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click photo to enlarge
IREEN ROBBINS' Mona Lisa gourd which she decopaged.
By By ANNE C. HEYMEN, Staff Ireene Robbins will be the first one to admit it -- she's out of her gourd over gourds.
Decorating gourds relaxes her, she says.
Introduced to the art of decorating gourds about three years ago by her niece, Linda Striker of Bonsell, Calif., she immediately fell in love with the craft.
To those who know Robbins, that was no surprise. Art has been her life, she admitted a little more than two years ago just before her work was presented during an arts and crafts show at the St. Augustine Art Association.
"I was always into art of some sort," she said at the time.
A former Locust Valley, L.I., N.Y., crafts teacher, she was particularly known for her beautiful baskets. Once introduced to gourds, she used her knowledge of basket weaving to create work which Kay Burtin, executive director of the Art Association at the time, described as "absolutely exquisite."
Now Robbins has a taken a new turn with her gourd decorating.
She's created a large Mona Lisa gourd, one covered with photos of all kinds and descriptions of Mona Lisa, including the Muppet Miss Piggy as the famed lady, Mona Lisa with a mustache and some photos sent by a friend who lives in Japan.
She collected the photos from a variety of sources -- magazines, newspapers and other places.
"I've always been enamored by Mona Lisa," she said recently seated in the den of her St. Augustine home. "I collected things."
She saw the real Mona Lisa painting in Paris and in New York.
"I told everybody that I wanted to do a gourd on Mona Lisa. People said the paper wouldn't stick on the gourd."
She proved them wrong -- not once, but twice.
The first time was on a small gourd which she did as an experiment.
The secret, she says, is to use photos on thinner paper.
"They wrinkle," she says of the larger photos. "The thinner it is the better it is because it's going on another piece of paper."
When she began her larger version -- a round gourd which probably measures around 17 inches across or more -- she didn't realize, she admits, "how many you needed." That's when she began pleading with friends to send her any kind of Mona Lisa photos.
Now, "I might make another" one.
Gluing isn't the only way Robbins decorates gourds. She also paints them, and a recent addition to her collection is a beautiful autumn leaves gourd.
"It's not very hard. I was never given a lesson," she says. Instead, "I listened to people and went to a couple of meetings" on the subject.
Most of the information about the art, "you just hear."
For those who would like to try their hands at the art the first thing one must do is wash the gourd, "and that's very difficult to do."
Her tools of the trade for washing gourds is a brush and soap and water and sometimes a mild cleanser. She also uses a wire brush.
It's pretty much "trial and error," she admits.
She finds that with particularly dirty gourds, it's best to wrap them in a wet towel and soak them in water overnight.
There are a number of qualities an individual must posses before considering taking up the art of gourd decorating, says Robbins.
Patience is a must, as is an artistic ability and an interest in the project.
"It's not all fun," she cautions. "You really have to think about what you're doing."
Gourds around here are available at art supply stores, and they can also be found to purchase on the Internet.
And then there are people like her niece who, when she gets a gourd, she just throws the seeds out on the ground, and new gourds grow.
Gourds of all sizes decorate the Robbins house, but even her largest gourd, Robbins says, is nothing compared to the gourds which grow in Africa.
"They have them so big children can crawl into them."
Robbins suggests that decorating gourds is good therapy, and generally "I make them and give them away."
That, she says, is where some of the nicest gourds she made have gone -- to friends and relatives.
And one gourd went to the Art Association, as Burtin pointed out several years ago.
The gourd "is in our permanent collection," Burtin explained at the time.
"It's one of our treasured possessions , and one of our most popular works."
All about gourds
There's plenty of information about gourds to be found on the Internet.
Once particularly helpful site is www.just gourds.com/GourdInfo.htm.
As they describe it, a gourd is "any plant or fruit of the Cucurbitacez, including melons, squashes, pumpkins, etc., especially the fruit of the plant....The rind is tough, and when dried ....has been used as drinking vessels, storage jars, decorative items for the body and home.
"A well-prepared gourd can last indefinitely."
n The Web site advises that a good way to clean gourds is to put them outside on a rainy day. After they've soaked for about 15 minutes, bring them in and scrub with a Chore boy pad.
If there's no rain in the forecast, do as Ireene Robbins does, and wrap them in a wet towel and soak in a tub or sink.
n Acrylics are the best paints to use on gourds, but oils, stains and inks also are acceptable.
The Web site says that you can cut, sand, carve, drill and wood burn on gourds.
The site also advises how to cut on a gourd.
For information on gourds, Robbins suggests checking out the library or a book store for good books.
The Web site advises that the American Gourd Society has a newsletter that is printed four times a year. The site -- www.justgourds.com/GourdInfo.htm . also has a list of gourd societies in the different areas of the country.The Florida Gourd Society address is:
Florida Gourd Society P.O. Box 414 Grant, FL 32949 firstname.lastname@example.com is the Florida contact.
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About This Activity
This is a 5k fun run/ 1 mile walk to help the Door County Sled Dogs (a non-profit organization) to continue their good work on a sound footing. All proceeds will go to benefit The Door County Sled Dogs with food, vet bills, reliable transportation, and much,
much more!
Organizer Info

