Lucas' trip & New Year's Eve

I survived (so far...)! :o)

Yesterday morning Rodrigo arrived around 10am due to the rain to take Lucas(it's been raining cats and dogs every afternoon, incredible storms that I recorded with my camera for later post, beautiful). He came with a taxi driver we know, and brought my pre-historic computer, my witchy books (how I missed Starhawk and Louis Bourne!), my non-wotchy books (my Stephen Kings!!), baby Lucas' photo albums (I went through tehm all with my mom and my brother!), some of my favorite decorative stuff like Turtle's beautiful candle holders. Lucas was so excited to see his dad after four months! Rodrigo was very nice with all of us, and very emotional when hold Lucas again in his arms. He had his hair cut, which makes him look younger and healthier. He treated me very kindly, the opposite of the last months we were together. This is good, maybe he's learning his lesson well for his future relationships.

My little witch showed him all his brand-new toys Santa brought, and also the fishes. It was funny to watch him so excited!

Everything was okay. They left half-an-hour later, Lucas on the back seat playing with his Ben 10 game. I made a little felt doll with lots of protective signs on its body and my perfume to carry on his bag, just by chance... My heart was so heavy and small after he left, but I know this is part of the process, we need to share, I need to let go, and so on.

I had to go downtown for some errands, and this way my mind could get used a little bit to his absence. But OF COURSE, a migraine exploded, NOT for my surprise... When I got home I took my Ormigren and rested for a couple of hours until it was gone. It was when I got up to the silence in the house, that struck me, and I cried a river at the kitchen, missing my little boy so much. After that, I felt better, and breathed again more easily, and I could called them to see if the trip was alright. Lucas talked to me all happy and said he loves me. Sweet!

Today I'm really feeling better. It's incredible how weird it is not to listen to his voice, his laughing, not to take care of him. It's like losing an arm. Thank the gods is only for one month. Seems like that's how things must be so I can once again grow up and mature, since nothing happens by chance. All I do is to think that he will be fine, they will take good care of him, he will have lots of fun, and by the end of January, he will be back, full of fun stories about his "rural adventures".

People, thank you so, so much for your awesome words, you can't imagine how wonderful it was to me to read them all, how they made me feel better. My family is here with me with all their support, of course, they're amazing, but my friends' support is equally important and vital to me, this dramatic Brazilian mom. And Boho, thank you so much for the spell, I started it last night, and it made me feel good having something witchy to do everyday, I'll keep it to the end.

Tonight I'm going with my mother to Araruama, a beach town (or better, a lagoon town), to spend the New year's holidays at her cousins' house. A lovely couple that I do love since I was a little girl. It will be great to be there, sunbathing until getting really tanned, and relaxing at a beautiful place. I wasn't feeling like going, but last night I decided it would be better to go than staying at home with nothing to do. At least there I can relax by the pool, take long walks by the lagoon, and enjoying their company. Time will pass faster this way. I'll be back around January 4th or 5th. As there's no Internet at the place (but there are cyber cafes, maybe I'll be offline, for your relief! :o)

I wish everybody a wonderful end of the year, wishing you all the best energy you all wished for me and Lucas. You're all in my heart, and I do hope we can keep our friendship next year. Kisses and love from me to you.

Protection & Good Vibes Chain for Lucas

It's almost 11pm, and Rodrigo just called to say that he'll be here tomorrow morning, around 9am, to take Lucas to spend the January vacations with him in Minas. It's a seven-hour car trip. Do I need to say how stressed and how small my heart is right now? I know this is absolutely natural, it will be a good experience for both of us, etc, etc, etc, but it's the first time i'm away from him since he was born, and I'm scared to death to leave him for one whole month with his dad and his family. Oh well, I do need to get used to it, I know. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, only good thoughts, avoiding all the crazy, negative fantasies my mind is trying to trick me about it.

I ask - better, I beg, all my witchy friends (and obviously my non-witchy friends as well), to send your best thoughts, positive vibes to Lucas. Do whatever you think it's best, light a candle, make a protection ritual/spell, say a little prayer. I do ask you to join me to surround him with a protective, positive armour, so he can fully enjoy his vacations, and be back safe and sound in due time. Thank you so much.

Disney on Ice in Cleveland Giveaway!

My dear friend Marcia from Learning Mama, is giving away 4 tickets for the Disney on Ice show that will be in Cleveland next January! Those who are near, enter until December 27th. Check it out!

I'll be back after Christmas next week. Have a wonderful holiday, everybody! :o)

Last waxing Moon & Cookies

Lucas just took this photo of the Waxing Moon. How beautiful is it? :o)


He's all excited because tomorrow night Santa Claus will come home bringing his Christmas gifts (thanks to Etsy sales, I could buy exactly what I know he wants! Cool!). Christmas is celebrated here as a family event, when all my brothers and sister plus respective families come to mom's house to enjoy each other's company, and enjoy mom's yummy holiday dinner. Lots of talking, laughing and eating...

Each member of the family brings something to help dinner, and my contribution this year is the now a tradition and adored at home, Suzie's Cookies! I had to make a huge batch so no one can complain about eating less!

I hope everybody have a beautiful night tomorrow, see you later! :o)

A sweet Litha

We ended up having a sweet Litha day. The morning was sunny and warm, so bright it hurt our eyes! As I promised Lucas, we had our breakfast outdoor, right in front the door. He chose the "menu", strawberry juice, wheat cookies, apple, pear, and bread with butter! I put a cloth over the stone bench, spread cushions on the ground, and there we took our meal, talking about the day. He loved it!


After breakfast, he wanted to make his Greenman mask. I made a background with paper, and he gathered lots of leaves, and made everything by himself, the way he wanted it. It ended up this way (nothing to do with the original mask! LOL But he loved it so much, and got so proud! :o)):

He spent all day wearing the mask when someone arrived, my sister, my brother, mom... LOL Had a blast!

This is Lucas' nest, already with our honey & milk offerings. Too cute!:


In the evening we went to a bar with my family just to enjoy the first warm, cool Summer, and before sleep, we had our little ritual, burning some lavender dried flowers in the cauldron and spreading salt around for protection.
It was the best way to get over the scaring anxiety crisis I had the previous night!

I hope you all had a beautiful Yule time! I can't believe 2009 is almost over!

Anxiety crisis...

I swear this my last whining post! But something so unusual happened to me two nights ago that I have to vent. I spent all day feeling weird, my head so heavy behind my eyes, a little dizzy... I went to sleep with a light headache. Around 2am, after having a stupid nightmare with Lucas' ex-teacher, I woke up with my heart beating in my throat, you know the sensation? Super-fast and still that heaviness in my head. I felt an anguish inside. Then I started to rationalize it, and obviously found out: Lucas' vacation time with his dad and family is getting closer (Rodrigo will pick him up around 26th), and I was so worried about it, knowing, unfortunately, how mean peope are and the battery of questions and bad-mouthing my son will have to face there, I was constantly with bad, negative thoughts, even without wanting. My conscious side knows it's okay to worry, it's my first time away from him, etc, etc, etc. But my unconscious side was tricking me in a very deep way and I wasn't noticing it properly.

When it was almost 4am, I got up, and woke up my brother Evaldo. I had to, didn't want to be alone in that anxiety/panic crisis. Enough to say that my sweet, wonderful brother stayed with me, talking about what was distressing me until I calmed down again, and even made some do-in (he's great with it) to relax me. He had never seen me like that (neither had I myself!), so he stand by me all the time.

I could finally relax enough to be alone to sleep one hour later, and I decided to totally bloc every single negative thouhgt that come to my mind. There's nothing I can do besides very carefully, not to make hgim worry, to give Lucas some advices, and let him go. Period. Everything will be okay, whatever damage that people make will be reversed when Lucas is back, an in the end, this will be a good experience for the both of us, making my little witch more independente (like me...), and the first time away will be over soon.

What impressed me was the intensity of this crisis, the first time I have. I never thought that my "controlled" fears and worries could take me this way affecting my organism. For my well-being and health, I do have to let go, and relax. Phew!

Litha on the corner

Litha is tomorrow, the longest day of the year is on the corner! I love Summertime n Petropolis, because although it's hot lke hell during the day, in the evenings a sweet breeze is always blowing, which make things easier, the opposite in Rio, when evenings are as hot as days and Summer ends up becoming unbearable to stand!

I will probably make it smple as usual. Maybe I'll make a "breakfast picnic" with Lucas outside home in the yard to celebrate the sabbath... Lucas already made this morning a nest for the birds using dried leaves and moss from the ground, surroundning it with stones. I don't think the birds will get close to it, but the intention is there, which is good! It's like an offering to the Air creatures, including the dear fairies, and placing a bit of honey and milk will not hurt.


Lucas wants to make a Greenman mask like the one above, so this is going to be the best, using lots of green leaves, dried leaves, etc. I just can't promise it will look so cool as that one!

As Litha is a great time for healing and protective rituals, I'll surely perform a little one in the evening, after the traditional ritual I always make with Lucas.

