ravens

Day 25

Day 25! How much am I enjoying getting up and doing yoga right away? A lot apparently. I forgot to turn the alarm off this morning, so I woke up thinking it was a regular day and not a holiday. When I clued in that it was a holiday, rather than go back to bed… I did yoga. Who am I?!


Today was a gentle practice. We often forget to be gentle with ourselves, to take breaks when we need it. We live in a chaotic world that doesn’t stop. We have access to news, social media and whoever we want to get in touch with 24/7. Things such as cell phones and social media can be a huge determent to our own mental well being. We need to remember to be gentle with ourselves and sometimes, turn the world off, even if for 30 minutes.
Everything about this picture makes me happy. There is a raven, a black cat, a baby Chuthulu, Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. The only thing missing is a bat. I’m sure it’s there somewhere. I’ve read their work many, many times and I will read it many times more. It’s my happy place.


The other book I have read so many times that my copy is falling apart, is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It’s the book that inspired me to be a writer.


What authors do you read over and over again?

Day 5

Day 5 in the bag! Do you like shiny things? I like shiny things. Do you know what else likes shiny things? Crows and Ravens!

I love Crows and Ravens! I swear that Ravens are my spirit animal. When I go to see my parents I am always out looking for them. There is usually a murder of them in the yard beside their house, some occasionally landing on the railing of their deck.

When we were in Japan, they were everywhere and massive in size. A Crow there was the size of a Raven here and they had this gorgeous purple sheen on their feathers. First thing I would hear when I woke up was the beautiful sounds of the crows cawing. I want to hear that every day.

One thing, not related to beginning yoga, but, something I am becoming, even more in tune with since starting, is mindfulness. I think I’ve always been fairly mindful of those around me, but being there with my friend Carlin‘s for her journey with cancer and her death due to the disease, I’ve really woken up about how I and others treat those around me/us/them. Even though we think we are being mindful, we can still do better. I think this is another reason I’m drawn to Crows and Ravens. They are mindful of each other, they have each other’s backs and take care of each other. Let’s be more like the Crows and Ravens.

Bat Adventures and Crow Sighting Map

My husband came up with a genius idea for me to create a map for our bat sightings. I’ve also added in crow sightings. Here it is. 

Crow Update: Day 4

There is something about this place. It’s weird and strange. It draws out the darkness that I try to hide in my safe little place. Every time I’m here, stories of strife and horror brew within my mind.

The crows and the ravens caw to me. Giving me permission to tell the stories of the things they see. They release the words from the grey clouds as they skydive to the ground.

Listen to me! Listen to me!
You are our storyteller.
You are our medium.

Listen to me! Listen to us!
You bare our witness.
You hold our trust.

Sing with us! Sing with us!
You are one of the witches.
You are one of us.

Crow Update — Day 2

Was thinking it would be fun to do a daily Crow Update. So… here goes.

Yesterday, I heard a Crow. One… single… Crow. Yet, it was nowhere to be seen. Are they playing hide-and-seek with me? They are playful creatures.

I didn’t not see any Crows yesterday, just not at my parents. My Mom and I went to Owen Sound and I saw a few along the way, just not the ones I want to see! Today is another day. I am going to go out for a long walk today and fingers crossed, I see some of those beauties! Next update, forthcoming!

crows

Here Birdie Birdie & Tales Of Other Flying Things

Where are my Crows and Ravens? Where are you?

One of the things I look forward to when I visit my parents is seeing the Crows and Ravens. I absolutely love Crows and Ravens. I swear as soon as I show up, they aren’t around. Why? Why do you do this to me? All I want to do is love you. Please come back Crows and Ravens. COME BACK!!!

In the meantime, I will lovingly look at this drawing of two Crows.

crows

All kidding aside, There are two birds that fit with who I am and what people think they see. On the inside, I feel like I am a Raven. I also feel that it is my spirit bird. The Raven is intelligence and is able to learn quickly, using what they learn to figure out solutions to problems, to puzzles.  They are dark and mysterious. ‘The Raven totem signifies mystery and divination, and the attraction to the magical or mystical ways.’  I’m the dark little girl with the crooked smile. I am a Raven.

