http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:bardic-fire&section=today deviantART RSS for by:bardic-fire en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:44:41 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/24281970/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/24281970/ Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:11:44 PDT
But I'm baaack to DA! LOL I have TONS of new pictures to upload, lots of re-organizing, and plenty of catching-up to do.

Kudos to everyone who has stuck with me during my year-long absence. So much has happened since I was last on DA... Lost a few rabbits...survived my husband's deployment...went to a foreign, third-world country...changed Guard units...moved across the country...

And here I am, on the other side. Leave some love, folks. And help me figure out this new-and-improved DA!! I'm confused. LOL

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/17058372/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/17058372/ Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:52:40 PST
I have a crap-load of awesome pictures from this weekend...

But it's taking freakin' FOREVER to get them posted here on DA, because of some sort of maintence. *sighs*

This sort of thing always aggrivates me, because once I start something, I don't like to stop it. And I was hoping to get all the pictures uploaded before I had to go meet some friends for a walk around the local park...

*sighs*

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/16552452/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/16552452/ Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:16:55 PST

I've been bitten hard by a great desire to take pictures lately... Unfortunately, my poor, two-year-old camera isn't up to the task. Or, more acurately, my photo-journalist-honed sensebilities are no longer pacified by an "amatuer's camera". I think I should drop some hints by way of the hubby, to drop some hints by way of the generous Jewish uncle, to maybe consider a nice spiffy Cannon for my birthday.

I want something more like the Cannon EOS DH 120...minus all the freakin' bells and whistles that I don't need. I've inspired by some of the artwork I've seen here on DA, from some of my friends...and I REALLY want to start taking photos of the Society. Chinese New Year is coming up at Lions Tourney and that would just be an AWESOME start to an SCA portfolio. Maybe I should inquire into the Historian position here in the Barony and see if I could maybe volunteer for the honor...

But I feel a great need to take pictures of men in armor and ladies in garb. And I'd like to get some more professional pictures of da' bunnies....and I've had some ideas for some conceptual art bouncing around as well...

But all that's lacking is the appropriate camera with the appropriate lenses...and a nice, user-friendly editing program. >.<

Here's to hoping Uncle Bill can be persuaded to help a struggling fellow photographer out... *sighs*

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15800422/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15800422/ Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:04:08 PST
Yule and Snickers in particular.

I'm sooooo pathetic. I actually want to buy a new camera, so can take better pictures of them. O.o

All of my announcements are about them...most of my little stories to my friends are about them... I'm completely and utterly...rabbit-obsessed. Even as bratty as Snickers is, I adore him to pieces. Despite the aggrivations and the headaches...I don't know what I would do without my "babies."

I EVEN want to start researching rabbit husbandry and rabbit mythology in Norse/Celtic legends, for an Arts & Science project for the SCA. And I'm in the process of drawing out a new heraldic device, with a rampant black rabbit and "dark moon" on a silver background.

How pathetic is that? I'm actually building my SCA persona around...rabbits.

AND...I'm even contemplating bunny tattoos. Though, I think I'll start off with some sort of Celtic-knot design that incorporates the totems of the four most important people in my life -

The wolf (Joseph), the bear (Becca), the Stag (Staggsy - and yes, the man's name IS Staggs) and the hare (George).

And people wonder why I adore the man to bits. One of his freakin' animal guides is a hare. Go figure. I about died laughing when I found that out.

Awww...the ironies of life.

Rabbits...hares...bunnies...oh my!

ROFL Oh, I need a life. And a new hobby.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15655551/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15655551/ Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:14:22 PST
I must admit, it was much sooner than I thought it would be!

The new bun is from the same shelter where Joseph and I adopted Snickers. He's a blue-eyed, black-and-white lop (who's left ear stands up when he's 'listening', and he's about the same age Bane would be, if he were still Living.

He didn't come with a name - I guess some people don't think it's necessary to name a bun - so, in honor of the season, I'm naming him...

Yule.

Yule will be coming home this coming Friday (the 30th) - he has to be neutered first. His Uncle Mike will be picking him up from the vet, since I will be out of town with the National Guard. Yule will be coming home, officially, on the 2nd.

I'm so excited. I saw Yule yesterday through the window of the shelter, but it was closed, so I couldn't visit him. I went back today...and it was true love at first sight.

Thank you, Baners. I miss you...no one will ever take your place...but I thank you for leading me to Yule and I hope your blessing on this new addition to the family.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15443991/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15443991/ Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:01:39 PST
I've been on a sugar high ALLLLL night.

