There seems to be a rather large tree in my hallway. No, it isn't a Yule one (I'm not that organised!), its a fallen down silver birch. It seemed like a great find at the time but I'm slowly coming to realise I didn't think this through. I mean, I can't even remember where my saw is... And its about ten foot long... In the hallway... Never mind, when I have chance I bet I can get a decent staff and a few bits and bobs out of it. Maybe a rune set if I'm lucky.

Today, I'm trying desperately to make Yule cards for my friends and family. Again, this seemed like a good idea at the time but now, with piles of coloured paper across the floor and glitter under my eyelids, I'm starting to regret it.

I seem to have swapped cats with the neighbours. Someone else's cat has been letting itself into our house and making itself at home whilst one of ours has taken up residence next door. Of course the one we've lent out is a lovely, fluffy ball of cuddles whilst the new one is manky and fat with a squint. I've just managed to put some flea treatment on it (I'm not taking any risks if its coming indoors) by throwing food at it and diving on it's back. Judging by the matts on it's tummy, I may also have to shave it. Fun stuff...

I've ended up with a pet rabbit living in my kitchen. No he isn't a familiar or anything, just a pet although he's been a bit over-friendly with my trainers :S. He needed a home and I needed a cuddle so it all seemed fairly straightforward.

I've managed to acquire a stash of bottles and jars just in time to make my winter preserves and syrups through the unique 'magic' which is Cardiff freecycle (my wish seems to be it's command recently!). I've got a great crop of rosehips waiting to be collected and I've re-stocked my dried herb supplies with the help of some great friends although thanks to the cat being too clever for it's own good I'm out of catmint again; I suppose I'll have to come up with a new calming tea blend for when I can't sleep...

I'll be popping out to see a friend who hasn't been well this afternoon so I'm planning to make some leek and potato soup for her (leeks for protection, potatoes for health and cream for nurturing). Fingers crossed it works!

Have had a stressful day so I've settled down with a warm blanket nd a cup of jasmine flower and catmint tea (smells delicious...) for the night. Later on I may even have a bubble bath with something soothing and relaxing but elegant added, I haven't decided yet.

I picked up a great new candle holder for my altar, all shiny and pewter, in a charity shop. Just what I was looking for :) I'll probably 'try it out' at the weekend when I'm a bit less twitchy... flames + twitchy = fire brigade...

Cake and Kitchen Knives

The house is finally starting to feel 'right'. Even though there's laundry drying everywhere, it looks much tidier and there's a general smell of decent incence and freshly-baked biscuits instead of dirty men's socks. I even found my lucet so I've been making cord again (its a great thing to be holding in an argument, those two points are suprisingly...pointy).

I even found time to get my kitchen 'altar' in order yesterday. Okay, so mainly its hidden under a collection of flowers, vegetables, jars of spice, cake and kitchen knives but its finally starting to feel the way I want it to. I know its still missing something but I'm not sure what; whatever it is, I'm sure it'll come my way sometime soon.

I made some corn 'dollies' over the weekend. Well, I call them that but to be honest they're more plaits of dried grass with herbs woven into them than any of the traditional dolly types. I was going to make one properly but I couldn't remember how :S. Never mind, if nothing else they smell amazing.

Now I just need to tackle the garden... (Oh dear)

Well so far today I've woken up to find that one of my toads has died and one of my partner's cats has pretty much moved in with our neighbours. Then a clothes dryer attacked me in a vicious suicide mission flinging pants and socks around us in a mad flurry of underwear. I've made myself another coffee and decided to start over...

I'm thinking of making up a herb wash to give the house a good clean (physically and spiritually) today, something to encourage prosperity, harmony and 'positive energy' (I don't like using the phrase positive energy, it always makes me think of aging women in tie dye t-shirts clutching huge piles of shop-bought crystals to their bra-less chests and humming tunelessly; fine if that's your thing but not what I mean). If it manages not to rain for a little bit longer, I may even tidy up the garden a bit and take a wander out to the shops.

Maybe I'll spot the cat while I'm out, fluffy traitor that he is...

My mind has been a bit all over the place this morning; there are so many things I should be doing I don't know where to start. I've decided to sit down for a few minutes with a cup of coffee (with a few sprinkles of ginger to try give me a kick up the backside) and work out what needs doing the most. If I get chance later on, I might make a rosemary wreath for the inner front door and see if that helps.

My new little herb garden is starting to sprout nicely and my selection of rescued plants are doing well. The weeping fig has only lost one more leaf and the new ones are growing nice and quickly so I think its happy where it is. I 'made' one of my friends talk to it a few days ago and she started chatting it up; maybe its making a special effort to look pretty for her!