This is for gardeners and those with an interest in plants and nature.
I would appreciate support in the form of likes, subscriptions, and sharing. All completely free.
The Christian Thoughts and Posts
I have another Substack newsletter that serves the Christian related videos on my YouTube channel (which, BTW, has a new video posted in the prayer series).
This has posts which are presently tied in with the videos on my YouTube channel.
The latest Substack post being on the topic of Christian Simplicity.
For the newest posts on my Substack, choose from Christian or Garden topics.
You can subscribe directly from this page! Gardening Substack:
Christian Newsletter:
I’m pretty excited about Substack because it is a great community and fun to work on. Today I made my first in-house video from the garden article and posted it on Facebook. Aside from using a wonky AI voice (won’t do that again) it turned out pretty well.
Hungarians like to decorate things and they are quite good at it. In fact, certain areas of Hungary are particularly well known for their decorative arts. If you love folklore art and paintings, then you will love the many distinct Hungarian styles that are displayed here.
From what is probably the most famous, Kalocsa folk art, to other regions like the Matyó, the folkstyle decorative art is alive and thriving.
“Flowers and leaves, sometimes a bird or a spiral ornament, are the principal decorative themes. The most frequent ornament is a flower with a centerpiece resembling the eye of a peacock’s feather.” – Folk-Art-Hungary.com
You can see the identifying characteristics from patterns in the ancient forms, such as the Szekely gates (kapu), to the inclusions of the flowers and swirls in the modern illustrations of Willy Pogány, who brought his Hungarian inflected design to the covers of magazines and the pages of books in the early 20th century.
Interiors with Flowered Motifs
Kalocsa wall painting inside home
>Try Your Own Hand At Hungarian Painting
Find tutorial design guides and get your paints and brushes out.
Elements Of Magyar Style:
Color and intricate designs that recall nature in a stylized way.
Strongly cover the entire surface.
Use highly saturated pigments which create bright colors in primary and secondary hues.
Be colorful and creative like the Hungarians!
Use Folk Art Designs To Decorate Items Artistically
The photos and how-to videos on this page can be your inspiration.
Wall Painting, Pingálás, in Kalocsa Style
Can you name the flowers? Roses, dahlias, bellflowers are some of those included in this floral design.
Szekely Kapu, Highly Decorated Gates of Old Hungary
Szekely kapu renovated with bright painted colors.
History of the Szekely Kapu – Decorated Ancestral Gates of Hungary
This entry is from the Hungarian Club site.
Origins of the ancestral carved gates of Transylvania span thousands of years before [Christ] and transcend beyond the boundaries of the Carpathian Mountains to Mesopotamia and the Far East. Similar to the ancient “Silk Route” that connected Central Europe to the Far East…
This ancient art with a system of mythical symbols and richness of form is still practiced and still inspires Hungarian Szeklers of Transylvania in creating their home environment and preserving their traditions to this day. The “Székelykapu” had symbolic meaning which separated East from West artistically as well as geographically and politically
…Runic inscriptions on front of the gate “The Lord has brought thee here” while on the other side departing guests can read “The Lord be with thee”.
[Ancient decorations from Ur had similar designs to]…motifs of Hungarian but especially Transylvanian Folk Art such as the upward scrolling or spiraling lines, tree of life, sun as central motif, runic symbols, five and eight petal rose, pomegranate and cornflower.
…In the top center under the roof and pigeon loft, the traditional sign of the sun, symbol of Úr is carved and under it the ancient greeting ISTEN HOZOTT.
…the main post which separated the large wagon gate from the small walk-in gate, displayed the family history in runic writing (rovàs iràs). Each generation added its share of history and when all sides were filled, a new supporting post was hewn from oak and placed on either side of the walk-in gate.
As runic writing became obsolete, the custom of carving family history into the gateposts also faded away. Besides the inherited symbols and decorations, only the greeting, name of the homestead builder and date of completion was carved into the gate and remains as tradition in our time.”
Since these gates were a part of the estates with a wealthy class of family , they were fallen into disuse during the Communist times. Many remaining gates no longer had the painted colors that are shown in this photo.
“the Székely gates are a beautiful example of folk architecture. In 1920, after the Treaty of Trianon ceded Transylvania to Romania, many Hungarians left the region as refugees. For many, the destination of choice was Debrecen: a market town near to the new border. In addition, several faculties of the university in Kolozsvár, now Cluj-Napoca, were transferred into the university at Debrecen. As refugees, they brought only their most important possessions – often-times including their gates. Hence, Debrecen has quite a few of these old gates built into 1920s-era homes.- An American in Debrecen “
This Gate was Once Painted With Bright Color
Hungarian Gate | Source: photos from Wikipedia Commons
Ancestral Motifs
The reason embroidery has become so widespread in folk art is due to the ancient custom of dowry.
A proper Hungarian girl was expected to bring a dozen ornate pillows and embroidered sheets, two to four decorated featherbeds and six to eight embroidered tablecloths to the marriage. [1]
Ancient Church Decoration
Hungarian Painting in Church
Folk Art Painting Decorates Door Surfaces
Arts are preserved in the Kalotaszeg region. It is common to see decorated doors in kitchens and other areas of the home. Source: hungarianambiance
Create Your Own Folk Art
Like Tole painting, the folk arts of Hungary were usually practiced by the common people. Most can be accomplished with a bit of practice.
Today, this naïve style is loved as much as ever. The Hungarian version of folk art painting has the usual floral and some animal motifs, but the way the colors are chosen, as well as the covering of the object is distinctive.
Not only are the designs overall imprinted with Magyar style, but the various reqions stand out one from another in colors and motif, as discussed here in this article.
The Matyö roses and colors are comparable to Rosemaling, a Scandinavian folk art form. The Kalocsa region has much lighter palette and hand, almost a feeling of French Provence folk art- although no one would mistake one for the other.
Imagine Making Your Own Designs
Imagine a Forest: Designs and Inspirations for Enchanting Folk Art Create art with traditional styling and motifs from Folk Art. Hungarians love to decorate surfaces with this type of painting, and you can, too. Inspiration that will guide you to dream up ideas for your own decorative pieces. Buy Now
Hungarian Design
Compare the painting and embroidery motifs of Hungarian Design, they are very similar
Kalocsa Region Is most Famous for Folk Painting Today
The word Kalocsa originates from the Latin colocae which means “made from mud”.
Wallpainting is one of their most famous forms of decoration, and folk artists paint colorful flowers against the whitewashed walls of their homes. Even the outdoor mud daubed ovens do not go without decoration!
The rose and tulip are the popular favorite motifs, but pansy, forget-me-not, carnation, snapdragon, foxglove, lilac, poppy, cornflower, black locust blossom, rosemary,- and even more than that- find their portraits painted in the unique stylization of the Kalocsa artists who are mainly women.
Called “Writing Women”, they draw and then embroider their designs on white and pastel fabrics or paint them on white walls. Today, these embroidered goods are highly desired. It is believed that the decorative motifs from the embroidered clothing was the basis for the painted designs that are now used on all sorts of objects in daily life.
Fine Painted Porcelain
Other Regions Of Hungary
Harta, a community consisting mainly of German inhabitants who began arriving in 1723-24 to replenish the population and farm the land, developed some very fine decorative painting skills which they applied to furniture and small household items. The key motif is a centered bowl full of flowers.
The Swabians history of dates back to the invitation to German people to repopulate Hungary after the devastating wars with the conquering Muslim powers.
The Kalocsa Folk Art Painting How-To
An interesting look at artist drawing and then painting a Kalocsa style flower motif.
Hungarians love to cover surfaces with colorful decoration.
Painted Furniture
Painted Furniture
Matyó
From the region of Mezökövesd
A decorative style for the people of this region of Hungary. As a people they are considered of Slovakian origin.
A book on their designs says, “The Matyó people are one of the ethnographical groups that emerged relatively late. It was only in the 18th-19th centuries that the folk culture of Mezökövesd and the villages of Tard and Szentistván traditionally regarded as belonging to it became distinct from their environment, largely due to their Roman Catholic population. Their decorative art acquired its distinctive forms in this period, differing even from each other in their details. ” –The Matyó Roses After the National Exhibition in 1896, their decorative embroidery became popular.
They became famous for their rose designs, and many of their crafts have a single color, predominantly red.
Matyo folk art painting on ceramic
Hungarian Painted Pottery
Example of Herend porcelain with a fishscale design. Now known as a fishnet pattern, it is on many of the company’s creations.
Besides furniture and wall surfaces, the common pottery is painted with the same beloved motifs in the common pottery. When in Hungary, these wares are sold in road stands, and in many shops.
However, if you wish for top quality porcelain sculptures and other beautiful products, look for the name ‘Herend’.
Fine porcelains have been made since 1826 in the Herend company.
Hungarian “Writing” Design
Hungarian Artist Painting On Ceramics
Visit Hungarian Decorative Arts Vicariously
Even if you don’t understand the language, the beauty of the designs and the land speak for themselves.
Willy Pogany, Hungarian Artist
Willy Pogany Art. Hungarian folk art motifs are incorporated into his painted illustration.
In updating my Blog Resource Page, all the information written moved here. It is still current and helpful, but things I recommend and why need revision. This post has more explanation of the why and wherefore for using certain choices than I think is best for a no-frills resource list.
If you are new to blogging, sort through the following advice for timesavers and tips.
Free Themes
I recommend the default WordPress themes to start out with, unless you are sure you know what you want. There are free child themes available for them. Between the choices that all have the name “Twentysomething” (series starting with ten, you should be able to find a theme that suits your blogging needs.
The Swift theme was one that I used on this site for awhile and warmed up to it.
Update I had to change the Swift theme to the PageLines since the hackers kept getting into the Swift theme, which shows that security is a big deal in choosing a theme.
I have always liked the typography of PageLines, though I did miss the bright colors of Swift. Plus, I don’t think there should be a free theme that only gets updated to work well, forcing you to buy the premium version. That is something to watch out for, although it is much less likely to happen now. Not a problem with the bigger theme developers who have a reputation to stake.
I did a test-drive of the default free themes on this site before deciding to use Divi.
Paid Themes
I use Elegant themes (Divi) in my garden sites, and one of the earlier ones on TrueGrit, a religion blog.
I switched from experimenting with their new themes to using mainly their pride production: the Divi theme. It has pros and cons. Although as time goes on the improvements are wiping out the negative opinions.
