A Charmed Halloween

(I want to dedicate this page to my daughter Veronica.

Veronica Whann, Maryland

She adored the Charmed T.V. show and she even created a website dedicated to the show when she was just a young teen, when we were living in Maryland. I don’t know whatever happened to that website, but she worked on it most every day for a good year or so.)

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I would also like to dedicate this page to my favorite character of the Charmed series, Shannon Doherty as Prue Halliwell. Shannon recently passed away at the age of 53. If you are like me then you grew up watching Shannon as a child actor, then going onto more grown up role’s. She was born on April 12th., 1971, (my Grandmother’s Birthday) and passed away July 13, 2024.

RIP Beautiful Prue

( I have also added some more thoughts down below.)

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The Apple

The Apple is closely related to witchcraft because of the hidden pentagram on the inside. A five-pointed star they hide at their core. The pentagram is said to provide protection, connecting you to the elements.

Me, Looking Through our ‘Scrapbook of Shadows’

The Pages Just Started Turning Themselves 🙂

Now, where is that spell I’m looking for?

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A Charmed Halloween

(We do so love our toys here in the House of Whann.)

Actually, most of these are my daughter, Veronica’s.

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My Witchy Serving Tray

(I made this years ago when we were living in Maryland. I love it!)

My Charmed Serving Tray

(This photo was taken many years ago as well. I came across it and wanted to include it here. I will need to locate it eventually so that I can use it and enjoy it.)

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CHARMED

Holly Marie Combs, Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano

The Charmed T.V. series ran from 1998-2006. When it premiered in 1998 we were living out in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. I believe it was on the WB Channel, which Hawaii didn’t carry. My step-brother would tape the episodes on VHS tapes and send them to us so that we could watch them. (He could be very good when it came to things like that.) He could get 6 episodes per tape. I know that when they would arrive we would be so excited to view them. Even inviting Veronica’s friend Laura, our neighbor, over to our house to watch them with us. Sometimes I would order a pizza for all of us on a weekend night while we would binge watch. (Before there was such a thing as ‘binge watching.’)

The Charmed Manor

What I loved so much about the series was that it was set in San Francisco. (For some reason I tend to love every T.V. show or movie set in San Francisco. Don’t know why?) But also, because they were 3 young women, sisters, just trying to find their way in the world, after inheriting that beautiful Victorian Manor full of antiques, that their grandmother left them when she died. I liked the contrast of 3 modern day young women set in an old house full of old things. I envied them!

The Driveway left, the Front Steps right.

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The Charmed Manor Front Door Entrance

There just seem to be so many Sitting Rooms/Parlor Rooms, Living Rooms, Dens…

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Here, I wanted to create my version, although very small and humble, of the Halliwell Manor Dining Room ready for entertaining.

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The Charmed Manor Dining Room

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Veronica’s Charmed Board Game

Also, my Serving Tray I Decoupaged Years Ago of a Witch

On Trial in Salem, Massachusetts

See You Next Full Moon

(The Spirit Board I made. Instructions, down below.)

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Just Trying To Insert Some Of My Own Antiques

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I just wanted to create a Charcuterie Board spread of Witchy Delights!

Looks Like These Two Want a Sausage

Don’t Mind If I Help Myself, Do You?

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There Were 2 Pilot Episodes

When Charmed premiered in 1998, the original pilot starred a different Phoebe.

Her name was Lori Rom.

AND,

(Excuse my very bad copy of this original. I bought it on Ebay years ago. It was obviously copied many times before it made it to me.)

Prue Halliwell, the Eldest Sister

Shannon, in the original pilot left, Shannon, in the remade pilot right.

(Missing is the red sweater.)

Shannon’s character was the one that I admired the most. She was the oldest sister. She had the great job of working in a Museum as an Antiquities expert. She was also the love interest of Detective Andy Trudeau. I thought they were a great couple, too bad things didn’t work out. I think they would have made great role models. The show did lack responsible parental adults.

