I love youtube!. No, really! I LOVE YOUTUBE! The more I use it the more I realize how much more there is to use! I've hit a section in my writing where I really need to know about Elizabethan castles and palaces. The only trouble is that the original structures from that time are substantially changed or demolished altogether. I stumbled on this eight part series of archaeologists that are exploring possible ruins of five of Henry's prominent palaces. It turns out that Henry did A LOT of building. If you need to get a feel for the size, grandeur and purpose behind these buildings, this is a great series to view. Archaeologists have an amazing feel for these places. Must be all the dirt under their fingernails!!!
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I had am amazing weekend! My dear friend, Lisa, invited me to join her on a trip to Mona, Utah, to visit Young Living Lavender farms. It was beautiful and I was astounded to realize this wonderful facility is located so near Salt Lake. The lavender fields, of course, were amazing. The festival offered loads of fun! A tea party was available in a huge gazebo. You could also witness jousting near the back of the facilities. I made a lavender wreath and we enjoyed lavender lemonade lavender cookies, and missed out on the lavender ice cream (it was sold out). There were also pony rides and wagon tours through the area. The highlight was a tour of their essential oil facilities where I learned how they distill the oils. It was a process I had much more respect for once I saw that they steamed the herbs to extract plant oils. This was contrary to my assumption that herbs were steeped in oils. Once you see the complexity of the process, you appreciate the cost. Because this is new information, I've located some you tube videos that share some of what I learned. I also took some fun photos! Be aware that the "business" aspect is a MLM business plan. You may have friends already who are distributors!
Dear Friends - I'm trying to tie down possible covers for my book. Part I, "Never Quenching Fire," has two looks and I'd love to know what you think. I'm still learning how to set up 'polldaddy', so in the meantime, comments to this post will have to do. The two options are below. Which one would make you want to buy the book? If you can think of suggestions, I'm getting better at setting up the design.
Thanks for your help!!! Jodee The trouble with spending days writing is that it's easy to get sidetracked researching really interesting stuff. I needed to know what they used to call an ink well and stumbled across this amazing site, Medieval Writing. Edward Ching, an artist who specializes in pen and ink, has created this amazing video showing how he makes feather quills. It's a fascinating process and much more complex than I thought. The site credits Regia Anglorum for the initial information and provides more detail information on this link. Thanks to those who contributed to this abundance of information! Enjoy!!! I've been neglecting my garden, so I made a determined effort to get out and at least clear the tomatoes. I was delighted to see a healthy crop of purslane was attempting to take over my garden. Many people look at this plant as a weed, which is unfortunate. It's considered a vegetable in many cultures, can be eaten raw, steamed, and stir-fried. It's great roughage and extremely nutritious AND it has a very mild flavor. It's been compared to spinach. I first learn about it years ago during one of my herb classes. I ran into it again later when I learned about my high cholesterol levels. It was recommended for its Omega 3 content. It's also high in vitamins C and A. The best part is that it shows up EVERYWHERE! I let it grow last year and this year I'm harvesting more than I can eat. Look for a low lying plant with fleshy leaves along thick stems. It grows in any kind of soil, though it seems to be particularly fond of my garden soil, and it takes off near the end of June. The flowers are small, yellow blooms. Next time you see it, don't be so fast to yank it out, or at least save the plants you pull for your next salad! I want to keep adding to my reference library, mainly as a way to thank other authors who've compiled the information that allows me to write historical fiction. I wish I'd had "Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England, by Kathy Lynn Emerson, earlier. It would have save huge amounts of time. The books is well organized and is packed with detailed information on all aspects of Renaissance England. I've been researching this period for years and still find much I didn't know. It also clarifies some of the things I've found difficult to research. For example, there's an excellent list of alternative cosmetics to ceruse, which I found very interesting. "Writer's Guide..." was first published in 1996 by Writer's Digest Books in Cincinnati Ohio. I highly recommend this book to all of your period writers out there! It's an excellent addition to my research library! Well this is not good! I was glad to see that the mold was black, though, because it was easy to see. This batch is less than a month old and I realize now should have been refrigerated. I made a study of black mold because I learned to fear it in my construction days. Based on my research (Center for Disease Control), however, all molds, even black molds, are common. The green-black mold that created such a scare several years ago has still not been linked by research to severe health effects in most people. But lets face it, unless it's in cheese, we just don't like mold. I'm currently researching preservatives. Unfortunately, I've been trying to stay away from preservatives as manufactured chemicals - but I'd be foolish to stick up my nose at something that will reduce any health benefits of my products. So for those of you who, like me, are learning how to make your own lotions and creams, here is a list of possible preservatives: 1. Tea Tree Oil - I've used this with great success, though it has a very strong odor. Tea Tree is a natural antiseptic and excellent for healing anyway. A jar of cream I made two months ago using Tea Tree Oil is still clear of contamination. 2. Honeysuckle Blend - Haven't tried it but I know that honeysuckle is also an antiseptic. 3. Benzylalchohol or DHA - a form of sorbic acid found in many plants including jasmine, hyacinth and ylang-ylang. 4. Caprylyl Glycol or EHG- inhibits both bacteria and fungis, is also a skin moisturizer. 5. EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a carboxylic Acid, colorless and water soluable 6. Paraben or DU - widely used in cosmetic and mostly nontoxic, though there is some question as to a connection to breast cancer. Some alergic reactions. Can be found naturally in grapefruit seeds. 7. Caprylic Acid - fatty acid. Depending on the type, this may have a strong odor and is what makes vinegar and rancid butter smell. However, it may also have a pleasant smell and is often used in perfumes. 8. Phenoxythanol SA - widely used as a substitute for formaldehyde preservatives, you'll find it in personal care products as it inhibits bacteria. Can be toxic to children if ingested. 9. Potassium Sorbate - a type of salt that can be found naturally in certain berries. It's used frequently in preserving wines, foods and cosmetics and inhibits molds. It has been used as a substitute for the more controversial Parabens, but it can be irritating to skin and eyes. It's recommended you add two ingredients together to get a "broad spectrum" preservative, meaning it works against both fungi and bacteria. Well, that's enough research for today. I need to get to writing. BUT, I can see I'm going to have to bone up on chemistry!
