Nothing beats spending time in nature! Whatever the time of year there are always lots of things to do and discover. ‘Big Ideas for the Big Outdoors’ is packed with inspiring projects to help you have fun outside. From amazing artworks to scavenger hunts, it’s time to unplug and get stuck in to nature. You could... • Become an expert animal tracker • Make an entire city for bugs • Build a hide-away den in the woods • Turn photos of friends into forest monsters ...and so much more! With colourful photography and illustrations, and clear step-by- step instructions, it’s time to get ready for some incredible outdoor adventures!

Fulfilling a lifetime dream of finding a house by the sea, Pearl Lowe now brings her laid-back decorating style to coastal living with Faded Glamour by the Sea. Pearl Lowe's gloriously decadent yet perfectly lived-in decorating style was featured in her bestselling interiors book Faded Glamour. Now Pearl is taking us to the coast, and in Faded Glamour by the Sea we get the first glimpse of her new home – a beautiful renovation project that she and her husband, musician Danny Goffey, have created in East Sussex. Built in the 1940s for an artist whose shell sculptures are still dotted round the garden, the house and adjacent cabins have been lovingly restored by Pearl.  The house may have been a life-long dream for the couple, who have always loved the solace of water, but it has only been just over a year in the making, thanks to the inspiration Pearl has drawn from many friends who live in the area and also further afield. And so she takes us on a tour of their seaside homes. A pair of antique dealers whose love of all things French inspired them to set up their own brocante in Kent; an artist with a love of beach huts; an author who swapped London life for a clifftop house with his own writer’s hut. Add to this the Malibu beachfront home of stylist Rachel Ashwell, the hippy-chic style of supermodel Helena Christensen’s waterside retreat and the ‘punk noir Victorian’ vibe of the hotel created by friends from rock band The Libertines. In Faded Glamour by the Sea Pearl visits these properties, and as the owners tell their stories she explains how she found inspiration for this new chapter in her life.

An intriguing exploration of the great transition between life and the after-life.

In a dim clearing off a county road in Kentucky sits a sagging outdoor stage buried in moss and dead leaves. It used to be the centrepiece of carnival-like Sunday afternoons where local guitarists, fiddlers and mandolin players hammered out old mountain ballads and legends from the dawn of country music performed their classic hits. Most of the musicians who showed up have long since passed, but Nashville stars Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart survive. They were barely teenagers in the early 1970s when they visited this stage in the care of legends Ralph Stanley and Lester Flatt, respectively. Skaggs and Stuart followed their bosses to dozens of stages throughout Appalachia and deeper into the American southland. They were the children, absorbing the wondrous music and strange dramas around them as they became innovators and living symbols of country music. Highways and Heartaches takes readers on the rural circuit Skaggs and Stuart travelled, where an acoustic sound first assembled by masters such as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and Mother Maybelle Carter ruled the day. The young men were heirs to a bluegrass tradition transmitted to them early in life. One part mountain soul and another African American-influenced rhythm, the music they received was alternately celebrated and neglected in the more than fifty years after the two met in 1971, but since then it has never stopped evolving and influencing the wider American culture thanks to Skaggs and Stuart and other actors in this book, such as Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Keith Whitley, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. Riveting portraits of Johnny Cash, Ralph Stanley, Lester Flatt and other heartland-born figures emerge, too. Moulded by forces in post-war southern culture such as racial conflict, fringe politics, evangelicalism, growing federal government influence, and stubborn patterns of Appalachian living and thinking, Skaggs and Stuart injected the spirit of bluegrass into their hard-wrought experiments in mainstream country music later in life, fuelling the profitability and credibility of the fabled genre. Skaggs's new traditionalism of the 1980s, integrating mountain instruments with elements of contemporary country music, created a new sound for the masses and placed him in the vanguard of Nashville's recording artists while Stuart embraced seminal influences and attitudes from the riches of American culture to produce a catalogue of significant recordings. Skaggs and Stuart's friendship took years to jell, but their similar pathways reveal a shared dedication to the soul of country music and highlight the curious day-to-day experiences of two lads growing up on the demanding rural route in bluegrass culture. Their journeys-populated by grizzled mentors, fearsome undertows, and cultural upheaval-influenced their creativity and, ultimately, cut life-giving tributaries in the ungainly, eternal story of country music.

