Kitchen Witch Wednesday ~ Coffee Cake

Home made coffee cake!

I have been thinking about my dad's home made coffee cake all day long today. I think I'm excited to make some. So, this week for Kitchen Witch Wednesday, I will share my family's recipe for our creamy coffee cake.

This is adapted from my great grandmother's recipe. I'm thinking the part that changed is the dough. We don't make the dough from scratch. But I'm thinking of adding something more homey and crafty to it this year. so maybe I'll find a good recipe for making sweet dough. So, in the modern age we buy 1 box of sweetroll mix.
1 large sour cream (16 oz I think)
                                        1 pint of heavy whipping cream
a drop or two of either lemon juice or white vinegar

Prepare ground cinnamon and sugar (heavy on the cinnamon) in a small bowl that you can easily shake/sprinkle from.

In medium mixing bowl stir together your sour cream and heavy whipping cream and lemon juice or white vinegar. Cover with towel and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl prepare the sweetroll mix as directed on the box.
Shape into ball. Leave in bowl, cover with towel to let rise a bit.

In a large cookie sheet with a tall edge on it, pour out your sweetroll dough. Start to softly shape it into the pan. It will take some time to get it all spread out to all of the edges. I just kind of push it with the base of my hand and keep working it softly and gently. When its spread to all of the edges
you will go around the edges the edge of your hand using it like a hammer to form an edge (crust) around it. And make it look like a swimming pool. *lol*  Cover with towel. Let set for 5 minutes.

Then go back and this is the fun part! -- fold your fingers down and use your middle knuckles to punch little knuckle divits all over the dough. (not the crust though) Punch, punch, punch... Not so hard to tear it though.

Let set 5 minutes.

Go back and do it again, the dough will be all nice a puffy and make sure your just getting it all punched down with dents.

Take your cream mixture and carefully pour it in the center. It will fill the pan right up to the crust.

Now take your cinnamon mixture and shake it evenly all across the top and all over the crust too.
Let it soak up the cream and have a nice even coating of it over the top.

Now lets bake her at 350 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown.

Now, my dad advises me not to eat it right away and burn myself. *lol*
But I will say it is best all warm and gooey! Whats a little scalded tongue....

I hope you will enjoy your wonderful Clayton's Coffee Cake! (my maiden name)http://momsawitch.blogspot.com

A Lot Going On...

wow lots going on again. I've been doing rituals for job success. And I recieved a wishing bracelet in one of my 'new witch' kits from Under The New Moon. The note with the wishing bracelet said to put it on. Make my wish & before the string on the bracelet wears out, my wish will manifest. Indeed!

On Thanksgiving day, I got a call asking me to help care for someone's mother. Who used to be a resident at the retirement center I used to work at. She is actually my mother in laws patient. And my m.i.l. is on vacation right now. And there was an emergency with the husband. So, I went out that evening and got her ready for bed. And have been going out every morning and some days staying until after lunch & going back in the evenings
on some days. Just depends on who is there that can help.

It's really really good to be working again taking care of people!! I'm a C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant)
And I've been out of work since mid June. So, close to 6 months.
And now the husband had to have emergency kidney surgeries. And is going to be starting
chemotherapy also.

I've also been working on my forum a bit more.
The Witches' Garden
http://thewitchesgarden.ning.com
I'm really hoping that I will be able to keep it. I'm on a free trial of it right now.
And the middle of December I'll be billed $25.00 a month
So, I'm hoping to keep working even after my MIL gets back to work too w/ our patient.
She works 3 days a week. And I have been offered to pick up the other 4 days.
Which was actually a dream of mine. *giggle* - to just work 4 days a week. :D

And I've also got a lil sale going on at my shop -
Sacred Oaks Alchemy
http://faerycharm.net/sacredoaksalchemy/index.php

Here we are headed into December. But it doesnt feel like christmas to
me at all!

KitchenWitchWednesday-01

::: My 1st Kitchen Witch Wednesday :::

A kitchen witch blessing as you stir your food with love and contentment.

Stirring round and round with my power hand
Goddess Brighid please guide me now
Through love health and work all is grand
This to you I vow...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I love writing quatrains. I'm not saying I'm actually good at it. But

it is fun & creative. I hope that with time I will get better at it, and the
right words will arrive on my lips.

Join Emerlyn Rayne in her Kitchen Witch Wednesday as I have.
Originally started by Emberlyn Rayne at Mom's a Witch

The College of the Sacred Mists Online Wiccan College

I felt compelled to speak of The College of the  Sacred Mists wiccan college today. I can no longer attend because of my financial woes - of being out of work. Which is only $25.00 a month to attend. Not a huge amount and good price for all that they offer.

But I just want to send out a huge compliment to all who make the college a wonderful place to be. And also I love the teaching system they use. I was only there for a short time. But I utilized a lot of the extra courses. And they are valuable tools to me that I use everyday.

The exercises they teach. What all is involved in the homework. I really value the knowledge and experiences gained through Sacred Mists, on an everyday level. I loved the deity research at the end of each lesson in addition to the homework. And it is the shielding teachings that I use everyday that I am particularly fond of. The visualization that I used on my sheilding experience is still with me. And I call on it often.

I do not know how many people this will reach. Or even how many it will reach who attend or teach at Sacred Mists. If it even reaches one person I think that will be enough for me though. That means there is at least one person in the universe who knows my thoughts, gratitude and love I have for Sacred Mists. I miss it dearly. Maybe someday I'll be able to go back...

New Candle!

New candle added to My Etsy Shoppe yesterday

November Rayne

This candle is poured with parafin wax with out any color added to the wax.
It has silver and green glitter added throughout the candle.
It is crafting in modern chunky style in the ways of the olde craft
using correspondences for love, prosperity, and protection.

Orange chunks from my 'Alluring Autumn' candle were added which
has the scent of warm honey and melted butter. Brownish/Wine colored
heart chunks also add to the creativity of this candle. The hearts are from the same
wax blend as my cinnaberry candles (scented with cinnamon & hollyberry).
A few green wax chunks are also added, as well as shavings of non-colored
parafin wax. Giving this candle a special pock/chunk look. As well as a couple
of secret ingredients...

Dressed with a light olive green organza ribbon tied in a bow binding the
love, prosperity, and protection to this candle.
Dried rosemary and roses are sprinled throughout this candle.
Infusing it with love, harmony, protection, prosperity, joy, and an uplifted spirit.

This candle would be perfect in a ritual or to scent your home...

Samhain-November 1st 2011

HecateGoddess of Witches . Associated with Isis . Thought to give
instruction to the arts of alchemy . moon goddess . triple goddess .
Associated with magick, witchcraft, crossroads, walls, gates, and doorways .
torch . sword . dogs . thunder shrieks yells and barking dogs are heard upon her travel...



I had a wonderful ritual last night on the eve of Samhain. I'll get to that later. 1st I must say how enlightened I am to have just learned the truth of Hecate today. I (and I have no idea why) thought she was evil. I don't have a reason for thinking that. Now that I have learned of her history I have the overwhelming feeling that she is deeply sacred. An extremely important Goddess. I want to know more about Hecate and Morrighan...

Now for last nights ritual. Interesting! I used what words came to me. I'm not huge on planning. So, I didn't write out my ritual word for word. I'm a wing-it sort of person. *lol* Drives my sister insane. Guess I truely am a hedge witch. *hee hee* I also used parts of Scott Cunningham's samhain ritual from his renowned book: Wicca - A guide for the solitary practitioner. And also borrowed from Ann Moura's samhain ritual. I didn't cast a circle. But I think that I will tonight. I had also decided that it would not be necessary for me to do a naming ceremony. But then all of a sudden at the end of my ritual, I was gazing into the flame of my black candle that I created myself with different shades of orange dripping down it. All the words just came to me. And I claimed my name bestowed to me through dream.