Squeaky and Alfy - Best friends
I wanted to write about Alfy, a special cat on which I based one of my book's character. Then I found this memorial to him which I wrote shortly after his death. I was distraught and writing him into my story seemed to give me comfort. Now that I want to include stories of amazing cats on my website, it seemed the perfect place to publish this. Thanks for your indulgence. IN MEMORY OF ALFRED (ALFY) Too often we dismiss the death of a pet as a minor event, not sharing our grief because we hold animals to be somehow less important than man. But they are fellow souls that contribute richness to the world. They are devoted companions that can mean as much to us as our fellow humans. Alfy saved my life. He was an extraordinary cat. He woke me each morning at 4:49, a minute before my alarm clock. Even day light savings changes only threw him for a day or two. He was absolutely dependable. Then one morning he woke me two hours early and refused to let me fall back to sleep. At his insistence, I roused enough to smell the faintest hint of smoke in the air. I tried to dismiss it as my roommate sneaking another cigarette on the porch, but Alfy would have none of my sleepy carelessness. When I rose to investigate, I found a small fire on the porch. A careless cigarette had ignited a pot of discarded butts and the resulting fire had melted the container, spreading the flames across the concrete toward the house. The growing pool of burning plastic had already consumed yard tools and debris. As I looked, the flames were starting on a table leaning against the house. It took me fifteen minutes to douse the fire. Plastic is oil based and seemed to reignite even as I poured water over the traveling mass. I have often wondered how long it would have taken before it burned the house, had Alfy not insisted I get up early that morning. Alfy was critical in our rescue of a small, injured, orphaned kitten we named Squeaky. Squeaky was barely alive for days after his surgeries to repair a large gash on his leg. Alfy tenderly nursed him back to health, cleaning his fur, coaxing him to eat, playing gently with him, and watching over him. As Squeaky grew they became best friends, and romped through the house together for the next several years. Alfy coaxed me back to health, too, as my marriage ended. He stayed by my side through my divorce and my forced move to a new city. His natural affection soothed my many tears and made me chuckle, even as I mourned the loss of my dreams. He greeted me at the door each time I came home and nuzzled his way into my arms as I fell exhausted onto the couch after work. I fell asleep each night to the sound of his purring and gentle melodic mews. There was no time for me to say good-bye when he passed. I neglected to realize how seriously ill he was when I left him behind at the vet’s that day. It never occurred to me that his life force, so strong and joyous, even on that final morning, could so easily pass away. The shock has shifted to guilt and regret. My sorrow is now a pervading loss of feeling. Squeaky and I carry on. I remember his soft tongue kisses, his caressing paw, his three foot leaping on crooked legs, the smell of his soft fur, and the loving wisdom in his eyes. This book is a must have for anyone doing serious Shakespeare research. It's definitely my first go-to for information. Ms. Hummel has compiled fascinating, highly detailed information from primary sources. It's a beautiful publication full of colorful photos, illustrations and maps. The appendix contains a handy year by year chronological outline that helps me track important events. The information is presented in context with the politics of the Elizabethan period and Ms. Hummel's conclusions are well supported and surprising. She skillfully explains why there are few pieces of Shakespeare's original work and proposes possible (or probable) activities during his "missing years." As an historical writer, I found the thoroughness of her information extremely helpful. As a lover of history, I thrilled the twists and turns of her interpretation of known events (yes, we historians thrill at stuff like that). This hardback is so elegantly published I can't bear to mar it with notes and highlighting, but I refer to it almost daily in my writing. Thankfully, the chronological sequencing makes it easy for me to locate any information I need. I couldn't put it down! This weekend I'm in Las Vegas watching my nephew compete in American Ninja Warrior. That means VERY late nights (3:30 on Friday), long waits, and exciting watching of some amazing athletes. In my free time I've been studying herbs. I'm compiling a data base I hope to use in my writing. My first source for information is from "Culpeper's Color Herbal" based on the original "The Complete Herbal" published in 1649. He wanted to produce an herbal the commoner could use, based on local English herbs that were easily found. The version I use is published by Sterling Publishing Company in New York, 1983. It includes many colored illustrations of the herbs and modern medical uses of each plant. As you study herbs, you quickly see that many plants are recommended for the same ailments. What isn't as apparent is that only certain herbs might be available during each season, so a variety of options was important to the self healer. I highly recommend this book to any historical writers and herbalists. The information on current medical usage is invaluable to those of us trying to learn how to use this ancient knowledge. |
AuthorJodee Steffensen Historical and Romance Writer, Amateur Herbalist, and Seeker of adventure, new knowledge and all things good!
Hobbies? I've adored cats all my life. I came to love Shakespeare when I was introduced to him in college. I developed an interest in herbs when a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. I learned about the complex politics of Shakespeare's world when another friend gave me a book, "Shadow Play," by Clare Asquith. Archives
October 2015
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Photo used under Creative Commons from chris bartnik photography