Wednesday, March 9
Spectacular Fire
I have always been fascinated with geology, and particularly the science that surrounds volcanoes. This week the activity of Kilauea, a volcano in Hawaii's Volcano National Park was in the news. I found the story to be incredibly interesting and I have decided to share it with you.
On Sunday of this week the floor of the Pu'u O'o crater on Kilauea volcano collapsed, the result was an eruption and what followed was the emergence of a new fissure.The new fissure has grown to a length of just under 1.4 miles in the days since it's creation.
The aerial photo above provides an illustration of the size of this fissure. On both sides of this photograph you will notice large patches of forest. The molten rock, lava, pouring into this new fissure has temperatures of up to and possibly exceeding 2000 degrees.
Kilauea's name means spewing or much spreading . Curtains of lava were released from the fissure, some of these molten curtains reached a height of 80 feet ( just under 30 meters) throughout the day. It is understandable to see from this most recent eruption why the volcano earned such a name.
Kilauea is one of Hawaii's most active volcanoes. If you are interested in reading more about Kilauea's activity eruption information can be found at:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm
On Sunday of this week the floor of the Pu'u O'o crater on Kilauea volcano collapsed, the result was an eruption and what followed was the emergence of a new fissure.The new fissure has grown to a length of just under 1.4 miles in the days since it's creation.
The aerial photo above provides an illustration of the size of this fissure. On both sides of this photograph you will notice large patches of forest. The molten rock, lava, pouring into this new fissure has temperatures of up to and possibly exceeding 2000 degrees.
Kilauea's name means spewing or much spreading . Curtains of lava were released from the fissure, some of these molten curtains reached a height of 80 feet ( just under 30 meters) throughout the day. It is understandable to see from this most recent eruption why the volcano earned such a name.
Kilauea is one of Hawaii's most active volcanoes. If you are interested in reading more about Kilauea's activity eruption information can be found at:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm
Sunday, March 6
Wednesday, March 2
A brief history of the jasmine flower
The Jasmine flower has a long and interesting history. The flower belongs to a group of shrubs and vines in the olive family, with nearly 200 species. It thrives in warm temperate and tropical climates . Jasmine with its creamy white flowers is thought to have originated in the Himalayas. References to its blossoms can be found in ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Persian writings. The name itself, Jasmine has its origins in the Persian language "Yasmin" meaning " gift of god . This Gift of God has been cultivated for its flowers over the centuries.
Jasmine opens only at night when temperatures are lower, allowing the plant to release its beautiful scent. It must be picked early in the morning when the flower is still tightly closed. After the flowers are picked they are stored in a cool place for later use.
The flowers are used for many things. In China, they are used to make jasmine tea. The process requires that tea leaves and jasmine petals are blended together in machines that control temperature and humidity. After several hours the tea absorbs the flavor and aroma of the blossoms, resulting in a delicious combination. If you have ever dined in a chinese cafe, I'm sure you have tasted this wonderful beverage.
Much to my surprised there exists a jasmine syrup, widely known in France and used in the United States to flavor scones and marshmallows.
Jasmine essential oil is highly prized because of the sheer number of blossoms required to produce a small amount of oil. Blossoms picked after nightfall are laid out on cotton clothes soaked in olive oil. This mixture is allowed to rest for several days, extracting the true jasmine scent. The essential oil is produce in Egypt, China and Morocco.
Jasmine is also culturally significant in many countries, below are just a few examples.
Soaps, lotions and perfumes are well known for the irresistible and mysterious scent of jasmine blossom.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60453094/jasmine-and-gardenia-soap-bar
With its rich and wonderful history it is easy to understand why the world has been enchanted by jasmine for centuries.
Jasmine opens only at night when temperatures are lower, allowing the plant to release its beautiful scent. It must be picked early in the morning when the flower is still tightly closed. After the flowers are picked they are stored in a cool place for later use.
The flowers are used for many things. In China, they are used to make jasmine tea. The process requires that tea leaves and jasmine petals are blended together in machines that control temperature and humidity. After several hours the tea absorbs the flavor and aroma of the blossoms, resulting in a delicious combination. If you have ever dined in a chinese cafe, I'm sure you have tasted this wonderful beverage.
Much to my surprised there exists a jasmine syrup, widely known in France and used in the United States to flavor scones and marshmallows.
