The Waltz: Forerunner of Hip Hop?

I don’t write Regency, but often think it would be great fun to send a hip-hopper back to 1820’s England. Just think of the possible plotlines! During the Regency period, the waltz caused as much of an uproar as Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction. Yep, the boring 1-2-3, 1-2-3 waltz. The dance was considered outrageous and initially condemned by polite society. Never before had men and women actually embraced in public.

So where did the waltz come from? No one actually invented the dance, it evolved from a German folk dance into the Walzer, which basically means a rotating movement. The dance became popular in Vienna and migrated to Paris via Napoleon’s soldiers. The waltz later glided across the channel to merry old England.

The three-quarter timing is one of the most distinguishing features of the waltz. Each measure of music has three beats rather than the more common four and this timing is pretty unique to the waltz. When dancing, you literally count 1-2-3, 1-2-3, with a heavy emphasis on the one. Graceful turns are essential for polished dancers.

The dance has endured for over two-hundred years. Pretty impressive. Even in today’s hip hop world, the waltz has been touted as being one of the world’s five most popular dances—with foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, and swing being the other four. Don’t ask me who compiles these surveys, because I find the statistics a bit suspect. Still, no one can deny the staying power of this once “shocking” dance.

Now that you understand a bit of the waltz’s history and the scandal it created in ballrooms, how would you insert a head-spinning, hard-hitting crumper with low slung jeans into the Regency waltzing mix?

SET REALISTIC GOALS -- Vonnie Davis

I’m a NaNo failure. 

I tried.


I worked.


I wrote.

But, unless I can convince the calendar makers that the end of November is actually December 14^th, I’ll be forced to put a tattoo on my forehead that reads, NaNoFlunkie.”

However, I do have reasons I failed. Well, not reasons exactly, but things I didn’t allot time for:

·         My chin needed waxed.

·         Too many catalogs arrived in the mail.

·         My cat coughed up a hairball.

·         There was a James Bond Movie Marathon on TV.

·         I got a hangnail on my typing finger.

·         New neighbor moved in next door, and I had to watch him.

·         My eyeballs got stuck to my binoculars when hunky new neighbor took off his shirt.

·         I sprained my ankle running to take a bottle of water to Rock…er…my new neighbor.

·         I pulled a back muscle helping Rock-my-world…er…Rock…ah…new neighbor hunk tote his mattress up his steps.

Life happens. How often do we set goals only to have life or those in our lives hinder our achieving those goals? Yet instead of rolling with the punches, we tend to get down on ourselves. We feel like failures. But are we? Are we failures for setting goals? Or are we merely guilty of expecting too much of ourselves?

 

When I set a goal of writing 50,000 words during NaNo, I didn’t factor in taking 6 days to travel to see the grandkids over Thanksgiving, helping 2 of the writers I mentor, or that the first round of edits would arrive from my editor.

 

When we set ourselves up for failure by expecting too much, we do a disservice to ourselves. In my case, instead of lamenting not reaching my 50,000 word goal, I’ve decided to rejoice over my tally of 36,000 words.

OK, so I’m not a NaNo winner, but I am a NaNo survivor. All things considered, that’s pretty cool. Be gentle to yourself when you set goals.

Social Media and Parasocial Relationships

I came across the term parasocial when watching a documentary on paparazzi done by Adrian Grenier. The documentary is titled Teenage Paparazzo if you're interested in looking it up. Wiki has an article on parasocial interaction. Basically, it means feeling like you know a celebrity or other famous person way better than you actually do because of entertainment news, tabloid gossip, and other forms of media.

I wonder how much social media is contributing to this. Now that celebrities have Facebook, twitter, and the like, we might be even more tempted to think we know them personally. After all, we can now be privy  to their thoughts in 140 characters or less. Of course, many of these celebrity twitter, Facebook, etc. pages are updated by personal assistants or other people who aren't the celebrities/famous people much of the time. Still, it makes us feel like we have another avenue into the lives of these people.

