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There's beauty in even the darkest "Abyss" - beautiful yet formidable, vibrant yet dark, the Abyss Katana is spectacular fusion of breathtaking contrastsDouble-edged, full tang 30" black Damascus steel blade, hand forged by Shinwa's master swordsmiths using proven, centuries-old technique; more than 1,000 distinct layersInnovative, exclusive process puts "black" in "black Damascus" - result is blade with brooding dark beauty without equalTsuka wrapped in faux ray skin, classic black ito; offset by brilliant brass dragon menuki; traditional wooden mekugiUnique, flawlessly cast tsuba features breathtaking relief design that depicts menacing dragon in extraordinary detailOverall length: 43" - the quintessential full-sized samurai sword
Product Description
Explore the dark, ever-mysterious depths of the "Abyss"
Shadowy and mysterious, yet clearly capable, Shinwa's "Abyss" Katana is both a black pit of despair and a wellspring of sword-wielding joy; it just depends on which end you're facing. And despite its grim hues, the Abyss is nothing if not vibrant and alluring; it's teeming with distinctive appointments and captivating accents - a true masterwork of contemporary sword design. But behind this stylishly unsettling façade lurks a downright frightening beast - a formidable double-edged blade hand forged from black Damascus steel.
Darkness with an edge - two edges, to be precise
More than "muscle," the capable full tang blade is the veritable "dark soul" of the Abyss, and no less than hand forged bladecraft at its height. It slices effortlessly through even the most challenging materials, retaining its fine edge through even the most brutal trials. Breathtaking, downright bewitching and truly unique, the blade's beauty is every bit as keen as the carefully honed, razor sharp edge. It pierces the depths of your imagination - opening it to wondrous new metallurgical possibilities, while slashing apart all your preconceived notions of what makes Damascus steel, "Damascus steel."
Open your mind to dark-yet-thrilling new bladecraft possibilities
The Abyss's distinctive black Damascus steel is a tumultuous sea of contrasting lines, waves, swirls and other mesmerizing patterns, all cloaked in a shadowy dark hue. Each line is a distinct variety of steel, hammer welded and hand folded repeatedly to yield the thousands of layers in each Abyss blade. The unique metalsmithing technique's roots stretch back to the Middle Ages, and today it's still painstakingly performed by seasoned hands - no automation, no mechanization. To make each Abyss blade, a Shinwa master swordsmith fires a stack of steel blanks - each piece a different alloy - in a white-hot forge until the metal glows red hot. He then removes the stack and hammers it until it's around half as thick as the original. Then he folds the metal onto itself lengthwise and hammers each half together. The process is meticulously repeated - hundreds of times in some cases - until the desired layering effect is achieved, at which point a final quenching strengthens the resulting blade, while an acid treatment highlights vivid contrasts in the layers. And the slow, laborious process itself it just the beginning!
Unique allure only a seasoned swordsmith could produce
In order to achieve sufficiently dramatic contrasts, Shinwa's master smiths must expertly select an appropriate combination of steel alloys of varying color, luminescence and other visual qualities. For the sake of strength, resilience and countless additional blade factors, the smiths must also must consider each alloy's distinct melting point, proper stacking order, forge temperature and myriad other variables. Simply put, an unbelievable quantity of blood, sweat and tears goes into every Abyss blade.
Experience Damascus steel…after dark
As if that weren't enough, Shinwa adds its own innovative modern twist to the Abyss blade - an exclusive, closely guarded secret process that imparts that sinister dark veil; putting the "black" in black Damascus, so to speak. Rich amber lines swirl over a deep black void like trails of blood flowing down a blackwater river. It's Damascus steel...after dark. And of all the world's swords, Shinwa's Abyss is one of a relative few to feature it. Furthermore, like a steel snowflake or fingerprint, the patterning on no two Abyss blades are exactly alike.
A dark sword that shines brighter than the rest
Even the most sumptuously adorned, expensive "carbon steel" sword can't match the shadowy allure of Shinwa's double-edged dark wonder: the Abyss Katana. Like a seaside lighthouse in photonegative, the deep, dark Abyss is a brilliant shining beacon of originality and inventiveness in a sea of ordinary, uninspired swords. The Abyss has proven itself time and again, and it holds its own against far more expensive katana, outperforming many. But the old cliché is true - "action" does indeed "speak louder than words," and at this unbeatable, downright unheard-of price, why deny yourself the opportunity to experience the ever-impressive Abyss Katana for yourself? No matter how you use it, with proper care you can enjoy the Abyss for a lifetime, then pass the set down to your children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren! This heirloom-quality katana is built to be treasured by generations of your descendants - your legacy preserved in hand forged black Damascus steel!
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Customer Reviews
I don't know what the reviewer below received, but what I received was a well crafted sword made of beautiful Damascus steel. Well crafted and honestly, mesmerizing to look at. This sword is not the showpiece of my collection, but it is a wonderfully crafted piece of steel that is a step up from many other brands. Shinwa in my opinion makes good quality swords for the price point. Do not be afraid to pull the trigger on this one, especially if you can get it on promo/sale. I 1000% recommend
I got this today. It was like Christmas. I opened the box, to find a beautiful display box inside. I opened the display box to find the sword wrapped in a black bag. The anticipation was driving me crazy. I took the sword out of the bag and found a very beautifully crafted sword. The edges weren't razor sharp, but i can fix that. overall the sword is beautiful. It has a nice weight to it. I feel it is a Great sword for the price. no problems with this sword at all. i love it.
I bought this sword a couple months ago and was surprised at what I found. The sword had plenty of glue at where the blade entered the handle, and sawdust regularly gets stuck on the blade from the scabbard. It also isn't real damascus steel, just a coating made to look like one. The blade is a bit weak and when put against my 1942 U.S. sword it was easily chipped. The box is cheap and it is easy for the fabric on the inside to slip and for the styrofoam to come out. You can also clearly see the wood of the handle because the cord wrapping doesn't cover it. It seems weird to me too that almost every review here has 5/5 stars, even the ones where they only say that it is terrible. This review is 1/5.
Absolutely love this sword, its easily the favorite of my collection. If I absolutely have to find a complaint, its that i dont like the box it comes with, but to be honest its not that bad; it just gives it an older Asian feel. Its not a bad thing, it just looks out of place. But the blade itself was perfect! Super sharp on both sides, and i love the color! I dont have a problem with the square guard, not sure how it would hurt you really. And the scabbard is pretty nice as well. It does have weight to it from the full tang and it is real Damascus! I own several Damascus products and this is by far my favorite, totally worth it!
Great blade, strong and heavy,good scabbard,,also the handle is well wrapped. I just wish that this blade came with a smooth, rounded guard. The square guard has sharp corners that hurt.
I got ne of these, sending it back,,,Looks fake to me,,, like a coated carbon steel blade, not real Damascus steel.
I finally got this sword almost half an hour ago, and I must say I am satisfied. I'll admit that after reading the reviews that gave this sword a bad rating, I was scared to buy it. But now, I can let out a sigh of relief. This weapon is even better than Trueswords described it. The black blade is super sharp, everything on it is really tight so nothing on it is wobbly or can move freely, and it's surprisingly heavier than I expected. But I know the extra weight is from the full tang, which makes this sword even stronger. I highly recommend this weapon. This gets a 5 out of 5.
Everyone loves what you guys are up too. This sort of clever work and coverage! Keep up the amazing works guys I've included you guys to my personal blogroll.
I like the sword and its double edged so that's better I only use this sword for practice but when I first got it I always check throow a cutting test with thick bamboo and its a little on the heavy side but a great sword I recommend this sword for beginningers and learn how to take care of it P.S and its razor sharp I barely rube my finger on it and it gave a clean cut
It a good beginninger sword for newbies and is a good sword I use in for home defense and its strong I cut throw bamboo like!e butter so for the be beginningers out there start with this sword or others shinwa swords and do your homework to learn how to take care and sharpen a katana
I am happy with the sword I cut throw thick bamboo and it still holds its edge so I recommend that do your homework on how to take care of a katana and warning its very sharp I already cut myself cleaning it!
Wow been waiting to get this one and it was a bogo . I couldn't believe it . I was so amazed when they got here they even came in their own decorative boxes . So Beautiful and sharp . I couldn't have made a better choice especially for the price . I actually now have bought 5 Shinwa swords now and I am completely happy whith them all .
First off great looking sword, second the sword is a bit thin and therefore it snapped at my match. I also have my doubts about it being "full tang", I believe it is a "half tang" or it just might be a crappy handle.
But this is a review and I would say this blade is worth to have if you can duel wield 1 large 1 light considering the katana as large
But ya very good peice
Response: Hi Mothyis,
Every Shinwa blade is hand forged and is full tang. But if you are not satisfied with the product, you may return an item within 60 days of purchase. You can contact us at 1-800-735-3326 to obtain a return label for your package. Thank you for taking the time to write a review! Happy Holidays!
I don't usually write reviews but I get the need to write one here. I saw the previous reviews saying it was bad but I purchased it anyways as a birthday gift to myself. I honestly cannot find anything wrong with te sword. It arrived very quickly the shipping box sai express shipping on it when I ordered the standard. When you open the box there is another box inside which is just the shinwa brand box but inside that box is a rad box with dragons on it that holds your sword. This box was alittle misaligned and the handle was folded but that was likely due to being pressed up against another object in shipping. It really wasn't noticeable and the handle you can bend back. When you unclapse the locks and open the box the inside is lined with gold fabric and has your sword inside a cloth sheathe of a sort. Untie the cloth and take it off and you have your sword inside it's sheathe. The sheathe at the very tip was warped or appraised but very slightly I only noticed when I ran my finger over it. Take the sheathe off an you have the sword. My sword was nearly flawless which really makes me not understand the past reviews. Both edges were razor sharp and nothing wrong on the blade itself or the handle for that matter. I went back and did a close inspection while writing this and noticed a tiny micro scratch near the hilt but again I REALLY had to look for it. Nothing will ever be perfect. But this was pretty darn close. I highly suggest this sword. I am so happy with the product and the fact that it's double edges is great. Don't see many like that especially made of Damascus. I Highly suggest this buy.
