Christmas Goodies

Yes, yes, I know....I'm a Pagan and should be celebrating "Yule." I'm just so used to Christmas, though, and it's how I think of the holiday, so there you go.

Anyway, I've been baking up a storm. I usually give cookies and other treats as gifts, and this year is no exception. Last year I made some brownies and bars that were pretty involved, and didn't keep very well, so this year I went for simple and made some cookies. I tried out three different kinds; Chocolate Cranberry Chunkies (chocolate cookies, with chocolate chunks and dried cranberries,) Mini Chip Snowball Cookies (little round sandies-style cookies with chocolate chunks; called for nuts as well but I didn't use them) and Cocoa Ginger Crisps (chocolate and ginger cookies, dipped in cocoa powder and sugar.) They all turned out really good. I thought that the Cocoa Ginger Crisps were the best, but for whatever reason everybody else liked the Snowball ones.

Here's some pics. We also tried out some Red Velvet Brownies, but that's for another post.

The Chocolate Cranberry Chunkies:

Here are the Mini Chip Snowball Cookies, cooling on the sheets. So good!

And finally, here are the Cocoa Ginger Crisps:

Rowan Charms

I'm so excited! Today, in the mail, I got my two Rowan charms I'd ordered from Wands of Avalon If you don't know, the wood from the Rowan tree had long been believed to have protective and magical powers, and traditionally little crosses of Rowan tied with red thread were hung about the house and above the bed to keep away any evil spirits or malevolent witchcraft. They look like this:


Aren't they lovely? They even have little dried Rowan berries around the top. One of my big areas of interest (and, I flatter myself, knowledge) is in the subject of the magical properties of trees and wood. Rowan, Willow, Ash, Hazel, and Oak have been traditionally used to make Witches' wands and brooms. Unfortunately, many of these trees don't grow in my region, and I don't have the skill to woodwork even when they do. As such, I'm lucky to have found Wands of Avalon, and Karl Feret at Rare Earth Designs to make my wonderful magical tools for me.*

On my "wish list" now is a traditional Witch's broom, with an Ash handle, Birch twigs, and a Willow binding. If anybody knows how I can make that happen, please let me know!

*I have no connection or financial interest in either of these businesses, I'm just a fan of their work.