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omkarahillss · 3 years

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Guide to Herbal Remedies & Magic with Practical Recipes

Cinnamon is a warming tonic & great source of magnesium, fibre, iron & calcium. It is a powerful antiseptic, with antiviral & antifungal properties & is often indicated in cases of viral infections, fungal infections & colds & flu. It is a mild emmenagogue, making it useful in cases of sluggish & painful menstruation. Cinnamon can be used as an appetite enhancer. It can also lower cholesterol & thin blood clots and best immunity booster products in Jaipur. It chases chills, prevents colds & warms the hands & feet of those who feel cold all the time. Cinnamon is used to enhance digestion, prevent nausea, treat coughs & generally for health problems of the respiratory & the circulatory system.

A cup of cinnamon tea, made by steeping a cinnamon stick or a scant teaspoonful of powdered cinnamon in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes, is a good way to prevent the flu. Cinnamon tea also eases menstrual cramps, soothes sore joints, relieves gas pain & allays that feeling of fullness after a big meal. A sip or two of cinnamon tea before meals improves digestion & prevents acid reflux. Those who drink cinnamon tea regularly will have less cavities, stronger gums & fewer insect bites. Cinnamon tea is a gentle but effective remedy for both childhood diarrhea & infestations of worms. In India, cinnamon tea is regarded as a remedy against halitosis, nausea & vomiting. It is a strong stimulant for the glandular system & is very warming, so it is good for relieving the symptoms of colds, flu & sore throats. Cinnamon can be taken internally for fibroids, flatulence, intestinal cramping, inflammation, rheumatism, oral infections caused by candida. The bark of the stem & the oil obtained from it are useful as antiseptics, astringents & carminatives; the oil obtained from the leaves is used as a flavoring agent & for local application on certain rheumatic pains. Essential oil of Cinnamon has anti-coagulating, anti-microbial & antioxidant properties. Cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin, thus normalizing their blood sugar levels. The essential oil of cinnamon is a good substitute for clove oil in treating toothache. It is particularly effective in killing the organisms that cause periodontal disease. Inhaling the warm, spicy & sweet scent of this spice can boost brain activity & memory. In China, Japan & Far-East countries, women who do not conceive & wish to strengthen the uterus take cinnamon powder. In such cases, you should take a pinch of cinnamon powder in 1/2 tsp of honey & apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day so that it slowly mixes with the saliva & enters the body.

Polycystic ovary syndrome can also be cured by using cinnamon daily, which will help jump start a woman’s period/cycle & promote fertility.

Because of its warming & stimulating properties, cinnamon is used to boost vitality, improve circulation & clear congestion. It is a well-respected digestive aid, particularly for cases of overeating, bloating & sluggish digestion & one of the best herbs around for stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Honey & cinnamon is used as a cancer treatment which kills microbes inside the cancer cells.

PRECAUTIONS:

To be safe, caution is advised for anyone with liver problems. Due to its blood-thinning effects, people should stop taking cinnamon in quantities greater than use as a spice at least one week prior to surgery. Close monitoring of blood sugar levels in diabetics is warranted to avoid unsafe lowering of blood sugar. People with prostate problems should avoid cinnamon. Large doses of cinnamon bark can cause changes in breathing & dilation of blood vessels. Once pregnant, you should not take cinnamon because it stimulates premature labor & uterine contractions. Very large amounts of powdered cinnamon can cause poisoning. Symptoms begin with central nervous system sedation, characterized by sleepiness & depression. This is followed by tachycardia & stimulation of the vasomotor center, which causes increases in intestinal peristalsis, respiration & diuresis.

RECIPES:

The flavor of cinnamon complements cooked apples, fresh fruit, fruit punches or mulled wine & is also very tasty in spice cakes & cookies.

Simmer Cinnamon sticks with milk & honey for a warming beverage.

Mix 1–3 tsp of ground Cinnamon powder in 1 cup of hot water. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain & drink to cure diarrhea.

For Cough:

Make a tea with ½ tsp ginger, ¼ tsp cinnamon & 1 clove per 1 cup of water. Sweeten with 1 tsp honey & drink.

Expectorant Cough Syrup:

120 ml water 120 ml honey 1–2 tsp dried mullein leaves 1–2 tsp dried white horehound herb 1–2 tsp dried rosemary leaves 1–2 tsp powdered or chopped cinnamon bark 1–2 tsp dried chopped ginger 1 pinch of cayenne Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat. Simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced by about one-half. Remove from the heat & strain. Cool to room temperature. Take 1 tsp as often as every 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon & Scallion Tea for Cold & Flu:

Finely chop one scallion. Put it into a teacup & add 2 slices of raw ginger & dash of powdered cinnamon. Fill the cup with hot water, let the herbs steep & drink the tea. Cinnamon & ginger induce sweating, while scallion clears sinuses.

Cinnamon for diabetes 2:

Take at least 1/2 teaspoon a day, which is critical to “soften” the cell membranes. Cinnamon mimics insulin, thus it may lower your need for insulin immediately.

Cinnamon-Ginger Tea for Menstrual Difficulties:

1 tsp chopped cinnamon bark 1 tsp chopped dried ginger or freshly grated ginger root Pour 1 cup boiling water over the herbs. Cover & let steep for ca 30 minutes. Strain & sweeten with honey. Sip slowly. Prepare & drink as often as needed, until cramps subside. Both cinnamon & ginger are reliable aids for relieving stomach & menstrual cramps. A warm poultice or hot-water bottle placed over the pelvic area can also be helpful.

Herbal Decoction for Uterine Tumors:

1 part turmeric 1 1/2 parts licorice root 4 parts cinnamon bark 5 parts peach seed Simmer slowly 30 g of dried herbs in 700 ml of water for 30–60 minutes in a covered pot. Strain & drink 1/2 cup 2 -4 times a day, between meals. Take 6 days a week. Tumors of the uterus, including uterine fibroids & cancers, very often involve blood stagnation. Ovarian cysts can also be placed in this category. Turmeric in diet helps dissolve these growths. Since the uterus & ovaries are not well-circulated area & growths there resist treatment, this decoction is invaluable for speeding the re-absorption of tumors, cancers & similar growths in the lower abdominal region.

Cinnamon Honey:

½ cup honey 1–2 tbsp cinnamon powder Gently warm the honey & then stir in the cinnamon. Stir a teaspoon of the honey into warm water or herb tea.

Cinnamon Tincture for Stabilizing Blood Sugar:

100 ml chopped cinnamon bark 80-proof alcohol (brandy, vodka) Place the cinnamon in a glass jar. Cover with alcohol. Let steep for 4- 6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through a fine-mesh, stainless-steel strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard the cinnamon, then bottle the liquid. Take ½ tsp 2x a day for 5 days. Continue in this manner for several weeks, or until blood sugar levels normalize.

A Soup for Joint Pain:

Cook until done 1 cup pearl barley with 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 pinch saffron & 1 piece Dong Quai (tang kuei) Add a pinch of following herbs as needed. For water retention: 10 juniper berries For weakness & chills: fenugreek or ginger

Warming Happiness Tea:

handful of lime flowers 1 orange,wash & slice sprinkle of cinnamon or bit of cinnamon bark Place the herbs & orange & cinnamon into the heat proof jug. Pour over ~1 l boiling water, let infuse, covered 5–10 min. Drink while warm with honey.

BEAUTY:

For Bad Breath boil 1 tsp cinnamon in 1 cup of water. Cool. Use frequently as a mouthwash.

Warming Cinnamon Bath Salts:

3 tbsp cinnamon powder 1 tbsp ginger root powder 1 cup sea salt Stir the powdered herbs into the salt. Store in a sealed glass container. Add ¼ cup of the bath salts to a bathtub filled with warm water. Stir well.

For acne, blackheads & pimples mix finely ground cinnamon powder in 1 tsp lime juice & apply on affected areas frequently.

To improve the complexion add a pinch of cinnamon powder to ¼ tsp honey & apply on the face. Let it dry then wash it with water.

MAGIC:

Cinnamon is used in magic for deep spirituality & healing, protection, scrying & power. Its can retain energy.

Cinnamon can be burned for protection & to attract money, stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers & aid in healing. Cinnamon when burned as an incense, raises high spiritual vibrations, aids in healing, draws money, stimulates psychic powers & produces protective vibrations.Cinnamon incense is one of the most common & probably the most used form of cinnamon for protection. Burning the incense works in a similar way as using it as a charm except you are converting it by burning it. To unleash its power, you can also put a pinch in your food, tea or hot cocoa. Laying cinnamon sticks along window sills will protect from the unwanted energy. You can put cinnamon sticks or fresh powdered cinnamon in your purse or a pouch to carry with you, it works in the same way & act as a protection charm.

Cinnamon has a high vibration & can be used to increase our own vibration. It can be used in this way to reach our higher selves, a higher state of spirituality. While the cinnamon spice is related to the fire element, the tree itself is ruled by the moon. The moon with her loving Lunar energy stimulates our higher selves & thinking. Cinnamon, being ruled by fire & the moon elements can provide protection as well as assist us in increasing our psychic or clairvoyant energies.

Cinnamon is great for drawing love & money & it also adds speed/force to your workings. Cinnamon can be good for bringing quick cash. Put a pinch in your wallet or your spare change jar or attach a dollar bill to it & watch your money grow.. Shop-keepers can sprinkle cinnamon chips & sugar on their door-step to encourage good trade. Cinnamon can bring luck in games & gambling.

Fill a green or gold sachet with Cinnamon to draw money & success or to use as a healing charm. A purple sachet can be used to increase your magickal &/or psychic powers. A pink or red sachet of Cinnamon can be worn, carried with you, or placed under your bed to draw love or to promote lust. Use a white sachet filled with Cinnamon to increase your spirituality & to confer protection.

Cinnamon is a very powerful herb for prosperity. You can also take this bath for five consecutive days & pray for financial improvement. Do not be specific about the amount of money or from where it should come from. Let the universe do what it wills & bring you the solution.

Prosperity Bath:

1 cup of cinnamon powder 2 cups of parsley (dried or fresh) This bath uses cinnamon to attract prosperity & money into your life. Take this bath during the waxing phase of the moon for maximum effect.

