Betsy Snow White Bibliophile

Tag: Blogtober

  • An October Wedding

    An October Wedding

    Today my cousin Robby married his wonderful now wife Sharon. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony officiated by Sharon’s sister Colleen. Robby and Sharon have bonded over there mutual love of certain nerdy/dorky topics, so the wedding was full of Harry Potter (Robby proposed to Sharon at Hogwarts in Universal Studios), Jurassic Park, Star Wars and other fun pop culture elements. Sharon wore a beautiful and simple white dress that was made for her, and a pair of white Converse Chuck Taylor’s. I am so happy for my cousin and I wish the two of them happiness and joy. Congrats you two!!

  • Have the Lambs Stopped Screaming?

    Have the Lambs Stopped Screaming?

    That title is loosely related to what I wanted to talk about today which is that it is finally chilly enough to wear the amazing Death’s Head Moth Cape that I bought from a local seamstress and fiber artist Rachel Walker.

    In April at the Ashville Viking Festival my mom came up to me a told me she can’t believe I am not feeaking out about the death head’s moth cloak in that booth. I hadn’t even seen it. We went in and I made some kind of insane high pitched squee noise and asked if I could take it off to look at it. Rachel graciously allowed me to do so, and it was such a gorgeous work of art I knew I would have to have it.

    I asked how much it was, and it was a bit above my ability to pay immediately ($300) so I asked if she would consider accepting payments. I could give $100 immediately and pay monthly through paypal for the rest. She agreed and I have never been so excited in my life. She still had some sewing she needed to do on the piece including adding me big pockets inside.

    I actually picked it up at the Ohio Renaissance Festival the second weekend, but it has been so hot I have not gotten to wear it yet. I finally got to wear it this weekend and it is currently one of my favorite things.

    Cape Porn!!

  • This is Halloween – Podcast Edition

    I am an avid podcast listener, in fact I listen to podcasts or audio books all day at work. My podcast obsession began with My Favorite Murder, which could be considered a spooky podcast in itself, and has bloomed into me listening to many many podcasts of all kind. Today I am going to suggest for you my favorite spooky podcasts to get you in the mood for Halloween.Ghosted by Roz Drezfalez – Drag Queen Roz invites her friends to tell their ghost stories. Listen to the Elvira episode to hear how good this podcast can be.Snap Judgement presents: Spooked – Host Glynn Washington sets up stories of the unexplained and paranormal told by the people who experienced them. Super creepy and wonderful.Teen Creeps – Hosts Lindsay Katai and Kelly Nugent read the pulpy gore filled teen books from the nineties. You will laugh and really want to dig out those books to reread.Shadows at the Door Podcast – A bit like a radio drama an author and an actor present a scary story and then discuss the underlying themes. The stories are spooky and the conversations are interesting as a writer.The Angel of Vine – Set up like a true radio drama this podcast has a star studded cast and only 10 episodes. This is a beautifully produced noir murder mystery.Do you have a favorite spooky podcast? Have you listened to one of these? Let me know in the comments.

  • Word Nerd – Spooky Edition

    Word Nerd – Spooky Edition

    I have mentioned previously that I am a certifiable word nerd. So for October
    I present my list of fun and unusual words for the Halloween season.

    1. exsanguinate : verb. Drain (a person, animal, or organ) of blood.
    2. necrophage : noun. An organism that eats dead or decaying flesh.
    3. lycanthrope : noun. A werewolf.
    4. therianthropic : adjective. Combining human and animal form.
    5. macabre : adjective. Disturbing because concerned with or causing a fear of death.
    6. revenant : noun. A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.
    7. viscera : plural noun. The internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen, e.g. the intestines.
    8. vivisection : noun. The practice of performing operations on live animals for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research.
    9. sepulchral : adjective. Relating to tomb or interment. Gloomy; dismal.
    10. charnel : adjective. Associated with death.

    Now you can liberally sprinkle these through your Halloween conversations and appear the smartest and most macabre revenant of them all.

    20191007_2103004247286576957662421.jpg

  • Do You Even Witch?

    Do You Even Witch?

    I have been a practicing witch since I was about 16 years old. It started for me, as it did for many people my age, with the movie The Craft. I was a sophomore the movie came out and I went with a group of friends to see it. I immediately began wearing short pleated skirts and button down white shirts. And from the Waldenbooks in the mall I bought two books one day that fall: The Witches Almanac and True Magick by Amber K. I snuck them into my house like they were porn rather than books, and began my secret education.

    True Magick by Amber K is not a bad book, in fact much of it is great in regards to Wiccanism, but it also suggested that you not wear makeup, wear only natural fabrics (I was super into vintage clothes and basically lived in polyester) and that if you eat meat you cannot be a Wiccan because you have no empathy for other creatures. I was very into the idea of The Goddess and The God, and polytheism, and spell work, and many more parts of Wiccanism, but I also loved makeup and polyester so maybe it was just not for me. This did not stop me from stupidly attempting a love spell however…but that is another story.

    Then I found out a local metaphysical shop was going to be hosting a Wicca 101 class. I asked my mom, and she said that she would give her permission for me to take the class since I was under 18. The class was taught by a lovely, and very pregnant, woman named Heather. She gave a lot of the basic information on creating a magickal name, calling the quarters, creating holy water, and so much more. I attended all of the classes except the last one, because it was a ritual and I was too nervous to be involved.

    After the class though, I began to read, study, and actually began to build a practice. I set up an altar (my mom nicknamed it Waltar and it stuck and my sacred space remains Waltar to this day.), I was gifted and began reading Tarot, and though it was on and off at the time I was becoming a Witch.

    IMG_9724

    When I was 18 I took that Wicca 101 class again, and this time it did not feel so overwhelming. I felt like I belonged there as much as anyone else did. I was beginning to see myself as a Witch. I was still mostly using Wiccan guidelines, but I had begun reading about other types of Witches and what the difference between a Wiccan and a Witch is. I bought my first piece of witchy jewelry, a gorgeous silver pentacle ring that has been lost over the years. I finished the class this time, which ended with a beltane ceremony including maypole dancing. It was lovely and I knew I had found a place.

    20190921_0807492664787746752767298.jpg

    Over the years my craft has moved and morphed, I now consider myself an eclectic cottage art witch. I tend to make magic with whatever is on hand, rather than requiring special tools. I have been dedicated to Odin the All-Father for almost 7 years after years of him trying to get my attention. I work with a wide pantheon that includes traditional and pop pantheon figures. I firmly believe that magic works best when it reflects you, so if that means that the person you petition for beauty is Aphrodite or Rupaul both are valid.

    Are you looking for some witchy inspiration? I am a patron for several lovely magical ladies on Patreon:

    Molly Roberts    Youtube    Patreon

    Joanna DeVoe    Podcast     Youtube     Patreon

    Paige – The Fat Feminist Witch   Podcast    Patreon

    Cris Ashburn   Youtube    Patreon

    These women are inspiring, knowledgeable, fun, and all around gorgeous human beings. Check them out and be in awe and inspired! I cannot recommend them more.

     

  • The Colors of Fall/Halloween

    The Colors of Fall/Halloween

    Thinking of Fall/Halloween the first color that comes to my mind is orange, but there are so many other amazing colors that can be used to decorate for the season. I decided to play with idea boards and get some inspiration for this years decorations.

    Jewel Tones: Rich reds, deep purples, sapphire blues and emerald greens…all point to gorgeous fall or Halloween decor.

    img_20191006_2016006903616070404026919.jpg

    Purple and Green: While orange and black is traditional there is something so beautiful about the combination of purple and bright green. A personal favorite.

    img_20191006_2020448102522547048910712.jpg

    Pastels: Recently I have become obsessed with spooky, pastel decorations. They are creepy cute and utterly wonderful.

    img_20191006_2024107929620464748595647.jpg

    Blue Halloween: If you are looking for something different blue is it for Halloween.

    img_20191006_2029188286587024981945958.jpg

    Black and White: Anything but boring, decorating with a monochrome palette is dramatic and lovely.

    img_20191006_2032278005337031722838423.jpg

    Do you have a favorite Color palette for Fall/Halloween? Do you go more traditional or bravely pull in another palette?

    All images pulled from Pinterest.

  • Anniversary Thoughts – Seven Year Itch?

    Anniversary Thoughts – Seven Year Itch?

    Today is the seventh anniversary of the day I married the best man I have ever met. Seth and I have gone on a great many adventures together in our seven years of marriage (and five years of dating before that) and we will be on many, many more. I cannot imagine my life without him in it. I am beyond blessed and so grateful to have him in my life. Thank you, Seth, for teaching me, making me laugh, loving me so much and for catching me when I fall. My heart is yours for always.

    img_9111-vop_8713145207_o

    Our wedding was a supremely personalized and hand made event and I loved every piece of it. My mother was our officiant and made my jacket, the vests for the guys and the skirt for my niece. Our friend Cliff made the steps leading to the front of the stage and our “cake topper” which was a diorama of Seth and I in our wedding clothes fighting zombies encased in a lovely dragon skin box, with lights. My sister-in-law baked all of our cupcakes and helped with general wedding crafting. My mother-in-law helped us with crafting. My sister helped us with crafting. I made the bouquets and the boutonnieres, designed the programs, etc. Seth made our hand-fasting cord, flowers for the bouquets and our rings out of chain maille plus helping with everything else. Seth and I wrote the ceremony and our vows. It takes an army to create a wedding as beautiful as ours, and we were blessed to have some of the best people involved.

    Photos are all by Capture Life Photography

  • I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts…

    The paranormal has always held a fascination for me. I was always the weird girl who would check out books on hauntings, cryptozoology, witches, and anything else a curious seven year old could get her hands on. I already believed in ghosts because I had lived in a haunted house.

    At one point we, my mother and I, lived with my Grandparents in a nice 50s style ranch home in Heath, Ohio. It was a typical three bedroom one bath house with basement rec room. There were a couple of things that happened in that house. Sometimes late at night a man made of static would come out of my closet and walk toward me across the room. I would cover my face with my blanket, but then I could still feel him staring with his face inches from my covered face. That seriously creeped me out, and it should be said that I was afraid of the dark so there was always a nightlight on in my room, so all of this happened by soft light and not in the dark.

    The other thing that happened in that house was that sometimes I would hear an adult (my mother or a grandparent) calling for me, but when I went to them they would say they hadn’t called. Then I knew that my friends were calling me from the basement. The people in the basement were white and they would peek around the corner when someone was coming to see if it was me. They were smaller than the static person, but still had no real features just a basic human form in white. They would play with me in the basement. I remember that, but I cannot remember what I played with them.

    So…by the time seven year old me was checking out all the paranormal books from the school library I was pretty old hat with ghosts.

    Many years later when talking about that house my mom revealed to me that the couple who had lived in the house before us the husband had been killed in an accident at a local factory. The wife went crazy with grief and had painted nearly the entire interior of the house black. So that when grandma and grandpa moved in they had to work super hard to cover it all with white paint. I feel like some of mg experience in that house was just the remnants of the wife’s grief. I wonder if people still experience things there.

    I still believe in ghosts, and I am a witch. I feel like there are still many things in this world that have yet yo be explained and I am open to the possibilities.

    Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a ghost encounter?