Persephone's Pumpkin Bread

      Over the years, many recipes for pumpkin bread have been baked in my kitchen. This one creates
      a perfect, pumpkin-spice loaf with the ease of the "quick bread" mix method. Serve it with mugs
      of fresh-pressed apple cider to evoke the quintessential flavours of Autumn.


       Ingredients :    1 + 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda,
       1 teaspoon baking powder, one teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg,
       1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, 3/4 cups vegetable oil, 3/4 cups organic sugar, 1/4 cup pomegranate
       molasses*, 2 large eggs (lightly beaten), and one cup organic pumpkin puree (canned or homemade).


       Preparation :   Preheat oven to 350*F. Butter a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl,
       sift together the first seven dry ingredients : set aside. In another bowl, combine oil, sugar, and
       pomegranate molasses : mix thoroughly. Blend in flour mixture til just moistened, then add eggs &
       pumpkin puree and mix well. Pour into prepared pan and bake for one hour or until tester comes
       out clean. Cool completely before slicing : is scrumptious when toasted and spread with light
       cream cheese.

      

Radiant Hair Rinse

Impart shine,softness, and fresh herbal scent to your hair by using this natural and enchanted rinse recipe :

1 large handful of nettle leaves
1 large handful rosemary sprigs
1 large handful of soapwort leaves
4 cups Moon water*
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 drops lemon essential oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops neroli essential oil
1 handful of soapwort flowers

To make the Moon water*,pour 4 cups of spring water into a glass jar.
Hold the jar up before Lady Moon and ask for her blessing upon it.
Place it on a porch or windowsill so that it can absorb the Full Moon light until the next day dawns.Bring the jar in and set aside.Chop the nettle, rosemary, & soapwort leaves and place in a non-reactive pan.Pour the Moon water over the herbs,bring to a boil,cover,and simmer gently for 30 minutes.Remove from heat,cool,and strain through cheesecloth into another sterilized glass jar.Stir in the lemon juice,essential oils,and soapwort flowers.Infuse the brew for 30 minutes.Use as a final rinse after washing your hair : remainder keeps for 24 hours if refrigerated.

Oatmeal Brunch Bake

"In accordance with the kindly Badger's injunctions, the two tired animals came down to breakfast very late next morning, and found a bright fire burning in the kitchen, and two young hedgehogs sitting on a bench at the table, eating oatmeal porridge out of wooden bowls." -- Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows.

Scots know that eating a hearty, oatmeal breakfast is a healthy way to begin the day. Few foods equal oats for dietary benefit : even fewer sit so comfortably in the stomach or are as inexpensive. Oatmeal brings good fortune and encourages the power and magick of the faeries. Oats correspond to the Moon. They can also used in prosperity spells and to cast a magick circle. The following recipe is assembled the night before baking and refrigerated to blend the flavours in a sustaining brunch :

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup steel-cut oats
1/2 cup brown sugar,packed
1/2 cup maple,agave,or Lyle's Golden syrup
3/4 cup dried fruits(currants,apricots,dates,etc)
1/2 cup walnuts,chopped
1 large tart apple,unpeeled,cored & grated
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups milk
1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
2 eggs,lightly beaten
2 tablespoon butter,melted

Butter an eight cup baking dish.Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well until thoroughly mixed.Transfer to the prepared baking dish.Cover tightly,and refrigerate overnight.In the morning, let the dish sit at room temperature,while preheating the oven,for about fifteen minutes.Bake for one hour or until the center is set,when you gently press it with the back of a spoon.Serve hot with milk,cream,or yogurt.Microwave leftovers,as it keeps for several days.Recipe yields ten generous servings.

~ Winter Walnut Bread ~

The walnut is a tree of intuition. Witches meet and dance beneath them. During the Golden Age of olde, mortals lived on acorns, while the gods sustained with walnuts. Three good, although somewhat mythical, reasons to
bake this savoury bread often during the cold weather season. It's the perfect accompaniment to hot soup or a warming beverage. Serve with tempered butter or cream cheese.