Others see a Flamingo. Someone who is bright and showy. I am only that way when I really, truly need to be. I am what you might call an extroverted introvert. I love being on a stage and performing, yet being around people close-up and personal has always made me uncomfortable. I was an incredibly shy kid who would rather sit alone and read or draw. I’m ok to perform for those people, I just don’t feel comfortable talking to them. This is why I am so drawn to both of those birds.

flamingos

Of late, I have also become very curious about all birds. With Spring sort of returning, there are many, many different types of birds singing in the trees around us. I’ve been seeing a lot of Cardinals this year. Way more than any other year and it had me thinking that I would love to learn more about the birds that are in my neighbourhood. I want to hear a song from one of them and immediately recognize what kind of bird it is. The High Park Nature Centre down the street does have walkabouts for bird identification and I am considering going on one. They had a fantastic one for Bats.

cardinals

Oh, Bats. Another flying creature I am obsessed with. My ghoul fiends Thea and Adam gave us a Bat Detector for our wedding gift last year and I CANNOT wait to start using it! It is finally warming up enough that the Bats will be out feeding. Nightly walks will be becoming a popular end to the day.

bats

Now off to find my Crows and Ravens.

Redheads Writing in Cafes — why are the crows avoiding me?

Today is the day. If I don’t get a photo of the crows or the Raven, I will need to find somewhere in Toronto where they congregate. Why must they torment me? I can hear them and see them in other people’s yards. When I try to make my way towards them to take a picture, they take off. All I ask is you come visit our front yard and let me get some good photographs of you. What I wouldn’t do right now for my DSLR right now and a zoom lens.

vintage-crow-gothicolors-images

My intention today was to sit on the covered porch to write, but the temperature suddenly dropped and big, gray clouds started rolling in. I moved to the kitchen table and can actually see a wall of rain heading towards us. Have you ever been outside when this happens, especially when you have nowhere to go? I have, it’s not always a fun experience. I’d much rather be watching it from the safety of inside.

I’ve decided to give myself permission to take a few days off. Not sleeping well due to the futon from hell, I’m tired. When I get home tomorrow, I will likely take a long, hot shower, throw in my laundry and then watch 1950s, sci-fi b-movies.  Maybe I can convince my love to order in. I’ve been away from him for a week and a half and it will feel good to be with him again. I have to say I am incredibly lucky to have such a supportive partner. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes.

Blogging every day has been fun and a great way to wake up my brain each day, but I’m not sure I can continue to do it daily. I have realized that I definitely need to blog more often. I still have plans to vlog, but for now, will continue to blog. My priority is to get a solid first draft of my novel done, then I can figure out vlogging and the youtube channel I keep talking about.

The other thing that evades me are the books I am looking for. We checked a few places in town and was not able to find them. It looks like a trip to the Reference Library will be happening upon my return. In all honesty, I need to go there on a regular basis to research and write.

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Because of the pending rain, the crows have disappeared again. Off to find shelter and to stay dry. They are intelligent creatures and I’m sure decided that the redhead isn’t going to capture their image. You just wait crows, I may not capture your image today, but I will one day.

 

 

Redheads Writing in Cafes — I’m back on the front porch

When I started to write my novel Freaks and Grimm, I decided in the early stages, that it would be based in a small town. The town I grew up in is my inspiration, along with the house and neighbourhood I grew up in. Down the street from where I lived is a huge Victorian, with a wrap around porch, gable trim, and amazing stained glass. There was and still is, something about that house that is creepy. I have always believed it was filled with ghosts and because of this, the house has become a character in my novel.  There are a few other buildings in town that inspire me and I hope to get photos of them before I leave. I took some photos of the Victorian and had to be stealthy since there was some guy sitting on the front porch.

creepyhouse

Next time I come to my parents, I am going to bring my DSLR. I didn’t bring it this time since I was taking the bus and had to make decisions on what to I could actually carry. Next time I will bring just my tablet so I can also bring my camera. I need to document some of the creepiness here and get better photos of the crows. I’ve tried to capture them with my phone, but a zoom lens would be optimal. Also, they seem to sense when I’m trying to take a photo and fly away. Are crows really camera shy?

crows

I’m by nature a night owl. I begin to feel my artistic energy later on in the day and am always finding inspiration when the sun goes down. When you are in a small town… being a night owl just doesn’t work out since everything literally shuts down at 6 pm, with the exception of the 24-hour grocery store and the Tim Horton’s. Neither of these is appealing to me for places I want to write. My parents are early to bed, early to rise and I am worried that I will make too much noise and disturb their sleep and by 10 pm, I’m in my room watching YouTube videos. I’ve gotten so used to heading to bed at the witching hour, that I am really missing it. I’m also really missing my fella right now.

