Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

According to an old Inuit tale there was an owl and raven, who were very close friends. To express this deep friendship, the raven made a new black and white dress for the owl. The owl loved the dress and in returned wanted to make the raven a white dress. Since the owl wanted this dress to fit perfectly, it asked the raven to stand completely still for the fitting. But the raven would not cooperate and began hopping back and forth. The owl kept pleading for the raven to stay still, but the raven kept on fidgeting. The owl finally threatened to pour a blubber lamp all over the raven if it did not stop moving, but the raven continued hopping about and would not sit still. This was the last straw for the owl, and it emptied a blubber lamp with its entire black substance all over the new white dress. The raven cried out in dismay that its new white dress was ruined, but ever since that day, the raven has been black all over.

We stumbled upon this Inuit tale on the raven changing colors in the book, The Raven: Soaring Through History, Legend & Lore, by Lynn Hassler

Winner of the super cool purple t-shirt is....

Congratulation to Jayne Parish Carlton, the winner of the Edible Raven Magazine Pre-launch Contest and a super cool purple t-shirt with a raven on it.

Also, a big thank you to all the participates, and for those that did not win the cool purple t-shirt, don’t threat, as there will be more chances when the Edible Raven Magazine launches in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to our fan page for the big announcement and if you are not already a fan, we would love for you to become one, http://www.facebook.com/AllUsAlltheTime. Thanks everyone!

Cool Purple T-Shirt with a Raven

Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win a cool purple t-shirt with a raven. Nothing says fashion statement than a ravenous purple tee. Become a fan of All Us All the Time, publisher of the Edible Raven magazine, and then enter our Magazine Pre-Launch Contest. For more details head on over to the contest Event Page.

One More Sneak Peek - Edible Raven Magazine

Please put your seats back, make sure trays are in the upright and locked position and fasten your seat belts as the Edible Raven magazine is taxiing down the tracks and is about to take off! The Edible Raven is at the presses (MagCloud) as we post this and to say we are excited is a grave understatement.

Meanwhile, here is another sneak peek for you to munch at until the grand debut.

From the Divine Library by Iris T. Catman, Illustrated by Pamela McCarville...

Supserstion of the Week - Shoes

Shoes

In general shoes are considered lucky. This is where the custom of tying old boots to the back of the bridal car came from. They are also thought to prevent having nightmares by placing a pair of shoes at the entrance of your bedroom, with one pointing out and the other pointing in. Supposedly this confused the devil who is thought to be responsible for bad dreams. However, it is thought to be bad luck...

• To put shoes on a table, especially new ones
• Leave them crossed on the floor
• To walk with only one shoe on, as this is likely to lead to the death of one of your parents
• Also bad luck if a shoestring becomes untied when running an errand

Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It

Okay, we are cheating a bit here on our Cool Stuff We Found With Ravens On It, but just wanted to let you know if you haven't already, you can still enter for a chance to win a free Edible Raven T-Shirt. It may sound complicated but it really isn't that painful at all.

All you need to do is go to The Edible Raven Magazine Pre-Launch Contest Event on Facebook. Along the right-hand side you will see a RSVP box. RSVP you are attending the contest (no physical appearance will be required) and then leave a comment on the wall of that page with either your favorite Edward Gorey story, Neil Gaiman book, or Tim Burton movie. Once you leave your comment you are automatically entered into a drawing to win a free Edible Raven T-Shirt.

The contest runs until 3/29, the winner will be announced 3/30.

Edible Raven Magazine Pre-launch Contest

That's right, the debut issue of the Edible Raven magazine is almost ready to come out of the oven, and if we do say so ourselves, smells absolutely curious.

Help us celebrate this long awaited arrival by participating in our Edible Raven Pre-launch Contest to win a raving Edible Raven T-shirt.

All you need to do is become a fan of All Us All the Time on Facebook (click here to become a fan). Once you become a fan click on the Events tab along to top to the right of the All Us All the Time logo. Then on the Events page RSVP (it is on the right hand side of the page) to the Edible Raven Pre-launch Contest then post a comment to the wall on that page naming your favorite Edward Gorey story.

