Of Easter and Families and other things~~~

Hello My Darklings,

Well I'm finally posting on my blog again.

I have to admit it has been a hectic crazy period, and I'm finally coming up for air.

Poor Coralline she didn't do too well with her wisdom teeth being removed, the first weekend to remove the lower ones wasn't too bad.  

But the next week to remove her uppers was just awful,  she was out of school not only for the weekend but for a few days after as well.   And it appears that she has an enzyme problem, she lacks enough of a particular enzyme to throw off depressants efficiently.   They had a hard time waking her up.

So while she was recovering we periodically had to shake her awake to make sure she would be o.k. 

My sister suggested that she be tested and it was confirmed that she has this deficiency, so now she has to wear a medic alert bracelet and its on her medical records.  And she missed a few school days so she has to use her Spring break to make up her assignments.

Needless to say it was rough on her, she doing fine now, she just grumbles a bit about the home work.

I've been busy too, because of the holidays and at my old place of employment they are short staffed, so I've been called in alot to cover "holes in the schedule"  I don't mind really, but when the BART trains started short circuiting and we had to take bus bridges, well I had to take the Bus to work, not easy really, but if I had to work late Doyle could pick me up. 

And while the sun shines I've been having repair work done on the house to replace some important filigree work and such, but the painting is going to have to wait until we have a very clear window of sun.

Easter dinner will be at my brother's house, but it's a bit of pot luck, everyone bringing something to the table, in a way it reminds me of the story of "Stone Soup", a lovely fun tale about how everyone can work together to not go hungry.

I am looking forward to it.  

I've not had much chance to see any new and delightful Gothic things but I have to admit I'm hooked on "Lucifer"  and Tom Ellis well I wouldn't mind seeing him striped to his tidy whities,  but don't tell Doyle.   But I think the latest episode "A priest walks into a bar..." did give some thought on spirituality and faith,  and the fallen angel burning his wings?   I do hope the series gets renewed.

I'm still having fun with "Sleepy Hollow" and all the Revolutionary War references and Crane still getting use to the 21st century, Tom Mison does a wonderful job as the 18th century man in a 21st century world and the entire cast works wonderfully together.

Believe it or not my Darklings I'm finally catching up to "American Horror Story" and I started with the first season, yes I had to buy it, no I do not down load HULU or NET Flicks, I'm still an "old-fashioned girl" but the writers do not leave you bored that you almost have to deliberately tear yourself away from putting another disc in to see the next chapter, otherwise you'll never get to sleep.

Will I be going on my wine tour come this Fall?  I'm not sure, with so much work to do on the house I don't think so, but then we'll see.

There has been some bizarre things happening of late in the Bay Area, long dead bodies or skulls turning up here and there as well as body parts in the marshes at the southern end of the bay, I think El Nino rains have been uncovering that which has been hidden too long.

And I'm afraid that the shifting to Daylight Savings time has not translated well to Belladonna and Wiener Dog,  their time schedule is all mixed up because I think they really go by the sun so they think we are in bed too long,  and we really can't argue with them, especially if we don't want accidents in the house.

Christopher my nephew has told me that there are a couple of boys in his class, who want to do the all dress in black and do the "Goth thing" during the Summer months, in a way he likes them because they are excellent creative writers and get good grades, they are not anti-social but he's puzzled by this wanting to "try out" the "Goth Thing"  he thinks they haven't a clue what it's all about, when he told me I just sighed and said "baby bats" he said he like to bring them around to my house when I'm home just to talk about literature and such, oh if they only knew what they are in for.

So I said if their parents don't mind and Chris's parents don't mind fine, we'll set up a time.  Well I'm curious anyway as to what these young minds think is Goth, and most likely do not have a clue.

Well need to go, my sister is here and is going to treat me to dinner, Doyle says he'll stay home with the dogs, he senses that it's a girls night out anyway. 

Later Darklings

  

Of Easter Bunnies and Jelly Beans~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Well the title says it all,  we had a lovely Easter that included rain, wonderful, much needed rain with at least a foot of snow in the mountains and hopefully more for the next few days.

It will not repair much from the drought but it will help a bit.

