Podcasts about arranging

Every year, we venture out to the Netherlands in search of the most captivating dahlias, each worthy of a spot in your garden to liven up the late-summer months.Tom Stimpson joins us again on the podcast to share their current ‘cream of the crop', from reliable classics like ‘Molly Raven' and ‘Adam's Choice', to gorgeous growers like ‘Strawberry Cream' and ‘Princess Nadine'. Join us for an episode packed with garden inspiration for any colour palette, and a glimpse into how we choose our standout favourites from a field of hundreds and thousands.In this episode, discover:How Sarah and Tom select stellar dahlias from Dutch trial fields, and the characteristics that make truly exceptional plantsVarieties that are pollinator-friendly to bring a buzz of life into the gardenHow to condition your dahlias for mighty vase lifeProducts mentioned:Dahlia 'Princess Nadine'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-princess-nadineDahlia 'Skyfall'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-skyfallDahlia 'Café au Lait'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cafe-au-laitDahlia 'Adam's Choice'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-adams-choiceDahlia 'Polka'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-polkaDahlia 'Strawberry Cream'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-creamDahlia 'Honka Pink'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-honka-pinkDahlia 'Molly Raven'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia 'Labyrinth'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-labyrinthDahlia 'Lou Farman'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farmanDahlia 'Break Out'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-outDahlia 'Verrone's Obsidian'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidianFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Is this one of the best or worst method or repertoire books for learning to play acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar? You can learn to play music using a variety of resources including teachers, online resources, and books. Despite the book's title, this is not a traditional method book for learning to play fingerstyle blues guitar. This is a repertoire book containing fingerstyle blues arrangements in a variety of subgenres (i.e. ragtime and delta blues). The book does offer more than a traditional repertoire book in that it has technical and historical notes before each tune, and then it occasionally introduces a new technique through a tune. This book is suitable for late beginner to advanced fingerstyle players but is best for intermediate players. I really like the organization of the book: tunes are organized by subgenre, and within each section the tunes are arranged from easiest to hardest. If you have zero experience playing fingerstyle guitar or fingerstyle blues, this is not the best book to start with. If you do have some experience, this is a great book for learning fun tunes, improving your skills, and learning some background history. What stands out about this book is that some tunes include multiple choruses. If you've studied fingerstyle blues from books, you've seen one or two page arrangements that, as written, are too short for a full performance. You might have gathered that you should play the original arrangement and then create multiple variations to instrumentally simulate different lyrics for each verse of a vocal tune, to extend your performance, and to make it your own. However, most books don't actually write out any variations. The Complete Acoustic Blues Guitar Method is wonderful in that some of its arrangements do contain 2nd and 3rd chorus variations. These are great for beginners and players that just want to play a tune that lasts more than 30 seconds, and they are even more valuable for players that want to see and study concrete examples of variations. You can learn a lot from analyzing these variations and then you can implement these ideas into other tunes in your repertoire. Difficulty ramps up quickly in this book with the majority of the arrangements in that intermediate difficulty range. Beginner players may want to first use a traditional method book: A general fingerstyle method like Alfred's “Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar,” or A more focused method like Bruce Emery's “Travis-Style Guitar from Scratch.” Then you could utilize Woody Mann's book as a supplement as you're working through the method book. Later beginners should aim for the first tune or two from each different section and see what specific styles of fingerstyle blues catch their ear. You will improve faster and have more fun if you play tunes that are aren't too difficult, so don't get bogged down with the hardest tunes in the book. The Complete Acoustic Blues Guitar Method provides both treble clef and tablature for each arrangement, but neither fretting nor picking hand fingering is provided. At least you can tell which notes should be played with your thumb by looking at the treble clef – bass notes have down stems. Regardless, the skill of choosing sensible fingering is important, and you will need to look elsewhere to further develop this skill. Recordings are available online through Hal Leonard's website. These will be very helpful to many readers. It's fun and educational to hear some of the author's little variations and stylistic techniques (slides, bends, etc.) that aren't written into the music. The book doesn't use the modern percussive techniques used by modern players like Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Andy McKee, Mike Dawes, etc. No thumb slaps, guitar body percussion, or tapping. It says that the copyright is © 2014 Wise Publications, but the book seems to be published and distributed by Hal Leonard. My own books: Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: An In-Depth Study of the 12-Bar Blues in E Major – Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback or as an eBook through Amazon [https://a.co/d/g7Udsso (Book 1) and https://a.co/d/aDbh4H0 (Book 2)]. The first priority of these books is to quickly get you playing a solo instrumental 12-bar blues, and then to build on it until you can freely improvise or “jam.” You should be up and running by the end of the third chapter, and each following chapter will add icing on the cake. Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar: go to http://joemcmurray.com/checkout/ to purchase a pdf of my eBook. Learning to arrange melodies will also help your fingerstyle songwriting and your understanding of the inner workings of fingerstyle guitar. My upcoming book, Arranging for Fingerstyle Ukulele, will be published by Mel Bay in 2026. My music is available on all streaming platforms at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dcokTG6C598OhTslHH5uo?si=hrQb7FViSZewDRSgECw9Ew: Pins on the Map: my third fingerstyle guitar album was released on January 19, 2024. Watch the first single, “Open Road,” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uPBh8sZQsT4?si=EM_wAwnHFqU1VC9C. Riding the Wave and Acoustic Oasis: my first two fingerstyle guitar albums.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 9 A talk with a detective leads to a decision. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Jan visibly relaxed as she followed Dave out. Olivia was checking in with Shawna and Mel. Dave waited until it looked like Liv had reached a stopping point in her conversation, then signaled for her to come back up. "Dave, how long until the cops get here?" Shawna asked. "Patrol isn't coming. Said since we aren't in immediate danger, they'll focus on 'higher priority calls and get to us when they can'. Which means they aren't coming. A detective will come out to investigate, but that will take time." "How much?" "Dunno. I have a plan though. I'll talk it over with the others and hash out the details. I'll come back out and fill you two in shortly." "Okay." Mel replied. "I'll call Mitchell. See if he can cover for me. He already has morning shift. Between him and April, they can manage for a day." "You sure?" "He's ready to work without a net for one day at least. Probably longer, but I don't want to fry his nerves unnecessarily." "You're a good boss, babe." Dave gave her a quick kiss, then charged back up the stairs to Esme's room where Lupie, Nessa and Olivia waited, with Esme and Roscoe of course. Currently, Esme had her face buried in the big dog's neck, giggling. As Dave took and held each ladies' hand briefly, he heard Jan come in with Becca and Reena in trail. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. We'll take pictures to document the damage and the bodies. Then we'll make repairs. We've got four people with weapons skills. Until the breaches are sealed, at least two of us are armed, on sentry duty downstairs. Once we've got the holes patched, at night at least, we'll go to one person on guard." He paused a minute so everyone could absorb what he'd said. "Does anyone have a good digital camera? We should use something other than cellphones if we can." "Depends on the camera and the user," Mel said. "Unless someone's had classes in photography, they're probably better off using a high-end phone camera." "Does anyone have a high-end phone camera?" Dave asked. "I know mine is decent, but not great." "Mine's pretty good, Liv's too." The other just shrugged. "I have a couple of good digital cameras at my office." Nessa replied. "Listings without photos don't do so good. The cameras are the best available last year, so they should show all the needed detail. I took classes at the El Centro to learn how to make the most of them. Well, the classes were three years ago when we different cameras. We got new, better ones last year." Dave nodded, then thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll escort Nessa to her office for the camera. We'll document everything. Then we'll assess the damage and figure out what we need for repairs. Liv, you and Mel will go to the hardware store for the supplies. Watch your; " his eyes flitted to Esme, "butts. If anything looks sketchy, get back here, supplies or no." Olivia nodded. "Just keep the same in mind yourself." Lupie gazed at him like she wanted to burn Liv's words into Dave's mind. She was not alone. "Vee, we should get going as soon as you're dressed. I don't think you want to go out in the cold drizzle in silk peejays." Vanessa smirked, rising to go change. "I'll be in shortly to grab a coat." As Nessa walked out, Dave sat down beside Lupie. Neither said a word, he just folded his arms around her as she leaned into him. Her shoulder pressed against his chest. Her head settled into the crook of his neck. Dave stroked her other arm, from the top of her shoulder, all the way down to her elbow, slowly, gently, hoping to give her the reassurance that no words would convey. He looked up to see the imploring look in Jan's eyes. With a flick of his own eyes, he signaled for her to sit on his other side, which she promptly did, leaning against him. Lupie reached out to softly grasp Jan's hand. The two sat on either side of Dave, just feeling his presence. While the other two snuggled against him, Dave made eye contact, individually, with Olivia, Becca, and Reena. Liv, while still working through some understandable nerves, seemed otherwise okay. Rebecca looked worried but trusting. Kareena looked like she was on the verge of losing it. Dave waved her over. Reena rose from where she was sitting on the opposite side of the room and streaked over to sit in Dave's lap. Lupie and Jan both made space for the younger girl to sit. The hands that they clasped together, rejoined, encircling Reena. Meanwhile, Reena buried her face in the crook of Dave's neck. Dave's eyes fell on Becca and Liv, the only two of his partners in the room not already huddled with him. Becca looked worried, but trying not to intrude. Not surprising for her, but not an accurate assessment of how Dave or the others would feel about her joining in. Quite the opposite of course. Beginning to understand Becca's feelings of inadequacy, was, however, shining an uncomfortable light on Dave's own lingering personal demons. Then there was Livy. The one that stood by him, protecting the others as the barbarians stormed their gates. He could see the conflicting emotions bounding across her face. She needed this comfort as much as he did. Today was the first time either of them had fired a shot at another human being. Dave waved them both over. "Let's make some space for Liv to sit here. She's got to be pretty spent too." Lupie looked at him plaintively. Like she knew the rightness of what he suggested, but some selfish part of her, that was losing, did not want to move. She did. Then she wrapped her arms around Olivia. "If it weren't for you, he would have been all alone down there, Liv. Thank you." Lupie hugged the younger woman closely. Olivia leaned back into her, while staring at Dave. That's when she started shaking. Dave tried leaning into Liv, But he still had Reena on his lap, and Jan on his other side. Becca, not yet in the cuddle pile, knelt in front of Liv, stroking her thighs soothingly, not erotically. "If you start singing soft kitty, Becca, I swear I'll drop you from the roof." Though Olivia's voice was unsteady, her essential snark came shining through, evoking the laughter she was seeking. None laughed harder than Becca, who threw her head back, snorting hard, with a wide grin that suggested Liv might have been prescient. "Okay, okay ladies," Dave said as the laughter subsided, "I need to go tell Shawna and Mel what's going on, get a coat, and escort Vanessa to get that camera." He patted Reena's leg. She immediately rose halfway up and slipped over to sit beside Liv, sandwiching the brunette between herself and Lupie. Dave addressed the room. "On security issues, Liv's in charge." He fixed his eyes on Olivia. "You know the drill; two on duty, one off, staggered relief. No one downstairs except guards for now. Well, people will start getting hungry once the nerves wear off, so let Lupie and a helper in the kitchen to make something." "And two more helpers at the end to carry everything else up." "Yeah." "And have the third in the kitchen on guard during cooking time." "Yup. and the guard is not doing anything but guarding. Just do your best to keep the guards rested and alert. Hopefully it won't take more than an hour or two to get the camera, but we'll maintain the watch while we document and repair." Liv nodded, as did Lupie and Jan. Nessa opened the door just then, smartly dressed for the weather in jeans and a stylish but sturdy jacket, and Dave's coat in hand. "Thanks, hun." Dave said as he approached her. "Let's go tell Shawna and Mel what's going on, and then head out. We'll take Liv's S U V." The brunette gave a thumbs up from the midst of the loose cuddle the family sat in. Esme and Roscoe had joined them. "Oh, and make sure Lupie and anyone else that cross the living room knows to steer clear of the broken glass, both to preserve evidence until we document it, and spare their feet." Passing Shawna, Dave motioned her to follow him part way down the stairs, then signaled Mel to come up and meet them. The looks on their faces as Dave spoke morphed from incredulous at the dispatcher's comments, to mild worry and trust when Dave explained his plans. Shawna stood up as Dave did, hugging him tightly. In his ear she said, "You be careful. I just got you, baby. I need you, and not just because of the serum." She punctuated her statement with a kiss on the lips that clearly wanted to linger, but self-control did not permit. "Escorting Nessa, armed, is just a precaution. I really don't expect any more trouble. We just need to be smart about this; be ready if something does happen." The first part was to allay their fears, the second to bolster their vigilance. Two steps down, Mel gave Dave a hug as well. "Just come back. You hear me? Come back to us. I don't want to change families anymore." Dave picked up on the allusion to the constant moves while in foster care. He hugged her tightly. "I promise, Red." Then he adopted a bad Austrian accent. "I'll be back." Mel giggled and smacked his shoulder with a wry smile. She followed Dave and Nessa down the stairs until she reached her station. The other two continued through the house and out through the garage. Liv's vehicle was in the driveway and it would have been much shorter to just go through the front door, but Dave was trying not to pass through any portion of the crime scene until after they'd documented it. Nessa drove. For one thing, it was her office, and Dave didn't know the way. For another, in the passenger seat, Dave could scan all around the vehicle, keeping a constant watch. He meant what he said earlier, the risk was likely zero now. Still, caution would be far better than getting caught unawares. Again. The streets were empty of course. While that should have lowered Dave's anxiety levels, the current risk factor was not the only thing that could gnaw at him. Dave had nearly a hundred hours of practice at shoot / no-shoot ranges, hundreds of hours of raw target practice, and had successful hunts every year he'd gotten a license. And no, despite all the bullshit coming out of those idiots at PETA, shooting a deer was not the same as shooting a person. Not even close. What they only knew as a pseudo-intellectual exercise Dave now had logged as real life experience. He didn't regret it. They were attacking his home. They broke in, in the middle of the night, carrying arms. Their intent was unknown, but there were no innocent reasons fitting those facts. But they were dead, at Dave's hands. And Livy's. He needed to find a way to console her, help her through this mental minefield even as he tried to navigate it himself. The look on her face as he left hovered in his mind. What had he led her through? Maybe he should have taken the low position on the stairs, and had Liv wait at the top of the stairs as backup? Then maybe she wouldn't have to have fired a shot? Maybe he could have fired quickly enough to hold off the attackers on his own. Then Liv wouldn't have to carry the burden she now had. "Babe?" Vanessa called out. Seeing no change in Dave's face, she tried again. "David? Honey, can you hear me?" "Huh? What?" "You're spiralling. I'm no expert, but that look. I've seen it before. A couple of our younger realtors are vets." "Not the same. This was a single incident that only lasted a few minutes. Those guys lived in hell for months." "Only one has chosen to open up to me, but it seems it's only a few minutes that the mind can't let go of." Dave kept his face stony and doubled down on his scanning. What could he have missed while his brain was wasting time with obsessions? "David, please don't run away on me, on us. We need you. You've been a good man for us every step of the way." Her voice got shaky as she continued. "We needed you this morning, and you stepped up. I've never been one to consign manliness exclusively to feats of strength or military prowess, but those are included. What you did this morning was another way to show your love. You stood between us and harm. You took the risk, and I am grateful for that. I know the others are too." Dave didn't reply, but did take a deep breath. The rest of the ride passed in silence. It took forty-five minutes to reach the realty office. Since most were working remotely; or dead; the place was empty. Dave followed Nessa in as she went straight to the cabinet and extracted a camera and a fresh memory card. Then they headed right back out. As she was locking the outer door, her stomach rumbled. Dave chuckled. "Maybe we should swing through a drive-thru for some breakfast. Any preferences?" "I'd really like a coffee. I think I saw an open Starbucks three blocks back. I don't know if they're working in bubbles; like a fixed group for each shift; or maybe they got dosed already, but they're lit up. A big coffee and a pastry and I'd be fine." The lobby doors had large "Closed, Use Drive-Thru Please" signs. Nessa pulled in and placed her order, then looked over at Dave. "Almond croissant, bacon gouda sandwich, and; a trenta pink drink. Easy ice." The look on Nessa face was priceless. She managed not to laugh, or say anything, just turned to the speaker to relay the request. While they were waiting their turn in line, she reached her hand under Dave's chin. She pulled him toward her, even as she leaned in, giving him a long, slow, loving kiss. "The man that can hold off armed assailants in the middle of the night, with no warning, doesn't need to be embarrassed about what he drinks with his breakfast, baby. You've certified your manliness in so many ways, even before this morning." Tears rimmed the bottom of her eyes. Dave was just brushing away her tears, trying to think of something to say when the car behind them honked. The car ahead was now two car lengths away. Both settled back into their seats. "Thank you," Dave said huskily as she edged forward. They passed the remainder of the return trip in silence, though a few meaningful glances were exchanged. Shawna and Mel left their stations and met them in the middle of the living room as soon as the two heard Dave and Nessa coming in through the garage. Dave had also texted as they turned on to the right block. "Upstairs, now mister." Shawna's voice was stern, uncompromising. "What?" "I didn't think about it before you left, but these guys might be carriers of Duo. We're vaxxed directly, but you're only safe through us. The briefing we got was clear; if the man we're bonded to is exposed, or even potentially exposed, renew his immunity with sex. Lots