tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10924888960224845672024-03-12T18:10:21.799-07:00Faeries and all that stuff; an online magazine for faeries and folklorePersonal ramblings of Elizabeth Andrews Fae artist and author of 'Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles,' 'Faerie Flora'and the 'The Lavender Witch' all available from
www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk and AmazonA World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-8552218974712246982023-10-13T08:39:00.001-07:002023-10-13T08:39:12.385-07:00Black Cats and Halloween<p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWk_cpd28DJX4rxmoDJBvA95NztqRAxWr4jxCu_DjsDxTJeJnvqWrZ8qnFxYQY4ZIB9a6LWpJ41SNRkbfB3PIJ92GtHBWKNnV-fujUJeh0oyqki0WhPtdUxz2TlzvdZPju50SfZ3gemxrWfvXMhhWPNOIm9p_QifLL7fYrAI3CYSHShQ2B6TxppU2p28v/s235/pumpkin.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="235" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWk_cpd28DJX4rxmoDJBvA95NztqRAxWr4jxCu_DjsDxTJeJnvqWrZ8qnFxYQY4ZIB9a6LWpJ41SNRkbfB3PIJ92GtHBWKNnV-fujUJeh0oyqki0WhPtdUxz2TlzvdZPju50SfZ3gemxrWfvXMhhWPNOIm9p_QifLL7fYrAI3CYSHShQ2B6TxppU2p28v/s1600/pumpkin.jpeg" width="235" /></a></i></div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> It’s nearing that time of year when pumpkins and all things witchy start cropping up, well, saying that Halloween goodies have been available to purchase in the shops</span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for weeks now, jostling on the shelves next to the Christmas decorations!</span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">And of course the image of the Black Cat will be appearing on decorations for this </span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Halloween time. </span></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlOJGmHk_nLZnY2efNx_PP2uBen5uhKLBW3QPuMxtSb98TiZTOqgAOWcdP395XygwMGz2DLTekgMGaUU7opKhaeqK8chOelN7WXyllB7TfDXIe2t6vENJgcCk52g8pFXkhl_h4fsylFHuBO-BUl8bZtZ7bmaJX_Qbh6ZOXti6fw_HqJak7GDNjXYwoVkL/s225/cat.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlOJGmHk_nLZnY2efNx_PP2uBen5uhKLBW3QPuMxtSb98TiZTOqgAOWcdP395XygwMGz2DLTekgMGaUU7opKhaeqK8chOelN7WXyllB7TfDXIe2t6vENJgcCk52g8pFXkhl_h4fsylFHuBO-BUl8bZtZ7bmaJX_Qbh6ZOXti6fw_HqJak7GDNjXYwoVkL/s1600/cat.jpeg" width="225" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pet shelters refuse to re-home black cats at this time of year due to the practice of sacrificing the poor pussies, so it is advisable to keep your black cats safe during Halloween celebrations.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In an effort to dispel these myths and superstitions surrounding the black cat </span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">National Black Cat Day is celebrated annually on October 27th.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Of course they are battling hundreds of years of folklore, good and bad concerning these animals. Most of this folklore is so ingrained in humans one has to wonder whether it will ever disappear from our lives.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>I found this while researching the subject of cats, not too sure about the validity of it though as it seems so barbaric.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>During the 16th century cat burning was part of the entertainment at the Midsummer Fair in Paris. In 1758 the Benedictine Dom Jean Francois wrote an account of the spectacle. A stage was built so that the merry makes could lower a net containing dozens of cats into a bonfire; this became known as The Great Cat Massacre.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Other celebrations took place at the summer solstice where citizens danced and jumped over the flames and threw in objects of magical powers ( see below) to avoid disaster and obtain good fortune for the coming year. A favourite object to throw in were cats, either tied up in bags, suspended from ropes or tied to a stake. During this time Parisiens apparently incinerated cats by the sackful while the ‘cat chasers’ of Saint Chamond would set a cat alight then chase the poor creature through the streets.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Fortunately these practices were abolished in the late 1700’s.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In Ypres, Belgium the residents threw cats from the Cloth Tower until it was outlawed in 1837. Apparently it was to signify the rejection of Paganism and the worship of Frejya.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>The custom started again in 1938, luckily toy cats were thrown from the tower not the real thing!</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>More than 3,500 women and children plus their cats were murdered in the witch hunts of 16th and 17th century Scotland. Many were convicted on flimsy evidence such as owning a black cat, making herbal remedies and possessing a wart...</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>But you will be pleased to know in 2004 that 81 of them had been pardoned in a special ceremony in Prestonpas; no withes hats or broomsticks allowed at the event though.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Considered lucky and unlucky depending on your point of view and where it is </span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">encountered. Walking towards you is considered lucky but if one crosses your path that is extremely unlucky. Some people were so superstitious that they would return home if a black cat crossed their path, especially if they were involved in dangerous occupations.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Wales however it is a different matter; black cats are traditionally believed to be good luck especially if one deigns to live in your house. They are also considered to be good weather predictors.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACRW-X8l0iXNc5vXyGlxl_hQMlNnrX_M8onN05f9H-yLtFp8V-EcCWSZbPDYg4CvAGSPvomJ9YNjaZ2qfT9xXyJ2Wof7ogm3C_i5lRA8zP2XLGnbqpK5YvocfUuCMN7pW0F0fn5pPuIx60iVEg7r2AJwvUsdkdUvkFK3RYN4U0nNqEkMP12tXepsOCbD3/s388/cat%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="343" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACRW-X8l0iXNc5vXyGlxl_hQMlNnrX_M8onN05f9H-yLtFp8V-EcCWSZbPDYg4CvAGSPvomJ9YNjaZ2qfT9xXyJ2Wof7ogm3C_i5lRA8zP2XLGnbqpK5YvocfUuCMN7pW0F0fn5pPuIx60iVEg7r2AJwvUsdkdUvkFK3RYN4U0nNqEkMP12tXepsOCbD3/w177-h200/cat%202.jpg" width="177" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">The black cat has often considered to have certain powers, probably why it is always linked with witchcraft. A stray black cat, especially at night, would be avoided as it could be a witch in disguise, or a familiar or even a demon disguised as a cat.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">From the early 13th century all black cats were treated with suspicion. Which was rather unfair as there were more black cats than other colour due to the black gene being more dominant in the cats DNA. To make them seem even more spooky they have golden irises due to the high melanin pigment.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">During witch trials both in Europe and in the USA the so called witches best friend, or familiar as the witch finders declared, would be burnt alongside the poor unfortunate women.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4nFFG-V6AVwJ6-OMO6iiV8kB9IQDP9dw12dqZIyPrF79IqRHd4jZawHKrQvVCg90_7q4llAy8Rl2cBC08FM4-NJaRsswHBJQHKcwgt9nxRko6pqMams-dM9dWRqVbRb0eRnlJxPJHezQhmR6VpgxYGL1-sZ66nW3JjC9z1DbC181xULQlM77E-gD4MAx/s255/Wadjet_N5139_mp3h8831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="170" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4nFFG-V6AVwJ6-OMO6iiV8kB9IQDP9dw12dqZIyPrF79IqRHd4jZawHKrQvVCg90_7q4llAy8Rl2cBC08FM4-NJaRsswHBJQHKcwgt9nxRko6pqMams-dM9dWRqVbRb0eRnlJxPJHezQhmR6VpgxYGL1-sZ66nW3JjC9z1DbC181xULQlM77E-gD4MAx/s1600/Wadjet_N5139_mp3h8831.jpg" width="170" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">The idea that the cat had special powers probably originated in Egypt with the Cat Goddess Bastet. Depicted as a woman with a cats head she first appears in the third millennium BC.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Egypt all black cats are believe to be descendant of Bastet and are thought to possess</span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">supernatural powers. Perhaps because of this it was considered to have the power to cure ailments.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YrFjz4A44y9sNmTVYe8SHsJbKsu8yxhAwMu1LzWoROqD0t56Y3k9opZIOuuQBmaS9JLqPoahjiT4svwfClog_Icl9ifwFK7Mx9SNS4U4YEihiZTUTFxG7je2ihK1oV6XUMzpJvhFUaExUZWzbf5vdXMN7IhE49aOQmnXiThyISpbSmv9ml4hNyBx98_f/s264/cat%20doc.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="191" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YrFjz4A44y9sNmTVYe8SHsJbKsu8yxhAwMu1LzWoROqD0t56Y3k9opZIOuuQBmaS9JLqPoahjiT4svwfClog_Icl9ifwFK7Mx9SNS4U4YEihiZTUTFxG7je2ihK1oV6XUMzpJvhFUaExUZWzbf5vdXMN7IhE49aOQmnXiThyISpbSmv9ml4hNyBx98_f/s1600/cat%20doc.jpeg" width="191" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Many ancient remedies often use body parts of a cat for a cure all; from rubbing a stye with a cats tail, eating a stewed black cat to cure consumption, drinking its blood to bring good health and of course a burned and ground down cats head to cure eyesight!</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps the above are some examples of folklore we can dispense with!</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are other less painful, <span style="color: #999999;">for the cat</span>, to treat illnesses. According to some, human illnesses can be transferred to a cat or dog by placing your finger in the animals ear until your affliction is gone. It supposedly will reappear in the cat.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another strange superstition which I have never heard of before is that cats cannot be left alone with a corpse. They are excluded from the room where the corpse is laid out to prevent them jumping over or onto the corpse. In some case if this did happen the cat would be killed instantly otherwise it would bring bad luck: the soul of the dead person would be in endangered or the next visitor to view the deceased would be the next to die.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">As well as being unwelcome near the deceased they are also unwelcome around babies as it was always thought that cats could suck the breath from a new born.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>This superstition is said to have originated with Lilith, the dark goddess of Hebrew mythology, Adam’s hated first wife, who according to </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Hebrew tales was a vampire. </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Her name is usually translated as “night monster.” She took the form of a huge black cat called El-Broosha, and in that form sucked the blood of her favorite prey, the newborn infant.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-4WOkZKzZW-Uy-e664tzOj_iQYJ2QjnsquwFCofC8wwHawAp2gpUGiQ0IL9As1WEOXyqTcpOMALL8wPo-z8FkSC2tqHzx_nhLdzxn2eD6S7PvL-z3Bjk880nrFSDnz6Iz0CArGrZxgc29Za6hx6WdhOKFWddDfMo9Fne9yCIMP2h9bKXPe39CmDLZfBK/s259/lilith.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-4WOkZKzZW-Uy-e664tzOj_iQYJ2QjnsquwFCofC8wwHawAp2gpUGiQ0IL9As1WEOXyqTcpOMALL8wPo-z8FkSC2tqHzx_nhLdzxn2eD6S7PvL-z3Bjk880nrFSDnz6Iz0CArGrZxgc29Za6hx6WdhOKFWddDfMo9Fne9yCIMP2h9bKXPe39CmDLZfBK/s1600/lilith.jpeg" width="194" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">There was a cult associated with Lilith which survived up until the late 7th century. The evil she threatened, especially against children and women in childbirth, could be counteracted by the wearing of an amulet bearing the names of certain angels.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-14811423685381194092023-08-05T02:42:00.000-07:002023-08-05T02:42:20.903-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">After much tweeking and proof reading</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">More Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles</span></i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">has been published and is now available on Amazon.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">First published in 2006 by Arris, Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles became a popular </span></i><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">and must have handbook for all lovers of English folk and faerie stories.</span></i><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></i><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Meeting with critical acclaim from sources across the country, it was shortlisted by a major </span></i><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">broad sheet newspaper as one of it's 'top 10 xmas presents for 2007'. </span></i></div><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Following the success of Faerie and Folklore, I published Faerie Flora, a guide to plants and their connection in folklore to the world of faerie. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">The popular Psychic Sisters series followed along with a number of illustrated children's stories.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Now for 2023 I have returned to the world of Faeries and Folklore with this new, updated edition. With 192 pages of new content and illustrations 'More Faeries and Folklore is available worldwide through Amazon.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></i></div></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7dAjKhJXUmRMP4MalH-hqhD0Vu8PDcNowu5lwYW3Jjc_caFg21xgimsDetTSK-8_YS96bC0KK20O0m-eleErowp0TE7wTlZLz6CS-dPj1Kf-D0mvpuydGi_GlRDDGqDPKa92b5d0wexIZfsbwUAp97iCyEj4tfmMT_uwGMzFj_bp0tVlVoRE0l1RtPsH/s499/fandf%20cover.jpg" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7dAjKhJXUmRMP4MalH-hqhD0Vu8PDcNowu5lwYW3Jjc_caFg21xgimsDetTSK-8_YS96bC0KK20O0m-eleErowp0TE7wTlZLz6CS-dPj1Kf-D0mvpuydGi_GlRDDGqDPKa92b5d0wexIZfsbwUAp97iCyEj4tfmMT_uwGMzFj_bp0tVlVoRE0l1RtPsH/s320/fandf%20cover.jpg" width="223" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">A superbly illustrated introduction to the host of mythical beings who inhabit the British Isles. These wonderful tales of the faerie world have been gathered from all corners of the country, from Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, to the Scottish hills and down to the tip of Cornwall.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6drySQegfR7xyCnWdpFECKXtx61fbQvMKBfKruk3mxotgg8lI10Mt-ydPeY8d1chvVpOTi_kuJ5JkLYpmirSZstrnOjmWaufgq3x6B92s7Wh3tT48wYTyQIPvl4G6uClNkrY-S9LoFLqHgdH8JUuDDJTlz0Y_pZ12Rbp--YmccXwAZkyFLJW_EjjOP6rW/s1956/bw_faeries_rose-removebg-preview.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1956" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6drySQegfR7xyCnWdpFECKXtx61fbQvMKBfKruk3mxotgg8lI10Mt-ydPeY8d1chvVpOTi_kuJ5JkLYpmirSZstrnOjmWaufgq3x6B92s7Wh3tT48wYTyQIPvl4G6uClNkrY-S9LoFLqHgdH8JUuDDJTlz0Y_pZ12Rbp--YmccXwAZkyFLJW_EjjOP6rW/s320/bw_faeries_rose-removebg-preview.png" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Many of the folk tales can be traced back to Celtic times and have been passed on orally, from old wives tales to the spell binding stories we were told as children.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRDSQR4XuQmWSgN0EKedDPsGIlQ7dQPcevRgR-kwO3HgOr9x1cL0dIui--WtuK2i4EapzeZA30BcKhdltDyY_PK4S_Q9CUlbjMZoGOmR116RwGKhmXaezpiQRHypp-HXbgJ9GX3M-z2e_DbBHH3z1RfhoLHaYgdCPnZOyttGSeJf8bnobpd1QK3TuGB4i/s508/goblinbw-removebg-preview.