#the outer fields at western springs

[mikeywayarchive]

The Outer Fields // Mar 11th 2023 // @ trashandglitter on twitter

#mikey way #gw #mcr #live #return #2023 #mar 2023 #3/11/23 #2023 nz/aus/japan tour #auckland #the outer fields at western springs #photo #originals

[smeagles]

Fix, Fax, Fuck You • by Doug Peters

#gerard way #my chemical romance #mcr #return #mcrauckland #mcr the outer fields at western springs #mcr the outer fields at western springs 2023 #mcr auckland #mcr auckland 2023 #my post

[exitwound]

📍 Outer Fields at Western Springs, Auckland

[autumnalwalker]

ROY G BIV tag

Thank you for the tag, @druidx. This looks like a fun new one.

Passing the (entirely optional) tag to @rickie-the-storyteller, @on-noon, @yourlocalboredprocastinator, @ghost-town-story. @broodparasitism, @itusebastian, @void-botanist, and an open tag for anyone else.

Rules: Search your your writing for the colours of the rainbow and post the excerpt

Red: Empty Names - 14 - Down Low

When Ashan finds her some ten minutes later with a satiated smile on her face and watching the spider pull in their stygian catch from the lake, the cut on Eris’s forehead has already healed.  None of the blood painting her new armor red is hers.

Orange: The Archivist's Journal, Day 78

As long as I’m writing, I suppose I ought to take a moment to describe the landing area.  It was another jutting cliff with an arch on the end, like Siren Overlook and the one we encountered to the west.  Twice could be a coincidence, but three times and I’m convinced the whole formation is artificial, not just the arch, columns, and pool.  It wasn’t nearly so overgrown as the western dock – if anything the columns were in better shape than at Siren Overlook – but whereas Siren Overlook was mostly covered in short grass with the occasional tiny white flower or stubborn shrub this was a veritable field of bright orange flowers broken only by the water lily filled pool running down the center.

Yellow: The Archivist's Journal, Day 60

Doffing my boots and carrying them in one hand, I waded in a short ways as I walked the perimeter of the spring.  It’s curious how unafraid the fish and turtles swimming the shallows were of me.  Most I could practically get within arm’s length before they darted away, and if I stood still for a few minutes, small schools of finger-length yellow fish would congregate in my shadow.

Green: The Archivist's Journal, Day 9

Hurrying to catch up with my young companion I pushed my way through the crooked door only to nearly trip over her.  The morning light had transformed the interior space from a surreal void to an awe-inspiring expanse.  Light filled the central nave.  As green leaf-filtered streams on the high side windows.  As vertical golden rays replacing the prior night’s columns of rain from holes in the roof.  As an iridescent wave coming in from the bare remains of a curved stained glass window backlighting the statue of the Reader.  All this reflected off the broad leaf and moss-filled puddles that stretched across much of the floor, still not evaporated days later.  The side aisles were a tangle of roots from the trees above, quite possibly doing as much to hold the structure up as the pillars separating aisle from nave.

Indigo: Witch's Testament: The Fighter

Weapons are raised and aimed.  The crowd begins to back away.  Someone above cracks a joke about how they should have just skipped to waving guns around if it was going to be this easy to solve the problem.

The crowd only backs off so far though, most that made it through the outer gate are still on the inside of it.  Those still stuck beyond push one another over the wall so some might get a better view.  A lone figure left behind by the receding sea of people remains standing in the middle of the reef of broken and smoking drones, tens of meters from the protesters behind him and the forces before him.  His dark clothes are long and billowing.  His pointed hat is wide brimmed to hide his face.  His serpentine familiar, assembled from scavenged and stolen parts, coils up one arm, over his shoulders, and down the other.

Someone in the line of hired guns makes an incredulous remark under his breath about cosplaying wizards.

The man corrects him to say that he’s a witch and his voice echoes through every loudspeaker, portable device, and auditory implant in the building.

The witch strides forward, his eyes glowing indigo from the shadows beneath his hat and matched by those of his slowly uncoiling familiar.

Someone gives an order to fire and an electrified dart wizzes past the unperturbed witch.  Six more darts miss.  Rubber bullets are loaded and combat implants lock in firing trajectories.

To the eyes of the security personnel, every shot should be a hit but impossibly passes through their target and out the other side.  To the eyes of the protestors the witch is walking through a hail of bullets that are all miraculously going astray.  To the eyes of the witch, every implant-assisted firing solution coming from the soldiers before him is being outlined in indigo and nudged to exactly where he wants it.

The witch has already crossed the security line and is on the steps of the building behind them by the time someone catches on and spins around to aim and fire manually.  His familiar rears up and hisses.  The shot goes wide as the entire security contingent seizes up, spasms, and falls to the ground.

The moment the witch crosses the threshold, every light in the building goes out, every door unlocks save for those to the roof and underground garage, and every camera becomes a witch’s eye.

Violet: A Dream About Purple

We are all too busy watching the game to notice anything wrong until a third team tries to take the field.  Their uniforms are purple and their hair appears to be dyed to match.  All of them wear the same vacant smile that crawled its way out of the uncanny valley and speak with offputting singsong voices. 

It is only then that we all look up and see the storm rolling in, stretching across the horizon with clouds of that same unnaturally vibrant violet.  Eerie music rides the wind ahead of the storm, heralding its imminent arrival. 

#tag game #writeblr #my writing #writers on tumblr #writing tag games #empty names #the archivist's journal #The Witches' Testaments #roy g biv tag #in retrospect this is just #find the word tag #That snippet for Indigo was actually written with this tag game in mind

[chrismeek]

@mychemicalromance Western Springs - Outer fields March 11 2023 Set list: The Foundations of Decay 
I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Boy Division Give 'Em Hell, Kid This Is How I Disappear 
The Ghost of You 
Our Lady of Sorrows Teenagers 
Thank You for the Venom DESTROYA Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) Vampire Money Planetary (GO!) Helena 
Mama 
Famous Last Words 
The Kids From Yesterday Encore: Welcome to the Black Parade (at Western Springs, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprQVb6JGGm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ranelatogo]

All About the Geographical Aspects of Germany – A Comprehensive Guide

Germany has a diverse landscape, with tall, sheer mountains in the south, sandy, rolling plains in the north, forested hills in the urbanized west, and agricultural plains in the east.

We all know that geography can be difficult to learn, but it is also necessary for understanding our surroundings. Fortunately, there are tons of geographical information about Germany that is both easy to remember and enjoyable to learn! Here are 12 astonishing facts about Germany's geography that you may not have known before.

Germany's geography

Enrolling on online German language courses must have fascinated you to learn about the geographical features of Germany. Germany's terrain is diverse, with mountains, lakes, rivers, plains, and forests. Throughout history, German geography has had a significant impact on the country's development.

For a long time, Germany's geography has had an impact on the economy. Germany is a country shaped by its geographical location.

For centuries, people have lived in the area and made a living by fishing in rivers and seas.

1.    The Zugspitze is Germany's highest mountain, with a peak elevation of 2.962 meters. It is considered as one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions.

2.    Germany is in Western Europe, between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The land is 357,580 km2 (138,062 mi2) in size and has 2,389 km of coastline (1,484.5 mi). About 89% of the land area of California is in this area. So, Germany is the 64th largest country in the world and one of the largest in Europe.

3.    Denmark borders Germany on the Jutland peninsula in the north. The Baltic Sea (Ostsee) and North Sea (Nordsee) coasts, respectively, complete the peninsula's northern border. Germany borders the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg to the west, and France to the southwest.

4.    Germany has a mild climate all year round, with an average temperature of nearly 17 degrees in July and -0.5 degrees in January.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Germany was 42.6 degrees in Lingen in 2019.

5.    From a hydrological perspective, the landmass of the Federal Republic of Germany can be broken down into seven distinct regions: the Danube, Rhine, Ems, Weser, Elbe, and Oder River basins; the tributaries of the Meuse River (Donau, Rhein, Ems, Weser, Elbe und Oder, die Zuflüsse der Maas; the North Sea coast; and the Baltic Sea coast.

6.    Germany shares land boundaries with nine other nations. All of the Scandinavian countries, plus Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

7.    Small sections of the outer limestone (or calcareous) Alps extend from Austria into Germany. They are the Allgäuer Alps, the Wetterstein Alps (with Germany's highest peak, Zugspitze), and the Berchtesgadener Alps, in that order from west to east.

8.    Most German rivers follow the general slope of the land, which is north-northwest, and end up in the North Sea. The Danube, which starts in the Black Forest and flows east, is the main exception to this rule. It forms the border between the Central German Uplands and the Alpine Foreland. The Danube gets its water from a series of right-bank Alpine tributaries that depend on spring and summer snowmelt to flow. This makes the Danube's flow very uneven.

9.    Germany has a small number of lakes. The shallow lakes in the postglacial lowlands of the northeast have most of them. Lake Müritz in the Weichsel glacial drift of Mecklenburg–West Pomerania is the largest natural lake in the area. It covers 44 square miles (114 square km).

10.    Germany imports most of its raw materials because it doesn't have many natural resources of its own. The nation yields a lot of bituminous coal and brown coal (lignite). The main fields of brown coal are west of Cologne, east of Halle, south and southwest of Leipzig, and in Lower Lusatia in Brandenburg. Salt and potash are also found in large amounts and are mined near the Harz mountains.

11.    Germany's forest area encompasses about 11.4 million hectares, which is about one-third of the country's land area.

12.    Germany has a temperate and marine climate, with cold, cloudy winters and warm, sunny summers. In the south, warm föhn winds sometimes blow. Most of Germany is in a cool-to-warm climate zone, where humid winds from the west are most common.

The largest country in the European Union takes up a little more than a quarter of Central Europe. It has many rivers and lakes and is home to many big cities. Germany is a country in Europe. Knowing important facts about its geography helps us figure out how it came to be. Human history has been changed by geography. It's interesting and fun! Learn German online with native teachers and share these important facts to help others know about Germany’s geography.

#BestonlineGermanlanguagecourse #germana1 #germanb1 #Online German teachers #LiveonlineGermanclasses

[church-history]

St. George, Christian, soldier, dragon slayer, martyr

Feast day(s): April 23rd (Catholic) April 23rd, November 26th, November 3rd (Russian Ortho) November 17th, May 1st (Coptic Ortho)

Patronage: soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis.

