Alcoa pebblestone clay siding

Looking for ideas! We have recently bought our home and have a lovely but ‘blank slate’ garden with a decent sized lawn. We’ve already added a greenhouse a couple of veg beds to the back right, but hoping for a pretty border to the front and left side. Soil is clay mix (South East England) and the orientation is south west facing so it gets quite a bit of sun in summer. Currently there’s lavender, lemon balm and rosemary all doing well, what else could I add that’s not too fussy? The front border is along the top of a retaining wall, so we don’t want anything too high that would block light from the patio below!

I have an area that I’m redoing landscaping wise, putting in a legit French drain with a dry creek bed on top. Would like to put some natives on either side of it. Area will likely be pretty dry if the drainage works as it should. The area gets sun from roughly 9am to 1pm but can get pretty warm in the summer being right next to the house.
Are there any natives you’d recommend? Not really going for a “full” aesthetic but more of a sparse look if that makes any sense. Was thinking a few grasses, maybe a small shrub, and few low ground cover type plants (fern or phlox perhaps?) Soil is sandy clay. Planting zone is 8a central NC.
Provided an in progress photo if that helps. Plantings would be on either side of the shovel.

Mixed media. The scene is a herd of javelinas peacefully munching their way through a patch of prickly pear cactus paddles on the side of an arroyo as a monsoon storm approaches about to cover the full moon. They are being stalked by a pack of coyotes (javelinas & coyotes are natural enemies). On the far-right a coyotes has broke cover to attack a baby javelina, so the peacrful scene is seconds from chaos.
Media is floor store tiles grouted on a frame from Goodwill & javelinas, coyotes & cactus are polymer clay.
It weighs about 25 lbs & is going to be exhibited for the first time in a veteran's art show put on by the Arizona Artist alliance in PHX, a non-juried show.

The double glaze dripped down over the edge :/ but I actually love the look! He's like a fun octopus.
My question is what should I do to smooth this cracked raw clay part on the side? Would love to use it & know I won't scratch anything.
Thank you!

This is a closeup on one of my mosspoles, and I noticed that both had these bugs in the moss. I tried finding more info online, but so far no luck. The little bugs are only in the moss/soil, and I have not seen them on the leaves of the plant just yet.
Both of the moss poles are affected, but as far as I can tell, all of my other plants seem to be fine.
The pots feature a mosspole, and proper drainage, and is standing on a bunch of clay pellets which mostly evaporate any remaining water. I water about once in every three days, unless the temperature and sun exposure are both a bit higher. Both poles get morning sun (directly in front of an east side window)

Hi everyone, looking for suggestions on what to do with our rear garden. Been trying to get a grasp of the grass for a couple of years to no avail, now deciding to try a small renovation to make better use of the space. Rough budget is £500.
Currently have very heavy clay soil and little/no drainage, more like a swamp than grass. The pictures are 3 weeks post scarification and not looking great but way better than before. Also on a relatively steep slope, about a 0.8-1m drop from top to bottom of the garden and maybe 200mm from right to left.
Initial ideas: 1) Drainage! Dig out trenches on the three sides and improve the existing 'drains'. 2) Path - would be a lot of level changes to put in steps but not sure if I would like the look of a line of stones. Another drainage line at least. 3) Smooth out level - doubt this is within my budget, long term would need to be multiple levels made. Perhaps manageable to smooth out the left-right level change.
Am I missing anything more simple? Ideally would rip up and start again but not feasible for now.
Thanks in advance.

Hello,
I’m wanting to hang this canvas on the wall, but am not too sure of the best way to go about it to make sure it will be secure enough to not fall / be knocked off.
The canvas is fairly large (81cm x 101cm) and on the heavier side. I’ve not been about to weigh the full piece, but the eggs were made with around 5.5kg of air dry clay which is the vast majority of the weight. I would guess total weight is around 6-7kg.
