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An increasing number of adoptees have been discovering their roots and, in some cases, their birth families through autosomal DNA testing at 23andMe and Family Tree DNA. I have been very encouraged by this and, as a result, have been suggesting that adoptees who are able to afford it, test at all three of the companies currently offering atDNA testing in order to "fish in different ponds" for close relatives. AncestryDNA has been last on this list of three companies due to the fact that their test does not include the raw genetic data for download, the specific matching segment information or the total DNA shared between matches. However, they were still on the list because I believed that if an adoptee were to get a very close match there, finding their birth family would be very clear-cut even without the genetic data. Well, I was wrong.
Initially, I was very excited to learn that an adoptee had received a parent/child prediction for one of their matches at AncestryDNA this week. What has happened since really illuminates the problem of not allowing customers access to the genetic data behind the predictions. The adoptee, a couple of adoption search angels and myself have all been researching and have come to the conclusion that there is absolutely no way this match is being accurately predicted.
Let me explain further. For the purposes of this story and to protect the identities of those involved, I will use non-gender specific names and call the adoptee "Chris" and the match "Pat". I also cannot share some of the specific details for privacy reasons but, believe me, I am very confident about what I am writing.
A parent and a child share 50% of their autosomal DNA. Since Chris and Pat cannot possibly share that relationship due to the fact that they are much too close in age, we looked at the most obvious alternate theory, which is that they are full siblings. Full siblings also share approximately 50% of their DNA on average. Since Pat's parents are both too young to have conceived Chris, then that was also determined to be impossible. This also rules out half-siblings who share approximately 25% of their DNA on average. The next most likely scenario is that Chris and Pat are aunt/uncle and niece/nephew. This doesn't seem probable based on the family structures and double first cousins is also out based on Pat's family tree. The next closest relationship genetically would be first cousins who share an average of about 12.5% of their DNA. That is getting pretty far away for a parent/child prediction AND guess what?! None of Pat's aunts and uncles were old enough to reasonably have had children when Chris was born either. Further complicating the situation is that Chris' non-ID (non-identifying information given to an adoptee about their birth families) is pretty detailed and specific, listing the birth parents' ages as in their twenties (so not exceedingly young), their family heritage and information about the maternal grandparents. None of this matches Pat's tree at all, even at more distant levels.
This has been a mind-bending, frustrating situation for all involved, especially the adoptee. Try to imagine the elation of receiving this match after being blocked in every other avenue of discovery, to then have it turn out like this: so close and yet still so far. The really unfortunate thing is that if this match was at either 23andMe or Family Tree DNA, there would be no question what the actual relationship is. This is because both of those companies give the total amount of matching DNA and allow their customers to see the actual pattern of inheritance, which in most cases, will point to the exact relationship. In the few remaining cases, 23andMe can dispel all doubt for parent/child/sibling/aunt/uncle/niece/nephew and often even first cousin matches because, in addition, they include with their results fully identical segments, haplogroups and X-DNA inheritance. The fully identical segments will only appear in full siblings and/or double first cousins, haplogroups will help narrow down on which side of the family the relationship lies and the pattern of X-DNA inheritance will usually discriminate between aunt/uncle/niece/nephew and half siblings, as my colleagues and I recently realized while working on another very successful adoption DNA case.
Let me give you an example of just how clear-cut this really is.
This is what half-siblings look like in 23andMe's Family Inheritance feature (not Family Inheritance Advanced):
Half-siblings DNA sharing, click to enlarge |
Versus full siblings:
Full siblings DNA sharing, click to enlarge |
Notice the dark blue in the full siblings' comparison. That color is illustrating the areas where the siblings share "fully identical regions" versus the light blue which illustrates the "half-identical regions". Full siblings are the only relationship (except occasionally double cousins) that share fully identical regions, while half identical regions are what we find for all other atDNA matches. This is because full siblings get DNA from the same mother AND father, so on some of the chromosomes, they match on both pairs. For example, in the illustration above, the paternal Chromosome #1 and maternal Chromosome #1 have four fully identical regions, six half identical regions and one non-identical region. Remember we all get one of each chromosome 1-22 from mom and one from dad. This means that in some areas, we will inherit the same DNA as our full siblings on both pairs of chromosomes, while in some places we will inherit the same DNA on one chromosome and in some regions we will not inherit the same DNA on either chromosome. (This in-depth analysis would rarely be needed since it is usually obvious from the percentage of DNA shared if two people are full or half-siblings. The exception is when two people share an amount of DNA that falls somewhere in the middle of what would be expected, for example 37.5%.)
Although a parent a child and full siblings both share approximately 50% of their DNA, there is no confusing these two relationships when you see the pattern of DNA inheritance. Take a look at these graphs from 23andMe's Family Inheritance ADVANCED:
Parent/child DNA inheritance, sharing 50% |
Full siblings DNA inheritance, sharing ~50% |
As you can see, when the match is between a parent and a child, it is very obvious. This is because a parent and a child (top) will share the entire length of each chromosome 1-22, while other relationships, such as siblings (bottom), will have interrupted, randomly interspersed blocks of sharing.
Here is what the same relationships looks like using Family Tree DNA's Family Finder Chromosome Browser:
Parent/child DNA inheritance at FTDNA's Family Finder |
Full sibling DNA inheritance at FTDNA's Family Finder |
At AncestryDNA, all you get is this:
With this explanation:
It reads, "Our analysis of your DNA predicts that this person you match with is either your parent or your child. While there may be some statistical variation in our prediction, it is very likely to be a parent/child relationship. There is a very small possibility that the relationship may be up to two degrees of separation like a brother or a grandchild."
