#64.8, Thursday, January 16, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland           There is a lot I don’t know about where I am.          Apparently, after the raids on northern river towns of Gaul, all that is left of the villages I once knew are these captives. Since the thralls here speak familiar languages and these masters do not, I takeContinue reading “#64.8, Thursday, January 16, 2025”

#64.7, Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland          Apparently, Marian’s value as a slave has soared by her ability in bread baking, and a woman here, among the masters is willing to battle for her.          “Marian,” I speak to her in our language, “If you want to be the cook in this woman’s house, tell herContinue reading “#64.7, Wednesday, January 15, 2025”

#64.6, Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland          The hollowed horns of cow are passed around among those seated at the board filled with a beverage. Shaped, as they are, the horns can’t be set down on the board while filled, so they are guzzled then passed along to the next and all around the table, untilContinue reading “#64.6, Tuesday, January 14, 2025”

#64.5, Thursday, January 9, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland          This place is not Christian and the feast we are preparing will be celebrating the solstice. The moose that fell into the pit provides plenty of meat. The moose is roasting over the embers of a huge central bonfire with breads rising on every hearth in the cluster ofContinue reading “#64.5, Thursday, January 9, 2025”

#64.4, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland Mostly I’ve been hauling and stacking logs for the feast. Day’s end, I return to the house of the smiðr with a load of thick hardwood for a hot fire and having seen the shipyard I can understand a purpose in this man’s work.          I ask the child thrall,Continue reading “#64.4, Wednesday, January 8, 2025”

#64.3, Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland  Straying from collecting of firewood, I’ve wandered into a shipyard just north of the houses. No one is here. I suppose there are more of these artists working inside these houses.  And now I find plenty of wood stacked on the scrap piles maybe set aside for the burn, soContinue reading “#64.3, Tuesday, January 7, 2025”

#64.2, Thursday, January 2, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland Dear God, All day I did the rote collecting of wood, walking, mindless work, releasing the bonds of earth in repetitious devotion. Thank you.          I’ve been stacking logs at the hearth in this little house of the wood carver intensely devoted to his work. Now my task is toContinue reading “#64.2, Thursday, January 2, 2025”

#64.1, Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Historical Setting: 789 C.E. Jutland          The mystery that pricks my imagination just now is the work of the smiðr. I watch him work for a few minutes here, thinking of purpose for his art and I see how this is so much like the work of Celtic monks illuminating the sacred Christian texts.         Continue reading “#64.1, Wednesday, January 1, 2025”

#63.13, Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Historical Setting: 792 C.E.          I ask Marian the question that has been most on my mind, “In the Christian way of counting, what is this year?”          Marian tells me she thinks it may be 792 at least for the measure of time in Gaul after the start of time. So, with my strangeContinue reading “#63.13, Tuesday, December 31, 2024”

#63.12, Thurs., Dec. 26, 2024

Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land           I’m hearing from this girl Marian how life is done in this place. Small as she is, she isn’t able to provide bathwater. And she believes bathing is necessary. The human smell of this place affirms that. So, I can make myself worthy of myContinue reading “#63.12, Thurs., Dec. 26, 2024”