#VAR BEAR. HONEY

[ao3feed-witcher-dddne]

by QueenofYumcha

It is an honour to be able to escort His Imperial Majesty to his bedchambers.

It is unusual for the man to overindulge like this, Emhyr has confessed to him that much in drunken rambling, that he does not have much of a head for alcohol and rarely imbibes more than a few watered-down glasses of wine at social gatherings.

Tonight, however, Emhyr cannot stand without assistance, his body warm against Cahir's side, clinging to him in order to stay upright. Touching Cahir as though he were an old friend instead of a servant, a man bearing him to bed out of love and not duty. Emhyr is not his usual reticent self, his Majesty overflowing with honeyed words, with lazy praise and throwaway touches.

Tonight, Emhyr sprawls across his bed, an artful grace present even as his limbs lie limp and askew.

It would take a stronger man than Cahir to resist.

And Cahir's flesh is weak.

(In which Cahir takes advantage of his sleeping, inebriated Emperor and gains a taste for it, drugging his Emperor into pliancy whenever he is given a chance.)

Words: 2136, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English

Series: Part 10 of Nilfgaardian Rarepair Hell

Fandom: The Witcher (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Rape/Non-Con

Categories: M/M

Characters: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Emhyr var Emreis

Relationships: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Emhyr var Emreis

Additional Tags: Rape/Non-con Elements, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Unconscious Sex, Drunk Sex, Drugged Sex, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Obsession, Cahir is a Creep, Come Eating, Non-Consensual Somnophilia

[shima-draws]

Me: Okay Varian may have become a villain but it was out of desperation to save his dad and really his actions weren’t THAT terrible

Me, after rewatching Secret of the Sun Drop and seeing Varian alchemically alter his raccoon, infiltrate the castle with an automaton, indirectly injure the guards, kidnap Arianna, use Rapunzel’s hair as a drill, almost squeeze the life out of Cass, and generally wreck havoc:

[cobycobsy2k]

COBYCOBS UBERHOOD, SEASON 4: “Rebels” Chapter 10: "Listen to me!"

At Lindsay, Rose, Lilith, Ophelia and Nicole's residence.

The girls, except for Nicole, were talking about what they would do for the weekend.

Ophelia (While she was gathering her things, because she was going with Johnny to the movies): Well girls, see you on Sunday! I hope you have a great time!

Rose, Lilith and Lindsay: See you later Ophelia!.

At that moment Nicole enters with a big smile and a large amount of clothes.

Nicole (Smiling): You guys are not going to believe what I did with Heather!

Lindsay (As she looked at her friend): Did you take the stupidity out of her!?

Nicole: No haha! We did a clothing fair and she accepted me in her dance group!

Lilith and Rose: Dance Group?.

Nicole (While she was looking with a lot of energy at her friends): Yes!!, You should have come with me girls!!.

Later, Lindsay was checking her computer when an email caught her attention.

Lindsay (Reading): "I know who you are and what you want, go downtown tomorrow to get more answers"... Who wrote this for me?

In the tri-var sorority.

The girls were about to sleep, especially Heather, who thought too much about Jimmy Phoenix.

Heather (About to put on her sleep mask): Why am I thinking too much about that crow?... He's too ugly!

"Jimmy" (Entering Heather's room): So I'm ugly to you? Come on, barbie whims, you know very well that you love me!

Heather stopped thinking and saw that no one was there.

Heather (Thinking out loud): It's all your fault Tiff!.

Tiffany (A little sad): And now what did I do?... I just came to wish you good night.

Heather: Nothing Tiff! I just had a nightmare...

Tiffany (Approaching her friend): You're not fooling me Heather... I know very well that you like a boy, and that boy is Tank Grunt.

Heather: ew, no! Tank may be too handsome a hunk, but he only has eyes for beasts like Lindsay! Also, I don't like "Nice" guys anymore, they're all like Castor, Kevin, Chaz or like Ashley.

Tiffany (A little confused): Could it be that you like one of the scholarship holders? If so, you know you wouldn't get along very well with them!

Heather (As she put on her sleep mask): Tomorrow we'll talk more calmly Tiff Tiff!, good night!.

The next morning, at the Urele-Oresha-Cham residence.

Joshua was talking to Chaz Whippler, who was having a problem with a teacher.

Chaz (A little sad): And she threatened me if I told anyone what she had done to me...

Joshua (Concerned): But you haven't told your father?

Chaz (Crying a little): My father and her get along very well!!...

Joshua: Calm down bro, soon that teacher will stop abusing you...

In the distance, Kevin Beare and Ella Goth were talking about their families.

Kevin: My parents don't want me to be home on weekends, that's why I'm staying here with Ash and Joshua, you should come with us!

Ella (A little shy): My mom and my grandfather, they overprotect me too much, especially my grandfather, he doesn't want anything bad to happen to me...

Kevin: I thought Mr Goth was on vacation in Sunset Valley.

Ella: I would like to spend a day away from my family... It's not for nothing bad, but I think I don't fit the standard of being "a girl from the goth family".

Mortimer (Angry as he ran towards Kevin Beare to push him): Get away from my granddaughter, you dirty bastard!!.

Ella (Calming her grandfather down): Grandpa please, Kevin and I were talking!

Mortimer (Seriously): Ella, get in the car right now!!, And you young man, don't you dare do anything bad to my granddaughter!!.

In the Goth mansion.

Mortimer (While hugging his granddaughter): Honey, I only did it for your own good, I don't want anything bad to happen to you like it did to your uncle Alexander.

Ella (Head down): But grandpa, I want to make new friends! Sometimes Angie, Paris and Natsuki are busy with their boyfriends and I'm a bit lonely... Why don't you want me to approach any boy?

Mortimer: Ella, I already told you! I don't want anything bad to happen to you, the world can be an evil place and there are very evil boys who want to hurt you!

[tigerlyla-of-metinna]

Hello! I have a question. Are you more fan of the Nilfgaardian Empire or of Emhyr var Emreis? I mean, if there would be no Emhyr, will you like Nilfgaard? Did Emhyr make you like this region?

Thank you for the answer.

That is a good question and thanks for asking. I've never played the previous witcher games and I came in late with the books. Believe it or not, I liked Nilfgaard waay before I liked Emhyr. All this based on my W3 game and the more I interacted with the NPC's the more I find myself leaning towards the modern and strict Nilfgaardians and would always ensure they win the war. My fascination with Emhyr began when I found out he is voiced by my favorite: Charles Dance- so that's a plus. Then after several readings of the books, I find that the emperor is one complex character- not the typical bad guy all the way. Add that plus his handsome character model, and boom!, became a fan.

Despite what others say about his character- and I get a lot of heat and hate mail for it, it doesn't change my mind why I like Emhyr and his empire ( BTW heat and hate mail is like trying to convince a bear to love vinegar instead of honey :D).

Also started making portraits of Nilfgaard and Emhyr because not many of those in the internet :)

[livingcorner]

How to create a low maintenance garden

A low maintenance garden is ideal if you don’t really like gardening, or if you truly never have the time to garden. Less is more when it comes to low maintenance gardens, and it’s a style that works with all sizes, especially small gardens because you’re already working with a compact space.

Want to know how to make your outside space work for you and not the other way around? Here are some simple steps to a sure-fire, easy garden.

You're reading: How to create a low maintenance garden

Golden rules

1. To get a truly low maintenance garden, there’s one simple, but radical thing to do – limit the number of different plants you have. The fewer you have the lower the maintenance will be. Try to stick to between 5 and 10 varieties – think swathes of rudbeckias or sedums or lines of bamboo or tall grasses. You’ll get to know what care and attention they need very well, and you’ll be able to spot weeds more easily and be better able to deal with them quickly.

2. Lawns need regular work and weekly cutting, so pave it, gravel it, deck it – any of these will be less work than grass. Paving takes just a sweep a week to look after, no slogging up and down with a mower. However, if you want to keep the lawn, make it a really simple shape. A rectangular lawn can be cut in minutes whilst an irregular shaped lawn can take 10 times longer.

3. The more hard landscaping you have in your garden, the lower the workload will be. When designing a low maintenance garden, aim to reduce the size of the planted areas in your outdoor space. For instance, take the beds back towards the boundaries and replace them with paving if possible – a path around the garden works well.

There’s also a rule of thumb – the ‘harder’ the hard landscaping the easier it will be to look after. So slate and slabs are less work than decking and gravel. The decking will need regular cleaning and the gravel will need to be kept in place and raked, whereas slabs can be left.

4. For beds, try top-dressing them. A good thick layer of gravel, slate or chippings will help to suppress weeds and make everything look smarter.

5. Whether you’re putting in fences or buying garden furniture, have a look at hardwood rather than softwood. Softwood will need more maintenance.

6. Always have plenty of accessible storage in the garden. The easier it is to put things away and access them, the lower the workload will be. Investing in a small, narrow garden shed is a good idea if you have the space.

Rowlinson Midi Wooden Garden Storage in Honey Brown, Cuckooland

Cuckooland

7. Garden maintenance really comes down to outdoor housework, so try to make those jobs as easy as possible. Keep the brush and pan outside, with a handy place to put anything that needs to be discarded. Again, these essentials can be stored in a shed.

8. Make sure you have a lovely place to sit. If gardening is not your thing at least make sure you can enjoy your space by lounging in it. And that’s the main aim of the low maintenance gardener – to just kick back and relax in the garden. There some amazing ways to do just that: check out day beds, garden sofas and hanging egg chairs for a completely luxurious lounge.

PorcelPave Cardosa Stone Effect Porcelain Paving Tiles, The London Tile Co.

The London Tile Co.

Perfect plants

There are lots of plants to avoid if you want a low maintenance garden. That means no annuals and tender plants, so no bedding plants, no vegetables and no sowing of seeds. Also, avoid plants which need staking; delphiniums are the most common offenders, and you should avoid plants which act as slug or rabbit food; hostas are the worst for this.

Don’t put in climbers, they bring a surprising workload. Climbers are either self-clinging, like ivy, and will quickly run out of control, or they need support and will need endless tying in. So what’s left? Shrubs, preferably evergreen like daphne, lavender, holly and euonymus.

Jacek Wac / Alamy Stock Photo

A real treat is to find ready-planted pots, these are the sorts of things you can just bring home from the shop and place in the garden – job done.

And finally, perennial weeds are an enormous source of work in gardens – these are the ones with deep roots which seem to get into everything and always come back; things like bindweed, ground elder and knotweed. The mistake is to just keep attacking the tops; if you have any of these weeds it’s much better to take everything out of the bed and get rid of every last bit before continuing.

Rudbeckias

Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii

Sedums

Hylotelephium spectabile (Brilliant Group) ‘Brilliant’

Bamboo

Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis

Daphne

Daphne × transatlantica Eternal Fragrance (‘Blafra’)

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’

Lavandula crocus.co.uk

Read more: Harvesting Potatoes Is All About the Right Timing

£14.99

Holly

Ilex aquifolium ‘J.C. van Tol’

Euonymus

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’

Seasonal changes and what to avoid

In a low maintenance garden it is possible to have fake grass at a reasonable price, if you install it yourself. There’s plenty of advice on suppliers’ websites about how to do this. Changing your lawn to artificial grass will immediately make the garden look smart and seriously lower your maintenance hours – but do bear in mind this will not provide a habitat for wildlife.

