I missed the Lughnasadh post! I can't believe it!!! I was pretty busy at work these last 8 weeks being a librarian and all. The summer reading program is a large undertaking, but I am done! I love my library kids, they are awesome!!
“At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months, and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end.
Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Lammas, but typically the focus is on either the early harvest aspect, or the celebration of the Celtic god Lugh. It's the season when the first grains are ready to be harvested and threshed, when the apples and grapes are ripe for the plucking, and we're grateful for the food we have on our tables.”
Taken from : http://paganwiccan.about.com
Today, for instance, I picked a few peaches from my peach tree and a few figs. I have a (excuse the term) crap load of figs, but am so sick of them, I pick maybe two a day when I walk my dog. Gone are the days of 47 jars of fig jam. How much of that can one person possibly eat?? I leave them to the birds.
I also had a few tomatoes that were ripe. I have so much basil that I intend on making into pesto (but never do) and regrew scallions (thanks to Pinterest).
Okay, so who is Lugh?
He is the Celtic Master of Skills.
“Similar to the Roman god Mercury, Lugh was known as a god of both skill and the distribution of talent. There are countless inscriptions and statues dedicated to Lugh, and Julius Caesar himself commented on this god's importance to the Celtic people. Although he was not a war god in the same sense as the Roman Mars, Lugh was considered a warrior because to the Celts, skill on the battlefield was a highly valued ability. In Ireland, which was never invaded by Roman troops, Lugh is called sam ildanach, meaning he was skilled in many arts simultaneously.”
“For many Pagans and Wiccans, Lugh is honored as the champion of artistry and skills. Many artisans, musicians, bards, and crafters invoke Lugh when they need assistance with creativity. Today Lugh is still honored at the time of harvest, not only as a god of grain but also as a god of late summer storms.
Even today, in Ireland many people celebrate Lughnasadh with dancing, song, and bonfires. The Catholic church also has set this date aside for a ritual blessing of farmers' fields.”
Taken from : http://paganwiccan.about.com
My possibly exciting news is that my book may be available for purchase at a local Honey Company (I can’t say who yet) …I am waiting to hear what the verdict is. Fingers crossed they like it enough to sell it!
Photo Challenge?
Yeah I know, I’m getting there. I haven’t had much in the way of photographic opportunity except for one panoramic that I might use.
Second book?
Same.
I’ve been listening to some music that is getting me back in the groove. It’s kind of the same push I get from people asking me if it’s done yet. Sort of.
I have an author discussion with the most awesome Third Thursday Book Club at Hart County Library on Thursday, August 18th at 6 PM. If anyone is in the area, please come join us. I am under the impression there will some be some intriguing questions and I’ve been asked to bring my notebook.
Yes, notebook.
Each book will have a composition notebook (seriously, an old school black and white job like in 5th grade) in which I outline the book, write scenes, calculate dates, and family trees, sketch biographies of the characters, and jot down notes like who drives what color vehicle and what color eyes does so-in-so have. Totally old school, I know, but it’s tangible. I need to actually put pen to paper sometimes for a plot twist or scene outline to make sense. I have woken up at 3 AM with the answer to a plot twist problem and blindly jotted down notes on a notepad, ripped it out and shoved it into my notebook. There are napkins from my airport wait on the way back from New Orleans that have the second book plotted out, scraps of paper with bits of info, names and dates, agents that I sent it to, you name it, it is stuffed in that notebook. Because of the sheer volume of notes, scraps of paper and blood, sweat and (so many) tears, it is held together with a rubber band – not a wimpy one either-one of those industrial broccoli stalk ones. Yeah, I was vegetarian and vegan for a bit, and I recycle.
I have a new notebook for the second book. It has notes about new info that I’m researching, names, dates, more plot twists, and family history. Frankly, I’m trying to keep to the damn outline but I kept writing scenes too fast. My pacing was ridiculous; I practically wrote the book in 90 pages. So I’m trying to re-read everything I wrote and go from there…eventually.
