Treegold & Beegold

Spring has Sprung Blog Hop: March 25th

2012-02-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendar’s everyone. Coming up March 25th Treegold & Beegold will be hosting a Blog Hop.
The theme is Spring and we want to hear from you. Come join in on the party.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

What Spring means to you
Spring activities
Spring themed recipes
Spring themed crafts
Spring decorations
Ostara events

This list goes on and on. Share with us anything you want. Just be sure to take a button and place it in the sidebar of your blog to tell everyone stopping by your site that you are joining in the fun.

Add your blog to the link below so I know how many place settings to put out.

Remember to come back here to Treegold & Beegold on March 25th and add your post to that day’s blog post. I’ll have a new blog hop link up to share the title of your post and a widget to add to your post for easy navigation.
A sneak peek: I'm probably going to do another craft tutorial and show off the photos of the kids doing their Ostara Egg Hunt.
I can’t wait to see who joins up and please spread the word!

Technorati Tags: blog hop,spring

Weekly Update: New Triple Moon Patches, High School, & Awards

2012-02-21T10:33:00.001-05:00

Monday update is coming on Tuesday this week because I was very busy yesterday. Today we have more talking about School, New item in the Etsy Shop, and getting an Award.

First I’d like to thank everyone who left comments on the Sweetheart Sheep Tutorial. He’s gotten some great reactions and as a creator that makes me feel great! I’m seriously considering making a few for the Etsy Shop but I’m going to try to do it entirely by sewing (no hot glue) and to use fleece instead of felt for the coat. I hope to start the first one by this weekend.

Back to School I go

I spent the entire day at a local High School doing classroom observations. I was definitely a learning experience. I feel a lot more comfortable being in a High School again.

Also I spoke with the head of the Math Department. It seems there is an ESE position available right now for the rest of the year and then maybe a geometry in the fall. Teaching ESE scares me because I have no basis of knowledge on how to teach it differently. But it'll get me in the door and lead to something better. It's also only for 3 months so I'll probably take it. Maybe I'll like it and want to stay, who knows.

New Pagan Etsy Store Items

I've been working on a few new items this week for the Etsy Shop. Unfortunately the one I'm most excited about, a new pagan baby item, isn't finished but I'll give you a peek. It's a security blanket with an embroidered flannel top and super soft minkey fabric on the underside.

I've also modified the Triple Moon Goddess patch. I have made a smaller 2 inch version and stitched it up in multiple colors. These are $4 each for the plain colors and $4.50 for the metallic. I have even more colors available but I thought this was a good beginning selection.

Discipline: Yes an ‘Evil’ D Word

2012-02-17T12:21:00.001-05:00

Half of life is luck; the other half is discipline - and that’s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn’t know what to do with luck.

Carl Zuckmeyer

It’s Friday again and it’s time for my first D contribution for the Pagan Blog Project. You can Visit all the other D blogs for this week Here.

This week I once again wanted to talk about one of the Nine Noble Virtues that are expressed in some forms of Heathenry. This time we’re talking about Discipline. Even if all the Nine Nobel Virtues aren’t held up word for word by all Heathens the principles behind them I have only ever seen as well received.

Previously I talked about Courage: It’s for Everyone, if you didn’t see it or what more of an intro to the Nine Noble Virtues you can find it there.

When I’m talking about discipline here I’m talking about self discipline. This isn’t about the type of discipline you as a parent use with your children or your own parents used with you. First though we need to define it.

What is Discipline First

Merriam-Webster.com

What I’m discussing is related to #6 in that it’s we’re looking at self appointed rules that we have determined to follow ourselves. These rules can apply to many things such as:

Physical Routines likes exercise
Household Routines like cleaning
Spiritual Routines like regular meditation
Social Routine like participating in the Pagan Blog Project

Discipline is something we all shy away from at one point or another because well It’s Hard.

Tutorial: Sweetheart Sheep Plush Sock Toy

2012-02-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve been talking on and on about this toy for weeks now I think. It definitely took me longer to make then I expected. I’m happy to say that it is complete!

Wee Rose is very happy to hear that too. It is now her sheep to play with. Though half the time she calls it a cow.

A bit of a background: This sheep starts out as a sock and does involve some machine sewing. It isn’t a whole lot, and I’m sure you could possibly get away either by hand sewing or working around it. You be the judge though if machine sewing is not up your alley.