You could also install a watering system; it doesn’t have to be anything complicated. A leaky hose system is just a hose from the tap and then a connector to a hose which lets the water seep out across the beds. It’s simple, inexpensive to install, works really well, and saves so much time.

Other low maintenance garden ideas includes arches, arbours and pergolas – theses are all easy to install and they don’t have to be hugely expensive. The great thing about these structures is that they instantly transform an area and, most importantly, don’t add to the garden maintenance.

shedstore.co.uk

Forest Slatted Pergola Arch – Grey 7′ x 5′

And get hold of some stainless steel troughs and feeders to use as planters; this will create a modern and architectural look in your garden. Get ones large enough to avoid the need for continual watering of smaller containers.

Water features are lovely but you need to look after it pretty constantly with cleaning and clearing. Unless you want some extra work it’s not something to have in a low maintenance garden.

And remember, gardens should be real sources of pleasure; they shouldn’t have to be a burden. The biggest mistake of all is not doing anything about your outdoor space. A bit of thought and effort up front can mean that you’ll really enjoy your garden.

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15 stylish outdoor cushions to buy for your garden

Printed cushion – Outdoor Cushions

John Lewis & Partners Window Pane Check Print Garden Cushion, 43 x 43cm, Indigo/White

John Lewis johnlewis.com

£12.00

Add a touch of intrigue to your garden with this beautiful showerproof cushion. It has a classic check print, and is perfect for any outdoor space or conservatory. 

Grey style — Outdoor Cushions

Scatter Cushion – 50cm

gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk

£14.99

Looking for a plain grey style? This simple yet stylish grey scatter cushion from Garden Furniture Centre is ideal for every outdoor space.  

Perfect easy-to-clean cushion — Outdoor Cushions

John Lewis & Partners Waves Print Garden Cushion

John Lewis johnlewis.com

£12.00

Jazz up your outdoor space with this unique garden cushion from John Lewis. Made of durable cotton with a coating to repel light rainfall, it is squared shaped with white piping around the edges.

Brilliant for garden benches – Outdoor Cushions

Cream Bench Cushion

Homescapes homescapesonline.com

£16.99

Give your outdoor bench added comfort with this long cream cushion. Choose from a range of colours to find the right one for your space. Why not get the matching seat pads, too? 

Recycled cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Outdoor/Indoor Chervon Woven Cushion

HUG RUG WOVEN laredoute.co.uk

£20.00

Ideal for both indoor and outdoor spaces, this stylish woven cushion hits the spot. It might be made from recycled plastic bottles, but it has a cosy softness to it. Perfect for every garden. 

Stripe cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Coast Outdoor Cushion – With Navy Stripe

Add some seaside fun to your garden or balcony with this gorgeous stripe style. Each cover is made from water repellent polyester fabric and can be wipe cleaned.  

Floor cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Indoor Outdoor Square Floor Cushion – Soft Blush

Water resistant — Outdoor Cushions

Read more: 77 Japanese garden ideas for small spaces that will bring Zen to home

Aruba Blue Water Resistant Outdoor Cushion

Comfortable and practical, this stylish outdoor cushion is perfect for adding a touch of colour to the garden. Best of all, it’s waterproof so will withstand a little summer shower. 

Anti-fungal coating — Outdoor Cushions

Waterproof printed garden cushion

Celina Digby etsy.com

US$28.99

This waterproof cushion is perfect for your outdoor space. Thanks to its anti-fungal coating and waterproof lining, it’s brilliant for alfresco dining. Barbecue at home, anyone?  

Comfortable cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Alexander Rose Dalia Blue Scatter Cushion

Alexander Rose gardentrends.co.uk

£13.95

Give your garden that ‘wow’ factor with this beautiful printed blue cushion. With a natural feel fabric and polyester filling for extra comfort, it’s perfect for adding a stylish touch to your space.

Best heated cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Heated Scatter Cushion

gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk

£49.99

Keep warm on chilly summer evenings with this heated outdoor cushion. With three heat settings and pockets on the side, it will keep both your hands and body warm when the sun goes down. 

Fun print — Outdoor Cushions

Parrots Multicoloured Outdoor Cushion

Riva Home dunelm.com

£18.00

Set of 2 cushions — Outdoor Cushions

Set of 2 Leaf Print Outdoor Cushions

marksandspencer.com

£29.50

Cotton cushion covers — Outdoor Cushions

Argos Home 2 Garden Cushion Pads – Coastal Stripe

Argos Home argos.co.uk

£8.00

Refresh your outdoor space with these affordable striped cushion pads. Ideal for seating areas, they have a coastal stripe and are made from 100 per cent natural cotton.  

Tassel cushion — Outdoor Cushions

Tufted Outdoor Scatter Cushion (43cm x 43cm)

View Product Information matalan.co.uk

£14.00

Add some texture to your outdoor space with this boho-inspired scatter cushion. In pink and oatmeal, it’s got a tufted woven stripe front with tassel edging to finish. 

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Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-create-a-low-maintenance-garden/

[kevinscottgardens]

26 October - 13 November 2020

These past few weeks have been an emotional roller-coaster. Back in September several friends, within 48 hours of each other, informed me about an amazing opportunity in the south of France. I was so touched that people were looking out for me, knowing I’ve been aching to move to somewhere warmer, more Mediterranean. I hesitated for a week because the job announcement on a garden designer’s Facebook page stated French was important. I’ve studied French for a long time and I still have a long way to go to fluency. Again, later in the week, another friend from Kew mentioned it and knew the garden personally.

So I took the plunge and sent my CV, in French, to the garden designers. They liked it well enough to pass it to the client. A week later I had my first phone interview and it went well. Now I was super excited and could hardly sleep. On paper this job sounds really good. I checked out some You Tube videos on the garden designer, their preferred maintenance contractor and the nursery they use. I only became more interested and excited.

Plant ident 30 October

Lamiaceae Salvia africana-lutea syn. of Salvia aurea

Lamiaceae Salvia canariensis

Lamiaceae Salvia confertiflora

Lamiaceae Salvia elegans ‘Honey Melon’

Lamiaceae Salvia greggii x serpyllifolia

Lamiaceae Salvia greggii ‘Stormy Pink’

Lamiaceae Salvia involucrata

Lamiaceae Salvia microphylla var. neurepia ‘Oxford’

Lamiaceae Salvia ‘Nel’

Lamiaceae Salvia ‘Phyllis Fancy’

Plant of the week

Lamiaceae Salvia confertiflora Pohl

common name(s) - Sabra spike sage synonym(s) - Salvia confertiflora var. angustifolia J.A.Schmidt; Salvia confertiflora var. brachyantha Pohl; Salvia rufa Epling conservation rating - none native to - Brazil location - salvia walk, accession 2019-0398 leaves - deciduous, pungently-scented, ovate flowers - slender spikes of small scarlet flowers, covered with velvety red-brown hairs, with the stems of the inflorescence and the calyx also having a red-brown colour, in late summer and autumn habit - a tender bushy perennial to 1.2m tall, becoming woody at the base habitat - tropical, summer rains, dry winters pests - slugs, snails, capsid bug, rosemary beetle, leafhoppers disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to 1ºC (H2) soil - loam, chalk or sand, well-drained sun - full sun, sheltered propagation - seed in containers in a cold frame in spring; softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat pruning - cut down if hit by frost nomenclature - Lamiaceae - lamium - gullet, the name in Pliny refers to the gaping mouth of the corolla; Salvia - healer, the old Latin name for sage with medicinal properties; confertiflora - with dense or crowded flowers NB - first discovered in 1833 by the Austrian naturalist, Johann Baptist Emanuel Pohl in the Serra dos Órgãos, state of Rio de Janeiro. Pohl sent specimens back to botanical gardens of Europe where it was popular not only for its dramatic colour, but also for its prolific flowering well up to the time of frost

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [18 Nov 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-182420 [18 Nov 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:456011-1 [18 Nov 20]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/16324/i-Salvia-confertiflora-i/Details [18 Nov 20]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_confertiflora [18 Nov 20]

About ten days later I received an email inviting me to meet with his wife, here in London, for a second interview. That took place one evening after work. Again, the conversation went very well and it turns out we have a friend in common - who would have imagined!

The following week, after posting some tea to my sister in LA, I received the call offering me the position. Again, no sleep that night!

While all of this was happening, my tinnitus has been acting up too. I have also experienced a few bouts of vertigo, which is quite rare for me.

So that Friday, two weeks ago, I tendered my resignation. I asked to take my remaining annual leave as part of my notice period which meant I only had two weeks left in the garden. This will give me next week to sort my packing and I’ll fly to Nice next Saturday, 21 November. This will give me one week to work with the person who is leaving. I’ve never had such a fantastic opportunity for a week-long hand-over.

Plant ident 6 November this week was a review of the past four weeks, those were my favourites at Kew because it helped me retain names that would otherwise have just never stuck.

Plant of the week

Cucurbitaceae Momordica charantia L.

common name(s) - bitter melon; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear synonym(s) - Cucumis argyi H.Lév.; Cucumis intermedius M.Roem.; Momordica charantia subsp. abbreviata (Ser.) Greb.; Momordica charantia f. abbreviata (Ser.) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes; Momordica charantia var. abbreviata Ser.; Momordica charantia var. longirostrata Cogn.; Momordica charantia var. muricata (Willd.) Chakrav.; Momordica chinensis Spreng.; Momordica elegans Salisb.; Momordica indica L.; Momordica muricata Willd.; Momordica sinensis Spreng.; Momordica thollonii Cogn.; Sicyos fauriei H. Lév. conservation rating - none native to - tropical and subtropical Old World location - tropical corridor, accession 2020-0110 leaves - simple, alternate leaves 40 to 120mm across, with three to seven deeply separated lobes flowers - separate yellow male and female flowers; in the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November habit - very vigorous, tendril-bearing vine to 5m habitat - hot humid areas of the tropics and subtropics; savannah and bush; common in coastal thickets, along creeks and streams, and in lowland forest margins pests - aphids disease - downy mildew, powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, target leaf spot, root-knot hardiness - to 5ºC (H1c) soil - rich in organic matter with 2m to 2.5m of rainfall annually sun - full sun propagation - seed - sow in situ; seedlings emerge five to seven days after sowing, but fresh seed often shows dormancy which is very hard to break and can last for some months pruning - none nomenclature - Cucurbitaceae - cucurbita - Latin name for the bottle-gourd; Momordica - bitten, the jagged seeds of balsam pear appear to have been nibbled; charantia - graceful, the pendent fruits NB - is a laxative, diuretic herb that soothes irritated tissue, lowers fevers, kills parasites and cleanses toxins from the system; probably also a uterine stimulant; the fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible.

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [20 Nov 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2372864 [20 Nov 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:293413-1 [20 Nov 20]

Useful Tropical Plants [online] http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Momordica+charantia [20 Nov 20]

Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia [20 Nov 20]

I worked the weekend of 7/8 November, my last weekend duty.

I’ve been taking private French lessons twice a week for the past three weeks. François has been taking an hour out every weekend to help me with my French. I’m hoping once I start living in the language it will come together. Lucien organised my French mobile number, so it will be ready to use when I land.

