Air Plant

7 or 8 years ago my dad ventured to Florida and brought back air plants as souvenir gifts. I didn't know anything about them, I've never heard of a plant that didn't need dirt. Dad said just water and light. Out of pure luck, I managed to keep mine alive and all the other ones dad brought home died. Ed and I keep it on our shower window ledge, so it would get steam, water and sun. Now, for the first time, it's bloomed! I didn't even know it could bloom! It used to be this clump of tropical green stems, now we have red stems with purple and yellow flowers. What an ugly little miracle.

Kefir

One of my Ya-Ya's, Amanda, introduced me to Kefir. A really gross drink she claimed had a lot of health benefits. After much resistance and research, I finally came around to this little bacterial wonder and make it at home.

First you start out with these little grains. They look like slimy heads of cauliflower. The cool thing about these grains is they grow over time while making the kefir and you can split them to share with others, like Amanda did for me. It's like a weird science version of friendship bread.

Put the grains in milk. I think you can use any kind, I use organic whole cows milk. Let the milk and grains sit out on the counter for a day or two until the milk becomes thick. The length of time varies. Kefir makes faster in the summer because it's hotter, longer in the winter cause it colder. More milk takes longer, but more grains produce quicker. Also, I don't know this for sure, but I think kefir needs air, so leave it uncovered a bit or lay a breathable fabric/paper over the top. It seems that I was having trouble making the kefir when I closed the lid.

Once your kefir milk is thick, strain out the grains. You can start a new batch of kefir with the grains or put them in water and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to make more. Drink the kefir straight (it's very sour and tastes like spoiled milk) or add some honey or maple syrup.

Kefir grains are a combination of bacteria and yeasts. Fermenting the milk with the grains makes this kefir drink. As you might have noticed, Kefir seems a lot like yogurt, but kefir is fermented with more and different strains of friendly of bacteria, in addition to yeast, which means the final product has more of the beneficial microorganisms, or "probiotics,". Probiotics can control the growth of harmful bacteria and some even manufacture vitamins in the gut – thus a healthier immune system! There is a lot of research being done on kefir, the results seem promising and include lowering cholesterol & blood pressure, even curing cancer! Do a Google search for a wealth of knowledge and reasons to drink this gross shit. :)

The Joys of Catnip

Catnip is grown.

Catnip is dried.

Catnip is eaten.

Cat is stoned.

Obama

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace." - President Barack Obama

Getting Our Houses In Order

Excerpt from Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach:

"January 16th. For years I have suspected that in happy and fulfilled lives domesticity and spirituality are invisibly but inexorably connected....Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by outside circumstances instinctively I turn to homegrown rituals to restore my equilibrium. There is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff to getting our houses in order....I have even noticed that there is a direct correlation between the days when I'm feeling depressed and the days when the house is in disarray....No woman can think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter, chaos and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it."

Foods of Winter

Pastas, the creamier the better
Soups & Stews
Chili, hot and spicy
Fresh breads, muffins and rolls
Hot Sandwiches like Grilled Cheese
Flavored Coffee with whip cream
Hot Coco with marshmallows
Anything that goes with mashed potato
Oatmeal w/brown sugar
Mandarin Oranges, Clementines & Tangerines
Cheese, milk and yogurts for Imbolic

Simplicity

Excerpt from Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach:

"January 15th. Many people believe simplicity implies doing without. On the contrary. True simplicity as a conscious life choice illuminates our lives from within. ....Visualize a bouquet of bright yellow daffodils in a white milk jug on a pine mantel, sunlight streaming through sparkling clean windows, the shine of beautifully varnished wooden floors, the shimmering glow and fragrance of pure beeswax candles."

Angelus learns how to make foot prints in the snow.

ForTuna Sandwich & spell

ForTuna Sandwich & Spell
Fortuna is the Roman goddess of fortune, fate, blessing, luck and fertility, make this sandwich whenever in need.

