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py-dreamer · 6 months

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And here's the finished piece y'all!

(here's the WIP for comparison \'/\'/)

I will say, I do hope this was worth the wait and there are noticable improvements!

Honestly pretty proud of this piece!

(Also sorry I couldn't post this earlier, I had to complete some work before finishing this ^u^')

and see! I did promise Bai He the spotlight and y'all received!

I will admit, I MIGHT have gotten a bit carried away with the embelishments and embroidery but COME ON.

I know practically speaking, there wouldn't be this much embroidery and pattern on her outfit for someone living in the wild and well... a monkey BUT STILL

I just wanted her to match with Mac and achieve that gypsy look is all! I already went full force with him so why not give a little pizazz to his daughter?

(BTW, ALL members of the shadowalkers fam will eventually get their own tulle shawl/wrap thingy. You'll just have to wait for me to design Wukong & Mk)

Headcanon that Mac & Bai He made parts of their clothes together and while Mac was busy doing his own thing, Bai He befriended a cat but it got it's paws in the paint and walked all over her shawl. Then Mac comes back to the mess and Bai He decides to keep it like that. XD

Also Bai He was learning sewing and stuff (cause she rips her own clothes so often she needs to learn how to patch it up) and did the embellishments by herself and was so proud of it afterwards. (Like if Mac can get clouds on his robe in canon, then Bai He can have flowers and butterflies on her dress)

Actually y'know what? No this isn't headcanon. This is canon to the au now.

I was originally going to place the embellishments at the hem of the dress almost like a trim, but that looked too uniform so then I remembered Mirabel's dress and took inspo from that.

Additionally, I kind of retconned the purple dress in Mac's piece. I knew pink was kind of Bai He's signature but I just didn't know how well that pastel/barbie pink would fit into the foresty background but hey! We got there eventually.

You might also notice that her wristbands are present this time!

Maybe as she got older, Macaque started teaching her how to make more stuff (he is an artist after all; made his own plays, drawings, a video game) he helped her make her wristbands.

At first they were just going to have her name engraved into it but then I remembered Macaque's lantern and how it used the character for light in it's design and I thought that was super cool so I kinda stole it for my design heh...

Mei was actually a bit last minute cause Merlin wasn't in the original shot but I wanted to give Mei some screentime too since she is rather underrated. And it was a fun challenge to shade her feathers

Not much to say bout' MK, he's just good ol Mk in this one.

I will admit the hair was a little tricky here cause again: shading dark hair is a pain in the &ss but the yellow sunlight made it a bit easier

Surprisingly the hardest part of this was the background

Turns out colour picking directly from screenshots won't ALWAYS work (^~^')

hope u had fun listening to my lil au!

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rixxy8173571m3w1p3 · 6 years

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Sentimental Reasons

I had originally started writing this to celebrate reaching 400 followers, but now I'm almost at 500, so thank you. To be honest, I wasn't really sure where I was going with this except to write a fluff fic, keeping the song For Sentimental Reasons in mind for the mood.

I'd love to thank @porkchop-ao3 @hoodoo12 @xerxezra and to my new fan @ravenousscorpian for the wonderful support, as well as others who have supported me till now. For my Fluffy Adventures series, I'd say this is going to be # 54. I never thought I'd write that many for a series, but I have and I'm so glad, cause along the way I've become a better writer, and have found my voice. So, I hope you'll all enjoy it. This is the first part out of two.

In this fic, the reader and Doofus Rick go over a few important things.

____________________

Chapter 1: That Thing You Do

Through the window, came the sweet, tangy scent of the rain. The rain plays a little song on the roof; the steady fall of droplets, the sounds of cooking, and the classical tempo of the Czech orchestra playing on the public radio station put you in a state of ease. Sometimes, you did enjoy staring out of the window too, as though you were in a sad music video, but today it wasn't as much fun as you thought it would be. However, listening to the Zeta-7s story about killer fruit was.

Apparently, he had heard of a planet where everything was made of fruit, but during his exploration, he had come across a den of the wild honeybells; resulting in a chase, and ending in a river of juice. It pained him that it came to that, though he hadn't been the one to do it, eye patch Morty and his Rick did; whoever those two happened to be. Sometimes, when it came to his stories, you just nodded, and listened instead of bombarding him with questions like who or what; it left more room for him to talk, without messing with the flow of the story.

Because of the scattered rain showers this afternoon, you two decided to have a night in. Of course, you helped him with dinner, although he insisted you didn't have to. “Gosh, it's okay, I-I-I got it. Why don't y-you check out to see if - if there's going to be a-a movie on?”

