Power thru Knowledge, Knowledge thru Truth

Happy Turkey day everyone....

2009-11-25T23:02:08Z

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.....

Cherry mead is bottled.

2009-11-19T02:31:25Z

The Wild Cherry mead I am making was vile (ughhh, nasty, really really bad) a few weeks ago.
I figure it had oxidized.
A friend said that I should give it a chance and bottle it anyway to see if it ages OK.
Today I bottled it after adding 4 oz of wine conditioner and it actually tasted pretty good after only aging 2 weeks.
What I thought was a skunky mead might actually turn out after all.
I will let the 23 bottles sit for a few months and see just what I get.

I figure the only thing I will be out for bottling the mead is 4 oz of conditioner and 23 corks.

Samhain on the river was great.... Thanks everyone..

2009-10-31T19:38:48Z

Good food, good friends, and celebrating the season.....
Does it get any better then this?

Mmmmm crystal clear spicy sweetness.

2009-10-15T01:44:34Z

I finally got to cork 23 bottles of jalapeno cinnamon mead.
And the good news is that the big batch tastes just like the micro batch I brought to earth house.
It seems just a bit smoother with just a hint more heat.

Mmmm Japanese Wild Cherry.

2009-10-06T02:01:32Z

I just started my next batch of mead.
Its Japanese Wild Cherry.
Same recipe as my Yerba Mate Cocoa mead except with a different tea.
So I am hoping it turns out just as good.

Now you be careful out there.

2009-09-17T22:17:23Z

There is a slick new phishing email going around.

It states that your Paypal account has had some activity on it that started out with some unsuccessful logins.

It all looked correct, I can imagine that they caught a few people.
I passed the email to MSN as a phishing attempt.

Wow, if they got your Paypal info they could wipe you ut in no time.....

These people are getting better and better at this phishing.

You can't win for losing......

2009-09-03T19:59:43Z

So my daughter took care of my cat Phoenix while I was at camp for 11 days.
My daughter and Phoenix have always been best buddies.
This time however Phoenix let my daughter know in no uncertain terms how unhappy she was.
I came home to puke and poop stains all over the downstairs carpet.
And my daughter said that whenever she was at my place Phoenix would spend the whole time crying and whining.
After I got home, Phoenix was a perfect angel once again.
A few days after I got home I asked my daughter to drop off my keys so I could get my mail.
She came in the house and hadn't even got her shoes off before Phoenix ran down the stairs and ran up to in front of her and took a big dump on the carpet.
We both stood there dumbfounded because it obviously was a statement that was made.
I know my daughter would never abuse phoenix.
In fact she tends to spoil the cat a whole lot.

So now it may be difficult to get my daughter to watch Phoenix if the cat's going to act this way.

A reminder

2009-08-27T23:08:23Z

Wiccan

Seeker Class

In the western suburbs

Ever wondered what Wicca is?

Well, here is your chance to get some answers to your questions. The Circle of Dragon Training is offering a free eight week, no obligation, informational course on Wiccan Spiritual beliefs.

Anyone interested in learning more about this spiritual path may come to the first class or preregister for the class by contacting Jim at dragonmyst00@hotmail.com.

Class size is limited and walk-ins will not be accepted after the first day of class.

When: August 30 – October 18, 2009

From 10am - Noon (Sundays)

Where: Diamonds Coffee Shop

                           1618 Central Ave NE
                           Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
                           612-789-5282 office

Please note: Minors are not accepted

without parental attendance.

A class specifically for Solitaires.....

2009-07-22T23:22:13Z

Solitaire

Year and a Day Wiccan
(Seeker/Dedicate) Course

Are you happy as a Wiccan Solitaire?

Would you still like the opportunity to learn

the Wiccan basics in a circle environment?

This free* Year and a Day intensive course is being offered to Solitaires that would like the Pre-Initiate education given to Covener’s, without the necessity of joining a Coven.