I wish you all a great Yule time tomorrow, full of good vibes! And soon, a beautiful Christmas time for my non-pagan friends!

Genomic Revolution

Yesterday I went with Lucas, my older brother Arnaldo and my niece Maria Clara, to visit the Genomic Revolution Exhibiton, that is being held in Quitandinha Hotel in Petropolis. I don't know if yo know about it: this exhibition comes from the 2002's American Museum of Natural History exhibition, and it brings a cultural view about genomics, showing the DNA study as never seen before, the latest researches made, the impact on our everyday life, etc. Lucas loved everyhting, from the rainforest installation with live animals (including a tarantula, arght!), to the interactive games where you can mix fruits and animals' DNA, for instance. Lucas always love science and is naturally curious about it,like any kids, so you can imagine how cool it was to walk around the place watching so many different approaches on the subjectand his reaction!

I was drooling at everything as well, and can't wait to be there again a next time. Simply great. We couldn't take any photos inside, it's forbidden, alas... So the photos here are from the official site. After that, a pizza awaited for us. A super way to spend the Saturday afternoon!

Monochrome Weekly

I'm so behind my favorite memes! I'll try to keep them next year without losing any week!

This was taken by Lucas about one month ago. It's the Eagle statue in front of Petropolis' City Hall, a famous statue, built in 1899 by Heitor Levy. I always loved this, and Lucas always want to stop by and watch it for a while when we go downtown.



For more Mono photos, visit its main page, hosted by Aileni.

dream Pillow Winner!

Sooooo I'm back! :o)
I'm still coughing a bit, like Lucas, but I'm feling way better! Thanks to my cousin doctor who gave me a very good medicine that sent my pain away. I dont want to feel it again for the next 40 years! Thanks for all the positive & healing vibes sent, you're all awesome!

But enough about me, everybody is interested in the giveway! LOL


Here Lucas is showing al the papers with names carefully folded by himself...


All the names into my witch hat (that came along with the cool halloween kit I won from The Play of Light and Shadow... but this is another story!).


Drums please... Lucas closes his eyes and gets ready to pick up a name!


And he's got it... who's the lucky winner??



Congrats Mother's Moon's Message girl! Please email me so we can start working on your dream pillow!

Thank you everybody who joined this fun with me! Let's see what I can come up with next Sabbath!

Got a bug and giveaway

Hello, world!

Just stopped by to say that I've got Lucas' tonsilitis since Sunday (he's alright now, only still coughing a bit). The first time in all my life! Got a sore throat and a light fever (gods, how painful it is to swallow! It's like swallowing broken glass), but I'm taking good care of myself, taking medicines and all. So I'll pick up the dream pillow giveaway's winner tomorrow, okay? Just need some time to get better. Wish I could post something better than this! I just complaint here the last days! LOL

Kisses and love from us.

I'm so mad right now!

Imagine, my friends, that while I was here posting my mom's honey bread post, the postman arrived, and tereh was a letter for Lucas, from his ex-teacher from Minas.

Luckly I decided opening it before giving it to him. There was a letter from her, very nice, saying the his little friends form Mins wanted, each of them, to send hiom a letter hand-written by themselves. "Oh how sweet!", I thought. Then I started reading each one. Every single letter, with no exception, had it saying "I miss you! I want you to come back to our school!", "please, come study with us again!", and so on. No exception!! What the f...??! I can even try to understand, they're little kids, same age of Lucas, they miss him alright, I believe, but the teacher should know better before sending this letter full of a bunch of manipulative letters for my son!

I made all my best to have him be well adapted here, he's so happy now, loving his school, etc, and this woman sends a letter that could mess up his little mind if I had given it to him to read before having a look!

I just sent her an email, very nice and polite, Thanking for the love, but calling her attention for the fact the she's a professional and should be more careful about what's being sent to Lucas, so that it doesn't bring any unbalance for his great state of mind and spirit concerning a subject that is not forhim to decide and it's already settle between me and my ex..

I'm so pissed off!!! How insensitive! Arght!

Mom's honey bread factory

Mom just finished her bakery time! Every year she bakes lots and lots of her special and secret Honey Bread recipe, to seel for Christmas. I don't even remember when it all started, she says it was around 42 years ago, before I was born!! Ilove the scent, and it's so yummy...

It's amazing how she goes like a little ant, working everyday until all her orders are completed. This year her customers and friends ordered a total of 112 breads! A rcord! we spent yesrterday and today wrapping them up, now just a decorative Santa Claus sticker and a little tree branch will be added. Tomorrow my cool Aunt Sandra (the taxi driver) will take everything to Rio to be given to the respective customers and to get payment. Then mom can happily shop for her Christmas. It's a tradition at home, and although I feel sorry for her hard-work, I know she gets happy to bring all the sweet things she wants to give to us as Christmas gifts. And there's no way to make her change her mind for next year!

