October 20-21, 2006

Felecia prepares for blót while Talon observes

There was a chill in the air and the threat of rain as Thruðheim Kindred members and friends gathered together on Saturday afternoon at Frozen Head to celebrate Winter Nights for 2006.

We were extremely happy to be joined once again by Mark, and for the first time by friends Spence and Vicki. Hail and welcome to the newcomers!

It was a fairly typical Thruðheim event Saturday which included setting up camp, lots of visiting and catching up, laughing and enjoying the company of beloved kin.

As the sun set, we gathered around the fire ring, however, the soggy wood made it more difficult than usual to get the fire started. Fortunately, necessity is the mother of invention, and TechnoTedR came to the rescue. Using his battery powered air mattress inflator as a bellows, he was able to get the fire roaring, and soon we were ready for sumbel.

It was a long and powerful sumbel, going well into the open sumbel rounds, which had a wide spectrum of emotions and topics discussed. Of course, following sumbel, we brought out the tins of small fish for KipperTimeR. The newcomers indulged like old pros as we put the whoop on many, many kippers before eventually calling it an evening and retiring to our tents and warm sleeping bags.

Sunday arrived without rain (hurrah!) and soon Steve and Beth got to work putting together the ingredients for the stone soup. While the soup was cooking, Felecia gathered us together around the vei for blót. She led us in a very heart-felt and powerful blót honoring the Falcon-cloaked flyer, Freya. It was Felecia's first time leading blót and she did a tremendous job, many saying they felt Freya with us.

After blót, we dished out the stone soup -- possibly the best batch we've ever made. It was the perfect meal on a chilly afternoon.

As the afternoon progressed, members and friends packed up their vehicles and made the ride home after a very memorable Winter Nights weekend gathering.

Click here to view some photos from the weekend