#basil growing guide

[planthouseandgarden]

Easy Tips to Grow and Propagate Basil at Home

Looking to enjoy a steady supply of fresh basil throughout the year? In this guide, I’ll cover easy tips to grow and propagate basil at home, ensuring you have a flourishing herb garden no matter the season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, these tips will help you successfully grow and propagate basil for culinary and health benefits. The Benefits: Why You Should Grow and…

[polaroid-petals]

It's the Omori fandom's way of seeing Hero and Mari cuddling up, being vulnerable to each other, really enjoying being around each other, and complimenting each other and concluding that their interactions mean there's no way they could ever be seen as a ship that's not canon—but Sunny and Basil's handholding, being vulnerable to each other, really enjoying being around each other, covering for each other, being together in so many photos and art pieces, and complimenting each other is just people extrapolating too much, and can't two childhood friends simply be friends, why would anyone think that there's anything going on there ://///

[heritageposts]

Ask an older generation of white South Africans when they first felt the bite of anti-apartheid sanctions, and some point to the moment in 1968 when their prime minister, BJ Vorster, banned a tour by the England cricket team because it included a mixed-race player, Basil D’Oliveira. After that, South Africa was excluded from international cricket until Nelson Mandela walked free from prison 22 years later. The D’Oliveira affair, as it became known, proved a watershed in drumming up popular support for the sporting boycott that eventually saw the country excluded from most international competition including rugby, the great passion of the white Afrikaners who were the base of the ruling Nationalist party and who bitterly resented being cast out. For others, the moment of reckoning came years later, in 1985 when foreign banks called in South Africa’s loans. It was a clear sign that the country’s economy was going to pay an ever higher price for apartheid. Neither of those events was decisive in bringing down South Africa’s regime. Far more credit lies with the black schoolchildren who took to the streets of Soweto in 1976 and kicked off years of unrest and civil disobedience that made the country increasingly ungovernable until changing global politics, and the collapse of communism, played its part. But the rise of the popular anti-apartheid boycott over nearly 30 years made its mark on South Africans who were increasingly confronted by a repudiation of their system. Ordinary Europeans pressured supermarkets to stop selling South African products. British students forced Barclays Bank to pull out of the apartheid state. The refusal of a Dublin shop worker to ring up a Cape grapefruit led to a strike and then a total ban on South African imports by the Irish government. By the mid-1980s, one in four Britons said they were boycotting South African goods – a testament to the reach of the anti-apartheid campaign. . . . The musicians union blocked South African artists from playing on the BBC, and the cultural boycott saw most performers refusing to play in the apartheid state, although some, including Elton John and Queen, infamously put on concerts at Sun City in the Bophuthatswana homeland. The US didn’t have the same sporting or cultural ties, and imported far fewer South African products, but the mobilisation against apartheid in universities, churches and through local coalitions in the 1980s was instrumental in forcing the hand of American politicians and big business in favour of financial sanctions and divestment. By the time President FW de Klerk was ready to release Mandela and negotiate an end to apartheid, a big selling point for part of the white population was an end to boycotts and isolation. Twenty-seven years after the end of white rule, some see the boycott campaign against South Africa as a guide to mobilising popular support against what is increasingly condemned as Israel’s own brand of apartheid.

. . . continues at the guardian (21 May, 2021)

[magickkate]

Good Evening! 🌙✨ Are you ready to infuse a dash of magic into your daily culinary adventures? Welcome to the whimsical world of Kitchen Witchery—a delightful blend of spell work, herbalism, and culinary enchantment! 🌿🧙‍♀️✨

🍲 Basic Ingredients for Your Magical Pantry:

Herbs: Rosemary for protection, basil for love, and mint for healing. Experiment with your favorites!

Spices: Cinnamon for prosperity, ginger for energy, and nutmeg for luck. Let your taste buds guide your magical choices!

Crystals: Place a few on your kitchen windowsill for added energy. Clear quartz, amethyst, and rose quartz are popular choices.

🌈 Setting Up Your Kitchen Altar:

Choose a Sacred Space: Designate a corner of your kitchen for magical workings. A windowsill, shelf, or small table works wonders!

Magical Tools: Incorporate a cauldron, candles, and small bowls for herbs and crystals. Personalize it with items close to your heart.

🕯️ Candle Magic in the Kitchen:

Color Magic: Choose candle colors aligning with your intentions. Green for abundance, white for purification, and red for passion.

Enchant While Cooking: Stir your intentions into soups, sauces, and stews. Feel the magic in every motion!

🍵 Brewing Magical Teas:

Create Tea Blends: Mix herbs like chamomile, lavender, and mint for relaxation or energy. Sip with intention and let the magic steep into your soul.

🌕 Harvesting Moon Energies:

Full Moon Feasts: Plan magical meals during the full moon for amplifying energy. Charge crystals and herbs under the moonlight for added potency.

📚 Witchy Wisdom:

Start a Grimoire: Record your magical experiences, recipes, and discoveries. It’s your personal book of kitchen enchantments!

Experiment & Trust Intuition: There are no strict rules in kitchen witchery. Trust your instincts, and let your intuition guide your magical creations.

🌻 Infusing Love into Every Bite:

Cook Mindfully: Turn cooking into a meditation. Infuse your dishes with gratitude, love, and positive energy.

Share the Magic: Share your enchanted meals with loved ones. The joy of kitchen witchery multiplies when shared!

🌿 Nature’s Bounty:

Grow Your Own: Cultivate a small herb garden or keep potted plants in your kitchen. Nothing beats the magic of using homegrown herbs!

