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Speechless Quail Hey fledglings! Are you quail fanatics? Do you have doodles, paintings, sculptures, and photographs of quails? Maybe you even have a collection of quail trinkets (coffee mugs, keychains, plush animals, etc.)! Or a real live quail pet! Whatever quail you have in your life, be kind enough to share it with the world of Quail Bell. Send your quail images to submissions@quailbellmagazine.com. Our favorite entries will be posted right here on QuailBellMagazine.com. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
So Fluffy's Dead... by Julie DiNisio QuailBellMagazine.com Your beloved cat, dog, rabbit, bird, lizard, rodent, or other such pet has passed on to…wherever pets go when they die. Now what? Most pet owners probably aren’t thinking in advance what they will do with the body of their pet when tragedy befalls (don’t think my title or tone sarcastic, please. I have pets and would be devastated to lose them!).
If the pet dies at home, many people simply bury it in the backyard, which can be legal or illegal depending on the locale. If the pet dies at the vet’s office, the owner often relinquishes the body to be properly disposed of, usually by means of cremation. However, there is a third, somewhat popular option - burial in a pet cemetery. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
"Adventure Time" will save us all! By Christopher Sloce QuailBellMagazine.com Let’s face it. Kids aren’t kids any longer. My little sister watches Toddlers and Tiaras. She’s 9 and she's already convinced she’s older than she actually is. I remember watching my granddad blush all to hell when my youngest cousin talked about Taylor Lautner’s abs and my little sister giggled.
Watch the Disney channel. I never did willfully—only when I was taking care of my little sister. Everybody is concerned with half banging someone, hiding a bad grade, or trying to go to some strumpet’s party. I remember one episode of a popular series that culminated in a false flag operation involving a flipped table at a Mexican restaurant, grabbing a cradle with the titular baby that had mistakenly ended up in the company of another family, ruining their parents' night out, and causing an insurmountable amount of psychological terror for all involved. I’m not chastising the show for being morally renegade, but here’s the thing: It’s dumbed down to the point where you get 24 minutes of bile with 3 minutes of phony comeuppance. To an extent, kids need to live without some comeuppance (after all kids need to be kids) at least for a time. They shouldn't expect every single wrong action to get them brow-beaten. It’s about being accountable. Kids aren’t accountable. Try to get one to deliver mail. Which is to get to the point: “Adventure Time” is going to save us all. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
We foresee you reading this novel. By Luna Lark QuailBellMagazine.com Everyone grapples with their own coming of age, but wartime further complicates this sensitive life stage. Now add the fact that you're struggling to control your newfound supernatural powers at the same time. Oh, and your father's so strict that he won't let you go through nurse training, even though becoming a nurse is your dream. Plus your brothers are fighting in the aforementioned war. Yup, that's cause enough for mega teen angst. That's the exact situation that Alexandra, the protagonist in Marcus Sedgwick's 2006 novel, The Foreshadowing, has to face. She's a naive but determined 17-year-old who's had few experiences outside of her well-to-do home in Edwardian England. Suddenly, however, World War I breaks out and Alexandra's ability to see the future has resurfaced after remaining dormant for twelve years. All at once, Alexandra has multiple choices to make. Will she tell her loved ones about her power? Will she nudge her brother Thomas toward the service? Will she pursue nursing? Will she try to change the future she has already seen? If you're in the mood for some minimalist YA fiction that delves into both fantasy historical fiction—with a strong female lead as a bonus—put The Foreshadowing on your reading list. There's suspense, philosophy, and even a touch of romance. You won't regret going cover to cover with this one. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Fairy Food: Sliced Banana with Honey By QB Chef QuailBellMagazine.com In the words of "FernGully"'s Zack, "Buzz off? I'm not buzzing anywhere!" Now that has little to do with this week's Fairy Food recipe, except that bees not only buzz; they make honey, too. (In case you, ya know, failed kindergarden.) If you're going to make sliced banana with honey, you most certainly cannot forget the honey. That would not be very fairy-like of you because a) fairies never forget anything...ever, and b) fairies take every opportunity to heap on the sugar. For this sweet treat, all you have to do is slice up a banana into little 'chips' and sprinkle on as much honey as you like. Remember, it's all about your taste because fairies never use measuring cups! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Even Thomas Jefferson Loved Apples By Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Something that wards off doctor visits has to be good. Something that helped incite the Trojan War and eventually inspired Wishbone to dress up as Odysseus can't be bad, either. And what would art and literature professors talk about if Adam had never eaten from the Tree of Knowledge? We owe apples big-time just for being their delicious and nutritious selves. Well, the best way to honor them is to make a feast of them. You can do that right in Virginia because apples are all around. They're part of the state's heritage (read on, fledglings, read on.) Within an hour of Richmond, there are orchards, farmers' markets, bakeries, and restaurants whose work it is to make the tastiest apples convenient and reasonably priced. Here's just a small selection: ORCHARDS
Carter Mountain Orchard (Charlottesville) Pick your own apples at this “family tradition” of a farm. Carter Mountain clearly lists their fruit availability chart on their website, so you know when to get your favorite varieties (including not only apples, but also peaches, nectarines, and pumpkins). Depending upon the month, Carter Mountain offers all sorts of apples: Lodi, Ginger Gold, Gala, Virginia Gold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Fuji, and more. Apart from the orchard, be sure to enjoy their bakery, country store, and wine shop. Don't miss their Apple Harvest Festival, either. CarterMountainOrchard.com Vintage Virginia Apples (North Garden) Largely an heirloom and vintage orchard, Vintage Virginia Apples offers up to 250 varieties of apples. These include, for example, the delightful Razor Russet, the Swiss Gourmet Arlet, and the Roxbury Russet, the oldest apple variety bred in the United States. Vintage Virginia also sell apple trees you can transplant to your own backyard—including Thomas Jefferson's Father Abraham. They even operate the region's premiere modern cider brewery, with five varieties, such as Jupiter's Legacy, The Royal Pippin, and The Ragged Mountain. Their Fall Festival, which features numerous vendors and a pie competition, takes place the first weekend of November. VintageVirginiaApples.com The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Spread the QB joy! It's not a seahorse. It's an ocean pony. And you want it. So start downloading.
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Just a fortnight away! If you live in Richmond, VA, you simply have no excuse for missing out. (Well, unless you get kidnapped by fairies or goblins. We might accept getting slain by a dragon, too.) The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Picture Apothecary: A Really Bad Hair Day By The Picture Pharmacist QuailBellMagazine.com Dear fledglings, Here's a life lesson: It's important to be humble. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and admit that we're not the fairest in the land. And, even if we're beautiful enough to have Carpe Diem poems written about us, we should accept that beauty is fleeting. Take these naked nymph chicks, for example. They're pretty attractive--and yet THEIR HAIR IS A MESS. They were probably born thinking they were the hottest sh*t in the sea. Their skin never broke out, blisters evaded them, and cowlicks only happened to mere mortals. Now look at 'em. No gel can tame those crazy manes. (Though you might give them a little help by downloading this file and putting it through Photoshop.) It just goes to show that you can never be totally secure about your babe factor. Keep that in mind on Class Picture Day. Yours truly, The Picture Pharmacist
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If you like us in pixels, you'll love us in paper.C'mon, don't drag your feet. Subscribe to Quail Bell Magazine's new print edition today, little fledgling! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Shiver down your spineBy Michelle Labbé QuailBellMagazine.com In discussing Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, comparisons to Twilight are inevitable. There's a market out there for unfulfilled Team Jacob-ites who prefer fur to fangs, and Stiefvater, whether consciously or not, has tapped into that with her latest novel, about a teenaged girl who falls for a werewolf. (A sequel to Shiver, entitled Linger, is forthcoming in July 2010.) But the comparison to Stephenie Meyer's saga is a favorable one; Shiver follows the now-familiar story arc of girl meets supernatural boy, but it does so smartly, without short-changing its characters or its readers.
