Hello world!

Welcome to my blog. This is my first entree to this site. I hope to entertain you as well as make a few friends. I love to share ideas and talk about what ever there is to talk about.

Life on a two way Street.

As I sit here wondering if all of this is still worth it. I feel like I do not belong here, this place, this world. I often dream about places that feel real, but not. How would one know from what is real to what is not real. Can such a person live in two places and still act like that there is no need for concern? I think not. I myself am going completely out of my mind just trying to live just one simple life. Well, some what of a simple life. I work Mondays to Fridays and have no clue on when I get home after work. The hours are never set. I deliver produce all over the city, so I get done when I get done. This is not an easy job. I have to deal with crazy drivers, a lot of people, and slow days. I work hard, but at times I feel like I am still in my dreams.
So what is real? Am I a truck driver or am I a housewife? How would you really know?
Have you ever had a day that you could not explain on what just happened or even on how you got through the day without a memory of it? How about doing something that you know you have never done, but you are doing it like you have for years. Well, that is how I feel, just about all of the time. I get the feeling that I have lived for thousands of years. My simple little life, it turns out, to be an adventure. Every day I look forward to something new and seeing that I can do any thing I want. But, What if all that I am doing is just a dream. What am I supposed to do? I feel that in times I do not know on whom I am? Where I am? Or even what I am.
If you just try and find it in yourself that you are not alone in this mad world. You would then understand yourself a little better then you would ever imagine. I am always lost. So what am I? Am I dreaming or just crazy? I will always find myself with questions and no answer. I am a loner and love every minute of it. People think that is not normal, but what is normal? Is there such a thing as normal? We can only hope that the little things that are “normal” are just really simple. People that do not accept the weird and unusual, are also the ones that do not like change, nor change themselves. How can someone survive without change? I, I have tried to change and all I got was pain from change. So, why be normal in the public eyes.
Every day I get asked why I do the things I do. Well, that is a hard one to explain. I will just give you just a small run down. I have been Miss treated, beaten, and unloved most of my life. I cannot give affection nor show love for someone that is close. There for I will always be alone. I dream about living with animals and being alone. I work everyday so that I can survive in this world and am a truck driver for a local produce company. I deliver produce to all the restaurant and casinos. I love driving and seeing all of the customers. I enjoy going to all of the different places and seeing all the things they make. I also have gone out to eat at these places and enjoyed it. I have also gone to places that are not local. Like the ones in the mountains that are just so beautiful. So I do a lot of traveling. That always gives me the reason to live. That is my job. I go in every morning and just can’t wait till I see my customers. They all miss me if I do not deliver to them because I am on a different route. This is what I like and will continue to be a truck driver.
Then there are my dreams. Where I am a housewife and I am also very happy. I am taking care for the house, animals, and my husband. I am going to the store to buy groceries and just doing errands. This is also a simple life. What people would say, a normal life?

Every morning I wake up next to my handsome husband. I get up before he does so I can make his breakfast and his lunch before he goes to work. I get him up with a cup of coffee and a gentle kiss. He gets up and takes a shower and I am putting his breakfast on the table. I put his lunch in his lunch box with treats and a note saying that I love him. How can I not love him? We have been married for seven years now. With no children. I want a child. We just are not ready for a child. He works and I am at home working with the horses and training them, so in turns I also work.
So, if my dreams are dreams and I am both a housewife and a truck driver. Who am I?
I do not see my self as a housewife of seven years. I am a loner and I need no one.
I like the idea that I can do whatever I want and not to have to worry about the other person. So I ask myself again, am I just dreaming or just crazy? How can a person tell from fantasy to reality? How would I know fact from fiction? Maybe I really don’t exist and I am just someone else toy to play with. I just believed that we are all from the same spirit and our mothers’ earth helps us live. I try to live my life as it was to be the last. I have dyed my hair red and at one time have put blonde down the sides of my face. People say that I am not normal because I like to be different. That is dare to be different. I do things to make people think.
They try to figure me out and all I do is put them in their place, by doing some thing else different. Like my dreams I am always on the go and doing things different from other people. To make things more difficult I have a girlfriend. (That is, I am also gay.) I try to be in any kinds of relationships to try and get out of being alone. After I think about what I have been through and things I have done, I love my life. I also like seeing and hearing peoples reaction to the things I do. I have colored my hair to the brightest color to confused people.
When I am delivering to my customers, I usually have to wait. When I do, I just sit back and think about all the things I could have done. Have you ever thought about going back to the past, with the knowledge of what you have now to change things? I have, all the time. I would change a lot of my past. The stuff that I have done wrong and the people that have hurt me. I would avoid all of that and be rich with the job I got. I would be a truck driver still and be alone til I was ready. What can I say? I just want my life to be mine. I do not want to be controlled and I would do anything to just be me. Even if it kills me, like it is now. If I got to be me all of this time, I would not have to struggle with my life now. But, then again there are my dreams that get me thinking, if this is supposed to be.
Am I really the type of person to run my life with no one, or am I really a person that is being controlled by everyone? How can I know if I am living my own life or that I am living the life of some ones dream? Life to me is confusing enough, without all of the drama. People that I know likes to add drama to my life. I do not like this because it makes it hard for me to sleep. I am all ways up at night wondering if what they say is affecting my life to the point that I cannot sleep. If this is so then what of my dreams? The life of a house wife. With a loving husband of seven years. I really like to know because I kinda like being the truck driver that leads a lonely life and the house wife that lead a loving and caring life. I am going to be 30 years old tomorrow and I still do not know if I will ever love someone or even be loved.