subset: commoncrawl


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The Wrote And The Writ chords by Laura Marling, added: June 28th, 2010
Profile History
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The Wrote and the Writ - Laura Marling
Laura Marling's cover of "The Wrote and the Writ", written by Johnny Flynn
Tabbed by: Ale
Tuning: Standard - Capo 1st fret
C(open) Am(open) F G(open) C* B
0 0 1 3 x x
1 1 1 0 x x
0 2 2 0 5 4
2 2 3 0 5 4
3 0 3 2 3 2
x x 1 3 x x
C Am F
Taking pictures of the man from God
I hope his cassock's clean
C Am F
Oh you are a holy fellow
Your halo better gleam, better gleam
C* B Am
What of all those wayward priests?
The ones who like to drink
C* B Am
Do you suppose they'd swap their blood for wine
Like you swapped yours for ink, for ink
You wrote me oh so many letters
And none of them seemed true
Promises look good on paper
Especially from you, from you
The weight of all those willing words
I carried all alone
You wouldn't put your pen to bed
When we hadn't found our own, our own
Your sentences rose high at night
And all round my head
Sentences has been broken
Like the priest before me is breaking bread
I'm being asked to drink the blood of Christ [play the chords louder here]
And soon I'll eat his flesh
I'm alone again before the altar
Shedding all my old regrets
The loss of which I'll tell you now
As it flies down the sink
I never knew a part of you
You didn't set in ink, in ink
But the letters that you left behind
No longer shall I read
Blood's between the pages
And I can't stand to see you bleed
C Am C
And I'll soon forget what was never there
Your words are ash and dust
All that's left is the song I've sung
The breath I've taken and the one I must
If you're born with a love for the wrote and the writ
People of letters your warning stands clear
Pay heed to your heart and not to your wit
Don't say in a letter what you can't in my ear


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"Amateur Night," by driver Bill Patterson: "I dread Saturday nights. You never know what will happen." Profiling the texter, the brake-footer, the rubbernecker, the NASCAR wannabe and ...Read More
Snakes continue to surprise truckers and four-wheelers with their surprise appearances.Read More
"It's April 1, and this entire post may or may not be a filthy lie, but we all know who the fools are."Read More
On winning -- and getting even...Read More
"To laugh out loud embodies what it means to be alive... Rest in peace, Jerry, may you ride that mower into the sun."Read More
"I often wonder where my husband carries all his stuff when I'm not with him and he doesn't have my purse."Read More
"At about 2 o'clock every afternoon my husband starts fretting about being able to park for our break, which is usually at least six hours away. If he doesn't say something, I usually do."Read More
Readers respond to the question "Would you drive if your carrier had a camera pointed at your face or the road?" Sound off yourself here.Read More
Fast on track to make the decision already and move to Oregon for the lush scenery, Wendy Parker discovers an undead revolution in our midst.Read More
"Everyone in Texas has bad-ass boots ... I need a pair of cowboy boots."Read More


