#Devonshire magic

[wytchoftheways]

This is my version of the three bees in a bag charm housed in the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic; Hung in the best room of the house, they will bring good fortune, happiness, health and sweet luck. This version includes a hag stone and allspice, and are held in a black bag for protective qualities. 🐝

[house-of-caraleya]

A Day at The Burrow | GARRETH W.

summary： a weasley morning with your husband and children. pairing： garreth weasley x f! reader warnings： none, just magical family fluff wordcount： 1.2k author’s note： probably innacurate in some parts, especially with the burrow. i’ve no clue who built it but we’ll pretend it was our garreth :p. sorry if i took a while! creds: dividers: @cafekitsune & @saradika-graphics // request: this post // picture: this post on pinterest

The sunlight streamed softly through the window, spilling over the old oak floorboards of the Weasley household, a little cabin on the green outskirts of Devonshire that the six of you lovingly called home.

You sighed contentedly, savouring the warmth of the morning as the quiet hum of the house reached your ears. Garreth was up—he was always the first to rise, even before the birds outside started singing. It was just his way. And you, still half-asleep, could already hear the faint sound of pans clattering in the kitchen, interspersed with the familiar hum of Garreth’s voice, trying to herd the kids toward breakfast.

The house had a comfortable, lived-in feel, with mismatched furniture and the soft scent of toast and herbs in the air. It was a far cry from the grand halls of Hogwarts you and Garreth knew many years ago, but it was perfect for your family. A home filled with warmth, laughter, and magic—just the way Garreth always dreamed it would be.

You stretched lazily, then swung your legs out of bed. The sounds of chaos from downstairs made you smile as you padded softly toward the kitchen. You had four children now—three daughters and one son—and mornings in the Weasley house were never quiet. The familiar hum of their voices, overlapping in excited chatter, greeted you before you even entered the room.

“Annie! Don’t you dare mess with my things!” came a loud voice from one of the chairs around the table. It was Lily-Anne, your eldest daughter, who at eight years old was already an expert at sounding outraged without really being angry.

“Relax, I was just looking!” Annie retorted, her words fast and full of mischief. At six years old, Annabelle was the family’s little adventurer—always poking around, testing spells, and getting into trouble.

“You’ve been looking at my things for hours,” Lily-Anne snapped back, sounding every bit like a miniature Garreth.

Garreth, who was having dishes washed by themselves while stirring something at the stove, laughed quietly to himself, not even bothering to intervene—he knew better by now. He was accustomed to the banter between his two oldest girls.

“Lillie, sweetie, give your sister some space,” he said, his voice a mix of fondness and exhaustion. “Annie, don’t make me send you to bed early tonight.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I wasn’t even going to do anything with them,” Annie said, though the sly grin on her face made it clear she was up to something. She always had that look when she was planning her next “adventure.”

As you stepped into the kitchen, your youngest daughter, Winifred, nicknamed Winnie, was the first to spot you. “Mummy!” she squealed, her short ginger curls bouncing with excitement. She scampered over to you, her arms outstretched. “I made pancakes!” she announced, proudly holding up a small, slightly misshapen pancake, which she’d more than likely stolen from Garreth’s stack.

“Did you now?” you asked, bending down to kiss the top of her head, taking the pancake from her with a grin. “This looks amazing, darling.”

“Not as good as Daddy’s!” Winifred said, eyes wide with admiration. You turned your gaze toward Garreth, who was now flipping a much more professional-looking stack of pancakes onto the table.

“Alright, alright, I’ll take it from here,” Garreth said with a wink as he set the spatula down.

He turned to you and added in a quieter voice, “She insists she’s a pro chef already. I think we’ve got a little cook on our hands.”

You chuckled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Then I believe you’ve got some competition, love.”

“I’m okay with it,” Garreth said, his voice warm and humorous, and full of pride. “She’s clearly already better at it than I was at her age.”

“Annie!” came a new voice, followed by the tell-tale sound of a chair scraping against the floor. Finn, your four-year-old son, had clearly entered the fray. “You can’t do magic like that! Mum and Dad said no!”

Annie turned around, hands on her hips. “I wasn’t doing magic, Finn. I was simply pretending,” she said, a mock pout on her face.

“Pretending or not, stop pretending with your wand on my things!” Finnick spoke, stomping his little foot in exaggerated annoyance.

At this point, you couldn’t help but laugh. Finnick was a fiery little boy—very much like Garreth, though he had your stubbornness. 'Spellcasting' was his favourite pastime.

He wasn’t allowed to use magic yet, not until he turned eleven, but that didn’t stop him from pretending to perform spells.

Most of the time, he used his broomstick—his favourite toy, which was already showing signs of wear and tear from the countless imaginative Quidditch games he played in the garden, which Garreth would sometimes join in with.

“Alright, alright, enough with the magic, everyone!” Garreth said, his voice good-natured but firm as he set the pancakes on the table. “We’ve got to eat before the pancakes turn to bricks.”

You sat down beside Garreth, helping Winifred into her seat next to you, while Annabelle, Finnick, and Lily-Anne scrambled for their places at the table. The moment your eldest daughter, Annie, slid into her seat, she immediately reached for the jar of jam, her eyes wide with determination.

