Stalag to Stalag
Jan. 4th, 2026 05:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soemandThis excerpt is from my grandfather’s diary on the forced march he was on from stalag VIIIA and the day he refound freedom. The “A” is the Americans, and a few months later he was in his hometown getting married, returning to civilian life.
My understanding is he never spoke about his service, and the diary was found after his widowmaker heart attack in early 1970. The diary is terse, but has enough details to map out his path from Stalag ViiiA to Zegenhain—a good winter project.
April 3–Announced at 10:00 by one of the 7 who stopped some people the A had passed us started marching & met A. Marched to town arrived at 12.
…
spent all day eating and smoking, boy it feels great to be free. Drove to Zegenhaim and lodged in a house, room with two J. A. Now they are playing the guitar and violin great had coffee. It is now 22:00 hr. and we have a bottle of whisky on the table boy oh boy.
Apr 6 Still in commandered house living like a king. Plenty of food, cigs, etc.
My understanding is he never spoke about his service, and the diary was found after his widowmaker heart attack in early 1970. The diary is terse, but has enough details to map out his path from Stalag ViiiA to Zegenhain—a good winter project.
Wolf Moon, Jan 2026
Jan. 4th, 2026 04:57 amcryphiusLast night's full moon ritual to Hecate was a test run. It went pretty well.
There were two things bringing it down.
One, I had some minor tummy issues. Nothing major, but enough that at times it pulled me out of a meditative mood.
Two, the incense I bought on Etsy for the occasion turned out to be less in quality than I expected. Not that it was horrible, but I could have bought something on Amazon just as well for less money.
All in all though it was a good ritual. I enjoyed it and believe I was successful in sending out the energies I desired for manifestation.
But I had the luxury of the Full Moon falling on a weekend night when I had time to prepare in a leisurely manner. When the full moon falls on a busy weekday night, I am not sure how much time or energy I'll have for it.
There were two things bringing it down.
One, I had some minor tummy issues. Nothing major, but enough that at times it pulled me out of a meditative mood.
Two, the incense I bought on Etsy for the occasion turned out to be less in quality than I expected. Not that it was horrible, but I could have bought something on Amazon just as well for less money.
All in all though it was a good ritual. I enjoyed it and believe I was successful in sending out the energies I desired for manifestation.
But I had the luxury of the Full Moon falling on a weekend night when I had time to prepare in a leisurely manner. When the full moon falls on a busy weekday night, I am not sure how much time or energy I'll have for it.
D.O.P.-T.
Jan. 3rd, 2026 09:28 pmweofodthignenToday the compost got fed two well-bitten fallen oranges and two fallen camellia flowers. And I had to sweep in front of the house again because the neighbours' gardeners blew their leaves there.
That chaise longue seems to have been taken away. Perfectly good piece of furniture, before it got rained on and covered in leaves.
That chaise longue seems to have been taken away. Perfectly good piece of furniture, before it got rained on and covered in leaves.
On Hiatus
Jan. 3rd, 2026 10:27 pmecosophia
Things are piling up very quickly for me and so I've decided to go on hiatus here and on my blog for the rest of January. I expect to be posting again by February 1. I'll log on semiregularly to put through comments, so the Frugal First Friday and Covid Open Posts can continue as before. have a good month, and I'll be back in due time! 
The Professor!
Jan. 3rd, 2026 05:52 pmshireboundHappy birthday, sir. Your memory and inspiration go ever on and on.
"Courage is found in unlikely places. Be of good hope!"
Gildor, The Fellowship of the Ring
"Courage is found in unlikely places. Be of good hope!"
Gildor, The Fellowship of the Ring
Snowflake Challenge #2
Jan. 3rd, 2026 02:27 pmbleodswean
PETS OF FANDOM
Interestingly enough, I have no pets in my fanfics. There IS a pet in my personal myth - Cerberus, the three-headed dog. And I have only ever mentioned him once. In an older Persephone / Hades modern dress fic here - Imprint the Stars to Remember the Sky
Sail Measurements
Jan. 3rd, 2026 02:34 pmsoemandWhile this looks pretty, it also provides performance information on the sail—you can measure the camber of the sail, its draft location using a cellphone based app to see if your in the zone for the sail. In this case, I was a bit off, with the top tells already starting to stall.
I also use this for measuring the aging of the sail, to know when they'd make better bags than boat propulsion equipment.
I also use this for measuring the aging of the sail, to know when they'd make better bags than boat propulsion equipment.
Fancake Theme for January: Crack Treated Seriously
Jan. 3rd, 2026 09:14 amrunpunkrun posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandomcalendar
fancake is a thematic recommendation community where all members are welcome to post recs, and fanworks of all shapes and sizes are accepted. Check out the community guidelines for the full set of rules. This theme runs for the entire month. If you have any questions, just ask!
La neige
Jan. 3rd, 2026 08:06 amsoemandWe met up with two other families yesterday, just as fresh snow transformed the yard into a winter playground. Five kids raced, rolled, and laughed their way through the drifts. Our little one, the youngest of the bunch, kept up with all the excitement, but by the end, exhaustion settled in. A joyful, snow‑filled afternoon.
D.O.P.-T.
Jan. 2nd, 2026 09:34 pmweofodthignenNo rain today until evening; I should have mowed the front meadow, but I did do some sweeping up of leaves (after the wind came up and shifted at least half of them for me). It was dry enough that Monty came out to watch me, and accepted food.
Apparently the storm a week ago was bad enough to do serious damage at the observatory on Mount Hamilton, above San Jose. I had no idea.
Apparently the storm a week ago was bad enough to do serious damage at the observatory on Mount Hamilton, above San Jose. I had no idea.