everyone thinks that way and that is a shame for them as it always rebounds on them I've found.

Life is too short to bear grudges,or be negative after all you never know what is round the next corner . Isn't it much better to smile, rejoice in the fact you are alive and enjoy each day?

Today is bright and very sunny and the plants are growing speedily. What were bare twigs are now covered in bright green leaves and spring flowers. New growth everywhere you look and there for the enjoying.

I started to think about my current practice of choosing a card from a tarot pack and focusing on it throughout the day to see what message and meaning there is for me. My current tarot is the Wild spirit pack from Poppy Palin, I like the stories she weaves around the cards and I love the imagery of them. I have several packs of tarot and oracle in my collection. I've been using the Wild spirit one since Imbolc I think? I don't know how long I'll make this my daily card,but when the time comes I'll change on to another pack. I think we have to be flexible and not remain stagnant. Stagnant water isn't nice and stagnant energy is just the same. Ever onwards and outwards on the spiral path gives challenges but also rewards.

It is useful to visual a mirrored shield around when meditating or doing magic. I always see mine as a blueish mirror to reflect the Goddess energy. It is very important to ground and shield before doing anything otherwise it can seriously mess with your body and mind. Magic and witchcraft is not something to play at.

Of bees and honey

2011-03-12T14:10:00.000Z

Many moons ago I read a book by Barbara Cartland. Not one of her Mills and Boon style fiction ones but a book on the properties and recipes for honey. It was called The magic of honey.
I don't remember it in detail now but I do remember the feeling it gave me. A recognition of the powers of honey and the magic of the bees.
I have always loved bees and the honey from them.
As a very young girl I can remember my nan taking me down the garden to the hives and her talking to the bees. Telling them about her day. Nothing earth shattering that first time, just general goings on.
Later she told them of her cancer, granddad's illness and his subsequent death.
But the first time I remember questioning her about the chats she told me why she did it.
The bees share their lives and life energy with us through the honey and beeswax. They also give us joy with the sounds they make and their flights to collect pollen. To share our lives by daily chats is not a big thing but it gives a little something back and is an acknowledgment of them and the role they have within our lives.
We pass on news but we also pass on a little of the anxieties and worry as well as the joy.
Bees were very important to my nan, she used their gifts of honey in her cooking and her salves. She also made beeswax candles and polish. When I discovered Barbara Cartland's book in the early 1970s it brought back so many happy memories of childhood. Moments of bliss, tasting as we picked fruits and veg or bottled preserves. Getting sticky from the spoon full of honey.
When we use honey in cooking, beeswax candles and the like I also thank the bees for their gifts. I speak to any I see, tell then snippets of my news.
Bees are very important to us all. We need them in our lives. They pollinate the plants, not just the flowers but the food we eat.
Without them we would have nothing.
The dreadful events in Japan bring home to me how much we are dependent on the earth and the Goddess. How we are so reliant on her.
All our technology and modern way of life mean nothing should the earth decide differently.
We do not have the wherewithal to prevent earthquakes or tsunamis. We are still at her mercy yet we treat this earth with such contempt and disdain.
Who are we to think we have power over her?
Yesterday's events show differently.
Is the Goddess trying to tell us something and will we listen to her?

Being pagan

2011-03-09T20:43:00.000Z

This past few days I've been in a reflective frame of mind. Several things brought it about,sad anniversaries being one.

My faith is a way of life, it isn't a 9 to 5 thing or a weekend thing. I live it every day every minute.

Everything I do I try to do in a mindful way and believe me sometimes that is hard. I believe that there is no straight path to follow, our journey through life is a spiral path and we are always moving on and (hopefully) outward.

Sometimes we are stuck in a rut and go round and round in circles. That doesn't matter. As long as we are aware of what we are doing and why then we can learn from it.
I believe that people are part of our lives for varying lengths of time and then they ,or we, move on. That also isn't a bad thing even though it feels like it sometimes and we hurt. If we have gained from knowing them then it can never be a negative thing. If they go away feeling the same then all to the good.

I used to get very upset when people drifted away but it didn't help me thinking that way. I found it a hard lesson and it isn't one that will ever be fully learnt I'm sure because apart from being pagan I'm also human:)

Today was a sad day in many ways. The birthday of my late uncle, the one who was more of a father to me than my biological father. It has been a few years since his death but each year on his birthday and on the day of his death I feel the loss. I think of him throughout the year not just on those days but those are the days for keeping in touch with my aunt and my youngest cousin, the one who is more sister than cousin. A time of remembering the silly things as well as the serious.

As Ostara looms on the horizon I think of the new growth on trees and bushes, the many colours of flowers everywhere I look. The deaths balanced by new beginnings.

Life is never easy but there is lots of joy and laughter, lots of positive energy.
It is a seesaw and we balance the best we can twixt negative and positive, good and bad.

I try to be in the now and enjoy the simple signs of spring, the new moon and her journey around the sky.

I am a pagan but I'm also human. I have good points and bad; faults but also I hope positives.