“Not a chance. If I go, then not only can I not appreciate the view,” In which you proceed to look him up and down, and giggle. “but I'll miss that little thing you do when you're thinking?”

With raised brow, he turned to face you. “What do - do you mean?”

“Oh, you know,” And when you found that he didn't seem to understand, scratching the back of his neck, and chewing away at his bottom lip, you softened. “that cute little lip bite thing you do. Like right now, you're doing it, probably overthinking, wondering how I can find something so little completely delightful. Well, I'll tell you, even if it happened you weren't wondering. You, my dear honey man, are adorable, from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes. Understand?”

“I ugh,” he blushed, finding his shoes suddenly interesting. “if y-you think so.”

“Come on, don't be like that. I mean it, I really do.”

“It's - it's not th-that. I-I guess, what I-I-I thought was…well, is that okay?”

“Rick, that's better then okay. It's fantastic. You are what I want, as you are, just like this. If you don't believe it now, then I guess I'll have to keep reminding you.”

And giving his butt a playful tap, you returned to your activity of setting the table, watching as he nearly burns dinner, and mumbles to himself.

_______________

After dinner, you'd say there was a shift in the mood, which started with a lovely custard fruit tart that the two of you shared; him watching your reactions to the dessert, and stating his thoughts on those reactions in his matter of fact way. “It - are y-y-you happy with it? I hope you are, you seem t-to like it.”

“It's beautiful, and the flavor….am I detecting a hint of saffron?”

“Y-yes,” He brightened. “I-I thought I'd try something different. Saffron really adds a-a decisive flavour and a vibrant yellow colour t-to this vegan eggless custard. Oh, I'm so glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it! Rick, have I ever told you that I think guys who can cook are sexy?”

Scratching the back of his neck, he chuckled. “Y-you have, though you were sick at - at the time. So, I-I assumed you were just joking.”

“Oh, I was serious. And what do you think that means for your Mr. Sánchez?”

Dropping his fork, Zeta-7 didn't answer, nor did he hurry to pick it up. He studied you, probably wondering if you were serious or kidding, but you smiled back, and held on to his hand as you went back to eating. Seeing that you really did enjoy the dessert, his smiling eyes said what he needed to say, before he continued on. “I-I also used a blend of - of rice milk and coconut milk to give it a-a-a light richness, while the vanilla bean and orange blossom water add flavour, freshness and more wonderful aroma.”

“That's fascinating.” You sighed, caressing the back of his hand, feeling the tension melt away as he went on with his detailed explanation. Whatever thoughts which made him doubt, whatever feelings that caused him to fear, you hoped it would soon pass away. You wanted him to be confident, to feel assured that his feelings weren't in vain, that his efforts were appreciated. And he was so adept at what he did, and you were appreciative, hopefully he could see that too.

Poetic in his choice of words, he painted a picture of the process involved, generous in his descriptions of the fruits and spices, how it all came together, and the chemical changes which took place; in itself, it felt more like was a type of culinary science. So you asked. “Is food science a thing? Cause, if it is, I think you'd be great at it.”

“Well, yes it - it is. Food science is the study of the physical, biological, a-and chemical makeup of food, and the concepts underlying food processing. In fact, my ovenless brownies w-would be categorized under that field of study. You - you really a-are catching on, and I'm impressed.”

“You...you are?”

“Y-yeah, I am. I-I always knew you were a-a smart girl, but a woman with a beautiful mind is lovely. Mi corazón,” He softened. “you - you really are just full of w-wonderful surprises.”

A smile couldn't help but find its way on your face, and with a joyful heart, you gladly listened to the rest of his explanation. You were glad he substituted the ingredients that you didn't care for, and were more than pleasantly surprised when he handed you the recipe card; confident that you could do it, because you were capable and he believed in you. Sometimes, you didn't understand why he was so different, why Zeta-7 listened to you, and cared about your thoughts and opinions. He didn't think you were silly or odd. He made you feel special and beautiful. And you had a visceral response to him; you always had, and he provoked you, encouraging you to better yourself.

Why? Because…. maybe you wanted to be able to reach him. You were many things, sweet, cheeky, clumsy, and sometimes brave, but were these things enough? You could only wonder, as you took your time, savoring every bite. And you weren't sure what had gotten into him, but in his eagerness to please you, he attempted to flirt a little, going as far as using a pick up line; one he probably got from a self help book, though it ended in disaster, with him apologizing for his attempt. Honestly, just seeing him try made you smile, and when he returned to using the usual, sincere compliments, he got the desired results, leaving you a little flustered, and him a little proud; must be the Rick in him.

