#the cone shape of the trees in the 2nd one <3

[skyboivinauthor]

Mabon blessings

Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, Falls Between September 21 - 23

Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.

Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter's Night, which is the Norse New Year.

At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.

Symbolism of Mabon:

Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.

Symbols of Mabon:

wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.

Herbs of Maybon:

Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon's seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.

Foods of Mabon:

Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Incense of Mabon:

Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.

Colors of Mabon:

Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.

Stones of Mabon:

Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.

Activities of Mabon:

Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.

Spellworkings of Mabon:

Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.

Deities of Mabon:

Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.

Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!

Symbols of Mabon

The Cornucopia

The Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, is a traditional symbol for Mabon. It is a wonderful symbol for the wealth of harvest and is beautifuly balanced symbol which is both male (phallic) and female (hollow and receptive)

The Apple

The apple is the symbol of the Fruit Harvest. The apple figures significantly in many sacred traditions. It is a symbol for life and immortality, for healing, renewal, regeneration and wholeness. It is associated with beauty, long life and restored youth. The Ogham name for apple is Quert and Quert is the epitome of health and vitality. The apple is at the heart of the Ogham grove and is the source of life. For Pagans, the apple contains a 'secret'. Cut an apple width ways and it reveals a pentagram containing seeds. It is a much loved symbol of Paganism. The five points represent the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water with Spirit at the top, and thus also the directions of East, South, West, North and Within.

A circle around the pentagram represents the eternal circle/cycle of life and nature, and of wholeness. In ritual and ceremony the pentacle corresponds to the element of Earth. It is believed to be a protection against evil for both the person and the home, worn as an amulet or used to guard entrances to the home through windows and doors.

Colours of Mabon

From green to red, orange, yellow, brown and gold.

The Mabon Altar

Your altar should be dressed in the very best produce you can find from field, forest and market, from garden and the wild. Apples, pears, damsons, sloes, rose hips, elderberries, blackberries, hawthorn berries, the possibilities are large. If you collect from the wild, be not greedy - always leave plenty of fruit and berries for the birds and wee creatures.

Make an outdoor shrine for the nature spirits in thanks for the bounty they help to provide. Leave one of each flower, fruit and vegetable that you have, as a gift.

Things To Do

Great Feast of Thanksgiving.

Celebrate with a feast for friends and family using as much fruit & veg, locally grown, as you can.

Go Walking.

Go for a walk and collect as much of nature's wild abundance as you can, while respecting the need to leave enough for everyone else including the nature spirits. You will find wild damsons, sloes, rosehips, elderberries, blackberries, hawthorn berries and more. Remember the fruit is the carrier of the precious seed.

Clear Out and Complete.

We think of Spring as the time to clear out but now is the perfect time to complete unfinished projects and clear your home of unwanted stuff. Prepare to hibernate!

Plant Bulbs.

This is an excellent time to plant tree seeds and shrubs. They have all of winter in the darkness to establish and germinate. Plant bulbs which will hide in the earth until early Spring beckons. Make each one a hope, idea or aspiration for Spring and wait until their little green noses show above ground - to remind you!

Buttermilk Bread Charm for Mabon.

You will need:

3 mugs of strong white flour

500 ml of Buttermilk (available from the supermarket)

I teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda

Mabon ribbon in your choice of colour - red, orange, yellow, gold, brown

A handful of dried fruit of your choice - dates, raisins, sultanas, currants

Place the flour and dried fruit in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Sieve in the blended salt and soda and pour in the buttermilk. Mix well with a wooden spoon until the dough feels springy. If it feels too sloppy just add a little more flour. Turn it onto a board and cover with a fine dusting of flour. Pat it with your hands until you have a round shape. Take a sharp knife and score lightly into eight sections, one for each festival. Our picture shows the bread cut into five sections, making a pentacle.

Place onto a greased baking tray and pop your buttermilk bread into a moderate oven for about 20-25 minutes. Keep and eye on it. When the bread is ready it will change colour and it will sound hollow when you tap the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack. When it is cool, tie it with Mabon ribbon.

Take time to concentrate on the bread you have created and turn the loaf three times saying"From the fields and through the stones, into fire, Mabon Bread, as the Wheel turns may all be fed. Goddess Bless."

Now take your bread and share it with your family and friends and pass on the generous blessings of this bright and bountiful festival. Eat it fresh, as soon as it is made if you can.

Recipe donated by the Counter Enchantress. Adapted by the Boss Lady with permission.

The Counter Enchantress is discovering that you can add almost anything appropriate to this simple bread recipe and it STILL WORKS beautifully. You can decide for yourself what the appropriate additions are for a particular festival, in this case dried fruit for Mabon, and just do it. There is much kitchen magic in working with one recipe through the Wheel of the Year just changing it a little as the wheel turns.....

Somerset Apple Cake

We are very blessed here in that we live in the sacred Isle of Avalon, also called the Isle of Apples, in Somerset, England. And we are indeed surrounded, still, by orchards which grow apples both for Somerset's famous cider-making and for eating. One of our family pleasures is a local orchard which grows many traditional varieties of apples. Most of what they grow goes to make apple juice. But just before they do that, local people are invited over a weekend to go pick apples for themselves and their families. And it's such fun to spend an afternoon among the apple trees within sight of Glastonbury Tor. Chalice Well Trust is developing an organic apple orchard on the slopes of the Tor and now also produces small quantities of delicious organic apple juice which are sold to visitors. It's a limited supply and very precious - reserved for very special occasions or ceremony in our household.

Below is an authentic Somerset Apple Cake recipe. Eat it either cold, or warm with cream.

INGREDIENTS:

340gms/12oz self-raising flour

a pinch of salt

225gms/8oz margarine/butter

½ teaspoon cinnamon

170gms/6oz caster sugar

115gms/4oz sultanas

450gms/16oz cooking apples, finely chopped

3 eggs

a little milk

a little demerara sugar

METHOD:

1. Rub the fat into the flour and salt. Add the sugar and cinnamon. Make a well in the mixture and drop in the egg and fruit. Mix well; if the dough is a little too stiff, add some milk.

2. Place in an eight-inch greased cake tin, and sprinkle a little demerara sugar on the top.

3. Bake for one-and-a-half to two hours, in a moderate oven (Gas Mark 4/180°C/350°F), until cooked. Allow to cool slightly before turning out onto a cooling rack.

[the-gods-are-laughing]

The Night of the Treee - A Night That Has Gone Down in Infamy.

The Night of the Treee (September 15, 2008) -

2008. It's my 2nd week at college as a freshman.

I went to a public honors college far upstate, near Canada, in a valley.

This protected us from the worst of the snow

But... we got windstorms.

I didn't know just how bad those storms could get.

It's 2 am

I can't sleep

so I'm up on my computer and telling someone how windy it is when -

the power goes out

I stick my head out my room

and apparently no one is asleep at 2 am on a school night

because we're all sticking our heads out and wondering what's going on

because my building was in an H shape, with me on the bottom left, this lead to fake morse code with the people on the other side through the windows, but I got bored with this quickly and ended up in the hallway, where we all eventually gathered, sitting on the floor

I'm talking music next to some people doing Spanish homework

some kids who already give no shits are playing soccer outside the RA rooms.

so it's not long before a whooole bunch of people walk by

so i call out, "Hey, what's going on"

and i get the response

"There's a parade outside"

It is the middle of the night. I am in pajamas, barefoot with an ace bandage over a sprained ankle.

I follow outside.

Outside is, as promised, a parade - and they're yelling "T-R-E-E-E FOLLOW THE TREE FOLLOW THE TREE"

Because...a  public honors college can't spell tree, apparently.

I follow until I get to the next dorm, where my friends live

Door's ajar so I can go in

Find a friend of mine

He explains 2 decided to go play frisbee in the dark in a windstorm

And the rest are asleep

So I go try to find the idiots

Back outside

No luck

So I follow

We pick up a traffic cone

"FOLLOW THE TREEE! AND THE CONE! FOLLOW THE TREEE! AND THE CONE!"

