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Garbage Food

Tonight’s dinner (sigh). I confess, I have a weakness for wings. Some people like chocolate. Some people like steak. I. ADORE. wings.

At Washington State University, where I went to college, (Go Cougs!) they have this thing called “Wing Wednesday” in which every bar in Pullman competes for the title of “best wing in town” every week. I didn’t miss one Wednesday during the entirety of my tenure.

That’s how much I love wings.

Which brings up the issue of my diet. During the infancy of this blog I wrote about my eating habits much more often than I do now. And truthfully I curbed that habit because of my lack of success in improving my gutter palate. But all things considered, I’ve made great strides in this area as of late…

Garbage food like chicken wings and frozen pizza used to be staples of my (atrocious) eating habits. And while I can’t claim to be a raw vegan or paleo rockstar, these days I have been steadily improving on my dietary choices. There are many more salads in my life than I once thought (or wanted, for that matter).

But every once in a while I like to splurge and tonight was one of those times. So thank you, Joe’s Log Cabin of Wenatchee, Wash. for making some awesome baby chicken flappers!

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The Vintage Pearl Gift Guide {& Giveaway}

The Vintage Pearl Gift Guide {& Giveaway}

Tis’ the season for Christmas dreaming and decorating, and of course, the fun of gift giving! Yay! I’ve got the dreaming and decorating part underway, and just this week I started thinking about the gift giving. One of my favorite places for online gift shopping is The Vintage Pearl. Erin has so many cute and personal gifts for everyone and every occasion. So today in the spirit of generosity and all things festive, I thought I would share a few of my favorite gift ideas (and Erin has a giveaway for a couple of lucky winners).

Are you looking for something for the men, women, teachers, kids, BFFs, brides, moms, dads or (just in case!) your favorite bloggers :-)? You will for sure find something fun and personal for everyone with a quick look around The Vintage Pearl.

I LOVE getting surprises and gifts in the mail. :-) So when Erin sent me the adorable customizable deer keepsake ornament, she became one of my favorite people. I LOVE it! We’ve collected many personalized ornaments over the years and they are always such fun memories of Christmases as a family.

The Vintage Pearl Gift Guide {& Giveaway}

She also sent me this sweet monogrammed laurel necklace, which I adore! Thanks, Erin! Isn’t it precious?

The Vintage Pearl Gift Guide {& Giveaway}Top row: 1 // 2 Bottom Row 3 // 4

Everything is so pretty, personal and meaningful!

To get you started on holiday shopping, here are a few other great gift ideas I love from The Vintage Pearl! You could make someone’s day very special with a beautiful gift:

Leather Journal

Gold, Leather, and Pearls Charm Bracelet

Deer Necklace with Aqua Bead and Pearl

Leather Bookmarks

Home State Love Necklace

***This giveaway is now closed***

Now it’s time to enter to win the giveaway! Two lucky winners will receive their choice of an ornament and a $25 gift card! But here’s the deal, I need you to tell me who is at the top of your Christmas gift list this year and what special gift from The Vintage Pearl you think they would like. Two winners will be chosen Saturday night at 9PM PST.

The Vintage Pearl Gift Guide {& Giveaway}

  1. My mom and mother-in-law are always at the top of my list! They always do so much for us throughout the year. It is hard to find special and meaningful things for them. Last year I got my mom a grandchild necklace from The Vintage Pearl (thanks to finding her link on your blog). This year I would choose one of the name charm bracelets for my “other mother!”

  2. Gina Morrison says:

    I would love to get something special for my sister. She has had a very difficult year and has kept a positive attitude during some trying times.

  3. My sweet mom is always hard to buy for as she always says “don’t get me anything!” :)
    I would get her the state love necklace for Virginia!

  4. I would love the bitty blossoms necklace for my daughter.

  5. My wife is at the top of my list–always–but second this year is my 21 year-old daughter who is working with disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland. I would love for her to enjoy the Vintage Map Bracelet to remind her of those who love her back home.

  6. My mom is at the top of my list. I think she would love the chunky bead bracelet in Aqua

  7. Personalized gifts always make a big impression. We tend to hold onto them, and feel very cared about, right? I always think a tree ornament is a terrific gift because the recipient thinks of you at least once a year:)

  8. Hello from DC! The person that’s at the top of my Christmas list is my sister, Kalee. Since I moved to the east coast from Oregon, we’ve grown so much closer! I’m super excited to head home for Christmas, and I’d love to surprise her with the leather journal. I chose this because it’s unlike anything that she would buy for herself. Thanks!

  9. The personalized deer ornament would be perfect for my parents! They had their tree tip over and lost a lot of treasured ornaments, so this would help to fill the tree back up!

  10. My mom would love that monagrammed laurel necklace!

  11. LaNelle Schaffhauser says:

    My parents & in-laws are always at the top most precious people in our lives but gift giving is getting a bit harder each year so the personalized deer ornanment would be perfect!

  12. My sister is at the top of my list. She would adore the deer necklace with aqua bead. Her husband is an avid hunter/sportsman and the bead would remind her of those trips to Texas to visit me! Nothing better than sisters!

  13. My sister. She would love the pearl charm bracelet.

  14. My mom is at the top of my Christmas list this year. Last year at Christmas she was in a coma because of a traumatic brain injury but now, after months of hard work and rehab, she is walking and talking again. We are truly blessed to have her alive and well. The blessed mom necklace would be a perfect gift!

  15. My mom would love the eclectic spoon Charm necklace

  16. Michele Laramay says:

    My bff is at the top of my list. I would get her a necklace with the world on it, as she plans to do mercy ships one day.

  17. My mom – she would SWOON over the stamped name necklaces :)

  18. I would love to get my daughter that beautiful laurel necklace!!!

  19. My sister is #1 this year. Texas has always been her favorite, so I would love to give her the home state love necklace.

  20. I love my Vintage Pearl necklace, they do beautiful work. This year our daughter is turning 16 (next month) and her and I are going to enjoy a special getaway, just the two of us. I want to give her something special on this small trip and I am looking forward to picking out a special piece of jewelry for her. Not too sure the exact piece yet, but something just right for her and this time in her life.

  21. My daughter is at the top of my list. Each year I give her a special ornament on Christmas Eve. She loves elephants, so when I saw the sweet elephant ornament I knew without a doubt that had to be “the one” this year! Thank you to you and The Vintage Pearl for this giveaway!

  22. I would get something for my mother-in-law who helps out a ton and has had a tough year. I would get her a bracelet with all of her grandkids names on it.

  23. My daughter would love the laurel necklace!

  24. I would get my mother something nice. She was recently diagnosed with cancer and is taking it very hard. Either the bracelet and put the grandkids name on it or the blessed mom necklace!I feel I am already blessed to still have her here!

  25. My husband. He’s not a big jewelry person, but I think he would dig the simple cuff bracelet with our boys names one it.

  26. Oh my goodness thanks for sharing love it all. I have a couple children that love to journal…the leather journal would be perfect and I think a deer ornament would be perfect for all the kids…and perfect at the cabin! Happy Day

  27. Such cuteness! I would get the ladybug necklace for my grandaughter.

  28. Custom Leather money clip for my hubby.

  29. What cute and unique gifts! The person at the top of my list would be my friend, Pam, who is like a sister to me. She is an amazing woman of God who has raised her own three children, adopted two with special needs, and is raising her autistic grandson. I would so love to bless her with one of these gifts.

  30. I love the Vintage Cross necklace.

  31. My husband. I like the leather custom money clip.

  32. I could find so many great gifts for mom and mother-in-law!

  33. My mom will be in Mexico over Christmas and misses the family, snow and the season in America. A special gift to remind her that she is loved and missed.

  34. Kristina A says:

    My mom! The vintage snowflake ornament is so cute or maybe the thankful necklace.

  35. I love the leather journal and I would get it for my Husband. He is amazing and we have written each other on and off over the years since he went to basic training. He came back into my life after my divorce and we started writing again. We married and continued to write letters (in an age of technology) 2 years ago. We wrote through a deployment and living apart for the first 18 months of our marriage. Now we still write love letters (it was even in my vows: I promise to always write you letters), however we share a journal we write back and forth in. We write love and we write frustration and we share life on paper and in person now. He is amazing and an amazing bonus Dad to my two girls. I am so loved.

  36. My single sister is at the top of my Christmas list this year. She is in her forties and has never married but has longed to be a wife and mother. She always remembers everybodys birthday and gives gifts to all 17 nieces and nephews and siblings and in-laws. I think the vintage laurel pendant would be a nice gift for her.

  37. So many beautiful things! I love the ornament and I know my daughter would love the chunky bead bracelet!

  38. My daughter is at the top of my list. I think she would love the gold, leather and pearls bracelet. Thanks for chance to win.

  39. My soon to be daughter in-law!! A necklace with her married initial M!!!

  40. My Mom! She deserves something personal and special.

  41. Julie Gonsalves says:

    I’d love to get a personalized necklace for my sister

  42. Sheila Pearson says:

    My daughter Kaya is at the top of my list. She is a new wife and mommy and love hand stamped jewelry. She loved the necklace I gave her last year from the Vintage Pearl. I know she would love the deer ornament!

  43. Both of my sisters would LOVE the eclectic charm necklace with their kids names on them from The Vintage Pearl-I love all of her unique items- thanks for sharing this site!!

  44. oh my gosh, the globe, i NEED that globe necklace! and the boyfriend is always at the top of the list, but he’s the hardest to shop for.

  45. My mother in law is at the top of my list and she is hard to buy for but I know she’d love something meaningful from the Vintage Pearl!

  46. My kids are always at the top of my list. I mean aren’t they on every parents but this year I’m also looking for an extra special gift for my bestie who just had her first child. A personalized necklace with Marleys name on it would be perfect.

  47. Love the items! My sister-in-law would be top of my list as she has had tough year. She would love the monogram laurel necklace:)

  48. Top of my list is my dear husband … it will be just the two of use this Christmas morning while our children celebrate with their other parents (blended family here). It’s always challenging to find something he will treasure and appreciate, but I think a money clip would fit the bill!