Jasmine essential oil is highly prized because of the sheer number of blossoms required to produce a small amount of oil. Blossoms picked after nightfall are laid out on cotton clothes soaked in olive oil. This mixture is allowed to rest for several days, extracting the true jasmine scent. The essential oil is produce in Egypt, China and Morocco.
Jasmine is also culturally significant in many countries, below are just a few examples.
- It is the national flower of Tunisia and Pakistan, it represents the city of Damascus in Syria.
- It is the Mother's symbol in Thailand.
- In the Philippines it is strung on garlands for religious ceremonies and in Indonesia is an important wedding symbol.
- Throughout India jasmine is cultivated in gardens and pots, is used in a variety of important ceremonies. The beautiful blossom is also worn as hair adornments by women.
Soaps, lotions and perfumes are well known for the irresistible and mysterious scent of jasmine blossom.
With its rich and wonderful history it is easy to understand why the world has been enchanted by jasmine for centuries.
Wednesday, February 23
A tutorial ....creating clickable buttons!
Over the weekend I spent a little time creating a clickable shop button. The process required a little bit of research. Since I spent this time in discovery, I have decided to share this information with you in the form of what I hope is handy little tutorial.
What you will need to complete this project:
1. An image manipulation program ( I like Gimp 2.0, it is a great free program)
2. An image that you would like to use as your button.
3. An image hosting program, photobucket works well.
4. The HTML code for your button
5. and your web blog publishing tool, such as Blogger.
To begin you will need to open your image manipulation program and create a new image. The image should be set to a standard size of 125 pixels x 125 pixels. At this standard size your button will fit into a blog side bar without running over onto the main text of your blog.
Once you have opened your new image, add text and design elements that will complete the final image, you plan to use as your button on you blog.
The above slide is an example of a completed image, that will later be used as a clickable button in in my blog site.
Save your image as a jpg. Choose a name for your file and highlight the file type under the heading " selected file type".
Once you have saved your image, open your photohosting site.
After your image has been uploaded you will be directed to a page that looks like the slide above.
If your using photobucket, you will notice a box to the immediate right. This box contains the direct link that you will need to create your clickable button.
A new window will open. In this window paste the HTML code that you copied from your word document.
What you will need to complete this project:
1. An image manipulation program ( I like Gimp 2.0, it is a great free program)
2. An image that you would like to use as your button.
3. An image hosting program, photobucket works well.
4. The HTML code for your button
5. and your web blog publishing tool, such as Blogger.
To begin you will need to open your image manipulation program and create a new image. The image should be set to a standard size of 125 pixels x 125 pixels. At this standard size your button will fit into a blog side bar without running over onto the main text of your blog.
Once you have saved your image, open your photohosting site.
select your .jpg and upload it to you photohosting site.
If your using photobucket, you will notice a box to the immediate right. This box contains the direct link that you will need to create your clickable button.
Now that you have your direct link established. It is time to concentrate on creating the HTML gadget that will create your linkable button.
- Copy the direct link created in your photo hosting program (http://s1121.photobucket.com/albums/l504/Shop123/shop%20123/ )
- Copy your shop address (shop123.etsy.com)
This is the HTML code needed for your button. Insert you shop address into the location in red. Insert you image direct link into the location in blue.
<a href=" http:// YOUR SHOP NAME GOES HERE/"><img src=" http:// PHOTOHOSTING DIRECT LINK INSERTED HERE.jpg" /></a>
your finished code should look like the example below:
<a href=" http://shop123.etsy.com/"><img src=" http://s1121.photobucket.com/albums/l504/Shop123/shop%20123/ " /></a>
I usually work with my HTML code in a word document. Once I have saved the changes in Word, I open my blog site to create the gadget.
In Blogger, for example, click on the "Design Tab" to access your page layout. Within the page layout click on the location where you would like to add you gadget.
After clicking on add a gadget another window will open. Be certain that you are in the section labeled "Basic Gadgets", scroll down until you locate HTML/JavaScript, click on HTML/ JavaScript.
All you have left to do, is to save your code and return to your blog page to test your newly made clickable button. Your all done!
I hope you find this helpful and that you have a lot of fun creating your new button.
Wednesday, February 16
I'm so excited!
Last week I wrote to you about the changing of the seasons and the glorious weather that tempted spring buds from limbs and loam. Today I'm looking out across the horizon and all I see is a dense cloud cover, rain heavy, icy and falling with such weight that tiny tremors radiate across the decking and into a saturated lawn. There has been the occasional flash of lightening followed by distant thunder, wind and a special weather statement calling for cold air funnel clouds. I would be very surprised to see anything closely related to a funnel cloud, since, after all this is the Puget Sound.
