My First Blog Award!!

The Frog Queen, has bestowed upon me my first award on my Halloween blog!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, for thinking of me!!

It is rather ironic that it is one for the comments I leave, because right now, I'm speechless! lol

I know that I'm supposed to list some friends to send it on, but it means SO much to me when someone takes the time to leave a comment or thought. There are so many that I'd love to respond to, but there simply isn't enough time in the day. I go all day long, taking care of necessary things, while my head is buzzing with conversations based on responding comments. You are all so amazing!!

So, if you have left a comment, please feel that I am sharing this award with you.  Copy and paste it onto your blog with pride.  Then share it with those you care about!

Hmmm, guess I wasn't completely speechless after all!

Thanks again your Froggie Royalness, and thank you to everyone for following along!!

Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend!!

Worth Repeating

Most of you follow my other blog, but for those who don't, in perfect timing with the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox,  The Frog Queen, Jeanne, Becca, and I have started a Haunted Gardens Blog.

We hope that you will join us as we travel through the mysterious, the magickal and the enchanting world of botanicals!

The Ghostly Tree

I'm sorting through boxes, rearranging things, and came across a whole notebook full of negatives. These were from the days before I was developing my own slide film.

I was so excited to find the negative of a photo that I had lost a long time ago. (it was stolen, which I guess I should consider a compliment).

The night before, we had a hard driving rain, coming in off of the lake, and it was so cold, it froze the water on everything, but sideways! When I awoke and saw what had happened, I didn't want to do anything but go out and take some photos. .but I had to go to work. 

All morning long, I kept watching the thermometer, and hoping that it stayed overcast. And luck was with me! During my lunch, I slipped and slid back down to one of our beaches that is below where I lived, and I spent a long lunch taking photo after photo.

But this remains my favorite because of the mood that I felt when capturing it on film.  I was the only one stupid brave enough to venture down there, and while the wind had died down from the night before, there was still a breeze, which was whistling through the frozen branches, making it feel very lonely, very spooky. 

This ice clad tree made me think of a ghost ship's mast, with it's tattered sails still clinging to it, having risen from the water, driven by the storm. What do you think of when you look at it?

Passing By Grannie's House

My Dad was an artist, favoring painting in oils, but he would venture off into other mediums from time to time just to feed his ever restless creative mind.

But two things remained consistent. He loved staying up late at night to create his art, and he always loved to cartoon.

Sometimes I would sit beside him, watching him rapidly sketch one after another on a pad of construction paper, typing paper. .it didn't matter. .he would even draw on the backs of greeting cards, and on envelopes.  Our phone book was always one of the most creative in town! :-)

So it wasn't unusual for me to find a cartoon waiting for me beside my cereal bowl in the morning.

Sadly, I don't have much of his artwork. For one reason or another, it is mostly gone. I have a small fraction of the cartoons that he did for me, and one oil painting. I also have an envelope of drawings that he did when he was in high school, back in the late 30's.

He loved Halloween, and I found this today, while sorting through some boxes.  The original is pencil, and now so faint, my scanner wouldn't pick up the lines.  The paper, while originally white is now a seasoned shade of French Vanilla.  Even taking a photo with my camera didn't make it much better, but with my software program, I was able to make the picture more visible. At least it is on my screen.  I hope that you can see it too.

A Spirit Dropped In, & Some Spirits Were Enjoyed!

This gal doesn't have a drop of Italian or Scilian blood in her, but La Befana paid her a visit on the 6th of January!  These were left for me, delicately wrapped in deep green tissue paper and tied with an orange ribbon. I love them all!

This little cat is only inches high! She is adorable!!

And these are made out of stiffened paper, layered, then embellished with beads for hanging, bits of silvery garland and ribbons.

I believe that they are Bethany Lowe creations.

Thank you La Befana! You made my holiday complete!!


To be honest, these next spirits were also delightful, but we enjoyed them a few months ago! How time flies!! I'm just now getting around to sharing the photos with you! (Mrs. B's Halloween tour is family friendly, and I didn't know how she would feel about me flaunting our local alcoholic Halloween treats! lol)

Micro breweries, and especially boutique wineries have been popping up all over Michigan, and there are now enough to have actual winery trails throughout the state.  One of the oldest and longest runs along the shoreline of L. Michigan, from close to the Indiana border, on up through Traverse City. Most of them are just outside the village limits of the communities that dot the shoreline, just miles from each other. A perfect Springtime getaway, or a beautiful leisure Autumn tour. 

