#they’re not actually endives

[caononn]

asleep among endives

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst fanart #ツイステ #twst silver #malleus draconia #malleus #silver vanrouge #silver twst #not a ship btw #ツイステファンアート #they’re not actually endives #i just like the song #and it reminds me of them

[royrockstone]

treat it as a prompt to spread your food motifs thoughts, would love to hear some (especially after finale)

ty for askinggg <333

4x10, as told through food:

Caribbean Air Clear was a big win for caroline ed truthers. caroline’s food stuff has always been a stand-in for her failure to parent— she is either resentful of having to, or unable to, nourish them; she gives food in paltry amounts because that’s how she parcels out affection. and the kids find what she does give them inedible. at the Peter Munion Pitch Dinner, she announces that the portions are going to be small, and the only thing that looks like palatable food in her kitchen (the cheese) is reserved for peter— a person she actually chose to put in her life and seems to be happy with.

in contrast to logan, who tested and punished them around food, i read caroline’s inability to nourish them as more unintentional— she just can’t do it because she feels so much bitterness about her family. i also think there’s gender stuff in there— she's not Womanly bc she can’t cook (or, more likely, have someone else cook) properly, she’s like if the wire mother didn’t even give milk. in some ways, she’s sort of girlish rather than womanly (expressing in chiantishire that she wants to like have fun and drink and fuck and gossip rather than settle into being an older woman who’s best days are behind her. and she gets along best with her girliest kid, roman.) it always makes me feel crazyinsane that the one moment In The Light that roman seems to have gotten is laughing with logan about caroline’s inability to feed them (“three muddy trout for six and fill up on mustard”) those kids had no chance to be fed emotionally or physically lol </3 

meal fit for a king! lets talk about it. it is, first of all and foremost, sweet! it’s a time when food is being used playfully and you’re expected to eat rather than expected to abstain. but theres also such a dark side to it imo, as with all affection for the roys. 1. shiv spits in the blender (in a mirror of when she spit in kens notebook in s3) which is meant to be at least a little bit degrading 2. the whole point is kind of degrading (the name sounds like something logan would do — see boar on the floor, dinner for winners and mole in the hole from the script books) make kendall eat something disgusting, not as a test per se, but as a way of humbling him just a little. food is still lowkey a weapon even when it’s sweet and silly. (also theres some kendall jesus motif— roman crowns him but in a way that’s mocking etc) 3. it’s sweet specifically because the foods are a) unwanted— the roy kids have been starved, of affection and literally of food, and they’re making something genuinely nice with scraps and b) not luxurious— it’s not ortolan or kendalls endive salad, it’s bread ends and cocoa powder. 

there was an interesting moment that mirrored my 4x08 food lore thoughts— ken offers roman rum punch when he’s still trying to woo his board vote against shiv, and roman ignores the punch, pours himself a shot, then grabs a beer. kendall is the one who locked him in a cage and made him eat cake, he’s the reason they had to eat roast chicken, roman experiences his brother as always trying to subordinate him by controlling what he consumes (which is obv a corollary to trying to control him in business.)

on the less thematic/more personally self-serving ed headcanon side of things, nothing has contradicted my hc that roman hasn’t eaten solid food since logan died. all he does is lick Peter’s Special Cheese, drink coffee (sleep deprivation won succession, actually), and drink alcohol. we see roman eat cake at connors rehearsal dinner, pre-logan death and during what he thought was a secure time in the sibling alliance, then never again. his habit of snacking on little bits of fruit and desserts has totally disappeared. tho it's not shown, i could see him eating the night of the election when he realized he won at something and was expecting to crush it at the funeral the next day. if hes becoming logan, hes allowed to eat. but the second he flames out at the funeral and realizes he is, in fact, still a dead man walking, he’d go back to not eating. trying to please the dad in his head, or to express his essential deadness/emptiness without his dad. 

ofc, we don't rlly see the other siblings eat, either (i have laser-focused Roman ED vision so something might have slipped past me. does shiv taste the breakfast tom brings her?) notably, no one ate at the Funeral Planning Committee breakfast, they don’t eat at the tailgate im p sure, i don’t think anyone touched the food at the Munion Pitch Dinner. (tbh concerned for shiv’s fetus re: having adequate calories.) i think part of it is grief and part of it is collective family Disorder and part of it is the good old competitive strong dog weak dog stuff.

i made a joke that roman is going to end up like caroline, but i kind of meant it? i can see him having no food in his house, cocktail in hand, snugly burying himself some place out of the way and fucking around with mild self-destruction for the rest of his life. (altho rather than a failhusband i think he’d try to replace logan yet again and end up with a partner who was pretty brutish or domineering) 

ty again!

#im formulating thoughts about romans relationship to alcohol #as a contrast to coke but also as a part of his food stuff #maybe ill write about it later!

[eremosjournal]

How To Throw a Last Supper Party

by Elise Letrondo

Holy Thursday is a day of religious reflection on Jesus’ last day before death. It is also the day we remember perhaps the most iconic dinner party in history: The Last Supper. It had everything that I seek in a soiree: carbs, alcohol, and accusations of betrayal. Believe me, I still think Jesus was greatly wronged by his friends and local government. But if we care enough to reenact the Nativity scene each December, we should also take time to echo Jesus’ effort at celebration and togetherness before his execution. I think The Last Supper says a lot about the kind of person Jesus was: casual, generous, and down as hell. So I’ve designed a party to emulate The Last Supper so that everyone, Christian or otherwise, can party like they’re dying tomorrow.

FOOD

As a raving charcuterie enthusiast, I can’t picture a party without some kind of meat and cheese assortment. Luckily, the diet of Biblical times consisted largely of meat and dairy from various livestock, so charcuterie kind of tracks historically as well as deliciously. I assembled a board with some ingredients that are loosely reminiscent of Biblical times and Jesus’ relative geography. And since Holy Thursday is also a Catholic reverberation of Passover, I should add that this party is a great opportunity to find and support your local Jewish market. Just don’t go there hungry because you will find yourself in the checkout line with three loaves of fresh challah bread and nothing on your original shopping list. Everything else pictured is from Trader Joe’s. Obviously.

I used sheep and goat dairy for the cheeses, and included smoked fish and dried figs from the market. There are olives, dates, and hummus to round out the Middle Eastern vibe, though I’m realizing it is stupid to try to ethnify something as white as a Trader Joe’s charcuterie board. Blood oranges and endives add an elevated prettiness to distract you from the fact that you’re actually throwing a Holy Thursday party. Speaking of distraction, let’s move on to alcohol!

DRINK

“This is my blood of the covenant,” said Jesus, “which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” 

Not to be that guy but I think if Jesus wanted to avoid sin, he shouldn’t have been passing around a cup of wine. I don’t drink much wine, as it causes me to turn red in the face and slide into the DMs of NBA players. If you’re like me and want a drink that packs the same punch as a robust merlot but tastes like a Capri Sun, I’ve crafted a signature cocktail for you to try this Holy Thursday. I call it “Blood of the Covenant”, and I think Jesus would have loved it.

4 oz cranberry juice cocktail (the sweet stuff, not the UTI stuff)

Juice of half a medium blood orange

1.5 oz vodka or gin

1 oz. Triple Sec

Club soda to finish

I am as bad a food photographer as I am a mixologist, especially after sampling the drink for an hour before remembering to take a picture of it. But a little raw sugar and blood orange slice made it look slightly more presentable! Still, plain old wine is just as good and on-theme, and much less work. And as an unemployed thirty-three-year-old, I think Jesus would have appreciated less work. Cheers, and please pour out for the forgiveness of sins responsibly.

GAMES

“Judas”

Gather enough cups for each guest at your party. The cups must be opaque, and should be disposable as you’ll be writing inside them. With a permanent marker, write “JC” (Jesus Christ) on the bottom of the inside of one of the cups, and “JI” (Judas Iscariot) on the inside bottom of another. Then fill the cups with the beverage of your choosing, preferably something dark enough to conceal the labels. Shuffle the cups around. Once everyone is gathered, cheers and drink to reveal whose cups were labeled or not.

I’ve made a playlist (linked in our Vol. 18 story highlight) that contains Lady Gaga’s goated bop “Judas” on it three times, along with some other more or less thematically related bangers. Play the playlist on shuffle during your party. Every time “Judas” comes on, everyone in attendance - twelve guests if you went for accuracy - must circle up and perform a “waterfall”, wherein each person starts drinking at the same time but cannot stop until the person before them stops drinking. Whoever’s cup was labeled “JC” is first in the waterfall and whoever’s was labeled “JI” is last. Refill the labeled cups once you finish and repeat whenever “Judas” comes back on. 

LINK TO PLAYLIST: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5TVtlP6ExvGW5udMSvVQYp?si=4e5f9746b9bd42f6

“Paranoia”

Gather in a circle, drinks in hand. Each player takes a turn to whisper a question into the ear of the guest to their right. Please, make it personal and incriminating. Out loud, the guest must answer honestly, without anyone knowing what was asked. Whoever is dying to know what the question was, they must drink before it can be disclosed. I suppose this game is in Judas’ Last Supper spirit of divulging information. But also, isn’t it just fun to be nosy?

And there are the bones of a swingin’ Last Supper Party! I know the tone of Holy Week is meant to be somber and low, but if Jesus wasn’t too good for a weekday kickback then neither am I. You can look at it as a celebration of his strange, miraculous life, or at the very least an excuse to be with people you love. I’ve gone back and forth about how much of the Bible I believe and how much of it I should just take as allegorical. After all, it was written by people as flawed as I am, and translated by them too. Being a couple years removed from my old faith, I’m not sure what the gospel means to me anymore. But I still like the image of The Last Supper, a lot. And I like who I think Jesus would have been too. I may not have a faith anymore, but the prospect of gathering, of eating good food surrounded by people who make me laugh the loudest, sounds holy to me. 

#deconstructed club #deconvert #deconversion #deconstruction #exvangelical #excatholic #ex christian #exchristian #ex catholic

[alsamara]

December In Review

Well let’s start off with I’m stealing Li’s template.

What’s In My Cup?

AM: As of late I’ve been drinking black/earl grey tea w/ honey or drip coffee because too much caffeine has been giving me massive anxiety and OCD tics which we don’t even want to get into. I add 1 scoop of Agent Nateur’s holi(mane) which is just collagen powder w/ pearl powder. It actually really helps the evenness of my complexion in my skin. Then I add some hazelnut, english toffee, or vanilla stevia drops depending on the vibe I’m in each day and then my nut pod creamer. Also, you guys I’ve been putting my warm drinks in my ember cup I got for Christmas and it keeps it to the temperature I want for so long, I can shower, do my skincare, whatever and it’s still the same temp. 😭 life changing.

During the day: I’m drinking water with silica drops for thicker and healthier hair, ultima electrolytes in lemonade, and trace mineral drops. I rly want to try the LMNT??? Element??? (Idk..) electrolytes, but why do all the flavors sound like they taste bad.

During the holidays I have been partaking in an occasional sprite that I mix with white peach cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, frozen cranberries, and a sprig of rosemarry as a little mocktail vibe.

PM: I’ve been drinking teas. My favorites have been spearmint, hibiscus tea w/ honey, or elderberry healer by the company rishi.

What’s On My Plate?

AM: smoothies are my go to.. usually strawberry & banana with almond milk, cacao powder, inulin, flax seed, chia seeds, rice bran, pearl powder, chocolate protein powder, cacao nibs, and honey to make it taste like a chocolate covered banana/strawberry.

Pm: I have been rly into a couple things that I’m just rotating…

1. smash burgers on corn tortillas that have been all over TikTok lately. They’re just easy and take such little planning.

2. I marinate boneless, skinless chicken thighs in coconut aminos, salt, minced garlic and minced ginger from a jar and cook it in a pan with all the sauce from marinating. Add it as a dressing on top of a bed of lettuce, cilantro, green onions, sugar snap peas, cabbage slaw mix, and add vermicelli noodles if I’m feeling like I want some carbs.

3. Another one is chicken thighs skin rubbed w/ salt & garlic, fry up the chickens and then remove them from the pan add in black rice (super high in antioxidants) with minced ginger, garlic, let it soak in all the oils and then I add chicken stock, a can of coconut milk and lemongrass smashed. Then add the chicken back in and ignore it for 40 mins. ( this is just a recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow clean plate book which I kind of die for)

My mom and I made Julia Childs lamb for Christmas with green beans and an endive salad.

What’s On My Bookshelf?

Currently reading the 4th book in the “Magnolia Parks Universe” It’s called “The Great Undoing” the series starts out with a book about Magnolia Parks and BJ which is the most toxic but addicting love affair we’ve all had and the 2nd book goes on to Daisy Haites which is like crime lord familia, brother steals paintings from the louve type vibe with more love triangles between both worlds from different perspectives and the 3rd book goes back to Magnolia Parks and the 4th is now back to Daisy Haites.

What’s In My Playlist?

I’ve been into classical music or scores that have been evoking feelings of a past life or have been allowing me to just feel my feels. If not that I’m rly into the song High by Steven Sanchez .. hawt 🫡

What I’ve Been Up To?

I was going crazy for Christmas decorating I wanted it to feel like the North Pole, but honestly it also made me kind of depresssed. My expectations are always high for holidays. My sister never comes home for ANY holiday and always spends it with Lara’s dad side. We used to always spend Christmas night at my grandparents on my Dad’s side of the family and I think that makes the holiday feel lonely now that they’re gone and my uncle is in Boston. Usually we go over to my neighbors on Christmas Eve and she has this huge pasta party, but she cancelled cause she had a pinched nerve in her back and we ended up cooking her a huge lasagna and taking over chicken pot pies for her Christmas Eve + Christmas. I was over stimulated but not with Christmas joy. Happy to help, but I’m feeling exhausted. I enjoyed spending time with my parents and surprising my mom with a gift for her business my dad and I snuck around to get, but as sad as it is to say… I feel relief that Christmas is over and it’s time to bring in a new year.