It is uncertain when Saint George was born and historians continue to debate to this day. However, his death date is estimated to be April 23 303 A.D.

The first piece of evidence of George's existance appeared within the works of the Bollandists Daniel Papebroch, Jean Bolland, and Godfrey Henschen's Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca. George was one of several names listed in the historical text, and Pope Gelasius claimed George was one of the saints "whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose actions are known only to God."

George was born to a Gerontios and Polychronia, a Roman officer and a Greek native of Lydda. Both were Christians from noble families of the Anici and George, Georgios in the original Greek, was raised to follow their faith.

When George was old enough, he was welcomed into Diocletian's army. by his late 20's, George became a Tribunus and served as an imperial guard for the Emperor at Nicomedia.

On February 24, 303 A.D., Diocletian, who hated Christians, announced that every Christian the army passed would be arrested and every other soldier should offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods.

George refused to abide by the order and told Diocletian, who was angry but greatly valued his friendship with George's father.

When George announced his beliefs before his peers, Diocletian was unable to keep the news to himself.

In an effort to save George, Diocletian attempted to convert him to believe in the Roman gods, offered him land, money and slaves in exchange for offering a sacrifice to the Roman gods, and made several other offers that George refused.

Finally, after exhausting all other options, Diocletian ordered George's execution. In preparation for his death, George gave his money to the poor and was sent for several torture sessions. He was lacerated on a wheel of swords and required resuscitation three times, but still George did not turn from God.

On April 23, 303 A.D., George was decapitated before Nicomedia's outer wall. His body was sent to Lydda for burial, and other Christians went to honor George as a martyr.

Saint George and the Dragon

There are several stories about George fighting dragons, but in the Western version, a dragon or crocodile made its nest at a spring that provided water to Silene, believed to be modern-day Lcyrene in Libya.

The people were unable to collect water and so attempted to remove the dragon from its nest on several ocassions. It would temporarily leave its nest when they offered it a sheep each day, until the sheep disappeared and the people were distraught.

This was when they decided that a maiden would be just as effective as sending a sheep. The townspeople chose the victim by drawing straws. This continued until one day the princess' straw was drawn.

The monarch begged for her to be spared but the people would not have it. She was offered to the dragon, but before she could be devoured, George appeared. He faced the dragon, protected himself with the sign of the Cross, and slayed the dragon.

After saving the town, the citizens abandoned their paganism and were all converted to Christianity.

Interesting Facts

Saint George stands out among other saints and legends because he is known and revered by both Muslims and Christians.

It is said Saint George killed the dragon near the sea in Beirut, thus Saint George bay was named in his honor.

Saint George's feast day is celebrated on April 23, but if it falls before Easter, it is celebrated Easter Monday.

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates three St. George feast days each year -April 23 as is expected, November 3, to commemorate the consecration of a cathedral dedicated to him in Lydda, and on November 26, for when a church in Kiev was dedicated to him.

In older works, Saint George is depicted wearing armor and holding a lance or fighting a dragon, which represents Christ's enemies.

In Bulgaria, his feast day is celebrated May 6 with the slaughter and roasting of a lamb.

In Egypt, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria calls St. George the "Prince of Martyrs" and celebrates on May 1. There is a second celebration November 17, in honor of the first church dedicated to him.

Saint George is the patron saint of England and Catalonia and his cross can be found throughout England.

#catholic #russian orthodox #coptic orthodox #st george #st george and the dragon #christian #catholic history #history #saints

[bookofjin]

The beginning of the Commentary on the Water Classic

The Shuijing水經 or Water Classic is a terse geographical work by Sang Qin who lived during Eastern Han or Three Kingdoms era.

The Shujingzhu水經注 or Commentary on the Water Classic by the Northern Wei official Li Daoyuan massively expands on the original text.

Jing經 when referring to a literary work is usually translated in English as Classic. In its more basic and literal meaning, 經 refers to thicker vertical threads (the warp) on a weave which the horizontal threads (the weft) are woven around. Conceptually then, a jing經 text creates the core framework that other texts can be written around.

In my translation below, the core Water Classic is in bold while the Commentary is in normal font. I have grouped the Commentary sections somewhat more together to allow the Classic be more easily read on its own.

he Kunlun Barrens崑崙墟 are in the north-west[1],the distance to the Song Heights嵩高 is 50 000 li, it is the centre of the land[2]. Its height is 11 000 li[3].

(A distance of 50 000 li is about half the circumference of the Earth.)

[1]Three layers make up the Kunlun Hills崑崙丘.

The Explanation of Kunlun says: The mountain of Kunlun崑崙 have three steps. The lower is called Fantong樊桐, and is also named Bantong板桐. The second is called Xuanpu玄圃, and is also named Langfeng閬風. The upper is called Cengcheng層城, and is also named Tianting天庭[“Heaven's Courtyard”], here are the dwellings of the Grand Deity.

[2]The Basic Annals of Yu and this are similar. Gao You claim the He River河出 sets out from Kun Mountain崑山, it flows hidden within the earth for 13 000 li. Yu directed and then opened it, to set out from Jishi Mountain積石.

According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, from Kunlun崑崙 until Jishi積石 is 1 740 li, and from Jishi積石, from it sets out from Longxi隴西 commandery to Luo洛, in the standard Geographic Treatises it can be more than 5 000 li.

Also, according to the Transmittals on the Majestic Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven from Kun Mountain崑山 entered into Zongzhou宗周, and then numbered the li to the western lands. From Zongzhou宗周 river and westward, until the nation of Hezong河宗 and the mountain of Yangyu陽紆, there were 3 400 li. Westward from Yangyu陽紆 to the head of the He河, there were 4 000 li, for a combined 7 400 li.

The Map of the Outer States also states: From the state of Great Jin, heading straight west for 70 000 li, one get to the location of Kunlun崑崙, the various immortals dwell there.

The several explanations are not similar. The way is difficult and moreover long, and the classics and records are entangled and denuded. The water and land roads are unusual, and paths are again not similar. There are superficial looks and peripheral hearings, but nothing is thoroughly investigated. [We] are unable to not depend on describing what has been heard or seen, and so write down where they deviate and contradict.

[3]The Classic of Mountains and Seas claim it is 800 li square and 10 000 ren tall. Guo Jingchun [Guo Pu] considered them to be more than 2 500 li from the top. The Master of Huainan claims it is 11 000 li, 114 bu, 3 chi, 6 cuntall.

The He River河水[4]sets out from their north-eastern corner[5], bending to follow its south-eastern flow to enter into the Bo Sea渤海.

[4]The Spring and Autumn's Explanations of Topics and Phrases says: A word for the He河 is lotus [he荷]. The lotus' essence is divided and spread out, holding dear the shadowy and bringing forth measurement.

The Interpreting Names says: He 河 means “lower”. It follows the earth to a lower place and then flows through.

The Examinations into the Different and Unusual says: The He河 is the breath of water and the essence of the Four Conduits, by which they flow and transform.

The Wrap of Primal Instructions says: The Five Agents begin with it. It is what causes life for the ten thousand beings, and the wrinkles and sap of the primal breath.

Master Guan says: Water is the blood and breath of the earth, flowing through it like muscles and blood vessels, for that reason it is said that water provides wealth. Among the Five Injuries, floods are the greatest. Rivers are great and small, and are distant and near. Those rivers that set out from the mountains and then flows to enter the sea, the instructions call Main Rivers. Those that bring forth other rivers to enter into a great river and the sea, the instructions call Branch Rivers. Those that set out into earthen drains, and flows into great rivers, and into the sea, again the instructions call Stream Rivers.

Master Zhuang says: When the time of autumn floods arrive, the hundred streams pour into the He河, to the greatness of the main flow.

The Classic of Filial Piety's Guide to Godly Pacts says: The He河 is the elder among rivers, its correspondence above is the Heavenly Han (the Milky Way).

The New Discussions says: Of the sources of the Four Conduits, the He河 is the highest and the longest. Pouring down from the heights, the water flow hurtles steeply, and for that reason its flow is quick.

Xu Gan's Rhapsody on Qi Commandery says: Of streams and conduits, then the Vast He is immense and unending, springing forth from Kunlun. Nine flows split off and go away, [into the] northern morning's deep green abyss. Startling waves are sudden and sharp, the floating foam scatters and flees.

The Comprehension of Manners and Customs says: The Jiang江, He河, Huai淮, and Ji濟 are the Four Conduits. A conduit is something that passes through, from that they pass through the Central States' dirt and mud.

The White Tiger Comprehensions says: Their potency is visible and great, and for that reason they are addressed as Conduits.

The Interpreting Names says: A conduit is something which is alone, each are alone from where they set out and then enter the sea.

[5]The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: The Kunlun Barrens崑崙墟 are in the north-west. The He River河水 sets out from its north-eastern crook.

The Erya says: When the He河 sets out from the Kunlun Barrens崑崙墟, it is coloured white. Where channels combine one thousand seven hundred and one streams, it is coloured yellow.

The Discussion on the Order of Things says: The He河 being coloured yellow: The flow of multitude streams perhaps muddies it. For [every] hundred li there is one small bend, for [every] thousand li it has one bent and one straight [part].

Han's Grand Marshal Zhang Zhongyi says: The He's河 water and mud clears and settles into one shi of water, six dou of mud. But the people vie to draw out the He to irrigate the fields, and causes the He河 to not pass through gainfully. Arriving at the 3rd Month, when the peach-flower water arrives,. then the He河 bursts forth due to its blockage not spilling. Forbid the people so they do not again draw out the He河, this is the name of the Yellow He黃河 and also the Muddy He濁河.

The Records of Narrated Travels says: Meng Ford 盟津 and He Ford河津 are constantly muddy. Side-by-side the Jiang江 it is narrow, in comparison to the Huai淮 and Ji濟 it is broad. When cold, the ice is several zhang thick. When the ice begins to gather, chariots and horses do not dare to go over. They demand a fox travel, stating this creature has good hearing, and if below the ice there is no water, then it goes over. When people see a fox travel, they soon after cross over.

