Cinnamon Pumpkin Honey Butter

In honor of October, I decided to experiment with some of the Pumpkin recipes that popped up on my Pinterest. 

Whipped Cinnamon Pumpkin Honey Butter was the recipe that I decided to try. 

Here's the recipe: 

Ingredients: 

2 sticks of butter or margarine

6 Tbspns of Pumpkin Puree

3/4 tspn of Cinammon 

4 Tbspns of Honey 

1 tspn of Vanilla

Directions: 

Step 1: Soften the butter or margarine, and put them in an electric beater. 

Step 2: Beat the butter until smooth

Step 3: Add the cinammon and one Tbspn of Pumpkin Puree. 

Step 4: Beat until combined. 

Step 5: Add 1 Tbspn of Pumkin every 30 seconds while still beating. 

Step 6: Add the Vanilla and Honey

Step 7: Beat until it is light and fluffy (Around 2 minutes) 

Step 8: Put the Pumpkin Butter into a sealed container. 

Step 9: Store in the refrigerator. 

This Pumpkin Butter was fun to make, and it goes well with toast, bagels and bread. 

My first try at this was not bad.   

The Celestial Bridge

The Water Goddess watched the bridge from her garden. Soah, the Water God's bride knew this bridge well. When she first crossed it, she was a human afraid that she would soon face death. Now she stood tall in divine robes, watching the mist that carried the incense of the temple's offerings. 

Sometimes she looked down at the water and whispered her family's name, watching them live their lives, proud of her sacrifice. Time was not as fast in the Celestial realm. Soah knew that her husband Haebeck wouldn't understand that it was hard to leave humanity. He had always been immortal, not caring or worrying about time. But Soah remembered rushing to the market for early deals, hurrying home before the night came or counting the seconds before it was dinner time. 

The palace was beautiful, but now and then Soah would miss her life as a normal human. Although she loved the Water God dearly, there was much to learn about becoming an immortal. She remembered stories about humans wanting to become divine. Never would she have guessed that one day she would go on that journey. 

It was times like this, with a hazy fog and beautiful lotus flowers, that Soah knew the price for divinity. Haebeck would remind her of her decision once he returned. They would sail on the Milky Way, visit the moon and journey beyond the sea of clouds and rain. She would meet more gods, and learn who to trust and who to be wary of. She would hear humans, especially from her village, asking for blessings.  

For now, Soah would watch the world from her garden, wishing Haebeck to return safely. 

True Beauty

True Beauty lies in nature's wonders:

           Moments as they fly by.

                  Your favorite song.

                           A good book.

                                     A well written story.

                                                 A great vacation.

                                      A powerful work of art.

                                 A wonderful memory.

                                          The sound of rain.

                                                   A gorgeous sunset.

                                            Things that make you smile.

                                                     Anything that inspires you.

                                                                     Ideas that motivate you.

                                                           Watching birds fly in the sky.

                                                                     Fish swim in the water.

                                                               Stars that shine from a cloudy sky.

                                                                                People that surprise you.

                                                                          Moments of wisdom and knowledge.

                                                                             Who you are.

                                                                      What you believe.

                                                           How you view the world.

                                       True Beauty lies in how you view the world.

Dreams and Wishes

She read everyday, anywhere that she could find. By her favorite tree, in the garden, near the swan pond, and, of course, in her own reading nook on the second floor. It was a special place, where she could escape anything unpleasant that reality often shoved upon her. The stable boy often found her asleep, a book in hand while he walked to tend to the horses. Her head on her shoulder, and a fairytale book nearly falling from her hands. He would smile as he walked by, knowing full well that her governess would find her sooner or later, and in her dancing dress! Like the swan from the story, she felt trapped, and often told him so. Once, she read to him, and he loved the story. It was about a poor boy, like himself becoming a hero and saving a princess from the giant's castle. One day, he was sure, he would rescue her, and they would find a place to be free. But these were dreams, wishes and fantasies that they both clung to. Maybe if they believed in wishes, dreams and fairytales, their belief would be strong enough to set them free. 

Time

How much time 

do we waste on unimportant

 things? Grudges and Gossip?

Fears and Shattered Dreams?

If we could take a moment

and just look around,

we might be surpised at 

the time we've found.