If you would like to have this pattern as a PDF be sure to sign up for our Email Newsletters in the right hand sidebar. Access for the tutorial PDF will be available in all future newsletters.

The tutorial is broken into a few sections for ease.

What you will Need
Making the Body
Legtastic
Time to Get some Fleece
Tail Time
Back to those Leg’s Bald Spots
Don’t Forget the Head
The Nose Smells All
Embroider the Details
Frolicking Sheep Picture Gallery

Monday Madness: 3 Year Olds, Sheep, & Teaching

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

This Monday I wanted to talk with everyone a bit about my reactions to my classes for becoming a teacher, how Lil ‘R is driving me crazy and that Tomorrow the Tutorial for the Sheep toy will be out!

I’m getting really excited about my career change

Trying to adjust to new addition of school work is becoming a bit of a struggle. Especially here in the beginning were I have loads of other things besides just the classwork.

Last Tuesday I had to go get my finger printing done so that today I could approach a school asking if I could do my field work there. I still need to check on my financial aid process also.

Each class I go to I learn things that seem to make great sense and instill in me a sense of purpose. That was one thing I always felt like I was lacking in my previous jobs, a good Why?

Valentines Meal: Heart Calzones and Berry Cobbler

2012-02-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

From the Archive. This first appeared in my old blog Finagling Life on 2/11/2011

I found this recipe for Calzone Hearts last week and decided it would be a great thing to do for the family Valentine's Day dinner.

I prepped them on Sunday night because making the dough and forming the hearts took quite a bit of time. I won't kid you the dough is a pain in the butt. It is a very stiff dough and at times I almost wished I had a pasta machine to get it right. While watching movies with Hubby I put together all the calzones and it took me over 2 hours to do it all. First I rolled and cut out all the dough. I happen to have a heart shaped cookie cutter so I just used that.

Once they were all cut I prepped the filling. For ours it's just mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. I chopped the pepperoni really fine first. Once I put the filling in I just crimped the edges with a fork. After I was done though I just covered them in plastic wrap and stuck them in the fridge to be baked the next evening.

The next night I made garlic bread and threw the calzones in the oven. While they were baking I also make a berry cobbler like dessert for later. I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com called Easy Fruit Cobbler. I used strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Yes, it was very easy to make. Based on the comments on the the site I added vanilla extract to the dough and some brown sugar on top of the berries before baking it.

There it is sitting in the oven. It tasted great. Hubby had it with whip cream where I prefer vanilla ice cream with mine.

But the final picture of what dinner looked like.

Voila!! Lil' R loved the calzones so I think I may go through the torture of making them every year.

UPDATE: A year later and honestly I don't think I'll go through making those again. It was just way too much work.

This year I'll try to figure out a new meal for Valentine's Day.

Community: It’s something We All Need

2012-02-10T13:40:00.001-05:00

This weeks 2nd C post for the Pagan Blog Project has been a tough one for me. Originally I started writing about children and then I realized it was beginning to sound like a post I wrote back in October.

So I scraped that post and decided to go on a different topic.

Make sure to take a look at all the other posts from the other bloggers Here.

Communities – We have Many

Each of us is involved in many different communities in our lives.

Some of our communities overlap with each other and others are completely autonomous. Examples of communities you may be involved with are:

Your immediate family
Your extended family
Your Coven/Kindred/Church/etc.
A Pagan community in one area
A Pagan community in another area
Your neighborhood
Your job
Your best friends
An Online Community such as the Pagan Blog Project, Facebook, or other Social Media.

I’m sure each of you have different communities you are involved with then just this list. It’s only to stand as an example of possible ones.

7 Cool Things I found: Dragons, Cows, Breakfast Pockets, Cookies, Roses and more

2012-02-08T14:37:00.001-05:00

An Amigurumi Dragon Pattern at All about Ami

Breakfast Pockets from Budget Gourmet Mom

DIY kitschy Valentine Wreath at My Paper Crane

Crochet Along at Laughing Purple Goldfish

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Every month Laughing Purple Goldfish offers a free pattern for those who wish to join in. One month it’s a Crochet pattern and then the next it’s a Knitting pattern.

I decided to join in because this Giraffe is just too cute. I still haven’t decided on the color yet but I know I want to add the spots with felt.

