1 liners in emails

Ok so I love hearing for people I really do and I occasionally get an email from people passing through our little municipality from time to time wanting to talk or hang out and they usually write their first email something like

" Hello,
my name is (so and so) I'm passing (through town/moving to town) and am looking for people to talk to and meet with other people of similar intests (lists off interests usually involving paganism, gardening or herbal healing) and have an (intelligent discussion/ mentor/ someone to chill with). ....."

ok that's awesome I'm starting out knowing something about them and we can start a great conversation and maybe meet up and hang out. I haven't really mentored or taught in a year or 2 but I'm always willing to start if the right person asks.
But lately I've been getting a few 1 liners, anyone who RPs or knows some RP terminology knows what a 1 liner is.

"Hello, 
I (like you/ find you interesting/ think you're pretty) message me back if you want to talk."

Hey Thanks!...I think. I've heard the pretty/interesting line a few times before being told that I'm going to "go to hell"  So that can make me a bit nervous. But besides that, how am I to respond? The writer did not give me even 1 thing to expand or start the conversation with, unless he/she wants me to puff up my chest and start bragging about why or how I'm so pretty and interesting.

Please just give me a topic!
Ask me about herbs, the elements, about gravity or why the sky is blue. ANYTHING! is better than nothing.

Now I still do respond to these people and I have made some nice acquaintances this way, but really responding hurts my brain sometimes. I want to write a unique response so everybody because everybody is unique, but it's hard when you see the same 1 liner everyday.


Anyways, I need to go make up a RP character now for a new game.


Blessed Be, and may people give you something to work with,
~Flaming

Back to nature? or just for show?

Hey all! long time no see,

Again I have something on my mind that I've heard about lately, it could be easily be broken down into many layers but I'm going to try to be a little bit general instead of writing a novel or getting into too many details (for now but anything's open for discussion)

It all started while I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to advertise it so I won't.
But the topic was a fairly common one, but unlike many other blogs and podcasts, I did not hear accusatory notes from this person.

How are we pagans as a whole or as individuals helping the mother (mother earth)?
Now don't lie to yourselves, many of us live in cities and just like the rest of the earthly population many of us are also in apartments and condos, if we're working then we're working 40 or more hours a week and if we're working less or not at all, we don't really have any money to share, hell even some of us working over 40 hours a week have nothing after bills.
So with little to no room and little to no money, it's easy to get caught up in the loop that is " can't do nar ting, if  ain't got nar ting, to do ar ting wit." (bonus points if you can guess what accent I have, and C of Ravens, you're excluded from this because of personal knowledge unfair advantage!)

So what am I doing to help out the mother?

when I lived in an apartment I
-grew veggies and fruits on my patio so that I could eat more sustainable (even if only for a week)
-I tried my best to buy local.
-garage sales and second hand stores are and were a great source to reuse and renew things.
-I tried to recycle (difficult back then before the city really cared)
- I kept worms for a vermiculture/vermicompost (is that the right word for it? worms in a box for a great non smell small compost?)
-I grew some herbs and spices in the kitchen for cooking and healing
- I helped out in other peoples gardens
-used more energy efficient light bulbs (wasn't allowed to change the hogging appliances)
-took the bus or walked  when I could

and that was pretty much it

now I own a house so I added a few things to that list
-I grow a much bigger garden and doubling it this year though that garden will still not feed us all year.
-we have more energy efficient appliances.
-I found out about the wonderful world of freecycling facebook groups
- we took in a few animals
-we can add another person that I help out with in their garden.
-I have 2 very much huge composts
-I'm attempting to grow some larger veggies in my house over winter (lettuce, spinach and swiss chard) the house is heated for us and green plants will help with the air quality so might as well make them edible as well.

and I'm still open to ideas

What do I eventually want in the future?
maybe if we can get around to retiring early (unlikely) or if we can find employment that will make a change of lifestyle sustainable. We're thinking about owning a small hobby farm and trying our hand at some homesteading lite (if we like it and think we're up to it, then we can think about being more involved with it but until we get to that point, we still have debts and bills)


So I guess what I'm doing and hope to get better at is, being more self sustaining and making my footprint smaller. As well as helping other to do the same.


So what are you doing? what do you want to do? and are you stuck in that loop?



Now enjoy a picture I took of a tomato at my old apartment

NOW FOR THE JUST FOR SHOW PART

"It has come to my attention....."

lol

Ok now seriously, I've known about this issue for a while and have read and heard about it for almost as long. Pagans who are just pagans for show.

Honestly, I give up on the issue,
-As long as they aren't harming anything or anybody then they can have right at er.
- If they are helping out in some way? Then all power to them.
-If they're hurting something or somebody, well they should have been raised to respect other beliefs/cultures/the environment/etc better and I may go a little evil on them with a lecture ( I have a temper and little patience for much)

So with the exception of that last point, why the big fuss I keep seeing and hearing? I'm a bit confused.