Whether it's sorrow

loneliness 

or pain,

so 

much

 time 

is wasted 

by not learning

 to dance in the rain. 

So maybe I will see

the sunlight through the 

trees. Laugh with the thunder,

and sing with the breeze. By 

learning to live and loving to learn 

the time that I have just may 

not just be burned.

Hideaway

It was my favorite place. Just by the water, the smooth rocks left just enough room for a path to jump across the bank. I could make a small campfire and grill pancakes by the spot where I used to imagine I was queen of the fairies. It all came back to me while I gazed at the area where I spent most of my childhood. Even now, with my grand sailing expeditions and my collection of merchandise from around the world, nothing could compare to the sanctuary of my imagination. I could almost hear our giggles and see the world from younger eyes as I sat across from the water and watched the dragonflies dart from one rock to another. The place was timeless and special. Not just any river bank. Here I sailed across the sea, became a divine ruler and survived a journey across a dangerous bridge. Soon my children would have these adventures, and discover a world so close and yet so far from home. 

The Palace across the bridge

Milla stared across the Cloud Sea, waiting for the bridge to let her pass. For many years, the Sky people lived in this great fortress. Their flying ships explored the mountains and world of clouds, rock and sky. For years, she waited for her turn. Her turn to go across the bridge, learn how to sky sail and follow Jacob to the other side of the Air World Division. The crystals on the bridge would glow if they let her pass, but she had to be approved by Skaith, the great magician who guarded the bridge. It was said that the King himself give Skaith this task in order to protect his fortress and allow only those who were deemed worthy to pass. As Milla knew, the only way anyone could take over the fortress would be within, or beyond the border of the cloud wall that guarded the Sky People and kept the King on his throne.

The crystal began to change color as Milla watched it. Two merchants were allowed to cross the border. Only their merchandise granted them access to the palace, but one day Milla would cross that bridge, she was after all the daughter of the greatest Sky Sailor and explorer that the Air World Division had ever known. She would cross that bridge, learn to sail and find her father, whenever he was. Everyone knew that the King was devastated by his best friend's disappearance, but Milla believed that she could find her father, and have her own adventures, discovering the sky continents. All she had to do was go across that bridge. She watched the merchants walk through the crystal arch and formed her plan.

It's time to move on

The entire world lies ahead, a long winding path that I can't even begin to understand. It's difficult to let go, move on and trust that my heart will take me to where I belong. The funny thing is, my path is not even similar to the path of anyone else. We all have different routes to take. Different times in life to grow and become what we want to be. This path is my own, but if I worry about what I will see when I reach my destination all the time, I will never even move forward. Who knows where my path leads. When and if things will happen the way I want them to. When I will find what I need, and learn the difference between need and want. I cannot see my destination from here, but I can see the path in front of me. Every day I move closer to wherever I will be in the future. Every day my journey continues and changes me in ways I can't even begin to comprehend. 

I've heard it said, many times, that it's not the destination. It's the journey. It's time to stop worrying about the future and regretting the past. It's time to appreciate the journey and just enjoy where I am now. What I'm doing as I follow this path is what I will look back on once I reach my destination. And, everyone wants a good story to tell.

Divine tears

The sun hides

behind the clouds.

Soft thunder 

rumbles.

This is my heart's 

sound.

Whenever I'm lonely,

watching people pass by,

these clouds come

from nowhere

blocking the sky.

As each tear falls,

the rain

patters on the ground.

The humans think

it strange.

But I know

the rain

is my aching

heart's sound.

To understand

the way human's live

is something 

no one can give.

This lonely creature,

lost in the rain

is simply a divine being

expressing sadness and pain

(Inspired by the Korean Gumiho Legends)

