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International Journal of Microwave Science and Technology
Volume 2007, Article ID 86583, 5 pages
On Miniaturizing On-Chip Microstrip Inductors Using Embedded Radiating Dipoles
1Graduate School of Electro-Optic and Material Science, National Formosa University (NFU), 64 WenHua Road, Huwei 632, Taiwan
2Advanced Research & Business Laboratory (ARBL), No. 6C, 88-8, Ta-Tun 20th Street, Taichung 407, Taiwan
Received 7 January 2007; Revised 6 March 2007; Accepted 7 March 2007
Academic Editor: Kamya Yekeh Yazdandoost
Copyright © 2007 Chungpin Liao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
How to Cite this Article
Chungpin Liao, Hsien-Ming Chang, and Jeng-Shin Hsu, "On Miniaturizing On-Chip Microstrip Inductors Using Embedded Radiating Dipoles," International Journal of Microwave Science and Technology, vol. 2007, Article ID 86583, 5 pages, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1155/2007/86583.


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How to Get Your Mind to Read
posted Fri, Jan 05, 2018
Categories: Uncategorized
A recent NYT article reinforces why an integrated academic curriculum such as the community-engaged, project-based curriculum at Compass (CCC) is needed in today's world. While we are not alone in this desire, we want to make literacy part of ALL venture projects and coursework at CCC. All ventures will be highly dependent on thoughtful communication including writing and speaking skills. This provides the basis for development of one of the core Compass Competencies, Communication and Foundational Literacy.
Why is this so important in today's educational system? Check out the NYT's article, How to Get Your Mind to Read.

subset: commoncrawl


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Nouakchott, Mauritania - A sub-regional project for the improvement of rice production in the Sahel was launched Thursday in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, with assistance from Spain. The project, whose implementation will last 28 months, concerns Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal and will cost US$ 5.8 million.
Courtesy: Afrique en ligne
12th Feb 2011


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We are well and truly into whatever season your part of the planet is in. The Southern Hemisphere is mired in summer doldrums, while we Northerners are enjoying whatever winter birds we're likely to get this year. How is the season treating you?
I still haven't hit all the winter birds I want, so look for me among the snowy fields or along the icy shore of Lake Ontario this weekend. Corey is living it up with the birderati at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. Clearly, we'll have very different bird lists this weekend 😉
How about you? Where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.
Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!
Summer doldrums? What are those? I'm in the fabulous Mkuze Game Reserve, home to 400 species of birds. And everywhere there is excitement.
I'm moving from a yard with 178 species over 30 years to one with 3 over 3 days. Some adjustment will be required.
© 2013 10,000 Birds. All words, images, and opinions are the property of their respective authors unless stated otherwise.


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There are two sides to every story. In the last Episode of Ben and Bikes I spoke with Ian Dille about what happened at the 2001 Road National Championships in Florida and the subsequent article he wrote for this month's edition of Bicycling Magazine titled "The Deal".
Long story short: With a few laps to go on a grueling circuit, the race was between Ian Dille and Mike Friedman. Ian who had been in the lead for a while, Mike who had just caught up to him. Ian's recollection is that Mike said to him "I won't Sprint" "You Can Win".
As they closed in on the finish line, the opposite happened. Mike did sprint, and he did win.
Today my conversation is with Mike, to get his side of the story. Both of the race itself and some thoughts now that he has read the article that Ian wrote.


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The custom made kitchen has captured the mood of this contemporary Arts and Crafts property. The innovative door style is a cross between traditional and modern. The kitchen uses a traditional detail in a modern day context.
Good use has been made of the existing exposed brick arch to add colour and a rustic texture to the design. The kitchen links two parts of the house effortlessly and provides a practical and attractive space for the family to enjoy.
Kitchen Design: Lynne Baillie


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1911 · Leipzig
by Kessler, Professor Fritz
Leipzig: P. Eberhardt in Komm, 1911. Hardcover. Very good. An accordion-fold volume of 45 photographic illustrations of calisthenics while holding an iron rod. Complete with the descriptive booklet, housed in the front pocket as issued. Oblong octavo. Original gray cloth binding, with printed paper overlays. Some general shelfwear; otherwise very good. (Inventory #: 66857)


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Mart 20, 2017
in Lifestyle
Take Me Away
Don't act so surprised, Your Highness. You weren't on any mercy mission this time. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by Rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you. What good is a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. Your eyes can deceive you I care. So, what do you think of her, Han? Still, she's got a lot of spirit. I don't know, what do you think? The plans you refer to...


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Alor Divers - Eco Dive Resort
Dive with us the exciting reefs of Alor Archipelago, Indonesia !
Dec 11, 2014
Our biggest speed boat in the water
This 8.5 m long fiberglass boat just finished its first season in the water. Going diving with it is a pure pleasure, comfort and luxury. Even more so when you think how remote Alor is! This is the latest photo and you can see + read a bit more here
the newest 8.5 x 2.3 m beast powered by 200 hp
news from Alor / Alor Divers
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The thing you don't learn growing up in Florida is how the first snow of the winter changes everything for as long as it lasts. It softens and dampens and muffles, smooths out all of the edges, on streets and sidewalks and inside heads.
I walked up to the bar in it last night, surrounded by the soft rattle of the snow falling, faulty hat curled inside my purse, happily listening to sad songs about love and feeling only the gentle brush of snowflakes on my head. The streets were mostly empty but all of the windows glowed, and in the park snowball fights were won and lost in minutes.
Everything is iced over now, promising a treacherous walk to the office over unsalted sidewalks. This week is vowing to be desperately cold and mostly dry, and getting out of bed will likely be nearly impossible. But that first snowfall was pretty close to perfect.


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What is the State animal of Poland?
- By Poland
- 2 Mar 2018
- 0 Comments
- 1452 views
European Bison or European buffalo is the official state animal of Poland. It is also called the 'Wisent', which is the largest land mammal of the continent of Europe. Habitually it is confused with the American Bison. The scientific name of the state animal of Poland is Bison bonasus. The European bison, Poland's national Mammal...


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Story by Kari Hawkins on 04/08/2019HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Appreciation for 60 Korean War Veterans was served with an honorary peace medal and remarks from one of the Army's top general officers during the 14th annual Korean War Veterans Luncheon April 4.
"Sixty-eight years ago today, the Battle of Seoul ended," Gen. Gus Perna, commanding general of the Army Materiel Command, told the more than 300 veterans and family members who attended the luncheon at the Huntsville Marriott.
"The final Battle of Seoul ended the tyranny of many other countries and the aggressor of the North into the South. Korean War Veterans created a safe haven in the South, the part of Korea that is still free today. Some of the veterans in this room today were probably there in the spring of 1951. Today, Seoul is a city of nearly 10 million people who are proud citizens of a growing economy."
But, the true reason for the sacrifices of Korean War Veterans, Perna said, was more than just to ensure a strong economy in that part of the world.
"What Korean War Veterans did was a direct reflection of what right is," Perna said. "You created a beacon of what right looks like. The whole world can see the relationship you helped to build, a relationship that is strong, a relationship that builds up each country based on trust, confidence, and the individual and collective courage of our people."
Hosted by the Legacy 4 Korean War Veterans Foundation, the luncheon highlight was the first-ever presentation in Huntsville of the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal to veterans. While Koreans are grateful for the U.S. commitment during the Korean War of 1950-53, that appreciation is also felt throughout the world as other nations look to South Korea as a free country in East Asia, Perna said.
"The efforts of Korean War Veterans created freedom that has been sustained for 68 years," he said. "Their efforts allow us to move forward in peace. Because of the partnership we have sustained, Korea will only get stronger."
Those veterans also set an example that inspires today's Soldiers, he said.
"It is a great honor for me to be here today to show appreciation to you," Perna said. "I am proud to serve behind you, and keep up the legacy of what you did and for what you stand for."
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle emphasized the connection that local Korean War Veterans have given the community, using as an example the bridge on Old Madison Pike that connects Huntsville and Madison, named for Korean War Veterans.
"The bridge connects two communities, two economies, two people very much like the bridge you built that connects Korea and our nation," Battle said. "We are honored to be able to work with South Koreans and make it a great city. Thank you for your service. You have made the world a better place."
The Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal was presented to the 60 veterans in the audience by Young-jun Kim, the Korean Consul General for the Southeast U.S. In his remarks, he said South Koreans will never forget the American service members who fought for their freedom.
"The Korean War is often called the Forgotten War," Kim said. "But I want to assure you the Korean people have not forgotten you or your sacrifices. This medal is a reminder of your bravery and sacrifice."
Since the Korean War, South Korea has transformed itself into the sixth largest trade partner with the U.S.
"You deserve to share the same pride that the Korean people have kept in their hearts. The Korean War has taught us that we are strong when we stand as one. The alliance between the U.S. and Korea will ensure freedom on the Korean peninsula and throughout the world."
The first Korean War Veterans luncheon was hosted in 2006 by KC Bertling, a native Korean, and her husband Sam. It has grown larger every year since.
"KC and Sam are a remarkable couple who have taken it upon themselves to honor our Korean War Veterans with a luncheon for the past 14 years," Perna said. "They have selflessnessly sacrificed a great deal to do this for one reason to honor those who served during the Korean War. Thank you for what you have done to honor and preserve the legacy of those who fought and served."
Other groups supporting the luncheon included Hyosung USA, Inc., the 1st Patriot Support Corp reenactment group, the Twickenham Jazz Band and the Hazel Green High School (Navy) JROTC Unit.


