Laura Morrigan

CW: Domestic Violence PART ONE   All my life, I had lived in a little house on the edge of a dark forest. The forest was said to be the home of a witch who ate children. Even the men only ever hunted on the outskirts of the forest. My mother was a housewife, cooking and cleaning, and trying to please my father. My father was a hunter, a drinker and a gambler. A huge, red-faced man who would make his displeasure known to all. Especially my mother and I. We often bore the brunt of his rages.   W hen I was sixteen , I went into the forest . I knew I had to get as far away as I could, so they couldn’t bring me back. I had tried to ask for help before, and no one had ever believed me. It was a quiet, peaceful little village that we lived in, where nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to happen, and it seemed that they wanted to keep it that way. Even if it meant ignoring things that went on right under their noses. I wondered what else went on behind closed doors. I had tried to...

My version of McCall's M7977, tucked into a skirt. The pattern is for a pull-over blouse with a loop and button at the back and yoke detail. I used a simplified version of view A, omitting the sleeves and ruffle and not gathering it at the waist, as in view B. I am very happy with the finished item and can see myself making one in black with black or white lace. It will go well with Steampunk and Lolita inspired outfits.

I received a digital ARC for this book from the author. There are two kinds of books about consumerism, those that are annoyingly preachy, making you feel like a loser for not living a completely frugal life and those that are relatable and help you see points in your own life that you could improve while still embracing life. T his book was definitely one of the latter. As Katrina Townsend says, over-saturation can make you feel “bludgeoned with more things I ought to be doing” and overwhelmed as well as costing you a bundle trying to go green or frugal. You need to be mindful at take it slowly. H er interest in Druidry and spirituality helped her find focus. From the start I was drawn in by Townsend’s friendly tone and nonjudgmental style. S he showed her own failings and made it clear that it is normal to be drawn into the cycle of consumerism in our modern lives. Her story is probably at least a little familiar to most of us. Haven’t most of us been sucked in by the serotonin cycle...