  49. My youngest daughter just had her first baby so I would get the charm necklace with her baby’s name on it. She would love that.

  50. At the very top of my list is my grandson Arthur, but since he’s only 2 this isn’t the place to shop for him. But for his mother, my beautiful daughter, I was struck by the treble clef charm necklace, because she and I sing in choir together, and she is taking piano lessons as an adult (after fighting them as a child so that I gave up after three years!). Thanks for pointing us to this lovely site in time for Christmas shopping.

  51. I would love to get the leather bookmark for my fiance.

  52. Lauren Baxter says:

    My mom is at the top of my list this year, she has been there for me these last couple years when I’ve needed her most, judgmental free. I want to get something special for her to say thank you and to hold close to her heart. When skies are gray(with initials) necklace is the perfect choice to say I love you, and thank you and I personally adore it. She’ll probably tear up but that’s exactly what I’m going for! This is a great website thank you for sharing!

  53. My girls… I really like the simple heart rings for them.

  54. I’d love to get something sweet for my daughter-in-law – she’s carrying my grandchild and that makes he love her more!

  55. My sister has had a rough year…I’d get her the cuff bracelet with my niece’s name on it.

  56. My mother (soon to be grandmother) and my sister in law (soon to be mother) are at the top of my list! So a piece of jewelry with the new baby’s name on it will be perfect for both of them!

  57. a close friend – maybe a cuff. so many good things to choose from!

  58. My husky Zach would LOVE that leather journal!!

  59. My mom! I would give her the spoon initial charms with her two grandsons’ initials.

  60. I have so many people on my list, but I think the leather bookmarks would be so great for a couple of teachers who are working extra hard with my son this year.

  61. My daughters ,ages 13 & 12 are on the top of my list. Now that they are older it is so much harder to buy for them. I love the Vintage Locket at The Vintage Pearl. The ornaments are gorgeous! Love the deer head and especially, Santa’s List!

  62. My mom is at the top of my list. She would like the Our Christmas Family Tree Ornament.

  63. My son’s girlfriend has brought so much joy to our family this year! I’d love to give her the Simple Heart Ring!

  64. My grandaughter is at the top of my list.She would love the reindeer ornament

  65. My mom would be at the top of my list. I have a part time job and she drives over to help care for my son. I am so thankful for her help and think a beautiful necklace would be what I would choose.

  66. My friend Kim,and I think she would love the silver drop earrings.

  67. I would love to get the Vintage Earth Charm necklace for my newly married daughter. She has spent the last several years working in other countries to make a difference to those in need. She continues to do that now in the U.S. I think this necklace represents her “heart for the world”!

  68. My husband is at the top of my list! He’s in seminary right now, so he is constantly reading a stack of books at any given time. He usually uses scraps of paper for bookmarks. I’d love to get him one of those leather bookmarks!!

  69. My kids are at the top of my gift givong, my son has recently moved into his own house so an ornament would be good for him, and my daughter would love the beaded bracelet. Thanks for the chance to win

  70. My daughter is at the top of my gift list and the vintage earth charm necklace would be perfect for her because she wants to travel the world when she is finished with school.

  71. I’d love to get my daughter that world necklace! She’s dreaming of returning to India to serve in a Christian children’s home where she spent part of her summer after graduating high school.

  72. I saw so many things that are just precious…. no way I can decide this quickly which is my fave. All my children and grans are at the top of my list… and so many of the items would be perfect for them.

  73. I want to get my mom something special and she would love a necklace with all her grandkids names on it!!

  74. Michelle Robertson says:

    My mother is at the top of my list. She just moved back from Arizona, living out there for five years. While living there she broke her ankle in a very bad break and could have lost her lower leg. She is a native to Florida and I am so glad to have her back in our home state. The Home State Love Necklace would be perfect for her.

  75. My mom is at the top of my list and she desperately wants the vintage initial charm necklace this year!

  76. The kiddo is at the top of the list, surprise surprise, eh?

  77. My girls would love the “cup of love” necklaces!

  78. My sister, having a rough time and dreams of living in North Carolina. So State necklace for her!

  79. My best friend is at the top of my list and I would love to get the A Full Heart Bracelet from their site for her.

  80. My daughter would love the world necklace. She enjoys travel around the world and this necklace is perfect.

  81. My daughter, she had her 3rd boy Tuesday. Would love to get her a necklace with the 3 boys names engraved! !

  82. Eclectic Charm Bracelet for my Daughter. She would love it!

  83. My daughter, and my daughter-in-law would love personalized items for Christmas!

  84. My three daughters are always at the top of my list. I would get my oldest the state love necklace–she leaves for college next year! I would get personalized ornaments for my younger two daughters.

  85. My sister is at the top of my list. It has been one thing after another medically for their family. Plus she would just love one of the ornaments that can list the names of everyone in their family! So beautiful!

  86. My daughter would love the vintage initial charm.

  87. My mom and my sister! They would love the monogrammed necklaces!

  88. Anne Marie says:

    I would love to get my daughter a special personalized gift. She is a new first time mother and has had a hard time balancing work and mothering.

  89. My husband and my two little girls are at the top of my list. I love the keepsake journal for my husband and I love the idea of the girls each having a special spoon with their own name on it.

    A special treat for special occasions.

  90. This is my nephew’s first Christmas and I think the hand stamped baby spoon would be great for him.

  91. My mom is at the top of my list! She does so much for me and my family and I’m always looking for little things she might love! I think she would love that deer ornament!

  92. Kim Johnson says:

    My daughter is at the top of my list and she would love the pearl bracelet!

    Kim J

  93. I’d love to get the rugged cross for my husband!

  94. Kara Kieran says:

    I would love to get ‘grandma’ necklaces!

  95. I would love to get my sister in law a customized necklace with my nice and nephews names. Both of them were adopted and both my brother and sisiter in law have had many difficult years. I would also like to get a good girlfriend of mine one of the necklaces as well. She has been one of the most amazing Christian influences in my life and I value her advice and respect her a lot.

  96. Melanie Fraser says:

    Oooooh how fun… well my 2 girls are at the top of my list this year!! They both are *new* avid readers & have now discovered the wonders of imagination & inspiration in getting lost in a good book… I would love to get each of them a personalized leather bookmark! ;)

  97. Would love the deer ornament for my daughters family!

  98. My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, so I’d get myself a gift! I like the “i love you to the moon and back” necklace b/c my son and I say that to each other.

  99. Our 12 year old Golden Retreiver, Kellie-Anne, is at the top of the list this year. She has cancer, but is 9 months into chemotherapy with no side effects and feeling great. She recently tore the meniscus and Cruciate ligament in her left knee, plus dislocated her kneecap. She has a custom made brace and is going to physcial therpay twice a week. Helping her feel better is our Christmas gift to each other for my husband and I. Of course, Kellie-Anne and her twin sister, Honey-Rose, will still get their stockings filled on Christmas morning!

  100. My future brother and sister in law are getting married in next May. They are huge hunters and love deer themed things. I would get them the feet ornament.

  101. Deer*! hahaha not feet.

  102. My sister is at the top of my Christmas list. I would love to have their pearl bracelet.

  103. Big READERS at our house….we would love those bookmarks, too!

  104. JoeyfromSC says:

    My sweet Aunt is at the top of my list & I think she’d really love the Gold, Leather, and Pearls Charm Bracelet! thank you for the chance to win!

    Joey J.

  105. Jaclyn Reynolds says:

    My husband is at the top of my list! I would love to get him something extra special!

  106. My daughter is always at the top of my list for every occasion. She such a loving, compassionate person to her family, friends and anyone who may need her. She loves her two sons so much that the golden rectangle name necklace would be the perfect gift for her this year, It would keep them close to her heart.

  107. My mom and mom-law help me out so much. The laurel initial necklace would be perfect

  108. Megan Sanders says:

    My daughter and myself-matching laurel necklaces and an ornament for her first tree in her new home.

  109. My fiance is at the top of my list. It will be our first Christmas in our new home so I’d love an ornament to commemorate the occasion. I like the Family-Wreath-Ornament.

  110. My daughter-in-laws are first on my list and I love the southern belle necklace for them. I also have a friend whose son was in an ATV accident and a long road ahead for her caring for him. I thought how great to give her the rustic cross HAVE FAITH necklace.

  111. My oldest daughter would love the monogrammed laurel necklace!

  112. Kim Schadrack says:

    My daughter is at the top of my list this year. She moved to the Midwest in August and we miss her a lot. I would get her the earth charm necklace since she loves to travel.

  113. My son and daughter in law and their new baby are at the top this year. I really like the baby feet pendant or baby’s first Christmas ornament.

  114. My mom is on top of my list. She’d love the God Gave Me You Necklace or Love You Infinity Necklace. :)

  115. My mom would absolutely love a necklace with all the grand kids names:)

  116. jo wyrosdick says:

    I would buy the Christmas My Dear ornament for a very dear friend’s farmhouse. Her boys all hunt deer and have an animal room.

  117. My husband top my list…when I saw that cuff band with Philippians 4:13 on it…I knew just what to order!

  118. My sweet husband is at the top of my list… we just adopted our first baby boy, and getting him something personalized and meaningful to celebrate our first Christmas as a family would be so nice. Maybe a new ornament like the deer?

  119. I immediately thought of my SIL, who I love as a sister, when I saw the world necklace. She and my brother and their family are missionaries and we miss them, but thankful for what they are doing for God’s kingdom.

  120. Hello from PA, first I want to thank you for your blog and secretly I am in love with my home. My daughter is at the top of my list and the VINTAGE LAUREL necklace would look wonderful with her long hair. She loves vintage jewelry!

  121. I’d love to get a personalized necklace for my mother-in-law, who is so good to us!

  122. Judy Westmoreland says:

    At the top of my list would have been my mom but she is in heaven. So my BFF, Shelley, is now at the top of my gift giving list. She would definitely like the Southern Belle Necklace. She was born in the South but just moved to Tennessee in February. I miss her! We still talk and text. I will be seeing her at Christmas. Would love to be able to give her the necklace at Christmas.

