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When late spring temperatures drop below freezing, it's time for your plants to take cover.
Few things strike terror in the heart of a gardener more than a forecast for a late spring freeze. And let's face it, with this year's rollercoaster ride of temperatures it is hard to know what's around the corner. But I think you'd agree that if this year's wacky weather patterns continue, chances are good that a late spring frost could be in your garden's future. To avoid being caught off guard, here are some tips to help you prepare.
Get Ready 'Cause Here it Comes
The best time to get ready for an overnight freeze is weeks before it happens (like now). Why? If you're like me, you have been guilty of doing the old last minute frost scramble. Trouble is that if you wait until the day before the frost to prepare it is often difficult to find all the coverings you need. By gathering up the materials ahead of time and storing them all together, when the time comes to cover your plants all you'll need to do is grab and go.
What's in and What's Out
The first step in preparing for a spring frost is to figure out which plants you'll need to cover. While every year is different, if you've gardened in the same spot for a few years, you may be familiar with your garden's sequence of spring-blooming plants. Garden journals from previous years and photos with date stamps can be helpful reminders. But even if this is your first garden, there are plants that often need spring frost protection such as young vegetable and flower seedlings, flowering fruit trees and shrubs, spring-blooming bulbs and containers of mixed season plants.
Crocuses are cold-hardy plants that don't require frost protection. They are among the first flowers to bloom in spring so they often experience freezing temperatures.
However, not all flower and garden plants have to be covered. There are several kinds of cold-tolerant plants that can survive brief bouts of mid-20 F temperatures. A few examples are crocuses, tulips, narcissus, grape hyacinths, pansies, nemesia, diascia, snapdragons and osteospermum as well as collards, cabbage, spinach, kale, peas, radish and leeks. If you are in doubt about a plant's ability to withstand temperatures below 32 F, call your county extension service or check reference books or online sources.
Once you've identified the plants that need to be covered, the next step is to determine the size each covering should be so that it can adequately protect your plant. Sometimes the height and width of a tree, shrub or a planting bed is hard to judge in an outdoor setting, so a tape measure is helpful to get the correct measurements.
Size Matters
Why measure your plants? To be effective, a cover needs to be large enough to drape over the plant on all sides to trap warm air rising from the ground and to prevent the outside cold air from getting to the plant. Anything that creates a dead air space between the ground and the plant will do the trick. For trees, shrubs or large plants you may need to sew or pin together several old bed sheets, while for small seedlings a plastic container will work. Almost any type of covering from cloth to cardboard boxes to plastic milk jugs will do.
Avoid any covering that is too heavy or too small so that it crushes or breaks your plant's stems. Some gardeners have saved plants from freezing only to lose them from being crushed under heavy covers.
A bonnet of wire fencing held aloft with a wooden stake creates a framework for plastic sheeting over a raised vegetable garden bed. The sheeting will cover all sides of the bed to create a protective shield for the plants from freezing temperatures.
Just remember that if you use sheets of plastic, they need to be elevated above and around the plants. Why? If frost forms on the outside of the plastic it transfers that cold to any place it touches the plant. There are several ways to create a framework around your plants to hold the sheeting. Some gardeners use pieces of lawn furniture such as chairs, tables or a chaise lounge. Others create a bonnet effect over the plants with hoops of wire fencing. Plastic plumbing pipe, wooden stakes, tomato cages, overturned carts and wheelbarrows can also work. Plastic is often preferred for protecting plants during a windy night, so if those are the conditions you face, double up and cover the framework with plastic along with a blanket to increase the amount of insulation.
Now, with your list of plants and the sizes of covers that you will need, you can gather the right types of materials. You might already have many of these items on hand or you can get them from friends and neighbors or pick up at yard sales. By preparing early you'll have time to modify the coverings or sew them together to make large wraps. You'll also have time to save the right size and number of plastic containers you'll need. If you use milk or soda bottles as coverings, cut off the bottoms of the containers but save the screw-on tops to make them air tight over the plants.
Here are a few frost covering options:
Soft and Lightweight Fabrics
Old sheets, tablecloths, lightweight blankets, bedspreads, curtains, pillowcases, towels, commercial row covers and plant fabric covers
Vinyl or Plastic Material
Tarps, clear plastic sheets, commercial plant covers, garbage bags, buckets, liquid containers (milk, soda and water), food containers (cottage cheese, deli and yogurt), flower and nursery containers (be sure to cover the holes on the bottoms of the overturned plastic pots)
Cardboard boxes (can be collapsed and stored), newspapers, garbage cans, large glass jars, terra-cotta pots
Make it Easy on Yourself
Storing all your plant protection supplies together will save you time when a spring frost is looming. A rolling garbage can makes it easy to transport your materials around the yard and garden.
A great way to store your frost protection materials is to stash them in one or more rolling garbage cans. Keep the cans tucked away in the back corner of your garage or basement. That way you won't be tempted to use your designated frost coverings for other projects. Remember, we want to avoid the frantic frost scramble! When the time comes that you need them, just roll the cans around the yard to transport the covers to the plants. The rolling containers also make it easier to pick up the coverings the next day.
A Few More Tips
With your materials stored away, you can relax knowing that if a frost is predicted, you'll be ready. As you watch your local weather forecast, remember that a TV station's predicted low temperatures are often based on where they are located, not in your garden, so adjust accordingly. There are online weather sites that let you put in your address and find a weather reporting station closer to home. However, anytime a forecast for your region is going to be near 32 F, it is time to spring into action.
Shelter your plants before the sun sets so you can capture as much warmth from the soil as possible. And remember that cold air is more dense than warm air, so it sinks to the lowest point. Low-lying areas of the garden can be several degrees colder than other areas. Consequently, frost may occur in these areas when there is no frost evident anywhere else in the garden.
Water Then Cover
As odd as it may sound, an important line of defense in protecting your plants from frost is to water the soil around them. Studies have shown that moist soil holds much more heat than dry soil so you can enhance the soil's ability to capture warmth during the day and deliver it to your plant during a cold snap by making sure it has consistent moisture. However, watering alone will not provide all the needed protection from a freeze, but watering combined with covering your plants can make the difference between a plant's survival or its demise.
Turn up the Heat
Adding other sources of heat under your frost coverings may also help protect special plants. Fill plastic jugs with water and then leave them in the sun to absorb the warmth. When they are placed next to the plant under the wraps, the water will release its heat through the night.
Watch Out for Wind
Few things are more frustrating than to go to all the work of covering your plants only to have the wind or even a light breeze blow them off during the night. To keep that from happening, secure your coverings to the ground. Gardeners often use stakes, U-shaped wire pins, boards, bricks, rocks or soil.
Wait for the Light
The next morning, don't remove the frost covers if it is still dark; preferably, don't remove them until late in the morning. Some of the coldest temperatures are just after sunrise. The timing of removing the covers might not coincide with your work schedule, but be aware that taking the coverings off too soon may make the plants vulnerable to frost, or leaving them on too long could cause the plants to overheat. And if the weather calls for more than one night of frost, don't leave the plants covered during the day unless daytime temperatures remain below freezing.
Photos courtesy of Betsy Lyman.


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Cornell programs set international standards for research and collaboration – now with websites to match!
The Cornell Nanobiotechnology Center
The emerging field of nanobiotechnology – the intersection of nanotechnology and biology – plays a powerful role in advances in medicine and scientific study. The Cornell Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) manages shared research facilities that serve researchers from many disciplines, both at Cornell and around the world. The NBTC supports interdisciplinary projects by providing specialized equipment, a wealth of knowledge, and hands-on training in scientific techniques. The NBTC leadership reached out to AWP to create an updated identity and website that would convey their status as a premier research facility while serving as an information hub for their core users – scientists from many disparate fields.
AWP updated the NBTC logo and gave the new site (see image above) a polished look and efficient structure that allows researchers to quickly learn about every aspect of the NBTC, from their impressive selection of custom equipment to their 24-hour lab availability, from the comfort of their own offices, wherever those offices may be!
Cornell Engaged Learning and Research
As a land-grant university, Cornell has a strong mandate for community involvement. Cornell Engaged Learning and Research (ELR) is a university-wide program that embodies Cornell's commitment to engagement in all aspects of education.
Vivid colors and blocky shapes convey the bold spirit of the Engaged Learning and Research program. The site employs banded layers of information to quickly and cleanly direct viewers to key aspects of the ELR message with a simple scrolldown. Coupled with a top navigation that floats down the page as you scroll, visitors can explore the ELR site in a jiffy! Visit it now to see for yourself.

subset: commoncrawl


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Emma Minna Hilde Hildebrand was born in Hannover on September 10th 1897.
The daughter of Julius and Louise Hildebrand, she first attended ballet school at the age of 8 and joined the ballet ensemble of the Residenz Theater in 1913. Her theatre debut came in 1914 under the name of Emmy Hildebrand.
By the end of the First World War, she was already well known as a star of the Revue stage and soon moved to Berlin, where, as Hilde Hildebrand, she became a huge hit, appearing in many Rudolph Nelson revues such as 'Es hat geklingelt" and "Etwas für Sie". Her style was said to be suggestive but never crude, erotic but never vulgar.
She soon moved into silent films appearing in over a dozen before the advent of the talking picture, where she really came in to her own, often being cast in roles that featured her impressive vocal talent in front of large orchestras.
She appeared in 108 films covering a 51 year period from 1920 to 1971 including, in 1933, the lead role in the original, German version of "Viktor, Viktoria", a role reprised in later years by Julie Andrews.
In 1933, she became a member of the Nazi Party, although it is thought that this was more to do with her desire to continue working in Germany rather than any deeply held political convictions.
By 1941, she had fallen out of favour with party, and in particular Joseph Goebbels, and found her film roles greatly reduced, and work offers few and far between.
By the end of the war in 1945, she was part of a concert party entertaining troops in what is now the Czech Republic when she was captured and imprisoned by the Russians and, reportedly, very badly treated.
She eventually returned to Berlin in 1947, where she was able to continue her stage and film career. Her last appearance was in the cult T.V series 'Der Kommissar" in 1971.
She withdrew from public life and spent her last few years alone in her apartment in Berlin's Grunewald where she died in 1976, aged 79.
She is buried in Waldfriedhof Heerstraße, near the Olympic Stadium.


