What a harvest!!

The last 3 months have been a whirlwind of challenge, projects, and gratitude. I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to post, but it’s been quite a ride.

Back in Late July/early august, we started the IndieGoGo crowd funding for the second album. We wanted to try and get it done before the kidlets started school. Right around the time of MuseCon, the first weekend in August, we were barely 1/3 of the way to our goal. With only about 10 days left, we realized that we likely wouldn’t make our goal, so we booked a half dozen or so shows for the month of September (when we originally wanted to record the album).

That’s when the magic happened. In the next 10 days, not only did we make our goal, thanks to the brilliant help of amazing friends and family, we actually exceeded our goal! But in so doing, that meant that we would have to perform at these shows along with recording the album by October 1^st if we wanted to get it off to print in time.

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We got together the song list, and each song had a list of needed parts to be done. We got together with the always amazing Donna Miller, and got this wagon rolling. 2 pagan prides, 1 long night of recording bass and drum tracks, 1 Water Dragon Festival, several nights of vocal and overdub acrobatics, 1 night at Stam, 1 frantic weekend of recording a fiddler, and two small shows later, we managed to get the album done JUST in time. All the while, I’m pumping out Daleks faster than I ever have before! I almost have the pattern memorized at this point.

Then along came the CRITTERS! Matt Hawk did such an amazing job putting our Critters on paper. We cannot thank him enough.

Then in flew Shawna Jaquez with her perfect interpretation of us in album art form. She’s roomed with us at a couple cons, seen us in action several times, and captured the madcap perfectly. All together, it made the perfect package for our music, and we are so grateful.

The first weekend of October brought Archon, and it was amazing. Between the incredible costuming, the amazing music and seeing so many faces that we’ve missed, it was stellar. Also a special thanks to Matthew for recording our show! He does amazing work, by the way. The new music was incredible, too1 Between the Unusual Suspects, Three Fifths, Toyboat, and Mark and Valerie’s new duo, it was fantastic. And congratulations to Mike Nixon and Cathy McManomon for winning the Songwriting contest! Both your songs still bounce through my head now and then.

After that, it was a mad dash to get everything recorded for the Bonus disc. We ended up cutting one song, much to my disappointment. But we’re still going to do that song, and it’ll go up on Bandcamp as the B-side to the version of Disenchanted that we recorded with the always effervescent Amy McNally. Once we get them both done, that track will be up on Bandcamp, and all proceeds for that will go to InterFilk.

Speaking of Interfilk! We got the bonus disc finished just in time for OVFF! All the hugs!! All the amazing music!! Congratulations to Cat Faber for writing the most amazing piece of music I have heard in a long while. The Tricky Pixie Concert was full of zombie conga lines, waltzing, tango, and of course the slaying of an alligator. Please tell me someone has pictures…

Betsy Tinney brought a roomful of people on a journey of musical watercolor bliss. Alexander James Adams, as always, was a Green Man with a fiddle on fire. I got to harmonize with the beautiful SJ Tucker on Cheshire Kitten, and then managed not to SOUND like I was shaking during the Songwriting contest. Once again, GO, CAT FABER!!!

We stayed for the Dead Dog, filled with Cello and until we were in fact dead. We headed home to find 2 boxes full of OUR NEW CD!! We spent the next 2 nights burning the Bonus discs, stuffing and addressing packages, and laughing at my inability keep the cats off the table (it’s a chronic condition. I would seek help, but this is so much more fun!). The first round of packages headed out the door, followed only a couple days later by round 2. Daleks were packaged with Critters, and soon everything was on its way, except was going to be delivered at WindyCon.

Then off to Windy we went! WindyCon holds a very special place in my heart. It was the con where I first sang in a filk circle, and it was the first time Eric heard me sing. And with the exception of a serious moment of drama, this weekend was amazing. Our CD release party featured some of my favorite faces, everyone got their packages, and thanks to a last-minute change in my office, we got to stay an extra day! Another wondrous Dead Dog, especially when we got to come together for “By My Side” from the musical Godspell. Thank you, Becca Leathers. You’re my favoritest Becca Leathers EVERS!!!

And congratulations to Heather and Raven! Seeing that goofy grin on Raven's face is one of the best things ever. May you always be as happy as you are right now.

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And now we are home for almost 2 months. I’m making my last Dalek for a Yule present, then I’m done for a while. The second and third harvests have gone, and now we settle in for the winter months, filled with evergreen boughs, spiced cider, and chosen family. Thank you all so much for your laughter, your smiles, and your unending support. Enjoy the holy days! Or even just the snow!

Holy Critter Crackers, Batgirl!

The Critters are coming! The Critters are coming!

Our second album, Crowes and Consequences, is coming right along. We've gotten all the base tracks done, and Susan's due in today to do her bits!

