tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78551775903934765232024-03-13T16:46:09.385-07:00Stuff n' NonsenseRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-30184418642649718282013-03-25T06:43:00.002-07:002013-03-25T06:43:25.009-07:00Where has Spring got to?Ok, today is March 25th 2013, and the weather, even for the UK is atrocious!<br />
This time last year it was lovely and warm, people were out on the beach, or in their gardens, all enjoying the sunshine. <br />
<br />
Not this year.<br />
This year is just one never-ending winter.<br />
<br />
I shouldn't complain, after all, I live in the south-east, where we supposedly get better weather than the rest of the country. And compared to a lot of places, we have had it easy; a smattering of the white stuff on the grass and pavements, but the roads are clear, and we are not butied up to our necks in it. We also have been spared the floods that other parts have had.<br />
This Friday is Good Friday, and the schools break up for the 2 week Easter hols. Evidently this crap weather is going to last into the holidays, so I'm not happy. Not that I'm going anywhere - chance would be a fine thing! - but it would be nice to anticipate sitting in the garden, basking in warm sunshine whilst listening to the sound of water pumping around the small fish pond. Instead I'll probably be stuck indoors, apart from venturing out for food supplies.<br />
<br />
I haven't blogged for a while, so have taken the opportunity, whilst in the library at one of <em>their </em>computers, to write a few lines (my laptop is dead and I can't really do any writing on my Blackberry! My other half, Dave, is currently trying to revive one of our old, and I mean old, desk-top computers. If he can get it working it has internet and Word on it, so I will have no excuse not to blog, or to actually get on with my writing. Yes, I could write my stories long-hand, but it's easier to type. Truth be told, I'm probably too lazy to consider writing by hand and then bringing my stuff to the library to get typed up! <br />
<br />
And the thing with blogging is that I can just ramble about anything, and <em>it means I'm actually writing something</em>. Yay!<br />
<br />
Anyway I only have about 20 minutes left on here - you only get an hour - so I'm going to surf the web! At 2.30 it's the Ingatestone Coffee and Crime Reading Group. I love being part of it, we have such a good laugh and the conversation usually turns smutty pretty fast. You wouldn't believe that most of the members are in their 60's and over! (I'm actually a youngster in this group, at 49!).<br />
<br />
Am signing off now from Stuff N' Nonsense -<br />
<br />
Till next time,<br />
<br />
Ro.Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-68949797408690756372012-10-07T13:38:00.001-07:002012-11-17T13:10:56.038-08:00Hello to Halloween!Today my daughter and myself bought some Halloween decorations - window stickers, and 3 ceramic pumpkin candle holders.<br />
<br />
We came home and immediately Cara put up the window stickers - bats, ghosts, flying witches, tombstones, haunted houses,etc.<br />
<br />
When later on, my mum phoned and I told her, she thought we were mad! "It's not Halloween yet!" <br />
<br />
So what? We don't wait until December 25th to put up our Christmas decorations, so why should Halloween be any different?<br />
<br />
The outdoors will be decorated on October 31st, but until then, more will appear inside our magickal, witchy home!<br />
<br />
Blessings, Ro.Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-34165806168752107842011-12-28T12:12:00.000-08:002011-12-28T12:12:35.777-08:00What's Going On?Testing testing ...<br />
<br />
My blog page appeared on Twitter - think it happened when tried to post the link to my twitter profile, but not sure! Now I get a weird whitish page (admittedly with Ro Jordan on it) coming up when I want to look at my blog, but can't get to my proper page unless through <strong style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px;">wwwblog-beast</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">.blogspot.com.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">Will see what happens now ...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #388222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">Think I screwed up when trying to change look of background, and don't know how to get back to normal. If anyone sees this and has any idea what I've done, please tell me, and tell me how to put it right - I'm so confused!!!!!!!!1 </span>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-79511724807577419292011-11-03T05:36:00.000-07:002011-11-03T05:36:23.108-07:00Hello out there!<br />
