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An Angel For Bishop: Part 1 When two damaged souls collide can they find salvation. In 4 parts, based on a post by BurntRedstone. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, 2010 Chapter 1 The early winter storm raged and thrashed across the mountain range. It seemed especially angry with the narrow mountainside road Dan was cautiously driving his jeep on. The fierce winds fought to push the jeep across the icy road into the deep ravine below. If it wasn't for the heavy tire chains he'd installed at the base of the mountain he'd already be tumbling down that cliff. He hadn't intended on being away from his cabin at all before the winter storms arrived. He'd discovered that some of his med kit supplies had expired and needed replacing before he was snowed in for the season. It was definitely a bad idea to skimp on medical supplies when you had no access to a hospital, or doctors, for up to four months. And since he was in town anyway he'd decided to stock up on extra food as, you know, no grocery stores in his neighborhood. With the sudden arrival of what was turning out to be a monster storm he was in danger of not making it back to his neighborhood at all. He knew the road behind him was empty of cars as he'd been the last one through before the highway patrol closed the gates to the mountain road. By now the road behind would be completely impassable so there was no going back. Not that he intended to. Not when he was almost at his turn off. From the curving mountain road he'd be turning uphill, driving up a rough fire road for two miles then into an even more rugged trail for another mile through the forest to his house. If the storm picked up any more even his customized jeep with its extra clearance wouldn't make it beyond the highway and he'd have to snowshoe in the remaining distance. That was not something he was looking forward to. Dan's jeep ground its way along the snowy road getting closer and closer to the fire road. A short time later he rounded the last bend and spotted the road marker indicating his turn was just ahead. On his right side was a thin strip of trees and beyond that nothing but sky. It was a scary section of road with minimal guard rails. It paid to take extra care here. He almost missed spotting the body in the tree as he drove past. Dan's subconscious mind latched onto the image and his foot was pressing carefully on the brake before his conscious mind knew why. Once he stopped he looked back over his shoulder to confirm what he'd seen. It wasn't just an odd shadow or a clump of branches. He could clearly see a body leaning into the branches of one of the trees dangling over the edge of the cliff. He put the jeep in park with the engine still running, set the hazards on, and cranked the heat up to full. He pulled his hood up and gloves on before he stepped out of the warm cabin of his jeep into the wailing storm. He made his way to the back of the jeep and looked again at where the body was in the tree. He'd have to climb up to get it and that was going to be risky. He pulled his climbing rope out of the back hatch of the jeep and stepped into the harness. Once secured, he tied the end of the rope to the trailer hitch and quickly made his way over to the side of the road. He could see the short section of guard rail had been slammed into, bent over, and broken off. It rested precariously on the edge. There was very little evidence of skid marks as the snow was blowing very hard by this point. He cautiously stepped forward and looked over the edge. Not too far below, maybe 50 feet, he saw the remains of one of those trike motorcycles. What kind of moron would be driving a motorcycle this late in the season? Just to the left of the wrecked bike and sprawled across a broken spruce tree stretching out over the abyss was the moron. Dan could see his legs were bent at an unnatural angle. Hell, his torso was bent wrong as well. Most likely his back was broken. The blizzard was making it very difficult to see the man clearly but he thought he could make out some kind of emblem on the ripped leather jacket. It could be a Blood Brothers jacket but he wasn't sure. Christ, he hoped not. If he was from that gang he was a LONG way from home. Dan called out to see if the man was still alive but either the storm was whipping the sound of his voice away or the man was dead. He looked up at the body in the tree and realized the helmet had moved to look in his direction so this one was definitely still alive. From here he couldn't tell if it was a slim man or a woman. The baggy leathers made it impossible to tell accurately. He took a few more steps towards the tree and saw its roots were deeply entangled with the rough cliff side. He judged it to be sturdy enough to support his weight if he climbed up. Just as he prepared to step off onto the tree he heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot followed by a feminine cry. He looked up and saw the right sleeve of the leather jacket was torn and there was blood dripping from it. Dan looked down and saw the man below was holding a gun and was struggling to hold it steady. When he saw it swing towards him he flung himself back from the edge. A second shot rang out digging through the ground where he'd just stood. "What the fuck are you doing?!?" Dan yelled over the edge. "I'm here to rescue you!" "The bitch is mine! She dies with ME!" he heard the man reply. Another shot was fired but this one hit a branch to the woman's left. The man was deranged! Dan wouldn't be able to get to her before the maniac below hit something vital. And if Dan tried to climb out there he would likely be the target of the next bullet. He'd taken enough bullets in his life. He had to stop him. Quick! He frantically looked around for a weapon, something he could use to stop the idiot with the gun. Another shot rang out and the woman's helmet snapped to the side as the bullet grazed it. The only thing Dan saw was the broken section of guard rail. He reached down and with a huge effort lifted it above his head. It was damn heavy as chunks of two posts were still attached. Dan shuffled to the cliff's edge just above where the man was. He heaved the metal beam and lumber over the edge and watched as it fell. The man squealed in terror as the plummeting chunk of steel and lumber rushed down to crash into his broken body. It tore him and most of the spruce tree from the cliff face and they all fell hundreds of feet onto the rocks below. The crushed trike, which had been braced by the tree, slowly slid off the small ledge and tumbled after its owner. Dan quickly stepped out onto the tree and climbed up to the woman. He called out but she was limp and leaning into the tree. He saw that one of the branches had pierced her shoulder, pinning her in place. It probably saved her from falling to her death. The branch hadn't gone all the way through. He strapped her to his harness then he gently pulled her loose from the branch. Luck was on her side again. There was very little blood so nothing major had been hit by the branch. She was unexpectedly light. Dan got a good grip then descended the tree with her and pulled her backwards onto the road. Once safely away from the cliff he untied her and removed his harness. He scooped her up and carried her to the passenger side of the jeep. Once the door was open he slid her limp body onto the seat and pushed the seat back into its reclined position. Closing the door he raced around the back of the jeep, dropped the rope and harness through the hatch and got back into the driver's side. His face stung from the interior heat but after a few seconds it started to feel really good. Dan reached into the back seat and grabbed one of the new packages of bandage wrap. He used his belt knife to open the package and cut a section off. He did a quick field dressing on both her arm and the puncture wound on her shoulder. He reached under her helmet and pressed his fingers to her neck. Her pulse was a little weak but it seemed steady. Her skin was so cold! Looking at the bandages he realized it was all he could do for now. He really had to get her back to his house if he was going to save her from freezing to death. Slipping back into gear Dan rolled the jeep forward out of the snow pile that had accumulated around the vehicle. Soon he was moving steadily forward and he could see the fire road just ahead. The trees sheltered it better than the open highway but there was still a fair amount of snow to drive through. Dan turned into the road and maintained a steady pace as the road climbed ever upwards. The jeep was really struggling in the drifts as he rolled over the final crest before the forest trail. He quickly glanced at his passenger then swung the jeep into the trail and surged forward. The going was especially tough here but the chains continued to grip and dig into the hard ground beneath the snow. Occasionally he had to fight the wheel as the jeep slipped sideways, threatening to pin itself between the trees. Somehow he kept the momentum going until the jeep suddenly left the forest and he faced his garage door fifty feet ahead. Dan pushed the button on the remote strapped to his visor and saw the garage door begin to climb. He rolled the jeep forward slowly until it settled on the pad inside the garage. He pressed the remote button again and the door closed behind the jeep. He rushed over to the inside door and propped it open. He went back to the passenger side, opened the door and carefully lifted the woman's body out of the jeep, keeping her helmeted head against his shoulder. He couldn't get over how light she was. She had to be at least as tall as him but she felt like nothing in his arms. As quickly and carefully as he could he carried her into the house and into the first guest bedroom. He set her on the bed and began to remove her damp clothing. The boots were first then her damp socks. The skin on her toes was the lightest shade of pink so it didn't look like she had frostbite there. The leather chaps came off fairly easily but her jeans were very damp. He unbuttoned them and slipped the zipper down. They weren't very tight but that was mostly due to how much weight she seemed to have lost. The skin on her legs almost seemed loose. She wasn't wearing panties and it looked like she kept herself completely shaved down below. A flash of gold drew his eyes to a single ring piercing her clitoral hood. He looked away, embarrassed. He dried off her legs with a thick towel he grabbed from the room's bathroom. He removed the chin strap and slid the helmet slowly and carefully upwards until he could toss it aside. Long but dull and matted platinum blond hair poured out of the helmet. It felt a bit like dry straw. He pushed it away from her face and sucked in a breath. She was exquisite! Almond shaped eyes (bruised looking and still closed), fine brows, high cheekbones, slender nose, and full, lush lips which currently looked dry and chapped. She was a true beauty, or would be if she could add on some healthy weight. Her cheeks were a little sunken. While he wanted to take a closer look at his patient he still had to remove her damp jacket and shirt. Both came off relatively easily and again Dan could see the woman was badly underfed. She wore no bra underneath her shirt and considering her obvious and rather large breast implants he was more than a little surprised by this. Those breasts had to be uncomfortable without some support. He saw more piercings, both of her nipples had small gold bars with loops. Dan dried her torso and arms with the towel then wrapped her in a thick, soft electric blanket from the room's closet and set it to a medium-high setting. He ran back to the jeep and grabbed the medical supplies he'd bought. He closed the garage door and went back to the woman. Opening the blanket to get access to her wounds he cleaned them and replaced her bandages. Aside from the grazed arm and the puncture on her shoulder there weren't any other fresh injuries he could see. Healed or healing ones though, she had plenty of scars to prove she'd born quite a lot of pain in her life. Some looked like burn marks, like someone had used her arm as an ashtray. He'd done what he could for now. He closed up the blanket and pulled the bed's quilt over her as well. Her pulse had steadied and seemed strong to him. He'd just have to wait for her to wake up so he could question her about where she might be feeling pain. He felt totally inadequate for the task of being her doctor but he was all she had as the storm continued to rage outside and showed no signs of lessening. He went back to the jeep and unloaded the food. He put most of it into the huge pantry in the kitchen but the meat went into the deep freezer in the garage. Back in the small bathroom of the guest bedroom he poured a glass of water and put it on the end table next to the bed. It was likely she'd be thirsty when she woke up. A quick look at the clock on the wall showed him it was past dinner time but he was more tired than hungry. The window in the room showed the sun must have set as all he could see was the snow that blew against the glass and blackness beyond. He sat in the room's only chair to keep vigil over his patient but shortly exhaustion pulled him down into its embrace and he was gone. Chapter 2 Bullets whizzed by his head, one taking a nip of his ear as it passed. Still he ran on. He had to get back to the house. He could hear the steady beat of the approaching copter's blades as he ran from cover to cover, popping up to fire a round through the head of the next unlucky bastard to get between him and the house. He felt the sting of a bullet passing through his calf but he put that sensation aside and continued on. He slammed into the front door of the house only this time it was locked and he had no way in. Dan gasped awake, the nightmare still raw in his mind. He could feel the familiar ache in his right calf. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. His forehead was dripping wet. He shuddered as the reaction left his body. It was obvious to him what had triggered him this time. He hadn't been shot at in years but you never forget. Pulling his hands down he noticed the room around him. He glanced at the clock and was startled to see that he'd slept through the night. It was almost 7am. Then he felt eyes on him. Right! The woman! He looked over at her and saw she was awake and staring in his direction from behind her bangs, her gaze dull. The bed's quilt had been thrown back but she was still cocooned within the electric blanket. She had it wrapped around her head and all the way down and over her feet. Only her face showed. He stepped to the side of the bed and knelt down so he wasn't towering over her. Her eyes remained downcast, pointing somewhere in the general vicinity of his chest. He tried to get her to look into his eyes but she seemed to be avoiding this. He didn't quite know what to make of this behavior. "Hi, my name's Dan. Dan Bishop. You were in an accident out there on the mountain road. I found you and brought you to my home because the road back to town was closed by snow." He saw no response. "Can you hear me?" She nodded almost imperceptibly. "Can you tell me your name?" Nothing. "I need you to wiggle your toes." He saw a slight motion at the bottom of the blanket. "Good! How about your fingers?" The sides of the blanket moved a little as she moved her fingers. "That's excellent! Can you tell me where you might be feeling pain?" Nothing. Dan was feeling desperately out of his element. She could obviously understand what he was saying but she couldn't or wouldn't talk. Maybe she was frightened or embarrassed. I mean, she was in a strange place and a stranger had obviously removed her clothes. God! He was suddenly so embarrassed himself! While he knew it had been necessary he was still a little ashamed for having undressed her when she was unconscious. "Look, I'm terribly sorry for removing your clothes but they were wet and you were freezing to death. I'll get you something warm to wear." Dan suddenly realized there probably wasn't any woman's clothing in his house. He walked over to the dresser and checked in a few of the drawers. Nothing. "Uh, I might have something in the other rooms. I'll be right back." He rushed through the other guest rooms and again found nothing except a skimpy white bikini bathing suit. Last summer his buddy Wally visited with his latest girlfriend and she must have left it behind. She'd been petite and her tits had been much smaller than this woman's but he thought the swimsuit might be a good substitute for underwear at least. He went into his room and gathered up a flannel shirt, a thick sweater, some fleece sweat pants which had a drawstring, and a pair of warm socks. When Dan returned to the woman she hadn't moved but her eyes tracked him when he entered. "I have some clothes for you. Sorry, I don't have any woman's clothing but you can wear this stuff to keep warm until I've washed and dried the clothes you were wearing. I found a bathing suit you can use as underwear, if you want." She said nothing but continued to keep him in her view. He knelt once more beside the bed. "Can you tell me your name?" he asked gently but still got no response from the woman. "I'd feel more comfortable using a name than just saying 'Hey You'." He caught the flick of her eyes up to his face then to the doorway then back down to his chest. Was she expecting the man she was riding with to show up? Considering the scars he'd seen on her, it might explain some of her current behavior. If the asshole with the gun had been one of the Blood Brothers he'd probably treated her poorly. She seemed too frightened to talk. He rubbed his face and decided there wasn't going to be a better time to tell her. He wondered how much she recalled of her 'rescue'. That might be a good place to start. "Do you remember the accident?" he asked. She shook her head with a tiny motion. "When I found you, you were stuck in a tree on the side of the road. Your... traveling companion had fallen about 50 feet below and was very badly injured." Dan saw her eyes flick up to his face occasionally as he spoke. "I thought he was dead so I tried to get you out of the tree. But he wasn't dead. He started shooting at us. Do you have any idea why he would do that?" he asked gently. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes and she shook her head briefly. God, he wasn't ready to deal with tears. He rushed ahead. "I didn't have a choice. He kept shooting at you and managed to hit you twice. I couldn't reach him to stop him so I- I dropped a section of the guard rail on him and he fell the rest of the way to the bottom of the ravine. He didn't survive the fall. I'm so sorry! Was he your husband? A boyfriend?" Her eyes closed and the tears were forced out. A single tear rolled down each cheek. But strangely she seemed to relax a little. He heard her breathe out in a long sigh. Dan hadn't realized she was holding her breath. Then she spoke for the first time. It was almost a whispered croak. "Master." What she'd said didn't register with Dan. It had also been so quiet. "I'm sorry, what?" "Master," she said again. Dan sat back on his heels. This was way outside his area of experience. He shook his head and went back to his original question now that he got her talking. "OK, let's put that aside for now. I'd really like to know your name." Her eyes dropped back to his chest. His frustration surged and engaged his mouth before his brain regained control. "What did your Master call you?" As soon as the words left his lips he wished he could take them back. What a colossal asshole he was! This was exactly why he avoided being around people. "Whore... slut... bitch... cunt... cum-dump... fuck-hole," she immediately whispered, as if she wasn't at all disturbed by his cruel question. Dan was shocked. Then he considered the evidence of the physical abuse. Why hadn't he expected there to be mental abuse to go with it? She seemed to be having trouble with her throat. He caught her glance to the glass of water. God he was so stupid! She was parched and the glass of water was right there beside her. Full. She hadn't taken a drop though he could hear that her throat was raw. He took the glass and lifted it to her lips as he helped her sit up slightly. She sipped at first but when he didn't take it away she began to gulp at the water desperately. "Whoa, easy now. Drink slower or you'll make yourself sick," he said. She immediately stopped and dropped her eyes again. "I didn't say you should stop drinking. If you want more, please drink. Just take smaller sips. Let your stomach adjust," he said, using as calm a voice as he could. She glanced up again then she began to sip at the water. When it was almost gone she pulled back slightly so he put the glass back on the end table and allowed her to settle back on the bed. He was realizing that she wasn't going to collapse in grief with the loss of her "master" and that was a tremendous relief for Dan. She still seemed to be a little nervous but was no longer looking to the doorway every few seconds. So, he was probably right when he'd guessed she was expecting the man to arrive. That was one BIG concern out of the way, for both of them it seemed. "Look, I'm not going to use those names on you so I'd prefer your real one." Her eyes flicked up to his face once. "Do you remember your name?" he asked. She paused then shook her head. How could you not recall your own name? What the hell had been done to her? Well, he couldn't just give her a name. Assigning her a name like Mary, Joan, or Brenda just felt wrong. But a nickname might be okay. It was a friendly gesture as long as the name didn't offend. He thought about what his Mom would have said if she had been alive to meet this young woman. First thing she'd do is feed the poor dear as she was so 'willowy'. His mom loved those old genteel expressions. He smiled at the memory of his mother. He looked at the woman and decided that 'Willow' really did suit her. Gracefully slender and lithe. At least it did now with her underfed body. He'd have to be careful how he approached this. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Would you mind if I called you 'Willow' until you recall your real name?" he asked gently. She looked into his eyes with surprise. Even her mouth made a cute little o shape. When she realized she was keeping eye contact she quickly looked down but he could see a smile forming on her lips which she tried to hide. She gave him a little nod in agreement. It was time for him to follow his mother's 'advice' and get some food into her to begin her restoration. "OK 'Willow', I'm going to go make us some breakfast. Considering you look like you haven't eaten in a while I'm going to have you start with some warm porridge and we will see how your stomach handles that. If you are fine by lunch I will start slowly increasing your portions from that meal onwards. Is that okay with you?" She gave him another small nod though she kept her eyes down. He was getting a little exasperated by that but he wouldn't push her. "I'll just step out to the kitchen to prepare the food. You should get dressed and come meet me there when you are ready, okay? It's just down the hall to the left." He went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for them both. Porridge for her and eggs for him. The simple act of cooking settled his nerves. Dealing with people was still very difficult for him. He always felt so uncomfortable around people and always said the wrong things. As he worked on preparing the meals he realized that it actually felt good taking care of someone other than himself. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed it with his self-imposed isolation. He hadn't heard her enter the kitchen so he jolted a little when he turned back from the fridge to find her standing topless at the end of the counter. She was wearing his socks and track pants but was holding the shirt and bikini top in her hands. He was so surprised he dropped an egg from his nerveless fingers. His eyes locked on her chest until the egg cracked on the floor at his feet. He glanced down and said "Shit!" Willow's expression froze and she dropped down before him and knelt with her forehead pressed to the floor. Her hair fell over the broken egg and soaked it in. He could see she was trembling. Grabbing some paper towels he knelt down and gently took her shoulders in his hands. She flinched deeply at his touch at first but he helped her sit back on her heels then he used the paper towels to sop up the raw egg in her hair. She'd need to wash it but first he wanted her to eat something so she wouldn't pass out in the shower. She kept her eyes down looking at the floor. He did his best to keep his eyes off her chest. "Willow, you didn't do anything wrong. Even if you had I wouldn't expect you to kneel at my feet. okay? I don't know what that guy did to you but you aren't going to be treated poorly here." Her trembling slowed to a stop as the beating she was expecting didn't happen. She cautiously glanced at his face and saw he had an uncomfortable smile. She was obviously confused and looked back down again. "Can I ask you why you are topless?" he asked gently. Willow held out the bikini top. She held it against her chest but he could see she didn't know how to tie the straps. He'd never tied one of these before either but she didn't even seem willing to try. He helped them both stand. Steeling himself to consider this as just another engineering puzzle he could help her without being embarrassed by the personal nature of the task. Standing this close to her he realized that she was actually a couple of inches taller than his 5' 8". He actually had to look up a little to look in her eyes. It was then, when he was just inches from her face that he noticed her eyes. They were the most amazing shade of green with gold flecks. Finding himself getting lost in her eyes he pulled himself back to the task at hand. He took the bikini top from her and tied the top straps together and slipped the loop over her head. Then he got behind her and pulled the bottom strings under her arms and tied it in a bow on her back. He came back around to her front to see if he'd tied it correctly. Her large breasts were straining at the fabric and spilling out of the bottoms. He realized he should have tied the lower string first to provide support under her heavy breasts then tie the top strap to lift the flesh up into a comfortable position. She stood quietly with no expression on her face while he redid the ties. Soon she was looking spectacular in the silky bikini top though it was a little small and struggled to support her bounty. The small gold rings in her nipples could easily be seen pushing against the fabric. Willow shyly looked into his eyes and he was surprised to see a little desperate need there. Like she was looking for acceptance or praise. He was a little uncomfortable but words sprung to his lips automatically. "You look truly lovely!" And she did, aside from looking like she was starving. She certainly had the frame and foundation for true beauty. If she hadn't been so neglected she would be gorgeous. Her expression underwent a strange transformation at his words. She looked shocked at first, like she'd never heard someone mention her beauty before. Then her eyes welled up with tears and she bit her lower lip. She lowered her eyes again but the smile stayed on her lips. Dan took his fleece shirt from her hand and held it out for her to place her arms into the sleeves. He turned her around once the shirt was over her shoulders so he could button up the front. He really needed to hide her amazing tits as his erection was threatening to split his jeans. Having his hands so close to them was not helping. He grabbed some more paper towel and wiped up the remains of the dropped egg. Then he turned back to their breakfast and allowed the homey activity take his thoughts away from Willow's beauty and the tightness developing in his pants. When he was finished he noted that she was still standing exactly where he'd left her. Dan raised an eyebrow and pointed to the chair at the small table by the window. She went to the chair and sat. He placed the full bowl and spoon before her and went back to get his own meal. When he returned he could see her eyes were fixed on the bowl but she hadn't moved. The scent of its rich flavor was gently rising in the steam towards her face and Dan saw a line of drool had tracked from the corner of her mouth to drop to her lap from her chin. "Willow? Willow!" Dan said, trying to get her attention. She jumped slightly then flinched, expecting a slap. "It's okay, you can eat. I made sure it's not too hot. It's safe," he said gently. She lifted the spoon awkwardly then scooped a good amount into her mouth. She froze when the porridge hit her tongue. Her eyes closed in bliss as she rolled the warm porridge across her tongue then swallowed it. She glanced at Dan from under her bangs then quickly took another scoop, then another. Accelerating. Dan reached out and gently took her hand. She froze and looked down, trembling. "Willow, it's okay. Just eat slower or you might make yourself sick. We have all the time in the world. Enjoy your meal." He released her hand after making sure she'd keep the spoon in it. She glanced at him then slowly scooped out another spoonful and slowly put it in her mouth, all the while keeping an eye on him for his approval. Dan felt ridiculous. She was a grown woman and she was asking him to show her how to eat? Before his buzzing nerves provoked him into saying something stupid again he took a deep breath and began to eat his own breakfast. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that she was matching his pace exactly. He'd lift his food to his mouth and she'd lift her spoon to her mouth. He sighed and wondered again what had happened to her to make her this way. She almost seemed desperate for his approval. Didn't she realize she was free of that moron? After breakfast they would need to have a little talk. Hmm... maybe after she showered. She was a little ripe, probably a by-product of her malnutrition. And he had to wash and mend her clothes. Soon he could hear the scrape of her spoon on the bowl as she went after the last morsels of her breakfast. He had probably given her a little too much but it was fairly easy on the stomach, very nutritious, and the extra helping of honey he'd added would start her on track to get some flesh back onto those bones. He poured her some sweet herbal tea to help warm her up and she sipped at this while he finished his own meal. He caught her eyeing a piece of bacon on the edge of his plate and she instinctively pinched her eyes shut and winced when she realized he'd seen her looking. Dan felt so helpless at seeing her fear, then it made him angry at the son-of-a-bitch who did this to her but he knew his anger would frighten her more, so he just let out a slow breath and tried to center himself. He picked up the bacon and held it out to her just before her lips. Willow's nose twitched as she smelled the bacon. Her eyes opened a little and she saw he was feeding her the piece. Something needful flared in her eyes again, making Dan uneasy, and she gently leaned forward to take the bacon into her mouth. As she closed her lips they softly kissed his fingertips. She shyly looked into his eyes again and this time he instinctively knew she was asking for something from him he was not prepared to give. Dan gave her a quick smile then gathered up the dishes and brought them over to the kitchen sink. He kept his back to her and willed his cock to relax. When her soft lips touched his fingers it felt like lightning running straight up his arm, down his spine, and straight to his groin. When he'd got his breath back he glanced over at her and saw she was still munching on the piece of bacon, getting as much enjoyment from it as she could. She glanced at him with a worried look then swallowed it. She still seemed anxious and a little lost, like she had somehow done something wrong and was looking for someone to give her the answer. Dan wished someone would give him some answers. First though, she needed a shower and he needed to fix her clothing situation. He knew that the shower in the master bathroom was where the soaps and shampoos were (he lived here alone after all). So she had better use his bathroom to clean up. He walked back to her and she glanced at his face briefly, trying to read his expression. "I think it would be good and you'll feel much better if you took a shower. You can use the one in my room. I'll get you some fresh clothes and a towel for you. okay?" Willow just nodded and stood up to follow him. He walked into the master bath and pulled a plush towel and a loofa sponge from the small linen closet. When he turned back to Willow she was completely naked and looking curiously into the big shower stall. The girl was not in the least bit self-conscious about being naked in front of him. Dan didn't scold her for being naked as he knew she would just be frightened so he kept his eyes on the shower stall as he pointed out the features and how to operate it. Once she seemed to understand the controls he continued. "Uh, um, the hot water is fed from an underground hot spring into an insulated storage tank and our cold water comes from a tank fed by a nearby stream so you won't run out of either. There are biodegradable soaps and shampoos on the rack there. Here's a new loofa scrub brush you can use as well. I'll leave you clean clothes on the counter just inside the door. I'll get these washed immediately after your shower," he said as he bent down and picked up the clothes she'd stepped out of. Dumping the dirty clothes inside and pulling the laundry bag from the hamper he turned to leave and felt a gentle tug at his sleeve. He looked back and she was standing very close, trembling slightly, looking down but stealing quick glances at his eyes. He could see that desperate need was back in her eyes. "Willow, please take your shower. You'll be fine now. We'll talk once you are done and dressed again, okay?" he said, his voice trembling slightly. God she was so beautiful but so damaged! He could really mess her up if he wasn't careful. To Be Continued in part 2, based on a post by BurntRedstone for Literotica