I did jokingly say I was going to put a purple Tu-tu on it and give it to Wee Rose.

If you want to join in too just follow the Link to the blog post and there are instructions on how to contact Sharon.

Now get to creating!

Monday Madness: Back to School, Pom Pom Heart, and Sheep in Progress

2012-02-06T11:49:00.001-05:00

Back to School I Go

I’m back in school for the third time now. This time around is definitely different specifically in the teaching styles of my instructors. For my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees it was very much a sit, takes notes and look to the front while the professor lectured.
Being as I’m now working on a certificate for my Teaching Certificate with the State of Florida my instructors are modeling what we should do in our own classrooms. That means group work, lots of discussion and engagement. In some ways I feel like I’m back in High School and honestly I really like it.
The class sessions are much easier to get through because paying attention in much less of a chore. I’m trying to absorb everything I’m learning and think of ways to teach math on these principles. At the moment it’s tough though. Math is not a simple subject to make fun. I’m sure with a bit of a Google search though I could find some blogs with great suggestions.
Tomorrow though I need to go get finger printed so I can do my in class time at some schools.

Pom Pom Heart

A few days ago I came across this cute and simple tutorial for making a pom pom heart. It’s so perfect for Valentine’s Day and Really it’s so simple.
Read more »

Imbolc/Spring Candleholder Tutorial Today over at The Magical Buffet

2012-02-05T11:16:00.001-05:00

Today I have a Guest Post over at The Magical Buffet. It’s a full tutorial on how to make this Imbolc/Spring Candleholder from Felt.
Go check it out!

-Velody

Courage: It’s for Everyone

2012-02-03T09:16:00.001-05:00

There is more than one way to have Courage

It’s Friday again and it’s time for my first C contribution for the Pagan Blog Project. You can Visit all the other C blogs for this week Here.

There is a principle that was set forth in Modern Heathenry and followed or respected by most practitioners called the Nine Noble Virtues. The Nine Noble Virtues were codefied by the Odinic Rite in the early 1970’s. Though many Heathens are not a part of the Odinic Rite and do not follow the Nine Nobel Virtues in the sense of them being “Laws” or “Rules” they are no matter what good principles to follow.

The following is directly from the Odinic Rite Website:

The moral codes of the Odinic Rite were codified from The Hávamál and The Sigrdrífomál (poems from the Elder Edda) in the early 1970′s by two of the OR’s founding members, John Yeowell (aka Stubba) and John Gibbs-Bailey (aka Hoskuld). Since that time they have been widely adopted and although others have felt the need to change and adapt them, to us they remain as laid down by our founders.

Courage – Truth – Honour
Fidelity – Discipline – Hospitality
Self-reliance – Industriousness – Perseverence

-From The Odinic Rite Website

Courage is what Legends are Made of

I’m sure we all have grow up on stories full of courageous acts. Where a hero in front of overwhelming odds continues on no matter the cost. We here of them in real life also; the solider who fights on to protect and save others, or the fire fighter who rushes into a burning building to safe another. We all knows those are Courageous Acts and we would never question that. People past and present who have shown such large acts of Courage are spoken and sung about for ages to come. They inspire others to know that they too can be courageous. Most importantly they inspire each of us to know we can be Courageous in our every day lifes.

Be Courageous Day to Day

I want to talk more about the Courage of the every day person. How each of us can live day to day being Courageous.

First though a Quote from the 2003 version of Peter Pan. Bravery being a synonym for Courage, I see this as fitting.

Mrs. Darling: There are many different kinds of bravery. There's the bravery of thinking of others before one's self. Now, your father has never brandished a sword nor fired a pistol, thank heavens. But he has made many sacrifices for his family, and put away many dreams.
Michael: Where did he put them?
Mrs. Darling: He put them in a drawer. And sometimes, late at night, we take them out and admire them. But it gets harder and harder to close the drawer... He does. And that is why he is brave.

Sometimes in our lives we will be faced with choices to do actions that very obviously take Courage to act on. Many of us will never be faced with the choice to run into a burning building though.

That Courage may be a simple as telling someone the truth about something. It may be doing an action you know if the right course but may result in negative consequences.

Truly though what have Courage means is not allowing Fear or Doubt to decide your fate.

Is there something recently you have done that took Courage to do?