We went to church and it was packed in spite of the rain, but I think I was a bit disappointed with the very casual dress by some of the people mostly the younger ones, I mean torn, dirty jeans??  Well if the young men and women I saw were going straight to a construction job I could understand that, but somehow I didn't think so.

But there were a number of people dressed in their best, but at least church was packed, Doyle suggested we might consider grabbing breakfast out, but we knew most places would be packed, but we did find a Denney's and got a decent breakfast.

Then back to my place to pick up a few things and then over to my brother's house to help out with the family dinner,  we were going to be eating late so it was just a matter of prepping the food and laying out the table.  And baking the pies in advance, the ham was going to be an easy matter, we do not do the honey bake ham, but a regular ham, I showed Monica how to rinse it of the excess salty gelatin, then to heavily cross thatch it, put whole pineapple rings on the top pack with brown sugar, and a coating of honey, and then the pineapple juice from the rings can, and more crushed pineapple.

We put it in after the pies were done and cooling, cooking at 325 for a few hours, the ham is cooked anyway it's just to get the other flavors into it and get it hot.

Crushed pineapple into a sauce as well as heated applesauce.   Everything else came together easily.

The Twins were disappointed because the entire back yard was wet and muddy so they couldn't play, so they just moped about while Coralline helped and Chris and his Dad and Doyle got the table pulled out to hold everyone and put the chairs around it.  The Twins were asked by their Dad to go down into the man-cave and play games,  which included finding small bundles of jelly beans,

Then it was just waiting for the ham to bake so we relaxed a bit before the last dash to ready the food.

We were so happy to have the rain, my brother found out from the former owner's son that there is a well on the property and showed him were it is, my brother thought that the "wishing well" was just a decoration but no next to it was a pump devise to bring up water to water the garden, but it had been shut down except to water the front lawn, the pump wasn't working so that is another project for my brother.

After dinner we relaxed and talked Coralline is so happy to get a card from you Patricia she hopes you got hers.  Both she and Chris were so happy to spend an entire week at their new home, and really get comfortable in it.

Of course we had to watch a religious movie so the choice was "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" just perfect.  We could have watched "The Ten Commandments" but it does run for 4 hours too late for the children, my brother suggest that he'd buy a copy so that next time it could be watched uncut in any way by commercials.  To see that many actor's and actresses playing in it and Yul Brenner making the final intonement of the inevitable fact, is at the same time hammy and dramatic.  And seeing Ann Baxter chewing up the scenery as if she were a silent movie vamp just delightful.

A hammy yet dramatic, extravagant spectacle, and Cecil B. DeMille's last film.  A legacy really.

I think I'll get a copy of it as well and also "Ben Hur",  I understand there is a DVD release that includes DeMille's silent version from 1923 that would be interesting to see.

I checked the water cisterns this morning and the rain helped to fill them up a great deal, I do hope we get more.

Later Darklings

Of Easter Sunday~~~~

Good Morning Darklings!!!

Well I sort of slept in this morning, but for a good reason.

Last night Doyle, Sis and I went to Easter Midnight services, something not done much, we had to hunt for a church that does that, as most people want to go to Sunrise Services.

But I find that there is something very medieval in going to a Midnight Service, the ritual, the awakening, the Priest calling out "Christ is Risen!"  I posted it more at length in an earlier post from a year or two ago. 

But then afterwards to fall back into bed feeling that all will be right with the world sort of feeling. 

But Sis and I while waiting for Doyle to get the car and deal with the traffic jam in the church parking lot, could not help but overhear some people remarking that the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox, which heralds when is Easter Sunday, was a Blood Moon, and they sounded worried.

Oh no, thought I, not amateur "doom sayers"  Didn't need that.  Still considering the timing it was strange.

But then I shook those thoughts off, as we drove home and into a nice comfortable bed. 

Our Easter Dinner will be in the Early Evening, to allow for what ever plans my Brother has with the Boys.   Coralline and her Mother have shown up, and we are all going to get into Doyle's Van to go to a crowded breakfast at a Coffee Shop that he likes, its a bit out of the way, but they serve wonderful pancakes, designed to hold you all day until dinner.

