The New Year sales have started, and as we look towards 2017 with the hopes of setting new goals and targets, perhaps some of you would like to rekindle a passion for crafts? I enjoy card making and bead jewellery crafts, although I have had to put the hobby on hold for a while due to other demands on my time.
#FreeforallFriday Linda Barker at Terrys
My mum is a keen fabric crafter, and one of her favourite shops is Terrys Fabrics in Stoke-on-Trent. They deliver all over the UK, and provide free delivery when you spend over £100. Terrys offer a wide range of fabrics, including made to order curtains and upholstery services. My mum made the curtains for my house using fabric we bought from Terrys, and the quality is excellent.
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I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a very challenging year for everyone, not least because of all the bereavement that the world has had to experience together.
I turned on the radio this morning to hear a phone-in session where people remember their favourite songs by artists that have died this year, and what memories those songs invoke. I had to turn it off when they started playing Last Christmas by George Michael, it was too sad!
Goodbye, 2016 by SpookyMrsGreen
Goodbye 2016
Now, I never considered myself the type of person to feel such a close connection to a celebrity figure, but apparently I did, because I was shocked and upset by the deaths of David Bowie and George Michael. I grew up listening to their music, watching them on TV, and their songs mostly invoke memories of a very happy, safe and sheltered childhood. Oh, how the world has changed.
The death of our celebrity figureheads within such a short space of time is a very clear message from the universe, and I am fully aware of the fact. This is the year of endings. It marks the end of an era in so many ways, and we must embrace this change, and look forward to new and better experiences ahead. I have done a lot of grieving this year, not just for the loss of people. I have been grieving for the loss of my family dynamic, and it has taken several years for me to accept what has happened.
Allowing myself to grieve
My parents divorced when I was a teenager, yet I think it is only now, when I have my own children, and my own marital challenges, that I have allowed myself to process the grief that has been hiding deep within, like a dark bubble of misery that I tried so hard to ignore. I told myself to grow up, get over it, I wasn’t the only product of a broken family. At least I still have my parents. But it’s not just that. The relationships are very different between my parents, my in-laws, and my children. We are separated by distance, by illness, and by fate, it would seem. But no more grief. I have cried, I have let it all go, I accept where I am in my life.#
Are you ready to let go? What are you holding on to? Let us all leave the past behind us, and move on to a happier, more enriching year. Welcome, 2017. We have been expecting you!
Welcome 2017 Happy New Year
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Christmas has passed, and now we are in that strange week between one festival and another. How many of you will be celebrating New Year’s Eve this year?
Since having children, my New Year celebrations have been far more sedate and peaceful. Our family tend to enjoy a bracing walk on Talacre beach in North Wales on New Year’s Day for our celebration of the New Year. Do you have any family traditions?
Since we also celebrated Winter Solstice last week, a time to welcome the return of the sun, I performed a Celtic Cross Tarot reading as part of my #365DaysofTarotchallenge. The reading is too long to post here today, but I will share the introduction, and if you would like a copy of the full reading, please respond in the comments below.
Gilded Tarot Celtic Cross Reading SpookyMrsGreen
#365DaysofTarot Celtic Cross Tarot reading
1, Recap – Ten of Swords
You feel beaten and broken. It has been a tough year. But those swords that hover above you do not offer more pain. They glow with strength and power that you can call on to lift you up and help you to fight another day.
2, You – Nine of Wands
The weight of responsibility has overwhelmed you, and now you retreat, defeated. But you still hold on to one new goal. Be strong, and you will rise again.
3, Crossing – Four of Swords
What is it that you fear so much? Why do you feel the need to arm yourself so heavily against attack? Surely the world isn’t quite as hostile as you make out.
4, Foundation – Strength
So now we are presented with Strength. She lives within you, and your faithful spiritual companion is the mighty Lion. Call on them both now, in your time of need.
Gilded Tarot cards SpookyMrsGreen
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“Mummy,” my five-year-old daughter said a few days’ ago, “I cannot believe it is Christmas already!”
Yes, apparently, my daughter has also found the rush of Christmas excitement a lot to cope with. When she made that statement, I asked her if she had enjoyed the year, and if she had a favourite memory to share. Her answer truly surprised me. She told me that her favourite memory was from when she was in her reception year at primary school, before Great Nan died.
SpookyMrsGreen’s children with their Great-Nan
The Depth of a Child’s Love
Now, my paternal grandmother died at the age of 79 in November 2015. She was ill in hospital at the time, although it still came as a shock because she seemed to be recovering from her illness. My daughter knew her because we had visited often, but I didn’t think they were quite so close. Her death upset me because she was the first of my grandparents to die, and that was difficult to handle after having them in my life for over thirty years.
I hadn’t stopped to think about how my children would react. I simply assumed that they were too young for it to really have an impact. My daughter misses my Nanna a lot, and we didn’t even live in close proximity. She only saw her during school holidays and at family gatherings, but she had made a connection on a very deep level, and that stayed with her. My daughter truly is an inspirational teacher for her wisdom and her innocent, exuberant love. I think we can all take a lesson from that. And I miss you, Nanna H, even though I know you are with us in Spirit. Lots of love to all who are missing loved ones this Christmas.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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My dog is giddy about Christmas. He is around eleven years old now, and he absolutely loves opening presents! In fact, we have to watch where we leave things under the tree, because Mr Mischief has a habit of helping himself to presents and cake when they are within reach.
Last year he stole a homemade Christmas cake that our youngest daughter brought home from preschool. He ate the whole thing, including the wrapper, and then he opened one of my Christmas presents that had arrived in the post.
Baxter the Superstar Dog
The Dog That Loves Christmas
It seems that Baxter’s Christmas tradition has continued this year. Last weekend we attended a birthday party and brought home four portions of bespoke birthday cake. We accidentally left the wrapped cake in the basket on the back of our pushchair (it was a late night), and the next morning, our beloved doggy decided to help himself to an extra special breakfast. He ate all four portions, including the tissue paper that they were wrapped in! And the next morning he opened a Christmas present that I had tried to hide in a carrier bag ready to deliver later in the week. Oh, Baxter Green. What shall we do with you?
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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One very important element of being a young parent is the joy of watching your children learn to read, and of reading books with them. I began reading to my daughters when they were still newborn babies, because I believed that they understood the words on a very primitive level.
My girls subsequently adore books, and always stop to read when they have the opportunity.
Britmums Children’s Books for Christmas #MummyMonday
Beautiful Books to Share with Children
You can imagine my delight when I received a sparkly envelope in the post, and opened it to discover a stack of shiny new books for my children! The books were sent from Penguin Random House and Britmums, with an invitation to share them with friends. I loved the title of one immediately: The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas. That one is going to my daughters’ best friends (who are also sisters) because I know they will giggle with delight when they open it on Christmas morning!
The second book I saw was The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep. This one is specially designed to help your child fall into a natural state of quiet so that they can fall asleep more easily. I have a friend who recently gave birth under rather traumatic circumstances, and she has two older children, so this book will come in very handy indeed for them.
Finally, we have Max and Bird. This is the story of a cat who spies a tasty looking bird that he would like to eat, but during the story he discovers that they could actually become quite good friends. I knew who I could gift this book to, and our young friends will enjoy reading the story together and exploring their own ideas of friendship and how the animals interact. What books are you gifting to children this Christmas?
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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Christmas is the time of year when we all indulge in a few extra treats and snacks, telling ourselves that it’s the season to be merry, so enjoy it. I am no different, and indeed, I allow myself a little treat at least a couple of times per week, as my reward for handling the monsters that are my children.
See my product review for Propercorn snacks and why I keep them away from the children.
#ProductReview Propercorn Fuels NaNoWriMo
#ProductReview: Propercorn – the Popcorn Snack for Grown-Ups!
I was especially delighted when I received a box of Propercorn snacks. These tasty popcorn treats are what I like to call snacks for grown-ups. Our cupboards have become a breeding ground for branded merchandise that appeals to our children, so I like to have something that is just for me. Propercorn fit the bill perfectly, although when I received the delivery, my three-year-old daughter got very excited and dug in to find a packet of popcorn that she could eat.
My favourite flavour of Propercorn is still the good old-fashioned Lightly Sea Salted variety, but I also really enjoyed the Fiery Worcester Sauce and Sun Dried Tomato flavour. In fact, it came in very handy as a writing aid during my NaNoWriMo challenge last month. I would recommend Propercorn for your Christmas party, for your movie night at home, and even for your daily lunch bag as a healthy, cheerful, feel-good treat.
#ProductReview Propercorn Popcorn Snacks
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Note: I received the product in return for an honest review. This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!
See my product review for Pandavita Organic Baobab Powder and see if I recommend it for fussy eaters in the family.
#ProductReview of Organic Baobab Powder
#ProductReview: Pandavita Organic Baobab Powder
You might have seen my recent posts about the challenge of feeding my children properly. They seem to have adopted their dad’s “beige” diet, and mostly refuse to eat anything that resembles healthy fruit or vegetables. Imagine how difficult it is for a vegetarian mother to have children that refuse to eat the food she eats! I never thought it would be possible, since I was raised in the old-fashioned tradition that you ate what you were given and were grateful for it. Oh, those days are long gone, and my children are far too vocal and assertive to accept this rule.
Because of this shift in parenting style (and yes, I know I am the parent, but this is the way I am raising my children), I am devising sneaky methods to ensure my daughters receive at least some of the nutrients they need to grow. So far it must be working, because they are generally very fit and healthy, and both have boundless energy and a cheerful disposition.
I received a sample
I received a sample of Pandavita Organic Baobab Powder. This comes from the Baobab tree in Africa, and you can eat the powder in its natural form, which is full of vitamin C and antioxidants. My girls tried a spoonful of the powder but declared it was too sweet, although it was tasty. I then sneaked some into their juice bottles for school, and they loved it. Hallelujah! You can use Baobab Powder in almost any recipe, so it is ideal for those fussy eaters. If you go to their website and use the code SMG15 at checkout, you will receive 15% off your order. Excellent!
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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I have mentioned before that I struggle to find gifts for the men in my life. It’s not that they are fussy, particularly, it’s just that they don’t really want much.
So, I was very happy to receive a gift box of craft beer from the Beer52 Craft Beer Discovery Club. I was going to share the beers with my husband, but he’s been working late, and the children have been very hard work…
#ProductReview Beer52 for Christmas
#ProductReview A Christmas Gift from Beer52 Craft Beer Discovery Club
Anyway, suffice to say I am very impressed not only with the taste of the beer I have tried so far, but also with the presentation. I love the visual delight when I see the bottles (and cans) lined up or grouped together in all their colourful, artistic glory. Did you know you could order a gift box of your own from Beer52? And if you quote this code: MRSGREEN10 when you sign up, you will get £10 off a crate of beer! You’re welcome, and Merry Christmas!
Beer 52 partnered with SpookyMrsGreen
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It may surprise you to read about my visit to our local church, since this is the blog of the pagan housewife. There are people in our communities who identify as pagan Christians, however, since paganism was simply an ancient form of worship before Christianity came to the UK all those centuries ago.
Indeed, Christianity and paganism mingled and wove together many of the popular festivals that we are familiar with today, and now we are fortunate in that we can openly celebrate those that feel right to the individual.
Christingle Orange with Sweets
#JoytotheWorld Christingle Church Service
So it was that last weekend I accompanied my elder daughter and our young neighbour to our local CofE church, St Michael and All Angels church in Middlewich. I love the congregation in this church, and indeed, many of them are my friends from the school yard and various parent/child groups that I have attended in recent years. It became a regular habit for a while to visit the church café for soup and a sandwich every Tuesday after our weekly visit to the library’s Rhymetime session. I find the clergy and churchgoers very warm, welcoming and friendly in our town, and they always make me feel better when I visit.
We attended the annual Christingle service at the weekend. This is a children’s celebration, where we put a candle into an orange and embellish the fruit with sweets stuck on cocktail sticks. My impression is that this represents our way to opening our hearts, lighting up the world, and sharing the fruits of our love and understanding to fellow humans and animals. When we had decorated the fruit, lit our candles, and formed a semi-circle inside the church, I certainly felt the power and energy that flowed from each one of us in that sacred building. It filled me, it made me feel happy, it even made me feel emotional, such was the intensity of magic that was created during that Christingle service. #JoytotheWorld!
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green
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SpookyMrsGreen 