Wassail!

 The Big Apple Wassailing this year was at  Aylton,  to see in the New Year and bless the fruit trees for the coming season. Compostgirl, Compostman and I went on Sat night  -  it was VERY cold indeed. We met up with a friend and her children and then saw lots of other friends there :-) it is a big social occasion around us :-)

We arrived at about 7 pm and had hot mulled cider (us) or hot blackcurrant (the children) - all locally produced -  and there were hot pork rolls on offer from a local farm's pig roast ( again local and free range and really yum)

We then processed with flaming torches to the nearby apple orchard, ledd by our local Morris dancers the  Leominster Morris Side, faces blacked up as is traditional in winter ( to avoid being identified by thier landlords or employers in times gone by!)

 where the bonfires were lit,  libations poured to the tree to ensure a good harvest, songs sung,

 

shotguns fired (!) to scare away evil spirits or bad omens which would blight the apples

 and dances danced to help ensure the harvest is good this year.

We then went back into the Great Barn and watched the traditional Mumming play, about St George and the Dragon - with many amusing and topical extras!

At about 9.30 the mumming finished and we said goodbye and went home to drink hot chocolate before out friends went home.

I have written about our local Wassail here, and about Leominster Morris and wassailling here

As always it was a fabulous thing to be a part of - one of the local things we do which we really love participating in ;-)

Samhain/Halloween blessings

Today is Samhain, the start of the Celtic New Year, a day or two when the curtain between the sprit world and us is thinner and our ancestors are closer.

It is also, of course Halloween...All Hallows Eve...a more modern, originally Christian version of the pagan festival.

We don't go in for Halloween parties and suchlike at Compost Mansions, normally we have a bonfire, a clear out of the sheds and polytunnel and a tidy up to mark the end of the year. We eat some favourite, special foods and I mark the day in a number of small, private ways.

One of my regular things is I tend to do "kitchen witchery" today, with the cooking usually being pumpkin related! However I am still feeling very incapacitated, so a lot of the things I had planned have been shelved for a few days AND we had a grand total of ONE very small pumpkin as a harvest, this year.

So I think a quiet sit by the fire and lighting candles will have to do!

Samhain/Halloween blessings to you all:-)

Wassail!

Wassailing this year at Hellens, to see in the New Year and bless the fruit trees for the coming season. Compostgirl and I went - Compostman sadly did not come as he felt unwell and it was VERY cold indeed. We met up with a friend, Angie and then saw lots of other friends there :-) it is a big social occasion around us :-)

 We gathered in the courtyard and ate and drank,

 

then processed to the orchard, some carrying flaming torches. I had one :-)

We made a circle around the  centre tree and small bonfires and the Morris Men danced and sang, the fires were then lit from our torches and there was more singing and dancing, libations and food were offered to the tree  and noises were made to scare away evil influences which might blight the harvest.

More about Wassailing the Orchards

Taken from the Leominster Morris website

The words comes from the Anglo Saxon 'was hael' meaning good health - literally 'be whole'. Ella Leather in 'The Folk-lore of Herefordshire' (published 1912) refers to the custom of lighting bonfires on Twelfth Night, with associated ceremonies, and called locally 'wassailing'. She quotes the Gentleman's Magazine (1791) describing the event. In Herefordshire, wassailing has long been associated with morris dancers and mummers,  THE LEOMINSTER MORRIS uphold this tradition.

The Wassail was the first event they revived after the side was re-formed in 1983. That first Herefordshire Wassail of the new era took place in the orchard of Sandy & Eileen Thompson at Tudor House, Yarpole.

