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Monday, 6 March 2017

The Witness

Free taster of my psychological thriller 'The Witness'.

Chapter One

            It was six thirty in the morning and Josie, sat on a folding stool beside a riverbank was painting.  Her eyes hardly had time to focus as she glanced from landscape to paper, her brush dancing merrily as it conveyed colour and form to her work.
It never ceased to amaze her just how quickly time went once she became fully engrossed in her work, she had been sitting there for just over an hour but it seemed no time at all.  She liked to paint in the early morning when the light was clear and the day was fresh and new.
Standing up she stretched out the stiffness in her shoulders then scrutinised her work carefully.  Tilting her head to one side, she squinted through half closed eyes and chewed at the end of her paintbrush.  It was a moment before she would admit that her work was done, and with a sigh of satisfaction, she smiled.  Josie studied the iron bridge in the foreground of her picture, it was a true representation of the real thing, the bridge that spanned the river Spey.  She had replicated the colours of the water perfectly.  Sunlight dancing on the surface played mischievously with the multi-coloured stones until they shone like semi-precious jewels in the shallows, and where the water ran deep, delicate shades and movement made the river appear pleasingly realistic.
Josie was delighted with the results and she sighed contentedly.  Her week had been a great success, not only was her sketchbook full but she had also completed three paintings.  In the morning, she would be heading back to London but first she was looking forward to spending the rest of the day with Molly.  Josie smiled again delighted at the prospect of shopping with her aunt. Later they would drive into Elgin, she wanted to photograph the cathedral ruins. Josie was planning a series of dramatic paintings based on the fire that had destroyed the beautiful cathedral generations ago.
Molly had left London the moment she retired, moving hundreds of miles north she went in search of a quieter life and found it in the small village of Garmouth.  Situated close to the ancient city of Elgin in Morayshire, Molly loved this part of the world and wondered why she had not discovered it years earlier.
Josie had spent many summer holidays as a child in and around Elgin but she could not remember having come across the village before.  She felt certain that Molly had not either.  Josie often thought that her aunt had simply driven a pin at random into a map and moved to wherever it pointed.  Whatever her motives, Molly had decided to uproot and move north.  No once did she discuss her plans to retire to Scotland, but Josie was glad that she had.  There was so much to see and she wanted to paint everything, she was also happy in the knowledge that her landscapes were very well received back in London.  Josie felt certain that one day she would move from the city and settle in the village herself.
Before discovering Garmouth, she had been blissfully happy living in suburbia.  Content with her city lifestyle, she loved the idea of being able to shop for groceries at any time, day or night and culturally she was spoilt, there was a variety of museums, galleries and theatres not far from where she lived.  Having access to anything she wanted regardless of the time, was something that she treasured but coming to Garmouth for the first time had been a shock, everything here was done at a much slower pace.  The village was set firmly in the past, the people who lived there were content to spend their time chatting over garden fences or meeting up at the post office or corner shop.  There was no urgency and best of all there was no noise, it was very different from what she was used to and she just loved it.
Josie poured water from her bottle into a little pot and washed out her brushes before packing them away.  Suddenly a scream shattered the silence and startled, she looked up.  Scanning the riverbank she looked towards the iron bridge but could see nothing out of place, the sound must have come from a rabbit falling victim to a fox or an osprey.  She stared up at the sky searching for the birds that operated along this stretch of the river.  Usually they would be fishing for salmon, but would probably consider a rabbit a welcome change from their habitual diet.
Shaking her head, she smiled and cleared her mind of such thoughts. Stuffing her brushes into her bag, she reached for her paint box and mixing palette then dried them off with an old cloth.
Without warning, another scream echoed along the valley and this time there was no mistaking the sound, her skin crawled as she sensed danger.
Josie looked up, there was movement near the bridge then she spotted a man dragging a woman along the ground roughly by her hair.  Her cries carried clearly on the still morning air, and Josie watched in horror as the man slammed his fist into the woman’s face knocking her down into the long grass.  Standing over the spot where she had fallen he reached down and grabbed her, the sound of the woman crying as he hauled her to her feet spurred Josie into action.  Moving quickly along the path she was determined to help.  Perhaps she could distract him for long enough to allow the woman to escape but suddenly she felt vulnerable and very much alone.  The nearest house was over a mile away and there was no one else in sight.
The man continued his assault and hearing the woman’s terrified screams Josie realised that it would be a bad idea to draw attention to herself.  Frozen to the spot she was filled with guilt and indecision and all she could do was look on helplessly.  The man stepped back and forced the woman to her knees then very slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a pistol.  Thrusting the weapon into the woman’s face, they stared silently at each other.  Although defeated she remained defiant, it was the last thing she did.  The force of the discharge threw her back into the grass like a broken toy.
Covering her mouth with her hands Josie stifled a scream and staggered backwards.  Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears and she wanted to vomit.  She could hardly believe what she had just seen, it had to be true because the sound of the blast was still rolling like thunder around the bay.
The man moved calmly pocketing his pistol and glancing around searching for witnesses.  Removing his cap, he dried his forehead with his sleeve and turning very slowly towards Josie, he grinned.  She froze; it was as if he had known she was there all along.  The evil that surrounded him seemed to reach out towards her and she shuddered.  His grin turned into a sneer as he held her gaze then slowly he began to move towards the bridge.  He didn’t need to rush, his strides measured it was as if he had all the time in the world.
Josie brushed away her tears with the back of her hand, her mind was in turmoil but she knew that she had to move quickly.  Glancing towards the bridge, she wondered if she could get to in time.  It was the only way to cross the river and the man had made his intentions clear enough but it was no good, he had almost reached the bridge.
Retracing her steps back along the path, there was no time to collect her things; she would have to abandon her painting in an effort to save herself.  Emotions run wildly inside her head but despite this, she refused to succumb to panic.  Running as quickly as she dared, she missed her footing on a clump of grass and fell heavily.  Crying out in frustration and gasping for breath, she glancing back over her shoulder, he was closing in fast.  Picking herself up she pushed on and managed to increase the distance between them and reaching the point where the path split she hesitated.  To the right it followed the curve of the bay going towards a distant golf course.  Turning her head the other way she could see the visitors centre standing beside an ancient icehouse.   This had once been used to preserve salmon but it was now a museum.  The place looked deserted, there were no visitors this early in the day and the staff who worked there would not arrive for at least another hour.
Heading that way Josie charged breathlessly into the yard and slipped on the loose gravel.  Picking herself up, she pressed her back up against the wall of the nearest building and in an attempt to control her racing heart took some deep breaths.  Pulling her mobile phone from her pocket, she flipped it open and with trembling fingers began to press out a number, holding it to her ear she waited, nothing happened.  Glancing desperately at the tiny screen it was a few seconds before she realised that there was no signal.  Groaning with frustration pushed it back into her pocket.  It was futile calling for the police, it would take ages for them to get to Spey Bay from Elgin.
He was very close now and she could hear him coming, so moving further around the building, she searched for a place to hide.  The walls were curved, the bricks worn smooth by erosion and time, there were no recesses in which she could conceal herself and it soon became obvious that he would easily find her.  There was nowhere else to run and as the man charged into the yard, he slipped on the gravel and fell heavily.  The noise that he made sent a sea bird screeching overhead and Josie, looking up, heard the sound of waves breaking over the stony shore.  Moving towards the pebble beach, she stumbled noisily over the loose gravel, and making her way awkwardly down the slope found the coastal path.  She started to run along it as fast as she could.
Sunlight flashed lemon yellow against the grey swell of the sea and as she went she managed to pull away from him, but she did not realise until it was too late that she was running into a trap.  The path ended abruptly as it dropped down to meet the mouth of the river and stopping at the top of the steep bank, she could see it curving back the way she had come.  Josie glanced around desperately searching for another way to go, she could see him moving slowly towards her, he seemed to be in no hurry and was obviously aware of her error.
She considered making her way back along the path but that would not work, as soon as he saw her moving in that direction he would head her off and there would be little chance of slipping past him.  Turning her back to the water, she considered running straight at him, push past and maybe even knock him down but he looked much heavier and stronger than her so dismissing that idea she had to find another way.
She realised that he was not carrying his gun, if he meant to kill her that would surely be the most effective way.  She had already seen him commit murder so he must be capable of doing it again.  This time there would be no witness, no one to see where her body fell.  The thought sent a shiver through her, forcing these unwelcome thoughts aside, she glanced towards the opposite bank willing someone to be near, a jogger maybe or somebody out walking their dog, anyone who might be able to help.
She could feel his eyes boring into her back and turning towards him was unable to see clearly, the sun was still low in the sky and he appeared like a shadow.  The sight of him lumbering down the slope made her skin crawl and she cried out as the cold hand of fear ran its fingers along her spine.
Taking a few steps backwards, she stepped into the shallows and water seeped into her boots, it was cold against her skin but she hardly felt it.  Glancing desperately at the opposite bank there was no one there to help and now she had nowhere left to run.  An idea began to form in her mind, perhaps she could reason with him but then realisation took hold, he was not going to let her live, she had seen too much.
He was so close now that she could hear his ragged breathing and looking up he appeared black with evil intent.  There was nothing left for her to do so plunging into the water she struck out for the opposite bank, it was not too far and she was a strong swimmer.   Adrenaline coursed through her body as she propelled herself into midstream but the cold grey water was merciless, it pulled her down until she began to struggle.  The current was too strong, she had underestimated its strength and as it took hold, it swept her away.
Gasping for breath, the cold was shocking and as her chest tightened Josie did what she could to keep her head above the surface but to fight it was impossible.  Her muscles were burning now and struggling to stay afloat was becoming painful, wave after wave poured over her head, and it became a relentless battle that was proving impossible to win.  She was amazed at how quickly she had been defeated.
The man watching from the safety of the bank was keeping pace with the flow of the river.  He was hardly surprised by her plunging into the water in fact he expected it, she had nowhere else to go and he didn’t think she would give up easily.
Josie could feel her strength ebbing away, her limbs going numb with the cold it was all she could do to keep her face above the surface.  The weight of her waterlogged clothing dragged her down and struggling only made it worse.  Waves constantly washed over her head, the water so cold it was as if a thousand tiny needles were pricking at her skin.  Here the water was tinged with salt, it was almost the point where the river met the sea.  Gradually the waves were becoming larger and in the grip of the swell, she could feel the pull of the tide, it was attracting her body as effectively as a magnet draws iron.  Josie began to panic, the North Sea was no place to be and struggling for breath was powerless against the flow.  She would have to wait for the current to ease before attempting to swim back towards the shore, she realised that she would be swept further from the beach and the thought terrified her.  She had to keep calm, and most of all she must remain conscious.  She needed to keep moving, try to generate some heat into her muscles that was the only way to keep them from seizing up altogether.
            The man standing on the shore watched as Josie was swept further away.  He made no attempt to help or to alert the Coastguard and now she had almost disappeared from view.  Licking his lips, his tongue flashed reptilian like from between his teeth and his mouth became a cruel thin line across his face.
He felt a stab of regret, distracted by a jumping dolphin, he took his eyes off her for a moment and now she was gone, lost from view in the vastness of the sea.  He would never see her again and as the smile faded from his face, his eyes narrowed.  He began to imagine the fun he could have had with her then his thoughts turned to the woman he’d left lying in the grass.  He would have to be quick, tidy up the mess before others wandered along the path.
His pulse quickened, oh what fun he’d had with this one, she was the best so far, now it was like a drug and he craved for more.  The voices in his head would soon return and their demands would become even more shocking, he would know no peace until he had done their bidding, but for now he was safe, their hunger satisfied.
            Josie was slipping away, unconsciousness beckoned offering her a merciful release.  This was nature’s way of relieving pain and suffering, but she must resist the urge, to give up now would be the end of everything.
She managed to improvise a life jacket by trapping air under her shirt, it helped by keeping her head above the waves.  This was a skill learned many years ago as a child at the local swimming pool, she had never imagined that one day she would have to employ the techniques for real.
Next, she attempted to remove her jeans but it was impossible, they were heavy and weighed her down, each time she moved she went under and choked.  They would make a more effective float but it was not as easy as she remembered, practicing this in a heated swimming pool with help at hand was one thing, doing it for real was quite another.  Frustrated and rapidly becoming exhausted she abandoned the idea and made do with her shirt.
The chill from the water continued to press in around her and her body, acting like a sponge, soaked up the cold until gradually her muscles began to shut down.  She had very little feeling from her waist down and now her arms were beginning to feel heavy and tired.  Her skin felt as if it was on fire even though she was freezing to death.
Josie was terrified; the thought of drowning filled her with dread.  The current was gaining in strength and with her strength failing she would soon no longer be able to swim back to the beach.
At least now she was moderately buoyant, if she could just relax and go with the rhythm of the swell, precious air trapped beneath her shirt would not seep away so quickly.  Often she had to refill it by lifting the hem above the water and scoop in more air, inflating it like a balloon.   The effort of this process gave her something to focus on and moving her arms kept the blood flowing into her frozen fingers.  This simple but vital act gave her hope, without it she would almost certainly drown.
The grey water was sapping her strength and she knew that she would have to do something quickly to help maintain her body temperature.  The initial burning sensation of cramp from rapidly cooling muscles had now given way to a dull ache and the situation was becoming hopeless.  She had tried to swim but the movement deflated her buoyancy aid and she no longer had the strength to stay afloat without it.  Her eyes ached from the cold as waves slapped relentlessly against her face and it was as if a band of steel had been wound about her head, the pressure mounting by the second.
Gritting her teeth she moved her arms slowly, raising each in turn above her head but the effort was too much and she cried out in frustration, the pain was becoming too much to bear.  Air escaped from beneath her shirt as she moved then she had to go through the inflating process all over again.  It was a relentless battle but she had to ignore her nagging doubts, she was determined not to give up.
How long had she been in the water?  The thought came from out of nowhere, it confused her and paying it no attention she focussed on more pleasant things.  Going to her favourite place, she could feel the sun on her back.  It was a delicious sensation, the warmth invading her mind soothed her body and she imagined herself dancing in a soft breeze.  She could feel grass as soft as fur brushing gently against her bare legs and closing her eyes, the smell of freshly ground coffee invaded her thoughts, she could even hear the sound of breakfast sizzling in a pan.
How long had she been in the water?  Faces appeared before her eyes, friends from long ago, colleagues from places she had worked and people with whom she socialised.
How long had she been in the water?  Absurd thoughts burst into her head but were gone before she had a chance to grasp them.  Was this what it was like to die, her life flashing before her eyes?
How long had she been in the water?  Reluctantly she forced herself to open her eyes.  She was crying with frustration, warm tears washed away by cold water, this was just another unwelcome emotion.  Suddenly she was angry with herself, angry with the man who had put her in this situation but there was no time for self-pity, not now.
How long had she been in the water?  There it was again that infuriating voice filling her head, always the same question over and over again.  Like a tattoo drumming laboriously into her skull, she had no choice but to deal with it.  With an effort she focussed on her wristwatch, she could hardly see the time the face was too small.  It was then she decided to buy another watch, one with a larger face, she was always having to squint at this one.  She almost laughed at the absurdity of it and concentrating on the task, recalled the last time she had checked her watch.  It had been six thirty, just after she had finished her painting and now the time was six fifty five.  Going over the events in her mind, she realised that everything had taken place during the last twenty five minutes.  She estimated how long it had taken to run along the riverbank and evade capture by diving into the river.  This must have taken fifteen minutes; that left ten.  She was shocked, only ten minutes, it seemed as though she had been in the water for much longer.  How long could someone survive in the North Sea at this time of the year?  She started to think about seasonal water temperatures around the British Isles.  She considered body mass and insulating layers of fat and for once in her life regretted being so slim, there was not an ounce of fat on her.  She was in grave danger; there was insufficient insulation to protect her from the extreme cold.