For my rememberence of the dead part of my ritual I spoke to my grandma. I let her know how much I love her and how proud she would be of me if she were here to see all that I've done and all that I've become. Continued on to say that if she would like to come through the doorway just for tonight for a moment, she is welcome to do so. Then I sat silent for a moment with my eyes closed memories of her and I swirling around in my head. Just then I started to hear this loud crackling sound. I tried to not break my visualization. But I did look. And a dried rose i used to decorate my samhain candle came into the bottom of my candle. How I have no idea. Since I didnt put any roses near the wick. But it was so perfect since my grandma Jennings loved roses. She had a rose garden. And my grandpa picked a fresh rose for her everyday and brought it in and it was put into a special goblet glass of water.

I also said good-bye to the past year of bad thoughts, terrible experiences, sadnesses. Wrote down on a piece of parchment paper the thing I would like to rid myself of most. And welcomed the new year, new joy, new experiences, new knowledge in the coming year and welcomed happiness.

I also incorporated samhain correspondences such as black and orange candles. I had another candle on my altar which I also made and it turned out w/ an image of a black cat on 1 side. It was suppose to just be a swirly design with dark candle coloring. *lol* My altar cloth was black with gold triple moon in the middle. and a pentacle in the center. I made my own incense. Not so sure I'm very crazy about the scent though. It may end up in the trash. *lol*
Ingredients: broom wood, red sandalwood, mugwort, patchouli, rosemary, yarrow, myrrh resin, flax seeds, frankincense resin, 11 drops of cedarwood oil, 2 drops of ylang ylang oil.

My ritual was performed at 12:30 at night. Wind blowing. A cauldron in my window burned an orange candle. Which when it was extinguished the wick kind of has a crescent moon shape to it. And the glitter inside the candle all went to 1 side to also make a crescent moon shape. ??
I also had candles in other windows in my home to guide the spirits.
Today is perfect. cold, somber, snowy/rainy dreary! Very calming and comforting.



Some of my Samhain / Halloween Pics:

My 1st Samhain
October 31st 12:30 a.m.
Samhain Altar
Stones: moonstone, carnelian, garnet
candles: black and orange - handmade by me

Samhain Candle Cauldron
placed in my bedroom (magickal space) window next to my altar.



Cauldron Candle
I thought it was interesting how the wick shaped like a cresent moon
after being burned.



Then I noticed how the glitter all went to one side forming
the shape of a crescent moon too. As you can see the
glitter started out all over the entire candle.
(look around the edges)

The next few pics are of my grandkids Evey (11) & Dante (7)



The Thinning of the Veil...

Samhain - pronounced [Sow-In]
Observance Date: October 31st-November 1st
Moon Phase: Waxing
Waxing Moon: Draw your intents, wants & desires to you.


I feel as though my own veil into myself is actually thinner today. I feel like so much is so clear. Feeling full of energy and happy. Is it that I am more intune with nature and the universe now than ever before. Because of all of the knowledge I have gained over the past 7 months? Is it because it is the witches new year and the veil between the other world and this world is thinner. A door is open...


Samhain is a time to connect with our loved ones who have passed into the other world. Our ancestors, pets, familiars, family members. It is a time to remember and pay respect to those who have walked this well worth path before us. A time to remember those who suffered the burning times and at all other times to I believe. It's not just at the 'burning times' that witches suffered. I think this is a good time to remember all who have suffered at the hand of others. Whether it is any kind of slavery, religious unjustice. This kinds of things happen every day still. As I look back at american history we have not been a kind and understanding people. I do not understand the forefathers. Why do we not like and why are we cruel to people who are not are exact duplicate? I am speaking of going into another country and kidnapping people and making them our slaves. Why? I don't get it. I am also speaking of all of the cruelty reaped upon the native americans. Who I feel were here before the white man. I feel very close to the native american culture. They were (are) truely in tune with nature. Respected the land. And all we did is destroy and steal from them. I also speak of the injustices that are done in modern day. People are still ridiculed, fired, ... for their beliefs today.