<br />
Just a quick blog to report that I finally moved out of Navestock Side aka 'the middle of nowhere', and am now living in the lovely village of Ingatestone. We are still getting the house straight, and awaiting he arrival of our new sofa's early December. <br />
<br />
The weather has been incredibly mild for the time of year, which suits me fine, as I'm averse to cold conditions! Not too happy to hear a severe winter is on the way though ...<br />
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We decorated the front of the house for Halloween, and only got 2 trick or treaters! Will have to advertise next year! We're tucked away, in a little alcove off the high street, so don't think anyone realised!<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's all for now - need to go and replenish the kitchen cupboards!<br />
<br />
Ro. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-52697763824139971732010-02-03T11:10:00.000-08:002010-02-03T11:10:00.301-08:00In memory of MichaelFollowing on from my last post, I think another reason I felt compelled to write what I did, was because unknowingly at that time, a dear friend of ours took his own life. He had been the victim of antisocial behaviour from his neighbours, and obviously couldn't take any more. He had complained repeatedly to the council, who took the word of the rest of them against him. He was afraid to go home - there had been no physical violence - just the threat of it - and it all combined to unhinge his mind to the point where he was convinced he had been fitted with a tracking device so they could watch his every move and 'get him' as he put it. The last time we saw him was just prior to Christmas - and then he disappeared. It was assumed he was sleeping rough, as despite frequent checks at his flat, there was no answer and never any lights on. When we asked the police and missing persons helpline for assistance we were told they could do nothing because we weren't relatives. Ironically it was the nasty neighbours themselves who alerted the police when they said there was a bad smell coming from his flat - that would have been about 5 weeks after Mick finally decided to end it all, and nobody knew because they wouldn't take notice of his friends who weren't family. Yet when Mick approached his BROTHER for help he was told to 'fuck off'.<br />
<br />
Never mind, Mick, you're at peace now. No-one can hurt you.<br />
God bless.<br />
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-69311290422510050512010-01-30T11:32:00.000-08:002010-01-30T11:32:20.097-08:00A New YearHi folks, and wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy New Year! It's sad but true that it won't be either for some people - and unfortunately that's what you get for living on the physical plane. I try to view life as a learning process where sometimes the lessons are great fun and at others, they're just bloody awful and you can't wait for the bell to ring so you can go home! Now <em>there's</em> an analogy that makes me think of the poor souls who are so distraught that they take their own life. Whilst in my head I don't agree with this drastic way of ending a troubled life, it makes my heart ache for those who feel there is no other recourse. And who knows what any of us would do if we were to find ourselves in such a precarious position? A position of fear of not being able to cope with whatever we feel life is going to throw at us next. And that fear can show itself in many forms - financial, physical, romantic, social, spiritual, and many others. In all these areas I think we each need to feel that we are in 'a good place', and if there is a serious defecit in one it upsets the whole balance. It can be hard to see things from someone elses point of view if that particular area of your own life has never been affected in a negative way. Sympathy could be found for those who take such drastic action if we apply our own thoughts and actions of part of our own life's journey where we have felt at the end of our tether, and then apply that feeling to others. In my drama/theatre studies I learnt that what triggers a particular emotion for one person will have the opposite or no effect on another - to get the same 'feeling' you have to push a different button, so to speak. What I'm trying to say, if rather long-winded, is that at the end of the day<em>, the emotions that are felt in desperate times are the same for everyone regardless of the event/events that caused it</em>. Thank you if you've read this far; I didn't intend it to go this way, and have even left a couple of weeks after beginning this line of thinking to see if it would go - but it won't. For some reason I've felt compelled to write about this. I believe we are all connected on an invisible web, and that maybe one of you will read this and pass the thoughts to someone who has lost a loved one and is unable to understand <em>why. </em><br />