1can albacore tuna in water
¼c finely minced onions
2tb mayo
¼ts freshly ground pepper
2 slices favorite bread
1tb butter softened
1 leaf of favorite lettuce

• Drain juice from tuna and give to your cat.
• Mix tuna, onions, mayo and pepper,
• Butter both pieces of bread on one side
• Spread tuna mix onto half the buttered bread; add lettuce, close with remaining bread.

Chat while making the first sandwich.
"Lady Luck, Fortuna Dear,
Make this bad luck disappear,
I've had enough, chase it away,
Bring good luck to me today."
You can also recite this chant at the top of your lungs while standing in the center of your home. Silly as it may feel, shouting stirs up the energies.

Chat while making a second sandwich (when the time comes).
"Goddess of plenty,
Lady of fate,
Thank you for my fortune,
Your favor is never late."

Housewives Tarot

A domestic divination website done thoroughly in fifties in style, attitude, furnishings, and fashion!
I hope to one day own the deck.
Housewives Tarot

Biggest Loser

We started this contest at work a couple weeks ago and we're having a ton of fun. I've lost 6 pounds so far!

Biggest Loser Contest
{start date} until {end date} (we did a 3 month period)

Contest Outline:
• $1 to start the first week, weight-in on {start date}.
• Weight-in on {that day of the week} of each week, all weigh-ins are done {on the same scale}.
• Person who loses the largest percentage of body weight from the previous
week is the biggest loser for the week and pays nothing to the pot.
• Person who loses the least amount for the week pays $5 to the pot.
• Everyone else pays $1 to continue on to the next week.
• Anyone who gains weight from the previous week pays $5 a pound to the
pot. A fifth (.2) pound grace will be allowed.
• Final weight-in on {end date}, person who lost the largest percentage of
body weight over all wins the pot.

No money will exchange hands until {end date}, we will keep a running total
with weights. You can quit at any time, but still owe the pot up to the time you quit.

Enchanted Forest

Each month I like to take on a room in my home and refresh it. Give it a thorough cleaning, organizing and minor updates. Basically, a no-cost makeover.

January is my bedroom. The theme for my bedroom is an enchanted forest. The walls are deep midnight blue, we have some beautiful wallpaper of wolves howling at the moon, the oak furnature is earthy and solid, and little hints of enchantment here and there. For more inspiration, I'm turning to the book "The Fairies: photographic evidence of the existence of another world" by Suza Scalora. I'm not going to deck the room out in fairies, but the photographs from the book are just the right tone with very deep and moody colors and the idea of entering another world when we go to bed is exactly what I'm looking for.

Beautiful

V.C. Andrews Tarot Deck

My homemade tarot deck made from V.C. Andrews novels. Each card title was taken from a chapter of the book.

Pessimist

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit." ~ Helen Keller

I got freinds in low places

A lot is going on right now; it has felt like falling from a tree with one blow after another. At the top of the list is my husband's layoff from work. I've tried all day to make the best of it, including calling on the Goddess Fortuna to rid me of this bad luck. Then I got this from Kelly and just started balling happy tears. I am choosing to be positive.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood

I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins..Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked

He continued, '..the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the20faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything .

I also had a really uplifting dream last night with Raven in it. It was about change and I know things will get better, right now everything is good. I’m casting my worries aside and I'm so grateful for my friends.

Kelly and Me

Me and Raven

Domestic Witch Daily

If you would like to be interviewed by me, leave me a comment saying, "Interview me" along with your e-mail address. I will e-mail you with five or more questions. Update your blog with the answers to the questions. You can also offer to interview others in your blog.

I will post some of your interviews in the Domestic Witch blog!

Moon Names

January - Wolf Moon
February - Snow Moon
March - Sap Moon
April - Pink Moon
May - Flower Moon
June - Strawberry Moon
July - Buck Moon
August - Corn Moon
September - Harvest Moon
October - Blood Moon
November - Beaver Moon
December - Cold Moon

Exercise for Dummies

Take a weight, big soup can or exercise ball. Hold it out in front of you with both hands while standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Now use the weight to spell out the alphabet in the air. Keep your back straight, but bend you knees and use your arms to make big large exaggerated letters.

If the alphabet is a little too hooked-on-phonics for you, spell something else.
I-H-A-T-E-E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E
S-K-I-N-N-Y-B-I-T-C-H-E-S-D-I-E
S-H-O-U-L-D-N-O-T-H-A-V-E-A-T-E-T-H-A-T-W-H-O-L-E-P-I-Z-Z-A

Organic Grocery Shopping

When money is tight, here are the most important organic foods to purchase which allows you to save money on conventional foods for everything else.

The New York Times Top Five

It can be expensive and stressful to make the switch to organic foods. The following list is The New York Times top five choices of foods that are easy and/or beneficial to switch to organic.

1. Milk - as one of the foods we consume the most, organic milk is a smart choice to avoid antibiotics, artificial hormones, and pesticides. A study from the USDA “found certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples and low levels in only one organic sample.” Organic milk may be slightly more expensive, but many are ultra-pasteurized which means they stay fresh longer, unopened. You can actually save money by not wasting milk that goes bad before you drink it.

2. Potatoes - a USDA test “found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested.” Potatoes are a staple in most diets, so switching to organic could have a huge impact.

3. Peanut butter - over 99% of peanut farms use the conventional farming practices which include using fungicide to treat common cases of mold in peanut crops. Organic brands of peanut butter are now offered in the regular grocery store.

4. Ketchup - ketchup is another diet staple for many families and some recent research found that organic ketchup has approximately twice as many antioxidants as conventional ketchup.

5. Apples - apples are unfortunately one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits, but the organic variety are readily available in the regular grocery store.
Source: The New York Times

The Dirty Dozen

12 foods with the highest levels of pesticide found in the food:
peaches
apples
sweet bell peppers
celery
nectarines
strawberries
cherries
lettuce
imported grapes
pears
spinach
potatoes


Complete list:

1 (worst. highest pesticide load)
Peaches

2
Apples

3
Sweet Bell Peppers

4
Celery

5
Nectarines

6
Strawberries

7
Cherries

8
Lettuce

9
Grapes - Imported

10
Pears

11
Spinach

12
Potatoes

13
Carrots

14
Green Beans

15
Hot Peppers

16
Cucumbers

17
Raspberries

18
Plums

19
Oranges

20
Grapes-Domestic

21
Cauliflower

22
Tangerine

23
Mushrooms

24
Cantaloupe

25
Lemon

26
Honeydew Melon

27
Grapefruit

28
Winter Squash

29
Tomatoes

30
Sweet Potatoes

31
Watermelon

32
Blueberries

33
Papaya

34
Eggplant

35
Broccoli

36
Cabbage

37
Bananas

38
Kiwi

39
Asparagus

40
Sweet Peas-Frozen

41
Mango

42
Pineapples

43
Sweet Corn-Frozen

44
Avocado

45 (best. lowest pesticide load.)
Onions

Nearly all of the data used to create these lists already considers how people typically wash and prepare produce (for example, apples are washed before testing, bananas are peeled). While washing and rinsing fresh produce may reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Source: http://www.foodnews.org

Homemade Cough Syrup

Homemade Cough Syrup recipe given to me by my Mother-In-Law and Aunt-In-Law Clara:
Spoonful of equal parts: lemon juice, honey and whiskey

The Gift & ESP Cards

Excerpt from the movie "The Gift"
"My granny told me that I... I had a gift, that it runs in my family. She told me I shouldn't be afraid of it, I should just always use my instinct and I'd be all right."


The cards used in the movies are one of my favorites - a set of ESP cards, instead of traditional tarot. I've always planned on making a deck, but it's been too long - time to buy one!

The Godfather Box

Beloved costume jewelry, in my jewelry box that plays the Godfather theme when opened. Many pieces were given to me by Grandma, and her mother, my Great Grandma Crandell, also had a love for costume jewelry. So much so that her nickname was "Gyp" as in gypsy.