For me, I’d say deciding to switch careers after my lay off last September. I’m scared and anxious about this. Will we have spent money we don’t have on this venture or will it’s possible I won’t be any good at teaching. But I have to take care of my family and that is what matters most.

Leave a comment about your recent act of Courage, or Better yet write a blog post about it. Use this button on your post and add your link to the widget.

Technorati Tags: Courage,Heathen,PaganBlogProject,C,Bloghop

A Review: Stacy Evan’s Sabbat Cooking Imbolc

2012-02-02T11:38:00.001-05:00

Stacy Evans, the blogger behind A Simple Life Inspired is writing a series of E-books called Sabbat Cooking. Each E-book contains recipes themed specifically for each Sabbat. At the moment she has one out for Samhain and one for Imbolc.
I purchased Stacy’s E-book through her blog and it is also availble through Wyrdwood Publications for just $5. The E-book is a total of 56 pages. No skimpy amount. The recipes types and totals come to:

Appetizers: 12
Sides: 6
Main Dishes and Soups: 11
Desserts: 5
Miscellaneous: 1 (a recipe for butter)

We were having company over and I decided to make the Brigid Braid Bread, Sour Cream Chicken and Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes.

Brigid Braid Bread

This recipe was Delicious!
Read more »

Monday Madness: New Thor, Sif & Thor’s Hammer Patches, Home Woes, and Back to School

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

New Thor, Sif & Thor’s Hammer Sew On Patches

Last week I listed 3 new Norse themed patches. I made my first God/Goddess Patches. I’m going to finish off the Norse Pantheon first before moving onto others unless someone specifically orders a particular one. I’m also working on the Thor patch but in only Black & White.

Thor Patch, 3 inches in diameter – $9 at the Etsy Shop

Sif Patch, 3 inches in diameter – $9 at the Etsy Shop

Thor’s Hammer, 3 inches in diameter with metallic silver thread – $6 at the Etsy Shop

I Have Orientation Tonight

Tonight I have Orientation for the teaching program I’m starting in. It’s been over 2 years since I last graduated so I’m both excited and nervous about going back. Now to finish up some paperwork!

Home Repair Woes

When it rains it pours right? Water is definitely the correct analogy in this case. We just learned a few weeks ago that the wax seal in the kids bathroom had cracked and was leaking. We don’t know when it started but the problem didn’t become evident until after Lil’ R became potty trained and that toilet was in regular use. We’re now going through the hassle of the insurance adjuster, and a contractor to get the repairs done. It isn’t just that bathroom that is bad though, it leaked into our kitchen and caused damage to some of the cabinets.
In some ways it’s a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing is we should get our cabinets in the kitchen and that bathroom redone, along with that bathroom floor for the cost of our deductible. Bad thing that right now I really didn’t want to spend as much as our deductible on something like this.

Upcoming Tutorial

I have 2 different ideas for on cute little sheep that I want to make tutorials of. I plan to have one out for Imbolc, and the other may appear randomly through the Spring. Lets hope classes don’t get in the way so I can get it done asap.

That’s the nut shell this week. I’m going to try to get some pictures of the house as it’s taken a part soon.

Technorati Tags: personal,monday update,patches,sif,thor,thor's hammer,embroidery,etsy,for sale,school

I was Tagged! And Multiple Times

2012-01-29T11:49:00.001-05:00

I mentioned a week or so back I was tagged by a few people and since I said that, I was tagged again. I almost feel like I’m a popular kid back in high school.
If I tag you and you don’t want to do it no, worries or if I missed that you’ve already been tagged and done it please don’t feel you need to do it again.
I was tagged by:

The Rules

Post these rules.
You must post 11 random thoughts about yourself.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
Go to their blog and tell them you have tagged them.
No stuff in the tagging section about 'you are tagged if you are reading this.' blah, blah, blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Thoughts about Myself

