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The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

SOMETIMES YOU WIN AND SOMETIMES YOU LOSE: Crime, Part One

December 9, 2022 No Comments

In two of my favorite action heist movies, the theme is ‘sometimes you win and sometimes you lose’. As a fan of these venues, The Town and Den of Thieves, I have witnessed examples of both.

Specifically, for the actors in these two films, there are examples of both outcomes. Some are lucky and some are not. But there is plenty of excitement in both. This post illustrates the qualities of The Town. Part Two illustrates Den of Thieves.

The Town

At what price does crime pay but you don’t really win? In this movie, a group of bank robbers from the infamous part of Boston, are turned onto the heist of a lifetime. The plan is to rob Fenway Park where the Boston Red Socks play.

This is a brilliant scheme that could net the thieves a stash for life. In fact, this is a play within a movie since the participants in the robbery have to change disguises several times to carry out the heist.

sometimes-crime-pays — Ben Affleck from Wikipedia

The only survivor of this caper is the star, Ben Affleck.
In this situation, he escapes with his life but loses ‘the girl’ and just about everything else he’s had.

This includes his family, his friends, his home town, his livelihood. He wins his freedom by escaping into anonymity and the first time he’s ever been out of Boston.

sometimes-you-win — Rebecca Hall from Wikipedia

Rebecca Hall his love interest is a relative newcomer to American film. This depends on how one defines winning and losing.

Actually, both Rebecca and Ben are both winners and losers. To start she survives the bank robbery and wins Ben’s heart. But then she has to let go of him in order to save her own freedom. Similarly he also has to leave her to keep his own freedom.

While the other woman in his life, Blake Lively who is much more familiar to moviegoers is clearly not both. She is the loser for several reasons. Ben denies he is the father of her daughter. In fact, his desire is to take Rebecca Hall not Blake with him when he leaves his current life. In addition, Blake is arrested for a car accident while she is on drugs.

With the worst luck of all is actor and Ben Affleck’s adopted brother, Jeremy Renner. He played Blake Lively’s brother as well and was intent on remaining Affleck’s brother forever.

When destiny’s hand makes the last move, Jeremy chooses to end his life by an FBI bullet rather than return to prison for the rest of his life. Despite their ‘sometimes you win sometimes you lose’ fates not one of these characters qualifies completely for sometime you win. Jeremy’s character has it the worst of all. He completely losses.

sometimes-you-lose — Den of Thieves on Yidio

Part Two of this crime scenario featuring ‘Den of Thieves’ is the next blog post in this two-part series.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

1.Fenway Park
2.Southie
3.Ben Affleck
4.Rebecca Hall
5.Blake Lively
6.Jeremy Renner

Beverages, FOOD, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

BEVERAGES THROUGH THE AGES

December 9, 2022 No Comments

fermented beverages

DRINK UP
Pure Water or Fermented Beverages
Contrary to popular belief, fermented beverages were a source of pleasure even nutrition rather that a sanitary necessities in Medieval Europe going forward.

Middle Age Water Myth

Sources of Water in Cities
It is known that cities even constructed sources for pure water. In fact infrastructures were created to supply clean water to populated areas.

Rural Water Requiring Less Engineering
Where underground water existed naturally, wells provided pure drinking water.

Drinking water supplied by wells and transferred in barrels from medievalist.net

Water in Colonial New England (3)

At the beginning of this post documentation of water history relates essentially to European geography and construction. On the other hand, footnote(3) hones in on the relationship of water and the North American city of Boston from 1650-1900. Activities started later in the colonies as well as less frequently. But the need was less urgent.

Preferred Palatable Beverages
But for pleasure, alternative drinking liquids were prefered. In fact, there were many options to choose from. Fermented beverages from distant and recent history are still popular today.

Food and Beverage Hobby As part of my interest in food and beverage history, I like to prepare and drink these beverages. They range from thousands of years old to much more recent concoctions.

Fermentation
Fermentation was the way liquids were converted into nutritious, tasty beverages. Due to chemical reactions with healthy bacteria, many beverages resulted. I would like to spend this blog post writing about some of them.

Honey Wine

“The term honey wine is sometimes used as a synonym for mead,[7][8] although wine is typically defined to be the product of fermented grapes or certain other fruits,[9] and some cultures have honey wines that are distinct from mead. The honey wine of Hungary, for example, is the fermentation” of honey-sweetened pomace of grapes or other fruits.[10]

More About Mead
“Mead was produced in ancient times throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia,[11][12][13][14] and has played an important role in the mythology of some peoples. In Norse mythology, for example, the Mead of Poetry, crafted from the blood of Kvasir (a wise being born from the mingled spittle of the Aesir and Vanir deities) would turn anyone who drank it into a poet or scholar.” Quoted from Wikipedia

Kombucha
“Kombucha is thought to have originated in China, where the drink is traditional.[3][4]

By the early 20th century it had spread to Russia, then other parts of Eastern Europe and Germany.[5] Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially.[1] The global kombucha market was worth approximately US$1.7 billion as of 2019.[6]

SCOBY
“Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a “mother” or “mushroom”. The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary.

Yeast
The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids).[7]

SCOBY Defined
Although the SCOBY is commonly called “tea fungus” or “mushroom”, it is actually “a symbiotic growth of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic yeast species in a zoogleal mat [biofilm]”.[1] The living bacteria are said to be probiotic, one of the reasons for the popularity of the drink.[8][9]”Quoted from Wikipedia

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Mead

Kombucha

(1)Did People Drink Water in the Middle Ages?

(2)What Was the Drink of Choice in Medieval Europe?

(3)New England Water Supplies – A Brief History

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FOOD, Food History, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

FOOD HISTORY BLOG POSTS

November 24, 2022 No Comments

GATHERING MY FOOD HISTORY WRITING

Food History Through Blog Posts
I am writing a collection of food history blog posts to prepare for a possible book about this topic. Actually, I find the history of food fascinating. In particular, the history of food has far reaching consequences in Colonial America.