I lean on the Comprehension of Manners and Customs which states: A saying in the hamlet[s?] delcares that "when a fox wishes to cross over the He河, there is nothing to be done about the tail." This fox is by nature very distrustful, and for that reason customs have explanations of the fox's distrust. Likewise it is not necessay that [this] one is like the words of Yuansheng.

(Guo Yuansheng was the author of the Record of Narrated Travels.)

#sjz01

[erstwhile25]

Old Salts, and Bitter Fruits.

It was a brisk La Noscean morning, the kind where the bitter chill winds coming off the seas wrestled with the warm sun reflecting off the mountain slopes.  Most mornings the sun won out, but in the height of winter, the wind was such that it could slip under your clothes and shake hands with your bones.  Hannah knew from experience (as most of her knowledge was prone to spring from these days) that it wasn’t as bad as the ongoing frosts of Ishgard, still one needed to bundle up against it, lest they found themselves making friends with a fever.  She had just finished gathering up the last of the winter peas from the fields, and had set her basket aside to rub a little life back into her chilled knobbly fingers.  

Age had been kind to her, she reflected as she sat her bony ass down on one of the smooth stones that marked the borders of her son’s fields.  Most women who had seen as many seasons as she had needed the assistance of a cane to walk, and that was if they could leave their rocking chairs at all.  However she was still able to bend at her waist, and carry a basket that was half her weight in stone.  True, her joints ached terribly before the coming of a storm, and she’d no longer had a tooth in her mouth that wasn’t porcelain or silver, but to expect nothing from time but a head full of grey hair was folly if ever she heard it.

It was a subject of some debate back on her son Sigmund’s farm.  His wife, a pretty little midlander named Sarah who didn’t have so much as two foul thoughts in her head to rub together for fire, was opposed to the idea of her aging mother-in-law working in the fields.  She insisted that if Hannah kept it up, then one day they would find her out there, dead amongst the stones and weeds.  The girl, and she was still a girl in Hannah’s eyes, never even contemplated the possibility that Hannah would have it no other way.  After all it was probably the bull headed need for physical labor that kept her in such fine shape for her autumn years.  During her years on the salt, Hannah had never met a job she didn’t prefer to do for herself.  In fact, one of her hardest lessons aboard a ship had been to trust in the work of others.  

Hannah shivered, and rose off the rock, tugging her basket to her shoulder.  Near on twenty years had passed since she had set foot on a deck, and still every fourth thought out of her head was about her life on the waves.  It was what every sailor meant when they said “The Siren’s Call.”, since most were too chickenshit to call it their own stupidity, blaming a pretty woman seemed the next best thing.  Still they were right about one thing, there wasn’t any sense to be had in it.  She had a good life now, Sigmund shared her own love of steady physical labor, and between the two of them they had made his farm one of the best producers on the coastline.  Sigmund and his little wife hadn’t been coy in their marriage, and now they had a fifth grandchild on the way to swell the household even further.  Hannah had made the offer a while back to have a cottage built for herself on the edge of the property, giving them the space every married couple needed.  However they wouldn’t hear of it, bless their amorous little hearts, the pair insisted having their family under one roof, all of their family.

So here Hannah was, with no need for coin, or a roof over her head, besieged on all sides by love from gangly grandchildren and moon-eyed betrothed.  All of these things rested neatly in the palm of her hand...and there was still space for something else.  It made her feel like shit, but there was no denying it, some part of her longed for the feel of the rolling deck beneath her feet and the anticipation of the great unknown.  Rationally, she knew the reason she would never return to the waves, it was the same reason she’d fought so viciously with Sarah about planting the fig trees behind the house.  Not because Hannah had any particular inclinations about figs as a fruit, but because of how the trees looked when they were denuded of their leaves in the winter.  They looked like skeletal fingers clutching up through the sea water, always reaching for the sky. 

It was staring at those trees that her son found her.  She had walked the pebbled path home without realizing it, as mired in her thoughts as a cart stuck in the peat moors.  It wasn’t until he rested a cautious hand on one of her shoulders that she realized where she was with a little start.  

“Someone once told me staring at a tree won’t cause it t’grow fruit.”  He rumbled through a chest now broader than hers had ever been, when had he grown taller than she?  She smirked up at him, handing off her basket without needing to ask that he take it. 

“Depends on what ye came out t’pick, not all fruit grows green.”

“Mmmm” he set off on a slow plod towards the front of the homestead. “Sounds like bitter fruit indeed.”

“Tis at that.” She said out the side of her mouth, following at his side..

“Ye know…” he said, plowing on into the conversation like an ox “Ye need not be the only one t’eat this fruit.”

She smiled up at him fondly.  The trouble was he meant it too, he would patiently listen to everything she had to say about her past life, and forgive her for it to boot.  Trouble was some things weren’t for him to forgive, and she wasn’t deserving of forgiveness anyhow.  

“Some mistakes are jest that lad...bitter fruit only ye can eat in yer old age.  Now hush, n’let me be an old woman in peace.”

“Salty old bitch.” he said, without a hint of malice.

“Green little shit.” she spat, with all a mother’s love. “Thought ye would be out still pickin stones in the western fields, not herding old goats.”

“I was headed that way, but someone claimin t’be a friend oh yourn showed up on our doorstep.”

Hannah stopped as soon as he said it, her foot on the first of the sensible stone steps leading up to the porch of their home.  She eyed the door above them as though it was a serpent rearing to strike.  “That makes them either an idiot or a liar...what’d ye make them t’be?”

Sigmund set down the basket of peas, and as he bent over Hannah noticed a cudgel was tucked into the back of his belt.  It was a plain and heavy affair carved from one of the thick branches of the oaks that dotted the path to the house; Sigmund said he kept it around for wolves and men in need of manners.  Hannah had only seen him use it twice, and that was all she needed to suspect he’d inherited more from her than a need for physical labor.  Nodding towards the house, he gave his mother a knowing look. “He looked like someone who could be trouble iffin he wanted t’be, don’t think he wanted t’be though.  Said he jest wanted t’talk to ye, so I left Sarah t’entertain whilst I fetched ye.”

Fetched me and that there cudgel, Hannah thought as she sucked on one of the silver teeth at the front of her mouth.  She supposed she could have berated him for leaving his family alone with a strange man, but there was time enough for that after she dealt with this.  She went to the wide stump near the front of the house, where they all took turns splitting firewood for chill evenings.  There embedded in the stump was a well worn hatchet no longer than her forearm.  It was hardly a weapon for most folks, but it was a tool she was intimately familiar with.  With a quick yank she freed it, and it slid easily enough into the apron straps behind her back.  Thusly armed, she stomped her way up the steps good and loud so whoever was in there heard her coming.  

Hannah had to admit, with the one exception seated at the kitchen table, she had walked into the picture of farmer’s hospitality.  Sarah had been an inn keeper’s daughter before Sigmund had offered her a life on his homestead, and thusly she had kept his hearth with the same inflexible sensibility that had commanded the line of innkeepers before her.  Everything was where it should be; from the fragrant cooking herbs hung to dry along one wall; to the color coordinated rows of jams and preserves they had sealed in the spring.  Every pot, every pan, every humble clay cup was precisely in the location it needed to be to convey a sense of welcome and warmth to those who were either returning home, or simply temporarily visiting.  It was this way, not because Hannah, or Sigmund, or any of his multitudinous get were particularly neat, but because Sarah Commanded It Be So.  The family bore it with good natured cheer, partly because they loved the small woman, and partly because they enjoyed their home being so.  Even crusty old Hannah enjoyed it; Which was why, when Hannah saw one of Tseng’s things seated at the table amidst everything she considered home, her blood ran colder than any Ishgard winter.  

It didn’t help that Juniper, the eldest of her grandchildren, was seated next to the lean salt haired outline of a man.  Juniper’s innocent grey green eyes were as wide as the tea saucers her mother was setting out, as the little girl of eight tapped one of the many ostentatious gold and silver rings on the thing’s spidery sea worn fingers. “What about...that one?”

 It opened its mouth, showing very white teeth in a wolfish grin, and a raucous laugh tailored to titillate rolled around the kitchen.  “I got that one from a princess of the Ananta, she dared me t’try dancin on one foot afore all her clan, as her people do.  I fell flat on my arse, but she claimed I should have aught t’show fer it anyhow.”

Juniper’s eyes narrowed, and her tiny mouth puckered in the inherent shrewdness of all eight year olds “Wot’s an..Antnata?”

“Oh they’re a sight t’be seen..” It winked (...or was it blinked?) to her and laid a finger along the side of it’s slightly crooked nose, as though the two of them in this bit of information had a precious secret to share. “Serpent women whose beauty tis beyond compare, they live in the outer Fringes outside Gyr Abania.”  

“Liar.” Shot back Juniper with no hesitation whatsoever. “No one’s prettier than Mum.”

This spurred a fierce blush from Sarah’s pale cheeks, and a second, even louder round of laughter from the thing. “How fool oh me t’ferget her” it said between guffaws. “Yer daughter does ye credit madam, she’ll have her pick oh the crews when she comes oh age.”

Hannah saw the spark in Juniper’s eyes as soon as the thing said it, and she knew, she KNEW somewhere in that little sprat’s mind, a life at sea was already painting itself.  It was that stupid, disregarding, need for adventure that still called to her as an old woman, and she would be damned it she let it claim one of hers. 

“She’ll have her pick oh the fields till then.” Hannah said archly from the doorway.  Before she had a chance to seat herself at the table, she was nearly bowled over by her granddaughter who flung herself into Hannah’s stained apron to hug her waist and then tug on the same strings that held the hatchet behind her back.  

“Nana! Nana!  Guess what??” With all the energy of a hummingbird in its prime, Juniper bounced up and down before her.  Hannah couldn’t help but run a gnarled hand through those curling brown locks and ask the expected question.

“What, my cherub?”

Sparing a suspicious glance behind her at their guest, Juniper went to her tiptoes and whispered in a voice that all present could hear.  “He’s a pirate.”  

Hannah smiled at that, how could she do anything but?  Still the important thing was to get Juniper as far away from the trouble at their table as fast as she could, if she had to lie to the child to do so, so be it.  “Taint nice t’call someone a pirate, even iffin they do look like one.  Asides, there’s no such things as pirates any more, the Admiral’s sweepin em all back out t’sea.  Now yer father’s out on the porch about t’start shellin peas, why don’t ye go help him?”

