Imbolc Incense Recipe

I usually post more than one recipe but this happens to be my favorite. I have seen others add bay leaves and rose petals. You can alter this any way you wish. I sprinkle my incense on a charcoal and let burn. If it is still cold out, I will toss a hand full of it on the fire.

Imbolc Incense Recipe

• 3 parts Frankincense
• 2 parts Dragon's blood
• ½ part Red Sandalwood
• 1 part Cinnamon
• 1 part First Bloomed Flower *
• a few drops Merlot wine 

* In my home my first bloomed flowers are always Paper Whites or Peace Lilies. I dry out an entire Paper White bloom and add it. But the Peace Lilly only has two blooms so I use the pollen from one of the blooms. If you can get ahold of Snowdrop Flower use that instead. Some of my followers also use jasmine or sweet peas.

History of Imbolc

The following is a re-post of an article by Patti Wigington. You can find the original here.

Spring is Coming!

Imbolc is a holiday with a variety of names, depending on which culture and location you’re looking at. In the Irish Gaelic, it’s called Oimelc, which translates to “ewe’s milk.” It’s a precursor to the end of winter when the ewes are nursing their newly born lambs. Spring and the planting season are right around the corner.

The Romans Celebrate:

To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia. For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves fortunate indeed. This is one of the few Roman celebrations that is not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf -- in a cave known as the "Lupercale".

The Feast of Nut:

The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 (Gregorian calendar). According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle.

Christian Conversion of a Pagan Celebration:

When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid as a saint -- thus the creation of St. Brigid's Day. Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name.

Purification and Light:

For many Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days after a birth for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is February 2nd. Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter. In Catholic churches, the focus of this celebration is St. Brighid.

Love & Courtship:

February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part to to the widespread celebration of Valentine's Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine's Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine "tied the knot" for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb. 14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned -- the first Valentine's Day card.

Serpents in the Spring

Although Imbolc isn't even mentioned in non-Gaelic Celtic traditions, it's still a time rich in folklore and history. According to the Carmina Gadelica, the Celts celebrated an early version of Groundhog Day on Imbolc too – only with a serpent, singing this poem:

Thig an nathair as an toll
(The serpent will come from the hole)
la donn Bride
(on the brown day of Bride (Brighid)
Ged robh tri traighean dh’an
(though there may be three feet of snow)
Air leachd an lair
(On the surface of the ground.)

Among agricultural societies, this time of year was marked by the preparation for the spring lambing, after which the ewes would lactate (hence the term "ewe's milk" as "Oimelc"). At Neolithic sites in Ireland, underground chambers align perfectly with the rising sun on Imbolc.

The Goddess Brighid

Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of Spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.
Brighid is known as one of the Celtic "triune" goddesses -- meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant "bright one." In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed in her aspect as crone as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.
In modern Paganism, Brighid is viewed as part of the maiden/mother/crone cycle. She walks the earth on the eve of her day, and before going to bed each member of the household should leave a piece of clothing outside for Brighid to bless. Smoor your fire as the last thing you do that night, and rake the ashes smooth. When you get up in the morning, look for a mark on the ashes, a sign that Brighid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes are brought inside, and now have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid.

Organic Vegetable Penne Recipe

Not a photo of my actual meal. It was eaten too fast.

Organic Vegetable Penne Recipe

I came up with this meal in an attempt to get my children to eat more vegetables. Each service of the vegetable penne noodles was equal to a serving of vegetables. I added a few more vegetables and made a quick, light dinner.



Ingredients

* All ingredients are organic unless otherwise stated. You may substitute at will.

• 1 12 oz box of veggie penne (Use Sunny Select if you can't find organic)
• 1 16 oz can of Kirkland diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of sliced white mushrooms
• 1/4 cup of chopped spinach.
• 1/4 cup of fresh, grated parmesean cheese. 
• 1/4 tsp each of oregano and marjoram (you can substitute italian seasoning)
• Salt and pepper to taste

This entire recipe is to taste. If you don't want as many mushrooms or want to alter the amount of the other ingredients, it won't harm the recipe. 

Directions

1. In a 5-qt pot, boil pasta according to the package. Do not overcook the penne.
2. Drain the water and reduce heat to low. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and seasonings to taste.
3. Allow to cook for 5-10 minutes or until mushrooms are done and tomatoes are heated through. Use a pasta spoon and carefully turn the pasta every so often to warm evenly.
4. Sprinkle parmesean on each serving after plating.

Organic Butternut Squash Soup

 Organic Butternut Squash Soup

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 30 minutes
• Serves 4-6.

This recipe has no cream, which I love. It is quick and easy. It can be served as a main course or as a starter. It is very flavorful and rich. My children loved it and were full after eating one serving. Serve it with bread and a fruit based salad and your meal is complete. 

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup yellow onion, chopped 
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 small to medium butternut squash, peeled and chopped, seeded. (it should be no bigger than your forearm in length. (3 cups)
• 1 green apple, peeled, cored, chopped (1 cup)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 Tsp COMBINED of nutmeg, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper
• Parsely or sweet basil for garnish (optional)

*I used all organic ingredients. This doesn't change the taste but it is a preference of mine.

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a 5qt. pot until it foams. Don't let it brown. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and sauté for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to prevent browning. 
2.  Add the squash, apple, broth and water, bring to a boil. Reduce to low heat and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes until the squash and carrots have softened.
3. Purée the soup. There's no wrong way to do this. I used a regular blender. My sister used a food processor. My neighbor used an immersion blender.
4. Return the soup to the pot and add the seasonings. Ladle about 1 cup per bowl for a single serving and add parsely or sweet basil as a garnish. I used parsley.