There are definite advantages to this on both sides. For example, politicians are using social media to reach voters they might not have otherwise reached. We get to learn new information about the people we admire for whatever reasons--whether those reasons be artistic, political, social, etc. There's also a downside. These things can be taken to excess. Also, impersonators can open accounts for celebrities. Of course, the social media sites are taking precautions against these things now, but it can still happen.

And there's always the question of, how much is too much? Just as taking anything printed in a tabloid with a grain of salt, we have to realize that what we're getting through these social media sites is going to be a carefully crafted persona. So it's probably not good to get too wrapped up in celebrity tweets and Facebook statuses and take them too seriously.

What do you think? Do you follow any celebrities online? Is there a saturation point when it comes to following the lives of celebrities?

The power of Dreams...

There are times in everyone’s life when they wish it was better, richer, more adventurous, brought in more money.  In fact was completely different from what is being experienced now.  But…

Are you ‘experiencing your life’, or simply drifting through it?

We are bombarded with examples of luscious lifestyles, fast cars, big houses, and the ‘to dream for’ job, and it’s all too easy to become swept away with the illusion.  Yes, illusion.  Because behind the headlines you cannot know what that person’s life is really like.

Although I have mentioned this before, I believe it can bear repetition.

How may time have you heard someone say, with stars in their eyes and in a dreamy, wishful voice, “I’d love a big house like that.”

No harm in dreaming, is there?  Well, depending on the quality of that dream, possibly.  The saying ‘be careful what you wish for’ is a case in point.  After all suppose you acquire that big dream house, do you have the finances to maintain it?  No?  Does that mean you need to find another job that pays better, requires you working harder and for longer hours?

Now, if you are the family provider and enjoy being with your family, the cost of maintain your dream is immense.  To keep that well-paid job to pay for that dream home, you are going to have to sacrifice the very thing that matters most to you.  Family time together.

Cause and effect.  There are always consequences.  By all means go after that dream of yours, but, before you do, take time out to meditate on it.

Is the dream worth it?  What will you gain, and what will you lose?  What other dreams do you have on that list of yours?  Is there one that will serve your true inner desires better, and still maintain a happy balance with those around you?

Now Thanksgiving is over, take time to ensure your next batch of dreams will truly bring you what you desire, and without those nasty unforeseen consequences you forgot to factor in last time.

An American Beauty

www.free-pet-wallpapers.com

Made in the USA, Bombays are a fairly new breed. They came about from breeding a Burmese with a black American short-hair in the 1950's. Nikki Horner bred them specifically to resemble a panther and named them after the home of wild black panthers, Bombay, India. They weren't accepted in the CFA until 1970 and weren't allowed to compete for Championship status until 1976.
The Bombay is an affectionate cat and usually enjoys the entire family instead of being attached to just one person as some cats are. If you have children, this is a good pet for your household. With their temperaments, they are also recommended for the elderly. These cats do well with other pets. Some of the kittens are shy, but they normally outgrow it.
This breed's color is pure black to the roots. Its medium in size with copper or gold eyes and is not a big shedder. The Bombay will weigh anywhere from six to eleven pounds. One of the terms used to describe Bombay's is heat-seekers. They love to be warm and often enjoy sleeping under the covers.
While not as vocal as Siamese they do enjoy talking with you.
The most common health issues for the Bombay is cranial deformities.
The average life expectancy of this kitty is thirteen to fifteen years.
This cat is still fairly rare outside the United States.
If you're thinking about adding one to your household, why not take a quick look see on www.petfinder.com and see if one's available for adoption in your area.

~*~

Happy Left Over Thanksgiving!

