Send Noah a Christmas Card!!

Christmas will come early for a five year old Michigan boy this year. Noah Biorkman is battling cancer and is not expected to live much longer. Noah's family is celebrating Christmas now and Noah loves Christmas cards. Noah's mom is asking for Christmas cards for her son.

Please take the time to send a card or letter to:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178

OR

you can make Noah a Christmas card online at Studio Day Spring and that they'll cover shipping costs and send all the cards to him if you use the code: NOAH

The link is http://www.studiodayspring.com

Note: There are two addresses floating around on the internet. The other one is:

Noah Biorkman
c/o Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, MI 48380

I think the card would get to Noah either way, one of them is just newer than the other.

When You Talk

Apparently, when you talk the Universe listens. I felt like a zombie for a couple days. The hours passed slowly in class and I felt overwhelmed by homework. As usual, though, as soon as it gets to the point where I want to complain about it everything gets better. Today we got out of class an hour early. Yay! And because I got so much of my homework out of the way on Monday and Tuesday I only have two things to do tonight. Only lecture classes tomorrow and Friday, so I don't need to get up for class at 6:30 AM, which means I can go to bed later than 8PM. I guess you only need to put up with the bad stuff for so long before things get better.

I have been forgetting to say what I am thankful for! I have a lot of days to make up for, so how about I make a list?

Home
Family
Nice classmates
People who care
The good days

I've had this song stuck in my head for the past few days.

Toes by The Zac Brown Band


Oh and for those who want to know about my Baking class, it is probably the best class I've taken so far. We're in a kitchen getting a lot done, but it is not nearly as stressful as cooking theory was. I definitely prefer baking to regular cooking! If I had to choose between the two baking would win hands down. The homework for class is boring. We have to read certain chapters out of our text book and do a few math problems. The math is similar to what we need to do in class to change recipes, so it's actually useful. It's kind of cool to be putting math to good use.

So far I have been on 3 stations: quick breads, baker, and mixing. On the quick bread station we made coffee cake and scones, when I was baker I baked trays and trays of cookies, and today on mixing station we made 4 different kinds of bread dough. Did I forget to mention that we got a book when we came to NECI full of these amazing recipes? I have the recipes for everything they serve in the bakery and more. YUM!

Unfortunately I have the world's worst partner for this class. I do not like this guy. He is a jerk who thinks he knows everything about everything. He treats me like I'm stupid. He brown noses the teachers. Gah! I'm sorry, I just really don't like him. No one in our block does. I can't wait for this class to be over simply because I can't stand working with him.

I don't want to end this post on a bad note, so I am going to find something happy to write about! How about the fact that Thanksgiving is only a week away? Yeah! I am looking forward to Stuff Yourself With Turkey Day. I even have most of that week off from school.

I'm Alive! Sort Of...

I am alive, just busy. Busy, busy, busy. When I went home on Friday I was told about what a horrible week it had been there. My Aunt Jen and Uncle Jay are getting a divorce, which I found out about 4 weeks ago. But about a week ago my uncle started getting a little nuts about everything. Accusing my aunt of stuff, blowing up and throwing things, and refusing to go to mediation, opting to get a lawyer instead. He's making it a nasty divorce, which my cousins definitely DO NOT need. They stayed at our grandparent's home all weekend because of it. In times like this my family really pulls together. I was with them all weekend, doing what I could to help.

Then yesterday (ugh this week is going by slowly!) my new class started. I'm in baking now! This is a fun class, but it has homework unlike the class I just finished. Plus I have all the homework for my other classes that I need to do. I have to write a resume/ cover letter, make an e-portfolio, and read my entire ServSafe coursebook. I've got it all down to a schedule, but it's still time consuming (I did homework for 3 hours straight last night, no break) and mentally exhausting. SO, by the end of the day I'm ready to just fall asleep. Which is good because I have class at 6:30 AM.

I just wanted to post to let you all know why I haven't been around, and why I may not be around much for the next 2 weeks. I have a lot to do both here at school and at home. My parents are buying a house. Finally! It needs a lot of work done to it, though, so I'll be doing painting, cleaning, etc. I hope everything is going well with everyone else. I'll try to read and comment on your blogs a bit.

5 Thing I Love Right Now

I am borrowing this idea from Domestic Witch becuase I feel like procrastinating blogging and didn't have an idea.


So, 5 things I love right now are:

1- CRUNCH bars
2- Cough drops
3- The radio
4- Yarn
5- The ring I'm wearing

Do I even need a reason to love Crunch bars? They're delicious. I've got a cough now, so I'm carrying my big bag of cough drops with me. The radio because I was getting bored of the songs on my iPod. Yarn, well I can't crochet without it! I am kind of stuck on that now, too. I can make a chain, but I'm still trying to figure out how to make rows. xD I don't know why, but I really like this ring I'm wearing. My grandma gave it to me shortly before I left for college because it didn't fit her anymore. She got it from Sea World years ago.