This explanation is very confusing to me for a couple of reasons. First, there does not need to be any level of "statistical variation" or uncertainty between parent/child versus sibling relationships. Doesn't AncestryDNA take into account the two testers' ages? Don't they look at the pattern of inheritance as illustrated above? If they had done either in the case outlined in this post, they would have easily realized that their prediction with 99% confidence was wholly inaccurate. Second, it is a bit odd to me that they discuss degree of relationship instead of expected percentage of shared DNA for immediate family relationships, which is much more relevant here. Their explanation groups brother and grandparent together, separate from parent and child, rather than explaining that parent/child/sibling relationships all share around 50% of their DNA, while grandparent/grandchild only share about 25% of DNA. Aunt/uncle/niece/nephew/half-sibling relationships also share about 25% on average. Ages of the matches will usually distinguish between these relationships, but when it doesn't, the pattern of inheritance almost always does.
This is not the only case where an adoptee has been confused with their AncestryDNA close relationship predictions this week. Another adoptee was elated to receive a first cousin prediction, but doesn't know if it is indeed a first cousin because there is no way of determining what criteria AncestryDNA used for the prediction. Search angels have been assisting the adoptee research this one too and all have strong doubts as to the accuracy of the prediction based on the match's family tree.
I realize that Ancestry.com has said that they wish to keep the interface simple for the layman, but look what this adoptee wrote to me today, "They need to change something. It is much too confusing to predict what it actually means, especially for those of us who are doing our searches from home with no training." It sounds like, at least for adoptees, the end result of not including the specific underlying genetics is the exact opposite of what AncestryDNA was intending to accomplish.
I am involved in and aware of a quickly increasing number of successes involving adoptees using 23andMe and Family Tree DNA to discover their roots. By most accounts, there are at least six million adoptees in the United States, many of whom wish to learn about their genetic roots. (This number does not include donor-conceived individuals.) When these adoption DNA success stories get out in a big way, AncestryDNA is going to miss out on a very large market. I really hope they rethink their offerings, so we can ALL benefit from their service.
When contacted about the confusion with Chris and Pat's match, AncestryDNA's customer service was quick to remind them that the test is still in beta. With a database of over 50,000 autosomal DNA customers and growing fast, that seems a weak excuse. If they were unsure of their algorithms (and as I have demonstrated, there should be no reason for uncertainty in predicting close relationships), then they should have limited the beta to the original first 12,000 participants until they had tested it further. When a customer sees a 99% confidence prediction, this does not imply uncertainty, even in beta. In this case, the AncestryDNA representative told Chris that he thought the prediction might be in error. He said that they believed that the match was real, but that the prediction may be too close. Strangely, Chris was told that they needed a new sample and it would take two weeks for the kit to arrive and 6-7 weeks more to receive the results after kit activation. Why would they need a new DNA sample? Can't they just rerun the comparison or, even easier yet, simply look at the DNA sharing and reach a conclusion? If AncestryDNA wants to send the matching data to me, I will guarantee to give them a very quick answer! ;-)
Just for those of you who are wondering...
We considered the possibility that Pat is also adopted or donor-conceived, but this is highly unlikely due to several factors that I will not disclose here. The only other possibility would be a switched-baby-scenario at the hospital. Obviously, the odds of this are extremely small.
Regardless of the real situation, should Chris or Pat have to wait another 9-10 weeks to find out? Even if it turns out that somehow they are, indeed, closer relatives than our research implies, all of this confusion and heartache could have been avoided with the matching DNA information provided by the other two companies offering these tests. Don't the adoptees in our communities deserve better? Haven't they been forced to jump through enough hoops in an attempt to discover the information that the rest of us possess as our birthright?
As I'm sure my readers will agree, I am always fair to the companies involved in genetic genealogy and no one is a bigger cheerleader when a company gets it right, but this situation is simply inexcusable to me. I am interested in hearing how you feel about it too, so please share your thoughts. I would like to close with the words of one of the adoptees involved in this regrettable situation (words in parenthesis were added for clarity):
It's bad enough some of us already don't know who we are and are refused access to our own identity and medical information, but to turn around and pay money for something we think may bring us a glimmer of hope into the secrets of who we are, and then end up with more questions than answers, it is frustrating. It's almost like dangling the carrot in front of the horse, where they can see it but just can't quite reach it.
I still feel that I am closer than I was, but without a secret decoder ring I feel like I wasted $100... I really don't have any way to know if I have the right information or how far off this test is. I have nothing concrete to compare it to and I could be doing all this work off of information that may not even been valid...at first I was really excited because I thought I had found some major clue (and I still may have, and definitely have more than I did before) and then started realizing that this could just be a goose chase.
It's part of the search I guess, but this situation was a bit different, I knew it was a long shot, because someone else (closely related) has to have taken the test, but then when you immediately get a hit that seems that close its an amazingly surreal feeling, now I am just worried it was $100 lost that I could have used towards one of the other more expensive test on other sites... I feel they (AncestryDNA) did something wrong in the way they set this up.
**Update** - Immediately after reading this post, 23andMe generously offered both testers a free kit through their Personal Genome Service. When they receive the results, we will be able to determine their exact relationship (if they are indeed close family).
***Update 8/24 - AncestryDNA has stated that this was a lab error that is being rectified. Update post here.
****Update 9/15 - 23andMe finds no match between "Chris and Pat", details here.


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- First piece the actual "tumbling blocks".
- Arrange the blocks as desired - I arranged my blocks on a large piece of Kona Cotton (Ash) to help me visualize and plan the design.
- Add to each individual tumbling block an over-sized "border" from the same fabric as your background fabric. For some of the blocks I added a basic frame border, and for others (those blocks that are "on point") I pieced over-sized triangles to each side which helps reduce fabric wastage.
- Orientate/arrange the tumbling block at the angle required, and then trim back the block to a square/rectangle for easy piecing.
- After trimming return the block back to the panel to see what is required from the next block; placement, size, shape.
- Continue till all tumbling blocks have been placed on panel, and like a puzzle fit the squares and triangles together. You might need to trim or even add more fabric to some blocks to make them all fit.
