#liberian coffee tree

[kemetic-dreams]

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 (1817–1901) 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼-𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻. 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻 1830. 𝗜𝗻 1892 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲.

Ricks was born into slavery in Tennessee. Along with the rest of her family, she was purchased by her father George Erskine and became free. She and her family moved to Clay-Ashland, Liberia, as part of the American Colonization Society in 1830. While she was living in Liberia, she married Zion Harris who she had met along her travels while in Tennessee. She had begun traveling with Liberia’s first president Joseph Jenkins Roberts in 1848 and visited both the United States and the United Kingdom. Martha earned her living raising turkeys, ducks, and sheep as well as growing crops. She was also known for being well versed in field of needlework. Martha was very good at her needlework and won several contests for the silk stocking that she made.

Over the years, Martha developed an interest in Queen Victoria. She was determined that one day she would meet the queen. Over the course of 25 years, Martha worked on a quilt that she wanted to give to the queen when she met her. The quilt that she made depicted the Liberian Coffee Tree and was made of silk cotton. Its pattern included over 300 green leaves, as well as coffee berries in red. There was also a trunk in the center of the quilt and the background was white. Finally, when she turned 76, Martha was able to travel to England and was given audience with the queen through the help of Liberian Ambassador Edward Blyden. She met the queen at Windsor Castle on July 16, 1892, accompanied by First Lady Jane Roberts where she gave her the quilt. Martha died in 1901.

[kurtty-drabbles]

Hanging Out With (Girl)friends (International Women's Day)

N/A: Married!Scott/Jean, Kurt/Kitty and Remy/Rogue, Engaged!Bobby/Jubilee and Jamie/Rahne

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“Rahne, are you ready?” Jubilee knocked on the door of the Jamie/Rahne shared apartment.

“I'll be right out!” Rahne shouted from the other side of the door. “I won't be back until nighttime, Jamie.” she gave her newly-minted fiance a kiss on the cheek and exited the apartment unit where Jubilee and Kitty were waiting. “Jubilee, Kitty!” the younger woman gave the other two women a butterfly kiss on the cheek each. “Let's go! Who's driving?” she asked as the three females walked towards the parking lot.

“Jean.” Kitty replied.

“Thank god.” Rahne muttered.

“What does that supposed to mean?” Kitty complained.

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In the Summers' household...

Scott was working with Rachel to fold paper mauve roses as a surprise present for Jean.

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In the Wagner household...

With Kitty out with the other X-Women, Kurt sat Hagan down and father-and-son set to work stuffing a teddy bear for Kitty.

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In the Lebeau household...

Remy was working on the final touches of the satin mauve rose bows for Rogue and the baby girl dozing in the baby cot.

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With the X-Women...

“Welcome.” the server in the Makers' cafe opened the doors for the X-Women.

The women then split off separately to the buffet breakfast.

Swallowing the chocolate croissant on her plate with a gulp of coffee, Kitty returned to the X-Women as they started discussing their everyday life on-goings before the welcoming talk began.

After the breakfast gathering, the women headed off in a group, each with their own selection of female inspiration books tucked in their carrier bags.

Returning to Bayville High School later in the morning and taking advantage that it was the weekend, the gathered X-Women sat under the tree they dubbed 'Rogue's Tree' and started their annual International Women's Day book club discussion.

As lunchtime drew near, the women broke off discussions for Jean to drive them to the SPS Coaching 'Balance for Better' Luncheon.

After the luncheon, the women then headed out to attend a pro-feminist speech by a Liberian peace activist.

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In the Drake/Lee apartment...

After kicking her fiance out, Jubilee settled in on the bean bag chair she claimed, the rented DVD was already in the DVD player and Rahne's finger was ready to press the play button on the remote control.

The women then sat back on their bean bag chairs surrounded with buckets of popcorn, bowls of gummy bear candy and plates of mini bagel dogs as the opening of the movie 'Suffragette' started playing.

As the ending credits of 'Suffragette' rolled in, Rahne got up to insert the rented 'Hidden Figures' DVD as Rogue and Kitty headed to the kitchen with Jubilee in tow to replenish their snack supply.

[stuarttwiss2018trailride]

Day 35. Balfour, BC to Revelstoke, BC. 241 miles.

A wonderful day of scenery and a sprinkling of stupidity. Nature and the kindness of others wins in the end!

I have been staying with Cybilla and Steven in their ground floor space overlooking an offshoot of Kootenay lake. I slept well, the weather report is 100% accurate and there's a strong sun in a blue sky.

I seem to be packed and out with ease and the help from Steven to lube the chain speeds me on my way.

Their recommendation for breakfast is the bakery at the Balfour ferry jetty. I get fuel for bike and rider here. The breakfast was made of pastries and muffins washed down with coffee. I have really slipped with my healthy diet, although the vegetable samosa was rich in turmeric.

