Raine Reiter's Blog

Hello Friends,
Here is the final version of the Genus Magica Book Two cover. The novel is coming along and I would love to get it out in October 2021. You can expect more myth, magic, mystery, and monsters, but don't expect the course of true love to run smooth.  BTW: I might have preorders this time.  Watch this space. 

Other exciting news: I'm investigating producing an Audiobook of  Takakush for Audible.  I don't have a firm publishing date, but I'm thinking the two books will go out around the same time. 

Takakush is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Walmart.  See www.twanohpress.com for links and more. 

ZAGREB, CROATIA - NOVEMBER 03, 2012: Saint Casimir, statue on the high altar in the Parish church of St. Barbara in Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia from Shutterstock. In early March, the people of Lithuania hold the Kaziukas Festival celebrating St. Casimir, the patron saint of Lithuania. St. Casimir was born in Lithuanian to a respected ruling clan shortly after the ruling classes adopted Christianity.  

 During his brief life, people loved him for his virtue, piety. He contracted tuberculosis, and died on March 4, 1483 at the age of twenty-five. They buried his body in Vilnius. 

From the beginning, believers appealed to god at his grave and believe he performed miracles, The church considered his fabled appearance in 1518 his first miracle. During a pitched battle with the Russian army, Saint Casimir appeared astride a white horse and urged the army to follow him into the fight. They won.
 
On November 7, 1602, the Catholic church canonized St. Casimir and his feast day added the calendar of saint’s day. It is celebrated through the Balkans. For Lithuanians, March 4th is also a national holiday. 

In Vilnius, an enormous festival takes place on the weekend nearest to his March 4th feast day. Craft and food vendors offering produce, regional treats, and traditional handmade goods pack the capital city streets. Street performers, concerts, and folk dancers perform in the central squares of the old town. On Saturday; crafters, musicians, and locals wearing traditional costumes parade throughout the streets in the Procession of Kaziukas.

Popular craft items include hand painted Easter eggs and palms bouquets called verbos. (More on verbos in a future post). Great street food is an important aspect of the festival. Cast iron skillets overflowing with sausages and sauerkraut, giant kettles of rich chili join stalls selling cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. Diners enjoy steins of Gira (kvass, a fermented bread drink) and beer in great abundance. 

​You too can celebrate Kaziukas with some Grybukai, a popular mushroom shaped gingerbread cookie. Here is a recipe.
Ingredients 

·       1/2 c honey
·       1/4 c  table sugar
·       2 T  brown sugar
·       2 T  butter
·       1 large egg
·       1 1/2 t  cardamom
·       1 1/2 t  cinnamon
·       1/2 t  clove
·       1/2 t  nutmeg
·       1 1/2 t   lemon zest
·       1/2 t freshly orange zest
·       2 3/4 c all-purpose flour
·       3/4 t baking soda
·       1/4 t  salt
·       2 T  sour cream
·       2 c powdered sugar
·       1/2 c poppy seeds
 
 
Directions
 
·      Heat honey over medium heat until it begins to boil.
·      Remove from heat and stir table sugar and brown sugar, butter, egg, spices and zest.
·      In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt.
·      Stir in the honey and sour cream. Alternating a little of each to form a dough.
·      Knead the dough on a floured board for about five minutes (until dough is not sticky)
·      Rest dough for twenty minutes.
·      Heat oven to 350°F
·      Cut dough into four equal parts.
 
Making Stems
·      With one part make stems by rolling into long coil about ⅜ inch thick.  Cut into 1 inch lengths. 
·      Place “stems” about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
·      Bake about seven minutes and cool on wire racks.
 
Form the caps
·      With the remain dough, shape 1 ½-inch balls.
·      With the handle of a wooden spoon make an indentation about ½-inch deep on one side of each ball
·      Place caps, indented side down, ½ inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
·      Bake about 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks. 
 
Make the icing
·      Mix together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon water.
·      Add another 2 tablespoons water a little at a time, beating well in between, until the icing is combined.
 