If you have enjoyed reading Chapter One of my novel 'The Witness' then why not look it up on Amazon and purchase a copy.

  1. One of my favorite books! Just the best.

  2. Thank you Kimberly. So glad you enjoyed this book.


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Friday, November 25, 2011

Aside, Part Two

I will get back to gaming stuff soon, I promise.

Today was Jon's funeral.  It was the first time I've had to attend such an occasion for a non-family member, and also the first one I've attended where the deceased was younger than me.  It was most definitely a time for reflection.

My friend and her daughter were doing pretty well, all in all.  The service was nice, in an Evangelical Christian sort of way.  I'm not religious, but I don't begrudge folks their faith in normal circumstances, much less a time like this. Jon was buried with his two favorite books: the Bible, and Asimov's Foundation Trilogy.

All in all, I held it together pretty well until the end of the eulogy, when Jon's best friend closed with, "I am, and forever shall be, your friend."

And then, the nerd tears flowed for a good long time, gentle reader.

  1. Thanks for sharing this. As for it not being a gaming post, I don't think that matters. It's your blog.

    Again, sorry for your loss.

  2. I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

    And I agree with everything else Whisk said, too.

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Monday, March 1, 2010

Knife Grinder

The grinder is now complete. Except for a nut with a plastic insert and a graphite pad for the platen, it is ready to go.

Specs are as follows.

2 HP motor with a VFD speed control. Make sure you use a TEFC motor as the metal dust/swarf will foul the motor. I found a stainless steel one on Ebay cheaper than a normal one. The VFD is in a NEMA 4 enclosure. In order to make the motor variable speed you need a three phase motor hooked up to a VFD. The VFD takes single phase 220v to 3 phase 220v.

The motor is 56c frame with feet.

I have two grinding setups. A flat one that tilts and a dedicated 8" wheel. I also have a 2" wheel for the handle.

A tool rest. The grinder is set up to tale the standard 1 1/2" tool post found on a KMG grinder.

The metal frame kit was found on the forum in the classified.

Now all I have to do is make a couple knives.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Knife Making

Last year, I decided I needed to make a couple marking knives. As usual I searched the web and stumbled on a new hobby of knife making. As you know the guys motto on hobbies, is "Every project needs a new tool. " Or every hobby needs a lot of tools.

I have made about a half dozen knives, but was using a small grinder. A kit was offered on the classifed and it was off the races. So without any further adieu, here is the Eerf knifegrinder.


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Saturday, April 15, 2017

Jim Thome card #193 1999 UD Hologrfx #18

  • Card scanned very well, the orange background really popped out.  It almost looks like a flannel shirt...
  • I remember buying quite a few packs of these for the hockey release back in the day.  Remember completing one set and working on another, wonder where those cards might be now.
  • Career home run #193 was hit 9/16/99 off of the Yankees Hideki Irabu.  The 2 run shot tied the game at 2, but the Yankees would go on to beat the Tribe 9-5
- Robert

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Stress Baker. Cookies = Brain fuel?

Thank you all for your responses to Food Monotony. I've been thinking about it, and I it wouldn't be so hard to vary my breakfast toppings, sides and snacks while still getting the benefit of convenience from leftover meals. I think I'm going to be more intentional about putting some variation in my day.

Yesterday was definitely a success in that area.

Tests started. That part = Sad. Frustrating. I never feel like I do well, no matter how hard I work. Usually I pass, we'll see. I still have today and tomorrow to go. All the subjects are combined, to be more like boards, so we're tested on the same classes of material all 3 days. It makes trying to study after one or two days very frustrating because all I focus on is things I missed. :(

My brain was well-fueled though:
Almond Butter (with a side of glomerulonephritis review)

Okay, I had real food with almond butter:

Dollop of Trader Joe's blackberry jam with crunchy almond butter and quick oats. I pretty much only like crunchy nut butters, I feel like the creamy ones get lost in whatever I'm making.

After going to my test and getting shanked through the eye by micro and pathophysiology, some friends came over and we watched this weeks episodes of Glee. That was a wonderful break.

