More Magic Eye Pictures for Christmas

This is a re-publish segment but I am decorating for Christmas so why not pull out the old ornaments?
I promise some new and better finds this year but, for now meow.
Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=

Christmas funny pages

Meaning and History of the Wreath

The earliest Christmas wreaths were made from holly during Roman times. Holly was looked on as having magical powers to the ancient Celts as it was one of the few plants to survive and look beautiful in the winter. The Celts picked holly boughs and put them in their houses to ward off the evils they believed lurked about in the darker months. Roman soldiers are believed to have brought the idea of decorating with holly back from Britain.
Holly was used by the Romans during their winter solstice celebrations and became sacred to Saturn, the sun god the Romans worshipped. The week long winter solstice celebrations of the Romans honored Saturn. Holly wreaths with their bright red berries were given as gifts. Holly was everywhere during these celebrations – on the public buildings, in the streets and shops, inside and outside of homes. The tradition of giving wreaths as gifts started here. Holly was thought to be lucky so the more you had the better off you were.
Early Christians in Rome would decorate their homes with holly to avoid persecution during the winter solstice festivals even though they didn’t worship Saturn. Over time the meaning behind the tradition of holly Christmas wreaths blurred and it eventually became a symbol of Christian faith. It was used to explain the life and death of Christ. The leaves represented the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus at his Crucifixion, when he was mockingly crowned "King of the Jews". The Romans usually placed wreaths of Laurel leaves on those who won a battle, excelled and won a tournament or they were just normally worn by Caesars as a "crown " to represent their position. A wreath placed on some one's head let everyone know they were exceptional, the best, God-like or Ruler. The wreath of thorns that was forced into Christ's scalp, was to add insult to injury and done with such cruel brutality. The red berries were interpreted by Christians to represent Jesus’ blood as it appeared on the crown of thorns. This was incredibly sacred because it represented the sacrifice Christ made for all mankind to redeem, save and forgive all from sin, with his own blood in pure torture. The holly bush was one of the few evergreen plants in Northeast Africa. The undying green came to represent everlasting life and hope and the shape of the circle represented eternity and everlasting life in heaven granted by God because of Jesus' sacrifice. The round shape also symbolized eternity. A circle has no beginning or end. For all these reasons one would think the wreath would be the main decoration for Easter. BUT.....

The Roman Emperor Constantine gave official status to Christianity and forced all the pagans to be baptized into the Roman church. He needed to join the Christians and pagans and so pagan rituals and idols took on Christian names and pagan holidays like winter solstice festival became Christian holidays. December 25th was the birthday of the Gods to the pagans. And the Winter Solstice was the most "holy" time and the most important religious time for the pagans. Eventually many pagan symbols and traditions were melded into Christian symbols and traditions. Including the Christmas tree. (that is for next post)
Now the Wreath, no matter how religious you are, symbolizes the celebration of the holiday, on your front door welcoming people into your home, showing your spirit of Christmas and is the most simple decoration, used as a sign of love, care and respect in cemeteries, not over commercialized with mandatory "Keeping up with the Jones' "variety of new yearly trend decorations and
a the second biggest universal symbol for Christmas.

Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=

Halloween 2011

Halloween legends, origins and trivia updated for 2011. (all the things you never thought you needed to know about halloween =^..^=)

The origin of the Jack-O-Lantern:
This is a tradition that started in Ireland(hence the green font) and they were carved out of turnips not pumpkins. The story starts with a man named Jack. He was a drunkard and a prankster. He had met the devil in the pub on All Hallows Eve. The devil wanted his soul in exchange for one more drink and one more year on earth. Jack took the offer, got his drink and his last year on earth. The next year he came stumbling home sufficiently inebriated he came across the devil himself on the road.  Jack was not ready to go. What a shocker! Somehow he tricked the devil up an apple tree and carved a cross into the trunk so the devil was trapped at the top of the tree unable to climb down. He begged the devil for 10 more years if he let the devil down. The devil was VERY angry at Jack but, in some way, appreciated his drunken ingenuity to trap him and granted him his ten more years. God was not happy with Jack. He was mad at Jack for all his careless treatment of his own body, tricking others and, needless to say, making deals with the devil. But, in some way, God appreciated Jack for tricking the devil using a cross as his foil. Jack died before the year ended.  (probably of cirrhosis and lost an extra 9 years) Heaven did not want him nor did hell. Jack was set to wander in darkness between worlds. God provided Jack a turnip rooted from the ground and the devil gave him an ember from the eternal fires of hell. So Jack, being Jack, hollowed out the turnip and cut holes in it turning it into a lantern. He placed the ember from hell inside the turnip to light his way down the path of everlasting darkness. Jack was in "lack of a latern " so he made one.