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A Style of One's Own - A trip to Charleston with Aesme
It's early on Sunday morning and I"m tucked up in bed as I write this, surrounded by catalogues of Bloomsbury Group paintings, with a peach coloured poodle...Read More
07850 815426
An environmentally aware florist and a tiny Schnauzer that likes to model. A strong focus on wild, natural flowers with lots of textures and asymmetrical shapes. Floral styling, workshops, flowers for the home, events, weddings.
It's early on Sunday morning and I"m tucked up in bed as I write this, surrounded by catalogues of Bloomsbury Group paintings, with a peach coloured poodle...Read More
It's been a while since I actually sat down and tried to write a blog post - so much has happened with house moves, funerals, weddings and even an exciting project to work on and so I'm terribly behind with all my posts. I have five half written drafts stored in my website. I was deciding which one to actually finish this week, when a set of the most beautiful images by Louise of Taylor and Porter dropped in my in box, and suddenly I thought of so many things I wanted to say.
April marked exactly a year since I decided to try and make a go of some sort of floral career, and this time last year I headed off to St Giles in Dorset for the Ponderosa and Thyme workshop. Lots had happened since then, and it's already well documented just how wonderful and positive that experience was, and how many dear friends made - and yet, setting off from St Pancras International, I still had my fair share of nerves, but there was also plenty of excitement too.
It's a difficult thing to decide which kind of workshop to go on. After all, it's a big investment in oneself, and (for me anyway) a lot of thinking has to go into it. Last year's retreat was a huge step forward for me and, as I had very little experience, it had been easy to fall for Katie's incredible style, and her compassion that was conveyed in all her images. But this year, I knew I had to build upon those foundations. I first found out about Emily of Fleuropean's business from Susanne at The Blue Carrot when she gave me some of her ribbon to tie my bouquet. That ribbon had many other lives before being cut into smaller pieces used to tie Christmas decorations onto the tree. There was a degree of protest from the Bowen household when I changed the entire colour scheme for the tree in order for it to work with this one piece of ribbon. Luckily some competitive family members came round and expressed such admiration for said ribbon/ decorations and colour scheme, plus a determination to do the same to their tree next year, that my husband had a rare moment of proverbial chest beating, and what had been a sore point soon became one of great pride. I am already wondering what I can get away with this year, but armed with the knowledge that competitive festive decoration can be an excuse for a little bit of prop shopping, I'm mentally making that list. The festive tableaux could well be amazing.
But I digress. When Emily posted that she was doing a workshop in Belgium that involved a class in natural dyes for ribbons, I immediately saw an opportunity to try out a new skill. When I saw she was hosting it jointly with Madison of Hart Floral - who has a lightness of touch in her work that I so admire but could never replicate - I could immediately see the potential to take my craft forward. I mentioned on Instagram that I was thinking about it very seriously when some other people, whose work I had been admiring and following some time (that's you, Sarah, Betany and Jasmine) all said they were going and please could I join in. And so I did.
After gathering at Liege station, we were whisked off to the most beautiful Belgian farmhouse. We ran off and chose our rooms, bunking up in doubles and triples, and after an explore sat down to a wonderful dinner prepared by Eric, under a blossom chandelier erected by Madison. The real work started the next morning, though, beginning with a foraging trip to find materials both for making natural dye from and for our arrangements to be made later on. We went up and down the gently rolling (ha!) countryside, and collected meadowsweet, alder and dandelions, shouting across to Emily "will this work?" every time we found an item we hadn't previously asked about.
Back in the farmhouse kitchen, we set about making dyes for the ribbons, runners and aprons that had been given to us. Emily had already prepared some other dyes (walnuts, avocado stones and many others), which were boiling on the stove in readiness for us. Given how many of us there were around that kitchen table, I have to say just how proud I was of us all that there were no serious spats as to who was going first, and who was using which dye. This was probably because it was all lovely, and if we ran out of anything, Emily cheerfully made another batch, but still I think this was the first time I caught a glimpse of the teamwork that was going to get us girls though the next few days.
As our ribbons were hanging out to dry in the garden... or in some cases, flapping around in the ground after not being secured properly (ahem!), we had grabbed some lunch and then headed off to Emily's home to raid her garden for some tulips and other floral delicacies for the afternoon's arrangement making. I am still a little ashamed of just how many tulips I gathered up that day (sorry, Emily) but I did use every one and having unfettered access to the garden was an absolute highlight of the trip to Belgium for me. It's hard to describe the pleasure of picking tulips in Belgium, on a sunny spring day, in beautiful countryside with cows mooing contentedly - and such fresh air! - and anyway I don't want to sound too much like Gray's Elegy so I'll just get back to the task in hand.
Once we had headed back with our spoils, Madison did a demonstration of the most considered placement of dogwood and tulips. I was pretty amazed at how such an impact could be made with a small bowl and such a limited number of ingredients. I was also concerned about whether or not I would be able to restrain myself from throwing all the amazing pickings I had together in one huge, splendid gesture, which is a basic instinct for me, but perhaps not what I had come to learn. It started well, with dogwood on one side and darker elements on the other, but soon my old friends the fritillaries and hellebores were making their way into the arrangement... however, I can honestly say that the arrangement I made was, for me, so restrained and understated that I was really surprised that I had achieved it. As Madison herself said, she didn't want to see a dozen Madisons, but I could clearly the influence her demonstration had had on my work. In fact, we all filled our custom made glazed bowls with a lightness of touch and level of concentration that was quiet impressive. (Footnote: I say "all", there was one notable exception to that statement, as the sassy one amongst us chose her own vessel in the kitchen and recreated the entire Belgian countryside in her corner of the workshop, but my goodness, it was amazing and we all loved her for it!).
After another evening of wine, chat and delicious food from Eric, the following day our tasks were to do an installation involving wisteria that had mysteriously appeared overnight, following a trip made to a car park somewhere in Belgium under the cover of darkness, and also to make our bouquets. Madison gave us direction as we suspended the wisteria from pieces of string that we tied across the room, and watched patiently as we created shapes through a process of trial and error. The result was a light and delicate wisteria wonderland type thing - it was just so pretty! We then watched as the beautiful Anneleen modelled under and interacted with said installation - such a joy to watch so much beauty in one room.
Later on, it was Emily's turn to demonstrate, and this time we watched her make the most beautiful bouquet from her homegrown Brownie tulips, with forget me nots and pansies and I think I am going to print a copy of Louise's photograph of it to stick on my wall - some people stick aspirational photos on their fridge of women they would like to look like... well, I am planning to put pictures on my wall of bouquets I wished I had made. That said, I was unusually happy with my own one, and even more so when I saw the photos of Anneleen modelling it in a stunning vintage bridal dress. If I ever start a wall featuring pictures of pieces I'm proud I made, it will definitely be on there. It would only be gracious of me, however, to apologise for the panic I had at the beginning when I realised that the overnight death of my dogwood meant that I was lacking in branchlike structures - thank you to Betany, Melanie and Nora for keeping me calm (and tolerating my distracting concerns when they had their own thing to do) and to Rachel for lending me some of her previously foraged greenery. I was very grateful and remain so.
At this juncture, there was a brief interlude as photography by the wonderful Taylor and Porter was in progress, and it was suggested that we form a breakaway group to take some of our own, slightly less serious and infinitely less professional photographs. We skipped off up the road, armed with flowers and a camera and photographed each other... there was the honking of car horns (Belgians are nowhere near as restrained and conservative as I had imagined them to be!) and leaping though fields and mainly, a lot of fun. I don't have room to share all the images here here, so i'm posting just a couple to give you a feel for what happened at this point;
By this stage, it will come as no surprise that Eric cooked us another delicious supper. By night three, polite conversation had been replaced by giggles and chatter, which as we all know, is infinitely preferable. We had sussed each other's senses of humour, found that we had lots in common and really liked each other quite a lot. But by far the highlight of the evening was Betany's singing. An accomplished Opera singer as well as ridiculously talented floral designer, Betany will be known to many of your as Chloris Floral. This is probably a good moment to mention that one doesn't, as I had erroneously imagined, pronounce that "claw-riss", but rather "Clore-reese". I can see why, it's much more elegant and frankly, I felt a little parochial when I discovered this, so I"m letting you know in advance in case you come across this kind and talented lady. I am gutted that I didn't video her performance under the wisteria, but she brought tears to my eyes and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
The following morning, we checked out of the farmhouse and headed down the road to Emily's farmhouse for the final furlong - more installations and a night of camping in the garden. The installations were to happen in Emily's attic - if indeed that is the correct word - it's a vast space at the top of the building filled with ribbons that you can only dream of, with huge wooden beams just begging to be covered in flowers. As we cleared Emily's props to one side, I felt a little bit like I was moving some sacred or holy relics - you all know the ones I mean - the birds' nests, the dried grasses, the brass trays and everything that makes her account look so amazing. But soon we were ready to go and again Madison - after reminding us to please not all talk at once (fair point well made!) directed us as we split into two teams to fill the space with blossoms and lilacs. As with ribbon dyeing and wisteria hanging, I like to think we did a good job of helping and directing each other, whilst lovely Jen of Nectar and Bloom cricked her neck at the top of a ladder (if in doubt, send the flexible yoga instructor). The results were as follows:
At this point, there was one last task - to create a a floral walkway in the fields of Belgium whilst Anneleen wafted through it in another beautiful dress. But I was dead beat and opted to stay in and chat with both Anneleen and Edlynn (the talented make up artist) about life in Belgium. And I'm kind of glad I confessed to being well, older than everybody else and tired and cranky with it, because it gave me just enough energy to get through the final and most fun evening I've had in a quite a while. It was interrupted by my husband, due to catch the Eurotunnel the following morning with Hilda so that she could meet Team Primaveral before travelling en famille to Luxembourg. Having assured me that he absolutely knew where both his and Hilda's passports were before I set off earlier in the week, he called me to ask where I had put said dog's documentation. I reminded him of our earlier conversation and he suggested that I had possibly moved Hilda's passport (remotely, from another country?). Luckily for him, I was distracted by wine and a new fun game taught to us by Rachel which involved zooming in on the least attractive feature in a portrait photograph, taking a screen shot and zooming in again. (I think you had to be there, but if you want a lesson, I'll send you Rachel's account details).
Emily, Madison, Louise, Sarah, Amber, Jasmine, Jen, Rachel, Amber, Melanie, Betany, Nora, Frances, Misa, Jime, Steffi, Edlynn, Ruth, Anneleen and of course, Eric - thank you for amazing few days that I won't forget. I loved working with all of you and I hope that our first meeting won't be our last, And I'm sure you'll all be pleased to know that my husband called in the morning to let me know that he didn't blame me for losing Hilda's passport - which meant that he stayed at home whilst I travelled to Lieges and then completed a further four and half hours by train with all my bags to get to Luxembourg. In fact, he blamed me even less when i got home a few days later and found it exactly where he had left it, next to his glasses (oh, the irony!) on the desk in his office. He totally plans to make amends by buying you all lots of drinks the next time we get together. Until then, dear friends...
Styling by: Honeysuckle and Hilda
Photo by: Claire Bowen
There can be no denying that 2016 has been The Grand Tour of floral designers, worskhops, retreats, 121s, and garden visits. In this respect (i.e. outside of the year that saw the deaths of I don't know how many talented artists whilst the rest of the world hit the auto destruct button), it has been a wonderful year. It was preceded by about two decades of office jobs I didn't enjoy, and a pretty bumpy three years more recently, so I do feel like I earned this one. And whilst Rome has been burning, I have most definitely been fiddling (with flowers).
Most of my studying has been in relation to the flowers themselves, how to make do large scale arrangements, make beautiful bouquets of various shapes and sizes, buttonholes, garlanding, wreath making, archways and even a bit of botanical jewellery. And in days gone by, that would have been enough. But in the social media driven age that we live in now, it simply isn't. In order to make our businesses credible, we need to attract followers, and thus the public holds us accountable, measuring our success on Instagram, Pinterest and the like. So it is not just a question of having a lovely product, we also have to be able to present that product to the outside world on an almost daily basis. We need to know our Planoly from our Unum, and to be able to produce a Gorillapod in any situation.
In some ways, this is an amazing thing. We can, to a large extent, market ourselves. We don't need to employ PR gurus, or court magazines in the hope of editorial as the only medium through which our works will be seen. I wonder how may florists who don't have a shop would be enjoying so many bookings from their workshops if it wasn't for Instagram. On the other hand, though, we do find ourselves slaves to hashtags (interestingly, my spell check always changes the word "hashtag" to "hostage") and worrying a lot about the images we post. I tell the outside world and other florists that I don't really care, and we laugh about it over a cup of tea from time to time, but when I reached 1,000 followers I was so excited. I was out in Richmond Park when a text flashed up from another florist friend congratulating me on reaching the first milestone. I stopped trying to pose Hilda in amongst some ferns and and a tree trunk to check my account, and sure enough it had happened. Hilda seized her moment and escaped down a river bank, and so was almost as excited as me. I could hear her woofing in celebration about 200 yards away and she was definitely saying "1,000 followers, woohoo!" and not "finally, I can have some fun without being poked with bits of fauna whilst sitting in bits of prickly stuff under the tree".
At the Ponderosa and Thyme retreat we had a session on photography led by the wonderful Maria Lamb, as well as one on styling from Katie herself. It was early days for me and at the end of a long week, and I ended up plonking a the wing of a pheasant whose carcass we had found whilst out foraging, next to a lovely piece of mossy bark I came across, with lots of lovely spring blooms. I added quails' eggs for good measure as everyone else had done and of course a pile of old books. Katie was as encouraging as ever, but I could see there was work to be done. Maria took artistic shots of my scene in sections, perhaps because the grouping as a whole was a little overwhelming. When I got home, I purchased Silk and Willow ribbons and fabrics en masse in a sheer fit of enthusiasm, and practiced furiously with both flowers and props. Annoyingly, one of my favourite images came about when I turned my back and Cecil the cat destroyed my taxidermy butterflies. I should have been annoyed, but he told me he was collaborating on a piece about shattered dreams and the fragility of life. And of course, Instagram loved it.
A few months later, I asked Miss Pickering for some help with my photography during a 121 session. We talked about light sources and exposure and I did make a little progress. But I still had work to do. It occurred to me that, sometimes on a course I am so relieved at the point I have produced something beautiful, that by the time it comes to learn how to document it, I am already emotionally exhausted. Or something like that (perhaps a bit less dramatic, but along those lines). So I made what turned out to be an excellent decision in that I booked two days that focussed on photography and styling, ones that didn't require me to first pour all my energy into creating something. I attended first of all, the Green and Gorgeous flower photography day, led by the excellent Clare West (which focussed on photography with some styling) and then a day of Styling for Florists hosted by A Quiet Style (which started with a little photography but focussed mainly on styling).
Both days were revelations. I could pass on all the tips that were given to me by Clare and Emma, but they have courses to run and livings to earn! However, three top tips that were common to both days:
1. When considering the ever present and much discussed triangle of exposure, for us floral designers, it is the depth of field that matters the most. That's the F stop thingey. It is really important, especially when photography moody photos of dahlias (see above).
2. Choose backgrounds carefully. The bouquet above is set in front of a really lovely textured and weather beaten grey wall. The styled board at the beginning of this post is in on top of some lovely coarse jute. Wooden boards and linen also work well.
3. Obey the Rule of Thirds. I knew this already, but when I actually put it into practice rather than just thinking about it, it really does make a difference.
The above is just a very small sample of what I learned from Clare and Emma. Clare succeeded where so many others had failed before her, in that she got me to focus as well as my camera, no mean feat. And if you want to know your flat lays from your uprights, I can't imagine a better teacher than Emma.
I stuffed a bag full of my favourite props at 6.05 am and grabbed some hellebores from a jug in the kitchen before jumping on a train to Brighton. After an hour of listening to Emma, I emptied out my bag á la Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club and created the image at the start of this post in less than 20 minutes. Later on, after more tweaking and listening, I created the scene below in just under 15 minutes. I still don't really know how, but everything Emma said made so much sense and I was surprised that I hadn't panicked or even needed much help (ok, just a little) when putting her advice into practice. I left feeling so happy and inspired - and I may also have come a full circle since, just as my first attempt with Katie had me hitting the Silk and Willow website really rather hard, so today I have been adding to my props stash at an alarming rate - expect to see 19th vintage French secateurs, a white linen and lace tablecloth, even more flower books and botanical illustrations and of course some vintage ribbon spools coming to an Instagram account near you very shortly. Meanwhile, I'm off to organise my grid.
My heart still skips a little beat when I see the image above. There was time when a small, hand held bouquet was my nemesis but I have been working hard on this to some effect. However, when I went down to meet Susanne of The Blue Carrot on the Rosehead Peninsula, I didn't expect I would or could produce something like this. It is also now my most liked picture on Instagram, which is surprising as the tiny brown Schnauzer is nowhere to be seen, and Planoly tells me that her presence in an image can increase audience appreciation by up to 40%.
I ventured down to Cornwall without my Head of Marketing for my long awaited date with Susanne in mid September. Aware of just how many floral designers had gone ahead of me, I was full of trepidation as to whether or not I would be able to come to close to matching their creations. Yes, I know that comparison is the thief of joy, because Sara of Wedding Sparrow told us so. However, when you know that florists including the likes of Kirstie from Ruby and The Wolf, Sarah of Simply by Arrangement, Jenn of Jennifer Pinder Flowers, Vic of Foxgloves and Glory and Lucy The Flower Hunter have all gone ahead of you, and that Brigitte of Moss and Stone is not far behind, it does make for a certain amount of pressure.
If anxiety was a strong emotion at the outset, it was quickly overtaken by excitement. Susanne's garden is full of the most beautiful flowers you can imagine, and her workbenches were lined up with cuttings of the most gorgeous palette I have ever seen. If my lesson in colour psychology taught me that green has many positive attributes, Susanne showed me just how many shades of green there are, and I quickly understood which greens I wanted (the sort of limey ones that are going yellowy brown). My beloved corals were all lined up with the palest of pinks, café au last dahlias, darker dahlias, dogwood roses, chocolate cosmos, spindleberries and, my new favourite thing, hops. So many hops! Lovey crisp, gristly, low hanging, lime green hops.
Given my hopes to soon be growing my own flowers, I was keen to know how Susanne achieved so much loveliness on her plot. She doesn't use pesticides, apart from the odd organic slug pellet. I asked her if she ever buys in any flowers. She told me that she does - she sees herself as an artist (rightly so) and thinks that to deny herself a flower just because it is not available in her garden is like a painter denying himself a particular shade of pigment that he needs to complete his picture. This is an interesting point, and one that I need to give more thought to in my quest for a sustainable floral design company. If I ever get to anywhere near the level of sufficiency I have witnessed in this little paradise, I think I can feel pretty pleased with myself.
By the end of the morning, having first photographed Susanne's demo bouquet just in case I wasn't prepared to publish my own (!), I had actually created something I was really very proud of. With the best array of flowers and foliage available anywhere in the UK, and Susanne's tips on shape, it would have been difficult not to. We headed off to The Hidden Hut for lunch. A big beach clean up was in operation at Portscatho that day, with marine biologists taking all sorts of readings for good measure. Many of Susanne's friends were out there and a few stopped to chat. I explained to them - as they amazingly seemed not to know - that coming to see The Blue Carrot is a rite of passage for most floral designers. Everyone looked suitably impressed except for Susanne, who was not familiar with the term. I don't know how much of this down to Susanne's innate modesty, and how much to speaking German as a first language, but if Alanis Morissette were to reissue a version of "Ironic" for the 2010s, I would demand a line of the refrain was adapted to include Susanne's unawareness of the rite of passage. It definitely wouldn't rhyme and I don't think it would scan either, but it is right up there with rain on wedding days and free rides that have been paid in advance, and as such demands inclusion.
We spent the afternoon working on arrangements, much more delicate and smaller in scale than my usual creations and the realisation that I can make a big impact with about 20% of the flowers I sometimes use was a very helpful revelation indeed. We sang along to the radio and Susanne introduced me to the amazing Gregory Porter (what a voice!). It was one of the happiest days I have had in a very long time. Which isn't to say that I lead a sad and miserable life - far from it - just that this was a particularly happy one.
A rite of passage is defined as a ritual or ceremony signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another, as from adolescence to adulthood. My day with Susanne was so relaxed that I don't think I could describe it was something as formal as either a ritual or a ceremony, but certainly a process took place that day which took me further on my journey in floral design, a step closer to knowing where I wanted to be and how best to achieve it. I am so excited that Autumn is here and, thanks to my trip to Portscatho, I have new knowledge with which to enjoy it even more. Thank you, Susanne, for sharing your garden, your talents and your sense of humour with me on that wonderful September day.
If Miss Pickering was the one who renewed my interest in flowers and piqued my curiosity with her blog, then it was five days with Katie Davis of Ponderosa and Thyme that made me believe I could have a future in flowers. Our group of sixteen met back in April and, five months later, I still miss them and look back fondly on those days as some of the happiest - and most tiring! - I have ever had. We are still in touch on social media from our respective corners of the globe, and I have seen three of them again (unsurprisingly, the three that are based in the UK). In fact, because of the many and various postings on social media, lots of people have been in touch to ask me what I thought of the course and if I would recommend it. The short answer to that is "Hell, Yes!".
I wanted to wait a few weeks before sending Katie my feedback on her wonderful workshop. I left on such a high that I wanted to wait for my feelings to settle a little so I could be pragmatic about all the things I enjoyed and also gained knowledge from - the morning foraging, the Dutch Still life I created, the bouquet way too large to carry (not compulsory, mine just ended up that way)... I planned to talk about how helpful I found it to meet Flowerona and to listen to Sarah from Wedding Sparrow - a stellar cast. Their advice has proved so helpful in the months that have followed as I have been working out my own brand identity and what my own business should look like. Of course I mentioned the gorgeous setting we worked in, the beautiful home of the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, the most gracious hosts you could imagine, in Wimborne St Giles, and how warm and friendly all of Katie's team were. I came home with the most beautiful images from Maria Lamb Photography and Hunting Ground Films. You know, all the things I would want to know before investing in a course like this.
It has been five months now and my feelings haven't settled. The glow I had when I left Dorset that day hasn't faded at all. The love and encouragement from Katie especially, as well as my fellow students, hasn't diminished. I arrived feeling uncertain of my own abilities and reluctant to let anyone see my work. Since I got home, I have taken time to practice every day - even on the rubbish ones when I was sure I was too tired or too busy - and have been proud of what I have done, publishing the images and finding that other people liked them, too. My brain hasn't stopped buzzing, not even at night, and each day I have taken another step towards growing my own business. I know now that I can do this, and I can do it well. (You see the American influence coming through there, I didn't even use the word "probably" in that last sentence).
I fully intend to go on other courses with other floral artists as I work to further refine my own style. And I'll enjoy them and learn skill sets from them and probably absorb a little bit of their style into my own along the way. I'll even blog about them if anyone is interested (let me know!). But it was five days in Dorset with Katie that made me believe I could do it, and know that I really, really wanted to.
Postscript: Since the time of writing my blog, the wonderful Pilar of Gorgeous and Green has written a much fuller account of her time on the same course. For anyone who is interested, or thinking of going on a future retreat, I would highly recommend having a good read.
Meanwhile, here is a photo of the beautiful Pilar on a morning foraging trip. I think the joy on her face sums up how we were all feeling.
I wondered if the title for this blog was a little over the top. Would it embarrass the subject of this little foray into floral adulation? Then, a few days ago, I noticed an article in The Week entitled "An Ode to Tom Hanks's Upper Lip". I feel Miss P's many talents are at least equal to Forest Gump's philtrum, and so I continue unabashed.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a big fan of Miss Pickering. Hers was the first blog I ever read "Florist. Blogger. Whatever". Her photo showed her with a camera, eyes just peeping over, and a flower crown on her head. She was a bit mysterious and I kind of wanted to hang out with her the way you do with one of the kids at school who are much more popular than you are, so you don't dare to ask, you just sit in the background quietly. Eventually, a Christmas flower workshop popped up on her site and I signed up and took myself off to Stamford. I had only had Hilda for about 8 weeks and I was also so pleased to meet Miss P that I barely noticed that the arrangements and wreath I made actually weren't too bad, I was too full of excited chatter. (Apologies to anyone else on the course that day who had hoped to get a word in edgeways about something other than my dog). As well as wreaths and arrangements, there was a candlelit lunch, the swagging of Christmas garlands on a staircase and an incident involving some peppercorns. A pretty special day.
Eighteen months later, reasonably confident that I would return from a holiday in Italy with a ring on my finger - not least because I had chosen said ring - I attended a DIY wedding flower day. I looked at my flowers, I looked at Miss Pickering's... I'll let you guess what happened next.
So really, this is just a thank you to the mistress of floral design and a very dear friend. Thank you for being the inspiration for my journey and for some truly stunning wedding flowers that I hope one day I will be able to match.


