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mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Vitex Agnus Castus

August 12, 2014 — 1 Comment

 

Vitex is a tree with powerful medicinal uses. It stimulates and normalizes the pituitary gland, regulating progesterone.  It can produce opposite effects at different times and in different subjects, which is known as an amphoteric remedy.  As a hormone balancer it is used for menopausal changes as well as to regulate the body after using birth control pills.  The common names of the plant, chaste tree, or monk’s pepper indicate that it is an anaphrodesiac, but in some circumstances it will act as an aphrodisiac.  The berries and the purple flowers are the parts of the plant most commonly used medicinally.  The berries are brewed as an infusion and drunk 3 times a day, or a tincture is made with alcohol as the carrier agent.  It both looks and smells a little like cannabis, but is not to be smoked.

The vitex agnus castus plant is ornamental and spreads easily by seed.  It likes well drained soil and plenty of sun to do well.   I have two growing in my garden, and a baby that has come up from seed.  I have not thought about selling the fruits and seeds, although when I price the product it makes me wonder if I should.  The herbal remedy has been used for centuries, and today there are many preparations and capsules created using vitex.  Weather you like it for the colorful floral display or for the medicine, vitex is a valuable addition to the garden.

Right to Bear Video Camera

August 12, 2014 — 4 Comments

I have recently watched footage from 1968 in a museum exhibit which included the Democratic convention in Chicago and other riots. As I see St Louis now drenched in violence over the shooting of another unarmed teenager of color I have a deja vu feeling. The riots of Watts and Detroit in the 60s were about the same issues we face today.  When the narrator speaks in the black and white footage shot 46 years ago he reveals the culture of the broadcast universe at the time.  Today news footage flashes across twitter at the speed of digital finger snapping, allowing a more complete story to emerge instantly.  The new cameraperson is the bystander who is ready to capture what happens with a phone.  The new commentary is done live on the scene by everyone.  The facts come out quicker and opinions are shouted  out on Youtube before you can say network newscast.  People have the facts caught on camera and distributed throughout the world before you can say Jessie Jackson.  Justice must now take into account the fact that everyone is now a reporter and every phone is an official source of news.  The editorial department has swelled to include anyone who has an opinion and chooses to voice it.  Do you think this democratic version of news reporting will be a remedy for social injustice?  Have you ever whipped out your phone to record evidence as something happened in front of you? Do you think we will know the truth and the truth will us us free, or do so many versions of the truth make the world more contentious?  What does the camera toting public change?  Do you feel safer now?

Cosmetic Acupuncture

August 11, 2014 — 1 Comment

cosmetic acupuncture

cosmetic acupuncture

I have just completed a series of acupuncture treatments to rejuvenate my face. Jessica Breton completed studies with Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture System to add to her skills and offerings but was not convinced of the efficacy of the treatment. She asked some of her friends to do a test as her models to look for results, and all reported looking and feeling better. Each person has a unique experience but everyone benefits in several ways.  Skin texture improves because the use of very superficial needles stimulates collagen and elastin to flow from within the body to the face.  Wrinkles smooth out for the same reason.  Cheeks lift and the jawline firms.  This is a gradual improvement that lasts for many months after completion.

The series includes 10 sessions with full body acupuncture to address personal state of health in general and an elaborate placement of many needles in the skin of the face.  One normally does two treatments a week until finished, but I took a couple of vacation weeks off with no ill effect. I decided to do it because my thermography indicated inflammation in my face, sinus, head area.  Acupuncture is powerfully good medicine to bring balance and better all around health.   I decided the face needles would surely address that inflammation I saw around my head that concerned me.  To be honest it is a little bit difficult to have those needles in your face without wiggling or itching or disturbing them, but the experience taught me more meditative patience and focus.  It doesn’t really hurt, but it requires some ability to chill and take your mind off the obvious (needles in your face).  The results are very good in terms of the look and feel of my face, but my over all health is the big winner. I followed through with a third session each week for my body as well, so I have had a lot of extra help balancing my chi.  Jessica told me several clients at Zylla Acupuncture have started as cosmetic clients and continued to come because they discovered the value of regular acupuncture treatment.    I am pleased that I decided to try the cosmetic side of her practice and would recommend it to anyone.