I am going to be feeling fat after today, but I'll have a week to diet, if need be.  It is a bit over cast and chilly here, but I know that will burn off before noon. 

Dinner really will be easy, a nice Ham to be served,  usually if its just a small gathering I'd be serving Leg of Lamb, but with the Boy's, our elderly neighbor,  my cousin and her friend, Sis's boarder Brian, and a couple of Doyle's friends, Ham seemed to be a better choice, and we can have sandwiches for lunch during the week. 

And when we get back Coralline and her Mom will be helping out with things like getting the table set, and pulling down the large serving items. 

I am so glad for my Stove, it will be able to handle it.

And now Doyle has the Van out front, so to gather my coat and purse and off we go, we're sneaking in Belladonna and Weiner Dog in their carry all's into the Coffee Shop, but I think the owner knows but turns a blind eye---He's a dog lover too.

Happy Easter My Darklings!!

Later

Of Easter, Blood Moons and exhausted!!~~~~~

Hello Darklings!

I am SO glad that I am taking next week off for vacation, frankly my Dears I need it!

Well I shouldn't be so bad about it, but things at work have been a bit crazy, people out ill with allergies, Easter Break so spending time with their children, and one of my co-workers being in a car accident, not too bad but has a broken leg and cracked ribs, so it is obvious we are short handed, long hours, working late, shouldn't be working so late, and Doyle being so lovely picking me up and driving us home.

I was seriously tempted to stay for a few days at a near by hotel but they are charging Holiday rates, no, no I'm not getting caught in that trap, cheaper to pay for gas.

But next week a number of people will be back, so there will be a certain amount of sanity.  But I do think that last Monday night's blood moon might have affected some people.  Doyle came to pick me up and was waiting for me,  we had only a quarter of a block to walk to his car, when suddenly a naked man came running up to us, only wearing a smile and tennis shoes.

He was dancing back and forth mostly in front of me, and Doyle was ready to belt him one but instead I pointed at the man's pitiful wanger, laughed at him and said "Is that all you've got?" and proceeded to walked passed him as the smile on his face and his wanger fell. 

Doyle still wanted to belt him one but I reminded him that it wasn't worth going to jail for punching out idiots, took his hand and made him walk to the car, leaving the naked fellow just standing there.

As we settled into the car I remarked "I hope he doesn't catch a cold",  Doyle just gave me a look, and then laughed as we drove through the night lit streets of San Francisco,  across the bridge and I looked at the skeletal remains of the old bridge highlighted by the rising almost full moon.  As I looked at the metal work of that old work house I found myself sadly nostalgic for the old Beast, and as always,  I mentally said "good night" to it, an old worn out faithful friend.

It was just past midnight when we got home and I looked up at the moon as it was going into eclipse, did I want to stay up late and see this astronomical wonder?  Yes I thought, it would be one of those few times when the time was nearly right, so bundled up with a blanket and with a glass of dark red wine, I sipped and watched.   Doyle decided to stay up with me and we used the moment to quietly talk about things, Wiener Dog and Belladonna were curled up in their daytime nap beds in the kitchen, they thought humans staying out side in the chill when there were nice warm beds inside, were being silly. 

Then the Moon was in full eclipse, turning a copper color red of dried blood. How wondrous I thought, how mystical, how Gothic and a bit evil, I was almost tempted to howl but stopped as Doyle and I hear softly in the distance dogs doing mournful howls in the near silence, there was something almost agonizing about it, Primitive, primeval.   I heard a soft growl at my feet and there was Weiner and Belladonna, doing low warning growls, and then the mournful sounds stopped, and our dogs stopped growling.

Doyle gave a bit of a shake of his shoulders and said quickly, "Let's go in, lock the door."  The dogs were quick in the lead.  Doyle locked and bolted the kitchen door as I put our glasses in the sink,  then Doyle told me to go upstairs and he would re-check the windows and front door as well as the door that led into the basement, since the basement also had an outside door for convenience.

I did as he told, almost glad to get into the imagined safety of the bed, with both Weiner and Belladonna jointing me, and waited for Doyle.  A few minutes later he entered and assured me that all was secure.  As he turned out the light I asked him "What did you feel?" and he paused and then said "I really don't know but it didn't feel right" then he kissed me and said "Morning will look good".

