Northwoods Kindred

Monday, April 25, 2022

Northwoods Kindred April 16th Gathering Report

Day before gathering finally arrived with a flurry of kinsmen ready to work hard and play even harder. Sindri had actually arrived Thorsday to help Bodvarr and I with any last minute plans before the rest of our kin and our invited guests were to arrive. Frejyasday dawned and with it came our tribe rolling in from as far away as Montana & the rest from Washington. Stig and his friend Erik were the first to arrive and Stig's truck was laden with provisions for the weekend.

Anthony was up next followed closely by Leif & Aurie. Nicodemus was the next to arrive along with our kids Egil & Sasha both of whom were picked up at school by Nic. Last but not least Vidarr arrived and we were finally all back together again.

Once everyone got settled in and dropped their gear in their chosen spots they all got quickly to work preparing for gathering day. Later in the afternoon Sindri began grilling a stack of bacon jalapeno popper grilled cheese sandwiches while Anthony whipped up a tater tot casserole to accompany it.

While the casserole was baking, Anthony ran back out to the Ve to continue it’s “Spring” cleaning and seasonal beautification. Sindri tirelessly made sandwich after sandwich with Vidarr hanging out and keeping him company.

After a very delicious dinner, which I had no part in, I wrangled up the kids and set them to the task of dyeing our Ostara eggs, and then I gave a brief instruction to Erik on how to make & sew a quest hood for himself.

While I was running around giving everyone jobs, Bodvarr was making a strawberry rhubarb crisp in his dutch oven for dessert. While the crisp was baking we gathered the oathed members and began our monthly kindred meeting.

Once that business was taken care of we all grabbed a warm bowl of steamy strawberry rhubarb goodness and sat down to study the Havamal with as many translations as we could find ( I think we had eight) and really go in depth with the meanings of each stanza and our interpretations of it, thus ending day 1 of Ostara gathering weekend.

Day 2 began with gallons of fresh brewed coffee, 5 dozen eggs and a couple pounds of bacon and sausage links Stig cooked up breakfast for everyone with a quick assist by Bodvarr to help cook the eggs on the blackstone and to keep them from running down the back of the grill and into the grease trap. This lesson was learned at a previous gathering.

After breakfast was over the guys went back outside to continue the cleanup of the Ve and to begin building up, repairing and decorating our ve fence now that the winter season was over. I set the girls to preparing & decorating the Ostara offering basket with colored raw eggs and sharpies for the upcoming ritual.

Soon after breakfast our final 3 guests arrived, they are a local heathen family looking to learn the ways and build their own kindred. They reached out to Bodvarr and I through social media and after a first meet & greet at a coffee house, we put the vote to our kinsmen as to whether or not they would be invited to Ostara. Of course we have the most generous kinsmen and they graciously agreed to share Ostara with folk they had not yet met and based solely on mine and Bodvarr opinions. Due to being all over social media from Facebook, to YouTube to TikTok among other platforms our kindred is not actively looking for new members although we are never opposed to meeting up for coffee cause you never know where or who the Norns might lead you too.

Our guests came loaded with an assortment of yummy foods to add to the feast and after a quick introduction to the rest of the kindred and a quick tour of the land, the brothers jumped right in to help us return our beloved Ve back to her previous glory before the harsh winter had beat her down.

As soon as all the wood was stacked & chopped and lit on fire and the fence was built up strong again and decorated with evergreen, Sindri did a final rake on the ground before we all headed back to the house to prepare for Sigrblot, a ritual dedicated to Odin & to Victory.

After brief instructions to our kin & our guests about the purpose of the procession, we all fell in line behind our Gothi as he led us out to the Ve.

Once offerings were given to Odin and his blessings were shared among the folk, we began the ritual of personally decorating the colored Ostara eggs with runes. Once everyone drew the runes on their eggs, we buried them in the Ve to plant the seeds of our hopes and desires for the coming year so that they may grow and blossom throughout the year. Once the eggs were buried and we each threw a handful of dirt on them we got back into the circle to continue on with ritual.

