Lisa's World

The History of Wales

The Celtic festival of Mabon - The autumnal equinox.

The Celtic festival of Mabon - The autumnal equinox.
The autumnal equinox is the time when the day and night are of equal length. This solar event was of great importance to the Celts who used the sky as both clock and calendar and as such, was seen as a turning point when it was time to give thanks for the fruits of the earth and get prepared for the colder months to follow.

The 'Harvest Moon' and "Hunter's Moon, are also associated with the autumnal equinox.   The former is the full moon closest to the equinox and the later the one following it. 

The Celts do not seem to have had a specific name for this time of year, but it has become widely known recently as Mabon, named after the character from the mabinogian, Mabon ap Modron.

Mabon Ap Modron was stolen from his mother when he was only 3 days old and kept hidden for many years.  His rescue becomes the task for King Arthur’s adopted brother, Cei and Gwrhyr, a translator of animal languages. They seek out a Blackbird, a Stag, an Owl and an Eagle, each older and wiser than the previous until they encounter the enormous salmon of Llyn Llyw, who carries them to Mabon's prison in Gloucester.  King Arthur then mounts an attack, allowing Cei to enter the rear of the prison and rescue Mabon.

This Is How A $2.25M House That’s Built Underground Looks

A quaint and colorful house in Buffalo, Texas has grabbed the internet’s attention. The building is entirely underground and has 3k square feet of living space with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 3 additional rooms.

It’s on the market right now, but before you go grab your wallet, there’s something you should know. The price is jaw-dropping—it costs over 2.2 million dollars!

The property has no natural light, however, the decor is very bright and it honestly looks like a very cozy place to live in. Worse comes to worst, it would make for a wonderful place to hide in until 2021. Have a look through photos of the property and let us know what you think of it, dear Pandas.

https://www.boredpanda.com/underground-house-texas/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

This house in Texas is built entirely underground. Even though it has no natural light inside, it’s very bright and colorful

Image credits: Terri Alexander

There’s a garage above ground where you can park your car

Image credits: Terri Alexander

You enter the house through a ‘hobbit hole’ that’s painted to look like a brick tunnel inside

Image credits: Terri Alexander

It’s not just the underground home that you’d be buying. The property includes some above-ground structures on the nearly 40 acres of land as well, including a garage and a workshop. There’s also a pond with a deck, too.

Meanwhile, you enter the actual underground home through a ‘hobbit hole’ that’s painted to look just like a brick tunnel.

Listing agent Terri Alexander told Today Home that at first, she thought it would be disorienting going into the home. The owner of the property had both privacy and security in mind when they built the home. They were also conscious about protecting themselves from storms and tornadoes that are native to the area.

“It’s built into a hill. They dug out the hill, created the structure, built it, and then covered it back up,” Alexander explained just how everything was built.

According to the listing agent, the unique and colorful furnishings could be passed along to future buyers as well. However, if you’re not a fan of the bright motifs, you can always redecorate. Each room is decorated in a different style and theme.

Funnily enough, even though the house is underground, it’s not very claustrophobic: the rooms have vaulted ceilings that reach 25 feet (that’s just over 7.6 meters).

Another pro is that the home is fully self-sustaining. It uses water from a well on the property, has its own water and septic system, and even has a generator that can power the home for 2 weeks.

“It can go off-grid completely,” Alexander said.

Where Magic Dwells!

Brownies, Faeries, Elves await those who find an altered fate.
Past the veil are creatures strange, quick, to your truths rearrange!
There, Trolls, 'neath a bridge require a toll to pass.
Else, tempers sour.
And Will o' the Wisps will lead you on until way back becomes unknown!
Faery rings, a circle trace; there, Enchantment bares its face, capturing those without the tokens to break Fae's spells, silent or spoken.
But those who wisely hide away four-leafed clovers thwart Fae's play.
For, when their feet have danced 'til sore, they are forced to dance no more!
And the Fae, caught, unaware bow to such wisdom; fair is fair!
Nixies, (water Faeries) play through sparkling rivers' waterways,
Their skin, translucent, (very white), with hair of green makes quite a sight!
Pixies leap through air in bounds; don't let them get you turned around,
"Pixie led", you soon will be to water traps, way past your knees!
But sometimes, if thirst needs quenching, that's extra helpful, I  should mention,
For, though from earth and air, they spring; they always drawn to water seem!
Still, in that water you may see a Kelpie; now, forewarned you be.
For Kelpies in horse form appear; but dunking you gives them good cheer!
There's much to see and much to do where everywhere, Magic's on view!
But best read books of Faery lore before you do your crossing o'er,
For, Bogies, and Spriggans, past veil are found; and Pookahs travel Enchanted Ground!
There are marvelous wonders you're welcome to view, if you are determined; it's all up to you!
Perhaps, you and I through portal shall travel and try the great mysteries to unravel!
Donna L. Ferguson Dudley, copyright 2017 7/28/17
Art, by Brian Froud

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling

Trolls, Moonbeams, Leprechauns And Stardust.

A world of caves, caverns, thickets and ledges
A place of bracken, heather, thistles and sedges

Of Spider webs, mosses, mushrooms and hedges
Green grassy dells, craggy hills of raggedy edges

Environments of enchantment, worlds of auld lore
Mysterious encampments of wee people of yore

Broad iron hinges on wee ancient oak doors
Behind which lie treasures on cool earthen floors

Oak roots brace ceilings, which green lichen adorns
Crude clever furniture, fashioned from shells of acorns

Curly toed slippers, forest green pointy caps
Thistle down mattress, bunk bed for long naps

Gossamer wings of wand wielding fairies
Flitting about o’er fields of silverberries

Leaving scintillating trails of sparkling, luminary
Like tiny comets tails, so temporary

Trolls under bridges, mean tempered and grumpy
Grey unkempt hair, clothes soiled and frumpy

Short and squat, a bit ugly and dumpy
Big crooked noses and skin mottled and bumpy

Worlds of mysterious wonder of which man knows little
Beings and places neath and above the earths crust

Haunting sounds o’er glen from a wee golden fiddle
Trolls… moonbeams… leprechauns and stardust 

David Whalen
Art Brian Froud

Thursday, 24 September 2020

The History of Wales

This Is How A $2.25M House That’s Built Underground Looks

This house in Texas is built entirely underground. Even though it has no natural light inside, it’s very bright and colorful

There’s a garage above ground where you can park your car

You enter the house through a ‘hobbit hole’ that’s painted to look like a brick tunnel inside

Inside, you’re immediately bombarded with bright colors

There are 3k square feet of living space in the home

Each room has a unique theme and is designed differently

Here’s one of the bedrooms that has a tropical theme

And here’s another colorful bedroom

Here’s what the kitchen looks like

The bathrooms are designed to be very bright as well

The house is self-sustainable and you can go off the grid when you want to

The land you’d be buying also includes above-ground structures

There’s also a pond with a deck on the property. It’s great for a swim!

Here’s what the plot of land looks like from above

And here’s the ‘hobbit hole’ entrance from a couple of different angles

Where Magic Dwells!