  123. The kids are at the top of the list (of course). Love all the personalized necklaces from Vintage Pearl!

  124. My 2 wonderful daughters-in-law! Probably the laurel wreaths. So many pretty items so it’s hard to decide.

  125. My 2 daughters are on the top of my list this year. Their Dad, my husband, passed away in January and I am looking to give each of them a personalized ornament for their trees this year.

  126. My husband is at the top of my list! I think I’d get the deer ornament because it could remind us of the trip we took to Colorado in 2014.

  127. My sister who now lives far away from me. I would like to give her a leather and pearl bracelet maybe witch both of our initials on it so she can always have me close by and know that I am there for her.

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How Would You Rate This Log Home, From 1 to 10?

A log house is a timeless classic, and if you're thinking of building one, you may want to learn about the Amish Cabin Company. You can purchase log house and cabin kits directly from their website to build yourself or have one built for you. Log home building is a very popular method of building homes and has been for centuries. The Swedish and Scandinavian people brought their log home building techniques with them when they immigrated from their homeland to America. They began to teach other European immigrants how to build these strong, durable structures so that the people could thrive in their newly created colonies. Over the years, people have used the same log home building techniques, and companies like Amish Cabin Company wants to share that with others through their traditional log house designs. The company deals with an Amish firm who creates log home building packages as well as turnkey homes built by complete Amish construction crews. They offer over 40 log house designs for clients to choose from, each of them a little different from the next.

They types of wood they use are eastern white pine, northern white cedar, douglas fir, red cedar, and cypress which are some of the best types of wood to use for this type of project. All of these woods will be easy to work with and will stand up to years of wear and tear. Their do it yourself log home, and cabin kits are for the DIYers, and they are budget friendly. All you need to do is choose the size of log house or cabin and the style and specify any features you would like added on, and the crew will create your personalised kit for you and ship it off to your land. Once on your land, you'll be ready to build it. All of the kits are assembled with screws which make the build strong and sturdy. The customer is responsible for having the foundation ready when their building kit arrives as well as the forklift to unload the materials when they're delivered.

Included in the kit, the customer will find insulated energy star rated windows, metal roofing in the colour of choice, handcrafted solid pine exterior doors, exterior stain in the customer's colour choice, pine flooring, pine ceiling, the materials for 1 loft, and more. They will also include extra items for an additional cost such as bathroom cabinets and solar power options. Their log house designs are designed and built by Amish crews on an Amish farm in Kentucky. They use traditional Amish craftsmanship in their off grid workshop. These craftsmen are very talented at what they do, and you'll be sure to get one of the very best quality log houses or cabins if you choose this company. The logs used in the building kits will most likely come from sustainable tree plantations which must adhere to strict methods of operation which helps to keep ancient forests thriving. If you're interested in building a log home building kit yourself, you may want to start out with a smaller home or cabin first and then work your way up from there. Even though these kits are generally pretty easy to assemble, they do require a lot of work, so it's good to ease yourself into it. Choosing a smaller floor plan will also help you to keep building costs low, so you can afford to furnish and finish it nicely. Enjoy having a look at all of the beautiful log house designs on the Amish Cabin Company website and see which ones you like the most.***

Learn MORE at Amish Cabin Company

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Black Tavern Barn Restoration, Dudley, MA

2017 Small Grants Program for Sharing and Preserving Our Heritage

TLGV has awarded $15,000 in grants to six local organizations to preserve, protect, interpret, promote or market historic and cultural resources. Since TLGV began awarding historic and cultural grants in 2003, more than $1 million has been disseminated to local nonprofits and towns in the National Heritage Corridor. For many organizations, the funding is the necessary step toward completion of their projects.

Grants were awarded to the Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam  for its ongoing restoration of Cady Copp Cottage, the oldest standing building in Putnam; the Eastford Historical Society to preserve an original 1868 map, create a digital image, a preservation master and create a reproduction for display and handling by researchers; the Lisbon Trails Committee to design signage for the Burnham Tavern property and further develop the trail system on the property; the Thompson Historical Society for the purchase of equipment to aid in ongoing digitization of its extensive historical collections; Thompson Together  for the restoration of seven of Thompson’s historic cemeteries; and the Windham 4-H Foundation for the repair of a historic fireplace and chimney in the main lodge of the Pomfret Center Camp.

Learn more about the 2017 grant projects.

Letters of Support

TLGV may support projects and initiatives that are  consistent with our mission and federal legislation, consistent with one or more major goals of our  planning documents and annual work plans, and requested by a public agency or nonprofit organization, or a private entity that is seeking funds or technical assistance from a public agency or nonprofit.

Requests for letters of support should be made to the Executive Director, who will decide if a letter of support from The Last Green Valley, Inc. is consistent with this policy.  A letter will be prepared by the Executive Director and sent in a timely fashion. Letters of support will be reported to the Board of Directors.

Development Projects

TLGV periodically receives requests for comments on projects that may affect the National Heritage Corridor’s natural, historic, or cultural resources. TLGV may, in its discretion, provide comments to federal or state agencies in certain instances.  Click here for the Board’s Development Policy.

TLGV history is our story

History is Our Story in The Last Green Valley

To help preserve and pass on compelling stories, The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) organizes  quarterly programs to share the many resources  in the National Heritage Corridor’s 35 towns.

These quarterly Historic Collaborations are proudly sponsored by Savings Institute Bank & Trust.

Route 169 National Scenic Byway – Management Plan Update

Route 169 is a bi-state highway that begins in Norwich, CT, then passes through the towns of Lisbon, Canterbury, Brooklyn, Pomfret, and Woodstock, then into the Massachusetts city of Southbridge and ends in the town of Charlton.
Today, the state and national significance of Route 169 rests primarily in its intimate scenic character and historic features and points of interest. Stone walls, mature trees, colonial village centers, industrial-era mill villages, farmsteads, and consistent patterns of land use over time, allow the traveler to sample the landscape and culture of southern New England.
TLGV participated in the development of an updated management plan that was approved by the Northeastern CT Council of Government’s member towns in December 2016.  Click here for the NECCOG webpage containing the updated plan and more information about the Route 169 National Scenic Byway.

NotableNotorious2014CoverLearn all about our Notable and Notorious characters – historically interesting people from The Last Green Valley.

FortheCommonGood2014It’s a “common!”  No, it’s a “green!”  Find out why in For the Common Good – A Guide to the Historic and Scenic Town Commons & Greens of The Last Green Valley.

Did you know?

The Last Green Valley is home to 278 properties and historic districts that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. We also have 5 National Historic Landmarks. Learn more about these listings and properties on the National Park Service website.

Hundreds more properties are listed on the Connecticut and Massachusetts state registries.  Find out more about Connecticut State Register of Historic Places and the Massachusetts Historic Commission with it searchable online database.

What do you want The Last Green Valley to look and feel like in twenty years?  Join TLGV to help conserve the historic and cultural resources that we all cherish.


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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Analytical Grammar (A Homeschool Review)

Product - Analytical Grammar curriculum and DVD.  (A systematic approach to language mastery.)

Recommended age - Grade 6 and up.

Created by - R. Robin Finley (A retired language arts teacher.)

Contributing author -  Erin Karl (Robin's daughter. Erin taught middle school language arts.)

It is quite intimidating writing a review for a language arts program. Of course, I will second - guess every thing I write!  But this program is exceptional.  I have been using it with my teenage son.

Here are the basics:

There are two bound workbooks.

One is the student book -

There are 35 units which cover such lessons as:  pronouns, comma rules, helping verbs, active and passive voices, and many more.  These are designed to be done in order, each lesson building on the last one.

A lesson consists of:

Notes:  Explains the objective, uses definitions and examples, and introduces the lesson.

Exercise #1:  Since we used the DVD along with the binder, we watched the lesson on DVD.  The Teachers were wonderful. It was like having private tutors who were professional, to the point, and took the time to carefully explain the exercise to viewers.

Exercise #2:  The student does this on his own.  It is similar to the first exercise.

Exercise #3:  Similar to the previous exercise, continuing the practice and work required to thoroughly learn the unit.

Some of the units include a "Skills Support":  A lesson for the student to complete.

Each unit ends with a Test.

What I love about this program is that each exercise is only one page long.  It is not cluttered up with directions or endless text.  It is to the point, clearly written, and helps the student get the job done.

The teacher book is the same as the student book but has all the answers filled in.

This is a set of four DVDs.  All 35 units are included here.  This is very well done.  I found it to be an invaluable teaching resource to go with the workbook.

Overall, the program is just what I have been looking for.   We did this program first thing most mornings. If we were at the table, I would set up a laptop for my student to watch the DVD.  He could also watch it on television in another room.   He worked wherever he found a quiet room.  I greatly appreciated the DVD because I felt like my student was in the capable hands of excellent tutors, who could teach this subject better than I could! Why? Because they have dedicated much of their lives to the study and teaching of this one subject.  Their teaching method and curriculum is well tested and worked beautifully for us.

 Mrs. Finley and her daughter have uncomplicated language arts and made it very easy to learn.   I was impressed with the quality of the program and how well everything was explained.

My student has a greater appreciation of sentence structure and the purpose of grammar.  He has always been a struggling learner.  This program has improved his reading and writing skills, by helping him focus specifically on the study of language arts.

*Disclosure - I received this item for review purposes.*

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Thamesmead Gym. Next on: 13th December at 9.00am

Gym workouts for everyone aged 16+

There's plenty on offer at Thamesmead Gym to help you stay fit and healthy, be it pumping weights or receiving one-to-one training and nutrition advice. Classes coming soon.

Monday-Friday 9:00am-9:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am-5:00pm
Sundays 10:00am-3:00pm

Just £15 annual membership fee and £3 per session or £35 per month.

T: 020 8311 8336 / 07914 320554


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Thursday, 30 June 2016

Nude Pink Hues

Hi again everyone!!

I'm back after my holiday trip to Bali 3 days ago. So happy! I haven't been in any vacation for the past 3,5 years (i know, sounds crazy!!) so wen to Bali is like a real escape from me! ;) I'll post my photo travel diary soon, but few from them can be saw at my Instagram account @thelmakisela :)

I wore this two tone vest by Minimal and an upcoming dusty pink cullote from AmyGo - I love this outfit combination! Synchronized color pallette, with touch of nudes and pink. Major LOVE!!

