Beauty and the Beast, for Halloween

I don't normally listen to bands like Lordi, but this video is awesome for two reasons. One, because I love modern interpretations of fairy tale, and this is definitely a beauty and the beast story. Second, it's spooky and weird, there are guys in costumes - what about the guy who looks like he's from the future?? I mean, come on! This has Halloween goodness all over it.

Third. Who doesn't love guys in platform boots?

Witches Brew

When the weather cools and they bring out the pumpkin pie scented candles at Target, I get cravings for things like spiced cider, spiced rum, and this spiced black tea. This is an easy recipe that a friend makes, and I love, so I stoled it!

Brew up a big pot of black tea. While it's steeping, add: a few crushed cinnamon sticks. Allspice - 6 or 8 berries. Whole cloves - 6 or 8. Ginger root - I add 2 slices. 2 whole star anise. 1/4 tsp nutmeg. 4 or 5 whole peppercorns. A bit of yerba buena. A squeeze of fresh lemon. This is all to taste, by the way. Nothing is written in stone. Like how witches do. Let is steep, sweeten with honey, and enjoy. This is my go to for when people are sick. It's full of natural curatives like mint, cinnamon, honey, as well as antioxidants and spicy feel goodness.

Now listen, this tea is for all ages, but it's really the base for something I call Witches Brew. This is the good stuff, my friends, and for adults only:

Fill a jar or other lidded, glass container with a good, dark rum. Not a great rum - nothing with delicate flavors that need to be savored. But nothing too cheap either. I like Goslings Black Seal. Add a tbs of the black tea, and all the spices. Mix it up and let it sit for a few days in a cabinet. When it gets to where you want it, add honey and mix well. If you are a wuss, you can drink this with ginger ale or green ginger wine. Otherwise, it's lovely to nip straight on a cold night.

If you see me at pirate faire or ren faire, this is what is in my flask.

31 days hath October...

I've never been the kind to have a favorite season. In general, I've liked 'em all - Summer for heat, Winter for wet, Spring for green, Fall for... well, it's Southern Cali, so heat then wet. However, it occurred to me this morning, as I pushed the toddler I nanny on a swing (if I am a nanny, does that make them a nanner?) that I really, REALLY, really like Autumn. Like, a lot. I mean, even here in the SFV I felt a change on the wind. And while that change doesn't mean much here (it's California; I can get Avocados in January. Winter doesn't mean as much when you can get Avocados all year round) it still brought a frisson of excitement. Somewhere, somewhere, it seemed to be saying, leaves are falling in gorgeous drifts from the trees. I could almost smell wood smoke and punkin pie (my parents met at a rodeo; yes, we say punkin in my family.) I suddenly started craving chai tea and ginger cookies. Autumn has arrived.

And with it, my very favorite night of the year: Halloween! Oh, the joy! Jack-o-lanterns and black cats and a fairy land of costumes. I am like a child just thinking about it! When did my fascination with dress up and costumery begin? Who knows. But I remember my mother making the most fabulous costumes for my brother and I. Pirates, witches, fairies. One year, I was Cleopatra a la Elizabeth Taylor and we died my blond hair black but it came out gray. And costumes go hand in hand with folklore and fairy tales and stories told around a candle and I tell you, I just can't wait!

My excitement at the merest thought of Halloween is, apparently, echoed by the AH-mazing Mrs. B. Her blog, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom will be featuring give aways (one by yours truly, in fact,) recipes, crafts and guest bloggers EVERY SINGLE DAY of October. Every day! I kid you not. This has inspired me to try to do something similar. Of course, we all know I lack momentum in the blog writing dept. I'm really more of a once a week kind of girl. And I certainly don't have her resources (she is a giant in the Pagan blog community,) but I'm going to do the very best I can to force my love of Halloween down your throats every possible moment!! Aren't you excited??? (My minions will tell you that now is a good time to say yes.)

So, hold on to your pointy hats, people, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

I made a list of what I love about living in LA

It's three items long and I listed food twice. I forgot what the third thing was.

Happy Mabon!

Yesterday was the equinox, for all you peeps in the know. Cultures around the world and way back to prehistory have been celebrating this time as a moment of balance before the days become darker and colder. For a lot of people in the northern hemisphere it's a time to celebrate the second harvest, a time to take stock of what you have reaped and collected against the hungers of winter. And for that reason, it's also a time to say thanks, to be grateful for what you have.