If I do choose what life I want to lead, that would be both lives. Everyone needs some room to breathe or just a time out from one another and everyone need someone to love. I have filled my heart with love for my horses and dogs, but I just need to give someone my love once in a while. I really like showing someone the things I got and the things I am getting. I also like to share my time with someone. That is when I go camping, fishing, or some thing that is related with the outdoors. I enjoy having the company of others in the things I do, But not every day. I love doing things for others and I like to share them. I also like for someone to like me for me while doing things for others and I like to share them. Is that hard to ask?
When I am ready for that kind of commitment, then I will slow down. No way! I will always be this way and if people do not like that then the hell with them. If you cannot accept me for who I am then you can just leave me alone. Enjoy life in any way you want and to live it to the fullest. Does all this with responsibilities and respect like you want it. I need a lot of respect and understanding. Life is too short to be controlled.

By Louise Wedding

Wiccan Holidays & Festivals

Like other Neo-Pagans, Wiccans celebrate festivals based on nature and the changing of seasons. The Neo-Pagan seasonal cycle, called The Wheel of the Year, consists of eight major Sabbats.

The Sabbats are joyous occasions of celebration and festivity. They begin at sunset and end at sunset the following day. Four of the Sabbats, known as cross-quarter days, have Celtic origins and are called by their Celtic names. The other four mark important points on the solar calendar.

The eight Sabbats are:

Imbolc (February 1/2)
Spring Equinox, a.k.a. Ostara (March 20/21)
Beltane (April 30/May 1)
Summer Solstice, a.k.a. Midsummer (June 21/22)
Lughnasadh (August 1/2)
Autumn Equinox, a.k.a. Mabon (September 20/21)
Samhain (October 31/November 1)
Winter Solstice, a.k.a. Yule (December 20/21)
Magical work and more solemn rituals are normally done on the Esbats. Esbats mark the phases of the moon. The most important Esbat is on the full moon, but some groups also recognize Esbats of the new moon and the two quarters. Magical power is believed to be especially strong on the night of a full moon, which is why important rituals are undertaken on such nights.

What is Wicca?

This was written by some one else. I find it to be the best for explaining this religion as well as it being in an simple, understandable way of writing.

The article below was written by our late webmaster, Herne. In it, he describes how Wicca draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft. While this is true, we would simply like to clarify up front that Witchcraft and Wicca, while simular in many respects, are not the same. One can be a Witch, without being a Wiccan, just as a person can be a Christian, without being a Baptist. Futhermore, Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion. Thus, Wicca might best be described as a modern religion, based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.

What Is Wicca
Contrary to what those who choose to persecute or lie about us wish to believe, Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists.

Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. When we are in the temple of the Lord and Lady, we are not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls. To be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. If this path is yours, may you walk it with honor, light and integrity.

Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. While much of the information of how our ancestors lived, worshiped and believed has been lost due to the efforts of the medieval church to wipe our existence from history, we try to reconstruct those beliefs to the best of our ability with the information that is available.

Thanks to archaeological discoveries, we now have basis to believe that the origins of our belief system can be traced even further back to the Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. With the discovery of these cave paintings, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people, it can reasonably be assumed that Witchcraft is one of the oldest belief systems known in the world toady. These archetypes are clearly recognized by Wiccan as our view of the Goddess and God aspect of the supreme creative force and predate Christianity by roughly 28,000 years making it a mere toddler in the spectrum of time as we know it.

Witchcraft in ancient history was known as “The Craft of the Wise” because most who followed the path were in tune with the forces of nature, had a knowledge of Herbs and medicines, gave council and were valuable parts of the village and community as Shamanic healers and leaders. They understood that mankind is not superior to nature, the earth and its creatures but instead we are simply one of the many parts, both seen and unseen that combine to make the whole. As Chief Seattle said; “We do not own the earth, we are part of it.” These wise people understood that what we take or use, we must return in kind to maintain balance and equilibrium. Clearly, modern man with all his applied learning and technology has forgotten this. Subsequently, we currently face ecological disaster and eventual extinction because of our hunger for power and a few pieces of gold.

For the past several hundred years, the image of the Witch has been mistakenly associated with evil, heathenism, and unrighteousness. In my humble opinion, these misconceptions have their origin in a couple of different places.

To begin, the medieval church of the 15th through 18th centuries created these myths to convert the followers of the old nature based religions to the churches way of thinking. By making the Witch into a diabolical character and turning the old religious deities into devils and demons, the missionaries were able to attach fear to these beliefs which aided in the conversion process. Secondly, as medical science began to surface, the men who were engaged in these initial studies had a very poor understanding of female physiology, especially in the area of a women’s monthly cycles. The unknowns in this area played very well with the early churches agenda lending credence to the Witch Hunters claims and authority. The fledgling medical professions also stood to benefit greatly from this because it took the power of the women healers away giving it to the male physicians transferring the respect and power to them.

Unfortunately these misinformed fears and superstitions have carried forward through the centuries and remain to this day. This is why many who follow these nature oriented beliefs have adopted the name of Wicca over its true name of Witchcraft to escape the persecution, harassment and misinformation associated with the name of Witchcraft and Witch not to mention the bad publicity the press and Hollywood has given us simply to generate a profit.

What Witchcraft is:
Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things. Most importantly however, it teaches responsibility. We accept responsibility for our actions and deeds as clearly a result of the choices we make. We do not blame an exterior entity or being for our shortcomings, weaknesses or mistakes. If we mess up or do something that brings harm to another, we have no one but ourselves to blame and we must face the consequences resulting from those actions. No ifs, ands or buts and no whining…

We acknowledge the cycles of nature, the lunar phases and the seasons to celebrate our spirituality and to worship the divine. It is a belief system that allows the Witch to work with, not in supplication to deities with the intent of living in harmony and achieving balance with all things.

The spells that we do involve healing, love, harmony, wisdom and creativity. The potions that we stir might be a headache remedy, a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for our pets. We strive to gain knowledge of and use the natural remedies placed on this earth by the divine for our benefit instead of using synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary.

Wiccan believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things. In the trees, rain, flowers, the sea, in each other and all of natures creatures. This means that we must treat “all things” of the Earth as aspects of the divine. We attempt to honor and respect life in all its many manifestations both seen and unseen.