“Lillie,” Garreth said, a chuckle in his voice, “we’ll get to the jam in a minute. First, let’s all eat something before your sisters get their hands on it.”

“I’m going to be the first one to finish my pancakes,” Lillie announced, her voice full of confidence.

“Not if I can help it!” Annie challenged, reaching for her fork, and starting to eat at an almost competitive speed.

Meanwhile, Winifred, still entranced by her stuffed dragon, began feeding her pancake to it, making sure it had its own little plate of syrup. Garreth leaned over to you, eyes twinkling. “If it weren’t for her, we might've had a spat over this food.”

“I’m pretty sure we already do,” you said with a laugh, watching as Lillie, Annie, and Finn began bickering over who would finish first.

The rest of breakfast was a beautiful mess—garbled conversations about dragons and broomsticks, Winnie insisting that Puff the Dragon could only eat pancakes with syrup, Annie and Finn arguing about the best Quidditch teams (despite neither of them actually knowing what a real match looked like), and Garreth trying to keep it all together with good-natured laughter.

"Alright, alright, let’s get cleaned up before it’s time to head outside," Garreth said, after a few minutes of pancakes, syrup, and chaos. “We can’t have another broom incident like yesterday, can we?” He raised an eyebrow, though his tone was gentle.

"Maybe just one more race, Daddy," Finn pleaded, his eyes big and innocent. “Just one.”

“Alright, one race,” Garreth said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But that’s it.”

You shook your head affectionately, your heart swelling with love as you looked at the family around you—your four rambunctious, wonderful children and your impossibly charming, endlessly patient husband. The day was just beginning, and already it was filled with more laughter, noise, and love than you could have ever imagined.

It was a good day. A very good day. And with Garreth by your side, you knew it would always be.

apologies for any mistakes i may have made, whether in timeline or the language! thank you so much for reading! i was super nervous about this, i don’t usually write much for garreth, but i hope i captured him as best as i could :,) likes, comments, reblogs and (constructive) criticisms are always much appreciated! 💗

[spiralhouseshop]

RESTOCKS!

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folklore from Appalachia by Jake Richards

Silent as the Trees: Devonshire Witchcraft, Folklore & Magic by Gemma Gary

The Witch at the Forest's Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft by Christine Grace

[artemis-fowl-incident-report]

Welcome to my throwback day contribution!

So I did a post a while back talking about what I would have done with the Fowl Twins books, and a subsequent chapter by chapter breakdown for the second book. And thus, as my throwback, I'm gonna break down what I would have done for "Deny all Charges" aka the third one.

(Just to preface, I never finished the third book. I dont know what Eoin was doing there, but I wanted no part of it)

Chapter 1

The Twins have recently turned 14. Following the trend of his character development from my version of book 2, Beckett has really come into his own, doubling down on his talent for engineering and languages, and is actively working on writing his first children's book (since he found that, with all his passion for the "Alien Pooping Boy" books, he might as well try writing all his ideas for himself). Beckett also keeps bees now, since he can talk with them, and bees are one of the only creatures that consent to their domestication by humans. Myles is as snarky as ever, but is a bit less vicious about it, since he's begun realising how hurtful some of his statements can be.

The boys are in Italy with their parents, visiting their Uncle Foxy and his boyfriend, one Giovanni Zito (because I said so). They're just discussing when Artemis will be returning from Mars when the boys get a message. The Crown of Frond they saved from the last book has been stolen from the Section 8 archives. The trail leads to Venice, so the boys head over to investigate.

They tail behind the fairy thief who they believe stole the item as they twist and turn through the city until they come to a church. Just as they get there, however, the building blows up. No one is hurt, but they can only assume their target is dead.

Chapter 2

As they're preparing to head home, Myles keeps fretting about the explosion. He goes over the security footage over and over, until he remembers that many churches have catacombs under them. He keeps researching until he comes across footage of their thief being whisked away by a boat that looks like an ACRONYM vestal.

Cut to their fairy nervously pacing around a safe house, wondering if the money was worth it- BLAM! Beckett knocks down the door. Between the two of them (and Whistle Blower, who they keep threatening to feed the fairy to) their thief confesses that he stole the crown for one Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye. The only other information he has is that he's going to be attacking a fairy magical research lab on the Devon moors soon.

They leave him, wandering through the streets to where Lazuli parked the shuttle. Beckett wonders if Artemis will be back in time for this adventure, and how it would be fun for them to get to solve this problem together. Myles is less enthused, noting that Artemis would probably get himself killed with his lack of self preservation instincts.

Chapter 3

A few days later, Lazuli, Myles, and Beckett (with Whistle Blower in his backpack) scale the Devonshire Moors. Since the area is well known for its military training camps they deemed it best to go by foot.

Lazuli is doing rather well since the last book, discovering she was from a secret branch of the Frond royal family. She's practically been adopted by Lily Frond, since most of Lily's family isn't great and she always wanted a sister. They may only be distantly related, but its the only family Lazuli's ever had (my heart!)

The magical testing facility is disguised as a Tor (big piles of granite that jut from the moors surface). But its clearly been attacked recently, with chunks taken from the surface, revealing the buildings structure underneath.

They head inside, learning that all the scientists and engineers have been kidnapped, and one piece of tech stolen. A magic amplifier. It was originally being developed for No1, as a way for him to cast spells on mass like healing the Amazonian rainforests or large groups of people during emergencies.

As the Regrettables leave they find themselves surrounded by the British Army. They're about to be fired upon, when a bright light shines down upon them. A ship descends, and a familiar voice in their ear pieces telling them to cover their eyes. There's a brilliant flash of light, and the army men drop to the ground, dazed and mind wiped of the last hour.

The spaceship's pod descends and two people step out. Butler and Artemis.

Chapter 4

Everyone (except for Myles) is overjoyed to see Artemis. He and Butler are rushed down the Haven with the Regrettables, and tearfully reunite with their friends, before buckling down and getting to business. (yes, Artemis is most pleased to be back on earth because he gets to wear suits again. Go figure)

Myles does not appreciate being side-lined like this, being treated like a child as Artemis and the others take over the situation. (Beckett tries to point out that they are actually children, but it doesn't go well for him). Its actually Lily Frond who gives them the means to listen in on the situation, having the keys to the office connecting to the situation room.

Turns out the machine is missing one key element, a very rare crystal that draws in magical energy from its environment and stores it within itself. They decide to contact Minerva about it, but it will take a day or so, since she's still a smuggler in this story, but a more high quality smuggler (also, Artemis is Godfather to Minerva's daughter. Its so sweet). Myles convinces Beckett they need to go to Minerva themselves, for which they steal a pod and head for the surface. (They leave Lazuli behind since they want her to, you know, keep her job)

Not that Beckett doesn't like a good heist, but he's usually the impulsive of of the two. He doesn't understand where this grim determination has come from with his brother. When pressed on the subject, Myles simply points out they shouldn't be overlooked like this.

Chapter 5

They turn up in New Orleans, and Minerva is very confused, but agrees to help when the situation is explained. Turns out, she has just the rock they are looking for, and a large chunk of it at that. The Twins buy it off her (because they got that Fowl money, you know what I mean?) and decide to take it to a secure location so Teddy cant get his hands on it.

Teddy gets his hands on it. He attacks the boys as they're transporting the crystal. During his big Villain monologue, he reveals he wants to be King of England, and he will use the fairy people to do so. He does, however, accidentally mention that a certain "she" will demand her share as well.

The twins are pushed from the pod, but not before Myles accidentally manages to get hold of a baby chunk of the crystal. They fall into the Atlantic Ocean, being picked up by a fairy rescue vestal.

Chapter 6

Back at Villa Eco, the twins get scolded by their parents and Artemis. Beckett kind of accepts it, but Myles refuses to. He runs away, reflecting on how all of this has been an absolute mess, that maybe they really should have left it to Artemis and the others.

When he catches up to him, Artemis and Myles have a heart to heart. Myles admits that he used to idolise Artemis, that he thought his big brother could do anything. But then he got himself killed at the end of the Last Guardian. Worse than that, he got killed from information Myles supplied him with after being possessed. He wants to be an equal to his brother, he wants to be close to him, but he felt his death stronger than anyone else. And then, when Artemis came back, he headed off to Mars like an Interstellar hipster on a gap year trying to "find himself".

Artemis apologises, explaining that he'd lived his first life for other people for so long, being the genius, the heir, Artemis Fowl II, that he didn't really know who Artemis was away from those things. He just wanted to keep his family safe, even though he had no idea how to be anything but a stranger in said family. That he should have reflected more on how him and Beckett were affected, that he does see them as his equals, and that he's sorry.

They hug it out. Myles is crying, Artemis is crying (I'm crying!)

Chapter 7

Much like the Death Star, it turns out this magical amplifier has a very specific (plot contrived) flaw. The crystal at its heart is not only rare, but its very fragile. If shot through with the right frequency, it will shatter and explode, all the magical energy contained inside it bursting out in one shot. However, they don't know what that frequency is, since they would have to run tests on some of that specific crystal vein.

Myles is happy to announce that he has one of said crystals, but will only hand it over to the LEP if they agree to let him and Beckett help. Their parents try and argue against it, but finally (finally) realise that nothing will stop their sons if theirs something they want to do and so elect to come along and help.

They fly across to Isle of Scilly to meet up with the rest of the team. Lord Teddy's manor is a virtual fortress, guarded by the fairy scientists and engineers he had kidnapped from Devon. They're clearly being mind controlled, and they have anti shield goggles on, so there's no way they could attack the house by air.

They had, however, contacted the Hortenut Seven, through Mulch, to dig them in. While they face off against Teddy, the dwarves will disable the guards, in exchange for Artemis backing their political interests (he has quite a bit of sway with the People since his resurrection, being viewed more like a Hero than the monster he used to be).

Artemis Sr and Angeline are actually surprisingly good help navigating the halls of Childblain House (turns out Angeline used to be a cat-burglar and Tim was, you know, a former crime lord so that helps). They reach the grand hall where the machine has been set up, the crystal humming away menacingly.

They each separate into one of three teams. Team A, Myles, Fowl Sr, and Butler (who between them are lugging a large box). They will be dug around the back of the hall by Mulch through the garden. Team B, Angeline, Juliet, and Beckett move to various positions around darkened hall out of sight ready to snatch the crown at the first opportunity. And Team C, Holly and Lazuli, who are shielded in the rafters with their guns ready if something goes wrong. Foaly is also there, in spirit, or rather on tech support, using his little bug drones from the Last Guardian to keep eyes on everyone.

Taking a breath Artemis, now wearing a gloop tie and glasses, steps into the hall.

Chapter 8

Artemis tries shooting at Teddy, but misses, being tackled and chained down by fairy guards for his trouble. When Teddy comes closer to inspect the intruder, he's told that this is "Myles" come back from the future to stop him. The maddened Lord wholeheartedly believes this, and takes it as a sign of his future victory. Since, if he hadn't won, there would be no need for "Myles" to have been sent back.

The crystal is changed up. Teddy is monologuing, strolling up have the crown on his head hooked up to the machine, regal in his throne

BLAM

He's shot in the chest.

Teddy looks over, betrayed, as Sister Jeronima, or rather her corps puppeteered around by Opal's ghost emerges.

All the fairies are suddenly released from the crowns spell and try to run, only to freeze back in place as Opal puts the crown on her own head.

Of course she has a villain speech, and of course she knows its Artemis. She talks about how he's always been small and pathetic, with a mind that could once rule the world but no resolve to do so.

She gets her guards to round up all the various Fowl's, Butler's and others. She hooks herself up to the machine, ordering Holly and Lazuli to take aim at their friends.

BOOM!

The crystal explodes, the machine Myles had set up vibrating at just the right frequency to release the magic trapped inside. There's chaos, Opal trying to order her fairy minions as the humans all rush forward to get the crown. Angeline is actually the one to get Opal, punching her in the face with a war cry of "that's for what you've done to my sons!" as Whistle Blower tears Opal/Jeronima's ankles to shreds.

But not before Lazuli goes to take a shot at Artemis, with Myles pushing him out the way.

Chapter 9

Between the two of them, Holly and Lazuli manage to heal Myles, where he wakes up in his big brothers arms.

It ends with them all sitting on the beach eating ice cream, waiting for the LEP to come sort out the mess and take Opal into custody.

They give the crown to Lazuli to look after, who resolves to hide it just as her ancestor Darach wanted.

Artemis tells his brothers how truly proud he is of them, and how he hopes this is the Fowl's legacy. He called an old man by Beckett, and a simpletoon by Myles.

The end

(I have been writing since 3am and now it is 7am. Why do I do this to myself? I have no idea)

[thefisherqueen]

“The exact date is 1742.” Dr. Mortimer drew it from his breast-pocket. “This family paper was committed to my care by Sir Charles Baskerville, whose sudden and tragic death some three months ago created so much excitement in Devonshire. I may say that I was his personal friend as well as his medical attendant. He was a strong-minded man, sir, shrewd, practical, and as unimaginative as I am myself. Yet he took this document very seriously, and his mind was prepared for just such an end as did eventually overtake him.”

Oh spooky time! An ancient curse, a prophecy, with the added dynamics of: was it magic? Was it coincidence? Did the tragedy merely happen because they believed in it? Did someone take advantage of the opportunity? I'm excited for this!

[superconductivebean]

###: HLMCOctober - 1

link to the masterpost

Introduce yourself and your MC

My humble self has been around in the fandom since February and was admiring everything from a distance. Thought, won't be here for long, you see. That until Aesop Sharp happened to my fairly serene life, and I've decided to try and yank myself out of the native language comfort zone to write something anything about him -- and subsequently, the MC of mine, Julia Wright.

I had an intro post about her, can be found here. Her inspo sheet:

Her pinterest board:

A couple of gorgeous screencaps made by the gracious @phinik:

Essentials only for trivia, because I have quite an extensive hc posts listed here (although, please forgive me: older posts may have outdated info):

Julia is of dutch/faroese descent;

Ravenclaw, through and through;

Her scar looks menacing and pain it may cause is as horrid;

Half-blood but-- let's just say she didn't know until Aesop happened to her life;

She is natural to Charms and Transfiguration magic due to her ancient magic, wyrdish abilities, and she spend a great deal of hours on potion-making (she went a long way from being mildly curious and enamoured with the discipline to it becoming her livelihood; spoiler alert, Aesop was a help but not the cause);

Her mood swings may be harsh and have many explanations to them (physical pain, mental fatigue, underlying stresses, etc) but all you need to know: she can be sullen, she can be hysterical, yet she always remains a goof, especially around friends;

She likes sparkly and glossy things, her assigned House bird is a magpie;

Julia is a cosy lesbian but will kick arses if necessary;

No bullying on her watch and no house elf slavery either (you can already imagine: her life isn't easy);

In her later, aftergrad years, she'll move to Wales to live alongside her throuple besties, Poppy and Imelda;

what else can I say: her foster-family lives in Devonshire and Dorset, her extended blood-family is spread across northern Europe and has-- spolier alert, long-standing family business;

Julia collects last names like they're pokemons. ^ ^

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

LGBTQIA+ Historical Romances for Winter 2022

A Christmas Engagement by Ellie Thomas

In 1805, Charles Denham’s comfortable life in Regency London with his long-term partner Avery Mallory is disrupted by the sudden death of his father. As the heir to a modest country estate in Gloucestershire, Charles returns home to care for his bereaved family and take up his new responsibilities.

Overwhelmed with grief, rather than leaning on Avery, Charles rejects his love and becomes fixed on the idea of taking a wife for reasons of family duty alone. With this plan in mind, during early winter, he travels the short distance to Bath only to find that Avery and his family have already arrived at the resort.

Will Charles follow through with his ill-conceived plan for a hasty betrothal by Christmas? Or will he come to his senses and resume his relationship with the nicest man in England?

When the Glow Lights the Woods by Eule Grey (dystopian fantasy)

A snowy story of healing, birds, and the magic of connection.

The Wall? Who gives a snowman’s kiss about when the wars ended, or who built the divide that goes all the way around the planet? Whatever!

All anyone cares about is Christmas, when one lucky person gets to date someone from the other side. Who will it be this year?

Eighteen-year-old Kite Ripples loves birds, animals, and gazing at stars. He’s a good brother to leader, Mal. Mostly. As teacher, it’s Kite’s responsibility to dispel the rumours about people on the other side being robots—just a myth, right? Deep down, he understands no human is better, or worse, than any other. And, if he dreams of meeting a guy like him—who wants to kiss—it doesn’t mean Kite’s a rebel. Not he!

Manu Feathers, also eighteen, lives on the other side. Gets into trouble. Likes boys. Breaks laws and wants more. Like everyone, he’s fixated on those over the divide—simultaneously scared and excited by rumours of too much sex. It’s a lot to get your head round.

Kite is selected to climb under the Wall, and it’s the best Christmas present ever. But nothing goes to plan. Instead of picking the perfect boy, all he notices is the guy on the end, acting out. Who’d choose a nuisance like him?

Can the highest Wall prevent first love? Can a kiss heal a baby bird?

A Chaperoned Christmas by Meg Mardell (FFM - v triad poly)

Candida Damerell avoids two things at all costs: her former hometown, Salcombe Bay, and her former lover, Broderick Carlyle. She’s worked too hard to shake off her sad family history in Devonshire and become a premier London hostess. To think she nearly threw it all away for a bohemian charmer like Broderick! He never understood Candida’s need to keep their secret romance, well, secret. Unfortunately, this holiday season, the fates seem determined to thwart her best efforts at self-preservation.

Broderick Carlyle is not surprised to see his estranged lover on the same coastal railway platform a fortnight before Christmas. Who else could tempt him into such a backwater at this dangerously jolly time of year? Not the country rustic whose need for Society chaperones is the alleged reason for the visit. What Broderick is not prepared to learn is that this windswept bit of coast is where Candida grew up. Even more alarming? The “country rustic” is none other than an earl’s daughter from the neighbouring estate.

Lady Sophia Luscombe has no intention of leaving her beloved Devonshire and her new horse breeding business for smelly, snobby London, especially not under the guidance of two Society chaperones. What if they managed to get Sophie married at last? No, she will distract her sophisticated visitors by making them fall in love with each other. The intimate entertainments of a West Country Christmas will make it easy to force the two together. It would be the perfect plan—or it would be if only the too-perfect Candida were not Sophie’s secret first love.

Just as the web of cross purposes frays to breaking point, a masquerade ball arrives to give these fierce spirits one last opportunity to tell the truth in time for Christmas. Is it too late for a second or even a third chance at love?

The Nutcracker Princess by Courtney Milnestein (f/f fantasy)

In the city of Holmgarðr, in the nation of Garðaríki, on Christmas Eve, there is magic in the air, as Uncle Drosselmeyer presents his gifts before the young children of the ambassador of Gloriana, Clara and Fitz. Yet for all the magic and festivities of Christmas, there is a sense also of danger, the shadow of war growing longer from the neighboring nations of the Hanseatic League.

Caught on the cusp of the peaceful life she has always known and the threat of impending war, Clara finds herself alone in a magical realm save for the company of her cat, embroiled in dangers hitherto unimagined as she finds herself increasingly drawn to a handsome Nutcracker Princess and faced with a choice that will impact both her own fate and that of the world around her.

Sixpenny Octavo by Annick Trent (f/f)

Clockmender Hannah Croft's friend Molly has been arrested for her connections to a Jacobin club. In the tumultuous political climate of 1790s Britain, being in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to land Molly in gaol. Hannah's one hope to free her lies in the testimony of housemaid Lucy Boone. Lucy has spent her entire life moving from one household to another, never forming a true connection with her fellow servants—nor with her occasional lovers. She prefers it that way. When you can rely on yourself, why would you need anyone else? But when Hannah Croft asks for help, she cannot say no. Working together to free Molly, the two women don't try to ignore their growing attraction. For Hannah, Lucy is a beacon of hope at a difficult time. And Lucy finds herself loving her new life, made welcome by Hannah and her friends. But their situation is fraught with danger. Rumours abound of an informant in their midst, and a sinister man from the magistrate's office dogs Lucy's steps. One wrong move could land them in gaol—or splinter their new relationship from within.

Hen Fever: A Sapphic Victorian Romance by Olivia Waite (f/f)

Lydia Wraxhall is on her best behavior every day of the year—except one: the annual Bickerton Christmas Poultry Show. On that day she brushes her birds, sharpens her tongue, and engages in the closest thing the village knows to war. Harriet Boyne is a soldier’s widow reeling from the worst years of her life. She and her friends have inherited a manor on the village outskirts, and Harriet is looking forward to a quiet holiday far from the anguish of the battlefield. But a dispute over a flock of loose chickens — a rare local breed, which Lydia thinks could be champions and Harriet thinks could be delicious — draws Harriet into the competition under Lydia’s grudging guidance. Harriet’s frozen heart is thawed by Lydia’s gentleness, and lonely Lydia blossoms under Harriet’s keen regard. But the day of the poultry show is fast approaching, and everyone’s drawing up battle lines. And in the contest between secret love and public glory, there can only be one winner.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THEY ONLY PLAYED A REPORTED THREE SONGS, BUT THEY WERE ALL EXTENDED VERSIONS.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on Jim Morrison of L.A. rock band THE DOOR'S, performing live at the Fantasy Faire and Magic Music Festival, Devonshire Meadows Raceway in Northridge, CA, on July 16, 1967. 📸: Jim Coke and/or Chuck Boyd.

Their initial allotted time slot was only twenty minutes, but they reportedly played for nearly half an hour. The setlist was as follows: "When the Music's Over," "Break on Through (to the Other Side)," and "Light My Fire."

Sources: Pinterest, Flickr, & www.rockarchive.nl/photographers/jim-coke.

[xdragonsofavaloria]

xdragonsofavaloria Brittany||32||She/her

rules||the history||verses (needs to be heavily edited)||muses (needs to be heavily edited)||ask box||drabbles/stories

The Muses

Black Dragon King Kassandros Morrigantes (he/him, 10000+)-Richard Armitage

Queen Cassiopeia Morrigantes (co-ruling with her father) (she/her, 10000+)-Rebecca Ferguson/Alexandra Dowling

Duke of Drachaven, sorcery and magic Alektryon Morrigantes (1000+, he/him)-Clive Standen

Duchess of Drachaven, Sorcery and Magic Serine Morrigantes (200, she/her)-Anya Charlota

Fire Knight Simba Morrigantes (20, he/him)-Alexander Daddario

Princess of the Ice Lands Nikoline Kristofferson (130, she/her)-Freya Mavor

Prince of the Ice Lands Nikolaj Kristofferson (130, him/him)-Bradley James

Dragon Mage Charon Rozenburg (30s, he/him)-Jaime Campbell Bower

Crown Prince of the Dark Lands Chase Devonshire Everbleed Wyvercrest (10000+, he/him)-Tom Hiddleston

Queen of the Dark Lands Misericordia Everbleed Wyvercrest (10000+, she/her)-Charlize Theron

Gabriel the White Dragon (10000+, he/him)-Henry Cavill

Rosalie the Bronze Dragon (20, she/her)-Dove Cameron

Well well-versed in high/low fantasy, TVD/TO, cozy mysteries, paranormal, Dragon Age, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and more when I come up with more

[redundant2]

The Devonshire Tiaras

I love anything Mitford, and have every book Debo Mitford Cavendish ever wrote. I wish we could see some of the Devonshire tiaras at King Charles III's coronation - which one would you wear?

I am torn between the Honeysuckle Tiara

and the Palmette

From Debo: "My grandmother-in-law, Evelyn Duchess of Devonshire, was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Mary for forty-three years from 1910. Together they weathered long hours of tiara’d evenings, including those during the fabulous Indian Durbar in Delhi in 1911. The magically beautiful but relentless program, carried out in torrid heat, was exhausting for all concerned, and after one particularly lengthy evening Granny Evie was heard to say, ‘The Queen has been complaining about the weight of her Tiara…The Queen doesn’t know what a heavy tiara is.’  Evelyn knew what she was talking about. The larger of the two Devonshire diamond tiaras in indeed a whopper.”

I would be more than happy to wear either one!

[dnickels]

If anyone goes down to those shores now, if man or boy seeks to follow in our traces, let him realize at once, before he takes the trouble to roll up his sleeves, that his zeal will end in labour lost. There is nothing, now, where in our days there was so much. Then the rocks between tide and tide were submarine gardens of a beauty that seemed often to be fabulous, and was positively delusive, since, if we delicately lifted the weedcurtains of a windless pool, though we might for a moment see its sides and floor paven with living blossoms, ivory-white, rosy-red, grange and amethyst, yet all that panoply would melt away, furled into the hollow rock, if we so much as dropped a pebble in to disturb the magic dream.

Half a century ago, in many parts of the coast of Devonshire and Cornwall, where the limestone at the water's edge is wrought into crevices and hollows, the tideline was, like Keats' Grecian vase, 'a still unravished bride of quietness'. These cups and basins were always full, whether the tide was high or low, and the only way in which they were affected was that twice in the twenty-four hours they were replenished by cold streams from the great sea, and then twice were left brimming to be vivified by the temperate movement of the upper air. They were living flower-beds, so exquisite in their perfection, that my Father, in spite of his scientific requirements, used not seldom to pause before he began to rifle them, ejaculating that it was indeed a pity to disturb such congregated beauty. The antiquity of these rock-pools, and the infinite succession of the soft and radiant forms, sea- anemones, seaweeds, shells, fishes, which had inhabited them, undisturbed since the creation of the world, used to occupy my Father's fancy. We burst in, he used to say, where no one had ever thought of intruding before; and if the Garden of Eden had been situate in Devonshire, Adam and Eve, stepping lightly down to bathe in the rainbow-coloured spray, would have seen the identical sights that we now saw,—the great prawns gliding like transparent launches, anthea waving in the twilight its thick white waxen tentacles, and the fronds of the duke faintly streaming on the water like huge red banners in some reverted atmosphere.

All this is long over and done with. The ring of living beauty drawn about our shores was a very thin and fragile one. It had existed all those centuries solely in consequence of the indifference, the blissful ignorance of man. These rockbasins, fringed by corallines, filled with still water almost as pellucid as the upper air itself, thronged with beautiful sensitive forms of life, they exist no longer, they are all profaned, and emptied, and vulgarized. An army of 'collectors' has passed over them, and ravaged every corner of them. The fairy paradise has been violated, the exquisite product of centuries of natural selection has been crushed under the rough paw of well-meaning, idle-minded curiosity. That my Father, himself so reverent, so conservative, had by the popularity of his books acquired the direct responsibility for a calamity that he had never anticipated became clear enough to himself before many years had passed, and cost him great chagrin. No one will see again on the shore of England what I saw in my early childhood, the submarine vision of dark rocks, speckled and starred with an infinite variety of colour, and streamed over by silken flags of royal crimson and purple.

Father and Son, Edmund Gosse

[ravenbara]

1) Which religion/spiritual path do you identify with?

Thank you for sending me a question!!

Currently? I'm pagan and........ spiritual? I mean, i have three Deities I work with routinely and a spirit i work closely with...... and I also honor the energy of all things, and feel especially called by natural energies...... so possibly under the animist label as well? XD

As a teen I did ID with Wicca... tho i know has too many rules and aspects i don't agree with or find in conflict with my own instincts and personal knowledge. It just happened to be the flavor of spirituality closest to what i felt that actually had books written on it that i could access!

Now i have a few more books and resources, some across the spectrum and some focusing on witchcraft from areas of England a large chunk of my ancestry is from. (Multiple lines of my family tree dead end in Devonshire, England according to the family tree my sis spent time building, even more lines of my family than those that lead to Poland.... which means mum accidentally lied to me and my sis about our dominant ancestry but oh well XD). I enjoy finding inspiration in my family history but i dont' feel beholden to it.

Sooooooooo........ to answer the question..... uhhhhhhhh....... I'm a witch..... and a magic worker...... and an energy worker..... i'm a bit of a spiritual witch as well? When i actually work magic it tends to be very representational and bringing the small action on the representation to the large or a charm with every piece chosen for correspondence of my own making...... SO... witch for sure, spiritual, pagan as fuck and maybe some other labels XD

[onlineshoppinguaedeals]

The Dreamy Delight: A Deep Dive into the World of Fresh Cream

Ah, fresh cream. The whisper-light swirl atop a steaming cup of coffee, the decadent foundation for a luxurious dessert, the secret weapon behind countless savory sauces – its versatility is undeniable. But beyond its culinary prowess, fresh cream boasts a rich history, fascinating science, and a complex production process. So, grab a spoon (and maybe a napkin – things might get messy!), because we're about to delve into the dreamy world of fresh cream.

From Farm to Fridge: The Journey of Fresh Cream

Fresh cream isn't magic; it's the result of careful dairy farming and processing. Here's the journey it takes:

The Happy Cow: The story begins with healthy, well-fed cows. Their diet significantly impacts the quality of the cream, with grass-fed cows producing cream with a richer, more complex flavor.

From Udder to Bucket: Milk is collected from the cows, typically twice a day. This raw milk contains a natural fat content that separates from the rest of the liquid upon standing.

Separation Anxiety: The magic happens here. Cream is separated from the milk using a process called centrifugation. This technique spins the milk at high speeds, forcing the lighter fat globules to rise to the top, forming the cream layer.

Standardization and Pasteurization: The separated cream is then standardized to achieve a specific fat content – light, heavy, or whipping cream, each with its own culinary purpose. Finally, it undergoes pasteurization, a heat treatment that eliminates harmful bacteria, ensuring a safe and shelf-stable product.

The Science of Whipped Cream:

The transformation of liquid cream into pillowy peaks of whipped cream is a fascinating example of culinary science. When cream is whipped, air bubbles are incorporated into the fatty liquid. These air bubbles become trapped within a network of milk proteins, creating the light and airy texture we love.

The key to successful whipping lies in the fat content. Heavy cream, with its higher fat percentage (around 36%), has more milk proteins to trap air, resulting in the sturdiest whipped cream ideal for decorating cakes. Lighter creams (around 18% fat) will whip, but the hold won't be as strong.

A Spectrum of Fresh Cream Delights:

Fresh cream is a culinary chameleon, adapting to a wide range of dishes. Here's a glimpse into its versatility:

The Sweet Side: Fresh cream takes center stage in countless desserts. It forms the base for custards, panna cotta, and ice cream. Whipped cream adds a touch of elegance to cakes and pies, while heavy cream provides richness to ganaches and frostings.