I met my husband online and he moved from NJ to FL for after only a few months of knowing each other.
Wee Rose is named after my maternal grandmother and got one of her 2 middle names from both myself and the color she was when she was born. (Rose)
I hate soda and have never had more then a few glasses worth of it in my life. Mostly all I have had was in mixed drinks.
Though my mother is very crafty the only thing she directly taught me was how to do a running stitch & back stitch when hand sewing. She stopped making things around the time I was 5 so I taught myself every thing else I know. She has since picked it all back up again, which I find very amusing and great for conversations.
I kept my birth middle names when I married instead of following family convention and changing my middle names for my maiden name. I did so at the time because I was upset with my family over how they reacted to my married. There are times I regret that I did that now.
My son seems to think I can make or fix about anything. I’m not sure if this is good thing or not.
I have a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering but unfortunately I was laid off last fall. I’m about to start classes to help in getting my teaching certificate to teach High School math.
My husband is the Stay-at-Home-Parent in our house, I’ve always been the bread winner from day 1.
I’ve always wanted to get into cosplaying or SCA. I love costuming, period clothes and making them. I almost did before my children were born and I hope when they are older I can return back to trying my hand at it.
I was Goth in high school and college. I dyed my hair so many times in college I had a professor joke he’d give the class extra credit every time I had a new color.
After years working as an engineer in the conservative professional office environment I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.

From Freckles: The Happy Heathen

What's the first thing you would save from a fire and why?
Other than living beings in the home my portable hard drive. It has way too much data on it.
You're a superhero for a day, what's your special ability?
Telekinesis, not sure why but the idea of moving things with my thought is just cool.
How do you geek out (science, books, math, video games, etc?)
All of the above? I’m an avid reader; I’m good at math, darn I plan to start teaching it; I play Skyrim at the moment though video games are what I do least; I read science blogs and watch science shows; I love Fantasy & Sci Fi movies & TV. I even read the occasional comic.
Harry Potter or Star Wars?
Oh this is tough because I love them both for so many different reasons. I grew up on Star Wars. I was an Ewok loving child. But as an adult I came to love Harry Potter for many different reasons. I can’t chose.
Your favorite comfort food and why?
Macaroni & Cheese because it’s childhood in a box.
What's one habit you wish you could kick?
Biting my nails. I succeed for periods of time, even months but I always go back to it.
Favorite holiday and why?
Halloween because I love to dress up, decorate the house and it’s an excuse to be Goth without the world looking at me sideways.
Toilet paper - up and over, or down? (lol, this is the biggest debate in our house)
Up & Over. This was an issue in our house but at some point I won. I have no clue how or why just all of a sudden all toilet paper was put on this way if we still use the dispenser. In our bathrooms either the dispenser is wobbly and needs to be fixed or we have to put the toilet paper up to keep it out of the hands of the 3 yr old.
What's your favorite sweet treat?
Peanut butter Ice cream
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? What's your favorite meal time and why?
I would used to say dinner but I’m currently having issues with all meals. Being as we’re on food assistance due to unemployment we can’t afford to eat out so all meals are cooked and I’m the only one who can cook in our house. It’s starting to get really old.
What's you favorite inspirational quote?
Carpe Dieum, and yes it always makes me think of Dead Poets Society.

From The Crone’s Place

How long have you been Pagan?
I started looking into Wicca/Neo-Paganism when I was 15. I turn 30 this year so half of my life now.
What do you consider the best part of your religious belief?
Not so much my Religious belief but my Personal beliefs that there is not one true way.
Are you or did you raise your children in your religious belief?
I’m trying to but my own beliefs are bit up in the air the moment so it’s a bit tough. Luckily they’re young so the basics are simple.
What kind of pets do you have?
We have 2 cats and 1 dog, a Schnoodle (half schnauzer and half poodle)
Have you always lived in one general area?
Pretty much, we moved from Indiana to Orlando when I was 3. I moved over to Tampa when I was 19.
How many schools did you attend as a child?
3 Elementary though we never moved (1 private, 2 public they built a new and rezoned), 1 Middle and 2 High School.
Do you stay in contact with any of your high school friends?
A few through Facebook or Google + but I’m not close with any of them.
What led you to picking the name for your blog?
A long and arduous process. I really was trying to think of a name for my Etsy shop and just used the name for that for the blog also. On my About Page is exactly what it means.
What is the one thing about yourself or your life that you would like to change?
My self image & self confidence issues.
What is the one thing about yourself or your life that you wouldn't change for any amount of money?
My children
How long did you know your spouse/ partner before you married/ committed to each other?
We were together for only 6 months when we married.

From A Cauldron Full of Stars

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Willful ignorance or refusal to even listen to other points.
How did you find out Santa Claus/Easter Bunny/ Tooth Fairy wasn't quite legit?
Santa when I was about 6 or 7. I caught my parents wrapping the presents on Christmas Eve, Easter Bunny I don’t think I ever believed was “real” “real”, and the Tooth Fairy I confirmed when I found some of my baby teeth and my brother’s hidden in my mom’s jewelry box. (She kept our first 4 we lost for each of us)
Favorite toy as a kid?
My Little Ponies, I had a lot of them.
If you could go back in time, which person would you most like to shake and say "What were you thinking?!"
For the sake of “What if?” Henry the VIIIth over his divorce to Katherine of Aragon. Without it I wonder where Protestantism would have gone and the original settlers to the Americas.
Chicken or the egg?
Egg, but it wasn’t laid by a Chicken.
If you could read people's thoughts, would you want to?
No, I think I would rather be a true Empath.
If you could turn someone into a toad who would it be?
Probably not but I’d love the option.
Fantasy vacation?
Prague, and a tour of Eastern Europe.
What is the most romantic thing you've experienced?
Umm.. never had anyone do a grand romantic gesture only little things and can’t think of one at the moment.
If you could create your own society what would it be like?
Like something utopic world you’d see on Stargate or Star Trek.
What book would you most love to see brought to life (through movie making or literally)?
The Wheel of Time Series, but that would be a very long running TV show. lol

From The Domestic Pagan

What is the defining moment of your life?
Moving away from the close proximity of my parents for college. Though I didn’t move far I still moved far enough away (2 hrs) to set up finding myself.
What song could you listen to over and over?
Metallica, Nothing Else Matters
What was the first music album that you ever owned?
The first record I remember having myself was Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Where is your favorite place in the world?
I loved Normandy in France but there are so many places I want to visit.
What is your dream car?
Since a teen it was a 1969 Mock 1 Mustang but now I don’t really have one.
Do you have any unusual talents or skills?
Not that I can think of, what I’m good at isn’t anything unusual unless you count math.
What is your earliest memory?
Sitting on some steps in our house eating M&Ms in a bowl with a spoon. Occasionally looking over my shoulder to see if my mom was watching and then using my fingers to eat them.
If you were the opposite sex for a day, what would you do?
I have no idea. The most obvious would be to do something I couldn’t do the same as a female like have sex.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and why?
Telekinesis, because it’d be cool to move things around.
Why do you blog?
1st I blogged as a way of sorta journaling but I stopped that blog. Then I started this one first to promote the Etsy Shop but the more I do it the more it’s becoming about sharing with a community.
Sum up your life using only 6 words (I recently read about doing this in O Magazine. My 6 words: Still finding myself in my thirties)
Time to Start the Next Chapter

Wow that took a bit to answer all of those. If I get tagged again, I’m sorry I’m spent. lol

My 11 Questions for those I tag

You have a 100% free day with no plans at all, what do you do?
Did you have a childhood pet?
If you could move anywhere (and be sure of a job etc.) where would it be?
Do you do any type of crafts?
What is one of your favorite holiday dishes to cook?
What is your favorite shape?
Morning person or not?
How do you take your coffee and/or tea?
What is your preferred Movie Genre?
Were you ever a “wild child?”
How Geeky are you on a scale of 1 to 10

Who I’m Tagging

I really tried hard to tag people I hadn’t thought had been tagged yet.

If you’ve been tagged please join in and tag some more!

To Boast: It’s Good For You

2012-01-27T10:26:00.001-05:00

It’s that time of the week again. Friday means it’s my entry for the Pagan Blog Project. We’re on the Second week of the Letter B and be sure to check out the other posts written this week.

Last week when I was talking about Blots I mentioned a bit about Sumbel, the rite of ritualized toasting done after a Blot or separately on it’s own. Before I said how it has a minimum of three rounds, where the Drinking Horn is passed to each person and they say something. Remember that everything said over the horn is sacred and the words reverberate throughout the Nine Worlds.

The first round is to the Gods, the second to the Ancestors, and the third is for Oaths, Toasts or Boasts.

What is a Boast?

I wanted to talk about boasts because they are something I always found difficult to do and in some ways run counter to many peoples upbringing.

Boasts are telling of some accomplishment over the horn for all the worlds to hear. They aren’t bragging because bragging often has the connotation of something not fully earned or being over inflated in its telling.

Boasts include telling everyone of the promotion you got at work, the healthy birth of a child, or fulfilling some personal goal. The last is very important is that goal was made previously as an Oath over the horn at some prior Sumbel.