*** Want to get your house in order? Well, all you have to do is bin everything you thought you knew about organising and follow Shira Gill's revolutionary clutter-clearing plan... You magazine 'Breaks down the process of creating more serene homes into manageable chunks' - Sunday Express 'A step-by-step guide to designing a better home, wardrobe and life, Shira Gill's book delivers its minimalist manifesto with plenty of practical advice for making it a reality in your home. Guided by the dual principles of editing and organising, Shira aims to help you remove the clutter through a process that promotes sustainability, achieves lasting results and can work for anyone, regardless of their property or space.' Sheer Luxe "I identified with so many of the important lessons Shira teaches in Minimalista. Now I'll know what book to recommend when people ask me to help them on their journey towards minimalism!" - Garance Doré, New York Times Best Selling Author of Love Style Life Elevate your personal style, trim your belongings, and transform your life, one room at a time, with this visionary lifestyle and home organisation book from organising expert, Shira Gill. As a professional home organiser with clients ranging from students to multi-millionaires, Shira Gill observed that clutter is a universal stress trigger. Over the years she created a signature decluttering and organisation process that promotes sustainability, achieves lasting results, and can be applied to anyone, regardless of their space or lifestyle. Rather than imposing strict rules and limitations, Shira redefines minimalism as having the perfect amount of everything - for you - based on your personal values and the limitations of your space. Now, in Minimalista, Shira shares her complete toolkit for the first time, built around five key steps: Clarify, Edit, Organize, Elevate, and Maintain. Shira teaches that the most important thing you can do is start, and that small victories, achieved one at a time, will snowball into massive transformation. Broken into small, bite-sized chunks, Minimalista makes it clear that if the process is fun and easy to follow, anyone can learn the principles of editing and organisation. The Minimalista Manifesto · Buy less; live more. · Invest in high quality + solid craftsmanship. · Opt for natural, sustainable materials. · Treat your space + your stuff with respect. · Shop your own home before hitting the stores. · Celebrate life's little luxuries: fresh flowers, hot water, a good meal with friends. · Try to repair instead of replace. · Embrace negative space and dispose of unwanted items responsibly. · Create a home that supports your personal goals + core values. · Be the gatekeeper of your home. · Say "no" to swag, freebies, and hotel samples. · Say "no" to excess and "yes" to enough.

In Heritage Style, Selina Lake celebrates the new nostalgic mood in interiors, using vintage and inherited furniture and other accessories in a fresh, original fashion. Our homes are more important to us than ever before, and heritage style harks back to the reassuring comfort of traditional interiors. Panelling, wallpaper, floral fabrics and heritage paint colours provide a backdrop for house plants, artworks and contemporary crafts, while upholstered and wicker furniture, pretty decorative detailing and plump cushions feel warm, welcoming and familiar. It’s not only a comforting style, but also a sustainable one, built around pre-owned and vintage pieces sourced at online auctions or on Instagram and given a new lease of life in modern homes. Heritage Style shows how to create a home that feels both modern and nostalgic at the same time – inviting, easy to live in and full of intriguing personal touches.

"If the world of gardening has rock stars, Piet Oudolf qualifies as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Prince rolled into one." -Gardenista The original publication of Planting the Natural Garden ushered in a revolution in landscape design: the New Perennial Movement. Spearheaded by internationally renowned designer Piet Oudolf, and incisively articulated by the late plantsman and designer Henk Gerritsen, it transformed private and public spaces with its emotionally resonant, naturalistic use of hardy perennials and grasses. Now this classic has been expanded and updated to include scores of new plants and combinations. Packed with practical information and visual inspiration, Planting the Natural Garden zeroes in on the New Perennial Movement's power to move us, making its distinctive plant palette available to all. For enthusiasts of these vibrant landscapes, it is an essential text; for gardeners who love the dreamy moods and colours that Oudolf and Gerritsen celebrate, it's the key to a magic kingdom of garden beauty.

