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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69616834038296388612017-08-19T13:42:42.044-04:00FARM AT COVENTRYTales from the green side...Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-53129326756266404712010-01-07T10:53:00.030-05:002014-04-02T13:01:32.263-04:00Spinning the Flax TaleWhile working on the previous post detailing the fine art of the mustard plaster and handling the linen cloth, I was again reminded of all of the healing aspects of the flax plant. I mentioned my fancy of well loved linen, so it may be no secret that I am quite fond of most textiles. Natural fibers, of course, but particularly those whose history I can trace from living plant or grazing creature to finished product. Add in a few good human hands to help harvest, sheer, weave, knit or stitch along the way and I'm all aglow. What was once a basic and necessary commodity for all lingers now as a timeless art for a few who pursue and are deeply gratified by the process. You know who you are! I brushed the cyber-dust off of this article originally written and published in the Winter 2008 issue of the Hollerbeier Haven newsletter.

 Flax (Linum usitatissimum) was formerly one of the most useful and productive crops of the Pennsylvania countryside, but its' presence as such, has sadly dissolved into history. Flax was one of the state's earliest agricultural exported items (mustard seed being the other) but cultivation in Pennsylvania ceased almost entirely by 1870, having been in gradual decline since the civil war. The introduction of cheaper cotton goods were also introduced about the same time. Flax seed was sown early in the spring and by early summer the field was awash with a sea of brilliant blue flowers on long slender stalks that swayed easily in the breeze. By the time it was harvested late in the summer, the plants were in seed and ready to be pulled up by hand. They were then stacked on the ground to be rained upon or soaked in a nearby stream to hasten the decomposition of the outer layer of the stalk. This 'retting' process would dissolve the natural glue which binds the flax fibers to the stalk. After the outer skin had rotted, the flax stalks had to be dried again. Depending on the weather this may have happened out in the fields or possibly near a fire. A series of repetitive processes followed that involved 'breaking' the outer stalk and separating the long fibers for spinning. Up until this point all the diligent physical preparations that accompanied planting and harvest were the mainly the responsibility of the men folk. The finished raw flax fibers were then carefully stored in a dry place until they were brought out again during the long dark nights brought in the waning of the year.
Spinning was a winter chore performed by the women and girls of the household. An old proverb in the Pennsylvania German dialect was: "Lichtmess, schpinna fergess" which meant that all the winter spinning needed to be completed and the spools full of flax thread by Candlemas/Lichtmass day which was February 2nd. When the spinning was completed, the thread was then sent to the local weaver who produced the linen cloth. The weaver was most often a man, who would likely keep a portion of the cloth as payment for his services. It was rare for an 18th century household to have their own full-sized loom. These were very large and expensive pieces of equipment and were generally owned and operated by those who were weavers by trade. Many households did have a small table or hand loom that could produce a long narrow measure of cloth that was useful for smaller household needs. The total production time from stomping the seed into the cold wet soil to completion of a soft warm undergarment could take up to eighteen months or more.
The history of "Flaxbaue' (or flax culture) dates back to the late stone age. Archeological excavations around earthen dwellings in Switzerland show that the inhabitants there were familiar with linen. Through the ages, linen was used not only to fashion garments, but also to make sailcloth for great ships, rope and cording, nets for hunting and fishing, wicks for lamps, as well as for making pages for books and manuscripts. Linen was so revered that is was used as actual currency in some northern regions.
Though the blue flax flowers were often associated with the Virgin Mary during medieval times, this was surely a hold over from earlier cultures who understood the flax 'creation stories' to be linked with the various 'spinning goddesses'.

The goddesses ( Holle, Hulda,Frigg, Brigit,Perchta, and the Wyrd Sisters) were charged with the gifting of the flax seeds to mortals, the protection and fertility of the flax crop and women, the teaching of spinning and weaving and finally, the spinning of threads of fate or creation and destruction. Spinning the thread could be compared to stirring the soup pot. Starting with seemingly nothing and creating something of great worth and usefulness to the folk. The spinning work contained all of the symbolism of the creation cycle: the beginning creative spark, the living, active work and then the 'harvest', completion or fulfillment of the worthy task. With the death of the plant, came the birth of the seeds for the next years' planting and the beginning of a new cycle. It was these deeply held beliefs that insured that all phases of the flax culture were honored equally and thus were rich with tradition and ritual. Most ritual practices took place during the flax growing season to assure that the plants grew as tall as possible; for the longest lengths of raw fiber made for a stronger thread which was then woven into cloth that was longer lasting. The rituals which focused directly on the fertility and productive health of the fields fell naturally on the women of the village; From the manner in which flax seeds were sown, to the frequent visits to the flax fields during the growing season, the women were solely responsible for these rituals.Later, during the act of spinning, a woman would soon discover that listening to the rhythmic hum of the wheel and watching it circle round and around in front of the open fire, could induce altered states of consciousness. This was (and is) a perfect meditative exercise for the long dark nights of winter when contemplative thought and dreaming the future was all considered to be part of the 'woman's winter work'. Because the flax plant was considered to be overseen by so many beneficial goddesses, it was also a commonly held belief that the blue blossoms, the seeds and the fine linen cloth were strong deterrents to evil sorcery and witchcraft. These parts of the plant were routinely used in healing and protection ceremonies throughout the Middle Ages. A healing plant poultice was made that much more powerful by utilizing linen in the dressing. Many healing women also had special headdresses made of linen and wore them as a defense against demons.