My section of campus where I lived was connected by a street with townhouses on both sides

we walked through this street

into the quad

where we can go one of 2 directions

we stop

silence

The leader looks around

points

"Let's go THAT WAY"

so we CHEER

and then we go THAT WAY

We keep going and I see a friend of mine, taking a late night walk, as he was wont to do the entire time we were there

it's actually the morning of his birthday

"Hi, Luke! Happy birthday! Follow the treee!”

"OH MY GOD EIRIE WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT'S A MOB GET OUT OF THERE "

And he pulls me out of the mob

We look at each other, then look at the mob as it continues to pass by

Him: "...Wanna follow it and see what it does?"

Me: "Sure."

SO we follow this group of maybe 150 people, 3 abreast, chanting in the middle of the night for no reason

Eventually it passes by his dorm so we go in

Go to his room

he shows me the MTG deck he was making me

I tell him I wasn't expecting to see him so I'll give him his birthday card later

and he lends me a pair of those Adidas sandals guys have that are like 5 sizes too big

but, better than nothing

we leave the dorm and there's a few people there

we talk to someone he knows about webcomics

RD comes up

"Okay everyone, we temporarily have power. Get inside, I don't know how long it's going to last and after that you're locked out."

Luke looks at me

"Do you know how to get back to your dorm from here?"

"...

…

…

I don't know where I am"

Luke looks at the RD says, "Look, this is my friend, she's a freshman, she has no idea how to get back to her dorm, I need to get her back."

RD sighs and looks at me

"Do you know your way back from the townhouses?"

“Yes."

She looks at Luke

"Take her to the townhouses, but no farther. There's no guarantee you can get back in if you take too long."

So we head off

we got to the start of the street

and we hear the crowd coming

the chanting echoing in the dark

And Luke takes out a knife

"Luke what are you doing;?!"

"iT'S A MOB! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO!"

So now I’m freaking out that Luke's going to shank someone in front of me and this isn't how I thought college would go okay

We duck behind one of the buildings

and wait

we watch as, lead by one guy holding a giant branch, the group has now grown to at least double what it was before, chanting "T-R-E-E-E! FOLLOW THE TREE! FOLLOW THE TREE!"

Luke almost shanks one of his friends, as they came up behind us and we didn't hear them

Luke: "What are you doing here???"

Them: "We're watching the mob too."

The mob passes

Gesturing like some sort of soldier, Luke cries out "GO GO GO GO GO GO GO"

and we run to my dorm.

We get to the door

I kick off the sandals

I get inside...

and there's a bunch of students talking loudly

and they stop

look at me

and then crowd me yelling questions

"Why did you follow the mob?"

"How did the mob make you feel?"

"We gotta tell the professor about this"

"The professor?! We gotta tell the club!"

They were all psychology majors

It is 3 in the morning and I am NOT prepared for this.

I just kinda stand there stammering until some random guy with a guitar comes downstairs and they swarm him

I run up to the fourth floor

So the way my part of the H was made

is in between that hallway I was hanging out in before

there's an area with a quiet study room, with the entrance having a door on each side

and my room is right across

so that's how i usually get there

I'm so relieved to almost be back

I’m next to the study room -

the lights go out.

the doors close.

and lock.

I'm trapped.

like 10 feet from my room

so I sit on the ground and think about my life choices because a) my phone is in my room and b) I didn't have a smartphone or texting so it wouldn't have done any good anyway

So, I'm trapped, in the dark, contemplating my life choices. I finally see someone walking towards me. I stand up, open my mouth - and the lights go on, the doors open, and they stare at me like I'm insane. I close my mouth and walk to my room. It's now 4 am. I have class at 8. I give up on sleep and find the first person online I can and say, "You will not believe what happened tonight..."

Class at 8 am. 50 people, normally. There are... 6. Including me.

Professor: "What the hell happened last night?"

Kid either stoned or a senior or both: “You don't even know, man. It was wild.”

Professor: “. . . You all get extra credit for showing up. On with the lesson!”

I'd have thought it was a dream... But on every whiteboard on my return, was written "Follow the treee."

---

After I left the mob, it continued to grow and grow in size. Eventually it reached Main Street - and met the campus police. It nearly turned into a full scale riot. The only thing that stopped it was the leader stood up on the fountain and yelled "HEY"

They all looked at him.

He gestured at the branch. "Follow the treee."

And they all turned around and followed the treee. The police were so confused.

---

Luke told me the rest of this the next day when I gave him his card. He did make it back in, with his sandals, and also didn't bother sleeping. He also told me that during all college free hour (which is a lie, I had science lab so I missed this),  they sold t-shirts commemorating the event. Every shirt sold, and every cent went to charity.

This night has gone in my college’s history, and last I checked is still on its wiki.

#college adventures #the night of the treee #true story #eirie joins a mob by accident #because of course

[greekcookingmadeeasy]

Christmas Tree Showstopper

🎄

Christmas Tree Showstopper with Greek Christmas Cookies and Chocolate Truffles BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy https://www.youtube.com/greekcookingmadeeasy

Check my YouTube Video: Here

Κοιτάξτε επίσης την συνταγή μου σε YouTube βίντεο, το λίνκ είναι: ΕΔΩ

Serves more than 12 persons This is my very own, inspired creation for a unique, Showstopper Christmas Tree made from the two renowned and beloved Greek Christmas Cookies, Melomakarona & Kourabiedes and Chocolate Truffles! I hope you will enjoy learning how to make it too!

INGREDIENTS Edible Ingredients: Chocolate Truffles: 12 big, 12 medium, 12 small size pcs.

Recipe Link HERE

Kourabiedes:12 big, 12 medium, 12 small size pcs.

Recipe Link HERE

Melomakarona:12 big, 12 medium, 12 small size pcs.

Recipe Link HERE

1 ready-made White Chocolate Star 

Non-Edible Ingredients: A foam cone with height of 26 cm /10 in Aluminium foil Tape Tooth picks

Scissors To decorate further you will need powder sugar and some holly and/or mistletoe leaves.

METHOD: Important Note: All cookies and truffles should be made approx. the same i.e. Big Size: 4 cm / 1.6 in Medium Size: 2 cm / 0.8 in Small Size: 1.5 cm / 0.6 in   A. Prepare the decorations-Edible decorations first: 1. Make 1 portion from my recipe for chocolate truffles in 3 sizes, ahead of time.

  2. Decorate them by sticking some Xmas candy in various colors! 3. Keep in the fridge. 

4. Make 1 portion from my recipe for Kourabiedes Almond and Butter Cookies recipe ahead of time, in round shapes and in 3 different sizes. 

5. Bake them, dust them with powder sugar and store in an airtight container.

6. Make one portion from my recipe for Melomakarona Christmas Honey Cookies ahead of time. 7. Prepare them and shape them round as well as in 3 different sizes.

8. Bake them, soak in honey (but do NOT sprinkle them with walnuts) and store them in an airtight container.

B. Prepare the “Tree” cone: 9. First cover the cone all around with the aluminium foil. 10. To keep it in place, stick it at the side and bottom with some tape.

C. Decorating the Tree: 11. Take a tooth pick and place it 2 cm / 0.8 in from the bottom of the cone. 12. Pierce one of the big sized cookies through. Be gentle, so they won't break!!

13. Next to it and exactly on the same level, add another tooth pick. Pierce one of the other bigger sized cookies. 14. Continue filling the same line by alternating the 2 cookies. 15. For the 2nd line, repeat the procedure adding now also the chocolate truffles. 16. For the 3rd and 4th line, repeat the procedure using middle sized cookies and truffles.