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Dusk descended. The purple mist of nightfall enshrouding every definable shape on the horizon. It was cold, the evening freeze ensconcing each clay particle in a frosted mist.
The untimely flash of Kagi's match couldn't dispel this mystical trance. His deft movements reduced now to a silent lumbering. Pain thrived on such existence. Physical pain, mental pain. Pain was inescapable; death was inescapable.
Mikeal trembled. His hand shook. His fingers knocked; his cigarette dropped, and the tobacco dripped from the stem. His face failed to conjure an expression.
Egor watched. His eye muscles weary transfixed on a spot beyond the horizon. He strained, then squinted. The image of the blackened valley floor, the cascading hillocks, the peach tinted horizon. He stared out again. Out there was night, dark, black, encloaking. Egor's vision had dimmed immune now to such blackness. He routinely sniffled and wiped his eyes clear of impending dreariness.
Time and silence were the enemies. The hours of waiting challenged ones sanity the absence of conversation aided that challenged, yet through each individual perspective, the were unified. They were one man and yet ever man. They were Russia and Russia was bleeding.
Distant rumblings became audible. Egor swallowed, strange how one can never become immune to such abnormality. He looked at Kagi; his eyes were sad, but unflinching. Mikeal maintained his resolute expression, yet his defiance appeared superficious. He too was afraid. He spat and gulped continuously.
The bombardment ensued. The air was clammy, rife with the smell of sulphur. Closer and closer, nearer and nearer. The impact rattled the rickety tripod. The hardened expression of Mikeal had traded its durability for fear. Inescapable fear, condescending fear. To evil fear must be the essence of war.
"Barrage, Barrage" Kagi's screams were frenzied. The bright purple flash. Plumes of faintly fire, intermingled with tassels of enshrouding steam. Ivanov was hit. His blood guttered. Egor wiped the bloody sweat clear from his eyes. He swiftly turned away.
Yet the untimely death of Ivanov had frenzied imprecations. He grabbed at his rifle and fired with rapid automation, continuously into the night, into adversary. His reaction was spontaneous and now uncontrollable.
Kagi's knuckles cracked continually. They hopped relentlessly on the metal trigger. He ignored the recoil. His eyes transfixed; his expression motionless. Slavo's appearance was, Ironic in its tranquillity. His comrade Petrov lay headless propped against a sheet of tapering sandstone.
They had come within range of enemy snipers. Bullets cascaded and rebounded. Egor turned instantaneously. Slavo was grounded, arteries punctured; his blood spumed forth, dressing the whitened sandstone in mottled scarlet.
Egor now sensed fear. It was tangible, palpable, bloody. He smelt the smell of blood. Inflated his nostrils, so the hairs stiffened and accumulated. Then coughed out rapidly in muted disgust and chronic horror.
Though defiant in defence, the pitiful troop sensed the futility of the stand. Their position was inescapable. They were isolated on the slope of a hill. They couldn't climb upwards; they would be mere targets for German snipers. The enemy continued its frontal advance. Egor gaped daringly over the barricade. There was a forest just below their platform, to the right a little, but primarily just below. Where would it lead?
Egor gestured to the others to follow. Mikeal had since been shot and limped badly. Amid the smokey feathers he, clutched to the crumpled ledge, to ease himself to the granite flats below. The vulnerable troop staggered downslope. The forest commenced at the edge of the slope. It somehow, had maintained a stillness, a silence. The cascading needle roof, the gentility of the bluebells. They felt secure.
Mirrored beads of moisture clinged to every needle. Crystallised bayonets hung from every cone. There was no sound save the continual trudging of boots in falling snow. No shrill singing from the forest birds to fill the void of silence. The sun sent its inquisitive rays through the needle roof; the light scattered, then sparkled on the glistening floor.
The snow covering was riveted with enemy boot-tracks. Darkness fell. They found shelter in an old, neglected church. Its wooden roof warped under the pressure of persistent snowfalls. Yet the limestone walls stifled the spume of wind, protected them from sub-zero temperatures, and was thus inviting to the troop.
Mikeal lay stretched against the marble altar. Kagi probed his leg in an effort to ease his pain. Egor cleaned his rifle, then cleaned it again. Work and repetition often soothed inner-unrest. They found matches, though somewhat wet. They lit what candles they could salvage, to ease the pain of contemplation.
"Here's to the folks back home in Stalingrad," said Mikeal with a laugh. "Hope they save some cake for me at Christmas." His eyes twinkled, then sparkled. A solitary teardrop seeped from his left eye, then another. He quickly turned "just the dust" he said.
The night was filled with vacuums of silence. Periodically interrupted by spontaneous laughter. Meaningless, superficial laughter that lingered. Concluding in frequent outbursts of tears. Kagi, recognising Egor as the natural leader, leaned over, pushing a soiled piece of paper into his trembling hands. Egor curiously unfolded it. It was a map; its sordid creases rendered it difficult to read. Egor squinted. It was a map of mainland Turkey. Kagi clearly consumed with eagerness, pointed to a spot on the map.
"We must go there" he whispered as if in reverence of the map. "I have friends there." It was the town of Samsun in northern Turkey. Unquestioning Egor agreed.
Egor woke early next morning. He hadn't slept. He stretched, then gaped outside. The forest landscape was encloaked in fresh snow. It glistened. German positions remained unclear; it would be best to leave early. They trudged forth with renewed vigour. Blisters had surfaced on the face and hands of Egor. Mikeal's leg had developed ulcers. Kagi's sallow complexion and suppleness of skin had hardened.
Kagi stopped. Something had arrested his attention.
"Train" shouted Kagi "Train, quick follow" Kagi ran stumbling to the nearby clearing. With apt bemusement Egor and Mikeal pursued. A single set of rusted truck lines, reinforced with saturated wooden lattes, lay adjacent to the clearing.
"Quick follow" he said. Kagi was already secured in a covet of bushes, they followed, the persistent churning drew closer the line vibrated, then shuddered.
It was a locomotive. Weathered and rusted. Its black paint reduced to mere arid chips on a mass of decomposition. Helmets came into view. Bronze green, the SS. They were manning the trucks. Long, poorly built structures, composing of horizontal planks reinforced by vertical steel. What protruded from them was inconceivable, hundreds, no thousands of outstretched limps. Their faces barley visible. Gaunt, sickly starved. Were these possibly human beings? Their skin hung loose from their bones, their eyeballs sunken, their lips had swollen, their hands wrinkled and creased their complexion a pale yellow.
"Jews" explained Mikeal "probably taken from their homeland in Kharkov." The train stopped. The troops descended.
Egor eyed the undercarriage of the rear truck. He had heard of people travelling many hundreds of miles, and surviving, through clinging onto the wheel supports or reinforcing bars. Pain was inevitable, death a likely outcome, yet he had to try. Voicing his plans to the rest; he crawled cautiously to the rear truck. Kagi followed, aiding a limping Mikeal.
Awkwardly they positioned themselves under the truck. Each clasping a rusted support bar, with feet resting on the central girder. The train started up again. The relentless wind spumed forth with renewed vigour, plummeted throughout the truckline and circulated through each individual corpse. Mikeal sensed his weight slumping. Gripping the support bar, he regained position, yet his chronic discomfort persisted. The abrading undercarriage structure rattled with admiral consistency. Crystallised layers of ice accumulated on the strut bars. It was getting colder.
Yet they had to hold on. They had travelled for over fifty kilometres, and already Mikeals expression had sacrificed its determination for despair. His complexion had become definably pale, a mystical white-tinted blue. His eyes drifted. The beads of moisture on his fair hair had frozen. He shook continuously.
Egors fingernails had splintered. The numbing freeze solidified his pain. His face invaded with interchanging expression. Kagi's eyes were closing, momentarily flickered.
"Mikeal" Egor whispered. Mikeal merely sighed. His eyes were closed. His bullet wound had become septic; his body temperature decreasing. He was a motionless corpse, clinging onto a rail. A sculpted warrior, frozen in time.
Creaking, the abraded joint of Mikeals support bar began to split. The weld cracked. Mikeal in his frozen state; dropped from his position.
"Mikeal" screamed Kagi. His body fell in line with a truck wheel and was severed. His corpse mutilated; his blood on their faces. The body of Mikeal was gone.
Egor almost slipped with horror. He couldn't speak. He felt violently ill; his stomach erupted. The disgusting fluid seeped from his mouth. Trembling, Kagi quickly pivoted Egor's head with his elbow. The vomit poured, then dripped. Egor had been saved from certain drowning.
Through the city of Rostov. The train reclined to stop. The relationship between Kagi and Egor to this point had been muted. They reclined to talk. They primarily conversed through facial gestures. Yet a fire of unity and fraternity had been ignited between them. They were subconsciously drawn to one another. They wore the same uniform, the same encrested scarlet star on the right breast pocket. They had initiated this escape. They had watched their comrade die. They would escape together.
It was noon when the train arrived in Krasnodar on the Black Sea. Egor's pain was now epitomised in his discomfort. Though had discovered more maintainable positions to the right of the support girder, their joints had seized. Their necks critted. To hold on now, required more mental concentration than physical durability. Boots were seen descending the train. The SS troops were deserting and returning to join the main army, while further reinforcements were waiting in Krasnodar.
Both Egor and Kagi were now vulnerable to the opportunist SS sniper. Their inept physical pain and extremity of discomfort had rendered their muscles unflexed. Egor struggled to let his grip ease. He attempted to ease himself to the ground. He failed. His crumpled, exhausted body fell violently on the hardened soil. With a single deft tug he pulled Kagi from position. He bruised badly.
Clutching at his shoulder, Egor proceeded to drag his comrade to cover amid some old kegs that smelt resoundingly of strong spirits. They heard voices. Two SS officers proceeded towards the kegs. Their whitened boots compressing the gentility of the snow. They strode towards the kegs.
Egor gulped. He reclined to shudder. The officers stood chatting at the kegs. One lit a cigarette; the bright flash of his swastika adorned lighter glinted in the sun. He was lean, aloof, and Nordic; he spoke in hellish tones.
"Mein Gott, Ivans, Ivans." The Nazi's shouts were hysterical. They were discovered. The officer skipped with glorified madness. Egor felt compelled to stare, fear had momentarily drowned his ability to fight. Then in a sudden act of frenzied vengeance; Egor grabbed at a rock, and hurled it at the officer. It smashed into his face, shattering both teeth and cartilage. He crumpled and fell to the ground; his unarmed comrade scampered off for reinforcements.
Circumstance had presented an opportunity for Egor, and Kagi. Grabbing Kagi, Egor hauled him to his feet; they stumbled through the breach of settlement. The harbour was in view. Maybe they could get to Samsun by merchant ship. Maybe Kagi would know someone, maybe. Kagi screamed. Egor turned. Kagi was grounded. Blood spumed from his abdomen. He coughed violently, blood spluttered from his mouth. His sprawling epitomising his relentless pain. SS troops cantered towards Egor. He ran towards Kagi.
"Go" said Kagi chokingly "Go." Egor momentarily hesitated. Would he stay? Egor scampered clear from the scene. Kagi was dead.
Tears streamed from his eyes as he ran. He sniffled in the cold. The SS continued their pursuit. He had left his comrade to perish; he would be labelled a coward. He continued to run. He tripped, No, on what. He glanced upwards in suspended terror. Crates wooden crates. Meltwater dripped. He was encased in a depot of panelled crates. It was secluded, hidden from sight.
The troops, surprised at his sudden disappearance momentarily probed the depot before returning to the station house. They were off duty.
The saturated crates were being hoisted onto some vessel. The crates weren't large, merely 4ft by 3ft. With cracked fingernails, he clawed the scantly fastened lid, free from the crate in front of him; removed its contents: abraded fasteners and bolts, and climbed in.
Egor heard a roar. He had heard Kagi speak this way. It was Turkish, the boat was Turkish.
He maintained his silence. An hour passed; he compelled himself from thinking. He stared out into the night, seeking reassurance. It wasn't there, Egor wondered if it even existed. Soon he was sleeping.
Disorderly voices woke Egor. The morning light filtered through the cracks on the lid. The boat was still, apparently docked. Where was he?
Egor forced open the lid. The boat was docked and deserted. He slipped out along the gangway unnoticed.
It was Samsun the sign on the pier head clearly stated Samsun. The seemingly unattainable had been secured, yet Egor felt only sadness, and heard only the cry's of Kagi.
Reminisces of conflict surrounded Egor. Wailing widows, Orphans, and the maimed wandered. Egor looked across the street, a sallow-skinned Turk stood shouting from a street stall. His thoughts reverted to Kagi. He had betrayed his trust, left his comrade to die, coward. The hideous title remained on his conscious.
There was a church directly across from where Egor stood. He walked slowly to the entrance. Through the iron studded wooden door. Up through the main aisle. The church was empty, save for a lone Turkish woman, dressed solely in black. Candles flickered to the right of the altar. The Inscription read
"Light a candle for the dead." Egor took three: one for Mikeal, one for Kagi, the third he placed in his pocket. He lit both candles they flickered then, brightened. Soft, pale yellow light.
Egor reached into his pocket for the third candle; he placed it carefully below the others, lighting it from their light. It flared quickly.
Egor turned and walked silently away.
Copyright © 1999 J A MelodySend us your comments on this article