Okay, got a bit off course there. But I wanted to get that off my chest. *lol*


Today I am going to make moon cookies for the 1st time. I don't know if any tricker-treaters will want them. As home-baked goods are frowned upon. But it is something that I feel strongly about today. Home baking, family, crafts, feels like a theme of today for me. I'd like to make some herb bread too. And making fried chicken for supper. It will be a very early supper. I don't want my grand kids Evey and Dante having candy for supper!


I didn't think I would feel any different today, than on any other day of the year. But I feel very loved. Like Isis has her arms around me letting me know I am loved. And that I am going in the right direction. I keep getting goosebumps. *lol*


I intend to put candles (safely) in my windows of my home to guide and welcome spirits of  the other world. I will have a big ritual. I have a lot of ground to cover. I'll probably go out trick or treating with my grandkids too.


I'm SO glad that I'm all better from being sick! It's like a miracle. I've never gotten well so quickly. And I've always had to go to the doctor to get well. But its like a real miracle that I actually got well without any antibiotics. What a blessing.

Candle Crafting...



I am having so much fun making candles. I just knew that I would love it and the creativity would come naturally to me. The ideas come faster than I can get them created. *lol*
Today I think black and purple and orange candles will be on my to do list.

Just 3 days to Samhain & my naming ceremony. I'm SO excited. Have been doing some research in my books and online for more Samhain ritual ideas & getting the feel for what this special sabbat represents...

I've also been doing a lot more experimenting with herbs. Making different natural loose incenses from scratch. I've created one that I just love called 'Autumn Forest' & I've followed recipies for others. Such as Silver RavenWolf's  'sunshine brew'. Personally I would love to learn how to create the original 'witches brew natural incense' I just loooove natural loose incense & to burn them on the self-igniting charcoal discs. I go through a lot of those. *giggles*

I should be posting more pics later on today. Be sure to check out My Etsy. And my other pages that I post pics to her on my blog. (books page has been updated as well as candle crafting). And be sure to stop by and friend me on Facebook,(my personal acct) and I've also created a facebook page for my craft shoppe. I'd be honoured if you'd stop by & 'LIKE' my Sacred Oaks Alchemy fan page.

Blessed Be,
              Raven Sylverwolf )O(

sigtag by me
Outlines purchased at Berliner Barin
Lines painted by me

Hedge Witchery

The last couple of days I've been reading Hedge Witch by Silver Ravenwolf. And have been trying some of the suggestions in there for candle crafting. wow! I feel so so good and positive and filled with happiness, peace & joy. I also did a small low magick ritual last night for the 1st time in probably a month or so. I slept so good and sound & actually had some good dreams! Woke up feeling really great too.

Took some more pictures of my new votive candles. They are brown in color aligning them with the element of earth. All of the colors, scents, herbs & spices used correspond with energies of love, fertility, good fortune & abundance.

Some of them have my little orange hearts dropped into them and some peeking out the top as well. Those votives are called ' Enveloped Love ' & I also made grungy candles (country prim) for the 1st time. They are interesting. My grungy votives are sealed in love with cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Which correspond with good fortune, positive flowing energy and movement.

They are all scented with hollyberry candle liquid scent during my cooking process.
Holly is symbolic of fertility. Holly being used by Pagans dates back hundreds and hundreds of years to the time of the Egyptian ancients.

When burned these candles will have your home flowing with positive energy, abundance, and love.
As the aroma of coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove burn on the outside. And the scent of hollyberry spilling over into your home will be intoxicating during the holidays.
Also perfect for your yule rituals & celebrations.

What witch would not want to draw abundance, good fortune and love into their rituals. These candles with their properties would be all the more powerful for use in your ritual if used during a waning moon rite...

I am selling them on my Etsy Shoppe - Sacred Oaks Alchemy in sets of 3 for $12.00 You may order all Enveloped Love, or all 3 Grungy, or mix and match. Convo me on Etsy to secure your proper order. I'm offering a 10% discount to my facebook sisters and brothers of the craft. PAGAN is the coupon code to use for the discount. The listing is for 1 set of 3. Also convo me if you desire more than that. I can set up a custom order for you.

