The Treasure of Catalina Huanca (In English and Spanish)
June 30, 2008
Note: written after seeing the little adobe 16th century church San Sebastian, in San Jeronimo, by the mountains of Huancayo, Peru, after being taken there by the Wandering Quechua guide, Enrique (4-13-2005).
The Treasure of Catalina Huanca
Written by Dennis L. Siluk
There, by the lofty mountains fair
Hidden under the earth by Huancayo In San Jerónimo de Tunan-
Is Catalina’s treasure of gold!
Whereupon, the Spaniards killed
Atahualpa, the Inca King–; Hence, Catalina turned around to seek
And found-her new, sacred ground!…
And, a glutted stream swept-
This little adobe church Called San Sebastian-ever since
In the lofty mountains by Huancayo!…
Spanish Version Por Dennis L. Siluk
Translated by: Rosa and Minerva Peñaloza
Note: Escrito después de visitar la pequeña iglesia San Sebastián construida de adobe en el siglo 16, en San Jerónimo de Tunan, por las montañas de Huancayo, Perú, después que ser tomado allí por el Peregrino Quechua guía, Enrique (4-13-2005)
El Tesoro de Catalina Huanca
Allí, por las altas montañas
Ocultado bajo la tierra de Huancayo En San Jerónimo de Tunan-
¡Esta el tesoro de oro de Catalina!
The Christmas Dress
June 29, 2008
From the time I was a very little girl, I had always loved to watch my big sister, Loretta, when she was sewing. So, one Sunday afternoon while she worked on the red velveteen jumper that was going to be my Christmas outfit, I didn’t want to miss a single thing.
Because it was Sunday and Loretta did not have to go to work at the electric company, she was dressed casually in a white sweater and a pair of periwinkle blue slacks that matched her eyes. Loretta was an assistant bookkeeper at the electric cooperative that supplied electricity to our farm and to many of the rural areas in our county. I could still smell the perfume that she had worn when we went to church that morning. The bottle said it was called Lily of the Valley.
As Loretta spread the fabric on the kitchen table, I stood as close to her as possible, practically breathing down her neck.
When you live on a farm and the next-door neighbors are elderly and no other neighbors live on your mile-long stretch of road with children for you play with, and in fact, no other children live within several miles, what else is there to do on a Sunday afternoon in December except pester your big sister?
A Look at the Humidor Plan
June 28, 2008
There are many styles of humidors that range from the smaller traveling humidor to the large cabinet and even walk-in room humidors. By far, the most popular humidor is the glass top humidor also referred to as the desktop humidor.
While many people will choose to purchase an already made humidor, for those who are more inclined, the art of making one’s own humidor can be a very appealing idea and lend bragging rights at the same time. By making one’s own humidor, the cigar aficionado can choose the materials, the size, the design and the specific humidifier for his or her own personal creation. The only limit is the imagination of the individual. Whether one chooses to make a simple, rectangular box design or one decides to be more elaborate, choosing to tool the wood with intricate designs, there is no wrong approach.
Performing a simple search for a humidor plan, one can find a wide variety of designs and plans, some for free and some for very inexpensive prices. If one so chooses, there are even plans on the internet for making a humidor out of Tupperware®. One can make any humidor from the traveling humidor to the glass top humidor to the cabinet humidor. The biggest question one must ask is how much time and effort does one want to invest in the finished product.
Pagan Crafts
June 28, 2008
Greetings to all Crafty Pagans,Witches and those who want to learn Pagan crafts.The purpose of this is to provide doable crafts and to create crafts and tools that will have your positve energies that will enrich your power while performing rituals or spellworks and in your every day life.
I would like to share with you many Pagan crafts which we will cover from creating your altar,to making candles,wands,athames,hemp jewlery,bath salts,walking sticks,spirit sticks,medicine bags,divination articles such as runes, scrying mirrors,pendulums and much,much more.
I would also like to include crafts for the children,so that it would be educational for them as well as fun to do.While making these crafts the children will learn the traditions and paths that Pagans and Witches travel in their life time.
There are eight celebrated Sabbats throughout the year and the year is called The Wheel of The Year.The four major Sabbats are,Samhain,The Witches’New year,October 31st/November 1st,Imbolc/Candlemas,January 31st/February 2nd,Beltane,April 30th/May 1st,Lughnasadh/Lammas,July 31st/August 1st.The four minor Esabats are,Yule is the Winter Solstice,on or about December 21st,Ostara,on or about March 21st,Litha/Midsummer,Summer Solstice on or about June 21st,and Mabon/Harvest,on or about September 21st.Each and every one of the Sabbats have many crafts that can be made to celebrate and honour them.
Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!
June 27, 2008
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one. How could anybody not love this great holiday! It’s a hiatus from the dark sadness of reality and a time where you can be ridiculously happy! But maybe too happy?