I am severely dedicated to my physical therapy and my body now that I’m stationary and not traveling around. 3 days out of the week I’m at the clinic in tractions. One where I’m strapped in to the wall pulling my neck to the left and one with 25lbs pulling my neck forward and 20lbs pulling my head back to reintroduce the C curve into my spine. Then I have a ton of at home exercises they have me doing for my knees/ankles and spine as well everyday. It’s a holistic clinic so I’m going to see their nutritionist in January and go further cutting out foods and getting clear on what my body needs to be its highest and best self.

I got a pill organizer from Amazon cause I’m trying to be better about my supplements… it’s been life changing. I’ve been taking saffron 3 times a day to help mood stabilize and gaba to help calm my brain ( both life changing ), chlorophyll, heavy doses of omegas, vitamin d3k2, zinc, glycine which is a building block for collagen, pumpkin seed oil for long hair, and a lot of Bach essences to keep my brain as peaceful as possible.

I’m spending lots of time with my animals. One of my ducks is being a bully so we had to separate berry cause her leg is hurt and cherry won’t stop standing on her back pulling her feathers. We’re collecting about 7 eggs from our ducks and chickens per day.. which is crazy cause I can’t eat eggs anymore, so we’re over flowing with eggs. We have 2 strays in our basements that we are taming to hopefully adopt out or have as outdoor cats that come inside at night… only time will tell.

I finally bought an air doctor for Christmas and I feel like I’m in a pure oxygen tank the air feels so clean (I found a coupon code for $300 off if anyone is interested)

I’ve deep diving into astrology and doing moon rituals.

Every first of the month I’ve been blowing cinnamon through my door which I highly suggest for an abundance practice and washing your cards with cinnamon water.

Skin & Hair Saviors

Face reality is my tried and true. I’m afraid of anything else but I rly want to venture out. I’m going to start micro needling at home to help plump my skin & get rid of acne scars.

My red light/blue light therapy wand + my near infrared/red light therapy panel are saviors.

I use golabs rosemary hair oil any chance I have to let it sit and chill and I use her other oil on my ends and then pop it in a shower cap and let it simmer for at least an hour.

Virtue hair oil with keratin has been my go to before I braid my hair every night.

I’ve been using a ph balanced shampoo by k18 & a rice water conditioner called mykirei..

I also do a apple cider water rise on my scalp to balance PH after I shampoo and condition ( 4 parts water, 1 part acv)

Miss & love you all

Aly 💗

[abovethemists]

It might sound like a weird TMI question butI was wondering what type of food did you serve at your wedding? If any of your followers want to chime in on what they served I would love to know.

Can you believe that I barely remember? 

It was all really good, though I didn’t actually eat anything at the wedding (too busy talking to everyone you and your spouse have ever met). The caterers sent us home with a bunch of left overs though that lasted for like a week so I did get some. I had a late wedding so it wasn’t a sit down dinner. It was buffet style. I know we had a carving station and we had some sort of pasta. We had a really good endive salad too. I don’t remember at all what the hors d'oeuvres were but they were good. 

The big hit at my wedding, which I didn’t ever get to try but people were telling me about years after the wedding, was the mashed potato bar. I think they’re pretty common now but when we did it 9 years ago I had never seen it before. 

I got married almost a decade ago though so I don’t know what’s en vogue now for wedding cuisine. 

Anyone else have anything to add?

#tmi tuesday #Anonymous

[mementofloreo-archived]

@viisiond || semi-plotted starter || lol u come here often? ;)

Nettle is more settled in Monstadt now than he was when he arrived a few months ago, just weeks before the problems with Stormterror- no, Dvalin- began.

While he hasn't made many friends or become very close with anyone, he's been able to form friendly rapport with the people he works with at the Adventurer's Guild, some of hi sister's regular customers, and a few other frequent visitors of the library. Considering he's only interacted with about three people outside of his family in his life, it's actually a lot of progress on his part.

When he steps into Angel's Share, it's only his second time going there alone. He's usually with his sister or her wife if he goes out for drinks or a meal. This is more because he doesn't see a point in going out to eat all alone when he could just make something at home.

It's been a much longer and more tedious day than he expected, though- nothing truly terrible happened, but a few things ended up being much more time consuming and demanding than he initially expected. And he doesn't enjoy the feeling of being outright drunk, so he doesn't tend to drink very much- but one or two drinks helps him relax and settle down without doing much more than making his head buzz a little.

He makes a point not to drink at home, though. He knows his sisters wouldn't mind too much, as long as he makes sure to keep any spirits he buys in a place where his five year old nephew can't stumble upon them by mistake. But he feels much more comfortable this way.

He prefers sweeter drinks in general. White wine over red wine, cider over beer. If he drinks anything hard on its own, it's usually a fruity sort of brandy.

He'd never had dandelion wine prior to his family's move to Monstadt, though he wasn't a stranger to its reputation.

Nettle is a dendro vision user- but more importantly, he loves flowers and plants of all kinds. He was reading everything he could about them long before he ever became a vision bearer. That said, he's well acquainted with the versatility of dandelions for use as food. Every part of the plant is edible and has a different taste. The roots make a very hearty tasting tea, one that actually resembles coffee more than anything, though less acidic. The leaves are a bit bitter and earthy- he's heard them compared to endive before.

It's the flowers that are used in making wine, though. They're lightly sweet and the wine made from them has a taste reminiscent of a white wine- a less sweet variety than dessert wines like moscato, but even so it's still delicious.

Nettle finds himself sighing deeply while he sits at the bar sipping at his first glass. There is some chatter and bustle around him, but it's not so busy that the noise is overwhelming. Instead it's a pleasant hum in the background.

Angel's Share recently added an upright piano to its decor, and Nettle can hear somebody plinking out a simple song on it. He's a fairly adept self-taught musician, but thinking about playing where anyone other than his family can hear still intimidates him a bit. He knows the song though, and hums along softly, working to relax his breathing and let the tension out of his back and shoulders.

Since his eyes are closed, he doesn't realize someone has sat down next to him until they speak.

"Ah, you have good taste," they say. A smooth and masculine voice with a slightly lilting tone. Nettle opens his eyes, blinks, and looks to his left.

Having spent a lot of time in the library and having become friends with Lisa, Nettle knows a little about Kaeya Alberich even though they've never met or spoken. He would know something anyway, seeing as he's a ranking officer with the knights- and apparently a local heartthrob of sorts. This is the first time he's seen the cavalry captain up close, though.

...Ah, right. Nettle recalls Lisa saying that Kaeya is very fond of dandelion wine- or more specifically, the Death After Noon cocktail in which it is used.

Nettle is a bit blank for a moment- mostly because he wasn't expecting anybody to talk to him at all, but he's also a little struck by Kaeya's face. His features are pretty- in a sturdy and masculine way, though. Not delicate and rounded like his sister. Privately, he decides he understands why people call him a heartthrob now.

"I'd never had it before I moved here," he finally says, voice quiet, "But yes, it's good. A little drier than the white wines I normally prefer...tastes more like chardonnay than moscato."

His reply is much longer than he planned, but he hasn't said anything strange so he tries not to let it bother him. Kaeya leans his chin on one hand with a little smile of his face that absolutely reeks of mischief.

"With a cute little face like yours I'm not surprised you prefer sweet flavors," he says easily.

Nettle pauses with his glass halfway to his mouth and turns to stare, completely bewildered.

He's fully aware that he's just been fed a "line." He's also heard of Kaeya's reputation for having a silver tongue and a bit of a flirtatious personality.

...Still, nobody has ever flirted with him in his life. And Nettle doesn't see himself as particularly memorable or attractive either. So while he understands there probably isn't anything too serious intended with the compliment, he's not sure why it was given in the first place.

Finally, he manages to slowly say, "........well, dendro slimes are cute too, if you tilt your head just right. Nothing special about it."

He knows his face is a bit flushed, though.

#nettle tag #viisiond(kaeya) #nettle vc sir are u perhaps ill. delirious maybe. already drunk? either way u need ur eye checked.

[fishandships]

For Waylon - endive, limerance, fanfaronade

unique self ship questions for unique words (thank you friend!!!!)

endive - if, under the circumstance, you were able to treat your f/o to a single, beautiful day without a budget, what would it consist of?

dude i would buy my mans some new furniture. like NICE, big comfy furniture. i recently learned that an Alaskan King bed is a Thing - it’s literally over twice the size of a regular king-sized bed. i would get him one of those, and also a super comfy new couch. and then spend the rest of the day breaking them in (via cuddling on them).

limerance - gush about your f/o, no limits… but the catch is, gush as if its a message directly to your f/o.

hey, big guy, i know i’ve said it a million times but i’ll say it a million more cause it’s what you deserve: you’re so strong, you know? obviously physically (swoon!) but emotionally too. to have gone through so much and still come out caring for others...you really are incredible. and handsome as hell to boot! seriously, i could kiss that gorgeous smile and touch those sexy muscles all day....actually, can i? pretty please?

fanfaronade - what would your f/o say when bragging about you to others?

(skskflshskfjfj gonna hand this over to Waylon ahhhh)

“Riv is a tough cookie - the kind who can take a hit and hop back up grinnin’. They’re sharp, too, and creative; not just artsy, but good at figurin’ out problems of all kinds. What they lack in street smarts they make up in book smarts...they know a lot about lots of things. Art and history and science and stuff. And they’re mine, so clearly they have excellent taste too, heh. They love me, and I love them, and I ain’t never gonna let anyone take ‘em away from me, got it?”

#singingdeepinme #river babbles #otp: crocodile smiles #tysm friend ;w;

[enchantedchocolatebars]

Chowder Halloween Headcanons🎃💜🎃💜

Since Halloween is almost here, I decided to make some spooky fun headcanons for my favorite purple cat bear rabbit thing and his friends! Enjoy!

Chowder:

• LOVES HALLOWEEN!🎃💜 It's his second favorite holiday. (His first favorite is Thanksgiving🦃🥔🌽🧅🍠🥧)

• He'd wear a pumpkin costume!

• Mung forces Schnitzel to take him trick or treating.

• Whenever someone at the door is serving candy, Chowder would not only suck up all the candy from the bowl, he'd even consume the bowl itself.

• Every year the purple bunny would eat so much candy that he'd grow all big and round like a ball and Schnitzel would always have to be the one to have to roll him back to the kitchen.

Mung Daal:

• Loves entering the gang and himself in costume contests. (He remembers last Halloween where they went as The Addams Family. Mung was Gomez, Truffles was Morticia, Schnitzel was Wednesday, Chowder was Pugsley, and somehow Kimchi was Uncle Fester???)

• Loves cooking up Halloween themed dishes.

• Will flirt with ladies who wear sexy costumes.

• IS THE KING OF THE THRILLER DANCE!

• Every year he'd come up with a creative plan to mess up Endive's kitchen. (He'd either teepee the place, use silly string, or just straight up eggs the place.)

Schnitzel:

• He's the type of rock person who believes that you're never too old for Halloween.

• His favorite Halloween jams are The Monster Mash, (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SOFCQ2bfmHw) The Original Ghostbusters Theme, (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m9We2XsVZfc) and I Put A Spell On You from Hocus Pocus (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VLY0gZSZXB4)

• DOES NOT LIKE HAUNTED HOUSES! THEY'RE HAUNTED!

• Likes telling ghost stories...that is, until an actual ghost randomly appears. Then he gets scared, screams like a girl, and faints.

• Likes lifting up heavy pumpkins and carving them.

Truffles:

• MAMA LOVES HALLOWEEN! (Even more than Chowder does.)

• Likes to get Halloween themed nail designs on her nails.

• The ghosts and ghouls of the night are scared of her.

• Is on candy duty at the door.

• Once the trick or treaters are gone for the night, she'll eat the rest of the candy in a secret room and hiss at anyone who comes near. Ya girl doesn't like to share.

#cartoon network #cn #chowder cartoon #chowder #mung daal #schnitzel #shnitzel #truffles #headcanons #writing #my writing

[vermiculated]

inclineto replied to your post “Richard Week 2k19, day nine.”

OKAY, I want Cirencester misunderstandings basically forever, as long as they come from a place of benevolent concern (and not, you know, hatefullness) [what if Richard really does decide to acquire a fox, in order to hoodwink everyone? (Dominic, who after all feels free to ask how the sex was, is particularly scandalized by this) VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: this fox is just a fox; not a romantic companion]

TRUE FACT, true fox: I tried this and I freaked myself out pretty badly

David: a pleasing sense of circularity, red-heads who scale walls and sometimes howl in the night are an appropriate fox metaphor. So in the story David gets compared to humans all the time: foxes know all about people and their weaknesses. 

Richard: remember when David comments that Richard would make a good butler because he’s tall and doesn’t drink much? These things are also true of badgers. Badgers would probably inadvertently turn to crime to provide their intimates with a place to gamble and make out, they’re very communal. The sett, you know. 

Dominic: an exceptionally pretty-eyed hare. Prey animals do have big, dark eyes and the standoffishness and fear of new things (time to break up with your childhood belovedddddd, Dominic, for real this time.) that seems innate, but we should never forget that however we write him, Dominic’s in a precarious position and does need looking-out-for. 

Silas: what animal is the best at looking out for all the other animals and seems initially so obviously prickly that the other animals have to be terribly brave to ask for such a service? The hedgehog is wary and lonely and has an extremely soft underside, in this case that underside is whenever Dominic asks for stuff it’s for Silas? They have dinners of berry wine and cracked rye grains, roasted radishes and sweet endive.

Julius: the most beautiful of all the grey squirrels, with the most tidily-kept hands and alert gaze. Like all squirrels, has killed before and will kill again. The actual guardian of the sett, although largely unrecognized as such due to small stature and unpleasant personality.

Harry: fast, brunette, into sex. Harry can only be a river otter. 

