You better watch out you better don't cry...it is almost Krampustime

 

The Retreat is now open with lots of snow and an ice skating rink. Never know what you might find hidden.

If you think of the holidays which are right around the corner you most likely think of cheerful Santa and presents, the decorated tree, and picture-perfect snow scenes, right? However, all these happy activities which mostly originate from Europe also have some darker traditions not well known in the USA or Canada.

From afar, from the forest I come here;
I must tell you, it truly is Christmastide!
Now tell me, what will I find herein—
a good child, or a wicked child?

There is one character who is called Krampus (in the alpine regions of Europe) or Knecht Ruprecht. The story of Knecht Ruprecht stretches back to the late Middle Ages. The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany, where Christmas celebrations start early in December.

Knecht Ruprecht is usually seen as a half-demon, half-goat-looking figure bearing devilish horns and a monstrous tongue, but he can also be spotted as a sinister man with a black beard bearing a black furry robe, a chain, and bells along with a bundle of birch sticks to punish the naughty children. 

According to German tradition, he appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day to ask parents about their children's behaviors. Depending on the response, he would give switches for use on the bad children, before dragging them into the woods. You know the song Santa is coming to town and you better be good and you better not shout, that is because Santa does not come alone at least not in Germany. 

I will have my special Krampus drawing here in Second Life.

It will be at the ice skating rink after Thanksgiving. There is also an Advent Calendar in the Basement Club for a daily gift starting December 1.

Timeless Season

Let Winter begin!!! Are you ready? Step boldly into a realm of enchantment and epic adventure, where time itself holds its breath. Behold the grandeur of Timeless Seasons, where your journey begins.

Bundle up and be prepared to play in this Winter Wonderland full of charm. Suzie Anderton is also hosting a Photo Contest, so hurry up and take lots of pictures and submit your masterpieces for a chance to win some big prizes.

I had an amazing time just skating on the crystal lake that glistens in the light. The people here are very friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere is very calm and peaceful. I think anybody who comes here will feel the magic of Winter here. Take some time out of your busy holiday schedule and take a visit to Timeless Season. you will not regret it. :)

It reminds me of an old German song by the poet Eduard Ebel written in 1895

Leise rieselt der Schnee,
Still und starr ruht* der See.
Weihnachtlich glänzet der Wald:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!

Softly falls the snow,
Quiet and frozen rests the lake.
Christmas-like sparkles the forest:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.

Le Monde Perdu

Le Monde Perdu is a beautiful, romantic Island far away from everything. A place where you can find inner peace, enjoy and relax. Landscaped by LuaneMeo and Gorba McMahon.

This is another one of those places where you can relax and appreciate the beauty around you. Le Monde Perdu means Lost World in English and when you get here you can easily feel like you are lost and transported to another world. In this case, the lost world is a paradise and nothing to fear. 

Each day you live and breathe
Be thankful for that time and seize
The moment in your thoughts and mind.
Good things come for those who are kind.

When you are young and new
You never think of time, not you.
But as the years pass by
Time is important and now it does fly.

A perfect place to still experience the warmth of the sun and listen to the birds sing their songs. Explore the gardens for some giant mushrooms that grow wild here. 

I feel it is a very poetic place here full of imagination. 

Please take some time out of your busy real life and second life and get lost in this world of fantasy and beauty. You will not regret it :)

Are you still waiting for that mate?

And think at your age it's late?

Don't worry about a thing, oh no

Good things come to those who wait, you know.

Nordic tundra Heimen

Looking for a quiet place? Natthimmel, a creative open space photogenic spot kindly invites for a visit to Heimen, a place loosely inspired by Nordic tundra landscapes. Make sure to wear a warm sweater! 

I wish I had brought that sweater because the winds here are very chilly. It was not that bad, because I survived it and it is also good to have some furry friends close by. This is most definitely a very nice place to take pictures.

(The word “tundra” derives from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning barren or treeless hill.) Instead, the tundra has patchy, low-to-ground vegetation consisting of small shrubs, grasses, mosses, sedges, and lichens, all of which are better adapted to withstand tundra conditions.

I did not see any creatures here, but I am sure they were lurking around behind rocks and boulders. A tundra is a barren land but it is beautiful and calm other than the wind singing its song. The air smells like the ocean and you feel the Arctic cold come over you. It is breathtaking to be here. 

11/11 Portal

The number 11 is referred to as a master number and a potent manifestation number. That's November 2023's energy. It's interesting to note that the number 11 comes up when adding the day, date, and year of 11:11:2023. This month is very powerful for manifesting. 