Nice sword. Great for somebody like me, because I take karate now. :)
I bought this I found the quality excellent, I have read some of the other reviews that gave 1 or 2, I have never owned a 10,000 dollar sword but this one feels like a million bucks, the handle has ray skin which give a good hand feel. Blade very good looking, I gave a hard wack at a bale of hay to see if it would break, I think with this blade if your strong you definitely could cut a person or animal in two. for the price, hard to beat
Not at all satisfied . Sword was dull and had major defects. Contacted TS and they wanted me to pay for shipping back to them. I have bought 5 other swords from this site and they were all Musha swords. I guess I should of stuck with them. I do not recommend this sword at all. Very very disappointed.
I will say that I was extremely disappointed with the sword . I have bought 5 swords before this one and was always very happy. Once I received this sword there was a few flaws with it. When I count acted TS about it they wanted me to pay for the shipping back to them for replacement. That was not acceptable to me since I have already purchased a FEW swords from them. I will say the Musha brand is nice but I will not buy a shinwa brand again.
This is the gem in my sword collection. This sword is not only razor sharp but the design looks awesome. The pictures on here do not do the blade justice. The design has a slight copper color on the black blade. I tried out the blade and it shaved paper right out of the box. I highly recommend this to everyone who loves unique blades.
PS it looks like a plastic blade with the black paintjob but dont be fooled. This is the real deal and has some nice weight behind the sharp blade.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systems has unveiled its new System Saver 1800 air dryer at the TMC Transportation Equipment Expo in Nashville.
The air dryer, designed for fleets and owner-operators with applications requiring a higher air brake system drying capacity, provides 15 to 30 per cent more drying capacity for heavy-duty applications. It is ideal for heavy truck and vocational applications.
Dennis L. Sandberg, president of Meritor WABCO Vehicle Systems, says, "The introduction of this new air dryer allows us to broaden our reach with a single-cartridge design. It is ideal for applications where increased drying capacity and extended cartridge life are needed."
Other benefits offered by the System Saver 1800 include easy installation, low maintenance and excellent protection against moisture and air system contamination.
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Before this, had you read a graphic novel?
What did you think about the format of this book? Did you like it? Why or why not?
Did you enjoy the humor? Why or why not?
Warning Signs
Do you remember doing weird, creepy things when you were young? Do or did your children do weird, creepy things? What were they? Do you think this is normal?
When Allie shows up at the playground naked- Do you think this behavior is a warning sign as the chapter title implies?
The Simple Dog
Do you think this chapter was meant to reflect Allie?
How did you feel after reading this chapter?
Did this chapter help you better understand what it is like for someone who suffers from depression?
The God of Cake
What do you think of Allie's use of blurring in her pictures? Do you think it was effective?
Did you ever fantasize about being dead as a way to punish your parents?
The Helper Dog is an Asshole
What did you think about Allie writing from other points of view? Like the helper dog thinking, "Must stop other dog." Or other people thinking, "What horrible people they must be…" What does that say about Allie?
Depression Part One
"Essentially, I was being robbed of my right to feel self-pity, which is the only redeeming part of sadness." Do you think there is catharsis in allowing yourself to indulge in self-pity, to a point? Explain.
How did you feel after reading the parts where she talks to herself, i.e. "Shut up. I hate you." Do you think this actually goes through her head when it's happening? Or do you think this is how she interprets it after she has put some distance between her and an incident?
Do you think writing like this is therapeutic for her?
What do you think her intention is for publishing this?
Depression Part Two
After reading this chapter, did you start to get paranoid that your children suffer from depression?
Did this chapter make you feel like you are better equipped to interact with someone who is depressed? Or did it make you feel like avoiding someone who is depressed?
"…I agreed to see a doctor so that everyone would stop having all of their feelings AT me." What do you think of that phrasing? What does it say about Allie?
This is Why I'll Never Be an Adult
Do you ever feel like you never grew up and eventually someone is going to notice you are faking it?
Thoughts and Feelings
"The illusion of control makes the helplessness seem more palatable. And when that illusion is taken away, I panic." Do you ever feel this way? Under what circumstances?
The Party
What did you think of this story?
Identity Part One
Do you think most people believe they are truly selfless? Do you think most people would prove otherwise if tested?
"…being a genuinely good person is time-consuming and complicated." Do you agree?
"The fact that I think about doing nice things feels almost like actually doing them. I get to feel all the good feelings without any of the inconvenience." "I also feel disproportionately good about myself whenever I'm presented with absurdly easy opportunities to do the right thing and then actually do it." Do you think most people are like this? If so, do you think it is human nature? Or do you think it is a result of a society that has evolved into one that gives out trophies, awards and certificates for absolutely everything?
"I don't just want to do the right thing. I wat to WANT to do the right thing." Discuss.
Identity Part Two
Do you think that being selfish is human nature and it takes work to be good and do the right thing? Do you think there are some people out there that doing the right thing comes naturally? Which kind of person are you?
Questions from The Bookly Club
Which was your favorite story and why?
Which story did you relate to the most?
What were your feelings about the author after reading this?


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Discover A New Autumn Family Tradition, Festival or Ritual!
Happy Autumn!
Please Note: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links at the bottom of the page.
This post is all about Autumn traditions, festivals and rituals.
Most probably you will already be aware of most of these traditions, but not celebrate them all.
Hopefully, you'll discover one or two that will become a new family tradition.
Traditional festivals generally focus on nature and the cycle of life.
The ebb and flow of the seasons: including light and day, regrowth, passing away, recycling, good and evil, equinoxes/solstices, ocean tides and moon phases.
By observing these cycles and changes we can be more intune with the earth, and connect with our ancestors.
Autumn festivals and traditions are a time to be thankful for everything we have, and to remember loved ones that have passed away.
And to celebrate life.
My family is not religious but we enjoy learning about other religions, traditions and festivals.
Further down the post, I've included some ideas for family rituals.
Many home ed families already enjoy rituals such as morning baskets and poetry teatime.
But, I've included quite a variety so likely you'll discover a new ritual to try out during the autumn months.
Harvest Celebrations:
Britain's Harvest Festival is celebrated on the 22nd September. It is generally celebrated by attending special harvest church services, and many schools have assemblies and harvest activities.
However, Britain celebrated the harvest festival long before the arrival of christianity.
In fact, the US Thanksgiving originated from Britain, as the first English settlers carried on their Harvest celebrations in the new world.
Today, Thanksgiving is a secular celebration. And is celebrated worldwide, at various dates.
Autumn Equinox and the Harvest Moon:
The harvest moon is always the full moon that shines closest to the time of the autumn equinox.
The 2019 autumn equinox occurs on the 23rd September for the US, and the 24th for the UK.
During the autumn equinox, the amount of daylight and nighttime hours are equal. The sun is directly above the equator. This only happens twice a year, during the autumn and spring equinox.
This year, the Harvest full moon that is closest to the autumn equinox falls on the 14th September for the UK, and 13th September for the US.
The harvest moon is termed 'harvest' because historically the arrival of this full moon coincided with the reaping of the harvest.
The Harvest moon shone over the farmers fields for several days allowing farmers to work longer hours, collecting in the harvest.
Fruits, vegetables, foods made from grains such as bread, and flowers are common harvest festival decorations.
Find out more about the Harvest moon over at the NASA Science page and at earthsky.com.
Discover why this years Harvest moon is extra special here.
Things to do to celebrate the Harvest moon, Harvest festival, Autumn equinox, and Thanksgiving celebrations:
(technically we can celebrate the harvest moon, harvest festival and the autumn equinox throughout September and not just during their occurrence. Same goes for Thanksgiving festivities. So, if you miss one of the special days you can still mark it and have fun doing the activities.)
Create a fruit and vegetable display, add bread, rolls, cake and flowers. Take photos.
Construct your own paper flowers for the display. My Summer Solstice post has lots of links to different paper flower tutorials.
Pop some homemade popcorn.
Have a special harvest or thanksgiving family dinner. This site is good for getting ideas about thanksgiving foods.
Check out my Native American post as it contains a plant-based recipe for Three Sisters soup which is made up of the three main crops that the Native Americans harvested; squash, beans and corn.
Bake some pagan Moon Cakes that are traditionally enjoyed at full moon ceremonies.
Think of everything you have to be thankful for, including what you have in plenty e.g. families, friends, opportunity to home educate, animal companions, security.
Light a candle and remember your ancestors.
Paint harvest moon pictures.
Learn about agriculture with a ton of resources from Countrysideclassroom.org
Send emails, letters, text messages,social media messages, make phone calls, to your family and friends to spread happy harvest chear!
Get out all your family photos, digital and hard copies, and reminisce about the good old times, and the good times yet to come!
Construct corn dollies. My Native American post has a link to a tutorial.
Watch the Harvest moon sunrise or sunset.
Check out the autumn activities in my Virtual Nature Club Box post.
Sing along with the Harvest Samba song on YouTube!