Ash: mouse, because insofar as this is a Redwall pastiche, the mice are the ones who get the plot going and keep it clipping along. Also Ash is short. 

Frances: shrew. 

(ps: a “funny joke” is that modern au Richard Vane is totally out and refers to David as “my partner” and Philip Vane thinks ‘oh, it’s too bad that Richard just doesn’t fit with any of these singles whom Eustacia knows.’ Philip refers to all non-married people as “singles.”) 

#inclineto #these are up for debate but do any of the rest of you really want to think about it at all #more nonsense twenty nineteen #puns

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (108/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous Chapters conveniently available here.

[20 February 233 Before Age.   Mundokuul.]

Guwar had never heard of Planet Mundokuul until Salziff warned him never to go there.    According to Salziff, Mundokuul had been the first step on his path to ruination.   The young Saiyan had sought the secret to increasing his already incredible strength, and so he had discovered the mythical technique known only as Jindan.    Guwar and his comrades wanted the same power, and so they had journeyed to Mundokuul to retrace Salziff's steps, despite the fact that Salziff had practically begged them not to repeat his mistake.  

In light of this, Guwar had expected Mundokuul to be a grim and harrowing place.    The Jindan cult was actually located on some other world, one Salziff couldn't identify, so Guwar half-suspected that they would be met by mysterious agents, who would give them encrypted coordinates that would reveal the way to their lair.

Endive, one of the two Saiyan women who had recruited him on this quest, had a different idea.   "We'll probably get there and find an empty planet with a single occupant," she had said one night before they had embarked on this next leg of their journey.   "The cult would naturally blind him and cut out his tongue to ensure that he never betrays their secrets.    When we arrive, he'll hear our footsteps and activate some mystic gateway leading to their inner sanctum.   And from there?   Who can say?   We shall either grow stronger or we shall die."

Guwar usually admired Endive's flair for storytelling, but not when he was one of the characters she was threatening to kill off.    

Lesseri, the strongest and unofficial leader of their group, had a more minimalist attitude about it.    "The 'cult' angle is just to frighten people off," she had said.   "Everything about this Jindan business has been an IQ test.  You have to do all this legwork just to find the right place to go, and the only catch to joining up is that you have to follow orders.    They're just some group looking for worthy henchman, and that's fine.   As long as they hold up their end, I'll do whatever they want.   You ask me, Mundokuul's just another hoop we have to jump through to prove we can follow instructions without losing our nerve."

None of this answered Guwar's question to Lesseri about what she expected to find on Mundokuul when they arrived.    Lesseri simply didn't care what the planet was like, or how many sapients lived there, or whether they would be greeted by gloomy thunderstorms to suit the ominous mood of their search.   To her, it was all an abstraction; the only reality was what she had to do to get stronger, and what she would do with that power once she had it.    

Treekul, on the other hand, had no desire to visit Mundokuul at all.   The rumors about Jindan only promised power for Saiyans, and Treekul was no Saiyan.    Her only interest in this venture was a chance to investigate the possibility that Jindan was an application of alchemical techniques for *ki* manipulation.   She was no warrior, just a historian with an interest in mystic secrets and ancient scholars.

"The fact is," she told him, "I don't even know why you three brought me along.   Mundokuul's the next-to-last step in your search, and according to Salziff, you'll find out what to do when you get there.    You don't need me to lead the way."

"Let's just say we don't trust Salziff," Guwar said.    "He told us where to go, and then he warned us not to go there.   So maybe he was lying about Mundokuul.   Maybe there's nothing there.  Or maybe there really is, but he didn't tell us everything we need to know because he's afraid that we'll succeed where he failed.    You're our insurance.   If anything goes wrong, you can use that geomantic compass of yours to tell us if we're going to the right place.    If not, you can sniff out a new lead."

"The cult might not see if that way," Treekul said.  "They only want Saiyans, so if they see me hanging around, they might take it the wrong way.     They might even punish you three by association."

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Guwar assured her.   "Hey, don't be so glum.    Think of this as a research expedition."

Treekul seemed to find little solace in this.    

When they finally reached the planet, however, they were all surprised by what they found.   Though isolated from the rest of galactic civilization, Mundokuul appeared to resemble a vacation resort.   The planet was tidally locked with its star, with one hemisphere continuously bathed in sunlight, while the other was hidden in permanent shadow.    As such, the only population centers were located on the dark side of the planet, since the day side was too hot for most organic life forms.  Somehow, the weather patterns on Mundokuul allowed the night side to have temperate climate, despite the absence of direct sunlight.  It was a mystery that might have fascinated meteorologists, but the Saiyans and Treekul were only interested in the cult.

Lesseri led the group into what appeared to be the planet's capital, and they found only night clubs, lounges, and other entertainment establishments.   Neon lights flashed and blinked at them from every available surface, while fog machines and argon-ion lasers were found in almost every building they entered.  Electronic music and enthusiastic party-goers could be heard no matter where they went.

"All right, let's try to reason this out," Guwar suggested as they sought refuge in one of the quieter clubs.   It was a burlesque, but the tables furthest from the stage offered a semblance of tranquility.   "Does anyone sense *anything* Saiyan about this place?"

Lesseri shook her head.   "The only Saiyans on this planet are the ones sitting at this table," she grumbled.   A cheerful robot tried to recite the appetizer menu to her, and she swatted it away like a fly.   Everyone else in the building was too focused on the show to notice.  

Endive rested her elbows on the table and steepled her fingers.   "Perhaps this is Luffa's doing," she suggested.   "That Saiyan on Quadzityz who attacked Luffa might have possessed the Jindan secret.   Luffa could have overpowered him, forced him to reveal the same information we obtained from Salziff, and she shut down the Jindan cult before we arrived."

"But there's been no fighting here," Treekul said.   "I don't know much about the Super Saiyan, but from what you've told me, she's not exactly subtle."

"What if Salziff was lying to us from the start?" Guwar suggested.   "He told us to go to Mundokuul because he figured he'd be dead by the time we found out it was a trick."

"No, he warned us *not* to go," Endive reminded him.   "He expected to die soon anyway.   Why would he want to trick us?"

"I don't know," Guwar admitted.   "But it sure looks like he lied to us, doesn't it?"

"Forget Salziff," Lesseri said.   "You're right about one thing, Guwar.   He probably is dead by now, so it doesn't really matter if he was trying to trick us or not.  And while we're at it, let's forget about Luffa too.    If Supe really did knock off the Jindan cult, then whatever they could have taught us would be worthless, wouldn't it?"

"What are you saying?" Endive asked.  

"I don't know," Lesseri muttered.    "I guess my point is that if this is a dead end, so be it, but let's make sure it's really a dead end before we decide where to go next.  The last thing I want to do is find out later that we had the right place after all, and have to double back."

"We could start wrecking the place," Guwar suggested.   "Blow up a few of these clubs, shake some of the tourists down, that's bound to get someone's attention.

"Probably Luffa's," Lesseri said.   "No, the cult's managed to stay under the radar for a while now.   We're not going to get anywhere with brute force."

Guwar couldn't dispute the logic of that.   "Okay, the opposite, then.   Maybe we just settle in and spend a few weeks here.    Let them find us."

"If they want us," Endive said.  "It's possible that they might have no interest in three Saiyans with our power levels.   We've made tremendous progress so far.   Let's not back off now."

"What about Treekul's geomantic calculations?" Guwar suggested.    "Now that we're here, she might be able to narrow down our search."

"Might be worth a try," Lesseri said, "but Salziff didn't have a geomantic compass, and he still found his way.   I feel like there's something obvious here that we're missing."

For the next several minutes, they sulked at their table, indifferent to the merriment and debauchery around them.    Then a waitress approached the table and began setting out food.

"We didn't order anything," Endive said.

"Compliments of the management," the waitress said.    She paid little attention to them as she laid out napkins and utensils.   "It's against the law to waste food on Mundokuul.    So at the end of every shift, we serve all the leftovers to whoever is in the house, free of charge."

"That seems like a crappy way to stay in business," Lesseri said under her breath.  

"Well, most folks come here for the talent," the waitress said, pointing at the stage.   "And we find that the free samples encourage customers to pay for more later in the day.    If you're new to Mundokuul, you should really try the mollusk medley.    Oh, and if you want any liquor, there's a robot around here who can help..."  

As she said this, she noticed the broken machine lying on the floor behind Lesseri's chair.   "Ah. Well I see you've met the robot.   Well, I'll be back later if you decide you want anything else."

"Hold on," Guwar said just as she turned to leave.   "You said it's against the law to waste food.  Whose law?   We've been all over this city and it's all casinos and dance halls.   Where are your leaders?"

"What, you mean the governor?" the waitress asked.    

"Yeah, I guess," Guwar shrugged.    

She smiled and pointed back at the stage.  "He's not due to perform here until next month, but I'm sure there's a concierge who could look up his bookings for you."

"Never mind," Guwar said.  He joined the others in staring down at their plates as the waitress dragged the robot back to the kitchen.  At last, Guwar picked up his fork and began eating.   The women stared at him quizzically until he said: "Hey, we're going to be here a while longer, right?   No sense thinking on an empty stomach."  

"Maybe we need to be thinking about the dayside of the planet," Treekul offered.   "I mean, if I was running a secret organization, where better to hide it than an uninhabited wasteland?"

"It wouldn't take long to make certain," Endive said.   She picked up a shellfish and cracked it open with her bare hands.     "We could take the ship into orbit and run a full scan of the planet.   Honestly, we should have done that before we landed, but who would have expected it to be like this?"

Lesseri's meal included a meatloaf-style dish, which she scooped up and ate from her hand like a piece of fruit.    "Gotta admit, this stuff isn't half-bad," she said.  

"We might try searching the area around the planet's magnetic poles," Treekul added.    She popped an appetizer in her mouth and nodded with approval at the taste.    "The planet's ley lines would converge there, and it might be a suitable spot for a base."

For the next two hours, they discussed possible ideas and courses of action.    Then, Guwar heard a strange noise, and he felt sick to his stomach.  He tried to get to his feet, but fell out of his chair instead.   As he struggled to stand up, he noticed that Lesseri and Endive were having the same problem.  

"Guwar?" Treekul asked.   She appeared to be unaffected.   "Hey, what's wrong with you guys?"

He tried to speak, but found that he couldn't make his voice work.    At last, he collapsed onto the floor, and the last thing he saw before he blacked out was the shoes of their waitress as she ran over to respond to Treekul's call for help.    

*******

[21 February, 233 Before Age.  Nagaoka.]

Guwar awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar place.   He could tell it wasn't Mundokuul, because he could sense that the gravitational force was slightly higher.  He looked up and saw the ceiling of a cavern, illuminated by a series of torches.   He looked around for his companions, and found only Lesseri and Endive, lying unconscious beside him.   Looking down on them were a group of humanoids wearing scarlet robes, their faces obscured by hoods.   Each of them carried a spear in their right hand.    

"You are Saiyans," one of the robed ones said in an ominous voice.    "Have you come seeking power?"

"Y-yes," Guwar said.   "Are you...?  Is this...?"

"Silence," the speaker commanded.   He turned to one of his fellows.   "Bring the alien."

Guwar slowly rose to his feet.   His best guess at this point was that there was something about the food on Mundokuul.   Perhaps it was drugged, and only a Saiyan appetite could ingest enough to take a sufficient dose.   He didn't feel any lingering side effects, but then he would have had no idea what to expect.    Maybe it wasn't a drug.  Maybe there was some other trick to it, a trick that only worked on Saiyans.    Once they were rendered unconscious, someone connected to the cult could collect the new recruits and transport them to... wherever they were now.  

As the robed figures shuffled around and made preparations, Guwar said nothing.   There was no point in asking questions now.   These people would give him whatever answers they saw fit, on their own terms.   All he could do was wait patiently and take in his surroundings.

He noticed that there were glyphs and other markings on the walls of the cavern.   It was difficult to make them out in the torchlight, but he thought he recognized a few of them as alchemical symbols from Treekul's notes.    Among these, the most prominent was an arc, which represented a moon in its crescent phase; a circle with a dot in the center, which symbolized a star; and a cross, which was often used to represent a habitable planet.  

Once, Treekul had lectured him for over an hour on the multitude of interpretations of the cross symbol: the four cardinal directions, a small plant sprouting from the ground, the tetravalence of a carbon atom, a chromosome, a four-armed sea creature revered as a symbol of life and prosperity, and so on.   Guwar had been especially bored that day on the ship, but Treekul's enthusiasm about certain subjects was a passable form of entertainment.

A pair of cultists approached and collected Lesseri and Endive from the floor.    As they took them, he looked down and saw that he was surrounded by a shallow trench that formed a perfect circle around him.   Another pair of robed figures brought clay jars filled with some liquid, which they then poured into the trench until it was full.   For a moment, Guwar wondered if it was blood, but the smell of it was all wrong.   He could only be sure that it was definitely not water.  

Guwar then noticed that they were chaining the women to a set of wooden posts.   This made no sense to him, as any Saiyan would be more than strong enough to break free of such a crude pillory.   Was it a ceremonial humiliation?   Were they going to do something similar to him?     Were there different initiation rituals for men and women?   Or had he been chosen in favor of them?

Then, at last, another acolyte entered, carrying a prisoner in his arms.   It was Treekul.    The alien woman seemed to be wide awake, though she appeared to be exhausted from her captivity.   Guwar noticed that her dark green hair, which she normally kept trimmed to a thin layer of stubble on her scalp, had grown at least a quarter-inch since he had last seen her.   How long had they been here?   Treekul's clothes--a maroon romper with black leggings and white boots--had been brand new on Mundokuul.   Now, they showed signs of wear, and there were holes in the seams of the fabric.    His own leotard and body armor looked to be in decent shape, as did Lesseri's singlet and Endive's skirt and chestplate.  

