#American wine grapes

[bepisconsumer]

I feel like an archaeologist unearthing ancient relics when actually I am just rediscovering late '00s-early '10s Lady Gaga songs

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

The early history of the Yates County grape industry

By Jonathan Monfiletto

Of New York State’s 62 counties, Yates County holds the distinction of being the only one whose borders touch three of the 11 Finger Lakes – Canandaigua Lake makes up the western boundary of Yates County, while Seneca Lake makes up the eastern boundary, and Keuka Lake sits right in the middle of the county and forms part of its southern boundary. That means Yates County also hosts portions of three Finger Lakes region wine trails along the three respective lakes.

Grape growing and wine producing might seem like modern-day phenomena to the untrained eye – especially since it seems new vineyards and wineries start up in the region every year. In fact, the tradition of raising grapes and turning them into wine stretches back nearly two centuries in the Finger Lakes region as a whole and almost as long in Yates County. A 1927 article in The Chronicle-Express credits the Rev. William Bostwick, of Hammondsport, with growing the first grapes in what writer Everett Wright called the Keuka Lake District. A 1974 newspaper article dates Bostwick’s achievement as 1829 but also notes the Episcopalian minister came to the Keuka Lake shore from Connecticut with some grape root stocks that he planted in a garden behind his rectory.

“It is said that the early settlers in this county found vines growing luxuriantly in the thickets, where soil and moisture were congenial,” states a newspaper article titled “Lake Keuka Grape History.” With the perfect combination and settings of soil, moisture, and air, from Bostwick’s achievement at St. James Episcopal Church in Hammondsport arose an industry around the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.

According to Lewis Cass Aldrich in his 1892 History of Yates County, New York, J.W. Prentiss grew the first crop of grapes for wine in the Finger Lakes region, in the town of Pulteney in Steuben County – four miles south of the Yates County line – in 1836. The first vineyard planted in Yates County happened in November 1855 by W.W. Shirland on a property in Benton where the towns of Benton, Torrey, and Milo meet.

Shirland planted Isabella grapes in his first crop, but he switched to the Concord variety in 1866. “The vineyard is one of the best and most productive of the many in the county,” Aldrich wrote nearly 40 years after Shirland’s first crop. However, Aldrich calls John Mead “one of the pioneers of the business,” planting his first vineyard in 1861 also in Benton near the Torrey line. Mead’s vineyard measured three acres; Isabellas made up half an acre and Concords made up “a large proportion of the balance,” while some Catawbas were also planted. Eventually, Concords replaced the Isabellas and the Catawbas were abandoned – “The Concords are still in full vigor,” Aldrich wrote. Henry Rose, planting three acres of one of the earliest crop of Delaware grapes in 1861, was another pioneer grape grower in Benton, though his vineyard was located within the Penn Yan corporate limits. “This vineyard is still in good bearing, the original vines bearing good crops annually,” Aldrich wrote.

Aldrich describes several other early vineyards – among them Franklin Culver in Kinney’s Corners (now the hamlet of Bluff Point) in 1861 and Anson Dunlap on the Seneca Lake shore at Starkey Station in 1862; William F. VanTuyl with the first grapes on Bluff Point in 1862; and Joseph F. Crosby in Barrington in 1864, surprising his neighbors by planting a whopping six acres of grapes (though Frances Dumas’ A Good Country, A Pleasant Habitation states Shirland’s vineyard also amounted to six acres). “But few grapes were planted previous to 1865 and only in small vineyards,” Aldrich wrote. “The results warranted larger, until the valley is literally filled with good productive vineyards covering hundreds of acres. Between the years 1865 and 1870 planting was done at a rapid rate; land that had previously been counted of little value, in close proximity to the shores of the lakes, some of it steep and covered with a dense growth of young timber, being counted the best for grapes.”

Riding this post-Civil War wave was the Seneca Lake Grape and Wine Company, which bought property that included a vineyard James Valentine planted in 1862 and by 1867 extended the planting to 125 acres – “probably the largest vineyard in the State of New York,” at the time, according to Aldrich. According to Dumas, the company also formed the first winery in Yates County when in 1870 it built a large stone building to manufacture wines. “The business had already been started in another building now used for a barn,” Aldrich wrote. Several other large-scale vineyards followed suit – H.P. Sturtevant & Co. starting in 1865 at the end of Bluff Point, Pratt & Jillett beginning in 1864, and the McDowell vineyard and “many others … within a year or two succeeding,” Aldrich wrote. This included Eli R. Stever planting 25 acres of the first Iona vineyard on Bluff Point in 1867; Aldrich also notes the Gulick Brown vineyards and that of J. Warren Brown.

By 1872, more than 400 acres of grapes were planted in Jerusalem alone and 140 acres in the aptly-named Vine Valley area of Middlesex, “while J.T. Henderson, C.N. Wixom, the Seneca Lake Wine and Grape Company, together with many others, kept pace on the Seneca Lake,” according to Aldrich. However, at the same time, a surplus of grapes caused the price of the fruit to drop, and Aldrich wrote, “It looked as though enough grapes had been planted to supply all demands for a long time to come.” Many people who thought about growing grapes reconsidered; vineyard lands decreased in value. Within a few years, though, the demand for grapes – and thus the price of them – began going up again, and Yates County certainly established itself as a leader among the Finger Lakes region’s grape-growing counties. By 1892, as Aldrich noted, the county hosted 7,000 acres of vineyards with an average yearly yield of 10,000 tons.

When George C. Snow planted the first Niagara grapes in 1881 on the Esperanza Vineyards on the west branch of Keuka Lake, he shipped the fruit in what Aldrich described as “a box made of wood, holding ten pounds placed in crates holding six boxes.” Later, this became a configuration of five-pound boxes with eight boxes in a crate and then three-pound boxes with 12 in a crate. Hopkins Brothers – with their factory in Penn Yan – began the first grape box operation in Yates County, selling five-pound boxes in crates and three-pound boxes in crates. James W. Stever, in Branchport, and George W. Fenton, in Barrington, soon began manufacturing baskets that quickly replaced boxes for grapes. At first, 10-pound boxes were used to ship grapes until five-pound pony baskets became the standard. In Aldrich’s time, eight basket factories operated in Yates County with an annual output of 3 million baskets.

The growth of the grape industry in Yates County contributed toward the growth of the shipping industry. Aldrich points to three main rail companies that transported Yates County grapes: the Northern Central Railroad, which hosted its own fruit shipping business, from Canandaigua to beyond; the Barnes Fruit Line that carried grapes from Hammondsport along the Erie Railroad, and the Hollowell & Wise Fast Fruit Line that traveled over the Fall Brook Railroad. Yates County grapes were generally transported by steamboat over the lakes to the various railroad hubs.

From there, the grape and wine industry in Yates County and the Finger Lakes region continued to thrive. By the end of the 19th century, according to a 2011 article in the Finger Lakes Times, the whole region boasted more than 20,000 acres of vineyards and more than 50 wineries.

[gascon-en-exil]

What’s your favorite wine?

Dry reds in general. I'm also especially fond of many Bordeaux wines.

I can easily make a joke about how I like my wine like I like my men: rich, full-bodied, and bitter.

[lompocwinefactory]

Unveiling the American Viticultural Area (AVA): Where Wine Meets Terroir

Explore the fascinating world of the American Viticultural Area (AVA) and discover the secrets of winemaking, terroir, and unique grape varieties.