Access these awesome 'readers theatre' scripts about the first US Thanksgiving. You and your kids can have parts and read out the interviews. This would be a perfect morning basket activity (more information about morning baskets below)
There's lots of The First Thanksgiving learning resources on the Scholastic website to explore.
Access lesson plans on the moon from Mensa for Kids
Create a moon phase chart using Oreo cookies! The best thing about Oreos is that they are vegan friendly!
Access moonwalk lesson plans from Teach Engineering
Mabon 21st-29th September, 2019
Mabon is a pagan Thanksgiving, harvest festival.
Mabon is a Welsh deity and is said to be the son of Mother Earth.
Mabon celebrates balance as during the Autumn equinox, the day and night hours are in balance.
Mabon is a time to think about the changes in the season, from Summer to Autumn.
And to give thanks for everything the earth provides.
Mabon is a time to rest and celebrate, after the hard work of bringing in the harvest.
It's a time to think about what changes you would like to see in your life, and what you could let go off.
It's a good idea to focus on tying up any loose ends, or complete any unfinished work during Mabon. Then you can chill out more during the winter season!
Learnreligions.com has ten ideas you can use to mark Mabon, which include reading harvest stories, spending time in nature, and thinking up a gratitude list.
Try some Mabon recipes.
Thanksgiving Canada, 14th October 2019:
Harvest and Thanksgiving activities as suggested above.
Learn about Canada with these brilliant resources from TeacherPlanet.
Find out how the Canadian Thanksgiving differs from the American Thanksgiving.
Plan a nature hike. Walking and trekking in nature, is a common activity for a Canadian Thanksgiving.
Learn about the maple tree.
Apple Day (UK) 21st October, 2019
Apple Day was first marked on October the 21st, 1990, in the UK.
The day was set to celebrate apples and to raise awareness of the decline of traditional apple orchards.
At the core of Apple Day, is the ethos of humanity living in harmony with the natural world.
Check out this list of Apple Day events happening up and down the UK throughout now to December, 2019.
Explore the apple activities and videos on PBS learning media.
Diwali October 25th-29th, 2019
Otherwise known as the 'festival of the lights'
Diwali is a harvest festival.
Diwali is a Hindu festival. But can be celebrated by people not within the Hindu religion, as it can increase understanding of other religions and people. Many Indians who are not religious still celebrate Diwali.
This festival celebrates the idea that good has brought the light and conquered evil, the darkness.
Lakshmi, the hindu goddess of riches, is the main deity of Diwali.
Activities to celebrate:
Make Diwali clay bowls for tealight candles.
Make Diwali paper lanterns.
String up your Christmas lights.
Make some of the Diwali crafts over at ActivityVillage
Play some bollywood music and learn some bollywood dance moves.
Cook up some Indian food with this selection from Good Food which includes vegan options.
Lots of Indian sweets are consumed during Diwali. This site has some easy recipes to explore.
Give your family and friends gifts of sweets and dried fruits.
Hindu families often create altars for Lakshmi, and decorate it with images of riches. Create a 'wealth/riches' collage. Fill it with pictures of what wealth means to you. Doesn't have to be all material possessions, include family, friends, pets,and symbols of love, friendship and good health.
Learn about traditional Hindu threshold art and create your own artwork.
Watch the Story of Diwali on YouTube.
Learn about India with this video from Geography Now on YouTube.
Halloween, 31st October, 2019
Also known as All Hallows Eve
Activities to celebrate:
Dunk for apples. Float apples in a basin of water and try and catch one using either your teeth or a fork. Hold the fork handle in your mouth!
Dress up and go guising. Visit your neighbours and friends and announce 'trick or treat, give us something good to eat' as they answer the door. Have a joke prepared.
Prepare a bucket of sweets for guising visitors that may visit your door.
Prepare a pumpkin lantern.
In Scotland a turnip lantern or 'moot' is traditional. Find out more on this site and how to carve one. Though a turnip lantern is much more difficult to carve than a pumpkin!
Draw scary faces onto oranges and satsumas, with felt pens. These look like cute little baby pumpkins besides the actual pumpkin lantern.
Prepare a bowl of scary punch using cranberry or raspberry juice. Add a tin or two of mixed fruits and perhaps a confectionary 'eyeball' or two!
Prepare some spooky food.
Access some halloween crafts, worksheets,colouring, games and poems.
Vintage Apple Ducking
Light a candle for your ancestors, and loved ones that have passed away.
Listen to some ghoulish music
Learn about the origins of Halloween over at History.com
Explore this Halloween media collection from PBS.
Learn about mythical animals with my cryptozoology nature post. This post also has a ton of ideas for a mythical/fantasy homeschool project, as well as 100 fantasy/mythical movie suggestions.
Samhain 31st october-sunset 1st November, 2019
Samhain is gaelic in origin.
Samhain is the pagan new year.
Samhain lasts from the 31st October until the sunset on 1st November.
Samhain signifies the end of harvest season.
Samhain is a time for honouring ancestors.
Samhain is celebrated with feasts, guising, bonfires and gatherings.
- Activities:
Bake Soul cakes Learn religions.com has some good recipes.
An idea adapted from learnreligions.com is to create a family tree altar cloth. But instead of an altar cloth perhaps use a plain table runner or table cloth, and write out your family tree on the cloth. Use the table cloth for a special family dinner. Or use an old plain pillowcase, and your child could write out their family tree. Even draw little sketches representing each family member. Pop it on your child's bed as a reminder of their ancestors, and loved family members.
Wear the Samhain colours of orange and black, orange represents life and black the ending of life. But with each ending, a new beginning always arrives, as the cycle of life keeps turning.
Samhain in a time to appreciate the natural world, and learn about the cycles of life. Also to celebrate life!
Go on an earth walk. An earth walk is a sensory walk, where the focus is on what you hear, what you see, what you can feel, what you can taste, and what you can smell. The idea is to be mindful of all these senses as you walk in nature. You don't need worksheets or scavenger charts, just be you in the wild space. We are not separate from nature, we are nature!
All Saints Day 1st November
All Saints Day is a christian day where saints and martyrs are remembered.
Special church services are held.
Access some lesson plans for All Saints Day and All Soul Day.
All Souls Day 2nd November, 2019
All Souls Day is a christian tradition, where prayers are said for those who have passed away.
Bake All Soul Cakes.
Or bake a Soulmas cake.
Dress up as an angel, devil or saint.
Learn about angels.
Learn about purgatory.
Day of the Dead 2nd November, 2019
Also known as Dia De Los Muertos.
A Mexican festival that celebrates life.
Mexicans believe that on the Day of the Dead, loved ones whom have passed away can arise again and join in the celebrations.
Ofrendas are special alters that are created and filled with offerings, for their returning loved ones.
Day of the Dead activities:
Access this educational and fun pdf activity book, from the mexic-artemuseum.org it has crafts, puzzles, recipes,history and quizzes, write a poem activity, traditions, create your own ofrenda, etc.
Learn about the Day of the Dead and build your own interactive alter here.
Learn about Day of the Dead food.
Learn about Day of the Dead traditions.
Learn about sugar skulls.
Watch the film The Book of Life (2014). View the film's trailer on YouTube. Coco (2017) is another good film. View the trailer here.
Ancestors Blot 11th November, 2019
Ancestors Blot is a neo-pagan Norse tradition that focuses on the land and the need to respect and care for it.
Nature spirits are also honoured.
Ancestors are remembered, especially those that cared for the earth.
- Activities to mark Ancestors Blot:
A blot is a sacrifice! But in modern times a sacrifice can be understood and practiced as symbolic. Perhaps scatter some seeds around a tree as an offering to the tree deities or spirits.
Prepare some bird fat balls, and give these as offerings to the nature spirits. And the birds of course!
Learn about John Muir, a remarkable naturalist who dedicated his life to conserving green spaces. There's lots of John Muir educational resources to explore on the sierraclub.org website.
As this tradition is norse in origin a Viking Norse feast would be ideal! Learn more about Viking feasts.
Light some candles to honour your ancestors.
Learn about heathery, which includes the traditional Norse gods.
Learn all about Viking society.
Watch the Thor (2011) series of films!
Thanksgiving USA 28th November, 2019:
Harvest and Thanksgiving activities as suggested above for September.
Bake a vegan pumpkin pie. (I will be posting up a vegan pumpkin pie recipe, likely next month in October)
Bake a vegan apple pie. Again I will post my own vegan apple pie on my blog soon.
Stir-Up Sunday 24th November, 2019:
Stir-up Sunday is the traditional day to prepare and steam your christmas pudding. I will be posting up my own vegan christmas pudding recipe, it will be posted a few weeks before Stir-up Sunday.
Twenty-fourth of November is Stir-Up Sunday because there are no more Sundays, between now and the start of Advent.
Everyone in the family takes a turn to stir the pudding.
Each person makes a special wish as they stir.
Its traditional to place silver coins, thimbles or other small tokens in the Christmas pudding. But be aware of the choking risks if you decide to do so.
Learn more about the Christmas pudding here.
Read about dried fruits here.
Discover A New Autumn Family Tradition, Festival or Ritual
Below is some ideas for family rituals and routines that can be tailored for you individual family.
Perhaps one or two will become much loved family traditions.
Hope you all have a great time making happy memories over the Autumn season!
Movie or Film Night:
Pick a movie!
Prepare snacks and drinks.
Close the curtains.
Enjoy said movie!
When my kids were younger, we would go one further and my kids would prepare cinema 'tickets' and they would be the film 'ushers'!
Movie choices could be themed to go with whatever projects your studying in home school: Historical, environmental, mythical, fantasy, foreign, geography, art,nature, science, as well as science fiction, etc.