Watching the storm fill the sky, I can not help but to focus on spring and I'm so excited about this prospect. Today my UPS carrier arrived at my doorstep. He was covered with raindrops, his uniform one shade darker , his boots wet with water. He smiled, said to me me " nice day isn't it?" and handed me a large, lovely box. Inside this box are my new Spring treasures. heavenly fragrances for soaps, lip balms, and bath bomb fizzies.
I have been waiting for this box, like a child waits for Christmas.....and here it is.
Last week's listings are a preview my new spring collection. I debuted Sweet Orange Glycerin, a soap bar that smells like a freshly peeled, ripe glistening, florida orange.
Yummy Pear Goats Milk appeared in my Etsy shop. It is a beautifully colored soap, a mix of peaches, raspberry and vanilla hues. The scent of this soap is clean, feminine and fresh. Yummy pear is not a super sweet scent, it is simply pure and clean.
Bath bomb fizzies are my latest passion. On these stormy days there is nothing quite like relaxing in a a tub of warm water surrounded by a heavenly scent to sweep away tired muscles.
Granny Smith Apple is my current favorite it reminds me of slicing an apple, juicy and crisp. It is invigorating. It is uplifting. it is pure apple.
As this storm blows on, I will be thinking about the contents of my box. The scents that are huddled inside of it, and how I can bring Spring to life in a bath bomb or a bar of soap.
Watching the storm fill the sky, I can not help but to focus on spring and I'm so excited about this prospect. Today my UPS carrier arrived at my doorstep. He was covered with raindrops, his uniform one shade darker , his boots wet with water. He smiled, said to me me " nice day isn't it?" and handed me a large, lovely box. Inside this box are my new Spring treasures. heavenly fragrances for soaps, lip balms, and bath bomb fizzies.
I have been waiting for this box, like a child waits for Christmas.....and here it is.
Last week's listings are a preview my new spring collection. I debuted Sweet Orange Glycerin, a soap bar that smells like a freshly peeled, ripe glistening, florida orange.
Bath bomb fizzies are my latest passion. On these stormy days there is nothing quite like relaxing in a a tub of warm water surrounded by a heavenly scent to sweep away tired muscles.
As this storm blows on, I will be thinking about the contents of my box. The scents that are huddled inside of it, and how I can bring Spring to life in a bath bomb or a bar of soap.
Wednesday, February 9
Transitions
Days like today are are hard to describe, we are caught somewhere between the closing of Winter with all his fury and Spring's grand entrance onto natures stage, she is beautiful and glorious.
Shadows cast by barren fruit trees still fall long on dormant lawns, but in those shadows are the rumblings of crocus and day lilies. Tiny green buds are popping from rich, loamy soil. Today heather blooms shades of rose, cream and dusky mauve. I see too, the stirrings of oriental poppies, newborn and struggling to warm themselves under a crisp sunshine.
Each tender bud drinks the sunlight, with a sense of knowing. Knowing that as soon as the sky changes it's color from blue to peach and lavender a frosty chill will set upon them. Beautiful Spring briefly tempts the little buds from the ground and from tree limbs, with drops golden sunlight. Winter returns at sundown to remind them that he is still sovereign for a few more days.
The seasons are dancing together now, back and forth. Spring, she dares to take the lead, Winter still spins flamboyantly, unwilling to give up his place on this grand arena of change.
Shadows cast by barren fruit trees still fall long on dormant lawns, but in those shadows are the rumblings of crocus and day lilies. Tiny green buds are popping from rich, loamy soil. Today heather blooms shades of rose, cream and dusky mauve. I see too, the stirrings of oriental poppies, newborn and struggling to warm themselves under a crisp sunshine.
Each tender bud drinks the sunlight, with a sense of knowing. Knowing that as soon as the sky changes it's color from blue to peach and lavender a frosty chill will set upon them. Beautiful Spring briefly tempts the little buds from the ground and from tree limbs, with drops golden sunlight. Winter returns at sundown to remind them that he is still sovereign for a few more days.
The seasons are dancing together now, back and forth. Spring, she dares to take the lead, Winter still spins flamboyantly, unwilling to give up his place on this grand arena of change.
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