The American Viticultural Area, commonly known as AVA, is a term that resonates deeply in the world of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs. It is more than just a geographical designation; it's a glimpse into the artistry, science, and passion behind winemaking. In this comprehensive article, we will take you on a journey through the intricate and captivating realm of AVAs, exploring their significance, history, and the magic they bring to each bottle of wine.

American Viticultural Area, AVA: A Wine Lover's Paradigm

In the heart of the wine world, AVAs are the essence of uniqueness. Each AVA represents a distinct wine-growing region, characterized by specific geographical and climatic features. These areas are like fingerprints on the wine, leaving their indelible mark on the taste, aroma, and character of the grapes.

The Origins of AVAs

The concept of American Viticultural Areas was introduced in 1978 as part of the Alcohol, Tobacco Tax, and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulations. It was designed to recognize and protect the diverse wine regions across the United States. Today, there are over 240 AVAs, each with its own story and charm.

Terroir: The Heart of an AVA

At the core of every AVA is the notion of "terroir." Terroir encompasses the unique combination of soil, climate, topography, and local traditions that shape the grapes grown in a specific region. It's the soul of the wine, reflecting the essence of the land it comes from.

Exploring the AVA Diversity

From the sun-kissed valleys of Napa to the rolling hills of Oregon's Willamette Valley, AVAs offer a kaleidoscope of flavors and aromas. Let's delve into some of the most renowned American Viticultural Areas and uncover what makes them special.

Napa Valley AVA

Location: Napa Valley, California

Napa Valley is synonymous with American wine excellence. Its AVA boasts a Mediterranean climate, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot grapes. The region's terroir yields bold, full-bodied wines with a rich complexity.

Willamette Valley AVA

Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Famous for its Pinot Noir, the Willamette Valley AVA offers a cooler climate that lets Pinot grapes thrive. The result is delicate, nuanced wines with notes of cherry and earthiness, capturing the essence of the Pacific Northwest.

Finger Lakes AVA

Location: Finger Lakes, New York

The Finger Lakes AVA, known for its stunning glacial lakes, specializes in Riesling and other cool-climate varieties. These wines are crisp, refreshing, and often display vibrant acidity, making them perfect for warm summer days.

Paso Robles AVA

Location: Paso Robles, California

Paso Robles, in the heart of California's Central Coast, is renowned for its Zinfandel and Rhône-style blends. The region's warm days and cool nights create wines bursting with ripe fruit flavors and balanced acidity.

The AVA Label: A Promise of Quality

When you pick up a bottle with an AVA label, you're not just buying wine; you're embarking on a sensory adventure. These labels signify stringent regulations and standards that ensure the wine's authenticity and origin. It's a promise of quality that wine enthusiasts have come to trust.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What exactly is an AVA? An AVA, short for American Viticultural Area, is a designated wine-producing region in the United States. It's characterized by its unique geographical and climatic attributes, which impart distinct characteristics to the wines produced there.

How does terroir influence wine? Terroir refers to the combination of soil, climate, topography, and local traditions in a specific wine-producing region. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the grapes and, consequently, the flavors and aromas of the wine.

How many AVAs are there in the United States? As of now, there are over 240 recognized AVAs across the United States, each with its own individuality and charm.

Which AVA is known for Cabernet Sauvignon? Napa Valley AVA in California is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon, producing some of the world's finest examples of this varietal.

What is the significance of AVA labels on wine bottles? AVA labels on wine bottles guarantee the wine's authenticity and origin. They signify that the wine meets strict regulations and standards set forth by the AVA, ensuring its quality and unique characteristics.

Can I visit AVAs and explore the vineyards? Yes, many AVAs welcome visitors to explore their vineyards, taste wines, and learn about the winemaking process. It's a delightful experience for wine enthusiasts.

 

In the world of wine, the American Viticultural Area is more than just a geographical label; it's a testament to the artistry, science, and passion that go into crafting exceptional wines. As you explore different AVAs and savor the wines they produce, you embark on a journey of discovery, where each bottle tells a story of the land, the climate, and the people who nurture the grapes. So, raise your glass to the diverse and fascinating world of AVAs, where wine truly meets terroir.

Lompoc wine factory is A Co-Op Style facility that allows individual winemaking, production, and custom crush services. We also offer temperature controlled storage, label services, and so much more to help develop your wine brand. Contact us today for a private tasting.

[greenwitchcrafts]

September 2024 Witch Guide

New Moon: September 2nd

First Quarter: September 11th

Full moon: September 17th

Last Quarter: September 24th

Sabbats: Mabon- September 22nd

September Harvest Moon

Also known as: Autumn Moon, Child Moon, Corn Harvest Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Haligmonath, Leaves Turning Moon, Mating Moon, Moon of Brown Leaves, Moon When Dear Paw the Earth, Rutting Moon, Singing Moon, Wine Moon, Witumanoth & Yellow Leaf Moon

Element: Earth

Zodiac: Virgo & Libra

Nature spirts: Trooping Faeries

Deities: Brigid, Ceres, Chang-e, Demeter, Freya, Isis, Depths & Vesta

Animals: Jackal & snake

Birds: Ibis & sparrow

Trees: Bay, hawthorn, hazel & larch

Herbs: Copal, fennel, rye, skullcap, valerian, wheat & witch hazel

Flowers: Lily & narcissus

Scents: Bergamot, gardenia, mastic & storax

Stones: Bloodstone,carnelian, cat's eye, chrysolite, citrine, iolite, lapis lazuli, olivine, peridot, sapphire, spinel(blue), tourmaline(blue) & zircon

Colors: Browns, dark blue, Earth tones, green & yellow

Issues, intentions & powers: Confidence, the home, manifestation & protection

Energy: Balance of light & dark, cleaning & straightening of all kinds, dietary matters, employment, health, intellectual pursuits, prosperity, psychism, rest, spirituality, success & work environment

The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22nd or 23rd) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight & allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive. 

• While September’s full Moon is usually known as the Harvest Moon, if October’s full Moon happens to occur closer to the equinox than September’s, it takes on the name “Harvest Moon” instead. In this case, September’s full Moon would be referred to as the Corn Moon.

This time of year—late summer into early fall—corresponds with the time of harvesting corn in much of the northern United States. For this reason, a number of Native American peoples traditionally used some variation of the name “Corn Moon” to refer to the Moon of either August or September. 

Mabon

Known as: Autumn Equinox, Cornucopia, Witch's Thanksgiving & Alban Elved

Season: Autumn

Element: Air

Symbols: Acorns, apples, autumn leaves, balance, berries, corn, cornucopia( Horn of Plenty), dried seeds, equality, gourds, grains, grapes, ivy, pine cones, pomegranates, vines, wheat, white roses & wine

Colors: Blue, brown, dark red, deep gold, gold, indigo, leaf green, maroon, orange, red, russet. Violet & yellow

Oils/Incense: Apple, apple blossom, benzoin, black pepper, hay/straw, myrrh, passion flower, patchouli, pine, red poppy & sage

Animals: Dog & Wolf

Birds: Goose, hawk, swallow & swan

Stones: Agate, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow Agate & yellow topaz

Food: Apples, blackberries, blackberry wine, breads, carrots, cider, corn, cornbread, grapes, heather wine, nuts, onions, pomegranates, potatoes, squash, vegetables, wheat & wine

Herbs/Plants: Benzoin, bramble, corn, ferns, grains, hops, ivy, milkweed, myrrh, sage sassafras, Salomon's seal, thistle, tobacco & wheat

Flowers:  Aster, heather, honeysuckle, marigold, mums, passion flower, rose

Trees: Aspen, cedar, cypress, hazel, locust, maple, myrtle oak & pine

Goddesses: Danu, Epona, Inanna, Ishtar, Modron, Morgan, The Morrigan, Muses, Pomona, Persephone, Sin, Sophia & Sura