On another note: Check out Suzie's Etsy Shop! She's created some beautiful pendants and necklaces and has added them there to keep her tarot card reading company.

Edit: I forgot to write what I was thankful for! I am definitely thankful for the internet. <3

Back at School- With Internet!

So this post is going to be a bunch of random babbling- just figured I'd warn you now.

I am back at school now and, yes, I have internet again! It never really went away, my laptop just didn't want to connect to the wireless at home the last two days for some reason. Everyone else's computer was connecting just fine, but mind wouldn't. I was concerned, so I took it to my grandpa the computer genius. Of course there's nothing wrong with it and it connects just fine to the wireless there. My computer hates me.

I have decided to participate in the 27 Days of Thankful that Amanda at Serenity Now is putting on. Each day you say something you're thankful for. Since I don't post on my blog every single day I am planning on tweeting what I'm thankful for. Keep an eye out! Today I am thankful for medicine. My Dad and Tia have both caught a flu/cold of some sort. I have a slight cough on top of monthly crampy, achy, issues and a cold sore. I must say, having the ability to just buy something that makes me feel better is wicked awesome.

I won Creepy Cute Crochet from Irreference on the last day of Mrs. B's 31 Days of Halloween. Yay! I haven't crocheted since I was 12 so I am re-teaching myself. Once I get good at it I'm going to have a ton of fun with the book. Thank you Irreference! Thank you Mrs. B! I'll be sharing my crochet adventures here on my blog.

Suzie has decided to sell a tarot reading in her Etsy shop (which will be posted to my list of wicked awesome things you should check out ASAP). If you're brave enough to face what the cards truthfully have to tell you then go there!

I'm pretty sure there was more I wanted to say. Oh, right! I went to Borders over the weekend and bought myself a book to kick start my resolution of learning about herbs. I now own Herbal Remedies by Andrew Chevallier. It has a lot of good info and some amazing pictures! I'm only part way into it and I've already learned some cool things.

I have class soon. But it's just a lecture for me today, I've got lab tomorrow. I'm not sure if this is good or bad only because I don't know if I'll be feeling better or worse tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it's better!

So Much Sugar...

I've awoken from my sugar coma to share some pictures with you!


My little ghost meringues- thanks for the idea Suzie!


Sweet & Sour meatballs- our only non junk food all night!


Cupcakes! Store bought mix, but a homemade frosting. We added a raspberry extract to it, a lot of red food coloring, and mini chocolate chips. Yum!



Dirt Dessert, with worms! It's just oreos and coolwhip with gummy worms, but it everyone's favorite in my family.

Well, the dirt might just be second to chocolate covered pretzels! It wouldn't feel like Halloween in my family without them. I covered them in sprinkles and coconut. It was my first time covering them in coconut, and I definitely like it!


Some red ice cubes for our drinks. ;)

While I was making these, with help from my cousin of course, I sent the younger (okay 13 & 14 year old) kids to decorate. They did a great job!





And Tia carved our last pumpkin. I love it!


We had a fun night of sitting around eating junk food and watching movies. I hope everyone else had a fun night, too!

Happy Halloween! Blessed Samhain!

I am about to start cooking for my Halloween party soon. I'll be taking lots of pictures to share with you all tomorrow! Hope everyone has a good and spooky night.

Quoth the Raven

The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

I figured I would share some more spooky poetry. Poe is perfect for the season, isn't he? Speaking of sharing- Mrs. B. is still sharing a lot of wonderful goodies with us! Her 31 Days of Halloween ends, well, on Halloween! Go check it out if you haven't yet. I've got my eye on the subscription to Witches & Pagans magazine! I always need something else to read. xD

Real Quick

This is how I celebrated October this weekend:

Baking Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies


The cookies came out amazing!! They are wicked good- try making them!

and

Carving Pumpkins




Mine is the first one, it's supposed to be Jack Skellington. My sister did the second one, it's just supposed to be a dead pumpkin. We had fun!

Edit: I'm gonna make a pumpkin pie now too! Yum.

Samhain Resolutions

Samhain is the Pagan New Year, so I figured why not make some resolutions? There are some things I want to work on in the coming year:

Learn as much as possible about herbalism
Use my tarot deck
Connect with my spirit guide
Start writing things down- possibly in a BOS
Look more into my ancestry

I think learning about herbs is going to be my #1 thing for the coming year. It is something that seems interesting to me, and I figure if I dedicate myself to it for a year it will motivate me to actively learn. Everything else on the list is important, but not my main focus.

What do you want to work on in the coming year?