Whether you believe it or not, numbers can have powerful meanings. Today is just one of those days you may want to try to wish for the things you want in your life. What do you have to lose? Other than negative energy. What I love about Second Life and the Retreat is that I can turn anything negative to make me feel great in Real Life by just creating what I dream of. We all can do this.

A year ago, I almost died from a pulmonary embolism. I survived the operation and had another chance to live and create. That alone is a miracle.  
This year's 11/11 portal is extra special thanks to numerology. Adding up the date 11/11/2023: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 3 = 11 results in what's known as a triple 11 day. This is a rare and powerful energy portal that is shifting your reality, creating space for new opportunities. You're entering one of the most influential periods of your life. What you say and visualize over the next few days will set the tone for the rest of your year. The energy of the 11/11 portal will help you become more self-aware and connected to your inner being, enabling you to tap into your spiritual potential.

Don't hold back. You can make your dreams come true, just believe. The creators of Second Life believed that this virtual world would be the place where people come and learn, work, meet and so much more. Here we are 20 years later and their dream did come true. So can yours. Every day is a day that you can create whatever you desire.

Peace my friends!!!

St Martin’s Day

Now that Halloween is over and Fall is in full swing, it is time to prepare for St. Martin's Day or Martinmas. According to folklore, if the weather is warm on St Martin’s Day, then a harsh winter will follow; conversely, if the weather at Martinmas is icy, then by Christmas it will be much warmer.

But what is Martinmas? Saint Martin's Day or Martinmas, sometimes historically called Old Halloween or Old Hallowmas Eve, is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours and is celebrated in the liturgical year on 11 November. In Germany we celebrate this with lanterns and a feast of goose, breads. It is a day to reflect on kindness. I remember that in school we often made lanterns and then walked around with them on the playground. In November the morning are still dark and everything looked so pretty with the illuminated lanterns.

‘If ducks do slide at Martinmas

At Christmas they will swim;

If ducks do swim at Martinmas

At Christmas they will slide’

‘Ice before Martinmas,

Enough to bear a duck.

The rest of winter,

Is sure to be but muck!’

We also sang lantern songs and as children walking the streets at night, sometimes we would ring doorbells and sang those songs in exchange for some sweets. Sound familiar? Kinda like Trick o Treat. Legend has it that, while in hiding, St. Martin was betrayed by geese squawking. He had hidden in a stall in order to avoid being appointed Bishop of Tours, and in revenge for the betrayal St. Martin ate a goose. Children nowadays play the game duck, duck, goose...!

November 11 is also the official start of Karneval, Fasching and Fastnacht. These holidays all begin eleven minutes past eleven o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month! It is at this time that carnival clubs and neighborhood groups start their preparations for the carnival season. This fun season then culminates with huge Fasching (Mardi Gras) parades in February.

Middle of Nowhere

Here I was in the middle of nowhere enjoying some quiet place after the long Halloween season. 

"The Middle of Nowhere is a quiet expansive rustic prairie with peaceful music, horses, sunsets, and fresh air. Roleplay is welcome. Take a breath and feel at home."

This is a beautiful place and exactly as it is decribed. Here you never know who you might meet in those fields. I saw some naked man strolling around strutting his stuff like the horses around him. No, I did not take a picture of him, well actually I did.

The poor bloke wanted to impress this maiden,
 or maybe they were role-playing I do not know.
I just was not prepared to see this, so I airbrushed it away.

After all I came here to take pictures and that was my mission. I recently send some of my Second Life Postcards and real life art postcards to a RL person and I never got any remarks if they were good or bad. For weeks now I felt I do not have any talent and my PTSD skyrocketed. So I decided to start taking pictures again and do some new art and I landed here in the middle of nowhere in Second Life. 

As a wannabe artist you kind of need that feedback that you are good enough. So I thought. I do not need it and I can tell myself I am good enough. Anyway as I was scanning around I saw "him". No, not that naked guy, someone else. At least I think it was a him, nowadays you just do not know.

I just gathered all my courage and stood next to him and snapped away with pictures, one after the other. I was not going to be rude so I told him I wanted to thank him for letting me stand next to him and that I was taking pictures. Of course I also explored his profile and found out he is the owner of [KROVA], a very innovative store. I saw some super cool stuff, that you have to check out. The store and creations are by IRON FIST SOUND DOLPHIN (arken.soothsayer). You can also check out his twitter if you like and see some of the cool stuff.

You just never know what you find by traveling around different Sims. Do travel to the middle of nowhere and take lots of pictures, it is a serene place and who knows who you might run into.

I know he was smiling. I saw it from behind!!!