Gods:  Bacchus, Dionysus, Dumuzi, Esus, The Green Man, Hermes, Mannanan, Thor & Thoth

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Accomplishment, agriculture, balance, goals, gratitude & grounding

Spellwork: Balance, harmony, protection, prosperity, security & self-confidence

Activities:

•Scatter offerings in a harvested fields & Offer libations to trees

• Decorate your home and/or altar space for fall

• Bake bread

• Perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to your life

• Cleanse your home of negative energies

• Pick apples

• Collect fall themed things from nature like acorns, changing leaves, pine cones, ect)

• Have a dinner or feast with your family and/or friends

• Set intentions for the upcoming year

• Purge what is no longer serving you & commit to healthy changes

•Take a walk in the woods

• Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte

• Donate to your local food bank

• Gather dried herbs, plants, seeds & pods

• Learn something new

• Make wine

• Fill a cornucopia

• Brew an apple cinnamon simmer pot

• Create an outdoor Mabon altar

•Adorn burial sites with leaves, acorns, & pinecones to honor those who have passed over & visit their graves

The name Mabon comes from the Welsh/Brythonic God Mabon Ap Modron, who's name means "Divine/great Son", However,there is evidence that the name was adopted in the 1970s for the Autumn Equinox & has nothing to do with this celebration or this time of year.

• Though many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest Lughnasadh) & Equinox as a time for giving thanks before the name Mabon was given because this time of year is traditionally when farmers know how well their summer crops did & how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you & your family would have enough food for the winter.That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, animals & food

Some believe it celebrates the autumn equinox when Nature is preparing for the winter months. Night & day are of equal legth  & the God's energy & strength are nearly gone. The Goddess begins to mourn the loss she knows is coming, but knows he will return when he is reborn at Yule.

Related festivals:

• Sukkot- Is a Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelites were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Originally a harvest festival celebrating the autumn harvest, Sukkot’s modern observance is characterized by festive meals in a sukkah, a temporary wood-covered hut, celebrating the Exodus from Egypt.

• Mid-Autumn festival- September 17th

Is also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. It is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture, similar holidays are celebrated by other cultures in East & Southeast Asia. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back over 3,000 years.  On this day, it is believed that the Moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of Autumn.

During the festival, lanterns of all size and shapes – which symbolize beacons that light people's path to prosperity & good fortune – are carried & displayed. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology.

• Thanksgiving- This is a secular holiday which is similar to the cell of Mabon; A day to give thanks for the food & blessings of the previous year. The American Thanksgiving is the last Thursday of November while the Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated in October

• The Oschophoria- Were a set of ancient Greek festival rites held in Athens during the month Pyanepsion (autumn) in honor of Dionysus. The festival may have had both agricultural and initiatory functions.

-Amidst much singing of special songs, two young men dressed in women's clothes would bear branches with grape-clusters attached from Dionysus to the sanctuary of Athena Skiras & a footrace followed in which select ephebes competed.

Ancient sources connect the festival and its rituals to the Athenian hero-king Theseus & specifically to his return from his Cretan adventure. According to that myth, the Cretan princess Ariadne, whom Theseus had abandoned on the island of Naxos while voyaging home, was rescued by an admiring Dionysus; thus the Oschophoria may have honored Ariadne as well. A section of the ancient calendar frieze incorporated into the Byzantine Panagia Gorgoepikoos church in Athens, corresponding to the month Pyanopsion (alternate spelling), has been identified as an illustration of this festival's procession.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[f0point5]

literally anything with Max, Emilia, and Daniel please I’m begging after yesterday 🙏🙏🙏

No because this almost turned into a Singapore crack fic lol. But I saved it.

And yes I did listen to the song so that I could check this whole thing could happen within it’s time limit. But also this could so easily have been Tenerife sea but I Daniel-ed it up lol.

Anyway I hope you enjoy it!

✨Set in April 2024✨

I’ll drink what you think, and I’m high

It’s getting dark later now. It’s 7pm and the sun in only now setting over the mountainside, turning the clear sky all manner of gold and peach and baby blue. It’s the first good weather of the month, which is what gave you the idea of sitting out on the rooftop patio. Daniel just happened to call Max as you were mixing a Bellini, which is how he’d got roped into what turned into what you’d dubbed a “Wine and Whine” evening.

So there Max sits, listening to Daniel talk about grape yields while you fiddle with the stereo. Max interjects at the right moments, but mostly he’s watching you bent over in a tight Missoni dress, trying to connect your phone Bluetooth to the speakers.

That’s how good the dress looks, Max thinks to himself. I even remember the name of the shop.

“So I’m like mate, I don’t know shit about grapes, that’s what I pay you for,” Daniel explains now. “And he’s looking at me like I’ve fucked his grandma in front of him. But I’m right. I drive cars for a living and I don’t even like grapes, that’s his job,”

“Yeah, but what if-“

Max is cut off by the sound of your squeal. He looks across the patio to see you bathed in golden light, sporting a bright grin.

“Danny, it’s your song,” you declare, teetering toward the boys on your wedge heels.

“She’s so pissed,” Daniel says through a chuckle.

“I heard that,” you shoot back, holding a hand out to him. “Now, dance with me,”

The gentle strumming of a guitar gives way to an American accent with a somber tone.

Daniel rolls his eyes but gets to his feet, taking your hand and pulling you along the concrete to the middle of the patio.

The music is not Max’s taste, not something he understands, but it’s…warm.

That’s how he feels watching Daniel pull you close, starting to sway you in small circles around the patio. He thinks about how both you and he needed Daniel before you needed each other, how Daniel had been your friend when Max was too scared to be, and he’d been Max’s friend even when it must have been like salt in a wound.

Daniel looks down and says something to you that Max can’t hear. Whatever it is, it is has you rolling your eyes in the way you do when you’re trying not to tear up. He watches you nod in what seems like agreement before shrugging your shoulders.

In the next breath, Max hears your voice singing along above the music.

“We all know, you tiptoed,” you sing, “up to six foot, in grill the grid,”

This pulls a deep, throaty laugh and a “fuck you” from Daniel, his head thrown back so much that he pulls you forward with him.

You’re singing at each other now, bodies shaking through laughter. The sound of a harmonica pierces Max’s ears as Daniel twirls you under his arm, your eyes catching the light of the setting sun as you turn.

Fuck. You are so beautiful.

“Max, come take over,” Daniel calls, beckoning him with one hand. “I need another drink,”

Max gets up and goes over to your swaying form just as Daniel lets you go. He pats Max on the back as he passes, turning to look at you both before he slips through the patio door, out of sight due to the reflection in the glass.

Your glassy eyes and the heat of your skin make Max think you’re probably looking at two of him right now, but he doesn’t mind, as long as you’re looking at him. He takes hold of you, fighting a smile at the way you sink into him in a way you wouldn’t with Daniel. Your hand slides around his neck and his instinctively goes to rest on the curve of your hip, bringing you so close he can smell your perfume and Sauvignon blanc.

In the background, the music picks up, the southern drawl a little more lively even though the words are still morose.

“I don’t get why you guys like this song,” Max says, guiding you out and then under one of his arms so that your back his against his chest. “It’s about a funeral,”

You let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s about a family,” you tell him, craning your neck to look at him over your shoulder.

Max nods, letting go of one your hands to spin you out and then back towards him. He catches you smiling at the effortless way he moves you around. He may not particularly like dancing but he’s been given three gifts in life. One is coordination. The second is control.