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Frequently Asked Questions
do i need a lightsaber to come to your workshops?
No. We generally have some extra combat safe sabers on hand for each workshop. If you're concerned about us running out, you can always reach out to us through e-mail or social media and let us know you're coming a couple of days before hand.
what should i wear to your workshops?
Generally anything you would wear to go to the gym is fine to wear to our workshops. T-shirts, sweatpants, and sneakers are all fine.
Please be aware that there are certain articles of clothing, such as spiked jewelry, items with a sharp edge or high heeled shoes/boots, that are not safe for stage combat, and therefore are prohibited from workshops. Additionally, we ask that you do not wear clothing that is excessively revealing, does not allow proper movement or does not provide proper support.
What do your workshops cost?
Technically, nothing. We do not charge to attend our workshops, however we do request a voluntary $10 donation from participants. This donation goes toward the cost of the rehearsal space. If we are working outdoors, we do not ask for a donation.
do i need a costume?
If you are looking to perform with Rogue Alliance, then eventually you will need a costume. However, you do not need a costume in order to come to our workshops.
Additionally, if a member wants to help with our performances, but isn't comfortable being on stage yourself, there are many support roles a member can play to help the show go on that do not require a costume.
do you have rules for your costumes?
Yes. While Rogue Alliance's costuming standards do allow for members to customize their characters in ways most other Star Wars fan groups do not, and our shows frequently incorporate elements from various settings and genres outside the traditional Star Wars setting, we do have costuming standards that members must abide by.
Rogue Alliance's costume panel prides itself on working with members to find ways to make their costume vision work within our standards.
I'm already a member of another group, can I use that costume?
Yes, although we may ask you to change things up a little. Rogue Alliance wants every character to look unique, like they are the star of their own story rather than a background character. As such, it is likely that you may be asked to add some "flair" to your costume in order to make you stand out rather than blend in.
Please note that, because we pride ourselves on our original costumes and characters, Rogue Alliance does not allow members to perform as Star Wars "face characters" (e.g. Darth Vader, Rey, Darth Maul).
Are you guys affiliated with another group?
No. While some of our members used to perform with a group known as New York Jedi, and you may have run into them at events in the past, we do not maintain any current affiliation with that group, nor are we affiliated with the owner of that group.
Additionally, while members of our group may also be members of other fan groups, such as the 501st or Rebel Legion, Rogue Alliance does not have any direct affiliation with these groups.
are you approved by Lucasfilm?
While Lucasfilm does not "officially sanction" any fan groups , there are groups that are granted "preferred" status, such as the 501st and Rebel Legion.
While Rogue Alliance is not one of these "preferred" groups, we have been acknowledged by Lucasfilm and are on their roster of fan groups. As our website says, we are a group by fans for fans, and we conform to the generally accepted ground rules for Star Wars fan groups.
While this means we may not get some of the perks of the larger groups, it allows us the freedom to tell stories and personalize costumes in a way the "preferred" groups cannot.
Do you offer fight certification?
No. Rogue Alliance is not affiliated with groups such as the Society of American Fight Directors who offer combatant certification.
While we have worked and studied with individuals who have obtained this certification, as well as individuals who have worked as professional stage and film combatants, and applied many of the techniques and safety protocols which are observed by these groups, we are not a stage combat school and cannot offer fighter certifications.
what do I do if my question isn't answered here?
Feel free to reach out to us on social media, send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com, or feel free to drop by one of our workshops and ask us any questions we haven't listed here.


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Masters Ceremonies
Contact Sally
About Sally
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Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Sally
A wedding is an important day for the couple celebrating and for the guests in attendance. Here is the process I use to customize your ceremony:
I provide you with one complimentary meeting to discuss your hopes and dreams for the ceremony, to gather information about the kind of atmosphere you want, and to get to know you.
I follow up with an email asking you a series of 7-8 questions which delve into your history as a couple and your feelings for each other. This provides me with information for personalizing the opening of the ceremony and gives your guests an opportunity to get to know your partner/fiance' and your relationship in a way they otherwise would not.
I provide you with several sample ceremonies and work with you to create yours. You can use any of the samples I provide, use parts of multiple ceremonies, use parts of the samples plus use some other elements of your own, and/or provide me with a specific ceremony you would like to use.
Because I have served as wedding celebrant for over 700 couples, I have a large amount of resources at my fingertips which I am happy to share with you should you be looking for something specific for your wedding/commitment ceremony.
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Fall is almost here and I'm so excited to announce the date for my 2018 Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions!
Christmas tree farm family mini sessions will be held on Sunday, November 11th from 1:30 p.m. until sunset at Trim-a-Tree Farm in Athens, AL. Last time I checked, 5 of the 12 available spots remained!
These sessions are perfect for couples and families looking for a few updated photos for a Christmas card. They are 15 minutes long and the $175 session fee includes your 5 favorite images for download with a personal print release.
You can view some of my favorite photos from years past HERE and book your 2018 Christmas Tree Farm mini session by clicking the button below!


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The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, and the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Attahiru Ibrahim, have been summoned to the Presidential Villa.
Ayo Osinlu, Head, Media and Public Relations of NHIS, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
"We are awaiting the outcome of the meeting," he said.
The meeting was yet to start as at the time of this report as the Federal Executive Council meeting was ongoing. The council meeting is being presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The health minister and other ministers are also at the FEC meeting.
The meeting on the NHIS controversy is expected to hold after the FEC meeting.
The meeting between the officials and President Buhari is expected to centre on the controversial reinstatement of the suspended Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Usman Yusuf.
The invitation came a day after President Buhari reinstated Mr. Yusuf as exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Yusuf was suspended by the Minister of Health, Mr. Adewole, in June 2017, following allegations of gross misconduct.
A panel commissioned by the minister after Mr. Yusuf's suspension later found him culpable of infractions that ranged from nepotism to theft of public funds.
An administration official familiar with the development told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday evening that Mr. Buhari did not consider Mr. Yusuf's indictment by a ministerial panel before asking him to return to work.
The letter authorising the reinstatement of the Mr. Yusuf was signed by Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The letter with subject matter 'Recall from suspension of Professor Usman Yusuf, dated February 5, with ref no: SH/COS/10/6/A/29 was addressed to Mr. Adewole and delivered to the ministry of health on Tuesday evening.
"The above subject matter referred, kindly note that His Excellency Mr. President has approved the recall of Professor Usman Yusuf from suspension effective immediately".
The recall of Mr. Yusuf came exactly six months after his suspension. He was initially suspended from office on July 6, by the minister of health after directives from the office of the Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo while in acting capacity as the president.
Mr. Adewole in his letter to Mr. Yusuf, had directed him to step aside and hand over to the most senior officer at the agency so as not to influence outcome of the investigate panel set up to investigate the allegations against him.
Mr. Yusuf had been accused of nepotism, misappropriation of funds, among others.
However, as at Wednesday, Mr. Yusuf was yet to resume office.
"NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf is yet to resume office after his reinstatement by the Federal Government on Tuesday, February 6," the NHIS spokesperson said.


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Nutrition science has progressed from the discovery of macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate), to vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and over 5,000 phytochemicals. Dietary guidelines have evolved from the "basic 5" food groups, to the Food Pyramid and USDA MyPlate. Nutrition recommendations began very simply, and now include recommended daily intakes for both macro and micro nutrients. We have become fascinated with the idea of isolating specific components of food, and studying their affects on health. It is easy to get overwhelmed when confronted with the topic of nutrition. It is easy to get drawn into the realm of single nutrients and examine their independent properties. We begin to ask ourselves exactly how much and which nutrients provide us with the golden ticket to optimal health. For lean muscle? For weight loss? In this process we have vilified certain nutrients and touted others, sometimes rightly so, and other times with devastating consequences. We have not only succumbed to the highest rates of chronic, preventable disease, but we have forgotten that the intricacies of nutrition science have only existed for a little over a century. We forget that our ancestors did not have the Food Pyramid, the USDA, or nutritionists telling them what to eat, and they survived, in fact, they were healthier than we are today, by a landslide.
I do not undermine the nutritional feats we have accomplished by traveling down the road of nutrition science. Researchers have identified the causes of various ailments, including scurvy (vitamin C deficiency ), beriberi (vitamin B1 deficiency), and rickets (vitamin D deficiency), to name a few. We now use isolated nutrients to help treat cancer, heart disease, and many other conditions. I do believe however, that the isolation and continued emphasis on specific nutrients has contributed to confusion about what and how much to eat. We have lost our understanding of where food comes from and how it is produced naturally. We have lost our understanding of how nutrients work better synergistically in whole food form rather than in isolated supplements, and we have severed ties with traditional whole food, seasonal diets. Our ancestors relied solely on nature for guidelines on what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat. Nature never fails to provide an ideal diet, one that changes with the seasons, and perfectly complements our bodies changing needs. The following sections define basic nutrition categories, and outline which foods fall under a whole foods, winter diet.
Utilizing Food as Medicine: Ingredient Highlight
Garlic, Allium sativum
This amazing food has been used for 1000's of years in traditional medicine. Garlic is part of the allium family, which also includes chives, leeks, onions, and shallots. Garlic is comprised of potent organosulfur compounds that have been found to illicit pharmacological and therapeutic effects in the human body. These beneficial effects promote cardiovascular, blood, and immune system health. More specifically, garlic has been show to be antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, as well as alleviate and prevent hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cancer, common colds, the flu, diabetes, and gout. The most studied and seemingly most powerful organosulfur compound in garlic is allicin. Interestingly, this compound does not exist in raw garlic until it is cut or crushed. In order to get the full benefits of garlic in your diet, plan to chop raw garlic and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before consumption. Heat exposure does destroy the health benefits of garlic over time, so enjoy your garlic raw or lightly cooked (when cooking with garlic, add this ingredient during the last few minutes of cooking). Aim to consume 1 clove, eaten with meals, 2-3 times per day.
Recipe: Simple Salad Dressing
3 cloves fresh garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic or apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon raw honey
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a small food processor and blend for 20 seconds. Alternatively, dice garlic and whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Makes 2-3 servings
Turmeric, Curcuma longa
There are over 6,000 peer reviewed articles that prove turmeric to be a very powerful natural medicine! Among these, numerous studies conclude that turmeric is more effective than many pharmaceutical drugs, including ibuprofen and warfarin. Turmeric is used clinically to help treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, abdominal bloating and pain, hepatitis, liver and gall bladder conditions, headaches, respiratory infections, cancer, fibromyalgia, amenorrhea, diabetes, and Alzheimers. The extremely potent compound curcuma is responsible for many of the health benefits of turmeric, including its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-thrombic, and anti-diabetic properties. Talk to your doctor before taking higher dosage turmeric supplementation if you are already taking prescription medications. Everyone can benefit from adding turmeric into their diet through recipes incorporating this herb. Try to consume turmeric with other foods, including black pepper, which drastically increases absorption, and onions, which have a synergistic health benefit with turmeric because of the combination of turmeric and quercetin.
Recipe: Golden Milk
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
Pinch black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup, optional
Heat almond milk over low/medium heat until simmering. Stir and add remaining ingredients. Continue stirring until milk is simmering again, but be careful not to over heat the milk. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Use a hand frother or glass blender to create a latte style golden milk (optional). Makes 1 servings.


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Days 9 - 11 of Tough Soles!
The Monaghan Way was our second trail to walk. At about 56.5km it was a 3 day linear walk, starting in Clontibret and finishing in Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan.
Day 1 -
Carl's parents kindly gave us a lift to Clontibret (thank you!), where we found what is becoming the usual starting point of Irish trails: the metropolis of a crossroads with a petrol station and possible splattering of houses. Being a long enough drive from Roscommon to Clontibret, we didn't start walking until late afternoon, with the trail itself beginning on country roads. At a guess, we made it around 10km down the trail that evening. Because it was on quiet country roads it meant that when it came time to find a camp site we weren't being offered a lot of options. And it was cold that evening.
Eventually we mastered the courage to walk up a farmer's driveway and ask him if we could camp on his land. Thankfully his answer went along the lines of: "have your pick of a field! Jump in wherever you fancy, there's nothing out there that'll bite you tonight". Which was probably the nicest answer we will ever get from someone, so thanks Mr. Farmer.
Also, I wasn't kidding when I said it was cold. That night it dropped to -3°C. Having brought a 2 season sleeping bag (a light bag with a comfort rating of 9°C), I wore everything I owned going to bed. It wasn't enough to sleep, but it was enough to not get sick.
The morning frost definitely got us moving fairly quickly, even if it was sleepily.
Day 2 -
It wasn't until the second day that I really understood what people meant about cows being curious animals. Surely you could say that about any animal, and it would be at least kind-of true? Cows are definitely special in this regard however. And Monaghan has a lot of cows - we met at least 30 cows for every 1 person we saw. So while this trail is technically 50% on road, our cow encounters are so memorable that they have all but wiped my memory of any road walking.
Dairy cows were ok - they tried to eat my boots and steal my water bottle, but didn't bother running or shaking their heads in scary manners. Bullocks ...
I'm still not on talking terms with bullocks. It doesn't matter if they hear you coming or not, because once they see you there is no other target of their interest. That was the day I started developing a great arm-flapping-noise-shouting technique that stops them in their tracks for a moment. Sometimes a sneaky stick was added to make my arms longer and the effect more widespread. By the end of day two I was pretty sure I could be a half decent farm hand. As long as the cattle continued to be oblivious to the fact that I was about a 10th of their size, and have no way of actually stopping them.
With my main cow points made I can now move onto discussing the trail again.
Day 2 saw us walk a further 21km to Castleblayney, which was the end of "stage one" of the Way. If you were planning on doing this walk in two days and staying in Castleblayney as your midpoint I'd advise giving yourself as long a day as possible, as it is a full 30 with plenty of hills (and a few nice views that are nice to linger for). If you're planning of doing it over one or two, do note that there's nowhere in that 30km to buy food or stop for coffee, so bring enough to last however long you need.
After our first week of walking being the reliable flatness of a canal, walking through land with hills was a bit of a shock to the system. The magical forces of nature that power Irish hill walking manage to make sure that you spend at least twice as much time ascending hills than descending. Our winding route eventually paid off, and reminded us why "hill-walking" is such a popular thing: Views.
At about 20km in, the trail tops out on a forestry hill that gives fantastic views of both the Morne mountains to the north, and your first glimpse of Castleblayney a little south of you.
There is quite a bit of road walking on the way into Castleblayney, but the surrounding area is full of lakes which have their own walks and loops (if you have the energy to go for an extra stroll). It was only as we were entering the town that we realised that the Cycle Against Suicide bike tour was also going to be arriving into Castleblayney that evening. (If you don't know about the Cycle, all you do need to know is that: it's ok not to feel ok, and it's absolutely ok to ask for help.)
After our first night had been below freezing we had been wistfully thinking of pillows and central heating, but on seeing the cycle signs assumed all the accommodation would be given over to the cycle. We did some instant pasta shopping and carried on out of the town. It was only just as we were leaving the town that a lady was leaving her B&B, and we asked if she had any rooms free. She did, and even though it was over what we wanted to pay (€66 for a double room), we were so exhausted that we took it.
It was a shame we were so exhausted, because we ended up waddling up the stairs with our heavy bags, and then quietly curling up on the bed and falling asleep instantly,
Day 3 -
The trail leaving Castleblayney wasn't great - specifically because it wasn't a trail, but a fairly major road. On the maps it looks like it would actually be possible to walk one of the lake loops out of the town and rejoin the main trail a few kilometres on, meaning less time spent walking in the hard shoulder. (We didn't check, but let me know if you do!)
Once onto smaller roads we stopped and took the drone for a fly over the lakes and islands that pocketed the land around. However, with the sky threatening to rain we kept it quick, packed up and kept going.
Shortly after we were back on trails and walking along the waters-edge of the very same lakes, skipping stones and being very grateful towards the landowners that had opened their fields to wanderers like us.
Some more road trudging and breathless hill tops later, I was looking at our maps in mild disappointment. On it there was a symbol that was missing in the legend, but at a guess I'd hoped it meant we'd be walking along an old railway line. We were definitely through the first section of it, and nothing around us had changed. A littler later we walked under a strange bridge, and I assumed that it was related to my missing train track, which was probably around here somewhere, but not exactly where we were walking.
I said so to Carl.
And of course, because I had vocalised my thoughts, the world worked to prove me wrong. 20 meters after walking under the odd bridge, I noticed a small lipped wall rising out of the ground to our right. Which quickly turned into a platform complete with the ruin of a small station house.
The trail does follow the lines of an old railway. The first couple of Kilometres of the line have now become a small country road, but after a while you do separate and end up walking on grass several feet above the surrounding area. It's very overgrown, and no tracks are visible, but it is definitely the track. We even came across a second platform.
An added bonus is that it is probably the most direct walking route the trail makers could have picked through the surrounding area, with field (*cough* with cows *cough*) walking kept to a minimum.
The trail ends in Inniskeen, a small rural village. It's Irish culture nugget is that it was the birth place and home of poet Patrick Kavanagh. His grave is also there. The inscription on his cross will connect with any walker.
That night we stayed in Glenevan House. Rose, the lady who runs the B&B, was incredibly nice, especially as we just arrived on her doorstep with no prior notice. It was pretty much a perfect place to stay that night, as the trail ended within view of the front door.
There's an old mill down behind the house too that was fun to wander and wonder around for a while.
The next day Rose even gave us a lift to Dundalk (thanks again Rose!). If you've any questions about the Monaghan Way, or any of the walks, let me know!
Also, we have made our own Tough Soles maps! These maps are free to use, remix, and redistribute under CC-BY 4.0. All you need to do is attribute us! Here are the Monaghan Way maps, and here are all the maps we've made.


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Waste Assessments
A waste assessment report helps to benchmark a company's performance in waste and recycling while offering a series of practical recommendations that can assist in the implementation of waste reduction programs and can help save hauling costs over the long term.
The process employs a non-intrusive method of measuring the overall rate of waste diversion and the composition of waste and recycling streams on site. By analyzing a sampling of the waste generated, a review of quantitative and qualitative data provides a custom report which can be used to support company wide sustainability initiatives.
How much will a waste assessment at your company cost?
Contact us today for a free estimate.
Get your Free Estimate Today!


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Traditional and organic in the very best sense, this is a nutty, full-body taste with low-acidity and a strong finish.
Now we all enjoy it, but at first, most of their coffee was consumed domestically due to poor transportation infrastructure.
Good for tasting origin character, although the roast character is noticeable.


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As promised, I will be moving most of my writing over to Patreon. You can read it there for as little as a dollar a month!
In November I will be compiling this series along with Rachel and Rheea's writing into a zine.
As promised, I will be moving most of my writing over to Patreon. You can read it there for as little as a dollar a month!
In November I will be compiling this series along with Rachel and Rheea's writing into a zine.
"A year ago I was writing about how Trump was a "trickster character", musing philosophically about his appeal to the masses. I had no real fear that he would become our next president. A year later I am dazed and still in shock and writing short prose poems about reality TV, because it truly is the end of the world."
Read More
"The cool thing about publishing a zine for over ten years, is that by this time I've been able to whittle my collection down to the "Greatest Hits of Somnambulist". These are the zines I continue to sell, that are still my favorites.Read More
Maggie Nelson, author of Bluets and The Argonauts, was the judge for my category (creative nonfiction) for the Oregon Book Awards. The End of my Career was a finalist this year and although I didn't win, one of our finest writers read and commented on my work. Thank you Maggie Nelson for writing and reading The End of my Career!
From Maggie Nelson:
THE END OF MY CAREER (Perfect Day Publishing)
by Martha Grover
"In a style one might describe as raucously droll, Grover takes the decidedly mundane and rotates in the light of her dead-aim wit. Here's one page in entirety, which combines a Lydia Davis-esque minimalism with Grover's wry feminism: "I ask my father to read an article about male entitlement and emotional labor. 'Can you just tell me what it says?' he says." The universe here sketched—punctuated by cleaning jobs, so-so sex, the toll of chronic illness, the growing seep of the internet into our lives—is both original and timely, and Grover is a curious, companionable guide throughout." - Maggie Nelson
"It's supernatural, it's mythical. It boggles the mind. It's magic. It's also patriarchy and it's also power. And that's the way power operates. When people are able to get away with awful behavior and keep their power, it often leads to a reification of their power. Over and over."Read More


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FRIENDS!!! I am beyond excited to announce a brand new, 8 week online course called…
Time Debt: Reclaim Your Life, Live in Flow
My partner-in-crime/best-selling author/host of the delicious Beautiful Writers Podcast Linda Sivertsen and I have been working for months to bring this concept, these practices and this content to life for you… and it's finally READY!
So, what is Time Debt?
It's the misspending of time—either consciously or unconsciously—in ways that lead to a life half lived.
At one end of the spectrum, Time Debt can manifest as frantic, incessant busyness, as we run from one fire drill to the next, never seeming to have enough time for that creative project we've been dreaming of. Whatever energy we might have had to write that novel or start that business has been utterly spent on other people's emergencies, and a seemingly bottomless list of assignments.
At the other end of the spectrum, Time Debt can manifest in our addiction to screen time, as we hand over precious minutes and hours to mindless, passive consumption of Netflix, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat... the list goes on and on.
But imagine… what if you had the time to do everything on your to-do list, and STILL enjoy the things you want to do (Netflix and Insta in moderation included!), see the people who matter most, and do so without compromising your health, your money, or your relationships?
Yes, we all have the same 24 hours in a day.
But there are people who seem to have more—as if they know a secret to Bending Time.
Ever wonder how do they do it?
Over the course of 8 weeks, you will learn to change your patterns and find time in ways you never thought possible. There are rules and laws that govern time bending, and they can be learned, by anyone.
JOIN US! Early bird pricing ends on April 21st!!
For a deeper dive on how each week will be spent, my own cringe-worthy Time Debt story and more on www.TimeDebt.com.
First class begins on Thursday, April 26th!
Don't miss it!
See you there... this is your time.


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Charts & Figures
Weigh The Pros And Cons To Pick Your Data Lake Starting Point
February 16, 2018
Search Results
Report Battle Of The Data Lakes: Customer Insight Versus Enterprise PlatformFebruary 16, 2018 | Michele Goetz
The race for the most compelling customer experience (CX) is intensifying, and customer insights are the rocket fuel for CX engines. But internal battles over the "right" scope for a data lake —...
Report Personalized, Fast Data Delivers Business Outcomes Your CEO Cares About
Vision: The Data Management PlaybookJanuary 16, 2018 | Michele Goetz
As investment in data and analytics has grown, satisfaction in analytic capabilities has decreased and dissatisfaction has increased. The crux of the situation is that data management can't start...
Report The Anatomy Of A System Of InsightJanuary 5, 2018 | Brian Hopkins, Michele Goetz, Noel Yuhanna
Your big data strategy is likely too little, too late. Customers are changing their expectations too quickly, and data lakes are becoming swamps. Insights-driven disruptors are using systems of...
Report Data Engineers Have Become More Important Than Data Scientists
Invest In Data Engineers To Close The Gap In Your Systems Of InsightNovember 9, 2017 | Michele Goetz
Enterprises want to get value out of their data faster and at scale. Chief data officers recognize that technology alone can't solve this challenge. They are also rethinking their teams and adding...


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Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
Recipe found here
I used some frozen stir fry veggies and a can of drained baby corn, my chicken was precooked leftover chicken so I added it in to heat up a lil after I got the veggies done. Then added the ramen and soy sauce ( I didnt add the full amt of soy, it seemed like too much) I doubled the recipe but still didnt use all the soy for the un doubled recipe. I do think next time Ill make a little cornstarch/water mixture to give it the same style gravy as in the restaraunt
- 1 (3 ounce) package chicken flavored ramen noodles
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup cauliflowerets
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 1 cup coarsely chopped cabbage
- 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh or canned bean sprouts
- 1/2 cup teriyaki or soy sauce
- Set aside seasoning packet from noodles. Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, stir-fry chicken in oil for 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Add vegetables; stir-fry for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.
- Drain noodles; add to the pan with contents of seasoning packet and the teriyaki sauce or Soy. Stir well. Serve immediately.


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What We're Reading this Summer
Pastor Eric Channing is reading . . .
Indwelling Sin in Believers by John Owen
The Pastor and Counseling by Jeremy Pierre & Deepak Reju
The Effective Executive by Peter Druker
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Pastoral Resident John Supica is reading . . .
Here I Stand by Roland Bainton (biography of Martin Luther)
How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament by Jason DeRouchie
How to Understand and Apply the New Testament by Andy Naselli
12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Pastor Tommy Johnston lists these books . . .
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler
Fallen: A Theology of Sin by Christopher W. Morgan, Robert A. Peterson
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Christian Smith, Michael O. Emerson
Covenantal Apologetics by K. Scott Oliphant
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick
And Pastor Zach Fallon is reading . . .
The Case for Psalms by N.T. Wright
The Pastor and Counseling by Jeremy Pierre and Deep Reju
Pursuing Peace by Robert D. Jones
Trained in the Fear of God by Randy Stinson and Timothy Paul Jones
Family Ministry Field Guide by Timothy Paul Jones
The Vine Project by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne (reading with the HYACKs leadership team)
Preaching and Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones (along with HYACKs ministry associates)
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (with his five-year-old son)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (says Zach, "my wife and I are slowly working through the series")


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Join us this morning for the final day of 21 Days of prayer! We will worship together this morning and celebrate all God has done in and through us over the past 21 days.
Receiving Healing
Prayer changes things. It isn't just a mental exercise or a theoretical conversation. Prayer invites the Creator of the Universe to move and create and restore and renew things in our lives and in the world. So, it shouldn't surprise us that when we seek God and contend in prayer that healing breaks out in and around us.
Receiving Forgiveness
Prayer isn't just about asking, it's also about receiving. In this great exchange with God that we call prayer, we are meant to interact with Him - to trade our sorrows for His joy, to trade our fear for His hope, to trade our questions for His answers, and to trade our confessions for His forgiveness.
Turning From Our Wicked Ways
Seeking His Face
Praying in Humility
Humility is an essential component of contending prayer. When we turn to God, and begin to pour out our longings before Him, we must remember who, in this relationship, is God. Like we learned in week one, the core of our prayer life - even when we are bringing requests before God - must be: "YOUR Kingdom come, YOUR will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Any time our desires don't line up with God's character, God's purposes, or God's will, we must be humble enough to surrender them, and trust that He knows more than we do.
Praying from Relationship
Today we begin our final week of 21 Days of Prayer. This week we're focusing on what it means to contend in prayer. This kind of prayer is different to prayers that focus on worship, or getting to know God, or sharing what's on our hearts. This is the kind of prayer we employ when we're asking for God to change things in our world, and when we are standing firm against the enemy. These are the battle-cry types of prayer that beckon God to intervene in our hearts, in our families, in our circumstances, in our cities and in our world.
Join us this morning to worship and hear the first message in our three week prayer series. If you are unable to attend today, keep up with the journey by listening to the podcast this afternoon! (it'll be right on this app!)
In the story of God's people Israel, much of their hardships and breakdowns in their relationship to God occurred because they gave into forgetfulness. They forgot Who God is, they forgot what He had done for them, they forgot what He had called them to, they forgot the promises that He had made. They forgot the consequences of walking away from Him. They wandered.
Declare God's Goodness
The Goodness of God is one of the most fiercely contested truths in our generation. The majority of the non-Christian world either believes that God is uninterested or angry, (or both). And for us, at Commonwealth specifically, from the very beginning, we felt like one of the major missions God has given us is to show San Diego that He is good.
"It is He who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of His pasture." We aren't praying to a distant God who is out there somewhere in the Universe, we are speaking heart-to-heart with the one who designed every cell in your body, who called forth the purpose of your life, and who walks with you and cares for you like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
Today we begin week 2 in our prayer journey. In this first week, we looked at the Lord's Prayer, and how to pray as Jesus taught us. This week, we'll be looking at how worship is a key part of our prayer life. We will look at some psalms and passages on worship, and learn to bring our heart before God in praise, in song, and in words that come from the heart.
God is our Protector
We have to remember that we were born into a war. Life on this earth is not random, nor is it neutral. We really do have an enemy who's goal is to "steal, kill, and destroy," (John 10:10), but the good news is, this verse continues and reminds us that Jesus came to bring us into "life to the full". So it's really important that in our prayer life, we remember to ask God to help us and lead us in the midst of these battles.
God is Gracious
Forgiveness is one of the most crucial components of the Christian faith. Other religions have pathways of penance, or ways that a person must earn their way toward salvation, but our hope is fixed upon a God who graciously and generously forgives us. The gift of eternal life God gives us comes through His radical act of forgiving us for every sin, and declaring us righteous before him.
God is a Provider
When Jesus speaks of daily bread, instantly in the mind of his audience at the time, they would have remembered the story of the Exodus. In the book of Exodus, when God is delivering His people out of slavery and into a new life in their promised land, He personally provided food for them each day called Manna. As God was training his people into being free sons and daughters instead of slaves, one of the main lessons was to learn to trust God for provision.
God Has a Plan
One of the most important things about this passage is the idea that God has a will. In every moment and circumstance that occurs on the earth, God has a will, a desire, a plan for how He would like it to be - essentially this is what heaven is like. The Kingdom of heaven is the place when & where God's will is actualized. This is why it is so important for us to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like, because it helps us understand what God desires.


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Local Foster "SPKRBOX"
Foster releases the first single off his upcoming album, 'DEERBOY'
A little something different out of the DeepMatter camp...
Although Local Foster is no stranger to hard hitting rhyme schemes and smooth beats, his new single explodes with Indie-Alternative vibes. Foster's latest project 'DEERBOY' derives from a blend of Cage The Elephant-esque riffs and vocals similar to The Technicolors. SPKRBOX is "the story of a boy, who's going mad", as told through screeching guitar licks, driving drums and a raw, unfiltered energy. Take a sip of Foster's new brew, it's addictive and it's here to stay.


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The sunflowers are here! Friday, August 4th from 4:00 until they are gone...whichever comes first.
Viewing entries in
Man, it's been a long time coming.
We have had a lot happen in the days since we first planted those baby sunflower seeds. The weather has been difficult to say the least. However, nothing of beauty comes without it's challenges.


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We're looking to add some new, amazing talent to our team!
Check the job listings below to see what positions we are currently looking to fill.
We're looking for amazing writing talent!
Is that you?
We are looking to expand our writing team! Are you a dedicated, self-motivated individual with a keen eye (and ear) for details? Are you knowledgeable with SEO-writing best practices? Are you deadline-oriented and have excellent spelling and grammar skills?
We Want You On Our Team!
Must have previous writing experience and be able to provide samples/portfolio. Training on our process will be made available for serious candidates.
This position is strictly for independent, freelance writing contractors. This is not a salary-based, full-time position.


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About Me
Cathy Copeland cares for our community. As an engaged educator and community advocate, Cathy will craft clear, reasonable legislation to address our educational needs, increase access to mental health care, and concentrate on safe and long-term infrastructure solutions.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration and civil discourse, Cathy has trained with Emily's List, Emerge Virginia, and the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program in order to be a more effective civil servant. She is one of only 11 Delegate candidates in Virginia endorsed by Run for Something. Cathy wants to bring inclusivity and problem-solving to Richmond, as she works to advocate for our community—House District 26.
I love the Shenandoah Valley. My husband, Adam, and I were married in March 2010 at CrossKeys Vineyards. Both of my children, Latham (6) and Gwendolyn (3), were born in Harrisonburg. I am involved in several community groups and my church, Muhlenberg Lutheran. Over my nine years in the Valley, I've cultivated friendships and professional relationships, and I'm so grateful to call this beautiful community home!
I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I earned my B.A. with a Biology major at Hanover College in 2002 and earned my M.A. in English Literature at Indiana University (IUPUI campus) in 2004. I edited the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Maryland for two years before going to the University of Alabama's Renaissance Literature Ph.D. program in 2006. I finished my doctoral coursework in December of 2009, and moved to Harrisonburg in March of 2010.
Most of my professional career has been spent educating college students in English literature and writing. I've taught at JMU for the past eight years, but I've also taught at Blue Ridge Community College, the University of Alabama, IUPUI, and Purdue University Global. I've also worked with younger students too--most recently when I was the Education Coordinator at the EJC Arboretum at JMU. I believe that the delegate who represents Virginia's 26th district needs to concentrate on several areas, but I'm very passionate about education. I see public education as the lifeblood to a healthy, inquisitive, and socially just society.
Having battled postpartum depression when my children were young, I am especially invested in helping address mental health care as well as how to best support new mothers. My son and daughter are the most glorious creatures in the world, and I'm lucky to have had a supportive husband, wonderful friends and family, and resources available in our community as I work to help them grow. I want to be sure that we can help every child, every woman, and every family in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
During 2017, with fellow community members, I helped to start and organize ForHHS2, a grassroots non-partisan organization that advocated to the HCPS School Board and the Harrisonburg City Council that there needed to be a second high school. In 2018, I was selected to be in the Sorensen's Institute Political Leaders Program class of 2018 (through the University of Virginia). As part of that program, I spent 2018 visiting many regions around the Commonwealth and discussing how all areas interact. It was enlightening and energizing, and, because my classmates were from all areas of the political spectrum, it allowed me to practice civility, trust, and respect in politics while discussing polarizing and relevant issues.
I want to work to clean our air, water, and streams and to cease polluting our environment. I believe that we should concentrate on finding ways to make renewable resources easier to access and more affordable to use for our power sources. For this reason, I assume the Dominion will not attempt to offer me money for my campaign, but I have joined in solidarity with many other candidates to refuse money from Dominion. I have great hopes for Dominion, though; I think that, with more deliberate oversight and regulation from an environmentally-conscious General Assembly, Dominion can become part of the solution. I will be glad to work with them and to move their production away from fossil fuels and toward renewable resources.
I believe that my collaborative work ethic and my passion for funding public education, strengthening our physical and mental health care systems, supporting the environment, investing in small businesses, and fixing large and small problems alike make me the best candidate to represent the 26th District.