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="491" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRDSQR4XuQmWSgN0EKedDPsGIlQ7dQPcevRgR-kwO3HgOr9x1cL0dIui--WtuK2i4EapzeZA30BcKhdltDyY_PK4S_Q9CUlbjMZoGOmR116RwGKhmXaezpiQRHypp-HXbgJ9GX3M-z2e_DbBHH3z1RfhoLHaYgdCPnZOyttGSeJf8bnobpd1QK3TuGB4i/w193-h200/goblinbw-removebg-preview.png" width="193" /></a></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">County by county the book explores the different types of creatures from the faerie world, where they may still be found and their customs and habits. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmCrE656KVnpIgDphgCW13biLjT_IaYoAFua02YwnqgzZP_xQmZ30klOZENbVXQjFUpARm6awHr4KzMmenaPBlwtXO65iSiUWwi5hvkSWdxYm9M0oHZBqyXuYSDHQRtTN5mT6OpQHYhX84W9RjJ4a4Z4yla9eBDYuH5i5Yw5DmDWIzP7zkljoRZTATKp5/s1620/bw_witch_2-removebg-preview.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmCrE656KVnpIgDphgCW13biLjT_IaYoAFua02YwnqgzZP_xQmZ30klOZENbVXQjFUpARm6awHr4KzMmenaPBlwtXO65iSiUWwi5hvkSWdxYm9M0oHZBqyXuYSDHQRtTN5mT6OpQHYhX84W9RjJ4a4Z4yla9eBDYuH5i5Yw5DmDWIzP7zkljoRZTATKp5/w235-h320/bw_witch_2-removebg-preview.png" width="235" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">There are also wise tips on how to protect against faerie magic.</span></i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CCWYFKLP" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CCWYFKLP</a><br /></span></i></i></div><p></p><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; transition-property: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-7029885724153263122023-07-08T09:15:00.000-07:002023-07-08T09:15:06.933-07:00World of Magic Myth and Legend Zazzle shop<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Taa daah!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;">Pleased to announce my new shop on Zazzle</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #ff00fe;">The place to shop for all faerie lovers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>from t shirts, to phone covers, cushions etc</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb2A3i_3DVflRpFDPOCF9kDsIsVdM76Ud9TUjgpQng46J9SWPa5TX2MSak5cO8A7YGtCPpQ6WEGee-tfsdASQTruv467sKVgEIxoEzKz3k1SMwLBatyE2YLm4yQf9SpozJ-frSBoOiLEQIF_3YmkcohCcc9uOZrW8Uehnp0aB8UrpGXsK4Dnrg5UnUg/s2048/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Cute%20Fairy%20'Just%20a%20girl%20who%20loves%20fairies'%20T-Shirt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb2A3i_3DVflRpFDPOCF9kDsIsVdM76Ud9TUjgpQng46J9SWPa5TX2MSak5cO8A7YGtCPpQ6WEGee-tfsdASQTruv467sKVgEIxoEzKz3k1SMwLBatyE2YLm4yQf9SpozJ-frSBoOiLEQIF_3YmkcohCcc9uOZrW8Uehnp0aB8UrpGXsK4Dnrg5UnUg/s320/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Cute%20Fairy%20'Just%20a%20girl%20who%20loves%20fairies'%20T-Shirt.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE8T6xj57Jg5_wEjhPpRvLmDPpwP9HNF0SQqOJHUz-ZrJmVyo9B2iJg2vUXIwQX2bl7ntj6kFcHIDxQxG9UrsLB607SRvEAcQE87t5CJu3hglybkEPO5VPut0zjWgw7mCYEDcVc73A11VkYfJUIWQJI8a7AWfnmAgyTYIgfPQDmiRIQ_fhCtNyiu3kA/s2048/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Green%20Man%20Back%20Pack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE8T6xj57Jg5_wEjhPpRvLmDPpwP9HNF0SQqOJHUz-ZrJmVyo9B2iJg2vUXIwQX2bl7ntj6kFcHIDxQxG9UrsLB607SRvEAcQE87t5CJu3hglybkEPO5VPut0zjWgw7mCYEDcVc73A11VkYfJUIWQJI8a7AWfnmAgyTYIgfPQDmiRIQ_fhCtNyiu3kA/s320/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Green%20Man%20Back%20Pack.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLO1ovk7Ursr0KAi2xe2tNoYfoDra21tv7tm7DKCejdr6EhVV7NRvFxT98xIYQCeuJDCb24AON4liXmIns9dKIom2MNHa_56NntHkpsQcxhMQWhUghT8hHYIBeJYUTwE6xWCXwF3CXg7eETG95ooTdgQDt0zZP7kjYXy8HJ6axfVcxKUJhNIAP6ndaw/s2048/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Little%20fairy%20helper-personalised%20T-Shirt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLO1ovk7Ursr0KAi2xe2tNoYfoDra21tv7tm7DKCejdr6EhVV7NRvFxT98xIYQCeuJDCb24AON4liXmIns9dKIom2MNHa_56NntHkpsQcxhMQWhUghT8hHYIBeJYUTwE6xWCXwF3CXg7eETG95ooTdgQDt0zZP7kjYXy8HJ6axfVcxKUJhNIAP6ndaw/s320/Zazzle%20-%20Mockup%20-%20Little%20fairy%20helper-personalised%20T-Shirt.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROTh6ghMFO-Y6uSyzEsXhHPJrhAWs596Ue9mFwl3eA_HyKY8RXLv9dU7juAZF6rb2hC6KNKaH91xZ9BjYjr6rPlamnO2hZDxJubFJDtGsOI2AUwLThRs6iYKqSlyqtXxUBI9ubPzbiv9v96vfXId6-VML9vFedjf0Lh0El--PymwS92h5aj9x9L-wWyQG/s5556/cushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5556" data-original-width="5550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROTh6ghMFO-Y6uSyzEsXhHPJrhAWs596Ue9mFwl3eA_HyKY8RXLv9dU7juAZF6rb2hC6KNKaH91xZ9BjYjr6rPlamnO2hZDxJubFJDtGsOI2AUwLThRs6iYKqSlyqtXxUBI9ubPzbiv9v96vfXId6-VML9vFedjf0Lh0El--PymwS92h5aj9x9L-wWyQG/s320/cushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCWm87EGhspHKMQoBAqgZ_LkNuIGT3qyLjyEqIYzg9Hmm15Eqh7hNggwuzb7WdztXYIuGR-RbjnPKD_5llrhkTlu61scIndNpw_qZElttJS85mjfk52dav4JOezvG91X4DV9XQ9APv2vZPc3X9asm4PK40uVEgJt0c_28BKqX01CS9sWKSStd9jTgHa_s/s600/bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="581" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCWm87EGhspHKMQoBAqgZ_LkNuIGT3qyLjyEqIYzg9Hmm15Eqh7hNggwuzb7WdztXYIuGR-RbjnPKD_5llrhkTlu61scIndNpw_qZElttJS85mjfk52dav4JOezvG91X4DV9XQ9APv2vZPc3X9asm4PK40uVEgJt0c_28BKqX01CS9sWKSStd9jTgHa_s/s320/bag.jpg" width="310" /></a></div> <a href="https://www.zazzle.co.uk/store/magicmythlegend" target="_blank">https://www.zazzle.co.uk/store/magicmythlegend</a><br /><p></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-78202379554578383162023-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:002023-07-08T09:00:31.091-07:00More Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>In a few weeks time the revised and updated edition of </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">More Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>will be available from Amazon.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"These wonderful tales of the faeries world have been gathered from all corners of the British Isles- from Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, to the Scottish hills and then down to the tip of Cornwall. Many of the folk tales can be traced back to Celtic times and have been passed on orally, from old wives tales to the spell binding stories we were told as children.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>County by county Elizabeth Andrews explores the different types of creatures from the faerie world, where they may still be found and their customs and habits.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are also wise tips on how to protect yourself against faerie magic."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzrAg6ZEyToswOgrIWDEcDBtoV7Bo6XmNXjktznw6kuhtLFwqhBLxBpGvJp0pCdv44TmAAvaGC98KjIIy_BGz37eLc-r1FURRIqaeX7Lj_fFX1yKS_M5MuivVUTwNbj7A-T5CgkPKP8RoO9oHpI0e6mhn3v7n79NyCOW7gojVX-Bm8aNhH5uVmcMdwKRi/s2958/small%20front%20cover%20fand%20f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2958" data-original-width="2064" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzrAg6ZEyToswOgrIWDEcDBtoV7Bo6XmNXjktznw6kuhtLFwqhBLxBpGvJp0pCdv44TmAAvaGC98KjIIy_BGz37eLc-r1FURRIqaeX7Lj_fFX1yKS_M5MuivVUTwNbj7A-T5CgkPKP8RoO9oHpI0e6mhn3v7n79NyCOW7gojVX-Bm8aNhH5uVmcMdwKRi/w279-h400/small%20front%20cover%20fand%20f.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><p></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Since the publication of the first edition I have heard many times why did you forget this county and that faerie? So I decided that I had better go on another faerie hunt!</i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This edition has many more pages, information and illustrations in a larger format.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I hope this edition will be as popular as the original.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I will announce the publication date when the final draft has been finalised.</i></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-4844186192445012092023-04-19T07:26:00.001-07:002023-04-19T07:26:40.493-07:00The Witch and the Rollright Stones<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgomAXoyyot3NiPJtyDzfvP7sfS3WOE9KRDapbhVBrm5Fe3V2eGfiYkQ4oUZbD04dWPeligePIE7pJ40E9lKAVjoDvydUq06KhTO8LiByHdmMBOu2eVFyfalM74w5bHmg9jnF7nRlupx29I6C-LudcuDN4bT7nKZNZ5rCyIbMSonqhwvrtmkK0YanUw/s3159/rollrightstones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="3159" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgomAXoyyot3NiPJtyDzfvP7sfS3WOE9KRDapbhVBrm5Fe3V2eGfiYkQ4oUZbD04dWPeligePIE7pJ40E9lKAVjoDvydUq06KhTO8LiByHdmMBOu2eVFyfalM74w5bHmg9jnF7nRlupx29I6C-LudcuDN4bT7nKZNZ5rCyIbMSonqhwvrtmkK0YanUw/w400-h191/rollrightstones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <i>The Rollright Stones.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A Bronze Age site, the stones are widely believed to be a King and his Army that were turned to stone by a local Witch.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The circle of stones is a 100 ft in diameter, to one side stands the King stone.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This was a conquering army that marched as far north as Little Rollright until the King came upon a local wise woman.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>She told the King that if he could see Long Compton within seven strides he would be King of the whole country.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Taking the seven steps up the hill his view was obscured by a mound, jubilant, the Witch turned the King and all his men to stone.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>And there they still stand waiting for somebody who has enough strong magic to break the spell.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The Witch then turned herself into an Elder tree close to the stones to stand guard against the spell being broken.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This site is also a favourite spot of the Oxfordshire faeries. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>At certain times of the year ,at the full moon, the stones will come to life and perform strange dances</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> with the Faeries . Then they will dance down to a nearby spring for a drink to quench their thirst.</i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-58105072176807076762023-03-09T07:05:00.001-08:002023-03-09T07:05:59.573-08:00St Winnold and the Mad March Hare<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i> The month of March is the time when spring is nearly upon us and we all turn </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>our thoughts to</i><i> seed catalogues, planting and tackling those neglected garden jobs. </i><i> </i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not without reason is March known as the time of new life, weather permitting!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On St Winnolds Day, 3rd March, dire weather warnings are given out as windy and stormy weather is seasonable and are to expected at the beginning of March. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>First comes David </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Next comes Chad</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then comes Winnold, roaring like mad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If the storms do not appear at the beginning of the month, it is saving itself for </div><div style="text-align: center;">the three 'Borrowing Days' at the end of the month.</div><div style="text-align: center;">St Winnold , also known as Winwaloe,was a sixth century Cornish saint whose family fled to Brittany to avoid the Saxons and the plague. Son of Fragan, Prince of Dumnonia ( Devon and Cornwall) and Gwen the Three Breasted. He was the founder and first Abbot of Landevennec Abbey in Brittany. He founded another Abbey after miraculously opened a passage through the sea to the other side of the Landevennec estuary. After his death he was commemorated at a Monastery at Wereham, Norfolk.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He is the patron saint of churches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">New green shoots are pushing its way through the soil,birds are attempting to nest despite</div><div style="text-align: center;"> the wind and cold temperatures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh0kyAuR5b4w3PUxSsCRA6cqsNuDsnBpkOvk6urbTTeYHxS7mwv7ygDqGJCXSeWLoBHSsxCc3YzHZ9Y_C9Mvrtc8ZRm0pNsd64_XI0bMrbH4GoMG_6ixO8FJwZrJwiMqR0fcTSqf9gL96ZAyypGZT1-s-wb4YXTW1rhUo3uV_79Svc_3LYcfNjqc3tQ/s980/Boxing-hares-4c4072c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="980" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRh0kyAuR5b4w3PUxSsCRA6cqsNuDsnBpkOvk6urbTTeYHxS7mwv7ygDqGJCXSeWLoBHSsxCc3YzHZ9Y_C9Mvrtc8ZRm0pNsd64_XI0bMrbH4GoMG_6ixO8FJwZrJwiMqR0fcTSqf9gL96ZAyypGZT1-s-wb4YXTW1rhUo3uV_79Svc_3LYcfNjqc3tQ/s320/Boxing-hares-4c4072c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And of course it is the time for the 'Mad March Hare' to start their mating rituals which include mad chases through the fields and the infamous boxing matches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> It used to be thought that it was two males fighting over a prized female but now it is thought more likely to be an unresponsive female seeing off an unwanted suitor.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR07EI6FJLp2he7k81gZ4z0W982h5rsu2Yp8nliHMCQkOYZSk_ZdyOZh7CMfwivdiziMmz62MCfRn-e-8My3YyuH-QZjd0dX_A5RseSZxLWUYRmZC4V0pASIsC8WKo4LSBrn5-rrTf1TXxSQ8onH7132Z51eOOmGB4eGt6VLGLgn3RlyIYMjPsx5b3Q/s1145/Maiden_Castle_531161138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1145" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR07EI6FJLp2he7k81gZ4z0W982h5rsu2Yp8nliHMCQkOYZSk_ZdyOZh7CMfwivdiziMmz62MCfRn-e-8My3YyuH-QZjd0dX_A5RseSZxLWUYRmZC4V0pASIsC8WKo4LSBrn5-rrTf1TXxSQ8onH7132Z51eOOmGB4eGt6VLGLgn3RlyIYMjPsx5b3Q/s320/Maiden_Castle_531161138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were lucky enough to see a field of hares earlier this year on the slopes of Maiden Castle near Dorchester. The chalky soil seems to be attractive to the creatures, allowing them to create small 'scrapes' where they seemingly disappear from view. This ability has given rise to the animal being associated with witchcraft. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Their odd behaviour caused people in the past to believe that the hare was a shape shifting witch or were- hares and as such could only be killed with a silver bullet. Rowan and vervain would be placed on the gun stock as further insurance against the whiles of the witch.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The fact that they could stand upright on their back legs and their strange human like cry when in distress deepened the suspicion against these harmless creatures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></i></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-61202620449379782712023-03-04T05:07:00.000-08:002023-03-04T05:07:11.776-08:00Mermaid Jewellery<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Excited to share my new range of sterling silver jewellery, </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">available on my Zazzle shop- MagicMythLegend</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Faerie and folklore inspired range of products.