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May – the in-between month. Holidays are long gone and more time will lapse before summer vacation begins; weather struggling between still cold and too-early hot. So what’s to write about that might be current. Anything in my passport that might fit in here? I’ve got it – June 6, 1944, the day called D-Day. Let me share my trip down the Normandy coast. Talk about what has changed and what has not in the past 70-plus years. Maybe remind you of a few movies you have seen and of a few older vets who remember being there.

We started our trip at the city of Arromanches-les-Bains. This seaport isn’t often mentioned because it was not one of the original landing sites. In fact, it sits between them. The British and Canadian landing sites named Juno, Gold, and Sword sit to the east, while those of the United States, Omaha and Utah, are to its west. But this little known spot was perhaps the most important of them all. Why? Well, an old army proverb says “An Army marches on its stomach.” Without food, medical supplies, and ammunition the entire project collapses. There on the beach, at an artificial temporary harbour, all of those goodies came ashore. This pier also served as the location for loading wounded or stranded warriors who were heading back to England. The plan was actually quite imaginative. In Britain they built huge floating concrete caissons which, after being towed from England, then had to be assembled to form walls and piers which defined an artificial spot named the Mulberry harbour. When they got there they were scuttled and sunk, forming a concrete pier going from dry land well out into the English Channel. Ships could tie up alongside the pier to unload and reload, and supplies and troops streamed in and out.

These “concrete hunks” were very difficult to remove so many of them remain visible from the shore, sitting about where they were sunk some seventy years ago. A few of them, I’m told, went on to greater things. They were purchased by the Dutch and are now doing their thing as part of dikes to hold water back on the coast of the Netherlands.

Our next stop, just to the west, was to visit the remnants of the German gun positions. These elaborate bunkers housed huge 105 mm rifles, cannons if you prefer, that could hurl a shell twelve miles. An observer on the cliff’s edge would call out range and distance, and from the bunkers these huge weapons would launch shells at either the fleet of ships or the shore’s landing sites. In contrast these days an unmanned drone, remotely controlled, using GPS for the location of its target, could easily accomplish the same task with far more accuracy. The bunkers are now old and the remaining guns rusted, but they still give off a sense of foreboding.

Our third stop was the American Cemetery just above Omaha beach. I could write a separate story on the beauty and serenity of this place. Statistics and history abound, but I am not going there. Instead I will share with you one of my quests while visiting the site.

Over the years I’ve talked to many who were there on D-Day and who participated in the mighty endeavor. I’ve also watched a lot of films out of Hollywood which told stories, often sugar-coated, of what happened there. To a man, all participants said the movie “Saving Private Ryan” was by far the most realistic.

You may recall that three of Private Ryan’s brothers were victims in this war. Two had died on or just after D-Day, the third was a POW of the Japanese. This film was based on a true family story of the brothers whose real name was Nyland. One of my quests was to find their resting places. This took me into the vast cemetery with a goal and a purpose.

At the Information Center I looked up their location and found it to be A-19. Admittedly I wandered around looking out to sea over the beaches and did read the history of ten or twelve others buried there. In the end, I found the Lieutenant Nyland’s grave and his Staff Sergeant brother’s also – with white marble crosses standing on each.

This was enough for me. The oft-stated truism became reality here, namely the United States of America has conquered a great deal of land over its history. But we have always returned it to the inhabitants who were there before we came. The only ground we have asked for and kept has been the plots of our soldiers who died liberating the land.

Rest in peace.

California leads the nation in many respects. Including produce. While residents of most other states rejoice at finally finding something other than broccoli in the supermarket this month, Californians enjoy their fill of spring crops while also getting a sneak-preview of summer. Along with early stone fruits like apricots and cherries, there is now a proliferation of berries and juicy melons. In the vegetable arena, look for early vine-ripened tomatoes and just-picked corn, shiny eggplant, tender summer squash, and crisp bell peppers.

But before we get ahead of ourselves here, let’s make the most of what is left of spring. Cool-weather crops like all manner of peas, from sweet-as-candy sugar snaps; crisp snow peas; and “English” or common garden-variety peas-in-the-pod are still available. You can bet I’ll be buying an armload of them to make a pot of light and lovely fresh pea soup.

If the thought of pea soup leaves you shrugging your shoulders and saying, “Meh”, hear me out. There are a few things to consider:

–This recipe gets its creaminess from canned coconut milk, an inexpensive product easily found in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.(Do not confuse canned coconut milk with those tooth-achingly-sweet canned “cream of coconut” products used to make tropical cocktails.) If unfamiliar with it, you may be surprised that it is neither sweet nor overtly “coconutty.” Once exposed to its versatility, you’ll probably want to keep a couple of cans in the pantry at all times.

