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Baby Gift Ideas
Unique Baby Gift Ideas can be hard to think of and find as there are so many baby items to choose from, whether it is something practical, a special keepsake or a piece of clothing. If you would like a baby gift then it is probably best to buy from a specialist shop where everything they sell is aimed at babies or young children, there are many of these on line too. On the web you will get a much wider choice and availability not to mention the variations in prices! It is now very safe to shop on the internet so there is less need to worry. Most stores now use `PayPal `which guarantees your goods will be delivered and at the high standard you would expect. A silver plated photo album is just one of the many Baby Gift Ideas you will find on line at a rreduced price-a fantastic way to store all those special first memories. Even if buying on the web you can still have your items gift wrapped giving you one less thing to do AND with the added bonus of it looking really special. The World Wide Web can give you plenty of inspiration when it comes to Baby Gift Ideas.

Badges
The basics of pin Badges stem back over numerous years but the fact remains that Badges are still as popular today as they have always been. When used as promotional pieces Badges can be highly effective and anyone that is considering putting a promotional campaign together might like to use Badges as a means of advertising. How many times have you seen politicians on the ?party` bus using Badges as means of promoting their party? You`ll see pensioners and kids, adults and animals wearing all types of the Badges in very prominent positions. The reason why badges are still popular as promotional pieces is that these little advertising aids are fun. If you want to promote your message in a positive manner then badges can be the ideal solutions. Bands that need the right types of advertising aids can use a variety of badges to good effect. Because they are relatively inexpensive to have printed, a cool looking badge can be given away to help build a fan base. In fact, if you look at the prices of batches of badges you`ll find that these inexpensive items can be printed for less than you would imagine. If you have specific artwork in mind you`ll be able to download it to specialist badge making companies and they`ll be able to make you a brilliant batch of bold badges. The basics of pin badges have remained the same for many years and they are still as popular today as they always have been.

Sharp and sour but sweet and succulent all at the same time, this traditional accompanyment to cold meat is bursting with flavour, and folklore !

‘Rowan tree and red thread - have the witches all in dread’

On May eve Rowan crosses used to be worn in UK and were sometimes fastened to cattle (or their barns) for protection against witches and other ‘evil doers’. Legend has it that the crosses had to be made without a metal knife to work properly. Rowan branches were also bought indoors on a Good Friday as this tree had a reputation for strong protection against psychic forces.

This ‘mish-mash’ of folklore and Christianity indicates older uses of the tree having been ‘assimilated’ into a religion that converted people by adapting their beliefs and practices to its own ends. ‘Rowan’ is the most interesting of tree names with connections to both ancient Norse and Hindu/Sanskrit culture. Spelled several ways it is connected to the old Norse word ‘Runa’ - meaning a charm - and being able to ward off the effects of the ‘evil eye’. In even earlier times ‘Runa’ was the Sanskrit word for ‘magician’. ‘Run-stafas’ were staves cut from the Rowan tree and inscribed with runes for magical (and most likely protective) reasons. The smooth bark is ideal for this purpose.

The Rowan was such a sacred tree to the Celts that many churchyards in Wales still include the tree, not unlike the Yew tree in English churchyards. The berries were much used by the Celts for brewing wine, spirit, flavouring mead, ale, perry and cider. Try squeezing some of the fresh berry juice and putting it into a gin and tonic - it makes a convincing alternative to Angostura bitters. The fresh juice is mildly laxative and good for soothing inflamed mucous membranes. In herbal medicine the juice forms the basis of an astringent gargle for sore throats and in the 19th century it was used to treat scurvy - the disease of vitamin C deficiency.

Rowan berries are around from July/August through to November in the UK and may even stay on a tree until January if the thrushes don’t eat them. They are at their best for Rowan Jelly when they have attained full colour but are not yet mushy. They contain varying amounts of tartaric, citric and malic acid dependent on their ripeness. Cut them from the stalks in clusters and remove as much stem as possible before cooking. When made into a jelly the fruit becomes quite astringent and the tart taste makes a good ‘digestif’ accompaniment to meats such as venison, cold game or fowl.

Take about 3 pounds of Rowan berries and two pounds of juicy apples. Peel and core the apples, slice them and place them to simmer in 2 pints of water for 10 minutes, while you are washing and sorting the berries. Add the berries and simmer to a pulp. Use a potato masher to help this process if you like. Let the mixture cool a bit and then strain it through a jelly bag, leaving it to drip overnight.

Warm about 2 pounds of sugar and stir in the liquid mixture and heat to a simmer. I must admit to adding some pectin at this point as I have a problem with runny jams. You can do this and leave the apples out for a clear jelly. Add a knob of butter and stir to a rolling boil for a few minutes and put it into sterilised jars and seal. It is a most unusual taste but the thing that delights me most about this jelly is the fantastic colour.

With thanks to: J. Lust, C.L. Zalewski, R. Phillips, Edward Step