For 100 fantasy and mythical film choices, check out my post Cryptozoological nature journaling
An excellent site for film choices with lesson plans is teachwithmovies.org
For history movies: Historical movies in chronological order
For film resources, and a place for your kids to write film reviews: IntoFilm
Games Night:
Set a time limit for your games night if you'd like more of a structure.
Two hours is a good average time, seeing as games like monopoly or scrabble can take a while to complete.
Play games! Any kind of games that your child enjoys: charades, card, and dice. Also pencil and paper games. Bingo is a classic game enjoyed by everyone. This website is awesome as you can print custom bingo sheets for free! Vocabulary words your child is currently learning, maths problems, project themes, even an autumn bingo version! This website has a huge list of board games to print. I recommend the Woodland Craft game, find it under the free printable roll and write list. Another relevant one for this post is the Autumn Stroll game, find it on the same list as the Woodland Craft. For more game suggestions check out my post 15 family activities and games for travelling.
Discover the tabletop RPG game Dungeons and Dragons! Once you get your head around the rules, character creation and game play, you'll find that it's an amazing, time-absorbing game that will result in your child's imagination taking a sky-rocket! The game also has many academic benefits, as well as a great way to practice social skills for those with Autism spectrum disorders and anxiety. Check out this article for more information. D & D is a great game for kids to realize that awesome game play doesn't have to come from a games console!
Eco Evening/Day:
Bring Earth Hour or day to your home regularly! Designate your own special Eco evening or day. Perhaps weekly, every few weeks or monthly.
For a designated time, turn off all the non-essential electrics and light sources.
Bring out torches, candles and wind-up battery torches or radios!
Decide how you want to spend the evening as a family.
Could be cook supper outside on a little camp stove, play games, read stories, listen to the radio, or create artwork by candle light, etc. Playing charades by candle-light sounds fun!
Explore these educational earth resources from the World Wildlife Fund.
Read Aloud/Oral Storytelling Evening:
Read Aloud evening could be themed or just a hodge-podge mix of good books.
Take turns reading aloud to each other.
Discover oral storytelling, that doesn't require an actual book. This is the method stories were historically handed down through the generations.
To begin, everyone could retell a fairy story or other story they know well, before moving on to invented stories.
Puppets could be incorporated into oral storytelling. As well as drama and hand gestures. Encourage the use of different voices for different characters.
Access a shadow puppet lesson plan here.
Check out these lesson plans on oral storytelling from PBSlearningmedia.
Check out my Nature Club post, at the bottom it has links to free Project Gutenberg books with an Autumn and Thanksgiving theme.
Check out my summer solstice post as it has lots of links to nature and fairy tale books to read for free.
Finally for more Project Gutenberg nature story ideas, check out my nature book suggestion post.
Morning Baskets:
In essence a morning basket could be described as a morning ritual that bridges the time between breakfast and your home learning day routine.
A morning basket provides structure and routine, which many kids love as they can predict what will happen next.
A morning basket is an ideal replacement for morning TV.
A morning basket can include books, puzzles, writing/drawing prompts, a soft toy, and a few fidget/sensory toys.
Find out more about morning baskets here.
Check out my art/music/ writing prompts all with an eco-nature theme, and ideal for including with a morning basket ritual.
Perhaps introduce a different fruit or raw vegetable, each week to be tested and tried during your morning basket routine. Kids will be excited to see what fruit they will be nibbling on that morning during basket time!
The time spent on your morning basket ritual could be anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour, or longer if that suits your family routine. But I would say 30 minutes might be more realistic for busy family routines.
Poetry Teatime:
One of my favourite homeschool rituals!
Tea, treats and books!
Everyone sits around the table, or on the sofa and using a side table if preferred, and tea is served.
Ideally, use a teapot with cups and saucers.
Kids will love pouring the tea, adding sugar lumps and stirring in milk.
A variety of herbal teas could be offered or weak normal tea, depending on kids ages and parental permission.
Juice or milk could be provided and poured into a teapot, for the fun of pouring!
Nibbles, fruit and little cakes could be provided.
Finally a poetry book or two is required.
Or access to a poetry website, and some poems printed. But most libraries have a good selection of kids poetry books.
Poetry book ideas could include Beatrix Potter, Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verse, Edward Lears The Owl and The Pussy Cat, Usborne Book of Poetry, and lots more!
The idea is that poetry is enjoyed with tea and nibbles. A satisfying way to spend an hour, once you've had one poetry teatime, you will be hooked!
Poetry 'Starters' :
This is similar to poetry teatimes but is much shorter in duration.
Before each meal, or just one meal, recite a poem, and then it will be your poetry 'starter'!
This is a great way to introduce poetry into your daily routine, and make it second nature.
World Cuisine Night or Homemade Takeaway Night or Social Studies Supper Evening:
Decide which country you would like to visit for dinner, and the rest of the evening.
Learn some foreign language words, write these down so that you can practice conversing to each other.
Cook your chosen countries traditional food.
Eat the food how it is traditionally eaten i.e. hands, chopsticks, scooped up with flatbread, spoon, sitting on floor, etc.
Learn about your chosen countries culture and customs.
Play some traditional music.
Try dancing one of your chosen countries traditional dances.
Draw the countries flag and prop it up on the dining table, or near where you eat, as a decoration.
Find a documentary to watch about your chosen country. Our family enjoys the Geography Now YouTube channel. The short videos for each country are fun to watch.
Reenactment /Living History Evening/Day:
Ideas include:
Research a medieval feast. Plan and prepare. I plan to do this with my kids soon, and predict it will be so much fun!
Play medieval music. Perhaps dress up and assign characters to each person. Keep in character during the evening!
Have a medieval peasant style dinner and evening! This would mean candles and tunics! And vegetable pottage which was inexpensive. What did medieval peasants do in the evening?
Other themes could include:
Perhaps your evacuees living in the countryside, what would you do during the evening and what would you likely have for dinner or supper? Research rationing and design a menu.
WW1 or 2 trench! Your a soldier living in the trenches. Research what they would have for dinner, and what would they do in the evenings?
Pilgrims Thanksgiving dinner
Roman Banquet
Viking feast
Stone age Paleolithic meal
Poor Victorian child meal
Iron Age meal
An Ancient Egyptian feast
A 1950s school or home dinner and entertainment!
For more information on feasts, seasonal renewal, and festivals throughout history check out the Britannica.com entry.
My son and I are going to have so much fun designing and preparing plant-based versions of these ideas!
Living Book Evening:
This is like the living history evening, except the theme of a book is the focus.
Read the book during your living book evening festivities.
Think of the wizarding world of Harry Potter: Read Harry potter books, watch a HP movie, dress up like the HP characters and remain in character throughout the evening, play HP themed games, and eat HP food such as pumpkin pasties and drink butterbeer, aka. ginger beer!
Other themed suggestions:
The Hobbit and the Lord of The Rings
The Tiger that came to Tea by Judith Kerr
The Gruffalo, By Julia Donaldson. For food come up with imaginative ideas to make 'scrambled snake' 'gruffalo crumble' and 'owl ice cream'! Download this pdf of Gruffalo puzzles to enjoy during your living book evening.
Enid Blyton's The Famous Five and The Secret Seven: think "lashings and lashings" of ginger beer, pies, ginger bread, all packed in a basket, ready for an adventure!
Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan. Check out this amazing resource guide full of lesson plans, ideas as well as celebrations and event guides, for the books.
Winnie the Poohby A.A Milne
Beatrix Potter range of books
The Wind in the Willows. By Kenneth Grahame. Try this recipe for Bubble and Squeak based on the book.
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, and have a Mad Hatters Themed evening complete with tea party.
One of Charles Dickens books. For example A Christmas Carol would make a brillant theme for a living book evening near Christmas!
Little House in the Big Woods and The Waltons themed evenings would be brilliant ideas. Have fun researching your evening!
Pampering Evening:
Pampering evening could take place every few weeks, monthly or annually. Or at the end of your homeschool term!
Check out my post Junior Eco-Beautician for lots of eco-friendly pampering ideas
Baking and Prepping Sunday:
Bake lots of goodies for the week ahead on the Sunday or a different convenient day.
Make sure healthy options are included!
A batch of biscuits, a loaf of banana or fruit tea bread, or a tray of carrot and courgette cupcakes.
By prepping you'll always have a nice treat on hand during the week. It'll also cut down on refined sweets and cakes, as well as the packaging.
Chop up a big tub of mixed fruit, for snacking on throughout the week. In season fruit such as apples are generally inexpensive at this time of year. Squeeze some lemon juice on the chopped apple, to stop it from turning brown as its exposed to the air.
Chop up some cheese chunks.
Slice up some carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, pepper slices, sugar snap peas, etc.
By prepping your homeschool snacks and desserts for the coming week, you'll have one less thing to think about! And more time for other awesome activities. Also, your child will have had an extra home economics lesson, but they won't see it that way!
Sunday or Saturday Nature Stroll:
Many readers will already have this firmly incorporated into their homeschool routine. But for new homeschoolers, the nature walk might be a treat still to be discovered.
After lunch or dinner, go for a rambling stroll and soak up the nature! Or at any other designated time convenient to your family. The main thing is to make it a looked forward to family ritual.
Even if your child isn't too interested in nature walks, they'll still benefit from the time spent as a family in the fresh air, surrounded by the natural environment.
Check out this list of nature walk activities.
Pets Birthday:
Even if you don't know your animal companions birthday, designate a special pet day and celebrate.
Create a little birthday cake. I use one of those dog food packs that come in little foil trays. Tip it out and decorate it with dog treats. Perhaps pour some low-salt doggie gravy over!