Well, I’ll stop rambling and let you all enjoy the first harvest of the season.
Take care and thanks for reading!
J.C.
“At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months, and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end.
Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Lammas, but typically the focus is on either the early harvest aspect, or the celebration of the Celtic god Lugh. It's the season when the first grains are ready to be harvested and threshed, when the apples and grapes are ripe for the plucking, and we're grateful for the food we have on our tables.”
Taken from : http://paganwiccan.about.com
Today, for instance, I picked a few peaches from my peach tree and a few figs. I have a (excuse the term) crap load of figs, but am so sick of them, I pick maybe two a day when I walk my dog. Gone are the days of 47 jars of fig jam. How much of that can one person possibly eat?? I leave them to the birds.
I also had a few tomatoes that were ripe. I have so much basil that I intend on making into pesto (but never do) and regrew scallions (thanks to Pinterest).
Okay, so who is Lugh?
He is the Celtic Master of Skills.
“Similar to the Roman god Mercury, Lugh was known as a god of both skill and the distribution of talent. There are countless inscriptions and statues dedicated to Lugh, and Julius Caesar himself commented on this god's importance to the Celtic people. Although he was not a war god in the same sense as the Roman Mars, Lugh was considered a warrior because to the Celts, skill on the battlefield was a highly valued ability. In Ireland, which was never invaded by Roman troops, Lugh is called sam ildanach, meaning he was skilled in many arts simultaneously.”
“For many Pagans and Wiccans, Lugh is honored as the champion of artistry and skills. Many artisans, musicians, bards, and crafters invoke Lugh when they need assistance with creativity. Today Lugh is still honored at the time of harvest, not only as a god of grain but also as a god of late summer storms.
Even today, in Ireland many people celebrate Lughnasadh with dancing, song, and bonfires. The Catholic church also has set this date aside for a ritual blessing of farmers' fields.”
Taken from : http://paganwiccan.about.com
My possibly exciting news is that my book may be available for purchase at a local Honey Company (I can’t say who yet) …I am waiting to hear what the verdict is. Fingers crossed they like it enough to sell it!
Photo Challenge?
Yeah I know, I’m getting there. I haven’t had much in the way of photographic opportunity except for one panoramic that I might use.
Second book?
Same.
I’ve been listening to some music that is getting me back in the groove. It’s kind of the same push I get from people asking me if it’s done yet. Sort of.
I have an author discussion with the most awesome Third Thursday Book Club at Hart County Library on Thursday, August 18th at 6 PM. If anyone is in the area, please come join us. I am under the impression there will some be some intriguing questions and I’ve been asked to bring my notebook.
Yes, notebook.
Each book will have a composition notebook (seriously, an old school black and white job like in 5th grade) in which I outline the book, write scenes, calculate dates, and family trees, sketch biographies of the characters, and jot down notes like who drives what color vehicle and what color eyes does so-in-so have. Totally old school, I know, but it’s tangible. I need to actually put pen to paper sometimes for a plot twist or scene outline to make sense. I have woken up at 3 AM with the answer to a plot twist problem and blindly jotted down notes on a notepad, ripped it out and shoved it into my notebook. There are napkins from my airport wait on the way back from New Orleans that have the second book plotted out, scraps of paper with bits of info, names and dates, agents that I sent it to, you name it, it is stuffed in that notebook. Because of the sheer volume of notes, scraps of paper and blood, sweat and (so many) tears, it is held together with a rubber band – not a wimpy one either-one of those industrial broccoli stalk ones. Yeah, I was vegetarian and vegan for a bit, and I recycle.
I have a new notebook for the second book. It has notes about new info that I’m researching, names, dates, more plot twists, and family history. Frankly, I’m trying to keep to the damn outline but I kept writing scenes too fast. My pacing was ridiculous; I practically wrote the book in 90 pages. So I’m trying to re-read everything I wrote and go from there…eventually.
Well, I’ll stop rambling and let you all enjoy the first harvest of the season.
Take care and thanks for reading!
J.C.