#Tag · BT Free Social

When your daughter is a botany professor and she brings beverages to the Yule festivities, you get some interesting (and quite delicious) choices. I offer here a selection of Apple and Gooseberry Birch Sap seltzer, Black Currant and Thoroughwort Birch Sap seltzer, and Mulberry and Nettle Birch Sap seltzer. all quite refreshing.
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Yule
#Solstice
#Botany
#Feast

Close view of a 12 fluid oz. (355ml) aluminum beverage can. Label is an artists rendition of a field of flowering herbs in a meadow with a rising (setting?) sun on the horizon. Label says " Black Currant and Thoroughwort Birch Sap Seltzer" Green cloth background.

Close view of a 12 fluid oz. (355ml) aluminum beverage can. Label is an artists rendition of a dog sitting under a tree with yellow leaves and golden grass in background.. Label says " Mulberry and Nettle Birch Sap Seltzer" Green cloth background.

Close view of a 12 fluid oz. (355ml) aluminum beverage can. Label is an artists rendition of a deer with antlers in a stylized forest with shrubbery in foreground having autumnal colors. Label says " Apple and Gooseberry Birch Sap Seltzer" Green cloth background.

Richard Rollinson

@richrollgardener@toot.wales · 3 hours ago

Matthias Rex🐯

@Meowthias@mastodon.world · 15 hours ago

I performed my Winter Solstice rite to Wulthuz, Woden, and Sunne the day before yesterday. I had planned to do a Celtic rite to Epona on the 18th and a rite to the Matronae on the 24th, but I have decided my #Solstice rite was all I could manage. I have a very painful lower back injury - standing for the time it took to perform the rite was challenging and it was all I could give this year. #paganism #polytheism

Bob Jamieson boosted

Helena

@Hellybootwader@mastodon.scot · 3 days ago

Moss on a stone wall covered in Lichen.
It’s been surprisingly warm for the shortest day here in Scotland.
#mosstodon #Solstice

A small clump of green moss with soft pale hairs on the ends of the leaves growing on a wall covered in patches of white lichen.
Five spore capsules are emerging from the clump on yellow stems. The orange capsules are not mature yet, still pointing upwards. — A small clump of green moss with soft pale hairs on the ends of the leaves growing on a wall covered in patches of white lichen. Five spore capsules are emerging from the clump on yellow stems. The orange capsules are not mature yet, still pointing upwards.

webhat🔜#39c3 boosted

Another Jen

@AnotherJen@mindly.social · 3 days ago

For those wondering why I'm making such a fuss about #Solstice, here's an excerpt from Terry Pratchett's #Hogfather. Susan, a mortal who is Death's granddaughter, has just saved the Hogfather (a Santa/Father Christmas type figure) from a messy death at the hands of those who would prefer a more clockwork universe.

I WILL GIVE YOU A LIFT BACK, said Death, after a while.

"Thank you. Now... tell me..."

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HADN'T SAVED HIM?

"Yes! The sun would have risen just the same, yes?"

NO.

"Oh, come on. You can't expect me to believe that. It's an astronomical fact."

THE SUN WOULD NOT HAVE RISEN.

...

"Really? Then what would have happened, pray?"

A MERE BALL OF FLAMING GAS WOULD HAVE ILLUMINATED THE WORLD.

They walked in silence for a moment.

"Ah," said Susan dully. "Trickery with words. I would have thought you'd have been more literal-minded than that. "

I AM NOTHING IF NOT LITERAL-MINDED. TRICKERY WITH WORDS IS WHERE *HUMANS* LIVE.

"All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... *fantasies* to make life bearable. "

REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.

"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little --"

YES. AS PRACTICE YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

"So we can believe the big ones?"

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

-----

Happy #Hogswatch to all who celebrate.