Crypt Stitch

The X Files: I Want to Believe

The X Files: I Want to Believe 

 

I know. How excited are you? I am about to wet my pants. Can’t wait.

Happy Yule!

Yep, I know I’m a couple days late (thanks computer very much) but I wish you a happy Yule none the less.  And a happy Litha to my Northern hemisphere brethren. My dear Acorn arrived in my yard on Winter Solstice four years ago, hence his name (in honour of the Oak King), though how old he is is for he alone to know! We have all the good things arrive in our yard here – Acorn was not the first. You would think we lived in the bush rather than suburbia, but I take it as a compliment that all creatures great and small (and long and slithery!) find Gothbury Manor inviting. Acorn is a Lavender Dutch bunny, and he loves roses the most, though he is also partial to trimming my oregano, and finds basil flowers tantalising (though the leaf a little strong). He did like tarragon, but I made a crack about rabbit going well with tarragon and now he turns his nose up at it. Yes, he is sensitive. And very soft and cuddly. We tried to find his owners, but alas no one claimed him, so we took it as a given that he came to stay with us. I spent over half an hour trying to catch him (one afternoon Mum asked if I had a rabbit now, and when I looked horrified, she said ‘well there’s one eating your daisies’) – I was worried he would go into any of our neighbours yards and they all have dogs who I’m sure would find a rabbit hunt a delicious pastime. Plus I could see he was a pet rabbit and not a wild one, and thought someone would be missing him terribly. I always think about how amused my Grandfather, a farmer, would be seeing his oldest grandchild running around concerned for the welfare of a bunny! But part of my family he now is!

Jonquils and The Blue Mountains...

I’m off to the Blue Mountains for the weekend – will be sure to have LOTS of photos of exquisite old trees to show you when I get back – can’t wait!! Thought I’d show you a couple of photos of some beautiful Jonquils I bought at the farmers market last weekend – they’re still in bloom with new little buds opening every morning. They smell absolutely wonderful, heady and sweet, and you can smell them the minute you walk in the front door. Plus they look beautiful, too!

Birthday bling...

I wanted to share some photos of the lovely jewels I got from my family made by the awesome poetsummer   a fellow etsy-an. The bracelets are jam-packed full of charms and tiny Victoriana pictures, and are themed. I was lucky enough to receive three bracelets, the Edgar Allan Poe one (which I hinted to my brother and mum I wanted way back in March – I fell in love with it on site!), a Green Witch one and Luna themed one. Plus an added bonus of some amazing little Alice earrings to feed my current obsession! I know you are all terribly jealous, so I suggest you go visit poetsummer yourself.

 

Liquid Amber Leaf Waves Hellooooo...

On my way up the ramp at that back of the shop I work in this morning, at an hour only suited it seems to myself and my feathered friends, I passed a liquid amber leaf that had founds it's way into a crack in the concrete and was sitting boldly upright. It made me smile - it was as though the leaf just wanted to be noticed (or something wanted the leaf noticed) - a winter leaf, no longer bright green and leathery and supple, but browned and brittle (and never the less beautiful). It seemed such an unlikely scenario - everyone knows when leaves fall to the ground they end up flat, not on their end square in the middle of a concrete ramp, in effect ‘waving’ hello at anyone coming up on the ramp. I stepped over it, and went up the side steps and into work. Nine and a half hours later when I left work, it was still there. Now that means that not only did I step over it but so did numerous other people, including many delivery men and their trolleys. I would love to have sat outside, a fly on the wall and watched what happened all day! Did everyone do as I did and pause, look at the leaf and smile, or did they subconsciously avoid crushing it by stepping on it and instead circumnavigate it's little stage? I grinned broadly, and went on my way to my car, stopped two steps later and went back to get the leaf. I think it is trying to teach me a lesson, what precisely I can't put into words yet, but I am in awe of the little things just now - something as 'insignificant' as a dried up leaf has compelled me to write a post, it's bizarre, and beautiful huh? I hope you too notice all the little things now!