Whether served in a lunch pail, on a cafeteria plate, from a fast food restaurant, or with two martinis, lunch is an important historical and sociological indicator of American culture. Although the modern three-meal-a-day pattern may seem divinely ordained, it has undergone profound changes in the last century. Prior to the American industrial revolution, an agrarian society necessitated a hearty breakfast, a large noon meal called ""dinner,"" and a light evening repast known as ""supper."" As the nineteenth century came to a close, and factories increasingly replaced farms as primary employers, the new American lifestyle forced a change in eating patterns, and a new, light, publicly consumed midday meal called ""lunch"" emerged. This book studies the contentious history of the American lunch, and explains how divergent forces, from food processors and advertisers to social workers, doctors, government representatives and mothers, have carved out overlapping territories in the contest to influence America's eating habits. Early chapters explore the shift from agrarianism to industrialization and the pursuant lunch revolution, and cover early reform efforts to improve lunch in schools and workplaces. Several chapters describe World War II as a watershed event for the American lunch, covering lunchtime militarization and government intrusion into daily nutrition, changing attitudes toward traditional women's roles of food preparation, and the resulting postwar meal. Final chapters cover the ""colonization"" of school lunch by agribusiness, government and media, and explain how magazine and advertising treatments of lunch provision have constructed new models of femininity.

“… a superbly presented collection of rich, lip-smacking treats offering a festival of taste and exploration for adventurous dining.�—The Midwest Book Review Now available in an illustrated edition with new recipes and color photos! Sicilian Feasts was born out of the author’s love for her native Sicily. Giovanna Bellia La Marca uses simple methods and readily available ingredients to teach the straightforward and delectable everyday cooking of Sicily. The history, customs, and folklore, as well as the flavorful and varied cuisine of her beautiful Mediterranean island are well represented in these recipes and stories. In this new third edition, La Marca adds a number of popular Sicilian recipes that have been featured on YouTube on the popular “Pasta Grannies� channel as well as on La Marca’s own cooking show, “Kitchen on the Cliff.� Sample recipes: Omelet with Peas (Frittata ri priselli) Rice Balls (Arancini) Stuffed Artichokes (Carciuofuli cini) Handmade Pasta (Causunedda) Fennel and Orange Salad (Finuocci e aranci a ‘nzalata) Roasted Leg of Lamb (Coscia ri agnieddu arrustuta) Swordfish with Salmoriglio (Piscispada co’ salmurigliu) White Milk Pudding (Biancu manciari) Watermelon Dessert (Gelo di melone)

A passionate and imaginative exploration of wood – the material that shaped human history. Wood – humankind's long-term partner in our evolution from woodland foragers to engineers of our own destiny – has no equal in strength, resilience, adaptability and availability. The Museum of the Wood Age investigates the influence of basic devices – wedge, inclined plane, screw, lever, wheel, axle and pulley – to reveal the myriad ways in which wood has been worked throughout human history. From the simple bivouacs of hunter-gatherers to sophisticated wooden buildings such as stave churches; from the decorative arts to the humble woodworking of rustic furniture; Max Adams fashions a lattice of interconnected stories and objects that trace a path of human ingenuity across half a million years of history.

Deep in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside lie a number of secret places that played a special part in protecting a generation from the onslaught of a world war. Travellers passing through leafy Worcestershire lanes may catch a glimpse of a structure that seems out of place against the backdrop of fields and hills – the dish of a gigantic radio telescope. How did such an incongruous structure arrive in the middle of nowhere, and what does it do? This book answers the question, and recounts the dramatic history of two 'Top Secret' wartime airfields, and how their activities were inextricably linked to the 'boffins' of the Malvern Telecommunications Research Establishment. It tells the story of brilliant inventions, wartime courage and sacrifice, tragic air crashes, and ordinary and extraordinary people, pushing themselves and their machines to the limit and beyond. Crafted using personal recollections – the book reveals the truly extraordinary wartime commitment and camaraderie that fuelled extraordinary endeavour and achievement.

Ask a foodie about the Amalfi Coast and lemons immediately spring to mind. The sweet, aromatic, large and thick-skinned Sfusato Amalfitano is the extraordinary and delectable citrus fruit which Gennaro Contaldo grew up with. Lemons were and still are a part of daily life for locals of the Amalfi Coast, and, when Gennaro came to the UK over 40 years ago he continued this tradition. From a sliver of zest in his morning espresso to helping with minor ailments and even household chores, lemons have a wealth of uses. No part of the lemon is wasted – flesh, pith and skin are chopped into salads, juice is drizzled over meat, fish and veggies, while the aromatic zest adds a complexity to a dish's flavour. Even the leaves are used to wrap meat, fish and cheese for extra flavour, or finely chopped and made into a tea infusion. Lemons can cleanse, refresh, preserve, ‘cook’ and add a vibrant flavour to dishes as giving colour and an uplifting aroma. From Ravioli with Ricotta, Lemon and Mint, and Sicilian Chicken Involtini, to Lemon Biscuits, and Coffee and Lemon Semi-freddo, this is not only a beautiful and inspiring homage to the most revered of fruit but Gennaro's most inspirational book to date. Chapters are: Introduction – including The Amalfi Lemon and Lemons in the Kitchen; Small Plates; Vegetables; Fish; Meat; Desserts; Drinks & Preserves; Sauces & Dressings.

Is bad behavior the new normal? How do we change it? "Each of us has the power to make the planet a more hospitable, pleasant, caring, and safe place to live.... It starts with respecting others and recognizing their right to be here. Saving Civility is about how we contribute to society and work together—locally and globally—with greater respect, awareness, understanding, and acceptance of one another. A polite planet embodies a worldview of a civilized society—one that is enlightened and empathetic." —from the Introduction Cyberbullying, hostile and polarizing political infighting, and tasteless and tactless behavior may be on the rise, but it doesn't have to be this way. Sara Hacala, a certified etiquette and protocol consultant, offers a definitive look at what civility means and how it can change the nature of everyday interaction. She goes beyond a superficial discussion of proper manners to present civility as a mind-set that encompasses values and attitudes that help you embrace your connections to others and repair society. Tapping the wisdom of ancient spiritual luminaries as well as the latest social science research, she provides fifty-two practical ways you can reverse the course of incivility and make the world a more enriching, pleasant place to live.

Breaking down the 40-year history of the world’s most popular art form, one video game at a timePong. The Legend of Zelda.Final Fantasy VII. Rock Band.Fortnite. Animal Crossing: New Horizons. For each of the 40 years of video game history, there is a defining game, a game that captured the zeitgeist and left a legacy for all games that followed. Through a series of entertaining, informative, and opinionated critical essays, author and tech journalist Jordan Minor investigates, in chronological order, the innovative, genre-bending, and earth-shattering games from 1977 through 2022. Minor explores development stories, critical reception, and legacy, and also looks at how gaming intersects with and eventually influences society at large while reveling in how uniquely and delightfully bizarre even the most famous games tend to be.From portly plumbers to armor-clad space marines and the speedy rodents in between, Video Game of the Year paints individual portraits that, as a whole, give readers a stronger appreciation for the vibrant variety and long-lasting impact of this fresh, exciting, and massively popular art form. Illustrated throughout with retro-inspired imagery and featuring contributions from dozens of leading industry voices, including New York Times bestselling author Jason Schreier (Blood, Sweat, and Pixels; Kotaku), Max Scoville (IGN), Rebekah Valentine (IGN), Blessing Adeoye Jr. (Kinda Funny), and Devindra Hardawar (Engadget), this year-by-year anthology is a loving reflection on the world’s most popular art form. Featured Games: 1977 - Pong; 1978 - Space Invaders; 1979 - Speed Freak; 1980 - Pac-Man; 1981 - Donkey Kong; 1982 - Pitfall!; 1983 - Dragon’s Lair; 1984 - Tetris; 1985 - Super Mario Bros.; 1986 - Dragon Quest; 1987 - The Legend of Zelda; 1988 - Mega Man 2; 1989 - SimCity; 1990 - The Secret of Monkey Island; 1991 - Sonic the Hedgehog; 1992 - Wolfenstein 3D; 1993 - NBA Jam; 1994 - Super Street Fighter II Turbo; 1995 - Donkey Kong Country 2; 1996 - Super Mario 64; 1997 - Final Fantasy VII; 1998 - Metal Gear Solid; 1999 - System Shock 2; 2000 Counter-Strike; 2001 - Halo: Combat Evolved; 2002 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City; 2003 - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker; 2004 - World of Warcraft; 2005 - Resident Evil 4; 2006 - Wii Sports; 2007 - Rock Band; 2008 - Spore; 2009 - Uncharted 2; 2010 - Super Meat Boy; 2011 - Minecraft; 2012 - Telltale’s The Walking Dead; 2013 - Depression Quest; 2014 - Destiny; 2015 - Witcher 3; 2016 - Pokemon Go; 2017 - Fortnite; 2018 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; 2019 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice; 2020 - Animal Crossing: New Horizons; 2022 - The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

A multidisciplinary overview of current research into the enduringly fascinating martial artefact which is the sword. The sword is the most iconic of all weapons. Throughout history, it has connected various, sometimes conflicting, dimensions of human culture: physical combat and representation of political power, definition of gender roles and refinement of body techniques, evolution of craftsmanship and mythological symbolism. The articles collected here explore these dimensions, from a variety of disciplines, among them archaeology, medieval history, museum conservation, and linguistics. They cover topics from the production and combat use of Bronze Age swords via medieval fencing culture to the employment of the sword in modern military. They question traditional sword typologies and wide-spread theories about sword making, discuss medieval sword terminology and the use of swords as royal insignia, and describe the scientific methods for approaching original finds. Arising from an international conference held at Deutsches Klingenmuseum Solingen (the German Blade Museum), the volume provides fresh insights into the forms the sword can take, and the thoughts it inspires. LISA DEUTSCHER and MIRJAM E. KAISER work in prehistoric archaeology, specialising in La Tène and Bronze Age swords, respectively. SIXT WETZLER is the deputy director of the German Blade Museum; his research focuses on the history of edged weapons, and their use. Contributors:Matthias Johannes Bauer, Holger Becker, Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld, Rachel J. Crellin, Vincenzo D'Ercole, Andrea Dolfini, Raphael Hermann, Daniel Jaquet, Robert W. Jones, Ulrich Lehmann, Claus Lipka, Stefan Maeder, Michael Mattner, Florian Messner, Nicole Mölk, Ingo Petri, Stefan Roth, Fabrizio Savi, Ulrike Töchterle, Iason-Eleftherios Tzouriadis, Marion Uckelmann, Henry Yallop

The ability to make one's own tools is invaluable in developing countries for a number of reasons: First, the cost of western imports put them out of reach of all but a small proportion of practising carpenters. Second, it is the aim of all developing countries to become increasingly self-sufficient. If tools and equipment can be made using available expertise and materials, especially for vocational schools and colleges, much more 'hard currency' would be available for more essential development work.Third, a broken, shop-bought tool may be difficult to repair, spare parts are often unavailable, and the cost of replacement will definitely be more than the original price, due to inflation. There is no reason why a home-made tool should not wear as well, but if it does break, it can be repaired or replaced at little cost. Fourth, a craftsman who makes his own tools is more likely to look after them and take pride in his work. Fifty years ago it was common practice for carpenters in Europe to make their own tools. It is still done today in some eastern countries, and to a lesser extent in the west.

In North Carolina the sauce is loaded with vinegar, and hickory smoke is essential. South Carolinians swear by mustard, while Texans insist on tomato sauce and Worcestershire. Author and cook Jane Butel has traveled all across the country to pick up on the passions for America's favorite summertime food: barbecued hamburgers, chicken, ham, duck, ribs, ribs, and more ribs. Featuring some of the best recipes from acclaimed barbecue chefs as well as information on dozens of barbecue pitstops around the country, Jane Butel's Finger Lickin', Rib Stickin', Great Tastin', Hot and Spicy Barbecue is the book no grillmaster should do without.

The aim of this book is to bring the age-old art of crotchet into the 21st century. Gone are the days where all it was good for was creating placemats and jumpers for your teapots. Aimed at the intermediate crochetier, this book assumes you are already proficient in the basics and are looking to increase your creative output through the use of interesting colour and design. With an insight into ten bespoke patterns that can be easily followed, starting with a cute racoon and progressing to the more advanced sloth. The aim is to introduce you to new ways of approaching crotchet; you will be able to confidently create your own unique animals and patterns upon completion of the book. Each animal created teaches a new technique, from establishing a simple ball; we progress through more elaborate designs with each unique pattern learning new skills and new ideas. Annotated through out with pictures, and scattered with top tips, with links to videos of each stage you can feel confidant that the resources are here to crotchet out of a hole. Easily adaptable, these designs will give hints about new aesthetics for seasonal versions as well as more interesting use of colours to create exciting pieces and inspire a new generation of crochetiers.