</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv3gVxE1n34WaWfIZCb3XVdOCpO3VC55SzIGRoVKwO39fZ9R7hbzcXsndu_KUevXCJUk8b4A3lbeuI_USgflUSAC2XbP77e7oywNPTlS25HaBRXbOf2tNvj1vDdW-YkVKF83kU-YYVbHtXioRD0V6rnRElWffIVGHI7OCm91zk8q6SEzF5UQZ-l_d_w/s140/mermaid%20necklace.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv3gVxE1n34WaWfIZCb3XVdOCpO3VC55SzIGRoVKwO39fZ9R7hbzcXsndu_KUevXCJUk8b4A3lbeuI_USgflUSAC2XbP77e7oywNPTlS25HaBRXbOf2tNvj1vDdW-YkVKF83kU-YYVbHtXioRD0V6rnRElWffIVGHI7OCm91zk8q6SEzF5UQZ-l_d_w/w320-h320/mermaid%20necklace.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.zazzle.co.uk/beautiful_mermaid_silver_necklace-256342389916710955"> https://www.zazzle.co.uk/beautiful_mermaid_silver_necklace-256342389916710955</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Matching set available</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Necklace, Earrings, charm Bracelet.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Other designs available</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-41752454058194562652023-01-06T08:13:00.000-08:002023-01-06T08:13:33.863-08:00Take down the Christmas decorations!<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> It's the Twelfth Day of Christmas today so its time to pack away all of the lights </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">and baubles for another year </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now Christmas is past; Twelfth Day is the last</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">To the Old Year adieu; Great joy to the New.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMm47yK6X1-tUfSf5x9V6n8dSK_t5WQ4XiirPfRTG44XwCs3hYUDL1ZUusX-QQM-1pqmyViJIfF77kjiKQVIqMttqYqHO-S3_n8YagUbkT4NURMcNsk-6Z-lkwA9VAuNVQORxLjQ3CnhrkuCcDSpzBRhYAuwKUtnoB7ey2WnbPFg2rNNf_Yf94uh5bQ/s945/Twelfth001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="945" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMm47yK6X1-tUfSf5x9V6n8dSK_t5WQ4XiirPfRTG44XwCs3hYUDL1ZUusX-QQM-1pqmyViJIfF77kjiKQVIqMttqYqHO-S3_n8YagUbkT4NURMcNsk-6Z-lkwA9VAuNVQORxLjQ3CnhrkuCcDSpzBRhYAuwKUtnoB7ey2WnbPFg2rNNf_Yf94uh5bQ/s320/Twelfth001.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">In days past the twelfth night was the most festive, its celebrations were ruled by King Bean and the Queen of the Pea. Chosen by who ever found the bean or pea in their slice of the twelfth night cake.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc6tlBc-KjxKJqxKoSROK_BnFkr7A5C00mKd6SDwWgyikIEpUoE91-ztZMgAzJAAQQMFQUb4jYHmWRESl2ULM4zbReQYTDJ8BLo7Hy828eNnheLdw_XNwGGn-oJnh-XA7K-DxfsgOe3wF_CuCL1G4Ga1U1YdP9zZsn6NWOLin9c_ZGwaPJP2LCjdIjA/s259/download%20(26).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc6tlBc-KjxKJqxKoSROK_BnFkr7A5C00mKd6SDwWgyikIEpUoE91-ztZMgAzJAAQQMFQUb4jYHmWRESl2ULM4zbReQYTDJ8BLo7Hy828eNnheLdw_XNwGGn-oJnh-XA7K-DxfsgOe3wF_CuCL1G4Ga1U1YdP9zZsn6NWOLin9c_ZGwaPJP2LCjdIjA/s1600/download%20(26).jpeg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">All greenery would be taken down after this last fling as it was extremely unlucky to leave any sprig of holly or ivy in the house although in a few places they would remain up until Candlemas in February otherwise the more mischievous faeries and pixies would be encouraged to inside.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Down with the rosemary and so </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">down with the bais and Mistletoe</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">down with the holly, ivie and all</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">wherewith ye drest the Christmas hall</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">that's so the superstitious find</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">not one least branch there left behind</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">for look how many leaves there be</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">neglected there. maids trust to me </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">so many goblins you shall see!</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Although it is usual to compost the tree it is unwise to carelessly discard the evergreen decorations; some ceremonially burn the tree while in some cases they are allowed to rot quietly in the garden, or perhaps re purpose as nesting spot for birds, squirrels etc.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Tz3Plr1VdfVWkEuT9P-0KYqSoJgXgP3JGcd8BTBlZM_H6XLGGIoxU304dyQI4lzWN0tEARxiJGe4OmpG_aPoAJol9oxZIIPuoftR2jneMZ0D8clLZjVHs4judEIDxynmFent7Jz8T7hucb6nfLiGGAbu4OFClYWnzPoI88U6eZN8e4TfRs7yj0qs8Q/s275/download%20(27).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Tz3Plr1VdfVWkEuT9P-0KYqSoJgXgP3JGcd8BTBlZM_H6XLGGIoxU304dyQI4lzWN0tEARxiJGe4OmpG_aPoAJol9oxZIIPuoftR2jneMZ0D8clLZjVHs4judEIDxynmFent7Jz8T7hucb6nfLiGGAbu4OFClYWnzPoI88U6eZN8e4TfRs7yj0qs8Q/s1600/download%20(27).jpeg" width="275" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Pine needles dry quickly while rotting slowly so can be used as a mulch</span></i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-41605734252347395002023-01-01T03:11:00.000-08:002023-01-01T03:11:13.127-08:00New Year- Luck and Prosperity<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>January, named after the double faced Roman God Janus, who looks back towards </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the Old year and at the same time forward to the New.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Something we all do, hopefully with fond thoughts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV-NDHkJnPGzMIXZ2RjsnqjjuzcF0545PmgwLtDKDdw-suBsUbJ64jT3XBcOtXvyXVTtjs7wlsaeUwT7ALVN2UlesR6EColtqEGEcUz18453cXiCcjAa3yesvjU7I-XsxTaUwNeA98-MuHsJnTM23PvrerQq-wLzJzAzvVjTJZt2C7qxM9MvgUYxilQ/s246/janus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="205" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV-NDHkJnPGzMIXZ2RjsnqjjuzcF0545PmgwLtDKDdw-suBsUbJ64jT3XBcOtXvyXVTtjs7wlsaeUwT7ALVN2UlesR6EColtqEGEcUz18453cXiCcjAa3yesvjU7I-XsxTaUwNeA98-MuHsJnTM23PvrerQq-wLzJzAzvVjTJZt2C7qxM9MvgUYxilQ/s1600/janus.jpeg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Although it is known as the midwinter month, I always feel a great sense of </i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>optimism thinking that spring is just a around the corner. The arrival of the </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Snowdrops is always a welcome sight.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbISmfIT_nX30WrwRK5zmYKCUG7fqwPCVuqMefjBYsv8SDxIB649sNi-nL8pGxw0wryLc-ncN_QAqwwyqT84KIwLAZxb4x82nISqoWNPGKen_ZrxIV_66QpiXqKXqSkHBp6OZCgoxr9f1itRVQnwZXU4c3W-4kYB3Z785hYQSsfd4Tfeo653VApNeSQ/s1843/snowdropbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="987" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbISmfIT_nX30WrwRK5zmYKCUG7fqwPCVuqMefjBYsv8SDxIB649sNi-nL8pGxw0wryLc-ncN_QAqwwyqT84KIwLAZxb4x82nISqoWNPGKen_ZrxIV_66QpiXqKXqSkHBp6OZCgoxr9f1itRVQnwZXU4c3W-4kYB3Z785hYQSsfd4Tfeo653VApNeSQ/s320/snowdropbook.jpg" width="171" /></i></a></div><i>Everything you do on New Year's Day, which is the seventh day of Christmas, will</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> influence your luck for the coming year. This is illustrated in the traditional wassail </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>songs of the orchards.</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Love and joy come to you</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And to our wassail too</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And God send you a Happy New Year</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and Good fortune too.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2A_ltnCczwsHudIXsyCeBuAmLLC1h9JRp9Y10AJx5tkmv_TJg1xevitiWoT2tNY5tGf_KZuPqs23f9GeuyjVmCGYMDnEftfjyyzcKQIuoCO4yyCMHMBJty9zJsfjc7RQasW9UlgLInorTldMyNKbL4VAB_FQt1MQKq4-M7m3cUGYGVP27h7AMYXJAA/s271/wassailing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2A_ltnCczwsHudIXsyCeBuAmLLC1h9JRp9Y10AJx5tkmv_TJg1xevitiWoT2tNY5tGf_KZuPqs23f9GeuyjVmCGYMDnEftfjyyzcKQIuoCO4yyCMHMBJty9zJsfjc7RQasW9UlgLInorTldMyNKbL4VAB_FQt1MQKq4-M7m3cUGYGVP27h7AMYXJAA/s1600/wassailing.jpeg" width="271" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Traditionally it was the custom to take nothing out of the house today, not even rubbish. Do not lend fuel or matches or pay bills ( I like that one!) lest you lack fire and money during the coming year.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> If you do, make sure that something is brought back in, preferably a coin.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Take out, then take in</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bad luck will begin</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Take in then take out</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Good luck will come about</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Spread good luck by presenting your friends and neighbours a New Year gift. Nothing expensive, an apple stuck with cloves or holly will do. In Wales the apple would be studded with wheat, oats nuts and evergreen foliage. While in Scotland, the famous Hogmanay gift is a three cornered oatcake accompanied by Christmas cheese. Although I think first footing is the most well known of Scottish customs and is still very common in the Highlands and the North West.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dark haired men are preferred first visitors to the household, this is believed to date back to the time of the Viking invaders when finding a blonde haired man at your door would more likely to bring fear than joy!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So a Happy New Year and prosperous one to you all!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-40473379793508709442022-12-27T03:33:00.001-08:002022-12-27T03:33:40.970-08:00Spells and Wealth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEhjeuTqO4LCgVnorxQj6T0kkxt2Tkh8epJXX7lBn0nzrsUn7kh-IZflKy5TmpnNL30FfCnT-iO6nmqaXY-oQmdibIpIKzfeW94ovJ95UvJfHApTtc9nnpjs9twLVcZnhcOPdWypw-xFLhh3-rO9BpTehbE7ZudQrQypCxeNw1JU1D4ylfZcsTggouw/s3022/blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="2264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEhjeuTqO4LCgVnorxQj6T0kkxt2Tkh8epJXX7lBn0nzrsUn7kh-IZflKy5TmpnNL30FfCnT-iO6nmqaXY-oQmdibIpIKzfeW94ovJ95UvJfHApTtc9nnpjs9twLVcZnhcOPdWypw-xFLhh3-rO9BpTehbE7ZudQrQypCxeNw1JU1D4ylfZcsTggouw/w480-h640/blog.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-4977677990507756112022-11-25T09:09:00.000-08:002022-11-25T09:09:06.383-08:00The Psychic Sisters Novels<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A5md3bLM7YJ6LgMOJZ6mQyGgF3KleunbbN3sgil0LQIQKsxvmC5MENr6nRa5a_fLpVQdxbX1TpfV1S3YKWLBD-WeWA_zIc-yVsPq81AYWnvAOD1l41gzwhJ5VFBO9CqLg0dDI1Xg0kpls5pCYUTNhRaf6kJGO8s9Fty2br2oVFdRQ8XTks3KHr_xWg/s2181/Psychic%20series%20video%20thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="2181" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A5md3bLM7YJ6LgMOJZ6mQyGgF3KleunbbN3sgil0LQIQKsxvmC5MENr6nRa5a_fLpVQdxbX1TpfV1S3YKWLBD-WeWA_zIc-yVsPq81AYWnvAOD1l41gzwhJ5VFBO9CqLg0dDI1Xg0kpls5pCYUTNhRaf6kJGO8s9Fty2br2oVFdRQ8XTks3KHr_xWg/w400-h251/Psychic%20series%20video%20thumbnail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Featuring the elderly psychic sisters Queenie and Sybil.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3a4ONDMjKAfJfSOrv5N4diKiVNaH-YksE0Q7yU3ME9IjYkpN_aCQIDA5fLesRP1YOFc2yGHs_nCbVMzBMWDWEAXhYIaxSiludmOr_2zBz0nX0pYNcX-25tTr7Z7W8zJH6hCflsGvwONxYA7b8Z7xRcKEyko60ejsuopi3q8esIleYiQv8PRR8JTnaA/s2814/lav%20cover%202020%20small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="1856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3a4ONDMjKAfJfSOrv5N4diKiVNaH-YksE0Q7yU3ME9IjYkpN_aCQIDA5fLesRP1YOFc2yGHs_nCbVMzBMWDWEAXhYIaxSiludmOr_2zBz0nX0pYNcX-25tTr7Z7W8zJH6hCflsGvwONxYA7b8Z7xRcKEyko60ejsuopi3q8esIleYiQv8PRR8JTnaA/s320/lav%20cover%202020%20small.jpg" width="211" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Lavender Witch</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Newcomers to a small Devon village experience a chilling presence in their new home... </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Amazon <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3llmWcL8jXPjRJgSGRGrSI7DQyBKcWr-43vP7dE8_EMROmkN9KXNEox_Z7TLO9sIjN_QqnW6Un_vZPr5WZA133MvZuEn_fGu7fWQ4A0N6ALPPnzWwgP40vRLYqzBmOa6sel0m4raGG5PhB061wUEgOZ-se7Twuy5uFzF7go6977mrvOegZ3wTIFRdg/s1496/gold%20star%204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="1496" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3llmWcL8jXPjRJgSGRGrSI7DQyBKcWr-43vP7dE8_EMROmkN9KXNEox_Z7TLO9sIjN_QqnW6Un_vZPr5WZA133MvZuEn_fGu7fWQ4A0N6ALPPnzWwgP40vRLYqzBmOa6sel0m4raGG5PhB061wUEgOZ-se7Twuy5uFzF7go6977mrvOegZ3wTIFRdg/w200-h41/gold%20star%204.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwtoUTGvuWBkL1E3cQygMToZNkC_BIeHA9bcw3mREXw2o5cxhGUR6rBtRpW6jILH0AKLlzrBs76t4Pzc-x07aEP9xhcqDOAeLcUDqZabIwLL_cV525Ik-7GmAfLxNsVScAR3jKHQ49ba_DmDwf1UU0VCuoOoF47QmsIrBHGuZFp_ywRWxwarTCvCI2w/s2758/cunning%20man%20cover%202020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="1854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwtoUTGvuWBkL1E3cQygMToZNkC_BIeHA9bcw3mREXw2o5cxhGUR6rBtRpW6jILH0AKLlzrBs76t4Pzc-x07aEP9xhcqDOAeLcUDqZabIwLL_cV525Ik-7GmAfLxNsVScAR3jKHQ49ba_DmDwf1UU0VCuoOoF47QmsIrBHGuZFp_ywRWxwarTCvCI2w/s320/cunning%20man%20cover%202020.JPG" width="215" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Cunning Man</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Long dead the spectre of The Cunning Man still hangs over the village of Binden...</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1KiEI3UumAdO7p-kVsGuSdSOnUC613IBREC0l-Lmj8YzNoTBh6KTB1X0sZwnc874-HrgaNmbeIlWHqmSAsL_nv-enlF7f_7W8jZ7Lo-L12v9A2torBacCaGDsKXBuBTm1DLoeVYHzZja38gNBzlxTtOQ-wtbzZ-fF5_WVngWkfB1vverEs5FkLJiAA/s1496/gold%20star%204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="1496" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1KiEI3UumAdO7p-kVsGuSdSOnUC613IBREC0l-Lmj8YzNoTBh6KTB1X0sZwnc874-HrgaNmbeIlWHqmSAsL_nv-enlF7f_7W8jZ7Lo-L12v9A2torBacCaGDsKXBuBTm1DLoeVYHzZja38gNBzlxTtOQ-wtbzZ-fF5_WVngWkfB1vverEs5FkLJiAA/w200-h41/gold%20star%204.JPG" width="200" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNStZjsspDYwrlkpG5Yp5kBfxgXI1ZkxFzxTBd3RNndxGxXNrf7XC6BYUPUuTgOd_qe1y3uTw0wfQTuBloUK5ydIziRzU-8K9SCM8X6DtQaZ_2_OCqMDliZGddZhy5ZOgRD9RtI3gVzw3mX0WQf_hfq4_OuxG15TpTwG04CE8udszTtOCDtYp7mGLevA/s1696/NEW%20BOOK%20COVERS%20stoke%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1696" data-original-width="1222" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNStZjsspDYwrlkpG5Yp5kBfxgXI1ZkxFzxTBd3RNndxGxXNrf7XC6BYUPUuTgOd_qe1y3uTw0wfQTuBloUK5ydIziRzU-8K9SCM8X6DtQaZ_2_OCqMDliZGddZhy5ZOgRD9RtI3gVzw3mX0WQf_hfq4_OuxG15TpTwG04CE8udszTtOCDtYp7mGLevA/s320/NEW%20BOOK%20COVERS%20stoke%20copy.jpg" width="231" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Haunting of Stoke Water</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">A strange evil lies within the rambling Victorian building; to some it appears as an innocent child...