of it. Nessa and I will start documenting. Liv and Mel will stand guard." Footsteps on the stairs announced Olivia's descent. "Go on. Becca and Reena are in the spare bedroom waiting. Others will rotate in. You don't have to finish in us for your immunity. Once we gush, with or without you, switch to the next girl." "But y'all won't get your dose that way." "That's not the concern right now. Your immunity is. Go on." Dave recognized that tone, plus the looks in every eye present. He was sure the looks of those not present would match. Sure enough, when Dave opened the door to the bedroom, he saw his two youngest partners already waiting. Becca, her blonde hair cascading past her shoulders, small, pert tits standing out proudly as she kneeled on the bed wearing nothing but a smile. Reena was identically attired, her warm brown skin and large tits the most notable contrast with her friend. Dave began stripping off his gear and clothing, double checking that his pistol and smg were on safe, even though they had been for a few hours now. He set his weapons away from the bed, but further from the door than the bed. Coos and sexy comments from the girls had him half-chubbed by the time he pulled off his boxers. "Oh, yeah baby. That's what I'm looking for." Reena purred. She pulled Dave's face down to hers and locked his lips in a passionate kiss. Dave immediately began stroking her sides, then moved to caress her lush tits. As his hands contacted her big soft mammaries, Reena hummed. Dave pushed her back onto the bed. Whether this or his fingers grasping her nipples caused her to gasp is anyone's guess. Dave settled himself between her thighs. He felt a hand grasp his cock and notch it in Reena's entrance. Then a small hand delivered a soft slap on his ass. He felt Reena's hand reach around his back, but never saw the thumbs up she gave to Becca. That hand immediately switched from signaling to grasping as Dave's cock surged into her wet and waiting pussy. "Oh, fuck yes. Fuck me, David. Fuck me with that magic fucking cock." She started nibbling on his earlobe as he drove in and out of her slippery passage. It was one of his 'drive me wild' spots. His thrusting rapidly accelerated in speed and power. He raised up, taking his ear out of her reach, but her lascivious smile and her bouncing tits provided incredible visual stimuli. Reena managed a few encouraging erotic words, but quickly devolved into grunts and moans as his animalistic attack on her eager vagina brought both of them to the edge of ecstasy. She got there first. Barely. Her rippling inner muscles touched off his eruption, in turning kicking her into a second orgasm just as the first was reaching its maximum. The power of the doubled orgasm drove the air from her lungs and all thought from her mind. She clutched Dave fiercely with her arms and legs, claiming him as an anchor as pleasure wracked her body. She finally relaxed, flopping back to the bed, panting. "That; was; Awesome!" Dave sat up, his ass on his heels. Then Becca grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to half-turn so she could kiss him. He could feel a turmoil of emotions in that kiss. He brought his hands up to grasp her shoulders while his tongue tangled with hers. Dave barely felt the washcloth Becca slipped under his cock as he slid out of Reena's ravaged little hole. Reena grabbed it to capture any leakage. Meanwhile, Becca pushed Dave flat on his back and straddled him. She leaned down to kiss him again. Then Dave felt an extra hand on his mostly hard shaft. It was elevating him to Becca's hot, moist, little pussy. Reena was returning the favor. Becca sat back slowly at first, until Dave was seated in her entrance. The stimulus of the kiss, the hand on his cock, and Becca's small tits and tiny nipples rubbing his chest had him nearly full hard again. The young blonde's eyes fluttered slightly as she eased her way onto Dave's rod. Probably leftover semen on me setting off a serum reaction , Dave thought. Becca grasped his shoulders with her hands as the ripples passed through her. The effects of the brief exposure ran their course quickly. She sat up, bracing herself on his shoulders as she slowly began to ride him. Her eyes locked on his. Her hips bounced and rotated and snaked, all while Dave's cock stayed buried within her. Dave reached up, grazing her torso with his palms until he cupped her petite and alluring tits. He began massaging the lovely mounds with his palms. His fingers rubbed, rolled, and lightly pinched her nipples. Dave felt the bed shift, and then heard the door click shut. Reena must have slipped out of the room. He returned his attention to Becca, fixing his eyes on hers. So much life was there, waiting, yearning, to become. Her face bore worry; understandably; but something more. It was the something that gave him peace with their relationship, despite his natural doubts about their age difference or himself. He curled up to kiss her lips, which she returned before he lay back down. Her sleek body hammered up and down on his cock, the motions getting increasingly rapid. Her breathing grew ragged and punctuated by moans. She slammed herself down one last time, fully seating Dave inside her as pleasure shot through her body. Dave lowered the exhausted girl to his chest and held her while she caught her breath. Her fluids saturated his cock and leaked slowly out around their joining. A discrete knock preceded the door opening quietly, and closing almost as quickly. Almost imperceptible footsteps approached the bed. The silence of a librarian. "Becca, time to switch." Said Jan in her usual soft voice. "Try to understand, he's a magic man." Her voice was slightly muffled as her head was slightly mushed against Dave's chest still. Both adults chuckled. Then Dave said, "Been watching seventies music on MTV?" Becca nodded. "Mostly concerts since they didn't make many videos back then. People wore weird shit back then." "Hey, I was a kid in the seventies. Those people were my parents, aunts, and uncles." "No more stalling." Jan said in her firm voice. Becca slid up, so that Dave slipped out of her, then clambered off the bed. She immediately grabbed a washcloth, from a stack the ladies must have staged there. House Belsus had no shortage of women that could plan ahead, in detail. As Becca cleaned herself, Jan cleaned up Dave. Then she climbed over Dave to lie between him and the wall. Dave looked at the light tan blouse and mid-thigh, navy blue cloth skirt she wore. "Overdressed aren't we?" Jan's eyes twinkled as she took Dave's hand and placed it high on her thigh, under her skirt. Taking the hint, he slid his hand up her leg, finding her happy place bare and wet. The next hour became a blur as Dave's lovers each took turns 'topping off' his immunity. Well, except Niki. She'd only arrived last night, and was still in her imprinting sleep. When Dave and Shawna; who had been the last in line; had finished cuddling afterwards, they dressed, grinning at each other like a couple of teens that had the house to themselves. A quick kiss and they left the room. As they stepped out, Shawna leaned back in and gave a sniff. "We're gonna need to light a candle in there. Several candles. And lay down some carpet deodorizer." "That's a later problem. Right now I want to check in on Niki, then see how things are going downstairs." As they walked, Shawna spoke. "Well, Nessa and I photographed everything in excruciating detail. Multiple frames, multiple angles. Both breaches, and each corpse, along with the blood trails. She even took close up photos of each man's fingertips and captured decent images of the fingerprints." "Good enough for id purposes?" Dave asked as he opened the door to the master bedroom. "Dunno. Hopefully. We'll see what the police say." "They'll have the bodies to print the old fashion way." "Yeah, couldn't hurt though. Besides, we copied all the images on a second memory card. We're keeping that and handing over the original. Mel swears there's no difference in file integrity." Dave stood by the side of the bed, reaching out to place the back of his hand against the cheek of Niki as she slumbered. She was warm, but not feverish. He pulled back the blankets to examine her legs, remembering their discussion the night before about her injury. There were lots of flaked off skin in the bed surrounding Niki's legs, and some kind of residue along her legs as well. "Best to wait until she wakes to clean her up David. We don't want to disturb her during imprinting sleep." "But we can't wake her during it, no matter what we do." "Still, whatever's going on could be a delicate process. Let's err on the side of caution hun. Let her heal, then we'll help her cleanup later." Dave nodded his agreement and neatly pulled the covers back over Niki's sleeping form. As he adjusted the bedding, Shawna spoke. "Let's go see if Lupie's managed to get the glass out of the carpet to her satisfaction." A wry grin grew on Dave's face. "Is anything ever clean to Lupie's satisfaction?" he asked as they hit the top of the stairs. "When it comes to glass shards in carpet, I'm a fan of Lupie's exactitude." "Fair point. Hey, has Roscoe gotten out yet?" "Oh yeah. We took him out through the garage after you and Nessa left. Esme and Liv walked him around in Lupie's yard 'til he settled down and did his business. Then they played for awhile. Mostly Esme played with him while Liv kept watch." "Bet he loved that." "Yeah, those two are like peas in a pod now." Shawna said as they reached the floor of the living room. Dave walked over to Lupie, who leaned back onto her heels from her work looking for glass shards. The overhead lights were off. She had a flashlight in one hand, using the glint from the shards to locate them. She tilted her head up and Dave gave her an appreciative kiss. "I think he likes her more than me at this point," Liv groused from her position against one wall of the living room. "Aw, he's not replacing you. He just has a new buddy to have fun with." "Yeah, yeah. I'm still getting replaced by a younger model." Shawna rolled her eyes and snickered. "Oh, yeah, you're such an old hag, Liv." Olivia's only answer was a smirking scowl. Dave motioned Liv over to a quiet corner of the room. "How are you holding up?" "I'm okay," she said in an uncharacteristically small voice. "The others kinda dogpiled me for awhile. It's just; it's not like I thought it would be." Both were silent for a minute. "Dad did stuff like that for years." Her voice started to crack. "How? I mean shit, now I get why he was so strict on some things, or why he would get distant. How the fuck wasn't he a bigger asshole?" As she started to shake with sobs, Dave wrapped his arms around her, tears streaming down his own face. Lupie noticed and came over, with other members of the house following to join a group hug. It wasn't even noon yet, and already a very long day. Chapter 11; A Nudge. October 28, 2020 9:15am After Livy's entirely understandable emotional outburst, Dave suggested she remain at the house while he escorted Mel to the hardware store. Liv stomped that idea down, hard. "I will not leave my duties for someone else to perform. I thank all of you for your support. I'm okay. My dad didn't raise me to leave people hanging." The facial expressions several of them shared indicated a mutual desire to object to that particular characterization, and a mutual recognition of the futility of any words they could say in that cause. Liv was calm and collected when she and Mel left, both of them armed and masked up. Each wore full-length pants, long sleeves and gloves as well, to maintain the appearance of quarantine protocols. The NDA's they'd signed were still in effect, so they couldn't give anyone a reason to wonder why they were not concerned about the virus. All the gear they wore managed to dwarf Melanie's medium frame and curves, but nothing could hide Liv's large bust. That and the contrast of Liv's milk chocolate brown hair with Mel's auburn locks allowed the others to distinguish the two as they walked out. A few texts from Mel to Lupie kept the family reassured they were both fine while they were out. Liv drove, using the argument that she'd had combat driving training with her dad. He'd slipped her in when one of his security teams were going through annual training. Still, getting the lumber and fasteners to make temporary fixes for the broken window and sliding door took the better part of an hour in-store. The drive itself was short. While Liv and Mel were gone, Dave gathered a couple of sawhorses and tools from the garage and set up on the back deck. Even though they'd photographed everything, Dave didn't want to disturb the two bodies lying on the deck. Arranging the tables had a new dimension to consider. A creepy one that should have bothered him more than it did. He pulled out a plastic table from a hall closet to serve as a tool stand and laid out the cordless drill and everything else. The saw he placed on the table and immediately connected the extension cord to it, leaving the other end disconnected from, but near, the outside outlet. Finished, Dave settled into a patio chair. The chair was made of stretched grey fabric on a black metal frame, one of four on his low back deck. Given the size of his household, he needed to pick up some more. Or better yet get some nice wooden deck chairs. With the combined incomes in the house, they could afford to splurge a little. Except, they're supposed to move. How soon he didn't know, but why buy new furniture when they'd just have to move it; and might not have a deck or patio to put it on? Dave's gaze wandered across his yard. The greenhouse drew his attention. With the lower temperatures, the potted bay tree had been moved in there. Would they get to move the plants? Restarting his entire food base would suck. His practice platform would have to be carefully dismantled, assuming they had enough warning time. The platform was well worn and smooth. He'd even practice barefoot sometimes to get a feel for it. No splinters. That smooth. Starting over again; on so many things. Seems like that was the new refrain in life; starting over. Dave shook himself out of that downward spiral. Nothing good lay down that line of thinking. His eyes landed on the body on his deck, and the red stain beneath it. Once the body was removed and the detritus cleared and scrubbed, he'd need to sand it and re-stain it. Well, maybe not. Depends on how long until they moved. Dave realized he needed to talk with Vanessa about the timeline on this thing. But what the hell did it mean? Why would they cut the nuts off their own dead? What was going on? None of this made sense. Nothing had made sense for months. Why not pile on one more inanity? "David?" Jan's soft voice, loaded with concern, snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. He turned his head to face her. Her slender frame easily fit within the break in the glass door. "David, it's freezing and wet out here. Wouldn't you rather be inside?" She looked about the deck and all of his preparations. She crossed from the door to his chair and slowly knelt beside his knee. Her soft brown eyes pleaded even more than the words from her mouth. "It's not good for you to be out here like this, David. Please, come inside." Dave stood, reaching her position at the door in three quick steps. Kissing her softly on the lips, he pulled back with a cheeky grin. "Yes, dear." Her bemused smile was just what he needed. He let her guide him to a spot on the couch. It was only slightly warmer, but a lot drier. Plus, Jan snuggled in close. After a few minutes, she got up to pull a blanket off the back of the other couch. She rejoined Dave, wrapping the blanket around the two of them. They said very little. Jan's calm, quiet presence prevented any further worrisome mental tangents. When Liv got back with the supplies, his first order of business was to check that they'd had no problems and hadn't been followed. In that, they were clear. With weapons slung, the three of them unloaded the lumber and such from the truck and into the backyard via the side fence gate. They were careful to avoid the corpses, giving them a wide berth. Where the fuck were the cops? "Okay, Liv, can you make one last verification on the window measurements while I get the plywood on the sawhorse?" "Sure. You wanna screw it straight to the wood frame, right?" Liv asked. "Yup." Dave replied. "Hmm, you could just screw it straight to my frame, Dave." Mel purred and waggled her eyebrows. Liv was out of earshot by the time she'd spoken. Dave sagged for a moment. Mel was one of the several he hadn't ejaculated in earlier, so she would still need dosing in the next four days. Mel immediately felt bad, as expressed on her face. "Sorry, Dave, I'm just messing with you." "Yeah, I get that. And I like the quick jab jokes most of the time. I'd rather a sharp mind that occasionally nicks my fingertip than a dull one that needs every non-literal comment described and outlined for her." Melanie snickered appreciatively. "Still, I'm responsible for all of you, and your needs. I take that seriously; as much fun as any one of you are to be with, it's also a job that I gotta get right or someone gets hurt." It took Mel about half a second to close the distance and press her body against Dave. Her arms latched around him. "Hey, you do a great job taking care of us, each of us. This morning was one of the more obvious proofs. You're really good at the less obvious stuff too." Dave gave her ass a light pinch that made Mel yelp. "Thanks, kitten. I really am getting in a better head space with your help and others. Sometimes my instincts are from the old days, though." Liv stepped back out onto the deck just then. Mel's wicked grin reappeared. "Well, in the old days, you didn't have me to fuck; or your big tiddy daughter slut." Liv backhanded Mel. "I'm not his daughter, dammit! Don't say shit like that. I won't get laid for a week if that's in his head!" "Damn, that was my tit! That fucking hurt!" Olivia looked completely unapologetic. Mel's face switched back to lascivious. "That's okay, I know what could get him revved and ready to fuck." She sauntered over to Liv and took her friend's face in her hands, softly. Then she kissed her, long slow, and deep. Liv's response was surprise at the sudden switch, but not unaccustomed to the familiarity. Melanie broke the kiss, then turned to look at Dave with hooded eyes, her cheek pressed against Olivia's. "What do you think David? You up for nailing a couple of kinky bi-sexual college babes?" Dave drew in a breath and was about to reply when she continued. "Even if one of them is your big tiddy mfm--" Liv's hand sealed over Mel's mouth to block a repeat of the undesired phrase. "With dead bodies lying right here in view? Not so much." Dave hoisted a sheet of plywood and settled it on the sawhorses. Liv released Mel, who spoke only with her wicked grin and gleaming eyes before heading back inside. Liv called off the measurements, which matched what she and Dave measured earlier. A few minutes with the measuring tape and pencil and they had two panels marked off, one each from two different corners of the sheet. Liv held the plywood while Dave cut one panel, then they switched roles for the second panel. After securing the saw, Dave grabbed the drill and screws while Liv snagged the cut sections. They passed back through the broken glass door and proceeded to the entryway to patch the broken window. Nice thing about drywall screws; they're very good for more than just drywall. The frame of the window was wide, and solid wood. Dave held the one section in place on the inside as Liv used the cordless drill to run two pilot holes each on both sides of the frame. She quickly changed to a driver bit and put drywall screws into the holes. The pilots were large enough for the shaft of the screw, but not the threads, that way the screws had a good, firm, bite in the wood without cracking it. Once Liv had four good screws in the plywood panel, Dave stepped back, making room for her to run a few more pilot holes and screws; two more on each side and three each across the top and bottom. Liv was a little annoyed having to use the step ladder for the top screw on each side as well as the three across the top. "Don't worry about it. Hell, I'm gonna use it when I do the outside. Yeah, if I really had to, I can reach and do it. But, with less strain, I can be sure to get the screws level." Liv looked slightly mollified at Dave's admission. To further assuage her injured ego he delivered a gentle, lips only, kiss after she descended. She rolled her eyes and smiled before leaving to find the hand vacuum to get the sawdust. Dave started shuffling the equipment through the never-breached security door around to the outside of the window. He was just running the extension cord back to the outlet near the door when Liv came out. This time, she held the panel in place while he drove pilot holes, quick changed to a driver bit and put screws in place. Liv backed off so he had room to run the rest of the pilot holes. Dave was just driving the last screw holding the panel in place when he heard an engine coming down the street. Two engines. "Get inside, use the door as cover," he ordered. Dropping the drill in the grass under the windowsill, he hoofed it around the corner of the house. The brick would give him some small measure of protection if it was needed. He pulled the SMG around on its sling, from against his back to the ready position. Almost the moment he was in position with weap. As the S U V came to a stop, Dave registered the markings and got a mental jarring. Black background, two blue stripes, with white