15 Things I Don't Want To See On Facebook This Year

15. Your Ass

The only thing worst than seeing my revolutionary friends turn into hypocrites by posting photo after photo of women objectifying themselves is the endless number of women willing submitting themselves to this objectification. Once cannot protest rape culture while propagating it.

Facebook photo by Booty Factory

14. Your bathroom

Seriously, just stop it.  Buy a "Selfie Stick" and take the picture somewhere else if it's that deep.

Tonsofselfies.com

13. Memes with mismatched photos and quotes

I've seen them all, from quotes on a Marilyn Monroe photo that she never said, to internet observations on an Abraham Lincoln photo. Seriously, use logic before you make these.

12. Fights between you and another person on Facebook

If I see one more person bragging about "I took bae from you" or any other form of a verbal altercation between to people on Facebook, I'm going to snap. Either take it to the streets or shut the Hell up. 

11. People in your friends list with whom you don't even speak

He lied to you. She told you the truth. You're not speaking to either of them but you haven't deleted them from your friends list. But you're constantly shouting about, "New Year, new me!" Either grow up and start a conversation or delete them. 

10. Pictures of your food

I know you think you're the best cook or your significant other, or your family member. But to the rest of us, that food you posted looks like crap. We don't want to hurt your feelings, but take the fact that there are no likes on your food photos as a hint. 

9. Pictures of you smoking weed

There's more to life than getting high. I don't care whether or not you partake. I do care when you post pictures of yourself smoking like a dragon with your adult child in the background lighting the next blunt or spliff. Come on now. Do better. 

8. Dead bodies - This is just wrong and disrespectful on so many levels. I may be a horror fan but I don't need that level of gruesome exposure in my life. 

7. Anything at all about your relationship

I don't mind seeing pics of you together in a moment of bliss. But I don't want to see the constant posts about your relationship or the endless cupcaking. The reason being, it'll be awkward for all of us when you fight or break up. 

6. Pictures of you in ethnic costume

I don't care if you're a 1/4 Lakota Cherokee African American Geisha. If you're buying a costume from the Halloween store to show off that heritage or to be the life of the party, you have just failed.

5. Pictures that prove your false happiness

So you're posting pictures of your new house, car, kids, and dog. But when I see you, it turns out to be your mother's house, your neighbor's dog, a rental car and your kids you haven't seen since that picture was updated. Just be honest with me. I'm already your friend. You don't have to pretend. 

4. Religious posts from people violating religious commandments

I don't care what religion you choose. I really don't. There is no "but" to that sentence. I do care that you proclaim that religion to the highest, while drinking, smoking, tattooing, or fornicating your way into Hell. For whom are you perpetrating?

3. Fat and skinny people bashing each other

One word...hypocrisy.

2. Porn

You can act like you don't watch it, but the moment that spam link you clicked on posts a copy of that porn video you attempted to watch, you're busted. I don't want to see it. Log off of Facebook before you watch it. 

1. The Revolution

This Facebook page should just be removed but the powers that be find no offense with the page. This page is littered with homophobic, racist, stereotypical, treacherous, riot baiting, and homicidal posts and followers. This page, among others should be removed from Facebook but there hasn't been enough outrage to coax Facebook into deleting the page.

Old Bay Copycat Recipe

Old Bay Copycat Recipe

• 1 tablespoon bay leaf powder  
• 2 tablespoons celery salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon mace
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom

Combine ingredients and store in an air tight container. Every year my local grocery stores run out of Old Bay seasoning during the holidays. Since I make my gumbo from scratch anyway, I decided it was easier just to make my own Old Bay. Let me know what you think.  

Jamberry Review

I know that there are a ton of reviews of Jamberry already. But I was given two samples and asked to write a review. I was given Pumpkin Spice and Candy Cane shields. It should be noted that I was given only half sheets and I have never used Jamberry before. As a result, they weren't applied 100% correctly as seen in the photo. Pumpkin Spice was applied correctly but Candy Cane was not. I got lazy.

Pumpkin Spice shields

These were apparently discontinued, not the color but the version of the shield. The adhesive side was thick and silver. I am told that the new shields have a white or clear backing now. The color was perfect, exactly as pictured. I used a hairdryer as I had seen on YouTube but this was cumbersome and time consuming. So I tried the flat iron method. I seem to have a hotter flat iron than that of the YouTube tutors because mine melted the adhesive right off the shield. This wouldn't have been such a big deal if I had more than a half sheet to work with. So adjusted the heat and continued. Because the shields were so thick, I found it hard to stretch the shields as needed to fit my fingers. But once I rubbed the warm rice filled pad on my nails they seemed to fit fine. But on my right hand, I decided to apply the shields and use the heat pad to adhere them. This certainly saved time but it allowed for rippling as the shields required more heat to become pliable. The shields lasted 14 days without a single problem. People complained that the edges were bothering them. The edges are thick, but I found that filing was worse than using baby nail clippers. So I used the clippers and had no rough edges.

Candy Cane shields

These were much easier to stretch and required half as much heat as the old formula. Unfortunately, I was working with a half sheet and had to really stretch on of the shields. I found that once stretch, they would shrink back to their original position. Clear polish didn't solve this issue. There were no edges at all that gave a problem. They were thinner and adhered even better. My only complaint was that the color wasn't as vibrant.

In both cases, I only peeled them off because I wanted to change the color. But they stayed on when washing dishes, cleaning crab, and showering. I would buy these but only if I know I am going to leave the color on for more than 2 weeks. They last so long and are priced based on that fact that it would be a waste to use them for less than 2 weeks.