Anyways

Blessed Be,
~Flaming

Sponsored walk for animals

Ok, My pup and I have signed up for a sponsored walk for the local spca no kill shelter this Saturday coming (sept 7th), as well as a few contests to raise money. some people who read here live in town and I welcome you to join in as there will also be (from what I've been told) a small market and lots of dogs.

Should be fun

The wedding went well.

+ 27 Celsius, not a cloud in the sky. The handfasting was...entertaining. rofl T our best man apparently can't count to 7 or tie a knot, but hey it all went well and hilarious.  What good is a wedding if there isn't some comedic relief right?
My sis and I made each other smile during wedding pictures by yelling 2 words. Those 2 words are an inside joke that greatly disturbed the photographers and the rest of the wedding party and if they knew the story they would probably be more disturbed. Warped minds make great fun.
The after party went wonderful without a hitch as the two families mingled and my sis again helped scare people by telling the MC to announce that she had a special gift for us.

MC "L if it vibrates drop it and run!"
rofl
it was a cute monster onesie/footie pjs, but they played it up like it was scandalous.

Then we ran away to a cabin for the night before sleeping well past our alarms and showing up to the tear down with water and pop for everyone.


I'd like to thank everyone who helped set up and tear down, even though many of those people don't read this blog. we had something like 12 people help put up 2 tents, people I do not know well but are friends of the family came in and became family themselves. Those are very valuable people to have in your life if you can find them.  We had a kitchen full of family and friends to help cater and people we barely know just show up to help.

If you're wondering about the supper, we had a giant BBQ before the ceremony, the only thing I would change is to add an extra hour so the wedding party has more time to eat. The supper before the ceremony keeps everyone happy and less bored though a bit more tired but that's ok, there were chairs at the ceremony.

Then a few days later...giant rain drops and bits of hail...wow we cut it close.

Now just waiting on the wedding pictures so we can send them off to those who want them, though the thank you cards are not going through the mail if we can help it. the mail lost over half of the invites so I'm not trusting them with the thank you cards.


Well that's pretty much it about the wedding


Blessed Be everyone
I'll try to be back soon

~Flaming

A thermometer up the ass, ok. but needles, hell no this act isn't taking that Sh*t / make up wonderings

Well Wedding plans are going slow but that's to be somewhat expected the date is almost here and we are planning for another part of the province.

Oh you want to know about the title?
Well our cat needed to get boosters done since the last time was at the SPCA and they were overdue.
This cat has a long history of health problems and pretty much every time she goes to the vet she has her temp taken, and she's never fussed about it. But apparently a tiny little needle that you can't even see puts her into a fit of rage.
I find that a bit odd but hey weird things happen.

anyway, wanna hear a story that's bugging me today. Not bugging in a bad way but I just can't stop thinking about it.
I was cleaning out my make-up bag last night and ended up throwing out a lot of gifts that have gone expired even though they've only been used once or twice. L was watching this and made the comment that he doesn't actually remember what I look like in make-up, since I only wear it once or twice a year he mused whether I should wear it more often.
Now I know he wasn't being mean or insinuating about my looks, he was just making a statement about the waste. But it got me thinking about it.
My friends and family keep giving me massive amounts of makeup that I'll rarely use before the expiration date, I never buy it myself but, should I be wearing it more often to avoid waste and make use of a gift I would otherwise never buy? Some of this stuff I can't regift due to the nature on how these gifts are received. Food for thought even if it doesn't come up that often.

Oh and you may be wondering why a little jump away from pagan issues.
Well I'm still practising but many of the ceremonies can easily be found in different variations elsewhere. I just feel that maybe people can adapt their own.
Now the difference here is that if someone requests something I will more than happily post on that subject, I'm more of lets the question come to me sort of person, and I do realize I will learn from this experience as well so yay.

Any ways

Blessed Be
~Flaming

So apparently pagans can't get married in Canada...

Ok for those of you who don't know, L and I are getting married (actually think cross between a handfasting and a christian ceremony. We have family that don't know or need to know things).

Late last month we went to the DMV to get our marriage license and were asked what religion we were. Well L identifies as a ChristoPagan(still deciding) and I identify as an eclectic Pagan...We must have gone through every pagan belief we knew including Wicca (Wicca being more known to the gov usually) and still the government computers would not accept it.
What would they accept?
All the Abrahamic religions, Hindu, Buddhist, Native and non denominational.

I admit I was a little surprised as many forms of paganism are recognised in Canada as being legit belief systems but honestly! I was more than surprised, I was floored! Not even Agnostic or Atheist made the shortlist and those have been recognised since what seems to be forever!
We eventually and grudgingly put down non denominational for government purposes.

Seriously does anyone else think the Canadian gov needs a swift boot to the arse?
I know they are insanely behind on many things and this is only a drop in the bucket for them, but still it makes me furious.

Anyways onto a light ending?
We have a officiate that is familiar with handfastings both "In Your Face" handfastings and the more "slightly in the closet" handfastings. The dress has been found as well as the natural venue, outdoor wedding YAY!
rings have been made and delivered (custom)
Though we are still looking for a long silver cord for the actual handfasting.

Not much longer to go now!