The port is a hub for gossip and services. The bakery door advertises charter fishing, opera and burlesque. The three interests of the people of Kootenay? The fishing charter boasts 289 rainbow trout over 20lbs. Pictures of people barely holding up giant trout are proof of their successes. Everyone smiles and greets and seems to compete for the most beat up pickup. A family gathering to discuss a recent car auction, the mother laying free newspapers on the plastic seats to protect from the cold. It's chilly but sparkling in the sun. People comment on the improved air quality now that the cooler and wetter weather is helping bring the fires under control.

A last minute check had confirmed that my own route to the US border area remained blocked but I still had a good run planned on gravel and forest trails as far as Edgewood before heading West to Lumby on tarmac.

The ride is scenic, although that phrase does the glory of the landscape no service at all. At every turn the sun glistens on the reflected sky and the layers of mountains are greying into the distant horizon. Trees and water present themselves in every possible divine combination.

I reach the ferry, an untainted spot on the edge of the vast Columbia River. The panorama is astonishing and gazing at it more than occupies the 30 minutes it takes for the ferry to arrive.

The journey across is a rolling presentation of spectacular views, which is a good thing because as it happens I have to make the trip three times and if I hadn't I would not have seen the sparrows.

Leaving the ferry I don't expect to be called on to leave first but suddenly it's all systems go. I zoom off, park up and gather my route up. I have to turn off left as the stream of trucks and RVs head up to Revelstoke. It's a wide logging road which I follow into a weigh station for the 24 wheel logging trucks. Wrong turn, I swing round and head off up the narrower service road. A couple of miles into the trail I am heating up and choosing to take off a layer I find I have no backpack to put it in. Foolish me I will have left it on the ferry which I can see is already heading back and is mid river.

At the terminal the vehicle loaders are helpful but nobody they speak to via radio on the boat or the other side has seen it.

The back pack has some value but what is invaluable is the Spot, GPS tracker attached to it's harness. Spot helps family know where I am and is a lifeline to emergency services. Without it I cannot go on the trails. It also has the major advantage of being a way of tracing the bag. There is no cell coverage on the Shelter Bay side, the only WiFi is on the Galena side.

I am now on the ferry going back. A few hundred yards from Galena I pick up WiFi and Spot's spots appear. Some on the Galena slipway and the last one suspended in mid crossing. The bag was with me on the boat and then disappeared! Logical conclusion that I and two of the deck hands come to, 'Its been stolen!'. We bemoan the avarice of others and lament that this should have happened when most people are so kind.

I am now traveling back to Shelter Bay on the ferry. The ferry has its own family of swallows and the parents feed the young on the wing. I luckily catch some moving pictures of the fledglings bouncing on the boat hawser. Awesome flying and awesome phone camera.

I am back on dry land and, just to be sure I didn't take the bag off where I found I had lost it, I head off down the Forest Service Road. It's not there. I have no signal to check its location either but I am now convinced that theory 1, bag stolen, is indeed the right one.

I had emailed home on the boat, just the briefest, 'bag stolen', but when I get into data service 20km down the road I have already got an inbox full of CCTV and webcam links to the ferry. Then a phone call to share my woes and new plans: police to report stolen, insurance, new Spot supplier etc etc. I have already embellished my theory with villains, a couple on the ferry who acted strangely and shook my hand.

I have a hotel recommendation from home too but go with The Cube in Revelstoke. There I get the only room with its own shower and shower before sitting in the kitchen area to drink coffee, write my blog and bathe my wounds.

At the hotel table I find three new spots on the Shelter Bay side! The bag made it across on the ferry, perhaps it wasn't stolen, perhaps it was dropped.? The spots move but all are within the area of the logging depot where I made a wrong turn. The last spot is at 4.00pm, but no more. I form a new theory, 'Picked up by forestry worker and taken home for safe keeping,'

A while later another hotel guest hears my accent and this prompts a conversation. Soon we are talking origins, holidays and the journey I might take. I show Thea my map and Pieter her husband comes over on the way to his shower. We chat about or lives and recent journeys. They have been down South in Grenada and The Dominican Republic. I have been telling Thea about solo travel and our conversation moves onto Spot. I open up the Spot app and suddenly the 3 spots turn into 20 and all in the same space, the latest at 9.00pm, it hasn't been picked up by a forest worker and taken home, it may be lying on the area right now!

Knowing it is there drives me to want to head on into the back roads but it's dark already and I can't ride without the safety of the Spot tracker. Instead I ask Pieter whom I have known for 5 minutes to take me down to Shelter Bay, a round trip of 48 miles! Surprisingly and without hesitation he says yes!