</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsb3ciS40WrwjVJiyNXn8ljqI9WK3un0S_cCH0HunC1MmyyatWnoRfDe6J8GmGlrD4uR1xwcq1o2pfViKIr_IYqb3EqZORFG_V2qLJOOXswtjmnM1Zq_QyCwSc2430tbARcKYQsJLq5SYo0ybiKeY2-bpa8RJKBc5ER5KSex4tu-ImIGJb-NrmtzD6Q/s1496/gold%20star%204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="1496" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsb3ciS40WrwjVJiyNXn8ljqI9WK3un0S_cCH0HunC1MmyyatWnoRfDe6J8GmGlrD4uR1xwcq1o2pfViKIr_IYqb3EqZORFG_V2qLJOOXswtjmnM1Zq_QyCwSc2430tbARcKYQsJLq5SYo0ybiKeY2-bpa8RJKBc5ER5KSex4tu-ImIGJb-NrmtzD6Q/w200-h41/gold%20star%204.JPG" width="200" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe3b2NvZtAaA_D4RYHhDnLUAKhJRMbWGq4XU9iguBFSJEookvazPPNiLSdkyRxzpcpT8gaF5710GYO0G7hXrUmOkZLNOYpnIaFYM6DcMDaXvpf68dlY1OLodAmR3-jHZqjuguc0NTfiYy7EfZqB0Yg3upku0DaY6lhSBZPbyLiLooHERKgUW_K5R3zg/s1723/NEW%20BOOK%20COVERS%20doll%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1723" data-original-width="1220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTe3b2NvZtAaA_D4RYHhDnLUAKhJRMbWGq4XU9iguBFSJEookvazPPNiLSdkyRxzpcpT8gaF5710GYO0G7hXrUmOkZLNOYpnIaFYM6DcMDaXvpf68dlY1OLodAmR3-jHZqjuguc0NTfiYy7EfZqB0Yg3upku0DaY6lhSBZPbyLiLooHERKgUW_K5R3zg/s320/NEW%20BOOK%20COVERS%20doll%20copy.jpg" width="227" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Doll</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">A mysterious doll, a centuries old curse and a vengeful witch...</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sZJ7_0cxhFBY0Tkn-49g8AhNGZh3rYB_hSpQmqXsZbFwWVcexCGuwSZ4Ygq0jTTyw73AKZA8WyzZkJrz79SNez3J7seeFgwpxWtDy-AXjAMrLv8vZuRxj9rZpGED9aibyvZ1N3eV58uZdyxv2LLoI_mHJwG8tBbgu-FQCKKM9b_ZPpp6Bn2FJgsACg/s1496/gold%20star%204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="1496" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sZJ7_0cxhFBY0Tkn-49g8AhNGZh3rYB_hSpQmqXsZbFwWVcexCGuwSZ4Ygq0jTTyw73AKZA8WyzZkJrz79SNez3J7seeFgwpxWtDy-AXjAMrLv8vZuRxj9rZpGED9aibyvZ1N3eV58uZdyxv2LLoI_mHJwG8tBbgu-FQCKKM9b_ZPpp6Bn2FJgsACg/w200-h41/gold%20star%204.JPG" width="200" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">For more information on the books and the author click on the link below</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/BXgaZvMxwj4">https://youtu.be/BXgaZvMxwj4</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-3561155865559465212022-11-19T08:29:00.000-08:002022-11-19T08:29:04.617-08:00Mermaid Folklore-New- Myths & Legends from around the world<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4xiEJmQFHUqym3duy_VkN1eL_ui2XlrhLEHAtORU16IwIQc66W2i9cAxndmz6IIoJfsW96zZdq-nPlT6yiIp9qcQSCOuxwlexkCSLgfXAs2oCySxL1k9kPs-ZKhEdODeDGHFQEwRCVKiuI4f_9mEoHpAGcPAss6x75C3S0I5QJTDmm8y9CUA1SR-lw/s445/front%20cover%20for%20promo%20copy%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4xiEJmQFHUqym3duy_VkN1eL_ui2XlrhLEHAtORU16IwIQc66W2i9cAxndmz6IIoJfsW96zZdq-nPlT6yiIp9qcQSCOuxwlexkCSLgfXAs2oCySxL1k9kPs-ZKhEdODeDGHFQEwRCVKiuI4f_9mEoHpAGcPAss6x75C3S0I5QJTDmm8y9CUA1SR-lw/s320/front%20cover%20for%20promo%20copy%20small.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>Mermaid Folklore is an enchanting collection of myths, legend </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>and first hand accounts surrounding these incredible but mysterious </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>creatures, touching on their origins, the biology of the merfolk and </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>the brisk trade in fakes.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUww8C39Mr1jyWXc5Q5PubNSRp2-0iWq125wgFlIbuRVd_T6cf3GXqpVFnwvcsUsqZ1zqrbks70o-1AVTuqCnCkbyBUmUBkgUEBbVcj-pHW2d9F-2Kkhm3sMkSbN6O4u70eUK8G0cjC16De9w4d9ACDfkC-9BIADHZdPt1dDTR3DYo8IIcufnYglMnQ/s300/DSCN1095%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="300" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUww8C39Mr1jyWXc5Q5PubNSRp2-0iWq125wgFlIbuRVd_T6cf3GXqpVFnwvcsUsqZ1zqrbks70o-1AVTuqCnCkbyBUmUBkgUEBbVcj-pHW2d9F-2Kkhm3sMkSbN6O4u70eUK8G0cjC16De9w4d9ACDfkC-9BIADHZdPt1dDTR3DYo8IIcufnYglMnQ/s1600/DSCN1095%20small.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Drawn from folklore around the world, from the strange Amabie of</span></i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Japan, the beautiful enchantress of Zennor to the bizarre and frightening water spirits that inhabit inland water ways.</span></i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprXTLGLuiKxkOZxQJTQuq67E_6W_vYPYRKM0kCGlxZYc2zOwQx84TvKfyI6AIqEPnYunJhSHjCQTS_Q4Mo89tf1wbpT5lvTcEj9bSknEegrAe0RaAI69XFSpxp4pZTqd2_63YyZ8uDW46Vc4xAT_tYy2CCvzK-1RRuic0fNbs53Ml_0u6Q5AmmiuJQQ/s300/DSCN1094%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprXTLGLuiKxkOZxQJTQuq67E_6W_vYPYRKM0kCGlxZYc2zOwQx84TvKfyI6AIqEPnYunJhSHjCQTS_Q4Mo89tf1wbpT5lvTcEj9bSknEegrAe0RaAI69XFSpxp4pZTqd2_63YyZ8uDW46Vc4xAT_tYy2CCvzK-1RRuic0fNbs53Ml_0u6Q5AmmiuJQQ/s1600/DSCN1094%20small.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>This beautifully illustrated book will delight and captivate lovers of these mythical creatures.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBFIE4ly7drR9PmIYmb7Uk_xKm2l_4mWKTw5SGnLwEYfpWUUsEpXYeiT8Qr6xMC7Sb5UmcyCqOZi3iv66wtJ0FgH06VFb9Sja0JsOQzSXXHSGu99HopDcRqN8lTHmpfISf6BHMYNz512CSEPwlG8k6ZWwjJLKbRGuO9PRIOUnVdeHT0tRw9oukkKl6g/s300/DSCN1091%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="300" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBFIE4ly7drR9PmIYmb7Uk_xKm2l_4mWKTw5SGnLwEYfpWUUsEpXYeiT8Qr6xMC7Sb5UmcyCqOZi3iv66wtJ0FgH06VFb9Sja0JsOQzSXXHSGu99HopDcRqN8lTHmpfISf6BHMYNz512CSEPwlG8k6ZWwjJLKbRGuO9PRIOUnVdeHT0tRw9oukkKl6g/s1600/DSCN1091%20small.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: times;"><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><i>Available from Amazon</i></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><i>or through </i></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><i>www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk</i></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Follow the author on </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Facebook </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Goodreads </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Bookbub </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Pinterest</span></i></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">You can also view the book on Youtube</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://youtu.be/4Xp9rYWCFfc" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/4Xp9rYWCFfc</a><br /></span></i></div></i><p></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-79702084805431894002022-09-04T02:48:00.000-07:002022-09-04T02:48:32.436-07:00Mermaid Folklore<p style="text-align: center;"><i> The New Forest Fairy Festival this year was as magical as ever, although extremely hot </i><i>everybody enjoyed themselves, with so much to see and do, it’s a not to be missed event!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>We snatched a few minutes away from the stall to make a short video of the festival...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a class="style-scope ytcp-video-info" href="https://youtu.be/WtN70fYn7G8" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/WtN70fYn7G8</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This year I launched my new book Mermaid Folklore at the festival w<span style="font-family: times;">ith, I think, great success.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRlGCxqPsZMF3x3gan97kiZna0Vp-rSLVHkf34PnUJOzfC0Kzf3GW-UFZ5-aVRBHgzGk5q-4h36HdNM4IPffaQYZvKcKz7xpGixEAQWnyVLHM-ZjWu--9qSIC1ZhnlRmgB8RxryerJzbIU49B1Owm_vlfN82eZ15Jvl27haqJr4UdfFbsk4eLKo-29g/s445/front%20cover%20for%20promo%20copy%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRlGCxqPsZMF3x3gan97kiZna0Vp-rSLVHkf34PnUJOzfC0Kzf3GW-UFZ5-aVRBHgzGk5q-4h36HdNM4IPffaQYZvKcKz7xpGixEAQWnyVLHM-ZjWu--9qSIC1ZhnlRmgB8RxryerJzbIU49B1Owm_vlfN82eZ15Jvl27haqJr4UdfFbsk4eLKo-29g/s320/front%20cover%20for%20promo%20copy%20small.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Mermaid Folklore is an illustrated book with full colour exploration of the myths and legends of these enchanting</i><i> creatures; starting with their biology... </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2md0Ncav2V4u22KYXdiCB0CjhCvTSqIIhzzFUt8JOuzUU7GivAr3PbJM1MbSMzNtQQFHDcUq0I4ZyfzJwPC6v5hEjpzloAWGguQqeqzLYhtHUssD3Q2qlUMbvOUU_UHdwb-mA8L-OfCjkje_NBFrgDvUM7MTtqc9jn7U8h04YBZ1IpMZ_MpjIZcNtQ/s300/DSCN1091%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="300" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2md0Ncav2V4u22KYXdiCB0CjhCvTSqIIhzzFUt8JOuzUU7GivAr3PbJM1MbSMzNtQQFHDcUq0I4ZyfzJwPC6v5hEjpzloAWGguQqeqzLYhtHUssD3Q2qlUMbvOUU_UHdwb-mA8L-OfCjkje_NBFrgDvUM7MTtqc9jn7U8h04YBZ1IpMZ_MpjIZcNtQ/w320-h261/DSCN1091%20small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i> touching on their origins and moving onto the different species of sea and fresh water creatures.</i></div></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAq4nksIr9nV6hinmk7X9a9WnwtEylHCllzIdV0Dh3XgI9hM88phTRwyhd4eB5tpfG87jXAc9AK5pEXUK9gQ5p8hi140fPg3tiev5Ff8Q3qVPMOQV-snJ337BQonZJaXYEhLRfeZcKbZsgaQF5X07fIVQwR39WsfC4NwgajShkO3ZOH-a_CVhSTm9ZA/s300/DSCN1094%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAq4nksIr9nV6hinmk7X9a9WnwtEylHCllzIdV0Dh3XgI9hM88phTRwyhd4eB5tpfG87jXAc9AK5pEXUK9gQ5p8hi140fPg3tiev5Ff8Q3qVPMOQV-snJ337BQonZJaXYEhLRfeZcKbZsgaQF5X07fIVQwR39WsfC4NwgajShkO3ZOH-a_CVhSTm9ZA/w320-h259/DSCN1094%20small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i> Available on Amazon in UK,USA, Canada etc</i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Here is the link for UK site </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7CXHCP9">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7CXHCP9</a></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I am delighted that Inanna's Magical Gifts, a wonderful shop located in one of the historic medieval lanes of Norwich, has agreed to stock my new book Mermaid Folklore and Faerie Flora, (second reprint) an illustrated book which gives an enthralling insight into the faerie folklore surrounding our most common flowers and plants.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NNdljLtDqEAM3H9yxeBXx7LjNlssb-5bJoRma1SYps9fo_ICahgmkCZ3fhjfjhwu2x2CJjzWoM5jzT3HgHK7-xPmHC0cy_c9eKhJrddP683Nw7wFnoqqVbNKIVZhRftHAT7za2-EGQEHlUDX-wdBD3Fxl9Gtf-5ekUy4l0QnsXtUysM6-lr9DSVJvg/s2048/shop%20front%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NNdljLtDqEAM3H9yxeBXx7LjNlssb-5bJoRma1SYps9fo_ICahgmkCZ3fhjfjhwu2x2CJjzWoM5jzT3HgHK7-xPmHC0cy_c9eKhJrddP683Nw7wFnoqqVbNKIVZhRftHAT7za2-EGQEHlUDX-wdBD3Fxl9Gtf-5ekUy4l0QnsXtUysM6-lr9DSVJvg/w400-h228/shop%20front%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside the former medieval weaving house, Naomi the owner carries as well as books, an extensive range of statuary, candles, jewellery, crystals, perfume oils, incenses and resins,boxes, talismans, totems stones, greeting cards, journals, herbs etc. For their full range visit their facebook page INANNAS MAGICAL GIFTS, also on Instagram or visit their website <a href="http://inannasfestival.com/">http://inannasfestival.com/</a></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbMuZ4GBuOFL9r6OwrpVTDhAbDA1HzMQ7Xow1xL3Z-dRqCr5pBytfQ60EN_L8j_kb3tkZ1K-wM88L8yfsuJLypmw-JS0MteURWeCq02dMc5hiY2g_XhuHtI3CQn6lKUyPnB_yWrqOUsiKCn5XX3D-pnqGElj6Vsv_YSBhlzNja80tFaUA2v1rFx2rvg/s2048/shop%20front%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1147" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbMuZ4GBuOFL9r6OwrpVTDhAbDA1HzMQ7Xow1xL3Z-dRqCr5pBytfQ60EN_L8j_kb3tkZ1K-wM88L8yfsuJLypmw-JS0MteURWeCq02dMc5hiY2g_XhuHtI3CQn6lKUyPnB_yWrqOUsiKCn5XX3D-pnqGElj6Vsv_YSBhlzNja80tFaUA2v1rFx2rvg/w224-h400/shop%20front%206.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And a huge thank you to Naomi for including Mermaid Folklore in her fabulous window display!</i></div></i><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-58348116074806568452022-03-29T07:02:00.000-07:002022-03-29T07:02:02.088-07:00Launch of Faerie Flora: An illustrated guide to folklore surrounding flowers and plants<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiiL2Ah3-qoilv8HZ7tbtycxB0drbn-iVNVzKMgJzY6j9bIe9ppNBrcUN9zOiRt1ufObJ1Dpr8IQpbVTXoRH5dAPiAQuMcVy86KFI9Sktduqd_VTFYoPYfYoqVyuNamSwBdWBc8lY4XWM-LZtfFBYjyCkTUq_tptabadqvCCtPQjpdUMiwQ3eHWz1Ow/s499/flora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiiL2Ah3-qoilv8HZ7tbtycxB0drbn-iVNVzKMgJzY6j9bIe9ppNBrcUN9zOiRt1ufObJ1Dpr8IQpbVTXoRH5dAPiAQuMcVy86KFI9Sktduqd_VTFYoPYfYoqVyuNamSwBdWBc8lY4XWM-LZtfFBYjyCkTUq_tptabadqvCCtPQjpdUMiwQ3eHWz1Ow/w268-h400/flora.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> Faerie Flora, a revised edition is now ready for 2022. </span></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Previously only available via my website or bought direct from markets or fairs it is now readily available worldwide to purchase and you can find it by clicking the Amazon link below</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WHKPZWF">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WHKPZWF</a></i></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></i><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fxEkNFOC6eWSaaWP8VvkJ3AbkWUP8PLRcgSGzTM-tRezVy0URWf_rUBkUt_Kbf-98-VCeERy9RhVj8pV3k5FILLopIOTaM-_MMh-87ZoN3xKwOPVTG3As_QpX-r4XLWpTiAVAIyB3o2ClvS-9gKcLmX2nA7M7j8I_Czqn5kuzo3lr5krB7Yx54Vp7A/s257/faerie%20flora%20module%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="257" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fxEkNFOC6eWSaaWP8VvkJ3AbkWUP8PLRcgSGzTM-tRezVy0URWf_rUBkUt_Kbf-98-VCeERy9RhVj8pV3k5FILLopIOTaM-_MMh-87ZoN3xKwOPVTG3As_QpX-r4XLWpTiAVAIyB3o2ClvS-9gKcLmX2nA7M7j8I_Czqn5kuzo3lr5krB7Yx54Vp7A/w400-h343/faerie%20flora%20module%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> This lavishly illustrated guide explores the folklore surrounding common flowers and plants. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied4V26f5UKYf-zn18IPOk83S4_y1sdfeQxg-e4knLgLNbmo6-q9EhFj5373xTvRWAXN6dIxr-Z4L7IewTBE5d89rxImkmts-_GX2sku_fturzqEHlx70kARUkoYZ3_AvpivgDlXWeY7LgZBKhSatVF0aV9a6-F7Q5mgh-WgrtPU_T5qHPax_QPMo_NA/s246/faerie%20flora%20module%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="246" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied4V26f5UKYf-zn18IPOk83S4_y1sdfeQxg-e4knLgLNbmo6-q9EhFj5373xTvRWAXN6dIxr-Z4L7IewTBE5d89rxImkmts-_GX2sku_fturzqEHlx70kARUkoYZ3_AvpivgDlXWeY7LgZBKhSatVF0aV9a6-F7Q5mgh-WgrtPU_T5qHPax_QPMo_NA/w400-h358/faerie%20flora%20module%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> 155 pages of colour botanical drawings, traditional folk remedies, culinary</i><i> recipes, myths, superstitions, forgotten tales of faeries, Kings, beautiful Princesses, dwarves, and dragons. Oh and of course a few spells to ward of evil spirits and advice on how to deal with vampires!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20zSV92aZrXWG9pVn8FJrMPoEfTgsFaqA0oZpSJg1q4_GxYESCHIEm6ZOEBpyE3Lpk4X6opwkQFtHxU1NA9Oq1QdSpjSPkHCh5YPfXT0by2g5SopCt6EWIW8A7USooYSQ8Sv5B2r_LtIfBaD4d38uVKJtYdcMImTNiN9ZHl6y-mUZBa62ToMIxTTTQA/s257/faerie%20flora%20module%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="257" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20zSV92aZrXWG9pVn8FJrMPoEfTgsFaqA0oZpSJg1q4_GxYESCHIEm6ZOEBpyE3Lpk4X6opwkQFtHxU1NA9Oq1QdSpjSPkHCh5YPfXT0by2g5SopCt6EWIW8A7USooYSQ8Sv5B2r_LtIfBaD4d38uVKJtYdcMImTNiN9ZHl6y-mUZBa62ToMIxTTTQA/w400-h343/faerie%20flora%20module%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLge4pSgbUgV2y26EXBnavy0gN4y6Zr-Mf5II3FBQlsK3t7NX9N5U3Zr9XDNbKolNBzzx-wecABEgYqPI-8HD9o3-3MV5iXyIl_BwmY5qEM8aB7ubNvE1t6u4fV8Q_pUMUExmpko4K2aXnS-wb5EeAEwIz8V1RwNj_x6ASYJACi8uqbD7v3kIw6DLsrQ/s265/faerie%20flora%20module%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="265" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLge4pSgbUgV2y26EXBnavy0gN4y6Zr-Mf5II3FBQlsK3t7NX9N5U3Zr9XDNbKolNBzzx-wecABEgYqPI-8HD9o3-3MV5iXyIl_BwmY5qEM8aB7ubNvE1t6u4fV8Q_pUMUExmpko4K2aXnS-wb5EeAEwIz8V1RwNj_x6ASYJACi8uqbD7v3kIw6DLsrQ/w400-h333/faerie%20flora%20module%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Violets and pansies are a powerful faerie flower despite their size and are </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>frequently used in faerie love potions. </i><i>It was the Wild Pansy or Heartsease that Shakespeare mentions in A Midsummer </i><i>Night's Dream, where Oberon squeezes the juice of the plant into Titania's eyes </i><i>so that </i><i>she falls in love with Bottom.