<br />
Blessings to all.<br />
<br />
Now! Ironically, I was tagged by a couple of friends, to name ten things that don't cost money, that I'm grateful for - I think that was the gist of it - it's taken me so long to get on with this that can't remember the exact wording! Anyway, here goes:<br />
<br />
1. My family. It hasn't always been an easy relationship, particularly with my Mum, but ever since someone suggested that there was no point dissing her for not being the maternal mom I thought she <em>should</em> be, to accept that maybe it was a simple fact that she <em>couldn't</em> be - for whatever reason. The moment I thought about it my heart instantly unlocked, and now we have such a good relationship. I can honestly say that I really and truly <em>love</em> my Mum, and I know that she loves me too! The one who gave me this gift did not know at the time how priceless it was. I told him later, and he knows he has my eternal gratitude! <br />
<br />
2. Planet Earth for providing me with a home in the material world.<br />
<br />
3. Inventors, past and present. They all take the building blocks of creation and mould it them into different things that make our lives easier.<br />
<br />
4. Authors for writing their novels which give me hours of pleasure, and no, I'm not talking about erotic fiction!<br />
<br />
5. All those involved in film and theatre.<br />
<br />
6. The animal and plant kingdoms - esp. small furry things!<br />
<br />
7. Hot English summers. Not something we get very often over here!<br />
<br />
8. The sound of music - <em>not</em> the film of the same name, though!<br />
<br />
9. My personal spiritual experiences. They serve to remind me that we are indeed eternal beings with a past and a future!<br />
<br />
10. The gift of humour - nuff said!<br />
<br />
No pics this time - just the message.<br />
<br />
Blessings everyone, till next time!<br />
Ro.Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-89572262597168761052009-12-20T11:28:00.000-08:002009-12-20T11:28:08.467-08:00New Blog NameHave decided to change blog name from Gramarye to Bitchin' Witch! The reason for this is that I don't always<em> feel </em>all goody two shoes, airy fairy and mystical! I would love to be one of those wonderful, otherworldy, interesting looking people who sail calmly through life with a beautific smile on my face parting words of spiritual wisdom. My reality however, is quite a different matter! I have a volcanic temper, and am not adverse to using <em>extremely</em> bad language when someone pisses me off - usually so that anyone with me is covering their mouth to stop themselves from laughing, and thinking <em>I can't believe she said that!</em> <br />
<br />
I'm <em>so</em> into the <em>look</em> of the thing - a cross between gothic witch Nancy, from the movie <em>The Craft</em> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JXm9n211avjpgJx53yViP5XxXwRE0Oh9oQEUAe7mYY4m78T5VPVwxkJRDC3gKSEPucPpgZ6N5AX9ILwCqziHcG-RxkaSoWTxzm307vn0I4lyLt17xdystJ7Nogcg__KuHrtO1-5JRPIk/s1600-h/the-craft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JXm9n211avjpgJx53yViP5XxXwRE0Oh9oQEUAe7mYY4m78T5VPVwxkJRDC3gKSEPucPpgZ6N5AX9ILwCqziHcG-RxkaSoWTxzm307vn0I4lyLt17xdystJ7Nogcg__KuHrtO1-5JRPIk/s320/the-craft.jpg" /></a><br />
and the more traditional hedgewitch, brewing her potions in a cauldron on her kitchen stove! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHvwN_KVoJIR_lrm_ZwEZRwKf67TESkVnHDkjHWmVho48h7_OKpIHTWesdJmrPmsHOMVnAoxjgfYSoRVzQ-L0LXnffDtrjIX9w9IcRKZSiDXXt0fsAOlKUBQdWCDMLsfltefyjwaK54pM/s1600-h/wise-eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHvwN_KVoJIR_lrm_ZwEZRwKf67TESkVnHDkjHWmVho48h7_OKpIHTWesdJmrPmsHOMVnAoxjgfYSoRVzQ-L0LXnffDtrjIX9w9IcRKZSiDXXt0fsAOlKUBQdWCDMLsfltefyjwaK54pM/s320/wise-eyes.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
