Grilled Potatoes

Grilled Potatoes
One of the ways I make potatoes on the grill is to cut them into thin slices, add a chopped onion, green pepper, salt, pepper, garlic and olive oil. Cook them in a foil pouch to allow the steam and aromas of the onions, pepper and spices to really infuse the potatoes. I learned this method from Mama Guila.

Reach for the Stars!

The next interview is with my Bella Luna; wonderful and kind, she is a pleasure to know! A woman of many talents, she is the painter of this "Reach for the Stars" watercolor and her first book, "Open Proposal", will be published Soon! Keep up with her at www.rosemarygunn.com.

Describe your home keeping routine, do you have a process?
Is there really supposed to be a routine? I guess there is, but for me it never lasts. Seriously.. I pour over Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living each month and truly aspire to be THAT woman, but have come to the realization that it isn't ever going to happen. Get-togethers usually motivate me to really clean, or at the very least, gather the piles of books, magazines, and papers (for some reason, these accumulate on every flat surface in my home!) and stuff them into the office, then close the door on all of it. The idea behind that is to go through the chaos at some undetermined time in the future that never seems to arrive. The living room is usually clean though, so it's ready at a moment's notice if the grandbaby comes over. I also try to stay ahead of the laundry and dishes...and scoop up the dust bunnies before they start demanding names and food.

What is the last cooking recipe you followed?
Ooh, I actually made a very easy beef stew in the slow cooker last week. It was a recipe from my wonderful friend Jennifer (that would be author Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes [www.skullybuzz.com, if you're looking for something hot to read over the summer...in addition to my book!]) out of a book she'd picked up. It was yummy and the house smelled oh-so-delicious all day as it cooked. The recipe itself wasn't anything spectacular, but the stew was delicious. Red potatoes, carrots, some onion (just a little bit...I'm not a huge onion fan), London broil, can of cream of mushroom soup, can of water, little bit of red wine and some salt and pepper. It cooked on HIGH most of the day...probably 5 or 6 hours.

I'm pretty compulsive when it comes to recipes. I tend to pull out the recipe card, even if it's something I've made many, many times...like my Grandma's pie crust or French Pancakes (crepes with strawberries). I imagine this could just be a desire to feel that connection with her again. My grandmothers were very special women in my life and I miss them dearly.

What Spring activities do you like to enjoy?
Spring is my favorite season! Everything's new and exciting. All the perennials popping up and the yards covered in thick, green grass. Walking through the neighborhood and our little town in the Spring is one of my absolute favorite things to do. It's a pleasure to share those walks with my hubby...or my daughter and granddaughter. My son isn't much of a walker, but he'll go for a bike ride with me, especially to the library or ice cream parlor!

Being a published writer must be a dream come true. How did you help those dreams come to light?
Moving from "aspiring" to "published" author is hands-down the most fulfilling thing that I've ever accomplished strictly for myself. Don't get me wrong...being married for over 23 years to my best friend and Mom to two amazingly cool kids are both satisfying...but in completely different ways. For me, words are like air...vital. Knowing that I'll finally be able to see my name (or the pseudonym that I've created) on the cover of a book...quite frankly, still takes my breath away. I've seen my name in the byline before when I had several articles and column-type things appear in a local newspaper, but this has a totally new feel to it. This is a book! A couple of years ago I was writing away on a light-hearted, fun romance when it suddenly took a sharp turn into a dark erotic tale of lust and death, hunger and rebirth. I literally sat there staring in shock at the pages I'd written, wondering where they had come from. It was then that I realized that erotic fiction is what I needed to write. Erotic romance...since I believe there should be a Happily Ever After for everyone.

Having kids all grown up and having babies of their own, what advice do you have to share for us "still in the thick of it"?
I wish, in a bizarre Back To The Future space-time continuum way, that I could have been a young mom with you as a close friend, Dawn. When I was a new mom I felt very young (and I was...just 18), but what I felt even more was alone. It felt like I was screwing up all the time, doing everything wrong...ruining my kids. So I guess for those "still in the thick of it" my best advice is to surround yourselves with other moms that love you and love your kids. It's easier to see that you're not a bad mom for losing your temper, or having a job, or not knowing the exact answer to everything, when you can look at your "mommy" friends and realize they're doing the same things. Oh...and make sure the lines of communication are open, strong, and always available. Let them know they can come to you with anything, anytime. And, believe me when I say, there will be conversations that will weigh so heavily on you, you'll be kneeling by the end of them, hugging that baby of yours (probably a teenager) tight in your arms while you cry together. Parenting is incredible... but it is definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of spirit. And when they're all grown up, quite possibly you'll get to enjoy the perks without the pains when the grandbabies start arriving!