So What’s My Difficulty with Boasts?

I was raised, as I think many of Northern European mutt heritage were, that you keep your emotions pretty close to the cuff and bragging is wrong. When I first encountered the ideal of boasting I just couldn’t do it. Really though the biggest reason was I doubted if anything I had done was worthy of a boast. I was no great war-hero, I had never saved another persons life, I then had no children, and when I first entered Heathenry I didn’t even have a job. I was in college full-time.

It was probably not until I’d participated in half a dozen sumbels or so that I finally did my first. Previous to that I just stuck to Toasts. After I did my first, which I don’t honestly remember what it was, I realized something. It felt awesome to vocalize a true accomplishment, have everyone recognize it and here that resounding Hail! in return. I also realized as long as I truly felt it was an accomplishment and deserving of a Boast then so would everyone else. No one was going to call me out in the middle of Sumbel over a Boast.

That’s reserved only for Oaths. We’ll get into that when we get to O.

Boasts are Good for the Soul

Even if you have never participated in a Sumbel and are not likely to in the future you can still take this to heart.

Make sure to acknowledge your accomplishments and let others too.

Write it on a piece of paper and put in on the Fridge for a week. Post into onto your Social Networking site of choice like Facebook, or Google +. Just whatever you do.

Don’t keep it to yourself!

Go ahead and start it here. In the comments leave me a boast about something you’ve done recently!

Technorati Tags: Boast,Heathen,Asatru,Sumble,PaganBlogProject,Horn

Pagan Blog Project: My First Yule Blot

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

This week for the Pagan Blog Project I wanted to not just write about what a Blot as if this were a Wikipedia article. Instead I’m going to share my first major Blot I went to.

Cue the Flashback Sound Effect

It was Yule of 2002, I’m 20 at the time and had identified as Pagan since 1997. This was a huge deal, this was my first Yule event hosted by a Heathen Kindred. I’m going to abstain from naming the kindred but it was a local group that was led by a man who at the time was the Florida State steward for The Troth.

I’d met my host and his wife once before. They are wonderful people. They went all out for this event too. Upon entering their home that was full of fresh evergreens boughs, a large tree decorated with ravens, and natural items such as fruits and pinecones. Hard to miss was a large table laden with food. Included in this huge spread was a full size roasted pig with the obligatory apple in its mouth. Yes it really had the apple. I’d never seen a pig actually presented this way. It was definitely a sight.

2012-01-18T09:58:00.001-05:00

It’s Monday: Crocheted Elemental Shakers, Kits & Soft Pretzels

2012-01-16T13:28:00.001-05:00

Newest Shop Item Elemental Shakers

I created a new item late last week, Crocheted Elemental Shakers.
I can’t link them to the Etsy shop though because the first set I made sold within 30 minutes of my posting them! I’m working on my 2nd set right now. They’ll be $16 when posted.
I won’t just be selling the completed items though. For those who love to make things yourselves I’ll be having up 2 different kits.

The first kit will be $9 and include everything but the tools needed to make all 4 balls.
The second kit will be $6, it will include only the directions and 1 set of the embroidered elemental circles.
The embroidered elemental circles and plastic capsules (the shaker inside) will both be available separately. Prices will vary depending upon the quantity.

I’m working on the final edit of the directions right now and will hope to have the listings up in the next day.
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Follow My Blog Friday #3: How I got into Paganism

2012-01-13T12:20:00.001-05:00

It’s Time for Follow My Blog Friday. Be sure to check out the other participating blogs in the widget beneath my answer!
FF#3 Question: How did you first get interested in Wicca, witchcraft, or paganism?
I was 15 when I was first introduced to Wicca. At the time I was going through a large amount of self discovery. I had made some new friends in High School and started to explore and the Gothic & Metal genres attire, attitude and clothes.
While in this I met a guy who was Wiccan. He told me about his beliefs and he introduced me to a small pagan store run in the local Flea Market. I spent the rest of High School hanging around that shop talking with people and reading. Some days I still miss it.
A personal add-on. How did I become interested and first discover Heathenry
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Pagan Blog Project: A is for Alfar

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

This post is for Week 2 of the Pagan Blog Project Hosted by One Witchy One.

