Mabon

It's harvest time at my house. I've been picking the last of the crops and drying herbs. The house is full of wonderful scents. The hot days are giving way to cooler ones giving us the promise that Fall is right around the corner. As I enjoy the last days of summer, I look forward with great anticipation to my favorite season of the year. I recently started knitting pouches for each holiday of the Wheel of The Year. I decided to include a few seasonal tarot bags as well. I like my work to reflect the colors of Fall, the rusty oranges, gold, bright orange, deep reds and shades of brown. I am looking forward to making my first apple crisp of the season, sipping some cinnamon and orange spiced tea, and watching as mother earth brightens our environment with the majesty of colors that is Fall.

Summer Solstice

This year's summer solstice was punctuated nicely by the beautiful super moon. I however, tend to do my summer solstice celebration during the day in order to enjoy the beauty of the beginning of the bounty of summer. As part of my celebration, I took some lavender stalks from my plant and wrapped them around my wand that happens to be made from the purple ash tree in my front yard. I also knit a ribbon for the broom that hangs by my front door while sitting outside on my porch with my cats, enjoying some freshly made iced tea brewed with lemon verbena and mint from my pot garden. I added some silk flowers to it along with a small bell in order to welcome any fairies that may be hanging out in the front yard. Finally, I set out my fairy offering of milk and honey by the light of the super moon and was more than pleased to see that it was gone the next morning. Fairies can be pranksters so it's best to have a good relationship with them. I am happy to say that I have some delightful fae companions living in my backyard. I believe that they are especially happy with their garden since the plants in it are thriving. They turned the teapot house I placed in it around to the back side to let me know they are around. Magic is indeed afoot in my backyard this summer and I intend to spend as much time outside in it as I can!

 How did you celebrate the summer solstice?

Welcome

Fairy garden is blooming

Lazy Days

Summer is upon us and with it comes lots more time spent outdoors. I love to take my crafting outside and along with it, the cats, I spread out my beach towel and proceed to knit or stitch while keeping an eye out for the little critters as the cats explore their backyard. It seems that we once again have baby bunnies living in our yard. No surprise since the yard is well protected with our fence.
I don't wait until Mid Summer to start enjoying the things that I do to celebrate the season. For me, Summer means a lot of time out on my porch and in my yard. In the evenings I have the candles and tiny sparkly lights on and giving the porch just enough light to knit by. I have my fairy gardens set up and the fairy offering bowl at the ready for the next full moon. My herbs and vegetables are growing nicely in their pots and my hanging flower pots are blooming well, so far. I have been trying out some nice iced tea combinations, along with the return of fresh made lemonade. The soups and stews of Winter and Fall have given way to salads, one dish meals made with fresh summer vegetables and herbs and some wonderful berry desserts.
My crafting has been inspired by the light half of The Wheel and the return of the summer yard fairies. How does the summer season inspire you?

This is my Beltane Forest tarot/altar cloth. It has a pretty gradient blue solid fabric on the back

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a time is my new section of trinkets and treats.

It was Ostara that brought about my inspiration for something new to spark my creative spirit since this is the time of year I actively look for newness in my life whether it be in the literal or figurative sense of the word. Ostara is not only about new beginnings, it's also about bringing balance into one's life with this holiday's placement on the equinox. My choice of decoration for my Ostara altar includes rabbits and eggs. I enjoy using paper grass in brown and green which for me represents the truer nature of Spring as the earth is just starting to wake up. Wishing you all a belated but BLESSED OSTARA!