In fairly recent times, the healthful benefits of flax seeds and flax seed oil have become common knowledge. The Omega 3 fatty acids in the flax seed oil help to 'ward off' the evils of heart disease and cancer and will reduce inflammation within the body, the source of many ills of today. The seeds (made into a 'slimy' tea by combining 1 cup of boiling water and 3 tsp of seeds) have demulcent and emollient abilities that will soothe coughs and sore throats, or help ease dry constipation and urinary or digestive system inflammation. Flax seed that has been cooked in milk or water and then used as a poultice will have a drawing effect: For bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma use as a chest plaster with mustard powder or combined with grated carrot and or marshmallow root for swellings or inflammation. A warm flax seed poultice will also draw a boil or abscess to a head. Some may think of flax today as a 'new age' or ' natural' remedy but in understanding the incredible significance of the existence of flax in cultures worldwide for the past 25,000 years, the historic uses can be safely utilized and appreciated by families and practitioners yet today. Certainly makes this writer wistfully imagine a large waving blue patch out back. When my own seeds arrive, I will certainly enjoy starting a new 'tossing and stomping' planting ritual of my own!
I claim that in losing the spinning wheel we lost our left lung. We are, therefore, suffering from galloping consumption. The restoration of the wheel arrests the progress of the fell disease.
~Gandhi Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-27774470446455420952010-01-05T14:22:00.028-05:002014-10-30T15:28:38.054-04:00Getting Plastered....Granny's Way
I have to admit...had I not experienced this simple treatment myself years ago (with staggering success) I may have ignored the time worn method with some scoff and skepticism. But witness it, I did: An old time mustard plaster artfully applied to my son by a sweet visiting nurse when he was just a wee lad. He was sick with pneumonia and starting a second round of antibiotics. Me? I was sick with worry and exhaustion after his three week stint of coughing around the clock. I was so grateful for the offer of help and welcomed the opportunity to learn anything that I could do that might help him. I had followed all of the orders prescribed by the doc, which honestly didn't seem to be helping very much. The threat of potential hospitalization loomed and only added to my helplessness.
It was a relatively simple procedure in the scheme of things, but the nurse's quiet confidence and gentle care of us both, not only helped my son to turn the corner on his healing, but instilled new confidence in my ability to 'do something' useful for my sick child. In honor of that turning point so many years ago, I thought I'd share the procedure, step by step, the way I was taught.
A mustard plaster will bring nearly immediate relief and warmth to a respiratory system plagued by long lingering coughs, congestion, bronchitis or cold damp pneumonia. It works mainly by increasing circulation and introducing deep heat to congested lungs, thus stimulating the loosening and expectoration of mucus.
Tool Gathering List for Plaster Preparation:
*Tablecloth or towel folded lengthwise to protect table when prepping the plaster
*A length of linen or muslin 24 inches wide by 36-48" long. Lovely well-loved old linens are relatively easy to come by at thrift shops and yard sales and are my plaster fabric of choice. The pieces are often stained or frayed at the edges but I still see a beauty and usefulness there that collectors glance over. The linen can be washed out and used again and again.
*Mortar and Pestle.If you have time and your guns can take the workout, Great! If not, a small electric coffee bean grinder works well to powder the mustard seeds. (Spoiler Alert: if you plan on using the same coffee grinder that your honey uses to make his morning cuppa, it is likely that his FairTrade Organic Peruvian Dark Roast will forever be touched by the sharp flavor of wasabi horseradish. Just sayin'. It's best to have a grinder dedicated strictly to coffee and another for everything else!)
*Bowl or basin for immersing the rolled up cloth plaster
*An extra towel to layer on top of the plaster once it has been applied to the body will help to keep the warmth in.
*If you are so inclined, plastic wrap offers some modern convenience to the process, but is not necessary. A layer of plastic wrap on top of the plaster and wrapped completely around the body will hold it nicely in place.
*Large safety pins can also be helpful especially if the plaster cloth is long enough to wrap around the torso to overlap and pin in back. Other wise, folding a towel in half length wise and wrapped around the body on top of the plaster will keep it warm and in place.
Plaster Ingredients:
*Whole black or brown mustard seeds (ordinary yellow mustard powder will do in a pinch but quite possibly may lack the 'zip' needed to bring good circulation to the area.) Fresh ground powder is always your best choice. You'll need 1/2 cup for this batch
*Flour, any kind of flour: 2 cups
*Water to activate the' heat' in the powdered mustard seed and to bind it with the flour to make a nice spreadable 'schmutz'.
Directions:
* Lay a folded towel or table cloth out across a table to protect the table. On top of that spread open your linen fabric. You can see that mine has been folded into a trifold and the fold lines are important to the assembly process.
*Next, mix together the 1/2 cup mustard powder and the 2 cups of flour until well blended. Take half of the dry mix away for the next plaster treatment. Store in a glass jar with tight lid. Set aside. With the remaining half, blend with little additions of water until the mixture resembles thick paste. (See photo) It cannot be too dry or too runny. You want it to retain a spreadable consistency.
~ Spread the mixture out thoroughly over the center part of the trifold, judging how much you will need to cover either the chest or the back. Doing both is a good idea. Remember that often the underarm area can be pretty sensitive, too, so don't spread the paste the whole length of the cloth. I've found that a person will tolerate pink tingling skin a bit longer when their sensitive spots aren't screaming to be unbound from the cloth!
*When the plaster has been spread sufficiently, fold the other two sides of the trifold over the center so that you have two layers of cloth, a layer of mustard mixture and a final layer of cloth. Flip the entire plaster over so that the single cloth layer is facing up and the two cloth layers are on the bottom. Roll each end in toward the center so that it looks like this....
~Next you'll need to put some very warm water in a basin. In this water, the rolled up plaster will be submerged into the water until the water becomes cloudy. You will likely get a good strong whiff of volatile oils that are activated by the water, smelling a bit like horseradish. Once the plaster has been activated, squeeze out the excess water and be ready to quickly unroll and apply to the body.
Afterthought Note**Before preparing the plaster itself, it's important to have the person receiving the treatment ready, reclining and warm with blankets covering waist to toes. They will need to remove upper body clothing at the very last moment. No need to invite a chill. An old sheet or towel should be placed over the pillows to protect from any potential splash and a quilt or blanket close by to throw over the shoulders for warmth. Perhaps, if modesty is a real concern, an extra sheet can be used to drape the entire upper body during the treatment.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get anyone in the house to volunteer for the pre-plaster prep today, let alone allow me to photograph them for this particular blog photo. So I've used Venus de Milo as a stand-in to demonstrate a very important first step: Man, woman or child~ All must protect very sensitive tissue from irritating mustard oils! I use small squares of linen, muslin or gauze pads and slather one side with a nice dollop of a gentle salve or honey and apply to the aforementioned sensitive tissue as demonstrated here by Venus. They will stay nicely in place if dolloped generously. Carry on....
~Next, unroll the plaster so that the single layer of cloth (with the mustard layer next) is facing the chest. Center the mustard plaster on the chest and wrap the sides under the arms. Pin in back if possible or use a dry towel topper pinned in front. This same process can be applied to the whole back above the waist...after all, the lungs are situated there, too.
~Leave the plaster in place for 10-30 minutes at the most. This procedure is likely to promote perspiration and reddening of the skin so you will need to be vigilant at checking underneath the plaster edges to assess the condition of the skin every five minutes or so....particularly if you are applying to a child's skin. You want to see nicely pink....not blazing red skin! If a person experiences discomfort, promptly remove the plaster and wash the area with warm soap and water. There are vast variations in skin sensitivity and in the potency of different mustard seeds. Every treatment may be different. Commit to stay close by for the entire treatment...beginning to end. Offer plenty of liquids to the receiving person before and during the plaster. It is important part of the treatment. When the plaster is removedencourage a warm soapy shower to remove any lingering mustard oils as they will continue to irritate the skin. Afterwards, bundle up your charge and allow them to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. This procedure can be repeated up to two times per day while increasing fluids. It is likely that expectoration will occur with greater ease.
I like to show others how to do this in 'real' time ...it was a bit of a challenge with photos. If there are any parts that need deeper clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-44125677139677047252010-01-03T11:10:00.030-05:002010-01-08T18:56:56.960-05:00Pass the Mustard, Please.....From the mildest yellow seed (Brassica alba) to the more pungent, respectively: brown(Brassica juncea) and black seed (Brassica nigra), mustards are one of worlds oldest known spices carried and cultivated by the human race.
The seeds are known to have been cultivated in India as far back as 3000 BC and in Egypt, mustard seeds have been found in the tombs of the ancient pharaohs.
 The paste of ground mustard seeds blended with liquid or oil is the oldest condiment known, although no one knows for sure who first used it to flavor food. Prepared mustard dates back at very least to the Romans, who ground the seeds and mixed them with wine to create their own pungent paste. The spicy seed was then carried and spread throughout Europe via their conquering legions. In some cultures the condiment utilized unfermented grape juice, called must (from the Latin mustum ardens) which lead the condiment to become known as mustard  meaning roughly: "burning wine". The potent pastes were slathered on meats to bring fire to the digestive organs, to help break down the fatty protein and likely helped disguise the flavor of meat that may have been well past its prime. The volatile oils in mustard also exhibit antiseptic activity (due to strong sulphur compounds) which may have provided a pungent layer of protection on the surface of spoiling flesh and perhaps saved many a soul from a long miserable night of digestive distress.
In 1768, early Pennsylvania German apothecary Johann Christopher Sauer added an entry on mustard seed in his multi~volumed Sauer's Herbal Cures (recently translated to English by William Woys Weaver)
Sauer's Mustard Sauce Recipe "…a very good mustard sauce may be prepared in the following manner: Take vinegar and put it in a glass bottle with enough ground mustard to make it thick. Add a little sugar and let it stand for twenty four hours. It is then ready for eating. If the bottle is kept well corked, this mustard will keep well for many weeks, especially during cool weather…" To the right is a photo of my own homemade mustard and a link back to the original post and recipe that includes fresh garlic mustard leaves as well as yellow and brown mustard seeds.
Culinary uses aside, Sauer also recommended the sauce to "purify the head, warm the stomach, clear the chest and promote expectoration in the lungs and also the flow of urine…"
The medicinal virtues of black and brown mustard seeds are classified as hot and drying. However these virtues are only released in their full potential when the coating of the seed has been bruised and exposed to a liquid.
Interestingly, on this continent, mustard seed along with flax seed were two of the earliest and most prolific export crops grown in colonial Pennsylvania. Not only did the influx of Germans and English demand suitable stimulating digestive condiments to serve alongside their own fatty meats, they also relied heavily on the tiny seeds for their powerful medicinal qualities. Don't be mislead by it's tiny size, freshly ground mustard seed packs a whallop.
The ability to stimulate circulation is also evident as a topical treatment for cold or stagnant conditions such as damp pneumonia or cold stiff muscles or joints. A warming mustard plaster, liniment or oil will increases blood flow to the area by 'drawing up the flesh and turning it red'. A goodly snort of crushed seeds will produce a head clearing sneeze. A deep massage with mustard infused oil will warm and release all but the most resistant contracted muscles.
Along with culinary and medicinal uses, a few interesting folk uses of mustard seeds linger in cultures around the world: In Germany, new brides still sew mustard seeds into the hems of their wedding dresses to insure that their husbands don't dominate them in their life together.  In Denmark and India, it is believed that spreading mustard seeds around the exterior of the home will keep out evil spirits. The ancient Chinese considered mustard a stimulating aphrodisiac.
Currently, black mustard seeds are 'losing heat' in the commercial market. The brown seeds are easier to harvest with machines, thus reducing the economic expense of harvesting by hand. The majority of mustard seeds grown for world consumption are cultivated by Canada, Montana and North Dakota. However our wild native Crucifeara family members include Garlic Mustard (Alliaria officinalis) and Penny Cress (Thlapsi arvense) can be collected and also used accordingly. However harvesting the seeds can be a long and arduous process.
~~ The next blog post will detail a step by step mustard plaster as applicable to the chest in the case of mucus that is difficult to expectorate. This post is one in part of January's blog party challenge on Warming Herbs and Spices. Please visit host Yael's blog and warm your hands by the herbal fire happening at Dirttime.orgSusan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-69363259758404923592009-12-30T09:45:00.019-05:002010-01-08T15:58:30.435-05:00Faery Sleep

Come away, O human child!
 To the waters and the wild
 with a faery hand in hand,
 For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
 ~William Butler Yeats

Faery sleep. That can be the only explanation. One moment I was filling baskets with tomatoes and basil with the setting sun warm on my shoulders. The next moment I was slowly waking to the sound of crows cackling, in a cold bedroom wearing wool socks and flannel. From under layers of quilts this morning, I focused my eyes on an unbelievable sunrise lighting the walls surrounding my bed. I peered out, surprised to see the leaves are now stripped from the trees and remnants of snow and wind below in the garden. I must clear my head...there are many vague dreams of long autumn days, distant travels, abundant harvests and women laughing and...weeping,too. This all may take a bit of sorting, this long faery sleep, but for now, all that matters is blowing on the embers that are glowing in the woodstove and putting the kettle on....right after I marvel the brilliant day I woke up to. ((Stretch and yawn)) Thanks dear Faeries, it's good to be back.....

Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-30690907913340652602009-08-09T10:17:00.003-04:002009-08-09T10:23:53.038-04:00Mercy...
Looks like I'll be spending the day in the kitchen.

Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-16324254448250962692009-07-29T20:15:00.010-04:002009-07-30T07:30:16.861-04:00S'More, Please!! Not....Okay, this is totally and unabashedly a not-so-healthy Martha Stewart recipe but I caved in to the comfort food thing....again ((and, unfortunately, paying for it now)) These are so goood but with the recipe comes a serious word of caution: DO NOT eat more than one at a time and keep a watchful buddy around to roll their eyes and scold you, if you do. I do speak from wishful experience here. Better to savor just one and take the rest to a potluck....