An Angel For Bishop: Part 1 When two damaged souls collide can they find salvation. In 4 parts, based on a post by BurntRedstone. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, 2010 Chapter 1 The early winter storm raged and thrashed across the mountain range. It seemed especially angry with the narrow mountainside road Dan was cautiously driving his jeep on. The fierce winds fought to push the jeep across the icy road into the deep ravine below. If it wasn't for the heavy tire chains he'd installed at the base of the mountain he'd already be tumbling down that cliff. He hadn't intended on being away from his cabin at all before the winter storms arrived. He'd discovered that some of his med kit supplies had expired and needed replacing before he was snowed in for the season. It was definitely a bad idea to skimp on medical supplies when you had no access to a hospital, or doctors, for up to four months. And since he was in town anyway he'd decided to stock up on extra food as, you know, no grocery stores in his neighborhood. With the sudden arrival of what was turning out to be a monster storm he was in danger of not making it back to his neighborhood at all. He knew the road behind him was empty of cars as he'd been the last one through before the highway patrol closed the gates to the mountain road. By now the road behind would be completely impassable so there was no going back. Not that he intended to. Not when he was almost at his turn off. From the curving mountain road he'd be turning uphill, driving up a rough fire road for two miles then into an even more rugged trail for another mile through the forest to his house. If the storm picked up any more even his customized jeep with its extra clearance wouldn't make it beyond the highway and he'd have to snowshoe in the remaining distance. That was not something he was looking forward to. Dan's jeep ground its way along the snowy road getting closer and closer to the fire road. A short time later he rounded the last bend and spotted the road marker indicating his turn was just ahead. On his right side was a thin strip of trees and beyond that nothing but sky. It was a scary section of road with minimal guard rails. It paid to take extra care here. He almost missed spotting the body in the tree as he drove past. Dan's subconscious mind latched onto the image and his foot was pressing carefully on the brake before his conscious mind knew why. Once he stopped he looked back over his shoulder to confirm what he'd seen. It wasn't just an odd shadow or a clump of branches. He could clearly see a body leaning into the branches of one of the trees dangling over the edge of the cliff. He put the jeep in park with the engine still running, set the hazards on, and cranked the heat up to full. He pulled his hood up and gloves on before he stepped out of the warm cabin of his jeep into the wailing storm. He made his way to the back of the jeep and looked again at where the body was in the tree. He'd have to climb up to get it and that was going to be risky. He pulled his climbing rope out of the back hatch of the jeep and stepped into the harness. Once secured, he tied the end of the rope to the trailer hitch and quickly made his way over to the side of the road. He could see the short section of guard rail had been slammed into, bent over, and broken off. It rested precariously on the edge. There was very little evidence of skid marks as the snow was blowing very hard by this point. He cautiously stepped forward and looked over the edge. Not too far below, maybe 50 feet, he saw the remains of one of those trike motorcycles. What kind of moron would be driving a motorcycle this late in the season? Just to the left of the wrecked bike and sprawled across a broken spruce tree stretching out over the abyss was the moron. Dan could see his legs were bent at an unnatural angle. Hell, his torso was bent wrong as well. Most likely his back was broken. The blizzard was making it very difficult to see the man clearly but he thought he could make out some kind of emblem on the ripped leather jacket. It could be a Blood Brothers jacket but he wasn't sure. Christ, he hoped not. If he was from that gang he was a LONG way from home. Dan called out to see if the man was still alive but either the storm was whipping the sound of his voice away or the man was dead. He looked up at the body in the tree and realized the helmet had moved to look in his direction so this one was definitely still alive. From here he couldn't tell if it was a slim man or a woman. The baggy leathers made it impossible to tell accurately. He took a few more steps towards the tree and saw its roots were deeply entangled with the rough cliff side. He judged it to be sturdy enough to support his weight if he climbed up. Just as he prepared to step off onto the tree he heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot followed by a feminine cry. He looked up and saw the right sleeve of the leather jacket was torn and there was blood dripping from it. Dan looked down and saw the man below was holding a gun and was struggling to hold it steady. When he saw it swing towards him he flung himself back from the edge. A second shot rang out digging through the ground where he'd just stood. "What the fuck are you doing?!?" Dan yelled over the edge. "I'm here to rescue you!" "The bitch is mine! She dies with ME!" he heard the man reply. Another shot was fired but this one hit a branch to the woman's left. The man was deranged! Dan wouldn't be able to get to her before the maniac below hit something vital. And if Dan tried to climb out there he would likely be the target of the next bullet. He'd taken enough bullets in his life. He had to stop him. Quick! He frantically looked around for a weapon, something he could use to stop the idiot with the gun. Another shot rang out and the woman's helmet snapped to the side as the bullet grazed it. The only thing Dan saw was the broken section of guard rail. He reached down and with a huge effort lifted it above his head. It was damn heavy as chunks of two posts were still attached. Dan shuffled to the cliff's edge just above where the man was. He heaved the metal beam and lumber over the edge and watched as it fell. The man squealed in terror as the plummeting chunk of steel and lumber rushed down to crash into his broken body. It tore him and most of the spruce tree from the cliff face and they all fell hundreds of feet onto the rocks below. The crushed trike, which had been braced by the tree, slowly slid off the small ledge and tumbled after its owner. Dan quickly stepped out onto the tree and climbed up to the woman. He called out but she was limp and leaning into the tree. He saw that one of the branches had pierced her shoulder, pinning her in place. It probably saved her from falling to her death. The branch hadn't gone all the way through. He strapped her to his harness then he gently pulled her loose from the branch. Luck was on her side again. There was very little blood so nothing major had been hit by the branch. She was unexpectedly light. Dan got a good grip then descended the tree with her and pulled her backwards onto the road. Once safely away from the cliff he untied her and removed his harness. He scooped her up and carried her to the passenger side of the jeep. Once the door was open he slid her limp body onto the seat and pushed the seat back into its reclined position. Closing the door he raced around the back of the jeep, dropped the rope and harness through the hatch and got back into the driver's side. His face stung from the interior heat but after a few seconds it started to feel really good. Dan reached into the back seat and grabbed one of the new packages of bandage wrap. He used his belt knife to open the package and cut a section off. He did a quick field dressing on both her arm and the puncture wound on her shoulder. He reached under her helmet and pressed his fingers to her neck. Her pulse was a little weak but it seemed steady. Her skin was so cold! Looking at the bandages he realized it was all he could do for now. He really had to get her back to his house if he was going to save her from freezing to death. Slipping back into gear Dan rolled the jeep forward out of the snow pile that had accumulated around the vehicle. Soon he was moving steadily forward and he could see the fire road just ahead. The trees sheltered it better than the open highway but there was still a fair amount of snow to drive through. Dan turned into the road and maintained a steady pace as the road climbed ever upwards. The jeep was really struggling in the drifts as he rolled over the final crest before the forest trail. He quickly glanced at his passenger then swung the jeep into the trail and surged forward. The going was especially tough here but the chains continued to grip and dig into the hard ground beneath the snow. Occasionally he had to fight the wheel as the jeep slipped sideways, threatening to pin itself between the trees. Somehow he kept the momentum going until the jeep suddenly left the forest and he faced his garage door fifty feet ahead. Dan pushed the button on the remote strapped to his visor and saw the garage door begin to climb. He rolled the jeep forward slowly until it settled on the pad inside the garage. He pressed the remote button again and the door closed behind the jeep. He rushed over to the inside door and propped it open. He went back to the passenger side, opened the door and carefully lifted the woman's body out of the jeep, keeping her helmeted head against his shoulder. He couldn't get over how light she was. She had to be at least as tall as him but she felt like nothing in his arms. As quickly and carefully as he could he carried her into the house and into the first guest bedroom. He set her on the bed and began to remove her damp clothing. The boots were first then her damp socks. The skin on her toes was the lightest shade of pink so it didn't look like she had frostbite there. The leather chaps came off fairly easily but her jeans were very damp. He unbuttoned them and slipped the zipper down. They weren't very tight but that was mostly due to how much weight she seemed to have lost. The skin on her legs almost seemed loose. She wasn't wearing panties and it looked like she kept herself completely shaved down below. A flash of gold drew his eyes to a single ring piercing her clitoral hood. He looked away, embarrassed. He dried off her legs with a thick towel he grabbed from the room's bathroom. He removed the chin strap and slid the helmet slowly and carefully upwards until he could toss it aside. Long but dull and matted platinum blond hair poured out of the helmet. It felt a bit like dry straw. He pushed it away from her face and sucked in a breath. She was exquisite! Almond shaped eyes (bruised looking and still closed), fine brows, high cheekbones, slender nose, and full, lush lips which currently looked dry and chapped. She was a true beauty, or would be if she could add on some healthy weight. Her cheeks were a little sunken. While he wanted to take a closer look at his patient he still had to remove her damp jacket and shirt. Both came off relatively easily and again Dan could see the woman was badly underfed. She wore no bra underneath her shirt and considering her obvious and rather large breast implants he was more than a little surprised by this. Those breasts had to be uncomfortable without some support. He saw more piercings, both of her nipples had small gold bars with loops. Dan dried her torso and arms with the towel then wrapped her in a thick, soft electric blanket from the room's closet and set it to a medium-high setting. He ran back to the jeep and grabbed the medical supplies he'd bought. He closed the garage door and went back to the woman. Opening the blanket to get access to her wounds he cleaned them and replaced her bandages. Aside from the grazed arm and the puncture on her shoulder there weren't any other fresh injuries he could see. Healed or healing ones though, she had plenty of scars to prove she'd born quite a lot of pain in her life. Some looked like burn marks, like someone had used her arm as an ashtray. He'd done what he could for now. He closed up the blanket and pulled the bed's quilt over her as well. Her pulse had steadied and seemed strong to him. He'd just have to wait for her to wake up so he could question her about where she might be feeling pain. He felt totally inadequate for the task of being her doctor but he was all she had as the storm continued to rage outside and showed no signs of lessening. He went back to the jeep and unloaded the food. He put most of it into the huge pantry in the kitchen but the meat went into the deep freezer in the garage. Back in the small bathroom of the guest bedroom he poured a glass of water and put it on the end table next to the bed. It was likely she'd be thirsty when she woke up. A quick look at the clock on the wall showed him it was past dinner time but he was more tired than hungry. The window in the room showed the sun must have set as all he could see was the snow that blew against the glass and blackness beyond. He sat in the room's only chair to keep vigil over his patient but shortly exhaustion pulled him down into its embrace and he was gone. Chapter 2 Bullets whizzed by his head, one taking a nip of his ear as it passed. Still he ran on. He had to get back to the house. He could hear the steady beat of the approaching copter's blades as he ran from cover to cover, popping up to fire a round through the head of the next unlucky bastard to get between him and the house. He felt the sting of a bullet passing through his calf but he put that sensation aside and continued on. He slammed into the front door of the house only this time it was locked and he had no way in. Dan gasped awake, the nightmare still raw in his mind. He could feel the familiar ache in his right calf. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. His forehead was dripping wet. He shuddered as the reaction left his body. It was obvious to him what had triggered him this time. He hadn't been shot at in years but you never forget. Pulling his hands down he noticed the room around him. He glanced at the clock and was startled to see that he'd slept through the night. It was almost 7am. Then he felt eyes on him. Right! The woman! He looked over at her and saw she was awake and staring in his direction from behind her bangs, her gaze dull. The bed's quilt had been thrown back but she was still cocooned within the electric blanket. She had it wrapped around her head and all the way down and over her feet. Only her face showed. He stepped to the side of the bed and knelt down so he wasn't towering over her. Her eyes remained downcast, pointing somewhere in the general vicinity of his chest. He tried to get her to look into his eyes but she seemed to be avoiding this. He didn't quite know what to make of this behavior. "Hi, my name's Dan. Dan Bishop. You were in an accident out there on the mountain road. I found you and brought you to my home because the road back to town was closed by snow." He saw no response. "Can you hear me?" She nodded almost imperceptibly. "Can you tell me your name?" Nothing. "I need you to wiggle your toes." He saw a slight motion at the bottom of the blanket. "Good! How about your fingers?" The sides of the blanket moved a little as she moved her fingers. "That's excellent! Can you tell me where you might be feeling pain?" Nothing. Dan was feeling desperately out of his element. She could obviously understand what he was saying but she couldn't or wouldn't talk. Maybe she was frightened or embarrassed. I mean, she was in a strange place and a stranger had obviously removed her clothes. God! He was suddenly so embarrassed himself! While he knew it had been necessary he was still a little ashamed for having undressed her when she was unconscious. "Look, I'm terribly sorry for removing your clothes but they were wet and you were freezing to death. I'll get you something warm to wear." Dan suddenly realized there probably wasn't any woman's clothing in his house. He walked over to the dresser and checked in a few of the drawers. Nothing. "Uh, I might have something in the other rooms. I'll be right back." He rushed through the other guest rooms and again found nothing except a skimpy white bikini bathing suit. Last summer his buddy Wally visited with his latest girlfriend and she must have left it behind. She'd been petite and her tits had been much smaller than this woman's but he thought the swimsuit might be a good substitute for underwear at least. He went into his room and gathered up a flannel shirt, a thick sweater, some fleece sweat pants which had a drawstring, and a pair of warm socks. When Dan returned to the woman she hadn't moved but her eyes tracked him when he entered. "I have some clothes for you. Sorry, I don't have any woman's clothing but you can wear this stuff to keep warm until I've washed and dried the clothes you were wearing. I found a bathing suit you can use as underwear, if you want." She said nothing but continued to keep him in her view. He knelt once more beside the bed. "Can you tell me your name?" he asked gently but still got no response from the woman. "I'd feel more comfortable using a name than just saying 'Hey You'." He caught the flick of her eyes up to his face then to the doorway then back down to his chest. Was she expecting the man she was riding with to show up? Considering the scars he'd seen on her, it might explain some of her current behavior. If the asshole with the gun had been one of the Blood Brothers he'd probably treated her poorly. She seemed too frightened to talk. He rubbed his face and decided there wasn't going to be a better time to tell her. He wondered how much she recalled of her 'rescue'. That might be a good place to start. "Do you remember the accident?" he asked. She shook her head with a tiny motion. "When I found you, you were stuck in a tree on the side of the road. Your... traveling companion had fallen about 50 feet below and was very badly injured." Dan saw her eyes flick up to his face occasionally as he spoke. "I thought he was dead so I tried to get you out of the tree. But he wasn't dead. He started shooting at us. Do you have any idea why he would do that?" he asked gently. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes and she shook her head briefly. God, he wasn't ready to deal with tears. He rushed ahead. "I didn't have a choice. He kept shooting at you and managed to hit you twice. I couldn't reach him to stop him so I- I dropped a section of the guard rail on him and he fell the rest of the way to the bottom of the ravine. He didn't survive the fall. I'm so sorry! Was he your husband? A boyfriend?" Her eyes closed and the tears were forced out. A single tear rolled down each cheek. But strangely she seemed to relax a little. He heard her breathe out in a long sigh. Dan hadn't realized she was holding her breath. Then she spoke for the first time. It was almost a whispered croak. "Master." What she'd said didn't register with Dan. It had also been so quiet. "I'm sorry, what?" "Master," she said again. Dan sat back on his heels. This was way outside his area of experience. He shook his head and went back to his original question now that he got her talking. "OK, let's put that aside for now. I'd really like to know your name." Her eyes dropped back to his chest. His frustration surged and engaged his mouth before his brain regained control. "What did your Master call you?" As soon as the words left his lips he wished he could take them back. What a colossal asshole he was! This was exactly why he avoided being around people. "Whore... slut... bitch... cunt... cum-dump... fuck-hole," she immediately whispered, as if she wasn't at all disturbed by his cruel question. Dan was shocked. Then he considered the evidence of the physical abuse. Why hadn't he expected there to be mental abuse to go with it? She seemed to be having trouble with her throat. He caught her glance to the glass of water. God he was so stupid! She was parched and the glass of water was right there beside her. Full. She hadn't taken a drop though he could hear that her throat was raw. He took the glass and lifted it to her lips as he helped her sit up slightly. She sipped at first but when he didn't take it away she began to gulp at the water desperately. "Whoa, easy now. Drink slower or you'll make yourself sick," he said. She immediately stopped and dropped her eyes again. "I didn't say you should stop drinking. If you want more, please drink. Just take smaller sips. Let your stomach adjust," he said, using as calm a voice as he could. She glanced up again then she began to sip at the water. When it was almost gone she pulled back slightly so he put the glass back on the end table and allowed her to settle back on the bed. He was realizing that she wasn't going to collapse in grief with the loss of her "master" and that was a tremendous relief for Dan. She still seemed to be a little nervous but was no longer looking to the doorway every few seconds. So, he was probably right when he'd guessed she was expecting the man to arrive. That was one BIG concern out of the way, for both of them it seemed. "Look, I'm not going to use those names on you so I'd prefer your real one." Her eyes flicked up to his face once. "Do you remember your name?" he asked. She paused then shook her head. How could you not recall your own name? What the hell had been done to her? Well, he couldn't just give her a name. Assigning her a name like Mary, Joan, or Brenda just felt wrong. But a nickname might be okay. It was a friendly gesture as long as the name didn't offend. He thought about what his Mom would have said if she had been alive to meet this young woman. First thing she'd do is feed the poor dear as she was so 'willowy'. His mom loved those old genteel expressions. He smiled at the memory of his mother. He looked at the woman and decided that 'Willow' really did suit her. Gracefully slender and lithe. At least it did now with her underfed body. He'd have to be careful how he approached this. He didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Would you mind if I called you 'Willow' until you recall your real name?" he asked gently. She looked into his eyes with surprise. Even her mouth made a cute little o shape. When she realized she was keeping eye contact she quickly looked down but he could see a smile forming on her lips which she tried to hide. She gave him a little nod in agreement. It was time for him to follow his mother's 'advice' and get some food into her to begin her restoration. "OK 'Willow', I'm going to go make us some breakfast. Considering you look like you haven't eaten in a while I'm going to have you start with some warm porridge and we will see how your stomach handles that. If you are fine by lunch I will start slowly increasing your portions from that meal onwards. Is that okay with you?" She gave him another small nod though she kept her eyes down. He was getting a little exasperated by that but he wouldn't push her. "I'll just step out to the kitchen to prepare the food. You should get dressed and come meet me there when you are ready, okay? It's just down the hall to the left." He went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for them both. Porridge for her and eggs for him. The simple act of cooking settled his nerves. Dealing with people was still very difficult for him. He always felt so uncomfortable around people and always said the wrong things. As he worked on preparing the meals he realized that it actually felt good taking care of someone other than himself. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed it with his self-imposed isolation. He hadn't heard her enter the kitchen so he jolted a little when he turned back from the fridge to find her standing topless at the end of the counter. She was wearing his socks and track pants but was holding the shirt and bikini top in her hands. He was so surprised he dropped an egg from his nerveless fingers. His eyes locked on her chest until the egg cracked on the floor at his feet. He glanced down and said "Shit!" Willow's expression froze and she dropped down before him and knelt with her forehead pressed to the floor. Her hair fell over the broken egg and soaked it in. He could see she was trembling. Grabbing some paper towels he knelt down and gently took her shoulders in his hands. She flinched deeply at his touch at first but he helped her sit back on her heels then he used the paper towels to sop up the raw egg in her hair. She'd need to wash it but first he wanted her to eat something so she wouldn't pass out in the shower. She kept her eyes down looking at the floor. He did his best to keep his eyes off her chest. "Willow, you didn't do anything wrong. Even if you had I wouldn't expect you to kneel at my feet. okay? I don't know what that guy did to you but you aren't going to be treated poorly here." Her trembling slowed to a stop as the beating she was expecting didn't happen. She cautiously glanced at his face and saw he had an uncomfortable smile. She was obviously confused and looked back down again. "Can I ask you why you are topless?" he asked gently. Willow held out the bikini top. She held it against her chest but he could see she didn't know how to tie the straps. He'd never tied one of these before either but she didn't even seem willing to try. He helped them both stand. Steeling himself to consider this as just another engineering puzzle he could help her without being embarrassed by the personal nature of the task. Standing this close to her he realized that she was actually a couple of inches taller than his 5' 8". He actually had to look up a little to look in her eyes. It was then, when he was just inches from her face that he noticed her eyes. They were the most amazing shade of green with gold flecks. Finding himself getting lost in her eyes he pulled himself back to the task at hand. He took the bikini top from her and tied the top straps together and slipped the loop over her head. Then he got behind her and pulled the bottom strings under her arms and tied it in a bow on her back. He came back around to her front to see if he'd tied it correctly. Her large breasts were straining at the fabric and spilling out of the bottoms. He realized he should have tied the lower string first to provide support under her heavy breasts then tie the top strap to lift the flesh up into a comfortable position. She stood quietly with no expression on her face while he redid the ties. Soon she was looking spectacular in the silky bikini top though it was a little small and struggled to support her bounty. The small gold rings in her nipples could easily be seen pushing against the fabric. Willow shyly looked into his eyes and he was surprised to see a little desperate need there. Like she was looking for acceptance or praise. He was a little uncomfortable but words sprung to his lips automatically. "You look truly lovely!" And she did, aside from looking like she was starving. She certainly had the frame and foundation for true beauty. If she hadn't been so neglected she would be gorgeous. Her expression underwent a strange transformation at his words. She looked shocked at first, like she'd never heard someone mention her beauty before. Then her eyes welled up with tears and she bit her lower lip. She lowered her eyes again but the smile stayed on her lips. Dan took his fleece shirt from her hand and held it out for her to place her arms into the sleeves. He turned her around once the shirt was over her shoulders so he could button up the front. He really needed to hide her amazing tits as his erection was threatening to split his jeans. Having his hands so close to them was not helping. He grabbed some more paper towel and wiped up the remains of the dropped egg. Then he turned back to their breakfast and allowed the homey activity take his thoughts away from Willow's beauty and the tightness developing in his pants. When he was finished he noted that she was still standing exactly where he'd left her. Dan raised an eyebrow and pointed to the chair at the small table by the window. She went to the chair and sat. He placed the full bowl and spoon before her and went back to get his own meal. When he returned he could see her eyes were fixed on the bowl but she hadn't moved. The scent of its rich flavor was gently rising in the steam towards her face and Dan saw a line of drool had tracked from the corner of her mouth to drop to her lap from her chin. "Willow? Willow!" Dan said, trying to get her attention. She jumped slightly then flinched, expecting a slap. "It's okay, you can eat. I made sure it's not too hot. It's safe," he said gently. She lifted the spoon awkwardly then scooped a good amount into her mouth. She froze when the porridge hit her tongue. Her eyes closed in bliss as she rolled the warm porridge across her tongue then swallowed it. She glanced at Dan from under her bangs then quickly took another scoop, then another. Accelerating. Dan reached out and gently took her hand. She froze and looked down, trembling. "Willow, it's okay. Just eat slower or you might make yourself sick. We have all the time in the world. Enjoy your meal." He released her hand after making sure she'd keep the spoon in it. She glanced at him then slowly scooped out another spoonful and slowly put it in her mouth, all the while keeping an eye on him for his approval. Dan felt ridiculous. She was a grown woman and she was asking him to show her how to eat? Before his buzzing nerves provoked him into saying something stupid again he took a deep breath and began to eat his own breakfast. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that she was matching his pace exactly. He'd lift his food to his mouth and she'd lift her spoon to her mouth. He sighed and wondered again what had happened to her to make her this way. She almost seemed desperate for his approval. Didn't she realize she was free of that moron? After breakfast they would need to have a little talk. Hmm... maybe after she showered. She was a little ripe, probably a by-product of her malnutrition. And he had to wash and mend her clothes. Soon he could hear the scrape of her spoon on the bowl as she went after the last morsels of her breakfast. He had probably given her a little too much but it was fairly easy on the stomach, very nutritious, and the extra helping of honey he'd added would start her on track to get some flesh back onto those bones. He poured her some sweet herbal tea to help warm her up and she sipped at this while he finished his own meal. He caught her eyeing a piece of bacon on the edge of his plate and she instinctively pinched her eyes shut and winced when she realized he'd seen her looking. Dan felt so helpless at seeing her fear, then it made him angry at the son-of-a-bitch who did this to her but he knew his anger would frighten her more, so he just let out a slow breath and tried to center himself. He picked up the bacon and held it out to her just before her lips. Willow's nose twitched as she smelled the bacon. Her eyes opened a little and she saw he was feeding her the piece. Something needful flared in her eyes again, making Dan uneasy, and she gently leaned forward to take the bacon into her mouth. As she closed her lips they softly kissed his fingertips. She shyly looked into his eyes again and this time he instinctively knew she was asking for something from him he was not prepared to give. Dan gave her a quick smile then gathered up the dishes and brought them over to the kitchen sink. He kept his back to her and willed his cock to relax. When her soft lips touched his fingers it felt like lightning running straight up his arm, down his spine, and straight to his groin. When he'd got his breath back he glanced over at her and saw she was still munching on the piece of bacon, getting as much enjoyment from it as she could. She glanced at him with a worried look then swallowed it. She still seemed anxious and a little lost, like she had somehow done something wrong and was looking for someone to give her the answer. Dan wished someone would give him some answers. First though, she needed a shower and he needed to fix her clothing situation. He knew that the shower in the master bathroom was where the soaps and shampoos were (he lived here alone after all). So she had better use his bathroom to clean up. He walked back to her and she glanced at his face briefly, trying to read his expression. "I think it would be good and you'll feel much better if you took a shower. You can use the one in my room. I'll get you some fresh clothes and a towel for you. okay?" Willow just nodded and stood up to follow him. He walked into the master bath and pulled a plush towel and a loofa sponge from the small linen closet. When he turned back to Willow she was completely naked and looking curiously into the big shower stall. The girl was not in the least bit self-conscious about being naked in front of him. Dan didn't scold her for being naked as he knew she would just be frightened so he kept his eyes on the shower stall as he pointed out the features and how to operate it. Once she seemed to understand the controls he continued. "Uh, um, the hot water is fed from an underground hot spring into an insulated storage tank and our cold water comes from a tank fed by a nearby stream so you won't run out of either. There are biodegradable soaps and shampoos on the rack there. Here's a new loofa scrub brush you can use as well. I'll leave you clean clothes on the counter just inside the door. I'll get these washed immediately after your shower," he said as he bent down and picked up the clothes she'd stepped out of. Dumping the dirty clothes inside and pulling the laundry bag from the hamper he turned to leave and felt a gentle tug at his sleeve. He looked back and she was standing very close, trembling slightly, looking down but stealing quick glances at his eyes. He could see that desperate need was back in her eyes. "Willow, please take your shower. You'll be fine now. We'll talk once you are done and dressed again, okay?" he said, his voice trembling slightly. God she was so beautiful but so damaged! He could really mess her up if he wasn't careful. To Be Continued in part 2, based on a post by BurntRedstone for Literotica