The Wassail begins by gathering at a given watering hole, where flaming torches are prepared & distributed to the public, whence the side leads the crowd of followers (usually about 200) to the orchard. Toast is soaked in cider, then placed in the fork of the tree chosen to represent the orchard. Cider is then sprinkled about the roots of the tree. Next, the Herefordshire Lantern is ignited: this is a beribboned thorn-cage stuffed with straw on a pole. It represents the sun reborn, and shows why this ancient ceremony took place at this time of year. At the midwinter, the coldest & darkest part of the year, people encouraged the return of light & warmth, and by so doing they performed an affirmation of their faith that it would be so. Next, the 13th fire is lit and immediately stamped out; the Fire of Eternal Renewal or the Judas Fire. This is the sign for the simultaneous lighting of the ring of twelve fires, The Wassail Song is sung by THE LEOMINSTER MORRIS under the branches of the tree and two or three dances danced there too.

The we all go back in procession to the meeting place where THE LEOMINSTER MORRIS perform the Mummers Play. The text for which is taken from several local sources, and enlivened by individual members adding topical references or variations to their parts. More dances follow, then it is in to the bar for music, song, dance and drink!

The Wassail songs are spoken or sung.

(The Butler)

Old apple tree we wassail thee,

And hope that thou wilt bear.

For Lord doth know where we shall be,

Till apples come another year.

To bloom well and to bear well,

So merry let us be.

Let every man take off his hat,

And shout out to thee,

(Wassailers' response)

Old apple tree we wassail thee,

And hope that thou will bear,

Hat fulls, cap fulls, three bushel bag fulls,

And a little heap under the stairs.

Wassail!

Tonight the Compost Family went to The Big Apple Wassailing. For those who don't know, Wassailing is where you go into an apple orchard on or near 12th Night, and bless the trees and scare away evil spirits and ask the trees to be fertile and give lots of fruit in the coming year. You do this by pouring a libation of cider around the trees and making a noise ( tin cans, drums and, in our area, shotguns fired up into the trees...) also cake or toast is soaked in cider and put in the branches of the central tree. Bonfires also feature in the ritual.

Around here we have our own version, we have a torchlit procession to the chosen Orchard,

The Wassail Ceremony

Me lighting one of the 12 bonfires in a circle around the central Apple Tree.

Fire poi.

 St George and the Dragon. The Mumming!

A dead Dragon

Reviving those slayed by St George...The Dragon, The Black Prince and The Egyptian King...miracles worked by The Doctor!

Then we all go back to the pub/house/ barn to drink cider, eat hot pork and apple rolls and watch the Morris men perform a Mumming.

Its wonderful.:-)

It was stunning here tonight, the New Moon and Venus and all the stars in the sky were so clear... like jewels...Where we are we have minimal light pollution so were able to see loads of stars, and Compostgirl stopped and stargazed for a long time and was able to point out various constellations which was impressive for a 10 yr old....!

I love where we live!

Solstice tree spirits

Some tree spirits I have made in the wood, to honour the Solstice




The Green Man



The Summer Lady.

I had fun making these in the wood. They are made from our own clay, squidged by my own hands and they are up in trees at shoulder height, facing each other, as you enter the log circle.

I hope they last for a while...

Spring Greetings!

Spring Greetings!




Today is Imbolc, the first day of the Celtic spring, and truly it IS springlike here! it has been very cold but sunny and the grass is green, the snowdrops are bravely nodding their heads in the cold breeze and I, well I feel the first stirrings of growth in my heart, a need to plant seeds and get into the garden and tend and sow and dig and weed...

I went out this morning and looked, I mean REALLY looked at all the wonderful signs of new life. I was, of course, followed by chickens......






It is too cold and too wet to dig the soil, but I have planted some seeds and potted some strawberry runners up and raked a few beds clear of debris, to allow the emerging daffodils space and light and air...

I picked some flowers in honour of the day...I tend to leave flowers growing, I like them better in the ground! But I felt the need to bring some Spring inside my home today....so catkins, snowdrops, all flowering when everything else is still dormant....a promise of what will be, in the months to come...




I am, as you may know, very fond of the work of illustrator Wendy Andrew, I have several of her wonderful prints in my home, indeed her "Goddess Wheel of the Year" is a favourite of mine! It features in this photo of my seasonal offerings corner, with the flowers I picked today to honour the new Spring.