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

 1/2 cup light-brown sugar (the original recipe called for 3/4 cup...no way)

1 large egg

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, cut into 30 squares (*Note: This math is impossible-the Giardelli 8 oz. bars start with 8 rectangles. Divided equally, you will get 34 squares, not 30. You have no other choice than to eat the four extra pieces (like I did) and that, my friends, was mistake #1)

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse oats until finely ground. Add flours, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; pulse to combine. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, scraping down side of bowl. With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture just until combined
2)Drop dough by tablespoons, 1 inch apart, onto two baking sheets. Top each with a chocolate square. Bake just until lightly golden, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Remove sheets from oven; heat broiler. Top each cookie with a marshmallow. One sheet at a time, broil until marshmallows are lightly browned, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. Makes approx. 30 cookies
Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-26635762644626685832009-07-29T12:59:00.012-04:002014-04-02T14:20:46.589-04:00Food Fare in Fifteen
I've been trying to plan meals to include food choices grown, grazed or produced within a fifteen mile radius of home. It's rather easy being surrounded by great farmer's markets and farms, not to mention the abundant selections available right out the back door. The baskets, counter tops and fridge have been full of great local food! Yesterday's partial harvest from the garden is seen above (with a basket full of fresh dug potatoes, herbs and a 5 gallon bucket of raw honey that came later in the day) The basket above was dubbed 'Gazpacho to Go' ...and go, it went, directly into the food processor to be blended into a yummy cold soup for lunch for the next few days. Tomato soup, hot or cold, is a comfort food that is always at the top of my fave list. Add a grilled cheese on sourdough, and I couldn't be a more 'comforted' camper.This recipe is more of a ingredient list, because it will vary with whatever is available and abundant: First and foremost, though: Lots of ripe tomatoes. I probably used a dozen or 15 of various sizes and colors. Quarter and put in the food processor bowl and pulse until good and juicy with small chunks. Empty tomatoes into a soup pot. Next, cut the ends off two medium cucumbers and a medium zucchini, half lengthwise and scrape seeds out (if they're large). Quarter and put in the food processor. Pulse until smooth and add to the tomato mixture. Repeat this process with a large onion, 3-4 garlic cloves, 1-2 jalapeno peppers (seeds removed), LOTS of fresh herbs: cilantro, chives, rosemary, parsley, basil, bee balm or oregano, salt and pepper, and a splash of olive oil. Pulse all until nearly smooth and add to the soup pot. If you have it, add two leftover ears of roasted corn, kernels cut from the cob and stirred into the pot. One final addition is not locally grown but, in my opinion, absolutely essential to the recipe: one organic lime, juiced and zested. Another tasty (non-local) addition is a cubed avocado. Stir well, taste for seasoning and chill through! A dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream on top is a yummy garnish.Dinner: All local....the veggies, flowers and pesto from the garden. The chicken, corn and yes, even the mushrooms are local from the farmer's market. I made the pesto with local goat feta.I may never use parmesan again! It keeps the pesto from turning black. oh yes, it was Heaven on a plate.
Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-14522298848772686822009-07-24T12:21:00.004-04:002009-07-27T15:21:30.805-04:00New Arrival!
A healthy new arrival was delivered from the garden early this morning!!
Weight: 5lbs 5 oz.
Height: 17 1/2 inches long
What a surprise! I was definitely not expecting this baby, but it will be happily welcomed into the family meal plan for the next week or so...maybe even shared with the neighborhood. The sibling in the center is the average size zuke I have been harvesting for the last few weeks. The baby on the left had to be harvested at the same time as it's huge twin. The little baby one was growing directly on top of it and they were connected at the neck! I still am amazed that I didn't see this coming!! Blessings come in all shapes and sizes and this one is definitely a keeper!

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-74683183940176974042009-07-23T16:06:00.005-04:002009-07-23T16:13:35.624-04:00Just another day...
oh dear...
the crapper's full of creeper
and the bathtub's bounding with basil
Time to make pesto!

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-22751504132898588632009-07-20T21:23:00.005-04:002009-07-20T21:58:13.977-04:00Laugh or Cry??I recently ordered a new batch of business cards and mailing labels from 'Company XYZ' (name changed to protect my *ss) Their marketing and signage page caught my eye and in no time, I had uploaded a nice design using my own photo images for a market banner to use at shows, etc. The price was extremely reasonable. The banner looked lovely on the preview page and I kept getting what seemed to be personalized pop up boxes suggesting that I had uploaded a "NICE DESIGN!" with "GREAT PHOTO RESOLUTION!". After I jumped through all of their specification hoops, I was given another chance to use this same image on a T-shirt, mug or tote bag. I ordered one T-shirt. I waited two weeks for the banner and the shirt. They finally came today and I was thrilled by the quality of the Tshirt and the reproduction of images. Really sweet. When I unrolled the banner I saw the same great quality on the photos and font, until I saw the entire text line. Now look at this closely...what do you get when you overlap FARM & AT?? yeah....This sign isn't get me more than alotta big laughs from my customers !! I spent most of the afternoon trying to get this squared away with their customer service department. Bottom line...sneaky bottom line, though it is....it is my fault. My loss. I'll spare you all the boring details here but Dang it!I was so mad trying to understand how the Tshirt is fine and the banner is trash. However, every single time I look at that crazy text, I laugh again. Costly humor, that banner!!Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-20276840318664944412009-07-20T17:24:00.011-04:002009-07-21T19:44:59.073-04:00Making Elderflower SyrupThis is a repost from last summer. The simple syrup recipe remains the same but the pleasure is always new again! We thoroughly enjoyed the elderflower syrup this past weekend in the "Homestead Herbalism, Too" class and also made lemon verbena and lavender blossom syrups as well. There are a limited amount of freshly bottled syrups available for purchase, if you are interested. They are listed in the seasonal offerings section of the website. A single tablespoon of syrup over a tall glass of cracked ice and water is such a lovely refreshing treat on a hot day. Add sliced lemons or limes, if you prefer! A spoonful of the lavender syrup is amazing in a hot cup of chamomile tea. Try one or all three...The sky is the limit with the creations you can concoct! Enjoy...we sure did!Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-78421500996042179762009-07-16T07:42:00.019-04:002009-07-20T14:07:33.796-04:00Entertaining the ElectuaryOne of the most pleasant ways to prepare and take herbs is in an electuary, which is a fancy-pants name for a sweet herbal paste or jam. In times past, many bitter-tasting and downright unpalatable herbs were likely prepared in this way to 'help the medicine go down". In its simplest form, an electuary consists of honey and powdered herbs; however, I've seen a variety of interesting additions in recipes: fragrant flowers (fresh rose petals come to mind here), wine, brandy, herbal vinegar or medicinal tinctures; fruit or herb syrups, jams or conserves. Of these extra additions, I am quite fond of an electuary made with fresh elderberries blended with ginger, clove and cinnamon powders and of course, honey. It is a delicious, but potent treat to take a few a spoonfuls of this paste at the first inkling of the 'Uh oh, I've got a chill' cold or flu.

The gamut of possible combinations in recipes of electuaries can run from the very simple to the extremely complex. The great Greco-Roman physician Galen's Theriac electuary had over 64 different ingredients! Well made, electuaries will keep for a very long time. Many actually mellow and improve with age. Precious pots of herb and honey blends have been found intact in the burial tombs of many of the great pharaohs of Egypt. Apparently they were considered a valuable necessity to have in the afterlife!

 The standard 'dose' for a sweet herbal paste is usually a teaspoonful taken as needed, depending on the electuary's potency. They may be stirred into hot complimentary teas to be ingested or taken straight off the spoon. My vehicle of choice is a piece of buttered whole grain toast! But, I digress...

My very favorite combination for an electuary is an assortment of warming carminitive and aromatic spices. This particular blend is particularly useful in the event of digestive cramping, nausea, intestinal gas, diarrhea and other uncomfortable disorders of the digestive system. Many of these same spices are also strongly antibacterial in the case of digestive upset caused by ingesting microbial nasties. Some may be surprised, if not skeptical, of the potent medicinal power of these common kitchen cupboard spices. If the medicinal value of this tasty electuary hasn't sold you yet, make this simply to stir into a cup of hot black tea and cream for an instant chai tea! And please, don't forget to try the buttered toast. Heavenly.

Here is my own recipe for this excellent electuary. Be sure to use whole spices to start. Commercially powdered spices may have already lost a good part of their 'zing' and with it, a good part of their medicinal value.

 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp whole cloves, 2 tsp coriander seeds, 2 tsp dried ginger root, 2 tsp whole black peppercorns, 2 tsp fennel seeds, 2 tsp nutmeg powder, 3 tsp cardamom seeds, 3 tsp whole allspice berries, 3 whole star anise, 3 TB cinnamon chips

Grind all spices together in a mortar and pestle (or electric coffe grinder if you have one) until quite finely powdered. Stir into 2 cups of honey and simmer together over a LOW, LOW heat double boiler for at least a day, preferably longer, but stirring often. Strain warm honey through a medium fine sieve. This will assure that you remove all the tooth-breaking hard parts, but still allow the powered bits to pass through. The finished electuary should be rich, dark and nearly paste-like in consistency. Store in a clean jar and cap tightly.