I have updated my Etsy Store:
1. Kona Cotton Work in Progress
2. Broken Dishes

subset: commoncrawl


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As his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was buried at her hometown on South Africa's south coast Tuesday, Oscar Pistorius wept uncontrollably in court as his lawyer, Barry Roux, read out his account of how he shot and killed her. Rejecting the prosecution charge of premeditated murder, Pistorius stated in an affidavit at the Pretoria Magistrates Court: "I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated murder, as I had no intention to kill my girlfriend. Nothing can be further from the truth. I deny the allegation in the strongest terms."
Pistorius, the 26-year-old Olympian and Paralympian sprinter, one of the stars of the London Olympics and nicknamed the Blade Runner for his carbon-fiber prosthetics, then described the hours before the shooting at his house in Pretoria on Feb. 14. The couple had planned to go out separately with different friends but Steenkamp, 30, called to ask if the two might spend a quiet evening at home. Steenkamp gave Pistorius a Valentine's Day present and asked him to save it for the next day. By 10 p.m., the couple were in their bedroom. "She was doing her yoga exercises and I was in bed watching television," Pistorius' statement read. "My prosthetic legs were off. We were deeply in love and I could not be happier. I know she felt the same way. After Reeva finished her yoga exercises she got into bed and we both fell asleep."
Pistorius added he was "acutely aware" of South Africa's violent crime. "I have received death threats before. I have also been a victim of violence and of burglaries before. For that reason I kept my firearm, a 9-mm Parabellum, underneath my bed when I [go] to bed at night."
(MORE: Details Emerge of Girlfriend Murder Case Against Oscar Pistorius)
He continued: "During the early morning hours of 14 February 2013, I woke up, went onto the balcony to bring the fan in and closed the sliding doors, the blinds and the curtains. I heard a noise in the bathroom and realized that someone was in the bathroom.
"I felt a sense of terror rushing over me. There are no burglar bars across the bathroom window and I knew that contractors who worked at my house had left the ladders outside. Although I did not have my prosthetic legs on I have mobility on my stumps.
"I believed that someone had entered my house. I was too scared to switch a light on.
"I grabbed my 9-mm pistol from underneath my bed. On my way to the bathroom I screamed words to the effect for him/them to get out of my house and for Reeva to phone the police. It was pitch dark in the bedroom and I thought Reeva was in bed.
"I noticed that the bathroom window was open. I realized that the intruder/s was/were in the toilet because the toilet door was closed. I heard movement inside the toilet. I thought he or they must have entered through the unprotected window. It filled me with horror and fear. As I did not have my prosthetic legs on and felt extremely vulnerable, I knew I had to protect Reeva and myself.
"I fired shots at the toilet door and shouted to Reeva to phone the police. She did not respond and I moved backwards out of the bathroom, keeping my eyes on the bathroom entrance. Everything was pitch dark in the bedroom and I was still too scared to switch on a light. Reeva was not responding.
(PHOTOS: Oscar Pistorius on and off the Track)
"When I reached the bed, I realized that Reeva was not in bed. That is when it dawned on me that it could have been Reeva who was in the toilet. I returned to the bathroom calling her name. I tried to open the toilet door but it was locked. I rushed back into the bedroom and opened the sliding door exiting onto the balcony and screamed for help.
"I put on my prosthetic legs, ran back to the bathroom and tried to kick the toilet door open. I think I must then have turned on the lights. I went back into the bedroom and grabbed my cricket bat to bash open the toilet door. A panel or panels broke off and I found the key on the floor and unlocked and opened the door. Reeva was slumped over but alive."
Pistorius then described how he telephoned the housing-estate administrator, asked him to call an ambulance, then carried Steenkamp downstairs to the front door. "A doctor who lives in the complex also arrived," he said. "Downstairs, I tried to render the assistance to Reeva that I could, but she died in my arms."
Pistorius wept throughout the reading of his testimony; at one point, Magistrate Desmond Nair suspended proceedings to allow Pistorius to collect himself. The court also heard testimonies from two friends of the couple, including her best friend, Samantha Greyvenstein, that the couple were in love and had separately confided to their friends that they were considering marriage. "I am absolutely mortified by the events and the devastating loss of my beloved Reeva," Pistorius concluded. "I cannot bear to think of the suffering I have caused her and her family, knowing how much she was loved." He added that he trusted the courts would clear him of murder. Pistorius added he earned $630,000 a year, had savings of $112,000 and owned four properties, including the house where the shooting occurred, worth $930,000.
The hearing, centered on Pistorius' application for bail, was due to resume Wednesday.
MORE: What to Know About Oscar Pistorius' Girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp


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As we've reported, there were no public events on the Olympic sporting schedule today, the day of the opening ceremony. But we must note that two world records were set at the London 2012 Games this morning. That's when South Korean archer Im Dong-hyun scored a record 699 points.
You might recall Im's name — he's made headlines because he is both a gold medalist and legally blind.
Im, 26, was a teenager when he started to lose his eyesight. His vision is now rated at a reported 20/100 in his right eye, and 20/200 in his left eye. Im described how he copes with his condition in an interview with The Telegraph:
"In his words, it leaves the rainbow colours of the archery target looking 'as if different types of paint have been dropped in water. The lines are blurred.'
"Im began losing his eyesight as a teenager, when he was already an established archer, although there are no tell-tale signs.
"'I do not feel that I need to wear glasses. I am not myopic, I am far-sighted,' he said, after one of his daily training sessions at his training centre in Seoul."
Olympic archers shoot at their target from a distance of nearly 230 feet — or, 70 meters, to be exact. The target has two center rings, which are 4.8 and 2.4 inches in diameter.
In the interview, Im went on to describe how he "feels" each shot with his body. He has developed muscles that are very sensitive to the kind of consistency he needs to hit his target, he says.
On the strength of Im's result Friday, the South Koreans also set a team world record in Friday's event, a preliminary ranking round. American Brady Ellison, the world's No. 1-ranked archer, placed tenth Friday, with 676 points.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Home Tips
Loans: Introduction to Loans…
Helping You With Our Home Tips
With so many financing choices available today, it's easier than ever to find a home loan that meets both your budget and future plans. But before you sign on the dotted line, it pays to be familiar with some of the most common types of loans. You should also get advice from your real estate agent and speak with several lenders about your options.