Wiccan learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons. We search within ourselves for the cycles that correspond to those of the natural world and try to live in harmony with the movement of this universal energy. Our teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others who have walked this path before us. This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth.

We also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water which combine to manifest all creation. From these four elements we obtain insight to the rhythms of nature and understand they are also the rhythms of our own lives.

Because Witches have been persecuted for so many centuries, we believe in religious freedom first! We do not look at our path as the only way to achieve spirituality, but as one path among many to the same end. We are not a missionary religion out to convert new members to think the same as we do. We are willing to share our experience and knowledge with those who seek our wisdom and perspective however. We believe that anyone who is meant for this path will find it through their own search as the Goddess speaks to each of us in her time and way. Wiccan practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions as long as those faiths do not persecute others or violate the tenant of “Harm None.”

What Witchcraft is not:

* Witchcraft or Wicca is not a cult. We do not proclaim ourselves to be spokespersons for the divine or try to get others to follow us as their leaders.

* We do not worship Satan or consort with Demons. Satan is a Christian creation and they can keep him. We do not need a paranoid creation of supreme evil and eternal damnation to scare us into doing the right thing and helping others. We choose to do the right thing and love our brothers and sisters because it IS the right thing and it feels good to do it. I suppose it is a maturity thing.

* We do not sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate our basic tenant of “Harm None.” Anyone who does and claims to be a Wiccan or a Witch is lying.

* We have no need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or supernatural powers. We draw our energy from within, our personal relationship with the divine and nature.

* We do not use the forces of nature or the universe to hex or cast spells on others. Again, “Harm None” is the whole of the law.

Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Three which states that whatever we send out into our world shall return to us three fold either good or bane. With this in mind, a “True Witch” would hesitate in doing magick to harm or manipulate another because that boomerang we throw will eventually come back to us much larger and harder then when we threw it.

This is not to say that Witches are perfect, we are human too just like everyone else and make mistakes and errors in judgment. Just as there are parents who love and nurture their children, there are parents who abuse their children. As there are many who devote their lives to giving and helping mankind, likewise there are those who devote their lives to taking advantage of and using people for their own gain. Unfortunately the same flaws in human nature applies to witches too.

Most of us continually strive to consider all potential outcomes of our thoughts and actions pausing to seriously consider the consequences before undertaking a ritual, spell or rite that could go astray. It is when we follow the path with the love of the Goddess in our hearts and adhere to the basic tenant of the Reed that our works are beneficial and we achieve harmony and balance with all things.

The heart of Wicca is not something summed up into a few short words and can often take on different meaning to each since the Lord and Lady touch us in different ways. To gain a fuller understanding of the Craft, I urge you visit the other pages on this site as well as following the links to a select group of exceptional Wiccan and Witchcraft sites. Through the wisdom and words set down through the ages, you will find that you are able to understand the basis of our beliefs and how they may apply to you. Your inner voice will also quickly let you know if the intent of what you are reading is for superficial purposes to benefit self instead of working to benefit the whole. Remember to read with your heart, for it is when you see life and the world with your heart and spirit that you truly gain an understanding of what Wicca is.

Blessed Be!

Herne

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R.I.P. Sjors

Sjors had several large tumors that could not be taken care of without more problems. We did an Eco today and seen 4 tumors the size of marbles and 1 that was as large as a tennis ball. I could not see him in pain. I had the hardest decision to make. The best way to keep him from being in pain was to put him to sleep. I stayed with him till the very end. I also asked for results to what that tumor was and how it got so big in just 24 hours. It kept on growing as it made Sjors weak and in a lot of pain.

I miss him very much and Hope that Sjimmie will do ok with out his brother.

I love you Sjors.

NEDERLANDS:
Sjors had verschillende grote tomoren waar niets meer aangedaan kon worden zonder nog meer problemen te veroorzaken. We hebben vandaag een echo laten maken, waarop 4 tumoren te zien waren zo groot als knikkers en 1 zo groot als een tennisbal. Ik kon het niet aan hem pijn te zien lijden. Ik moest de moeilijkste beslissing nemen. De enige manier hem uit zijn leiden te verlossen was hem in te laten slapen. Ik ben bij hem gebleven tot het laatste moment. Ik heb ook om resultaten gevraagd van wat die tumor precies was en hoe deze binnen 24 uur zo groot kon worden. De Tumor werd als maar groter en maakte Sjors zwakker en gaf hem erg veel pijn.

Ik mis hem heel erg en ik hoop dat het goed gaat met Sjimmie zonder zijn broer.

Ik houd van jou Sjors.

R.I.P. Sjors

Ferret Couture

I just got my order in from this place. Talk about WOW!!!

My ferrets love their new toys. What is great they even send both of my ferrets a birthday package. With more toys.

I got hoodies for them to and really great collars. I will be posting photos tomorrow. I also will make a video from them playing with their new stuff.

I have been looking for toys that they would play with. They only play with the toys from Ferret Couture. I am going to buy from them from now on.

I also bought a bag of treats from them. It is called The Natural Ferret. 100% pure chicken, No fillers, No addiditives, No preservatives, No nonsense and most of all no crap grains. It is cheap to buy, so i bought just one bag. That is to see if my ferrets will eat it. Since they really dislike Bandits and other ferret treat stuff. This one is the best.

To order something for your fuzzy friends go to www.ferretcouture.com you will not be unhappy about it. This place is the best.

I leave you all with this video from Sunday May 24, 2009

Ferret Party on May 16th.

Today is my ferrets birthday. They are now 5 years old. Yesterday I had a party for them.

Wow. What a day yesterday. My boys amazed me. I wished I had a video camera.

I got all I needed for my boys. They got to smell the mouse and went nuts. I waited until my sister was here. She never seen a ferret and wanted to see then eat the mouse.