As much as I love to talk about the sweet things in life, Kiva Rose at The Medicine Woman's Roots put the 'sweet talk' together in an organized way by hosting a summer blog party called "Sweet Medicines". This particular post and all other submissions will be published on her blog on August 1. I'm really looking forward to that. In fact, I may just add another sweet post or two before the end of the month.We have been totally enjoying the tasty herbal syrups, honeys and elixirs here in the classes the last few weeks.Make sure to go take a long look at Kiva's blog....it's so beautifully illustrated and written. A true inspiration!!

Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-11062761688203705202009-07-14T15:38:00.016-04:002009-07-20T16:24:57.657-04:00'How Does the Garden Grow?'
Along with a basket of freshly harvested produce came the sudden realization that a few weeks have passed since I shared garden photos! The early spring rains finally moved on and made way for some gloriously sunny days, both which have produced one of the most beautifully lush and healthy gardens we ever have seen here in the last fourteen years! With the new 'bones' of fence, posts and raised beds in place, keeping our hens and assortment of wild critters at bay has been a breeze, producing a kind of lovely sanctuary beyond the gate. The gardens have flourished and produced quite a bit of food, flowers and culinary herbs so far this season.
The bamboo poles are full of spiraling vines laden with flowers and tiny beans. The Rainbow chard continues to put out new growth. The zucchini and cucumbers are giving us more fruits every day and we are thrilled to have the first harvests of early heirloom tomatoes: Tigerella and Bloody Butcher. The rest of the heirlooms are loading up with fruits, likely to ripen later in the month when the nights get warmer. All ten of the tomato plants are surrounded by their companion plantings of basil which I have been plucking at for a few weeks....even the first batch of pesto batch been consumed already this summer. Now to perfect the mozzarella cheese making!My curiosity got the better of me yesterday after a good soaking thunder storm. I was convinced that the storm must have caused the new potatoes to swell so I rocked a plant back and forth a bit in the moist soil and pulled up this bevy of beauties. We promptly cooked them up with some eggs for breakfast. A simple potato never tasted so good!! Oh, to have the patience ( and will power!) to let them be and grow to full maturity....and what would potatoes be without cabbage?? This is an early photo of the brassicas which all grew into lovely firm heads that I harvested a few days ago. A second crop will go in shortly for fall sauerkraut making.Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-51976049599616157062009-07-05T22:23:00.005-04:002009-07-05T22:46:36.879-04:00Bliss...Simply Bliss

David Winston and Donna Bryant's joyful union surrounded by friends, family and green! So incredibly happy for you!! May the years bring many smiles and many blessings.

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-57624015537519032552009-07-03T11:58:00.021-04:002013-06-25T13:33:00.977-04:00Sweet Nerve-ana

I have always considered the American Basswood or American Linden (Tilia americana) an enormously impressive tree. Standing upwards of one hundred feet or more, it's deliriously fragrant flowers have almost always been out of my reach. I am usually happy to stand on tippy toes to pluck a few flowers on low growing branches. But I am happier still, to stand beneath a tree in fullest fragrant blossom, to observe the humm and drone of perhaps thousands of drunken bees at work far above me. It is quite an amazing sight. The combination of being in the presence of such an ancient tree, the perfume of the sweetest of summer's flowers and the confirmation that the health of the honeybee population may not be so dismal after all provides a nearly instant cloak of peace and calm. Recently, I was invited to harvest various wild plants growing on the property of one of my students. I was thrilled at the prospect, knowing the property rather well, as the former home of an old herb friend who had long ago moved out of the state. I hadn't been to this particular piece of land in perhaps 15 years. When I had finished filling my basket, we chatted by the front of the house under the shade of a lovely tree that I hadn't remembered when my friend resided there. When I looked up to admire it further, I discovered it to be a young-ish linden tree, fully laden with branches about to flower....branches that had touched my hair and neck and shoulders while we visited. I was so delighted to meet a flowering linden within my reach that I stroked it instantly and vowed to be back the very day the flowers opened. I was sure that my friend had planted this tree and I thanked her quietly, where ever she might be now, wishing she could know that I was standing underneath it about to accept some of it's beautiful medicine. I also vowed in that moment to somehow reacquaint myself with this wonderful woman who I had lost track of over the years. As anyone intimately involved with plants well knows, some plants call to you, for reasons unknown, by a sweet scent, a vibrant color or a subtle shiver of leaves. It may even be a more blatant tickle of leaves on your neck or thorn snagged onto your sweater....whatever the method, the introduction has been initiated. It's up to us to continue the conversation and explore the gifts of the message. When rapt attention is given to the subtle voice of the plants, it opens the door to often beautiful and undeniable synchronicity. A remedy needed, a lesson learned, a truth told. For the past few weeks I have immersed myself in the immeasurable lessons of the linden tree, deepening my relationship with it's gifts through a thin gold cord that connects old friends, new friends and interestingly, also a friend who has passed.
(Interjecting a little bit of storytelling here...)
Seven years ago, Minnesota herbalist, Matthew Wood spent the first of many weekends here, sharing his herbal knowledge with a rather large group of us. During that time, he spoke highly of the virtues of the peach leaf, a medicine known quite well in the south. While he spoke, a woman who lived nearby, whispered to me to come by and harvest whatever I needed for drying and tincture making, which I did as the sun-kissed peaches dropped from her trees. Matthew's classes continued on through the months, while my peach leaf and fruit tincture infused in the cupboard. When September came, I packed up and drove to the Green Nations Gathering in upstate NY. I had brought along a few bottles of peach leaf tincture to give to Matthew, who was attending. Also attending the conference was William LeSassier, who was an herbal mentor to Matthew, David Winston, Margi Flint, Kate Gilday and many other well-respected herbalists. His reputation as a genius had proceeded him, and although I had quietly sat in on a few of his lectures, at the time, I must admit to being pretty insecure about assuming that he could also be a teacher and a mentor to me. Sometime during the weekend, as fate would have it, William and I ended up at the same place at the same time, and the subject of peach leaf came up. He quietly wished to have some for a particularly annoying digestive condition he was suffering at that moment. I shyly offered him my own...which he appeared astounded to see come from my bag. He was thrilled, then tasted it and defined it as 'PERFECT', the best he had ever tasted. He immediately initiated a barter. He pulled from his bag a full quart jar of raw Basswood (Linden) Honey complete with combs. It was a beautiful amber jewel and he deemed it the most valuable possession he had to barter with. I offered him the tincture for free, of course- no barter needed. He insisted and gratefully, I accepted the honey. It sealed the deal on a quick friendship, confidence and praise from a well respected teacher and in a few months, a visit to the Farm to teach a class on facial diagnostics that I had only heard legend about through my own mentors. It was an incredible weekend of sharing, and one I shall never forget. He renewed my faith in myself as an herbalist and taught me so much more in that short weekend. Sadly, he passed away a few weeks later, just after I received a wonderful thank you note expressing his appreciation of our farm, hospitality, great food and particularly...my peach leaf tincture. I still have that note and most of that Basswood honey to this day- savoring both from time to time, still reminiscent of summer flowers and synchronicity, sweet praise and precious fleeting time spent with the 'Herbalist's Herbalist'.
(Okay, now back to the linden tree story....this will all make sense shortly, I promise)
Home with baskets of fresh linden flowers, I am again reminded of the deep peace that comes from working with this tree, surrounded by the bees and the sweet smell. The fragrance lingers in my truck, in my kitchen and my fingers as I put some up to dry and to tincture. Linden flower is helpful for insomnia and the type of anxiety that usually comes with the darkness (children and the elderly understand this best). It has a calming effect on the nerves (nervine) and adds a bit of sweetness and emotional comfort, like a warm, sun dried quilt on the bed at night. I like to combine it with passionflower when my mind swirls round and round, long after my body has given up the ship, but when nervous exhaustion either won't let me fall sleep or stay asleep for very long. Winston likes to use it for nervous 'bellyaches', especially with nervous gagging and vomiting. I use it also, combined with catnip and elderflower for an especially yummy tea to break a fever. As a nod to my Swiss German ancestors, I love the idea that the Linden tree was planted at the center of many Germanic villages underneath which all meetings, celebrations and ceremonies took place. It was believed that the branches of the tree provided an 'umbrella' of peace and safety and kept truthful hearts in all who stood beneath it. Perhaps that is why, in Germany, the linden is also known as the 'Tree of Lovers'... truth being the keystone to successful relationships of any sort. To put this story of Linden Love to bed, I finally decided to fill a jar with the newly harvested flora, covered them with brandy and topped it off with a goodly quantity of William's precious linden honey to potentiate the brew. Only one week in the jar and already one of the most energetically amazing and lovely tasting brews I have ever made. Of course, thanks to all of the friends, near and far, who have helped to stir this particular pot to create a beautiful legacy of sharing among plant people. It surely is a fine testimony as to what constitutes 'good medicine'.