But now! Now, we have the first bits of our infamous Critters! Take a look!

Dust Bunny:
Dust bunny is our Captain
He keeps us all in line
And he always keeps his watch tight
As he is keeper of our Time

He runs us forward backward round
Til every deed is done
Then makes sure we all have a perfect
Seat to watch the fun

He makes us laugh, he makes us growl
He keeps us fit to stalk and howl
And he always keeps the sharpest eye
Beneath his heather cowl


Magdalen T. Shrout:
Back in the coat closet
You’ll find Magdalen T. Shrout
And whenever there’s a party
That’s when she’s about

She nicks the gloves folks leave behind
But not just on a whim
She unravels the woven ones
And knits them up again

For Magdalen makes all the clothes
For Dust Bunny and his band
So if you’re ever at these parties
Go ahead, give her a ‘hand’


Buttonhole:
Buttonhole is the shy one
Some doubt that she exists
But if you leave out lemon peel
She simply can't resist

She rearranges everything
From shells to spoons to stone
And where you'll find the shampoo next
Only Buttonhole knows

The spirit house upon the shelf
Is where she makes her home
and if any try to talk to her
She says,"I want to be alone."


Ferrigard, the Yule Critter
When the Christmas tree comes
Firrigard comes to life
He swings about like Tarzan
from the ornaments and lights

He reties all the ribbons
Into impossible bows
And he loves to play matchmaker
By moving the Mistletoe

He spices all the cider
whether you want it or not
And he nips just a spoonful
Just as long as its hot


Pickles:
Pickles got left in the fridge one day
He never did that again
But he earned his name and used it well
To our sweet lady’s ends

Though the scent of dill does follow him
To table, hall and toaster
Believe me when I tell you
What he does is never kosher

He sings the ice in cups to crack
He whistles cats to pounce
And he’s the one who makes the glasses
Not break, but bounce


Esler:
You're lucky if you see young Esler
More than once or twice
She's light of foot with foxie ears
And a nose for every spice

Whenever peppers are hung to dry
It always make her bolder
So never mind when you hear a rattling
In the wooden spoon holder

The frying pan is her pride and joy
Cast iron, perfect for eggs
But don't forget to wash it out
Or she'll throw beans at your head!

Taka:
Taka looks like an old librarian
From Victorian Hyde Park
But don’t let the bouffant fool you
Those fangs are razor sharp

She loves the wing chimes in the hall
And collects fresh water shells
And ourlady has stopped wondering
Why the books reshelve themselves

They all go back in order
Each volume in its place
But if you put one back wrong
She just might eat your face


Whizzer:
Whizzerlives in the bathroom sink
Not underit, in the drain
He moved in when she replaced the floor
And never moved out again

He blesses all the band-aids
He sleeps with his helmet lit
He tunnels through the garden
To make the seeds all fit

He’s brown with dirt and minty fresh
He’s quick with a pebble, too
So careful of the flowers
Or you’ll find one in your shoe

Masters of Library Science

So, Eric and out went out to Conflikt last January by train. On our way there, we came across a couple going to a Librarians convention. Before we finished our first full day on the train, I wrote a song that had these two library buffs crying with laughter. Here's why....


Masters of Library Science

When you walk into a con hotel
Or a comic book store
There’s art and plot and figurines
And geekery galore

You try to take it in
Cause there’s so much to see and do
But you better move aside
Cause there’s a geek girl coming through!

I know more about Dune than you
Sarcastic, almost crass
Walking ‘round con in a corset
Doesn’t mean that I won’t kick your ass

It means that I’m a geek girl
A brown coat, thru and thru
I’m a Whovian, a Trekie and a
Klezmer filker, too!

Our steampunk guns all started out
As phasers long ago
BA in Anthropology
And I’m good at saving throws

We hold ritual with sonic
screwdrivers instead of wands
Then afterward watch
Battlestar Galactica ‘til dawn

I collect stripey knee socks
And I’m a furrie, yes it’s true
But panda ears won’t save you
When I make things go BOOM!!

Because I’m a geek girl
and I don’t need to be saved
With my companion cube in hand
I aim to misbehave!

I’m as delicate and fragile
As a porcupine in heat
And if Magic is your game of choice,
Prepare for your defeat

I’ve got Life of Brian memorized
And every song from Buffy
And about the plush Cthulhu
Well...I can’t help it! He’s so FLUFFY!

So if you see me coming, ladies
Come join me in my quest
To show the geek boys that we’ve got
What it takes to pass the test

Because we’ve been here watching
Fangirls across the world
And when we do take over
You’ll be ruled by GEEK GIRLS!!


For all the girls out there who've ever had to show the boys how it's done.