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Home » Testimonies
Our 3rd stay at La Baie. We keep coming back ! Lovely well maintained site, excellent facilities and stunning location. Everything our young family wants on a holiday. Wewill be back !
John, Steph, Francesca, Julius
Our second year here and it was once more a wonderful fortnight. I doubt British families will find a better French Holiday !PS our only complaint : can we have better WIFI ?It would make such a difference.Merci
Sarah StuartWood
First stay, only to nights but enjoyed; very clean and well looked after. Merci
Always a very pleasant stay in a lovely campsite. Been Courrier there since 1991.
We had a wonderful Stay, very good hospitality and great animation !We will come back one day !
Ellis-Jones Family
Children had a wonderful stay and so did we ! Lovely site, lovely staff.See you next year hopefully.11/08/2013
The Stokes Family
Another happy time at Lovely La Trinité - our 20th time.A L'année prochaine.13/8/2013
Wonderful staff, great time.Had a great holiday.16/8/2013
We have had a wonderful holiday again. Thank you !Hopefully see you next year !17/8/2013
Lee, Sue, Harry, Max and CharlieMcDougall
Yet again we had an amazing family holiday at camping de la Baie.See you next year.17/8/2013
Sam, Simon, Ollie and LilyCornelius
Wonderful holiday again. Sad we missed last year. Pleased to be back.See you next year !17/8/2013
Best site I have visited in 30 years in France.
Lynne & TerrySellwood
We have come here many times and our stay here has been just as good if not better. Look forward to come here again.Thank you.
Thank you for a wonderful fourth stay at camping de la baie.See you next year.
Camping de la Baie was wonderful - so lovely. So clean and staff so welcoming.Thanks especially to Pauline for all her help with our booking. We really enjoyed our stay and hope to come back some day.
John, Steph, Francesca + Julius
We've spent a wonderful 14 days here. The people are great and the facilities superb and very well managed.Special mention for Khouka, Max and the rest of the mini club team. They kept our 6 years old Francesca amused. She is determined we will be back next year ! Allez - Merci et au revoir
Auborn Family
Lovely site, very well looked after. We hope to come back soon !Auborn Family, Devon (7/6/2013)
A super lovely site, clean and very friendly reception and maintenance.All beaches are lovely and surrounding walks. Merci beaucoup.Monica
Geoff & TeresaMiller
June 2012We enjoyed our stay at your caravan + campsite. Very clean caravan. Good facilities and very peaceful. Our dog Rosie loved it too.PS : we will come again some time.
02/07/2012Excellent campsite, best facilities experienced so far in Northern France. Will highly recommend.


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Aromatherapy is hot, interesting and modern. Everything is aromatherapy; from the scent in your car to the dish-washing liquid. Even the scented diapers! Essential oils are being sold left right and center and everybody has oils in a cupboard at home. Drop, drop in the bath, on your linen, in your soap, in your tea and on your baby… Essential oils are safe to use, says the publicity. And they are – if you know what you are doing, otherwise you might end up with a problem. What is astounding is the lack of information and realistic knowledge around essential oils. These oils are forever hovering in a no-mans land between medicine, perfume and taste-enhancer. (See earlier posts on knowledge and quality.)
In many Spas and other places aromatherapy is advertised; what it actually means is that essential oils are used. This is not aromatherapy. True aromatherapy is the knowledge of how to use and apply essential oils specifically. To do this, in-depth knowledge of essential oils is necessary. To become a true aromatherapist education is needed in several areas: medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, botany. I have studied, researched and used essential oils for more than 20 years and every day I learn something new. I have seen what harm EO can do when used indiscriminately and I have seen the results when "old" oils have been used. I have had clients with such sensitive skin that even one (!) drop of a "safe" EO cause rashes. I have trained therapists who have developed sensitivities against EO, effectively stopping them from ever using EO again.
Aromatherapy is not only about EO's. It is also about vegetable oils, macerations (herbal oils) and hydrolates. It is about understanding people, the mechanics of healing and knowledge of how the body and mind works in unison. Being an aromatherapist is a life-long study.
Yes, aromatherapy is wonderful and you can benefit greatly from using it in your daily life. But please DO get informed first. Buy some books, look on the internet and pay attention. Refrain from giving other people advice, just because it worked for you does not mean it will necessary work (or even be good for) somebody else. There is a world of difference between one drop or two drops! Get your oils from a reputed company, pay a bit more, ask questions and stay safe. And remember; all plants do not contain essential oils and not all oils on the market are true essential oils.


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|Two Years. MORE IN LOVE THAN EVER!
Some days I wake up and I still can't believe that I am married to this man. A great husband, an amazing father, a patient helpmate, my very best friend in the world. God must really love me so much He allowed our paths to cross, but not only because of the reasons I've mentioned above, but because I continue to walk in the faith I have today. And I am led to a relationship that is even greater than what I can imagine. So this marriage, really, is all for His glory.