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THE UK's economy is growing at its fastest pace for more than a decade with consumers increasingly confident about prospects, reports have said.
The CBI says the UK is surging ahead at its strongest rate since at least 2003, while the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has upgraded its growth forecast for this year from 2.8 per cent to 3.1 per cent.
Research company GfK added its consumer confidence index had climbed out of negative territory for the first time in nine years.
Loading article content
The CBI said a survey of growth recorded in May gave the strongest reading since its data began in 2003.
The poll of 726 firms found a balance of plus 35 per cent, the difference between those reporting higher output in the last three months and those saying it was lower.
It was up from plus 25 per cent in April.
It suggested the UK economy, which grew by 0.8 per cent in the first three months of 2014, had continued to perform strongly going into the second quarter.
The pace of growth was expected to remain above average, with a balance of plus 30 per cent predicting output will increase over the next three months.
Katja Hall, CBI deputy director-general, said: "The UK economy is performing strongly thanks to rising business and consumer confidence, better credit conditions at home and improving global economic conditions.
"What's encouraging is that growth is becoming more broad-based, with solid increases in business investment over the past year.
"This bodes well for the year ahead."
However, she said global developments, including tensions over Ukraine and the Eurozone crisis, posed risks to the UK outlook.
The BCC upgraded forecasts for this year as well as for 2015, when it now expects growth of 2.7 per cent, up from 2.5 per cent.
It continues to expect 2.5 per cent growth in 2016.
Director general John Longworth said: "Businesses up and down the country should be congratulated for their hard work and determination in the face of many challenges over recent years.
"But make no mistake, we still have a lot of work to do.
"The task at hand is to ensure that 2014 is not as good as it gets for the UK economy.
"Everything possible must be done to avoid slower growth in future.
"We need to invest, innovate, export and build."
The GfK survey showed consumer confidence had increased by three points this month to reach zero, the first time it has been out of negative territory since April 2005.
A rise of 27 points since April 2013 has been the steepest for more than 36 years, since a climb of 34 points over a seven-month period to December 1977.
Nick Moon, GfK managing director, added: ""The real driver of the increase is people's assessment of the general economic climate."
A separate survey data from Markit showed households' financial concerns for the coming year were topped by fears over a rising cost of living, energy bills and interest rates.


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Los Angeles: Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra has shared about a "fun" meet with Grammy-winning singer Usher.
The 34-year-old actress, now, a known face internationally, met the "U Remind Me" hitmaker for an upcoming event Global Citizen Festival, which the duo is hosting.
Priyanka took to Twitter to share a photo of herself posing with Usher, 37.
"So fun "ushering" in the day with you! Lol! Super proud to be hosting #GlobalCitizen with @Usher and so many others!" the "Quantico" star captioned the picture.


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Last night social media was alive with The Sound of Music. NBC's intrepid attempt at a live recreation of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical masterpiece was truly a must-see event. Early ratings numbers suggest that the live musical event — which starred Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer —dominated the television landscape making it the number one show of the night for all three hours.
A ratings mammoth? Definitely. A critical hit? That's up for debate. While some reviewers were quick to praise the special, others readily slammed it.
Keep reading below to see what critics are saying about The Sound of Music Live!:
1. "An ambitious — yet disappointingly stiff — staging of the original musical." Hank Stuever, The Washington Post
2. "Neither performer was helped by the fact that the production stuck to the original Broadway show, which premiered more than half a century ago. It was full of business that might be delightful or even exciting on a stage…but on a wide-screen television it tended to look like just that, lots and lots of stage business. Why was this done live?" – Tom Gliatto, People
3. "It's hard not to root for this earnest adaptation to enjoy a measure of success, if only to encourage networks to continue to brave such events…. That macro view, however, can't fully obscure the micro one. In terms of feeling like this production genuinely delivered, that's one mountain "The Sound of Music Live!" just couldn't climb." Brian Lowry – Variety
4. "THE SOUND OF MUSIC was a stunning success beyond nearly any measure – a literal, musical and actual realization of the classic 'Maria' song lyric, 'How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?' Exceptional in every way. Remarkable." Pat Cerasaro – Broadway World
5. "About 10 minutes into Thursday night's much-hyped live performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'The Sound of Music' on NBC, I started praying for a power outage to knock out my TV reception." Don Aucoin – The Boston Globe
What did you think of Carrie Underwood and company? Are the critics being too harsh? Not harsh enough? Let us know!
Read more:
Carrie Underwood Says She's 'Proud' of 'Sound of Music,' and More Headlines
Kardashian Christmas Card: 5 Interesting Observations
Jennifer Lawrence Makes Liam Hemsworth 'Much Happier,' One Direction's Liam Payne on Returning to 'The X Factor' and More
Madonna, Lady Gaga Top Forbes' List of 2013′s Highest Paid Musicians
For the latest pop culture news and voting, make sure to sign up for the People's Choice newsletter!