And towards the end of that, I knew I couldn't go back to studying yet - time for some Stress Baking! (And also Valentine's Day baking, I'll be taking these to my boyfriend on Friday when I go to visit).

Boyfriend has two favorite cookies: Peanut Butter and Coconut Macaroon. Very different types, but both delicious of course. Peanut Butter reminds me of home and wintry days, while Macaroons make me think of classy teas and beaches. I've tried some recipes for both, but these are my favorite for each. As usual, I have weights for all ingredients, because baking with a food scale = so easy.

The BEST Vegan Coconut Macaroons
Modified from here
Makes 24.
1 cup sugar (196 g)
½ cup light soymilk (4 oz.)
1 tbsp agave (21 g)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (8 g)
1 teaspoon salt (4 g)
3 cups shredded coconut (360 g)
¾ cup all-purpose flour (94 g)

1. Preheat oven to 350F (177).
2.  Combine and mix sugar through coconut. Mix in flour.
 3. Form into desired shapes on an oiled cookie sheet.
4. Small ones bake about 16 mins, large about 20.
5. Let cool a few minutes before moving to cooling rack.
Note: Macaroons don't really spread much, so form neatly from the beginning.

Oh yes.

But we're not done yet...

Vegan Valentine's Peanut Butter Cookies
Modified from here
Makes 24 large. (About 26 actually, but it's vegan, so eat that much cookie dough. Seriously. Do it.)

2.25 cups flour (280 g)
2 tsp baking soda (4 g)
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar (192 g)
1/2 cup oil (4 oz.)
1/4 cup agave (84 g)
1 tsp vanilla extract (4 g) - I always add extra
1/4 cup applesauce (61 g)
1 cup PB (256 g) - I used salted, add 1/2 tsp salt if yours is unsalted

1. Preheat oven to 325 (165 C).
2. Mix flour, baking soda (and salt if using) in one bowl.
3. Separately, mix all other ingredients.
4. Add flour to wet ingredients, mix well.
5. Scoop onto an oil-sprayed cookie sheet and form if desired. Press a criss-cross for the classic PB cookie look.
6. Bake 15 mins. Let sit about 4 mins on cookie sheet before transferring to cooling rack.

Wet ingredients. Not pretty yet...

This dough may or may not have made a detour on its way to the cookie sheet...into my mouth.

Heart shaped criss-cross! (Form first with your hands)

You don't have to press very hard.

Fresh out of the oven, it looks like you might not have made the crosses deep enough.

But it settles in. Peanut Butter deliciousness.

The best part? Cooking with a food scale means my cleanup consists of the cookie sheets and this:
Yeah. 2 bowls. Okay, there are a couple hidden spoons. You get my point.

I tupperwared-up a dozen of each for Boyfriend and took the rest to my classmates when I went back to study. Not a single person turned me down. The brain runs almost completely on glucose, so that means cookies = brain fuel right? Someone (very kindly) said it was the best macaroon he'd ever had.

After a few frustrating hours and a vegetable-heavy dinner of soup and salad to counteract my afternoon of sugar, I relaxed for a little and watched this week's Pretty Little Liars. I might be 14 years old on the inside. I'm pretty okay with it.

And now off to take another long brutal test. Super.

Vampire said...

Haha those cookies look awesome =)

Megan D said...

So much deliciousness in this post! And I love almond butter and jam on oats. Good luck with your test :)

unbeautiful said...

The peanut butter cookies looked yummy!
I like Pretty Little Liars too! I haven't been able to watch it though since I moved down to where I live now. :( But I really liked that show when I did watch it. :)

Chelsea said...

This week sounds majorly stressful for you. There's nothing like a little baking (and eating!) to help relieve some of that stress. ;) Good luck with your tests!

Anonymous said...

I had those peanutbutter cookies, and as a non-vegan I can attest... delicious!

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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

A walk to the local pond and art district

Here's a video Michael made while on a walk to our village pond. After going to the pond he takes the long way back home through what we call the "art district"--a part of our village that has a different kind of feel to it.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

On eating whole foods: I've come a long way!

When I first met Yulia I would often react to how she ate with a raised eyebrow. The first time her odd eating habits hit me was when she described coming home late at night. She said she ate some sunflower sprouts and then passed out she was so tired.

“She ate sunflower spouts—whatever they are (like sunflower seeds??)—when she was tired late at night??” I was confused. I later learned that sunflower sprouts were microgreens. That didn’t help. So she ate some leaves when she was tired? Can you even do that?

She would also sometimes just eat fruit. Like, just fruit and nothing else. “Can you do that?” I thought. Whenever I was hungry, I’d go to a local café and get a Wisconsin Grilled Cheese—several different cheeses melted together with a mayonnaise based hot sauce on two thick slices of sourdough bread. And this was during a period in my life when I was consciously trying to become healthier.

Looking back on it, I feel like I was actually the weird one. I was eating what I thought were normal foods because, like most people, I looked around me to determine what normal was. If it was packaged and sold in a store, it must be fine. Otherwise, why would big companies make and sell that food? Why would the government let them? It's sad and naive that I thought that, but it’s true. If I was eating what I perceived to be a normal diet, how could it be bad for me?

What prompted me to write this was something I just read in the book, How Not to Die, by Dr. Michael Greger. In the chapter about high blood pressure he writes, “A single slice of pepperoni pizza can contain half your recommended sodium intake limit for the entire day” (128). I had to stop there and reflect for a second. I used to consider pizza a normal food. Healthy—maybe not. Unhealthy--no. But normal—absolutely. So I ate it regularly. Plus, it had, like, foods from different food groups on it. The dough was grains or carbohydrates or something. The cheese was dairy—I knew that had to be healthy. The sauce was made from tomatoes—a vegetable. And the pepperoni was meat. That’s like four of the food groups from the food pyramid! But only people who were on a boring diet would eat just one slice. I would pride myself on eating several slices at a time. By the time I was in my mid-twenties and just getting to know Yulia, I would eat an entire pizza as a meal without thinking twice about it.

Quite honestly, I wish I would have been exposed to some honest and clear information about diet and health a lot earlier. When I think back on it now, why didn’t anybody just tell me that a whole foods, plant based diet was the healthiest diet? I now feel like I was being patronized my whole life. “Sure, ice cream is OK to eat because it has milk in it,” is what I basically heard. After getting diet advice like that it was only natural to look at pizza and find the goodness it inherently had.

Instead, I needed to be told, “If you want to eat pepperoni pizza, limit it to once or twice a year, but you probably shouldn't eat it at all. Whole plant foods are all that you need to survive and thrive and be healthy. Yes, ice cream and pizza have some good things in them, and they're healthier than only eating candy bars and soda. But the good things don't cover for the bad things. That's not how nutrition works. If you eat a whole foods, plant based diet you will get all the same goodness that ice cream and pizza have without any of the badness."

Dr. Greger divides foods into three groups. Green light foods—unprocessed plant foods. Yellow light foods—processed plant foods and unprocessed animal foods. And red light foods—ultra-processed plant foods and processed animal foods. As he says, “Simply put, eat more green-light foods. Eat fewer yellow-light foods. And, especially, eat even fewer red-light foods. Just like running red lights in the real world, you may be able to get away with it once in a while, but I wouldn't recommend making a habit out of it” (259).

I appreciate how he deals with people who may be frightened off by the purity of his recommendations: “I remember a man once telling me that he could never ‘go plant based’ because he could never give up his grandma’s chicken soup. Huh? Then don’t! After I asked him to say hello to his bubby for me, I told him that enjoying her soup shouldn’t keep him from making healthier choices the rest of the time. The problem with all-or-nothing thinking is that it keeps people from even taking the first steps” (265).

Similarly, Yulia and I desperately want the people we care about to be in good health. We want them to be around for as long as possible. “OK,” we figure, “They don’t agree with us when it comes to our belief in not being violent to animals.” Well, since we still care about them, we want them to at least know the newest and best information about diet there is based on the evidence that is out there. Yulia and I don’t let our beliefs cloud our vision. Sure, not all vegan foods are good for you. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is, in fact, pretty terrible for you. But the best information points to a whole foods plant based diet, which you can eat as a vegan or as a meat eater.

*     *     *

So I’ve gone from a guy who had no idea what his girlfriend was eating ("sunflower germ or something?") to a guy who eats garden fresh greens picked by his darling wife every day. A few months after I started dating Yulia, we met each other at an outdoor café one fine afternoon. From down the block I could already see her carrying her carton of fresh cherries. I smiled to myself because, just a few minutes before her I had also popped into the same store and got my very own carton of cherries. I knew I had chosen the right woman!

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Easter 2016

Here's a video that we made on Easter. If you're looking for footage of our actual traditional Ukrainian meal, we're sorry to tell you that we didn't film any! Ha! Instead we filmed everything else--driving to the grandparents, walking around the garden, etc.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Weeks in the life: Clips of our daily life in Ukraine

Hey guys! Here's a compilation of video clips that were too short to fit into one video.

In this video Yulia will take you on a tour of our garden and small nursery (She has planted lots of trees from seed!). She will also show you some creamy sauce she made for sweet potatoes. Michael will take you on a random walk to the spring in our village. And, fifteen minutes in, there's a cool clip of some lightning that we caught on camera during a thunderstorm. Towards the end Yulia will show you some sweet potato slips that we ordered in the mail.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Building our root cellar roof

In this video we document what it was like to put of a roof on (part of) our root cellar. Things didn't always go our way, but that's why building's all about being creative! A few things got in our way during the process--not enough materials, rain, SNOW! What we've learned in almost three years of being here is to just roll with the punches. Nothing's ever the end of the world.

We're slowly transforming the landscape on our little piece of land in western Ukraine, and this is a marathon. Pace yourself. Realize that bad weather and mistakes are part of the process and be cool! :)


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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Mourning Doves!

Nothing makes me calmer
than to watch
beloved Mourning Doves
on a day where
the snowflakes

So, today, I have nothing but pictures of them for you.

Sit with your feet up, a warm cup of coffee and maybe your Snuggie..
let's take a look...
shall we?

