Luverly of the Week: Borzoi

Photo of Ruby the Borzoi taken by myriorama

I love dogs, and the Borzoi is up there in my favourites. They kind of remind me of deer. Here are some more luverlies!


Ruby again! Photo taken by myriorama


Rufus and Yodek taken by keep on keeping on


Helena taken by Sheltie Boy


Hope taken by Zak Metz


Zapata taken by overdrive cz

Clever Hans

Not to be mistaken with this lovely fellow, Clever Hans the horse, but this Clever Hans, of The Brothers Grimm


Illustration by Arthur Rackham, from a vintage The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales book

The mother of Hans said, "Whither away, Hans?" Hans answered, "To Grethel." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel, "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What dost thou bring that is good?" "I bring nothing, I want to have something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a needle. Hans says, "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the needle, sticks it into a hay-cart, and follows the cart home.

"Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took nothing; had something given me." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a needle." "Where is the needle, Hans?" "Stuck it in the hay-cart." "That was ill done, Hans. Thou shouldst have stuck the needle in thy sleeve." "Never mind, I'll do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What dost thou bring that is good?" "I bring nothing; I want to have something given to me." Grethel presents Hans with a knife. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye Hans."

Hans takes the knife, sticks it in his sleeve, and goes home.

"Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took her nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a knife." "Where is the knife, Hans?" "Stuck in my sleeve." "That's ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have put the knife in thy pocket." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother. " "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, I want something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a young goat. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the goat, ties its legs, and puts it in his pocket. When he gets home it is suffocated.

"Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "Took nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "She gave me a goat." "Where is the goat, Hans?" "Put it in my pocket." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have put a rope round the goat's neck." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans,?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "Oh, I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, I want something given me." Grethel presents Hans with a piece of bacon. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the bacon, ties it to a rope, and drags it away behind him. The dogs come and devour the bacon. When he gets home, he has the rope in his hand, and there is no longer anything hanging to it.

"Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans." "Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." What didst thou take her?" "I took her nothing, she gave me something." "What did Grethel give thee?" "Gave me a bit of bacon." "Where is the bacon, Hans?" "I tied it to a rope, brought it home, dogs took it." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have carried the bacon on thy head." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans." "What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, but would have something given." Grethel presents Hans with a calf. "Good-bye, Grethel." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans takes the calf, puts it on his head, and the calf kicks his face.

"Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "I took nothing, but had something given me." "What did Grethel give thee?" "A calf." "Where hast thou the calf, Hans?" "I set it on my head and it kicked my face." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have led the calf, and put it in the stall." "Never mind, will do better next time."

"Whither away, Hans?" "To Grethel, mother." "Behave well, Hans." "I'll behave well. Good-bye, mother." "Good-bye, Hans."

Hans comes to Grethel. "Good day, Grethel." "Good day, Hans. What good thing dost thou bring?" "I bring nothing, but would have something given." Grethel says to Hans, "I will go with thee."

Hans takes Grethel, ties her to a rope, leads her to the rack and binds her fast.

Then Hans goes to his mother. "Good evening, mother." "Good evening, Hans. Where hast thou been?" "With Grethel." "What didst thou take her?" "I took her nothing." "What did Grethel give thee?" "She gave me nothing, she came with me." "Where hast thou left Grethel?" "I led her by the rope, tied her to the rack, and scattered some grass for her." "That was ill done, Hans, thou shouldst have cast friendly eyes on her." "Never mind, will do better."

Hans went into the stable, cut out all the calves', and sheep's eyes, and threw them in Grethel's face.

Then Grethel became angry, tore herself loose and ran away, and became the bride of Hans.

Sláinte!

Laurel

Sheela na Gig

The Kilpeck Sheela na Gig from The Sheela na Gig Project

I had first come across these interesting characters in an occult shop (sadly long closed) in Toronto in the mid-nineties. The shop had an assortment of Sheela na Gig figures, from resin plaques to pewter pendants. I settled on getting a pendant.

There was something about them that I was greatly attracted to, which I can only describe as a familiarity. I had asked the shop owner what she knew of the Sheela na Gigs, and then set myself off on a research adventure.

The research became somewhat of a wild goose chase, as I could find very little in books. But with the rise of information available on the net I found out more, which was both a blessing and a curse. One is left to sift through this info to find the truth. In reality, although there are many theories, there are just as many disagreements as to what the origin of the Sheela na Gigs really is.

There are Sheela na Gigs spread throughout a large area including in Wales, Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, France, Norway, and Switzerland. They are widely believed to have their origins date back to the 11th century as 'church ornaments' in France, but some folks dispute this.


My Sheela na Gig now finds her home on my smallest cauldron.

Kathryn Price NicDhàna points out that there is a vast difference in the style of the 'Continental Sheelas' and the 'Insular Celtic Sheelas', and that the 'Insular Celtic Sheelas' might go back quite further in history. She had become aware of some images on standing stones in Ireland of which she believes could be Sheelas (or as she puts it 'at least the precursors to the Sheelas'). Click on here for a photo, I think that the similarities are uncanny.

The Sheela na Gig Project has an excellent website, where they go through many of the theories including A Celtic Pagan Survival, An Example of the Goddess, A Fertility Figure, A Warning Against Lust, and Protection Against Evil.

Two other excellent resources that I have come across are Tara McLoughlin's (great photos!), and The White Dragon's article (awesome magazine!).

Now I will leave you with a video of Pj Harvey's Sheela na Gig.

Sláinte!

Laurel

Another Great Homesteading Book!

Last week I picked up The Harrowsmith Country Life Reader (various authors) for a whopping $2.00.

Although a bit dated (1990), it is still an excellent resource for homesteading in my opinion. The book starts off with different peoples' stories about how they came to homesteading, and why they love it, and hardships they have faced.

It also has a whole slew of great info including on how to raise a small flock of chickens, how to make candles, info about planting and keeping trees, gardening (such as beneficial insects, organic soil care, and how to cure garlic), and has some great recipes.

There is of course many more topics covered, so I highly recommend this book to any homesteaders (from aspiring to old school). :)

Happy reading!

Sláinte!

Laurel

Winter Comfort Foods

*Brrrrr* Baby, it's cold outside! Here are two yummy recipes to eat with some tea or hot cocoa, while curled up by your warm hearth. ;)

This recipe was concocted by my better half.

Cardamom & Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

1 ¾ cup unbleached flour
½ cup raw sugar*
1 cup butter
½ teaspoon vanilla
pinch of sea salt
½ teaspoon cardamom, freshly ground
1 cup pistachios, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped

Mix butter and sugar until fluffy.
Gradually add flour.
Add vanilla, salt, and cardamom. Stir in pistachios.
Chill dough for 1 to 2 hours.
Lightly flour surface and roll out dough to ¼ inch thick.
Sprinkle surface with sugar (optional).
Cut out with 2 ½ inch cookie cutter.
Lay on parchment paper line cookie sheet.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 325.
* I have used honey and maple syrup with this recipe to make it ‘more local’ (1/4 cup of either) and added another ¼ cup of flour to the recipe.

This is a recipe I pretty much came up with on the fly to use up leftovers, and try to remain virtuous to my eating local/regional.

Apple, Cranberry, Walnut Loaf

½ cup dried cranberries
1 apple, cored and peeled, chopped into chunks
½ cup walnuts, freshly shelled and coarsely chopped
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour*
¼ cup of honey or maple syrup
2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ amaranth seeds
3 eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup soft butter

Sift together flour, baking soda, and sea salt
Blend together with eggs, butter, and honey/maple syrup and add to dry ingredients
Add in cranberries, apples, walnuts, and amaranth seeds gradually
Pour batter into a butter loaf pan (small, about 8 by 4)
Bake for one hour at 350
Allow loaf to cool in pan for about 20 minutes
Removed gently from pan and let cool on rack for about another 10
Recipe Yield: One load
*Could be replaced with acorn or amaranth flour.

Sláinte!

Laurel