“It’s about the little things that stick with you about the people you love. The things about them that made you who you are,”

And the third is you.

He still doesn’t hear the song the way you do. He doesn’t see the world the way you do. But he knows he wants to listen to you explain the world to him for however long he’s in it.

“It’s about a funeral,” he says plainly, which only makes you shake your head.

“I love you, Max Verstappen.” Your words are as plain as his.

He wants to say it back. He even opens his mouth to try. But sometimes, like now, Max hates that word because it seems so wholly inadequate. He’s never been good with words anyway.

Instead, he kisses you, a kiss that tips you backwards, has you leaning into the hand on your back that holds you up. He can feel you smiling against his lips as he straightens.

When he pulls away, you follow him, placing one more peck on his lips before leaning forward to rest your chin on his shoulder as you continue to dance. Max notices then that the golden hues have left the sky, the colour now the same as the Japanese Cherry blossoms. He breathes in the scent of roses on your skin as he pulls you closer.

“What was he saying to you?” He asks quietly, his cheek moving against yours as he speaks.

“Who?” Your reply is lazy, almost a purr against his neck.

“Daniel. What did he say while you were dancing?”

Max doesn’t know how he can tell you smile at that, but he knows.

“Oh. Nothing,” you say. The music slows, and a woman’s voice joins the man’s against a single guitar. “He thinks we’re yuppies,”

[lupuslikethewolf]

i've seen iceman's complicated relationship to religion. i've seen ridden with southern bible bumping trauma hangman seresin. what about bradley bradshaw’s guilt- and grief-ridden catholicism? hm?

some of his only memories of his father are at midnight mass and singing carols on christmas, and not the fun ones, but the ones that shined a light on the lord and filled his words with devotion. even back then, when baby bradley had no idea what 'worship' was, his daddy did it and it made him feel so happy and so warm inside.

then im sorry and it was a training accident and an american flag folded into a pristine triangle. after that his momma couldn't stand going into church. they stood outside and listened to the sermons from the road and visited daddy's grave with flowers and prayers and i-miss-yous but bradley eventually forgot where their regular pew was and what the colour their pastor's hair was and what the wine (grape juice) tasted like. but he wore the cross. he always wore the cross.

and after momma died he stopped going all together. maverick wasn't religious. bradley told himself the reason he missed it was that he missed visiting the house of the lord, but really it was because maverick had other connections to nick and carole bradshaw, but bradley only had the church and now he doesn't even have that. sure, he's fine, but his dad’s cross hangs low on his chest like a brand because ever since dad died he's never felt the same devotion. now, his prayers aren't for god or christ, they’re for his momma and his daddy and he lies to himself that they aren't. and blasphemy is a cardinal sin.

then he looses maverick too. he floats around for years and forgets how to say his hail marys.

he re-applies for the academy and thanks the lord for the first time since he was a child that he got in. he follows in his father's footsteps and find a new church. he goes every sunday. he says grace. he does everything a proper christian should. honour thy father is written into every action he takes.

because his god is still his father. his holy spirit is still his mother. his christ is still maverick. he’s still sure that his prayers never reach their lord and saviour. and blasphemy is a cardinal sin.

[tgmsunmontue]

Season to Taste - 5/? WIP

Explicit Hangster - Celebrity Chef Bradley and Naval Aviator Jake Seresin who have a relationship spanning the globe before they realize how tightly bound they are to one another. Heading into this little world.

PROLOGUE/ONE TWO THREE FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

                “I don’t like wine.”

                “I don’t care. You need to learn the flavors. What it can add to food. Which ones might go better with certain dishes.”

                “Oh.”

                So he sits, and is made to try a variety of reds and whites and then have them with certain dishes and okay, there are some he doesn’t hate, but it still wouldn’t be his first choice. He can tell that some of the food tastes better when drunk with different wines, and vice versa. Then he’s dragged along to the family vineyard, taught about the pruning and pressing, the inclusion of the skins of the grapes and the fungus that can make them sweet and he’s equal parts fascinated and horrified.

…            …            …

                He’s lying in the bed, coming down from the high and Bradley can’t wipe the grin from his face. Orgasms always put him in a good mood, doubly-so when they involve someone else. It’s why those he works with are so often telling him he needs to go out and get fucked. God, the endorphin high is something else. Jake seems equally pleased with their time together so far, in no rush to leave, his lips and fingers tracing paths over Bradley’s cooling skin which has been half-heartedly wiped clean of both their come using Bradley’s shirt. He’s warm and drowsy but also contemplating suggesting a shower, both to get clean but also to wake himself up. He can sleep when he doesn’t have an attractive man in his bed.

                “Did you know you were my first kiss with a guy?”

                Bradley startles a little, opens his eyes to find Jake peering at him with mischievous eyes and he’s so fucking unfairly gorgeous, even in the waning evening light.

                “What?”

                “Yeah. First kiss. Was great but it freaked me out. Kind of why I ran.”

                “Okay…” Bradley says, and he really doesn’t know what to do with this information. Huh. He knows DADT was repealed in 2011, and now thinking back to 2008 then he supposes there was more than one reason for Jake to run. He’s not running now though.

                “Yeah. I mean, it was almost ten years ago. I wasn’t hanging around waiting for you or anything. But, uh, it was… formative.”

                “Formative huh?” Bradley asks, shifting a little and grinning, is enjoying the fact that Jake can’t seem to stop touching him.

                “Well, I did think European guys were much hotter than American guys, but it turns out you’re American after all…”

                “Disappointed?” Bradley asks, a little worried what the answer might be. He’s had it happen before, guys think he’s one thing and then found out the almost opposite is true. Not always with regards to his nationality, but his personality and how he’s sometimes portrayed on screen. Sure, he has a temper and he lets it get the best of him in the kitchen sometimes, but it’s never translated to the bedroom. Ever. If anything the opposite is true. Not that he needs to get into that with Jake.

                “Do I seem disappointed?”

                “Don’t answer a question with a question.”

                ��Baby, I am definitely not disappointed in any way…” Jake says, and his kiss is slow and purposeful, his body bracketing Bradley against the bed, pushing him down and it’s exactly where he likes to be and he lets out a moan of approval or appreciation. Regardless Jake takes it for the encouragement it is and rolls his hips, creating friction between them despite the fact that their bodies are almost flush with one another from thigh to chest.

                “You have anywhere you need to be tomorrow?”

                “Nope. On leave remember. Only my sisters and they know where I am…” Jake says, giving Bradley a slow up-and-down look and slow smirk which has him laughing.

                “Yeah? You want to stay the night?”

                “We trying for round two?”

                “Seven course degustation menu…” Bradley jokes, flexing his own hips to add to the building friction.

                “What’s that?”

                “Seven rounds…” Bradley says, which he knows is impossible, however –

                “Well, I always did like a challenge.”

                Bradley throws his head back and laughs.

…            …            …

                Jake sends a quick message to his sisters to let them know not to expect him home, even though it’s late he knows one of them will be waiting up for him. God he’s glad they have no idea the type of shit he gets up to at work. They’d never fucking sleep with worry. He knows they don’t particularly like that he’s in the service, but they’ve always been nothing but supportive of his life choices, even when they’ve had to give up on some of their own he’s always been allowed to follow his dreams. He’s the baby of their family and he totally leans into it, taking advantage of the fact that all his sisters have soft spots for him. Letting them know he’s safe right now is the least he can do.

