Posers

Posers

Well the month is October, and Halloween is soon to be here-> Night of Masks. So what better month then this to write a blog entry on “Posers” (one who projects themselves, and their life as something it is not).

The way I see it being a Poser’s can be used in a selfless way, or it can be used to harm others.
I wonder sometimes who all the bloggers in the world really are? The politicians, Religious leaders? Are they really whom they project out to the world to see? I know for myself my blog, and poetry writing is a vessel for me. Through writing I portray a life that I would love to have but in reality it’s just is not true. I truly wish that happiness, and security was a reality for me but it is not.
So why do Posers do what they do? Maybe to make others feel good. So they do not worry about their friend or family member? Or maybe the black side of Posing->Many Politicians tell us what they think we want to hear. Maybe some of them actually believe it could someday be true? Or maybe they just use their "Pose" as a control? That’s a power that Religious leaders, and Politicians have over large groups of people.
Posers are in all parts of our lives; relationships, teachers, & family. So with an election year upon us its time we all here in the USA stop, and take a real look at those who represents US, and makes OUR choices for US. These choices affect everything around us, and the world view of the USA. (Take note of the state of the world view currently)

Our Schools, Church groups...The question one really needs to be asking is who are the people who are the founders of these groups. Are schools really providing an equal education? Are all students given all the information about educational options?? Who in our schools decides, and police’s the social situation in our schools..? Who are these people in public office that work, and decide for us what is right and best. Are the ministers, pastors, rabbi’s, and priests really the upstanding humans’ beings they represent to the world every day? Do they really use our good faith and financial gain to provide for the helpless, needy, and lost souls like they proclaim. In other words do they practice what they preach, and if so where is the documentation? Do they share with the congregations how, and whom benefited from our good faith, and money!!

I have many more questions about Poser’s but I hope at the end of my journey I do not find that all those whom the good people have put their faith in were not all from one collective organization using the goodness and trust of our people for personal gain.

So think about what I have said here or mostly implied.. Something is very wrong in our society very wrong.. I believe the results of this are just now starting to rear its ugly head.

Harvest from RavensWood

Hi to all, Well I am done.. All is well, and all canned, frozen, dried,& baked.. I am SOOooo tried!! But Happy..

A very bad garden year here at Ravenswood. Weather was very strange?? Even my bees had a odd season. I started with three hives mid summer -->two swarmed away. Then I had a swarm come, then another? Then one swarmed away. Then another came? At any rate.... Strange? Not much honey either, not enough for me to feel right about taken any.. So I will have to make do with the remnants from last years honey crop..

The photos above are of my garden treasures in all their glory. Canned goods; apple sauce, green beans, potato's, carrotts, and apple pie filling. I froze Blue berry's, Huckle berry's and Black berry's. I had a good Apple crop the most went to apple sauce.. Yummy!! But I had a small box left over so I made a giant apple pie today --->.. Almost a food group on its own!! I had a small but nice crop of pears too.. I truly love the fall with all its scents and colors, and OH the flavors!!

Sparkling fall leaves to all -->Bee

Hi All, Well the month of October is almost upon us. So I will start off with a blog entry on a symbol of the harvesting fields..

Sparkling candy corn..

Bee

Scarecrow History

The Scarecrow is one of the most familiar figures of the rural landscape not only in the United Kingdom but throughout Europe and many other countries of the world. His ragged figure has been recorded in rural history for centuries. His image has proved irresistible to writers from William Shakespeare to Walter De La Mare as well as to film makers since the dawn of the silent movie. Yet, despite all his fame, the origins and the development of the scarecrow have remained obscured in mystery.

Earliest known written fact about scarecrow's written in 1592.Definition of a scarecrow - That which frightens or is intended to frighten without doing physical harm.Literally that which - scares away crows, hence the name scarecrow.
Decline is due to the change of farming technology started with the industrial revolution. The hectic life of the farmer means that he doesn't have time to even feel the earth or walk it. He sits in his combination machine i.e J.C.B. He is protected against the elements and maybe listening to music. He is high off the ground and the earth and its magical properties are lost in a kind of factory floor.The hedges have gone to make larger areas. Lots of wild life has gone but somehow "The Crow" survives. The farmer of old would once a year sow his land by hand after the land had been lovingly prepared and tended. Now this is all done by machine. The farmer used to discard his old clothes and create a friendly chap and put him to guard his crops. He worked and still does. Farmers of today barely make a Scarecrow. On talking to them young and old still have a love of them. They try electronic ones and pop up balloon types. They are still trying to find an answer! The birds soon get wise to these. I believe if the Scarecrow is going to do his job he has to have a mystical feel about him.

A Poem By Barbara Euphan Todd

Ye Scairey-crows of dry-land,

Your little fields have bounds,

Come sail with me and you shall see,

The sun upon his rounds.

The sea-flowers bloom year out,year in,

The Plough is in the sky.

As you sail, as you sail,

And the time goes passing by,

And you will forget the fields you knew

As the times goes passing by.

* A book about scarecrows;

Scarecrow Fact and Fable, Author Peter Haining, Published in 1986 by Robert Hale.

Merry Mabon

Mabon Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest,

September 22nd 2008

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.





Various other names for this lesser Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.






Symbolism of Mabon: Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.


Symbols of Mabon: wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.


Herbs of Maybon: Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.


Foods of Mabon: Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.


Incense of Mabon: Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage. Colors of Mabon: Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.


Stones of Mabon: Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.


Activities of Mabon: Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over. Spellworkings of Mabon: Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.


Deities of Mabon: Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.





Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life.





May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!

Many Hugs Bee

Applesauce Cake

1 cup melted butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups pitted, chopped dates

2 cups raisins

2 cups chopped nuts

3 cups applesauce

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

4 tsp. soda (YES 4 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix butter, sugar and eggs. Add dates, raisins, nuts and applesauce and mix well. Sift flour with soda, cinnamon and cloves, add to applesauce mixture. Add vanilla.