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Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell

(The Middle Sister)

The Halliwell Manor

Piper was the character that my daughter loved the most. Piper was the middle child. She was in a serious relationship (with a demon, but she didn’t know that at the time.) She was also a Chef auditioning to work at a major restaurant. She was also the most stable and successful one for quite a while. My daughter Veronica wanted to be a Chef like Piper for many years. She wanted to open a Mexican restaurant. (It is good character’s like these that positively influence our children and help them to wish and plan, even looking ahead to their own futures. Although Veronica never became a Chef, her dad did! He got his culinary degree many years later.) 🙂

In this scene, Prue had found their old Spirit Board in the basement of the house.

She was showing it to Piper.

The Inscription Read:

To my three beautiful girls,

May this give you the light to find the shadows,

the Power of Three Will Set You Free.

Love, Mom

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The Spirit Board and the Pointer

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Lori Rom as Phoebe

She kind of looks like Natalie Portman here.

I read somewhere that Lori Rom quit her role as Phoebe Halliwell due to personal reasons.

She was a very cute actress and would have made a nice Phoebe Halliwell, but I believe the casting of Alyssa Milano was a better choice as she brought along a fan base of both young girls and boys. Her personality was also a bit more charismatic and I believe that helped to propel the show into more popularity, thus having it run longer than perhaps it would have.

Finding The Book of Shadows in The Trunk

Reading the Incantation

Hear now the words of the witches,

the secrets we hid in the night.

The oldest of gods are invoked here.

The great work of magic is sought.

In this night and in this hour,

I call upon the ancient power.

Bring your powers to we sisters three.

We want the power. Give us the power.

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Alyssa Milano as the New Phoebe Halliwell

(The Baby Sister)

I Found The Hide-A-Key.

Piper, Happy to See Her.

Piper, Phoebe, and The Spirit Board

My Thoughts

(I do have an update below.)

I believe that when the series started filming that all 3 actresses were very close. You could feel it. They liked each other and were very supportive of each other. However, as time went by, tensions between Shannon Doherty and Alyssa Milano grew so strong that Shannon actually quit the show after just 3 Seasons, even though the show ran 8 Seasons. Interesting that Shannon left after 2001. The reason I say this is that after 9/11 people like Alyssa, a Liberal Democrat, and people like Shannon, a staunch Republican, it began the divide of our country.

Also, and this is just my opinion, but I believe that Shannon felt very threatened by Alyssa. Shannon was used to being the “hot” one, the “successful” one, and Alyssa was stealing her thunder. When the show started Alyssa had some weight on her. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!) She was cute and adorable and extremely popular with both females and males. However, in T.V. land that extra weight just wasn’t very desirable to some people. But, by Season 2 Alyssa had lost the weight and was getting into shape. She was becoming sexier while Shannon was still the ‘older more responsible’ sister. You can also see Shannon shed her more conservative clothing for sexier clothing. I think that was to compete with Alyssa, and the success that she was gaining.

Shannon’s character also shed her Museum job for a more hip and modern job as a Photographer.

The Power of 3 Will Set You Free

(Well, not if you’re Shannon and Alyssa.) 🙂

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Update: September, 2024

Over the past few months, before Shannon died, she did announce on her Podcast the fallout between her and Alyssa. She also mentions that she was fired from the show, and that Alyssa is one that got her fired.

It never made sense to me that Shannon would quit a popular show. I just assumed it was over the tension between her and Alyssa that made her decide to leave. Now, I don’t know for sure about any of this. I am just relaying what Shannon has said. Alyssa did deny the accusations of being the one that got Shannon fired. But, what I know of Alyssa is that she has very protective parents, that are very involved in her life. I don’t know Shannon’s family backstory. I can just speak also to what I observed in Shannon’s behavior’s character of Prue Halliwell before she left the show.

Either way, Season 1 is my favorite and that is all because of Shannon, and no one else.

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Original Andy Trudeau left, New Andy Trudeau Right.

(T. W. “Ted” King)

I do not know the actor’s name that originally played Andy Trudeau at this writing. I’ll have to watch my old and bad copy of the original pilot to find out. The second Andy Trudeau was killed off in Season 1. He was the love interest of Shannon Doherty’s character, Prue. I loved them together. But, for whatever reason he was killed off.

It is my opinion that Shannon wanted her character to go in a different direction and that pretty much meant shedding her of Andy. Whose decision that was? I have no idea? But the writer’s and producer’s apparently appeased Shannon in this endeavor.