Protection Amulet:

Tie 9 cinnamon sticks together & hang them above your doors to protect your home from unwanted people & energy. As always, intention is key here. With every step you take in tying the cinnamon to placing it decoratively or not above your doors imagine what it is you want. We communicate with our energy & not so much with our verbal or mental intellect. This must come from a deep desire in your heart to will this into being. Remember that the cinnamon is a constant reminder of this desire for protection, for wealth, for strength or whatever it is that you desire the cinnamon to help you with.

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perpetuallylocked · 4 years

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Tag Yourself: Nancy Drew Game Aesthetics Edition

SCK: opening a new book for the first time, the nostalgia of VHS tapes, coca cola in a glass, remembering your locker combo, letterman jackets, watching true crime documentaries, empty high school hallways, 1950s diners, cramming before an exam

STFD: boxes of chocolates, tape recorders, the click-clack of typewriter keys, catching a taxi, shadows on the wall, stained coffee cups, sitting down to rewatch a tv show, perfume bottles, 1990s fashions

MHM: the sight of dust mixing with light, sightreading old sheet music, crystal chandeliers, old floral teacups, crystal balls, old rotary phones, grand staircases, intricate wooden floors, never-ending house projects

TRT: the glitter of diamonds, worn chessboards, snow-covered gardens, ink-covered hands, butterfly collections, cold tile floors, dull suits of armor, dusty history tomes, footsteps muffled by carpets

FIN: plush red velvet, the scent of popcorn, drawing art deco designs in the margins, worn carpets, old playing cards, the feeling there is still magic everywhere, meeting a childhood idol, movie posters on the wall, catching up with a childhood friend

SSH: jade carvings, steep stone steps, chocolate bars, being the only person in a museum gallery, clean lab coats, amazing sights through a microscope, visiting the hospital, remembering facts you've only heard once, checking the mail for your package

DOG: log cabins, the flapping of bird wings, the distant howling of dogs, the odd sensation when you can see the moon during the day, the scent of pine trees, old glass bottles, strolls along the lake shore, admiring 1920s fashion, long walks in the woods

CAR: antique roller coasters, old postcards, the golden light at dusk, loud band organ music, sounds of a carnival at night, ice cream sundaes for dessert, the delight of riding the carousel for the first time, paint-stained clothes, winning a prize from a carnival game

DDI: a steaming mug of tea on a foggy day, sea caves, light from a lighthouse piercing the fog, messages in bottles, approaching deep water, the sound of seagulls, vintage blue bicycles, spotting a whale on the horizon, crumb-topped blueberry muffins

SHA: worn plaid shirts, sunsets on the horizon, the clip-clopping of hooves, antique blanket chests, forbidden romance, mason jars of flowers, brown and blue eggs, playing piano by ear, faded rugs

CUR: leather-bound books, small potted succulents, curving staircases, old portraits, family secrets, four-poster beds, hearing strange sounds at night, food cravings, spending all day on your laptop

CLK: the ticking of an old clock, pearl and cameo jewelry, the scent of a pie baking, the whir of a sewing machine, reading in a window seat, flouncy dresses, bridges over creeks, driving around a small town, reading Shakespeare for your own enjoyment

TRN: ballet slippers, snow mixed with smoke, faded pastel embroidery, the far-off sound of train whistles, old parchment and wax seals, unwrapping a piece of salt water taffy, quirky local museums, organizing your collections and belongings, light shining through tiffany lamps

DAN: light streaming through stained glass windows, bold red lipstick, freshly baked cookies, tales from your grandparents' youth, long-lost love, twirling in a tulle skirt, the overwhelming desire to visit paris, planning out your outfit for the next day, park benches

CRE: wind in the palm trees, footprints in the sand, rustling in the jungle, small seashells, rope bridges, fruity shave ice, waves tickling your toes, the tangy taste of pineapple, watching surfers from the beach

ICE: frozen lakes, sitting by a crackling fire, snow-covered piles of logs, worn leather ice skates, paw prints, staying in bed after you've woken up, seeing your breath in the cold air, unexpected snowball fights, leather-bound journals

CRY: shadows emphasized by candlelight, dirt-caked fingernails, exploring a cemetery at night, wrought iron fences, the smell after it rains, shelves lined with tchotchkes, going back for second helpings at dinner, moonlight streaming through the window, a grandfather clock at the end of the hall

VEN: gelato cones, orange and brown buildings, soft italian songs, gold lockets, buying flowers for yourself, cobblestone courtyards, leaning over the balcony rail, the overwhelming desire to reinvent yourself, dancing like no one is watching

HAU: ocean waves hitting cliffs, hanging herb bundles, old stone fortresses, white lace and promises, wilting flower bouquets, whistling to keep yourself company, distant celtic music, simple diamond rings, sitting in a peaceful garden

RAN: old gold coins, wading in the cold ocean, a slow-moving hourglass, seeing where the sky meets the sea, old pirate legends, sand between your toes, looking down through clear water, buying yourself new clothes for vacation, eating fruit salad for breakfast

WAC: exploring a college campus, old trophies, distant cello music, milk and cookies, cardigan sweaters, texting your friends, bare tree branches, anthologies of stories, school supply shopping

TOT: wind rustling through wheat fields, creaking wooden staircases, white curtains on the window, golden hay bales, old fences lining the road, watching a storm from the porch, buying a new camera, hanging out in your favorite professor's office, sitting on a tire swing

SAW: the faint scent of cherry blossoms, origami cranes, taking a bath, hearing a new language for the first time, shards of glass, seeing your reflection in the water, buying a new stuffed animal, trying a new food on vacation, listening to your grandmother's stories

CAP: rereading favorite fairy tales, blood-red garnets, red hair in braids, mist in the forest, local legends, playing board games on rainy days, remembering your make-believe games of childhood, puffy-sleeved blouses, watching glassblowers make magic

ASH: blue roadsters, rapidly melting ice cream cones, white picket fences, pastel shop awnings, hand-lettered signs in front of shops, the act of simply being with your friends, revisiting your childhood bedroom, spending all day in an antique shop, visiting your friend's house for the first time

TMB: wind-blown sand, straw sun hats, the warmth of the afternoon, chipped statues, well-used research books, having an egypt phase as a kid, planning your next adventure, drinking cold water on a hot day, pushing your hair out of your face

DED: pencil-covered hands, well-oiled gears, the crackling of electricity, eating your favorite flavor of gummy bears, group projects, keeping to yourself at work, unironically wearing ugly sweaters, publishing your research, organizing your messy desk

GTH: peeling paint on a once-grand house, angel statues, sheet-covered furniture, porch swings, lit matches, lace masquerade masks, grand ball gowns, drinking a hot cup of tea and lemon, looking for treasures in the basement

SPY: old leather suitcases, distant memories, the lingering touch of your true love, piano keys, adrenaline rushes, popped trench coat collars, hugging your mom after not seeing her for ages, looking out the window on a train ride, hearing movie soundtracks in your head

MED: the view from the top of a mountain, the rushing sound of waterfalls, freshly dyed hair, shooting stars, wandering off the trail, vintage comic books, philosophical thoughts, binge-watching reality tv, feeling the sense of deja vu

LIE: hands coated with clay and paint, laurel wreaths, pomegranate juice, books of Greek myths, gold sandals, memorizing a monologue, flowing white gowns, spending all day in a museum gallery, exploring ancient ruins

SEA: the twinkling sound of old music boxes, a night shining with stars, cozy knit sweaters, curling up with your dog, model ships, old barrels, learning your town's history, watching gently falling snow, the beauty of the aurora borealis

MID: the dark colors of herbs, edison bulbs, copper kettles, slowly changing leaves, road trips with friends, carving a jack-o'-lantern, exploring cemeteries at night, small shops surrounding a courtyard, thinking you saw a ghost out of the corner of your eye

#I'm definitely CLK and ASH with a touch of WAC and a little SPY #Nancy Drew #Tag Yourself #**general

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hangukkie · 4 years

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주방용품: Kitchen Appliances/Utensils! 🍽🍷🥣🥛🥢🧂

주방용품 (Ju-bang-yong-pum): Kitchen appliances/utensils

주방 (Ju-bang) or 부엌 (Bu-eok): Kitchen

블렌더 (Beul-len-deo): Blender

병따개 (Byeong-tta-gae): Bottle opener

그릇 (geu-leu-t): Bowl

병따개 (Byeong-dda-kae): Can opener

큰 칼 (Keun / kal): Carving knife

의자 (Eui-ja): Chair

샴페인잔 (Syam-pe-in-jan): Champagne glass

도마 (Do-ma): Chopping board

젓가락 (Jeot-ka-lak): Chopsticks

커피 머신 (Keo-pi / meo-sin): Coffee machine

커피 포트 (Keo-pi / po-teu): Coffee pot

조미료 (Ju-mi-ryo): Condiments

냄비 (Naem-bi): Cooking pot

조리기구 (Jo-ri-ki-gu): Cooking utensils

코르크 (Ko-reu-keu): Cork

코르크 따개 (Ko-reu-keu / dda-kae): Cork screw

컵 (Keop): Cup

날붙이류 (Nal-but-i-lyu): Cutlery

식탁 (Sik-tak): Dining table

접시 (Jeob-si): Dishes

식기건조대 (Sik-ki-kan-jo-dae): Dish rack

식기 세척기 (Sik-ki / se-cheok-ki): Dishwasher

물 컵 (Mul / keop): Drinking cup

건조기 (Jeon-jo-ki): Dryer

쓰레기통 (Sseu-legi-tong): Dust bin

전기 주전자 (Jeon-ki / ju-jeon-ja): Electric kettle

전기 스토브 (Jeon-gi / seu-to-beu): Electric stove

추출기 팬 (Chu-chul-ki / paen) or 밥솥 두건 (Bab-sot / du-keon) or 배기 후드 (Bae-ki / hu-deu): Extractor fan/Cooker hood/Exhaust hood

