With the wet weather, mud and snow still on the ground in some places, we sadly postponed our Ostara gathering until April. Once we made that decision we threw the word out to the kindred that we were now having a craft gathering. Stig and his boy showed up Thorsday afternoon to get started on their quest baskets that they were unable to make last year with us. Stig brought a bunch of ground venison and got right to work making burgers, or as he likes to call them "protein pucks". We threw them on the blackstone along with a couple of diced onions. As soon as we finished eating. Stig & Jackson began cutting the reeds for their quest baskets while I dyed a dozen or so reed strips so they could make their baskets unique and colorful.
They got the bottoms started and a few rows weaved in and then we called it a night and would resume the craft in the morning. After a quick & delicious breakfast scramble the guys got back to work on their baskets and began adding rows of pretty colors in fun patterns.
Once the baskets were built we moved them out to the shop to build the straps that would complete their quest baskets.
Shortly after the baskets were finished Sindri showed up and began making lamb burgers for dinner.
Anthony, David, Kayla and Nicodemus soon followed, with Anthony bringing a bunch of sweet potatoes fries to bake while I whipped together a corn casserole (my sister Gondul's recipe) to complete the meal. After a great dinner with even greater company, we all went to bed looking forward to gathering the next day.
The next day breakfast was an amazing casserole of leftovers cooked in cast iron by Bodarr. It was made with sautéed onions, protein pucks, ham, cheese, eggs, jalapenos and sweet potato fries and it was delish!
Leif & Aurie were only minutes from arriving so we held off breakfast until they got here. After helping them bring in their stuff and with the greeting out of the way we all grabbed a plate. After we all had our fill of breakfast we scattered to the four corners of the kitchen to prep for feast. Sindri had brought 3 legs of lamb for the smoker and a lamb roast for the crockpot. I quickly fired up the Trager while the lamb was being prepared and then got to work throwing together some scalloped potatoes and ham.
Leif & Aurie brought homemade sugar cookies that were to be topped with fresh fruit. They both began dicing up the fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries and Nicodemus jumped in to help them frost and decorate. Also, filled to the brim in that gigantic bowl sitting in front of them was chocolate mushrooms that they brought for snacking.
After all the food was prepped, the oathed members of Northwoods all sat down for our kindred meeting. We of course opened the meeting with a swearing of frith on the oath ring.
Once the meeting was over we all found projects to occupy us until it was time for ritual. Leif & Anthony began cutting out their rune set from the branches of some trees.
Once all the runes were cut and sanded to their liking they began penciling the runes on.
Stig was finally able to cut out and start grinding on his 1st knife. He bought a chunk of steel called Thor Damascus to make Bodvarr's HOG 4.5 knife design that he has with Tops Knives.
Jackson picked out his set of runes from a container of glass beads that we keep in the shop and he began painting on them with some red paint.
I of course spent my time running around, getting in peoples faces with the camera and being a general nuisance so that I could record this for all of you ;)
Finally it was time to blot and honor the gods. Today was all in honor of Heimdall the patron of Northwoods kindred, the teacher of crafts and the creator of the race of man. We all gathered for the procession with Anthony drumming us out to the Ve'.Sasha opened the four corners by sounding the horn.
Bodvarr lead us in blot and gave out both the external & internal blessings to the folk.
Also given a blessing of mead was this beautiful new idol of Heimdall that was gifted to Bodvarr from Leif for his upcoming birthday.
This blot was to be even more unique and special because we were giving heathen names to two of our kinsmen. David was given the name of Vidarr and Leif because he was born already with a heathen name we just added on to it with Leif the longhorn. Although we have also called him Leif the longbone.....the longshanks,.....the tall.....and I am sure there will be many more added on to our good natured kinsmen. Leif & Vidarr were both gifted with a kindred arm ring to commemorate the occasion.
After the naming ritual was done Bodvarr closed out the blot and we finished with a kindred group hug and a few quick pictures.
Once back in the house Stig began putting together a lunch board for us to snack on. Piled high on the board was dried salami, prosciutto, smoked ham, Chinese BBQ pork with hot mustard, munster and pepperjack cheese, a cheese ball covered in almonds, venison snack sticks, green olives stuffed with blue cheese, marinated mushrooms, hard boiled eggs and fresh pineapple chunks. It was amazing to say the least.
After we devoured that mini feast of finger foods we spent the next few hours continuing our crafts and just enjoyed being together again. Many hours later we all gathered in the kitchen for feast so that Bodvarr could bless the food.
Before anyone dug in to the amazing food set before them, a god plate was fixed first with a cold IPA to wash down the meal.
Unfortunately Anthony had a prior commitment that he needed to honor so he left early but we did manage to send him off with some lamb and cookies to enjoy.
Once feast was over and the kitchen was cleaned up, we pulled out the deck of cards and got into a game of euchre. About halfway through a game Egil came down and asked if we were still going to have sumble tonight as it was already pretty late in the evening. Bodvarr gave Egil the decision on whether or not we would have it but Egil baulked at making that kind of a decision that would effect everyone, so instead Bodvarr flipped a coin to let the gods decide. Heads we sumble and tails we don't. Of course the gods would never turn down hornfuls of mead raised in their honor and listen to stories of gratitude for their existence in our lives.....so we sumbled.
After sumble was closed and the ritual tools were taken care of, Leif & Aurie pulled out their sugar cookies for dessert.
Last but not least, Bodvarr read Sasha's runes as she had pulled out Fehu.
After the rune reading which made total sense to Sasha and left the rest of us in the dark, Bodvarr, Sindri, Stig and I resumed our card game to close out the evening on another successful gathering of Northwoods Kindred.
In Frith,
Skogul Allensdatter
Gydia of Northwoods Kindred
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