Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Havamal, Part 7

 Blessings Darlings!

Sorry about the late posting today - the post got eaten by the electronic Aether.

So let's move on to ..... Gold.....

The half wit does not know that gold
Makes apes of many men:
One is rich, one is poor
There is no blame in that.




How much did the average Norse person know about apes? Is this a translation issue? 

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But I know one thing that never dies,
The glory of the great dead





So well known, those two stanzas! Still they bare repeating. Bodies die. Great deeds don't. VERY great and stories about you will live on. Great enough, people will name their children for you, and your name will live on.  Screw up bad enough, the stories will remain but you will remain a laughing stock forever.

Fields and flocks had Fitjung's sons,
Who now carry begging bowls:
Wealth may vanish in the wink of an eye,
Gold is the falsest of friends.



Notice - we don't know the names of the sons. 



But .... were begging bowls a feature of the Norse poor?  They were and are a feature of Buddhist monks, and could be a translation issue.  Still, back in the Great Depression as it played out here in the US, people had to bring their own bowls to soup kitchens......

In the fool who acquires cattle and lands,
Or wins a woman's love,
His wisdom wanes with his waxing pride,
He sinks from sense to conceit.


Odin sounds like the 99% here.  Remember, 1% - you didn't get there alone.  You had companions, luck, and likely privilege.  Remember.

Now is answered what you ask of the runes,
Graven by the gods,
Made by the All Father,
Sent by the powerful sage:
lt is best for man to remain silent.



Is this 'keep the conceit of the previous verse to yourself'?  Is this "to know, to dare, to try, to KEEP SILENT"? Is this "you have the right to keep silent, now work on the ability to keep silent'?

For these things give thanks at nightfall:
The day gone, a guttered torch,
A sword tested, the troth of a maid,
Ice crossed, ale drunk.


Perhaps this answers my questions about the previous stanza. Keep the conceit to yourself, give thanks for what you have.  Remember.

Hew wood in wind-time,
in fine weather sail,
Tell in the night-time tales to house-girls,
For too many eyes are open by day:
From a ship expect speed, from a shield, cover,
Keenness from a sword,
but a kiss from a girl 

Drink ale by the hearth, over ice glide,
Buy a stained sword, buy a starving mare
To fatten at home: and fatten the watch-dog.


Back to common sense.

Trust not an acre early sown,
Nor praise a son too soon:
Weather rules the acre, wit the son,
Both are exposed to peril,



While you're at it, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

A snapping bow, a burning flame,
A grinning wolf, a grunting boar,
A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,
A flying arrow, an ebbing tide,
A coiled adder, the ice of a night,
A bride's bed talk, a broad sword,
A bear's play, a prince' s children,
A witch' s welcome, the wit of a slave,
A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,
A brother's killer encountered upon
The highway a house half-burned,
A racing stallion who has wrenched a leg,
Are never safe: let no man trust them.



Trust yourself. Verify all else.

Frondly, Fern

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Personal Pre-set Spells

Blessings Darlings!

We now come to the second type of spells I want to go over - pre-set spells, activated by word or motion and intent.  These are the spells done by wand-work in the Harry Potter series .... or maybe the power-filled rings/fire sticks, etc, of the Dresden File book series.

For these you set up a the magic, empower it and an object, and have a 'trigger' on it that you set off with that word/motion.  They are set up by the individual who later squeezes the trigger. 

Given the stories of magic that have survived, it might be possible to do some really fancy work with these.  Like Moses' staff level of magic (and, damn, what WAS Moses' real name?)  I can't do that level of magic, that's for sure.

But I CAN do lower level stuff. 

Shielding falls into this category for me. For this blog post I'm assuming that you know how to do at least basic shielding.  For beginners, it takes TIME to set up a good shield.  Ground. Center. Draw in magical energy (do you tap it, do you raise it? Ah, a post for some other day there!)  Ooops, gotta decied what they shield is going to protect you against!  What shape does it take? What material?  Okay, now to energize it .... and how long does the energizing last?

But every time you go thru' that process, you are leaving a mark in the Other Worlds.  With each repetition of the same type of shield, that mark gets a stronger and clearer form.  Over time, to do the same working - but with more power behind it - all you have to do is say/focus on one word and give it a shot of intent and power.  One moment .... and your house is protected for a two-week vacation  One touch .... and your car avoids both tickets and yet is seen by everyone clearly so no one even dinks your door while opening theirs. 

Or it just ups the power, which isn't bad either.  I've mentioned my healing cauldron. Well, it's part of a healing altar.  Darn near every day (not today, ironically) I work at that altar, lighting a candle and doing healing magic.  Every day that Flame and energy gets added to a form in the Other Worlds.  As is "Tho' this candle burns no more in this world (snuff candle) it shall burn forever in the Worlds Beyond.".  And I do the magic to actually ADD another candle flame to the ever-growing design of candles in the Healing Area I have going on the Other Side.  Growing power - and a more clearly beaten path TO that area of power. 

Frondly, Fern

Monday, February 27, 2012

Wine Not Whine

Blessings Darlings!

I'm not sure if this is a Foodie post or a Witch post.  Please vote for which it is after you read it!

I'm being prayed for.  A pastor on Twitter has asked his 50 followers to pray for my deliverance from the seducing spirits he feels I follow.  Since his followers are undoubtedly FAR more obedient than my 1900+ followers are ... some of them might be praying.

No problem.

Being Pagan, I did a working for him last night.  I offered sacrifice to my God/dess/es, an idea suggested by my High Priest [waves at her High Priest]. It was a sacrifice for his deliverance, too.

The pastor is Southern Baptist trained, so he might not drink wine.  So my ritual included me drinking wine.  And eating dinner. See?  I told you there was some Monday Foodie stuff in here somewhere!

Fresh green salad. Warm custardy quiche, made by the Spawn.  A glass of wine, probably a full 3.5 oz.  All savored.  All ingested with intention.  All going back to the earth afterwards.

From the Gods, to the Earth, to us.  From us, to the Earth, to the Gods.  A gift for a gift.

Oh, the intention? So glad you asked!  I prayed to those Seductive Spirits, those Bountiful Blessing Gods and Goddesses that I follow, that they help him removed the bile' from up his hiney so he can savor a glass of wine or two.

So mote it be, as we are wont to say.

Frondly, Fern  


Saturday, February 25, 2012

The Rede

Blessings Darlings!

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill - an it harm none, do as you Will.