Shiver's heroine, Grace, is made from stronger stuff than Bella Swan, and if werewolf Sam is a bit obsessed with her, at least he tries to control his feelings, aware that obsession and clinginess make for unhealthy relationships. (Sample quote: “I struggled to find something to say that wouldn't sound like the greeting of an interspecies stalker.”) The jab here at a certain Mr. Cullen is almost certainly intentional. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Melancholic Landmark in City's EpicenterBy Josephine Stone QuailBellMagazine.com By RP Piper I had never been to Cincinnati until Labor Day weekend 2011 because I'd previously never had a reason to go. I am sure "Visiting all 50 states" lies somewhere mid-way down my bucket list, but I am also sure that Ohio was not toward the top of those 50. A friend's wedding sent my husband and me with a rideshare friend-of-a- friend driving 10 hours northwest of Richmond. We frequented rest stops, ate fried food and rotated turns picking albums on the iPod.
What is there to see in Cincinnati? The home of the Reds, the Bengals and Skyline chili? With minimal knowledge and expectations of our destination, this long distance river city was a blank canvas in our minds. It was clear, however, after riding our exit ramp past the illuminated skyline that this trip would not disappoint. Most aspects of the city were similar to other large cities--towering buildings, hundreds of people out and about, an art district, neighborhoods in boroughs, and glorious public transit. But there was something dark about this city we wouldn't discover until later. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Put Some Lace on Those TalonsBy Jade Miller QuailBellMagazine.com By Christine Stoddard With Halloween just around the corner and Christmas hovering just behind that, a gothic girl on the go has places to go and people to see with no end to the parties in sight. With a stellar outfit already planned and hair and make-up to die for, sometimes the only thing missing from a perfect ensemble is a statement nail. With these 3 tutorials, it is easy to achieve the final piece in the overall look. For some great nail polish, check out ChinaGlaze.com and Opi.com. Both have beautiful grays, bright reds, deep purples, metallics and a classic black. They also both feature a version of a crackling nail polish, “Crackle” for China Glaze and “Shatter” for OPI. It’s also good to invest in an excellent base coat, like Essie Protein Base Coat, which is only $3.99 on Amazon, to extend the life of your manicure as well as protecting your nails. Amazon also has Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, another great asset. Water-Marbled Nails Needed:
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Shading the Naughty Bits By Paisley Hibou QuailBellMagazine.com It's a given. One of the most unnecessarily awkward conversations you will have in your life takes place between the ages of twelve and sixteen. This sweat-inducing, one-way talk will occur on an unassuming afternoon or early evening. You will have just cleaned your plate of that last liver slab and have but one question on your mind: Where does Mom keep the extra minty toothpaste? But approximately 0.03 seconds after you've excused yourself from the table, Dad will clear his throat and start fidgeting with his sleeves. Mom will motion toward Dad. That's when your father, normally a harmless, likeable fellow, will say, “Your mother and I want to talk to you.” Did they know you lied about finishing your chemistry homework? No. But they do know you've been wildly misinformed about The Birds & the Bees—and they're about to bash every sex myth you ever learned in the schoolyard. After Mom and Dad's polite, clinical explanations, you will flee to your room, ashamed yet still curious. There are two questions they failed to answer: 1) What the hell is a pastie?, and 2) What the hell is a merkin? Illustration by Rachel Jones Yet these are not questions any sane person asks his mother or father. These questions are best asked of bored, slightly perverted magazine writers. Thus, though it has been many a year since your bar mitzvah or quinceañera, you will at long last learn the truth about pasties and merkins.
