Let it snow...

We're getting our first snow of the year tonight. Nothing major, just about 3-6 inches depending on where you life. I'm betting on only about 3 here in Salem. Should look pretty, though with all of the Solstice decorations up in the yard. As long as it doesn't turn to rain I should be able to get some nice pictures of the year. Who knows... maybe this year I'll get the chance to make another snow dragon. Even with all the snow we had last year it was too dry to stick well enough to make snow critters of any kind. So here's hoping this year for snow that isn't too wet or too dry, but just right. If the snow spirits are kind, Frosty the Snow Dragon [link] may live again!

'Twas the Evening of Samhain

'Twas the Evening of Samhain,
By Cathor Steincamp


'Twas the evening of Samhain, and all through the place
were Pagans preparing the ritual space.

The candles were set in the corners with care,
in hopes that the Watchtowers soon would be there.

We all had our robes on (as is habitual)
and had just settled down and were starting our ritual
when out on the porch there arose such a chorus
that we went to the door, and waiting there for us
were children in costumes of various kinds
with visions of chocolate bright in their minds.

In all of our workings, we'd almost forgot,
but we had purchased candy (we'd purchased a LOT),
And so, as they flocked from all over the street,
they all got some chocolate or something else sweet.

We didn't think twice of delaying our rite,
Kids just don't have this much fun every night.
For hours they came, with the time-honored schtick
of giving a choice: a treat or a trick.

As is proper, the parents were there for the games,
Watching the children and calling their names.
"On Vader, On Leia,
On Dexter and DeeDee,
On Xena, on Buffy,
Casper and Tweety!
To the block of apartments
on the neighboring road;
You'll get so much candy,
you'll have to be TOWED!"

The volume of children eventually dropped,
and as it grew darker, it finally stopped.
but as we prepared to return to our rite,
One child more stepped out of the night.

She couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen.
Her hair was deep red, and her robe, forest green
with a simple gold cord tying off at the waist.
She'd a staff in her hand and a smile on her face.
No make-up, nor mask, or accompanying kitsch,
so we asked who she was; she replied "I'm a witch.
And no, I don't fly through the sky on my broom;
I only use that thing for cleaning my room.
My magical powers aren't really that neat,
but I won't threaten tricks; I'll just ask for a treat."

We found it refreshing, so we gave incense cones,
A candle, a crystal, a few other stones,
And the rest of the candy (which might fill a van).
She turned to her father (a man dressed as Pan)
and laughed, "Yes, I know, Dad, it's past time for bed,"
and started to leave, but she first turned and said
"I'm sorry for further delaying your rite.
Blessed Samhain to all, and a magical night."


Happy Samhain to those who celebrate it!
And to everyone else, have a happy and safe Halloween!

Getting back into the swing

well, the nasty cut on my finger is healing nicely and I should be able to start back to work on those dragon bottles I wanted to get done for Haunted Happenings. Fortunately, they are small enough to crank out fairly quickly.

Things are still going to have to wait a few days, though, because a friend has just moved back to town after 5 years in North Carolina. The movers will be here Monday and I need to help her unpack and put things away as she has some health problems that make strenuous moving difficult for her. If all goes well I can get her all set up in a couple of days.

But if not by this week, I can definitely get (most of) them done next week. I have 10 new bottles to do up and if they all sell, that's $100! Not too bad. Hopefully, this will be a good Halloween season and I'll have a good month of sales down at Crafter's Market. Keep your fingers crossed for me and hope for lots of dragon sales!

Ouch!

Well, so much for getting any additional sculptures even started much less done for a week or so. I was digging through a drawer in the office looking for something and completely forgot about the matte cutter I had stored in there... until I sliced through the top of the middle finger on my right hand with the attached razor blade.

It's not enough to require more than a good bandage, but it stings like crazy. And having a bandage on the top of you finger makes it kind of difficult to smooth clay. Then there's the fact that with polymer clay you use rubbing alcohol in the smoothing process like you would use water with regular clay... that ain't gonna happen!

So, I'll just give it a week or so to fully heal over and I'll be good as new. And in the mean time I'll be getting our Halloween decorations set up out in the yard, so expect pictures to follow! And in case you are wondering, yes, I have move the matte cutter to more secure storage... something I should have done in the first place!

Urban Wildlife... Alive and Well in Salem

One thing you hear a lot of people bemoaning is how our urban, industrialized world is "killing the planet." That our cities and town are destroying wildlife or driving it from our midst. I live in a urban community, just a 10 minute walk from downtown Salem. We are one of the few houses in our tightly packed neighborhood to have a small yard. How small? Well, it only take about 20 minutes to trim and mow the grass and that includes pulling everything out and cleaning up afterwards. But you know what? I see more wildlife running around in my backyard on a daily basis than I ever saw when growing up in the country.

As I sit here on my back porch writing this there is a pair of juvenile squirrels running amok in the yard playing tag, chasing birds, and occasionally stopping to much on the scattered bread balls I tossed out in the yard for them. We have a swing in the yard with a canopy on top that the squirrels have decided to use as a trampoline and they like to sun themselves in the winter along the porch rails. And to save my garden we have a couple of squirrel feeders out in the hopes that they will eat those and not dig up my tulip bulbs. Speaking of my garden, every summer it's a debate whether all of the color is from the flowers or all the butterflies.

And birds! Oh, my, are there birds! People walking past the house often stop to watch those little feathered puffs of energy as the bicker and squabble for their turn at the feeders or all dive in the "pool" of the mushroom shaped birdbath we have placed along the fence. We have at least 5 different species of sparrows, 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, grackles, starlings, finches, blue jays, cardinals, and some I haven't been able to get a good enough look at to identify. Downtown to help "combat" the ever present pigeon population we now have several mated pairs of hawks and falcons. We even have a "Merlin" hawk that likes to hang out in the various trees that in our neighborhood. Then there are groundhogs, chipmunks, raccoons and the occasional skunk or two.

Some of people have commented that our backyard has become something of an urban wildlife refuge!

And that was kind of what we had in mind. People who live in a urban environment have a lot of options for helping wildlife thrive. We have two bird feeders, one for loose seed and one for suet. The loose seed feeder is one of those "squirrel proof" feeders that closes when one of those little furry thieves climbs on it. It works well enough that they don't even try to raid it anymore. In the suet feeder we use a "hot pepper" brand of suet. Squirrels don't like the pepper, but the birds love it. It dangles from a tree branch at the end of the driveway over the street where no one parks, so they get a snack and we don't have to worry about them leaving "presents" all over the Explorer.

Around the bottom of the back porch, we use lattice to keep out large burrowing critters (I don't need them digging holes along my foundation!) but the openings are large enough for the small birds who stay here all winter to be able to get in find shelter from the winter snows and cold winds that blow in from the Atlantic every year. One house around the corner from us has literally dozens of little bird houses and feeders of their own to help them manage through the winter months.

There are all sorts of things people who live in urban areas can do to help out the local wildlife, even if they don't have a yard of their own. If you live near a local park, adopt a spot and set up a suet feeder (it a lot less messy than loose seed and less likely to attract a gaggle of pigeons who do well enough on their own!). Check with the park service and see if it's okay to nail up a bird house or even a nesting box or two for the squirrels. Do you like to garden, but don't have a yard? Try container gardening or window boxes or hanging planters.

The thing is to use your imagination. Instead of bemoaning the lack of wild spaces or wildlife in your urban environment find creative ways to encourage nature and support those urban critters who have adapted to living in the big city. You might be surprised at what you can come up with!