letters spelling out 'Police' and 'Garland'. Garland was three towns away, on the other fucking side of the lake! The officer stepped out of her vehicle, standing between the body and her driver's door. Typical for an on-duty officer, her hair was hidden up under her hat. More importantly, her right hand was low, hidden by the vehicle's body, likely on her pistol. In fact, given what Carter had taught him about procedures, she'd likely already removed the safety strap, her thumb hooked around the grip. She was exposed enough that Dave could see her badge. She was too far away to identify the authenticity of said emblem, but everything was falling into place as legit. "Sir, please place your weapon on the ground. My name is Officer Korman of the Garland Police Department. We are here in response to multiple 911 calls from this address." Dave held both hands, empty, out to his sides. "Yes officer, we called several times in the early morning while we were under attack, and after. I'm going to disarm myself, and hand my weapons inside to my family." The officer's eyes flicked to the door. Clearly, she'd been distracted enough by Dave that she hadn't noticed Olivia. Or Olivia's gun. Even at a distance, she flinched visibly, realizing she'd committed a fatal error. "We have no beef with law enforcement, officer. We've been a bit on guard since the incident. My partner will secure my weapons inside and close the door." Dave used his left hand to reach slowly across his body at shoulder height. He hooked his thumb under the strap and slid it off his shoulder and across his arm. Leaving it to twist, dangling from his thumb, he held his arm straight out, full length, as he slowly walked to the door and handed the weapon off to Liv. Keeping his right hand still up and visible, he then unstrapped his thigh holster and handed that inside as well. Liv had a wary look as Dave pulled the front door closed between them. Dave turned back to the officer. "Ma'am, as you can see, I am now unarmed, everyone else is inside. We were just repairing the damage from the attack, and staying vigilant." "You altered the crime scene?" The voice should have been annoyed, but was too monotone to convey any meaning beyond the words themselves. "We took extensive pictures of the bodies and both breaches. We haven't sealed the rear breach yet. We'd just finished the front when you arrived." The policewoman stepped around her door, closing it. On alert, she came around the front of her patrol vehicle and approached Dave. "Sir, the young woman that entered the house, is that your daughter?" Does she know about the vaccine? Best to play it cagey . "She's my best friend's daughter. I've known her since she was punching her mother's belly from the inside." The officer approached a few more steps as he spoke. At this range, Dave could see the drained appearance behind the weak smile his jest evoked. "You say you took pictures?" "Yes ma'am. We have it saved on a memory card for you." Dave shivered involuntarily. The drizzle had let up and the temperature had risen slightly with the sun. Not that the Sun's presence was particularly notable today. Working on the patch had kept him moving and focused so he didn't register the chill. Now he had the luxury of discomfort. "We carefully took photos of the bodies, the area they fell, and the path in between. We didn't move them ourselves, their buddies did that. Then they, well, take a look." Still wary, the cop walked over to the corpse still splayed out on the driveway. "And you didn't do this?" "No ma'am. We haven't touched the bodies at all. Shot 'em when they were inside the house. Their pals drug them back out here and did this. There's three more on the back deck. We shot two of them in the house. The third was shot by one of his friends, out on the deck." "I'm going to have our mortuary contractor collect the bodies for the Me. Please bring me the memory card with the original images." She beckoned towards the van as Dave moved to the house. Mel once again assured Dave the copies she made were full copies, indistinguishable from originals. Dave took the copied memory card and walked back out. The two figures in hazmat gear carrying the encased body between them were approaching the back of the van when he stepped out into the dreary day once again. "Here's the memory card officer." "Thanks. Two more in the back you say?" "Three. Two that we shot and one shot by his buddies." "Right." "There's a side gate so we can go around the house." "The shooting occurred inside?" "Yes ma'am." "I'm going to need to examine the area myself, and take some notes. There should be a detective along later. I'll make a note in the file that I've collected the pictures you took. She can get them from the station house." "Do you know the detective that's coming?" "No clue." "Then how do you know it'll be a woman?" "Probability, sir." Dave's heart sank. While the officer sounded drained for most of their conversation, those last two words were absolutely desiccated, the depleted echoes of a mind that had seen everything torn asunder, replaced with a nightmare even Wes Craven would run away from. Once the body movers returned, Dave led the three of them through the side gate into the backyard and pointed out the corpses on the back deck. He stayed in the grass to give them plenty of room for their work. The officer scribbled notes as the two body collectors packaged up one corpse and carried it off. She kept a distance from Dave the entire time, with her weapon hip carefully away from him; and the broken glass door. When the collectors came for the second body, she remained at a distance from the scene as they worked. For the third body, she followed them out. She fixed Dave's eyes with her own as she walked off. "I'll be back in a moment to examine the interior." Dave passed into the house through the breach. Lupie was busy in the kitchen with a couple of helpers. Shawna and Liv were in the living room. The younger woman was more obviously on alert, and maybe on edge. An attentive eye could discern Shawna was similarly watchful, but more calm. Liv picked up Dave's SMG to hand it to him. "No, hold on to it. Actually, put the SMG's away. Let's keep the pistols for now though. The policewoman is coming inside shortly. Let's keep the weapons out of sight. She's not a threat, how 'bout the two of you skedaddle up stairs while she's here?" "Sure," Liv replied. "You know the code?" Shawna asked. "Yup. Mom & Dad's wedding year." A sharp rap at the door announced the officer's arrival. Dave was a few steps away from the door, so he strode quickly in that direction after checking that Liv was already inputting the entry code for the gun closet. If he could keep the officer examining the parlor space first, and long enough, Liv and Shawna could get clear before the officer came into the living room. No point in agitating the woman. Dave noticed she was wearing a face mask and gloves when he opened the door. His plan to stall worked. Hell, he didn't even have to try that hard. The Lady asked enough questions about the attempted breach of the door and the eventual entry through the window that Dave heard his two partners ascending the stairs well before he and the officer moved towards the living room. "So this is where the shooting actually occurred?" "Yes ma'am. Liv stood over there at the landing, and I was initially braced against that corner where the hallway meets the room." "Initially?" "Once they broke through the window, I was concerned Liv would be exposed from that direction. They didn't seem interested in coming through the glass door anymore, so I crept forward behind that couch so that I could hit anyone that might try to get an angle on her. I don't think the guy I shot saw her before I shot him." She scribbled furiously in her notebook for a few minutes. Then she asked to speak with Liv. His partner descended; Dave was relieved to see she'd left her firearm upstairs. Lupie, Jan, and Reena passed upstairs after Liv cleared the stairs. The dishes they carried smelled great. If Dave hadn't heard the officer's stomach grumbling, he might have felt sorry for himself. She must have seen the look on his face though. "No, thank you. That would still be inappropriate," she said. "I will need to speak with ;” "Olivia." "; Olivia, alone please." Dave nodded and headed upstairs. Carefully, he lowered himself to a crouching position in the hallway beside the head of the stairs. He couldn't hear the words, but by tracking tone he would be alerted to impending trouble. There was none. It took several minutes, but then he heard Olivia walking the officer to the door. Dave was at the bottom of the stairs before Liv made it back from securing the front door. "All good?" he asked. "Yup," said the brunette. "She look exhausted to you?" "Very." "She say anything about who did this?" "She only asked questions, no answers. I tried a few while the body boys were away from us. No dice." "Boys?" "Dunno, I actually wasn't paying attention." "With the residency of this house, you're having trouble identifying male from female?" Liv said with a wink. Dave's only reply was a bemused glare. Liv's bounteous bust bounced with her laughter. "I love hearing that sound." Shawna's rich tones rolled into the living room as she reached the landing. Dave turned to face her. "Speaking of sounds I love to hear ;” Shawna came closer and kissed him. The feel of her magnificent bust pressed to his chest and the smell of his lover's skin gave Dave thoughts he couldn't address just yet. "I'd tell you that you have me already and don't have to win me over, but I love hearing those sweet nothings." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rubbed her nose on his. "Melanie and I ate already. We'll stand guard down here. You two eat and finish the repairs." Dave kissed her once more, then headed upstairs. Melanie passed him at the foot of the stairs. Liv followed immediately behind him. Dave had to 'endure' a lot of hugs, and a few kisses, within a few feet of entering the spare bedroom Lupie had set up lunch in. Homemade chicken soup with all the rich, deep flavors from multiple ingredients missing from the canned stuff. Plus fresh rolls. He was getting used to being spoiled like this, but damn, it was so good to have a woman around the house. Having nine women around the house sounded like a recipe for disaster, but it hadn't been an issue at all. Which reminded him. "Anyone keeping an eye on Nicole?" "I just came from the master bedroom before you came up," said Jan. "She's still solidly out. As long as it's been, she must be experiencing a regeneration. There's no telling how long she will be unconscious." Dave stopped before her for a lingering kiss and a minute or so of gazing into her eyes before getting a second bowl of soup and two more rolls. Liv lingered over her first bowl, then spent some time talking with Lupie while Dave finished up. "You ready?" Liv asked as he added his bowl to the dirty stack. "Yep. Now for the tough part." He paused in thought. "Did you pick up the glass handling gloves?" "Yeah, bag's on the couch. I don't want either one of us losing a finger." They grabbed the gloves on their way through the living room to the deck. Then things got tricky. First, they removed the fasteners holding the two frame pieces together. The glass was sandwiched between them. Then, with Dave holding high on the large pane, well away from the shattered area, Liv carefully pried the inner frame piece away. Dave had to step over it as she moved it out of the way. The most delicate part came next. Liv ran a flathead screwdriver around the edge of the glass to ensure it came away cleanly. Very gingerly, they pulled the top edge away from the frame, then slowed its descent as its own weight rotated it the rest of the way out. They laid it in the grass. "I really expected the edge by the break to fall apart." "Guess we got lucky." "Damn lucky. Let's get that plywood in place, then we can break that thing into large pieces and dump 'em in the trashcan." With Becca, Esme, and Lupie living in Dave's house, the large rolling trashcans for Lupie's property were empty. One of those had plenty of space for the glass pane. The plywood took some trimming to fit vertically. But there was open space horizontally, so a second piece of plywood was needed to fit the gap. With the frame back in place and secured, Dave and Liv ran a few 2x1's across the seam. A bit of caulk squeezed into the crack would prevent any air leak; or whistling. Breaking and stashing the glass in the spare bin and cleaning the deck area took another forty minutes. By the time they got inside, Jan had already vacuumed the last of the sawdust and glass bits from the carpet adjacent to the sliding door. Dave and Olivia washed up. Liv joined Mel in their room, watching a streaming show on the latter's laptop. Dave went down to the living room, finding most of his family present. "Hey, babe." He slid onto the couch beside Lupie. She immediately nestled into his shoulder. She placed one hand on his chest, the other on his thigh closest to her. "I appreciate everything you've done to keep things working smoothly here while Liv and I dealt with what happened. That helped keep everybody's nerves; manageable." Her hand on his chest gripped tighter, like she was trying to palm him. "You're the one that stood in the line of fire and faced down armed men coming to kill us. Or worse. Making food and cleaning up is not the same." "The value of one act does not negate the value of the other. Cleaning up is the first step in returning some normalcy after the disruption. A hearty meal helps soothe the soul. What you've done matters." Dave barely heard her next utterance. "Just don't leave me David. I need you. Please be careful." He pulled her in tight. "I will." A knock at the door interrupted anything else he might have said. The late afternoon gloom and the chilly air seemed perfect for the woman standing on Dave's doorstep. Not overly short for a woman, she sported jet black hair pulled into a loose ponytail at the base of her neck, and pale skin on an oval face. Her cloth mask covered her mouth. Dave half wondered if the darkness around her eyes was makeup or weariness. Oh good, Detective Wednesday Addams is here . "Hello, sir. I'm Detective Carmen Verratti. I'm here to investigate the break-in and deaths that occurred earlier." The mask she wore muffled her words slightly. An emotion detector would not have registered the tiniest blip as she spoke. One for weariness would have pegged. "Would you like to start with the outside or inside?" Dave queried. "Let's get the outside done before the temperature drops." She took a sip from her insulated beverage bottle. Dave picked up a vague whiff of coffee as he followed her out to the driveway. "I'm not sure what woke me up in the first place. We have a dog, but he was upstairs and deaf. He didn't start barking until after the shooting began. There's chickens in the next yard over. I suppose they might have made a noise, but not once I was awake. I armed myself and left my bedroom. I encountered; one of my housemates on the stairs." Dave continued, walking through each step of the encounter. Once they were past the part where the guys coming in the front broke through the window, they walked around to the back deck. As with the blotch in the driveway, the detective seemed transfixed by the stain on the deck for several seconds. When she was finished with her visual examination of the deck and backyard, she motioned for Dave to lead her inside. Waving to the plywood she asked, "This is the second breach?" "This was the first place they got through. By the sounds of things, they were trying to breach the sliding glass door and the front door at the same time. They just weren't ready for a security door. The guys in the front came through the window, but by that time we'd already taken out two guys coming through the back." "And that's when you heard two men arguing about someone's sister?" "Only one voice got loud enough to pick out words." Liv supplied. "He seemed pretty pissed, so whatever the quieter voice mentioned must not have been pleasant." "So could one of these men be the brother or brothers of one of your partners?" the detective queried. Dave shared uneasy looks with Liv, Shawna, and Lupie. Four brains looked stuck in feedback loops trying to figure out how to respond without breaking the NDA's they'd all signed. "I'm aware of the vaccine and its effects. I was finally informed this morning, though I haven't been partnered yet. It explains some of the changes I've seen around the station." All four visibly relaxed. "That certainly makes this easier. So, I think a few of us have fathers still hunkered down and alive, but no brothers." Shawna supplied. "Well, Niki mentioned she has a brother hiding out in his college dorm somewhere out of state," Lupie mentioned. "Out of state? Not likely to be involved, but can you ask her to come down so I can speak with her?" "She just joined us last night. She's still out as of an hour ago when I last looked in on her." "Please check again. If she's still out, then I may have to come back to follow up with her." Lupie moved like swift water off the couch and up the stairs. She came back down shortly, shaking her head once the detective's attention was on her. While Lupie was away, the detective began asking questions directly of Liv and Shawna. Liv said she'd heard some sort of thumping sound in the back yard, like maybe someone had fallen coming over the fence. It explained her wakefulness, but not mine, given the master bedroom was over the front of the house. Maybe the guys approaching the front made a noise. Maybe my sleeping brain sensed a disturbance in the force. Sometimes you just fucking wake up at an opportune time. Detective Verratti asked the others as well. Shawna hadn't awakened until I was exiting the room, and didn't get out of bed until the glass door was broken. The others didn't wake until the first gunshot. Lupie slipped upstairs to invite the rest of the family to come down, a few at a time, to share their observations. Since most had been upstairs the whole time, they had little to share, and the questions wore out quickly. Dave watched as she spoke with the others. The detective was mildly more relaxed once she admitted to knowing about the serum. Those that had been out of the room for the revelation were informed as they came down, so all of House Belsus seemed mostly comfortable. It was still an interrogation. But Det. Verratti seemed; uncomfortable. She was scratching in her notebook, having just asked one last question of Esme (while she sat on Lupie's lap) when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Lupie looked at her expectantly as Verratti checked her phone. "That's all I needed, thank you. You can head upstairs little miss." She said with a smile. The smile faded once Esme's back was turned. "I have to make a call. I'll step out front, but I have a few more things I want to wrap up with you Mr. Belsus." She grabbed her heavy coat as she headed out. The temperature had been cold all day, and was beginning to drop now that the sun had gone down. "Yes ma'am, I'll be waiting." "I'll make some more coffee." Shawna rose and headed to the kitchen. Liv got up and sat beside Dave, laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping her hands around his bicep. Dave was at one end of the couch, leaving her room to draw her feet up behind her. She killed two men. She's going to be coping for a long time. I never should have let her into that mess. I should have left her at the top of the stairs holding a second line of defense. Then again, with only one target for them, would I have succeeded? What if they had killed me, got to the stairs and then Liv gunned them down? She'd still have these feelings, but I'd be dead. She and all the others would be in deep shit because I'm not around to pump out cum anymore. So I did the right thing right? Maybe. Fuck, if Carter was still here, I could; what did he call it? Do an After Action Review! That's the phrase he used. Tell him what the fuck happened and let him pick it apart, or back me up. Probably a little of both. Fuck, if Carter were still alive, I'm not telling him I'm fucking his daughter! A knock at the door announced the detective's return. Shawna opened the door and led her into the living room. The detective was stony face as she entered. She was also carrying a valise. As she reached the chair she'd used earlier, she took a sniff. Taking the hint, Shawna informed her, "Coffee will be ready in another minute or two. I put on a fresh pot when you stepped out." "Thank you." The detective's face actually showed signs of life. "Professor Belsus, could we speak privately? Somewhere with some table space if you please." "Sure, we can use the dining room. Nice big table in there." The coffee machine chimed just as Verratti placed her valise on the table. She looked expectantly back towards the living room. Lupie and Shawna were already on their way in. "We'll be quick. How do you take yours?" "Black, one spoon of sugar, please." Lupie nodded and kept moving. "Now that I think about it, the library is more isolated, but it doesn't have a large surface like this." Dave confessed. "This will do. I'll wait until they've passed back out to start anything sensitive." She paused briefly. "Well, it's been years, so I don't know if you remember me, but I took your astronomy class about twelve years ago. We ran into each other again on the shoot / no shoot range about five years ago too." "Right. I remember that." To be continued in part 10, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.