• Hello to all my fellow night owls.  Since I’m new here, I guess it would be best to introduce myself.  Don’t worry.  I’m not particularly fond of talking about myself. *wink*
  
  My name is Charlene Wilson and I call a small community in Arkansas, USA, my home.  When I say small, I mean there’s one junction, two gas stations (run by the same people—talk monopoly here), 325 people, five times that many dogs (it seems), 4 churches, and lots and lots of trees.  I’d add the cow count in there too, but haven’t made note of it.  I do know the ones across the way like to sing (yeah, it’s called lowing, but I call it singing).  All-in-all, it’s beautiful being surrounded by nature.  I miss having Starbucks around the corner but hey, compromises must be made at times.
  I’m a mother to two beautiful daughters that are my biggest supporters and greatest joy.  Nothing compares to overhearing them tell their friends, “Well, my mom’s an author.  She is so awesome!”  Then come to me later and pester me to finish that Young Adult novel I’m writing so it can be in their school library. *sigh* I’m working on it, Sweetheart!  Teens.
  When Sandra approached me to join Night Writers, I rolled the possible topics around in my head.  I admit up to this point, I’ve been involved with blogs and communities that concentrated on writing:  Romance, Sci-fi, Fantasy, techniques, promo…  To choose a topic here set me out of the authorship box into a whole world of new shapes and possibilities.  I stepped back and rolled my thoughts through the maze to find what I enjoy most in life…other than writing.  It settled right into the round hole at the center:  Imagination and Family. 
  How lucky am I that I am able to join you at the most imaginative time of the year.  The Holidays!  When families strive to get together and add their own spice to traditions, decorate, create, tell stories… the list goes on and on. 
  For my American friends out there, I hope your Thanksgiving Day was filled with love, family, and well…thanks giving.  How ever you choose to worship, I hope your heart overflowed with the spirit of thanks. 
  With all this celebration, a big meal is always prepared at our house.  But, as it is every year, now we have the leftovers to deal with. Lol.  Turkey is always a must.  But I have to say, not the most favorite meat we eat.  So, what to do with that extra food?
  Well, Google is one of my best friends.  I keep it near.  And as I surfed for ideas on how to make this meat more enjoyable for my family, I came up with a few ideas to share.  I’m honestly a terrible cook.  The easier the better in my opinion.  But for those of you who enjoy taking on a good recipe, I’ve added the more complicated procedure beneath the quick fixes. *wink*
  
  
  Grab the kids...and that spouse of yours...and get them involved in making these dishes.  They may just enjoy them even more!
  
  
  Check them out:
  
  
  Sandwiches: add barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese, put the mixture between two slices of rye bread and you have a nice dinner.
  Okay…no tough recipe to add here. Lol.
  
  
  Enchiladas or tacos: warm up the meat spice it up with a little taco seasoning, fill tortillas with it, and you can add taco or sauce, or enchilada sauce and bake it. Use a bunch of cheese, avocado, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes, and there you go, a Hispanic entrée.
  Or…
   
  2 cups shredded Cheddar and Monterey cheese blend
  1 onion, chopped
  1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives
  24 (6 inch) corn tortillas
  1 (19 ounce) can red enchilada sauce
  4 cups cooked turkey, chopped
  
  

  Directions

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  
  
  In a small bowl, combine the cheese, onion, and black olives.
  In a small skillet, heat enough oil to lightly coat one tortilla, and cook until soft. Remove and dip in enchilada sauce to coat.
  
  
  Add turkey and cheese mixture to center of tortilla, roll and place in the prepared dish. Repeat until bottom layer of pan is covered with enchiladas. Spread enough sauce over bottom layer to cover.
  
  
  Repeat process with a second layer; spread remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is melted.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potpie: Fill a frosted pie pastry with the turkey, add the half content of sweet peas, carrots and cooked potatoes cans, mix with a jar of turkey gravy and bake it for twenty minutes. Kids love this.
  Or…
  1 recipe pastry for a (10 inch) double crust pie
  4 tablespoons butter, divided
  1 small onion, minced
  2 stalks celery, chopped
  2 carrots, diced
  3 tablespoons dried parsley
  1 teaspoon dried oregano
  salt and pepper to taste
  2 cubes chicken bouillon
  2 cups water
  3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  1 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
  3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  1/2 cup milk
  
  

  Directions

  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll out bottom pie crust, press into a 10 inch pie pan, and set aside.
  
