Free web sites

I was doing some research last night, and came across something I had no idea existed: free web sites! So this morning I did some research on free websites. There are loads of them. Most of the templates are horrible, so I skipped to the next, and the next…

I finally, after viewing about 20 or so, settled on 350pages.com Their templates were not any better, but I was so tired of looking I just picked one from the 3 I had given consideration. “Easy web set up. I, 2, 3, your done.” Yea, right. Wrong! It isn’t as easy as 1, 2, 3! You must have a smidgen of desktop publishing know how, and I have less than a smidgen. I’ve been working on it all damn day, and I’m still not past setting up the page. The program is maddening to work with, and some of the options wouldn’t re-open back up for me. So, I’ve left it, unfinshed for now. I’m going over to freewebs.com and check them out. In case your wondering, this is for my online store, Docia Delphia. I did check out eCrater, but they use a standard wall paper where you can change the color. I want some nice templates, as the thought of uploading one and trying to load it, makes me want to pull my hair out. I have a header I want to put hear, but am having a hard time doing it. If nia can’t point and check, forget it!!! There is also pinkpaper.com, and they too use wallpaper instead of templates.

I like the idea of the website givingyou the option to upgrade, but you have to pay for it. It’s very reasonable, what they charge, one was 4.99$ a month. But you have to pay with credit card on most sites. A few used paypal. I’ll decide on something eventually.

This has been some winter!

We’re still gripped in the mist of winter here at Hollowick Cottage. The sun is shining today, but it’s no comfort. Maybe I’ve gone beyond the brink of sanity! I have soap all over curing, some ready for testing, and their competing for supply space. I’m using cases of bottles water stacked, disguised as a tables right now, because I’ve had to move things around. You really get creative when you live in a small place. Ah, but the snow is melting, and it should be all gone by June!(just feels like it)

The new issue of Gothic Beauty has been released, march the 21st I hear. so I’m heading in to grab mine while I can. Even though Borders and Hot Topic sell it, I usually am too late. I will get a subscription one of these days!;-)

Before I forget, Ellen Dugan, author of Cottage Witchery, has a myspace.  

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=150339820

It’s certainly what I expected!

until next time,

nia

Update

Finally! The Victorian Witch is up!

http://thevictorianwitch.wordpress.com

Docia Delphia is up!

http://dociadelphia.wordpress.com

Pandemic Flu Central has a new look, and an update will be later on today.

http://cottontopssandbox.wordpress.com

E-mail for The Victorian Witch and Docia Delphia is niarne@yahoo.com

I’ll get to the “about” boxes soon. I would love to hear from you!

Easter In March?!

Excuse me, but Easter is in April!!

Being the courious person I am, I asked total strangers about this, and I have heard every excuse under the sun as to why Easter was moved. It’s all lame. Nothing that could remotely sound senseable. I’m one of these people, that if an explanation can not sound somewhat senseable, I don’t buy it. Call me stubbon, but that’s the way I function. 

So we didn’t celebrate Easter in our usual fun way. We just had a dinner. It’s kind of hard to have Easter outside in tons of snow!!! The girls got their baskets and that’s it. No hunt. And hiding egges in the house just isn’t the same. The girls were not keen on it anyway. Sorry, but moving Easter was not helpful or plesant!

Too much: But’s the way I like it

I’ve said before that I have a habit, probably a bad habit of taking on too many projects, with so little time. I’ve done just that again. I now have 4 blogs, and have finally created my business, Docia Delphia. Plans to take it online to eCrater are coming soon. I have also set up my Docia Delphia blog, aimed at women and small homebased businesses.  The Victorian Witch is comin’ soon, I promise! The response to my Pandemic Flu Central has been very good. Although no comments, traffic is good. One thing I wish wordpress had, is the ability to tell how long a person stays.  And another undertaking I’m strongly considerating, is creating a mini-retreat. I have a cottage that is my mini retreat, but I would love to offer it to women for a fee. I have packages drawn up, fee, and what kind of pampering each package contains. For now, it’s in the thought stages. I’m trying to find out if there will be enough of a demand for it around here. That I know of, no one around here offers anything like that. My orginal idea for my cottage, I had to scrap, because of various reasons.

