We had a nice Thanksgiving at my sister’s house, along with my mom, my brother, and the kids.  My other sister, wanted to have Thanksgiving with just her immediate family – but we popped in to say hello for a few minutes since my two sisters live across the street from each other.  (Although until a couple of weeks ago they shared a house – but that is a looooong story and I won’t bore you all with the details).

We provided the plates, napkins, cups, turkey, stuffing, a few veggies, two appetizers and two desserts for the Thanksgiving meal.   We even provided one of the tables – since my sister just moved in a couple of weeks ago she doesn’t have a kitchen table yet or have her kitchen stocked up yet.   She  made the potatoes, yams and green beans.  My brother brought a cherry pie.  All togther there were six adults and four kids, and everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable meal.  The next day my hubby, Teacherman, made a wonderful turkey and rice soup.  Friday and Saturday we spent home, getting a few chores done and a little shopping.

Sunday the weather was very nice so we headed up to New York on the train to visit Dylan’s Candy Bar.  We had been looking forward to it ever since we heard about the candy store on a tv show. It is located on the corner of 60th and Third.  It is three floors of sugery goodness with a huge variety, including nostalgic candies from decades past.  They had free samples of candies and candy cane milkshake to try.  The first floor (entrance) had many, many bins of candy sold by the pound and there were a variety of containers to chose from to scoop your selections in to, and a lot of holiday goodies.  On the bottom floor was a chocolate fountain with a varity of items to dip into it (for a small fee), a large variety of fudges and other items.  We didn’t make it to the top floor – but upstairs is the cafe and party rooms.

My daughter, Angelgirl, picked out a small gift for each of her friends for Christmas and filled a small container with a variety of candy from the many bins for herself. I picked out a nice tree ornament for us. Teacherman picked up a few candy bars for friend’s. I had fun picking up a few gifts too – for three friends at the office, Mama Kelly, and the most fun was putting together a container of goodies for my 2 Goddess-daughters (Mama Kelly’s girls). The container was $10 for all the candy you could stuff inside, so I picked up a wide selection and tried to get the most unusual items I could find from the bins. In one container I put all the gummy, sour, sugary treats and in the other I put a variety of chocolate items. Once the containers were full, I looked around for tiny candies that I scooped over the top and shook it down so the little bits filled in every bit of space. It was a bit of struggle to get the lids closed but I did it. When I got home I divided everything equally into zip lock bags. There was 20 or more different kinds of candy all together, and I can’t wait to share all the goodies with them. 

From there we strolled over to Central Park and took a horse and carriage ride around the park.  It was the first time for Angelgirl, and she really enjoyed it.  Then we  stopped in FAO Schwartz  (toy store) and saw the big piano just in time for the show where they perform a few songs and after wards they let in small groups of folks at a time to hop on the big piano keys.  I also picked out a small but fun Harry Potter gift for my two Goddess-daughters.  I resisted the urge to get anything for myself. 

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Xmas!   I have all my shopping done now and only a few  more items have to arrive in the mail, everything else is all ready.  I even picked up wrapping paper, gift boxes, etc. this weekend.   I’m looking forward to wrapping and putting the presents, gifts bags and baskets all together.  I can’t wait for the holidays!   **big grin**

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:candy, gifts, new york, Thanksgiving

Today I am grateful for having enough food to feed my family not only on Thanksgiving, but every day.

Today I am grateful for a primarily restful weekend, relatively free of drama.

Today I am grateful to be wearing my late mother’s wedding set. Every time I look down at my hands she’s a little closer to me.

Today I am grateful to have made some headway on both holiday shopping and clutter clearing.

Today I am grateful that each of my girls is blessed with good friends and that each of them enjoyed a night sleeping away from home.

Today I am grateful that my “stats” at work have so far been quite good. May it continue through February when everyone’s pay level is set to be evaluated so that mine either stays the same or (dare I hope it) goes up.

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Today marks the first day of the last “lazy weekend” until after New Year’s.  The only thing that absolutely must be done is to drop off the kids at individual sleep-overs (one being for a birthday party) and to drive by the Mall and pick up jewelry I had dropped off to be re-sized.