The Savory Symphony: Don't underestimate the power of cream in savory dishes. It creates silky smooth sauces for pasta and seafood, adds depth to creamy soups, and enriches risottos and chowders. Even a simple dollop of cream swirled into a bowl of hot soup elevates the flavor and texture.

Beyond the Kitchen: Fresh cream isn't confined to culinary uses. It's a key ingredient in homemade whipped cream for coffee, adds richness to cocktails like White Russians, and is used in the production of certain cheeses like mascarpone.

A World of Cream Variations:

Fresh cream is a global product, but with regional variations:

Clotted Cream: This thick, Devonshire specialty is made by scalding whole milk and allowing it to cool slowly. The clot that forms on the surface is the clotted cream, prized for its rich flavor and dense texture.

Crème Fraîche: This French staple is slightly thicker and tangier than fresh cream. Its subtle acidity makes it a perfect pairing for both sweet and savory dishes.

Whipping Cream: This is a standardized variety containing a specific fat content (usually around 30%) specifically designed for whipping into peaks.

Beyond the Delicious: The Ethical Considerations

While fresh cream offers undeniable culinary benefits, there's a growing awareness of ethical considerations surrounding dairy production. Issues like animal welfare and the environmental impact of factory farming are important factors to consider.

Thankfully, there are options. Look for cream from farms practicing sustainable and humane dairy practices, or explore plant-based alternatives made from coconut milk or soy. They may not have the exact same richness as dairy cream, but they offer a delicious and ethical option.

The Final Whirl:

Fresh cream is more than just a delicious ingredient; it's a testament to human ingenuity and our love affair with dairy. From its fascinating production process to its boundless culinary uses, fresh cream offers a journey for the senses. So, the next time you encounter that dreamy swirl in your coffee or savor a spoonful of rich cream sauce, take a moment to appreciate the magic behind this simple yet extraordinary ingredient.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Another thing I really like about wicked/the oz franchise in general is the names. It reminds me a lot of purebloods in Harry Potter where they tend to have more outlandish/fantastical names. I know this isn’t unique to those books but still. Fun fact; I recently changed one of my mcs, Jane’s surname to Thropp after wicked.

might I suggest checking out Yellow Brick Ramble? It’s a webcomic retelling of the second oz book with more of an emphasis on ozma’s gender identity. It’s really cute and fun, I just want more people to know about it.

I love that too! I love any magical community with silly sounding names, magical names, that sound like they're two hundred years old at least. Siyana Devonshire is probably my current favorite example of this trope @dat-silvers-girl and the Oz books do a great job with it.

I will certainly check it out! Ozma being a trans character is something that deserves more exposure and attention and I just love that it's a thing!

[angelandgypsy]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Nwt Moon Goddess Dreamer Kimono One Size.

[annarellix]

Change of Heart by T.A. Williams (Beneath Italian Skies #2)

Two families at war and Alice finds herself caught in the middle. Can she re-write a story as old as time? When cutbacks force Alice out of her assistant manager role at a Devonshire stately home, she turns her sights elsewhere: the picturesque hills above the historic city of Parma. An aristocratic Italian family are looking to open their medieval castle to the public, and Alice is just the woman for the job. Four years ago, a life-changing accident pushed Alice into depression, but the beauty and charm of the Italian countryside works its magic in brightening her days. Especially when she keeps bumping into handsome Luca… But rivalries run deep in the town, and Alice’s work – not to mention her potential love life – are caught in the middle of a long-standing feud between two families. With her job and future happiness in peril, can Alice save the future of the castle, and bring two warring families together?

Purchase Links: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Change-Heart-uplifting-escapist-Beneath-ebook/dp/B0C894JRL7 https://www.amazon.com/Change-Heart-uplifting-escapist-Beneath-ebook/dp/B0C894JRL7

My Review: There's not a lot of romance novels that feature an heroine with mobility problems or characters with physical issue. Kudos to the author that developed a strong and clever heroine that I loved. This is a story about changes but also a story about learning to accept us and what we are even if we are not as perfect as the world seems to ask us. The plot is lovely, fast placed and made me smile and root for the characters. I appreciated the setting as Parma is a wonderful city and the area is a great place. Plus the mouth-watering food and the people. I also like that the author talks about cold as it can be quite cold in North Italy. That said I read the story in one setting, a sort of let's-see-how-it-is and ending the book because there was a next chapter I wanted to read. I think that T.A. Williams should send a copy of his novels to the Parma tourist board as this book will make armchair travel a lot of people to Parma. A well plotted, poignant, and compelling story that I strongly recommend Many thanks to Canelo and Rachel's Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Author Bio: I’m a man. And a pretty old man as well. I did languages at university a long time ago and then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. My Italian wife and I then came back to the UK with our little daughter (now long-since grown up) where I ran a big English language school for many years. We now live in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. I’ve been writing almost all my life but it was only ten years ago that I finally managed to find a publisher who liked my work enough to offer me my first contract. The fact that I am now writing escapist romance is something I still find hard to explain. My early books were thrillers and historical novels and I now also write cozy crime, but my first love has always been romance. Maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that I feel I need to do my best to provide something to cheer my readers up. My books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations and descriptions of food to make you drool.

Social Media Links: Website: www.tawilliamsbooks.com Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/tawilliamsbooks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks/