Hi, folks!
Sunrise is pretty this morning, all soft golds and greys. It’s 41F, a legacy of a mostly clear night. The moonlight was bright during the night. It’s calm, just a tiny breeze, enough to stir leaves. They’re talking about possible rain this afternoon.
Yesterday went sunny, after all, but strained through quite a layer of cloud. We got open in plenty of time and the young folks were late and only 4 of ’em. Class went well and the Brea came in and her counseling sessions went well, too. She brought a copy of Bell, Book and Candle to watch. Such a romp! Love that movie! …and then I got a nap and Tempus waited on customers while the young folks watched the movie or played on their computers.
I started doing the ironing. I’ve had a lot of this to get done, none of it directly for stock, but of fabrics and trims to make things with/from. I ended up keeping at it, waiting for the young folks to be ready for the amulet pouch workshop, for at least 1 1/2 hours, which turned out to be a mistake. Around 4:30 was actually started Practical Craft, since they were doing other things and we had a lot of customers, but we got several of them started on the how-to’s and I made one for Oso’s Crossing.
Tempus took them all back to the Center at around 5:30, and by then I almost couldn’t walk. All the muscles in my legs and back seized up! I guess I had just been leaning over too long. When we finally headed home around 7:30 I crawled straight into a hot bath and unkinked. After that I got Hearts of Space loaded in on the computer and listened while I worked on mail and then sorting pictures and turned in fairly early.
Today’s schedule is this:
~ 11am – Herbs Workshop – Herb Drying Techniques
~ Noon – Herbs Workshop – Drying Apples
~ 1pm – Children’s Crafts Hour ages 3-8 – Make a necklace or 
bracelet
~ 2pm – Computer Workshop (no class today)
~ 2pm – Children’s Crafts Hour ages 8-14 – Make a necklace or bracelet
~ 3pm – A Physicist’s Take on Wicca
The Hilaria, the festival of Joy, is part of the celebrations in the Roman Republic and Empire surrounding Atti
s. Today, however, is the feast of the Mother of the Gods, Cybele and the resurrection of Attis. It was celebrated with games, and later in Roman history with processions and masquerades. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilaria and more on Cybele here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybele
Today’s plant is Field or Scouring Rush Horsetail http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_horsetail , since that’s what’s growing all over at the moment. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum the darned things are next to impossible to get rid of, although they’re fascinating in construction and growth habit. In Oregon they’re a noxious weed, since, while the plants have been used as a poverty food (early spring) they can be toxic to grazing animals (since they eat large quantities) and are dangerous to people who retain fluid, although the Romans used it both as a tea and a thickening powder. It can be used as a polish and a dye. Feminine, Saturn, Earth, This is best used in fertility mixtures, sachets, amulets, etc. Place in the bedroom for help in conception. Whistles made of horsetail stems are used in snake charming.
The shop opens at 11am today, but we’re trying to be there by 10. Winter hours are 11am-6pm Thursday through Monday. 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 at 541-563-7154.
Love & Light,
Anja
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Today’s Astro & Calendar
The Moon is Waxing Gibbous moving to Full at 2:27pm. Waxing Moon Magick – The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or healthy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. Phase ends at the Tide Change on 3/27 at 2:27am. Waxing Gibbous Moon – From seven to fourteen days after the new moon. For spells that need concentrated work over a ¼ moon cycle this is the best time for constructive workings. Aim to do the last working on the day of the Full moon, before the turn. Keywords for the Gibbous phase are: analyze, prepare, trust. It is the time in a cycle to process the results of the actions taken during the First Quarter. During this phase you are gathering information. Give up making judgments; it will only lead to worry. Your knowledge is incomplete. Laugh. Analyze and filter. LOOK WITHIN. God/dess aspect: Maiden/Youth, but in the uncommitted phase, the Warriors. Associated God/desses: Dion, Dionysius, Venus, Thor. Phase ends at the Full on 3/25 at 2:27pm. Full Moon – The day of the day before and day after the true Full Moon. “And better it be when the moon is full!”! Prime time for rituals for prophecy, for spells to come to fruition, infusing health and wholeness, etc. A good time for invoking deity. FRUITION Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power. Workings on this day are for protection, divination. “extra power”, job hunting, healing serious conditions Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams. God/dess Aspect: Mother/Abundance/Kingship – Associated God/desses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis, Jupiter, Amon-Ra. Phase ends on 3/28 at 2:27pm
Goddess Month of Columbina runs from 3/20 – 4/17
Celtic Tree Month of Fearn/Alder, Mar 18 – Apr 14
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 Virgo
Saturn Retrograde
Color: Silver
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©2013 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Tides for Alsea Bay
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
M 25 Low 6:03 AM 1.4 7:09 AM Set 5:59 AM 92
~ 25 High 11:59 AM 7.3 7:35 PM Rise 6:11 PM
~ 25 Low 6:21 PM 0.6
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. Act it and you’ll get it.