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZnF08XjwXo7j_7GdpBiFrOcpH31wvfSiE79U6_7mwtk3J-gKIXr2vBvp7THit45Il-UBbZRcWH2Dv16CDv4LRz9WqcnaTSgUXvq9ABtqNx2S4aC0pn-zNweX9v4Y4GI18kPEjdavoQr5v9vF9Q20ki_AqtkVdh2IcxjFxM1M1KFUXf_FkJlek5sZrA/s257/faerie%20flora%20module%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="257" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZnF08XjwXo7j_7GdpBiFrOcpH31wvfSiE79U6_7mwtk3J-gKIXr2vBvp7THit45Il-UBbZRcWH2Dv16CDv4LRz9WqcnaTSgUXvq9ABtqNx2S4aC0pn-zNweX9v4Y4GI18kPEjdavoQr5v9vF9Q20ki_AqtkVdh2IcxjFxM1M1KFUXf_FkJlek5sZrA/w400-h343/faerie%20flora%20module%205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Culinary recipes can be found in the book for example; Nettle Tea for anemia, to purify the blood, Nettle Soup and Nettle Beer.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Faerie Flora is a follow on to the successful Faeries and Folklore of the British Isles, a county by county guide to the host of supernatural beings who inhabit the British Isles.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/faeries-folklore-of-the-british-isles">http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/faeries-folklore-of-the-british-isles</a><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for taking time out to read the blog and I hope you find it of interest; please let me know if you have any comments or recipes, spells etc to share, always interested to hear from you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-81927957004779097982022-02-16T08:46:00.000-08:002022-02-16T08:46:18.946-08:00A New Year and new products!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><i> For 2022 I have decided to start producing a few notebooks using my </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>illustrations for the front covers. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Notebooks are always useful, I know as I go through so many of them!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fairy Seasons</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>5.5 x 8.5 in</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>120 lined pages</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Paperback</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Glossy cover</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;">£4.48 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> In case you don't recognise the illustrations they are from my book Faerie Flora.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> An illustrated guide to our most common flowers and plants and all the folklore</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> attached to said plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So if you are in need of a notebook for shopping lists, to do list etc and love faeries...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these are for you.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSP_LxFwxe_J6VfGa0-YTjj4FdNdYrbPCZClSgOyzatQe9qfu6-VYrXoA3_7aX7AdwdzZd_vZeB21P5Za42LHCD8Xv9cSXSoH5ewQ52Kh1kPvQ-XxNcqnfg6bNCKaRbzUyrTg1ItqSajkgQEy-e1UXOQYEL7zPPXzTc2umvoPonBZuBIl-vzzqRprtQQ=s2236" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2236" data-original-width="1514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSP_LxFwxe_J6VfGa0-YTjj4FdNdYrbPCZClSgOyzatQe9qfu6-VYrXoA3_7aX7AdwdzZd_vZeB21P5Za42LHCD8Xv9cSXSoH5ewQ52Kh1kPvQ-XxNcqnfg6bNCKaRbzUyrTg1ItqSajkgQEy-e1UXOQYEL7zPPXzTc2umvoPonBZuBIl-vzzqRprtQQ=w434-h640" width="434" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> You can find them on my website <a href="http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk">www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">There are a selection of other designs available and more to follow</p><p style="text-align: center;"> including a fairy colouring book.</p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-48429708674173629772021-05-31T09:01:00.001-07:002021-07-30T06:14:51.457-07:00<p></p><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Yes it's back at last...after a trying year </span></h1><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Wytches Market will be taking place on Sat 3rd July</span></h4><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Sorry this was cancelled but hoping to try again in Sept....see The Wytches Market for updates</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaH56Vux8jm2ZaRl2Vv3Ael9nehq6BoVALfjaEl7JgKr4udcUqTRwIGvNp5QthBZeXcUagLqzrn-AKAYXJ0RtVH7cGeogpwaoVU0X_xQ2z1K1iRP_90pMFAZfF8kAbyIXe0k1jl44YGN5/s960/poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaH56Vux8jm2ZaRl2Vv3Ael9nehq6BoVALfjaEl7JgKr4udcUqTRwIGvNp5QthBZeXcUagLqzrn-AKAYXJ0RtVH7cGeogpwaoVU0X_xQ2z1K1iRP_90pMFAZfF8kAbyIXe0k1jl44YGN5/w474-h640/poster.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Visit the Wytches' Markets to discover unique and magical treasures. Shop for enchanting gifts for wonderful friends and fascinating treats for yourself. </span><span color="var(--primary-text)" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Visit the Wytches Market web site for more event dates and news.</span></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="j83agx80" style="animation-name: none; color: #1c1e21; display: flex; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; transition-property: none;"><div style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><div class="dwo3fsh8 g5ia77u1 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv q9uorilb kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h k4urcfbm" style="animation-name: none; appearance: none; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; transition-property: none; width: 344px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t sj5x9vvc cxgpxx05" style="animation-name: none; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; transition-property: none;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 pfnyh3mw jifvfom9 ll8tlv6m owycx6da btwxx1t3 hv4rvrfc dati1w0a jb3vyjys b5q2rw42 lq239pai mysgfdmx hddg9phg" style="align-items: flex-start; animation-name: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; justify-content: flex-start; margin: -6px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; transition-property: none; z-index: 0;"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb j83agx80 cbu4d94t g5gj957u d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz rj1gh0hx buofh1pr o8rfisnq p8fzw8mz pcp91wgn iuny7tx3 ipjc6fyt" style="align-self: center; animation-name: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex: 1 1 0px; font-family: inherit; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; padding: 6px; position: relative; transition-property: none; z-index: 0;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="animation-name: none; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px; transition-property: none;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; transition-property: none;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; word-break: break-word;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="animation-name: none; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px; transition-property: none;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; transition-property: none;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; text-align: center; transition-property: none;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh py34i1dx" color="var(--blue-link)" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; word-break: break-word;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="http://wytchesmarket.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR19zm-WnHZFoIkW0KS2HIlkeKBbREm8ZxxLCl2E7ALEk2HVtVfRDZstA1g" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">http://wytchesmarket.co.uk</a></span></div></div></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A World of Magic Myth and Legend, which is me of course :) </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Artwork, cards, faerie books...</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVbhzqDdwtSgjOPUkfwTMyl6DHD7xX7aO_Vow9lP8KgBpLdbBdLHhP1vPZWRk8UQPzHbbdtLd85uUHOyjm3xhEg_oCf0ieAJ8_InaIgycodoeCCiLU5U-yD6EK6zqapJoqwlCSzvqYLHR/s415/spring.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="293" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVbhzqDdwtSgjOPUkfwTMyl6DHD7xX7aO_Vow9lP8KgBpLdbBdLHhP1vPZWRk8UQPzHbbdtLd85uUHOyjm3xhEg_oCf0ieAJ8_InaIgycodoeCCiLU5U-yD6EK6zqapJoqwlCSzvqYLHR/s320/spring.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and not forgetting The Shelf Faeries</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-edGDyaO64Ww_13_Xa5Q-PnaJhT9fR_12C8wCrwNOJomyky__08yNXfGu7gvz49oidM_aVANxiVQT7IoCuQkroFmypjVznQJxGkk_MjRGZOL9TvIRuOuDDSNIhBMjkKXRr4r0Lz1KGbgp/s550/gilly_550.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-edGDyaO64Ww_13_Xa5Q-PnaJhT9fR_12C8wCrwNOJomyky__08yNXfGu7gvz49oidM_aVANxiVQT7IoCuQkroFmypjVznQJxGkk_MjRGZOL9TvIRuOuDDSNIhBMjkKXRr4r0Lz1KGbgp/s320/gilly_550.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/">http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>will be there along with</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> 'The Ivory Dolls ' who specialises in dreamy handmade creations.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTtNixWCwKbwYfTJt_26DHHNFUeOn-fK98OHOYqOe1N3UhMOOMQn6qHz5tilKZD-MfE1V8UTF18pxIenLOAr-cPqK7R9bQcphTWUW0GJGcTtisCj7QJUiHoM9_MpAed5ScZNFnqv4s-NK/s340/holly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTtNixWCwKbwYfTJt_26DHHNFUeOn-fK98OHOYqOe1N3UhMOOMQn6qHz5tilKZD-MfE1V8UTF18pxIenLOAr-cPqK7R9bQcphTWUW0GJGcTtisCj7QJUiHoM9_MpAed5ScZNFnqv4s-NK/s320/holly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theivorydollsglastonbury.co.uk/">http://www.theivorydollsglastonbury.co.uk/</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So please if you find yourself near Glastonbury or you fancy a great </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>day out pop in and see us..</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>There is usually loads to see in the market and the town.</i></p></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-61048185712313872592021-04-13T07:14:00.002-07:002021-04-13T07:14:16.189-07:00Castle Neroche :Tales of Dragons and knights<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BAkfzlshormbTbMC6vzhAXwS2zw4SZI2_J9YlnRHv_a_gEskygpvnBIZuaxlEqYIqFohJKFGkjXYBorh7xwFkGVtE9dbcY-pGBtOlI5_ann2ON-wbafzy4tkq62nW8qOHVxFGcRcfiB9/s1337/Green+dragon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1337" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BAkfzlshormbTbMC6vzhAXwS2zw4SZI2_J9YlnRHv_a_gEskygpvnBIZuaxlEqYIqFohJKFGkjXYBorh7xwFkGVtE9dbcY-pGBtOlI5_ann2ON-wbafzy4tkq62nW8qOHVxFGcRcfiB9/w400-h283/Green+dragon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Castle Neroche in Somerset is the site of an iron age fort, now heavily wooded, it occupies a prime position on a steep scarp of the Blackdown Hills.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although no structures remain, the steep earth ramparts clearly show where the hill fort and the later Norman castle once stood.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMQxIWPRx_Y7-XRDx4_HqUmj6wohZbJw0m44eg3Uldd8nw8yvt_4uM84NUDCmB-Aa3CHt1hHP0mlxjTtJDQ1l1UWn9Rd7_dBfo9W7jS-oE9Ob6McuvY6FK-ugGasU2GmvZimg50osHuni/s3264/DSCN0818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMQxIWPRx_Y7-XRDx4_HqUmj6wohZbJw0m44eg3Uldd8nw8yvt_4uM84NUDCmB-Aa3CHt1hHP0mlxjTtJDQ1l1UWn9Rd7_dBfo9W7jS-oE9Ob6McuvY6FK-ugGasU2GmvZimg50osHuni/w400-h300/DSCN0818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Local rumour has it that the hill is hollow and a huge dragon slumbers there for most of the year guarding its vast store of treasure. It accumulated the treasure by attacking unlucky travelers on the road and stealing their treasure although some say that it is faerie treasure that the dragon guards.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjW5FcYAsEl1Mmocoy_4Of5Ers4yhh6RlNTs9fEWevH_RC9KjdoYa2hc5ntksSrpdeUdNL9mEcXVe17gSJRzgKMW1GMVSeYansJgyoqEtHlI_ct_FHfpX-t8NNjjvXK7L1Ru_3zomscl/s3264/DSCN0843.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjW5FcYAsEl1Mmocoy_4Of5Ers4yhh6RlNTs9fEWevH_RC9KjdoYa2hc5ntksSrpdeUdNL9mEcXVe17gSJRzgKMW1GMVSeYansJgyoqEtHlI_ct_FHfpX-t8NNjjvXK7L1Ru_3zomscl/w400-h300/DSCN0843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It crawls out from his lair at certain times of the year to fly to the nearby Cadbury Hill.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is also a hill fort, formerly known as Camelet and which has been associated with King Arthur.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>He is said to sleep beneath the hill waiting for the moment when the country is in its darkest hour and he will ride forth with his knights to come to our aid.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Another legend associated with this hill is that a store of faerie treasure is hidden deep within the hill, if you dig for it the gold will sink so far into the earth so that you will never reach it.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlzD6lQVCM5UXZhSj52lFQy0T-fcufhRNpxadkI0k-RAah-hcCNVj-brqG0bFhENcmvfmlOzqw274JeA_GgOd2iUO4Np1oJzrW4nfTjDY3ugX5T-BC4DgHiEKj12-Qc4s1Zhji5i0c0x1/s3264/DSCN0847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlzD6lQVCM5UXZhSj52lFQy0T-fcufhRNpxadkI0k-RAah-hcCNVj-brqG0bFhENcmvfmlOzqw274JeA_GgOd2iUO4Np1oJzrW4nfTjDY3ugX5T-BC4DgHiEKj12-Qc4s1Zhji5i0c0x1/w400-h300/DSCN0847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The treasure on Neroche has never been found although several attempts have been made. The first, documented by the Revd F Warre in the 1750's describes the attempts by a number of men to dig into the hill. In some accounts they actually uncovered a huge chest of gold but as they attempted to pull it free from the dirt it slowly slid back into the hole. The deep sides of the pit they had dug began to collapse almost trapping the men. But they did not escape the Dragon's curse that easily, from then on all suffered bad luck.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Another attempt was made in the 1800's; as they dug the men began to hear strange noises coming from deep within the earth beneath their feet. Whispers filled the air around them. Overhead a sudden violent storm broke. The men's nerves gave way and they fled. But they too did not escape the wrath of the Dragon. All died within the month of a mysterious illness.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But that's enough of the folklore, here are a few facts about the site...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> The Iron Age site was converted into a Norman military outpost for the suppression of the south west rebellion in 1067-9 ( Anglo Saxon resistance to Norman rule) when it was heavily upgraded to a motte and bailey fortification. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRqOPTitDr3WXt-bo4TI1TYTbX1TC6CpQ5LtZ0_mva2HvPKJPKgNaQKa_ReLoCk1NCfz1CumOqhbtAnP1MeffoywMOTFRNm-CoW2rTaswVHlk2L3LRNVJU-RwGBe8u-xpzlLJhTWw4CMD/s300/robert.