Some of my more recent acquisitions are handmade by my Ya-Ya's, like Kelly's charmed anklet or Luna's Blessing Way wrist binding made by Raven.

Other odds and ends were acquired on my travels in secondhand treasure shops, airport stands and amusement park tourist traps - I never know where a beautiful trinket will be found. Each hold memories of times and places that sometime seem so long ago that it must have been another life

Right now, my two favorite pieces are the black feather earrings and my ruby eyed snake pendant.

Reminders

January
• Make annual doctor appointments for the family, including physical, dentist, gyn and dermatologist
• Back up files and photos

February
• Plan out gardens, order seeds

March
• Address and maintain investments and financial matters
• Remove leaves from garden beds
• Change batteries in the smoke detector

April
• Clean house windows
• Put cold weather clothes in storage and bring out warm weather clothes

May

June

July
• Wash and clean out cars

August
• Hose down any thing that can benefit from a good spray, including window screens and rugs

September
• Put warm weather clothes in storage and bring out cold weather clothes
• Clean out hall closet to make room for guest coats and shoes

October
• Clean house windows
• Plant spring bulbs

November
• Rack leaves into garden beds
• Change batteries in the smoke detector

December

These are a few of my favorite things..

Recently went to the second hand store and found a gorgeous selection of winter scarfs and hats.


Pure Poison, my signature scent this time of year.


More of winter's treasures....
Warm towels out of the dryer after a bath
A hot shower on a cold morning
The first snow fall
Listening to classical music while driving in a snow fall

Chocolat

Excerpts from the movie Chocolat

"One night, [the young apothecary] was invited to drink unrefined cacao with a pinch of chilli. The very same drink the ancient Maya used in their sacred ceremonies. The Maya believed cacao held the power to unlock hidden yearnings and reveal destinies. And so it was that George first saw Chitza.....The tribal elders tried to warn George about her. She was one of the wanderers. Her people moved with the North Wind from village to village dispensing ancient remedies never settling down."


"But still the clever North Wind was not satisfied. The Wind spoke to Vianne of towns yet to be visited. Friends in need, yet to be discovered. Battles yet to be fought."


Mayan Hot Cocoa
Chili Chocolate Cake
Armande's Birthday Dinner

Snow Day

Excerpt from Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach:
"Joyful Simplicities for January. Prepare for a winter's idyll. Stock the pantry with real cocoa, tiny marshmallows and a bar of good chocolate (for shaved topping). Get some whipped cream and keep it in the refrigerator. When snow comes and school is canceled, stay home with the kids. Lounge about in your pajamas. If you have a fireplace, have a fire all day. Build a snowman together, so sledding, then have tomato soup in mugs and toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch. Take a nap. Luxuriate in an unexpected day off."

Ed & Angelus last New Years Day 2008

Sunday Morning Biscuits & Gravy

Breakfast Gravy Recipe

Taught to me by my mother-in-law, Guila. She also taught me a little trick for the biscuits; when you remove them from the oven, turn each biscuit over on its head. This prevents a soggy bottom.

1/2 cup oil or drippings from bacon or sausage
1 1/2 cups Flour

1 tablespoon Salt

2 cups Water

1/2 cup evaporated milk

• Add flour to the hot oil until it is combined and slightly runny. Add salt.

• Brown on high the oil, flour and salt until it is almost crumbled and no longer runny.

• Remove from heat, stir in water until the water and flour mixture is combined

• Return to heat on medium, stir in milk

I never measure when I make this recipe, so the measurements may be a little off but you can add more milk, water or flour to adjust thickness at anytime.

The Sensual Home

The Sensual Home

Sight:
• Uncluttered is the single most important aspect to sight and really, all the senses. Not having too many “things” is more important than my home being clean. The easiest way I’ve found to keep out clutter is to only have things that follow the shabby chic rule of comfort, beauty and practicality. I ask, is it comfortable? Does its beauty speak to my soul? Do I currently use it or plan to use it in the very near future?

