Samhain-Yule

Newsletter for Ar nDraiocht Feins South East Region

2017
Issue 10

ADF: News of the

South East
Want to connect with
Druids in the South Events in the Region; Long Sleep of Winter
East Region?

Virginia: By Laurel Mendes

Theres an
e-list & forum. You can Grove of the Seven Hills Words fail me when I would ask to
show you the road I know, bound on
subscribe through the Dec. 16: Yule Rite 6pm both sides by yew boughs and
ADF website.
branches thick. Strong and fragrant is
this path when summer sears green
There are two, count
Three Branch River leaves , and evergreen needles
shimmer with scent, and something
them , two Facebook Dec. 17: Yule Rite more. Fair is this highway when
groups:
falling leaves find their way to the
r nDraocht Fin - road on wind and weave patterns in
South East Maryland: wandering gusts of golden autumn
and CedarLight Grove air. Lonely lays the cold on the
journey, when ribbons of ice garland
ADF South East Region Every Sunday 10am Rites of root, branch and road alike. The long
Caffeina sleep of winter waits in every hiding
place to sing and summon weary
And theres always your 11:30 Walk with the Old travelers to one final rest. Spring
Regional Druid team: Ones. waits in patience, pure and subtle as
RD-Rev. Nancy the ancient primrose, pale before the
McAndrew Dec. 16: Yule Rite hand of man, made bold her blushes.
In time, Spring will find us and
AL Deputy-Brenda waken the world with a new song of
Lively Hallowed Ground hope. Perhaps today is not the day to
take the wondrous road and ride
Dec. 17: Yule Rite through mists to meadows fair and
chill in fall's last twilight. Winter
Florida:. comes, soon enough, when
wanderings cease and home fires call
Manatee Oak ProtoGrove more sweetly than the sirens of old.
"Come inside. The road will wait.
Dec. 23: Yule Rite Come inside. Come inside. Come."
PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE FROM BRENDA LIVELY
Mother's Pumpkin The recipe itself was passed to Mother from my sister's mother-in-
Bread law; where she got it originally, I have no idea. However, for us it's
a perfect Samhain treat to remember the mothers and grandmoth-
ers that fed us and loved us. Now, where are my cans?
Mmm, Autumn. I
love this time of year. 3 cups Flour
The changing colors, 2 tsp Baking Soda
the milder temps, and
the smells. Especially 1 tsp Salt
the smells of Fall: 1 tsp Cinnamon
pumpkin spice, ap- 1 tsp Nutmeg
ples, wood fires. The
High Days and secu- 3 cups Sugar
lar holidays during 1 cup Cooking Oil
this time of year are
some of my favorites too because family features significantly 4 Eggs
along with food. This was the time my mother pulled out her reci- 2/3 cup Water
pe box and started making pumpkin bread. From the beginning of
October to after Thanksgiving, loaf after loaf came out of the oven 2 cups Canned Pumpkin (not pie filling)
some to be eaten by us but most to be given away. Mother had
special "pans" for her pumpkin bread, too four one-pound metal Sift dry ingredients including sugar into mixing bowl. Mix well and
coffee cans. She would butter and flour the cans, then pour the add other ingredients. Mix together until smooth. Divide batter
batter in, dividing it between the four cans. The loaves that into four 1-lb coffee cans or loaf pans (greased and floured). Bake
emerged from the oven were cylindrical with a rounded crown and 1 hour at 350 degrees. Cool in pans slightly. Turn out onto racks to
delicious. Their appearance was iconic in our house. finish cooling. Wrap in foil or plastic. Make one day before using.

Druids Garden: American Persimmon

The scientific name for the American Persimmon is Diospyros virginiana. Diospyros is derived from the
Greek words dios and pyron and is translated as divine fruit or fruit of the gods The word
Persimmon is a Powhatan word (member of the Algonquian
language family) loosely translated as dry fruit. This native
fruit tree is common in the south east. The fruit of the
persimmon is very astringent and unpleasant until it is fully ripe.
Conventional wisdom recommends waiting until after the first
frost to eat persimmons. Before that kiss of cold, they are rather
unpalatable, but after, they are sweet. The fruits are a lovely
glossy orange and hang on the tree well after all the leaves have
fallen.
Persimmons are dioecious (male or female) though some
produce complete flowers making them self-fruitful.
Interestingly, Persimmons can change their sexual expression
from year to year.
The most commonly available cultivars are Meader and Russian
Beauty.
Audobons Warbler in Persimmon Tree
 GROVES & PROTOGROVES IN THE SOUTH EAST REGION
Maryland:
Cedarlight Grove, ADF; Baltimore, MD
Phone: (410) 929-2544
E-mail: clg@cedarlightgrove.org
Cultural Focus: Northern I-E mostly
http://www.cedarlightgrove.org
https://www.facebook.com/cedarlightgrove/
Georgia:
Grove of the Red Earth, ADF; Duluth, GA
Phone: 770-662-0602
E-mail: redearthseniordruid@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Pan-Indo-European
http://www.redearthadf.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/redearthadf/

Virginia:
Grove of the Seven Hills, ADF; Lynchburg, VA
E-mail: sevenhillsadf@yahoo.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic, Norse
http://sevenhillsadf.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gosh.adf
Florida:
Manatee Oak Protogrove, ADF; Brandon, FL
E-mail: manateeoak@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic, Norse, Hellenic
http://manateeoak.org
https://www.facebook.com/ManateeOakGroveAdf

Three Branch River Grove, ADF;

Portsmouth, VA
Phone: (757) 572-5874
E-mail: Three.Branch.River.Grove@gmail.com
Cultural Focus: Celtic/Norse/Germanic
www.facebook.com/ThreeBranchRiverProtogroveADF

P.R. Director position: Vacancy

Posted by Rev. Sean Harbaugh
Last year when I accepted the ADF P.R. Director job, I promised that as soon as it was an
established and working position, I would step aside and the position would be announced for
interested/qualified folks to apply. I'm letting you all know that I'm making good on that promise
and that the announcement will be going out soon. It's been an honor to serve in this capacity,
and I look forward to passing the torch off to the next person. I'll still be here as Social Media
Manager, but it is very important to get interested volunteers the ability to get involved.
Spreading the work out is essential for so many reasons--including the long term success of
ADF.