Holly Marie Combs, the actress that played Piper, the middle child, also took the role of middle child in real life when she remained friends and supported both Shannon Doherty and Alyssa Milano through all the drama.

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The Book of Shadows

Veronica and Brodie’s First Spell 🙂

(They were so cute.)

I am writing this just as Veronica wrote it:

Brodie and I did the “To Become Lovable” spell.

We placed a mirror in front of our face, fogged it up, and said the spell. Brodie did it all the way through but we got no results.

The Spell Was:

Let all inner doubts go free,

Let the lover come to me,

I’ll let my true self for him (her) unfold,

let myself know joy untold.

Brodie’s quote “I once was a beautiful man.”

He though the spell said that he was ugly.

Me and Brodie also tried to get some sort of magical sign on the Ouija Board.

We spend about 10 minutes trying to get a sign from the spirits but we didn’t get anything.

(It makes me sad to think my children were worried about not being lovable, that they created a spell to bring them love. Well, they have both found love in this world many times.) 🙂

Julie

(Proud Mom)

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The CHARMED Charcuterie Table

I Love to Nibble

I Would Much Rather Nibble Than Feast

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Our Leafy Greens and Salt Pork Casserole

(Recipe Down Below)

Where Do I Even Begin Here?

We have Cheeses, Bread, Crackers, Nuts of Almonds and Cashews, Figs, Olives, Peppers, Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Cocktail Sausages wrapped in Prosciutto, Candy and Black Licorice

I Love My Antique Sword Cocktail Set From Spain

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Crystal Ball

The Leafy Greens and Salt Pork Casserole w/ Bread

The Casserole Was A Nice Tasty Touch Here

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Red Wines

Although Most Witches Have Cats, We Have Dogs

Witch Hat Lollipops

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Our Leftover Leafy Greens and Salt Pork Casserole

G & J

Gordon and Julie

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Our Second Charcuterie Board Table

(We created a second round of foods because we wanted to extend our Halloween nibbles. Some of leftovers. This was a smaller affair.)

This Charcuterie involved Meats, Cheeses, Toasts, Mustard, Figs, Grapes, and Cocktail Sausages

Red Wine and Candles

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I conjure thee, I conjure thee,

I’m the queen. You’re the bee.

As I desire, so shall it be.

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Working On My Spirit Board

Always Conjuring…..

Spirit Photography

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Making My Spirit Board

This project actually goes back to the summer of 2003 when we were in the process of moving from Maryland, down to Florida. We had our moving van towing one of our cars, and me driving the other one. We had stopped off in Georgia for a few days. We were going to have some furniture recovered there, and just visit for awhile with my family.

My step-father had a wood cutting machine in his barn and some extra wood. I employed Gordon to carve out two wooden spirit boards. One for me, and one for Veronica. The intention was that once the boards were made, she and I could then do some wood burning on them to create our own Charmed Spirit Boards.

Well, that was back in 2003, now fast forward 17 years to 2020, to when I actually started working on mine. Perhaps due to the Pandemic? Kind of like wanting to finish old projects while we were still Covid shy?

I started out by ordering a wood burning kit online.

I also purchased lots of letter stencils of different sizes. I also used the Charmed Spirit Board as a template.

I wanted it to look as much like the original as possible.

I started by choosing the cursive lettering that I wanted for my board. I then placed the stencils where I wanted them to be, and colored them in with a pencil.

Once I had them all placed, I then went on to draw the Roman Numerals.

The Roman Numerals in the Center

This was such a fun project to do.

Looks Like My Spirit Board is Coming Together

Always Sign The Back, Burned in the Signature

(I know it says 2021. I may have started the board in 2020, but I finished it in 2021.)

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Now It’s Time For The Stain

I wanted to use a stain that was closest to the original as possible.

If you have never stained anything before, just follow the directions.

I wore heavy gloves and used a cloth to apply the stain. Do one side first, then the other, once the one side has dried.

Here, it is looking pretty good!

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Coming Soon! Glazing The Board

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How It All Started…

Working On A Charmed Halloween

Any creative person can tell you that we can decorate a room around a China cup.

A creative process starts out with just a few items, and expands to other items, which then evolves into greater items.

This Pop-Up Victorian Mansion Book is part of this creative process.

It just reminded me of the Charmed Manor.

Our Scrap Book of Shadows

(See Down Below)

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(Ready to Cook)

The Recipes

Our Leafy Greens and Salt Pork Gratin

This is really delicious!

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This recipe made enough for two medium casseroles, so plan on freezing some or having leftover to give away to family and friends.

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Ingredients:

3 bundles of Swiss Chard – stems removed, parboiled, squeezed dry and chopped

4 Zucchini – grated and squeezed dry

~4 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 Salt Pork block – sliced and cut into 1 inch sections

(You can use less Salt Pork, that way it won’t be as salty. You can also substitute BACON for the Salt Pork.)

2 Large Onions – diced

4 Garlic Cloves – chopped

1 Bag of Baby Arugula

1 Bundle Flat Leaf Parsley

1 Cup Red Cabbage – sliced thinly

4 Eggs – beaten

3/4 Cup Romano Cheese – grated

1/2 Cup Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese – grated

Salt and Pepper to taste

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Here is the Swiss Chard we purchased for the recipe. The stems need to be removed.

To do this…

fold the leaf in half and pull the stem away from the green leaf.

Slice the leafs in large chunks as shown.

Pictured above and below are the ingredients we used.

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Here is the flat leaf parsley and the Swiss Chard that was previously washed.

Slice the ends off the Zucchini as shown, then grate it into a large colander.

After grating some of the Zucchini, sprinkle a light layer of salt to help the water to drain out of the vegetable.

Set the grated Zucchini off to the side in a place where it can drain.

Chop the garlic thinly as shown.

Place the Arugula on top of the garlic…

and chop them together.

(Sometimes it saves time.) 🙂

Place the mixture in a bowl for later use.

Place the Swiss Chard in boiling water as shown…

We used a large pot with a strainer insert.

when just wilted, remove it from the boiling water and place in a sieve…

and run cool water over it to stop the cooking process.

Pictured is the water left over from the boiling of the Swiss Chard.

(Lots of nutrients in that water.)

Peeling The Onions to be Sliced/ Our Salt Pork

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Place your Olive oil in a large fry pan and heat to medium.

Slice your salt pork thinly as shown then slice into 1 inch sections.

(We recommend using about 3/4 of this block. Although the casserole was delicious, it was also a bit salty.)

Place the salt pork sections into the pan and cook until some of the fat is rendered. You want it to lighten in color, about 15 minutes.

Slice and chop your onions as shown.

Place the onions in with the salt pork.

Cook the ingredients until the onion are translucent…

slice and chop the red cabbage and add them to the mixture.

Saute them until slightly browned.

Add some pepper to taste.

(Turn off the heat and set aside.)

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Gather the Swiss Chard in your hands and squeeze until dry.

Slice the Swiss Chard into chunks and place in a large mixing bowl.

Here I removed the grated Zucchini from the colander and placed it into a sieve.

Gather the Zucchini into a clean dish towel and ring out the water.

Place the dry Zucchini into the bowl with the Swiss Chard.

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Continue to do this with all the Zucchini and then add your chopped garlic and parsley.

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Shown is the sauteed salt pork, onions, and red cabbage.

Grate the cheeses over the bowl of Swiss Chard, Zucchini, and Parsley mixture.

Add the Cabbage mixture to the bowl.

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Crack your eggs into a medium sized bowl and whisk until combined.

Pour the eggs into the bowl of other ingredients.

Mix all the ingredients well.

Here, we had some leftover parsley so I quickly chopped it and added it to the bowl.

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Add a touch of salt if needed.

We thought the dish was a touch salty when it was done… so use sparingly.

Place the mixture into your greased casserole dishes and pack down with your utensil.

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Here we topped with a little bit of cheese….

and a drizzle with some olive oil.

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Place Into The Pre-Heated Oven

Bake the Gratins in a 350′ oven for about 25-30 minutes or until browned.

Here are the finished gratin. Enjoy!

Excellent for Lunch the Following Day

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Reading From The Book

Unknown spirit, we call to thee,

those who wish to set you free.

Cross on over so we may help.

Come to us, reveal yourself.

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Our Scrap Book of Shadows

Remember when Scrap Booking was all the rage?

Although Veronica and I were never into “Scrap Booking” per say, we were into putting together a Scrap Book of a favorite T.V. series that we loved, Charmed.

Understand? Well, I’ll show you.

(I will add that we probably spent a small fortune on photo paper, computer ink, and cute little scrap booking paper cut outs.) 🙂

Veronica’s Great Contribution Was Her Artistic Touches To Our Book

The Halliwell Manor

The Spirit Board

The Main Characters

The shots that you see here were photographed by me while the credits were rolling in the intro on T.V., and into each and every show.

The First Episode of Characters, and the Intro

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The Attic

(I loved their attic. I do think that it was a set on a Hollywood stage, but I loved to believe it was actually in the Halliwell Manor that was portrayed on T.V.)

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The First Episode

Here, The Sister’s Three are being chased into their attic by a demon, Jeremy. He was Piper’s boyfriend until she found out that he was evil.

The Power of Three Will Set Us Free

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The Halliwell Sister’s

The Sister’s Three

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The Book of Shadows

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More Photos of the Manor

Prue’s Bathroom

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Prue’s Bedroom

Sitting Room and Dining Room

The Parlor Room

The Kitchen

(I love that they don’t have some modern kitchen with some grand island in the center of the room. I love that it is just a gorgeous old wooden table.)

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The Conservatory

The Conservatory is probably my most favorite room in the Manor.

They never did much filming in this room. Don’t know why? It was gorgeous!

The Sister’s Look Like Magical Fairies Here To Me

San Francisco

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I am the one that mainly worked on the Prue pages. She was after all, my favorite.

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Prue’s Bedroom

I Loved All The Antiques, Everywhere!

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Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell (The Middle Sister)

Piper Was My Daughter Veronica’s Favorite

She was the most stable and successful of the sisters.

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Phoebe Halliwell, the Baby Sister

Sadly, Phoebe wasn’t a favorite of ours. Not that we didn’t like her. It’s just that I was into Prue, and Veronica was into Piper, so there really wasn’t anyone in our house into Phoebe. She was a wonderful character though.

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Patti, their Mother, and Penny, Grams

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The Charmed Ones

Sisters

PRUE

The Charmed Men

The City at Night, and the Golden Gate Bridge

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I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Quake, The Restaurant Piper was Chef In

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Thank You For Not Morphing

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The Power of Three

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Dead Man Dating

A Spell at Quake

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Dream Sorcerer

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Piper’s Kitchen

Wedding From Hell

The Fourth Sister

The Truth is Out There….And it Hurts

For those who want the truth revealed,

open hearts and secrets unsealed.

From now until it’s now again,

after which the memories end.

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The Witch is Back

Melinda Warren

Blood of our blood,

our Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother

we summon thee.

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Feats of Clay

The Wendigo

From Fear To Eternity

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San Francisco, California

Secrets and Guys

MAX

Which Prue is it Anyway?

That 70’s Episode

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Which Prue is it Anyway?

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The Power of Two/Love Hurts

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Andy’s Funeral

Goodbye to Detective Andy Trudeau

The end of Season 1

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A Note About Scrap Booking, Collecting, and Fan Fiction

I believe to many people the amount of time and money that Veronica and I put into our ‘Scrap Book of Shadows’ would seem like a waste of time and money. To many, it may seem ridiculous to like a T.V. show, and it’s characters, so much that we would create this large album. It certainly was a big cost. Not just the obvious Album, Page Inserts, Graphics, Drawings, etc. But, not to mention all the Photo Paper and Ink it took us.

However, it was a very fun Mother/Daughter Project that we worked on together. This Book is a compilation of memories that we share together of a show that we loved. Veronica is an artist, she is a creative person, perhaps putting together this book helped to get her that Fine Arts Degree? Realize the patience that it took us both. The craftsmanship of working with our hands, of arranging the photos in an order as to tell a story. These are very good traits to teach our children in life. We didn’t just put a scrapbook together and call it a day. We both used our creativity to tell a story and put it into words with photos, drawings, and graphics.

And now, it’s just fun to flip through it and enjoy it all over again, and again. Not just remembering our favorite episodes, but remembering our fun times of working on this project together. Perhaps more people should adapt a new project here and there. It helps to create well rounded people. And, well rounded people are a hell of a lot more interesting than those that aren’t.

The Power of Two Will Have to Do,

Julie

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