The November 3 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered a mix of optimism and realism as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill recapped the week's biggest ag stories and welcomed back Sonny Toor, owner of Valley Pride Ag Company, for a deep dive into the state of California's almond industry.   Toor, known for his steady outlook even in tough markets, joined the show to discuss crop forecasts, pricing trends, and how trade and weather are shaping grower returns. He confirmed that this year's almond crop is trending slightly below 2.7 billion pounds, down from last year's 2.73 billion, as higher damage rates and lower net edible yields take effect. “There's good product out there,” Toor said, “but the actual sellable volume is smaller, which helps support prices.”   He noted that market panic early in the season — driven by a July estimate near 3 billion pounds — caused prices to tumble almost 80 cents per pound. But as the harvest came in shorter than expected, markets began to firm up again. “We're moving closer to a fair market price,” he explained. “The last three years have been tough on growers, but the pendulum is swinging back toward balance.”   Toor also credited strong export demand and reduced supply as factors keeping prices stable through the winter. However, he warned that the strong U.S. dollar could slow export sales. “A strong dollar hurts us,” he said. “But the good news is that California almonds are irreplaceable — no one grows like we do.”   When asked about tariffs, Toor said he supports President Trump's current trade approach with Europe and Asia. “He's been smart about avoiding counter-tariffs on U.S. almonds,” Toor said. “That's helped keep demand steady. We just need fair deals and continued access to our export markets.”   He also discussed the need for the Almond Board and USDA to rethink the way they estimate annual yields. “The current system is outdated,” he said. “It's time to rely on real data and industry collaboration instead of one-size-fits-all projections.”   Beyond economics, Toor emphasized advocacy and education. Valley Pride Ag has launched programs that bring schoolchildren to almond orchards and processing plants to learn firsthand about farming. “If kids see where their food comes from, they understand how important it is,” he said. “That's how we build the next generation of ag leaders.”   Papagni and McGill closed the show with an enthusiastic call for farmers to join in that effort. “Every grower can make a difference just by opening their gates and showing kids what farming looks like,” Papagni said. “That's how we protect the future of California agriculture.”