While I’m looking after my Mom, I’m also doing all of the cooking. This means, that all of their meals are Vegan. I wasn’t sure how this would sit with my father, but so far, I’ve had zero complaints. It may have been my famous chili or the tasty stir fry that has won them over. Tonight I am making my ‘are you sure there isn’t meat in this’ pasta sauce. I wonder if he will argue with me again on whether or not there is meat in the sauce. Mom is also realizing her diet needs to change and though she won’t go Vegan (yet), she is considering being Vegetarian. She is also cutting dairy out of her diet.

parents

Today I had four goals. So far… I’ve accomplished two of them.

  1. Write while on the deck. So far… no rain. — Doing that right now!
  2. Get a good picture of the crows and raven. — So far, no luck. They seem to be in hiding at the moment.
  3. Tell you to subscribe to my website at www.lizzieviolet.com so you get notified when I post. My latest series is Redheads Writing in Cafes. — DONE!
  4. Not burst into flames when I go outside. — The sun is still out. I’m still trying to not combust.

Until tomorrow…. Stay ghoulish.

/nb I couldn’t resist adding the photo of my Dad’s dog Flash. I love Beagles! Flash is spoiled and a dog filled with old man charm.

flash

Redheads Writing in Cafes — except when it’s the front porch

The sun — it burns!  IT BURNS!  When you are so pale that you look like you may be dead — the sun is your enemy. It’s extra evil when you forget to bring your sunscreen. I’ve been to the grocery store twice now and both times forgot to pick up some. Yesterday my mom scavenged through the medicine cabinet to find a tube of SPF 30 that expired in 2012. Might be time to get a new tube Mom! Maybe? Until I remember to buy a tube, I will be hiding out in the safety of the shade. This is what happens when you are part vampire.

giphy

Two mornings in a row at 3 am I have been awoken by a strange noise outside. A low, guttural clicking noise. It sounds like it is coming from the side yard, just on the other side of the deck. Is this an animal? A reptile? What makes this kind of noise? Zombies? Werewolves? The neighbours? Every time I am up north, it always feels like the beginning of a horror movie.

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Then there are the crows.

crow1

7:30 am on the dot, second morning in a row, my wake up call was the very loud, very boisterous cawing of crows congregating on the fence beside my parents house. At least a dozen of those gleaming black beauties cackling away at each other. This sound is music to my ears. I love crows and ravens. Once I finally stumbled out to the kitchen, I could see them all lined up along the rail-tie fence. Then I spotted her. A massive raven perched on the roof of the house directly above them. She looked regal, as if she was looking down at her coven.

Ravens are my spirit animal.

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I have always been fascinated by crows and ravens. More so ravens. They are birds that work in communities, who protect each other, are super intelligent and seem to be in tune with the energies around them. Many of my women partners-in-crime see themselves with houses filled with cats when they are in their eighties, I see myself with a house filled with ravens and crows. No. I’m not kidding. Two of my favourite things are a charcoal drawing of a raven that my super talented friend Laurie made and a small statue of a raven pulling flesh from a skull. My perfect creepy house, when I’m in my eighties and nineties will include a raven, on a perch near the front entrance. You definitely don’t need a fancy alarm system or a guard dog if you have a raven on the watch.

raven3

I’m going to be at my parents for at least another week. I’m hoping to get a good photo of the raven. I may need to figure out where in Toronto to find ravens and crows. It would be a good series of photos to take with my DSLR. For now, while at my parent, I will need to rely on my cell phone camera.  

Until tomorrow… stay creepy.

raven4