                Safe physically at least. A little part of him worries that maybe staying isn’t the wisest course of action, that the fantasy he’d created in his mind around Leo is never going to stand up to close inspection. The sex so far has been superb, and he’s already shifted him from being Italian in his head to American, but sleeping has always felt like an even more intimate act to him. Sharing the little before-bed routines a person might have.

                At least Leo wants to have some type of mystery, has closed the door to the ensuite very firmly, the lock sliding home and Jake bites back a grin, remembering hook-ups taking a piss in front of him. He doesn’t have a problem with bodily functions, but he also doesn’t mind the build-up to that level of familiarity. He sobers then, realizes that he and Leo aren’t likely to build up to anything given Jake’s profession and Leo’s job, which he has to admit he doesn’t really understand why he’s travelling for work when his work is making food for people. Ah well, he can ask more about it later.

…            …            …

                He wakes up to the smell of bacon and eggs, along with coffee and he stretches, disappointed to find the bed empty even if it maybe explains the reason for the smells. He wonders if he should brave going out to the kitchen, given that he doesn’t exactly have clean clothes. Plus there’s the risk of running into the other people who are staying here. And if Bradley is planning on bringing him breakfast in bed then who is Jake to stop him? He settles back and scrolls through his phone and answers a few messages and sends a couple of photos from his last week into various group chats.

                “Hey, morning…You’re awake.”

                “Morning. I’m an early riser.”

                “Not as early as me…” Leo says, and he’s sliding a tray onto the bedside table and Jake goggles at it. There’s the bacon and eggs he could smell, but there are also sausages and grilled tomatoes, then some golden and crunchy-looking thing which he’s hoping is some form of potato. There’s four slices of bread and little pats of butter slowly melting on them, then another dish of what look like mushrooms which he can tell were cooked in garlic judging from the smell.

                “Holy shit, how much do you think I eat?”

                “Well, it’s my first chance to cook for you, so I had to pull out a few stops. Plus you need to keep up your energy…” Leo says, sitting on the bed and leaning forward to give him a kiss.

                “Do I now?” Jake asks, and he hadn’t planned on spending the day in bed but it’s not like he has anywhere else he has to be.

                “Uh huh. I did make that for both of us though…”

                “Thank fuck… Do you have any sauce?”

                Leo blinks at him, frowns and then shakes his head.

                “No. Here, let me make a perfect mouthful…”

                Jake raises an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk.

                “Just a mouthful huh?” Jake asks, and Leo looks at him with a slightly confused look before he’s flushing bright red and ducking, his head shaking.

                “Jesus you’re incorrigible.”

                “Well, if you’re going to sit there looking like that and offering to feed me I’m definitely going to get ideas.”

                He barely catches the roll of eyes but Leo busies himself making a little forkful of food that includes some of the golden-crunchy potato, along with some of the tomato and a sausage piece and Jake really does prefer things with sauce, but he opens his mouth obligingly, meeting Leo’s eyes and doesn’t miss the way his eyes drop to Jake’s lips which are wrapped around the tines of the fork.

                “Mmm…” Jake says, and he chews thoughtfully. It does taste good, and he’s looking forward to having more. “It’s delicious.”

                “Good…”

                “Could use a little sauce though.”

PART SIX

[floralcavern]

Greek Mythology incorrect quotes

Achilles: Bro, I had a dream we fucked. 

Patroclus: Bro, relax it was just a dream. 

Achilles: Huh, gay, I wouldn’t fuck you. 

Patroclus: You wouldn’t? 

Achilles: I mean, unless you want to-

Patroclus: As top in this relationship, I think we should-  Achilles: I can't believe you're pulling rank on me.

Hades: I was going to suggest we do Marilyn Monroe and JFK roleplay, but I’d get way too into it. 

Persephone: What- how? 

Hades: You’d be like “come to bed … Mr. President” and I’d be like, “I need to increase the amount of American military advisors in South Vietnam by a factor of 18.”

Achilles: This bloodline ends with me. 

Peleus: That's the fanciest way I've ever heard someone say "I'm gay".

Apollo, trying his first ever cup of coffee: I am ENERGY! 

Artemis, an avid coffee drinker, on her twelfth cup of the day: Someone slap me awake or I am literally going to fall into a coma in ten seconds.

Dionysus: I’m having salad for dinner! 

Apollo: 

Dionysus: Well, fruit salad. 

Dionysus: Actually, it’s mostly grapes. 

Apollo: 

Dionysus: Okay, it’s all grapes. 

Dionysus: Fermented grapes. 

Apollo: 

Dionysus: 

Apollo: 

Dionysus: It’s wine. 

Dionysus: I’m having wine for dinner.

Athena: Ha! Don't you know the trappers trap can trap the trapper? 

Athena: I must be losing it, I'm quoting Ares.

Zeus: Do you guys hear something? 

Hades: I hear the sound of you shutting the fuck up.

[greypetrel]

Pan dei Morti

Aka Deads' Bread. (Image source) (recipe I translated - My family moved to Milan but we're originally from Parma, I don't have a family recipe)

They're little soft biscuits that are typical of Milan and the area of Lombardy north of the city (Brianza). You ONLY find them in bakeries there and around All Saints' Day (Ognissanti), when the tradition in Catholic Italy wants that you should go and visit your dead ones in the cemetery, change the flowers, pay your respects. (It's mostly a thing that grannies do, nowadays, but it's a bank holiday and what's not to enjoy about a day home with a seasonal treat) The name comes not because the cakes are meant to be offered to the deads, but because All Saints' Day is from this tradition also called "Giorno dei Morti", Day of the Deads (not to be confounded with Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, they're different celebrations and shouldn't be mixed up!), and it's litterally "the bread you eat around that day".

They're delicious and tasty, and @brother-genitivi expressed interest for the recipe... (and listen, exchanging recipes with people all over the world is something really great about the internet)

Recipe under the cut! Note: I am European and don't do imperial measurements. Forgive me if I keep the metric, I don't trust my conversions since when I found out that British and American cups are different.

INGREDIENTS:

All purpose flour, 250g

Almond cookies (Amaretti), 100g

Caster sugar, 300g

Almonds, 120g (or the same quantity of almond flour)

Raisins, 120g

Dessert wine (sweet wine), 100ml. You can substitute it with apple juice or grape juice, same quantity.

Unflavoured, plain biscuits, 100g

Ladyfingers, 300g

Cocoa powder, 50g

Dried figs, 120g

6 egg whites

Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon

Nutmeg, a pinch (optional)

Baking powder, 10g

I have unfortunately no idea on how to substitute the egg whites in baking if you want to make it vegan, and I've never tried anything to have an educated guess over tutorials online, if anyone have an intel I'll edit the recipe with pleasure! (And I'd be glad to know myself) All the spices can be skipped if you don't like them, and if you like me don't like figs, use your favourite dried fruit, it goes without saying.

PROCEDURE:

Wash and soak your raisins, either in water or in the wine/juice of the recipe.

Grind together the biscuits, ladyfingers and almond cookies until you obtain a fine grind. Move it in a bowl.

Grind the almonds to a fine flour, then add it to the biscuits in the bowl. Do the same with the dried figs.

Add to the bowl the flour, cocoa, cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg (optional).

Drain the raisins if you soaked them in water, and add them to the bowl. If you soaked them in the wine/juice, add that too.

Add the egg whites, and start mixing everything together by hand or with a wooden spoon until you obtain a compact batter. Move it to a flat surface, floured, and keep working it with your hand until the batter is firm and solid. Form a sausage of it and cut it in thick slices.

The slices should then be modelled and flattened so they're fairly thick (1cm of depth, the recipe says, but you do you) and shaped like longue tongues. They're not really small!