Currently the canvas has no hanging fixings in, but we are happy to add some in (though I have no idea which is best!). The wooden frame at the back is around 2cm thick / 4cm wide.
The wall it’s going on to is a solid wall.
Does anyone have any advice on the most sensible and secure way to put this into the wall?
Thanks!!

Hello,
I’m wanting to hang this canvas on the wall, but am not too sure of the best way to go about it to make sure it will be secure enough to not fall / be knocked off.
The canvas is fairly large (81cm x 101cm) and on the heavier side. I’ve not been about to weigh the full piece, but the eggs were made with around 5.5kg of air dry clay which is the vast majority of the weight. I would guess total weight is around 6-7kg.
Currently the canvas has no hanging fixings in, but we are happy to add some in (though I have no idea which is best!). The wooden frame at the back is around 2cm thick / 4cm wide.
The wall it’s going on to is a solid wall.
Does anyone have any advice on the most sensible and secure way to put this into the wall?
Thanks!!

Hello,
I’m wanting to hang this canvas on the wall, but am not too sure of the best way to go about it to make sure it will be secure enough to not fall / be knocked off.
The canvas is fairly large (81cm x 101cm) and on the heavier side. I’ve not been about to weigh the full piece, but the eggs were made with around 5.5kg of air dry clay which is the vast majority of the weight. I would guess total weight is around 6-7kg.
Currently the canvas has no hanging fixings in, but we are happy to add some in (though I have no idea which is best!). The wooden frame at the back is around 2cm thick / 4cm wide.
The wall it’s going on to is a solid wall.
Does anyone have any advice on the most sensible and secure way to put this into the wall?
Thanks!!

(Writer's Note: Understanding this summary will require previous knowledge of the posts about Chaffee's foreign and domestic policies. Any reference that needs past context will be linked to their respective posts)
“Until the ends of the earth we shall fight for our values, our freedom, our sovereignty, and by the grace of Almighty God, America and its people shall triumph forevermore.” - Adna Chaffee in his inaugural address Adna Chaffee’s Cabinet
Vice President - George B. McClellan Jr.
Secretary of State - Champ Clark
Secretary of the Treasury - Elihu Root
Secretary of War - Robert F. Broussard
Postmaster General - Robert Borden
Secretary of the Navy - George E. Chamberlain (resigned March 1903) Frederick Eaton
Secretary of the Interior - Jim Hogg
Attorney General - Philander C. Knox
Secretary of Sustenance - Moses Kinkaid
Secretary of Public Safety - Edward Carmack
Secretary of Labor and Employment - George Westinghouse
Fearing The Chaffean Cabal
Hancock D.C., United States of America, February 4, 1901
“Mr. Moody, the gravity of this situation is straining to members of the opposition.”
“I agree to your sentiment, but forming an administration such as this is in total legal power of the president. We may oppose these appointments in Congress, but as long the Patriots have the majority of confidence in the chambers, our voices are irrelevant. All we can hope is for moderacy to prevail.
The Speaker of the House and Senator Wanamaker has already voiced the totality of his support for the president’s selection. Mr. Hanly, we cannot expect us to be victorious in blocking this new cabinet, especially as public pressure demands of us approval for a functioning government. May you read the list aloud again?”
“For State, James Beauchamp Clark of Missouri. Treasury, Elihu Root of New York. War, Robert Broussard of Louisiana. Postmaster General, Robert Borden of Nova Scotia. Navy, George Chamberlain of Mississippi. Attorney General, Philander Knox of Pennsylvania. Interior, Jim Hogg of Texas. Sustenance, Moses Kinkaid of Dakota. Public Safety, Edward Carmack of Tennessee. Labor and Employment, George Westinghouse of Pennsylvania.
Never since the Barnum administration has a presidential administration been so clearly partisan. These men hold very extreme, reformist, and hawkish views, the country will veer very far off from what President Custer created.”
“chuckles, Alas, we can do nothing but do our work here in the House of Representatives. Perhaps, we should not fear this for now.”
