Category Archives: MUSINGS

October 27, 2017

Ghourls’ Night In

By JL

We all remember the witches from the fairy tales of our youth, or the movies we watched as teenagers. They were generally a pretty frightening bunch of ladies, all seeming to have a score to settle.

Dark and a little bitter might be okay for chocolate but whose got time for the whole bitch-on-a-broomstick thing when there are parties to attend? And what better time to kick up your witchy heels with your like minded ghourl friends than Samhain?

The witching hour is nigh, but have no fear—there’s still time to conjure up these simple party tricks and treats for a covenly night of witchy fun—almost as easily as waving your magic wand.

Calling All Witches

Every good party starts with a great invitation. Choose from dozens of Halloween themed layouts like this one at Punchbowl. Customize with the who, what, where, and when then send by email or social media. POOF — all your friends have the deets.

Where The Witches Live

Witches live in scary houses, so be sure to set the theme for your party beginning at the front door. You could carve up a Jack-o-lanter or two and call it good, but—really? This is the time to show off all your practical magic by creating a truly dramatic entrance.

These witch hat luminaries styled by Melissa at Polkadot Chair will impress your guests right off the bat.

And speaking of bats . . .

Don’t forget to hang a few of these from the rafters, along with glow in the dark spider webs and lots of creepy plastic spiders.

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Finally, add to the sinister ambience by dimming or turning off bright lights. Instead, use plenty of candles (electric versions for safety!) and strings of colorful lights like these, reminiscent of Dios De Le Muerte. Check out the Halloween isle at your local dollar store for all the decorations you’ll need in a hurry.

Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble
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Start the cackling good time off by providing themed cocktails like this Poison Apple.  Or keep it simple by featuring a punchbowl as the centerpiece of your buffet spread. Check out Pinterest for more tasty concoctions.

You might consider going strictly with mocktails or an alcohol free punch to accommodate the tea-totaling witches. You can always offer alcohol on the side for those who wish to imbibe. Use these free printables from Suzy Homemaker to label your booze with a grave warning.

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Setting the Feast Table

What’s a party of witches without a feast? Justina Blakenley at Jungalow shows you step by step how to lay your dark side on the table for all to see. Best of all, she pulls it off without breaking the bank by using thrift and dollar store finds.

Ladies Fingers

Of course you don’t have to limit your feast to finger foods, but it doesn’t hurt to have some on the menu . . . fingers that is.

These delicious digits are my all time favorite witches’ party treat from Martha Stewart. Making them requires some baking experience and the prep is a bit fussy, but they are so worth it. Your ghourl friends won’t be able to stop licking their fingers. Find more frighteningly fun partie foods, made with every day ingredients at Pinterest.

Sound Effects

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Make sure your witchy guests are feeling your vibe with a chilling play list. No time to curate your favorites? Tune into year-round spooky tunes on Halloween Radio. You can listen live or download for free.

Fun and Games

Where’s that Magic 8 Ball you had as a kid when you need it? Why didn’t you buy that tarot deck you’ve been wanting? What self respecting witch worth her salt can’t provide a little divination for her guests?

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Relax, you don’t have to have a Tarot deck to peer into the fortunes of your guests, a plain deck or a roll of the dice will do. You can also try your hand at reading tea leaves, or scrying. Everything you need is right in your kitchen cupboard.

Merry Meet, Merry Part, Merry Meet Again

When it’s time to say good bye to your witchy sisters, be sure to send them off with a parting gift. Whether a little favor that sits in the palm of their hand, or a bag full ‘O goodies, they’ll know you (s)care a lot.

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2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Life Unscheduled, MUSINGS, RITUALS & PASSAGES

September 28, 2017

Cold Swimming

By JL

I live north, way up north, bordering Canada north. The summers here are absolutely gorgeous, but short lived. Every day after the last of August that the sun shines and the temperature approaches something over 70-degrees I’m counting my lucky sunbeams.

We’re doing pretty good this year.  I was in the pool (above ground, not heated) on September 25th. I think that might be a record. You must understand, I’m conditioned to cold water swimming. I grew up swimming in Lake Superior—the largest and coldest of the Great Lakes. Average summer water temperature is about 65-degrees on the surface. My pool mimics this to a T; it was 64-degrees the last time I was in it.

I’m thinking this might be healthy? I know it’s pretty dang refreshing.

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Penguins only live about 20 years. But they live in harsh conditions most other creatures cannot survive. I wouldn’t live a day in the Antartic, so I’m figuring I can get by with saying they are healthy old birds under the circumstances. Me too. I’m sure it’s the cold water swims—just let me have this one.

Sometimes, we (hubby and I)  go to Florida in the winter. The people there are like, “The water in the pool is so cold. They need to turn the heater up.”

I get in and I’m thinking it’s just a big bathtub at 84-degrees. It makes me all sleepy and wrinkly skinned like one of those cute-pathetic puppies that hasn’t grown into its skin-suit yet.

Come to think of it, everybody in those Florida pools looks that way.

I stayed at an RV park in Picayune Mississippi once, in February. They had an olympic sized swimming pool just sitting there, filled but not open for the season yet. I told them if they started the filter and opened the pool, I’d go swimming. So they did.

First day in it took me almost five minutes to ease my whole body into the frigid water, but once I did and then didn’t have a stroke, it was kind of a rush—like what I imagine taking speed must be like. I just felt alive and electric all over. Or maybe that was the tingle before going completely numb.

Anyway, I was blissfully swimming my laps, completely unaware that a crowd had gathered behind the two sets of double patio doors in the clubhouse, overlooking the pool.

After that I was the crazy lady from Wisconsin.

“Hey, Wisconsin, you going swimming today?” any of a number of residents would call out as I rode my bike through the park.

“You betcha, as soon as that sun peeks out from behind those there clouds.”

There was a thee-foot tall monkey living in that park. Her human kept her on a leash and dressed her in very feminine little shirts and skirts—size 2-T. She sat in a highchair and ate with the rest of the residents at the monthly potlucks.

Sometimes I wonder if I’ve really lived this life, or if I did decide to take that speed way back when in high school, when my friends offered it, and all of this has just been one wild trip.

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I’ve been blogging all month long with the wildy talented Effy Wild! It’s been a blast and

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Vist Effy’s Website

I can’t thank her enough for putting the challenge out there. The MADGoddess has her mojo back again!

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Joie de Vivre, MUSINGS, Self Care

September 17, 2017

I’m A Fish Out Of Water

By JL

I’m a lot of things really—daughter, sister, lover, wife, mother and grandmother, all roles defined by my relationship to others.

I’ve held many jobs, in service and professional industries, paid and unpaid.

I am a writer. I manifested that for myself. I know it to be true, because I write something every day, because I have been published in many forms for more than 30 years now, because my first novel was published last year.

I’m also a dabbler in the arts. I long to manifest beauty from the tips of my fingers. This yearning existed before any notion of being a writer seized me. One day a week, I gather with others at the studio of a friend, where we draw and paint in companionship. I take real life and online classes, and watch endless instruction videos on Youtube. I have my own studio, and while I don’t make art every day, I’ve none-the-less made a lot of art.

I never call myself an artist. I think because so much of the art I create does not satisfy my eye. On the other hand, I believe that most of what I write (published or not) shines. My writing is often praised. I neglected to mention up top that I am also a praise junkie; I thrive on the words of others telling me I’ve done a good job.

But I’ve received praise for my art, and sold pieces without that ever being the intent. Why then do I resist identifying as an artist?

This early face was painted with craft grade acrylic, eye makeup pencils and chalk. I didn’t even know what mixed media was then. I thought this painting was amateurish, like something out of a coloring book. Somebody bought it. Now several years into taking online classes and watching hundreds of instruction videos on Youtube, I’m struggling to find my own style while emulating techniques and stylistic features of other artists. When I look at this face that so effortlessly flowed from my mind, heart and hands I have to wonder if I haven’t suffocated it.

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A mixed media collage—again before the countless hours of online instruction. Again, it sold quickly. Again, I was surprised by that.

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These little fishes were sent off to the 2013 ROCO 6×6 show (#2447) if you care to find it there). I was once again surprised when I found out that somebody forked over a small bit of cash to take my fishes home.

3 Fishies

I don’t remember when I finally started identifying as a writer. I don’t recall what self defined criteria for validation I finally met. I’m not even sure why I have a desire to believe I am an artist. What difference would it make?

Isn’t it enough that I enjoy the process?

 

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I’m blogging along with Effy Wild and her talented tribe for the month of September. Click on the cool badge to find out more.→

 

 

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Joie de Vivre, MUSINGS