Just a few things...

editor's note,  Second Grandbaby on the way!! Sorry that I will not be able to answer comments!
YIKES we are off!!!


I am guest posting on Sew We Quilt tomorrow! Madame Samm would not tell me what the prize will be, all she said was tell them...

"They Will Want To Be There"!!

Still time to sign up!

I finished my Sarah Jane Embroidery Block

My August Birdie Block

and now I will be starting this!!

No, not for this Christmas, maybe not even the next!

But I love the process!

Oh yes,

LOOK!!

New in the My Store
Michael Miller Red and Aqua Prints

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Have a happy day!!

10 Things You Might Not Know About Twitter – Facts

10 Things You Might Not Know About Twitter – Facts

Twitter, one more version of the social networking package like Orkut and Facebook which is designed to aid people around the globe to interact with one another and keep in touch. It is of great patronage to the people because it has the facility of micro-blogging which allows one to post 140 words at a time in a form of a tweet. Now coming towards the Twitter in particular, it is actually a hodgepodge of email, instant messaging and sms messaging all compiled in a single package. There are certain features which are common with the Facebook and myriad other features which are unique to Twitter. Let us have a look on what are some of the features of the Twitter which is it offering to the social animal, we the human beings, to remain in touch with each other.

It offers the feature to send private messages to users instead of revealing that to everyone using Twitter.
It invites your cell phone to be the part of the Twitter as you can send and receive tweets via your cell phone.
Do you have a better idea for developing any game for Twitter? If yes, than go ahead and use the API that allows third party developers to develop some magnetizing applications which may prove to be exciting for other Twitter users.
OK Readers !! fasten your seat belts because we are about to race your mind through some of very fascinating and appalling facts and figures pertaining to Twitter which you may have never heard of in your life, despite of using Twitter for a long time.

10. FIRST PERSON TO JOIN TWITTER
Hey! was it a He or She? What did he/she do on twitter after joining twitter?. Can’t guess !..never mind because I am going to divulge to you folks the first ever person to set foot, not on the moon but Twitter and he was JACK DORSEY(founder) and he was also the first one to send twitter message on his profile. Luck man he is, isn’t he ?. He was the first person to be the part of the world’s famous social organization nowadays.
 
9. INITIAL INCOME OF TWITTER AS A COMPANY

Twitter was founded in 2006 and as you all know that it is nowadays a very well-reputed and marvelous social networking package, so what do you think its initial revenue will be? Yeah I know that guessing such a behemoth amount will not be an easy task to do for you. Ok let me tell you this and the answer to this mystery is that for that first three years of its operations Twitter generated a total revenue of $1,000,000,000. Wait ! how about removing that ‘1’ before those zeroes. Yup here you go guys. You got it right and Twitter made not even a single penny during the first 3 years of its operations.
 
8. FREQUENCY OF TWEETS IN TWITTER
How many times can you possibly blink your eye in a second? Well to reflect something or some event as to occur very fast or rapidly we use the term “in a blink of an eye”. May be it is 5 times a second or to quote it more optimistically let us take it to be 7 times a second. But can you just imagine the number of Tweets per second. Nah ! it is not even near to your thinking as the average tweets per second are as many as 750 tweets per second. Well I guess we have got something to replace our old-used phrase and the new one should be “in a blink of a tweet”.

7. TWEETS THAT CONSTITUTE MOST OF THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF TWEETS
Man love to interact and finds for himself excuses to talk to others. The category of maximum number of tweets are conspicuous of this statement. What can it be? Any major event or something very ordinary to our lives. It is just “I am having lunch” and this tweet constitute over 40% of total tweets.

6. ORIGINAL NAME OF TWITTER

The name being used nowadays was not the original name for this social networking program. But it did resemble with the current name “TWITTER”. It was “TWTTR”. It was inspired by the fact the short codes being used in America are 5 characters.