And I woke up the next morning opening one eyeball to see the nose of Weiner dog in close up checking me out and being reassured when I said "I'm fine, I'm fine".

The good thing is that I could sleep in late and go in later in the morning, last nights' experience during the eclipse seemed un-real, but we did have an eclipse,  as I went out to catch the bus into the City I ran into one of my neighbors who asked me if I too heard the dogs howling, at least it was not mine nor Doyle's imagination.

So with free moments I and Sis have been able to get the house ready, and this morning we did the final bit of shopping for the Easter Dinner and managed to go to Good Friday Services, a period of mourning and to remember those whom have gone on before, now I am relaxing and typing. 

Sis will be back later she had an appointment with a client, Coralline called me last night to tell me she received your card Trisha, she hope you received yours,  she knows of the "Easter Beagle" as her Dad has been teasing her about it, but she hopes you like the Easter Pickle. 

Last night she told me a joke "What happens when you go out and plant Jelly beans in your Garden?"  I told her I wasn't sure and she said "You'll get your hands dirty."  And when you think about it, it is so true.

Doyle pleaded with me if we could skip the umpteenth showing on T.V. the "Ten Commandment's", and I said "Of course, no one can say 'Their God is God' like Yul Brenner, and that is the highlight of the movie, along with the parting of the Red Sea."   But I also said I was not going to watch "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"   no matter how much my Brother insists that it too is a religious movie. 

And now at this moment, inside and outside the house is quiet, not a bird, not a car, no neighbors calling out to each other, silence, almost expectant silence.  As if something is being anticipated.

Redemption??  Re-Birth?? Renewal??   I don't know, but I feel the need to go out into the garden and wait, I don't have these moments very often, but when they happen I take them and wait to see what will develop.

Later Darklings

Of Rain, Disasters and miracles~~~~~

Dear Darklings,

Well we are finally getting some rain, how much of it will make a dent in our drought I don't know, but it feels so good to have it raining here in the Bay Area and Snowing in the Mountains.

At work when I looked out the window I enjoyed seeing it coming down wetting the streets, making grey and mysterious at certain points, of course cars driving fast and splashing rain water on people was not welcomed, but fortunately I had my trench coat and umbrella, and was prepared.

In the evening when the rain was coming down I spent time just looking out the living room window just mesmerized by it, feeling a certain sort of relaxation hearing it.  That lovely coziness that it brings.   Spring rain is different from Winter rain, its not as gloomy and when you step outside in the morning the air has such a fresh feeling.

Of course Belladonna and Weiner Dog beg to differ, "Its wets Mummy, ours tummys gets wets, no likes" but of course demands to go potty wins out.

And it seems that with the rain it has made my garden start to grow wild, the old damaged rose bushes that were moved seem to be doing well, and the new one's planted are flourishing, I'm happy to say.  So now it will be raining on and off through next week, are we going to have rain next month?  I really don't know, I hope so.

I got a phone call last night from our "haunted couple" yes it was they at the S.F. Opera House sale, she was looking for things to incorporate into various art works, she seems to be working on several art projects at the same time depending on where the mood takes her.  We've been invited to dinner tomorrow evening, which should prove to be interesting.  Doyle had to beg off, he's on assignment, so it will be Sis and I, I wonder what will develop?

Of late the news has been grim, the lost of that Malaysian Airplane with all passengers and crew, has developed into a major mystery, why did it go so off course?  Was there emotional problems between either the Pilot or Co-Pilot, why was the black box and transponder turned off?  Did one or the other kill their fellow crew member,  Doyle and I thought at first it was a terrorist act, but no one owned up to it, then I began thinking it crashed by accident, then I began thinking was it a suicide act?  If so why take over 200 lives with you?   To do that is insane. 

Sis has thoughts on that, and said it would not be unusual for someone in a certain frame of mind to do it that way.   Its heart breaking for the surviving family members.

And then that horrendous mud slide in Washington State killing possibly over a hundred people.  One family, by a miracle, was not home but when they returned discovered that their aunt who lived next door had died, they also thought their pet dog a Labrador had died but was discovered to have survived, with only a few cuts, very muddy and very hungry.  Even a 4 year old boy was discovered alive in all that cold wet mud.

But what really had my jaw dropping was seeing on the news that construction worker who was trapped on a balcony edge of a raging apartment building fire, he looked like he was going to get caught by the flames but the fire department managed to get a ladder to him and pull him off just before the upper part of the building collapsed.

It's on You Tube listed as Houston Apartment fire rescue, the original video was done by Karen Jones, all I can say it was a miracle.  

And its the 2nd large major building fire of a building under construction, within weeks of the one in S.F. and the Houston one.  My jaw just dropped to the ground at how close a call it was.

And now the crisis in the Ukraine,  I don't trust Putkin, its all leading to something worse or he wants something and is maneuvering for it.

I have not been posting as much as I would like of late but work both at work and at home has been keeping me very busy.   And I have to admit I'm having fun as well, a friend of mine Diane and I went to see "Young Frankenstein" playing at a local movie theater, part of their classic film series.

It was fun, funny and interesting at the same time, you see on the big screen all these little visual images that one misses when viewing it on Television.  Little details, that add to the story.  I understand that its Mel Brooks favorite film, I can understand why, it incorporates all the elements of the first 3 Frankenstein movies and it had all the equipment used in the original as well.  And I had not realized that the Frankenstein monster in this film had a zipper in his neck or that the Doctor had a thimble on his finger after he sewed the "Abby Normal" brain into his creation.  These are details one just does not catch.

I told Doyle this and his remark was "We need a bigger TV Screen"  Excuse me, I ask him.  And where are we going to put it?   Well, he says,  there's always my future "man-cave".  I gave him The Look, where he quickly decided to go to the kitchen to make us a cup of tea.  Smart move.

Now Easter is coming---whether its going to rain or not depends on, of course, the weather.  And that then will decide where to have Easter Dinner, my Brother asked if I care to have it at my home, and I have no problem with that, but, fortunately his dear wife said that the burden of cooking the entire dinner should not fall exclusively on my shoulders, so she will come over to help out, so between the 3 of us (Sis, sis-in-law, myself) we should be able to do a very nice dinner.

The children are too old for Easter Egg Hunts, but Coralline wants to come over early and my brother will distract the boys for a few hours while we get things ready. 

I posted in a much earlier post about how Gothic the Easter Season is.  With the fasting, and sacrificing and such.  I'm sure you Darklings can find it.  Sis would like to go to the special late night Easter Eve services, if we can find a church that is offering it.  I would love to, it is Gothic Ritual at its highest.

Now I must go, I promised to meet Sis at the Claremont for an early dinner.

Later Darklings

Of Easter and a Time Machine~~~~

Hello My Darklings,

I know I haven't posted for a number of days, but things happened. 

For some reason our phone line became disconnected so Doyle was working with me using our cell phones, finally our neighbors phone to get the line re-connected.   It was an error on the phone company's part, they thought it was the house next to me that had been abandoned by the former owners.

Then with the last major rain storm (although not bad) one of the gutters separated, so had to have that repaired.

Then Doctor appointments, dental appointments (teeth are fine, and body is coming along fine) and all my therapy, time flew by.

Easter, although a bit drizzly, was lovely. 

 Doyle and I went to mass at one of the older Catholic Churches.  He surprised me with a lovely Gardenia corsage, I thought they weren't in season yet, so how he did it I have no idea, but I enjoyed wearing it all day.

Then we went for a drive in my vintage car, we even dressed as if we were from the 1940's, although I did have to use wheel chair a bit because my back wanted to act up. And Belladonna came with us everywhere we went.  Except into church.

We had an early lunch at our favorite restaurant, then Doyle took me to the See's Candy store and bought a 2 pound box of chocolates with soft centers (I do love See's), we drove down Oakland's Broadway, past the Paramount Theatre and the looks from people seeing the old car, so many "thumbs up",  people pulled up along side us to ask what year it was made,  and were surprised to see how we were dressed and the music we were playing.

We drove around Lake Merritt and then up to Piedmont to St. Mary's cemetery, it was too wet to step onto the grass, but I could see my parents graves as Doyle put flowers on them for me.   Then to Alameda and down along Shoreline Drive, it was a bit cloudy to see the San Francisco skyline too well, we then drove back to the old Naval Air Station and admired the U.S.S. Hornet.

Then, before it got too late we went to my favorite antique and vintage shop and I found two pair of shoes from the 1940's that were almost new and fit beautifully.  

Eventually we worked our way back in a loop going down Doolittle Drive and then back along East 14th Street to home, and although sometimes driving along East 14th can be dangerous, the traffic was light and everyone who saw us looked like we had come out of a time machine,  the rain had stopped so we rolled down the windows and because I have a tape deck under the dash, we played Big Band music. 

Doyle has a friend that worked up about a dozen Tapes so that they sound like radio broadcasts with news breaks and music and commercial  announcements from the 1940's. 

The looks on some people's faces when they'd hear our "radio", once person asked us "Which President?"  and I replied "Why President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he's the current president."

The look on the young man's face was priceless,  he acted like he'd seen a ghost!!!   Both Doyle and I loved it.

But then I was getting tired and Doyle saw that I had gone my limit for the Day and we drove home.  Fortunately Doyle had picked up what was going to be our dinner the night before and only had to be warmed up.

I floated the gardenia's in a crystal bowl of water so that it's scent could fill the room and I could admire it for a few more days.  Doyle suggested that I'd look into finding silk gardenia's to make into a permanent corsage, a good idea.

We watched one of our favorite crime drama movies "The Blue Gardenia" with Alan Ladd and then relaxed and read and listened to our favorite CD's until it was time to go to bed, my sister Marie had called and she was doing well and would be coming home the following day.

It was so much fun to "go back in time" even for one day. 

I hope all you Darklings had a wonderful Easter.

I'll post more later.

Later, Darklings

.

Of healthy gains and a hot house mystery~~~

Hello My Darklings,

Today was a day to cheer.  I was able to bathe myself with no help at all, but I did need a little help getting in and out of the tub, yes I wanted to use the tub, just soaking in the hot water was such a pleasure. 

Ella even put in one of my favorite bubble baths Gregorio's Beverly Hills',  the fragrance was heavenly, and Ella teased me with a little rubber ducky that looks like a vampire.   Where she found that I do not know but he's going to be the mascot for the bathroom.

Such a wonderful pleasure soaking in such a lovely scented environment, I felt so pampered and enjoying the feeling of luxury.  Every Elderly Goth should indulge in that at least once a week.  

My Therapist came by this morning and we worked on the muscles and range of motion and she was very, very pleased, I've been doing my exercises, painful as they are, I've been forcing myself to do them.   And the massage therapist was here this afternoon, she felt that some of the back muscles are beginning to loosen up and I have to agree, between the heat, exercises and the massage as well as the medication my spasms have been less, and I've been able to sleep these last 3 night all through the night without a spasm waking me up.

Such a relief!

But not until the Doctor pronounces me able to go back to work will I be able to cheer.  I've been walking around the main floor of the house and the garden to build up my leg muscles and endurance, but I still tire, Louise says it will get better it just takes time.   I have to remember I'm 60 something, not 20 something.

Marie has left to visit her children this weekend, she won't be back until Monday evening, but Doyle will be home with me.  Since he's had a few days off he took Belladonna to her pet groomer's to be pretty for Easter.

I know Darklings that sounds so spoiled and such but except for nieces and nephews I do not have children of my own, and considering the situation how I found her, I think spoiling her is worth it.   Doyle had a chance to call his children long distance, they are back East visiting family and they said that next time they'll plan on visiting during the 4th of July instead of Easter week, they are still having snow problems in some areas.

We only see Doyles' children occasionally because they live so far South out of town, like well down in San Diego and Los Angeles, but they have to go where the jobs are, which is sad, so getting a call from them is such a joy.  And we are glad they are doing well.

I managed to walk in the garden and hot house this morning and such a warm morning it is, but the heat felt good.