What?!? You don't have a favorite Edward Gorey story? How you toy with us. Oh you're serious? You don't have a favorite Edward Gorey story? Well as hard as that is for us to phantom, if you aren't familiar with his works (doubtful), then instead, tell us your favorite Neil Gaiman book. Really? No Neil Gaiman either? You are killing us here. Okay then, how about your favorite
Tim Burton movie? Surely you would be mad if you couldn't come up with one of those? Wonder, wonder, wonder, what Tim Burton movie you could name?

All right then, between now and Monday, 3/29, become a fan of All Us All the Time and go to the Events Tab to RSVP to the Edible Raven Pre-launch Contest, then post a comment to the wall on that page naming your favorite Edward Gorey story, Neil Gaiman book or Tim Burton movie, and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a ravishing raving Edible Raven T-shirt. The winner will be notified and announced on Tuesday, 3/30.

Supserstion of the Week - Hats

Hats

• Hats should never be worn indoors as it is thought this will bring on a headache.
• Men should remove their hats when a funeral passes by because it is believed if they don’t they will be the next ones to pass on.
• It is bad luck to place a hat on a bed or a table. Even worse to store a hat under the bed.
• If a hat is accidentally placed on the head backwards, the person will have bad luck for the rest of the day UNLESS they buy a new one, which will avert the bad luck. (We believe this one was started by hatters)
  

And speaking of head wear, the above is one ravishingly mad hat!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

...from a wee purple Edible Raven.

Edible Raven Magazine Sneak Peek

Getting so close to the launch of the debut issue of the Edible Raven we can almost taste it!

Meanwhile to help satiate your appetite here is another sneak peek from the debut issue of the title page of the second story, The Divine Library, written by Iris T. Catman and illustrated by Pamela McCarville. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and contest announcements.

Supserstion of the Week - Mourning Attire

This isn’t per say a superstition, but we thought an interesting mourning custom from the Victorian era in the nineteenth century we learned from the Denver Four Mile Historic Park’s “In The Dead of Winter” Tour.

Mourning Apparel Guidelines

WIDOWS:

Widows were expected to grieve for two years.

Year 1 – Solid black clothing with no trim except crepe collars and cuffs. Bonnets were to have a long, thick, black crepe with a dull fabric with no sheen to reflect light. A long veil should be worn with no fancy hairdos.

Year 2 - Veils were allowed to be shortened and white or violet flowers could be added to the bonnet. Garments could also now be trimmed with grey, violet or white cloth. During the last 6 months of mourning, it was acceptable for widows to wear grey, violet and white fabrics.

CHILDREN:

Children in mourning wore white in the summer and grey in the winter, both with black trim.

WIDOWERS:

For a widower a black suit, scarf, gloves and hat trimming were mandatory. Men would also typically add a black armband to their attire.

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

Tower of London Raven Bistro

The Ravens at the Tower of London feast upon the following menu:

Blood-soaked biscuits
Boiled eggs in shell
Beef*
Pork*
Liver*
Lambs' heart*
Rabbit*

*All meat at the Raven Bistro is served raw.

Edible Raven - Sneak Peek

We are only weeks away from the launch of the debut issue of the Edible Raven magazine. In the meantime we will be posting some sneak peeks from the magazine as well as having a pre-launch contest where you will have a chance to win a raving t-shirt that is also purple, which just makes it that much more ravenous. Stay tuned...

A sneak peek of the title page for tale of The Curious Curse written by Icats Nitram and illustrated by Pamela McCarville.

Superstition of the Week - More Mourning Customs

In Victorian times when carrying a body out of the house, they would carry it feet first. This was because they thought if they carried it with the head facing them, the decease would beckon them to follow him in death.

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

Corvus Constellation

On a clear spring night in the southern skies, you might be able to see a small glittering group of stars called Corvus or the Crow. According to Greek mythology, a Raven served the god Apollo. One day the god sent the Raven to fetch a cup of water. On his way to the pond, the Raven spotted a fig tree. It decided to wait by the tree until the figs ripened and then slowly ate all of the tasty fruit. After feasting, The Raven finally retrieved a cup of water, but knew he was going to be in trouble returning so late to his master. Just then, the Raven spotted a water snake and decided to use it as an excuse for his tardiness. He captured the snake and took it and the cup of water back to Apollo, but, the god saw right through the Raven's lie. In his anger, Apollo cast the Raven, the cup, and the snake into the sky, where they became three constellations, Corvus (the Crow), Crater (the Cup), and Hydra (the Serpent).