~Blessed Be
~Flaming

   

Yup, I suck at schedules

So no I can't promise a schedule but I can promise that I will keep coming back. That and I have a few topics/experiences/rants that deserve their own title and attention so expect more today.

I disappeared again

I went Missing again didn't I?

well yes, and I don't have a very good reason.
I just plain forgot, I am so busy at work pulling 10+ hour days for 10 day stretches, with my 4 days off I'm playing catch up with cleaning, cooking, teaching, socializing, and worshiping. Plus I have a new puppy which is like a child! I swear she needs all your attention all of the time.

But all that is settled a bit today, so here I am.

so what did I miss talking about?

IMBOLC (Feb 3rd)

I don't do much for Imbolc seeing as it's usually so close to yule and it sneaks right up on you as soon as your done all your celebrations, but that's ok relax. Imbolc is a time where things are becoming new again. animals are getting ready to birth and some are even lactating, they are nesting down for their future kids.
and I got a puppy and had to puppy proof the entire house (and failed).

Whats coming up fast?
OSTARA (March 20th or the spring equinox)
Light and dark are matching up equally things are being born and it's a good time to start something new...Like maybe your seeds?
Not only am I going to start me seeds but I'm also going to delve into yogurt making on my stove. I eat enough of it that if I can make it it'll not only cut down on my grocery bill but I will also know more about what I'm eating. Which is always a good thing.



 Yogurt recipe I'm trying
-heat ~946ml of milk to 85°C on stove in double boiler (stir occasionally) 
-let cool to 43°C then add warm starter ~2 TBSPs
you can get dry powder bacteria starter but I'm using a plain greek yogurt with live active cultures 
-mix extremely well and incubate in oven at ~38°C using oven light and warming mode 
-After 7 or more hours of incubation should have fairly decent thickness with possible curd floating on top (curd = clear yellowish liquid) can incubate longer for thicker or more tart tasting yogurt or use a cheese cloth to drain and have thicker yogurt. 
-stick in fridge to cool...will last up to 2 weeks (unless I eat it first)
-save some for more starter repeat until not reliable anymore then get new starter. 


add flavor or sugar as needed

Most of my directions came from here but others from random searches around google.

Wish me luck?


Blessed Be
~Flaming

Full wolf moon Jan 26th 2013

Yup well the January full moon was yesterday...I personally know it as the wolf moon, other names I have heard it called by are the old moon and the snow moon though sometimes the February full moon is also known as the snow moon.

I know it as the wolf moon because many villages around the world where there are wolf populations hear the wolves more frequently as we are deep into winter and food in the wild is becoming more and more scarce. The wolves howl hungrily while moving closer and closer if not into the villages themselves looking for more food.

This also being the first full moon of 2013 there is some superstition attached.  I haven't tested this myself but in certain areas of the world people believe that if the first full moon of the year is bright that it means the year will receive much rain and a bountiful harvest, but a red tinted moon at the beginning of the year means a dry and scarce year.
Well last night we had clouds and snow, but I did catch a few glimpses and it wasn't red. Does that mean I'll have a mediocre year for my crops? I have no clue but I think I'll keep the moon in mind a little more while planting and see what happens this year.

Well Blessed Be
~Flaming

well I moved so here's a quick summary

Well as I have mentioned before I did move over Christmas away from my apartment and into a small house with my fiance.
Yay for more room and time to do stuff and less fear because I'm living in a safer part of town!

Well lots of things happened while I was gone and lots of people helped with the move and came to visit as well.

well first the move in mid December
We were supposed to have a hockey team help us...no joke a full college hockey team that L works with was supposed to show up and help us move everything. But they didn't show up.
Some of them slept in, some went on vacation, others just went and done whatever. A small group of them even went to the nearest big city (4-5 hours away) to go bar hopping...yup
So we had L who managed to get time off work early, my dad, one of my dad's friends, a friend we call TK, and later in the day/weekend my mother and my auntie TT to help clean up after.

Then unpacking...we managed go get 90% of the unpacking done before my grandmother flew from across the country to visit everyone and she stayed with us a few nights including Christmas eve and day.
Now most of my family is Catholic, with a few atheists  but they all know our religious sway (even if some of them don't understand the concept that there are different religions. to understand that confusion go Here)
We ate many meals had many drinks and gave many gifts around 3 tree's. We're small town folks at heart where mummering was common in times past so we still have the tendency to wander to different houses to partake in celebratory awesomeness through out the day.
In my family we do avoid heavy talks of religion and belief though some outsiders might be shocked at some of the other things we say to each other and once you get some alcohol in us, well then all bets are off. But it's all in good fun.

found at http://www.tmacs.ca/cs_mummer.shtml

Took a few days to clear up and finish our random get togethers and get back to work . We're still even giving and receiving gifts to people we know so it's not over yet.

Now I finally have a few minutes to sit and write and reflect on how my mismatched family incorporates many traditions and beliefs to just fit.
It's lots of food and work but it's more than worth it.



Now time to eat and prepare for work tomorrow while still trying to plan my garden and our wedding.


Blessed Be
~Flaming