GUESS watch

If you follow my Instagram, you'll see this black and white photo with a caption "Business Thought with Thelma Kisela". I'm giving the content not because i'm already a great and well-known entrepreneur, but i chose to spread the thought i have to my followers and readers. The first post is about starting a business. You can read more on my Instagram! :)

As an entrepreneur, i sturggled a lot. REALLY!!!! I sleep only 4 hours per day recently due to my businesses. I believe this will not last forever, because i'm doing startr-ups :) I love the process! As Merry Riana says, "you have to fall in love with the process"! I faced so many difficult situation these times in my business, and i'm on the way to overcome it. But overall, i have so much joy to be in these businesses i run! I am thankful to my Lord for always be with me for all of these times. He is the best, my Bestfriend!

On my next post, i'll share my journey in my start up businesses. Thank you for dear readers, family and friends who always support me! And to those who don't support, thank you too! ;)

See you on my next post! I hope you all have an amazing weekend ahead, due to Idul Fitri Holiday. Happy Holiday and happy Idul Fitri to all of my Moslem friends!

Thursday, 16 June 2016

New Way to Wear Monochrome Outfit

Halo halo halo again dearest readers!!

First thing first, i'm going to tell you on what excites me these past days!! I and my 2 other friends Rindang and Ci Kristin are officially launched our new business called Jewel Beauty Indonesia. Now we have the eyelash extension service with premium care. Oh, we are also known by our natural and comfortable result as well. Actually, we opened it since 2 months ago but we just launched it to public these days. So happy! You can take a look here now ----> @jewelbeautyofficial

I did this eyelash extension done by my partner Rindang 1,5 months ago. Surprise, it stays last and neat by the time i took these pictures, and also by the time i am writing this post now. Amazing!

I must tell that Rindang is very talented lash artist. Psst, we are going to reveal other services too, revealing soon! ;)

English Breakfast Tea

Trying monochrome outfit with a different way: mixing other neutral colors in one look! I didn't choose white this time and instead, i chose navy and grey! Turned out that this color combo is also perfect! You can give it a try too! You must be having navy items or grey items. It can be your purse, shoes, accesorries, watches, hats, etc. Free yourself experimenting!

Because i wanted to make my lace up heels really pop, i made the whole outfit be a bit dark and simple, without accesorries. Only simple earrings and watch ;)

Lace Up Heels: New Look
Linen Sabrina Top: S. Oliver
Flare Skirt: Unbranded

Thank you @stvnar for always have great creativity to take beautiful shots! I must say i always adore your talent and photography skills! :)

Photos were taken at Porto Bistreau- Gading Serpong

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Monochrome Sporty

Hello everyone!

Just got time to blog now in the middle of the night after such a tiring day. Full day meeting today and going errands walk searching for suppliers and rushed to drop by to Summarecon Mal Serpong to manage my brand's booth there. But still excited as always!!! ;)

White Slit Top from @fashionwear_id on Instagram, they sell various clothes and all are ready to wear. The top is very uniwue with a slit that show up a little of our skin. Being sexy without over exposed :) You can be classy! Plus, it is a good quality fabric there. It's light weight but not transparant. There you go confidently!

Styled it with a casual sporty look, i added white cap and just wore my DIY rolled up denim short. To make it more interesting, a statement necklace from is perfect! I love this monochrome necklace from them because we can easily style it for many outfits. They surely have nice service! Shop shop right away!

 New Favorite Cap at the moment

I always have time to dress this casual sporty, because it is my style! I love to be simple but stylish and still be effortless!

Cap: Unbranded
White Oxford Shoes: Colorbox
Monochrome Statement Necklace:
White Slit Top: The Fashion Wear

What do you think about my outfit?
See you on my next outfit posts! ;)
All beautiful photos were captured by @stvnar Thank you! <3

Thursday, 9 June 2016

Ring My Bell!

I am very grateful for what i have now, was and even in the future! I am feeling so happy and content. I'm typing this not in my perfect life without flaws, but i have always to make myself be positive and be grateful because Lord is very kind, able and good!

A reason why i am busy these days is because i'm having many projects to do! I also started new business with my 2 dear friends, we collaborate to start up our own beauty center. So excited, can't wait to reveal to you soon!

I also prepared so many exciting projects to my brand AmyGo, this fashion blog and arranging giveaways! ;) Alongside, i also get involved in business and fashion community, going to fashion events and running to meetings. I am very excited and feeling energetic!

Bell Sleeve Top from:

Do you realize that one of the hit of this season is bell sleeves top? I understand why this cutie owns the attention! It gives statement but with minimum effort. A lot can be paired with bell sleeve tops, and instantly looking gorgeous too! It is actually a really simple staple if you always prefer to dress simply.

Because i wore bright color as this lovely fresh orange, i toned down a bit with white flap skort. I always don't like the outfit if it is too plain, so i added this cute feather chain necklace. This one is my fave, bought around 4 years ago in Brisbane. Haha! Sooo long time ago, but still nice!

Every day is the new beginning, we must learn something through the day. Today i learn to joy in every conditions i am in now, and always saying grateful and give thanks to God for what i have now, not for what i haven't. In the end, the most important thing in this life is how to glorify God and be a blessing to others. How our spirit will enlighten others, how our thoughts will inspire others and how our sayings be remembered by others. Don't chase something that is according to this world. Your life is much more precious to chase another thing that is more important.

See you on my next next next posts! xo

All beautiful photos were captured by Steven

Instagram & Snapchat: thelmakisela
Hangout: thelmakisela

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

Red Off- shoulder

Hi everyone!

Wow, i've been really way too busy these days! I know i said it couple times but.. Really, i'm struggling! I'm doing my final thesis now and also in internship right now. The working hour starts at 08.30 and will be ended at 17.30. Going home also takes time, so i arrive at home usually around 19.30 (ya i know, traffic :')). I continue to work at home managing my fashion brand and ended up way too exhausted!

But.. i am very grateful for what i have and i do now!

Off shoulders are all over the runway and the streets! This time, i got a really cute red sabrina top from Fashionwear (instagram: @fashionwear_id). The cutting is crop, makes it trendier and modern. Well, the long sleeve also give prominent look. It really suits my style too!

Paired it with my black high waisted pants.. and a kitten pump heels. I didn't want my outfit be too plain, so a dramatic choker will also add nice touch! Choose in one color pallette to make your whole outfit synergized :)

Dramatic Choker: my current favorite!

Shoes: VNC
Black High Waist Pants: Unbranded

What do you think about my outfit? :) Don't forget to follow and comment below, or you can also follow me on! ;) To see my daily outfit and activities add my Instagram & Snapchat: @thelmakisela

- See You ! -


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Friday, March 24, 2006

Omnicide: the murder of all life on the planet.

"If you believe in God, now is the time to ask for forgiveness."
so says Kurt Nimmo in his recent blog entry. Take a minute to read it, and you will be deeply sadden if you actually contemplate the deadly lethal pollution that has been released into our atmosphere.

Depleted uranium along with the billions of radioactive particles released into our atmosphere by the early nuclear testing has created a death sentence for life on planet earth.

Clearly it needs to stop today. The release of such deadly and heinous particles into the air we breath is inexcusable. To me this is like sleeping in your own shit, how could we be so stupid?

Forget about politics, forget about terrorists, forget about Muslims and Christians, just for a minute but all that to the side. Lets first think of the human race and try to preserve the planet we live on so we will have the time to think about all the things we need to set aside today. There is really no time to lose.

Back in 1972 scientist learned that low-level exposure over a period of time is more harmful to body cells than the same exposure given at a high rate for a brief time. Of course that won’t be publicized. Cancer is not a sudden disease like catching a cold, it can take years before you find out that cancer is infecting you. Why do you suppose the incidence of cancer has increased so dramatically since World War II?

Stop the war now. Stop using depleted uranium now. Stop fooling with nuclear technology that creates waste that remains lethal for billions of years.

Of course I’m dreaming, criminals run the world and apparently they aren’t smart enough to see the future they are creating for the planet. Or maybe they think they have some place to go that is not the deadly void the surface of our planet is becoming. Either way as long as we believe their lies and do what they say we are sealing our own fate.

The real war is not fought on the battle field, its not between the West and the terrorists. If we ever want to see peace on the planet we need to stop the people that preach war as peace and make profit by supplying the planet with weapons of death. Those people need to be prevented and removed from positions of power.

These type of people need to be identified at the earliest age possible and taught the respect for life that comes to most people naturally. These people need special guidance so that they can one day also learn the respect that life deserves.

Sadly, this day may never come as the fuse has been lit and the future of our planet is all but sealed: a desolate nuclear wasteland.

Here is what is in store for us as the radioactive particles are carried around the world and land in a spot near you.
Depleted Uranium Home

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

They Say You Shouldn't Judge a Book By Its Cover...

But sometimes, it's really hard not to judge a person by their bumper stickers.

