Passing The Time
Hobbies and Interests
Gardening
Method, Design, Cultivation
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Birds & Bees
Aviculture and
Apiculture
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Inspiration
Plans, Projects, Tools
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Earth & Sky
Astronomy, Weather
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To The Macs
Apps, Ideas, Information
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At The Gym
Exercise, Physical Fitness
Volksmarch
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Off The Shelf
Books, DVD's, Magazines
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Music Box
Music, Podcasts, VOD
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Recipes
Preservation, Preparation
Tortilla and
Cheese Presses
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Drum Roll
Music
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Page Updated:
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
“Have no anxiety about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6
"Never be in a hurry; do everything
quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for
anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor
of the Church, Patron Saint of Confessors, Authors, and
Educators
"Ceaseless work, analysis, reflection,
writing much, endless self-correction, that is my secret."
Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750) Composer of 1,100+ Pieces of Music, Husband and
Father of Twenty Children
"In order to flee mediocrity and be
faithful to the sublime vocation to which man is called—to
become a saint, to have a share in the divine life—it is
necessary to remain faithful in the little things."
Jean-Charles Nault, O.S.B.
Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Wandrille; Doctorate
in Theology
| Gardening
Did You Know. . .
Modomnoc (aka Dominic) was an Celtic
saint, missionary, and beekeeper who lived in the
6th century (500s -550 AD). He reportedly spoke to the
bees as they flew about him, and is credited with
helping to establish honey bees in Ireland.
In greenhouses, one of the best thermal storage mediums
is water, followed by steel, concrete, and stone. (Shane
Smith, Greenhouse Gardener's Companion 459)
In Alabama, lizards / geckos are quite common (more
than a dozen types have been found), and these reptiles
are friends of the gardener. "Legless lizards may be
confused with snakes, but unlike snakes, they possess
movable eyelids." (Outdoor Alabama)
Ginseng roots grow to a length of more than 20 inches,
and are harvested six years after the seeds are sown.
(Simon & Schuster, Guide To Herb and Spices 104)
The leaf of a banana plant (e.g., Chinese, Dwarf) can
grow to a size of two to three feet long and one foot
wide (Simon & Schuster, House Plants 163)
Peanuts can be grown wherever corn is successfully
grown.
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Web
Site Index
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Help
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(June 2025)
After a few years of working low-to-the-ground
garden beds, it was time to upgrade ... to raised beds. The
raised beds will hopefully help to achieve a few goals:
1. Make gardening a little less back-straining ... thus, more
inviting and enjoyable
2. Keep the rabbits and ground turtles from eating plants (they
never seem to be interested in weeds)
3. Improve the "hit or miss" production rates of vegetables
4. Reduce the proliferation of noxious weeds
We have constructed three styles of raised beds: Cypress, Cement
board, and Metal and Cypress beds. Whichever style demonstrates
the most even production, while remaining durable
(cost-effective over the long term) - that style will be
replicated within the Big Garden.
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Blooms and Goumi Berries - May 2018
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Awakening - April 2018
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Rose Fest - 2018
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(June 2018)
Our gardens are producing again ... some crop
improvements, a few disappointments. A few, namely blueberries
and goumi berries have a had a tremendous year. In any case, we
will continue to plant into the Summer and Fall, following the
local gardening calendar even more closely. Our goal is to build
on the consistency of productive plants, which include goumi
berries, elderberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries,
ground cherries, peas, beans, arugula; spinach, cabbage, kale,
asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, chicory, radishes (daikon),
carrots, kohlrabi, onions, peppers, swiss chard, watermelon,
edible hibiscus, and several herbs (parsley, peppermint, basil,
chives, oregano, pineapple sage, etc).
During 2015, I installed a maze of directional and
drip water lines, lines that deliver water directly to plant
roots (conserving water). An array of 40-50% shade
cloth is now installed over sections of both gardens as
well. I also added some fence screen to help shield against
airborne weed seed. In addition, I added "fertigation":
Water-soluble fertilizers (and organic pest control, if desired)
are added using the irrigation water - one size-appropriate
injection tank for each garden.
The work continues.
Happy Habanero - August 2017
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Duck Conference - August 2017
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Bearding Bees - August 2017
Healthy Hive in our "Big Garden"
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Hibiscus Blooms - Summer 2015
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Garden No 2 - Summer 2014
The Left Side of Our Larger Garden
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One of Our Garden Harvests - 2014
A Significant Improvement Over Last Year
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Sunflowers Near Corn Rows - June 2014
Keeping the Honey Bees Busy
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Garden No 2 - October 2014
The Surprisingly Large Roselle Hibiscus
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Garden No 1 - October 2014
Another Roselle Hibiscus and Happy Banana Trees
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Screened Gazebo Greenhouse - August 2013
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Gazebo on the Inside - November 2013
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Gazebo Winterized - 2014
Curtains can be rolled up from the inside
(onto 8-foot bamboo poles).