  
  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onion, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the bouillon and water. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in the potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm.
  
  
  In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the turkey and flour. Add the milk, and heat through. Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Roll out the top crust, and place on top of filling. Flute edges, and make 4 slits in the top crust to let out steam.
  
  
  Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
  
  
  
  
  Chili cornbread: prepare a package of cornbread, and pour the mixture over the turkey meat, mixed with a can of chili. Bake it until the cornbread is ready.
  Or…
  2 tablespoons olive oil
  1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  3 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  1 leek, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  2 tablespoons tomato paste
  3 tablespoons chile powder
  2 teaspoons paprika
  1 teaspoon ground cumin
  1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  1 tablespoon coarse salt
  3 cups homemade turkey or chicken stock or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth
  1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
  2 cups prepared turkey gravy
  2 pounds shredded cooked turkey
  2 (15.8-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  Cornbread Batter
  8 tablespoons shredded white cheddar cheese

  Directions

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  Heat olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onions, celery, leek, and carrots; cook, stirring, until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, chile powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt until combined. Add stock, crushed tomatoes, gravy, and shredded turkey; increase heat to medium high and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
  Stir in black beans and top with spoonfuls of cornbread batter, leaving small spaces between each spoonful. Top each spoonful of batter with cheese.
  Transfer Dutch oven to oven and bake until cornbread is cooked through and cheese is slightly browned, about 20 minutes. Serve.
  
  
  Turkey Alfredo pasta: very simple recipe, cook the pasta, (whichever you like), warm up the turkey with a jar of Alfredo sauce, and mix it up. (Yum!)
  Or…
  1 lb Dry fettuccini pasta
  1 tbsp Margarine
  2 Cans MAPLE LEAF^® Seasoned White Turkey Chunks, drained
  2 Cloves garlic, minced
  1 Jar prepared Alfredo sauce
  3 Plum tomatoes, diced
  Grated Parmesan cheese
  
  Directions
  
  
  Boil a large pot of lightly salted water. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile, heat margarine in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  
  ADD turkey and garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.
  
  ADD Alfredo sauce and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  
  DRAIN pasta and toss with turkey mixture and diced tomatoes.
  
  SERVE sprinkled with grated Parmesan.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Have lots of fun with your family.  Have your kids help out!  Let me know how these work for you.  And if you have other great ideas, do share!  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ~ * ~
  
  
  Posted by Paranormal Romance author, Charlene A. Wilson.
  Cornerstone Deep 
  Cornerstone Deep Echoes (to be released Feb 2012).  
  
  
  Where to find her:
  
  
  CharleneAWilson.com
  Facebook
  Twitter
  
  
  .

Pigs in the Garden

Here in Northern Michigan most gardeners are familiar with the many pests and predators that invade gardens. The list includes deer, opossum, raccoon, squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, porcupine, skunk, cats and dogs, and yes, turkey. Add to that numerous insects and birds, and you have an onslaught of nature ready and willing to eat fruit and flower, peck seeds out of the ground and peel bark off young saplings. Many of us have even had an occasional bear tearing apart bird feeders and harvesting blueberry crops. (Yes, I have.) It is a gardening disappointment and frustration, yet often a thrilling glimpse of nature.

Since man first set aside land for plant production, the boundary for the war of the crops was set. Garden battle plans passed from old gardener to young by word of mouth until Gutenberg invented the press. Since then, tomes have been written on the subject. Even with all today's accumulated knowledge, chemical and technological deterrents, there are no victories, only continuing battles.