Wrap a present up, in some tissue or news paper, minus the sellotape. It'll be fun helping your pet unwrap it! When I was a child I would wrap up honey-muesli sticks for my gerbils and hamsters on their birthdays!
Check out this post with ideas for celebrating your cat or dogs birthday.
Pajama Day-Sofa-Duvet Day:
Self explanatory!
Pick a day could be monthly, every few weeks, end of homeschool term day, or a reward day for hard work.
Wear PJs for the entire day!
Lounge on the sofa with your duvets.
Many homeschoolers already do this as normal practice!
But during the autumn months this type of ritual day is much more fun, especially when it is blowing gales and pelting rain outside.
Learn about Planet People and how Literary Activism can change the world for the better. Be PJ-Sofa activists!
Learn about citizen science and how you can do awesome projects to save the planet, from the comfort of your sofa!
Read books, have discussions, play games, watch movies or nature documentaries.
Enjoy some Nature-Eco themed creative writing prompts.
Challenge yourself, whilst snuggled on the sofa, to a nature-eco art prompt.
An Autumn Bucket List:
Discuss and brainstorm with your child about what they would like to achieve or do during the autumn months.
Round the list up to about 10 things, or more or less.
Divide each idea up further into which autumn month it will be completed: September, October or November.
If wanting to go further, identify which week and which day the activity will be carried out.
This is a great activity to practice goal setting!
Alternatively just compose the list and leave as is, and tick of as you complete each goal, without setting actual months or days. Which is what my son will be doing with his Autumn bucket list.
I would love to know what your traditional, autumnal festivities are, and how you celebrate with your family. Post a comment below!
Also be sure to let me know how you get on with these activities that I've suggested. Thanks!
Discover A New Autumn Family Tradition, Festival or Ritual
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I get a lot of questions around the myth of believing that there are no more good men or no more good women left to date in the world?
I would say that if somebody is struggling with that fear then they need to put dating on hold for a while and really do the hard personal work of understanding where that fear comes from and working through it because that fear is going to seep into every conversation you have and it's going to spoil whatever work you put into dating.
If a business owner comes to me and wants to launch a product and then tells me "but I don't think anyone's going to buy it" Then I really can't spend a lot of time trying to build a marketing plan for them if they don't believe their product is sellable or they don't believe there are not any customers interested in that product.
You don't need 1000 good men or women. You need a few to date and you only need to find one to be in a relationship with. If you don't believe that somewhere on this planet is one person who would be a good match for you then there's no amount of public relations that's going to fix that attitude.
My job is to help you do such a good job of presenting yourself and responding to the "marketplace" that you have a reasonable pool to choose from. I am not a therapist but if you do the hard work on being your best self I can help you present that to the world.
Thanks for the great question!


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This summer, a new state-of-the-art miniature golf course, showcasing iconic features unique to Chautauqua County, was unveiled at Midway State Park. Months in development, the course proudly takes its place alongside the kiddie rides that make the … [Read more...] about Forever Remembered at Midway Park, the Randall S. Peterson Memorial Fund
Midway State Park
Fund for the Region Scores Hole-In-One at Midway
Described by Best of America Online as a "family treasure," Midway State Park was built in 1898, as a picnic and recreation area for travelers riding now long-abandoned streetcar lines. Once owned by the Broadhead family, the … [Read more...] about Fund for the Region Scores Hole-In-One at Midway


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Hello, and welcome back once more to the Therapy Spot! My guest today is Kristy Arbon, the Founder and CEO of HeartWorks Training. Her work revolves around supporting people in their practice of self-compassion, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and shame resilience. Among her many other talents, she is an excellent mindful Self compassion coach and teacher. On today's episode, she'll introduce us to the concept of somatic Self compassion.
Self Compassion is NOT Self Pity
A funny thing happened to me on the way to my Self compassion retreat last month. I struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to me on the airplane, and he asked me where I was traveling that day. When I told him about Self compassion he said, "Isn't that just feeling sorry for yourself?"
My long time listeners know that I've spoken before about how Self compassion isn't self pity. Kristy shares my beliefs, and spent some time outlining the actual differences between the two.
"Self compassion has a receptive component and an active component. That receptive component is affectionate mindfulness, where you are aware of what's happening but not in judgement. The active component includes any action we take to address the suffering we're currently experiencing. These things go hand in hand. You have the tools to notice that something is wrong, and the motivation to make a change for your long term wellbeing."
"We're unlikely to take positive action towards alleviating our suffering when we feel sorry for ourselves. Tending to our suffering, on the other hand, helps us to not feel like victims. Instead, we feel empowered to change things. Self pity gets lost in the short term of suffering. With self compassion, we have the sense of being on a timeline, from the past to our future, and caring about our happiness in the future."
Creating Somatic Self Compassion
What makes somatic Self compassion stand apart from Self compassion as a whole? The word somatic is defined as relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind. Kristy's study of somatic Self compassion began from a place of mindfulness, rooted in Buddhist practices. She wanted to explore the ways that we self-soothe, and do so with a deep understanding of the physiology and neuroscience behind it.
Through her studies, Kristy created a program to train in somatic Self compassion. For her, the process involved understanding the physiology and the neuroscience of stress, as well as the social and cultural aspects that contribute to our stress. With her strong roots in social justice, she also takes intergenerational stress and trauma into account, as well as how discrimination affects our stress levels. By understanding the information we get from our bodies, we can better tend to ourselves in times of stress, anxiety, and other upset.
"This deeper understanding empowers us to understand why our body responds why it does, and provides us with the tools to address these responses."
Putting Somatic Self Compassion into Action
With more mindfulness and deeper awareness of our own bodies, we find it easier to sense how an emotional change registers in our bodies. Then, we can plan what action to take. "When we have a particular understanding of our bodies, we come to realize that our stress and trauma responses are not personal. It's our bodies doing what they know to do to take care of us."
Knowing the best way to respond — or changing the way we respond now — involves first validating how we feel. As Kristy says, "We have to lift the burden of shame we put on our bodies and our experiences." That shame might show up in your Self talk like this:
- I should be coping better
- I shouldn't be having this experience at all
- No one else has this problem, I feel so alone
- What's wrong with me?
Let's answer that last question first: there's absolutely nothing wrong with us. As Kristy says, most of us have no choice about how our body responds to stress! But being able to recognize a stress response for exactly what it is, and respond appropriately, is something to work towards.
For example, did you know that cortisol — commonly called the stress hormone — stays in the body for about two hours? So, by working with somatic Self compassion, you will be able to recognize the body sensations that go along with rising cortisol levels. You can then find ways to self-soothe that work for you, and take care of yourself in that two hour time window.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Kirsty and I really covered so much information during our interview, including the effects somatic Self compassion might have on your inner critic. I hope you'll tune in and listen to the whole thing!
Kristy also mentioned a wealth of wonderful resources for anyone beginning their own research into somatic Self compassion. You can visit her website to learn about the practice of somatic Self compassion, along with her upcoming events. She also recommends books on mindfulness by Kristin Neff, Christopher Germer, and Paul Gilbert. For IFS reading, I know some of my listeners will recognize the names Richard Schwartz and Jay Earley!
Thank you so much for coming onto the Therapy Spot today, Kristy! I loved hearing what you had to share and I know my listeners will feel the same way.
Share the post "Kristy Arbon on Stress, Shame, and Somatic Self Compassion"


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E. Gordon Gee sat down for a chat with The Dispatch at the end of a week that saw him hired back for a second round as president of Ohio State University.
Click the question links to hear his answers.How much harder is it to lead a public university than a private institution? (1:05) How will you handle tailgating before football games? (1:28) Your terms say that the president's house shall be renovated, and you had been criticized at Vanderbilt for the amount of money spent on that. How are you going to avoid criticism here? (1:18) What makes you worth twice as much as just-retired OSU President Karen Holbrook, salary wise? (1:06) What are your plans for the athletic department in light of the dramatic changes you made for athletics at Vanderbilt? (1:55) You said you've matured since you were here last. What differences will the OSU community see? (1:17) How has your relationship with your daughter helped you be a better president? (2:06) What makes you such a popular guy? (1:05)


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About The Superfan's Guide to One Direction
Nial, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis are five boys who make up the hottest music group on the planet right now. The Superfan's Guide to One Direction is all every real Superfan needs to be in the know about their story so far and what's in store for their future; like the upcoming film they are rumoured to be stars of! With must-have info on their singles, their album, a FREE pull-out poster and the ultimate Superfan's Quiz, every One Direction fan will love this fab new MagBook.
Magazine covers are used for illustrative purposes only and you may not receive a copy of the particular issue depicted. Your subscription will include the most recent issue once your subscription begins. Magazine covers are the property of the publisher. This site is not officially affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by The Superfan's Guide to One Direction or the publisher.
- Publisher: Dennis Publishing UK


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Back to School shopping can be so stressful! That's why I am here to help you create a list of things to look for while shopping! I'm also going to be sharing some of the pieces I love at the moment and will possibly be buying for my back to school wardrobe. Of course I don't know everyones dress code so keep your dress code in mind while shopping!
I feel like jeans are the most popular item for back to school season. In my opinion, jeans are not the most comfortable thing to wear to school, so it is very important to me to find a good pair of jeans. I have always preferred jeans that aren't super skinny so I am always on the hunt for a nice straight leg or boyfriend jean.
I already own this pair of Straight Leg Jeans from Madewell and I love them. They are the perfect jean to pair with a graphic t-shirt and sneakers.