The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris, Photography Wikimedia Commons

The Consequences
Actually the consequences reach as far back as the American Revolutionary War fueling and supporting the establishment of a new nation, the United States of America.

In other words, this collection of food history blog posts illustrates the correlation between the establishment of American Colonial food stability and the birth of a new nation. In fact this period covers about 150 years.

Food Abundance Flourishes in the Colonies

The Mt. Vernon kitchen garden, allowing Martha Washington to keep fruits and vegetables on the table year round. From MtVernon.org

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION
There are three steps to establishing food stability. This post, summarizes all three. They are listed below.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT
Illustrated above shows definitively how conducive the colonies were to cultivating produce and food stability. In the early days of emigration to the colonies, the Indians even showed them how to survive their first Thanksgiving. After that, preparation took hold.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION
Traditional Food Preparation & Preservation: Introduction

Open Hearth Cooking
“Open hearth cooking is the oldest form of indoor cooking. Before cook stoves came into existence, fireplaces were commonly used. A cook knew how to prepare the fire for a day of planned cooking. The cook would rise early in order to start the fire for the entire day’s cooking.”

Open Hearth Cooking-Blennerhassett Kitchen-Fireplace and Utensils from Pinterest.com

TRADITIONAL FOOD PRESERVATION
Original Glass Jar Canning

Canning
The glass canning jar method of preservation was invented in 1810, before the Mason glass threading technique invented in 1850. Therefore the original method is considered traditional and pre-industrial. In fact, it was not until 1850 that the canning method we know and use today was invented by William Mason.

What you need to can your berry favorite fruit jelly or jam. Don’t forget the berries. Supplies from internet sites.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION & PRESERVATION
Traditional Food Preservation: Churning Cream into Butter

Butter
This is a dairy product that was both prepared from cream and preserved preserved from going bad. Using a churn, the lifespan of cream was extended by turning it into butter. That way cream had a much longer shelf like.
The amount of butter one needed would determine the size of the churn. Apparently this churn provided a large amount of butter for its owner.

Antique butter churn with hand crank-ebay.com

Although preserved foods like jam/jelly and butter may not have been staples for the survival of early colonials, they do display the fascinating direction of food preservation in Colonial America and beyond.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Four Gardens at Mt. Vernon

The Pilgrims Had No Idea How to Farm Here. Luckily, They Had the Native Americans

Traditional Food Preservation: Glass Jar Canning

Traditional Food Preservation: Churning Cream into Butter

Churning (Butter)

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FOOD, Living Healthier Food Plan, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

A Living Healthier Food Plan

November 11, 2022 No Comments

Please note: This post has been written as more of a personal diary entry rather than a blog post with details that should apply to anyone else. It is the plan I aim to follow at this point of my life. In other words, it is designed for me by me. It is not a medical or nutritional recommendation for anyone else.

MY LIVING HEALTHIER DAY

My living healthier food plan is key to a good day. As mentioned in Part One, A Living Healthier Plan my day begins with at least 8 oz of filtered water. Next comes a supplement. Then perhaps some fresh fruit. Finally the morning meal is complete with a full breakfast.

Fruit for Breakfast | The Adventures of an Epic Baker from epicbaker.com

EAT BREAKFAST

It is easier to explain what breakfast is not for me than what is. There are so many for what is healthy. Meanwhile there are very few that are not. So this should be a no brainer. For example, the typical working person’s start to the day is the adrenaline rush of giant coffees and a carbo bomb.

The carbo bomb shown in this shutterstock photo, coffee and empty carb, ‘white food’ calories.

Protein with Breakfast Is Good
Ideally for me a breakfast with some protein is good. Actually, I aim to eat sort of a reverse diet. In fact it is known by the saying, ‘eat breakfast like a king (or queen). Lunch like a prince (or princess). Finally, eat dinner like a pauper’.

Image of healthy breakfast from saga.co.uk

Protein with Lots of Vegetables at Lunch Is Good
So I try to include a protein at breakfast. Then protein, vegetable and even a healthy carb for lunch. Finally an early dinner and a snack if necessary before bedtime. Even though I don’t follow it exactly, I prefer to eat my big meal closer to the middle of the day or afternoon. In fact, we like this arrangement a lot.

A healthy main meal from pngall.com

Eating Later in the Day
Another suggestion is to not eat anything after 8 pm at night. Unless I am famished, this is another part of our living healthier food plan. Throughout the day, I include my supplements and am religious about taking certain prescribed medication before bed.

Eggs and Cheese Photography by David Munn from FineArtAmerica.com

Snacks Are A Challenge
Finding healthy snacks is a real challenge for us. Therefore, one of the changes I am attempting to make is to stay away from sugary snacks and help Phil (my husband) to do the same.

Nuts and Chocolate
For example, some kind of protein is preferable to a sugary snack. Personally, I love peanuts and pistachio nuts. Phil loves cashew nuts.

Baked Apple Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

Fruit As Well as Vegetables : Fresh, Cooked, or Even Dried

Fresh fruit, fruit cooked without sugar or even dried fruit without chemicals are other options. Even include certain ‘controversial carbs’ like a baked potato (White or sweet). Certain oils and ghee are like the cherry on top of the sundae. Popcorn is a favorite of Phil’s. In addition, dark chocolate made with monk fruit is very satisfying and does not spike blood sugar.

Raw Cheese
Let’s not forget cheese, made from raw milk as much as possible. At times I have eliminated dairy. But since discovering the digestive value of raw milk cheese, I like to include it in my food plan.

Just A Handful Of Nuts May Help Keep Us From Packing On The Pounds As We Age from npr.org

WHAT FOODS I SHOULD FAVOR
I have eaten according to many dietary systems over my life. At different times, different systems have worked best. Therefore I want to record what is the latest find.