It’s all coming together, rather slowly, but none-the-less, it’s coming together. The other life of nia, has to put up a new fence in the garden, get the garden planted, and repaint the inside of the cottage. It’s time to rotate stock too.  Sigh. So little time: but that’s the way I like it!!! 

Thanks to everyone who’s stopping by. ;-)

until next time,

nia  

Cottage Witchery: Review

As I mentioned in my last post, I bought Ellen Dugan’s book, Cottage Witchery.

I loved the book. I was fasinated with each chapter. I have a question: In chapter 4 Household faeries: The Brownies, she talks about the household brownie. How does one know if you have a household brownie? Is there subtle signs, a charm/spell to help you recognize one, or to call one in? This I find very interesting.

Chapter 9, Dogs and Magic, this certainly captured my attention. First off, Thunder seems to become agitated for some reason, out of a sound sleep on my lap. He’ll bark, and grawl at the front door, and no one is there. He’ll carry on until I’ve had enough, and put him back in his kennel. He’ll whimper for a minute or two, then go back to sleep. For the life of me, I don’t know what is causing this. So the cleaning spell caught my attention because I can also have Thunder with me. I want to see how he reacts when I perform this. I never thought about involving my dog in my rituals, simply by holding him, or having him at my side, (if he’ll stay.)

I really loved her spell suggestions. They are simple, yet powerful, and it’s encouraged me to try and bring daughter in on a couple of them. I asked her if she’d like to do one with me, and she looked shocked, because I’ve never cast a spell/charm before.  It was the reality of actually hearing her Mom say it. She said she would like to. “Sounds like fun.” We’ll see how she feels afterwards, if she still thought it was fun, or if she actually felt something working withing her; her spirituality. She’ll be 15 in 2 months. My how time goes by so fast!

I had to chuckle at the fence spell. Something so simple, yet so effect. Another one for me to try.

Finding a teacher

As I’ve said in  a previous post, I have found my teacher in Ellen. She is gently nudding me in the direction I need to be going, giving me the inspiration and motivation I need. I’m two steps closer to performing my first charm/spell, and I’m excited about it. for once I’ve done this, I will consider it my ”offical” introduction into this mysterious world of wonder and energy. My confirmation so to speak. It’s taking that first step that is a little scarey, well in this case, a little weird. After all, it’s not everyday I hear myself speak outloud charms and spells. LOL!

She has another book, Garden Witchery, that I want to get. My goal is to read all her books. She’s my kind of natural witch!

Until next time,

nia   

It’s a crazy life!

I can’t believe it’s already March. I’m falling behind in things and starting to feel overwhelmed. I’m one of these people who likes to get everything done for that day, and not carry over stuff to add on the next day’s list. However it’s probably my fault. O.K. It is my fault.

I’m sure there are others like me, who seem to take on more projects than we possibly have time for, but just can’t help ourselves. We are compelled to live on the edge of choas because we can’t say No, or we find ourselves needing mental stimulation so we start a new project, which leads to mentally thinking, “Hmmm. Ya know….”

We’ll I’ve done just that. I’ve started 2 more blogs. One happened by accident as a result of talking to my BIL about pandemic flu. He actually asked me if I had heard anything about it. After some thought, I started Pandemic Flu Central. Have a peak and let me know what you think.

http://cottontopssandbox.wordpress.com

The other blog, The Victorian Witch, is up, but not out yet. Please keep checking back here to see when it’s up, as I can’t pin down a date, but it’s soon. I’ll give out info about it a little later on.

3 blogs. Yes I am a glutton for punshiment.  I’m a glutton to have my life swimming in activities, and playing catch up. My Father was like that. Wonder if it’s genetic?

I’ve actually done some writing! Hey, that’s a biggie for me. A whole two pages, and that’s with countless interruptions. Two pages can be done!! 

I bought a new book, Cottage Witchery by Ellen Dugan. So far I really like it. Very inspiring. I really like her work, and her thinking.  

