Category Archives: Family

Down but not Out

Down but not Out

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So last week I decided to take my 7yr.old son out for a “date night” with mom. We went to the school rollerskating party. Yup. ‘nuf said. So these mural projects I had all lined up are going to have to wait. I’ve instead been channeling my inner Frieda and have been making art from bed. I finished up some illustrations and photoshopped them into a storyboard/mock up of the book for my client. Thank the Goddess for technology, laptops and very helpful husbands. It felt good to accomplish something! Tomorrow I see the doctor about surgery. Gah. This is going to be a tough next couple of months.

 

Winter Dreams and Solstice Wishes

Winter Dreams and Solstice Wishes

Picture1The above illustration is one I did for the inside cover of the just released paperback, ‘The Fourth Choice’. It depicts the various religious items that had been collected by the main character in the book, then sent to his daughter in a package. According to the description… “The Fourth Choice is a fast paced prophetic thriller full of action, mystery, murder and political intrigue. After recieving a package of cryptic writings, relics, sacred objects and mystical items, Ana-Lise unexpectedly finds herself and her little daughter on the run and on an apocalyptical hero’s journey through history and across the country. What exactly does she hold that could incite a world-wide war, a revolution and trigger a conspiracy potentially costing millions of people their very lives? What was it that her estranged father knew and where is he now? Coded messages, religious icons and hidden treasure is only the beginning.”

This is my husband’s first novel. It’s good, and I’m not just saying that! I’m currently working on some edits for his second novel, ‘The Fifth World’ while he is busy writing his third, ‘The Sixth Chakra’.  I’m thrilled that he is really doing what he has always dreamed of doing. There are so many stories in that man that they can’t come out fast enough. It’s so important to follow our dreams. It isn’t always an easy thing to do. I struggle with it myself. But with all my distractions and survival techniques, I still commit to doing at least one thing each day that furthers my dream. I think about that as the Solstice approaches.

One thing I do each Winter Solstice is make a wish. I plant the seed in the quiet darkness, nourish it and see what grows in the coming year. I’ve been thinking a lot about my dreams and my wishes. It’s a good time of year to reflect and redefine what those might be.  They are important and I’m not sure I’ve been feeding mine in the way that I should be. I think I will make a wish bundle this weekend, put it out to the Universe.

In the meantime I will continue editing and “percolating” my own ideas for the year to come.

Check out the novel, ‘The Fourth Choice’ !

 

Hello! An update from the green fairy.

Hello! An update from the green fairy.

This is an update by your wormwood queen webmistress – the site’s little helper fairy and Kate’s friend Beth. Right now Kate is with Ted who has been hospitalized for Meningitis. Thankfully it’s not the bacterial kind and he has been slowly showing some improvement with the medicine he’s on as his fever is slowly starting to come down. What they need right now is your prayers, good vibes, well wishes, or whatever manner of energy you believe in. I am in the process of installing a proper commenting system to the site so people can leave comments to Kate’s entries for just such a thing. (The WordPress comments function is kind of a hot mess for spammers.)

For those of you who know Kate and Ted there are other ways to offer them a little help. You know they work tirelessly from commission to commission, taught class to taught class and such to keep their wheels spinning. If you’d like to help them directly you can always give a new home to one of Kate’s wonderfully hand painted plates or tap her for a reading. You can find all of these avenues in her shop –Tea and Tasseomancy. Or help in keeping their current youth project going Good 4 Nuthin (which honestly has the best rewards entries right down to potato salad). Mostly, just letting Kate know you’re thinking of her and her family goes a long way. ;)

Wedding Day!

Wedding Day!

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Over the weekend my husband and I decided to tie the knot, well not exactly. We did have a wedding, but we were married almost 8 years ago now. When we first got together, we just signed the paperwork to make it official. We decided that now, after two more of our children had been born and we had accomplished so much, it was time to celebrate and to say thank you to all those who have supported us through the years. It was a magical day.

Time for a Wedding!

Time for a Wedding!

dragon and bird batik,

Seven years ago, my husband and I signed some paperwork in the little kitchen of an old rental home and we were married. There was no pomp or circumstance but we did have a lot of love! We had always wanted to celebrate this marriage and we decided that, seven years and two more children later, this would be our time.

So with very little time left and very little in the way of monetary resources we’re going for it! These next two weeks are going to be CRAZY. But then, to the outside world looking in, I suppose most of our days are. So yes, crazy, hectic,sometimes emotional but always magical. I live each day believing miracles can happen, no will happen. And you know what? They usually do.

We have had so much love and support from the community of people around us, we want to celebrate them as much as we want to celebrate our time so far together. So you may see some posts here chronicling our process. I may post just so I can have some place to help me keep my thoughts straight!

As usual, I am not totally sure how it will all come together. And it will most likely come together at the last minute but I know it will be epic and I cannot wait!

S

Wednesdays With Anna: Making Halve Maantjes

Wednesdays With Anna: Making Halve Maantjes

Wed. With Anna Finished product

Today I spent the morning with my Mother in Law going over recipes. She had wanted to have finished making these for me before I arrived. Fortunately, she was late in getting up and didn’t get them done. So I got to watch the whole process! These are Have Maantjes, half moons. This is a larger size, normally she says they make them about a third of this size. She tells me that when she was little, it was her job to make the pretty braided edge. After trying it, I can see why. One would need tiny fingers to be able to make a fine braided edge on those of the smaller, hors d’oeuvre size. I had great fun talking about the Indonesia of her childhood, the fried breadfruit that the servants would make, (and she would sneak). It was a pleasure to watch her work. Anna is now nearly 80. She learned to cook when she was 5 (and boy is there a story there, too) . The experience shows.  Give this recipe a try, you can use the Empanada wrappers like we did to make it easier on yourself! The filling consists of shredded cooked chicken, celery, carrots, peas, bean threads, garlic, turmeric, salt, and coriander. Add about a quarter slice of a hard-boiled egg to a full tablespoon or so of filling to the wrapper, fold, and fry! Mmmm.