Build mushroomsEnlarge the indentation in the cooled caps with a small pointed knife.Dip one end of each stem into the icing and insert in the cap.Dip the cap into the icing, sprinkle the top with poppyseeds,Set the cookie on the foiled cookie sheet with a rack to dry.Repeat (30 cookies)Let dry for at least 15 minutes.

Ethereal minstrel! pilgrim of the sky!The Lithuanian version of Ground Hog Day, Skylark Day is a weather predicting holiday. Traditionally, if the vyturys (skylark) returns from the south before February 24, there will be an early spring, but after the 24th, winter will remain.
A brown crested bird with white-sided tail, the skylark is smaller than a starling, but larger than the common sparrow. The Audubon calls skylarks one of the most famous songbirds in the world, celebrated by British poets and naturalists. Today, European skylark population is in rapid decline.

Lithuanian’s have many other Skylark Day superstitions. Young women and girls should never comb their hair on that day or chickens will invade the summer garden. They should wash their face in snow on this day to make them bright and beautiful.Shifting flour on Skylark Day draws aphids to the summer wheat crop.They must spin Wool before Skylark Day or the birds will nest in the wool.Run twice around the house, then to the end of the village and back to become fast as a skylark., (Hopefully you don’t live in London, or Los Angeles.)To celebrate Lithuanian Skylark Day. treat yourself to a plate of yummy Čepelica, the national dish of Lithuania. Eat them piping hot and covered with a creamy grave. (See picture above.)

Ingredients
Filling1 lb. ground beef (or 1/3 lb. pork, 1/3 lb. beef, 1/3 lb. ground turkey)1 medium onion (peeled and finely chopped)1 t salt1/4 t pepper1 large beaten eggDumplings8 large potatoes (peeled and finely grated)2 large potatoes (peeled, boiled, and riced)1 t lemon juice1 medium onion (peeled and finely grated)1 t salt, more or less to taste1 T cornstarchFor the Gravy1/2 lb. bacon (diced)1 large chopped onion1 c sour creamBlack pepper to taste1 to 2 T milk (if necessary)Instructions
Meat Filling Mix ground meat, finely chopped onion with one egg and 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper.Keep cool until ready to use.DumplingsGather the grated potatoes into cheese cloth or cotton dish towel, squeeze a tad of lemon over the mixture, then twist fabric over a bowl to remove excess water. Pour off the water, reserving the potato starch at the bottom of the bowl.Unwrap the cheesecloth and pour drained potatoes in with the potato starch.Add the riced cooked potatoes, grated onion, and 1 teaspoon salt or to taste. Mix thoroughly.Put water on to boil.Put one cup potato mixture into the palm of a dampened hand and flatten.In the center add 1/4 cup or more of meat mixture in the centerfold the potato mixture around the meat into a football shape, sealing well.Repeat.Cook the Dumplings Add a tablespoon of cornstarch and salt to boiling water.Place dumplings into boiling water and boil for 25 minutes.Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon or strainer, drain in a water dry place.GravyMake the gravy while boiling the dumplings. Fry the bacon and chopped onion in a skillet.When tender, fold in sour cream and black pepper. If needed, thin your gravy with a splash of milk.

​On January 30th, 2021, the relative motion of the planet Mercury appeared to reverse its course in the sky and move backward. This reverse relative motion continues through February 19th. Astrologers believe that during this period areas of life ruled by Mercury (travel, communication, health, etc.), become confused. Retrograde in the house of Aquarius can also affect technology and the internet, so don’t become surprised if your gadgets stop working, emails and letters lost, and your doctor must redo important medical tests. Aquarius also rules the intellect, so study hard and prepare to mishear and misunderstand important information.
I’m not sure how I believe, but last year, I scheduled my gall bladder surgery AFTER mercury went direct. I am also not bent out of shape by low click through on my Amazon Ads. 
My research shows mercury retrograde is a great time to eat comfort food, like Chicken & Waffles, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Mac & cheese, Deep-Dish Pizza, Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup, and Chili con carne.
It is snowy retrograde day here in Washington. So, tonight I’m cooking a warm & comfy favorite for dinner.