Remember, dear beginner kitchen witch, your journey is as unique as the flavors you create. Embrace the magic in simplicity, trust your instincts, and let the cauldron of your heart stir up spells of nourishment and enchantment! 🌈🌟💖 ✨🌿🔮

[sevarchive]

‎taste test ༄.°

a umemiya hajime oneshot. 800 words

synopsis: in which umemiya invites you over to cook with vegetables from his garden, only for the evening to simmer into something neither of you planned but both of you hoped for.

a/n: hi windbreaker community! this is my first time writing for this fandom and i'm planning to write more in the future! i hope you like my first one ♡⸜(˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

the first thing you noticed when you stepped into umemiya’s kitchen was the little glass vase on the windowsill. inside it, a tiny sprig of mint floated with its roots in water, green and delicate. beside it sat a photo: a slightly faded print-out of a dish you had once made together, stuck to the fridge with a cat-shaped magnet.

he had kept it.

umemiya greeted you with a bright grin, sleeves rolled and white hair tied back, the scent of soil still clinging to him.

“picked the tomatoes just now,” he said, holding up a basket proudly. “basil’s looking smug about it.”

you laughed. “your veggies are always smug. you talk to them too much.”

“only the stubborn ones. but the carrots have been on their best behavior since i told them you’d be eating them.”

the cherry tomatoes were warm from the sun. something in you softened, he’d really grown them just for you.

as you washed the vegetables, umemiya moved around you with casual ease, always close, never in the way. the kitchen was cleaner than before. you noticed a little potted flower sat on the corner of the table. a gift, maybe. or a sign that someone very important was coming over.

he leaned on the counter, chin in hand, eyes on you as you began to slice. quiet. unreadable. but warm.

“you like watching me cook?” you teased.

“only if you promise not to cut yourself this time,” he said, smiling softly.

you smiled back.

you didn’t cut yourself on purpose.

but when your mind wandered and the knife slipped, a sharp gasp escaped your lips.

“ah—ow—”

umemiya was there in an instant. his hands were gentle as he took yours and guided you to the sink. he didn’t say anything for a moment. his brows were furrowed and his jaw tight, but his touch was so careful it made your eyes sting a little.

“you’re okay,” he finally said, rinsing the small cut with cool water. “but next time i’ll do the slicing.”

“i didn’t mean to get distracted,” you muttered, embarrassed.

“i distracted you?” he asked, a teasing smile peeking through his worry.

you rolled your eyes, but the blush gave you away.

he helped you onto the counter, cradling your waist in strong hands as he lifted you with no effort at all. your knees brushed against his sides when he stood between them, holding a tiny bandage between his fingers.

“you keep first aid supplies in your kitchen?” you asked.

“only started after you came over the first time.”

your breath caught.

he finished wrapping your finger. his hands lingered around yours, holding them like something precious. he didn’t pull back. his gaze rose to meet yours.

“i used to wonder what it’d be like. having someone here like this. cooking. laughing. filling up this place with something warm.” his voice was low and soft, almost shy. “but then you actually showed up, and it stopped feeling like a daydream.”

you looked at him, heart fluttering in your chest.

“hajime.”

his name felt like something fragile in your mouth.

“i keep thinking,” he said, his voice almost a whisper, “about how i want you to stay. not just for dinner. i want to grow things for you. set the table for you. make this place yours too.”

you leaned in slowly.

“can i kiss you?” he asked, breath brushing your cheek.

you nodded.

he kissed you like he'd been starving for it, all slow hunger and months of quiet ache finally spilling out. the second your fingers grabbed at his shirt, his body pressed flush to yours, anchoring you both to the edge of the counter.

his hand slid to your waist, the other curling into your hair as his lips moved rougher now, deeper, like he couldn't stop himself. your hands drifted higher, one slipping beneath the hem of his shirt, fingertips grazing warm skin that made him shudder against your mouth. he groaned, low and quiet, the sound caught between restraint and everything he had been holding back.

your palm almost pushed his shirt higher when his breath stuttered against your lips, and he kissed you again, needier this time, a little desperate, a little undone. the room smelled like basil and something new blooming between you, and you were so close to giving in, to tugging him impossibly closer—

beep. beep. beep.

it was the rice cooker. you both froze.

then he let out a laugh, resting his forehead against yours.

“guess dinner’s ready,” he said, voice still a little breathless.

you giggled into his shoulder. “so rude of the rice cooker to interrupt true love.”

he pressed a kiss to your bandaged hand. “let it beep. i’ve got what i came for.”

and when you finally slid off the counter and joined him at the table, the sun dipped low through the window, casting golden light over the small vase, the plate of garden-picked tomatoes, and the smile he wore that told you—without a single word— you were home.

જ⁀➴ © sevarchive ✦ masterlist like/reblogs are appreciated ꣑ৎ

[breelandwalker]

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Correspondences

There are dozens of plant species in the arsenal of the green witch. Commonly-used varieties and usage varies somewhat between traditions, but most of us are fairly familiar with industry standards like basil, bay, rosemary, sage, and so on.

But what do you do when faced with a plant that has no listed magical correspondences anywhere that you can find in your witchcraft library? Simple - you create some.

Allow me to demonstrate with a little plant I found in my own backyard. It's a common weed called Virginia copperleaf (Acalypha virginica). But despite it's widespread range and abundant growth as a field weed, there are surprisingly few references to the plant in regional folk medicine and none at all that I could find in contemporary witchcraft.