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Born a Quail Bell(e)By Luna Lark QuailBellMagazine.com She was destined to live in an old house and sing to the moonrise. Mornings brought her glee as she peered into her closet, surveying the rainbow of hangers that bore leather and lace. Breakfast meant sugary indulgences and reading the local paper. Before her last sip of milk and tea, she would've read, and possibly memorized, a poem, too. Day after day was never the same, and yet they were all reminiscent of the others. She earned her living pursuing whatever her passion was at the time, whether writing or painting or knitting 'til her fingers turned blue. Unlike so many ladies in this modern age, she boasted a potluck of strangely antiquated skills. As a child, her grandfather had trained her on a letterpress and her mother had taught her the art of quilting. Even fencing had been a part of her life growing up. As a young woman, she practiced each of these as she pleased. She filled countless other hours popping in and out of vintage shops, theaters, libraries, museums, galleries, cinemas, and ballrooms. Occasionally, she sat on a bench by the water—whether the river or the sea—and remained there for hours, just dreaming. In the evening, she took her bath and curled her hair. While she waited for her locks to dry, she'd sing lullabies in ancient tongues and tidy up the house. Then she'd slip into bed with a novel until her Madonna eyes heaved their final sigh and closed. 'Tis true she was born a Quail Bell(e). The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
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Tips & Tricks for a Great Depression WeddingBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Elegant modesty. Admirable frugality. Vast imagination. These are the traits of a wedding theme none of your bridesmaids will dare rival come their 'special day': The Great Depression Wedding. Any nostalgic lady will agree that the past was simply better. That includes a past famous for malnutrition, lost family fortunes, and obsessive canning of even the most worm-eaten fruits.
Honor history by helping your wedding guests relive the tantalizing terror of the world's best-known stock market crash. As soon as your guests step through the church door, have the flower girl and ring bearer strip them of their furs and pearls. Even the biggest twit knows that a wife beater and suspenders are best for such an occasion, anyway. You don't want the broads competing with your bridal glory, either. Teach them that in a time of immense economic need, frivolity just won't be tolerated. You have gangsters on either side of the altar, and each one wants his moll to look like Greta Garbo. Any Joe or dame who resists gets a Chicago overcoat, pronto. They need to learn what the next ten years are going to be all about. Now that the Roaring Twenties have skidded to a halt, direct your guests to the giggle juice. The days of sly speakeasies are over and, besides, nobody wants to think about the holes in their pockets. Best yet, the incognito coppers, gumshoes, and gold-diggers will repay you later if you get every guest swigging moonshine before the ceremony. You like Lincolns and Sawbucks, right? So do the goons bruising your groom. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Why Your Ancestors Opened Their MouthsBy Sandra Scholes QuailBellMagazine.com We read a story to children at night so they can sleep safe and sound, but these stories we tell are part of an older tradition that goes back to our cave-dwelling ancestors. These tales were a mix of oral and animated gestures, whose exaggerated movements brought stories to life. Early tales were also a way of conveying religious rites to younger generations. As these children became adults, they would perform these rites to continue the cycle. Many cultures incorporated dance and arts elements into their rituals when telling religious stories, as well.
In their oral versions, stories were first memorized and then told to others. Later on, stories were written in books, useful because they could be read and recounted to others when needed. Stories have also been found carved on stone, pottery, parchment, vellum, and silk. Mention traditional storytelling to most people, and you will discover just how many of them have read Homer's oral epics, Aesop's Fables, and the works of Hans Christian Andersen. The Vikings had their own way of storytelling by embellishing their conquests at sea. These tales turned into sagas that were mostly about the adventures of their gods and goddesses. These tales then developed into mythology, acting as history, commentary, and evidence of personal experience. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
"The Persistence of Poe" [A documentary]Are you obsessed with Poe? His life? His works? Well, even die-hard fans don't always know that Mr. Edgar Allan Poe lived in Richmond, VA for years. It was the one place he called home. You can learn more about Poe and Richmond in Quail Bell Press and Productions' first documentary film, "The Persistence of Poe in Richmond," scheduled for release in 2012. Here are some production stills from one of the filming days. Here, the cast and crew prepare for an interpretative dance to accompany the poem, "The Raven":
The film's abstract:
