Hi, folks!
It’s 52 and quiet, amazingly so after the windy drenching we’ve been getting. That was a full inch of rain out here and Portland set a record for nearly 1 1/2 inches! We’re getting close to normal rainfall for the year, too.
Yesterday it was pouring rain as we were heading to the shop. Tempus made a comment about not having to cool his coffee in the cup, since it was going to overflow by the time he got to the car! We got things open and started doing mail and such and then Arnemetia was in for a bit. I showed off my spoons a bit again. 🙂 We were talking about horn spoons (we are now *out* of them, but I’m hunting for a new supply….) and other types of wooden spoons.
After that Tempus and I did some small sort and finish projects. After that he had paperwork so I worked on sewing in the back. The Duckmeister was in and we talked for a while. I worked in the back again, mostly putting away herbs and stones that had gotten pulled out, then made a pattern and settled back in to sewing which led to me finding the beads that I’ve intended for the leather pouch fastenings.
Diana was in for a last visit and then a couple who are new to the area who might start coming to the workshops. After that I got a couple more boxes emptied. I’m finally getting somewhere! Last of the day Cliona stopped by and we chatted for awhile before we closed up.
As soon as we got home, Tempus turned right around and took his car down to gas up. While he was doing that I got the new salad garden planted with beans, luffa, nasturtium, carrots, beets and salad greens. When he got back he had to invent a bird preventer to put on top, since *neither* of thought of that before that point. <sigh> But that happened, so hopefully we’ll have some salad pretty soon.
He made us a ham and cheese over greens salad for supper and we turned in. When I was up during the night I was doing paperwork and made a cake. After that I got fascinated by an exhibit from the Czech National Museum of mechanical music-making machines. http://www.nm.cz/Czech-Museum-of-Music/News-CMM/Magical-music-machines-e-catalogue.html There’s both a downloadable catalogue and a whole series of short videos of some of the machines actually playing.
Today I’m going to be by myself at the shop. Herbs at 11 will be on making sachet mixes. No Crystals workshop. Sewing is at 3pm.
These are some of the Cafe Press products of which Ancient Light donates 100% of the profit to this year’s event. You can find these products and several more here:
http://www.cafepress.com/ancientlight/11111927
…and if you don’t see something you’re looking for with the logo, let me know!
Today’s Plant is Bleeding Heart, lamprocapnos spectabilis (which Cunningham has as dicentra spectabilis, an older designation). Other names are: old-fashioned bleeding-heart, Venus’s car, Lady in a bath, Dutchman’s trousers, or Lyre-flower, which all have various folklore attached. 
They’re native to Asia, but are common garden ornamentals and so suited to our climate that I assumed that they were native here! You see them all through the woods at this time of year. – Feminine, Venus, Water – Used in magick mostly as a divination. Crush the flower. If it “bleeds red” there is love. If it “bleeds white”, either love has died, or there is no hope of it. Be careful if you bring the live plant indoors because it can produce irritation and anger between people in the household. To forestall this push a silver bead or a dime (standing in for silver) into the soil, and say, “Lady of the Moon, give us peace, in your honor, and we honor you!” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamprocapnos_spectabilis
Ishtar is a Middle Eastern goddess of love and sex. When she descends to the Underworld, meeting with Erishkigalm all sex ceases on the earth.
If she (Ishtar) will not grant thee her release,
To Tammuz, the lover of her youth,
Pour out pure waters, pour out fine oil;
With a festival garment deck him that he may play on the flute of lapis lazuli,
That the votaries may cheer his liver. [his spirit]
Belili [sister of Tammuz] had gathered the treasure,
With precious stones filled her bosom.
When Belili heard the lament of her brother, she dropped her treasure,
She scattered the precious stones before her,
“Oh, my only brother, do not let me perish!
On the day when Tammuz plays for me on the flute of lapis lazuli, playing it for me with theporphyry ring.
Together with him, play ye for me, ye weepers and lamenting women!
That the dead may rise up and inhale the incense.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar
The shop opens at 11am! Spring hours are 11am-6pm Thursday through Monday, although closing time is drifting later with the longer days. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook or email at ancientlight@peak.org If we’re supposed to be closed, but it looks like we’re there, try the door. If it’s open, the shop’s open! In case of bad weather, check here at the blog for updates, on our Facebook as Ancient Light, or call the shop.
Love & Light,
Anja
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Today’s Astro & Calendar
The Moon is Waning Gibbous moving into Hecate’s Brooch at 11:45pm. Waning Moon Magick – From the Full Moon to the New is a time for study, meditation, and magic designed to banish harmful energies and habits, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity. Remember: what goes up must come down. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 3/30 at 11:45am. Hecate’s Brooch – 3-5 days before New Moon – Best time for Releasing Rituals. It’s the last few days before the new moon, the time of Hecate’s Brooch. This is the time that if you’re going to throw something out, or sweep the floors, or take stuff to Good Will, do it! Rid yourself of negativity and work on the letting go process. Release the old, removing unwanted negative energies, addictions, or illness. Do physical and psychic cleansings. Good for wisdom & psychic ability. Goddess Aspect: Crone Associated God/desses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Baba Yaga, Ereshkigal, Thoth. Phase ends at the Dark of the Moon on 3/28 at 11:45pm.
You can tell winter is gone for good, astronomically speaking: As soon as the stars come out, the Big Dipper is already higher in the northeast than Cassiopeia is in the northwest. Sunday, March 30, 2:45 p.m. EDT – New Moon – This is the second New Moon this month. There is no special name for this event. Notice how much closer the sun and moon are compared to the New Moon on March 1.
Venus (magnitude –4.6) shines as the bright “Morning Star” before and during dawn; look southeast.
Tuesday, March 18 – Tuesday, Apr. 1, after evening twilight – Zodiacal Light– The faint glow of the zodiacal light, reflected from millions of tiny interplanetary particles, will be visible from northern latitudes in the western sky right after evening twilight ends. Fainter than the Milky Way, this is only visible in really dark skies. The Milky Way arches from southwest to northwest, while the zodiacal light rises straight up from the western horizon underneath Jupiter.
Goddess Month of Columbina runs from 3/20 – 4/17
Celtic Tree Month of Fearn/Alder, Mar 18 – Apr 14. Fern (FAIR-n) Alder
Runic half-month of Berkana/ Beorc, 3/14-29 Half-month ruled by the goddess of the birch tree; a time of purification for rebirth and new beginnings. Runic half-month of Ehwaz, 3/30-4/13 – Ehwaz, the horse; time of partnership between humans and Nature, as between rider and horse. Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, p. 55
Sun in Aries
Moon in Pisces enters Aries at 6:54pm
Saturn, Mars, Vesta, and Ceres Retrograde
Color: Topaz
Planting 3/28-29
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©2014 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Celtic Tree Month of Fearn/Alder, Mar 18 – Apr 14. Fern (FAIR-n) Alder – The common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner) is common along lowland rivers, where it grows with aspens, poplars, and willows. Like willows, alders sprout from stumps. This allows them to regenerate after heavy flooding. In protect sites they may grow to 20 m (65 feet) tall. Their leaves are more blunt-tipped than most North American alders, which look more like the grey alder (A. incana (L.) Moench). This species is more common in the mountains of Europe, and is not restricted to moist soils. Like ashes, European alders are not widely cultivated in North American (they are often sold as black alders), but several native species are. Alder wood is said to resist rotting when it is wet, and was the wood of choice for pilings in many regions. Alders are members of the Birch family (Betulaceae).
Fearn – Alder Ogam letter correspondences
Month: January
Color: Crimson
Class: Cheiftain
Letter: F, V
Meaning: Help in making choices; spiritual guidance and protection.
Ogam letter correspondences to study this month– Ailim – Silver Fir
Month: None
Color: Light Blue
Class: Shrub
Letter: A
Meaning: Learning from past mistakes; Take care in choices.
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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Sa 29 High 12:03 AM 7.9 7:02 AM Rise 6:17 AM 5
29 Low 6:15 AM 0.5 7:40 PM Set 6:51 PM
29 High 12:16 PM 7.9
29 Low 6:33 PM 0.1
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – If there’s no pot of gold at the end of your rainbow, maybe you are at the wrong end.
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Journal Prompt – Favorites – What is your favorite thing to do outdoors? Why?
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Quotes
~ Everything in life that we really accept undergoes a change. – Katherine Mansfield
~ Attitudes are more important than facts. – Karl Menninger
~ Don’t do it because “this is the way that it has always been done.” Don’t do it simply because it is “traditional.” Do it because it works. – Kerr Cuhulain
~ I have made more friends for American culture than the State Department. Certainly I have made fewer enemies, but that isn’t very difficult. – Arthur Miller (1915-2005) US playwright
KING OF THE ELEMENT OF FIRE
I blaze up into the skies, singing my fiery song
I help form and temper your swords,
Made deep in the mountains by the dwarves.
King of the Fire am I, attended by my Salamanders.
Bow before me, for I can destroy you all;
Just an extra puff of air, and I spring forward
To engulf and immolate all that you hold dear.
None can deter me, but yet I can be helpful,
Warming the cold masses, cooking food;
But be not lulled into thinking me benign,
For even Nature Herself runs from me
When I am in my full majestic growth. – © August 2005, Beth Johnson, (Mystic Amazon)
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Magick – ‘Tis the Season, for asparagus recipes! …and eggs
Bacon Wrapped Caramelized Sesame Asparagus
[adapted from green bean bacon bundles]
serves 4, is easily multiplied
· 1 bunch of asparagus, about 20-25 spears, stems removed
· 4 slices thick-cut bacon
· 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
· 1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
· 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
· 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, whisk together oils, brown sugar and garlic. Set aside.
Bunch together 5-6 asparagus spears and tightly wrap a piece of bacon around the bundle. Place on the wire rack seam-side down and repeat. Using a pastry brush, a spoon or even your hands (I did this…), brush the spears thoroughly with the oil/sugar mixture. Give each bundle a hefty sprinkle of sesame seeds. Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Serve warm.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles – Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray – These bundles can be easily prepared on an outdoor grill or in a hot oven.
Total Time: 18 min
Prep 8 min
Cook 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds asparagus spears, trimmed 4 to 5 inches long tips
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- A few grinds black pepper
- 4 slices center cut bacon or pancetta
- Chopped chives or scallions, optional garnish
Directions
- Preheat oven, if using, to 400 degrees F.
- Lightly coat asparagus spears in extra-virgin olive oil. Season the asparagus with black pepper. Take a quick count of the spear tips. Divide the total number by four. Gather that number of spears and use a slice of bacon to wrap the bundle and secure the spears together. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- To grill, place bundles on hot grill and cover. Cook 10 to 12 minutes until bacon is crisp and asparagus bundles are tender.
- For oven preparation, place bundles on slotted broiler pan. Bake 12 minutes.
Breakfast Strata
http://busycooks.about.com/od/sausagerecipes/r/breakfaststrata.htm
Use your favorite sausages, bread, cheese and vegetables in this versatile breakfast casserole recipe.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 10 bread slices, cubed
- 1 lb. bulk pork sausage, cooked and drained
- 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained
- 9 oz. pkg. frozen asparagus pieces, thawed and drained
- 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
- 2 Tbsp. flour
- 1 tsp. dry mustard
- 2 tsp. dried basil leaves
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 8 eggs
- 3 cups milk
Preparation:
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease 13×9″ glass baking dish. Layer 1/2 of bread, cooked sausage, mushrooms, asparagus and cheese in dish. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.
In large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and beat well to mix. Pour over layers in baking dish. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake casserole for 60 to 70 minutes until puffed and light golden brown. Serves 8-10
Baked Eggs in Puff Pastry with Goat Cheese & Bacon – (Slightly adapted from The Jey of Cooking; Originally from I Will Not Eat Oysters)
- 2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted (We were able to get four circles out of one puff pastry sheet)
- goat cheese
- 2 slices prosciutto + 2 slices chorizo bacon (or regular bacon)
- 4 large eggs
- 2 TBS. Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Heat a large pan on med-high heat and drizzle a little olive oil into the pan. Cook the prosciutto (followed by the bacon) on both sides until crisp. Place on a paper towel to drain off any excess fat. Cool, then crumble and set aside.
- Using a a bowl about 5″ in diameter, cut out 4 circles from the puff pastry. Transfer to the baking sheet. Score a border about 1/2″ in around each circle. Be sure to not cut all the way through! Prick the inside, not the border, with a fork. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Fill each puff pastry center with dollops of goat cheese and top with crumbled prosciutto and/or bacon, making sure there is none on the border.
- Bake for 8 minutes or until the border has puffed up. Press the center down gently with the back of a spoon. Break an egg into a small bowl then pour it into the center of the “plate”. Repeat for each egg. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Place them back into the oven for another 6-7 minutes until the whites of the eggs are set and the puff pastry is golden. Garnish with chopped parsley.
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Silliness – Daffynition – EIFFELITES – (eye’ ful eyetz) n. Gangly people sitting in front of you at the movies who, no matter what direction you lean in, follow suit.
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