When we moved in to our house in rural Essex (obviously I named <em>her </em>- Gramarye<em> -</em> meaning 'magic and enchantment') I hoped to transform into the latter. Unfortunately for me, like the late, great John Lennon said, <em>life is what happens when you're busy making other plans!</em> Hence my reversion to the 'me' I can't seem to erase! What that is exactly, I can't quite put into words. Although, a few years ago, I got sent one of these text things on my phone, and you had to forward it to your friends, asking them to describe you in one word. A friend I made at university texted back <em>wild</em>, while another wrote <em>fey</em>. They seem rather contradictory- just like me - obviously the Libran thing going on here! Anyway, John Lennon was a Libran (9 Oct) and he was into mystical stuff as well as being a bit of a rebel; leading peace rallies and so forth - even that in itself is a contradiction - so I feel I'm in good company!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LMCaOVvNm1En1U6l4315JSXH8LpIugnHkydyotW_R1_iMTmBNUlxiX0OzprNH9t9TGUjFM5fyMzYRSf7mx0J04ct02A9OqHUHdm1NoyFC9DIPirK3676eeI9mq1P85uq66skpFJ4klOD/s1600-h/beatles-john-lennon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LMCaOVvNm1En1U6l4315JSXH8LpIugnHkydyotW_R1_iMTmBNUlxiX0OzprNH9t9TGUjFM5fyMzYRSf7mx0J04ct02A9OqHUHdm1NoyFC9DIPirK3676eeI9mq1P85uq66skpFJ4klOD/s320/beatles-john-lennon.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> <br />
Anyway, so that's where I'm at with my blog. I want it to be a forum for anyone who reads it to pop in and say what's going on in their own life - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly - don't hold back - let it all out!<br />
<br />
With that,<br />
Welcome to the Bitchin' Witch! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5Q1t_IzUlHJ3_YH6aF32NGEq1JPMZf6QhyphenhyphenVNlMViqAKsaPjNMhBzG1uLLOHutDTsnrnwlIFXdHeiAAD0r_pS6CDPI-qrilgTBgl6-Zaipoc0NoMRZa5Da8VDSBBOEeZSuyDWhHGTN3c/s1600-h/995290158_9229681083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSC5Q1t_IzUlHJ3_YH6aF32NGEq1JPMZf6QhyphenhyphenVNlMViqAKsaPjNMhBzG1uLLOHutDTsnrnwlIFXdHeiAAD0r_pS6CDPI-qrilgTBgl6-Zaipoc0NoMRZa5Da8VDSBBOEeZSuyDWhHGTN3c/s320/995290158_9229681083.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Well, there's no time like the present, and it's now less than a week to Christmas Day. Are you ready? Have you bought all your prezzies and wrapped them up? Well if you have - good on you. Have I? Have I f***!<br />
After finally wrapping the last of the presents on Christmas Eve <em>every year</em>, I promise myself to start shopping early for next time. And do I? What do <em>you</em> think? I mean, my promise is made with the best of intentions, but then all the bloody bills get in the way, don't they? And just when you <em> think</em> you're going to go and pick up some nice things for Christmas, what do you think happens? The poxy tumble dryer packs up, that's what happens. In this house anyway. And, <em>then,</em> oh, yes, it gets better - you phone up the number on your insurance policy, only to find that because the bastards' <em>forgot </em>to remind you it was up for renewal only the month before, you're no longer insured, <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKuFUBbAnSJqAAbBoA0Og1BQqTbnowt0VRPS9sHsTqTEPMZpDk907EHpl_6ykApO_2EF2fu57eghY09VF5K4yg3hPYZFHfpAvAY50uG98HUaGduojcAH9wHdjhyphenhyphenRLimeN4SdLIuRW0zqi/s1600-h/2199355153_f027d9eb71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKuFUBbAnSJqAAbBoA0Og1BQqTbnowt0VRPS9sHsTqTEPMZpDk907EHpl_6ykApO_2EF2fu57eghY09VF5K4yg3hPYZFHfpAvAY50uG98HUaGduojcAH9wHdjhyphenhyphenRLimeN4SdLIuRW0zqi/s320/2199355153_f027d9eb71.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
but you can call someone out for £100 - and that's just to take a look at the thing and tell you what's wrong with it! So, clutching my bit of extra money close to my heart, we kindly refuted the offer, and called out a lovely bloke from the local repair shop for £35. Luckily it turned out all that had happened was that water had got onto the element and caused a short (that had been enough to wack out all our electric every time we tried to start up the dryer). It was easily rectified with a blast of hot air from my hairdryer, and <em>voila! </em>we were up and running again! The total cost was £43 - the call-out plus vat. So it's 'up yours' to Domestic and General! <br />
<br />
Back to the prezzie question - luckily we managed to get about half of them for our two bambini - I say luckily, because my mom (who lives in the West Midlands) posted a cheque which took a week to arrive! Anyone would think it was posted from the other side of the world! Mind you, the British postal service - or should that be <em>none-</em>service? - leaves a lot (of mislaid post) to be desired. To add insult to injury, when the cheque was banked, we were told it may not clear until Christmas Eve. What bloody good is that to me???? I'll be running around like a headless f****** chicken and still not get it done, because all the bloody shops'll close early! The best I can offer the bambini is a possible <em>two</em> grand openings of prezzies, but they're not looking very impressed, so fingers crossed that the cheque clears in time for me to hit the shops!<br />