So in order to incorporate this hardy little weed into my practice, I set about creating some correspondences for it.

First, I researched the physical properties of the plant. It is a small annual spurge with long taproots, a resistance to drought and many herbicides, and a reputation for fast growth and being difficult to eradicate from fields due to prolific seeding. The leaves turn coppery-red in the fall and small spiky flowers bloom among the foliage. It is also mildly poisonous. The juice of the plant may cause contact dermatitis or a mild rash in some people and if ingested, it may cause GI symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Next, I researched references to the plant in folk medicine. I could only find a single reference that cited copperleaf as a possible diuretic and expectorant. That does track with the previous mention of GI symptoms, but it doesn't mean the plant is safe to use. I did discover that an alternate name for the plant is three-seeded mercury or mercury weed, likely because of its' tendency for fast growth and the fact that it is propagated by the wind.

So now comes the business of creating the correspondences, using the physical properties of the plant as a basis.

The first and most obvious association is strength. Any weed that is resistant to drought and herbicide and uprooting is bound to be useful for spells involving tenacity and fortitude. Prosperity is also a likely use, both because of the name copperleaf and the way in which the plant grows and spreads quickly. Because of the alternate name mercury weed and the wind propagation, it could be used for wind magic or communication spells. (I often associate the element of air with communication and the name of a messenger god is right there as well, but your mileage may vary.)

The plant could also be used as an ingredient for baneful magic, either to bind and frustrate someone's efforts by consuming available ground where their ambitions might grow, or in its' capacity as a mild poison, to cause physical discomfort and stomach trouble.

So in the end, I have a handful of copperleaf and a listing in my witchbook that details the properties of the plant and notes that it could be useful for spells involving strength, tenacity, prosperity, wind, or communication, as well as possible baneful uses including binding, discomfort, and sickness.

This is my system for assigning correspondences to previously-unknown plants, and I encourage readers to use it as a template for their own practices or to create their own system. Either way, I recommend the use of a field guide or plant identification app like PlantNet to properly identify plants as you find them. Remember to forage and harvest responsibly, be a good steward of the land around you, and always label your plant cuttings.

Check out more tips for harvesting local wild plants here.

Happy Witching! 💚🌿

(If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. You can also check out my show Hex Positive wherever fine podcasts are heard. 😊)

More witchcraft exercises here:

[greenwitchcrafts]

April 2025 Witch Guide

New Moon: April 27th

First Quarter: April 4th

Full moon: April 12th

Last Quarter: April 20th

April Budding Moon

Also known as:  Breaking Ice Moon(Algonquin), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs(Tlingit), Budding Moon, Growing Moon, Frog Moon(Cree), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs(Dakota), Moon of the Red Grass Appearing(Oglala), Moon When the Streams Are Again,  Navigable(Dakota), Moon When the Ducks Come Back(Lakota), Pink Moon, Planters Moon, Sucker Moon(Anishinaabe)

Element: Air

Zodiac:  Aries & Taurus

Nature spirts: Plant Faeries

Deities: Anahita, Bast, Ceres, Cernunnos, Hathor, Herne, Ishtar, Kali, Tawaret & Venus

Animals: Bear & Wolf

Birds: Hawk & Magpie

Colors: Blue, brown, crimson, gold & green

Trees:  Bay, forsythia, hazel, lilac, pine & willow

Herbs: Basil, chives, dill, dogwood, dragon's blood, fennel, milkweed & thistle

Flowers: Daisy, dandelion, lilac, geranium & sweetpea

Scents: Bay, bergamot, patchouli & pine

Stones:  Angelite, beryl, diamond, garnet, malachite, quartz, ruby, sapphire, sard, selenite & zircon

Issues, intentions & powers:  Beginnings, fertility, growth & spirituality

Energy: Authority, balance, beginnings, change, leadership, opportunities, overcoming obstacles, personal skill development, rebirth, self-evaluation, temper control & willpower

April is commonly referred to as The Pink Moon, this name comes from the early spring bloom of a wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower, often called “moss pink,” was in full bloom around April’s full Moon.

• The full Moon on April 12, 2025, occurs just before reaching apogee.

Apogee refers to the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth. When the full Moon occurs near this point, it’s classified as a “micromoon”—the opposite of a supermoon. Since this full Moon happens about 22 hours before apogee, it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual.

Other celebrations:

• Walpurgis Night - April 30th

Also known as: May Eve

The origins of the holiday date back to pagan celebrations of fertility rites & the coming of spring. After the Norse were Christianized, the pagan celebration became combined with the legend of St. Walburga, an English-born nun who lived at Heidenheim monastery in Germany & later became the abbess there. Saint Walpurga was hailed by the Christians of Germany for battling “pest, rabies, & whooping cough as well as against witchcraft”. Christians prayed to God through the intercession of Saint Walpurga in order to protect themselves from witchcraft, as Saint Walpurga was successful in converting the local populace to Christianity. Although it is likely that the date of her canonization is purely coincidental to the date of the pagan celebrations of spring, people were able to celebrate both events under church law without fear of reprisal.

Walpurgis Night is still a traditional holiday celebrated on April 30th in northern Europe & Scandinavia. In Sweden typical holiday activities include the singing of traditional spring folk songs & the lighting of bonfires. In Germany the holiday is celebrated by dressing in costumes, playing pranks on people & creating loud noises meant to keep evil at bay. Many people also hang blessed sprigs of foliage from houses & barns to ward off evil spirits, or they leave pieces of bread spread with butter & honey, called ankenschnitt, as offerings for phantom hounds.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2025 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[astra-ravana]

Introducing Kids To Magick

Introducing children to witchcraft at an early age can help them develop a deep connection to nature, personal intuition, and self-empowerment in a mindful way. By learning magickal principles such as intention-setting, energy awareness, and respect for all living things, children cultivate confidence, creativity, and emotional resilience. Additionally, witchcraft encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills as children learn to trust their instincts and make thoughtful choices.