Preheat oven to 450*F.
Ingredients: 3 + ¼ cups organic, all purpose white bread flour
¾ cup dark rye flour
1 + ½ teaspoons dried yeast
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 + ½ cups tepid water
2 cups English walnut pieces
1 tablespoon rosemary (chopped)
1 cup dried cranberries

Combine the flours together; add the yeast and salt. Add a little of the room temperature water; mix the ingredients. Gradually add more water until the mixture becomes a dough.
Add the walnuts, rosemary, & cranberries to the dough: press and stretch the dough away from you, as the action of kneading warms and pulls the gluten in flour. Lift the dough edges into the middle, give it a quarter turn, & repeat; knead until pliable (five or so minutes). Place in a lightly oiled bowl, and leave to rest in a warm place until the dough doubles in size. Turn it out onto a floured surface and divide in half: knead each half into a tight dough ball. Shape each one into a ring with a hole the size of your fist. Place on a flour-dusted baking sheet and cover with a damp dishcloth until rings have again doubled in size. Lightly mist the inside of the oven with a fine water spray just before baking to help the breads cook well. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes: the bread is cooked if it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Keeps for several days in a bread box and freezes well.

Tis The Season Tisane

A tisane is an infusion of herbs that is brewed for medicinal effect. The following hot herbal tea is the perfect elixir to drink as a remedy during Winter's cold and flu season. If you are not partial to mint, try making it with lemon balm instead. Use mint if you are seeking to soothe stomach discomfort due to rotovirus or holiday fare over-indulgence.

Ingredients : 4 cups water
1/2 cinnamon stick
5 ounces fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon lemon zest strips
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup honey
1 handful of fresh mint or lemon balm

While bringing the water to a boil, peel & chop ginger root.
Add to the boiling water along with the cinnamon stick,lemon
zest and juice. Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
Add honey,stir & continue simmering for 20 more minutes. Pour
over fresh mint, strain and serve or cool and refrigerate.
Yields about one quart : brew to relieve colds and flu symptoms.

Ireland's Charming Halloween Bread



As Halloween is associated with fortune telling and divination, Barmbrack is traditionally made at this time of year, for it has various charms literally baked into the dough.  Each one’s significance is as follows: a ring ~ to foretell marriage, a silver coin ~ to herald wealth, a pea or thimble ~ indicates spinsterhood, a small piece of cloth ~ portends poverty, a button ~ means bachelorhood, and a piece of matchstick foreshadows an abusive spouse. “Barm” is from the olde English word “beorma”, meaning yeasty fermented liquor.  Brack comes from an Irish word meaning “speckled”, which this bread is with dried fruit. 

Ingredients:
1 lb flour
6 oz sugar
1 lb mixed dried fruit

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg
1 tsp ground allspice
Pot of hot black tea

Method:
Wrap each charm carefully in parchment paper.
The trick to making a Barm Brack is the soaking of fruit overnight in the
tea. While this makes the dried fruit softer and more appealing in general,
one must be careful when mixing the dough not to over-knead or the
rehydrated fruit will break too much. Add the sugar and egg to the fruit mix the next day. Sift in the remaining dry ingredients. Mix gently. Stir in the wrapped charms and try to distribute them evenly. Use a round
baking pan at 350°F for about 60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

The Breac (bread) can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an air-tight
container. It is traditional that only he/she who has baked it should
cut and serve the slices on October 31st! It is also good toasted and served with hot cider or tea.

Pumpkin Fudge

                    Enjoy making and eating this seasonal fudge recipe, as it's the perfect confection to serve at
          

                Halloween parties or to give as gifts for a homemade treat to those who like pumpkin sweets!