–Rest assured this soup bears absolutely no resemblance to the drab, pasty split pea soup from your grammar school cafeteria. Or that scary movie involving an exorcist.

–And finally: Unlike many green soups served at fancy-schmancy restaurants, this one is not silky- smooth, so you actually know what you’re eating. If you want to go to the trouble of straining the soup through a fine sieve, be my guest…but I prefer to savor all that pea-goodness.

Serve this warm or chilled, depending on your mood. It makes a memorable first course, or a delightfully light lunch or dinner–especially when paired with a few slices of toasted artisan bread slathered with soft California goat cheese. For variation, I sometimes pour 3-ounce portions of soup into espresso cups to serve as an appetizer. It’s always a hit. No one anticipates that pleasantly mild undercurrent of Thai flavor; and that gorgeous spring-green color is difficult for anyone to resist. Have I convinced you yet?

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is in the preparation, but all of it can be done in advance. Shelling peas is one of those mindless tasks best undertaken while singing along with the radio, or while solving the problems of the world (in your own mind). If time is short, bribe children to do it for you. But always buy more than you think you need. Kids will inevitably learn that popping a few cool, crunchy peas into their mouths as they work is the most rewarding part of the ritual.

Fresh Pea Soup with Thai Flavors

1 tablespoon California olive oil

2 large shallots, chopped

1 Thai chile pepper, seeded if desired and finely chopped, or 2 teaspoons finely- chopped jalapeño

Fine sea salt

1 (2- to 3-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated

1 large lime, plus additional lime wedges for serving

4 pounds fresh peas-in-the-pod (about 4 cups shelled)

2 cups (16 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce (Thai namplaor Vietnamese nuoc mam)

1/4 teaspoon sugar

Half of a well-shaken can (13- to 14-ounces) coconut milk*

Optional garnishes:

Fresh Thai basil or mint leaves, cut into thin strips or chopped, and/or coarsely-chopped fresh cilantro

Thinly sliced green onion (scallion)

Chopped fresh chives

Additional lime zest

A few drops of Sriracha sauce or Asian hot chili oil

1. In a soup pot or large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallots, chile, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the shallots have softened, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Finely grate the zest of the 1 lime and add it to the pot. (Reserve the rest of the lime for later.) Add the ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Stir in the peas, chicken broth, fish sauce, and sugar and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, until the peas are tender but still bright green, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the well-mixed coconut milk.

3. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until almost smooth. (Alternatively, let the soup cool and, working in batches, puree in a blender.) Squeeze the juice from the previously-zested lime and stir into the soup. Taste, adding more salt as needed. Serve warm or chilled, topped with any of the garnishes listed above. (To serve chilled, taste first to adjust the seasonings. If it is too thick, you may also need to add more broth to thin the mixture.) Pass lime wedges at the table to squeeze over each serving. Makes about 4 cups.

*Coconut milk naturally separates in the can, causing its cream to rise to the top. Before opening the can, shake it vigorously to emulsify the liquid inside. Measure out a scant 1-cup to use in this soup. The remaining coconut milk can be refrigerated and reserved for another use.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

“The Blessing of the LORD be Upon You.” – Psalm 129:18

My years attending Christian School were difficult. While I was a young, generous, little girl, sadly, many of my classmates were bullies. Some of these bullies were cruel beyond belief, antagonizing me in the classroom, on the playground, and even in school restrooms. Perhaps the best description I can render is to say that the words used by these bullies were evil. The tall, popular girls from “well to do” families were the worst; standing on toilets in the restroom stalls, peering over, uttering foul comments and laughing.

Physical education periods were some of the most hurtful times. Because the other girls were so tall, they would taunt and tease me by hitting the volleyball high over the net, well out of my reach, and in co-ed baseball I was regularly humiliated, always being the last to be chosen for a team. And since all of the other girls had long, straight hair, naturally, some of the more vile comments hurled at me were in reference to my naturally curly, wavy hair.

Many years later, while in college, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. From that point forward I began to see my experience of being bullied differently, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me that these girls acted the way they did because they were jealous.

Today, as an adult, I now enjoy my long, thick, wavy hair as a “gift from the Lord.”
Most days I even receive compliments, like: “You’re hair is beautiful. It is so thick, curly and wavy.” People often ask, “Is that really your hair?” Once, I even had an eighty year old woman pull on my hair to see if it was real!”