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRqOPTitDr3WXt-bo4TI1TYTbX1TC6CpQ5LtZ0_mva2HvPKJPKgNaQKa_ReLoCk1NCfz1CumOqhbtAnP1MeffoywMOTFRNm-CoW2rTaswVHlk2L3LRNVJU-RwGBe8u-xpzlLJhTWw4CMD/s0/robert.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It was under the command of Robert Count of Mortain, brother to William I ( the conqueror)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It was only occupied for a few decades after that before being abandoned. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>During the 'Anarchy,' a civil war in England and Normandy 1135-1153, it was briefly reoccupied.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is the period in our history when there was a succession dispute between King Stephen 1135-54</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol6kOTHG61dyUMo06OtoGiSiIfLGJVWAhuSM65RYhAQ4JMN2N2GAhp_tWl4oPk_K6IqcQkHXTPLP05_bf3YSf4I4O0XfM4KkQpwvzZZ7sZM5Ez3cFSCMihbhaDJshcN3nY8CwOH-eU9zK/s344/Stepan_Blois.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol6kOTHG61dyUMo06OtoGiSiIfLGJVWAhuSM65RYhAQ4JMN2N2GAhp_tWl4oPk_K6IqcQkHXTPLP05_bf3YSf4I4O0XfM4KkQpwvzZZ7sZM5Ez3cFSCMihbhaDJshcN3nY8CwOH-eU9zK/s320/Stepan_Blois.jpg" /></a></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>and his cousin the Empress Matilda.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqjsaoPcTbXghQM3jj_mEqaBB54xcJoJpA0Rm31OkDmp0YvxC8ZA7CKztVsKdVoQWOaqnzI7JlpWHk4Z9QwKowxeu8YShZ1mRH5tbLKw5vEC45Nc11T8gkunGHQ2mmTCLdrgbQpOq3EsG/s300/maud.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqjsaoPcTbXghQM3jj_mEqaBB54xcJoJpA0Rm31OkDmp0YvxC8ZA7CKztVsKdVoQWOaqnzI7JlpWHk4Z9QwKowxeu8YShZ1mRH5tbLKw5vEC45Nc11T8gkunGHQ2mmTCLdrgbQpOq3EsG/s0/maud.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The origin of the name Neroche dates from before the Norman occupation as it is derived </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>from the old English words nierra and rechich (Rache) which is a breed of dog used in the Middle Ages for hunting. So it is 'The camp where the hunting dogs were kept' giving it's alternative name of Castle Rache.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ztLGdMf4cn0DssAFVwgOjDRZIJPhlKWaTNkNVXyL0yd63kB3RevcVDhljtygXWqjEH-sTJQNdowh15hFTtiUw1OcnqlI__9RkVLuqS5suCwh98QgqFoBod6m_3bQRUAiUBJ5fcRFywOO/s519/dogheader.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="519" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ztLGdMf4cn0DssAFVwgOjDRZIJPhlKWaTNkNVXyL0yd63kB3RevcVDhljtygXWqjEH-sTJQNdowh15hFTtiUw1OcnqlI__9RkVLuqS5suCwh98QgqFoBod6m_3bQRUAiUBJ5fcRFywOO/w400-h174/dogheader.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>Click the link below to experience the muddy adventure with Millie and Mabel on Castle Neroche</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> and watch for the blooper at the end!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXoXlFKV4AfK-yX8jSummA5ZN3naVng02_ZpGcIM0DF0QJNfFNHhy-EECeJGb9-xlQ-DMZSW2G49diaQFvnm2-Mm65k2zjDwLCXslLJbo5I1ASJ80HMmOY7dLSljh0ML0RRtI8cnIxjTl/s3264/DSCN0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXoXlFKV4AfK-yX8jSummA5ZN3naVng02_ZpGcIM0DF0QJNfFNHhy-EECeJGb9-xlQ-DMZSW2G49diaQFvnm2-Mm65k2zjDwLCXslLJbo5I1ASJ80HMmOY7dLSljh0ML0RRtI8cnIxjTl/w200-h150/DSCN0824.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/svysqxrZA-M">https://youtu.be/svysqxrZA-M</a><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIyyppsbv_awgxahSKgisrolYEpJHrlKBbQTyNHPfUSrG-EcNfCH_v4BO6h2JdXcieZrcR5icBa3o5RuIsEd5J52M9swJ-r4Sfc-7trNqz-IGlofW0-PUAfJ4J7OhABUO7EkPrlcDUEMv/s3264/DSCN0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIyyppsbv_awgxahSKgisrolYEpJHrlKBbQTyNHPfUSrG-EcNfCH_v4BO6h2JdXcieZrcR5icBa3o5RuIsEd5J52M9swJ-r4Sfc-7trNqz-IGlofW0-PUAfJ4J7OhABUO7EkPrlcDUEMv/w200-h150/DSCN0823.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><p></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-11995127136534137152021-04-07T06:41:00.000-07:002021-04-07T06:41:36.544-07:00Hedgehogs: More Folklore than Fact<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn7n5fQv3MGEgnQSD_wD8TnxLrFJ6ynqAScMAmHyo8b1gnU1V0ioPRl-uuzsGwSIg4mCtkOoto7IeyKpEAYGgG4gfBKPgyZLFq7cQo7n72NPiP3u7W5qPMUKEnRMvQG-ZFmMXOPcneHoH/s490/hedgehog-bl-2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="490" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn7n5fQv3MGEgnQSD_wD8TnxLrFJ6ynqAScMAmHyo8b1gnU1V0ioPRl-uuzsGwSIg4mCtkOoto7IeyKpEAYGgG4gfBKPgyZLFq7cQo7n72NPiP3u7W5qPMUKEnRMvQG-ZFmMXOPcneHoH/w400-h330/hedgehog-bl-2-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Hedgehogs are now active after their winter hibernation, scuffling through the undergrowth in the search of a tasty worm or two. We have already spotted the first hedgehog in our little village, the dogs were wary but interested!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In folklore the hedgehog is portrayed as hardworking little beast who collects apples and other manner of fruit by rolling over and impaling it on its prickles, then taking it back to its den for the long winter. This is however incorrect as the hedgehog's diet does not include apples, or milk as they are lactose intolerant.Commonly eating invertebrates, they sometimes nibble on carrion,frogs,baby birds and birds eggs.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They do not collect food at all, instead relying on their body fat to survive the winter.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Roman author Pliny the Elder suggests that they collect grapes in this manner in his work Naturalis Historia and from the 13th century onwards this image figures largely in illuminated manuscripts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-_qSBDjHovqrTlfNVxB7rhyphenhyphenmI-qrRo74gS1vDNI5CihyopossEocBqAmDPfPF2wDWbEvQZieCK0XiV7FIacIMII26rSU3HWrOtt0PiR_sItzYrA46crWxGdXb8yb81wXT1Bp0lJaKUQi/s254/hedgehog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="254" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-_qSBDjHovqrTlfNVxB7rhyphenhyphenmI-qrRo74gS1vDNI5CihyopossEocBqAmDPfPF2wDWbEvQZieCK0XiV7FIacIMII26rSU3HWrOtt0PiR_sItzYrA46crWxGdXb8yb81wXT1Bp0lJaKUQi/w320-h234/hedgehog+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>According to Finnish legend a female hedgehog was responsible for creating the earth.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the beginning there was no dry earth, just a never ending lake. A giant hedgehog appeared carrying soil and rocks in its prickles to form the land.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukVNp_5SiTBTd_u-5PgSHWPVzFGa7qDFIygTWXuYlVbse2tw32jNQoq4yFYthv4z6aDGXIF1_b2Gb9hpkZQ-goyPbZiRBOI9KWh64Bej_D4eDR9QeSI6qd7gJ44RvR-duRqY58ItCDvvC/s564/hedgehog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="564" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukVNp_5SiTBTd_u-5PgSHWPVzFGa7qDFIygTWXuYlVbse2tw32jNQoq4yFYthv4z6aDGXIF1_b2Gb9hpkZQ-goyPbZiRBOI9KWh64Bej_D4eDR9QeSI6qd7gJ44RvR-duRqY58ItCDvvC/w400-h223/hedgehog+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>The hedgehog appears in many countries folklore; in Bulgaria it is depicted as being very wise.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the beginning of time the Sun decided to marry the Moon and everybody was invited to the wedding, animals included. All attended except the hedgehog so the Sun went looking for it to see why it didn't attend. The hedgehog was found gnawing on a stone, so the Sun asked it was it was doing. The hedgehog replied I am practising eating rocks as once you are married you will have many Sun children. They will all shine brightly in the sky and the earth will dry up, nothing will grow and we will all starve to death. The Sun thought about this for a while, and realising the wise animal was right called off the wedding.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxcJErOwGHSD6kxa8jt2stUqDRLfAY1aJ8IsDoD0GojegCBJcflAA1iz4XLg3vu9t6ltgMAvLoL6aQpa_FbnL1E1rUsasAi58nxAftFAAdY4OHAYibJHAKfESeFvo2QJP99kYncYAzu4J/s448/hedgehog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="448" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxcJErOwGHSD6kxa8jt2stUqDRLfAY1aJ8IsDoD0GojegCBJcflAA1iz4XLg3vu9t6ltgMAvLoL6aQpa_FbnL1E1rUsasAi58nxAftFAAdY4OHAYibJHAKfESeFvo2QJP99kYncYAzu4J/w400-h350/hedgehog+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>In Slavic folklore it is believed that the hedgehog can lead the way to the magical plant, raskovnik, which could be used to unlock doors and find hidden treasure. Apparently the plant is difficult to recognise and only chthonic (subterranean) creatures are able to find it.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It resembles a four leaf clover.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In some parts of Serbia the treasure was believed to be a black man in chains who once found would request that the raskovnik be brought to him. Once found the chains securing the man would break, he would disappear to be replaced by a cauldron filled with gold.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The poor hedgehog not only being wise and capable of finding hidden treasure was also regularly eaten in years past. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Traditionally a Romany favourite, wrapped in clay and put on the fire. The clay is cracked open when done and peeled back along with the prickles and skin</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Apparently its a delicious, firm, white meat but quite fatty....</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In 2016 Tyson sparked an outrage when he revealed that he ate hedgehog as part of his training regime.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And on that note I found a recipe dating from the 17th century in </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fairfax Household Book....</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>" For a lunatic. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Take a hedgehog and make a broth of him, and let the patient eat of the broth and flesh."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To end with a cheery thought....I believe May is Hedgehog month so go on hug a hedgehog!!</i></div><p></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-4896784184056585852021-04-03T03:09:00.000-07:002021-04-03T03:09:44.465-07:00Shute's Lane and Hell Lane<p style="text-align: center;"><i> Shute's Lane and Hell Lane, Symondsbury, Dorset are ancient track ways known as Holloways, </i><i>and are two of the best examples in the country. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The name Holloways come from the old English word 'hola weg' meaning sunken road.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>They connect the tiny village of Symondsbury to North Chideock.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The name Symondsbury comes from the Old English meaning hill or barrow belonging to the man named Sigemund. It was listed in the Domesday Book as Simondesberge.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The hill relates to the nearby Colmer’s Hill, a conical mound topped by trees which is the highest point in the district.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAmzx59MN_gWe_YkFfuqXosyp192dG7kPBRzXzbOkTT2SQuOnKRaFc2U1qC4v7nBKLCiXNeR4qxalLLHeo1eY-yxJdF97gEN6S0I4Qzk3_fJ-BHBrl4edoHPCZtpCtctigUouzggRB4Au/s3264/DSCN0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAmzx59MN_gWe_YkFfuqXosyp192dG7kPBRzXzbOkTT2SQuOnKRaFc2U1qC4v7nBKLCiXNeR4qxalLLHeo1eY-yxJdF97gEN6S0I4Qzk3_fJ-BHBrl4edoHPCZtpCtctigUouzggRB4Au/s320/DSCN0792.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It is said that it is not uncommon for children to hear faerie music issuing from the depths of the hill. A tale dating from the previous century relates to a young girl who was drawn to the hill by the sound of beautiful music, so entranced she began to dance and dance. Under the spell of the faerie music she could not stop </i><i>cavorting around the hillside until she eventually collapsed and died from exhaustion.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>In past times the main economy of Symondsbury centered around flax and hemp production for Bridport’s rope and net manufacturing trade</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyDSP5O7NcGU9zgBlwh6d5DkbzVFRSYP5LLi2EsCEMArzMaItuioIAfyCDvQNL27XP85LMj1R48VfJnLIuuHu5i8pb6mLHkJ9My58N4yKH6do_5VhAPQOm19YH3J2ZEn26mXQ0gFYUkHY/s3264/DSCN0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyDSP5O7NcGU9zgBlwh6d5DkbzVFRSYP5LLi2EsCEMArzMaItuioIAfyCDvQNL27XP85LMj1R48VfJnLIuuHu5i8pb6mLHkJ9My58N4yKH6do_5VhAPQOm19YH3J2ZEn26mXQ0gFYUkHY/s320/DSCN0803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> These sunken lanes are common in the west country due to the underlying rock being soft sandstone. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Worn down over hundreds of years by the passage of feet, livestock and wagons; the weather also plays an important part in the formation of these lanes, the deep sides funnel the falling rain from the surrounding land which then pours down the narrow space. At times the lanes can become a rushing stream wearing the soft sandstone down further.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Shute's Lane and Hell Lane, which are about ten metres below the surrounding countryside, are believed to be about 300 years old although others date back centuries starting as drovers or pilgrims paths.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ii1erXevxwEiml79qI2zQq6kEwcTOIEjgV58eumEDdFI8uSUdDCV30msx0d3orjZskMRATaAISc9HL4ntJ3ri1VsKpSFTEw1RxPbsR6IvfGAZVu2VeOQgTNdwx_sRMKUlAgdJCay-VPx/s3264/DSCN0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ii1erXevxwEiml79qI2zQq6kEwcTOIEjgV58eumEDdFI8uSUdDCV30msx0d3orjZskMRATaAISc9HL4ntJ3ri1VsKpSFTEw1RxPbsR6IvfGAZVu2VeOQgTNdwx_sRMKUlAgdJCay-VPx/s320/DSCN0804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Hell Lane, deeply rutted, was believed to have been formed by the passage of wagons transporting stone from the nearby Quarry Hill at North Chideock.</i><span style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i> Heavy carts transporting the local Forest Marble and Oolite a form of limestone, struggled along these Holloways carrying the stone to the nearby villages. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><i><br />The parish church of St John the Baptist in Symondsbury was built in the early 14th century from this stone.</i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The soft stone in Shute's Lane has been carved over the last few decades by passing visitors. The results are quite amazing and well worth a visit.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9Ig2PJ4WsOS-Yt3afi6TVqCphbuX3eZ6IymQYKrvH5s8IVygeiQU1OGmxLuatlrJpspiE8dIBXXmUexmKpj-miyHAHuOjjaRSQOjgAJx3A6IMipykbnE-eFSpET-K7WdJJ8oiivyCBYj/s3264/DSCN0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9Ig2PJ4WsOS-Yt3afi6TVqCphbuX3eZ6IymQYKrvH5s8IVygeiQU1OGmxLuatlrJpspiE8dIBXXmUexmKpj-miyHAHuOjjaRSQOjgAJx3A6IMipykbnE-eFSpET-K7WdJJ8oiivyCBYj/s320/DSCN0797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq-JohUoSu0mamMq9OxLNlThZmWds9zP8fuBHIIWaNUxQJM-04unpnAyEPVrAGIuT1-Za9FJPc9PcbvRMTb2SgrndUxi42VkOwh9T4tdKa3jWq7HO9JEXI6RhnOA7XxvBmO_MGY2a7WLR/s3264/DSCN0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq-JohUoSu0mamMq9OxLNlThZmWds9zP8fuBHIIWaNUxQJM-04unpnAyEPVrAGIuT1-Za9FJPc9PcbvRMTb2SgrndUxi42VkOwh9T4tdKa3jWq7HO9JEXI6RhnOA7XxvBmO_MGY2a7WLR/s320/DSCN0805.