Experience It; Express It: The Essential Link Between Faith and ActionDo you have a personal, undeniable testimony or are you living off the spiritual experiences of others?In this essential message, "Experience It; Express It," Pastor Ernest Almond challenges the church to build an authentic relationship with God that moves beyond passive observation. This sermon focuses on the core truth that your ability to be an effective Christian witness is directly tied to your willingness to have a personal encounter with Christ.Using the foundational principles of faith, Pastor Almond teaches that you must "Experience It"—seeking and confirming God's presence and work in your life—before you can confidently "Express It" to the world. A second-hand testimony is no match for the scrutiny and challenges of the crossfire of life.This message is critical for anyone looking to solidify their faith, overcome spiritual plateau, and turn their private belief into public, life-changing action. Learn how to stop being an observer and start being a bold participant in the mission of Christ.

Taylor Chalstrom sits down with Franz Niederholzer, UCCE farm advisor for Colusa and Sutter/Yuba counties, to discuss November almond management, including dormant spur sampling, protecting beneficials, fall potassium strategies, winter irrigation targets and more.

Kourtney Kardashian's Lemme brand launches lollipops for women's health. Supposedly Tom Cruise was ready to propose to Ana de Armas. His PR team is telling a very different story. The artist behind ‘Murder on the Dancefloor' Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor is playing SF tonight at August Hall. A major Gmail hack means it's time to change your password and set up 2-step verification. Your nightlight might be killing you! (probably not though). What should we wear to a mid day rock show? Plus, the truth about essential oils!