“But Nan..”

“Now child.” Hannah cut the babe off with a clipped tone that brooked no backtalk, a tone she hated using, but nonetheless had the desired effect.  With a bit of a wounded look, Juniper shot around her, and out the front door.  Hannah looked to Sarah, and for a moment, she thought she would have to ask the woman to leave as well.  However Sarah seemed to pick up from the look that this was neither a conversation for her or tea, and with a sigh set the pot off the stove.  Turning to leave for the door, Hannah’s prim and proper daughter-in-law paused to eye them both and then spoke.  “If you two are planning to kill one another, please do it outside.  If I come back and find anything in here broken, we’ll be digging two graves instead of just the one.” That said, she turned on a heel and followed her daughter out.  

“Some men rescue the damsel from the dragon…” It said, watching Sarah’s flouncing departure. “Other’s jest marry the dragon.” 

She stared at the man-like thing for a moment, carefully considering her words, diplomacy after all was the bedrock of civilization.  “Shut the feck up.”  

The one yellow eye narrowed to a slit as she said it, and for a moment she thought they really would just kill one another in her family’s cozy little kitchen.  Instead the thing that looked like a man eased back into it’s chair, and with a lazy hand motion, admitted the floor was hers.  So she licked her lips and pressed on.  “No jokes, no fables, no amusing anecdotes...jest plain speech.  I know ye get somat from that other stuff...yer like her in that respect, but whatever that tis ye ent gettin it from this house, not from these people.  Not while I’m still alive and kickin.”

It looked slightly affronted by that, keeping its eye on her as it reached for the bowl in the middle of the table, and selecting one of the pears that sat there.  She blinked and there was a knife in its hand, cutting off the rind of the fruit into a neat little curl off to the side.  A small rueful smile curled its way across that face, not unlike the peel.  “Ye sit there, talkin about me like I’m some terror from the deeps come t’visit horror upon ye and yer family.”  it said.

Hannah kept her eyes steady and forward, not daring to look away.  She’d warned Argus Stormwater another lifetime ago never to take his eyes off this one, he’d ignored her advice, and had paid for it with his life.   With the same steady calm as her stare, she pulled out a chair at the table, and then rested her bones upon it.  “Convince me that yer otherwise Kail.” 

“Oh come now.” Kail said as it continued undressing the pear.  “M’a lawful citizen oh Limsa Lominsa just as yerself, aught that not warrant me a little faith?”

Hannah didn’t let her expression alter one jot.  “I was there the night ye gave Jehige a second grin then tossed him off the docks, I’m well familiar with what ye are cutter.”

There followed a silence thick enough to spread on toast after she laid that out between them, Kail’s knife paused in mid slice, and that yellow eye eased up to lock on with her gaze.  “Look me in the eye and tell me he didn’t have that comin.” It said, and there wasn’t a hint of regret in that voice.  

It had been as if the act had been cut wood, drawn water, or any one of a dozen chores that Kail had needed to do that day, and it would probably never see the murder as anything else.  Oh it was true that Jehige would have sold his mother to the slaving guilds for spare change, but the utter casual nature that Kail had discarded him was a stark reminder to Hannah.  It was a reminder that if Kail was ever doing figures in it’s head, and reached the answer of one dead Hannah, then that is what her grandchildren would find in her bed.  

“I don’t think either oh us are in any position t’sit in judgement.” She said, and even as she said it, she realized it was true.  With an effort of will she drew her finger tips from the handle of the hatchet, where they had unconsciously come to rest as her mind had wound her up even further during the conversation.  She set her hands upon the table, and left them there.  “What is it ye want Kail?”

It grinned wide and white, not unlike a shark ready to take a bite.  “As it so happens, I want t’do ye a favor.” It said, and then it did bite, right into the peeled pear with no shortage of vigor and relish.  As it chewed with juice dribbling down it’s chin, Hannah sat there staring, unsure as how to respond to that.  She found her voice after it took yet another bite of the fruit, seemingly content to wait and watch for her reaction.  “Ye say that, but somehow I’m convinced this ‘favor’ oh yourn tis goin t’look more like barter.”

Kail favored her with a deceptively casual shrug, she had seen it used more than a few times when this thing was a younger boy.  It meant simply that the can of worms went deeper than you thought, Kail was only showing you the surface.  Still she found herself listening to what it had to say.  “Tis an opportunity, and we elder salts know there ent no pay without a little pain.” It said, then it leaned in close. “But what pain wouldn’t be worth bein able t’have a night’s kip without havin nightmares oh Tseng?”

Hannah had known this would concern the old man, had prepared herself for it when she had seen Kail sitting at her family’s table.  Yet still when she heard his name spoken aloud, she felt the small hairs on her arm try to crawl skyward.  She wasn’t as superstitious as the rest of her peers, but she was almost certain that was one of those names that echoed back to the ears of its owner.  “Twenty years tis a long time t’hold a grudge boy, what makes ye even think he’s still about?”

For the first time, Hannah saw the cheer on Kail’s face roll back like the tides, leaving behind a very naked and raw anger still as fresh as that night so long ago.  It’s words were clipped and under control, but only clearly from a small lifetime of tempering them to be so.  “This tisn’t about a grudge, this tis about finishin what we started.  N’iffin yer old bones ent tellin ye that he’s still out there, then yer a better liar than I am.”

She couldn’t help but snort at the hypocrisy, and made to rise from the table. “There ye are callin me a liar, but yer about t’split down the middle fer a chance t’get at him.  Not about a grudge my arse.  Yer about t’get a whole bunch oh folk killed chasin a ghost, n”I fer one ain’t…”

Something landed on the table between the two of them, dropping with a strange permanence that suggested nothing but someone picking it up would ever move it from that spot.  Kail had fished it out a pocket and tossed it on the table, Hannah stared as the world seemed to twist about the small thing.  At first glance it was a gemstone, a tear drop of a strange opalescence, without a single facet to suggest a jeweler’s tools had ever touched it.  It was in her hand before she told herself to pick it up, and she was drawing it closer for her old eyes to see.  She had to be sure.  She dimly heard Kail’s slow growl of a voice somewhere in the distance, but she simply didn’t have the room in her head to listen as she slowly became lost in the folds of light beneath the gem’s surface.  There it was...that oily sheen was as sure a signature of Tseng’s hand as any lord’s seal.  Steeling herself, she tore the gem from her gaze and set it back on the table.  She turned her weary eyes upon Kail, and asked it...asked him, she would have to get used to that idea now if they would be working together.  “Where?” 

He took a flask out one of those many pockets and passed it across the table to her, she gratefully took it and availed herself of the burning contents.  “I took it from a gunship I had t’scuttle back in Ala Mhigo.” He said “ Twas with a bit oh correspondence that suggests the captain was one oh Tseng’s.”

Hannah froze in mid sip, a horrible thought occurring to her.  “He ent workin with the Imperials is he?”

To her relief, Kail shook his head.  “He eats and breathes hate fer them, he’d slit his own throat afore it came to that.  Slipping a few pawns in their ranks and absconding with some of their resources though?”

She nodded in reply, it was a move that was just as much a signature of the old man as the sheen in the stone.  Kail was right, Tseng wasn’t just alive, he had a hand in the world stage.  Despite all the time that had passed, all the good she had done in the years between, she had helped him do so.  There was only one reply to that.  “What do ye need from me?”

  Kail removed the gem from the table, reaching for it with all the care one handles a snake. “I know how t’get Tseng’s attention.  To do that though...I’ll need t’sail into the Teeth.”

Hannah winced at the thought.  Far out to the east in the Sea of Glass were a set of islands known to sailors as the Seven Maws. As sailors were both poetic and original, they called the barrier of razor sharp obsidian glass that surrounded the islands the Teeth.  It was inaccessible from the air as the obsidian apparently carried trace amounts of aether, this aether caused a perpetual lightning storm to crackle over the islands.  Any airship that tried to pass through it was ripped apart by enough bolts to give even Raiden the Storm Father pause.  On the flip side however, to try and sail through the Teeth by way of the water was no task for the faint of heart.  Hannah could count on one hand the number of Captains who had told her they had sailed through the Teeth and that she believed.  Kail wasn’t one of them. “So what are ye talkin t’me fer?  Ye need the best navigator ye can lay hands on.  That ent me.”

“Well..” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve a navigator already in mind, but I think he’s not of the mind t’accept iffin I’m the one doin the offerin.”

Hannah felt her mouth set into a grimace, here it came. “Why?”

“I sort of ...broke his leg and killed half his crew.”

In the swollen, pregnant, and morning sick silence that followed; Hannah wondered if she could break one of Sarah’s clay jars over Kail’s head without giving her daughter-in-law cause to carry out her earlier threat.  In the end she eschewed the fantasy to continue the conversation. “So yer the bastard Toumgara is swearing up and down the docks he’s going to murder at his earliest opportunity.” 

“T’be fair, he started it, and I ent the only one t’thank fer given him a black eye.”  If Hannah didn’t know any better, there was a fond tone in his voice as he said it.  

“Regardless how the feck do ye expect me t’smooth things oer?” She asked “Toum’s young enough t’still be floatin on his pride, he wouldn’t sail fer ye without a good reason.”

Kail took a sip from his flask, which she never remembered handing back to him.  “He also loves the old stories, and by extension the old crews that helped make them.  I don’t think ye could smooth things oer, but I think Hatchet Hannah could.”  He said, giving her a significant glance that seemed to pierce straight through what she had been building the past twenty years, and to the solid steel tool thrust through the strings of her apron.  She had to put effort into not flinching away from that. With a smirk sharp enough to cut oneself on he added. “Iffin that doesn’t work, tell him there’s treasure involved, that allus works.”  

Hannah blinked as he started to rise from her table, not even waiting for her answer.  She didn’t want to ask...but there was still that small part of her that roared for rolling waves, and sheets full of the southern winds, so she did. “Is there?”