Amaro, a Bitter Wonderland

August 11, 2014 — 4 Comments

 

full flavor of dessert

full flavor of dessert

I have been reading a lot about amaros in the blogging universe.  These herbal digestive concoctions, mostly from Italy, have become a new darling star of the cocktail bar scene.  Some bloggers are making their own mixtures by infusing brandy with combinations from their own gardens.  This is super appealing to me.  Typically served after dinner to aid in the digestive process, straight up or over a couple of ice cubes, the syrupy taste is a delight with a rich dessert.  I saw a selection of amaros on the menu at Feast and decided to try one with a malted chocolate cake with rich dense creamy caramel filling. We rarely eat dessert, so sharing one slice was plenty of sweet richness for both of us.  Bob tasted the amaro, but I sipped it throughout the dessert course between bites of the dense, full chocolate flavors in the cake.  The cake was garnished with candied grapefruit peel, which added another dimension of bitter and sweet to the finish.

I have not been a fan of bitter herbs or any kind of digestive tonic.  Since making my own bitters and shrubs this summer I have come to appreciate the ways bitterness enhances both health and flavor.  The liberal use of bitters in cooking is fun, and adds extra dimension that is hard to describe, but fills out the profile of any food.  More importantly, the flavor bitter stimulates the liver to produce bile, which one needs to digest fat.  I am not sure how many grams of fat were in my cake, but it felt like pure butter on the tongue.  I am guessing the count in butterfat was very high, but we only had a few bites which we enjoyed.  The sipping of the amaro did open up kind of a new way to feel and sense the whole process of dessert.  I have had after dinner drinks with brandy, eau de vie, or coffee, but have never sipped an amaro before.  I recommend it to anyone who wants to expand their sense of taste.  It happens to be good for digestion at the same time.  Cheers, to a slightly bitter ending to your meal!

Amaro with 2 cubes of ice

Amaro with 2 cubes of ice

Albert IV, “The Wise” Count of Habsburg

August 10, 2014 — 3 Comments

Albert IV Habsburg married an heiress from Zurich.  He died on a crusade in a place near Tel Aviv.  How wise was it for him to be on a crusade?  This guy Theobald from Navarre that was leading the Crusade sounds like one of my ancestors too.  How crazy for them to trot off to the Holy Land as if they had some business there.  This is what it took to be called wise at the time.

Albrecht IV Count Of HABSBURG was born about 1188 in Of Schloss Limburg, A.d. Rh., Freiburg, Baden. He died on 22 Nov 1240. He married Hedwige Countess Of KYBURG.

Hedwige Countess Of KYBURG was born about 1192 in Of, Kyburg, Zurich, Switzerland. She died on 30 Apr 1260. She married Albrecht IV Count Of HABSBURG.

They had the following children: F i Kunigunde Von HABSBURG was born about 1208 in Of Schloss Limburg, A.d. Rh., Freiburg, Baden. She died in 1228 in Kl. Adelhausen, Freiburg, , Baden.
M ii Hartmann Von HABSBURG was born about 1222 in Of Schloss Limburg, A.d. Rh., Freiburg, Baden. He died in 1252.
M iii Albrecht V Count Of HABSBURG was born about 1220 in Of Schloss Limburg, A.d. Rh., Freiburg, Baden. He died on 1 Jan 1256.
F iv Kunigunde Countess Of HABSBURG was born about 1226 in Of Schloss Limburg, A.d. Rh., Freiburg, Baden.
M v Rudolf I King Of The GERMANS was born on 1 May 1218. He died on 15 Jul 1291.