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Journal Prompt – When? – When have you felt lonely?
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Quotes
~ There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning. -Warren Buffett
~ Wait patiently, sense the flows emanating from your opponent, and defeat the attack. – Kerr Cuhulain
~ We have to abandon the current idea that we are “rulers of the earth” and replace it with the idea that we are “stewards of the earth”. Kerr Cuhulain
~ We wish nothing more, but we will accept nothing less. Masters in our own house we must be, but our house is the whole of Canada. – Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919-2000) Canadian Prime Minister
A truly great book should be read in youth,
again in maturity and once more in old age,
as a fine building should be seen by morning light,
at noon and by moonlight. – Robertson Davies
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Magick – Recipes
Balsamic Strawberries, Anja’s collection
Strawberries, Cherry balsamic, sugar (I use my vanilla sugar), and basil. Slice berries, chiffonade basil, and toss in bowl.
Another version I make is with balsamic, honey, *fresh* lemon juice and red wine (usually pinot noir)
Yet a 3rd is to wash and hull strawberries, sprinkle with balsamic, dredge in sour cream, then brown sugar.
Hedgehogs – (not a recipe from Ancient Light, comments are those of the author!)
Saturday, March 9, 2013 – http://chezvorax.blogspot.com/2013/03/hedgehogs.html
We had a potluck SCA event today. I wasn’t sure what to bring, so I went with an old stand-by: hedgehogs!
Little pork sausage meatballs decorated with toasted sugared slivered almonds (for spines) and dried currants (for eyes).
I like them with currants much better than when I made this before with raisins cut in half (if I recall correctly). They were the perfect size and nice and firm and none of them popped out during the baking process.
Mix
- 2 pound pork sausage (I used the contents from beer bratwursts (‘cuz that’s what TJ’s had)
- roasting salt
- galangal
- Duke’s powder II
Use a tiny scoop to form balls of pork mixture.
Toast almond slivers dusted with superfine sugar (I put regular sugar through my coffee grinder as spice grinder) in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes until just starting to brown. Toss occasionally.
This step takes much longer that you think it might…
Insert seven almond “spines” in each ball: 1 in the center and 6 around it, all leaning somewhat towards the back.
Stick two currants for eyes on the front of each ball. I use a thumb and forefinger and insert both of them at once. Try for currants that are somewhat matched in size/shape. If you don’t have currants you can use raisins cut in half. This is what I used to do, but the currants work much better. I get mine at Stone Cottage.
I baked them at 350 until the internal temp was about 160 then I turned it up for a few minutes to try to get a little more browning.
Next time: I’d bake them in a hotter oven to get a little more browning, though you have to keep an eye on the almonds to make sure the tips don’t burn.
The Bacon Bowl by mistiblue http://mylastbite.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/baconbowl/
Ok… let’s talk desert island. What would be the one food item you wouldn’t live without? The one tasty bite that you could eat every day… if you were stuck on a desert island. I’m not talking about nutrition, health or availability. For me, it would have to be bacon, preferably guanciale, but any old crispy slab would do me just fine.
A few months ago my good friend Bob sent me a link to the NotMartha website, that featured a recipe for delicious looking bacon cups. In the original recipe the cups were formed using upside down cupcake molds. Of course I wanted them bigger and bolder so I built a mold out of ramikens and foil. The edible art was large enough to hold a salad and homemade Manchego fricos!
Recipe & “how to” photos below. Enjoy!
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. 5 slices of regular bacon each
3. Form the uncooked bacon around the mold (see photos)
4. Place in a pan (deep enough to catch grease)
5. Cook until just brown and crispy (turning pan once)
6. Allow to cool for a few minutes
7. Gently remove bacon bowl and continue to cool
8. Fill with salad or more bacon!
The original bacon cups on NotMartha
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Silliness – Q – Why did the Zen Buddhist get reincarnated as a Pizza Supreme? A – He wanted to be one with everything.
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