A Jack-o-Lantern.

(this is my very short version of a very LONG story. It is like the Cliff notes for this legend)

Above is a picture of a traditional Jack o lantern.

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). 

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their New Year on November 1. This marked the end of summer,the harvest and the beginning of dark,cold winter.
Winter was the time of year that was associated with human death. Due to no food except what was stored from the harvest,the bitter cold, darkness,sickness and isolation,everything depended on the final outcome of the Harvest. Everything! Celts believed that on the night before the New Year the boundary, between the worlds of the living and the dead,became blurred.
The night the veilis lifted between the living and the dead.This night of October 31, Samhain, the end of summer (Nov. 1), the division between the two worlds becomes very thin, when hostile supernatural forces are active and ghosts and spirits are free to wander as they wish.In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future.To the Celts, the bonfire represented the sun and was used to aid the Druid in his fight with dark powers. The term bonfire comes from the words "bone fire," literally meaning the bones of sacrificed animals, sometimes human, were piled in a field with timber and set ablaze. All fires except those of the Druids were extinguished on Samhain and householders were levied a fee to relight their holy fire which burned at their altars. 


During the Festival of Samhain, fires would be lit which would burn all through the winter and sacrifices would be offered to the gods on the fires. This practice of burning humans was stopped around 1600, and an effigy was sometimes burned instead. You may think this an admirable thing to stop it but in reality the practice was extremely beneficial considering the few humans that were being burned had died from disease or just was there time. Either way, in the middle of the winters in this area, you can not bury someone or float them out on frozen ice to sea. And disease in these bundled up little communities spread like wildfire in winter as most illnesses were spread by human contact and, in a dark cold winter, people are going to huddle up! So it was extremely practical in many regards! Unless, however, your neighbor, who had been keeping your wife warm while you were out chopping wood, accidentally fell into the "Sacred Fire".
After years of these long winters the population inevitably rose and along with it what happens whenever you put to many people together:
Jealousy, Greed, and Power.
And what comes next ?
Law from the guy with the most Power.
Hence 1600 and rules by.......from...........you can fill in the blanks!                                      

1. This Halloween we all are going to be short on the Pumpkins and the candy. That's a fact!

2. I am going to try to help by giving some suggestions on how to make the little demons that come to your door not go away disappointed. That is the most important part; being HAPPY!!!!! That's a fact!  

So here we go with one idea for you

Ghost Halloween Lollipops:

 this is my mom's invention

You will need:

2 or 3 bags of round lollipops depending on how many children you exoect

1 or 2 packages of small plain white paper napkins

1 or 2 packages of small  plain black paper napkins  

1 roll of orange curling ribbon

1 roll of black curling ribbon

1 black permanent marker

1 white gel marker (white out pen is perfect for this)

1 nice plastic cauldron or speckeld roasting pan or any nice big deep dish to put your ghosts in

it is really easy. just open the napkin and  put top of lollipop in the middle, twist around stick and then tie with ribbon. Then on the white ones draw a simple ghost face.(you can have a lot of fun with the expressions and the kids can help, just have a window open for the marker fumes.) On the black ones draw a little bat face with ears with white marker, Then just fill up your container with everyone standing up looking pretty and your good to go! I have done this for 10 years and the kids knew my house after the first year and looked forward to their ghosts and bats. The best part is it is very inexpensive as opposed to buying chocolate and it's almost like a little candy toy! 

