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The Hidden Almanac for
Wednesday September 24th, 2014
Episode 162
The Hidden Almanac
Previous episode: 2014-09-22
Next episode: 2014-09-26

Summary[]

Today we remember the discover of the Volcano Sanderling. We also recall the fairy tales of folklorist Vincent Mather. It is the Feast Day of St. Jeppeth, and in the garden, it is finally Fall.

Be Safe, and Stay Out of Trouble.

Also, ask Pastor Drom to get on with it already.

Transcription[]

Welcome to the Hidden Almanac, I’m…swingin’…Reverend Mord

Today is September 24th, 2014. I have been instructed to provide facts that will help people…get their “groove” on.

Whatever that means.

I hope this is not a sexual thing. I have taken very specific vows about that.

It was on this day that the naturalist Eland the Younger discovered the Volcano Sanderling, a small shorebird that had evolved to take advantage of the area directly around active volcanoes. While normal sanderlings run back and forth a few steps ahead of the tide, Volcano Sanderlings prefer to run back and forth in front of magma, picking up anything seared to a crisp by molten rock. They have extremely thick hide on their legs and feet and seem largely immune to the various gases emitted during eruption. Volcano Sanderlings are probably endangered, since it is nearly impossible to get close enough to count their numbers, but naturalists suspect that they are simply too badass to go extinct.

I do not know if this will help anyone with their groove.

And it was on this day in 1899 that the folklorist Vincent Mather published the first of a dozen collections of fairy tales, gathered from all over the world. His wife Ida did most of the translation work but was uncredited until the collections were re-released in the 1970s. The first book was called “The Prince and the Sausage,” and owing to somewhat baffling marketing choices, the series came to be called “The Fairy Sausages.” The final volume, “The Dear Little Jackal” was published in 1912, immediately following Mather’s death. While many folklorists scorn the Fairy Sausages as being heavily censored, the translations of some of the stories from the Coriander Isles stand as the best and most lyrical ever collected, and are still used by scholars today.

So that’s…swinging. Yes.

It is the Feast Day of Saint Jeppeth the Golem-Maker. Jeppeth built dozens of golems to serve and defend his small village. The golems stood off roving bandits, warlords, and at least one doomsday cult. While golem making is illegal, the shrine of St. Jeppeth is still visited by craftsman hoping to breath more metaphorical life into their creations.

In the garden, the weather has taken a decided turn toward fall. Chickweed is beginning to take over the beds and the asters have begun blooming in earnest. Harvest the last tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos, and keep a close watch on the figs.

The Hidden Almanac is brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and inaccessible teas. Red Wombat --- “We Dig Tea.”

Also brought to you by the Love Doctors, which are in no way affiliated with the Plague Doctors, unless you have been very unfortunate, in which case we have a cream that will probably clear that up.

That’s the Hidden Almanac for September 24th, 2014. Be safe, and stay out of trouble.

Outro[]

Out of Character

The Hidden Almanac is a production of Dark Canvas Media. It is performed & produced by Kevin Sonney and written by Ursula Vernon. The voice of Pastor Drom is Ursula Vernon. Today's music is Latché Swing with "Hungaria" which you can find at the Free Music Archive. All other content is copyright 2013-2014, Ursula Vernon.

Notes[]

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