During these few weeks in the garden leaves have been falling and falling and falling. Al spends most mornings blowing leaves into big piles. He’s also agreed to stay on through the end of January.

Plant ident 13 November ferns

Aspleniaceae Asplenium trichomanes

Aspleniaceae Asplenium scolopendrium

Blechnaceae Blechnum cordatum

Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium aquilinum

Dicksoniaceae Balantium antarcticum syn. Dicksonia antarctica

Dryopteridaceae Polystichum setiferum

Polypodiaceae Adiantum venustum

Polypodiaceae Microsorum diversifolium syn. Phymatosorus pustulatus  subsp. pustulatus

Polypodiaceae Polypodium interjectum

Pteridaceae Coniogramme emeiensis

I gave Olivia a thorough hand-over of my beloved tropical glasshouse. I’m sure it is in good hands, and under the always watchful eye of Jess.

Jess and I gave the tropical corridor it’s winter pruning on Thursday.

Nell has allowed me to work on several projects on the database I’ve been trying to complete. I added to my predecessor’s manual for the plant records manager. It is quite comprehensive. I hope my replacement finds it helpful and continues to update it as the roll changes.

Wednesday, when Jill was in the garden, I asked her to create a herbarium specimen of the Romneya coulteri for me, also being a California native.

Friday, 13 November, saying goodbye... I made my way to Victoria in the morning, before work, to purchase one last social from Ole & Steen. After work we indulged in cheese, beers and Nell gave a very nice speech.

Mary Ellen painted this for me, and the plant and secateurs were gifts from colleagues.

The evening concluded with a stint in the jacuzzi - so very relaxing.

Plant of the week - a foreshadow of the next garden in which I shall be working

Cistaceae Cistus creticus L.

common name(s) - Cretan rockrose synonym(s) - Cistus complicatus Spruner ex Nyman; C. creticus f. albus (O.E.Warb.) Demoly; C. creticus f. flavus Demoly; C. creticus subsp. trabutii (Maire) Dobignard; C. cupanianus C.Presl; C. dunalianus Sweet; C. garganicus Ten.; C. × incanus subsp. creticus (L.) Heywood; C. incanus subsp. creticus (L.) Heyw.; C. ladaniferus Stokes; C. polymorphus Willk.; C. rotundifolius Sweet; C. tomentosus Lam. [Illegitimate]; C. undulatus Moench; C. villosus L.; C. villosus f. albus O.E.Warb.; C. villosus var. creticus (L.) Boiss.; C. villosus var. rotundifolius (Sweet) Grosser; C. villosus var. trabutii Maire; C. villosus var. undulatus Grosser; C. vulgaris Spach; Ladanium officinarum Spach; Ladanum verum Raf. infraspecific taxa - Cistus creticus subsp. corsicus (Loisel.) Greuter & Burdet; Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus (Viv.) Greuter & Burdet conservation rating - none native to - central and eastern European Mediterranean to Jordan location - history beds, accession 1996-0376 leaves - shaggily hairy stems, leaves are slightly scented flowers - variable in shade from deep purple-pink to rose pink, to 6cm across, with a yellow centre habit - very variable, small, bushy, evergreen shrub, to perhaps 1.5m tall; highly branched shrub that measures between 30 to 140 cm with a more or less creeping stem but without actually taking root in the ground, with little strength to stay upright habitat - distributed in calcareous romerales that inhabit soils with sandy characteristics; can be found growing near oak forests on the coast pests - generally pest-free disease - may suffer from nutrient deficiency when grown on very alkaline soils hardiness - to -10ºC (H4) soil -well-drained sun - full sun, sheltered propagation - seed, sow as soon as ripe and keep in cold frame or sow in spring; softwood cuttings in summer pruning - does not respond well to hard renovation pruning nomenclature - Cistaceae - Cistus - capsule, rock roses are conspicuous in fruit; creticus - from Crete, Cretan NB - traditional herbal medicine, the leaves of Cistus have been used in the treatment of skin and inflammatory diseases (Hudson, 2009). Recent scientific research has confirmed the validity of this traditional herbal knowledge through studies that have demonstrated that Cistus leaf extractives have powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and biofilm-breaking qualities (Rebensburg et al, 2015).

References, bibliography:

Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5

IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [19 Nov 20]

Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2723343 [19 Nov 20]

Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:168230-1 [19 Nov 20]

ProHealth [online] https://www.prohealth.com/library/cistus-a-natural-antibiotic-antiviral-and-biofilm-buster-6292 [19 Nov 20]

Royal Horticultural Society [online] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/22292/Cistus-creticus/Details [19 Nov 20]

Warbleton Council [online] https://warbletoncouncil.org/cistus-creticus-13547 [19 Nov 20]

SARS-CoVid-2 update (active cases only) 2 November 2020

SARS-CoVid-2 update (active cases only) 8 November 2020

SARS-CoVid-2 update (active cases only) 16 November 2020

[techcrunchappcom]

New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/hints-from-heloise-puppy-pics-delight-news-sports-jobs/

Hints from Heloise: Puppy pics delight | News, Sports, Jobs

Heloise

Dear Heloise: To track the growth of our puppy, we photograph him next to a teddy bear as a point of comparison once per month. This would work well if you have an overweight pet too, to monitor weight loss. We get a kick out of seeing the changes in our pup. — Kelsey W. in Ore.

MUG CAKE SNACK

Dear Heloise: I enjoy reading your column in the New Orleans Advocate. I have a hint for those of us who live alone and want a treat sometimes. Regular cake mix can be used for a “mug cake” with good results.

I mix 1/2 cup of any dry cake mix with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water in a soup mug. I stir until the lumps break up, then microwave it for 1 minute to 1 minute and 15 seconds. I let it sit for about 5 minutes, and I have a quick, sweet treat!

If I want a bit of frosting, I drizzle syrup or honey over the top. I have also sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top with delicious results.

I put the unused mix in an airtight container until I need it. One cake mix can make about five treats! — Therese W., New Orleans

CATS AND LEMONS DON’T MIX

Dear Heloise: I know how to keep cats away. I scatter orange or lemon peelings over the area where I want the cats to leave.

The cats will sniff but not eat the citrus, and they won’t come back. I replace the orange peels as they dry up. This does not harm any pets, birds or the outdoor area. — Ellen F., via email

QUARANTINE JEAN

Dear Heloise: Our family loves jigsaw puzzles! During the quarantine my daughter put a plastic tub full of used puzzles on the porch and invited the neighbors to borrow or trade. Kind of like a free little library for puzzles instead of books!

One more hint I have to share! I keep used toothbrushes in every bathroom, laundry room and even sewing room! You never know when you’ll need it to clean a tiny area, sink faucet, spot clean clothing, etc. The uses are unlimited! — Jean, via email

SUPER SCOOP

Dear Heloise: With regard to large liquid laundry soap containers: by cutting a slice off them and leaving the handle, they make good feed scoops for dogs, horses, cattle, etc. — Virginia E., via email

Readers, be sure to clean, rinse and thoroughly dry the container before using. — Heloise

***

COVID-19 and littering

Dear Heloise: I am an outside worker, doing lawn maintenance for several businesses. I always have to pick up trash to do my job — used diapers, bottles, cans etc. But now, it’s used masks and gloves that have become the worst part of the job. Please ask your readers to dispose of their trash properly. — Marty M. in Texas

Marty, there really is no excuse for trash being thrown anywhere other than where it belongs. This is especially true now that we have COVID-19 to contend with and the danger it poses. Let’s do our part to keep our environment clean and safe for everyone. — Heloise

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[bara-karlek]

100 days langblr challenge

I was too tired yesterday so I will do two together.

Day 25/100: Translate a short poem or song. Day 26/100: Learn 1 Disney song. (you don’t need to learn it perfectly, if you know 3-5 lines without looking for the lyrics, that’s great)

I will do the translation on this song, another one of my favourite Disney songs.

Var nöjd med allt som livet ger Och allting som du kring dig ser Glöm bort bekymmer, sorger och besvär Var glad och nöjd för vet du vad. En Björntjänst gör ju ingen glad var nöjd med livet som vi lever här

Vart hän jag än strövar, vart hän jag än går Står djungel och snår, kring mina spår Jag älskar bin och deras bon för honung är ju min passion Åh vill du av myror få munnen full Så ta en titt under sten och mull Åh kanske smaka dom.

Om frukter det lockar Banan eller bär, se till att du plockar dom utan besvär, Vill du plocka fruker av bästa klass Så använd din höger å´ vänster tass, Men klorna dom ska du dra in så fort du ska ta dig en fin apelsin Hoppas att du har förstått?

Be pleased with everything life gives And everything you see around you Forget worries, sadness and troubles Be happy and pleased for what you know A disservice won’t make you happy [it’s funny bc björntjänst is actually a word and he’s a bear :D] Be happy with the life we live here Wherever I stroll, wherever I go Jungle and thicket around me I love the bees and their nests As honey is my passion You want to stuff your mouth with ants [blehh :D] Look under a stone And maybe taste them It lures you with fruit [assume still talking about the jungle] Banana or berries Watch out to pick them Without trouble You want the best fruit So use your right or left paw But the claws you can draw in Fast so you can get a nice orange Hope you understood Probably a rough translation but I liked the song :D

[tipsycad147]

A Joyful Cup!

by Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

With our non-stop, busy lives, it’s hard to find a quiet moment to relax and recharge. But even the practice of pouring a cup of tea can bring peace of mind – especially with the right herbs. Whether you take your tea at high noon or prefer a bedtime brew, these garden herbs provide the perfect mood-boosting cuppa.

Making and sipping a cup of tea is one of the easiest and most enjoyable self-care rituals. In fact, studies show that simply holding a warm cup {regardless of its contents} makes people friendlier and perceive the world in a more optimistic light. Add to that cup some relaxing and restorative teas, and the effects become even more powerful. As many gardeners will attest, stepping out into one’s very own backyard to harvest herbs for that cup of tea furthers a connection with nature, and you discover how deeply enjoyable plant empowerment can be. Looking for a tasty tea featuring herbs you can grow easily in your yard to soothe frayed nerves, help you sleep, or improve your energy? Here are some of my absolute favourites.

Holy Basil {Ocimmum tennuiflorum, syn. O. sanctum}

Also called tulsi, holy basil fits almost any niche you might need for your nervous-adrenal system. Aromatic and delicious with heady notes of clove, mint, and bubblegum, holy basil lends itself fresh or dry to hot and cold water. It quickly calms but gently energises, with effects that improve if you sip it regularly. As a stress-busting adaptogen, tulsi helps modulate the stress hormone cortisol, which also helps lower and balance blood sugar. The aromatics improve focus, lift the spirits, and ease anxiety. It blends well with other herbs too: peppermint for a perk, lemon balm for relaxation after dinner, rose to nourish the heart and spirit, and green tea for energy and stable blood sugar with a meal. Grow it as you would culinary basil: primarily as an annual in good soil with regular moisture, good drainage, and full sun. An Indian herb, it thrives in hot weather and tolerates containers. Harvest regularly, pinching back and using those prolific flowering stalks. Various species and varieties can be used interchangeably. The Kapoor/temperate {and often unnamed} variety grows most vigorously; new evidence suggests that it’s actually a variety of O. africanum, but most seed sellers still label it as O. sanctum. Homegrown or direct-from-the-farm dried tulsi is vastly superior to what is commonly sold in stores.

Lemon Balm {Melissa officinalis}

This is one of the most popular medicinal herbs cultivated in the garden – and for good reason: the perennial grows prolifically and has many uses, and it’s one of the most-revered nervine herbs to nourish and support the nervous system. It quickly eases anxiety and calms frayed nerves, agitation, hyperactivity, anger, and hypervigilance, yet it doesn’t over-sedate during the daytime and also uplifts the spirits, gladdens the heart, and improves focus. Studies have found it useful for memory, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder {ADHD}, and cognitive decline in children to seniors. Fresh or dry, hot or cold, lemon balm’s nice on its own, but tastes better and is more effective in combination with other herbs: holy basil for a calm-alert sate, mint for a pick-me-up, lemongrass or lemon verbena for lemony flavor, skullcap, and passionflower for sleep.

For tea: Dry lemon balm carefully – in a single layer or hanging with good airflow and not too much heat. It loses its lemon flavor pretty quickly once dried. Commercial dried lemon balm pales in comparison to home-grown or direct-from-the-farm.

Ashwagandha {Withania somnifera}

Compared to the other herbs mentioned in this article, ashwagandha takes a bit more time to grow and yields a smaller harvest because we use the roots. Taken daily, the adaptogen promotes deep energy and the strength, vitality {and yes, libido} of a stallion. It gently boosts thyroid function and also acts as a nervine. Some find it helps sleep. Simmer it with chai spices for tea or add the powder to hot milk with honey and nutmeg.

This Ayurvedic Indian herb prefers hot, sunny, somewhat dry spots with minimal competition from other plants. The size it reaches is a good indicator of how big the root harvest will be. Dig the roots in fall of the first year in cooler climates {it won’t survive winter} or wait until the second autumn in warmer zones 8 and up.

For tea: Scrub the roots clean in cold water, chop with clippers, and dry them in a single layer in a warmish spot with good ventilation or a dehydrator. It stinks as it’s drying, but the odour mellows with time. Once it’s dry, you can powder it by grinding it in a bullet blender and sifting through a fine-mesh strainer. Use caution if you have a hyperthyroid disease or are sensitive to nightshade family plants like potatoes and tomatoes.

Gotu Kola {Centella asiatica}

This plant hails from India and Sri Lanka, where it thrives in hot, soggy, rich soil in dappled sun. You can plant it as an annual or keep it in a pot to winter indoors, being mindful to water regularly. Gotu kola offers subtle yet profound benefits that accumulate when taken routinely for months at a time, particularly in high doses {up to an ounce per day}. It has gentle stress-relieving adaptogen properties, eases anxiety and jumpy nerves, but is most popular for its cognition-boosting and nerve-restoring effects. Rumour has it that the elephant’s diet of Gotu kola is why the animal has such a great memory! You can cook it as a leafy green, eat it fresh, or juice it. which is popular in its native lands.

For tea: While the flavor isn’t amazing, it’s bland enough to add to more palatable herbs like mint, holy basil, and lemon balm or broths cooked with garlic and onions. Use the leaves and all aerial parts.

Rose {Rosa spp.}

The petals add a splash of colour to tea blends to lift the spirits and encourage us to be kinder to ourselves. The aromatics of these petals extract well in cold water or seltzer {let a full fresh blossom or two steep for several hours}. I infuse them in a glass bottle so I can “stop and see and sip the roses” when I’m busy, stressed, and overworked. Any rose that smells and tastes good and isn’t sprayed with chemicals will do – typically these include wild and heirloom species such as the moderately invasive seaside {R. rugosa} as well as Damask {R. damascena}, apothecary {R. gallica var. officinalis}, and cabbage {R. centifolia} rose. You can forage invasive multiflora rose {R. muliflora}, but do not plant it.

For tea: Harvest buds, full blossoms, and fresh petals, preferably early in the day before the heat has cooked out the aroma. Dry buds and petals for tea in a single layer with minimal heat.

Skullcap {Scutellaria lateriflora}

This wild plant of the woodland water’s edge {growing among wild mint and bugleweed} prefers slightly damp, rich-to-sandy soil in partial to full sun. It can be a bit persnickety in the garden with good and bad years. When it thrives, harvest in abundance because it’s so useful, and good-quality skullcap is rare on the market. Skullcap has relaxing nervine properties well-suited for people who feel edgy, anxious, or hyperactive, as if their nervous system is in overdrive – when scents, sounds, and even touch make everything worse. When the sound of your bed partner’s breathing keeps you from sleeping and oncoming headlights make your migraine feel like someone’s stabbing you through the eyes – there’s skullcap. Combined with more sedative herbs like passionflower, it helps lull you to sleep. Paired with the gentle energising and focus effects of holy basil or lemon balm, it makes a lovely tea in daytime blends for anxiety. Occasionally {but rarely}, regular use can aggravate depression or prove too sedating for daytime use.

For tea: Harvest once aerial parts are in bloom and dry carefully to avoid blackening, placing them in a thin layer or hanging in a place with good airflow and not too much moisture or heat {ideally in the dehydrator at 95-100 degrees F or so}.

Passionflower {Passiflora incarnata}

Coming from the Southeast, where the sprawling vine can be a bit of a pest, passionflower produces stunning, otherworldly flowers, inspiring missionaries to name it after the Passion of Christ. Passionflower’s aerial parts cool, calm, and sedate, and it’s one of our safest and most effective sleep ease {much more pleasant tasting than valerian and hops!}, easily enhanced with some spearmint, lemongrass, holy basil, or other flavorful herbs.

Also, consider a little passionflower solo or in blends for anxiety, anger, frustration, agitation, and stress-induced hypertension – just be aware that some people find it too sedating for daytime use. You can cultivate passionflower in a warm full- to part-sun spot with decent moisture and good soil, allowing it to amble along a fence, arbour, or trellis. It does well in pots and greenhouses too and can overwinter indoors in cooler climates. As a perennial, zone 6 is the edge of its winter-hardy range.

For tea: Simply prune back vines with happy-looking, vibrant growth, ideally in flower. Use the entire vine – stem, leaves, and flowers. Dry on low heat in a dehydrator to ensure thorough drying of the flower middles or use fresh in other recipes like tinctures.

Flavor With Purpose

Alongside your “relax and revive” teas, consider planting tried-and-true flavorful herbs. Though they’re not as specific for the nervous system, they do impact your mood and the medicinal activity of your blends, and they’ll also make them more delicious.

Mint {Mentha spp.} has probably already tucked itself into some corner of your garden – or threatened to take it over with its ambitious root runners. Perhaps no other herb is as useful for delicious tea blends, hot or cold. Peppermint {M. x piperita} and chocolate mint {a peppermint variety} provide perky and alert properties backed by science. Spearmint {M. spicata} more gently supports cognition and focus and makes a nice flavouring agent for sleep blends as well. Use apple mint {M. suaveolens} much like spearmint, and feel free to play around with other mints, such as pineapple mint {which is quite tasty but may not survive cold winter climates} and banana mint. Bear in mind it spreads and can also interbreed into bland minty hybrids. Consider slowing it down by planting it in big pots or out-of-the-way spots, keeping different species a bit spaced apart.

Rosemary {Rosmarinus officinalis}, like peppermint, offers perky-alert properties but also has a bit of a bitter, piney, resinous edge that adds complexity to tea blends. It’s fine dried but tastes better fresh.

Lemon verbena {Aloysia citrodora} and Lemongrass {Cymbopogon citratus} taste vastly better than lemon balm, adding a pleasant lemon flavor to tea blends that lift and calms the spirits. Lemon verbena resembles lemon cake {especially if combined with vanilla bean or extract and steeped in not-quite-boiling water}, whereas you may recognise lemongrass’s tropical flavor from Thai soups and curry. Of all the lemony herbs, lemongrass holds its flavor the longest but will still lose quite a bit after a year. For tea, dry the grassy tops and then cut them into small pieces with sharp scissors. Freeze the tightly rolled bottom stalks for cooking, cordials, seltzer, and broth. I prefer to keep dried lemon verbena leaves whole to hold their flavor longer, adding a few to my teapot, water bottle, or mug. Both are nice with lemon balm, sleep blends, green tea, or vanilla. Grow these tropical herbs in a pampered garden bed or large pot with full sun, warmth, good soil, and regular water. They don’t like to be crowded by other plants. Be aware that lemongrass can give you a nasty paper cut.

Korean liquorice mint {Agastache rugosa} and Anise hyssop {A. foeniculum} grow into beautiful purple flower spikes that self-seed all over the garden, and they’re so yummy, pretty, and easy enough to pull up or move around that you won’t mind. The two are nearly indistinguishable, with a flower profile ranging from honey-fennel to fennel-mint. Medicinally, this mint-family herb soothes the throat and tummy and has gentle nervine, calming activity. It tastes delicious with almost any other green, leafy herb. It will grow in part shade to full sun, good soil and moderate moisture are most important for big, happy plants. The short-lived perennial will die off after a few years, but by then the babies will be ready to take off.

Harvesting, Drying and Storing Herbs

Harvest leaves {with or without flowers} when the plant looks, smells, and tastes its best, usually just before or after it begins flowering. Cut the top one-third to two-thirds of the plant, making sure to leave at least a few sets of leaves behind. They’re best trimmed right above a leaf node, but you can also grab a bunch of plant material together and give it a “bad haircut.” Keep them on the stem for drying. You can cut lemongrass’s grassy tops for tea this way or if you want to also harvest the thick stalks for other recipes, cut up to one-third of the plant right at the base.

Dry your herbs in a thin or single layer with good airflow until they’re crispy dry. You can use a dehydrator {set to 95-110 degree F for best results}, but good dehydrators are expensive and fill up quickly. Alternately, air-dry in bundles or on hanging screens {I love mt iPomelo hanging herb-drying rack}, but humidity may prevent your herbs from getting totally dry. You can also loosely pack a brown paper bag with herbs, cinch shut with a clothespin, and leave it inside the car windshield on a warm, sunny day {if it’s really hot, place it in a shady spot, a clean trunk, and/or crack the windows}. Sensitive herbs like basil, lemon balm, and skullcap may blacken and degrade via the brown bag method due to the heat and reduced airflow; use a dehydrator instead or air-dry and then crisp in the car if needed when the herb is mostly dry.

Once your herbs are totally crisp-dry {no bendy stems}, you can move the leaves from the stems by stripping with your hands or rubbing over a screen. Store in a clean, air-tight glass jar in a cool, dark, dry spot like a cabinet or pantry.

Tea Blends To Try

Sleep Tea: 1/2 teaspoon each passionflower, skullcap, lemon balm, and spearmint steeped in hot water for 15 minutes in a 4- to a 6-ounce teacup and sweetened with honey.

Perky Alert Blend: 1/2 teaspoon each peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, and Gotu kola plus a sprig of fresh rosemary steeped in 16 ounces of hot water for 15 minutes.

Happy Day Infused Water: A few sprigs of fresh holy basil and one or two rose blossoms in a glass bottle of cold water, steeped for 2 or more hours {holy basil and rose also blend well hot and/or dry}.

Ashwagandha Golden Milk: Simmer 1 teaspoon ashwagandha roots in 16 ounces of hot whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and a pinch each of nutmeg and cardamom for 15 minutes. Strain and add honey or maple syrup to taste.

Ashwagandha Chai: Simmer 1 teaspoon ashwagandha with 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 cardamom pods, 1-star anise, and 5 cloves for 20 minutes. Strain and add milk/cream and sweetener if desired.

Happy Holy Lemon Tea: Combine equal parts lemon balm and holy basil fresh or dry in hot or cold water and let steep for 15 minutes. Exact quantities do not matter; it comes out nicely no matter what.

Good Morning, Tulsi: 1/2 teaspoon each holy basil and green tea {preferably jasmine green}, with a few optional lemon verbena leaves, steeped in 12 ounces of near-boiling water for 4 minutes.

Goddess Bless! GrannyMoon

★☽✪☾★ http://GoddessSchool.com https://twitter.com/GrannyMooninVA https://grannymoon.wordpress.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/GrandMotherMoon

[witcherislovewitcherislife]

The Witcher: Ranked

Hey everyone! I’ve had fun doing some asks and I love lists so I decided that I’m gonna rank some different categories from the Witcher universe.Thanks for reading!

Favorite Witchers:

Geralt of Rivia

Ciri

Eskel

Letho of Gulet

Vesemir

Lambert

Coen

Serrit

Gaetan

Auckes

I think that is all the named Witchers. That I can remember off the top of my head at least.

Favorite Sorceresses:

Yennefer of Vengerberg

Margarita Laux-Antille

Fringilla Vigo

Keira Metz

Triss Merigold

Tissaia de Vries

Marti Sodergren

Phillipa Eilhart

Assire var Anahid 

Ida Emean aep Sivney

Francesca Findabair

Visenna

Lydia van Bredevoort

Lytta Neid (Coral) 

Sile de Tansarville

Again, these are just the ones that I could remember off of the top of my head.

Favorite Witcher School:

School of the Wolf

School of the Manticore

School of the Viper

School of the Bear

School of the Cat

School of the Griffin

Favorite of Geralt’s companions/allies/friends:

Zoltan Chivay

Dandelion

Regis

Angouleme

Milva

Cahir

Yarpen Zigrim

Ves

Vernon Roche

Sigismund Dijkstra

Favorite Love Interests/ Romance Options of Geralt:

Yennefer of Vengerberg

Fringilla Vigo

Shani

Keira Metz

Triss Merigold

Jutta an Dimun

Essi Daven

Mozaïk

Iola

Lytta Neid (Coral) 

Ves  

Cynthia

Favorite Witcher Games and Expansions:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Hearts of Stone

The Witcher 2: Assasins of Kings

The Witcher

Favorite Witcher Books:

The Lady of the Lake

The Time of Contempt

Blood of Elves

Sword of Destiny

Baptism of Fire

The Last Wish

The Tower of Swallows

I’ve never read Season of Storms as it has not yet been officially translated into English.

Favorite Witcher Potions:

Swallow

Tawny Owl

Thunderbolt

Golden Oriole

Full Moon

White Honey

Black Blood

Blizzard

Maribor Forest

I know that there are more but these are just some that I commonly use.

If anybody has any other lists that they would like me to rank, just send me an ask or a message! This was a lot of fun for me to do and I would love to do more. I think everyone who enjoyed should do this as well. I would love to read other peoples rankings! Also, if you have any questions about why I ranked something where I did, send me an ask! I’d love to answer! Thanks for reading! :)

[winter-gale]

Sabbat Information

Yule- 21. Dezember - Holly Jolly Christmas Celtic Painting Traditional Colors: Blues Silvers Whites Reds Green Gold Symbolism: rebirth, transformation, new life, light, new beginnings, giving, merriment Symbols: evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, lights, Yule Log, wreaths, bells, gifts, stars, sun, snow, ornaments, garland, Santa Claus, reindeer Colors: red, green, gold, silver, white Food and Drink: wassail, cider, nuts, apples, pears, fruitcake, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine, ham, turkey, lamb, breads, cakes Herbs: holly, mistletoe, pine, oak, fir, birch, hazel, sandalwood, ivy, comfrey, myrrh, frankincense, wintergreen, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, elder, spruce, cedar, balsam, thistle, sage, juniper, moss, bay, rosemary Deities: Mary, Holda, Isis, Ops, Hertha, Frey, Eve, Saturn, Cronos, Horus/Ra, Balder, Santa Claus, Odin, Holly King, Old Man Winter Crystals and Gemstones: cat's eye, diamond, ruby, garnet, bloodstone, clear quartz, pearls, green tourmaline, citrine, alexandrite Animals: bull, goat, reindeer, stag, wren, robin, elf Magic: Being the time of rebirth, this is a great time to remove anything that holds us back and to sow the seeds for the upcoming year. Success spells are best cast this evening. Many people also perform blessings, not only for themselves and their families, but for others as well. Cleansing your home and altar and banishing negativity can also be done this night. Whatever you do, make sure your heart is filled with peace, love, and joy and work magic to bring merriment to others. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______ Imbolc - 2. February - "Life is Universal" pronounced "Ee-molc" Use some soft white polyfill (the snowy looking fabric) for around the altar to represent the snow. Symbolism: rebirth, purity, new life, light, new beginnings, warmth, growth, renewal, rejuvenation Symbols: candles, daffodils, lanterns, acorns, fire, Brigid's cross, acorns, brooms, corn dolls, sun wheels Colors: white, silver, pale yellow, red, pink, orange, lavender, light green Food and Drink: bread, cake, milk, spiced wine, cheese, yogurt, herbal teas, fish, white meat, honey cake, muffins Herbs: angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, chamomile, rosemary, heather, rowan, dill, myrrh, willow Deities: Cernunnos, Eros, Osiris, Pan, Athena, Bast, Blaize, Brigid, Ceres, Cerridwen, Venus, Gaia, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Cupid Crystals and Gemstones: amethyst, bloodstone, ruby, turquoise, garnet, onyx Animals: groundhog, bear, ewe, lamb, stag, robin, owl, dragons, phoenix Magic: This is the time of awakening as the Wheel turns toward spring. Out with the old and in with the new. Cleansing magic, home blessings, divination, initiation rituals, fertility magic, and self-discovery rituals are perfect for this Sabbat. Rid your home of stale energy left over from the cold winter. Light candles and hold a bonfire to call forth the Sun and honor the Earth. Search for signs foretelling of spring (think Groundhog's Day). Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______ Ostara on 21. March - Butterfly Triquetra Symbolism: rebirth, new life, new beginnings, resurrection, fertility, balance, youth Symbols: rabbits, bunnies, eggs, chicks, daffodils, tulips, baskets, sprouts, lambs, ribbons, butterflies, bees Colors: pastel green, yellow, and pink, gold, grass green, robin's egg blue, red Food and Drink: hard-boiled eggs, devilled eggs, honey cakes, dairy, leafy green vegetables, flower dishes, sprouts, fish, hot cross buns, sweet breads, milk, chocolate, jelly beans/eggs, lemonade, fresh fruit Herbs: acorn, celandine, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Easter lily, ginger, hyssop, linden, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, narcissus, peony, rose, violets, woodruff, forsythia, spring flowers Deities: Eostre, Ostara, Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Gaia, Isis, Persephone, Venus, Maiden, Pan, Cernunnous, Green Man, Adonis, Mars, Osiris, Thoth Crystals and Gemstones: amethyst, aquamarine, rose quartz, moonstone, bloodstone, red jasper Animals: rabbits, hares, chicks, robins, lambs, snakes, unicorns, dragons Magic: Ostara is the Sabbat of new beginnings and life. Fertility magic (especially through the use of eggs) and garden and seed blessings are commonly performed during this time. Use this Sabbat to perform magic to break away barriers, start new projects or inventions, and breathe new life into your home and garden. This is also a great time to celebrate balance as day and night are equal on this day. Color eggs to attract different things such as love, fertility, wealth, and prosperity. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______ Beltane on 1. May- Celt at Arms Painting Fire can be used in form of candles Symbols: Eggs; Flowers; Chalice; May Pole; Butter churn; Chaplet; Baskets; Crossroads; Strings of beads; Ribbons Color Correspondences : Greens, yellows, reds, purples, blues Food and Drink Correspondences : all red fruits, green salads, red or pink wine punch, round oatmeal or barley cakes, dairy foods Herbs: almond, angelica, ash tree, bluebells, cinquefoil, daisy, frankincense, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, marigold, meadowsweet, primrose, roses, yellow cowslips Deities: Bast, Faunus, Flora, Maia,Aphrodite, Arianrhod, Artemis, Astarte, Venus, Diana, Ariel, Var, Skadi, Sheila-na-Gig, Cybele, Xochiquetzal, Freya, and Rhiannon, Apollo, Bacchus, Bel/Belanos, Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Faunus, Cupid/Eros, Odin, Orion, Frey, Robin Goodfellow, Puck, and The Great Horned God Crystals and Gemstones: emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire, rose quartz Animals: Swallow, dove, swan, Cats, lynx, leopard, goats, rabbits, and honey bees Mythical beasts associated with Beltane include faeries, Pegasus, satyrs, and giants. _______ Litha- 21. June- Phoenix Sun Wheel Symbolism: life, fire, rebirth, transformation, power, purity Symbols: sun flowers, leaves, sword, spear, sun, God's eye, sun wheels, bonfire, balefires, fire, sun dials, bird feathers, seashells, Colors: red, gold, orange, yellow, white, green, blue Food and Drink: mead, ale, summer fruits and vegetables, strawberries, honey cakes, whipped cream, oranges, lemons, summer squash, honey Herbs: Saint John's Wort, lavender, rose, peony, vervain, mugwort, chamomile, chickweed, chicory, sun flower, lily, thyme, hemp, fennel, nettle, wisteria, rue, fern, heather, oak, yarrow, holly Deities: Ra, Bast, Helios, Oak King, Fortuna, Arinna, and other sun god. Crystals and Gemstones: Lapis, diamond, tiger's eye, emerald, jade, and other green stones Animals: butterflies, wren, horse, stag, robin, cattle, phoenix, dragon, faeries, satyrs Magic: Litha is the time to celebrate the Sun and all that he provides for us. Protection spells and fire magic are great to perform on this night. Make protective amulets to be empowered in the balefire lit on Midsummer's eve. Looking to promote a transformation, a new career, or create a new or strengthen an old relationship? Litha is a great night to perform such magic. Collect herbs, especially St. John's Wort, on the eve of this Sabbat to bring luck and enhance the herbs' power. Renew your wedding vows or just enjoy the time with your friends and family. This is also a great time to communicate with faeries and seek their help if you so wish. Be careful though. Faeries can be tricky. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like._______ Lammas (Lughnasadh) on 1. August - Crows in Pumpkin Patch Traditional Colors: Yellows Oranges Reds Browns Greens Symbolism: fruitfulness, reaping, prosperity, abundance, purification, transformation, change, plenty, life, birth Symbols: corn (fresh or dried), corn dolls, sun flowers, wheat stalks, threshing tools such as sickle and scythe, barley, oats, candles, cornucopias, gourds, sun wheels, bread, cauldrons Colors: gold, yellow, orange, light brown, bronze, green Food and Drink: wheat, barley, rye, oats, grains, corn, bread, honey, nuts, berries (especially blackberries), cider, red wine, fresh fruits and vegetables, pies and cobblers, jam, potatoes, cornbread, ale, beer, whiskey, mead, grapes Herbs: heather, goldenrod, peony, clover, yarrow, vervain, myrtle, rose, sunflower, poppy, mushrooms, garlic, onion, basil, apple leaf, hops, marigold, grape vine, ivy, rosemary, rose hips, blackthorn Deities: Lugh, Corn Grandmother, Vulcan, Dagon, Ceres, Isis, Dana, Tammuz, Seelu, Tailltiu Crystals and Gemstones: yellow aventurine, peridot, citrine, tiger's eye, lodestone, golden topaz, moss agate, obsidian, marble, lodestone Animals: roosters, calves, griffins, phoenix, centaurs, pigs Magic: This is a great time for hearth and home magic. Set up protection spells, cleanse the home, honor ancestors, and thank the Earth for her bountiful harvest. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______ Mabon - 21. September- Forest of Crows Traditional Colors: Browns Yellows Oranges Reds Symbolism: fruitfulness, reaping, prosperity, abundance, thankfulness, giving, kinship, protection, harmony, balance Symbols: apples, acorns, wine, pine cones, gourds, grapes, grains, dried seeds and leaves, vines, horns, scythes, sickles, squash Colors: red, maroon, gold, brown, yellow, scarlet, purple, blue, violet, indigo, orange, autumn colors Food and Drink: apples, dried fruits, nuts, squash, pomegranates, breads, grains, seeds, potatoes, carrots, onions, wine, grapes, cornbread, beans, mutton, ale, cider Herbs: ferns, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, pine, rose, sage, tobacco, thistle, wheat, barley, oats, aster, mums, oak, hops, cedar Deities: Mabon, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Thoth, Thor, The Green Man, Demeter/Ceres, the Muses, the Wicker-man, Bacchus, Dionysus Crystals and Gemstones: yellow agate, lapis lazuli, sapphire Animals: dogs, wolves, goat, stag, blackbird, owls and birds of prey, gnomes, Sphinx Magic: This is a great time for hearth and home magic, especially for placing wards around your home. Working spells to bring harmony and peace to the home are especially powerful on Mabon. Giving thanks to the Earth and celebrating kinship is the theme of this Sabbat, so spend this time giving to others and reflecting on what you have to be thankful for. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______ Samhain 31. Oktober- Samhain Painting Traditional Colors: Browns Yellows Oranges Symbolism: death and regeneration, transformation, end of old projects, new beginnings, return, change, rest, success, plenty, knowledge Symbols: skulls, bats, cats, leaves, nuts, seeds, barren trees and branches, pumpkins, cauldron, pentacle, crystal ball, besom or broom, witch's hat, moon, crows/ravens, ghosts, goblins, banshees, candy/caramel apples, chocolate, Jack-o-Lanterns, costumes, Trick-or-Treats, Death, acorns, bones, gourds, scarecrows Colors: black, orange, red, silver, gold, brown, purple, yellow Food and Drink: apples, cider, pork, hazelnuts, pomegranates, pumpkins, potatoes, squash, cranberries, turnips, beats, mugwort tea, ale, mulled wine, pies/cakes for the dead Herbs: apple leaf, almonds, bay leaf, nettle, hemlock, cloves, cinnamon, mandrake root, marigold, mums, mugwort, pine, rosemary, sage, wormwood, tarragon, rue, garlic, ginger, hazelnut, allspice Deities: Hekate, The Crone, Cerridwen, Bast, Persephone, Horned Hunter, Cernnunos, Osiris, Hades, Anubis, Loki, Arawn, Dis, and any other death/underworld god or goddess Crystals and Gemstones: black obsidian, jasper, onyx, bloodstone, smoky quartz, carnelian, Animals: cats, especially black cats, bats, spiders, rats, wolves, snakes, ravens and crows, owls, stags, jackals, scorpions Magic: This is the time to honor the dead. Set up an altar, serve them cakes, and let them know they are not forgotten. If you wish to communicate with deceased friends and family, this is the best time of year. The veil thins the night of Samhain, making communication easy. Do NOT, however, entice spirits, disrespect them, call demons, or perform any other magic that is anything less than respectful. I repeat, don't do it. Samhain is also a great time to practice divination in the form of runes, scrying, tarot, tea readings, etc. Reflect over the previous year and perform blessing spells to ring in the new year. Astral projection and lucid dreaming is also much easier to perform on this night, but remember to be safe, Banishing magic, especially those for bad habits, are especially strong on this night. Please note this is not a complete list but a brief overview of symbols, colors, herbs, deities, and the like. _______

