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Samhain

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  Samhain (October 31st)   HISTORY   Samhain to the Celts was their New Year's Eve.   That mysterious moment belonging to neither past nor present, or this world nor the other.   It was a time when the herds were slaughtered and the meat salted, which also led to the use of salts in magic ritual as a disinfectant against psychic or spiritual evil.   On this night also, the spirits of dead friends sought the warmth of the Samhain fire and communication with the living.   The divinatory aspect of Halloween is understandable for two reasons.   First, the psychic climates of the season favored it, and second, the anxiety about the coming winter demanded it.   The fertility ritual aspect was reflected in legends of gods and heroes.   As such, it was a time of deliberate (and tribally purposeful) sexual freedom.   That is primarily a Celtic tradition, as many other superstitions say to refrain from sex for fear that your former (dead) friends would take over your body and you
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Another UU symbol

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 I hope this picture shows up.
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Fw: Cake in a Cup

Subject: Cake in a Cup   Here is the recipe for you to send out to 'The Troops'…   In a large ziploc bag (or other suitable container) mix and store:   ·        1 package Angel Food cake mix ·        1 package regular cake mix (any flavor)   When the "sweet tooth" craving hits, mix in a coffee cup, ramekin (or other suitable container):   ·        1/3 cup cake mix ·        3 tablespoons water   Stir well, microwave for 90 seconds and enjoy!   3 PointsPlus   Add to recipe as desired – but don't forget to factor in those extra points.   Suggestions: ·        Add pineapple ring, diced apple or other item(s) prior to adding the mix ·        Add a caramel Hershey's Kiss for a 'molten lava' center < 2 more points > ·        Vanilla, maple or other flavored extract
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Recipe: S'mores Apples

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S'mores Apples Rated: Submitted By: Allrecipes.com Staff Photo By: Allrecipes Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 35 Minutes Servings: 6 "Caramel apples are studded with graham crackers and marshmallows and drizzled with chocolate for a treat you can't get enough of." Ingredients: 6 Granny Smith apples 6 wooden sticks 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Directions: 1. Insert wooden sticks 3/4 of the way into the stem end of each apple. Place apples on a cookie sheet covered with lightly greased aluminum foil. 2.
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The Book of Shadows

Have you ever wondered what sort of BOS I own? First, let's clarify. I own six. Yes, six. 1. The Sabbats 2. Herbs 3. Magick and Lore 4. The Garden 5. Home and Practical Magick 6. The Mirror You may agree with me or not, but I firmly believe in a ring binder as the basis for a BOS. I've discovered over the years a tendency to add to each category and sub-category. I'm very organized, and when I find a new way to use an herb, I want to put it in the Herb book with the rest of the information on that particular herb. I do embellish each of my ring binders. They are not blindingly white with a discreet label. Most show a care and joy in making them uniquely mine.
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Free Motion Embroidery

I think I finally found my niche in the quilting/sewing world-- Free Motion Embroidery. If you've never seen it, or tried it, and you love needlework, you might like this. http://usaapp.husqvarnaviking.com/education/pdf/2912.pdf   I feel like I've come home. I can't embroider or cross stitch anymore. My hands won't take it. However, with my sewing machine doing most of the work, I'm churning out stuff like crazy, and playing like a kid again. My present work is a modern take on Broiderie Perse ( http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/broderieperse.htm ) I've taken a lovely rose chintz pattern and cut the rose bouquet carefully away from its original background. Now I'm stitching it to an emerald green tee shirt. To open up the tee shirt so you can get at the front easily, you remove the side seams and underarm seams on the sleeves. I've basted the rose bouquet down, and now I'm using free motion to enhance the design and highlight what I
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Cleaning the Silver for the Holidays the Easy Way

For those of you who don't know what washing soda is, it is the BEST stuff for cleaning sterling silver. Put a tablespoon in a bowl lined with aluminum foil then add hot water. Just drop in your sterling silver pieces and it starts to fizz away. Leave on for about 5-10 minutes then take out and rinse in cold water. Where to buy Washing Soda? Here: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3549579&cagpspn=pla
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