Princessa Trifecta

Over the past few months, I've been rather obsessed with fractured faerie tales. Twisting and folding the old tales into new shapes, for better and for silly. And out of the snowball fight sprang three Disney Princesses who were VERY tired of being supporting cast members in their own stories.

Snow White: The witchling that walked away from the crown to find her own path of pretty poison.

Rapunzel: Gives up waiting to be rescued, cuts her hair, dyes it purple, hits the road to anywhere.

Sleeping Beauty: Maleficent kills the only family she's ever known. Armed with the power given her the three faeries that taught and protected her, she takes her vengeance.

As my lovely husband put it: Discordian Disney. So cometh the storm...

Depression, energy work, and dams

A very dear friend of mine, who shall remain nameless until he gives me permission to do wotherwise, asked a very pertinent question today. He has been dealing with the lovely effects of bi-polar disorder, and was looking for input on the eternal question: 'To medicate, or not to medicate?' This, I know from something.

'I have been living with the side effects and fun times of bi-polar disorder since the age of 11. Yes, the highs and lows do get worse as you age, but that has more to do with cellular degradation in the synaptic nerves than anything else, which is completely normal and happens to everyone. The only thing that I can say is that LIGHT meds are your friend. Heavy meds can lead eventually to the shakes of nervous system breakdown. And the shakes CAN be avoided if you keep to light meds and monitor your potassium intake.

Find what lets you quiet your head. The voices, all of whom are yours but run around like 'A Funny Thing Happen On The Way To The Forum on MUSHROOMS' most days and nights, can get overwhelming. Meds take the edge off, but YOU have to find what lets your grounded center spin and organize the flow of energy. Because it's your energy, keep in mind. People with these kinds of disorders tend to have a hole in their dam (the dam that lets you control the energy flow of your being). We get hit with waves. Some awesome, some drowning. You have to build your banks to withstand the flow, but not so much that the flow backs up into a stagnant quagmire. It IS manageable. and who knows, there may come a time when you CAN be off meds. I only went back on because of a series of additional long-term stressers in my life that pushed personal buttons. Before that, I was free of meds for several years and was perfectly comfortable. It CAN happen, but finding an equilibrium before weening off is a good plan, too.'

It's a fine line to walk, that much is certain. It's a rough road, that's certain, too. But then you get covered in a tidal wave of rainbow punch, and it feels better.

Earth

Earth is the great resting place. The place of peace, or tranquility, of balance, or focus, the culmination of the other elements, together forming the perfect framework for life itself.  The Earth is the element of stillness, of fertility, and of growth.

The Earth is looked upon my many cultures as not only a woman but a mother. The Great Mother to all, the mother earth. Often, the Mother Earth is accompanied by the Sky Father, the brother Fire, and the sister Water. The great Rocks of the earth is seen as the bones of our bodies, the water becomes the blood in our veins, the wind becomes breath in our lungs, and the fire in our hearts is our passion, our very life. The Earth is the beginning and the end of the circle. The Earth mother gives us life, and to her we return when we are buried. We return to her every if we are burned, for scattered ashes still break down into the earth and are recycled into nutrients needed for the growth of plant life.

Volcanoes bring the oldest of rock to the surface of the earth, rock and dust and pieces of stars that haven’t seen light since the dawn of our world. Volcanoes are unstoppable, and the only thing anyone can do is get out of the way, but afterward they bear the most fertile soil. Nutrients and minerals necessary for life, renewed and spread out so that life can continue. Mother Nature’s menstrual cycle. Pyroclastic clouds can travel near to 700 km/h, and they are just the heralds of the full eruption. And I thought MY PMS was bad!

Earth is the most tangible, visible part of our lives. It is our home, it is the essence of home, or shelter, and of strength. It is held as the element of Winter and of darkest night. The caves of our world hold no light from the outside. They hold a deeper darkness than the night sky. That is also why (according to the Northern European pagan traditions) this is the element of the North, the coldest, darkest of places during the winter.

Trees are used in nearly every form of divination and spiritual work. From the wood used for runes and ogham fews, to the paper used for tarot card. Wands and staves used in ritual, the wooden handles of swords, the oak branches on which are hung buckets for hauling water for the cauldron.

Earth is where things grow. But in order to grow, roots must run deep and take a strong hold. Not too strong, because if roots grip too tight, they can’t grow to new places. Branches must reach up high and wide to take in the sun. they should not grow beyond what is sustainable, but their strength can stand against the harshest wind, even flood.

Earth is represented by the pentagram, the 5 pointed star leading from the 4 main elements to the fifth. Life itself. Earth, being the stage for the play of life, is represented by one of the oldest, simplest symbols for balance, and leads directly into the next level of thinking: life itself. Its meaning, its complexity, its simplicity, its very existence.

