I’m off to Symonds Yat for a week of walking, reading, crocheting & having no responsibilities except keeping myself fed & watered. I’ve got my waterproof walking kit so the weather doesn’t matter but I’m hoping for sunshine as I’m bringing my good camera. Normal service will resume here next Monday

The Hobbit: I'm Going On An Adventure

Alt: Bilbo Baggins running through the shire, directly towards the camera, clutching a piece of paper. The words “I'm Going On An Adventure” are written at the bottom of the screen.

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I'm doing an episode on the folklore of the northern lights so I'm curious! Has your family ever had a nickname for the aurora borealis? If so, where are you? Thanks in advance!

Stunning Aurora Borealis Northern Lights Display

Alt: Stunning Aurora Borealis Northern Lights Display

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An accountant becomes an expert in excavation.

Dan Hon@danhon.com · 3d ago

Make your favorite film sound as boring as possible without giving away the title: A chief technology officer is worried about keeping his spreadsheets private.

Despite what certain idiots who take a masturbatory glee at the thought of walking dark paths believe, witchery is not always a manifesting of wrath, a string of curses. Witchery is more often a thousand moments of wonder, bursts of beauty singing. – #EmilyCBanting, 1982 #WitchSky

The raising of the Mary Rose.

Black Aziz Anansi@blackazizanansi.blacksky.app · 7d ago

What's the first historic event that you remember?

Discworld QOTD, from The Shepherd's Crown "FOR I CAN SEE THE BALANCE AND YOU HAVE LEFT THE WORLD MUCH BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT, AND IF YOU ASK ME, said Death, NOBODY COULD DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT…"

Micah@rincewind.run · last wk.

Discworld QOTD, from Unseen Academicals

Jane Fonda’s tribute to Dolly is perfect.

I feel like this must have been done at some point, response poems are a storied tradition, but anyway I wrote "Margaret, Bringing Fresh Flowers" today and thought I'd share

She was a brilliant songwriter with a gorgeous voice. She could act! She was an important philanthropist and visionary whose understanding of giving back we may never fully see. She used her platform to stand up for what's right. And phew, she was down to earth and funny AF always.

Dolly Parton and Patti LaBelle Playing Their Acrylic Nails (1987)

YouTube video by Back to the Past

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I am so sad. She was the epitome of a life well lived.

The Independent@the-independent.com · 6d ago

Dolly Parton, beloved Queen of Country who sang ‘Jolene’ and ‘9 to 5’, dies at 80 www.the-independent.com/arts-enterta...

The edge between a walled and wild section of wood always feels like a magical threshold. A transgressive possibility space where things leak out and shinning up the border requires a sacrifice of scraped skin, torn cloth. To walk atop such a wall is to be of two-worlds. – #DAKilroy, 1982

When Jesus jumps up on the counter even though he KNOWS he's not allowed

Modern Druids are often criticised for holding rituals at ancient monuments that had “nothing to do with the ancient Druids”. But does this criticism actually hold any weight? Or is it misunderstanding what modern Druidry is? Why do pagans love ancient monuments? www.patreon.com/mharastarlin...

Why do Druids and Pagans love ancient monuments? | Mhara Starling

At certain astronomical times of year, or at celebrations and festivals important to them, many modern-day Pagans, Witches, Polytheists, and

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My fleeting glance into Bluesky, as I continue to mostly avoid social media, has been rewarded with this brilliance:

Dr Andrew McInnes@drbeard79.bsky.social · 3w ago

This is a WILD essay by the brilliant Felicity James on writing and reading essays in the age of AI

Right, my lovelies, I’m taking a summer holiday from the internet as I’m feeling overwhelmed, entirely antisocial, and just generally bleurgh. Hopefully an enforced break from doomscrolling and *waves at the world in despair* will help reset both body and brain and by autumn I’ll be back to myself.

Homer Simpson Hides in Bush

Alt: Homer Simpson Hides in Bush

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It reveals a huge amount about the interviewer. I already knew Hannah Waddingham was pure class and grace.

Juliet E McKenna@julietemckenna.bsky.social · last mo.

Very interesting reading, not least by incidentally revealing rather more than the interviewer intended. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

Seriously, THIS. "Cringe" means nothing but "You ought to be embarrassed by what embarrasses *me!" Who died and left *you* God of our enjoyments? Go off somewhere quiet and grow yourself enough spine to enjoy what you enjoy without other people having to give you *permission* to. 🫤

Alex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them)@bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Cringe is the death of the self. Free yourself from cringe and let yourself have a good time dping whatever weird or silly little thing you want (as long as it doesn't hurt or violate the consent of others).

The fox has now started sunbathing on the roof of the shed! 🦊 🧗 #photography #nature #wildlife #fox #London

Describe yourself in three characters

Dr Malice@atarbuck.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Describe yourself in three characters.

Hey folks, I’m giving away one free place on my Month of Stories course in August for a writer on a low income (or otherwise couldn’t afford the full shebang). Click below to enter your details and I’ll pick a winner at random on 27th July! www.jogatford.com/workshops-co...

Wilfred Crumpets your baseball pitcher name is your grandfather’s first name and the last thing you bought

kim@kimmymonte.bsky.social · 2mo ago

your baseball pitcher name is your grandfather’s first name and the last thing you bought i’ll go first mine’s Dominic Sandals

I was 7, our teacher started reading it to us (we always had 30 mins story time at the end of the day) and I was so enraptured by the first chapter I made Mum take me to the library on the way home, borrowed their copy, read it over the weekend and the enjoyed “re-listening” at school. When I 1/2

Gary Longsine 📱@arbiteriapetus.bsky.social · 2mo ago

How old were you, when you read The Hobbit?

I walk hills to talk to solitary, sentinel trees. I listen to the things they've seen, the stories the dead entangled in their roots whisper. I do this because I am a witch. I do this because it is a joy. – #EmilyCBanting, 1982 #WitchSky

I am at that point where I need a quiet day. A day where I do nothing more exciting that watching the toadlets, read a book in the boneyard. I need to be a creature of hushed shade, uncurated by clocks. – #MattAdams, 1981

For the summer visitor, the coastal paths are about postcard views, stories of wreckers and haunted lighthouses. For the salt=hag they are where we walk to gather omens to tell tomorrow and herbs to heal its ills. They are threshold engines for our magics. – #EmilyCBanting, 1982 #WitchSky

A couple of larkspur (and a blackbird singing) in Wicken in June:

The electric pump has vanished from our garden water feature… I did catch a photo of the resident fox taking quite an interest in the scene of the crime. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to assist with inquiries! 🦊 #wildlife #fox #London

If anyone is reading this over the weekend and uses The Storygraph to track their reading, I’ve just added both digital and paperback editions so you should be able to just search for Hookland and it’ll pop right up!

hookland.bsky.social@hookland.bsky.social · 2mo ago

As promised to link to my first actual Hookland book. It is only small, but covers a lot of the ghost soil. If enough of you buy it and like it there will be a Volume Two. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068598123 It will also be available in an actual bookshop soon.

Have been feeling rather overwhelmed and exhausted today so I made myself an iced latte and brought my crochet out into the garden to see if sitting in the shade in a brisk breeze might help. Currently it seems to be working! #TheSmallThings #SpreadingJoy