I love how they puff up to stay warm on the branch:

I love their tawny and golden feathers:

Many fly in,
in pairs...

And they just roost there, sometimes for a few hours at a time.

Just watching the busy, hectic world go by:

Such peace.

Such grace.

They roost in silence...sometimes hardly moving:

Sometimes, as daylight just happens
and I stumble out to the kitchen
to put on the coffee....
I look out my window towards the winter lake,
they are there, resting
and to greet me
Good Morning:

And waiting patiently
at the feeders
to prod me to
fill them up for their breakfast:

My grown daughter teases me because I tell her the birds
at me.

I have proof.

I'd say this one is saying:
"Bring out the breakfast will you? I've been waiting for you to wake up for HOURS!"

Don't forget to enter your

January's theme is:

Brian Miller said...

great pics....and yes such peace...and when they do beautiful...

Sandra said...

my favorite bird is the Pelican, my second favorite is the dove. i love the pelican because they are so ugy they are cute. the doves I love because they are so sweet and gentle and they are not afraid of people, I love to listen to them cooing to each other. sadly most of ours are gone, i used to sit in my swing and watch them like you watched these and put my head back and listen. our new preserve is a couple of miles by air, there are many Eagles and Hawks, now we have more of them and the poor doves have been desicmated because they are so easy to catch. i miss them and loved this post

Vicki Holdwick said...

Great post, I enjoy your prose as much as I do the pix.

L. D. Burgus said...

Yes they are staring. I have two that love to eat on the roof of my new feeder, thanks to your design idea. I hope it is warm in the south.

Joanie said...

We have mourning doves here too. They make such mournful sounds! And not too bright... I've nearly run over a few of them on the road. They wait until the last second to fly off. Perhaps they're playing chicken!

Did you ever find out the name of that white bird with the orange face?

Loree said...

What pretty birds. They are so sweet waiting for you to give them their breakfast.

Ken and Elaine said...

AWESOME photos ! I have been trying to get photos of our Cardnial but he is very skitish . My favorite bird is the Robin. I love all kinds of birds , nature in general ! Have a great weekend!

Country Mouse Studio said...

We have just a few and they do sit an wait patiently until the sparrows are done eating. When the food is gone the sparrows chirp so loudly it's deafening so they do talk as best they can :O)

Eva Gallant said...

Amazing and beautiful shots.

Pat Tillett said...

I don't know much about birds, but I do know that I love them. Mourning Doves are some of favorites. Nice photos Joan!

Cher' Shots said...

We have been watching the Mourning doves here as well. Yesterday my husband counted over 30 in our backyard. It's true - the sit patiently beckoning for the feeder to be filled. They are so graceful and beautiful.
'hugs from afar'

Cher' Shots said...

p.s. You really have captured some wonderful shots of them! Thanks for sharing.

Mellodee said...

I'm not fond of birds in general....except for the Mourning Dove. They are so serene and lovely and peaceful. There is no frenetic activity of doves. Their coo is soft and comforting. They are just beautiful. When I lived in CA we had a pair of doves who built their next on the ground directly across from our front door. There was only about five feet of space between the door and the nest. They were not at all upset when we walked by in our comings and goings. It was delightful.

Blissed-Out Grandma said...

Wow, I've never seen so many in one place! Must tell you that I followed the link to read more about mourning doves because they fascinate my grandson. Then I spent an hour reading up on nest boxes to see what might work in our smallish yard. Good thing I'm retired now so I have time, yes?

Ginnymo said...

I have a lot of Mourning Doves around here also. I feel bad for them sometimes in this real cold weather. When I go over the bridge to the next town to shop there must be about 50 of them sitting on wire over the water. The wires must be warm because it sure is cold over the water like that. They are peaceful looking birds but I have seen them be aggressive towards another one when it gets in their territory. Really nice photos of them Joan!!

Betsy from Tennessee said...

Hi Joan, Oh how I love the Mourning Doves... I had 3 on my deck this week---trying to find something to eat. I try to keep the deck swept when it snows --so that the ground eaters can find the seed as the birds in the feeders above spill it... That one was giving you the "look"... ha

Tracy said...

I really enjoy the first picture...he looks so proud sitting atop of that branch with his belly puffed up; delightful!

Far Side of Fifty said...

They are beautiful..and you have captured them so well! :)

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Snow Snaps

I have more random pictures of snowy scenes
U.P. scenes of winter for you.

I loved how the icicles came out of the moss in this shot:

And this one:

In the last few blogposts,
I have shown you icicles hanging from rock bluffs.

This shot shows you some of the bluffs along the snowy road
where I took some of them:

An early morning shot of the sun just coming out
and a tree full of Starlings:

From a distance,
Starlings look all black.

But in reality,
they are speckled with color:

I spotted this fun mailbox,
full of snow:

(I want one, don't you??)

Snowy bluffs of rocks and pines:

I hope you are enjoying winter....
it really does have its own beauty.

Brian Miller said...

ha. nice icicle captures...i snapped a few with my phone while i was out at the train tunnel so will post those over the next week sometime...i like the car in snow...smiles.

Sandra said...

the starlings are darlings... he is so cute and yes, when you get your mail box get me one to. hubby would love it. he loves all things old cars.

Lynn from For Love or Funny said...

Gorgeous! We've gotten a couple of storms that dumped 2 to 4 inches at a time...but I'm hoping for a big snowfall total sometime next week!

Country Mouse Studio said...

great photos, the starling look so chilly

Amy said...

That mailbox is awesome!

Beautiful photos ! I did icicle photos a few days ago on both blogs , they are soo amazing to photograph ! Have a good day !

Cher' Shots said...

You've got some great pics! The moss looks like it has a horrible head cold. lol The starlings make great sillouettes. 'hugs from afar'

Eva Gallant said...

Love the photos, and the mailbox is great!

Ginnymo said...

I love those cold looking photos of the icicles. Starlings are pretty birds really but I'm glad I don't have many around at this time. They'd eat all the food too fast. I got enough birds here..Ha! I do love that mailbox..It's so cute!!
We are in for a very cold weekend. Snowed overnight and more lake effect snow coming in this afternoon till tomorrow morning. Brrrr! Glad I'm inside!! Take care!!

Betsy from Tennessee said...

Hi Joan, Love your icicles and snow pictures... That last picture is fabulous.

J.J. in L.A. said...

I'm enjoying winter because it's been in the 70-80's. lol! I think you'd enjoy my latest Photo Friday. : )

rainfield61 said...

From a distance, snows look all white.

But in reality,they are speckled with color.

SquirrelQueen said...

It looks like a winter wonderland. I want one of those mailboxes, that is so cool. I don't have a place to put it but I still want one.

No snow here right now, it's raining and in the forties.

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Please do not copy any of my photographs (or narratives) without my permission! All pictures will be tracked for copyright violations.

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About Me

My photo
I retired in June 2008 and started my blog in November 2008. I worked at several jobs as a Registered Nurse prior to retirement. I LOVE being retired! Blogging has offered me a whole new venue to start writing again and to share new hobbies such as gardening, birdwatching and sharing my nature photography. If you like my blog, PLEASE click on "follow this blog". Having a lot of followers reading my blog gives me incentive to continue to do photography and to continue to write. I also LOVE comments, so I encourage you to leave me a comment after you read my posts. Thanks everyone, for taking the time to read me!!

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Welcome to my blog! I'm Natalie, military wife on a military budget! I don't have human children, but I do have Penelope, my bull dog!
I started My Sinful Savings to share
the best prices, coupons, bargains, and deals I can find -- with you! If you're new around here, head on over
to Coupon 101 and you too can master the art of saving on EVERYTHING...because with this economy ...its a sin to pay full price!

Monday, May 23, 2011

FREE Zipfizz Healthy Energy Mix Sample!

28255 132609120096928 132038693487304 249076 3000851 n Free Zipfizz Healthy Energy Mix Sample

FREE Zipfizz Healthy Energy Mix Sample
I have a MASSIVE amount of these babies in a box and they are actually quite potent AND perfect for travel AND they taste pretty good too. I suggest trying HALF a tube first, the first time I drank one of these I was bouncing off the walls and I drink lots of coffee and Rockstar lol!

Thanks Mojo Savings!

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Monday, 19 April 2010

Spicy Tempura Prawns

TGIF ....! Fridays is party day and that's when mostly friends come over or we go to their place. So all the new dishes and experiments are also on Fridays! After all it’s good to cook with company :) for bad or for worse! & all credit to my friend for going creative on the plate and taking the pic for this recipe. Thx D! Will miss you :(

Now coming back to the recipe, I love this dish not only because it’s very easy to make but also retains the prawn flavour. What I essentially meant is that the coating does not overpower the prawn flavour. It just took me approximately 20 minutes to prepare this amazingly simple starter!

  • Large prawns - 25o gms (Clean and devein )
  • Plain four - 150 gms
  • 2 tbsp corn four
  • 1 egg
  • salt - as per taste
  • pepper - as per taste
  • ice cold water - 1 cup ( or 2 -3 cubes of ice )
  • Oil - for deep frying
  • Beat the egg , to this slowly sift in the flour and cold water and keep this batter aside for 15 minutes ( the batter will set properly and get the right consistency)
  • To this add salt & pepper as per taste
  • Now dip the prawns in the mixture and deep fry them until golden brown in colour
  • Drain them well and serve with any sauce you like.

1 comment:

gwl said...


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
This is a place for previewing the CD-ROM workshops and other productions created by David Page Coffin and his talented and accomplished friends. Video excerpts and previews from completed and forthcoming CD-ROMs will be collected here, along with details about the format, usage and creation of rich-media pdfs, David’s chosen delivery medium for these intensive, interactive video and text-based workshops and demonstrations. Questions and comments very much welcome!
Thanks for joining us.

Monday, April 6, 2009

DPC's new book: Production's finished!

Everything's finalized and off to the publisher, so the previews can begin.

To see a video preview of the DVD that'll be included with the book, visit Making Trousers: The DVD.