As he struggled to make sense of this puzzle, a man approached him and presented him with a ceremonial dagger.   The gilded handle was crafted to resemble the head and neck of a serpent, with rubies serving as its eyes.   Guwar couldn't be sure of the blade's composition, though the moon symbols engraved upon it suggested silver, which Treekul had told him was a chemical element closely associated with moons in alchemical tradition.

"You hold the sun and the moon," the man said, his lips barely visible from within the shadows of his hood.  He was pointing at the knife as he spoke, and then he directed Guwar's attention to the posts.    Treekul was being chained to the third one, between Endive and Lesseri.    She struggled in vain, and tried to talk to her captors, as though she could somehow negotiate or charm her way out of this.    Yet, she never begged for mercy, which Guwar found rather impressive for an alien.   He wondered if he was starting to fall in love with the girl, but he had more immediate concerns at the moment.

"Now you must complete the circle by drawing the blood of the world," the man continued.    "The world gives life, and you must return that life to the world.   Stain the sun and the moon, and cross the river.   Put the knife into the world, and you will know the power of Jindan."

"Blood?" Guwar asked.    "You mean my own blood or...?"

"Strength must come at a price," the man said.   "Life is built upon death, and so must strength be bought by sacrificing weakness."   He pointed to the three women.    "You must choose, brother.   Which will you sacrifice for your own empowerment?    Choose wisely, and prosper.    Choose poorly, and die."

Guwar was beginning to get the idea.   For a moment, he considered that it might be a trick question.    Perhaps he was supposed to kill all three, but that seemed excessive.   If "all of the above" were an option, then why bother presenting it as a choice?   Likewise, choosing to kill none of them was out of the question.    The cultist specifically called for death in exchange for power.   It wouldn't be enough to wound one of them, and apparently only one of them would be deemed an appropriate sacrifice.  

Guwar was a mathematician, which was something of a rarity among Saiyans, but he had a talent for it, and his alma mater had been too frightened of his power to turn him away.   They probably would have awarded him a diploma just to be rid of him, but he earned his degree, and he had proven it on any number of consultation jobs.   For him, this initiation was simply another puzzle to be solved, another abstract conjecture to be falsified or proven out.   The cultist had told him to choose wisely.   Guwar knew no other way.

Superficially, Treekul seemed to be the logical choice.    If only one sacrifice was correct,  the answer couldn't be to kill a Saiyan, since there were two Saiyans in the set of available options.   In most respects, Treekul was unique.   To kill Endive would beg the question of why one *wouldn't* kill Lesseri, and vice-versa.

But the obvious choice wasn't always the correct one.   Treekul's uniqueness implied that he ought to consider factors that made the others unique as well.   Lesseri was the stronger of the two Saiyans, so perhaps that made her a better sacrifice.   If one of them was to be the price for Guwar's own empowerment, then Lesseri's life seemed like a greater payment, which would suggest that Guwar would receive a richer reward.  

On the other hand, perhaps the price to be paid was simply one life, any life, no matter how great or small.   In this model, sacrificing Lesseri's enormous power would be like putting a ten-credit coin into a vending machine that didn't dispense exact change.   You would get your five-credit snack, but it would still be a waste of money.   That suggested Treekul was the correct choice, as her death would be like tricking a vending machine with a slug.  

The dilemma between Treekul and Lesseri forced him to consider Endive's qualities now.    Factually, he could think of nothing that made her stand out.   She was the best pilot of the three, and a cunning tactician, but these didn't seem important enough to make her a worthier sacrifice.    The more he thought about it, the more he searched for a logical answer, the more his mind kept drifting back to the answer that made the least sense of all.    Of the three of them, Guwar found Endive to be the most attractive.   Her figure, the shape of her face, the cold, inquisitive look in her citrine eyes, the scent of her hair, all of it appealed to him in a way he was far too embarrassed to admit.    But the cult had no way of knowing this, and besides, it was purely a matter of opinion.    

He wondered, then, if that might have been the point all along.  Was the quality of his sacrifice a matter of what he, Guwar, was personally willing to give up?    If that were true, how could the cultists possibly know his feelings towards these three?   Then again, they seemed to know his name, and Treekul's condition suggested that they had been held here for some time, even if Guwar couldn't remember it.   Had the cult interrogated them, only to use some strange power to erase Guwar's memory of it?    There were stories about Luffa having the power to read minds.   What if the Jindan cult had discovered the same ability?    

He approached the three women, making sure to step over the trench filled with unknown liquid, and looked them over more closely as he considered his personal feelings towards them.    Killing Lesseri would be the most satisfying choice for him.    She was an arrogant bully, who only invited him on this quest because she needed an extra set of hands and few other candidates.   He fully expected her to turn against him whenever it suited her purposes.    Surrendering his body and soul to the Jindan cult was one thing, but joining it alongside Lesseri annoyed him to no end.   How much easier his life would be, he thought, if he could use this initiation to put her out of his misery once and for all.    He doubted that he would ever get a chance like this again.    The Jindan cult had presented her to him on a silver platter.

As he looked at Lesseri's unconscious body, he had to admit that he feared her.   Even now, helpless and chained to a post, she still towered over him.    The torchlight danced across her dark brown skin, making her impressive musculature look even more dangerous.   Part of him was tempted to kill her on sheer impulse, and let the chips fall where they may.   If the cult killed him for making the wrong choice, then he would at least die knowing she would precede him into hell.  Instead, he stayed his hand.   The cult clearly had no need for Lesseri, or else they wouldn't risk her life on Guwar's decision.   There was no need to take reckless chances when it was possible the cult might dispose of Lesseri for him.  

He looked at Treekul, and she looked back at him.   At some point, the cultists had put a gag in her mouth, and now her eyes silently pleaded with him to spare her.   She was afraid, and he couldn't blame her for being afraid.   Even if he spared her, there was no guarantee that the cultists would allow her to live.   She wasn't as pretty as Endive, of course.  Treekul's incessant hair growth disgusted him, and the way she constantly trimmed it reminded him of a landscaper mowing grass.   Her scent had a sort of garlicky, metallic quality to it, another reminder that she was no Saiyan, no matter how similar their anatomies were.    Still, she was attractive in her own right, and something about her lavender skin and green hair appealed to him.    And she was easy to talk to.    She actually enjoyed hearing him talk shop about mathematics, which was a rare pleasure for him.   Nor could he deny the emotional impact of her being aware of what was happening.   If he chose to kill her, she would see him take the knife and plunge it into her heart.   It would be no simple matter.   Perhaps that was what the cult was looking for.   They were waiting to see if he could cast aside sentiment in favor of power.   He believed that he could, though he had to admit that it wouldn't be as easy as he once thought.    

That brought him back to Endive.   Ravishing as she was, Guwar doubted that she had any interest in him.    He had seen calculators with more personable than Endive.   She could be social, yes, even cheerful, but he had come to realize that she cared very little for anyone or anything but herself.    She had approached him once, seeking an alliance to betray Lesseri, and he quickly recognized that she would betray him as well, if it suited her purposes.  Now he was in a position to betray her, and he couldn't help but appreciate the irony of it.    If he killed her, it would save him from having to look over his shoulder for her in the future.    If he spared her-- and if the cult deemed to let her live-- then she would be in his debt.   If he could convince the cult to grant her admittance as well, then... well she would be even deeper in his debt, wouldn't she?    That appealed to him greatly.   At least then, she would have to feel something towards him, even if it was resentment or obligation.  

Minutes passed, and the robed figures stood silent, waiting for his answer.    The only sounds were the crackle of the torches, and Treekul's muffled whimpers.   At last, Guwar made up his mind.  He selected his victim, raised the knife to her chest, and with a single, unwavering motion, he thrust the silver blade deep into her heart.   He waited before removing the knife, both to reflect upon the moment, and to allow her blood to spill out of the wound until both the knife and his forearm were coated in scarlet.   When he was satisfied that she was dead, he withdrew the knife, and walked back to the circle where the test had begun.   He knelt down, and noticed a crack in the cavern floor.   He wedged the knife into this space, and watched the blood drip down into it.    He never looked back at the three women.    Instead, he raised his head to the man who had given him the knife.  

"Excellent, Brother Guwar," the man said.   He pulled back his hood to reveal his face.   There was some grey in his hair and mustache, and some wrinkles in his brown skin, which would make him at least seventy years old for a Saiyan.  "Rise, and be welcomed."

Guwar stood up, and the old Saiyan clasped him on the shoulder.    "Tell me," the robed Saiyan asked.  "How did you reach your decision?"

At last, Guwar looked back at his handiwork.   The other cultists were already removing Treekul's body from the post.    "It was simple," he said.    "At first, I thought it was a test of what I was willing to give up, so I thought about what I wanted from them.   Then I realized that once I passed the test, my own wants would be secondary.   From here on, it's what *all of you* want.  That's what comes first.    And I don't know much, but I do know that you want Saiyans, and you want secrecy.   Treekul is no Saiyan, and her skills could be used to expose you.    She had to die.   There was no choice at all."

"Well said, Brother Guwar," the old Saiyan replied.   "The Jindan power shall be yours."

"Great," Guwar said.   He turned back to the old man and pointed his thumb back at Lesseri and Endive.    "What happens to them?"

"You'll find that out," the old man said, "after you wake up."

“Wake up?”

*******

Guwar's eyes went wide as he realized he was lying down.   He sat up as quickly as he could, and saw that he was still in a cavern, just not the same one he had seen only moments earlier.   There were torches, but they were arranged in a different fashion.   The walls had been hewn to make the cave more closely resemble an artificial enclosure.   The symbols inscribed on the walls were still there, though the arrangements were different.   There was a robed man there to greet him, an old Saiyan with grey hairs and wrinkles in his dark brown skin, but he was not the same one Guwar had seen before.   His face was narrower, and his nose was shaped a bit differently, and his hairline was further back on his forehead.  

"Where am I?" Guwar asked.   He finally registered that he was wearing a red costume of his own, not too dissimilar from the black attire he had worn until Mundokuul.   He was sitting in a cot, and next to him were Lesseri and Endive, both clad in matching garb.   They had also awakened, and as they looked around the room, he suspected that they shared many of his questions.

"It was all a dream?!" Lesseri blurted out.    

"In a manner of speaking," said the robed Saiyan.   "Our master, the holy Trismegistus, devised an elixir which induces a vision of his own design.    I administered this elixir to you once you arrived from Mundokuul."

"Then the test...!    Everything that happened," Lesseri said as she struggled to put it together.    "None of it was real?"

"The test was real enough," he said.    "Had you chosen poorly, you would have remained in that vision.    Trismegistus sees fit to animate those who fail the test.   They roam our caverns as sleepwalkers, believing they are in the waking world, when they are truly prisoners in their own minds.    We use them as menial servants."

Guwar took a deep breath as he considered the implications of such a fate.  

Lesseri seemed even more relieved.   "Then my mother," she said.   "She didn’t survive the bomb I put on her ship.   She's not the founder of your order at all, is she?"

The old Saiyan chuckled.   "The elixir produces a different reality for all who drink it," he explained.    "Some visions can be very... unsettling.    But to answer your question, no mere woman could aspire to the glory of Trismegistus.    Our Saiyan pride is not lost by devoting ourselves to him, for there is no shame in abasing oneself to the almighty thrice-blessed."

"Whatever you say," Lesseri said with a profound sigh of relief.    "As long as that old hag stays dead... and as long as we get the power we were promised."

"Naturally," the robed Saiyan said with a smile.   "Our master knows the way of the Saiyan heart.    He will not forsake your fondest desire.  You will be strong, Sister Lesseri.   Stronger than you could have ever been.   Now, if you have all gathered your wits, let us proceed to the assembly.    There, you shall reap the rewards for your search."

The three of them stood up to follow him out of the room.    Guwar hung back for a moment, as he noticed Endive had finally turned to face him.  

"Guwar..." she said with some surprise in her voice.  

"Yeah?" he asked.    

"Nothing," she said.    "It's just... good to see you are still alive after all."

She hurried after the others, and Guwar followed her.    Unless he was mistaken, Endive's words suggested that she had faced a similar challenge to his own.    In that vision, she had been the one with the knife, and he had been her chosen victim.     He wasn't sure whether that was a good sign or not.

NEXT: Reply Hazy.

#dragon ball #fanfiction #lssjluffafic #guwar #endive #lesseri #treekul #mundokuul #nagaoka

[paleorecipecookbook]

The Handy Guide to Salad Greens

Salad greens aren’t just for salad. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with the many varietals of lettuce and greens.

We give you the rundown on common salad greens, including their history, taste, texture, culinary uses, and nutrition, so you’ll never ask yourself “what’s radicchio?” when reading a bag of spring mix again.

Whether you crave crunch and subtle flavor (hello, iceberg lettuce) or soft leaves with a zingy, peppery kick (arugula!) there’s a salad green on this list destined for your plate.

Our handy recipes and cooking recommendations will show you how to mix up your salad routine in the kitchen. You can even try grilling romaine, or roasting radicchio for a milder, earthy flavor than the leaf’s typical spicy kick! Let this guide enlighten you to the world of salad greens and the many ways to incorporate them into your diet.

Iceberg Lettuce

Classic Iceberg exudes Americana: You’ll find its crisp, pale green leaves adding crunch to a burger, or forming an entire foundation in a wedge salad. It’s also great for a quick, homemade salad and tends to be kid-friendly with its neutral flavor and crisp texture.

Iceberg lettuce is notoriously lacking in the nutrition that defines its darker, leafy green counterparts, but it’s nevertheless a great addition to your diet and can help you meet your vitamin and mineral intake goals with vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A. (1)

Taste and Texture: Iceberg lettuce has a high water content, giving it a clean, fresh flavor. It definitely is not a bold contender on the flavor scale, but makes for a great foundation to heartier dressings and flavorings. When served fresh, iceberg lettuce is crispy and crunchy, and should break apart with a satisfying snap. It will grow limp and mushy if left alone for too long – so eat it fresh!