Ayurveda
This is an ancient system that determines what foods are best to eat according to one’s body type as well as the season. Banyan Botanicals has an excellent test to determine body type and imbalances. Then I can figure out what foods are best for me to eat according to my doshas, any imbalances, and the seasons.

Why Is Ayurveda Important? from Himalayanyoganepal.com

Genopalate
This is a fascinating system. It requires an analysis of DNA results from Ancestry or another company. But it is based on chromosomes not geneology. Somehow it works. In fact when I first started following it, I definitely found an increase in my energy level. I have even created a looseleaf binder of the preferred foods in all their categories.

Crack your DNA Code and Unlock a Healthier You from www.genopalate.com

But as often happens, I have not been diligent about continuing. That is because I like too many foods that are not listed on it. Therefore I tend to fall back into the foods I like. Part of my living healthier food plan is to resume it as much as possible.

WHAT IS YOUR FOOD PLAN?

I am eager to hear what food plan you follow. Please write your response at the VERY bottom of the page below this “The Alison D. Gilbert Website & Blog Comment Policy”.

We welcome relevant, intelligent, on topic comments. We love to start conversations about shared interests.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting..

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Just A Handful Of Nuts May Help Keep Us From Packing On The Pounds As We Age September

Top Healthy Food | 13 Foods That Are Super Healthy

Banyan Botanicals

Genopalate

Maharishi AyurVeda Products

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ALISON D. GILBERT Blog, FOOD & HEALING JOURNEY, Healthy Lifestyle

A Living Healthier Plan

November 10, 2022 No Comments

Please note: This post has been written as more of a personal diary entry than a blog post with details that should apply to anyone else. It is the plan I aim to follow at this point of my life. In other words, it is designed for me by me. It is not a medical or nutritional recommendation for anyone else.

THE DECISION TO MAKE A CHANGE
A living healthier plan
It became necessary not long ago to make a change when I started to feel dizzy and unstable when I walked. The conclusion became imperative when I made a whirling dervish spin. Had it not been for my crash into the wall of a hallway, I would have landed on the floor. As a result, I probably would have broken a bone or two not to mention other damage, aches, and pains.

Falling down people. People of different ages stumbling and jumping down stairs, slipping wet floor, injured men, women, children vector flat cartoon isolated unbalanced characters from istockphoto.com

The Do’s and Don’ts
A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

A Sweet Challenge-Cutting Back on sugars-cornerstonefamilydentistry.ca

Actually this plan felt like more of a step than a difficult leap. Somehow, my craving for sugary food decreased due to my desire to eliminate painful reactions to eating too many sweets. In fact, I developed itching and a painful rash that accompanied their consumption. I also wished to reduce my weight. As a result, these two situations were enough of an incentive to really cut back on those treats.

Itching and Rash

Woman Scratching Her Itchy Neck With Allergy Rash from dreamstime.com

STEP ONE

A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

Filtered Water

What had to come first and foremost was to drink more water. The fermented drinks that I love to make would help as well. But water was the most important liquid. Once I got that in place, I could begin my new eating plan.

living-healthier-life — A sampling of some of the Zero Water Filter Dispensers

Begin Each Day
It is suggested to drink an 8 oz glass of water upon rising. I always drink filtered water using the Zero System. My cup of water is accompanied by a supplement. In this case it is a once daily New Chapter Every Woman’s Multivitamin. I think this is an excellent company with a growing selection of quality supplements. No food is required to take this multivitamin.

STEP TWO
Certain prescription medication and then at least a small amount of food are essential for me to start my day. This can range from a fruit snack to a full breakfast. But most important is that I drink my water, take my morning medication, and have a bite to eat. It is preferable that I do this between 8-9am.

CONTINUE BLOG POST
This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Cutting Back on Sweets.

FOOD, Preparation & Preservation, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

Traditional Food Preparation & Preservation: Introduction

October 28, 2022 No Comments

colonial-food-prep

COLONIAL LIFE
Traditional Food Preparation and Preservation existed centuries before the modern conveniences we rely on today. Without even thinking about it, we can take for granted how relatively easy it has become to procure, prepare, and preserve food to support our nation.

Yesterday and Today
Therefore the contrast between that time’s efforts and today’s is what makes this topic so fascinating. In fact, it is most important that we not overlook this information. Here is the reason why.

Food Security
Specifically, it was not that long ago that our survival depended upon local food procurement, its preparation and preservation. Once these essentials were established, a relatively short period of time was needed to fight our mother country and start a nation of our own. In fact this seems to have taken only about 150 years.

Political Independence Follows
Documentation of this is the time of the first settlers, the Pilgrims in 1620 and the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As a result, political history and food stability seem to support each other in fostering our new nation.

traditional-food-preservation — Open Hearth Cooking-Blennerhassett Kitchen-Parkersburg WV-Fireplace and Utensils from Pinterest.com

THE THREE P’s of FOOD

Procure, Prepare, Preserve
Long before electricity and then renewable energy were available to power even our simplest daily modern survival needs like refrigeration and freezing, early settler of North America had to make due with comparatively primitive systems to obtain, prepare, and preserve food.

Food Stability
Therefore one can see that even though people made due in this new land, it took a time to stabilize life in the colonies. As a cultural aside, and at the other extreme for those who could afford to do so, the opportunities in the culinary arts grew quite a bit. In fact, both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had slave chefs who were European trained.

traditional-food-preparatation-preservation

Past Preserved
Some of the traditional ‘three P’ of the food systems do still exist today. Actually they survive both as hobbies and records of history. But it is essential to remember their origins. That is their necessity for survival that could ultimately fuel the colonies to fight for the birth of a new nation.

HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS & MUSEUMS
Fortunately, historical foundations throughout various states have been established so that these methods of traditional food preparation, preservation, and daily life are remembered and even practiced for posterity.