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Rain Collection
(Modified)
Summer 2015
Due to the fact that we are frequently blessed
with a large volume of rain, it was necessary to modify our
gutter and rain collection system, particularly on the back of
our home. Instead of buying some little rain diverter or barrel
system, we used some extra gutter pieces and created a
"waterfall" over the rain barrel. In the center of the gutter
piece directly above the barrel is a hole cut to the same
diameter as the overflow pipe (a drain pipe mounted to the side
of the rain barrel). The gutter and the overflow pipe are now
directed into a rain catch basin. From the basin, we ran about
two hundred feet of large drainage pipe, which slopes down to
the gazebo area. Later this year (hopefully), we will be digging
a small fish pond, where the large amounts of rain water will be
collected.
Once the pond is complete, we will set up a simple
system to pump water from the fish pond into our gazebo -
fertilized water for the plants we are now planting in hanging
baskets, planters, pots, and the hydroponic beds.
Hydroculture
What is hydroculture?
Quite simply, it is an alternative to using potting soil.
Plants are supported in a container of clay pebbles and
water.
What do you need?
A watertight flower pot, a "grow pot" (shell that fits
into the flower pot), a water gauge, clay pebbles,
fertilizer, and a healthy plant.
How does it work?
Take one of your house plants, carefully remove it from
the soil, and clean the root system thoroughly.
Carefully place the plant into the plant shell, spreading
the roots, and fill the shell with clay pebbles.
Insert the water gauge, and place the shell into the
decorative pot.
Choose an appropriate fertilizer (very important), mix it
with the water, and add water to the pot until the gauge
indicates "full" or "optimum".
TIP: To ensure a successful transplant, enclose the
entire plant in clear plastic (to aid in the prevention of
moisture loss). After a week, remove the plastic.
Why should you try hydroculture?
Soil borne diseases and pests are all but eliminated.
Pots, gauges, and pebbles are reusable.
Watering your plants becomes easier - the gauge indicates
the optimum level.
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Hydroponic Bed in Gazebo Greenhouse - Spring 2014
Hydroponics is similar to hydroculture.The difference
(essentially); hydroponics employs moving water, usually
from and to a fish tank / pond.
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Our Home-made Fish Tank
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Catish
One of our fish at feeding time.
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Passion Vine and Turmeric in Gazebo Greenhouse - July
2015
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Tomato and Pepper Plants Growing in Water - July-August
2015
In the center of each of the hydroponic beds is a
homemade Bell Siphon.
(Both have been working flawlessly over a year now.)
Rainwater is collected in gutters, and is directed
through PVC pipe to the fish tank (overflowing to the
hydroponic beds).
The rainwater PVC pipe is also branched to a
drip PVC system above hanging plants, and also to two
interior rain barrels ... barrels that overflow into the
hydroponic beds.
We have also incorporated a timed tap watering
system, so watering still happens when it is not
raining.. This will eventually be connected to our water
well.
When our small pond is completed, we will
periodically pump water from the pond into the
greenhouse system, and the hydroponic beds will siphon
back into the pond.
(Currently, the siphons empty onto the ground.)
This month (August), I installed the first section of
an overhead plant support, primarily for the
tomatoes..Once I complete the set-up, I will post more
information / a photo.
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Shade - July 2015
After several weeks of Alabama heat, we opted to
try the "shade house" concept (modified application).
With 40 and 50% Shadecloth, we are hoping to extend
the life and production of our plants.
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Birds & Bees
- Aviculture and Apiculture
"The bee is more honored than other
animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for
others."
St. John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
Early Church Father, Archbishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the
Church
Patron Saint of Epileptics, Lecturers, Preachers, Speakers
The Expanded Chicken Coop - April 2017
Addition mounted to the
top of one of the runs.
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Duck House - 2017
Refurbished chicken
house, now more "heavy duty"; tailored for our ducks.
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Honey Cart - May 2015
A Thos-Ginny Concept
for Processing Honeycomb
10-LB Weights Can Be Added Onto Crushed Comb
(Centered Inside Comb Bucket with 1/2" PVC Pipe)
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Top Bar Hive - Our First Build - April 2015
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Honey Bee Swarm #2 - April 2015
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Honey Bee Swarm #1 - March 2015
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Garden Helpers
One Of Our More Active Bee Hives
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Rollout Nesting Box - New Coop - October 2014
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Rollout Nesting Box - Chicken Entrances
Our modified version of plans posted at
backyardchickens.com
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More Garden Helpers
Insect Management and Fertilizer
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(July 2015)
Our larger chicken coop and chicken moat are constructed. The
moveable foraging pen is complete and working very well. We added
hinged and "latchable" skirts to discourage digging predators. All
skirts can be easily lifted / adjusted to facilitate movement of
the pen. In addition, we have added shade cloth (temperatures in
our area are usually 90°F + this time of year). To dissuade night
predators, we picked up a few solar-charged Predator Guards.
