Imbolc

This is the time of season that is celebrated around February 1st or 2nd of each year and is associated with "beginning growth".

Here we plant the "seeds" of our hopes and dreams for the coming summer months.

I believe that this is the current season that we are in now. There is still the hint of winter in the air but there have been moments of warmer weather where we can feel a change of seasons coming on.

I am most interested in the food correspondences that are linked with this holiday which include: Foods: Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Muffins, Dairy Products, Peppers, Onions, Raisons, Garlic, Poppy Seed Bread and Cakes, Herbal Teas, Spiced Wines, Potatoes, and Turnips. I'm particularly interested in the muffins, breads and cakes because I'm very interesting in cooking and baking and would like to try and bake some of these to celebrate this sabbath. I also love different herbal teas and I believe them to be quite soothing and theraputic as well!

Candles: Brown, Pink, and Red

Deities: Bridget, Aradia, Gaia, Dagda, Pan, and Herne

Onions And Garlic

As I was preparing my turkey earlier this morning I got to thinking about the onions and garlic that I was going to add to the turkey and came to realize just how many things that onions and garlic can be used for!

I mean it can be used for a lot of things when I'm cooking and I use them in my stews and soups and salads!

I also want to be able to grow them in my garden but so far I have only successfully managed to grow garlic chives (but don't worry, I'm going to try again next year!)

It also reminded me that I am also a kitchen (as well as green) witch and I felt exactly like this when I was preparing my turkey! All the spices and other ingredients that I was adding to the turkey, chopping and cutting and peeling in my nice warm kitchen on a gorgeous (though chilly) sunny day!

All I need now is a warm, open hearth!

Spring Is In The Air..............................

Even though my favorite time of the year is autumn I can't help but notice that spring is in the air! You can tell by the warmer weather and the grass and the buds on the trees!

I was reminded of this while I was out earlier today gathering the trash for the trash pick-up. Besides noticing the warmer temperatures it gave me a chance to look at the remnants of my garden. There are of course lots of weeds and some debri that has to be cleaned up but that is getting to be part of the fun of having a garden!

While I will be planting and growing vegetables I'm also thinking about the herbs that I want to plant this year as well! And I'm thinking about the herbs that I plant going into the food that I will be making too!

I just want to try everything!

My Garden!

Well I checked over the weekend and I'm starting to see some of them sprout up! I'm so excited because it has been a long time since I have had a chance to start, much less tend my garden!

So far I have managed to plant some beans, peas, corn, peanuts and I have planted a couple of herbs as well. I have also noticed that my rosebush has sprouted and I have these lovely dark roses! I think I'm going to save some of the petals and use them for something!

I was reading someone else's post about how their life had become so busy and that they didn't have time to do any spells or rituals lately but they did find time to bake some bread - from scratch! Something about kneading the dough made them feel very relaxed and how they felt that they were putting a part of themself into the baking. That's something that I would love to get back into doing - baking from scratch! Besides making the house smell so yummy baking is a very good relief.

I probably sound old-fashioned and since I have bought my baked goods already made from the store it has been a long time since I have baked anything from scratch - but I'm thinking about it!

Tea Fan?

I have become quite fond of having a cup of tea. This started right after I decided to become a witch. I think it has to do with the soothiness of having a cup of tea. (I'm having one now (-:

Of course I still do drink coffee but not as much.

There's just something soothing about having a cup of tea. It's relaxing and gives me a chance to think about things.

On a related note I hope that I can incorporate this with my gardening as well using things like mint sprigs and other kinds of herbs in my own tea.