During the course of the night, Snickers has come up on the bed several times, to "investigate" my insomniac web-surfing.

He's laid down twice at the foot of the bed. In fact, he's there, right now.

He's a very alert little bunny...I kinda' feel like he's watching out while I (try to) sleep. It makes the hurt of losing Bane sting a little less...

A week ago, Snickers would have never gotten on the bed. Now he's getting on and laying down.

He still doesn't like me touching him...but a bond is already starting to form. And the pain is starting to ease....

I love my bun.

Thank you, Snickers.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15426285/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15426285/ Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:08:45 PST
His spirit returned to the sky, carried by fire and smoke.

Mom sang a Native American song for him and consecrated his soul to the Lord and Lady. Becca sang "Winds Four Quarters". When asked to speak something, I couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't break me into tears again. I could only tell Bane that I loved him, that I missed him, and that he had been a good friend.

I've said everything I can say. My heart is sore...but not broken. I know Bane will return one day. And if not, well...he is still my Spirit Companion. I am thankful, at least, that I got to share a moment with him in the physical realm, before he returned to the world Unseen.

He'll always be with me. And I think he would have been very honored by the sending-off that we gave him. I thought that I might start crying when the fire got to him, but he burned well and my last memories of him will be of smoke and autumn. He left me with a smile on my face and now, whenever I smell an autumn fire, I will think of him. That's a good thought and one of happiness, not sorrow.

There was a lot of laughter around his fire, actually, and I think that's appropriate.

Bane was just that kind of pet.

I told him before I left -

He gave me more smiles than tears.

And that is the finest legacy that any creature - human or otherwise - can leave behind.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15400049/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15400049/ Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:38:57 PST
This has been a hard day...

I "rescued" Bane from Becca's fridge's vegie crisper and held him for the last time. It was hard to put him back...but at the same time, it was hard to hold him, knowing that he wasn't there anymore.

I don't think I've cried so hard in a very long time.

I want to honor him...and Bane was, first and foremost, a spiritual friend. So...it may come across as strange/macabre to some folks, but tomorrow, my friend and I are going to take him to the tanner. I will save his pelt and then give him a Viking funeral (cremation). This weekend, I'll take his ashes to the sea and release them to the water and the air, which I feel are appropriate elements for him.

This is a sad and heavy week. I'm reading Watership Down to console myself.

And to top it all off, I'm missing my husband terribly.

And my heart goes out to my friend DanidaeSkye, who is grieving the loss of her beautiful Simon. I know only too well the pain she's feeling....

Please keep us both in your prayers/thoughts.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15375352/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15375352/ Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:27:40 PST
You all know Bane - if not in person, then by reference and by pictures. I've talked of him constantly since I rescued him from a horrid pet store in Macon,GA, in April. He was my constant companion, my little terror, my spoiled brat...the "bane of my existence."

And I loved him with every ounce of my heart.

Bane had an accident while staying with his Auntie Becca over this weekend, while I was away in California. And yesterday...the Black Rabbit visited my little black bunny and took him away to the Summerland.

The following is Bane's eulogy, written now, straight-up, right here in the middle of the San Diego airport, from my heart.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The ancient Aztecs believed that every person had only half of a soul. That other half resided in an animal Companion - a creature that was both "soul friend" and spirit guide. Even their gods were represented in half by a animal Companion.

Bane...you were mine. There was never any doubt in my mind that you were a part of myself, wrapped up in soft, silky black fur, bright blue-gray eyes, and long, ticklish whiskers.

You picked me, too. You weren't the rabbit I wanted to "rescue", initially, but the Lord and Lady thought otherwise. When I came back to the pet store, the rabbit I wanted to buy was gone and you were left. So I bought you, not quite sure what I was getting myself into.

I have never regreted that purchase.

You filled my life in the last months with light, happiness, laughter, and love. This summer was perhaps one of the hardest I've ever had - and I told anyone who would listen that one of the few reasons I was able to "hang in there" was because I had you.

There are so many things about you that I'm going to miss.

I'm going to miss watching you frolick around the room. You used to love to kick your heels in sheer, unmitigated happiness, and shake your ears for joy. I remember one time when I was sitting on the bed and you were over by the dresser - I looked over at you and said "hi" and in response, you jumped up, kicked out your heels, turned a complete 180, landed in the exact same spot and looked at me as if to say "aren't I the cutest?" And I laughed.

You always made me laugh.

I'm going to miss how you would come running when I opened up the bag of yogurt drops, or the bag of hay. You loved getting treats. The first time you ate a yogurt drop out of my hand was sheer magick...that was the first time we truly connected. I will miss letting you eat out of my hand...I will miss the little licks of thanks you would give me afterwards.