​KETO Garlic Butter Ground Turkey with Cauliflower

Ingredients1 lb of ground turkey breast1/2 head cauliflower, broken up into bite sized pieces2 t avocado oil1 t lemon juice3 T butter2 T minced garlic1 T dried onion1/4 c Tamari Sauce1-2 t Tajin Seasoning (or hot sauce)2 t sesame oilDried cilantro or parsley1/4 c waterRed chili pepper flakes (optional)  
Directions
 
CauliflowerMicrowave cauliflower for 2 minutes.Heat avocado oil in large skillet and sauté cauliflower until slightly browned. Deglaze with lemon juice and add cilantro or parsley, salt and pepper to taste.Set aside.  
TurkeyMelt butter and oil in the same pan.Add ground turkey and break apart.Cook until no longer pinkAdd garlic, onion and stirAdd Tamari sauce, water and hot sauce/spiceStir and cook for 2-3 minutes  
CombinePush turkey aside and return cauliflower to skilletCoat cauliflower with sauce and turn up heat.Drizzle sesame oil over the dishSprinkle of cilantro and chili pepper to garnish.Serve with sour cream Keep your communications clear, your medical procedures postponed and have a safe retrograde. 

​All over the world, winter and the hope of spring is celebrated in the month February. 
Here are a few of these celebration.– the twelve-day observance of  Entschtanning  (the emergence), the Shinto Festival of Setsubun (February 3), the feast day of Saint Brigid of Ireland (February 1), and of course for many Pagans, the fire festival of Imbolc with the Goddess Brigid at its heart.  Ground Hog's Day, Strove Tuesday (Feb. 12) and Carnaval/Mardi Gras (Feb. 16) are in the same vein. I'm not sure how St. Patty's Day and Valentine's Day fit in.   

Here is a opportunity to clean out the fridge and celebrate UK Pancake Day on Feb. 12. with this genuine BBC Pancake Recipe. 

BBC Pancake Day Recipe
Ingredients120g/4oz plain flourpinch salt2 free-range eggs210ml/7fl oz milk90ml/3fl oz water1 tbsp vegetable oilbutter, for frying To servecaster sugarlemon juicelemon wedgesand a modern squige of chocolate MethodMix the flour and salt together in a large bowl.Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs.In a separate bowl mix together the milk and the water.Beat the eggs into the flour with a wooden spoon and gradually beat in the milk and water mixture to get a smooth liquid the consistency of single cream.Stir in the oil and allow to stand for 30 minutes before using.Heat a non-stick frying pan until very hot, then add a small knob of butter. Ladle in a ladleful of the batter, quickly turning the pan to coat the base evenly with the batter. Cook for 30 seconds to one minute, until the base is lightly browned.Using a palette knife, gently flip the pancake over and cook on the other side for a few seconds, until lightly browned. Slide the pancake onto a plate, cover with greaseproof paper and keep warm. Repeat the process with the remaining batter.To serve, sprinkle the pancakes with caster sugar and lemon juice, then fold twice to form triangles. Serve the lemon wedges alongside.

Gaby Lukas from the novel, Takakush, serves the Lithuanian goddess of fire Gabija. The first of February is her feast day. On that day, they bake a special loaf of bread to honor her and her Christian aspect, Saint Agota. Notice the traditional woodcut of the saint on the left is stand in front of a house carrying bread on a platter. 

To celebrate, they divide the finished bread among members of the household and place leftovers along beams and behind pictures of ancestors and holy figures for additional protection. I don’t know how they keep the mice away.