Albert IV “The Wise” Count of Habsburg (1188 – 1240)
is my 21st great grandfather
Rudolf IV King of Germans, Holy Roman Emperor Habsburg (1218 – 1291)
son of Albert IV “The Wise” Count of Habsburg
Albert I King of Germany Habsburg (1248 – 1308)
son of Rudolf IV King of Germans, Holy Roman Emperor Habsburg
Albrecht Albert II ‘The Wise’ Duke of Austria Habsburg (1298 – 1358)
son of Albert I King of Germany Habsburg
Leopold III “Duke of Austria” Habsburg (1351 – 1386)
son of Albrecht Albert II ‘The Wise’ Duke of Austria Habsburg
Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg (1377 – 1424)
son of Leopold III “Duke of Austria” Habsburg
Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg (1420 – 1493)
daughter of Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg
Christof I VanBaden (1453 – 1527)
son of Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg
Beatrix Zahringen (1492 – 1535)
daughter of Christof I VanBaden
Sabine Grafin VonSimmern (1528 – 1578)
daughter of Beatrix Zahringen
Marie L Egmond (1564 – 1584)
daughter of Sabine Grafin VonSimmern
Richard Sears (1590 – 1676)
son of Marie L Egmond
Silas Sears (1638 – 1697)
son of Richard Sears
Silas Sears (1661 – 1732)
son of Silas Sears
Sarah Sears (1697 – 1785)
daughter of Silas Sears
Sarah Hamblin (1721 – 1814)
daughter of Sarah Sears
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Sarah Hamblin
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

Albert IV (or Albert the Wise) (ca. 1188 – December 13, 1239) was Count of Habsburg in the Aargau and a progenitor of the royal House of Habsburg.

He was the son of Count Rudolph II of Habsburg and Agnes of Staufen. About 1217 Albert married Hedwig (Heilwig), daughter of Count Ulrich of Kyburg (died 1237) and Anna of Zähringen. Upon the death of his father in 1232 he divided his family’s estates with his brother Rudolph III, whereby he retained the ancestral seat at Habsburg Castle. A follower of Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, he died on the 1239 crusade of King Theobald I of Navarre near Ashkelon.

Albert was the father of King Rudolph I of Germany, and a mutual ancestor of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and of his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. He is also an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Notes
^ Ferdinand was descended from Rudolph I and Sophie was descended from Rudolph’s sister Elisabeth.

Albert IV, Count of Habsburg

Spouse
Hedwig of Kyburg

Father
Rudolph II, Count of Habsburg

Mother
Agnes of Staufen

Born
c. 1188

Died
13 December 1239
Ashkelon

Recovery in the Deep End

August 9, 2014 — 10 Comments

 

When I go to the pool to play I follow no set of exercises.  I generally go to the deep end and do a lot of twisting and large movements.  To Floatli is to find balance and then play your way to fitness and sporty fun.  Right now I have injured my foot by walking too much on holiday. It only hurts when I put weight on it, so the deep end is the place for me.  I can still enjoy full range of motion (and beyond what gravity will allow) while keeping that tired tendon in my foot from overworking while it heals.  I was getting kind of cranky on the last few days of my vacation when my aching feet slowed down my pace and I was away from my pool that I love so much.  Water is both healing and soothing.  The deep end of the pool is a lot like the deep end of life.  It is best to know when you can handle depth, and when it is a good idea to stay in the shallow end of things.  I am happy and lucky to have my own private deep end to use as I see fit.  It keeps my mood up while I recover full use of my footsies.  Gravity is fine, but has limits, especially if we are injured.  What do you like to do when your body needs to heal?

Invasive Species, Rhus Lancea

August 8, 2014 — 7 Comments

Invasive botanical species are like untended social problems. If they are ignored they will take over and eliminate the native species because they are powerful and destructive.  Rhus Lancea is an invasive species that is taking over midtown Tucson.  It was brought here as a landscape plant, but quickly got out of control.  It is a relative of poison ivy, and causes some people to have serious allergic reactions, either respiratory or as a skin rash.  It spreads by producing abundant seeds as well as by spreading underground by suckers.  If there is irrigation water, rhus lancea will be very likely to sprout and grow, taking nutrients and moisture from the native or landscape plants.  Since it develops such a network underground the tree is very difficult to kill.  Cutting it down will not kill it, but will encourage spreading through the roots.  It is like a street gang, very undesirable and hard to eliminate.

I have been thinking about how these invasive plants are like crime.  If everyone ignores crime like tagging, vandalism, and gang activity it sucks the nutrients and value out of the neighborhood.  If drug dealing and other crimes are tolerated they blend into the scene making the whole place less valuable and less safe.  With no awareness, or worse, willful blindness to criminal and anti social activity we can only expect the environment to fill with undesirable behaviors.  We have a vivid illustration of this right outside my front door.  We pay landscaping company to kill our landscaping plants and waste large amounts of water each day.  We (the owners of shares of our HOA)  have just paid to have what was described as a dying mesquite tree removed from our sidewalk.  Since it is not dying and is a rhus lancea, we have paid these gardeners to encourage the growth of all of the children of the tree, that have been left in place.  The stump will probably grow back again too.  If actions we take are based on ignorance we will not arrive at a better situation.  Can you think of situations like this that remind you of government?  Working against our own interests seems to be so common these days.