Granted, there are other things I SHOULD be doing.  I should get some things done in terms of cleaning and organization as I would still like to see Miss Artistic in her own room by Yule.  I should clean my bathrooms.  I should start packing away some Thanksgiving food into the freezer. I should try and organize the mass of paper that came from dismantling Gamer Dude’s desk and moving its contents onto and around the desk in our bedroom.

I should do some more holiday shopping (as well as pick up a birthday gift for the Elder who will be 15 the day after Xmas).  I should think about starting the wrapping.  I should start the cards as well.

Because, while Christmas is still about 4 weeks away there is really not all that much time left to get it all done.  In two weeks the family will be coming over for our semi-annual “tree trimming” party and in three weeks our friend “E” will be coming up for our own holiday visit and cookie baking marathon.

This leaves me less time than I might otherwise have to do everything that needs doing, especially as I will still be working my usual hours and running the kids back and forth to Tae Kwon Do.

But, it will all work out.  It always does.  Every year I work myself up into a fine panic and every year Xmas morning dawns and I have managed to get everything done.

So, ignore the craziness and stress-inspired rantings that I’m sure will be appearing here over the next couple of weeks and enjoy your own holiday season to the utmost.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:Christmas, holiday shopping, holidays, stress, Xmas

Thanksgiving Comments

Give thanks for blessings
great and small
Give thanks for family
friends and all

Remember people in your life
who happiness bring
and little joys that
make your heart sing

Give thanks for tables
full of food and love
and all of the gifts
of the Gods above

Remember those
who lack enough
and those for whom
times are tough

Vow today to
never forget
that life’s to short
to constantly fret

Be more grateful
Be more forgiving
Make every day
a day of Thanksgiving

- Mama Kelly 2009

Blessings to you and yours
today and always

Written by Mama KellyTags:poem, poetry, Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of our household’s favorite holidays.  It is a day to sit around relax, spend time together, and stuff ourselves silly on all kinds of good food.

I came home form work a little less than an hour ago and after some well deserved R&R I am off to do the bulk of my cooking for the big day and I thought that I’d share with you all this year’s menu.

I make a lot of food, especially considering we are only 5 people.  But, half the fun of the holiday is that we live on leftovers all the way through Sunday.

Most of dinner is made by me (thus the upcoming hours ahead in the kitchen) but I do supplement here and there with pre-made items as I can frankly only do so much.

As I am every year I am grateful for the ability to feed my family.  I am grateful for the happy yummy sounds that will be made.  I am looking forward to serving my family off my grandmother’s china, lifting a glass of champagne and being grateful for making it through another year.

May each of our readers here in the US have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with friends family and feasting.  For everyone else may the holiday season start off happy for you & yours and continue on as such all the way through the new year ahead.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Appetizers/Light Lunch – laid out around noon

Gherkin sized pickles – both sweet and sour
Olives
marinated mozzarella balls
various cubed cheeses
pepperoni, sopresatta, genoa salami
fried ravioli w/ sauce
deviled eggs
spreadable port wine/cheddar cheese & crackers
cocktail franks

Dinner – served around 4pm

Turkey – deep-fried by the men
Bread Stuffing w/ apples sausage and caramelized onions
Candied Yams w/ mini marshmallows
Mashed Potatoes w/ roasted garlic
Spicy Peas & Mushrooms
Cheesy Cauliflower
Oven-fried Artichoke Hearts
Mizeria – cucumbers w/ sour cream
Cranberry sauce – from a can
Rolls – from a can
Gravy – from a jar

Dessert – served around 7:30pm

2 Mrs Smith’s pies – sweet potato and cherry
3 kinds of cookies (store-bought)
fruit
nuts

Written by Mama KellyTags:cooking, feast, holiday, Thanksgiving

First of all, I can’ t thank everyone enough for their kind words on my recents posts.  As I’ve mentioned my laptop has fallen ill and cannot be repaired for a while.  As such, hubby and I are currently sharing his computer and I get only for a brief period each evening.

Now granted, I am still hooked on facebook and have been mindlessly clicking through a couple of games I play as a stress reliever and connecting albeit quite intangibly with a few friends here and there.  But, I also spend time every evening checking for emails from teachers, verifying Miss Artistic’s homework assignments, and have also been doing the holiday shopping online as well.