I will miss all of your "bunny kisses." You were so free with them. I will miss the times you would hop up on the pillows on the bed and come over to me, begging for pets in the middle of the night. I'll miss how you would lay down and lay your ears back, while I smoothed your soft, soft fur and delighted in the little churring noises of pleasure that you would make.

I'll miss all the Saturday mornings I would fuss at you, after waking me up from a nice, deep sleep. You never liked to let me sleep in. I'll miss how you used to try your hardest to wake me up for classes, by doing a bunny dance on top of me. I'll miss how I used to wake up in the middle of the night and apologize sleepily for kicking you, as you lay beside my legs in quiet companionship.

You initiated me into the deep secret of your kind and granted me the honorary title of "Rabbit". You would sit next to me or lay near me while I read. When I cried, you would come up and snuffle me with your handsome whiskers and lick my cheeks.

I even miss the way I would chuck slippers at you when you were chewing the baseboards. Or get exasperated when you wouldn't litter in the proper place. I will miss laughing at you as you tried to run on the tile bathroom floor and scrabble all over the place instead. I will miss peaking into my closet and seeing you laying on your "throne" in utter happiness.

You've marked every part of my heart as your own. There are so many little stories of you that I'll tell. Like the time you told Joseph off and made it very apparent to a full-grown, male Marine, that he was second in the totem pole and that I was, first and foremost, your doe. I'll miss walking into my room and seeing you laying next to Snickers like a little pair of furry slippers. I'll miss seeing you laying beside the altart, guarding my places of power.

I will miss your beauty, your mystery, your uniqueness, your delight.

You were affectionate and loving - and particular in your affections. You were hard to understand, spoiled rotten, and unfathonable - bu... ]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15339188/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15339188/ Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:07:12 PDT
On Thursday morning, I woke up to a tumble of fighting rabbits. So...since I'm in California all weekend, seeing my husband off on his seven-month deployment, my solution for the weekend was to seperate Bane and Snickers.

Snickers stays home. Bane has gone to his "Aunt Becca's" for the weekend. Which isn't too bad for ole' Baners...'cause he gets the run of the screened balcony porch.

Except, initially, I had sectioned off a part with baby gates.

My brilliant bunny decided to knock over the baby gates, which trapped him and apparently beaned him rather hard.

My bun has blunt trauma to his little noggin.... And I'm not there for him!!!

Thankfully, his "aunt" is a concientious woman and she took him to the best bunny vet in Tally.... But I'm still worried about him. He's got a concusion of sorts and he needs drops for his eyes, because a rabbit's reaction to a head injury is eye-bugging (literally). The tissue around their eyes swells and their eyes pop....so Bane needs special medicine to take the swelling down.

I hope this doesn't hurt him for the future. I'm not so worried about him right NOW, because I know he's being well taken care of. But I'm worried about the long-term effects. I hope it doesn't addle him, or anything.......

My poor bun. *big long suffering sigh* Why does this stuff happen when I'm not home....???!!!

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15185669/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/15185669/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:56:52 PDT
My gallery is slowly morphing into a shrine to rabbits.

I'm not obsessed...am I? O.o

Anyway...I would urge everyone to check out my latest addition, "The Run of the Rabbit Riders". I'm quite proud of it.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14992199/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14992199/ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:20:42 PDT Could be worse...

And I encourage everyone to check out hubby's gallery.

I now have my new bunny - Snickers! He's absolutely precious. I'm hoping he'll teach Bane not to be such a complete snot. LOL So far, Snickers is proving to be a very chill, all-house bunny. Very, very cool. He likes people and he likes being held. Now, if him and Bane can just sort things out, we'll be doing good!

I've spent most of my evening running rabbit riot control. I got tired of it, so I've finally brought Snickers down to the living room. He's now chilling out on the windowsill above the couch. ROFL I had to take a picture. Entirely too cute.

Check out the character portrait my buddy :iconmoundchamp: made. SHE ROCKS!!! I now have a visual reference for Jabar Nabi the Bane - mecenary rabbit extraordinaire!

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14962345/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14962345/ Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:50:34 PDT
But...on to happier things...

I'm getting my wedding present on Tuesday!!! My dear husband-to-be took to go look at bunnies today! I'm going to adopt a two-year-old rabbit from the local shelter. His name is Snickers and he's black with brown and white patches. He's adorable and my bunny seems to like him!!