For more details and an active blog about the project, visit DPC on Making Trousers.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The Shaeffer Collection Volume One: CHANEL

At long last I'm ready to unveil my most recent project:

Behind The Seams: The Shaeffer Collection Volume One: CHANEL

This is a CD-based album exploring Claire Shaeffer's wonderful collection of Chanel garments, inside and out. I doubt there's ever been such an extensive collection of full-garment and close-up, full-color photos—over 730 images—detailing the work and influence of a single designer, so readily available; all thanks to the wonders of the pdf format. It's been quite a mammoth task, shooting, editing pix and commentary, designing, building… But it's nearing completion, and I'm ready to start sharing previews. So, herewith some screen shots and some links, including this one that will download a 12MB PDF with working navigation, and some example slide collections.

If you've ever wondered what all the fuss was about regarding couture garment-making, prepare to be amazed at the astonishing skills and efforts that emerged from the Chanel workrooms. Each pdf page is 11x17 inches at 100%, so the slides can be zoomed in on for great detail. The couture blouses are particularly spectacular!

Both the Preview and the Final Version (due in the next couple of weeks) REQUIRE the use of Adobe Reader 9, the current version, to see the photos, so be sure you've got this version installed before you open the preview. Click above to get it…

I'll be updating here as Claire sorts out how she'll handle sales, but it'll be available as a physical disk, not a download, and will cost $40, plus a modest shipping charge.

Enjoy! And a Happy New Year to all…


WARC-Truncated: length

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Konami confirms Metal Gear Solid 4: 25th Anniversary Edition is PS3 exclusive

Konami has confirmed that Metal Gear Solid 4: 25th Anniversary Edition is indeed a PlayStation 3 exclusive after a New Zealand shop listed it for Xbox 360.

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KingOptimusAscend1111669d ago ShowReplies(6)
redwolf1669d ago

Well that clears things up

dedicatedtogamers1669d ago

I propose an even trade:

MGS4 on 360 in exchange for Mass Effect 1: Complete Edition on PS3.

I mean, C'MON! The fanboy wars are boring. If MGS4 came to 360, it would be 4 YEARS after its launch on the PS3. No one is going to care. With MG Rising (Revengence?) and MGS Ground Zeroes coming out multiplatform, it would be nice to let EVERYone play through the entire franchise.

Ilovetheps41669d ago (Edited 1669d ago )

Did either the Xbox or 360 get the first MGS game? I haven't tracked which games they did and didn't get.

And also, I know that PS3 is getting ME1, but what is missing from the game that is in the Complete Edition?

MYSTERIO3601669d ago (Edited 1669d ago )

The mass effect trilogy is already coming to the PS3, so no trade

Blastoise1669d ago (Edited 1669d ago )

But without exclusives there's no reason to buy one console over the other...

But yeah, Mass effect 1 is coming to PS3 anyway :P

MikeMyers1668d ago

"But without exclusives there's no reason to buy one console over the other... "

Sure there is. It's why people buy an Android over an iPhone or vice-versa. It's why people play games on Steam rather than Origin. They should not use 3rd party games as hostage to convince gamers to support the hardware. If a game can only currently be done on that hardware like we saw early on with the Wii and its motion controls that's fine. Eventually some of those games came out on the PS3 and people that didn't own a Wii got to play it. Games should be enjoyed by as many as possible and 3rd party publishers should not be using a wedge to segregate gamers and force them to buy multiple systems for no reason.

Sony needs to convince consumers by offering their own games. They need to offer their own online service, which they also do. Same with Nintendo and Microsoft. Microsoft should not be using its money to leverage people and make games like Blue Dragon and force Japanese gamers to support them that way. That's why we have 2nd party games too. So if that's the case like Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U then to me that is perfectly acceptable. They are funding the project even though they don't own the team behind it.

The only reason I can think of why MGS4 hasn't come to the Xbox 360 is a partnership deal between Konami and Sony. Which of course is solely created to limit its access in order to force gamers to buy that hardware.

blitz06231668d ago

Other than the fact that the ME Trilogy is heading to the PS3, the MGS series is better than the Mass Effect series. Yeah I said it!

Krypto1668d ago

If it did get ported to 360, the part where Otacon tells snake to swap disk 1 to disk 2 wouldn't be so funny anymore! :)

Lord_Sloth1668d ago

There's nothing even about that trade. Besides, we have ME1 now.

OldSnakePS31668d ago Show
DFresh1668d ago

You do realize EA announced a Mass Effect Trilogy Collection for PS3/360/PC.

Mounce1668d ago

I find it sincerely hilarious.....That dedicatedtogamers has absolutely 0 agrees. 38 disagrees.

The Xbox fans always seem desperate to get games, though I don't blame them since new games barely come out on 360 that aren't simply a port.

MGS4 being begged, argued, debated, rumored, happened so fucking much before its original launch..... I'm amazed to see that there are still a mound of fans and fanboys who're still clutching at straws for this game, those who remember MGS2 went Xbox and it barely sold, unsure if the audience differs now though Revengence should sell well on both. Sneaking-games just aren't what the Xbox audience go for, nuff said. If you want to play MGS4, just bloody fucking get a PS3, they aren't priced at $599 US DOLLARS anymore.

Army_of_Darkness1668d ago

That's a pretty crappy trade bro. I'd rather have the gears of war trilogy on PS3 instead:-D

Dark_king1668d ago

I guess people still haven't figured out that you would have to have a HD to make the game work.Its a must for the camouflage to work an since thats not in every 360 they won't port it.

MysticStrummer1668d ago

@MikeMyers - Your entire comment is nonsensical. If it was meant to be a response to the quoted statement at the top, it was a complete failure.

callahan091668d ago

But Mass Effect 1 is already coming to PS3 in the form of the Mass Effect Trilogy. Already announced.

stragomccloud1668d ago (Edited 1668d ago )

I can't believe how many disagrees you got. I gave you an agree. Anyway Metal Gear is hardly exclusive. MG 1 and 2 was on the msx, a port of 1 was released on the NES. Mgs1 was one psx the remake on gamecube. Mgs2 was on ps2. Mgs 2 substance was on ps2, xbox and pc. Mgs 3 and mgs 3 subsistance was ps2. Mgs3 was rebuilt for 3ds. Peace walker was psp and 2, 3, and peacewalker all rereleased for ps3 and 360. 4 was the only true exclusive as Rising is coming out for ps3 and xbox 360. Needless to say, you make a valid point.

SilentNegotiator1668d ago (Edited 1668d ago )

""But without exclusives there's no reason to buy one console over the other... "

Sure there is. It's why people buy an Android over an iPhone or vice-versa. It's why people play games on Steam rather than Origin"

.....Origin HAS exclusives and so does Steam. In fact, Origin's exclusives are the only reason any level-headed person has ever bothered with Origin ever.

1668d ago
ThanatosDMC1668d ago

Only reason I even use Origin is for BF3.

Uplay on the other hand is douchy idea from Ubisoft in which it wasnt needed before but now they're trying to copy Steam within Steam. I have to be running Uplay to get the most out of Anno 2070. Uplay servers suck.

knowyourstuff1668d ago

Or maybe you could just quit your whining and buy a PS3, they're dirt cheap now. Consoles are so incredibly cheap, you can all stop wishing and pining for some exclusive to get ported to your console, just go pay a few bucks for the cheapest console, there's got to be at least 2 or 3 games worth playing on it that aren't on your console, whichever one you have.

Darrius Cole1668d ago

Man they really want Metal Gear Solid 4 on 360. It 's been almost 5 years and fans are still trying to get it on 360.

akaakaaka1668d ago

Lol at mysterio360
That was so funny hahaha

showtimefolks1668d ago

how about gears of war franchise for MGS lol juts kidding

i don't mind if xbox360 gamers get to enjoy this masterpiece but its been over 4 years and i don't see it happening now.

Rayansaki1668d ago

X360 doesn't really have any exclusive at all worth trading with MGS4

frankiebeans1668d ago

Not 1 xbox exclusive I would trade MGS for.
I buy all my games multi platform games on xbox but when it comes to exclusives you can't come close to the PlayStation I just wish they would have supported mods on the ps3.

Zhipp1668d ago

I thought that MGS4 couldn't run on the 360 because of it's storage space. If it didn't fit back then, why would it fit now?
...then again, installs on consoles are more prominent these days...

darthv721668d ago

There hasn't been 25 years of metal gear solid let alone mgs4. It is funny how that is phrased.

Anyways, if its 25years of metal gear then by all means....throw Nintendo some love.

MikeMyers1668d ago

A failure? Please explain, I'm elated.

".....Origin HAS exclusives and so does Steam. In fact, Origin's exclusives are the only reason any level-headed person has ever bothered with Origin ever. "

You're right, EA is using titles like Battlefield 3 to add leverage, just like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo do. That's what 1st party titles are supposed to do, showcase the hardware or the service. People like Steam, not because it has Half Life and Left4Dead but because they really like the service and convenience it provides. Even if Origin had the same games people would still use Steam more because of the service.

That is what the console manufacturers need to do as well. Provide a better service, more value based hardware, unique gameplay. Stuff like that. What exactly does timed exclusive games and DLC do for the consumer? What difference does it make to the consumer if MGS4 comes to the PC or Xbox 360? It doesn't. All it does is make those who decided long ago to take sides feel better about their purchase.

Reverent1668d ago

"If it did get ported to 360, the part where Otacon tells snake to swap disk 1 to disk 2 wouldn't be so funny anymore! :)"

Krypto, it would still be plenty funny, because on the 360, you would ACTUALLY have to swap the disks at that point. Lol...

sazzrah1668d ago

Since PS3 is already getting ME1 I guess that's a pointless trade.

Instead I propose this! X360 should get Journey - because that's a game everyone should experience, not just PS3 owners. In exchange PS3 owners could get... Alan Wake? I'd still quite like to play that.