The kitchen has always been a place of family gatherings, so it isn't surprising that it is here that a mother whose children have moved on would find solace. "The Empty Nest Cookbook will Kelp parents find new life--in the kitchen and elsewhere -once the children are gone. This feel-good cookbook entices the reader to light the candles, pour the Chardonnay, and enjoy the music while preparing time-efficient, interesting meals for two or more. The author has created more than 200 original recipes, from appetizers to desserts, as well as 25 menus with instructions. The cuisine is fun and light, the mood is joyful, and the setting is intimate as she presents food--and food for thought--for this unique period of life. Woven throughout are essays that offer positive insight and advice for surviving the woes of this transitional period and for redefining oneself. Among these essays are "You're Your Pet's Mom Now," "There Goes the Bridge," "No Need to Shut the Bedroom Door" "The Kids Are Coming " "Joy to the world?" "Who are You" "Those Wolf Whistlers Aren't for You," and "All the Cookies Are Yours." "The Empty Nest Cookbook marries old-style family cooking with the more sophisticated culinary yens of it working couple. It approaches the subject on three levels suited to the empty nester: cooking for two, managing family visits, and entertaining guests. While it will appeal to women who are experiencing their own empty nest, it also makes a thoughtful gift from their adult children.

In North Carolina the sauce is loaded with vinegar, and hickory smoke is essential. South Carolinians swear by mustard, while Texans insist on tomato sauce and Worcestershire. Author and cook Jane Butel has traveled all across the country to pick up on the passions for America's favorite summertime food: barbecued hamburgers, chicken, ham, duck, ribs, ribs, and more ribs. Featuring some of the best recipes from acclaimed barbecue chefs as well as information on dozens of barbecue pitstops around the country, Jane Butel's Finger Lickin', Rib Stickin', Great Tastin', Hot and Spicy Barbecue is the book no grillmaster should do without.

A vibrantly illustrated exploration of the creative, inclusive, and inspiring movement happening in today's Southern interior design The American South is a place steeped in history and tradition. We think of sweet tea, thick drawls, and even thicker summer air. It is also a place with a fraught history, complicated social norms, and dated perspectives. Yet among the makers and artists of the South, there is a powerful movement afoot. Alyssa Rosenheck shines a much-needed spotlight on a burgeoning community of people who are taking what's beloved, inherent, and honored in the South and making it their own. The New Southern Style tours more than 30 homes and includes interviews with the designers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs who are reinventing Southern design and culture. This beautifully illustrated book is sure to inspire the home and soul.

This beginner's guide covers all the basics – but just the basics! – to get you started on crazy quilting. Includes piecing, stitch instructions, embellishing ideas, and more.

Emmanuel Hadjiandreou is passionate about making bread and in this beginner’s guide he explains how to master the art at home with simple recipes and clear step-by-step instruction so that everyone, including children, can enjoy the delights of bread making. This entry level guide to baking bread at home starts by setting out the tools and equipment needed and explains the science behind the alchemy of turning flour, yeast and water into the bread we love so much. Delicious step-by-step recipes for every day include a 60-minute Soda Bread, a Half-and-half Sourdough Loaf and a Sandwich Loaf. Occasional bakes to have fun with are Puffy Pitta Pockets, Pizza Dough and Crunchy Breadsticks, whilst enriched dough sweet treats to try include Sticky Apple & Cinnamon Buns and a Chocolate & Cherry Stollen.  

The premier book of its kind, revised, updated and expanded. A comprehensive guide to the standards, procedures and ethics of appraising gems, jewelry and other valuables, Gems & Jewelry Appraising, 3rd Edition, contains expert practical guidance, combined with detailed descriptions, photos, case studies, pricing data, key documents and more. This guide offers all the information that practicing or aspiring appraisal professionals will need to establish an appraisal business, handle various kinds of appraisals—for insurance, divorce, inheritance, liquidation, collateral and tax donation—and provide an accurate, verifiable estimate of value.