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If you would like to be interviewed by me, please comment with "interview me" and your e-mail address.

Yoga with Angelus

Angelus doing Downward Facing Dog. I am a fan of the Itsy Bitsy Yoga books.

The Wagon To End All Wagons

During Angelus' first summer, Ed and I invested in a wagon for our outdoor adventures. Instead of the typical plastic ones, we turned a sturdy and durable garden wagon in a traveling haven. Rubber is used to cushion the bottom and sides, it also protects against exposed bolts. The pretty fabric covering the rubber is sewed together like a sham pillow cover so it can be taken off and washed. It's received high remarks by all kinds of strangers at the zoo, apple orchards, Christmas tree farms, festivals and carnivals. It's a hit!

Drive-In

We had out first Drive-In of the season last weekend. A perfect way, in my opinion, to spend a family night out - no babysitter required. Fresh air, fun atmosphere, comfortable seating, good food. A favorite Drive-In food of mine is Crack Corn, a Pagan Center member got my hooked.



Crack Corn
Measurements are subjective.

Make popcorn. As much as I prefer air-popped, microwave buttered popcorn turns out better.

Layout the popcorn on a cookie sheet with parchment paper in between.

Melt white chocolate and pour over the popcorn.

Place cookie sheet of popcorn in the freezer until the white chocolate hardens.

With your hands, break popcorn up into small pieces.

Oscar the Grouch:"We're bad, really really bad!"

We watched A Night at the Measumn and Wolverine, both good. Wolverine has way to much hotness for a single 2 hour fest. I may have to see it again.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

As taught to me by my Ya-Ya's, Luna and Raven, while we were on vacation in Kentucky. I had never had a chicken salad sandwich before!

Bake boneless chicken breast, with spices, until done.

Shred chicken into little pieces

Add mayo. Luna and Raven did a batch with grapes added, but I did care for the grapes. This seems like one of those recipes that you can customize a thousand different way. I prefer mine with a little pured onion with a leaf of lettuce on white bread.

Amas Veritas

Puff the Magic Dragon

"Now, I'm going to borrow the living thing inside you and place it INSIDE Jackie Paper. Your living thing. You wonder what it is? It is that what causes you to laugh and to cry and to care. It is that which makes apples crunchy and tells your nose to tingle on a crystal winter's morning. It's kept in your left ear, you know." ~ Puff the Magic Dragon

Interview with Kelly

My next interview is with one of my best friends and Ya-Ya: Kelly. Enjoy, I did!

What are some of your Spring-cleaning rituals, magical and mundane?
Mundane: I don’t have a set plan every year, when the weather starts warming up like lately I think about what all needs to be done, make a list (never look at it again, yea I make list all the time and never go by them no idea why) and just do the things that need to be done. For example this year, I got a bit of an early start, a couple weeks ago Beth came over and we totally gutted the bedrooms and got them cleaned including closets, and then the next day remodeled my kitchen, not that it was because of spring the remodel just needed to happen. We were truly weekend warriors that weekend. Now I need to get my carpet and furniture cleaned which I bought the machine and need to just get it out and do it. And I want to change my living room around make the area by the window more open just give a different airy feel to the place. I am a procrastinator, but when I do get going I really go!
Magical: I redo my altar with spring things like flowers and pastels, I may put my lil gnome & fairy figures on it. Do a ‘cleansing’ of the house. Which is really just taking my broom and going through each room starting in the basement or back and make my way to the front door and sweep out all the negativity that may have snuck in over the dark days. Open all the curtains windows and doors air the place out and welcome spring!



I love your new blog, Hillbilly Deluxe, what can your readers expect to see in the future? Can you give us a sneak peek at a future Hillbilly Deluxe recipe?
Well, till after the family reunion in July I will be posting updates and info anyone may need to do with the reunion, I am hoping for as much family to come as possible, there are a lot down south that I highly doubt will make it, but I am still hoping they might surprise us. After the reunion as far as family things go, I will post pictures and other family happenings as much as possible. I think it is important for family to stay connected and if not in each other’s lives a lot to at least know what is going on in each other’s lives. Besides family stuff I will post anything to do with hillbillies or the south that I find interesting, be it a cartoon, news story, picture recipes ect. Speaking of recipes here’s a good hillbilly recipe for ya…

This was one of my favs growing up as a kid, I made it for my dad for fathers day one year and come to find out it was one of the favorite things my mother used to cook lol I bet he thought I had her come over and cook before he got there, but I didn’t.