17. For the 5th-8th line, repeat the procedure using small sized cookies and truffles. 18. Leave a few small gaps in between in order to add later your Christmas greens. 19. The Christmas tree is finished. I made approx. 8 lines using some of my cookies and truffles, but I didn’t use all! The rest will be eaten of course, decorated separately in a platter. D. Placing the tree "crest": 20. Using your scissors, cut a small part from the top of the Tree’s foil and with a tooth pick make a small hole into the foam. 21. Now place the white chocolate star on top, inserting one point in the cone.

22. To finish the Tree's decorations, cut the holly leaves and fruit and/or mistletoe in smaller twigs.

23. Insert each twig by pushing it gently between the cookies or use your scissors or a tooth pick to make a small hole to help the twig to enter.

24. To perfect the decoration, place green twigs all around the cone and in various lines. 25. Now that the Christmas Tree is filled with all the delectable treats, take a large spatula and use it to lift and place the Tree in a nice, festive platter. 26. Dust some powder sugar all around the Christmas Tree for an extra “snowy” effect.

27. The Christmas Tree centrepiece is ready to impress your guests!

E. Storing info: 28. It's best if you can prepare this centrepiece an hour before your guests arrive. 29. If you need to make it ahead of time, don't add the greens and do not dust powder sugar! Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for 1 week max. 30. Take it out 2h before serving. Decorate it with the greens and dust it with powder sugar at the last minute! 31. Here is my impressive Christmas tree! Isn’t it just beautiful? Such an amazing and unique Showstopper!!

F. Serving suggestion:               32. The perfect decoration on your Holiday season buffet! This is my Buffet with Champagne & all Greek Xmas sweets! 33. My Showstopper Christmas Tree with all my amazing sweets, ready to be devoured 🎄! 34. My unique Kourabiedes with date paste filling (agwa).  35. My Chocolate Cake decorated as Rudolf the red-nosed Reindeer.  36. My Melomakarona with Chocolate cover! 

Check all of these separate recipes! 

37. I just loved that exquisite moment when my family were picking up the sweets from the tree! That's what contemporary art means!

38. Collect beautiful memories, not things! 39. And this is my inspiration:  My real Christmas Tree decorated by my family! 

40. If you are looking for an easier centrepiece, have a look at my separate recipe for a simpler Christmas Tree made with Choux! Recipe Link HERE

From my home to yours, peace, happiness and joy to the whole world! Happy Holidays!

G. Greece Travel Tip: Greek Christmas traditions! The old tradition in Greece is to decorated a ship for Christmas. Small model ships were put up in the living rooms of Greek homes to celebrate that sailors had returned from sea voyages, since Greece always had a shipping tradition. However, nowadays, Christmas Trees have become very popular in Greece. The first known Christmas tree was in 1833 and was set-up by King Otto next to a large decorated boat. Over time, mainly in the late 20th century, decorated Christmas trees became more popular than decorating a boat. Nowadays, having a decorated boat as well as a tree is becoming very popular! Photo courtesy Athenstyle’sblog: Athens with its customary decorated Boat on Syntagma square!

Check my YouTube Video: Here

Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο Δημιουργία με Κουραμπιέδες, Μελομακάρονα και τρούφες Σοκολάτας BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy https://www.youtube.com/greekcookingmadeeasy Σερβίρει περισσότερα από 12 άτομα Αυτή είναι η δική μου εμπνευσμένη δημιουργία για ένα μοναδικό Χριστουγεννιάτικο Δέντρο-Showstopper με τα δύο φημισμένα και αγαπημένα Χριστουγεννιάτικα μπισκότα, Μελομακάρονα και Κουραμπιέδες και Τρούφες Σοκολάτας! Ελπίζω να απολαύσετε τις οδηγίες μου για το πώς να το φτιάξετε και εσείς!

ΥΛΙΚΑ Εδώδιμα (βρώσιμα) Υλικά: Τρούφες σοκολάτας: 12 μεγάλες, 12 μεσαίες, 12 μικρές.

Λίνκ Συνταγής ΕΔΩ

Κουραμπιέδες: 12 μεγάλοι, 12 μεσαίοι, 12 μικροί.

Λίνκ Συνταγής ΕΔΩ

Μελομακάρονα: 12 μεγάλα, 12 μεσαία, 12 μικρά.

Λίνκ Συνταγής ΕΔΩ

1 έτοιμο Αστέρι από άσπρη σοκολάτα

Μη εδώδιμα υλικά: Ένας κώνος από φελιζόλ με ύψος 26 cm / 10 in Αλουμινόχαρτο Σελοτέιπ Οδοντογλυφίδες

Ψαλίδι Για να διακοσμήσετε περαιτέρω θα χρειαστείτε ζάχαρη άχνη και μερικά κλαδιά και φρούτα από Ού και / ή Γκι.

ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ: Σημαντική σημείωση: Όλα τα μπισκότα και οι τρούφες πρέπει να γίνουν περίπου τα ίδια δηλ. Μεγάλο μέγεθος: 4 cm / 1,6 in Μεσαίο μέγεθος: 2 cm / 0,8 in Μικρό μέγεθος: 1,5 cm / 0,6 in A. Ετοιμάστε πρώτα τα εδώδιμα (βρώσιμα) υλικά: 1. Κάντε 1 μερίδα από τη συνταγή μου για τρούφες σοκολάτας σε 3 μεγέθη, μια βδομάδα πριν.

2. Διακοσμήστε τες κολλώντας πάνω τους Χριστουγεννιάτικες καραμελίτσες σε πολλά χρώματα! 3. Φυλάξτε τις στο ψυγείο.

4. Φτιάξτε 1 μερίδα από τη συνταγή μου για Κουραμπιέδες Αμυγδάλου πιο πριν, σε στρογγυλά σχήματα και σε 3 διαφορετικά μεγέθη.

5. Ψήστε τους, πασπαλίστε τους με ζάχαρη άχνη και φυλάξτε τους σε ένα αεροστεγές δοχείο.

6. Κάντε μια μερίδα από τη συνταγή μου για Μελομακάρονα πιο πριν. 7. Ετοιμάστε τα σε στρογγυλά σχήματα και σε 3 διαφορετικά μεγέθη.

8. Ψήστε τα, βουτήξτε τα στο σιρόπι με μέλι (αλλά ΜΗΝ τα πασπαλίσετε με καρύδια) και φυλάξτε τα σε ένα αεροστεγές δοχείο.

B. Προετοιμασία του κώνου: 9. Αρχικά καλύψτε τον κώνο γύρω γύρω με αλουμινόχαρτο. 10. Για να το κρατήσετε στη θέση του, κολλήστε λίγο σελοτέιπ στα πλάγια και στο κάτω μέρος του κώνου.

Γ. Διακόσμηση του Χριστουγεννιάτικου δέντρου: 11. Πάρτε μια οδοντογλυφίδα και τοποθετήστε τη 2 cm / 0,8 in πιο πάνω από τη βάση του κώνου. 12. Τρυπήστε ένα από τα μπισκότα μεγάλου μεγέθους μέσα στην οδοντογλυφίδα. Κάντε το απαλά, έτσι ώστε να μη σπάσει το μπισκότο!! 13. Δίπλα σε αυτό και ακριβώς στο ίδιο επίπεδο, προσθέστε ακόμα μια οδοντογλυφίδα. Τρυπήστε ένα από τα άλλα μπισκότα μεγάλου μεγέθους.

14. Συνεχίστε να γεμίζετε την ίδια γραμμή εναλλάσσοντας Μελομακάρονα και Κουραμπιέδες. 15. Για τη 2η γραμμή, επαναλάβετε τη διαδικασία προσθέτοντας τώρα και τις τρούφες σοκολάτας. 16. Για την 3η και 4η γραμμή, επαναλάβετε τη διαδικασία χρησιμοποιώντας μεσαία μεγέθη από τα μπισκότα σας και τις τρούφες.