수도꼭지 (su-do-kkog-ji): Faucet

퐁듀 (pong-dyu): Fondue

식품 가공기 (Sik-pum / ja-gong-ki): Food processor

포크 (Po-keu): Fork

냉동고 (Nae-dong-go): Freezer

냉장고 (Naeng-jang-go): Fridge

후라이팬 (Hu-la-i-paen): Frying pan

마늘 으깨는 기구 (Man-eul / eu-kkae-neun / ki-gu): Garlic press

가스 스토브 (Ga-seu / seu-to-beu) Gas stove

유리잔 (Yu-ri-jan): Glass cup/Shot glass

강판 (Kang-pan): Grater

그릴 (Geu-ril): Grill

얼음 판 (Eol-eum / pan): Ice tray

항아리 (Hang-a-ri): Jar

주서기 (Ju-seo-ki): Juicer

찬장 (Chan-jang): Kitchen cupboard

주방 서랍장 (Ju-bang / seo-rab-jang): Kitchen drawer

칼 (Kal): Knife

국자 (Guk-ja): Ladle

계량컵 (Kye-ryang-keop): Measuring cup

전자 레인지 (Jeon-ja / le-in-ji): Microwave

절구와 절구 공이 (Jeol-gu-oa / jeol-gu / gong-i): Mortar and pestle

믹서기 (Mik-seo-ki): Mixer

믹싱볼 (mik-sing-bol): Mixing bowl

머그 (Meo-geu) or 머그컵 (Meo-geu-keop) or 머그잔 (Meo-geu-jan): Mug

냅킨 (naeb-kin): Napkin

호두까기 (Ho-du-kka-gi): Nutcracker

오븐 (O-beun): Oven

팬 (Paen): Pan

후추병 (Hu-chu-byeong) or 후추통 (Hu-chu-tong): Pepper pot/Pepper shaker

물 주전자 (Mul / ju-jeon-ja) or 피쳐 (Pi-chyeo): Pitcher/Jug

접시 (Jeob-si): Plate

밥솥 (Bab-sot): Rice cooker

고무장갑 (Go-mu-jang-kab): Rubber gloves

소금병 (So-geum-byeong) or 소금통 (So-geum-tong): Salt pot/Salt shaker

받침 (Bat-chim): Saucer

수세미 (Su-se-mi): Scourer

싱크대 (Sing-keu-dae): Sink

양념 (Yang-nyeom): Spices

양념 랙 (Yang-nyeom / raek): Spice rack

스펀지 (Seu-pon-ji): Sponge

숟가락 (Sut-ga-lag): Spoon

스테이크 나이프 (Seu-te-i-keu / na-i-peu): Steak knife

체 (Che): Strainer

수저 (Su-jeo): Spoon and chopstick set

식탁보 (Sik-tag-bo): Tablecloth

테이블스푼 (Te-i-beul-seu-pun): Tablespoon

식기류 (Sik-ki-ryu): Tableware

찻잔 (Chat-jan): Teacup

주전자 (Ju-jeon-ja): Teapot/Kettle

티스푼 (Ti-seu-pun): Teaspoon

티 타올 (Ti / ta-ol) or 마른 행주 (Ma-reun / haeng-ju) Tea towel

타이머 (Ta-i-meo) Timer

토스터 (To-seu-teo): Toaster

쟁반 (Jaeng-ban): Tray

세탁기 (Se-tak-ki) Washing machine

세제 (Se-je): Washing up liquid/Detergent

거품기 (Geo-pum-ki): Whisk

포도주 잔 (Po-do-ju / jan) or 와인 잔 (Woa-in / jan): Wine glass

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keelywolfe · 4 years

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FIC: Colors, ch.24: Vellum

(A Spicyhoney ‘The Village’ AU)

The story so far:

8. Whiteout | 9. Sable | 10. Blue on Black | 11. Midnight | 12. Ebony Falling

23. Gray

~~*~~

Warnings: This chapter contains discussion of past spousal abuse. (Not Edge or Rus.) It is not graphic, but it is implied to be both physical and sexual in nature.

~~*~~

Read ‘Vellum’ on AO3

Read More Here!

~~*~~

One of Rus’s clearest memories as a child back at the Village was the first time he’d gone shopping at the general goods store with his brother. Their parents were long since gone to meet the Maker and despite his youth, Blue cared for him the very best he could, spending long days training with Healer Gestor then returning home to spend more time caring for Rus. He never complained, no matter how exhausted he was.

Blue carried through with a smile, always, though Rus was often sickly and wasn’t able to help as much as he should. Even when Rus sometimes woke from terrible dreams and interrupted his already limited sleep. Shrieking for his brother in the darkness until Blue brought him back to his own bed and they slept there clinging to each other against the night.

His brother only ever reassured him of his love and that he was there for him, no matter what might come.

The occasion of the store visit was a rare treat, Rus was only seldom allowed into the Village proper for anything but prayer meetings, and those days were only for solemn reflection and silence. That day, Blue allowed him to chatter happily, to gawk at all the buildings and people, the horses that pulled carts full of produce and his agemates who ran playing through the streets as Rus couldn’t.

The store itself was a wonder, filled with shelves that held various goods. The walls were lined with barrels of pickles, bins filled with crackers. There were gleaming jars of peaches and applesauce, bottles of vinegars and molasses lining the shelves and bars of soap wrapped in waxed paper, the smell of which made Rus want to sneeze.

And there on one of the shelves was a tea set. Blue adored tea and every Saturday, he would bring out their mother’s tea set and brew a pot. They would sit together and drink, Rus’s cup filled more with hot milk and only a splash of tea that made him feel very grown up. They ate scones and Blue would tell him about his week, funny stories and interesting tidbits of gossip. It was one of Rus’s favorite times of the week.

This tea set was nothing like their mother’s. The cups were delicate with handles that curled and twisted, the edges bright with gold leaf, unlike their own plain white cups.

Rus only meant to touch that delicate gold for a moment and somehow, he accidentally tipped it over. He watched in horror as the cup fell from the shelf and shattered, a stinging fragment grazing his leg where it poked out of his short pants.

The shopkeeper was on him in an instant, grabbing him by the shoulders and shouting angrily as he shook him. Blue was nearly as quick, hastily pulling him from the shopkeeper’s grip, though that night there would be raised bruises in the shape of his fingers on Rus’s arms. Blue paid for the cup, his expression tight as he counted out the money, and they left without any of the groceries they were supposed to be getting. It wasn’t until they were back home that either of them noticed the bloody cut on his leg, marrow seeping down to stain his sock.

Blue healed that little wound silently. He never shouted at Rus, even though that week dinners were nothing more than bread and butter. He never said a word, but the weight of his disappointment pressed heavily and Rus never forgot that day, even though the old shopkeeper had retired and these days it was his son who ran the store, the same fellow who ignored when Elder Smith harassed Rus in his shop.

Memory was a funny thing and it was that day in Rus’s thoughts as he looked at Edge’s grim, silent face. He couldn’t say whether it was the shopkeeper’s fury or Blue’s disappointment he saw in Edge. It didn’t matter, he cringed from both and for a split second he couldn’t think past his own fears.

Spilled cream couldn’t be made into butter, that shattered cup that couldn’t be put back together, and Rus could only fumble with the journal, setting that brittle vellum picture back into the pages with trembling hands before he closed the cover. It wouldn’t be enough, just as he couldn’t fix that cup, he couldn’t stuff his prying knowledge back into the journal.

“i’m so…i’m sorry…didn’t mean to…” Rus stammered. He could feel tears rising and struggled to choke them back. What right did he have to cry when he was the one breaking trust with his little betrayals?

Edge only closed his sockets, hiding the fieriness of his eye lights, and he held up a silencing hand as he said, “Shh.”

Rus fell instantly silent, biting his tongue hard enough to taste salt-sweet fluid. Yet he couldn’t help the small protesting cry that escaped him as Edge turned on his heel and walked away, leaving him there alone.

He turned back to the table, looking down at the journal with tear-blurred sight.

Edge seemed so terribly angry. What if…what if he demanded Rus leave? He had nowhere else to go, he couldn’t go back to the village, he’d never survive on his own in the woods. If Edge cast him out, he’d be truly alone and as terrifying as that was, it wasn’t a match to knowing he’d upset Edge and he couldn’t even manage to properly apologize. Edge who gave so much to him, as Blue always had, his love, his tenderness, his care, and Rus could only offer disappointment in return.

He’d declared his love, called Rus is very soul and he believed Edge, he did. Except the fear in his own soul spoke louder, cruelly castigating him for his foolishness in thinking he truly had anything to offer someone like Edge.

Panic was clawing inside his rib cage making it difficult to breath, black spots wavering in his distorted vision and his whirling thoughts were a confused tangle of teacups and books, and pleading forgiveness that didn’t make it to his mouth.

He wondered blurrily if he were going to simply pass out only to wake alone in the frigid snow. The pained thought was interrupted by strong hands suddenly on him. Rus cried out, but they didn’t hurt him, their touch solid but gentle as they firmly pushed him to sit with his head lowered between his knees.

“Easy, Rus, easy.” A soothing hand rubbed down his spine even as Rus managed to gasp in a full breath of air. The darkness swarming his vision eased and his clamoring thoughts with it. Rus blinked and looked up to see Edge sitting next to him, his concern vivid as he murmured soothing words and words came to Rus then as swiftly as they’d abandoned him.

“i’m sorry,” Rus said thickly. “i didn’t mean to upset you.”

The sound Edge made in his throat was absurdly scoffing and Rus was forced to stifle an inappropriately hysterical giggle, “Upset, yes,” Edge agreed, quietly, “Not to Rus.” He took a deep breath and said very slowly in his own language, ensuring Rus could understand. “Give me a moment and I will explain.”

“all right,” Rus agreed. He leaned into Edge’s embrace, guilty absorbing the offered comfort. For once, Edge seemed to take equal comfort in him. The puff of his too-quick breath against Rus’s cervical vertebrae slowly calmed as he held Rus close.

He suddenly noticed there was a second cup on the table next to his own and he stared at it in confusion until it hit him. Edge left him alone to go make a cup of tea to calm himself, the same way Blue sometimes did after a long, frustrating day. Here Rus was, fretting that he was about to be cast out into the woods while Edge was only brewing up a pot of sweet tea. Standing in their little kitchen in his long red cloak and surely scowling ferociously at the water as it slowly heated, the vicious Monster of the Woods he’d been warned about so many times as a child as domestic as the motherly Dogaressa.