Put them on a baking tray, minding not to place them too close together: they'll rise a little in the baking.

Cook them in a pre-heated oven at 180°C/350°F for around 25 minutes (use a toothpick to check if they're cooked inside). When they're ready, powder them with powdered sugar and let them cool.

The recipe wants you to leave them alone for at least two days, so they'll get soft, but listen. No judgement here, eat them whenever you'd like, life is bitter as it is without restraining yourself not to eat cake for two days.

[vidavalor]

Ever since you mentioned Crowley cooking while listening to "Evil Woman" and jiving his hips, this song and this image have been stuck in my head. I have tow follow-up questions: 1. What is he cooking and 2. is Aziraphale going to be the main course or dessert ;-)

Hi @procrastiel! How are ya, babe? Sorry the song is an earworm of the best kind lol. Aziraphale is actually putting Crowley on the menu at this point. Crowley has tried to kick him out of the kitchen once already ("go do your book things") but Aziraphale is now pretending that he's concerned that Crowley's had too much wine to be cooking as an excuse to watch ("three glasses, angel, that's a glass of water for me"). Crowley knows and keeps slapping his hand away from ingredients he's prepping while also handing him stuff to taste. There is a serious possibility, though, that Crowley might not finish the dish if Aziraphale keeps sampling and making the little sounds in front of him so he's tossed a little bunch of grapes and some manchego on a plate and sent Aziraphale to his desk with it until dinner is ready.

Crowley is making Ina Garten's Fresh Crab and Pea Saffron Risotto. Naturally, this is slightly doctored to his and his angel's tastes. Aziraphale is the amateur baker because the preciseness gives him comfort but Crowley is the cook because you can experiment and just add more stuff to the pot without the whole thing exploding. Usually. There was that one time he set the kitchen on fire that caused them to use four of the fire extinguishers, Crowley to have a panic attack, and for the Chinese takeaway people to make a small fortune that night. Other than that, starting cooking more again has been a success.

That mainly means that this dish is a little herbier and a little boozier than the recipe but is otherwise the same. Crowley watches Barefoot Contessa when he can't sleep (this is what he tells himself and Aziraphale but, really, he just watches it lol) because as much as he always bitches about Aziraphale needing a soft show (which Aziraphale insists are called "cozy shows") to balance out anything more intense, Crowley does, too. He loves this rich American woman who appears to do nothing but live in this nice gaff with a massive kitchen garden and make up new dishes for her husband to try. She's living Crowley's dream over here. He is currently on Season 17.

Crowley managed to get Aziraphale to pivot to his secret cooking show by a) admitting that he secretly watches a cooking show and b) by hinting that more frequent cooking might be the results if they watched said cooking show. It's been a long pandemic, yeah? and he could not watch the new All Creatures Great & Small for a fourth time, no matter how much Aziraphale insisted it would be fun. (And even if Crowley very reluctantly confessed, while completely smashed one night, that he was, in fact, crying during that episode in which Tricki Woo was in danger. And, also, that Siegfried can get it.) In truth, he'd watch anything on the television they magic in and out of the living room because it's all just an excuse to cuddle on the couch with Aziraphale but he's not about to admit to that. Or remotely use the word 'cuddling' or anything like it, of course.

[bitter69uk]

“Mitchum, like Bogart, has created one of the great screen personae, sleepy-eyed but watchful, laconic but never lackluster, hiding toughness and sometimes menace behind a façade of apparent weariness. Like most other great American screen actors, he denigrates his own ability and hides behind a “natural” performance. Charles Laughton was not deceived. He described Mitchum as “one of the best actors in the world” …” / From The Encyclopedia of the World’s Great Movie Stars by Ken Wlaschin, 1979 / Died on this day: my all-time favourite actor, the incomparably sexy, soulful and multifaceted film noir tough guy and epitome of nonchalant cool, Robert Mitchum (6 August 1917 – 1 July 1997). Off the top of my head, my most treasured Mitchum performances would have to include Where Danger Lives (1950), Macao (1952), The Lusty Men (1952) (pictured), Angel Face (1952) and – of course! – The Night of the Hunter (1954). I also love the big lug’s sporadic forays into calypso and country music in the fifties and sixties, especially when he crooned “Little Ole Wine Drinker Me” in 1967 (“I'm praying for rain in California / So the grapes can grow, and they can make more wine …”). The 2001 biography Robert Mitchum: Baby, I Don’t Care by the late Lee Server is essential reading. 

[musicalhell]

19 for the fic writer ask please! :3c

Most interesting topic I've researched for a fic: Definitely the Great French Wine Blight. Long story short: European viniters transported American grape vines overseas, bringing aphids which ripped through the roots Old World vines like they were a bag of Ruffles, half the vineyards in France went under, people tried everything from flooding vineyards to trying to get toads and chickens to eat the aphids to all sorts of chemicals that should probably not be within a mile of anything meant for human consumption, until finally someone got the idea of grafting European vines onto American rootstock (which had evolved to withstand the aphids) and a cultural institution was saved.

[ripeteeth]

Hi!! First: congrats on becoming a sommelier! And relatedly, for the three q’s meme, in your opinion:

1) Best bottle of white and/or red under $50

2) best bottle of white and/or red under $30

3) the wine that’s tickling your fancy the most right now

Thanks! And god, it’s so hard to single it down to best, but here are some that I’m loving right now!

1. Under $50

2020 Au Bon Climat Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, California

As a general rule, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Au Bon Climat. A truly iconic winery founded by the legendary Jim Clendenen, Au Bon Climat has been instrumental in influencing the style of California Pinot Noir away from the overly jammy and blowsy big fruity alcohol bombs to something a lot more refined and elegant, similar to those made in Burgundy. In fact, Au Bon Climat is the only winery where I belong to their wine club and get regular shipments, all because I’ve never had a wine I’ve disliked from them, but I have had many I love. They’re my go-to for introducing someone to getting more serious about wine, and this particular Pinot is a beautiful example from a famous vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, Sanford & Benedict, and from a parcel of vines over 50 years old, imparting a ton of flavor and character. I get notes of cherries and rosemary from this.

2. Under $30

2022 Greywacke “Wild Sauvignon” Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

I’m a complete slut for New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Truly, they are just SO fucking good. Sauvignon Blanc is such a fun vibrant grape and the NZ climate brings out the best in it, with a moderately cool climate that preserves the acidity well, but also with a lot of sunlight that brings out notes of tropical fruit, green bell pepper, and jalapeño. (One of my favorite wine facts is that Sauvignon Blanc grapes have pyrazines, which are the same aromatic chemicals that give bell peppers and chili peppers like jalapeño that characteristic green vegetal flavor. So there’s a good reason you’re tasting these things in wine, even if the peppers have never been in the wine! Science, baby!)

My current favorite is 2022 Greywacke “Wild Sauvignon” Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. It’s vibrantly green and lush and tastes almost athletic to me. Lots of papaya and green mango, something grassy and herbal, this is a perfect summer wine. I like to bring it down to the beach near my dad’s place and just drink it all day at the lake. I think Total Wine frequently carries this, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.

3. Wine tickling my fancy most!

2019 Left Foot Charley, “Gitali” Blanc de Blancs, Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan

If there’s something to know about me, I’m deeply passionate about Michigan wines. Michigan is where I grew up, not far from the Fennville and Lake Michigan Shore AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) and all of this pursuit of wine knowledge is in the hope of starting my own vineyard and winery there. Michigan has always had some great sleeper wines that you can get for a goddamn steal, since many people aren’t aware of how good they can be (to be fair, there is also a lot of really really bad wine), and Left Foot Charley is one of my two top favorite producers in the state (the other being Mawby). These two producers are really serious winemakers and they fully believe that Michigan is ideally situated for becoming the sparkling wine capital of the U.S., something I fully agree with and support. That said! This is a really delicious dry sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and in the traditional method, which is the same method used in making Champagne. The bubbles are very delicate, small, and explosive, and it has beautiful notes of yellow apple, toasted brioche, and yellow cherry.