Pietro De Gradenigo, 21st Great-grandfather

August 7, 2014 — 4 Comments

Pietro Gradenigo (1251 – 13 August 1311) was the 49th Doge of Venice, reigning from 1289 to his death.

When he was elected Doge, he was serving as the podestà of Koper / Capodistria in Slovenia. Venice suffered a serious blow with the fall of Acre, the last Crusader stronghold in the Holy Land, to the Mamluks of Egypt in 1291. A war between Venice and Genoa began in 1294, and Venice sustained some serious losses: it lost a naval battle, its possessions in Crete were pillaged and the Byzantine emperor,Andronikos II, arrested many Venetians in Constantinople. In response, the Venetian fleet sacked Galata and threatened the imperial palace of Blachernae, but in 1298 they lost again – this time at Curzola. Eventually, in 1299 the two republics signed a peace treaty.

Doge Gradenigo was responsible for the so-called Serrata del Maggior Consiglio, the Locking of the Great Council of Venice. This new law, passed in February 1297, restricted membership of the future Councils only to the descendants of those nobles who were its members between 1293 and 1297. This move created a virtuallyoligarchic system, disenfranchising a great majority of the citizens and provoking some unrest.

In 1308, during Gradenigo’s reign as doge, Venice became involved in war with the Papacy over the control of Ferrara and on 27 March 1309 the Republic was excommunicated by Pope Clement V, barring all Christians from trading with Venice. The Doge’s policy, seen by many as disastrous, led to a plot to depose him and the Great Council, led by Bajamonte Tiepolo and other members of the aristocratic families. On 15 June 1310, the coup failed and its leaders were severely punished. Tiepolo’s plot led to the creation of the Council of Ten, initially as a temporary institution, which later evolved into the permanent body which in reality governed the Republic.

On 13 August 1311, Gradenigo died, and, since Venice was under interdict and the religious ceremonies could not be held, he was buried in an unmarked grave on Murano.

Preceded by
Giovanni Dandolo Doge of Venice
1289–1311Succeeded by
Marino Zorzi

Pietro De Gradenigo (1252 – 1311)
is my 21st great grandfather
Elisabetta Gradenigo (1275 – 1311)
daughter of Pietro De Gradenigo
Taddea DeCarrara (1304 – 1351)
daughter of Elisabetta Gradenigo
Regina Beatrice Della Scala (1321 – 1384)
daughter of Taddea DeCarrara
Veridis Duchess Austria Visconti (1352 – 1414)
daughter of Regina Beatrice Della Scala
Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg (1377 – 1424)
son of Veridis Duchess Austria Visconti
Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg (1420 – 1493)
daughter of Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg
Christof I VanBaden (1453 – 1527)
son of Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg
Beatrix Zahringen (1492 – 1535)
daughter of Christof I VanBaden
Sabine Grafin VonSimmern (1528 – 1578)
daughter of Beatrix Zahringen
Marie L Egmond (1564 – 1584)
daughter of Sabine Grafin VonSimmern
Richard Sears (1590 – 1676)
son of Marie L Egmond
Silas Sears (1638 – 1697)
son of Richard Sears
Silas Sears (1661 – 1732)
son of Silas Sears
Sarah Sears (1697 – 1785)
daughter of Silas Sears
Sarah Hamblin (1721 – 1814)
daughter of Sarah Sears
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Sarah Hamblin
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

Squarcino Borri, 21st Great-grandfather

August 6, 2014 — 1 Comment

Squarcino Borri, also called Scarsini (1230-1277) was an Italian condottiero and lord of the lands of Santo Stefano Ticino.