And heavens, I still have to get pictures on the blogs, and at least put something in the “about.” I will get to it, one of these days.

Thunder, my Min Pin, who’s my blog keeper, is growing so fast. His energy is to be admired, as I wish I had it!! If I could bottle his energy up and sell it, I’d be a rich woman! LOL! I love him to pieces, and I’m glad he came into my life. He’s now 4 1/2 months old.

Well good people, this is just a short one today. Things have gotten screwed up and I have to chase my tail today to play catch up. But hey, it’s a crazy life and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Until next time,

nia

Writing: Who has time?

Trying to keep this blog up is the equivelant of trying to write one bloody page of manuscript! Don’t get me wrong, I really like doing this blog thing. Appartently, so does alot of people. Where do you find the time to write?

What’s my problem?

Time is my biggest enemy.  When I finally do have a fraction of a minute, I’m so tired, my mind can’t think straight. But I want to write. 

My second biggest problem: I have this deep seated desire to write, and I start, get so far, and then it stops. Wanna know why? I love my plot ideas: all 100 of them (well it seems like a 100!) Trouble is, while I’m writing, I start to think about other characters, and plots that would be great to incorporate into what I’m working on. So then I have to stop, and try to work characters and ideas from other plots, into what I’m working on.  I want to fuse plots, and characters in to my current manuscript.  Then the unevetable happens. Out of all of that, a totally new idea will come for another manuscript. I then proceed to write out a bare bones story line, and characters to be filled away for sometime, who knows when. I get so frustrated that I walk away and don’t write anything for a long time. But the desire to write never leaves me. I’m constantly going over plot ideas in my head. Even driving, I’m mentally removing one character from one part of the story, and placing her/him somewhere else. But I never write it down. It’s all in my head. I can’t seem to get what’s in my head wrote down the way I picture it. There’s a broken connection there and I don’t know how to fix it.

Writer’s magazines can really mess you up!

As I’ve mentioned on one of my earliers posts, I’ve stopped reading writer’s magazines and books. I simply cannot follow all the rules (or advise).  Do you realize how time consuming and frustrating that would be? Good grief! I have enough to frustrate me and consume my time when I do write. I’m certainly can’t afford my time to pile on more.

Writer’s magazines and books started out a grand thing to me. I was in awe of all the generous advice and tips of the trade from published authors. Over time, I became addicted to these magazines, and read more than I wrote.  I would write down every little piece of advise, cut inspirational saying out and stick it on my monitor.  Then one day I looked at my monitor, the scores of notes, and scant writing, and thought to myself, “None of this is helping me. I’m drowning in advice, rules, but none of this has helped me find my voice, or helped with the self dicipline problem I have with writing, scheduling time, and being dedicated to my craft. ” I now have only one simple short saying stuck to my monitor:”If you can stay focused, you will succeed.” Simple enough and yet I get more encouragement from this than from anything I’ve ever found in  a writer’s magazine!

I have since started taking small steps to sort somethings out with my writing. I still have a ways to go, but every little step brings me closer to my goal of a writer’s self dicipline. If I can stay focused, I will manage to do that.

A full life = no time

I always wonder how these successful women authors fine time to write. How do they do it? It is my understanding that some have nannies. Grant you they can afford to do that. For the rest of us women struggling to juggle our busy lives and find time to write, it difficult, very difficult to write. What do you sacrifice, sleep, time with children, family? Families can only be so understanding, (unless your published and pulling in some $$.)

How do you women writers juggle your full lives and write? Do you feel that this lack of time adds to lack of self dicipline when it comes to writing? I’m starting to think that about myself.  I know it’s a process, but geeze I’ve been at this for five years now! The only thing I have published in a book is a poem. Big deal! I won the semi-final round of a poetry contest at Poetry.com,  and that’s how it got published.  

Does a full life = no writing? And who has time to write?!!

Until next time

good evening,

nia

The high cost of….. everything!

Chasing our tail

Before I begin, I want to say that at this point in winter, it’s everything I can go to hang on. I am not a snow bunny! I am a southern gal, having been transplaned to the god for saken north. I loath the winter. I am am outdoors person which makes it equally hard on me. So I’m thinking that for the rest of the winter, I should be medicated!

I don’t know about you, but I fear going to the grocery store now. Gettting gas was fearful, but never did I think for one minute that I would actually fear buying my groceries. I’ve never like grocery shopping to begin with. Food prices are just unreal! I know everyone is feeling it, and it’s actually starting to affect some families I know. One lady said that she had no idea “downsizing” meant cutting out certain foods, and cutting back on produce and fruit  from the family’s menu. This is what we’ve had to do. Ouch!

It’s time for a new plan

I am a proponent of self reliant living. I’m not saying I live that life, but what I am saying is that living a life closer to self reliant is possible.  

We have no idea when our economy is going to become stable again. So in the meantime we have to have a new plan. The number one plan that is essential to every household, is to have an emergency food stock. it truely serves a dual purpose. Not only is it for emergency disasters, but also to suppliment you food, or to fall back on when money becomes tight. In order for this to work, you must be dedicated to it. It must be  second nature to you.  Our emergency stock is covering our butts at the moment. I haven’t had to dip to much into it, and I have been able to replace some things, and add some goodies that were BOGOF(buy one get one free).  And remember, it’s not only food that goes into your emergency stock: non food items as well. Toliet paper, paper towels, batteries, ect.I also dehydrate alot of stuff. I would be lost without my dehydrator. It all goes in my stock.

Now, my argument is, that people can afford to spend 10$ a week on emergency stock items. Yes you can. I’ve heard every excuse in the book. And it’s just that; an excuse. I’ve been through to many emergency situations, not to have stock put back. The ice storm of ‘98 that hit New York and into Canada was a horrible experience. We were without power and phone for 13 days and nights. And at that time, I wasn’t keeping any supplies on hand.  From that point on, I have, and we’ve used it more times than I can recall. The nasy blackout that hit the east coast and into Canada; I went throught that. Microburst, a blizzard, numerous power outages, have all been road out with our stock. It greatly help to reduce the stress of what was going on. While people were out looking for food, a can opener, ect., we were dug in eating m&m’s listening to our batterey powered radio. I had quiet a bit of the basics put back, so we could have road the emergency out for a solid two weeks. Emergency stock is just a good investment. Gardening and canning is a good investment. Living a simple, basic life is a good investment. And that my friends is the new plan.

Where to begin 

O.k. I’m going to break this down into segements. Because I have so much information, I’m going to briefly highlight powerpoints.

When just starting your stock, you want to have the essentials that your family needs, and foods they will eat. What good will 10 cans of beets do you if nobody eats beets?I don’t even think you could use it for bartering!

Make a list of foods your family consumes on a regular basis. Start your stock with those foods. If your grocery store has a sell, 10 for 10$, buy 10! You say, “well I don’t need 10.” I say, “Buy 10, put a couple in your cupboards, the rest in your stock, and your done for the week. You’ve stayed on your budget of 10$ a week, you’ve not only put food in your cupboard, you’ve put food in your stock.” And that’s how you do it. How painful was that?

Please remember that it takes time to build up stock. I’ve been at for awhile now, using the 10$ a week method. I do splurge if I can afford it, and I’ll pick up some extra batteries, propane for the campstove, over the counter medicines, ect. I have a good supply of charcoal built up for the grill. I rotate the bags so it stays fresh. Also keep in mind, that while you are building up your investment, your investment will become an emergency life line at some point in time. Manual can openers are a must. Put two in.  

Gardening is a must

My garden is a great asset to my me. The reasons are obvious. A by product of the garden is canning. You can can just about anything, as I’ve found out. Did you know you can can meat? Canned pickles are a favoirtie of ours, so I grow many tons of cucumbers! I grow herbs for canning and dehydrating.

The garden serves a dual purpose. You grow your food, and it’s a sanctuary. I have drying screens in my garden for lite, delicate herbs, like the leaves that don’t require a long drying time. So when I’ve done the weeding, and harvesting, I sip my ice tea infused with a fresh sprig of mint I will have just picked, and tend to the drying screens, and harvest the herbs for the dehydrator.  