Later, it segued into tea and light-hearted conversation. Tonight, there was no mention of unpleasant experiences or of people who brought you two down, but grown folk talk; of life, love, and the future. Now, in itself the future was uncertain, you with your family history of illness and him with his close calls with death, and the consequences of him being a Rick, but for the most part, a lot of what he talked about was hypothetical. Still, a hypothesis remained a mere assumption until proven true or false. Oh, you hoped the lovely parts would prove true.

Zeta-7 was such a wonderful man, and he'd been so good to you, and if you were honest with yourself, you could see yourself growing old with him and no one else, but again that was the thing; the future is uncertain, and how much of it could you have with a man over twice your age? Forever the optimist, Rick focused on the good, and mentioned randomly that he'd love to have kids someday, which made you blush even deeper, amongst other things like you possibly living with him. Was he trying to tell you something? You tried not to take any of it out of context, after all he could do so much better than you; and well, you didn't want to get your hopes up.

After all, you were just a girl from a town of no consequence, and he was a little of everything.

TBC

#doofus rick #doofus rick x reader #j19z7 #rick j19z7 #rick j-19-zeta-7 #j-19-zeta-7 #j19ζ7 #rnm fanfic #400 followers #rick and morty fanfiction #my writing #my works

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ecofriendlyproducts90 · 4 years

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Growing Basil: A Full Guide For Indoor & Outdoor Gardeners

Basil is every gardener’s most loyal floral friend.

If you are embracing the natural lifestyle, then growing herbs is one of the simplest ways to begin nurturing your own food from home. No need to pop down to the local grocery store for those culinary herbs, when they are ready and waiting to be tasted, just a few steps away!

Basil is a must for all gardeners. Popular in Italian and Asian cuisine, it also makes a beautiful, aromatic ornamental in your garden. I can share by experience that Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow. Whether you are an experienced gardener keen to learn more or just getting started, this guide will take you step by step through everything you need to know about growing this stunning herb. Knowing how to grow Basil is just a few simple steps away, so keep reading!

Basil Benefits & Uses

The name Basil is derived from the Greek word Ozo, meaning ‘to smell’. Quite apt for such a pungent herb, which smells similar to aniseed or cloves. Originating from southern Asia and islands along the southern pacific, most Basil plants arise from the common Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum). For hundreds of years, the leaves, flowers and seeds of the plant have been used in traditional medicines to treat a wide range of human ailments.

Basil essential oil has become a popular natural means to improve our overall health and well being. Basil ointments are used to improve the luster of skin and hair, and to treat various skin problems such as acne, blackheads and scarring. In our frantically busy and often stressful lifestyles, Basil oil can serve to alleviate symptoms such as mental fatigue, tension, depression and muscle pain.

Image by growing_basil_ua from IG

And so, we appreciate Basil because of the following amazing properties:

High in vitamins & minerals

High in antioxidants to combat diseases

Anticancer

Anti-inflammatory

Antifungal & insect repellent

Antibacterial

Decreases stress and fatigue

Alleviates colds, whooping cough, asthma, bronchitis and sinus issues

Improves blood circulation

Eye care- alleviating bloodshot eyes

Eases itching- snake & insect bites.

Now for the fun part- selecting your Basil plant.

Image by marinka_boo from Freepik

At present there are more than 50 Basil species or cultivars out there, so plenty to choose from!

Here are some attractive Basil plants to try:

Sweet Basil 0.98 to 4.9 ft: annual, the most widely available; leaves are large, rich green and oval-shaped; with white flowers; carries a minty or aniseed aroma; grows bushy and upright.

Holly Basil 12”—24”: perennial, indigenous to India, with dark, purple foliage and flowers; clove-like aroma; hairy stems; known for its ornamental appeal.

Lemon Basil 12”-18”: lemon-scented with white flowers; leaves are similar to Sweet Basil but are narrower and serrated; used in Thai cuisine.

Aristotle Basil 8″-10″: short, compact plant, perfect for growing in pots indoors; lovely in salads.

Red Rumin Basil 2.3 ft: deep purple foliage with pink flowers; beautiful ornamental, known for its pungent aroma; used in salad dressings and garnishes.