Kail’s face didn’t shift an iota beyond that smirk as he rose, when he stood straight however...he winked at her...or was it a blink?  He left without another word.  She sat there staring at the bowl of pears in the middle of the table, not really sure what she would do now.  After a few moments Sigmund came into the kitchen, herding Juniper and telling her that no she couldn’t have a fox of her own, he didn’t care how cute the other one had been.  Hannah watched them, and knew, sure as spring was coming, that if she didn’t fix this, Sigmund would find out...and he would take it upon himself to do what she couldn’t.  So when her son sat down in the seat that her past had been warming, and asked her what had happened.  She didn’t answer, she just grabbed a pear from the bowl, and took a bite.  

#ffxiv #roleplay #Kail Gerrad #limsa lominsa #Ashen Rook #written word

[greystreetbarcelona]

Grey Street meets Linnea Gits and Peter Dunham, the creative minds behind Uusi Design Studio

This week we’re chatting with artists Linnea Gits and Peter Dunham about Tarot, their artistic processes, and their inspiring surroundings. 

First things first, tell us a bit about yourselves! Where are you from, and what are your star signs?

Peter and I are both artists working in the field of design. We grew up in the western suburbs of Illinois in the USA and spent most of our lives living and working in Chicago. Peter received a BFA at Northern Illinois University, and we met the summer after his graduation in Chicago. At that time, Peter had a small art studio in the West Loop, and I began apprenticing with him for sculpture and painting. We started dating and eventually moved in together and found a great space - a vast, light filled loft that was once a furniture factory - in a very industrial part of the city that became our home and studio. Close to downtown, low rent, and located in a remote area of the city, this space gave us the freedom to grow our artistic ideas unhurried by the marketplace.

Along the way, our art practice merged with design, and in 2010 we launched Uusi with the idea that life was worth the meaningful effort, and its reward was one of discovery. Within a year of our studio’s launch, we had established Uusi as a creative identity in our hometown of Chicago. A few years later, the wildly successful launch of our Pagan Otherworlds Tarot in 2016 introduced our work to people all over the world. We continued our journey within the Tarot world with a loyal and growing client base for esoteric content and objects, adding an Oracle and two more Tarot decks to our published titles. Working with the Tarot and the creative community surrounding it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. 

In 2017 we decided to relocate to an area that we had long dreamed of calling home: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We traded the city’s fast pace and social energy for a slower life in the forest. It was a move that matched our spiritual exploration and has brought us an enormous amount of joy. We now spend our workdays surrounded by deep woods, nine acres of which holds a clearing for rolling farmland where a small dairy farm, built by a Finnish settler in the late 1880s, sits alongside a wandering creek. We knew the minute we saw it, that we were home and purchased it without a second thought. We are taking time, between art and design work, to carefully restore the hand-built, square-hewn farmhouse that is now our home and studio back to its original, humble beauty. Working on this old farm feels sculptural and sacred and feeds both our body and soul - good for anyone, and most definitely for this early Leo (Peter) and Sagittarius (Linnea).

A selection of early work by Linnea

Where were you first introduced to Tarot and Oracle, and what inspired you to start creating decks?

Peter has been collecting old playing card decks and tarot cards for years. He loved the imagery and the quality of vintage decks, and we often used them as inspiration for design projects we were working on at the studio. In 2012 we began a playing card series, and that naturally led us to the Tarot. We loved the meaningful content of the Tarot and how it accessed our minds and our hearts with the creative language of the soul. It is the search we are all on, the individual story that mingles with the ordinary magic of the world to reveal our most authentic self which, in turn, makes us feel most alive. 

A selection of Peter’s early work

Is there a particular deck that you are most proud of, or a specific card that you are really proud of designing?

 We are proud of all of our decks! But we definitely have favourite cards from each one. Strength, The Tower, and Death from Pagan Otherworlds. The Lovers from Eros: The Garden of Love. The element cards and The Secret cards from Supra. The Transactinides from Materia Prima that join to create a tableau that nods to Durer’s masterful, Melancholia engraving. These are just some that stand out whenever we work through the decks, but every card has its creation journey, both enjoyable and painful and sometimes even surprising, but ultimately rewarding. 

How does the artistic process for creating Tarot and Oracle differ from your artistic process when creating less spiritual designs?

We have always worked with a great deal of intuitive direction. Color, form, and hand-drawn line create physical feelings that express themselves emotionally and instinctively within you. We have always felt that design should connect with you in this truthful way – it should meet your inner nature as well as the outer one. It should be both useful and beautiful, and if it is, it will be alive and self-creating, which we feel is the definition of spirituality. And that is something that can – should! – meet you in a spoon, table, or deck of cards as much as it does in a church, a tarot, or any meditative object. 

 Wooden animal set designed by Linnea and Peter, featured in the New York Times and at Design Within Reach.

I see that you draw inspiration from Celtic mysticism, renaissance illustrations, the beauty of nature and jungian psychology. Are there any “modern” things that you find personally inspiring? Film, music, artists, etc.

All of those inspirations continue to be modern, ha! But yes, we have contemporary favorites. We are big science fiction fans – 2001 A Space Odyssey is a work of art. As is the original Star Trek :). In music, we range far and wide: Metal, Folk, Classical, and pretty much everything in-between. We have an eclectic taste but it's very particular. Peter posts some of our favorites at the studio on our IG account and has a loyal following for those music finds. We also love Japanese printmaking and craft – both old and contemporary. And books!! I am a total book nerd. I'm currently reading "Figuring" by Maria Papova. An insanely inspiring, beautiful work. I also picked up the recent edition of "Fool" magazine, "The Japanese Issue" (in my second life I want to be a sushi chef), and every article was fascinating. Anything by the writer/photographer, Teju Cole. Love the fashion designer Simone Rocha. The Fine Artist, James Kerry Marshall. Relaxed modernism. The grateful invitation to enjoy the quiet, humble luxury of our neighbor's sauna on a cold winter night. Snowshoeing in the woods after a snowfall. Gardening. Our cat, TMobile. Our dog, Yuki. My nephew's drawings. Dark nights filled with stars! The inspiration list is endless. 

Soulful sketch of a moose, illustrated by Linnea’s seven year old nephew Beckett.

If you could go back in time and meet your childhood selves, what advice would you give to them?

Linnea: Bake more pies with Grandma B, but take it easy on the sugar – you don’t need to be the mayor of Candytown. 

Peter: Follow your heart like you did the first time.

Is there anything you are currently working on that you would be happy to share with our readers? 

We have a new playing card deck called "Republic" coming out in the spring! We haven't created a new playing card deck for our studio in over four years, so it's pretty exciting for us. The deck's inspiration is Finnish/Nordic folk art and design. There is a large Finnish community in the Upper Peninsula, especially in our hometown of Republic – a Finnish settler built the home that now houses Uusi – how serendipitous is that! And we are excited to have a deck that bears the name of this local community that we love so much. We are also working on a special tarot project that we will be talking about more this summer :)

Uusi “Republic” playing deck, coming out June 2021

-------------------------------------------------------------

We thank Linnea and Peter for their time. You can find them on instagram @uusidesignstudio and online at www.uusi.us/ 

Check out our collection of Uusi Tarot, Oracle, and Books at www.greystreetbarcelona.com

[mikeywayarchive]

The Outer Fields at Western Springs // Mar 11th 2023 // David Watson

#mikey way #mcr #live #return #2023 #mar 2023 #3/11/23 #2023 nz/aus/japan tour #auckland #the outer fields at western springs #photo #originals

[smeagles]

ray fucking toro

#gerard way #ray toro #my chemical romance #mcr #return #mcrauckland #mcr the outer fields at western springs #mcr the outer fields at western springs 2023 #mcr auckland #mcr auckland 2023 #my post

[dustedmagazine]

Michael Rosenstein 2020: Seeking Sojourn

What was I doing in 2010? What was I listening to? Honestly, without doing some digging, nothing springs immediately to mind. I’m guessing that ten years from now, thinking back on 2020, that won’t be the case. In mid-March, my wife and I took off on our annual winter/early spring sojourn to Provincetown, Cape Cod. When we headed out, the state of the world was tenuous. But over the course of four days, we split our time between idyllic, cold walks on the Outer Cape beaches and tracking the pandemic slide into lockdown and mayhem. We came back home to an entirely different world which has continued to spiral and swirl. This was a year where I spent far more time walking in a woods near my house, searching out a pair of barred owls and their four fledglings than I did listening to music. Focus for listening has waxed and waned and online video streams just haven’t resonated with me. But still, music has brought me some sense of solace over the course of the last year.

AMPLIFY 2020: quarantine

Without a doubt, most of my listening over the year was spent following the AMPLIFY 2020: quarantine festival. Organized by Jon Abbey, who runs the Erstwhile record label along with musicians Vanessa Rossetto and Matthew Revert, the online festival kicked off on March 20 and ran through September 20, presenting 240 newly-recorded pieces and 80 hours of music by musicians from across the globe. Most were solo contributions, with seven “blind overdubs” where two musicians with established working relationships chose track lengths in advance and submitted their recordings which were superimposed with some light mixing by Taku Unami. While the pieces are all available as free downloads on Bandcamp, that only reveals part of the story. Over the course of six months, the Facebook group grew to 3000 members, acting as a virtual gathering place for online conversations and musings with countless posts a day. Additionally, Abbey tirelessly posted an ongoing playlist which he dubbed “atmosphere” with cuts that ran the gamut from Albert Ayler to Funkadelic to Keith Hudson to Al Green with an extra-heavy helping of DJ Screw. Just tuning in to those choices and jumping on conversations was enough to save some days.

While anyone following the Erstwhile label caught some memorable submissions by expected participants, the organizers and some guest curators had more in mind than that and sub-threads developed early on. Yan Jun recruited fantastic submissions from little-known musicians from China while also contributing two pieces of his own. In addition to delivering three strong pieces, Revert brought in an Australian contingent. Rossetto delivered a festival highlight with her piece “perhaps at some time you have acted in a play, even if it was when you were a child” while also inviting a wide network of sound explorers constructing intimate sonic investigations. Abbey himself cast a wide net, probing for both established and little known musicians who had caught his attention over the years. (I’ve known Jon for a long time and was honored to be amongst those invited, contributing a piece assembled from field recordings from my Cape Cod trip.)