BattleAxe1668d ago

"dedicatedtogamers + 12h ago
I propose an even trade:"

I don't propose a trade, I propose a toast! Here's to Konami taking the high ground, and showing their loyalty to Sony, the PS3 and the dedicated fans who bought the game the first year it came out, and made it one of the best selling PS3 games to date!

Aghashie1668d ago

@ Mike Myers

Bro, I love ur movies. Some of them are really funny (i mean, Austin Powers). But about your comment... the reasons because the game is still an exclusive are simple. Partnership and dvd9. Does that tells you something? No? Then stick to what you do at best, movies. Stop complaining and get a ps3, then you can play the freaking game.

MGS4 in exchange for the entire Halo franchise. That is a fair trade. Otherwise is a wasted trade. Deal with it.

Kevin ButIer1668d ago

Fanboy aside. It's more than clear that Sony owns MGS4

On the fanboy side... I haven't seen any PS3 owner asking for Halo or whatever

MikeMyers1667d ago (Edited 1667d ago )

I have a PS3. It's a slim model that came with Infamous 2. Great game by the way and I have to play it again with the Playstation Move. I also used to own MGS4. That too was a good game but I traded it. Nobody can answer one question though, why would it matter to anyone if MGS4 came to the Xbox 360 now? The more access the more people can play it.

@Kevin Butler

Why would anyone ask or expect Halo to come to the PS3? It's intellectual property is owned by Microsoft. Are you suggesting Metal Gear Solid is owned by Sony?

Perhaps I am just an oddity around here who actually enjoys the games and doesn't get caught up in all this childish behavior to do with console wars or picking sides with certain companies/publishers.

+ Show (30) more repliesLast reply 1667d ago
Consoldtobots1668d ago

I find it hilarious that it drives MS and their fanboys up the wall that this is one game their wallet can't reach. We all know a sizeable minority of these fanboys only want the game to come to 360 so they can troll PS3 owners till the cows come home.

MariaHelFutura1668d ago (Edited 1668d ago )

It doesn't change a thing. Next month, 3 months from now, a year from now we will see something saying MGS4 is coming to the 360. Just like we will see somthing about a FF7 remake, an Apple console and something about how Shenmue is being made for exclusively for one system or another. MGS4 coming to the 360 is just the biggest one out of all the things I just mentioned. It causes instant tension round here. Always has, alway will.

Jazz41081668d ago (Edited 1668d ago )

Its such an old game and I played it when it came out. It was dissapointing with to many cutscenes and loads and installs every time you play it. The only reason I would want to see it on the 360 and the reason Konami has not ported it is it would by far be the much better version and Konami does not want to deal with all the whining and hatefull ps fans. Im sure they would get death threats while masseffect one going to ps3 is a oh well moment as 360 fans dont seem to care about the ps3 like ps3 fans care about every kittle move. I guess when you go from first to last it hurt some pride and I guess they blame ms.

MRMagoo1231668d ago

Ps3 isnt last anymore 360 is.

P_Bomb1668d ago

If ME1 going multiplat was an 'oh well' moment, it's cuz we didn't have articles like this every other month for years on end, having to shoot down rumors of its re-allegiance.

It was simply never as in demand as MGS4. That and the "whining/hateful ps fans" as you call them, didn't make a big deal out of not having it. The ME2 prequel digital comic (which 360 has too on XBLA) had all the most important decisions, save for an extra 10 war assets for Kirahhe or Shiala in ME3 which could be rectified by a couple rounds of multiplayer.

As far as MGS4 goes, they patched out all the chapter load/install breaks in September with the option for one full install. I did one full 9GB install when I replayed it for trophies and had an amazing no-kills run. So smooth without those between chapter 'Smoking Snake' segments. Loads quicker too. Game aged *extremely* well, I forgot how good it was.

xtremeimport1668d ago

lol. xbots still trying to convince everyone its "eventually" coming to the 360 eh?

doogiebear1668d ago

Will MGO be returning? If not, then I don't give a damn.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1667d ago
NYC_Gamer1669d ago

MGS4 wasn't built with the 360 hardware in mind

bubblebeam1669d ago

Yes, people keep forgetting.

That game used a dual-layer Blu-ray disc. It had so many cut-scenes, it would fill up AT LEAST 4 Dvd's.

PS3's are cheap now, so if people want to play it, then get a PS3. Sure, it would be good if they did make it multi-platform, as it is a great game that should be played by as many people as possible, but it isn't going to happen, especially not this gen.

kingPoS1668d ago

I not sure all were cut-scenes, I think maybe two or three were. I believe the rest was in real time.

Codeman4201668d ago

Ppl also forget inorder for it to be put into the 360 they would have had to go change a ton of stuff in the game. They took so many jabs at the 360.

xtreampro1668d ago

Change what exactly? the graphics wouldn't need changing at all since many multi-platform games today look better than MGS4 and run just fine on the 360.

The only drawback is the 360 version would have to use multiple discs due the games massive audio files, and to be honest that really ins't a drawback.

Codeman4201667d ago (Edited 1667d ago )

obviously you havent played the game. There is multiple Dialog sessions in the game promoting Blu ray over DVD. They would have to go redo the dialog and redo the animation for that dialog costing more money than just keeping it PS3 Exclusive. Also the fact that snake uses a PS3 controller to control his Metal Gear counter part. Also the fact that it goes back to the PS1 game which was never designed for the Xbox system.

Walker1669d ago ShowReplies(2)
brian1985FM1669d ago

I knew it. MGS4 on 360 is a pipedream.

torchic1668d ago

lol there's something very crushing about the word "pipedream" ahahaha

hard luck Microsoft, maybe next forever.

brian1985FM1668d ago

I wonder if it's another word for the male reproductive organ.... hmmmm.


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Computer Break! Fast

Several Computers are going to be de-constructed in their single parts and fragmented into their constituent parts. Connections and operations modes are revealed, the parts are decoded in their basic function, appropriated and reformulated in their aesthetic meaning. Without having a classical workshop structure, this Event is their to demystify technics in a playful way, test out functions and to establish a process of anti hierarchic knowledge transfer.

pictures from the previous workshop
belgrade, 12. 06. 2011.

Written by napravime on December 1st, 2011

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The New Albany Arts Council Broadway Beginners workshop is a 6-week  program for children ages 6-8. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce young actors to the basics of performing in a musical.  Through ice breakers, warm-ups, games and other exercises, participants will learn the basics of musical theater vocal techniques, minimal choreography, and how to work together as an ensemble.  The workshop culminates in a short performance for friends and family during the last 30 minutes of the final workshop, followed by a reception with light refreshments.  Workshop participants will receive a T-shirt (that they will wear during the performance), a script and learning CD. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our next session begins on Saturday, January 21st!   Registration begins January 2nd.

In the heart of Paris, a kind and eccentric million airess wills her entire estate to Duchess, her high-society cat, and her three little kittens. Laughs and adventure ensue as the greedy, bumbling butler pulls off the ultimate catn ap caper. Now it's up to the rough-andtumble alley cat, Thomas O'Malley, and his band of swingin' jazz cats to save the day.

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Euthanasia: Saying Goodbye

pet senior sick euthanasia

The Euthanasia Process

Before the process begins, you will need to decide if you want to stay with your pet. Some people find comfort in being with their pets in their final minutes and many vets allow and encourage pet owners to be with their pets through the euthanasia process. While it may be difficult for you, accompanying your beloved pet to the very end can provide you both with comfort and closure.

Your pet's comfort is the primary concern during the euthanasia process. He or she may be given a sedative that will cause drowsiness. After the sedative takes effect, the veterinarian injects sodium pentobarbital in a front or hind leg. The drug causes your pet to become unconscious, then stops the heart. Death usually occurs just a few minutes after your pet receives the injection.

Although your pet has died, you may notice some movement or muscle twitching in its body for a few minutes after death. At the time of death, it's also common for the bladder and bowels to release. You will be able to spend some time alone with your pet after the procedure. If you plan to bury your pet, you will take his or her body with you or arrange for pet cemetery employees to pick it up. If you prefer cremation, your veterinarian's office will call you when the ashes are ready for pick up.

It's not easy to say goodbye to cherished pets, even those that have lived long, happy lives. Although you may hate the thought of life without your pet, euthanasia can be the kindest decision you can make when your friend is suffering.

Making the Decision

If your pet has been seriously injured in a horrible accident and is not expected to recover, euthanasia is clearly the most humane option. The choice is not always so clear in other situations. Ups and downs are common when pets suffer from chronic diseases, which can make the decision more difficult.

Evaluating Quality of Life

Does your pet still enjoy life, despite the illness or condition? If your pet is in constant pain or discomfort, despite medical treatment, and does not seem to get any enjoyment out of life, it may be time to consider euthanasia. Signs that your pet may have a poor quality of life include:

  • Pain That Cannot Be Controlled with Medication. In many cases, pets can continue to enjoy life if their pain is relieved by medications. When medication no longer helps, it may be the right time for euthanasia. If you have difficulty gauging the pain level, ask your pet's veterinarian for input.

  • Constant Gastrointestinal Issues. As your pet becomes sicker, vomiting and diarrhea can become daily occurrences. Not surprisingly, these issues can cause your furry friend to lose weight and become dehydrated and lethargic.

  • Difficulty Breathing. Is every breath a struggle for your pet? Trouble breathing can be very uncomfortable and even painful.

  • No Interest in Favorite Activities. Seriously ill pets often lose interest in their favorite activities, such as playing fetch, taking walks through the neighborhood or snuggling up next to you on the couch.

  • Prognosis. Have you talked to your pet's veterinarian about his or her prognosis? In some cases, even aggressive treatment will not save your companion, but will prolong suffering. When your pet's prognosis is poor, euthanasia can prevent unnecessary suffering.

  • Incontinence: At some point, a seriously ill pet may no longer to control its bladder or bowels.

  • Inability to Walk: As your pet becomes weaker, walking can become an issue. Mobility can also be an issue if a stroke or other condition affects your pet's hind legs. Slings can help older dogs get up and navigate short distances and specialty designed wheelchairs can help pets with limb immobility and may be a good choice if your pet is in otherwise good health – be sure to ask your vet about options.