17. Για την 5η-8η γραμμή, επαναλάβετε τη διαδικασία χρησιμοποιώντας μπισκότα μικρού μεγέθους και μικρές τρούφες. 18. Αφήστε μερικά μικρά κενά μεταξύ τους για να προσθέσετε αργότερα τις Χριστουγεννιάτικες πρασινάδες σας. 19. Το Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο έχει γεμίσει με τα λαχταριστά γλυκά. Έφτιαξα περίπου 8 γραμμές και χρησιμοποίησα τα περισσότερα από τα μπισκότα και τις τρούφες μου, αλλά δεν τα χρησιμοποίησα όλα! Τα υπόλοιπα θα φαγωθούν φυσικά, διακοσμημένα ξεχωριστά σε μια πιατέλα. Δ. Τοποθέτηση της "κορυφής" του Χριστουγεννιάτικου δέντρου: 20. Χρησιμοποιώντας το ψαλίδι σας, κόψτε ένα μικρό κομμάτι από την κορυφή του αλουμινόχαρτου στο πάνω μέρος του Δένδρου και με μια οδοντογλυφίδα κάντε μια μικρή τρύπα μέσα στο φελιζόλ.

21. Τοποθετήστε τώρα το Αστέρι λευκής σοκολάτας στην κορυφή, πιέζοντας ένα άκρο του μέσα στον κώνο. 22. Για να ολοκληρώσετε τη διακόσμηση, κόψτε τα φύλλα και τα φρούτα Ου και/ή Γκι σε μικρότερα κλαδάκια.

23. Εισαγάγετε κάθε κλαδί πιέζοντάς το απαλά ανάμεσα στα μπισκότα ή χρησιμοποιήστε το ψαλίδι σας ή μια οδοντογλυφίδα για να κάνετε μια μικρή τρύπα για να βοηθήσετε το κλαδί να εισέλθει στο φελιζόλ.

24. Για να τελειοποιηθεί, τοποθετήστε τα πράσινα κλαδιά γύρω γύρω στον κώνο σε διάφορα σημεία. 25. Τώρα που το Χριστουγεννιάτικο Δέντρο είναι γεμάτο με όλες τις απολαυστικές λιχουδιές, πάρτε μια μεγάλη σπάτουλα και χρησιμοποιήστε τη για να σηκώσετε και να τοποθετήσετε το Δέντρο σε μια ωραία, γιορτινή πιατέλα. 26. Πασπαλίστε λίγη ζάχαρη άχνη γύρω στο χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο για επιπλέον «χιονισμένο» εφέ.

27. Το Χριστουγεννιάτικο Δέντρου είναι έτοιμο να μπει στο κέντρο του τραπεζιού και να εντυπωσιάσει τους καλεσμένους σας!

Ε. Πληροφορίες φύλαξης: 28. Είναι καλύτερα, αν μπορείτε, να ετοιμάσετε το Δέντρο σας μια ώρα πριν φτάσουν οι καλεσμένοι σας. 29. Αν χρειαστεί να το ετοιμάσετε πιο πριν, μη προσθέσετε τη πρασινάδα και μη το πασπαλίσετε με ζάχαρη άχνη! Καλύψτε το με πλαστική μεμβράνη και κρατήστε το στο ψυγείο για μέγιστο διάστημα 1 εβδομάδα. 30. Αφαιρέστε το από το ψυγείο 2 ώρες πριν το σερβίρετε. Προσθέστε τη πρασινάδα και πασπαλίστε με ζάχαρη άχνη την τελευταία στιγμή! 31. Να το εντυπωσιακό Χριστουγεννιάτικο Δέντρο μου! Ένα εκπληκτικό και μοναδικό Showstopper!! Δεν είναι πανέμορφο?

Ζ. Πρόταση σερβιρίσματος: 32. Η τέλεια διακόσμηση στον μπουφέ σας τις ημέρες των Γιορτών! Αυτός είναι ο μπουφές μου με σαμπάνια και όλα τα Ελληνικά Χριστουγεννιάτικα γλυκά μου! 33. Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο Showstopper με όλα τα εκπληκτικά γλυκά μου έτοιμο να καταβροχθιστεί 🎄! 34. Μοναδικοί Κουραμπιέδες με γέμιση πάστας από χουρμάδες (agwa).  35. Η κλασσική Σοκολατίνα μου διακοσμημένη σαν τον Rudolf το ελαφάκι.  36. Τα Σοκολατένια Μελομακάρονα μου! 

Κοιτάξτε όλες αυτές τις ξεχωριστές συνταγές μου! 

37. Θα μου μείνει αξέχαστη εκείνη η μοναδική στιγμή που η οικογένειά μου τραβούσε τα γλυκάκια πάνω από το δέντρο! 

38. Συλλέξτε όμορφες αναμνήσεις, όχι πράγματα! 39. Και από εδώ πήρα την έμπνευσή μου: Το πραγματικό Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο μου διακοσμημένο από την οικογένειά μου! 

40. Αν ψάχνετε για μια πιο απλή ιδέα για το κέντρο του τραπεζιού σας, κοιτάξτε την πιο εύκολη, ξεχωριστή συνταγή μου για Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο φτιαγμένο από Σουδάκια. Λίνκ Συνταγής ΕΔΩ

Από το σπίτι μου στο δικό σας, ειρήνη, ευτυχία και χαρά σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο! Καλές Γιορτές!

Η. Τουριστικός Οδηγός Ελλάδας: Ελληνικές Χριστουγεννιάτικες παραδόσεις! Η παλιά παράδοση στην Ελλάδα είναι στα σπίτια να διακοσμούν ένα καραβάκι για τα Χριστούγεννα. Στο σαλόνι των ελληνικών σπιτιών στόλιζαν μικρά καραβάκια με φώτα και μπαλίτσες για να γιορτάσουν ότι οι ναυτικοί τους είχαν επιστρέψει από τα θαλασσινά ταξίδια για τις γιορτές, μιας και η Ελλάδα είχε ιστορικά ναυτική παράδοση. Ωστόσο, σήμερα, το Χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο έχει γίνει πολύ δημοφιλές και στην Ελλάδα. Το πρώτο γνωστό χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο ήταν το 1833 και εγκαταστάθηκε από τον βασιλιά Όθωνα δίπλα σε ένα μεγάλο στολισμένο καράβι. Με την πάροδο του χρόνου, κυρίως στα τέλη του 20ου αιώνα, το χριστουγεννιάτικο δέντρο έγινε πιο δημοφιλές από ό,τι το καράβι. Σήμερα, σε πολλά σπίτια το να έχουν και στολισμένο καραβάκι καθώς και δέντρο έχει αρχίσει να γίνεται πολύ δημοφιλές! Φωτογραφία με την ευγενική χορηγία του Athenstyle’sblog: Η Αθήνα με το υπέροχα διακοσμημένο πλοίο της στην πλατεία Συντάγματος!

Κοιτάξτε επίσης την συνταγή μου σε YouTube βίντεο, το λίνκ είναι: ΕΔΩ

#desserts #pastry #christmas #party #kids #vegetarian #christmastree #melomakarona #kourabiedes #chocolate #truffles #honey #μελομακάρονα #κουραμπιέδες #τρούφες #σοκολάτα #fruit #cookies #christmassweets #showstopper

[agnosticanimist]

Holidays I Observe/Celebrate

Taken from my sh!tty Book of Shadows, here's a list and summary of the holidays I attempt to celebrate. 

KEEP IN MIND: These are holidays that I personally celebrate, they are described as I personally see them, and the celebrations mentioned are the ones that I personally observe. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to celebrate a holiday, even “culturally important” ones. Everyone celebrates them differently, some people don’t observe certain traditions, and that’s okay. If you celebrate differently than I do, that’s okay!  I can already smell the hate and annoying responses I’m going to get because of this but whatever let’s get started!

Putting a keep reading because holy farts this post was SO LONG!!!

New Years Day 🆕

January 1st --- A celebration of the new year. Usually celebrated by staying up the night before until midnight, then toasting a drink to luck and prosperity before going to bed. Lunch and/or dinner are usually comprised of black-eyed peas, greens, mashed potatoes, and cornbread.

Feast of Fools 🎭

January 6th --- A day to mock authoritative power, the church, religion in general, and the government. Mock ecclesiastical rituals are performed, a mock king/pope/bishop is elected, and drinking, dancing, and singing occurs. It's a day to laugh at that which is taken so seriously the rest of the year.

Chinese New Years 🐉

New Moon between January 21st and February 20th --- (I’ll update this part later!!!)

Imbolc 🏠

February 1st --- Marks the first day of spring. Celebration of hearth and home. Activities include making St. Brigid’s crosses, making bride’s beds, making priapic wands, lighting candles or bonfires in the snow, and eating pastries and dairy products. 

Valentine’s Day 💝

February 14th --- A day to express your romantic love to those whom you love, usually by giving them a love note/card or a Valentine. Other gifts include roses, stuffed animals, chocolates, etc.

Mardi Gras ⚜

3 Days before Ash Wednesday --- Traditionally occurs 3 days before Ash Wednesday (which occurs 46 days before Easter). Activities include parades, throwing beads, eating good food, wearing masks, singing/playing music, dancing, and drinking.

White Day 💮

March 14th --- Usually celebrated in Asian countries, White Day is a response to Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s day, women are the ones expressing their love to men. On White Day, men who received love are expected to return it, oftentimes with gifts triple in value to the gift they were given. Common gifts include white chocolate, white lingerie, cookies, etc. (Slightly sexist, but hey, a second day to spoil my partner with love is a-ok in my book!) 

St. Patrick’s Day 🍀

March 17th --- A day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. Activities include wearing green (and pinching those NOT wearing green), listening to traditional Irish music, and feasting on things such as roast, potatoes, greens, cornbread, whiskey, beer, and/or cider. A common tradition is “wetting the shamrock” where a clover is placed at the bottom of a shot glass that is then filled with alcohol. The shot is gulped down, and the clover goes with it, or alternatively is tossed over the shoulder for good luck.

Ostara - Spring Equinox 🌱

March 19th-22nd --- Ostara, the inspiration for Easter, is a celebration of new life, birth, fertility, growth, etc. Celebrated by planting seeds, starting gardens, planting flowers and trees, etc.

April Fool’s Day 😜

April 1st --- A day of pranks and jokes that I hate to death but also still celebrate for some reason..?

Easter 🐇

1st Sunday after the Full Moon --- Activities of celebration include painting and hiding boiled eggs which are collected in baskets, feasting on shepherd’s pie and carrot cake, eating candy and treats in the shapes of rabbits and chicks, etc.

Beltane 🔥

May 1st --- Originally celebrated by casting protection spells onto cattle who were headed out to summer pastures, today it is a celebration focused on protection of the self. Bouquets of primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, and marigold are made and hung over the doors or windows of a home. Maypoles are danced around with colorful ribbons. Massive bonfires are lit and feasts are held.

LGBT+ Pride Month 🌈

The Entire Month of June --- A month to celebrate lgbt+ identities, such as lesbain, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Notable days for me are June 3rd: Bi pride day, June 5th: Pan pride day, and June 23rd: Androgyne pride day.

Litha - Summer Solstice ☀

June 19th-22nd --- These mark the longest days of the year. Protective amulets are made out of rue, rowan, and basil tied together with white or gold ribbon. They’re kept until the next Litha, when they’re burned and a new amulet is created. Other activities include picnics, making flower crowns, and dancing/singing around a campfire. 

America’s Independence Day 🎆

July 4th --- Celebrations include barbecues, grilled foods, lemonade, pool parties, American patriotism, and shooting off/watching fireworks after dark.

Tanabata 🌠

July 7th --- (There’s so much lore about this holiday that I’m going to leave out because this post is already so long.) Essentially, it’s an Asian (more specifically, Japanese, or the version I celebrate hails from Japan) holiday centered around two lovers who get to meet only once a year (the 7th day of the 7th month). On the day of their meeting, you can write down wishes on tiny strips of paper and tie them to trees/bamboo, which are burned at midnight to release the wish into the universe in hopes that it will come true. Also it’s bad luck if it rains on Tanabata because the lovers can’t meet.

Lammas/Lughnasadh 🍞

August 1st --- The first harvest of the year. Feasts of breads, grains, and beers as well as bonfires are common. Activities include making corn dollies, wicker men, making crowns of wheat/corn stalks, creating/decorating staves, wands, and besoms/brooms, etc.

Cherokee National Holiday 🐦

1st Monday in September ---  An annual event celebrating Cherokee heritage and culture, held each Labor Day weekend in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The theme of the celebration changes each year, but activities include a two night inter-tribal pow wow, stickball, Cherokee marbles, horseshoes and cornstalk shoot tournaments, softball tournaments, rodeos, car and art shows, gospel singings, the annual Miss Cherokee pageant, the Cherokee National Holiday parade, and the annual "State of the Nation" address by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Mabon - Autumn Equinox 🍁

September 19th-22nd --- The days and nights are equal in length. A time to wear your finest clothes and spend time with your family. This is the second harvest of the year. Activities include offering tributes to nature for the harvests, making wine, gathering dried herbs, walking in the woods, and decorating burial sites with acorns, leaves, and pine cones. 

Halloween 🎃

October 31st --- Inspired by Samhain and celebrated on the same day. Activities include carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, wearing costumes, going through haunted houses, riding hayrides, and giving/receiving treats like candy, popcorn balls, and little plastic toys. 

Samhain 👻

Sunset of October 31st - Sunset of November 1st --- Marks the beginning of winter. Feasts inviting the spirits of dead loved ones to join are held. Offerings to fae and spirits are given. Masks and disguises are worn to hide from evil entities. A time to honor the dead, be they kin, friends, or pets. 

Dia de los Muertos 💀

November 1st & 2nd --- A time to celebrate the dead. Activities include tidying up or decorating graves/burial sites, creating shrines/altars to the dead or deities connected to the dead, leaving offerings like sweets and marigolds to the dead, painting your face to look like a calavera (a skull), dancing and singing to honor the dead, feasting on pan de muertos, etc. Meant to be a joyful but still respectful celebration of those who have passed on.

Thanksgiving 🍠

4th Thursday in November --- A time to gather with the family over a meal and express thankfulness for what you have. A traditional feast includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and more.

Yule - Winter Solstice ❄

December 19th-22nd --- The longest nights of the year. Activities include toasting to trees with spiced cider, creating/lighting a yule log, decorating with ivy and holly, kissing under mistletoe, and enjoying a feast of pork dishes, eggnog, turkey, spiced wines and ciders, cookies, and cider-soaked caraway cakes. 

Christmas 🎄

December 25th --- Inspired by Yule, celebrations include caroling, giving/getting presents and gifts, decorating a Christmas tree, making snowpeople, eating gingerbread cookies and candy canes, watching parades, watching sports, watching ballets, and feasting with friends and family. 

OH IT’S FINALLY DONE THANK THE MOON!!!

This list is subject to change/edit at any given time.

#Witchblr #Holidays #Sabbats #Wheel of the Year #Celebration #Calendar #Freiwyn's Posts #New Years #Imbolc #Valentine's Day #Mardi Gras #St. Patrick's Day #Ostara #Easter #Beltane #Pride Month #Litha #4th of July #Lammas #Mabon #Halloween #Samhain #Thanksgiving #Yule #Christmas

[slimeranchertrash]

Landscape Trees - Don’t Make These Mistakes When Choosing One For Your Garden

Several home gardeners pick a landscape tree based on incredible flower color or a few other showy attribute. The expert yard designer nonetheless, considers blossom shade at the end not at the beginning of the layout procedure. Choosing a landscape tree is without a doubt one of the most eventful decision as much as the yard is concerned. The appropriate decision can make the yard, while an ill-advised selection is liable to turn the garden into a responsibility. Landscape designers follow a methodical treatment whereby they come to the types of their choice. By recognizing this process, you can at the minimum, prevent a few of the most awful blunders.

Selecting Garden Trees

The standards for selecting a garden tree can be organized into 3 separate but relevant classifications. The initial entails the basic cultural needs of the tree as well as thinks about such factors as temperature level, color and sunlight, as well as soil problems. To select a strikingly gorgeous tree that is inadequate to the climate or aspect of your garden is plainly a basic mistake.

The 2nd classification issues certain features of the tree that make it unfavorable for a certain story, like hostile roots, excessive litter, dangerous berries, or unpleasant smell. Male samplings of the Carob are an example of this last point.

The developer relies on the third facet, after the very first 2 groups have been examined and also the tree's credentials deemed adequate. This involves the viability of the varieties from a style angle. The developer examines a variety of criteria in strict order of priority. If a particular tree "stops working" in one, the developer eliminates it from the shortlist. It's as easy as that. Below is an overview of the procedure that you as well can follow.

Size

The possible tree needs to have dimensions ideal to the size and range of the plot. The cardinal mistake is to grow a species that will certainly verify also big in years to come, while believing that it can "always" be pruned back if needed. Do not make the mistake of attempting to fit the tree to the space.

Shape

Prior to thinking of your preferred types, see in your mind's eye the shape of the fully grown tree. Whether you like it or not, its form will aesthetically influence the yard a lot more dramatically than anything other than its size. Should the tree be high and also slim like a Cypress, rounded, cone-shaped fit, weeping like a Willow, or umbrella-like?

Deciduous or Evergreen?

This is one more tactical decision that comes before the real finding of the species. A well-balanced yard will certainly have evergreens for stability as well as screening, and deciduous trees for vibrant change via the seasons. Deciduous species are generally liked as shade trees, due to the fact that they evaluate the sunlight in the summer season, while allowing in its rays when out of fallen leave throughout the winter months.

Leaf Appearance as well as Bark

The vegetation appearance is determined by the fallen leave dimension, form, and shade of eco-friendly. The larger the fallen leaves, and also the darker they are, the courser the leaf texture, while small, delicately shaped leaves of brighter color, create a fine structure. It might be counter-intuitive, however the leaves' color ought to take top priority over that of the blossoms! In a similar way, the color as well as texture of the bark, is more substantial over the one year of the year, than the ephemeral display screen of the tree's blooms.

Flowers and also Decorative Fruit

The beginning point for the naïve and also unskilled, is the last port of phone call for the specialist designer. It is not that flower shade is worthless; as a matter of fact, it might be the topping on the cake, or the little dashboard of basil and oregano that makes all the difference to the pasta sauce. It is just, the last element to take into consideration in the procedure of picking a tree for the yard. Don't fail to remember that some of one of the most enjoyable landscape trees, such as Oaks as well as Powders, are completely lacking in showy, vivid blossoms.

For garden ideas you may call:

Big Easy Landscaping - New Orleans Office

Address: 3436 Magazine St., Suite 120-A New Orleans, LA 70115 504-613-0669 Hours: 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday Closed Sundays and holidays

https://goo.gl/maps/B1zXfmYcGWxCsj6r6

#gardenideas

[christianmarkchristian]

N A K E D in H O L L Y W O O D

my autobiography, to be published daily or weekly,  AS IT IS WRITTEN. 

BEYOND SELF PUBLISHING: this is a 100% OPEN BOOK PROJECT 

-where I publish (share) AS (not after) I write, allowing readers to experience not just an autobiography but the experience of WRITING the autobiograpy as well.

on TUMBLR will be the BOOK in progress and eventualy, finished.

on FACEBOOK will be daily or weekly chapters/installments.

____________________________________________________________

PART 1

WHY WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY? Of course, its about the life of Christian Mark Christian but I intend to go into deeper themes as well:

1. God. If you are averse to God or Judaeo-Christian concepts about God, I hope you will not be “put off” by occasional references I will have to make in the course of remembering my life. My plan is not to be IN YOUR FACE about God but spiritual seeking has always been a huge part of my life and to omit this part would be to make the whole story a big lie.

2. VALUE - how we value our lives and our identity is critical to me and my development as a man. There is a fine line between thinking we are “so great that someone needs to write a book about us” and “our lives dont matter.” I have struggled GREATLY my whole life with feelings that my life isnt important, that I dont matter, that Ive been rejected and abandoned. Writing this will be the greatest therapy I can imagine. Writing this is telling myself, reminding myself, that I AM IMPORTANT and SO ARE YOU. 

3. Autobiography in the age of Interactivity. I’m not sure how many projects like this have been published online or in print but the thought occured to me that an autobiography can be, for the first time in history, more than a “book;” it can be an interactive EXPERIENCE. I can include links in my writing that take the reder to the places I am referencing. 

4. “To know is to love.” Honestly one thing that has always frustrated and disappointed me is that I feel like many or even MOST people “dont get me.” 

Too often I hear the word “weird” to describe me, when I would prefer to hear “unique” or “unusual.” I really am not even a fan of the word “eccentric.” 

Was Steve Jobs “weird?” Was Van Gogh “weird.”? Is Elon Musk “weird?” 

My feeling is that “weird” is considered a negative connotation or description, one I do not want and one that is hurtful when used to describe me. I dont feel like anyone who really knows me would ever call me “weird.” So,one huge function of this book is to eradicate the word “weird” as a description of Christian Mark Christian, once and for all and replace it with UNIQUE or RARE.  

Yeah, through no choice of my own, I’ve endured some things that are not typical of most lives. 

My dad’s suicide and that, co-inciding with the loss, at the same time, (divorce) of my Step-Dad. 

Millions have lost a Dad or a step dad through divorce or suicide but not as many have suffered both losses in the same year. 

Genius level IQ at age 7. 

Grew up around the world. 

Shared a 2-bedroom apartment with my Mom, until I got married at age 44.

Living with my ex-wife in an apartment in Hollywood, in an effort to heal and reconcile. 

Yeah-these are not typical of todays American “man”. I’m not “proud” of these things; nor am I ashamed of these things; I never planned on my life going the way it did. 

Regardless-when I became a Christian, at age 36,when I was “Born again,” I Iearned that God (if you choose to believe) “makes all things new” and “uses everything-even negative things, for eventual and ultimate good.” 

Regardless of the pain and tragedy I’d experienced, I was taught that it would all be used in a positive way, in time. 

Maybe this BOOK is that “positive way.” Maybe some who can relate will get a degree of emotional healing by reading; thats certainly my hope. 

But “to know is to Love.” I feel confident that many of my friends, in reading this book, will get to know me much better and in that, will be able to love me more. And who doesnt want to be loved.... and loved some more?

____________________________________________________________

part I

I was a second and final son, born seven years after my brother, into a USAF family, in Altus, Oklahoma. WWII was far enough behind but had left scars on my pilot Dad's psyche.

James (Jim) Charles Ralph, my Dad, dreamed of being an artist/illustrator for Foote, Cone & Belding, a top advertising agency. His creative dreams were cut short when the US let go of an isolationist foreign policy, geared up for war and he was drafted as a 19 year old, into the skies over his ancestral homeland (Germany.) 

As I understand it, Pearl Harbor "woke" us to the need to become involved again in foreign wars. Isolationist foreign policy would become a relic of the past; we quickly entered a war on several continents. 

Dad had grown up in Glendale, CA. a suburb that has since become a major Armenian cultural enclave in L.A. Ironic that I sit here typing this around eighty years later--a few miles west in another little enclave (part of Hollywood) officially called "Little Armenia." It really shows me that the themes and threads and patterns of life are stronger than we might think. In my case, I’ve been told that  the Apple hasnt fallen far from the tree.”

Armenia was, historically, the first place in the world where the name "Christian" was used to denote a follower of Christ. My primary care physician is Armenian and I am friends with several Armenians, so there seems to be a connection here, maybe one that will be explored in more depth as I write this...

-or maybe not.

The marriage was tempestuous. Jim, returning from the war and stationed at McDill AFB in Tampa, was driving a convertible and, the story goes, saw my Mom, Terry-a pretty young teen who modeled fashions for a local Department store. He was a handsome "flyer" or "Airman" and she fell for him, unaware of a Church background that would eventually drive a wedge between her his family.

  My paternal Grandmother, Carolyn Care, was a devout "Christian Scientist” as my Aunt still is, at age 90-something.

She would insist that my Mom, who was a typical American mainstream Protestant Christian, submit to her and the Churches doctrine. "Science" is about the idea that all things are merely the projection of "mind" and that evil or sickness cant exist unless we agree with it and "project" it (wrongful thinking) on ourselves. I always questioned this growing up. Even at a young age, I sensed something about it I had trouble with. Later, as an adult who accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior through various “Word of Faith” ministries, I saw that there was at least partial truths in “Science” even though I still could not follow Mary Baker Eddy’s doctrine in it’s entirety.

Apparently, several months pregnant with me, my Mom contracted pnuemonia or a similar ailment. Carolyn insisted that Terry not see the physician at the Altus Air Force base hospital but turn to a "Christian Science" practitioner instead. Rebelling finally, my Mom went to see the doctor at the base. He supposedly told her that, had she waited even another day, she might have lost the baby (me.) 

Only a few years later, at a Base in San Antonio, Texas, the troubled marriage fell apart with my Mom falling in love with my Pediatrician. I had asthma, most likely something that was brought on by the stress of my parents troubled marriage and she routinely brought me to see him at the base. Regardless of whether I chose to make these things a focus or no

t, they did shape who I choose to be today. I was raised from age 6-7 to 18, by a Pediatrician step-Dad (with my Mom) but my Paternal families Christian Science also had a strong influence on my thinking. 

It was an incredible duality and one I'm doubtful that many (or any?) others have experienced: a parental control and influence struggle between the ideals of Big pharm/modern medicine and "christian science," between the medical establishment and the "alternative healing" movements that originated in Christian metaphysical camps in19th century America.

Today, Health Care is probably the biggest debate in America. And the debate rages around the same two poles- alternative healing vs traditional medicine. Having deep experiential knowledge of both, puts me in a very unique position. Seeking, finding and practicing right doctrine ("righteousness") is central to my life and you can see why: wrong doctrine might have aborted me before I was born. RIght doctrine might have saved my life. The truth about God, his Love and his healing power, is not just "armchair theology" or something I engage in on special Holidays; its always at the core of every decision I make, every day of my life.

PART II

After surviving my Moms sickness and coming into this world as "Mark James Ralph," my first memory of infancy comes from our two story home in Cambridge, UK. where we moved when I was about 2?

My Dad was stationed at Alconbury AFB, about 25 miles away from Cambridge. I actually remember climbing out of my 2nd floor crib and crawling down the stairs, into the living area where my parents and 8 or 9 yr old brother were gathered!

Eventually I started walking and my best friend, a Brit, Andrew lived across the street.

We lived near open land where some Cows lived. I remember a Harvester machine that was called a “Combine” for some reason that I dont know.  I guess seeing it up close-the machinery, the complexity, the sheer power. The blades and the wheat being “threshed”. -All biblical themes, impressed me greatly...

We lived in a suburb of Cambridge, near some farmland and near a stand of trees called "the woods." 

My first "naked" (sexual) experiences were in Cambridge. I saw a male cow on the other side of the fence I was standing by, attempting to mate, jump up on top of a female cow. I was only a few feet away, on the other side of the fence--what the male cow did was so sudden, so unexpected and seemed -I dont have the word for it- not "brutal" (because it was "love" but invloved thousands of pounds of weight and muscle that could have killed a small child had I been involved!) but maybe just “alarming.” I was only about 4 or 5.

Now I’m going to bring up some very personal, private things that most people only reveal to their therapist. They may or may not end up in the final edit however I feel obligated, because of the name of the book-obligated to include them here...

I also initiated a "curious" childhood intimate encounter with Andrew in my bathroom at that time. I mention this only to bring up the topic of gay indocrination. I have no idea why, to this day but this "gay" encounter did not result in my growing up gay.

A few years later, in Wichita Falls, Texas, I initiated another "curious" encounter with a girl my age. We knelt down beside the wheel well of a car in the parking lot of our Apt complex, "TheTimbers" in the dark, at night, where I lifted her skirt to investigate her private parts.

She seemed to go along with it; at least there were no protests, as there had been none with Andrew. Apparently, I preferred the "female" more than the male because I never again had a sexual encounter with a male. Interesting that I remember Andrews name but not the girls name! Is this kind of thing just wired into our DNA? I think so.

I'm not sure what this says about the "born gay" issue but there it is... The result (I think) of these encounters, was this: even as a very young child, I had strong sexual urges which I had no trouble acting on when the opportunity arose. I dont remember sexual feelings ever becoming obsessive ( a good thing) but they were for sure there.

On another note, I remember walking off with Andrew (I think) into the local "woods." Woods is a cool name that has returned as the Church (M O S A I C) I attend locally uses the word in place of "Hollywood." They have several Campuses and use the term "The Woods" for the Hollywood Campus.

Andrew and I apparently, around age 4-5? decided to go on a hike into the woods one day, without telling anyone. My parents (not sure about his) were pretty upset. When I returned, they were happy I was safe. I never did anything so "adventurous" again. I think that was because I didnt want my parents to be so stressed.

I also remember a somewhat traumatic event around the time I was in my crib: my brother had caught a minnow, in a local stream. He had kept it in a jar aqaurium placed on my windowsill. The disturbing thing was that the fish jumped out of its "cage" (the jar) one day and out the window, falling two stories to its death on the concrete (or something hard) surface below.

By age 4 or 5, I had already seen and/or experienced both sex and death. Hollywood, here I (decades later) came.  

Part III

Ahhh, England. I have such fond memories of the years I spent there as a child-truly formative years and I am so deeply thankful that my formative years were spent there. To my best recollection, I spent my 2nd, 3rd and 4th years in Cambridge. 

When I began to speak (at a precocious young age) I spoke with an English accent. I remember my Mom dropping me off at "Shrubbery School" for the first time and the fear of abandonment I felt.I remember my first teacher, a wonderful Lady named "Mrs Clark" and how I related that to a candy bar that existed around that time, known as a "Clark Bar." 

My Mom dropped my off in our English Sports car-I think it was red, a "Sunbeam Alpine." That car was shipped all the way to Texas eventually and my Mom kept it even through her divorcing my Dad. Cambridge was rich with experience and wonder. I cant imagine a more perfect place for my early years and it left a deep appreciation for Brits in my soul, still there to this day. I would go so far as to even call myself an "Anglophile."

At school, we memorized the multiplication tables and began to learn the alphabet-at age 4! When we moved to San Antonio, TX, -when I was five-the school system there wanted to place me in Kindergarten! 

Thank god for the Mt Olive Lutheran School (off the 410 "loop") -where my parents eventually enrolled me. They were still not as advanced as Shrubbery School back in Cambridge, did but at least a better option than public schools.