A number of musicians who hadn’t put out solo recordings in years, some who hadn’t had any recent releases at all, were lured back, with highlights by Greg Kelley, David Kirby, Joe Panzner, Annette Krebs and Sean Meehan. There was also a somber thread of homages to musicians who died over the last year, starting with a dedication of the entire festival to Australian percussionist Sean Baxter as well as a stirring tribute to bassist Simon H. Fell by Rhodri Davies, a dedication to Keith Tippett by Mark Wastell, and pieces commemorating Cor Fuhler by Dale Gorfinkel, Marcus Schmickler, Jim Denley, Nick Ashwood (recorded with Fuhler shortly before his death), Clare Cooper and Reinier van Houdt (whose six monthly missives delivered throughout the duration of the festival are all well worth spending time with.)

I find myself still catching up on the overwhelming array of contributions but here are a small sampling that caught my ear, though if I were to assemble this list a week from now, the choices would certainly be different.

Zhao Cong – “Homework”

homework by Zhao Cong

Yan Jun’s choice of musicians from China was uniformly superb and all are worth checking out. But Beijing-based Zhao Cong’s entry, in particular, has continued to hang with me. Her piece, constructed from two bass guitars and objects with its scrabbled detail of electronic hum, grit and glitch shot through with ringing bass strings popped out on first listen and continues to deliver.

Rie Nakajima – “carpet”

carpet by Rie Nakajima

Nakajima’s approach to sound-making, utilizing motors, mechanical devices and found objects proved the perfect tonic for pandemic listening. Her piece for AMPLIFY was recorded in her home in London “with all familiar objects I have been using at home.” The percussive piece is shot through with timbral depth, clattering along with a barely-contained momentum. Her release Karu Karu for Café Oto’s digital Takuroku lockdown series is also well worth checking out. And while I tended not to connect with online video over the course of the year, I found myself returning to Nakajima’s seven days bird songs which unfolded over the course of a week, multiple times.

Ivan Palacký – “Sanctuary”

Sanctuary by Ivan Palacký

Czech-based Ivan Palacký’s “Sanctuary” hit early on in the fest and remained a favorite. Palacký spent the first day of quarantine exploring his flat with an electromagnetic sensor, capturing the buzzes and tremors of everyday electronic devices. A few weeks later, he pulled out three knitting machines which he contact mic’d and used to improvise with the electromagnetic recordings. Palacký deftly interleaved percussive patter with wafts of static, grit and crackles, creaks and sputters and resonant thrums into an immersive piece.

Martin Kay – “Bath Time (2nd Edit)

Bath Time (2nd Edit) by Martin Kay

Through the festival, a thread developed of the pieces constructed as sonic response to the physical surroundings of isolation. Moniek Darge's gutting “Quarantine Child,” assembled from interior recordings and the desperate wail of a child, Mark Vernon's “The Dominion of Din,” woven together from field recordings from outside his Glasgow flat, cataloging exterior sounds that have annoyed him over the years and Kate Carr’s haunting “on every stair another stairway is set in negative” recorded using an old reel to reel tape and instrument recordings captured in her bathroom are three. Martin Kay’s four-part “Bath Time” delves in to that personal, interior realm, composed from recordings made in and around his bathroom during the routine that developed with his daughter’s nightly bath. The use of shifting focus, natural resonances of the room, the tub and underwater recordings transform the private, domestic activity into an increasingly abstracted aural study.

Distant Duos

The Distant Duos project that Mary Staubitz and Russ Waterhouse embarked on was also instigated by a sense of lost community. But here, the strategies employed were markedly different. The two are immersed in the DIY noise/improv New England community, spearheading shows in basements, bars, galleries and ad hoc venues and collaborating with musicians from New Haven to Portland, Maine, with all stops in between. They’ve also been instrumental in developing a network of like-minded musicians and bringing travelers through, some who have become frequent visitors. Unlike the duos in AMPLIFY, Staubitz and Waterhouse curated the 78 sessions, inviting pairs of musicians with a simple strategy. “Two remote artists record five minutes of sound while thinking about the other artist, unable to hear each other. The two tracks are combined into one.”

Released in sets of five on Bandcamp, the first on April 30 and the last on December 9, these bursts served as vital postcards. For those of us based in New England, these were both bittersweet reminders of the pre-COVID world we frequented and exultant celebrations. As someone who organized shows with the two and often played on the same bills, these really connected. (I was asked to participate, paired with Worcester-based Abdul Sherzai.) Some of the duos were longstanding partnerships (Greg Kelley and Vic Rawlings have been working together for over a decade). Some were pairings of musicians who knew each other but had likely never played together. Some participants were drawn from the deep field of regional musicians while others were recruited from across the US and Europe. With only five minutes at play, these served as sketches, vignettes or rough drafts. But keen curation and Waterhouse’s astute mixing and mastering made these hold together. Like AMPLIFY, these periodic missives kept me going through the last year.

Flip through any of the contributions and you’ll find plenty to encourage further listening. This batch, culled from the October 28th releases, provides a glimpse into the broad crew of musicians pulled in and the diverse strategies they came up with.

Adam Kohl and Mickey O’Hara

Adam Kohl and Mickey O'Hara by Distant Duos

Western Massachusetts-based Kohl (better known musically as Arkm Foam) and Worcester-based O’Hara have been performing together for a while now, and experiencing their mix of low-fi cassette manipulation and laptop generated deconstructed clatter and glitch inhabit a performance space is enthralling. This brief snapshot serves as a succinct snapshot of one of their sets.

J​.​P​.​A. Falzone and Hali Palombo

J.P.A. Falzone and Hali Palombo by Distant Duos

This mashup between J​.​P​.​A. Falzone (part of the ensemble Ordinary Affects) and composer and visual artist Hali Palombo comes across as quavering pulsations dialed in from some ethereal transmission. Listening feels like one is tuning in to an hours-long broadcast of hovering tones and fluttering waves which fuse together into shuddering oscillations.

Henry Birdsey and Mary Staubitz

Henry Birdsey and Mary Staubitz by Distant Duos

Birdsey has been developing his micro-tonal musings as part of the duo Tongue Depressor as well as his solo releases under his own name and as S.T.L.A. while Staubitz jumps from the solo sonic onslaughts of Donna Parker to a wide-ranging array of ongoing and one-off collaborations. Here field recordings of rippling water and electric pops and crackles mix with shuddering overtones of bowed metal for an engulfing sonic snapshot.

Lexie Mountain and Angela Sawyer

Lexie Mountain and Angela Sawyer by Distant Duos

Baltimore’s Lexie Mountain and Boston’s Angela Sawyer have known each other for years, so it’s no surprise that their distant connection of broken electronics and found objects clicks so well. Here, everyday detritus is elevated to a compact improvisation imbued with skittering percussive tumult, whirrs and clatter.

New Releases

When I did carve out time to listen, here’s a few that stuck with me through the year.

Toshiya Tsunoda & Taku Unami – Wovenland 2 (Erstwhile)

Wovenland 2 by Toshiya Tsunoda/Taku Unami

Working from basic field recordings, Tsunoda and Unami use the studio as an alchemical laboratory, delving into mixing and mastering tools to explore, process and transform environmental sound. In their hands, the digital artifacts of that process are as intrinsic to the results as the source material they have deconstructed. They sum it up succinctly. “Our goal is to focus on acoustic experiments. No more and no less.”

Here are some more that stuck with me in no particular order:

Rhodri Davies – Telyn Rawn (Amgen Records)

Judith Wegmann – Le Souffle Du Temps II - Reflexion (ezz-thetics)

Clara de Asís & Mara Winter – Repetition of the same dream (Another Timbre)

Takuji Naka/Tim Olive – Minouragatake (Notice Recordings)

Magnus Granberg – Come Down to Earth Where Sorrow Dwelleth –Revised version for sho, koto, prepared piano and electronics (Ftarri)

Tasting Menu – Mueller Tunnel (Full Spectrum Records)

Simon H. Fell & Mark Wastell – Virtual Company (Confront)

Xavier Charles & Bertrand Gauguet – Spectre (akousis)

Pierre-Antoine Badaroux, Seymour Wright, Jean-Luc Guionnet – Solos (Remote Resonator)

Archival Releases and Reissues

Reissues continued to pour out from record labels. Some applied studio wizardry to revive and restore previously issued material and others dug out material from the vaults that rightfully deserves to be heard. But with touring opportunities gone, the ability to collaborate in person evaporated and the monthly boon of Bandcamp Fridays, many artists also took the opportunity to dig in to their personal vaults.

Gentle Fire – Explorations (1970-1973) (Paradigm Discs)

Explorations (1970 - 1973) by Gentle Fire

This one just hit in December but quickly shot to the top of my listening pile. Working in London in the early 70s, this little-known quintet of electro-acoustic pioneers worked at the edges of composition and improvisation, putting out a single, now impossible-to-find, LP performing graphic scores of by John Cage, Earle Brown and Christian Wolff (which, in itself deserves a reissue.) If they hit listeners’ radar at all, it was due to the fact that Hugh Davies was part of the group. This 3-CD box of previously unissued material is comprised of one disc of works by Wolff, Stockhausen, Brown, Cage and Ichiyanagi, another of their own compositions and a final disc capturing an extended improvisation. Five decades later, this stuff is still essential listening.

Rhodri Davies – Archif Series (self-released)

Archif #13: BMIC 17/09/1997 by IST

Currently at number 28 and counting, Davies dug in to his archives and unearthed a passel of gems, documenting live performances and studio experiments from 1995 through 2000. From solos to various group sessions, this is all music well worth spending time with. Particularly welcome are two releases by IST (Davies, Mark Wastell, and Simon H. Fell) and one by Assumed Possibilities (Davies, Wastell, Chris Burn and Phil Durrant). One hopes there is more to be unearthed.

Cor Fuhler Conundrom label

SLEE by Cor Fuhler

The sudden passing of Cor Fuhler was a tough one in a tough year. Whether as a pianist, instrument inventor or ensemble leader, Fuhler was always bristling with ideas. As part of a group effort, the discography of his Conundrom label is now available on Bandcamp with proceeds going to his estate.