Pros
Divi is highly customizable and can do about anything you want it to.
It is responsive (extremely important, now).
Easy to work with.
Cons
The main thing I don’t like is one of the things I also do like: the pagebuilder.
The pagebuilder uses shortcode components that helps you build a page the way you want it. Making landing pages, etc is simple. But if you change from the Divi to another theme like the WordPress default, all the pages which you built show only the shortcode blocks .
This is highly inconvenient, to be locked into one theme.
Solution?
A plugin that helps to sort out the shortcodes coding on the site, or changes made by the ET developers to make all of the shortcode reside within a plugin that remains no matter what theme is chosen.
Looking For A Theme
Find features you need.
Pleasing layout and typography for readability.
Responsiveness now tops the list of needed features.
Support might be important for you, and regular updating certainly will be.
Now Using Fourteen Sixteen Theme
Further Update: WordPress made the good looking magazine theme for 2014 and I switched to it. I am very happy with so many of its features that I imagine staying with it for quite awhile.
Further, Further Update: I kept updating until the twentysixteen theme. It doesn’t have the customizing plugins, nor is it easy to change the look. I love it for its functionality, though.
It is a good beginning theme. However I will say that for a complex site like my Garden site, the Divi pro theme from Elegant Themes is better suited to what I ask from WordPress.
There are several good social sharing helps, right now I use Shareaholic, which includes related posts I used YARPP for years, and that worked well, too -especially with new improvements it has now.
Akismet to deal with Spam. Bruteprotect to deter hackers. These are in the Jetpack. Yes, I use it.
There is controversy about the Jetpack, but I used enough of its features to make it worthwhile. It disturbs me to know that some feel it bloats and greatly increases loadtime for the site.
I switched back to YARPP after Shareaholic made changes that I really didn’t like. I no longer recommend it and deleted the plugin from all my sites.
Disclosure: I use affiliate links for some of the resources. This in no way influences the opinions I post. Everything written is transparent and based on my experience.
First thing, and don’t let it scare you, is that the next time you roast a chicken you need to save a little of the chicken fat. That ingredient is also known as schmaltz, which you can make from scratch and keep on hand.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand, or if you decide against it, you can still bake this lovely breakfast bread. Just know that the chicken fat adds a certain “je ne sais quoi pas” that is fabulous. Know that it can add flavor to noodles and vegetables, too.
It will feed a family of 6, unless they are swept away by your wonderful home baking talents and gobble more than their fair share.
As with all recipes, you can substitute the fat that you feel best using, add the raisins or not, etc. but if you want the authentically delicious taste, stick with the recipe.
Yeast Raised -Approximate Cook Time
Prep time: 3 hours 30 min Cook time: 1 hour
Ready in: 4 hours 30 min Yields: 6 people
Ingredients
5 cups Flour, Sifted
1 Tbsp. Sugar
Small amount Water, heated
1 package Yeast
1 Tbsp. Chicken Fat, melted
1/2 lb. Butter
1/2 stick Margarine (or butter)
3/4 cup Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1 Rind of Lemon, grated
3-4 Egg Yolks
1/4 tsp. Vanilla
2 cups Golden Seedless Raisins
2 cups Warm Milk
Cinnamon and Sugar, Mixture
Place flour in a large bowl and make a hole in the middle.
Add yeast, sugar, and warm water in center to activate the yeast. Let stand 1/2 hour.
Cut up butter, margarine and add chicken schmaltz. Then add to flour mixture with the 3/4 cup sugar, salt, lemon rind, vanilla, egg yolks, and warm milk.
Knead until bubbles appear.
Let dough rest until it rises.
While waiting for dough to rise, soak raisins in some hot water for about an hour. Squeeze out water and then add to risen dough.
Then knead dough well. Allow dough to rest.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a large tube pan (angel food cake pan).
Divide dough into 2 pieces shaped into balls. Roll out each like thick pie dough, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and roll up tightly.
Twist each into a rope, braid together, then spiral into the angel food pan.
Allow to rise for final time in the pan, then bake for an hour at 350 degrees.
Oma’s Tube Pan Breakfast Coffee Cake
German cooking has a layover with Eastern European countries such as Hungary, and Czech Republic. Certain cooking techniques are common to many cuisines, thus this video will be a great guide.
Another Name For This Coffee Cake
German’s call this type of cake Kugelhoph
More eggs, less fat, and I love Oma’s helpful tips.
My grandmother’s recipe has more shortening and is a rolled dough, rather than a soft batter cake.
You may notice in some of the old recipes that the amount of eggs and fat can seem more than what you are used to. I think many of the changes came about when sugar was not so dear, and before the large amounts of egg and fat became frowned upon.
Speaking of fat, many older recipes called for lard, and until recently that was the preferred shortening for pie crust. It is still considered more a more flavorsome ingredient than vegetable fats.
When I was first cooking in the sixties and seventies, you find “Oleo” or margarine is widely called for. This is no longer considered a more healthy choice, and I haven’t bought margarine in years.
If you want a healthier diet the answer is probably to take much smaller portions of the carb-laden cakes and add fruits to bring out full flavor, make it more filling and satisfying. I am of the opinion that it isn’t cutting out desserts, but cutting down amounts that is the answer. Maybe that is a cop-out because I love them so much.
European Directions for Similar Coffee Cake
It is sometimes confusing when switching from European to English measures (and vice versa). Yet many solutions online make the process easier.
Using Bundt Pans for Coffee Cakes
Many coffee cakes are simply baked in square pans, but if you have a larger recipe like this one a bundt pan gives a much prettier presentation. In line with the original intent of serving a simple delicious sweet when company drops by, makes this pan a real boon to the baker.
While there are variations in form, most have a decorative shape with a central opening. This center circle is perfect for some flavored whipped cream! Or simply dust the finished, cooled cake with confectioners sugar.
Bundt forms have some beautiful curves for drizzles and glazes, too.
Don’t underestimate how this shape will add to the tempting look of your cake.
Fat In Your Diet
People who give you Hungarian recipes so often say, “It isn’t for dieters” or tell you it is unhealthy in some way. The recipes do traditionally incorporate plenty of dairy and fat, usually in the form of sour cream and butter. But also with nuts and eggs, etc.
The new nutritional information that is transforming what we know about healthy diets is that fat is no longer the bad guy.
Usually what we need to watch out for is the modern inclusion of antibiotic and hormones, along with other things that are so different from our grandmother’s food sources; things that cause inflammation in our bodies. Some fats are necessary and they certainly are a source of flavor that make the foods more satisfying to our appetite.
What are you going to do? Tailor your diet to your own health needs, and use the best nutritional information available.
I remember a special jar to save bacon drippings that was always in my mother’s and grandmother’s kitchen. I don’t do that, but I think the idea of using schmaltz might have a place in my cooking future. Jewish cooking often includes it. It is what makes the difference between plain old noodles and delicious noodles, for me.
Franz Liszt, was born October 22, 1811 in Raiding, near Sopron, Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father worked at the court of Count Esterházy, and gave him his first music lessons. He became an established concert performer by 12 years old, a prodigy. The Austro-Hungarian nobility gave him opportunities to study abroad and as a result his Hungarian language skills were poor, and French was his preferred language. In Vienna, on December 1,1822, he made his first appearance beginning his career as a Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer.
Carl Czerny had taught him, Chopin and Camille Saint-Saëns were his friends, he is said to have performed for Ludwig van Beethoven. Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, and Richard Wagner were proteges and his daughter married Wagner. He lived in a time of great musical creativity and added his own genius to the fermenting mix of Romanticism.
He lived in the Romantic Age, when emotions were considered paramount. Whether this affected his relationships is unknown, but he did have numerous affairs, with a tumultuous personal life.
Liszt’s piano compositions are among the most technically challenging. He invented the term ‘Sinfonische Dichtung’ (symphonic poem) for orchestral works. History has recorded his great works and prestige as a performer, even though there were those who criticized and did not acclaim him during his life.
In 1861, he went to Rome, where he concentrated on religious works, and teaching. His last appearance was at the concert of the Musical Society of Luxembourg. His death occurred on July 31, 1886, at age 74.
Heard of Lisztmania? Read on and listen to the music…
Biography and Music
Portrait of Franz Liszt 1839
young Franz Liszt
Teacher of Great Musicians
after a bout of Lisztomania took place, Liszt taught others
It has been said that Liszt passed through six lives.
(1) he lived the life of a precocious and much loved child
(2) in Paris he plumbed the depths of a romantic idealism and lost reputation, but linked destiny with other great men and composers.
(3) lived with the Comtesse d Agoult for five years following the “Bohemian” life and performing to great adulation. See “Lisztomania” not unlike Beatlemania.
(4) became hailed in Europe as a virtuoso
(5) he settled in Weimer to live industriously as an supporter of art and music, becoming a church cleric.
(6) ended his life by traveling between Rome, Budapest and Weimer, eventually dieing July 31, 1886, at age 74
The Emperor Napoleon appointed him to be a Commandeur of the Legion of Honour and in 1871 the Hungarian Cabinet invested him a rank of nobility in Hungary with a yearly pension.
During his old age he lived at Weimar surrounded by his pupils.
He became known as a teacher of great musicians through his work in Weimer, where he mentored Wagner, Berlioz, Schumann and Schubert.
Now you must bear in mind, in the first place, that he had never seen nor heard the sonata, and in the second place that it was a sonata with a violin part, now above, now below, independent of the piano part. And what does Liszt do? He plays the whole thing, root and branch, violin and piano, nay, more, for he played fuller, more broadly. The violin got its due right in the middle of the piano part. He was literally over the whole piano at once, without missing a note, and how did he play! With grandeur, beauty, genius, unique comprehension. I think I laughed-laughed like an idiot. -Edvard Grieg
It is hard to imagine the emotional fanaticism that Franz Liszt inspired in his time. If one witnessed Beatlemania at its height one may have an inkling. Yet, here was one man whose musicianship and artistry transported crowds of people frenzied into mass hysteria.
Lisztomania
The writer Heinrich Heine coined the term Lisztomania to describe the outpouring of emotion that accompanied Liszt and his performances.