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That's right, DarkFEST is headed back to South Africa. Fronted by Sam Reynolds, Nico Vink and Clemens Kaudela. The boys have been building up the course as well as adding a couple new features for the insanity that's sure to follow.
The full list of riders is to be announced soon, for now we can confirm: Sam Reynolds (GB) Nico Vink (BE) Clemens Kaudela (AT) Adolf Silva (ES) Ethan Nell (USA) Tom Van Steenbergen (CAN) Graham Agassiz (CAN) Brendan Fairclough (GB) Theo Erlangson (ZA)
The Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg farm will be open to the public for 2 days only with a limited batch of tickets up for grabs for Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of February, so we're inviting you out to Stellenbosch to witness the boys throwing down on the DarkFEST jumps.
Please note that the DarkFEST open days are entirely weather dependant with gusts of wind and rain playing a huge factor in the course being ridable or not.
We will be giving "green light" updates on the Facebook event page as to when the conditions will be prime for viewing. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements via the DarkFEST Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Food, beverages and official DarkFEST merchandise will be available to purchase on site.
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The Raviz Kadavu
With open spaces and definitive venues, The Raviz Kadavu offers a plethora of options for occasions and events of a wide range. With adaptable and open spaced options, the Raviz Kadavu is your destination of choice. The resort has also tied up with qualified and registered experts who can conduct team activities such as kayaking and canoeing on the Chaliyar river as part of your offsite engagements.
A convention centre of huge magnitude, the Bekal has indoor and outdoor options. Equipped with a separate entry than the main hotel, the indoor centre has a large pre-function area that can accommodate a floating crowd of about 200 people. The indoor centre itself can hold up to 1,000 people in theatre-style setting. Those wanting to create a unique scenic setting for their occasion may choose to host their events at the Bekal Experia,the extension to the centre outdoors.
Chaliyar Hall
A 5,177 sq ft conference venue, the Chaliyar Hall can conveniently accommodate upto 150 people in theatre-style seating and 80 people in round-table style. With an exclusive pre-function area and an acoustically sound facility in a venue height of 10 ft, the venue is ideal for smaller conferences. Congregation of doctors and corporate trainings are a regular feature at this venue.
The Amphitheatre
With a seating capacity of about 200 people, the amphitheatre is the perfect setting for a cultural experience such as pre-wedding functions, small gatherings or even an informal address. In fact, the space has witnessed a range of performances from Kalaripayattu to Wedding sangeet.
This board room facility can accommodate up to 15 people in a classy set-up. With a fully-equipped audio-visual system in place, corporate groups can host senior level meetings and break-away sessions from their events at this top-notch venue.


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austin mayor will wynn said that the move marks a major achievement in the growth of wireless technology in austin, and he hopes that it will spark an increase in the number of wireless technology manufacturers in the city. according to a survey by intel, austin is currently the fourth most wireless city in the country, and mayor wynn said that the city is working hard to take the number one spot. frank hanzlik, the wi-fi alliance's managing director, said that the choice to move to austin was easy given the city's wireless-friendly attitude.
for more information, check out the ic2 institute's press release and kxan-tv's report.
joshua's opinion
i am an austinite myself, and i can honestly say that austin is the place to be if you are interested in any type of technology. according to some reports i have heard, there are more than 500 high-tech companies in the austin area, including amd, dell, and ibm–and that's just some of the bigger ones. in june 2003, forbes magazine ranked austin as number 1 in its list of "best places for business," citing the city's low costs and its highly educated workforce. the city also receives high marks for resident friendliness and is the "top city for moviemakers" (moviemaker magazine, winter 2004)
it is pretty neat that the wi-fi alliance is moving here, especially since it is getting involved with the austin technology incubator. there is a lot of good to be said for a group that assists small companies in their growth, and the alliance's move shows that it is committed to the same goal.
user comments 7 comment(s)
|wi-fi neighborhoods? (8:59am est mon apr 26 2004)
so is austin completly wi-fi? with all those tech companies in the area the residents would appear to have an advantage in current wi-fi tech… – by someone
|austin aka silicon hills (9:29am est mon apr 26 2004)
i live in texas and lived in austin. i started my it life in austin and working for gte, state of texas and now schlumberger.
austin has more company than what is stated it just died down a little after all the .com company left.
austin is great city to live in for your into technology but remember this is still ut city and it will always be college town.
– by wambo
|austin and wi-fi (11:09am est mon apr 26 2004)
i live in and work for the city of austin. i would think that to become the no. 1 wireless city, you would need a ubiquitous wireless network throughout the city, as some cities in the u.s. appear to be attempting. although i'm most likely way out of the loop, i haven't heard of any plans to do such a thing in austin. the city itself does not have the funds to do it. heck, they just put another hiring freeze in place. all of these high tech companies may be here, but they sure aren't helping the austin economy very much. – by tad reamer
|austinite here too (2:45pm est mon apr 26 2004)
by no means does austin have a ubiquitous wireless network, but i get 8 wi-fi connections when i scan from my appartment. if i don't have a connection outside of my appartment, it usually doesn't take more than a couple of blocks to find one. – by kels83
|goodbye telecom alley? (4:11pm est mon apr 26 2004)
i guess richardson, texas (a suburub of dallas) is still going down. another thorn since wi-fi alliance is going south to austin. the former telecom alley has rented a lot of its former telecom building to banking and financial companies. – by fort worth guy
|dell (10:39pm est mon apr 26 2004)
dell is not a tech company. now go back where you came from. – by austinite
|thanks (1:03am est sun jan 08 2006)
this is an excellent site thanks for the information! – by andy


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When I was in high school, I always wanted to be a journal writer. In movies and television shows, I always felt more connected to the characters who were writing about their lives than those who weren't. Maybe all along I knew that writing was the path that I was meant to follow. In high school and even through college, I wasn't able to consistently journal, my book shelves filled with half empty journals that were left by the wayside. Now that I am consistently journalling, I really do understand why all along I wanted to be this person.
Writing consistently in a journal is hard work. I takes patience for the days that nothing really comes to you and a gag for the times when it does flow and your inner editor won't shut up. I have been journalling almost every day (NaNoWriMo presented some difficulties for me) for almost a year. My husband will tell you, I am a much nicer person because I am journalling. My journal is my private thinking space, but I never really felt like I was tapping into its full potential until I picked up Creative Journal Writing: The Art and Heart of Reflection by Stephanie Dowrick. This book focuses on getting past the idea that a journal is only a place to record the day to day. Filled with prompts, advice from other writers, excerpts from her own journal and from the journals of others, and an outlook that opens up new possibilities for the average journal writer, this book is one that I am definitely glad that I picked up.
Some of my favorite things that I have ever written in my journal happened while responding to some of the prompts that this book contained. Memories that I didn't even know I had, like watching my mom hand make all of the ornaments for our Christmas tree out of styrofoam balls, sequins, beads, and tiny pins. I reflected on a choice that I made to censor what I was reading by keeping it a secret and what that meant about my convictions. It took me days to work through all of my thoughts about freedom in my head and in my journal. Before this book, my journal writing was focused mostly on writing about my day or some interesting event or even reflecting seriously on something of significance. After this book, journal writing became about an experience of learning, of finding, and of remembering. Yes, I still want to remember the day to day occurrences, but I also want to remember the stuff that has already passed.
While this book did allow me more creative freedom and an avenue for reflection, there were some down sides. Sometimes the prompts came so closely together that I didn't feel like I had enough breathing room or explanation. I really love to read about writing, so when it was one prompt after another, I got tired of reading the prompts that I wasn't going to be able to write to that day. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the book needed a little more balance between narrative and prompts. The book also says that you should begin each prompt by describing where you are and what you are doing. Nine times out of ten, I'm in my sun colored office, sitting at my light blue librarian's desk waiting for inspiration to strike. That seemed redundant, and no matter how many times I changed the descriptor of the desk (robin's egg, sky, azure) it was still light blue and it was still my everyday writing desk. I know what you are thinking, you didn't have to do that. True, I didn't have to do that, but I'm a pretty solid rule-follower, so I felt obligated.
Pros and cons aside, I'm really glad that I picked up this book. Opening up my journal to more than just writing the day-to-day has helped me to become an even more reflective person. I love when memories strike and I now feel that I have the freedom to explore those memories in my journal. If you are looking for inspiration and maybe even some encouragement, I recommend giving this book a chance.


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50% off Miami Prices in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach
| Second Home | Investment | Relocation |
Palm Coast
Situated on 26 miles of saltwater canals and 53 miles of freshwater canals and steps away from the Intracoastal Waterway ad the pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches. Lush native trees and plants along the parkways are reminiscent of 'old Florida'.
Fun, active recreation and leisure are all in abundance here. What is your pleasure? Your choice might be boating year-round in the extensive canal system and the Intracoastal waterway, picnicking in one of the many parks located inside the city, or jogging on one of the winding trails through the forest or spotting dolphins and sea birds along the Intracoastal waterway.
If water sports, walking or jogging doesn't appeal to you, tennis or golf might be the answer. Palm Coast has numerous inviting golf courses to test your skill. After tennis, boating or golf, it's time to relax and try one of our many fine restaurants, or a leisurely stroll at the Palm Harbor Shopping Center, or one of the many shops located in charming shopping centers scattered along the arterial streets
Flagler Beach:
Considered by many as Florida's finest beach for natural, unspoiled beauty. There is more than 19 miles of uncrowded cinnamon colored sand with plenty of room for sports, fishing or just relaxing in the sun. The vibe is low-key and laid-back. You are more likely to see dolphins and turtles than rowdy spring breakers, and entertainment comes in the form of the colorful characters who populate the town
We offer the most efficient and cost-effective way to bring you the one thing you've always wanted from advertising-customers!View details »
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Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
When you want long lashes but prefer natural products, what is there to do? Not every woman wants to use eye-lash enhancing mascara products to get longer lashes. People often turn to castor oil in hopes of longer lashes. And while some beauty sites say it helps, no clinical evidence exists to prove it.
Castor Oil
Castor Oil is the extracted pressed oil from the seeds of the castor bean plant. While the castor bean plant seeds themselves can be toxic, the oil extract has been used for more than 100 years as a natural laxative. In fact, laxative is the one use of castor oil that is clinically proven and backed by the medical community, according to both the Mayo Clinic and the American Cancer Society.
Lubricating Lashes
Some beauty sites recommend using a cleaned out mascara brush to apply castor oil to lashes before bed. The idea is that the oil helps the hair follicles by coating hair shaft and smoothing the cuticle layer. Hairfinders.com says this seals in moisture which makes follicles seem smoother.
Perhaps this helps prevent damage to eyelashes. But it doesn't actually promote growth. There is nothing in castor oil which has been proven to contribute to eyelash or hair follicle growth. As the American Cancer Society says about Castor oil, besides laxative use, "Available scientific evidence does not support any other claims."
The good news is that if you still want to try castor oil, it is all-natural and non-toxic. Of course, apply it lightly and keep it out of your eyes.
However, before using castor oil for any use, other than as a laxative, it may be wise to consult not just a beautician, but also a physician to make sure it won't have any adverse health affects.
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images