I also own this pair of Mom Jeans from American Eagle. You will most definitely need to size up in these Jeans but once you break them in, they are super comfortable!
Now even though I don't like skinny jeans, I feel like it is important for me to at least have one pair because they are the most professional jean you can wear. I'm planning on buying a pair of the Madewell Curvy Jeans. The curvy jeans are made to look amazing on everyone and give every body an hourglass like shape. So even though I'll hate how tight they are, I will love how I look in them. I also went with a darker wash because they are more professional that way.
Graphic t-shirts are a staple for your back to school wardrobe because they are perfect for mornings when you are running late. Throw on a cool graphic with your straight leg jeans, a jacket, and sneakers and you look like you put more effort into your outfit than you really did. I have a lot of favorite graphics so I'm going to go ahead and list them 🙂
Can never go wrong with this vintage Cher t-shirt from American Eagle.
Bring some sunshine and color into your outfit with this cute graphic from Old Navy.
Add a cute girly graphic, like this one from Urban Outfitters, to make your casual outfit more girly.
J'adore this artistic but simple graphic from Urban Outfitters.
I also love this abstract graphic from Madewell.
Just like graphics, pretty tops are super easy to pair with jeans but are also easy to dress up with a cute skirt. A nice top and a cute denim skirt will also make for the perfect first day of school outfit.
I wear this green top from Madewell all of the time. It's super comfortable and understated but the sleeves add a uniqueness to it.
I love this fun polka dot top from Urban Outfitters. This top by itself will be so cute with jeans but once it gets colder, it would be so cute paired with a leather or denim jacket.
Recently I have been loving oversized button downs with jeans or a denim skirt. I like to unbutton mine as low as my dress code will allow me. I also think it's cute to size up and wear it off the shoulder with a lace barrette peaking out. I love this green one from Urban Outfitters. It's also a linen material which means it will be very easy to layer on top of in the fall.
I also love this button down from Urban Outfitters. I think it would look so darling under a spaghetti strapped dress.
With school comes chilly classrooms and fall weather so its good to start the school year with one or two sweaters. Not too many stores have released their sweaters yet, but come August it will be easy for you all to find comfy sweaters.
I love this sweater from Forever 21. It has that simple school girl look to it and it's one I would consider buying in both colors.
When looking for dresses/skirts for back to school season you want to find ones that will look good with tights come around fall time.
I love this Peter Pan collared dress from Forever 21.
I also love this dress from Urban Outfitters because it's perfect for layering in the fall time, like in the image above.
I adore this dress from Free People. Parisian style has always been my favorite and in a heartbeat I would wear this dress to Paris with tights and a peacoat.
I hope this blog post helped you all find some inspiration for your back to school wardrobe! There are obviously so many other things you can get such as accessories and shoes. If you want me to do a second version of this blog post with more items please let me know and I will do so 🙂
Here are some throwback first day of school pics of me <3
Remember to always love who you are!
xoxo, martabean.


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On Wednesday 28th March, at the headquarters of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the second meeting for the monitoring mechanism of the programme of cooperation between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the People's Republic of China took place. Following the meeting, the Ambassador donated IT material to the ministry.
At the meeting, the Chinese party was represented by the Ambassador, Chen Guoyou, accompanied by embassy officials and the Economic and Commercial Adviser.
Matias Nguema Mba, General Secretary fro Foreign Affairs, represented the ministry, accompanied by the general directors for Asia, Consular Affairs, International Cooperation, and the Inspector of Services.
The General Secretary praised the bilateral cooperation, It is one of the most fruitful of cooperations that Equatorial Guinea has. In fact, this monitoring mechanism for the cooperation programme with China is unique, we have nothing like this with any other country, and our cooperation with China is very important".
The aim of the meeting was to review important points regarding cooperation, and also the deficiencies, so that they may be eliminated. Matias Nguema Mba also praised the "One thousand talents" training programme, which is being carried out by the People's Republic of China, The "One Thousand talents" programme is important, and helps to train our officials".
Chen Guoyou summarised the achievements of the upcoming China-Africa Summit to promote cooperation, which will be attended by the Head of State, H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The Ambassador also pointed out the achievements accomplished during the official visit by the Vice-President of the Republic, Charged with Security and National Defence, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
Furthermore, he reported that the second cooperation meeting had made huge progress and allowed them to cover various topics of common interest.
Source: Official Web Page of the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea


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Basketball: Youngbloods girls silence Thunder
PUBLISHED: 15:00 09 October 2018
Youngbloods under-16 girls ran out 76-37 winners at London Thunder at the weekend.
Leia Edwards scored nine of her 21 points in the first quarter in a strong start and newcomer Blance Toualeu converted rebounds into points to help build a 23-9 lead.
Tinu Fakunle dominated the second quarter, as 12-year-old Edwards continued to shine, and Ines Gorynova did a good job at point guard.
Youngbloods led 58-24 after the third quarter and kept standards high to finish convincing winners as coach Caroline Charles said: "I was pleased to see the ladies moving the ball around well. The girls train very hard and it's good for them to see the rewards."
The under-14 girls won 55-41 at Haringey Angels, while the under-19 boys beat Ldonon United 90-35.
The under-14 Conference League boys beat Islington Panthers Yellow 74-15 to make it three wins in three this season.
After falling behind early on, a 6-0 run was led by A Wilkinson, who scored four of his eight points, before A Row-Fuller and N Hanson took charge.
M Rubio sank a three-point shot as Youngbloods ended the first quarter 29-6 ahead.
And the rest of the match followed a similar pattern, with points coming from B Ojomu and N Nwanja, who finished with 17 points, 18 rebouds and five assists.
T Gregg-Sharpe showed his leadership ability as J Tan finished with 10 points.
The Premier Division squad saw off Brentwood Fire by an emphatic 117-39 margin.
Ben Reid-Akinmoladun and Elisee Guese led the way as the Lions built a 23-8 advantage.
And Jayden Baldie (18 points) and Noah Myers (10) shone in the second quarter as the gap grew to 61-13.
Adrian Bernardo (13), Tami Alegbe (nine), Cameraon Pereira-Lindley (eight) and Alex Lartey impressed in the third quarter.
And the century came up in the final session as Kyle Espiritu (11) and Ethan Taasin (eight) got in on the act and debutant Tim Murphy-Rose claimed his first three points for the club.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Newham Recorder. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Getting Bored in this Summer? Interested to play something different? Let's do something evil in this summer 😀
Guess What ! Devoxx4kids Pakistan presents a multi-adventurous orientation ceremony on 17th June, 2015 at FAST-NU, Chiniot-Faisalabad Campus for FREE accompanied by some gaming and robotics craze, refreshment and awesome fun ^_^ . It will also include introduction of all the upcoming workshop tools along with a project exhibition.
Agenda goes here:
Date: 17th June 2015
Time: 09:00 am – 01:30 pm
All the students along with their parents are warmly welcomed to attend the session.
You can use our Bus service. Route Details are as follows
View Schedule in Large click here


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Henning Schwabe is a Partner in the Investment Management practice of Arendt & Medernach where he specialises in investment fund law, advising both national and international clients in particular on the regulatory, corporate and organisational aspects of the structuring, creation and marketing of investment funds and investment companies. He advises clients on a wide range of traditional investment funds (UCITS) and alternative investment funds as well as on the legal aspects of complex investment strategies, derivatives and risk management.
He has been a member of the Düsseldorf Bar (Germany) since 2000 as well as of the Luxembourg Bar since 2009.
He is actively involved within the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) in the ALFI Risk Committee and its various sub-working groups and acts as chairman of the ALFI EMIR / OTC Derivatives working group. He is board member of the Luxembourg Association for Risk Management (ALRiM).
He is a regular speaker at international seminars and conferences. He is also a lecturer at the Luxembourg Institute for Training in Banking (IFBL).
Henning Schwabe studied law in Cologne (Germany) and Paris (France). He holds the German first and second state exam in law as well as a maîtrise en droit from the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Languages: English, French, German.
On 28 May 2019, EMIR Refit, the Regulation (EU) 2019/834 of 20 May 2019 amending Regulation (EU) 648/2012, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The date of entry into force is 17 June 2019. The following contains a summary of the key changes, the aim of w...
ISDA, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, is planning to amend certain "floating rate options" in the 2006 ISDA Definitions in order to include fallback benchmarks that would apply upon the permanent discontinuation (based on defined triggers) of certain key int...