Smothered Pork chops;
You need pork chops enough to feed who ever your feeding
Vidalia onion
Cream of mushroom soup
Paprika
Garlic
Pepper
Again how much depends on how many you’re feeding and what you like

Brown pork chops on both sides
Cover with sliced onion (enough to were you think you have to much)
Add cream of mushroom soup (I would say about 1 can per 4 medium chops)
Add 1 can of water per 2 cans soup
Add garlic and a lot of paprika
Cover and cook and low – medium for about an hour

This goes good with a side of mashed potatoes cuz the soup and onions make excellent gravy!!

And mashed potatoes are simple you just open the box pour into the boiling water add a stick of butter and heaping table spoon of mayo, mamma its like magic!!


How do you share the 'craft with your children?
Most of the time when I change my alter every month they help, sometimes they just do it by themselves. As different sabbats come I explain each one and the significance. I always have let them make their own spiritual decisions, Grace goes to church often with different family members she seems to enjoy it, I always ask her what they talked about and what she learned and explain my views on what was talked about and leave her to believe what she feels inside herself to be true. Coty could care less about church and will NOT go. If the kids are having trouble with someone in the neighborhood I help them, to help it to stop. I don’t have a set “learning” plan for them I just kinda do it on an as need basis.



What are the most basic ways a person can start Living the Secret?
First by making the decision that they want to be happier and live a better life. Then there are lots of lil things to get in the swing of it:
Visualize something positive (and make sure to see themselves in the visual) for 2 minutes a day, yes just two minutes is a great start and everyone has two minutes to squeeze some good in their life!
Vision boards are great and most people probably already use them in a round about way and not even realize it. A quick way is to just grab pics of the Internet of things you want places you want to go ect. Save them in a special folder them make that folder a slide show for your desktop when it is idle. (hey its better then the stupid screen savers the computer came with lol)

Do you have any Beltane practices?
None in particular, but one I would love to start I have read about it is, secretly putting a bouquet of flowers at someone’s door step ringing the door bell and leaving, kinda like ghosting LOL
Also I always wanted a maypole and watch all the witchlettes dance around it, that hasn’t happened yet either LOL

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If you would like to be interviewed by me, please comment with "interview me" and your e-mail address

Motor City Pagans

I was interviewed by Motor City Pagans about creating Pagan Center and you can now view the interview online here! Kenny and Luna helped me out during the interview, I was so nervous, it was great to have them there!

(Kenny, Luna & Me)

Who's Who in the Community: Dawn Howard
Written by Crystal
Friday, 01 May 2009
This month I had the pleasure of meeting a great group of people from Pagan Center. Pagan Center was founded roughly 7 years ago by Dawn Howard. At first it was only an online community but with the help of her friend Kelly, the group became “live” and they started holding events and gatherings.

From their website : “Pagan Center’s mission is to unite Southeast Michigan Pagans and Witches with social activities, educational workshops, youth programs and volunteer work. We strive to bring Pagans and Witches together in a fun and welcoming atmosphere, creating bonds of friendship, while improving interfaith relations.”

Sitting down with Dawn, Kenny, and Melanie (Luna) was a wonderful treat for me. They treated me like they have always known me and made me feel comfortable and at home. They try to do the same thing with all of the activities that they host; they want people to feel welcome. All of their activities are listed on their website and range from social activities to community activities. The activities are also rated from adult to family, so you know whether you can bring your friends and children or not. They also try to have at least one activity a month and they range from being social, educational, or volunteer activities.

The group activities are also all over the metro Detroit area, and not just downriver (which was what I thought). There are members who are as far away as Port Huron that host events so anyone in the Metro Detroit area has a choice and a chance to go to an activity without having to go too far. The group has two member tiers, one is just members and the second is established members.

To become a member of Pagan Center all you have to do is log on to the forums and join in some of the activities. Established members are those who have been with the group for some time and have gone to many activities and can then begin to host activities. The group also accepts recommendations for activities, especially community service recommendations (such as park clean-ups, etc.).

Pagan center also has a fairly active online forum with subjects ranging from jokes and humor to crafts and hobbies so it isn’t completely pagan centered, which is nice because you can go and talk about every day things as well as find or relate information about pagan activities and religion.

When I asked Dawn why she started Pagan Center she said it was because she wanted a forum (online and in real life) where like minded people could get together and meet one another. The group doesn’t really hold rituals but are centered on being social, educational, and community service. The reason for the community service was because she wanted to try to improve interfaith relations so that others in the community (non-pagans) could see that we are real people who do good things just like everyone else.

The people from Pagan Center are a really great group of people so if you are looking for a good forum to hang out on, or a good activity to attend to meet like-minded pagan-friendly people, visit the www.pagancenter.com website and check them out.

Written by Krystelynn of White Dragon Essentials for MotorCityPagans.net

Line Drying

Got my first batch of clothes of the season on the line. If anything needs some fresh air, it's Angelus' diapers!

Interview with Tara Swaim

Tara Swaim published in The Blessed Bee, a pagan family publication, and is currently a staff writer for www.themodernpagan.net, which will be launched in a couple of weeks. She written one book, Witchy, a memoir chronicling her journey from Christianity to Witchcraft (publishing pending), and she is working on two more books. Her website is www.taraswaim.com and you can find her blog here.


What is your favorite fast and easy recipe?
I would love to give some Martha Stewart-y answer and tell you that I bake homemade bread everyday, while harvesting my herbs for a seasoning blend of my own making, but the truth is, our life moves very fast (as does most people's), so I love to throw together Mexican food. I always keep one of those cheapo Mexican rice packets in the cabinet, cheese keeps forever, refried beans (in a can, thank you very much), and roll it all up in a tortilla, which will keep in the fridge long after everything else is going green. I do love to cook, but this is my American-working- woman-with- kids-meal, and my fall back.


What would you say are the basic rituals to keeping a home clean?
Keeping a home clean...? Mwhahahahahaha. How bout TRYING to keep a home clean. Nuff said.


I love your witty and fun blog; the Beltane story with your husband was sweet and sexy! How do you keep that kind of magic going now?
My husband is a good sport, and definitely the lighter one of the two of us. I'll say, "Hey, let's light a candle together", and he will say, "o.k. what should I do?" even thought we have done it a thousand times together. He is not pagan, but respects my path, which is the most important thing to me. We respect each other, and that is all the magic anybody needs in a relationship.


How do you weave the 'craft into everyday mundane life?
The Craft is my life. I look at the world through Craft-colored glasses, which isn't hard if you really understand the nature of everything. There is magic everywhere, and not to sound hokey, but you just have to look for it. I believe that actions will reflect what is inside of our heads and hearts, so if you see magic in everything, then everything becomes magic.


What draws you to Belly Dancing?
I am always trying to convert people to the ,"Church of Belly Dance". I have been dancing for ten years...and I love everything about it. The fact that it celebrates the female body, the movements that feel natural, the fact that it really shakes up my root and sacral chakra, the female camaraderie, the fact that it is communication without words...you shouldn't have asked me that question...I'll go on forever.

I will say this one important thing about it. You have to have a belly to belly dance. The more junk in the trunk you got, the better it looks....skinny women (sorry) don't look as good dancing as women with some meat on them. Most of the best dancers I know are WAY above a size 16.

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If you would like to be interviewed by me, please comment with "interview me" and your e-mail address.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

As I explained before, the patio theme I'm working on is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The inspiration piece is the book cover...



My patio colors were already perfectly moody in reds and blacks. The key elements I'm transferring over from the inspiration piece are white stone and green moss.

The green moss is called "sheet moss" and mimics the spanish moss that hangs on the Cyprus trees in Savannah. The pots looks barren now, but soon parsley and red tomatoes will spill over. Other flowers on the patio will be a backdrop of Moonflowers and passion flower, black holly hocks and coleus.

White stone structure and green moss.

My stone lady.

5 Things I'm into right now

1. Apocalyptica

2. The scent of rosemary

3. Harpers Island

4. 57 days and counting untill the next Harry Potter Movie

5. Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Secret Garden

Angelus in his Secret Garden. I made his first altar in his secret garden from inexpensive landscaping blocks and a slab of granite (total cost $4). So far he has a rock that he found in the vegtable patch on his altar.



He likes to jump from stone to stone when entering his sacred place and play with the wind chimes that hang above before sitting down on his throne.

Aromatherapy Heating Pads

Sew together a couple pieces of fabric. Stuff with rice, lavender and rosemary. Tada! - Aromatherapy Heating Pads. Use real rice, not minute. Heat in the microwave until hot, about 20 seconds. These were made by me, Kelly and her daughter Gracie.

Gracie sews her bag.

Kelly funnels rice into her bag.

Elephant Ears & Dumbo

My Disney movie quest with Angelus is moving right along. We recently finished Dumbo. My sis Jess suggested carnival food for our viewing - it was a great idea!