You can plant only the deer or rabbit resistant plants, but what if your gardener's soul cries for Hosta, otherwise known as deer candy? You can net your small fruits and mentally prepare yourself for when some beautiful songbird you fed all winter dies snagged in its mesh. Animal persistence diminishes fear, fences weather and break, chemicals wear away, and technology fails. And just about the time you think you have won the war with one adversary, another invades your sacred ground and a new fight begins.

This said, there are certain bragging rights that come with each wild visitor: the most, the rarest, the best war story. Nothing, however, had prepared me for pigs.

Several autumns ago, when most plants had already died back and dropped leaves covered everything, two pigs wandered into my garden, and never having been close to pigs, I wandered into the garden, too. They were about thirty inches tall, a naked, peachy color with ears flopping over their wary eyes. It was clear the way they stayed close together they were friends and not interested in making new ones. They avoided me. Old stories on the viciousness of wild pigs haunted the fringe of my thoughts, but neither of these two bore tusks, so I thought myself safe.

After seeing them in action, the thrill quickly wore off. I'd heard about rooting pigs, but never seen them in action. Those cute little snouts can dig deep and fast, pulling up whatever tasty porcine delicacies they come across. For a brief few minutes I envisioned a freezer full of bacon and pork chops. Good sense said these strays belonged to a neighbor, and I chased them around, shooing them away from favorite plant locations.  Bill spoke with the owners at the small local grocery store, and when he asked if anyone had lost pigs, a voice was heard down one of the aisles, "We did!" How about that for luck? The owner came and fetched his escapees.

Actually, he led them away with a bucket of feed. After digesting my garden, I didn't think they could be that hungry, but I guess that's why they call them pigs. The owner asked us to the pig roast, but after meeting the guests of honor face to face, I didn't think I could eat them. On the bright side are the story rights: a hosta, twelve bucks, two wild ginger, seven fifty each; pig tales--priceless. Happy Thanksgiving!

Quick Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Quick Pineapple Upside Down Cake

By Sherry Morris

1 Box Cake Mix (Pineapple, White, Yellow or Cherry)
1 Small Can Pineapple Rings
1 Small Jar Marichino Cherries
1/3 Cup Canoloa Oil
1 Cup Water
3 Eggs
1 Stick Butter
1/2 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar

In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar. Pour into ungreased bundt pan. Yes not floured or greased!

Slice pineapple rings in half. Arrange pineapple rings with enough cherries to be pretty in the bottom of the pan. Pour in pineapple juice from the can.

Mix cake mix, water, oil and eggs until thick and creamy. Pour into pan, covering fruit.

Bake in preheated 350 degree over for 37 to 43 minutes, testing doneness with a toothpick. Ovens vary. Leave it in until the toothpick comes out clean.

I had to throw the last piece of this cake away because I couldn't stop eating it! It is delicious!

Capitals and Punctuation

Punctuation is one of the ways the modern writer uses to achieve clarity in their writing. But what if you didn't have punctuation? How do you indicate when one thought stops and another starts?

In the past, calligraphers used a variety of devices to separate their thoughts. First, they used large, elaborately decorated letters to separate their paragraphs. They didn't have capital letters back then so often--but not always--the letter was painted red or gold. Depending on the text and skill of the calligrapher it might be very elaborate (so much so it's difficult for the modern eye to discern exactly what the letter might be!)

In between sentences, other devices were used, again depending on the skill and fancy of the calligrapher. Small symbols done in knotwork, tiny flowers, stars, and other symbols were used to indicate when one sentence stopped and the next started.

Today, with our texting and tweeting, we seem to be going backwards. Do you suppose a couple hundred years from now people will be puzzling over our writing, wondering what all those little marks (periods, commas, apostrophes) really mean?

anny

www.annycook.com

Amazing Worlds of Steampunk

It turns out that I’ve been a fan of Steampunk for years, I just didn’t know it. First there were the offbeat  tv shows and movies I liked – Briscoe County Jr.; Dr. Who; Wild, Wild West; The Rocketeer; Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow; The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; Sanctuary; and so many more. Add to that an amazing array of fiction, everything from Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories to Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, from Connie Willis’s To Say Nothing of the Dog to Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate novels.