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Women's Fashion Blog
Mixing Textures And Patterns For A Casual Look We have survived the January blues and are on to a new month with new possibilities. Hopefully a better month than January, as last month was not a great one with everything currently happening in the world. I am ready to start a new month with a …Read More


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Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Skincare Saviours
33 comments
I've heard really good things about Pixi skincare, but have never tried! I really need to get my hands on some xxReplyDelete
Jessie | allthingsbeautiful-x
So many of my favourite products here! Great post - Maria | BeautyMattersReplyDelete
I swear by Lush's ultrabland cleanser, have to agree on the scent though, not my favourite! I would totally recommend the Body Shop Camomille one too, it's become such a staple and is just as amazing! I really want to get my hands on the Pixi glow tonic as I now have a Pixi shop in walking distance from me, I just cannot believe the hype surrounding it! xxReplyDelete
I really want try some Pixi products I just never seem to get around to it! Great review :)ReplyDelete
I'm a huge fan of the Pixi Glow Tonic - I ordered a fresh bottle just this morning! Lots of really great products you've mentioned here :)ReplyDelete
Ambar | Her Little Loves
I've had the pixi glow for a few weeks and that mist is on my list!ReplyDelete
Leanne | www.oohsimplething.blogspot.co.uk
I need to try more skincare products from Lush!ReplyDelete
Parie x
I've heard so much about Pixi and still yet to try!ReplyDelete
Hannah | Oh January
I´ve wanted to try the Pixi skincare products for a while now (mostly because of all the blogger hype) but I haven´t caved in yet. Mostly because I feel like I´ve finally nailed my skincare too. But there´s always room for improvement, isn´t there? The Hydrating Milky Mist sounds like heaven to me!ReplyDelete
xx Lisa | Following Lisa
I'm always so intrigued to what products people use for their skincare! I've only ever tried lush's face mask but definitely want to to try the rest of their skin range! Oh how I desperately want the Pixi Glow Tonic - just sounds incredible xxxReplyDelete
Jasmine || http://www.blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk
I am so bad with skincare!! I think you need to take me to a lush and recommend me everything! Lol! Lovely post as always Kat xxReplyDelete
Thrifty vintage fashion
I really want to try the Lush Ultrabland cleanser it looks amazing! Also I love the Pixi Glow Tonic it's so good and makes my skin feel great!ReplyDelete
I love the Lush cleansers especially Ultrabland. I find it so nourishing on my skin. Have you tried Angels On Bare Skin? That's a really nice one too! I have had my eyes on the Pixi range for a while now but haven't taken the plunge. The glow tonic seems to be extremely popular though :) xxReplyDelete
Yasmina | The July Journal
I am for sticking to one brand for skin care, I'll have cleanser, toner everything with one brand. I feel I need to branch out! I've heard good things about Pixi range, need to keep my eye out for that one!ReplyDelete
Hannah xx
Ultrabland is my favourite, I must have got through about ten tubs by this point! I was exactly the same as you when it came to toners until I tried Glow Tonic, it's so good and I don't know how I managed without it haha xxReplyDelete
So glad to have found your blog! My skin lately has been crazy, and not in a good way. so sad that the skin clearing lotion has been discontinued-- I totally wanted to give it a go! thanks for sharing xXReplyDelete
I really need to sort my skincare out... Definitely gonna keep these in mind! My skin has been awful lately.ReplyDelete
I have been trying so many different things for my skin lately as it's just drying up completely. I've tried some different ones from Lush but never that one so I'll have to have a go! Thanks for sharing :)ReplyDelete
Jordanne || Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
Ultrabland burns the sh_t out of my eyes, and then they swell badly. Sucks because it did work well. hahaReplyDelete
Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog


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Last weekend, when we were hunting for a replacement post light, we found ourselves in a sea of nautical fixtures. Our eyes were popping and our mouths were drooling. Well, not really, but seeing some new fixtures was very exciting!
Our eyes narrowed in on this one fixture in brushed nickel that is part of the New England collection. And as we looked closer we noticed that there was a tag hanging that included other lights in that series.
The New England fixture comes in a semi-flush options which we thought might work for the space over our kitchen island. It has three light bulbs so we won't have to sacrifice on light. The existing fixture only has two bulbs today. You can see the kitchen space and the existing fixture here.
Since the store has a 30 percent restocking fee, I couldn't commit to ordering it then and there but later placed the order at another local store which does not charge a restocking fee. The only problem is that our custom order will take a few weeks to arrive.
The better news is that the new post light is due in today! They failed to place the order the first time so it took longer than expected. Let's hope both light fixtures are worth the wait!


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I've been working on my old research hospital model I started a few years back and made an asset for it, electrical boxes to go out in the alleyway behind the research hospital.
They are not finished, but you can get a decent idea of what they look like. The door of each box is set to open, and the handles on the doors can be turned to different positions in relation to the individual doors.
Today I was looking at some images to try and find a good reference for hospital doors and ended up looking at pictures of abandoned hospitals, which lead me to discover a picture someone posted of an old electrical box from the basement of an abandoned hospital in San Francisco. So now I have a starting place for what to make for the basement when I get around to modeling the interior of the old research hospital.
For now, however, I am focusing on the outside of the research hospital and making the parts for it in small pieces, such as the above electrical box, and releasing the basic models for others to use over at Patreon on the $5 and higher support tiers. When I have finished making all of the parts I will go back over everything and fine tune it all with proper materials and everything to make it the best I can.Click the social media icon of choice to follow me there:


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dunnhumby names Adriano B. Araujo as Head of APAC
With 25+ years' experience in driving growth and leading change, Adriano has worked in intersection of retail, digital, customer and analytics with full ownership of selling, building teams and nurturing relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
Singapore - Nov 01, 2019 – dunnhumby, the global leader in Customer Data Science, announced today the appointment of Adriano B. Araujo as Head of APAC. Under Adriano's leadership, dunnhumby APAC will continue to add great value to our clients based on our Customer First approach, while winning the confidence of new clients across the region.
"Adriano is a seasoned leader with great commercial and value delivery experience in retail and CPG. He will take the region to the next phase of growth as we aim to triple the size of the business in the next few years." said Marc Fischli, Global Managing Director, Customer Data Solutions.
Adriano is highly proficient in leading and working across cultures, having lived and worked internationally for 9 years at both regional and country levels in EMEA, Asia and Latin America. He has successfully built dunnhumby and Symphony RetailAI subsidiaries in Brazil and Latin America from start-up stage.
"I am very excited to be back at dunnhumby. It is an honour to be part of the Asia Pacific team, bringing Customer-First data and media solutions to retailers and brands in the region." said Adriano.
About dunnhumby
dunnhumby is the global leader in Customer Data Science, empowering businesses everywhere to compete and thrive in the modern data-driven economy. We always put the Customer First.
Our mission: to enable businesses to grow and reimagine themselves by becoming advocates and champions for their Customers. With deep heritage and expertise in retail — one of the world's most competitive markets, with a deluge of multidimensional data — dunnhumby today enables businesses all over the world, across industries, to be Customer First.
The dunnhumby Customer Science Platform is our unique mix of technology, software and consulting, enabling businesses to increase revenue and profits by delivering exceptional experiences for their Customers – in-store, offline and online. dunnhumby employs over 2,500 experts in offices throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas working for transformative, iconic brands such as Tesco, Coca-Cola, Meijer, Procter & Gamble, and L'Oréal. Visit www.dunnhumby.com to find out more.


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Growing plants in your aquarium can certainly be a daunting task! From knowing which plants will grow best in your specific conditions to make sure you provide them with plenty of lighting, nutrients, and oxygen, raising plants is a task that even many experienced fishkeepers eschew out of fear of failure.
However, there are tons of plants that are perfect for beginners. The Java Fern is one such plant. Not only does it add a beautiful appearance to your tank, making it possible for you to aquascape in style, but it also is easy for beginners to grow.
If you're ready to add some plant life to your tank, you've come to the right place. The Java Fern might be the perfect plant for you.
- Java Fern Background And Habitat
- Types Of Java Fern
- How To Set Up Your Tank For The Java Fern
- How To Grow The Java Fern Plant
- How To Care For Your Java Fern Plant
- Benefits Of Raising A Java Fern Plant
- How To Aquascape With Java Fern
- How To Propagate Java Fern
- Challenges In Raising Java Fern Plants
- Where To Buy The Java Fern
- Is The Java Fern Right For Me?
Java Fern Background And Habitat
Also known scientifically as Microsorum pteropus, the Java Fern is a common aquatic plant that is incredibly easy to raise in an aquarium. This plant is found in the wild in Southeast Asia, where it grows in countries like China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Although its appearance varies slightly in all of these locations, there are several growth patterns and leaf type that all fall within this category.
Java Fern is unique in that it is a rhizomatous plant. Its roots and leaves both grow and develop from a dense horizontal stem. This is not uncommon in aquatic plants – there are many plants, Java Fern included, that are adapted to grow outside of the soil. Instead of being rooted in the soil, they float.
These plants are evolved so that it anchors itself onto any porous surface with its roots. These don't allow the plants to absorb any nutrients in this way – instead it gathers the nutrients it needs from the leaves.
Java Fern is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn't require a lot of technology or care to survive. It needs minimal light and does not require extra nutrients or CO2, like some plants do. If you have lots of fish, Java Fern is usually a safe choice, too. It is not commonly eaten by herbivorous fish because the leaves are so hard.
As we mentioned, wild Java Fern is found in the most densely forested areas of the Philippines, China, and Malaysia. Usually, it is found on riverbanks where it roots itself to rocks and other substrates. It has strong roots that help prevent it from being swept away by the current during the rainy season flooding.
This plant is unique in that it has adapted to be able to live both beneath and above the surface of the water. As a result, it can be grown either submersed or fully immersed. It does not like to be totally dried out because, when it is found in the wild, it stays slightly moist at all times from the spray of the river.
Types Of Java Fern
When you are setting up your tank for Java Fern, you will need to consider the variety that you would like to grow. There are many different varieties of Java Fern that have been cultivated all over the world. Some of the most popular cultivars are detailed below.
Regular Java Fern, as the name implies, is the most common variety out there. It has long, sword-shaped green leaves and can be found just about everywhere. Windelov, on the other hand, looks much different. It has branched leaves that almost look like lace. The Narrow Java Fern produces narrower leaves, as you might suspect, than the other two species. It looks somewhat like grass in appearance.
Trident is an uncommon variety of Java Fern, but definitely still one you should consider. It has a unique leaf shape that includes a narrow leaf stem and a thick leaf that splits up into narrow ends. Petite is a miniature Java Fern cultivar that looks just like the regular variety, only smaller. It's a great option if you're worried about not having enough room in your tank for your Java Fern. The final type of Java Fern we will tell you about, latifolia, has broad leaves. These leaves are much broader than most other varieties, in fact.
