So tomorrow night here in eastern Oz, there is a total lunar eclipse.  What makes this one so great is that it's at a time of the night where my little men will be able to see it!  Apparently the peak is at around 730pm (according to the newspaper anyway) so hubby & I have decided after he gets home from work we'll have dinner as usual then everyone get into their snuggly jammies & bathobes and make hot chocolate and we'll sit on the patio watching the show.  Our house faces so that we have a brilliant view of the moon rise (peeking thru the trees on Her way up) so it should be fabulous! 

 Tomorrow during the day, Lucas & I are going to google up some info about the  moon and hopefully find a good animation showing him how eclipses occur.  We might even do something crafty to go along with the whole lunar lunacy ;)  I wish our camera was good enough to take pics, but I don't think they will turn out (not that  that will stop me from trying lol)

I have no words at the moment.. I just recieved word that a long time friend (via the net) passed out of this world and on to the next. She had known she was terminal for a few months and rang me in May to give me the news. She was a great friend & mentor and will be greatly missed. It's amazing isn't it, that someone I never physically met was such a close friend, she even sent hand knit goodies for the births of my baby boys.  SC, Just look for the candles lighting the way home and may the arms of the Goddess hold you close as you rest before the next great adventure...

ETA:  I tried to add this a couple of days after the original post but covenspace hated me that day:  I thought this simple ritual I saw on a msg board was very fitting so I printed one of the few photos of SC that i had, lit a candle and  said my goodbyes.

From the dawn of your birth
To the sunset of your death
I honor you.

From the missions you completed
To your duties left undone
I honor you.

From the seasons of your being
Through the cycle of your life
I honor you.

From your time beyond the veil
Lie your entrance back again
May the angels support you
May my healing love reach you
From this moment until the end of time
So Mote It Be.

by Silver RavenWolf

Living here in Aussie it's fairly hard to find a decent pagan bookshop, so just recently I got a visa debit so that I could shop online.  Today upon my doorstep I found a nice package from amazon.com *YAY* containing two books for me & my boys.   I'm trying to incorporate more paganism into their everyday lives so they will have a good foundation when they get older, but are still open minded to make their own choices.

 The first book was none other than Starhawks "Circle Round", which I have owned in the distant past when my teenagers were young ones.  It's just SUCH a great book for teaching kids about our beliefs.  There are creation stories from various cultures, holiday history, crafts, recipes, activites getting them out there into mother nature so they can see the cycles of life for themselves, songs and little chants, charms and other bits & peices.  SO looking forward to doing some of the activities in there with the boys (can't wait for halloween to make sugar skulls!)

 The second is called "All I see is Part of Me'.. I dont' have it handy right now so can't give the author.  It's a lovely hardcover book, so hopefully will stand up to small boys ;)  about a little boy who has a chat with the sun, who tells him that 'you are you, yet you are also me' and about the journey that ensues as he discovers that nothing is actually separate, but all things are part of each other.  SUCH a beautiful little story!  The illustrations are lovely as well.. can't wait to read this one with the kids, or even let Lucas (who's 5) read it to me as it's not overly wordy :) .. I can just see them asking the moon & stars the same questions :)

Feeling a bit melancholy the last few days so I haven't been around here much. 2days ago (well yesterday in the time zone he is in) was my oldest sons 19th birthday, and I couldn't be there...I couldn't even wish him happy birthday because the phone was busy.  It's not the first birthday I've missed of his & his brothers, but every one breaks my heart... sadly there is not a damn thing that can be done about it at right now :( 

Happy Imbolc to my southern hemisphere brethren!  Walked the kiddo to school for the first time in OVER a month today (school hols for 2wks then sick for 3wks!) and it was a perfect morning for it. Cool & overcast, my definition of a PERFECT day We got to see some http://home.iprimus.com.au/readman/rainbow.htm rainbow lorikeets happily munching on grevillia flowers on the way.. and a few ducks having their morning bath. And as if to emphasize the coming of spring, the wattles http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/aust.emblem.html are in full bloom It's nice to see a little colour.. because our world has gone a bit.. tan, the grass is all dormant & dead looking due to the drought I'm off to enjoy a cuppa and maybe spend the morning stitching while some blueberry muffins bake.

As luck would have it, it is my shift to tend Brighid's flame ( http://ordbrighideach.org/nuke/index.php ).  How cool that I am tending her flame on her Day!  I am making lamb & roast veggies tonight for our family holiday dinner  =)  I did make my 'drinking straw brighid's/solar cross' but haven't painted ityet so no photos :P  Might try to take one this arvo & share.

 Happy Lammas/ Lughnasadh to my northern hemisphere friends!  I sort of envy you, as autumn is my favorite season! Nothing like the first really crisp day of autumn is there :)  Soon it will be unbearably hot here & I'll be eagerly looking forward to OUR lammas!