Ouch.

Last year around this time I started the Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I love Jillian Michaels and it was going wonderfully. Well, it was working. Something about Jillian's 3-2-1 system that really works for me. Then someone wanted to borrow my DVD and I stopped.

 I thought that's ok I'll do it alone. That didn't happen. Then hubby suggested we get the one that Bob Harper made. Well I did it one time. Not that Bob's a bad guy or anything. I just couldn't get in to his style. 

Yesterday after yard work I tried to put on a pair of my "cute pants" and they wouldn't fit. :( That makes me sad. So last night while hubby and I were off on the bike we stopped for a slice at our favorite pizza place (Yes I know pizza is bad, however, in our small town very few places actually "cook" their food with out using processed and crappy ingredients.  Brooklyn is the ONE place that we know makes their dough fresh)  and I said, I wish I still had my Jillian Michael's DVD. He said, why don't we just go get you another.

 The man is Brilliant!

We went to look for 30 Day Shred and it was no where to be found. We were talking about the other DVDs on the shelf and he said, look, here's "Jillian Ripped in 30" It uses her 3-2-1 interval system. I said reluctantly, ok, fine I'll try it. Already writing the email to request my DVD back in my head.


I got up this morning and because we've lost the remote for the DVD player, even getting to to play was a challenge. My brain kept saying... just go get some coffee and get on Facebook. I pushed through. I watched the intro and got started on week one's workout.

  HOLY CRAP

 mag·ic/ˈmajik/From Google

Over the last few months I've been thinking about what I'd like to do with my life.  Yes, one of those, there's no grandbabies so what am I going to do with my retirement.  Granted I'm only 42 years old, and retirement is still a really LONG way away, still it's been in my mind.

Last month hubby and I chatted and I said, you know, I'd really like to work for myself.  Be my own boss.  Get a little store front and open a shop where I could sell stuff that I like.  Pagan stuff, metaphysical stuff, candles, skulls and the like.   I think having our little booth at the Earth Day Event at Truely Unique in Wilson really nailed it for me.  We made over 100.00 with some little things that I tossed together.  I was really pleased with that.

He said ok let's do it.  So I went down and registered my business name.  I've been using Sosanna's Closet for a while on Etsy, Facebook and on my web page and figured, what the hell.  I registered Sosanna's Closet.  This week I've spent some time on two tasks.  One, review web hosting plans and find the best deal for my money and two, prayer beads.

The first was pretty straight forward, I would prefer to get my domain name included as well as not having a host that shoots elephants in his off time.  :)   The prayer beads were a bit more challenging.  I've been looking into them for a while and found that many pagan's use these.  I've not used them myself however, I do have to save they are absolutely gorgeous!

So I tried my hand at making a few sets over the weekend.  They turned out amazing!  I added a few to the website and to the esty shop as well as adding the new elemental boxes.  I've posted some photos here for you to enjoy.











I'm now reaching out to my blog followers and those that see me on Facebook or Twitter.  Sosanna's Closet has her own Twitter Account and Facebook Page.  We'd love to have new friends, likes and followers.  If you have the time head over and check us out.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

I like the word leek for two reasons.  One, it’s one of the offerings suggested for Hecate and two, it’s also a Homophone.   That’s words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

Such as Leek & Leak or Carat & Caret.





So for L this month, I’m going to leak a blog post on Leeks.


Each month on the 13th I create a dinner for Hecate.  I found several posts on the web it a typical menu for what they call “Hecate’s Deipon”. That’s just a fancy way to say Hecate’s Dinner/Supper.  Usually put out at the crossroads at night by torchlight and once placed, walk away without looking back.
Some typical offerings are sweepings from the house, garlic, eggs, leeks and things you don’t want to come back in the upcoming month.
I found an interesting quote on the reason for the meal.



Hekate Cult shares the following:

Aristophanes, Plutus 410 ff (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) :
"Ask Hekate whether it is better to be rich or starving; she will tell you that the rich send her a meal every month[i.e. food placed inside her door-front shrines] and that the poor make it disappear before it is even served."

I’ve never had a leek.  I’ve heard of them.  I’ve seen the Potato-Leek Soup but never heard of them.  I spent the last several months trying to find them.  Finally yesterday hubby came home with a big batch of Leeks.  We pulled them out and I smelled them.  Hrmmm Onion.

LOVELY!!

I hate onion.  I love the flavor but the feeling of crunching into an onion just…. Well it’s just awful.  So last night we made a big ole batch of veggie broth.  We used the leeks, some carrots a bit of celery and let it cook.  This morning I’ve got a batch of beans simmering in the pot of broth.  My house smells simply amazing.

So for this post I’m going to share with you my recipe for a simple vegetarian broth that can be used in the place of any stock.

1 Stalk Celery
1 bunch Leeks
1 bunch carrots
2 tbs of chopped garlic
½ stick butter
5 quarts of water

Directions
Clean all veggies.
Be sure to separate the leeks and clean out any sand.  Trim the leeks just above the white area of the plant and thinly slice.
Rough chop the rest of the veggies for easy straining
Melt butter in 6-8 quart pan
Add leeks and garlic to the melted butter and sauté
Add Carrots and Celery
Add water and boil for 2 hours on low heat
Remove from heat and strain
Using an ice tray, fill broth and freeze
Empty tray into large ziplock bag and you now have stock pieces on demand

I took one of the leeks and placed it on my altar with incense for the day.   After dark I took my torch (candle) and walked out to the crossroads and placed my offering there for Hecate, along with a list of those things I wish not to return next month.






Let’s hope they don’t leak back in.  ;)


So mote it be

Namaste and Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

PS Thanks to James for helping me fix my background!

1. 1.       The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
2. 2.       A kind act.