Are you afraid to share your testimony? Join Pastor Ernest Almond from Higher Definition Church for the latest installment of the "Run Tell That" series, anchored in John 9:1-11 (The Man Born Blind) and 1 Peter 2:9.In this powerful sermon, Pastor Almond addresses the tension of living as a believer in a world of opposing ideologies. We are all "In the Crossfire" [03:45], caught between those who twist scripture for political power ("Jesus is King") and those who misuse grace as a license to sin ("Jesus is Love") [07:49].Discover how the world's opposition is not truly against you, but against Jesus Christ and the truth of His transforming work. Learn to stand firmly on your story of deliverance and healing [44:05], just as the blind man refused to let the Pharisees (critics) reject or dismiss his miracle [38:30].Don't let fear lead to social scrutiny or spiritual bondage [41:53]. Embrace the boldness to share your faith, knowing that the enemy is fighting an unwinnable battle against an invincible foe [53:51]. Your story is God's purpose for your life!Keywords & Hashtags: #InTheCrossfire #HigherDefinitionChurch #PastorErnestAlmond #Sermon #Testimony #John9 #1Peter2 #Christian #Faith #Truth #Healing #Deliverance #Worship #Church #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #Boldness #JesusChrist #SpiritualWarfare #Gospel

Jeremiah 1 (Listen) 1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. The Call of Jeremiah 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5   “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,  and before you were born I consecrated you;  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me,   “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth';  for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,  and whatever I command you, you shall speak.8   Do not be afraid of them,  for I am with you to deliver you,      declares the LORD.” 9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,   “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10   See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,  to pluck up and to break down,  to destroy and to overthrow,  to build and to plant.” 11 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond1 branch.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” 13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster2 shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, dress yourself for work;3 arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” Footnotes [1] 1:11 Almond sounds like the Hebrew for watching (compare verse 12) [2] 1:14 The Hebrew word can mean evil, harm, or disaster, depending on the context; so throughout Jeremiah [3] 1:17 Hebrew gird up your loins (ESV)

Jeremiah 1 (Listen) 1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. The Call of Jeremiah 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5   “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,  and before you were born I consecrated you;  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the LORD said to me,   “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth';  for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,  and whatever I command you, you shall speak.8   Do not be afraid of them,  for I am with you to deliver you,      declares the LORD.” 9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,   “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10   See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,  to pluck up and to break down,  to destroy and to overthrow,  to build and to plant.” 11 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond1 branch.” 12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” 13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster2 shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, dress yourself for work;3 arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” Footnotes [1] 1:11 Almond sounds like the Hebrew for watching (compare verse 12) [2] 1:14 The Hebrew word can mean evil, harm, or disaster, depending on the context; so throughout Jeremiah [3] 1:17 Hebrew gird up your loins (ESV)

Summary: “What Do You See? Fulfilling Purpose—No Excuses” Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.  Primary Texts: Jeremiah 1:1–12; Esther 4:13–14; John 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:3–5 DOWNLOAD THIS SUMMARY Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified[a] you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” 11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”   Thesis: How you see—with Spirit-given vision, not just physical sight—determines how God can use you. Vision silences excuses and activates purpose right where you already are. 1) Vision vs. Sight Opens with Dr. Myles Munroe's line: sight is with the eyes; vision is with the heart. We act out of what we see internally; no one acts beyond their beliefs and understanding. Best motivator of action: God's purpose and love of neighbor. Worst motivator: self-interest. Greatest enemy to purpose: accepting limitations and making excuses. 2) Jeremiah's Context and Call Jeremiah ministers in a divided kingdom (Israel & Judah). Israel already fell; Judah still “with God” yet drifting into idolatry and injustice. God's word to Jeremiah (Jer 1:4–10): Before birth—God knew, formed, sanctified, appointed him. Jeremiah's excuse (“I'm too young / can't speak”) is dismissed by God. God gives a threefold redirection: Command: “You shall go…and speak.” Prohibition: “Do not fear their faces.” Promise: “I am with you to deliver you.” Provision: God touches Jeremiah's mouth, putting His words there—empowerment. Assignment: “Root out, pull down, destroy, throw down”—then “build and plant.” 3) Inside the System, Yet Unconformed God often uses people already inside systems if they refuse to be conformed. Jeremiah: born into priestly establishment, yet called to confront corruption. Esther: positioned in power and tempted to silence; Mordecai reminds her she's there “for such a time as this.”She risks comfort to challenge an evil decree. 4) Two “Kingdoms”: Counterfeit vs. Christ's Dr. Hudson contrasts “Christianity without Christ” with the Christianity of Christ: Manifest Destiny and the Doctrine of Discovery (historical justifications for conquest and displacement) and chattel slavery are cited as religiously-coated systems that harmed people—ends never justify means. Frederick Douglass is quoted distinguishing the pure Christianity of Christ from the hypocritical religion of his time. “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial, and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.” (Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave) Contemporary Christian nationalism seeks to wield state power to impose religion. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36); the Gospel changes hearts, not by coercive law. Christians hold dual citizenship: we preach the Gospel, love neighbors, pursue justice, and elect competent public servants, but we do not try to “Christianize” worldly power. 5) Excuses vs. God's Plan God ignores excuses—they only “work” for the one making them. Inadequacy is real, but not a hiding place; the God who formed you increases capacity. Expect trouble for obedience; God already factored it in and promises presence and deliverance. 6) Weapons and Work of the Kingdom Our warfare is not carnal (2 Cor. 10:3–5). We pray, speak truth to power, show up, help people, and support leaders who serve the common good rather than self-interest. “Rooting out” includes exposing deception; “building/planting” means constructive actions that bless people and communities. 7) “What Do You See?”—The Almond Branch God asks Jeremiah what he sees (1:11–12). Almond branch—earliest to bloom—pictures God's watchfulness and swift action. Key: Jeremiah didn't need full interpretation to obey; he only needed to see what God showed. When Jeremiah saw God's adequacy more than his own inadequacy, God declared, “You have seen well… I am ready to perform My word.” 8) Applications & Practices Confession: Renounce excuses; receive assignment where you are; refuse fear; trust God's presence. Act where placed: Identify your sphere (home, work, school, civic board, ministry team). Two moves each week: One “tear down” act (truth-telling, intercession, challenging injustice). One “build/plant” act (mentoring, proposing just processes, starting prayer/helps initiatives). Discernment: Judge by fruit, not labels; avoid fruitless arguments; invest in people with ears to hear. 9) Closing Appeal & Prayer Place hope in Christ, not systems. Worldly empires fail; God's kingdom endures. Ask for grace to discern counterfeit religion, to shine light without anger, and to participate in God's change by changed hearts leading to changed conditions. Call to salvation, consecration, and immediate obedience—letting the “light turn on” and walking out purpose with no excuses. Bottom line: Seeing with kingdom vision—not merely with natural sight—positions you to confront lies, build what blesses people, and walk confidently in the assignment God prepared before you were born.

The weekly sermon from Alfred Almond Bible Church in Almond, NY

The Almond Board of California explores how almond hulls can move from dairy feed to valuable, food-safe ingredients.

In this powerful message, "There's Honor in This House," Pastor Ernest Almond dives into the biblical call for valuing Pastoral Leadership as part of Higher Definition Church's annual theme of Honor.Drawing from 1 Timothy 5:17-21, Pastor Ernest teaches the congregation about the concept of Double Honor—the two primary ways the church is called to support and respect its Elders and Leaders. He details the importance of Provision (supporting those who dedicate themselves to preaching and teaching) and upholding a standard of high Respect paired with Biblical Accountability.This special message emphasizes that true, trustworthy leadership must meet the high standards outlined in Scripture. It serves as the official ceremony for the Elevation and Ordination of Pastor Rashid Williams, celebrating his faithfulness, proven character, and dedication to the Spiritual Growth of the church family.This sermon is a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand Church Leadership, the proper role of Accountability in ministry, and why honoring God's faithful servants is an act of Christian Service.

California almond growers were largely skeptical when the USDA forecast a 3-billion-pound crop in its “objective measurement” report, and as Congress works to end the government shutdown, farmers are calling for that same sense of urgency in fixing the broken ag labor system.

California almond growers were largely skeptical when the USDA forecast a 3-billion-pound crop in its “objective measurement” report, and as Congress works to end the government shutdown, farmers are calling for that same sense of urgency in fixing the broken ag labor system.

In the October Almond Byte, get the latest global trade updates from ABC's Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs team. Highlights include Turkey's removal of retaliatory tariffs on almonds — a potential major win for market growth — plus ongoing trade discussions with India, updates from Washington, and insight into how diversification is strengthening export stability worldwide. You'll also meet new ABC team member Lindsay Tello, joining as Keith Schneller transitions toward retirement, and get a preview of key global trade sessions planned for The Almond Conference, December 10–12 in Sacramento.

In this episode of Hands in the Soil, we're joined by Tommy Tickenoff, co-founder and self-proclaimed “Chief Nut” of Fresh Vintage Farms. Based in California's Central Valley, Tommy and his wife Tara launched Fresh Vintage Farms in 2019 with a mission to craft premium, cold-pressed nut oils while reducing agricultural waste and redefining what quality looks like in a sustainable food system.Tommy brings humor and honesty to a nuanced conversation about the almond industry, which is one that's often misunderstood and criticized for its water usage and impact on pollinators. We unpack the myths surrounding almond farming, explore how growers are adapting to new environmental challenges, and highlight the importance of transparency and consumer education in agriculture.The discussion also touches on Fresh Vintage Farms' innovative approach to upcycling and product development, including their small-batch almond oil mayonnaise and other cold-pressed creations made entirely from locally grown nuts. Through it all, Tommy emphasizes that sustainability in farming is a continuous process of learning, improving, and caring for the land.Tune in to learn more about:What sustainability means within the almond industryCommon myths and misconceptions about almond farmingHow California almond growers have reduced water use and improved efficiencyThe crucial role of bees and pollinator health in almond productionThe balance between organic certification and practical sustainabilityHow consumer education builds trust and transparency in the food systemThe future of sustainable agriculture in California's Central Valley… And so much more!Tommy's Resources & Links:Website: freshvintagefarms.comInstagram: @fresh_vintage_farmsLinkedIn: Fresh Vintage FarmsConnect with Hannah:Instagram: @hannahkeitel

Ready to transform your life experience into a powerful testimony? In this impactful message, Pastor Ernest Almond (a 20+ year veteran in ministry and mentorship) challenges believers to "Run Tell That" and embrace their personal story of deliverance.Drawing from the gripping account of the Gerasene Demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), Pastor Ernest breaks down the journey of transformation—from being tormented and living "among the dead" to being found "clothed and in his right mind." This sermon is essential for anyone struggling with spiritual warfare, feelings of isolation, or the question of how to witness effectively in a world obsessed with fake-perfect platforms.Discover why Jesus commanded the man to go "home to your own people" and tell them what the Lord has done. Your assignment isn't to chase a crowd of strangers; it's to be a living, breathing witness to those who knew your darkness. Turn your authentic testimony into undeniable evidence of God's grace and power, paving the way for your own path as a credible motivational speaker and Christian coach.Keywords for Search: #Testimony #Deliverance #SpiritualWarfare #Mark5 #ChristianSermon #DarknessToLight #PastorErnestAlmond #Motivation #IdentityInChrist #Faith #MillennialMinistry #RunTellThat