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S: My Halloweens
BC: Happy Halloween Everyone, I hope you had fun!!
FC: Happy Haunting!
1: Trick or Treat. Be so sweet. Give me something good to eat. | With this album you are going to see some of my carnivals and Halloweens, so.... Let's gooooo!!!
2: Trick or Treat. Be so sweet. Give me something good to eat.Trick or treat | Happy Haunting
3: Here I was 7 years old. My costume was of an Egyptian queen. It was so fun and I had a good time. On this Halloween we collected many candies.!
4: With a Mariachi costume
5: Trick or Treat! | This photos were for the same Halloween but with others costumes!! I was with my sister and friends on my grandmother's house in Quibor. | With my sister and friends!!
6: We had a blast carving pumpkins | Cute
7: Carve out some good times! | On this one i was a little baby and we were in the carnivals, on Quibor, where every year we saw the costumes of the clowns and other peoples. It was fun because all the family shared together!!!
8: We had a Frightfully good time at the Halloween party this year | Eat, drink and be scary. | This was another carnival, on this occasion my costume was like a princess, I used this costume like 2 times.
9: Princess
10: Well the photo of the right was last year, I was with all my neighborhoods talking with some friends, walking and looking for candies, here I was like a witch or something like that!! | Fright Night
11: Happy Halloween | FUN


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A South Whidbey woman is now looking up in the trees rather than down at the trail after a frightening encounter with an aggressive owl in Saratoga Woods.
Clinton resident Melissa Ross was participating in Whidbey Island Rocks — a search for hidden, painted rocks around the island —at around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 11 near the entrance of Saratoga Woods when she saw a shadow of something approaching her from above. In the next instant, her hat was knocked to the ground by a white owl with black spots and yellow eyes. By the time she picked her hat up, the owl was priming for another run. Ross would spend the next 30 minutes fending off the continually attacking bird with a large branch in a slow retreat back to her car.
"That's the only way I could get out," Ross said.
The owl, which she estimated as being about 2 feet tall with a 3-and-a-half-foot wingspan, dive-bombed her over two dozen times, she said.
Ross posted a warning the next day on "Alert Whidbey," a community Facebook page. Though a first response was a lighthearted "That's a hoot!" comment, Ross said it's no laughing matter. She considers the incident a traumatic event.
"I've been having dreams about it," Ross said. "A lot of people come out here and the way he attacked me, I didn't want some unsuspecting mom with a child [to be attacked]."
Frances Wood, a South Whidbey bird watcher and columnist for The Record, said Ross' description of the owl matched that of the great horned owl. Wood and other experts also theorized that the owl was young. When juvenile owls leave the protection and comfort of their parents, they begin "learning how the world works," Wood said.
"The owl isn't attacking a person any more then it is attacking any critter that heads its way," Wood said. "It would go after other owls, raptors, a raccoon, or anything threatening it."
"My guess is that it's just sort of the fall dispersal of owls and they're finding their own niche in the world," she added.
Alina McClain of South Whidbey Animal Clinic in Clinton said juveniles sometimes become aggressive when learning hunting behaviors.
Another theory is the owl was an adult confused by the late summer daylight hours, said David Parent, a veterinarian at the Useless Bay Animal Clinic. Because hours of daylight at the end of summer are nearly identical to those during the springtime nesting season, the owl may have been controlling its territory, he said. He also agreed with the juvenile theory, though he said barred owls are normally the culprit in attacks and not great horned owls.
"Barred owls are a fairly recent bird to come here and they're almost always the perpetrators," Parent said. "They think it's a prey item, but once again it's a young, stupid bird doing that."
Parent said barred owls are becoming somewhat of a problem on South Whidbey. He said they may be responsible for the extinction of screech owls on Whidbey Island, and that they are eating smaller owls and possibly threatening spotted owls.
Based off the description of the attack, Wood suggested the owl was utilizing scare tactics. Something peculiar, however, happened when Ross was near the exit.
"He got up on that limb on the last tree and tried to keep me from leaving the woods," Ross said. "That's when I knew there was something wrong with him."
Ross thought the owl may have had rabies. Though owls have antibodies to protect themselves against the disease that causes madness and convulsions in certain animals, it would be extremely rare, McClain said.
"They got exposed to the virus and their body responded to it, but it doesn't mean they contracted the disease of rabies," McClain said.
To avoid being taken off-guard by owls, Wood urged would-be trail walkers of the Saratoga Woods to be aware by keeping their eyes up and wearing a hat for protection from an owl's talons. She also said that using different entrances to the woods may be another safe alternative. If an owl encounter does occur, Wood said people should retreat slowly and gently — it may also give a person a chance to observe the bird. She considers seeing them as "really, really cool," and that owls are utilizing nature just as humans do.
"They are moving around and they're dispersing," Wood said. "Give the owls a chance."


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How to Check Your Startup Idea and Its Effectiveness
People are at present with the best startup ideas, but validating them at the implementation front is something very tricky. The idea that is sound from your point of view may not shine that well at the real front. It is imperative to check your idea from all the angles in order to take it successfully to the success levels. Here, the longevity and successful sustenance of the business are the vital aspects to check without fail. Let us see some of the important aspects check those can understand well the validity of your business idea:
- Any idea for your business will stand as a best idea until you will get paying customers for it. People may go against to your idea, but they can't do it while paying customers are the greatest possibility for it.
- A business idea from you will be successful, when you're a good problem solver. Every business is a bundle of problems those are in the various forms. If you or your team not good at resolving these problems, then your business idea may not be successful for a long tenure.
- Pricing is another important aspect that will dictate your business idea success or failure. It is highly imperative for your business to come up with the competitive pricing keeping in mind your novice status in the markets. At the same time the price variations shouldn't hamper the quality prospects here too.
- You should have a scalable product for your business idea. It is important here to design and come up with your product in a more flexible manner and this will keep your product according to the kind of attention gaining from the markets and customer base.
- Your product or service idea for business should be unique. The customer base out there is always looking for something new that is bundled successfully with the quality and economy. You should keep these things intact always in your business idea.
- It is always good to plan your business physical as well as online too. It will offer good attention online while the physical business status will stand as a good reliability factor for the customer base.
- It is always good to have your business with diversification as well as scope for the venturing into it from the vendors location wise or in some other format. This will result into the multiplied attention for yours business growth and outreach.
- Recognition is something that is must for every business. Your idea for business should cater well for this purpose without fail.
- Business will have to face many different types of trends those are happening in and around. Your business idea should be capable enough to face these changing trends at the same time keep moving further through mitigating hurdles wisely.


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Mabul is a small island in the east of Malaysia Borneo and is known for it's diving. Nearby, you find Sipadan which should be divers Mekka. If you wanna go diving here, you have to book far in advance (3 months or even more). They only allow 120 people per day to go diving here. But what we heard of it, is amazing! We did some diving around the island Mabul itself and that wasn't that bad as well.
We left the Kinabatangan River jungle at 8.30 am, got dropped at the junction where another bus was waiting for us to bring us to Semporna for 50 Ringgit pp. This bus ride took about 4 hours. We arrived here around 1.30 pm.
We booked our diving and accommodation at Scuba Junkie. Because we arrived at Scuba Junkie at around 2 pm, and didn't want to stay in Semporna but on the island Mabul, we were a bit in a hurry and maybe decided a bit to quick. The prices for the accommodation where quiet high. We paid 195 Ringgit p.p. for a room for 3 persons. This does include meals but was way over our budget (which is 185 ringgit for 2 persons p.d.) And the room isn't really that much special. It is really clean, it does have both aircon and a fan and looks nice from the outside.
The food however was really good and always enough. It is a buffet and you can eat as much as you want. The common area is nice as well with lot's of places to chill out, drink a beer and share your experiences with other divers and they have sweet internet.
After 2 days of diving and because we had a flight from Tawau airport the next day (about 1,5 hour out of Semporna) we did book 1 night at the Scuba Junkie guesthouse in Semporna. This is something we don't recommend. The prices are cheap, compared to staying on the island, but still expensive. You pay 75 Ringgit for a double room with shared shower. The rooms are to dirty to touch, we expected a bit more from Scuba Junkie. Besides this we didn't like Semporna. There are a lot of restaurants at the waterside but is smelled terrible when we were there. The restaurant on the side of the street of Scuba Junkie was to expensive but we did find a nice Indian place a but further along the street where the food was really cheap and tasteful.
Leave Semporna as soon as possible and do stay at Mabul Island. At least, when you are a diver. Other wise if you don't dive, then what are you doing here? Skip this place! Don't expect Mabul Island to be a place to get tanned, you have other places in Malaysia where you can do that. Diving and snorkeling is the thing to do here and that's what we did.
In total we went on 6 dives. The original plan was to go for 1 day and do 3 dives, but because there is really nothing else to do on the island, and the weather wasn't that great, we decided to go for 3 more dives. And we have to say, our dive instructor Catherine had something to do with it as well. We aren't that enthusiastic about the accommodation of Scuba Junkie (at least about the value for money), but we are about their dive instructors. And the diving itself is quite cheap actually. The more dives you do, the cheaper it gets (per dive).
About the diving. It wasn't the most awesome diving we've done, but we did see some really cool new things like the crocodile flathead, longhorn cowfishes, bluespine unicorn and many other fish with ridiculous names! Of course we also saw the 'usual' underwater animals such as giant turtles, cuttlefish (which changed color), morays, triggerfishes (which were quite aggressive) and many more.
All of the dive sites are really close by so no long day on the boat. For lunch you even go back to the resort, where you can already start filling in your logbook.
If you have some specific things you want to see or do, tell them at the reception. They really try to please you. And do try to go to Sipidan. One of the guys we met was number 9 or something on the waiting list, and they woke him up early in the morning because they had a spot for him. And what we heard from him was that the diving was amazing. He saw bull sharks, big schools of tuna, lot's of turtles and the wall dives were amazing. We were a bit jealous when he told us..


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Welcome to our interview series with the Europolitan Mentors! The Europolitan Mentorship program pairs qualified, inspirational mentors with aspiring authors and illustrators, who write in English, to help bring them closer to publication, or to publication at a higher level. Each mentor will select one mentee from all applicants.
This six-month online one-on-one program provides mentees the opportunity to work personally with and learn from a successful professional with teaching experience and a proven track record in children's literature.
In this series of articles, you will get a closer look at the 2017 mentors; who they are, their writing journey and what potential mentees should know about them. For more information about the program and how to apply, visit the website.
Our first interview is with Sarah Aronson. Sarah is mentoring picture books as well as middle grade to young adult literature.
Sarah Aronson began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and published three novels: HEAD CASE, BEYOND LUCKY, and BELIEVE. Titles forthcoming include her first nonfiction picture book, JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG (Beach Lane Books, TBD) and a new chapter book series about fairy godmother training (and the worst fairy godmother ever), THE WISH LIST (Scholastic, 2017-2018).
When Sarah is not writing or reading (or cooking or riding her bike), she loves working with new writers to help them discover their stories and get them ready for submission. She teaches classes at Writers on the Net (www.writers.com) as well as the amazing Highlights Foundation. She is also the cofounder and organizer of the Writing Novels for Young People Retreat at VCFA, now approaching its fifteenth year. She loved serving as an SCBWI mentor in both Illinois and Michigan and enjoys speaking at many conferences. Sarah believes that we do our best work when we feel safe and supported, when we embrace the process and the power of play! Sarah will push you to see your manuscript in a new way. She is open to all genres, but particularly enjoys realistic middle grade and young adult fiction. Learn more about her at www.saraharonson.com. Like tips? Don't mind exclamation points? Sign up for her weekly newsletter on her creative process, Monday Motivation.
First off, thank you so much Sarah, for becoming a Europolitan Mentor! I always like to know about how people became writers so could you share with us your path to writing. Was this something you'd always done or did you pick it up along the way?
|Sarah's workspace
When I was young, I definitely did not want to be a writer. I was more interested in becoming a famous actress or maybe the first NFL punter! I loved story—but I spent more time acting than reading. (My most memorable acting experience was as The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. We started the play with the ending, and then retraced it to the moment when they prepared to meet.)
When I was done with college, I worked for Jack La Lanne, the famous exercise enthusiast. I became
a physical therapist. I became a mom and began to read books to my kids. They were the ones who LOVED books. One day in 2000, while I was teaching a spinning class (the kind on bikes), someone dared me to write. (He thought I was funny.) I thought: why not? That day, when I had time, I took out a paper and pencil. I loved my kids' books. I gave it a try!
So nice to know you were a late-bloomer, too. And since writing and publishing are two different beasts, could you share with us how you first became published and what you've learned over the years about publishing?
When I began writing, editors had more time to do the kind of mentoring I do now. I owe so much to the late great Deborah Brodie, who was an executive editor at Roaring Brook Press. For some reason, she took an interest in me. She read and critiqued three bad manuscripts. We spent many hours talking on the phone and meeting in person to discuss the craft of writing. Since I was not the fastest learner, she wrote my recommendation to Vermont College of Fine Arts, and pushed me to study harder. The second I got to Montpelier, I knew I'd found the right place to create. I wrote and revised HEAD CASE in my first two semesters. I sent it to her and Deborah bought it!
What a great experience to have an editor have so much faith in you from the very beginning! What role did other mentors, critique groups, or your MFA program play in your creative career?
|The summer office where she can
listen to a church organist
In every experience, from my first critique group, to working with Deborah, and then at VCFA, working with Kathi Appelt, Jane Resh Thomas, Margaret Bechard, and Tim Wynne-Jones, I learned to read like a writer, so that I could read my own drafts with a critical eye. I also learned it was easy to delete! And that writing didn't have to feel hard all the time—it could also be a joy! Norma Fox Mazer reminded me that structure didn't hold me back—it was freedom! And Carolyn Coman gave me tools that have gotten me unstuck. They all showed me to trust my intuition before my intellect—to get to the inside story—the inner struggle first—and to believe in myself. These lessons have helped me when I thought I had no answers—when I worried that my career had hit a dead end. They taught me that ego can get in the way of the magic of creativity—that story needs space and time and a listening ear. They taught me to trust the process. I have. And it hasn't let me down.
It's also given me a safe supportive community. I think this is a mandatory component of the writing life.
In my own classes and workshops at VCFA, www.writers.com, and The Highlights Foundation, I welcome the magic. I strive to help writers listen to their characters, to try new ideas, and re-imagine (not just revise). In every group, I start with trust—and showing fear the door. It is exciting to see new stories come to life! I am a big believer in validating your progress—every milestone needs to be acknowledged and celebrated.
|Ernestine, the girlgoyle, joins
Sarah in her summer office
What excites you most about being a mentor for the SCBWI Europolitan Mentor Program?
New writers!
New stories!
I love collaborating!
What else should potential mentees know about you?
This is your book.
My job is to put the ball in play!
I believe our stories get better when we are willing to try, to experiment, to fail. We must be flexible and look at story and character from every angle possible in order to create the best book possible. I believe that we write for a reason—we have something to say. I want to honor your themes at all times.
I will introduce you some craft techniques that will help you create more authentic characters and exciting, tension-filled plots. I will encourage you to dig and explore and re-imagine elements of your story. I will challenge you to think about the possibilities that are already there on the page. It'll be fun. We will laugh a lot!
Sarah's Books:
|Scholastic Press (May 30, 2017)
Q: What do you need to become a great fairy godmother?
a) kindness
b) determination
c) gusto
d) all of the above
Fairy-godmother-in-training Isabelle doesn't know what gusto is, but she's pretty sure she has what it takes to pass fairy godmother training with flying colors.
But then Isabelle is assigned a practice princess who is not a princess at all. Nora is just a normal girl—a normal girl who doesn't believe in fairy godmothers or that wishes come true or happily-ever-afters.
Isabelle has to change Nora's mind about magic and grant a wish for her. If she can't, Isabelle will flunk training and never become a great fairy godmother!
|Carolrhoda Books (September 1, 2013)
Janine doesn't want the fame–or the pressure–of being a walking miracle. But the news cycle isn't the only thing standing between her and a normal life. Everyone wants something from her, expects something of her. Even her closest friends are urging her to use her name-recognition for a "worthy cause." But that's nothing compared to the hopes of Dave Armstrong–the man who, a decade ago, pulled Jannine from the rubble. Now he's a religious leader whose followers believe Janine has healing powers.
The scariest part? They might be right.
If she's the Soul Survivor, what does she owe the people who believe in her? If she's not the Soul Survivor, who is she?
|Dial Books (June 30, 2011)
Beyond Lucky was named a VOYA 2012 Top Shelf Pick for Middle Readers. It received a starred review from Jewish Book World. It was nominated for the 2012-3 Maine State Book Award, the 2014 Sequoia Book Award, and the 2013-4 Mark Twain Award.
|Roaring Brook Press (September 4, 2007)
One bad night.
One too many drinks.
Frank Marder is a head, paralyzed from the neck down, and it's his fault. He was drinking. He was driving. Now Frank can't walk, he can't move, he can't feel his skin. He needs someone to feed him, to wash him, to move his body.
When you're a head, do you ever feel like a whole person? Will Frank eve get to forgive himself?
If you ask most of the people who post on the www.quadkingonthenet, he hasn't been adequately punished. Two people are dead because of him. Frank should go to jail. Only "Anonymous" disagrees.
A powerful and heartbreaking debut novel and a guy who had it all . . .until he drank that one last beer and got into the car. Head Case will make you consider how we judge each other. And how we can move beyond our mistakes—with honesty, compassion, and even humor.
Named a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.


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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Today is January 1, 2020 … New Years Day . Yep, a new year is off and running. Some people make a New Year Resolution … something they decide they should do to make a change in their life. I have never been one to do that. for that matter I have never been one to set goals to achieve in life. I just live my life day to day. For me that works great as I don't deal with stress or anxiety. I never have. And I don't have to concern myself with disappointment as a result of something not happening in my life. I am sure some, perhaps many, would argue that my thinking and approach is all wrong … that I have nothing going on to challenge and "grow" me. Perhaps this is true. I don't really know nor do I care.
Why am I writing this you ask? I don't know. It is Jan. 1st … New Years Day … and I needed to come up with something to post. Another question is … where am I going with this? And again, an honest answer is I don't have a clue at this point in time. I got myself into this and now I need to get myself out of it.
Oh yeah, I am suppose to be writing about New Year resolutions. Do you make them? If you do, how well do you do at keeping them? Someone will probably say … this year I am going to ride my trike at least 30 miles a day. They start out with the best of intentions but within a few days they fail to achieve the 30 mile distance. Thus they have broken their word they made to them self and perhaps to others including God. When this happens we tend to be hard on ourselves. It is not good.
Perhaps a different approach is needed. God's Word cautions us not to boast about tomorrow because none of us know what will happen in the next second of time much less tomorrow. That being the case perhaps we should say"with the Lord's help I will try to …". And perhaps we need to think along the lines of "if I fall short of my goal I will accept it and move on picking back up and working toward achieving what I started out to do". And if we discover our goal was set too high for us to accomplish that is ok. We simply need to lower the bar and do whatever we are capable of. Beating up on ourselves is not the answer.
Here in the United States as well as some other places in the world New Years Day bike rides are quite common. Some people ride by themselves. Others ride together with family or friends. And some ride in planned organized rides in our communities. Here where I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana this community has such an organized ride for bicyclists as well as motorcyclists. It is nice to have these rides available. There is only one problem … ol' man winter" The weather dept. can definitely mess up our plans. Sometimes the weather is just too nasty to venture out … at least for many of us. I personally have only ridden on a couple of these New Years Day rides as the weather was not to my liking most years. Actually for me, riding the couple of times I did go was enough for me. I am not crazy about going anymore. Riding with a large number of people in close quarters doesn't appeal to me. I much prefer to ride with just a very few other trikes. I really don't like riding with bicycles at all. Most cyclists tend to meander around all over the place and pose a dangerous threat to my safety and others. So even if the weather is decent enough to venture out on Jan. 1st I usually just ride by myself staying away from the crowd. To quote the words to a song …. "the name of the game is I like it like that".
No, I am not making any New Year Resolution, but I will be out there as much as I can riding thru the winter and doing my best to …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
With ongoing eye sight problems I am forced to end my writing new articles … at least for now. I am not saying I am leaving forever, but I need to give my eyes a break in hope of adding time to their usefulness. Looking at a computer screen as much as I do is very hard on my eyes. This will be my last posting. I can't say what the future holds. I may be back, but I may not. I have enjoyed the journey thus far and trust many of you have as well. Thanks to all of you who have helped make this blog as successful as it has been. I will miss participating in this blog, but as the saying goes … "all good things must come to an end". Perhaps we'll meet up again. Goodbye for now my friends. Happy trails to you … maybe we will meet up again. I hope so.
BTW, there is a FREE GIFT waiting for you.
And if you like the song above HERE is another rendition of it I really like.
We see the abbreviation "FAQ" frequently and I am sure most of us know it stands for frequently asked questions. Many websites and printed material have a FAQ area where people can go to try to find answers to frequently asked questions. Q&A is also commonly used. I have thought about going to the effort of trying to make a FAQ page for this blog, but I have never felt ambitious enough to tackle it. So what is a guy to do? Well, we can always let George do it, right? In all seriousness TerraTrike has a FAQ page on their website which covers a lot of different topics. HERE is a link to it. Maybe they can answer your question. I am just not into to it at this time. Woe is me! I guess I need to be thankful for what others have contributed and made available. Of course, some of their answers are TerraTrike trike specific so they won't be of any help if you have another brand. Even some of the questions which may sound "generic" on the surface they are responding to in regards to their own trikes … so their answers may not be as applicable if you have a different brand of trike.
Here are the questions they have listed:
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
While out on a ride recently I noticed (could not help but notice) lots of dog and goose poop on the trail. Now I understand that wild animals are going to do this and there isn't much we can do about it. We just have to deal with it. The matter of dogs comes down to their owners. The dogs may not know better, but their owners certainly do. They just don't care. Sadly there doesn't appear to be much we can do about it either. Yes, I know … S H _ T HAPPENS!
We can't expect the dog to clean up after themselves, but dog owners are required by law to do so as does common decency.
I said it is not the dog's fault and this is true. However, they can be taught where they should and should not go to the toilet. Here is an example of a well trained dog who knows where it is appropriate to relieve himself: Then again, dogs are generally more savvy than lots of people.
And another one:
This much I know … it ain't good to ride thru poop. And unfortunately it is rare to see anybody make any effort to get it off of the trails. I spent a third of my time riding today removing poop from off of the trail. It is really aggravating as this should not be happening. What is wrong with people that they do this? I wasn't raised that way. I find it hard to believe that people can be so low and irresponsible. Yet it seems to be all too commonplace. Nobody wants to walk along stepping in dog poop or riding thru it on a cycle. It is challenging enough to avoid riding over dog poop on a bicycle. With a tadpole trike it is even more difficult to avoid as we have three different tracking wheels and our trikes being wider we don't always have the space to maneuver as we really need to.
In addition to the fact that it is quite unpleasant to step on or ride over dog poop it is illegal for dog owners to allow a dog to poop outdoors and then not clean up after them. I have said it before, but I would like to see these dog owners faces shoved down into their dog's pile of poop.
Well, now I went and did it. I unloaded here. I feel better now. So I say pooh pooh on poo poo. Without it it is much easier to …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
We often hear/read that line about one thing or another making us look fat. Frequently it is meant to be funny. But, hey, being fat isn't funny … nor is it fun. Those of us who are fat, especially obese, are our own worst enemy. I ought to know. I have been fat most of my adult life. I come from a family that are mostly overweight. This was mostly on my mom's side of the family. I was always normal weight as a child. I weighed 140 pounds when I graduated from high school. I started gaining weight when I reached about 22 years of age. This was while I was in the Navy. It has been a battle ever since … one which I have not done very well in winning. I have lost all my excess weight about 3 times, but always gained it right back and usually more. On one of my weight loss attempts I got down to 135 pounds. Here is a picture of me in the Navy before I started gaining weight. I think I was about 20 years old here. As you can see I was still normal weight. I didn't usually wear coveralls, but I was on this occasion as I was about to work on a nasty job which could easily ruin my work uniform.
Although I am talking mainly about myself in this posting I want to address the subject of being overweight and exercise. I don't think it is any secret that here in the United States we have a serious issue with obesity. Just looking at people in most any direction or place we see it. (It is pretty hard not to see it.) And the tadpole triking scene is no exception. In fact, it seems that the majority of tadpole riders have an issue with their weight. We turn to our trikes as a form of exercise in hope that we will lose weight. Some do, but many don't. I am among those who haven't done very well losing weight no matter how much riding I do (and I have done a lot). I have talked to others who have told me the same thing. I am sure most of us have heard the saying … Calories In, Calories Out. The bottom line here is simply that exercise alone is not enough. It is far more about what we eat and how much we eat. It takes a whole lot of riding to burn off the calories of unhealthy meals, snacks, soda pop, milkshakes, candy bars, etc. And most of us who are overweight do not eat healthy foods like we should.
I love cheeseburgers, french fries, chocolate milk shakes, candy (especially chocolate), ice cream, cakes and pies … you know … all the foods that taste so good but aren't good for us. A few years ago I tried to go the vegetarian route. At first it was okay and I definitely lost weight eating nothing but vegetables, fruits and nuts (the foods God told us that He gave us to eat). However, it didn't take long before I grew very tired and dissatisfied and longed for meats and other unhealthy foods again … foods that I have eaten all my life. So I went back to my old lifestyle and gained the weight right back. I had lost about 50 pounds eating "bible foods" and I felt great. The original foods God provided for man were grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. "They constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet." (see Original Bible Diet)
Recently I lost 30 pounds after the knee joint replacement surgeries. I was encouraged and thinking I would be able to continue losing weight. However, it didn't take long before I gained back 20 of those 30 pounds rather quickly. Recently I have lost 4 pounds, but it is a battle ground and I am not doing well at it. As much as I would like to, I can't blame my trike. It is not what makes me look fat. When I point a finger at it I have 3 fingers pointing back at myself. Nope, it definitely is not my trike that makes me look fat. It is easy to try to put the blame somewhere … anywhere … rather than simply admit we like food and don't discipline ourselves as we need to. I stand guilty. How about you? Yeah, I know. Now I am medlin'. Sorry!
As much as I love riding my trike I know I greatly limit myself being overweight. Hill climbing is where it is most obvious. Pedaling a lot of weight up a hill is slow going and makes it extra difficult. When I am riding with friends they don't slow down nearly as much as I do. Yep, all that extra weight makes a huge difference. I often wonder how I would do if I weighed 140 pounds again. I would like to think I could out perform my friends I ride with. (And I am pretty sure I could.)
So what's the problem you ask? Well, I lack the motivation and self discipline needed. I confess it. Shame on me. I have nobody or nothing to blame but myself. I certainly can't blame my trike. It has done an amazing job hauling my fat carcass around all of these years. I have to sort of feel sorry for it because of all I put it thru. I just recently discovered that I have two more broken spokes on my left front wheel. I have had a lot of broken spokes and have come to the conclusion that most of this is probably the result of the load the wheels carry. Hard cornering with a fat tub aboard tends to break spokes.
Nope, my trike doesn't make me look fat. I make me look fat. I acknowledge it. I am guilty. I really need to eat a salad for lunch and probably supper too. (And without any dressing on it!) ( … but a cheeseburger sounds so much better.)
Some riders have FAT trikes while some trikes have FAT riders. Hmmm, another fact of life. Well, fat, normal or thin … do your best to …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
and don't believe the saying "Thin may be in, but fat is where it's at"
It's a lie!
As most of you know I don't normally post articles about bicycles on this blog. I am making an exception here as I came across this video which I have found very interesting. It is the documented story of a man on a journey by bicycle. He is riding from the far north in Canada down to Argentina, South America. Actually if I understand correctly he plans to continue his journey riding around much more of the world. This video is dealing with his ride thru the brutal northernmost section during wintertime. Of course, winter is pretty much 9 months out of the year and he purposely did not choose the 3 months when the weather improves. As you can see by the time he reached British Columbia the weather had improved considerably. As to the first portion of his ride all I can say is "BRRRRR!" I don't think there was ever a time in my life when I was much younger that I would have any desire to attempt such a bicycle journey. I would not even want to do it in a car or truck with a good working heater. 🙂 Never the less, watching this man on his journey is quite interesting.
If you like these videos he has several more of them he has created as he continues his travels about the world. Click HERE to visit his YouTube videos page. And you can visit his website HERE. Meanwhile just …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
I recently came across a website offering a free service to bicyclists (cyclists). It is called Bike Index. It sounds like a very good idea and hopefully it will catch on all around the nation. We can help accomplish this by using it ourselves and promoting it to others. The "others" include local bike shops and police depts. as it takes all of us together to make this work. This also provides a means of looking up bikes to see if they are reported stolen. This could be handy if you found a bike or are looking into buying one … making certain it is not stolen. Of course, you would need the serial number to look it up.
I know the local police here where I live come across lots of bicycles which never get reunited with their owners. They collect until they are auctioned off periodically. What a shame they don't end up getting returned to their owners, but without the police having anyway to know who they belong to there isn't much they can do. All they can do is store them in a room hoping the owner will come looking for it. When the room fills up with bikes they have no choice but to get rid of them. With this registration system that could change. So register that puppy!
I spotted Catrike, Challenge, Greenspeed, ICE, HP Velotecknik, Quest, Stein, Sun & TerraTrike listed to choose from on their drop down menu of cycle manufacturers. It is somewhat challenging to locate the manufacturer as the names are not all together in alphabetical order as one would expect. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to how they list the many names. And many of the names are not actually cycle manufacturers, but rather manufacturers of various cycle related products. All these added names make it all the harder to find a cycle manufacturer name listed among those they display. It is easy to miss names listed and so this may not be a complete list of the trike manufacturers. BTW, if your cycle manufacturer is not listed they instruct you to use OTHER. Just type an "o" and Other will appear at the top of the list on the drop down menu. Definitely I think their drop down menu needs a lot of work to make it practical and easy to use. It makes no sense to have a cycle product manufacturer listed along with cycle manufacturers when they are asking you to select the manufacturer from their drop down list. I don't think anybody has a WD-40 bike much less a tadpole trike, but that is one of the choices.
Once you have registered your cycle if it gets stolen you just login to this website to report it stolen so bike shops and police can look up stolen cycles reported on this website. Pretty nifty, huh?
BTW, I noticed that there were some registrations listed for Great Britain so apparently this goes beyond the United States. It may be open to any country, but I don't know that to tell you so.
Here is what they state on their website:
The Bike Index makes stolen bikes harder to sell and easier to recover by making sure important information about your bike is there when you need it the most. The process is simple, secure, and free.
It's simple: we offer an easy and efficient way to store and update important identifying information about your bike.
In the unfortunate event that your bike is stolen, you can harness the power of our network to help get it back. Registering with Bike Index ensures that law enforcement, bike shops, individuals, and everyone in between has the information they need to help reunite you with your bike.
Bike Index is the most widely used bicycle registration service in the world. We strive to be the best resource in the fight against bicycle theft.
I have registered my tadpole trike including color photos of it and the serial number on the frame. Unfortunately on older Catrikes the serial number was only on a decal which could be removed. Newer Catrikes have them engraved in the frame. I have a 2013 model which is the year Catrike started engraving the serial numbers, but my trike came with a decal and is not engraved. I think it is shameful on the part of any bicycle manufacturer to use decals instead of stamping or engraving the serial number into/onto the frame.
None of us want to experience our trikes being stolen, but if it happens we may very well be thankful that we registered our trikes while we had them and had the opportunity. It just might help us to be able to …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
I don't normally write anything about bicycles since this blog is about tadpole trikes. However, I am so impressed with this cyclist that I decided to share about him here as an "extra bonus". This Frenchman, Robert Marchand, is 105 years old (maybe that should read "young") and just recently set a new world record for his age group. Actually they had to make a new age group for him. He pedaled just over 14 miles in one hour attempting to beat his previous record. I couldn't do that at half his age. All I can say is … "WOW !" Now he says he is waiting on a rival to compete against him. 🙂 Any takers? You can read about him HERE and HERE. And here is the Wikipedia writeup.
He has my admiration. Now if we could just talk him into riding a tadpole trike while he is still around and able he could really have some fun and …
A FREE GIFT awaits you!
Note: I want to state upfront that when I started writing this article I was under the impression that this tadpole trike journey was still ongoing. It was not until after I completed writing the article that I discovered that the ride was completed in August 2014. I have made some changes in what I wrote in an attempt to try to reflect this, but I can't assure you the reader that everything will be clear and accurate. I am still a bit confused myself. Never the less, I think you will find it an interesting story.
Dan says 'cycling is therapeutic and gives him purpose'.
Dan McGuire is a determined tadpole rider who indeed is an inspiration as well as a challenge to the rest of us. I think he is approximately 83 now. Dan is stricken with Parkinson's Disease as well as arthritis, scoliosis and something weird with his eye according to his daughter. She writes "Canada is his playground" and it sure looks like he is making his way around its vastness. He started this current journey in 2013. He was diagnosed with Parkinson't in 2007. Dan has been a longtime cyclist with several accomplishments in the past. This was approximately a 10,000 km (6214 mile) trike ride he set out on at approximately 80 years old and he did it alone although others have accompanied him on parts of his journey.
You can read his daughter's article about him HERE.
And HERE is Dan's Facebook page.
HERE is another article about this incredible tadpole pilot. And HERE is another article.
Note: Although his journey ended in 2014 the following webpage appears to be still up and functioning as far as I know … And HERE is a webpage where you can donate on behalf of Dan to help Parkinson Society British Columbia. Their statement is that they are "there for those in need. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is committed to offering support, sharing reliable information and raising funds for programs and research. We receive no government funding, so we rely on you. " Dan has a personal goal set to raise $10,000 for this organization. On this webpage you can also leave a comment for Dan to encourage him and wish him well.
Upon further reading about Dan it appears that his journey across Canada was successfully completed in 2014. It just goes to show ya that you have to be careful what you read online. 🙂
Dan, I don't know if you will ever see this and read it, but I just want to say thanks for your commitment and effort in raising awareness and demonstrating that life isn't over just because one becomes affected by Parkinson's Disease. Your journey was (and is) indeed incredible and my hat is off to you. I don't know your current status as to whether or not you are still cycling, but I sure hope you are and will be able to continue to do so for some time yet. You are an encouragement and inspiration to the rest of us to …
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT THING? … and OTHER DUMB QUESTIONS
How do you balance that thing? … Just one of the dumb questions I have been asked. And some comments are as dumb. One such comment I have heard a couple of times is … "That thing sure looks uncomfortable." And then they ask me about it. I usually ask them if they have a recliner chair or have ever sat in one. If they say yes I then ask them if it is/was comfortable to which they reply "Of course". Then I tell them that sitting on the trike is much like sitting in a recliner chair. They don't know what to think or say then. One person went on to say … "Well, it just doesn't look comfortable to me. I think I would prefer a regular bike."
Then there are those who come up with statements like … "I will give you $125 for it." I tell them … "That wouldn't even buy the fenders on it." Most people have no concept of how much money is involved in a tadpole trike.
"That doesn't look safe! I would be afraid to ride something like that." I occasionally hear that. What can I say? In my opinion having ridden diamond frame bicycles for nearly 60 years before switching over to recumbents I think it is far safer than being on 2 wheels. Of course, anything we operate is only as safe as the way in which we operate it. But inherently a tadpole trike is far safer than a bike. And most tadpole trike riders would readily tell you that they get far more respect (from drivers of cars and trucks) on their trike than they ever did on a bike.
Another common question is … "Is that hard to ride? It looks like it would be." My answer is … "No, why do you think that?" Then I go on to explain that it could not be any simpler. There is no balancing involved like there is on a bike so that in itself makes it easy. It is quite comfortable, easy to pedal, has excellent brakes, handles like a sports car and is a blast to ride.
Another often asked question is … "How do you steer it?" Again, my comeback is usually … "The same as you do any bike … you use the handlebars" … while I am demonstrating it for them.
I try not to get smart with them although I have to admit it is challenging not to at times. Remembering that as a tadpole trike rider I am an ambassador. I want to promote tadpole trikes and help others take notice of all they have to offer. I would like very much to see many more of them … just so it doesn't get too crowded out there. 🙂
Yes, as the numbers grow we can all …
Happy Holidays? … Not Hardly! It's called Christmas (with a capital C) for a reason. And this song says it all …
Sadly our society has changed drastically. Until the last few decades here in these United States the two most popular holidays each year were Thanksgiving and Christmas … both centered around God and His loving goodness toward us. Do you know what has replaced these two holidays as the favorites? Halloween and Super Bowl Sunday! It is no wonder that this nation has come under God's judgement. We have demonstrated to Him that He is no longer important in our lives. I am not here to preach. I am just stating a fact … one which I find so very tragic. God's love for us has not changed nor will it ever. We are the ones who have changed. Today is Christmas Day and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year … not happy holidays.
Remember … the truth is not what you think it is. The truth is not what I say it is. The TRUTH is what (and WHO) God says it it. Jesus said "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except thru ME." (John 14:6) It is not about religion, but rather it is about personal relationship with God which is only possible thru Jesus Christ.
A FREE GIFT awaits you!