Recently, I was in a parking lot and walked past a car bearing two bumper stickers.  The first one proclaimed, "It's not about whether you pick your nose, it's where you put the boogers".  The second one was a political bumper sticker apparently featuring a 2008 Presidential candidate that I'd never heard of (and I followed political coverage enough to know about early candidates like Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, and Mitt Romney).  Alongside this unknown politician, were the faces of Obama and McCain.  The unknown politician's face smiled out from the bumper sticker, while McCain and Obama's faces had been decorated with marker moustaches, glasses, and whatever else.  If you were ever in second grade, you know the juvenile nonsense that I'm talking about.  There was some dumb saying on that bumper sticker, too, which went in one eye and out the other.
I had an immediate mental image of the kind of person who put those stickers on their car.  Not even a physical image (although I'm guessing either a teenager or early-20-something type person) but more of a personality image.  I have to admit, I hoped I'd see the car's owner but it didn't happen.
When I was in high school, my first car was a 1987 Dodge Aries.  There was something special in the paint used on that car model.  Something special that made the paint fleck off in huge chips.  I could spot a fellow Dodge Arian from a mile away simply by noting the paint job (or lack thereof).
In a misguided attempt to hide the ugliness of the exterior, I decorated the back bumper with some bumper stickers.  A big, colorful flower.  "Peace" or "Love" or some other hippie-ish saying, written in colorful, glittery, bubbly font.  I think those stickers drew even more attention to the car.  I know for a fact it drew more attention from the police, because I got pulled over twice in that car for "speeding".  There was no speeding involved either time, and I was let go with a "warning".  I know now the police were simply looking for an excuse to pull me over, because...come on.  If you see a car like that, don't you assume the driver probably does a little wacky tobaccy sometimes?  (And for the record, I've never smoked any kind of a cigarette.)
Like it or not, a car's bumper stickers say a lot about the driver - but not always what the driver is intending.  These days, I go au naturel.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Scenes from a Midwest Restaurant

The recent news story about the disgustingness that took place at a North Carolina Domino's Pizza made me think of my own experiences in a restaurant kitchen.  If you eat out regularly and are squeamish, you may not want to read the rest of this.  Just saying.
There seems to be a particular type of person who works in the kitchen at certain restaurants.  I'm not talking chefs, here - I'm talking minimum-wage burger flippers or greasy spoon cooks.  In the town in which I grew up, there were two middle-of-the-road restaurants, and one pricier, more upscale place.  I worked at one of the middle-of-the-road restaurants, and knew a lot of people who worked at the other joint.  In fact, a lot of the cooks would quit (or more likely, get fired) from one place and go to work at the other.  So I feel pretty confident in saying that the same types of "pranks" went on at both places.
One memorable incident happened when the waitress reported to the cook that "so-and-so" had come in.  I didn't recognize the customer's name, but apparently the cook did and he looked extremely pissed off.  He asked the waitress, "Is this his order?" holding up the customer's ticket - a BLT - and the waitress confirmed it.  After she left the kitchen, the cook (I'll him Bob) took the bacon off the grill, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it.  He commented while he was doing it that those were the same shoes that he wore out in the yard where his dog sh!t.  He wouldn't listen to me when I told him to stop it, and just started laughing.  So I intercepted the waitress and told her not to serve that sandwich to the customer, and why.  It got back to the manager (I can't remember if I told him or if the waitress did - it doesn't really matter anymore) and Bob got in huge trouble.  Didn't get fired, though why he didn't is beyond me.  If I was the manager, he'd have been gone that second.  And then Bob had the balls to ream me out for "telling on him".
Bob did eventually get fired, after many further offenses, and his replacement came in the form of "Arthur".  Arthur was an old buddy of the restaurant's owner.  And by old, I do mean old.  He was easily 70, 75 years old, and wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed anymore.  He was a nice guy, but extremely slow and was very aggravating to work with on a busy Friday or Saturday night.  I was a fry cook on those busy nights, and my job was to time my stuff to be done along with his stuff.  It was excruciating to see the tickets piling up while I was standing around unable to do anything, because Arthur was puttering around in back instead of tending to the grill.  One night, Arthur left the hash browns sitting out all night and I caught hell from the owner the next morning because they were all rotten.  Of course, nothing was ever Arthur's fault, because the owner and him went waaay back.
Friday nights were fish fry night.  One night, I witnessed Arthur absentmindedly dump a whole fryer of freshly-fried fish into the garbage can.  When he realized what he'd done, he simply picked them back out of the garbage and put them on the customer's plates.  One of the other cooks there, when something like that would happen, he'd throw them in the fryer for a couple of seconds and state that the oil was so hot, it would kill any of the germs picked up from the garbage.  Uh, yeah, maybe - but what about all the rotten food in the garbage that is now fried onto the fish?  Ewww.
Oh, and just a tip - most cooks take it personally if you send food back and there's a good chance they'll do something disgusting to your food.  I witnessed Bob, more than one time, spit on someone's food because he was angry that the customer had complained.  (And yes, I intercepted that food and reported it as well.  And no, he didn't get fired for that either.)  I have never sent anything back to the kitchen, and don't ever plan on doing so.  I'd rather just eat it (or not eat it) in silence and not come back to the restaurant.
Surprisingly, I still eat out in spite of knowing what goes on behind the scenes at many, if not most, restaurants.  But I do have to work hard at not thinking about what went into making the food.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Attack

The mighty hunter carefully chose his weapon.  "Baby Betsy Wetsy will do just fine," he decides with satisfaction.  He goes to the kitchen sink and loads his weapon, a pink plastic bottle.  Then he sneaks out to the living room where his unsuspecting victim is quietly reading books.

The hunter carefully aims Betsy Wetsy's nether regions at his victim and squeezes the trigger of the bottle with all his might, aiming a mighty stream of water down Betsy-Wetsy's throat and out her bottom.

The victim doesn't even notice until a few minutes later when her back starts to feel damp and cold.  "Wet," she mutters with dissatisfaction.  "Wet," she repeats as she strips off her clothes.  The mighty hunter, while disappointed that his efforts went largely unnoticed, doesn't let it bother him for long and he goes off in pursuit of bigger game(s).

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Bunny Tales

You know how there are lots and lots of stories about Santa, and the North Pole, and his reindeer?  Not so much with the Easter Bunny, which I never realized until recently when Sammy started pelting me with questions.  "How does the Easter Bunny get in our house?" he wanted to know.  "Where does the Easter Bunny live?"
I really didn't know what to say, because there isn't a lot of lore associated with the Easter Bunny.  I've found a good way to deal with these questions is to throw them back at Sammy.  "Well, I don't know," I might say.  "I wonder if he comes in the window?"  Then Sammy will usually say something like, "No, I don't think he comes in the window.  I think he comes in the door."  "But our doors are locked; I wonder how he gets in?" I'll say.  "I think he has a key," Sammy says.  I love these little conversations because it gives me a glimpse into the mind of a 3-year-old.  He's at a really imaginative stage right now and he'll tell elaborate stories - with no point whatsoever, but I can't fault him that because he probably learned it from me.
During one of our Easter Bunny discussions, I told him a story about a few springs ago when I was cleaning out one of my flowerbeds and uncovered a whole nest of tiny, blind, sleeping baby bunnies.  I carefully covered them back up and left them undisturbed, in spite of knowing that in a few months I'd be battling with them over my newly sprouted peas and beans.  Sammy found the story fascinating and asked me to repeat it no less than 7 times.  Later, I heard him earnestly telling the story to Natalie.
The part that I left out was that the mother abandoned her babies shortly after that.  I found them dead and smelly a few weeks later, and had to bury them in a corner of the yard.  I didn't want to scar Sammy for life by telling him the unhappy ending to the sweet baby bunny story.


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Democrats around the country were hopeful that they could win two special elections Tuesday in what had long been “safe” Republican districts in Georgia and South Carolina. Instead, both Democratic candidates — Jon Ossoff and Archie Parnell — narrowly lost. Why did they lose? Pundits and politics will be debating this question for a long while, but here’s one factor that made a huge difference: Low turnout among African Americans. If this sounds familiar, it should. It explains why Hillary Clinton lost Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania to Donald Trump last November by a total of 77,000 votes. Had she won those three states, she would have won the Electoral College and would be occupying the White House today.

Democrat Jon Ossoff’s campaign in the Atlanta suburbs attracted the most attention and the most money. Last November, no political expert expected Georgia’s 6th Congressional district to be a hotly-contested swing district. For many years it was represented by right-wing Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich. When he retired, he was replaced by Tom Price, his ideological twin. But after Trump picked Price to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Ossoff, an unknown 30-year-old documentary filmmaker, jumped into the race to replace Price in a special election.

The national Democratic Party did not initially support Ossoff’s campaign. The party leaders viewed it as a long shot at best. What propelled Ossoff’s campaign were hundreds of local volunteers – many of them political neophytes – who formed new local groups like PaveItBlue, Johns Creek-Milton Progressives Network, Roswell Resistance Huddle, and Liberal Moms of Roswell and Cobb to support Ossoff. Progressive groups like MoveOn and Daily Kos, and a strong endorsement from civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (who represents Atlanta in Congress) helped Ossoff raise millions of dollars, mostly in small-size donations. In the April primary, he came in first among 18 contenders, with 48 percent of the vote, only 3,700 shy of winning the 50 percent needed for victory. Instead, he faced a run-off with the second-place finisher, Karen Handel, a conservative Republican. At that point, in part because of the contest’s symbolic value, the national Democratic Party began helping Ossoff. In fact, Democrats and Republicans from around the country poured money into the race, making it by far the most expensive U.S. House race in the nation’s history.

A week before the election, polls showed Ossoff with a narrow lead. But on Tuesday, Handel narrowly beat Ossoff by a 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent margin.

In Tuesday’s special election in South Carolina, Republican Ralph Norman beat Democrat Archie Parnell by a 51.1 percent to 47.9 percent margin. Last November, Republican incumbent Mike Mulvaney beat his Democratic opponent by a 59.2 percent to 38.7 percent landslide. Mulvaney gave up his seat to become Trump’s budget director. At the time, few thought that this seat was up for grabs. Moreover, the race attracted less attention and money than the Georgia contest, but it had many of the same dynamics — an upsurge of Democratic volunteers (particularly women) inspired by anti-Trump sentiment and fears of what the Republican-led Congress might do to health care and other issues.

But another dynamic was a work in both contests. A few days ago the Los Angeles Times described Ossoff’s last-minute effort to drive up the Black vote. Ossoff’s campaign, the Times reported, “are scrambling to engage with black voters, who make up 13% of the district’s electorate,” but a much smaller percentage of those who actually vote. Ossoff’s campaign probably made some inroads in increasing Black turnout since the April primary, but fell short of the number needed to prevail.

The Wall Street Journal described a similar dynamic in South Carolina. On Tuesday morning, before the polls had opened, it reported, “South Carolina Democrats have spent recent weeks trying to build a machine to turn out the districts black voters.” In that district, Blacks represent 28 percent of the potential voters but a much smaller percentage of actual voters.

In other words, the Democrat candidates in both races ignored the Black vote until the last minute. Then they parachuted organizers and operatives into the districts to rev up Democratic-leaning but low-propensity voters, particularly Black voters. Had Black turnout been higher, both Ossoff and Parnell probably would have won.