But it’s not all tree hugging. To be stuck in earth is to be sedentary, to be unmoving, unyielding, a creature of circular logic resulting in inaction, the opposite of fire. But indeed the earth is not entirely motionless. In fact, the core of the earth is ever in motion, even if that motion is slow and steady. Sometimes, however, that motion is quick, and powerful. An earthquake can cause destruction like no other. When balance is tipped and the scale leans, the ground itself can split and crumble. If personal balance is upset, it can disturb every aspect of our lives.

Earth is a feminine element along with Water. The masculine elements are Air and Fire.

Water

Water is the element of emotion, empathy, and compassion. The ebb and flow of emotional states, ranging as wide and as deep as any ocean. Water is the place for coping mechanisms, defense mechanisms, the realm of self-preservation in the face of stress. The face of stress itself, for the ocean can be as perilous as it is beautiful and life-giving. A hurricane is equally as beautiful as a sandy beach, and in the eyes of Water, they are the same.

The cleansing element, represented by the cauldron. A vessel, not the actual liquid. Because a cauldron can be filled with anything, as we have the capacity to feel anything, from the harshest rage to the tenderest love to the most ardent joy. Water can overwhelm as much as give life. Our bodies are 80% water, but we can still drown. With the balance of logic, or rationality, emotion becomes a tidal wave from which there is no escape.

Water is as present in our lives as the rain. Water is held as the element of the Autumn and Twilight. Twilight  causes more accidents on roadways than any other time of day because of the liminal space it produces every single day. Autumn is the time of harvest, or plenty, and of reflection as we look forward to the cold of winter. It is a time of aging, as the year begins to wane. It is in the time that Northern European traditions begin the new year. For as the earth dies, as the trees lose their leaves and become bare as old bones, they celebrate the gestation of a new year, as a mother awaits the coming of her child. As the sun sets int he west, we know that it will rise again in the East, where Air begins the cycle again.

Oceans ebb and flow with the whim of a single outside force: the moon. Emotions react to stimulus in this way, ever shifting, ever changing. Unmoving water stagnates, becomes filled with all kinds of things that grow and rot and allow other nasty things to breed and fester. Flowing water remains clean, clear and able to shift around obstacles and traumas. Still water allows for reflection, but water must move in order to remain clean. The ebb and flow of motion and stillness.  Even ice moves, glaciers cutting away at landscapes over hundreds of years. Even in solid state, water in nature continues to move.

Water is also used to reflect, both within and without. Water is nature’s mirror, showing us not only what we know, but what is around us that we may not. Water has been used by seers for millennia for this very reason. Water revitalizes the body, clears the mind with it’s thick waves and it’s floating stillness. Water, much like fire, is an equalizer, but it is a fickle as the wind itself. A single particle of anything placed into water will affect the boiling and freezing points of water. Water itself cannot be compressed. When it freezes, it expands instead of shrinks, the opposite of every other molecule. Emotions, if repressed and bottled up, eventually explode.

But it’s not all water parks and ocean jaunts and mermaids. To be stuck in water is to be a creature entirely of emotion without rationality, without logic, the opposite of air.

Water is a feminine element, along with Earth. The Masculine elements are air and Fire.

Fire

Fire is the element of action, reaction, passion, movement, and light. Fire is represented by the wand or staff, the wooden stick, the catalyst of reaction, the focus of action.

Fire establishes our priorities. It applies to the basest of our instincts. The earliest of humans feared fire because they saw it only for its destructive force. Fire is by far the most reactive of elements, since it is in fact a chemical reaction. Fire is the very essence of action. It roars, it whispers, it cracks and sparks and flies, brings light to the farthest corners of any darkness.

Fire holds many sacred places in our lives. Fire is held as the element of Summer, and the full daylight. The heat of the sun bears down and warms the earth so that everything can grow and bear fruit. It is held in the South, where (according to the traditions of the Northern European pagans) the sun is warmest, toward the equator. We must always remember that the stars burn with the same ferocity of our own sun.

Fire is as destructive as it is a tool to create. Fire, like passion and anger, must be controlled or it will spiral into a destructive force like so other. Fire shows us the consequences of our actions. It shows us, without mercy, that every action has a reaction, and if we are to act, we must always understand what affect we will have on others, on our world, on ourselves. We, as living beings, have more power than any scientist can extrapolate, though quantum physics is slowly catching up. It takes more energy to excite molecules than it does to cool them, to slow them down. It takes more humanity, more energy, and more life to act than it does to stand still. Stillness has it's place, stillness is necessary  but that's the reason why Earth, the element of balance and stillness, is the opposite of Fire. Fire must be balanced, or the forest of life will go up.

Fire is the very essence of motion, and inspires not only dance but art of every kind. It led mankind out of our caves, giving us warmth and light to find out way in the unknown darkness. The fires of the forge gave us tools, broadened our understanding of matter, and led to the further exploration of our world through horseshoes and wagon wheels, cars and planes, and eventually, the space shuttles that ferry us to space and home again. The light of a single candle can help create the works of Shakespeare, or it can be the bonfire that lightens the feet of tribal dancers across the globe. On the end of a stick, it can bring light and warmth to one family after another. On the end of a string, spun high and low, round and round, it can bring wonder to even the more rigid of hearts.

But again, it’s not all dancing and spinning. To be stuck in fire is to be wholly reactionary, without balance or focus, the opposite of earth. And a lack of fire means a lack of heat, and therefore a lack of life.

Fire is a masculine element, along with Air. The feminine elements are Water and Earth. 

Air

Air is the realm of logic, the realm of rational thought, the realm of sequence and separation. Here lay the spreadsheets, the number sequences, the mathematics of our lives, the very essence of the pristine and meticulous. Air is where things begin, in the continuously moving recesses of thought. Here begin intention, planning, plotting, and analysis. Air’s opposite is Water, the realm of emotion. Air is represented by the knife or sword, which directly connects to the separating, cataloging logical mind. Air is the lightning strike of inspiration  followed by the flame of action.

Many things within out daily lives fall into the realm of Air. Air is considered the element of Spring, and the Dawn, the place of beginnings. It is held in the East, where the Dawn emerges, to begin the day.

However, it’s not all wonderment and breezy hillsides perfect for cloud-gazing. To be stuck in Air is to be detached from emotion (water, being the opposite of air), to be so caught in the thought process that action is not taken. But you can’t think your way out of an emotional state, which is how the opposite applies.

Also, if you think about what wind can do, wind uncovers that which is buried. It takes time, and it takes meticulous work for something as insubstantial as the very air we breathe to move something. But if left to its own devices, it can also whip up a tornado, a force that simply cannot be stopped by the hands of anything but physics. Physics, one of the most cerebral of all sciences, is the best tool to use when trying to pull apart this phenomenon. And yet, nothing can stand in its way unscathed. Wind can bring a mountain to dust as it has done with Uluru, the great rock of Australia, or it can hum the most silent of places into life, like the great Singing Dunes of Death Valley in the US.

Wind sings with a voice like no other, it bites in heat and in cold, and without it, there can be no life as we know it. The very air we breathe becomes our own voice, and it carries our words as far as it can. No wonder Air is the realm of thought and intention. Our words become that intention, that focus of our thoughts. The wind in our words lets us communicate ideas. Words themselves are as precise and meticulous as any math problem; no wonder air must be used in order to bring them out.

Air is a Masculine element, along with Fire. The Feminine elements are Water and Earth.

Meditation Thoughts - Elemental

So, I'm doing a four part series on elemental meditation and self-discovery. I did this a few years ago for my own benefit, a 'back to basics' approach. I thought to share some of my findings, not just because they helped me but because they might help someone else, too.

So, in my workings, the general elemental sequence goes like this:

Air - Fire - Water - Earth

There are SEVERAL schools of thought when it comes to this sequence. Some start with Earth if not air, other start at cross points, but this is what has worked for me. Your mileage may very, and that's also much of the point. This kind of journey is a deeply personal one, and it's important to keep that in mind whenever studying any kind of meditation or religious workings or techniques.

So, away we go!

Crowes and Consequenses!

It’s finally time! We’re getting revved up for Cheshire Moon’s second album, ‘Crowes and Consequences!’ We’ll be roving about the studio with a flock of some of our favorite musicians, including Jason Neerenburg from Toyboat! That’s right, the overlord of bass will be unleashed on our songs, alongside the enigmatic guitar stylings of the young Jared Coleman, the winding dance of Susan Weiner (who’s moving to Chicago, dang it all), all unique voices lending their own light to breathe life into these new stories.

 We went with Kickstarter for our first album, but this time we’re going with IndieGoGo.com (Context and my apologies for the sour note). We’re also teaming up with artist Matt Hawk, the infamous creator of the artwork SJ Tucker, Tricky Pixie, ManOverBoard, and much more! As many of you know, we had a song on our first album about a mischievous band of housemates, called Critters. Well, they wanted to be seen by the world, and who better to bring them to life? That and I try not to argue with sprites. Healthier that way.

Also joining the fray is artist Shawna Jasques, who will be doing our album cover! Shawna art captures one of the most unique perspectives in indie art, but don't take my word for it! <a href-"https://www.facebook.com/ShawnaJaquez?fref=ts"> Go ffind out!</a>

 So keep an ear out, because we’re hoping to get the project off the ground and into the aether by July 1st!

(PsycheDalek Army, ACTIVATE!)

Dangly Bits

 So, I've been thinking about things recently, and one of the things that my beloved pointed out is that we both tend to play to the energy of the room. So, when our home is either a mess or a blank slate energetically  we don't react as well to it. Once I set up the house altar, things started to improve because it helped to regulate and radiate the energy of the house.

 It got me thinking, "Ok, what else can we do to make this the norm?" And thus, DANGLY BITS!

 I made the chords for each of these using a technique that I developed when I first started to crochet rune bags with embroidery floss/crochet thread. In order to illustrate the rune, I would slip a series of tiny (and seriously, I mean TINY.These things make my eyes hurt after a while) rhinestone beads onto the chord prior to starting the bag. Then, as I crocheted, I would slip each beads into it's proper stitch. This made the rune slant just slightly to the left, but it worked!

 So, I did the same thing here. I strung the beads onto  a spool of rainbow crochet thread, but instead of crocheting, I cut off 4 long pieces of crochet thread, one strand with beads and three without. Then, I did a simple four point braid, slipping a bead into the mix every 5-9 crossovers. If you're wondering about the 4 strand braid technique, try this!



 Anyway, about a week ago, I found a fallen oak branch. I brought it home and found the section I needed. What happened next was out of my hands. Each stone and each chord knew where it wanted to be. I just made sure everything fell into place. The end result, well...

 But the next question became painfully clear as my dear kitty decided to be 'helpful' during this process: where on earth can I put this so that my cats can't get to it? I mean really, shiny bits hanging down on colorful cording? CAT. TOY. My Maine Coon is the MacGyver of cat kind. He works doorknobs, breaks open his food bin, he knows how to turn on faucets, he even knows how to pick things out of cups or bowls with his paw.

 So, I used another old friend. A 20lb geode that has followed me for the past 10 years. He's a grumpy old soul, but he keeps things well-grounded. So now he sit on the top of a bookshelf, the end of this oaken branch in his care. He holds it tight as the rest dangles off into space, catching and rolling every bit of light that touches it. They want me to write them a song. I can't wait.

Loki loves you... oh GREAT....

Why is that being the favorite of a god makes life insane? A favorite of Anansi, for example, might find themselves ensnared in a bargain they didn't quite count on. A favorite of Odin might find themselves on one hell of a quest. And by that I mean hang onto your hat! Being a favorite of any deity can come with some interesting consequences. Especially this one, but I can’t ignore a trickster when he dances. And I’m certainly not going to turn down a song when a trickster wants a tune.

Though I do wish he didn’t smile quite so wide when I sing this one…

The demo's going up on the website shortly, so keep an eye on www.cheshiremoonband.com/music !

The Weaving

A mental health day spent by the water yielded a grandmother’s tale. One of my books for lyrics was graced by a large, black spider. By large I mean the size of a dime, and it looked something like this:

Beautiful. Scared the living snot out of me at first, but she had something to say, and was willing to spin a web on my book AND my pen to make her point. And so she danced for us, and I took down her tale as Eric brought her melody to life.

"Sisters of water dance, brothers of fire sing. We are the children of moonlight…"

I also finally found the stick for my art project. All in all, a wonderful day spent with my love. 

Colorful Warm Goodness!

It's scarf season! I rarely knit things for myself, so I decided to make myself a scarf for the winter. And when I saw this yarn, I knew I'd found my scarf yarn!

But what to do with it? I knew that I wanted something cabled but cohesive, so I figured out a pattern that would be wide enough but would still potentially shrink down when needed with the ribbing. Then I found this basket weave/single cable combo. There was much squeeing involved.

Also, you can download the pattern for yourself! I didn't design it by any means, and I want to make sure the lovely lady who did gets the credit she deserves because she has made some delicious bits of fibery goodness! Her name is Melissa Mall, and she has a menagerie of patterns to choose from. Click here!

Now, the edges of my scarf are out of a book that I have had for a couple years. Basically, you seed stitch the first 6 rows, then the first 6 stitches of each row after. HOWEVER, important note: Be sure to cast on an ODD NUMBER. Otherwise, this seed stitch won't map out correctly.

I started with a CO of 55, and I did this so that I would have a 6 point outside edge. At minimum, you will want a 4 point outer edge to ensure that the seed stitch evens out, which gives you a 51 CO. If you trim up the P4 to a P3 right outside the basket weave, you can cut the CO down to a 49 CO. Either way, here we go!

Quick notation legend:

cb6: Cable 6 back. Slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle, and set it BEHIND your work. Then knit 3 off the main body of your work, line up your cable needle, then knit the 3 stitches off the cable needle.

cf6: Cable 6 forward. Slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle, and set it IN FRONT OF your work. Then knit 3 off the main body of your work, line up your cable needle, then knit the 3 stitches off the cable needle.

k: knit

p: purl

Pattern, ho!

CO 55

Slip your first stitch, then seed stitch across starting with k1, ending with k1 (this is why is has to be an odd number). for Rows 1-6. Makes sure the slip the first stitch of EVERY ROW. It gives your work a nice even outside edge that makes it look extra pretty!

Row 7: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3 (WATCH FOR THIS ONE! It's the one asymmetrical bit of the whole pattern), seed 5, k1.
Row 8: (and all wrong side rows) S1, seed 5, k3, p6, k4, p18, k4, p6, k2, seed 5, k1 to finish
Row 9: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 11: S1, seed 5, p2, c6f, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6,, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 13: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 15: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 17: S1, seed 5, p2, cf6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 19: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 21: S1, seed 5, p2,  k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Repeat Row 9-22 to desired length.

VARIATION: This variation gives the basket stitch a longer feel. It also makes cabling a little easier if you aren't as experienced. This also makes the overall pattern faster simply because you aren't cabling every single row as I did for my scarf. It also might make things easier if you are using a more unruly yarn. the other REALLY nice thing about this pattern is that it tends to take care of clumping colors in variegated yarn with little to no effort. PLEASE NOTE: The middle section of the pattern below is Melissa Mall's. The above is my interpretation of her pattern, but the pattern below is hers and corresponds to that first image of creamy cabled goodness above.

Row 1-6: Seed stitch as above
Row 7: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3 (WATCH FOR THIS ONE! It's the one asymmetrical bit of the whole pattern), seed 5, k1.
Row 8: (and all wrong side rows) S1, seed 5, k3, p6, k4, p18, k4, p6, k2, seed 5, k1 to finish
Row 9: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 11: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 13: S1, seed 5, p2, cf6, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 15: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 17: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 19: S1, seed 5, p2, cf6, p4, k18, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 21: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 23: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 25: S1, seed 5, p2, cf6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 27: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 29: S1, seed 5, p2,  k6, p4, cb6, cb6, cb6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 31: S1, seed 5, p2, cf6, p4, k18, p4, cf6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 33: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, cf6, cf6, cf6, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1
Row 35: S1, seed 5, p2, k6, p4, k18, p4, k6, p3, seed 5, k1

Repeat Rows 13-36 to the desired length.

Now, once you have the length that you want, and be sure to start on a RIGHT WAY ROW for this last bit. S1, Seed stitch 6 more rows, ending on k1 for each row, then Cast off!

And for those who prefer charting, click here!

This chart is for the VARIATION, not the pattern that I used. If you want my exact pattern, then don't use any of the rows where you knit 18 stitches instead of cabling the center section.

Now, the edges are out of a book that I have had for a couple years. Basically, you seed stitch the first 6 rows, starting with k1, p1, k1, etc., ending in k1. Important Note: Be sure to cast on an ODD NUMBER. Otherwise, this seed stitch won't map out correctly.

Optional Finishing Touch:

Now, for the finishing fiddly bits! I took the remains of my 4th skein (yes, it took 3 1/2 skeins for the length I wanted. Your mileage may vary) and cut pieces that were about 6 inches long each. Now, if you look at the bottom and top edges of your work, where the rows have those nice outside loops. For this, you will need either a crochet hook!

How it works: slip your hook through the exposed loop at the end of your row. Pull the center of one strand of yarn through about 1 inch. Take the two ends from the other side, bring them OVER your scarf and slip then down into the new yarn loop you just made. Hold the ends together and pull tight. You should have 2 yarn bits of even length now dangling from the end of your scarf. Your fringe has begun! Now, repeat this for the rest of the row, and you have a nice, even fringe line! Be sure to cut your strands as close to the same length as possible It doesn't have to be exact, but it's important to keep it close so that it appears even once you're finished.

Enjoy! And if you do this one, please post pictures! I want to see what you come up with to make this your own!

Urban Agriculture - Bees

And then my science geek comes out to play sitar...