“Liszt’s playing was reported to raise the mood of the audience to a level of mystical ecstasy”
[Find out more]
Liszt Says
Quotable
As the mother teaches her children how to express themselves in their language, so one Gypsy musician teaches the other. They have never shown any need for notation.- Franz Liszt
Beware of missing chances; otherwise it may be altogether too late some day.- Franz Liszt
In Hungary all native music, in its origin, is divided naturally into melody destined for song or melody for the dance.- Franz Liszt
Supreme serenity still remains the Ideal of great Art. The shapes and transitory forms of life are but stages toward this Ideal, which Christ’s religion illuminates with His divine light.- Franz Liszt
You cannot imagine how it spoils one to have been a child prodigy- Franz Liszt
During what time do we find the Romantic era? From the 1770’s to about 1870.
“An artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe”, this period of time imprinted its philosophy on many composers and artists we admire and enjoy today, despite the modern rejection of many of the ideas that inspired their works.
The time was rooted in the German Sturm und Drang movement, and an earmark of it was the intense emotion and elevation of emotion in expressions both abstract and pragmatic, such as the political. It was the age of Byron, of heroes and anti-heroes, and the sum of it was expressed by Charles Baudelaire: “Romanticism is precisely situated neither in choice of subject nor exact truth, but in the way of feeling.”
[wikipedia article]
The Most Important Thing
Liszt is probably most highly acclaimed for his piano transcriptions. He transcribed Paganini’s capriccios which contained almost impossible difficulties.His Career and Musical Works, Article at Classical.net
Hans Christian Anderson
Said of Liszt,”The whole instrument appears to be changed into a great orchestra.”
Liszt
Comtesse Charles d’Agoult, née Marie d’Agoult, and Her Daughter Claire d’Agoult 1849, pencil heightened with white and touches of yellow watercolor
The Women in His Life
The Countess Marie d’Agoult was the mother of his children and helped nurture his time of greatest creativity and fame. Liszt began his relationship with her in 1833. “She was said to be ”six inches of ice over twenty feet of lava”.”
A Calla Lily Wedding Featuring Most Popular Flower Choice
Why do Brides choose Calla lilies most often for their wedding flowers? Only the Bride herself can tell you precisely why it was the most favored choice for her, but it isn’t hard to see numerous reasons that make Calla lilies the number one wedding flower choice.
If you are thinking of featuring Calla lilies in your wedding, here are decor and flower ideas to give you a head start. Make your wedding flower selection a happy part of the best day in your life.
The Most Popular Choice for Good Reason
The blooms have presence; just a few make a statement. The simple curved shape of the spathe (the part most evident) is very modern in form.
Why are Callas First on the Wedding Flower List?
The blooms are extremely elegant. A smooth modern form, creamy white color or subtle tints, and their long stalk make them sublime for wedding flower use.
A Calla lily is an all season flower, available at any time of the year. They are also all season in their look, not being identified strongly with any certain month like peonies or chrysanthemums. But they are at their best in winter, when other choices are scarce.
A versatile flower that can be incorporated within all of the wedding flower arrangements and uses, whether it be bouquets or centerpieces.
Creating Ambience for a Calla Lily Wedding
Elegant table centerpieces or floral accents
More Reasons To Choose a Calla Winter Theme
Top of the list for the most popular, most available, and most versatile flower for weddings.
They have a distinctive appearance, and their strong lines are best paired with foliage or flowers that echo the simple curved lines of the flower.
Bear grass is a classic foliage pairing.
When Simplicity Is Important
alt=”Whenever a brides taste was for artistic, modern, and simple, a few stems created just the right effect. Vintage Wedding, Bride and Groom, Newlyweds Postcard “
Sophisticated Bouquet
In the classic white bouquet, only a few will be needed with some floral accents and variegated foliage. It creates a fresh and artistic flower bouquet that won’t look fussy or “over the top”
The Look
One reason that Brides love this flower is the elegant, curvilinear shape of the blooms.
Just a few of the flowers can make a beautiful statement, and I helped set up a wedding reception that had simple arrangements of three calla lilies each in a tall, clear, modern vase with only a few strands of bear grass. Each table was set off magnificently, and the simple arrangements made quite a statement.
Beautiful Colors
These blooms come in some of the most delicious colors, and always look tasteful.
A Bride’s bouquet of white can be echoed with the attendants having the same flower shape of callas with the nuance of the wedding colors in their bouquets.
Or the bridal bouquet can be the color of one of the several that make Calla lilies so sophisticated. Calla lilies come in Pinks, Lavenders, Eggplant, Orange, Peach, Yellow, and Bi-colors.
Different Sizes
They also come in mini sizes. That is enough variety to cover bridesmaids, flower girls, boutonnieres, Mother’s corsages, and every other wedding flower arrangement. No wonder Calla lily is a top choice for wedding flowers.
The Perfect Boutonniere
Colors of crisp green and mellow orange
Why Choose One Elegant Flower for Your Entire Wedding?
Availability is just one of the reasons to go with this for your bridal flowers. Ease of design, and an eye on the budget are two more factors in favor of this theme.
Available Online
Ordered online, fresh and direct, have a buckets of water ready to submerse and ready your flowers for arrangements, if you are making D-I-Y wedding flowers.
I have worked with these, and they are easy and outstanding in effect.
For Fall Weddings
Seasonal Flower Availability
There is no “off-season” for Calla lilies, so simply remember to order at least four weeks in advance of your event, ensuring the type and color of your chosen flowers.
If other flowers are used with them, be sure florists can as easily obtain those materials as well. Check with the month listed in my Wedding Flower link, for flowers in season. Choosing flowers that are available to florists will keep costs down and make sure that your planned blossoms are obtainable.
Theme Flower Versatility
Their beauty means that the shape is used in decorating many different types of accessories. Whether you wish your flower theme to be echoed in guestbooks, cake decorations, candles, or even decals on the wall, Calla lily designs are likely to be found.
About This Flower
Of the Zantedeschia genus the flower most often called and sold as the Calla lily is Zantedeschia aethiopica, which is also known as the arum lily. Other names? Trumpet lily and Pig lily.
Large, with white blooms, there are other types sold which have colors. All varieties with colorful flowers are other species of Zantedeschia. Most are not hardy north of Zone 7 or 8, but Z. aethiopica may survive in zone 6.
Native to South Africa, the plants grow in marshes close to bodies of water.
Comes in Colors!
Blooms for any Month
The Right Flowers For Your Wedding Month, Available … Have you wondered which flowers are available in the month of your wedding? Check these flower listings to find what’s fresh, which fulfill your color scheme, and floral tips,
From Budget Saving to Designs that will Wow
Take a look at wedding flower idea books, they will inspire you.
If ‘how to’ or just inspiration is needed a flower design book is going to save time and money in figuring which flowers to pick, and how to use them.
Besides the Fresh Flowers, Bridal Accessories
With the many accessories in this motif, there are an array of ways to tie together the theme of everything in the wedding décor.
Wedding Accessories with Flair – Gala Calla Event
Lovely bouquet
Make the Favors Special – Arum Lily designs fit into any Décor
Make your wedding one to remember, with favors that remind your guests of your joy, and grace their homes with an elegant candle holder.
One way to use these is as table décor. Lighting the reception tables, include notes on the tables which invite your guests to take one home. Save the attractive boxes for your guests to transport their lovely votive holders home. Such a lovely reminder of a perfect wedding!
Beauty
Even a single bloom is stunning
Your guests will know they stepped into a special time and place from the very beginning. Greet them with the elegance of Calla-decorated accessories repeating the swirling curved theme of your floral choice.
Easy to Make Your Own
Bouquets for attendants, the Bride, and the table, all are easy and possible to make yourself (or a friend can do it, you have enough to take care of!)
Bouquet How-To Tutorial
Corsage Instruction
Meaning and Symbolism
Two ways of denoting meaning through the inclusion of certain flowers are by consulting a “Language of Flowers” Victorian resource and also by the modern cultural connotation.
The usual color of an arum lily (another name for them) is white, and that is the color chosen for weddings because it represent innocence and purity. The Victorian meaning for the flower was “Magnificent Beauty”. Combine the two meanings and there is a symbol for Innocent, or Pure Beauty, which is very appropriate for a wedding day.
When colors vary from white, the emotional meaning of color comes into the picture. Red is connected with passion, Orange is playfulness and happiness, Pink is feminine, and Yellow is cheer and sunshine. For some, the colors may carry other meanings, and it is a good idea to investigate how people in your culture (or one you marry into) may feel about a specific hue.
Because of its long association with marriage in our culture, another significance is to wish for “marital bliss”, “true devotion”.
It is good reason to center décor around this stylish flower.
From Tip to Toe
Right from the start with the save-the-date to the final day with nail art as a finishing touch, the form of this flower can adorn all parts of the celebration.
The Bride’s Bouquet
A More Modern Look
Because this flower is so elegant it is chosen for a decoration on many wedding items, such as pens, guestbooks, favors, wedding goblets, and candles, to just name a few. Every accessory possible seems to come with the calla motif.
It gives a look that is modern or traditional. It was a favored flower during the roaring twenties and is just as popular today.
It was delightful to see how easy it is to carry this theme throughout the wedding and reception venue. Seamlessly transitioning from table to guestbook areas, highlighting the bridal table, decorating the Church, it is no wonder this is the one most popular wedding flower rivaling even the traditional rose.
The lines of this flower, its ability to stand alone (two flowers in a vase make a statement) create a modern, sophisticated mood.
Bridal Photo Vignette
bridal vignette
Simplicity
The simplicity of the Calla lily and long lasting bloom means they have an air of formality for the most grand of weddings, but their simple lines are also ideal for casual or modern weddings.
Continue The Theme Into The Cake Decoration
Calla Lily Wedding – From Bouquets To Sugar Paste Cake Flowers
Learn how to make the Calla lily a part of your wedding celebration- here are some ideas and how-to videos. If you aren’t a d-i-y person, let the design ideas illustrate what you wish in a cake or bouquet.
From One Chocolate Lover To Another, My Favorite Chocolate Dessert Recipes
I freely admit to my love of chocolate, but I’m very picky about how I like that chocolate, especially in recipes. Not everyone agrees with me! I must have walnuts in my brownies and I like cake-like rather than fudgy, for example, but I do think you will appreciate many of these tested recipes which I have made many times over the years.
The one thing all these desserts have in common is the addition of rich chocolate flavor as the main ingredient. Do not only read, gaze and dream- bake and eat!
chocolate batter on mixer beaters
The Velvety Richness of Real Chocolate
Rich dark chocolate cake and fudge icing, easy brownies full of cocoa flavor and walnuts, Auntie Mary cookies with melting chocolate filling, and a cream cheesecake with sweet chocolate flavor… delve in and indulge.
My kids loved to lick the spoon, …and the bowl … but the best part is the final result: cake with the buttercream frosting, or the delicate “Auntie Mary’s” with a hot cup of Christmas tea, or just baked brownies cut in generous squares.
Now you can enjoy these recipes with your family.
brownie dessert
Moist, Extra Rich Cake with Fudge Buttercream frosting
best-chocolate-cake
Chocolate Velvet Cake
Deeply satisfying, rich chocolate cake with a smooth chocolate frosting. Make the best double chocolate layer cake for any occasion.
Melt chocolate chips with ¼ cup water in saucepan over low heat until smooth.
Sift flour, soda, and salt together.
Combine sugar, butter, and vanilla, beat well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well.
Blend in melted chocolate to egg mixture
Stir in flour mixture alternating with 1 cup water.
Pour into two greased and floured 9" cake pans.
Bake for 30-35 minutes @ 375° . Cool.
Frosting:
Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler.
Add milk, vanilla, and salt; mix until well blended.
Beat in confectioner's sugar gradually.
Frost and fill Chocolate Velvet Cake.
Auntie Mary Cookies
title=”Good for any special event, a rich cream cheese cookie with velvety chocolate filling.”
Folded inside rich cream cheese pastry is a melty chocolate filling. – The melted chocolate in the center makes this a very special treat. One of my family’s favorites.
Auntie Mary Cookies
This is -hands down- my children's favorite cookie. It is very rich and due to cream cheese dough is not a long keeper, but it is meltingly delicious. Try our family favorite, and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
1 Baker's German sweet chocolate4 oz. pkg. -melted and cooled.
Equipment
1 10 inch pie pan
Method
Instructions
Add sugar to cheese in a bowl, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla.
Measure 2 cups of the cheese mixture and fold in melted chocolate. Pour remaining cheese mixture into well-buttered 10 inch pie pan or 9-inch square pan.
Add spoonfuls of the chocolate-cheese mixture and zig-zag a spatula through batter to marble.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Cool; then chill. Cut in 9 inch wedges.
*** for just chocolate flavor add 1 more pkg. Baker's German sweet chocolate and mix all together in batter.
I Love Chocolate
…just like millions of you do!
And I want my chocolate desserts to taste a certain way.
The Best Chocolate Flavor Should Be…
Full of chocolate flavor and highlighting the best ingredients in a way that fulfills my desire for the way the baked goodies ought to taste. Moist or cakey, fudgy and rich – it doesn’t matter as long as it is the best incarnation of its kind in a chocolate dessert.
rich chocolate brownie
My Favorite Brownies – the best brownie recipe
I don’t usually frost my brownies, but there is an icing recipe included, for those of you who do.
(hint) Don’t ever overbake brownies.
Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Rich and dense cake-like texture makes decadent and addictive brownies
Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler. Cool slightly.
Beat eggs until foamy and add sugar gradually. Add butter and chocolate mixture, blend. Add the flour. Add nuts. Stir together and pour into greased 9x9x2 " pan.
Bake at 325° for 40-50 minutes.
Notes
Optional chocolate icing:
2 c. sugar 1/2 c. white corn syrup 3/4 c. heavy cream 1 square chocolate 1 tsp. vanilla 3 T. butter Melt first three ingredients to the softball stage, add the resulting syrup to butter, add vanilla and beat well.
The Good News about Chocolate
The good news is that it is healthy for you. Of course that news is tempered by how much and what kind of fat you mix with it or the amounts of sugar you ingest, but indulging in this favorite flavor can be good for your health.
Tips:
Dark is better
High Cacao percentage is healthier
High levels of flavonals
mocha walnut cookies
Mocha Walnut Drops
Mocha Walnut Drops
A favorite for Christmas... though I didn't include it in my Christmas cookie collection yet....
Ingredients
Don’t ever burn chocolate… not even a hint of it. That is why melting chocolate calls for a double boiler. Basically that is cooking the pan of the chocolate over a pan of hot water, just to melt the chocolate.
Any chocolate chips can work, but better quality chocolate means better tasting final product.
melted chocolate1
Double Boiler – To Melt the Chocolate Perfectly, A Double Boiler
The number one thing to remember when cooking or baking with chocolate is to never, I mean never, let it burn. Even allowing it to melt at too high a temperature can prove harmful to the flavor.
If you care enough to buy high quality chocolate, then it is more than worthwhile to have a double boiler in your kitchen. The bottom pot hold water which is heated directly from the burner, while the upper pot holds the delicate ingredient which is desired to bring to melting temperature. This help the squares to turn to silky liquid form without danger of burning.
This is a good quality, while not too expensive double boiler pot. It is serviceable for all your chocolate melting needs I think. I’ve used Farberware pots, my mother and my grandmother used them. They last, and they look good. More importantly they cook and clean well.
Directions for Melting Chocolate in a Double Boiler
checkerboard cookies
Checkerboard Cookies
Makes 60 checkerboards.
Bake some yummy cookies to have during your next board game bonanza. These are usually just vanilla and chocolate but one inventive foodie has made them into something that looks and tastes special.
Checkerboard Cookies
Makes 60 checkerboards.Bake some yummy cookies to have during your next board game bonanza. These are usually just vanilla and chocolate but one inventive foodie has made them into something that looks and tastes special.
:: Make the strawberry dough by placing the butter, sugars, salt, strawberry powder, and sumac in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, about three minutes on medium. Add the vanilla extract and split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds into the batter. Add the egg and beat to incorporate.
:: Add the flour in three portions, beating to incorporate between additions, scraping down the sides with a large spatula. Once the flour is blended in, divide the dough in half and pat the dough down into a 6 x 6 x 1/2 inch square. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (about 20 to 30 minutes). Repeat with the second half of the dough.
:: Make the chocolate dough by placing the butter, sugars, and salt in the same bowl (don't bother cleaning it) of the standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy, about three minutes on medium. Add the vanilla extract and split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds into the batter. Add the egg and beat to incorporate.
:: Place the flour, cocoa powders, and instant coffee in a small bowl stir vigorously with a balloon whisk until well blended. Add these dry ingredients in three portions, beating to incorporate between additions, scraping down the sides with a large spatula. Once the flour is blended in, divide the dough in half and pat the dough down into a 6 x 6 x 1/2 inch square. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate (about 20 to 30 minutes). Repeat with the second half of the dough.
:: Take the doughs out of the refrigerator. Brush the top of one of the strawberry dough 6 x 6 squares with water completely. Place one of the chocolate dough squares on top of it, and press down firmly to adhere the dough. Brush the top of this chocolate dough with water and place the remaining strawberry dough square on top of that, pressing down firmly. Finally brush the top of this strawberry square with water and place the remaining chocolate dough on top of that, pressing down firmly. You should have a 2 inch thick stack of 6 x 6 square dough, alternating in layers. Wrap with plastic wrap and place back in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until firm.
:: Once the dough has firmed up, trim the edges of the square to make a completely square piece of dough. Set the trimming aside for marbled zebra cookies (instructions to follow). Cut a 1/2 inch strip from the square. Place one strip flat, and then brush it top of it with water. Cut another 1/2 inch strip from the square and rotate the strip 180 degrees so it alternates with the bottom strip. Place on the strip brushed with water and press firmly down. Wrap with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. Chill until firm (another 20 to 30 minutes).
:: To make marbled zebra cookies, brush the top of one trimming with water and place another trimming on top, alternating dough strips. Repeat until all the trimmings are placed on each other. Flatten and twist the trimmings together, turning clockwise with one hand, while counterclockwise with the other. Roll out the dough to a 12 inch length, and fold over once. Form the dough into a thick 1 1/2 inch roll pressing firmly down to make sure the different doughs stick together. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill until firm (another 20 to 30 minutes).
:: While the dough is chilling, preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line two baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper. Once the dough has firmed up, slice the dough into 1/2" thick cookies and place on the baking sheet, about an inch apart. Bake in the oven for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to brown ever so slightly. Cool on the sheet for ten minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack.
The Best Brownies Should Always…
– be the way I like them 🙂
brownies in a baking pan
Cakelike or Gooey?
I say cakelike brownies are the best way to enjoy them, and add walnuts while you are at it; my kids say fudgelike and no nuts! What is your opinion?
What is your opinion on the texture of the best brownies?
What’s Your Experience with Vibram 5 finger Barefoot Shoes
Vibram shoes
The Funny Shoes That Feel Good
My Vibram Shoes
I own two pairs of Vibram Fivefinger shoes. The first pair was bought in the kangaroo leather “preforma” style, and I soon felt that they were only for indoor workouts. I loved them, and didn’t want to wear them out by exposing them to hard outdoor wear.
How I Discovered The Barefoot Shoes
A post on an exercise site, one which listed this very shoe on the wishlist of the personal trainer who ran the site, made me want a pair for myself. She described the shoes as being super comfortable and great for workouts. The idea of barefoot comfort was compelling.
So I ordered a purple pair, just like the ones I saw in the post. They were so comfortable for yoga and dance workouts that it seemed important to have a pair for outdoor activity. Soon I had my stronger constructed Vibrams.
My feet have been intolerant of poor shoes for a number of years now, so Vibram shoes were a “godsend”.
Sizing
Sizing is different, so pay attention to the directions for getting the proper size fit.
Five Fingered Shoes Look a Little Weird
Gray 5 finger shoes by Vibram
Why Buy A Pair Of These Shoes?
They are comfortable
Vibram shoes are manufactured in different styles for specific activities
Vibram shoes are constructed well
Their barefoot running technology are believed to be healthier for feet than normal shoes
I own two pairs of Vibram fivefinger shoes and I love both of them. I have a very soft flexible pair for yoga and indoor exercising, a more durable pair for outdoors.
— Ilona
Women’s Bikila – Made for running
3
Notes on Sizes
– there are stores that carry Vibrams and they will fit you expertly.
– there are instructions on the Vibram company site
Shoes that are good for runners. “Keep runners on their feet.”
Different Models for Different Folks
There are different models of shoes made by the Vibram company. These are known by the names given the shoe, not just a mere style variation. There are 16 models for women to choose from.There are 13 shoe models for men.
Below is an example of some features of three of the men’s models.
https://youtu.be/uzeZluK6tOM?si=pYVJjU-fsC3E3HuT
3 Men’s Styles
Komodo
Bikila
Seeya
best for gym and running
best for running
walking
reputed to be most comfortable
thicker and more sturdy
lighter construction
LS=laces
laces or straps
3 Women’s Styles
KomodoSport
CVT Ls
KSO EVO
running and fitness
casual wear
casual and fitness
stitch-free footbed
lightweight
lightweight,sole grip
support and comfort
slip-on with laces
speed lace
Cleaning Your Shoes
Most of them are machine washable using the gentle cycle. You might try simply making sure your feet are clean before using your barefoot shoes, and I’ve never had a “smell problem”, but for those who do a sports wash may be a good idea.
Now that I’ve worn Vibram shoes for awhile, would I buy them again? A resounding yes, I would.
My favorite use of these shoes is for indoor yoga, which is an activity I do barefoot, normally. I like the feel of the shoes and they give me traction.
I bought a heavier model for outdoors, but find I don’t use them as much. When I used them during my trip to the arid West they got very dusty, which I dealt with my simply whacking them on my hand.
In my normal climate of Ohio it can get very muddy, with heavy dew in the mornings even in dry months of summer. I don’t want to ruin my shoes with mud. In fact, I’m careful to use shoes I don’t care about in muddy conditions here. That means street shoes, athletic shoes, etc. So, it is no reflection on the barefoot shoe, just a fact of life in rural Ohio that has a muddy season.
Boys Running Shoe
Great for light trekking, running, fitness, watersport or casual wear.
This unique footwear comes in sizing for kids, too.
From Their Website: Barefoot Running Training Schedule
Barefoot Running Guide Guide for getting used to “barefoot running”. Strengthening your feet.
I am over 50 and looking for some great summer fashions. I am searching for outfits that are stylish and that I will enjoy wearing without looking too young—you know, the “trying too hard” and “no she didn’t!” look.
Yes, what I want is breezy, easy-to-wear fashion that is on-trend but will carry me through the summer. I want some panache in my wardrobe. There are plenty of women like me who have put on a few pounds over the years, and the cuts and styles that once looked amazing on us suddenly look frumpy, highlighting all the wrong places.
So, what to wear? I’ve been trying to find some great looks and readjust my clothes, makeup, and hairstyle to emphasize my best features, which have changed a lot from when I was 20.
Here are some tips that will hopefully help you on your journey to summer elegance. May we continue to grow, thrive, and find what makes us look great.
Fashionable summer look with capri pants
Summer Fashion Tip
Wear clothes that skim your silhouette. Don’t try to hide your body—streamline it.
Summertime Colors
Summer colors are fresh and bright, so choose clothes that reflect that. Say goodbye to the darker colors of fall and winter, and say hello to fresh pinks and purples, sunny yellows, and spring greens.
Brights and Jewel Tones
Summer is perfect for bright colors. Going monochromatic with brights is always a super flattering look for women over 50. It creates long lines and elegance with very little effort. Don’t forget to smarten up your bright clothes with a fabulous, eye-catching accessory. A chunky necklace or patterned scarf does nicely.
Jewel colors like emerald and cobalt blue are classic, fresh, sharp, and crisp—especially for women with gray hair. Pink almost always works for older women. Also, using fresh and unusual colors is flattering and so stylish. Lemon yellow and purple? Orange, mango, and turquoise? Absolutely marvelous!
Of course, you don’t have to stick with citrus colors. Try adding some aqua and turquoise to your summer wardrobe. A word of warning: be careful of wearing blush and beige, they can wash you out and make you look unwell.
I love this yellow and turquoise combination!
Classic Color Pairings
When thinking about summer, I always picture nautical styles. Navy and white with yellow accessories is classy and flattering on most skin tones.
Gray with a contrasting bright color always looks chic. In fact, I think gray is the new black for us in the summertime. We can wear it anywhere. Be careful to pick a gray that suits your skin tone. Even though it’s a neutral, gray can be a warm tone or a cool tone, so pick the one that makes your eyes sparkle and your skin glow.
An easy go-to color combination that is always a classic is black and white. I like to wear it when traveling because mix-and-match pieces extend your wardrobe choices. Black and white looks sophisticated and crisp—important considerations for hot, sticky days in the city.
Monochromatic gray can be slimming.
Neutrals
Summer neutrals are a classic, and they’re so versatile, going from morning to night with ease. No worries about mixing and matching while traveling either. The main thing about neutrals is the fact that they often look casual or sporty, which is a look that suits me fine. For someone who loves drama, however, neutrals may not be ideal. Color means drama in most cases, and strong contrasts add to that type of look. So if neutrals are not for you, look into building your wardrobe with strong contrasts like navy and white or strong splashes of color. I find I often wear neutral, gray, or tan. To freshen the look, add orange accessories—something with spice or pattern.
All-over denim is another one of my favorite slimming looks. It creates one long line and draws more attention to your face. It’s comfortable, and you can wear either shorts or long pants. I have a couple of lightweight denim shirts (one with short sleeves and one sleeveless) that I can’t wait to incorporate into an all-denim look. This look goes from working in the garden to grocery shopping to grabbing a bite to eat with friends.
Collection featuring an all-denim look
Patterns
The color-block trend is one of my favorite ways to wear a pattern. It’s simple, bold, and unusual—think Mondrian. Keeping to two or three really big chunks of color will give you the look. It is a pattern that women over 50 can easily wear without being too busy. It’s also great to use when traveling. I think that is why I lean towards color-block choices for my summer wardrobe.
Like Metallics?
They make a big splash every summer! I don’t feel very comfortable in metallics myself, but if you like them, summer is a great time to use metallic accents.
Building Your Outfit
I usually choose my top first, then match the shoes and the pants to complete the look. For example, a soft peach top and capris in a bright mango would look fabulous with striped ballet flats.
Boho looks are one trend I really like, and the flowing blouses and skirts are flattering on most body types. Loose dresses in summer are airy, cool, and just make you feel good.
How to Build the Perfect Outfit
Scarves are Your new Best Friend
One way to accessorize your look is to find a great, lightweight scarf that you’ll want to wear everywhere. Scarves are a versatile fashion accessory, quickly adding color and disguising a less-than-youthful neck. They’re also great for finishing a look and tying it all together.
I love the Van Gogh iris-print scarf pictured below. I would wear it with yellow and turquoise pieces, then choose sandals or flats that work well with the look.
Van Gogh iris scarf
Scarves come in many shapes and can be tied in unique ways. Bring a flattering color close to your face.
Fashion Tip
Keep shoes refined-looking and classy. Heels need not be too steep or trendy.
My idea of showing off is relatively conservative, but like most women, I do like fashion-forward shoes. Shoes are an easy way to make a statement without your entire outfit screaming, “Look at me!” The most important thing for women in their 50s is for their shoes to be comfortable. I won’t last ten minutes in high heels if I have to do any walking. So something with a low heel keeps a smile on my face.
I like a bright orange or radiant orchid-colored shoe. Both colors are appropriate for a dinner date, but they’re also nice for casual shopping trips and being out and about. Sneakers with a new and unusual look can also be a fun way to make a statement without compromising comfort.
Mules are one of my favorite types of shoes to wear in the summertime. They come in many colors, and they are so easy to slip on when you’re in a hurry. I personally like them to have some fancy details and a bit of a romantic feel. With some flair and sophistication, mules are still a classic summer look. If you have good-quality shoes in a classic style, they will look chic for years.
Summer Fashion Tip
Say goodbye to baggy clothes. Flowing and breezy is much more flattering.
This summer Fashion’s Top Wearable Trends
Full of neutral colors, textures, and very wearable shapes for older women. Note the looser silhouette, especially regarding pants.
Longer, Wider, Looser?
Tips to Make the Most of Your Look
Find a great-looking pair of glasses or sunglasses. Your face will look stylish every day. Nothing says chic more than a pair of beautiful sunglasses.
Don’t get carried away with the bling. You don’t want to become a caricature. You want to accentuate you.
Add pops of color to neutral outfits.
Dress for your body shape and dimensions. Always try to draw attention to your best features (an important fashion rule!).
Go for darker jeans that are narrower and fit well. Jeans are important in your wardrobe, so take time to get the ones that fit your shape nicely.
Find some good shoes. Don’t underestimate the value of a great pair of shoes.
Use the best and most flattering skirt length for your body. Mine is right around the knee.
Why is this now important? Because with rising health care costs we must be proactive about our health, and one segment of this is to use alternative sources for learning to treat ourselves. Vitamins and herbal supplements are readily available, but we need more than faddish promotions of the "latest thing"; we need to be informed of actual alternative and herbal treatments and how those will impact our health.
I've been studying this subject for years, implementing it and using myself as guinea pig. I'm very conservative in approach, because, after all, some very powerful drugs and toxins have their origins in herbs. Digitalis, opium, and belladonna quickly come to mind. The links I list for this subject reflect my prejudice: I like scientific, straightforward facts on medicinal herbs. Claims for medical applications can arise from several sources, which makes the information confusing and potentially mistaken. I sift through and try to discern the category of origination to judge whether the herb is safe and useful.
Common Sources of Herbal Information
Not all sources of information on herbal uses are reliable or trustworthy. Here are a few categories you will come across:
Doctrine of signatures - this was an idea that if a plant mimicked something human, it was good for it. Example: Hepatica leaf resembled the liver, so..... I'm sorry, I don't trust this.
Astrological influences - Here, an herb is assigned to a zodiac sign (sort of like the way pagan gods and goddesses were "over" something). What's difficult about this is whether the writer assigned the powers to the herb because of what sign it belonged to or whether it was assigned based on its known effects. Unreliable.
Folk medicine and native Indian medicine - This combined with whatever scientific studies one can find yields the most promising answers. These older societies looked for what worked, although there was some superstition and shamanism thrown in, no doubt. I give more weight to these claims and along with newer information to find the most likely help.
Homeopathic Medicine - This is a whole separate category based on specific premises and with a great deal of precision in dosage, preparation, etc. And I think it's best to deal with someone well educated in this if you're taking that route. I'm not even qualified to provide links in this area (it intrigues me, though).
So, what have I tried? For those nasty "adult acne" breakouts (pimples at forty?) a hormone balancing cream with wild yam works well-this is rubbed on the body. A face cream with yeast in it worked well. Evening Primrose capsules seemed helpful, too.
