Weather Wonders: Incredible Clouds and Weather Events from Above and Below

What ever the weather we seem to get more of it, wetter, drier, hotter, colder, windier, you name it, us Brits have a common meeting point in easily talking about it. This wonderful publication depicts it all very well on 256 pages. For sale from Thursday 26th May 2011


Weather Wonders: Incredible Clouds and Weather Events from Above and Below.Weather Wonders is a visual celebration of the diversity and unpredictability of the weather in all its forms - from the benign beauty of a clear sky to the explosive impact of lightning and hurricanes.

It brings into focus the majesty, power and beauty of the world s weather and how it affects every one of us: dressing for the heat of summer or for the depths of a winter freeze. One thing is sure weather is here to stay.

This is a fascinating and beautiful collection of over 200 photographs, ranging from satellite images of developing fronts and global weather patterns, to ground-based photographs of cloud formations.

Also included are optical phenomena such as rainbows, sun pillars and aurora, and breath-taking weather events such as lightning and tornadoes.

Produced in association with the Met Office, the world's premier organisation for the collection and interpretation of data relating to the world's weather, this is one of the books with a wow factor . The texts have been written by Gordon Higgins, a meteorologist for over 40 years, and former Head of Communications at the Met Office, so the book is not only full of stunning photography but also of high scientific value.

Contents:
FOREWORD BY PAUL HARDACRE, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society
INTRODUCTION
PART I: WEATHER FROM ABOVE
- World Maps and Wider Views
- Cloud Formations
- Hurricanes and Dramatic Weather
- Climate Change
PART II: WEATHER FROM BELOW
- Low Clouds
- Medium Clouds
- High Clouds
- Special Clouds
- Optical Phenomena
- Extreme Weather

The Met Office is one of the world's leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. Their solutions and services meet the needs of industries and individuals through broadcasts and on-line media in the UK and around the world.
RRP: £12.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery.
Click to Buy Now. Weather Wonders: Incredible Clouds and Weather Events from Above and Below

Road Kill North Fife

Road kill Ballinbreich North Fife. Always a sad sight, so many deer meet death on this particular stretch of road. This Roe deer must have met its demise in the night, I came across it in the early hours this morning, already raptors or maybe a fox had benefited, in the past we too have enjoyed venison gained in this way. The carcase was a wee bit too messy to heave into the trunk of the car though a couple of haunches would have been quite welcome. Roe deer is very tender and relatively mild in flavour, free range and excellent eating.

The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2011 [Paperback]

The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2011 [Paperback]
Review
'This annual publication is the book for those who want to farm and garden biodynamically. There are useful notes for new readers and a number of special features, including this time the care of bees with monthly notes for beekeepers, how to work with biodynamic preparations, a recipe for rye bread and answers to questions from readers concerning potato and tomato culture.' -- David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network Review 'This little paperback is essential for all organic gardeners. It is the original annual biodynamic planting guide. Incredibly condensed amounts of information are available [here] ... Illustrated throughout with some lovely photos and clear diagrams.' -- Ysanne Spevack, Organicfood.co.uk 'This little paperback calendar is the original of its kind and essential for all organic gardeners. An established following ensures good sales of this useful guide, which has a special feature on the care of bees.' -- Veronica Leek, The Bookseller Buyers' Guide
A publication I consult frequently.
RRP: £6.99
Price: £4.72 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery.
Worth being guided.The Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar 2011
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Comfrey: Past, Present and Future [Paperback] Lawrence D. Hills

Comfrey flowers. We grow comfrey plants to provide liquid fertiliser as recommended by Lawrence D. Hills.

Comfrey: Past, Present and Future [Paperback]
Lawrence D. Hills
Comfrey is noted by both organic gardeners and herbalists for its great usefulness and versatility. Of particular interest is the 'Bocking 14' cultivar of Russian Comfrey. This strain was developed during the 1950s by Lawrence D. Hills, who founded the organic gardening organization now known as Garden Organic. Lawrence D. Hills was the world authority on comfrey. In this book, he wrote for farmers and gardeners in all countries, showing how this useful plant could be cultivated in both tropical and temperate zones to produce a crop equally rewarding for gardener, smallholder and mechanized farmer. Subtitled ‘Past, Present and Future,’ on its publication in 1976, this was the most comprehensive survey of the properties and cultivation of comfrey ever, and Comfrey remains undoubtedly the essential book on the subject, as well as a lasting testament to Lawrence D. Hills’s indefatigable efforts to achieve a better understanding of it.