Thought process for Urban Agricultural Center in Ames

I.                   Establishment

II.                 Funding

III.              Maintenance

IV.              Education

V.                Long-Term Goals

I.                   Establishment

A.    Iowa State University School of agriculture

1.     Since the University has such a myriad school of agriculture to begin with, this poses a base from which to launch the project.

a.     Possible Ph.D thesis topic for a student/student group within the school

b.     University already has land allocated for Agricultural studies, possible land allocation or donation for project

2.     University study emphasis on honeybees in urban environment

a.     Bees allows for wider range of available vegetation

b.     Also ties into Education of community about bee behavior, care, and essential part of pollination of plant life

B.     Non-Profit Overseeing Body

1.     Establishment of 501(c)3 for long-term running of the center and the garden itself

a.     For this status, need a board, need by-laws, need an educational focal point (bees, urban agriculture, etc)

b.     Possible “in association with” status with University, but not if working with a ‘for profit’ University will make a difference in status

2.     Major annual fundraising for the garden would be from corporate donations, grants, and community outreach programs

C.     Planting

1.     Need to plant wide variety of plants that can be grown in this environment.

a.     Plants that do and do not need bees to pollinate

b.     Plants needing equipment such as berries and tomatoes

c.      Fruit Trees take time to produce viable fruit, into years. Need to maintain and monitor

2.     Need to plant a balanced array of plants for soil nutrient and pH content. Consider close proximity combinations

II.                 Funding

A.    Non-Profit Overseeing Body

1.     Establishment of 501(c)3 for long-term running of the center and the garden itself

a.     For this status: need a board, need by-laws, need an educational focal point (bees, urban agriculture, etc)

b.     Possible “in association with” status with University, but not sure if working with a ‘for profit’ University will make a difference in status, though ISU is a state school. Need legal consult for that clarification given 501(c)3 recent rule changes

2.     Major annual fundraising for the garden would be from corporate donations, grants, and community outreach programs

3.     Front end sale of produce, herbs, and honey from the garden

a.     Charge a set fee per bag of items (roughly the size of a paper grocery sack)

b.     Encourage bag reuse by offering a discounted rate for bringing one’s own bags

c.      Have basic size of bags that are and are not ok (Grocery vs garbage bag, etc)

d.     Offer honey by the jar and honeycomb by the pound, prepared so that there is less exposure to the beehives by the overall community. This lowers the risk of allergies, upsetting the bees, and keeping the hives orderly

III.              Maintenance

A.    Community Volunteer work

1.     Possible discount off price per bag for certain hours

2.     Possible local school field trips to education center and garden, continuing community outreach and education in plant care

B.     Scout work

1.     Work with the Girl Scouts of America to offer merit badge credit for work done in the garden, whether for bee-keeping, plant care, etc

2.     Work with Boy Scouts of America to offer Scout volunteer hours and Eagle Scout projects.

a.     Possible Eagle scout project: beehive start to finish.

b.     Possible Eagle scout project: Orchard care

C.     Possibly Offer queen-less swarm removal and relocation within the city as space and personnel permits

IV.              Education

A.    Education center

1.     Specializing in the pros and cons and secrets to urban gardening

2.     Deal with indoor and outdoor issues (space needed for certain plants, irrigation, necessary light/light preferences, yield, etc)

3.     Deal with plants that are poisonous to pets but not people

4.     Deal with essential oils to pets

5.     Deal with Bees in urban environment

6.     Deal with soil conditions (pH, water content, etc) and necessary soils for different trees, fruits, veggies and flowers

B.     Bee Hives/Bee Keeping

1.     Specialize in bee safety and behavior

2.     Dispel myths of over-aggressive domestic bee behavior

3.     Illustrate the essential role honeybees play in pollination and plant health

4.     Show the damage done by invading bee species

5.     Illustrate the strain of sick and dying hives on overall agriculture

6.     Show how careful urban beekeeping does not harm the community

7.     Illustrate that the taste of honey depends on what the bees eat! The plants that bees are exposed to determines the kind of honey they produce (flowers vs fruits vs grasses vs trees)

8.     Keep in mind allergies!

9.     Show the difference in urban beekeeping as opposed to rural beekeeping.

a.     Citations for Paris Project in news: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/health/01iht-parisbees.16613547.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/2009/0929/paris-rooftops-abuzz-with-beekeeping

http://blogs.cisco.com/csr/employees-buzzing-over-volunteer-impact/

b.     Pesticides and parasites as possible causes for dying hives, specifically pesticide called clothianidin, made by Bayar Chemical Corp.

C.     Develop a curriculum to follow with certain age groups of incoming school students vs Girl/Boy Scout troops

D.    Possibly set aside a quarantine zone for maintenance of hives so that incoming community can observe but not interfere

E.     Community involvement in maintaining their own food source

F.     Nutritional education, especially for lower income households

G.    Seasonal/regional eating and cooking

V.                Long-Term Goals

A.    Community Awareness

B.     Community Involvement

C.     Sustainable produce supply

D.    Local education in agriculture

E.     Youth outreach

F.     Raising base level of nutrition for lower income families/households in the community

G.    Nurturing a healthy bee population, avoiding drifting between hives

H.    Sustainable food source that is as much about community and the act of growing as any other is about profit

I.       Revival and maintenance of different strains of seeds and plant varieties that thrive in the area.

And, thoughts?