Well, I think that's enough ranting for now,<br />
<br />
A happy and stress-free Christmas to you all,<br />
<br />
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</div><br />
lotsa luv,<br />
<br />
Ro.<br />
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-30687493603838276742009-10-05T07:25:00.000-07:002009-10-05T07:25:34.395-07:00Making a Pentacle from Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XqVhY6ZWTQRR3EDyCIdwxn7lVyerCGhUULiqfJVNpd6Ax_KsgAWWS9e7BOUG6MzmKFM-UFebc_MsKhySbLkfefnX0CESnoBEK29l9nZGxiqT8OrS0ucBoa2e2j6-VJsO_5hQTZVx8h9i/s1600-h/blog+pics+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XqVhY6ZWTQRR3EDyCIdwxn7lVyerCGhUULiqfJVNpd6Ax_KsgAWWS9e7BOUG6MzmKFM-UFebc_MsKhySbLkfefnX0CESnoBEK29l9nZGxiqT8OrS0ucBoa2e2j6-VJsO_5hQTZVx8h9i/s320/blog+pics+001.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Many years ago when I lived in Morecambe I frequented a shop called Magenta. It was a typical 'witchy' shop selling crystals, incense, tarot cards, and all other magical effects. Elaine, whose shop it was, was very gifted at crafting her own goods, each with her unique designs. Just before we moved back down south, Elaine had shown me some leaves that she had preserved in a glycerine solution - mainly as an experiment to see how they turned out. I saw the finished results, and decided that my first project of that nature would be a pentacle. As you can see from the photo, I managed ok, and my pentacle has adorned my homes over the past ten years, and showed no sign of deterioration!<br />
The 'recipe' below is for anyone who wishes to try it out for themselves.<br />
<br />
Willow branch - long enough for circle<br />
Willow branches for fixing inside in a pentacle shape<br />
Copper wire - thin - to hold willow circle together and to attach ivy at various points<br />
Ivy from hedgerows - as long as you can get - discard any 'dodgy' leaves!<br />
Solution: 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water<br />
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Mix the solution and put in a large deep container - an empty kitchen swing bin minus the lid is a good idea, and one I wish I'd thought of at the time! Use own judgement on how much you need - but you can always top it up - the ivy is quite thirsty and will soak up the mixture, hence preserving the leaves! I think I left the ivy in for about 2/3 days - you can tell when it's done as the leaves take on a waxy appearance.<br />
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Bend the willow into a circle and secure with the fine copper wire. Willow is ideal because it bends but doesn't break. <br />
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It's a bit of a pain getting the other willow branches into the pentacle shape and securing them, and to be honest I can't remember how I did it - suffice to say though, that if <em>I</em> managed it, anyone can do it!<br />
<br />
Once you have your 'frame' in place it's just a matter of wrapping the ivy around and securing again with the copper wire, and voila!<br />
<br />
My pentacle is the only project I ever undertook, but now I have more time on my hands (children at school, self finished university course!) I intend to try out some more designs. There's something very satisfying about making your own decorations, especially from nature's gifts. I'm not particularly gifted when it comes to crafts, but when it works it's great! At the moment I'm knitting a pair of socks! The pattern is on 2 needles, so is quite easy! Have finished the first one, and made a start on it's mate. Will post the evidence when complete!<br />
<br />
Till next time,<br />
Ro.<br />
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-33757255622810921682009-09-10T14:24:00.000-07:002009-09-10T14:27:17.790-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0FXJrLJ6-1EYNSHoElZRJX9qG-7NFspZon-xlIjCRyhJeWsJQ6Bq8ykG2mCXu_VsZm1K25JHnaWr1b2MUonaxV-YFuQG8pmJspdd5OUkgvsP6OWHInEnH2VB6hxj4idKjPDd4jeDyhm8/s1600-h/blog+pics+010.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379953184269641090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0FXJrLJ6-1EYNSHoElZRJX9qG-7NFspZon-xlIjCRyhJeWsJQ6Bq8ykG2mCXu_VsZm1K25JHnaWr1b2MUonaxV-YFuQG8pmJspdd5OUkgvsP6OWHInEnH2VB6hxj4idKjPDd4jeDyhm8/s320/blog+pics+010.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-44388270564205154712009-09-10T13:38:00.000-07:002009-09-10T14:19:42.031-07:00Last of the Plums!Summer is definately on the wane, and the plum season is also coming to an end. There was an article in our local paper, the Brentwood Gazette, the other week, about how the supermarket chains were buying foreign plums because they were so much cheaper. Meanwhile, all the English plums were literally going to waste.