Seems to be helping. (Our decorative rooster stake has been folded
only once.)
Below are pics of the moat, the new coop (just prior to attaching
all the hardware cloth), the original cage, and the moveable pen.
In the future, if we decide to use a chicken tractor concept, our
foraging pen can be easily adapted.
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Original Chicken Cage and Coop - April 2014
Safe Area For The Birds
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Larger Coop WIth Cage Under Construction- November 2014
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Coop Back and Water Collection - November 2014
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Coop Connecting Chicken Run - November 2014
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Chicken Moat - Dec 2014
Along the Right Side of Our Large Garden
Small doors (right side of moat) will provide access
to the Foraging Pen.
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Moveable Foraging Pen - April 2015
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Foraging Pen Under Construction - April 2015
Shaded Pen - July 2015
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Anti-predator Skirts
Approximately four inches of hardware cloth
is attached to a 1 x 4, creating the skirt.
Decorative garden stakes help hold the cloth
down (esp. where the ground is uneven).
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Inspiration -
Plans, Projects, Tools
"If you want to do something for the Lord,
do it! Whatever you feel needs to be done, even though you're
shaking in your boots and you're scared to death, take the first
step. The grace comes with that first step, and you get the
grace as you step. Being afraid is not a problem. It's doing
nothing when you're afraid, that's the problem."
"Jesus is my strength. Jesus is my rock. I
trust His Wisdom and His Will in my life."
Mother Angelica
(1923-2016) Religious Sister, Abbess,
Foundress of EWTN and Our Lady of the Angels Monestary
(Irondale, AL)
Solar Mounts - July 2015
Since our gazebo and chicken coops do not have electrical lines
(utility power), we have been working to incorporate solar power.
While the solar pumps and fish tank aerator have been functioning
quite well, two of the original plastic mounts for the solar
panels have left much to be desired (they are both broken).
Our workaround? A leftover 2 x 4 piece of treated lumber, a
flagpole mount, a few extra hinges and safety locks (to secure our
small panels to the lumber), a small threaded galvanized pipe
attached to a pipe flange, which are together attached to the
gazebo roof. Notes: The hinges will allow us to safely lift up our
panels for maintenance, if needed. We also added a little handle
between the two panels, in case we need to hold the contraption or
move it.
What is so nice about the flagpole mount ...we can easily angle
the panels towards the sun, optimizing the output / battery
charging time.
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Mount Installed - July 25, 2015
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Earth & Sky
- Astronomy, Weather
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Home Weather Stations
Ambient WS-2080
and WS-0101
Excellent tools for planning activities, monitoring
rainfall, tracking trends.
QT
Postcard
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Heavenly Glimpse
Celestron Telescopes ... Thos' original
"orange scope" (from decades past) and the upgraded 8"
model - Nov 1999.
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“The Lord has turned all our
sunsets into sunrise.”
St. Clement of Alexandria (150 - 215)
Church Father, Teacher, Theologian
At The Gym -
Exercise, Physical Fitness
Refresh Your Abdominal Routine
Are you looking for some variety in your abdominal routine? One
of my favorite exercises is the V-crunch. This exercise will help
develop both the upper and lower abs.
To execute this exercise, lie flat on the floor on your back.
Cross your arms across your chest (you can also use your arms to
balance yourself throughout the exercise). Simultaneously, lift
your upper body (crunch) and bring your knees up, as if to touch
your knees to your chest. Then, slowly lower your upper body and
straighten your legs until you are in your starting position.
This exercise will be most effective if done in a a slow and
controlled manner, If balancing is difficult, practice one
movement at a time (upper body, then lower - legs).
If you need more of a challenge, add a medicine ball (held
between your feet, held on top of your head, or both).
Using a Heart Rate Monitor makes a difference.
By using monitors, we can work out in a specific heart rate zone.
If we want to burn fat, we maintain a rate that is sixty to
seventy percent of our maximum rate. If strengthening the heart is
our goal, we increase the rate (seventy to eighty percent).
Finally, if we get into competitive training (to improve our
endurance/performance), our desired rate becomes eighty to one
hundred percent of maximum.
Volksmarch - Hiking and Biking
For details of some of our hiking experiences, see our World Travel page. |
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"Volksmarsch" (German) is a non-competitive social event in
European countries, most often involving participants who walk
or ride bicycles on trails. Upon completion, mugs, ribbons, or
similar prizes are awarded.
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Thos' Road Bike
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Ginny's Road Bike
After a minor incident, which resulted
in a broken arm,
I have opted for the safer, stationary option.