When approached with a focus on positivity, ethics, and self-discovery, early exposure to witchcraft provides children with a strong spiritual foundation that nurtures their personal growth and connection to the world around them.

Witchcraft for children should focus on fostering a connection to nature, intuition, and personal empowerment in a safe, age-appropriate way. This guide emphasizes respect, ethics, and gentle practices that help kids explore the magickal world.

Foundations of Magick for Kids

Before practicing spells or rituals, children should develop a strong foundation in the basics of witchcraft.

Respect for Nature: Teach them about the seasons, moon phases, and the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). Encourage outdoor exploration and gratitude for the natural world.

Intentions and Energy: Explain how thoughts and feelings shape reality. Show them how to focus energy through simple visualization exercises.

Protection and Grounding: Teach basic protection techniques like visualizing a bubble of light around themselves or carrying a protective charm. Grounding can be done by walking barefoot on grass or hugging a tree.

The Spirit World: Make children aware of the coexistence of the spirit world, the role it plays and our true nature as spirits. Explain types of spirits and encourage safe interaction.

Kid-Friendly Witchcraft Activities

• Rock and Leaf Collecting: Let them gather special stones, leaves, or sticks and teach them about their spiritual meanings.

• Moon Watching: Track the moon phases and discuss how they affect emotions and energy.

• Planting and Herbal Magick: Grow simple herbs like lavender or basil and talk about their magickal properties.

• Making Sigils: Help them create simple sigils (symbols with personal meaning) for protection, luck, or happiness.

• Charm Bags/Bottles: Fill a small pouch or bottle/jar with herbs, stones, and a personal item for a good luck or protection charm.

• Drawing and Storytelling: Encourage them to draw their dreams, spirit animals, or magickal places as a form of intuitive magick.

• Wishing Stones: Have them whisper a wish into a stone and throw it into water to release the intention.

• Blowing Away Worries: Teach them to blow dandelion seeds into the wind while focusing on releasing fears or negativity.

• Gratitude Ritual: Before bed, they can list three things they’re grateful for, sending thanks to the universe.

Tools for Young Witches

Children don’t need complex tools, but some simple, safe items can help them connect with their practice:

• Basic herbs

• Basic crystals

• A wand

• A journal (book of shadows)

• A mini altar

• Protection charm (pentagram, triquatra, etc.)

• Tarot/oracle cards

• A pendulum

• Candles and incense (with adult supervision)

• Books about basic witchcraft

Remember, every child’s spiritual path is unique. Let them explore different practices at their own pace and support their natural curiosity.

[theshipsong]

suit of cups | iv

basil hawkins x f!reader. childhood friends/crewmates canon au. selfship; reader is an astrologer and explicitly racialized while he isn't. wc 1.6k | est. 6 min read

{ last card } { next card }

Of course you'd grow apart. You spent more time on your family's fishing rigs, sailing without him, and Hawkins found a friend in a tan cat Mink. Faust was sixteen, like him, and Hawkins took the role of newcomers' guide that you once did. When you joined them, you and Faust pored over books the cat's parents collected while living in one of the North Blue's larger, more developed cities. Faust called them grimoires and good-naturedly defended against your questions about their origins and methods. Hawkins couldn't tell if you liked each other at all, but together you made an odd trio of teenagers with no choice for company but each other.

Or so he thought.

You stayed ashore more often as salmon season turned to halibut. As soon as Faust came over one especially foggy morning, the pair of boys started uphill to fetch you for a day of spellcasting and divination only to hear the familiar shriek of your laughter float up behind them—something they knew not to expect if you were only with your family. Hawkins followed Faust's gaze to the sight of you joined at the elbow with a girl.

That didn't make any sense. You didn't get along with girls just like Hawkins didn't get along with boys. Except for Faust. You were too rough and smelled too much like fish and no one had the patience for your stargazing and lectures that he did. Yet here you were.

He recognized the girl and the particular dirty blond of her hair from around the docks, so she must also come from seafaring stock. She noticed Hawkins and Faust before you did, and stopped in her tracks. You looked up, surprised. "Oh! I didn't know you were coming."

"I didn't know you needed warning," Hawkins said stiffly.

"Um." You seemed to hesitate, then unlinked your arm. "I can go from here. Thank you for inviting me."

The girl looked between him and Faust. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

To your credit, or in Hawkins' hopes, you said it coolly, with a knife's edge. You were fourteen and vibrant and tolerated offense no less than he did. As soon as the girl disappeared over the horizon, you smacked Hawkins in the funny bone. "Ow!"

"Sorry. I thought that was lower." You didn't sound sorry at all. "Can't you be a little friendly?"

"I barely said anything."

"Exactly. People think that's rude."

"Since when do you care what people think?"

"This is why my family doesn't like you."

"But you don't like your family."

You huffed, arms crossed. "Hi, Faust."

"Hi…" the Mink returned awkwardly. That's when Hawkins noticed, in your hand opposite the one you'd hooked into that girl's, the handles of a large straw basket out of which peeked the edge of the quilt he recognized from your room.

"Did you spend the night?"