Life getting back to track

Sooo... This week was a blargh one. Lucas sick with his tonsilitis, and I sick with my kidney stones. We are both getting better, thank the gods!
Lucas had to take antibiotics, unfortunately! I hate giving it to him, but when I realized that after three days taking homeophaty his throat was getting more inflammated and the fever wouldn't cease, i had to give itup, call the doctor, and buy amoxilin. *sigh* But today he's feeling so much better! Wants to run, to play outside (with the windy weather, no way!), being his old sweet Lucas. And I feel so relieved! No matter how many times he gets sick, I always get all tense and sad inside. Of course I don't show it to him - I'm the brave and confident mom!

As for me, I feel like pregnant again! LOL I go to the bathroom every five minutes. How such tiny stones can give you so much trouble?! I still feel the pain, specially when I walk in the neighbourhood, to the grocery, for instance, but way better than before, Maybe it's psychological. I have another appointment with my doctor in january to show my ultrassound, but we all know what he will say, right? To keep drinking lots of water, to avoid certain food, etc. And I'll obey!

Thank you all for your awesome support and positive words, as always, they mean everything to me! :o)

Little witch in bed again

Lucas' tonsilitis is back. Since Sunday he's feeling bad, and yesterday he spent all the time feverish and with his throat aching. Thankfully my cousin is a doctor and she examined him... voilá, the bad tonsilitis attacking him once again... I'm treating him with homeophathy as usual, and trying to avoid antibiotics to the last case. Last night he woke up sobbing, and when I asked him what was the problem, he only said, "I lost the game!!", and sobbed again. He dreamt that he was playing a soccer game, and lost it, poor sweetie! He's in bed right now, all upset he's losing his final exams at school, but he'll make it next week. I'm keeping him comfortable in bed with his favorite comic magazines and watching his cartoons... I hope this is over soon this time!


Oh and this morning I made the ultrassound, and guess what, 5 stones in my kidney! No surprise I was feeling such pain!! Now I'm with a bottle of water by my side, and nobody is allowed to go to the bathroom! LOL

Well, that's it! I wish everybody a great, healthy week!

My Yule Giveaway!

So I was wondering what I could giveaway this end of 2009. I imagined it would be fun and nice to give away a dream pillow, like the one above that it is listed on my Etsy shop. It is stuffed with polyfil and three different dried magickal herbs that work wonderfully together, and the hand-embroidery reflects the wish of a good night's sleep.

But to make it more interesting, I'll let the winner choose the felt color, and the hand-embroideries on the pillow. Just think of what you like the most, what you want to bring to your dreams at night, and how kindly you want it to be. We can work together on it, and I'll try to make it the best way to please you!

To have a chance, simply leave a comment here, and just to feed my silly ego, go to my Etsy shop and tell me which item you like best! :o)

Lucas will pick up the lucky winner on December 15th, and I'll take the photos of the picking up process to guarantee it was a loyal one. Good luck!

Eternal updating...

Seems like lately I only update, with no actual new posts. But thing is that life is being gentle enough so far, and ther's not much happening. I'm handcrafting like crazy, Lucas is on his school's final exams, and his vacation will go from December 11st to January 31st. The only "but" in my life right now is my worry about his vacation with his dad. I feel goosebumps with the thought of him spending such a long time alone with my ex's family. I have my reasons to worry. When it gets closer, I'll surely ask all my bloggy witch friends (and non-witchy, of course!!!), to make a positive chain, so he will go and wil be back safe and sound. I know it may sound a bit dramatic (and maybe it is), but after such a good time here adapting himself so well to every new thing in his little life, I don't want to see his positive attitude to be destroyed by negative, depressive environment that I know he will have after the initial days there. Oh well, I'm wandering. But this is one of the resons why Im blogging so little. I'm trying to distract myself from the thought of it, and I try to give them some credit before the vacation begin.

Lately also I'm obssessive about weather. It's incredible how we forget how things work every year just the same way. It's been raining a lot these days, usually in the afternoons (exactly when I go fetch Lucas at school, obviously LOL), but the past two days we couldn't go outside, so heavy the rain became. But I love it. I love the sound and the fury of Nature talking through thunders and lightning, and I love go to sleep listening to the powerful sound of the rain falling outside. Lucas never feared it, following my example, and we love to stay in bed watching the storm trough the window and to guess when the next lightning will show up.

ONe cool thing is that I'll make a giveaway here. I1ll post about it right away, don't miss it!
Hope you all have a great weekend, thread your dreams gently... :o)

ABC wednesday - T is for time slippering away

I wonder where did Time go from that cute, tiny baby

to this talkative (when not sleeping...), sweet little boy?


*sigh* :o)

For more T photos, visit the ABC page.

December giveaway party

Oh, have you guys seen how awesome it is that Mrs. B.'s creativity became so inspirational that other people want to make their own seasonal giveaway party following her example and pattern, even the guidelines and words?

After her awesome - and already a classic I long for every year since 2008 - 31 Days of Halloween Take 2 giveaway party , now there's this Yule party, hosted by the Soccer Mom's Guide to Wiccan. I'm even donating one of my Wheel of the Year (don't know yet when it will be given away yet).

It's always great to see that when someone is so creative, smart, hard-worker, brain-storming and cool, she becomes a trend! :o)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just stopped by to wish you all a Beautiful Thanksgiving with your families and/or friends!

We don't have this holiday here in brazil, but the feeling is in me for you all. Have a great weekend! :o)

Still my cramps

Oh, about my cramps... I went to the doctor yesterday (the same nice one I used to go to about 15 years ago!) and he told me to make an ultrasound. Maybe it's my kidney, maybe it's my spine, but obviously he cannot say anything without analyzing the pretty inside of me. *sigh* Please keep sending healing vibes, I'm better but still feeling those slight pain on my side. I'll end up getting drunk with this absurd quantity of water I'm drinking!

A little story about a dream pillow

Today I finished my first dream pillow to list on Etsy. I remember reading about it at Mrs B.'s page (of course! :o), and some time ago, when Lucas started waking up ni the middle of the night - and after being sure everything else was okay, including his little mind, I decided creating my own version of a dream pillow using felt, using his fav colors, blue and red. I hand-embroidered protective symbols, as well as his initial and a waxing moon on both sides, and stuffed it with my three favorit herbs, lavender, chamomile and rosemary, plus tiny amethyst, rose quartz and cat's eye. I left it on my altar, and on a full moon night, I charged it with the proper intention. It worked just fine! Lucas sleeps all night long until the next day.

Then it was funny. My sweet catholic mother came complaining that she was waking up every morning exhausted, because in her dreams she was always busy cleaning the house, doing the dishes and making the laundry, poor soul!! LOL I had to laugh, she told me her dreams in such a funny way... So I also created another pillow for her, following the same process I used in Lucas', only changing the hand-embroidery and felt color. Three days later mom said she would send people carrying torches to burn me, because her nightmares ceased! LOL

Then I thought, "why not making one for Etsy?", and I created this one, it ended up so cute! If it sells, I'll make more:



Thanks, Holly, for the wonderful felt supply you gave me (remember??), all pieces are the perfect size for this project! I knew I would have the right, honoured thing to use them :o)

By Lucas

Lucas found this cute stray cat on our way back home ter playing in the park this weekend. How to resist?



Today I got weird cramps, seems like my old kidney tiny stones are back. Great news since I was born with only one kidney (still considering suing my mom for this...). SO I'm drinking tons of water, and preparing some psyllum tea to help me get ride of them. If I dont get any better unti tomorrow, i'll have to go the doctor. Damnit.

Monochrome Weekly

I bet you can't guess what it is! :o) Just a detail I loved while in the park with Lucas.

For more Mono photos, visit its main page, hosted by Aileni.

Have you all a great week!

PS: Yes, that's right, it's lichen on a tree! Just love the pattern, always have.

2 Witches giveaway!

The great 2 Witches blog is giving away a gorgeous 2010 Seasons of the Witch Calendar! Check it out! As usual, greedy me is crossing fingers and toes for this! :o)

A photo by Lucas

My talented witch photographer took this one yesterday, right in front of our house, just before the storm began again:

Seems like he'll follow my brother's steps...

Something so simple like freedom

I've been reading for some time already the Generation Y blog, written by the fantastic woman Yoani Sánchez, a Cuban blogger who tries to keep her right of free speech in Cuba. While for us to have a blog and freely post about anything, at anytime we want to, is so simple, for her this is something that needs to be carefully planned, since there's no home Internet in Cuba and cyber cafes charge exhorbitant values for people to be online. She can't leave the country, even being awarded by international newspapers for her well-written blog and book - she was awarded in Brazil, and despite efforts from our authorities, she couldn't be in person to receive her prize, only able to send a virtual thank you speech. About two weeks ago, he was kidnapped for a couple of hours and beaten by Castro's policemen, who threatered her because she was going too far with her criticisms against government.
Courageous as she is, she started taking photos of the policemen and policewomen who follows her wherever she goes, and posted such photos on her blog.

It always makes me feel so mad when I read about this kind of abusive way of leadership. Dictators should never exist. Shame on them.

Monochrome Weekly & ABC Wednesday - R is for rainy skies

Today I'll post both memes with one photo, if you don't mind, I'm so behind! We had such weird weather lately, with sunny days and stormy afternoons and nights! I took this B&W photo of a Rainy afternoon, I guess it shows it all!



For more Mono photos, visit its main page, and for the ABC photos, click here.

Updates 2

This weekend I took Lucas downtown to buy a present for Rodrigo, since his birthday is on the 25th. I let Lucas choose from the store, the gift, to the card, so he chose a beautiful t-shirt with a beach on the front side, and a pair of socks. He also chose a cute card with a kitty holding a birthday cake, and wrote a message, adding sweet drawings of smile faces, and of course, pentagrams (LOL). I'll send everything today, so it will arrive him in time - it takes longer than usual for the Mail to reach the tiny town of his. It's important to keep this tradition of choosing presents for his dad, and I would never deny him this pleasure. My relationship with Rodrigo ended, but he'll always be Lucas' father.

Yesterday we had the awesome surprise of receiving a package from Sabrina, from whom I had bought this delicate Hestia:


Along with the gorgeous altered card, guess what came? This super-cool castle for King Arthur, Lancelot and Nemo (yes, my brother-in-law gave him another fish...)! According to Sabrina, a king must have his castle, and although mad at her at first because the expense she had, I had to agree that they got happy and all curious with their new ornament, and Lucas got excited and proud of it!

Thank you again, girl! Lucas told everybody about it and how the fishes love the castle (specially Nemo, that tries to get into the cave all the time! LOL)

The weather here is still the weirdest. Most time sunny days with ncredibly rainy afternoons and nights, hug storms that make fetching Lucas from school a pain... We had a total 4-hour blackout last week that let in darkness 18 states!!! Government is still trying to explain what happened to that super-complex energy system to get down that way...

I'm busy creating new goddesses and gods, and it's been fun to imagine new embroideries. SO this week will be a short one for posting again.

Wish you all a wonderful week!

Quickly Update

Helo, everybody!

This week I didn't blogged as much as I use and love to. But for a good cause, I've been all busy these days with orders from my Etsy! :o) That's simply great, and surely makes me feel a bit better about Christmas for Lucas! LOL I mean, since I know my ex won't help me on this, it's perfect to get some income right now.

Next week I'll be back with my boring posts for your torture! hehehe

Only one thing: I'm so, but so pissed off with our Brazilian President, Lula. Can't stand this man no more. He's so desperate because after two consecutive mandates he'll have to pass his power to someone else next year, he's now trying at all costs to stay, and travels all the time around the globe with his false image of a good President. Arght. I'm sick with it. Maybe another day I'll post more deeply about it. Hate politics.

Hope everybody have a great weekend, in case we don't talk then!

More support!

... That's what friends are for. Mrs. B. was such a sweetie and made this cool button for my Kimberly post, and added toher sidebar! I'll keep it on mine as well, so I can go on blogging and keep the help!

Thank you girl, you know you rock! :o)

If any of you blogger friends wants to grab it to your page, just go ahead!

A blogger friend in need and my way to help

This cute hand-embroidery was made by the awesome artist Kimberly, from Tea Towel Creek.
She was diagnosed with an incurable bladder disease, and is going through serious medical issues because she has no insurance. I know first-hand how hard it is to deal with medical issues when money is too tight - or non-existent, when my late older was ill, and we were lucky to get generous donations from friends and family. I learnt about her sad story via Mrs. B. The good thing is that we can help her by purchasing her beautiful prim patterns by $1 each. Why not visiting her shop and choosing one of her exclusive patterns? That's what I did yesterday, and I love them!

Also, I decided making something else to try helping Kimberly out a bit more. If you buy one my spooky keyrings at my Etsy shop , I'll redirect the money to Kimberly via Paypal. I'll send an extra little gift as a thank you, and an email with the Paypal invoice, so you can be sure the money went to the right hands!!

Crafty Chick is selling her Creations!

Danae, aka the Crafty Chick, is about to open her first Etsy shop, and is displaying many of her super-cool art on her blog, where people can already choose and buy directly via Paypal!

She's got many beautiful item, from jewelry to greeting cards and scrapbooks.
And you can help her to choose her Etsy shop's name as well!

Go check it out, it's really worthy!

The hands of a wonderful artist

Early this morning, when I opened the newspaper, I had the grateful surprise of meeting the art of a Brazilian 85-year-old lady, whose hands create beautiful, expressive women in clay, using natural colors from the earth. Izabel Mendes, aka "Mestra Dona Izabel", started creating kitchen tools in clay to sell and help raising her kids after his husband died when she was young, back in the beginning of last century. Soon she had the idea of making dolls recreating ordinary scenes that she watched in her life, like weddings, funerals, births.

Not by chance, her skills developed to a form of art that became famous beyond her tiny village in Minas Gerais state, Vale do Jequitinhonha (now try to say this word out loud! LOL). Turists from abroad would travel hundred kilometers by bus just to see and buy her awesome ladies. She was generous enough to teach many people in her village the art of clay moulding, so that they could survive their hard life.

Now there's a Prize for new artisans with her name to help Brazilian artisans.

The happy end for this lady who, in the beginning, used to walk 11 kilometers to sell her tools at popular fairs, is that she will have her first individual exhibition in a famous Sao Paulo Gallery, and her clay ladies got an upgrade becoming real art - with equable sale prices.

I'm in love with her!

Petrópolis almost 40°C

People, it's hard to believe that it's so hot here! If it's like this right now, I don't want to think how it's going to be when Summer actually comes, in December...

Sleeping with open windows, super-light clothes, drinking tons of water, taking two or three showers a day, wow!!

On the other hand, Nature is gorgeous now. Such exhuberant trees, a bright blue sky with no clouds. It's a pleasure to walk in the streets (as long as you carry a bottle of water in your hand, of course...) and feel the wind on my face - yes, this an advantage of living in the mountains, there is always some cool breeze around.

Nights are beautiful, starry and clean. I take some long times just being alone outside the house, meditating about my life and which way to go. Sometimes everything seems so blurry and uncertain. But I'll keep the faith.

Irresistible giveaways

Now you tell me, how to resist when two cool blogger friends decide giving away, each one, a set of handmade runes??

Mother's Moon's Message is giving away this gorgeous set of willow runes made by herself:


And Domestic Witch is also giving away a wonderful set of rose quatz runes:


You have to join these! :o)

ABC Wednesday - P is for Penguin

Penguin is such a lovely animal, and it's my little son's nickname at home (pingüim, in Portuguese). I nicknamed him "penguin" when he started walking, those clumsy steps that only babies know how to do. And it stayed for life! I even want to have one tattooed on my ankle as a reminder of that funny time.

For more P photos, visit the ABC page.

Cemeteries...

I've never liked cemeteries. Mind me, in Brazil 99% of them are ugly, with no nature around, nor trees, not even a bit of grass. Only concrete under, above, on the sides, as you can see above, Petropolis' (those sparse trees don't count, they're there before it was built!). And the smell of dead flowers in the air. Thus, I never ever go to a cemetery unless there's no other way, like when my dad, my gradma and my older sister died. After funeral, I never return for leaving flowers or whatever. Not my stuff, I respect those who like going to, etc. I just don't feel comfortable there, too opressive.

So imagine my surprise when my sweet little witch asked me to visit the local cemetery on our way back from the park! Yesterday was Dia dos Mortos like in many other places, and he was all curious about it.

As we walk almost in front of it, I just couldn't say no, and of course, I managed to sound natural when accepting his idea. And there we went, walking into the place as if goin to a zoo. Lucas would stop at the first line of graves and ask me, "who's buried here, and here"?

We walked along the lanes, until getting to where my dad and my sister's graves are. Thre we stopped and Lucas wanted to pray a bit (after confirming with me that the Goddess would listen to him even into a catholic cemetery), then we left the place and went home.

The experience was good in the end. It made things look as they are, it made his imagination calm down, and it obviously quenched his curiosity. This way he won't imagine that skeletons and ghouls (...) are around, and it's a place where we can go and leave safely.
He knows I don't visitng these places, but it was important for him. But I do hope this was the last time, for a long time from now!

Monochrome Weekly

Okay, I just can't resist posting Lucas' photos, so bear with me!! LOL

Here's him when 15 days old, asleep after "taking part" of his first quick full moon ritual in my arms while being breast-fed, in an originally b&w photo taken by my brother Evaldo:





For more cool Mono Maiacs, visit Aileni's meme page.

Celebrating Beltane

This year we celebrated our Beltane in our simple way as usual. This time I couldn't afford to prepare any special meals, but we did our dance around a improvised maypole, using three colored satin ribbons and my mom's line handle. Of course, this was one the best part for Lucas.

In the afternoon, along with my sister Claudia (who was spending the weekend in Petropolis with her family, is not pagan but loves my son to death), we decorated our white candles with colored pens, inscribing magik symbols representing the sabbath, like flames, mayoples, pentagrams, suns an even an Algiz on Lucas', just because he knows this is my favorite rune.

In the evening, we both wrote our good wishes on pieces of paper, to be burnt on our cauldrons during the ritual. Another best part for Lucas, since this was the first time he did write his own wishes by himself with his cute hand-writting. When he finished writting, he asked me, "what else can I wish? I already have everything I need!" Obviously, that melted my heart.

Lucas prayed in silence after opening the circle, in front of his altar, and then we repeat the whole process in front of my altar. We watched in the dark until the flames in both cauldrons starved, while focusing in all the good things we wish for our lives, hoping they'll come true.

After that, we simply went to bed, and that was our Beltane night! I thanked for being blessed with my sweet son, and asked for strenght to keep in motion.

I hope you all had a good Samhain & Halloween!

On the last day of Mrs. B.'s Halloween party...

... We say goodbye for this awesome fun. I have to thank Kris for all this month long party, and to congrats her for this incredible job she did. I just can't imagine how it is to deal with a daily multiple giveaway plus haunted tours, plus blogger guests, plus a personal life with three kids and a hubby (and Taner!!! LOL). I'm sure we are all happy to have met such cool new people and to get great gifts!
Hope you all have a blessed Samhain honouring your late loved ones, and a Halloween nght with fun and candies! :o)

Here we'll celebrate our little Beltane ritual, I'll post photos asap!

So let's go party on this very last day!!

... A super Salem bag of goodies from Octoberfarm!

A Creepy Cute Crochet book from Quirk Books!

A gorgeous pendant from Aunia Kahn!

A Peeking Sal Organic Tote from Funky Green Machine!

Good lucky for us all today! Letme know how your holiday was!! :o)

On the 30th day of Mrs. B.'s Halloween party...

Aawww.. I can't believe how fast this month has ended! *snif* Tomorrow Kris' fun is over, so let's party while we can!!

Today we can get...

... A Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters' signed copy from Quirk Classics! Please, please!!

A one year subscription to Circle magazine! Please, please, please!!!!!!!!

A spooky keyring from me, the Carioca Witch, along with a cute god magnet made by Lucas! :o)

So let's go, tomorrow is the last day!

On the 29th day of Mrs. B.'s Halloween party...

Oh... Only three days left for the fun... Oh well, today she brings...

Beautiful orange and black earrings from Native Dawn!

A super-cool witchy magnet made with up-cycled can lids from Picard Creative!

Hurry up! Don't miss these last chances! :o)

My first Cernunnos doll

Lucas was demanding me to create a god, "a male god!", as he said LOL. So I finally decided trying this one for Etsy (already there today, actually). It was overdue, infact. I hand-embroidered the horns on the sides on his head, and used the same Goddess pattern, only changing his abdomen to look more like a male's. What do you guys think about it? Approved? Be gentle, I'm a very sensitive and fragile witch concerning criticisms! LOL

I know the year is in the end when...

... My mother starts baking her secret recipe's Holland honey breads to sell! I can smell the wonderful scent that immediately takes me back to my childhood. Mom makes these honey bread since I was a baby, to sell before Christmas to her long-time clients in Rio - every year she bakes around 100!. It's with this money that she afford to have our Christmas night the way she loves it, with presents for everybody and a beautiful midnight meal (of course, after we all grew up and started working, we help her with money and bringing dishes & presents for her/our Christmas special night). This recipe was given to her by her bestfriend's mother, who made her swear she would never give it to anyone! And she never gave it, not even for us, her poor daughters! LOL That's my momther, her word is forever. She says that before dying, she will leave a copy for us (meaning that we'll need to wait one or two centuries, I hope!).

It's the best honey bread I've ever eaten, and there's nothing like it in the market. SO here I am, typing and feeling this wonderful perfume...

ABC Wednesday - O is for Obi Wan Kenobi!

When I thought what I could post on the O week, I could only think of Alec Guinness's Obi Wan Kenobi, go figure it...



This Star Wars' character was a huge impact for my simple childhood. I just fell in love with his strong personality, his non-conformist spirit, his beautiful look. It's my favorite character ever, snce I was 9. And it's Alec Guinness, after all. May the Force be with you! :o)

For more O photos, visit the ABC page.