Samhain @ Our House ~ 2015 (photos)

 



Welcome to our House and Samhain 2015:

We had a lovely, lively, intimate Samhain evening with the kids and family friends (a couple of whom we have unofficially adopted as our own).  The following photos are random, taken sporadically, and are completely unedited.



The Samhain Altar:
 Honoring our ancestors and family members who have passed.

 

 

My Halloween Baby:  18th Birthday!!!
 



The centerpiece for my table: it includes dried rose blossoms, mums snipped from my garden,
bittersweet and pinecones we picked up at the lake, and maple leaves from our yard.

 

The Divination Table:  I sat up a card table in the living-room this year,
instead of it's traditional location on the back porch.



Hot Dogs and Marshmallows destined for the Fire Pit.



 

 

Hot Apple Cider: my own recipe, included in my book, The Spiritual Feminist

 

 

Chili:  the traditional main dish for Samhain at our house,
also my own recipe.

 

The Kidz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura harvested her pumpkin and we weighed it:  30lbs.!

 

Patchouli Incense was my choice for the evening.

Until next year...Blessed Be!

 

 

 

(Note:  You can click on any of the photos to make them Bigger!)

 



Sunday Drive (photo blog)

We just got home from our first jaunt of the year around Fremont State Lakes and some of the adjacent neighborhoods (lake homes).  We wound up our tour with chocolate ice cream cones from Runza.  I have a lot of photos of the lake taken during the "on" season-- late spring through summer; and I even have a set of beautiful winter photos of the lakes and that area; but this is the first time I've been out there this time of year-- no longer winter, but too early to really be leafed out and fresh...It's an odd "tween" time.

I don't know what these pretty lavender blossoms are but
this field is just a few blocks south of our house.

The Stump
(What is a stump doing on a sandy beach?)

Hooza!!!!...We've reached the Summit.
(on so many levels, in life, in love, in accomplishments, in experiences)

Some roads are not made of brick, and they are not yellow; but
they will lead you on just as many grand adventures.

Joe & Amythyst

There are cactus here, and I'm not sure if they are native to this area or not.
I know they are native to western Nebraska, but they look out of place here.
Never-the-less, they thrive.  I know there's a lesson here somewhere.

This photo is a study in contemplation and balance.

This is the only blossom I saw today-- an early dandelion, with a small bee in the center.

Emma

I stood on this shore and snapped several photos, trying to capture the black ducks
and the white cranes.  This is as good as it got.  It does not do them justice.

The Lock Ness Monster at Fremont State Lakes???

We got stuck at the train crossing just coming out of the lake area. 



You can click on the photos
to make them BIGGER
 

On a Saturday Afternoon ~ photo blog

What do you do on a Saturday afternoon in Nebraska?...We piled into the car, Joe-- the girls-- and me, and we headed into Omaha to spend the afternoon with our Daughter (Beth) and her Significant Other (Dustin). We spent time at their apartment, shooting the breeze, doing makeup (Laura doing mine), trying to make friends with the New Cat, and taking pictures. 


On arrival!...Sara, Emma, Laura, Beth



A beautiful sentiment adorns the kitchen wall.

Pretty things in the Kitchen & Living-room:

 

 

 

A white Christmas tree remains up, in a corner of the living-room, complete with lights (which create a nice glow in the evening).  It's adorned with all sorts of very unchristmassy stuff, including familiar items from Dr. Who.

 

The Bathroom:

Somebody's Rubber Duckey!

The Den:

 

The Cats:

Pooter, a sweet Little Man

Astrid, the New Cat

 



It was a lovely afternoon, which included a shopping trip, and lunch, but the day was passing, and it was soon time to head home.

 

The area around the apartment is a tree-lined
terraced hill, full of squirrels and birds.

 

The sun was going down as we were headed home.  The following photos were taken while we were west-bound on West Dodge Road, Omaha NE.

 



West Roads Mall...Von Maur

We're below the expressway, coming back up-- just because we missed
the expressway exit.  No big deal, you just wind up on the street below.

 

You can click on the photos
to make them BIGGER.