"Yes, it's called a sleepover."

"What's so special about that?"

"I've never been before."

"Yes, you have."

"That's not a sleepover. That's… we're too tired to move."

"So you slept over." Why call it something? You used to do so all the time, but something changed in the last year or two. Your parents went to church in town now while your grandparents refrained. They'd always been warmer toward him, anyway, and even as their memory and vision went Hawkins remembered their fantastical tales from the Grand Line of crocodilian sea kings and Devil Fruit users with great fondness.

"This is a planned thing, for girls. I've never braided another girl's hair before."

"What's wrong with braiding mine? That's how you learned, anyway." It was past his shoulders now. He liked that it kept his neck warm and how you played with it, or used to.

"You don't notice anything different about me?" you said dangerously.

Hawkins blinked, and inspected your face, tilted up toward his. He was almost a head taller than you now. Apparently, his father stood over two meters in height and towered far above his mother. All he saw when he looked at you was the familiar flush of anger in your cheeks and neck, your brows drawn downward and your teeth biting into your lower lip the way they did when you tested him, usually over planetary rulerships.

"You look tired," he offered. "Not much of a sleepover."

You tossed your hair over your shoulder with such force it whipped him in the face. "Girls want to hear their hair is pretty, Hawkins. It's in Dutch braids, you moron."

So that's why it landed like a two-inch rope, and flew behind your head like two hissing snakes as you ran uphill away from him.

Faust amused himself with the knitting basket in Hawkins' living room while Hawkins stared, annoyed, at the spread in front of him. It was full of court cards, but most glaringly what he'd come to think of as one of your cards, The Star.

Hawkins didn't think he needed to say your hair was the prettiest thing in the world to him. Black like a crow's wing, he thought when he saw it lately, and the scarecrows he made seemed more of an omen than any card. Black like the night sky, and on and near the full moon he could see the stars reflected in your eyes when you told him about constellations and named stars and their legends, Algorab in Corvus representing a sun god. Your hair curled like ocean currents with humidity and stayed straight in the winter, and as much as he liked Faust, he missed being younger and alone with you.

He thought saying so would embarrass you like you blushed after telling him his hair was pretty, like you always had. But the Ace of Swords at the top of the Celtic cross's tree told him what was missing between you two was words.

That, and Faust saying, "Instead of the cards, you could talk to her."

So Hawkins leaned against the stone fence surrounding your family's yard, keeping one eye on your bedroom window for light and another on refining his current iteration of straw dolls. He read in one of Faust's books about figural proxies for enemies made out of clay, and the dolls he'd idly made his whole life took on new purpose. They needed to be simple but still recognizably humanoid, and small enough to hide in his arm, though he could make any part of his body into straw. He knew his powers unsettled your mother and father, but there was precious little else he could do since they hated tarot more.

"Natulog siya," one of the many elders milling in and out said to him, and he understood despite not being able to respond.

Eventually, the shutters on your window opened and you called down to him, "Stay there." It was almost twilight then, and he was getting hungry. You emerged with your hair damp and loose from a bath, a steamer basket, and two spoons. "Well?"

"I'm sorry," Hawkins said quickly.

"For?"

Damn it. "I don't know, but your feelings are hurt, and I don't want to be the reason." The Queen and King of Cups were both in the spread, more sage and articulate in this realm than either of you.

You set the bamboo basket down on the fence, and the smell of sticky rice and sweet sausage wafted into his face as you took off the lid and stabbed a spoon into it like a knife for him to grab. "You're so full of yourself," you chided. He stuck a spoonful of rice in his mouth and waited for you to elaborate. You met his eye and relented. "It's not only you."

He swallowed. "Did she do something?"

You shook your head. "It's the others. And you didn't help."

Others. Come to think of it, he didn't ask you any more about the night you had or whether you had any fun at all, who was there besides the girl who accompanied you home, why you didn't tell him beforehand, why you even went.

"Tell me."

Ultimately, the townspeople treated you and Faust the same, nevermind your family's not insignificant history on the island. Your mother had a new obsession with correcting this, likely prompted by your friendship with the Mink, and pushed for you to befriend churchgoing children even as you stayed home or avoided the ordeal at sea or at his house. It only made sense for you to attach to the only other girl from a fishing family.

"They suck, Hawkins, and they kept asking about you and—" Your face went red, and he couldn't imagine why. He knew he had a reputation as a heretic and something of a brawler, how he fared in fights now since his growth spurt. "I didn't like them braiding my hair."

Now he was really confused. You were so prissy and proud of those braids, but even with the fragrant spices of the meal you shared, he smelled your shampoo, stronger than usual, like you'd scrubbed your scalp raw.

Despite his uncertainty, he braced his hands on the stone fence and swung himself over.

"What—"

Hawkins pulled you into his arms, awkwardly, still unused to the size of the hand that nearly dwarfed the back of your head, and your spoon fell onto the gravel.

"Is this okay?" he asked quietly.

After a moment, you nodded against his collar.

"No one's going to touch you without you wanting it ever again," he said firmly.

"…You don't know that." It was a mumble, but he understood.

"Let me try."

You uncurled your arms from against his shirt and slid them under his elbows, holding him in turn. "Okay."

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

I bet Miguel can cook REALLY well.

Like CRAZY WELL.