Okay. What does it mean, and in what circumstances? Does it apply to the Will (capital W, as in Higher Will) or will (lower case w, as in whatever you choose to do)?  What is 'harm'?  Can you 'harm none' in ANY situation? CAN you do anything that goes against your Higher Will, anyway?

Yeah. All the usual questions about the Wiccan Rede.

How about THIS for an interpretation - "do what ever you want, as long as it harms no one.  But since NOTHING you do harms no one at all ... do whatever you want and just take responsibility for your choices.  And if you claim you harm none - you lie to yourself."

Frondly, Fern

Friday, February 24, 2012

Squash Plant Pests

Blessings Darlings!

Lately lots of folks have been blogging about their plans for their upcoming gardens, and sighing about he bug-based problems they encountered last year.  I know that my neighbors and I had LOTS of problems with our squash from bugs, both from them simply sucking the life out of the leaves and from them turning the vines to mush.

Now, unlike my  neighbors, I DID get a really good crop before the bugs toasted the squash plants.  But my squash season ended earlier than it had to.  I don't want a repeat of that.

This year I plan on dealing with the insect problems better than I did last year.  Which is why I've been researching the problems and solutions NOW.

VINES TURNED TO MUSH

The biggest problem, which killed the plants totally, was that the vine turned mushy not far from the roots.  So mushy that the vine literally detached from the roots!

Cause:
I knew that this was a result of squash vine borers in the stem mucking about first, and now know that the mucking about allowed the vine to get infected and turn to goo.

This year's approach:
First, I'm going to plant the vines farther apart - I had them too close last year so I had a hard time finding and treating ANY problems, as well as a hard time harvesting!  

The vine borers like the first foot or so of the vine, I will check it often for signs of rot.  If there IS rot I'm going to cut into the vine and squish the borers, then work on re-rooting the vine farther along it's length.  Like about a foot farther down it's length.  To do this I'll anoint the vine with rooting hormone and mound earth over that part of the vine, topped with some compost or plastic to help keep it moist.  Once new roots form I'll cut off the vine on the 'old root' side of the new roots, to try to keep the rot away.

University of Illinois - where I was an agriculture major - says that the ONLY pesticide that squash borers are not immune to is carbaryl (I have NO clue what that is), and to try applying it once a week.  I'm not trying that myself.

SUCKING BUGS ATTACKING LEAVES

We had a really nasty infestation of these, but while they reduced harvest they didn't kill the entire plant.

Cause:
 We had two different insects at work here in the Mid Atlantic:  regular old squash bugs as well as stink bugs.  They act the same, they are treated the same, they even look pretty much the same - both 'shield bugs' type.  They have different colored eggs, but they are the same size, both lay 'em under leaves, and both lay them in the same pattern.

This year's approach:
First, since I've already determined to have the plants farther apart, I'll be able to check the leaves for egg masses better.  Once found, I'll squish those egg masses!  I may put boards down for the bugs to gather under and squish them there, too.  Yes, both types of insects CAN smell bad when squished.

I might also try diatomaceous earth on these buggers and see if that helps.    Pyrethrins are my back-up plan, if needed. 

BACTERIAL WILT

This wilt can kill a plant in 6 weeks, sometimes even before it fruits at all.  It's not a problem I've had ... yet.  But I'm preparing.

Cause:  
 A bacteria - but it's carried/spread by cucumber beetles.  Smalllish, striped beetles.  If you don't have the beetles you won't have the problem.

This year's approach:
Keeping alert for the beetles will be the first thing.  If I see them I'll probably do the diatomaceous earth, or if needed go for rotenone.  

 These are the main threats to your garden's squash supply.  With out them, two hills of zucchini will feed a small army.  With them, you may not get any zucs, let alone any more nutritious hard squashes. 

Frondly, Fern.






Thursday, February 23, 2012

Garden Time!

Blessings Darlings!

Now that it's February it's time to start your garden.

Yes really.

Time to map out what you want to plant, and where, in your garden.  And in what order: if you plan on planting some spreading vine type plants (squash, sweet potatoes) you can put early harvested crops (spinach, lettuce, radishes, turnips) in the path of those vines.  You'll have eaten and/or stored the food by the time the vines reach that part of the garden.  

Order a few seed catalogs to look over vegetable varieties and get an idea of what area they take up by the time they're harvested.

It's also time to start seeds.  I've started herbs and onions so far - not that they are starting well.  Being low on money I'm using OLD seeds, and only the thyme is doing really well,  Still, one parsley seed is up, a bit of oregano, one red onion.  There's still time for them .... and it's not like my house is kept at 70 degrees as they'd like!

I'll be starting more seeds today, Gods willing and if the creek don't rise.

I don't use grow lights or any fancy set up.  I'm using a sunny room, south and west exposures.  I'm starting the seeds in potting soil and using egg cartons instead of pots.  They are set in old baking pans. I'm REALLY low tech here (oh, the irony!).

In a month or so they'll be day tripping on the deck on warm days to start hardening off.

Considering all the challenges my gardening faced last year (clearing sod, wet spring, drought in summer) I had GREAT crops.  I'm hoping to do as well this year .... AND have better deer protection!

The garden is a fundamental part of everything in both the preparedness / prepper / survival / survivalist line AND in the broke / cheap / cheap eats / broke line as well.  Start now.  You won't regret it.

Frondly, Fern

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Havamal, Part 6

Blessings Darlings!

Welcome to this week's installment of  my free-associating to the words of the Havamal.  For those new here - the Havamal is from the Prose Edda of the Norse, and is attributed to Odin.  I'm not using either the best translation or the best ordered version ... but I was sure this one was public domain.  I've found other translations online since then, better, but I'm going to use this one thru' since I started it.  The better versions are mentioned in a great comment in, I believe, the first part of the series.

On to the text!

Little a sand-grain, little a dew drop,
Little the minds of men:
A11 men are not equal in wisdom,
The half-wise are everywhere 


Well, YEAH.  I'm giving up on reading the 'calls to the editor' part of my local paper. 

It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.
It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace. 


It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart. 


Is my confusion over the difference between 'half-wise' and 'middle wise' a translation problem?
I have to admit my personal prejudice is in favor of being of greater not lesser wisdom.  And that I see 'cunning and clever' as being different than wisdom.  Maybe more like being smart-asses, or con artists.  But the "The learned man whose lore is deep Is seldom happy at heart" line makes it clear that even my educational elitism is what's being addressed here.  
 
Then again, I see happiness as a choice, not something conferred or chased away by eduction, brains, wealth, etc.