That unfortunate laughter bubbled up again, like blowing in a cup of milk with a water reed. Rus swallowed it forcibly down, snuggling gratefully into Edge’s arms. If Edge found comfort in tea and an embrace, Rus was more than willing to offer as much as he could of both.

The journal was pushed almost off the table by Rus’s panic, and after a moment, Edge reached out and drew it closer, tracing the faded gold leaf on the cover with a fingertip. His voice was hushed as he whispered, “I have not seen this in a long time. I did not know it was in the chest, else I would have hidden it away.”

“i am so sorry to have pried,” Rus burst out. He caught his breath, adding weakly, “i shouldn’t’ve. back at the village, they say curiosity killed the cat.”

Again, Edge scoffed and pressed a light kiss to Rus’s cheekbone. “You look healthy enough to me.”

It invited a watery chuckle as Edge briefly tightened his embrace. Then he opened the journal’s cover and revealed that picture again, his finger hovering overtop the fragile sketch without touching.

“you knew them.” Rus said. It wasn’t a question, it seemed as obvious as the lack of nose on his face. To his surprise, Edge shook his head.

“No,” Edge said slowly, “not them.” He turned the page, again, leafing through birth announcements and weddings invitations. There were Psalms and sayings written in between each, notions added in dark ink. The handwriting changed as he went further in, that lovely scrolling penmanship changing to spidery-thin letters, and then to bolder writing, each page carefully blotted to keep the words clear.

Not that Rus had much chance to read them. Edge kept turning the pages until he came to another sketch.

The artist was a different one, the picture a newer one. Of another young skeleton woman in a bridal dress and a flower crown, standing next to one of the Elders, though he was young enough the title hardly seemed to fit. His rounded face was one of arrogant pleasure, hers shyly smiling, and nothing about that picture explained why Edge would stare at it with such pained fury.

“edge?” Rus asked timidly. His fears were no longer for himself, but for the hurts he was beginning to suspect lay in his husband’s past.

Wordlessly, Edge reached up and roughly pulled off the medicine bag he wore around his neck, yanking it from the tangle of his other talismans. He opened it with more care, tugging at the drawstrings, and to Rus’s astonishment, from within he drew a tarnished golden locket on a chain and held it out to Rus in offering. Rus took it from Edge’s gloved palm. The chain was broken, but it was a fine one and from the weight Rus guessed the gold was no fakery. He opened it with cautious fingers to see the miniature within, of a young skeleton woman, her teeth parted in laughter.

It was the same woman, he realized. She was lovely, and drawn up over her skull was the hood from the saffron cloak of their village.

“who is she,” Rus asked, hushed.

Edge sighed heavily and offered a single word. “Mother.”

"your mother was from the village?" Rus whispered, stunned to his very core.

Edge only nodded. "Yes.”

“and she taught you village speak.” It was like finding a lost piece to an incomplete puzzle, snapping it into place to form an unexpected picture. How it was possible, Rus did not know, but the truth lay before him, undeniable.

He inspected the larger picture again. There was a certain resemblance in Edge to the young woman, he saw. Yet her eye lights were as pale as Rus’s, her teeth flat and even. Not at all like Edge’s fierce mandible or his crimson gaze, and there was no hint of the Elder in him. Doubtfully, Rus asked, “and this is your father?”

He flinched as Edge’s expression twisted into rage, directed not at Rus but at the sketch. “No! No father.” His gloved hand curling into a tight fist and the word he said wasn’t one Rus knew, spat out like a curse. Rus didn’t know what to say, what he could say, and he only wrapped his arms around Edge as he trembled, struggling for words.

“Bad,” Edge said finally, choked and low. “No father, not him, bad.” His fingers trembled as he reached out to tug a loose sheet from within the journal pages. Another sketch, this one done in a rough hand. Instead of ink, it was drawn in soft charcoal, faintly blurred before it was sealed, and showed four people; a family sitting together, two adults and two children, each dressed in long cloaks. The lines were simple and still offered much personality, the parents leaning into each other, the children appearing a mere sidestep from a childish squabble.

Edge tapped the picture of the smallest, who was drawn with an exaggerated little scowl on their tiny face. “Edge.”

Despite the seriousness of the moment, Rus couldn’t help a soft laugh. “that’s you? you were adorable.”

He was. Edge only shook his head, disgruntled. Rus leaned in, studying the picture closer. “and these are your parents?”

Edge nodded, sighing out a soft breath.

“i never knew my parents,” Rus confessed softly. He made a sign automatically, asking for a blessing for their souls. “they died when i was very young, it’s only ever been me and blue.” It was only a sketch, the details were so few, but it was obvious that the father was not the same Elder from the wedding picture. He was a skeleton, like them, and the resemblance to Edge was obvious. As gently as he could, Rus asked, “whatever happened to them?”

It was clear that some tragedy befell them, or Edge wouldn’t be here alone.

Edge hesitated, then began turning the pages again. Until he came to more writing in that same a bold hand as before, pages of it. The first page had a date at the top, some twenty years before. A true journal, he realized, written thoughts of someone from the past.

Edge tapped the page, “Make words.”

“you want me to read it?” Rus asked, astonished. Not ten minutes before he’d been worried Edge would cast him out for merely touching it and now he was meant to casually delve into his husband’s secrets as easily as he might another saucy novel.

“Yes, read,” Edge agreed.

“to you?”

Edge shook his head at that. “no. you read.” He switched to his own language to add, “and understand.”

With that, Edge gave him a last light kiss and left him to settle in and begin. It seemed the crassest invasion of privacy to read someone’s journal, but Rus was hardly through the first page before his reticence faded and he was absorbed, reading page after page of the writer’s, the young woman skeleton’s, daily thoughts.

The first entries were from a nervous bride-to-be, rambling on about her soon-husband.

After waiting for so long, this Sunday is finally the day, directly after the prayer meeting! Today Grandfather gave me our family album to take with me to my new home. I am the last of our line and marrying into the family of the Elders so there will no longer be a use for it, as our children and their lives will be recorded in the Elder’s family journal. Grandfather told me to write my thoughts and create a journal of my own, so that I might remember our line to our children when they come. I do wish he wasn’t so fussed about the wedding! I’ve made a good match in John. Were they here, I know my parents would be pleased. I wish Grandfather would be so as well.

Those excited thoughts gave way to other, less happy ones. From her first dissatisfying wedding night where she still offered excuses for her husband’s careless demands followed by other, worsening entries as she slowly gave in to despair. Her husband proved to be not the loving spouse of her fancies and instead a cruel one, commanding utter obedience and any small defiance was met in turn with brutality.

Rus barely noticed Edge bringing in fresh cups of tea though his husband made no attempt at being quiet. The cups sat for too long and Rus drank them cold, hardly tasting it, far too absorbed in the thoughts of a young woman trapped in an unloving marriage. Tears welled in his sockets as she described her husband denying her from seeing her own grandfather, though the old man was ill and wasn’t expected to survive the coming winter. All her many worries and hurts scribed on these fragile pages for Rus to follow these years later.

He read on, marveling silently as the story seemed to parallel his own too closely to be mere strange coincidence; it was more like fate, a brush from the divinity that Rus was no longer certain he believed in. On the night she ran into the woods to escape her husband’s brutality…and about the creature she met there.

I fear to even put these words to a page, though I must, for my world has changed in ways that I cannot properly understand. He was angry with me again last night, as he so often is. This night he claimed that his dinner was overcooked, though his true fury is that I have yet to provide him with an heir. I care not to write of the unspeakable things he did, only to say that when he was finished and snoring drunkenly in our bed, I fled from him to the woods.

I did not care if I lived nor died, only that I must be away from him!

I ran through the night and my terror was not of the trees before me but what lay behind. I know not how long I ran and I did not slow until I saw them. Him.

He was as it is said, a Monster, hooded in forbidden crimson and his face was that of a fanged beast. At once I no longer feared my husband’s drunken relations and instead feared for my very soul. I turned to flee and quickly found myself tangled in a snare. I could not run away and soon they were upon me.

I am ashamed to say I wept, pleading with the Angel herself that I might be spared. I expected to be torn apart and instead, the creature freed me and sent me on my way. I knew not the words, only that he was scolding like one might a lost child! I followed my own steps back to the village and he did not stop me.

I do not know what to think. Can the Angel make me understand why the one who made vows to me can cause me such pain and a Monster be the one to show me pity?

I have prayed for long days, but the Angel gives me no answers and I can make no sense of it on my own. It is a sin, but I must see him again. I must know.

My husband sleeps like the dead at night after his many cups of juniper tonic. Once I’ve submitted to my wifely duties, I will wait for him to sleep then slip away.

Rus sank back, absently aware he was blinking too hard, his sockets dry from forgetting to blink. He was lost in recollection, recalling his own secret meetings with Edge, his gentleness as he courted Rus, and yes, he could look back on it now and know he was being wooed with passionate tenderness. So unlike Elder Smith’s crass offerings, his cruelties when he was refused. His guise of civility as he claimed all his callous actions in the name of Angel.

At Rus’s elbow was a plate of fry cakes gone cold and congealed, and he scarfed them down in quick bites, wiping his fingers guilty on his trousers to keep from leaving greasy marks on the pages. To his dismay, there was only one entry left, she’d written nothing of her meetings with the creature, offered none of what was surely their own courtship. He read on, taking in her final words.

This will be my last entry. The journal I will bring with me along with the rest of my possessions that I can carry, but it will only be as a reminder. I waited only for my grandfather to pass into the light, for how can I possibly remain here when I know the truth of what they’ve done to us?

Gaster tells me truths, he speaks them into my very mind and exposes the lies that the Elders tell us.

Gaster has shown me the truth of our people and had I enough tears to shed, it would fill a bitter sea. Once we were one, before they came. The Elders, the Humans as they are called.

They made war on us, stole our homes, our children. Used us for their own purposes and taught us of the Angel and sin, convinced us that our magic was evil and allowed our bodies to grow sickly with its disuse.

