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'ODIs about 60-40 in India's favour'
Siddhartha Talya: Hello and welcome to our first Bowl at Boycs show for the New Year. I'm joined by Geoffrey Boycott, who's speaking to us from Jersey today. Geoffrey, it's been a sad couple of weeks in cricket - the passing of Tony Greig and Christopher Martin-Jenkins, people you knew well.
Geoffrey Boycott: Yes. Christopher Martin-Jenkins was a colleague on commentary with BBC Radio, but Tony Greig was a very close and personal friend. Also, I played cricket with him, Test cricket, for England. I stayed with him in Australia, we played golf together. His sister actually lived near me in Wakefield, Yorkshire. She lived about two miles away and was married to the guy who was the president of the MCC last year, Philip Hodson.
So they are close to me, Tony is. I've been talking to him about his cancer since October. He was quite chipper, really. It is difficult. I know more than anyone when you've got cancer it can be a death sentence. I talked to him, he was taking it well and was up for the challenge, and that's what you have to be. You have to be positive in your mind that you're going to give it your best shot, even if you know you may not survive. All of us feel that - even when we're having treatment, there's no guarantee it's going to work. But he was up for it.
I talked to him when I came back from England's tour of India just before Christmas. He was pretty good about it. He had part of his lung taken away and was ready for radio- and chemotherapy. And then, something happened, he had some sort of heart attack and he's gone, just like that. So it's really, really sad. When you've been talking to somebody and you think, well, there's a chance anyhow, that they're up for a fight, and then they go, just like that, it is a shock.
Christopher Martin-Jenkins had been ill quite a while. He did know, I'd been speaking to him a little before I came to India, and when I came back I spoke to his wife. He knew his was a terminal cancer.
ST: Moving on to our questions now. Michael Hussey has played his final Test match. And we have a question about him from Joby in India. He wants to know: Is Michael Hussey among the most complete batsmen we've seen in the last ten years or so, given his success in all three formats of the game?
GB: Yes, I think that's a true reflection of his quality. He's been a wonderful cricketer in all forms, and that's not easy. Ponting and Clarke have got more attention and more publicity because they were, and are, pretty talented, plus they were captain and vice-captain of Australia, and now Clarke has taken over as captain. So you're bound to get lots of publicity if you are exceptionally talented - which those two are - and you're captain of the national side.
But Hussey has been outstanding in everything he's done. It's amazing that he's been so outstandingly good, liked by everybody, supported by everybody in Australia. He seems to be squeaky clean in everything he's done. In this age of huge financial rewards, playing so much T20, and even Test cricket, gives you a lot of money these days. It's taken a lot of courage for him to come out and say he's lost the buzz. Without that real desire every morning to get up and go to work and play cricket, he knows his batting would eventually suffer.
I think it's very brave of him to recognise that feeling in himself, to front up and deal with it in such an honest and straightforward way. Not everybody could or would do that. We all should respect his decision and applaud his honesty and respect his integrity. He loves the game that much, he doesn't want to hurt himself or the game by just turning up to play when the buzz has gone. It's well done, Michael Hussey.
ST: Do you think his achievements stand out more because he's considered to be a late bloomer of sorts? He didn't become a regular in the Australian side until he was in his early-30s.
GB: I never look at ages. Sachin played when he was 16, some people play when they are in their late-20s. Look, as long as you get there… you'd like to get there as soon as you can and stay at the top as long as you can. Look at Sachin, look at Ponting, look at me, we all like to play as long as we can.
It's wonderful. It's the best time of your life. It comes to everybody, the chance to get there, and if you get there to the top, which he has done, and it was late. If you achieve things with distinction, that's all that matters really, to get there. Everybody should have ambition, everybody should strive to be the best they can be, to get to the top. There's no shame in that, no embarrassment, and if you get there, it's a wonderful achievement. He's just been a fantastic cricketer.
ST: England come back to India now, they play the first ODI in Rajkot on January 11. We have a question about that series from Greg in the UK. He says: We may well forget what happens in this series ten years from now, but what are England's chances like in the upcoming ODI series, and who are some of the players you'll be keeping an eye on?
GB: Interesting question. But I don't think any England supporter has any real idea about how we will play in the subcontinent. In Sri Lanka recently, playing the World Twenty20, England were poor. It's a team not fully formed or ready for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. But the selectors are working towards that, and I think that's right. They have selected some young guys over the last 12 months or more who they feel may develop into good players and form part of the team, with some older guys, guys who we recognise as experienced and good. You want to develop a good team by the time the World Cup comes around.
And also, remember, the pitches in Australia won't be like the subcontinent pitches that England and India are going to play on now. So when the selectors have put these youngsters in, they are aware that they don't quite play so well on the slow, turning pitches in India, but it won't be quite the same in Australia. Supporters have to bear that in mind when judging our players' performances or our team's performance.
For me, I'll be watching the youngsters very carefully. I'll be interested in that. Everybody knows the quality of people like Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann - they are a given. They may get rested here and there but these are players who you know can perform at the highest level in all three forms of cricket. But I'm watching the development of someone like Jos Buttler. When I first saw him 12 months ago, hmm, didn't do anything special, but now I've seen one or two little innings, cameos, and I say he's got a little bit of something, this lad. I've seen him under pressure, how he uses that situation - can he use it to his advantage, can he help the team, and in doing so help himself? I'll try and watch situations.
We've got a young left-arm spinner who's there - I hope he gets chances - called Danny Briggs. He's quite good. I've liked what I've seen of him. Then you've got a guy called Stuart Meaker, a new fast-medium bowler, he might turn out to be decent. But you never know until you put them in situations where there's pressure, difficult situations, you're under the cosh, you look as if you might be losing, so somebody's going to pull it back for you. How are these people going to react? So I'm watching for the Meakers, the Buttlers, the Briggses, to see what happens, and I hope they get chances.
In some ways, you know, India are a bit like that. You started to do the same thing like other national sides, you're trying out one or two new fast bowlers, aren't you? Then you're making Ravindra Jadeja a major spinner; we all know about his batting, and his triple-hundreds, but you make him like a spinner, get some young fast bowlers in, because Zaheer Khan is more or less past it, and I don't think India will be as tough to beat as they were. They'll still be tough in their own country, they've still got a lot of other good players. [MS] Dhoni is a fantastic player, there's [Virat] Kohli - they are good players. It just gives England a bit more of a chance, maybe, but I believe you, India are right to try and plan ahead and move forward.
You've got nearly two years, a year and a half, to the World Cup. You've got to use that time in the one-dayers to form one or two youngsters to go with the experienced guys. You've got to move forward and give these guys opportunities to see how they perform. I like your young batsman [Ajinkya] Rahane, he looks promising. And I know that losing to Pakistan may hurt a lot of supporters of Indian cricket. That's part and parcel of moving forward, trying new guys, moving towards an end product which is the World Cup in Australia. You've always got to remember you are the world champions.
England have never won the damn thing. So we have to move forward, look forward, trying to win it. And you've got to keep thinking about the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. We're doing that and I think you're doing that, and that's smart. But we may surprise you because you've got one or two young ones, so it's about 60-40 in India's favour, I would say, in this series to come.
ST: Geoffrey's favourite question for this show is one that seeks to draw on his long experience as a cricket commentator, and it comes from Sam in India. He says: Geoffrey, has your own commentary changed over a period of time? How was it when you started? Did you take time to open up when it came to criticising people who may have been your team-mates at some point? Or have you always been as outspoken and forthright on air as you are now?
GB: Yes, I've had a good look at myself after that question. Yes, it has changed a bit. But even when I started commentating, I had no problems being open and honest. Commentating on friends and colleagues was never a problem, because I was not looking to criticise them. I went to the cricket, then and now, with a view to enjoying the game. Whatever cricket I watch, whatever level, I go there hoping to see good cricket, and with a view to enjoying whatever cricket I'm watching. When I'm watching, I never ever go looking for negative thoughts. I don't look for negative views. That may come if I see bad cricket.
Look, I love the game so much, I want to see people play well, good cricket played. I just don't like bad cricket. I accept we all make mistakes, me included. It's human. It's not a perfect science, is cricket, no ball-game is. But there is a huge difference between watching people do stupid things, or people just making human mistakes.
When I first started, I was a bit too strident. I accept that. Probably too frank, too forthright. Commentating had never quite been like that, so I think it would have been a shock when I came on the scene, to a lot of people. Many of the commentators were diplomatic to the point of not offering [an opinion] or trying to offend no one. I don't think that is right.
To commentate means to comment, to give a view, to have a view. I have always believed the truth is the truth today, tomorrow, next week, next month; it never changes. I always believe, then and now, that most of the people watching and listening to TV and radio have played cricket at school. Others have even played club cricket, so they are pretty good, pretty knowledgeable. Maybe they have watched it a lot. They wouldn't be listening or watching TV and radio if they didn't like the game and have some understanding of it. You can't watch something and not understand it. So I treat people like that, that they know the game. I have never treated them as idiots. I try not to talk down to people. I try to treat them with respect and just try to talk to them, as if they are in my lounge and they're having a conversation and discussing cricket.
Yes, I'm passionate and emotional about it - I am in my lounge and I am on television and radio. But I try never to talk down to people. I'm confident and believe I have a good idea of what I'm talking about. But when it comes to cricket, and only cricket, it's just my opinion, my views. I don't set myself up being a know-all about everything else. Cricket, I think I understand, I have some views, other people have theirs, and I just tell it as I see it.
But I do like to give compliments and applaud really good cricket. If you listen carefully, yes, I may say something when I think somebody's played badly. But also, I think, the easiest thing to do is to say, "Oh, that's a good shot, that's a bad shot, that's a good ball, that's a bad ball." People can see that on television. You don't need to tell them that. The people watching have played cricket, know the game, they can see that. I try to give them something interesting, something to look for, and something to make their watching of the cricket a bit more enjoyable. Same when I'm on radio, trying to give them something of interest, a bit of amusement, occasionally. You're not trying to be a comedian but a bit of laughter occasionally is good.
I think the hardest thing to do on television, when you see somebody playing badly, is [say] how they could have done it better. Now that's the clever bit. It's like when you're coaching; everybody's going to say, "Well, he's not very good, but how can you make him better?" That's the cleverest bit of all. And so I may say sometime when somebody's not done a good shot or played well: but how can he improve on that? And try and show the watcher, or talk to the listener, so you give them something more interesting.
ST: Geoffrey, you've commentated on various streams, radio and television. Which among the two do you enjoy more?
GB: Well, TV pays more money, and it's just a visual effect on our lives, isn't it? Television, since it came in, has had such an impact. You see people who have no real talent but if they come on some kind of reality programme, they're some kind of mini-star, aren't they? So, television is such a huge, huge medium.
I actually like radio. It gives you more time to express yourself, tell stories. On television, I think a lot of people talk a lot, but really, you should try and enhance the pictures by saying something and then shutting up, not talking all the time. I think some people do talk a lot.
Radio, you need to talk all the time. It's because the listener cannot see a thing, so you've got to keep telling him about the game, the field-placings, everything. The commentator does that - I'm the expert and I give them something extra. So in some ways radio allows you to express yourself more, but television is just a huge media in the modern world.
ST: What was your first stint as a regular commentator? When did it start?
GB: When I was playing for England, BBC had all the cricket in England. I broke my finger, I broke my arm a couple of times. They'd invite me on for a day. So I did the odd stint like that. But my first real commentating was the first time satellite TV came into being. Transworld International, TWI, part of the McCormack arm, International Management Group (IMG), did satellite TV, which we all see now, but the start of it was England on a tour of the West Indies in January 1990, and I was invited to take part.
Tony Greig, my friend who you spoke about, who just died, he was the frontman. He was the man leading the show. [There was] Tony Lewis, who did BBC highlights, and there was Tony Cozier of West Indies. We had a fantastic time, really, it was wonderful. It was the first time ever you're getting live pictures [from] satellite TV, ball by ball. That was 22 years ago, and now we take it for granted that in every home around the world, you can see every cricket match if you want. you can watch New Zealand in South Africa, you can watch everything. And it's just unbelievable how its grown in 22 years. India go on tour, you can watch them playing South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies. We take it for granted we can watch every cricket match that goes on in the world because all these satellite companies have now got into it big, and every country you can see, it's wonderful how it's grown. Just 22 years, and that was the first one in the West Indies.
ST: Thanks a lot for that, Geoffrey. We'll remember your conversation with Tony Greig in 1997, about Mark Taylor, when you guys were pointing to something on the screen and Tony said something wrong and you called him a dozy twit. Do you remember that?
GB: [Laughs] Yes, I did, 6ft 7.5in, and I called him a dozy twit [laughs]. A big friend of mine, a lovely man. I loved him.
The nice thing, you know, whenever he said anything on air or even when you spoke to him privately, he always had a little bit of a chuckle at the end of a sentence, didn't he? There was a bit of laughter there, always.
ST: Fond memories indeed. Thank you so much, Geoffrey, for sharing your experience with us today. That's a wrap on today's show. Please don't forget to send us your questions using our feedback form and Geoffrey will be back with us in two weeks' time. Thank you for listening in and goodbye.


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So do you have any idea where i can get an HD model of the headcrab or vortigant?
This member has provided no bio about themself...
So do you have any idea where i can get an HD model of the headcrab or vortigant?
Sorry for the late respond :)
Maybe you found this stuff in garrysmod site or try google ;)
Csatlakozz hozzánk ha magyarnak érzed magad --> Moddb.com
Very professional work you did there in changing the GoldSrc engine so much, awesome!
You sir are the god of HL1 coding :O
Thanks :P
Punisher Skull
i preferd the applegeeks version 'the bunisher' go check it out lol
bunisher this is so cool xD
He's not a god he's just a normal person with inter-diemensioal skills the 4D.He rules and is awesome too!For he's a jolly good fellow (repeats 3 times) and nobody can deny!
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Audio of my sermon for Pentecost Sunday. Hovering around the John 15 text and Christ's statement that it is better if he goes away, digging deep on the relationship between the Spirit and the Father and the Son.
But really digging in on the threefold Dadaist statement of Jesus that the Spirit will prove the world wrong about judgment, righteousness, and sin.
Listen if it interests you. Pentecost blessings to all.


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Friday, January 19, 2007
Christmas has come and gone and 2006 has faded away to make space for a brand new year.. We, the Wiles, have (thankfully!) a new addition to our little family in the name of Marge the helper! for more than 2 months i had been looking after baby (a joyful experience undoubtably but really draining!)all on my own and seeing as i had to work starting 3rd jan, i was really running out of time trying to get a helper! gosh.. u dont know how hard it is to find a helper that fits the criteria..one who has experience looking after babies, and speaks english! haha. it was either i got one asap or i had to send baby to a nursery at the ripe old age of 2 months! urgh! cant bear the thought.. anyway.. i had to resort to putting an ad in the daily express.. and lo and behold.. my prayers were answered! met up with marge on the 2nd..immediately brought her home.. and now baby has a lovely nanny while i work my sorry butt off! hehe.. she's a philipino lady, 54, with nursing and midwifery qualifications.. so Besra is in fabulous hands! plus she likes a spotless house so all the better! lol.. anyway will post this up first as am unable to upload any picture.. will try again in a bit. hugs to every.. happy new year!!!
Posted by Audrey Wiles at Friday, January 19, 2007 1 comment:
Saturday, January 13, 2007
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A newly opened Boston transit hub promises to achieve net-zero energy through geothermal, solar and wood biomass power.
Engineering firm Arup built the $15.4 million John W. Olver Transit Center, which will be home to a bus terminal, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments.
Energy saving innovations at the site include 22 geothermal wells buried 405 feet deep, a 98 kW, 7,300-square-foot ground-mounted photovoltaic array, and a 750,000 BTU-per-hour boiler fueled by wood pellets from sustainably-managed sources.
Arup, working with Charles Rose Architects, led the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering as well as lighting design for the project.
Cooling at the building is provided by an active chilled beam system – a form of convection cooler that cools air near the building's roof, using convection currents to cool the rest of the building. For heating, the transit center features a solar wall that preheats fresh air by as much as 15 degrees during peak winter sun, Arup says.
Energy saving LED lighting has been installed in the parking lots and the entire building's lighting system is controlled using occupancy sensors, photocells and dimming controls. Arup designed the building using daylight modeling to determine optimal placement of windows, clerestory and skylights to cut down on electric lighting.
The transit center also features low-flow water fixtures that reduce water use by 35 percent. The building's annual energy consumption is estimated at less than 35 kBTU per square foot, Arup says.
Arup has worked on 20 zero-net energy and deep efficiency projects including the Lowell Trial Court Zero Net Energy Feasibility Study in Massachusetts, Stanford Graduate School of Business in California, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science New Education & Collections Facility in Colorado, Solar2 in New York, BedZED in the UK and World Wildlife Fund in the Netherlands.
In 2008 Sky commissioned Arup Associates to design Harlequin 1, a state of the art broadcasting HQ at its Osterley site in west London. The engineering company released a video in August last year detailing the project.


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Press SampleHello!!
It's a-england time again! I have another polish from the most recent a-england Elizabeth and Mary collection and I think this is my favourite from the collection and possibly one of my favourite a-englands of all. As some of you may know I don't gravitate towards purple polish, but this one is the perfect purple for me. This is a-england 'Crown of Thistles'.
Short, sweet post today because my wrist is still a bit unhappy, but I will finish by saying that this polish has the a-england formula that we have all come to know and love. Super opaque (these photos show 2 coats) and wonderfully long wearing on me. All in all, 'Crown of Thistles' is an absolute must-have for everyone.
a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live. You can also follow a-england on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest news from them.
This product was provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.For more information, see my disclosure policy.


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|Final poster
Having worked as a guide in Maihaugen, one of the largest open-air museums in Norway for many summers as a student, the words 'tradition' and 'Norwegian' always conjure up images of stylised acanthus wood carvings. The acanthus is a Mediterranean plant used extensively in Norwegian folk art from the 1700s and onwards, especially in the eastern part of the country. Here's a photo I took in Maihaugen of a bed decorated with the acanthus motif:
I decided the main decoration would be a simple acanthus shape to tie in with the traditional Norwegian music in the choir repertoire. To give it an elegant look, I wanted to hint at old-fashioned type-setting, using an Old Style typeface with a combination of small caps, ligatures, and italics in various sizes. I also stuck to just two colours: Dusty pink (which apparently is the English translation for Norwegian Gammelrosa, one of the cheaper colours for paint a few hundred years ago) for femininity and Romanticism, and dark chocolate for elegance and style.
Background and motifs: Photoshop
The very first thing was to create the acanthus decorations. I did this by tracing some images of wood carvings of the plant with the Pen Tool in Photoshop, creating Shape Layers. This ensured that they stayed crisp and sharp even after adjusting their shape and size later on. Here is one of the motifs in the making (pink (colour code #efcbcf) layered on top of photo):
|Photo used for tracing: Bob Easton, in turn inspired by these.
I traced every part of the design, creating nine individual pieces of leaf and stem (not individually visible yet):
|Photo used for tracing: Bob Easton, in turn inspired by these.
I made another set from a different source of inspiration. In Photoshop, I first created an A2-sized document (including a 3mm bleed) and filled it with pink. Then, the various shapes I had created were dragged into place. I sometimes took elements from one (easy when they consist of different Shape Layers) and combined it with another, creating even more different motifs. Finally, a 10px Stroke of dark chocolate (#17140f (sounds delicious)) was added to create the actual 'drawings,' along with a rectangular box for the name of the choir:
|Originally, I designed this with the colours reversed, but it was found too dark.
Lettering: InDesign
I then imported the background into InDesign for the lettering. For 'Multa Paucis' I chose Perpetua, a lovely Transitional typeface designed by well-known designer Eric Gill. I chose it partly because of its distinctive capital U, which has a shoulder with serif:
The rest of the text was set in Garamond Premier Pro, a typeface with a long history and one of the most readable typefaces for print. I set it between horizontal lines with very generous margins (following the margins from the name at the top).
The Premier Pro version has quite a lot of alternative versions of many of the letters, accessible in InDesign through the Glyphs menu. Note, for instance, the more elaborate versions that I picked for many of the final letters and also the st ligature in 'student:'
I usually design posters based on one or more photographs, so creating one with limited colours and mainly text was a very interesting experience.
If you are in Bergen, you can still catch the concert (14 May). The conductor sent me a soundbite and they sound lovely!


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In my last photo post I mentioned my frustrations with getting my film developed. Well, this week that was resolved! It felt a little ridiculous - the process for getting all color rolls developed included 3 people: my boyfriend picking up an envelope & dropping it off the next morning and then me going during a late lunch during the workday to pick up the developed film from the shop with a friend, but in the end film was developed and negatives obtained, thanks to Rocket Photo Lab & the help of a couple people! I do wish the photo shop was open just a couple hours on the weekend to help make it easier for people like me that live nearby, but work all week, to use their services. I ended up with 14 rolls - both 35mm and medium format - processed, some going back a few years, all developed within a couple hours for a little over $50. 3 rolls were mostly blank (only 1 from the Holga, which I was sad about because they were from my work Holiday Party, but I think I used an old roll of film for that) & the ones that turned out were from Holga 35mm, the first roll (& only color) roll I shot with my Diana+ 120 about 2 years ago and a few rolls from my Yashica Mat, including a bunch from our trip to New Mexico in 2012! Joy! There's also a couple mystery ones that I have to scan to look at more closely as I only have a vague guess about what they are from. I'm currently in the process of scanning the film, so I have many photos to post!
These first few are from a roll that I had in my Holga 35mm right before and through Christmas last week. These specifically were shot while I was biking around my neighborhood a couple weekends ago. I'm really liking the color in the Holga 35mm!


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The boys have been taking Taekwondo lessons for 8 months now. They've each gone from a white belt to a yellow stripe belt and now to a solid yellow belt. I was so proud when the instructor told me they where ready to test for the next belt after only a couple of months…then I found out that it costs $40 per kid to test. I'm guessing at that price, there's going to be LOTS of belts coming our way. Yellow with green stripes; ochre with fushia polka dots – until they reach the elusive rainbow belt for turning their Poomsea into a fabulous dance number.
I'm loving the fact that they're still enjoying it. Two times a week for the last 8 months…that's 32 years in kid-time.
They both know Taekwondo is for self-defense only and never to be used on anyone aggressively. However, I think Zeke found a loophole:
"Zeke, leave your Lego guys on the table and go with Daddy and Nate to the restroom to wash your hands before the waiter brings our food, please."
"But I don't want to leave them!"
"You can't take Lego guys to the bathroom."
"OK…Mommy, remember all those times you watched us do Taekwondo in class?"
"Do you remember any of it?"
"Some of it, why?"
"If someone tries to take my guys, I want you to use it on them!"
I'm sure the Lego guys in our house sleep a lot easier knowing yellow-belted Zeke's got their backs.


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You know it is a struggle in this sweltering hell hole when people duck tape an air conditioner to their car window.
And before you ask, this was taken a block away from the Trump Hotel SoHo, another example of the struggle being REAL!
How you are surviving this nightmare weather?
40.704416 -73.817548


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By Pastor Ray Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries
"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3
We don't know exactly when David wrote this psalm. Many writers connect it to the time when Saul chased David in the wilderness (1 Samuel 23:13-14), but we can't be sure. We know the psalm comes at a desperate moment when his enemies seemed to be closing in on him and his friends encouraged him to run away.
The psalm breaks naturally into two parts. The first three verses describe David's predicament, and the last four verses reveal his deep faith in God despite his circumstances.
This psalm is best known for the question in verse 3:"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Many preachers have taken this text and used it to show that when the foundations are destroyed, there is nothing the righteous can do. They are left in a hopeless situation.
But that is not what David says.
When the foundations are destroyed, there are many things the righteous can do, but above everything else, they must first get a right view of God.
It happens that I am writing this sermon in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. It's not that we didn't see it coming. The larger culture has been trending that way for years. Perhaps the shock is the speed of the change. Many believers feel that this decision is a decisive attack on the very foundations of society itself.
I happen to agree with that assessment and believe that hard times are upon us. When a nation celebrates what God condemns, judgment from on high must eventually come. No one can say how or when or where that judgment will come. But as certainly as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, as certainly as the great empires of history have fallen, even so no nation is promised exemption from judgment.
I. Our Commitment
As we look at the first three verses that describe David's predicament, let's consider the commitment we must make as we face an uncertain future.
We Will Not Flee
"I have taken refuge in the Lord. How can you say to me, 'Escape to the mountain like a bird!'" (v. 1)
It is not wrong to flee persecution. Jesus told his disciples, "When they persecute you in one town, escape to another" (Matthew 10:23). The brave Christians in the Middle East who face beheading by ISIS are not wrong to flee. But sometimes you can't escape, and sometimes the Lord calls you to stand and face whatever comes. God's people are not required to prove their faith by staying in one place when they could save their lives by fleeing to the countryside. After all, David hid from Saul for years until the time came for him to become king.
But there are times when we must not flee. Sometimes you have to stand and fight. This is one of those moments. When David's friends encouraged him to flee the country, he replied, "I have taken refuge in the Lord." If God cannot protect him, then running to Egypt won't keep him safe. I apply that same principle to the current moral crisis in America. I have no doubt that things will get worse in the near future. Open hostility toward Christians will increase. Some will lose their jobs because of their convictions. Others will find their careers stymied because of overt anti-Christian hatred. Some will face huge fines (like Aaron and Melissa Klein, the bakers in Oregon who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding) for standing up for their convictions. Churches will face the loss of tax exemption. Increasingly believers will be marginalized and ridiculed. Christians who dare to speak out against the prevailing tide will be vilified on social media. Some will receive threatening phone calls. They will discover that other Christians don't want to be around them.
We will no doubt be disappointed by evangelical leaders who cave to the gay marriage position. Suddenly they will discover biblical support for two men getting married that no Bible scholar had discovered in the previous 2000 years. Their itching ears will lead them away from the Bible into the depths of moral compromise. Professing themselves to be wise, they will become fools.
All of this was foretold in the New Testament. Truly the "perilous times" of 2 Timothy 3 are upon us.
How will we respond?
Will we run and hide?
Will we flee from the battle?
Elizabeth Rundle Charles put the matter this way:
"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace to him, if he flinches at that one point."
Sometimes you have to stand and fight.
You may lose the battle.
You may be wounded.
You may not survive.
We have to stand and fight for what we believe.
We leave the results in God's hands.'
As they say in the Coast Guard, "You have to go out. You don't have to come back."
This is no time to flee, and there is no place to go anyway.
We Will Not Fear
"For look, the wicked string the bow; they put the arrow on the bowstring to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart" (v. 2).
In this case David is being quite literal. At one point Saul tried to kill David with a spear. Later he sent his army after him. The arrows they were shooting were not metaphorical. When those arrows hit, they drew blood.
It's always good to know what you are up against. That way you won't be surprised when trouble comes.
We Will Not Fret
"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3)
The word translated "foundations" refers to the moral and spiritual underpinnings of any society. What can the righteous do when the foundations crumble beneath them?
Do they quit?
Do they despair?
Do they run away?
Do they become bitter?
Do they resort to violence?
For Christians in the Middle East, this is not a rhetorical question. What do you do when your community is destroyed by ISIS?
Christians in America now face that question in a completely different way. The foundations are being destroyed before our eyes. When you see the White House lit up in rainbow colors, you know we are seeing Romans 1 come true in our day.
What will the righteous do?
What can we do?
What do you do when the foundations are destroyed? Answer: It all depends on how big your God is.
If you've got a small God, you've got a big problem.
If you've got a big God, you'll okay even when the bad guys seem to be winning.
II. Our Confidence
Notice what David doesn'tsay. He doesn't call for the army to mount an offensive. He doesn't say, "Let's run for the hills." He doesn't raise money for a big political campaign. In modern terms, he doesn't organize a social media campaign.
For David (and for us) it's not about the what; it's about thewho. To be sure, tactics matter. There is certainly a time to go to war to protect your nation. And we've seen clearly that it matters greatly who occupies the White House. There can be no doubt that social media played a big part in the recent changes in American attitudes about gay marriage.
But in times like these, we need God first and foremost. When the foundations are being hacked away, we've got to go back to the First Principles. That's what David does in verses 4-7.
God's Presence
"The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven" (v. 4).
This is David's way of saying God is everywhere. He's on the earth (in his holy temple), but his throne is in heaven. I admit that it doesn't always look that way. When you read the headlines, it can seem as if the whole world is spinning out of control. Lately we've been reminded that ISIS is planning attacks on America. With the rising spiral of violence in our world and our own slippery slide into the pit of moral corruption, it's easy to conclude that God either is not on his throne or he doesn't care what happens on the earth or perhaps there is no God at all.
But right at this point we see the fundamental difference between a believer and an unbeliever. We believe there is a God who sits on the throne of the universe, a God who is absolutely sovereign, a God whose ways are far above our ways, a God to whom the whole human race must someday give account.
Was God shocked by the murders in Charleston?
Was God caught by surprise by the crisis in Greece?
Was God unprepared for the Supreme Court decision?
The answer to all such questions is a resounding no. Our God is never surprised, never asleep, never startled by evil, never shocked by natural disasters, and never astonished by Supreme Court decisions.
I have been thinking lately of what one of my Greek teachers in seminary liked to say. Dr. S. Lewis Johnson remarked that the hardest verse in the Bible to believe is Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." "If you can believe that," Dr. Johnson said, "you won't have any trouble with the rest of the Bible." For a long time the truth of that statement eluded me. I couldn't get it because I had never really thought about Genesis 1:1 in its larger context. But it is hugely important that the Bible begins with a declaration, not an argument. The Bible simply declares that God is, and that he created all things. Twenty years ago E. V. Hill preached a powerful sermon at a Promise Keepers gathering in Chicago. In his own unforgettable style, he preached for 40 minutes on just two words: "God is." He said it over and over again. He whispered it and he shouted it. He illustrated it, declared it, proclaimed it, and dared anyone to deny it. You wouldn't think you could preach that long on just two words but he did, and when you think about it, you could preach a lot longer when your topic is as profound as "God is." Once you get it settled in your heart that "God is," a lot of other problems will be solved as well.
Perhaps we should keep Isaiah 6 in mind. That magnificent passage begins with the words "In the year that King Uzziah died." That note is important because Uzziah was one of the best kings Judah ever had. When he died, the nation was plunged into turmoil. A golden age in Israel's history was drawing to a close. Would the people continue to walk with God or would they return to idolatry? In that fateful moment, Isaiah came face to face with the living God. He says it this way: "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple" (Isaiah 6:1).
Where is God? He's not nervously pacing heaven wondering, "Who will I get to replace Uzziah?" Not at all. At that critical moment, God is where he has always been. Seated on his throne.
God's Judgment
"His eyes watch; He examines everyone.The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence. He will rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked; a scorching wind will be their portion"(vv. 4-6).
No one gets away with anything.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it this way: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Though the wheels of God grind slowly, they grind exceeding small. Be sure your sin will find you out.
These words of David remind us that there is a solemn and eternal difference between the righteous and the wicked. That difference is sometimes easy to see in this life, sometimes not so easy. Suppose you go to a football game and look up in the stands. It's easy to tell who is rooting for the Bears and who is rooting for the Packers. The fans let you know which side they are on. But spiritual allegiance isn't always easy to determine. Suppose you go to a cemetery and walk around. In that quiet, peaceful setting, saints and sinners rest side by side, six feet under the green grass. You can't tell the righteous from the wicked simply by reading the gravestones.
But God knows.
That's the whole point of these verses.
God sees everything.
He reads every heart.
He knows every thought.
He hears the words whispered in the darkness.
He knows us better than we know ourselves.
A day of judgment is coming for those who mock God and reject his Word. In an image that reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah, God promises to rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked. The scorching wind of judgment will wipe the smile off their faces.
We dare not water down these solemn words.
On June 26, the day the Supreme Court handed down its verdict, Chuck Swindolltweeted these words:
Disobedience to God's commands always results in serious consequences—eventually.
God's Deliverance
"For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face" (v. 7).
The Lord stands up for those who stand up for him.
He takes the side of those who side with him.
David stands on the peak of faith and says, "Though the battle may be hot and we may be surrounded, God will win in the end." This is the true position of those who believe God and his Word. I have told and retold the story of Richard John Neuhaus, founder of First Thingsmagazine, and a great defender of the moral and spiritual values of the Christian faith. At one point he was on his way to a speaking engagement. When he arrived at the airport, the man who picked him up was bemoaning the sorry state of affairs in American culture and how bad the times were. After listening for a while, Father Neuhaus finally replied:
"These may be bad times, but they are the only times we are given. And despair is a mortal sin."
He's right on all counts. These are bad times because our leaders are spiritually corrupt and morally blind. But why should we despair? If God is on the throne, then we should rejoice because these are our times. We don't have to ask, "What will America be like in a hundred years?" The great good news is, I don't have to stay alive for another hundred years because I serve a God who is eternal. He will still be on the job long after I go down to the grave.That's David's final answer to the many perplexing problems of this life. Those who know and love the Lord will see his face. We will behold the Lord in the most personal way possible.
Today we walk by faith.
Today we stumble along through this life.
Today we struggle.
But today is not the last day.There is a better day coming for the people of God when all will be made right. Between now and then we will have many days when the foundations seem to be crumbling around us and the wicked rise up and threaten us.
But the wicked will not have the last word. Those who scoff at the Lord and his Word will be consumed with the fire of God's judgment. Between now and then we move forward by faith, believing that out trials are sent by God to improve us, not to destroy us.
Take the long view because we're in this for the long haul.Let's go back to that question in verse 3 for a moment:
"When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Make no mistake. The foundations are being destroyed right in front of our very eyes. Long-held moral values are being jettisoned in favor of a new morality that is really no morality at all.
What can the righteous do?
I have no political advice to offer even though I'm in favor of political action. Christians need to take their convictions with them into the voting booth. We ought to write letters, speak out, refuse to be intimidated, support good candidates and run for office ourselves. I'm not in the "roll over and play dead" category.
But I'm not going to end on that note because David doesn't speak of political solutions in Psalm 11. When the foundations are being destroyed, we need a fresh view of God and a long view of history. God who sees all things will judge the wicked and bring them down in the end, and the righteous will see God's face.
How then should we live? As I ponder that question, I keep coming back to the same conclusion. I can summarize it in three words. We need . . .
Tenacious winsome courage.
Tenacious means we don't give up.
Winsome means we face life with a smile, not a scowl.
Courage means we do what needs to be done.
Tenacious means we keep on keeping on.
Winsome means we don't lose our temper and say something stupid.
Courage means we take our stand for the truth.
Tenacious means we keep on praying.
Winsome means we are cheerful when others attack us.
Courage means we do hard things without complaining.
Tenacious means we love people anyway.
Winsome means we display grace under pressure.
Courage means we speak up instead of wimping out.
We need all three qualities together to face what life throws at us. So let's wrap up this message with a good prayer for all of us:
"Lord, grant me tenacious winsome courage as I go through this day. When I am tempted to give up, help me to keep going. Grant me a cheerful spirit when things don't go my way. And give me courage to do whatever needs to be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.


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Attended a design presentation at Manchester Barcamp 6 this weekend and heard the term ECBARF for the first time. It was during a reply to a question I asked, "How do you learn design?"
ECBARF is an acronym for the six basic design principals:
- Emphasis
- Contrast
- Balance
- Alignment
- Repetition
- Flow
I've found a few references to it online – but not many. The people in the scrap booking world seem very aware of it, and I found a series of blog posts discussing it. I'm pretty sure it's use as described to scrap booking will also ring true for mobile app and web app design.


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Citing local regulations, Apple has removed The New York Times news app from its app store in China. The incident is the latest in the long history of media restrictions in the country, but also in the ongoing pattern of tech companies getting involved in the efforts.
The New York Times reports that Apple removed both its English-language and Chinese-language apps from the app store in China on Dec. 23, though other prominent publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times as well as the Times' crossword puzzle and virtual-reality apps remain available.
Along with other websites, the Times has faced restrictions for years. The site has been subject of blocks since 2012, when the newspaper reported on the wealth amassed by the family of the then-prime minister.
Apple did not explain Thursday what distinguished the Times from other outlets. Spokesman Fred Sainz shared a statement:
"For some time now the New York Times app has not been permitted to display content to most users in China and we have been informed that the app is in violation of local regulations. As a result, the app must be taken down off the China App Store. When this situation changes, the App Store will once again offer the New York Times app for download in China."
Sainz did not elaborate on what legal standard was applied to warrant the removal of the news app, but the Times suggested it was under 2016 regulations issued for mobile apps:
"The regulations say apps cannot 'engage in activities prohibited by laws and regulations such as endangering national security, disrupting social order and violating the legitimate rights and interests of others.' The cyberspace administration says on its website that apps also cannot publish 'prohibited information."
Over the years, numerous publications have faced blackouts in China, including Bloomberg, Time and The Economist. Users in China sometimes use software to circumvent the government's firewall to surf the Web and access blocked sites.
For tech companies, China is a massive, lucrative market and a major manufacturing hub, but operations there are tricky. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google have been restricted. Apple's own iBooks and iTunes Movies were blocked, as well, not long after they were introduced.
For Apple, China is a key production location and sales market. But iPhone sales have slumped there in recent years. In May, Apple invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing.
The company has, in the past, removed other media apps from its App Store, but none as prominent as The Times, according to the newspaper. And it's far from the first time that a tech company cooperated with the Chinese government to suppress content, as the industry generally complies with local regulations around the world.
In 2016, The New York Times reported that Facebook quietly developed software that could prevent posts from appearing in people's news feeds in specific parts of China, going further than the typical practice by U.S. Internet companies to block certain content after it's posted.
The newspaper also reported, just last month, on "a hidden bounty of perks, tax breaks and subsidies in China that supports the world's biggest iPhone factory" — billions of dollars' worth of incentives at the heart of Apple's phone production.
In 2014, the radio program Marketplace reported on LinkedIn censoring posts from its members that were deemed sensitive by China's government. In 2010, Google altered how users in China could access the site as it faced possible loss of license to operate in the country.
Perhaps the most notorious case dates back to early 2000s, when Chinese authorities arrested and imprisoned dissidents, including a Chinese journalist, based on evidence provided by Yahoo.
Yahoo settled a lawsuit by the dissidents' families in 2007. In 2005, Yahoo bought what later became its most valuable asset: a stake in a Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba.
If you're trying to download The New York Times on your iPhone in China, there is no longer an app for that. Apple has removed the news app for The New York Times from its mobile store in the country. It's the latest in a long history of tech companies ceding to Chinese restrictions on Western media. NPR's tech blogger Alina Selyukh is here to tell us more. Welcome to the studio.
ALINA SELYUKH, BYLINE: Hi.
CORNISH: What does Apple say happened?
SELYUKH: Apple says it is complying with a request from Chinese authorities to remove both the Chinese language and English language news apps by The New York Times from its app store in the country. And The Times reports, actually, this decision happened about two weeks ago. And meanwhile, other big Western news apps are still available to download, like The Wall Street Journal. And even some of the other Times apps are still up, like the crossword puzzle - just not the news app.
CORNISH: And Apple has been getting some criticism for this move, right? I mean, how do they justify it?
SELYUKH: The company points out that The New York Times app has long not been permitted to actually display any content to most users and says that it's been informed that the app violates local regulations. Now, Apple isn't specifying what regulations these were exactly, but The Times suggests that it might be the new rules for mobile apps that were issued last year. And they prohibit activities that, for example, might endanger national security or disrupt social order, among other things.
CORNISH: So how significant is this? I mean, is this the first time Apple has, like, removed a news app just because Chinese authorities asked them to?
SELYUKH: This is not the first time Apple has removed an app. They've done that with other apps and specifically media apps in the past, but none of them have been as prominent as The New York Times. And it's important to point out that The Times as a website has long faced crackdowns in China, going back to 2012, when they did a series of stories on the wealth of the prime minister's family. And many other Western news outlets have faced similar retaliatory blackouts - for instance, Bloomberg, Time magazine, The Economist. And users in China have sort of adapted to this. They often use software to circumvent the so-called Great Chinese Firewall to surf the web and access some of these websites.
CORNISH: And I can't imagine it's just news organizations. We know that tech companies have also faced restrictions.
SELYUKH: Certainly. Twitter, Facebook, Google - they've all faced blackouts. Apple's own books and movie services were shut down very soon after first launching. For tech companies, it's been a very delicate market. It's very large. It's very lucrative. For companies like Apple that make actual things, it's a huge manufacturing hub. Apple specifically has had its iPhone sales slump in recent years in China. But then last year, they did this pretty uncharacteristic investment, putting a billion dollars into basically a Chinese version of Uber, a ride-hailing app, Didi. So a lot of these tech companies are walking a very delicate line, trying to stay within the boundaries of local regulations, but also trying to grow their market share there.
CORNISH: That's NPR's tech blogger, Alina Selyukh. Thanks so much.
SELYUKH: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Archive | April 2012
Drip, Drip, Drip
I call this photo The Drip because there really isn't much else you could call it. I had done some previous drips before but I needed to redo it to have the drop better focused and the handle turned forward. I then took it into Aperture to sharpen it up a bit and then added a toy camera filter then converted to black & white.
Canon REBEL T3i 1/1000 sec f/1.4 ISO400 50.00 mm


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I have previously mentioned the Diversity Fibre Art Exhibition which I organized earlier this year. It was a resounding success and all the work can be viewed on the Diversity Fibre Art Exhibition facebook page.
En-twine-D 2015
Rough Sketch of En-twine-D 2015
I prepared a background of 3cm x 3cm fused squares using a variety of silks and cottons in earthy shades. Somehow these colours have such a soothing effect on me, maybe because of my deep connection with the earth. I couched course string to seal the raw edges of the blocks which doubled up as the construction method . It gave a lovely natural and textured look which I wanted for this piece.
The second aspect of this piece, was planning and making the "pelmet" at the top. I wrapped discharged black fabric around three dowels. The next step was to plan the spacing between the dowels. Fabric beads were made and inserted as spacers between the dowels. Somehow this construction had to be sewn down onto fabric which in the end was not too difficult! The spaces on the fabric looked rather empty, so small pieces of fabric was stitched down into the spaces and embellished with natural beads, it provided the necessary interest and also gave a raised surface effect which worked well.
|Pelmet section of En-twine-D 2015


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Alert the media: my chevron yak socks finally resemble something you could put a foot into! I grafted everything together on Monday, and it's a nice, snug fit. Now I just need to knit the cuff and toe, although I think I will make the second sock first.
Craftsy class project, the Faux Fair Isle mittens - look, I'm on constrast color #3!:
Click here for 50% off the Mittens and Gloves Galore class on Craftsy!
I also have a new project, which is this month's FreshStitches kit club! Hopefully this doesn't spoil the surprise if your kit hasn't arrived yet...especially since I just found out that this month's kit is a pattern exclusive!
miniskein grab bags in my Etsy shop earlier this week and added a ready-made crocheted basket, too! I plan on adding many more crocheted baskets to my shop in the weeks and months to come as a way of using up the oddballs in my stash, so each one will be totally and completely unique!
Thanks for joining me this week! For more WIP Wednesday inspiration, visit the Tami's Amis Blog!


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We welcome Jim's experience, enthusiasm and tremendous track record of customer satisfaction to our growing team.
-Harvey Shovers
President of MSI Data
Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
MSI Data, a leading provider of field service software and inspection software, has named Jim Robinson as its new Vice President of Professional Services. Jim brings nearly 20 years of experience in field service management and business process automation, including 18 years at WennSoft. Most recently, Jim's title was Business Solutions Architect and Sr. Project Manager at WennSoft, a position in which he provided direct coaching and leadership to customer senior management personnel to accelerate business process automation.
Jim's position, Vice President of Professional Services, is new for MSI Data and reflects the company's growth and continued investment in helping customers to achieve their business objectives through successful deployment of MSI's field force automation applications. In this new role, Jim will develop strategy and provide internal and external leadership to drive customer results through cohesive solution selling, product implementation, and technical support.
"When I started looking at MSI Data, I considered the people, the suite of products, and the approach," said Jim. "I was excited to find a company that delivers everything from graphical tools for back office CSRs and dispatchers to mobile solutions for disconnected technicians to interactive dashboard and alert solutions for leadership-- all in an easy-to-acquire subscription model."
Jim is a leader in the field service automation industry with nearly two decades of experience in national and global enterprise software implementation, field service automation, construction project management, full software development life cycle leadership, consulting program/project management and business process re-engineering. He is also a certified public accountant and brings business and software expertise to MSI Data's growing team.
"I was impressed with the talent pool MSI has assembled, including field service software veterans, Microsoft alums, and developers with years of direct customer experience," Jim said about why he joined MSI Data. "I think it is this experience coupled with its 'customer first' attitude that enables MSI to make the right decisions for customers."
"Having great software is only part of our solution. It is equally important to have a professional services team to meet the customers' expectations," said Harvey Shovers, President of MSI Data. "Jim's leadership and experience will help our thousands of current end users and new customers in the future to achieve the productivity gains that they have not been able to get with older, complex solutions."
Jim specializes in program, project, and product management. His leadership skills and management expertise support MSI Data's continued goal of exceeding customer expectations and streamlining sales and implementation processes.
"MSI searched the market for the past 12 months to find the right skill set: industry expertise, field force software expertise, and the enthusiasm to serve a large market. Jim Robinson meets and exceeds all of the criteria," said Shovers. "We welcome Jim's experience, enthusiasm and tremendous track record of customer satisfaction to our growing team."
About MSI Data
MSI Data develops enterprise, scheduling and mobile software that helps companies improve the productivity of their field workforce. World class service organizations rely on MSI Data's powerful suite of field workforce software to automate field service, repair, inspections, scheduling, audits and other critical field-driven business processes. MSI Data replaces paper, legacy enterprise systems and disconnected spreadsheet-based business processes with highly efficient, end-to-end processes through the combination of mobile technology for field workers and ERP, CRM and accounting systems integration. Whether deployed in the cloud or on-premise, MSI field workforce software applications are easy to acquire, easy to deploy and deliver enterprises with rapid return on investment. For more information, please visit http://www.msidata.com.


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Yes Cats And Dogs Can Play Nice
Despite the saying "fighting like cats and dogs" it is possible to have a cat and a dog that are best of friends. It helps if they are raised together, but it is not essential. Dogs generally take their code of conduct from humans, so if you like cats there is a good chance your dog can be educated to like them as well.
One of the problems to overcome between cats and dogs is the different language or cultural norm that exists in the different animal kingdoms. When a dog wags it's tail it is indicating that it is happy and inviting a play, but the instincts of a cat suggest that a wagging tail signals anger or a ready to pounce attitude.
If a cat raises its paw it is time back off or be swatted, but to a dog that means play time. Equally, when a cat lays on its back it is in attack mode, where as to a dog this is a submissive pose. These differences can be overcome as they learn each others language, but can cause initial surprise reactions. And guidance is required during this time of getting acquainted.
Never leave your kitten alone with a dog unsupervised. Even with friendly play accidents can happen. Initially you will want to keep any dog on a leash when it is being introduced to your cat. It is best if the dog has had some obedience training and will respond to your commands. Always keep other safety measures, such as a water supply, on hand to distract an enthusiastic dog.
Where possible introduce dogs to cats as puppies. There is less risk of the cat being overpowered by a puppy and a puppy hasn't yet learnt to chase cats. It is a good idea to introduce them with a barrier like a child's gate, or fence between the two for the first meeting. A certain amount of freedom for self education would be preferable to the owner hovering ready to pounce at the slightest spit, as long as they both have an escape route.
It shouldn't be long before they become friends and may even share a bed.
Mini Poster
Buy at AllPosters.com


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Your materials, your yarn, your beads, your fabric, thread, you know all the things that you need for your individual projects. Materials are one of those ongoing purchases when it comes to crafting. For every project, you have to find the right the color material, the right weight (for fabric or yarn), and the right shape and size (beads).
You can try to buy used but finding enough yarn or fabric for the project you need can be difficult. Not to mention finding the right color, shape, size, weight, etc. This is one category where I would not fault you if you only bought new.
Buying all new materials can get expensive, especially if you have to do trial runs an such. Save as much as you can from project to project. You'd be surprised how little fabric you need to make an applique or even to quilt. Then you only buy what you absolutely need for each project. I find that a spool of thread can last two or three projects especially neutral colors like white, black, and tan.
You can, also, be very diligent about checking clearance sections, just be aware that clearance sections are items that the store will not carry anymore so grab as much as you are going to need because getting more may be difficult.
When buying new plan your project well ahead of time so that you can scope sales and coupons. Nothing like having to pay full price for a last minute costume (i see that one a lot). Planning ahead also gives you a chance to do any practicing and trial runs on cheaper or leftover materials so you don't mess up your more expensive materials, and then have to pay full price last minute for new material to start over.
Materials will always be a recurring cost but planning ahead and buying on sale will make it less daunting.
Happy Crafting


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Reliability of Towel Radiators!
Wrapping of a warm towel after a bath in cold season; isn't it a good idea! But how many of them have this experience. It is easy to state only few of them would have got this opportunity to do. Mostly the hotels offer this kind of experience to the customers. So for this mere comfort, why we should spent a lot in visiting hotels rather we can have it in our house. As the name suggests that the towel radiators are for warming the towel and to heat the environment inside the bathroom. Rather than using a damp towel, in the cold it is advisable to use the warm towels for the use.
With the increasing importance, there is a big question which is troubling out the customers is the reliability of the towel radiators. Customizing on the account, towel radiators are portable and have the options to be on the wall or on the floor. Moreover, it offers multiple functions like less maintenance, cheap, dual benefits, and other things. In addition, with the towel radiators there is no more day for feeling sick. Wow, it's really nice. With the simple and cheap device, an individual has of assuredly to get the best.
No more visiting to shop, rather online shopping is the most convenient way. Stores like towel warmer sale it in huge discounts. To avoid last time rush; shop it now with the convenient online payment processing.
Customize your own needs while purchasing towel warmers
Towel warmer is a best functional device which warms the towel kept over it. Moreover it is an electric operated device which has rails on it. As it is an electric appliance, it needs to installation. After installing it, plugging it on can warm the towel. It is under work from many years and went through a wide change.
Initially it was a dumb device which only heats the towel but now it is a fascinated item too. now the rails has changed and comes in modern silver colored with metallic coating to draw the attention of the user. This particular models, is common in the hotels and homes. Customizing the towel radiators, can add lot of advantages. As it is medium in size and occupy little bit of space but customizing it can save the space.
In the bathroom, most of us keep a separate rack for the clothes, and towels but a few considerations while purchasing can avoid the racks. Before rushing to any decision, seeking the advice from the shops like towelwarmeroutlet will be commendable. However plenty of vendors do offer the big and medium sized towel warmers but it is tough to guess the costs.
Now it is easy to get the Portable Towel Warmers and is most reliable and convenient to use. It consumes less power and can accommodate multiple towels, clothes, and other things too. Therefore customizing the needs while purchasing the towel warmers offer multiple benefits and assure you to have the best.
Towel Warmer Rack – a magical invention to beat the chill
Towel Warmer Rack is the latest invention among designer bathroom accessories. It is of great use especially during the winters as it allows you to warm your towels and enjoy a cozy towel wrap just after the shower. You also do not have to deal with wet towels all over your bathroom. It is very simple. You have to place the wet towel on the rack for drying and it will dry within 30 minutes or so. You can also do the same for many towels and bath robes. The rack will keep the towels fresh and free from germs.
A warm fluffy towel is what you need after a refreshing bath on a cold morning. Apart from warming your towels, a Towel Warmer Rack also offers warmth to your bathroom. It keeps your space free from odor, mildew and prevents dampness. Depending on your requirements, you get towel racks in many sizes, colors and shapes. The illuminated on-off switch acts as a very big advantage. You can mount it on your wall or opt for a freestanding unit. You can choose from a few popular finishes like satin nickel, chrome or brass. The installation process is hassle free and should be done by an expert. Once you have it in your bathroom, it will turn into a cozy place.
It can be fun and quite adventurous if you shop for a Towel Warmer Rack online. This is the most recent bathroom decor and utility element. You can find a whole range of products in the online stores, you need to choose from them, look for deals and discounts. There are many websites that offer free shipping services which is very convenient. You can also buy towel warmer accessories like aromatherapy oils, towel bars, essential oils, hooks and wall mount kits from these websites.
The investment is worth!
4 things you may not know about electric towel warmers
Electric towel warmers are primarily devices or machines which heat your towel. The chief purpose behind their intention was to lend the public with a tool with which to comfortably dry their body after a cold bath. However, they have come to serve many other purposes and directly or indirectly contribute to the well-being of the users and their homes.
Wesaunard Towel Warmer and warmers from all other brands offer some common benefits which are either lesser known or not well-marketed.
So, without further adieu, here are the So, without further adieu, here are the 4 things you may not know about a towel warmer:
i. They extend the life of your bathroom's walls: Did you know that towel warmers extend the life of your bathroom's walls? They truly do so, by simply curtailing the volume of moisture which circulates inside the bathroom. Their features are designed to heat and dry. So, apart from drying the towels, they also dry the air circulating within. This leads to prevention of dampness and elongates the life of the walls.
ii. They prevent rusting: By absorbing excess moisture from the air, they prevent rusting. In case, you have placed any iron furniture or item in your bathroom, then it is likely to gather rust in a few months, unless you have made arrangements for proper ventilation. Wesaunard Towel Warmer can help you to take care of this problem as it impedes the natural process of chemical rusting by drawing in the extra amount of wetness.
iii. They keep the woods fresh: Any wooden gate, window or furniture present in your bathroom always stands the risk of turning sodden or getting depreciated fast. Towel warmers, by sucking extra moisture, prevent such calamities and breathe longevity to them.
iv. Increasing resale value: A towel warmer can increase the sale value of your house. Its presence lifts the artificial décor of the bathroom, thus bringing in an extra dose of richness and opulence.
Towel Warmer Rack is more like a towel tree
Have you ever seen a towel tree?
If not then it is common to find in the hotels and resorts.
You feel awesome spending the nights in the hotel, taking warm and relax bath over the 4 or 5 stars hotels. But why is it so!
Is there any reason of hating your own bathroom instead of loving it?
Probably the reason would be the discomfort and the hatred environment inside your bathroom. If it so, then why not you upgrade your bathroom.
You don't have to buy everything new to upgrade the bathroom; just it needs a Towel Warmer Rack.
Towel Warmer Rack is the towel warmers offering more racks to keep more accessories over there. They are simple and offer more space. It more looks like a towel tree. You can hang more than one towel over there. Apart from the towel, shocks and dress too have a place in the Racks. Mostly the warmers have 3 to 4 racks silver coated to manage the towels.
The rack warmer occupies less space and is available at low price. The rack warmers are vertical in shape and are fixed to wall. In the market you can have different style and size of the Towel heater racks. As per your need you can have buy 2, 3 or 4 racked towel heater, but you need to spend some more penny for more number of racks.
The modern towel racks are portable and doesn't require wiring. It gives you warm and healthy towel after a bath. To buy these types of free standing warmer with more racks, you needn't to go anywhere. Shops like towelwarmeroutlet.com offers the online shopping in a hassle free way.
If you really want to enjoy the bath in your bathroom instead of enjoying in the hotels it is recommended to buy these towel warmers having racks.
The portable and affordable Towel Heater
The towel warmers are easy to use.
The Towel heater in other word is towel warmers. It is very easy to use in your home.
As the name suggest that the towel heater is to dry the towel inside the bathroom very quickly. If you know this earlier then indeed of stating it we should know the features that make it quite popular.
The modern towel warmers are quite portable and affordable. The electric towel warmer is made of metals with vertical rods along with the horizontal tubes. After plugging the warmer, it dries your towel in a sort span of time.
The modern warmers are too fascinated and don't consume more energy. Using the modern warmer saves you from paying heavy electric bills.
There are many advantages of using these tower warmers inside the bathroom, as they are economical and offer great comfort for the person using the bathroom. Using these give you warm during the winter. Moreover, it avoids the sick and flu diseases from affecting the family.
Apart from the heaters, the fans are also used inside the bathroom. Even they are quite small and efficient.
Most of the people prefer the towel warmers during the cold environment. Even if you are in this class then you must really look some good brands. Visiting the shops like towelwarmeroutlet.com can offer you the best-designed bathroom towel warmer in economical price.
In addition, of the size there are varieties of color available in the market like brass, silver and white. Amba Towel warmers, Myson, and Broan Nu-tone are some of the popular ones that people look for.
If you really want some nice and warm environment then buy some branded towel radiators in a hassle free way.
Wesaunard Towel Warmer: Sophisticated decorative option
Today's functional, decorative and qualitative towel warmers boasts wide variety colors, finishes and materials to enhance your design statement of your bathroom. These modern day towel warmers are come with a long way from its earliest incarnation as a radiator. Today's modern bathrooms are like a retreat and the qualitative towel warmers are like a crown jewel of the bathroom designed place.
If you are thinking to purchase Wesaunard towel warmer, then you must know some of the valuable information regarding this gadget. This famous brand created a great reputation in the market which offers the highest quality of bathroom product. However, its numerous inventory and limitless variety can make it difficult for a person to select one single piece among all.
Nowadays, people mostly prefer friendlier bathroom ambiance rather than a place where you can only enjoy the shower and shave. It means they want to make their bathroom more sophisticated as like other rooms of their house. This latest style bathroom warmer will give you the feeling of luxurious and master bathroom feeling where you can also enjoy the luxurious spa. Wesaunard Towel warmers are the best demanded and reputated designer warmers which always try to make your bathroom environment more spicy and catchy.
In this brand you will get special heated towel rails, bars and racks which are highly efficient and compact. It can easily dry your towel and bathroom environment as well within less use of electricity. This system is also available in the market at a budgeted price. So why are you thinking so much go through the famous online store towelwarmeroutlet.com and easily purchase this warmer system without having any trouble. Decorate your bathroom in an elegant way and enjoy your bath everyday in this relaxing environment.
Towel Heater: Major benefits of this luxurious heating system
After luxurious and lavish bath your body must craves for warmth. But most of the time you forced to take your moist towel and try to get yourself dried. In past few years the towel heater are known as a symbol of luxury which is highly found in five star hotels. But now the trend has been completely changed. Comfort is highly required by every person after a hectic day work schedule. That's why these towel warmers are highly demanded amongst the customers. In the market various companies are offering this product at an affordable price.
Generally, these towel heaters are available in various forms. These are mainly operated by two main operating systems like hydronic and electrical. You can choose the electrical heating system for your bathroom because it consumes less electricity but if you go through the hydronic system then the power consumption issue does not arise at all. Normally, a towel warmer looks like a stand along with numerous heating rods. Once you keep you towel on this rod then will make it dry within a few seconds. The main purpose of the towel warmer is not only to dry the towel but also keep the bathroom environment dry, clean and refreshing. It can also dry your hand washable clothes like socks, baby clothes, jackets, caps etc.
With the help of this heater the temperature of the bathroom is also remain pleasant so when you enter into the bathroom you really enjoy there. So go through towelwarmeroutlet.com for having the latest heating system for your bathroom. If you prefer this website then you will get top most branded products here and you can also purchase the products at an inexpensive price.
3 benefits of a towel warmer you perhaps did not know
A towel warmer is usually credited with the task of keeping your clothes and towels warm and dry. But there are some other subsidiary benefits which it offers in its own silent way. Let us take a look at some of them. You may not be aware of them since they are not much discussed and are only secondary to the chief functions:
- Saving you time: Now, you may wonder that how can a towel warmer rack save you time! Well, let us assume that your clothes are slightly moist and you need to iron them. But if you are getting late for work, then getting them ironed would rob you off those precious 10 minutes. In case you have got a warmer installed at your bathroom, then you can place your clothes on the rack and get it dried and warm in just a few minutes.
- Your bathroom maintenance cost comes down: Again, you may be doubtful as to how a towel warmer can save you on your maintenance expenses. But this is a fact and you are going to figure it out once you have bought home one of these equipments. The warmer offers warmth and dryness and thus sucks extra vapor and moisture out of the air. Hence, the walls of your bathroom stay fresh and algae-free. The papering stays intact and the paint remains glowing for a longer time. Even the furniture lasts longer since the wood does not get harmed by moisture.
- Adds value to your house: Your home becomes richer and looks grander with the installation of a Runtal towel warmer. The warmers which are available these days are not just efficient but are also very sophisticated in looks. Thus, they revamp the personality of your bathroom and make it look strikingly appealing.
Wesaunard Towel Warmer: Facts you need to know about a bathroom towel warmer
If you are planning to buy a Wesaunard towel warmer, then you must equip yourself with some information. The brand enjoys great reputation and offers quality of the highest kind. However, its huge inventory and unlimited variety can, at times, make it difficult for a layman to select a product.
So, here are some general facts about a bathroom towel warmer:
- Multiple functions: Most warmers have multiple functions. Even though their chief use is to warm the towel, they automatically serve to dry up your clothes and warm your inner wear. Additionally, they also keep the bathroom dry and free from algae and fungus. Since they keep the space dry, the walls and the wooden furniture in the bathroom tend to enjoy a longer life.
- Types: Wesaunard towel warmer will spoil you with the choices. A warmer, in general, can be hardwired or portable. Some are run on electricity while some can be powered by batteries. Freestanding towel warmers offer mobility and can be shifted easily to another corner in the house.
- Outdoor use: Though, a warmer can also be used for outdoor use, one must employ due precautions while doing so. Most warmers are designed in a manner so as to suit the indoor atmosphere. If you plan to install them outside, say beside the pool, then you should take certain measures for ensuring safety. You can also intimate the seller about the intent behind your purchase and buy a likewise product.
- Historic use: If you thought that these warmers are modern day inventions, then you are not exactly correct. Even though the variety and sophistication is certainly a modern day boon, they have been known to exist since the early 20th century. They were known as 'bath radiators' during those times and were build using cast iron.


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Oral Surgery, Orange CA
Center for Oral Reconstruction & Education
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Bao-Thy N. Grant, DDS, Orange, CA, practices full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery with an emphasis on the removal of wisdom teeth, placement of dental implants, bone reconstruction, trauma, and pathology. CORE is a patient-centered, service-oriented team of professionals who possess a philosophy of patient care that exemplifies the practice's vision with each patient.
We have built a brand in the community to be well known for being friendly, giving, and hardworking. Our patients are encouraged to be educated on their oral health and ask questions in order to be confident in their oral surgery experience. The CORE team is dedicated to helping patients achieve long term oral health and improving their quality of life.
Our office is located at 1110 East Chapman Avenue, Suite 100, Orange, CA.
Call us at Orange Office Phone Number 714-771-7677.
Dental Implants Orange CA
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved.
Dental implants are changing the way people live. With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. For more information about dental implants or to schedule a consultation appointment, call our office in Orange, CA at Orange Office Phone Number 714-771-7677.
Dental Implants Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.


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I couldn't resist the little pumpkins at Savemart today. I had a moment of weakness and bought some. :) I already had the mini straw bale from Wal-Mart, and the crate is one of the ones in my wedding arsenal. I used double-sided tape to wrap the pumpkins with different laces and ribbons.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Fall Shelf
I just realized tonight that I hadn't posted my fall shelf on my blog! I started off with my DIY Rustic Shelf, since I don't have a mantel. I kept the old window frame from my summer decor. I love it too much to ever take it down. (Won't it look great with a holiday wreath hanging from the top of it at Christmas?) I made these bead board candy corns last year and I still love them! I used a scrap block of wood and stained it, then cut words out with my Silhouette and tied it with jute. My hubby cut up a small log for me with the chainsaw. The ceramic pumpkins have a big hole in the base, so I was able to put one on my candlestick. (because of the sharp stick that holds the candle in place). I added my fall branches, and last year's acorn garland, cut a bit shorter.
Posted by Baezamama at 7:13 PM No comments:
A Taste of Orange Blossom {Lobster and Steak Skewer!}
Friday night the girls and I met my mother in law at Orange Blossom. My hubby was out of town hunting, and I was on my way home from a day of wedding decorating in Exeter. I feel like I was blessed for my hard work, because the special was steak and lobster!!! :) The special salad was a Romaine Salad with Walnuts, Bleu Cheese Ice Cream, and Champagne Vinaigrette! This salad was SO delicious! I don't know what was done to the walnuts, but they weren't just plain old nuts. I know that bleu cheese ice cream sounds crazy, but you've just gotta try it. Remember, if it's at OBJ and it sounds weird, it's probably going to end up being your new favorite thing.
While we were waiting for our food, I sent my oldest up to put a tip in Richard's jar. I noticed he called her back and started talking to her about music. I went up to take a picture of her playing the piano! I even videotaped a few seconds of it. He showed her three keys and told her that she could play any of those three while he played with his other hand, and it wouldn't be wrong.
It was soooo cute. How cool is that? How often do kids go to dinner with their family and get to play the piano in front of a room full of people? Then he asked her if she had a request and I told him she loves when he plays "A few of my favorite things" from the Sound of Music, so he played it next. :)
It was soooo cute. How cool is that? How often do kids go to dinner with their family and get to play the piano in front of a room full of people? Then he asked her if she had a request and I told him she loves when he plays "A few of my favorite things" from the Sound of Music, so he played it next. :)
Richard is reeeaaallly talented and we've loved chatting with him about music and getting to know him a little better over the past year or so. It really does feel good to go where everybody knows your name! ;)
Ok, here's the main event! Lobster tail with a Steak Skewer and Cabernet Butter. Oh my! I didn't know what to taste first! The steak was tender and delicious! I loved the sauce, this was my first time having it. It added so much depth to the steak! Just when you think a flavor is good, there's another flavor layered on top of it and then it becomes great. Do I even have to describe the lobster? We all know it's the best, most delicate, delicious meat on the planet. I seriously can't believe it when I hear people say that they don't like lobster. I want to ask them what planet they are from.
Ok, this is the coolest thing! Since it is pumpkin season, they are serving a mini pumpkin, that has been hollowed out and stuffed with delicious goodness! I was amazed! The flavor of the filling was SO good! I devoured that twice baked potato! Under that layer of melted cheese, was the smoothest, creamiest potato I've ever had. It is also served with sauteed kale and a big piece of garlic bread! Have you had kale? I've heard it's one of the healthiest things you can eat, and OBJ makes eating your greens taste gooood. :)
The special dessert was a Lemon Tart with Blackberry Ice Cream! It's drizzled with caramel and white chocolate! Ummm, hello! The contrast of the mellow berry ice cream, and the tartness of the lemon was amazing! I wish I had some of this now! And that's saying a lot, because it's breakfast time! ;)
Check out Orange Blossom Junction here! You'll be glad you did!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
A Rustic Wedding
Yesterday was finally the day! I did my first (and last until my kids get married!) wedding. Whew!
My computer is running SUPER slow right now, so I will keep it light on words. Pretty much everything you see in the photos I made from scratch. :)
The welcome area had a homemade chalkboard, my old potting bench, and a huge drawer of fan programs.
Our guest book alternative was a "wedding tree", where the guests would add a fingerprint as "leaves" and sign their name. The bride and groom can frame it and hang it in their home
My talented brother in law sketched the tree for me after I gave him a picture of what I wanted.
I mod podged a engagement picture into a large pickle jar.
The fan programs, with hand-inked edges. (Thanks for your help bridesmaids!)
I bought the french doors from Restore and hinged them together. I LOVE the banners I made out of berlap and lace!!
I made aisle runner sticks by hot gluing apple juice bottles onto them and wrapping with jute.
I bought these slices of wood at Hobby Lobby and made my own stencil with my Silhouette. Then I stenciled them with black paint.
This is the wedding gift I made.
The drawer is also from Restore.
The drawer is also from Restore.
I've been too busy to paint my nails lately. ;) These are the backs of the favors.
The bride picked her flowers and I made all of the bouquets, and arrangements myself. It took HOURS.
The bride had sunflowers, and yellow gerber daisies. The bridesmaids had fall colored gerber daisies, and the junior bridesmaids had lighter colored bouquets.
Emma and Ella earlier in the day.
The bride had sunflowers, and yellow gerber daisies. The bridesmaids had fall colored gerber daisies, and the junior bridesmaids had lighter colored bouquets.
Emma and Ella earlier in the day.
I used shutters for the seating chart. I hinged them together and made banners to string across.
The front of the favors. Inside was sunflower seeds.
I printed wedding I Spy for the kids off of Martha Stewart's website.
The mason jar was the free shape of the week last week from Silhouette!
Table setting. I made each crate for $5 instead of buying old vintage ones for $20+.
I designed menu cards, inked the edges with distressed ink, and wrapped with jute.
I designed menu cards, inked the edges with distressed ink, and wrapped with jute.
Four of the tables had an arrangement of old bottles instead of crates.
All the head table chairs have name banners.
I stained wooden letters for the bride and groom.
I stained boards for the head tables. The jars are awaiting the bouquets when the wedding party arrives.
I made clay circle tags, and let them dry out a few days. Next, I made a stencil with vinyl and painted Mr. and Mrs. SUPER cute!!
This is the kids table. They have chalkboard signs on their chairs.
I used scraps of wood from the crates, stained them, and cut vinyl words.
I ordered chalkboard vinyl and cut labels for the cups.
I LOVE these banners. You would never know they were made out of berlap and Dollar Tree doilies.
Berlap banner that I stenciled with black paint.
THis is my FAVORITE...the wine barrel drink bar! I saw one on pinterest and knew I had to do it. The groom's parents got the wine barrels and I found the solid wood door for $6 at Restore! I made a berlap and lace strip banner for this as well. It adds so much to it!
The table numbers are address numbers on syrup bottles.
This is a close up of what Caden and Ella carried down the aisle right before the bride walked down. I had a hard time getting a picture because they were walking so fast. ;)
This is a close up of what Caden and Ella carried down the aisle right before the bride walked down. I had a hard time getting a picture because they were walking so fast. ;)
I had the boys set up the hay bales, and I added some mason jar flowers hung from shephard's hooks.
Photo booth fun!
My sister in law set up a fun photo booth.
The bride wanted a small cake for them and cupcakes for everyone else. They ended up doing a cupcake bar and it turned out great!
Isn't this cake lovely? The bride saw a picture of a cake wrapped with berlap (first with wax paper) and my friend Nandie did a FABULOUS job!! I snuck a bite when taking it back in the kitchen too, it tasted WONDERFUL!!!
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Guest post by Jennifer Rogers
Any genius possesses rare talents of the mind and heart. They are usually awkward introverts, strange, muttering fellows who boil vast quantities of complex information down to a useful truth. Stephen Hawking fit the universe in a nutshell. Charles Darwin explained the evolution of all life through the wizened smile of a tortoise. Jonas Salk pondered millions of polio cells and created the tiny vaccination that rescued humanity.
Genius and talent are not commonly attributed to parents. Parenting is not a competitive field of inquiry, though it often feels like it is. Parents can set a good example, influence, guide, challenge and care, but the control we exercise over our children and the choices they make is finite and limited. A parent's success cannot be measured by a child's accomplishments. These truths are incontrovertible.
Parenting is now complicated in ways that are contrived, ridiculous and totally disorienting. Kids are enrolled in violin lessons before they can tie their shoes. We expect our children to compete athletically before we give them permission to cross the street. Middle school students are hustling to algebra class, but they have no idea where to look for red apples in the grocery store. Adolescents spend their days in virtual worlds, disconnected from the real people and relationships that would give their lives meaning and value.
Montessori classrooms help parents act with the intelligence of geniuses. Though they are as varied as the children within them, every authentic Montessori classroom offers kids one simple gift: independence. We notice Montessori kids because they work with resilience and joy, believing they are participating in something wonderful and worthwhile. They are learning how to read, write and calculate. More importantly, they are self-sufficient. They can function independently in a complicated world.
Montessori parents are ordinary people chatting with ordinary kids in cluttered kitchens. Their fine parenting is revealed in private conversations, secrets whispered in language young people can comprehend. The benefits of a Montessori education become magnificently public when children act with confidence, motivated by years of good memories and experiences of success. These fortunate kids are vibrant and strong, inspired by great varieties of dreams that pull them forward from within.
Jennifer Rogers has been a primary teacher for 20 years, ten of those at Countryside Montessori School in Northbrook, Illinois, and now teaches humanities at CMS Middle School.
She completed AMI primary training in Atlanta, Georgia, AMI Assistants to Infancy in Denver, Colorado and the AMI/NAMTA Adolescent Orientation in Ohio in 2013.
This article first appeared as a post at the blog of the Montessori Teachers Institute for Professional Studies. It is published here by permission.