                 Ingredients : 3 cups organic sugar

                                    12 tablespoons butter

                                    1 five ounce can evaporated milk

                                    1/2 cup pumpkin puree

                                    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

                                    1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

                                    1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

                                    1 + 1/2 cups butterscotch chips

                                    7 ounces marshmallow Fluff

                                    1 cup walnuts (toasted & chopped)

                  Method :  Combine the first six ingredients in a heavy saucepan.Bring to a boil,while stirring constantly.Lower heat and cook to the soft-ball stage reading on a candy thermometer (234*F).Remove pan from stove and stir in the butterscotch chips ; then add the Fluff & nuts.Mix thoroughly and spread evenly into a buttered 13"x9" pan.cool and cut into squares : keep wrapped and refrigerated til serving or gifting.

Candy Corn Confection

Candy corn was invented in the US in the 1880s and at that time was made by hand.

This recipe for the enjoyable Halloween confection is similar to the traditional one.

Using simple ingredients, this sweet treat can be made in one’s own kitchen:

Ingredients:   1 cup granulated sugar

                      2/3 cup corn syrup

                      1/3 cup butter

                      1 teaspoon vanilla extract

                      2 + ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

                      1/3 cup powdered milk                     

                       ¼ teaspoon salt

                       Red & yellow food coloring

 Method: In a large saucepan combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Bring to a boil over high heat while stirring constantly, then reduce heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally. Remove mixture from heat and add vanilla extract.

Combine the icing sugar, powdered milk, and salt in a separate bowl and add to the mixture in the saucepan, mixing thoroughly. Allow the dough mixture to sit until it's cool enough to handle.

Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and place each part in a small mixing bowl. Add orange food coloring to one part (a combination of yellow and red) and yellow food coloring to another part, leaving the remaining part uncolored or white.

Knead the dough in each bowl until smooth and stiff enough to hold its shape, and the colors are even. Wearing plastic gloves can help prevent your hands from being stained by the food coloring.

Still using your hands, roll each part into a long, thin rope, making each rope of equal length. You may need to use a long countertop or tabletop covered with a strip of waxed paper for this. You'll also need to be careful when rolling as the ropes can easily break if you form them too thin.

When you're done, lay the three ropes of dough along side each other with the orange dough in the middle and carefully press them together to make a long, narrow rectangle. A gentle, light rolling with a rolling pin along the length of the rectangle helps to press the rope edges together, but be careful not to flatten the dough so the rectangle stays as narrow as possible, plus you'll also want the kernels plump looking and not flat.

Finally, cut the dough into triangles or "kernels" using a sharp knife and gently shape the kernels with your fingers, if needed. Allow the kernels to sit for a while and become firm.

You'll end up with over a pound of homemade candy corn, some with yellow tips and some with the traditional white tips. There's no getting around it, kneading the dough and forming the ropes is time-consuming, hard work, but the results are worth it.

Witchy Coffee

          This is the quintessential libation to enjoy during the Autumn months, or any other time that one is inclined to partake of an unusually flavoured and soul-warming cup of coffee. This beverage is made with an Italian herbal liqueur called "Strega" ("witch") that is made in the Benevento region and contains seventy herbal ingredients. Some of theses are saffron, mint, cinnamon, iris, juniper, and fennel. The traditional liqueur is redolent of minty, conifer notes and pairs well with dark roast coffee.

           To make one generous serving, you will need : 3 tablespoons of Strega liqueur, nine ounces (a little over one cup) of freshly brewed, dark roast coffee, 6 tablespoons fresh cream, and one teaspoon of dark brown sugar. Combine liqueur & coffee in a heavy-bottom saucepan ; stir in sugar, while warming over low heat. When the sugar is completely dissolved, pour the mixture into a large ceramic mug, stir in the cream, and sip slowly to savour the complex flavours. For a more artful presentation, pour the warm pan mixture into a glass goblet with a spoon set over it's top to separate the cream. Garnish the floating layer with a dusting of ground cinnamon, if desired before enjoying. Here's to the Season of the Witch!

Celtic Lughnasa Loaf

The combination of oats and both whole-wheat & white flours make a delicious bread trio with which to celebrate the first grain harvest festival. Enjoy one, freeze one, and give one away!

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 cups whole wheat flour

4 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (not instant)

2 tablespoons salt

½ cup butter

2 + ½ cups milk

2 packages active dry yeast

½ cup warm water

Method:

In a large bowl, mix flours and oats.

Combine sugar, salt, butter and milk in a saucepan and heat until the butter melts; cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

Add milk mixture and yeast to the flours and mix well. Don't worry if the liquid does not absorb all the flour mixture.

Turn the dough out on board and knead excess flour mixture into the moist mixture. Knead 10 to 15 minutes, then put the dough in a greased bowl and turn to grease top.

Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place free from drafts 2 hours, or until doubled.

Punch dough down and divide into 3 portions. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Shape in loaves and put in 3 greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans.

Cover and let rise in warm place for 1-1/2 hours, or until doubled.

Bake in a preheated, 400*F oven for about 35 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool on rack. Brush bread with melted butter and sprinkle toasted oats over the tops of the loaves before slicing.

Wishing Globes

The childhood enchantment of beholding a swirling snow globe lends itself

           to another dimension when crafted with correspondences and intention.

           First consider your objective and visualize the contents of a wishing globe.

           Craft and thrift stores sell figurines or you can prowl flea markets & yard sales.

           Glass jars can also be economically obtained from all four of these sources,

           or better yet, recycle and sterilize jam and other types of condiment jars.

           After you have chosen a ceramic or plastic central figure, select a glitter.

           It comes in many forms and colours; from seasonal themes to rainbow hues.

           Keep the purpose of your wishing globe in mind when deciding which to use.

           Other supplies you will need:

                                                             clear-drying epoxy

                                                             distilled water

                                                             glycerin

            First, glue the figure onto the center of the up-turned glass jar’s lid.

            Allow it to completely dry and then fill the jar to the top with distilled water.

            Add a pinch of the glitter medium along with one half teaspoon of glycerin.

            Close the jar’s lid tightly and invert to an up-right position.

            Concentrate the intention of your wish on the figure inside the glass jar.

            Visualize the swirling positive energy working to manifest your wish there-in.

            Repeat the last two steps as a daily affirmation until you achieve your goal.

          



Zucchini~Walnut Bread

                     

The heart of Summer is upon us and the garden is brimming delights.

The tomato plants are laden with green orbs, eggplants are forming,

lettuces are bolting, the pumpkin hill is sprawling with leafy vines, and

the zucchini bed is thriving in the heat. The following is a moist tea bread

that I look forward to baking every year :

• three brown eggs
• 1 + ¼ cups pure vegetable oil
• 1 + ½ cups organic sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups zucchini, grated
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest, minced
• 2 cups King Arthur, all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Vietnamese ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted & ground

Preheat oven to 350*F and lightly butter a 9 x 5 x 3” aluminum loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, and extract with an electric mixer.

Fold in the zucchini and zest. Mix the remaining dry ingredients in another bowl.

Stir into the wet ingredient bowl, til just combined. Fold in the walnuts. Pour into pan. Bake for one hour and ten minutes: loaf is done when top springs back to the touch.

Cool completely before removing from pan. For best flavour, serve the following day.



Summer Outdoor Sundries

  

Clean patio furniture with this fragrant spray mixture :

one teaspoon borax

two tablespoons white vinegar

two cups hot water

1/4 teaspoon essential oil of lavender

five drops of tea tree oil

Add all ingredients to a clean spray bottle and swirl til dissolved.

Apply to chairs,umbrellas,etc.,then scrub & wipe with a damp cloth.

Decorate your yard with seashell ashtray/incense burners :

sifted beach or play sand

baking soda

favourite essential oil blend

large shells,such as clam or abalone

In a large bowl,combine equal parts of sand & soda; then add

several drops of the oil and mix.Spoon into shells and place outside.

Add aromatic herbs,such as dried lemongrass,lavender,or rosemary

to outdoor fires,as it helps banish insects.You can also blend this effective

incense to use on the porch :

2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

2 tablespoons ground lemongrass

1 tablespoon frankincense resin

1 tablespoon amber resin

1 tablespoon dried catnip

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.To use : place one

charcoal tablet into a fire-proof vessel,light it,then sprinkle a

generous pinch of the incense mixture over the burning tablet.

~ Summer Breeze Bars ~

                                                           
This is my version of an old fashioned, lemon bar recipe with an herbal twist in the
    tart filling and a touch of spice to the shortbread crust.Refreshing as a Summer breeze,when served
    cold with a glass of sun-kissed, iced tea!

            Herb~Scented Sugar : Crush a handful of fresh lemon balm or lemon-scented rose geranium
    leaves and stir into 3 cups of granulated sugar.Store in an air-tight container for a week or so,sift the
    leaves from the mixture and use in the following recipe.Any left-over can be used to sweeten tea.

           ~ Summer Breeze Bars ~

              Filling ingredients :   
                                                5 large eggs,gently whisked
                                                6 tablespoons all purpose flour
                                                2 cups herb-scented,organic sugar
                                                3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
                                                1 teaspoon minced lemon zest

              Shortbread Crust ingredients :
                                                              3/4 cup butter,at room temperature
                                                              1 + 1/2 cups all purpose flour
                                                              1/3 cup organic sugar
                                                              1 teaspoon ground cardamom
                                                             
               To prepare & bake :
                                                  While preheating oven at 350*F, mix together the four crust
               ingredients.Press firmly and evenly into a 9 x 13" non-stick pan.Brown lightly for about
               20 minutes,then set aside.
                                                   In a large bowl,mix together filling flour and herb-scented
                sugar.Gently add the whisked eggs to the bowl,stir in the lemon juice & zest to
               combine and pour over the pre-baked crust.Return pan to oven for 20 more minutes til
               firm.Cool and store in refrigerator before serving.Cut into squares and dust with powdered

              sugar,if desired.

                                         

Summer Solstice Oil Recipe

            Those who practice wort cunning know that the celebration of Midsummer is associated with growth, sunshine, and the magickal efficacy of herbs & plants. The sunny yellow flowers of Saint John's wort are a traditional  association with this potent time of year, and lend their mid-June blooms to this healing oil infusion used for treating Summer skin conditions (burns,insect bites,bruises,and inflammations) :

                                  Gather fresh St.John's wort blossoms early on a dry & sunny morn. Fill a clean
glass jar with them and then fill it to the rim with organic oil : cold-pressed olive oil, sunflower, sweet almond, jojoba,or coconut are all good choices. Cover the flowers entirely to prohibit mold growth which will spoil the preparation. Push them down to release any air bubbles from the jar. Cap the jar tightly and sit on a sunny porch or window sill for one to two weeks ; swirling occasionally. Upon the oil's attainment of a deep red coloration, strain through cheesecloth, and into another sterilized,dry jar. Store the bottled midsummer sunshine in a dark & cool place.

                                                                                         

Receipt To See the Fey

          As Midsummer's Eve approaches, the ability to glimpse the Faeries is heightened. The following "receipt" is dated 1600 :

                                          To enable one to see Faeries :

                                                       
                                         A pint of sallet oyle and put it into a vial glasse; and first wash it with rose water and marygolde water; the flowers to be gathered towards the east. Wash it til the oyle becomes white, then put into the glasse, and then put thereto the budds of hollyhocke, the flowers of marygolde, the flowers or tops of wild thyme, the budds of young hazle, and the thyme must be gathered neare the side of a hill where the faeries used to be; and take the grasse of a faery throne; then all these put into the oyle in the glasse and settle it to dissolve three dayes in the sunne and then keep it for thy use. (mischievous giggle*)

                                         * To make the oil to see the Faeries, you have to know where the faeries are.

Cup o' Sunshine Tea

Make this festive tea to quench thirst and gladden the heart. This blend is especially efficacious if made when the herbs are at the peak of their essential oil content. Use fresh-from-the-garden herbs,if possible : if not, buy organic ones at the Farmers' Market or local natural food store. It's perfect to serve in a punchbowl,into which you can float an iced ring that is graced with the leaves of the same herbs that are used in the brew :

                                                           
                                                 ~ Cup o' Sunshine Tea ~

                                                    three parts lemon balm leaves
                                                    one part borage, flowers & leaves
                                                    one part chamomile leaves
                                                    one part lemon verbena leaves
                                                    one part St.John's wort leaves

                        Combine all herbs and put into a clean glass vessel. Pour boiling water over the mixture (about one cup herbal blend to one pint water ratio ; use more herbs to strengthen flavour,if desired).
Cover & steep for at least half an hour. Strain and sweeten with honey or agave syrup to taste, then pour over cups with ice & lemon wedges. Sip,savour, & smile!

Faith,Trust, & Pixie Dust

  Being the mother of three lends itself to many introspections. In regard to religion, I have chosen not to lead my children through an obstacle course of blind convention. I am proud to have raised a trio of individuals : ages 20, 15, and almost 13. In my opinion, faith is an exquisitely personal facet of a human being. It should bloom from within the psyche, and be nurtured by one's life experiences. I have planted seeds of faith for my children by raising them with a broad-minded perception of the world's religions. An analysis of all finds a common thread of "golden rule" (remember being taught about that as a child?) that runs throughout its' many
forms : the essence of which is to treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. Does that theme not herald the most important aspect of parenting; which in my esteem is fostering kindness,respect,and tolerance for all living things within the mindset of the next generation? Our society does not practice what it preaches and I believe that children learn best by example.

   The incorporation of ancestral roots greatly influences a child's perspective of faith. Those who are fortunate to be raised with elder family members can be taught to appreciate their beliefs and contributions. Those who do not have any living relatives can be guided on a journey of the past to
open the doors of distant credence. Religions are integrated by all cultural aspects : enrich a child's world by sharing ethnic folklore and traditions. Explore together the links of food and seasonal observances within your faith and make relevant these associations by preparing a holiday meal in a family-friendly kitchen environment. Open their eyes to the mysteries of life : explain all the possibilities and not just the dogmatic ones. Show them that quiet contemplation and/or prayer will augment patience,insight,and acceptance of life's difficult circumstances. Teach them to believe in themselves, as well as a higher power.

A Trio of Rose Recipes

Plucked my first rose of the season,earlier today and so am prompted to post these :

~Rose Sugar~ This scented sugar adds flowery flavour to seasonal berries and herbal iced teas.It can also be used on facial skin when mixed into a soap or cleanser.
  Combine 1/2 cup of fragrant rose petals and one cup of organic sugar.Store in an air-tight container,without opening,for three weeks.Sift the sugar and keep in a dry container.

~Rose Water~ This flavourful fluid can be used in cakes,drinks,skin-toners,and baths.Gather 3-4 cups fresh rose petals and pack them into a glass container.Cover with 1 cup spring water and steep for at least 48 hours time.Strain and store in the fridge in a sterilized glass bottle.

~Rose Oil~ Capture the essence of your garden by making this oil to add to soaps,lotions,and for aromatheraputic use.As with all these recipes,be sure to use only unsprayed roses,as pesticides can linger with-in the flowers.Pour one cup of sunflower or unscented vegetable oil into a clean glass container.Tightly pack layers of 3-4 cups of rose petals,cover tightly,and let be for 48 hours.Strain the oil from the petals,then pack another several cups fresh rose petals into the same oil for the same two days' time.Repeat this method until the oil has been sufficiently imbued with rose scent.Do a final strain of petals and store in a dark, airtight bottle.

Moonrise

If you appreciate Lunar light as much as I do, then you will find these tips of interest & worth committing to memory :

                                   The New Moon always rises at Sunrise.

                                    And the First Quarter at Noon.

                                    The Full Moon always rises at Sunset.

                                     And the Last Quarter at Midnight.

   Moonrise occurs about fifty minutes later each day. The New Moon is invisible because its illuminated side faces away from the Earth, which occurs when the Moon lines up between Earth & the Sun. One or two days after the date of the New Moon, you can see a thin crescent setting just after Sunset in the Western sky as the Lunar cycle continues.