But until recently, I had no idea that what I thought were disparate works could be grouped under a single rubric: Steampunk. And I had no idea how huge, how vibrant, and how intriguing the world of steampunk really is. 

First, a definition. Steampunk is “Victorian science fiction,” as GD Falksen summarized it in an article for Tor.com. It draws inspiration from the original Victorian-era science fiction authors, especially Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, but puts a decidedly modernist twist on the Victorian period. For instance, imagine a world in which Queen Victoria occupies the throne of England and the United States has survived its Civil War – and in England, vampires freely walk the streets, while in America they are hunted down by religious extremists. That’s just one key element of the premise of Gail Carriger’s novels. Add a dash of comedy of manners, an improbable love story between a werewolf and a proper British lady, and a tangle of political machinations, and you’ve captured some of what makes Ms. Carriger’s work so fascinating.

 

Steampunk has been recognized as a literary genre since the late 1980s. Some of the best descriptions I’ve found of the origins and intent of steampunk are by GD Falksen, at Cherie Priest’s Clockwork Century website,  and at The Gatehouse. The purpose of steampunk is multi-fold, making it incredibly diverse. As VanderMeer says, steampunk is first “both retro- and forward-looking in nature. Second, it evokes a sense of adventure and of discovery. Third, it embraces divergent and extinct technologies as a way of talking about the future.” Small wonder that the books and stories that can be termed steampunk is so diverse! 

But the scope of steampunk also has allowed it to expand far beyond literature. I’m especially delighted by steampunk fashions, costumes, and décor.  Many of the designs are whimsical, and all of them are wonderfully original. And underlying many of them are serious philosophical considerations about craft, individuality, artisanship, the aesthetics of the handmade, and using technology to improve rather than degrade our world. Some of the best websites I found for learning about steampunk design are the Steampunk Workshop, Clockwork Couture, and Steampunk Empire. Steampunk Scholar takes an especially interesting look at steampunk aesthetics within today’s cultural milieu. I particularly enjoyed the Steam Wars work – a fun and thought-provoking take on Star Wars with a steampunk twist!

 

Finally, nearest and dearest to my own interests, Voyages Extraordinaires, takes a comprehensive look at Victorian and Edwardian era “scientific romances” and a slew of related literature, such as Retro-Futurism, Neo-Victorianism, and Pulp Fiction. A lot of the steampunk I’ve found so far seems to be a lot more about the social and technological potentials of a reimagined Victorian era. But what about the romance?!? Because one thing is certain, wherever people gather, and for whatever purpose, sooner or later someone will catch another’s eye, someone will come to treasure the curve of another’s smile, sparks will fly, and love will be in the air. Happily, I’ve discovered that Voyages Extraordinaries is the place to go for in-depth discussions of romances that either fit within – or could inspire new – steampunk literature.

A similar website is Edwardian Promenade, which focuses more on the Edwardian period (1900-1915) than the Victorian, but draws inspiration from both. Blogger Evangeline Holland, a romance writer herself, has posted a wealth of information about Edwardian history, customs, and social mores. This is a site to get lost in for hours! 

Mistletoe and Rosemary

“There's rosemary that’s for remembrance. Pray, you love, remember.” ~ Hamlet

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs, mostly just because. I rarely cook with it, but love its scent and the wealth of history behind it. Known as the herb of remembrance from the time of ancient Greece, it appears in that immoral verse by Shakespeare.  My fascination with herbs plays a significant role in my historical/light paranormal romance Somewhere My Love, as does Hamlet, for that matter.  I always wanted to write a murder mystery with a focus on herbs and parallels to a Shakespearean play, and so I did.