Shane Connolly is a master of many arts, and one that he exhibits throughout the year is how to use sustainable floristry to create a sense of charm often reserved for the tiniest of tables.That's why he's in such high demand - we talk through his exciting, varied year of arranging in this week's podcast, with a look at the festive season, and a few tips to serve your own arranging in the festive season, taking inspiration from Shane's wondrous wedding displays.In this episode, discover:How Shane approaches weddings, intimate dinners, grand public events and royal occasionsWhy he favours seasonal, British-grown flowers and how he builds close relationships with growers and suppliersThe behind-the-scenes logistics of big museum dinners and public events, from long tables to thousands of tiny vases and candlesHow Shane creates sustainable, glitter-free Christmas magic, including his Marie Antoinette-inspired V&A tree and reusable decorationsProducts mentioned:Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/convallaria-lily-of-the-valleyFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Arranging furniture in a mid-century home is about more than just fitting pieces into a room. It's about creating flow, function, and style.In today's episode you'll learn:Where furniture might solve your layout challenges. How to use furniture to create inviting spaces.Why (furniture) size matters in your mid-century home. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2222 Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

In this episode, I sit down with bassist Jeff Picker to talk about the winding road from jazz to roots music, and how his time with Ricky Skaggs became a real-world education in feel, note choice, and serving the song. Jeff shares how he went from New York to Nashville, how that Skaggs connection opened doors at the Opry, and why bluegrass bass is simple in concept but not easy in execution.We also dig into electric country bass and the influence of players like Joe Osborn, including what it means to think about voice leading, “flop” bass, and why subtle choices can be the difference between good and great. Jeff explains how he approaches being a hired gun, adapting to different bands, and why your individuality comes through without forcing it.Finally, Jeff walks me through his solo records, what pushed him to start writing, how the first project gained traction on SiriusXM, and what it was like working with Victor Krauss as a co-producer. We wrap by talking about sessions, life as a working musician in Nashville, the Opry staff band, and the reality of raising a puppy while keeping your calendar full.To learn more about Jeff, visit his website.Music from the Episode:The Winds of Spring (Jeff Picker)Ricky's Run (Jeff Picker)Night Terrors (Jeff Picker)The Unfinished Path (Jeff Picker)Thank you for listening. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for the show, please email me at brad@thebandwichtapes.com.