Here are a couple of tips I’ve picked up from experimenting.

butter will freeze and come out perfectly fine.

bread can stay fresh, frozen 3 weeks.

I clean my pantry out at the beginning of the month. What did not get used, gets demoted to the stock.

Every two months I go throw my stock and check the expiration dates. It’s relaxing to do so as odd as it may sound.

 Learn to make bread. It really isn’t that hard, and the end result is far better than you could ever buy in a grocery store. And much cheaper.

What will you do?

Here is the link to the best self reliant magazine that I have found. This is where I found the 10$ a week idea. http://www.backwoodshome.com  There is an interesting article from the guy who owns Backwoods Home on “Planning for the inevitable” Americans need to read that, and anybody else who thinks the world could not possibly go topsy turvy from chain reactions.

I’m by far an expert at this self reliant thing. I do try to incorporate it into my life little by little.  Like I said, there is alot of info, from how apartment dweller  stock, to hiding your stock, what to do with all your stock, what to dehydrate, ect. I would like to hear from those of you who are interested in starting your emergency stock, and those of you who have already done so.  If you have a specific question, ask away. I’ll try my damnest to answer it! And how are you coping with the high cost of….everything?!

Until next time

Have a good evening all

nia

Addicted to reading. Addicted to magazines

I am a book worm. Always have been. If I’m not reading something, I literally go through withdrawals. No lie! About the longest I can go without reading is 2 weeks. Then I get irritable, restless, my minds wonders, and I start shuffling through my books and magazines. No good. I know every word by heart. (O.k. not every word.)

It does not matter what inclement weather we are having that day. I must get to Borders. I’ve seem me battle white out conditions to get to the published word. My name is nia rane, and I am an addict.  Reading addict that is.

Is there such a thing as reading too much?

At presant, I have enough books and magazines, to open my own small bookstore. I read alot of topics. I have a vast book collection  on ancient archaeology, a huge selection on Egypt. Books such as “Gods of a New Millennium-Alan F. Alford; From the Ashes of Angles(The Forbidden Legacy of a Fallen Race)-Andrew Collins(I highly recommend this); Zecharia Sitchen’s The Earth Chronicles series(I highly recommend this series). 

My latest reads include Natural Witchery-Ellen Dugan; Living Wicca(for solitary practitoners)-Scott Cunningham, Wicca (guide for the solitary practitioner)-Scott Cunningham, and The Trick to Money is Having Some-Stuart Wilde. This book totally took me by surprise. I learned more about myself than making money, if that’s what he was writing about. O.K. yes I and millions read books on how to make money. This book was a real treat, and the notes I tooks where 6 pages. 

Then I have my books on England.  I’m a huge British fan. Always have been. I thrive on the comedies! It’s hard to pick a favorite, for I like way too many. Keeping up Appearences, is just too funny. How can you not like the B-U-C-K-E-T women?

Then I have my collection of writing books. Good heavens! If I were to spend as much time writing as I do reading the writing books, I’d probably have 3 finished manuscripts! Ugh!!  

My prized collection of Harry Potter books, (along with the movies.) Yes, I’m one of those people. I am enthralled by J.K.’s writing. It is my belief, that there will never be an author to top her writing abilities, creativity, popularitity, and sales. At least not in my lifetime;-)

My tarot cards rest proudly in a red case ontop of the tarot books. I’m self taugh, but only just. I really need a teacher.

Magazines

I haven’t touched on the magazines. The lastest two new discoveries are Farie, and Gothic Beauty. I’m not into goth, never going to be into goth , but that whole culture fascinates me. Strange as it is, I read that magazine from front to back, twice.

And of course, the writing magazines. Good grief. You know, I have just stopped buying anything pertaining to writing advice. I have so many notes that I can’t keep anything straight. I spend more time going back over my notes than I do writing! I finally decided to write for myself!