Some essential sandalwood oil mixed into Nivea cream as a carrier was good for the neck area, and it smelled so nice.
For eye pressure and redness, I'm experimenting - and haven't quite figured what exactly is helping me.Here's my combination,so far:
Exercise (this has to be part of it)
Herbs of Bilberry, Eyebright, and Gingko Biloba
Vitamins A, C, B complex, Lecithin with some Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tablets. A vitamin combination for eyes worked well (it had selenium in it).
I'm not getting older, I'm getting better - so why doesn't my body get the message? Anyway, for increasing attacks of PMS, the Evening Primrose/Wild Yam stuff works well along with increased Vitamin B complex. Sometimes extra Folic acid and B6 thrown in...try these the week before the event.
Also, I should lay off caffeine - my absorption and utilization of B's and calcium would be better. If you can quit coffee and chocolate, you're a better person than I presently am.
My husband has taken Saw Palmetto; information on it indicated that regular use could stave off future prostate trouble.
For relaxation, Chamomile tea is effective and, during pregnancy, red raspberry leaf tea is soothing.
Usually, I err on the side of under using medication of any sort, but two strong herbal remedies which I've used were (1) Blue Cohosh for after delivery. I also used it during the labor, but it was more useful for me afterwards. It's extremely bitter, and I wasn't sure whether it caused some problems with the baby's nursing. Some babies are sensitive to flavors in breast milk. (2) An Ayervedic "de tox" tea. This was strong stuff! It did seem helpful. This tea cleanses the 'everyday living' type of toxins which seem to abound in our modern society.
A word here, about herbs during pregnancy: I think you should always consult with knowledgeable people on this ("in the multitude of counselors..."). Many times an herb is recommended for a certain part, like blue cohosh during the labor, but not during the pregnancy (it can act as an abortifacient). Also, anythingat the beginning of a pregnancy is taking chances with a crucial development time. Pregnancy is not a sickness to be medicated, it is a time of health awareness -good food, moderate exercise, positive thoughts, good feelings....a valid reason to take extra good care of you. Herb info
If you are pregnant you may like my Childbirth Page -it has loads of important information on Pregnancy and Childbirth.( It is temporarily off line)
Food
One of the most powerful things we can do to keep healthy is to eat right. Eating raw food, whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, are all basic ways to improve our health.
Sometimes we ignore the simplest facets of building a healthy body. I know it is hard to change poor habits... I experience that now, and I know if we just make the small choices every day to pick whole foods that benefit us over the empty foods that drain our resources instead of nourishing us, we are making progress. Don't be discouraged, but be determined to eat better. It will pay off in the long run.
Who doesn’t want their prayers answered? Who doesn’t wish for the confidence that God hears and gives answers to their requests? Most Christians strive to grow in this area. In fact, after Jesus’ disciples had been with Him for a certain amount of time they asked Him to teach them how to pray. The disciples noticed that powerful answers came when Jesus prayed.
praying to God
We can have this same experience as Christians. Because Jesus gave us authority to use His name, and since faith in Him places us in the position of friends of God and power to be sons of God, we too can have our prayers answered.
So why is it so hard for many to develop their prayer life?
Problems in Praying with Power
We aren’t sure God hears us
We aren’t sure that we are praying according to His will
We are foolishly trusting in ourselves, our own sense of goodness.
We don’t understand enough about God’s promises
We give up after failed efforts
We get discouraged because we haven’t seen the answers after what seems a long time.
Prayer is so much more than asking God for things. When growing spiritually, it helps to gain insights from others who have walked that road before. So many difficulties could be avoided if we just could hear that certain things are just normal.
Although I will go forward with fine points in future videos, one purpose for laying a foundation in this video are for these reasons:
When people think of power they want to skip to the end point. People believe they can find hacks, jumping ahead of the line, from novice to expert in spiritual matters. If we look at the example of Jesus, He accomplished each step of His ministry in the right time and order: as He heard from the Father.
Don’t let the world’s demand for social proof, or your own desire for a pre-eminent place hurry you out of the timeframe of God.
This especially is true in prayer.
Jesus Gives Prayer Tips
Actually this is being facetious about a serious topic. The Lord Jesus did more than give tips, He gave truth. So if you want to learn spiritual truths, you have to take the words of Christ jesus seriously.
What guidance did Christ give, on praying?
Don’t make a show of your prayer before men… trying to impress them. Go to your Father in Heaven in secret. Let your prayers be between Him and you when you seek standing with God.
Don’t have a flood of words, repeating things over and over. Let your words be an honest communication with the God who Hears.
Understand that He wants to give good gives to those who ask, because He is a father with a loving heart.
Keep praying and don’t give up.
Besides these points, the “Our Father” prayer is a study in the main order and points of praying powerfully.
Now that we have looked at a few of these thoughts, why not watch the entire video? Any feedback on it, is welcome.
Video for Building Confidence in Praying Powerfully
I created my first prayer talk video.
I take basics and put them together with lessons from my experience through the years of praying. Laying a foundation that with practice and time will build an effective prayer life.
Why basics? Because it is the foundation that matters and because prayer is something you do. If you want to start building a powerful prayer life, start here.
Gillian Anderson at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con, the same year she began starring in “The Fall,” a feminist take on the British mystery genre.
Prime Suspect and Beyond
If you love crime TV genre and British shows, you know there are plenty of dedicated, strong women characters who make up part of the crime solving teams. For those who have yet to see women take the helm, here is a short list of some of the best ones to watch.
Some I have discovered on Netflix, some on PBS, and others through Amazon. In my present addiction to British style detective series, I have found the women characters to be some of the most fascinating. There is a wide range of subject matter, and the range is from gritty to humorous, but the entertainment value is always top notch.
9 Great British Female Detective Series
Vera (2011–present)
Prime Suspect (1991–2006)
Broadchurch (2013–17)
The Fall (2013–16)
The Bletchley Circle (2012–14)
Murder in Suburbia (2004–05)
Happy Valley (2014–16, 2023)
Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004–13)
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012–15)
1. Vera (2011–present)
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Jon Morrison, David Leon, Riley Jones
Not your usual heroine, DCI Vera Stanhope is a middle aged, rather disheveled career policewoman. She is something like your mum, and plays that maternal side to get to the bottom of even the most difficult cases. It doesn’t hurt at all that DS Joe Ashworth, her sergeant, is so dishy.
The show has gained an international audience, which is testimony to the staying power of a heroine who is mature, matronly, and no-nonsense holding the top billing of the competitive TV Crime drama genre.
You’ve got to love the British for giving us so many great women crime solvers of quite ordinary looks, and extraordinary brains. buy the DVDs on Amazon:Verahas become my top favorite British detective show.
After a long run, this series has come to an end, but there are plenty of past episodes to enjoy.
2. Prime Suspect (1991–2006)
Starring: Helen Mirren, John Benfield, Tom Bell, Jack Ellis
Helen Mirren, of course, brings sex appeal and glamour to any role she plays, but this one has an edginess and grittiness that gives us the flawed hero realism of our favorite crime shows. Fighting her way up the ladder in a predominately male dominated time and career has left its marks, but her intelligence and focus gives this character a believable persona.
Helen Mirren as Detective Superintendant Jane Tennison is believable. You know she has paid her dues and has the ability to win her place in the macho world of crime and detectives. I think Prime Suspect is one of my all time top picks for great TV, especially in this genre.
Prime Suspect: Tennison
For those of us who became fans of the gritty portrayal of Jane Tennison, Prime Suspect: Tennison held a lot of promise during its six-episode run in the spring of 2017. The show was a prequel, telling us the back story of how the Mirren character became a strong leader, with Stefanie Martini playing the title role.
It was interesting as a longtime fan of Prime Suspect, but it lacked the spirit of the original. While the series did a great job reenacting the time period, the characters, including Jane, failed to connect with viewers. It was short-lived and probably only of interest to those who are curious.
3. Broadchurch (2013–17)
Starring: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan
You might be drawn, as I was at first, to watching a show with your favorite Dr. Who in the starring role, but this is a dark show with the focus on the development of Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller. At first passed over in what might have been her investigation, she grows into the driving force in finding the perpetrator of a child’s murder.
Not just the impact on the family, but upon an entire community is dramatically portrayed with spot-on acting and filming. The transformation of individuals, families, and town is sometimes grueling and gruesome, and sometimes redemptive and strong. It makes for a compelling story with many threads and entanglements.
This remote Dorset resort town may not have provided much opportunity for crime work, but Miller evolves as a person and as a detective within her tight knit community. The interaction between her and Detective Inspector Alec Hardy grows into a balanced respect and admiration, but not without its turns and pitfalls, all the while trying to find the truth about a most perplexing murder.
With two seasons of Broadchurch, one wishes for more Sgt. Ellie Miller and D.I. Alec Hardy crime solving exploits.
4. The Fall (2013–16)
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Bronagh Waugh, John Lynch
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is a long way from Dana Scully. Tough and brittle in manner, she is drawn in clearly feminist terms. In fact, the show was named “The Most Feminist Show on Television” by Amy Sullivan of Time magazine.
With a truly creepy criminal, a set of missed cues allows him to murder and live his double life. All the while the police are trying to get their act together. Eventually Gibson gets her investigation team and plan together to close in.
Fraught with tension of harrowing scenes and missed opportunities, eventually Stella gets her man. She is not the most likable, but she is definitely effective. Be forewarned that there is plenty of “language” and sex in this show.
How Do You Like Your British Detectives?
Go ahead and answer in the comments!
5. The Bletchley Circle (2012–14)
Starring: Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle, Anna Maxwell Martin
Women of different temperaments who proved to be a formidable team of decoders, later are reunited in an amateur group who use their skills in detective work. The backstory of their feelings of meaning and usefulness while working in the war effort, and their search for its replacement in their post war lives gives an added layer of plot to their efforts to catch a killer.
The story hinges strongly on the personalities and interactions of women who find strength in themselves and in each other. The struggles of women who have tasted meaningful work and are then expected to sublimate their talents and dreams into the lives of men. More a celebration of the individual women than the blatant feminist moralism that it might sound like, interest ranges from their codebreaking days to the good detective story at its heart.
I liked the period feeling that is carried throughout with costume, manner, and the general color palette. Surprising how using certain color, and filming technique instantly transports us into a time period. The women of Bletchley took on new challenges and put their talents together in San Francisco in a new series.
I am sorry to report I didn’t like it near as well as the original, but if you are fans of the first series you might overlook the comparison and enjoy this new version.
Starring: Caroline Catz, Lisa Faulkner, Jeremy Sheffield, Glen Davies
I always like actress Caroline Catz, who plays one of the leads, Inspector Kate Ashurst. In this one she plays the posh side of a customary formula of police partners from contrasting class backgrounds. Her partner Scribbins is working-class and saucy.
Interesting and fast moving, the criticism I would give this series is the lead actresses are a bit too frivolous and light hearted while going about their crime solving duties. It gives a feeling of smugness to the show.
But this is one of those detective series that doesn’t take itself very seriously, the very opposite of one like Prime Suspect. I’d compare it to Midsomer Murders, but more modern and urban. Lots of humor and a sense of fun are the earmarks of this set of mysteries.
7. Happy Valley (2014–16, 2023)
Starring: Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, Shane Zaza, Charlie Murphy
Happy Valley is anything but, of course. This gritty police drama centers around policewoman Catherine Cawood as she seeks justice for her daughter, tries to pull her family together and struggles as a grandmother who must now raise her grandson.
Tough, and sometimes misunderstood, she garners respect and bulldogs it through some harrowing experiences. All the characters grab the imagination and attention of the viewer, Even Cawood’s sister, who is sometimes on and sometimes off her latest rehab is a fully fleshed out profile of a woman with both strengths and weaknesses.
The streets of the town which has seen better days, the inside workings of those whose job is to keep those streets safe, and the heartache of a strong woman who sometimes finds “keeping it together” a challenge gives this series its hook. I give this show top rating for those who love crime shows.
2023 Revival
A third and final season of Happy Valley aired in 2023, seven years after the conclusion of the second series. The six new episodes show Sergeant Cawood preparing for retirement while trying to have a relationship with her now-16-year-old grandson, Ryan.
According to the show’s executive producer, Will Johnston, “It definitely isn’t coming back—and again this is from Sally (Wainwright, the show’s creator) and Sarah (Lancashire) who completely and rightly feel that you can have too much of a good thing.”
8. Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004–13)
Starring: Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie, Stephen Churchett, Greg Bennett
In this incarnation of the Marple Character, Geraldine McEwan plays a very chatty, spry Miss Marple. She is elderly, but with quite a bit of energy and lively curiosity. Agatha Christie was such a marvelous crafter of story that even though we know how the plot turns out, the power of the story and the beloved protagonists ensure great programs. We want to see the interplay of the characters and the display of human psychology.
Miss Marple
It is fun to see what different actresses have done with the stories, whether the more frail Hickson or this redoubtable rendition of why it is never a good idea to underestimate old ladies! If you are not familiar with the Agatha Christie stories or if you have not yet seen any of the televised series, it is time to become acquainted with them, starting with this series.
How About Those Aussies?
Too good to leave out, Miss Fisher Mysteries takes her place among the British shows. An Australian drama television series worth watching, with many similarities to British TV: great character development, intriguing plots, and attention to period style.
9. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012–15)
Starring: Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Ashleigh Cummings
From the Roaring Twenties comes a humorous, slightly risqué, leading lady. Miss Phryne Fisher hails from Australia; she isn’t British, per se, but close enough. Maybe that explains her crossover from humble beginnings to lady of wealth and leisure who has plenty of time to investigate all these mysteries while dressed to the nines!
Phryne has her own private detective career, and exemplifies the free wheeling “modern girl”, without the American speakeasies or mobsters that we often equate with those times. That makes her character represent today’s women, but allows her to retain some sense of unspoiled playfulness. Which is a part of the fiction, perhaps.
These are light, breezy episodes for the most part, although they occasionally touch on serious social issues. There is a certain amount of sexual tension between Fisher and her main contact in the police department, DI Jack Robinson. He is obviously smitten with her. Any sex in the show is alluded to, not portrayed.
Miss Fisher is a new take on TV’s rendition of female detectives, although those who love mystery fiction recognize these as grownup Nancy Drew stories, I think. Always a fun adventure in sleuthing with a bit of danger thrown in.
Related Reading
Great British Detective Shows (page coming)
I admit to watching a good deal of television. Mysteries are one of my favorite genres followed by sweeping epic and historical melodramas.
Here are some intriguing mystery shows featuring British detectives! | Source
Good Plots, Great Dialogue, Well Done
I’m an aficionado of British detective shows. I started watching them on PBS on Masterpiece Theater, but I soon devoured as many as possible on my Netflix and Amazon accounts.
If, like me, you are looking for good quality TV for entertainment and have a predilection for British shows, here is a list of those series I’ve completed (some I gladly re-watch from time to time).
What Makes British Crime TV So Great?
For me, it is a little like a Dickens novel: the character development and the involved plots.
Many of these shows have the added local flavor and terrific landscapes, but mostly it’s the story.
Lacking the slickness of American crime TV, the gritty feel of the filming, and the truly interesting personalities … along with the sheer imagination of their crimes and crime solvers, makes for great television entertainment.
Interrelated 3: The Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, and Endeavour Series
Inspector Morse
I have to start with these beloved shows because I think this is where I was first hooked. Top-notch acting, the feat of holding our credulity while basing so many murders within the venue of Oxford, and the ins and outs of class society all make for a great set of shows.And due to the inter-related stories, we don’t ever have to truly say goodbye to characters. I think you will become quite attached to them as they evolve and then, ultimately, loop back.
Inspector Morse
Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Colin Dexter, James Grout
A truly grouchy lead, offset by his affable partner, digs into the crimes, which are full of twists. Each episode holds us in tension and further develops the picture of the main characters and their backdrop.
Morse is a snob, but not without self-awareness. He is something of an underachiever in life, but one that knows his brilliance in his work is going to get the job done better than his “betters.” Cutting corners but suffering the consequences for it, he works right up to the bitter end of his life.
You sometimes wish for life to have treated him a little kinder. He worries about the situation until flashes of revelation come forward with just the piece that solves the puzzle.
Lewis is his partner who grows into the fine detective we see in the next generation of the stories.
Liberally interlaced with great classical music.
He transforms from an amiable bumbler to an astute and experienced detective who has worked hard for and deserves respect.
Inspector Lewis
Stars: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Rebecca Front
Keven Whately is now mature in his life and career. His partner is a man who might have been how we might have imagined Morse in his youth. Pairing Lewis with Sergeant James Hathaway continues the contrast of everyday man with ivory tower intellect.
They use their strengths to solve the crimes and buoy each other through their weaker times. It is very much a story of friendship as well as work bringing evildoers to justice.
Endeavour and Thursday
The Prequel Turned Sequel
The complicated persona of Inspector Morse inspires this look into his beginning. The mature man who shrouded his first name is portrayed in this foundation story to the earlier long-running series. A show that stands on its own, you don’t have to have seen the original “Morse,” but it creates a link that molds a more genial and intellectual look into the heart of an iconoclastic Inspector.
Endeavour Morse
Stars: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw, Anton Lesser
This is my favorite of the three so far. It is newer, so one can’t binge-watch, but I like the portrayal of Morse. He is kinder and gentler, and the angst is believable. Has less of the smugness evident in the original.
I believe you will really be captured by the struggles and triumphs of Endeavor, even though he never quite attains his secret love interest. Shaun Evans creates a truly believable Morse, although it is a bit of a stretch to see him become as grouchy and egotistical as the original Inspector Morse character.
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley gets a bit of needling for his upper-crust origins and manner, but this is a nice change for a “copper” show.
If there is any criticism of the series, it is that there are not enough episodes. The mix of actors and the filming and plots are all excellent.
All the components that make British TV enjoyable:
Interesting and engaging characters
Intriguing plots
Moody, romantic venue
Now coming to a close, this has been a great series, not in the least due to the match of Lynley with his complementary partner, Barbara Havers, who adds her salty, down-to-earth personality to his aristocratic one.
There are seven seasons to enjoy.
The Modern Sherlock
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves
The fresh take makes this a “must-watch.” It has class, action, and wit going for it. You might think you know Sherlock and Watson, but I assure you you do not know them like this!
Who wouldn’t love a Sherlock who has lines like,
“I’m a high-functioning sociopath!”
I am always looking forward to the shows on PBS. You might be able to catch a full episode on their website.
Luther
Stars: Idris Elba, Warren Brown, Dermot Crowley, Michael Smiley
This was a dark horse (forgive me, I couldn’t resist this racially, in bad taste, play on words), but really, I didn’t expect this show to have the weirdness, and tension, along with great detective story plotting and grit that it did.
I loved it and wish I had access to more episodes. I would have liked to see it go into long running, but the talk is of a movie to further carry out one of the really great detective stories and characters.
This has great writing and story behind it, but wouldn’t be the brilliant show it is without the central actor Idris Elba.
I watched it on Netflix.
Wallander
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Richard McCabe, Jeany Spark, Sarah Smart
Watch both this British version and the subtitled original Swedish one starring Krister Henriksson, Fredrik Gunnarsson, Mats Bergman, and Douglas Johansson. They are both the same stories and characters but with such different perspectives. I liked comparing the two for feeling but didn’t feel they were redundant in any way.
Wallander is dark and brooding in temperament but with a fascinating driven determination to ferret out his quarry. Disheveled with the complicated personal life that cops always seem to have, both shows have an edited color palette that conveys the mood and the beauty of the Scandinavian countryside setting.
Small bits of levity may be sprinkled in, but this is a serious detective show with plenty of building tension as the plot is unraveled.
This is another series with an edge, although a quiet one.
Tip For American Viewers
At times I am unfamiliar with the accent and found that using captions helps me follow fast action and dialog better.
TV series “Midsomer Murders” uses many locations in the south Chilterns for scenes in the fictional Midsomer County. licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
Midsomer Murders
Stars: John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Jason Hughes
There are an awful lot of murders in this seemingly bucolic English village area. But the unflappable DCI Barnaby manages to bring all to a conclusion.
Flanked by his Sergeant (Ben Jones is a favorite) and complemented by his wife, who seems fairly clueless and then quite astute in turns, this is a somewhat homely drama/comedy that definitely grows on you.
Watching the first incarnation of the show leaves the viewer feeling that despite evildoers, all ends up quite right in the world.