A Modern Herbal by Maud Grieve, a wonderful source of herbal lore as well as practical information on the medicinal uses and growing requirements for a myriad of plants, is an invaluable guide. I have volumes one and two of Ms. Grieve’s work and can easily lose myself in their pages.  She refers to her herbal as modern, and in comparison to the ancient herbalists it is, but A Modern Herbal is charmingly quaint and published in the early 20^th century.Available at Amazon:
 
Regarding Rosemary, she says,
The Ancients were well acquainted with the shrub, which had a reputation for strengthening the memory. On this account it became the emblem of fidelity for lovers. It holds a special position among herbs from the symbolism attached to it. Not only was it used at weddings, but also at funerals, for decking churches and banqueting halls at festivals, as incense in religious ceremonies, and in magical spells.

At weddings, it was entwined in the wreath worn by the bride, being first dipped into scented water. Anne of Cleves, we are told, wore such a wreath at her wedding. A Rosemary branch, richly gilded and tied with silken ribands of all colours, was also presented to wedding guests, as a symbol of love and loyalty. Together with an orange stuck with cloves it was given as a New Year‘s gift…

In early times, Rosemary was freely cultivated in kitchen gardens and came to represent the dominant influence of the house mistress ‘Where Rosemary flourished, the woman ruled.’

The Treasury of Botany says: ‘There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemary will not grow well unless where the mistress is “master”; and so touchy are some of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once had reason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order to destroy this evidence of their want of authority.’
Rosemary was one of the cordial herbs used to flavour ale and wine. It was also used in Christmas decoration.

“Down with the rosemary and so,
Down with the baies and mistletoe,
Down with the holly, ivie all
Wherewith ye deck the Christmas Hall.”
—HERRICK.



Rosemary Christmas Trees
Although an herb, rosemary is often shaped into lovely miniature Christmas trees. The plant is well suited for this purpose as its essential oils produce a scent similar to pine trees and it has a natural evergreen shape and needle-like leaves.

If you purchase a rosemary plant whether as a Christmas tree or for your indoor herb garden, remember it needs good light and moderate watering. Allow the soil to dry before re-watering to avoid root rot. The most common cause of death for potted rosemary is over watering. In spring transfer your rosemary to a clay pot. The clay will help wick excess water out of the soil. Fertilize monthly to maintain health. To this advice I add that you can also kill them by allowing the plant to dry out, so don’t do that either.

Because rosemary is native to the hot, dry hills of the Mediterranean, growing it indoors can be a problem. You may find you get more dense vigorous growth if it is kept outside during most of the year. Trim the plant periodically to preserve the Christmas tree shape.

Don't bring pests in with your houseplants.

My houseplants have thrived outdoors during the summer enjoying the stronger sunlight, the humid conditions and good care. Before any frost touches them, though, they need to be brought back indoors. In returning them inside, insects can become a problem. A few always hide in the plants, no matter how careful I inspect them. A few weeks after the plants come in, things like mealy bugs, white fly, spider mites, and scale show up.

Here are some practices I use to help keep the invasion to a minimum.

First off is prevention or at least reduction. Several weeks before plants come indoors, they need to be cleaned on a weekly basis. Pick out debris that has accumulated in the pot, peel off dead foliage. Next I spray the upper and lower sides of the leaves with insecticidal soap. Not all plants tolerate this spray, so test it one week on one leaf before you use it on the whole plant. Most do fine. Before bringing plants indoors, spray with insecticidal soap one more time.

Soaps contain fatty acids that kill insects on contact, but have no residual effect to ward off new insects. They are not poisonous to animals or children, and don't remain in the environment. The soap can burn leaves if left to dry in the sun, or if the plant is sprayed when stressed from heat or drought, so be careful using it. There are good commercial brands of insecticidal soaps that come both in ready-to-spray premixes or in a concentrated form you mix yourself, but here are recipes for some homemade mixtures:

Soap-only Insecticidal Soap. 1-1/2 teaspoon soap (such as liquid Ivory) to 1 quart of water. Mix in a spray bottle. This recipe can be used as a general preventative. Use every two weeks, or once a month, spraying tops and bottoms of leaves, stems and soil surface.