Clinton’s losses last November in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania could also be attributed to low turnout by Democratic-leaning citizens, especially African Americans. In Wisconsin, Trump beat Clinton by a mere 22,748 votes out of more than 2.9 million votes cast. Statewide, Trump received about the same number of voters as Mitt Romney in 2012, but Clinton received almost 240,000 fewer votes than Obama did in 2012. The statewide decline in voter turnout was particularly devastating in Democratic strongholds. In 2011, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the Republican legislature adopted tougher voter-registration laws, including a requirement that voters provide a photo ID to vote. This election law change had a chilling effect in Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, which has a large African American and low-income population. According to Neil Albrecht, the Milwaukee Election Commission’s executive director, voter turnout in that city declined by 41,000 people between 2012 and 2016, with most of the drop-off coming in high-poverty districts. But the Clinton campaign also failed to invest sufficient resources in those areas and Clinton herself barely campaign in Wisconsin, because her advisors mistakenly assumed that it would be a slam-dunk win.

The Democrats’ mistake in Wisconsin last year and Georgia and South Carolina this year wasn’t simply failing to focus campaign resources on Black and other Democratic-leaning but low-propensity voters. Most Democratic leaders suffer from a kind of short-term-itis that limits their ability to think beyond the next election cycle.

Studies of voter turnout reveal that people are more likely to vote if they’ve developed trust and social relationships with other people through ongoing activities (including churches, sports activities, and issue-organizing campaigns), that people are more likely to vote if someone they know contacts them one-on-one, and that people are more likely to vote if they’ve been involved in some kind of activism in-between elections. You can’t build that kind of trust and organizational capacity by dropping into Congressional districts a few months before election day. The Koch brothers and their fellow Republican billionaires understand this. They’ve spent the last decade investing in building a conservative and Republican political infrastructure that turns out the vote on election day but also engages people in-between election cycles. It isn’t just about last-minute TV ads.

Other factors were at work in both the Georgia and South Carolina races. Ossoff didn’t live in the district, providing Handel with an opportunity to call him a “carpetbagger.” Her allies also ran last minute ads ridiculously linking Ossoff (and Bernie Sanders, who gave him a lukewarm endorsement for not being “progressive” enough) to the shooting of Republican politicians and staffers participating in a baseball practice in Virginia last week. Plus, it rained on Tuesday in the most Democratic parts of the Congressional district, which may have dampened turnout. The South Carolina race received much less attention, and less money, than the Georgia contest. Parnell raised $763,000 compared with Norman’s $1.3 million. The national Democratic Party didn’t invest in Parnell’s campaign until a month before the election. Parnell, a tax attorney, might also have been handicapped by his brief stint with Goldman Sachs which, even in South Carolina, is not a popular brand. Also, South Carolina’s 5th district was redrawn to heavily favor Republicans after the 2010 elections.

Ossoff ran on a liberal but not overtly progressive platform. Parnell was even more moderate, supporting mainstream Democratic but reluctant to identify with the Democratic Party’s Sanders/Warren wing.

Still, it isn’t clear how important their policy ideas mattered in determining the outcome of both races. In evaluating the lessons of these two close losses, pundits are split between those who emphasize message (policy agenda, themes, talking points, TV ads, and whether to attack Trump) and those who emphasize movement (grassroots organizing around issues in between elections, voter engagement and turnout [especially among Democratic-leaning but low-propensity voters], training volunteers, and knock-knock-knocking on every door). Both are needed, of course, but they reflect different approaches to winning elections.

Both the Georgia and South Carolina races were long shots for the Democratic candidates. It was remarkable how close they came to victory, given the huge obstacles they faced in these longstanding GOP strongholds. Ossoff’s and Parnell’s defeats in these special elections don’t necessarily portend similar results in the November 2018 House races, but they do offer some important lessons.

Democrats need to win a net 24 seats to have a majority. In November, Hillary Clinton beat Trump in 23 House districts that were won by Republican candidates for the House. At the time, those 23 seats seemed the upper limit of potential Democratic shifts. But the number of “swing” districts has grown in the wake of the Trump meltdown. Between January and May, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee expanded its list from 59 to 79 GOP-held seats it intends to target, hoping to take advantage of Trump’s historically low popularity, the upsurge of activism, and the growing local protests against House Republicans. Only 18 of those contests are in the South — six in Florida, four in North Carolina, three in Virginia, two each in Texas and Georgia, and one in Alabama. Nine are in California, including three in Orange County, once a Republican bastion but one that Hillary Clinton won last November — the first Democrat to do so since Franklin Roosevelt.

But If liberals, progressives, and Democrats are going to win these “swing” races ― to take back the House next year and the Senate and White House in 2020 ― they have to invest in grassroots organizing in-between election cycles. That means paying for year-long, multi-year organizers to build local organizations and movements, not just occasional protest marches and last-minute get-out-the-vote drives. As Pete Seeger sang, “When will they ever learn?”

Peter Dreier is professor of politics and chair of the Urban & Environmental Policy Department at Occidental College. His most recent book is The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame (Nation Books).

Michael Bailey
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Monday, October 31, 2011

Winnie The Pooh on DVD and Blu-Ray Combo Pack Winner

Congratulations to "marlibu", the winner of the Winnie the Pooh on DVD Blu-Ray Combo Pack, I have sent you an email please respond quickly as the sponsor needs the details no later than Nov. 1st.

The winner was chosen using Random number Generator.  There were 36 entries and picked entry 35.

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18th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival

The annual event, which started in 1998, has several changes this year. Tickets will be sold online and the screenings will no longer be held at the Movies at Midway theater. Also different this year, the event runs for nine days, instead of five.

Instead of Movies at Midway, the festival has three smaller venues. They are Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Rehoboth Beach and the Baycenter in Dewey Beach. The Rehoboth Beach Film Society, which organizes the festival, has utilized these venues in years past.

Next year and for the next festival, an additional venue will be added. That new space will be the Cinema Art House in Lewes. The Cinema Art House is located at Dartmouth Plaza off Route 1 and Dartmouth Drive, behind the Wawa gas station. It's a 108-seat theater. This year, it will only function as a box office site, but next year it will start showing films and be more of a hub for the Film Society.

A staple of the festival over the past 17 years has been a huge, white tent that was set-up behind Movies at Midway, taking up a chunk of its rear, parking lot. That tent was the site of same-day ticket sales as well as social events, food and fun. This year, the Big Tent and Social Hub will be established at the Crooked Hammock, a new restaurant and brewery in Lewes, just a mile up the road from Movies at Midway.

The first social event is Friday, November 6. It's the Film Festival Preview Party. It starts at 7PM. For $25, there's dinner and dancing along with trailers of the upcoming films. Events will be daily and many will be free and open to everyone. Some include a Beer Tasting followed by Acoustic Vibes, Film Trivia, Movie Karaoke, a Filmmakers Mix, which is a meet-and-greet with those working behind the camera, and a Closing Night Party.

Joe Bilancio, the Program Director, selects the films and the schedule. He says there's a smaller number of films playing this year. In total, there are 31 features, 9 documentaries and 2 shorts programs. There will be 58 total screenings, down from 120 last year. Some things are lost. There aren't any animated films. There will be no 10 % Shorts, which is a short film collection that focuses on LGBT themes or characters, and there will be no Regional Showcase. Most of the films screening will be international.

Aside from having to account and plan for travel between the three venues, which aren't too far apart, Bilancio says that the Film Society has done its best to make sure the theater-going experience is the same as it's been in years previous. One thing that's the same is the Country Spotlight, which brings a significant number of films from one specific country and during the festival relates social events to that place.

This year, the Country Spotlight is Iceland. Iceland might be a small country. It's the Nordic island off the coast of Greenland. However, Bilancio has noted some unique filmmaking talent from the tiny nation. The festival will screen four films from the volcanic isle, three features and one short.

Every year, the Academy Awards invites every country in the world to submit a film to compete for the honor of Best Foreign-Language Film. Iceland has been submitting films since 1980 and has only been nominated once. Iceland submitted Children of Nature (1991) to the 64th Academy Awards and was recognized for it.

The film that Iceland submitted last year for the 87th Academy Awards was Life in a Fishbowl (Vonarstraeti), which is playing on Friday, November 13 at 2:50PM at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach. It won 12 Edda Awards, including Best Film. An Edda Award is the Icelandic equivalent to the Oscars, but, unfortunately the Oscars didn't recognize it.

The film that Iceland submitted this year for the 88th Academy Awards is Rams (Hrútar), which is playing on Thursday, November 12 at 9:15PM at the Baycenter. It won the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Film Festival. It's about two brothers who are estranged but who come together to save their sheep from a deadly disease. It remains to be seen if the Oscars will recognize it or not.

The Grandad (Afinn) is the comedy adaptation of a play that garnered an Edda Award nomination for Best Actor. It's playing on Wednesday, November 11 at 5:45PM and Sunday, November 15 at 3:30PM at Cape Henlopen High School.

The final film in the Country Spotlight is Chum (Hjónabandssaela). It's a 15-minute work that won the Edda Award for Best Short Film. It's playing as part of the International Shorts on Friday, November 13 at 5:40PM at the MCC in Rehoboth Beach.

Quite a few blockbuster films have been shot in Iceland like Interstellar, Prometheus, Thor: The Dark World, Noah and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Instead of filming in Iceland and pretending it's someplace else, this festival will provide you with authentic films telling you the truth of the location.

Films from other countries are also featured. The Club (El Club) is the Chilean film that is a critique of the Catholic Church. Phoenix is the German film about a Holocaust survivor who confronts her shady husband. Sworn Virgin (Vergine Giurata) is the Albanian film about a misogynistic law in that country that pronounces women as unequal. Theeb is the Jordanian film about a Bedouin boy coming-of-age.

The theater at Cape Henlopen High School or CHHS is the biggest of the festival's venues. It has over 600 seats. The other two only hold anywhere between 100 to 200 seats. As such, CHHS is the venue for films that Bilancio thinks will attract bigger audiences. Some of these films possess big-name stars or have been by this point widely promoted.