The long trip is broken down into mini tours for those who don't have the time to imbibe the whole route. Most of the wineries have their own tasting rooms, and many have restaurants with signature gourmet dishes. Yum!  And most of them have several festivals throughout the year, either on their own, or in conjunction with activities in the community, like the artist's galleries tour, or harvests festivals.

This pumpkin ale comes from a micro brewery, New Holland Brew, that is located in one of the larger towns, a little north of where I live.  I love the label!  (the ale isn't bad either! lol)  If you click on the link, they have an interesting recipe on their home page right now, that I think I might try!

And this wine is from a winery that is even further north, but in one of my favorite parts of the state.  I used to live a lot closer, but had to move back to my home area to take care of family members. I do love it up north though!

Leelanau Wine Cellars is one of the oldest wineries in the state.

Last year, I made some jelly out of a bottle of this wine, which is a Spiced Red. and serve it poured over cream cheese with crackers. Sooo good!

Last week, I saw where one of our local shops still had a few bottles of this wine left, and I'm thinking of going back to buy some more.  It is a nice way to savor Halloween on a cold winter's night!

Sláinte!

The Gourdqueen's Give Away!

The Gourdqueen  has reached her milestones of not only her 1st year Blogiversary, but her 100th post as well!  So she is generously giving away one of her adorable creations to celebrate!

Please either click on the link above, or the button on my sidebar to learn the details of how you can win. 

Good luck to everyone. .especially me! :-)

A Benign Belsnickle & Nicholas The Wizard

Once again, Will has joggled my mind, and I whisked something off of my little cabinet in the kitchen, to share with you. 

But first, I decided to go against my initial self-ban, and post a photo of a Yuletide doll here, since I myself pointed the conversation in the current direction.  Bear with me. There is a purpose.

I've had this 30+ inch Belsnickel for 6 or 7 years now, purchased at one of our local year around Christmas shops.  The artist gave him switches (which the shop owner didn't know why. .she and I are going to have a chat!),

And even a pack on his back for either coal or carting off naughty children, depending upon his mood, I guess.

However, the artist backed off on completing the character, choosing instead to make him the well loved, benevolent Santa Claus, carrying a wreath, and a wearing a compassionate face.  In studying him though, I like to think that is a ploy to lure in the naughty children, so that he can grab them with those over sized hands he has! :-)

Next, I proceeded into the kitchen, and took this off of the shelf!  He was produced by the Brown Bag Cookie Mold Co. in 1998, and was their first limited edition.  His title is "Celestial Santa".  I have a number of other cookie stamps that they produced, but has been my most treasured one, simply because of his blue and purple robes, and he is cradling the Moon in one hand, and has a staff of the Sun in the other, with stars circling his head.  And while his face is kindly, he looks like he could have a bit of spirit, a tad of spunk in him, should the need arise.

Free spirited artists have been tinkering with Santa's image off and on for some time now.  His first overhaul was back in the 1860's, when Thomas Nast took the chance, creating his interpretation of Santa for Harper's Weekly. And I do have to admit, I love the details of his illustrations, especially the early ones.

Then, in 1931, through a thoroughly commercial venture, artist Haddon Sundblom, took the reins, and created the Santa as we know him today for a Coca Cola ad!  I found this quote from Coca Cola to be intriguing:

"Before the 1931 introduction of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus created by artist Haddon Sundblom, the image of Santa ranged from big to small and fat to tall. Santa even appeared as an elf and looked a bit spooky."

. . . .looked a bit spooky. . hmmmm, for years now, various artists have played around the edges with interpreting Santa, but have never changed him like Nast did, or refined him like Sundblom's version.

Maybe now IS the time to refresh Santa once again.  With all of the increased interest in not only Halloween, but vintage Halloween, and vintage Yuletide, but in Wizards, Dragons, Faeries, Elves, Gnomes. .the whole mix.  Maybe it IS the time to put the spice back into Christmas, to bring back Santa's Companions, and the Spirits who visit in December, not just in October!   

And, this is the time of a Blue Moon! What a fortuitous sign!  William, I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would love to see you come up with a Santa that you would be happy with. .are you up to the challenge?  Are you going to be the one to lead Santa out of his saccharine saturated "traditional since the 1930's" life, and put some spunk, some mystical bite back into him?   No pressure though! lol (I'm just teasing you, although I would LOVE to see what you would create!)

But everyone here should think about it. We have some other Halloween & Holiday artists here too. Maybe it would be fun for everyone to recreate Santa in their vision.  A Santa Revolution! What fun!  Again, no pressure. Just give those creative genes a quick stir, and see what starts to form. .or not. lol