“sighs, If that that is what your mind is speaking to you, then I cannot oppose it. After all, we are now partners in opposition.”
The previous Custer administration had been marred by the Bryan-Russell rivalry which split the old presidential cabinet in pieces. It was custom that presidential cabinets be diverse in order to please either side of a political debate. As the old administration left, it was expected that a similar status-quo structure would be put in place to appease both hawkish hardliners and isolationist reformists, however the end result was far from that thought. The Chaffee administration was packed solely with so-called “ruffian” individuals, those who held interventionist, nationalist, social reformist, and near imperialistic philosophies. Cabinet members such as Champ Clark, Robert F. Broussard, Moses Kinkaid, and George Westinghouse were chosen due to their alignment with a ‘Chaffean’ belief. The more ‘reactionary’ members such as Vice President McClellan, Jim Hogg, George E. Chamberlain, and Edward Carmack still mostly held firm in their loyalty to the administration. The more ‘reformist’ column which included Elihu Root, Robert Borden, and Philander Knox, though more likely to be uncomfortable with the actions of the other cliques, still abided by the circle as a whole. Though terrifying for his political opponents, this powerful administration would be a blessing to the president himself, smoothing the path to get actions done.
President Chaffee during a visit to the Philippine Islands after the German negotiations
The Great Axe
Upon the axing of the ‘bloated’ bureaucratic Custerite system, the government experienced the first surplus in budget in decades. These policies were mainly devised by the machinations of Secretary Elihu Root and Attorney General Philander Knox. Many of the departments and sub departments created by the old administration were either merged, reassigned, or eliminated entirely. Funds for government-instituted programs were reallocated into the economic restructuring and control funds, killing off many public programs.
Attorney General Knox took a much harder stance on monopolies and repealed many of the protections handed to them by the Custer administration. Working with Secretary Carmack, the monetary ventures of these companies were now monitored by Bureau of Public Safety, and often threatened government intervention if practices were not up to standard. To the dismay of many radical anti-monopolists, the administration refrained from breaking up these monopolies and they continued to grow their empires that spanned the entire country, only now with increased government surveillance. On the other hand, new policies empowered small business and funds were reallocated to support non-monopoly affiliated business. Though these small business finally did detach themselves from the shadow of monopolies, in many areas competition remained harsh of them as the larger and more wealthy corporations dominated consumers.
Secretary Knox at work
In an attempted to stir back competition, Congress passed the Roosevelt-Garfield Bill in May 1902, penned by Representative Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Senator James R. Garfield of Ohio. The bill capped the wealth and support received by regional wings of corporations in “designated developing areas”. Harsh fines and possible shutdowns were imposed to any that tried disobey or cheat the law. Domestic American business saw a more competitive landscape throughout the coming years, though the wealth gap between big and small business still widened.
The Prince of the World
In a recent news report posted in the Hartford Courant, an interview with esteemed writer and author Mark Twain in February of 1903 caught the attention of many. The interviewer asked Twain a question regarding his past comments about President Chaffee, “In less than 10 words, how would you describe the foreign policy of the president.”. Twain paused for a moment and responded, “Ambition to a near toxic degree.”. Twain coined the term “Chaffean Policy”, and his sentiments were shared by most of the President Chaffee’s critics in foreign policy.
Chaffee famously declared in his tantalizing second round campaign speech that he would find America’s place under the sun. To most, Chaffee would deliver on that promise in a mere few years. America would achieve these feats quick and ambitiously. The American military occupation of Fujian Province and its establishment as part of the American sphere of influence was a victory to those who sought to expand American prowess in the Fat East. The American intervention to support the Filipino republics against the Germans who acquired the Spanish Philippines empowered the anti-German nationalists. The incidents at Manchuria and the souring of Russo-American relations bowed in favor of those who saw the Russians as autocratic tyrants. The establishment of American representation and interests in the Congo General Administration pleased the African opportunists. The quashing of the protests in Bahia Blanca strengthened those who wished to expand influence in South America. The US even demanded that the Argentine protestors be harshly punished by the Argentine government, which stirred the country's public even more. All in all, one group was certainly ecstatic of foreign policy the new administration was veering towards, the nationalist-imperialists.