The Elders, nay, the Humans, have filled our heads with nonsense to keep us under their control. Binding us in fear of our own people.

It was the Humans who drove so many of us away, the ones they deemed a threat, and kept those that they could use. Healers and workers were useful, the others were cast out to die alone, banishing any who might have challenged them.

Only they did not die. They flourished in the wood, dressing in the color of their magic in defiance, and so instead the Humans wove a new story, a new lie for those they enslaved. They called our own people Monsters and the color of their magic was forbidden to us. That is the falsehood they tell us to this very day.

It pains me to realize this, to know my life was built upon the lies of those who would seek to bind me. Who married me off to one of their own and allowed him to visit his cruelties upon me.

I will no longer be a vessel for his seed. I feared to leave for too long, afraid to break my vows, but no longer. My life will not be bound by their lies and with my grandfather’s passing, my only family in the village is gone. I shall join my true people in the wood, join him. My one, my true husband, my k’uhah.

He teases me, tells me that while I was the one caught in his trap, it was he that was snared. Perhaps, but I am bound as sure as he and my child will be born to his own people.

My false husband has given much to me and I shall give it back to him tenfold. Gaster has been teaching me to use my magic. I am not properly skilled, I will never be as I should, my power has atrophied from years of neglect. But there is power in possession and the land that I brought into our marriage as dowry is mine yet, a gift from my own parents. It is my will that nothing will grow upon it so long as my people are subjugated by the Elders, trapped by their lies in body and mind. No matter how it is tended, how diligent it is worked, the southern fields will offer nothing to the Elders, the ground itself soured by their deeds.

I go now to be with my true husband and when our child is born, it will be into freedom.

The journal ended there, without so much as a signature. Rus sagged, staring sightlessly at those last words written by a young woman he’d never met. And, he suspected, he never could.

“what happened to her?” Rus whispered aloud.

“He came.” Rus startled as Edge spoke. He looked up to find Edge standing at the entrance to the room, his face shadowed and unreadable. He spoke flatly, as though untouched by grief. “He and the others. They came to the woods and took them from me, left their dust behind. The Dogs found me not long after and cared for me, for a time.”

Sorrow filled Rus once again, he felt as though this day were an endless cup for grief. “how long ago was that?”

Edge held up ten fingers, then two more. Twelve seasons, then, not so very long ago. He’d heard nothing of this, not a single rumor ever came of the Elders entering the woods, not even under the guise of hunting creatures. They wouldn’t want anyone to know, Rus realized, it would invite others to do the same and might give them a chance to learn the truth.

Even the misfortune she’d spoken of leaving on her family’s land was unknown. The southern fields, the same place he’d slipped into the woods to meet Edge, were known to be fallow and there were rumors, fireplace stories of a curse, whispers from around cupped hands, but nothing came close to the truth. The Elders, it seemed, held their secrets very close.

Rus flipped back to the sketch of the wedding, staring hard at the drawing. Those arrogant features, had the artist unknowingly capture the spirit of his cruelty in their work? The was something about that wintry gaze, something familiar and Rus gasped aloud as it came to him with an unpleasant jolt, “that’s elder smith!”

Edge straightened, stepping into the room and coming swiftly to kneel before Rus. His voice was dry, stony as he demanded, “You know him?”

“he…he was the one who…who…” Rus couldn’t give voice to what Smith had done. Nausea rose in him to think of Edge’s mother enduring what he escaped. He held up a hand, showing only his empty palm, and could offer nothing.

Edge’s expression darkened, understanding without words as he so often did. He began to pull Rus into an embrace, but Rus resisted, pulling away. “edge, we need to go to the village. i must take this to my brother.”

Surely the weather was clear now, the Dogs had traveled all this way. To his confusion, Edge’s expression hardened further, closing over. “No, no, no.”

For him to lapse back into their old speech took Rus aback, “what? you must understand,” Haltingly, he said in Edge’s language, “my brother needs to know the truth, they all do.”

All their lives were a lie, all of it, and Rus was chilled to the depths of his soul to know it. He needed to share that knowledge with others in the village, to know he wasn’t alone with it.

He watched in confusion as Edge lunged to his feet, pacing restlessly. His cloak was gone, hung away, and his feet were bare, the bones slapping soundlessly against the floor rugs as he paced. Long moments passed before Edge turned back to him, both hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Did you learn nothing?” Edge snarled. His words stung like a slap. “I will not take you there! The village is filled with murderers, child stealers, monsters!" He jabbed an accusing finger at the sketch, his mother standing innocently with her soon to be husband and the one who would eventually take her life. “Him! He came here, hunted them down and others! Mathon and Britta cared for me like their own for a time, then I returned here, home, alone. You would bring them back down on us!”

Rus could only shake his head helplessly, “edge, there are good people in the village.”

“murderers, all of them!” Edge spat back. His chest heaved, rising and falling with harsh breaths. It seemed to Rus they were not alone here; the room was filled with ghosts, the death of his parents haunted Edge, the unquiet dead unable to rest as they spoke from the pages of the journal.

But the Village itself did not murder them, only a cruel few, and Blue was not one of them.

“then why didn’t you kill me when you first saw me!” Rus cried.

Those ghosts loosened their grasp enough for Edge to falter, the harsh crimson shine of his eye lights dimming to shock, “I could never—you’re my soul.”

“you didn’t know that when you first saw me!”

“I did not. But the way you felt, the way you smelled,” Edge slapping his skull with a bare hand as if he could force the words to shake loose. “My soul. I could never hurt you, Rus, never.”

“but you won’t believe me! there are good people in the village, edge, our people, yours and mine! he's my brother, you have no right to keep me from him!" Rus took a deep breath and said, softly, “edge, i'm from the village. it will always be a part of me, whether or not i wish it to be so."

“No!” Edge’s voice broke, ragged and lost. “No, you are mine!”

And that was a claim that Rus could not allow, for both their sake. “yours?” he whispered, hoarsely. “would you try to own me, then? the same as he did your mother?”

“No!” His anguish ached in Rus’s very soul. Edge reached out with a trembling hand, fingers hanging empty in the air between them. “No, Rus. No.” That hand fell, leaving Rus untouched and Edge hung his head, no longer looking at him. “I cannot take you there.”

Edge turned and walked swiftly out of the room, living Rus there alone with the journal and the ghosts that came with it.

Rus stayed in their parlor that night, wrapped up in a single blanket as he stared into the darkness. He curled up miserable and alone, and what little sleep came was made restless by terrible dreams. Haunted by a young skeleton woman and her smile, her unheard voice whispering a curse down on spoiled land. Damning those who would sin in the name of their Gods.

~~*~~

tbc

#spicyhoney #papcest #keelywolfe #underfell #underswap #underfell papyrus #underswap papyrus #village au

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omegaling · 5 years

Text

The Holly and the Ivy: a Witchy Christmas AU

Written by Omegaling

Rating: T

Warnings: Mostly just for language and future bullying and harassment

Pairings: Reylo, Finnrose, possibly some Gingerpilot later

Prologue

The clatter behind her was loud and sharp, breaking the silence of the little shop like a firecracker going off in the night. Rey jumped, nearly dropping the teetering pile of teacups and their saucers she was carrying back to the kitchen. Heart hammering, Rey carefully set the delicate dishes down on the nearest table and went to investigate the source of the disturbance, wondering if she was going to like what she found.

At first glance, the main room of the tea shop was unchanged, the perfect portrait of seasonal tranquility. Snow piled in soft drifts on the windowsills and frost spread its delicate fingers across the glass panes, but the two cast iron stoves she had installed on opposite walls kept the evening’s encroaching chill at bay. The fairy lights from her Christmas tree and strung through the garlands of ivy, holly, and evergreen boughs sparkled off the multitudes of jars and bottles on the shelves and the now-empty pastry case, and the air was warmed by the lingering scent of vanilla, orange and cardamom. The tablecloths on each of the half-dozen tables were freshly laundered and ironed and crowned with a centerpiece made of pine trimmings, pine cones and small gold baubles ringing a pillar candle. The cluster of silver bells hanging from the front door’s handle were still and quiet. Everything was as it should be, and Rey was just about to let herself relax when she caught sight of something long and thin laying on the ground, its end pointed toward the front door. Rey went over to the fallen broom and picked it up, feeling a prickle of anxiety run down her spine.

Somebody’s coming, she thought with a small shiver.

She wasn’t sure why the otherwise innocuous omen unsettled her. There were certainly worse signs that could come in its place: a bird flying through the front door, for instance, or a dog howling beneath her bedroom window. She was still technically open for another hour (not that it really mattered, if she was going to be honest with herself; she had a total of three customers today, and one person whose kid needed to use the loo). She was always mindful about not sweeping her floors after dark in order to avoid any unwanted company, especially since her shop and, incidentally, her home, was the only inhabited building for half a mile in any direction. Maybe the reason was because the coming of a guest had never warranted an announcement before.

Rey’s mind whirled as she weighed her options. She could easily set up a ward to discourage anyone from coming in… or she could simply lock the door and turn the sign in the window from “open” to “closed.” Her recent string of bad fortune made her especially weary of late, and she wasn’t about to take any chances.

But…

What if her luck was finally about to take a turn for the better, and whoever was coming to visit was the one to bring it? She definitely didn’t want to dismiss them if that was the case, and it was entirely possible to be optimistic and cautious at the same time.

Rey retrieved the teacups she set down and hurried to the kitchen in the back of the shop. She set them carefully in the enamel sink, then went over to one of the cupboards lining the walls, unlocked it with the key she always kept on a leather thong around her neck and opened it up.

Unlike the bottles and jars in the shop’s main room, which were crystal clear and neatly labeled with their names, ingredients and uses among hand-drawn pictures of plants, moon phases and mischievous fae, these jars were clouded from years of use and re-use, labeled with sharpie on a single piece of masking tape. Rey sifted through them quickly, keeping an ear open for the bells on the front door just in case her visitor arrived before she was ready for them. Normally Rey kept her private stock of brews and powders in a cabinet in her bedroom - there were ingredients in some of them that she did not want to risk people getting access to - but the less than warm reception she got from the locals when she first moved in made her feel that it was perhaps a better idea to keep them downstairs, where she would be spending most of her time, for quick and easy access should she need them. Once again, following her intuition proved to be the right thing to do.

Rey finally found what she was looking for: a medium sized bottle with a long, tapering neck, filled with a gold-colored liquid and capped with a wax seal. The words “Four Thieves Vinegar” was written on the tape in Rey’s angular handwriting. When he was alive, Rey’s grandfather swore by this vinegar, and it was among the first brews he taught her after she came to live with him. He was particularly proud of his recipe, which he claimed was passed down through their family since the middle ages and protected them from every epidemic, from the bubonic plague to cholera to the Spanish flu. When it wasn’t being used to ward off deadly diseases, the vinegar could be used in banishing spells and rituals to cleanse the home of negative energies (it was especially potent when used with black salt). It also made a decent marinade and salad dressing.

But tonight, Rey was using her Four Thieves Vinegar for a different purpose. A quick sprinkle across her front door, and if her mystery visitor was an unsavory one, the magic within the vinegar would compel them to leave. It they were a friend, they wouldn’t be affected by it. It was the perfect solution to her dilemma.

Feeling more confident than she had a few moments before, Rey closed and re-locked her cabinet. She headed back to the tea shop’s main room, working the wax seal loose with her thumbnail.

She looked up, and saw a man standing in the middle of the main room.

Rey gasped. The bottle of Four Thieves Vinegar slipped from her hands and shattered into a middle shards on the hardwood floor.

#reylo #reylo fanfiction #reylo fan fic #reylo au #reylo modern au #omegaling writes

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caelum-in-the-avatarverse · 7 years

Text

Well-Seasoned

AO3 | FFdotnet

Aang and seasonings throughout the seasons of the show as the seasons pass.

Written for Aang Week 2017. Prompt - Seasons.

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Aang & the Gaang, Aang & Katara, Aang & Zuko Characters: Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Suki, Mai, Ty Lee, Iroh, The Gaang Additional Tags: Cooking, Friendship, Cultural Differences

Hey guys! Aang week is almost over, and it’s been a blast! If you’ve been enjoying my fics feel free to follow me - this is an Avatarverse blog and I do write fanfic often enough that I’d say I’m an active writer. Also feel free to check out my AO3, I’ve got more stories there, too.

“What’s that?” Aang asked, watching Katara rub the fish Sokka had caught with some sort of green powder.

“Qanik,” she said, her smile bittersweet. “It’s a seaweed - we dry it out and grind it up into powder to use as seasoning. But it’s really hard to make - you can only harvest qanik two months out of the year, and since half the tribe left to fight we haven’t been able to harvest a lot.” She flipped the fish over and started rubbing the powder on its other side. “I found a jar of it with the stuff Gran-Gran packed for us. I guess she wanted us to taste a bit of home.”

The last of the Water Tribe food packed by Gran-Gran had run out half a week ago. They still had plenty of supplies thanks to the good people of Kyoshi Island, but Aang could tell his friends were starting to realize just how far from home they were traveling. Sokka was suspicious of every unfamiliar vegetable, and Katara was taking rice cooking as a personal challenge.

Aang gave her an encouraging smile. “That was really thoughtful of her. Spices don’t go bad like other food - you can probably make it last until we get to the North Pole!”

“I hope so,” Katara said. “And I hope they have qanik, too. Or something like it.”

“What’s it taste like?” Aang asked.

“Like a gentle slap of sea on your food.” She finished with the fish and regarded the spice jar. “Would you like to try some?”

“I’d love to! I’ve tried Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation spices, don’t think I’ve had any Water Tribe kinds before.”

“I’ll add it to your rice,” Katara said, and she shot a glower at simmering the cooking pot. “I’m pretty sure I managed to not undercook it this time. Or overcook it.”

“Eighth time’s the charm,” Aang grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help - ”

“No. I’ve got this.”

Or she was getting it, at least. The rice was only a little overcooked. But the qanik made up for it.

“Guess who splurged at the market!” Sokka crowed as he and Toph came back to their camp, arms laden with supplies.

“I’m guessing you guys,” Aang said from where he was sitting very still on the ground. “I’m getting better at this earth sense thing. I actually felt you guys walking before I saw you!”

“Great job, Twinkletoes. Maybe in a few decades you’ll manage to get the drop on me!”

“Splurged?!” Katara repeated, looking up from the cooking pot to shoot them an accusing look. “Sokka, we’ve been over this - we can’t go wasting our money!”

“Relax, Sugar Queen, it’s my money,” Toph said. “I grabbed some before I left my parents’ house. Anyway, here.” She held out a small bottle filled with reddish-brown powder. “I thought your cooking could use a boost.”

“If we were in the South Pole my cooking would be perfect,” Katara huffed.

“Aw, I think you’ve been doing great cooking on the road,” Aang said, getting up and stepping toward Toph.

“I like your cooking,” Sokka said.

“You’ll eat anything,” Katara shot back.

Aang took the bottle Toph was still holding out. “Hey, this is five-spice!”

“What’s five-spice?” Sokka asked.

Toph’s eyes widened. “Seriously? You guys have trekked across the Earth Kingdom twice and you don’t know what five-spice is?”

“Most of that time was spent avoiding fireballs!”

“I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume it’s a blend of five spices,” Katara said.

“Brilliant deduction, Sweetness.”

“Star anise, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and fennel seeds,” Aang said absently, turning the bottle over in his hands. “It’s good.”

“I figured dinner could use some more flavors.”

Katara took the bottle from Aang’s hand, opened it, and took a sniff. Her eyes lit up. “Oh! I think we’ve had this before in some villages, I just never thought to ask what it was. It’s good!”

“Glad you agree with me,” Toph said with a wave of her hand. “Can you add it to tonight’s dinner? I’m blind, I’d like to enjoy my other senses as much as I can.”

“Aang,” Zuko said, “you do know what that is, right?”

“Sure I do,” Aang grinned. “It’s a seven-pot pepper.”

“And do you know what that is?”

“The hottest pepper in the world.”

“And what are you planning to do with it?”

Aang grinned. “Eat it!”

Zuko was starting to severely regret bringing them all to the Ember Island house. He’d completely forgotten about his mother’s prized pepper garden, which was apparently still growing taste bud-murdering fruit after six years of abandonment. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

“Sure I’m sure! Kuzon, Bumi, and I challenged each other to eat one of these once. We wound up crying on the floor while Monk Gyatso nearly passed out laughing. It was great.”

“...Okay then. So long as you know what you’re getting into.” He looked from Aang to Sokka. “Do you know what you’re getting into?”

“I’ve been eating your spicy food since we hijacked a Fire Navy ship,” Sokka said, turning the pepper in his fingers by the stem. “I’m prepared for this!”

Zuko looked to Katara, Toph, Suki, and the peppers they held. “Are you guys sure you want to do this?”

“You only live once,” Toph said, sniffing the pepper in her hand.

“C’mon, Zuko,” Suki grinned, holding out another pepper. “It’s a team-building exercise!”

“You can’t come up with any better team-building exercises?”

“Our original team-building exercises involved whooping your butt,” Katara pointed out.

“Apparently they still do,” Zuko muttered, taking the pepper from Suki. He took a moment to contemplate it, and recalled fond memories of his mother and cousin cry-laughing on the ground as they’d eaten these things while a horrified Ozai watched. “Why do all team-building exercises have to hurt?”

“Okay guys!” Aang said. “We’ve got jugs of water for when we need them! Let’s do it!”

They all bit into their peppers.

“MY MOUTH IS ON FIRE!” Suki shrieked.

“THIS IS TERRIBLE! I THINK I LOVE IT!” Toph shouted.

“WHY DID I DO THIS WHY WHY WHY??”

“WATER! WHERE’S THE WATER?!”

By the end they were all laid out in the courtyard, watched by a worried Appa and Momo, who were very confused as to why their humans had gone and bit into what obviously smelled like torture.

“Katara,” Sokka moaned, “Katara my tongue needs healing.”

“M’healin’ m’own tongue firs’!”

Aang was curled into the fetal position beside Zuko, giggling through his tears. “Ohhhhhhh that was just as bad as I remembered it.”

“Why did my mother grow this monster?” Zuko panted, staring up at the clouds. The cool air on his tongue helped a bit.

“Because she had good taste?”

“I’m starting to think she had no sense of taste.”

Aang laughed. “C’mon Zuko, it’s the hottest pepper in the world! Of course she’d want it in her garden!”

Zuko slowly blinked up at the sky and turned to look at Aang. “The seven-pot pepper isn’t the hottest pepper in the world.”

“Yeah it is! It’s the - it’s - it’s been a hundred years, oh, don’t tell me…”

Zuko managed to twist his tortured mouth into a grin. “A while back, Komodo Island bred a new strain of pepper. They call it the Komodo Dragon.”

“Oh, spirits,” Aang said, and he pushed himself up from the ground and peered towards the path that led back towards the pepper garden. “Did your mom plant that one too?”

One autumn evening, shortly after arriving back in Ba Sing Se after a sojourn to the Eastern Air Temple, Aang insisted on overseeing dinner. One of the packs on Appa’s saddle was bulging with odd vegetables and plump fruits that Aang handled with a bittersweet smile. Sokka resigned himself to a meal without meat, but the promise of a traditional Air Nomad fruit pie, baked to Monk Gyatso’s exacting standards and not meant to be thrown at anybody, more than made up for it.

“I want to try and find more sky bison,” Aang said as he took over the Jasmine Dragon’s kitchen. “Next time I have time to go off to the mountains, I’m gonna go looking.”

“You really think you’ll find some?” Katara asked, laying out cooking utensils. Beside her, Mai was eyeing Iroh’s kitchen knives judgmentally.

“I’m sure there’s more out there. There were always wild herds,” Aang said. “And just because people say something’s extinct, it doesn’t mean it is.” He shot a pointed look at Zuko, who answered with a wry smile, and Iroh, who smirked into his teacup. “Anyway,” he said, turning back to the onion-like plant in his hand. “Jimbu always tastes better when you fry it in ghee.”

“What’s ghee?” Toph asked. She was sitting beside Iroh, teacup in hand.

“A special kind of butter. We made it from bison milk.”