Other hybrids include: Cinnamon Basil, Camphor Basil, African Blue Basil, Licorise etc.

how to grow Basil from seed

Basil is easy to grow from seed and is often the cheapest method. It does not do well in very cold or humid conditions. Follow these growing guidelines before getting started:

For hot climates: sow Basil just before summer begins and then again near the end of the summer season.

For cooler climates: sow Basil in spring and then right through into summer.

Determine your local frost dates early on. Only plant once the threat of frost is well out of the way, and the days are warmer. To be better prepared, keep a note in your diary each year, regarding when and how long frost occurs each year.

How long does it take to grow basil from seed?

Basil seeds take 7 to 10 days to germinate and then between 50 to 75 days before it is ready to harvest. It is easy to grow indoors and outdoors and flourishes with 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight. I recommend first planting the seeds indoors and then transplanting outdoors.

our 7 step basil growing guide:

Now, let’s get those GARDENING gloves dirty…

Make sure you have the following:

Basil seeds

Compost/ potting soil

Seed tray/ container

Large rectangular tray

Lid- preferably transparent and perforated

Gardening gloves

Watering apparatus- spray bottle

Starter pots/ containers (3 to 4 inches)

Still finding ways to reduce, reuse and recycle? Here are some creative container ideas:

Try reusing or up-cycling things around the house. Keep aside any shallow containers from your grocery store, and use these as seed containers. Even better if they come with a lid as it creates an ideal ‘greenhouse’ for germinating seeds indoors. Other reusable items include: ice-cream containers, egg trays and milk cartons. If you enjoy up-cycling things, then try using tins or jars as seed containers. Remove the labeling, tie around a colourful ribbon or fabric, and Voilà, you have a uniquely designed starter pot.

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Video via Nadine from the Royal Botanical Gardens

Basil Seeds Are Small & Tricky To Handle- Here’s A Quick DIY Tip On How To File Your Seeds

STEP 1: Get your seed tray/ container ready

Select your container. Insert small holes at the bottom of your container to encourage soil drainage.

Fill your container with compost until ¾ full.

Place the large rectangular tray underneath the seed container.

Moisten the soil with water.

STEP 2: Plant your Basil seeds

Place a few pinches of seeds into the palm of your hand.

Sprinkle seeds across the soil.

Don’t be shy with your amount of seeds- it is perfectly fine if they overlap.

STEP 3: cover seeds with compost

Approximately ¼ of inch deep.

Press compost down firmly.

Water with a spray bottle, ensuring the soil is moist all the way through.

Place lid or covering over the tray and position on a sunny windowsill.

STEP 4: Keep the seeds warm, well-watered and covered

Seeds should germinate in 7 to 10 days.

Keep watering every day until the plants germinate. Once germinated, remove the covering and keep in a sunny position.

Image by indiarain_designs from IG

STEP 5: transplanting

Once the seedlings have 3 sets of leaves they are ready for transplanting.

Transplant carefully into starter pots or containers. For indoor gardening, transplant into a bigger container.

Image by Chris Lambton from Fiskars

STEP 6: hardening-off

If you are planting your Basil outside, then it is essential to acclimatize your precious seedlings for living in outdoors conditions.

Place seedlings outside on warm days for a few hours a day, then keep indoors overnight. Once your days start reaching 70 °F, place them outside in a sheltered position for a week.

STEP 7: Planting outdoors

Select a position that receives full morning sun. If you experience very hot midday’s, then rather plant where it will receive shade during the hotter periods of the day.

Some thoughts: Basil and tomatoes make great ‘gardening buddies.’ Basil is also a natural insect repellent, deterring the harmful insects and attracting the good insects such as bees, making it a beneficial herb to scatter throughout your garden.

The garden bed or outdoor container must be at least 8 inches deep.

If assembling Basil side by side, plant them 5-7 inches apart.

Soil must be rich in organic material and have good water drainage. If needed, mix compost into your soil.

Place an inch of mulch around the base of your plant. This can be a mixture of leaves, bark and grass clippings.

Water well.

Image by garden_nursery from IG

How to grow Basil from plant

Basil plants do not require a great deal of maintenance, however they will flourish under regular pruning and harvesting (see method below). To ensure a healthy plant, make sure your Basil is kept moist and in a sunny position.

When you notice the plant requiring more room for its roots, then relocate to a larger pot or garden bed. Basil is known for re-shooting itself, so keep a close eye around the base of the plant and carefully remove and replant each of the new shoots.

how much water does basil need?