How To Set Up Your Tank For The Java Fern
Java Fern is not a plant that needs a lot of light to survive. As long as your tank is equipped with a basic, inexpensive LED light (or even the light your aquarium came with), you should do just fine. Too much light can actually cause issues in growing Java Fern, as it will be susceptible to leaf scorching or algae growth.
This plant can thrive in a wide variety of temperatures, with an ideal range that encompasses about 25 degrees. It can grow well in tropical tanks as well as in unheated aquariums. Therefore, it is the perfect plant for tanks with just about any kind of fish, including fancy goldfish and paradise fish.
Java Fern isn't overly sensitive to water parameters. It usually needs somewhat soft, acidic waters and will grow more quickly and more vigorously in these conditions. You can even grow it in somewhat brackish waters or those with a high pH.
Java Fern can grow in about any size of tank. Ideally, you should place it in a tank that is at least 10 gallons – the plant's growth won't be inhibited, but it might grow too large for the tank and consume all of the empty space. This plant can grow quite wide and tall, so that it will easily outgrow a small set-up. There are, however, some dwarf varieties of Java Fern that can be grown in smaller tanks.
You don't have to fertilize this plant very often, but it can benefit from a few extra nutrients every now and then. Otherwise, you don't need to do much to get your tank ready for the Java Fern.
How To Grow The Java Fern Plant
Growing Java Fern is not difficult. While it does have some care requirements you will need to heed, it is not too difficult to grow or to care for. This plant requires minimal light and grows quite slowly. It prefers temperatures of 60 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH of 6 to 7.5.
Java Fern is unique in that it has evolved to have the ability to grow outside of a substrate. Its roots don't need to be anchored in substrate – you can easily grow it outside of the soil. In fact, if you try to grow this plant in soil, it will often suffocate and die.
Instead, this plant will produce strong roots that attach to other surfaces, like wood and rock. This will prevent it from being swept away by the current. This growing style can be advantageous as well as challenge for fish keepers. You will need to find a surface for your plant to attach to until the roots take hold, but you can easily use some fishing wire or superglue to accomplish this. Ideally, you should attach your plant to a material like textured driftwood or lava rock to keep it in place.
Java Fern grows and moves in a way that you won't find with other plants. It can be used to create a tree, a wall, and other kinds of ornamentation in your tank. You don't need to anchor, glue, or tie your plant if you don't have the motivation to do so, either – you can purchase a pre-planted Java Fern that is attached to different types of driftwood and rocks. Many aquarium stores sell it in this fashion, and it gives you the advantage of having a plant that is already established and rooted – you don't have to worry about it coming loose.
How To Care For Your Java Fern Plant
Once you have placed your Java Fern in your aquarium, there's not much that you need to do in order to maintain it. It's not a quick-growing plant – in fact, unless you're adding lots of fertilizer or CO2 to your tank, you might not even think it's growing at all! It will take some time to get established, and even after it has obtained a foothold, it will grow quite slowly.
Nonetheless, this plant requires minimal maintenance – there's not much that you will need to do in order to keep your plant healthy. Often, you may only need to prune it from time to time, and even that is optional – simply pruen just if you feel like it or if you notice any dead leaves. Dead leaves aren't necessarily a sign that you are doing something wrong; often, it indicates that there is some leaf decay among your plants.
Benefits Of Raising A Java Fern Plant
There are tons of benefits associated with growing Java Fern in an aquarium, which is a common reason as to why so many aquarium hobbyists select it. It might be small when you start out, and although it grows slowly, it will reach an impressive size over time. You just need to be a little bit patient!
Left unpruned, this plant can develop quite the jungle-like aesthetic in your tank. It will add a unique appearance that will only add to the exotic appeal of your aquarium. Even if the aesthetics of your tank don't matter much to you, there are plenty of other advantages to growing Java Fern in an aquarium.
For starters, this plant is a favorite among fish. Its tall, broad leaves offer plenty of cover, making it a great place for your shy fish or young fry to hide from predators or more aggressive fish. The surfaces of the leaves are textured and quickly become home to a layer of biofilm, which your dwarf shrimp will happily gobble up.
Live plants also help keep your aquarium healthy. They don't necessarily eliminate the need for you to clean your tank or conduct regular water changes, but they do help keep water parameters stable as they help remove compounds like phosphate and nitrate. These compounds can be incredibly harmful to your fish in large quantities, so keeping plants like Java Fern in your tank is a great way to reduce any risk.
Java Fern is also a good option if you have herbivorous fish. Many people scorn the idea of keeping a planted tank around herbivorous plants – they are often consumed by hungry fish and, in essence, just become expensive, difficult-to-maintain sources of fish food.
This is not something you have to worry about with the Java Fern. This plant produces hard, tough leaves that are difficult for a fish to pull apart. Some aquarists even theorize that most fish don't like the taste of Java Fern, as it's downright unappealing. As a result, you won't have to worry about your fish munching on your Java Fern, as they will prefer to instead move on to tastier food sources.
Another unique -albeit frequently argued- benefit of raising Java Fern is that it can thrive in a somewhat brackish environment. Some people argue that the plant will die off more quickly this kind of setting, but just based on anecdotal evidence, this plant usually ends up doing just fine in a brackish setting. However, the lower salinity you are able to offer the plant, the better.
How To Aquascape With Java Fern
Aquascaping is simply the task of decorating and arranging your tank so that it is aesthetically appealing. Java Fern is useful in this task, as it can be considered a background plant or a middle-level plant, depending on how large your aquarium is as well as the variety of Java Fern you choose. Some varieties of Java Ferns produce a fan-shaped growth pattern, while others do not grow in quite this fashion.
A common option for fish keepers is to create a Java Fern tree. To do this, all you need to do is attach your plant to a piece of driftwood or a rock. Then, you can strategically place it in your tank for a gorgeous appearance that imitate the branched appearance of a tree. To do this, you will want to avoid varieties of Java Fern that have long leaves, such as narrow Java Fern. Instead, pick a fanned variety like Mini Java Fern. Then, attach the plant to the top of your driftwood and you will be good to go.
Another popular choice is to make a Java Fern wall. This will create a fun jungle aesthetic in your tank. To do this, you just need to attach it to some mesh to create a gorgeous green screen. You should begin this task by making the back panel of your aquarium black by using cling film. This way, you will be able so see the mesh as you attach the plant.
Next, break your Java Fern into small pieces. This should allow you to cover most of the mesh. If things still look a bit sparse, don't worry – the plant will fill in over time and cover the mesh in its entirety. Your next task is to attach the mesh to the back wall, ensuring that no curious fish can get behind it and become trapped. Sit back, and enjoy the new design of your tank – that's all their is to it!
How To Propagate Java Fern
If you want to grow Java Fern for multiple tanks, this is something you can easily do at home. Propagating Java Fern is quite simple. To get started, you will need to choose from two different methods of propagation.
The first is that of rhizome division – it's perhaps the easiest way to do this. As we mentioned, Java Fern is rhizomatous, meaning that its roots and leaves grow from a thick, woody, root-like base. This base grows in a horizontal fashion, moving slowly as it develops roots and leaves. Every part of it can grow, including pieces of rhizome that have no plant matter attached to them.
To propagated by rhizome division, all you need to do is snap the rhizome to break off a piece in your desired size. Attach it to another surface ad it should begin growing there.
You can also grow Java Fern form platelets. Java Fern actually produces new plants on its own, developing small miniature plants on the ends of its leaves. These ends will even have their own root systems and leaves! While these platelets normally don't survive in the wild – they are usually knocked off by water current – you can use them to your advantage in an aquarium setting.
In your tank, you might find Java Fern plantlets stuck to the filter intake or simply floating around the tank. You can easily replant them after you collect them.
Challenges In Raising Java Fern Plants
Java Fern, as we've mentioned countless times, is not difficult to grow. However, there are some common issues that you may encounter from time to time.
For example, you may notice that the leaves of your plants are becoming brown. often , this is nothing to worry about – in fact there are some varieties of Java Fern that always have some amounts of browning on the leaves. The brown dots are the spots that later develop plantlets. Don't worry unless your leaves become totally brown and dead. If this happens, there are a couple of potential culprits to blame.
The first is a lack of nutrients. While Java Fern does not need lots of nutrient dosing, if you have a large tank – or one filled with many other plants – you might find that there simply aren't enough nutrients to go around. To address this, you would be wise to add a liquid aquarium plant supplement. You don't have to add a lot, but start off with a small amount just to see how your browned plants respond.
Another issue that can cause leaf browning and die-of is too much light. Your aquarium lights might simply be too hot for your shade-loving Java Fern. Remember, this plant is native to forested areas where there's not a lot of sunlight. You need to avoid blasting this plant with too much light!
Where To Buy The Java Fern
A popular aquarium plant, Java Fern can easily be found in most aquarium or generalized pets tires. However, most only sell the standard Microsorum pteropus, so if you want to grow one of the more specialized varieties that we've told you about, you will probably need to purchase it online.
Buying plants online is totally safe and an easy way to start your plant collection. These actually tend to be somewhat healthier than the plants found in aquarium stores because they are grown in a home or a nursery and haven't been sitting in the store.
Is The Java Fern Right For Me?
You don't have to have a green thumb in order to grow the verdant Java Fern! This plant is suitable for beginners and experts alike, and adding it to your tank is a surefire way to improve the quality of your water and the health of your fish. So what are you waiting for? Get some cuttings and get to planting today.