The spiral dance

2011-03-07T16:57:00.000Z

As the days get ever lighter we edge closer to Ostara or Spring Equinox. My heart lifts with the brighter days and sunshine. It has not been a good winter, there has been much to cope with from illness to death and much in between. I keep reminding myself of my Nan's favourite saying "the Goddess never gives us more than we can cope with" However there is quite a difference between what the Goddess and I believe is enough:)

The inward facing days have been very interesting to say the least with much soul searching and letting go. Some years this dark half has more effect than others. The wheel turns slowly when you are working through things. I dare say it will speed up now with the return of the light.

The spinning and knitting continue apace, they keep me sane and balanced when I most need it. A brilliant meditation tool both of them. My hands weave patterns while my mind journeys where it wishes or needs to go.

People come and go touching our lives briefly or for longer periods. I'm convinced that we come together for a purpose then when that has been fulfilled they move onwards to new things and others come into our orbit. It isn't just about helping others on their path I think it helps us also as we see things through new people's eyes .

Art dolls offered

2011-02-11T20:18:00.000Z

A selection of art dolls that need a new home, a couple made by me the others by various artists from across the world.
Offers invited for all or singly

Colours and trips out

2011-02-09T18:17:00.000Z

There has been knitting and I haven't shown you, sorry. This is Wavebird in Colinette Jitterbug. The colour is Morello Mash

My first shawl of this design with long arms and a shorter body.

I loved knitting it despite a mix up on one of the pattern rows. The designer was very prompt in replying to me and sorting it out.
The next shawl is another Pamuya, I think my favourite pattern. It is made with Zauberball sock yarn in Indisch Rose, a gift from Mr Mog for Yule.

I wasn't sure if the pattern and the yarn worked together but once it came off the needles and was blocked it looked much better.

Very warm and very light to wear. This took around 125 gms of the Zauberball so very economical. Have a good ball and a half left and I'll be swapping with a friend of mine for another colour.

I liked the yarn so much that Mr Mog persuaded me to buy some more while in Kendal today.

We found a great shop while there, it was hidden up a side street. Alan Lloyd
A treasure trove of pens, inkwells and much more and a very knowledgeable man running it who was passionate about his subject. There are display cases in the passageway filled with antique pens, and all the accompanying paraphernalia. Mr Mog loves calligraphy and found much of interest. As did I to be honest. I love writing with a "proper" pen and have a couple of fountain pens that get much use.
If ever you are in Kendal then I recommend Williams Wools, where I got the Zauberball and Alan Lloyd if you are a fan of writing instruments.

Imbolc Blessings and 5th annual Cyberslam poetry for Brighid event

2011-02-01T16:30:00.001Z

It is officially Imbolc.

How do I know?

I saw my first snowdrops today and I've already seen lambs, so that proves it then

Imbolc first milk and dedicated to Brighid.

A time of hope of brighter days to come.

After the hard January that so many of us have had there is a whisper of Spring on the breeze

Lots of bulbs pushing their way up despite the snow and harsh weather. They know, they too have felt the promise.

Can you feel the change? The magic of the turn of the wheel?

The signs that say move on, leave the dark inward days, open up to new experiences and new beginnings.

The time of introspection is behind us, now we feel the urge to be outside and to start things growing. New seeds, new plants.

Some of these pictures were taken at Chester Zoo last weekend when we visited and they too have new growth for Spring, new elephant baby who was so sweet but oh so shy and stayed close to mum.

Because it is Imbolc it is the time of the 5th Annual Cyberspace Poetry slam for Brigid. I love this time of year, so much fabulous poetry to be seen on the web, so many people joining in. Will you?
My next post will have my contribution. If you follow the link or google 5th Annual Cyberspace poetry slam for Brigid you will see many many more.

The 5th Annual Cyberspace Poetry Slam for Brigid

2011-02-01T16:30:00.000Z

This is the 5th year of what started out as a silent poetry reading for Imbolc and the Lady Brigid. I think I've taken part in every one.
Here are my selections for this year.
After you have read them do google for many many more.

First offering is from the brilliant Brian Patten and is called Mary had a bit of lamb

Mary had a little lamb.

Its fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went

the lamb was sure to go.

She went into the butchers

came out with some lamb chops

I would never follow Mary

into any kind of shops.

Second one is from the book Earthkind , words and pictures by Brian Boothby and Glennie Kindred

It is called Cat's way

Maybe there is something

in the cat's way after all:

No trying to please, no failure,

no strewn and smattered souls.

Just instinct,

at the right time of year.

