The Witches Ball *Cackles*

I've got three Witches Balls to go to this year. Not sure if I will do one costume and wear it to all three, or if I will make three costumes.
I have been inspired by pictures I have seen around the internet:

A green witch Inspired by:

Only it will be dressier. I have a lovely ball gown type green corset, skirt and masquarade mask.

Also a dark witch (I also have the black corset for this):

I can use my classic black wide brimmed witches hat for that one and for the next one.



I do not want to do the crown, but rather the witches hat with purple fabric coming off of it.

I cannot decide between the three, so I will keep you posted as to what the final costume(s) are like!

Samhain Altar

This is our Samhain Altar here at home. We had an interesting ritual :)

Another day in Paradise

So much to do and no time to blog about it. I have been going to a few open circles and not really learning anything from it, other than so many priestess out there "close" circle at the end instead of "opening" it. I guess it underlines that the words you use do not matter, it is the intent behind it which counts.

Some Animal Trivia for you.

The Australian native Water-rat is one of the few animals able to eat parts of the the poisonous cane toad.

A Spell to see Fairies

Gather the flowers of Roses and Marigolds while looking towards the east.
Take the petals and soak them seperatley in water for one week.
After a week strain off the petals.
Pour a small quantity of liquid into a crystal glass bowl.
Add holyhock buds, marigold flowers, young hazel buds and the flowers of wild thyme to the mixture. The thyme should be gathered from the side of the hill where fairies used to go.
Add grass from a fairy throne and leave the bottle in the sun for three days for the ingredients to dissolve.
Rub a little bit of the mixture onto each eyelid and you will see any fairies that are around.

Kitchen Witch's Alphabet:

Always stir in an anti-clockwise motion

Before you chop veggies, offer thanks
Cut mindfully, gratefully
Do all preparations in a loving spirit
Energize food with good thoughts
Feast gratefully
Give and share what you can spare
Home and hearth are sacred
Invoke blessings of Goddess on all food
Join hands with friends often
Kindness shows in serving food
Love goes into every dish
Mindfully gather ingredients
No wasting - recycle, compost, feed animals
Open your senses, enjoy your surroundings
Play as well as work
Quench thirst, thinking of clear clean rivers

Resolve to be grateful & waste not 

Salivate as you smell fragrance & anticipate flavors

Thank the Universe & Goddess for health 

Use utensils carefully, then clean up 

Value time spent with loved ones 

When possible grow & harvest your food extra food is for creative recombining 

Yearly rituals & feasts build traditions 

Zestful living in every area is our goal.

~ Source Unknown

A night bushwalk

Went on a guided bushwalk Saturday night. It was interesting, as I had never been out with whole families before. The kids were actually well behaved, but noisy.
The view at the start of the walk

 The red gums seemed to have a liight all of their own. This is blury because of the low light, but it still shows the gums nicely.

 We set off, 20 pairs of boots kathumping on the gravel. We sounded more like 100 than 20. From our destination of Pitt Town Rd, we set off along a fire trail which would eventually come out on Cattai Ridge Road. We did not walk that far, just down the hill into the valley. About an hour going steadily down hill, stopping from time to time and spotlighting the trees for wildlife.
We thought we saw a  Boobook owl, but it turned out to be a powerful owl.

We also saw a Tawny Frogmouth. This is my pic, some of you may recognise it. The Frogmouth was kind enough to fly around, so that we could hear for ourselves just how silent they are on the wing.
We then spent some time looking for possums, but I think they were all in town for Mardi Gras, cause we did not find one, which is unusual.
We then had to experience the known fact that what goes down, must come up and we turned around and trudged back up the hill. You know.To trudge, the tired, weary walk of a man who has nothing left... Oh hang on, that was Chauser in "A Knights Tale". :)
So we walked back up the hill and up and what felt like a long way up too. lol It took us only 10 mins more to walk back up the hill, than it took to come down so I thought we were doing ok. I was rather warmed up when I got back to the car, as I had worn long sleeves as the night had a little chill to it. I felt sorry for the kids wearing jackets. Clearly their parents did not want them to get cold!
I've put this walk on the list to do in daylight, and possibly again at night, without the entourage.