Who Should Be Involved in the Decision?

Including all family members or other members of your household in the decision can prevent hurt feelings during an already emotional time. Explain that your pet will not recover from the illness or condition and is suffering, despite the excellent care you have provided. Even younger children can be involved in the discussion if you use age appropriate language. Although immediate euthanasia may be needed to prevent suffering in severe circumstances, the procedure can be delayed long enough to allow enough time for everyone who cares about your pet to say goodbye in most situations.

What Happens Next?

After you make the decision, you will need to contact your pet's veterinarian to make arrangements and ask any questions you may have regarding euthanasia including at-home options. You will also want to consider burial and cremation options.

Are you facing a difficult decision regarding your pet's health? Call us and we can help you consider all of the options.

American Humane: Euthanasia: Making the Decision

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement: Euthanasia of a Beloved Pet

ASPCA: End of Life Care

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Joseph Benjamin Moves To The US: Nigerian Actor Relocates To Atlanta Georgia

joseph benjamin reloates to atlanta

March 10, 2017 – Joseph Benjamin Relocates To The US: Nollywood Actor Moves To Atlanta Georgia

Popular Nollywood actor and TV host Joseph Benjamin has finally relocated to the United States of America.

The actor has joined the league of Nollywood stars like Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus who have dumped Nigeria in pursuit of residency in the United States.

The actor who left the shores of Nigerian in December 2016 is not giving up on his acting career instead, he has registered with top film production company, Nevada Bridge Productions to feature in their upcoming movie projects.

He has worked with top Nollywood stars like Stella Damasus, Jim Iyke and Lancelot Imasuen since his arrival in the United States.

Chai! the Oga don chop belleful. Plenty enjoyment dey abroad o.


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Why Shop with Us?

We carry authentic OPI, Essie, China Glaze, Zoya, Nubar, NCLA and many more brands with top quality at an affordable price. We too have affordable nail treatments and tools all at low price to benefit our customers with the concept of "Spending Less Getting More".
Have something in mind that's not in our online store? Contact us and let us try our very best to source for you!

New Arrival Items

Hi Everyone!!

We would like to round off the year 2013 with some brand new items uploaded in our website. Check out these cool new storage items and tools below:

For containers, we have a set of 12 round containers ideal for storing any loose flocking powder or glitters.

12pcs Round Empty Container Set

We've got 2 types of storage containers to store your rhinestones, studs, trinkets, nail tips or anything for that matter! Surely a big help in keeping your small items organized and tidy.

Accessories Storage Box - 11 Compartments

Nail Tips Numbered Storage Box

We have 2 sizes of storage wheels for your rhinestones, studs and glitters! Now you can easily keep those tiny nail art embellishments without any fear of losing them.

Accessories Storage Wheel - Small

Accessories Storage Wheel - Medium

Keen to practice your manicure skills but can't find any willing fingers?
Look no further for we have brand new practice fingers for you to try your skills on. These 'fingers' come without tips so you can stick on nail tips and get going.

Practice Fingers Without Tip

Here's something new!! These are nail polish protector clips which serves to protect your newly polished nails from scratches or smudges while drying. They come in a pack to 10 so you will have 1 for each finger.

Nail Polish Protector Clips

For those of you who love to dabble with acrylics, we have this nifty 5-in-1 acrylic brush set. Each with their attractively colorful body. Colors may vary from the photo though but they are all equally as gorgeous to look at and to use.

Acrylic Brush 5-in-1 Set

Happy Shopping....and A Very Happy New Year to you!!
Blessings from us at D.G.B


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Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Solo exhibition

On Saturday 15th December 2012 i organised my first solo exhibition "cirque de masques" which took place at Czar Men's Hairdressing in Huddersfield. The exhibition will be up for 6 weeks so please pop by and take a gander. :)  I based my exhibition around the circus and the characters which are found there. These pieces above were displayed. On the night, the drinks flowed and we had two amazing performances. First up were James Yates Hothersall and Tommy Sutton as "Schlakofv vs T-plus", providing us with some offensive comedic lyrics and a song so deep that it makes u think. Second up was Jonny Stone at JDStone Creations, a keyboardist with amazing talent, creating strong depths to all his songs. On the night i got to meet new people and exchange ideas, sold a few illustrations and all in all had an awesome night. Organising my own work seemed so much more stressful than organising the actual event, but with some experience out of the way i would definately do this again. So watch this space as i hope to organise some more events for the future :) x

Copyright of Natasha Aldred 2012
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Monday, February 1, 2010

Game Scorebook

As a Christmas Gift for family members, I made a game scorebook. This way, they can keep track of their scores when they play games like scrabble, dominoes, etc.

Plus, they love Scrabble, so I made the book out of a Scrabble game board. I found this idea on Infarrantly Creative a while back.

I did mine a little differently after I had issues getting the stitching right at the binding. My game board had the seam in a different direction than the example, so my book had to have the front going a different direction. Once I cut the board in half down the center seam, I also cut off the side that had the letter points and extra space that wasn't the playing area.

Then, I put my pad of paper inbetween the book covers (like a sandwich) and used gorilla tape to tape the binding. This way the book stayed flat when closed and didn't pop open on it's own. I lined all four edges of both with the tape as well since I had a raw edge from cutting off the extra board.

Then I hot glued the scrabble letters to the board to say "Otto Scorebook." The note pad is glued to the inside of the back cover.

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P.O. Box 136, Narberth, PA

Harold D. Speakman Post 356

Flag Disposal Box

Flags Only

The American Legion and the Narberth War Memorial Committee maintain a Flag Disposal Box at the Narberth War Memorial Site at the corner of N. Wynnewood Ave. & Windsor Ave. in Narberth.

You are welcome to dispose of your old and worn flags by depositing them in the box.

We collect approximately 1600 flags per year in our Flag Box which are retired honorably.  We thank you for keeping these flags out of a landfill.

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Wednesday, December 1, 2004

Where we stand

Where we stand
By Narendra Luther

Robert Orme was a civil servant of the East India Company in India in the 18th century. He wrote a history of India called ‘Historical Fragments’ which was first published in 1782. In that he observed that two English sawyers did the work of 32 Indians. For his calculation he made allowances ‘for the difference of dexterity and the advantage of European instruments’. He went on to say that had the Indians been given the instruments used by the Europeans they would have scarcely been able to wield them.’ In modern terminology he was saying that the productivity of an Indian was less than seven percent of a European.

This may sound preposterous today when we notice the great demand for Indians abroad particularly in the field of IT. Only the other day a friend of mine, who is a well - known consultant told me that he attended campus recruitment in the Cornell University in the United States. He found that the American companies gave first preference to Indian students, second to the Chinese, and the last to Americans. But we have to compare the productivity of Indian in India with that of the European or American in his own country. According to my observation, the Indian productivity is very low. It is due largely to the lack of availability of tools which impart greater efficiency to the hand than that wields them. Most of our workers are still in the ‘craft’ stage. In other words, they depend upon their individual skills and the use of hand without supplementing them adequately with tools. Our labour is cheap because it is poorer in quality.

The Craft System

Some time ago when we were having our house painted, the workers covered their hands and faces with rags. In Europe and America their counterparts would use overalls for the body and gloves for their hands. The latter are imported from India and under prevalent regulations, they have to be discarded within a fortnight. Again, to paint the outside walls the contractor made a sort of platform and hung it with ropes from the top. The workers stood, sat or lay on that depending on the demands of the task and painted the walls. Four or five workers standing on the roof manipulated the platform. I looked at that spectacle and prayed for the safety of the workers. I also wondered how that sort of work would have been done in Europe or America. There, they would have had power- operated ladders or crane and workers would have been fully clad with paint-proof clothing and gloves for their hands. The painting would have been done mechanically and the whole job would have taken half a day for two men, compared to half a dozen men working for five days here.

Currently, I am getting more insights from watching the construction of a neighbour’s house. The steel rods for making pillars are cut by a chisel and hammer. Then two workers jump with their bums on the rods to bend them. Some of them are children not yet in their teens. It can be dangerous and can hurt them – and passers –by.

For the construction, the existing parapet wall about three feet height has to be demolished. Two young boys do that with hammers hardly bigger than what I have for driving nails in the walls. From the last ten days they are breaking the mortar. I have seen that sort of thing being done mechanically with giant hammers in two or three hours. We discussed this and it was argued that it was cheaper for the contractor to do the way he was doing it than to use some machinery of equipment to demolish it quickly. My calculation showed that it could be cheaper for him to do it mechanically.

Productivity & Capital-intensity

He can improve his productivity by improving the quality of the tools given to his workers. With improved productivity he can utilize his employees better. He can thus earn more and do the jobs faster. Productivity entails capital-intensity to begin with. But in the long run it pays its way. A recent study by McKenzie showed that the productivity of a Chinese worker is three to five times that of an Indian. It is worthwhile studying how they were able to achieve that standard since today we are in competition with China.

In the first half of the last century, the American genius Buckminster Fuller said about the American house building industry that it was like ‘manufacturing’ your own car in your garage by assembling different parts bought from different shops. He suggested the concept of pre- fabricated housing. According to that, main parts of the house including walls and windows and floors etc., are prefabricated according to a standard design. They are then brought to the site and the house gets ready in no time. He also suggested the concept of what he called a ‘dymaxion’ car and a ‘dymaxion’ house. His concept of the geodesic dome is well known. It can cut off the sun and rain and provide a hall without pillars. The concept has been used on a limited scale to house exhibitions. He said that he could cover the whole Sahara under a geodesic dome and make it more habitable and productive.

BPO ‘Islands’

We have however to see how productivity can be increased in small items of work and in small pieces. Productivity is not only better time-management, but also use of better implements. If that is done the inglorious equation of Robert Orme quoted above can be annulled if not reversed. If our Indians have shown better productivity abroad it is largely due to their ability to use the same tools which their counterparts do. Even in India we have islands of BPO where young men and women are performing better because they are cheaper in real terms than their counterparts abroad. Such island need to be multiplied and replicated in other fields and integrated with the ‘mainland’ so that our overall productivity increases. In our BPOs the same people are working who earlier did not appreciate the virtues of punctuality, value of time and the importance of self-confidence. In the new islands they are trained to appreciate the elementary virtues. The new names given to them are symbolic in more than one way. They virtually change their identity and set in motion a new ‘’virtuous cycle’.

Such attitudes need to percolate down to our contractors, labourers and lowest level workers who live in their own time capsule and cling to their orthodoxies. For example, they observe long period of mourning and celebrations because that is their inherited and prevalent culture. They can improve only if they know that the cost of such luxuries is loss of job. Those who are better placed and can set an example can provide a ‘demonstration’ effect.

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Dow Jones & The Industrials

One of our favorite singles is getting reissue treatment next week from the dudes at Family Vineyard. Dow Jones and The Industrials hailed from West Lafayette, Indiana in the late 70s and early 80s and are probably the best thing to ever come from that city. They only ever had two releases to their name [the first being a split LP with The Gizmos on Gulcher Records, the second being this EP originally released on Hardly Music] This is definitely a must-have record, so don’t sleep on it. The boys at Family Vineyard definitely didn’t slack on the packaging either. It comes with all original artwork, a postcard, and more. There’s only 600, so jump on it. FV will be releasing an LP of the group’s complete recordings later this year [including the Dow side of that Gizmos split] so keep your eyes peeled. Check out the bad boys killing it below, and place your order here.

Dow Jones & The Industrials – Can’t Stand the Midwest [mp3]

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Incredible Shrinking Withdrawal Date From Afghanistan

By Tom Engelhardt, ZNet, Nov 25, 2010
Source: TomDispatch
Going, going, gone!  You can almost hear the announcer’s voice throbbing with excitement, only we’re not talking about home runs here, but about the disappearing date on which, for the United States and its military, the Afghan War will officially end.

Practically speaking, the answer to when it will be over is: just this side of never.  If you take the word of our Afghan War commander, the secretary of defense, and top officials of the Obama administration and NATO, we’re not leaving any time soon. As with any clever time traveler, every date that’s set always contains a verbal escape hatch into the future.

In my 1950s childhood, there was a cheesy (if thrilling) sci-fi flick, The Incredible Shrinking Man, about a fellow who passed through a radioactive cloud in the Pacific Ocean and soon noticed that his suits were too big for him.  Next thing you knew, he was living in a doll house, holding off his pet cat, and fighting an ordinary spider transformed into a monster.  Finally, he disappeared entirely leaving behind only a sonorous voice to tell us that he had entered a universe where “the unbelievably small and the unbelievably vast eventually meet, like the closing of a gigantic circle.”

In recent weeks, without a radioactive cloud in sight, the date for serious drawdowns of American troops in Afghanistan has followed a similar path toward the vanishing point and is now threatening to disappear “over the horizon” (a place where, we are regularly told, American troops will lurk once they have finally handed their duties over to the Afghan forces they are training).

Continues >>
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Secret Garden Tea Party

Hello Delight Friends and Family,
Just a warning, this is a long post with lots of pictures featuring the Tea Party I hosted for my mom's 75th birthday.  Hope this gives you some fun ideas or at least inspires you to have a tea party.  It was a lot of fun.

A "before" the tea party, picture.

This is the little girls table!
 I designed the simple placemats for the little girls to give them something to color. They are 11x17 white card stock.  I used Microsoft Publisher and found the teapot clipart on that site but I believe the lace-y edges are from digital images I had (sorry don't remember from where).  All of the napkins used were homemade.  The fabric came from JoAnn's  and were originally from the tea party we had at the church about 3 years ago.  Ironically, my mom had forgotten that she was the one who had stitched all the edges of the napkins for me!  The picture doesn't show the chairs but I took two pieces of  tulle and tied a bow on the back of each of their chairs.

 I had purchased Monster Inc themed crayons (JoAnn's) and recovered them with the Graphic 45 Secret Garden paper and then tied the group with tulle and added a matching punched butterfly.

  The garden bunny is from an old set of three bunnies from Home Interiors that I've had for ages.  The vase is a set also from Home Interiors (BH&G line) that are made for place setting cards.  I used the quote cards from the G45 paper that are from the book "The Secret Garden"

 I found this pretty picture online as I was browsing Pinterest and thought that it would be perfect for the party.  I used Microsoft Publisher to design the 11x17 flyer and added the wording in Scriptina font.  I've printed it on white card stock and the background color is a light lavender.  I also designed a food and tea menu using the matching colors and fonts.

 This was a large piece of card board that I used to make a backdrop of a garden wall, with flowers and secret door to go along with the theme.  Addy (age 3 1/2) helped me with the flowers.  She stamped a few and then I had her do some thumbprint flowers.  I used stamps (Dylusions How does your garden grow and Further Around the Edge), stencils (Plaid brand) and acrylic paints (Making Memories, Ranger Distress Paints, Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paints) and a couple of Prismacolor pencils.

  The tulle I purchased from JoAnn Fabrics (it was narrow, on a roll for under $3. I think there was approx. 20 yards per roll), I used three different colors throughout the room: green, pink, lilac.  I tied knots on the long piece that was used for the table centerpieces.  It was a simple way to add color and not take up too much space.

 I made favors for each guest from the Graphic 45 paper. It's a tea bag holder.  The band that holds it closed had a layered paper flower (Tattered Flower Die and the mini Tattered flower - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations & Movers and Shapers; Leaf Die: Taylored Expressions.  The center part of the flower was a scallop circle that I cut out in a spiral and then rolled to make the flower. I added a key to each one to keep with the theme and matched the paper perfectly!

Inside shows the tea bag.  Each was a little different, there were no two alike.  I wish I had taken a picture of my favorites!

Onto the food... pictures only no recipes.  You can find many of the recipes on my Pinterest board Tea Party Food and Decor.
Yes, I was one cookin' fool for two days.  Yummy stuffed strawberries, cucumber sandwiches, croissants,  mini cream cheese bites, kiwi and cataloupe and lots of desserts.

Mini cupcakes - decorated with homemade fondant, Cream wafer cookies (love this recipe - not on Pinterest so I thought I should mention that).

The top two layers are Petit Fours from Costco that my sister order for the party.  They were DELISH!!!!  A little pricey but definitely pretty and melt in your mouth good!  The bite sized cinnamon cheesecakes were a big hit!
I used a sunflower cookie cutter to make the shaped sandwiches (egg salad).  I took a long slender loaf of french bread cut it into bite sizes and these were so easy and very good, I used a harvest flavored cream cheese spread then added a thinly sliced English cucumber and a little piece of fresh dill.  Easy peasy and so yummy!  I also served a turkey, cheese with veggies croissant (a tea party favorite!)

The "big" little girls taking a little time to color. (left to right) Mia, Addy & Riley
Tucker Lynn the little fashionista!

After tea... Do you know how hard it is to get 4 little girls to stand still, especially after filling up with petit fours, cream wafers and cupcakes??  I gave up after this picture (which this was probably the 12th take) so I do not have a picture of them with their great grandma, affectionately called GeeGee, which was going to be the next photo :-(  I should have taken more "before" pictures!
Since this was a tea party, I'd be remiss to not share the teas I served!
Here's the list:  White Peony, Oolong, Lady Grey, Jerusalem Mint with Pomegranite, Vanilla Blackberry Sage, Green Tea, Lemon Ginger, Honeybush and Chai Tea Latte.

All in all it was a wonderful time with the "girls" and we were able that evening to share with family and friends a surprise dinner party for my mom.  And she was indeed surprised!!

Thanks for visiting and sticking with this very long post!
Hey, it's good to be back but I think it's going to be short-lived because I'm heading to Oregon in a couple of days with a friend to a Living Proof Event which features one of my favorites, Beth Moore!  When I get back from that we will be having company for a week.  Our good friend Darrell (more family than friend) is coming for a week and preaching at our church for three nights but staying for about a week. Boy, who can I get to clean my house?!! Maybe I can coax my youngest to give me a helping hand!! Makes it difficult to be "crafty" knowing I need to prepare for a guest, so I hope by the second week in May perhaps then I'll be able to get back into my craft room!
Have a great week!!

Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise.  Ephesians 6:2

  1. Natalie, this is phenomenal! I just love all the wonderful attention to detail! Just beautiful!

  2. So sweet! Amazing job --I have no doubt Grandma felt very special!!

  3. Looks like it was a fabulous tea party Natalie. The decor is so pretty! Love the tulle... your tee bag favors look awesome!

  4. Fantastic tea party and I am sure your Mom loved it. The pictures are great, made me hungry just looking at the beautiful foods you prepared. You have a busy schedule. The class I am taking at our church is The Excellant Wife. Have you read the book? It is very good.

  5. Hi Natalie! What an AWESOME post! Looks like your party was so beautiful, and so lovingly planned. I loved seeing all the photos of the details. Your card is totally amazing! Thanks for sharing with us! Have a blessed day. XOXO

  6. What a beautiful party, one to remember for sure. Thanks for sharing all these lovely photos Natalie, looks like a lot of work went into it. I'm sure your mother felt very honored. ~ Abby

  7. My Goodness Natalie, you did a remarkable job and everything was beautiful. Can I hire you to come and decorate one for me? I love it girl.

  8. GOOOODNESS! This party sounds like fun!! I love the little extras you had for the little ones-- I know they had a great time!!! Super cute pics:) Happy birthday to your mother!! WOW! 75!! I hope she enjoyed her special day and tea party:) Psalm 118:24

  9. Looks delightful! With all the beautiful details!! Just like you. Sorry I am so late to the party!!

  10. Wow!! Looks like it was a Lovely Event!! Loving all the pretty pics and all the Wonderful details! 8-)

  11. I couldn't decide which picture to pin first. They are all lovely. Thanks for sharing.