I was too busy working on the house this week to curate a list of Twitterable links so it’s time for a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan break. Kelly and I were lucky to have seen him in concert back in the 1990s. Here he is at the 1992 WOMAD festival in Yokohama performing “Mustt Mustt.” It’s difficult to translate the lyrics of this Qawwali, but in essence it’s about a state of divine intoxication reminiscent of the Song of Solomon. It was also part of the soundtrack that kept me going through long sessions of hardwood floor nailing in the midst of a very hot August. Those floors are now finished, sanded (by a professional crew) and in use.
Author: Mr. Homegrown
125 Green Burials with the Green Reaper Elizabeth Fournier
This week on the podcast Kelly and I talk to undertaker, funeral home owner and author of The Green Burial Guidebook Elizabeth Fournier. Elizabeth, known affectionately as the “Green Reaper,” owns and operates Cornerstone Funeral Services in Boring, Oregon (we’re not making that up). She serves on the Advisory Board for the Green Burial Council. You can find her online at the Green Reaper. During the podcast we discuss:
- What is a green burial?
- The legality of green burial in the United States
- What’s wrong with a modern funeral?
- National Home Funeral Alliance
- Cremation vs. green burial
- Water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis)
- Burial at sea
- Green burial grounds
If you’d like to leave a question for the Root Simple Podcast please call (213) 537-2591 or send an email to [email protected]. You can subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store and on Stitcher. Closing theme music by Dr. Frankenstein. A downloadable version of this podcast is here.
A Lemon Arbor
Consider this post one of those inspirational ideas we’ll never get around to but perhaps an ambitious Root Simple reader will tackle: a lemon arbor. You can find this particular lemon arbor at Lotusland in Montecito, California.
We used to have a grape arbor that became a “stacking function fail” due to Los Angeles’ disruptive rat population. I suspect the rats would be less interested in the lemons but don’t hold me to that speculation. Our grape arbor came down to make way for a new patio and backyard designed by Haynes Landscape Design (I’ll post an update when the work is complete).
Saturday Tweets: A Solar Powered Blog, Caravansaries, Moths and Michaelmas
Our new self-hosted, solar-powered blog is designed to radically reduce the energy use associated with accessing our content. https://t.co/err1n0Jb8d pic.twitter.com/WofAjYoC4q
— lowtechmagazine (@lowtechmagazine) September 26, 2018
The mother of all Iranian caravansaries: @atlasobscura https://t.co/LrKw76GhZF
— Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 29, 2018
Survival on the sea: https://t.co/eggkX3RSZ2
— Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 29, 2018
Moths love lamps . . . and sipping the salty tears of birds: https://t.co/yAPdkkXCkZ
— Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 29, 2018
Their questions were great. One stood out: how is it that there is no support, within their school, for learning how to represent climate change in their films? How to bridge that gaping interdisciplinary chasm? Methinks there needs to be a book like "Climate Change for Artists." https://t.co/xL8j4etD43
— Peter Kalmus (@ClimateHuman) September 29, 2018
Delighted to be showing Sub Rosa @horsehospital in their 25th Year! https://t.co/TP4LWtbk5U
— cathy ward (@wardsister) September 26, 2018
Let's be clear: our cities are going broke because we make *no* plans for how we'll afford the basic maintenance our infrastructure as it ages. But it doesn't help that reinforced concrete is a way less durable material than most of us realize. https://t.co/IZb5rn4vvY
— Strong Towns (@StrongTowns) September 28, 2018
— Cats (@SpaceCatPics) September 28, 2018
We grieve, with the entire Los Angeles food community, the loss of our friend, colleague and former Co-Chair Ernest Miller. An exuberant teacher, passionate advocate for real food and an encyclopedic resource of all things edible, he will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/bOzcaZUDeE
— Slow Food L.A. (@slowfoodla) September 24, 2018
Ernest Miller Memorial Fund https://t.co/WygShXg1fl
— Root Simple (@rootsimple) September 26, 2018
It's Michaelmas and let's not forget its the feast day of St Michael and 'All Angels'. So here are some photos of the Orders of Angels portrayed on the exceptional early 15th-century rood screen at Barton Turf in Norfolk. pic.twitter.com/3xizjS8kz2
— Allan Barton (@vitrearum) September 29, 2018
RIP Chef Ernest Miller and Dr. Tracy McFarland
I had the great privilege of taking chef Miller’s Master Food Preserver training. Chef Miller’s knowledge of food preservation and safety was encyclopedic. Whenever I had a question I’d send Ernie an email. He was an accomplished chef, teacher, Navy veteran and a kind and gracious person who volunteered countless hours of his time. There is no replacement for him.
The Celebration of Life for Ernest Miller is on Monday October 1, and will begin at 12:30-4pm at Rose Hills Mortuary Visitation Center located at 3888 Workman Mill Road in Whittier and will conclude at 5pm-7pm at the LDS Chapel located at 7505 Garvalia Ave in Rosemead. His brother-in-law has set up a memorial fund to pay for funeral expenses.
Dr. McFarland’s was the most talented and dedicated veterinarian I have ever met. Her diagnostic and surgical skill were legendary. The last time I saw her back in April, for an appointment for one of our cats, she talked about the many times she would head back to her cat-only clinic, late at night, to check on patients. Like Ernie, she was one of those people completely dedicated to her craft, which was all about reducing the suffering of our animal companions. When she entered into hospice earlier this month she posted the following message to Facebook:
What a privilege it has been to welcome your cats to our family, I have loved every minute. I wish I could tell you personally how much each one of you mean to me. Some of you may know that I have been very sick lately. I’m at a point in my life now that God is calling me home. I want you to know I am well taken care of, comfortable and surrounded by my family. I wish you all much love, good health, good humor, and the strength to get through this time. My wonderful team will be there for you during this transition and through the times ahead. The Cat Doctor & Friends will continue my dream of providing honest, compassionate care with integrity. With much love and appreciation, your friend and sister Dr. Tracy.
A memorial service for Dr. Tracy will be held this Saturday September 29th at 10am in the worship center at Grace Baptist Church located at 22833 Copper Hill Drive in Santa Clarita. See the Cat Doctor and Friends Facebook page for information on charities you can donate to in honor of Dr. Tracy.
You can listen to Dr. McFarland on episodes 36 and 46 of our podcast. You can hear Ernie discuss pressure canning on episode 14.