Ancient Lithuanians offered bread to Gabija to protect their home from catching fire. A loaf on the roof stopped lighting from striking the home and a loaf buried in the foundation of a new house protected it from burning down. The placed bread consecrated to Gabija in a vehicle or luggage before taking a long trip. Mothers give it to their sons, heading off to war. A farmer attached the bread to their plow shafts on the first day of plowing to prevent the crops from burning. Offering Bees some stimulated the production of honey. Carrying bread in a handkerchief while taking a hike protected from snake bite and attaching it to a cow’s horn to encouraged milk production. Wash sores with water soaked in Gabija’s bread to aid healing. It’s very useful stuff.

Should all this fail and the building still catches fire, here is a backup plan. Run around the building three times while holding the holy bread over your head, then throw it in the middle of the flames. Gabija should take pity on you and the fire will go out. But don’t forget to call 911, just in case.

Happy Gabija’s Day. Here is a recipe to help your observance.
 
Ruginė Duona, Lithuanian Dark Rye

Starter (Raugas) Ingredients5 T rye flourRoom temperature waterYeast) Starter Instructions
Store in a glass jar in a warm place for there days.  Mix every 12 hours. It will bubble and smell yeasty.
 
Dough Ingredients5 lbs rye flour2 c white flour5 T sugar2 T honey4 t salt2 T caraway seeds  
2 bowls (small and large)
Wooden spoon
9” x 12” bread pans (lined with parchment paper)
 
InstructionsPour starter into a very large glass or metal bowl with 2 T of rye flour and a splash of lukewarm water. Cover with a linen towel and rest for 12 hours.Add 2 cups of rye flower and caraway seeds to rested starter.Pour 3 c boiling water over flour/caraway mixture. Mix well with wooden spoon until there is no dry flour.Let cool to room temperature.Add in 2-3 c rye flour. Use wet hands to mix evenly.Cover with a linen towel and leave in warm place for 12 hoursNew Starter: remove 2-3 T of risen dough into glass jar with 2-3 T rye flour and lukewarm water.  Store in warm place or refrigerator for later.In a small bowl add sugar, honey and salt. Add a couple of T hot water and stir together.  Let cool and add to risen dough.Add 3 c rye flour and 1 c white flour into risen dough and other ingredients and stir and/or mix with your hands.Place dough in bread pans and rub top with oilLet bread rise for at least four more hours.Bake for the first 10 minutes at 400° F, then turn down the oven temperature to 350° for an hour or less. Check frequently  
Takakush is available on Amazon at http://tiny.cc/TakakushNovel.

In ancient China there once was a monster name Nianshou (年快). Most of the time he lived deep in the sea and bothered no one until each New Year’s Eve.
     At midnight on that one night, Nianshou crept on shore to destroyed nearby villages and eat all the villagers and livestock. Fearing for their lives, the people fled to the mountains for safety.
     One year, all the people in the village were packing up to leave. An old beggar with long silver hair and beard, sharp black eyes, and a long walking stick limped into town.
     “Where are you going?” he asked a man shuttering his doors and window. The man didn’t answer so the stranger moved on.
     Farther down the street, the beggar met a young mother and her children carrying bundles to a cart. “Why are you packing to leave here?” he asked. But they were too busy to chat, so he moved on once more.
     The silver-haired man stopped in front of a tidy little cottage.
     The granny came out the front door and saw the man in the middle of the street with a smile on his face. “Why are you standing there and not leaving town?” she asked.
     He looking around and shrugged his shoulders.
     “Aren’t you afraid of Nianshou’s sharp fangs and horns?”
     The stranger stroked his long white beard, chuckled, and shook his head. “No, I’m not afraid,” he said. “Leave me a bowl of rice, let me stay in your home for one night, and in exchange I will protect your all property from destruction.”
     The granny argued with him. “It’s foolish to stay, come with me.” She pleaded and begged but he wouldn’t change his mind.
       Near sunset, the woman gave up and left for the mountains alone.
     When midnight came and the new year arrived, Nianshou attacked the village, roaring and slashing with his horn. The horrible beast was having a grand time until he arrived at the grandmother home. Instead of being boarded up, a hundred candles burned in all the  window.
     Someone is home, fresh meat. Nianshou giggled and licked his lips while spittle ran down his chin.
     The monster charged the door, then froze in place. Red paper flags in all the doors and windows flapped and fluttered in the wind.
     Nianshou stared at the strange sight, and a low growl rose from his throat.
     Bang. The door burst open, and the dressed in a dressed all in read and banging a gone, the beggar jumped out. He picked up a firecracker, lit it on a candle and threw it. The projectile exploded in the monster’s face. Nianshou jumped back into a crouch.
     The stranger roared with laughter and holding another firecracker slowly raised his arm.
     The monster Nianshou screamed and fled into the night.
     In the morning, the villagers returned. They saw the old woman’s cottage undamaged and realized red decorations, loud noises, and bright lights must have scared the monster away. The next year they did the same and Nianshou was never seen again.
     That story is one Chinese New Year legend. Another is manic house cleaning, red flags, bright light, and explosives ward off plague spirits and keep the family from becoming ill. In the time of Covid, I’m ready to try anything.
​
     新年快乐 my Friends!

Today is the official release of Takakush – Genus Magica Book One. Check it out @ http://tiny.cc/TakakushNovel

Photo by Eva Elijas from Pexels

In ancient China there once was a monster name Nianshou (年快). Most of the time he lived deep in the sea and bothered no one until each New Year’s Eve.
     At midnight on that one night, Nianshou crept on shore to destroyed nearby villages and eat all the villagers and livestock. Fearing for their lives, the people fled to the mountains for safety.
     One year, all the people in the village were packing up to leave. An old beggar with long silver hair and beard, sharp black eyes, and a long walking stick limped into town.
     “Where are you going?” he asked a man shuttering his doors and window. The man didn’t answer so the stranger moved on.
     Farther down the street, the beggar met a young mother and her children carrying bundles to a cart. “Why are you packing to leave here?” he asked. But they were too busy to chat, so he moved on once more.
     The silver-haired man stopped in front of a tidy little cottage.
     The granny came out the front door and saw the man in the middle of the street with a smile on his face. “Why are you standing there and not leaving town?” she asked.
     He looking around and shrugged his shoulders.
     “Aren’t you afraid of Nianshou’s sharp fangs and horns?”
     The stranger stroked his long white beard, chuckled, and shook his head. “No, I’m not afraid,” he said. “Leave me a bowl of rice, let me stay in your home for one night, and in exchange I will protect your all property from destruction.”
     The granny argued with him. “It’s foolish to stay, come with me.” She pleaded and begged but he wouldn’t change his mind.
       Near sunset, the woman gave up and left for the mountains alone.
     When midnight came and the new year arrived, Nianshou attacked the village, roaring and slashing with his horn. The horrible beast was having a grand time until he arrived at the grandmother home. Instead of being boarded up, a hundred candles burned in all the  window.
     Someone is home, fresh meat. Nianshou giggled and licked his lips while spittle ran down his chin.
     The monster charged the door, then froze in place. Red paper flags in all the doors and windows flapped and fluttered in the wind.
     Nianshou stared at the strange sight, and a low growl rose from his throat.
     Bang. The door burst open, and the dressed in a dressed all in read and banging a gone, the beggar jumped out. He picked up a firecracker, lit it on a candle and threw it. The projectile exploded in the monster’s face. Nianshou jumped back into a crouch.
     The stranger roared with laughter and holding another firecracker slowly raised his arm.
     The monster Nianshou screamed and fled into the night.
     In the morning, the villagers returned. They saw the old woman’s cottage undamaged and realized red decorations, loud noises, and bright lights must have scared the monster away. The next year they did the same and Nianshou was never seen again.
     That story is one Chinese New Year legend. Another is manic house cleaning, red flags, bright light, and explosives ward off plague spirits and keep the family from becoming ill. In the time of Covid, I’m ready to try anything.
​
     新年快乐 my Friends!