Other magazines I’m a fan of are on self reliant, small business, victorian, beading/jewelry making, renaissance, herbs and archaeology.

Is there such a thing as reading too much? Not in my book, there isn’t!

Have a great evening.

Until next time,

nia

Wicca: My questions; My confusion

What is the difference?

I was reading the other night from a website, that self initation isn’t recognized in the Wiccan world. This raised my blood pressure somewhat, as I immediately thought of Christianity.

I want to know why there has to be an audience, witnesses to your confirmation of your religious beliefs?

I take the confirmation of any religious belief seriously, and very personally. This is a dedication between you and your belief, whatever  belief you dedicate yourself too.

Do witnesses make a difference?

No, they don’t. Witness or not, isn’t going to make you more dedicated to your belief. I personally take offense at the thought that I have to have a witness to confirm my introduction into the Wiccan community. And that is why I have chose the solitary, natural witch approach to my belief.  I don’t need witnesses watching anything. 

Why do religions insist that we  humans need a moderator ? That we need a go-between in order to talk to our higher power, or even worse, need one to witness our dedication?   

One of the things that drew me to Wicca, is that (from my impression), it’s just you and your higher power; no moderator, no go-between, no whatever.  Now I read that self initation isn’t recognized in their community. Not sure if I remember correctly, but I think it said you have to be in a coven. Great heavens! Well, all I can say to that, is if you want that, feel that is for you, and you need a coven, hey go for it. I’m not saying ther is anything wrong with it. I can’t say there is anything wrong with it.  What I can say, is that I don’t need a coven to have a relationship with my higher power. It is my deep personal belief, that some of the most wise people in this belief system, are the ones who are solitaty practioners.  They are not influenced by others, and they learn the old fashion way; natural witches. (who aren’t witches anyway. Ah, labels.)

One thing I do believe  any student needs, is a teacher. I’m still looking for mine. I’ve met a few Wiccans, and just didn’t get that “vibe” if you know what I mean. I found them very stand offish, and probably rightful so. There are no “natural witches” around here, and I am a student in desperate need of one. I do believe one will be brought to me when the time is right.  Or I will be brought to them. Either way, we’ll meet, and we’ll know why.

In the meantime, I’ll keep studying while I wait.

You know, comments are welcome.

Have a good evening all

nia

Warning: A rant coming on

I didn’t want to do this, but in nia’s world, there are somethings that I place great importantance on, and manners is one of them!!

What is the deal with lack of manners?

Seriously? Why do people feel the driven need to be rude to people?  Why is it so hard to be considerate? I’m at my wits end with a friend, and it’s going to cost them a friendship, to be terminated immediately! nia does not tolerate rudeness to her. She is not a rude person, and places consideration as a high priority in a friedship.  I’m loyal to my friends, and take care of them, whatever they need, whatever they want to do, as long as there is also giving from them. If nia feels this is a constistant flow between the frienship, then she’ll stick with you. But alas, this friendship has become one sided, and nia is tired of it, after over a year.

The ultimate gift to another human being

Folks, nia is going to say, that the greastest gift you can give another human being is free, easy to carry around, takes up no space, and is user friendly: consideration.

Consideration is a “piece” of being mannerly. Manners have become an endangered species.  Nobody wants to “covert” this gift anymore. And nia’s gonna say, that manners really makes a difference, a huge difference!  Unfortunately, manners have to be taught, just as anything else we humans learn. Again, unfortunately, we are learning all the bad aspects of humans, which really does reduce us to animals. Nobody wants to say Humans are animals, but we sure act like them. How ironic!

 Take nia’s challenage

For one blessed day, be considerate to everyone you come in contact with. At the store, say excuse me with a smile, let someone go ahead of you with a smile, say thank you with a smile. Take to people with humor and a smile. And last but not least, call a friend and say “Hey, are you doing? I was thinking about you.” How bloody hard is that?

What do you feel about the lack of manners in people?

What do you think about how people treat friendships? nia would love to hear what you have to say. The good, the bad, and the ugly. (wasn’t that a movie or something!

Have a great day!

niarane@yahoo.com

nia