5. THE FIRST DAY WHEN TWITTER WAS BEING RUN
Definitely, the first day of twitter was indeed linked to some special occasion of some special person of the organization. The Beta test version of Twitter was launched on the birthday of the CEO Even Williams.

4. MEN OR WOMEN
Men are more socializing than women. Women tend to talk to more in contrast to most men, although some men do talk a lot. Which segment of the society can it possibly be? Well guys happy or not they are the talkative ones. Yes, women constitute over 55% of the Twitter users where men lies in an area of 45%.

3. SOURCE OF TRAFFIC COMING TO TWITTER

You will be very astonished to know that not most of the traffic coming to twitter is from twitter.com rather it is from third party applications like TweetDeck, Twitterrific and Tweetie etc. These third party applications comprise over 75% of the incoming traffic to twitter.

2. IF TWITTER WERE A COUNTRY

Just imagine of the gigantic size of the Twitter organization with over more than 105,779,710 registered users. Statistics claim that if Twitter were a country then it would be 12th largest population country. It is amazing !

1. SOCIAL CLASS USING TWITTER

Rich people have got many other tasks to keep them riveted. They can go surfing, dining out most of the week days and do other expensive enjoyments to fulfill their social needs. But you will be amazed to learn that according to authentic sources, 30% of households of each family is more than $100,000.

Places To Visit In Nepal

Places To Visit In Nepal

Are you ready for some high altitude adventure with in a soul-warming environment? Then pack your bags and experience some of the most majestic peaks, most exhilarating torrents and wonderful people Nepal has to offer. Here are some places you may want to visit when go.

1.) Kathmandu

Find your inner peace in the streets of Nepal's capital and cultural center. You can walk on the streets of this once inaccessible city and experience the culture, the people, the history, and the faith Nepal had embraced, imbibed, and relived for centuries. Katmandu is also one of the Nepal's starting points in activities like trekking, rafting and other sports.
 
The tourism has opened up in the country manifold and as a result it is sometimes said to be the 'third religion' of Nepal, as the country's most important industry that plays a large role in the economic activity of Kathmandu. This activity is central to Kathmandu, the gateway to Nepal. It is a major source of income for most of the people of the city with some several hundred thousands of visitors annually. Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world visit various religious places located in Kathmandu and the surrounding district such as Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Baudhanath, Budhanilkantha, Kapan Monastery/Kapan Sangeet Sarowar, etc. From a mere 6,179 tourists in 1961–62, the number jumped to 491,504, but with political instability in the country in recent years, it dropped to 275,468 in 2002–03, but since then has shown a rising trend with the country turning into a Democratic Republic. In economic terms, the foreign exchange earning showed a remarkable trend registering 3.8 % of the GDP in 1995–96 but started declining. All this tourism is attributed to the natural grandeur of the Himalayas and rich cultural heritage of the country.

The neighborhood of Thamel is Kathmandu's primary 'traveler's ghetto,' packed with guest houses, restaurants, shops and bookstores catering to tourists from abroad. Freak Street, also known as Jochhen Tole, is Kathmandu's original traveler's haunt made popular by the hippies of the 1970s and remains a popular alternative to Thamel.


2.) Royal Chitwan National Park

If you want to experience some jungle adventure with the elephants and ravaging rapids, you may want to stop by Nepal's Royal Chitwan Park. Covering some 932 sq kilometers, this national park serves as a home for 450 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 43 species of mammals. One can also enjoy guided jungle walks, terai culture, wild life breeding project, and safari drives inside 4WD cars. The flora and fauna of Chitwan makes it a great place for nature lovers. Chitwan has over 50 different species of mammals, 400 different species of birds, and 65 different types of butterflies in its hardwood Sal forests, riverine vegetation, and "elephant grass" savannah. More than 70 different species of grass grow here.

The most famous wildlife in Chitwan is perhaps the single-horned Asian rhinoceros. A few decades ago, their number had fallen to less than 100, but recent count puts them at 400. These animals have thick armor like hide that is hard to penetrate even with a bullet.

