Le Mysterieux Carnival

I'm late in the game but this was too much fun to pass up. I already have an idea for my ticket! As for the booth, that will take some thinking...hmm

Alaska and the Ren Faire

So I’m in Alaska!
Actually, I’ve been in a Alaska for about 4 weeks now, sorry for not blogging but I don’t have internet at the campground we’re currently staying at >.<

Spring has sprung here in AK. All around Anchorage dandelions, lupine, forget-me-nots and a little white flower I’ve yet to identify are in bloom. Sadly my camera is broken and I’ve yet to get another one so I can’t show you the beauty all around me…yet!

I’ve done a lot since we’ve been here though. I’ve learned to crochet, got a job as a Front Desk receptionist at a local hotel, been out harvesting wild edibles, had close encounters with moose and black bear (and lived), and I’ve been to the Anchorage Renaissance Fair!

I know, it’s a lot for 3…4 weeks, right?

There’s so much to talk about but for now I just want to tell you about the Anchorage Renaissance Festival.

The Three Barons Renaissance Fair is not as big as some of the other fairs I’ve been to but it was very well laid out and each area seems to be designated to the 3 barons – 1 from Italy, 1 from England, and 1 Moorish Baron. There was plenty of entertainment from the Circus of the Damned to the Alchemist’s Magic Show and tons of vendors from blacksmiths (one was a cutie in a kilt) to the local wenches guild to food galore.

I was very impressed.

One of my first stops was at a vendor booth called Hedgewitchery (surprised?). The owner, Brend M. Beck, was a welcoming lady who was dressed as a peasant herbwife and going about her business making tinctures and liniments in the shop window. She was surrounded by dried herbs and her wares – soaps, liniments, salves and teas.

She welcomed us to the fair and to Alaska and we talked about local herbs in the area and how it compared to Tennessee. She then invited me to a class she’s teaching next month on local plants and herbs – I’ll post the information when she gives it to me ^_^

Another vendor I stopped at was The Renaissance Raven (www.renraven.com). Darlene Cullor is a jewelry artist who specializes in creating “Torch & Kiln Fired Enamels, Repousse, and all times of metals: sterling, copper, Brass.” She had so many beautiful pieces, I was depressed at not having much cash on me to buy a leather rose for a hair piece or any of the other jewelry there.

The vendor that I had the most fun with is definitely the International Wenches Guild – Alaska Local chapter. These bawdy and friendly ladies were offering a variety of items from hand-made masks to moss covered fairy houses to beaded jewelry. While I browsed I heard one of the ladies call out to a scalawag passing by teasingly then turn to another wench and state that she had received a hug from him earlier and he was by far one of the cutest young men here at the fair.

I got a card from them and want to share its statement:

What is the wenches guild? – a loose (not necessarily literally) yet powerful confederation of women who share beliefs:

• ·         A wench is not afraid to stand on her own
• ·         A wench is beautiful, regardless of size, shape, or color
• ·         A wench is unafraid to use body, brains and brawn to get what she wants
• ·         A wench doesn’t need anyone to tell her how to live, love, look or dress

For more information, or if you think you or someone you know might be a wench, go to www.wench.org.

I did as the card bid, thinking I might be a wench too, and learned that the guild is actually quite large. To become a member there is a $43 fee for lifetime membership plus $4.30 shipping for the items they send you – a pin with their motto, a booklet, a certificate to verify you are a certifiable wench to be framed, and cards that offer 1 free kiss to be given to skalawags and other kissable men. I think this is very cute and plan to become a wench as soon as I get the funds together.

In all the fair was wonderful and I look forward to next year when, hopefully, I’ll have more time and money to spend. I did notice a lack of gypsy fortune tellers…maybe I’ll have to correct this ^_~

The Witch's Tea Party/Birthday Party

So I had to, for sake of time, combine my Witch's Tea Party with my friend's birthday party - which she was all for and loved the idea.

I baked the cake and did a few of the decorations.

