Tea at Trianon: Growing Herbs Indoors

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Growing Herbs Indoors

From Natural News:

If you like to cook, then you can appreciate the value of having your very own herb garden. Imagine being able to pick fresh herbs when you need them – free – instead of needing to periodically get your stash from your local grocery. The good news is that getting started isn’t difficult. You won’t even need any outdoor space at all. Here are some herbs you can grow indoors:

Bay
Laurus nobilis is known for its leaves that have been used since ancient times. It is used in Italian cuisine, as well as a number of cuisines in Asia. It has plenty of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. It can also protect your heart from disease. Bay is a perennial that is best grown in pots. If you must grow it indoors, make sure to place it close to a window that faces either east or west. Be sure it has plenty of space to itself. This will give the plant the sunlight and air it needs to become healthy.

Basil
This herb is a mainstay in many Mediterranean and Asian dishes. Apart from imparting a distinct aroma and flavor to any food it is added to, it has a rich antioxidant and nutritional content that offers a lot of benefits for your health, too. Basil is best planted from seeds and because it likes the sun, will benefit from being placed close to a south-facing window. (Read more.)