On the road we talk about near misses and crashes with wild animals and how dangerous night driving is. Pieter has hit a moose and another deer and all but written off his car. He and I chat like old friends and the miles disappear so fast the turn onto the service road catches us out. A quick three point turn and Pieter is now nursing his car down what is a nasty corrugated road which on the dirt bike I had not noticed. I'm mortified.

At the logging depot we search the verges, nothing. Pieter plays his vehicle lights onto the area, nothing. I head up to the weighbridge and hut and, shining a light through the window, see the bag propped up inside. YAY! What a relief! I had dropped it off the back of my bike when turning to get back on track. There were no thieves only people looking out for other people. The ride is on again and I have a night freed from anxiety.

I am so elated and gabble on in the car about the friendliness of strangers. Pieter tells me of his life as the chauffeur of the Liberian Ambassador to the Netherlands and we share EuroRail experiences. We talk of children and grandchildren and the pain of loss. He's tired I know but even so he was yet another friend in need. People are great!

After saying goodnight to Pieter I get out for a quick taco and slaw. More talk with a young couple who, like me missed lunch and dinner and are trying to catch up. Then it's back to my room and this blog, check out the pictures.

[silver-cats]

I was waiting outside McDonald’s around 4am yesterday for a taxi and this black dude (that’s relevant y'all just bare with me) comes up to me to offer me coke and me being me I literally show him the Quran I’m holding (because I’m extra like that) and tell him ‘homie….homie….you’re barking up the wrong tree’ then when he finally realises its a Qu'ran I’m holding and not just any random book he literally says ‘oh shit’ in a really embarrassed manner over and over again for like 5mins, then when he’s ‘over’ the fact I’m Muslim he starts asking me where I’m from and when he finds out out of the multiple things I am I’m ethnically Libyan (though my Libyan relatives are from Morocco) he starts getting really excited and tells me he’s Liberian and he gets really really really pumped about me also being African and he starts calling me his African brother and at one point literally says 'mon frere’ and when he does I tell him I understood that because I speak French and he gets even MORE excited (lowkey I get him though I get really pumped whenever I meet other French speaking Africans) and we exchanged number and we’re meeting next week to have coffee and I’m telling y'all this because a) I always end up making friends really weirdly and if me befriending someone who potentially just wanted to sell me coke isn’t proof of that I don’t know what to tell y'all b) Africans make me so happy they’re the only ppl I truly 100 percent feel loved by (not to be too dramatic) but honestly I always feel revived whenever I meet us, I love Africans

[tygrayel]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dusV01qLB5k)

In 1877 the Liberian Exodus Joint Stock Steamship Company was established with $6,000. On this day, April 21, 1878 two hundred and six formerly enslaved, fed-up Black folk set sail from Charleston, South Carolina headed for Liberia, West Africa. They made their flight upon a sailing bark called the Azor. It is reported that more than 5,000 area folk, fed up with slavery and Jim Crow, applied for passage.

The naysayers said repatriation would never work but despite America never really supplying adequate support to its former meal tickets, there were some notable successes. By 1890, the Azor passengers were well established and had proven their worth. The Reverend David Frazier opened a coffee farm with 20,000 trees and was elected to the Liberian Senate in 1891. Mr. Clement Irons of Charleston, built the first steamship constructed in Liberia. Mr. Saul Hill established a successful 700-acre coffee farm. One passenger, Daniel Frank Tolbert was the grandfather of Liberia’s 20th President, William R. Tolbert, Jr.

This has been a Breath of My Ancestors Minute brought to you by the Institute of Radical Reconciliation… #WeMustNeverForget

[kemetic-dreams]

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 (1817–1901) 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼-𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻. 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝗻 1830. 𝗜𝗻 1892 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲.

Ricks was born into slavery in Tennessee. Along with the rest of her family, she was purchased by her father George Erskine and became free. She and her family moved to Clay-Ashland, Liberia, as part of the American Colonization Society in 1830. While she was living in Liberia, she married Zion Harris who she had met along her travels while in Tennessee. She had begun traveling with Liberia’s first president Joseph Jenkins Roberts in 1848 and visited both the United States and the United Kingdom. Martha earned her living raising turkeys, ducks, and sheep as well as growing crops. She was also known for being well versed in field of needlework. Martha was very good at her needlework and won several contests for the silk stocking that she made.

Over the years, Martha developed an interest in Queen Victoria. She was determined that one day she would meet the queen. Over the course of 25 years, Martha worked on a quilt that she wanted to give to the queen when she met her. The quilt that she made depicted the Liberian Coffee Tree and was made of silk cotton. Its pattern included over 300 green leaves, as well as coffee berries in red. There was also a trunk in the center of the quilt and the background was white. Finally, when she turned 76, Martha was able to travel to England and was given audience with the queen through the help of Liberian Ambassador Edward Blyden. She met the queen at Windsor Castle on July 16, 1892, accompanied by First Lady Jane Roberts where she gave her the quilt. Martha died in 1901.