<br /><br />One of my neighbours has 2 Victoria Plum trees in her garden. Last year, she got 2 plums - this year, there have been so many, she has been unable to use them all, and kindly requested that I help myself to as many as I wanted. Over the following fortnight I harvested these lovely fruits, until last week, when it became obvious that this years plentiful supply had finally run it's course.<br /><br />I froze the best of them - laid out on a baking tray in the freezer (so they wouldn't stick together!) before transfering to a freezer bag, with the aim of enjoying them during the winter months ahead.<br /><br />The few that were unsuitable for freezing I made into a Plum Crumble. I have to say, it was absolutely delicious with custard! As a thank you to Pam, I took a bowl of crumble round to her house, which she assured me later she had really enjoyed.<br /><br />Pam now lives on her own, and said that since her husband passed over last year, she doesn't do any baking for herself, as there's always too much and it inevitably gets wasted. I decided there and then, that when I make my next pie/pudding, etc; that I will take some to Pam. I love baking, but despite having four of us in the house, there's only me that likes such puddings (notice, I don't say 'desserts'! - that sounds so wishy-washy - nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned pudding!!!!) - and I always end up with more than I can eat. This way, both of us can benefit - I enjoy baking them, and we can both share pleasure in the eating!<br /><br />More than anything, I realized how little effort it takes to share some of our natural wealth with those who are living alone, either unable or uninterested to prepare home-made delights for themselves. To put a portion of a baking enterprise to one side for someone else can be a lovely heartfelt gift - share the love!<br /><br />On that note, I'll sign off now -<br /><br />Sharing my love -<br /><br />Till next time -<br /><br />Ro<br /><br />xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-32067721354370740902009-08-23T11:40:00.000-07:002009-08-23T12:10:58.358-07:00Prosperity Pumpkin SpellThis is from Halloween Spells, Customs, and Recipes by Silver Ravenwolf, 2000, Llewellyn Publications, St.Paul, MN, USA.<br /><br />1 small (not miniature) pumkin<br />The amount of money you need, written on a piece of plain white paper in green ink (try not to request large amounts - what we want is not necessarily what we need!)<br />1 bag of fresh soil<br />7 silver coins<br />7 pumpkin seeds from this pumpkin<br />7 ounces rain water or water from a stream or the sea (no tap or bottled)<br />Pencil<br /><br />Cut the top off the pumpkin in a scallop design (to aid in the flow of money.) Clean out the pumpkin. Keep 7 seeds. Place pumpkin in the fridge until Halloween Eve.<br /><br />One-half hour before Halloween Eve (not after), bring out the pumpkin, the piece of paper with the amount you need written on it, the soil, coins, seeds, and the water. Place the paper in the bottom of the pumkin. Add the soil. With the end of the pencil, make seven holes in the soil in a circular pattern, about an inch apart. Hold the first coin in your hand and think about the amount of money you need. Visualize this need entering the coin. With the pencil, push the first coin in the hole that coincides with 12 o'clock. Follow the same procedure, clockwise, with the other six coins.<br /><br />Starting at 12 o'clock and going clockwise, pour 1 ounce of water into each hole. Think of your prosperity as you pour the water into each hole. When you are ready, hold your hands over the pumpkin and say:<br /><br />One coin for beginnings<br />One coin for drawing<br />One coin for growth<br />One coin for stability<br />One coin for banishing negativity<br />One coin for luck<br />One coin to seal the spell<br />So mote it be!<br /><br />Bury the pumkin outside on your property the following night one-half hour before midnight (no later).<br /><br /><br /><br />Well there you go! I have done money spells before - and yes, they DO work - but have never tried this one. Now I know what I'll be getting up to this Halloween! If you try this and get a result, let me know!<br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />Ro<br /><br />xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-53984108195758097882009-08-22T12:11:00.000-07:002009-08-22T12:30:56.701-07:00Same blog - different name!Decided to change blog name to Gramarye. After all, that is what I have named our house, and the main focus of my blogging is to do with what it says under the title: Magic, Nature, and Spirituality!