Well Sjimmie was first. I just had the mouse by his tail and Sjimmie took him so fast all I could hear was the mouse crying. For me and everyone we did not flinch. It is normal. My sister had snakes so she always feed live pray.

My boyfriend at first did not like the ferrets, but when he got to see Sjimmie take the mouse, my boyfriend likes ferrets now. He told me it is nice to know that they can be real and not something people want them to be.

So Sjimmie was killing his mouse. Sjors was busy with the pig ear and when he saw his brother with the mouse he wanted it. The mouse was dead and I had one waiting for Sjors to have. It was all fast. I made a few photos and I took one of Sjors trying to take Sjimmies mouse and when the camera went click, Sjors attacked his brother for the first time. Sjors got the mouse. I told my boyfriend to get the mouse and he was afraid Sjors would attack him too. My boyfriend is afraid of being bitten by a ferret. He heard too many stories.

So he got the mouse. I got Sjors and then I got the other mouse. Sjors took it. Then played with it before killing it. My boyfriend said that Sjors made a swift kill. Unlike Sjimmie. Sjimmie shook the mouse and then lean on it to cruch it.

Then after the mouses are dead then the running around to hide them. First Sjors hide his and then took Sjimmies mouse and stashed that one too. Then Sjimmie took his mouse back and for 45 minutes long all we did was laugh. It was a sight to see.

By the time it was all done. We put them in their cages so they can eat the mouse in peace. Both have their own cage.

Sjimmie was cute with his mouse. First he ate the tail, then the feet and then the head. After the mouse became headless Sjimmie put the mouse in his feed bowl for later. Too cute I tell yea. I so need to get a camcorder to show you this, I have never seen a ferret to take any food and put it in his own dish.

Party Time

Love Partys

Sjimmie is ready to party

Home made cage

Sjors is waiting

Sjors wants to play

The room

Last Supper

Have mouse, Will Travel

Bag of pig ear strips

The ferrets gifts

Sjimmie is going crazy

He really wants to play

Aww isn’t he cute!?

Yes Sjors your clothes are in the mail…

Sjimmie has the mouse

Sjimmie killing the mouse

Sjimmie eating the mouse.

Sjors wants Sjimmies mouse

Sjors playing with his mouse.

Sjors killing his mouse.

Sjors eating his mouse

Sjimmies headless mouse. Sjimmie had enough and put his mouse in the feed bowl.

My birthday boys just did not want to calm down….

Witchcraft, Wicca and Paganism Frequently Asked Questions

These are also from the same site. I hope this help those to understand that;1)We are not Jews, 2)We are not devil lovers, and 3) we are not terrorists.

Thank you for understanding.  There will be more posts about Wicca.

Q. Are Wicca and Witchcraft the same thing?

A. Some say yes, and some say no. I suppose the only way to navigate this question safely is to point out what some may consider the main differences. In general, Wiccans feel free to review different belief systems, such as Celtic, Norse, Essene, Gnosis, or Shamanism, and then blend together any points that “feel” right into their own personal path. Pure Witchcraft on the other hand, may focus a little more tightly on using Magick and ritual to work with the elemental and spiritual forces in nature. Regardless, I feel the differences are slight in that Wicca and Witchcraft both work to achieve balance and harmony within nature and self.

Personally, I follow a predominately Celtic Witch/Tantric path. As time passes, I find myself increasingly drawing upon the wisdom and beliefs of other spiritual paths as my knowledge and understanding of them increases. So, when asked I’ll tell you I’m a Witch, I also consider myself a Wiccan and perhaps part Shaman because I utilize and blend aspects of them all.

On the other hand, my ex-wife shares many of the same beliefs regarding the Creative Force of the universe and living in harmony with nature but she does not consider herself Wiccan, Witch or Shaman. Instead she prefers to call herself Christian but not in the conventional sense as she does follow the doctrine of the Bible, not the church’s often biased and slanted interpretation of it.

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Q. Who do Witches Worship?

A. There is a single power defined as the One or All, which is composed of everything it has ever created. This supreme energy force does not rule over the Universe, it IS the Universe. Since most find it difficult to talk to or call upon a faceless mass of Divine energy, this supreme power is personified into male and female aspects as the Goddess and God. This simply makes the concept easier for the human mind to comprehend and relate to. Some take this concept a step further and use actual names, like Astarte, Isis, Odin, Pan, Dianna, Cernunnos, etc., when invoking the Goddess and God. In the end, it is a personal preference and what a Witch uses depends on what “feels” right for them individually.

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Q. How do Witches view Christianity. Are Witches Anti-Christian?

A. Not necessarily. Witchcraft, overall, is very tolerant of other religious views, and does not engage itself in criticizing the beliefs of other people, providing that their beliefs do not violate the basic tenant of “Harm None.” Witches do object to religions that attempt to suppress the religious beliefs of others, or every human’s right to seek spirituality in their own way. This is why there is a slight rub between Wiccans, Pagans, Witches, and some Christians. Many of them feel they have exclusive rights to the divine. We also have a strong disdain for those who use religion as an excuse to commit mass genocide. The “Burning Times” are a clear historical example of one religious group attempting to exert its philosophies and beliefs upon others using extreme measures.

Perhaps an over simplified way of describing our view is this: Imagine a beautiful meadow in the forest, and their are many paths leading to this meadow. It really does not matter which path you take to get there, the important thing is that you get there without harming anyone or anything along the way.

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Q. Can I follow the path of Wicca or Witchcraft and be a Christian too?

A. Again, some say yes and others maintain that they are completely separate religions. I believe that if one looks closely at the true teachings of Jesus with an open heart, you will find some stark commonalities. It is only when one takes literally the sometimes frail misinterpretations of those who misunderstood the intent or used the teachings to suit their own political agendas that one see’s wide differences.

