Hi, folks!
Last Minus Tide of the cycle at 10:51 AM of -0.2 feet. The shop opens at 1pm. Summer hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon. Featured photo by Jennifer Casey Photography.
[posting at 6:30pm] Rain gauge – Dry. We’re under a light smoke plume which you can see in the light. It’s more yellow than usual. This seems to be WA/AK and Canada! It was overcast earlier, but the sky is fairly clear, now. Sunny & 61F, ….and yes, there have been lobsters in the shop. Be careful in the full sunshine! Wind at 1-6mph and gusting, AQI 6-35, UV9. Chance of rain 8% today and 24% tonight. Forecast – Today(64/54) Partly cloudy. Tomorrow(61/55) There’s a solid chance of 0.06 inches of precip. in the morning and clouds the rest of the day. Wed(62/54) mostly cloudy. Thu(62/53) AM clouds clearing off in the afternoon. Fri-Tue(66/53) Dry, partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Willow Creek Fire at 40,274 acres. 1 firespot in the Malheur Nat. Forest. No other firespots….
Saturday evening we ended up going home a bit late, after I watered some of the indoor plants. Tempus had fed me a sandwich, so I went right to bed. He wasn’t far behind. The soup was still cooking when we got up so he could run the paper route. I had a serving and it was dreadful. Not the flavor, but that the leeks, which were kinda older than I’m used to, should have probably been peeled more than I did, so the whole thing was full of ….splinters… for lack of a better term. We ended up having to toss it and I’m not happy with myself for missing that they really needed more peeling. I worked on a couple of small scissor projects and then took my tablet to bed with a couple of books that I needed to go through for the shop.
Tempus got in around 9am, which is a tad late, but not for a Sunday. We were up and at the shop by 1pm, and he got us coffee, pieces of a big brownie (with whipped cream and some of our berries!) that he picked up at Freddie’s, along with a cucumber and some other things. Later he did cheese toast with sauteed onions under the cheese. Yum!
He worked in back for the early part of the day and then I chased him in back to get a nap, knowing that I was going to have to snooze in the early evening and then we weren’t going to get home, except possibly very, very late, since we were staying in town for the fireworks with the shop open up until then and then a few minutes after.
We weren’t all that busy, but had a lot of lookers in and a lot of tiny purchases. I worked with folks online, and then spent a little while wood-buttering a spoon before starting this. …OK, he’s up. He’s going to do burgers for supper, but in a fry pan, not on the grill. I might end up at the shop overnight, depending on traffic. We’ll see.
Today we’re back to our usual schedule. We’ll be open at 1pm, but probably close right on time, so we can catch up on some sleep!
A heron at Sandy Point Park on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Photo by Jennifer Casey Photography
Happy Independence Day!
Today’s feast is Independence Day in the USA. The Declaration of Independence was passed on July 2 and officially signed on August 2 (although a number of signers may have put their “John Hancocks” on the paper on July 4), but this is the date that it was made public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)
- The reading of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall. –The long version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJJxFGXLIz0
- VIDEO: Frederick Douglass’ Descendants Deliver His ‘Fourth Of July’ Speech – https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/884832594/video-frederick-douglass-descendants-read-his-fourth-of-july-speech
- Fireworks – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DRaRwUjliM
An article that I wrote about patriotic songs: https://wp.me/P2xgQ8-cpy
….and something that I wrote, a year ago yesterday with the pic that sparked it.
We liberals love this country. We love “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We love, “Freedom and Justice for all!” We also love the people that make up this country. We prefer to allow dissent, but stupid ignorance and deliberate misinformation start sounding like the rooster on top of the manure pile screaming that he’s king of the world, and yeah, you’re supporting the brat kicking the seat.