• We keep our home clean, but if you look hard you’ll find dusty shelves and spiders weaving webs in corners. My home is not spotless on purpose. A super clean house is too much maintenance and feels unwelcoming. Rachel Ashwell , Shabby Chic Goddess, says “I believe in cozy relaxed settings where kids are free to put their feet on the sofa and guests can place their cups on the coffee table without a care.”

• Lastly on sight, I use a theme or inspiration for each room in my home. Everything out in the open should look like it belongs, not a hodgepodge of my favorite things. If something doesn't fit, I try it in other rooms, even it's an unconventional placement. I've found plenty of cool combinations while thinking outside of the box.

Sound:
• Often, quiet is the most appealing sound.

• Sounds of nature are very appealing to me, so I keep our windows open as much of the year as possible. My home's soundtrack is an alternating mix of rain, wind, thunder, crickets and birds.

• I also like to hear music playing; My dad liked to blast his old school country while doing cleaning, cooking and other housework, it put him in a good mood and that's rubbed off on me. I don’t like to keep the TV on unless it is being watched; its not an appealing background noise.

• Laughter, everyday laugh out loud, you’re home and family will be glad for it.


Touch:
• I'm a barefoot kind of girl, so keeping my floors clean is important, I run my irobot vacuum most everyday.

• I keep soft throws and pillows all around our home. There is nothing like cuddling up when you watch TV or talk with a friend.

• We use soft, real cloth linens on our table. I don't like plastic table cloths. Real napkins instead of paper, not only for environmental reasons but they feel nicer. Clean up is easy - throw them in the washer.

• In the bedroom, high quality bedding is a must.

• I keep fluffy towels visible and ready to use in the bath. I like to keep a lot of personal hygiene products out and ready to use; lotion, cotton balls, etc. The key to keeping it from looking cluttered is to store items in nice containers, so you have a finished and organized look.


Smell:
• Avoid smell offenders like dirty dishes, pet messes, trash and laundry.


• Keep the windows open for fresh air. Even in the winter, open the house up a few times for fresh crisp air, it will help prevent colds too! Fresh fragrant flowers are great a natural idea too.


• Like most witches, I have an arsenal of candles and incense around my home, ready to light at a moments notice. I keep an oil burner near our hallway, if the air is circulating in my home right; the scent carries all over the house.

• Sense of smell and taste are easily indulged in the kitchen. Cook and bake with passion and pleasure. Some of my favorite’s smells are baked bread, pies and stir-fry.


• Lastly, I have lavender water by the bed to spray on the pillows before crawling in.

Taste:
• Just seeing food or food containers is appealing the taste sense. Fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs are found in abundance in our kitchen. Candy and treat jars, large popcorn bowls and such are found around the house. They invoke memories of food and happy times and are ready to be used in an instant for making more savory moments.

• Some people don't allow eating outside of the kitchen. I disagree; we eat in other rooms a lot: freshly popped popcorn while watching TV, hot coffee by the computer or sharing warm pie with a friend in the sitting room.

Duck Farts

Duck Fart
A humorous drink for cold winter nights, it warms you right up!
In a shot glass add equal parts of Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Crown Royal.

On New Years Eve we enjoyed this quirky number. I found it on the TV show Deadliest Catch. Those Alaskan crab fisherman would know a good drink to warm the coldest of hearts. It would make a good sipping drink, if you wanted to have more than a shot at a time, it is very smooth.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year all my Domestic Witches and Goddesses!
May this year better than last, but not a great as the next!

My New Year's traditions are to take down my Christmas tree (it's bad luck to take it down before the New Year), clean house and make resolutions. Today eat rich to symbolize your wealth in the year ahead (diets start tomorrow ladies), indulge in guilty pleasures, dream about the upcoming year and call all your family and friends to let them know who much you love them and wish them a Happy New Year! Unless you drunk dialed them last night at midnight, then call today to apologize. Take note that those you drunk dial are the ones you love most.

It’s a time of new beginnings, a clean canvas to paint with the colors of your life. Pick the colors that make your heart sing, your mouth water and your enemies tremble!

This year I resolve to work on my sense of humor.
What are your New Years Resolutions?