Beneath the Surface

Saturday was Midsummer, which we had at a local park--it's a nice site, we held blot in a pavilion overlooking Lake Superior :). It was nice although we had fewer people than we usually have (since several kindred members have moved recently--we hope to see them all in August though (asmodean1979 I'm talking to you! :)). Afterwards the usual eating and kubb-playing and little girls trying to get grown-ups to take them down to the beach. Dan took me home early because I wasn't feeling well (had my period) but I was there for most of it and had a good time.

And Sunday was the Season 2 premiere of The Venture Brothers so we had people over, watched some of the Season 1 eps on DVD and then watched the premiere when it came on. I had been a little worried that Season 2 wouldn't capture the same qualities as Season 1 (it's been a long time coming) but no worries there, it was excellent!

Now I just want to read comic books :).

Elder daughter is visiting a friend, Dan and younger daughter are in town, I'm home feeling like crap because ( of female stuff, cut for TMI so no complaining. ) I need to do a bit of work on Midsummer but I'm very nearly done. And we're having it at the beach, so I don't even have to clean house. Hell, I'm not even cooking--I'm going to stop at the grocery store on the way to get grillables and etcetera. :)

Our Midsummer was yesterday, a bit late but as still as summery as we seem likely to get this year (it seems to be a cool one overall). We went to a local park, planning to have the whole day out on the beach, but it was a bit chilly there with the wind by the lake, so we decided to stay in the park itself (definitely something to keep in mind for future years regardless of the weather!).

The beach is artificial, and getting anywhere involves walking through stamp sand--and stamp sand is rather larger than normal sand, and such a joy to have in your shoes! Slow going when you're trying to take a five-year-old through it and back up the hill to the park to use the restroom, so it was nice not to have to do that.

The cooler weather did keep folks away, and there was no one on the beach when we went down to do the blot (not that anyone could have heard us over the wind), which was simple--one horn to Sunna, one to all the gods, during which we went in turn to hail them. At the end Dan remembered Aegir, and possibly it's a bit odd to think of Aegir when you are next to a lake, but then again it is Lake Superior. (He is more interested in Aegir's brewing aspect in any case. :))

And we sat around a fire, ate and talked, for many hours. We had a small sumbel later in the evening, nothing even remotely formal. Stayed until after dark, which made cleaning up interesting. :(

And we finished the evening by heading out to the bar for an hour or so of dancing before they closed, which we are almost never able to do, and it was fun.

Hail to Thor, strong-armed wielder of Mjollnir,
whose might is well-known to friend and to foe,
who guards the lands of gods and men alike.
Great Thor, mightiest of all the Aesir;
friend Thor, who we turn to in time of need;
Thor, who joys in feasting and fellowship!
Thor we honor! Thor we praise! Hail to Thor!

Hail to Sif, golden-haired bride of red Thor,
whose beauty and goodness are known to all,
whose touch brings life to our cold northern lands.
Fair Sif, whose tales are yet unknown to us;
gentle Sif, provider of fruitfulness;
Sif, who holds the heart of red-bearded Thor!
Sif we honor! Sif we praise! Hail to Sif!


We decided that this year we would have each of us prepare something in honor of those gods we are particularly fond of. I'm looking forward to seeing what the other folks have come up with!