jarandhel

Well, I just got in my shipment from http://www.teachersource.com/ and I am absolutely delighted to announce that the synthetic quartz crystals I ordered from them appear identical to the ones I obtained from Special Treasures in Old Town Gaithersburg. Identical to the point that I would wager heavily on them being from the same mold. I also obtained a bismuth egg from them, to add to my growing collection of eggs and orbs that can be used as focus pieces for the Matrix. I am now almost ready to begin construction of the first prototype. At this point, I believe all I need to still do is a) figure out how to connect the mother boards together in the right structure. I'm leaning towards copper support beams as one of the best options, but I have no experience working with copper so I may have to find another solution. Also obtain the materials for whatever solution I end up with, b) figure out what sort of holders to make for the perimeter crystals and obtain the parts for that, c) ritual purify the components and begin the physical and metaphysical assembly. Compared to the physical assembly, the metaphysical aspects of its construction should, at least in theory, be fairly simple. If I can just work out the last few unresolved questions about how to make this design work from a construction perspective, I should be able to have a working prototype ready for field-testing within the month. Figuring out how to make a proper carrying case for it will, of necessity, be left for a future date as yet to be determined.

I got two more books in the mail today! :) The Permaculture Book of Ferment and Human Nutrition, and Mad About Mead. This adds to my growing pile of books on fermentation and meadmaking. So far, in addition to the new pair, I have:

• The Joy of Pickling


• Wild Fermenation


• Making Mead: a complete guide to the making of sweet and dry Mead, Melomel, Metheglin, Hippocras, Pyment and Cyser


• Making Mead (Honey Wine): History, Recipes, Methods and Equipment


• The Compleat Meadmaker

I'm still waiting on five more:

• Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation


• Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Ferment


• Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats


• The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements


• Making Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables at Home: Creative Recipes for Lactic Fermented Food to Improve Your Health

I'm also waiting on a shipment of synthetic quartz crystals and 1 bismuth egg from http://www.teachersource.com and while I was out yesterday I picked up Seekers of the Healing Energy and History of Energy Transference at the metaphysical shop (Special Treasures) in Old Town Gaithersburg, and the Mushi-Shi Starter Set at Suncoast in the mall out there by Rhianna's.

This has been a very good holiday season. :)