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When you need industrial-strength, only one ladder will do, the Little Giant Super Duty Type 1AA. Its government rated to a whopping 375 lb., so you know it can stand up to even the most demanding applications. The Type 1AA gives you the advantages of traditional A-frame ladders, extension ladders, stepladders and even scaffolding all in one convenient package. The Super Duty is designed to be the safest ladder on the planet and can be used safely on stairs, ramps, curbs, docks or other uneven surfaces. When you buy a Little Giant, you're not just getting one ladder, you're getting 24 different ladders combined to make the world's most versatile ladder system. The Model 17 has a step ladder height of 4 ft. and adjusts up to 7 ft. in 1 ft. increments. The extension height is 9 ft. and adjusts up to 15 ft. in 1 ft. increments. This ladder also stores in 4 ft. 7 in. of space.
- Invest in quality and complete versatility with an adjustable A-frame, staircase, and 90° ladder in 1 compact, easy-to-use package
- Industrial strength, special-duty Little Giant super duty exceeds all OSHA and ANSI standards and is rated to hold up to 375 lbs. (type IAA)
- Use a true professional's ladder that is built to stand a heavy duty payload and is backed by a lifetime warranty
- Assembled in United States


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The Government's mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) sets out a direction for the NHS that will have a major impact on joint work between clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities.
Most of the topics in the mandate are already shared local priorities, and there is significant emphasis on further integration, including in areas that have traditionally been difficult to implement such as access to records.
The NHS CB is expected to work in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA) at a national level and with local authorities at a local level.
This briefing will be of interest to members and officers working closely with partners in health – particularly those working in social care and public health and members of health and wellbeing boards.
Subscriber content
Some of our content is only available to members and officers in LGiU member organisations. Check if your organisation is a member.
Please sign in with your email address below and we'll check your email address against our list of registered members, or send you an invoice later. See our briefings terms and conditions.


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Danger Close Games (an alternative brand to EA Los Angeles, which was used only for the final two Medal of Honor titles) was an American video game developer founded originally in 1995 as DreamWorks Interactive LLC, a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG. The studio was primarily known for its work on the Medal of Honor Series.
The studio released its first great success, the original Medal of Honor, in 1999 for the PlayStation. The studio was acquired in 2000 by Electronic Arts and then subsequently merged with Westwood Studios and EA Pacific and renamed to EA Los Angeles in 2003.
EA Los Angeles rebranded as Danger Close Games in 2010 with the intent of using the name Danger Close for all future Medal of Honor titles, and under which they went on to release Medal of Honor, a modern take on the franchise. The studio also assisted in the development of Battlefield 3 at this time[1]
Following successful sales of Medal of Honor 2010, the studio released Medal of Honor: Warfighter in 2013. Following poor sales, however, the studio was subsequently shut down in June 2013. Much of the staff was laid off, although some of the remnants, as well as DICE employees from Stockholm were brought together to form DICE LA.
- A dog tag with the Danger Close logo can be acquired for use in the multiplayer of Battlefield 3.


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- Price:
- $726.75
- Description
- Specifications
- Reviews
- Videos (1)
Measure dissolved oxygen (using either the galvanic or polarographic probe) and conductivity (using the probe built-in with the cable) with the Pro2030 and the cable length of your choice. All of the cables provide temperature measurements with no temperature probe needed. A graphic display offers detailed messages and instructions. Both the display and keypad are backlit. The rubber over-molded case features an IP-67 waterproof rating. Order instrument, cables, and probes separately.
We encourage our customers to let us know what experiences they have had with our products, whether good or bad. By submitting a review, you can share your experiences with others and also provide valuable feedback to us as well. With just a few simple steps, you can add your review of this product.
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YSI Pro Series DO/Conductivity Cable, 4m
- Price:
- $608.00
YSI Pro Series DO/Conductivity Cable, 10m
- Price:
- $655.50
YSI Pro Series DO/Conductivity Cable, 20m
- Price:
- $707.75
YSI Pro Series Galvanic DO Sensor
YSI Galvanic Dissolved Oxygen Sensor
- Price:
- $175.75
YSI Pro Series Polarographic DO Sensor
YSI Polarographic Dissolved Oxygen Sensor
- Price:
- $175.75
YSI DO Cap Membrane Kit for Polarographic Sensor
For compatible YSI® Dissolved Oxygen Meters. Cap membrane kit 1.25 mil PE (6 each), includes electrolyte.
- Price:
- $57.00
YSI DO Cap Membrane Kit for Galvanic Sensor
For use with YSI® Professional Series Pro20/Pro2030 instruments and YSI® Professional Series Probes. Cap membrane kit 1.25 mil PE (6 each), includes electrolyte.
- Price:
- $57.00
YSI Soft-side Carrying Case
For compatible YSI® Professional Series instruments and YSI® ProODO™ Handheld Optical Dissolved Oxygen Meters
- Price:
- $85.50


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Hi All
Am making some White Chocolate leaves for a dessert presentation…I don't have my Cake Bible at the moment, can any of you tell me how I can store them after they are made.
I've made Chocolate leaves earlier and considering how humid it is in these parts, it was quite a daunting task…any tips would be of great help. Thanks.