Being a dad he did have to come up with something to eat for dinner every night

And with Gabriella being a bit picky, sometimes he had to get creative

And some of his favorite memories are the conversations he and Gabbie had while dinner was on the stove

But even now, he loves it. Miguel finds he act of cooking so relaxing. He likes the peace and the order of it

And even if he comes in really really late from HQ - he'll still try and cook something

Fighting sleep while cooking a quesadilla on the stove

He's a Sazon loyalist SORRY ADOBO STANS

There's always tortillas, sour cream and salsa verde in his fridge - freshly made

(if you got those you can figure something out)

And he grows his own cilantro and basil on the window sill

And he'll never use powdered garlic, only fresh

Yes he can eat garlic - yes people on campus ask him that a lot

(he's hot ACTUALLY a vampire)

His seafood is TO DIE FOR

Miguel can make amazing lobster tail, or crab legs (with Old Bay and butter of course)

And his Ceviche is SO GOOD and SO FRESH

Most likely makes everything spicy. It's not even that he 'loves' spicy food - He just makes it spicy AF and acts like he doesn't notice

MEANWHILE you're next to him and it hurts to breathe

He and Hobie are bean stans.

Miguel loves them in Chilli con Carne, with rice, refried, you name it

and Hobie goes through those British blue cans of Heinz baked beans like it's nobodies business

They both think beans are underrated

Makes AMAZING MOLE and even better Tamales

But you have to BEG him for weeks on end to get him to make Tamales cause he can't be bothered - and he will make you help

He likes Avocado, like in general. On toast, with eggs, guacamole use always a staple

He'll often just eat chips and guacamole the whole day in his office and he'll get pissed if the food court is out of it.

Well look at a corn shell ground beef taco and be like 'You think that's a taco? Is that what you honestly believe?'

Loves cooking with other people - in fact Miguel actually just likes working with people in general. That's why Lyla has a personality.

He's good at guiding others during cooking and teaching them things and not bossing them around

OBSESSED LIKE CONCERNINGLY SO

With mango and Tajin

He'll put Tajin seasoning on ANYTHING - the first time Jess saw him put it on watermelon she was like 'what for????'

But he loves fruit in general, watermelon, lychee, guava. A lot of them are grown fresh in the Society gardens

Strawberries are a favorite of his. Gabriella loved strawberries on pancakes

He pronounces lychee - Leechee (not Lie-chee)

He's the fucking PRO at protein shakes and milkshakes

The man needs workout fuel and whey powder and kale and potassium and-

He's in the kitchen 5am getting ready for the gym

Making a shit ton of peanut butter strawberry banana and oats protein smoothie with coconut milk and honey to sweeten

Because he does have a sweet tooth.

Jolly Ranchers are an oral fixation

You can hear him sucking on one, the quiet clacking of it.

Or see him press it into his cheek, lost in thought

But baking and sweets are his secret love

He just doesn't have anyone to test it on anymore - so he doesn't

His flan is the best, and it was one of Gabbie's show faves

He eats parfaits pretty often, and makes them a lot for Jess (and she teases it for it)

Miguel LOVES tres leches cake, as sweet as possible. And fancy stuff like creme brulee

Don't tell anyone but he actually really likes cheesecake he acts like it's a secret

With him cooking get ready for the most sugariest breakfast ever. It's a dad thing.

Whipped cream, fruits, syrup, chocolate chips, you name it.

Sure Miguel shouldn't have been giving Gabriella THAT much sugar THAT early - but with you it's fine so enjoy the stomach ache in two hours

Another dad thing:

COOK OUT FOOD.

Him and Peter get INTENSE.

Miguel swears by charcoal grills, Peter likes propane and gas

Miguel is the tio with the best Hot dogs and relish that HITS

Peter is the burger dad who spends an insane amount of money on Angus beef

Miguel judges your hot dog toppings but says nothing

His ELOTE???? EUPHORIC

Like,,, it'll bring you to tears it's so good - I don't know how he does it

And when it comes to cooking he's ALWAYS willing to learn

He'd rather invite you over and cook you something than going out to eat

He'll learn something you like or where you're from and make something from there

Even better if you can teach him how to make something - the two of you can make it together

But his favorite part by far is setting it down at the table, trying not to seem like he's watching your reaction

And seeing your face light up at the first bite

Or even better -

Seeing you collapse into bed with a food coma

Miguel with cooking and food as a love language

[najia-cooks]

[ID: A piece of toast topped with pesto and chopped walnuts; a sprig of dead-nettle is placed to the side. End ID]

Dead-nettle pesto

Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)—also known as red dead-nettle, or purple archangel—is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is unrelated to true stinging nettles: it earned its name because its leaves look a bit like those of a true nettle, but it doesn't sting (thus it is "dead").

Dead-nettles are some of the first wild edibles to appear in spring, and they are usually abundant. That makes them a great pick for pesto, saag, and other applications that require a large quantity of greens. Their mild flavor means that the flavor profile of the final dish can be taken in a lot of different directions.

A lot of pesto recipes use the same formula (pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice) regardless of what green they're using as the base, without considering what will best make that green shine. In my opinion, the sweet, zesty, peppery flavor of basil is better without most of these add-ins. But the herbaciousness—frankly, the grassiness—of dead-nettle is better when rounded off with the tanginess of a cultured vegan cheese, the slight bitterness of walnuts, and a little bit of sweetness from a good balsamic vinegar. This is a tasty, balanced pesto that can be eaten with bread, on pasta, in soups, and more!

Recipe under the cut.