<br /><br />The word itself has its origin in medieval English, where the word 'grammar' was often used instead of 'latin'. Thus, a grammar school was a place you went to learn Latin. Seeing as the priests of the time, who were obviously well-learned, undertook their rituals in Latin, ordinary folk, unable to read or write, linked the rituals and the language with unearthly power. Therefore, 'gramarye' meant both 'grammar' as in the formation of sentences and learning, while also carrying the idea of occult knowledge.<br /><br />As I've said before, I came across the name in James Herbert's book 'The Magic Cottage', and it was from that moment that I yearned for a magic cottage of my own! I never expected to get my wish, but when the wish became a reality I knew that for the first time ever, my home would have it's own name - Gramarye.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with having dreams, however unrealistic they may seem to others. Our dreams are the power behind every action we take to attempt to fill our ideals. And if we hold on tight to those dreams, no matter how difficult the terrain, sometimes, just sometimes, they come true!<br /><br />Love and blessings, <br /><br />Ro<br /><br />xxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-14532702427001051732009-08-16T12:18:00.000-07:002009-08-16T12:40:19.305-07:00Into the WildernessWe have a front and a back garden - the front was okay, but the back, well, it looked more like a tip than a garden!<br />The former tenants son used to plough it - yes, you read that right! - there's lots of ooo aar farming people round here! - but failed to tidy up before he moved out!<br />It was full of deep holes, so the bambini couldn't play in it, in case they broke an ankle, and the ground also housed annoying slabs of concrete, house bricks, and tractor parts!<br />We did our best, but after the fourth lawnmower, and second strimmer died a death, we gave up and told the council to come and sort it out! Everyone we knew said we'd never get the council to deal with the garden, but we eventually did. The council tried to say that we took it on as seen when we accepted the tenancy, but we argued that because it was so overgrown, the extent of the horrors lurking beneath had remained unseen until the first mowing! I also pointed out that the average council tenant is not expected to be in possession of the agricultural equipment to rectify a garden in such need! Our then 14 yr old daughter wrote a letter to them, begging them to do something so that her and her younger brother would have somewhere to play. And the rest is history - they came, they rotivated, they levelled, they seeded, they went away!<br />All this just goes to prove that sometimes, if you stand your (rocky!) ground, refuse to take any crap from any 'authority', and fight your corner - that you can indeed emerge victorious!<br />Well, that's all for now,<br />Keep on keeping on!<br />Blessings,<br />Ro<br />xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxRowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-73640895509449656342009-08-09T13:26:00.000-07:002009-08-09T13:44:52.827-07:00So, the list of work that was carried out on our little house:-<br /><br />a LOT of replastering of walls!<br />Total redecoration<br />Bathroom converted in to a 'wet' room (shower room in other words!)<br /><br />The tiny kitchen - with <em>one</em> cupboard (remember, there were 4 of us!) extended into what had previously been the tiniest dining room I have ever seen! All the kitchens had been extended in these houses a couple of years before, except this one as the elderly lady who lived here could not have coped with the mess and upheaval, bless her - but did the council do the job when the house was empty? NO! That would have been too easy! So we suffered it for 18 months! Our first Christmas was a <em>disaster!</em> There was absolutely no room to move and no work surfaces on which to serve up the dinner! Also, Gramarye is exposed to the elements on 3 sides, and in winter is <em>absolutely freezing</em>! Our energy bills are astronomical! Anyway on this first Christmas Day, to add insult to injury, the thermostat was <em>in the kitchen!</em> So, because the kitchen was so hot with the oven being on, the thermostat turned the heating off! I WAS NOT A HAPPY BUNNY!!! And I vowed I would NEVER go through that again! (Although I did - once more, in 2007)! So, when everyone got new boilers, we had the thermostat relocated to on the stairs, and as mentioned, we eventually got our kitchen!<br /><br />The other work we had to fight for, was for the garden at the back to be rotivated. When we moved in, it was very overgrown, and the true nature of what lay beneath was not visible ...<br /><br />more to follow, as my darling son wants to use the computer!Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-89136439798682077942009-08-07T16:02:00.000-07:002009-08-07T16:04:44.804-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CYUbsSlGhI-KJ-6W8b5IYZFbcmyI0X6w9_EtyTW3YZrSpiyw-ZURAC5TLnX00YAp3GSu4YU2piiIt5CqJRqYCBuVhMiYXQou30vRXGzaj_fR0JmignakNBxxwkm1hq-TSid1nUWKUD_B/s1600-h/My+Phone+pics+341.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367361596462832866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CYUbsSlGhI-KJ-6W8b5IYZFbcmyI0X6w9_EtyTW3YZrSpiyw-ZURAC5TLnX00YAp3GSu4YU2piiIt5CqJRqYCBuVhMiYXQou30vRXGzaj_fR0JmignakNBxxwkm1hq-TSid1nUWKUD_B/s320/My+Phone+pics+341.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Leo in his Egyptian pose!</div>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-92147361649447557072009-08-07T15:23:00.000-07:002009-08-07T15:24:27.056-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ1mRwwKkLfp80PIaRGQ6Abq7JQifS12yy5-4SixX3DK6k1f9aC1TmZS10yBRGaZy5_QounZhgh3jPSQXgHk2mucGV2dVI7KSmYtZoCQYm79E66s1kLupU-cuvPISlHcwk1Sm6tMuVEW4/s1600-h/family+friends+etc+018.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367351255945457202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ1mRwwKkLfp80PIaRGQ6Abq7JQifS12yy5-4SixX3DK6k1f9aC1TmZS10yBRGaZy5_QounZhgh3jPSQXgHk2mucGV2dVI7KSmYtZoCQYm79E66s1kLupU-cuvPISlHcwk1Sm6tMuVEW4/s320/family+friends+etc+018.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Oh deer!!!!</div>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-37556413037666719022009-08-07T15:22:00.000-07:002009-08-07T15:23:22.483-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHtwgs5JikTvtzVDXg-TH83Gl6TxqVOyVq6gugUi4MeidV10OES7EpbJlECUySBmIc4axm8QZqgMSh0H2h9Qq2_a2LIzhWY_8KobfWy-if3eDjGwE_iDHwtXccFM0yodr08gTL8OjBNDH/s1600-h/family+friends+etc+028.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367350962417871218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHtwgs5JikTvtzVDXg-TH83Gl6TxqVOyVq6gugUi4MeidV10OES7EpbJlECUySBmIc4axm8QZqgMSh0H2h9Qq2_a2LIzhWY_8KobfWy-if3eDjGwE_iDHwtXccFM0yodr08gTL8OjBNDH/s320/family+friends+etc+028.jpg" /></a><br /><div>View of field from back garden.</div>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-82294293436898234322009-08-07T15:16:00.000-07:002009-08-07T15:18:28.957-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZR1HxdBG4dNerMMrpN47_mymaIPHLAqHoJK2H-IjWS3Ub5LT-nFbq9z-yQf4oNM-Fbu5Hidwa4-Hp8vGauJ5fgni6HL4XN5278f-ZFgHQ6tOU-qcmWs5DWUGwVv7PlG7SflZfaGRBpQ6/s1600-h/family+friends+etc+017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367349484896355170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZR1HxdBG4dNerMMrpN47_mymaIPHLAqHoJK2H-IjWS3Ub5LT-nFbq9z-yQf4oNM-Fbu5Hidwa4-Hp8vGauJ5fgni6HL4XN5278f-ZFgHQ6tOU-qcmWs5DWUGwVv7PlG7SflZfaGRBpQ6/s320/family+friends+etc+017.jpg" /></a> One of our cats - Pickle - posing as usual!<br /><div></div>Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855177590393476523.post-67915236107966611382009-08-07T13:07:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:41:01.525-07:00Life in t'country!After years of dreaming of having a little house in the country, surrounded by nature, with a couple of cat 'familiars' for company, I finally got my wish in August 2006, when we needed to move from our 2 bed maisonette to a 3 bed house. Unbelievably the council offered us this farmers cottage, which we promptly snapped up! Where we were was convenient for the town centre, transport, schools, etc; but when you have chavs smoking their dope in the sheds next to your place, and the fragrant aroma is wafting up into your children's bedroom, and one of said chavs takes a piss outside the shed area, so that a hot stream of wee coasts down the ramp and past your front door - we were glad to leave it all behind!<br /><br />We named our little cottage Gramarye. I always loved that name after reading it in James Herbert's novel The Magic Cottage - in fact, I think that's probably what initiated my dream.<br />Gramarye had not had any work done on it for years, and as the lady who showed us round on that swelteringly hot day in early August said, it needed a lot of TLC. Well, it certainly got plenty of that! It took an awful lot of badgering the council to do major work that should have been undertaken <em>before </em>we moved in.<br /><br />Anyway, it's Friday night, I've just poured my glass of red wine, and am going to veg out in front of the telly!<br /><br />To be continued...Rowena Jordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15867929881130314874noreply@blogger.com1