I shall leave you with her thoughts on this day

Feel Me now as Maiden.
I am the initiator.
I am the twinkle of an idea.
I am the spark that activates and inspires.
I am the light that illuminates manifestation.
I bring the energy that encourages the sleeping Winter world to begin to stir.
Feel My presence.
I am the spark of life in all things.

©Wendy Andrew
The Spring.

Yule decorating and musings.

Here are some of the decorations I have made to celebrate Yule and the 12 days of Christmas.

Here is my beloved Green Man. He lives in our dining room and is crowned with whatever is appropriate for the festival. He DID have a chaplet of home grown hops for the last month or two , but he now is resplendent with a twined Ivy wreath!


These are from a conifer in the garden, I have been cutting back the very bottom branches and used the greenery to make these decorative bunches. With some ivy and (reused) ribbon and trimmings from presents I have been given they look rather swish I think.


Well actually *I* think they look splendid! They are hanging either side of the wood burner and the scent they are giving off into the sitting room is AMAZING!





I am lucky enough to have an almost limitless supply of ivy, various conifers, pine cones, holly, weeping birch and willow for wreath base weavings etc etc , in fact I have already supplied 40 odd children with the raw materials to make wreaths like this at our December Eco club meeting.

This wreath is a base of weeping silver birch, twined with ivy and with grrenery tied in at various places with ( more ) reused or recycled bits of ribbon, fabric etc.


Life has been a bit grim here for the last few months, illness, various difficulties and a punishing amount of "stuff" which must be done has left us all feeling rather less than festive at this moment in time.

To be honest, I have only just put up the cards we have received and I have only sent 10 cards (to close family and friends) instead of the more usual 30 or more.

Part of this cut back in cards was a conscious decision to reduce the "stuff" we consumed during the festive season, as even though all our cards are made from 100% recycled card and support charities we believe in, they STILL use resources in their manufacture and in their delivery.

So, I have made more use of e cards this year AND also just not sent cards at all, preferring to email, write or telephone the people instead.


However, during the making of my simple, green, decorations I finally managed to get into the festive spirit. I have also been putting together a hamper for a good friend who has recently moved house, just some small home made gifts but again, it has got me more connected with the real meaning of this time of year.

So with real feeling I can say to all of you out there in Blogland....

SEASON'S GREETINGS!!

and a VERY happy 2009!

An especially big full moon tonight.

I was driving into Hereford tonight to do a "big" Pre Bah Humbug Season (PBHS) (known to us as Yule), supermarket shop for loo rolls and tinned stuff and flour and beer and such like..and as I went up over past
The Wonder, up and over the Marcle Ridge, I saw the Full Moon break through the clouds briefly.
I knew tonight's full moon potentially could be a spectacular sight so I stopped and took a picture.

But it isn't very good I am afraid.

Ah well, *I* saw the Moon in her shining, full, closer than usual, splendour, even if I *didn't* capture it to show to you....

So you will just have to use your imagination I am afraid....

Sorry!

BUT I DID get from the evil super more of the flip top beer bottles, full of proper lager, which I can reuse for beer or elderflower champagne making! The price of these to buy means they are a really good deal to get with lager inside!

Have drunk the contents of a bottle tonight...well I NEED to empty it in order to wash it and dry it and store it away, don't I? ;-)

Samhain

Today is Samhain, the start of the Celtic New Year, a day or two when the curtain between the sprit world and us is thinner and our ancestors are closer.

It is also, of course Halloween...All Hallows Eve...a more modern, originally Christian version of the pagan festival.

We don't go in for Halloween parties and suchlike at Compost Mansions, normally we have a bonfire, a clear out of the sheds and polytunnel and a tidy up to mark the end of the year. We eat some favourite, special foods and I mark the day in a number of small, private ways.