In a recent poll, over 45 percent said that they dreaded the holiday altogether. Not everyone seems to see the light that Christmas brings, and if you look harder into the eyes of this joyous holiday, you may see why. More people kill themselves around Christmas time than any other time of year. "Well," Khayeni Sanders, a fellow Christmas lover states, "I think you should make a club, or a house, for those people. It’s like an equivalent of a homeless shelter! Wait, what’s the question again?"
Getting the Most From Your Digital Camera Memory Card
June 26, 2008
Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and then realizing that you can barely click 20-30 images at a go. So, what do you do to avoid such a situation? The answer to this question lies in the purchase of an extra memory card or two.
One of the important components of a digital camera is the memory card. Most digital cameras come with quite a low amount of memory and it is always better to include the cost of a memory card while purchasing a camera. There are several types of memory cards so you must check out the memory options available in the camera that you are planning to buy.
Also, remember that if the resolution of your camera is high, then you will also need a high capacity memory card. There is no predetermined number of images that you can store on a particular memory card. It depends on the kind of images, the file type of the images and the compression rate per photograph. Normally, a 128 or 256 megabyte card is adequate for the average photographer using a 3-5 mega pixel camera.
Decorative Metal Work Techniques From The Early 1900s
June 25, 2008
Today’s Metal Craft workers should truly appreciate the artistic skills & techniques used exclusively by the highly skilled metal artisans from almost one hundred years ago.
Decorative metalworking is undergoing a new renaissance as more & more people become involved in hobby metal craft. The skilful use of simple metal craft hand tools, allows the worker to create fine metal work items.
The casual onlooker of the magnificent ornamental metalwork’s found on many historic public buildings in the USA, United Kingdom, Canada & many other countries, would hardly realize the many painstaking weeks or months of work involved in creating these elaborate metal works.
Every day, thousands of people walk straight past the beautifully crafted iron work, & decorative iron arches in public buildings & gardens, and not give them a second glance.
But the new age metal-craft worker of today would stop and admire & appreciate the design & craftsmanship skills required to create these superb handmade iron & metal-works of yesteryear. It is a learning experience.
The Gaul of La Laguna de Paca
June 24, 2008
Part One
I tell you a legend of long ago Of the sunken city of La Laguna de Paca, (Where I had met a lingering ghost) Within this region of Huancayo–Peru; Truth lies, but only the soul knows.
Part Two
So the legend goes, of long ago: During the rising of the full moon The Mermaid of La Laguna de Paca, appears And to the nearby towns folks, she echoes… Echoes: her cries and moans!!
Then when one thinks all is well– The enchanting rings, the rings…! Of the bells, the Great Bells, bells Of the sunken church of La Laguna de Paca Are heard by the folks of the town.
Part Three
But there is more to this legend: For it is said, wherein the dark night (The ink dark macabre star-lit nights) Wherein the Errieness of the full moon Ebbs across the Laguna Paca, gives birth, To the Great Bull,who scrotches the hillside
Scrotches the foliage to its bones…! Scrotches its with fire and brimstone.
Part Four
And now I tell you of my tale– A tale of that took place but a few days ago, By an embankmnment along the Laguna de Paca.
Spend More Time With Your Family This Holiday Season: Host A Caroling Party
June 23, 2008
Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought of all of the preparation that is involved. And more is not better. Often we try to out do each other with lavish parties and expensive gifts. Stop and remember for a second what was important from your own childhood. Was it an outing? Baking cookies with your grandmother? Building a snowman with your dad? We need to connect. This doesn’t require more time, just shifting the focus of the time we already have. Here, a casual party and a very simple activity were the catalyst that brought everyone together.
To get the entire neighborhood into the Christmas spirit we planned a caroling party.
The day before our guests arrived, my kids and I spent an afternoon making decorative candleholders to give to each caroler, to light the way for our caroling expedition.
Dad, dressed as Santa, provided our very own photo opportunity. Little ones whispered their Christmas list in Santa’s ear. Grown ups, as well as kids, had their pictures taken in Santa’s lap.
Adults, kids, and even a few dogs then joined us on our merry way. Our numbers grew as we made our way caroling through the neighborhood.
Airbrush for Profit - Sell Your Services to Colleges
June 23, 2008
Colleges, schools, university and the like are one way you can make money from airbrushing. Why they are a good market is that there are plenty of students to begin with. Therefore, you are starting with a big customer base. Generally, look for any large groups when you want to make money from airbrushing. The cost of advertising will be low, and you will get to concentrate all your energies on one group.
You could arrange to sell your products and services at different school events. You could set up a booth at the school fair, paint at concerts, sell at dances, or any other big event or day they may have. Sell face painting, t-shirts, temporary tattoos, anything really.
One particularly good event that you can sell your product or service is graduation day. Call the organising committee and see if they would like a particular product airbrushed for the Graduating Class. One product that would be a good money earner, that students would love to get their hands on are “Class of 2005″ t-shirts. Paint something that will remind them of the school or the year that past. Ask the organisers what they would like to see on them, and give them a few FREE SAMPLES to model for you around the school. You never know, a school with 200 graduates could be a good weekends work, not to mention the extra money you could make.