[organicteagarden]

Top 7 All Organic Herbal Tea Brands

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  There are many organic herbal tea brands nowadays and picking one can be quite a challenge. It is important, however, to take a good look for well-sourced varieties made from premium quality ingredients. To jumpstart your search, here are popular herbal tea types and where to get them.

  Source : supplementplace.co.uk

  1. Peppermint/Spearmint Tea

Peppermint and spearmint comes from the same mint family. While peppermint tea provide relief for abdominal gas and bloating, muscle spasm, nausea and to allow the body to sweat, its dear spearmint tea cousin aims for the big guns– migraine headaches, hormonal imbalance, hirsutism, chronic disorders like cancer, immune system boost, improved memory, and anti-fungal mechanism. Spearmint is also sweeter in taste than peppermint.

The 18-count Numi Organic Herbal Tea Pack comes handy. Organic, sugar-free, caffeine-free, fragrance-free, and sourced from Fair Trade Certified and Fair Labor-verified herb gardens, every tea bag is assured to come with high quality loose leaf. For a perfect cup, place a bag into a cup of freshly-boiled and slightly-cooled water then, steep for at least 4 minutes.

Numi Organic Tea Variety Pack (18-count tea bags)

  2. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is another tisane known to possess potent vitamins C and minerals. Filled with antioxidants, it is known to help ward-off diseases, and various signs of aging particularly to the skin like eczema.

For a delicious cup, simply steep a bag of Harney&Sons Organic Rooibos Tea and steep for 5 minutes. All Harney&Sons tea varieties are certified caffeine-free and kosher, too.

  Harney&Sons Organic Rooibos Tea (20-count tea bags)

  3. Turmeric Tea

One of the most popular teas in the market today, turmeric tea comes bearing astounding benefits to the body and mind. From easing arthritis symptoms to boosting immune system, lowering of bad cholesterol, treating uveitis, Alzheimer’s and cancer prevention, and a lot more.

To enjoy a cup, simply boil 4 cups of water and add 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder. Simmer for 10 minutes then, strain into a container. Before drinking, squeeze a lemon or add some honey. For a more subtle and flavorful taste, a bag of Numi Organic Turmeric Tea steeped in previously boiled water for 4 to 5 minutes can deliver the enriched blend of turmeric, rooibos, vanilla and cinnamon. This brand is also gluten-free and certified non-GMO.

Numi Organic Turmeric Tea (12-count Tea bags)

  4. Chamomile Tea

Some herbal teas are made from flowers. Take the chamomile tea, for instance. Gentle and calming, relaxing and warming, it is known to be cure insomnia, indigestion, coughs and colds, bronchitis, fever or oral inflammation like tonsillitis.

To enjoy, this non-GMO, certified organic and sourced from 100-percent Fair Trade herbal gardens, certified Kosher, and made with premium quality pharmacopial grade herbs, an 8-oz cup of water steeped with a bag of Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile Tea for 10 minutes, covered tightly will definitely make your day!

Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile Tea (16-count tea bags, pack of 6)

  5. Rosehip Tea

Another awesome source of great-tasting and therapeutic teas are the fruits of the rose plant made into rosehip tea. Filled with vitamin C to the brim, it is known to provide therapeutic benefits to the immune system, adrenal system, skin and bodily tissues.

For an immediate health boost, steep 1 teaspoon of The Tao of Tea Rose Hips Certified Organic Herbal Tea into an 8-oz previously boiled water and steep for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!

The Tao of Tea Rose Hips Certified Organic Herbal Tea

6. Liver Detox Tea

If it is gentle yet effective liver cleansing you need, a cup of milk thistle and dandelion tea consumed every morning before taking anything is an excellent choice. This herbal tea helps to regenerate the liver and enhance its natural functions. Additionally, it also helps improve digestion, metabolism and assist in bile production.

If you want a liver detox tea that’s safe for long-term use, USDA-certified Teatox Life Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Burdock Root Liver Detox Tea is a great choice. Simply steep 2g into an 8-oz hot water then, steep for 5 minutes or longer. Strain then, add honey or squeeze a lemon.

Teatox Life Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Burdock Root Liver Detox Tea

  7. Lemon Balm Tea

Last but not least, the energizing power of lemon balm tea also comes highly recommended. An excellent tea to boost focus, concentration and other brain functions, it is also safe for child consumption as it can be served cold flavored with honey or maple syrup. It is also known to prevent nightmares when consumed before bedtime.

To enjoy a cup of calming sensation, simply steep a teaspoon of Wild Foods Lemon Balm Organic Loose Leaf Herbal Tea #18 into 8 ounces of previously boiled water for around 5 minutes. Strain, put some ice cubes if you want it cold, and enjoy!

Wild Foods Lemon Balm Organic Loose Leaf Herbal Tea #18

Important Considerations

Any of these organic herbal tea brands mentioned above are great for long-term consumption. Aside from their astounding taste, it also provides a huge consolation that you are promoting good practices in cultivating and processing these herbal elements. To enjoy loose leaf variety, however, experts in tea-making and professional naturopath highly recommended steeping for 5 to 10 minutes with a covered lid to encapsulate all beneficial oils from the herb. And while all these certified-organic tisanes are free from any additives or harmful products, it is important to consult your doctor. When given the “go” signal, head off to Amazon.com and take your pick from the brands mentioned above. Enjoy!

https://www.organicteagarden.net/top-7-all-organic-herbal-tea-brands

[atlantaartisticweddings]

Indian Wedding Traditions and Their Focus on Family and Love

The vibrant Indian community is one of the many cultures Atlanta Artistic Wedding Photography has been lucky enough to work with. With hundreds and thousands of languages and dialects, the diverse cultures and religions of India create many rich and cherished traditions when it comes to ceremonies like weddings. Just like traditions in the Nigerian culture, Indian traditions have a tendency to celebrate the merging of not just two individuals, but of two families.  We have shot numerous weddings for this community and each time we get to see and learn more about this culture and its rituals.

Many different rituals that are part of an Indian wedding ceremony can take place weeks before the actual ceremony. One ritual, called the Tarik ceremony, takes place when the groom’s offer of marriage is officially accepted by the bride’s family. Male members of the brides family present the groom with gifts and adorn his forehead with kum kum powder. It used to be customary for this ritual to take place a month before the wedding date, but recently it has become easier for it to be performed closer to the ceremony.  The next pre-wedding ritual, the Barni Bandwhana, takes place about 15 days before the wedding. During this ritual, a Mauli, or piece of thread, is tied around both the groom and his parents’ wrists as a prayer for good luck in the upcoming marriage. Another popular ritual in this culture is the Mayara, or the “Maternal Uncle’s Ceremony”.  During this ritual, the maternal uncle of both the bride and groom must go to the house of their sisters, the mothers of the bride and groom, and present them with gifts. These gifts usually include the dresses the two women will wear to the wedding ceremony.

The wedding attire is a very important aspect of Indian weddings as well and everyone in attendance is dressed to look their best in very bright colors, with the bride and groom giving off a regal air. One important piece of the bride’s attire is henna art. The bride and her female friends and family put on their henna on the second day of wedding celebration. This art is painted onto the women’s skin by a professional in the morning and is allowed to set for the rest of the day. Henna is believed to ward off evil and bring good luck to the couple and, sometimes, the bride and groom’s names are hidden in the bride’s henna. While the bride’s attire can vary depending on region, most brides wear a Gagra Choli, or two-piece dress with a midriff-bearing blouse and a lehnga, or ankle-length skirt. This is topped with a dupatta, or scarf that acts as a shawl and veil for the bride. Indian brides prefer fabrics such as silk or cotton and their wedding outfits are often designed with the Gota Patti embroidery style. The grooms attire also depends on region, but the most popular attire is a kurta, or collarless shirt, sometimes with a Sherwani, or long coat. The groom may also wear a curtain of flowers, called a sehra, over his face in the North while Muslim grooms often wear a taqiyah, or short, rounded skullcap. While you’ll see many bold colors at an Indian wedding, the couple often choose red for their wedding outfits, as they consider red a lucky color in their culture, and they top off their looks with golden jewelry.

A traditional Indian wedding celebration lasts at least three days, with a special ceremony on each of these days. On the first night, both families gather at home for a get together called Ganesh Pooja, where close family members of the bride and groom can meet and get to know each other. The second day consists of the Mehndi ceremony where the women receive their henna and that night is reserved for the Sangeet ceremony. This is when the couple, their families and friends, and even some of the wedding guests are invited to mingle and enjoy a meal. Typically during this party, the bride and groom’s close friends and relatives perform traditional dances for the couple. The third day is the formal wedding ceremony where the bride and groom are officially wed.

The official ceremony includes many traditions. The morning of the ceremony, the groom and his soon-to-be mother-in-law will meet him under the Mandap, a covered structure of four pillars that represent the bride and grooms parents, before the ceremony and she’ll wash his feet and offer him milk and honey. This is meant to strengthen the grooms relationship with the mother-in-law, which will in turn strengthen his relationship with his wife. During this, the bride’s sister tries to steal the grooms shoes and, if she succeeds, he must pay her to get them back. The Baraat is next, where the groom arrives to the ceremony on a decorated white horse, circled by family and friends while the brides parents and family present him with gifts. The processional begins with Var Puja, where the elders walk the groom down the aisle. The bride is then escorted down by her uncle and, once both have reached the end of the aisle, the bride and groom place a floral garland around each others neck and the ceremony begins.

During the ceremony, the “pandit” or priest, bride, groom, and bride’s parents are seated under the Mandap, a covered structure of four pillars, each representing the couples parents. The couple lights a fire in a fire pit to ask Agni, the god of fire and, sometimes, life to provide your marriage with a long life. The bride and groom then proceed with the Mangalphera where the couple walks around the fire four times, each representing a major goal in their marriage – dharma (morality), artha (prosperity), kama (personal gratification), and moksha (spirituality). They may be joined together by string or scarves as they walk. The pandit chants that officially tie them together in the eyes of the gods as they walk. After their fourth cycle, they must race to their seats, and the first to sit is thought of as the dominant party in the marriage. Next, the groom places red kum kum powder on the bride’s forehead and adorns her with a mangalsutra. a necklace made of black and gold beads. After their marriage is official, the guests move on to the reception, where they dance the bhangra – a traditional folk dance. Other aspects of the reception are very similar to western wedding receptions with videographers, DJs, a seated dinner, desserts, and dancing.

The festivities don’t stop at the reception. The following day, both families meet for Bou Bhat. Here, the groom’s family officially invites and accepts the bride into their family. The groom then pledges himself to his bride, and to prove he can provide for her, he presents her with a new sari and a meal. The well wishes last a few days or even weeks after the wedding, when more extended family – like aunts and uncles – bless the marriage with the Aashirwad. The bride’s family will go to the groom’s house and present them with gifts and give their blessings and the grooms family will do likewise for the bride’s family.

There are so many traditions and customs that go into an Indian wedding, each of them symbolizing the core values of their culture. The more I see of other cultures and their traditions, the more I see that underneath, we’re all connected by the same values surrounding family, happiness and love. Each wedding we shoot for this community serves to broaden our horizons and teaches us something new, which always makes it a very cool experience.

Thanks again,

David

#indianwedding #wedding #indianbride #bride #wedmegood #fashion #weddingphotography #love #india #weddingdress #indianfashion #weddinginspiration #indian #bridal #saree #weddingsutra #punjabiwedding #indianwear #photography #bridalmakeup #lehenga #makeup #destinationwedding #weddings #mumbai #weddingseason #makeupartist #weddingday #bridetobe #bhfyp

[networkingdefinition]

10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Official Website: 10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Given that old times, honey has been made use of as both a medication and also a food. It’s very high in helpful plant compounds as well as provides a number of health and wellness advantages. Honey is especially healthy when used instead of polished sugar, which is 100% vacant calories.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of honey:

1) High Quality Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants.

Premium honey contains many crucial antioxidants. These include natural acids and also phenolic substances like flavonoids.

Researchers believe that the combination of these compounds offers honey its antioxidant power. Surprisingly, two research studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant worth of your blood.

Antioxidants have been linked to minimized threat of cardiovascular disease, strokes and some sorts of cancer cells. They might additionally promote eye wellness (8Trusted Source).

2) Honey Also Helps Improve Cholesterol.

High LDL cholesterol degrees is a solid danger element for heart disease. This kind of cholesterol plays a significant function in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in your arteries that can lead to cardiovascular disease as well as strokes. Interestingly, several research studies reveal that honey may boost your cholesterol degrees. It reduces total and “negative” LDL cholesterol while considerably increasing “excellent” HDL cholesterol.

One research in 55 clients contrasted honey to table sugar as well as found that honey triggered a 5.8% decrease in LDL and a 3.3% boost in HDL cholesterol. It also brought about small weight loss of 1.3%.

3) Honey Can Help Suppress Coughs in Children.

Coughing is a typical issue for youngsters with top breathing infections. These infections can affect sleep as well as lifestyle for both kids as well as parents. Mainstream drugs for cough are not constantly effective and can have side results. Surprisingly, honey might be a better option, and also proof indicates it is very reliable. One research discovered that honey worked better than two common coughing drugs. Another research study located that it minimized cough signs and also enhanced sleep greater than cough medication. Honey must never be offered to kids under one year of age due to the risk for botulism.

4) Honey Can Lower Triglycerides.

Raised blood triglycerides are one more risk element for heart disease. They are additionally related to insulin resistance, a significant motorist of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride degrees often tend to raise on a diet regimen high in sugar and improved carbs. Surprisingly, several researches have connected regular honey intake with reduced triglyceride degrees, especially when it is used to replace sugar. For instance, one research contrasting honey and sugar discovered 11– 19% lower triglyceride degrees in the honey group.

5) Honey Contains Some Nutrients.

Honey is a wonderful, thick liquid made by honeybees. The bees gather sugar– mainly the sugar-rich nectar of flowers– from their atmosphere. When inside the beehive, they consistently consume, spit up the nectar and also digest. The end product is honey, a liquid that functions as saved food for. The preference, smell and also shade depend upon the sorts of flowers checked out. Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) includes 64 calories and also 17 grams of sugar, consisting of fructose, glucose, maltose as well as sucrose. It contains practically no fiber, fat or protein. It additionally consists of trace quantities– under 1% of the RDI– of numerous nutrients, however you would certainly need to consume several pounds to accomplish your everyday demands. Where honey radiates is in its content of bioactive plant substances as well as antioxidants. Darker types have a tendency to be also higher in these compounds than lighter kinds.

6) Honey Is “Less Bad” Than Sugar for Diabetics.

The proof on honey as well as diabetes is mixed. On one hand, it can reduce a number of danger aspects for heart problem typical in people with kind 2 diabetic issues. For instance, it may decrease “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and swelling while raising “good” HDL cholesterol (However, some researches have actually located that it can additionally boost blood sugar degrees– just not as high as refined sugar. While honey may be slightly better than polished sugar for individuals with diabetes mellitus, it must still be consumed with care. As a matter of fact, individuals with diabetes might do best by decreasing all high-carb foods. Bear in mind, as well, that certain types of honey may be contaminated with ordinary syrup. Although honey contamination is prohibited in most nations, it remains an extensive trouble.

7) Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing.

Topical honey therapy has actually been utilized to heal injuries as well as burns because old Egypt and also is still typical today. A review of 26 researches on honey and wound treatment discovered honey most efficient at recovery partial-thickness burns and injuries that have actually come to be contaminated after surgery. Honey is additionally an effective therapy for diabetic person foot abscess, which are major problems that can lead to amputation. One research reported a 43.3% success rate with honey as a wound treatment. In another study, topical honey recovered a tremendous 97% of individuals’ diabetic ulcers. Researchers believe that honey’s healing powers originate from its anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial impacts along with its ability to nourish surrounding tissue. What’s even more, it can assist treat various other skin problem, consisting of psoriasis and also herpes sores. Manuka honey is taken into consideration especially efficient for treating shed injuries.

8) It’s Delicious, But Still High in Calories and Sugar.

Honey is a scrumptious, healthier alternative to sugar. Make certain to choose a high-quality brand, because some lower-quality ones might be combined with syrup. Honey need to just be eaten in moderation, as it is still high in calories and sugar. The advantages of honey are most noticable when it is changing one more, unhealthier sweetener. At the end of the day, honey is just a “much less negative” sweetener than sugar as well as high-fructose corn syrup.

9) The Antioxidants in It Are Linked to Other Beneficial Effects on Heart Health.

Once again, honey is an abundant resource of phenols and also other antioxidant substances. A number of these have been connected to a reduced danger of cardiovascular disease. They might assist the arteries in your heart expand, raising blood circulation to your heart. They may additionally help avoid embolism development, which can result in heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, one research study in rats showed that honey safeguarded the heart from oxidative tension. All informed, there is no long-lasting human research study available on honey and also heart health and wellness. Take these outcomes with a grain of salt.

10) The Antioxidants in It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure.

Blood pressure is a crucial threat factor for cardiovascular disease, and also honey might assist decrease it. This is due to the fact that it has antioxidant compounds that have been connected to reduced high blood pressure. Researches in both rats and people have revealed small reductions in high blood pressure from eating honey.

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jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'BENEFIT', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_benefit').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_benefit img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'HONEY', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '60', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_honey').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_honey img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); [clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'a', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_a').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_a img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'e', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_e').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_e img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

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jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'u', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_u').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_u img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'y', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_y').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_y img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

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10 HEALTH BENEFITS OF HONEY THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Given that old times, honey has been made use of as both a medication and also a food. It’s very high in helpful plant compounds as well as provides a number of health and wellness advantages. Honey is especially healthy when used instead of polished sugar, which is 100% vacant calories.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of honey:

1) High Quality Honey Is Rich in Antioxidants.

Premium honey contains many crucial antioxidants. These include natural acids and also phenolic substances like flavonoids.

Researchers believe that the combination of these compounds offers honey its antioxidant power. Surprisingly, two research studies have shown that buckwheat honey increases the antioxidant worth of your blood.

Antioxidants have been linked to minimized threat of cardiovascular disease, strokes and some sorts of cancer cells. They might additionally promote eye wellness (8Trusted Source).

2) Honey Also Helps Improve Cholesterol.

High LDL cholesterol degrees is a solid danger element for heart disease. This kind of cholesterol plays a significant function in atherosclerosis, the fatty buildup in your arteries that can lead to cardiovascular disease as well as strokes. Interestingly, several research studies reveal that honey may boost your cholesterol degrees. It reduces total and “negative” LDL cholesterol while considerably increasing “excellent” HDL cholesterol.

One research in 55 clients contrasted honey to table sugar as well as found that honey triggered a 5.8% decrease in LDL and a 3.3% boost in HDL cholesterol. It also brought about small weight loss of 1.3%.

3) Honey Can Help Suppress Coughs in Children.

Coughing is a typical issue for youngsters with top breathing infections. These infections can affect sleep as well as lifestyle for both kids as well as parents. Mainstream drugs for cough are not constantly effective and can have side results. Surprisingly, honey might be a better option, and also proof indicates it is very reliable. One research discovered that honey worked better than two common coughing drugs. Another research study located that it minimized cough signs and also enhanced sleep greater than cough medication. Honey must never be offered to kids under one year of age due to the risk for botulism.

4) Honey Can Lower Triglycerides.

Raised blood triglycerides are one more risk element for heart disease. They are additionally related to insulin resistance, a significant motorist of type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride degrees often tend to raise on a diet regimen high in sugar and improved carbs. Surprisingly, several researches have connected regular honey intake with reduced triglyceride degrees, especially when it is used to replace sugar. For instance, one research contrasting honey and sugar discovered 11– 19% lower triglyceride degrees in the honey group.

5) Honey Contains Some Nutrients.

Honey is a wonderful, thick liquid made by honeybees. The bees gather sugar– mainly the sugar-rich nectar of flowers– from their atmosphere. When inside the beehive, they consistently consume, spit up the nectar and also digest. The end product is honey, a liquid that functions as saved food for. The preference, smell and also shade depend upon the sorts of flowers checked out. Nutritionally, 1 tablespoon of honey (21 grams) includes 64 calories and also 17 grams of sugar, consisting of fructose, glucose, maltose as well as sucrose. It contains practically no fiber, fat or protein. It additionally consists of trace quantities– under 1% of the RDI– of numerous nutrients, however you would certainly need to consume several pounds to accomplish your everyday demands. Where honey radiates is in its content of bioactive plant substances as well as antioxidants. Darker types have a tendency to be also higher in these compounds than lighter kinds.

6) Honey Is “Less Bad” Than Sugar for Diabetics.

The proof on honey as well as diabetes is mixed. On one hand, it can reduce a number of danger aspects for heart problem typical in people with kind 2 diabetic issues. For instance, it may decrease “bad” LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and swelling while raising “good” HDL cholesterol (However, some researches have actually located that it can additionally boost blood sugar degrees– just not as high as refined sugar. While honey may be slightly better than polished sugar for individuals with diabetes mellitus, it must still be consumed with care. As a matter of fact, individuals with diabetes might do best by decreasing all high-carb foods. Bear in mind, as well, that certain types of honey may be contaminated with ordinary syrup. Although honey contamination is prohibited in most nations, it remains an extensive trouble.

7) Honey Promotes Burn and Wound Healing.

Topical honey therapy has actually been utilized to heal injuries as well as burns because old Egypt and also is still typical today. A review of 26 researches on honey and wound treatment discovered honey most efficient at recovery partial-thickness burns and injuries that have actually come to be contaminated after surgery. Honey is additionally an effective therapy for diabetic person foot abscess, which are major problems that can lead to amputation. One research reported a 43.3% success rate with honey as a wound treatment. In another study, topical honey recovered a tremendous 97% of individuals’ diabetic ulcers. Researchers believe that honey’s healing powers originate from its anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial impacts along with its ability to nourish surrounding tissue. What’s even more, it can assist treat various other skin problem, consisting of psoriasis and also herpes sores. Manuka honey is taken into consideration especially efficient for treating shed injuries.

8) It’s Delicious, But Still High in Calories and Sugar.

Honey is a scrumptious, healthier alternative to sugar. Make certain to choose a high-quality brand, because some lower-quality ones might be combined with syrup. Honey need to just be eaten in moderation, as it is still high in calories and sugar. The advantages of honey are most noticable when it is changing one more, unhealthier sweetener. At the end of the day, honey is just a “much less negative” sweetener than sugar as well as high-fructose corn syrup.

9) The Antioxidants in It Are Linked to Other Beneficial Effects on Heart Health.

Once again, honey is an abundant resource of phenols and also other antioxidant substances. A number of these have been connected to a reduced danger of cardiovascular disease. They might assist the arteries in your heart expand, raising blood circulation to your heart. They may additionally help avoid embolism development, which can result in heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, one research study in rats showed that honey safeguarded the heart from oxidative tension. All informed, there is no long-lasting human research study available on honey and also heart health and wellness. Take these outcomes with a grain of salt.

10) The Antioxidants in It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure.

Blood pressure is a crucial threat factor for cardiovascular disease, and also honey might assist decrease it. This is due to the fact that it has antioxidant compounds that have been connected to reduced high blood pressure. Researches in both rats and people have revealed small reductions in high blood pressure from eating honey.

  jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'HEALTH', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_health').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_health img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'BENEFIT', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_benefit').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_benefit img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'HONEY', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '60', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_honey').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_honey img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); [clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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Low Calorie Condiments for the BBQ

You can still enjoy the delicious fun of summertime cookouts and stay on track with your weight loss goal. We have lots of lower-calorie ideas to help you do that, such as 5 Better for You Burger Recipes You’ll Love >  and Healthier Potato Salad> But while you are choosing healthy dishes like those, be aware that sneaky excess calories are lurking in places where you might not expect them. Condiments may seem like just little dabs of flavor, but, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a single tablespoon of ketchup can have four grams of sugar and an equal amount of mayonnaise can come with 90 calories and 10 grams of fat. That’s why they’re counted as “Extras” in your Nutrisystem weight loss plan (Not on Nutrisystem yet? Click here to get started >). Good news: These five low calorie condiments are loaded with flavor. Better news: They are all “Free” foods you can enjoy to your heart’s content.

The Great Debate: Is It an Extra or a Free Food?

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Here’s what you need to know about choosing and using low calorie condiments :

1. Mustard

The seeds from the mustard plant, a leafy green with a spicy flavor, are ground up and blended with vinegar and other ingredients to make the familiar yellow condiment. The color actually comes from turmeric, another flavorful spice. The mustard shelf at the grocery store is filled with lots of choices, from mild, smooth-textured bright yellow types to browner, grainier and very hot varieties. Dijon mustard is blended with white wine to add a tart flavor to balance the moderately spicy taste of the mustard. Beware of honey mustard, which has added sugar, and “dijonnaise,” which has all the excess calories and fats of mayonnaise.

TRY: Mustard is most commonly used to add zest to burgers and hot dogs, but it makes a tasty glaze for grilled chicken, fish or vegetables. You can also use it to make a low calorie flavorful salad dressing, such as our Creamy Honey Mustard topping >

Grocery Shopping 101: A Crash Course in Condiments

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2. Lemon/Lime Juice

Your food gets a spark of bright, acidic flavor from the juice of these two citrus fruits. Both are nearly calorie-free and loaded with vitamin C. Generally, lemons are slightly more sour than limes, while for many people the latter has a lightly bitter taste. Fresh lemons and limes have the best flavor and they’re easy to slice up and squeeze for juice by hand. You can also find packaged lemon and lime juice in supermarkets—just be sure before you buy that they are pure juice and contain no added sweeteners.

TRY: Fresh lemon or lime juice adds a refreshing splash of flavor to calorie-free seltzer. These juices also brighten the taste of grilled fish or chicken, and they add a spark of acid to mixed and fruit salads. Briefly grill lemon or lime halves to infuse them with a smoky taste that gives many dishes a flame-cooked flavor.

3. Hot Sauce

Also known as chili sauce or pepper sauce, this spicy condiment is made from hot peppers blended with a little vinegar. Hot sauce comes in a wide range of heat options, from mildly tongue tingling to five-alarm fire. Those made with habanero or ghost peppers tend to be the spiciest. Sriracha (sometimes call “rooster sauce” because of the image on its label) is a popular Vietnamese-style hot sauce that’s moderately spicy. According to BioMed Central, all hot sauces are loaded with capsaicin, the heat-bearing compound that research shows speeds metabolism and can help burn fat.

TRY: Unless you’re an experienced hot-sauce lover, start with just a few drops on your food and add more once you’ve tasted it. Mix a little hot sauce into ground turkey to punch up the flavor of your burgers with one of the most flavorful low calorie condiments. Sprinkle a little on grilled vegetables or seafood, such a shrimp or clams. Use hot sauce to make a zesty (and sugar-free) marinade for meats by whisking it with a little olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced garlic and chopped scallions.

4 Ingredients You Should Never Eat Again

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4. Salsa

When we think of salsa, we typically picture a chunky sauce made with tomatoes, chile peppers and onions that comes in various levels of spiciness. You can also find salsas that are based on tomatillos (green or “salsa verde”) or fruit such as mangoes or pineapple. When shopping for bottled salsa, be sure to check the label for added sugar, which will load on extra calories. To get all the goodness and nothing more, you can use our recipe to whip up your own fresh salsa in minutes.

TRY: Skip the cream-based dips and instead slip your veggies into a bowl of one of our favorite low calorie condiments: Salsa. Make quick and healthy guacamole for dipping by blending salsa and lemon or lime juice with mashed avocado. Hold the ketchup and top your burger with a spoonful of salsa. Fruit-based salsas turn plain grilled fish into tropical treat.

5. Vinegar

According to the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, vinegar is made, like wine, by fermentation, which in this case produces acetic acid rather than alcohol. While vinegar generally has a tangy flavor, you’ll see a variety of types made with such ingredients as apple cider, red wine, and even champagne, each with slightly different tastes. Balsamic vinegar, made from grapes leftover from wine-making, is dark-colored and tends to be thicker and more flavor-intense than other types.  Vinegar has long been used in cooking as well as a folk remedy for many conditions. One recent study even found that vinegar may prevent spikes in blood sugar, which can be very beneficial for people with diabetes.

TRY: Vinegar infused with herbs such as tarragon or basil make a flavorful (and calorie-free) salad dressing. A trick many chefs use is to splash roasted or grilled meats or vegetables with a little vinegar while they’re still warm, which brings out the full flavor of the ingredients. Use apple cider vinegar in place of the creamy dressing in coleslaw or potato to reduce their fat content.

Interested in learning more about low-calorie options? Check out more recipes here >

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