The Word-Hoard: williewaught, dog's-nose, gamflin

Happy New Year!

This week's word-hoard feature: williewaught, dog's-nose, and gamflin.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

The Word-Hoard: adoratory, wellquemand, selynesse

First of all, happy holidays!

This week's word-hoard feature: adoratory, wellquemand, and selynesse.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Winter

"This is an alchemical time sign for winter."

Learn more at symbols.com.

Winter officially begins at 10:08 p.m. PST tonight, AKA 6:08 a.m. GMT on Saturday.

Here's some information on how different peoples have celebrated, through the ages, the coming of winter and the turning back to the light: religioustolerance.org.

Also, an exciting note from that site:

For the first time, the 2007 Winter Solstice illumination at Newgrange in Ireland will be available live on the Internet, weather conditions permitting. See http://www.newgrange.com. The passage and chamber at Newgrange will be illuminated by the rising sun on 2007-DEC-21 between 08:58 and 09:15 GMT.

Writing: What is work?

Fabulous post (and comments) over at the Science Fiction & Fantasy Novelists blog about what "work" means in the context of writing.

Christmas tree

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
Christmas tree: It is a conifer that nearly everywhere in the Christian world is decorated and lighted at Christmas time. It became customary in the nineteenth century (but probably goes back to heathen practices) for people to hang green branches and lighted candles in their houses as protection during the nights of 25 December to 6 January (the so-called Rauchnachte, when spirits were supposed to be abroad).

In Christendom the Christmas tree is a symbol of Christ as the true tree of life. The lights symbolize the "Light of the World" born in Bethlehem; the apples (often used as decoration) refer symbolically to the apple of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The apple denotes original sin, from which Christ's act redeemed humanity, thereby giving humans access once again to paradise, symbolized by the Christmas tree. (Herder)

Glósóli: Glowing Sun

Amazing, magical, and disturbing (as magic can be) video from Icelandic band Sigur Rós called "Glósóli", or "Glowing Sun".



For more information on Sigur Rós visit http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/.

Mistletoe

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
mistletoe: A plant favored in modern times as a Christmas symbol; in ancient times it was considered sacred in many cultures.

This semiparasitic plant, which draws water and minerals from its host, was considered neither tree nor bush; according to legend, it sprung up where lightning had struck a tree (especially an oak). Mistletoe growing on oak trees was especially prized, e.g., by ancient Romans or the Celtic Druids. According to Pliny the Elder, the Druids cut it with golden sickles, gathered it in a white cloth, and then offered it in sacrifice to the gods, along with a bull.

Mistletoe was considered a panacea, and, because it always remained green, a symbol of immortality. Robert Graves writes that the mistletoe was though to be the sexual organ of the oak tree, and when "the Druids cut it, using a golden sickle for reasons of ritual, they were performing a symbolic castration. The viscous juice of the berries was thought of as the sperm of the oak and a fluid with great powers of rejuvenation."

The English and American custom of hanging up sprigs of mistletoe at Christmas time - and of feeling free to kiss anyone standing under them - seems to go back to the Celtic enthusiasm for the plant.

In Germanic myth, a plot hatched by the wicked Loki turned mistletoe in the hand of the blind god Hod into a lethal spear, which killed Balder, the god of light and vegetation; only after the end of the world (Ragnarok) can Hod and Balder begin a new life in paradise (Gimle). Here the mistletoe symbolizes the innocent tool that becomes an instrument of doom through evil magic, as does the god who throws it, Balder's blind brother. (Biedermann)

The Word-Hoard: sharooshed, tweague, blutterbunged

This week's word-hoard feature: sharooshed, tweague, and one of my all-time favorites, blutterbunged.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Spriggans

Myths, folklore, and symbolism
spriggans: These are small, ugly, and malicious fairies found in wild places in Cornwall, where they guard treasures. They steal babies and leave changelings, and blight crops. According to Robert Hunt, they are the ghosts of giants, and therefore able to swell from their usual small size into huge figures...Anyone who digs for their treasures will find himself surrounded by hideous and terrifying figures till he flees in panic; if he is brave enough to return, he will find the pit he dug has closed up again. (Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore)

Special podcast: interview and reading THE MIDNIGHT SON on KFJC

Special podcast: THE MIDNIGHT SON on KFJC.

So, every year after NaNo, Ann Arbor at KJFC (89.7 FM in the Bay Area) has writers come in and read during her Unbedtime Stories segment. Yesterday, I read a bit from THE MIDNIGHT SON, as well as had a nice chat with Ann before and after I did the reading. It was a BLAST! I had a great time and felt really comfortable on-air (despite how nervous I was before I got there). I felt lots of good vibes from my friends (particularly Heather!) who listened to the stream online, and really had a good time with it.

Ann asked me to bring in a CD with a music bed, so I thought I'd share that info with you here.
1. First and Last Waltz - Nickel Creek
2. Allison at the Stoplight - World Trade Center soundtrack
3. Pastures New - Nickel Creek
4. You Deserve Flowers - Chris Thile
5. Appalachian Waltz - Mark O'Connor
6. Short Trip Home - Edgar Meyer

I'll be posting the whole thing on my website, and probably splitting out the interviews from the reading into separate files as well.

Last, I must emphasize that the broadcast and this recording are copyright KFJC.

Myths, folklore & symbolism

I love this story: The Jostedal Grouse, or Jostedalsrypa. I'm fascinated by the cultural impact of the Black Plague, and the story of a girl left alone, high in the mountains, is incredibly evocative. Plus, of course, fjord Norway is so gorgeous. Here's a great photo from an area near Jostedal, complete with fjord ponies!

Lyre

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
lyre It is a symbol of divine harmony and of the harmonious union of sky and earth. The lyre is an attribute of the Greek god Apollo and a common symbol of music and poetry. The sound of the lyre was sometimes believed (e.g., in the myth of Orpheus) to have magical powers, especially of taming wild beasts. In the Bible, playing the harp is an expression of thanks to and praise of God. (Herder)

The Word-Hoard: altiloquence, metrician, and ramfeezled

This week's word-hoard feature: altiloquence, metrician, and ramfeezled.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.

Facebook

Well. I just signed up for Facebook, despite dragging my feet for a good long time. So, if you're there, swing by and friend me! I think you can see my profile here

Ermine

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
ermine Any of several species of large weasels that turn white in winter. Because of its white color it is a symbol of purity, innocence, and incorruptibility; it was often used as fur trim on the robes of rulers to denote nobility.

In Christian art it symbolizes Christ as victor over the Devil, since the ermine hunts and kills serpents. (Herder)

sparks

Myths, symbolism, and folklore
sparks: symbolically speaking, tiny bits of actual light, floating upward from the domain of base matter into the higher realms - across the duality above/below. The duality spirit/matter, as it appears in Orphism, Pythagoreanism, Essnianism, and other philosophies and religions with Gnostic leanings, begins with the belief that minute bits of the divine spirit or of the ether are buried in us and that they attain the realm of light, as souls without bodies, when they have freed themselves from the "bondage of the flesh." The Chassidic mystic Rabbi Samuel Rav Shmelke of Mikulov (died 1778) formulated the duality as follows: "All souls are divine sparks. When any spark is sunk in the swamp and the mire, will we not feel sorrow for it? Will we not help it to free itself, so it can once more light up with its full brilliance? It is, after all, a part of God himself." (Biedermann)

Village Harvest

The Bay Area, particularly the Santa Clara Valley, has a long tradition of planting fruit trees. In fact, in the late 19th century, SC (AKA the Silicon Valley) was known as The Valley of the Heart's Delight, because rather than sprawl and technology, the valley was absolutely covered in fruit trees (hence Blossom Valley down by Almaden). Tour companies would arrange tours to visit the orchards when they blossomed in springtime.

Anyway, the legacy of that is there are tons and tons of fruit trees in people's yards, and in vacant lots, and in abandoned (but still producing) orchards - and lots of it goes to waste. Ripe fruit, just sitting in people's yards. A group called Village Harvest (http://www.villageharvest.org) started about five years ago to have volunteers harvest that fruit (with the homeowner's permission, of course), and then donate it to local food banks.

Well, what about the over-ripe or perishable fruit? According to their website:

VH LOCAL FRUIT PRESERVES
Every year we have an abundance of tree ripened fruit that is too ripe or perishable to make it through distribution at our local food banks. Our volunteers make this fruit into delicious preserves that reflect the height of the season, and their sale helps fund our harvesting expenses.

During this holiday season, please consider purchasing some - or a lot - as gifts (or for yourself) that help us carry out our work. All of our fruit is tree ripened, Santa Clara Valley grown, and often organically grown. Current flavors are below, all priced at only $5 per 7 oz. jar unless noted:

Blenheim Apricot Jam
Santa Rosa Plum
Wild Plum
Baby Crawford Peach
Flavor King Pluot & Raspberry Jam
Black Mission Fig Jam
English Rose Jelly
Meyer Lemon Marmalade
Blood Orange Marmalade
Apricot White Balsamic Vinegar ($6 bottle)
Black Mission Fig Vinegar ($6 bottle)

Email sales@villageharvest.org to place an order or with questions, or see our descriptions and order form on our website http://www.villageharvest.org/preserves.htm

Sounds like a good holiday gift giving idea! Oh, and learned that the pomegranate vinegar won't be made this year, but the pomegranate jelly will, and it will apparently be available the week of December 17. Yum!

(cross-posted from my LJ)

Myths, symbolism, and folklore



"In botany this sign is used to represent an indefinite number of petals. When used as a meteorological sign it means heat haze or dry haze. In computer flow charting it can stand for automatically operated keyboard.

Learn more at symbols.com

Myths, folklore & symbolism
Gula: The female personification of gluttony, one of the seven mortal sins, she rides on a swine or a fox with a goose in its maw. Gluttony is also symbolized by such animals as the bear, raven, and wolf. (Herder)

The Word-Hoard: jobation, favonian, and belletristic

This week's word-hoard feature: jobation, favonian, and belletristic.

I invite you to listen in and leave me a comment with your creative use of each week's word-hoard featured words! You can subscribe to this podcast (and this whole blog for that matter) by clicking on the RSS icon in the right-sidebar. Or, if you'd like to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, you can do it one of two ways:

1. Search for "Julie K. Rose" or "Word-Hoard" in the iTunes store; the podcast will show up in the search results, and you can simply click the "subscribe button"; or

2. Choose the Advanced menu, and then Subscribe to Podcast. This will bring up a dialog box, where you can paste this URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/YULh.