A fully grown animal can be as tall as 180cm. In spite of army protection for these animals and severe punishment for harming them, rhino poaching is still a problem as every organ of the animal carries some (probably superstitious) value. The horn fetches about US$10,000 per kilo and is believed to be an aphrodisiac. The dung can be a laxative, the urine cures tuberculosis and asthma. The blood can help cure menstrual problems. The hide keeps away evil spirits. And so on.

Chitwan has about 150 Bengal tigers left of the one time 3000 or so. Though poaching is a serious threat, the real threat for these majestic animals is the gradual loss of its habitat. A male tiger requires almost 60km space, and a female one requires a third of it. Chitwan is simply not big enough to handle many tigers. It is rare for one to actually see a tiger, though looking for one is an interesting part of the trip.

Other wild mammals one may see are leopards, various types of deer, monkeys, sloth bear, and antelope.


3.) Nagarkot

Located 32 kilometers east of Katmandu, Nagarkot is a great place to visit if you want to see how beautiful and majestic the Himalayan Mountain range can be. A lookout tower in Nagarkot, for one, enables visitor to have a 360-degree scenic view of the Katmandu valley and Himalayan Mountain peaks. Drive up the city, book for a hotel, wake up early, and experience a different kind of sunrise with cool winds blowing every word away. Set on a ridge northeast of Bhaktapur, NAGARKOT (1950m) is no quaint hilltop village. The series of hotels is here for one reason only: the classic panorama of the Himalayas. While the view isn't as expansive as from Daman, and the area not half as interesting as Dhulikhel, it's easy to get to from Kathmandu and you don't have to stay in an expensive hotel to get a fantastic view from your window.

The first tourists are thought to have been a troop of Punjabi mercenaries recruited to defend the Valley against Prithvi Narayan's troops. Stationed at the now-vanished ridgetop fort, they quickly succumbed to the "mountain air", proving drunkenly incapable when the Gurkha invaders finally arrived. Since those times, numerous guesthouses have sprouted along some two kilometres of ridge, but the main attractions haven't changed much. Taking in the sunrise view, either from your hotel or the view tower further back along the ridge, is the standard activity. Many take the chance to just chill out, but there's a wealth of hiking and biking opportunities too. Since Nagarkot is located at a high point and easily reached on a good road, many people get a lift up and then hike or bike back down.


4.) Pokhara

Located some 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, this enchanting city is the rally point for trekking and rafting destination.Pokhara offers perfect scenery and gripping natural beauty not only for those who looks for fun but also for those seeking solace. Be it the preview of the Himalayan Mountain range, a row in Phewa Lake, a trek beside Seti Gandaki River and Devi's Fall, or a peek to the Mahendra Cave, a trip to Pokhara is a experience worth the journey. Pokhara has become a major tourist hub of Nepal, more than making up for the loss of its trading importance. The city offers a combination of nature and culture and is mostly known as the gateway to the trekking route Round Annapurana, which is usually a trek of 25 days.

Pokhara is quite a modern city with many tourist attractions in the town itself. Most interesting is the lakeside which is also called Baidam. It is situated at the side of the Fewa lake so it is named as Lakeside. The old centre in the north of the city (Bagar, Purano Bazar) where many old shops and warehouses in the Newari style can still be found. Although more seldom, mule caravans still arrive there from Mustang.

Temples worth visiting in city are Bindhyabasini, Bhadrakali, Sitaldevi, Gita mandir temple and Bhimsen temple. Another temple, Barahi temple, is located on an island in the Phewa lake, which is accessible only by boats.

Bindhyabasini Temple in the evening

5.) Pashupatinath Temple

Four kilometers east of Katmandu lies a temple of immeasurable sacredness for Hindu people - the Pashupatinath. Hindu believes that dying and being cremated in Pashupatinathand having one's ashes scattered in Bagmati Riverwill give a Hindu salvation and release from the cycles of birth and rebirth. Have a peek of Hindus life, death and tradition by visiting this holy ground.