One of my regular things is I tend to do "kitchen witchery" today, with the cooking usually being pumpkin related! However I am still feeling very unwell so a lot of the things I had planned have been shelved for a few days but I DID want to make something for us to eat!

SO, some Pumpkin and Apple soup was in order...

The Pumpkin ( A Turk's Turban) was VERY resistant to being cut in slices! I tried ( and failed miserably) and then Compostman tried, he got a bigger knife out and finally his chopper (a scary thing...I don't use it as I have cut my self on it before now!) and the Pumpkin was defeated!

.


I removed the rind from the slices and roughly chopped the flesh along with a couple of onions ( chopped) 2 BIG cloves of garlic, a few peeled, cored ,chopped Bramleys, salt, pepper, thyme and sweet marjoram and my magic ingredient in Pumpkin soup, a small amount of some dark brown sugar





Pumpkin, apples, herbs, onions and garlic were all from our own garden, stock made from a local chicken ( NOT one of ours I hasten to add!) all put in a pot

brought to the boil....

and left simmering on a low heat for an hour, then I turned off the heat and left it simmering for a further half hour with the residual warmth from the ring. I aways like to simmer soups for a long time, I find it improves the flavour!




I blitzed it up with my stick blender and we ate it with a slice of cheese on ( home made bread) toast. The pumpkin flesh was even more sweet than usual, I think the fact it ripened fully on the vine makes them taste the best. I have noticed the ones which I have to finish ripening on a sunny window never taste quite so good?

And as I chopped, sliced, stirred and tasted this morning I couldn't help thinking "Hubble, bubble..." but I guess thats a bit of a stereotype! ;-)))

I certainly WAS thinking of my family, my friends, my loved ones and hoping we all have a good year ahead. I also thought of all my loved ones, still with us or not and wished them all well.

Happy Samhain to you all as well, may your coming year be fruitful, peaceful and blessed.

Honouring the harvest

Well it is Harvest Moon and today we picked the first of the apples (Tom Putt) from our orchard...

I have made a ritual of every year at this time I make new hop garlands, to adorn my beloved Green Man ..........
and to hang in the house...
but isn't that what rituals are all about? ;)


This usually coincides with the hops being harvested around us and the hops which grow in the hedge being ready for me to pick...



and the old garlands are burnt at Sahmain....

so this is what I was doing today!

I have also got some hops drying for beer!

May Day/ Beltaine good wishes

It was too wet here to light a Bel fire outside, so I had to manage with what I had....so I lit the woodburner!



Couldn't quite manage to get the livestock to jump over it...but I did what I could!











Settled down in front of it with a glass of home made cider, after a meal of home grown and cooked food, to listen to "The Lark Ascending"...a piece of music which perfectly encapsulates, for me, this time of year.

I am VERY tired after my efforts of the last 3 days in the woods...and have a busy weekend and week coming up...so need to rest and recharge tomorrow so as to be ready!

Bright blessings and Beltaine good wishes to you all.

Yule and Christmas!

At last!! The wheel of the year has turned and we have reached the shortest day!! The days get longer from now on ....

"Feel me now as Mother of Air
Mine are the limitless skies and endless stars.
I am bird woman.
I lift your imagination and carry it on soft,
feathered currents to otherworlds.
I am bone woman.
I am the stillness between
death and rebirth.
I am the pause between
breathing out and breathing in.
Rest in that pause.
Feel My presence.
I am peace"


From the Goddess Wheel of the Year by Wendy Andrew.

Big Apple celebrations!!

In my part of the world October is CIDER making time!! and we have our own local celebrations...THE BIG APPLE!!

A weekend of Seasonal Celebrations of English Apples and Cider in the Herefordshire Parishes of the Marcle Ridge Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Munsley, Pixley, Putley and Woolhope

This year the Compost family went to the open day at Lyne Down Cider. and here are some photos of the fun we had!!

Miss cw made friends with a very lovely dog, who very kindly took her for a walk!!


Much cider and apple juice was consumed by all and a very good Jazz band was playing all day.