Today I can see that God took what the enemy intended for evil and turned it into something good. And because of that transformation, Christ has also given me a boldness to share Christ, wherever I may be. I share tracts with anyone who will receive them, and I have prayed with people to accept Christ into their lives, as their own, personal Lord and savior.

I bless people with tracts and bibles in cafés, retail stores, restaurants—even gas stations—wherever God directs me. My saddest encounter was with a young man in a café. I shared the Lord with him, gave him a tract, to which he returned with these words with a Southern accent: “I thank you ma’am. When I return to the car I will call my mother and tell her about you.” I know this mother is praying for him.

It was a dear friend—one with beautiful white hair of her own—who suggested I write and share my story to bless others, as my journey now moves forward, from one-on-one encounters, to a larger audience through this article. I am so humbled to be a vessel for what I believe is the most important work I could ever do—to boldly share the Gospel of Christ. And so today, after a year of praying, I step out in faith and obey. I am humbled and amazed how the Lord would use a tiny woman like me to bless other young girls, boys, men and women, who have been, or are, victims of bullying.

If you are a person being bullied, please know that beyond the pain, God has something wonderful in store for you in a time to come. Please know that He is preparing you for a good work, where you, too, will find joy in the Lord, as you will be recognized for what you truly are—a blessing in the lives of others.

All right, boys and girls, here is the question for today: “What is the only constant in this world?” Some with a scientific bent might answer, “Planck’s Constant.” As a cynical, romantic humanist, I would then ask, “What happened to ‘Plinck’ and ‘Plunck,’” which no scientist would find even remotely humorous. The real answer, of course, is “change.”

Nowhere in our world has change been more obvious than in the realm of book publishing, especially in education. Forty years ago when I was active as a university professor, a man or woman, and there were few of the latter, would submit a prospectus and two or three sample chapters to an acquistions editor. The editorial staff would then review the work for content, style, and, except for some university presses, its ability to make a buck.

Today, of course, the large publishing houses have become specialty shops and home to books from the already famous. The omnipresent computer has become the be-all of self-publishing. Like most other human endeavors, self-publishing has its positive and its negative sides. Authors now do not have to depend on the whims and moods of prospective publishers to project their ideas to the public. Unfortunately, it also means that some people who cannot put five words together to make a coherent sentence can write and publish “My Mommy Did Not Like Me” books, while others become pseudo-experts by reading articles in popular magazines with limited content. We can only hope that the cream will rise to the top.

When I first published, I was fortunate enough to have Science Research Associates, the publishing arm of IBM, accept my first book which dealt with the interpretation of literature. I received a nice advance against royalties, but I am fairly sure the company never recovered even the advance. It looked damned good, however, on my resume.

After being assured of not “perishing” in the academic world, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston agreed to publish my public speaking textbook. At the time I was teaching at Purdue University in Hammond, Indiana. Holt also gave a nice, but modest, cash advance along with other goodies: a trip to New York for my wife and me, excellent tickets to “A Chorus Line,” which was then the hottest ticket on Broadway, and lunch at a restaurant of our choice. Because we were not that familiar with New York, we told the editor we would like an Italian restaurant of his choice. He took us to a small restaurant in Little Italy. As we walked the last few steps to the restaurant, he quietly told us that there had been a Mafia murder there just two weeks before. He continued saying, “If anything happens, just keep looking at your food.” Fortunately nothing untoward happened. Just to play it safe, I simply stared at Shirley, the editor, spaghetti marinara, and two meat balls—ONLY!

Happily that book sold quite well. Most of the content of the book had been written by Aristotle some two and half millennia before, although I can take credit for the modern American English style and content. Following the ancient Greek’s advice to analyze one’s audience, I targeted the book, not for Harvard or Stanford where the emphasis was on research, but rather for state and community colleges. I must also admit to enjoying the flattery when colleagues would introduce me to some of their graduate students who invariably asked, “Are you the Cohen of Speaking the Speech? Shyly, all right, not so shyly, I confessed that indeed I was.

After registering some success with the book, I was offered $500.00 for the rights to have it translated into Spanish for use in Central and South America. I have no idea if the Spanish version sold five copies or five million. It did serve to keep my hat size in control, however, as they misspelled my name on the cover. After almost fifty years as “Edwin,” I became “Edwing.”

A second edition of the speech book was published after about five years. (Incidentally, both books are available on Amazon for one penny each–I no longer get royalties.)