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Ingredients:

80g dead nettle leaves and slender stems

1 clove garlic

2 Tbsp 18-year balsamic vinegar (or balsamic vinegar of moderna + a little date syrup)

1 Tbsp good olive oil

2 Tbsp vegan labna or ricotta (optional)

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Crush all ingredients in a food processor or blender, or with a mortar and pestle. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Identifying dead-nettle

Dead-nettle, like all plants in the mint family, has square stems. The leaves are cordate (heart-shaped), petiolate (connected to the stem by a stalk), covered in fine hairs, and deeply veined, with wavy to serrated margins (edges).

The leaves are opposite (they form in pairs on either side of the stem) and decussate (each leaf pair is rotated 90 degrees from the last). Looking from the top, you'll see four leaves in columns down the plant. The leaves start out green: as the plant matures and flowers, the leaves at the top take on a purplish hue.

Leaves from above

Top of flowering plant seen from above

Small flowers grow towards the top of the plant. They are pink to purple and zygomorphic (symmetrical along a vertical axis), with two lower lobes, a larger hood on top, and two smaller 'spiked' petals on each side. Flowers have darker spots or streaks.

Close-up of flower

Look-alikes

Red dead-nettle has no real look-alikes, to my mind. Some guides cite henbit as a potential look-alike: but henbit's leaves grow in a collar-like formation around the stem. Either way, henbit is also edible.

Red dead-nettle (left); henbit (right)

[onthewaytosomewhere]

okay kiddies we are queueing this bb up - cuz that way i don't forget when i get lost in other things AND I COUNTED TODAY - SEVEN SENTENCES!!! (it's a miracle or something)

so this week's sunday words are from one of the sequels to that dark & cozy coffee shop au i did (were! alex & vamp!henry)

it's the one that is gonna be my monsterf#cking for october and this is Alex exploring is wolfed-out cock a bit (cuz ya know why would he have done that before lolz - tho to be fair he did get all sorts of sex b4 and after so it's not so out of the question he didn't think to) so smutty words under the cut as well as some so no-pressure tags AND AN OPEN TAG FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PLAY (tag me)

Alex slides his thumb along the ridges, running from what will be his knot to his tip, which almost looks as if it’s two parts. The more he strokes and the harder he gets, the longer and broader his cock grows; he didn’t pay attention to the size last time other than to realize he was quite a bit bigger. Quite a bit bigger might be an understatement—he’s not sure how Henry will get that up his ass, but he’ll trust him that it’s possible; it probably helps that being a vamp, his body will heal any tears quickly. Alex continues his exploration, and his middle finger drags along the prominent ridge that runs from his taint to tip—he notes that it’s extra sensitive and thinks it’s too bad he can’t operate his phone to make a spreadsheet of the differences. It also feels fucking amazing, and all thoughts of spreadsheets slip from his mind as his finger drifts up and down along the ridge, bringing pre-come along with it as he glides down from his leaking tip. Even his pre-come seems different, thicker, and more effusively leaking as if it’s meant to help guide the way of a much larger cock. Alex wraps his hand around his cock, done playing, and tugs, this larger hairy palm and fingers enveloping his dick and dragging up and down with a friction that makes his hips buck.

a very gentle tag ur it!!! @adreamareads @anincompletelist @bitbybitwrites @blueeyedgrlwrites @catdadacd

@caterpills @cha-melodius @cricketnationrise @dragonflylady77 @duchessdepolignaca03

@emmalostinwonderland @england-would-fall @everwitch-magiks @firenati0n @firstprincehornyramblings

@firstsprinces @forever-fixating @getmehighonmagic @henryspearl @heysweetheart-writes

@hgejfmw-hgejhsf @inell @inexplicablymine @jmagnabo92 @judasofsuburbia

@kiwiana-writes @littlemisskittentoes @lizzie-bennetdarcy @mikibwrites @myheartalivewrites

@ninzied @nocoastposts @orchidscript @piratefalls @porcelainmortal

@priincebutt @softboynick @sophie1973 @sparklepocalypse @stellarmeadow

@suseagull04 @tailsbeth-writes @taste-thewaste @theprinceandagcd @thesleepyskipper

@thighzp @thinkof-england @tinyarmedtrex @typicalopposite @zwiazdziarka

@indestructibleheart @eusuntgratie @stratocumulusperlucidus @basil-bird

@strwbrryagcd @thedramasummer @cactusdragon517

[musicblocks]

random stranger stimboard!!!!!!!! (+plus some of my personal headcanons for him)

!TW:pumpkin carver/sharp object!

He’s so underrated, I love him so much, he’s my child😭

!TW:mentions dissection, implied eating problems, mentions of separation anxiety and other mental illnesses!

HEADCANONS:

-he has a fascination with space, specifically with stars, yes he likes planets and black holes but he thinks stars are the best.

-absolutely HATES water but loves bath bombs, so he just sits there watching bathbombs dissolve after filling up a tub with water

-perfers to read during his spare time rather then do anything else

-to most people’s surprise he has a sweet tooth and really likes chocolate, specifically hot chocolate and any type of chocolate cake.

-Halloween is his favorite holiday, this is not up for debate.

-carries around a random cassette player with a pair of wired black headphones with him everywhere, he gets overwhelmed easily as sounds is his number one enemy. Do not try to talk to him if he’s wearing his headphones, physical touch might be on the table depending on how overwhelmed he is.

-saved mewo from being dissected and decides to just carry her around with him everywhere, she’s his pet cat now.

-sometimes hangs out with headspace gang but only when he knows it’s going to reset again, he knows he really shouldn’t be messing with them but he’s pretty lonely and he doesn’t like omori that much so there the second best choice.