Two Worlds: One city

Yuna stood at the edge of the crumbling city. Pyreflies surrounded the rubble, and their short songs echoed through the dark and deserted place. She didn't like coming here, be she felt that she had to. It reminded her of him, Tidus. To Yuna, Zanarkand wasn't just a city of ruins, or even the former temple of Yunalesca. It was Tidus's home. He had described it to her countless times. The lights on in every tall building. The great Blitzball stadium where people came to watch Tidus, star player of the Zanarkand Abes. People would run on the giant walkways. Kids would play on a platform surrounded by stars. He had always told her that she should see it. She caught a glimpse of his world when Seymour showed them the memory sphere. It had seemed so amazing! People rushed past her. Signs flashed and whooshed by as they watched the sphere fly through the city. It was full of life instead of memories of the dead. Bright and thriving instead of dark and desolate. If she stood there long enough and closed her eyes, Yuna could almost see what Tidus saw. She could walk where he had walked and imagine people, tall buildings and bright lights. She she walked among the pyreflies, she could see the busy street, the great statues guarding the stadium, and the giant sphere of water that made the Blitzball Stadium. It was all so beautiful, and yet it was sad. She missed him. Sometimes she would expect him to walk around the corner or run up to her with one of his smiles. At the time, nothing mattered while they journeyed together, but now Yuna knew they were from different worlds. 

She whistled, then brushed away a tear. He wasn't coming back. Not here. She would have to find him another way. Still, she thought she heard his whistle, as if it came from far away. But the sound could also have been an echo of her own whistle, just as Tidus was now an echo of an amazing dream. 

Fireworks

We held hands as the sky lit up with reds, oranges and blues. It was funny how one little vacation and one small moment out of all that time guarding the parks would be so perfect. As the music played, the fireworks danced, and Cinderella's castle became an outline compared to the bright lights and smoke. I knew Finn was smiling without even looking at him. Wayne would be somewhere cheering with each sucessful boom in the sky. 

"Amanda? You ok?"

Finn looked at me, and I realized that I had a single tear in my eye. After all we'd been through. After Maleficent, Chernabog, Ursula and Frollo, Finn and I had been able to conquer any obstacle in our way and honor Walt Disney's dream to keep the parks a safe and happy place. 

"I'm fine." I said. I could feel my cheeks burning. If Jez were here, she would have never let me hear the end of this. 

"You sure?"

I squeezed his hands and nodded. 

"It's just nice to know the parks are safe."

Finn gave me a lopsided grin and nodded.

"Yeah. Old Wayne can finally relax."

A sequence of cracks turned our attention back to the castle. Th grand finale was in full swing. As the music reached a crescendo, I decided to join the fun. With a small spell, a bright blue firework burst in the shape of a star after all the fireworks were over.

"You did that didn't you?" Finn asked me.

"Well, I am a Fairlie aren't I?"

"Oh yeah? Well I'm superman!"

In a way, he was. By saving the parks from the Overtakers, Finn was a true hero and he'd always be in my eyes. 

The Summoner

The summoner stood in the water, staring at the moon and sky. The world was now against her, calling her the traitor of Yevon who had doomed all of Spira to the wrath of Sin. The shimmering crystals  glow all around her, yet her shoulders are slumped, and she stares at the sky as if she has lost everything to her name. Even the most beautiful scene of lights and the moon's reflection couldn't distract her from the choice she had to make. Would she continue her pilgrimage? Would she give up and live for herself? 

Yuna. It hurt seeing her this way. She was always smiling, hiding her sadness and pain with a muffled laugh or a cheerful remark. If only I had known she was supposed to die. If only they had told me when I walked into that temple that I had to be careful what to say around her. 

I remembered that moment, one I still cherish, where we watched the sunset and I told her "after we beat Sin, that's when you can worry about the future." 

It must have been so painful for her. 

Kimahari stared at me as I walked toward the pond, every step careful and quiet. With a nod of his head, Kihamari said it all. It was okay, I could pass, and he knew that Yuna might want some company. 

I stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry" didn't seem good enough. And the words I really wanted to say, I knew they just wouldn't help.  She had been through so much with Seymour. Asking even more of her, especially in that department would not do anything to heal her pain. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to make her smile again, and let her know that whatever she decided, I would support her. But I didn't want to interrupt this moment she seemed to be having, thinking about the world, and herself, possibly for the first time. 

Words at this time were useless, but I was still standing there, not moving, wondering what to do. Finally, I decided that I would do what I always did, plunge in head first without thinking. I dove in the water, and let the pieces fall where they would. 

The Ruins of Mount Gagazet

I stepped off the airship and onto the strange crumbling floor of Mount Gagazet's temple. Tidus, you've never been here. For some reason, these ruins appeared after Sin was defeated, and you well . . . you know. I've tried to move on, and Rikku has helped me more than she can ever know. We're traveling the world,  visiting different places in Spira. Places I would never have seen if I stayed a summoner. This temple, I think you would like it. You always did make a game out of every temple we went to. But this temple doesn't have an aeon. It even has machina! Brother and Rikku found this rock fromation hovering over Mount Gagazet. Khimari guards it well, leading what is left of the Ronso, and protecting this sacred ground. Up here, so close to the stars and moon, I feel like you're with me. I turn around, expecting to see you stare open mouthed at the waterfalls that fall through the clouds, and the floating rocks, similar to Djose where the lightning held them in place. There's even a platform elevator, but when we pressed the button, the results were . . . disasteriffic. Brother has been so kind, and he's allowed me to hide from the people who want me in power. 

I know if you were here, you wouldn't want that at all. Maybe you would want to travel, like me. See all of Spira, and explore areas we didn't even know about during our journey. We both know what too much power can do. As long as I'm here, I want to protect our places. The ruins of Zanarkand and the Macalania Forest. Even the Moonflow that you wanted to see at night. Each place I visit, and each sphere I find brings me closer to you. It had to be you. Why else would I feel like you're here, even now, waiting for me to bring you back? There has to be a reason. A reason this temple hoveres in the sky. A reason it reminds me of Zanarkand, the one you told me about, and why I'm not afraid to look down from the edge of the stone floor and see nothing but clouds and sky. It's beautiful, and maybe one day, I can bring you here to see the details of the statues, pillars and steps. I just know you'd love it. You might even be here, right now, guiding me to get back to you.

Lake Bresha

The stationary Falcie stares at me, seeming to laugh at my situation. Ten minutes ago, the Falcie held you captive, and we got there, just in time to see you complete your focus. Serah, you're frozen in crystal now. Your fiancé is driving me up the wall, talking about becoming your hero. Who is he kidding? We're not heroes. With the entire lake glittering in crystal, time itself has stopped, and hope has faded. Serah, if only I had listened to you. 

Why? Why did the Falcie choose you? Why a Falcie from Pulse? Now there are five of us, one just a kid, branded as a pawn to the gods. Branded as an outcast, just like you. The white surrounding us feeds the blank slate of my mind. This wasn't supposed to happen! My feet move on my own, without a thought. I don't even know where I'm going. 

I was supposed to reason with the Falcie, protect you from these Cieth and the people who would abandon you. You believed in me, and I let you down. Now what can I do? If we follow this road, if I team up with this kid named Hope, and your "hero" will we be able to save you? No matter how many battles I fight. No matter what I say to Snow, I have no choice but to keep going. If your "hero" says anymore crap about destiny and being your hero, I'm going to punch him in the face. 

Haven't I known you longer than he has? Don't I have a say in what you would want? I don't know what you see in him. He's like a child, always running in trouble, believing in empty promises. Why did you choose him? How could he possibly save you? Our days are numbered. Now we only have two choices. Follow the advice you gave us, or follow the Falcie's bidding. 

How can we save Coccoon? 

I walk past a giant wall of crystal and see my reflection in the cold cruel substance. How do we get out of this? What should I do? 

Hope starts introducing himself, and we start walking away from the ships hovering over the lake's remains. We're as good as dead if they find us, but that doesn't scare me. You're gone, and without my sister, I'm nothing. One stupid fight lead to this. How is that even possible?

They're talking, but I hardly hear the words. If I could escape this, if I could find a way to bring you back, it wouldn't happen here. For some reason, they all turn to me, Snow daring to call me "sis." It's enough to make me sick. The air gets colder the more we walk on. They want me to make a decision? Am I their leader now? Fine! If I have to go through this. If I have to redeem the wrong I did, then it's best to keep moving. I start walking, Hope following behind me like you used to, when you were my little sister, and that was all that mattered. 

Before I created this shell, mirrored by the crystal statue you've become, and the towering titan of stone staring down at me, I was a good person. My goal, to protect you, and be a good sister. Now, can I go back to that version of me? Hope expects this. He stares at me like I'm the only person in the group who knows what I'm doing. Has this outer shell become so real to other people. Even Snow seems to buy it. 

So be it. I'm a Lcie now, and I going to find a way to free you from your prison. It's better than doing what the Falcie expects me to do. This vision means nothing to me, but if I can save you, if I can become your big sis again then the journey I was forced on, would be worth it. 

"Let's go" I tell them. 

A Secret Hideaway

Talia ran to the edge of the shore, between the pillars, sat down and watched the stars. She had managed to get away from the hustle and bustle of the moon market, just as the traveling gypsies began to perform and distract Sierra, the head maid of the palace from seeing her slip away. 

She sighed deeply, letting the fresh air suround her and the waves crash toward her feet. The Ruins were a forbidden place, but something had always drawn her here, to this very spot, where the palace was smaller than her fist, and the atmosphere was warm, peaceful and magical. The great structure of the ancient city towered above her, reminding her that she wasn't the only person who set foot here. When she could, Talia would make up stories of the people and how the Moonstone capital came to be, long before it was destroyed. The real reason for these ruins was a mystery, long before she was born, the stories of  hauntings, starnge happenings and the spectors people saw from the pillars kept people from exploring the area. But she wasn't afraid, in fact she belonged here. She just knew it. From the beautiful view to the stories of magic and mystery, the Ruins had become Talia's secret hideaway. She let the ring of flowers drop into the water, and watched it float away. Every time Talia came to this spot, she dreamed of living a life among the ruined garden, soft beach sand and the towering pillars of the capital. 

The Lion

Stella watched the night sky from the rocky cliff, only a few miles from the kingdom. The moon was full, and its light reflected on the water behind hazy clouds surrounded by stars.

"Why are you here, your highness?"

Stella turned and saw a great big lion, wearing a collar with the kingdom's colors on it walking toward her. 

"Leo!" she smiled. The lion had always been her best friend and guardian, since she could remember.

He walked up to her, and she stroked his mane. 

"You know the king and queen don't want you out here at night." Leo said, staring right at her.

Stella laughed and stared back at his crystal blue eyes. 

"They know I won't go far." She said, scratching under the lion's chin. "Besides, Luna knows where I am."

"It was Luna who told me where you were." the lion said sternly. "You know that you must be careful." Stella could see the entire kingdom. The starlit stream, and the Yue forest. 

She sighed. "It's only for a little while." She stared at the sky and turned away from him. 

"Look at the stars Leo." Stella said. Leo stood behind her and she reached up to scratch his chin again. 

"Each star is far away, but we can admire them from here, just outside the palace."

As she said this, the night sparks came out, one by one, and danced through the sky, mimicking the stars.

"The stars guide us" Leo said, and Stella could hear the smile in his voice. "As long as we protect the Lunar Kingdom, The Stellar Alliance will remain a peaceful cluster of stars and moons."

"But our visitors today. . . " Stella said. She remembered the cold eyes and strange customs of the Dark Lunar guests. Although they announced that they wanted to join the Alliance, Stella didn't like the look in their eyes. The gaunt looking king and queen and their servants didn't comfort Stella as her sister Luna, prepared to run the kingdom on her own. 

"Leo," Stella said, "Do you believe my sister will make a great queen?"

"Of course." Leo answered without hesitation.

"We'll have to protect her if something happens." Stella said, her thoughts drifting to the dinner party earlier that evening, and the warning bells ringing in her head.

"I will always be there for your sister," Leo said, "and I'll always protect you Stella."

Stella smiled and watched the night sparks follow the river through the Yue forest. 

"Thanks Leo." she whispered, "I'll protect you too."

The Lotus Garden -Arina's Sanctuary

The moonlight fell on the flowers, making them glow like stars. Arina sat at the edge of the flower shaped pool and stared at the lotus blossoms, as the soft music drifted through the air. Training was over, and now, just before bed, she had some time to relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the temple garden. 

She would often come here when she was small, and when she first arrived at the temple, under her master's wing, she declared this spot to be her favorite area in her new home. As she grew older, past ten, the master would smile at the end of her lessons, and send only a few guards with her as she went to sit by the water garden and watch the dragonflies weave in and out of lotus stems. Sometimes she would count the buds, and other times she would close her eyes and listen to the leaves rustle with a soft hum now and then from the dragonflies. If she were ever to have a sanctuary, a place where she could go when things became dificult, or even a spot to meditate after a long day, this was it. 

Here, in the safte and familiar garden, Arina could dream. She could dream that she was anyone she wanted to be. A performer like the women she saw at the traveling fair. A crafter who wove fine necklaces and carved beautfiful jade pendants. A nobleman's daughter, like the women in stories she read after a few hours of training. Here, she didn't have to be the faelin. She didn't have to be the figurehead of the temple, alongside her wise and kind master. She didn't have to be "the one" that everyone expected great things from. She could just simply be.

Like any person in the world, she could watch the stars, smell the water flowers, swat away a stray dragonfly  and listen to the lap of water against the edge of the pool. 

Bubbles and a Field of Flowers

They came when my eyes were closed. I would often run out to the field behind our summer house and find a cool spot of grass to lie on and face the sky. Today, clouds blocked the sun, but that didn't stop the children from next door. I heard their giggles and screams as I looked for a spot in the sky to stare at and forget the world. I closed my eyes for just a moment, listening to the flower stems shuffle from a soft breeze. Even if it rained, I wouldn't care. At that moment, I wanted to be alone, left with the faint sound of people in the distance, and the silent harmony of the flowers.

I opened my eyes, and that's when I saw them. Bubbles! When was the last time I blew bubbles? As I wondered this, more came, and I stayed where I was, watching a few pop on delicate flowers or land softly on a blade of grass. It amazed me how quiet they were. No one could hear them. 

When I was little, I imagined a whole world of memories was preserved in that one sphere, drifting wherever the wind blew it, and coming to an end at whatever destiny had in store. 

A friend once told me that you could carry laughter in a bubble. Even then, I thought it was ridiculous. But watching the colorful spheres play in the air, dodging flowers, bug and grass, I couldn't help but smile and giggle. Maybe laughter was carried in a bubble, and spread to the one who witnessed the bubble's end. 

"Stacy!" my sister called.

I knew that she passed the swing, where I had promised to be an hour ago. Another thing I learned when I was little was I could disappear in the flowers, and decide to reappear when I chose. My sister hated this power, and I heard her frantic footsteps coming toward me. 

I sighed, smiled once more at the buubles, stared a little longer to preserve the moment, then sat up to wave. The moment was over, just like a bubble, you're drifting along, then suddenly POP! you're back in reality. 

New Daily Prompt ideas "Story Inspiration"

It all starts with a pinterest board that I created called Story Inspiration. On it I post pictures that inspire me to write. Since I have run out of prompts, and my goal is to write everyday, I've decided to turn my pinterest board into a prompt machine. 

Now I am inviting all my readers, fellow writers and artists to post a picture on it that inspires them. Starting from the first picture, I will write about the photo or work of art in the order posted on my board. 

You can visit the board here: 

http://pinterest.com/sarahbelle624/story-inspiration/

The necklace stared at me from the glass case. The art museum was crowded, and a strange chill enveloped the room despite the limited space I had to manuaver around the people. It was almost a hum, so soft you could barely hear it, that echoed in the back of my mind. 

Was the necklace glowing? I couldn't be sure as I stood there, waiting for someone else to notice. 

"Angela!"

I looked around, but I couldn't see anyone calling my name. I turned back to the case. The necklace was gone! I waited for someone to say something, or freak out, but nothing happened. I took a step toward the next display, and that's when I saw him, a boy, around ten or twelve wearing a soft linen outfit straight out of the hieroglyphics next to the door. 

"Angela!"

The boy beckoned toward the door, and I watched a strange man, wearing another Egyptian costume, walk through it, the necklace in his hand. Before I could think, I ran toward the door, and an emense heat blasted through me. I squinted through the brightness, and tried to touch the wall. I reached out, then fell. To my surprise, there was no wall, and my hands grasped shifting sand. I looked back. There was no door, and no one around for miles. I blinked, and nothing changed. I was still in sand, on my knees, and I had no idea where I was. I started to walk, watching my every step sink in the unstable sand. 

Finally, a pyramid appeared on the horizon. As I ran toward it, only two questions came to mind. Who was that boy? And, how did I end up  in Egypt?