Born in Santo Stefano Ticino in 1230, Squarcina was the son of Lanfranco of Borri (end of 12th – early 13th century), the local feudal lord of the city of Santo Stefano Ticino. The Borri family was one of the most respected in Milan, and counted among its ranks a saint, Monas of Milan, Bishop of Milan. Even in his youth, Squarcina (unlike his father) undertook a military career and placed himself at the head of the noble exiles from Milan after the Torriani took power in Milan. He remained a faithful supporter of the Visconti family and distinguished himself as a captain in the service of Ottone Visconti in the famous Battle of Desio in January 1277.
In 1254, he married Antonia (1236-?) of an unknown lineage, and they had a daughter Bonacossa Borri, who in 1269 married Matteo I Visconti, a future Lord of Milan. At the same time the family Borri were reconfirmed in their feudal rights over their lands, and the same Squarcina also became lord of the lands of Castellazzo de’ Stampi in Corbetta in 1275 and remained in office until his death in Invorio in 1277.

Squarcino Borri (1222 – 1277)
is my 21st great grandfather
Bonacossa Borri (1254 – 1321)
daughter of Squarcino Borri
Stefan Visconti (1289 – 1327)
son of Bonacossa Borri
Bernabo Lord Milan di Visconti (1319 – 1385)
son of Stefan Visconti
Veridis Duchess Austria Visconti (1352 – 1414)
daughter of Bernabo Lord Milan di Visconti
Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg (1377 – 1424)
son of Veridis Duchess Austria Visconti
Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg (1420 – 1493)
daughter of Ernst I “Ironside” Archduke of Austria Habsburg
Christof I VanBaden (1453 – 1527)
son of Katharina Archduchess Austria Von Habsburg
Beatrix Zahringen (1492 – 1535)
daughter of Christof I VanBaden
Sabine Grafin VonSimmern (1528 – 1578)
daughter of Beatrix Zahringen
Marie L Egmond (1564 – 1584)
daughter of Sabine Grafin VonSimmern
Richard Sears (1590 – 1676)
son of Marie L Egmond
Silas Sears (1638 – 1697)
son of Richard Sears
Silas Sears (1661 – 1732)
son of Silas Sears
Sarah Sears (1697 – 1785)
daughter of Silas Sears
Sarah Hamblin (1721 – 1814)
daughter of Sarah Sears
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Sarah Hamblin
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse

Why Sew?

August 5, 2014 — 1 Comment

 

Alma Llanera

Alma Llanera

There are not many stores that cater to sewing today because there are very few people who know how to sew. I always enjoyed the selection process as well as the craft and fitting. Now I feel like a kind of special agent of fashion because I know how to sew.  You do reap what you sew.  You also wear what you sew.  It can be the best way to truly express unique fashion choices.  I like to wear something that nobody else has, or even has seen.  I also have a funny commemorative way of dressing that harkens back to days when I did long trips all over the place.  I would assemble my trip wardrobe with great care and anticipation, thinking about weather and activities.  Time permitting I would sew something for the trip that would make a debut on the road.  I liked to associate certain clothing with certain places where I thought they looked their best.  I no longer globe trot at such a pace, nor do I plan so many back to back obligations when I travel now.  My wardrobe is casual like it is at home, with few exceptions.

Last year when I attended a reunion party at my old junior high I sewed a special skirt in honor of the home economics teacher who gave me a D on my apron in seventh grade.  She was not in attendance, but I had something to prove when I went on a tour of my old school with my old classmates.  The skirt turned out okay and I had my triumphant secret moment in the hallway where Mrs. G had been the hall monitor daily.  I swished right by her imaginary self and let her know that I could sew.  This year when I attended a reunion party in Austin with a group who lived in Venezuela in the 1960’s I made a signature pair of pants.  I found some fabric with little skeleton cards portraying Day of the Dead figures.  Tucson has a very big celebration of this holiday each year, so I decided to make a pair of pants as a conversation piece about my home town.  The pants are fine, and on the first day in Texas I found a tee shirt that matched perfectly and had a purple longhorn, too.  I was stylin’ and not too hot since the pants were loose fitting cotton.  I received many compliments on them during my visit, and then wore them to the Venezuela reunion party.  It was National Dance Day and I was ready. Here I am singing and dancing in my fancy pants, which I will forever associate with this party.  While I don’t think it would be good to try to have your clothes match everything you do, sometimes it is fun. That is why I sew.