Three of those films include The Adderall Diaries starring James Franco and Ed Harris, The Benefactor starring Richard Gere, Dakota Fanning and Theo James, and The Stanford Prison Experiment starring Billy Crudup and James Wolk. Coincidentally, Golden Globe-winner Richard Gere stars in Time Out of Mind, which is also playing at this year's festival.

The 10 % Shorts are missing this year, but in the program book, certain features are noted for being LGBT, or specifically having lesbian and gay themes or characters. A few include Fourth Man Out, a film about three macho guys helping their gay friend find a boyfriend, Liz in September, a Venezuelan lesbian romance set in the Caribbean, The New Girlfriend (Une Nouvelle Amie), a French tale of loss, identity and twisted attraction and Those People, a love triangle between young, wealthy Manhattanites.

Finally, Bilancio talked about the documentaries being screened. Because the festival will be occurring on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, one doc focusing on a veteran is of considerable note. It's called No Greater Love and it's about an Army Chaplain who shares his experiences and those of his fellow soldiers. The Alex Gibney-directed Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine is better than the Michael Fassbender-starring film, according to Bilancio. Frame By Frame follows four Afghan photojournalists, and The Armor of Light follows a Reverend exploring the gun-rights issue.

Bilancio started working for this festival 14 years ago. He goes through tons of online submissions and has pursued a lot of selections. He says he's tailored the festival to appeal to an audience that is intelligent, well-read and up-to-date on news, appreciative of politics and art that is challenging and controversial. Most films will be dynamic and multi-layered, and often not for everyone, but hopefully experiencing them will spark new ideas or interesting conversations for those who attend.

Movies run from Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 15. It's nine days, two weekends at three locations in the Lewes, Rehoboth and Dewey Beach area. Tickets go on sale for Film Society members this week and Saturday, October 31 for the general public.

For more information and for tickets and showtimes to the features and documentaries named above, go to http://www.rehobothfilm.com/

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Sunday Funday! Happy Hour ALL DAY!

Every Sunday, is Sunday Funday at The Empty Glass!!

Enjoy Happy Hour prices ALL DAY!
That's $5 a glass for:
Banrock Moscato
Becker Vineyards "Iconoclaust"
Brennan Street "Three White Chicks" Sweet White
Cap Rock Tempranillo
Darcie Kent Chardonnay
Darcie Kent Pinot Noir
Deakin Estate Moscato
La Pistola Red Blend
Llano Shiraz
Messina Hof Gewurztraminer
Messina Hof Texas Hold 'Em Red
Mountain Door Malbec
Nine Walks Sauvignon Blanc
Pacific Rim Riesling
Wimberley Valley Sweet Red
And More Being Added Soon!

Also, save $1 on all our beers:
Bud Light
Miller Lite
Coors Light
Shiner Bock
St. Arnold's
Lone Star

We have 2 TV's for your viewing pleasure - 1 indoors in our Reserve Room and 1 out on our patio. Oh, and did we mention, every time the Texans score you score a 1/2 price drink! Kick off against the Tennesse Titans is at noon!

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Exploring An Alkaline Diet - Nourish The Body - The Nourished Yogini
Leanne Gerich is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Vinyasa Yoga Instructor.
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Exploring An Alkaline Diet – Nourish The Body

08 Feb Exploring An Alkaline Diet – Nourish The Body

There are many different types of food theories out there.  I don’t like to associate myself with one in particular.  There are pros and cons to the majority of theories with certain foods to include and exclude.  I don’t like to avoid certain foods (ie. meat, fat, carbs, or gluten).  We need to nourish ourselves.  We shouldn’t fear food.  Instead, we should enjoy living a nourishing life.  I don’t eat bread all the time – but it isn’t because I fear bread.  It’s because there are so many other nourishing options to enjoy.  Focusing on the addition of quality foods is the best way to have a positive relationship with food. There is one food theory out there, the Alkaline diet, which I do try to incorporate with balance.  What is the Alkaline diet?  Well, simply put, foods fall into two categories: acid or alkaline.  This acid/base balance deals with the reactions in the Kidneys.  Either foods will produce ammonium (acid) or bicarbonate (alkaline).  So although something might be acidic by nature (ie. oranges, lemons or limes which contain citric acid), it doesn’t necessarily turn to acid in the body.

Acidic Foods Alkaline Foods
coffee/black tea spinach
fruit juice kale
energy drinks broccoli/cauliflower
alcohol cabbages
dairy avocado
white pasta/ white bread green tea
artificial sweeteners kiwi
chocolate dates
roasted nuts lemons/limes
peanuts onions/garlic
red meats sweet potato/quinoa

Various symptoms associated with acidic diets include low energy, fatigue, irritability, headaches, recurring infections, rosacea, dry skin and acne. Bone loss and/or mineral loss is a  main problem associated with an acidic diet. So what foods are acid and more importantly Alkaline? Basically, whole, real foods are Alkaline with the exception of red meats and roasted nuts.  Raw nuts however, are not as acidic!  Eating foods in their more natural state is the safest way to consume them. This doesn’t mean we should fear red meats either – but just be aware to keep them in balance.  Did you have a steak last night?  Maybe try to have some chicken tomorrow (only mildly acidic).  Fish, eggs, most grains and beans sit more neutral on this scale.  So there are still a lot of options out there.  What does this Alkaline diet ask you to avoid?  Processed foods, white sugar and strong stimulants!  This should be a no brainer already.  We know these aren’t healthy.  We should be aware of this scale for balance. This food theory isn’t asking us to avoid bread.  This theory is asking us to improve the quality of bread.  Are you buying a commercially made brand?  Is there a local, quality source that you can add to your diet?  Eating whole foods is the way our grandparents ate.  Nourish our bodies.  If we strive to incorporate real foods in our diet more often, we will have more energy, we will have a stronger immune system and we will feel our best!


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The Servant Girl and the Holy Family

The Bethlehem Inn was very busy.  Caesar Augustus decreed that the whole world should be counted and everyone from the line of David was coming to Bethlehem to register.  It was a crazy time.  But I looked at it in a positive way.  I had a job.  I was in demand as a servant.  I served all the people in the Inn.  And since the tips were plentiful, we lived well for quite a while.

Some people and incidents stand out in my memory.  There are memorably good and bad stories.  Upstairs, I didn’t get to know as well.  Those with more money had rooms upstairs.  Everybody else slept on the floor, downstairs. It was so crowded that no one really had room to stretch out on the floor.  They were sleeping sitting up.

With a gust of wind, the door opened and slammed, and in walked a man and a woman.  They looked very weary.  My heart felt sorry for them because they were covered with travel dust and looked beaten down.  The woman was really young and on the verge of tears.  The Innkeeper was talking to the man and I knew that he was explaining that we had no vacancy, not even for sitting on the floor.  He was even suggesting other inns.

It was when the women grabbed her stomach that I noticed that she was pregnant—very pregnant.  In fact, I instinctively knew that she was in labor.

I prayed to G-d to help her.  How could I help?  There really were no vacancies in any inns.  What could I have done?

Suddenly, I remembered the inn’s stable.  Of course, that would be better than any inn because they’d have privacy.  No one would be gawking at a lady giving birth on the floor.  I joined the man and the innkeeper’s discussion and suggested the stable.  Of course, the innkeeper thought this a good idea because he could make some money, plus help the pregnant woman.  The couple immediately agreed.

I showed them the stable and shooed some of the animals out of the way, and put others in stalls.  It wasn’t too bad.  It was warm and we could clean it up.  I even retrieved one of the animals’ mangers and made a baby’s crib out of one, cleaning it sweet smelling hay.

I went back and forth doing my job at the inn and running back to the stable whenever I could.  I swept it up and shoveled out the muck.  I brought some clean cloths and fresh water.  The animals were acting odd.  They stayed a respectful distance away but were very curious.  Even the innkeeper himself came out to help.

Eventually, everyone in the inn knew a baby was going to be born in our stable.  Everyone was happy and kind.  I ran in and out to help and report the progress.  Finally, one of the times that I went out to check on them, I saw that the lady had delivered the baby.  It was a healthy baby boy.

Everyone seemed to celebrate this babe’s birth.  I swear the animals were smiling.  Crickets jumped up and down.  The sheep baa-aed happily.  The cow moved out to peak.  Little birds darted to and fro, from nests in the eaves.  The donkey stayed near the baby.  The proud parents’ eyes were round in awe.  The mother sang a happy lullaby.  I’d swear I heard angels singing, but then everyone was cheering and shouting.

Cheers of delight exploded inside the inn and the people rushed out to see.  I’ll never forget the feeling.  I felt more emotional at this birth than the birth of my own children.  It felt like we were celebrating the long awaited birth of the messiah.

Surprisingly, even the innkeeper offered a free drink to toast the occasion.  Now there’s a miracle.

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Terms & Conditions: One winner will be randomly selected on 25 February 2014. The winner will be contacted via email with further instructions. Enter below and receive additional entries by sharing on Facebook and Twitter. The winner may select a white or black iPad 2 (Wi-Fi enabled, 16Gb model, full specs here). Shipping to your valid home address is included (NZ addresses only, winner must sign for package). The prize ($399 value) cannot be exchanged for cash. Must be 13 years of age to enter.

What are you waiting for? Enter now!


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Sunday, January 23, 2005

it's that time again

The Carnival of the Cats is back again, and is stopping this week at Music and Cats. Ooohhh, kitties...just what one needs to feel better after around of the creeping crud. Kick back, realx, and enjoy the fuzzy goodness.

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Toasted Marshmallow Day

While the day is recognized at the end of summer, toasted marshmallows are enjoyed at every BBQ all season long.  Who doesn't love s'mores?  The same fan club applies to this ice cream cake that Marge brought to Candace's house last month.  Every plate was licked cleanShe attibuted the recipe to America's test kitchens.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Craft, Chat and Chew

This was the theme yesterday when we created mosaic clay pots and then had lunch.  Gazpacho was made from produce straight from Joe and Sue's garden.   Delicious!

   Sandwiches and pasta salad were accompanied by Cape Codders.