Sindi had other business than needed attending to and asked Bodvarr to bless his favorite blade so that he may gift it to Nicodemus in gratitude for services provided and in the hopes that it will serve him well in his new and upcoming travels.

Now that all the work had been finished Bodvarr closed out the Sigrblot and we all filed back inside the house to anxiously await our 2nd annual Ostara Quest.

This year's quest is currently in the editor and will be released soon but in the meantime….here is last year's (2021) Ostara Quest for you to enjoy.

While waiting for Bodvarr and I to tie up some last minute secret quest loose ends, Stig began making his lunch board for everyone to enjoy while waiting for the much anticipated Ostara Quest to begin . Piled high was pepperoni, summer sausage, prosciutto, pepper jack cheese, smoked cheddar, goat cheese, spinach artichoke dip, green olives, habanero huckleberry jam, and assorted crackers.

I don’t want to go into much detail about the Quest and spoil it for you, all I can say is, it was a most epic Ostara Quest! Here’s a few pictures for you to enjoy and to get your imagination going.

Once the quest was won and the MVP of the Quest was announced and awarded the coveted 2022 Ostara Quest map, we all shared in the spoils on our way back to reality. Now that we were all back in the house, we began setting up for a “build your own kabob” feast. We had 3 different types of unseasoned beef cubes, another bowl with marinated beef, sriracha venison, cajun shrimp, meatballs, smoked sausage and veggies galore. There were sweet peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, pineapple, mandarin oranges and that was just the food we put on sticks.

Also on the table was Mediterranean bean sprout salad, homemade canned baked beans, colored deviled Ostara eggs, cottage cheese, green grapes and farmhouse rolls. Bodvarr fired up both the Weber & the Blackstone and while the gods' food was being cooked everyone else got busy building their kabobs and waiting for the grills to become available.

Once that feeding frenzy was over we all got ready for our three rounds of Sumble to begin, both Vidarr and Leif generously brought mead that they had recently bottled, to offer in Sumble.

Shortly after Sumble ended our guests took their leave as the gathering had come to a close, the rest of us on the other hand devoured the beautiful & delicious apple cupcakes with honeycomb candy for dessert made by Leif & Aurie and then we all finished off the night just being kin.

Happy Ostara,

Skogul Allensdatter

Gydia of Northwoods Kindred

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Northwoods Kindred March 19th Gathering Report

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

Monday, March 21, 2022

Northwoods Kindred February 19th Gathering Report

Last month was our Charming of the Plough gathering. During this time of the year the soil begins to warm in preparation for the coming growing season. This is that brief pause right before winter releases her stranglehold on the land, and that the tools of the farm trade are blessed, honored and made ready for the workload to come. While most of us are not, and never have been farmers, we all have something we're good at, and there are no rules that you can't have the tools of "your" trade blessed the same way our ancestors did in days of yore.

Work began early Friday morning for both Bodvarr and I, as we began the long process of making Kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon rolls). As per SOP we made a double batch of these delicious sweet treats to not only give as offering in our Charming of the Plough ritual but also to share with our kinsmen at gathering.

After a long day of baking and recording the process for our Kindred Vlog, Bodvarr went out in the shop to begin re hafting an axe that had just recently broke and needed the handle replaced before gathering as that is the axe that lives out in the Ve.

While he was busy out in the shop, I continued my work in the kitchen but this time I focused my efforts into making a homemade mac & cheese for the next days gathering that would keep overnight in the fridge and leave me free to do other things. Lastly I pulled out and started dicing up all kinds of fixings for homemade personal tortilla pizzas for dinner this night. I must not have been thinking when I decided Friday nights menu and looking back I wish I would have just bought a couple of take & bakes to make it easier on myself.

Sindri was the only one able to make it out the day before gathering and shortly after he arrived I began putting the pizzas together. Bodvarr our Gothi of all Trades, had finished the axe handle and quickly went to work sharpening Sindri's tools of his trade...his set of butcher knives. There is nothing better than a fresh edge on your butchering knives when you have a weeks worth of animals to slaughter for other peoples freezer. While they were out in the shop they gave their shop wights Earl & Maurice (who's visiting from the butcher shop) a little attention with an offering of their preferred adult beverages...whiskey for Earl & brandy for Maurice.