– Anja Bartlett (C)2020 M. Bartlett
Today’s plant is Blue Elderberry, Sambucus cerulea. It’s a rather wild shrub that can be trained into a small tree, with icky-smelling white flowers that then produce dark fruits that appear blue because of a whitish coating on them. In Oregon it grows mostly from the valley out to the coast with some isolated pockets in the Eastern part of the state. There’s a lot of folklore surrounding the tree. “In some areas, the “elder tree” was supposed to ward off evil influence and give protection from witches, while other beliefs say that witches often congregate under the plant, especially when it is full of fruit. In some regions, superstition, religious belief, or tradition prohibits the cutting of certain trees for bonfires, most notably in witchcraft customs the elderberry tree; “Elder be ye Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed ye’ll be” – A rhyme from the Wiccan rede [poem]. If an elder tree was cut down, a spirit known as the Elder Mother would be released and take her revenge. The tree could only safely be cut while chanting a rhyme to the Elder Mother.” From Wikipedia – Feminine, Venus, Water – The flowers are used for Crossing the Bridge rituals. Carry for protection and to prevent rheumatism and toothache. Dried berries are helpful in sleep pillows. All parts are good for protection. Grow near the home for prosperity. Magic wands and flutes are often made from this wood.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_cerulea orhttp://en.wikipedia.org
Summer hours are 1-6pm Thurs.-Mon., although we’re often here later as the days get longer. Need something off hours? Give us a call at 541-563-7154 or Facebook message or email at anjasnihova@yahoo.com 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
Moon in Virgo
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 7/12 at 11:38am. Waxing Crescent phase – Keywords for the Crescent phase are: expansion, growth, struggle, opportunity. It is the time in a cycle that you gather the wisdom learned in the new phase and communicate your intention to move forward. Light a candle. Write or read an affirmation. LISTEN & ABSORB. Commit to your goal. God/dess aspect: Maiden/Youth, energy and enthusiasm – Associated God/dess: Artemis & Apollo, Mayet/Djehuti, Freya/Frey. Phase ends at the Quarter on 7/6 at 7:14pm.
Noctilucent clouds – Stunning noctilucent clouds fill the sky above Austria in July 2020. – H. Raab (Flickr)
Low in the northwest or north at the end of these long summer twilights, would you recognize noctilucent clouds if you saw them? They’re the most astronomical of all cloud types, what with their extreme altitude and their formation (in part) on meteoric dust particles. They used to be fairly rare, but in recent years they’ve become more common as Earth’s atmosphere changes. See Bob King’s Nights of Noctilucent Clouds.
Earth is at the aphelion of its orbit, its farthest from the Sun for the year, in its nearly (but not quite) circular orbit: 3% farther than at perihelion in January at midnight PDT. At that time, our planet will sit 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) from the Sun.
The Fireworks Galaxy – NGC 6946 is also known as the Fireworks Galaxy. As those in the U.S. enjoy Independence Day this week, take a look at this stunning face-on spiral in celebration. – Greg Allegretti (Flickr)
Let’s celebrate Independence Day with some fireworks. NGC 6946 is also known as the Fireworks Galaxy, thanks to the large number of supernovae astronomers have observed within it — eight in the last 100 years or so. This face-on spiral sits about 22 million light-years away in the far northern reaches of Cygnus, right at the constellation’s border with Cepheus. The high number of supernovae tell us that, in addition to lots of star deaths, there must be lots of star births in this galaxy as well. Thus, astronomers have classified NGC 6946 as a starburst galaxy. Although this galaxy is cataloged as magnitude 9, its light is spread out over an area spanning 11′ by 10′. That means it appears relatively faint and you’ll want as large a telescope as you can manage to see it well. To find the Fireworks Galaxy, look 2.1° southwest of magnitude 3.4 Eta (η) Cephei, which itself sits just under 4° southwest of Alderamin, Cepheus’ alpha star.
Neptune, magnitude 7.9 at the Aquarius-Pisces border, is high in the southeast before the first light of dawn, between Jupiter and Saturn.
Runic half month of Feoh – 6/29-7/13 The first rune, Feoh, is sacred to Frey and Freya (Freyja), the lord and lady often worshipped in modern Wicca. It is the half-month of wealth and success. Nigel Pennick, The Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont, USA, 1992, 1992
Sun in Cancer
Pluto (10/8), Saturn (10/23), Neptune 12/3 Retrograde
Goddess Month of Rosea runs from 6/13 – 7/10
Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7
Color – Silver
©2022 M. Bartlett, Some parts separately copyright
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Celtic Tree Month of Duir/Oak, Jun 10 – Jul 7 – The oak of myth and legend is the common oak (Quercus robur L.). It is sometimes called the great oak, which is a translation of its Latin name (robur is the root of the English word “robust”). It grows with ash and beech in the lowland forests, and can reach a height of 150 feet and age of 800 years. Along with ashes, oaks were heavily logged throughout recent millennia, so that the remaining giant oaks in many parts of Europe are but a remnant of forests past. Like most other central and northern European trees, common oaks are deciduous, losing their leaves before Samhain and growing new leaves in the spring so that the trees are fully clothed by Bealltaine. Common oaks are occasionally cultivated in North America, as are the similar native white oak, valley oak, and Oregon oak. Oaks are members of the Beech family (Fagaceae). Curtis Clark
Duir – Oak Ogam letter correspondences
Month: May
Color: Black and Dark Brown
Class: Chieftain
Letter: D
Meaning: Security; Strength
to study this month – Eadha – White Poplar or Aspen Ogam letter correspondences
Month: None
Color: Silver White
Class: Shrub
Letter: E
Meaning: Problems; Doubts; Fears.