American-administered railway construction in the Congo General Administration
These policy gave Chaffee’s administration immense bi-partisan support from the imperialists of the political spectrum. After the US was able to negotiate with the Germans not to continue their conquest of the Philippine Islands, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge would praise the president’s policies in a speech. “Never before has America shined so brightly to all societies of the world. Each step we take, we walk closer to the golden throne of a perfect civilization. There we shall take our rightful place as Prince of the World, under the service of the Lord, our God and Christ the Savior.”. The President himself was consistent in his constant declares of “American Sovereignty” against the grand foes that seek to dismantle it. Though notoriously less rambunctious and outgoing than his predecessor, Chaffee’s rare appearances gained much fanfare to his supporters, especially if he spoke out directly to them. The opposition continued to oppose these policies, the radicals and anti-imperialists joining forces to counteract the nationalist machine. Representative Hiram Johnson would try to push for an impeachment for Secretary Carmack, due to his actions in Bahia Blanca that led thousands deported, though his efforts fell flat. To the wider public, imperialism was either a non-concern or a broad support. A majority of American would not oppose these policies, most of them saying it was for the betterment of American prestige and international power.
Mass deportation of Argentine war immigrants back to Argentina
With fears that a possible conflict may stir up between the US and any other nation, Chaffee ordered Secretary of War Broussard and the War Department to hastily prepare a last resort war plans in case of war with every single major power in the world stage. Acknowledge the gargantuan task of defeating any major powers, the war plans describes very desperate and depraved tactics, such as using chemical warfare and bombarding international shipping. The plans would also describe the spoils of war that the US would seize if they were the win against their foes. Broussard's plans were kept top secret and never showed publicly, though many rumors got out and spread throughout the rooms of lawmakers, however those rumors was mostly either dismissed or sidelined by the general public and basically unknown to the rest of the world.
The Disobedient Son
While feelings of American expansionism were warm at home, abroad it utterly enraged many. In a golden room in a place in Berlin, Philipp, Prince of Eulenberg, after his meeting with George von Lengerke Meyer regarding the Philippines, told Vice Chancellor Arthur von Posadowsky-Wehner, “Americans are a brash and egomaniacal people. Always seeking glory, but never willing to sacrifice. Their great leaders of old, Hancock, Clay, Hale, would weep at the sight of this nation that stands before us.”.
The Kaiserreich was increasingly growing ambitious and hostile policy in the world stage. Along with her ally, the British Empire, they counterbalanced the Franco-Russian Entente for supremacy on the world stage. Woes for a conflict were already brewing in Europe. In the German-aligned Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (informally the Kingdom of Illryia), tension was growing with the Russophile Balkan-Slavic intelligentsia and the German ruling class, reigned by Bernhard von Saxe-Meiningen, or by his regal name King Konstantin I. A military arms race between the French and the Germans continues to flare up as both vie to be the premier continental power. The Germans would still hold claim the mostly ethnically and linguistically German Rhineland, which had been handed to the French after the Napoleonic Wars. The British and the French would compete for their massive colonial empires, seeking to establish dominance as the greatest empire in history. It didn’t help that Secretary of State Clark openly denounced the “colonial competition” of the French and the British, saying it put global peace in jeopardy. Clark sent multiple letters to UK Prime Ministers Robert Gascoyne-Cecil and Charles Spencer denouncing the UK’s policy of “encroachment”, stating that wherever the French sought to spread influence, the British would follow.
The Franco-British \"Great Game\" would distract both governments from fully decrying the US
The United States would be viewed as a bumbling yet dangerously ambitious nation, one that the Germans sought to keep passive and behaved. The US had aligned neither with the Franco-Russian nor the Anglo-German alliance, historically holding a famed neutral stance in global squabbles. However as President Chaffee’s more hawkish foreign policy began to soar the US above what the foreign empires expected, those nations began to antagonize the Americans. Even the French, who have a merely professionally lukewarm relationship with the US, began to get anxious. French Prime Minister Georges Picquart would describe the American foreign policy as “…inherently hostile to all non-Americans.”. Though no foreign nation would threaten military action against the US, the sentiments established would lead to many nations seeking American to stay put during foreign affairs. The Argentine public particularly had a rabid distain for the US. After their loss in the war, Argentina would suffer crippling economic conditions, further exacerbated by their political divisions and lack of national confidence. The new Argentine president sought to rebound relations with the US, which angered many of the populace who demanded to cut off relations from their former foe. The growing hostility of these nations was apparent to many in the government, though their reactions were muted and unenthusiastic. Most simply shrugged this concern off as unimportant. Senator Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., recently appointed to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, would state “The hostility and discrediting from foreign governments against the United States is matters that that foreign government solely has dictation over. Our government has no command over that they may say or do.” Holmes' address was met with cheers from the chambers.
The things he allows...
The first Chaffee cabinet would be one of the most politically powerful and influential administrations in American history. Coordinating excessive actions such as the expulsion of all Argentine immigrants, the grand “War on Crime”, the exaltation of the Hancockian Corps, and the detachment from the gold standard to fiat currency. Secretary of Labor and Employment Westinghouse moved ambitious yet business-friendly employment policies. Westinghouse imposed many policies that benefited the technological sector of the market, and many technological feats were aided by and complete by Westinghouse’s investments. Westinghouse’s company went beyond electricity and aided in the creation of groundbreaking inventions. Such as the “Whirl-craft”, the first American flying helicopter in 1903. Westinghouse would be a common figure of criticism by opponents. As the Housing Crisis continued and the costs of housing continued to be high, Westinghouse’s department was criticized in their inaction. Many saw that it was Westinghouse’s job to combat the issue, yet he did little to address the problem.
Secretary Westinghouse was a patron of rapid technological advancement
Secretary of Sustenance Kinkaid helped to imposed the “Market-by-Market” system. The government would classify a business based on their productivity, general environment, and profits. With the data collected, they get classified as either THRIVING, COMFORTABLE, or IN JEOPARDY. Based on their classification, it would determine the amount of aid and support they would receive from their local governments. While this system did revive thousands of small businesses that were on the brink of collapse, certain opportunistic administrators would forcibly close down IN JEOPARDY business that cut costs that would go in supporting them. States like Illinois and California would be the most notorious for their business shutdowns, as dictated by their local governments. Many local officials would get canned by their involving in this practice, such as Milwaukee Mayor David Rose, who shutdown many business in the city. Local legislators across the country would always try to push or support the practice of the man on top. Elsewhere however, such as in Texas and Virginia, local business thrived under the system. Someone who didn't thrive was a particular John D. Rockefeller, who was enraged that the government seemed to discriminate against his businesses. Rockefeller wrote in an open letter that "...no fair ground and no consistent market means no capital and no benefits for all.".
Most notorious out of all Chaffee’s cabinet was Public Safety Secretary Edward Carmack. Feared by both politician and civilian alike. The Bureau of Public Safety, called by John D. Rockefeller as the “Carmack Machine”, struck hard on the criminal civilian population. Carmack’s 6-year “War on Crime” envisioned a United States free of the crime and instability ridden tenures of the past, going as strict as possible on any wrongdoers. With the Hancockian Corps in his pocket, it was common sight for BPS agents or the local Hancockian chapter to chase down people on the streets accused with simple crimes. One heavily publicized case involved a 27-year old man, who was brutally beaten after being apprehended for a property damage charge. Carmack’s “masterplan” faced its major opponents and supporters nationwide. Nativist figures that supported his expulsion of the Argentine immigrants such as Representatives James K. Vardaman and John Temple Graves supported Carmack. Those who sought to combat monopoly and corruption power, which Carmack worked heavily to oppose, supported him, such as Representatives Oscar Underwood and William Sulzer and Senators Henry Cabot Lodge and Joseph W. Bailey. Opposing the BPS were the likes of Senators Eugene Debs, Anselm McLaurin, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Marion Butler Representatives Theodore Roosevelt and Francis Bellamy, and Governor Henry George Jr.. All would oppose Carmack for their own person reasons but united in their opposition. On October 1903, all mentioned would sign the “Declaration of National Renouncement”, documents declaration their oppose to the BPS’ handling of national crime, and demanded the resignation of Secretary Carmack and multiple others in the bureau. The declaration would fail in removing Carmack, though it succeeding in bringing the issue to the public spotlight.
Secretary Carmack was one of the polarizing people in the Chaffee government
The public became polarized in their opinions of the War on Crime. The Boston Custer Society, one of the largest public players of President Custer’s tenure, opposed the BPS and their operations. The BSC had already been frustrated at President Chaffee’s attempts at dismantling the Custerite Society and sought to keep the structure created by their patron. The Association for Social Co-operation also opposed the BPS, and especially the Hancockian Corps. Jacob Coxey and his followers would raise $12,000 to victims of “BPS brutality”, as well as holding their common rallies against government policies. Many also supported the BPS’ efforts, particularly war veterans who were granted added benefits directly by Carmack’s department, as well finding employment through the Hanockians. Carmack starkly told reporters outside the Capitol that "...all may curse me as they wish, but all men bow before the same divine judgement."
The Hero and the Villain
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"PRESIDENT CHAFFEE CELEBRATES THIRD YEAR OF PRESIDENCY IN LOS ANGELES" by Vincent Uba, March 4, 1904.
"Almost 100,000 cheering supporters watched on today as the President rode around San Francisco celebrating his third year in office... Accompanied by Vice President George McClellan, Secretary of State Champ Clark, and Secretary to the President and his son Adna Chaffee Jr., signs were raised bearing the names of the members of his administration... Behind all the cheers and excitement, many in the city— and the wider country, wonder if the President would dare to march on into a second term as his enemies begin scheme their next political action."
​
President Adna Chaffee was dubbed the “Hero of the Rio de la Plata” during the War of Continental Alliance. Some continue to call him that. Though his enemies call him something very different. Coined by Representative Edward M. House, he dubbed Chaffee the “Ferro-Fiend”, saying he was an iron tyrant. Chaffee’s military background made him unfamiliar with many of the duties of the presidency. This would be used both for and against him. Supporters argued his handling of the country proved he went beyond his lack of knowledge of administration and that he thrived even though he knew little. Critics would claim that Chaffee’s ignorance of the web of governance led him to be weak and surrendered his duties to opportunistic individuals. From an interview, House Speaker John Nance Garner would say “I show my full confidence and supply for the competency of the President and his administration. Based on my own eyes, his capacity to work his duties has been more fruitful than any past administration in my lifetime.”
Chaffee remained mainly quiet from the public scene during his tenure, a stark difference from his rambunctious predecessor. His image in the public eye remained as an either benevolent or malicious head honcho, one who’s quiet but one who everyone knows has power. The society that grew during his tenure would be both similar and different from the Custerite Society he promised to reimagine. On one hand, casual public life would remain the same, the economic and social stability and patriotism and understanding between normal civilians would continue and flourish during his tenure. On the other hand, policies such as the axing of institutions, the open shift towards nationalism, and fear used by the likes of the BPS shows very obvious change in society. The cult of personality adhered by fanatics of the old president would not go away, neither didn’t the radicals who called for drastic change. As the issues of the past faded away, new and prevalent issues would rise to take their place. America enters the 20th century its own friend and enemy.
23rd President of the United States of America, Adna Chaffee
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