One of the most enjoyable aspects of publishing happened to me after I had left academia. After a successful career of ten years through mid-Western interminable winters and unbearable summers, I left the ivy halls to return to California, home. When we moved back, I took some questionable deductions from my income tax, knowing that some might not make the cut, but then I am more gambler than accountant. Sure enough, we got a letter from the IRS saying that we owed a fair size amount for the transitional year. I called the telephone number as directed and the person who answered sounded exactly as unfriendly and nasty as an IRS agent should. He soon asked, “What do you want to do about the money you owe?”

I suggested, knowing full well it would not fly, that we split it, which would have pleased me. He chuckled and said, “No way.” He then started listing some of the alleged unacceptable deductions. One of the first was a deduction for a room in my home used as an office because I was an author. The agent immediately kiboshed that plan.

I respectfully replied, “If you will look at form XXX, you will see that I have also declared income.” His reply: “Just a minute,” which was followed by a long pause, the silence broken by the sound of papers being shuffled in the background. After the long pause he came back on the line. “Mr. Cohen, I have been with the IRS fifteen years, and you are the first author I have seen that claimed income. I’ll split it with you.”

I had met the IRS head on and WON. What could be more fun?

Dear SSHS,
How quickly after a child leaves for college can you turn her bedroom into another purpose room? My stepdaughter is flying the coop in August and I could really use the space for my home business.
                                                                                                      –Kitchen Table Kathy

She Said: There’s a little word in your question that changes everything: stepdaughter. You have to be way more careful than if this was your birth daughter, otherwise it will look like you’re trying to get rid of her, and step- relationships are tricky enough. Discuss this with her dad, and once you’ve come to an agreement, let him do the telling. My rule of thumb has always been, at least let them come home at Christmas to the way things were, then come January, make her old room a shared space between office/guestroom.

He Said: Your stepdaughter has probably spent a lot of time in that room over the course of her childhood and probably considers it her sanctuary or safe place. Be VERY CAREFUL when you decide to invade her safe space and take it away from her. I would suggest you wait at least until she’s finished her first year of college and you get the feel that she is definitely not coming back home anytime soon. After that, be sure you’re not making the decision to change her room unilaterally and that her father is very much involved in the process.

Dear HSSS,
Last month you responded to a question regarding grown men wearing Speedo’s and you both agreed it was a no-no. But what about grown women in skimpy bikinis? Seems there’s a double standard here.                                                                                           –Playing fair in Pleasant Hill

She Said: Oh, we got a lot of blowback from that one. Most agreed with the Speedo rule, but then wondered if we’d be so adamant about the ladies and their swimwear. Is somebody complaining about scantily dressed women at pool parties? When I was a teen, the only complaints I heard were from the ample bodied middle-aged women who were jealous that we young things were getting too much attention! That said, there is a double standard. Victoria Secret, Sports Illustrated, Beyonce at the SuperBowl…you’re right, we’d never allow guys to wear so little and show so much on primetime.

He Said: Here’s my rule when it comes to “grown women” in skimpy bikinis – if they look good, then be my guest! Seriously, who wants to see anyone young or old wearing something skimpy if they don’t look good? There shouldn’t be an age restriction on feeling and looking ones best, but there are some simple rules. 1) Wear age appropriate attire around family and children. 2) If your body fat drapes over and covers up any part of the clothing, then don’t reveal it . 3) If in doubt, get a second opinion because there’s nothing worse than thinking you look better in something than you really do.

Robin Fahr is a public relations specialist and co-host with Shawn Shizzo on Conversations and He Said/She Said seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30 and online attrivalleytv.org. You can also catch He Said/She Said on TheTalkPod.com. Send your questions to AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.

Around 1900 a famous author, Maurice Maeterlinck, made a profound statement which, I am sorry to say, continues to prevail. “Each progressive spirit is opposed by a thousand mediocre minds appointed to guard the past.”

Mediocre minds constantly challenged Einstein early in his career doing everything possible to discredit his theories and ideas. It seems that whenever a progressive spirit comes up with an idea that challenges existing ideas, out of nowhere come the critics, not only challenging their theories but wanting them chastised and penalized for daring to present them.

Someone once declared that you should not judge a person by his friends but by his enemies. If you are making a difference you will be challenged and probably disliked.

In medicine I am beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. The pioneers in alternative medicine, little by little, are gaining respect. Such medical schools as UCSF, Stanford and Harvard are beginning to respect ideas that were laughed at just a few years ago, but there is still a long way to go.

One example is the rejection of acupuncture because it is not “evidence based.” Isn’t 6,000 years of successful use more evidence than the pseudo scientists should need? Complex surgeries are done in China without general anesthesia. The patient can talk during the procedure and can get up and walk to their bed. How many patients die from anesthesia each year in our country?

Hans Selye, an MD that pioneered the idea that stress caused disease was laughed at in the 1950s. Now all physicians agree with him.

When I see a patient for TMJ I look at the whole person, not just their teeth and jaw. I thoroughly review their dental AND medical history for certain medications, health issues or other things may be contributing to their symptoms. I then refer the patient to the appropriate professional if needed. Every once in a while I get opposition from another health care professional who questions why, as a dentist, I am asking for a medication review; making a sleep study referral; referring to a hormone specialist; discussing foods and dietary habits, etc.

The holistic approach requires stepping outside the box and patient participation, which can be one drawback, but the results are well worth it. I have many patients that, after going to several other “specialists” for their TMJ/TMD, have found relief from their symptoms in a relatively short amount of time.

The dental appliance to treat obstructive sleep apnea was not accepted by medicine until just recently when a federal study of over 3,000 patients showed that fewer than 200 were not helped by dental appliance. Some doctors still insist these appliances can only be used on mild to moderate OSA. If a patient isn’t using their CPAP, something else must be done. There is proof in the pudding. One example is our patient who went from 78 apneas per hour (AHI), severe OSA, to AHI=3 per hour, using a dental appliance. Taking into account the lack of acceptance of the CPAP, many are going untreated because of this misinformation.

Unfortunately, too many dentists are labeling themselves as “sleep apnea specialists,” having the patient hold their jaw forward and then making an appliance to that position. It is this guesswork and lack of follow up care that gives oral appliances a bad reputation. ALL of my patients have the optimal position of the appliance determined by an acoustic pharyngometer, not by guesswork. Once they are comfortable with the appliance, each patient is referred for an efficacy sleep study to prove their OSA is effectively treated.

Let’s drop the Egos and concentrate on caring for the patient.

If you loved Cool Running about the Jamaican Bobsled team, you’re going to love McFarland USA. Rated PG, it’s for the whole family, young, old and really old!

Jim White (Kevin Costner) was a teacher who had once again been fired for speaking his mind. Going against the grain was what he did best. In the early 80s, he packed up his family and moved to where there was the only teaching job he could find: McFarland, California.

If you’ve never heard of McFarland, you’re in good company. I’m from the Central Valley of California and I had never heard of it. While it’s a little farther south than where I lived, it was still totally off my radar. This town of 13,500 inhabitants is primarily an agriculture town. Another strategic factor is that you can see the prison from there; close, too close. Most of the people in McFarland work in the fields and try to stay out of the prison.

McFarland is a movie about heart, family and fate. As Jim started teaching and his family settled in he started to look for a way to help the school, the kids and the community. Every day he would see some boys running to school and then leaving the same way, running. His younger daughter commented one day about how fast the boys ran. A seed started to grow. Jim White had never run track, much less coached it but the seed of a plan started to germinate. From that seed to nine, yes nine, State

Championships was quite the journey. It seems that these teenagers were running to and from the fields where they spent many hours a day working in the hot sun helping to support their families.

For the Whites, I’m sure it felt they had moved to another country but they eventually became an integral part of the McFarland community. In order to be on the track team these kids didn’t just stay after school for practice, they still worked in the fields, went to school and on top of that, went to a grueling practice. It wasn’t easy to convince these families to let their kids join the team. Firstly, because of the time away from the family endeavors but also because, for the most part, this was a town without a dream. These kids never even considered going to college, finding a better job or leaving McFarland.

Jim White taught them to “run fast, work hard and to have a dream bigger than picking almonds or avocados, because champions can come from anywhere!” This film is about a Team turning into a Family.

The beautiful part of this story is the result of Jim White’s efforts. I won’t spoil it but be sure to stay till the end! Coach White’s belief that in the end it comes down to who can handle the pain, truly made a difference, not only in his life and his family’s but also a whole community. This movie is for anybody and everybody. Rent or buy it today and give me a “shout out” at chastings@rockcliff.com

Q. My zucchini is shriveling up. I’ve looked on the web and found similar looking issues for a problem called Blossom End Rot. The article suggested that the problem is caused by the lack of calcium. Do you think making up gallons of nonfat dry milk and “watering” the plants will solve my problem?

A. Blossom End Rot is a problem with many summer vegetables. With cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and squash, the fruit form and then quickly shrivel and rot. The vegetables never mature. With tomatoes, peppers, and sometime eggplants, tan to brown blotches form on the maturing fruit. These blotches are found on he lower section or the blossom end of the fruits. They do reach mature and are edible with the flaws. The lack of calcium is one of the causes of Blossom End Rot, however, watering with any type of milk product is not going to work. As part of your soil preparation next year, you would add calcium in the form of Dolimite, Agricultural or Oyster Shell Lime but not Hydrated Lime. The size of the vegetable garden will determine the quantity. Bonide Rot Stop or similar product is a liquid copper that can be applied during flowering. That being said, calcium products will not yield satisfactory results unless you correct the major reason for Blossom End Rot, irregular watering. Watering with a preset schedule April though September doesn’t work. Our temperatures are always in flux; hence, we need to vary the frequency on a weekly schedule. There is no problem with watering more often when it’s very warm. Our problem is watering less often when it’s cool. There is no set formula because every yard is different thus every garden is water differently. Irregular watering comes from the changes in temperature which effect the rate moisture is withdrawn from the soil. The soil preparation, exposure to the afternoon sun, the type of distribution system and the utilization of mulch all affect how often we water. Now, the one constant in all cases is the volume of water necessary to wet the entire root system. It’s just how often we apply the moisture that needs to change. Another problem that complicates things is the plant groupings. Deep-rooted vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants should be separated from the shallow rooted varieties, such as peppers, squash as they will need to water more frequently. While the answer to the problem is easy, finding the right balance in your yard will take some trial and error.

Q. Do I need to stake my Oriental lilies?

A. Oriental and trumpet lilies produce large perfumed flowers and may need some support once the grow past thirty-six inches. I’d place tall bamboo stakes or sturdy wire supports near the stems but be careful not to skewer the bulb and tie the stems to the supports with garden tape or twine. Place several ties along the stem, starting a foot below the lowest blooms, to prevent the weight of the blooms from snapping the stem.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

Why Custom Blended Foundations Are The Perfect Recipe For Natural Looking Skin!

We see women every day coming in our store complaining how they cannot find a foundation that matches their skin tone color. They have searched high and low, from high-end department stores to Target, wasting time and money trying to find a magical blend.

At The Rouge Cosmetics we specialize in custom blended foundations formulating a perfect recipe for each individual. Women are amazed how even their skin looks and how beautiful their complexion is. Our custom foundations have medium coverage, with a sun protection of SPF 25. The feel is very light—almost weightless—which is why many women experience a “second skin phenomena” with our custom blends. You will actually use less custom foundation than other foundations since it is a precise match to your skin tone color.

You’re a Candidate if:

You have extremely pale or translucent skin and or dislike how you look in most off-the-shelf foundations.

You have very red skin and struggle to find the correct foundation tone, (most look too orange or too light on your face and you end up looking chalky) or the intensity is wrong. We create a foundation blend that gives the skin warmth, while mixing in a green pigment to neutralize the red, giving the skin a healthy second skin look.

You are a sophisticated beauty shopper and, even though you have found a ready-made option, you like the process of selecting special skincare options and a specific finish for your foundation, opting for a perfect blended foundation for yourself.

Your foundation “graveyard” (products you purchased, but ultimately didn’t like or was not the best for you) keeps growing.

You like moist foundations and a luminous skin look, yet you find most foundations are too oily and separate on the skin. With a custom blend you can add moisture without the oil, which makes the skin smooth and polished.

You have oily skin and can’t wear foundations because your skin shines. With a custom blended foundation we add an oil control ingredient right into the blend, to control oily skin and balance t-zone.

Your skin is beautiful with yellow undertones but nothing matches. We use a purple pigment in the custom blend to brighten, clarify and to give the skin a radiant natural look.

Your foundation gets into the folds and smile lines. We use extra-hydration and a micro-sphere primer to firm, lift and minimize fine lines.

Some women say finding that perfect foundation is like finding that perfect pair of jeans. Others say it’s like the ultimate handbag or most comfortable heels.

What we promise? No more guessing. Just perfection and satisfaction!

Custom Blenders Tell All
“It’s a super individual need for me, sort of like…I finally nailed this foundation thing!”

“It’s a special experience to get a custom foundation specifically blended to your skin. You feel more confident than ever!”

Come into The Rouge Cosmetics for a free Custom Blend Consultation and to discover all the wonderful benefits in having a custom blended foundation made just for you and that matches your special skin tone color.