How to Use It: A classic “dinner salad” like you’d find in a diner makes great use of iceberg – just add tomatoes, carrots, and a Paleo-friendly ranch or dressing of choice. Like we said before, iceberg lettuce is a great burger and sandwich complement, and in this BLT Avocado stack, it even subs in for bread. Try it in lettuce wraps, too! Pro tip: Iceberg lettuce is one of the most affordable greens you can buy.

Romaine Lettuce

While a recent recall may leave you wary, romaine lettuce is safe to consume now. Sold in heads or hearts, where the outer leaves have been removed, romaine lettuce is a common lettuce used in commercially packaged salads. It’s a key component of Caesar salad, for example.

Unlike many other lettuces, the sturdy leaves on romaine lettuce make it tolerant to heat, meaning it holds up well in grilling or braising.

Taste and Texture: Romaine is bitter in comparison to milder iceberg or butter lettuce. But like iceberg, it’s ultra-crisp and sturdy when served fresh. It actually gets its bitter flavor from a milky liquid excreted when you break the leaves apart.

How to Use It: You can use romaine lettuce in virtually any salad recipe – it’s the usual suspect in Caesar salad, but it’s delicious paired with most fresh veggies. You can try it in this protein-packed turkey cobb salad, shrimp and avocado salad with light cilantro dressing, or as a crunchy complement to this burrito bowl. For a warm alternative, try brushing romaine hearts with olive oil, and throwing a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper on it. Grill the leaves until charred, about five minutes.

Radicchio

Technically, radicchio is a chicory leaf, which is closely related to lettuce and often used in salad greens. You’ll notice it as the vibrant red leaves often found in “Italian” salad mixes, or as the head of reddish-purple leaves with white veins on the produce aisle.

Radicchio is loaded with vitamin K, and contains moderate amounts of other essential nutrients. (2) Radicchio is used heavily in Italian cooking. In fact, much of the radicchio consumed around the world is named for the Italian regions it originated from.

Taste and Texture: Radicchio is a strongly flavored leaf vegetable. Served fresh, it can be bitter and spicy. This is why it’s delicious when tossed with milder leaves, as it adds just a hint of flavor. Its crisp leaves hold up well to flavorful vinaigrettes.

When cooked, radicchio mellows some and the bitterness fades. This mellower, warmer version of radicchio complements chicken and fish well.

How to Use It: To add some bite and color to your salads, add freshly chopped radicchio to a mix of greens. For an excellent side dish to any protein, try this roasted balsamic radicchio with bacon and pine nuts. The sharp-flavored leaves mellow into an earthy flavor, and bacon and pine nuts add tons of fatty deliciousness.

Butter Lettuce

Like the name suggests, butter lettuce is buttery soft and has a slightly sweet flavor. The name butter lettuce also includes Bibb and Boston lettuce varieties.

You’ll often find butter lettuce in a clamshell in the grocery store, still attached to a root. It’s a touch more expensive than common varieties like romaine or iceberg, but it’s so silky smooth, it’s worth it. The loosely coiled leaves also make butter lettuce easier to clean – that’s a win in our department.

Taste and Texture: Mild and sweet, butter lettuce is a softer counterpart to crunchy romaine or iceberg. It still holds a little crunch, though.

How to Use It: Butter lettuce leaves are often the perfect size for wrapping up your favorite foods, like in these cashew chicken lettuce tacos or these chicken lettuce wraps with almond butter sauce. Butter lettuce is also gorgeous when served with a simple vinaigrette, no toppings needed!

Arugula

Also known as “rocket”, arugula is known for its zingy, peppery flavor. It’s a salad green with multifaceted uses, from topping a pizza to serving alongside a Mediterranean meal.

Arugula is a great source of vitamin A. (3)

Taste and Texture: Bright, peppery, and a little spicy, arugula is a unique green. Its thin, dark green leaves aren’t particularly crisp, but what they lack in texture they make up in bold flavor.

How to Use It: Adorn your Paleo pizza with a bed of arugula for a bright finish to your meal, or toss arugula with cherry tomatoes and vinaigrette for an acidic and zingy side salad. They’re even a great complement to breakfast, like in this crispy bacon and baked eggs in a Portobello mushroom recipe. Consider tossing them with beet noodles in this beet noodle arugula salad.

Spring Mix (Mesclun)

What is spring mix (also called mesclun)? Basically, it’s all of the above, in baby form! Spring mix is any combination of the baby leaves of a great variety of greens, including arugula, endive, spinach, red leaf lettuce, radicchio, and more. Mesclun technically refers to a French blend of chervil, arugula, leafy lettuce, and endive, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

Taste and Texture: You can expect a wide variety of flavors and textures from spring mix, as it’s a blend of various salad greens. There will be mild basic lettuce leaves, but also zingy, peppery arugula, and spicy radicchio.

How to Use It: Opt for spring mix as a colorful, flavorful base to any salad – it tastes great with heavy, creamy dressings and light vinaigrettes alike. You can also throw some spring mix into a Paleo sandwich for more texture and a healthy dose of greens.

Cress

Technically an herb, cress is a peppery plant that’s closely related to watercress and mustard greens. It’s a nutrient-dense green, with tons of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. (4) You’ll find it tossed in salads, adorning soups, and atop sandwiches.

Taste and Texture: Cress has a sharp, spicy flavor packed into its baby leaves. The leaves themselves are soft, but they pack a big punch.

How to Use It: Adorn creamy, rich soups with cress for a peppery kick. Add it to your salads for the same, or pack it in a sandwich for even more flavor.

Beet Greens

Beet greens are exactly what they sound like; they’re the leafy tops of beetroot, and make an excellent addition to any salad. They can also be braised, sautéed, and added to soups for an extra dose of greens.

They’re a nutrient-dense food often tossed out or overlooked, so don’t throw them away the next time you pick up some beets.

Taste and Texture: Delicate beet greens have a sweet, mild flavor, akin to spinach or Swiss chard. They’re soft, but they hold up well in salads and sandwiches.

How to Use It: These greens are great raw, tossed with the beets themselves as well as a light vinaigrette and some walnuts. They can be cooked in the same way as greens like spinach or chard. You can sauté them in avocado oil with some salt, pepper, and lemon, or add them to soups for an extra dose of greens.

(You’ll Also Love: How to Start Eating Vegetables – When You Don’t Like Them)

The post The Handy Guide to Salad Greens appeared first on PaleoPlan.

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#paleo #recipe #food #delicious #healthy #yum #diet

[thesilverwitch]

THE CLASSICAL ELEMENTS IN WICCA

 Elements—they are the building blocks of the entire universe. No, I’m not talking about the scientific elements, such as is found on the periodic chart. Sure, they are the building blocks for the physical universe. But I’m referring to the spiritual or classical Elements—they are the metaphysical building blocks.

Mention of Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and Aether (Spirit) are something Wiccans will come across time and again. Regardless of how big or small a role the Elements play in your personal spiritual path, they’re something you should learn to understand.

BIG “E”AND LITTLE “e”

Sometimes I write ‘Element’, and sometimes ‘elements’. Sometimes I capitalize Air (Earth, Fire, etc.), and sometimes I don’t. There’s actually a reason for it.

Remember the Periodic Table of the Elements from chemistry class? There are 118 known elements and all matter breaks down to these most basic components. When speaking of scientific elements, I use the little “e”.

In ancient Greece, the concept of the Elements (the classical/spiritual ones) was born. They did not have the technology to see atoms and molecules, so they thought everything was made up of some combination of Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Aether.

Fast forward a couple dozen centuries-- now we know that air, earth, fire, water and aether are compounds-- a mixture of smaller elements on the periodic table. For example, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.

This is the reason for the distinction. The Elements (capital E) refer to the spiritual/classical Elements of our religion—those forces that we honor. The elements (lowercase e) refers to the actual scientific elements on the periodic table.

THERE’S MORE TO ELEMENTS THAN COMPOUNDS

We all know the Elements are Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and Aether. Sometimes people confuse this with earth, air, fire, water and ether. Note my use of capitalization here, because it's very significant.

The Elements—Air, Earth, Fire, and Water—are not the same thing as wind, dirt, flames, and H20. These compounds are meaningful representations of the Elements of course, but the compounds themselves are not Elements. The Elements (capital 'E') are so much more than the compounds for which they are named.

THE ELEMENTAL CONNECTION

The Elements represent all things, and connect all things. Look at the diagram above; you can see the vertical axis contains the masculine Elements (Air and Fire). The horizontal Axis contains the feminine Elements (Water and Earth). The circle is where the Elements meet, as if at a crossroads. The circle surrounds and connects the four Elements, just as Aether (Spirit) is the unifying and balancing factor that runs through everything in the universe—the soul, the divine, it’s what gives life and meaning to all things.Notice how they are equivalent in length and well balanced. When you go around the circle, you get the polarity alternating the masculine and feminine Elements, the projective and receptive, the positive and negative: Kind of like an electric charge (energy!).You might even envision it as a compass, with each Element at one of the cardinal directions. You can even set up the primary altar tools as in some traditions in that same format: the athame is a symbol of Air, the pentacle a symbol of Earth, the wand a symbol of Fire, and the cup a symbol of Water.

CORRESPONDENCES—JUST THE START

Notice in the diagram above in the innermost circle we have our compass and our male/female axis. Beyond that we have correspondences to the directions, time of day, time of the year/season, the sabbats—even the life cycle itself. You get a taste right there at how the Elements correspond to everything; and everything corresponds to one or more of the Elements.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, really, as Elements also correspond to zodiac signs, tarot cards, runes, herbs, gemstones, deities, personality traits, occupations, body functions, activities, etc....the cycles and connections are endless.

IN RELATION TO THE PENTAGRAM

Each pentagram point represents an element. This is why the pentacle is the ultimate symbol of balance—each equal point, all intertwined with each other—balance is a key tenet in Wicca. Wiccans usually wear a pentacle point-up. We move from the point at top (Aether) the intangible, to the semi-intangible realm (Fire and Air) to the tangible realm (Water and Earth). I say usually because some Wiccan trads also occasionally use the pentagram point down. When the pentagram is point up, it stands for Spirit (Aether) ascending over matter. When it’s point down, it represents Spirit descending into matter. As you can see, the Elements are a rich, diverse, and complex system of symbols and energies that effect our world, our minds, and our spiritual practices. Take advantage of their potential by learning to work in harmony with them.

THE ELEMENTS IN DEPTH

Please keep in mind that correspondences can vary from tradition to tradition, from person to person. Though there are more similarities than differences, never take any list of Elemental correspondences as written law. 

THE ELEMENT OF AIR:

(Figure above shows alchemical symbol for Air)

Gender: Masculine

Charge: Positive

Energy: Active

Qualities: abstract; ethereal

Aspects: analytical thought; rational mind; travel; communication

AIR ATTRIBUTES:

Positive: witty, intelligent, communicative, inquisitive, inventive, literary, social, idealist, clarity of thought, rational, technical, scientific, logical

Negative: aloof, cold, dispassionate, eccentric, scattered, unfocused, ambivalent, indecisive, deceptive, untrustworthy.

AIR ALIGNED WITH:

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Direction: North

Locations: Mountain tops, sky, clouds

Sabbats: Samhain, Yule

Time of day: Night

Time of Life: Death through Rebirth

Time of the year: Winter

Wind: Boreas

Witch’s Pyramid: To Know

AIR RULING OVER:

Body parts: brains, nervous system, lungs

Bodily functions: breathing, thinking, speaking, singing, coughing, whistling, belching, flatulating

Colors: yellow, white, sky blue, midnight blue, shades of gray

Incense: sandalwood, storax, mastic

Instruments: woodwinds, bagpipes

Careers: accounting, acting, advertising, executive, astronaut, computer programmer or technician, con artist, gambling, judge, lawyer, mathematician, public speaker, sales, most kinds of sciences, singing, teaching, writing.

Sense: Smell

AIR CORRESPONDING TO: 

Herbs: Acacia, almond, anise, benzoin, bergamot, bistort, bittersweet, borage, bromeliad, broom, caraway, chicory, citron, clover, dandelion, elecampane, endive, eyebright, fenugreek, goat’s rue, hazel, hops, houseleek, lavender, lily, linden, mace, male fern, maple, marjoram, mastic, meadowsweet, mint, mistletoe, palm, papyrus, parsley, pine, pistachio, rice, sage, saffron, slippery elm, wormwood

Metals: mercury, aluminum

Minerals & Gems: agates, aventurine, amethyst, jasper, mica, pumice

Runes: ANSUZ, RAIDO, EIWAZ, ALGIZ, TIR, MANNAZ

Tarot: Suit of swords, knights, The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers, The Hermit, Hanged Man, Justice, The Star

Wiccan tools: knives (athame, bolline)/swords, censer, incense

Zodiac: Gemini: (mutable); Libra (cardinal); Aquarius (fixed)

AIR ASSOCIATED WITH: 

Animals: birds, flying insects, spiders, bats, foxes, primates

Elemental Beings: Sylphs, fairies, djinn

Gods: Allah, Amergin, Anu, Apollo, Ascepius, Baal, Buddha, Ganesha, Hermes, Jupiter, Mercury, Odin, Thoth, Tyr, Uranus, YHWH, Zeus

Goddesses: Arachne, Arianrhod, Athena, Ishtar, Juno, Ma’at, Minerva, Mnemosyne, Morrigan, Muses, Mt, Neith, Nike, Nuit, Sarasvati

Mythical Creatures: Gryphons, Harpies, Hippogrifs, Pegasus, Sphinx

INVOKING AND BANISHING AIR

THE ELEMENT OF EARTH

(Figure above shows alchemical symbol for Earth) 

Gender: female

Charge: negative (-)

Energy: passive

Qualities: physical matter; solid; heavy; cold

Aspects: tangible world; fertility; growth; productivity

EARTH ATTRIBUTES:

Positive: ambitious, dependable, diligent, earthy, industrious, practical, pragmatic, reliable, responsible, stable, steady, thorough

Negative: critical, dull, inhibited, materialistic, obstinate, possessive, slow, stubborn, unforgiving

EARTH ALIGNED WITH:

Day of the Week: Thursday, Saturday

Direction: East

Locations: caverns, plains, canyons, the underworld

Sabbats: Imbolc, Ostara

Time of day: Morning

Time of Life: Youth

Time of the year: Spring

Wind: Euros

Witch’s Pyramid: To Will

EARTH RULING OVER:

Body parts: physical self, bones

Bodily functions: eating, defecation

Colors: green, brown, black, earth tones

Incense: patchouli, musk

Instruments: drums, percussion

Occupations: armed forces, banking and finances, carpentry, construction, child care, cooking and food service, clerical and administrative work, dancing, gardening, house keeping/home making, hunting, janitors, jewelers, mechanics, stone masons, wood workers.

