Caleb Warnock

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Familius, for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own.

The word “mordant” is going to be stuck in my head for some time, which is alright with me. This multipurpose book guides readers in creating their own natural dyes and pigments from over 250 plants, shrubs and berries. Author Caleb Warnock provides a detailed overview of each plant and the process for extracting colors from show more them, and how to adjust acids and bases to create color variations. The book also provides project ideas across different mediums, as well as tips for storing the dyes.

I love that all the colors are taken from the natural world; some from sources that I was aware of, with many more that were new to me. Seeing all of the color possibilities is enlightening. Not only does this process encourage sustainability, but it also encourages readers to see the world around them in a new way and gain a greater appreciation and regard for it. This is a multipurpose book that has appeal for many audiences. Visual artists will love it for the adaptability of using the pigments for pottery or paintings. But it also appeals to cooks, food scientists, those who work with the yarn arts and calligraphers, just to name a few. I am always looking for natural dyes for easter eggs that are simultaneously non-toxic and edible, and this book has given me some great ideas.

The author is very much interested in the “why” as well as the “what” of how the pigments and dyes are created. He relays this process to the audience in a way that clearly describes the chemical reactions and how they produce the myriad color blends, without watering down the language, while also remaining accessible and holding the audience’s interests. He is also thorough to a fault, exhausting every option for creating colors while sharing the process of trial and error with the readers. I enjoyed his notes about taking safety precautions and setting up the workspace before starting the process, such as the importance of working in an area with plenty of ventilation. I also liked how the book emphasizes using all parts of the plant where available, including the roots and stems, so as not to create any waste.

I like the way that all the color swatches are organized on the same page with the plants in question, along with the different combinations of acids and bases to produce different tones, and in different strengths. For organization purposes, I would have liked to have seen each of the swatches in a separate chart format, rather than as blocks or streaks of color. Sometimes it was difficult to read the notes underneath each color swatch, especially with such small print, and a chart on the same or opposite page might have made them easier to see. I also would have liked to see a detachable series of perforated charts at the end of the book, one that readers could make quick reference to, or even a separate download with all of the color combinations in one place. show less

I stumbled upon this book at the library and I'm so glad I did. Unfortunately my library doesn't have the first book. This book references the first book a few times.
This author talks about so much: how to make laundry soap, rain and snow collection, and general self-sufficiency. This is not a prepper book. It's mostly a book on gardening all year round with food and flowers.
The author has a good sense of humor he includes in his writing and shares his personal pictures of family and his show more gardens.
The end of the book closes with Q&A and he also shares his email address for anyone else to contact him. show less

Liked it except for thechickensection. It was quite long. We've had chickens for about a year now and I've read a lot of articles and blogs and backyard chicken websites- the author's practices/information seemed heavily influence by the fact that both sets of grandparents had commercial egg businesses. His advice for any blemished/imperfect/dirty egg is to feed it to the dogs. Also advises to scrub all eggs which actually shortens the shelf-life of eggs by removing a protective coating from show more the shell. show less

4 STARS

Trouble's On the Menu: A Tippy Canoe Romp-With Recipes by Caleb Warnock and Betsy Schow

I did not know what to expect of this novel by reading just the blurb. It was filled with humor ,art, food and a mystery.
It was also filled with big time governor against small town mayor. I laughed a lot. It is also a clean read with lots of recipes in the back. Warning this book makes you hungry.

It starts off with Hallie coming into Barefoot, Montana in a snow storm and hits a women driving a show more scooter. Andrea the owner of the weekly newspaper. Hallie just wanted to come to town do her business and get back to California. Hallie is a artist. She is in town to settle her late husband estate. He left her everything even though they have been separated for eight years.

Hallie is hungry but before she can get served her food she is kicked out of the restaurant because of the accident. The next day
she finds out that she is the landlord of three different businesses that her late husband was paid in hay and ice cream shakes.
It will not be easy to sell the businesses and she does not want to stay away from her art studio.

Marc Greathouse is the mayor. He is a widower with no children. He was laid off work when the mine closed down. His family has a christmas tree farm that unless he raises 35,000 will be auctioned off for unpaid taxes. Marc makes some bad decisions that he regrets. Then he finds out the Governor is coming town to announce he is closing their school and busing their kids to a hour away to different school district. Their town is going to fight it. Starting with the Mayor slugging the Governor and being arrested by his own father.

I was totally entertained by reading Trouble's on the Menu. I hope they have another Tippy Canoe adventure. The characters are different. They have their own personality. I like Hallie. Also like how the town helps take care of its own. Hallie makes some good friends and gets involved with the towns problems.

I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.

publication: April 9th 2013 by Sweetwater Books Cedar Fort Publishing 240 pages ISBN: 1462110932

Description below taken off of Netgalley.com

After her estranged husband’s unexpected death, Hallie goes to Barefoot, Montana, to wrap up his estate. Her arrival begins awkwardly as she nearly runs over the town gossip during a snowstorm. Fortunately, the single, attractive town mayor is willing to lend her a hand to get her affairs in order. But when his life starts to spiral out of control, Hallie must decide whether he’s worth sticking around for. show less