Alfar is the Icelandic/Nordic term for Elves, of which there are three races Ljosalfar, Dokkalfar, and Svartalfar, or, light elves, dark elves and black elves. The light elves live in Alfheim, one of the Nine Realms and where Freyr has his home. The black elves live in Svartalfheim another of the Nine Realms and the dark elves live underground.
There are a multitude of specific types of light elves that differed across geographical regions. An example is in Iceland there is a type of elves called Spae-wives who are female, live in cemeteries and have both healing powers and prophetic abilities.
Alfar are also amongst a group called Land Spirits or Wights. Not all Wights are alfar but all alfar are wights. Wights refers to any spiritual being in the Germanic world view. It’s quite broad. Another term for Wights which comes from Ireland is Fairies. There are many similarities.
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CoolThingsIfound: Lots of critters, jewelry, and lip balm tutorials

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

A lot of critters this week!

Pit Bull Amigurumi Pattern at Reliquary Arts

Tatty Devin Inspired Dinosaur Necklace by lidehtium on Craftster.org

Ruffled Bloomers at runcibledays

All Natural Lip Balm at The Art of Homemaking

Stuffed Hobbes over at Instructables by user seamster

A Spoonful of Flowers Necklace Tutorial at Jewels of Sayuri

The Purl Bee Penguin

I hope you like what I found th is week. I think those penguins are adorable!

-Velody

Monday Madness: Four New Shop Items, Pagan Blog Party, & Organizing

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

It’s Monday again.
Today is a really big day here. At 2 pm est I have an interview at the local community college about being accepted into their accelerated teaching program.
After months of fruitless job searching within my own field I’m thinking of taking my engineering degree and hopefully applying it to teaching public school math or physics. I’m still a bit in debate about that.
I’m so afraid I’m going to screw something up so I don’t get in but I’ve heard there are other avenues also. I do also worry because this means I’ll be out of full time employment for quite awhile but I think we can make it.

New Shop Items

I put a few new things up in the shop this week.

I completed the Elemental Baby Cubes!!

Yes Finally!

I even made a video to better show them off and all the sounds they make.

Tutorial: Seasonal Question Wheel made with Scrapbooking Paper

2012-01-08T12:06:00.001-05:00

I asked on the Google + Page what people would be interested in and I was asked to do something involving stacked scrapbook paper. This is an entirely new area for be but I have been wanting to experiment.
For the holidays I was given a set of decorative scissors I’ve been dying to try out. I dove straight in and I hope you like my idea.
I almost scraped this entire project, about half way through I realized my original idea wasn’t going to work and I had to change gears. Please read this fully before trying to follow it. I’ve tried to correct it in the tutorial but please pay special attention to the italics that are the corrections. The pictures give away my mistake.

Materials

Pieces of scrapbooking paper to represent each season
3 pieces of paper to be the structure. 2 parts will be visible.
A piece for trim work
Mat stack of general colors for details
Letter stamps
Black stamp pad
Brads
glue stick
scissors
craft knife
ruler
compass

Making it

I cut out two 5 1/2 in diameter circles of my backing paper.

Also cut a 4 1/2 in diameter circle.

Cut one 4 1/2 in quarter from each of the seasonal papers. This is best done by using a corner of the paper and drawing from edge to edge.

Here are the four papers cut out and placed on a 5 1/2 in backing circle.

My error it really should be on the 4 1/2 inch backing.

Glue all the quarters down. Make sure that the point goes to the center of the larger circle which is marked here with a black dot.

PBP: A is for Ancestors and FMBF

2012-01-06T11:34:00.001-05:00

2012 Blog Projects

I was debating if I wanted to join in with the Pagan Blog Project being hosted by On Witch’s Way. The reason I debated was can I keep up with the regular blog posts. Also, it means I need to move my weekly tutorial post. Those are still going to happy but I think I’ll be posting them on Sundays. I finally decided this would be a great way work on my own scholarship, personal study and share something a bit more personal her on the blog. I’m going to try to keep all of the Pagan Blog Project topics related to Heathenry.
I will continue to participate in Follow My Blog Friday. I actually think these two pagan networking groups go perfectly with each other.
I did debate 3 different Pagan Reading Challenges that are going on this year. I am a prolific reader but I thought that would be a bit too much on my plate. If you’re interested though be sure to check them out.

The Pagan Blog Project: A is for Ancestors

Ancestor reverence is a huge deal in Asatur/Heathenry. For some
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