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life ~ Hermann Hesse

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-4704664211789062672009-06-25T12:25:00.016-04:002009-06-25T19:07:23.919-04:00Lavender Loveliness
~Lots of Lovely Lavender Ladies Laughing~

Last evening brought good friends and wafts of lavender west from Lancaster County all the way east to Chester County. Sisters Tina Sams and Maryanne Schwartz and their baskets, laden with lavender, meandered through the hills and valleys to get reacquainted with their still and save me from not having enough lavender for our class together! Tina was kind enough to allow me to play with her still for an entire month during which I became completely enchanted with the operation and uses of botanical hydrosols. Last evening however, the still was back in the hands of Tina and Maryanne who demonstrated the processing of lavender flowers. This culminated into a lovely collection of lavender hydrosol and more than a few drops of essential oil for their efforts! While the still simmered away during the evening and the sun began to set, we snuck off to savor some lavender infused treats to inspire us for the craft of lavender wand making. I have been playing around with fabric dyes recently and opted to try some hand dyed silk ribbon for the wand I made last night. Beautiful hues indeed, but it was a bit more challenging to weave with, given it's rather delicate nature. However, the finished product is simply yummy. All of this beautiful ribbon and barely enough lavender to harvest! Perhaps one a day will suffice this year. Thanks again to the 'Twisted Sisters' for the lavender delivery, the lavender demo and of course, the lavender laughs! Always a pleasure!Lavender Pistachio Biscotti Plan to make this a day or two in advance. The lavender smell/taste is more pronounced the next day!
*1/2 cup pistachio nuts . Shell and toast until slightly brown, rough chop when cool
*1 stick of butter softened
*3/4 cups sugar
*2 farm fresh eggs
*3 TB fresh dark lavender buds (Hidcote/Munstead) rough chopped
*2 + cups of whole wheat pastry flour
*1 1/2 tsp baking powder
*1 tsp vanilla extract
*1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream softened butter with sugar until well blended. Add lavender buds, vanilla and 2 eggs and beat again until frothy. In a big bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Blend well. Add to the creamed mixture and continue blending. Fold in nuts. Pull cookie batter out of the bowl with your hands. It will be fairly wet and sticky. Sprinkle a bit more flour on a cloth and knead into cookie dough until it is manageable. Don't overwork the dough! Easy does it! Form a long cookie log approx. 3 in wide and 12-14 long. Smooth out any cracks or holes. Bake the cookie log for 25 to 30 minutes. It should still show a finger indentation if pushed.
Let it cool completely and then slice across the log every half an inch or so. Spread out on the same cookie sheet and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off oven and allow cookies to cool in the oven. The biscotti will be crispy but not 'tooth breaking' hard. Store in a tin so they don't get affected by humidity.
Enjoy!!

Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-86867744212530987362009-06-22T07:01:00.007-04:002009-06-22T10:38:56.799-04:00Sunshine and Promises...
Guilty. Yes I am. A few weeks ago I posted a rosey giveaway to be announced on Solstice Sunday (yesterday). I was ready to go with most of the prizes. Then, suddenly, after ten days of rain and storms, I had a little brainstorm of my own. I decided to order and add a wonderful book to the giveaway. I also decided to tweak my new cream recipe a bit further before announcing it. To complicate things further, an old aquaintance, the Sun, decided to visit yesterday (unannounced, I might add) and distract me from my dark library and laptop. I just couldn't say no. I dropped everything and went outside to play! Guilty. But, I have no regrets....because while I languished in the sunshine, I decided to pull three winning names from the post, just the moment the book arrives and my cream is perfected. Perfection comes with patience...yes. Thank you Friends! Rose love is in the air!Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-24663405923368553942009-06-18T06:58:00.009-04:002014-04-22T10:37:31.860-04:00Herb Society of America Garden Tour
On Tuesday, Farm at Coventry was again visited by not one, but three tour buses full of appreciative garden gazers. This group was from the Pennsylvania Heartland Unit of the Herb Society of America who were hosting their 27th annual Herbal Symposium this past weekend.Despite the threat of rain all day, we were cheered on by the sunny dispositions of all who wandered through the gardens.Farm at Coventry sales were also quite brisk! Fortunately, a few hours between tours allowed for replenishing of products and a nice relaxing lunch. We bid the last tour farewell at about 5:30 that night. Really nice to meet so many people who truly appreciate and understand the efforts and rewards that come from working the soil and tending the plants.I cannot close this post without again thanking my gardening helper Kim, whose tireless efforts and gardening experience have made a huge difference in my workload the last few weeks. The boys also deserve high praise for putting the finishing touches on the garden gates and perimeters. The garden tour deadlines this spring indeed put us into high gear to get my impossibly LONG wish list accomplished for this growing season! An early Wednesday morning walk through the garden brought a sense of "now what?" But we all know that is a fleeting question. There's always something more to plant, prune, pluck or harvest. Guess it's time to start a new list, eh? Well, maybe tomorrow...Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-74720187809820445072009-06-11T06:22:00.004-04:002009-06-11T06:40:55.033-04:00Herbal HonorsWow. I knew it was coming (and kept the secret, no less). I even saw a photocopy of the cover last week. But I am still so excited and honored to see my 'color photograph turned watercolor' on the cover of the latest issue of Essential Herbal magazine! This is the first issue introducing the new color covers for the magazine. Looks amazing, Tina and Maryanne! Thanks for thinking of me....and don't forget, I have thousands more where that came from.Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-52212209633801274132009-06-07T14:04:00.027-04:002009-06-09T07:43:12.233-04:00The Subtle Power of Rose and Rosy Giveaway!The rainclouds finally parted on Saturday morning for the seventh annual damask rose celebration. I was afraid that the water logged beauties weren't going to be dressed for the party after the previous four straight days of soaking rain. Even through the deluge, I could see buds open one day and then drop their petals the next. So discouraging!! All that rosy goodness lost, only to make a thick, fragrant carpet for my muddy, bare feet. Rather than lament the loss too much, I tried to consider it a rare indulgence fit for a farmhouse queen. The bees seemed to be happy for the break in the clouds, as well. Their comical drunkenness around the roses is understandable, even from my perspective. When no one is looking, I too, can flit from bloom to bloom and rub my nose in the warm, fragrant center, wishing only for a pair of lacy wings to transport me, giddy, towards the next one. Although the fragrance never dissipates completely when the petals get rained on, it's the sun that brings out the subtle spicy and citrus undertones that make it complete. So as the participants of Saturday's class discovered, there were still plenty of rose petals left to fill our baskets and make the day worthwhile. Some additional sunshine and laughter came to the gardens when Jen brought her young daughter Anikka to the class. The roses were certainly matched by the sweetness and beauty of this little girl! She added so much to the day. The most exciting focus of the day was setting up "Tina's Traveling Still"! Tina Sams, of the Essential Herbal, was so kind to share her lovely glass steam distiller so that we could make some rose hydrosol. The damp rose petals put out an amazing end product for us all to share. Once Kim and I remembered how to reconstruct the still, we were rewarded with the quiet hum of alchemy in action. Water, Fire, Ice and rose petals! It would be hard to describe two hours of steam distillation in a few short lines. Instead, I'll share the beauty of the transformation in photos. It was a wonderful experience. Adding to the alchemy were Orva's colorful stories of the ancient family moonshining trade, which were rich treasures all to their own! While the still worked through lunch, we settled in to making our own rosy treats to enjoy at the end of the day. In one kitchen the ladies prepared tiny rose petal scones while in the other kitchen the rest prepared Alex's chocolate macaroon recipe with the addition of powdered rose petals, rose water and rose liqueur. Holy Roses!! They were heavenly! To drink, iced rose hip tea sweetened with a splash of pomegrante juice. Later there was the passing of the rose tea cup filled with rose petal liqueur.
Sublime! There were enough rose petals left to make 2 quarts of rose infused vinegar for my Burn Spray and a new batch of Rose Liqueur. I think by the end of the day, our rose bones were satiated, at least temporarily. Sunday morning brought more sunshine with a whole new round of buds opening so I took advantage of the freshly cleaned still and my memory of reconstruction and ran a second round of rose hydrosol. While it hummed away, I decided to do a little extra hydrosol research, since specialized study of aromatherapy is not my forte. I checked in with two well-respected women friends via their websites who are much more knowledgeable since aromatherapy is their business! Roe, from Sunrose Aromatics and Marge from Nature's Gift both have detailed write ups about the therapeutic benefits of rose hydrosol. After studying up a bit and brainstorming a bit more, I've decided to utilize some of this rosy distillate into an extra special, limited-time product to commemorate the gifts of the roses during the whole month of June. ((Secrets revealed as I experiment!)) On the Summer Solstice, I will give away a whole small collection of rosy products made right here on the farm. I'll throw in some rose petal jam, rose soap, Burn Spray and a little taste of all the yummies that we enjoyed on the weekend. If you might be interested in this little giveaway, please add your desire to the comments on this post and follow along through the next two weeks as I experiment with the hydrosol until I come up with something extra special!!

It's not over 'til the last petal falls............
Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-32141194984111112302009-06-02T20:51:00.008-04:002009-06-02T21:34:13.034-04:00Got Fence!!!
A job well done by the Iceman and his bud Taylor. Through sun and rain, blood, sweat and ...no tears...but sunburn and gnats. Thanks, fellas!

Supervisor/Quality Control Check

Foiled! ((Insert evil laugh here))

Freebie trash pick fence posts are a happy bargain after pricing untreated cedar fence posts at the box stores ranging from $22-$35 a piece!! I needed 14 posts. Do the math. NO way.These are nicely aged and just needed the old hardware removed and to be cut to uniform size. They are perfectly imperfect!

Neat and tidy, eh? Just need to make two cool gates and we'll call it a night.
This project turned out much better than expected! Woohoo!

Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-35722740576937825632009-05-28T11:15:00.011-04:002009-05-28T18:35:24.504-04:00Let the Blooming BeginThe vague hint of rose fragrance is rising with the humidity today. I smelled it from my bedroom window very early this morning. What a joy. What an anticipated, simple pleasure. I have an early May ritual of carefully choosing and adding more to the collection each year. To satisfy my own curiosity, I did a rough count of all of the rose bushes I've planted over the past 14 years and came up with twenty five fragrant old roses. As indulgent as that seems, I still feel far from having an abundance of rose petals to tinker with each year. I always seem to need more rose petal jam, more heavenly rose water and more rose petal cordial. I most certainly need to try my hand at rose petal mead this year. The recipe is waiting...the fancy clamp top bottles, too. I've even designed a label in my mind.
It's true, still need to practice my pruning skills. But, I plan to be very diligent about pruning right after flowering this year, like I'm supposed to. I know that they will appreciate it and I won't be embarrassed next year by the wild and unruly bushes that cause all kind of angst when the lawnmowers and weedwhackers are zipping about the yard.
The June 6th workshop "The Subtle Power of Rose" is filled beyond capacity as one of our most popular classes here on the farm. It is one of the few times I am joined by a crowd to enjoy the many gifts of the rose. The rose buds continue to pop this week and should be in full bloom by next Saturday. Ooh, how I look forward to that!