Brand kindles brand till they burn out,
Flame is quickened by flame:
One man from another is known by his speech
The simpleton by his silence.
Early shall he rise who has designs
On anothers land or life:
His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious. 


Early shall he rise who rules few servants,
And set to work at once:
Much is lost by the late sleeper,
Wealth is won by the swift, 


Ah, Procrastination, my old friend!  Friend?  No, more like a foe I've made strong over the years, fool that I tend to be.  

A man should know how many logs
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires. 


Preparedness.  Yes, I'm there.  If anyone reading wants links to the web sites that help you figure out how much of what food you need to stock to have a year supply... let me know.  Logs, food, water source - know how to supply and DO supply your own basic needs.  Then...

Washed and fed,
one may fare to the Thing:
Though one's clothes be the worse for Wear,
None need be ashamed of his shoes or hose,
Nor of the horse he owns,
Although no thoroughbred. 


As the eagle who comes to the ocean shore,
Sniffs and hangs her head,
Dumfounded is he who finds at the Thing
No supporters to plead his case. 


Once you've met your own needs yourself, you can go to the AlThing proudly.  Still, if you are there asking for something .... you need to also check with others to see if they agree with your view.  Never assume the support of others.  

It is safe to tell a secret to one,
Risky to tell it to two,
To tell it to three is thoughtless folly,
Everyone else will know. 


Often words uttered to another
Have reaped an ill harvest:
Two beat one, the tongue is head's bane,
Pockets of fur hide fists. 


You have the right to remain silent.  Do you have the ability?  Freedom of speech lets you say what you want.  It does NOT mean that what you say has no repurcussions.


And, for your preppers --- OPSEC! (operational security, for the rest of you).

Moderate at council should a man be,
Not brutal and over bearing:
Among the bold the bully will find
Others as bold as he. 


Again ... don't be a douche.

These things are thought the best:
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice. 


Not all sick men are utterly wretched:
Some are blessed with sons,
Some with friends,
some with riches,
Some with worthy works. 


The halt can manage a horse,
the handless a flock,
The deaf be a doughty fighter,
To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre:
There is nothing the dead can do. 


It is always better to be alive,
The living can keep a cow.
Fire, I saw, warming a wealthy man,
With a cold corpse at his door. 


A person can be old. A person can be ill.  A person can have physical/mental/emotional disabilities.  But being helpless and worthless is not one of them.  As I told my mother, a decade ago when she started losing her sight and felt she couldn't help a cousin care for the cousin's grandson .... "You put the bottle in one end and change the other .... and the baby lets you know if you got it wrong!"  [and thanks to Melilot for the line, BTW] 

A son is a blessing, though born late
To a father no longer alive:
Stones would seldom stand by the highway
If sons did not set them there. 


He welcomes the night who has enough provisions
Short are the sails of a ship,
Dangerous the dark in autumn,
The wind may veer within five days,
And many times in a month. 


Okay, I don't get why these lines have been put here in the version I'm using.  Do they flow better in more normative versions?  At any rate - you descendants are likely the only ones who will honor your .... but do all descendant have to be biological? Nah, says I.

And it finishes with prepping.  Okay. Fine. Short sails, maybe, allow you to tack, to move where you want to go despite where the wind alone would have you go?  Is that it?  I dunno.

And so ends Part 6.  Tune in next Wotansday for Part 7!

Frondly, Fern

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Charging a Magical Item

Blessings Darlings!

Back in the post on creating common spells, I mentioned 'charging magical items'.  I suppose some of y'all want me to tell you how to? Or at least what 'charging an item' MEANS?

Okay.

Charging is to fill an item with magical intent/essence/energy (depending on the working, your magical vocabulary, etc). With, say, a candle, it starts when you when you carve a word/name/sigil into it and/or 'dress' it with oil that you've added an appropriate herb or such to.  After that you REALLY work some energy into it.  You can move energy any way that work for you.  I OFTEN move the energy starting in my impersonal chakra (bright beyond words, over my head), down to my heart chakra, then out my arms/into hands/into item.  Sometimes I use a tone, AUM, color, etc.  It depends on the working, what system I'm working, what the intent is.

Charge it until it seems to be 'full' and not taking more energy in.

It's just that simple ... and just that complex.

Frondly, Fern

Monday, February 20, 2012

I don't bite .... here.

Darlings .... it really IS safe to comment on my blog.  This is the place I'm at my most polite.  You are my guests, and I take hospitality seriously.

Frondly, Fern

Pagan Conferences

Blessings Darlings!

Let me state this, again, up front:  If Z Budapest trashed "Niggers" and "Kikes" as she does "trannies" - do you really think she'd be invited to any conferences? If she banned Jewitches, and said "Kikes are just animals in human clothes, so they can't come to my rituals. Oh, that's hurtful? They still aren't coming, but I'm sorry THE TRUTH hurts" ....

Anyway ...

I'm now going to talk about what the roles of Pagan Conferences are or should be in the US.


I'm not talking about conferences by any one particular religious group for its members or people who want to participate in that particular religion.  I'm talking about a conference open to everyone in the Pagan community who can and will pay the admission price.  Many of them will come from far away, many won't be affiliated with a local pagan group or local pagan community.  Those that come who are involved in a local group aren't at the conference to learn more about their home group even if members ARE giving classes - they can get those at home, after all.  They traveled to the conference to get stuff that is NOT available at home.


Let's look at the "about" statements of several conferences/festivals on my side of the country:


"The Sacred Space Conference is a place and time of respectful sharing and thoughtful learning among the many rich and varied traditions, beliefs, paths and organizations found in the DC/Baltimore metropolitan region, the surrounding Mid-Atlantic area, and the world.  It is our hope that through this conference we will increase understanding and religious tolerance between the many traditions within the esoteric community, as well as within the public at large."

"Between The Worlds is an interfaith esoteric conference sponsored by the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, a Wiccan non-profit religious organization. This conference is an opportunity to experience learning and rituals from a wide range of esoteric Paths."

"The Free Spirit Alliance is a spiritual networking organization serving the Pagan and Pantheist religious communities. Founded in 1985, our focus is and has been on presenting national, regional, and local events where people from all backgrounds can learn and share ideas. "


Learning and sharing, among a wide-range of folks.   Nothing less than that.  

Learning. Sharing.  Being exposed to the thoughts and rituals of many different groups.   Rituals to experience how those groups worship and work with energy.

That's what I say Pagan Conferences are for.

That said .....