“Aang, why is there a rock in with all the food?” Suki asked from where she and Ty Lee were sorting out the contents of the saddlebag.

“A rock?” Toph repeated. “What kind of rock?”

“It’s pink!” Ty Lee grinned. “It’s so pretty! I love it!”

“Rose quartz?” Toph surmised. “Twinkletoes, I know you said you need to feel the earth, that doesn’t mean you need to eat it!”

Aang laughed. “It’s not quartz, it’s salt,” he said, taking the rock from Suki. A bit of earthbending and part of it crumbled into tiny pieces in his hand. He handed the rest over to Toph.

“Salt?” Katara asked. She and Sokka were frowning at the rock in Toph’s hands.

So was Zuko. “That doesn’t look like salt.”

Aang laughed. “Not everyone gets their salt from the sea, guys! We used to mine it out of the mountains.”

“Pink salt!” Ty Lee looked absolutely delighted.

“We’ve got salt mines in the Earth Kingdom,” Toph said, turning the rock over in her hands before handing it back to Aang. “I’ve never been too clear on colors, but from what I understand it’s not usually pink. Anything special about pink salt, Twinkletoes?”

Aang shrugged. “I don’t think so. It’s just...pink.”

“Being pink is enough to make anything special,” Ty Lee said.

“You’re special enough,” Mai muttered, and Ty Lee beamed.

“It’s special to Aang,” Katara said, and she looked at the pile of jimbu sitting on the counter. “So do we cut this or is there some other way to prepare it?”

“We used to dry it to use all year round,” Aang said. “But you can use it fresh, too. Let’s save the leaves and chop up the rest. We can dry the leaves out and fry them in butter later. It won’t be ghee, but it’ll still be good.”

“Doesn’t sound hard,” Katara said, handing Aang a knife.

“No harder than rice,” Aang grinned.

#aang week #avatar fanfiction #atla fanfic #my creations

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fatfemme97-blog · 5 years

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Making Homemade Christmas

Giving homemade gifts is a good way to save money during the holiday season because you can give a special and elegant homemade gift for a fraction of what you would have paid retail for a similar item. If you think that you don't have the talent or are not "crafty" enough, read on and you will see that it is possible for you (yes, even you!) to create your own homemade Christmas gifts

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Homemade food gifts

Some of the best gifts are homemade food gifts! Everyone likes food, so get your appetite ready and whip up something delicious to delight your friends and family!

* Colorful Holiday snack mix: In a large bowl combine red and green M&Ms, raisins, butterscotch chips, mini twist pretzels, Golden Grahams cereal, and dry roasted peanuts. Mix thoroughchrily and put into clear jars. Cover the tops of the jars with pretty fabric and secure by tying a ribbon around the top. This is a Christmas gift idea that is especially well-suited for the kids' teachers and casual acquaintances.

* Nut bark: Making homemade nut bark is easy and makes an impressive gift. Use one kind of nut, or a mixture. Mix 12 ounces of semi-sweet or white chocolate and spread it evenly on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with 2 1/2 cup of nuts and chill until firm. Break into pieces.

* Biscotti: Biscotti is hard Italian cookie. When you make your own biscotti, you will have a delightfully elegant gift that is sure to impress even the gourmet on your list. It is also a very crisp cookie which makes it stay fresh much longer than softer varieties, so you are not rushing around as much at the last minute. Put them in a pretty jar tied with a ribbon, or in a tin or include in a homemade gift basket.

* Infused Vodka All you need to make your own fancy infused vodka is: a bottle of vodka; glass bottles with tight seals; and flavorings such as halved and seeded jalapenos, vanilla beans, or cherries. Divide the vodka and flavorings between the bottles and refrigerate 3 to 7 days. Remove the flavorings and keep refrigerated for up to two months.

* Candied Nuts This sweet treat is easy to make, but so impressive looking that no one but you will know how easy they are! Toast 2 cups of mixed nuts on a cookie sheet in a 400 degree oven for 6 - 8 minutes until fragrant - do not burn! In a skillet mix 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt and 2 Tbsp. water. Simmer this mixture and occasionally swirl the pan until the liquid is amber colored - about 12 to 15 minutes (do not stir the mixture - this will cause it to crystallize).

Stir in the nuts and spread them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper - let cool.

* Stuffed Fruits Delicious as candy and full of all the good nutrients of fruit and nuts AND it is quick and easy to make! Stuff dried seedless prunes with walnut halves and seeded dates with whole almonds. Arrange on a plate or in a pretty tin lined with waxed paper.

* Cocoa Mix: Cocoa mix is a homemade food gift that is a welcome treat for kids and adults of all ages! Create a homemade gift basket with cocoa mix and a pretty mug, or simply tie a festive ribbon around the container.

Packaging tips for homemade food gifts:

* Over-sized coffee mugs make good reusable containers for food gifts. Fill to a bit overflowing and place the filled cup on the center of a large piece of colored cellophane, gather the ends at the top and secure with a ribbon.

* Baskets are always a favorite, and can be decorated with paint or lined with a pretty napkin - paper or cloth.

* Pick up orphan plates and platters at yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, or store bargain bins to use for giving cookies and cakes. Cover them with plastic wrap, foil, or cellophane.

* Save empty potato chip cans (such as Pringles and Stax). Wash insides and let them dry thoroughly. Use decorative contact paper or glue on gift-wrapping paper to cover the outside of the can and stack cookies or fill with spiced nuts or candies; seal and top with a fancy bow.

More homemade Christmas gifts

Teacup Candles: * If you have (or can find) mismatched or odd teacups (or small cream pitchers or sugar bowls), you can make easy homemade candles tailored to your recipients tastes and decor. Flea markets, garage sales or your grandma's cupboards are great places to look for odd but pretty teacups.

* Decoupage Trinket Box You can buy inexpensive boxes made of lightweight wood or heavy cardboard and easily transform them into attractive trinket boxes. This is an excellent Christmas gift idea for kids who want to make their own homemade Christmas gifts. The boxes can be covered with fabric or decorated with stickers, cut outs from magazines or photographs and covered with Mod Podge (available at craft stores).

* Tile Trivets Find some beautiful tiles at your local home-improvement store. Look for clearance-priced tiles (left overs that are not enough for a large job) and you can get them at a greatly reduced price. Attach a layer of felt to the back of each tile (at least 6 by 6 works best) to create a useful trivet and a lovely homemade gift!

* Cork Trivet If you have a bunch of corks that you have saved from wine bottles, you can make a cork trivet. If not, you might be able to get some from a bar.

1. Find a picture frame that's large enough for your project. You can use a frame you have or get an inexpensive wooden one at the dollar store or a yard sale. It needs to be as deep as the corks are wide so they will fit inside it.

2. Remove the glass and any wire or brackets from the frame.

3. Put a piece of heavy cardboard on the back of the frame and glue it into place.

4. Arrange corks inside the frame - move them around until you come up with an interesting design that you like. You can put a champagne cork upright for a different look (you will probably have to cut some off of the bottom of it so it won't be too tall.)

5. Once you are happy with your design, glue the corks in place using the hot glue gun.

* Herbs in a Cup Buy vintage floral pattern teacups at secondhand stores and plant chives, oregano, rosemary, or basil in them. Decorate with a bit of ribbon and a card describing how to care for the plant.

Homemade gift baskets

* Favorite recipe: For someone who is a particular fan of one of your recipes (or a dish served at a local restaurant) - print the recipe, purchase all the ingredients, and package it all together in a basket. Include a wooden spoon or nice new dish towel for an added touch.

* Movie time: For the movie lover, create a basket with a coupon for movie rentals or a movie or two on DVD. Add either homemade pre-popped and seasoned popcorn, a package of microwave popcorn, or other crunchy movie-time snack. For additional items, think of things you would want when watching a movie at home - drink coasters? a bottle of gourmet root beer or other beverage? Be creative!

* Car care bucket: Buy a plastic bucket and fill with chamois, car wax and car soap. If you want to add something more, what about a car accessory such as a CD case, steering wheel cover, or cup holder?

* Beauty Gift Basket Use a cosmetic organizer or a basket to create a beauty-themed gift basket for the teenage girls on your gift list. Include any type of makeup, nail or hair care products, and/or

lotions. Add cotton balls, q-tips, emery boards, tweezers, and a beauty book or issue of a magazine related to beauty or hair care.

* Cocktails Gift Bucket Use an ice bucket as a unique vessel for this gift. Fill it with the recipient's favorite spirits and mixers. Ideas for additional items include: coasters, fun cocktail napkins,

#christmas #xmas #christmas 2019 #christmas gifts #christmas homemade #christmas trees #chritsmas decoration

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biofunmy · 5 years

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Gear to Make Room in a Tiny Kitchen

Having lived in small apartments with kitchens measuring roughly 90 square feet or less for my entire adult life, I know how challenging the lack of work and storage space can be when you’re cooking.

I professionally test kitchen equipment for Wirecutter, the New York Times company that reviews products, and the more gear I acquire, the more my kitchen starts looking like a scene from “Hoarders” (much to the dismay of my very patient husband). I’ve had to find creative ways to store tools, equipment, and food.

It sounds counterintuitive to buy more stuff when your kitchen is small, but a handful of inexpensive items have helped me take full advantage of my limited space and bring order to what would otherwise be a chaotic kitchen. I’ve tested dozens, and here’s what’s best for under $40.

Magnetic fridge storage rack

My fridge is a hodgepodge of kooky magnets, pictures, and to-do lists, but it also provides ample vertical storage on the side. I was giddy with excitement when I first brought home the Yamazaki Magnetic Kitchen Organization Rack because of how well it makes use of the unused space on the side of my fridge.

Unlike a standing paper towel holder, it doesn’t hog precious counter space. The magnets are surprisingly strong and don’t slip, even when I tear off a paper towel or when the shelf is filled to capacity (which it always is). The little shelf is perfect for storing olive oil, a pepper mill, and a jar of salt — items I use daily. The hooks on the bottom of the rack are perfect for hanging small tools like vegetable peelers or pastry brushes.