Anyway, the point is that what used to be a few hours a day online (between time spent before going to work and time spent surfing/blogging while watching TV with the hubby) has been reduced to maybe about an hour a night and so I do not generally have time to do more here than hurriedly write blog content from time to time, delete spam comments while reading your kind words as I go, unfortunately without the time I’d like to have to reply to each one as they deserve.

I am here, I am reading, and it means more to me than I can say that you take time out of your own busy lives to spend time here at 2 Witches and offer me (and Lady Rose) your thoughts, your words, your support.

I miss being able to communicate back and forth, I miss visiting your blogs in turn, I miss well the best part of blogging which is getting to know all of you better.

I am hoping to get myself motivated this coming weekend to come up with some kind of schedule so I can get more accomplished with my limited time online even if it means saying goodbye (during the week anyway) to facebook.

Hopefully I will have a new laptop within a couple of months and we can get back to more interactive as well as more interesting programming soon.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Today I am grateful for finally having an overnight visit with Lady Rose.  It’s been far too long since we last had this time with one another and we both look forward to returning to the habit in 2010.

Today I am grateful for being able to share life stories and worries and help one another find inspiration again in the midst of life changes.  We each came out of the visit with ideas for the future and narrowing of focus in terms of books we each hope to write.

Today I am grateful for getting decent sleep two nights in a row.  It’s amazing the difference it makes in terms of how I feel physically and how I cope emotionally.

Today I am grateful for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Granted, my employer decided to make it impossible for me to take any additional time off, but I always enjoy being able to fill my table with a feast and spend the day with my family.

Today I am grateful that for the first time in far too long I can trust that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if I am not able to see it now.  I can have hope that in a few years, or in a decade if need be, that my life will be closer to how I wish it to be.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

A childhood friend of mine who I’ve recently reconnected with on Facebook  recently posted a quote. Originally I thought it was something that she herself came up with, but a quick internet search (oh Google how I love thee so) revealed that it was first uttered by Theodore Roosevelt.

Now Teddy I’m sorry, but I added a line (in parentheses) because as I read the quote to myself a few times I kept hearing it spoken in my inner voice (yes I occasionally do in fact listen to the voices in my head) but I wanted to share it here because it is so simple a concept and at once so wise that I felt that I couldn’t possibly be the only person who found meaning in it.

“Do what you can
(when you can)
with what you have
where you are.”

Theodore Roosevelt

See what I mean? Simple on face value, but as you read it a couple of times the meaning, the impact, goes quite a bit deeper.

We can only do what we can.

We are all blessed with gifts and talents that are unique.

We are all beset with pains and limitations that are unique, as well.

No one can give more than 100%.

Can most of us do more to improve ourselves, our lives, our circumstances? Probably.

But, that does not mean looking at our friends, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. and comparing our abilities and achievements to theirs.  They may have a better support network, more free time, better health, more financial security.  Their priorities are sure to be different, their needs as well.  So trying to compare ourselves to them will never lead to satisfaction and is generally more likely to lead to frustration than inspiration.

Instead, we should spend that energy means looking at our own situation and deciding what can realistically change.

This is not necessarily about letting ourselves off easy, it is more about being forgiving of and gentle with ourselves.  It speaks to giving ourselves the same benefit of the doubt, the same permission to be imperfect, that we would allow a friend, a family member, a loved one of any flavor.

Most of us live to one degree or another on a hamster wheel that requires that we keep pushing ourselves beyond the levels of our endurance of pain and exhaustion and stress.

And yes there are times when there is no choice – in times of true emergency, in times of tragedy – but it shouldn’t be an everyday lifestyle.

Because in running on our hamster wheel we lose sight of beauty, we lose out on small pleasures, we stop finding ways to feed our soul and nurture our dreams.  If we run long enough we wake up one day and find our life is half (or mostly) over and we have forgotten how to truly live.

Give yourself permission to do what matters.

Give yourself permission to be imperfect.

Forgive yourself your weaknesses and recognize your strengths.

Ask the Divine as you see it to bless you with

serenity to accept what can’t be changed

courage to change what can

and the wisdom to truly know the difference

Reinhold Niebuhr

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:inspiration, quotation, quote

It has been a busy week.  I got very little accomplished, but I can tell you there was very little in the way of true down time.

I started my holiday shopping thanks to amazon and etsy.  The Elder will have a focus on art (as always) and makeup.  The Younger will have a focus on science and American Girl.  Both will receive clothes and cute accessories and odds are a WII as a joint gift.  What I lack in funds I try to make up in WOW factor.

Miss Artistic is still having issues with failure to do homework, various emotional outbursts, and depression/ADHD/oppositional defiant related concerns.  The last couple of years have been a bumpy ride and unfortunately there does not yet seem to be a true light at the end of the tunnel.  Every time I think I spy one, it turns out to be an oncoming car or train.  All I can say is that we are working on it and hoping that things start to get better soon.

Princess Nibbles would like to now be known as Princess Nature as her hope is to grow up, get her doctorate in some kind of science, and work to save the planet.  She is not quite as sunshiny happy as she once was.  The stress associated with the aforementioned sister is part of it, frazzled parents plays a role as well, a busy schedule (reg school, gifted program, Tae Kwon Do, & band) probably factors in, but it is also the emergence of the hormone fairy who has been busy at work beginning the change of little girl to young woman.

Gamer Dude’s chronic pain doesn’t change except in the sense of different levels of pain based on activity levels and weather.  We are trying to avoid doing anything more invasive for as long as possible, but that can only last so long as he is frankly miserable more often than not.  We are hoping that losing weight and building some core strength will help, but odds are we are looking at a spinal cord stimulator being implanted sometime in the next year or two.

As for me?  I’m still pretty miserable most of the time.  I don’t feel well, I don’t sleep well, and I still don’t really like my own company very much.  But, I’m working on that too.

Work takes a lot out of me.  On a good day telemarketing is stressful and emotionally exhausting and good days are a rare commodity.  I am slowly settling in back at my old department since the demise of the “new” department I was transferred to for a few months.

Unfortunately, I still hate my job and nothing is going to change that except to get out of Dodge as soon as possible.  To that end I am planning on working up a resume after the holidays and getting my butt out there to start interviewing.  The hard part is going to be coordinating interviews when I work for a company that does not provide paid time off and requires scheduled hours to be “made up” when someone calls out sick.

But, I work half days on Fridays, so hopefully I will be able to figure something out.

In other news I have confirmed that Hubby & I will both be enrolling in the girls’ Tae Kwon Do school.  With the group discount my tuition will run $89 a month and Gamer Dude’s will be free.  So for $around $22 a week we can each take 2 classes and hopefully move toward losing weight, lowering pain levels, and increasing energy levels.  If nothing else it will force us to create endorphins and to socialize and perhaps that will help with our own individual issues with depression and my sleep issues.

We won’t be starting until after the holidays.  But, I’m actually looking forward to trying something totally new.  Time will tell if my body will actually handle the punishment.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

PS Lady Rose is coming up for a too long delayed and much anticipated visit tomorrow.  It will be great to see her and chat and hang and simply be in the same room as my dearest friend and priestess.

Written by Mama KellyTags:family, life, update

For the past week I’ve been doing a bit of experimenting with a pendulum. The pendulum I am using was a gift from Mama Kelly. It is a lovely orb of amethyst hanging from a delicate chain.

I would never use the pendulum to make big decisions, nor would I use whatever response I get from a pendulum or any other divination tool as the final, absolute answser to a question. But it is a useful tool and the simple yes-no answers can be part of all the overall considerations and infomration that go into making a decision or choice.  I use it as a tool to get in touch with my subconscious and\or higher self.

Since it was recently my birthday (turned 54 on Oct. 30th) I have been once again thinking about what direction my life should go and what I should focus on. I have many interests and tons of ideas, but that often means I bounce from one thing to the next, leaving a lot projects unfinished and never starting others, and not focusing on completing or accomplishing bigger goals.

I decided to use the pendulum as a tool for some insight into where I should focus my time and energy. I cut up some paper into several pieces that were all the same size. On each piece I wrote a different interest that I have often thought about pursuing, (i.e. writing a book, various crafts, classes to take, etc.) and folder the pieces in half. One at time, I held the pendulum over each piece – if the pendulum swung side-to-side (for me that meant – no) I put that piece of paper in a pile to my right; if the pendulum swung in a clockwise circle (for me that meant – yes) I put that piece of paper to my left. All together I have about 20 pieces of paper; only three were a yes (write a book about being a witch; take an introductory class in Qi Gong; and blogging on Diet Pulpit and here at 2 Witches).