"Though Poe lived in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York during various times in his life, he identified himself foremost as "a Virginian." In the words of the Richmond Edgar Allen Poe Museum's essay, Poe in Richmond, 'It was in Richmond that Poe grew up, married, and first gained a national literary reputation.' Yet most literature and films concerning Poe uphold Baltimore as his "true" home city, often paying little (or no) homage to Richmond. "The Persistence of Poe in Richmond, VA" would document what Poe accomplished during his time in the city and how his presence is still felt by Richmonders today. The whole style of the film is done with a "collage" feel because Poe led such a patchwork existence. Through its use of live action, animation, writing, narration, music, dance, and theatre, the film demonstrates the range, power, and ability of interdisciplinary art. Cut-out animation is superimposed over photographs of present-day locations concerning Poe; animation sequences break up some of the live-action scenes. Interpretative readings of select Poe works that allude to or were written in Richmond break up the film's biographical elements. Combined animation and live action recordings of dancing to his poetry accompany these readings. Coverage on how Poe still affects Richmond in the modern day would be essential, as well." The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Hobbles and Gobbles, Sweet Fruits and PheinsBy Olivia Talbott QuailBellMagazine.com The rhythmic scheme of this whimsical poem is young, lighthearted, and jovial. The descriptions of Lizzie and Laura are specific and strong. By analyzing body language, the reader can see Lizzie as the protector and Laura as the stereotypical Goldilocks meets the less conventional Pearl Prynne. Laura stretched her gleaming neck Like a rush-imbedded swan, Like a lily from the beck, Like a moonlit poplar branch, Like a vessel at the launch When its last restraint is gone. The goblins are evil, repugnant frat boys. The little men carry spellbinding treasures of sweet, seductive fruits of the world that house harsh consequence. The girls walk through the forest and the goblins whisper in persuasive, slithering tone to tempt them. Laura falls to the whispers which creates in her a change of character. In giving away herself, she takes the goblins fruit and becomes very intoxicated. "Come buy our orchard fruits, Come buy, come buy: Apples and quinces, Lemons and oranges, Plump unpecked cherries- Melons and raspberries, Bloom-down-cheeked peaches, Swart-headed mulberries, Wild free-born cranberries, Crab-apples, dewberries, Pine-apples, blackberries, Apricots, strawberries-- All ripe together…” The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Haven't seen it yet? Thoughts on 'Tangled.'By Ani Mikaelian QuailBellMagazine.com Fairytale films have always been controversial, and whether they do the original story justice or not, audiences are usually torn down the middle with their feelings. Disney is infamous for taking older stories and turning them into animated feature films, and for the most part they are known for the masterpieces, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella. With those particular films doing well, it is only natural Disney had a couple flops in between.
Since its animated musical, The Princess and the Frog, not doing so well with audiences, those at Disney wanted their next movie to be a hit. Opting not to title the feature “Rapunzel” because they were convinced males wouldn’t want to see a movie strictly about a princess, they also entirely altered the leading male character. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Transform Yourself into the Classic StarletBy Doe Deere QuailBellMagazine.com This type of makeup is favorited by glamorous divas like Christina Aguilera’s and girls who aspire to look like living pinups—and with good reason. It accentuates all the right parts of the face, making it universally flattering, not to mention exquisitely feminine! It’s perfect for going out at night when you need that extra oomph!
What you need is some liquid liner, gray eyeshadow or pencil and, of course, bright red lipstick! Start out by evening our your skin with foundation and concealer. Apply 3 coats of mascara to your top lashes (my recent favorite is Falsies by Maybelline) and draw a flicked line close to the lashes with liner. Define creases with medium-gray pencil and just below lower lashes with a pencil; blend. Lips are the star of the look, so let ‘em shine! Draw an outline with red pencil and fill in with vibrant red lipstick using a brush, or, if you’re experienced, directly from the bullet. Looking for a true red pin-up shade? Try Lime Crime Retrofuturist, it has the perfect balance of yellow & blue to make it suitable for all skintones. Not sure about blush? Dab some lipstick high onto your cheeks with a finger and blend. Last but not least: draw a tiny beauty mark with liquid liner. Voila! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Fairy Food: Cantaloupe & Honey JuiceBy QB Chef QuailBellMagazine.com Fairies worship sugar. Their natural sweet tooth has inspired them to make use of every fruit in existence. The cantaloupe, as a matter of fact, is one of their favorites. Yet it's not quite sweet enough for their taste. Thus, fairies are famous for their cantaloupe & honey juice. You can make it, too. Just put a slice of cantaloupe in the blender and add a squirt of honey. In less than a minute, you'll have an elixir fit for Titania.
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