Michelle Franklin's Blog, page 2

Story of the Day: The Whale

 

The sands had a golden sheen to them, and though Myndil and Aodhgan were still far from the southern shore, the aurulent shimmer coruscating over the southern shore charmed their view. The barm swaffed over the beach, painting the coastline in undulating shapes, the cockles and clams writhing under the reach of the receding waves. A stream of sea spray plumed up from the waves, and a baleen whale suddenly surfaced, greeting them from afar with a sshuuffff!   

                “Oh, hallo, whale!...

A First Friend for the Faoladh

 Aodhgan and Eochaid grew up in Osraige with only their family as friends. Their fortune with regard to friendship changed once a certain someone came along:

                The evening was soon approaching, and the king’s residence was alive with animation, the thrum and bustle of preparation overtaking the main hall: the cook and her assistants brought out the meats and encouraged the fire, the windows were hung round with fine festoons, and all the little cousins were scampering about, running...

Story for the Day: Faoladh

While Myndil and everyone at the abbey might love Aodhgan, lord protector of Osraige, not everyone is so enamoured with his wolf:

They searched for other lodgings, inspecting all taverneous buildings around the square, but the more they walked about the place, the more awkward looks they incurred. They were an unusual pairing, nobody having seen one wearing robes with GOD LOVES YOU written on them before, but it was soon clear that some had seen one like Aodhgan before. Their stares were growing...

Story for the Day: Aodhgan and Eochaid - Wolves of Osraige

The Wolves of Ossory are known for keeping to themselves, due to the nature of their curse, but Myndil happens to meet Aodhgan and Eochaid MacCellaig, two wolves from the ruling royal house:

The world blew by in a brush of colour, the towns and villages painted over in a stroke of speed, the defined outlines of rocks and trees fading, but Myndil was beginning to enjoy the sensation, the undulating of the wolf’s back, the exhilaration of false flight, the gnats and midges buffeting him and dying ...

Story for the Day: A Tenebrous Friendship

Churches in Frewyn are a relatively safe place, where anyone in want of shelter and rest can find comfort and assistance. Churches in another realm, however, though they might offer shelter, might not offer the same ease an assurance to all:

Evening came to the abbey, and amidst the prayers and lamentations finishing for the day, the abbot, after having spent the better part of the afternoon telling the Lord how much he hated himself for his sake, and after a firm round of contrition on account ...

#StPatricksDay Special: Peig the Healer

It has been a hectic few months, getting together three new books and recovering from The Great Flood, which washed most of the house away, but to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day at home, here is a little slice of Peig the healer:

At a crossroads in the near distance, wedged amidst the nemorous lanes, was a small cottage, rounded by cobbles and guarded by a stone walkway. It was done in the same style as the houses in the clans, but instead of being crowned with a rick of straw and fitted up with...

Aunt Milis Maremeadow’s Bread and Butter Pudding

Maith Ailineighdaeth one and all!

I have been injured and have not been able to finish much of the work I wanted to in the last month, but to give you something by way of Frewyn holiday gift, the Charms and Rituals of Frewyn will be free for the week and below is Aunt Milis' recipe for Maremeadow's famous bread and butter pudding.

Enjoy!

Aunt Milis Maremeadow’s Bread and Butter Pudding:

Baronous Hodge on bread pudding: “There is an odd thing about bread pudding. We all like it—we
must, really,...

Story for the Day: Maremeadow Farm

 Part of the newest book, coming to you on our Patreon page at the end of the month:

Maremeadow Farm was reckoned the safest place for rearing horses, completely closed off from wolves and thieves, the accoutrements around the farm fashioned in Eithne’s image, and iron iteration of her hooves marking the lintel of every door, her features surveying the extensive grounds, the long braids of sweetgrass attached to the charm bearing her likeness carried in pockets and hung over pens. There was a lo...

Martje's Pumpkin Cheese Pie for Harvest

Mean Fhomhair is around the corner, and that means it is time for pumpkin pie.

Baronous Hodge on the use of pumpkins in Frewyn: Gourds are a curiosity on the southern content. They cannot grow well in Gallei due to the inclement weather and the unpardonable soil, and while they grow very well in Frewyn, Frewyns seem rather indifferent to them. Some of the winter varieties are used in soups, but as a supplement to carrot, which I find almost too bad, and the chosen few do make their way into pie...

Story for the Day: A New Creation

 There is much art born out of misery. Whether that art is any good, however, is another question-- and whether the new play the Royal Theatre Company puts on will be worth watching must be left to be guessed:

“Is the Royal Theatre open again, Alasdair?” Boudicca asked, her ear catching the end of a theatrical wail warbling across the far field.

Here was a small sigh. “Should I say ‘unfortunately’?”

“Only if you mean it, which I think you must, after hearing the overture of whatever it is they p...