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Babywearing is a term used to describe carrying a baby close to you in a soft sling or structured carrier. It was something I had always planned to do, but how much I actually ended up doing it definitely surprised me. Before having kids, I really thought all babies liked going out in prams. Surprise, surprise! Some don't. Mine definitely doesn't. We have always gotten about carrying her in arms or in a carrier. A lot of people use ring slings with their babies but Miss A put on weight so quickly that for us, it was the Ergo carrier (a soft structured carrier) that was essential. You can get an infant insert for it for young babies. You can also get wraps (like the Hug-a-Bub) that are long pieces of cloth that you tie around baby a specific way, but I personally found them way too fiddly to use all the time.
Miss A at about 2.5 months in the Ergo
Also, something new mothers are not told enough is how much babies don't like to sleep on their own. They really don't! Imagine that you spend 9 months in the womb all warm and snug then suddenly you're ejected into a cold world and expected to sleep on your own in a still, big space…of course you will be crying to cuddle up to a familiar warm body! For the first few weeks, Miss A spent most of her sleeps on top of me. After a while, she started sleeping in her own bassinet/crib at night, but still needed to be held for naps. It might shock you to know that we held and wore her for naps for 11 out of 12 months of her life. For us, it was what worked. She was a little difficult when younger and babywearing her helped calmed her and ensured she had wonderful sleep without having to battle her to sleep in her own crib. It was tiring at times, but it did help us survive early parenthood.
Babywearing is extremely normal and natural. I know modern society makes you believe that babies should be independent at a young age, but if you take a look at primitive societies- people hold their babies, sling them, and co-sleep all the time. It goes against our natural instincts to not have baby close at all times because if we were in the wild, this would spell certain death for baby. Having baby close to mother at all times also helps foster a great on-demand breastfeeding relationship. And contrary to popular belief, you cannot spoil a baby. Holding a baby and letting them know you are there for them at all times does not create needy children. In fact, it makes them feel secure that you are always there if they need you and thus gives them more confidence to explore the world on their own.
Not to mention, wearing your baby around is quite convenient in that you can easily weave in and out of crowds and don't have to look for lifts to go up and down in shopping centers (as you have to do with a pram). It's also great to have a baby who is used to napping in a sling or carrier as it means they are pretty good at napping on the go and you don't need to rush home to put them down in their crib.
I would be lying though if I said carrying a baby all the time didn't get a bit physically and emotionally draining at times. You will also inevitably cop a lot of flak from friends and family for it. A lot of people told V and I that we were spoiling Miss A, that she "will get used to it" and need to be held even when older (to which I'd say "So? I will happily hold her even if she's 2 years old) and some even thought we were purposely making life difficult for ourselves. I am quite blessed that V and I have a wonderful relationship and really support each other in our parenting roles. We knew we were doing the right thing for our child and that's all that mattered. Miss A slept beautifully close to us and it really helped us survive her grizzly periods. I knew that even though this time felt like forever, I will look back one day and feel it has been a very short time. All babies do things in their own time and I did not want to force her to be independent before her time. I am in the camp that believes it is perfectly natural to parent a baby to sleep for an extended time. And so we held her until at 11 months, she decided on her own that she no longer wanted to be held for naps. Suddenly, she went from wanting to be held to being perfectly happy napping on her in her crib. It was a beautiful, non-traumatic event…and I do look back fondly on the times we held her, as hard as it was.
Miss A is a year old now and growing up too fast. Of course she still needs cuddles or to be carried and rocked to sleep every now and then, but she no longer likes sleeping on top of us or being confined in a carrier. If you are a new parent, I would encourage you to hold your baby as much as possible- no matter what anyone says. Some babies may be happy to sit in prams or put themselves to sleep in their own crib at a young age, but if yours doesn't and you feel you do not want to force them to "learn to be independent", then please don't. Lots of people will tell you not to, but no one knows your child like you do. Listen to your natural parent instincts. If you have a particularly grizzly baby, babywearing can definitely help pacify them. Held babies are secure babies. So hold them, cuddle them, and love them as much as you want. One day they will grow up and not need you anymore. Hug them while you can. Happy babywearing! 🙂


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chandni venkataraman poem and picture ramayana remix
The WaitAugust 04, 2012
"The Wait" I look into your eyes Hazel brown, light Filled with love For everyone to see. This feeling of loneli...
3 comments
Very beautiful and to the point. I love the way you have illustrated with keeping each n everything in mind :)ReplyDelete
Lovely illustration chandni! Everything is so exaggerated (in a good way). It explains your poem quite literally. Well done!ReplyDelete
the illustrations is nice, but the visual is too literal for my likingReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says the coalition's use of its new logo at the Seri Setia and Balakong by-elections is a timely move.
She said this marked the first time that PH is using its new logo at the polls, and will continue to do so.
"We will start using our logo from now on and let the people become familiar with it," she said when met at the Seri Setia by-election nomination centre at the Petaling Jaya City Council Civic Centre.
Dr Wan Azizah said the logo will also be used at the Balakong by-election and hopes all the voters in the constituency would welcome it.
The Seri Setia state seat by election will see Halimey Abu Bakar from Pakatan Harapan contesting against Pas candidate Dr Halimah Ali in a straight fight.
Wan Azizah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, hopes voters from both the constituencies will exercise their right to come out and vote on polling day on September 8.
"God willing, and with the use of our new logo, I hope more voters will turn up to vote in these by-elections compared to the recent election in Sungai Kandis," she added. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd


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Learn from my Motherfucking Mistakes
This is part three in a "whenever I get around to it" series, in which I answer your questions to the best of my ability, using my characteristic foul-mouthed, minimal-nonsense approach, based almost entirely on my own ridiculous and often totally batshit life.
You can ask me anything. I know some shit about relationships and communication, I know a bit about the beating of brain monkeys and the support of others who are doing so. I know some shit about parenting, I guess. I may or may not have useful advice – I make no promises. But for whatever it is worth, and whatever questionable wisdom I may have gathered, I am happy to share. 🙂
If you ask me something and I don't know the answer I will do my best to point you in the right direction.
I hasten to add that I am not a medical professional, I'm just one human who has been through a lot of crap and learned some stuff along the way, and maybe has something useful to share on the matter. Some of what I have said about my own journey has seemed to resonate with people, so maybe I can help some folks. That would be awesome.
If you have a question, you can ask it here. I see only what you put in the textbox, so it can be totally anonymous.
I've got a desperate crush on my workmate. I've recently become single, and I know her marriage is not working out. Should I tell her how I feel?
If she's still married? Probably not yet. Here's the thing. No matter how broken and over a marriage is, ending it is still a heart-wrenching, vulnerable, difficult time. And you don't really want to be the reason she leaves. If she chooses to leave, it's way better if she does it for herself, and because the relationship is over than because she's in a flush of NRE (new relationship energy) over someone new. That too easily can backfire into being "your fault".
I feel obligated to admit that I found the strength to leave my marriage at least in part because I'd found someone else. But it was definitely over, and I had no doubts about that, and now that that (other) relationship is also over, I don't regret it or hold it against that person. But there is a possibility that new relationship may have survived better if it hadn't had to weather my emotional turmoil, grief and sadness over the end of a future I'd believed in for a long time. Even when you know it's right to leave, there is still a grieving process.
My suggestion is that you offer her coffee and support and friendship, and, this is important, MEAN IT. In other words, not just as a temporary attempt to win her over so she falls madly in love with you, but because you care about her and like her company. Don't "nice guy" this shit. But it would probably be better for both of you and any budding romance between you if she gets her shit sorted out first. That gives you your best shot at a happy ending. And if it never goes to the romance place, you may have made a really wonderful friendship out of it, which is, despite all the stupid friendzone bullshit, a pretty amazing thing.
As you came to adulthood, your home nation of South Africa was finally ending apartheid and moving into the modern world, ethically. Why did you choose that moment to emigrate? Was it at all related to the changes or a temporal coincidence.
I didn't actually. 🙂 I chose that moment to do a bit of traveling because I had finished my degree and didn't quite know what to do next. I traveled to the States, and loved the experience so much that I wanted to see more of the world. So I got a job in the Emirates for a year. Well, it was meant to be a year. Then I met the man I would later marry, and stayed for four, and then my life was entangled with someone else's so we had to make decisions as a unit. It was really only when I had a child in New Zealand that I finally laid aside my intent completely to one day "go home". This is his home now, so here I will stay, at least for now.
When I left SA I had every intention of going back. But life happened and my road twisted and turned and I ended up here. So, yes, temporal coincidence, I suppose, plus a bit of Tolkien's thing: "It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Hello Jax! My question is this: what are your thoughts about how to enter a brand new/potential relationship with a sense of optimism and openness and willingness to be vulnerable, when all of your past experiences (long term, short term, sex friends you caught feelings for, all of 'em) have primed your neural pathways to be like "DANGER DANGER this way lies heartsmashing and tears"? I really so want to be there for this but I am fucking scared, yo.
Oh, this is a hard one. Because really what you have to do is ignore your lizard brain, and your lizard brain is very emphatic.
I mean, the short answer is, maybe there is danger. I mean, there is, because love is dangerous. There is always the potential for epic heartbreak. But there is also the potential for epic soulmate love. Or for something a bit more lukewarm, but quite lovely anyway. Or for any other gradient between the two.
I think perhaps the only way to do that is to learn to recognise the difference between a reaction to the person in front of you and historical reactions. Which takes time and practice. Because you don't want to discount your gut altogether, guts are often pretty smart. But lizardbrain fear sometimes feels just like your gut speaking. And it can take time to untangle all of that.
Here's an excellent litmus test. Tell your person. You don't have to unload your entire life history on them if it's still new, but saying something like, "Hey, I'm super into you, and I really want to make this go, but I have a bunch of historical bullshit that is making me feel really afraid. Please bear with me while I work through it."
It's a litmus test because someone into you who can go, "Oh, that's cool, I get that. Baggage is very human. Is there anything I can do to help assuage your fears?" is the BOMB. That's the shit you want. Someone you can talk through the lizardbrain fear with. Someone who will sit with that fear and hug it until it sods off back where it belongs. That's the shit.
But if they go, "uh, nah, fuck that, too much work", then they've revealed themselves as not epic soulmate material, and saved you botha lot of time. Because really, isn't epic soulmate what you deserve?
Try and enjoy the happy early fluttery joy feelings regardless. They really are so much fun, even if it doesn't work out in the long term. Good luck ❤
Want to ask me something?


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NOR Posted and Registration Open for 2013 Clagett Clinic and Regatta
Newport, RI (March 18, 2013) - The Notice of Race has been posted and online registration is available for the 2013 C. Thomas Clagetta Regatta at www.clagettregatta.org. The Clinic and Regatta, this year a SKUD-18 team qualifier for the US SAILING Team Sperry Topsider Paralympic Team, is scheduled for June 27 through June 30, 2013.
Open to both U.S. and foreign competitors, the clinic and regatta will take place in the three boats chosen as the equipment of the Paralympic Games: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18 and the singlehanded 2.4mR. Three years ago, at the competitors' request, regatta organizers opened the 2.4mR class to allow able-bodied sailors to compete in The Clagett which doubled the number of entrants on the starting line. Starting with the 2012 event, the Sonar class also became open to able-bodied sailors. Having more boats on the line translates into tougher competition and offers the best possible training opportunity for Paralympic hopefuls.
Now in its 11th year, the Clagett Regatta provides sailors with disabilities the tools to improve their skills and the opportunity to test them in competition, which allows each individual to achieve their personal competitive goals. The event's signature pre-race clinic (Thursday, June 27 ) is run by world-class and Olympic sailors who share their expertise boat handling, sail trim, racing theory and racing rules. The clinic is followed by a three-day regatta, Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30.
For More Information: visit the Clagett Clinic and Regatta Registration.
About the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic & Regatta: Founded in 2002, the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta honors the late Tom Clagett (1916-2001), a U.S. Navy World War II veteran who learned to sail on Chesapeake Bay. As a youngster he suffered temporary paralysis as the result of a bout of meningitis; an experience that left him with a deep respect for the accomplishments of people with disabilities, especially athletes. "The Clagett" began as an event for a single class of boat with a stated mission of assisting sailors in realizing their potential on the water by providing them – through the one-day clinic that precedes racing – both the knowledge and tools to improve their skills, and the opportunity to test them in competition. The event has expanded to include all three boats that have been chosen as the equipment of the Paralympic Regatta: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18 and the singlehanded 2.4mR. Clagett sailors have won Paralympic medals at both the 2008 (Gold and Bronze) and 2012 (Silver) Paralympic Games. All participating sailors, have given testimony that participation in the Clagett has not only improved their sailing skills, but skills learned have improved their quality of life as they apply what is achieved on the water to everyday situations.


text: POSTED BY: Levi Jansen on March 2, 2018, 10:25 a.m. From how they live and what they believe, women often have a different fitness journey than men. Here are things I've learned along my journey working with women. One differences between the male and female fitness journey is the wonderful high heel. You know that shoe that makes your feet ache and your...Read More


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International Journal of Agronomy
Volume 2014, Article ID 787945, 7 pages
Irrigated Soybean Leaf Photosynthesis in the Humid Subtropical Midsouth
Crop Production Systems Research Unit, USDA-ARS, MSA, P.O. Box 350, 141 Research Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
Received 19 August 2013; Revised 20 November 2013; Accepted 10 December 2013; Published 23 January 2014
Academic Editor: Kent Burkey
Copyright © 2014 H. Arnold Bruns. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Photosynthesis (CER (μmol CO2 s−1)), stomatal conductance (), and intercellular [CO2] () of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) grown using the early soybean production system (ESPS) of the midsouth were determined. Three irrigated cultivars were grown using ESPS on Bosket (Mollic Hapludalfs) and Dundee (Typic Endoaqualf) soils in 2011 and 2012 at Stoneville, MS. Single leaf CER, , and were determined at growth stages R3, R4, and R5 using decreasing photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD, μmol m−2 s−1) beginning at 2000 PPFD and decreasing by 250 PPFD increments to 250 PPFD. Photosynthesis changes fit a quadratic polynomial for all fixed variables and range from ~6.0 and 9.0 CER at 250 PPFD and ~22.0 to 28.0 CER at 2000 PPFD. No cultivar differences in CER, , or were noted at any growth stage or site either year. In 2012, CER, , and were lower when measured at R5 than the two previous growth stages, which was not observed in 2011. The R5 sampling in 2012 had accumulated 39 to 70 more growing degree units at 10°C base temperature (GDU 10's) than in 2011 and were likely more mature. Increased soybean yields from ESPS appear not to result from higher leaf CER.


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CONI and ActionAid together through Tokyo 2020
- Published: 06 July 2017
ActionAid and CONI together again to build a more fair and equal society thanks to sport and its value, beginning from the most vulnerable communities. After the intense work done in Rio de Janeiro that built an important Olympic legacy, the collaboration between the international organisation and the Italian sports world is resumed in L'Aquila - a damaged location, the symbol of rebirth and the desire to look to the future. ActionAid and CONI have decided to continue collaborating for the next four years in the spirit of participation and solidarity, the common denominators of sports and cooperation. This is a path that will last through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after passing through the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.
Thanks to the memorandum of understanding signed today in L'Aquila on the same day that kicks off the Festival of Participation - which will liven up the Abruzzo provincial capital from 6 through 9 July with events and workshops as well as a culinary, cultural and musical exchange - the two organisations intend to operate in areas that are particularly fragile and socially marginalized both in Italy and abroad. They also intend to create a series of projects in favour of the areas that have been struck by natural catastrophes, such as Central Italy. The memorandum also specifies that the sports Federations will be involved to sponsor ActionAid activities, whereas national and international athletes on Team Italy will give a face to the sports-social projects and initiatives that are the result of the collaboration.
CEO Malagò, who arrived in L'Aquila in the morning, had this to say: "At the Rio Olympic Games, we were protagonists on more than just a sports level because we were able to leave behind an important legacy on a social level, thanks to a credible partner like ActionAid. This is the best choice that we could possibly make, partly thanks to the sensitivity, capacity and internationalisation that characterise this great organisation. We want to continue to do great things together and it is not by chance that signing this memorandum allows us to begin to cast our gaze toward Tokyo 2020, starting from L'Aquila, a location that is the symbol of rebirth. We have a great desire: to contribute more and more to spreading the practice of motor activities, a goal to pursue precisely by promoting the social aspect. Teaming up with ActionAid allows us to pursue new and ambitious goals."
ActionAid uses sports to convey the values of commitment, a spirit of teamwork and respect in order to favour gatherings, promote ethical growth and development in the firm belief that sports activity is a strong element of redemption and an engine for social change. "We will restart from L'Aquila to build a better Italy and to grow alongside the most vulnerable communities. In 2009, like today, the values of sports help people to grow and to go forward, even after an earthquake. Thanks to CONI, we will be able to do even more and better, in Italy and in other countries", said Marco De Ponte, Secretary General of ActionAid Italia.
ActionAid has been present in L'Aquila since the 2009 earthquake to support citizens, individuals and families and to accompany them in the reconstruction process, not only of the city, but also of the social fabric that the earthquake had destroyed. This is a goal that can be reached partly thanks to sports, as is demonstrated by the "Belve Neroverdi", L'Aquila's women's rugby team that has promoted such values as solidarity and social integration and which has fought against stereotypes with the ActionAid campaign "The Italy of the future" conducted in schools.


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Why You Probably Shouldn't Plan a Bachelorette Party Weekend
Thinking of planning a trip for your bachelorette party? You'd better plan accordingly, or you could lose some friends.
It's almost wedding season. We know that couples are spending more on their weddings these days; more than $30,000 according to a study by The Knot. It even costs a lot more just to attend a wedding, averaging $592 per guest according to American Express. But there's another big expense that often burdens the friends of the wedding couple: the bachelorette party.
Gone are the days when these parties just involved a night of bar-hopping, lap-dances, and shenanigans you promised to take to your grave. It's now almost expected that the bride-to-be will want to plan an entire weekend or big trip with friends before saying her vows.
Travel website Priceline.com conducted a new survey on the rising costs and pressures of the bachelor(ette) party trips. After polling more than 1,000 adults who attended at least one bachelor or bachelorette party in the past five years, results show these party trips can take a major toll on wallets — and friendship!
Here's what they found:
- 45 percent had to SKIP a party due to the cost of the bachelor(ette) trip
- 32 percent spent upwards of $850 or more on a party trip
- 30 percent felt pressure to stay in a luxury hotel to appease the bride or groom
- 29 percent said deciding on where to go caused the most drama
- 14 percent were kicked out of a wedding party for not attending the party
As psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig points out, this new trend of a destination bachelor(ette) trip creates a new norm, and as a result, there's an additional pressure to have an event that "measures" up to, or even outdoes, what other people are doing.
While the big day may be all about the couple, the bachelorette party is supposed to celebrate the friendships. After all, it's the last chance to hang out with your group of friends without those nuptial responsibilities. That said, it's important to keep those friends in mind when planning. Some may not be able to afford what others can, or take the time off from work. Or, your friends might have other responsibilities (like children) that prevent them from going on a party trip.
However, a bride that doesn't get her way is liable to turn into a bachelorette party monster, and that's never a good news. "Be mindful of your level of expectations," adds marriage therapist Dr. Karen Ruskin. "Think quality time, not quantity of time and financial input."
The study also finds that besides picking a destination, deciding how to cover the bride's expenses caused just as much drama amongst the guests — and that can easily turn into a contentious situation.
So ask yourself, is it more important to have an extravagant party not everyone can partake in? Or something more feasible, where all your best girls can attend?
Remember, the most important part of the bachelorette party is having those who love and care for you there to celebrate a very special time in your life, says Kristen Rocco, founder of Love Notery. "Creating long-lasting memories is what it's all about."


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Are you hearing noises in your house that you can't identify? Maybe sounds that seem like they are coming from inside the wall? Some of the sources of the out-of-the-ordinary sounds could be the appliances or pipes in the house. Sometimes these noises are just ignored and considered part of the "personality" of the house. Other times, these noises could be a source of irritation, or even disturbing our sleep.
What are some sounds that could be occurring because of pipes and appliances and what can you do about them? There could be a "hammering" noise in the pipes when water is turned on and off. In this case, you can install air chambers in the pipes and allow the water to flow more freely. You could also use oversized water pipes to allow the water to flow easily. Other pipe-related noises can be lessened by replacing plastic pipes with cast iron pipes.
What about the sound coming from your appliances? There could be appliances that vibrate or possibly make too much noise because they are a bit out dated. If the vibration is an issue, you can install insulation around the areas that are rattling, or use caulking around fixtures or where the pipes go into the machine. Also, consider buying a new dishwasher, if yours still works good, but is a too disruptive. Whirlpool and Jenn-air have lines of dishwashers that are specially made to keep things quiet.
Hopefully, this has helped you to identify and lessen some of those "strange" sounds around the house.


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Cork County Council has issued a request for further information in relation to the planning application for redevelopment of the Convent, Passage West (16/7260). Continue reading Further information request for the Convent planning application
Monthly Archives: February 2017
Further information request for Harbour Heights planning application
Notes from the February meeting of the Ballincollig-Carrigaline Municipal District
1. Confirmation of Minutes
To consider the confirmation and signing of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 16th January 2017.
Cllr D'Alton (Ind): Correction – The Island as referred to in the minutes is in Ringaskiddy. So the casual trading areas to be included are Roberts Bridge, Passage West and the Island, Ringaskiddy.
The MDO also had a correction on Cllr Harris's motion which will be incorporated. Continue reading Notes from the February meeting of the Ballincollig-Carrigaline Municipal District


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This is in bloom again and a little stronger than last year. After blooming is done this will be re-potted. It is not big enough to divide but there will be a backbulb division.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Laelia Zip 'Short Stack' x Laeliocattleya Perelli Sunrise
Posted by Richard Lindberg at 2:45 AM
Labels: Lillian's greenhouse, Orchid in bloom now
2 comments:
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Tuesday Taggers to see my lovely teamies inspiring work. Do hope you can join us this week!
WOW - I am gobsmacked - this is awesome hun!
Teri x
Beautiful poem and beautifully illustrated, Sally. Love everything about it. Tryptichs are lovely to make, aren't they? Your colours and images all illustrate so perfectly!
This is amazing Sally, your so talented the way you work with inks. I really must learn how to do these techniques. I adore dragonflies and yours is beautiful.
Happy crafting
Tracy x
this item really caught my eye when checking out the latest blog updates - beautifully created.
Suc ha wonderful creation Sally , I love the details and colours
Awesome creation Sally. A lot of time and love must have gone into this.
Love this Sally, not seen this poem before butyour illustrations make it stand out, luv Georginaxx
Breath taking work, honestly Sally, how you think of the things to do with your inks I will never know. Stunning altogether.
Hi Sally wow wee! this is soooooooooooooooo fabulous. love it so very much. hugs chris xx
Wow! This is totally gorgeous Sally - an absolute stunner in lovely colours. Just love it!
This is truely awesome Sally your ideas and crafting blow me away each week :0)
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring poem and such a beautiful work of art. I know I say it a lot but you are a very talented lady :)
Milena xxx
This is fabulous, Sally, and even more amazing in real life.
Thanks for a lovely day today, (and especially the coffee and walnut cake!) xx
Absolutely stunning work Sally a beautiful example of your wonderful stamping techniques.
Lorraine x
Hi Sally, This is just beautiful!! xx
Wow Sally .. .. stunning work.
I love how you have interpreted the poem.
The dragonfly section is my favourite. It looks really magical.
Love Jules xx
Wow, another stunning creation Sally. I love to visit to see what your imagination has been up to.
Hugs, Clare x
Hi Sally.
What a lovely catch up I've had. You've been very busy creating some stunning works of art whilst I've been away.
This one is just beautiful. I love all the diffrent panels but they go together perfectly.
I'm glad you had a great holiday in Wales. What a beautiful photo of you captured by Meg and your walk in Sherwood forest sounds very interesting.
Where have the Summer hols gone, they seem to have flown.
Hugs Lisax
Pure magic so pretty wonderful take on the poem love it. xx Zoe
The poem is beautiful and so is your triptych Sally. I know because I've seen it up 'close and personal'! I love the stamps you've used on this piece and the Artylicious paper is lovely too.


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by Mark D
(Albuquerque, NM)
Kobalt Air Compressor #0300841 is making loud mechanical noises when I turn on the compressor. Like metal to metal.
Comments for 0300841 making loud noises
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Radiator thermostat is an electronic device, which is familiar to everyone, it is used to maintain the power supply of the radiator, on which the temperature can be adjusted on the radiator. The radiator thermostat is usually fixed on the valves of the radiator, there is the manual radiator and then there is a more advanced electrical thermostat. It is always difficult to choose a good radiator thermostat to decide the one for you the best way is Heizkoerperregler Vergleich, by this, you can compare two or more thermostat and then decide the one for you, according to your requirement.
How does a thermostat operate?
The main use of a radiator thermostat is to control and maintain the room temperature by adjusting the radiator. The thermostat comes with an option of keeping the temperature on different levels, ranging from level 1 to level 5, every level has a set degree of temperature. The temperature can be controlled by setting the thermostat on the preferred level. This is how an old manual thermostat works.
The advanced electronic radiator thermostat is well equipped with the latest technology, it has some tremendous new feature, it comes with a display. It comes with a feature, of setting the room temperature according to the time of the day. It means one can set the preferred temperature according to the time. Some radiators are also equipped with a sensor, which detects the outdoor temperature and then automatically adjusts the indoor temperature. So, if it is cold outside, the room temperature will be high and vice versa. The advanced thermostat also comes with some other feature, such as pre-defined settings according to the occasion and the number of people in the room.
One can decide between a regular manual thermostat or an electronic by doing Heizkoerperregler Vergleich.
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The casino tax between profit levying and prohibition tax
The article addresses the historical development and the legal structure of the German casino tax. The operation of casinos was first permitted in the 1930s. For regulatory reasons, a high levying of profits was intended from the start. To this day, the casino tax is up to 80% of the gross gaming revenue in some federal states in Germany. The authors conclude that the legal structure of the casino tax must be reviewed immediately. In the first place, the taxation of casinos has to be aligned to the customary taxation of companies based on the annual yield, which also factors in the high expenses of the casinos. Secondly, numerous tightenings of police- and regulatory laws have caused a massive decrease of revenue for all German casinos since 2008, without a simultaneous revaluation of the legal structure of the casino tax in view of the recent development.
The current taxation system violates the ban on prohibition taxes enacted by the Federal Constitutional Court; a revision of the laws concerning the casino tax is essential for the German casinos to remain capable of competing.
Published in Zeitschrift für Wett- und Glücksspielrecht (ZfWG) 2012, p. 87


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|The two Muslim restaurants near Darul Aman Mosque in Bangkok are reachable via the BTS Ratchathewi Station (Sukhumvit Line). Take the left stairs when exiting the stations. Walk straight...and follow the map above. It will take about ~5-10 minutes to reach the restaurant. Depend kelajuan tapaki anda.
|Alhamdulillah, arrived safely without getting lost. Aku ambil sebiji2 direction yang si John tulis dalam blog dia.
|DJ recommended this resto but unfortunately it was closed when we arrived that afternoon. The Macik at Farida's told us Mak Yah is closed during Ramadhan.
|Bukan rezeki kami untuk makan di Mak Yah haritu so kami redha. Kan Farida Fatornee ada.
|Simple jak interior kedai ni. Unlike the interior at Mak Yah's that I saw in few blogs (i.e here).
|Aku order sambil tunjuk gambar di menu. But worry not because the family that runs this resto speak Malay. Ada bunyi Siam-Kelantan sikit tapi boleh faham 100%.


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Luke 22:39-40 says, "Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you will not fall into temptation.'" The power of prayer is greater than any temptation. It is better to pray than to allow temptation to prey.
May 2nd – Luke 22:39-40
Categories: PASTORS DESK


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- Logan's Run: Black Flower #4
- Publisher: Stormfront Publishing
- Written by: Scott Davis, William F. Nolan→
- Art By: Devrim Kunter→
- Digital Release Date:
February 13th, 2019
- Language: English
Twenty-one years. That's all we get. But not those who have found Sanctuary and not those who control the secret of Hourglass. Logan finally challenges Gant in an epic showdown for control of not just Hourglass, but the all-powerful Thinker. But it's more than just time clocks at stake. It's Jessica too. The concluding chapter of this sprawling and thoughtful adventure of what happens when a society simply uses and never builds comes down to this clash of two titanic forces. This is the final issue of Logan's Run Black Flower, the continuation of the iconic story started by science fiction masters William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson.→ more
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"I earned my respect in the Streets."
These words resonate in every aspect of my life. Life can be difficult at times, people are not perfect. We make huge mistakes but that's how we learn. Do the best you can do that's all anyone can ask of you. Sometimes you win big, sometimes you come up short, but you tried. Stay true to who you are. You don't have to pretend to be something you're not to be respected. Actually faking will get you disrespected faster than anything else. I know you know that. Don't forget to act like you know.


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Suicide and Marrowfat Peas
Jason Stoneking
When Leslie and I got together, I was already accustomed to dipping in and out of homeless. I'd lived in parks and on beaches, I'd couch-surfed all over the country, I'd slept on the bus for hours as it traveled around town, and I'd thumbed long-distance rides and fallen asleep in strangers' cars. I was perfectly comfortable not worrying about where I was going to wind up sleeping on a given night. I knew that I could usually organize something; if it fell through I could always just scrape up some change for a refillable coffee at an all-night diner, or I could go read religious pamphlets at the bus station until the sun came up and I could crash on a park bench without getting rousted by the cops. But Leslie didn't have these fall-back habits in her arsenal. Before her relationship with me, she had always had a steady place to live. So when we started traveling together, and didn't always have plans for our sleeping accommodations, it tended to stress her out pretty badly. But she also started to fall for the lure of the road. And when we found ourselves getting stuck in a rut, working miserable jobs, it didn't take long for us both to get the itch again.
I suggested that we move back to Paris. That's where I had lived before I was with Leslie, and it was a place where I'd had a lot of luck slipping through the cracks. I had found some interesting people to hang out with, and lots of little ways to survive. I trusted Paris as a city that would always find a way to look after its dreamers. Leslie was game for the move, but she was a little more cautious than I was. We hardly had any money to leave with, maybe enough to get us through a few carefully managed months, and we only had a couple of shaky leads on places to crash. Leslie suggested that we just go over there for a few months, so that we'd have a ticket back if things didn't pan out. Even if she was tentative about my assertion that somehow everything would be fine if we could just get back to France, she was also sick enough of our hamster-wheel life in the States that she was willing to give it a go. We had pretty good luck on that first trip, finding temporary rooms and little gigs here and there to help pay for them. Leslie sold a few drawings and photos, while I played guitar in a few bars. Eventually her confidence increased and we decided to try for a more long-term relocation.
One of the great things we had going for us in Paris was the network of tiny little romantic apartments all over the city. They are generally referred to as chambres de bonne, or maids' quarters. Most of the older buildings in the city center have these small rooms, which at one time were the sleeping chambers for the domestic help employed by the residents of the larger homes. They are often located on the top floor, cut off by the slant of the roof, and generally under a hundred square feet in size. In fact, many of them are too small to be legally rented as living spaces under Parisian housing regulations, but this also makes them cheap. Unlike the housing in New York or London, where anything even remotely near the city center would cost thousands per month, these romantic little rooms, scattered throughout the very heart of Paris, can often be had for as little as a couple hundred. So there is a thriving black market through which they are rented, exchanged, and acquired. They are prized by artists, writers, and students as an affordable way for the less affluent among us to bed down in the City of Light. And because they are in such high demand, if you want to hear about them, you have to be plugged into the network of expats and starving artists who pass messages about these places along a hidden grapevine, like keepers of a secret handshake.
When Leslie and I came back to stay, we floated in and out of temporary residence in several of those little rooms around town, and we managed to get ourselves tied fairly well into that grapevine. But it still wasn't exactly easy to find a permanent home. We'd get one for two months here or three months there, but then we kept finding ourselves back on the streets or crashing for short times with friends. This instability used to terrify Leslie. She took it more literally than I did. I had learned from years of experience that first of all, something always comes along when you're in a jam, and second of all, that even when it doesn't, a night in the train station, or a day spent sleeping in the park, is never as bad as you abstractly fear that it will be. Leslie was starting to understand those things too, but the transitions would still put her on edge. In March of 2004, we were staying in a cheap hotel, down to our last few euros, and we were getting close to rejoining the homeless population. Leslie was getting nervous. So I proposed what I always thought, and what I still think, is appropriate to do in such a situation. I suggested that we go down to the pub, and start investing the meager remnants of our finances in some beer and conversation.
Leslie thought I was nuts wanting to waste both our precious time and our humble coins in an afternoon at the bar, but there was a method to my madness. When you're down on your luck, it's important to be visible. Especially in places where you're a regular and the familiarity of your face has accrued a bit of sympathy and good will. When things aren't working out is when you most need a favor, or the flash of inspiration that you might get from meeting someone new or overhearing a conversation. And you're not going to get that sitting in your room, counting your pennies. When you have a good-sized chunk of money it might be worth saving, but when you only have a few bucks, its greatest value is in the chair time it can buy you at the watering hole. I finally talked Leslie into it, partly because she didn't have any better ideas, and partly because I would have gone down there without her if I had to. We went to an old favorite bar on the rue Mouffetard, where I knew the owner from my younger days. Leslie and I had frequented the place before, and had reason to hope that we might run into an old friend, or meet a new one, or otherwise catch a lead on a place to crash. We went early, when the beers were cheapest, and got ourselves a couple of pints. Then we sat down at our usual end of the bar and got to work on the crossword puzzles in the English papers while we waited for some other regulars to pop their heads in and ask us how things were going.
The English crosswords always posed a bit of an extra challenge to us, being that they so often incorporated cultural references, spellings, and phrasings that were foreign to the American vocabulary. This day's puzzle was no exception. After solving the bulk of it, we got stuck on the long, two-word phrase running down the middle. We were confident about at least half of the letters, and they seemed to define the likely syllabic structure of some words, but the pattern didn't bring anything the least bit familiar to mind. Thankfully, our whining and grumbling was overheard by a young Irish language lover a few stools up the bar from us. This was the person who would go on to become our very dear friend Mark. He introduced himself and asked curiously what the trouble seemed to be. When we showed him the puzzle, he realized straight away that the answer we struggled so mightily to find was "marrowfat peas." Leslie and I had never even heard of marrowfat peas, so we were happy to be let off the hook by our new friend.
Not only did we hit it off quickly with Mark, but when the conversation moved on to what we were all doing in Paris, and we explained our predicament to him, his eyes flew wide in eureka recognition. He told us about how he had just met an American guy, in the preceding days, who'd been trying to rent out a cheap little room as quickly as possible. He cautioned us that he had passed on the room himself, due to some strange circumstances surrounding it, but suggested that if we were desperate it might be just the right fit. We assured him that we were, and that it was. So he offered to put us in touch with the guy and let him explain the unusual details to us himself. Mark called Anthony from the phone at the bar and told him he was with some people who might be up for renting the room. Then he handed me the phone. Anthony warned us that the place was tiny, but it was almost impossibly cheap. At 260 euros per month, we could almost find the rent just by looking for coins on the floor of the subway. He said he needed a renter as soon as possible, and I told him we'd take it (assuming I'd dig up the money somehow); he thought it might be a good idea if he came down to the bar first to describe the "complicated situation" in person. Unfazed, we told him we'd be happy to wait, and then we joyfully ordered up a celebratory pint with Mark.
When Anthony arrived, he explained that he had been subletting the apartment from a young German guy named Jan who had recently taken his own life. He said that Jan's parents had come through town to pick up his belongings and arrange a memorial, and that they had told him it was ok for him to keep renting the flat. But since then, he said, they had fallen out of touch. He had kept sending the rent to Jan's father for a while, but was no longer receiving a response. So Anthony, a college-age guy who was also on a tight budget, had found other sleeping arrangements for himself and decided to rent this place out. But he wanted us to know up front that Jan's parents might resurface at any time and expect us to move out of the place. We were fairly used to these kinds of temporary arrangements, and anything was better than our impending homelessness, so we thanked him for the opportunity and got to work looking for the rent. Our friend Chris, who was in a similar situation at the time but had a small amount of savings, joined up with us and helped with the expenses. Despite the unusual circumstances, we were all relieved to have found a place to crash for a while. But once we moved in, we began to feel a little bit haunted by the story of Jan.
Jan had been a troubled young man, and one day he had knocked on the door of a stranger, who lived on the top floor of one of the taller buildings in his neighborhood. When the woman who lived there had opened the door, he had calmly asked her, "May I use your apartment to kill myself?" When the slightly confused older lady didn't know how to respond, Jan had brushed past her, placed a single piece of paper on her table, crossed her living room to the balcony overlooking the street, and then walked straight off the balcony and fallen to his death below. The piece of paper Jan had left on the woman's table had read, "In Paris we live like dogs, when we should be living like kings." And here we were living in Paris, and living in Jan's apartment. Jan had been a creative soul, and we felt connected to his struggle, and felt honor-bound to try to get to know this mythical German martyr through the handful of artifacts he had left behind: some homemade cassette recordings of jazz and classical music from the radio, some old black and white tourist photos printed on thick cards, a cracked chess board with no accompanying pieces, a few odd bits of wooden furniture that Jan had fashioned himself. We mused over the possible stories behind these objects, and they began to inspire our own work. Leslie made drawings and photos of the things around the house, while Chris and I thought about Jan when we wrote. We imagined his spirit as a benevolent companion to our efforts as poor artists under the tiny, anonymous roofs of Paris. We imagined that somehow he was rooting for us, that he would have related to our plight.
The three of us were living on just a few bucks a day, which was enough to split up a 500-gram bag of pasta or rice, and add in some cheap protein, like a can of tuna, leaving enough left over for the obligatory bottle of rotgut wine. Maybe we'd splurge on some tomato sauce, or butter, if one of us had scored some extra change that day. But we didn't earn too much, since none of us left home very often. We were mostly focused on our creative endeavors. Not to mention that we were in the Montmartre neighborhood, at the far north end of town, so any time one of us wanted to visit our friends, or our old haunts in the downtown scene, it involved more than an hour of walking each way. We certainly faced some challenges that year, but thanks to Mark, Anthony, and Chris, at least none of us were on the street. We weren't starving to death. We all had someplace to work on our art. And for the time being, none of us (except Jan) were dead. We tried our best to honor Jan's memory, and to see ourselves as kings rather than dogs.
We carried on living there this way for a few months, without any word from Jan's family, but one day, when Leslie and I were out of town on a little hitchhiking trip, Chris was surprised by the arrival of Jan's father at the door. The father was equally surprised, not knowing who Chris was, and expecting either to find the place empty or maybe to run into Anthony. According to the father's side of the story, Anthony had simply stopped sending him the rent, some months prior, with no explanation. So he had flown in from Germany to square things away with Jan's apartment and put it up for sale. He told Chris that he knew Anthony was in town, and had spoken to him by phone, but that Anthony had been dodging him. Chris tried to be diplomatic and did his best to work out what was going on. He got in touch with Anthony himself, but Anthony was evasive about his reasons for avoiding the father. So Chris wound up dealing with the entire situation on his own.
Jan's father was confused about Anthony's disappearing act, and also about the story that led up to his son's apartment being full of people he didn't know who weren't paying him any rent. Chris could easily have just split, and let the chips of the situation fall where they may, but instead he hung in there, out of sheer sympathy and class, and looked for a solution that would appease everyone involved. He didn't want Jan's grieving father to be left holding the bag during an already tragic time for his family, and he didn't want Leslie and me to return home only to find that we were back on the streets. Jan's father had his understandable doubts about leaving the apartment in the care of three people he didn't know, so Chris took the entirety of his savings and gave it to him in good faith, as a couple months' advance rent, so that we could stay on while he was making his preparations to sell the place. Jan's father was touched by this gesture, and I think he was happy to know that the place his son had left behind was of sincere use to some creative young people. He graciously allowed us to stay there until he found a buyer, and he only took a few of Jan's furniture items with him before telling us that we could help ourselves to anything there that we might need.
When the time came for the new owner to move in, it was Chris who found the lead on our next home: a tiny little top-floor, slant-roofed room in one of the old buildings on the Île St-Louis in the middle of the Seine. The night that we moved there, we walked the whole way across town, carrying with us a pile of the essentials we'd adopted at Jan's place: the little cutting board, the knife with the broken tip, the slotted wooden stirring spoon, as well as the cassette tapes and the chessboard. These things all followed us to that next little room we lived in, and then to the next one after that. Chris kept the place on the island for a while, but Leslie and I eventually moved on to another chambre de bonne, back over in Hemingway's old neighborhood off the Left Bank, where we still live today. And still, every night when I cook, I use those kitchen utensils and think briefly of Jan. I try to remember, with every meal I eat, that we live on a fringe, a precipice, a cliff, where sometimes there is only space for us because someone else doesn't get that little bit of luck and decides that it's easier just to leap. To anyone who's living like a dog in Paris tonight, I hope you catch a break.
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A considerable range of subjects and disciplines are available at all levels of education. These include even the postgraduate levels. In many countries, religious studies are counted among such disciplines. Right from the onset, the goal of many such disciplines has been to allow its students grasp a deeper understanding of their faith; sometimes this extends to getting new disciples who will wholeheartedly follow the teachings. This goal is always kept in check by unions who promote these faiths as associates specific educational institutions worship houses dedicated to these faiths.
What are religious studies? This field of studies can be explained as an in-depth study of religion as it is perceived, understood and practiced on the basis of many other factors. These factors include culture, race, life perspectives and the likes. In itself, this field encompasses a large collection of faiths and spiritual views. Various religious studies courses are available today in different universities and institutions specially dedicated to this cause.
The core of some categories of faith-related studies deals with the acknowledgement of a superior force, deity or God who controls all man's activities and is not seen by the human eye. In Christian religious studies, for instance, the person of Jesus is taught as the only way to come to God. In Islam, there is a specific reverence attached to the words of God's prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), which are recorded in their religious book called the Quran. These views are largely universal, irrespective of whether they are observed on a local or international basis.
Speaking of the opportunities available for those who choose as far as obtaining diplomas in a religion of their choice, it has been noticed that people do not think of this. When asked, "What jobs can you get with a religious studies degree?" some people are at a loss. Getting a job with a religious degree is not a common topic. But there are some good job opportunities available. These include counselling (as it relates to the specific religion), working in different NGOs, teaching positions in a university specifically dedicated to religious studies, even business-related positions.
There are jobs available even in religious organizations. For example, a person holding a master's degree in religious studies could get to work in the media unit of the religious body by editing and writing a critical review of an article or articles about to be published, like they do at EduBirdie. This is important because religious beliefs can sometimes be misconstrued or misinterpreted, a potentially dangerous situation.
In light of these dangers, we come to the first challenge of this field of studies: the concept of faith. In the Christian guidebook, the Bible, faith is portrayed as belief plus action towards something you hope for without seeing. The main challenge is specially presented by science, which teaches that for a thing to be worth believing, it must present in itself some concrete evidence of physical proof. Science upholds anything that can be explained by logic; seen, felt and proved. This is why some people find it easier to hold on to the notion of evolution than the belief of a deity unseen to the human eyes. Teachers of disciplines inclined towards faith often have a hard time getting such people to understand the course.
Another challenge is found in how certain religion-centered writings are interpreted while teaching in various colleges, leading to different schools of thought within one religion. Some go as far as being extremist, citing themselves as 'special'. They also belittle the validity of other faiths around them. This is why several people who go in to study a particular faith have no interest practicing it. To them, a religion that claims to be 'peaceful and open' theoretically yet has such radical views is contradicting itself.
These flaws, however, are seen in almost all religions. They are even more pronounced in those that have high rankings when it comes to followership – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and the likes. For some individuals, it is especially disturbing that a person who has no intention of understanding the spiritual aspect of religion can comfortably hold a doctorate degree in the discipline. One of such branches of religious education is Theology. There is a host of notable theologians who till date do not attest to the divinity of Jesus, who is revered in Christianity as the son of God. These guys are allowed to do major researches on Biblical writings. The results of some of these 'findings' are one of the issues Christianity tackles with today.
Then there are mindset problems on the side of the students. Some approach the studies of other religions regarding them as second-tier. Others study other faiths with a constant fear of getting easily swayed from what they've believed all their lives. This kind of approaches sometimes makes people miss the perspective embedded in other people's religions. We should endeavor to have open minds towards other religions; we learn to coexist with each other more effectively when we put aside sentiments and learn from one another.


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'Let the form of an object be what it may ~ light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful' ~ John Constable
I have an eye for these things or so I have been told. I take time to look at things whether it be in my home or on my travels. To stop and look at different patterns, textures and patina be it wool on metal, floral on floral, crackled glazing, wood, masonry and so on is quite liberating.
I dare say this is one of the reasons I love crockery so much, the textures of the china, a myriad of patterns and forms, are intoxicating. Interior design comes to the fore with my passions for such things; placing pieces together to see what works and what doesn't. I have lots of fun bringing such elements into my own home with great satisfaction.
I do hope you stop for a while too and really look, you may find something wonderful in the least expected place.
Jane x


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In 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused unprecedented flooding in Red Hook, Brooklyn, leaving many residents and businesses without basic services for weeks.
Mott MacDonald was retained to take part in the Red Hook Integrated Flood Protection System, a federally funded coastal protection initiative aimed
at reducing flood risk in the neighborhood due to
coastal storms and sea level rise.
The first phase of Improving coastal defenses in the wake of a hurricane the project is a comprehensive feasibility study of the different options available to strengthen the resilience of Red Hook to withstand severe coastal flood events.
The project promises to help shield the Red Hook community from devastating floods in the future. Success will depend heavily on community
involvement. Our engineering team is also
supporting outreach efforts to ensure the study
is completed on schedule.


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A self-centering tape measure sounds like a good idea. After all, how many of us can divide 43-7/8" in half in our heads? Actually, I can - it's 21-15/16"... But perhaps a more important question is, "How often do you need to divide 43-7/8" ins half? and is it worth it to have a "self-centering" tape measure for those rare occasions?
I inherited a Lufkin L725SCTMP 25-foot x 1-inch Self-Centering Tape Measure when a previous employer unloaded all their supplies. OK, I liberated it. Whatever. But I'm glad I didn't pay to buy it, because it's pretty useless for everyday use. The reason is that the tape is so covered with numbers and symbols that it's hard to use. It's best used when measuring existing spaces and looking for the center. When it comes to exacting measurement - like cutting a board to 82-3/8 inches - it's a royal pain to read. Here, see what I mean:
When it comes to quality, this is a nice tape: the bright orange case is solid and sturdy and stands up to rough use. It's a little bulky- two inches thick, including the belt clip - and it weighs almost a pound, but the lock and the auto return work quite well. There's nothing wrong with the tool that putting an ordinary one-inch tape into it wouldn't solve.
I've seen reviewers gush about how useful it is for hanging pictures, but come on - how often does the ordinary person do that? No, I'll be sticking with a conventional tape measure for my woodworking shop - one I can read easily and on which I can find the one-inch markers without having to put on my magnifying eyepieces. Lufkin can keep this one. Unless you spend most of your days with a calculator in hand trying to find the center of a space, I'd pass on this one and look for one of Lufkin's (or Stanley's) conventional 25-foot, 1-inch tapes.
2labz doesn't recommend Lufkin L725SCTMP 25 x 1 Self-Centering Tape Measure


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Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful day today!! Even if you don't have any romantic plans for the evening, I hope you're surrounded by love from family and friends!! Because that's what the day is really about. It's about celebrating Love in ALL its forms!!! And we have so much of it in this world. In those we share this life with and in ourselves.
And know that I love you!!!!!!!
Ok. Enough mush. :)
My gift to you this Valentine's Day... Breathless Magic IS LIVE!!!! On all sites. Except iBooks. So sorry Apple users. But you can always download the FREE Kindle app!! :)
It's actually part of a larger anthology of Valentine's novellas!! So check them ALL out. I know these are some of your favorite authors!!
I had just the best time getting back in Eden's head for this novella!!
If I'm honest, I was actually kind of dreading it when you all voted for her. I thought a Lilly and Talbott novella would be so much more challenging to write. Or any of my other couples that aren't completely together yet would have been more fun.
And by fun, I mean angsty... which is what I live for.
But then I got into Eden's head and it was like going home.
Sometimes I worry that all my characters are the same, that they're just versions of each other thrown into differing circumstances.
This novella proved to me that they not only all have their own, individual personalities, but they might actually be living, breathing, real-life people.
If only I was kidding. :)
But Eden is definitely her own woman and I am just the scribe that writes down her life. And I love every minute of it.
It's kind of wonderful to write about an established couple that's married. There aren't boundaries I have to worry about crossing or a love that needs to be propelled forward. They are comfortable with each other, know each other to the last ounce of their souls and simply live for the other one.
They're happy. They're content. And even with a little bit of danger their feelings for each other are solid and forever.
They're just amazing. And they are by far my favorite couple.
So thank you for wanting them back! And for voting for their novella. I loved giving them more life and I loved even more giving you guys the chance to revisit them and see how they've moved on and matured!!!
I hope you love this novella as much as I do!! I'll post the cover and some links to make it easy for you!!!!!!
Breathless Magic for Amazon
Breathless Magic for Barnes and Noble
Don't forget that Love and Decay, Episode One of Season Two released last week!!!!!
And here are all the links for the other novellas!!!
Shelly Crane's Consequence (A Significance Novella) for Amazon
Shelly Crane's Consequence (A Significance Novella) for Barnes and Noble
Lila Felix's Heart Breaker (An Anguish Novella) for Amazon
Lila Felix's Heart Breaker (An Anguish Novella) for Barnes and Noble
Amity Hope's Always for Amazon
Amber Garza's Finding Me Again for Amazon
Jamie Magee's Derive for Amazon
Jamie Magee's Derive for Barnes and Noble
Breathless Magic is LIVE!!!
Who is Rachel?!?
Rachel Higginson is the author of The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series and much more! She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.
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The Cabin Scene From Kiran's POV He broke up with her. He broke up with her . ...
I'm quiet about politics on social media. I don't share my opinion often. Or ever. I have an issue with blurting out the headlines...
As promised... Here is Eden and Kiran's first kiss from his perspective!! Be nice.. This is not edited! :) I fidgeted uncomfortably on...
So you've probably heard or seen- since I've posted a thousand pictures of him- that Saxon Zachary is finally here!!! If you get...
I realize as I prepare to write this blog that I might come off as a little hypocritical. So I just want to assure you that this post is as ...
So thank you Melissa for helping me come up with this name!!! For several Wednesday's I've been featuring Indie Authors on my blog...
Please enjoy this super interesting guest post. On the Growing Popularity of Romance Novels On the Growing Popularity of Romance ...
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A (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful ABRAHAM.
B (10) For as many as are of the works of THE LAW are under THE CURSE: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of THE LAW
D (11) But that no man is justified by THE LAW in the sight of God, it is evident: for,
E (11) The just shall live by faith.
D1 (12) And THE LAW is not of faith:
C1 (12) but, The man that DOETH THEM shall live in them.
B1 (13) Christ hath redeemed us from THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made A CURSE for us: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED is every one that hangeth on a tree:
A1 (14) That the blessing of ABRAHAM might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.


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Without doubt the most popular time exploring Europe is during July and August. There are a number of reasons for this but the main one is that in the months of July and August for most of Europe you you can be pretty sure that you will get nice sunny weather and that the temperature will be reasonably warm. In the Mediterranean regions you are likely to see temperatures peaking up to 40C + with an average of around 28C.
Archive for the Category "Traveling"
Taking a break from your everyday life is important for your physical and mental wellbeing.
As employees all over the world are working longer hours and accumulating more and more unused holiday leave this adversely affects the physical and mental health of those employees who do not take a holiday and choose to keep working instead.
Do you have to get up early in the morning every day to get to work on time? Are you battling long traffic queues? more…
Prepaid cards are in many instances utilized for spending and buying things. The owner can easily end up with money in just about any amount that they want. There is what we call the prepaid credit card, that looks as being similar to the usual debit card with a signature along the company brand and also the numeral. Once again, this particular visa or mastercard is totally handled and operated by the owner. This particular credit card can be simply accessed, and additionally deposited by whatever amount of money. The accumulated amount of money actually is the credit card's credit border. As being the card holder, you are able to put in some funds to the card, and shell out the sum wherever you prefer to. But nevertheless, there's still a small distinction between the credit or debit card that people normally make use of along with this prepaid card. They are different because the prepaid credit cards do not allow the owner the privilege of the line of late repayments. Instances of this sort of plastic usually are Prepaid MasterCard and Visa Cars. Most of these plastic cards work extremely well in just about any place around the globe.
The Peak District National Park is regarded as the most incredible and outstanding regions of the british isles, and every year a good number of people young and old head to the region to relish exploring the unblemished country side, to take part in an array of sport and also leisure time hobbies also to enjoy a calm and relaxing country side holiday. There are mile upon mile of amazing paths, tracks and trails for holiday vacation makers to discover, and you could get your hiking boot footwear out and explore by foot, or perhaps you can put on your helmet and get pleasure from checking out on the mountain bike. Naturally after you go anywhere like this you might want the overnight accommodation to match the location and the Log Cabin Holiday Peak District are usually a top rated selection.
Is not that one additional thing to haul about? Can't you gain all the knowledge you need to have now around the net? Yes, you most likely might, but once you are traveling, will you be heading to cart a laptop round with you? What amount time do you need to waste surfing with your phone..!!!!!!. and just how much is THAT certain to amount to?
Research the world wide web, surf, perform your analysis, watch tv shows, but purchase a great guide. You really should analyse guidebooks just like you do your vacation. Test to determine that it suits your vacation fashion.
Make certain it is an existing edition so the knowledge will be as up-to-date as achievable. Things alter so quick that possibly even the existing edition could possibly be a tad outdated.!!!.. and that is considering they update it each year. Numerous are merely updated each 2 or 3 years.
So, i hear you ask, does not that imply that the web is far better.!!!. a lot more up-to-date? Well, we do propose doing study around the net, but the answer's still… take a excellent guidebook. It really is so handy to have together with when you may be in a church or museum, and you desire to read the information. If you're driving along, and you need to view what there is in that cute small town you areyou're driving by.!!. that guide at hand.
You are able to loan an previous one from a buddy or get one at the pre-owned book store.!!. they'll be beneficial for museums and historic locations that have been in existence for a long time. I mean to say, the descriptions for the ancient sites most likely have not changed in a century or two. But from time to time opening hours alter, or perhaps the days that they can be closed, or they might be closed for renovation.
Using an old guide, you may well discover your self looking out for a inn or eating venue that's been closed since the last edition!
Journey guides differ in who they appeal to, so test through various to find out which one has the knowledge which you have to have. A very good one will assist you to discover hotels and dining establishments in your price range.
You may find some that break lodgings into categories for affordability, middle, and high end vacation. Having that type of details will enable you to rapidly come across the lodging or restaurant which you will likely be very pleased with.
If you vacation to a place that you've never been in before a great guidebook can provide the knowledge you have to have to vacation like an old pro while in the area.!!!.! and is not that much better than attempting to recall everything you read around the world wide web?
Do oneself a favor and get a present-day edition of a guide whose author you appreciate reading. You'll be able to even test a few in the local library so it is possible to actually study them prior to you purchase one. Try out a bookstore that specializes in vacation or one featuring a big journey section so you'll be able to look at a number of diverse books. Get the one that appears to be best match up with your vacation taste.
Your vacation will go a lot more smoothly when you've the correct details close to hand.!.. that is the reason why you need to vacation possessing a guide book.
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I received this product at a discount in exchange for my honest review.


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I've already confessed this secret here before, but I'll admit it again: when people ask where Mr. P and I met, we usually say something about going to grad school together. But that's not the whole truth. The rest of the story? We met on facebook.... back in the day when you had to be enrolled at a university, and you only interacted with other students at your school, and you had to walk uphill in the snow both ways to log on. We met by striking up a conversation in a Ben Folds discussion group.
I used to be kinda embarrassed about that. But as the years go by, I love that origin story more and more.
So since Mr. P gave me tickets to see Ben Folds with the STL Symphony Orchestra for Christmas, well.... I've been excited.
At a point in my work life where I feel too busy and overwhelmed to even do laundry, an evening with my favorite guy and favorite musician (that's Mr. P and Ben Folds, respectively) was the ultimate luxury. So we made a night of it, starting with dressing the part:
Sparkly earrings and heels because it's a Saturday evening at the symphony, black skinnies and sunglasses because it's a rock concert, and stripes because it's me.
For dinner, we tried a new fancy restaurant. You can't see it, but I'm pretty sure Mr. P's steak was approximately the size of my face.
It's a new restaurant in the same building where I had brunch on my thirtieth birthday. What I didn't show you then is the spectacular décor in the ladies room:
Ginormous chandelier #1.
Then it was off to the symphony hall!
Ginormous chandelier #2.
We arrived with plenty of time to wander around before taking our seats, which is my preferred pre-show activity. It gives me a chance to check out what everyone else is wearing (pro tip: DON'T wear artists' merchandise to their shows, lame-o) and see what's happening at the bar.
As for the show itself – it lived up to the hype (and the rather grand promises made by Ben himself). Every single musician on that stage worked precisely together and clearly had so much fun doing it. Some of the arrangements were the same as those I'd heard at the Nashville show, and, well... STL just did it better. It was a tight, impressive performance, especially considering Ben had only rehearsed with the orchestra just a few hours before the performance.
The play-by-play of the show is here. I'm fairly sure the author went to the Sunday performance, not the Saturday night one that we attended, but the sentiments within are the same. It's well worth a read as a description of what rock music can be.
[I didn't take photos during the show because 1) I was too busy fangirling and 2) concert photos never turn out anyway and 3) the authority figures told me not to and I live in fear of The Man. So this will do.]
But while that synopsis of the show does a great job praising the individual and collective talent of the musicians onstage, it's this line that really got me: "Singing anything whatsoever gives us all the feels, but harmonizing with 3,000 other people who knew exactly when to make their "Aaaahhhhhs" rise was simply electric."
That's it exactly. I chose not to make a career in music, but the joy of experiencing and creating music with a room full of other musicians is no less intoxicating. Maybe I don't formally perform anymore, but I still squealed when everyone in the audience knew to clap on the eighth beat of "Annie Waits". I knew none of those people, and yet we were in synch.
Ben Folds has many talents, and he's generous to share them. But I think bringing musicians together to perform and learn from one another is one of the things he does best.
"@adamcrane: All of us w/ @BenFolds after his talk to @slso Youth Orchestra members! Cool! pic.twitter.com/Q8UOyaAGOA" was awesome to meet you— benjamin folds (@BenFolds) April 13, 2014
And sometimes he brings people close enough together to get married. That's talent.


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Completed projects
Found: 138
Car repair shops: mystery shopper study
A foreign research agency was conducting international research into the automotive industry. The company turned to PMR as a local...
Polish attitudes toward climate change. A representative survey.
An international research agency, which focuses on social projects, commissioned PMR to conduct a quantitative survey in the field of...
Deep vein thrombosis in patients suffering from cancers
An international research agency commissioned PMR to conduct a study aimed at improving the strategy for one of the drugs...
Research of the market of vaccines for breeding animals in Poland – interviews with veterinarians
One of our regular clients, an international research agency, commissioned PMR to conduct a survey among veterinarians dealing with breeding...
Diagnostic tests market potential in Russia and Poland
PMR conducted a study aimed at determining the potential of the diagnostic tests segment in the Polish and Russian markets....
Electronic payments – new web application testing
A client who was planning to launch a new application for online payment commissioned PMR to study the usability of...


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Sunday, December 11th: Our Holidaze Localpalooza Continues! Welcome One Leaf Farm & Cape Cleare Fishery! Gorgeous Glassware, Bodacious Bread, Hazel Nuts (see what I did there?) & Pie!/
One Leaf Farm is King County's newest farm, launching this past spring on a small patch of fertile earth in Carnation, right across the Snoqualmie River from Full Circle Farm. And these kids have been hitting it out of the park from Jump Street. We had the pleasure of their presence all summer at our Interbay and Madrona farmers markets. And today, we welcome them to your Ballard Farmers Market. Today they have Brussels sprouts, collard greens, Viking purple potatoes, Japanese wax turnips, daikon radishes, arugula, some lovely cabbages and winter squash, this beautiful kale (above) and more! So please give them a big old Ballard welcome, won't you? And remember, this year, your Ballard Farmers Market will not be open on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, which both fall on Sunday. So start stocking up your pantry and fridge now!
Cape Cleare Fishery returns today with their pedal-powered operation. Yes, these are the folks who ride their bikes from Port Townsend with trailers filled with all manner of fishliciousness. They've got flash frozen and smoked wild Alaskan salmon they caught this past summer, as well as usually a few other surprises, from canned tuna to frozen ling cod.
I've said it before, and I will say it again: Deborah's Homemade Pies are as good as any pies on the planet. Okay, maybe I've never said it quite that way before, but I'm saying it that way now. Her crusts are the stuff of the dreams of many a pastry chef, and she fills those crusts with all manner of awesomeness. Indeed, I told Deborah I would post a photo of one of her apple pies today, but I couldn't find the photo. I am guessing I must have eaten it. Mind you, I've always thought my dad's apple pies were unrivaled. Heck, in most cases, I won't even bother trying another apple pie. They just all disappoint me. See, my dad grew up working apple orchards in Upstate New York and making pies with my grandmother. Well, Deborah's apple pie can honestly go toe-to-toe with those of my dad, and I say this with the full confidence that my dad will never read this post, so please, don't tell him. Of course, this pecan pie (above) is equally outrageous. And while I know you really want to slave away in the kitchen the entire holiday season, impressing family and friends with all the deliciousness you can crank out using the amazing ingredients you source at your Ballard Farmers Market, let's face it. There's gonna be that one party you go to, that one dinner you throw, that one office party for which you just say to yourself, "If I have to cook one more thing!" Well, Deborah's got your back. And hey, if you just wanna be really lazy, use her pies for every occasion and lie that you made them!
I don't know how Wileyware gets these glass tumblers and their other glassware to look so cool. I mean, just look at the brilliant colors in these glasses. There's no special lighting, no trick photography, no more editing than the simple stuff I normally do for cabbage and lettuce photos. They really look like this. Now, I've asked them how they pull this off, and I've been told that they could tell me, but then they'd have to kill me. So I'll just live in blissful ignorance, enjoying the pretty colors.
We continue our hit parade of holiday wreathes this week with this beautiful entry from Children's Garden. I just love how each farmer puts their own individual touch on their wreathes each year. Heck, it is one of the few times of year they get to really show off their artistic sides, you know? Children's has some wonderful dried flower bouquets right now, too. So brighten up your home for the holidays, eh?
This is stollen. Says Wikipedia, "A stollen is a loaf-shaped cake containing dried fruit, and covered with sugar, powdered sugar or icing sugar. The cake is usually made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts and spices. Stollen is a traditional German cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season." Let's just say, it's a rare holiday treat, sweet, chewy and delicious, and Grateful Bread Baking has it now, by the loaf or the slice.
I heart pink lady apples, and Collins Family Orchards has lots and lots of them this time of year. They are sweet and crunchy, and they will keep the doctor away, make teacher happy, and generally bring joy and happiness into the world. And why not? They're pink ladies, after all.
Whether you call them hazelnuts or filberts does not matter. They are one of the great nuts, and they are one of the few nuts that grow in abundance around here. Wow, just talking about them has got my mouth watering, my sensory memories active and my brain puzzling out where I stored that nutcracker. Swing by Alm Hill Gardens today, and get you a bag of these beauties, and celebrate our local nut.
Holidaze require wine. Lots of wine. It doesn't matter if you're celebrating with family and friends or trying to drown out an irritating child who's whining that they didn't get that thing that the TV has been telling them they must have, wine will make everything seem a little better. Especially when it is direct from the local winemaker, in a great selection of award-winning varieties. And that is exactly what you'll find from Lopez Island Vineyards: great, local, award-winning wines.
Sunchokes, like these red sunchokes from Stoney Plains, are commonly referred to as Jerusalem artichokes. But the name "sunchoke" more accurately captures what they are -- the edible tuberous root of a member of the sunflower family. Sunchokes are native to North America, and the earliest European settlers and explorers learned from local tribes of them as a valuable food source. They are plenty versatile. They make for great soups, purees, are wonderful roasted, work as a substitute of potatoes as home fries and many other applications, and so much more. If you are unfamiliar with them, why not give them a try this winter, and get down with your bad colonial pilgrim self! And just another reminder Christmas Day and New Year's Day both fall on Sundays this year, and that we'll be spending those days celebrating with our loved ones. It rare, but we'll be taking those two days off. So stock up now, and next week, for our two-week hiatus, and we'll be back, of course, on January 8th!
Hey, there is plenty of local deliciousness waiting for you today at your Ballard Farmers Market. Just check What's Fresh Now! for a more complete accounting of what is in season right now.


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This month marks four years since World of Tanks hit consoles beginning with the Xbox 360 back in 2014. Since then World of Tanks has hit the PlayStation 4 and all Xbox One generations, including as an Xbox One X launch title this past November. Since that initial release four years ago, the game has expanded from one hundred tanks from three nations and only twelve available maps, to over six-hundred sixty tanks from nine different nations and over ninety unique maps today. To celebrate this milestone, all players who log into the game through the end of the month and win a single match will get the Japanese Tier II Ashigaru Te-Ke tank.
Wargaming is happy to announce that this February marks the four-year anniversary of World of Tanks on console. Having first launched on Xbox 360 in 2014, World of Tanks has expanded over the years to add intense team-based tank battles to the PlayStation®4 and Playstation®4 Pro, all available Xbox One generations, and most recently as a launch title for the Xbox One X in November 2017. To celebrate the four-year milestone, Wargaming will be giving away the Japanese Tier II Ashigaru Te-Ke tank to all players who log-in to the game and win a single match throughout the rest of February.
"We are proud to be celebrating our four year anniversary with our tankers," said TJ Wagner, Executive Producer and Project Lead at Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore. "The dedication of the World of Tanks community has made every success in this game possible, and we look forward to sharing our combined passion for many more years to come - not only with new content, but also surprising additions in the near future."
Since its first release back in 2014, World of Tanks has expanded from 100 tanks from three nations and only 12 available maps to include over 660 tanks from nine different nations, battling it out on over 90 unique maps in 2018. These impressive numbers speak for the ambitions of the developers from Wargaming West to deliver a completely new entry in the World of Tanks franchise, with exclusive features and regular new content updates for the players.
Alongside the anniversary, a new line-up of heavy metal war machines is ready to enter the game. A brand new tree of nine formidable Chinese Tank destroyers will join the fray, with these armored annihilators becoming available from February 13. Begin your warpath with the Tier II T-26G, lock and load with the Tier IV SU-76G, bring the pain with the Tier VII T-34-2G, and seek and destroy with the Tier X WZ-113G. Fans of Premium Heroes can also look forward to hunting their quarry with a dynamic duo of combat-ready titans, including the Yazi WZ-120-1G-FT, and the fast and furious heavyweight, Alpine Tiger WZ-111.
For more information about World of Tanks Console, visit:


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I recently had the opportunity to examine a superb vintage Balenciaga day coat at the flagship of Toronto's Holt Renfrew. Canada's most prestigious clothing retailer, Holt Renfrew, was founded in 1837 in Quebec, and has held royal warrants, such as furrier to Queen Victoria. In the late 20th century, as furs were seen less frequently, and were viewed as politically problematic, the store became better known for supplying designer and other fine clothing and accessories for men and women. Among the brands carried are Christian Dior (a relationship starting in the late 1940s when Dior himself visited the store and Toronto social scene), Chanel, Gucci, Saint-Laurent, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Roger Vivier. In keeping with the times, and the popularity of vintage clothing, they have offered a diminutive, exclusive collection of pieces by vintage dealer Linda Latner of Vintage Couture. The collection consists of a single rack, but is of such quality and so carefully selected, or curated, that it is always a pleasure to view. This is the closest one can physically get to museum quality vintage couture.
Some months ago, I was particularly intrigued by this superb, mid 1960s Balenciaga couture coat offered at Holt's. Interestingly, it had been first retailed by Holt Renfrew, the same store selling it now, some 45 years ago. Apart from this fascinating historic detail, the coat in itself is an exemplary piece of Balenciaga, the type that connoisseurs and curators of fashion admire. Typically, in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, a few select pieces of couture were brought in, and promoted by top retailers such as Bergdorf's, Saks, and Neiman-Marcus in the United States, Harrods in London, and Eaton's, Simpson's, Creed's, and Holt Renfrew in Canada. They were often featured in illustrated, full page newspaper ads, and would create an exclusive buzz while demonstrating a trend, colour, or theme for the season that was available in the store's less expensive lines. Sometimes, a couture example was reproduced as ready-to-wear, at a much lower price, but with a certain cachet of having the design reproduced or adapted from an exclusive Paris model.
In the mid 1960s, Balenciaga clothes reached an amazing level of skill and design evolution. The clothes were simple and wearable, but very original. Balenciaga believed in simplicity as a form of dignity. Many consider the clothes almost monastic in feeling, reminiscent of liturgical robes, ecclesiastical garments, and religious habits. Balenciaga was partial to heavy, costly fabrics that had body and structure. His designs were simply cut so as to show the quality and beauty of the fabric.
For aficionados who appreciate cut and couture, this day coat deserves closer examination. It is boxy and cut away from the body. It is pieced in large horizontal panels, giving a slightly segmented feeling, especially when it is worn. It has an ease and generous feel that was the antitheses of the corseted, cantilevered, padded and shaped 1950s Christian Dior ideal a decade earlier. The narrowest horizontal panel, about 4" wide, is at waist level (the bottom edge is also the opening to the left and right slash pockets), and becomes a loose, drape-y half belt at the back that holds in the fabric folds in soft box pleats. In a medium weight wool with an almost felt like surface, and in a quiet cream, this is luxurious Paris couture in the most discreet manner. Considering the great expense of Paris couture, a coat like this which sits away from the body, and would actually fit a range of sizes and weight fluctuations, might be considered a better investment than a fitted, limited use, gala gown.
In considering such a design, one should imagine it in different fabrics and colours, just as Wallis Simpson did with her favorite couture models. She is known to have pleasantly surprised Dior himself by reordering one of his own models in an entirely different colour and material. This would be a bewitching evening coat in black or raspberry heavy matte satin. It could be a beautiful spring coat in hot pink mohair. A Donegal or Linton tweed example would be wonderful in fall. Black wool serge or gaberdine would make it the ultimate all purpose coat.
I agree with fashion historians who have assessed Balenciaga as the greatest couturier, and I've seen many incredible pieces in museums, private collections, and books, but this has to be one of my favourites. Because it is such a superb example, and is a document of the way Paris couture was disseminated to far away, sparsely populated Canada, I would loved to have seen it go to the fashion collection of the ROM, Seneca College, or the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. But least I have photos and got to hold it in my hands, and in a way, that was better than viewing it behind glass and in obligatory archival low light conditions.
Many thanks to Lynda Latner for generously sharing the images, and for sleuthing out such a masterpiece.
Images courtesy of Lynda Latner of Vintage Couture
mid 1960s cream wool Balenciaga coat
detail of back of Balenciaga coat; note the elegant yet casual draping and the way the back panel is one with the sleeves (cut Raglan style at the front)