My mind is flooded with lush beautiful imagery from Cambridge: 

-my Mom riding horseback in the countryside with her Horse riding club 

(and how later that might have played a factor in two girls I was attracted to and a novel "Diana" that affected me deeply in my teens) 

-My brother Christopher playing "conker" with Chestnuts tied to sholeaces! (only the brits would devise a game like this!)

-My brother relating a Jaguar or some other sports car "flying" by his school at some increditble speed. The drama and awe with which he related this formed in me an early apprecation for fast cars,one which has continued to this day.

The "punts" on the Cam river and the gorgeous Colleges in Cambridge, that all seemed to be named after Jesus or Mary! 

When I hear Christians acting as though the intellect isnt important now, I cringe. Cambridge was the birthplace of intellectualism and Christian thought. C.S. Lewis lived and worked there. Christianity is the most advanced culture of philosophy and Academic systems. The fact that atheism largely eradicated these roots  in the 20th Century is a very sad thing indeed and something I hope my life can be part of reversing. For Centuries, being a Christian and being an intellectual, a thinker, were synonomous. While I appreciate experiential knowledge and mysticism, lets not throw out suc a glorious inheritance so easily.

."http://histclo.com/country/eng/pe/pe60johnsc.html

NOTES for more stories to come: 1. B-day in St Tropez, the large round tray of raosted nuts, possible topless female sunbathers. The back seat of the VW bug, winding through the mountains in South of France, then LifeCycling through the area as an adult working out "Spinning" Berchtesgarden, the Bus, the rock thrown down the cliff into the forest, the rock that broke something...My brother and the Jaguar going 100. Shrubbery School, the rubbish can, "conquer" nut game with chestnuts. My brothers weird hobby of using sewing kits to lower things out hotel windows, then later doing the same to recover bottle caps in San Antonio. The possibility of this project being a catalyst for restoring my relationship with my brother and even step-Dad. How God restores family. The "punts" on the river Cam, Wimpy Burges and Brits eating burgers with knife and fork. How I envisined "the states" and in my mind saw a Giant "steak. The pass-through window-a first architectural design feature. My first bike, how I copied Andrew and the bike had front wheel brakes, how we'd ride around the block. Snow, and my first snowman, snowball fights.going w my family into some woods where my Dad chopped down a Christmas tree. First Christmas's. Alconbury AFB, the hangar. I was impressed and it made my Dad look so cool. I felt bad that he had to drive 25 miles, that seemed so far. Our trips to London. FIsh & Chips. Sightseeing, the trains. The White cliffs of Dover. My favorite TV show about the creatures that lived on the banks fo the river.

Highlights of a life well and not so well, lived:                        

Lived in or visited: the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Texas, MS, NorCal, FLA, DC, Virginia, West VA, New Orleans, AZ, New Mexico, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, France. HIGHLIGHTS:

Celebrated my 4th B-day in the South of France. Crossed the English Channel age, 12 on a Hover craft

Visited (Hitler’s lair in Berchtesgarden) age 4.

Visited Monticello (Jefferson’s home) age 4

Crossed the Atlantic in a commercial Airliner several times, aged 4-14.

Skied in the Swiss Alps and Lake Tahoe, age 10-12.

Lived in a Penthouse on the Rhine river, age 11-12.

Rode the train from Wiesbaden to Stuttgart, Germany age 12.

Visited Castles on the Rhine river, age 11-13.

Flew, as 10 yr old passenger, in a small Cessna, from San Diego to Tampa.

Rode or drove from the South or Texas, to CA, several times age 10-30’s.

Crossed the Pacific (Hawaii) as an adult.Vacationed in Maui, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Switzerland, The Netherlands, London, Paris.

Attended several F1 “Grand Prix” races around Europe and Long Beach, CA and Autosports events, age 8-12, Around America. Won several non-pro autosports trophies, age 20-22. Won #1 Singles (Tennis) MVP Trophy in High School, age 18.  

Got to State Finals on HS Tennis team age 18.

Won several 1st place ribbons in Biloxi, MS Art Shows, age 17.

Was offered Art Scholarship to Ole Miss University, age 18.

Paid $5000 to write a Greek Comedy movie script (Middle Age)

Twice paid $5000 to paint oil portraits (Middle Age)

Starred in a Prime Time major News Network Reality Show (one episode) (Middle Age)

Enjoyed hundreds of hikes in Griffith Park and other local trails. (Middle Age)

Had two jobs as live-in Private Chef in a $1.5M luxury Homes (Middle Age) in the Hills, in L.A.

Was hired by Ben Affleck, given my own trailer and worked on an Oscar winning film (ARGO, as on-camera hand double/sketch artist) Middle Age. As a visionary: saw self driving cars, in 2002, mobile hands free phones in 1995, “Gravity” script, in the 1980’s, MTV music videos, at age 12, years before MTV, the Hyperloop in 1995. Written 12 feature film “spec” scripts (Young-Middle Age) Married 11 years, divorced and re-established financial trust with my ex wife, now close friends and writing partners with her. Have experienced total melt-down/destruction of a marriage and the total rebuilding of that friendship. Have been friends with a few celebs. (actors, singers) Partied in Hollywood clubs and luxury homes, all over Los Angeles, hundreds of times. 25--Middle age Attended numerous Pop Music or Rock concerts at almost every venue all over Los Angeles. Age 12-Middle Age Interviewed on a West L.A. Sound stage, along with 5 of my paintings, for a SHOWTIME 35 mm film doc on Marilyn Monroe that Premiered at the Palm Springs Int. Film Festival, age-30’sAttended the Premiere of that Film, in Palm Springs, where I enjoyed minor, fleeting celebrity status.My art appeared once, in PEOPLE magazine.

30’sI enjoyed backstage at a MOODY BLUES concert at Universal Amphitheater.

20’sI had a Publicist for my Art -30’s.

I’ve had front-row box seats at the Hollywood Bowl. Middle AgeI

met the Great-grandson of the founder of Hollywood. Middle age

I’ve visited or worked on, every major studio lot in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Young-Middle AgeI’ve enjoyed beaches in Maui, Los Angeles, Northern California, Mississippi, Florida and The Netherlands. 4-Middle Age I attempted to surf in Malibu. 20’s Been to Art Museums all over the world, including numerous visits to the Getty in Brentwood. 4-Middle Age Helped my architect brother flip homes many times in Los Angeles. 20’sDesigned many residences as an Architecture student/aspiring architect, in High School. Designed and contracted a hip, post-modern Silver Lake Laundry to Bathroom conversion, in budget. Middle Age Enjoyed hundreds of great shoulder/full body/foot massages Young-Middle age Swam in secluded pools on Maui -Middle AgeHad amazing revelatory spiritual experiences as a Christian 20’s-Middle Age. Attended/Worshipped Jesus at almost 20 different Church locations all over Los Angeles over 1000 times since 1993. Studied every major religion in depth 20’s-Middle Age. Sold almost 200 original paintings. 20’s Middle Age Had several one-man shows at Cacao, a popular West L.A. Coffee shop, owned by the Designer of iconic BigFoot Lodge in Atwater Village. 30’sCurated several group shows at Cacao. 30’s Participated in several ground breaking group show/parties at the infamous Black Cat Gallery in Mar Vista. Middle Age Been paid as: Photographer, Designer, Contractor, Writer, Musician, Oil Portraitist, Organizer and Chef. 12-Middle Age Worked on almost 200 professional movie, TV or commercial sets in a variety of positions. Middle Age Written, Directed and Produced several low budget short films and/or videos. Middle Age Created authentic food from many international cuisines. 30’s Middle Age Enjoyed about $5000-$10,000 in the finest restaurant cuisine in L.A., New Orleans, Germany, the Netherlands and France. 4-Middle age Briefly co-owned, with my then-wife, a catering company which catered several events. Middle Age Briefly co-owned, with a friend, a failed Hollywood event company. Middle Age.