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Tides for Alsea Bay
*
Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
~ /Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
M 4 High 3:51 AM 6.4 5:38 AM Set 12:09 AM 18
~ 4 Low 10:51 AM -0.2 9:04 PM Rise 10:57 AM
~ 4 High 5:37 PM 6.2
~ 4 Low 11:19 PM 2.7
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Affirmation/Thought for the Day – And… At the end of your days, be leaning forward – not falling backwards.
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Journal Prompt – Personal Interests and Experiences – If TV didn’t exist, what would you do with your time?
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Quotes
~ The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore. – Dale Carnegie
~ America is a country that doesn’t know where it is going but is determined to set a speed record getting there. – Dr. Lawrence J. Peter (1919-1990) US pop psychologist, writer
~ Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. – Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish novelist, poet
~ As much as I converse with sages and heroes, they have very little of my love and admiration. I long for rural and domestic scene, for the warbling of birds and the prattling of my children. – John Adams (1735-1826) US President (2)
Fireworks by Amy Lowell
You hate me and I hate you,
And we are so polite, we two!
But whenever I see you, I burst apart
And scatter the sky with my blazing heart.
In spits and sparkles in stars and balls,
Buds into roses — and flares, and falls.
Scarlet buttons, and pale green disks,
Silver spirals and asterisks,
Shoot and tremble in a mist
Peppered with mauve and amethyst.
I shine in the window and light up the trees,
And all because I hate you, if you please.
And when you meet me, you rend asunder
And go up in a flaming wonder
Of saffron cubes, and crimson moons,
And wheels all amaranths and maroons.
Golden lozenges and spades,
Arrows of malachites and jades,
Patens of copper, azure sheaves.
As you mount, you flash in the glossy leaves.
Such fireworks as we make, we two!
Because you hate me and I hate you.
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Lughnasadh Magick – Recipes
Corn Bread Ear Sticks – Recipe by StormWing
Purchase an iron mold shaped like little ears of corn in flea markets or kitchen supply shops, or look in grandma’s kitchen wherever she keeps her bakeware – there just might be one there already! Grease lightly and preheat in a 425 degree oven. You will need:
3/4 cup Flour
3/4 cup Yellow Corn Meal
1/4 cup Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Eggs
1 cup Milk (or Buttermilk if you prefer)
1/4 cup Shortening
Sift dry ingredients together. Add milk, eggs, shortening, and beat until smooth. Pour into preheated and greased molds and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. From Miss Daney’s Folklore, Magic and Superstitions
Bake corn bread sticks. You can find a cast-iron mold shaped like little ears of corn in kitchen supply shops. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Activities taken from “Green Witchcraft” by Anne Moura (Aoumiel)
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup corn meal
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup shortening
Sift dry ingredients together, add eggs, milk, and shortening, and beat until smooth. Pour into molds and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Lammas Potpourri
20 drops clove bud oil
23 drops sandalwood oil
1 cup oak moss
2 cups dried pink rosebuds
2 cups dried red peony petals
1 cupdried amaranth flowers
1 cup dried heather flowers
1/2 cup dried cornflowers.
Mix the clove bud and sandalwood oils with the oak moss, first. - Add the remaining ingredients,
- Stir the potpourri well and store in a tightly covered ceramic or glass container.
GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast Archives 2002
Lughnasadh Incense Recipe
2 tsp Heather
1 tsp Frankincense
1 tsp Apple Blossoms
1/4 tsp Blackberry leaves
1/4 tsp wood base
1/8 tsp salt petre
Self-burning, no charcoal needed. Do place on sand to burn. – GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast Archives 2002
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Silliness – 24 Hours to Live
Barry returned from a doctor’s visit one day and told his wife Carol that the doctor said he only had 24 hours to live. Wiping away her tears, he asked her to be intimate. Of course she agreed.
Six hours later, Barry went to her again, and said, “Darling, now I only have 18 hours left to live. Maybe we could be intimate?” Carol agreed.
Later, Barry was getting into bed when he realized he now had only eights hours of life left. He touched Carol’s shoulder and said, “Darling please? Just one more time before I die?” She agreed, and then afterwards she rolled over and fell asleep.
Barry, however, lay there awake and listened to the clock ticking in his head, tossing and turning until he was down to only four more hours.
He tapped his wife on the shoulder to wake her up. “Darling, I only have four hours left! Could we…?”
His wife sat up abruptly, turned to him and said, “Listen, I’m not being funny Barry, but I have to get up in the morning and you don’t!”
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