I'm ridiculously excited. I was so disappointed that I couldn't get him today. Had to prove residency. *sighs* And the shelter closed before we could go back today - and it's closed tomorrow.

But Snickers is coming home on Tuesday! I'll be sure to post pictures!!!

And btw - I'm getting MARRIED TOMORROW!!!! O.o Big step...can't believe I'm actually taking it. But I can't think of a better man to jump off into the great unknown with...

Though I will say - I'm sure he never thought it would as easy as going down to the local animal shelter to get his wife a wedding present. *giggles* And I don't know of many women who would want a rescued rabbit for a wedding present, either...

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14935575/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14935575/ Sat, 06 Oct 2007 02:57:34 PDT
Yeah....

Is it bad that I praised my rabbit for leaping randomly onto my sleeping soon-to-be-husband-in-two-day's stomach?

The sad thing is, he only made some sleepy mummble noise and continued sleeping.

Marines. Ugh. No mortar fire, howling helo blades, or flying rabbits shall disrupt their sleep of death.

Bastards.

Wish I could sleep like that....

I guess they don't teach that in the Army.

Then again, flying rabbits aren't usually an occupational hazard for the normal servicemember....

I am so goofy and random when I'm sleepy. O.o Beware. My insanity is apparently contagious.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14764812/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14764812/ Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:13:22 PDT
My rabbit is absolutely adorable...but I can't seem to convey that in the pictures I take of him. Some of the best pictures of him, I think, could be taken while he's up close to me, but my camera doesn't take very good close-up pictures. So all of my really good pictures of him are fuzzy and/or dark.

Grrrr!

I'm in hot pursuit of the perfect picture of my rabbit. I will find it...one of these days...

>.<

Until then, I'll keep pulling out my hair and wishing for a better quality camera...

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14721419/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14721419/ Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:07:58 PDT
Except this:

I am fascinated by rabbits.

Smitten by rabbits.

Obsessed with rabbits.

Bunnies bunnies bunnies!! I can't get enough of them!

I'm insane...

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14695117/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14695117/ Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:28:13 PDT
I've completed the first six pages of the new-and-improved Autumn's Prayer. I've even changed the name up a bit. ^_^ Most pleased.

I've also commissioned my dear friend Ralin to draw a picture of Nabi (one of the main characters of Autumn's Prayer, which all of you readers have met in the prologue).

And Ralin and I have also agreed to start making our own Tarot deck for The Legends of the Four Veils series. *does a happy dance* The Tarot played a big role in the making of the series, so it's only fitting that a deck actually be made. Do expect updates on that!

I can't think of a better person to collaborate with. She's an awesome artist and dependable - I think the two of us are going to do a fantastic job. ^_^

((And yes, I do intend to publish the deck in time!))

Hahaha...I just got a random bunny kiss. ^_^ My rabbit jumped up on the bed, licked my arm twice, then ran off. He's so like a little boy sometimes... ^_^

And now, my friends...I go to sleep!!

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14672998/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14672998/ Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:19:46 PDT
Haven't heard from my fiance for a week. Won't hear from him for another week. Oh yay for being a military sweetheart. >.< Bleghhhhhh....

And the payment for my trip to Cali next weekend better go through. 'Cause I'm going to be pissed at myself if I messed something up and can't go. *grumbles* If, for no other reason, to have something new to post up here. Hurray for boring pictures of military functions.

Speaking of which...I hope I get to do something INTERESTING at three-day drill this weekend. It'd be nice to have some spiffy pics to put up. I haven't had nadda since Ft. McCoy...I guess I could always get my grubby paws on the MPAD's archives. I took some really neat pictures at Ft. McCoy, but thanks to my own brilliance (note sarcasm), I don't have my own copies to transfer up. Just random stuff from Ft. Gordon, which really wasn't all that exciting... Though I could always post those...

Can't we tell that I'm really reaching for new stuff to post? We can all thank Mattioli13 for that. LOL

Choco, Ralin...I'll have some new writing up soon! I'm slowly scheming for the official CHAPTER ONE of Autumn's Prayer. Whoo-hoo!! Now I just need to catch up on my algebra homework and get off my lazy ass to write. LOL And I'm also planning on writing/posting a personal piece entitled "A Rabbit's Heart." So keep an eye out for that.

]]> ~bardic-fire http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14155394/ http://bardic-fire.deviantart.com/journal/14155394/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:55:20 PDT
So I'm trying different alternate beginnings for "Autumn's Prayer". Keep an eye on things and let me know what you like most!

And thanks to Ralin and Choco for reading and for their suggestions!! *big hugs*

]]> ~bardic-fire