Bake in tube pan at 325 degrees for about 1 hour, or until tested done with toothpick.

ICING (Optional)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine butter, sugar and milk. Bring to a boil, and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let cool and spread on cake.

The Mystical Absinthe AKA--> Green Fairy

Hi to all, Well I plan on purchasing some of this vintage liquid to have on hand for the hoildays.. So I thought with the recent change on the rulings of the sale of Absinthe in the US. (Currently several authentic absinthes are now available for purchase at liquor stores and bars in the US. This is a major breakthrough, as many brands will follow) I decided I would reaseach it well as I would like to purchase a good imported specimen. So I am underway, and I thought I would share some bits and pieces of information that I have learned.. One thing is that the "Wormwood Society" is based in Seattle, Washington which is very near me... Worm wood--> the magic ingredient..

Absinthe was invented in 1797 by Dr. Pierre Ordinaire. Henri-Louis Pernod opened the first absinthe distillery in Switzerland and then moved to a larger one in Pontarlier, France in 1805. By the 1850's it had become the favorite drink of the upper class. Originally wine based, a blight in 1870's on the vineyards forced manufacturers to base it with grain alcohol. Everyone could now afford it. The bohemian lifestyle embraced it.
The Green Fairy (la fee verte) as it became commonly known, was most popular in France. Most days started with a drink and ended with the "green hour" (l'heure verte) as one or two or more were taken for its aperitif properties. It is interesting to note that it also has aphrodisiac and narcotic properties. Authors and artists were proponents for using it to induce creativity.

Absinthe's popularity soared from 1880 on. Advertisements touted it as being healthful. It was exported to New Orleans and reached the same acclaim in the United States. It was one of the few drinks considered lady-like and women freely enjoyed it in the coffee houses where it was most commonly served. Victorian era men however, found women freely enjoying absinthe distasteful.
In 1905, Jean Lanfray who was very intoxicated, murdered his wife. He supposedly only had two glasses of absinthe but none the less, his trial became known as the "Absinthe Murder". Prohibition movements were underway. Absinthe was singled out as the maddening culprit and became synonymous with alcohol. Experiments started to be conducted often by injecting large doses of the oil of wormwood into animals. Absinthism was named as a disease. On July 25th, 1912, the Department of Agriculture issued Food Inspection 147, which banned absinthe in America, and finally France followed in 1915.
But what is absinthe?


Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made with an extract from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It is an emerald green drink which is very bitter (due to the presence of absinthin) and is therefore traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into a glass of water. The drink then turns into an opaque white as the essential oils precipitate out of the alcoholic solution (louche).

Simon and Schulter's "Guide to Herbs and Spices" tells us that Henri-Louis Pernod used aniseed, fennel, hyssop, and lemon balm along with lesser amounts of angelica, star anise, dittany, juniper, nutmeg, and veronica. These ingredients were macerated together with wormwood plants. After leaving the mixture to sit, water was added and the mixture was distilled. Dried herbs, including more wormwood, were added to the distillate, which was then diluted with alcohol to give a concentration of about 75% alcohol by volume. Different absinthe manufacturers used slightly different ingredients, sometimes using calamus, which has been purported to have psychoactive effects.
In addition to these ingredients, manufacturers sometimes added other ingredients to produce the drinks emerald green color. Normally, this color was due to the presence of chlorophyll from the plants. However, in the event that the product was not properly colored, absinthe makers were known to add things like copper sulfate, indigo, turmeric, and aniline green. Antimony chloride was also used to help the drink become cloudy when added to water. Presumably modern makers of Pernod and absinthe use safer ingredients for their concoctions!

Famous Absinthe drinkers include:

Edouard Manet
Charles Baudelaire
Paul Verlaine
Arthur Rimbaud
Oscar Wilde
Ernest Dowson Edgar Degas

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
Vincent Van Gogh
Adolphe Monticelli
Paul Gauguin
Alfred Jarry
Pablo Picasso

Ernest Hemingway

I found a couple of interesting drink recipes I will try..

Jonny Depp did not drink his this way in the Movie he stared in.. "From Hell" . He used the "traditional method" as described above..

The Mint Muse

1 1/2 oz. Lucid Absinthe

2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Muddled Mint Leaves

Lime Wedge

Topped with Sprite or 7-UP
Muddle mint leaves with lime wedge and add Lucid. Add ice and pineapple juice and shake briefly. Top with Sprite or 7-UP and add mint sprig.

Starry Night

2 1/2 oz. Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka

1/2 oz. Lucid Absinthe

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

Crushed chocolate cookie on rim

Garnish with Chinese Star Anise
In an ice filled shaker, add the vodka, Lucid, and simple syrup. Shake thoroughly and strain into the chocolate crumb-rimmed martini glass. Add the Chinese star anise.

Last Flowers of Summer

Hi to all, I took a few snap shots of the blooms that are left in my flower gardens. I love flowers so.. I am always sad when they fade away at summers end. But the wheel must turn and I have the fall colors to look forward to, then soon after the sparkling snow of winter. We can always dream of the spring which will rise again sooner than we think.. I hope your summer was as lovely as mine was..

Much sunshine to all, from this last bit of summer .

Bee

Mermaids

I love this.. Some sparkling friends of mine love Mermaids.. So I had to blog some stories and lore...

Hugs Bee

The following mermaid poem was written in 1830.

The Mermaid

WHO would be A mermaid fair, Singing alone, Combing her hair, Under the sea, In a golden curl, With a comb of pearl, On a throne?

II.

I would be a mermaid fair;I would sing to myself the whole of the day;With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb’d I would sing and say,“Who is it loves me? who loves not me?”I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall, Low adown, low adown, From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone With a shrill inner sound, Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself seven fold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea would feel their immortality die in their hearts for the love of me.

III.

