Roo's Treehouse

El Dia De Los Muertos (y un libro!)

 

My offrenda, a work in progress.

Fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons, one of which is celebrations. One particular celebration near and dear to my heart is Day of the Dead. 

Day of the Dead has its origins in Mexico. While some cultures fear and loathe death, the Aztec culture embraced it as a natural part of life. The indigenous people believed in an afterlife and the continuation of the spirit. They held annual festivals to celebrate death and the lives of lost family members. Over time, these events gradually became more and more uniform, eventually leading to the establishment of a standard Day of the Dead celebration in August on the Aztec calendar. The festival was dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. When Spanish conquistadors encountered these rituals mocking death over 500 years ago, they attempted to eradicate the tradition. This did not work, but the Spaniards were able to change the date of the celebration to Nov. 2, corresponding with All Souls Day on the Catholic calendar in an attempt to make it more Christian.

Image from Mexicotoday.org

 Mexico is still the epicenter for the Day of the Dead, or El Día de los Muertos as it is called in Spanish. Traditionally, families get together and make trips to the cemetery to visit loved ones who have passed away. Mexicans decorate grave sites with flowers, candles, toys, tequila, crosses and pictures of the Virgin Mary. Music, food and drink help turn the cemeteries into a celebratory scene on Nov. 1 and 2. Nov. 1 is typically reserved for honoring the deaths of children, and Nov. 2 is for adults. Some families also build altars or shrines in their homes to honor deceased relatives. Processions in the town plazas and avenues are also common. People dress up in black or paint their faces to resemble skulls. They also wear shells and bones that make noise when they walk in an attempt to wake up the dead. It is believed that supernatural forces make it easier to communicate with the deceased during the Day of the Dead, prompting prayer circles and voodoo-like rituals throughout Mexico.

Read more: About Day of the Dead | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5584422_day-dead.html#ixzz2AvL9Sy1T

This year it feels as though it has come full circle. I introduced my beloved Cowboy to Dia De Los Muertos some years back, and he was quite pleased with the one we did together here ..

 

 

Cowboy was known as Donald to some. He was a twin and an older brother, a father, a son, and a friend. He was my best friend. Every day, until he could no longer, he brought me the "virgin" cup of coffee, as I lazed in bed, basking in the ability to awaken slowly. I miss his smile, his dimples, his country accent, his laugh, the way he worried about me taking left handed turns in vehicles, the way he held my hand at the movies. OR watching Lawrence Welk, or Westerns, or the stars in the sky, from our little corner of heaven known as the back porch.

On Saturdays, if we weren't hanging out at home, or taking a road trip, ou would find us munching down on a hearty breakfast and then at the local bookstore with tons of magazines and books surrounding us, at "our" little cafe table, two steaming cups of coffee, showing each other this or that. 

I am lucky to have been blessed with thirteen incredible years.Thank you, Cowboy. My love is yours always.

And, speaking of bookstores, it's time to randomly generate a lucky winner of the All Hallow's Read Book Give-Away!

 So I went here:

 Stat Track

 (because I'm a trekkie and thought the name was cute)

And the lucky number between 1 and 30 isssss:  20!

Note from Specs: This table of 1 random numbers was produced according to the following specifications: Numbers were randomly selected from within the range of 1 to 30. Duplicate numbers were allowed. This table was generated on 10/31/2012.

 

So yay and Congratulations,  Liz !!!!!

(of Infuse with Liz)

And thank you one and all for such a fun Halloween Party weekend! I made new friends, caught up with old friends, and was awed and inspired by your creativity and spirit!

(no not that kind~)

Keep Shining, Twinklestars. :) xoxo Roo

 

A Halloween Tale

 

 
I was noticing strange things of late

that did cause me to debate

if I indeed am of sound mind

 

 

my cupcakes have gone spooky, I find...

 

my domocile is creepy like ~

it could give a girl a bit of a fright

 so to clear my mind I take a walk...

 

but  get the feeling of being stalked.......

and then, I thought I went the wrong way~

 

 

As evidenced by old stone graves

but...wasnt this just my front lawn?

 To an unknown place I find myself drawn..

I  stop at the foot of a mysterious tree

for there's a chair....with a head.....who speaks to me!

I am the Hallow's Eve Skull King

Grab a party hat, and with me sing

to the path of hallow's eve we shall go!

There, a gypsy we all know

{for whom in the desert pumpkins grow}

and witches come from east and west

to join in the once a year fest

so pack your cauldron and your broom

to A Fanciful Twist should you zoom!

 

~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*

 

Then he laughed til he coughed

almost fell out of his chair-

and I  noticed some spirits lurking there,

{of the distilled liquor variety}

And decided the designated broom driver would be me.

So I looked round and found a broom 

So, Twinkleghouls, hop on! There's plenty of room~

 Away we go to Arizona Bizarre

To celebrate with you, WHOOOoever you are! :)

 

PS. HOLD IT! DON'T ROLL CREDITS YET!

 

 

Thing thinks you should know

before you go

of a lovely new tradition

it's "All Hallow's Read"

and the trick is the treat

give someone a scary book rendition!

So attending my party makes you my friend

and on Hallow's Eve when the party ends

a random # generator will  choose one of you to send

A BOOOk by Neil Gaiman!

 

Thank You -- CARRION..... BOOHAHAHAHA!

WHOOSH.

Hallooooo, Twinklestars! It's finally me, back with you as we all start falling into Fall!

In North Florida, the much anticipated, long heralded arrival of the autumnal equinox brought on a rush of 79 degree weather....followed five minutes later by 80 degree weather...now holding steady at 90 degree weather. For now. Until the next storm-and-cold-front. Le sigh.

So, my joi de autumnal vivre is not measured in farenheits. It is a feeling, a kaleidoscope of colors, and heightened senses, and savory calories. It's a  happy melancholy pensive magic mosaic of dreamy thoughtfulness. It's dramatic, in a humble way-you know? 

I hum Vivaldi, and sprinkle cinnamon on apples, and hang fall leaves of orange and red across shelves and in crocks. I want to BAKE and clean and breathe deep.

There IS something about Fall that changes my sense of time. And perspective.

I want good book reads on the back porch swing with steaming cups of coffee. I want scary movies and dark nights and candlelight. I want caramel apples and candied yams and pumpkin pies. The taste of smoke, the smell of pine. Cold cheeks. Wind kissed lips.

 

And witchy trips---parties! :) Oh my goodness, I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to the 27th!  Will you all be attending our favorite  Vanessa the gyspy witch goddess' best annual bash? I will I will!! (And I could not love that owl any more than I do!)

As a matter of fact, the house is transforming itself almost magically in anticipation.....

 

And cobwebs in every corner! (Well, ok, maybe the cobwebs are less about magic and more about a testament to how much I have enjoyed being outside this summer.)

See you soon! xoxox