Lazy Susan

Lazy Susans, or rotating trays, take advantage of unused space in deep cupboards or corner nooks on a counter. Wirecutter’s pick is the OXO Good Grips Turntable, which comes in 10.5- and 16-inch-diameter sizes and has grips on the bottom to keep it from sliding around.

I use the smaller size for storing oils and vinegars. To ensure everything stays visible and easy to reach, I arrange the taller bottles in the center of the lazy Susan and shorter bottles around the perimeter. Placing the larger lazy Susan in my fridge was a game changer — the turntable makes it so much easier to locate everything I need. It even helps cut down on food waste because leftovers can’t get pushed to the back of the fridge and neglected.

Cup hooks

Cup hooks, which can screw into any cabinet, are great for hanging mugs or teacups, but I find they’re most useful for holding kitchen tools that would otherwise end up in a bulky crock on the counter or in a cluttered drawer. Installed below an upper cabinet, the hooks keep tools out of the way yet still easy to reach.

Wirecutter recommends the 1-inch BronaGrand Nickel Plated Metal Screw-in Cup Hooks, but you can find a variety of sizes at your local hardware store. Although they require no special equipment to install, it’s helpful to use a small nail and a hammer, or a drill, to start the hole, and pliers to twist the hook into place.

Magnetic knife strip

Like most small kitchens, mine lacks sufficient counter space, so I prefer using magnetic strips for storing knives in lieu of large, counter-hogging knife blocks. The best magnetic strip I’ve tested is the Benchcrafted Mag-Blok, which is made of impressively strong magnets covered in a handsome wood exterior (available in maple, walnut, cherry, white oak, or sycamore).

The wood is gentle on knife blades, so they’re less likely to dull or dent. I’ve also mounted a magnetic strip vertically inside a cupboard door for holding small tools like scissors or corkscrews, which helps declutter my drawers.

[Like what you’re reading? Sign up here for the Smarter Living newsletter to get stories like this (and much more!) delivered straight to your inbox every Monday morning.]

Food storage containers

Food storage containers always seem to eat up cabinet space, so finding some that nest well with lids that stay tidy can make a big difference. I prefer using oven-safe glass containers to store food because they can perform double duty and serve as baking dishes.

After testing several for Wirecutter, my favorite is the Pyrex 18-Piece Simply Store Food Storage Set. The colorful lids are easy to match to the corresponding container, which saves me from frantically digging through a pile of seemingly identical lids in my cupboard. The Pyrex containers are impressively durable too — in my tests, they survived several counter-height drops onto a hardwood floor without breaking. They’re also microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe.

Basic principles for small kitchen organization

When you’re shopping for kitchen-organization items, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of available options. Before you run out and buy a slew of things, review these basic principles so you can have a clear sense of what you’re trying to achieve in your kitchen.

Keep everyday items nearby: The more you use something, the more conveniently you should store it. Appliances I use daily, such as my coffee grinder and coffee maker, get prime real estate on my counter. Items I use less often, such as pie plates, cake pans, and roasting pans, get stowed out of the way in bins above my cupboards.

Purge and consolidate: Go through your cupboards and throw out any expired dry goods, spices, or mysterious food lurking in the back of your fridge (admittedly, I don’t do this nearly as often as I should). To maximize space, don’t store anything unrelated to cooking, like medicine or tools, in the kitchen. Items I frequently use in tandem — such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, and mixing bowls — get stored together. To cut down on excess equipment, I try to use a single item for multiple purposes; my large vintage Pyrex mixing bowl, for instance, doubles as a serving bowl for salad or pasta.

Take advantage of vertical space: Hang as many items as you can on the wall to free up cluttered cupboards and drawers. I arrange the most frequently used pots and pans lower, where I can reach them. Some of my cookbooks live on top of my fridge, and I increase cupboard space by using shelf risers and over-the-door baskets.

Whether your kitchen lacks sufficient wall space or is short on drawer or cupboard space, check out our full guide to small-kitchen ideas, where you can find more space-saving tips and product recommendations.

What to Buy is a new series in collaboration with Wirecutter, the New York Times Company that reviews products. Want buying advice from the experts, or need help picking out the right thing for the right job? Email Smarter Living editor Alan Henry, at [email protected], and we’ll look into it for you!

A version of this article appears at Wirecutter.com.

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medzluigi-blog · 7 years

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DIY Business and Selling Homemade Items

Do you know what’s great about DIY projects? Everything. When you make items yourself, you can choose projects that suit your tastes, create them in your choice of colours/textures, and then use them to your heart’s content.

Whether you’re aiming for efficiency, decoration, fun, or self-sufficiency, there’s a awesome DIY project just waiting for you. Here are just a few that you might like to try out:

1. Bird Feeder A circular mold, wide ribbon, some birdseed, and some melted suet are all you need to help feed our feathery friends over the winter months.

Bundt Bird Feeder

2. Upside-Down Tomato Planter Just save your plastic soda bottles, cut the bottoms off, ease in a tomato plant seedling, and pour in some earth. Then hang it up, water it regularly, and watch your tomatoes grow! This also works well for herbs and peppers.)

Upside Down Planter

3. Yogurt Cheese Place a few layers of cheesecloth in a colander, pour in plain yogurt, and let it drain overnight: you’ll have a creamy cheese when you wake up the next day.

Yogurt Cheese

4. Yarn-Wrapped Painted Jars Wrap some yarn or twine around a jar, paint it, and peel the yarn away once it’s dry: you’ll be left with a gorgeous luminary for tea lights or candles.

Yarn-Wrapped Jars

5. Baked Salt Dough Tags Perfect for Valentine’s gifts, baby/bridal showers, or any other occasion.

Salt Dough Tags

6. Leafy Stepping-Stones It’s easy to make beautiful stepping-stones for your garden with large leaves (like rhubarb), cement, and a trowel.

Stepping Stones

7. Shoe Holder Planter, via GreenUpgrader Use an old over-the-door shoe holder to grow all kinds of plants. This is great for growing herbs outside your kitchen, or on a balcony wall.

Shoe Holder Planter

8. Tea or Coffee Cup with a Message Grab a teacup and a Sharpie marker, write a message on the inside bottom of a cup (or on the side of it), and bake for 30 min at 350 F to make the writing permanent. Great for bridal party gifts!

Sharpie Tea Cups

9. Pebble Placemat Use a hot glue gun to glue flat beach pebbles to circles of felt or wood. These placemats are perfect to use beneath teapots and warm serving bowls, and they look great at garden parties.

Pebble Placemat

10. Needle-Felted Toys Use a barbed needle and some wool roving to make Waldorf-style toys for kids of all ages.

Felted Gnome

11. Water-less Snow Globe, via Salt Tree Grab an empty jar, a dollhouse miniature, some glue, and fake snow, and you’ll have a water-free snow globe decoration.

Waterless Snow Globe

12. Hanging Garden Basket A wire basket, some moss, and some seedlings are all that’s needed to create a gorgeous hanging basket of edibles. Try a mix of lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, or even strawberries!

Hanging Lettuce Basket

13. Reusable “Swiffer” Pads If you know the basics of knitting or crocheting, you can create your own reusable pad covers for your sweeper.

DIY Swiffer Cover

14. Lip Balm Make your own amazing lip balms with carnauba or bee’s wax, a carrier oil (olive, almond, etc.) and your favourite scent/flavour.

Lip Balms

15. Floor Stencils Instead of throw rugs, consider dressing up old wooden or concrete floors with painted stencil designs.

Stencilled Floor

16. Laundry Detergent Just in case you run out of laundry soap (or want to make a cost-effective detergent in the scent you like best), make your own with a few household ingredients.

Laundry Detergent

17. Cake Stands Use industrial-strength adhesive to glue thrift shop glassware together to make cake stands and pedestal bowls.

Cake Stand

18. Nail Polish Key Identification Use different colours of nail polish on your keys so you can easily tell them apart. Just remember which colour you used for each door…

Nailpolish Keys

19. Cassette Tape Wallet You might have never played a cassette tape, but chances are you’ve seen them lying around. Transform one into a wallet for a bit of retro fabulousness.

Cassette Wallet

20. Painted Garden Stones Keep track of what you’ve planted where by painting large stones for your garden.

Painted Garden Stones

21. Wood-Burning Camp Stove All you need is a large tin can, a few metal tent pegs/stakes, and a drill to make this camp stove.

Camp Stove

22. “Fairy” Garden Great for small spaces or as a project with your kids: grab an old bucket, drawer, or bowl, add some earth and small plants. Then tuck in some miniatures, and you have a tiny, perfect garden.

Fairy Garden

23. String Lanterns It’s amazing how easy it is to make these elegant string-globe lanterns! All you need is twine, corn starch, glue, balloons, and spray paint. Easy peasy.

DIY String Lanterns

RECOMMEND FOR YOU What Not To Do Anymore When You Turn 24 46.9K SHARES 24. Suitcase Dog Bed A vintage suitcase transforms into a dog bed with a little TLC and some fluffy pillows.

Suitcase Dog Bed

25. Jar Garden Mini Terrarium Fill empty jars with pebbles, soil, moss, and small plants for mini gardens you can place around your home. Feel free to add in some miniatures for extra impact!

Jar Garden

26. Wallpaper Dresser Furniture gets an updated look with a fresh coat of paint and some strips of wallpaper in complementary hues.

Wallpaper Dresser

27. Clothes Hanger Jewellery Storage Add a few eyelet screws to a wooden coat hanger and voila: instant jewellery organization.

Jewellery Hanger

28. Bath Salts Epsom salts or coarse sea salt is mixed with your favourite essential oils and a few drops of food colouring to make luxurious bath treats.

Bath Salts

29. Paint Swatch Wall Can’t decide what colour to paint your wall? Why not choose “all of them”? This decor was created from free paint colour swatches (available at any home reno store), pinned to the wall with straight pins.

Paint Swatch Wall

30. Recycled Leather and Wood Shelves We could all do with more storage space, and you can create some pretty fabulous shelves with some recycled wood, a couple of thrift shop belts, and a few nails.

Wood and Leather Shelves

Hopefully some of these will inspire some creativity at your end, and if you find yourself in a hardcore DIY headspace, a great place to find more projects is on Pinterest: either do a search for your craft of choice, or just type DIY into the search field to see what piques your interest.

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