The Bagmati River, which runs next to Pashaputinath Temple, has highly sacred properties. Thus the banks are lined with many ghats (bathing spots) for use by pilgrims. Renovating or furnishing these sites has always been regarded as meritorious.

Arya Ghat, dating from the early 1900s, is of special importance because it is the only place where lustral water for Pashupatinath Temple can be obtained and it is where members of the royal family are cremated. The main cremation site is Bhasmeshvar Ghat, which is the most-used cremation site in the Kathmandu Valley. The preferred bathing spot for women is the Gauri Ghat, to the north.

Across the Bagmati River are 15 votive shrines, the Pandra Shivalaya, which were built to enshrine lingas in memory of deceased persons between 1859 and 1869.Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda,the deity here gained great fame there as Pashupati, the Lord of the Animals. Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'. 2011


6.) Patan

Art lovers and enthusiasts should always put a stop in Patan in their Nepalese trip itinerary. Patan is the oldest city in the Ksthmandu valley and is the home for Nepalese architecture, arts, traditions, and crafts drawing mainly from religious customs. Walk around the city and feel as if you're walking inside an open museum.Patan is renowned as a very artistic city. Most of the Nepalese art of any form is devoted to Gods, and there are an abundance of temples and vihara in the city. Notable places of interest include:

    * Patan Durbar Square: The residence of the Malla rulers of the Patan state which is now converted into a museum.
    * Hiranya Varna Mahaa Vihar: A buddhist temple known locally as Golden Temple
    * Rudra Varna Mahavihar
    * Mahaboudha Temple
    * Bangalamukhi temple: A Hindu temple
    * Kumbheshwor temple: One of the two five-story pagoda temples of the valley
    * Pancheswor Mahadev temple: Kusunti
Bird's eye view of the Patan Durbar Square. It has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
Durban Square in Patan


7.) Wildlife Reserve of Koshi Tappu

Sprawling some 175 km2 near the River of Sapta-Koshi in Eastern Nepal, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is the best place to watch native and migratory birds in action. Thousands of birds converge in this area, especially during the months of January, February and March. The trip which normally includes jungle walks, jeep drives, and boat rides, coupled with treks to Bhutan and Sikkim or rafting trip in Sunkosi will make any Nepalese trip an unforgettable experience.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is a protected area in the Terai of eastern Nepal covering 175 km2 (68 sq mi) of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur Districts. In altitude it ranges from 75 to 81 metres (246 to 266 ft) and consists of extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Kosi River. It was established in 1976 and designated as a Ramsar site in December 1987.

It can be accessed from the Mahendra Highway.

A study of the reserve was conducted between 1997 to 1998 by the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. The study found serious conflicts between the reserve wildlife and the local people living adjacent to the reserve. The people suffered crop depredations and animal harassment while the reserve managers had the problems of poaching, cattle grazing, and other illegal activities in the reserve. The study has several recommendations, one of which is the promotion of tourism to the area with the reserve using local tourist guides trained by wildlife experts.


8.) Lumbini

Lumbini is the perfect place to go to if you are into cultural, archaeological and religious treasures. With the number of stupa, meditation grounds temples, courtyards and more, a walk in Lumbiniis a walk with Buddha. Enter the birthplace of one of the greatest man of world religions - Siddharta Gautama, founder of Buddhism - and be captivated by its serene environment and meditate and reflect with its outmost tranquility and peaceful atmosphere.In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a park situated in Kapilavastu Nepal. It was in Lumbini that the Buddha was born. A pillar now marks the spot of Asoka's visit to Lumbiní. According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Asoka's visit and gifts. The park was previously known as Rummindei, two miles north of Bhagavanpura.

In the Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) it is stated that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans, in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta. 

Ashokan Pillar

    * Ashokan Pillar - an inscribed pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha's birth. The inscription, which is the oldest in Nepal, grants Lumbini a tax-free status in honor of Buddha’s birth.

    * Buddhist Temples - there are foundations of temples dating from the 2nd century BC to the 9th century AD, and two modern temples: one in Tibetan style, the Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Temple, which was built by the king of Mustang, and one Nepalese Theravada style building, the Lumbini Buddha Vihar, which was built by the Nepalese government and contains Tibetan-style frescoes and Newari-style Buddhist images. Outside the main complex, there are other temples built in the styles of countries where Buddhism is the predominant religion, such as Chinese, Japanese and Burmese.

    * The Japan Peace Stupa - the 41m imposing structure is situated at the northern end of the gardens.

    * The Lumbini Museum displays artifacts from the Mauryan and Kushana periods, religious manuscripts and other items discovered at the site.

    * The Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI) is devoted to the study of Buddhism and other religions. It houses an extensive collection of books on religion, art and architecture.

9.) Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is an ancient town east of Katmandu in the Katmandu Valley. Experience Nepalese life as it happens in this city by enjoying the scenery in Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Potter's square. Make your trip complete with a taste of Khopa Dhau, Bhaktapur's home-made curd.haktapur is a popular day-trip destination for tourists visiting Kathmandu. Lately, with more air-pollution in Kathmandu, more tourists are staying in Bhaktapur for a few days, before trekking arrangements are finished. In addition, although the Mount Everest (i.e. Sagarmatha) is breathtaking and the landscape of Lord Buddha (i.e. Founder of Peace) mysterious, tourists visiting Nepal still don't feel their sojourn complete unless they have experienced Bhaktapur, Nepal's ancient "City of Culture".

Pottery is one of the main tourist attractions in Bhaktapur besides the architecture. In Nepal the city is renowned for its yoghurt or curd Ju-Ju Dhau, traditionally sold in clay bowls.
(THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF BHAKTAPUR)

    * Four Squares - Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square.
    * Popular Places - Changu Narayan (World Heritage Site), Nagarkot, Surya Vinayak, Kamal Vinayak, Siddha Pokhari, Chonga Ganesh etc.
    * Devine Miracolus Vision - Largest Shiva lingum, Golden Spout and Gate, Magnificent peacock windows, around 40 temples etc.


10.) Royal Bardia National Park

Located in Western Terai,Royal Bardia National Park is the largest park in the region with 968 km2. It serves as a sanctuary for tigers, small and large mammals, deer, reptiles, birds, and a herd of the last known elephants in captivity. Enjoy wildlife as it happens along with short rafting in Karnali and Bherias well as trekking to Dolpo and Rara lake.The Royal Bardia National Park, situated in the mid-far Western region, is the largest and most unspoiled wilderness area in the Terai, covering an area of 968 sq.km. The park, a sub-tropical jungle, is thickly forested by sal trees and carpeted with grass, savannah and riverine vegetation. The north is bordered by the Churia hill range, the west by the Karnali river, while the Babai river cuts its course almost through the middle of the park. On the southern fringe of the park are the villages of the unique and indigenous Tharu people of Western Nepal. Considered as one of the most picturesque national parks in Asia, it teems with rich and diverse flora and fauna. Royal Bardia National Park

The park is home to more than 30 different mammals, including the langur and rhesus monkeys, civets, hyenas, wild dogs, sloth bears, otters, blue bulls, deer and wild boars. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered animals like the tiger, rhinoceros, wild elephant ( the park harbours the biggest wild tusker in Asia) and black buck, Gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles the great game fish-masher and the Gangetic dolphin cavort in the river waters. The unique birds which number over 350 species include cormorants, egret, storks, geese, jungle fowls, king-fishers and endangered species such as the Bengal florican, silver-eared mesia and the saurus crane thus making the park truly a bird watchers paradise.