I sat on the bench in the hot house, enjoying the pond and the Koi and admiring the Orchids,  my gardener came by and said that he found what appears to be an old pond path and foundations for something within the hothouse,  so I slowly followed him and it appears that the old pond stream path meets where the current pond is but then it winds back again, he found what appeared to be small bridges that cross the stream path and going back further there was covered by dirt, foundations to something that went up and in the back of it an old cement bench that looks like rock.  He said that the bridges had to be strong enough to hold a person's weight or it would not make sense to have them where they are, he's going to remove more of the dirt from this bench area and such because he thinks it might hold a clue as to the full interior design of the Hot House.   He thinks that it was not to encourage seedlings because another section of the hot house is more set up like a green house for that, but that the area with the pond is was for displaying plants, but the big question is what was it like.

I pondered on that and then remembered that my Great Aunt was very big on photographing everything in and around her home,  I said that I would have Doyle help me go through the photo albums; we may find a clue in them.  My Gardener was very excited about that, seems he loves mysteries.

So when Doyle returns with Belladonna we'll look into that.  Frankly I love the idea of finding out more of what the house and grounds contain and are hiding. 

But for now it's time for my nap, Louise is saying it's time to rest, and she is right I do feel tired.  As I find out more information on the hot house I will let you know.

Later Darklings

Thoughts on this Past Easter~~~~

Hello Darklings,

Ahhh Easter has passed with all its symbols; all the bunnies and chicks, and little ducklings, soft puppies and kitties, everything blooming, I’m sneezing.

And yes, with this post I am behind, but remember Elder Goths can be busy…so to continue…..

As an elder Goth I was thinking….contemplating really….. Easter is a peculiar holiday or feast to celebrate, because a Goth is really suppose to be pre-occupied with the dark side of life. But Easter does have its dark side, look at the full Easter story, the knowing of what’s to come, the betrayal, Judas’ suicide, the false accusations, the mock trial, the torture (enough to make a sado-machonist squirm in pleasure) the suffering, the method of dying, (don’t ask me to get into that but it’s really a form of slow suffocation), burial or entombment and then Horrors---possible grave robbing?

Well Darklings if you want gloom and doom the Easter story has it aplenty.

But as an elder Goth who does go to cemeteries and enjoys reading different funeral procedures, Easter can be a wonderful time, if one can get past all the egg salad from the left over dyed eggs that are not eaten.

For me it means bringing out my spring and summer Goth clothing. This is where one gets to pair black with another color, like yellow or coral or even a light green, Heavens!! A lighter color?? Why Not.

Of late, thanks to the T.V. cable program “Mad Men” more selections have come out and the new colors are a pink or orange coral, and this color is made for Elder Goths, you can pair it with your black clothing, your skirts, tops, dresses, slacks and jackets and not seem dreary, just edgy and fun. I recently picked up a coral colored light weight sweater and sweater shell which will pair wonderfully with my black slacks and skirts, I also purchased a bright yellow bolero jacket that goes well with my black dresses, and one can accent your all black outfits with scarves in those colors, trust me you can find them at flea markets and vintage fashion shows, I managed to find two pairs of cloth gloves, one in orangey coral and the other in yellow, but go easy on the yellow, one does not want to look like a bumble bee.

And black straw hats and purses are just perfect for spring and summer for the elder Goth, just sunny enough without looking out of place or being too Holly Golightly.

Avoid pink if you can, no pink lipstick or polish but Revlon has a great color called Orange Flip and a nail polish called “Chile” as in the spice.

I even saw an elder Goth friend of mine who had her nails done with a very dark blue back ground with white bunnies with pink ears. Who says Goths’ can’t have fun. And during this time it is perfect to have fun.

Near where I live there is several families of wild ducks that have become somewhat domesticated, if you picnic out there they will come up looking for a tasty handout, the female is usually the one in the lead about that, she makes all the judgment calls, when I go there I make sure to have a bag of “Duck Chow” which you can get from any good pet store or feed store. And keep Belladonna on her leash so she doesn’t chase them.

They say you shouldn’t encourage that but these ducks are “urban warriors”, they understand the wilds of city living, then after a time you will see them with their ducklings, I and my friends figure life is hard enough, at least give them a chance to get to adulthood or duckhood as it were, and then take their chances. But seeing the ducklings is enough to soften a hardened heart unless they are a sociopath.

Even at the White House when a mama duck tried to get her babies onto the White House lawn they needed help from the White House security force, last I heard they were doing fine at the East Lawn fountain. Often I’ve seen pictures in the papers of police officers and the general public holding up traffic so mama ducks and their babies can safely cross the street. An Elder Goth who knows how hard life can be, can appreciate the assistance.

Now I have been asked frequently how does one determine when Easter as celebrated by the Christian Church, falls.

Yes, it would seem that it appears to be random, but not if you know the formula. Yes Darklings, there is a formula or calculation as to when is Easter.

Easter is always the first Sunday after the first Paschal full moon after the Spring Equinox.

O.K. if you didn’t understand that here it is again by using astronomical calculations or when certain astrological constellations or stars appear in the sky that determines the first day of Spring, then using the full moon and a calendar, the very first Paschal full moon that appears after the Spring Equinox starts the countdown to Easter Sunday, which would be the first Sunday after the first full moon that appears after the Spring Equinox.

So for this year the Spring Equinox was on March 21 or 22 determining where you’re at, but the first full moon after that date does not happen until Friday, April 6, so Easter Sunday is on April 8.

Because of when the full moon makes its appearance after the Spring Equinox, determines if Easter will be early in the Spring or late in the Spring. Now it has to be a Paschal full moon because if one reads one’s bible (either NKJ or Douay) the events occurred soon after Passover, so the calendar has to be both lunar and solar or lunisolar to determine when Easter is celebrated, it can be as early as March 22 to as late as April 25.

And just to confuse you more it also depends if you are on a Julian or Gregorian calendar year, because Easter Orthodox always celebrates their religious holidays about a week later.

Wheewwwwuuuuu!!!! Do not ask me to explain that all again Darklings, look it up in Wikipedia.

I have one Catholic Goth friend who follows the whole Easter Ritual from Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday, Lent to Holy Week to Easter Sunday and then Pentecost. She uses Lent to get her into dieting and cleaning her body system (safely of course) and to spring clean her house, which could include replacing worn out sheets and towels, cleaning out closets and just serious cleaning. Then if the weather is warm enough she’ll also do spring planting of annuals in her garden.

Last year she couldn’t do it because of the horrendous rains we had. This was fine if one is in to serious gloom or “Young Frankenstein”.

But for me I did go to church for Easter Sunday services, and I look for the darkest, gothiest church I can find and I am never disappointed, so far the Catholic and Episcopal Churches offer the best services. But what I like is the Easter Midnight Services which is not done very often now, when one enters the church in the front vestibule is the Paschal fire which the old palm leaves from last years Palm Sunday service is burned the ashes are saved to become the Ashes for next years Ash Wednesday.

The Church is dark with only minimal lighting, in one that I went to they still had the old candle scones and they were lit with glass covers around them for protection. The church is silent with only people softly muttering their prayers, then you hear the church bells chiming the midnight hour and just after the 12th bell has struck, a priest carrying the Paschal candle which has been lit from the Paschal fire at the entrance of the church raises the candle above his head and sings out “Christ is Risen!” That portion of the church lights up, he proceeds down the aisle towards the altar, stopping in the middle of the building and repeats the process and that portion of the church lights up, he continues down the aisle until he is at the altar and sings one last time “Christ is Risen!’ raising the candle high, the dark purple cloths wrapped around the statues& the sanctuary cross are whipped off by assistants and the altar area is lit up with light and the candles on the altar are quickly lit as the organ plays and a choir breaks into song as High Mass begins.

One cannot be affected by this amazing ritual of rejuvenation and redemption, you leave the church tired but strangely at peace with one’s self and with the world and sleep well knowing the dawn will look brighter.

Even now I have my palm frond from this last palm Sunday, I burned carefully my old one from last year and added it’s ashes to the box that holds the ashes from previous years, when I die I want these ashes to be scattered into the grounds of a garden or in a dark forest of redwoods to become something rejuvenating.

Kisses Darklings.