This is Darlow's Enigma, a great big bush with teensy, weensy flowers that pack a fragrant punch. I don't do anything with these petals except to enjoy their fragrance where it grows as a screen in front of the porch.Susan Hesshttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-50394409259977935662009-05-20T06:52:00.012-04:002009-05-21T11:59:49.076-04:00Rolling out the Welcome Mat!Well, it's finally the middle of May and so much work has been completed since the long stretch of rain that lasted nearly a week at the the beginning of the month. Finishing the new square foot garden beds set us back a bit and we missed early spring plantings, which was an expected sacrifice. But getting the summer planting finished before the Rosemary House garden tour bus rolled in on Monday was the top priority. Wowzer! Check out the fancy bus! On obvious first for Farm at Coventry (But not the last....three more coming in June...all on the same day)

Nearly 40 people wandered the gardens, enjoyed asparagus quiche, salad, strawberries and chocolate macaroons and eventually squeezed into the herb kitchen to hear a short talk.
It was an exciting evening for all of us here on the farm, waving goodbye to the bus as it pulled away as the sun was setting. Just as exciting was walking back up to the house and getting a last look at the yard and gardens in near perfect condition. A worthy reward for weeks of work!
A few snapshots of the day...
homegrown eggs + local asparagus=yummy quichesweet succulents

cool drink of ice water with lemon balm and lemon slices

nary a weed in sight...(kept the good ones, of course!)

the square foot garden beds are finished and planted!
One final project is the wire fence and gates.

outdoor clean up

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-14711429996540980172009-05-04T13:49:00.007-04:002009-05-04T14:17:16.003-04:00Need Some Sunshine?
Me, too. It's been dark and dreary for too many days. Let's pretend...

Remember what it was like just a few days ago?

Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6961683403829638861.post-30658834471651895822009-05-04T07:18:00.007-04:002009-05-04T10:55:26.720-04:00Strawberry SillinessWell, I persevered through the rain and succeeded in getting the first seventy five plants into the bed, but it wasn't easy! Even though the planting calendar said it was an optimal day to plant fruit, the rain gods were snickering at me from behind those dark clouds, I'm sure of it. I was almost laughing at myself. These are the only photos I was able to take before I put my camera in the truck. In the following hour or so, I was so caked in mud, I had to walk home and send the kid up to drive the truck back! I looked absolutely ridiculous...
Last week I raked stones and laid 100 feet of biodegradable mulch (made of cornstarch!) to keep the first season weed free and give the new plants a fighting chance. It will dissolve completely in 90-120 days. We'll see how well it works. Tenacious weeds will likely poke right through, but it should hold back most. It also has many perforations to allow rain in. I put my trowel right through it to plant each strawberry plant.
These are my boots right before I really got in there. Less than five minutes later, they had 5 lbs of squishy brown mess clinging to each one which made it impossible to walk. My next move was to get on my knees. Fifteen minutes later I had 5 lbs of mess clinging from my both of my knees down to my ankles and from both of my hands to my elbows. I could barely move. When I finally stood up at the end of planting the first 75 Jewels, my pants were starting to fall down and my hands looked like muddy webbed feet!!! hahaaa. It was a photo op that would have yielded a priceless image but with no one but the birds to see. You'll just have to use your imagination. Think I'll wait a few days, optimal fruit day or not to get the other 150 in the ground! Visions of many plump red berries next June keep me going.Susan Hesshttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Sydney: It was an age of fragile promise when London was briefly the centre of the universe and everything about England seemed fresh, exciting and vital.
Back in 1966 Time magazine ran a cover article on Swinging London, Italian film maker Michelangelo Antonioni captured the fleeting moment in Blow Up and England won their first and only soccer World Cup.
Many of the young rebels and trend-setters of those far-off days have died or disappeared. Others have been become part of the establishment they once defied or despised. Mick Jagger still sings and Michael Caine still acts although both are now knights of the realm. Meanwhile, England have subsequently failed to win a tournament of any international significance in any major sport.
The spirit of 66 is being invoked with increasing fervour by the hordes of white-shirted England rugby supporters who have invaded Sydney this week. Their team is only one match away from winning the World Cup, something beyond either their soccer or cricket counterparts in the past 37 years.
I still remember the 1966 Cup final, England coach Clive Woodward said ahead of Saturdays rugby final against Australia. I can name the team and the whole thing.
Weve got a chance of winning a world tournament and the last team to do that was in 66. I watched it at home at an airforce base with my Dad and I remember it very, very clearly.
Under Woodward, England have become the worlds top-ranked rugby union team. Part of that success has come from Woodwards determination and part of his drive comes from a spell living and working in Sydney.
Its those things (like 1966) that drive you on, he said. Its not just the football and the rugby, you want to see England do well.
The boys of 1966 had as captain the modest, handsome Bobby Moore, probably at that time the best defender in the world.
Englands rugby side have the glowering giant Martin Johnson, if not the best lock in the world certainly the most feared.
One link unites the two teams. In 1966 George Cohen played right back for England. On Saturday his nephew Ben is certain to start on the left wing. Hes given me lots of advice, said Ben.

subset: commoncrawl


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Arc Lamp Living Room
The image of Arc Lamp Living Room was published at June 7, 2017 at 5:32 am. This post is published under the Living Room category. Arc Lamp Living Room is tagged with Arc Lamp Living Room, Arc, Lamp, Living, Room..
Arcarc (ärk),USA pronunciation n., v., arced (ärkt)USA pronunciation or arcked, arc•ing
(är′king)USA pronunciation or arck•ing.
- [Geom.]any unbroken part of the circumference of a circle or other curved line.
- Also called electric arc. a luminous bridge formed in a gap between two electrodes. Cf. spark1 (def. 2).
- the part of a circle representing the apparent course of a heavenly body.
- anything bow-shaped.
- to form an electric arc.
- to move in a curve suggestive of an arc.
Lamplamp (lamp),USA pronunciation n.
- any of various devices furnishing artificial light, as by electricity or gas. Cf. fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp.
- a container for an inflammable liquid, as oil, which is burned at a wick as a means of illumination.
- a source of intellectual or spiritual light: the lamp of learning.
- any of various devices furnishing heat, ultraviolet, or other radiation: an infrared lamp.
- a celestial body that gives off light, as the moon or a star.
- a torch.
- lamps, the eyes.
- smell of the lamp, to give evidence of laborious study or effort: His dissertation smells of the lamp.
lamp′less, adj.
- to look at;
Livingliv•ing (liv′ing),USA pronunciation adj.
- having life;
being alive;
not dead: living persons.
- in actual existence or use;
extant: living languages.
- active or thriving;
strong: a living faith.
- burning or glowing, as a coal.
- flowing freely, as water.
- pertaining to, suitable for, or sufficient for existence or subsistence: living conditions; a living wage.
- of or pertaining to living persons: within living memory.
- lifelike;
true to life, as a picture or narrative.
- in its natural state and place;
not uprooted, changed, etc.: living rock.
- very;
absolute (used as an intensifier): to scare the living daylights out of someone.
liv′ing•ly, adv.
- the act or condition of a person or thing that lives: Living is very expensive these days.
- the means of maintaining life;
livelihood: to earn one's living.
- a particular manner, state, or status of life: luxurious living.
- (used with a pl. v.) living persons collectively (usually prec. by the): glad to be among the living.
- the benefice of a clergyman.
liv′ing•ness, n.
Roomroom (ro̅o̅m, rŏŏm),USA pronunciation n.
- a portion of space within a building or other structure, separated by walls or partitions from other parts: a dining room.
- rooms, lodgings or quarters, as in a house or building.
- the persons present in a room: The whole room laughed.
- space or extent of space occupied by or available for something: The desk takes up too much room.
- opportunity or scope for something: room for improvement; room for doubt.
- status or a station in life considered as a place: He fought for room at the top.
- capacity: Her brain had no room for trivia.
- a working area cut between pillars.
- to occupy a room or rooms;
Arc Lamp Living Room have 7 attachments it's including Living Room, Modern Living Room Arc Lamp Design Ideas4 Modern Living Room Arc Lamp Design ., Modern Living Room Design Beautiful Superb Living Room Arc Lamp | Home | Pinterest | Modern, Beautiful And Lighting, Arc Lamp Photos, L-shaped-white-modern-sofa-and-little-round-table-also-an-arc-lamp -for-decorating-small-living-room, Floor Lamps Arch Lamp Living Room Widio Design Arc, Le Corbusier Chair Living Room Contemporary With Arc Lamp Arcing, Awesome Living Room Floor Lamps Image Cragfont Ideas In Gallery Arc Lamp Rooms ~ Weinda.com. Below are the photos:
This desk is sold with natural or metallic shade for example gray, dark or white. Chairs are utilized not too high and also straightforward together with 3 seats' number. This desk is only used for eating alone and talking because the measurement isn't too-large. Products used ie metal.
Tabletops also wider so that it may be used to put fruits, kitchen products such as spoons, plates, etc. Seats was previously lean with a circular or square legs are tiny and slender in order to steer clear of the feeling of rigidity within the kitchen.
The Arc Lamp Living Room suited to natural sort of kitchen room. This natural table includes a square shape that's fuller than lumber or MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) as a way to produce a more natural impression. This stand includes natural hues like white and brown.