As a solitary you are free to choose any path you desire, or any blend that “feels” right to you. The important thing is to not allow a name or word to become a stumbling block. It is the intent of your actions and spirituality that matters in the end. I realize it is a poor comparison; Peanut Butter and Chocolate are two completely separate things. The fact remains, however, that they work pretty well when mixed together. Ultimately you must do what “feels” right to you…

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Q. The Wiccan Rede says “An it harm none, do as ye will.” Does that mean a Witch can do anything they want and its OK if they justify the action to themselves?

A. An excellent question indeed! and the answer is no… The whole premise of our belief system is based on living in harmony with all things that exist. This includes, but is not limited to the earth, trees, rivers, lakes, oceans, air, and all of earth’s creatures, as well as other people without regard to race, color, religion, or sexual orientation.

My interpretation of the Rede tells me that the creative force of the universe has given me an inner voice, or “conscience,” which tells me what is right or wrong. It is also this consciousness that connects me to the creator. By listening to this inner voice, (Perhaps I should clarify here. No I do not hear voices, *smile* it is more like something I feel) I try to analyze my impulses and feelings to ensure they are not driven by greed, lust, envy, prejudice or anger. If they are, I try to put them in perspective or discard them all together. I then use common sense and judgment in my actions and accept full responsibility for them. This is not always easy to do, but I try. By keeping these ideals of right and wrong foremost in my mind, as well as seeking to obtain harmony and balance with nature and all living things, I am able to do my best at following the Rede as I go through my day.

This is not to say that Witches are perfect, never do anything wrong, or make mistakes. We are still human. We are aware of, or try to be aware of the karmic return of our actions, and are very careful not to send out negative energy in thought or deed.

Yes, sometimes a Witch will focus an energy form toward someone who needs a psychic zap. This is only done however when a person is consistently doing something very wrong within society and causing a lot of harm to others. If and when a Witch does zap someone, they do so with the full knowledge that it will eventually return to them and there will be a price to pay according to the Law of Three. There are times when we simply must make a personal sacrifice for the good of the whole and shoulder this weight.

When confronted with this type of situation, I prefer to bring this person to the attention of the Goddess, asking her that justice be done according to her will. In this way I am not focusing negative energy towards the individual and therefore am less likely to suffer karmic repercussions.

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Q. If Wicca and Witchcraft are not evil, why do you wear black robes?

A. This is another baseless superstition and Witches wear clothing and robes of every color. Black is the combination of all colors and all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. It is known that black is a very good conductor of energy, therefore wearing black simply helps Witches absorb natural energy to increase the power of their thought forms. Personally, I do my Magickal work naked. Gawd, there’s an ugly visualization for ya! LOL…

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Q. OK, so if Wicca and Witchcraft are not evil, why do you hold rituals and ceremonies at night hidden in the woods?

A. This practice has its history in a couple of different things, none of which have anything to do with evil… In the old world, especially within the Celtic tribes, the day followed an entirely different schedule than it does in modern times. The new day for them actually began at sunset. This is also why most observances of holidays were celebrated on the evening before the actual calendar day. The second reason is that survival had an entirely different meaning during those times. Almost without exception, everyone spent their daylight hours tending the crops, their herds, or engaged in their trade. All daylight hours were vitally important simply for survival reasons.

OK, so that takes care of why we observed our rites at night during ancient times, and many of the reasons are the same in today’s times. For one, most of us are busy working all day earning a living, so the evening is the only time we have to seek spiritual communion. Secondly, Wicca and Witchcraft are still largely misunderstood religions and we are still persecuted for our beliefs. Another reason which is important for me, and possibly for others as well is that I feel a special closeness to the Goddess and God at night. Yes I can, and do, enjoy the mountains and meadows during the daylight, or a sunrise and sunset, but I am truly more aware of the heavens and the great expanse of the Universe at night, so it just makes sense for me.

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Q. What form does the practice of Witchcraft take?

A. The form and context vary from group to group, and between each ritual, and may run the gamut from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous ritual to simple meditation.

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Q. How do you see the Goddess and God?

A. Wiccans believe that there are female/male aspects to the One or All and without the union and balance of these two aspects, nothing can exist.  Read the answer to question number two above again for more insight.

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Q. Do all Witches practice their religion the same way?

A. Yes and no. Wicca is a highly individualistic religion. Moreover, the number of different sects within the Craft may give the impression that no two groups practice the same way. Though practices may vary, most traditions have many similarities, such as the working of magick and a respect for nature. Most Witches find enough common ground for mutual support and productive networking throughout the Craft community.

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Q. Is Witchcraft a cult?

A. No. Cults are groups that trade a sense of salvation and belonging for the ability to think for oneself. They indulge in extravagant homage or adoration (Webster’s Dictionary), usually of an earthly leader of some sort. If you know a real Witch, you’ll quickly come to find the term “Cult” could not apply to us. Most Wiccans, Witches and pagans come to the Craft individually through reading and communing with nature. They often will remain solitary in their beliefs but other will also find like-minded people to celebrate seasonal cycles or monthly moons with. Witches are extremely individualistic, self sufficient and defend the right of free will without hesitation.

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Q. Do Witches have a bible?

A. No. A bible is supposedly the word of a deity revealed through a prophet. Witchcraft is a Pagan folk-religion of personal experience. Witchcraft in the old times was much the same as the beliefs of the Essenes, Gnostics, Druids, and many other religions. The teachings were passed along by spoken word through long periods of one-on-one instruction with an Elder of the Craft. This approach was taken because the power and knowledge could be misused in the wrong hands. Therefore, by using only the spoken word, the old masters could ensure those who wished to follow the path had a true understanding and their hearts were in the right place as their knowledge of the mysteries grew. Unfortunately, when the medieval church began its attempts to convert and eliminate rival belief systems, the teachers were either killed outright or went underground resulting in much of the ancient knowledge being lost.

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Q. If Witches don’t have a bible, what do you use?

