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Archive for October, 2009

It's the distinctive woven backs and seats that make the French caf? chair . . . well, the French caf? chair. The intricacy and variety of these colorful weaves has elevated the Parisian caf? chair to a work of art.But while these ubiquitous little woven bistro chairs seem as Parisian as wine, croissants, and the Eiffel Tower, their history speaks instead of far away, exotic lands.In fact, woven furniture dates back to the Egyptian empire of 3000 B.C. The materials the Egyptians used in these ancient weaves were the reeds and swamp grass that grew abundantly along the banks of the Nile.So how did woven chairs find their way from those ancient Egyptian cities to nineteenth century Parisian caf?s?Actually, their transit has a rather swashbuckling history. The adventurous seafarers of that time were opening up whole new worlds with their daring explorations over the uncharted and often deadly high seas. Fortunately, besides their thirst for adventure, they also had an eye for beauty. Delighted by what they discovered in Egypt, these seafarers were the first to introduce woven furniture into the Roman Empire, and, from there, throughout all of Europe.But it was when their adventures led these seafarers to Southeast .. more »

Radicchio is a leafy vegetable that is reddish in color with white vines. It has a bitter taste, but is a good addition to a variety of salads and loses its bitterness when it is grilled, fried or baked.Radicchio is easy to grow and performs well in the spring and fall months when the temps are a bit cooler.Here is how you can grow radicchio to your home vegetable garden.You can start radicchio indoors as early as eight weeks prior to the last frost of the season in your area. If you are going to start the seed outdoors do so no earlier than two weeks prior to the last frost in the spring and two months before the first frost in the fall. Your seed should be planted no deeper than 1/4" below the topsoil.Make sure the pH range of your soil where you will be planting your radicchio seeds is greater than 5.5 and lower than 6.8. You can test your soil's pH level with a soil testing kit available at any home or garden center for just a few bucks.Space your seeds out no closer than ten inches to give the roots of your radicchio plants ample .. more »