The lemon custard pie was delicious.   The best part, however, was the lively conversation that lasted all afternoon.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Summer-y settings

Lunch a deux   -   a table for two.  Light and bright as an August afternoon should be.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Hawaiian shirt soiree

The party gods failed to get the weather gods on board and my annual backyard bash was moved indoors.  But the key elements were still in place - fun atmosphere, good food, and fabulous friends.

All entered through the raffia curtain
                and got lei-d by the hosts.

                     E komo mai (welcome)

Next step was the bar

where my signature drink of the evening Kana maka u waki (pronounced can-a make-a you wacky) was served.

 Other choices were Big Wave Brew or Aloha Ale

Tom's beer got it's own hula skirt coozie.

A video hula lesson played in the background but no-one seemed daring enough to try the steps.  Wait...the evening is young.  Between cocktail hour with coconut shrimp, wontons, deviled eggs and a cheese board and dinner, there was time for a photo op.

A simple buffet of ham with grilled pineapple, chicken breasts on mango salsa and teriyaki meatballs was emptied in minutes (forgot to take a picture prior)

and colorful plates and themed napkins set the tone.

 Deirdre's lemon meringue pie was a crowd pleaser - Mahalo (thank you) and some wicked wahines found their way atop cupcakes.

All quite casual as we remained ready to move outside if weather permitted.  An evening under the stars was not in the cards but it was memorable, at any rate.  Sue's rendition of Frere Jacques will be one for the books.

Guests left with a mini ceramic Hawaiian shirt votive as a favor.

Malamapono a hui hou     (take care, until we meet again)

Friday, August 17, 2012

Cheers to the USA Olympic team

The close of the summer Olympics with the phenomenal showings by Team USA coincided with dinner out at a Chinese restaurant.  My cocktail 'mixed' with conversation about the weather at the Olympic site so I decided to call it a "London Fog Cutter"

The original recipe called for gin and lemon juice. Originally gin was used in many cocktails because it was the lightest tasting clear liquor. Today vodka has replaced gin and it makes a smoother tasting drink.

 • ½ oz. rum
• ½ oz. brandy
• ½ oz. vodka
• 1 oz. sweet and sour
• 1 oz. orange juice
• ½ oz. orgeat syrup
• Dash of sherry
• Mint sprig garnish   Shake and strain
Source:  www.barschool,com

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Happy Birthday, Julia

Today would have been the 100th birthday of Julia Child who brought of French cuisine into the homes of millions.  She celebrated her 70th and 80th birthdays here on Cape Cod.
Inspired, I created a seven course meal.  The hors d'oeuvres (literally meaning 'outside the works')  were canapes, charcuterie (Trader Joe's white wine sausage), and cornichonsNext was the fish course. I served a coquille (sauteed sea scallop on a bed of mashed peas with crumbled bacon.)
This was followed by lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate.
The 'plat' was poulet avec herbes de provence ( pan fried chicken breast tenderloins), accompanied by pommes Chantilly (fancy mashed potatoes), and haricots verts (skinny string beans).
The traditional order for salad  (frisee avec vinaigrette moutarde) is after the entree.  Then the cheese course of Brie with honey and walnuts served with baguette slices.

 Dessert was creme brulee, a fan favorite.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Chocolate Coconut Pie

Simply elegant, simply scrumptious, simply simple.

Mix together 5 cups (about 1 1/2 packages) sweetened flaked coconut with 1/2 cup softened butter.

Press into a 9" pie pan and cover edges with foil.  Bake 10-15 minutes at 350' until inside crust is light brown.  Remove foil and brown edges (about 5 minutes).  Cool completely.
Chop 1 cup bittersweet chocolate. (I used Ghiradelli 60% cacao).  Heat 1 cup heavy cream to boiling.  Pour over chocolate and let sit 10 minutes.  Stir until completely melted and pour into crust.

Refrigerate until set (at least an hour).

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Lobster Roll

The must-have summer specialty in a coastal resort.  My favorite is made by The Seafood Shanty on Route 6 overlooking the Cape Cod Canal.  The sandwich is brimming with chunks of lobster meat and is served with french fries.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Summer entertaining

"Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language" according to Henry James.

 Perfect for dining al fresco (outdoors) but some elements are necessary to ensure your guest's comfort.  Suitable seating is a must.  No-one can  sit for long on slats or webs without being imprinted.  Make sure wood seats are free from splinters and metal seats are not as hot as a skillet!  Best still, use cushions.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

August celebrations

August is American Artist Appreciation, Foot Health, and Home Business Month; also, National Catfish, Golf, Inventors, and Water Quality month.  We  can celebrate National Clown, Elvis, Apple, Smile, Dance, and Air Conditioning Appreciation weeks,too.
How about a birthday party for Francis Scott Key, Betty  Boop, Annie Oakley, Davy Crockett, Bill Clinton or Wilt Chamberlain? Other special days commemorate the debut of MTV, the founding of Switzerland, the first income tax, the issue of the Lincoln penny, the establishment of the Coast Guard, and the patent of the waffle iron.   I'm sure to celebrate National Chocolate Chip, Filet Mignon, Creamsicle, Peach Pie, Watermelon, Sponge Cake, and Ice cream sandwich days.
And let's not miss Middle Children's, International Left-handers, Book lovers and Sea Serpent days.
A party is called for on Wiggle Your Toes, Dream (MLK speech delivered), Be an Angel, Sit Back and Relax Days.
Enjoy the last month of summer!


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Monday, December 30, 2013

The Plastic Art Exhibit Critiqued at Friend School of Wilmington

Three days after learning our traveling art exhibit won a grant from Project Aware, the art show debuted at  Friends School of Wilmington (FSW).  With two presentations back to back, one for 3rd to 5th and the other to 6th through 8th, these students wowed me with their conservation astuteness.  This was a shared learning experience.  Kudos to FSW, Cameron Francisco, and the Head of School Brenda Esch, the students were extremely informed about environment issues and the impacts of plastic pollution.  I was especially surprised by the 3rd to 5th graders. When I asked if they had heard of the North Pacific Garbage Patch, readying myself to explain, many of their hands went up.  One child explained it in such great detail I thought to myself, "I need him on my team!"

I watched with appreciation as the children looked over the art identifying pieces of plastics hidden in the waves and talking amongst themselves expressing which canvas was their favorite.  They especially took to the last two monstrous looking waves.  What I like best about presenting with the art show is the ability to engage with the audience instead of lecturing using a PowerPoint.  It helps tease out what people do and don't know about plastics.

My big take home was during a game I shared with them using one time use plastics.  The game was "Which Item is a Better Choice? (if you HAVE to use single use items)"  For the most part the students got it, but I did stump them a few times like when I held up in tandum a plastic soda bottle and a Styrofoam cup.  They shouted, "the Styrofoam cup would be better" and when I asked why, they replied, "Because Styrofoam isn't plastic."  Interesting.  It might stand to reason why they would think that.  It doesn't feel like any other kind of plastics.  What an awesome opportunity to clear that up and explain that out of all the plastics we use, Styrofoam readily leaches chemicals so we really shouldn't eat or drink out of Styrofoam if we want to error on the side of safety.  This exercise gave me the opportunity to explain, if you have to choose between the two, take the plastic bottle and make sure it gets into a recycle bin.  Styrofoam is not typically recyclable especially here in Wilmington, NC and it isn't sturdy enough for multiple uses.

Lastly, I shared with them a bin of plastic fragments collected off a beach in Hawaii. The fragments are the remnents of plastics that either washed out or got lost at sea that became embrittled due to the sun photo-degrading the plastics and the waves busting them up into pieces.  If I had a camera on me, I would have loved to have gotten a shot of all the little hands in the bin of "plastic sand."  Like me, they could not resist studying the fragmented plastic pieces as they tried to identify what some of the pieces might have once been.  With such enthusiasm, I think this research has a future!

  1. You go Bonnie!!! Excellent! Maybe I can help you out in some form? My best ~ Let me know!!

  2. Get ready girl cuz POP is going to need your help. We have one heck of a line up this year. Thank you for offering.


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Libya and Egypt demands U.N. to lift Libya’s arms embargo

By: Novpreet Bajwa

On Wednesday, February 18, 2015, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss Libya and Egypt’s recent request for lifting the arms embargo that was placed on Libya in 2011 after Maummar Ghadafi’s rule ended.

After the conclusion of the 2011 Civil War, Libya has entered into another vicious civil war in which two governments have risen, one based in Tobruk that is internationally recognized and another in Tripoli that is seen as a local Islamic extremist group. With the country divided, groups have begun pledging allegiance to the likes of ISIL and taking part in terroristic activities. It has also been suggested that one of Libya’s terrorist groups, Ansar al- Sharia, is working with ISIL to expand ISIL’s agenda in Libya.

The request for lifting the embargo came after Libya’s ISIL beheaded 21 Christian Egyptians on Sunday, February 15. This heinous act prompted Egypt to carry out airstrikes in Libya, targeting areas in which ISIL is believed to be based. With Egypt backing Libya, both countries believe that the lift of the embargo will help rebuild Libya’s national military and help eradicate the radical Islamists that are causing havoc in the country. Egypt also called for an international intervention with foreign countries providing militaries to fight the terrorist groups but it wasn’t formally requested in the meeting.

While both Libya and Egypt believe this lifting will certainly improve their chances of confronting ISIL, the UN is unsure about it. Many members believe that once the arms embargo has been lifted, the weapons might fall into the terrorist hands since they have a strong hold in the country.

Although an international military intervention wasn’t requested in the meeting, it has gained support from Italy, which believes that through Libya, ISIL can infiltrate into Italy since it is only 300 miles from Libya. Italy’s foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, has called for a global effort to help Libya before ISIL expands into Europe. The European Union is also making efforts to protect the financial institutions in Libya since it has been suggested that ISIL is trying to find ways to control Libya’s oil business so it can fund its terrorist activities.

It is hard to tell what the UN plans to do as a result of ISIL’s actions on Sunday. Although ISIL’s pressure is mounting, the next steps of U.N. have to be taken with careful thought as the lifting of the ban could worsen the Libyan situation as it predicts.

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