Basil is not a ‘greedy-water-guzzler’, however it doesn’t like to be forgotten when it comes to watering! Certain types, such as the Sweet Basil varieties can be drought-tolerant, but thrive better and produce more leaves when watered regularly.

It is important not to overwater your plant, therefore aim to keep the soil damp- giving your Basil a deep watering at least once a week. It is also ideal to water in the mornings.

If living in warmer climates, ensure that you water twice or three times a week. Keep in mind that Basil plants in containers will dry out quicker, so water these more regularly.

Common pests and diseases & how to manage them

Basil can be susceptible to some pests and diseases particularly in areas with a high humidity.

Here is a list of the most common diseases:

Fusarium wilt

Characteristics: leaves wilting and turning yellow; brown marks on the stems; leaf drop and severely twisted stems.

Cause: fungus carried in the soil or seeds.

Cure/ prevention: no cure; immediately remove the plant and do not grow in that section for 2 – 3 years.

Bacterial leaf spot/ Basil shoot blight

Characteristics: brown or black spots on the leaves and streaks on the stem.

Cause: bacteria Pseudomonas cichorii, spread by water and infected soil splashing onto leaves.

Cure/ prevention: difficult to cure but can be managed by providing adequate air circulation around the plant and watering carefully at the base.

Downy mildew

Characteristics: leaves turn yellow, with a fuzzy grey growth on the underside.

Cause: due to very wet conditions.

Cure/ prevention: decrease overhead watering and ensure adequate air movement.

Common pests include:

Aphids

Slugs and

Thrips.

some eco-friendly alternatives for Deterring pests:

The most ideal way is to use nature itself! You can do this by attracting insect predators such as ladybugs and lacewings, which can kill common pests like aphids and thrips for you.

Mint, fennel, dill, yarrow or dandelions will attract these beneficial predators straight to your garden. You can also limit ant populations in your garden, as ants are naturally sworn to protect aphids. To do this remove the bottom leaves from your Basil bush, and apply a sticky substance to the lower section of your plant.

Ants and aphids don’t like Chrysanthemums, lavender and petunias. There are also many homemade pest sprays and natural preventative methods to try, which will help keep those tiny unwanted critters away. I recommend staying away from using liquid soap sprays in your garden, as this can be harmful to the garden.

How to harvest and prune Basil

Pruning and harvesting can be done simultaneously and should be done regularly to encourage leaf production. You can begin harvesting leaves when there are at least 6 pairs of leaves on your plant.

Pruning Basil should be done in the morning while the leaves are the most aromatic, and at least once a week to prevent your plant from going into bloom. When you see an emerging flower, simply pinch it off as you pass by.

To prune your Basil, snip stems off with scissors about ½ an inch above a node, above 2 or 3 sets of leaves, then keep the leaves aside for cooking .

If you wish to preserve your Basil leaves, then store them in beeswax wrap– a wonderful, eco-friendly, food wrap alternative to cling wrap or tin foil, that actually keeps them fresher for longer.

So here’s how the pruning is done-

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Video via Jag Singh

How to grow Basil from cuttings

You can nurture many more basil plants if you so desire… 🙂

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Video via Jag Singh

So, are you ready to grow Basil now?

Absolutely! Growing herbs can be one of the most rewarding activities for those taking the steps to a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle, so I encourage you to give it a try.

The most important thing is to enjoy the gardening journey. Once you start harvesting those stunning Basil leaves, making your own pesto and adding fresh Basil leaves to your salads, you won’t ever want to say goodbye to your trusty Basil bush. Gardening also requires patience, so keep sowing seeds and keep nurturing those seedlings each year, until you achieve your desired results.

Happy gardening! 🙂

Image by growing_basil_ua from IG

References:

Growing Basil: https://southwestgardener.com/growing-Basil/

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Anthelmintic Activities of Ocimum Basilicum (Sweet Basil) Fruits: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jchem/2020/2153534/

Biological and Pharmacological Properties of the Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum): British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 7(5): 330-339, 2015, Article no. BJPR. 2015. 115

Basil fact sheet: https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/CropFactSheets/Basil.html

MIGardener blog- container gardening on a budget: https://migardener.com/container-gardening-on-a-budget-migardener-blog/

Grow to Eat. The Gardener Magazine. Autumn / Winter 2019 Edition. Page 66. www.thegardener.co.za

Diseases and problems with growing Basil: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/Basil/what-are-varieties-of-Basil.htm

Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, Basil Diseases: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/Basildiseases.pdf

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