But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play with the mermen in and out of the rocks; We would run to and fro, and hide and seek, On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells,Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea. But if any came near I would call, and shriek, And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells; For I would not be kiss’d by all who would list, Of the bold merry mermen under the sea; They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me, In the purple twilights under the sea; But the king of them all would carry me, woo me, and win me, and marry me, In the branching jaspers under the sea;Then all the dry pied things that be In the hueless mosses under the sea would curl round my silver feet silently, all looking up for the love of me. And if I should carol aloud, from aloft all things that are forked, and horned, and soft would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me.

*~*

The oldest form of the mermaid in mermaid mythology is the goddess Atargatis from Syria. A famous statue of Atargatis shows her as a woman from the waist up and a fish from there down. All sea goddesses inherit the sea's qualities. Just as the sea could be gentle and nurturing or violent and deadly, so could they. These are the same contradictory qualities we see in mermaids to this day: beautiful, cruel, tender, loving, destroying, etc. In a larger sense this is man's view of nature. The mermaid, a fantastic creature, is nature herself.


Mermaids in Celtic myths are always beautiful and usually friendly, even helpful to sailors and fishermen. However, when pushed, they can reveal an ugly side. In Scotland, they tell the story of the Knockdolion family who had a large house on the shore near Girvan. At night, a mermaid would come out of the water and sit on a large black rock. There she would comb her long blond hair and sing for hours. The lady of the Knockdolions felt that this serenade was annoying her baby, and ordered her servants to destroy the rock with heavy mallets. When the mermaid returned the next night and saw her favorite seat was gone, she sang:

Ye may think on your cradle--I'll think on my stane; And there'll never be an heir to Knockdolion again."
("Stane" means stone.)

Not long after, the baby's cradle was found overturned, and the baby dead beneath it. All the Knockdolion children died like this soon after they were born and the family became extinct. Celtic myths of destructive mermaids are not common but there are several.

Celtic Mythology: Ruad and the Mermaids

The British Isles, like Greece, have a strong bond with the sea. Celtic mythology is therefore full of stories of sea monsters, sea gods and of course mermaids. Ruad, a prince of Ireland, was crossing the sea to Norway in a fleet of three small ships. Suddenly, Ruad's ships stopped in the middle of the water and would not move. Ruad ordered his men to wait for him, and he dived into the water. Under each boat he found three beautiful women holding them fast. When the women saw him, they grabbed him and took him down to their land beneath the sea.
Notice the repetition of the number three. Three is a magic number in Celtic mythology.
He remained with them for nine days (nine is three times three), but wished to escape to his own world. He told them he was sad and missed his brother. He had been on his way to visit him when the women caught him. The women said that once he returned to the surface he would never want to come back, and refused for that reason to let him go. Ruad argued that if they really loved him they should trust him. Finally, they agreed to let him go if he promised to return. He gladly made the promise and left.
Returning to his ships he continued his journey to Norway and spent seven years with his brother. Finally, the day came when he had to return to Ireland. Of course he did not want to return to the land under the waves. He decided to leave at night and take the fastest boats he could find to outwit the sea women.
Under the sea, unknown to Ruad, one of the women he had slept with had had a son. When the women discovered that Ruad meant to break his promise, they took the child and headed after him in a bronze boat. This boat was very fast and began to catch up to Ruad. He ordered his men to row as fast as they could, but still he despaired of reaching Ireland again. However, luck was with him. Just as the bronze boat was about to come up to his, he reached land and jumped ashore. The women were angry beyond words. The boy's mother took Ruad's son and killed him, and threw his head on the beach. There were terrible screams of horror. From that time since that area has been known as Inber-n-Aillbine - the bay of the Awful Scream. This is the naming of names in Celtic mythology, an explanation of how a place came to have it's name.
The women turned their bronze boat out to sea and vanished forever over the horizon. According to Celtic mythology, Ruad returned to his kingdom but he was never brave enough to cross the sea again.

Celtic Mermaid Aine

The Goddess Aine has three forms: a mermaid, a young woman and a hag. As a Celtic mermaid she lives at the bottom of Lough Gur (Enchanted Lake). As a young woman she is a powerful creative goddess, who made the fairy people and gave life to the earth. As a hag she defends her realm under the lake.
One day, the Earl of Desmond found Aine in her Celtic mermaid form combing her hair by the lake. He sneaked up on her and stole her magic cloak, which put her in his power. (Compare this part of the story to "The Celtic Mermaid Wife" ) She agreed to bear the Earl a son in exchange for her freedom. This boy grew up to be exceptional in every way, once jumping into and out of a bottle. Later, due to a curse, he was condemned to spend eternity under the lake with his mother.
It is said that once every seven years Lough Gur dries up and you can see the sacred tree at the bottom of it. The tree is guarded by Aine in her hag form, while she knits the fabric of life. A man on horseback once tried to steal her cloth, but Aine made the waters of the lake retrieve the cloth, and a part of the horse as well.
The King of the Gold Mines was once accused of adultery by his wife-to-be because he was given a present by Aine. In her Celtic mermaid form she has made a likeness of him out of magic seaweed. The story ends tragically when the king is killed and his betrothed dies of grief. Mermaid Aine changed the lovers into two palm trees that grow together.

Lore of the Banshee

Hi to all, Well with summer nearing its end, and the harvest is well underway--> Which is my favorite time of year. I thought I would start with a bit of lore about the legendary "BANSHEE".

Also I have felt like this mystical being here lately and maybe on occasion looked like her to some??? So please enjoy the tids and bits about the elusive Banshee...

Sparkles Bee

The Banshee from the Irish; "Bean sí " usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld.

Her Scottish counterpart is the "Bean shìth" (also spelled bean-shìdh). Both meaning "Woman of the fairy mounds" or "Woman of peace".
In Irish legend, a banshee wails around a house if someone in the house is about to die. There are particular families who are believed to have banshees attached to them, and whose cries herald the death of a member of that family. Traditionally, when a citizen of an Irish village died, a woman would sing a lament (in Irish: caoineadh, or "caoin" meaning "to weep, to wail") at their funeral. These women singers are sometimes referred to as "keeners" and the best keeners would be in much demand. Legend has it that, for five great Gaelic families: the O'Gradys, the O'Neills, the O'Briens, the O'Connors, and the Kavanaghs. The lament ( a expression of grief) would be sung by a fairy woman; having foresight, she would sing the lament when a family member died, even if the person had died far away and news of their death had not yet come, so that the wailing of the banshee was the first warning the household had of the death.

In Old Gaelic legend, music and poetry were said to be fairy gifts and poetry were said to be fairy gifts and the possession of these was said to show a fatal kinship with the 'Duine Shee', or people of the spirit race. Carolan, the great Irish harper - (so runs the story) - obtained some of the wildest and most beautiful music through hearing the fairy harpers play while lying asleep in the moonlight on a fairy mound.

The Banshee is believed to be an unearthly attendant on the ancient families of Ireland, the true descendants of the noble Gaelic race - those who have the Mac and O to their names - for:
By Mac and O You'll always know True Irishmen they say'. But if they lack The O and Mac, No Irishmen are they'. And the families with the old names of the chieftains of the Gaels, such as the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, the O'Connors, the O'Learys, the O'Tools and the O'Connaghs, each had their banshee whose cry, when heard by any of them, was a forewarning of death.
In Ireland, those persons who have the gifts of music and song are, it is said, watched over by the spirits; one the Spirit of Life, which is prophecy, such persons are said to be 'fey' and to have the gift of the second sight; the other, the Spirit of Doom, which is the reveler of secrets of misfortune and death, and for this dread messenger another name is the Banshee.
The wail of the Banshee is a peculiarly mournful sound that resembles the melancholy sound of the hollow wind, and having the tone of the human voice, and is distinctly audible at a great distance.
She is usually presented as a small though beautiful maiden, dressed in the fashion of Ireland's early ages who, with her mournful and melancholy cry, bewails the misfortune about to fall on the family she loves.
It has been stated by some writers that the Banshee was actuated by a feeling inimic to the person lamented. This, however was not the opinion of the people of an earlier day in Ireland.
Their belief was that the Banshee was the friend of the family she followed, that she at one period enjoyed life and walked the earth in the light and shadow of loveliness and immortality.
The very fact of the unearthly creatures always crying their sweet, sad song of sorrow at some misfortune bears this out, for if otherwise than a friend, why should her song not be one of rejoicing instead of lamentation? When the caoine of the Banshee was heard in the vicinity of the house of any old Gaelic family, it was at once felt that misfortune or death awaited some member of it.
Instances have been quoted of every member of a family having been in vigorous health when the cry of the Banshee was first heard, but before a week had elapsed someone had been accidentally drowned or killed or had met sudden death in some fashion.
It is well to remember that the Banshee belongs exclusively to the Celtic race. She is never heard bewailing the approaching demise of any member of the other races composing the population of Ireland.
An old Irish poem refers to the appearance of the Banshee in the morning:
'Hast thou heard the Banshee at morn, Passing by the silent lake, Or walking the fields by the orchard? Alas! that I do not rather behold White garlands in the hall of my fathers.

'while it is on record that the Banshee has been heard at noon, she is, however, rarely seen or heard by daylight. Night is the time generally chosen by her for her visits to mortals:
The Banshee mournful wailsIn the midst of the silent, lonely, lonely night,Plaining, she sings the song of death

A great chamber that overhangs the wild Atlantic waves, in the old ruined castle of Dunluce, where it sits on its rock above the green sea water of the Antrim coast, is said to be the home of the Banshee of the O'Donnells.
Here winter nights, through the old dark roofless ruin above the roar of the great storms, that come raging down from the far north, may be heard, it is said, the weird cry of the Banshee lamenting for the fallen fortunes of the great house, and for Ireland's want through her bitter loss - the scattered Chieftains of the Gael.

By Lough Neagh's shore, hard by Edenduff-Carrick, the Black Brow of the Rock, the ruined walls of the O'Neill's Castle still sit above the grey lake water where once in all his pride of power and ownership dwelt one of Ireland's most power Chieftains, the great O'Neill.
Here, from time immemorial, when any misfortune threatened one of the grand old race, the cry of the Banshee of the O'Neills would be heard throughout dark woods of Coile Ultagh away over the grey waters of Lough Neagh, and along the walls of the old castle echoing in the great vaults underneath and wailing over the graves of the great O'Neills.
Maeveen was the name that was on the Banshee of the O'Neills. She was some times seen as well as heard, and the form she usually assumed was that of a very old woman with long white locks falling down over her thin shoulders.
The Banshee was also very shy of encountering the eye of a mortal. The slightest human sound borne on the breeze of twilight drove her from sight and caused her to disappear like a thing of the mist.
Moore, in his beautiful song, asks:'How oft has the Banshee criedHow oft has death untied,Bright links that glory move,Sweet bonds entwined by love.'
One of the strangest Banshee stories of all had its beginning in Dublin - at 2.30 am on 6th August, 1801, when Lord Rossmore, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Ireland, died at his home.
The evening before he had attended a vice-regal party in Dublin Castle. To the people he met there, including Sir Jonah and Lady Barrington, he seemed in the best of health, and stayed at the party until near midnight. Before leaving, he invited the Barringtons to join a party he was holding in his house at Mount Kennedy, Co Wicklow. In fact for a man of his background and position, he had spent a fairly ordinary evening - one that seemed to contain no hint at all of the strange things to come.
At two o'clock in the morning, Sir Jonah Barrington awoke and heard what were described as 'plaintive sounds' coming from outside the window, from a grass plot underneath it. He was to remember the Banshee-like sounds all his life. Lady Barrington heard the sounds, too, and so did a maid. Finally, at 2.30 am., Barrington heard a voice call 'Rossmore! Rossmore! Rossmore! and then there was silence. Next day, the Barringtons were told that Lord Rossmore was dead. His servant had heard strange sounds coming from his room, and rushing in, found him dying. He died at 2.30 am.
'Lord Rossmore was dying at the moment I heard his name pronounced', Sir Jonah wrote later.
It was a most terrifying experience from Sir Jonah. To the Irish staff, however, it was no mystery, for they knew it was the Banshee Barrington had heard.

Where is Avalon?

Avalon

Hi to All,

Whats in a name seems to apply here as well. While research has shown other wise the location of Avalon. I think by searching and back tracking the correct, and final resting place of King Arthur is a correct way to discover the reclusive isle of Avalon.. Here is some info I have found while searching for the truth..

Enjoy Bee

The tradition that the Arthur of legend was buried at Glastonbury is a well-established one. But certain problems regarding the account of the exhumation of the great king's bones in 1190 A.D. have called into question the veracity of the tradition. It now seems unlikely that Glastonbury, while still an ancient sacred site, is the real Isle of Avalon, and that we had best look elsewhere in Britain for this Celtic Otherworld localization.

Some odd details surround the "discovery" of King Arthur's grave at Glastonbury. These details have been discussed at length before by scholars, but the conclusions drawn from them have varied. First, a 6th century Arthur (the usual date ascribed to his floruit) would have had his grave marked by a stone bearing Roman capitals. The formula of the inscription (see Leslie Alcock's ARTHUR'S BRITAIN) would have been something like;

HIC SEPVLTVS IACIT ARTVRIVS "Here buried lies Arthur"

Instead, the monks at Glastonbury claimed to have found a lead cross buried beneath the coffin cover. Drawings of this cross reveal the form and content of the inscription ;

HIC IACET SEPVLTVS INCLITUS REX ARTVRIVS IN INSULA AVALONIA

"Here lies buried the famous king Arthur in the isle of Avalon"

To be from the tenth century, not the sixth century. This would seem puzzling, were it not for the fact that 12th century monks could easily forge an inscription in such a way as to make it seem to be from an earlier period. Its know that they did this with manuscripts.

In the ancient Irish story of Art son of Conn, King Conn and then his son Art voyage to an island called the Land of Promise (Tir Tairngiri) and the Land of Wonders (Tir na nIngnad). This island is distinguished by its "fair fragrant apple-trees", its "wild apples".

The king of the Land of Wonders, who Art slays, is named Morgan.
The Land of Promise name, in the story of Eithne daughter of Curcog, is given as a synonym for Emhain or Emne Ablach, Ablach being the Old Irish word for apple trees.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, in calling Insula Pomorum/Insula Avallonis/Isle of Avalon the "Fortunate" Isle, would seem to have been evoking an Otherworld identical to that which King Morgan ruled. Might not the name Art have been associated with Arthur's name?
The only problem with this theory is that one has to account for Geoffrey naming Morgan's kingdom Avallonis, when in the story it is called Tir na nIngnad, the "Land of Wonders".

If one follows the Cornish coast north from the Camel where Arthur supposedly was mortally wounded, we arrive at Appledore, situated on a neck of land or headland jutting out into the confluence of the Taw and Torridge Rivers. According to Eilart Ekwall, this town was le Apildore in 1335 AD. The name is Old English and means... "Apple-tree". The Appledore in Kent has an identical origin, but much earlier recorded forms: Apuldre 893 (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle), Apeldres (Domesday Book).

Obviously, the Cornish name "Avalon" (Geoffrey’s Avallonis almost certainly derives from Cornish auallen, “apple-tree”; cf. Breton avallen, Welsh afallen, Celtic *aballon-/apple-orchard) was a suitable substitution for the English name Appledore. The "Insula" or island of Avalon/Appledore is being used in the same sense as isle is used in Isle of Purbeck, Isle of Portland, or Isle of Thanet. In other words, Geoffrey’s Isle of Avalon is the neck of land or headland of Appledore.

FairyWood of Brocéliande

Hi to all, Back to "whats in a name".. Much research is done and redone in ancient history. This research constitutes translation, which means crossing languages.. In the case of the Forrest of Brocéliande , Gaelic,& french language's for example.. Then different time periods also affect translation as well.This is really sometimes a great puzzle that needs to be solved as it was in the case of the location of the Forrest of Brocéliande .

I truly love reading and learning about this time period..

Enjoy this short blog about the FairyWood.

Bee

Brocéliande, is the remnant of a vast primeval forest which has been said that in the first centuries A.D. covered the interior of Brittany. The Location of the Forrest has been disputed. After doing a systematic search of the chambered cairns of the area, researchers studied all of the type called ; Clyde-Carlingford, there was only one candidate for Merlin’s Chapel on the Noquetran: the great chambered cairn on Windy Edge. The Windy Edge chambered cairn is, of course, in Dumfriesshire. It is now said with some degree of certainty that the chapel on the Noquetran is none other than the Windy Edge chambered cairn.

Photo; The great Chambered Cairn of Windy Edge.

Definition:

In this case "Cairn"--- pile of stones used as marker or as a memorial to somebody who died there.

In Gaelic, mid 16th century; "Carn" means --- "heap of stones".

Torannán is then such a location for Merlin’s mountain it would fit a earlier identification of Merlin's Forest of Broceliande (in Old French Briosque + "land"), wrongly relocated to Brittany by the French troubadours, with the -fries component of Dumfries. As this type of research is very painstaking... it falls to translation of old Gaelic ECT. A lot of good research has been done on this subject.

“It was in Broceliande that the enchantress Vivian trapped the madman/prophet in a chambered tomb.”

Lore;
Forrest of Broceliande is also known to be the place where fairies came from. The forest was also the homes of demons.

The dense shadowy forest has spawned numerous mysteries & legends including one of the most famous legends in western mythology. This enchanted region is the setting for the quest by the

Knights of the Round Table to recover the Holy Grail under orders from King devils and ghosts.
One of the best known inhabitants of the forest was Merlin the Magician. Merlin, a druid was friend & advisor to the young Arthur.

Note that the adventures of Vivienne and Merlin, Diana and Faunus, and Lancelot and Vivienne, all take place in Broceliande.

Ref; Audrey Shore Henshall’s 'The Chambered Tombs of Scotland' , Reference and Local Studies Department, Dumfries and Galloway Libraries, Information and Archives, Dumfries and Galloway Council.

What's In a name ?

Hi to All,

In celebration of the twins born to; Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt. I thought I would do a blog entry on the name "Vivienne" as that is what they have named their new daughter. (I really liked their name choices.) Angelina named her first child Maddox, which is a name of Welsh origin and means good or generous. Little Zahara's name is of Arab origin and means flower.The second boy in the clan, Pax, is of Latin origin and means peace. Angelina's first biological child, Shiloh, has a very interesting name of biblical origins and the most probable meaning of it is gift. So her full name Shiloh Nouvel, meaning new gift.Now that two more kids have joined the Jolie - Pitt clan, their names are under the microscope! Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline ... Knox is a name of Old English origin and is rarely used these days. It means round-top hill. It also ends in X which seems to be a pattern for the boys names! MaddoX - PaX - KnoX. As for little Vivienne, her name is very interesting; Vivienne is of French origin and comes from the word Vive, which means to live or alive. Her second name is Marcheline, which is Angelina's mom's name! so, put together it gives the meaning Marcheline lives on!

Enjoy

A Vivienne from Arthurian Lore

The Lady of the Lake was known by many names. She was most often Nimue (pronounced Nim-oo-ay). Nimue, Vivien, Vivienne, Niniane .

Lady of the Lake in the Arthurian Legends and stories.

Nimue was often confused and misrepresented in Arthurian Legend as an enchantress wanting nothing more than to steal Merlin's magic. This is considered by most, a literary fabrication created by the misogynist, religious state of that time.
Literally, Nimue was the daughter of Diones and the lover of both Pelles and Merlin. In reference to Nimue as the Lady of the Lake, it was she who gave the sword Excalibur to Arthur and regained it when he died. She also accompanied three additional faerie queens to Avalon with the body of the slain king. It is also said that she stole the child Lancelot and cured his madness. This was done so Lancelot could become guard to Nimue's weak son Mabuz who was tormented by Iweret.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson paints one of the loveliest literary pictures of the Lady of the Lake in his great work, Idylls of the King. This first reference describes the Lady of the Lake presenting Excalibur to the King. The second reference is the return of the sword after the death of Arthur.

"And near him stood the Lady of the Lake
Who knows a subtler magic than his own-
Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful.
She gave the King his huge cross-hilted sword,
Whereby to drive the heathen out. A mist
Of incense curl'd about her, and her face
Well nigh was hidden in the minster gloom;
But there was heard among the hold hymns
A voice as of the waters, for she dwell
Down in the deep-calm, whatsoever storms
May shake the world- and when the surface rolls,
Hath power to walk the waters like our Lord."

Spoken by Sir Bedivere who was charged with casting Excalibur to the Lady...
"Then with both hands I flung him [Excalibur], wheeling him;
But when I look'd again, behold an arm;
Clothed in white samite, mystical, wonderful,
That caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him
Three times, and drew him under the mere."

Mythologically, the Celtic Lady of the Lake was known as a Gwragedd Nnnwn (or Lake Faerie). These fae were often married to mortal men. They were lovely, blond women who enjoyed female company and aiding mortal women and children. The Lady of the Lake was also considered the Queen of the Isle of Maidens.

Nimue, mythologically, was a lessor Celtic Moon Goddess; cognate with the Greek Nemesis and Diana of the Grove. Her name meant "fate" and "she who lives" and was said to reside in the Fairy wood of Broceliande. She was also connected to the Goddess Morgan.

Archetypically, Nimue and the Lady of the Lake represented the primal initiation into the Other world. She reigned over knowledge, was the foster mother, and the mistress of wisdom.

9th Moon of the Celtic Year

HAZEL LORE

This is my last blog entry on the "Celtic Tree Lore" and their association with the Celtic calendar. As I started last year with the September blog entry. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed blogging this..

Sparkling Bee

9th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Aug 5 - Sept 1)

Latin name: European hazel - corylus avellana; American Filbert - corylus americana.
Celtic name: Coll (pronounced: Cull). Coll means "life force within you".
Folk or Common names: tree of Wisdom, Lamb's Tails Tree, Collo or Coslo (Gailic), The tree's name shares a common root with the walnut tree and its nut, or cnu and hnot in Europe and Nux in Latin.

Parts Used: Nut, leaves, branches, wood.
Herbal usage: Hazel can be used as a drainage remedy and can help restore elasticity to the lungs. Hazelnuts, of course, can be eaten, and are a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, protein and fatty acids. The nuts can be powdered and be mixed with mead or honeyed water to help a cough.

Magical History & Associations:

The bird associated with this month is the crane, the color is brown, and the gemstone is band-red agate. The Hazel, a masculine herb, is associated with the element of air, the planet of Mercury, the day of Wednesday, and is sacred to Mercury, Thor, Artemis, Fionn, Diana and Lazdona (the Lithuanian Hazelnut Tree Goddess). Hazel wood is one of the nine traditional fire woods that is part of the Belfire that the Druid's burned at Beltane - it was added to the fire to gain wisdom. In fact, in ancient times the Hazel was known as The Tree of Wisdom. It is often associated with sacred springs and wells and salmon. Celtic legend tell of a grove of Hazel trees below which was a well, a pool, where salmon swam. These trees contained all knowledge, and their fruit contained that knowledge and wisdom in a nutshell. As the hazelnuts ripened, they would fall into the well where they were eaten by the salmon. With each nut eaten, the salmon would gain another spot. In order to gain the wisdom of the Hazel, the Druids caught and prepared the salmon. But Fionn, the young man stirring the pot in which the salmon were cooking, accidentally burned his thumb with the boiling stew. By reflex, he put his thumb into his mouth and thus ingested the essence of the sacred feast; he instantly gained the wisdom of the universe.

Magical usage:

It is said that the Hazel has applications in magic done for manifestation, spirit contact, protection, prosperity, wisdom, divination-dowsing, dreams, wisdom-knowledge, marriage, reconciliation, fertility., intelligence, inspiration, and wrath. Hazel is a good herb to use to do magic associated with asking for wisdom and poetic inspiration since the Hazel is known as the Tree of Immortal Wisdom. In England, all the knowledge of the arts and sciences was thought to be bound to the eating of Hazel nuts. Hazel also has protective uses as anti-lightning charms. A sprig of Hazel or a talisman of two Hazel twigs tied together with red or gold thread to make a solar cross can be carried as a protective good luck charm. The mistletoe that grows on hazel protects against bewitching. A cap of Hazel leaves and twigs ensures good luck and safety at sea, and protects against shipwrecks. In England, the Hazelnut is a symbol of fertility - a bag of nuts bestowed upon a bride will ensure a fruitful marriage. The Hazel is a tree that is sacred to the fey Folk. A wand of hazel can be used to call the Fey. If you sleep under a Hazel bush you will have vivid dreams. Hazel can be used for all types of divination and dowsing. Until the seventeenth century, a forked Hazel stick was used to divine the guilt of persons in cases of murder and theft. Druids often made wands from Hazel wood, and used the wands for finding ley lines. Hazel twigs or a forked branch can be used to divine for water or to find buried treasure. The wood of the Hazel can help to divine the pure source of poetry and wisdom. Hazelnuts can be used for love divination. Assign the name of your passion to a nut and throw it in the fire while saying:

"A Hazelnut I throw in the flame,to this nut I give my sweetheart's name,If blazes the nut, so may thy passion grow,For twas my nut that did so brightly glow."

If the nut burns brightly you then will know that your love will burn equally as brightly. Hazels are often found at the border between the worlds where magical things happen, and therefore Hazel wood is excellent to use to make all-purpose wands. Any Hazel twigs, wood or nuts should be gathered after sundown on Samhain since it will be at the peak of its magical energy. Hazel must not be cut with a knife, but with a flint.

A Brave Young Man

Hi to all, The above photo is of the Grandson and Granddaughter of a friend of mine. We call her "MagicWoman".. The boy is Jordan, and the girl is his sister Brittany. Young Jordan 13 years young was taken to the hospital in June 2008 after he took very ill. It was discovered that Jordan had 1 kidney, and it was only working at 30% and if there is a left kidney, it is oddly shaped and in the wrong place. Jordan's 1 kidney that was working at only 30% was found to be infected. Very dangerous, and a life threatening situation. With lots of prayers, fairy dust,and a good medical team Jordan has pulled though this rough patch. Although his life is changed somewhat. He is well and on a special diet, medications and under the watchful eyes of those that love him so. I know this brave young man will over come this hurdle in the road of life... This picture was taken shortly after he returned home. I thought he looked great for a boy that had gone through so much..

Hugs to all

Bee

Much Merry this Lammas

A Little History about this time of Lammas.

When ancient Celts went to a Lughnasadh celebration, they could expect to find many features of a modern fair or market day, not just sports and sacrality. Crafts, (probably including ‘corn dollies’, which are still a Lammas tradition), fruit preserves, all kinds of foods, and local produce would certainly have been displayed and sold at the games, I'm sure it would of been a fun and colourful affair.
One ancient custom still associated with cross-quarter days, and in particular Lughnasadh(Lammas), was for a large wagon wheel to be dragged to the top of a hill, covered with tar, and set on fire; then when hte wheel was blazing it was rolled down the hill – perhaps recalling the end of summer, with the flaming disk representing the declining sun deity. This, in Christian times, evolved into the popular firework, the Catherine wheel, since St Catherine of Alexandria (who was intended to be martyred on a wheel but survived miraculously), was commemorated on her feast day at Lammas (though the Church has moved it several times) and the wheel rolling continued as part of her day.
Lughnasadh was seen as a propitious season in which to marry, as food was abundant between the two harvests for the ‘honey moon’, and leisure time was available once the harvest was in. At the Oenach Tailten began a widespread custom called a Tailtean (or Teltown) marriage, similar to neo-Pagan ‘handfasting’, and it only took place at Lughnasadh. Such a marriage lasted only a ‘year and a day’ and could only be dissolved if both parties returned to the Lughnasadh fair. To divorce, the spouses stood back-to-back, then one spouse walked to the north and the other south. ( Wow ) -->(Now that is the easy less expense way out of a marriage!) This custom carried on well into the 16th century and, like bundling<-- (‘occupying the same bed without undressing – said of a man and woman, especially during courtship’ – Webster), which was known even later and certainly in colonial America, was considered proper, even by the Christian Church.

Another of these great Lughnasadh festivals was the Oenach Carmain, the assembly of Carmán the evil sorceress. She, like the Fomorians (evil giants; the people of the other world) came to Ireland from Athens, accompanied by her three ferocious sons. The people of Leinster province, at Carman or Wexford held the "Oenach Carmain", once every three years, beginning on Lughnasadh and ending on the sixth, believing that by holding it they would receive various blessings, such as prosperity, and corn, milk, and fruit in abundance, as well as protection from incursions by other provinces. There also was racing, poetic competition, satirical drama, and history, with a strong role played by women, who had political meetings called aireachts. Probably due to the influence of the patriarchal Christian Church, the Oenach Carmain only lasted until the 11th Century.
As well as the sports played at this event, there were marriage contracts made in the ‘Marriage Hollow’. In Europe, the festival of Lughnasadh was also associated with the myth of the marriage of Lugh to Bloddeuedd. This goddess, whose name means 'face of flowers', was conjured up out of flowers of oak, broom, and meadow sweet, by Lugh’s uncle, King Math, to be Lugh’s consort. When she later turned out to be an unfaithful wife, she was cursed by Gwydion, brother of the moon goddess Arianrhod, to be forever disturbed by sunlight, and she experienced a shape shift into an owl, a creature said to be hated by all other birds.
At gatherings of Lammastide, villagers placed offerings of blackberries, acorns, and crab apples in the lap of a maiden dressed in white, seated on the top of a hill, and a dance and procession home would then be held.
Several important and hugely attended assemblies, all involving Olympics-like games, took place during Lughnasadh in Ireland, and there is growing evidence of such games throughout Europe, because Celtic culture took root from Ireland to as far as Galatia, the Middle Eastern town mentioned in the Bible (Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians – the word is etymologically related to ‘Celtia’).
Lammas and athletic contests go hand in hand. Ranggeln, an ancient style of wrestling from which the terms ‘wrangle’ and thus ‘Wrangler jeans’ derive, is still practised in Austria. The St Jacob’s Day (July 29) Ranggeln festival at the summit of Mt Hundstein harks back to pre-Christian Celtic Lughnasadh festivities.
The Oenach Tailten was the assembly of Tailte, held at Talten or Teltown, a mountain in Meath, for the fifteen days on either side of August 1. Fostering was a Celtic practice that survived into early 18th century Scotland, and the goddess Tailte (Tailtiu), for whom the Oenach Tailten was held and the games played, was Lugh’s foster-mother, a female chieftain of the Fir-Bolg. After she and her people were vanquished by the Tuatha De Dannan, she was ordered by them to clear a large forest for the purpose of planting a field of grain, and Tailte died of exhaustion in the attempt. The legend tells us that she was buried beneath a large mound named for her, at the place where the first feast of Lughnasadh was held in Ireland, the hill of Tailte. Lugh’s birth mother was Ethnea Ní Bhaloir. Lughnasadh also commemorated Lugh’s two wives, Nas and Bui, so a strong feminine aspect can be seen in Lughnasadh, as well as its primary masculine theme of the solar deity.

Have a wonderful day however you choose to spend it!!

Bee

August Lammas image top of page provided by; Llewllyn Witches Calendar 2000 and are copyrighted to Llewllyn Publications.

Happy Birthday Harry Potter

Hi to all the Potter fans, Yes, today is Harry's birthday.. July 31.... ( and my Grand-daughters who is 9 this year) So I am celebrating by sharing some of Hogwarts secret recipe's.. And baking "Cauldron Cakes" for myself in celebration!!!

Also the announcement of the release date for JK Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard".

Enjoy

Bee

Butter Beer!

(YUMMY)

Ingredients:
1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
½ tablespoon butter



Directions:Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated. Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!





Chocolate Frogs




frog or toad chocolate candy mold

white chocolate candy melts,

peppermint candy flavoring oil

(chocolate chips or other chocolate)


You can use food coloring to make the white candy melts any color you'd like. Melt the white chocolate according to the instructions. Use a toothpick to add peppermint oil drop by drop until you have the desired taste. Be careful, since the peppermint oil is VERY strong! Spoon the flavored chocolate mixture into the candy mold and let harden in the refrigerator. When solid, pop out your toads and add the eyes with a small paintbrush and melted chocolate chips. These can be frozen, just thaw before serving.

Cauldron Cakes

Makes about 3 dozen from a standard cake mix.Your favorite devils food cake recipe, made into cupcakes, black string licorice Bake your cupcakes according to the instructions, without using paper cup liners. Slice off the top of the crown of each cupcake so that when it is turned upside down, it sits flat. This gives you more of a cauldron shape than a cupcake shape. Cut the black string licorice into small pieces and poke them into the cupcakes as cauldron handles

Butter Beer for over 21 crowd

Makes 2 quarts.

1 cup butterscotch schnapps

7 cups cream soda (almost one 2 liter bottle)


Carefully mix just before serving, adding the schnapps to the soda then stirring gently to mix well, or the fizz will dissipate too soon.You can also find butterscotch flavoring near the vanilla flavoring in the baking section of the grocery store, but it is more difficult to find, and actually the flavoring is 35% alcohol where the schnapps is only 15% alcohol by volume, so if you're making large quantities of butter beer, I recommend just to buy the schnapps. There is not much alcohol content in the butter beer mixture, just enough to make a house-elf tipsy and to give it the warm, buttery aftertaste to the fizzy cream soda.

Pumpkin Juice

Bake your Halloween jack o'lantern in the oven.(watch the face distort and shrink - it's fun!)Strain your pumpkin, saving the juice separately from the strained pumpkin.Serve your chilled pumpkin juice to your guests!This takes a good hour or two, depending on the size of your jack o'lantern, so keep checking your pumpkin as it is baking. Use a cookie sheet underneath so you can easily take the hot mushy pumpkin out of the oven and to catch any drippings. If your pumpkin was not carved, cut it in half before baking, otherwise it could explode and make a GIGANTIC mess! You will see that the juice separates from the pumpkin flesh as it starts to bake, so spoon off this juice periodically and save it so it doesn't leak all over your oven. Once your pumpkin flesh has baked long enough to be good and soft, remove from the oven and let it cool. Scoop the pumpkin flesh from the skin into a strainer with a container underneath. Use a spoon to squeeze out the juice from the pumpkin, so you have as "solid" a puree as possible, which you should save for your Pumpkin Pasties, pumpkin bread, or your favorite pie recipe.Ironically, this is always how I strained my pumpkin after baking, since if you don't, you end up with a very watery pumpkin pie, but I always just discarded the pumpkin juice before. Now I freeze my pumpkin and pumpkin juice separately in plastic containers, and they can keep over a year in the freezer quite well. After thawing the pumpkin, you can strain again for even better results (and more pumpkin juice!) since during freezing, the ice crystals were separated from the pumpkin naturally.I did try using pumpkin pie spice mixture to flavor my juice, but I thought the flavor was too strong. I actually prefer plain, unsweetened pumpkin juice, since it is quite refreshing and tastes a bit like iced tea. My guests liked the Butter beer much better though! ;)