A. Most modern Witches keep a Book of Shadows, (BOS) or Grimoire, which is more like an individuals workbook, journal, or diary, meaningful to the person who keeps it. This book contains rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc. Covens almost always keep a similar group book. I am not exactly sure how the name “Book of Shadows” came to be, but I would assume that this also ties into the Burning Times when the church set out to eliminate all texts along with the followers of the old ways. The writings that existed were more than likely were taken into the shadows and hidden with the survivors.

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Q. The word Tradition is used quite often. What is the exact meaning of this?

A. Here the word Tradition relates to the beliefs of a specific geographical region such as Celtic, Germanic, Norse, etc., and is sometimes broken down into further subsets. Essentially it is much the same as the variety of denominations seen within Christianity, such as Methodist, Mormon or Catholic.

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Q. Do Witches cast spells?

A. Some do and some don’t. Spellwork should never be the focus of following this path and those who seek our ways only for this purpose are very misguided. A spell is a ritual formula, or series of steps, to direct psychic energy to accomplish a desired end. This energy is drawn from the Earth with the aid of elementals, concentrated and sent out into the world to achieve a positive goal. Since Witchcraft teaches that whatever one sends out is returned threefold, Witches are very careful to never send out harmful energy carelessly. The Christian word for this is “Prayer”. The only real difference is that Witches also invoke the aid of spirit guides, familiars or other elemental energies to add strength to the process as well as using ritual tools.

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Q. Do Witches worship the devil?

A. No. Satan, or the Devil, has absolutely no place in Wicca or Witchcraft. The worship of Satan is the practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy, rather than a Pagan religion. The Goddess and God of the Witches are in no way connected to Satanic practices. Satan, or the Devil, is a Christian creation and they are more than welcome to keep him.

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Q. Are Witches only women?

A. No, although women do seem to predominate in the Craft overall. In fact, some traditions have only women practitioners, just as others have only men. A male Witch is simply called a Witch, never a warlock and it is considered an insult to call a male Witch “Warlock”. The word “Warlock” actually means “oath breaker”. Some traditions of Wicca separate between female/male. The word “Wicce” pronounced (Wik-kay) designates a female Witch and “Wicca” pronounced (Wik-kah) designates a male Witch.

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Q. How do Witches view Sex?

A. Sex is part of nature and sacred to the Deities and Witches. Just like everyone else, we think it’s wonderful. The Great Rite at Beltane is a symbolic representation of the union between the Goddess and God resulting in the creation of all that exists. Very few, if any, traditions engage in sex as a part of group rites and there are no orgies during ritual. Many couples who have chosen each other, and jointly follow the path, do use sex magick in their private rites and rituals, however. It is a deeply intimate sharing of body, spirit and soul which bonds them together closer than anything else can.

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Q. What is the purpose of performing ceremonies Skyclad?

A. The term skyclad means “Clad only by the sky”. Not all Witches perform rituals skyclad, but there are those who believe that the absence of clothing allows energy to transfer to and from them more freely. Many simply feel closer to the Goddess and God while in their natural form without the bindings of human technology, insecurities or socially retarded inhibitions regarding the human form. Many wear a robe or some other clothing made of natural materials while participating in group activities and go skyclad only when observing rites alone or with their mate. Regardless, going skyclad during ritual is in no way a sexual act, it is a deeply spiritual one for those who “choose” to do so.

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Q. Is Witchcraft a religion?

A. Yes, Witchcraft is a nature based religion and it has been recognized as such in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., Wicca has full recognition as a religion and is granted all rights as such under the Constitution. The American Heritage Dictionary defines religion as “a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe”. So yes, it does qualify as such. Our definition differs slightly in that to us, the creator of the universe IS the universe. Witchcraft, or Wicca, is not something that can be followed once in a while or when it is convenient or we need or want something. It is a dedication made to nature, the deities and yourself. It is a way of life, and as such we are mindful of the balance between ourselves and all things within the universe at all times.

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Q. How do Witches view death?

A. Many Witches believe in reincarnation and the Summerland. After passing over, Summerland is where the spirit awaits to be returned into a new physical form. We do not believe in an absolute Heaven or Hell where the spirit spends eternity as reward or punishment for ones earthly actions.

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Q. How can someone find out more about Witchcraft?

A. Ours is not a missionary religion, and we never try to make converts. We feel that if this path is right for you, you will find your way to it. We are, however, becoming more visual and vocal in an attempt to educate and dispel myths and superstitions about the Craft. You need not worry about a Witch knocking on your door and wanting to come in and share passages from their BOS.  Some Witches also teach classes or facilitate discussion groups. In this way, people may make contact with a like minded Coven, form their own groups or share thoughts and beliefs with others. There is also a growing number of superb craft sites on the internet, periodicals, and national and regional festivals through which a seeker can make contact with the larger Craft community.

Gentle Breezes!

Herne

Copyright © The Celtic Connection, wicca.com. All rights reserved.

This is just wrong….

Yesterday I get a message on a network site saying that he hates Jews and I can not talk to him. I am wiccan not Jew. I deleted him after that message. I have no clue why he would be like that. He looked at my profile and I have a pentagram background that also says WICCAN… wow.

Here is my pic for my background.

How can you think this is Jewish?

That just is the icing on the cake. So from that I also get all kinds of rude messages from devil lover to wiccans are terrorists. So What is wrong with that? This post is going to be short. I am going to post something about Wicca in the next few days. So this way people will learn to read and understand what it is about. Wiccan is just some one that is in the Wicca religion. I was raised Wicca. My mother is Wicca and well my father is Buddhist. Yeah I know weird family. Growing up Wicca is not easy and to this day it is still not easy. What in the world is wrong with Wiccans’.

Comment if you like. Just understand that if you leave a nasty, rude comment it will be reported. Please be nice to all that leaves a comment. If you can not be nice and respectful just don’t write anything at all.

Thank you for reading.
Lilac Riverbrook

Special Beer Festival

Okay. Now for what some have been waiting for. To see if there is trash. Well to be amazed. There was very little trash.

What they did was in order to taste the new beer and to vote on what should be the next beer for this year. You needed to pay to drink. You get a lovely glass, booklet, and 2 tokens to drink. If you want to try them all you need to buy more tokens. My boyfriend Vital and I bought more. I had 8 and so did he.  We looked through the book and to see what we should try first.

Here is the list of beers that where presented. Some have been around for a while. The ones that says PREMIERE are for the first time being presented.

The Breweries Beer Alcohol Percentage

Horne, De	Blondy	5,5% vat
Horne, De	Dobbelaer	6% vat
Bijdehand Bierbrouwerij	Bijdehand IPA (PRIMEUR)	6,1% vat
De Eem	Eem blond	6,2% vat
De Eem	Eem bitter	6,8% fles
De Eem	Eem donker (PRIMEUR)	7% vat
Emelisse	Emelisse ongefilterde pils	5% fles
Emelisse	Emelisse Lentebock	7,2% vat
Emelisse	Emelisse Double IPA (PRIMEUR)	9,7% vat
Emelisse	Emelisse Imperial Russian Stout	11% vat
Ambachtelijke Bierbrouwerij Geilings	Brabants Bruin	9% vat
Halve maan	Java Premium	5% vat en fles
Halve maan	Dobbele Java	6,5% vat en fles
Halve maan	Zeeuwsche Witte	5% fles
Halve maan	Lazarus	6,5% fles
Halve maan	Grof Geschut	8% fles
Halve maan	Zondebok	8% fles
Halve maan	Java Triple	8% fles
Halve maan	Java Kriek (PRIMEUR)	3,5% fles
Huttenkloas	Goudbier	5,2% vat
Huttenkloas	Witbier	5,2% vat
Huttenkloas	Landbier	7,5% vat
Huttenkloas	Winterbok	7,5% vat
Huttenkloas	Dubbel Kloat	7,5% vat
Huttenkloas	Tripel Kloat	8,5% fles
Jopen	Jopen extra stout	5,5% vat
Jopen	Jopen Hoppen	6,8% vat
Jopen	Jopen Koyt	8,5% vat
Jopen	Jopen Adriaan Rosé	4,8% vat
Jopen	Jopen Lentebier	7% fles
Het Klaverblad	Phoenix bier (o.v.b) (PRIMEUR)	-
Huisbrouwerij Klein Duimpje	Tulpenbok	7% vat
Huisbrouwerij Klein Duimpje	Erik de Noorman	9% vat
Huisbrouwerij Klein Duimpje	Smokey Porter (PRIMEUR)	7,5% vat
Huisbrouwerij Klein Duimpje	Blauwe Tram	7,5% vat
Huisbrouwerij Klein Duimpje	Diverse bieren van fles	-
Koekoek bierbrouwerij	Koekoek Weizen (PRIMEUR)	5,3% vat
Koekoek bierbrouwerij	Koekoek Amber (PRIMEUR)	5% vat
Koekoek bierbrouwerij	Koekoek Blond (PRIMEUR)	4,5% vat
’t Koelschip	Explosie	13% vat
’t Koelschip	Hopfazupfa bier	6,5% vat
’t Koelschip	Koelschip Blond	5% vat
’t Koelschip	Koelschip Amber	5% vat
’t Koelschip	Koelschip Meibok	7% vat
’t Koelschip	Koelschip Weiss	5% fles, misschien vat
Stadsbrouwerij van Kollenburg	’t Kolleke Oude Jan	5,5% vat
Stadsbrouwerij van Kollenburg	’t Kolleke Jonge Jan	5,5% vat
Stadsbrouwerij van Kollenburg	’t Kolleke Ome Jan	6,5% vat
Stadsbrouwerij van Kollenburg	’t Kolleke Rosé	4,9% vat
Stadsbrouwerij van Kollenburg	’t Kollelke Triple	7,5% vat
De Leckere	Paulus Abdijbier	7,5% vat
De Leckere	Premium Pilsener	5% vat
De Leckere	Razende Swaen (PRIMEUR)	8% wisselvat
De Leckere	Witte vrouwen (PRIMEUR)	5% fles
De Leckere	Willibrord	5% fles
Maasland	D’n Schele Os Tripel	7,5% vat)
Maasland	Liniebier Nasau	6,5% vat)
Mieghelm	Abraham	5,0% vat
Mieghelm	Brabants Buikske	7,0% vat
Mommeriete	Blond	5,5% vat
Mommeriete	Meibock	7% vat
Muifelbrouwerij	Zuster Agatha	10% vat
Muifelbrouwerij	Graaf Dicbier	6,5% vat
Muifelbrouwerij	Saazer Tripel (PRIMEUR)	9% vat
Muifelbrouwerij	Berghs bier (PRIMEUR)	6,5% vat
Muifelbrouwerij	Muifel USA	6,6% vat
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum	’t Goeye Goet Lentebier (PRIMEUR)	6,5% vat
Nederlands Openluchtmuseum	’t Goeye Goet Dubbel (PRIMEUR)	7% vat
Oirschots Bier	Kempelier	6% vat blonde ale
Oirschots Bier	Meibock	7,5 % vat
Oirschots Bier	Winterbock	7,5 % vat
De Pelgrim	Pelgrim Mayflower Tripel	8,2 %vat
De Prael	André – lentebock	6,6% vat
De Prael	Heintje – Weizen	5,4% vat
De Prael	Johnny – Kölsch	5,7% vat
De Prael	Mary – Barley Wine	9,6% vat
De Roos	Roggerbier (PRIMEUR)	7% vat
De Roos	Bikse Tripel	8% vat
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Skendels Stout (PRIMEUR)	5,6% fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Frederik Hendrik bier – speltbier	5,6% fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Spelt Enkel	5,6%  vat en fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Spelt Dubbel (PRIMEUR)	7,5% fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Spelt Tripel (PRIMEUR)	8% fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Spelt Witbier (PRIMEUR)	5,6 % fles
Bierbrouwerij Sint Servattumus	Spelt Honingbier (PRIMEUR)	8,5% fles
’t Vølen	BAP	7% vat
’t Vølen	Ootje	8% vat
Café Paternoster	Brand Up	5,5% vat
Café Paternoster	Brand Imperator	6,5% vat
Café Paternoster	Brand Lentebock	6,5% vat
Café Paternoster	Brand Dubbelbock	7,5% vat

Now I am going to tell you about the ones I have tasted. From the nastiest to the best. Well For me that is. I will also add what the beer is good for and for whom. Since I had 8 tokens, the beers will be labled from 1 to 8. I will also give you my rating of the beers.

We decided to try last years winner first,  the Muifel USA.

1. Muifel USA (www.muifelbrouwerij.nl, for the dutch readers.)
With spicy hop and products of  American beers are always improve to get. This beer plays on this recent development. It is brewed with a considerable quantity of  American hops (Chinook, Cascade). It is not obtain in stores, but only on the festival. Previous year success. A clear golden colored beer, with a thick foamy white head.  For me it was too bitter. This beer might be good for people who drink Guiness or simular. I for one do not like bitter beer. I rate this a 3/10.
2. Java Kriek PREMIERE  (www.halvemaan.com, for the dutch readers)
Java Kriek (kriek is wild cherry or just cherry) arose when after a brewery tour in the De halve Maan, a number of young ladies who are in control of serving drinks were found that the range of Java beers missed something sweet, as these were indicated by the brewers. These exponent from the Breezer generation got a few weeks later a sweet reddish brew, as indicated by the brewers were presented. This form of Kiek, not like the traditional Kriek  from Zenne-Vallei (has been made on the basis of (sour) old Gueuze), but comes from the origin of  wheat beer where cherries essence are added too. Another few weeks later, guests also got the Java Kriek in it own glass.  This unexpected success resulted in bottling of Java Kriek, inevitable.  The girls from De Halve Maan prove to be very consistent.
I found this beer to be my top beer. I love the flavor and the color as well. There is a photo of this beer that I have taken, you will see that at the end of this post. With a nice smooth taste and deep red body it is hard to miss this beer. It is a good summer beer. This beer is very sweet, but it compliments itself. With a strong cherry taste. Love cherries. This is like eating a jar of cherries that has a bit of beer in it. If you like fruity beer you will like this one. My rating is 10/10

3. Spelt Honingbier PREMIERE — Honey Beer–(www.sintservattumus.nl, for the dutch readers)

This beer comes out of a Village/Town by the name of Schijndel. There is not much to say about this beer from the brewery, but I will put in my usual note. It has a nice soft golden tone. You can smell the honey. It has very little taste when it comes from such a sweet sorce such as honey.  You get the hint of honey with a bitter after taste. This beer is good if you have eaten something that is better in order to make it taste sweet. For honey beer fans I would think you would like this softer side of honey beer. I rather have a stronger honey taste. my rating is 6/10

4. Liniebier Nassau PREMIERE(www.maaslandbrouwerij.nl, for the dutch readers)

This is a dark beer, brewed with 3 different kinds of hop, pilsmout, caramout and chocolatmout. Has a very sweet smell but the taste is not that sweet. You can taste a bit of chocolate which gives it a unique flavor. The after taste is a bit dry. This is a good beer for those that like an exotic tasting beers. This beer, I think is good for last summer to early fall.  My rating is 9/10.

5. Smokey Porter PREMIERE (www.kleinduimpje.nl, for the dutch readers)

From very dark brown to black beer. It has a smoke taste like from smoking meats type of smoke. Very unusual beer. Not for me. No way. i did not like the taste. It is new and a bit weird, but not for me. I did not like it at all. What I have noticed is a lot of people how do smoke like this beer. Not much but enough.  I  am no longer a smoker and for me to drink this beer was almost like walking into a room full of people smoking. Not very pleasant. My rating is 1/10 since there is no zero. I rather say -10.

6. Phoenix (www.phoenix-bier.nl, for the dutch readers)

This beer is not new. I found out that this beer has been around for a long time. The company was shut down do to finacial problems. No wonder why. This beer sucks. It is better then the last one that I just mention, but I can see why it is not a success. A yellow color with very little foam. Bitter taste with a bad after taste. This beer bits back. It is also worst then the first beer I tried. Yuck. My boyfriend on the other hand liked it. He likes the some what bitter taste. My rating is 2/10.

7. X-plosie (www.brouwerijhetkoelschip.nl, for the dutch readers)

This beer was popular. It is brewed once a year and it sits for 12 months before it is avaliable. The beer itself is ok. It has a dark color to it, which I think it looks just like cola. It smells like pinapples. It is sweet with a wood brabdy flavor that is warm. The only thing about this beer is that every year when it is brewed it is not ht esame as before. So if you had it this year, it will taste different next year. This beer is good with salty foods and sour food. Like in sausages, pickles, cocktail onions and so on. I like this beer. Even though it has 13% in it. You can feel the warmth like you would when drinking whiskey.  This beer taste almost like Southern Comfort. For me this is a beer version of the sweet whiskey Southern Comfort. So if you like the whiskey you will like this beer. My rating is 10/10

Now for the last beer.

8. Mary (www.deprael.nl, for the dutch readers)

This beer is also sweet. Not as sweet as the Java Kriek. This is good for people who like things just sweet but not over all. The first taste is sweet. Then it just becomes smooth. The after taste is very dry. It is a good beer for an spicy dinner or a sour one.  My rating is 7/10.

Well that is all. I hope you enjoy this. Now for the photos.

Look. Motercycle guy drinking. Yes that is a good thing to do. NOT!

My boyfriend enjoying the Java kriek.

Yummy. This is the Java Kriek. I love cherries.

Trash under the table.

This is the trash from the end of the event. See not much. Well to me it is still too much.