Elephant Ears
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
3/8 cup shortening
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 quart oil for frying
1 stick of butter
Cinnamon & sugar mix (1 part cinnamon, 2 parts sugar)


In small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and shortening. Heat until shortening melts and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm, 110 degrees. Sprinkle in yeast and let sit until foamy.

Transfer mixture to large bowl, and stir in flour to make a dough. Knead until smooth, cover and let rise 30 minutes.

In a large heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees.

Roll out 1 to 2 inch balls of dough into thin sheets. Fry sheets 1 to 2 minutes on a side, until puffed and golden. Drain on paper towels.

Spead a thin layer of butter over the one side. Sprinkle cinnamon & sugar over warm pastries. Serve.

Ogles Broom Shop

Besom, besom, Lady's broom
Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom
Rid ye Lady's hallowed ground
Of demons, imps and Hell's red hound;
Then set ye down on Her green earth
By running stream or Mistress' hearth,
'Till called once more on moon or Sabbath night
To cleans once more the dancing site.

While down south, we made a day trip to Gatlinburg Tenn for Brooms. A few years back Kelly found this broom shop in the foot hills of the Smoky Mountains and came home with some amazing brooms. I looked it up last year and got my brooms and now Raven and Luna have brooms from there too. I guess it's becoming a Ya-Ya tradition!


Picking out the pretties.


Trinity examines the straw.


Angelus tries one out.


Mr Ogles, third generation broom maker.



My Brooms I purchased last year.

I'm Baaack!

Two of my best Ya-Ya friends and their families came down to our family's place in Kentucky. I had a wonderful time! It was a special and memorable week in a beautiful place.

From left to right: Luna, me and Raven in the Smoky Mountains.

Remarkable photo of Raven and the black bird.

Vacation

Please excuse the inactivity, I'll be on vacation for the next week!

Nest of Comforts

A suggestion list of things needed in your Nest of Comforts from "Simple Abundance, a Day Book of Comfort and Joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It reminds me of the Gilmore Girls

May 21st: A Nest of Comforts
Soft, snug places to sit
Plump pillows to support or encourage you to take a nap
A place to put your feet up
Proper reading lamps
Plenty of bookcases
Something always on hand that's interesting, illuminating or irresistible to read
As decent a sound system as you can afford and a personal music collection that reflects your many moods
A good coffeemaker
A pretty teapot or juice squeezer
Plants and flowers to delight
Backyard furniture that beckons you to linger and a pretty garden or terrace to linger in.

Mother Goose

For every evil under the sun,
There is a remedy,
or there is none.
If there be one, seek till you find it,
if there be none, never mind it.
-Mother Goose.

Potty Tattoos

I really haven't whole-heartily started potty training Angelus, but he seems encouraged to go on the pot when he knows he is getting a tattoo reward.

Cottage of the Month

I wait on pins and needles for each new cottage of the month.

Butterflies and Fairies

My gardens are coming along great, Dad and Josh came over and helped Ed till the ground for me. I've found myself with more garden beds than I planned, so I'm adding more themes!

Butterfly Garden
Fragrant flowers that attract butterflies. I've already planted Butterfly Bush, Azalea, Phlox and Astilbe. I'm using lambs ear as the border to define the area. I've still got room for more plants, the National Gardening Association plant finder has been a tremendous help finding plants for the butterfly garden.

Fairy Garden
I was inspired by the Ann Arbor Matthaei Conservatory fairy gardens, so I've decided to add one near Angelus' Secret Garden, in front of the lilacs and surround it with alyssum. The lilac is about ready to bloom too, yeah! Here is a photo I love from last year....

I'm having so much fun with the gardens, the exercise is great too and is costing me about as much as a gym membership! hee hee!

Prune After Bloom
If flowers are the goal (and, with a lilac, is there really any other purpose?) the most important thing to keep in mind is that they bloom on the previous season's growth. So, if you were to go out and prune them in late autumn or early spring, in an attempt to “clean up” the garden, you'd be cutting off all of the potential blooms. Let the flowers bloom, enjoy their heavenly scent, and then prune away----Prune After Bloom!

After lilacs bloom, and it's safe to prune them, the most important thing to do is to deadhead them. What this means is that it is necessary to cut off the spent flowers. If you leave the spent blooms on the plant, the lilac will put most of its energy into seed production (seeds, of course, are the ultimate result of flowering) instead of making flower buds for next year. The easiest way to do this is to simply snip the blooms off after they fade. If this is the only thing you ever do to your lilac, you'll be rewarded with blooms aplenty.Read more: "How Do You Prune Lilacs? Removing Deadheads for Maximum Bloom and Rejuvenated Flowering" - Source