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Off The Shelf - Books, DVD's, Magazines
Books
What I am reading now:
Coached By
Joan of Arc by Alexandre
Havard
Grace and Truth by Fr George
Rutler
The Lord by Romano
Guardini
How
The Choir
Converted the
World by
Mike Aquilina
Music
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“The final aim and reason of all
music is nothing other than the glorification of God and
the refreshment of the spirit.”
"I play the notes as they are
written, but it is God who makes the music."
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Composer of 1,100+ Pieces of Music, Husband and Father
of Twenty Children
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| Did You Know . .
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King David (1085 -
1015 BC ... Old Testament prophet, musician, poet,
hymnodist, writer)
St Paul the Apostle (c3 - c65 AD
... martyr)
St Cecilia (3rd century martyr, incorrupt)
St Blaise ( martyr, beheaded
c316)
Pope St Gregory the Great (c540 -
c604 ... Doctor of the Church and collector of
melodies and plain chant - music that is now known
as Gregorian Chant) |
... The aforementioned persons are all
"Patron Saints of Musicians".
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Bach: Mass In B Minor
Philippe Herreweghe: Collegium
Vocale Gent
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Bruckner: Mass No. 1 in D
Minor & Motets
John Eliot Gardiner &
Monteverdi Choir
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Bach:
Magnificat In D, BWV 243
Helmuth Rilling: Stuttgart Bach
Collegium
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Biber: Requiem
Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Players
& Paul McCreesh
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Bach: Reconstructed Violin
Concertos and
Violin Concertos, BWV 1041-1043
Helmuth Rilling: Bach-Collegium
Stuttgart
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William Byrd - The Three Masses
Peter Phillips & The Tallis
Scholars
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Haydn: Missa in Angustiis "Nelson
Mass"
English Concert and Trevor Pinnock
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Handel: Carmelite Vespers
Taverner Consort
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Beethoven Symphonies No 1-9
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe
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Faure: Requiem
Neville Marriner: Academy Of St.
Martin In The Fields
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Missa Apostolorum, Andrea Gabrieli
[1532-1585]
Francesco Cera, More Antiquo
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Lassus: Psalmi Davidis
Poenitentiales
Collegium Vocale Gent & Philippe
Herreweghe
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Chopin: Nocturnes
Daniel Barenboim
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Haydn: Stabat Mater
The English Concert & Choirs
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Josquin
Peter Phillips & The Tallis
Scholars
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Liszt: Piano Recital
Yundi Li
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Mozart - Requiem
Academy and Chorus of St. Martin In
The Fields
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Mozart: Mass in C Minor K.427
"Great Mass"
Berliner Philharmoniker
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Rossini: Stabat Mater
Carlo Maria Giulini: Philharmonia
Orchestra & Chorus
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Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610
*
The Sixteen
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Rachmaninov: Vespers
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir,
Hillier
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Pergolesi: Stabat Mater
Christophe Rousset & Les
Talens Lyriques
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Schubert, Shumann, Debussy - Cello
Sonatas
Benjamin Britten & Mstislav
Rostropovich
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Morales: Magnificat, Motets &
Lamentations
Brabant Ensemble and Stephen Rice
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Verdi Requiem
Vienna Philharmonic
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Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1- 4
Vladimir Ashkenazy, André Previn;
London Symphony Orchestra
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Seville Concert
John Williams
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Palestrina
Peter Phillips & The Tallis
Scholars
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Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Nigel Kennedy
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Tallis : Spem In Alium
The Tallis Scholars
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Venetian Church Music - Giovanni
Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Vivaldi
Andrew Parrott: Taverner Consort
& Players
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Victoria: Requiem, Officum
defunctorum
Peter Phillips & The Tallis
Scholars
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* If you can find a copy of the
Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 performed by the English Baroque
Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir (J.E. Gardiner, Proms 2010),
it is one of my preferred renditions.
Podcasts
Most Podcasts are
available to listen to and/or download free of charge.
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VOD (Video-On-Demand)
Recipes
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Zucchini Bread and Yellow Squash
Pies
Delicious. Made several pies this
summer, froze many of them. Already, the pies are
gone
Many recipes are available online - give one a
try!
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Pepper Jack Cheese
Slowly perfecting our
cheese-making skills.
Each week (usually) we make a batch of
Mozzarella cheese
used mostly as a topping for our home-made
Yogurt-crust Pizzas.
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Tortilla Press
Ideas for making a Tortilla Press
are available on-line.
Silicone Baking Mats are very helpful (for adjusting
thickness). |
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Cheese Press
Both cheese-making books and
web sites have Cheese Press plans.
This style is quite easy to make.
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Gabriella (our kitty angel) and Java
Resident Experts At
Passing Time
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