[evita-shelby]

I was thinking because Jack is only in a tiny bit of Season 6 Maybe Jack and Eva could go to Arrow House, and the scene with Tommy, Mosley and Diana plays out, and it goes on from there with whatever you have in mind! x

Thanks I had too much fun with this lol

spoilers for National Anthem, will likely become a chapter in it.

Eva x Jack

cw:mentions of drugs, cheating, death, hauntings, one use of a slur and child death.

taglist: @zablife @justrainandcoffee @thegreatdragonfruta

gif by @mrs-gray

A Change of Course

The house is dark and somber, not at all how theirs is.

The décor was impeccable, the contrast of the pale ceiling and its devotion to the memory of a woman who haunted the man who killed her giving it the same coldness of a mausoleum.

There is no life here, not after the only thread of light in its mistress’ life cut short by the curse that is her husband.

Shelby who couldn’t get his head out of his ass and just be there for their daughter’s last moments.

Elizabeth Shelby had already packed her things; she just needs a reason to take her stepson ---who’s own mother killed by the curse he has inherited--- and run.

And tonight, she will get it.

“Oh, no, Gina's running wild, y'see. Harrods, dоpе, amphetamines, lords and ladies, you know, the whole English aristocracy thing. Fսck wine --- whiskey. Shelby, you havin’ whiskey?” After that little adventure torturing the informant, Jack is as if he’d taken a hit of the opium they are dealing.

The man had been wild, alive like he hasn’t been since Atlantic City. There had been blood on his hands when he returned to the hotel and neither had cared about the state they left the dining room in their suite after.

 “I'll stay on wine.” Shelby does not drink, doesn’t eat nor do anything than sit there with his guilt and pain as if he wasn’t the architect of his own misery.

Eva’s let Jack do most of the talking and once they cleared the table of dessert and brought out more wine, she took the opportunity to observe and see what she can use for later when the two interlopers kick the box from under Shelby and watch him choke by the noose he made with their help.

“Fuck wine, more whiskey. I'm celebrating. Celebration, you know. Getting off this fucking island.” Jack has never been known for his sensitivity to others. Only cared for what was his and the rest can get fucked for all he cared.

He saw himself in Shelby, but Shelby fell short of his expectations. What man leaves his dying child in search of a fantasy he made in his head?

There had never been a curse, just lies he paid others to tell him so he could absolve himself over the curse that befall on Grace because he married her.

Ruby’s death was not magic, not a curse no matter how much it looked like it was. Just a disease caught from a playmate at the Christmas Pantomime her daddy was too busy to be at.

“You see, the thing with England, the currency here, it's not money. Nah. You got bored of money a long time ago. ‘Cos you know anyone can have money; you can fucking... you can fսcking find money in the mud. You can forge money. Mr. Shelby, you can steal money, am I right?” Jack goes on his tirade against the symbolism of wine and the upper class.

He cared about the working class, about reforms and yet his fortune is made by trampling over everyone else.

Jack’s money and power were earned in equal parts ambition and spite.

“The currency here, it's blood. And Mr. Shelby knows that better than all of them. Blood here is like wine, like the vintage wine in that bottle. It's the label, it's the terroir, it's the grape that makes the wine. Who fսcking cares about the glass around it?

And you, my friend, you're an American.”

At these words, Lizzie seems to perk up. She is a woman everyone underestimated because of who she used to be. As if the blue bloods didn’t have whores who did it for money like she had to.

“You fսcking smash the glass, you spill the blood, and you spend their currency to get what you want. Am I right?

When you come to America, I will show you things.” Jack knows the wife hasn’t been made aware of the deal. Unaware of what is waiting for him in Miquelon Island.

“You’re going to America?”

“To Canada, Lizzie, to collect payment for the shipment. I need to do it myself.” Shelby couldn’t trust anyone after Grace fucked him up in ’19. Not Grace, not Lizzie, not anyone.

He used to trust Lizzie, but now that he thinks he’s dying he knows he cannot trust her not to let him die and make this cold tomb home to another ghost.

“And who will be going with you?” the grieving mother asked, knowing why he goes.

He craves death, Shelby has always wanted to die. All his victories were hollow, the melancholia never left no matter how much he pretends it has.

Not Grace, not Lizzie, no one could cure it because people aren’t cures. No one told Shelby that and now a little girl is dead.

But he won’t find death. Just the knowledge that the King of the New World won’t let him die as punishment for his sins.

It’s easy to die, nothing worse than being forced to go on living and redeem yourself when everyone you love hates you.

“Michael will be there to watch his back.” Jack knows damn well what he’s doing. He hates Tommy for the part he played in Clive’s death years ago. Clive who had been his only real friend in Harvard where everyone hated him for being him.

“Another journey, Tommy?” Lizzie begs him to reconsider with her question.

Lizzie was more than capable of running the legal businesses with them and King Solomons’ heir had always been in their pocket.

But Shelby wouldn't be given his eternal rewards until the second great war ends in 1945.

“Five million, Mrs. Shelby. It’s worth a little cruise, don’t you think?” It was personal. Jack didn’t give a rat’s ass about Michael; this was his way of avenging Clive MacMillan.

“You know whiskey does talk, Mr. Nelson, and sometimes whiskey is…very eloquent, but five million, Mr. Nelson… Now, that is a legacy. And when I come back, I will know everything.” Shelby finally speaks, knowing Michael will be the one to come home in a box.

Shelby like Jack won’t die until old age comes for them. Jack knows that this was not about killing him. The soul is already dead, there was no need to kill the body.

“I see myself so clearly in you, Thomas Shelby. You are a man with a bright and glittering future.”

They needed him for the hell to come, unfortunately.

When the Butler came to bring the news, the dreaded visitors had arrived, Eva hid her relief at the real show finally starting.

“We were on our way to my constituency in Smethwick and I heard our American friend was in Birmingham and that he was coming here, so we came to say one last farewell.

“Champagne,” He orders as if Shelby was his servant as they are shown in. “We have much to celebrate.”

“It isn't that I wasn't sure Mr. Shelby would give you an excellent send-off, I just felt, since telegrams and wires and letters can so easily be intercepted, we might confirm all that we've achieved during your visit over champagne.” Mosley waltzes in like he owns the place and seats himself across from her and beside Mrs. Shelby.

His equally repugnant fiancé hides her distaste at having to sit beside Eva but doesn’t refrain from making this about her. “It is remarkable how quickly our relationships have developed. So many triangles in this room. Everyone except from Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the point of a triangle.”

“How am I part of a triangle?” Lizzie’s question is heard and yet Mosely tries to divert the attention from this juicy reveal by talking of business with her husband.

Eva has made it a point to show how little she cares for Diana Mitford and her husband knowing they cannot afford to lose Jack’s backing. If they knew they were being played by both gangsters here, they wouldn’t be so bold as to have even shown up.

Jack’s buzzed enough to let her interruption slide, but those two fuckers will regret meeting her for the rest of their lives.