Today is the official release of Takakush – Genus Magica Book One. Check it out @ http://tiny.cc/TakakushNovel

Photo by Eva Elijas from Pexels

Thorrablot, the Icelandic midwinter festival was on January 14th. After the winter solstice, Icelander’s celebrates the return of light. Don’t worry, people don’t sing the exploits of the Frost King or sacrifice to the God of Thunder any more. 
In modern Iceland, people commemorate the midwinter festival with a grand feast where family and friends play games, sing songs, tell stories and read poems. Traditionally, the host arranged food in a wooden through because common people didn’t own platters. 
In an elegant Reykjavik restaurant expect to find Fermented Shark, Sour Ram Testicles, and Blood Sausage on the menu. :(
But I’ll stick with Icelandic Thunder Bread with fresh butter. Here is a recipe.
Ingredients2 1/2 c rye flour1 1/2 c all-purpose flour1 T baking powder 1/2 t salt1/2 c packed brown sugar)1 c milk (scaled and cooled to lukewarm)1 T molasses  2 cups boiling waterInstructionsMix flours, baking powder and salt in a large bowl, add in brown sugar.Stir molasses into the milk into it dissolvesSlowly stir milk into the dry ingredientsKnead until shinyDivide into two potionsGrease molds (two 19 oz. Tin cans, or bowls/ramekins that can hold 2 cups batter)Fill molds (leave 1inch for bread to rise) and tent with foil and secure with twinePlace the molds in your slow cooker (rest cans, if using, on a trivet or canning jar lid inside the cooker to help the steam circulate). Pour in enough hot water into cover the lower half of the molds (about 2 cups).Cover slow cooker and cook on high from 4 hours. 
Remove bread and serve with butter and cold meats, smoked fish and heirloom cheeses. Don’t forget to wash it down with Brennivin (Iceland’s strong schnapps).
​

Inside the
​world of Takakush Imagine a world where stories of a mythological creature has an element of truth but the creatures are very rare.

The Korean a nine-tailed fox, Gumiho, a shape-shifting succubus tricks unsuspecting travelers, Brazil’s pink dolphin, Boto Cor De Rosa, wanders the banks of the Amazon, or the Hiisi, an elf-king of Finland rides his hundred horned elk through the remote hills. Real, but uncommon and seldom seen, and creatures hiding in wild places in the world. 

Until today. Human beings invade every part of the planet, from the headlands of the Amazon river to the remote ice flows of the Arctic, or the highest mountains of the Himalayas. People are driving these creatures into the open.
Like the black bear or cougar wander into a subdivision, mythological creatures tangle with humans at greater and greater frequency. Even more frightening, these creatures are now invasive species migrating, like a poisonous tropical spider appearing in a midwestern Safeway with the bananas.

This is the magical world of Takakush, a dark paranormal fantasy. The Lukas family of hereditary priestesses living ordinary lives in Olympia, Washington. They run a business, pay bills, and go to school. These powerful women also are avatars for four Lithuanian Goddesses. They channel the deities and the goddess’ gift them with powers, but at a cost.

Mother Mina Lukas volunteers at the children’s hospital and local nursing homes and uses her gift of healing to help the patients. She also cares for her ancient mother, Regana, the mentally declining goddess of the occult, fate, and magic and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Gabby, who struggles to control her fire goddess powers.

Eldest daughter Professor Elena Lukas’ fiance cancels their wedding, she returns home to her eccentric family and faces her destiny. Dedicated at her birth to the Lithuanian Forest Goddess Mediena, Elena must decide if she will commit to serve as a priestess and avatar for her lifetime. Or turn her back on the bonding and live a normal life.
Prepared to hide in a local liberal arts university, Elena arrives to find that a series of so-called animal attacks have terrorized her forest. Early investigations lead her to believe this may be a deadly creature of dark magic.
Takakush offers readers magic, mythology, mystery, and a small touch of romance.

Takakush, the first book in the Genus Magica series, releases in January 2021 and available on Amazon in kindle unlimited, paperback and ebook format.  http://tiny.cc/TakakushNovel.  Genus Magica Book Two publishes in late 2021.
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