Sense: touch

EARTH CORRESPONDING TO:

Herbs: alfalfa, barley, corn, cotton, cypress, fern, fumitory, honeysuckle, magnolia, mugwort, oats, peas, oleander, patchouli, potato primrose, quince, rhubarb, rye, sagebrush, sorrel, tulip, vervain, vetivert, wheat

Metals: lead

Minerals & gems: green agates, moss agates, alum, green calcite, coal, emerald, jasper, jet, salt, malachite, olivine, peridot, black tourmaline, green tourmaline, turquoise

Runes: URUZ, GIFU, BEORK, ING, OTHAL, JERA

Tarot: Suit of Pentacles (coins), Paiges, Empress, Heirophant, Wheel of Fortune, The Devil, The World

Wiccan tools: Pentacle, consecrated salt

Zodiac: Taurus (fixed); Virgo (mutable); Capricorn (cardinal)

EARTH ASSOCIATED WITH:

Animals: most mammals (few exceptions: big cats and horses/Fire; primates and foxes/Air; aquatic mammals/Water); most insects without wings (exception: fire ants/fire); earthworms.

Elemental Beings: Gnomes, elves, leprechauns

Gods: Adonis, Anubis, Cernunnos, Dagda, Dionysus, Green Man, Hades, Herne, Janus, Osiris, Pan, Pluto

Goddesses: Anu, Cerridewen, Ceres, Demeter, Gaia, Fauna, Frigga,Hecate, Nepthys, Ostara, Persephone, Prithivi, Rhea

Mythical Creatures: big foot, chupacabra, giants, jackalope, unicorn, werewolves, wraiths

THE ELEMENT OF FIRE

(Figure above shows alchemical symbol for Fire)

Gender: Masculine

Charge: Positive

Energy: Active

Qualities: energetic; transformative; purifying

Aspects: passion; will; courage

FIRE ATTRIBUTES:

Positive: action-oriented, courageous, eager, enthusiastic, exciting, impulsive, independent, optimistic, quick, spontaneous, tenacious, vivacious

Negative: angry, abrupt, consuming, domineering, egocentric, excessive, hot-tempered, impatient, overbearing, overwhelming

FIRE ALIGNED WITH:

Day of the Week: Sunday, Tuesday

Direction: South

Locations: deserts, volcanoes

Sabbats: Beltane, Litha

Time of day: Midday (true noon)

Time of Life: young adulthood

Time of the year: Summer

Wind: Notus

Witch’s Pyramid: To Dare

FIRE RULING OVER:

Body parts: genitals, heart, intestines, liver, stomach

Bodily functions: digestion, sex, metabolism, regurgitation, smoking

Colors: red, orange, gold

Incense: cinnamon, dragon’s blood

Instruments: brass instruments

Occupations: alchemists, assassins, athletes, electricians, firefighters, fire dancers, lion tamers, martial artists, nuclear physicists, pyro technicians, smiths, warriors, welders

FIRE CORRESPONDING TO:

Herbs: allspice, basil, bloodroot, cactus, carnation, bay, capsicum, cinnamon, clove, cinquefoil, copal, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, dragon’s blood, fennel, flax, frankincense, galangal, ginger, ginseng, High John the Conqueror, holly, hyssop, juniper, lime, marigold, nutmeg, orange, pennyroyal, pomegranate, rosemary, saffron, sunflower, St. John’s wort, tobacco, Venus flytrap

Metals: gold, brass, steel, iron

Minerals: red agates, amber, apache tear, asbestos, bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, quartz, obsidian, onyx, sand, rhodochrosite, tiger‘s eye, tourmaline, zircon

Runes: Fehu, Thurisaz, Kenaz, Nied, Sigel, Dagaz

Tarot: Suit of Wands; all kings; the Emperor; Strength; Temperance; the Tower; the Sun; Judgement

Wiccan tools: wand; staff; candles; any fires

Zodiac: Aries(cardinal); Leo (fixed); Sagittarius (mutable)

FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH:

Animals: lions, felines, fireflies, glow worms, horses, rams, lizards, fire ants

Elemental Beings: salamanders

Gods: Annu, Ares, Balor, Baldor, Belanos, Frey, Hephaestus, Horus, Loki, Lucifer, Lugh, Marduk, Mars, Ra, Set, Shiva, Sol, Thor, Vulcan

Goddesses: Amerterasu, Amat, Atlanta, Bast, Brigit, Eris, Freya, Hestia, Kali, Lilith, Nemisis, Pele, Selket, Shatki, Sunna, Vesta

Mythical Creatures: chimeras, dragons, phoenix

INVOKING AND BANISHING FIRE

THE ELEMENT OF WATER

(Figure above shows alchemical symbol for Water)

Gender: Feminine

Charge: Negative (-)

Energy: Passive

Qualities: receptive, fluid, creative

Aspects: formless, deep, cleansing

WATER ATTRIBUTES:

Positive: beautiful, compassionate, creative, deep, flexible, intuitive, mysterious, resourceful, receptive, sensitive, sensual, understanding

Negative: ambivalent, complex, deceptive, emotional, moody, over-sensitive, passive-aggressive, selfish, vain, wishy-washy

WATER ALIGNED WITH: 

Day of the Week: Monday, Friday

Direction: West

Locations: any body of water, seashore/beaches

Sabbats: Lughnasadh, Mabon

Time of day: Twilight/Sunset

Time of Life: maturity

Time of the year: Autumn

Wind: Zepher

Witch’s Pyramid: To be silent

WATER RULING OVER:

Body parts: bodily fluids—blood, saliva, semen, urine, etc.; the womb

Bodily functions: drinking, lactating, menstruating, perspiring, secretion, urination

Colors: blue, silver, aquamarine

Incense: cypress, lotus, myrrh

Instruments: string instruments

Occupations: bartender, brewer, cosmetologist, pet, dishwasher, diver, dowser, fishing, hematologists, ice skaters, laundry workers, life guards, marine biologists, naval careers, oceanographers, painters, psychics, sailors, swimmers, surfers

Sense: Taste

WATER CORRESPONDING TO: 

Herbs: African violet, apple, avocado, belladonna, blackberry, boneset, cabbage, cardamom, catnip, chamomile, chickweed, dittany of Crete, daisy, cucumber, daffodil, gardina, heather, hibiscus, jasmine, myrrh, poppy, rose, sandalwood, thyme, valerian, vanilla, willow, yarrow

Metals: silver

Minerals: blue lace agate, aquamarine, azurite, beryl, coral, geodes, jade, lapis lazuli, moonstone, pearl, sapphire, sodolite, tourmaline

Runes: Wunjo, Ehwaz, Hagall, Isa, Phedro, Lagaz

Tarot: Suit of Cups; all Queens; High Priestess; Death; The Moon; The Chariot

Wiccan tools: cup; cauldron; bowls

Zodiac: Cancer (cardinal); Scorpio (fixed); Picses (mutable)

WATER ASSOCIATED WITH: 

Animals: fish, scorpions, serpents, waterfowl, water mammals, creatures who dwell/live in water

Elemental Beings: Undines

Gods: Aegir, Charon, Cthulhu, Nun, Dagon, Eros, Hurican, Lyr, Neptune, Nereus, Oceanus, Poseidon, Triton

Goddesses: Amphitrite, Aphrodite, Astarte, Heket, Isis, Kwan Yin, Lady of the Lake, Mary, Melusine, Psyche, Styx, Tefnut, Thetis, Venus

Mythical Creatures: hippocampus, kraken, leviathan, merfolk, nerids, selkies, sirens, waterhorse, any sea monsters

INVOKING AND BANISHING WATER

FINDING YOUR ELEMENT IN WICCA

A lot of young Wiccans are eager to find their elements. I don’t mean to burst any bubbles, but traditionally in Wicca there is no such thing. Yes, you read that right. I know that’s not a popular opinion these days because the idea has gained recent popularity, but please follow my reasoning before you dismiss it.

It should be understood, as explained earlier, Elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water are not the same thing as dirt, oxygen, flames and H20. The Spiritual Elements – capital “E” – together make up everything in life. For Example, the Element of Water (capitalized) is not just the stuff that pours out of your faucets or fills your pool. Water is H20, and H20 is the most pure symbol of the Element, but the Element of Water is so much more than that. It’s also intuition, it’s string instruments, it’s silver jewelry, it’s fish, it’s the moon, it’s being wishy-washy, it’s being nurturing, it’s both compassion and depression, it’s drowning, it’s the sunset hour, it’s peeing and drooling. The Element of Water is infused in every aspect of life, and this is so with the other three as well.

Second, the very notion that someone is “an Element” would contradict a key tenet of Wicca—which is to find balance in all things. If you were one Element, you would be an incredibly imbalanced person. If you lean that heavily toward one Element, it would mean you need less of it, and you need more of the other three.

Some would argue, saying something like: But my astrological sign is (fill in the blank), making my Element (fill in the blank)! Yes, I know—astrological signs fall under the Elements as well. Just because your astrological element’s influence is Water doesn’t mean Water is your only Element. For one thing, your Sun sign is not your only astrological sign (you also have a Moon sign, an Ascending sign, and all those houses in your chart with different planets).

Water touches everyone’s life in many ways, as do all the Elements. One of the ways it influences you is through your Sun sign; that doesn't make it your one and only Element.

But I have an affinity for (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank)! The word “affinity” simply means you like something. I have an affinity for chocolate, that doesn’t make me the element of chocolate (though—it might be fun).

Once you’ve gotten the idea in your head that you have a special element, it’s a little hard to shake. I know that I have a special connection with each of the elements and balance is key, but I can’t help but feel drawn to Air. Why is this? Air correlates with my Zodiac sign, Libra, as well as the signs Aquarius and Gemini. The Law of Correspondence would suggest that Air is associated with the personality types of these signs. Yes, Air broadly represents my personality type but it does not make it my only element (or predominant element) and it does not make myself Air. Air is my challenger, the element that constantly influences me to reach out to the other elements to find balance. Always remember, balance is key. 

CONTROLLING ELEMENTS

The idea of controlling Elements in Wicca is another misconception. I’m not going to argue here whether it’s even possible to control fire or water or air with your mind—and I don’t even know how someone would go about controlling earth (other than gardening or making mud pies). Even if this was possible, this would fall under the category of psychic abilities. While a Wiccan might believe in this stuff, or attempt to perform these tasks, it does not make doing these things part of our religion.

I do have to note here, the idea of "controlling elements" seems to me an incredible waste of time and energy. Let’s assume here for a second people who claim they have these powers can actually do what they say they do. They cause a flame to flicker or a little feather to bounce around or water to ripple at will. That’s all fine and good, but I ask… what is the spiritual lesson and benefit in this?

The amount of practice and effort that goes into what amounts to little more than a neat trick to show off with at parties is ridiculous. How does it actually help someone’s spiritual journey to waste an hour or two a day for months to learn how to make the candle flame bob up and down? It seems to me there is no actual spiritual benefit from being able to do these things—it’s just something you can use to impress yourself and your friends, like juggling 3 oranges or finding someone’s card in a deck.

Allow me to repeat myself, because I feel it’s a very important point that many Wiccans miss: the Element of Fire is not just flames, the Element of Water is not H20, and so on. Controlling a flame with your mind (even if you could) is not the same thing controlling the Element of Fire. You’re just controlling a bit of fire (small “f”). Controlling H20 is not controlling the Element of Water; it’s controlling water (small “w”). And so on.

REALLY CONTROLLING THE ELEMENTS IN WICCA

In Wicca, controlling the Elements isn’t about making candle flames dance or creating gusts of wind with your mind. Controlling the Elements is about finding self-control and balance within yourself and your life.

You want to control the Element of Fire? Don’t play with candle flames—learn how to control your temper. Learn how to nurture your passions and channel them productively. Work on expressing yourself artistically.

You want to Control the Element of Water? Don’t play with running faucets to see if you can make the flow shift an inch over—learn how to master your emotions. Learn how to be more compassionate and understanding. Learn how to listen to and interpret your intuition. Learn how control your mood swings.

You want to Control the Element of Air? Study, learn, and apply your knowledge to life. Practice speaking, help yourself learn to think more carefully about what comes out of your mouth and express yourself more effectively. Don’t allow yourself to give into cynical attitudes. Cultivate wisdom.

You want to Control the Element of Earth? Have courage, and do the things that need to be done in your life-- even the hard stuff. Be strong and steadfast—but try to work on not being so stubborn and closed off to anything new. Be practical and pragmatic, put the work and time into developing useful skills.

Learn to work with Elemental Energies—not by playing with one, single physical manifestations of each Element, but by learning to open yourself to them and all they mean. Think about what they symbolize in ritual, what aspects of life they correspond to, and how you can better utilize that understanding to improve yourself internally. Find Elemental balance.

FINDING TRUE BALANCE

While it's true that a certain Element can be dominant in your life (either for your whole life, or for certain periods of it), that doesn't make you "an Element," and it doesn't mean you are intrinsically tied to it, like it or not. It doesn't mean it should be your focus, either in your life or in your spiritual practices (again, it could indicate your need to bring better Elemental balance). Further, it doesn't imply supernatural connection to or power over the Element.

I know a lot of people who came to Wicca more recently and started with books and websites that tout the “find your element” concept, and it’s very hard to think of things differently when you get used to them. Some will even get defensive when such ideas are challenged. I also know some people like the idea of having supernatural mastery over nature, and this very idea is what drew them to alternative religions in the first place. I understand that learning to control your temper is not as exciting and flashy a representation of Fire to some people as making a candle flame do flickering tricks. “You can’t tell me what to believe!” some might cry. And I’m not telling you what to believe. You can believe what you want.

I’m presenting a perspective that I feel needs to be heard, and that some may find more useful. I believe the ideas about the Elements presented here makes real sense within the context of the Wiccan religion, as well as in life. It may contradict a lot of the more feel-good, fanciful ideas you come across, and if that makes you angry, feel free to ignore anything I have to say on the topic.

However, if you were looking for something a little deeper than parlor tricks and games, if you were looking for a spiritual path to actually impact your life, your personal growth and your spiritual development, I hope this lesser known perspective on the topic will help you along.

TRADITIONAL WICCAN ELEMENT CHANT:

           “Earth my body, Water my blood,                  Air my breath and Fire my Spirit”

Sources: WiccanSage and Golden Dawn by Israel Regardy

#pagan #wicca #wiccan #witchcraft #witches of Tumblr #witch #magick #spell #pentacle #pentagram #easy spell #the craft #paganism #amethyst #moon #full moon #eclipse #nature #neo wiccan #neo pagan #gif #fashion #art #landscape #design #quote #elements #fire #earth #air

[delirious-comfort]

Oh don't worry, I've never been offended by being called a robot.

You must enjoy travelling, then. I try to avoid it at all costs when it involves a plane. I generally try to keep (most) people away from me, even before the pandemic, so the pole idea is a no-go. I wouldn't want any angry weirdos picketing outside my house.

The challenges are far from fun, but oh well. At least I don't get bored.

I probably should have checked before I got my dinner started, but we were on similar wavelengths. I decided on steak, broccoli, and rice pilaf.

Dislikes: mayo, seafood, cauliflower, ham, olives, lima beans, celery, cilantro, tomato (but I love sun-dried). Now I feel self-conscious about all my dislikes. What are yours?

I don’t mind travelling, I just never do it. Have done in the past and quite liked it, but it’s also easily overwhelming and I don’t like big crowds. Airports are hellish.  Fair enough on the alien pole! Probably would be better off without an angry mob outside your house.  Dinner sounds good, though. You know, I went to the States in 2010 and the people I stayed with, on my first day were like, here’s dinner! And I was hungry cuz I had just been travelling for like 25 hours and then this woman puts a steak on my plate and I laugh and I said, “Am I supposed to carve the meat or something?” And she looks at me and says, “Nah, that’s yours.” THEN PROCEEDED TO GET 4 MORE GIANT STEAKS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE. I swear to god I’ve never seen such a humongous steak in my entire life.  The first time I walked into a WallMart and saw all the meat packages, I was so flabbergasted. I think if Americans ever walk into a Dutch supermarket they’d be like, “But where’s the meat, what am I supposed to do with this silly strip of meat??”  I’m with you on the olives and lima beans. Disgusting things. Should never eat. Hm, food dislikes. Lets see if it all fits in a Tumblr post, it’ll make your list seem like nothing at all! Brussel sprouts, Belgian endive (I mean the yellow looking things, the green veggie I do really like but I know they’re closely related, but one is gross the other is not), mushrooms (unless they are plain white and cut by me then it’s fine, but if people cut them the wrong way, I can’t eat it, god I’m so weird.) Uhm what else. I’m not a big fan of all things nuts, like walnuts. It tastes like nothing. Do not like. I actually can’t think of anything and I know there’s plenty of food I don’t like -.- will think about this some more.  What are your favorite foods, though! Easier question :D 

#Anonymous

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

Quick care guide for a beardie:

In order to really give her quality care, you have to be ready to drop another hundred dollars on this baby.

My list:

- Immediate concerns: water dechlorinator/conditioner. UVB bulb. Thermostat, thermometers.

- As soon as possible: water conditioner for shed issues. Mist sprayer. Vegetables. More places to climb up on, and hide under for both sides of the tank. Reptile carpet or paper towels (NOT SAND!).

- Eventually: bigger tanks, more to fill out the space in the bigger cages.

Beardies are usually pretty hardy, but if they get hurt or sick, they need care IMMEDIATELY, or even a little respiratory infection can kill them. Vets for reptiles are also very hard to find, so you might need to do some Googling and some calling. You’ll want to get her to a vet for a preliminary exam, just to make sure she doesn’t have any health issues right now. This also establishes a relationship with the vet, and if you have an emergency, you’ll be able to get her into the vet a lot sooner if you’re already in their system.

Tumblr users in repptiblr generally knows a ton about reptiles specifically, and can tell you which companies to look up in your state. I know about the care for these guys, but I don't know about the community, so I don't know which breeding or veterinary care groups are reputable, and which one to use to find a good, licensed and experienced herp vet in your area.

HEAT + LIGHT

Temperature: SAVANNAH. Hot 90-105; Cool 78-85 Humidity: LOW, 10%-35%

~ A bearded dragon is gonna need a LOT of UVB light, it is absolutely essential for their vitamin D production and calcium absorption. Calcium deficiency can kill these guys within two months. So, this means you absolutely need a special fixture and light bulb for UVB, specifically-- not just UVA. This is separate from the heat bulbs; those produce UVA sometimes, but not UVB. (You want to get the long ones. UVB light travels Directly Downwards, so if you get the round cone-shaped lamps and a round UVB bulb, it's only going to beam the UVB rays into one spot. Beardies need 6-12 hours of exposure, so it should be long so wherever she is in the cage, she is getting UVB. And not just when she sits in that one particular spot.)

~ You can buy bulbs that have high heat emission, UVA, and UBV all in the same bulb! But those are usually very powerful, very large and very expensive. I don't think it would be safe to use one in a 20 gallon-- it would likely raise the temperature too high.

~ Make sure you check the wattage of your bulb and lamp! Your bulb's wattage should never be higher than your lamp's wattage. The wattage limit indicates how much heat your lamp can handle.

For example: Using a 90w bulb in a 75w lamp can create so much heat that the lamp either melts if it's a plastic socket, or shatters if it's ceramic. Your lamp's wattage is rated for safety. However: You CAN use a 90w bulb in a lamp that can handle 120w, because 90w creates heat that your lamp can handle. Does that make sense?

~ Also, for a 20 gallon, you should probably only be using a 75 watt bulb, not a 90 or 100+.

Some people will try to tell you that they don't need heat at night, because it gets very cold in the desert when the sun goes down. It's true that the desert nights are cold, but one: Bearded dragons are from the SAVANNAH, not the desert. And two: they are bred and raised for color, not resilience in the cold nights. So most likely, yours will have health issues if his night temperature isn't AT LEAST 80F. (When temperatures fall, their digestion, circulation, metabolism, and activity levels all fall. It is a lot harder to get them back up. Slower digestion means food might go bad in their system. Slower circulation and activity mean they don't utilize the environmental heat very well.)

~ They also need night heat, but using a night light bulb can be bad for their health, they don't sleep as well. Try a ceramic heat emitter-- it releases heat, without releasing any light at all. Kind of like a space heater. Most of the ones at a pet store fit in the same socket you use for the heat bulb. (Again: make sure the wattage doesn't exceed your lamp's heat/watt capacity.)

--

WATER

~ She should have a water bowl that’s shallow enough to not raise humidity much, but wide enough to crawl in and soak, if she wants to. This is a weird one, but you’ll want to check the water daily for poop. Water kinda loosens things up for them. And leftover crickets or shed often end up in the water bowl. If anything’s in there, just change it daily and give it a good rinse.

~ All of the water going into her cage should be dechlorinated! Chlorine, ammonia, chloramine, mercury, copper, and lead are all toxins present in tap water, and all dangerous to us, so they're very bad news for a reptile. The blue stuff by Fluker is easy to use though, the bottle tells you how many drops to add. Worst case scenario, you can buy bottled spring water (with nothing added) and use that. Or, you can buy a gallon of distilled water, use the water in the jug, then fill the jug with water, and just treat an entire gallon at a time with the conditioner. (It's better to use TOO MUCH than too little, but the Fluker's one measures drops nice and easy.)

~ If you're using well water, I would recommend buying gallons for ANY water you put near him, unless you have a really high-quality water-softening and microbe-killing filtration system for the house.Well water can have toxic levels of iron and things that aren't bad for humans, but might be dangerous for reptiles, because they can't process it.

NOTE: No, you cannot use the same water conditioner that is used for fish! Explaining why they’re different would require a whole chemistry lesson, but the things added for a fish’s “slime coat”are bad for reptiles to drink or sit in.

--

FOOD

~ Beardies are actually omnivores! So he'll need vegetables, too. They need mostly protein when they're young and growing, but you should still offer fruits and veggies, so he's used to eating it when he gets older. Once he gets about 6 months, he should start eating less crickets, and more vegetables. By 2 years, it should be equal parts of both. I recommend buying the freeze-dried veggies by Zilla. (You can get it at petco.com.) They won't get moldy, they have a zipper seal, and it's super easy to rehydrate them with a little warm water.

~ You can feed him fresh thinly-sliced carrots, banana, strawberry, dandelion leaves, endive, and green beans daily. But be very, very careful with kale, spinach, and bok choy. Those three have a lot of calcium, but also a certain compound that *binds* calcium, and converts the molecule so they can't use it.

--

SHEDDING

~ Bathing! If it takes more than three days to shed, or it's only coming off in little tiny pieces and it stays the same for a day or two, he's probably dehydrated. Bearded dragons don't always drink enough to stay hydrated. So then you'll want to use warm water (really warm, but not too hot for you to enjoy it), put it in a shallow container, condition it with the water stuff, and as long as the difficult shed lasts, soak the beardie for 15 minutes, twice a day. (Obviously you want there to be enough water to soak into the places he's having trouble shedding.)

If it takes more than a week, contact your veterinarian. Bad sheds can cause permanent disabilities!

There are also special water conditioners you can buy that are especially made for shedding troubles. Keeping these on hand is a good idea.

* When they're shedding, I liked to gently mist the beardies once a day with warm water, just enough to put a little water on their skin. And very little, so the humidity doesn't go above 35%.

--

HABITAT

~ At about a year, this little guy is going to be a lot bigger, and you'll need to purchase another cage for him. 30-40gallons is good at that age.

Once he gets about a foot long (without the tail), you'll probably have to upgrade again. 50+ gallons is ideal, and then 75g is ideal for a fully grown beardie. (You can't put a little one in a 50g though, because basically they won't be able to move between the hot side and cold side to regulate their temperature. They're usually pretty timid when they're little, and won't move around so much until they're provoked to do so. So the tank kind of has to grow with them.)

~ As far as decorating the cages: Beardies are climbers, and I'm sure you know they're ectothermic (they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature). Having a "heat gradient" with a hot side and cool side is VERY important! But they should also have OPTIONS on either side of the tank. So thick branches, platforms, fake plants (all plastic, without metal wires inside), and hides are all good to have, on both sides of the tank. That way, if she just wants to get a little warmer or a little cooler, she can crawl just a bit closer or further to the basking bulb.

** HUGE NOTE: Sand is VERY DANGEROUS for the beardie! No matter how old they are! If she happens to bite it when grabbing a cricket, and she swallows the sand, it clumps together in the gut, kind of like cat litter, and creates a blockage that can kill her before you even know something's wrong. So stay far, far FAR away from sand. (Again: They're not from the dessert, they come from savannas with soil that can grow plants and trees, and is soft and dissolvable with clay, not calcium sand that's basically fine rock, won't dissolve, and gets stuck in their guts.)

Not to mention, the garish color sands tend to dye their feet and bellies colors. (Red 40 is a color dye that's KNOWN to cause cancer, so I'd say just stay as far away from sand as possible. No lizard deserves to die like that.)

Reptile carpet is easy to clean in a kitchen sink, it's about hte same price for the same coverage, without the mess or hassle of pouring anything, and it's reusable, anyways. So in the long run, it's way cheaper than constantly replacing sand or mulch.

[emerygoat26-blog]

Author Nathan Englander Gets His Syrup in New Hampshire - Grub Street

At Mike’s Coffee Shop in Clinton Hill. Photo: Christian Rodriguez

At 30, Nathan Englander was the youngest ever recipient of the PEN award for “excellence in the art of the short story,” and this week he published his fifth book, the comically probing kaddish.com. His writing has been called “genre-hopping” and several variations on “playful,” descriptions that might also apply to his relationship with eating. Like many food lovers, Englander can appreciate a great restaurant as much as he can a well-written recipe — but he also isn’t above eating his daughter’s leftovers. “My wife can’t believe it,” he says. “I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I am definitely more than happy to find myself eating the kid food.’” Over the past week, he also had time to eat stoop pizza, consider the qualities that make a neighborhood diner great, and think, wistfully, about bagels. Read all about it in this week’s Grub Street Diet.

Thursday, March 21 I wish this had started Wednesday night. My wife and I actually got a babysitter, and went to a grown-up restaurant with another couple. One half of that couple was our friend JJ, who writes cookbooks, and when you go to restaurants with him, things you didn’t order just appear — “lamb chops, compliments of the food mafia!” — and I think that would have been a fun meal to share. But my Grub Street Diet started this morning! And I was doing drop-off, and was late getting our 4-year-old daughter to preschool — as I am every day.