Classes will be starting Mar 06, 2010.

Space is extremely limited and all students will need

to preregister and be interviewed for this course.

Please contact Jim at dragonmyst00@hotmail.com

for more information.

Upon successful completion of this course the student

will be offered a First Degree Initiation

that they can accept if they desire.

*The only cost to you may be buying the 4 books

that are required reading for the course.

New Seeker Class starting

2009-07-22T23:19:18Z

Wiccan
Seeker Class
In the western suburbs

Ever wondered what Wicca is?

Well, here is your chance to get some answers to your questions. The Circle of Dragon Training is offering a free eight week, no obligation, informational course on Wiccan Spiritual beliefs.

Anyone interested in learning more about this spiritual path may come to the first class or preregister for the class by contacting Jim at dragonmyst00@hotmail.com.

Class size is limited and walk-ins will not be accepted after the first day of class.

When: August 30 – October 18, 2009

From 10am - Noon (Sundays)

Where: Diamonds Coffee Shop

                           1618 Central Ave NE
                           Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
                           612-789-5282 office

Please note: Minors are not accepted

without parental attendance.

Done and done.

2009-07-21T13:53:01Z

I was supposed post on live journal a reminder to Profmurphy about a replacement book for the Chalice & the Blade.She just said to put in that it was about the book she and R discussed.

Mead quesion

2009-07-19T16:41:00Z

I have a Mead that I used a semi sweet white wine yeast on.
I have tried mead yeast and not had good luck.
I tasted it after a week to see how dry it was getting.
Well it is at a point that I want the fermentation to stop.
I used Sodium Benzoate, and Campden tablets but the yeast refuses to die.
I used the standard 15 lbs of honey for the 5 gallons.
I am scared to add more chemicals because I don't want to wreck the taste.

So should I wait till it stops on its own then add more honey?
Or should I add more chemicals?

While a dry mead is nice sometimes, some flavors need a bit of sweetness.

Yup its spicy!

2009-07-17T04:48:30Z

My Jalapeno Cinnamon mead is nearly clear.
So I tasted it and even though I only increase the gallon recipe by 5 to create a 5 gallon batch the mead came out a bit spicier than the first.
If you take a good swig it definitely makes a statement.
It may mellow out a bit but I doubt it.

It still has the taste of the first batch though.
Sweet and spicy, Mmmmmmmm.

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble....

2009-07-13T04:52:16Z

Well the Jalapeno Cinnamon mead I started got racked and is clearing nicely.
I took about 10 oz and put it in the fridge to speed clear it for tasting purposes.
I believe I have successfully recreated my micro batch in a large batch...
Although it may have a bit more bite then the first.
Sweet and spicy!

I also started the Yerba Mate Cocoa mead this weekend.
The tea description says that this is a coffee drinkers choice in tea.
I tasted the must before adding the yeast and I had to stop myself from drinking a whole bunch.
OMG was it tasty..... It had a definate cocoa taste to it.
Well its bubbling away, I just hope the Red Star Cote des Blancs Yeast I used doesn't eat the entire 15 lbs of honey.
I want a somewhat sweet mead from this.
I am excited to see how this turns out......

Whats a witch to do?

2009-07-01T18:27:17Z

Yesterday I send out an email to my 2 older sisters and younger brother.

I let them know that I may be receiving my 3^rd degree initiation in the future and I really wanted to share this happy time with my family. All 3 for the last 10 years have supported my Wiccan endeavors, or at least not said anything apposing it.

Then today my 2 older sisters write me back and quoting their emails…..

“I am sorry to say that I cannot support you in this”

“I just can’t go along anymore with your decision to make the Wiccan lifestyle a part of your world.”

“It goes against everything I hold dear to me in my Catholic and Christian beliefs.”

“I have done my research and know what I’m talking about.”

I feel as though I have lost a huge part of my world.