Once those two very important shop foreman's were taken care of and 3 sheets to the wind we all gathered together in the kitchen to enjoy our pizzas. After dinner was finished we grabbed Egil's girl Kayla and gave her a quick lesson on the game of Euchre and played a couple of hands before bed.

Gathering morning dawned and with it came the news that our kinsmen Anthony was not going to be able to make it due to a family member becoming ill, we sent positive healing energy and well wishes his way. Our other Kinsmen Leif and his lady Aurie showed up shortly after that sobering news and after we got a couple cups of coffee into us, we all got off our butts and got to work.

Bodvarr started off in the kitchen making his famous flaky pie crusts in preparation for Sindri's minced meat pies.

Once the pie crusts were made Sindri got to work making the filling for the minced meat pies. The filling consisted of beef cubes, dried apricots, dried cranberries, green apples, brown sugar and a whole cup of brandy!

After a quick story of Egil's Saga we all went out to the Ve and collected firewood and set up the table for our tools of the trade. Once that was finished we went back to the house and got ready for ritual. Because this was a Disa blot and they were traditionally lead by women, I led the procession to the Ve and opened the four corners and invited the Disa, the feminine spirits to join us and hear words spoken in their honor.

David drummed the procession out to the Ve and Leif sounded the horn.

Once the Disa were properly attended to and thanked with stories of their presence in our lives, I passed the torch so to speak over to Gothi Bodvarr who would be leading us through the Charming of the Plough ritual.

In this part of the ritual our tools are blessed for the coming year. These can be tools of our trade or any items that we would like to be more proficient in. In our kindred we have blessed musical instruments, new craft tools, gardening seeds and we've even blessed some high school sporting equipment. Many honored tools were blessed with mead and with words of guidance to the respective deity and other beings in their field.

The folk were very generous with their offerings, in addition to mead and fresh flowers we had Kanelbullar, thumbprint cookies, chocolate mushrooms, personal mincemeat pies, and an assortment of nuts.

There was also a very special offering to the goddess Freyja herself with a bobcat claw and a bonded pair of crystals by our kinsmen Leif.

After all the tools were blessed and all the offering made, Bodvarr handed the ritual back over to me. I closed out the blot by thanking the Disa for their presence today and also gave them an invite to stay with us longer and enjoy feast and kinship with the folk.

We all headed back to the house for feast feeling grateful and with a renewed sense of purpose going forward into this year.

Feast was a delicious assortment of savory dishes with the minced meat pie being front and center, accompanied by smoked bbq chicken and homemade mac & cheese. Once the feast was blessed and the god plate was filled we all dug in with great enthusiasm.

After such a yummy feast and while we were cleaning up and getting ready for our next kindred activity, Bodvarr once again held our attention and fascination with another tale, this time of Thor's journey to Utgard-Loki.

Next up on the agenda was our kindred meeting and even though Stig & Anthony wasn't able to make the gathering in person they still managed to join us for our meeting via phone call. Leif took on Anthony's job as scribe for this meeting and we shall see at the next meeting how well Leif stood in his stead.

With the end of day and the awakening of night, gathering day was coming to a close but we had one more activity to enjoy together before we all retired to bed. Bodvarr has offered to do one rune reading a gathering if time and festivities permit. The choice of who gets their runes read are of course chosen by the runes themselves. Each person who would like their runes read will pull out one rune from the bag and lowest rune wins the reading. Once that person is chosen all the runes are put back in the bag and the runes are drawn by the person and read by Bodvarr.

This brought to an end another successful kindred gathering.

In frith,

Skogul Allensdatter

Monday, March 14, 2022

Thor's Holmgang battle with Hrungnir the flint giant

In this video we take a walk down an old dirt road near our homestead in North Idaho. I tell the story of Thors duel with the flint giant Hrungnir and the unlikely way it started and the twist ending. Hope you enjoy this story telling walk. Also comment below what other stories of our gods and hero's you would like me to retell.