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Archaeology:

A ROMAN SHIPWRECK IN THE ANCIENT PORT OF ANTIBES A team of archaeologists from Inrap have uncovered a Roman shipwreck in southern France, in what was once part of the bustling ancient port of Antibes.

Antibes was known as Antipolis, a Greek colony originally founded by the Phoenicians of Massalia. The date of its origin is uncertain, but situated on the coast of Provence, Antipolis occupied a privileged position on the sea routes linking Marseilles to the Italian coast and contained a natural harbour – Anse Saint-Roch – which protected shipping from prevailing winds. Read full story from pasthorizonspr.com

St. John’s Wort

Botanical Name: Hypericum perforatum

Photo by Hunda

St. John’s Wort is native to the United States and Europe, and is a perennial plant that grows beside country paths and on sunny edges of woodlands. The use dates back to the ancient Greeks, Hippocrates recorded the medical use of St. John’s wort flowers. It was given its name because it blooms around June 24th, the birthday of John the Baptist. The medicinal benefits of the plant stem from a high concentration of hypericin, a red pigment that exudes from the flowers, and from pseudohypercin. Hypercin is thought to be responsible for the known antidepressant effect of St. John’s Wort. In addition, the plant has antibiotic and antiviral capabilities and has long been used to help heal wounds.

Rose (Rosaceae)

Powers: Healing, Love Divination, Luck, Protection, Psychic Powers

ROSE buds and petals are a symbol of love, romance and sexual attraction, as well as to draw good fortune in matters of the heart. ROSE hips are symbols of overall luck. ROSE oil appears in many love formulas and in some for luck.

Photo by alfaneque

Deities: Aphrodite, Adonis, Aurora, Cupid, Demeter, Eros, Harpocrates, Hathor, Hulda, Isis, Venus

Element: Water (Dreams, Fidelity, Friendships, Healing, Love, Meditation, Prophetic Dreams, Purification, Sleep)

Ivy Cliff began as a modest two story home built in the 1790’s by Henry Brown In Bedford County VA near the town of New London. There were at least four additions through the 1860’s. Henry became very wealthy through business and land ownership and eventually owned approximately 3400 acres including Ivy Cliff. He served in the militia during the revolutionary war, was wounded at the battle of Guilford Courthouse, N.C., and eventually made captain many years after the war. Henry served as President of the Board of Trustees of New London Academy, Sheriff of Bedford County, and county tax collector. He even collected taxes from his neighbor, Thomas Jefferson.

Quince (Cydonia Vulgaris)

Powers: Happiness, Love, Protection

Quince is a member of the genus Cydonia and native to Asia in the Caucasus region. It’s a small, deciduous tree, growing 5–8 m tall and 4–6 m wide. Related to apples and pears, and like them has a pome fruit. When mature, it is bright golden yellow and pear-shaped, ranging about 7–12 cm long and 6–9 cm broad.

Quince is sacred in many cultures, the Greeks believed it to be sacred to Aphrodite, and Pliny the Elder recorded that it warded off the evil eye. The Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, Venus, is often shown holding a quince, it is said, it was given to her by Paris to show his love. This association was later transferred, in some areas, to Mary, mother ofJesus. In Pompeii, the quince was often found in artwork and tile mosaics, and frequently shown in a bear’s paw. The oldest record of it’s religious use is with Hebrews. Grieves believed it sacred to these peoples and writes in A Modern Herbal that many “consider that the Tappuach of Scripture, always translated apple, was the Quince. It is also supposed to be the fruit alluded to in the Canticles, ‘I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.’”

The year is 1826, The Walke Manor House has visitors that stay on the Plantation from time to time, mostly cousins. To set the scene, a huge brick Manor House, a race track, acres of fruit trees and a bounty of legendary oysters in the bay. The men indulged in gambling, drinking and card parties that ran into the early hours of morning. The women on the other hand enjoyed the beautiful countryside with games on the glorious green.

Mediterranean Potatoes

Photo by I Believe I Can Fry

Ingredients:

• 2 medium red potatoes

• 2/3 cup fresh pearl onions

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 small tomato, seeded, chopped

• 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

• 2 tablespoons chopped black olives

Preparation:

• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and then crosswise into pieces. Toss potato pieces and onions with oil in small bowl until thoroughly coated. Place potato pieces and onions in 11/2-quart soufflé dish. Add Italian seasoning and pepper. Mix well. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil.

Borage

Botanical Name: Borago Officinalis

Photo by madlyinlovewithlife

In the late Middle Ages, Physicians recommended Borage; they believed it supplied courage, confidence, cheerfulness and restoring life. Today, we know that it stimulates the production of adrenaline, which prepares the body to handle stress (the medieval beliefs were well founded). Other names for Borage: “good cheer”, “dear friend” and “sparkling eyes”. This reflects borage’s ability to brighten the mood. Rich in a polyunsaturated fatty acid, Borage seed oil is used to address metabolic problems from obesity to premenstrual complaints. It also promotes lactation, helps break a fever by inducing a sweat and breaks up phlegm while easing sore throats and coughs.

Help for viral infections:

• A Borage and Echinacea tea have a calming effect.
• Reduces fever and induces sweating.
• Helps combat measles, mumps, chicken pox, colds and flus.
• Mix equal amounts of fresh borage leaves and powdered Echinacea root. Brew in hot water, steep for 10 min. and sweeten with honey. Drink 1 cup 3 times per day.

Therapeutic Effect:

• Borage leaves are diuretic, it increase sweat and urine.
• It acts as an adrenal stimulant, useful for countering stress and lingering effects of steroid therapy.
• Tea made from Borage soothes sore throats and irritated coughs.

Components:

• The seed oil contains gamma linoleic acid. Found primarily in vegetable oils and used as a dietary supplement for treating problems with inflammation and auto-immune diseases.
• The acid is used to to treat metabolic disturbances, including obesity, premenstrual syndrome, eczema, high blood pressure and alcoholism.
• Recent evidence suggests Borage may be useful for treating heart disease and cancer.
• The leaves are a good source of vitamin C, organic calcium and potassium, essential oils, tannins and mucilages. It’s also has saponins that strengthen resistance and flavonoids that prevent infection.
• The silicic acid in Borage stimulates hormone production and balances mood swings.

For lactation:

• A Borage tea will help promote healthy milk flow while you’re nursing.
• Add a generous handful of fresh Borage leaves to ½ gal. of lemonade, or to the same amount of a mild hot tea, which ever flavor you enjoy - chamomile, fennel, nettle and violet blossoms are Excellent choices.
• Let steep for at least 20 minutes, then strain through a paper filter. Drink a cup 3-4 times a day for best results.

From your garden

• Borage is hard to find commercially. If you plan to make it a regular part of your diet, plant it in your garden. It attracts honeybees, ensuring pollination of other plants.
• Plant the herb in sandy soil in which water drains rapidly. Sow in mid-or late spring, in full sun or partial shade, and again in early and midsummer.
• Borage is an annual, it will die at the end of the season, but self sown seedlings germinate for replacement plants.
• For medicinal use, the leaves are best gathered before the flower buds appear. The plant is easily bruised, so handle gently and use right away. The young leaves have a prickly texture that are edible.

Kitchen Hints

• Preserve Borage in vinegar or in an alcohol tincture. It does not dry or freeze well.
• Capture the flavor of Borage over the long term by making a blue vinegar from the blossoms or an emerald green vinegar from the leaves. These vinegars make wonderful gifts in decorative bottles.
• “Cucumber herb” is another name for borage, and complement plain and pickled cucumbers. It adds flavor to salads, soups and summer stews. Try with eggs and fish.
• The pretty blue blossoms are also edible. Remove the green sepals on the undersides before using, then sprinkle the flowers over soups and salads.
• Freeze the flowers in ice for a garnish for punches and other summer drinks.
• For cooking, use young leaves that are no larger than a half dollar. For teas, the bigger leaves are fine.
• Borage is an essential ingredient to many Italian dishes. Borage risotto is very popular, as is ravioli stuffed with borage.
• To enhance the flavor of dishes, sprinkle Borage leaves or stir them in before serving. It loses much of it’s flavor and aroma, once cooked.

Tip: Cut borage leaves into thin strips and mix into strawberry punch. Strain the punch through a paper filter before serving.

References:

• The Complete Guide to Natural Healing

Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cubed
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
• 1 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 (16 ounce) can garbanzo beans
• bay leaves 2
• butternut squash

Preparation:

• Prepare the couscous according to package directions.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, and cook onion, (until tender)
• Mix in onion, bay leaves, cumin, paprika, cloves, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Simmer about 10 minutes.
• Place chicken in the pot, and cook until well browned.
• Pour garbanzo beans, chickpeas, celery, tomatoes, and broth into the pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 25 minutes.
• Mix carrots and zucchini into pot. Season with salt. Continue cooking 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Serve stew over cooked couscous.

Enjoy! Have a great weekend!