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mahJWqdRxJLth1ML1QWW1MSU28ILifF5fUmTJ1P-zVkyo7aJKNVFPlnsN7lwqNAyxt-tMpRzI1yWncu3Yt7VLuQPbDKugVZczCJQ73zxVfLcI6F2fOLXxg3PJ-39DLCB2TPx0SYu8OLt/s3264/DSCN0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mahJWqdRxJLth1ML1QWW1MSU28ILifF5fUmTJ1P-zVkyo7aJKNVFPlnsN7lwqNAyxt-tMpRzI1yWncu3Yt7VLuQPbDKugVZczCJQ73zxVfLcI6F2fOLXxg3PJ-39DLCB2TPx0SYu8OLt/s320/DSCN0806.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><i>If you intend to visit these Holloways be advised to wear suitable footwear as Hell Lane in particular </i><i>can be hard going, wet and muddy.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>To see the video of our recent visit follow the link:</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/49P1o6YOXEI">https://youtu.be/49P1o6YOXEI</a><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-5503494356421878222021-03-20T02:26:00.004-07:002021-03-20T02:26:49.780-07:00The Valley of Stone, created by Giants of course!<p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> ‘The Land of Bone and Stone’</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJRPm5FlR2ezapwXTko9rh669CVduThCdv8IEEzu9APfyDEUOlLFIqwZ2adVjm9WkCr2qMJTd0IRXJpIZmtx-pzTlIHyPgTtJ4ug48IRo1Lj-GfGhn21YNIrIczZf8s9D3ShNlyG6LrRV/s3264/DSCN0776.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJRPm5FlR2ezapwXTko9rh669CVduThCdv8IEEzu9APfyDEUOlLFIqwZ2adVjm9WkCr2qMJTd0IRXJpIZmtx-pzTlIHyPgTtJ4ug48IRo1Lj-GfGhn21YNIrIczZf8s9D3ShNlyG6LrRV/s320/DSCN0776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> The Valley of Stones lies in a secluded valley near the quaint little village of Little Bredy. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> </i><i>It is part the South Dorset Ridgeway. an ancient trackway which runs along the ridge of high land. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>A prehistoric ceremonial landscape which has been used for thousands of years and is believed to be a place to celebrate life and death, hence it's name ‘The Land of Bone and Stone.'</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Link to the video of our visit</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/nhw31yRwql0">https://youtu.be/nhw31yRwql0</a><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Archaeologists have dated flint tools found at nearby Bincombe Hill to 500,000 years ago; they were m</i><i>ade by a nomadic people who had followed herds of wild animals north when there was still a land bridge between the Britain and Europe.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>At first glance this site is fairly insignificant when compared to the larger henges of Stonehenge or Avebury </i><i>although just as important in archeological terms. A durable rock, it was used in the construction of Stonehenge, the Avebury stone circle , and closer to home the Hell Stone.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This is a Neolithic Dolmen with the roof still intact, built on a ley line its entrance is aligned with the midwinter solstice.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZyAZe1v6kmA2aP2-e5R0tny90uagbztJyvcDPIIqMUfd4gl9cDjjBD4KYFn5SJ1L_t4DxYLD7jLXoFTVtalWiICIdsGti1ju5IDWpFpZmrn7eU5W4lXDzOHhdus3C7l9xGZhsCeP3GS1/s544/hell_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZyAZe1v6kmA2aP2-e5R0tny90uagbztJyvcDPIIqMUfd4gl9cDjjBD4KYFn5SJ1L_t4DxYLD7jLXoFTVtalWiICIdsGti1ju5IDWpFpZmrn7eU5W4lXDzOHhdus3C7l9xGZhsCeP3GS1/s320/hell_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> The Grey Mare and her Colts, also to be found on the Ridgeway is the remains of Neolithic chambered long barrow. Its entrance also aligns the winter solstice sunrise and the sunset of the summer solstice.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd6yfcRQDXyHnbuBzI-KLY1cUO35kyIrq1wuVvoVaarwgt4HNCLy4UzDw4BwmAItvMq36oq89OfulG3qeWmnccKHQnwiGub-dBCPY7HrGq7sHStFksYzo_8N83iTYPz3IviUdbGw_1Dmh/s640/The_Grey_Mare_and_Her_Colts_Long_Barrow._-_geograph.org.uk_-_1123108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd6yfcRQDXyHnbuBzI-KLY1cUO35kyIrq1wuVvoVaarwgt4HNCLy4UzDw4BwmAItvMq36oq89OfulG3qeWmnccKHQnwiGub-dBCPY7HrGq7sHStFksYzo_8N83iTYPz3IviUdbGw_1Dmh/s320/The_Grey_Mare_and_Her_Colts_Long_Barrow._-_geograph.org.uk_-_1123108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The valley floor is strewn with boulders, washed down from the surrounding valley sides during the ice age and are the post glacial remains of cenozoic silcrete that once covered much of southern England.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjOXNnjIXgnKC4v5xhdLW9klRrVyFataIGeynvX9jxi_o6pU5nx-7dW-S97se1-9cAEidW3dh3i8SQXafcvSOW3eX_qqblaYPJgZqD0-Yy0BKdqWUivE4R-iw0MBS0JyfsYq4Rs_GfwIw/s3264/DSCN0782.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjOXNnjIXgnKC4v5xhdLW9klRrVyFataIGeynvX9jxi_o6pU5nx-7dW-S97se1-9cAEidW3dh3i8SQXafcvSOW3eX_qqblaYPJgZqD0-Yy0BKdqWUivE4R-iw0MBS0JyfsYq4Rs_GfwIw/s320/DSCN0782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This particular sarsen boulder train is one of the best British examples and is the same conglomerate stone that ‘The Nine Stones’, a prehistoric circle near Dorchester is constructed.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This particular stone circle is featured in the paranormal mystery The Doll</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0843QVJFG">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0843QVJFG</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the experts theory of how the valley of stones came to be but local legend tells otherwise...</i><i> that the stones were deposited there during a throwing contest by local giants. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUEx01s-qAcnU-ChGRh8hxx-c8BRLfbZj18ge2yABcuqvybr4mmnxwj4lZTmejEIcxy1OULZhVMLCCelUpDN4QGvOq-mMn9ugbFOgCfc5Sho2SPFwsd1SUiV6HO0CmtRsZ_KS1rEqrHYg/s255/giant+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUEx01s-qAcnU-ChGRh8hxx-c8BRLfbZj18ge2yABcuqvybr4mmnxwj4lZTmejEIcxy1OULZhVMLCCelUpDN4QGvOq-mMn9ugbFOgCfc5Sho2SPFwsd1SUiV6HO0CmtRsZ_KS1rEqrHYg/s0/giant+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The giants, during a particularly violent altercation, instead of coming to blows decided that they would settle the disagreement by having a throwing competition. The winner would be the giant who could throw the most, the farthest. They each scooped up a handful of boulders from the hillside and took turns to hurl them as far as they could down the valley. The grassland soon became littered with hundreds of boulders as they continued for days until they finally, exhausted, gave up.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> Which giant was declared the winner nobody knows but the result was the line of sarsen stones leading up the valley floor, which sounds a much more interesting explanation...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Of course this doesn’t explain the stone cicle set in the middle of the sarsen stones!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLInfokAs_L5_kfeJpvrTmeU73yWtkhwA7tMsXYkBwILxbAyn3ZI1scp8X6NDyYc24h0uUuR9TcURcRMuF0dqH1DyfqHTNrqIdns9PLBUcgw609dc0ROR8oc5bkWLUvIkMoEZ8aIg1fdT/s3264/DSCN0783.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLInfokAs_L5_kfeJpvrTmeU73yWtkhwA7tMsXYkBwILxbAyn3ZI1scp8X6NDyYc24h0uUuR9TcURcRMuF0dqH1DyfqHTNrqIdns9PLBUcgw609dc0ROR8oc5bkWLUvIkMoEZ8aIg1fdT/s320/DSCN0783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Millie, feeling the mystical vibes....</i></div></i><div><i><br /></i><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKYoRE8dGV4F8aL9L7YlJrzUUfa-mAs90FGVMt2JwXak8gOo4VYVe4MimUv2QNVNCC1KskOgpjskgyoy3TNTyfa9V17QNNzclli_XSnx67WdUd7diN8kdrsUWWaMQuMX06FAf8bqeDfJZ/s3264/DSCN0779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKYoRE8dGV4F8aL9L7YlJrzUUfa-mAs90FGVMt2JwXak8gOo4VYVe4MimUv2QNVNCC1KskOgpjskgyoy3TNTyfa9V17QNNzclli_XSnx67WdUd7diN8kdrsUWWaMQuMX06FAf8bqeDfJZ/s320/DSCN0779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mabel on the other hand is just hungry....</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcLaEnvfx6p-gjdrGgjLnA7rcaCjohKU1wBdJRCDXLWz1Q1RuympR-q709DEkZNVH82FKCgIt3QzU-J0IHh_OLz1M_DoVx9IZeZpsMk0kmNdYMlZ4OwBw4aOfwUeU14fQFhzcOxYW9xFH/s3264/DSCN0770.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcLaEnvfx6p-gjdrGgjLnA7rcaCjohKU1wBdJRCDXLWz1Q1RuympR-q709DEkZNVH82FKCgIt3QzU-J0IHh_OLz1M_DoVx9IZeZpsMk0kmNdYMlZ4OwBw4aOfwUeU14fQFhzcOxYW9xFH/s320/DSCN0770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Or the stone circle could have been created by the famous white witch that lived in a tumble down cottage on the </i><i>Ridgeway.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Maybe she has something to do with it, who knows...local legend has it that she was the local healer and midwife to the area. During phases of the moon she would transform herself into a white hare and was often seen running across the surrounding hills.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The locals had come to avoid her when she assumed this form as tales were told around the fire in the winter of some huntsman who were foolish enough to try and hunt the hare, not knowing it was the witch. They set their dogs to chasing it across the grassland of the hills. The hounds finally caught up with the hare and set up on it, the men soon followed and set to, trying to beat the animal to death. Somehow,maybe using her magical powers she escaped and although seriously wounded made her way back to her cottage. Here she collapsed on the cold floor and lay there close to death as the men pounded after her. They burst into the cottage and saw with horror that it was the witch whom they had attacked, terrified of reprisals they ran for their life except for one young man who stayed to help the old woman. He lifted her into her bed and tended her wounds, making a healing potion under her direction and waited until she had recovered before leaving. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The hunters of Little Bredy learnt their lesson and never hunted hares again...It is said that sometimes the white hare can still be seen running across the ancient grasslands.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It's an interesting place to visit but I would suggest you do it in conjunction with another of the mentioned sites.</i></p></div></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-57832383740712511482021-03-02T07:05:00.000-08:002021-03-02T07:05:46.660-08:00Eggardon Hill: home to the supernatural Huntsman and the Demon Hounds<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialzF-3P3aKEyzqCpJaewQWEA7Ecd_CjkJSwaXX-cWHZaLdAR-j4t8t5fReKGr2-Y_7VvvETqtPiEEtg6nLCF3GbCt75Kl_IOTml0iWxALbKo-UcO1RtSd-WkgHT0A6QiA83uwudF6nf8-/s2048/DSCN0743.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="2048" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialzF-3P3aKEyzqCpJaewQWEA7Ecd_CjkJSwaXX-cWHZaLdAR-j4t8t5fReKGr2-Y_7VvvETqtPiEEtg6nLCF3GbCt75Kl_IOTml0iWxALbKo-UcO1RtSd-WkgHT0A6QiA83uwudF6nf8-/w400-h261/DSCN0743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <i>We decided to chance another visit to this amazing hill, located on the chalk uplands near Bridport in Dorset it was once the site of an Iron Age fort dating from 300 BC. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It was first documented in The Domesday Book of 1086. There are several barrows on the site but the hill has never been excavated</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It has an excellent defensive position with its steeply sloping sides and excellent views over the surrounding countryside and Jurassic coastline. The view to the sea is so good that the notorious local smuggler Isaac Gulliver 1745 -1822 planted a grove of pine trees on the hill to guide his ships as they approached the shore. The trees were later felled on Government orders but the octagonal earth works built to protect them can still be seen today.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The weather forecast wasn't too bad, in fact it was quite mild when we left our little village but as usual, and as many locals will tell you, Eggardon is a law unto itself.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't know if its due to ghostly hordes that haunt the hill but it was freezing up there and blowing a gale!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Even on a summers day it has strange atmosphere but today, with a mist rising from the valley, it was downright spooky...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>No other brave soul had ventured up there, just us...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir03oi5T12e2UWUx4BuQ3L36RonxkjBirY2uplCbvZszGh-jUhXylN6zklIth-WwEYFO7_n7RO3DhHyxbzN4pQJdYA_JrWnzp163VpofAfQA_L0DoLHuHs_lFRSJPmGOrNLGFZK-z3YbzI/s1962/DSCN0745.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1962" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir03oi5T12e2UWUx4BuQ3L36RonxkjBirY2uplCbvZszGh-jUhXylN6zklIth-WwEYFO7_n7RO3DhHyxbzN4pQJdYA_JrWnzp163VpofAfQA_L0DoLHuHs_lFRSJPmGOrNLGFZK-z3YbzI/w400-h235/DSCN0745.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>But the dogs Millie and Mabel enjoyed themselves however....</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>For the full windy experience of our day on </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Eggardon Hill click the link to the video below</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://youtu.be/47FtfBj6JFc">https://youtu.be/47FtfBj6JFc</a><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><div style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>During certain phases of the moon a ghostly horde of faeries, demons and witches </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>hunt across the hill looking for the souls of the long dead. Their eerie cries can be heard echoing around the ramparts</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For more info about the folklore of Eggardon and the surrounding countryside try</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Faeries and Folklore of The British Isles.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/faeries-folklore-of-the-british-isles">http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/faeries-folklore-of-the-british-isles</a><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There is also the legend of the Huntsman and the Black Hounds that travel with him, some believe him to be the Devil...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Black Hunt is mentioned in the novel 'The Doll' a spooky supernatural thriller.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/the-doll">http://www.magic-myth-legend.co.uk/the-doll</a><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There are also Skylarks to be seen on the hill...very inconspicuous while on the ground but once airborne its distinctive song makes it readily recognisable!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sadly the bird due to its decline in recent years is now on the Red List for endangered species.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPa3c0aYtvucwFuiWYupg7yGkHUGtXRTGAr8NVfpgwpja-4jsHYaxfcJju8mHxpcwTu3rcT-VTrrarlWmo8Rn4nm_UVICZGs_qNyxJnjUQSpevWdW0KfPj_2uzXBn2QbXdd5eJj9Zkqd-/s768/skylark_1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="768" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPa3c0aYtvucwFuiWYupg7yGkHUGtXRTGAr8NVfpgwpja-4jsHYaxfcJju8mHxpcwTu3rcT-VTrrarlWmo8Rn4nm_UVICZGs_qNyxJnjUQSpevWdW0KfPj_2uzXBn2QbXdd5eJj9Zkqd-/w400-h206/skylark_1200x675.