Ancestral Place

It’s a perfect day grey and cold with the threat of rain. Our Ancestor altar is set up with loving faces looking back at us. It all makes me think. Of people and of place

These gates have welcomed generations of my family through them. I have shared this space with ancestors I never shared time with. I first entered them at 3 months old. Though these gates will also be my final resting place as it has been for generations of my family.

There is something very special about knowing where you come from and to have such a deep connection of family.

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Samhain feast or whats cooking at my house

Very little in my life does not revolve around food. I spend a great deal of my resources time, energy money on feeding myself and the family. I find recipes and save recipes and make up recipes, and shop and cook and cook some more. I cannot think of a single holiday in our family that the meal is not a central part of it. and so here is my plan for food tomorrow

Tonight I am making roast chicken I know pretty fancy for a Tuesday but I had the chicken and it has been to hot to roast it so today is the day. I am going to toss in  large baking potatoes with the chicken and bake them most of the way. When they are cool enough to work with I will cut an opening in the top of them and save them for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning I will put an egg or two in each potato and some bacon bits and cheese and what have you and make baked eggs and potato aka Idaho Sunrise.

Lunch will be a salad for me. and maybe some soup

For dinner I am making Crock pot Chili with corn bread and garlicky greens (chard kale spinach or any green sautéed with a little olive oil and garlic)

This gives a nice base for the onslaught of sugar.

After Trick or treating and after I put Little to bed a few of my Girls are coming over to celebrate the new year and so our midnight super will be soul cakes, (recipe below) Pumpkin soup (recipe also below) and cut fruit.

Soul Cakes

Ingredients:

5 oz butter
5 oz sugar
2 cups flour
3 egg yolks
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp allspice
3 tbsp currants
2 tsp milk

Sift flour and spices into a bowl.
Cream together butter and sugar.
Beat egg yolks and add to the creamed mixture, beating well.
Add flour and spice mix and stir in the currants.
Add milk to form a soft dough.
Place dough on a lightly-floured surface and shape into flat cakes about two-or-three-inches in diameter.
Transfer to a well-buttered baking tray and place in an oven pre-heated to 180°C (350 F) and bake until lightly golden.
Cool on a wire rack.

Pumpkin Soup

take a small sugar pumpkin, cut in half and scoop out the seeds. Clean the seeds and scatter them on a baking sheet. sprinkle with olive oil and herbs such as salt, garlic and pepper or pumpkin pie spice mix. put a bit of coconut oil in each half and roast slice side up until done. They will be soft and start to get brown and pull away from their skin. Wait till cool

Saute onion in a pan adding spices I like salt, pumpkin pie mix with a bit of chipoltle, add in the pumpkin and broth. use an immersion blender and blend away. Add more broth if you need to thin out the soup and bring to a simmer. Serve with pumpkin seeds on top or some sour cream.

I made this Hallowe’en Craft Blog Party Luminarias

Today is like I said a big day for me. I have been interviewed over at Witch-blog and in that interview I talk a lot about my mom’s side of the family. This post will be more on the dad’s side.

In Mexico for day of the dead people make lots of beautiful Altars or shrines. The altars are filled with sugar skulls and flowers and candles and the foods or vices the departed enjoyed. They also often have luminarias around them. As we are in California Day of the dead is part of our cultural even for those with out direct heritage.

. For that reason my whole coven will be making these when we meet to celebrate Samhain. They will then be used to mark the outline of our circle. I think this is a beautiful representation of our ancestors standing with us. Here is what it looks like when it is done

Here is how they are made.

purchase a pack of lunch bag size paper bags

I had a picture of my great grandmother in her graduation garb. She not only went to college but graduated from Columbia University.

I cut out the photo and placed it on my paper bag.

I traced just inside where the picture was.

Then I cut just inside the traced line. You need to make sure you have enough of a lip to glue the picture too.

Which is what I have done here. I glued the picture onto the lip of paper that was left.

Traditionally you fill the bottom with sand and put in a candle. For today’s purpose I purchased 3 of these led lights in a pack from the dollar store.

and there it is done and on the mantel.

Hope you enjoyed and Bright Blessings to all.

I have been interviewed :)

Good morning all today is a busy day. To start with I am being interviewed by Lyn over at Witch Blog

Have any other questions you want to know?

and that’s whats up

Source: google.com via Hotskoop on Pinterest

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Life imitates life

So you may have noticed I have been a little quiet lately  This happens when life gets to busy or to overwhelming.

Right now it is both. We are on this crazy house hunt. We look at a ton of houses and find ones we like but. They need more work then we can do, the coast more money then they should and need more work then they should for how much people are asking for them. Or we put in an offer only to find out 8 other people did too and they went with someone else. So there we are.

I feel like I am on this emotional roller coaster. Of course in my magical life things are a bit up and down too, or down right strange. I had this whole week of feeling almost crazy. I had all these random things happening  and a lot of it woo woo type. Part of this is because its is that time of year and the veil is thinner and part of it is that I am taking new steps in my spiritual life. I was able to talk to several friends all of who had great insight and I did get to speak with an elder who was very insightful and helpful. I do wish I had more elders in my life.

I am sorry this is not more coherent but this is where I am right now 🙂

wishing and hopping

here we are again. We have an offer in on a house. All your good thoughts, magic, prayers are so appreciated! Please please please!

Friday Five

Well shucks this week went somewhere. Here it is Friday and I feel like I haven’t written at all this week.

I am grateful for:

1. Knowing how to cook. When I want food I can make it and it is good. I never can understand why some people look down on cooking or think it’s not an important skill.
2. the abundance of yummy food this time of year. Besides the taste it is beautiful I love the bright colors, the orange pumpkins and the green brussel sprouts and the red pomegranate.
3. fantastic friends old and new. This week I have got to spend time with a good friend. It just makes me so happy and filled with joy.
4. having good people in my life that I can talk to about all manner of things and not worry that they are going to think I have suddenly lost all my marbles.
5. my wonderful family who I love beyond words.