-has some serious trust issues but also really bad separation anxiety, which is why he doesn’t like getting attached to people.(what do you expect he’s another basil)

-somehow a lot more weaker then headspace basil, my boy doesn’t eat that much and is seriously thin. He possibly has bad posture too.

-he’s trying to learn how to crochet just for the fun of it.

-severely autistic and has problems understanding basic normal social interactions, just give him some time and try to help guide him through it and then he’ll figure it out.

-commonly finger paints and just enjoys painting in general, which is why he has red paint all over his feet.

-based off the previous headcanon he really likes the color red, he doesn’t know why he just thinks it’s pretty.

-he would probably relate too: ENA(both of them), enderman, SD-V, taco, yin-yang, WALL·E (and more but I can’t think of too many right now)

-has really bad anger issues at times, though he doesn’t like Pyshically engage in them most of the time he is still pretty scary when mad, but also really sad looking. He just sits there curled up tightly in a ball with his hands resting on his knees and glaring at the ground as if it ate the slice of cake he was saving.

-is way too mature for his age but he was taught he needed to grow up fast or else he would just be some stupid kid (he’s 12 btw)

—————

So I went a little overboard with the headcanons-

[leohtttbriar]

"The scribes of the Middle Ages wrote predominantly in iron gall ink, the product of an elegant four-ingredient recipe. Certain wasps implant their eggs in the leaves and smaller branches of oak trees. This process produces in the tree a gall: a lump of tannin-rich material in which the larvae grow. When ground and boiled in water with a sprinkle of iron sulfate and some gum of arabic, the mixture of insect and vegetable chemicals in the gall with the mineral of the iron forms a pigment stable enough to carry around in a little flagon and acid enough to stain parchment for a few millennia. "It’s not hard to find the ingredients, as long as you know what to look for. To learn about oak gall, an aspiring European ink maker would consult a botanical guide called a herbal. Just as useful to a nun in her walled herb garden, a commercial pharmacist, and a parent in a medical emergency, the herbal was in high demand but, until the advent of the printing press, expensive to produce. Publishers in the earliest years of mechanical printing activated this latent market, and herbals became one of the first popular printed nonfiction genres. These pre-Linnaean textbooks established graphic design protocols that have shaped the way curious minds learn and process plant science ever since."

"Aloe, Basil, Cash Crop," Jo Livingstone

Perceptions of Medieval Manuscripts, Elaine Treharne

[theanoninyourinbox]

I'd love to see sorrel/Cody/leaf kits if you're up to it!

-collapses into a silly heap-

SO au, Cody is mostly blind and makes close friends with Leaf and Sorrel, and after the clans leave, she falls for a tom named Franz, and eventually becomes pregnant. Not wanting to lose her kits again, she convinces Franz to guide her to the new Clans, but he leaves her high and dry on the mountaintop. Thankfully, the Tribe cats are kind enough to help her down the mountain, and she shows up on Thunderclan land on a snowy morning...and stumbles on Leafpool giving birth, Squirrelflight watching over her.

Cody gets the scoop after greeting her old friend, and feeling her own labor coming on, offers to keep the kits with her own litter. Cody's labor is thankfully short, and she names each kit after a flower. Thunderclan is baffled but delighted at the former kittypet, and Firestar welcomes her back. Sorreltail helps her get settled in the nursery, and fills her in on the gossip, like she and Brackenfur having an amicable breakup. The three mollies become close once again...and when Ashfur goes after Squirrelflight for abandoning him, Cody lectures him into submission, and eventually he changes his ways fully.

After the Great Battle, and Squirrelstar's rise after Brambleclaw's death saving his apprentice Hollytail, Squirrelstar quietly changes the Thunderclan code - since Leafpool has Molefoot the Extremely AceAro as her apprentice, Leafpool can have a mate and kits. Graystripe is the donor for the last litter, and things are bright and kinder - Sunflower and Basil grow up with Juniper, Alder, Spark, and Thicket, Dandelion and Cinderheart fall in love, and Jasmine makes strides for changes in the Code to destroy ableism.

[mindfulvenus]

☽⋆｡˚ sweet, sweet fantasy

pairing: izuku midorya x reader; established relationship

prompt: “i used to think about what it’d be like if we got together.”

izuku never thought that he would be boyfriend material. but apparently you proved him wrong.

“what do you mean?” laughing as the words fall out of your mouth, you eye the way izuku shys after telling you all the reasons he believed he wouldn’t be this “perfect boyfriend”.

“i love every second i spend with you, dork!” you place your hands on his freckled cheeks, massaging them in the goofy way he likes. he tries to stifle his chuckles and fails.

your hands go up to his hair, and he leans back into your touch as you fluff up his thick strands of hair, letting them flow with ease through your delicate touch. his eyes open lightly after being closed, “ah, thanks it’s just,”

he gently grabs your hand, guiding it towards him. he begins tracing lines with the tips of his fingers all around your palm, “i used to think about what it’d be like if we got together.” your eyes grow soft and you meet his loving gaze.

his fingers envelope around yours as each of your palms press together in this comforting and familiar feeling, “and when i got your number, i was so scared to even talk to you.” he chuckles, grabbing the nape of his neck in embarrassment.

you lean closer to him, whispering with a flustered smile, “but you did call me.”

“yeah, i did” he lets the words fall out of his mouth as his face slowly moves to yours, basil eyes never breaking contact.

lips hovering over your, he whispers to your mouth, “and it was the best phone call i made.” gently kissing your lips full of nothing but sweet, sweet love.

you are his fantasy come true.

note. and that’s on daydreaming