The little witch hat candy bowls were my friend's party favors for us ^_^

Its me all pretty in my lace hat ^_^

Mail Blessings to Brighten my Day

So my day has been terrible...and now I go to bed with a headache wondering if I will be able to even make it to work at a scheduled time tomorrow.

However, I did receive in the mail my copy of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic. While I love the movie, I have never actually read the book and am very excited about receiving this. I had actually given up looking for the book due to the cheap price (99 cents plus $2 shipping) and thought it was indeed too good to be true. I was wrong to think so and was also given the pleasant surprise that the book was hardback, not paperback like I had expected.
Ironically, it was just after ordering it through Ebay that I received my Kindle...oh well.

I'll let you know what I think when I finish it ^_^

Halloween Tea Party

I will be attending Frosted Petunia's Hallween Tea Party blog event this coming month along with my many other Halloween events I have planned. I plan to get some witchy friends together, complete with glorious witch hats, for a picnic style tea party if the weather allows. The menu will includ Witch's Brew tea, scones, cookies and more ^_^ Thanks to Frosted Petunia for another excuse to party it up! Will you be joining the party, dear reader?

Coptic 2010 continued...

Now that I've gotten my moment of respect for the speakers out of the way, onto the Book Store and Networking Table!

This year, the wonderful people that put the conference together had the fabulous smarts to lengthen the networking table. Last year, every flyer was crammed into one small space to a point where some poor flyers got hidden. This year the whole back wall outside the main conference room was set aside for networking. There were flyers and sign up sheets and class calendars, and even a book.

Answers from Above: a handbook for the new millennium
Alan and Pamela Fass put together channeled conversations with Angels/Spirit Guides Asmuth and Shamani in order to answer the questions about everything from why do we have fear where to souls go after death to how to find the path to enlightenment and can we conquer illness?
This book was given out, one per person, at the conference. What a gift!

The happiness did not stop there.

The book store was just as energizing, awe creating, and crowded as last year. Vendors, both local and national, gathered to create a colorful and inspiring market for the conference goers.

The Monroe Institute had a table, as expected with Paul Rademacher present. There, Hemi-Sync displayed its catalog and gave out free samples and explanations of the Hemi-Sync program and how it works to cause your right and brain hemispheres to work together. They also gave out a list of programs the Monroe Institute offers.

Violet Moon, a shop located in Greeneville, TN was present as its owner, Elaine Watson, was giving readings for the conference. They sold stones, jewelry (I bought a very nice dragon charm), feathers, and more. Laura, the table saleswoman, was very friendly and informative.

Johnson City's Atlantis shop was also present with everything from books to pendelums. Kay and Duffy are jewels themselves and always a joy to meet with.


Peace and Plenty was also present again this year. Shannon Miller and her husband create fabulous oil mixtures out of their basement in Greeneville, TN. Each item sold is a little bit of power added to your arsenal, not to mention Shannon's extensive knowledge of application methods. They are also the heads of Greeneville's Healing Arts Fair, more information coming soon...

Other wares in this miniature of Marakesh are pendulums and dowsing techniques at Ramon Grace's booth, blessed epsom salts at Patti Conklin's table, charged crystals, Native American jewelry, discount books and CDs, Tibetan Singing Bowls, atwork that can give you chills, malas, and so much more. One could spend every break at the conference checking out this book store and not see all it has to offer.

New Year, New Post

Sorry about the long delay in posting, not much excuse for it other than life caught up with me.

What have I been up to?
a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a pinch of fairy dust added in for fun.

I just finished reading a great book on the Auryvedic system by Dr. Robert Svoboda called Prakriti. I found the book at Mr. Ks for a little under $8 and it was the best pocket money I've ever spent! The book aids the reader in learning heir Prakrite, or consitution, and going by that, the reader can learn foods and medicinal herbs and minerals that are best for them. I could spend all day writing on it but it would be best for you to go out and find the book yourself.

What's coming up this year?
February 2nd is Imbolc, when I plan on performing and posting a candle burning ritual and meditation.
April 16-18 is the Coptic Conference
Blue Plum is coming in June
And much more...