Whether you're nurturing a bustling city plot or a country border, there's a spot in everyone's gardens, pots and borders for beautiful, productive perennials throughout the year.Following on from last week's episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', Arthur is with us again to focus this time on perennials that are light-touch and bountiful for those of us putting together a low-maintenance garden.In this episode, discover:Perennials, shrubs, and self-seeding annuals that provide long-lasting beauty with minimal carePersonal stories, hands-on tips, and garden-tested wisdom to help you with your plant selection and garden upkeepNew and improved varieties bred for reduced invasiveness, greater disease resistance, and extended flowering seasonsPlants that attract bees and other wildlife, showcasing how low-fuss gardens can support biodiversity tooProducts mentioned:Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aster-x-frikartii-monchSalvia x jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-nachtvlinderPhlox paniculata 'David'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-davidGeranium 'Rozanne'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanneGeranium wallichianum 'Bloom Me Away'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-wallichianum-bloom-me-awayPennisetum macrourumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/pennisetum-macrourumChasmanthium latifoliumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifoliumStipa giganteahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-giganteaFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

In the aftermath of an event like Bondi Beach, media can play the role of building bridges and finding mutual understanding, or it can play the role of being the propaganda arm for a genocidal regime.

In this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I reconnect with conductor and educator Aaron Kula, who shaped my summers in the Chautauqua Youth Orchestra at the Chautauqua Institution in New York in 1994 and 1995. We talk about what it means to trust young musicians with major repertoire, including the time we took on Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, and what that experience taught me about preparation, accountability, and confidence. Aaron shares his philosophy for building ensemble culture: learning every student's name, holding individuals responsible while serving the collective, and making the rehearsal process both rigorous and engaging. We dig into how his multi-genre musical life, from classical training to folk and ethnic traditions, and his deep connection to Jewish music, shaped the way he hears rhythm, style, and culture inside the orchestra. Aaron also explains how conducting changes when moving from the concert stage to ballet, how tempo becomes a real-time collaboration with dancers, and why a conductor has to know when to lead, when to release, and when to stay out of the players' way. This conversation is equal parts music, mentorship, and reflection, and a reminder that the seeds teachers plant can continue to grow for decades. I'm grateful for the chance to say thank you, and for the lessons from those summers that still guide how I work with students and teams today.To learn more about Aaron, visit his website. Thank you for listening. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for the show, please email me at brad@thebandwichtapes.com.

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I handed in my resignation this past Monday. During the conversation, my manager confided in me that this coming Wednesday, 25% of the workforce is being laid off. For context, this is the second round of layoffs. The first round happened a year ago and was a disaster. It was announced via an internal video the night before, but the CEO forgot to mention that the affected employees had already been notified privately. This caused mass panic; thinking they were next, many experienced engineers immediately brushed up their resumes and jumped ship voluntarily. Even my skip-level manager was in the dark. Shortly after that chaos, we were acquired by an American Private Equity firm. Morale has been at an all-time low ever since, and the writing has been on the wall all year. Now I am in the awkward position of serving my three-month notice period while walking through the ruins of my company. I am the “lucky one” who quit voluntarily two days before the hammer dropped to join a different company for a massive raise and promotion, while my colleagues are about to lose their jobs. How do I navigate the next 90 days? How do I interact with the survivors who are likely furious and overworked, knowing I'm already checking out? Sincerely, Rearranging Deckchairs on the Titanic Hello! I have a bad manager, like really bad. She gets the whole team together to say “so and so is getting laid off tomorrow, or in a month, don't say anything”. She openly shares employee compensation in 1-1's, gossips about her boss and team members and takes feedback as personal attacks. Would you believe me if I said that no one trusts her? What should I do? I want to contact HR but I have never talked to HR before in my career. I know I can't tell her because engineers who have offered feedback on team dynamics, or general professionalism, get yelled in 1-1's. Is this something worth taking to HR or do I just live with it until… I get a new job? If I do say something what do I say? Do I bring up the distrust she has created amongst the team or do I keep it to the poor judgement and unprofessionalism? Do you want to write the letter for me? Yes!? Thanks!

Original solo fingerstyle guitar arrangement of Winter Wonderland by Joe McMurray. One of my favorite Christmas tunes, Winter Wonderland was written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard B. Smith. TABs are available for purchase through my PayPal link at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/6ZEEQXVEQ7MFA If you are interested in purchasing the TABs, be aware that this arrangement is suitable for players with a intermediate+ skill level. Performed on my treasured 2023 Collings OM2H guitar. My books: Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: An In-Depth Study of the 12-Bar Blues in E Major – Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback or as an eBook through Amazon [https://a.co/d/g7Udsso (Book 1) and https://a.co/d/aDbh4H0 (Book 2)]. The first priority of these books is to quickly get you playing a solo instrumental 12-bar blues, and then to build on it until you can freely improvise or “jam.” You should be up and running by the end of the third chapter, and each following chapter will add icing on the cake. Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar: go to http://joemcmurray.com/checkout/ to purchase a pdf of my eBook. Learning to arrange melodies will also help your fingerstyle songwriting and your understanding of the inner workings of fingerstyle guitar. My upcoming book, Arranging for Fingerstyle Ukulele, will be published by Mel Bay in 2026. My music is available on all streaming platforms at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dcokTG6C598OhTslHH5uo?si=hrQb7FViSZewDRSgECw9Ew: Pins on the Map: my third fingerstyle guitar album was released on January 19, 2024. Watch the first single, “Open Road,” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uPBh8sZQsT4?si=EM_wAwnHFqU1VC9C. Riding the Wave and Acoustic Oasis: my first two fingerstyle guitar albums.

Learn about this great process to arrange a piece of music with your full band class! Jake Sturtevant has been doing this project with this ensembles for over a decade and knows how invested students get in the process, the outcome, and how much ownership they take over it! ⁠Project Overview Paperwork⁠ Jake's Website⁠ To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music education students who are working to join us in the coming years. Connect with us with comments or ideas Follow the show: Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com On Youtube The Growing Band Director  Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector If you like what you hear please: Leave a Five Star Review and  Share us with another band director!

The ideal garden for our busy daily lives has a border bursting with colour, without the need for hours spent toiling to achieve it.This week's episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' is the perfect antidote to fussy flowers - Arthur Parkinson returns to laud the best self-seeding perennials for a low-maintenance garden brimming with lasting impact and scent.You'll hear inspiring ornamentals and edibles to sow, how best to maintain their beauty with minimal effort, and which varieties are most tolerant of tricky soil.In this episode, discover:The beauty and resilience of self-seeding, low-maintenance perennials in creating effortless gardensHow personal stories and childhood memories shape our gardening choices and appreciation for certain plantsPractical tips for encouraging thriving gardens with minimal intervention, including soil, watering, and deadheading adviceEnhancing gardens for wildlife by choosing plants that support pollinators through every stage of their life cycleOrder Arthur's new book - Hen Party: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459749/hen-party-by-parkinson-arthur/9780241674703Products mentioned:Alcea rosea 'Giant Single Mixed'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hollyhock-giant-single-mixedEuphorbia oblongatahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongataHelleborus argutifoliushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifoliusPapaver rupifragum 'Orange Feathers'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rupifragum-orange-feathersRed Valerian (Centranthus ruber)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/centranthus-ruber-coccineaAlchemilla mollishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollisVerbena bonariensishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensisVerbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-officinalis-var-grandiflora-bamptonAubrieta deltoidea 'Cascade Mix'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubrieta-deltoidea-cascade-mixLychnis coronaria (Rose campion)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronariaGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Following on from last week's wintry themed episode on containers, this week we're setting our sights on the summer ahead, on what'll bring colour to your pots at the season's peak.Josie's absolute burning passion is containers, and this week she gives her plant picks for pots taking us through summer and autumn.Join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' as we delve into the ‘thriller, filler, pillar, spiller' method for arranging containers, which combinations have stood out in their trials, and how to gently treat your flowers for maximum impact.In this episode, discover:The “thriller, filler, pillar, spiller” secret to building showstopping containers that brim with colour and texture right through summer to autumnSarah and Josie's favourite plants that promise to lift your pots from simple to spectacularHow to keep blooms coming with gentle, tried-and-true maintenance tips, from deadheading tricks to overwintering Plant pairings and playful combinations, perfect for either grand displays or tiny terracesProducts mentioned:Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-whiteAbelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraThunbergia alata 'African Sunset'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thunbergia-african-sunsetIpomoea lobatahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipomoea-lobata-mina-lobataSalvia 'Peach Melba'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melbaNemesia 'Lady Ruby'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nemesia-lady-rubyGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Bryan Carter is a Grammy and Tony Award-winning drummer, vocalist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and bandleader. After completing his training at The Juilliard School, Carter played with legendary artists including McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, and Kurt Elling. In addition to working in the worlds of film, television, and Broadway, Bryan founded "Jazz at Pride," a non-profit organization dedicated to curating performances and educational engagements featuring world-class artists from the LGBTQIA+ community. Bryan most recently served as co-orchestrator for Broadway's “Some Like It Hot,” for which he and his co-orchestrator Charlie Rosen made history as the first orchestrators to sweep all three major awards in a single season: the 76th Annual Tony Awards for Best Orchestrations, the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Orchestrations. Rosen and Carter continued their streak of success at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards, winning the title of Best Musical Theater Album as producers on the recording. In the fall of 2024, Bryan premiered “Rustin in Renaissance,” a seven-movement oratorio on the life of civil-rights pioneer Bayard Rustin. The premiere was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Appel Room and coincided with the 20th anniversary of “The House of Swing.” In this episode, Bryan talks about: Playing multiple instruments and musical roles since early childhood  His orchestration role on “Some Like It Hot” that garnered him a Tony and a Grammy His experience at Julliard, and feeling like the curriculum put him in too small a box Looking around for “who was hiring” in New York and what that looks like on that scene The New York tradition of older established artists seeking out younger musicians and giving them a platform Writing and playing for George Clooney's Broadway production of “Good Night and Good Luck” How using piano for composition has made him think of drumming from an arrangement standpoint  Welcoming how different performers offer different interpretations of what he writes ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage

Christmas repertoire books featuring solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements are great for the holiday season! Whether you simply want to get into the Christmas spirit or you need to perform Christmas tunes at your gigs, there are a number of great Christmas repertoire books. Last year I did a similar multi-book review, but I need to put out an update since I have since gone on a buying spree and purchased 4 more books that I'd been curious about. In this review I will look at the original three books that I reviewed: Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide,” Mark Phillips' “Christmas Carols for Easy Classical Guitar” (Cherry Lane Music Company), and John Hill's “Classical Guitar Christmas Sheet Music” (Hal Leonard) As well as my four new books: Michael Wood's “Echoes of Christmas Past,” Bruce Emery's “Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar,” and Doug Young's “Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar” AND “A DADGAD Christmas.” And finally I'll mention one book that I don't have, but I can see enough from previews to be able to compare to the other books: Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Christmas” To be clear, all books are suitable for either steel string guitar or nylon string classical guitar. I will demonstrate tunes from each book so that you can see and hear what you're getting. Now, whether you are just looking to enjoy playing holiday tunes for yourself, with your family and friends, or on stage, there are several factors to consider. Christmas music is really only acceptable in the month of December, so if you are like me then you'll start preparing in November. As these tunes are kept on the shelf for 10 months of the year, I generally look for the easiest arrangements that still sound as good as possible. I need to be able to whip these into shape in a reasonable amount of time. Perhaps you (unlike myself) are looking for the most incredible sounding arrangements possible, regardless of their difficulty? One of these books in particular fits that bill. Another important factor to consider is whether you are looking to play instrumental arrangements or if you are looking to lead a singalong. Some books are better suited to one or the other. I'm going to try to guide you to the book or books that are best for YOU. Each of these books is valuable in its own way, but one may fit you better. Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide” is the only book out of these that has popular modern/mid-twentieth century tunes like Holly Jolly Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bell Rock, and Let It Snow! Hal Leonard is a publishing giant and has the ability to publish these popular tunes that are protected by copyright. Late-beginner/intermediate. Pretty good arrangements, especially as a starting point. No audio recordings. All of the other books contain traditional Christmas carols like O Come, All Ye Faithful, The First Noel, Jingle Bells, and Silent Night. These are all of the tunes that fall under the realm of public domain, so authors can arrange them without worrying about legal issues or royalties. Out of all of these other books, two books stand out for containing beautiful, yet easy to play arrangements. Wood's “Echoes of Christmas Past” is #1, Phillips' “Christmas Carols for Easy Classical Guitar” is #2. Wood's arrangements are incredibly playable and sound so so good. Very flowing and arpeggiated with a folksy touch. Never too many notes at once, so easy on the hands. No lyrics written into the music, and no audio recordings. Phillips' arrangements also flow very well with lots of arpeggiation and pedaling on the open G string. Definitely has some classical guitar vibes. Once again, no lyrics, but this one does come with a CD for the audio recordings. If you are the type of player who wants a simple arrangement that you can enhance, or if you want to lead a singalong and need a really straightforward arrangement, Bruce Emery's “Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar: Plain and Fancy” and Doug Young's “Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar” are very valuable books. Each contains the most basic arrangements with block chords harmonizing each melody. These are excellent for beginners and work great as lead sheets for intermediate and advanced players (as a platform from which you can create your own variations). Young's book is a bit easier. Emery's book provides each carol at three difficulty levels. Emery's has lyrics in the music so it works better for singalongs. Young's has lyrics on the opposite page from the music, so usable for singalongs, but not ideal. Both provide audio recordings. These two books are both great gigging books, but I if I had to choose, I'd rather have the Wood or Phillips book at a gig. Doug Young's “A DADGAD Christmas” is unique and incredibly beautiful. Much more difficult in comparison – suitable for intermediate and advanced players. Audio recordings are available on Spotify and make for great listening! Some really satisfying arrangements, but not my first choice of Christmas gig book – I generally want Christmas gig tunes to be on the easier side. Hill's “Classical Guitar: Christmas Sheet Music” contains arrangements that can absolutely work on steel string guitars, but they are written only in treble clef. These arrangements are all a bit more difficult to play, regardless of treble clef vs. TAB, and they don't necessarily sound better than the arrangements of the other books. Many arrangements just feel clunky with difficult fingering. One thing that I do like is the arrangement of Tchaikovsky's “March” from the Nutcracker, which you won't find in any of the other books. If you are a classical guitar teacher, these would definitely be useful to use with your students. No audio recordings. So, to organize all of this information: Only one for mid-twentieth century tunes: Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide” Best for solo instrumental gigging: Wood's “Echoes of Christmas Past” is #1, Phillips' “Christmas Carols for Easy Classical Guitar” is #2.  Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide”is an equally important gigging book for me too just because of its arrangements of popular tunes. Best for singalongs: Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide”, Bruce Emery's “Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar: Plain and Fancy”, and possibly Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Christmas” Most beginner friendly: Probably Doug Young's “Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar” orBruce Emery's “Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar: Plain and Fancy,” then Wood's “Echoes of Christmas Past” is #1, Phillips' “Christmas Carols for Easy Classical Guitar” Most sonorous arrangements: Doug Young's “A DADGAD Christmas” Don't buy: Hill's “Classical Guitar: Christmas Sheet Music” Performance: Holly Jolly Christmas, Frosty the Snowman – Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide” Come, All Ye Faithful – in all books other than Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide” andDoug Young's “A DADGAD Christmas” Silent Night – in all books other than Hal Leonard's “Fingerpicking Yuletide” My own books: Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: An In-Depth Study of the 12-Bar Blues in E Major – Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback or as an eBook through Amazon [https://a.co/d/g7Udsso (Book 1) and https://a.co/d/aDbh4H0 (Book 2)]. The first priority of these books is to quickly get you playing a solo instrumental 12-bar blues, and then to build on it until you can freely improvise or “jam.” You should be up and running by the end of the third chapter, and each following chapter will add icing on the cake. Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar: go to http://joemcmurray.com/checkout/ to purchase a pdf of my eBook. Learning to arrange melodies will also help your fingerstyle songwriting and your understanding of the inner workings of fingerstyle guitar. My upcoming book, Arranging for Fingerstyle Ukulele, will be published by Mel Bay in 2026. My music is available on all streaming platforms at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dcokTG6C598OhTslHH5uo?si=hrQb7FViSZewDRSgECw9Ew: Pins on the Map: my third fingerstyle guitar album was released on January 19, 2024. Watch the first single, “Open Road,” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uPBh8sZQsT4?si=EM_wAwnHFqU1VC9C.Riding the Wave and Acoustic Oasis: my first two fingerstyle guitar albums.

The garden's magic needn't be seasonal - containers can be the heroes of hue in even the coldest months.It's time to assemble your winter containers ready to keep the scent and colour peaking, carrying us through till spring, with 12 inspiring varieties from Sarah and our Head Gardener, Josie Lewis.Join them on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' for a plethora of plants perfect for containers of any size, and how to keep them all looking their very best.In this episode, discover:Which container plants will keep your garden brimming with colour, texture, and even scent through the quiet months of winter and into springHow to outsmart common pests like vine weevil, and pick up clever, low-fuss tips for keeping containers healthy and happyInspiration for staging and arranging winter pots, transforming even a small balcony or windowsill into a cheerful displayProducts mentioned:Helleborus x glandorfensis 'Ice N' Roses Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensisHelleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-redViola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-whiteHeuchera sanguinea 'Leuchtkafer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-sanguinea-leuchtkaferSarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarcococca-hookeriana-winter-gemNarcissus 'Moonlight Sensation'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensationDutch Yard Narcissus Collectionhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-yard-narcissus-collectionWallflower 'Fire King'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-fire-kingPittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bayFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Whatever your garden's size, picking plants with the right size and shape can be just as important for impact as their colour and scent.Tom Stimpson returns to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' this week as we uncover the plants that form the backbone of beauty, function and vibrance all year round.You'll hear hardy varieties, plants for both the garden and the kitchen, and inspiration as to where you should sow each flower for maximum impact.In this episode, discover:How to choose and incorporate shrubs and trees that provide essential structure and year-round appeal to your gardenPractical tips for caring for favorites like hydrangea, abelia, acer, olive, and more, even in small spaces and potsInspiring stories and ideas to turn plant selection and garden challenges into creative opportunitiesHow to tackle common issues like box blight, and expert alternatives to keep your garden thriving and beautifulProducts mentioned:Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Fresco'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-frescoHydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGMhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelightAbelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraCornus kousa 'Norman Haddenhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/cornus-kousa-norman-haddenFig 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-little-miss-figgyFig 'Brown Turkey' (Ficus carica)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-brown-turkeyMahonia 'Volcano'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mahonia-volcanoPyracantha coccinea 'Red Star'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pyracantha-coccinea-red-starFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Is this one of the best or worst method books for learning to play acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar? You can learn to play music using a variety of resources including teachers, online resources, and books. Another great find! Beginning Fingerstyle Blues Guitar, by Arnie Berle and Mark Galbo, is a method book for learning to play fingerstyle blues guitar (both solo and accompaniment). This is first fingerstyle blues books that I've come across that provides a great chapter on how to incorporate singing over your guitar playing. The book is suitable for beginner fingerstyle players who can play basic chords through to intermediate players. I blew through this book – the material progresses logically with exercises that build on each other and lead perfectly into complete 12-bar examples. The majority of the book is focused on playing using an alternating bass (Travis style). Rest assured, if you work through this book, you will build a solid fingerstyle blues foundation and you will learn a few cool 12-bar choruses. You will still need further instruction to develop your arranging and improvisation skills as well as your tone, rhythmic feel, and fingering choices. After some introductory material covering blues history, form, rhythm, and picking hand technique, the book jumps right into exercises to develop your alternating bass technique. Assuming you can already play your basic chord shapes, the book methodically shows you how to play the alternating bass over the I, IV, and V chords in the keys of A, G, and E. Each chapter presents a new layer of complexity (new melody note options, new rhythms, new fretting or picking-hand techniques, new chord voicings, etc.), with progressive exercises that always culminate in a full 12-bar example. The authors really did a great job in organizing the topics and calibrating the difficulty progression – the book flows well. Although the examples of the early chapters sound “major” and bland, they prepare you for the addition of “blue notes” and other bluesy techniques that add some soul to your sound and immediately make your playing more satisfying. Just stick with it through those early chapters! Late in the book, the chapter on how to incorporate singing over your fingerstyle blues guitar playing is special. You won't learn anything about vocal technique or tone production, but you will learn about the call-and-response dance between your vocals and guitar playing. You will learn how to accompany your vocal lines (the “call”) and then play a guitar riff or chordal “response.” First, the vocal melody is provided in standard notation and on the CD – you will want to learn to sing this melody. Then the guitar part is provided, which you will learn separately before adding the vocals on top. Then the authors provide alternate “response” riffs that you can substitute into the segments of the tune when there are no vocals. Players with more experience can improvise their own riffs in these spots. Finally, you will learn a few turnarounds that you can substitute into bars 11 and 12. By the time I was finished with this section, I was really jamming out, improvising, and having fun with the example tune. The book culminates with five complete blues tunes that incorporate everything you've learned and jump-start your blues repertoire. Four of these tunes are traditional and one is an original. Three are vocal tunes and two are instrumental. Beginning Fingerstyle Blues Guitar provides both treble clef and tablature for each arrangement. Minimal fretting hand fingering is provided (sometimes written into the music, sometimes provided via tiny chord charts written above the music, and sometimes discussed in the text). Picking hand fingering is only provided in the music for the first chapter, although you can always tell which notes should be played with your thumb by looking at the treble clef – bass notes have down stems. The skill of choosing sensible fingering is important, and you will need to look elsewhere to further develop this skill. Recordings are available on an included CD. These will be very helpful to many readers. The book doesn't use the modern percussive techniques used by modern players like Michael Hedges, Don Ross, Andy McKee, Mike Dawes, etc. No thumb slaps, guitar body percussion, or tapping. Published by Amsco Publications © 1993 My own books: Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: An In-Depth Study of the 12-Bar Blues in E Major – Books 1 and 2 are available in paperback or as an eBook through Amazon [https://a.co/d/g7Udsso (Book 1) and https://a.co/d/aDbh4H0 (Book 2)]. The first priority of these books is to quickly get you playing a solo instrumental 12-bar blues, and then to build on it until you can freely improvise or “jam.” You should be up and running by the end of the third chapter, and each following chapter will add icing on the cake. Arranging for Fingerstyle Guitar: go to http://joemcmurray.com/checkout/ to purchase a pdf of my eBook. Learning to arrange melodies will also help your fingerstyle songwriting and your understanding of the inner workings of fingerstyle guitar. My upcoming book, Arranging for Fingerstyle Ukulele, will be published by Mel Bay in 2026. My music is available on all streaming platforms at https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dcokTG6C598OhTslHH5uo?si=hrQb7FViSZewDRSgECw9Ew: Pins on the Map: my third fingerstyle guitar album was released on January 19, 2024. Watch the first single, “Open Road,” on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/uPBh8sZQsT4?si=EM_wAwnHFqU1VC9C.Riding the Wave and Acoustic Oasis: my first two fingerstyle guitar albums.

Violas and pansies are among the more overlooked flower families, an outlook that Brenna Estrada's new book hopes to change for the better.She's embraced their beauty as cut flowers throughout her gardening journey with Three Brothers Blooms, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' she shares her tips for newcomers to bring their violas and pansies to life, whether in the garden or as part of stunning arrangements.In this episode, discover:The enchanting world of pansies and violas, and how they can transform from humble bedding plants into show-stopping cut flowers Brenna's top tips for growing, harvesting, and pressing pansies, plus how to get the longest, most fragrant stems Behind the scenes of Brenna's one-of-a-kind flower book, sharing these overlooked floral treasures with the worldOrder Brenna's book - ‘Pansies':https://threebrothersblooms.com/pansies-book/Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1Black BeautyBlack PrinceFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Edition 115 starts with Freda greeting the listener before handing the mic to Cat Bradfield for WLRN's World News segment featuring stories from France, Michigan, England, and Australia. Enjoy the song "Like a Gift" by Samia Malek before hearing Thistle's commentary and snippets of audio from the FiLia conference ending in the song "Spinning & Weaving." Thistle's commentary is followed by Aurora's take, in which she examines the treatment of war at FiLia and encourages us to look more deeply at what causes conflict in the movement and not avoid it. Stay tuned to the very end for Margaret's explanation of the cover image for the month and Lola's synopsis of the show coming out in December. Thanks, as always, for staying tuned to WLRN! Artist's statement: "To create the image for the 115th Edition of WLRN, I used a photo of Freda, aurora and Thistle taken at the FiLia conference. I also included a satellite image of Brighton. I took words from a couple of essays related to the conference and put them into a word cloud generator - playing with the colors and fonts. Arranging everything, I made sure a few words were prominent, like FiLia, and solidarity. While mostly obscured, Zionism is situated over Gaza. Other words, such as biological, gender, research, influential, bodies, and war showed up more randomly. I appreciate the texture of the words - and ideas. How they overlap visually and abstractly. How our point of views mingle as well as conflict."