RRP: £15.00
Price: £12.75 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery.
A very useful publication. Buy here.Comfrey: Past, Present and Future

H.H. 16th Karmapa Rumtek Retreat Centre Crown Ceremony

H.H.16th Karmapa performs Black Hat Crown Ceremony at Samten Ling Retreat Centre Rumtek Monastery in 1978 on his return from a European tour. Those in retreat remained withdrawn and out of sight but would have heard the music special to the black hat.

reproduction only with permission.

Tayview 17th 18th May North Fife

A blustery couple of days on The River Tay with water lapping the top of the piers in Newburgh. Spring tide with a rise of 4.2 meters. Interesting sunsets again.


Tayview 18th May.

High tide at Newburgh with choppy water.


Sunset over The tay 17th May.

7 wisdom Quotes H.E. Tai Situpa

H.E.Tai Situpa.


Be Happy.



7 Wisdom Quotes by H.E. Tai Situpa.

Stepharia Artist North Fife

On show last weekend as part of Open Studios North Fife.

Steph in her studio.


Steph makes distinctive and quirky, or classic and whimisical ranges of jewellery featuring liquorice allsorts, Pre-Raphaelite artwork, Vintage Lucite flowers, finest freshwater pearls and gemstones. Also crafted are scarves, shawls from beautiful yarns and textiles as well as felted accessories and clothing. Artwork, photography and now expanding into hand-blended fragrances.






To examine further. Website:-
Tel: 0779 361 0066
Email: steph@stepharia.co.uk

Tayview 13th May

Tayview 13th May.

Inland the fields are well sown with Tatties (potatoes), a wise investment given the rising prices of staple foods.

Pottery Clay and Glazes North Fife

On seeing a few local potters recently I was minded of my own past in the production of ceramics. My time was influenced by the leading craft potters, Bernard Leach, Micheal Cardew, Lucie Rie and others, joining their rank and then moving sideways to other crafts. All of below were fired at 1280c, near the limit of the clays, truly vitrified and some in a reduction firing.

A few stem pots with various glazes and oxide applications, all stimulated by Daniel Rhodes's publication Clay and glazes.

Self portrait, jack in the box on a car front suspension spring and large container, all in stoneware, painted oxides, gold and silver leaf.

Stoneware vase 40 cms high 10% iron glaze with applied iron oxide.

Glazed fireclay bowl 45 cms diameter with hollow fixed spheres and iron oxide highlights.

Clay and Glazes for the Potter.

Daniel Rhodes is an impeccable reference source for the subject(s). Written nearly fifty years ago, this revised edition (1973) has been continuously reprinted and is absolutely indispensable for both professional and amateur potters alike. It goes right from basics to the details of specialised techniques and materials by way of in depth explanations, always given in plain English. A chemistry degree is not required to read this book but the information it contains is exhaustive. Definitely a must buy. I used an earlier edition in my student days, it is truly brilliant. In my time I had to resort to working out molecular formulas using log tables, these days the process will be much easier using calculators. One can create glazes of almost any colour, finish, fit and firing temperature.
Ones palette can be enormous.
As a potter treat yourself. Clay and Glazes for the Potter

Plants at the Margin: Ecological Limits and Climate Change

Plants at the Margin: Ecological Limits and Climate Change by R. M. M. Crawford, University of St Andrews, North Fife, Scotland.

Margins are by their very nature environmentally unstable - does it therefore follow that plant populations adapted for life in such areas will prove to be pre-adapted to withstand the changes that may be brought about by a warmer world? Biogeography, demography, reproductive biology, physiology and genetics all provide cogent explanations as to why limits occur where they do, and the purpose of this book is to bring together these different avenues of enquiry. Crawford's numerous beautiful illustrations of plants in their natural habitats remind us that the environment remains essential to our understanding of plants and their function. This book is suited to students, researchers and anyone with an interest in the impact of climate change on our world.

• Stunning full colour photographs illustrate an array of natural environments, emphasising the ways plants adjust to their environment and bringing the topic to life
• Contains examples from nearly every part of the world, including Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, coastal and mountain vegetation from the Baltic to the Alps, North America, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and the Arctic
• Clarity in scientific explanations that makes it accessible to the general reader.

RRP: £43.00
Price: £36.55 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery.
Becoming more and more meaningful.Plants at the Margin: Ecological Limits and Climate Change
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