Here are some others of note in no particular order:

Albert Ayler reissue series (ezz-thetics)

Phillip Wachsmann – Writing In Water (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

Charles Mingus – @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside)

Voice Crack – Glasgow 20/11/1999 (scatter)

John Butcher – On Being Observed (Weight of Wax)

Derek Bailey and Mototeru Takagi – Live at FarOut, Atsugi 1987 (NoBusiness Records)

Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley – Birdland, Neuburg 2011 (Fundacja Słuchaj)

#yearend 2020 #dusted magazine #michael rosenstein #amplify 2020 #jon abbey #vanessa rossetto #matthew revert #zhao cong #rie nakajima #ivan palacky #martin kay #distant duos #mary staubitz #russ waterhouse #adam kohl #arkm foam #mickey o'hara #j.p.a falzone #hali palombo #henry birdsey #lexie mountain #angela sawyer #toshiya tsunoda #taku unami #gentle fire #rhodri davies #cor fuhler

[entoto-natural-park]

The Hidden Treasure at the Mountain’s Shoulder

This place is the work area of so many endeavours; Entoto’s High plateau, where it appears among adorable Juniper hills and dreamlike meadows. Ultimately, beyond the horizon of golden fields, this landscape of forgotten dreams reveals its southern border in the abyss Bees’ Cliff (14). Here it shows very soon; the beautiful path (42) to Entoto Natural Park (Nursery) 34, where the massive work has elapsed with nature restoration for many years.

Geographical Situation

Addis Ababa is situated 9° north of the equator, in central Ethiopia. The park area, on the mountain of Entoto, extends from the northern edge of the city, at an altitude of 2 600m and further north over the mountain crest at almost 3 100 m. From several spots, there is the splendid outlook over the sprawling city and the five high solitary mountains, in the southwest to the southeast (Menagesha, Wachecha, Furi Zukuala and Yerer).

Entoto’s High Plateau with an  Unknown Origin of the Giant

View from Entoto’s mountain ridge. Facing north from the top ridge, one looks out over vast plains, towards Sululta and some bare mountains. The mountain crest on which the Park is located forms a big water divider. The northern slope drains into the Blue Nile, and the precipitation from the southern slope will end up in the Awash River. This has the curious result that two raindrops falling at the same time just a few centimetres apart, will have quite different destinies: one will after a long journey reach the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the other will pass through the city of Addis Ababa, eventually evaporating in the Danakil Desert, as the Awash River never reaches the sea. The Park is United with the Capital’s Highland. The lower part of the Park adjoins Addis Ababa’s northern outskirts, at the district known as Shero Meda (Shiromeda) Coming from the central parts of the city, the Entoto Avenue leads up to the school of Kuskuam in the north of Shero Meda, and further along the border of the Park to the Church of Entoto Maryam (Håkan Blanck and Pia Englund, Entoto Natural Park 1995). Shero Meda (Shiromeda) - Central Station for Bus and Taxi This community in the northern district of the Capital offers here a central station for further taxi and bus services to the Capital’s city centre and direct taxi connection to Entoto Maryam as well as Entoto Kidane Mehret. However, the town and station Shero Meda is close enough to Entoto Kidane Mehret to offer a pleasant walk to Entoto Natural Park. Shero Meda (Shiromeda) is also the place that allows the most convenient access to Entoto Maryam, located on Entoto’s plateau.

1. Entoto Kidane Mehret Church and Community

Although this rock-based sanctuary and society towers within the Capital’s northern boundaries and its mountain massifs, it seems to be remarkably preserved and well above all stressful whims. Also, this Church and Monastery are astonishing hidden, tucked into the mountain massif rising shoulder where perception arises very soon to be careful because precipices and gullies take over immediately when you just move away from a little piece of this remarkable protective town. A Mountain-based Station for Bus and Taxi Although Entoto Kidane Mehret is quite highly located and appearing distant due to its height above the Capital, nevertheless it’s equipped with a station for regular bus and taxi traffic. This quaint town’s structure creates here a harmonic embrace of the extensive and impressive Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32) Monastery and Sacred Water Source (31), Juniperus procera Forest (indigenous) 30. The choice of Entoto Kidane Mehret as a central base for further exploration of the Park is natural because both the Capital’s buses and local taxis regularly have this place as the final location. Here they are waiting in the shade of large native trees before they again turn downhill and soon arrives in the Shero Meda (Shiromeda) station and society and the further the more central part of the Capital. Elevated Protectorate The society Entoto Kidane Mehret is a very dedicated and appealing mountain town but should indeed more precisely be described as a profoundly religious Sanctuary and Protectorate of Nature and Inhabitants.

Entoto Kidane Mehret Church, Sanctuary, Monastery and Sacred Water.

Entoto Kidane Mehret Sanctuary and Town

The Entrance to the Park at Entoto Kidane Mehret (1)

Although the town of Entoto Kidane Mehret (1) offers cosy shops and restaurant, Hotel and Guesthouse is missing, which means that the nearest accommodation for tourism is just 20 minutes walk downhill from Entoto Kidane Mehret (1) att Shero Meda (Shiromeda) community. Shero Meda (Shiromeda) -  A well-established community for transportation and amenities This society is the central station for further taxi and bus services to Entoto Kidane Mehret (1). However, the town and station Shero Meda is close enough to Entoto Kidane Mehret to offer a pleasant walk to Entoto Natural Park. Shero Meda (Shiromeda) is also the place that allows the most convenient access to Entoto Maryam, located on Entoto’s plateau. Guest Houses, Hotels and Restaurants Continuing up towards the mountain massif and Entoto Natural Park, this offers an exclusive selection of accommodations. As the area is in progress, it is an excellent opportunity for restaurants, cafes and hotels up to some mile north of Shero Meda’s (Shiromeda) centre. Accommodation north of Shero Meda (Shiromeda) The two choices of travel routes starting from Shero Meda centre and continuing up the hill towards Entoto Kidane Mehret and Entoto Maryam offer here some small and inviting neighbourhoods. At this outer boundary of Shero Meda are shown a few streets where the roads up to Entoto Kidane Mehret and Entoto Maryam are joined, providing convenient access to amenities up to a mile north of Shero Meda’s centre. A Great Plateau Ledge for View and Activities  Arriving at the high viewpoint (16) is very convenient, as the substantial rise upwards offers some beautiful and exciting rests with magnificent scenery and historical surprises with old Italian fortifications (38) and trees of a surprising dignified furrowed patina. An Ideal Place for the Well-Equipped Family. From this location (16), provides pleasant resting places for picnics in pleasant tranquillity and contemplation about the unique nature, which is facilitated easily by the high point of view, even over the mist-veiled Capital far below the southern slopes. Much closer, the farmhouse is reminded and not far below even the chanting walls of Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32).

Entoto Kidane Mehret’s valley and its hiking paths

Further Description Regarding  The Contents of the Map

A. The Character of Entoto Kidane Mehret’s valley.

The square (A) serves as a directed and facilitating figure to more easily find points (5), (22), and (37) which are located and form the valley at Entoto Kidane Mehret (32).  This area [A] is the beginning of most of the following hiking trails described.

B. The Invitation to the crossroad of wilderness.

The still gently upward hike shown within the circle (B) includes the points (35), (38), (39), and constitutes both a crossroads of somewhat wild paths but also a beautiful rise in a ledge of some metres threshold. This crossroads is located just to the right of point (38), but regardless of the choice of the hiking paths within the loop point (B), all of these will soon contact the continued walk towards the higher positions.

2. Shops for Picnics and Adventures

The most necessary for the Park’s experience and picnics as well as candy shop (2) is across the bus stop from the community (1). For those who are very early in the hours of dawn, there are some further possibilities of other shops also at the beginning of the Juniper forest, just next to the health spring with its associated buildings (31). A hidden path between the sanctuary and the gorge. The trail runs attractively hidden behind Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) in a concealed curve below its wall and passing through a small part of the village before the path (5) opens along a deep ravine and finishing with downhill towards a traditional bridge. A graceful invitation to the waiting adventures. However, most of these alternatives for the further hiking adventures start here just below Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) with a character of beach curved rocks in harmonious wave formations where the children play, and the laundry dries on the inviting soft and clean, polished rock bed, a real inviting beauty to appreciate already the first steps on the bridge (22) below Entoto Kidane Mehret (32).

The Sanctuary of Entoto Kidane Mehret (32) offers several different choices of paths uphill for a great variety of mountain adventure. Just here at Entoto Kidane Mehret and its bridge (22) - [A] starts the options of routes with either a start from (37) - [A] or even (19) is a lovely way to these natural pools just above Bees’ Cliff (14).

Multiple trail options from the bridge at Kidane Mehret Church (32). Thus, there are several very different of paths choices just uphill from point (38) but also becomes enriched by a more thorough, independent, acquaintance with the full south-eastern to north-western eroded soil road (41) located just above points (14 - 16). Grandiose scenarios in the trails of the canyon’s slopes. These trails are all characterized by the unique and dramatic slopes at the canyon (35). The options of trails are here beautifully inspiring and often in contact with each other, allowing another choice of a path by a relaxing return or to an intersection towards an alternative height above the gorge. This option might follow the shoreline of the river (35) or even at the slope’s upper plateau ledge. ** However, it is clear that the canyon’s slopes in some places are too steep to allow a confrontation with a vertical commitment. Still, just this offers what constitutes the extra entertaining in wildlife scenarios and thus giving the walks an extraordinary value. A canyon of adorable beauty and lush greenery Independent opinion or perception of these alternative trails, they are all so surprisingly beautiful and varied that they offer far greater entertainment than could be expected in comparable memories or impressions from the other nature types around the Capital. This stunning beauty of the Park is withheld even compared to the charming countryside of Ethiopia’s with its beautiful Highland scenery. Within this magnificent canyon of seductively smooth light and living, shadows appear all the paths however very clear, but in fact, the different routes are so surprisingly beautiful that any visitors never are at risk to be without all types of pure and vitalizing surprises. An invitation of fragrance and crisp freshness With a pleasant crisp freshness, visitors are invited with the flavouring fragrance of mighty native Juniper forests and overwhelming vegetation. Thus, this dramatic landscape assists the visitors with thrillingly inspiring canyon routes which effortlessly captures all the attention that gives both social pleasures and surprises. The ancient place with breathtaking perspective. With dramatic beauty, this place attracts an exciting approach to exploring an unknown world of nature where environments in this wonderfully excitingly secret dwelling since the beginning of time in the rock formation created scary deep underground gaps and hidden rock chambers amid their surrounding waterfalls.

14.  Bees’ Cliff - A rock dwelling beyond time

A magnificent magic shadow world veiled by time beyond memories Here in this enticing deep underworld of shadows and greenery, this treacherous luring cliff vault and abyss gives a home to pure magic twilight where Ravens reside and invite to pleasant arts of flights as well as approaches in playful jacket pinching mischiefs.

A Great Wildlife View with the Meandering streams

Nature Pools at the Plateau Above Bees’ Cliff

Close Encounter With Playing Baboon Families (14) While this place is unique in many many ways, there are also reservations about the impact people can exert on its nature. Because this site contains not only what is desirable for people but also for wildlife, the result is that a conflict of interest and living space can occur. However, this is overall the reason for the attraction of the place where thanks to varying and dramatic scenery create ideal habitats for wildlife that naturally utilizes this rich, three-dimensional diversity in water and rock formations.

The paths up to the natural pools and Bees’ Cliff (14) offer several options; the northern hillside of the tributary gorge (36), the southern slope of (38-39) - (15-16) and (41).

16. The resting place from the era of dreams.

 The more ancient Juniper trees in the area shown in the photo below are here still hidden behind and uphill, on the southern ridge of the high plateau. When gazing in the photo direction towards the dim-capped Capital far below, these trees are back and upward. The appearance when arriving at this hidden group of majestic Junipers is inviting. Still, a real surprise since the view towards the Capital already is well decorated with native matured Juniper procera trees. These indigenous Juniper trees are unique and appear to have an origin from a past culture and are here very near just some a minute walk uphill.

16. Among breathtaking Views and Juniper Giants’ care.

These magnificent and powerful Juniperus procera trees appear in a near park-like setting, located some metre behind the camera view and just at the rim of the high plateau. On the corresponding side, behind and to the left is hidden the over 50-year-old forest of wild and original Juniperus procera trees (40) that provides a unique insight into how nature emerged before the Eucalyptus trees arrived from Australia over 100 years ago.

Photo: Towards the Capital with more than 50 years old indigenous Juniperus procera trees

Dramatic Distances and High Altitudes

The Cautious Choice for Families (19) During the rain season, it,s therefore appropriate to enjoy the beautifully undulated promenade to the site of the Italian built spring water facility (19). Entoto Kidane Mehret’s inhabitants are bringing their household water from this source. Therefore the company is apparent by playing children and people who are fetching quantities of water to their homes. 1. Entoto Kidane Meret Completely surrounded by its society, this station is characterized by an inviting cosiness, but together with an accompanied impression of magnificence that cannot be expected in a massive rock ledge of a mountain. If it was not for the sanctuary that discreetly dominates its outer propagation, this station would be disproportionately abundant where it is located beautifully on this dramatically elevated hidden mountain plateau where it appears like an essential marketplace so generously dominant right next to this quaint community (1). This unique town’s structure creates here a harmonic embrace of the extensive and impressive Entoto Kidane Mehret Church (32) Monastery and Sacred Water Source (31), Juniperus procera Forest (indigenous) 30. Besides, this sanctuary with its Church and Monastery are astonishing hidden, tucked into the mountain massif rising shoulder where perception arises very soon to be careful because precipices and gullies take over immediately when you just move away from a little piece of this cosy mountain town and sanctuary.

https://www.entoto-natural-park.org/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/entoto-natural-park/ https://entoto-natural-park.business.site/ https://www.facebook.com/entoto.natural.sanctuary https://twitter.com/EPark https://goo.gl/maps/vrQhZB6jdEw https://www.plantsmap.com/organizations/entoto-natural-park https://www.pinterest.com/entotonatural/ https://www.instagram.com/entoto_natural_park_/

[typetypetype2]

Chapter 2: Witch Store

“I changed my mind, I’m not going. I thought about it and it doesn’t make sense for me to be around someone I know pisses me off.”

“Are you sure? I already told everybody you were coming.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Me you and Sari can hang some other time, I’ll talk to you later.” I hung up the phone and put it in my back pocket. I put my headphones back in and pressed play.

It wasn’t the first time I had turned down something like this last minute and it won't be the last. Hell, it wasn’t the first time I had been invited to something last minute and I know it won't be the last either. Hopping back on my broom I could hear Wobble’s purrs of praise from my bag. He always hated when I would force myself into these of situations. Before take-off, I take out my phone again and shoot The Boss a quick text telling him that I'm on my way to his place.

Boss’ place is on the opposite side of town but it's always worth the trip. Him and his brother are always up to something interesting. They always seem to enjoy mine and Wobble’s company. Putting my phone into my pocket again, we took off. For once there isn’t much sky traffic in the city. Being this high up is my favorite part about being a witch. It makes me feel big. Like the little things I do in my life matter.

My life hasn’t always been this free. Every moment I can I try to forget where I was before. Flying over the city looking down on the streets below fills me with a sense of strength and dread. I was down there once, barley scraping by on the change I'd been given by random people who I'd perform for. I used my magic to do parlor tricks for anyone I could. It made me feel gross, used, and worthless. Kids would mock me as they passed. Adults with any sense of pride would shy away from my gaze. Even those who would spare their coin looked down on me. 

Then The Boss found me. He pulled me out of it and pushed me to become who I am today. A strong witch who’s working on getting their footing as an adult. It was a struggle getting here and feeling like I belonged. I still don’t feel like I do most days. My friends, my boyfriend, and so many others all believed in me and still do. They got me where I am today. Flying over the city on a broom that I bought myself.  

I shake my head, I’m not going to end up there again. It’s best to just move on and forget it. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

“Oh, we’re passing the clock tower. Not long left buddy!” I yelled to Wobble.

I felt him shuffle in response. The clock tower stands at the center of town and is the tallest building in the city. From here I can see the western wall clear as day. The cities outer walls make it look more like a fortress instead of a mecca for guilds. The moss covered walls stand to protect people and crops from the harsh elements. At each of the four corners of the walls stands a giant pillar. Each pillar has its own witches and guards who let residents back in or out after raids and missions. The witches also serve to cast spells onto the city in case of emergency. The main job of each pillar personnel is keeping the natural elements at bay.

The Boss lives closer to the walls than anyone else I know. Living as far out as this gives him a gorgeous commute. Every morning he gets to ride his motorcycle past crops and flower fields. This time of year the entire field is being used to grow lilies for the spring festival. The space behind Boss’ house though is my absolute favorite area of the city. It’s the training forest. A deep dense expanse of trees used to teach new witches and guards the ropes. How Boss talked people into selling him his property I will never know but my guess is he’s just rich.

 “I can see the fields now Wobble!” I yelled over the wind. It had picked up much faster than I had expected, surprising me and scaring the poor cat in my backpack. I could feel his claws digging into the back of the bag, trying to stay as sturdy as possible.

"Calm." I gently asked the wind. Ever since training I’ve been shit with the controlling or in my case managing the elements. I let out a sigh, hoping that my plea will be respected. Surprisingly, the wind starts to slow. I calm down and get my bearings.

The flower fields are full of beautiful colors this time of the year. With this wind, the windmills begin to turn, and the flowers below paint a lovely picture of spring in the hills. I can see the Boss's cobblestone cottage from here. Pushing softly downward on my broom I began to lower myself to come in for a landing. The closer I get to the cottage stronger the wind seems to get. I had landed in this yard more times than I could ever count, whether it had been in rain or once even gentle snow, no matter the weather it never gets any easier.

“Slow” I whispered to the broom pushing harder on the hilt. “We don't want to get blown back!” Looking at the ground only a few feet from the doorstep I envisioned myself landing peacefully on my feet and leaning the broom against the cool surface of the building. “Make it so!” I forced, hoping the broom had the same vision that I did.

The wind spiked, pushing me backward toward the bristles of the broom. I pushed down harder realizing too late that once I had been pushed back, I was gripping the wrong part of the broom. Pushing down now in the middle meant that the entire balance of the landing would be straight down and not angled like I wanted. Trying to re-center myself I moved forward, loosening my grip.

“FUCK!”

The wind crashed at my side, throwing me sideways clean off the broom and into the open-air several feet above the ground.

@lesbiusmaximus @the-top-muffin @guardianrosee

#witch store #witch #chapter #chapter 2 #Boss #Past #Wobble #City #Spring

[tasteslikemolecules]

I was tagged by @baronsamediswife for this. Thank you. I love stuff like this! three ships: Sastiel, Wincestiel (and all variations thereof, is that cheating?) & Mishalecki Sam/Ruby.  last song: ‘Race With The Devil’ by Girlschool (what a catchy guitar!)  last movie: ‘The Sisters Brothers’, this insane dark comedy western with Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, John C Reilly and Riz Ahmed that totally flopped. I really liked it.  currently reading: I finished Lemmy Kilmister’s autobiography ‘White Line Fever’ this morning - very offensive but hugely entertaining. I’m still reading Cormac McCarthy’s ‘Outer Dark’ (even though I didn’t like ‘The Road’ that much), Shakespeare’s Henry V, a bunch of other novels and a pretty long fan fiction. I try to read one after another, but I mostly fail at it.  currently craving: a proper soft Bavarian Bretzel and soy matcha bubble tea & lying in a soft warm bed in a flat that isn’t full of mold reading a great story that you cant put down 

I was also tagged by @malvenue for this: 

coffee or tea | early bird or night owl | chocolate or vanilla | spring or fall | silver or gold | pop or alternative | freckles or dimples | snakes or sharks | mountains or fields | thunder or lightning | egyptian mythology or greek mythology | ivory or scarlet | flute or lyre | opal or diamond | butterflies or honeybees | macarons or eclairs | typewritten or handwritten | secret garden or secret library | rooftop or balcony | spicy or mild | opera or ballet | london or paris | vincent van gogh or claude monet | denim or leather | potions or spells | ocean or desert | mermaids or sirens | masquerade ball or cocktail party

tagging @baronsamediswife for the second one, @malvenue for the first one, @azrielrose @jazzforthecaptain @theladyofsupernatural @zombieutopia @edgynerd @denugis @ameliacareful @wendibird @samanddeaninpanties for whichever or both, because I’m curious about all of you (but let me know if you dislike being tagged in these kind of things)

#tag games