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How did lichen make the French see red?

January 15, 2002

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English Wood Hyacinth Mixture, Alpaca wool poncho & more—>Click here.

In 1797, the newly formed Directory (French revolutionary government) had a problem while their beloved Napoleon was off fighting other battles. The Directory had all sorts of recently released prisoners and no work for them. In a bold plan, the Directory created an invasion force to aid the 'poor country folk' of Wales who the Directory believed would rally around their French liberators.

On February 18th, the invasion force of 1400 sailed from Camaret, France. The invasion force was under the leadership of a South Carolina, Irish-American, adventurer-mercenary Colonel William Tate. Tate was not a dashing leader; in his seventies, it has been suggested the Directory wanted
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the troublemaker out of Paris and perhaps England was a good place. The Directory made no plans for an occupying force to follow.

The invasion force sailed into the Fishguard Bay on Wednesday, the 22nd. By 2 a.m. Thursday, the ships were unloaded and sent back to France to inform the Directory of a successful landing. The soldiers promptly pillaged the town and got drunk.

This made one particular woman, Jemima Nicholas, angry. Jemima called Mam, was 47, hardworking, and simply not the kind of woman that some drunk, French ex-prisoner was going to pillage her home. Since there were not any British forces ready to defend her town, she rallied the women.

The women of Fishguard were hardy souls. They dyed their wool, spin their yarn, and wove their flannel tunics and cloaks. The dye favored at the time was crottal, a lichen covering the rocks of the open pastures and moors. Crottal made the wool a brilliant red.

Dressed in the red tunics with tall black hats, the women of Fishguard forced the drunk, French invaders to lay down their arms and surrender at point of the pitchfork.

History writes that the French invasion force collapsed. Tate's forces formally surrendered to the local militia when it arrived on Friday, the 25th. In the surrender agreement, one of Tate's officers wrote of the British forces he had witnessed, "with troops...to the number of several thousand...."

It was one of those confusing footnotes in history since no British troops had ever been near Fishguard and one wonders what the French think they saw.

To read "The Last Invasion of Britain" by Gill Clarke, click on the link:

http://www.valleystream.co.uk/invasion.htm

FAO Corporate Document Repository of the United Nations has information about lichen dyes including crottal. To learn more about natural lichen dyes, click on the link:

http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/V8879E/v8879e07.htm

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English Wood Hyacinth Mixture

Breck's Bulbs®

Capture the beauty and charm of Holland in your late-spring with these lovely pastel bells. Deluxe blues, whites and pinks rise from low-growing fountains of rich green foliage. Easy to plant. Increase annually. Hyacinthoides hispanica Zones 3-9. 8-10 cm bulbs. Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs [Click here to view more fragrant Breck's Bulbs...] [New at Breck's...]

Alpaca wool poncho, 'Red Sunrise Elegance'

NOVICA®

Disappear into the warm embrace of this stunning, full length cloak. Featuring a delicate, hand crocheted floral border, and a matching scarf that flows gracefully from the back of the collar. Alpaca and acrylic.

"Greetings from the highest regions of the Peruvian Andes, where the air is fresh and pure; where the spring water helps preserve nature and keep alive our precious fauna such as the alpaca, which has been part of Quechua and Aymara families throughout our history.

This is a history that is preserved through artisan hands such as my family's, and by Novica too, who helps us show our history to the world. And by you, our clients and friends, because together we will continue to write this history. You can be sure that each alpaca gift is made with the loving care of many Peruvians, from shepherds to weavers.

Therefore, on behalf of many Andean families including mine, I would like to send greetings filled with the same warmth of our alpaca wool, as well as our eternal gratitude! Many thanks, and best wishes for joy and prosperity!"

Nestor Yana was born on August 29, 1964. He hails from the Puno region, situated in the Peruvian highlands, which are renowned for good quality alpaca and sheep wool. He has been dedicated to the textile arts for more than 25 years – it has been a family trade for generations. Click here for sale price and more info... [More items from The Andes...]

Alpaca wool shoulder bag, 'Good Luck'

NOVICA®

Working on the handloom, Faustino Maldonado and his family take the colors of the rosary pea for this bright shoulder bag. The Andean seed is known as a huayruro and is thought to bring good luck.

Faustino Maldonado's artistry has been featured in Sunset magazine.

Faustino Maldonado was born in Hualhuas. Because his parents and grandparents were artisans, he learned at an eary age to weave on rustic looms, to prepare the warp using the pushca, and spin on the rueca.

Since he first started weaving, Maldonado has mastered the art and has immensely improved the quality of his textiles. Maldonado's work is a representation of the art that has been passed down from generation to generation within his family. The family motto has been, "I will never let go of either my grandfather or grandson's hands, for what I have learned from the elders, I will teach to the young."

Based on this family philosophy, Maldonado and his relatives have been making large bedspreads in high relief without any stitching. They also proudly craft sheep wool and alpaca tapestries, purses, backpacks, cushions, and vests. The Maldonado family's works have become increasingly popular. Click here for sale price and more info... [More items from The Andes...]

French Perfume Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

Sun Disc Daffodil (15), Round, full petals unfold in a sunny yellow frilled cups and a tiny green eye in the centre. Prolific, long-lasting blooms have a delightful fragrance..
Red Rocket Hyacinth (5), Breck's Dutch Bulb Experts have selected five glorious shades from the prize crops of Holland..
Stargazer Oriental Lily (3), For a summer garden full of breathtaking flowers without a lot of fuss, Lilies are the way to go..

Place these flowers near a window, perhaps in a container or window box, and they will fill your home with heavenly fragrance! These long-lasting blooms with their strong stems also make elegant cut- flower arrangements and bouquets, so it is easy to bring the beauty and perfume indoors.

Breck's French Perfume Collection includes:

15 Sun Disc Daffodils - Round, full petals unfold in a sunny yellow frilled cup with a tiny green eye in the centre. Prolific, long-lasting blooms have a delightful fragrance. Grows and multiplies anywhere. 10-12 cm. bulbs.

5 Red Rocket Giant Fragrant Hyacinths - Red Rocket...vivid red florets smother sturdy stems and bloom for weeks. These Dutch hyacinths will be the pride of your early to mid-spring garden and a source of delight to all your senses. Garden-size bulbs are easy to grow and produce 8-10" stems covered with fragrant florets that will bring compliments galore! Return annually for renewed beauty. 15-16 cm bulbs.

3 Stargazer Oriental Lilies - Breathtaking is the word to describe Stargazer. This exotic-looking Oriental produces colourful, delectably fragrant blooms in abundance for weeks in summer. Huge 6-7" upward-facing flowers bloom brightly year after year. Ideal for beds and borders, at waterside or for naturalizing at woods' edge. 16-18 cm bulbs.

23 top-quality Dutch bulbs in all! Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs [Click here to view more fragrant Breck's Bulbs...] [New at Breck's...]