Other treat options:

 Because some of the children had allergies to chocolate and peanuts that is another reason why I chose the lollipops. But you never have enough and someone, (as if they should), will have a problem with the type of candy you give out to their children who are begging AT YOUR DOOR for candy you bought with YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY!!! ANd needless to say, keeping you running to the door from 3pm till 8pm! Unless you are the lucky parent (who I envy) that gets to take them door to door. This is special, you get to see your children so HAPPY AND YOU ARE THERE, so You know they are safe. So here are some good things to have on hand.
1. Always have change for the UNICEF box this is important no matter where you live. Just put the change jar we all have by the front door for the night. It is good Karma.
2. have a small stash of alternative treats like granola bars, goldfish crackers, small bags of chips, etc. It's great for the person giving out the treats when they are getting a sugar high. Salt helps. Come on your nerves are fried you've eaten 24 Reeses no dinner and a potatoe chip looks like fillet mingon.
3. for the kid who is allergic to everything. I have learned this is because his parents care what he/she eats BUT IT'S HALLOWEEN!!! The parents can and SHOULD sort the candy when they get home. So I calm down and give them a dollar bill. If they eat it I guarantee they won't get sick. I spray them with antibacterial spray as with all my money.
4. When you go grocery shopping use some of the change in the gumball machine on your way out. You will be surprised how much stuff you can accumulate between now and Halloween and 1 item will make 1 little person very happy. (just make sure that the little person is old enough to know not to eat it!)
this is good advice for people who live in large towns or apartment complexes .
Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=

Magic eye pictures for halloween

I am going to get more but for right now here are some.

Meow for now,

Catraven =^..^=

Lazy laces Game site

I have been trying to come up with something to illustrate
Evil Spam monkeys
here they are in the bathroom mirror
work in progress..........
Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=

My Imaginary Dream Home

This is a house I created using a painted brush software free trial.I can't find the software anymore. They redesigned their program and I cannot find anything that can do what this was able to. I really wish I could find something like it. I was able to use my own artwork, photos and some web apps and had the best time creating this.

 This closeup of back door

 This is the bedroom

 This is the dresser in bedroom with reflection of bed in mirror

This is the kitchen

and this is the library. My dream library with catraven running the computer.I did have the foyer and attic also but they are stuck in cyber land with my old computer.

Meow for now,

Catraven =^..^=

Dog Days of August are coming!

We have all heard about the "Dog days of August". What does it really mean? And how about some trivial facts about August and dogs?


First here is some meaningless trivia:
 The months of July and August were named after two Emperors of Rome. July is for Julius Caesar and August for Caesar Augustus.
Julius Caesar we all know from Shakespeare, history class, and his great love, the last Pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. Tons of stuff I can tell you about that! 
As far as Caesar Augustus, here we go:
This information is directly from  infoplease.com


Julius's grandnephew Augustus defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra, and became emperor of Rome, the Roman Senate decided that he too should have a month named after him.
Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus.
Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but it decided that since Julius's month, July, had 31 days, Augustus's month should equal it: under the Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere 30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month.

OK enough history. If you want more go to infoplease.com.
 Now for why the dog days of August:


This is based on the position of the "DOG STAR" (aka Sirius which is why sirius radio has a "dog" as it's symbol) which is seen in the Mediterranean for 20 days before and 20 days after direct position with the sun, Consequently the people of this region began to realize, over many years, that the Dog Star was the harbinger of very 
hot weather and problems. In the Mediterranean region this last from July 3rd to about August 20th. It varies where you live on the planet, but translates very well to North America. The native people suffered in the heat, disease spread like wild fire, everything started to smell bad (including the people), crops suffered and everyone got VERY CRANKY, as they had no AC.
The Dog Star is a bright shining beacon for sea travelers and the brightest star in the sky.
It was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians which ties everything back to the Romans. Also some cultures believe that Sirius is the hunting dog of Orion (another constellation) the great hunter.
So in the end it is not because your puppy is panting that it is called the dog days. Blame it all on the Romans not the pooch.


Meow for now,
Catraven =^..^=

Albino Animals

First Albino on my list: My Cat Oberon Albino Siamese

Albino Sperm Whale
Albino Blue claw crab
Albino lion (is this gorgeous or what?!!!)
Albino Black Bear

I have to admit I have always had a fascination with anything out of the ordinary. Probably because my mind lives in that neighborhood. Since I was a very little girl ,{just a few years ago hahahahahahaha} I have thought of the profound beauty in things that are "not the way they are supposed to be" to be staggering and breathtaking. Whether it be animal, vegetable or mineral, it is the unusual that garner the most admiration and awe in my opinion. Something so rare is not only precious but most often exquisite. And, the majority of these precious anomalies in nature, have a big price to pay. Their beauty and rarity often comes with compromised health, safety and a shortened existence. When they say "beauty is pain" they're not kidding!

Meow for now,

Catraven =^..^=