“She hounded your husband into fucking her after your daughter died, chased him until he gave up and gave her what she cannot get at home. The witch answered the woman who suffers more than Christ and made sure to give Lizzie Shelby the chance to humiliate the woman who fucked her husband. “If Sir Oswald cannot satisfy a woman, something you and my husband’s niece can confirm, then he does not have what it takes to take on the world. Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Shelby?”

Oswald clears his throat, hides his humiliation as best as he can but his embarrassment is blood in the water and Eva might as well be the shark that ends him. She would love to, but his cause doesn’t need a martyr.

Elizabeth Shelby, agrees with her words and leaves now that she has no fucking reason to stay in the tomb with her ghost of a husband. She knows now why he betrayed like that, but its too little and too late. Eva will enjoy being friends with the woman, maybe introduce her to a man who will love her as she deserves.

She deserved better, someone like her cousin, Santiago, a man who can make her past disappear and not give a damn about who she was before him.

“My wife, y’see, believes the state of a man’s family says everything about him and I trust her judgment over anyone else’s, ‘cos my Evie the future. Not those frauds like the ones Houdini exposes, but the real. Fucking. Thing.” Jack takes the mask off and revels in making the English aristocrats squirm. “And if she says you and your people are full of shit ‘cos your wife has to go around begging Shelby here for a good time, then I know not to waste my time with the likes of you.

Do you remember what I told you when we first met, Shelby?” Jack turns to the host with a smile that Mosley won’t ever forget.

“The last thing you want is to get gipped.” Shelby nods and repeats the words that made him regret every second with Grace. If he had not been so foolish, Grace would be alive today.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I see myself in you, Mr. Shelby, and if you want to get as far as we both know we will get, you gotta cut these fuckers lose before they drag you down with them.” Jack ended this charade with a puff of his cigar and relished the destruction of the man who thinks people like them must die. “Oh, and by the way, my niece mentioned something about a cancer scheme. Some crazy bullshit about how you are worth more dead than alive. If I were you, I’d show them how two Catholic Boys like us got where we are.”

Mosely and his woman do not linger after, taking their leave like good little aristocrats and yet humiliated to hell and back. They don’t even know he’s about to lose his seat, nor how they will die a shit stain in the footnote of history.

“And here I thought you wanted me dead too.” Shelby’s life lies in tatters and yet they have the last laugh.

“There is no fun to killing the body when the soul is already dead.” The witch shrugged and called for a toast. “To the two weeks that have changes the course of history.”

[greenwitchcrafts]

September 2023 witch guide

SEPTEMBER 2024:

September 2023 witch guide

Full moon: September 29th

New moon: September 14th

Sabbats: Mabon September 23rd

September Harvest Moon

Also known as: Autumn moon, falling leaves moon, song moon, leaves turning moon, moon of brown leaves, yellow leaf moon, wine moon & Full corn moon

Element: Earth

Zodiac: Virgon& Libra

Animal spirits: Trooping Faeries

Deities: Brigid, Ceres, Ch'ang-o, Demeter, Freya, Isis & Vesta

Animals: Jackal & snake

Birds: Ibis & sparrow

Trees: Bay, hawthorn, hazel & larch

Herbs/plants: Copal, fennel, rye, skullcap, valerian, wheat & witch hazel

Flowers: Lily & Narcissus

Scents: Bergamot, gardenia, mastic & storax

Stones: Bloodstone, chrysolite, citrine, olivine, peridot & sapphire

Colors: Browns, dark blue, greens & yellows ( Earth tones)

Energy: Balance of light & dark, dietary matters, employment, health, intellectual pursuits, prosperity, psychism, rest, spirituality, success & work environments. Also cleaning & straightening mentally, physically & spiritually.

Technically, the Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the September equinox around September 21st. The Harvest Moon is the only Full Moon name determined by the equinox rather than a month. Most years, it’s in September, but around every three years, it falls in October.

In September, the Full Moon is the Corn Moon from the Native American tribes harvesting their corn. It can also be the Harvest Moon, which corresponds with the Anglo-Saxon name, while Celtic and Old English names are Wine Moon, Song Moon, and Barley Moon.

Mabon

Also known as: Autumn Equinox, Cornucopia, Witch's Thanksgiving & Alban Elved

Season: Fall

Symbols: Acorns, apples, autumn leaves, berries, corn, cornucopia (horn of plenty), dried seeds, gourds, grains, grapes, ivy, pine cones, pomegranates, vines, wheat, white roses & wine

Colors: Blue brown, drk red, deep gold, gold, indigo, lead green, maroon, orange, red, russet, violet & yellow

Oils/incense: Apple, apple blossom, benzoin, black pepper, hay/straw, myrrh, passion flower, patchouli, pine, red poppy & sage

Animals: Dog, goose, hawk, swan, swallow & wolf

Stones: Agate, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow Agate  & yellow topaz

Foods: Apples, blackberries, blackberry wine, bread, carrots, cider, corn, cornbread, grapes, heather wine, nuts, onions, pomegranates, potatoes, squash, vegetables, wheat & winw

Herbs/plants: Acorn, benzoin, cedar, corn, cypress, ferns, grains, hazel, hops, ivy, myrrh, oak, pine, sage, sassafras, Salomon's seal, thistle, tobacco & wheat

Flowers: Aster, heather, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, mum,passion flower& rose

Goddesses: Danu, Epona, Modron, Morrigan, Muses, Pomona, Persephone, Sophia & Sura

Gods: Esus, Green Man, Hermes, Mabon, Mannanan, Toth & Thor

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Accomplishment, agriculture, balance, goals, gratitude & grounding

Spellworks: Balance, harmony, protection, prosperity, security & self confidence

Related festivals:

• Sukkot- is a Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Hebrew: שלוש רגלים, shalosh regalim) on which those Israelites who could were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. In addition to its harvest roots, the holiday also holds spiritual importance with regard to its abandonment of materialism to focus on nationhood, spirituality, and hospitality, this principle underlying the construction of a temporary, almost nomadic, structure of a sukkah.

• Mid-Autumn festival- also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. Similar holidays are celebrated by other cultures in East & Southeast Asia. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back over 3,000 years. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the Moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of Autumn.

• Thanksgiving- This is a secular holiday which is similar to the cell of Mabon; A day to give thanks for the food & blessings of the previous year. The American Thanksgiving is the last Thursday of November while the Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated in October

• Festival of Dionysus- There were several festivals that honored Dionysus, the God of wine. It was a time of fun, games, feasting & drinking wine.

Activities:

•Scatter offerings in a harvested fields, Offer libations to trees

• Decorate your home and/or altar space for fall

• Bake bread

• Perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to your life

• Cleanse your home of negative energies

• Pick apples

• Have a dinner or feast with your family and/or friends

• Set intentions for the upcoming year

• Purge what is no longer serving you

•Take a walk in the woods

• Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte

• Donate to your local food bank

• Gather dried herbs, plants, seeds & pods

• Learn something new

• Make wine

• Brew an apple cinnamon simmer pot

• Create an outdoor Mabon altar

•Adorn burial sites with leaves, acorns, & pinecones to honor those who have passed over & visit their graves

Many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest Lammas) and equinox as a time for giving thanks. This time of year is when farmers know how well their summer crops did, and how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you and your family would have enough food for the winter. That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, and animals, and food. 

The name Mabon comes from the Welsh God, who was the son of the Earth Mother Goddess. However, there is evidence that the name was adopted in the 1970s, and the holiday was not originally a Celtic celebration.

Some believe Night and day are of equal legth and the God's energy & strength are nearly gone . The Goddess begins to mourn the loss she knows is coming, but knows he will return when he reborn at Yule.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Wikipedia

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Mabon: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Autumn Equinox Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials