Furmidable Foes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without Cindy Chandler many things in my life would be deadly dull. She and her son, Jeffrey Howe, own Windridge Landscaping. Together with Jennifer Huges, certified arborist/estimator, they knocked themselves out researching common plants which can be lethal. Cindy drew up the horseshoe garden, identifying each plant and listing its properties, including germination, flowering, harvest time, berries, even the stems, should they prove dangerous. Not only does Cindy refuse payment, each Christmas she gives me something I can plant in the spring. Often, Jeffrey checks on my site choices, etc. If you live in central Virginia you may have seen their work but not known that landscaping was theirs.

Michael Gellatly, the artist for this series, surprises me. His point of view can make what might be a mundane picture exciting. The illustrations are in black and white but I have seen how he handles color. Michael can do anything.

The late John Holland, ever a ready source of country waters, was always helpful in explaining how this liquid magic is made. It is not hard to do but it is hard to do well. The water off the Blue Ridge mountains is perfect. Over more than a century Virginia men have created incredible liquors, managing to avoid being caught by the feds and therefore being some of the few Americans who actually reap the fruits of their labors. Of course, I am just horrified that they do not pay taxes, just horrified.

Joy Cummings typed the manuscript and did not go blind in the process. My drafts leave a great deal to be desired. I fear I do, too, but I soldier on.

Whoever I have forgotten to thank, cuss me like a dog when you next see me. My notes for some were shredded during feline drama.