Brightest Blessings,
Raven )O(

A Time of Change...

 Samhain is a time of change. Perhaps that is why it is now at this moment in time that my kids have come home. It is a challenge for sure. Compromise. Extra efforts are needed by all. Myself, my husband and my daughter. But it always seems like I'm the only one who gets bombarded with my emotions, plus everyone else's. And that I'm the only one that makes any extra effort, sacrafice or anything. Everyone else gets to just be themselves. And I'm stuck getting in trouble with my husband. Everything I do is wrong. Everything I think is wrong. Everything that I don't do is wrong.

They just got here yesterday. They had moved to Illinois back in July. I have missed them terribly. And its like I don't even get to enjoy my own family. I've tried to do everything right. I've tried to not make decisions on my own, without my husband. But it just doesnt seem to matter. He is mad no matter what. Every idea or anything I do is wrong anyway, no matter what.

I'm still planning on my special naming ceremony on Samhain night. I'm looking forward to it. I need to take some time to do some research. So I can plan my ceremony correctly.

I'm looking forward to Samhain very very much. I might even have 2 rituals. Or maybe just combine everything into one?? I don't know...
As Samhain is the witches new year. I want to make a resolution. I want to welcome the members of my family who have passed. And welcome them into my home and to be with me. I plan to
have a lit candle in my windows. Wherever it is safe to burn them.
I would like to make some special samhain candles with the correct correspondences. I have 2 candle books to look to for the aid in this.

Well - today is clean out the fridgerator and freezer day. *giggles*

I've also been doing some new work on my pixel websites.
My main site is Faery Charm - http://faerycharm.net
I have a pay members area, some freebies in the main area...
Some new goodies on my Shoppe & My Etsy

Love & Blessings ~ Raven aka Jules

sigtag by me
graphics by: Pammy

Stressful News.. Or Not?

This morning when I checked the mail. I got really mad, then really really stressed. But as I sit at my computer 30 minutes after the fact. I began to think I am a witch. Why am I wasting energy on stress. My Goddess & God will look after me. They always do. And always have. Why do I want to waste my good energy on filling my body with negative energy. Well I do not choose that path. I will take action to fight back. I will not lie down and go away. I am a witch. I am strong. I always rise above the ashes victorious like a phoenix rising from the ashes of chaos and destruction.

The piece of paper that arrived in the mail today is a denial of unemployment benefits. I've been paying my bills with my last paycheck and my retirement fund I cashed out. But it's getting low & was hoping to get unemployment since I was harassed at work by administration until I cracked and quit.

But I guess the way I worded it, unemployment got the idea that I quit because I was being repremanded. That is so NOT what was going on, on my last day. That was the end of the line. It was the last straw. And it was all bullshit!

So, I will appeal. It also did not help that I had to keep starting over on their digital form because it was timing out and not saving what I had typed out!! So, I will also tell them that.

Bright Blessings, Raven )O(

Link to me

I have decided to make a button for my blog for those who are interested...
The graphics are drawn & colored by me using paintshop pro X2

URL: http://wiccanmoonmagick.blogspot.com

1st Candle Crafting!

Took a shot at some candle crafting tonight. Wasn't sure how much wax would go and how far. If that makes any sense. *lol* So I started with 3 cups. Which to me seemed like a lot. But it wasn't sugar. So it didn't go very far. Just 3 votives and 1 wineglass. (soy wax flakes).

But I did achieve the color I was wanting. And I would like my glitter more spread out the next time. And I do like the scent that I used also. Most of this was just winging it. My thermometer didn't work. So I was really really winging it in that area!

Temp to add my scent & color is 160 F & pour temp is 150F. I was thinking it would cool really
fast so I was trying to hurry hurry hurry. I feel like I could have waited just a smidgen longer
to pour though.
So, here are some pics of my very 1st hand poured candle crafting experience.

soy wax flakes