Reviewing all the choices one at time, I examined my “gut” reaction to not focusing too much time and energy as I thought about each one.  The three choices selected using the pendulum are the ones that I have been working toward the longest and seem to be the ones that I am most deeply connected to.

A couple of days later I decided to use the pendulum again to narrow down some choices – this time to select a working title for a book on being witch.  By selecting a working title, I feel it will give a “direction” and “focus” to getting started with writing.   I again took several small pieces of paper with a single potential title on each and this time the pendulum only swung yes for one of them (“Out of the Broom Closet – the confessions of a witch”). 

So for now, I plan on focusing on jotting down some ideas and notes as the inspiration comes, looking for a Qi Gong introductory class, and of course writing on both blogs.   As far as my other interests, I will still dabble a bit with various crafts and interests, but the main focus of time and energy for now will be on blog writing,  ideas for the book and my health (Qi Gong).  I will re-evaluate things in a few a months if I feel I need to move in a different direction.  Whether the book is ever finished or actually ever gets published is not  necessarily the goal – the process of writing is an excellant method of self-exploration and self-awareness.  Also, whatever I do get written and organized will be useful if I decide to lecture again, and also for blogging about.

Have you ever worked with a pendulum?  What sorts of questions do you use a pendulum for?  

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

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Brief Overview Of Pendulum Divination:

A pendulum consists of a weight, or bob, which hangs freely from a chain or string, with an optional loop or small handle at the upper end. Depending on one’s belief system, the answers come from the subconcious, or intuition or the Higher Self, or Guadian Spirits or Angels, or other Spirits. Since the pendulum, like any other divination tool may be influenced by lower spirits (who may lie, misdirect, and try to cause harm), it wise to take precautions and take the advice with a grain of salt the same way you would use your common sense and good judgment when accepting advice from any one.

Preparation:

The pendulum should be blessed before using it for the first time to decrease the influence of any lower spirits influencing the outcome. Chose a blessing that suits your belief system and that you are comfortable with. Include a statement or prayer of intent that only higher beings (or Angels, Guaurdians or whomever you wish to contact) may influence the pendulum. Two simple purification and blessing technigues are smudging (passing the pendulum through the smoke of a cleansing and\or blessing incense), and\or sprinkling the pendulum with blessed water. The pendulum may also be purified after each session to remove any residue that may have been left behind so that it does not influence the next session.  Another option is cleanse and bless the pendulum at least once a month.  It also recommended to begin each session with a prayer or visualization (i.e. a circle of white protective light around you and the your area) and to end each session with a prayer or blessing of thanks to your Higher Self, Guardian Spirits and\or Angels (this can be done silently or spoken aloud).

How To Use The Pendulum:

Hold the top end or handle of the string\chain of the pendulum loosely between the thumb and first finger. If using circle diagram with “yes” written top & bottom and “no” written on either side, the pendulum bob should be held approximately 1 inch above the paper.  If using a pendulum without the diagram, just specify (or let the pendulum specify) which direction means yes and no.   To let the pendulum specify what direction is yes and no,  ask at the beginning of eash session for it to show you, saying “show me yes,” and “show me no.”   What works for me using my personal pendulum that I’ve used several times before, once the direction is established, is to continue to use that for each session, and also have it stop in the center and stay still if the question is not answerable or unsure.

It is recommended (especially when first learning to work with a pendulum) to begin each session asking if the pendulum wishes to work with you today.  Also asking a few trial questions may also be useful (such as Is my name George?).

As with any divination method, it a good idea to use it only when you are in a calm and centered state of mind and feeling well physically and emotionally.

Phrasing A Question

When asking a question using a pendulum, the question needs to be something simple that can be answered with a yes or no.  A pendulum can be used to answer questions about past and future or in making a choice between options, and some use them as a tool to speak with spirits.  It is also important to be as specific as possible.  For example, asking “will it rain tomorrow where we are going?,” is better than asking “will it rain?”

If the pendulum starts swinging in random directions or feels uncoorperative, or you start to feel uncomfortable in any way, or your intuition says it’s time to stop, then end the session.

Pendulum Divination – nice overview of history and use of the pendulum.

Written by Lady RoseTags:divindation, pendulum