Matt Modderno is back for another Fear the Podcast, this time to discuss the blatant disrespect for this Maryland Basketball program from Big Ten media. The Terps land at 13th in the preseason poll and had no players on the first or second team. Darius Adams received a few votes for Freshman of the Year and Pharrel Payne was one of many to receive a vote but fall short of a Big Team preseason team. But that's it for the Terps! Did the media get it right or are they sleeping on this team? Plus, some news on 2026 four-star recruit Latrell Almond as Maryland makes his final five after locking in his final official visit. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a check-in conversation with Lauren Tucker, co-founder of Kiss the Ground and Renourish Studios. We talk about wrapping up the cohort at Renourish Studio, where they've worked for three years with a diverse group of entrepreneurs and investors across the US food and agriculture system.How do you bring the fact that we are part of a living system into your work in commercial organisations? Lauren shares lessons learned, and what they're doing moving forward. How much of this work is inner work—how we see the world, what we think is possible and not—vs. outer work like planting cover crops, digging swales, showing the financials and nutrient density of almonds, and demonstrating how regenerative farming systems are more alive by measuring biodiversity? How do we open up to opportunities like small water cycle restoration, instead of only thinking about cover crops on our farm?More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================

In this powerful message, Pastor Ernest kicks off the new series, "Run Tell That," by diving into 1 Peter 2:1-10. This sermon is an essential guide to understanding your non-negotiable Identity in Christ as a Royal Priesthood and the Strategy for living a counter-cultural life of faith. Learn why your personal testimony is power, and how refusing to share it is a form of spiritual malpractice that impacts both your faith and the growth of the Kingdom.Main Content Summary:Drawing from a deep dive into 1 Peter 2, you will learn:Your Royal Identity: What it means to be a "chosen people, a holy nation, and God's special possession" [23:35], and why you must know this identity to have confidence in your life's assignment.The Cornerstone Strategy: Jesus as the Living Stone and Cornerstone—the only solid rock amidst the world's sinking sand [04:48].The Responsibility of a Priest: How our identity in Christ comes with a mandate—to "declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness" [30:41].Your Testimony is Power: Using the example of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), Pastor Ernest shows how a single, shared "word" or personal experience can be the instrument of salvation for an entire community [42:58].

In this final installment of the year-long series on the Book of Ephesians, Pastor Ernest delivers a powerful message titled "The End is the Beginning." This sermon is a celebration of spiritual transition, emphasizing that every ending in our faith journey is a new beginning.Drawing from the conclusion of Ephesians 6:21-24, the sermon masterfully recaps the book's core themes, including the purpose of our spiritual relationships and how to engage in supernatural spiritual warfare using the Armor of God. Pastor Ernest highlights how Paul redefines relationships within the family and society, calling us to be "in the world, but not of the world." The message culminates in a deep dive into the three final blessings Paul bestows upon the church: peace (Eirene), love (Agape), and grace (Charis), defining each of these powerful Greek words and explaining their unmerited nature.The sermon's central message is that as believers, we are not only receivers of God's blessings but also messengers. Just as Tychicus carried Paul's message, we are called to be conduits of God's love, grace, and kindness to others. This sermon is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand how to move from a season of learning to a season of being a blessing to the world.Keywords:Sermon, Christian, Bible study, Ephesians, Pastor Ernest, Higher Definition Church, End is the Beginning, Spiritual Warfare, Armor of God, Relationships, Peace, Love, Grace, Eirene, Agape, Charis, Christian living, spiritual growth, discipleship, ministry, gospel, faith.

Self-fertile Nonpareil has the potential to be a gamechanger for California almond growers. Both Sierra Gold Nursery (FruitionOne™) and Burchell Nursery (Nonpareil SC+) announced in late 2024 their partnerships with biotech companies to develop a self-fertile Nonpareil. Both nurseries plan to begin delivering these trees to growers in 2027. However, many questions remain. In this episode Tom Burchell owner of Burchell Nursery discusses the development and future for Nonpareil SC+. You can learn more at: burchellbreeding.comThis episode does not constitute an endorsement, merely the sharing of an industry advancement that will be the subject of independent evaluation by the University of California Cooperative Extension in the years to come.The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Self-fertile Nonpareil has the potential to be a gamechanger for California almond growers. Both Sierra Gold Nursery (FruitionOne™) and Burchell Nursery (Nonpareil SC+) announced in late 2024 their partnerships with biotech companies to develop a self-fertile Nonpareil. Both nurseries plan to begin delivering these trees to growers in 2027. However, many questions remain. In this episode Reid Robinson CEO of Sierra Gold Nursery discusses the development and future for FruitionOne™. You can learn more at: ohalo.com/fruitionone and contact Sierra Gold at: sierragoldtrees.com/contact This episode does not constitute an endorsement, merely the sharing of an industry advancement that will be the subject of independent evaluation by the University of California Cooperative Extension in the years to come. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Dr. Themis Michailides (UC Davis Plant Pathologist at the Kearney Ag Center) provides a critical update on his lab's research on the biology and management of walnut mold. An article that is episode was based can be found at: sacvalleyorchards.com Mention of a pesticide does not constitute a pesticide recommendation. Always follow the pesticide label. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner, and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Developing an almond tree that would rely less on honeybees and other benefits for farmers. A conversation with the head of Burchell Nursery–a leading independent tree nursery that has an in-house breeding program. 

The September 22 edition of the AgNet News Hour kicked off the week with a focus on California agriculture's staple proteins — beef, pork, poultry, and turkeys — as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill welcomed Darren Hill, sales manager at JD Food and a former five-star chef. Known as Nick's go-to expert on all things meat, Hill broke down the realities of today's cattle market and what consumers can expect as the holidays approach. After some lighthearted talk about pizza toppings and the recent rain across the Valley, the program shifted to crops. With half the raisin crop already on the ground and rain hitting parts of the Central Valley, raisin growers are anxiously watching for potential damage. Almond growers are in a similar position, with estimates possibly falling below the earlier 2.375 billion-pound projection. Pistachios, however, appear to have weathered the storm well. The heart of the show centered on Hill's insights into the beef industry. He explained that U.S. cattle numbers remain at their lowest since the 1950s, driven by drought, high feed costs, and freight expenses. With ranchers unable to retain enough heifers for breeding, herd rebuilding is stalled — and that means beef prices will stay high through at least 2026. Even so, demand has held steady, with many consumers sacrificing other purchases to keep beef on their tables. Hill also addressed consumer habits, noting that while pork and chicken remain more affordable, beef's cultural and holiday prominence keeps it in demand. From rib roasts at Christmas to prime rib at banquets, beef remains the centerpiece of seasonal meals. He highlighted cuts like tri-tip as a versatile, cost-effective option that continues to gain popularity. The conversation touched on grass-fed vs. corn-fed beef, Prop 12's lingering impact on pork supplies, and what to expect this turkey season. Despite concerns about avian influenza, Hill assured listeners that JD Food booked turkeys early and is well-prepared for holiday demand. As the hosts joked about their own preferences — dark meat vs. white meat, turkey vs. ham — one thing was clear: for California families, meat remains at the center of both daily meals and holiday traditions. Catch the full conversation with Darren Hill on the AgNet News Hour by clicking the player below or on your favorite podcast app.

In this powerful homecoming sermon from Higher Definition Church, Pastor Ernest shares a message of hope, purpose, and spiritual transformation. Drawing from John 14:1-4, Pastor Ernest breaks down Jesus's reassuring words, "Don't let your hearts be troubled," and provides a clear, actionable guide for navigating life's challenges.Using the M.A.C.K. acronym, the sermon explores four key principles for trusting God: Many Rooms, A Place for You, He'll Come Back for You, and Know Where He's Going. Pastor Ernest powerfully connects the biblical promise of a heavenly home to the church's own journey, celebrating the two-year anniversary of their building and its transformation from an empty space into a vibrant community hub. He emphasizes that just as God fulfilled the vision for the church building, He will fulfill the promise of a "homecoming" for every believer.The sermon culminates in a powerful call to action, urging the congregation to not just be passive attendees but active "disciple makers" in the mission of Matthew 28. This message is a must-watch for anyone seeking to find purpose, build their faith, and understand their role in spreading the gospel.Keywords:Sermon, Homecoming, Christian, Faith, Jesus, John 14, Bible study, Christian living, Pastor Ernest, Higher Definition Church, ministry, hope, spiritual growth, discipleship, purpose, gospel, Matthew 28, church anniversary, Christian speaker.Higher Definition Church - OnlineIf you need prayer, click here: https//visit.higherdefchurch.org/prayer If you would like to support HD Church financially you can give through Cashapp to $higherdefchurch or online through our website by clicking here: https://higherdefchurch.org/give ....#hdchurch #lifeinHD #onlinechurch #church #churchonline #jacksonville #duval #faith #hope #love

In episode 297 of Fitness & Sushi, I sit down with my Gen Z daughters for an honest conversation about what it's like to grow up surrounded by diet culture — and how they're learning to navigate it in today's world. From almond moms to social media pressures, you'll hear their perspective on what diet culture looks like for their generation, their memories of watching me trapped in it (and then breaking free), and what moms and grandmas can do to protect the next generation. In this episode — “Gen Z, Almond Moms & Diet Culture: A Daughter-Mom Talk on Body, Food & Freedom” — you'll learn…

In this episode, host Jeremy Almond sits down with Mike Peterson, the founder of Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, and CK Snarks from the Human Rights Foundation to explore how Bitcoin is transforming lives at the community level and beyond.Mike shares the Bitcoin Beach perspective on how a small grassroot project in El Zonte grew into a movement that helped shape El Salvador's decision to make Bitcoin legal tender. What started with paying local youth in Bitcoin for community work turned into a living example of financial inclusion and a circular economy built on digital currency. For many who had no access to banking, Bitcoin became the first tool to save, plan, and participate in the global economy.CK adds the human rights lens, showing how activists around the world are using Bitcoin when traditional financial systems fail. From Venezuela to Ukraine, digital currency has provided a way to fund movements, access money across borders, and resist dictatorships. Together, the stories show that Bitcoin is not just an asset but a tool that empowers people where it is needed most.If you want to understand Bitcoin adoption from the ground up, this conversation gives you the Bitcoin Beach perspective: real people, real communities, and a clear look at how financial inclusion can begin with one small project. Subscribe, share with a friend, and let us know in the comments how you see Bitcoin shaping the future. And yes, surfing in El Zonte might just be part of the story.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about Jeremy Almond and CK SnarksJeremy Almond - https://x.com/jeremyalmondJeremy Almond - https://www.youtube.com/@redefinedpodcast CK Snarks – https://primal.net/ckCK Snarks - https://x.com/ck_SNARKs Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: @BitcoinBeachIG: @bitcoinbeach_svTikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeachWeb: bitcoinbeach.comBrowse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 Why Bitcoin matters for communities in El Salvador00:27 Is Bitcoin just for trading or a real paradigm shift?01:17 What does a circular Bitcoin economy look like?02:18 How Bitcoin Beach began in El Zonte03:02 Why the Human Rights Foundation turned to Bitcoin06:03 Why most of the world is excluded from banking10:59 How Bitcoin changes saving habits and education12:45 How Bitcoin helps activists survive under dictatorships19:33 Are banks starting to embrace Bitcoin adoption?21:39 Is Bitcoin the next major monetary paradigm shift?25:53 How can people get involved in Bitcoin adoption?Live From Bitcoin Beach

It was a packed Monday on the AgNet News Hour as hosts Nick Papagni, the Ag Meter, and Josh McGill delivered a show full of breaking updates for California agriculture. From shifting almond yields to critical relief for the dairy sector, farmers had plenty to tune in for. Almond Industry Update Nick sat down with Steve Malanka of West Valley Hauling for a ground-level perspective on this year's almond crop. Early in the season, projections of a massive three-billion-pound harvest had many in the industry worried about oversupply and falling prices. But Malanka's firsthand reports from the field paint a different picture. Yields are consistently off across the Central Valley, with haulers seeing reductions ranging anywhere from 10 to 22 percent compared to last year. Nonpareil yields are down significantly in many orchards, with some growers harvesting closer to 1,200 to 1,800 pounds per acre rather than the state's average of over 2,000. That decline is already strengthening prices, with growers seeing firmer markets and the possibility of hitting $3 per pound by spring. Malanka also broke down the quality challenges. This year, almond hulls absorbed much of the trees' energy, leaving smaller kernels and lower “turnouts.” While that's a concern for nut buyers, the dairy industry may benefit from the abundance of heavier hulls that are a valuable feed source. Major USDA Announcement for Dairy Producers The biggest news of the day came directly from USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, who joined the show to announce an additional $1 billion in relief for livestock producers, including California's struggling dairy farmers. The funds, part of the Emergency Livestock Relief Program, are designed to offset increased feed costs caused by the flooding and wildfires of 2023 and 2024. This brings total ELRP funding to a record $2 billion. Importantly, Vaden emphasized that money will go directly to producers through their local FSA offices, with signups beginning September 15 and running through October 31. “This is going directly into the hands of California dairy producers,” Vaden said. “They need this money now, and we're making sure it gets to them quickly.” Why It Matters For California's farmers, the dual updates highlight both challenge and opportunity. Almond growers are watching yields decline but prices rebound, while dairymen finally see long-awaited federal support. As Nick and Josh noted, it's one of the most exciting Monday shows yet, with tangible news that could shape the season ahead for two of California's most important industries.

A new program offers almond growers free habitat seed to boost monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators essential to California agriculture.

Higher Definition Church - OnlineIf you are checking us out for the first time today, let us know by clicking here: https://form.church/Jtcj7ioByHG7f4Ct2kKr If you need prayer, click here: https://app.textinchurch.com/connect-cards/SYtprYv4ArNgqbMsdo8M If you would like to support HD Church financially you can give through Cashapp to $higherdefchurch or online through our website by clicking here: https://higherdefchurch.org/give ....#hdchurch #lifeinHD #onlinechurch #church #churchonline #jacksonville #duval #faith #hope #love

Get the latest on ABC's global outreach in the September Almond Byte: highlights from China's International Tree Nuts Conference, India's big win cutting GST on almonds from 12% to 5%, and movement in U.S.–EU trade talks as a proposed list of goods has been created. See how these shifts can unlock demand, spur innovation, and open doors for California almonds worldwide.

A Bitcoin company focused on educating and supporting local communities. $ BTC 112,029 Block Height 913,729 Today's guests on the show are Jeremy Almond, CEO of Paystand, and Alexandra Navarro, who leads the Paystand Foundation, which focuses on educational outreach programmes for underserved communities. Who are Paystand and what is it they do? How did Jeremy find Bitcoin and why did it resonate with him so much that he decided to build a business and start a fund? What projects has Alex managed to find, and how do Paystand circular economies grow with Bitcoin? How did Jeremy and Alex meet and Orange Pill A Chief of an indigenous tribe? Are you the sleeper Bitcoiner in your company and how can you make a difference? A huge thank you to Jeremy and Alexandra for everything they are doing for Bitcoin and their tireless efforts to support and help educate as many people as possible. Find out more here: https://www.paystand.com/ https://www.paystand.org/ Jeremy - @jeremyalmond @ReDeFined_talks Alexandra - @alex_navarro0

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DOWpRMHDM-A/Consuming this ice cream can trigger a risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction for people with tree nut allergies. Affected is ice cream with an expiration date of March 2027.This ice cream has been sold in New York State at Golden Krust retail stores in Mount Vernon and White Plains, and at Farm Country Supermarket in Queens.Return this ice cream to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchanged it for another flavor. For more information, contact the company at 1-914-441-9598.https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ice-cream-factory-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-almond-vanilla-gnutt-ice-cream#gnutt #icecream #vanilla #almond #treenut #allergy #recall

Erin Almond continues our series THE FIGHT with a detailed breakdown of the Ephesians 6 teaching on the armor of God.Higher Definition Church - OnlineIf you are checking us out for the first time today, let us know by clicking here: https://form.church/Jtcj7ioByHG7f4Ct2kKr If you need prayer, click here: https://app.textinchurch.com/connect-cards/SYtprYv4ArNgqbMsdo8M If you would like to support HD Church financially you can give through Cashapp to $higherdefchurch or online through our website by clicking here: https://higherdefchurch.org/give ....#hdchurch #lifeinHD #onlinechurch #church #churchonline #jacksonville #duval #faith #hope #love

What were these visions saying?

Ep 226 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into the headlines shaping agriculture, policy, and culture — with their usual dose of snark and sincerity. First up: The raw meat trend taking over social media. From carnivore to completely raw, influencers are eating uncooked steak, liver, and butter straight from the stick. The hosts explore why ex-vegans are leading this movement and what it says about our relationship with extreme diets and social media virality. Then, Cracker Barrel's $700 million rebrand disaster that wiped out Uncle Herschel and the iconic barrel — only to reverse course within days after massive backlash. Natalie and Tara unpack why nostalgia branding matters more than ever and how one comedian's take perfectly captured what went wrong. Next, CAT Construction nails viral marketing with their Taylor Swift engagement post, proving that sometimes the best brand moments come from jumping into cultural conversations at exactly the right time. Plus, the agricultural connections hiding in plain sight behind celebrity moments. And finally, California's almond industry faces an unexpected enemy: rats. With $300 million in damages and 100,000+ acres affected, this rodent invasion is threatening 80% of the world's almond supply. But is this crisis as new as headlines suggest? BUT WAIT — there's more! Stick around for an exclusive interview recorded live at Farm Progress with Case IH, diving deep into their newest Steiger 785 Quad Track — the highest horsepower tractor to date. From precision tech to operator comfort, Mark Burns and Kendall Quandahl break down what 853 peak horsepower means for modern farming. What We Discovered This Week

Facing tightening SGMA regulations and the specter of future droughts, how should we be designing the almond orchard of the future? On the podcast, Franz Niederholzer discusses his idea of a test almond orchard at the Nickels Soil Lab with different rootstocks provided reduced irrigation treatments from planting onward. Should a grower provide full irrigation to fewer acres, or reduced irrigation to their existing farming footprint?Come to an upcoming extension meeting!2025 International School on Microirrigation for Crop Production: Class Lectures at UC Davis October 13-15, and field trips October 16-17. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Researchers have been conducting almond irrigation and other studies at the Nickels Soil Lab in Arbuckle, CA for over 50 years! On the podcast, Franz Niederholzer revisited research on early microirrigation, the consequences of late season drought in young almonds, and the implications of one-year of season-long drought in mature almonds. Dialing in irrigation is the greatest task for California orchardists, and we should continue to learn from the lessons of our predecessors. Come to an upcoming extension meeting!2025 International School on Microirrigation for Crop Production: Class Lectures at UC Davis October 13-15, and field trips October 16-17. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

It's Karen's turn in the kitchen and she is on a mission to bake her son's birthday cake. As she constructs a gorgeous and delicious Blueberry Pound Cake with an Almond Glaze, Anne lends her perspective on the senseless murders of Emily Richitelli and Ashley Altman. The sisters provide updates on some court cases they have been following, and there are British Bloody Marys involved as well! Come for the Baking; Stay for the Murder! Indie podcast spotlight: Witches Talking Tarot The Movie Wire podcast

Environmental bud failure showed up in almonds in a big way in 2025. From a subtle delay of leafing in parts of Nonpareil canopies throughout the Central Valley to some orchards in the northern Sacramento Valley with only half leaf out. This disorder also called leafing failure, severely affected many growers in the northern Sacramento Valley. Dr. Tom Gradziel (UC Davis) gets into the complexities of this disorder, as well as discussing the unusual bloom in 2025. Come to an upcoming extension meeting!2025 International School on Microirrigation for Crop Production: Class Lectures at UC Davis October 13-15, and field trips October 16-17. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

If you work in the almond industry, you likely know non-infectious bud failure (NBF) is bad news. However, do you understand why NBF happens, and that we're likely to see it on future almond varieties, not just on Carmel? Tom Gradziel discusses the science behind NBF and the work UC researchers together with nurseries have done to make massive gains in addressing the problem. You can lead more about managing NBF at: sacvalleyorchards.com/almonds/horticulture/non-infectious-bud-failure-management Come to an upcoming extension meeting!2025 International School on Microirrigation for Crop Production: Class Lectures at UC Davis October 13-15, and field trips October 16-17. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

In this week's episode, we spotlight the very rare, very old, and very beautiful Old English Pheasant Fowl chicken. Dr. Rebecca, our avian veterinarian, joins us to talk about cancer in chickens. We share our recipe for easy 4 Ingredient Almond Cookies, and find some retail therapy with knitted emotional support chickens. Grubbly Farms - click here for our affiliate link.https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100963304-15546963Pre and Probiotic and Vitamin and Electrolyte Powders!Bright and Early Coffee - use code CWTCL15 for 15% off of any bagged coffee. K Cups always ship free!https://brightandearlycoffee.com/Omlet Coops- Use Our Affiliate Link and COFFEE10 code for 10% off!https://tidd.ly/3Uwt8BfChicken Luv -  use CWTCL50 for 50% off your first box of any multi-month subscription!https://www.chickenluv.com/Breed Spotlight is sponsored by Murray McMurray Hatcheryhttps://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/Metzer Farms Waterfowlhttps://www.metzerfarms.com/Nestera UShttps://nestera.us/cwtclUse our affiliate link above for 5% off your purchase!4 Ingredient Almond Cookies - https://coffeewiththechickenladies.com/farm-fresh-egg-recipes/4-ingredient-almond-cookies/CWTCL Websitehttps://coffeewiththechickenladies.com/CWTCL Etsy Shophttps://www.etsy.com/shop/CoffeeWChickenLadiesAs Amazon Influencers, we may receive a small commission from the sale of some items at no additional cost to consumers.CWTCL Amazon Recommendationshttps://www.amazon.com/shop/coffeewiththechickenladiesSupport the show

Regenerative agriculture is currently all the rage these days in some circles. With a broad range of practices that can be classified as regenerative, it still can feel like a mushy term that means different things to different people (which is actually by design). Amelie Gaudin sits down with Phoebe Gordon to discuss what qualifies as a regenerative practice, how the focus differs from “conventional” agriculture, and the science behind it (spoiler alert: you're probably already familiar with a lot of it!). Come to an upcoming extension meeting!And finally, the 2025 International School on Microirrigation for Crop Production: Class Lectures at UC Davis October 13-15, and field trips October 16-17. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Walnut scale is a minute insect pest that can, if populations build high enough and kill fruiting wood. It can do this by directly allowing pathogens entry into walnut wood, or by weaking branches, making them more vulnerable to infection. In this episode In this episode, Elizabeth Fichtner discusses the lifecycle of the pest and control options. Note: while walnut scale does appear in almonds, this episode only covers walnuts.Mention of a pesticide does not constitute a pesticide recommendation, merely the sharing of research results. Consult your PCA and read the pesticide label. The label is law. The miroirrigation school will be held from October 13-17, find more here.The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

Sam Almond's middle name is Almond. His father's name is Almond, as is his grandfather's. And yet, we managed to go the whole episode without making a joke about his family being nuts. I'm proud of how far this show has come. What I'm not proud of is involuntarily breathing in a pack of cigarettes every time I walk to my car.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.