*****************************************************************************

AND THERE ARE SOMETHINGS THAT PAGAN CONFERENCES ARE NOT (IMNHO)

None of those descriptions have anything about deliberately life changing rituals.  No promises of healing. No offer of spiritual breakthroughs.  


NOTHING THAT IS GOING TO SHATTER THE LIFE YOU LEFT.

I really worry for folks who seek spiritual breakthroughs at Pagan conferences, especially those who go back to being without group and community back home.  

Because 'breaking' and 'breaking through' is relatively easy.  Putting things back together in a new order - that is hard.  And is best done with the support of groups and community, not alone.  


Non-magical example:  I lived in the middle of Illinois for years.  One local therapist loved to help women separate out all their different parts.  Like ... dissociation/multiple personalities.  She honestly felt that doing this lead women to emotional breakthroughs.  But she never put them back into a cohesive whole.  Breaking the old without putting a new framework in place - simple destruction - left a trail of less functional, more broken, individuals.

Magical breakthroughs are very similar.  Looking at the coven I'm now in .... The coven was created (at the auspicious time) and we all became members.  And even that energy - no initiations, no elevations, just forming a coven and becoming members! - manifested in chaos in members lives.  Divorces and marital issues, unemployment and financial problems, internal communication issues, etc.  

Or even an encounter with the sweet, healing Goddess Bridget as Crone - where She announced She was going to work me over like she works a sword on Her forge - left me physically ill for months. Worked over, indeed!


Change SOUNDS great.  Change INVOLVES chaos.  We had each other, the group, the tradition and it's other members/HPs/HPSSs/Elders to rely on, and it was still chaotic.  


An actual spiritual breakthrough, at a conference, away from home, and you have to deal with travel after it ... and then being alone to deal with the chaos if you aren't part of a group.

And it doesn't matter if the breakthrough is 'healing'.  Healing is equally chaotic, especially if you are healing from long-standing issues.  You've build structure in your life around being broken.  Yes, you've shattered the Tower.  But you are now in mid-air, with debris around you and on every place you would land. NOW the real work starts.  And the ritual leader/healer doesn't stay in your life.  You are on your own.  Who is back home to even talk with about what is good to keep and what must be junked in your life?  Who can see magically what is going on that you might not be aware of, now brought to the surface?   


Because healing one area is going to bring up other areas that need healing, or areas you overcompensated in.  There will be fallout.  It was be ... yes ... chaos.


And if you do not have group/community back home, you will be alone.  With new chaos. 

Which is why life changing rituals, healings, etc, are to be done in your area, with people who are going to be around afterwards finishing the job - helping you clear up the chaos.

Let me summarize:

Pagan conferences are for sharing.
Pagan conferences are not for breakthroughs unless you seek a break-down.

Frondly, Fern 





 

Leftovers

Blessings Darlings!

I adore leftovers.  Not because I don't like to cook - for you KNOW I love to cook.  But because they demand a bit of creativity and allow the cleaning out of the fridge.

So brunch today is half a large baked potato, kind of mashed flat, then topped with leftover broccoli, leftover grilled peppers and onions, and leftover shredded cheese.  I threw it into the microwave until hot and cheese was melted.

Easy.  Nutritious.  FAST. Two servings of veggies without having to even think about it. Gluten free (not that I care about that, mind you).

And really, really yummy.  I adore potatoes, in every form, of course.

Frondly, Fern

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Pagan Blog Gathering

Dude over on Tumblr is trying to track down Pagan Blogs.  Here's his link & such:

"" http://thewitchesden.tumblr.com/post/17903347117/if-you-are-a-pagan-blog-please-reblog-this

If you are a pagan blog, please reblog this

I really want to follow as much as I can <3  ""

Friday, February 17, 2012

This Week In Nature

Blessings Darings!

Spring is certainly coming early.  Okay, the creeping charlie and an occasional dandelion have been blooming pretty  much all winter, so those blooms don't 'really' count.  But I saw crocus' blooming north of Baltimore on Wednesday, and some unidentified white blooms here in the boonies yesterday.

But what I've never seen before Thursday was .... turkey vultures doing a mating dance.  It's EARLY for them - by a month or so.  And, after looking it up, it was in a somewhat unusual location.  But it was a mating ritual.

I know my mating rituals.

The unusual part was that it was taking place not on the ground, but on a 'modern branch'.  That is ... on the 'horizontal' arched part of a street light.  But the half-open wings and the movements jibe with what the online sources say the dance is.

It was way cool to see, even if the timing screams 'climate change issues'.

Frondly, Fern

Occult Carry

Blessings Darlings!

Since we moved at the end of 2010, I'm now living in one of those states that share a boarder with Maryland AND has allowsconcealed carry of guns (Virginia? West Virginia? Pennsylvania?Delaware? - I'm not telling!).  This is new for me.  I've spent all my life living in Illinois and Maryland, two of the most restrictive states for gun laws.

It's a whole new world!

One amazing difference is that ..... you don't hear about road rage in the news here (at least not out in the boonies where I am, perhaps).  No tales of driver cutting another off, then playing speed follow and harass the other for miles.  It's like people realize you might be harassing someone that's armed and could reasonably feel in danger from a fool in a one ton motorized vehicle.

I'm not saying folks don't speed, and that they don't crawl up my tailpipe as I dare to go only the speed limit on highways, even the multiple lane oness.  But they end up just passing me and don't shout at me or try to cut me off or such.  And, let's face it - I'm a woman in her 50's driving an old sedan.  I don't LOOK like a danger, but in fact ANYONE could be carrying.  And I look like their sweet old mother .... who carries.

Okay, I also have some glamours on the car, and the spellwork might be part of it.  Still, drivers are SO much less jerks here.

I think it's part of the blessing of concealed carry.

Frondly, Fern

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Holy 3-D, Batman!

Blessings Darlings!

I can't call this a 'spiritual breakthrough' per se .... but a magical construct I have going in the Otherworlds just went from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions.  From a triangle to a pyramid.  It kind of shocked me.  And thrilled me.

So I'm sharing that with y'all.

Frondly, Fern

Common Spell Creation

Blessings, Darlings!

I'm going to start out the spell creating series with the types of spells most commonly done by us magick users: common spellcraft done by magic users.  You have a need, you work up a spell, you do it, it's over.

These types of spells tend to rely heavily on use of correspondences and symbolism, and moving energy around thru' correspondences to the charged symbols.  This is the stuff of spell kits: they provide incense/colored candles/oils/herbs that have some correspondence to the job to be done, and some words to be said. The buyer charges the symbol (often by anointing the candle with the oil or carving a word or two into the candle), then recites the words of the spell as a means of directing energy.

This is stuff you can also easily get together yourself.  Lists of basic correspondences are all over the web, there are books full of them, etc.  What color? You can look at a list of chakras and use the colors of them that relate to the need.  Oil? Here I'd look up what COMMON herbs relate to the need, and add that to an unscented cooking oil - corn or vegetable (Okay, that's really soy) or peanut oil.  Incense? On the whole, I'd say you can't go wrong with Jasmine, but that's because for ME all magic that I do pretty  much happens in the Astral, and that corresponds to the Kabalistic sphere of Yesod.  Your mileage may vary, of course!

Doing the research for correspondences brings two different things to your magical world.  First - it helps increase your knowledge.  If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know I'm all for that!  The more you have internalized the better your magic will be.

Second, doing the research work starts the magical work.  It starts building your intent, it starts building the energy, it brings coherence to the magic.  You don't get that from a spell kit - the kit may have all the correspondences down cold, but they are not part of YOUR energy or intent.  Doing the work yourself makes them YOURS.

Powerful stuff!

Now, about the 'words' to a spell:  they CAN be very powerful.  Not the words themselves, but putting your intent out in sound to the universe.  So don't be dependent on the words of others, unless you're doing some magic that requires some really serious invocation of some divinity.  And that's pretty rare in spellwork - more common in theurgy than in thaumaturgy.  So write what you Will.  And, really, try to memorize it JUST because it hard to feel/look powerful reading from a cheat sheet!  That's why rhyme comes in - spells are just easier to memorize if the words have rhyme and meter!

I'll cover 'how to magically charge an object' another time, this is enough of a blog post for one day.

Frondly Fern


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Havamal, Part 5


Blessings Darlings!
So, where did we leave off?  Oh, yeah - we're in a social situation, dealing with that most irritating of all things - other people.  

It really doesn't matter if this is 'purely social' or a business situation, really.  You're going to run into the same things whenever and where ever you are with others.


 

The wise guest has his way of dealing
With those who taunt him at table:
He smiles through the meal,
not seeming to hear
The twaddle talked by his foes.


Ah, selective hearing - or at least selective respondingGive the shitheads enough rope to hang themselves.  Don't cower, don't get roped into responding on their time table.  And most of all - this tactic endears you to a reasonable host because they won't have to clean up bodies afterwards.

The tactful guest will take his leave Early,
not linger long:
He starts to stink who outstays his welcome
In a hall that is not his own.


 While this is mostly about not overstaying your welcome, there's another aspect to it:  showing yourself to be a person with MANY things going on in your life.  You can't stay at one meeting beyond your schedule, for you are going to meeting with other people.  Scarcity is part of your marketing yourself.  Buy now!  Only a few left!






A small hut of one' s own is better,
A man is his master at home:
A couple of goats and a corded roof
Still are better than begging.

A small hut of one's own is better,
A man is his master at home:
His heart bleeds in the beggar who must
Ask at each meal for meat.


I'm sure you already knew that being homeless and jobless is miserable.  But, look deeper.

Your employer is NOT your Master. Remember that.  They hired you because you are worth MORE than your wages. 

A wayfarer should not walk unarmed,
But have his weapons to hand:
He knows not when he may need a spear,
Or what menace meet on the road.


Back to situational awareness!  And, having lived in two no-carry states until 15 months ago - while your main weapon is your mind, don't despise martial arts training.....

No man is so generous he will jib at accepting
A gift in return for a gift,
No man so rich that it really gives him
Pain to be repaid.


Showing gratitude matters, even in small mostly symbolic ways. And, of course, repaying makes it clear that you aren't a bum.

Once he has won wealth enough,
A man should not crave for more:
What he saves for friends, foes may take;
Hopes are often liars.


To me, this speaks more against hording than against investing or other income generating actions.  

Now - on to how to treat great friends, and great foes, while remembering that most folks fall somewhere between the two extremes:

With presents friends should please each other,
With a shield or a costly coat:
Mutual giving makes for friendship,
So long as life goes well,
A man should be loyal through life to friends,
To them and to friends of theirs,
But never shall a man make offer
Of friendship to his foes.

A man should be loyal through life to friends,
And return gift for gift,
Laugh when they laugh,
but with lies repay
A false foe who lies.

If you find a friend you fully trust
And wish for his good-will,
exchange thoughts,
exchange gifts,
Go often to his house.

If you deal with another you don't trust
But wish for his good-will,
Be fair in speech but false in thought
And give him lie for lie.


Share with your friends.  Share with your foes.  In both case, share what they are giving you.

Even with one you ill-trust
And doubt what he means to do,
False words with fair smiles
May get you the gift you desire.


When in doubt, don't let them know you doubt them.  Let them think that they are in that 'middle ground' of people you don't DIStrust.  

To a false friend the footpath winds
Though his house be on the highway.
To a sure friend there is a short cut,
Though he live a long way off.

Hotter than fire among false hearts burns
Friendship for five days,
But suddenly slackens when the sixth dawns:
Feeble their friendship then.


Ah, and if you think you haven't made a judgement about people (or they didn't make a judgement about you!) ... think again!  

The generous and bold have the best lives,
Are seldom beset by cares, ,
But the base man sees bogies everywhere
And the miser pines for presents. 


Leadership rules!  Being afraid, always covering your assets because of whatever fears you may have, endears you to no one.
The young fir that falls and rots
Having neither needles nor bark,
So is the fate of the friendless man:
Why should he live long?
 

 Having friends matters - being part of society, a working, giving part, makes life worth living.

On that note, I've got more posts to write and, since I'm writing this is Valentine's Day, calls to make and chocolate to prepare for the Chubby Hubby.

Frondly, Fern 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Creating Spells

Blessings Darlings!

As I said in the previous post, any magic user can create a spell.  It's not rocket science - it's manipulation of energy using symbols and non-obvious (that is, occult) relationships.

Let's start by differentiating between the types of spells I'm going to talk about.

The first is the type of, well, common spellcraft done by magic users.  You have a need, you work up a spell, you do it, it's over.  You may do the same spell daily for a full cycle of the moon for some purpose, you may do it every now and then over years or a lifetime.  But every time you do it you do it anew from start to finish.  To keep the Harry Potter references going - this presumably is what the Weasley twins do:  They buy the basic cheap plastic toys thru' Oriental Trading Company like the rest of us (what, you don't order a gross of lightsticks before going to a Pagan festival  - or a rave - or for your Survival Retreat?) and then do a spell they created on them to add the hoodoo they do. I'll grant that the edible ones are potions work, and different than straight spellwork.

The second type is what stands behind the 'wand work' magic that gets all the attention everywhere.  You say a word or two or three - maybe in Latin or pseudo-Latin - and wave your wand in just the right way while concentrating, and is what Hermione can learn and execute.  But NO ONE in the Harry Potter books seems to be creating these spells any more.  You never see the adult Weasleys learning new spells, or talking about some hot new spell on the market. I'll talk about making this type, too - minus the wand worship part. And usually minus the pseudo Latin part.

There's no reason you shouldn't be creating both types of spells.

So, coming up, posts on creating both types.

And away we go.....

Frondly, Fern


Monday, February 13, 2012

Pulled Pork

Blessings Darlings!

After I mentioned that my pulled pork rocked, Grey Raven mentioned that she'd love a good pulled pork recipe.  Well, I can give you PART of one - the Chubby Hubby won't let me share his BBQ sauce recipe!

I usually start with a whole Boston butt/pork shoulder roast, bone-in.  Because I can usually get that on sale cheap.  They weight in at about 8 pounds.

The night before cooking I heavily apply Memphis rub, a Steve Reichlan recipe.  You can see it here http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/aspen-2002-memphis-dry-rub-ribs.  It's one of my favorite rubs, I used it the other day on the wings we had while ignoring the Super Bowl.  Added tidbit - mixed half with brown sugar it's the rub I use on pork ribs, too.

For the smoking, I roll our trusty Char Broil BBQ/Smoker out of the garage.  It has a separate smoker attachment, so you can smoke or grill with it.  And it uses real charcoal or wood - none of this gas grill stuff for us! 

I start before noon, soaking hickory chips (or cherry, I like both for this.  CH only likes oak when smoking briskets).  And, yes, I use chips, not chunks or logs of the smoking wood.  I get more smoke and lower temperatures this way.

After they've soaked 45 minutes or so, I start the charcoal - in a chimney.  I don't like the smell/etc of charcoal starter fluid.  OTOH, I'm using Kingsford charcoal  not natural charcoal, so it's not like I'm a total purist.  Just a somewhat obsessed Foodie!

Coals well started, they go in the smoker attachment.  Rubbed roast in the main body at the middle or far end from the smoker attachment so I can smoke it low and slow.  Add a handful of soaked chips, close it all up (chimney open less than half way), and it's under way.  Every 15 or 20 minutes I'm out there adding another handful of chips for two hours.  At about 1 1/2 hours I add a bit more charcoal, too.

We've now reached the 2 hour mark.  Instead of adding soaked hickory chips I add a hardwood log from our woodpile, and while that catches I plop the roast in a disposable aluminum pan and securely wrap the pan and roast in heavy duty aluminum foil.  Back on to the grill, but now I let the temperature go hot and cook the roast thru - wood logs are the best for that.  Wrapped, it stays juicier.

That goes on until the roast hits about 190 degrees.  At this point my husband takes it in and pulls it.  I know, Alton Brown lets HIS rest before pulling it, but the CH feels that resting makes it too hard to pull.

Once pulled, or at least once enough has been pulled for the family, we slap it on hard rolls, slather it with sauce, eat, and repeat.

Enjoy!

Frondly, Fern


Friday, February 10, 2012

Innovations in Magick

Blessings Darlings!

Hermione Granger is a kick-ass character in the Harry Potter book series.  She is smart.  She is brave.  She grows and changes over the course of the series.  She may well be the BRIGHTEST witch of 'our age' in the book.

But in my never humble opinion, she is not the MOST TALENTED witch of 'our age' in the book.  That honor belongs to the Weasley twins.

Yes, they got few O.W.L.s.  They are not academics.  They are brilliant, practical, practicing, perfecting Mages. They created new spells that they used in their products.  The spellwork/products took some extensive testing, with some amounts of mistakes made and problems having to be solved.

They were INNOVATORS.  They made their own spells.  Hermione never did that, never seems to have THOUGHT of doing that.  She's great for memorizing what others have worked on, but does not create things herself.

But all those spells Hermione mined from books and teachers were created by someone, at some time. 

So what? This is the real world!

Look, I know that most folks out there, even those who say they are on pagan or occult or witch or magical paths are 'armchair occultists' - readers who don't do any actual magic.  Of the people who DO actually do any magical or occult work, most just use spells they got from one source or another.

Then there are the folks who create spells.  You can be one of those folks. 

Over the next week or so I'll start posting on what goes into creating spells, both what I'd say is behind the type of spells in Harry Potter and those that folks like you and I can create.

It's not rocket science.  It's .... magic.

Frondly, Fern

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Wand Worship

Blessings Darlings!

I'm having to re-create this post - it was WONDERFUL, but the Chubby Hubby tried bowdlerizing it down to his comfort level and 'somehow' totally erased it.  I'm writing with out the glow of divine inspiration behind the original post and with a high level of anger distracting me.  I'm sorry for the comparatively crappy post.


The post started with me saying how the Chubby Hubby is now FINALLY reading the Harry Potter books.  The Spawn and I read them as they were released, but the CH didn't.  Which meant CH kept asking us what was going on when we watched the movies.  Asked LOUDLY, because he doesn't hear well.  In movie theaters, except for the last two which we saw pay-per-view.  He's also a pain in the ass to see movies with.


So, we're having conversations about magical theory in Harry Potter, how Hermione could POSSIBLY take SEVERAL SEMESTERS of Arithromancy (it's only addition and memorizing the associations of 0 - 9, right?) and so on.  Me, I'm again struck with the wand worship J.K. Rowling exhibits.

Yeah, it was probably a convenient tool for the overall plot arc.  But it comes across to me as just a phallic pissing match.  Whose wand is better. Whose wood is better.  Whose wand overcame someone else's wand. Whose wand is bigger. She might was well have had everyone have wands made up of animals' phallic bones instead of the bowdlerized 'wood' that they were of.

What utter and total horseshit.

In MY universe, the wand is a tool for and symbol of the Magical Will.  Once you have 'mastered the tool' - have basic control of your Magical Will - you no longer need the tool.  You can use your finger if you choose.  You can use your hand. You can use your ELBOW.  You can use .... nothing but your Will.  You don't need the wand/rod of God/one eyed wonder worm any more.

So the more experienced and powerful a magic user you are in MY universe, the less you need or care about the wand (or any other tool).  Meanwhile, in the Harry Potter universe, the Big Bad (or Good) Wizards are still all about getting the Big Bad Most Powerful Wand, or at least a wand that has a lineage of owners who de-wanded - yeah, quite the emasculation image - the person whose ass you want to magically kick. 

Frondly, Fern

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Havamal, Part 4

Some day reading the Havamal reminds me of the saying "the problem with common sense is that it's so uncommon.   So much of this can be summarized by as 'Don't be a Douche'!

Be restrained in your drinking - if you can't remember the night before, you failed and were a fool.  Talk little, let your bold, brave actions be your statement.   Don't be a pig, especially one who eats/drinks too much then complains that you're SO FULL or so wasted.  Don't disrespect others at a gathering, not only because it makes you look bad but if you cause a fight it screws up EVERYONE.  Be able to judge who is laughing with  you vs laughing at you, your friends from everyone else.  Don't count on others taking care of your needs.

Yup.  Don't be a douche.

I-forget is the name men give the heron
Who hovers over the fast: 
Fettered I was in his feathers that night,  
When a guest in Gunnlod's court 

 

Drunk I got, dead drunk, 
When Fjalar the wise was with me: 
Best is the banquet one looks back on after,  
And remembers all that happened, 

 

Silence becomes the Son of a prince, 
To be silent but brave in battle: 
It befits a man to be merry and glad  
Until the day of his death, 

 

The coward believes he will live forever
If he holds back in the battle, 
But in old age he shall have no peace  
Though spears have spared his limbs 

 

When he meets friends, the fool gapes, 
Is shy and sheepish at first, 
Then he sips his mead and immediately 
All know what an oaf he is, 
He who has seen and suffered much, 
And knows the ways of the world, 
Who has travelled', can tell what spirit 
Governs the men he meets, 
Drink your mead, but in moderation, 
Talk sense or be silent: 
No man is called discourteous who goes  
To bed at an early hour 

 

A gluttonous man who guzzles away 
Brings sorrow on himself: 
At the table of the wise he is taunted often,  
Mocked for his bloated belly, 

 

The herd knows its homing time, 
And leaves the grazing ground: 
But the glutton never knows how much  
His belly is able to hold, 

 

An ill tempered, unhappy man 
Ridicules all he hears, 
Makes fun of others, refusing always  
To see the faults in himself 

 

Foolish is he who frets at night, 
And lies awake to worry' 
A weary man when morning comes,  
He finds all as bad as before, 

 

The fool thinks that those who laugh 
At him are all his friends, 
Unaware when he sits with wiser men  
How ill they speak of him. 

 

The fool thinks that those who laugh 
At him are all his friends: 
When he comes to the Thing and calls for support,  
Few spokesmen he finds 

 

The fool who fancies he is full of wisdom 
While he sits by his hearth at home. 
Quickly finds when questioned by others .  
That he knows nothing at all. 

 

The ignorant booby had best be silent 
When he moves among other men, 
No one will know what a nit-wit he is 
Until he begins to talk; 
No one knows less what a nit-wit he is  
Than the man who talks too much. 

 

To ask well, to answer rightly, 
Are the marks of a wise man: 
Men must speak of men's deeds,  
What happens may not be hidden. 

 

Wise is he not who is never silent, 
Mouthing meaningless words: 
A glib tongue that goes on chattering  
Sings to its own harm. 

 

A man among friends should not mock another: 
Many believe the man 
Who is not questioned to know much 
And so he escapes their scorn. 
An early meal a man should take 
Before he visits friends, 
Lest, when he gets there, 
he go hungry,  
Afraid to ask for food. 

 

The fastest friends may fall out 
When they sit at the banquet-board: 
It is, and shall be, a shameful thing  
When guest quarrels with guest,

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Writing Life

Blessings Darlings!

We have our own business.  It's primarily writing software for B2B applications, mostly involving HID class devices (Keyboards, mouses, etc) and TCP/IP applications (remoting controlling your shark tank).

But it JUST dawned on me that I can't think of this as a "technology business", but that it's FAR more like being (or being married to) an author. 

Not only is the process of creation the same ... but you don't get paid until/unless the work is written and edited.  And if one project takes longer than projected, you don't get paid when you expected to be.  And, again, if one project takes longer than expected, you ALSO don't get to work on, and then get paid for, the NEXT project on time.

Which explains why I'm not doing my Big Shopping Trip this month.  Which is okay, the usual trip lets me get a bit more of all staples than we usually use each month.  But, fundamentally, we'll be spending half of what we'd be getting on food stamps this month. 

So, we'll be eating lots of bean sprouts.  Lots of beans.  We ALWAYS eat lots of soups, so that won't change. 

I'm a bit concerned that my grand plans for paying off our debts by a huge amount this year won't be happening, let alone the planned increase in our savings. 

OTOH, I DO have some plans on ways to increase income, but they won't be immediate .... but that's par for the course, isn't it?

How are your New Years Plans working out so far?

Frondly, Fern

New Cauldron.

Blessings Darlings!

It being THAT time of year again - like, winter - I did the annual refresh/re-dedication of my Healing Cauldron.  And, due to the fact that last year the cauldron ended up literally overflowing with healing requests, I swapped out the old cauldron for a bigger one.

For how I use the Healing Cauldron, look at this post from last year http://fernsfronds.blogspot.com/2011/01/healing-cauldron.html.  This year, since I refreshed the healing altar AFTER the coven's Bridget ritual (referenced last week), I have the Bridget's Candle I took home from the ritual on the altar.  Since I do daily work at that altar that candle won't last very long.  But I'll do a flame-to-flame handing down Bridget's fire to each candle in turn.  It's all great.

Frondly, Fern

Monday, February 6, 2012

Super Bowls

Blessings Darlings!

I do not watch football.  I do not care who wins the Superbowl.  I am writing this Sunday at noon eastern time.

We DO, however, have a Family Tradition for Super Bowl Sunday.  We eat.

Now, to be honest, we eat every day and we eat too much every day.  But on Super Bowl Sunday we elevate this closer to an art.

So we have a a quart and a half of guacamole (we started with two quarts, but half of one container seems to have disappeared).  We have store-bought corn chips, and I'll make some fresh corn chips.  There will be ribs and rib-tips.  There will be home-made pizza with fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.  There will be celery sticks and blue cheese dressing (not that I eat that).  There will be chicken wings with three dipping sauces.  There are donuts and there are Rice Krispie Treats.  There is beer and wine. There are antacids.

BTW, there are only 3 of us eating.

I don't know if I'll be out of the food coma by the time this gets posted.  Oh, and I might watch the commericals, but I will certainly not watch the half time show.

Frondly, Fern

Friday, February 3, 2012

Coven Rituals

Blessings Darlings!

As you  may know, for my PERSONAL practice I use my local climate/watershed/landmass for my cues.  So it's still a few weeks from Imbolc for my personal practice.

However, last night I celebrated Imbolc with my coven.  Because we set dates for celebrating High Days all at one time, once a year, so we are better able to arrange everyone's schedule.  And because the group members are spread over such a large geographical area that, say, hawthorn leaves are the size of a squirrel's ear at vastly different dates for some of us. 

If we were all in the same neighborhood, rather than spread across 3 states, we might better be able to see the local signs and then celebrate as a group 3 days later. But that's not our reality.  And even with everyone knowing the date in advance - had the celebration been on a night the Spawn was called in to work I'd not have been able to make it, and one coven member had to miss the ritual as it was.

That's life.

Frondly, Fern

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Havamal, Part 3

Blessings Darlings!

So, we've gone over some of the rights and responsibilities of host/guest, or neighbors, or business interactions, or politics (for all of them are social situations, thus fundamentally the same).  Now the Havamal moves on to more situational awareness and survival, then 'thrival', strategy.

Who travels widely needs his wits about him,
The stupid should stay at home, 
The ignorant man is often laughed at
When he sits at meat with the sage.

Of his knowledge a man should never boast,
Rather be sparing of speech
When to his house a wiser comes:
Seldom do those who are silent
Make mistakes; mother wit
Is ever a faithful friend.

A guest should be courteous
When he comes to the table
And sit in wary silence,
His ears attentive, his eyes alert:
So he protects himself.

I consider the above verses wisdom on situational awareness, especially when on the road/in a business situation/in ANY social situation.  It's less succinct and ... cutesy than "you have two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak".  

They speak about a really basic truth - anyone who is clearly trying to impress others DOES tend to impress them ... negatively.  If you're so hot, those around you won't need you to tell them.  And if you're talking smack about how rich your family is, all that you're going to do is set them up to be raided, especially if you're explaining exactly where your defenses are at the same time!

And if you keep YOUR mouth running, you can't evaluate those around you.  You need to know who is sensible, who bullshits, who sees everything negatively, who sees everything too positively, who talks behind others' backs, etc.  



Fortunate is he who is favored in his lifetime
With praise and words of wisdom;
Evil counsel is often given
By those of evil heart.


Blessed is he who in his own lifetime
Is awarded praise and wit,
For ill counsel is often given 
By mortal men to each other 

Evil counsel and ill counsel are only different in what motivates them.  Their effect, if you follow the counsel, is the same for you.  You'll be sorry.  Always consider the source when folks give you advice, and their motivation.

BTW - you ARE evaluating my words here that way, too, aren't you? What are my motives in posting this, and in my amplifications?  


Better gear than good sense
A traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man,
Far from his own home.


Better gear than good sense
A traveler cannot carry,
A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry.


Less good than belief would have it
Is mead for the sons of men:
A man knows less the more he drinks,
Becomes a befuddled fool. 

Yes, drinking can cause problems.  I suppose that this advice comes from the time before everyone drank because the water was fouled by human contamination?  It's a bit of a wonder, tho', since in all the Eddas and Sagas you don't hear about people being served fresh cold water to drink, or even herbal teas, and the only time I recall milk being mentioned was when it was poured down a well to drive out poison.  For that matter, the only time I recall Thor drinking water was when he was enchanted and thought he was drinking ale from a big horn .... the other end of the horn was the ocean! So just what WAS one expected to drink if not mead and ale?

On that note, I'm off to make myself another cup of tea.


Frondly, Fern

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Daily Affirmations

Blessings, Darlings!

I'm all for doing magical spells and workings to improve one's life.  I do them from time to time myself.  But doing daily affirmations that change, well, daily?  Nope.

Slow it down.  Remember the adage Festina lente: make haste slowly.

You are NOT going to change or create a long-standing mindset in a day.  Give it more time!  I'd say at least 3 weeks, and that a full moon-cycle would be better.

Yes, that means you'll do fewer affirmations in the same time period.  But it also means that you will make deeper and fuller changes.  And .... you'll have to prioritize changes, not just throw everything including the kitchen sink in.

Quality over quantity for the win!

Frondly, Fern


Crumbs

Blessings Darlings!

The Julian calendar says today is Imbolc - which is a milestone and high day to be sure, but it's still just the middle of the 'hungry time of the year'.  So making food stores get thru' till first good harvest is still a priority, especially for those of us who farm and/or garden.

Part of the art of frugality (and surviving, and MacGyverism in general) is the 'expanding the marginal utility' of everything.  You know - re-use, re-purpose, re-cycle type mind set.  Like - I just started onion seeds in egg cartons.

That's a feature in my kitchen as well.  Not JUST pre-planning use of leftovers, tho' I certainly do that.

Let's talk bread.

We who make our own bread know that it has, especially in winter, a variable lead time from starting it to getting it on the table.  Yeast prefers warm weather, and we who use as little heat as possible have house temperatures that vary greatly day to day.  This is because, while I raise the temperature for a few hours in the morning and evening, after that the rate at which the house temperature drops varies by how cold and windy it is outside.  So I have to pre-emptively bake bread, anticipating need.

I don't always do this well.  Sometimes I get a lot of bread in the house at once, and there is risk of some of it getting moldy before it all gets used.  That's where making bread cube dressings for chickens and such comes into play, or making bread puddings, etc.

So the LOAVES can have their marginal utility expanding.  But what about bread crumbs?  After all, slicing that lovely, crusty home-made bread really does produce a heck of a lot more crumbs than you get buying pre-sliced bread!

First, how would you collect the crumbs from slicing?  In my case, I've set it up so the cutting board we use for bread sits in a low-sided quarter baking sheet.  It nests very nicely!  Slice bread, the crumbs stay contained.  And they build up FAST.

So, you have lots of crumbs, now what?  First you use them in the dishes that normally require bread crumbs - topping casseroles, frying foods, buttered crumbs on veggies, etc.  But when the Chubby Hubby or the Spawn leave slices of bread out that they've cut badly (like, they only got half a slice, etc) then I end up with LOTS of stale bread and crumbs.  What then?

The you look online, and find lots of recipes for cookies made from bread crumbs!  They aren't half bad, either.  I'd share them, but I really haven't changed them at all, and I don't have the links handy (Printed them out LONG age).

Crumbs.  They're for dinner.  And dessert.

Frondly, Fern