Soap and Alcohol Mixture. Use this one on tough cases of scale.
Take above mix and add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl).

Detergent Mix:
2 tablespoons of liquid dish detergent to 1 gallon of water.

Spray the plants in an area that won't be damaged by the soapy water, such as the bathroom tub, and let them dry. If the plant is infested with insects, spray once a week until they are gone. Then spray the plants on a monthly schedule. This not only kills the insects, it cleans the foliage of dust that collects on the leaves of indoor plants. Remember, plants react differently and soaps differ, so test spray a few leaves before covering the whole plant.

Some insects, such as scale, may still return. A cotton-swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol wiped on the insect kills it, or try the stronger spray recipe containing alcohol.

Don't bring in pests as you bring your houseplants inside.

Off the Strip

Last time I told you about my trip to Las Vegas as a tourist. This time I want to mention a few fascinating places I have visited over the years.

91.9% of Nevada falls under one of any number of land management programs. Because it is so controlled, much of the natural beauty has been carefully preserved and remains in nearly pristine condition for us to visit. Because it’s so hot and the terrain often hostile, Nevada is sparsely populated. Much of it holds the mystique of the old west, of pioneers and cowboys and Indians, of gunfights and range wars and cattle drives. Other places hold the secrets of the very earth, with the upheavals of mountains and rivers clearly visible to the naked eye.

Only a half an hour from Vegas is Red Rock Canyon, an area splashed with, what else, red rocks, as well as layers of the earth plainly visible. As one of many state parks, it has a visitor center that describes the wonders you will find in the canyon.

The Valley of Fire, another state park, is the oldest and largest in Nevada. Many red sandstone formations are named for the things they resemble, like a crab, or an Indian or eagles. Caves contain 3000 year old petro glyphs left by early Paiute Indians.

Lake Mead provides all the recreation a boater could hope for. Formed by the damming of the Colorado River while building Hoover Dam, it sprawls for 112 miles into the desert, skirting the Valley of Fire and of course Hoover Dam. Visitors can rent all manner of boats, even house boats and spend as much time as they want cruising on the crystal blue waters.

Not to be missed is Hoover Dam. The history of the building of the dam is one part of the fascinating visit, the beauty of the area is awesome.

While crossing the Spring Mountains, due west of Las Vegas, you will pass Mt. Potesi where Clark Gable’s wife, Carol Lombard, was killed in a plane crash in 1942. On the other side of the mountains you will come to Pahrump Valley, the Paiute word for big water. Once the largest short staple cotton producer in the world, it now boast the beginnings of a big town, a major stop on the way to California, just as it was in the Gold Rush days. From the valley you can view Mt. Charleston, the eighth highest mountain in the contiguous US. Very often it is covered with snow year round. Continuing that direction, you will enter Death Valley, where temperatures soar in excess of 130 degrees in the summer. Quite a contrast in such a short distance! Death Valley is just that, a big desert valley, but is home to Scotty’s Castle, a unique sight in any setting. Well worth a visit.

I can’t possibly mention all the places you could visit, like the China Date Farm, or Rhyolite, a gold rush era ghost town, or Bonnie Springs, near an Indian reservation, and of course, one of our nation’s most beautiful natural splendors, The Grand Canyon. Most everywhere you go you will find the welcome mat out. All the places I’ve mentioned are an easy day trip from Las Vegas, but most have accommodations for longer visits. Even LA and Hollywood are a mere 6 hour trip.

More adventurous travelers can set out on their own and visit small towns and off the beaten path wonders. There are huge ranches, small Mexican stores, Café’s, gift shops, luxury restaurants, even a mall all by itself out in the desert. So, if you ever find yourself in Vegas, and have had enough of the strip rent a car and go exploring. It’s like taking a step back in time, or stepping into a western movie.