While I packed her lunch, I ate a piece of wheat toast and drank a gallon of Kitten Coffee’s Tandem blend. I don’t like that super-black, melt-your-tongue coffee. I drink way too much coffee for that, and Kitten’s is just the perfect live-on-it-all-day roast. Also, I was once leaving the coffee shop on our corner, and the Kitten guy was delivering, and I screamed, “Hey, I love your coffee.” And he said, “Try this, I think you’ll like it,” and he threw me a pound of something new they were making, and I swooned with neighborhood good cheer.

So, my book was coming out on Tuesday and I was in prelaunch madness. I was stuck in the house, doing assignments, like 500 words on fingernails for Fingernail Digest, and I had a half-hour phone interview that somehow ran to an hour and a half and I was going to miss eating lunch. But JJ checked in, as he does about a million times a day. He was over on Henry Street, and he texted me a picture of the sandwiches chalked up on the board at Lillo, and offered to deliver. And, as with the Kitten coffee, it’s that kind of neighborly niceness that just kills me. He brought me the Mediterraneo, as ordered. It’s Italian tuna, arugula, sweet marinated onions, and tomato. It was delicious. (He also brought a couple of desserts, which I put aside.) And we both worked on our laptops at the table for a while.

Also, while I was waiting for JJ to show up, I ate the cold tortellini from Olivia’s dinner the night before. I’m all about the cold kid noodles from yesterday’s dinners. I enjoy that stuff. It’s not just that I’m eating it, I actually love it. I am definitely more than happy to find myself eating the properly aged fish sticks, and the apples with bites missing. I think that’s a big parent thing, to be like, “Now I’m going to have a second meal that I found on the counter.”

A friend I hadn’t seen in years was in town visiting, and she was coming by for dinner. So, at the end of the workday, I ran over to Mekelburg’s for a loaf of She Wolf sourdough (which we’re crazy for). I also got Firehook sea salt crackers, and some cheddar and manchego and our favorite cheese, Délice de Bourgogne, which is about one inch away from just eating butter with a spoon. I got olives and radishes, and I also got all the fixings for my red lentil soup. I served it over brown rice, and finished it off with wilted spinach and some Greek yogurt, as the recipe recommends. My wife, Rachel, made a butter lettuce, endive, and grapefruit salad.

Also, it was Purim, and Rach got some hamantaschen that we served along with the desserts that JJ had brought. One was a kind of Italian version of a Boston cream doughnut, and there was a blueberry tart with a lattice top.

Friday, March 22 I made Olivia French toast, which was not at all a weekday thing, but she asked for it, and getting to school on time, as I’ve said, is not my strong suit. I had Greek yogurt, banana, and honey. And coffee. And Rach had a version of the same.

It was Friday, which was a gym day. So we do speed things up as best we can. We’ve been working out at CrossFit South Brooklyn for years, even though it’s over in Gowanus. But we love it, and it feels like family now. And we’re pretty religious about our Monday-Wednesday-Friday class, which is a kind of body-weight-centric thing that we love.

When I need to do busywork before writing, I often head to Three’s Brewing, one street over from the gym. It’s not for a post-workout beer. The brewery is closed during the day, but they have a cozy little outpost of Ninth Street Espresso inside that uses the space during the daytime. I headed over and got a coffee and, to ruin any gym-related gains, a cheddar and chive scone (which is just to say, I should have had the French toast).

Let’s sing the praises of leftovers. I cook so much more lately,, and the more complicated or ridiculous, the better. That, is I like to make the things where people say, “Ummm, you know, they sell that at the grocery store. You can buy that a lot more easily than you can make that.” I was recently cooking Middle Eastern food and I was like, “Well, I should also make the pita,” and there were a million steps, and I was really proud, but, man, that dinner would have been a lot easier if I’d just run to Damascus Bakery, or, you know, any supermarket in the whole city. I think it ties in to the writer brain. If I need to fix something I’m writing, I will stay up all night, and I will do it again and again until it’s where it needs to be.

Anyway, there was the leftover lentil soup and the cheese and that giant loaf from She Wolf waiting. And I had plans to meet my publicist, Jordan. We were both swamped, and so she swung by, and we set up shop at our dining room table (by which I mean, our only table), and we had a super nice lunch, but with screens out, typing away.

Rach and I are nutty for Ethiopian food. It’s a favorite. And, luckily, there’s a fantastic restaurant over on Fulton, across from Greenlight Bookstore, my local. It’s a big corner for me: books and Ethiopian food. The restaurant is called Bati. And the owner, Hibist, is an old friend. Back when I started writing and lived on the Upper West Side, I used to go do my work at the Hungarian Pastry Shop. I mean, I sat there all day, every day, and often closed the place down. And Hibist used to work behind the counter. And I love when a person’s dreams come true. That is, I remember Hibist pouring coffees in the ’90s and now she owns her own restaurant — and it’s the best. Also, they’re really nice to our daughter, who has gone from eating everything to a very beige-focused food phase (possibly inherited from my suburban, white-bread roots).

Anyway, we packed her a little dinner of her own as an emergency backup, which they were really nice about. And as for ordering at Bati, Rach and I haven’t touched a menu there in years. We always, always get a vegetarian combo for two — which had a bunch of things on it, gomen, and buticha, and key sir, and — what really matters to us — always lots of shiro. And, at Bati, I don’t even need JJ for special treatment. They always keep an eye on us and make sure there’s shiro on the tray.

Also, they were out of St. George beer that night, so I had a Walia, which was equally great.

Saturday, March 23 If I’m being honest here, this was a record amount of time for me not to have eaten a bagel. This diary should have already had five dozen or so in it. Anyway, I ate the She Wolf Sourdough toast, day 400 on that bread. If you amortize the initial investment, I was pretty much making money on that loaf.

After dance class (my daughter’s, not mine), we headed over to Tacombi with friends. It’s a great Mexican place with locations in Manhattan, but now we’ve got one across from BAM. I spotted one grown-up couple having beers in the main room when we got there, but otherwise there were lots of kids, and lots in tutus — it seemed to be the new post-dance hangout. We had a big order of kid-friendly plain versions of things, which the staff was really nice about (that is, quesadilla with nothing, rice and beans with nothing). As for this grown-up, I had the seared fish tacos and their Naranja, which is a papaya, carrot, pineapple, and orange juice.

So, it was the Montclair Literary Festival — go NJ! My event was near the end of the day, and, after it was over, I went straight into Joyce Carol Oates’s. Then there was a cocktail party for the festival, and I ate I don’t know what, some hummus and pita, and had a glass of white wine. And Joyce had invited me to dinner with friends, and we headed to a place called Scala del Nonna. The joint was jumping, it was packed out and loud and Saturday night-ish, and one table kept knocking over the wine bucket.

As for wine, apparently Montclair has some ancient liquor law thing, and the restaurant was dry. So my friend Julie ran out to the store next-door and bought a bottle of Gavi, and Joyce’s friend ordered porcini risotto with peas for the table. I got the branzino alla griglia, which was marinated sea bass lightly grilled with scarola Siciliana. And, well, if you replaced all the fish I ate this week with candy and bagels, once again, it would better represent my normal diet.

Sunday, March 24 The day was packed with playdates, which was lovely. My daughter and I headed over to a friend’s who has twins and lives right next to the bagel store — my chance to make a move. But when we got into their house, Melissa had already made a mountain of whole-grain silver dollar pancakes, and a fruit plate with strawberries, watermelon, and pear. And, as always, she put a cup of coffee right into my hand.

We all headed to the park. As the twins headed off, another friend of my daughter’s showed up with her dad. After another couple of hours of wildness, we took the girls for a slice of Luigi’s Pizza and sat on the stoop outside. My slice turns into two, and they keep their seltzers properly freezing in their fridge. Slices on a stoop make me extraordinarily happy in a New York way: I was being nostalgic while it was happening, like, “This is the life.”

For our third and final playdate of the day, we had another of our daughter’s friends over to the house, with her folks. I’d been wanting to make chili, and offered to do so, but — if I’m allowed to break the fourth wall — Oriana, the visiting mom, is a huge fan of this column. She said chili is boring. So we ordered in Vietnamese from Mekong Delta. The restaurant is in one of those neighborhood locations that never works out and keeps changing hands. But Mekong Delta seems to be doing great. We all shared a papaya salad, and I got chicken pho and shrimp summer rolls.

Monday, March 25 It felt like maybe it was one of the last cold mornings before spring kicked in, and even with the pancakes yesterday, I always need to make sure I’m getting enough maple syrup in my diet. Point is, I made oatmeal, and ate it with bananas and blueberries and maple syrup that we buy by the jug when we’re up at our friend’s farm in Sandwich, New Hampshire. So, yes, for the best maple syrup in the world, I’d head straight for the sugar shack at Booty Farm on Mt. Israel Road.

I really want to state again that my body mass is probably about 80 percent bagel. If you cut me in half, I imagine mostly sesame seeds would pour out — as that’s my bagel of choice. So I really can’t believe I haven’t had one since this diet started — it’s the longest stretch since we got back from a year in Malawi (where I broke down and made bagels from scratch).

It was the day before launch. I owed everybody a million things, and was sure I’d be working until the middle of the night. At 2 p.m., I ran over to Mike’s Coffee Shop to grab something. Mike’s has been our home diner since we moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan around a decade ago. And we love it. It’s super homey, and they’re super nice, and it has a proper diner-y, pressed-tin ceiling, and a proper neon sign in the window. You always bump into friends there, and the kids are often given lollipops when you pay, whether they need a lollipop or not. Also, the owners are really good about calmly managing the weekend waiting list when it’s chaos and the throngs of folks are roaming outside waiting on tables.

I sat in the last booth and I ordered a coffee and a tuna sandwich on wheat toast, with lettuce, tomato, and onion. And a pickle spear! If there’s a picture of me up above with a sandwich in front of me, that’s the one. If there’s a picture of me without it, it’s because it’s already in my belly.

The last supper. So, a friend was having a dinner party, and I did not go to that dinner party — though, again, I’d be killing it with the food over there. But, the next day was the launch event at Greenlight Bookstore, and I’d start traveling the morning after that, and except for a night here and there, well, I’ll be hawking books on the road like a brush salesman for the next few weeks. This was basically the last night I got to be home with my wife and daughter and Calli the dog until tour slows down. Also, I usually come home from tour looking like I’ve eaten a bag of salt. That is, I’m so thankful to get to do readings and meet readers and shepherd the novel out into the world, but I will be eating a lot from after-hours menus, and CIBO Express airport food, and the day was gray and cold and some comfort food at home sounded nice.

So Rachel started kid dinner, and my daughter and I ran out to the supermarket around the block. We love going to the supermarket, me and her. We were getting ingredients for my friend Kitty’s chili recipe. When my wife was in grad school (she’s a professor), we lived in Madison, Wisconsin for three years, and our friend Kitty gave us a little book of her very Wisconsin-style dishes, which are great for this kind of weather. At the store, we also got the stuff for a green salad, because it sounded nice and I also wanted to keep my heart from exploding on the road.

At home, while my daughter ate, I got the chili into a giant pot and let it simmer until — as happens in our building — the whole floor smelled like cayenne peppers and onion. For the salad, I just used lemon and olive oil and salt, which is my single favorite dressing. And after our daughter fell asleep, Rach emerged and served up the chili. I chopped up some cilantro and chives for toppings, and we sat down at the table and dug in, with the dog underneath the table at our feet, which is my kind of dinner.

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Source: http://www.grubstreet.com/2019/03/nathan-englander-grub-street-diet.html

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Triumph With Organic Gardening: How To Expand A Healthy Yard

Growing an organic garden can be an important enhancement to your life. You need to do all of your research, so that you don't waste money on tools that you do not recognize just how to make use of or even cause your plants to die. There are some tips listed below to aid you start.

The autumn season has actually shown up and the task of emptying our container gardens is at task. Nevertheless, rather than saving your clay pots in a yard shed for the winter, why not replace the summer annuals with edible fall vegetables. Having mums in your favorite clay pot signifies fall, however, consider including alternative edible plants such as leafy lettuces such as arugula, endive, bok choy and also radicchio. When it is time for a fast salad, just snip a few leaves, and you will promptly have tasty ready to eat salad.

Prior to you even place the first plant in your yard, you need to inspect the composition of your soil. You can acquire a soil analysis for a small fee. Utilizing that report, you can modify your soil as needed for a flourishing garden. Lawn Care Cincinnati, OH will do a soil analysis, as well as it is essential to recognize how to boost soil to ensure that all plants can grow in it. Don't allow the growing in knowledge halt here; instead go forward by checking this subject out at https://experigreen.com

You have to progressively present your plants to changing conditions and temperatures, so you do not stun them. Place them outdoors in the sun for no more than 2 hours the first day. Over the week, try slowly increasing the time they're left outside. At the end of a week, they should be accustomed to the outdoors as well as all set to shift to outside safely.

Do not neglect the sunlight when selecting an area for a yard. Gardens need sunlight. Almost all flowering plants and also vegetables grow best in outstanding sunlight. Veggies such as tomatoes need a lot of sunshine and also will not produce without it. If there are trees above the area, cut them back or search for another location since a yard without sunlight is doomed to failure.

Tempt your cat far from the plants he has actually been bothering by planting catnip or wheat grass near them. Additionally, utilize your cat's keen sense of smell to your benefit. Citrus fruit peels off and mothballs both scent terrible to cats, so placed them on the soil near the plants your cat likes to eat.

Deciduous shrubs and young trees need to be secured. Cold weather is really hard on these tender shrubs, and potted shrubs must be shielded and protected. Tie these canes at the top, and place a blanket over it. This is a better method, rather than placing the plastic wrap around the plant. It allows correct air circulation that can prevent rotting.

Growing an organic garden can be very rewarding, yet it can additionally be a lot of work. No matter, if you understand what to do and exactly how to grow smarter, you can obtain the organic garden you want. So do yourself a support and use the above ideas to growing your natural garden.

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