How am I supposed to accept that the family that supported me for 47 years through legal issues in my youth and 2 divorces now can’t accept the faith that makes me happy?

I’m torn between trying to convince them otherwise and cutting them from my life.

Both stated “I hope that this does not put a strain on our relationship.” how could it not.

Right now I am forcing myself to not contact them.

I know that I would simply dig myself into a hole and cause irreparable damage.

I honestly at a loss for what to do……..

I feel as though my entire biological family has turned their back on me.

Thanx for letting me vent……

Yea!

2009-06-27T17:12:16Z

I just bottled 21 bottles of White Lily Jasmine Mead.
Its pretty dry with a floral taste. It needs some maturing.
But it definitely has a white wine flavor.

And the 5 gallon batch of Jalapeno Cinnamon mead is bubbling away.

And I still have lots of the pomegranate mead left.

Next is the Yerba Mate Cocoa mead.
I hope to start that in a few months.

So I should have lots of mead to bring to the 10th anniversary of Earth House....

Wish me luck....

2009-06-25T16:43:27Z

I am going to try to create a 5 gl batch of my Jalapeno Cinnamon mead.
I keep all my recipes in case one turns out (thank the Goddess.).
If I could get 20 bottles of that mead I would be happy.

Then maybe next Earth House I can bring a few bottles along......

Thank The Goddess for my daughter.

2009-06-13T17:45:48Z

My daughter S is spending the week at my place to take care of the sickly devil cat.
All it costs me is some good food.
S likes certain foods but wont buy it for herself,
so I think she actually likes spending time at my place with the cat.
Now I can leave for a week and not worry about anything.

I am so psyched to spend a week with friends in the woods at Earth House....

Almost there.........

2009-06-12T16:15:58Z

Only 1 more day until I leave for 8 glorious days in the woods...
I am almost done packing .
I only have a few more things to buy.

My boss just stopped by and told me to leave at noon today so I can make sure I get everything done in time.

I am so ready to just kick back..... :)

I need camping.....

2009-06-08T13:05:27Z

5 more days of camping then 9 days off.....
I am sooooo looking forward to this....

2 more weeks till Earth house.....

2009-06-01T13:01:22Z

I need to be in the woods..........

Life is good....

2009-05-30T20:48:40Z

Slept in a little this morning.
Spent the morning Cleaning the town house (I love the smell of Pine Sol)
Opened all the windows to air the place out.
Laundry is all caught up.
I have my class for at Earth House finished.
Caught up on my Harmony Tribe work.
I have the rest of the day to myself now.

I think I'll upset the neighbors and finally try out my new stereo.....
I also think its time for a glass of mead......

To mead or not to mead, that is the question?

2009-05-28T18:27:26Z

My new batch of mead is literally a sweetened tea that I am fermenting.

While technically it might be seen as a Methaglin, I am wondering if it really is still mead?

Could it be a Hard Tea?

Depending on how this works out I may stay using the teas because there are a ton of options and seem to impart a wonderful rich flavor.

And you can still do a fruit flavor using teas as well as flavors like Yerba Mate Cocoa (Mmmmmm).

I got the tea for this last batch at Teavana at the MOA.

My next mead.....

2009-05-24T22:43:46Z

I started my next mead....
It will be the last for a while now (I have to drink what I have in order to make room).
I bought 4 oz of Dragon/Phoenix Jasmine rolled green tea and 4 oz of Sweet Lily White tea.
The combo gives a very nice earthy floral smell.
I cold brewed it up and used it for the base of my next mead.....
It smelled really sweet and should be very unique.

Mmmmm Mead...

2009-05-16T01:27:43Z

I just bottled my 3rd batch of mead.

The light colored mead is Sparkling Metheglin, the next darker (upper left) is Jalapeno/Cinnamon, the darkest is Pomegranate Melomel. I now have to decide what type to make next.
I actually have another 16 bottles in storage ready for festival.

Happiness is sharing mead with a friend.....