Thank you Lush Cosmetics NOT:(

2011-01-21T10:11:00.001Z

As I think I may have mentioned my card was cloned just after Christmas and I found out in the worst circumstances while trying to pay a hotel bill from our trip down south for Mr Mog's aunts demise.
That was the first I knew of it and it didn't help that we needed cash to come back. The bank wanted to stop the card there and then but agreed to pay the bill(after asking why we were so far from home) and agreed not to stop the card until we had drawn enough funds to see us home and until the new card arrived.
I had been wracking my brain wondering how it happened and thought it may have been a certain online book place because that was the place from the previous hacking.
Well it isn't.
Just had an email from Lush Cosmetics saying that their website was hacked and for all customers to get in touch with their bank as cards have been compromised.
Thank you Lush for the delay letting us know, almost a month now.
I shop at so few online stores using my card because of security. Looks like this may be one less of them
IF I need any more Lush stuff it will be shop only. No more online website for me.
I know it is never a good time to have stuff like this happen but on top of the upset of the death of aunt it was too much.
Edited to add Lush cosmetics not yarn

January's new moon

2011-01-09T16:41:00.001Z

Tonight's new moon, the first of the year and the first time I've been able to see it this month.

A ray of hope and light

The journey

2011-01-09T15:47:00.000Z

I've just heard that my friend passed in to the summerlands this lunchtime.She will be sadly missed by all her family and all of us who knew her. Goddess take her to your arms please . May she be surrounded by butterflies and covered in sparkles , her favourite greeting to us all.

Journeys

2011-01-08T14:37:00.000Z

Sometimes people touch our lives very briefly.
Other times they remain a big part and we would be lost without them.
Then there are those who we may never meet face to face but we count them as good friends none the less.

We are virtual friends and yes, sometimes, we say we must meet up but for various reasons it never happens.
It doesn't matter though, the friendship exists on a different level that is all.

The trouble is that when something happens you find yourself wishing you had met up. You will never now have that chance.

Why this post?

A few short years ago I met someone on line and hit it off immediately. She was a fellow crafter and a fellow pagan. We exchanged emails ,occasionally post cards and gifts, sometimes texts and the very rare phone call.
I admire this person very much, she has lived with Cancer for a long time with patience (and good humour most of the time). She kept in constant email contact when we found about about Mr Mog's cancer and subsequent treatment.
She has received all the various treatments and now has decided that enough is enough and she wants to let her life come to a natural end.

As another friend said yesterday "She had decided to take control, stop treatment and die with dignity. The last few weeks she has been more content and happy than she has for a very long time"
I respect and honour her choice, for choice it was, and I send her much love and strength for this next difficult part of her journey.

Know that you are much loved.
Sparkles to you

Sometimes

2011-01-07T19:48:00.000Z

Sometimes you meet someone online and you click as friends immediately.
Sometimes you never meet that person face to face but it doesn't matter.
Sometimes you wish you had made more of an effort to make that journey.
Sometimes you just wish

Happy new year

2011-01-02T13:43:00.000Z

2011 already or is it finally? Seems to have been a very mixed year chez Moggies.
Having to go to the south east wasn't easy. Not just the fact that the journey took over 8 hours instead of the normal 5.5 but that when we got there we had just 24 hours with Mr Mog's aunt before she passed away. Sadly she didn't regain consciousness throughout it but we didn't stop talking to her all the while just in case she could hear or sense us on some level.
I have known her for 17 years I think and it was always a joy to visit and to speak with her on the phone. She had been housebound for a few years but her phone had always been her method of keeping in touch with family and friends across the world. We spoke several times a week and it was never a chore to ring her.
She was 93 when she died and up to the end had a very active mind and joy in life. She played scrabble and did quizzes when she could. It is only a few years ago that she stopped her summer time swims in the sea.
She died peacefully I'm glad to say. She just stopped breathing and there was no pain at the end for her. A good death as they say, although are any deaths good? Just before the end both Mr Mog and I saw something leave her and fly towards the ceiling and we both asked each other "did you see that?"

The practicalities of a death at Christmas were soon to try us. When we went back next day for the medical certificate of death all the doctors who had been on duty had of course gone off. We then found out that this certificate can only be signed by one of the medical team attending her. We had to go back next day for it. In the meantime we decided it was feasible to start planning the funeral, after all this all had to be done while we were down there. None of it could be done over the phone. Funeral director was very helpful and provisionally booked for us. Another side issue of it being Christmas, lots of deaths so backed up funerals. It will be 2 weeks to hers. Then off to clear her room, a sad task but needed doing immediately as the home give you just 7 days to clear things before they dispose of it all. And yes again couldn't be done when we return home of course.
Another night in the hotel, our third, and then the following morning collection of medical certificate, registering death. This offered some problems, you now have to book appointments and they were also backed up.
However after explaining our circumstances and long journey home they kindly agreed we could go and sit and they would fit us in. This done back to undertakers to give them release form to collect body and officially arrange funeral. This done it was back up the motorway.

But there were other problems, well there would be wouldn't there?
When I went to pay the hotel account they refused my card. Phone calls later I found out it had been cloned:(
Bank agreed to pay bill and then wanted to stop card immediately. I explained we didn't have any money and needed to travel home so they let me draw some before stopping it.
I will get a new card in 5 to 7 days. They told us a series of cards had been cloned from Internet transactions. As in the last time this happened the main place I've used the card is Amazon. Apart from that just Lush once and M&S once. I can't prove that it is Amazon of course but what is the betting on it?
So is that it you ask? No there was more.
Mr Mog has travelled this route for around 35 years, I've been travelling with him for past 17. You would assume we knew our way wouldn't you?

We got lost:( We found ourselves heading towards the dreaded sigil of hell, the M25. Neither of us could tell you why we lost our way, maybe aunt didn't want us to go who knows? The weird thing is though that despite the mix up we only took 5.5 hours to return home.

Yesterday was spent with aunt's Christmas cards and 3 address books trying to match up first names with phone numbers to ring and inform people. We are a small family on aunt's side so this was primarily her friends and the nieces of her husband. None of whom we knew. Took over 4 hours but we are hopeful we contacted everyone.
Phew, glad to get it all down on paper while still fresh in my mind.

Happy new year everyone who read this far:)

Mourning a friend as well as an aunt

2010-12-28T20:54:00.000Z

We had to rush down south yesterday as Mr Mog's aunt was taken into hospital suddenly. The doctors told us it was only a matter of hours and as we are close we immediately set off. A journey that normally would take between 5 and 6.5 hours took 8 and 1/2 hours:( Horrendous traffic and very fraught time as we obviously wanted to be with her, we are almost her only famil y and Mr Mog has always been very close to her. She was a fighter and finally passed this evening with us by her side. A really peaceful departure and I am so glad we were there for the end of this journey and the beginning of her next. We need to make arrangements tomorrow and that is something neither of us have done before. Hopefully we will go home Thursday and back here when the funeral is arranged. I suspect that will take a while due to the Christmas/new year backlog and holidays.
Goodbye Aunt we will miss you very much

Happy Solstice:)

2010-12-21T14:59:00.000Z

Happy solstice may the returning light be with you always:) Did you see the eclipse this morning?

I missed the beginning but luckily the cloud cleared for the final part and for the beginning of the return of the moon from the shadows. A truly fantastic way to celebrate midwinter:) The clouds soon came back over but they made for a fantastic sunrise over the back of the house.

This time of year I remember the first time I read work by Susan Cooper, author of the Dark is rising series. Her poem seems especially appropriate for the day

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.

I hope your Solstice is filled with the magic of the eclipse and the fire of the sun.

A blessed Yule to you all

Yule part 1

2010-12-20T20:40:00.000Z

It is the eve of Winter Solstice and the moon is full. The cold took my breath as I stood by the back door to welcome the Lady Moon

Winter Solstice- the longest night and shortest day. A time when the world seems to hold its breath waiting for the wheel to turn and the light to appear.

Made especially special by the Lunar eclipse tomorrow morning , starting at 5.28am

I think we will have clear, cold skies for this very special rare event, the first time it has coincided with the Winter solstice full moon for over 400years.http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/20/lunar-eclipse-winter-solstice

I will be watching and waiting for the eclipse. I think these past few days have been a waiting period, anticipating the full moon, Yule, Winter Solstice and the return of the light.

It is very cold here and we do have snow and lots of ice but nothing like many of our friends across the country so we are very lucky.

At this time I reflect on the past year, the successes and the failures in things I've done. I think of what I've learned from both. I look forward to the return of energy with each lengthening day.

I give thanks for all the things I have in my life and the people who mean so much to me.

I thank the Goddess and the Holly King for who I am and where I am. For the creativity they inspire within me and for the joy it brings.

I wish you all a merry Midwinter, Yule, Winter solstice or what ever celebration has meaning for you. May the return of the light bring you joy.

Yule/winter solstice

2010-12-19T17:46:00.000Z

As the Winter Solstice grows ever near I feel an anticipation within. A yearning for the shortest day. I've been quite reflective this past couple of months and not really felt like blogging much as you have probably noticed. The inward half of the year always slows me down but this year even more so for some reason.
I think that health stuff hasn't helped much either.

But:-
Yule beckons and a very auspicious Yule it will be. A lunar eclipse and a blood moon all for Winter Solstice. A magical powerful time. I can feel the stirrings as the moon becomes ever fuller. Tonight with all the snow and ice she is stunning and her light bathes the garden as I write.

Swatching

2010-11-22T17:25:00.000Z

I want to make a hat for the Winter and decided to try Woolly Wormheads Marina pattern. As it is sideways knit I thought I better swatch:( Tried 2 yarns up to now and think I may have just got gauge. I'm still obsessed with shawl knitting and lace at that.
I've been quiet because the cold and damp are affecting my health and making me generally feel yuck. More later

A challenging project

2010-11-07T17:26:00.000Z

This latest shawl is called Morlynn and was a challenge for me.

As you can see it is very large

It took 150gm of Jitterbug velvet Bilberry and approx 100gm of Alpaca silk.

It was a challenge and I had to tink a few rows here and there on the final section:(

I almost gave up and counting the stitches in each section of pattern got a little monotonous

But now it is finished I am glad I carried on. I used my new set of blocking wires that I swapped for one of Mr Mog's latest projects(hackles for blending fibre). I was so pleased I had the wires as it really helped.

And before you ask no it isn't for me. Not sure what to do with it now it is finished. May swap for something?

Happy birthday P/hop

2010-11-05T19:20:00.000Z

link

Les femmes de Samhain the beginning

2010-10-31T14:27:00.000Z

The Femmes are beginning to take shape, it seemed appropriate to use these colours at this time of the year

There is something about the colours that reflects night time, veils and winter

T'is Samhain draw back the veil

2010-10-31T11:08:00.003Z

It is Samhain today and I hope you all have a wonderful, magic day . It is a day for remembering those who have passed, both recent and long gone family and friends.

A time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. A time to reflect and to let go of things we do not want to take with us into the new year.

I haven't made any femmes for a long while but the urge to do so came suddenly and you have to obey the Muse when she calls. There will be a few of them but as this one was finished I thought she could appear on the blog. Notice her funky boots:)

It isn't easy to take pictures when mohair and felt are involved but more pictures at a later date when her sisters are ready.

Her name is Hecca, a tribute to the Goddess of this festival, Hecate. The Goddess of boundaries and death and rebirth which is quite apt for this season.

There has been knitting, apparently shawls remain an obsession with me:) This is Pamuya made with Colinette Jitterbug and I thought a great colour for Samhain.

This is Garden pond made with my own handspun yarn. A mix of merino/silk/ glitter and the like.

Fibre from Ashford and from Southern Cross fibres.

One of my Samhain altars.

Hope this day and night reflect within your heart and mind.

Draw back the veil if you dare to and honour the ancestors.

This femme is a Samhain gift from me to one of you. Please leave a comment I'll draw the winner tomorrow evening

Samhain approaches

2010-10-28T13:28:00.000Z

I hate this new Blogger editor and its way of putting pictures on the blog

Guess what these will be being used for?

These words came into my morning pages today;_

They wrapped midnight around them and made it theirs.

The shadows and the twilight also they wore as if it were made for them.

Colours were visible within the velvet black but overlaid by the shimmer of the night skies.

The dark enhanced their otherworldlyness. It made of it an eerie yet beautiful sense of dreams.

It is a dark time here but with hope.

flu jab problems now:(

2010-10-12T14:05:00.000Z

Oh tis a happy house chez moggie:(

Not content with asthma, steroids and inhaler Mr Mog and I went on Saturday for our annual flu jab. We have this each year because of my weak chest and normally it goes off smoothly. A sore arm for a day then nothing.

This year however was different. We were not aware that the governmen in their wisdom had decided to add the swine flu stuff to it. If I had know there is no way on God's earth I would have gone for the jab. So many friends of mine last year were ill after having this injection.

No mention at the surgery, no questions no information just injections. Saturday was ok til the evening then both of us started to feel really weary. Aching, headaches, cold. The works
Sunday morning no better and no energy. Violent headaches and sore. Bed at 8pm for us both, trying to combat the poisons. At this time we were unaware that this wasn't the normal injection.

Forward to Monday even worse, we rang doctors and were told 48 hours we would be fine, take paracetamol and lots of liquid. No mention of anything else.

Speaking to an aunt later she mentioned the swine flu element. I rang doctors to ask and was told yes I think we may have that in this years injection. The devious part of me wonders if they don't mention it to avoid people refusing to have the darn thing.

Today I am in bed, shakes,I am frozen, headaches, so weary I ache all over. Mr mog is a little better thank goodness. When he rang the doctors earlier when I could barely move for shaking he was told, she can come in at 7pm and have her chest listened to.
That will really do me good I am sure.
I have to go to the asthma clinic for the first time tomorrow, we will see what they have to say then. It reinforces my dislike of the medical fraternity and my belief in trying to doctor myself when ever possible.

Autumn flurries, autumn squalls Timbertops wheels for sale

2010-10-04T17:25:00.000Z

It has been a squally week or two chez moggie, very wintery weather and much colder than normal.
I've also been feeling pretty grotty and have now been diagnosed with late onset asthma. This particularly affects me more in the morning which is a nuisance as I struggle to move around then anyways. I've been prescribed steroids, Now steroids and I have a long long history we go back over (well over) half a century. I know they are excellent for some diseases/ailments but I hate the side effects of them. It would seem now that they prescribe them in a different way than previously and I have been given a two week course. This apparently stops all the weaning off and the side effects. I hummed and aahed about taking them because of previous problems but decided it wasn't going to get better without the help of these tiny pills.
I'm feeling somewhat easier(except in a morning) and the pills plus inhaler appear to be helping.
Watch this space.
It has made things rather fraught for us both but yesterday Mr Mog reorganised one of our altars as you will see below and that has lifted my spirits:) I love the effect of floating candles when they reflect in crystals.

Now onto the wheels. I'm destashing my 2 timbertops wheels as I am getting a suzie pro.
These are original Williamson wheels from the 70s. Both numbered/dated and in excellent working condition. The first is a timbertops Leicester in yew

Timbertops Leicester in Yew

second is a Timbertops thurmaston 18inch wheel in oak. Both spin beautifully but in a small house I need a smaller wheel so these have to go.


Thurmaston 18inch wheel	Please leave a comment if you are interested in either of them

Dear governmen(t)

2010-09-17T09:05:00.000Z

Dear Governmen(t)

What we would like as one of your electorate.

We would like the money you need for essential services to come from those who can afford it, not those without.

We would like the fat cat salaries, bonuses and pensions to be cut drastically. It is criminal to pay ineffective idiots large amounts to make a mess of things.

Banks and big businesses we are particularly looking your way.

We would like you to rethink your cuts on essential benefits paid to the elderly and disabled. You hurt the ones who can't fight back and that's not playing nice. In fact I'd call it despicable, wouldn't you? Although I suspect the not fighting back is why you target this group. Naughty, naughty.

By all means don't increase benefit payments and pensions next year, everyone can then play their part in that way.

DON'T cut essential health care.
How would you like to be seriously ill and be told that there is no money for your treatment, the funding has run out or the drug is too expensive? And that they are sorry but that is how it is.
If you die it isn't their fault, blame the recession.
Oh that's right it won't happen to you Mr Governmen(t) man you have private health care and money to fund what you may need.

GIVE our military the equipment it needs to do the job you want and expect it to do.
If you want an army, navy, air force you DO need to pay for it you know?
Would you like to be in a war zone with no protection and third rate equipment? Would you like to be the father or mother hearing the knock on the door and being told your child was dead due to insufficient support? But he died for his country. I'm sure that will be a great comfort in their bereavement don't you?

Oh no, I forgot, money privilege etc. You wouldn't fight the fight, you would fund it if it made a profit, wouldn't you?

STOP Immigration NOW That is an essential, we are overrun with people.
This is only a small island you know. Its resources are finite.

And, a bonus for you if you stopped people coming in, less to pay out in health care housing and the like = more money left over for other needs.

GET RID of political correctness and the Elves of Safe Tea.
They are corrupting this country by the nonsense they preach . Lets bring back Comm and Sense. They worked well for a long long time. In fact their influence can still be found if you look around.
LETS NOT spend millions lauding a sad old man who pushes things under the carpet and ignores them and their terrible effect on people, out of sight and out of mind?
His church has more than enough cash to fund state visits for eternity and beyond. So why do we bend over backwards and treat him as royalty?

Does it give us worth, does it help the needy?

I think not.

And, conversely, will we do the same for other faiths, other beliefs? Or is it one rule because you say so?

Dear Governmen(t)
This hasn't been polished or mulled over by a committee.
We don't have spin doctors or the like on our team making words palatable.
But I do suspect there are many more who feel as we do.
We are known as the common folk, the voice of the people.
We still have a voice.
It is our land.

Yours sincerely
the folk of this island

Giveaway winner:)

2010-09-15T17:10:00.000Z

I've been very remiss. I posted at the beginning of August and offered a giveaway of my handspun yarn to someone.
giveaway post
There were lots of comments and Mr Mog has chosen a winner.
Priestess~Harper

As you can see there is slightly more yarn in the giveaway than I originally said. This is because it is a year almost since Mr mog started spinning and he decided to add 2 skeins to the pot. He has wound them ready for knitting and if you want the others winding P~H let me know:)
Congratulations:) and thank you everyone for entering.

Doing as I'm told:)

2010-09-14T09:56:00.000Z

I'm on 48 hours rest, doctors orders to help combat this extremely nasty chest infection that I have, yet again.

I'm doing as I'm told no option really as it has made me weak as a kitten.
I can't just lie here though so I decided to explore my writing and reading passion.
I've always written. I've always read.
Throughout my life and my lifelong illness reading and writing have comforted me. They have been my escape and my solace.
I spent a large portion of my childhood in hospital and convalescent homes. Then 2 years in a home for delicate children:)
Unable to do anything.
My nanny started my lifelong interest in history from around the age of 6 I think. Before that I read children's books.
I learnt to read at 3, my nanny again. In those days there weren't any kindergartens or play groups, you started school at 5.
By then I'd been reading a while. You still had to do things by the book :) but schools were far more flexible then than now and if you could read and write you were encouraged to explore that as far as you wanted.
A few years later I had read all the books in the children's library and started on the adult section.
Historical novels and science fiction were my favourites alongside history, but I would read anything:)
I wrote stories and poetry. Even when I became interested in other stuff books and writing were still essential.
When I first married the writing had to become a secret, it wasn't allowed and was a waste of time. I was chastised , hard to believe now that I let someone order me about like that.
So I still wrote but in secret, I had to do it it was a very big part of me and who I am.
It wasn't until I met Mr Mog many years later that I could be me, truly me. Write anything I wanted and bury my head in my books whenever I chose to.

I journalled furiously, after all I had a lot of time to make up.
My blog was, and is, an extension of the journals. I still write morning pages when I feel the need. I write bits in journals and bits on my blog.
I have empty books in the car and in my bag for when the need to write is on me.
Lying here with doctors orders for complete rest for 48 hours the writing again gives comfort.
It always has and it always will.
The written word holds so much within its letters, a magic all its own.
26 letters of sheer sorcery ready and waiting to weave their magic at our request and need.

Down in the forest Pamuya is rising

2010-09-12T14:43:00.000Z

I've finished the most fabulous shawl:) The pattern is Pamuya which is Hopi for moon hence the blog post title:)
What a fantastic well written pattern. I had to do an abbreviated version as I didn't have enough yarn for the full pattern but I've cast on another and I'd love to do one in Wollmeise if I can get some:)

What I really like about the pattern is that after every single section the number if stitches is given. Very helpful for those of us new at lace:)

It is so good to find patterns that are well written and that make sense. Oh and that have written instructions for those of us chart challenged.

We were supposed to be away this weekend but sadly I started feeling yuck yesterday and after a night with no sleep I had to give in and say we weren't going. I've lost my voice, burning throat, headache and general flu symptoms. What makes it worse is that the sun is shining and it is lovely and warm. Sitting in the garden isn't the same.

Don't you just love colour?

2010-09-03T17:44:00.000Z

For the first time in ages I dyed yarn.

I wanted to knit a fabulous shawl pattern that used sock yarn(wollmeise to be specific) I couldn't find any sock yarn but a search through cupboards found a skein of dark greens which I'm using for the shawl.

Pamuya is the pattern name and it is almost a sampler of stitches.

.
However the search did turn up 7 skeins of assorted undyed yarn.

Obviously you can't leave it like that so it had to be dyed.

What do you think?

Shawls and yarn

2010-09-02T16:27:00.000Z

There has been knitting chez Moggie and with my own handspun:) Another Shaelyn shawl, somewhat larger this time and shades of purples/fuchsias. I knew i didn't have enough of one handspun to do a large shawl so I mixed three different ones. I love the effect of them. No idea where this will be going yet.

Then I did some spinning. There are 788 yards here and 176g so pretty fine.

They yarn is one ply of Southern Cross fibre, shade glacier and 1 ply of Ashford Merino silk shade cinnamon. I've enough of the fibres left to do at least another 1000yards but I'm having a break from it and spinning something bright.
The weather here is glorious, very warm and sunny. I'm enjoying sitting in the garden watching the bees and the butterflies collecting from the flowers.

Colour me painful:(

2010-08-28T15:40:00.000Z

It has been a very painful week both for Mr Mog and for me. Poor Mr Mog has been for xrays as he is having lots of pain in his hip and leg. We will have the results Tuesday. The painkillers doctor prescribed aren't doing much at all for him.
I'm really sore all the time and my pills aren't doing much either.
anyway enough of the moaning I thought you would like to see some pictures.
The 2 Muppet tshirts above are for Mr Mog. He loves the Muppets and Animal:) We bought white ones as that was all they had and we got out the trusty dye pots to make them more into a Mr Mog colour. What do you think?

The two tops above are mine. One was off white the other white and I too wanted colour so they went into dye tubs as well.
The full moon was on Tuesday and I managed to get some pictures both the days before and on the night itself.

Love the misty effect around her

We purchased several sets of solar lights a few months ago and I thought you would like to see the effect in the garden.

This snap almost looks like flying birds with their own power source:)

There is something very powerful about the moon this time of the year especially. I can feel the energies swirling around.

I also have a couple of finished shawls to show you, both made with my own handspun.
This first one is shaelyn, a lovely easy knit. Please note it has sections of lace and I didn't have to frog it once:)

This was a stashbuster shawl, pattern is Harry I think. Used up 2 colours of my handspun. Is very soft and is very large.

Another day another year older

2010-08-21T16:26:00.002Z

I woke this morning another year older.

More Glastonbury and Wells as well

2010-08-20T16:50:00.000Z

Today in town I heard and saw my first wild geese. They were travelling to their winter feeding grounds. Very early for a first sighting, is this a sign of a harsh winter to come?

So back to Glastonbury;_

There is a magic and mystery about Glastonbury that tugs at my spirit.
When going there I still get excited when we near the town.
My first glimpse of the Tor fills me with joy and well being.
It isn't a place I would like to live, that would spoil the magic.

I need to visit.
I need to sit in the Chalice Well Gardens and feel my connection to the land and the elements found there.
I need to take the waters and to dip my feet in the healing pool.

I feel my mind and body synchronising with my surroundings.
It isn't a way I could live all the time either.
Too balanced.
We need the peaks and the troughs. It is what makes us human.
These balancing sessions help to make sense of it all.

A breathing space.
I have travelled to many places in this country over the years but Glastonbury is always the first place I choose when I am asked where would you like to spend a few days?
3 nights, 4 days is enough. Most times we go for 2 nights and 3 days. Any more would spoil it ,any less would be frustrating. I need that time to get into the Glastonbury time line. It works differently to the rest of the UK.

It is a gradual unwinding, a deep breath or two and then I'm there.

This last time we visited Wells , I haven't been there for many years and Mr Mog has never been there.

The cathedral and grounds are lovely but what a rip off.
I am sure I never paid last time I went, mind that is over 20 years ago.

I must admit I did feel like quoting the Bible at them. Money changers etc.

Firstly we were confronted with signs and several people asking for a "suggested" donation of £5.50 each to visit.
No I didn't pay it, house of god etc, why pay to visit there? The church is more than wealthy enough to pay upkeep.

It didn't get any better.
If you wanted to take photos it was £3 for a permit. Why? What upkeep is there from visitors taking photos?
I didn't pay that either.

Cathedral is ok, some very nice stonework to be seen but £14 worth? I don't think so.
I then wanted to show Mr Mog the actual well and the bishop's palace gardens. Yes you've guessed they wanted an additional £5.50 each to go in there.
So we didn't.

Can you imagine if you were visiting with 2 or 3 children? The cost even before you purchased drinks or food would be horrendous.

Wells itself was lovely but very busy and mainly full of foreign visitors. Maybe that is what made the church authorities start charging, the thought of all that foreign loot:)

We did find a great cycle shop for Mr Mog to browse in and that is always good in his book.

After coffee we decided to take the bus back to Glastonbury and I certainly won't be visiting Wells cathedral again in a hurry.

test

2010-08-20T16:21:00.000Z

Glastonbury, a magical place

2010-08-19T15:21:00.008Z

We have recently returned from Glastonbury, a great visit, very relaxing and inspiring.

My mind is full of colours and ideas, creativity in all its forms.

Being there fills my heart with beauty and my spirit with a balance and a meaning once again. An affirmation more.

Sometimes at home it is hard to keep track of my spiritual path and my intent. So much going on around us.

Glastonbury is an affirmation, an acknowledgement of where I am on the spiral, and sometimes more importantly why?
Not from anything I do or see while I am there but from my connection with the land.

Gone are the days of Tor dreaming.

I am content to sit in the Chalice Well gardens and just be.

To hear the birds and see the lush growth .

All the colours of the season around me, touching my soul , healing and revitalising.

Then the smell of the ripe apples all glowing in the sun, almost ripe for eating but not quite.

The taste of the well water brings me back to the moment. A grounding from the iron filled bounty of the spring.

The feel of the icy cold when I dip my feet in the very slippy healing pool. Almost like alpine melt as it touches , enough to make me gasp with the cold of it but enough to make me glow with energy and warmth when I move away.

The colour continues when you meander up the main street of the town.

All the people dressed their own way with exotic raiment everywhere you look.

Sometimes I see the people of Glastonbury as a Seelie court.

Poetry lines remembered vaguely.
"Rags and tatters and velvet gowns"

Strange otherworldly folks all their own person here.

Some have wings of gauze and silver, others medieval velvet robes despite the summer heat.

There a man in purple patches with leather brimmed hat.

Over there a lady all in white with long hair to match.

The fairy court of Glastonbury about its daily business.

Yes there is another side, isn't there always?

But in this time, on this day the magic side prevails.

The trick is to bring that feeling home and nurture it.

The inspiration, the healing. Keep them fresh and use the energies for that is what they are there for.

If it has heart it is right. For us, for now.

Next time may be different, we may see yet another side.

The spirits are capricious after all.

Of Somerset seasons

2010-08-14T16:35:00.002Z

We headed down to Somerset this morning to celebrate Mr Mog's birthday. Horrendous journey that took 5 1/2 hours instead of the 3 1/2 to 4 of a normal day. Partly holiday traffic, despite us setting off at an ungodly hour of 6.15am. The other main reason was a caravan overturning near Taunton that held traffic up as far back as Bristol and actually now I think of it much before. Why do these silly caravan owners ignore the recommended speed limit? What makes them think that 80 miles an hour and more is ok even when their bl%%dy van is wobbling like crazy and going all over the road?
On our journey there were hundreds of caravans, many hundreds and I would guess far less than 10% ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING LIKE THE CORRECT SPEED. ?Do they think they are invincible?That nothing will harm them? What about the innocent people who get caught up in their accident or crash? We had caravans for a short while and never took risks, after all it is a flimsy bit of fibreglass of course it is going to be wrecked if anything happens.
Right rant over, we are here and as we first saw the Tor in the distance it lifted me as it always does. The sight of Glastonbury getting ever nearer makes me smile. I wouldn't want to live here but I do like visiting.

Offering laptop, will trade for spinning wheel

2010-08-08T15:03:00.002Z

I am looking to trade our laptop acer aspire model AS5332 for a double drive spinning wheel. Laptop approx 18months old, little used as it was secondary computer. Only thing wrong is that the wireless card does not seem to work. Internet access is by ethernet. This is probably something fixable I'd guess. I want a spinning wheel that is double drive, double treadle:)