A Light In The Darkness

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." ~ Albus Dumbledore

Giveaway Winner

Sorry for my delay, I've been ill.

The winner of the Simple Abundance Giveaway is Crystal LunaRouge. Please e-mail me with your address at dawnATpagancenterDOTcom.

Lucky Me!

(Warning to the boys: This blog entry contains more information on breasts and vaginas than you care to know.)

I've been blessed with an abundance of gifts and treasures lately! I've won 3 blog giveaways, and my first time winning a giveaway to boot! Also, My Ya-Ya Kelly gifted me my first copy of The Secret. And let us not forget the act of random yarness from Sea Witch. These treats couldn't have come at a better time since I've been suffering from a bout of melancholy and madness. I stopped breastfeeding Angelus 2 months ago and I think my hormones are just catching up as my milk supply drys, that's the reigning theory anyway.

On to the good stuff, here is a peak at the lovelys..

Kelly writes the most whismy book inscriptions, I admire that. My handwriting is that of a serial killer and I tend to keep it simple. Kelly pours her vivacious heart out in large beautiful scrolls and I treasure every book she's given me and Angelus because of it.


I should have taken photos of the all the packages inside the tote I won from Spirit Phoenix but I opened the chocolate parcel first, ate it whole and went into a chocolate coma. There is a project I'm working on involving a mysterious little black book that was included among the parcels, more on that later.


Three clock face overlays, reminders not to be late for a very important date, are on the way to me from Forget Me Not Dreams via the Mad About Alice Party at The French Cupboard


Last, but far from least, these feminine menstrual pads from hagrag.com via Go out beneath the naked night are ADORABLE. My current ones are all so plain and one colored, now see what I have to look forward too!


This has given me an idea! Earn an extra entry in the Simple Abundance Giveaway for every reusable household item that you use instead of the conventional disposable products. Here is a list of extra entry options:

Earn an extra entry if you use...
• Cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers.
• Real dishes, cup and utensils instead of paper and plastic.
• Washable/reusable feminine products instead of disposable pads and tampons.
• Cloth napkins instead of paper towels.
• Handkerchiefs or rags instead of Kleenex.
• Reusable rags/sponges instead of paper towels, swifer pads, etc.
• You bring your own reusable grocery bags instead of using paper or plastic.

That's up to 7 extra entries! Claim your entries as separate comments here.

Dooryard Plantain

You've undoubtedly seen this pretty little idiot in your yard; known by names, Plantain is friend and foe! While many consider this a weed wreaking havoc on their lawn, it's an ugly ugly duckling waiting to be a swan. It has many medicinal uses, I find the most wonderful aspect of plantain is the abundance of it ready to be plucked for minor cuts and insect bites, and used immediately. One of it's alias is Soldier's Herb, as fresh leaved have been used on battlefields to dress wounds as a simple poultice. Tear off the leave, squish and mash it up (you can even chew it up and slip it out). Place directly on the bite or wound, ta-da! It will help with minor bleeding, pain, heat, swelling and minor allergic reactions.


As easy as it is to use plantain directly in the yard, I'm also making a tincture to keep in the bathroom.
Rinse and dry the Plantain leaves thoroughly. Dry them almost to the point of wilting, the less water in your tincture the less the chances of it spoiling.

Tear or cut the plantain leaves up and place in a jar with a good seal.

Pour apple cider vinegar over the leaves and make sure all are covered, push down any leaves that come up to the top. Shake evey couple days for a couple weeks. After a couple weeks, remove the leaves and your tincture is ready for use on minor cuts, scraps and bug bites, just dab on ya little to feel it's healing properties.

While alcohol is traditional for a tincture, apple cider vinegar can also be used. Vinegar tinctures are not as strong and may have a shorter shelf life (6 months), but with proper storage in a cool dark place and fresh young plantain leaves it works just fine.

Lately You Might Find Angelus...

Making Friends.

Playing Candyland.

Making A Wish. (Earlier this week he woke up to find a zillion of the puff ball dandelions had popped up overnight in the yard. He gasped and yelled "WISHES!!!" as if he had won the lottery. It is the wish flower season, have you made a wish yet?)

Partying likes it 1885 at Firestone Farm

Dancing with a green bucket in the yard wearing only rain boots and underwear.
Ah, to be like that of a child again.

Lately....

You Might Find Me...




• Making S'Mores on the patio.

• Feeling like Peggy Lee in Black Coffee.

• Loosing weight (over 15 pounds now).

• Watching Happy Town.

• Laying low. I'm dodging that rascal, called too much responsibility. Ya know the guy: tall, dark and overwhelming. If you see him, don't tell him where I am.

The Solitary Summer

Today began my summer read, scratching my itch for old books, I've selected The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim circa 1899. A German woman, Elizabeth, quests to spend her entire summer alone in her garden...

"'I must be by myself for once a whole summer through,' I repeated, looking round at these {gardens} with a feeling of hardly being able to bear their beauty, and the beauty of the starry sky, and the beauty of the silence and the scent--'I must be alone, so that I shall not miss one of these wonders, and have leisure really to live.'"

The book reads like a journal, dates are taken to write summaries of her solitary test and I will venture along and read as each date comes, or as close too as possible. She begins May 2nd and ends October 1st.

It's easy to place myself in Elizabeth's shoes in many ways, first that we are both novice gardeners seeking for more than just conventional placement of shrubs. Second I start this garden season and this book "alone" with hubby still working in Tennessee. While I don't expect him to be gone the whole summer, I notice the irony of my solitary nature, be it un-planned. Elizabeth's husband, who she calls The Man Of Wrath, is a lot like mine, letting her do as she pleases...

"'Very well, my dear,' replied the Man of Wrath, 'only do not grumble afterwards when you find it dull. You shall be solitary if you choose, and, as far as I am concerned, I will invite no one. It is always best to allow a woman to do as she likes if you can, and it saves a good deal of bother. To have what she desired is generally an effective punishment.'"

Lastly, Elizabeth and I share a respect for weeds..

"I have a large heart in regard to things that grow, and many a weed that would not be tolerated anywhere else is allowed to live and multiply undisturbed in my garden. They are such pretty things, some of them, such charmingly audacious things, and it is so particularly nice of them to do all their growing, and flowering, and seed-bearing without any help or any encouragement. ....They certainly look very jolly when I come out, and I rather fancy the dandelions dig each other in their little ribs when they see me, and whisper, 'Here comes Elizabeth; she's a good sort, ain't she?'--for of course dandelions do not express themselves very elegantly.

But nettles are not to be tolerated."

I'm trying something new, writing notes in the margins ::gasp:: don't freak, I'll use pencil, and besides I'm not the first. The previous owners also wrote in the front translating a french passage.

What will you be reading this summer? Would you like a more modern suggestion? The Three Sisters Island Trilogy by Nora Roberts is one of my favorites. I'm also reading The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, another good summer selection. All of the above feed my affliction that prevents me from reading a book out of season. If the books takes place during the summer, it should be read during the summer. Happy Reading!

Beauty Evermore

"The fair maid who, the first of May
Goes to the fields at break of day
And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree
Will ever after handsome be."
~ Mother Goose

Since I don't have a Hawthorn Tree, I prefer the blooming Lilac. I walk, the evening before, barefoot along the grass and place a saucer or bowl under lilac tree.

When I opened my back door this morning the first thing to greet me was the scent of the lilac tree, I knew I was in luck! Last night we had a thunderstorm. The collection in my saucer was charged with electricity and purfumed with lilcas.

Even Angelus says every little bit helps, and proceeds to mimic Mommy washing his face with the dew from the flowers and leaves. Ahh refreshing!

The collection from my oversized saucer is put into a glass jar long with any drops I can manage from the leaves.

The collection of dew became part of this mornings beauty ritual.

Wine and Horehound

I just had a wonderful yesterday with my Ya-Ya Raven.

We took the petite Ya-Ya's to the park for a picnic.

On the menu:
Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pasta Salad, Cheese and Crackers, Grapes and Wine (for us).


Trinity on her first swing ride with her Mommy, Raven.

Part of the day was spent gardening; preparing a new bed for Raven and visiting a local greenhouse in her area. I was pleased to find a strange assortment of plants that I've only heard about before. One that I purchased was Horehound (above) use in the 'craft to break spells and well known medicinally for coughs.