Eid Mubarak...

Eid Mubarak...

Before the Golden Sun Rise,

let me decorate each of the Rays
with Wishes of Success,
prosperous and Happiness
4 u and 4 ur Family.

Eid Mubarak.

My Wantobes...

OK my sweet Wantobe's today is your day!!

So head over to Sew We Quilt and see what you could win.

Remember it is not to late to sign up with me.

Yes, I just might be the guest poster this Friday.

10 Tips: How to Take Better Photos

10 Tips: How to Take Better Photos

 In photography, the pictures are created by recording radiation on a radiation-sensitive medium such as a photographic film or electronic image sensors. Believe me guys, you would not like to read any more technical details about photography because it is just too complicated to understand and is boring. It is based on pure scientific concepts. On March 14, 1839, Sir John Herschel introduced the word “photography” to the world in a lecture before the Royal Society of London. There is always a right way to do something and one should learn that particular way to achieve better results. As Peter F.Drucker said “Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness is doing the right thing.”  Lets see the 10 Tips: How to Take Better Photos

 10. The first tip is regarding the pets and little children. When you happen to take a picture of any object which is small in height, then bend down to their level first so that you are holding the camera at their eye level. In this way a better picture can be taken of small objects.

 9. When ever you are ready to take the picture of your subject, make it sure that you have taken into consideration the background also. A complex or abstract background will make the image of your subject blur and unable to be detected by the eye. It is advisable to use a plain background while taking photo because in this manner there will be more emphasize on the subject and the image will be visible.



8. Here I would avail the opportunity to clear a misunderstanding of most of you. We often think that flash of the camera is not required while we are taking snaps outside in the sun. This is actually a wrong perception because even under the sun there appear dark shadows under our eyes and nose or if the sun is directly behind us. To avoid this situation, we must use the flash of the camera to brighten up these shadows and dark areas and distinguish our subject well enough from the background.



7. The beauty of the picture lies in the fact that how much closer you are to the subject. The closer the subject to the camera, the better the picture is. The question arises HOW ?. The answer to this is very simple because by closing in on the subject you actually eliminate the unnecessary or less attractive background from the picture and the whole focus is on the subject. Moreover, the image of the subject is more detailed and precise. For a closer picture, you can make use of the “flower” mode in the camera or you can just simple zoom in and it will serve the purpose for you.



6. You can apply same rule to every situation as it is advisable to eat good in the morning while on the contrary, it is suggested to eat less at night to avoid stomach-ache or acidity problems. Similarly, not all the subjects look mesmerizing in a horizontal picture. For some pictures, you may find it more pleasing and attractive to take a vertical picture. It depends on the structure and form of the subject primarily,. For example, Eiffel Tower or Minar-e-Pakistan will look better in a vertical picture and not in the horizontal picture. Oops ! just imagine a horizontal picture of The Eiffel Tower. It will look more like a bridge then a tower.



5. Dont loose the focus of the subject while taking the picture. For this, hold the shutter button half-way down and the camera will automatically adjust the image for a better focus. After you think that the image is sufficiently focused and you are all set to take the picture, then press the shutter button all the way down. If you have a beauty-conscious girl friend, then it is always good to take a non-focused picture. Can you guess why?. Let me tell you guys, because it is better to rely on the statement that baby you were looking gorgeous but the picture is not focused, then to take a bundle of pictures of her to make her satisfied on a bright sunny day and sweat all the day long. KEEP IT A SECRET !



4. You must always know about the range of the flash of your camera because if the subject is out of the range of the flash, than a dark picture will be formed. Usually the range is of ten feet or four steps away from the camera but it depends on camera to camera. For that purpose, please check your manual guide.



3. The effect of the sunlight should not be ignored while taking a picture. You must study the effects of the light in order to take a good picture of the subject. In the case of people, be careful that the subject is not standing in a way so as dark shadows are falling on the face. It will not make the picture look good.



2. In order to take a good picture, you should act more than just a picture-taker. You must try and act as picture director and give instructions to your subject to re-arrange themselves so that they look better in the camera view-finder. You must consider different viewpoints to take a picture because it will improve the overall perception of your image dramatically.



1. The most basic but the most important tip in taking a good picture is that you should practice on holding your camera still while taking picture. If, by any chance, you happen to shake your camera during the time you are pressing the shutter button, than a blur or vague picture will be taken. It will be hardly recognized by anybody.

Progress....

I am making some progress on my $5.00 quilt.

I have ironed all 400+ squares.

 Sew them into 2 patches.

I am now working on 4 patches.

None of them are the same size, so instead of trimming 400+ squares I will deal with that when the blocks are much bigger. They then will be trimmed and put together for the top. This is such a fun project as there are "no rules". You see it will be a picnic quilt and those to me are "no-rule" quilts!

Remember...

New in my store.....

Some yummy fat quarter bundles.

Have a super day!!

10 Awesome Witches of All Times

10 Awesome Witches of All Times

Witches and witchcraft are among us since thousands of years. Times came and went; many of them were killed, but the amount of women who died as witches while actually innocent is overwhelming.  Witches exist in all folklores around the world. They are fascinating ladies, sometimes seductive, sometimes as ugly as the Devil himself. Even though today we have some clues about the lives of the most famous witches in the world, we may never know for sure who had real occult powers and who was merely an ordinarily lady. Take a look and decide for yourself:

1. The Witch of Endor

In The Old Testament, the Witch of Endor is mentioned in chapter 28, verses 3-25. Apparently, she owned a talisman which helped her make contact with the prophet Samuel (who, at that time, had just died). The Biblical verses which mention the Witch of Endor are very intriguing and caused much controversy especially in the Middle Ages, when theologians could not accept as true the fact that it was possible to call the ghost of saints by means of magic. They were rather eager to believe that he who the Witch of Endor had summoned was actually a demon taking the shape of Samuel.

2. Cassandra

Cassandra is a renowned character from the Greek mythology. She was the daughter of king Priam of Troy and was apparently both blessed and cursed by Apollo who loved her but was not loved by Cassandra in return: blessed with the gift of clairvoyance and cursed so that her prophecies would never be believed. She had a sad fate as she was raped and became the concubine of the victorious Agamemnon. Upon their arrival in Athens, the king and Cassandra were both killed by Clytemnenstra, Agamemnon’s wife, and her secret lover.

3. Morgan Le Fay

She is among the most famous witches in the world. Always portrayed as the enemy of King Arthur, Morgan is an important figure of the Arthurian tale. She was a powerful sorceress, Arthur’s half sister   (from their mother’s side) and a student of Merlin’s in the art of witchcraft. The first mention of her name comes from the 12 century when Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the story called “Vita Merlini”.  Here, we encounter Morgan (called Morgen) as the leader of the 9 magical sisters from the Island of Apples who took care of Merlin who had been badly wounded.

4. Angéle de la Barthe (1230-1275)

A wealthy and noble woman of Toulouse, Angéle lived in the 13th century. She was an adept of Catharism, a sect which was considered heretic by the church. Angéle de la Barthe is supposedly the first to ever been executed for witchcraft as part of the Medieval Witch Hunt. She was accused of having sex with the Devil and she supposedly gave birth to his son, a baby eating monster. This accusation came after many babies had disappeared in the area that same period. In order to “encourage” her to confess these sins, she was severely tortured by the Inquisition. Later, de la Barthe was found guilty of being a witch and executed. No record of her trial exists however and many people doubt that she ever existed.

5. Alice Kyteler (1280-1325)

Alice Kyteler was a wealthy woman who lived in Ireland. At her husband’s death, she was accused of having poisoned him (and that she sacrificed animals to the Devil) by her step children who were after her money.  Many of the accusations against her were rather curious and strangely detailed, such as the magical rituals she performed using some awkward ingredients as hairs from buttocks and clothing items taken from unbaptized babies.  It is said that mysterious items, such as incantations and magical powders were also found at her home. As a result, she was condemned to death but she somehow escaped one night before the execution and was never seen again.

6. Mother Shipton (1488-1561)

This is one of the greatest (possibly real) witches of all times. On her real name Ursula Southeil, she was predestined for the life of an outcast. Not only was Ursula  born of a teenage mother who was herself suspected of witchcraft, but she was also severely deformed  and extremely ugly, with ill twisted legs, a large head and sunken cheeks . She also had a whole set of teeth from birth.  All the villagers believed that she was the child of the Devil, especially since the name of her father was unknown. Although many strange things happened around her in childhood (flying objects and other such sorceries) she remained in history for another talent, namely, as an amazing seer. Her reputation matched the one of Nostradamus. Apparently, she predicted many historic events of the century and of the faraway future (“around the world thoughts shall fly in the twinkling of an eye” may be the description of the Internet). Although not many of these original prophecies were kept, and most are known to have been invented, she remains England’s most famous seer.

7. Moll Dyer (?-1697)

Moll Dyer’s whole existence is a myth. However, most of the stories surrounding her describe a noble woman of Irish origin who found refuge in Maryland from her troubled past. Soon, her isolation, combined with her dubious herbal knowledge transformed her in a witch in the eyes of the locals. They chased her out of the town in a frosty winter night. She froze to death in the nearby forest, not before throwing a curse on the town and its inhabitants who had acted with such cruelty.  It is said that the rock(image) she stood on bears the marks of her knee and hand, as a reminder of the curse.  If you still doubt, then find out that many people reported strange sensations when finding themselves in that location and even cameras were told to malfunction in the area.

8. Marie Laveau (1801-1881)

This lady is the most representative voodoo practitioner in the world. She lived in Louisiana, the state where the first voodoo dolls appeared and managed to become an icon of this religion. This Voodoo queen was famous for her talent in performing voodoo rituals, as well as for her kindness. It is said that she was once approached by a New Orleans gentleman who asked her to help his son (trialed for murder), to escape from prison. She apparently asked in return the house that the family owned in the city. Even though the young man was almost sure to be convicted, Marie Laveau’s charms functioned and he was set free.

9. Silver Ravenwolf (1956-)

Silver Ravenwolf is a contemporary witch. She is the American leader- as well as an elder -of Wicca, a modern Neopagan religion which is believed to be one of the fastest growing on Earth today. Among Wicca practices are magical rituals and witchcraft. A very reputed author of Wicca and Paganism, she is also the director of Black Forest Circle and Seminary, an organization which includes many Wicca clans in America and Canada. This modern witch is without a doubt, much more fortunate then her predecessors as she lives in a world that is ready to accept anything, as long as this ‘anything’ does no harm to anybody.

10. Maggie Wall (?-1657)

She is the most mysterious witch in the world. Maggie was one of the 4,000 women that were executed as witches in Scotland. However, she alone has a stone monument to be remembered by. All we know for sure is Maggie’s name and the year of her death, both mentioned on the monument: “Burnt here – as a witch – 1657?. This cryptic message does not enlighten us but rather, raises even more questions: Who was Maggie Wall? Why was she burnt alive and why is it that this large stone monument was built on the place where she died? No one knows. No local tale mentions her, no legend or piece of information was ever discovered regarding Maggie Wall. However, there is someone who knows about her: Every year, a mysterious person leaves a garland at the cairn, with an anonymous message stating ‘In memory of Maggie Wall, Burnt by the Church in the Name of Christianity’. Another mystery surrounding the monument is the inscription itself. No one knows who writes it. It just appears to be repainted on a regularly basis, and this does not happen since yesterday, but probably since the time of her death. Here is a more comprehensive article on this subject. `