Just to name a few:
Rockhall Museum, Lawrence LI, NY
Bethpage Village Restoration, Bethpage, NY
Mt. Vernon, VA
Williamsburg, VA
Monticello, VA
Blennerhassett Historical Foundation
Biltmore Mansion, Asheville, NC

TRADITIONAL METHODS
Procurement included:
hunting
fishing
trading
agriculture
bartering

Preparation included:
open hearth cooking (fire)
smoking
drying
salting and spicing (pickling)
fermentation
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

Preservation included:
jar canning
smoking
drying
salting and spicing (pickling)
root cellar storage
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
fermentation
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Greenfield Village: Daggett Farm

African American Foodways Cooking Demonstration

Open-Hearth Cookbook: Recapturing the Flavor of Early America

What Is Open Hearth Cooking

George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Kitchen

Four Gardens at Mt. Vernon

Hearth and Home: Women and the Art of Open Hearth Cooking

Vintage jars

List of open-air and living history museums in the United States

colonial-food-prep

FOOD, Food Preservation, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

Traditional Food Preservation: Churning Cream into Butter

October 21, 2022 No Comments

traditional food preservation

Traditional Food Preservation
One ways to preserve food is to churn cream to make butter. Historically, cream was the perishable food. Churning cream turned it into butter. But time and technology have provided a major change.

Instead of using a machine to churn, the cream was churned by hand. No need to go to the gym when one worked the arms with this traditional task.

Traveling Back in Time

Actually, many other traditional food preservation systems existed then as well.

They are options even today although they may not be the most efficient ones.

But for anyone interested in a taste of the past, these options can be like a trip back in time.

Two descriptions follow this. In fact, they include videos for making butter the traditional way.

Making butter from (perishable) milk/cream-Video One

Making Butter from (milk/cream) Here is another video about making butter the old fashioned way. Making Butter served two traditional purposes. The first is preserving a perishable liquid, cream into a solid, butter. Another is creating a delicious fat that can be flavor other foods. In fact, adding herbs provided extra special flavor.

Butter mold making equipment is available at Amazon.com

Butter Decoration
Homemade butter could have two purposes. They were for domestic use while the other was for commercial sale. Although a special design or pattern made it more appealing, branding was the the primary purpose to identity a butter-makers at a local, community market. Think of it as a branding pattern like labels are today(1).

Making butter from (perishable) milk/cream-Video Two

Butter Branding
Modern butter is branded by its packaging. On the other hand tradition butter branding was a pattern applied directly to the block of butter itself. A wooden carved mold was used to create the impression.

Butter branding-individual butter pattern and modern butter label

These topics are part of my Traditional Food Preservation Blog Post Series. Their discussion takes place in past and future preservation posts.
smoking
drying
salting
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
root cellar storage
jar canning

SOURCES & RESOURCES

(1)Alice Ross Hearth Studios, Workshop at Rock Hall Museum, Long Island NY, Butter decoration/branding explanation

How to Make Butter the Old Fashioned Way

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FOOD, Food Canning, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

Traditional Food Preservation: Glass Jar Canning

October 16, 2022 No Comments

INVENTION
An original glass jar canning method begins with a story that is 200 years old. The technique was invented in 1810(1). A (competitive?) inspiration by Napoleon Bonaparte began in 1795 also brought results 15 years later with metal cans.(2)

The original glass jar had no thread to grip a metal closure onto it. Required instead was sealing with paraffin wax since the canning system had no other means of closure. The paraffin wax seal could last for up to about six months.

ebay antique food canning jars with paraffin wax for 1810 sealing technique

author’s note related to this post

Progression
Actually, about 50 years later in 1858, John L. Mason (of mason-kerr-ball jars) invented a threaded lip jar along with a two piece sealing lid. The result of this invention allowed for a vacuum seal that was essentially sterile. Thus a long lasting storage system became available. Documentation and directions about this is much easier to find in future writings.

Quote from ‘Home Canning with Paraffin Wax’

Paraffin Wax: Short Term Method
As a temporary sealant mentioned above, paraffin was available. But for long term storage, a paraffin seal was not the safest way to seal a jar. Mold could form if the seal was not air tight.

Traditionalists like Homestead Tessie like this old fashioned method. She scrapes mold off the top of jam so as not to waste the entire jar. ‘Waste not, want not’. Traditional canning is part of her intentional homestead lifestyle.

What you need to can your berry favorite fruit jelly or jam. Don’t forget the berries. Supplies from various internet sites.

Dangers Due to heat and cold, expansion and contraction also posed a liability. Lastly, botulism and even death were extreme, out of the ordinary, possibilities. But this wax technique was adopted by Survivalist Preppers for dire circumstances. It is demonstrated in the video below.

Canning Food for Survival with Wax by Paul Helinski

Keeping Traditions
Originally paraffin was the only seal available with jar canning as shown in the video above. It is a system that can be used ‘if the grid goes down’. Once safer methods were available, wax was not necessary. In spite of this, there is more to the story.

Actually, this traditional system is still practiced today. It is demonstrated in the video below. The author also explains why she likes to use it.

Preserving Grape Jam Using Paraffin Wax Keeping Traditions

There are other blog posts in this series that reveal traditional food storage systems. They include:

smoking
drying
salting
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
root cellar storage
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk
jar canning

SOURCES & RESOURCES

(1)Home Canning with Paraffin Wax

(2)A Brief History of Canning Food

Canning 101: Why You Shouldn’t Can Like Your Grandmother Did

What is modern homesteading?

Jam jar clip art

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Fly Fishing, HOBBIES, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

BEGINNING FLY FISHING AGAIN

September 12, 2022 No Comments

INTRODUCTION

Being a fly fishing beginner again simply is the most accurate way to describe myself and the contents of this post. I am writing about a sport that I am very passionate about, freshwater fly fishing. Actually, this writing describes my return to it after a ten year hiatus as well as various, random aspects of this favorite recreational sport.