As much of a struggle as it's been for me this year, I believe I have a lot to be thankful for.

My parents have been supporting me, both financially and in many ways, spiritually, for several months now. I could never have held on to my home this long with out them, and I am so thankful for that.

I'm also grateful that I have love in my life. That I can give love and receive love from the wonderful people that I hold dear.

I'm going to add my cats to the list, especially Cici and the Brute, who are, sometimes, the little mewling things that keep me going every day. When I want to stay in bed and worry, Brute is my snuggle thing, and when I want to get up and face the day head on, Cici makes sure I have a smile on my face while I do it. And Smeagol, who is simply a blessing, in his own little short bus way.

I'm thankful that I have a strong healthy body capable of doing all the things I want to do.

And I'm thankful that I have a sharp mind that is still hungry for knowledge and never tires of learning.

I'm thankful for Scotland. That it exists, that I've visited it, and that I can fantasize every day of my life about living there one day.

Finally, I'm thankful for all of the friends I have met online this year - through this blog or flickr or facebook or etsy - who have become real friends of the spirit, if not of the flesh. It's amazing to have people all over the world I can share things with, learn from, and cherish. The world is, really, such a small, beautiful place.

Take a little time today to think about what you are thankful for, and what light you have collected against the darkness.

Mariann is having a yard/art sale!

Or, well, I should say, she's participating in one.

Next Saturday, the 26th, and it's a fundraiser for a good cause - to help one of her friends raise the money for his documentary, and also to help do some sort of 'day-camp type thingie.' The important thing here is that she is selling off most of the artworks from her gorgeous installation piece What Happens. This is one of my favorite installations that involves postcards, found artifacts, and a scientific frame of mind.

Here's her original post. It's in Los Feliz, which is central to the whole world, so you have no excuse for missing it.

Almost Autumn

As of yet, haven't found the money to fix the water heater, so it's still icy cold showers around here. During the 100+ summer days, a quick cool off felt wonderful, like a clandestine skinny dip in my boss's pool. I think I feel a change in the air that has got me pondering the near future, however. Here in So Cal, Fall is a season that never really appears; we usually have hot, hot, more hot, then out of nowhere in late October, miserable damp greyness that sometimes fades into two months of miserable rains, sometimes not. I think, though, this year we may have an Autumn. My room was so cold last night I actually had to sleep with a blanket. Not to mention the three cats who demanded I share. And this morning that icy cold water actually HURT.

So. What's a girl with zero cash to do? I recently tried to heat up pots of water on the stove top, but by the time one batch was done, the last was cold. I must tell you that the thought of a winter with out a bathtub of hot water makes me want to hide in bed for the next 6 months. Even after today warmed up, this morning's chill never left my bones. And in times of stress, as nearly every day for the last few weeks have been, I crave long soaks like other people crave... well, whatever it is you do to drown your sorrows.

I spoke to my Grandma Fran about it. She just returned last month from a visit to my cousin in Mongolia, where, she said, in the summer months, you have to take cold showers because that's when they work on all the plumbing. Fran said that my cousin told her to try to achieve a 'Zen one-ness with the water.' All I have to say to that is "Bullshit."

In the meantime, I'll be day dreaming about this:

Dear Morbidly Obese Man in line at the Asian buffet,

If it were socially acceptable for me to smack you on the head with a rolled up newspaper, I would.

I just want to say right now

that people who don't like candy corn are unamerican. They are probably not really people either. Possibly, they are robots. Or Zombies. Candy corn is one of the sweet foundations of this nation, up there with cotton candy and candy necklaces.

You know who you are, and I am looking right at you with a big eye. That is Vietnamese Kung Fu Master terminology for some sort of big... eye. Yes.

Will work for air tickets to Scotland

Scotland is my favorite place in the whole world, and every few months I get crazy needy to be there. I spend a lot of time obsessing over the photos I took there, all heart achey. What's that you say? You would LOVE to see my trip photos? Oh, no, they are terribly bor- well, since you asked.

When I go to Scotland, I can't help taking pictures of the sky. It's so moody and dramatic..