Blessed Beltane, 2011!

This is one of my most favourite days of the year! A lot of our rituals we didn't do today for multiple reasons, the biggest being how busy we were and my very, very sick husband. Instead of the big feast I had planned on, we ate leftovers. There was no new Maypole, no Goddess bread and definitely no bonfire. There was milk for the fairies, our beautiful altar and time spent outside. Tonight there was also be Beltane stories with the kids.

Avery's indoor soccer team had a wind up today with a parent vs kid game, pizza/fruit/cookies/chips lunch and lots of great conversations. Kyle even tried playing soccer for a while, but ended up in pretty rough shape after the fact. Rhianna jumped in and played on the 'parent' team and really dug in there. That girl is fierce! Tiernan, like Kyle, played for a bit before having to sit out again. His lungs just aren't back to normal yet. It was fun to get together with all of the soccer families one last time to wrap up the season. Avery was happy to have that time with his teammates. I'm glad we all ended up going!

Some sad news today, though. We have two pet rats, Rhi and Ratatta. I discovered that our poor little rattie, Rhi, broke her little hand. It isn't swollen or discolored, so I'm hoping that's a good sign. However, she is squeaking a lot and it refusing to use her hand at all. It's the saddest thing to watch. :( I really hope it heals up quickly. She will definitely be getting lots of gentle loving from all of us. Having pets can be so difficult sometimes.

On a better note... I have big plans to overwhelm you with photos from my day. ;)

Battle of the siblings! Avery vs Rhianna!

I live in the house of geeks (myself included) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Showing me that the fairies drank half the milk we left out last night!

The colour that Spring brings along makes me feel like I've been born again.

I can't wait for the raspberries this year. I planted it last year, but it was already a second year plant, so I got some raspberries from it. This year I'm hoping for even more! Raspberries are my favourite.

I know he looks all sophisticated in this picture, but really... he was trying to ask Avery to feed him. ;)

Here are few of my favourite items on our Beltane '11 altar...

Freshly picked tulip and daffodils.

My Goddess of fertility.

Our makeshift Maypole. The ribbons symbolize all the different kinds of love. Next year I plan on having many more colours, for many more types of love.

This is one of Rhianna's fairies. Mother and Baby love.

My beautiful pregnant fairy. ♥

My newest fairy. We got this one from our dear friends, Michelle and Lonnie, while they were out visiting us in April.

And last, but certainly not least... Rhianna's baby dragon. You can't really tell in the photo, but he has just hatched from an egg. Seemed very fitting for Beltane seeing as it's main focus is on fertility.

All in all it's been a pretty fantastic Beltane. Now I just wish for a healthy family, and a rattie with a healed up hand. Surely both of those things are not too much to ask for.

Blessed be!

Hot Mushroom Dip!

What a fantastic birthday party! Avery and Tiernan have the best friends in the world, and they sure helped make this day even more special for the boys. We went to Putt n' Blast for three games of laser tag and our birthday group kicked some serious butt. Even Rhianna and her friend got the hang of it pretty quickly and held their own through the games. All ten kids were all so good while we were there, not to mention during the hour long drive to and from Kingston. I had the pleasure of driving Tiernan and his three friends both directions and listening to their very boy-ish conversations were definitely a highlight for me. I just sat back and smiled. All of the kids raved about the party - most of them saying they now want their birthday parties there (sorry, parents!). The cupcakes I made for the party were a hit with both the kids and all the passer bys who commented on them. My boys smiled from start to finish and went to bed as happy little critters.

This picture makes me laugh. A lot! Avery's best friend's little sister (got that? She is also the friend Rhianna brought along to the party for company) picked a present out for Avery all on her own. Part of that gift was this Hello, Kitty stuffy. When Avery pulled it out of the gift bag I thought he was going to fall over from laughing! It was so funny. :) The best part was when her dad asked Avery who's going to keep the Hello, Kitty stuffy and he said himself! Ave said he'd keep it on his bed. I love that boy. Sure enough, it's on his bed now. Love, love, love it. So cute.

I am happy to report that Tiernan is almost 100% healed now. I think keeping him home for an extra couple of days to rest really helped. He will be seeing our wonderful family doctor on Monday for a follow up, just to be sure. I think I'll drag my husband along with me though.. because he really, really does not look/sound/feel good. Tomorrow should be a much more relaxing day with only a soccer wind up to attend for a couple of hours. Hopefully that will give him more time to heal, too. Luckily our kids are the best ever, and they totally let us sleep in for as long as we want. Oh yes, we are lucky!

Tonight I had a Date Night In with my husband who is sick as sick can be. Nothing stops us! ;) We had a laid back night watching 'Due Date' and eating Hot Mushroom Dip. This dip has been the hugest hit at every potluck, partini and poker night we've hosted. I always make it because it's just that good. I originally got it from me dear friend Amy who got it from her sister-in-law (I think) who found it online somewhere? At any rate, I've only altered it slightly because it was pretty delicious the way it was written.

Hot Mushroom Dip

2 tbsp margarine

1 cup finely chopped onion

4 cloves garlic

3 cups chopped mushrooms

8oz block cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/2 tsp seasoning salt

heavy sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups grated monterey jack cheese

1/2 cup mayo

Preheat oven to 350.

Melt margarine in a large skillet on medium heat. Add onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook for about 10 minutes until liquid evaporates and mushrooms are golden. Remove from the heat.

Add the cream cheese, dill weed, seasoning salt and black pepper. Stir until the cream cheese melts.

Add the grated monterey jack cheese and moyo and mix well.

Bake for 30 minutes until the top is browned and it's heated through.

I serve it with some Greek pitas that I toast in the oven brushed with an olive oil/garlic powder mixture. Deeeeeelicious!

I really need to head to bed so I can join my husband. It's after midnight which means it's officially May! Blessed Beltane! Some milk is out for the fae folk... :)