Saturday, December 25, 2010

Yuletide Blessings!


We both wish you warm hearts & hearths and that you all have loved ones to share them with and leave you with some luverly seasonal music from the album Castle of the Holly King by Shira Kammen.



The Castle of the Holly King by Shira Kammen


Sláinte!

Aymi & Laurel

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Program on English Folk Dancing

The BBC has an one hour program called Still Folk Dancing...After All These Years. It features all types of different folk dancing from England. It has been posted on YouTube as well. Enjoy! :)

Sláinte!

Laurel
Part One:



Part Two:



Part Three:



Part Four:

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Sad Fate for the Holy Glastonbury Thorn

Photo by Alwyn Ladell

On December 10, 2010, the 2000 year old Holy Thorn Tree was found chopped down in Glastonbury, a town in Somerset, England. While police try to determine who cut down the Glastonbury Thorn Tree and left the discarded branches by the stump, others are wondering what could have motivated someone to cut down a tree of such seasonal and religious significance. The Glastonbury Tree has special meaning for Christians, especially at Christmas and Easter.

Read the rest of the article here.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Neat Museum of Witchcraft Video

Places I Have Loved: The Family Farm


Or perhaps more accurately: The Once Upon a Time Family Farm, as the farm was sold outside of the family about a decade ago. It is my dream to buy it one day.

A few weeks ago my mom, brother and I went there to have a look at the old farm, and I took some peektures and video footage.


Walking down memory lane can be an enriching experience, but sometimes a haunting one as well. As we trekked towards the heart of the property I was overcome by both a joy and sadness.


This is a beautiful place. My great-great grandfather cleared this land, all 100 hundred + acres of it, back in the 1880's. My great grandmother and grandmother were both born here. There is a lot of history...history of my ancestors, thus my history as well. I am tied to this land.

As I walked down that roadway I felt as if I were coming home. But it is not my home. Perhaps one day it will be.


I was happy to see that it is still a working farm with some cattle and chickens. The new owners also have done quite a nice job keeping the property in good condition. It looked much the same as when it did when I was a child. Even though my grandmother was so sad when the property was sold {by a second cousin who inherited the farm}, I think that she would be pleased with how the current inhabitants have treated the land.


A portrait of my grandmother's brothers and sisters, my grandmother being the baby. Circa 1924 on the family farm.

A painting of the farm done by a cousin.

Below is some of the video footage I took. Please excuse the quality, I am a shoddy 'videographer'.



Sláinte!

Laurel

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Some Etsy Announcements


I have opened a new shop over on Etsy called Ye Olde Pretties. It will have digital collage sheets, as well as digital artwork. Right now it has various Christmas themed sheets, but I am working on getting other pretties up soon. I am having an introductory sale where everything is 50 percent off, which will last til the end of December.


We are also having a Yuletide sale over at the nefaeria shop where all readings and vintage items are 25 percent off until December 30th.

Sláinte!

Laurel