In our last episode, Dr. Delaney Ruston introduced the One Small Change Challenge and the DARTS model (Doable, Arrange for success, Reasons, Treats, Support) as she coached two moms on creating strategies to reach their phone-related small change targets. This week, she talks with another mom, a certified parent coach who wants to stop using her phone before bed and keep it in her room overnight. You'll hear the specific strategies Lisa commits to. In the next episode, you'll find out how it worked out for her and for the other moms from the previous episode. Listeners are encouraged to take on their own One Small Change Challenge and let their kids in on what they're aiming to do and the strategies they're using, and, most importantly, to ask their kids for support. Change is not easy. If you're participating in the challenge, email Dr. Ruston at delaney@screenagersmovie.com and let her know how it's going.     Additional Resources Boosting Bravery: Free Screenagers program for teens that includes DARTS.  How to bring the Screenagers movies to your community Screenagers Website   Time Code 00:00 Introduction to Parenting in the Screen Age 00:21 Recap of the One Small Change Challenge 00:39 Introducing Lisa and Her Phone Habit 01:59 Lisa's Struggle with Phone Use at Night 06:38 Implementing the DARTS Method 07:59 Setting Goals and Arranging for Success 11:39 Reinforcement and Support Strategies 17:56 Conclusion and Next Steps  

As anyone in an area surrounded by larger animals might know, we're entering a season where it's harder to keep them at bay, and protect your handiwork from hungry mammals.Sarah and Josie have been hard at work finding what's most effective for keeping deer away, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', share their best advice on how you can fend off any unwanted visits from large mammals.In this episode, discover:Creative and practical ways to deter deer from your gardenWhich plants deer love to munch on, and the ones they tend to leave aloneHow drought, changing seasons, and garden design can influence deer behaviourProducts mentioned:Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Creme Brulee'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-creme-bruleeChard 'Bright Lights'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lightsKale 'Redbor' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/kale-redbor-f1Chicory 'Variegato di Castelfranco'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chicory-variegato-di-castelfrancoVerbena bonariensishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensisFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Sarah once overlooked the beauty of the brown tulip, but over time has only grown to love them more and more.There's a shade for every space, and so if you're seeking inspiration on how to bring the beauty of Dom Pedro and La Belle Epoque into your garden, then brown tulips take centre stage on this week's ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange'.In this episode, discover:The fascinating history and allure of rare brown tulip varietiesHow to “reflex” tulip petals for a show-stopping floral displayInspiring stories from Sarah's own garden and travels, and why brown tulips are becoming the must-have blooms for modern gardenersProducts mentioned:Tulip 'La Belle Epoque'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-la-belle-epoqueTulip 'Apricot Copex'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-apricotTulip 'Copex Cairo'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairoTulip 'Dom Pedro'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroTulip 'Sarah Raven'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-ravenFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

“I was one of those people that had some biases against pop music. Being in show choirs and seeing the ways that the songs were transformed and arranged really opened my eyes to different styles of music and changed my perspective. I no longer view popular music as being all that different from classical music or film scores. There's just something about arranging: taking all these pieces of a song and figuring out how to put them together. It's almost like doing a puzzle. It unlocks some of the same parts of my brain.”Garrett Breeze is a Nashville-based composer best known for his catalog of more than 1,500 choral arrangements of popular music, including more than 1,000 written for competitive show choirs.  For the past 15 years, Garrett has been actively involved in the show choir community as an arranger, show designer, clinician, and adjudicator, working with hundreds of choirs across the country.  His music is published by Breeze Tunes and Shawnee Press and regularly appears on J.W. Pepper's Editor's Choice and other recommended lists.As a skilled freelance orchestrator and music preparer, Garrett has contributed to a wide range of media projects, including 12 large-format films, Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir, and popular video games like World of Warcraft and Overwatch. He has also worked with renowned artists such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Smith, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael W. Smith, Santino Fontana, Sutton Foster, and Tauren Wells. His original production music has been featured globally in commercials on all major television networks and in well-known TV shows such as Access Hollywood, Judge Judy, and Lego Masters.Garrett holds a Bachelor's degree in Media Music from Brigham Young University and a Master's degree in Commercial Composition and Arranging from Belmont University. He is host of the Selling Sheet Music Podcast and currently serves as ACDA's Contemporary/Commercial Co-Chair representing Show Choirs.To get in touch with Garrett, you can email him at garrett@breezetunes.com or visit his website, breezetunes.com.Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

One of the joys of year-round gardening is the succession that comes from a bulb lasagne, and for those with a greenhouse, the possibilities are stunning.This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' is full of inspiration for early narcissi, late tulips, and dahlias fit for each layer of a bulb lasagne, with a quick recap on how to layer them for maximum impact.We'll also hear Sarah's homemade remedy for mildew, a pesky problem that greenhouse gardeners will need to watch out for as they grow their delightful arrangements.In this episode, discover:How to master the art of the ‘bulb lasagne' for layers of beautiful blooms from winter right through to late springThe best bulb varieties and combinations to guarantee a continuous parade of colour, scent, and picking opportunities all year roundSimple, effective ways to use your greenhouse for early flowers and delicious winter ediblesTips for keeping your plants healthy and thriving, with a homemade solution for mildewProducts mentioned:Narcissus 'Avalanche'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalancheNarcissus 'Erlicheer'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-erlicheerNarcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcingIris x hollandica 'Red Ember'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-iris-red-emberAllium jesdianum 'Purple Rain'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rainAllium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationAllium cristophiihttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophiiDahlia 'Strawberry Cream'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-strawberry-creamTulip 'White Valley' syn 'Exotic Emperor'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-valleyAnemone coronaria 'Mistral Bordeaux'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-coronaria-mistral-bordeauxRanunculus Butterfly 'Ariadne'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ranunculus-butterfly-ariadneFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Pesky rodents can be a nightmare for pot gardeners trying to grow bulbs over the winter, but there's plenty you can do to protect them, and put on a show while doing so!In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', you'll discover Sarah's tried-and-true methods for keeping squirrels away, the best looking varieties for form and function alike, and creative ways to make your pots work double duty with beautiful and edible pot toppers. In this episode, discover:Clever, tried-and-tested ways to keep grey squirrels and other rodents from digging up your bulbsHow to use pot toppers like violas, pansies, and hardy herbs to protect your containers, and add beauty to them tooTips for making the most of your pots by growing edible plants alongside your bulbsProducts mentioned:Eryngium alpinumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-alpinumViola x wittrockiana 'Peach Shades' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-x-wittrockiana-peach-shades-f1Viola x wittrockiana 'Frizzle Sizzle Burgundy' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-x-wittrockiana-frizzle-sizzle-burgundy-f1Viola x wittrockiana 'Frizzle Sizzle Yellow Blue Swirl' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-x-wittrockiana-frizzle-sizzle-yellow-blue-swirl-f1Ammi visnagahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnagaKale 'Dwarf Green Curled'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/kale-dwarf-green-curledSwiss Chard 'White Silver 2'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-white-silver-2Salad Leaf Autumn & Winter Mixhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/autumn-and-winter-salad-leaf-mixMizunahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizunaMustard 'Red Frills'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frillsSalad Rocket 'Serrata'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrataFlat Leaf Parsley 'Gigante di Napoli' (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoliCoriander (Coriandrum sativum 'Leisure')https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisureGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Guitar legend Steve Howe (Yes, Asia) returns to Now Spinning Magazine for the 3rd time! to go deep on the new reissues of Portraits of Bob Dylan (1999) and Natural Timbre (2001). We discuss how he chose the songs, why he avoided the obvious Dylan hits, arranging with taste (and restraint), performances with Jon Anderson, Annie Haslam, PP Arnold, Phoebe Snow, Allan Clarke, Max Bacon, Keith West, and the elegant drumming of Dylan Howe.We also explore the acoustic architecture of Natural Timbre—fingerstyle breakthroughs (“Dream River”), sequencing as storytelling, and knowing when to put the brushes down. Plus: Steve hints at a new Dylan-related EP, Signals Crossed, bringing the Portraits spirit into the present.Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

As autumn arrives and bulb planting season begins, it's the perfect time to start planning next year's garden so that it's bursting with colour all year long. In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', Sarah takes you on a journey through the bulbs carrying the colour baton in the Oast garden at Perch Hill, sharing how to layer bulbs in pots for maximum impact, and how to select varieties that will thrive in your space. In this episode, discover:How to plan and plant a succession of bulbs for continuous, vibrant colour from February to NovemberSarah's favourite bulb varieties for every season, with tips on composing your own bold and beautiful colour palettesAdvice for layering bulbs in pots and borders to create a show-stopping display year after yearProducts mentioned:Iris Reticulata Mixhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-reticulata-mixIris 'Pauline' (Reticulata)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-paulineAnemone coronaria 'Sylphide' (De Caen Group)'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-coronaria-sylphideFritillaria imperialis 'Orange Beauty'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-imperialis-orange-beautyFritillaria persica 'Green Dreams'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-persica-green-dreamsFritillaria raddeanahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-raddeanaTulip 'Ballerina'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerinaTulip 'Queensday'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-queensdayTulip 'Black Parrot'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-black-parrotTulip 'Palmyra'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-palmyraAllium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationAllium schubertii 'Magic'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magicAllium cristophiihttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophiiLilium 'Claude Shride' (Martagon)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lilium-claude-shride-martagon-lilyLilium 'Henryi'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lilium-henryiGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

“Karl Barth, a devoted apprentice of the Kingdom of God, emphasized the lived reality of the Christian life. He listened attentively as God revealed Himself—not by dissecting the Christian life in a laboratory, but by entering into God's action, creation, and ongoing work of salvation. He chose to participate. He wasn't indifferent to getting it right, but his passion was getting it lived.”—Eugene Petersen“First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don't have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.”These are the opening words of Petersen's evocative invitation to consider how we might begin to enter into the sacred scriptures.As we find ourselves today in a Story already in motion—being invited to play an essential role—we must begin afresh with God, we are being invited to turn our affections and our attention back to Him.It is from that posture that we can revisit this operational question: What are you practicing that is helping to consistently re-align your soul to this reality amid the precarious circumstances in which you find yourself?We must lean into compassion, remembering Dallas's reminder that there are, indeed, no ordinary days. With that in mind, what we choose to do shapes the days given to us. Our days shape our decades, and our practices shape our days.The question isn't whether we are apprentices, but whose apprentice we are. Make no mistake: we are being formed by our daily practices. Whether chosen with care or dangerously shaped by the current of culture, whether life-giving or quietly corrosive, these practices are not neutral. They are the sculptors of our souls. The real question is, how is that formation going, and how is it being led? What shifts might the Spirit be inviting us to make—shifts that, over time, could bear dramatically different fruit?Living the Christian life—right where we are—is both our intended place and the primary way we access God. Let us take a fresh look at the ancient practice of a rule of life—a framework that helps us arrange our everyday rhythms around practices we can trust to lead us toward greater wholeheartedness and deeper union with God.Join me for a deeper dive and a conversation with like-hearted allies Ryan Ruebsahm and Chris Rice, as we recover more of the ancient path together as a global community.It's all been prologue. The best is yet to come.For the Kingdom,Morgan and Cherie

For those who look carefully and stay connected to nature, there's abundance to be found all year round.That's the commitment at the heart of Mark Diacono's new book, which he's penned in the years since his last appearance on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' in April 2021!Mark joins us once again to share his latest discoveries, festive recipes, and inspirations for those with one foot in the garden, and the other in the kitchen.In this episode, discover:Mark Diacono's inspiring journey from countryside wanderer to award-winning author, and how his passion for food and nature blossomedClever tips for making the most of autumn's harvestInventive, seasonal recipes such as tomato and rosemary soup, baked potatoes with leeks and garlic, and a fig and fennel crumble that's perfect for family gatheringsHow tuning into the rhythms of the garden and the natural world can enrich your cooking, your creativity, and your everyday lifeProducts mentioned:Tomato 'Honeycomb' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-honeycomb-f1Tomato 'Costoluto Fiorentino'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-costoluto-fiorentinoFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

How have Islamic capital markets performed and what is a realistic assessment of financial institution, corporate and Sovereign Sukuk markets? Is the UK leveraging on its reputation for innovative capital market products and services? How can London cement its position as a listing and arranging centre for international Shariah compliant capital market transactions and funds? What further opportunities are offered by green and sustainable Sukuk?Moderator:Lawrence Oliver, Executive Director, Deputy CEO, DDCAP Group/ETHOS AFPPanelists:Dr Mohamed Damak, Managing Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, S&P Global RatingsNadim Zaman, Managing Director, Head of Origination, LBBWSimone Utermarck, Senior Director, Sustainable Finance, International Capital Market AssociationValerie O'Flaherty, Head of Irish and UK Debt listing, Euronext