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: Rumor:
Trade Rumors Thread XV: Rangers allowing a team to talk to Callahan
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Steve Kournianos
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 18,874
vCash: 500
Originally Posted by
Your right about the track record of these things. Your right in that the player has to involve his family's wishes in matters.
I respect you as a professional and as someone who has seen how a highly class constructed organization operates, that you know how it works in those type of organizations.
Where I disagree is that union reps, accountants, or agents should steer you in any direction. They should give you the information and then you do. There is a universal law called the law of free law. No one has a right to impose their will on another if that person doesn't willfully agree.
I dont think they impose their will. They just advise and assist. Im sure Callahan has already received opinions on both St. Louis and Columbus in terms of tax rates, school systems, real estate, team environment, etc.
In the end, its always his decision (or his spouse, as we saw with Pronger and Texeira). My point is that he shouldn't be vilified or character assassinated simp,y because some guy just nought his son a Callahan jersey and now he's gone.
Steve Kournianos
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BRENHAM TEXAS - A few hours ago, Blue Bell Ice Cream released a statement introducing their new flavor of ice cream. Here's what they had to say:
"Introducing our brand new flavor Cookie Two Step - a creamy vanilla ice cream with hints of brown sugar, combined with chunks of chocolate crème filled cookies and tasty chocolate chip cookie dough pieces. Available in stores beginning today!"
So, are you going to try it?
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Membership has its privileges! Sign up or sign in to gain full access to both All About Jazz and Jazz Near You. Learn more.
The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts And Cultural Center
605 Main Street
Middletown, CT
(860) 347-4957
Sat, March 25, 2017
8:00 pm
Lisa Bastoni and Naomi Sommers are two dynamic, accomplished songwriters in the Americana/folk genre. Accompanying one another on multiple instruments, as well as honey-sweet, close-harmony singing, they will play two sets of original music, interwoven with some of the traditional songs that have inspired them.
Lisa Bastoni had a thriving singer-songwriter career going until she took a break to start a family with her husband, novelist Christopher Boucher. Now, after nearly ten years away from writing and performing, Bastoni returns to music with THE WISHING HOUR (Jan. 2017), produced by Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Felix McTeigue (Lori McKenna/Anais Mitchell/Martin Sexton). The songs have been described as "Americana of the highest order, think along the lines of Gretchen Peters or Patty Griffin, with high quality musos to match." (Maverick-UK)...
read more
Anne-Marie Cannata McEwen uploaded this event on March 10, 2017
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The Code of Alabama: Adopted by Act of the General Assembly ... Approved February 16, 1897 ... with Such Statutes Passed at the Session of 1896-97, as are Required to be Incorporated Therein by Act Approved February 17, 1897 and with Citations to the Decisions of the Supreme Court of the State Construing Or Mentioning the Statutes ...
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The Code of Alabama: Adopted by Act of the General Assembly ... Approved ...
Alabama,William Logan Martin
No preview available - 2015
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accused Alabama Alabama Territory alleged amended appear appointed arrest ARTICLE assault assembly authority bail bill board of inspectors bond cause certified charge circuit court circuit or city city court clerk committed congress Constitution conviction corporation county court county jail criminal defendant discharge district duty election electors entitled evidence execution fees felony fined not less five hundred dollars forfeiture governor grand jury guilty habeas corpus hard labor impeachment imprisoned indictment intent issue judge of probate judgment jurisdiction jurors justice larceny less than fifty magistrate malt liquors ment misdemeanor Mississippi territory oath offense paid party peace penitentiary Perdido river perjury person preceding section president prisoner proceedings proof prosecution punished sells senate sentenced to hard sheriff solicitor statute subpoenas sufficient summoned supreme court taxed tenced term territory therein thereof thousand dollars tion trial United unless vote warrant willfully witnesses writ
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Page 8 - And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State ; and the Union shall be perpetual. Nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to, in a Congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every State.
Page 6 - ... ..of establishing rules for deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the service of the United States shall be divided or appropriated..
Page 22 - It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact, between the original states and the people and states in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to wit: ARTICLE i.
Page 5 - When land forces are raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct ; and all vacancies shall be filled up by the state which first made the appointment.
Page 23 - The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory, as to the citizens of the United Slates, and those of any other states that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor.
Page 4 - Congress by less than two nor by more than seven members ; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United States, for which he, or another for his benefit, receives any salary, fees, or emolument of any kind.
Page 24 - There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted: Provided always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.
Page 4 - The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different States in this Union, the free inhabitants of each of these States, (paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice excepted,) shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several States...
Page 5 - No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled, unless such State be actually Invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to Invade such State, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the United States in Congress assembled can be consulted...
Page 7 - ... proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such state; which requisition shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature of each state shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and clothe, arm and equip them in a soldierlike manner, at the expense of the United States; and the officers and men so clothed, armed and equipped shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled...


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Hoover Public Library Adult Fiction's Reviews > A Rule Against Murder
A Rule Against Murder (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #4)
by Louise Penny
by Louise Penny
Hoover Public Library Adult Fiction's review
bookshelves: cozy-mystery, mystery, series-fiction
Oct 01, 2011
bookshelves: cozy-mystery, mystery, series-fiction
Although this book doesn't take place in the village of Three Pines, as do most all of the other mysteries in this series, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is present for another murder. This time it's over the mountain at the beautiful Manior Bellechaise where Armand and his wife are celebrating their wedding anniversary. And there are other ties to Three Pines, too. As it turns out, there is a family reunion at the manior that involves Peter and Clara Morrow from Three Pines. The wealthy and snobbish Finney family, of which Peter is a part, is dedicating a statue to their late, great father. But the mysteries begin when the family's secrets begin to come apart at the seams. Old feuds erupt to the surface and the long-estranged sister, Julia, is found dead - felled by the huge likeness of her father. The Chief Inspector must gather his team and expose more than this family is willing to share to get to the heart of a murder most foul. Very enjoyable read without all the goar of a typical murder mystery.
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Please find below a selection of building plots currently available and recently sold.
Steep, Petersfield - Guide Price £250,000
An attractive infill plot of 0.16 acre in a popular road opposite Bedales School. Planning Ref: East Hampshire District Council/South Downs National Park SDNP/14/04193/FUL for a two storey dwelling of approximately 1900 sq ft. There are no CIL or 106 payments. We draw your attention to the parking provision. The adjacent property is also for sale at a price guide of £850,000.
Contact Haslemere Office: 01428 664800 or Liphook office 01428 728900
Wisteria - Guide Price - £850,000
Planning permission has been granted to extend the existing three bedroom semi-detached property, in need of total refurbishment and restoration, to provide a four bedroom, three reception room home. Planning permission was granted by Waverley Borough Council under application number WA/2016/2335 for these extension works and alterations.
In addition to the extension of the existing property full planning permission has been granted for the erection of a detached three bedroom house with associated parking. Full details of the application can be obtained from the Waverley Borough Council's planning portal using reference WA/2016/2057.
Haslemere - Offers invited for the freehold
Building plot with detailed consent for a pair of semi detached houses in a popular location within easy reach
of Haslemere's main line station and the A3 at Hindhead.
Local Authority: Waverley Borough Council, Planning Ref: WA/2017/0207
Resales in the order of £1.3m
No financial contribution (S106 or CIL) required
All main services
Gross internal floor areas:
Plot 1
Ground Floor 669sq ft
First Floor 584sqft
Plot 2
Ground Floor 669sq ft
First Floor 584sqft
Contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
St. Omer Road, Guildford – Guide £1,100,000
A four bedroom bungalow set within a large plot and situated in a popular residential area. This is a superb development opportunity, stpp.
Contact Guildford Office (01483) 880900
Site for 7 flats and 3 town houses. Detailed consent. Waverley Borough Council planning ref no: WA/2015/1968. Further details on request from the selling agents
Contact Haslemere Office: (01428) 664800
Kingsley Green, Haslemere – Guide £800,000
A fabulous building plot of 1.3 acres, consent for 4,800 square feet with views to the west.
Contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
A copy of the supporting documentation & brochure is attached below
Jacobs Well, Guildford - Guide £250,000
Consent development site for a three bedroom detached house comprising some 1632 sq.ft. Planning App. 14/P/00554. The plot measures approx. 0.1 of an acre.
Contact Guildford Office (01483) 880900
A copy of the supporting documentation & brochure is attached below
Scotlands Close, Haslemere
An opportunity to acquire a building plot, within a short distance from the centre of Haslemere. Permission has been granted for a three bedroom property of 1,950 sq.ft. gross approx., plus parking. Full details on the attached plan. There is no 106 or infrastructure contribution on this site. All main services are available and viewings can be undertaken by prior appointment with the agent. The plot size is just under quarter of an acre.
Contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
A copy of the supporting documentation & brochure is attached below
Wheatsheaf Enclosure, Liphook
A truly unique and stunning plot of land, on the renowned Wheatsheaf Enclosure Estate, offering the opportunity to create a new home to your own specification. Consent has been obtained to replace the existing dwelling with a beautiful and substantial country house of nearly 6,800 square feet, sitting in its own private plot of 1.3 acres.
Bunch Lane, Haslemere
A great opportunity to acquire a building plot of 0.27 of an acre (0.109 hectares) with consent for approximately 2,600 square feet, excluding garage, located conveniently in Haslemere on a popular well regarded country lane.
Rear of Industrial Estate, Liphook
Detailed planning for 20 residential units; 1 detached, 19 semi and terraced, including 7 low cost. 0.6 of a hectare.
We are pleased to offer for sale this residential development land in the centre of Liphook, close to all local amenities. The land does adjoin the railway line. Copies of all the plans and drawings are attached. The land is being sold clean of any contamination and with vacant possession. It is subject to VAT. The pricing schedule that we have undertaken is attached. Offers by a private treaty basis are invited with confirmation of finance and all other relevant information by end of October 2013 with exchange and completion dates to be agreed.
Contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
Site on A3 (Southbound), Liphook
A plot of approximately one acre with consent for a two storey 40 room hotel, together with a 3,000 sq.ft fast food outlet, 65 parking spaces, situated on the southbound carriageway of the A3 at Liphook. Further details, together with site plans, elevation plans and tree plans, are available by email.
A copy of the legal pack is available upon request - contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
Site for 6 Garages, Rake
A fine opportunity to acquire a good sized site for 6 single garages with a pitched roof, situated on the outskirts of this popular village. Possible other development opportunities.
Contact Haslemere Office (01428) 664800
The Ride, Loxwood
Furzedown comprises a detached two bedroom bungalow together with a detached garage set on a plot of just over half an acre (0.25 ha).
Planning consent has now been obtained for the demolition of the existing property and replacement with two detached dwellings comprising one chalet bungalow and two storey house with the plot being split in half.
Plot 1 - chalet bungalow of 164 sq.m plus garage
Plot 2 - new house of 124 sq.m plus attached garage