Fly fishing photo from wikipedia

They include:
1. EARLIEST FORM OF FLY FISHING
2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING
3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING
4. SPECIAL GEAR & EQUIPMENT
5. NO LIVE ‘BAIT’
6. IMITATION FLIES
7. WOMEN AND FLY FISHING
8. FLY FISHING GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

1. THE EARLIEST FORM OF FLY FISHING
“References to fly-like fishing comes as early as the 2nd century AD. In a letter, Roman Claudius Aelianus described a specialized form of angling by Macedonians on the Astraeus River. According to Aelianus, the Macedonians used hooks dressed with red wool and feathers taken from under a rooster’s waddle to catch fish.”

“The history of western fly fishing is much more recent than ancient angling with the first written record of flies found in 13th century English records. The earliest flies were described as tufts of feather tied around hooks used to catch grayling and trout . . .”(1)

2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING
In contrast with other types of fishing, fly fishing evolved from a gentleman’s recreational pastime. As a result, it was considered a contemplative even spiritual activity.

A Spiritual Sport

In fact, being one with the mind of the fish rather than at battle against the body of a fish is the way I also experience it. This is the reason why I love fly fishing. In other words, it is primarily a spiritual respite rather than a physical struggle to me.

3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING
In contrast to fresh water fly fishing, saltwater fly fishing is typically done with heavier tackle than that which is used for freshwater trout fishing, both to handle the larger, more powerful fish, and to accommodate the casting of larger and heavier flies.

A Physical Sport

In contrast to my passion for freshwater fly fishing, saltwater fly fishing holds no interest for me. How ironic. Since I live so close to the Atlantic ocean. Actually any kind of saltwater fishing would be easily accessible to me.

4. SPECIAL GEAR & EQUIPMENT
Early images of the fly fisherman often show this sportsman in a dress suit simply with a rod and reel. In contrast the gear and equipment of today is much more complicated.
In fact, from head to toe there are clothing, accessories as well as equipment specific to the properly prepared angler.

Besides the requisite fly fishing rod and reel, additional essential items can include:

a. chest high waders with waterproof boots
b. hat or attachment with a band for flies
c. a catching net
d. basket for caught fish

5. NO LIVE ‘BAIT’
One of the very first lessons I got in fresh water fly fishing was that live bait is prohibited. Related to this, is a quick story. The first time I went fly fishing I had a choice between two shops. The former was an Orvis Outlet.

At that location, a group of fly fishing beginners was gathered around an outdoor table studying the etymology of flies. In spite my being a fly fishing beginner, I knew this was not the way I wanted to begin. This is because what brought me to try fly fishing in Colorado was fishing, not studying.

My Kind Of Place

As it turned out directly around the corner was another much smaller shop, Frying Pan Angler. My discovery was the proverbial local ‘hole in the wall’ type place. It was situated between a gas station and a small yogurt shop with a no live bait sign boldly displayed on the door. Immediately, I knew this was the place for me.

Don’t Kiss the Fish

Despite my being a fly fishing beginner on a short vacation, I still got to spend some quality time with the staff and guides. My mentor told me that live bait will kill the trout and then the water will become toxic. He also warned me against kissing the fish I caught that would be released. Human germs and trout streams do not mix. This ultimately explained reasons why imitation flies along with fly tying are essential to this sport.(2)

6. IMITATION FLIES

Here’s a video illustrating how a freshwater fishing fly is made.

Since freshwater fly fishing fake flies must mimic their live, seasonal version, one needs many hand tied flies to match the season and the kind the fish one seeks to catch. Therefore no flyfishing sports person can have too many flies. In conclusion, one needs a place to store them. So many boxes are designed to hold them.

Women and Fly Fishing doning FisheWear from True North Trout.

7. WOMEN AND FLY FISHING

Alison, Begins Fly Fishing Again

Eureka! So here I am (was) where the Roaring Fork River meets the Frying Pan River in Basalt Colorado. In fact, I’m fly fishing for the first time. To my delight, I found it to be as wonderful in real life as I always dreamt it would be.

Reunion
Actually, the above was ten years ago in Colorado. So my return to ‘catch and release’ had a ten year lapse so that makes me a beginner, again. My return took place on Saturday, Sept 17th, 2022 at the Connetquot State Park Preserve on Long Island, NY. It was, in fact, through my attendance at the 3rd Annual Women’s Fly Fishing Expo.

Alison, instructor Ed, and rainbow trout at the 3rd Annual LI Women’s Fishing Expo 9.17.2022 at Connetquot River State Park Preserve. Photo taken by my husband.

Famous Women in Fly Fishing
Although the amount of men who fly fish still outnumbers the number of women, we have made our mark. To prove this point, refer to the fascinating article Six Women Who Are Revolutionizing the World of Fly Fishing

Famous Women in Fly Tying
“OKAY BOYS, GET OVER IT: women have made some of the most important contributions in the fine art of fly tying.” So begins the article below, The Women of Fly Tying.

8. FLY FISHING GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (Via Montana)

It comes as no surprise that the film, ‘A River Runs Through It’ is part of the Brad Pitt trilogy sprinkled with gold. Besides the awards it accumulated, it has also won over new fans to fly fishing. Without a doubt, it has also rekindled the hearts of those like myself who already have a strong sense of connection to this spiritual sport.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

A. History of Fly Fishing

B. Fly Fishing – Everything You Want to Know

C. History of Fly Fishing: A Short Guide

D. Fly Fishing from Wikipedia

E. (1)History of Fly Fishing

F. Fly Fishing History

G. (2) Image compiled from ‘do not enter sign’ and ‘worms’ website

H. US Womens Fly Fishing Team

I. Six Women Who Are Revolutionizing the World of Fly Fishing

J. Women in Fly Fishing

K. The Women of Fly Tying

L. River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin on LI, my local source for everything flyfishing

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FINANCE, Financial Survival Tools, The ALISON D. GILBERT Blog

WHEN A COMPANY OFFERS SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

August 18, 2022 No Comments

FIOS FREE INTERNET: Is It Really Free

The current ‘Fios Free Internet’ promotion needs close examination. This is because offers of something for free may not beat the competition’s price without something for free. Such is the case with the current offer from Fios, the internet provider that is Optimum’s competition. Below is a flyer about this promotion.