The New Midsomer Murders
Later, a switch of characters (Barnaby’s cousin, also a DCI) takes up the gauntlet of crime solving. His wife has a career, and they have a furbaby instead of a daughter. The plots take on an edgier and more modern take, as well.
Good acting, dialog, and new twists and turns in each episode.
Fun Fact
The theme song is played by a weird little instrument called a theremin.
Martin Shaw as Inspector George Gently | Source: Dana Sibera on Flickr
Inspector George Gently
Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard, Michael Wilson-Dukes
Yes, you might find the wardrobe a bit more retro than usual and the main character a little too sanctimonious, but this is an entertaining series that winds its way through the North Country while old-fashioned Gently methodically fights crime.
He and his fashion-conscious partner Bacchus address social issues along with their sleuthing.
A bit dated, but a good watch, anyhow.
Father Brown
Father Brown (2013 TV series)
Stars: Mark Williams, Sorcha Cusack, Nancy Carroll
This is the series that began in 2013, with stories based on the writing of G.K. Chesterton. Comedic Priest with heartwarming humane compassion for people’s foibles and downfalls is driven by an insatiable curiosity to help solve all the local murders.
Supported by his band of locals, he only occasionally moralizes while bringing the Inspector up to speed with his unfailing nose for facts.
This is one of those shows that likes to have a bit of fun, and there is a certain lightheartedness about it. But it does have its more somber moments, and the tight-knit comradeship between the main characters is a part of the charm.
Likable characters, interesting plot turns, and the beautiful English countryside and village life are all draws for this series.
Fun Fact:
There is also another series (the original) by this name that aired in 1974. It has a very different flavor for the character and the plots.
Which is your favorite of all?
Answer in the comments
DCI Banks
Stephen Tompkinson in “DCI Banks” (2010)
Stars: Stephen Tompkinson, Jack Deam, Andrea LoweOne of the more macho of the very masculine set of players that people many detective shows. His spare manner and square jaw hold the show and contrast with his partners, one of which is an uptight and somewhat OCD Caroline Catz.
Like many of these shows, there is some social commentary addressing issues of today. A modern detective story well grounded in contemporary times.
Cracker
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O’Brien, Barbara Flynn
Here is another one I almost missed because I wasn’t drawn by the name or descriptions. Don’t you make that mistake!
A combo of unique and stereotypical character flaws and brilliance make up the character of this profiler. He “cracks” cases.
This show has a definite film noir vibe, cued in by the Jazzy soundtrack.
One of the disheveled types, the show and its main characters quickly become favorites. Robbie Coltrane was an unusual choice for this drama because his work was mainly in comedy, but that just sharpens how surprisingly good he is in this role.
Besides looking into the heads of criminals, there is a good deal of relationship inspection as Fitz (Robbie Coltrane) and his partner develop into more than friends and co-workers.
Don’t let this one pass you by … the series is not as well-known as some others, but it is highly entertaining. Coltrane proves to be superb in the role.
Grantchester
Stars: James Norton, Robson Green, Morven Christie, Tessa Peake-Jones
This sleuthing priest could not be more unlike “Father Brown” than if you outlined a list of characteristic antonyms.
Clergyman Sidney Chambers is a priest who works in tandem with a policeman, not antagonistically.
What the two clergymen do have in common is a soft spot for the frailty of man. Chambers tends to personally indulge in those frailties, himself, however. He drinks, smokes, and has some sexual adventures, mostly without apology or repentance.
Sidney is eminently likable, if not particularly priestlike.
What Makes It All Tick
The Grantchester production is more polished than the Father Brown series. With less of a “fast plot” formula than a long slow look at what makes people tick.
The episodes each address a crime to solve against the larger backdrop of the almost soap opera storyline of Reverend Sidney Chambers and his lost love.
It manages to stay free from sappiness and explores the growing friendship of the male protagonists as well as romantic and married love.
Historically set within the post-World War 2 era of the fifties.
Later in the series, the emphasis for the characters takes a decided turn. It becomes more caught up with social issues, which not every viewer will appreciate.
Find New Favorites?
Did you find some interesting shows to watch? Or were you reminded of some old favorites that bear watching again? Check your local PBS or subscription service for a chance to see the fine acting and well-crafted plots of the favorites listed here.
Many of the best TV in this genre is headed up by female leads. Discover some of the strong, independent British female crime busters.
A number of years ago I made the decision to go gray! The transition looked a little less stellar than I would have liked, but it didn't take long before I had a full head of silver-gray hair.
Now I would like to change up the style a bit. I grew it to a little below the shoulder and cut it into a bob that was about chin length. The classic bob was probably the easiest and best all-around look so far. But I'm not decided yet (and overdue for my next hair styling session).
Time to peruse the latest photos for gray hair and mature good looks.
More Silver Fox Stylings
My kind of hair: somewhat wavy. This is a good length to have for a casual lifestyle. Easy care, but long enough to sweep into ponytails or French rollsNo curl here, which helps it look sophisticated. This look is accomplished with flat-ironing the entire head of hair. Source: wehotflash.com
Allow me to think out loud here. Growing hair takes quite a while to accomplish, especially as we age. There is more breakage, and less replacement. I know I have a lot more hairs falling out than when I was younger.
Whereas cutting it takes only as long as my appointment with a hairstylist. Less than an hour.
So, should I try to grow it to a long length or go ahead and stay with a mid-length cut?
Some Things to Consider
Deciding what lengths to go to in growing out hair.
Long hair (below the shoulders) always draws my attention in hairdo magazines and photos. I love the look of long hair.
However, long hair is harder to take care of and it sometimes turns yellow easier. Quite often it doesn't look as polished, gets frizzy more easily, and can look messy.
Short hair is limited and for me, tends to look disproportionate to my body (for some women it looks fantastic)
Medium lengths are the compromise. They sometimes look exactly that—neither here nor there, and I want something that looks a little more stylish.
Post-2020 Notes
As I also posted in my original article, Silver Fox, Stunning Gray Hair Styles, I now have longer hair, whether I wanted it or not! For me, it is not a look I wish to stay with, and when I am able to visit the hairstylist again, the long locks are coming off!
For most mature women, medium hair lengths are the best, if you don't go shorter. While wearing the long length, a braid or updo works with it until one can get that easy-to-care-for medium bob!
Think About Texture and Skill Level
My hair texture is too thin and wiry for some styles, and my skill levels are certainly low. I always ask my beautician if the look I want will work in my daily life, or is appropriate for my kind of hair.
A simple style that I can tie back on occasion, one that looks good in just a few minutes with a straightening iron is the reason I usually have a classic bob with a fringe of bangs.
One thing that really makes a difference for thin or thinning hair is a hair texturizer! I like the Kenra line, this one gives a lift to your roots without the gooey feeling of a paste. It comes "whipped" which means no aerosol cans, and the light color is great for grays. If you have medium-length hair this will bring some control without heaviness. Having wavy hair, this light control is good for keeping frizzes at bay.
Right now I am trying to grow it longer, however. The problem is that I am getting impatient with how it looks between cuts.
Face Shapes
Which Shape Describes Your Face?
A stacked layering with flipped up ends and smooth length from the crown. Sophisticated and fun.Glassy smooth, long bob is the result of a great cut plus the use of a flatiron. Don't forget the hair serum for that beautiful, reflective shine!
It’s been a kind of liberation to have gray hair. I feel that beauty is not about subterfuge, it’s about authenticity — Vicki Topaz
Short Hair Cuts
There are pros and cons to having short hair. I still worry that a short spiky 'do will make me look like Phillis Diller on a bad day ... or someone that forgot their Halloween "fright wig" was still on their head. However, just viewing some of these photos allays those fears. Be prepared to use styling products like "hair wax" or "hair taffy" to keep things looking good.
Thicker hair (the type I have) pulls hair into a straighter looking style, but the waves show up with some layering. Instagram / @FLINT_HAIR_
Really Short
Ask Your Hairdresser
Is the style right for my hair and lifestyle?
Are there special products or techniques I need to know?
Short and on the wild side, but a really cute look.
Some women look best with short hair, and it is very easy to take care of. Still, short spiked hair needs plenty of product in the form of gels and strong hold styling mousse.
It almost always looks professional and the only thing to remember is to schedule haircuts often enough to keep the lines crisp and well-kept.
This hairdo almost looks like a halo that showcases the fine bone structure. It could overwhelm a finer bone structure. Like someone stuck their finger in an electrical socket, maybe?
Know your face shape for the best hairstyle choice. (More on that below.)
Loose waves and a fringe
Most of the hairstyles you see online will have plenty of hair products used to make them look that way. AND they will have a good cut. While both these are found at a professional salon, take the tips from a Silver Fox and order them at a discount online.
The gray hair shampoo my readers love the most is by Pravana. The second most popular is Rene Furterer Okara Mild Silver Shampoo. I don't think you could go wrong with either of them. I usually use Paul Mitchell's Forever Blonde, which does the same thing: cancels the yellow with violet-toned ingredients.
For me, with slightly wavy hair, plus the gray-hair frizzies, a flat iron is a must.
Use a serum or pomade to bring out the shine—that makes a vital difference in the look of gray hair.
Face Shapes
What are the main face shapes?
Oval
Oblong
Square
Heart-shaped
Diamond
I am a diamond shape and some fringe across the top of my forehead, with layering near my face is often a great look. I can't decide on that or a sleek bob. The classics are a sure thing for an older woman. We just have to avoid getting stuck in a fashion rut.
I love that mid-length layered haircut with the flirty ends. It has a young look without trying too hard.
Source: undercut.com
Medium Lengths
Usually, I ask for something in a medium length and when I do, it makes me happiest with how I look. Maybe because it doesn't visually drag and is easiest for me to style and care for. It is versatile for those who like to catch their hair into a pony tail or dress up a French roll or half-up-do.
Sometimes I tell my hairdresser: " Make me look like Helen Mirren". Bringing in a print of a photo is a better idea. Especially with her new updated look.
Grey Styling
If you have medium textured, wavy hair, I hope these styles gave you some ideas. It is a way for me to keep track of the styles and tips that I am using myself.
If you have naturally curly hair, very fine or very straight coarse hair be sure to check with someone who knows hair how these styles would work for you.
Celebrate your uniqueness!
Do You Have a Favorite Type of Hairstyle?
Classic Short Bob
let me know in the comments which is your preferred style:
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