Fixed-rate Mortgages
Fixed-rate mortgages carry the same interest rate for the life of the loan. These types of loans have traditionally been the most popular choice for homeowners because their steady payments are easy to budget for, and can help protect against inflation. Fixed-rate mortgages are most common in 30-year and 15-year terms, but may also be available for 20-year and 40-year mortgages.
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
Adjustable-rate mortgages (or ARMs) are the most widely accepted alternative to fixed-rate mortgages. The primary difference is that the interest rate and monthly payment can change over the life of the loan. This is because the interest rate for an ARM is tied to an index (such as Treasury Securities) that may rise or fall over time. To protect homebuyers from dramatic rate increases, most ARM loans have "caps" that limit the rate from rising above a certain amount between adjustments (e.g. no more than 2 percent a year), as well as a "ceiling" on increases over the life of the loan (e.g. no more than 6 percent).
Hybrid Loans
Hybrid loans get their name because they combine features of both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. For example, a typical hybrid loan may start with a fixed-rate loan for several years, and later convert to an adjustable-rate mortgage. (Some hybrid loans do not have interest rate caps for the first adjustment period, so be sure to check with the lender). Another type of hybrid loan may start with a low introductory fixed interest rate, and then change to another (usually higher) fixed interest rate for the remainder of the loan term.
Using Time Wisely
The length of time you plan to live in a house should be an important factor in your choice of financing. If you plan to stay for 10 years or longer, a traditional fixed-rate mortgage may be your best bet. But if you plan on owning a home for less than 5 years, then the low introductory rate of an adjustable-rate mortgage or hybrid loan might make the most financial sense. In general, ARMs have the lowest introductory interest rates, followed by hybrid loans, and then traditional fixed-rate mortgages.
F.H.A. and V.A. Loans
If you find it difficult to qualify for a conventional loan, U.S. government loan programs from the Federal Housing Authority (F.H.A.) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) may be helpful. Designed to promote home ownership by offering lower qualifying ratios and reduced down payments, F.H.A. and V.A. loans are not issued by the government, but instead are made by private lenders who are protected by government insurance in case the borrower defaults. Unlike conventional loans, both F.H.A. and V.A. loans have maximum allowable amounts and may require additional paperwork and inspections before the loan can be approved.


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Such trump-cards are not confined to politics, of course. One of the more egregious is played regularly by Leaky Canoneers.
Perhaps you're new to these parts and unfamiliar with the expression. I invented the term "Leaky Canoneer" to denote the person who formally says that he affirms the completeness, inerrancy, and closed nature of the Biblical canon, but who informally gives the lie to that profession. How? By asserting that God
- ...continues to speak...
- ...directly...
- ...and quotably (or at least paraphrasably)...
- ...to him...
- ...apart from Scripture.
Today's sally is brought to you courtesy of James MacDonald. You'll forgive me for letting you do your own research for links and specifics; we at Pyro (but not we alone) have been pretty much on top of the situation, and sometimes ahead of the curve. Two of my favorite Tree Falling in the Forest posts were on the topic (this and this).
Well no, it turns out, they won't.
In a solution that solves nothing, James MacDonald has resigned from TGC leadership, as that leadership has acknowledged. In making this acknowledgement, however, they only compliment the departing brother, and make no direct reference to his hosting a heretic as a Christian leader. So that problem is unsolved.
What does MacDonald himself say? Oh, this and that, about what you might expect. He's making his priorities pretty clear to everyone, I daresay, and I hope the effect is salutary.
My focus is this bit from MacDonald's post:
See that? MacDonald doesn't want his "minor" leadership role to " to give the impression [the TGC leadership] agree with all God has called me to do."
- God has "called" James MacDonald to do a number of things.
- The TGC leadership might not agree with all of those things.
- Therefore, the TGC leadership might not agree with God.


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High waisted, pull on stretch trouser which are unbelievably comfortable to wear and such good value
All of our goods are shipped via DPD.
We currently don't ship to mainland UK or Internationally which is indicated by not having a shipping option outside of Ireland on our address section when processing your order. If you bypass this and select click and collect and then ask us afterwards to refund this order you will be charged a €5 processing fee as we are charged by the website and card companies for taking and refunding money.
- Items must be returned and received within 14 Days of Receipt of Delivery.
- The item is your responsibility until we receive it, so it is advisable that you have the parcel tracked.
- Items must be returned in original condition with no tags removed and no odours on the item (perfume, smoke etc).
- We do not pay return charges.
- No exchange possible on items. If looking for another size etc, please re-order your item in the size you are looking for and your original order will be refunded once received.
- If the item is faulty, please contact us on +353 052 746 2814.
- Returns will be processed within 48 hours to 7 days.
- Sale and Discounted items are not refundable but can be exchanged once returned within 14 days of receipt
Due to the nature and size of Klassy Lady Boutique we are very strict when it comes to returns. On any item of clothing received there will be a tag attached to it. If this tag is removed or has any signs of being removed and put back on, a return will not be granted. On any other items no sign of wear must be visible.
For more information please contact us directly or look at our Terms of Service page.


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About Us
Imported Blankets is one of the premier sources for luxurious mink blankets. For several years, Imported Blankets has been a leading provider of Korean Mink Blankets at very low prices. You can have full confidence that our blankets are superior in quality to your traditional fleece blankets or bedding.
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Our Mission
Our objective was simple from day one. We desire to supply our customers with some of the finest luxurious mink blankets from around the world. Backed by our excellent technological infrastructure and services, which includes Verisign Class 3 Extended Validation SSL, we are able to provide our clientele a safe and secure website while providing them with luxurious mink blankets at very low prices. By enhancing the shopping experience of our customers, you will provide us with the opportunity to offer more value-added products and services in the future. Our success can be attributed to our superior products, efficient customer service, and personalized service. Main Office: 1030 E. Marbury, West Covina, Ca 91790. Local: 626-966-6511. Hours 10-6 PM, PST. Thank you.
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Currently, we are offering a Buy 5, Get 1 Free Blanket Offer. Minimum order purchase: $250. If the order total does not reach $250, please add a fifth, sixth, or seventh blanket to get your free blanket.* Free Fedex shipping will still apply. After you select your five blankets and make your purchase, please email us which blanket you want for free. It must be of equal or lesser value than the cheapest blanket that you bought. If the blankets are being shipped priority to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada or anywhere else, shipping costs will still apply. If you add enough items to your cart, your cart should automatically indicate which blanket is free. Please e-mail us your free blanket choices if it doesn't. If you use a coupon code, it may go slightly under $250, which is ok. *If any combination of 5 Solaron Queen/King blankets or Wonu Trix Queen/King Blankets are selected, the buyer can only select a safari blanket (or anything else of lower value of $50) as their free blanket.
Use coupon code "veteran" to save off your total purchase. Thank you.


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Retail Sales Representative – Verizon – Columbus
You know how to communicate with customers to find out what they need—and what solutions can fill those needs. Our dedicated Sales professionals receive award-winning training so they can present our game-changing technologies, products and services to the world.
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Cleveland, officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in Northeast Ohio along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the U.S. maritime border with Canada and lies approximately 60 miles (97 km) west of Pennsylvania. Cleveland ranks as the most populous city on Lake Erie, the second-most populous city in Ohio, and the 54th-most populous city in the U.S. with a 2020 population of 372,624. The city anchors the Cleveland metropolitan area, the 33rd-largest in the U.S. at 2.18 million residents, as well as the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton combined statistical area, the most populous in Ohio and the 17th-largest in the country with a population of 3.63 million in 2020. Cleveland was founded in 1796 near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve by General Moses Cleaveland, after whom the city was named.


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$11.44 $19.07
These beautiful, quality hand-made cotton Ruffled Sheath Dresses are sure to be a hit with the 18" doll lover on your shopping list. The dresses feature fully lined bodices and hand-stitched sequin and bead detail; back Velcro closure. Available in pink and blue patterns. Shop Now.
♥ These beautiful hand-made dresses will fit most popular 18-inch dolls.
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♥ Precious Bloom added a product line for doll clothing and accessories for 18" dolls in 2013 after my grand-daughter at the age of 4 expressed an interest in having one of American's favourite 18" dolls. Of course, I had to dress her doll and thus the resurgence of my doll clothing hobby, my having dressed a Barbie for my sister in 1961 for my younger sister, and then dressing a baby doll for my daughter in 1985.
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Friday, January 7, 2011
Frozen Key Lime and White Chocolate Pie
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It's embarrassing to admit that a dessert this easy to make helped build my reputation as a cook and is an often requested favorite of family and friends. Its initial creation was borne of harried necessity and I never dreamt that this combination of ingredients could possibly make a memorable dessert. It came about when I was in the middle of my "only from scratch" phase of cooking and had lost a race with time. That meant that dessert would have to come from outside my kitchen or be assembled with semi-homemade ingredients from the grocer's shelves. Refusing to bring a stranger's food into my home, I ran to the store to grab the ingredients I needed to make the creation that was forming in my head. I grabbed key lime juice, a couple of limes and heavy cream from the "real" food aisles. My cart also contained several not so real items, such as a ready-made graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk and a container of whipped topping. My plan was to create a key lime pie that would be made my own with the addition of a topping made from a mixture of heavy cream and white chocolate. I decided to make a frozen pie because I had no time to work with eggs and I'm not a big fan of gelatin desserts. That made my pie filling simple in the extreme. I mixed bottled lime juice with sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping and added some lime zest for extra flavor. I poured that layer of filling into the graham cracker crust and put the pie in the freezer. I then began to work on the next layer. I melted white chocolate in a bit of cream and brought it to body temperature before folding it into lightly beaten whipped cream. Be forewarned, that the cream will collapse if the chocolate is too warm or you attempt to beat it into the heavy cream. Folding is the prime directive here. I then spread the cream over the lime base and let the pie sit in the freezer while I went to work. About 8 hours later, I cut the pie into serving pieces before transferring it to the refrigerator where it sat for an hour or so before dessert was served. I cut the pie while frozen to assure clean slices. I refrigerated it to allow the filling to soften slightly before my guests had a go at it. Lovers of citrus desserts will adore this, though pipe and horn players should be warned that this is incapacitating and attempts to pucker-up may actually be painful. I do hope that, despite its humble ingredients, you'll give this pie a try. It takes all of 30 minutes to prepare and it is pure ambrosia for tired palates. Here is the recipe.
Frozen Key Lime and White Chocolate Pie...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
6 ounces whipped topping
Zest of 2 limes
1/2 cup bottled key lime juice
Lime slices for garnish
4 ounces white chocolate
1-1/4 cup chilled whipping cream, divided use
1) To make filling: Mix condensed milk with whipped topping and beat until well-blended. Add lime zest and juice and blend well. Pour into crust and freeze.
2) To make topping: Combine white chocolate and 1/4 cup cream in a small bowl. Set over simmering water and stir until chocolate melts and is smooth. Remove bowl and allow chocolate to cool to body temperature. Beat reserved 1 cup cream until soft peaks form. Fold in chocolate mixture. Spread over top of lime filling. Return pie to freezer. Freeze for 8 hours.
3) To serve: About 1 hour before serving, remove pie from freezer and cut into serving slices. Place pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Garnish with lime slices if desired. Yield: 8 servings.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Key Lime Pie - Chaos in the Kitchen
Key West Lime Bars - One Perfect Bite
Lemon Yogurt Cake - Delish
Meyer Lemon Bars - Tasty Easy Healthy Green
Lemon Tart Brulee - Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy
Lightened Up Lemon Bars - Half Baked
69 comments :
- Tom said...
I need to be more careful about what time I read your blog. Seeing pictures of key lime pie just before going to bed is torture. I'm always amazed at how good your food looks.
- January 7, 2011 at 1:45 AM
- Alessandra said...
It look great, even better if it is easy.
Can you tell me what Whipped Topping is? A sort of ready made topping?
Alessandra - January 7, 2011 at 2:05 AM
- Diane said...
I have a similar type recipe that I use, Everone is always so impressed with it but mine only gets as far as the fridge. I must make one so I can take some photos and put it on the blog. Diane
- January 7, 2011 at 2:08 AM
- Sanjeeta kk said...
Love the citrus flavor of this pie. Looks good & delicious. I made a strawberry flavored pie a few days back.
- January 7, 2011 at 2:21 AM
- Hayley said...
Awesome pie and pics looks great !
- January 7, 2011 at 2:37 AM
- Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...
This looks so light and airy Mary, perfect New Year food.
- January 7, 2011 at 3:13 AM
- My Little Space said...
Mary, I think you've got right into this! My favourite citrus flavour. yummm... Thanks for the recipe. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Cheers, Kristy - January 7, 2011 at 3:17 AM
- Unknown said...
I love this kind of dessert. Simple but very effective. Yours looks wonderful Mary. Thanks for the recipe! I can smell the limes now!!
- January 7, 2011 at 3:24 AM
- Priya Suresh said...
Omg, mindblowing pie, feel like having some rite now..
- January 7, 2011 at 4:47 AM
- GLENDA CHILDERS said...
Mary, it is hard to say which I like more ~ your fantastic recipes or the great story that goes with it. I love knowing the story behind your recipe.
Glenda - January 7, 2011 at 5:39 AM
- ann said...
That is a beautiful pie- so light and airy and delicious looking. The story was also fun to read. Excellent, as usual!
- January 7, 2011 at 6:16 AM
- The Blonde Duck said...
I adore any and all type of pies.
- January 7, 2011 at 6:20 AM
- Carrie said...
This looks divine.
- January 7, 2011 at 6:52 AM
- Rachana said...
I love citrus flavours and this pie looks delicious.
- January 7, 2011 at 6:57 AM
- Debbie said...
Wow, this sounds just soooo good. it's going into my "to try" folder! Thanks!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:05 AM
- Chele said...
My kind of dessert - what a great creation. I don't think you should be ashamed of it at all!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:11 AM
- Julie said...
What delicious looking pie! I love those recipes that are easy but yet we become "famous" for them!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:14 AM
- Schnitzel and the Trout said...
Another wonderful story. I am anxious to try this pie. Still debaitng whether to enter the American Pie contest in April in Orlando. Just not as clever as you are in "inviting" recipes. WHy don't you come down and enter? I have judged for 2 years.
- January 7, 2011 at 7:22 AM
- Carol said...
I think I would love a slice of that pie! A really big slice!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:23 AM
- What's next said...
Going to go by key lime juice and cream today! LOVE anything with lime but the rest of the family isn't a big fan which will be a problem for me... really don't need the whole pie... Thanks for this recipe!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:33 AM
- The Food Hound said...
WOW this sounds great!!! So often there's a flavorless topping on key lime pie and this one looks great with the white chocolate!
- January 7, 2011 at 7:51 AM
- Unknown said...
I adore the combination of key lime and white chocolate...put it in pie form and it might as well be heaven!! YUM! This is going in my must try file!! Thanks for sharing, Mary!
- January 7, 2011 at 8:08 AM
- Kim said...
I'm not a fan of store bought products, but sometimes these can be pretty helpfull! This pie looks really amazing. I like frozen stuffs! Can you tell me how much of juce a can of key lime juce contains??? In Quebec, we cannot find these...
- January 7, 2011 at 8:25 AM
- Patricia @ ButterYum said...
Oh Mary, I completely understand your comments that a dessert this easy to make helped build your reputation as a cook - I have a similar recipe that relies on two flavors of instant pudding of all things. I can't tell you how it's devoured by all who taste it.
ButterYum - January 7, 2011 at 8:32 AM
- kitchen flavours said...
I have not tried making key lime pie before and this looks great. Love citrus in almost anything! Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely day.
- January 7, 2011 at 8:33 AM
- lena said...
this is certainly a very nice dessert. i think i would love the lime flavour in this. 'not so real items" haha! sometimes we just need that..
- January 7, 2011 at 8:53 AM
- Flavia Galasso said...
Next month I'm going to organize a Brunch...and while i was reading this recipe I decided this will be perfect.... THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUU....hugs and xxxxx, ciao Flavia
- January 7, 2011 at 8:54 AM
- From the Kitchen said...
I've been through that period of "everything from scratch" and I'm happy to say that I'm cured! Still very cautious about ingredients but do take some help from a number of prepared foods. I will say that many of those prepared items have improved over the years.
Your recipe and photo sounds and looks like summertime on the porch!
Bonnie - January 7, 2011 at 9:00 AM
- Leslie said...
Gotta love a pie that only takes 30 minutes to prepare! Looks divine
- January 7, 2011 at 9:05 AM
- CaSaundraLeigh said...
I am a huge fan of pie!! I love key lime too because it reminds me of lazy summer days, perfect when you're in the middle of a long and dreadful winter. Yours looks like it could be sold at a bakery--beautiful!
- January 7, 2011 at 10:03 AM
- Chef E said...
Mary you are on a role this week! I made your fig cake- only had dates, but it was a keeper recipe!
Everything looks so good, and I have not had a good Key Lime pie in a long long while! - January 7, 2011 at 10:18 AM
- Anonymous said...
Mary, what an absolutely gorgeous and delicious-sounding pie! Key Lime is one of my husband's favourite but you've kicked it up a notch. Way up!
- January 7, 2011 at 10:45 AM
- Unknown said...
Oh gosh. The first time I read your blog and you put up a key lime pie recipe??? And one that's easy and uses white chocolate? Oh be still my heart!
- January 7, 2011 at 11:01 AM
- June said...
Oh my, oh my what a beautiful pie! Love the addition of white chocolate too - you're definitely on to something fabulous here! I can't wait to make it with our little Mexican limes.
- January 7, 2011 at 11:01 AM
- Jeannie said...
Just reading the recipe I know this pie is very good!
- January 7, 2011 at 11:25 AM
- Midwest Elle said...
I am saving this recipe for the first warm spring day we get. YUMM!
- January 7, 2011 at 11:29 AM
- Eva Flores said...
Hello Mary,
thanks a lot for your comment in my blog.
Yo have amazing recipes like this pie, that must be delicious. - January 7, 2011 at 11:48 AM
- tinyskillet said...
It's on my list! I love key lime anything...and of course being from Florida we always have key limes in the frige or the juice in the freezer! This one looks like a winner!
- January 7, 2011 at 11:59 AM
- Lyndas recipe box said...
I've just bookmarked this Mary- my husband will love it!
Always love your stories and pictures too.
Have a wonderful week end! - January 7, 2011 at 12:11 PM
- Vittle me this... said...
this looks so good! makes me think of warm weather!
- January 7, 2011 at 1:04 PM
- Emily Malloy said...
That pie looks like perfection!
- January 7, 2011 at 1:11 PM
- PeggyR said...
OMG that looks wonderful!
- January 7, 2011 at 1:21 PM
- Christo Gonzales said...
what a great sounding my - I am going to enjoy coming to this blog as time goes on...
- January 7, 2011 at 1:24 PM
- Foley said...
This is definitely going to be a keeper! Can't think of one think NOT to like..simple, and bursting with flavor!!
- January 7, 2011 at 1:25 PM
- Unknown said...
I love it, looks refreshing and I bet it tastes that way too
- January 7, 2011 at 1:45 PM
- Ginny Hartzler said...
This looks amazing, I have to try it! I doesn't surprise me that it is a good tasting combination. I love the white chocolate chip lime cookies, and they would have the same flavor.
- January 7, 2011 at 2:12 PM
- teresa said...
oh my goodness, pure absolute heaven, this has me just drooling! i love key lime desserts!
- January 7, 2011 at 2:13 PM
- Lindsay said...
This looks amazing! Key lime pie is one my favourites and this is a great twist on it.
- January 7, 2011 at 3:22 PM
- Katerina said...
Well, sometimes in simple things we find real pleasure. This pie combines sweet for the cocolate and savory from the limes. It is a beautiful combination
- January 7, 2011 at 3:56 PM
- Katrina (Betty Ray) said...
Wow, I was totally expecting to find a recipe that was just too much for me, but this is great. I'm sure it tastes just fabulous too. Sometimes simple is just perfect.
- January 7, 2011 at 4:04 PM
- Unknown said...
This is great because WE ALL need recipes like this under our sleeve! Looks wonderful for sure!
- January 7, 2011 at 4:12 PM
- The Better Baker said...
My goodness! You are a popular gal! This is my first time to visit and you already have 51 comments!?? WOOOW!! Thanks for checking out my blog - I'm sure I can learn plenty from you. Looking forward to being in touch with you in the days ahead. Happy Cooking & Eating too!
- January 7, 2011 at 5:44 PM
- Lea Ann said...
I'll take 26 slices please!
- January 7, 2011 at 6:06 PM
- Alan Tyson-Carter said...
I'd like to try this, but I live in Germany and have no idea what to replace your "pie crust" with. Can you help me?
- January 7, 2011 at 6:30 PM
- Carlos said...
Mary! thank you for your kind words. I like your blog very much. Love your pictures and the fact that the coffee pot is never empty makes you my number one friend!
BTW.. Kenya AA is my favorite coffee!
Keep on cooking, keep on smiling and keep on writing! :) - January 7, 2011 at 7:17 PM
- Janet Marie said...
This look light and delicious. I appreciate quick and simple. :)
- January 7, 2011 at 7:32 PM
- Soma said...
Happy New Year to you and your family Mary! Wishing you all the love and happiness.
- January 7, 2011 at 8:42 PM
- Michelle said...
Love lime, ran right out to the store on this Friday nite...this desert will be made this weekend! Thanks Mary, lovely as always.
- January 7, 2011 at 9:47 PM
- Rhonda said...
Nothing wrong with semi-homemade, especially in a pie that looks as decadent as this one.
- January 7, 2011 at 9:48 PM
- Banana Wonder said...
Love limey desserts. Please, may I have a slice?!
- January 7, 2011 at 11:56 PM
- grace said...
i've never had a good experience eating key lime pie--it's always a little off for me. that said, involving white chocolate might be the trick that does it--excellent recipe!
- January 8, 2011 at 4:02 AM
- Jeffrey and Juli said...
Ooooh, this looks wonderful! Next potluck I go to, this will be the dish I'll bring. Thanks!
- January 8, 2011 at 11:07 AM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
Hi Better Baker. I've tried but cannot connect to you blog. I really aprreciate your visit and hope you will come again often. Blessings...Mary
- January 8, 2011 at 1:34 PM
- scrambledhenfruit said...
This pie is going into my "I really want to make this" file for summertime. It looks so good! :)
- January 8, 2011 at 2:34 PM
- Tasha said...
Key Lime is my very favorite of all desserts, and this holiday season I realized I do have a fondness for white chocolate, so my curiosity is peaked by this combination. I will be hanging on to this for the next time I need an easy to prepare dessert.
- January 8, 2011 at 4:02 PM
- Self Sagacity said...
A lot of people like key lime pie, I haven't really found one to like, but man, the white chocolate sure sounds fabulous!
- January 10, 2011 at 1:39 PM
- Denise said...
I'm SO happy to be back in the blogosphere!! Don't know if anyone noticed me missing for 6 months, but I'm excited to get back to it!!
I absolutely LOVE key lime pie!! This pie looks and sounds like a winner.
I'm glad to see things are still running as usual here at ONE PERFECT BITE! Happy New Year!
Denise @ Creaive Kitchen - January 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM
- sally said...
Thanks for the link! Your pie looks wonderful and is definitely on my list of things to make.
- January 13, 2011 at 10:23 PM
- That Girl said...
One of my friends was just asking for key lime recipes. I'll have to pass this along.
- January 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM


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Review by: Jed Distler
First the good news: all proceeds from this release go to Shelter, a UK-based charity for the homeless. Now the bad news: Brenda Lucas Ogdon is no longer the virtuoso she was during her heyday as duo piano partner with…
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Anyway, since I've gotten a few of these "ink blot" type cakes submitted, I thought it'd be fun to add a little suspense to your daily dose of Wreckage. That's right, boys and girls, now it's time to play...
Everyone ready? Ok, clear your mind of all thoughts. Now, scroll down and tell me what you see:
"What's that? Ah, you see the moon cooking on the grill in a paper bag? [scribbling on notepad] Interesting, veeery interesting... [looking over glasses] And tell me, how IS your relationship with your mother?"
Check back tomorrow for the "answer": I'll post a picture of what the cake was supposed to look like. In the mean time, let's see who can come up with the most outrageous explanation. I may even post the top 3 guesses here, so bring on the funny, folks; fame and fortune await!*
Thanks to Dana W. for inspiring a brand new category! Oh, and Dana? Don't go giving away the answer just yet, k?
*By "fame" I mean a shout-out to your posting name, and "fortune" is used more in the "destiny" sense of the word than the "wealth or riches" sense. So in other words, no, you won't be getting any money*. Unless someone sends it to you, of course. But that someone would not be me. So probably not.
* Or begetting any money, either; 'cuz that'd just be weird. And wrong. But mostly weird.


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What Does A Body Good
This is me, nine and half months post-partum:
I'm okay with how I look. Sort of. I think. Some days are better than others. Some days, I look down at the plush landscape of my body - the belly with its rippled hillocks, the mountainous breasts under snowy swaths of cotton - and I think, well, it's a mother's body. It's a new mother's body. It's the body of a nursing mother, a mother who is run ragged by a preschooler and has no time or energy for focused exercise, a mother who has learned the hard and disappointing way that preschooler-wrangling and baby-hoisting do not, contrary to expectation, tone the muscles. It's the body of a mother who is in her thirties, and who does not have personal trainers or dietitians on call. It's not the body of Gwyneth Paltrow, dammit. Wanna make something of it?
Some days, I am accepting of my body; some days, I get defensive. Some days, the line between forgiving myself for not having the body that I had four years ago and berating myself for same gets blurred beyond recognition, for the simple reason that the very idea of needing to ask forgiveness of myself for something that is in no wise a wrongdoing confounds any effort on my part to accept myself, my body, as good. (The very idea is toxic, is it not? That I have transgressed myself for allowing my body to become matronly, for having put my energies into nourishing my baby and raising my little girl instead of shredding my body back to pre-maternal form? That I need to forgive myself for something that I should celebrate, something for which I - I believe this, I do - deserve praise?) I need to move past this idea that the reality of my body is something that I need to explain/justify/forgive. I need to allow myself to just be the physical being that I am - lumpy, imperfect. And to do that I need, maybe, to find ways of thinking and speaking (and writing) about myself that are a little less accusatory (lumpy, imperfect) and a little more celebratory (soft, strong, life-giving, perfectly suited to nourishing babies and cradling children.)
(I have a nearly perfect sense-memory, from childhood, of my own mother's body: the soft curve of flesh on her back, between her breast and her shoulder blade, just under her upper arm, where my hand would rest when I snuggled against her, and the plush pillow of her belly, where I would sometimes rest my head, and the sweet-smelling skin - part Diorissimo, part flour-and-sugar, part soap - at the back of her neck, where I would bury my face to sob over some childish disaster or another, or to rest, or just to feel at peace. It was always soft and fragrant and reassuring - there were no hard edges, no unyielding surfaces - and it enveloped me and comforted me. It still does, when I think of it, of her. I want my children to remember me this way - as a space/place/body of comfort and safety and love.)
And yet... I do want this body, my body, to be my own. I want to return, in some significant way, to the relationship that I had with my body when it was all mine, when I regarded it selfishly and proudly, when I vainly primped it and polished it and when I casually disregarded it and - yes, sometimes - misused and abused it. (The days of subjecting it to diet Coke and cigarettes and all-night clubbing and all the petty and not-so-petty abuses that all-night clubbing entails are long behind me - thank god - but I do long, sometimes, to not pass on that third glass of wine, to not put my body's status as a life-giving, child-nurturing organism first in any consideration of whether to drink more or stay up later or have that fourth espresso.)
So here I am, stuck between wanting to love my body as it is, and wanting to change it, and it's so tempting to throw my hands in the air and wander off in search of another cupcake, or, alternatively, to berate myself for wanting the cupcake and then to drop to the floor and do two or three sit-ups before deciding that it's not worth the effort and getting up and looking for that cupcake anyway, after which I will just feel alternately guilty and self-satisfied. And this is the problem, right? That however much I love my body the way that it is, there's still that part of me that wants to love it more. Rightly or wrongly, I want more from my body - not for my children, not for my husband, not for my shred-happy friends (who I enthusiastically support, by the way) - but for me. Just for me.
Which, translated into a course of action, means this: a cupcake, some coffee and some gentle Sun Salutations. And then, maybe, when it gets warmer, a run around the block, or a bike-ride with my girl. And if I ever get around to shredding, great, but if not? I'll just enjoy the fact that my belly is soft, comforting place on which tired little heads can rest. I'll just celebrate being strong and soft. And then I'll have another cupcake.
Labels: body talk, post-partum bad