The flyer describing the current promotion from ‘Fios for Free’ Home Internet service.

HOW TO COMPARE THE FIOS FREE INTERNET PROGRAM AND THE OPTIMUM INTERNET SERVICE
Contact information for the free Fios Home Internet with Verizon’s Fios Forward discount

Making a comparison might seem confusing and overwhelming. It is important to do the following:
a. learn what the program offers at verizon.com/fiosforward
find out whether or not you qualify for the Fios program
b. know what program you participate in and exactly what you have as well as what you are paying now at Optimum.net
c. find out if you qualify and if the offer saves you money by contacting the person whose name is on the flyer (bottom left side of flyer).

STEP ONE
Find out if you qualify for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program. The flyer specifies how to do this in the bottom left hand corner.

Verizon fios internet service and TV provider

STEP TWO
Continue only if you qualify. We qualified. So the next thing to do was to ascertain what program we had and how much we pay. We have the Optimum triple play program which is a discounted package. It normally costs $122/month. In addition, we have another discount program of $30 more off each month. So we pay $92/month.

STEP THREE
As an alternative, if someone is not signed up for anything or already signed up with Fios for all their services, the free internet offer might very well be an advantage. But, as Optimum subscribers, it would not be for us. If we dropped the triple play program, the cost for TV and telephone service would equal about what we are already paying for everything, $92/month.

Optimum.net/triple play monthly bill

Personally, we would not benefit from the Verizon Fios Free Internet Program because we already have the Internet with the Optimum triple play package. But if we did not have triple play or the additional $30/month discount, the Fios program might benefit us.

IN CONCLUSION

There is a lot to consider here because a ‘something for nothing’ offer is not as simple as it appears to be. Instead, it is a something for nothing offer with several ‘ifs’ involved. So be sure to do your due diligence. That way you will know for certain that you are getting the best Internet deal, free offer or not.

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In two of my favorite action heist movies, the theme is ‘sometimes you win and sometimes you lose’. As a fan of these venues, The Town and Den of Thieves, I have witnessed examples of both.

Specifically, for the actors in these two films, there are examples of both outcomes. Some are lucky and some are not. But there is plenty of excitement in both. This post illustrates the qualities of The Town. Part Two illustrates Den of Thieves.

The Town

Part Two of this crime scenario featuring ‘Den of Thieves’ is the next blog post in this two-part series.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

DRINK UP Pure Water or Fermented Beverages Contrary to popular belief, fermented beverages were a source of pleasure even nutrition rather that a sanitary necessities in Medieval Europe going forward.

Middle Age Water Myth

Sources of Water in Cities It is known that cities even constructed sources for pure water. In fact infrastructures were created to supply clean water to populated areas.

Rural Water Requiring Less Engineering Where underground water existed naturally, wells provided pure drinking water.

Water in Colonial New England (3)

Preferred Palatable Beverages But for pleasure, alternative drinking liquids were prefered. In fact, there were many options to choose from. Fermented beverages from distant and recent history are still popular today.

Food and Beverage Hobby As part of my interest in food and beverage history, I like to prepare and drink these beverages. They range from thousands of years old to much more recent concoctions.

SCOBY “Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a “mother” or “mushroom”. The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary.

Yeast The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids).[7]

SOURCES & RESOURCES

GATHERING MY FOOD HISTORY WRITING

Food History Through Blog Posts I am writing a collection of food history blog posts to prepare for a possible book about this topic. Actually, I find the history of food fascinating. In particular, the history of food has far reaching consequences in Colonial America.

The Consequences Actually the consequences reach as far back as the American Revolutionary War fueling and supporting the establishment of a new nation, the United States of America.

In other words, this collection of food history blog posts illustrates the correlation between the establishment of American Colonial food stability and the birth of a new nation. In fact this period covers about 150 years.

Food Abundance Flourishes in the Colonies

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION There are three steps to establishing food stability. This post, summarizes all three. They are listed below.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT Illustrated above shows definitively how conducive the colonies were to cultivating produce and food stability. In the early days of emigration to the colonies, the Indians even showed them how to survive their first Thanksgiving. After that, preparation took hold.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION Traditional Food Preparation & Preservation: Introduction

TRADITIONAL FOOD PRESERVATION Original Glass Jar Canning

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION & PRESERVATION Traditional Food Preservation: Churning Cream into Butter

Although preserved foods like jam/jelly and butter may not have been staples for the survival of early colonials, they do display the fascinating direction of food preservation in Colonial America and beyond.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

MY LIVING HEALTHIER DAY

My living healthier food plan is key to a good day. As mentioned in Part One, A Living Healthier Plan my day begins with at least 8 oz of filtered water. Next comes a supplement. Then perhaps some fresh fruit. Finally the morning meal is complete with a full breakfast.

EAT BREAKFAST

It is easier to explain what breakfast is not for me than what is. There are so many for what is healthy. Meanwhile there are very few that are not. So this should be a no brainer. For example, the typical working person’s start to the day is the adrenaline rush of giant coffees and a carbo bomb.

Protein with Breakfast Is Good Ideally for me a breakfast with some protein is good. Actually, I aim to eat sort of a reverse diet. In fact it is known by the saying, ‘eat breakfast like a king (or queen). Lunch like a prince (or princess). Finally, eat dinner like a pauper’.

Eating Later in the Day Another suggestion is to not eat anything after 8 pm at night. Unless I am famished, this is another part of our living healthier food plan. Throughout the day, I include my supplements and am religious about taking certain prescribed medication before bed.

Snacks Are A Challenge Finding healthy snacks is a real challenge for us. Therefore, one of the changes I am attempting to make is to stay away from sugary snacks and help Phil (my husband) to do the same.

Nuts and Chocolate For example, some kind of protein is preferable to a sugary snack. Personally, I love peanuts and pistachio nuts. Phil loves cashew nuts. Baked Apple Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

Fruit As Well as Vegetables : Fresh, Cooked, or Even Dried

Raw Cheese Let’s not forget cheese, made from raw milk as much as possible. At times I have eliminated dairy. But since discovering the digestive value of raw milk cheese, I like to include it in my food plan.

WHAT FOODS I SHOULD FAVOR I have eaten according to many dietary systems over my life. At different times, different systems have worked best. Therefore I want to record what is the latest find.

But as often happens, I have not been diligent about continuing. That is because I like too many foods that are not listed on it. Therefore I tend to fall back into the foods I like. Part of my living healthier food plan is to resume it as much as possible.

WHAT IS YOUR FOOD PLAN?

SOURCES & RESOURCES

The Do’s and Don’ts A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

Itching and Rash

STEP ONE A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

Filtered Water

What had to come first and foremost was to drink more water. The fermented drinks that I love to make would help as well. But water was the most important liquid. Once I got that in place, I could begin my new eating plan.

CONTINUE BLOG POST This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

SOURCES & RESOURCES

COLONIAL LIFE Traditional Food Preparation and Preservation existed centuries before the modern conveniences we rely on today. Without even thinking about it, we can take for granted how relatively easy it has become to procure, prepare, and preserve food to support our nation.

Yesterday and Today Therefore the contrast between that time’s efforts and today’s is what makes this topic so fascinating. In fact, it is most important that we not overlook this information. Here is the reason why.

Political Independence Follows Documentation of this is the time of the first settlers, the Pilgrims in 1620 and the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As a result, political history and food stability seem to support each other in fostering our new nation.

THE THREE P’s of FOOD

HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS & MUSEUMS Fortunately, historical foundations throughout various states have been established so that these methods of traditional food preparation, preservation, and daily life are remembered and even practiced for posterity.

Just to name a few: Rockhall Museum, Lawrence LI, NY Bethpage Village Restoration, Bethpage, NY Mt. Vernon, VA Williamsburg, VA Monticello, VA Blennerhassett Historical Foundation Biltmore Mansion, Asheville, NC

TRADITIONAL METHODS Procurement included: hunting fishing trading agriculture bartering

Preparation included: open hearth cooking (fire) smoking drying salting and spicing (pickling) fermentation cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

Preservation included: jar canning smoking drying salting and spicing (pickling) root cellar storage burying in ground burying in fat in a barrel fermentation cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Traditional Food Preservation One ways to preserve food is to churn cream to make butter. Historically, cream was the perishable food. Churning cream turned it into butter. But time and technology have provided a major change.

Instead of using a machine to churn, the cream was churned by hand. No need to go to the gym when one worked the arms with this traditional task.

Traveling Back in Time Actually, many other traditional food preservation systems existed then as well.

Actually, many other traditional food preservation systems existed then as well.

They are options even today although they may not be the most efficient ones.

Two descriptions follow this. In fact, they include videos for making butter the traditional way.

Butter Branding Modern butter is branded by its packaging. On the other hand tradition butter branding was a pattern applied directly to the block of butter itself. A wooden carved mold was used to create the impression.

These topics are part of my Traditional Food Preservation Blog Post Series. Their discussion takes place in past and future preservation posts. smoking drying salting burying in ground burying in fat in a barrel root cellar storage jar canning

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Dangers Due to heat and cold, expansion and contraction also posed a liability. Lastly, botulism and even death were extreme, out of the ordinary, possibilities. But this wax technique was adopted by Survivalist Preppers for dire circumstances. It is demonstrated in the video below.

There are other blog posts in this series that reveal traditional food storage systems. They include:

smoking drying salting burying in ground burying in fat in a barrel root cellar storage cream churning to make butter and buttermilk jar canning

SOURCES & RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION

They include: 1. EARLIEST FORM OF FLY FISHING 2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING 3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING 4. SPECIAL GEAR & EQUIPMENT 5. NO LIVE ‘BAIT’ 6. IMITATION FLIES 7. WOMEN AND FLY FISHING 8. FLY FISHING GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

“The history of western fly fishing is much more recent than ancient angling with the first written record of flies found in 13th century English records. The earliest flies were described as tufts of feather tied around hooks used to catch grayling and trout . . .”(1)

2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING In contrast with other types of fishing, fly fishing evolved from a gentleman’s recreational pastime. As a result, it was considered a contemplative even spiritual activity.

A Spiritual Sport

In fact, being one with the mind of the fish rather than at battle against the body of a fish is the way I also experience it. This is the reason why I love fly fishing. In other words, it is primarily a spiritual respite rather than a physical struggle to me.

3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING In contrast to fresh water fly fishing, saltwater fly fishing is typically done with heavier tackle than that which is used for freshwater trout fishing, both to handle the larger, more powerful fish, and to accommodate the casting of larger and heavier flies.

A Physical Sport

DRINK UP
Pure Water or Fermented Beverages
Contrary to popular belief, fermented beverages were a source of pleasure even nutrition rather that a sanitary necessities in Medieval Europe going forward.

Sources of Water in Cities
It is known that cities even constructed sources for pure water. In fact infrastructures were created to supply clean water to populated areas.

Rural Water Requiring Less Engineering
Where underground water existed naturally, wells provided pure drinking water.

Preferred Palatable Beverages
But for pleasure, alternative drinking liquids were prefered. In fact, there were many options to choose from. Fermented beverages from distant and recent history are still popular today.

SCOBY
“Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a “mother” or “mushroom”. The microbial populations in a SCOBY vary.

Yeast
The yeast component generally includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, along with other species; the bacterial component almost always includes Gluconacetobacter xylinus to oxidize yeast-produced alcohols to acetic acid (and other acids).[7]

Food History Through Blog Posts
I am writing a collection of food history blog posts to prepare for a possible book about this topic. Actually, I find the history of food fascinating. In particular, the history of food has far reaching consequences in Colonial America.

The Consequences
Actually the consequences reach as far back as the American Revolutionary War fueling and supporting the establishment of a new nation, the United States of America.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION
There are three steps to establishing food stability. This post, summarizes all three. They are listed below.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT
Illustrated above shows definitively how conducive the colonies were to cultivating produce and food stability. In the early days of emigration to the colonies, the Indians even showed them how to survive their first Thanksgiving. After that, preparation took hold.

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION
Traditional Food Preparation & Preservation: Introduction

TRADITIONAL FOOD PRESERVATION
Original Glass Jar Canning

TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARATION & PRESERVATION
Traditional Food Preservation: Churning Cream into Butter

Protein with Breakfast Is Good
Ideally for me a breakfast with some protein is good. Actually, I aim to eat sort of a reverse diet. In fact it is known by the saying, ‘eat breakfast like a king (or queen). Lunch like a prince (or princess). Finally, eat dinner like a pauper’.

Eating Later in the Day
Another suggestion is to not eat anything after 8 pm at night. Unless I am famished, this is another part of our living healthier food plan. Throughout the day, I include my supplements and am religious about taking certain prescribed medication before bed.

Snacks Are A Challenge
Finding healthy snacks is a real challenge for us. Therefore, one of the changes I am attempting to make is to stay away from sugary snacks and help Phil (my husband) to do the same.

Nuts and Chocolate
For example, some kind of protein is preferable to a sugary snack. Personally, I love peanuts and pistachio nuts. Phil loves cashew nuts.

Baked Apple Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

Raw Cheese
Let’s not forget cheese, made from raw milk as much as possible. At times I have eliminated dairy. But since discovering the digestive value of raw milk cheese, I like to include it in my food plan.

WHAT FOODS I SHOULD FAVOR
I have eaten according to many dietary systems over my life. At different times, different systems have worked best. Therefore I want to record what is the latest find.

The Do’s and Don’ts
A living healthier plan would have to include a food plan, a meal and snack schedule, as well as prescription drugs and a supplement regimen. In addition reducing sugary foods needed to become more of a priority.

STEP ONE

A living healthier plan clearly would be facilitated by a regular routine. I had undeniably gotten off course in this area. So without much difficulty, if I could tweek my current routine, a positive change should not be that difficult to achieve.

CONTINUE BLOG POST
This blog post continues with Part Two, A Living Healthier Food Plan.

COLONIAL LIFE
Traditional Food Preparation and Preservation existed centuries before the modern conveniences we rely on today. Without even thinking about it, we can take for granted how relatively easy it has become to procure, prepare, and preserve food to support our nation.

Yesterday and Today
Therefore the contrast between that time’s efforts and today’s is what makes this topic so fascinating. In fact, it is most important that we not overlook this information. Here is the reason why.

Political Independence Follows
Documentation of this is the time of the first settlers, the Pilgrims in 1620 and the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As a result, political history and food stability seem to support each other in fostering our new nation.

HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS & MUSEUMS
Fortunately, historical foundations throughout various states have been established so that these methods of traditional food preparation, preservation, and daily life are remembered and even practiced for posterity.

Just to name a few:
Rockhall Museum, Lawrence LI, NY
Bethpage Village Restoration, Bethpage, NY
Mt. Vernon, VA
Williamsburg, VA
Monticello, VA
Blennerhassett Historical Foundation
Biltmore Mansion, Asheville, NC

TRADITIONAL METHODS
Procurement included:
hunting
fishing
trading
agriculture
bartering

Preparation included:
open hearth cooking (fire)
smoking
drying
salting and spicing (pickling)
fermentation
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

Preservation included:
jar canning
smoking
drying
salting and spicing (pickling)
root cellar storage
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
fermentation
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk

Traditional Food Preservation
One ways to preserve food is to churn cream to make butter. Historically, cream was the perishable food. Churning cream turned it into butter. But time and technology have provided a major change.

Traveling Back in Time

Actually, many other traditional food preservation systems existed then as well.

Butter Branding
Modern butter is branded by its packaging. On the other hand tradition butter branding was a pattern applied directly to the block of butter itself. A wooden carved mold was used to create the impression.

These topics are part of my Traditional Food Preservation Blog Post Series. Their discussion takes place in past and future preservation posts.
smoking
drying
salting
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
root cellar storage
jar canning

smoking
drying
salting
burying in ground
burying in fat in a barrel
root cellar storage
cream churning to make butter and buttermilk
jar canning

They include:
1. EARLIEST FORM OF FLY FISHING
2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING
3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING
4. SPECIAL GEAR & EQUIPMENT
5. NO LIVE ‘BAIT’
6. IMITATION FLIES
7. WOMEN AND FLY FISHING
8. FLY FISHING GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

2. GENTLEMEN’S RECREATIONAL FISHING
In contrast with other types of fishing, fly fishing evolved from a gentleman’s recreational pastime. As a result, it was considered a contemplative even spiritual activity.

3. FRESH AND SALTWATER FISHING
In contrast to fresh water fly fishing, saltwater fly fishing is typically done with heavier tackle than that which is used for freshwater trout fishing, both to handle the larger, more powerful fish, and to accommodate the casting of larger and heavier flies.

5. NO LIVE ‘BAIT’
One of the very first lessons I got in fresh water fly fishing was that live bait is prohibited. Related to this, is a quick story. The first time I went fly fishing I had a choice between two shops. The former was an Orvis Outlet.

Famous Women in Fly Fishing
Although the amount of men who fly fish still outnumbers the number of women, we have made our mark. To prove this point, refer to the fascinating article Six Women Who Are Revolutionizing the World of Fly Fishing

Famous Women in Fly Tying
“OKAY BOYS, GET OVER IT: women have made some of the most important contributions in the fine art of fly tying.” So begins the article below, The Women of Fly Tying.