 

The Awesome DVD Box Set...

Talking about Northern Exposure the other day got me to thinking about how AWESOME DVD Box Sets of TV shows are. When I was doing my BA my Cognitive Psych class was the first class (other than the requisite computer classes) to use the computer lab that had the AMAZING INTERNET CONNECTION!!! Yep, there was a room with about 15 computers hooked up to the new and shiny "Internet" for students at a large Sydney Metropolitan University to play with. It was frikin' awesome. A couple years later and two floors of the library were devoted to 'surfable' computers - it would not be beyond the realms of possibilities that if I went back now, there would be even less room for actual books in the library. You know what the first thing (not class related of course, Professor) that I looked up? The X Files . The second, my second most favourite show at the time, American Gothic . I think at that stage there were only one or two, maybe three sites devoted to The X Files (a couple also to David Duchovny), and only one real American Gothic site. The Internet was kind of intimate then. Wow I sound so ancient - but honestly kids, it weren't that long ago. Of course, I couldn't imagine a world without my computer now - whatever would I do? I love being able to look something up the minute I have the question form in the old noggin - it's educational that way. And of course it's also full of crap, but we all know that right? In any case, I digress. DVD Box Sets. I thought it was way cool when I ordered the Kindred  VHS box set (before I had a DVD player. Yup, I was alive when the Internet was invented, and way before the DVD was a gleam in some computer nerds eye, much less affordable. I didn't know that the Internet needed a capital I. But it apparently does, or at least my spell check thinks so. Weird.). All that Kindred-y goodness without the ads! And then (many, many moons later) The X Files DVD sets - with bonus interviews and added shinyness! And finally, after years of solid campaining by a determined and vocal few, American Gothic - not that long ago actually - a joy to behold after 10 or 11 years since the show aired. Again, added stuff and no ads. So where is this going? In my house, we've about given up on TV, EXCEPT FOR LOST . I would rather cut my own heart out with a spoon than miss an episode of Lost. The free to air stations jerk the viewer around by changing airing times, and stopping programs for now apparent reason what so ever - it is much, much better to just wait for the box set. Then you can enjoy it the way the actors and writers and directors wanted you to. Just bought Weeds today, couldn't get into it when it aired here 'cause it was moved around so much, so I'm looking forward to it! Can't imagine a world before Internet? My great grandmother thought that you would die if you went faster than thirty miles an hour. It's all about perspective, huh? Well, wasn't that a nice lot of waffling on?

In craft related news, I'll have some pics soon of a new creation - Cryptic Cryptlets. They talk in Rhyming Cryptic Couplets. That should be interesting!

Love your Earth and other nonsense...

Nature Witch posted today about "Feeding the World" after a Landline (ABC) program, and I couldn't agree more. When I think about how little responsibility the majority of those of us in "westernised" world take for the food we eat I am mortified - consider the difference in our culture even pre the second world war. Get rid of some of the perfect grass lawn right now and grow at least a little of your own food! I think the disconnect and indifference so many of us feel about the crises (climate, oil, you pick one) already underway is because we don't put our hands on Earth enough - when you grow your own food you become a more aware part of Her. [Climbing down off soap box...].

Now that winter is upon us (or there abouts) and it is getting dark not long after 5pm (and I'm seriously considering bed by 7.30), there's nothing better than curling up on my lounge chair, the requisite blanket (knee rug! Old woman that I am.) and Akasha on lap and a DVD to hold my interest. Just got done watching the last ep on my Northern Exposure Season 5 set. Oh, to live in Cicely, Alaska! There is a special place in my heart (a very, very special one) for Chris (John Corbett ), let me tell you! If you've never seen it, go forth now to yonder DVD establishment and purchase. The series isn't that old (and neither am I right?) - early to mid 90's (yep, I spose it's kinda old), but it's hilarious to see the difference in technology (and political correctness!) since then. I love it's innocence, and the characters, and the "town", and good Goddess, the scenery. It makes me smile, and that's a good thing!

Happy Mothers Day!

A Very Happy Mothers Day to all mothers of  humans and fur-babies alike! Here is a picture of my beautiful mother. We had a lovely day perusing the farmers markets in Newcastle, then lunch at home with both my brothers, Mum and Dad, and my wonderful Nan, who'll be 90 this year. Nothing like some quality family time!

Burgeoning Shoe Fetish?

After years of faithful Dr Martens boots, and Sensible Work Shoe wearing, I am apparently now going through the shoe obsession stage of my 30's. I've bought more new shoes this year than I have for probably the last decade, and I can't seem to stop looking for them - or, what is obviously more likely, the shoes themselves are beginning to seek me out. I faithfully followed a link in Cicada Daydream's latest post about some comfy shoes, and what should pop up on my screen?  Aren't they the best? And I love them in all three colours, yep Mum, even the pink. Not that I have anything to wear with them of course - that doesn't stop the coveting, though. These ones  however, are just plain weird. They are giving off a "Mad Max' vibe, and I don't know that that is a good thing. Or perhaps they were modeled off one of the dance extras in Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield" film clip. Ah, the 80's. HOWEVER, when I think boots, I just don't think VISIBLE TOES. Unless I'm thinking early 20th century homeless guy on Carnivale  - Good Goddess wasn't that an awesome show? I can't believe we only got two seasons! Love, love, love Clancy Brown, yum. Enough with the shoes already!

Visitors of the ceiling variety...

So, there's something in my roof.

S says it's probably mice, which is disturbing enough, but I'm not convinced. Not unless said mice are auditioning for parts in Riverdance (is there still a Riverdance?), or Stomp. Maybe they're dutch mice and enjoy clogging. Who doesn't enjoy clogging I ask you? And it's not just the thumping footsteps either, there's dragging noises as well. Perhaps they're rearranging furniture, you know, redecorating, sprucing the place up. Perhaps I should expect to hear the sounds of little drills and and saws. I'd hazard a guess at a raccoon , but wrong continent. I keep hoping that it will go away, but that seems way too optimistic. You don't think the closet monster has moved into the roof space? The manhole is in my closet (no, I don't think it's secretly gay. I'm not even certain it has a gender despite it being a manhole). Too disturbing to think about.

Puts me in mind of my favourite movie-mum, Lucy Emerson

"I can never sleep with the closet door open, either. Not even a crack. Sam , this is a terrible thing to admit, but I think that one of the reasons I divorced your father was because he never believed in the closet monster."

And in comes a cackling Grandpa with another stuffed animal. Oh, Grandpa!

Let's not even contemplate "They" (Wes Craven you lovable larrikin) - the final scenes were horrendous for those of us that believe in closet monsters. Might have to watch that one again this evening! Funny how subjective horror films are.

I love a good horror film - not a fan of the current spate of 'torture-porn' like Saw and Hostel, though I did grow up loving other slasher films like Nightmare on Elm Street (it's all about a good story line if you ask me - again with the Wes Craven). I like a good 'supernatural' under (or over) tone. I really liked The Grudge (American version, haven't seen the original Japanese one) mostly because of Jason Behr (yum) and despite Sarah Michelle Geller (I mean really?). The sequel was average though. Anyway, I was going somewhere with this wasn't I? Roof spaces. Baby brother T is handsome and tall and well built and could give anyone a fright in a dark alley at night (in a good way), but has outgrown his love (or tolerance) of horror films - they now FREAK HIM OUT. He did take a cousin to see The Grudge (which, as you will see contributed to the FREAKING OUT) - a few days after said watching there was an incident at home whereby the youngest and fittest was volunteered into crawling into the manhole in the hall. He told me later he was crapping himself, waiting for a suitably creepy Asian woman with swathes of autonomous hair to grab a hold of him in the dark. I'm pretty sure it's not her in my roof. Pretty sure. Now I'm actually hoping it's mice...