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Via Washington Post
The spurt of development that has brought busy cranes to Washington's Southwest Waterfront meant a windfall for some of the neighborhood's most steadfast fixtures: its churches.
At Riverside Baptist Church, a modest congregation of 125 people realized it was sitting on a plot of land in high demand. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, just down Maine Avenue SW, sensed opportunity. So did St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, right next door.
Each church struck their own deal with the developers remaking this historically quiet zone where the Washington Channel juts inland — exchanging portions of their property for big payouts and new church buildings. Now, these three cornerstones of the old Southwest community face the challenge of adjusting not just to their new footprints, but to the drastically changing neighborhood that they might draw new churchgoers from.
"The resuscitation — you could say renaissance maybe, even — of these churches is pretty remarkable in this community," said Michael Bledsoe, the pastor at Riverside.
Riverside sold part of its property to PN Hoffman, the developer creating a zone along the waterfront that it is calling the Wharf — apartment buildings, offices, 20 restaurants, even a concert space.
The church invested much of the proceeds in a new building that will cost millions of dollars, and used the rest to create the church's first endowment. "It takes enormous courage to tell a congregation they're going to knock the building down," Bledsoe said. "You've performed these sacred rites of marriage and burial and baptism and birth. All these things take place. To say it's a sacred space is not an exaggeration."
Riverside traces its roots back to a Southwest Washington church founded in 1857. Before the urban renewal project that tore up much of the District's smallest quadrant in the 1950s and '60s, it had a thousand members. Today's congregation, little more than a tenth of the size of that one, is racially diverse, committed to progressive causes and anticipating a change in the neighborhood as more affluent, and more white, newcomers take up residence in the many new apartment buildings opening up and those still under construction.
"I don't know what the impact of gentrification is going to be. It's possible we'll see more white folks showing up," Bledsoe said. "We welcome everyone. The demographic forces are kind of beyond me."
Riverside just began demolition on its old building and won't move into the new one until late 2018. St. Matthew's, which was demolished back in 2008 after striking a deal with Trammell Crow Company, will finally reopen around the same time in a new church building — now part of a 221-unit apartment complex.
St. Augustine's is much farther along that process: It began holding services in its glass-fronted new building, where construction is nearing completion, in late November.
Gazing out the huge window of her office in the brand-new building, the Rev. Martha Clark speculated about what she'll be able to see, when the cranes go away someday. Her prime view of the water will probably be blocked by the forest of buildings that PN Hoffman is putting up. But Clark will still have the Washington Monument in her sights. And from the church's second-floor sanctuary, whose entire front wall is made of windows stretching about 40 feet high at their peak, congregants will look out on both Washington and Jefferson's memorials.
St. Augustine's sanctuary is going to be the place to be when the fireworks go off on the Fourth of July and the Cherry Blossom Festival, Clark joked as she surveyed the new sanctuary.
The challenge now is making it the place to be the rest of the year too.
It's a tiny congregation, with only about 65 members for this new $7 million building, and it needs to grow quickly to maintain this facility. Clark is convinced that it can at least double in membership in the near future, drawing from the new neighbors in the condo building that PN Hoffman built on the portion of the church's property that it purchased — who are already starting to drop in for Sunday services
She also counts on new church seekers among the many District residents anxious about change under President Trump. "With the shift in our national experience, this transition time, people are looking to the church to kind of be a place of vision and hope," she said.
Monty Hoffman, chief executive of PN Hoffman, said he was glad his company seized the opportunity to "extract value from the land" that the churches were sitting on, as PN Hoffman crafts its new cityscape on the waterfront. And he's glad the churches, rather than being priced out of Southwest Washington, will stay there as neighborhood institutions.
"We're building a community. The churches are an essential part of that," Hoffman said. "If this just seemed like an office park with residential, or a 'lifestyle zone,' it would be hollow."
He said he has been grateful to get to know the churches' boards, including members with deep roots in the Southwest community. "It helps give this back story to some of the history here, going forward. It's pretty fulfilling to have that reemerge and take a significant role in the future of the community."
Bledsoe agreed with the value of having a church on the corner: "It kind of brings a human stature or level to what almost looks like a canyon of buildings."
His church already inked the deal, sold its land, and made millions. But now comes the most joyful part, for his quiet waterfront church — giving a small portion of the money away.
"It's an exquisite feeling," Bledsoe said. At a meeting in a middle school because the Riverside building is being demolished right now, churchgoers presented checks totaling $100,000 last Sundayto more than two dozen nonprofit organizations.
This progressive church — which Bledsoe said has ordained women, since the 1970s, unlike many Baptist churches, and left the Southern Baptist Convention because of that group's opposition to homosexuality in the early 1990s — took pride in picking out causes to support, now that it has the money to give. Some of its choices: the Gay Christian Network, the local Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, and Casa Ruby for homeless LGBT youths.
Read the original article on The Washington Post.


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due to the fact remaining week, word had been going round that the Federal government has restored Iqbal Day (Nov ninth) as a public vacation.
many individuals on social media believed it and shared the news with others. One week later, the interior Ministry of Pakistan ultimately took discover of the faux announcement that had been attributed to it.
in brief, the internal Ministry categorically rubbished claims that Iqbal Day was a federally-mandated vacation. govt departments can be open for business on Nov 9, ending days of misunderstanding whether Iqbal Day used to be off or now not.
The Ministry took stock of experiences from sure sections of media and mentioned that 'we have now not issued any notification' as per officials.
To this impact, the FIA has been tasked to seem into the fake notification and probe the matter.
"Directives have been issued to FIA's cyber crime wing to research the fake notifications," – FIA spokesperson.
despite the fact that the Federal government has introduced that the next day to come just isn't a vacation, provincial governments from KP and Sindh have made up our minds to rejoice Iqbal day as a public holiday. The Rawalpindi personal faculties affiliation has also determined to rejoice it.
we will proceed to replace this submit as issues develop.


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Professional indemnity insurance helps you protect your business against those consequences, paying out in the event that your company make a mistake that causes a client to suffer some form of financial loss.
It's primarily important for businesses that offer provide designs or offer advice, or consultancy services.
Make sure you have the right protection with Coversure!


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Mozilla recently launched another great experimental feature for Firefox that many users should find helpful. The feature is called Snooze Tabs, and it tells Firefox to stash a tab and bring it back at a set time. This is really helpful for those occasions when you need to close a tab, but don't want to forget about it. It also saves you from cluttering up your bookmarks with temporary saves, or putting URLs into a read-later service such as Pocket—recently acquired by Mozilla.
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here


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You may have managed to win the girl of your dreams, but your new bride needs lots of attention after your big day, too. Use these tips to make the romance in your relationship last longer than your wedding cake.
Words can be worth more than actions. Too many new brides complain that their husbands stop wooing them right after they say "I do." Break that cycle by investing in some private stationery that you use just for her. Get something luxurious and romantic, since she'll want to save your notes forever. If you have trouble figuring out what to say, consult some of her favorite poets or simply remind her of a specific reason you're so in love with her. Notes don't need occasions, either. In fact, if you drop notes in unexpected places at random intervals, they'll teach her to anticipate even bigger surprises. Elegant personal stationery from Crane & Co.: http://www.crane.com. Get expert help and love letter examples: http://www.GreatLoveLetters.com.
Let your love blossom. Instead of scrambling for the florist at obvious times of the year, send your bride some unexpected bunches of exotic and unusual flowers at least once every month. Some local florists can set you up discreetly for their "bloom of the month" clubs, so you can set your surprises on autopilot. You don't have to spend a lot of money to treat your bride to fresh, long-lasting flowers, either. Order the freshest flowers directly from growers that will overnight them direct to your love. Fresh flowers, direct from growers: http://www.ProFlowers.com.
Elope all over again. Use online travel discounters to track cheap airfares to your favorite romantic destinations. You can even let websites like Orbitz and Travelocity suggest new destinations based on your budget. For the truly adventurous, let a deep discounter like Site59 roll the dice and send you on a surprise getaway. Track fares to your favorite places at Orbitz: http://www.orbitz.com. Get suggestions based on budget from Travelocity: http://www.travelocity.com. Last minute travel deals from Site59: http://www.site59.com.