While some of your flowers might've lost the colour that gave you joy throughout the summer, their charm in your home is far from over.Drying seedheads is one of Sarah and Arthur's great delights, and with summer rolling into autumn it's the perfect time to start drying seedheads and grasses ready to create stunning, sustainable Christmas decorations.In this episode, discover:How to perfectly time your harvest for the most vibrant and long-lasting dried flowers and seed headsSimple, tried-and-tested techniques for drying and storing your blooms for lasting colour and structure right through the winterInspiring ideas for using dried flowers in festive decorations, creative arrangements, and sustainable home décorPersonal favourites and new discoveries from Sarah and Arthur, including must-try varieties like strawflowers, xeranthemums, and the wonderfully quirky “fish bone grass”Products mentioned:Helichrysum bracteatum 'White' (Sunflower)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helichrysum-bracteatum-whiteXeranthemum annuumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/xeranthemum-annuumAmaranthus tricolor 'Red Army'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-tricolor-red-armyAmaranthus cruentus 'Hot Biscuits'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hot-biscuitsChasmanthium latifoliumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifoliumFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Of all the inspiring chefs to show a heartfelt appreciation for the work of the gardener, Raymond Blanc OBE might be the greatest advocate. The world-renowned restaurateur lauds the ‘magic of the garden and the miracles of the kitchen' throughout his work. We're fortunate to dive into his illustrious past, and how it guides some of the most tantalising dishes from his latest kitchen garden cookbook, as he joins us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' this week.In this episode, discover:Raymond's top tips for preparing the freshest, most delicious salads and vegetables straight from your gardenHow to choose and grow the best varieties of tomatoes, courgettes, and herbs for year-round flavourHeartwarming stories of family food traditions, the magic of seasonality, and the deep connection between garden and kitchenOrder Raymond's book, ‘Simply Raymond Kitchen Garden':https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-Raymond-Kitchen-Garden-Seasonal/dp/1472293827#:~:text=Simply%20Raymond%20Kitchen%20Garden%20is,Le%20Manoir%20aux%20Quat'Saisons.&text=wondrous%20connection%20between%20them.,this%20book%20mirrors%20that%20connection.Products mentioned:Aubergine 'Moneymaker No. 2' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubergine-money-maker-no-2Carrot 'Nantes 5'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/carrot-nantes-5Tomato 'Tigerella'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-tigarellaTomato 'Noire de Crimée'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-noire-de-crimeeCarrot 'Oxheart'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/carrot-oxheartFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

In this conversation, Pastors Joe Wilson and Lee McKinnon discuss the value of arranging a preaching calendar. They also discuss the Spurgeonic method of preaching, the difference between topical expository sermons and sequential expository sermons, and the usefulness of having a preaching calendar within a plurality of elders. For more information about CBTS visit: https://cbtseminary.org  

In this conversation, Pastors Joe Wilson and Lee McKinnon discuss the value of arranging a preaching calendar. They also discuss the Spurgeonic method of preaching, the difference between topical expository sermons and sequential expository sermons, and the usefulness of having a preaching calendar within a plurality of elders. For more information about CBTS visit: https://cbtseminary.org  

Pressing flowers can be one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to immortalise the joyous blooms in your garden, and it's a craft close to Arthur Parkinson's heart.Arthur joins us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' this week to share the history behind this timeless craft, and tips for beginners to press their own vibrant and beautiful flowers, bringing nature effortlessly into your home.In this episode, discover:The fascinating history and heartfelt meaning behind the art of pressing flowersArthur's top tips for beginners, including which flowers are easiest to press and how to get the best results with simple materialsCreative ways to combine flowers and foliage for natural, lively pressed arrangements that encapsulate the spirit of your gardenInspiring ideas for displaying your pressed flower creations, from handmade cards to luminous frames that bring a touch of nature indoorsProducts mentioned:Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalisFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Joining Kyle is Grammy nominated composer and arranger Rich DeRosa. From his experience as the Director of Jazz Composition and Arranging at University of North Texas to his time writing for and conducting the WDR Big Band in Germany - Rich has a vast background that can help us in our journey to be better jazz educators.To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.comOur mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music education students who are working to join us in the coming years.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Today, I'm bringing you a super fun interview with Robert Lunn. In the episode, we had a great chat on some really important topics, including why playing gig-ready, simple yet stunning arrangements of songs is so important, how to keep the passion when learning songs, and how Robert created a wonderful piece which started off as an exercise to just learn some new software! Robert is a great chap, so I hope you enjoy (and listen to the end for a funny story from Robert). Take a listen and enjoy! If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/ Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

A greenhouse is not just for summer - it's for the whole year round, and it's far more versatile than many give it credit for.Tom Brown returns to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange', fresh from the release of The Greenhouse Book, the writing of which has given him a new perspective on just how much delight it can bring in all seasons.Join Tom and Sarah as they share tips for siting your greenhouse, what to put in the greenhouse heading into autumn, and how to manage the pest population to keep your flowers thriving.In this episode, discover:How to choose the perfect spot and size for your greenhouse, making it a true extension of your home and gardenWhich plants thrive under glass all year round, making the greenhouse more than a summer-bound source of joySarah and Tom's expert tips for keeping pests and diseases at bay, and why a little bit of ‘tough love' can lead to healthier, happier plantsInspiration to experiment with more unusual crops like sweet potatoes, lemongrass, and root gingerCover Image credit: DK and Jason IngramOrder The Greenhouse Book: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241755518-the-greenhouse-book/Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

In this episode, we talk with French field recordist and artist Mélia Roger about her film Dear Phonocene, currently featured in the Projected Ecologies program within the exhibition Pulsar at MUCA in Mexico City. Mélia shares how the work emerged from over a decade of listening to the monoculture Douglas fir plantations near her parents' home, spaces she describes as “post-natural” and marked by biodiversity loss. Blending fiction, performance, and documentary, the project imagines “acoustic enrichment” as a form of care—playing back past soundscapes to acknowledge what has been lost. We discuss her collaboration with other women recordists, the role of human presence and “noisy non-self” in the film's soundscape, and the interplay between slow listening and the fast pace of image-making. Mélia reflects on grief, hope, and tenderness in altered landscapes, the technical and ethical dimensions of playback, and her evolving research on post-natural listening within her PhD work. Plus, we hear about her upcoming explorations of cetacean sound in the Canary Islands.Mélia Roger (*1996, she/her) is a field recordist and artist engaged to inspire ecological change with environmental and empathic listening. Her work explores the sonic poetics of the landscape, searching for the invisible layers between human and non-humans. Coming from a sound engineering background (ENS Louis-Lumière in Paris, ZHdK in Zurich), Mélia is developing a twofold activity between immersive 7.0.2 sound recordings within HAL, as well as a more experimental and naturalistic approach to listening. Now at Le Fresnoy, she is a practice-based PhD candidate at the University of Lille, focusing on the relations between sound arts and acoustic ecology.https://www.meliaroger.com/portfolio/project-two-llrgk-blz6chttps://www.instagram.com/meliarog/https://muca.unam.mx/pulsar.htmlhttps://www.lydianstater.co/projected-ecologies

The season from May to August has been so extraordinary, thanks in no small part to the succession of alliums passing the baton throughout the summer months.August is prime time for sowing alliums ready for next year, so in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' Sarah takes us through a whole host of varieties that'll have your garden dancing with dazzling and rich bulbs.In this episode, discover:How to create a stunning, season-long display of colour in your garden by choosing the right allium varieties for continuous bloomsSarah's favourite tried-and-true alliums, plus some exciting new discoveries to inspire your next plantingClever, eco-friendly ways to harvest and transform allium seed heads into beautiful, reusable Christmas decorationsPractical tips for growing alliums that return year after year with minimal fussProducts mentioned:Allium cristophii: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophiiAllium schubertii: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertiiAllium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationAllium jesdianum 'Purple Rain': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rainAllium schubertii 'Arctic Snow': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-arctic-snowAllium schubertii 'Magic': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magicAllium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummerAllium sphaerocephalon: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-sphaerocephalonGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Philippa Stewart started ‘Justdahlias' when a passion turned into an obsession, and her talent for drying dahlias is a fabulous way to intensify their impact.This week's episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' dives into Philippa's journey into dahlia drying, different techniques for drying them yourself, how best to arrange them, and the most stunning varieties when dried.In this episode, discover:Philippa's top tips for hanging flowers for perfect preservation and maximum air circulationThe fascinating world of dahlia colour transformations, as their hues evolve and intensify over timeHow to create a cutting garden that provides flowers from summer right through to autumn, with varieties that work brilliantly both fresh and driedProducts mentioned:Dahlia 'Sweet Nathalie'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-sweet-nathalieDahlia Cactus Group Mixhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cactus-group-mixDahlia 'Café au Lait'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-cafe-au-laitFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Over the course of 32 years Sarah has been perfecting the art of conditioning cut flowers, and her indispensable tips will help breathe life into your vases.This week's episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' covers 7 essential tips to condition any of your plants for not just a long-lasting tenure in an arrangement, but for keeping them looking proud and pretty for longer.In this episode, discover:The 6 'S' techniques of flower conditioning to transform cut flowers from short-lived showstoppers to stunning, long-lasting displaysWhy some temperature-sensitive flowers flop, and tips to keep them perky for weeksSimple, quick advice on how to arrange for great vase life, while avoiding the ‘pick, plonk' approachProducts mentioned:Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfeniihttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-characias-subsp-wulfeniiBluebells (Hyacinthoides non scripta)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebellsFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Craig Skeffington - jazz composer/arranger, band director and trumpet player - joins Kyle for an AMAZING discussion about your jazz band.  They talk about great jazz band charts, great educational jazz arrangers, writing and arranging for your jazz band, and many other jazz band topics!  A must listen for all educators! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music education students who are working to join us in the coming years. Connect with us with comments or ideas Follow the show: Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com On Youtube The Growing Band Director  Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector If you like what you hear please: Leave a Five Star Review and  Share us with another band director!

Episode Highlights:Introduction:Host: James CoxFocus: Fighting depression with the power of music.Special Guests: Janne & Antti Wirman, former members of Children of Bodom and current members of Warman.Discussion Topics:Janne's journey from music to pursuing a career in architecture.The impact of AI on music and its potential future.Transitioning Warman from an instrumental band to having a lead singer.The unique chemistry and journey shared by the Warman brothers.Stage presence as a keyboardist and engaging with fans.Arranging music in melodic death metal and balancing guitar parts.Reflections on past creative decisions and cover songs.Designing a time capsule for Warman with non-musical items.Favorite bands and musical influences from their teenage years.Personal music preferences and guilty pleasures.Upcoming Release:Warman's new album "Band of Brothers" set to release on August 15th.Connect with Warman:Follow Warman on Instagram and Facebook for updates.Closing:Thank you to Janne & Antti Wirman for joining the show.Encouragement to listeners to explore the healing power of music.

 Shane Connolly, reveals what it's like to arrange the flowers for a royal wedding and how to create a bouquet that's worthy of a princess. Shane created the floral installations for two royal weddings, including Prince William and Catherine, and the Coronation of King Charles. He shares the secrets behind his spectacular designs and how he manages without floral foam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cut flowers are one of the great joys of summer, and since Sarah's last episode on cut flowers, there are a host of wonderful new varieties worthy of adorning your vases.This episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' hones in on 20 of the best flowers for taking cuttings throughout the coming season, offering unbeatable scent, intriguing shapes, and staggering productivity all summer long.In this episode, discover:Cut flowers with productivity and personality, from the elegant Nicotiana Silvestris to more delicate grasses The top flower picks that last for weeks, or sometimes up to a monthHow to create showstopping arrangements with fragrance, which are also marvellously pollinator-friendlyWhich flowers have the longest flowering seasons for cut flowers all season longProducts mentioned:Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely'"https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestrisPaeonia 'Coral Sunset'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/paeonia-coral-sunsetRosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' (China)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-x-oderata-mutabilisRosa rubrifolia (Shrub)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-glauca-syn-rubrifoliaLonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lonicera-periclymenum-graham-thomasCerinthe major 'Purpurascens'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascensBriza maxima (Greater Quaking Grass)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grassChasmanthium latifoliumhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifoliumPanicum capillare 'Sparkling Fountain'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/panicum-sparkling-fountainCosmos bipinnatus 'Purity'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-purityCosmos bipinnatus 'Apricotta'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-apricottaAntirrhinum majus 'Potomac Apple-blossom' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-potomac-apple-blossom-f1Antirrhinum 'Liberty Crimson' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-liberty-crimsonFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The Great British Sewing Bee brings so much delight to those who watch it, and instrumental to its charm is Co-Host Patrick Grant, this week's fabulous podcast guest.This week's ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange' dives into the magic behind the show, what makes it so enjoyable for everyone on and off-screen, Patrick's marvellous mission with Community Clothing, and the ambitious plans for an inspiring garden transformation at his Yorkshire home.In this episode, discover:Behind the magic of The Great British Sewing Bee, how Patrick came to present the show, and what makes it such a special experiencePatrick's incredible mission with Community Clothing, breathing life back into British textile manufacturing How Patrick is transforming his charming garden in Yorkshire into a thriving, beautiful spaceFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah's latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest