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runwildwithme · 8 years ago

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Elsewhere U- The kiln god

(Note: this is crossposted to AO3 here)

There is a thing, at Elsewhere U, that deals in might-have-beens. In wasted chances. In ruined potential.

It is not fey, not quite. It definitely isn't human, though it approximates the shape of one more closely than most. Indeed, it is only ever so slightly off- tall, but not too tall; handsome, but not otherworldly; bright, glittering eyes, but not quite lit from inside. It even stays consistent in its appearance: androgynous, chin length feathery blond hair, bright brown eyes. Generally, it wears a plaid shirt and a pair of jeans.

Of those who know about it, some think it came from across the seas, brought here like so much luggage with an international student. Others think it some form of demon, or twisted spirit. Others say it crawled out of the pages of a book, well loved enough that the monsters came to life.

The potters, the sculptors, the ceramicists, however, care not for where it came from, only that it is: they speak of it fondly and call it a kiln god, call it their kiln god- they craft intricate pieces, brightly colored, painstakingly carved and glazed, bring their masterpieces to it. If it likes the pieces, the artists smash them down upon the ground to shatter, take not even a shard with them when they leave, and for the next semester their kilns fire evenly and their pieces don't crack.

Cranberry had taken a pottery class in her freshman year, heard the stories: apparently, before Elsewhere U had a ceramics program, the thing was malicious in its actions- not just reveling in missed opportunities but creating them. Since the potters started paying tribute, though, it hasn't stolen away (read: eaten) a single student, and all the deals she's heard about have been downright generous. One can afford generosity when one is well-fed.

Cranberry doesn't care. She just knows that the thing exists, that it can be found in the woods behind the ceramic studio, and that the hounds are howling behind her.

It knows when it's being looked for, everyone agrees. She ducks into the woods, panting, thinks hard: I want to make a deal with the kiln god.

Each step she takes, she can feel pottery shards crunching underfoot, and when she looks, she sees little figurines- dragons and lions and turtles and monsters- sitting on branches. Kiln guardians, made by the ceramic students and left on top of kilns, collected by the kiln god after a few firings. Hers had been lumpy, and barely recognizable as a penguin, but the colors had been bright enough to call it pretty. Only the actual potters make sacrifices out of their best works, but everyone in the pottery classes makes kiln guardians. She wonders if it still has the one she made.

She wonders if the kiln god remembers her.

Cranberry takes another step, thinks again: I want to make a deal.

The howls are getting closer, she can just barely hear the pounding of hoof beats, and her limbs tremble with the urge to run, run, run.

She fights her useless instincts back- not like she can outrun the hounds or the horses.

The kiln god steps out from behind a tree and smiles.

“Have you come to make a deal with me, you who runs from the Wild Hunt?’ It asks, and the howling sounds suddenly distant. Generous, that, Cranberry thinks. Maybe it does still have her penguin.

Cranberry nods, takes a deep breath.

‘You're the one who feeds on wasted chances, yeah?’

It tilts its head, inclines its head.

‘Yes. What do you offer me?’

‘I offer my presence, for as long as the wild hunt rides tonight. I would demonstrate, if I could take you hand for a moment?’

The kiln god considers her for a long moment, and Cranberry fears, briefly, that it will say no, that it isn't hungry, that she isn't enough-

It stretches out a too spindly hand, and Cranberry presses a pill bottle into it, waits for it to understand.

It hmmms, says, “For, hm, restoring balance to a mind?” Which. Well. Yes, sure- anti-anxiety meds, for restoring balance. That's not inaccurate. She gesture for its other hand, and it obliges. Cranberry presses the kiln god’s palm against the inside of her left forearm.

It's brow furrows, then smoothes

“Ahh. You are barren, so long as the medicine resides within you.” That's as good a way of explaining birth control as any, Cranberry supposes. It sounds interested, but only idly.

She takes its hand, presses it to the lower curve of her stomach. Again, it's brows furrow in concentration, nostrils flare as it searches for the potential going unfulfilled.

‘You have not yet laid with another,’ it says, a bit confused but more interested now. The kiln god knows she’s building to something. She keeps it's hand there, until it goes on.

‘You are bleeding...?” It says, wondering if this is what she means.

Cranberry takes its hand from her stomach, presses it to the crown of her head. Briefly, her vision greys out as it plucks a word, plucks understanding, from her mind.

“The pills are for evening out my anxiety. The medicine in my arm is supposed to keep me from... bleeding, let's go with that. The pills make me bleed despite my implant, and I would rather have daily panic attacks than a period once a month.” Cranberry pauses, then adds, “Also, I don't ever want to have sex. I'm asexual. Sex without having to worry about pregnancy is a big reason women go on birth control, fun fact.”

“Oh!” It says, “Oh, I see!”

It curls fingers around her face and croons at her, bends down to breath in deeply from the crook of her neck. Cranberry stays stock-still and lets it.

“I offer protection from the Wild Hunt. In exchange, you will stay with me until the moon cycles back to the crescent it is now.”

Cranberry’s breath catches. The kiln god didn't put a time limit on its protection. Still, finals are in three weeks, not four.

“I have examinations I must take for my classes in three weeks.” She tells it.

It hrrrms, then counter offers: “Protection, you stay for a moon cycle, I return you to tomorrow morning once the month has passed. You take pottery classes for as long as you remain here.”

Shit, Cranberry thinks. Protection, generalized. She swallows.

“I can't afford an extra elective each for another five semesters.”

Again, the kiln god grumbles.

“Protection, a month, return upon the morning, you will return to stay with me come summer. The classes will not cost you, but you must make a piece for me each semester, in addition to the kiln guardians I take.”

Holy fuck, Cranberry thinks, I might actually live out the night.

“Are you familiar with the needs of humans?” She asks.

“Yes- food from the human realm and water everyday- more often if temperatures are high or low, or if the human is exerting itself. A third of a day of sleep, each day. The place where it is kept should be neither too hot, nor too cold. Interaction, at least a little each day. Tasks or books or games to entertain itself with. Oh! Opportunity to regularly bathe.” The kiln god rattles off, pleased with itself.

It sounds like a kid trying to prove that they totally know how to take care of a pet.

“And you will ensure I have access to the things I need while I am in your care?”

The kiln god nods. Cranberry can hear the hounds a little more clearly now. Even a god can keep the Wild Hunt at bay for only so long.

“Then we have a deal.”

When the Wild Hunt rides through the woods, it is only the crunch of ceramic shards- not screams- that mark its passing.

#my writing #elsewhere university #elsewhere u #deals #taken away #negotiation #the fair folk #the gentry #ceramic traditions and superstitions #the wild hunt

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grey-sorcery · 2 years ago

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Pro Witchtips:

Use Piezoelectric materials as anchors so that you do not have to constantly recharge your spells. Bone, ceramic, and quartz are great for this! Just anchor them and put them under a little pressure by placing something on top of them. The energy involved in spellwork is so minute and subtle that even the most insignificant charge can maintain them.

Make some exercises for the gestures, incantations, rituals, etc that you use regularly. The more they are burned into muscle memory, the more potent your spellwork will be. A lot of us struggle with routines, but the more regularly they are practiced the better. That way you don’t break gnosis to try to recall something.

Always bind thoughtforms to sigils written on/with a material that is easily destroyed. Burning or destroying the sigil will unbind them, but also increase the rate in which they break down and how long they remain in your mind. The quicker they are forgotten, the faster they perish.

Knot magic is essentially functionally the same as sigil magic. You can assign your own purpose to each knot as you do them. This can be very useful for crafty witches.

Stop "manifesting". This concept is rooted in the law of attraction, which is rooted in ableism, colonialism, white supremacy, and toxic positivity. Not only that, but it is also a gateway into the new age to fascist pipeline.

Just putting herbs, crystals, oils, etc in a jar/candle isn't magic, it's superstition. This line of thinking gives the practitioner's power to their tools instead of themselves. Correspondences alone aren't enough to cause potent spellwork. In the cultures where this kind of spellwork is practiced, there are a plethora of other variables involved. Many Tradcraft sources are derived from saxon and celtic traditions, most of which were destroyed by genocide and so a lot of the cultural context has been lost. The remaining cultures have become a mono-culture that has been heavily commercialized, especially with the evolution of the internet. This is exacerbated further by publishers like Llewellyn and other Wiccan sources.

Ditch the old grimoires. These sources were written within their own cultural contexts, which aren't applicable to the modern day. Because of this, there is a huge disconnect in their understanding, unless you're a historian and can accurately reproduce the mindset of an individual in the time of their publishing. On top of that, nearly all old grimoires were written by men who didn't recognize the rights of women, queer people, and people of color. This mindset is definitely incorporated into their works.

#witch tips #beginner witch tips #pro Witchtips #advanced witchcraft #witchcraft resources

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gwiazdowe · 2 years ago

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001. Pantora, despite all of its efforts to paint itself as a Core-esque modern society, can be at times painfully and relentlessly old-fashioned, ruled by tradition and superstition ingrained in people’s minds with such certainty that no kind of argument can stand against it. Rzam Shio becomes painfully aware of it when her mother tells her she will absolutely not marry a man whose ancestors robbed the land of her grand grand grand fathers, not even if said man owns a business and enough credits to buy them a flat near the center lane. Those credits, her mother says, are surely her ancestors’ stolen treasure, and she will not let her only daughter be stolen just the same way their riches were. Rzam Shio considers herself a reasonable woman, so of course she does not listen to her mother.

002. The myth and folklore of Pantora varies between its historically separated cities. The details of tales, the names and numbers of gods, the roles of those deities, all more or less fluid between regions and families, and yet if you ask any Pantoran about what it means when a divine statuette falls from its shelving, most of them will agree that it means nothing good. Nothing good will come of this engagement, is what Luciola Imiela is told by his grandfather, a chipped ceramic idol rests in his wrinkled hand. But Luciola only shakes his head amused, mildly tired of these conversations. He offers to fix his grandfather’s statuette, or even, better, make him a new one. Something more durable that will not fall apart so fast.

003. Shio-Imiela, they decide, a joined name fits the union of such stubborn lineages, apparently oh so displeased over historical disputes to accept one or the other into their protection. They decide to not let it bother them when they purchase their house, a renovated four room apartment on the 85th floor overlooking the almost-city-centre. Nothing bothers them because they live fully, they love each other, and the displeasure of their parents does not reach into 1-758 Sopi District where smaller buildings with their lush rooftop gardens look like mounds on Nabooian countryside.

004. Luciola Shio-Imiela, Rzam’s husband, makes pottery by trade. He learned it from his late aunt, who learned it from her father or so he once explained. Luciola’s workshop occupies one of the four rooms in their home. He makes plant holders and elaborate vases, and crockery and curious little nothings. They pile up in neat rows upon the walls awaiting buyers, other artisans and politicians and prestigious personas from across the galaxy as colorful as the painted designs on the craft pieces. Pantoran ceramics - the real ones, not the cheap soulless droid-manufactured imitations - are a prized collectible in The Core. Luciola says, and he might never stop finding it funny, that’s because for all the resources Pantora lacks it still has something many planets don’t. Quality taste and quality mud.

005. Rzam comes home late every day except on zhellsdays when she promises herself to have a vacation from her office and her coworkers, supervisors, holocalls no matter what. That means Luciola and Rzam both take a vacation every zhellsday. Ideally, they book a flight to the Mid Rim to do sightseeing and catch a premiering holodrama that of course will not screen in their sector for another year. Ideally, they would be dining on a cruiser now. They aren't. Some morons of pirate gangs are dogfighting near the space routes, therefore their flight is delayed. Therefore Rzam just lays on the veranda browsing the holonet forums, she takes a walk to the mall with Luciola, she orders a steaming hot bread bowl for their lunch. It is a nice day, she thinks in the end. Still, some other days the shadows of doubt pour through the cracks of the polished city walkways, and some days uncertainty reaches from under custom-made furniture in her home, and Rzam ponders then, her mother’s words and her grandfather-in-law’s warnings; ominous, like a prophecy from the stars. This will not last. Some days she finds herself waiting, despite everything, for the moment it might come true.

006. Mother - Rzam feels like she might cry one day - You might hate Luciola for all he stands for or you might even hate me for leaving with him, but please, mother, do not hate our child. If you must, if you really must then at least offer him a prayer of strength. - And Rzam is surprised then, to find her mother embracing her gently, holding her with warm hands like on the cold evenings in her youth. - I do not hate you, Rzam hears, I am only worried.

007. Her mother named her son, Cirzpibog, with meaning and with promise, to which Luciola says he has not heard a more pretentiously outdated name, to which Rzam says that it’s bold coming from someone going by ‘Luciola’ by choice. In any way, Cirzpibog (because the name stayed) is quite a social child, he must be because as soon as he learns how to make sounds he decides to converse with everyone and everything in front of him. Curiously, despite his love of being surrounded by people, he does not yell, unlike Rzam’s niece, when left in the room alone. Instead he cries always, and precisely, when the front door closes, when guests leave, when Luciola goes shopping and three steps before he returns. Rzam relates her thoughts to her neighbor during a turbolift ride, eager to hear a similar story, but Rzam is only measured with a half attentive glance, offered some sympathetic nods, like she made half of it up.

008. For starters, Cirz always comes around just at the right time when you need him, he exclaims an answer before you call his name, fixes you with an expectant gaze the same moment you decide to observe him play. Then, another thing Luciola notes, though he does not think much of it the first time he locks the door to his workshop and some minutes later Cirz waddles inside like it was never an obstacle at all. Maybe it wasn’t, Luciola considers, because maybe he simply didn’t lock the door, but it’s weird when that happens again twice. And when Rzam tells him to fix the door. And when there is nothing to fix.

009. He should have exchanged the locking panel, Luciola is now sure of it, or maybe he should have told the boy more sternly to not wander into his work-space (but he loved all the company of a two year old coming to stamp fingerprints in his clay and smearing paint on his floor) Most important of all, he should have not let this kid out of his sight even for a minute to warm his food, because the next thing he finds is Cirz in the rows of his pottery, head upturned to the table where Luciola left his ceramics ready for shipment. Luciola takes this in with a sickening worry in his chest. A slender statuette tilts over his son's face in a way that defies gravity. Because it should be falling, but it doesn't, but it falls like some broken spell when he steps forward to snatch Cirz away from the table. The thing crashes into a stack of not painted cups and all of it splinters loudly, and for how quiet Cirz was before, now he cries fat tears in Luciola’s arms. The room seems to shake with him.

010. This is some kind of bogus. Luciola shakes his head at his grandfather, unable to process that the man would tell him to expect a visit from Coruscanti Monks with the certainty of a person who wholly believes they will come. (But then again, Luciola told his grandfather about Cirz levitating items with the certainty of a person who believes it happened.) He regrets telling him now; If he didn’t, he would not need to think about the possibility of his kid becoming a Jedi, nor about the way to bring this up with his wife.

011. Rzam would expect this kind of story from her mother, but Luciola? For star’s sake Luciola stammering about ‘The Force’ freaks her out. She never took him for the superstitious ilk, and perhaps that is exactly why a part of her is willing to consider his every word, finding, at last, an explanation for things she also saw in her child. Another part of her refuses to acknowledge it, this part that is angry that Luciola would even consider giving Cirz away, and the part that decides to bury the memory of this conversation as soon as it is over. Because maybe all of it is a mistake and no Jedi will ever come. Not somewhere as far as Sujimis. Not to their house. She gets to delude herself about it for another three months, but no longer than the day Cirz runs off to the front door and she finds a stranger on the other side.

012. If he goes, can we still visit him? - Rzam looks this man, this Jedi, in the eyes and he holds her gaze with the calmness of somebody who has answered this question too many times.

No.

She leans against the back of her chair and feels physically sick. The thing is, the Jedi are offering to give her child an education, a lifetime of it in fact, sponsored by The Republic, and considering how hard it is to secure a spot in Coruscanti schools, this is, painfully, undeniably, not a bad offer at all.

The thing is, Cirzpibog is only two and she’d never imagine he would be parting from this household so fast.

The thing is, if the Jedi do not take him, someone entirely worse might.

The thing is, she might never see him again.

013. Cirz’s small hand pats urgently at her lap, and that’s when something completely knotted loosens in Rzam. She looks down to Cirz, who until now was glued to their guest’s side following the conversation with an entirely too serious interest. Now he regards her with such glee and fascination that she swears she sees galaxies in his eyes. He tells her that mister Koon is sparkly like him, and whatever it means, she realizes she’d have no heart to deny him this sense of belonging.

#sw oc #star wars oc #jedi oc #headcanons #drabble #showing up 20 years late with a burger and a sheet of unhinged 3am writing #ok to reblog

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firstginger · 6 years ago

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types of people: d&d races

aarakocra » snowcapped mountains, finding shapes in clouds, fashion conscious, meditation, wanting to see the world, good singing voice, family pictures, expensive jewelry, easily irritated, asking too many questions, molted feathers, flowing clothing, talking with hands

aasimar » prep school, questioning people’s intentions, champagne flutes, dream journals, shiny hair, passionate speeches, sunrises, always following rules, heeled boots, family heirlooms, sitting by the fireplace in winter, rose gold, never changes their mind, teacher’s pet

centaur » leather belts, wine tipsy, mediator, sitting around the campfire, silent treatment, hair in your face from the wind, family reunions, morning jogs, group texts, roasted nuts, never admitting they were wrong, old soul, lazy handwriting, rising with the sun

dragonborn » all or nothing, gold leafing, mesmerized by flames, rib bones, keeping your chin up, misty mornings, pocket full of spare change, painted faces, amulets, hot temper, banners in the wind, biting their tongue, horoscopes, autumn leaves, never letting them see you cry

dwarf » working with their hands, tapestries, messy hair, standing up for what’s right, brands in leather, gemstone jewelry, saving for a rainy day, mulled cider, dirt beneath fingernails, belly laughs, pine trees, pros and cons lists, not shaving, muddy boots by the door, oak furniture

elf » never responding to texts, cat naps, ballet shoes, sunlight on water, practicing until their fingers bleed, braided ponytails, quail eggs, tunnel vision, grass between toes, high expectations, photographic memory, starting an etsy store, bells on ribbons, cursive handwriting

fey » indie music, leather jackets, pranks, flirting to get their way, dragonfly wings, bath bombs, social chameleon, cutting corners, birds on telephone wires, karma, playing devil’s advocate, lipstick kisses, gumdrops, changing moods, pressed flowers, tattoo art, bright clothing

genasi » mood swings, head in the clouds, confident laughter, wild child, shelf of trophies, beat of their own drum, drive thrus, crazy schemes, finger guns, wife beaters, collectables, comebacks, sunglasses on indoors, slogans, bragging rights, cult classic movies, large headphones

giantkin » back of the classroom, gangly limbs, pulling petals from flowers, turtlenecks, feeling like they don’t belong, perfect grammar in texts, sentimental jewelry, loose buttons, skipping stones, saving love letters, passive aggression, bright eyes, staying in pajamas

gnome » cottagecore, flannel shirts, ceramic animals, exploring downtown stores, puns, neighborhood potlucks, honey, broad-brimmed hats, burning tongue on tea, backyard gardens, knitting needles, talking quickly, optimism, finding humor in everything, playful nicknames

goblin » never without their friends, unconventional interests, loud voice, abandoned spaces, chewing nails, gullible comfortable clothing, being afraid to admit mistakes, creative insults, ride or die, untied shoes, ghost hunting, slow to anger but explodes, bruised knuckles

goliath » taking everything as a challenge, team sports, broken bones, competitions, tarnished metal, more sensitive than they seem, younger siblings, going to bed at 8:30, awkward silences, choking on pride, tight hugs, cobblestone pathways, biting off more than they can chew

halfling » card tricks, adventures, cheerleader friend, summer afternoons, following their heart, good luck charms, bursting into song, superstitions, finding the silver linings, keys and locks, day drinking, antique shopping, pretending they know the answer, good vibes only

human » jack of all trades, getting up when they fall, friendship bracelets, history nerd, believing in magic, natural leader, the sound of the city, band-aids on fingers, adventure stories, trying new restaurants, long daydreams, kiss and tell, sarcasm, the feeling of coming home

jackalwere » witty comebacks, chokers, work smarter not harder, feet up on the table, fair weather friend, back of movie theaters, honeyed words, taking challenges, pity parties, neon lights, trying anything once, studded necklaces, dog person, masquerade masks, black nails

kenku » has a vine reference for everything, caving to impulses, taking things apart, talking in circles, snack food, doesn’t read directions, all play and not work, snoozing their alarm, always reorganizing, surprise presents, board games, can’t drive, jumping from one topic to another

merfolk » watercolor paintings, collecting seashells, long nails, lips tasting like salt, the unknown, pounding heart, lace chokers, deep thoughts, wandering soul, sea foam in the wind, dancing alone, sunshowers, collection of lotions, fresh fruit, living one day at a time, strings of pearls

orc » shaving cuts, dropping anything for their friends, unable to sit still, drawing art and showing no one, beef jerky, brass instruments, stubborn as an ox, double knots, thinking too little of yourself, messy bedroom, tangled earbuds, able to nap anywhere, moving fast in relationships

tabaxi » reading wikipedia for fun, bedhead, short attention span, sleeping it off, bite marks, not finishing anything, logic puzzles, curling up with a blanket, sticker collection (but never using them), wallflower, library dates, clean bedsheets, only putting effort into their hobbies

tiefling » tarot cards, candles in the dark, never accepting help, replaced emotions with bad puns, pocket knives, bottling up feelings, long sidewalks, lilies, old books, gender? never heard of her, skull jewelry, ravens at dusk, traditional art, sleeping under a ton of blankets

tortle » restless soul, cozy apartments, potted succulents, handknit socks, packing a picnic lunch, thick skin, sunlight through curtains, collecting coffee mugs, subtle smiles, biting back laughter, watching the rain fall, lazy mornings, supportive texts, peeled oranges, finding a home

yuan-ti » chess pieces, choosing their words carefully, perfect posture, collection of pens, marble statues, formal clothing, paranormal skeptic, taking everything personally, ticking clocks, the taste of iron, eloquent words, leather-bound journals, reading the same book again

race / class

#tag yourself #types of people #d&d #dungeons and dragons #aesthetic #meme #i just had to include all of my favorite races!#mine

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multimentium · 5 years ago

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𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 : 𝒅𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔

adapted from this post ! bold what definitely applies to your muse. italicize what somewhat applies to your muse. repost ; do NOT reblog.

𝓪𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓴𝓸𝓬𝓻𝓪 » snowcapped mountains, finding shapes in clouds, fashion conscious, meditation, wanting to see the world, good singing voice, family pictures, expensive jewelry, easily irritated, asking too many questions, molted feathers, flowing clothing, talking with hands

𝓪𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓻 » prep school, questioning people’s intentions, champagne flutes, dream journals, shiny hair, passionate speeches, sunrises, always following rules, heeled boots, family heirlooms, sitting by the fireplace in winter, rose gold, never changes their mind, teacher’s pet

𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓾𝓻 » leather belts, wine tipsy, mediator, sitting around the campfire, silent treatment, hair in your face from the wind, family reunions, morning jogs, group texts, roasted nuts, never admitting they were wrong, old soul, lazy handwriting, rising with the sun

𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷 » all or nothing, gold leafing, mesmerized by flames, rib bones, keeping your chin up, misty mornings, pocket full of spare change, painted faces, amulets, hot temper, banners in the wind, biting their tongue, horoscopes, autumn leaves, never letting them see you cry

𝓭𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓯 » working with their hands, tapestries, messy hair, standing up for what’s right, brands in leather, gemstone jewelry, saving for a rainy day, mulled cider, dirt beneath fingernails, belly laughs, pine trees, pros and cons lists, not shaving, muddy boots by the door, oak furniture

𝓮𝓵𝓯 » never responding to texts, cat naps, ballet shoes, sunlight on water, practicing until their fingers bleed, braided ponytails, quail eggs, tunnel vision, grass between toes, high expectations, photographic memory, starting an etsy store, bells on ribbons, cursive handwriting

𝓯𝓮𝔂 » indie music, leather jackets, pranks, flirting to get their way, dragonfly wings, bath bombs, social chameleon, cutting corners, birds on telephone wires, karma, playing devil’s advocate, lipstick kisses, gumdrops, changing moods, pressed flowers, tattoo art, bright clothing

𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓼𝓲 » mood swings, head in the clouds, confident laughter, wild child, shelf of trophies, beat of their own drum, drive thrus, crazy schemes, finger guns, wife beaters, collectables, comebacks, sunglasses on indoors, slogans, bragging rights, cult classic movies, large headphones

𝓰𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓴𝓲𝓷 » back of the classroom, gangly limbs, pulling petals from flowers, turtlenecks, feeling like they don’t belong, perfect grammar in texts, sentimental jewelry, loose buttons, skipping stones, saving love letters, passive aggression, bright eyes, staying in pajamas

𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓶𝓮 » cottagecore, flannel shirts, ceramic animals, exploring downtown stores, puns, neighborhood potlucks, honey, broad-brimmed hats, burning tongue on tea, backyard gardens, knitting needles, talking quickly, optimism, finding humor in everything, playful nicknames

𝓰𝓸𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓷 » never without their friends, unconventional interests, loud voice, abandoned spaces, chewing nails, gullible, comfortable clothing, being afraid to admit mistakes, creative insults, ride or die, untied shoes, ghost hunting, slow to anger but explodes, bruised knuckles

𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓱 » taking everything as a challenge, team sports, broken bones, competitions, tarnished metal, more sensitive than they seem, younger siblings, going to bed at 8:30, awkward silences, choking on pride, tight hugs, cobblestone pathways, biting off more than they can chew

𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓯𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 » card tricks, adventures, cheerleader friend, summer afternoons, following their heart, good luck charms, bursting into song, superstitions, finding the silver linings, keys and locks, day drinking, antique shopping, pretending they know the answer, good vibes only

𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 » jack of all trades, getting up when they fall, friendship bracelets, history nerd, believing in magic, natural leader, the sound of the city, band-aids on fingers, adventure stories, trying new restaurants, long daydreams, kiss and tell, sarcasm, the feeling of coming home

𝓳𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 » witty comebacks, chokers, work smarter not harder, feet up on the table, fair weather friend, back of movie theaters, honeyed words, taking challenges, pity parties, neon lights, trying anything once, studded necklaces, dog person, masquerade masks, black nails

𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓴𝓾 » has a vine reference for everything, caving to impulses, taking things apart, talking in circles, snack food, doesn’t read directions, all play and not work, snoozing their alarm, always reorganizing, surprise presents, board games, can’t drive, jumping from one topic to another

𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓸𝓵𝓴 » watercolor paintings, collecting seashells, long nails, lips tasting like salt, the unknown, pounding heart, lace chokers, deep thoughts, wandering soul, sea foam in the wind, dancing alone, sun showers, collection of lotions, fresh fruit, living one day at a time, strings of pearls

𝓸𝓻𝓬 » shaved cuts, dropping anything for their friends, unable to sit still, drawing art and showing no one, beef jerky, brass instruments, stubborn as an ox, double knots, thinking too little of yourself, messy bedroom, tangled earbuds, able to nap anywhere, moving fast in relationships

𝓽𝓪𝓫𝓪𝔁𝓲 » reading wikipedia for fun, bedhead, short attention span, sleeping it off, bite marks, not finishing anything, logic puzzles, curling up with a blanket, sticker collection (but never using them), wallflower, library dates, clean bedsheets, only putting effort into their hobbies

𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓯𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 » tarot cards, candles in the dark, never accepting help, replaced emotions with bad puns, pocket knives, bottling up feelings, long sidewalks, lilies, old books, gender? never heard of her, skull jewelry, ravens at dusk, traditional art, sleeping under a ton of blankets

𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓵𝓮 » restless soul, cozy apartments, potted succulents, handknit socks, packing a picnic lunch, thick skin, sunlight through curtains, collecting coffee mugs, subtle smiles, biting back laughter, watching the rain fall, lazy mornings, supportive texts, peeled oranges, finding a home

𝔂𝓾𝓪𝓷-𝓽𝓲 » chess pieces, choosing their words carefully, perfect posture, collection of pens, marble statues, formal clothing, paranormal skeptic, taking everything personally, ticking clocks, the taste of iron, eloquent words, leather-bound journals, reading the same book again

Tagged by: @seaprofound ( ty boo !! ) Tagging: @wandofwillow / @wanderingwolfwitcher / @vandbaerer / @xchxsingcxrsx / @vezely / @xqueenofscots / @warhornofgondor

#[ ❝ 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄. ♣ ] ——— alice cullen.#[ ❝ 𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂. ♣ ] ——— alice cullen.

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gnomegirlgabby-blog · 5 years ago

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Wiki Garden Gnome

Wiki Garden Gnome Article <3 Thanks Wiki

Garden gnome

Garden gnomes (German: Gartenzwerge, lit. 'garden dwarfs') are lawn ornament figurines of small humanoid creatures known as gnomes. Traditionally, the figurines depict male dwarfs wearing red pointy hats. Typically, gnomes stand between one and two feet (30 and 60 cm). A recent[when?] trend has introduced miniature gnomes of only a few inches in height. Originating as a decoration for the wealthy in Europe, garden gnomes are now prevalent in gardens and lawns throughout the western world, among all social classes, and often regarded as kitsch.

Gnomes

History

In ancient Rome, small stone statues depicting the Greco-Roman fertility god Priapus, also the protector of floors, were frequently placed in Roman gardens. Gnomes as magical creatures were first described during the Renaissance period by Swiss alchemist Paracelsus as "diminutive figures two spans in height who did not like to mix with humans". During this period, stone "grotesques", which were typically garishly painted, 1-metre-tall (3.3 ft) figurines, were commonly placed in the gardens of the wealthy. Among the figures depicted were gobbi (Italian for hunchbacks). In particular, Jacques Callot produced 21 versions of gobbi, which he engraved and printed in 1616.

Pre-twentieth century

By the late 1700s, gnome-like statues made of wood or porcelain called "gnomes" became popular household decorations. The area surrounding town of Brienz in Switzerland was known for their production of wooden house dwarfs. In Germany, these garden figurines became conflated with their traditional stories and superstitions about the "little folk" or dwarfs that they believed helped around the mines and on the farm. The Dresden company Baehr and Maresch had small ceramic statues of dwarfs or "little folk" in stock as early as 1841, and although the claim has been contested, some credit Baehr and Maresch with the first garden dwarfs (German: Gartenzwerge)

Within less than 10 years, statues of dwarfs had spread from the provinces of Saxony and Thuringia across Germany to France and, in 1847, Sir Charles Isham, brought 21 terracotta gnomes manufactured in Germany by Philip Griebel back to Britain where they were called "gnomes" in English and placed in the gardens of Isham's home, Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire. Nicknamed "Lampy", the only gnome of the original batch to survive is on display at Lamport Hall and insured for GB£1 million.

The manufacture of gnomes spread across Germany, with numerous other large and small manufacturers coming in and out of the business, each having its own particular style of design. From around 1860 onwards, many statues were made in Gräfenroda, a town in Thuringia known for its ceramics.

Garden gnomes spread to other countries in Europe in the 1840s and became particularly popular in France and Britain The term "garden gnome" may originate from the term "Gnomen-Figuren" (miniature figurines), used in the original German catalogues.

Twentieth century

Garden gnomes were further popularized when Sir Frank Crisp, the owner of the second largest collection of garden gnomes in the UK opened his Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames estate to the public at least once a week from 1910-1919. It was here where garden enthusiasts and visitors from around the world perhaps saw garden gnomes for the first time.

The reputation of German gnomes declined after World War I, but they became popular again in the 1930s following Disney's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, when more working-class people were able to purchase them. Tom Major-Ball (father of former British prime minister John Major) was the most notable producer at that time with his company Major's Garden Ornaments.World War II and the years following were also hard on the industry, and most producers gave it up then.

Garden gnomes saw a resurgence in popularity again in the 1970s with the creation of more humorous types of gnomes. In the 1990s travelling gnome and garden gnome pranks became popular and made national news at times, where people steal a garden gnome from an unknowing person's lawn and then send the owner photos of the gnome as a practical joke before returning it.

Twenty-first century

Philip Griebel's descendants are still producing garden gnomes in Germany. As of 2008, there were an estimated 25 million garden gnomes in Germany.

Types of garden gnomes

Garden gnomes are typically male, often bearded, usually wear red phrygian caps and often have pipes. They are often shown pursuing leisurely pastimes such as fishing or napping.

Gnomes may be made from terracotta clay slip (runny clay) poured into molds. This is allowed to set up and the excess emptied from the centre, leaving a clay shell. The gnome is removed from the mold when firm, allowed to dry and then fired in a kiln until hard. Once cooled, the gnome is painted. More modern gnomes are made from resins and similar materials.

Today, many different variations of garden gnomes exist, including humorous ones ranging from the lighthearted biker or barbecuing gnome, to the more dark, such as one stabbed in the back or wearing an executioner's hood.

In popular culture and politics

Gnomes have become controversial in serious gardening circles in the UK, and were for a time banned from the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, as the organisers claimed that they detract from the garden designs.Gnome enthusiasts accused the organisers of snobbery, as garden gnomes are popular in the gardens of working class and suburban households. The ban was lifted during 2013 to mark the show's centenary.

In the Italian movie The Monster (1994), the main character Loris, played by Roberto Benigni, is rightfully accused of stealing the garden gnome Bashful.

A subplot in the 2001 French movie Amélie revolves around a "travelling" garden gnome.

A two-foot-tall (60 cm) garden gnome with a long, white beard, red conical hat and blue coat is the central figure in Travelocity's Roaming Gnome advertising campaign which was launched in January 2004.

Gnomeo and Juliet is a 2011 British-American CGI film that is inspired by the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet featuring garden gnomes as the characters. In 2018, its sequel, Sherlock Gnomes, was released.

The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) used garden gnomes, which they called "Coolmen", in their campaign for the 2014 regional elections in Vorarlberg. It was intended as an ironic pun since the SPÖ historically performed poorly in elections in this part of Austria and considered itself to be a political "dwarf". The campaign placed 20,000 Coolmen holding small posters with short slogans along highly frequented roads. The party made a police report after 400 of them went missing, drawing attention from the international media.

The 2010 video game Fable III includes a side mission where a collection of garden gnomes are given magical properties, which the player character must collect throughout the world.

Garden gnomes feature as the driving motivator of Old Man Henderson, whose exploits derailed a Call of Cthulhu variant tabletop roleplaying game, described on the website 1d4chan in 2010. The character Henderson's sole motivation was to "rescue" roughly $40,000 worth of garden gnomes from a local cult, not realizing that he'd given them to charity before the game's starting session.

A 2005 episode of King of the Hill titled "Yard, She Blows!" revolves around Bobby breaking Peggy's newly acquired, and very rare, garden gnome. Hank, hating the gnome, attempts to use the event to eliminate it from the front lawn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_gnome

Thanks again Wiki! <3

#gnomes #gardengnomes #gnomegirlgabby #gnomelove #GnomeArticle #WikiGnomes #GnomeHistory #GnomeFacts

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xiaolindude · 5 years ago

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𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 : 𝒅𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔

adapted from this post ! bold what definitely applies to your muse. italicize what somewhat applies to your muse. repost ; do NOT reblog.

Tagged by: @seaprofound Tagging: anyone who wants to~

#aesthetic tbt #*finger guns* yikes! • ABOUT.#long post cw

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thecooksjournal · 5 years ago

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The Art of Eating

“The way you cut your meat reflects the way you live.”

Confucius

Enter any restaurant in Hong Kong and it can be a daunting experience due the various beliefs and etiquette surrounding Asian food. Food is regarded as an extremely important part of everyday life and it is believed to be the foundation for all happiness and success. Superstition and tradition play a big part in all realms of Chinese society and dining therefore is no exception. It is always advisable to have a basic knowledge of what is acceptable at the table and perhaps more importantly what is not, so that you can avoid causing offence to your fellow diners. Sometimes even the simplest actions can have deep meanings, which are not always evident to the casual observer.

Look around any Dim Sum restaurant and observe your fellow diners and you will notice how their behaviour differs from Western society. People will talk loudly throughout the meal noisily slurping at their noodles without anyone taking the slightest offence. Likewise slurping your soup in public is considered a socially acceptable way of cooling it down before it burns your tongue, a practise which can take some getting used to. This may give the impression that anything goes, but try leaving your chopsticks facing upwards in a bowl of rice on the table and the likelihood is that at least one of your fellow diners will become visually upset and animated. The reason for this is that at Chinese funerals incense sticks are often left upright in bowls to burn in remembrance of the departed. Chopsticks left in the same way are assumed therefore to represent death and so consequently are thought to be very unlucky. Always place your chopsticks parallel across your bowl or on the side of your plate and never upright and no offence will be caused. Some restaurants even provide little ceramic or plastic chopstick stands especially for this purpose. You can even place them on the tablecloth, don’t worry about any marks, as a few stains here and there show that you have actively participated in and enjoyed the meal. Another point worth considering is that you must never cross your chopsticks across your bowl or plate as this forms the sign of an X, which again is considered very unlucky.

The only time it is socially acceptable to cross your chopsticks is in some of the older Dim Sum restaurants where you will occasionally see a waiter crossing chopsticks on the table to signify that the bill has been presented and settled. If you find an uneven pair of chopsticks at your table this is said to be a sign that you will miss your plane, boat or train. Holding chopsticks very high up is thought to signify travelling far away from home while dropping chopsticks on the floor is thought to be unlucky and the portent of some bad luck coming your way. Interestingly chopsticks should be held in the right hand only, even by a left handed diner although this is not as widely practised as in previous generations. Nowadays this is largely ignored although some members of the older generation still regard the use of chopsticks in the left hand to be bad etiquette.

Hong Kong is actually a very liberal and forgiving place and foreign visitors are quickly forgiven for not knowing the correct table etiquette to follow. If as a visitor you learn a few of the customs surrounding dining then your efforts will be appreciated and you will be made to feel more than welcome. I feel that just finding out about these customs is part of the fun of dining and can be quite rewarding. If you make the effort and ask, most people will be happy to explain their customs and the reasons behind the things they do. I must confess I love people watching and enjoy observing people as they go about their day to day business. A restaurant offers me many opportunities to observe my fellow diners and it is surprising to see how very different Asian and Western cultures are when it comes to food.

Traditionally the Chinese like to dine on a round table so that everyone can engage in conversation and not feel left out. Dining on a round table also allows the food to be placed centrally so that everyone can help themselves and feel part of the meal. Food is served in a family style where everyone shares the dishes on the table and single portions are uncommon. This is reflected in the seating plans in most restaurants where you will find abundant tables for family groups and hardly any cosy tables for two. The host will always sit at the head of the table nearest the kitchen or service area, as this is the least favoured position and often the position where the waiter will serve or present the dishes from. The guest of honour normally sits opposite the host in what is considered the best seat at the table and is always offered the best of the food. In a meal in a Chinese household the host would normally apologise with much humility in a display of exaggerated courtesy for the meagre offerings he has provided. The guest of honour would then insist that everything is acceptable and the meal could begin.

Quite often a whole fish may be served as part of the meal and traditionally this would be placed so that the head faces the guest of honour. This is because the head of the fish is regarded as the most nutritious part and as such should be offered to the guest first. The lips and eyes will be offered to the most senior lady at the table as a sign of respect as these are regarded as a great delicacy. Obviously this may come as a bit of a shock if you are new to the culture so beware if you are a senior lady and are ever invited to eat fish with a Chinese family. Lips and eyes may be nice but perhaps not the most convincing way to win a lady’s heart.

Once the guest has taken his fill of the fish he or she will often turn the dish to face the person on their left to signify they have taken sufficient. One thing to remember however is that once all the flesh is removed from one side of the fish you should never under any circumstance turn the fish over. Usually the host or waiter will remove the backbone with chopsticks allowing his guests to get at the flesh below. The reason for never turning the fish over is that in Cantonese society it signifies the capsizing of a boat and by doing this you would be putting bad luck on the table and the local fishermen as well.

Chopsticks can prove problematic to many Westerners but with practise they can be used adeptly by most people. The best way of holding chopsticks I have found through trial and a great deal of error is by placing your thumb over one stick while holding the other stick between the first and second fingers as if it were a pencil. Keep the tips of the chopsticks together by lightly touching the table and remember to move the top stick when picking up food, the base stick held by your thumb should remain stationary. At first you will probably find it easier to hold the chopsticks lower down but as you get more proficient try to handle them higher up around 3 inches from the top as you will find this gives you greater control. In Chinese etiquette the lower down you hold your chopsticks the lower in the social order you are but too near the top and you are regarded as someone who is false, so take care!

Chopsticks have been used for around 5,000 years and probably evolved from the wooden twigs that were first used to retrieve food from the fire. Nowadays they are commonly made of wood, ivory, bone, bamboo, metal or plastic. It is reported that silver chopsticks were used in the Chinese royal palace to ensure that any food for the Emperor was not poisoned. The silver chopsticks would react with certain toxins turning black in the presence of poison and therefore saving the life of the ruler or as was probably more likely the lives of his food tasters. Some people believe that the great scholar Confucius was also instrumental in the development of chopsticks. As a devout vegetarian he believed knives would remind people of slaughterhouses and so should not be used at the table. It is for this reason that Chinese cuisine is always chopped into bite-sized pieces before it reaches the table. Today chopsticks are used extensively in China, Japan, Vietnam, India Malaysia, the Philippines and Korea; they are also used to a certain extent in Thailand although as a nation they have become more westernized since the introduction of Western style utensils by King Rama V in the nineteenth-century.

Far from being peaceful chopsticks have often been used as an effective weapon. Sharpened to a point and dipped in poison they can be thrown with deadly accuracy towards their intended target. I am not sure how effective a weapon they really would be but hey if it works for Bruce Lee then they must be good! The Chinese word for chopsticks is Kuaizi, which literally means to eat fast. The Western name of chopsticks is thought to derive from the English phrase "chop-chop" which means to hurry or get a move on. Chinese and Japanese chopsticks differ, as in general Chinese chopsticks are longer and taper to a blunt end. Japanese chopsticks are slightly shorter and taper to a pointed end presumably due to the high proportion of bony fish in the Japanese diet, which needs greater precision to remove the bones from the flesh. Japanese chopsticks are traditionally made of lacquered wood while Chinese chopsticks can be made of varying materials. Throughout Hong Kong most restaurants now use disposable wooden chopsticks, which come in sealed packs. The sticks are joined and must be broken apart before use; it is then an accepted practise to rub them together away from the table to remove any splinters before eating. At the end of the meal they are discarded, a practise which in an ecologically friendly society is causing concern as in China alone close to 50 billion pairs are thrown away each year. In an effort to reduce this waste a five per cent tax was added to the price of all disposable wooden chopsticks in April 2006.

In Chinese etiquette chopsticks should not be waved in the air and when picking up food and the back of your hand should always face the ceiling at all times. Twisting your chopsticks so that your palm is in view of other diners is regarded as disrespectful and unrefined. Food should never be stabbed with your chopsticks and you should also avoid rooting round with them for the choicest items in the dish. Perhaps the biggest mistake to be aware of is that once you have taken a piece of food you should never return it to the dish. If you are doing this you are saying that the item is not good enough for you but fine for your dining companions whom you see as inferior to yourself!

It is acceptable in China to eat rice from a bowl by raising it to your lips and pushing the rice into your mouth, however in Korea this is regarded as impolite and your bowl should remain on the table. When dining with close friends or family it is acceptable to pass food with your chopsticks to one another particularly for young children, the elderly or more likely Westerners who have yet to master the art of eating with chopsticks. Once you have finished it is common practise to place your chopsticks across the top of your bowl perpendicular to the direction you are facing as this signifies that you have finished eating.

The use of toothpicks is another frequently seen practise throughout Hong Kong. It is not socially acceptable to place your fingers in your mouth at the table but the wooden or plastic toothpick is therefore regarded as an essential item. It is believed that the taste of one course should not interfere with the taste of another course so toothpicks are the perfect way to cleanse your mouth. The correct procedure is to cover your mouth with one hand while using the toothpick with the other. If you have dentures then it will come as no surprise that it is not socially acceptable to take them out and start cleaning them at the table even if you use chopsticks to get them out in the first place and a toothpick to clean them.

When ordering food in a restaurant for a large group the idea is to achieve a balance at the table by ordering various different tastes and textures with no predominance of one flavour or style of cooking. You should also never order seven dishes as this is regarded as food for ghosts. Cantonese meals can be messy affairs and bones can be left on a plate or even on the tablecloth. Some of the older restaurants will even change the cloth by bundling up all the items including crockery in the tablecloth and then just whisking it off the table. It is very quick and efficient and can appear quite shocking if you are not prepared for it but it really beats the hassle of trying to eat in a posh French restaurant while your waiter crumbs down under your armpit and tries to rearrange your cutlery to his liking.

When paying your bill or offering payment in the shops it is considered polite by some members of the older generation to use both hands to present the payment. Similarly if you accept your change with both hands this is also considered polite. Most people ignore this nowadays although from time to time you may observe this happening. This stems from the Chinese idea that using one hand is impolite. In general if you are polite and try to follow at least some sort of dining etiquette you will be welcomed all across Hong Kong. Show the people some respect and an understanding for their culture and it will be appreciated and you will be rewarded with the friendship of some of the most genuine people on earth. If you are obnoxious and show a blatant disregard for their culture then consequently you will not be shown the same sort of welcome. The choice is yours but remember politeness costs nothing and will always reap its own rewards.

#hong kong #etiquette #dining #chinese #tradition #chinese tradition #feng shui #food #Food Blog #asia #sushi #sashimi #chopsticks #lucky

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hostnamexception · 5 years ago

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𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 : 𝒅𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔

adapted from this post ! bold what definitely applies to your muse. italicize what somewhat applies to your muse. repost ; do NOT reblog.

𝓪𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓴𝓸𝓬𝓻𝓪 » snowcapped mountains, finding shapes in clouds, fashion-conscious, meditation, wanting to see the world, good singing voice, family pictures, expensive jewelry, easily irritated, asking too many questions, molted feathers, flowing clothing, talking with hands

𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓼𝓲 » mood swings, head in the clouds, confident laughter, wild child, shelf of trophies, beat of their own drum, drive thrus, crazy schemes, finger guns, t-shirts, collectibles, comebacks, sunglasses on indoors, slogans, bragging rights, cult classic movies, large headphones

𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓴𝓾 » has a vine reference for everything, caving to impulses, taking things apart, talking in circles, snack food, doesn’t read directions, all play and no work, snoozing their alarm, always reorganizing, surprise presents, board games, can’t drive, jumping from one topic to another

TAGGED BY: i stole it for myself, i hope thats okay hghkd TAGGING: everyooonnneee

#ooc #(head)canons

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boundariestcbreak · 5 years ago

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𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 : 𝒅𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔

adapted from this post ! bold what definitely applies to your muse. italicize what somewhat applies to your muse. repost ; do NOT reblog.

��𝓲𝓮𝓯𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 » tarot cards, candles in the dark, never accepting help, replaced emotions with bad puns, pocket knives, bottling up feelings, long sidewalks, lilies, old books, gender? never heard of her, skull jewelry, ravens at dusk, traditional art, sleeping under a ton of blankets

Tagged by: stole from @littleblackqrow Tagging: do it and say i tagged you

#do what it takes to survive || raven branwen headcanons #long post for ts #//this is so long omfg

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panatmansam · 5 years ago

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The Mala: A Handy Tool for Our Active Practice

The mala (ˈmɑːla) is a string of beads or knots used in Buddhism to count the number of repetitions of a mantra a chant used by meditators to help focus their concentration.

Malas are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads. One large bead is called the "guru bead" and lets the reciter know when the count is starting over.

Malas are revered objects the Buddhist tradition and should not be worn simply as jewelry but with reverence and respect. Some say that they should only be worn in the temple or ashram. I disagree. The mala, when worn respectfully serves as a tangible reminder of our practices.

Typically malas are worn wrapped around the wrist but they may also be worn around the neck. Malas can be made of stone, ceramic, ivory, bone, seeds, metal and wood.

The two most common are the bodhi seed mala and the sandalwood mala. They can be homemade, purchased at Buddhist supply shops and online ranging from just a few dollars to twenty dollars.

There are a lot of new age superstitions about malas which treat them as magic talismans. This is absurd. They are counters and reminders of our practice nothing more.

So please, please don't write me saying that your guru said you have to face north and bow to the Buddha three times when you put them on. They're beads. Beads for counting. Be respectful and you will be just fine.

How to use your Mala: Written Instructions with Illustrations

How to use your Mala: Video

108 Bead Sandalwood Mala

108 Bead Bodhi Seed Mala

27 Bead Lapis Lazuli Wrist Mala

#sam #musings #writing #Buddhism #meditation

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fallenrazziel · 6 years ago

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Levi Chronicles ~ Chapter 284 (EruRi)

Levi seems frozen and I immediately look for a place where we warm up. I think I remember the existence of a cafe in the area. The snow begins to fall as I drive us to the first settlement - it's the only one I remembered ; it's very cozy, the lights are warm, so much so that we must soon remove our coats.

We head to an isolated table and order two grogs to the waitress. Nothing better to warm up ! I want Levi to keep morale to the end. This battle made him happy, I think. Me too. He seems more relaxed and willing to talk. I don't know what to start the conversation, and I don't see us staring at each other for several minutes without saying anything. It's not that it makes me feel uncomfortable, but it seems like a lost time.

Our grogs finally arrive and we can warm our hands reddened in contact with the ceramic. We make the drink last by sipping it - it's hot - and I cannot help but stay on Levi's hands, surrounding his cup. I feel that his skin is a little cracked by the cold...

I ask him why he does not buy gloves. He tells me casually that it's good for "nobs", and he doesn't need it. I remind him I'm wearing gloves too, yet I'm not an aristocrat. Here, he seems embarrassed and looks away, muttering that he knows it, even if at first he thought I was one. I understand his point of view. Now that I think about it, I probably could have done otherwise to integrate him into the survey corps. But he seemed... he was so uncooperative that I had to use this somewhat questionable method...

I don't dare to ask him if he still mad at me... Then he tells me himself that he was wrong about me. That even if sometimes I look like a nob to the point of crushing everyone, basically I am only a... "yokel" like him... Well, I guess it's a compliment from him !

The silence settles for a moment, barely disturbed by the cozy atmosphere of the cafe. I feel good in those moments, when I can stay like that without feeling emptiness or lack, when everything seems so perfect that we cannot imagine what is happening on the other side of the Wall. Since the beginning of this evening, I feel invigorated by a lot of things, very simple and ordinary things, and it's very pleasant. If Levi feels the same, then it's perfect. I would not break or disenchant anything, but I think it's the right time to ask him the question...

You really hated me, Levi ? I know I deserved it without a doubt, but it saddened me, because I felt this hatred piercing me as surely as a knife... I wish it were otherwise, but the damage is done. Levi looks up from his cup and looks at me calmly, with almost soft eyes, quite the opposite of his speech. He replies that I did what I had to go to the end of my idea, and that's something he admires in me. Oh yes, really ?... You ask me not to regret ? But... your two friends, Isabel and Furlan, they died because of that... They were two very good soldiers...

Levi puts down his cup and his eyes swirl with surprise. He whispers "you remember their names..." in a slow, sad breath. Of course I remember their names. And not just theirs... It's the least I can do for the missing... Levi recompose himself and says that Isabel and Furlan would be glad he stayed in the survey corps. After all, to make sense of their death, it was the best thing to do. I smile sadly ; this smile doesn't come easily to me... It's for them that you finally stayed. I've asked myself so often... I thought there was... another reason...

Levi begins to tell me that there are other reasons, yes... but don't go further and drink his grog to cut the conversation. I wish he had finished yet ... It looked... interesting... I lift my cup in the air, proclaiming a toast for the missing, for those who cannot drink and those who are still crying. Levi follows the movement and we finish our drink solemnly.

At the moment of going out, a shooting star passes in the firmament above our heads. Other passers-by have also noticed and everyone seems to stop. Levi is about to ask me what is a shooting star - he thinks I always have an answer to everything - but I tell him that it would be too complicated to explain, and that this is an opportunity to make a wish. We all remain silent, our eyes raised to the sky, formulating in thought something that we wish to see happen. This star takes me by surprise ; I didn't really think at the right time of what I really wanted to see happen. I have a lot of ideas, but none prevails over the other. And then, I'm not very focused on these superstitions after all... But there's something that I want after all, after all the rest. No chance that this will happen, but it doesn't cost anything to hope.

I wished this night never ends. May the feeling of well-being that's mine at this moment continue. I've never wished anything for myself so far. This is the first time... and I've the dark presentiment that none of this will last, that a dreadful danger awaits us. When my eyes roll on the top of the Wall Maria, I start shivering for no reason... It's Levi who brings me back to reality. He asks me what wish I made. Hmm, if I tell you, it will not happen. And... I know it will not happen, tomorrow the sun will rise and we'll restart our life as a soldier, as before. He tells me that he'll not tell me the one he did. Hey, wait, did you really make one ?

Levi overtakes me and I let him lead us to the south, towards the imposing mass of Maria. She impressed me so much the first time I saw her... The goddess profile's barely outlined on the shadow of the front door and suddenly I feel oppressed. Levi must feel the same because he turns around, grumbling that it reminds him of job, and that it's unpleasant... I understand, run away from here.

I feel him saddened and I don't want that he lose his good mood. So I venture to put an arm on his shoulders, expecting at all times that he rejects me bluntly. But he doesn't react, and lets me give him a hug on a long way. Rubbernecks look curiously at us, but I don't care. None of them are in our place, none of them feel things like we're feeling them now. They might just as well not be there.

Levi finally gently disengage himself and walks backwards, looking at me. He asks me why I didn't answer Mike's question the other day. I pretend I don't understand, just to give myself time... Because I think he'll not be satisfied with a loophole this time. Abandon everything, lead another life ? It never crossed my mind. I can do nothing but fight, and bringing victory to humanity is my only goal. Do these words sound hollow ? They seem to me however that it's the life that I chose...

Levi starts mocking nicely, pretending that I'm far too smart not to know what else to do. He tells me that I'm lucky to have been to school. Hmm, it's true but it's not necessarily my best memories. I explain that I was the teacher's son and as such, and in keeping with a long-standing tradition in humans, I was rejected by almost everyone. Mike was my only friend. I was trying to defend myself by talking to them, but it didn't really work.

Words can hurt, Levi. They can even kill... So yes, you see... That's why I confide so little. I don't want to hurt anybody anymore... even if the dead... are inevitable... You don't need to know more, just to understand...

And as I suspected, he understands perfectly, without asking me for details.

Levi tells me that the hecklers only understand blows, and that there's no better way to train someone. I realize how different his life was from mine, and I cannot help but want to know more. I don't want to seem indiscreet, of course, but if he refuses to answer me I'll not be offended. I ask him to talk to me about his parents.

He lowers his head and I know that I touched a sore point. He has only vague hints so far. He tries to hide, and to make me believe that his life isn't so important, too boring... but I insist, just a little. He reveals to me that his mother died when he was very young, at an age when memories are just beginning to form. What's she dead ? Levi looks at me in a way that I never liked, and tells me that his mother was a... "whore". And with this information in mind, I should be able to guess what must have happened.

I feel a bit ashamed to have started on this subject. So I tell him I'm sorry for him. Such hardness, even in my words... I didn't expect such a tragedy... He was lucky to pull through. I mean ... it could have been a lot worse under the circumstances ... I know that human traffic was flourishing in the underground at that time... It could have happened a lot of horrible things to Levi...

But he sweeps my solicitude with a wave of the hand, making sure that he has done better than many others. And then there was the famous "Kenny", his father to what he said. Well, he never said it clearly. Apparently, he has found someone to protect him for long enough. If this man is still alive, I should thank him for that.

After all his little cascading revelations, I realize that Levi is as lonely as me. When I tell him, he stands next to me and offers me his eyes so soft, so unusual. Something passes between us, which does us good even if some bitterness is still hidden under this pleasant sensation.

As we go back to the center of Shiganshina, amid the cries of children sledding, I notice that Levi has started to blow on his fingers. He rubs them without success, so I make the decision to intervene. I take his hands in mine and blows on, keeping them warm. He remains motionless, probably as surprised as I am at my initiative, but he lets me do it. I conclude that he would really need gloves because if his hands are damaged, he'll be worse in fight. After all, his hands could save humanity one day. Levi gets caught up in this argument, but retorts that he prefers to let me breathe on them all winter, because it doesn't cost him anything. Hey ! I'll not spend my days doing this ! Come here, I think I saw a shop not far !

He snorts a bit but we end up in front of the store of a luxury items- there's very little in Shiganshina. Levi's eyes widen at the price of the gloves that seem to him probably astronomical. I propose to offer him gloves. He is indignant that I can spend so much money for so little but I insist. I force him to enter the shop. It's an order of your superior, Levi, no discussion.

The seller is pressing towards us and is quick to show us his products. Levi looks good until the man has measured his hands. He announces, contrite, that he has only few men's products for his size, but that he'll show him what would be appropriate. The pairs of gloves parade for a moment, but nothing finds favor for Levi's eyes. I am a little disappointed because I have a specific idea of the type of gloves that would suit him. The seller resolves to expand his field of research and then presents us the rare pearl : white gloves, kid's skin, of incomparable softness. Levi puts his finger on it and I guess he likes this contact. I advise him to try them to see if they're at his height. He puts them on without any difficulty and announces that he has the impression of wearing nothing at all, that they're like a second skin. I find them beautiful ; these gloves are made for him.

Worried, Levi asks the seller the price of these wonders. When he announces it to us, he whistles between his teeth in spite and is about to remove gloves to reset them in their place, but I stop him. Il accept the price. He wants to protest but I refuse to hear him. It's a gift I give you and we don't refuse gifts, it's rude. He's silent then, and lets me pay.

Once outside, Levi seems hypnotized by his hands wrapped in this white and soft skin. You see, it's not bad to wear gloves. I'm sure your hands are already warming up, I'm wrong ? He doesn't answer immediately, but after a minute he whispers "thank you, Erwin, they're very beautiful" in a quiet voice that doesn't look like him at all. This is the first time you get a present ? I guess that's the case. I feel even more satisfied.

We go up the street again to the big tree in the city center. Levi has regained his playful air and walks on a little wall nearby ; so, he's a little taller than me and that makes me a funny effect. We sit in front of Yule's tree, whose branches are dripping wax candles. I can hear people singing in the distance and couples, tenderly entwined, were sitting on the benches nearby, their eyes glittering with the glow of hope's flames of the inhabitants of Shiganshina.

As I slowly get closer to him, Levi breaks the silence and asks me if it is customary to offer gifts to Yule. I answer him no, but that's done for birthdays. Levi looks surprised and examine me intensely, pointing out that he doesn't even know his date of birth. As I suspected... Levi, did you detail your identity papers when I handed them to you ? You should do it.

He pulls them out of his inner pocket - he's used to never go out again - and examines them carefully. Then, this done, he observes me again and asks me why I chose this date of birth on December 25th. You gave few details to the officer who auditioned you that day at Trost. This was limited to "end of year, probably in winter". I had to be content with that for your papers. A full name isn't necessary to be in order but it needed a date of birth. So I opted for this one. It's a particular date. Levi asks me why.

Yule celebrates the longest night of the year, and the return of longer days. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. I thought that in your case ... it was ideal. You don't agree ? Levi casually replies that after that night, titans will have more light to chase us even longer. Oh, don't be defeatist, humans also need light.

Eyes in the air, Levi replies that I'm wrong, and that he's the living proof. All these years underground... it's over Levi, don't think about it anymore. You blame me for choosing this day for your birth ? He looks at me with a slight sway of his head and tells me no, that it has anchored him in the reality of the world ; that this date of birth has always missed him and that he only realized it now. I feel happy for him.

I finally decide to take him in my arms, while ensuring that it remains purely friendly. He doesn't push me away and lets himself go a little against me. I don't want him to perceive the emotion that shakes me at the thought of having him here by my side. I think I'm lucky. Maybe he thinks the same thing.

He wishes me a happy Yule. Happy Yule, Levi, and happy birthday.

#lc284 #erwin smith #levi ackerman #eruri #levi chronicles #les chroniques de livaï #fanfiction #fallenRaziel #snk #attack on titan #shingeki no kyojin #yule #christmas eve #sorry for my bad english

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livingcorner · 3 years ago

Text

The History of the Garden Gnome

Jami has been an online writer for several years. Her articles focus on everything from pet maintenance to ear piercings.

Have you ever wondered about the history of garden gnomes?

You're reading: The History of the Garden Gnome

Running via Wikimedia Common, Public Domain

What Is a Garden Gnome?

A garden gnome (also known as a lawn gnome) is a figurine of a small humanoid creature, typically wearing a tall, pointy, red hat, that serves as decoration for gardens and/or lawns.

The gnomes are believed to protect the owner from evil. The figurines originated in Germany in the 19th century and were called Gartenzwerg, which literally translates to “garden dwarf.” It wasn’t until the 1930s that the English term “gnome” came to be.

Garden Gnome Typology

There are many different types of garden gnomes. They appear in different positions, and they can be made from different types of materials.

Typically, the gnomes are male dwarfs with long, bushy white beards who wear tall, pointy red hats. They are typically smoking (or holding) a pipe. They are seen in various positions, including standing, lying down, sitting, etc., and they engage in various activities (fishing, napping, etc.). Garden gnomes can be made from wood, porcelain, ceramic, or terra cotta.

The History of the Garden Gnome

Garden gnomes have always had a unique history in Europe, and they have even wedged their way into American pop culture, becoming quite the craze. Now, they are seen everywhere, from the lawn next door to the lawn across the world.

Garden decorations, especially statuary, have been common throughout Europe since the Renaissance. It was believed that these small human-like beings would ward away evil from the owner.

In 1616, the statues only depicted Gobbi (an Italian hunchback). By the late 18th century, porcelain “house dwarfs” were created and produced on a wide scale (at this time, Switzerland was also producing wooden statues of dwarfs and gnomes, as well). Soon enough, gnomes became a very popular house, lawn, and garden ornament and this popularity steadily grew throughout the 19th century.

They have been manufactured, produced, and distributed for centuries, but the “title of manufacturer of the first garden gnome is hotly contested,” according to Wikipedia. It is possible that their first manufacturer was in 1841, when these early gnomes were being produced by Baehr and Maresch of Dresden. However, there is evidence suggesting that they were being produced by many other countries as early as 1860, as well.

“Philip Griebel made terra cotta animals as decorations, and produced gnomes based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of the gnomes’ willingness to help in the garden at night. The garden gnome quickly spread across Germany and into France and England, and wherever gardening was a serious hobby.” (Wikipedia)

Ever since gnomes came onto the hobby scene in the 19th century, small manufacturers have popped up all over Germany. Their manufacturing has spread all across Germany, and each manufacturer had their own style and design.

Germany was the first (or one of the first) countries to manufacture and produce gnomes for collectors since before the 19th century. They became very popular in Germany (there are an estimated 25 million gnomes spread across German lawns).

Gnomes are also considered to be a huge part of eastern and western European culture, and were even seen in the tales written by the Grimm brothers.

“The Brothers Grimm featured gnomes in ‘The Gnome’, a series of short stories detailing the lives of gnomes. These stories depict gnomes in benevolent and malevolent lights, but the first one is perhaps the most important: in it clothing is given to two helpful gnomes and they decide to serve a cobbler and his wife for the rest of their days. Other stories exist of gnomes’ helpfulness in the oral tradition and relate the willingness of gnomes to assist in gardens.” (Gnomefrenzy).

Garden gnomes were first introduced into the United Kingdom when Sir Charles Isham came home from his vacation in Germany and brought 21 of the terra cotta figurines with him, displaying them in his home and lawn in 1847.

In recent history, they have made a resurgence in the United States and Western Europe. They have popped up in films, television shows, commercials, books, advertising, etc.

Today, garden gnomes are seen across the lawns and garden of many all over the world. Their popularity continues to grow and the production of garden gnomes continues.

Pranks have even been created around the stealing of garden gnomes (most commonly referred to as gnoming). Some have even begun to travel all over the world collecting (stealing) gnomes from gardens in different countries.

Garden gnomes even have their own holiday; International Gnome Day was instituted in 2002 and is celebrated on June 21st by over a dozen countries.

The history of garden gnomes is unique, long, interesting, and even comical. They may always be popular and will likely survive and live in peoples’ gardens for centuries to come.

Fun Facts

The traveling gnome prank later became the basis for Travelocity’s “Roaming Gnome.”

In 2008, a 53-year-old French man was arrested on suspicion of stealing upwards of 170 garden gnomes.

A garden gnome plays an important role in the 2001 French-German film, Amélie.

How to Make Your Own Garden Gnome

Sources

https://ift.tt/2Vr2cas

https://ift.tt/2VwclCw

Read more: Gardening tips for raised beds

Comments

Marlene Bertrand from USA on June 27, 2019:

This is interesting information about gnomes. I saw a gnome at a home improvement store about 10 years ago and could not resist buying it. They are adorable little “creatures.” Knowing the history of them adds to my enjoyment. Thank you for providing such an in-depth article.

William Grant from Wisconsin on April 06, 2013:

What about the garden gnomes inner-city cousin: the metro gnome?? I’ve seen them growing along the road-side near construction zones… I think they live underground… All I usually see are their hats.

Or maybe that’s where they bury them when they die…. Not sure.

Adrian Palmer Edwards from Valley, Anglesey UK on March 26, 2013:

Not a gnome lover myself, but my parents liked them and had some in their garden, I grew up with them. Nice job keep it up.

summerberrie on March 25, 2013:

I love garden gnomes. We have a copy of the gnome book by Gnomes by Poortvliet and it is a favorite. Love sticking those little garden gnomes on fun places around the yard. Great hub.

Jenna Estefan from Seattle, WA on March 25, 2013:

super cute hub!

Bishop55 on March 25, 2013:

Love this! Voted up. Creative, cute, funny.

Brenda Durham on March 25, 2013:

I don’t like garden gnomes either. They seem silly and creepy at the same time to me; and are a symbol of superstition that I disagree with. Like keeping a rabbit’s foot for good “luck”.

But I think your hub is well-written.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on March 25, 2013:

Congrats on HOTD. Very interesting article. My neighbor has about 10 of these little guys in her yard. I think they are adorable.

Voted UP, etc.etc.

Stephanie Bradberry from New Jersey on March 25, 2013:

I have a bog book about gnomes. When my niece saw it a few weeks ago, she wanted to take the book home. As a bibliophile it was tough to part with it, but I did not want to be a hypocrite as an English professor by not promoting and encouraging the love of reading and books. So I made my 7 year old niece sign a contract to return the book to me. She loved the pictures so much and kept asking everyone to fill in the words she could not read that she was driving them crazy. She has a garden gnome coming in the future as a present!

Sheri Dusseault from Chemainus. BC, Canada on March 25, 2013:

Well now I have learned something today. I didn’t know anything about gnomes. But someone in my hometown took the local pubs gnome traveling. Then it just showed back up one day. Congrats on the hub of the day! You deserve it as this is great. Love the pictures!

Jennifer Brummert on March 25, 2013:

There was a newstory on NPR recently about gnomes in Oakland, CA. Should check it out..Aah, gotta love a gnome really.

Dawn from Canada on March 25, 2013:

Congrats on the Hub of the Day! I too am not a fan of gnomes, ewwww I say! Great hub on them though and I enjoyed the history!

Liz Elias from Oakley, CA on March 25, 2013:

Congrats on HOTD!

Very interesting history. I have a few ceramic molds for gnomes, and can make as many or as few as I want. LOL Until recently, I had a small, wholesale ceramics business, and the gnomes were never ordered much at all. I guess you have to live in a “gnomy” area. I don’t see them displayed around here.

Suzette Walker from Taos, NM on March 25, 2013:

What a charming hub and congratulations on HOTD! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as I love these little guys. I have had some of these gnomes at different times, but I did not know the history behind them. And it is quite a history. Thanks for a really fun and informative hub!

Your Cousins from Atlanta, GA on March 25, 2013:

Hey, I remember the story about the cobbler and the gnomes! This was an interesting feature. Voted up and interesting. Great HOTD.

Subhas from New Delhi, India on March 25, 2013:

Through your fantastic hub only I got an enriched knowledge about this figures. Very nice of you!

Edmund Custers on March 25, 2013:

I played a garden gnorm screen game sometime ago. Now I know where those guys came from.

Thanks for sharing!

Read more: Vertical vegetable garden ideas

Melvin Porter from New Jersey, USA on March 25, 2013:

I always wonder where these guys came from. Thanks for the interesting information.

Marites Mabugat-Simbajon from Toronto, Ontario on March 25, 2013:

I have a fascination on gnomes, dwarves, elves, to name a few of these characters in their own worlds, but I have no collection of any of them, or in my backyard garden. I do wish in some moments that they come visit me *smile*. I read about them and this is one nice read here. Thank you, JamiJay, and congratulations to Hub of the Day!

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on March 25, 2013:

I gotta get me an army of gnomes… especially if they actually do help out in the garden at night as reported. That’ll save me a whole bunch of time.

mr-veg from Colorado United States on March 25, 2013:

I love the concept and also the movie Smurfs

… Good One and Congrats for being hub of the day !

Cindy A Johnson from Sevierville, TN on March 25, 2013:

I love to put stuff in my garden but have never used a garden gnome. I might have to look into that if they are supposed to bring good luck. I need all I can get with my plants!

newusedcarssacram from Sacramento, CA, U.S.A on March 25, 2013:

I think garden gnomes are fascinating. Thanks a lot for sharing so much interesting information about them. Congratulation on becoming Hub of The Day, this is surely a deserving Hub.

Toy Tasting from Mumbai on March 25, 2013:

Lovely Hub, Jamijay! Brings back memories of the Grimm fairy tales. Extremely visual post, love the pictures

Kristi Patrice Carter from Chicago, Illinois on March 25, 2013:

I didn’t know anything about Garden Gnome until I read your article… I remember when I was a kid, I used to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs…Now, I am loving more to recreate my backyard and put some Gnomes on my garden…Thanks for this wonderful idea that I can do this Springtime…

Ashok Goyal from 448 Dalima Vihar Rajpura 140401 Punjab India on March 25, 2013:

Beautifully Beautiful Hub indeed. I showed the photos to my grandchildren and they insisted we want it.. we want that….!

Thelma Alberts from Germany on March 22, 2013:

I love this hub. I like gnomes in the garden although I don´t have even one gnome in my garden. Seeing these photos inspire me of buying one or two from Germany and bring them with me to the Philippines. My garden would be the talk of the town because no one has a gnome in their garden. Besides that, I might put the gnomes inside the house at nighttime to avoid being stolen, lol. Thanks for sharing;-)

Laura Brown from Barrie, Ontario, Canada on March 21, 2013:

I don’t have a garden of my own. But I still like the garden gnomes. https://ift.tt/3jvpjZw

Martin Kloess from San Francisco on March 20, 2013:

Thank you for this. As I get older, I see no harm in allowing fantasy back into my life.

RodNapeda on March 20, 2013:

haha! Actually I not a reader guy, but this one got me.

Jami Johnson (author) from Somewhere amongst the trees in Vermont. on March 20, 2013:

billybuc, haha. I have never anyone who willing admitted they did not like garden gnomes

I have always liked them and I have a lot of friends who make them themselves, but I do not own any myself, because here in Vermont there are a lot of gnomenappers. I had friends in high school that were involved with gnomenapping and they even created a special place in the woods (off trail) where they set all of them up, “releasing them back into the wild” lol.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 20, 2013:

I have a confession to make….I don’t like garden gnomes. LOL Having said that, the history you shared was pretty interesting, so thanks. If this ever comes up in Trivial Pursuit I’ll be ready to score.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/the-history-of-the-garden-gnome/

#livingcornernews

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musiclovingbitch · 7 years ago

Note

Hey sweetie, can I ask some "country questions" too? Numbers 4, 8, 13 and 15 please, and thank you! Hugs, Marjan

Thank you! This is just what I needed to relax after a final (I kicked academic ass but it was still stressful)

4. favourite dish specific for your country?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I have to say παστίτσιο (pronounced pah-sti-tsio). (It’s basically a layer of pasta, a layer of minced meat, and a layer of béchamel. Some people sprinkle a lil shredded cheese on top so it melts when it’s baking in the oven.) especially when it’s made by my angel of a grandmother.

8. do you get confused with other nationalities? if so, which ones and by whom?

I do have a biiiit of Italian blood in me (my grandmother is half Italian) so sometimes I get that, but honestly, that’s not really a thing here, people don’t ask about other people’s nationalities–at least, in my own personal experience.

13. does your country (or family) have any specific superstitions or traditions that might seem strange to outsiders?

Not that I can think of? There may be, but neither me nor my family is at all superstitious.

As for traditions, there are a lot. Pretty much every place has one. The one that immediately came to mind though, is from the island of Κέρκυρα (pronounced ker-kee-ra. in english it’s called corfu but I don’t call it that cause it’s honestly really annoying that they changed it) where my grandmother was born and raised. In Easter, they throw these big ceramic vases from their windows? it’s really popular, people from all over the country come to see it, the crowds are wild. I’ve only seen it once, and it was amazing.

15. a saying, joke, or hermetic meme that only people from your country will get?

When it comes to memes, I’m going to have to pass again, cause I don’t really follow a lot of greek media? I’m sure there is, though. From my limited knowledge, most memes come from the greek version of survivor.

There are wayyyyyyy too many sayings for me to pick one, lol. Like, there are literally hundreds of sayings. But the one that first came to mind is this:

Ο διάβολος έχει πολλά ποδάρια.

It literally translates to ‘the devil has a lot of legs’. I’m pretty sure some version of this exists in other languages.

#lilyvandersteen

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rogue-taxidermy-of-sarina-brewer · 7 years ago

Photo

A recent article out of Mexico from Redova Magazine. (...written for the Halloween season, but I missed the boat LOL) Special thanks to Carlos Torres for his interest in the Rogue Taxidermy Art Movement

The [slightly bumpy] translation:

Today in our "Naughty and Perverse" segment, we will talk about one of the most polarizing and controversial artists of recent times; Sarina Brewer. Praised by many, criticized by others, Brewer stands out as an avant-garde sculpture artist who intersperses taxidermy and other methods with mixed media to create surreal and fantastic animals; beings with two heads, chimeras, and sirens as if from the nightmare's of anyone.

Brewer was born in the United States in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From an early age she became interested in biology. In 1992 she obtained a degree in Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was throughout her career that she became involved in the conservation and taxidermy processes, getting involved first with found objects (objet trouvé) and then rescuing animal remains for mummification and desiccation.

In 2004 Brewer, along with Scott Bibus and Robert Marbury, founded The Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists (MART); an association that generates pop-surrealist animal sculptures using conventional taxidermy related materials in unconventional ways. The term "Rogue Taxidermy" was coined by MART and elevated the status of taxidermy to an artistic form. They differentiate it from conventional taxidermy first by overcoming its purely botanical and taxonomic intentions, and second by the type of materials used; which can include glass, ceramics, stone, found objects, metal, and other materials that are not seen in traditional taxidermy.

It should be noted that Brewer's work is less grotesque than it might seem. She has declared on many occasions the animals she uses are obtained from road accidents, farm deaths, or died in a natural way. She says she has never harmed an animal under an artistic premise. Sometimes her art also uses animal mannequins or objects that can be shaped like an animal. She is a dedicated rehabilitator of wildlife, and has worked as a volunteer in the biology department of the Science Museum of Minnesota for more than a decade. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Michigan, San Diego, New Jersey, and Ohio, with highlighted exhibitions including the Museum of Natural History in Geneva, Switzerland.

Brewer's universe oscillates between the magical, the grotesque, and the incredible. Her fantastic animals, some better achieved than others, demonstrate the full potential of the creative naive that the human being can give. As if it were a bestiary, it manages to explore part of the fears, superstitions, and magical beliefs to achieve creatures out of this world. Some simply united with others, others represented in paradoxical situations, or others more abstract, the variety in Brewer's work is extensive. More of her work at www.Sarina-Brewer.com

[article source] www.redova.net/traviesos-perversos-sarina-brewer

photo by David Bowman Studio

#contemporary art #art history #taxidermy art #rogue taxidermy #natural history

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