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-89472248341010514392021-02-20T03:47:00.000-08:002021-02-20T03:47:05.760-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFQeL3kAmIPALNQ7paIcIuUfDrnhl4q1PqHH2VLFkGQFl59jtqaf8PU7J7Zg96_Fh7VLlc2J0xzqJoVAG9K9Ng-ryiYrcHHV2Rbo-26XYtIkFgGQxdH1mnA7li3ItajSgiHkzX4hToONU/s640/snowdrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFQeL3kAmIPALNQ7paIcIuUfDrnhl4q1PqHH2VLFkGQFl59jtqaf8PU7J7Zg96_Fh7VLlc2J0xzqJoVAG9K9Ng-ryiYrcHHV2Rbo-26XYtIkFgGQxdH1mnA7li3ItajSgiHkzX4hToONU/w400-h268/snowdrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p> Despite the endless rain and cold, spring is at last making an appearance. Snowdrops have been pushing through the sodden earth ( what plucky little flowers!) and little green buds have been bursting from the stems and branches of the shrubs in the garden.</i><i> </i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>My thoughts should be turning to seed brochures to plan this years vegetable plot but looking out the window at the pouring rain I can't just get enthusiastic... so I will read my folklore books instead and dream of warm spring days.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So I am waiting for the Cuckoo to arrive, might have a bit of time to wait as it traditionally doesn't appear until April.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The cuckoo comes in April</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Sings a song in May</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Then in June another tune</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>And then she flies away</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It is quite apt that the Snowdrop is also known as the Flower of Hope as we are all hoping; after the past months, for better times. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Other names for Snowdrops: Candlemas Bells, February Fair Maids, Snowbells and Snowpiercers. On the Welsh borders they are gathered to purify the house but in some counties this is a no no as they are known as Death flowers, maybe because they grow in so many graveyards and recall the white clothes traditionally worn for the death of a child.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGBqTOgyS8F_xxZcCkITYByKd-boKkdydkKNyha4231MvvjF27d9Ge-uKdvQxVwyzvjnVjSf07dkewrhG2CJsz7nCpH4C6Z7pCONGdQnEXPcwZpc_TLtJfYDKPWkgKmXZZiIxIp-T6GVM/s1843/snowdropbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="987" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGBqTOgyS8F_xxZcCkITYByKd-boKkdydkKNyha4231MvvjF27d9Ge-uKdvQxVwyzvjnVjSf07dkewrhG2CJsz7nCpH4C6Z7pCONGdQnEXPcwZpc_TLtJfYDKPWkgKmXZZiIxIp-T6GVM/s320/snowdropbook.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It is one of the first flowers to appear at this time of year. Its beauty symbolises purity.</i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>'The snowdrop in purest white arraie, first rears its head on Candlemas daie' Circa 1500</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The second of February is Candlemas Day, St Mary's Feast of the Candles. Officially the Feast of Purification and the presentation of the Christ in the Temple. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>When Christ was presented to the aged Simeon, forty days after his birth, he prophesied that Jesus would be a light to lighten the Gentiles. So hence the candlelit services and processions.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Back to gardening... it is on this day that we are supposed to plant beans...don't think so!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Just found this in The Perpetual Almanack of Folklore by Charles Kightley</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i9Z6jtopqO-z0-m76p2tXbxRO8MePnUkzztrdLRXFsKiLd7JCMNowfODljubRfB5aaWjbEpD54gLA59QS_w9E-s4WSqBddVEQFDbl9UEteJPUtqydVOBvQPAbxTDtPNoRczQE1EIhCcy/s289/snowy+hole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="289" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i9Z6jtopqO-z0-m76p2tXbxRO8MePnUkzztrdLRXFsKiLd7JCMNowfODljubRfB5aaWjbEpD54gLA59QS_w9E-s4WSqBddVEQFDbl9UEteJPUtqydVOBvQPAbxTDtPNoRczQE1EIhCcy/w400-h241/snowy+hole.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>One day in February in 1799 a passing farmer noticing a handkerchief hanging on a bush, rescued Elizabeth Woodcock of Impington, Cambridgshire from the snowy hole in which she had taken refuge from a blizzard eight days previously. Drifting snow had covered her to a depth of six feet and she had become to weak to climb out; during her confinement her only sustenance was two pinches of snuff!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So avoid travelling by night in snowy weather...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>"For she was all froze in with frost</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Eight days and nights poor soul</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>But when they gave her up for lost</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>They found her down the hole"</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>One has to wonder what was in the snuff??</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-73428139322149284302021-02-13T08:16:00.002-08:002021-02-13T08:16:53.374-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Queenie and Sybil, The Psychic Sisters.</span></b> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Ghosts, witches, hell hounds and all manner of paranormal mysteries to get your teeth into...</p><p style="text-align: center;">The whole series of their adventures is available on Amazon either as a kindle download or in paperback. </p><p style="text-align: center;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bookseries/B07K2KX6WY/ref=dp_st_9090931406</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAst3S6yUviEqE-rIz_Aj4sDuGOCiNU8E2f4ulyr8QaiXlJpFZVzSJjnzXF6XIDD1QZIMVeeBBqllaXxdNIrK11u3-o95EyeUSEdthmDtVahXItLeMJEqR5oTm2JpIpvMNELCUCsxL2ax1/s1792/4+book+series.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1792" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAst3S6yUviEqE-rIz_Aj4sDuGOCiNU8E2f4ulyr8QaiXlJpFZVzSJjnzXF6XIDD1QZIMVeeBBqllaXxdNIrK11u3-o95EyeUSEdthmDtVahXItLeMJEqR5oTm2JpIpvMNELCUCsxL2ax1/w400-h245/4+book+series.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br />If you wish to just whet your appetite on the first in the series The Lavender Witch, it is available as a free download until the 16th of February.</p><p style="text-align: center;">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QNXWQG</p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-42732713056338694642020-10-22T03:14:00.002-07:002020-10-22T03:14:37.244-07:00October Tales<p style="text-align: center;"><i> It's that time again, pumpkins, falling leaves, roaring fires and of course Halloween or Samhain</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i> as it was traditionally called. We all know the lore behind Halloween but there are </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>many tales from this season that have been forgotten.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>And here are just a few... <br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG1PgbnbZpZX_Q4Ycq1QKr1oLQ93giCivEwBQvKXYzyIqIYNEaQglTil-Mj-cxq06JPVEaosLzJGlaJ19yfdvRvqAnepm_UVqwrW4gBBnVFgoj_d1_iqT6_OHzpHqMWgW03FIkSRiUkf1/s2048/st-ursula-virgins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG1PgbnbZpZX_Q4Ycq1QKr1oLQ93giCivEwBQvKXYzyIqIYNEaQglTil-Mj-cxq06JPVEaosLzJGlaJ19yfdvRvqAnepm_UVqwrW4gBBnVFgoj_d1_iqT6_OHzpHqMWgW03FIkSRiUkf1/s320/st-ursula-virgins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>October 21st is the Feast of St Ursula and her eleven thousand Virgins.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>St Ursula ( Latin for little female bear) was a British Princess who was ordered by her father King Dionotus of Domnonia from south west England to set sail to meet her future husband the pagan Governor Conan Meriadoc of Amorica. It is said that Dionotus received a request to supply wives for the settlers of the newly founded region of Amorica (Brittany) from Conan himself., so he sent his daughter to become his wife and thousands more women for the men. But on the way there a strange and miraculous storm carried them all the way across the sea in a single day to a Gaulish port. Wishing to give thanks for this strange miracle Ursula declared that she would make a pilgrimage and headed to Rome with her followers where she persuaded the then current Pope to join them. Nearing Cologne, which at the time was besieged by Huns, the Princess and her companions were caught. Refusing to bed the soldiers or to become their wives the virgins as punishment were beheaded and Ursula was shot and killed by an arrow, 21st October 383.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The Basilica of St Ursula in Cologne holds the alleged relics of Ursula and her companions.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>October 25th is St Crispin and Crispinian's Day; Agincourt Day</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgWx9poLXV-SPefpS8ruckpRWHLmUtEF57s_2KAWDEGbEBtQgBVk-2dNIg5yn7MfbpqewdhkaZtKk3iFoXsGwntC8vOlXc1Pu-PZ3lnHiRy-TVc8OhfSGbtq60YCOBAj_5hhbfj71klHj/s393/Saint-Crispin-and-Saint-Crispian.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgWx9poLXV-SPefpS8ruckpRWHLmUtEF57s_2KAWDEGbEBtQgBVk-2dNIg5yn7MfbpqewdhkaZtKk3iFoXsGwntC8vOlXc1Pu-PZ3lnHiRy-TVc8OhfSGbtq60YCOBAj_5hhbfj71klHj/s320/Saint-Crispin-and-Saint-Crispian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Born to a noble Roman family in the 3rd century AD they fled persecution for their faith </i><i>ending up in Soissons in France. Here they preached Christianity to the Gauls while making shoes by night to support themselves. This irked the Governor Rictus Varus who had them tortured and thrown into the river with millstones a round their necks. Miraculously they survived only to be beheaded by the Emperor.</i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>So they became the Patron Saints of shoemakers and their day is the Cobblers Feast or 'Snobs' Holiday.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>'The twenty fifth of October</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Cursed be the Cobbler</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>That goes to bed sober'</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>And of course it is the anniversary of the great English Victory at Agincourt in 1415.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>'This day is called the Feast of Crispian</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>From this day to the ending of the world</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>But we in it shall be remembered.'</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Shakespeare....of course.</i></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>October 28th St Simon and St Jude's Day</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMQ122dgfmrWKEsqfsLQE8w1ZXjq78fFG7UPNurz65inQ7vt1xebCrpRpQLc6Lrp6T2dOyqQ7-DrOy7bZ8ICjmzpkJuIeHI-c06IZTTYbnzZ8nhC9hSaTCpfOAHDn5iGwPA4cSwbUmX1w/s462/simon-and-jude.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMQ122dgfmrWKEsqfsLQE8w1ZXjq78fFG7UPNurz65inQ7vt1xebCrpRpQLc6Lrp6T2dOyqQ7-DrOy7bZ8ICjmzpkJuIeHI-c06IZTTYbnzZ8nhC9hSaTCpfOAHDn5iGwPA4cSwbUmX1w/s320/simon-and-jude.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Saints Simon and Jude were among Christ's Twelve Apostles, believed to be the shepherds to whom the angles announced Jesus's birth. Simon who is supposed to have been martyred by being sawn in half is the patron saint of woodcutters while Jude is the patron of lost causes although the reason behind this is not known. It is always said to rain heavily on this day.</i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>During the day if wishful to gain knowledge of your future spouse, peel an apple in one long strip turn round three times with the peel in your right hand repeating...</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>'St Simon and Jude, on you I intrude</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>By this paring I hold to discover</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Without any delay, to tell me this day</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The first letter of my own true love' </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Drop the peel over your left shoulder and it will form the initial of your future spouse's surname, if it breaks into many pieces you will probably never marry.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Okay now I am going to be irreverent, sorry...all this talk of saints!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>To ward off evil spirits during Halloween according to a text written in 1688 the use of a spayed bitch was considered to be very wholesome in a house. Homeowners of that era had a strong belief that it it kept away evil spirits from haunting a house. At a haunted house in Cranborne in Dorset 1686 occupants were driven away by the strange happenings within. It didn't stop until the next tenant arrived with a spayed bitch in tow; according to reports all haunting activity stopped while the dog was in the house.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It was also believed if the dog started growling and the owner could see nothing, it would be possible to see the ghost by looking through the dog's ears!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I was going to stop there but then I found a strange story of a bridge in Scotland where locals mutts go to commit suicide! A Victorian bridge built in 1895 spans the Overtoun Burn, it is here that reportedly hundreds of dogs have thrown themselves to their death. Locals, who say that the area has a strange atmosphere, believe that they driven to it by the ghost 'The White Lady of Overtoun'</i></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1092488896022484567.post-78363172999111088892020-10-14T04:07:00.003-07:002020-10-14T04:07:30.813-07:00Kindle Countdown Deal for The Doll<p style="text-align: center;"><i> <span data-offset-key="3q5i6-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">The Doll #4 in The Psychic Sisters series is now on a Kindle Countdown Deal. </span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span data-offset-key="3q5i6-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">The elderly sisters have their hands full this time with a mysterious doll, a centuries old curse and a vengeful witch, and all before they have their second cup of tea! </span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span data-offset-key="3q5i6-0-0" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;">Each book is a stand alone story so don't worry if you haven't read any of Queenie and Sybil's previous hair raising adventures! </span></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="py34i1dx" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: var(--blue-link); font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="3q5i6-1-0" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><span data-text="true" style="animation-name: none !important; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none !important;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0843QVJFG">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0843QVJFG</a></span></span></span></p>A World of Magic Myth and Legendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837922939416967751noreply@blogger.com0