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Author's Notes: Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope this coming year brings you all joy and prosperity. My special thanks to Breathesgirl and Ms. Buffy. My best wishes for your both and my gratitude for the gift of your time and talents!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
When Pam left the rooftop, Eric reached for his phone. He quickly found the text with three separate links. Each featured a video of angry women. They yelled and threw things. They berated the men beside them. They threatened to call off their marriage or told their man they would no longer be with him. Each seemed worse than the last. Women cried. There were angry looks. Eric searched for information about the show on the Internet. Wikipedia described Bridezillas as a former series that depicted reality. Eric forwarded the text to Thalia, asking her opinion.
Eric was sure that his Sookie was nothing like the women in the video clips, but then he thought about her angry words when he dropped her off at Michele's house. He thought about their phone conversation that ended with his sleeping alone. He experienced a tendril of unease as he relaunched each of the videos and examined them carefully, looking for the part that would let him know it was a prank or hoax. He noticed several of the women used the word, 'Fine!' the same way Sookie had.
'Pam is causing trouble,' he told himself, but Eric found the seed of doubt seemed to have taken root. Eric made his way from the rooftop, his mind reviewing each conversation about this upcoming wedding. He replayed Sookie's nervousness when they traveled to see Reverend Collins. He wondered why it was important that they be separated and wondered if Mrs. Collins instructed his wife to behave as he'd seen the women in the video behave.
Charles and James were on the door to his chambers. Charles caught his eye as he passed. "All is well?" Eric automatically asked.
"If I may have a word," the Were asked.
Eric motioned the Were inside, and James shut the door behind them. Eric almost asked Charles about the Bridezilla videos, but then stopped himself. Eric couldn't see discussing human marriage customs with his guards, so he asked, "What may I do for you?"
"It's about Bill Compton," Charles kept his eyes down. Eric recognized Charles was in full Were mode. Weres tended to avoid eye contact as a way of demonstrating respect for their Alpha. Packmasters would meet Eric's eyes readily, but those who were not at the head of their Pack's order almost subconsciously demonstrated their rank in this way when they were on official business.
"Give me a minute," Eric gestured toward the small kitchen. Once there, he pulled out a blood for himself and water for the guard. Eric knew that sharing food was a way to establish trust with Weres. Eric warmed the bottle in the microwave and then returned, handing Charles the water before sitting down. He motioned for Charles to do the same, but the Were remained standing. "I don't mean any disrespect, Majesty, but I'm concerned about your decision to allow Compton to leave." Eric could hear the Were was uncomfortable.
"I did not allow him to leave," Eric said reasonably, "I demanded he leave. He is no longer welcome in my kingdom. Surely you do not condone his actions?"
"No," Charles confirmed, "I don't, but I don't believe his preying on those people was the real reason you exiled him."
Eric glanced at the closed doors of his sleeping chamber, "There are several reasons, but that is not what you wish to say." The Viking waited. His guard maintained lowered eyes and Eric wondered if his guard might also be avoiding eye contact to prevent glamouring.
It was an uneasy thought. As a frown started to form on Eric's face, Charles said, "There is something about him, a sickness. Both Owen and I could smell it. I worry he will find a way to create mischief. That boy I returned home? He was from the other side of Shreveport, not even over state borders. He was from a nice neighborhood. Sounded like he was picked up at a local bar," when Eric's eyes flashed, Charles added, "not Fangtasia. I have an uneasy feeling about this. I think we should clean up the area around the house."
Eric considered the possibilities. If Compton was preying locally, and his playthings were taken from places or people where they would be missed, it would be a problem. He could still ask to have Bill sent back from Mississippi, but then he would owe Russell Edgington a favor. Further, he would have sent trouble into Edgington's palace, something allies didn't do. While the Viking was certain that Russell and his mate, Bartlett, remained his supporters, the conversation after the pledging had been less warm than in past. Eric didn't wish to further strain the relationship. They wanted Compton, they had him.
As Eric watched his guard's neutral face as he considered. If Bill remained in Mississippi and the bodies were discovered, it would reflect badly on Indira, and by extension, on him.
"Clean it up," Eric nodded. "The cemetery is right there and it's still used by the town. There should be a fresh grave." Eric thought about what Owen reported, that there were several bodies on the property. "I will ask Indira to send help. We may need to transfer some to the crocodile farm." Eric shook his head, "Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I should have ended him."
Charles shifted from foot to foot. Eric could tell he had something else to say. Normally, Eric would have been more solicitous, but tonight? Memories of the images on the video were distracting him. "Out with it!"
"Why cover it up?" Charles allowed the words to tumble out, and then glanced up quickly at Eric, meeting his eyes for a few seconds, and then dropping them again. "He killed those humans. Perhaps it would be the wiser course to allow human justice to take him."
"It is not our way," The answer came automatically. It seemed ludicrous to think that these feeding concerns would be made public. Accidents happened; Compton was well-known and widely accepted. If something like this were to become public, that a vampire so supposedly well mainstreamed had done this, It would raise questions about the rest of them. "Do as I ask," Eric said not unkindly. Charles bowed and remained there, almost as though he was waiting for Eric. When the Viking said nothing more, Charles straightened and left.
Eric knew he made the right decision, but the unease Pam introduced through her mischief was joined by more. Eric sipped his blood, wishing that he had a crystal ball that would tell him what consequences lay ahead.
His phone beeped. Thalia returned his text. 'You are on your own.'
Eric glanced at the sleeping chamber. "I feel it," he said out loud.
"Focus on the dress you'll wear for your bride's party," Twy finger-flipped. The bed had been removed from the third floor suite, and rows of clothing racks lined the walls, in one place two deep. "This is a spring wedding, and your cheeks are blooming. You should think about lavenders and pinks."
"That's what Tara told me," Sookie mumbled to herself. She knew her childhood friend and Twy had struck up an unlikely friendship and she was sure they were texting on a regular basis. Sookie allowed a sigh to escape as she watched Brock stalking down the racks, pulling dresses and hanging them closer to the tri-fold full-length mirror for her to try.
"You got shoes around here, too, I'm betting," Sookie sighed again.
"Of course," Brock winked, "They have their own bedroom!"
Sookie glanced at her watch. Today was the day Devrah's daughter, Angel, would arrive for a formal interview. Sookie was pretty sure that she could hire Angel sight unseen. It was a mark of how much she trusted Devrah's word, but Sookie found herself wondering again what happened with Meg. Sookie told Devrah she wanted to get in touch with her former servant as soon as they were past the weddings. The telepath hoped that once things quieted down, she would be able to talk with her.
According to her watch, Sookie had less than an hour before she was due downstairs. With another sigh, Sookie stood and dutifully tried on dress after dress. She landed on something to wear for the bride's party (it was lavender with watercolor tulips around the full skirt). She decided on a pink, shorter dress for the wedding rehearsal dinner. It plunged pretty far in front and it had a bow that tied around her waist while the skirt flared nicely. "Of course, we have to wait for Pam and Tara for the bridal dress," Twy told Sookie.
"What time is Tara expected?" Sookie was delighted when Tara announced she was coming to New Orleans for the Second Line parade. Sookie could tell there was excitement in the palace about the parade. People were smiling and Devrah told her that everyone who had the night off would be showing up to walk the route with Eric and Sookie.
Brock poked at his tablet, "The beautiful Mrs. DuRone will be here right after lunch."
"Thanks," Sookie glanced at her watch again, "Well," she shrugged, "Gotta get going. Places to go." What she didn't add was that in addition to the interview with Devrah's daughter, the re-screening of the staff was scheduled to start this morning. It was probably too much to take on with so many other things, but Sookie felt it was important. As distracted as Sookie and Eric were, they would be even more so once they arrived in Bon Temps. If there was a person who meant them harm, this would be the opportune moment to press their advantage.
Sookie walked onto the waiting elevator, smiled at Saul, and waited patiently for the car to glide slowly to the first floor. "You looking just fine, Majesty," Saul smiled at her, "Now you have yourself a fine day!" Sookie smiled tightly and nodded, hoping the older Were's words were more omen than fair wish.
Devrah was in the informal dining room, but she turned as Sookie entered, revealing her companion. The woman who sat beside her was shorter than her mother, but her features were clearly cut from the same family tree. Unlike Devrah, Angel's hair was glossy and piled high atop her head. She was attractive, though not beautiful. Her smile became a little less easy and she stood in greeting. Sookie walked forward to offer her hand, but the woman forestalled her by bowing formally, "Majesty," she said.
Sookie caught herself and stopped at the right distance to return the bow, making sure she inclined less deeply. "You must be Angel," and then she glanced at Devrah, "Why don't we use the office?"
"As you wish, Majesty," Devrah bustled forward, opening doors. Sookie gestured, and Angel walked ahead of her. One of the servants they passed in the hall recognized Angel. Sookie could see that Devrah's daughter was liked here and that spoke well for her.
Angel and Sookie sat on the crème sofas and chatted about what Angel had been doing. Sookie figured the woman was a little older than herself. She talked about running the staff at a hotel uptown. It sounded busy and important. Sookie asked why she would consider a change and Angel told her while she enjoyed the feeling of so much responsibility, she missed being in a place that felt more like family. As they talked, Sookie dipped into her head. She found that in spite of her calm appearance, Angel was nervous. She heard good things from her mother about Eric and she was predisposed to like Sookie. Angel was worried about her mother. Devrah was in a position to retire, but would continue to work rather than abandon what she felt was her duty here. Then, Sookie heard Angel wondering about the donors. Apparently several had given her trouble in past.
Sookie knew all the humans who were in the household, including Devrah, were glamoured following the destruction of the donors. Since Angel wasn't here during that time, she had her memories of those doomed beings. Sookie knew she needed to speak with Eric about how to handle this. The telepath wondered how many others knew embarrassing information about this palace. Sookie managed to keep her face neutral as she explained the current state of the household. Angel was pleased to hear that household rules were reinstated and Sookie confirmed her expectation that all residents in the palace, whether vampires, Weres or humans, were to be treated equally. "After all, I'm not a vampire either," she smiled her Crazy Sookie smile.
"I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet you," Sookie told as Angel as she rose to leave, "Why don't we plan to get together again when the King and I return from Bon Temps?" 'That will give us enough time to wipe your memory.' The thought came immediately to Sookie, followed almost as quickly by, 'When did thinking about covering this up become okay?'
As Devrah's daughter smiled, agreeing to return mid-May, Sookie could feel her stomach twisting, but her resolve returned as the young woman turned and bowed. "Majesty," she said formally.
'I am Eric's Queen,' Sookie bit her lip, 'and his safety comes first' and Sookie found she could push her conscience down a little. Sookie and Angel walked back to the family dining room. She knew Devrah was there, waiting. Her housekeeper didn't bother hiding the hopeful look from her face and Sookie's smile turned encouraging. There was nothing to be done until Eric rose, so Sookie focused on the next task. "Where did you set things up for the screening?"
When Devrah rose to walk with her to the smaller of the meeting rooms, Sookie laughed in a way she hoped sounded less stressed than she felt, "Oh don't be silly! Stay here and visit with your daughter!" and she told Angel again how much she was looking forward to seeing her again in May.
The meeting room was set up informally. Servants and guards were told the Queen wished a chance to interview them about how things were going. As the first of the housemaids came in, Sookie could tell she knew that Sookie was a telepath and she expected to have her mind read. She was nervous about it, and wondered if the money was worth having someone walk into her head. Sookie kept her smile in place, but after the second person confirmed that no one around here was fooled about the purpose of these interviews, Sookie had a guard stand inside the door to make it official.
The staff wasn't so large anymore, and the Weres were comfortable about being screened. 'Guess I shouldn't be surprised,' Sookie thought as she straightened up after the last person . Still, she felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. After checking her watch, Sookie thanked the guard and headed back to Devrah's office, hoping to find her.
The housekeeper was looking through invoices, putting Sookie in mind of times in Fangtasia, sitting in Eric's office, watching him walk through paperwork. She supposed he had lots of people to do that for him now. She knew Max handled the administrative end, and she supposed Thierry was doing the same for the energy part of Northman Enterprises. When Devrah asked her about lunch, Sookie told her she'd like to have things brought up to the rooftop, and then she added she might take a nap in the sunshine.
Devrah brought up the tray and Sookie settled back. She thought about something Eric told her about not getting involved with those who would precede you. She knew in fifty years, there would likely be no one alive who would remember that there were donors in the palace. All those who would be tempted to tell the stories of the terrible things that happened in the days of Victor Madden would be gone. There would be few who would remember her cousin, Hadley, who lived here as a pet and then a vampire. She would remember and the vampires would remember, too.
Sookie's eyes closed, her heart feeling less human. She thought about that sharp-toothed version of herself that she saw in the mirror from time to time, 'Oh Gran, how could you have made me with Fintan, put demon blood in me, and then believed that I could ever lead a normal life? How could you let me think that was possible?' Then she thought about Tara and Michele. She thought about her crazy brother, who was leading a normal life even though he was a werepanther, and how things here might be complicated, but in Bon Temps, she was just plain old Sookie Stackhouse and the thought gave her comfort.
Sookie opened her eyes and knew hours had passed. She sat up and grabbed her phone. 'Damn, three o'clock!' she thought. 'I'm just drifting through these days!' she scolded herself further, 'I have got to get a job!' Then she noticed she missed a call and there was a voice mail.
She recognized the voice immediately. 'Hello Sookie. I probably should have called sooner when I heard you moved to New Orleans, but after I saw you on TV last night I figured it was past time. Look, I have a shop in town. Maybe you would like to meet for lunch? I… I still feel bad about how things happened. I'm glad you ended up with Eric, really I am. Look… give me a call sometime, okay?'
The recording ended, and Sookie just looked at the phone as though she expected the device to give her advice. The telepath wondered whether her horoscope today read 'stay in bed, don't talk to anyone,' because so far, the day had gone from disturbance to big trouble and now, Amelia Broadway was leaving her voicemails. "What's next?" Sookie mumbled, "A hurricane?"
Yawning and feeling sweaty, she padded down the stairs. Titus was on the door. "Miss Tara arrived about an hour ago," he told her. Sookie nodded and walked straight through her bedroom to the bath she shared with Eric. She could have used the smaller shower in the room that was now their retreat, but that was one of the benefits of living with a vampire. She could do pretty much anything during daylight hours; she wasn't going to wake him.
Freshened and feeling more herself, Sookie walked the stairs to the second floor. Sookie reached out with her telepathy to zero in on which of the rooms was being used by Tara DuRone, but she needn't have bothered. Tara had the door open and was talking on the phone with her husband.
"I don't care what she's telling you, J.B., she is only nine and nine-year-olds don't go to the movies without their parents." Tara looked up as Sookie knocked gently and rolled her eyes in the age old 'husbands!' message. "Look, Sookie is here and I have to go. I just want you to think about all the things you got up to at that age and use that as your guide. Hell, in some states, if we left them alone in the store by themselves we'd find ourselves arrested! Just tell her no and that I'll have some words for her when I get home." Tara hung up and then stood to give her friend a hug, "Girl, you look wonderful, not like you don't always!" She turned her head and then pulled Sookie into the light. "Whatever you're using on your skin, I have to get me some of that! You look younger every day!"
"It's good to see you too," and Sookie hugged Tara tight.
"Whoa!" Tara disengaged herself after a minute, "Everything all right here?"
Sookie sat down on the edge of the bed and Tara sat next to her, and then took Sookie's hand in her own. "It's fine," Sookie sighed.
"Hmm." Tara shoulder nudged her friend, "Sounds like someone is getting that 'is it all over yet,' low." When Sookie's lips lifted, Tara continued, "You know, the tired you get in the fifth inning? But girl, we still have half the game left to go! Now, come the rehearsal, you can take your seventh inning stretch, but for now? You better get your game face because the fun is just getting started!"
"I heard from Amelia Broadway," Sookie let drop the tamest of her worries for today.
"For real? What does she want?" Tara had met Amelia when the witch lived in Bon Temps. She knew Amelia and her friend, Bob, were responsible for breaking Sookie's bond with Eric the first time. Of course, Sookie had asked, even begged, for the bond to be broken, but in Tara's opinion, Amelia Broadway had been all too eager to help Sookie find what was worst about Eric Northman.
"She left a message. She asked if we could meet for lunch." Sookie shook her head, "I don't know why I'm even considering it, except we were roommates and she did try to be a good friend."
"I know I've said this before, and I'm saying it again," and Tara looked her friend right in the eye. "There was a time I was not as supportive as I might have been. I blame myself for some of your troubles. If I had been a little kinder I would not have been so mean about Eric." Sookie shook her head and Tara could see Sookie putting together the words that would absolve her of any blame so she headed the telepath off, "I know you are going to tell me it's all right and it was a long time ago, but Sookie? It wasn't all right. The only thing I can do to make it up to you is be a better friend now, and I intend to. I'm not going to say there aren't some aspects of all of this," and Tara looked around the windowless room and then back, "that aren't tough to take. Some of those folks that Eric has around him? They creep me out. Thalia? She scares the pants off me! I sure as hell wouldn't want to meet her in a dark place!"
"She is scary as all get out," Sookie agreed, "but there's no one I'd rather have in my corner. She takes care of Eric. I know there's history, like, going back to the beginning of time between them. If it makes you feel any better, I think there's days I'm not her favorite breather either, but she hasn't ended me yet." Sookie laughed, but Tara looked a little green.
"If that's supposed to make me feel all better, it didn't work," and Tara didn't bother to sugar-coat it.
Sookie laughed, "Oh, Thalia's all right! She let me stab her once and everything!" When Sookie saw Tara's eyes open even more, she laid her hand on Tara's arm, "Bottom line, Thalia cares for Eric, I care for Eric, so that makes us on the same team. Loyalty is big with Thalia." Sookie looked away, "It is for everyone here."
Tara gulped before saying, "Well! I guess that's all right then!" and the smile she plastered on her face was worthy of being called a Crazy Sookie smile. Sookie stopped laughing and the two of them sat looking at each other. Tara allowed her smile to slip back into something a little more normal, "I think I'd wait until after the wedding to see what Amelia Broadway is up to," Tara advised. "And when you do go see her?" and she squeezed Sookie's hand, "Take a guard!"
Sookie was about to say more when she felt it, the tickling in her chest that told her Eric was waking. Tara saw the change on her friend's face, "Go on now!" she pushed Sookie's arm, "Don't think I don't recognize that look! Go make sure you are the first thing he sees!"
Sookie quickly hugged Tara and just as quickly headed for the door. "I'll see you downstairs for dinner!" Tara called after her. Sookie agreed, but her heart wasn't in it. Her heart was already resting a few floors above her and she ran the stairs rather than wait for the elevator so she could join it.
"Everyone is going to be here!" Twy was sitting in an uncharacteristically informal pose at the dining table, her feet perched on the chair next to her. Tara couldn't help thinking that the other woman's too thin legs looked more like baseball bats than actual human appendages. "This is going to be bigger than Mardi Gras! Every news outlet is coming! Every dance group and band is planning on joining along the way." She turned to Pam, "That reminds me! We better make sure Sookie is wearing flat shoes. They want to move down Decatur, then the whole length of Royal. At the end of Royal, it's a short trip up Canal, and then down Bourbon to end at Louis Armstrong Park."
"How long is this going to take?" Tara asked.
"Could be hours," Brock deadpanned, his eyes never leaving his notepad screen. He stood and winked, "Well, I'm off!" and left.
"Night off," Twy answered Tara's look.
"It's still cooler this time of year, but Sookie will want a shorter dress," Pam continued. "Did she have anything in mind?"
"No," Twy whined back, "You said you wanted us to wait until you were available, so we haven't even looked in that room!"
"Wonderful!" Pam clapped. "This is going to be so much fun!"
"So," Tara looked around, "We end in the Park and then what?"
"Well," Twy said archly, "For folks who just joined there's a band concert we've arranged. For those with an invite here for the official reception, they just continue on, although without the band, so we should be able to slip away from most of the well-wishers."
"Good grief, nothing second rate about this!" Tara was blown away by the scale of it. "Sookie is sure getting the royal treatment!"
"And why not?" Pam shrugged, "They are royalty, after all."
"Guess she won't want to be returning to Bon Temps after this," and Tara smiled ruefully.
Twy cocked her eye at Tara, "What are you talking about?" she drawled, "It may not be Ibiza, but every celebrity needs a place to hide. Why would Sookie be any different? I have no doubt she will continue to make the trek to that place she still refers to as 'home' for her rest and relaxation," and she rolled her eyes to let everyone know what she thought about it.
Pam nodded, "Her roots go deep. She needs to return there." What Pam didn't say was that Sookie's Fae nature compels it. Pam knew about the Fae portal and she knew about Niall's insistence on Sookie using the ground around her home for Fae training. "I don't think our friend will ever change in the essentials," and she turned to smirk at Twy who smirked right back. Then Pam looked away for a minute, "Oh, she's on her way!"
Tara frowned, "You can feel her?"
"No," Pam shook her head, "But I can feel Eric. He gets a little pouty when she leaves him."
"You're kidding!" Twy said skeptically.
"Nope," Pam said, "I can feel it! It's in there," and she pointed to her forehead.
"Well," and Twy looked uncomfortable, "Well… that's… sweet," and the way she said the last word, like it soured on her tongue, had Tara and Pam laughing.
"It's okay!" Tara teased her, "You're in the South now! You can say 'sweet' and no one is going to think you're a pushover!"
"It's true," agreed Pam, "And if you use it correctly, you can mean the exact opposite!" Pam turned back to Twy, all business, "Okay, you're ready?" When Twy nodded, Pam looked into her eyes and said, "You are just as surprised as the rest of us," and then turned away,
"What was that all about?" Tara asked, looking at Twy's slightly vacant gaze.
"Oh," said Pam, "Just a little fun we're having with Eric."
Tara was going to ask more, but then Sookie joined them. Once they were settled, dinner was brought from the kitchen. "Isn't Eric going to join us?" Tara asked.
"No," Sookie helped herself to more mashed potatoes than any woman getting ready for her own wedding should be eating, "He has a teleconference tonight. We're on our own."
Twy took the spoon out of Sookie's hand and returned half the potatoes to the serving bowl, then grabbed a plate of steamed vegetables and loaded the telepath's plate with those instead. "I'm starving!" Sookie protested.
"Take a vitamin supplement," Twy snarked. "There are dresses upstairs that won't fit over a paunch. You have only three weeks and then you can carb yourself into housedresses and fuzzy slippers, but until then…" and she pointed at the plate.
"Playing with fire," Sookie grumbled, "Eric likes me with a little extra."
"Eric likes you to be comfortable in your clothes," Twy responded waspishly.
"So, all the dress choices are upstairs?" Tara quickly changed the subject. With a minimum of snarkiness, Tara got everyone up and Pam led the way.
The 'bridal boutique' was located three doors down from the bedroom where the other dresses were staged. Sookie looked around the hall, then back at Twy, "What? No Brock?"
"Night off," Twy finger flipped. "Doubtless trolling down on Bourbon Street."
The door opened, and Sookie's eyes opened wide at the number of white and red dresses. "How did you find so many?"
"Turns out not everyone marries in white," Tara shrugged. "Who knew?"
"If you come from certain places, like Asia, you marry in red. It's a good luck color," Pam volunteered helpfully.
"Then there's the Quinceanera gowns," Twy added. "White with red flowers is very popular!"
There were gowns that looked so form-fitting Sookie regretted every bite she ever ate. There were gowns that looked like they would only stay up through some supernatural miracle. There were long dresses, short dresses, and dresses with trains.
Tara pushed Sookie toward an armchair as she, Pam, and Twy pulled first one gown and then another from the racks. Twy left to grab an empty rack from the other room and they started sorting. Some were dismissed out of hand, the women showing the offensive gown to Sookie with faces that dared her to disagree. Fortunately, Sookie found their taste pretty well matched her own.
It was the gowns that were left after almost an hour of sorting that started the tussles.
Both Twy and Pam wanted Sookie to consider something form-fitting and strapless. "You have that round, JLo, ass, you may as well showcase it," Twy drawled.
"You seem to think I'm getting married in some fancy place on level ground!" Sookie laughed. "I'm getting married in my brother's back yard. I intend to drink and dance and none of that is happening in that dress!" She could just see herself butt-shuffling up and down the hill in Jason's backyard, then catching her heel and face-planting while her boobs popped out.
Tara seconded her, "It is a beautiful gown, but this is more of a country wedding."
The second tussle involved a longer dress that had several layers. Sookie tried it on and that's when the 'secret' was revealed. The dress had a long slit in the back that almost reached the apex of her thighs, and when she moved a certain way it left little to the imagination. Pam found it sophisticated, but Sookie dismissed it.
Tight-fitting bodices and Sookie's chest size were not compatible. Some were too designer for Bon Temps. Finally they were down to two gowns. One was tinted a pale shade of pink with embroidered red roses that scattered along the bodice and then encircled the hemline. The other was ivory with poppies scattered over the long skirt. Neither looked like that sundress from so long ago, but both were beautiful.
"It has to be the ivory one," Tara said out loud. "It just glows against your skin." Sookie agreed. It was not too long and Pam returned with several pairs of heels. Sookie found a pair that didn't hurt right away and whose heels were just a little thicker.
"I don't need to be aerating Jason's lawn all night!" the telepath explained.
Sookie was about to get up when Pam said, "Where do you think you're going? Now we have to figure out what you're wearing tomorrow for the parade."
"Well, I figured I'd wear the dress I picked out for the reception," but even as she said it, Sookie knew it wouldn't work. The reception dress was tea length, which was fine, but it had sequins over the bodice which were a little itchy. The thought of stomping in it all over town was not appealing.
"Well, we thought you might like this one," and Twy pulled out a white dress that was part bride and part ballerina. The shorter skirt was layers of tulle and the top was just off the shoulder but still covered her cleavage.
"It's stretchy and it breathes," Pam added. Together they helped Sookie lower and then tug it into place. The bodice wasn't form fitting, and her girls fit comfortably. The waist fell just where it should and it was accented with a flat satin bow. Sookie turned to look in the mirror and she couldn't help giggling. She looked like a child's toy.
Twy held out a short veil, but Sookie nixed it. "Bad enough I look like Malibu Barbie gets married. Let's not get too carried away!"
"You could wear your crown," Pam's eyebrow arched.
Sookie's smile dropped momentarily as she thought of the Fae crown and its unintended consequences. She covered it by saying, "No, that wouldn't feel right either. Why don't we just put my hair up and we could use a bow like the one at the waist of the dress?" Tara grabbed the white feathered parasol the Mayor's office sent over and Sookie opened it so they could all see how it would look.
"You are going to make quite the splash!" Twy nodded and her voice caught.
"Wow!" Tara glanced wide-eyed at the planner, "Is that something in your eye?"
Twy assumed her New York, snarly stance, "Absolutely not! And I will deny anything different!"
"Don't worry, New York," and Tara squeezed the woman's arm, "Your secret is safe with me."
"Now shoes!" Pam announced. Sookie had a moment of panic, wondering what the vampire would consider appropriate. Pam could stand in the highest, sharpest heels for hours without flinching. Sookie had no illusions. She would never be able to do the same. The box Pam handed over was small, and Sookie opened it to find what looked like ballet slippers. "Princess shoes for a long walk!" the vampire smiled. When Sookie looked at her in surprise, Pam said, "My Maker loves to dance. If you're crippled, he might be tempted…" and then she glanced away, looking oddly uncomfortable.
"What? Pam, What is it?" Pam walked across the room and was fussing with some of the discarded dresses, not making eye contact. Sookie looked at Twy, who also chose to look away, making her look guilty. "Do you have any idea what's going on?" Sookie asked Tara. When Tara shrugged, Sookie narrowed her gaze at Pam, "Okay, there's something you're not telling me. Out with it!"
"Well," Pam rolled her eyes, "It's just there's been a video streaming on the Internet the past couple days."
"A video?" Sookie prompted. When no one said anything else, Sookie asked, "So what exactly is in this video?"
"We didn't want to upset you," Pam volunteered.
"Since when did you ever spare me?" Sookie shook her head.
"I have told you things to keep you from being more hurt!" Pam protested.
"Exactly!" Sookie replied, "Which is why something about this feels like a set up."
"You give me so little credit!" and Pam brought out her phone. Fingers flew and the phone was handed over. It was a video of Eric dancing. Sookie recognized the clothes he was wearing, and then she saw Mustapha Khan. Eric was smiling and he twisted in a movement she recognized all too well. She saw a woman wrap her arm around her Viking's waist and he smiled at her. Then a female vampire wrapped her arms around his neck. The woman's face turned to the camera and Sookie recognized Heidi. She knew the tracker pretty well, but hadn't seen her since before Oklahoma. As the video continued, Heidi reached up on tiptoes to kiss Eric's cheek and she ran her hands over his chest. Any words being exchanged were drowned out by the music and Sookie felt her breath catch and her lip jut out.
Eric told her about his night at Fangtasia, but he hadn't mentioned dancing or being pawed by men and women, but the evidence was playing in full color. Sookie could feel her temper flaring. She handed the phone back to Pam. "Thank you for letting me know about this," and Sookie jerked her chin at the phone. "I'll be back," and she headed to the door.
"I'm sure there's a good explanation," Tara called after her, but Sookie didn't look back.
Tara wondered if she should go after Sookie. She knew her friend could be a hot head and it looked like Eric was about to get it with both barrels. She turned to ask Pam for help only to see the vampire release Twy's head. The New Yorker smiled and said, "Was it good?"
"Bridezilla is launched and on target!" and Pam giggled.
"What did you do?" Tara demanded. When the two women smirked, Tara said, "You are both evil! I don't know what you're up to, but I have no doubt that you will rue the day!"
"Well, then," Pam wiggled her shoulders, "it's a good thing I sleep all day, because this one's going to be a doozy!"
Sookie was breathing through her nose trying to calm herself down. Somewhere in the back of her head a little voice was screaming, 'think this through!' but another, louder voice was crooning, 'Why are you surprised? He is Eric Northman, and it was only a matter of time before his eye roamed. Sam cheated on you! Eric left you when he could have just said no to that contract!'
On some level, Sookie knew it was hurt speaking in that loud voice, but Sookie was no doormat. All her life she met the slings and arrows others threw at her with her own brand of fight. For Sookie, fighting involved sharp words and occasionally a thrown punch, and both were on her mind as she waited for the elevator.
Saul took one look at her, her jaw clenched and hands fisted, "Everything okay with you, tonight, Mistress?" he asked.
Sookie opened her mouth, then realized she didn't trust herself to speak. As the doors were closing, she saw Brock coming down the hall. He took one look at her and he smirked. It startled her. She could hear him laughing inside and congratulating Pam and Twy. Her mouth fell open and as the elevator started up, she dipped deep into the young man's head, finding the whole scheme. She found the mad she felt at Eric replaced by a whole new kind of anger and it was aimed at Pam Ravenscroft.
When the doors opened, she wasn't surprised to find Eric waiting for her. He wrapped her in his arms and they were in their retreat with the doors closed before she'd even had a chance to open her mouth. He deposited her near the window and moved to the other side of the chaise. Sookie took a couple more deep breaths before looking at Eric. He had an expression on his face as if she was some kind of dangerous, unknown thing, and she supposed in some way she was. In truth, the great Eric Northman looked like he was afraid of her, and there was something so amazingly absurd about it, Sookie felt her anger dissolve into a snort followed by a laugh. Eric's expression went from slightly terrified to tentative to bemused as her laughter continued.
"Well, my Lover, Pamela will find out two can play this game," Eric held her close. The fireplace glowed cheerily, casting shadows across their naked bodies.
"It was so mean!" Sookie exclaimed again. She cocked an eye at him, "You really thought Bridezillas was real? That's like believing professional wrestling is a real sport."
"It's not?" Eric looked puzzled.
"We need to expand your human education," Sookie huffed against his chest. "You know, for an old vampire, you can be a pretty easy mark when it comes to some things."
"Pamela was wrong to use you for revenge." Eric's tone remained sour. "I expected her to try something, but involving you was a new low."
"What did you think would happen?" Sookie asked, "You felt me coming. You were waiting for me."
"I thought you'd start yelling at me like those other brides. I thought you might try to throw things and I didn't want you to do it in front of witnesses," and Eric shrugged and grinned. "I have seen your temper. It's a thing to be respected."
Sookie grinned, and shifted up to kiss him. Eric's fangs dropped and he shifted so she could feel he was hard again. Sookie distracted him by asking, "You going to exact vengeance on her?"
"Of course!" and Eric sat up, bringing his legs under him in preparation for standing, but then he stilled. His expression turned serious as he asked, "You were not truly jealous, were you? You know that I am yours."
"Sure," Sookie smiled, willing herself to believe it, but she could still hear the voice in her head whispering, 'he'll leave you someday for someone better, someone prettier, someone who understands him."
"There is no one but you for me," Eric stroked her cheek, his face solemn.
"I know!" she assured him when he continued to look as though he didn't believe her. Satisfied, Eric rolled to his feet in one long, smooth movement, wiggled his butt and headed to the door, rubbing his hands together.
"Vengeance is mine!" he chuckled. Sookie rolled her eyes.
"This better not screw up the wedding, Eric!" Sookie called after him, "Or I may decide that Bridezilla is a thing!" When she heard him laughing out loud in the other room, she called out louder, "I mean it!"
Sookie lay on the carpet and looked into the flames. She thought about Angel and for the first time in many months, she thought about the donors. She felt guilty that she didn't feel worse about them. She could hear Eric clicking away, his keystrokes punctuated by some odd tune he was humming. Once, long ago, he questioned why having humans harmed struck at her conscience, but harming vampires didn't bother her. Now, here she lay, her feelings reversed.
Sookie bit her lip, but before her thoughts could travel any further, Eric broke out into full song. The words rang out in some guttural language she didn't recognize and Sookie realized all the explanation she needed was sitting in the next room, merrily plotting payback for his progeny.


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SciTech Now
The 2017 Buckminster Fuller Challenge, now in its tenth yr, obtained a file variety of entries. Talk to the general public a better understanding and appreciation of science and the derived technology. Come shade and assemble your own button to indicate your support for science and know-how. Over spring break, she stated, the museum had between 500 and 800 guests every day.
The the sphere of biology tech who would like to design and style his or her particular person duties and in addition perform impartial analysis may go back to institution together with pursue a professional amount in a certain a part of the sector of biology.
By using this web site, you conform to the Terms of Use and Privateness Coverage Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Science helps humans gain increased understanding of how the world works, whereas know-how helps scientists make these discoveries.
Among the biggest effects of technology are within the area of communication; through the internet and cell phones. Bob teaches math and science topics to Museum audiences in packages that vary from giant auditorium reveals to intensive lab lessons for varsity teams.
These days, regulation enforcement officers use Laser expertise to detect when automobiles are exceeding pace limits. The Sci-Tech Museum of Northern New York is a 12 months-round, arms-on museum of science and know-how. Please come and meet Jerry and learn about him and the other superb species that call the Conservators Middle their house, like lions, tigers, caracals, lemurs and many others.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Web
Athens 2004
> Reuters >
Hungarian weightlifter expelled over refusal
August 26, 2004 15:11 IST
Hungarian weightlifter Zoltan Kovacs has been expelled from the Athens Olympics after refusing to take a dope test, an International Olympic Committee source said on Thursday.
Kovacs competed in the 105 kg class on Tuesday.
Athens 2004: The Complete Coverage
© Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Story Without End, In-Progress - Part Three
Small brass bails are made to attach the clay pipe to the back of the piece.
A bail, patinated and attached to a leather cord.
Threaded through the hole in the copper name plate...
...and capped with the second. This will leave some options to attach on the outside loops. It's also a very gentle and supple way to attach a fairly fragile material - in this case, the clay pipe piece seen in last installment.
The large slotted bolt is too harsh and sterile for the piece, and I decide to alter it.
Ready to work on it.
To a grinder first.
Then shaped with files...
..and on to the sandpaper.
Polished and ready to replace.
I'll be looking to patina all the bright metalwork, but at this point I'm pleased with the revision.
A beautiful little pearl is chosen to hang inside the steel blade, so wire is worked to make this happen.
The pearl is far too large, so a tiny pearl will take its place...
I love how the pearl rests on two points of metal below it, echoing the open circle below it.
Now I'm hunting for an eye engraving to mount in the blade recess I've made, and this stunning steel engraving is perfect.
It needs to be soaked off of a scrapbook page, where it has been glued for 150 years.
In place. To those who noticed a small hole in the recessed area where the engraving lays now, a miniscule opal is mounted to peer out from the back side of the blade.
Moving on now to the chamber in the heart of the piece. First, a panel of 16th-century book paper is carefully laid in place.
Now a spray of sea urchin spines are attached, along with a tiny starfish, both of which will not be immediately viewable when looking into the lens, but around the periphery, offering furtive glimpses rather than a quick read.
The inside of the lens housing is first painted off-white, to allow maximum light inside.
Now with paper affixed, the amount of light surfaces will negate the need for direct frontal lighting to make the interior visible.
At long last, I can attach the lens assembly to the front of the neckpiece.
Now I'll find an element to hang from the bottom loops by the name plate.
Beautiful old copper-plated steel chain with a shoe button works well here.
Really bothered by the tangle of chain on the upper part of the pendant - so the solution comes after fiddling with it for a while - the little chains are dropped down alongside the handle, rather than drooping upward. The balance immediately rights itself visually, and frames the whole piece.
Now I can patinate the metal and take beauty shots - we're done.
Come see it looking its Sunday Best:
And for all of the above plus purchasing information:
Thanks for taking the trip with me. Next week I'll be showing a major commission taking shape - one that is emotionally loaded and quite an experience.
9 comments:
Just letting you know I have been with you every step of the way Keith - and whilst I have often gasped in awe never before have I held my breath whilst reading your post - until I saw the immersion of the scrapbook page - eeek! Fortunately I remembered I could scroll down and see the outcome before I turned blue and passed out! As a "design-by-making" kinda gal I really appreciate seeing that someone with your experience is still 'fiddling' to get the piece just how you want it. There is hope for us mere mortals after all. Off to see the pretty pics. Ta.ReplyDelete
- Sue M.May 7, 2012 at 5:18 AM
I can't tell you how many times I gasped looking at this piece in progress. You are a wonder, and I'm a fortunate student. Rock on, Keith!ReplyDelete
What a great tour guide you are, Keith! I enjoyed every step of the way and am looking forward to another adventure!ReplyDelete
Incredibly beautiful and fascinating journey, Keith...Thank you!ReplyDelete
SUPER SUPER COOL. Just like you. Difficult to describe how incredible of a gift you are... You are one of the very most impressive, warm, wonderful, talented people I have met. You are such a treasure ... And you create them too.ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing.
Sharon (the pirate from petaluma)
wonderful to see your process!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 8, 2012 at 8:54 AM
I'm on the same page as SUPER SUPER COOL. Maybe I'm small-minded, but I honed in on what you did with that offensive screw!ReplyDelete
You are certainly one of a kind Keith... your work flow is amazing and it's so generous of you to share it all with us. Now if we could just climb inside your brain..... ;o)ReplyDelete
Amazing/intriguing/beautiful piece!
Always a treat when you take us along on the creative process from start to finish. Awesome work!ReplyDelete


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Discount on hotel reservations while traveling is not as difficult as you know how.
Early booking is one of the best ways to get a hotel reservation for a discount. And the sooner you book your hotel room, the more discount you can get. Hotels manage their reservations to ensure that the hotel books the maximum number of rooms at the maximum room rate. And the hotel will certainly make sure that the number of bookings exceeds the break-even point of the hotel, so that it is profitable. Hotels regularly bring barriers from cheap rooms to the market to encourage people to make a reservation. These rooms will be available only a few months in the future. The hotel will have blocks of moderately priced rooms and blocks with expensive rooms. As the demand for rooms increases, the hotel "sells" the cheapest rooms that leave the blocks with more expensive rooms first. Even if the demand for rooms increases, the hotel will increase their room prices to meet the demand.
Booking at the last minute can sometimes result in a significant discount for customers. When a hotel has received insufficient bookings to be profitable, the hotel can offer a number of rooms on the market at a discount. However, customers may not be able to book the hotel of their choice. If you are not too fussy about where you book a hotel at the last minute, it can sometimes work to your advantage.
Avoid traveling during religious, public or school holidays. There will be more demand for hotel accommodation, leading to higher room rates. Hotels often receive bookings many months in advance, giving hotels the chance to maximize their room rates to ensure that the hotel is fully booked well before the holiday season.
Avoid traveling during peak periods, such as in the middle of summer when visiting a beach resort or island. Likewise, avoiding the middle of winter when you go on winter sports. The Greek islands are a very popular destination during the summer months with the peak in August when the Greeks are on holiday. I visited the Greek islands in June; there was plenty of affordable accommodation and the weather was beautiful.
Avoid traveling during a major event such as the Olympic Games. For example, when I organized the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, I traveled to New Zealand. The number of tourists visiting New Zealand was at a low point and I booked some very good bargains and had the choice of hotels. There were also no queues at tourist attractions that make your holiday much more enjoyable.
Booking multiple nights in the same hotel often results in a discount for customers. I can not count the number of times I booked 3 or 4 nights and received a free night or other benefit, such as a free breakfast every day. Hotels offer this to encourage customers to stay longer as the hotel's money is saved. A hotel would rather check in one customer for five nights than five guests check in one for each night. The hotel saves substantial costs for check-in and check-out, administration costs, cleaning fees, advertisements and reservation fees for agents.
Stay during the week and not weekends can result in a significant discount for customers. This is very evident at entertainment hotspots such as Las Vegas and Macau, where gamblers fly to the weekend. The hotel price on Friday and Saturday nights is often twice the nightly rate from Sunday to Thursday. Many other international locations also have premium this weekend where travelers arrive for a weekend break from the city. For example, many Londoners travel to Paris for a weekend and many Greeks visit the Greek islands on weekends.
Stay slightly further away from the center of the action. When you travel to major cities and attractions, the closer you are to the city or attraction, the more you should expect to pay. If you book a hotel in a big city, consider staying in the suburbs just outside the central business district. If you are visiting a major tourist attraction, such as Disneyland, consider staying in the next suburban area. The downside is of course the extra travel costs, but a taxi ride of $ 10 can be a lot cheaper than the extra cost of the hotel room.
Online booking is the best way for customers to compare and shop for a hotel in any location in the world. There is a huge choice for customers, which means that the competition for the hotels remains extremely low. Many of the best hotel deals are also released on the internet only and are often only available until sold out. On the internet you can enter your travel dates, check availability, compare prices, view photos from the outside and the interior of the hotel and read reviews from other vacationers.
The booking is done in real time, so you know that once the reservation is confirmed, it is completed. Most importantly, making a prepaid reservation offers the cheapest hotel rates. Because your credit card is taxed at the time you book, everything is immediately confirmed and arranged for you.
And once the booking is complete, the hotel's check-in voucher will be sent to your e-mail address and can be printed for presentation to the hotel upon check-in. If you lose your voucher, you do not have to worry. Simply go to your e-mail address and print one. Bookings can be changed or canceled at any time, but if the booking is changed within 72 hours before the check-in date, administration fees may be charged by the hotel and this varies from hotel to hotel.


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What is Link Charity?
Our Founder and current Board Chair Harry Houtman has been in the philanthropic charitable world since the mid 1970's. After decades of service in a variety of charities, he saw a real need to simplify the administration and provide adequate tools for linking together donors and charities towards planned giving initiatives. The result was the creation of Link Charity Canada Inc.
Link Charity started in 1998, and is a registered charity providing valuable service operating as a 'link' between donors and their charities. Link Charity offers service, tools, education, and guidance in gift planning for individuals and for charities. In its latest fiscal, Link Charity provided $12.1 million to 758 charities in Canada.
Link Charity initially started with 5 member charities linked under its service, and today is serving 44 charities across Canada (with room for more).
How Can Link Charity Help You?
The giving tools within Link Charity's toolbox are current, relevant and designed to be attractive to both the individual and the charity. Regardless of your situation, Link Charity has a donation option to fulfill your needs.
Our Core Values
Integrity - We value honesty and integrity in our communications with donors and members.
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Members - We value members and respect the distinctions they hold based on Judeo-Christian principles.
Donors - We value the individuals and institutions that we work with and respect the confidence placed in Link Charity.
Generosity - We value the spirit of sharing and giving that multiples resources.
Shared Leadership - We value the wisdom of members' voices for operations and policy.


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Posts Tagged 'slate'
Tilteed: Bombs Away! Review
Posted July 28, 2009on:
Tilteed is officially launching tomorrow at noon and announcing two winners for their launch competition. Who's excited? I sure am! I picked up a copy of "Bombs Away!" when the shop opened, and I received it in the mail a few days ago. Let me just start off by saying that Tilteed has greatly exceeded my expectations! Tilteed prints on American Apparel blanks, so I knew that the tee itself was going to feel great. I was glad to discover that the print was also soft and not just the shirt. The colors of the design are just like those seen in the mock-up on the website. The print is well-aligned and also looks like it does in the product picture.
Tilteed + Bombs Away!
Posted July 14, 2009on:
I have always loved following t-shirt competition sites, and now there is a new one that has just launched. Tilteed is a site that offers $500 per winning design, along with $1 per each shirt sold. For the launch, they are doing something special by awarding $5000 total for two winning designs ($3500 for first place and $1500 for the runner up). The submissions are voted on by fans and are selected for printing based on votes, comments, and staff input. Winners will be chosen every 72 hours. The pre-launch tee looks great, and I can see a lot of promise in this site!
"Bombs Away!" by Dale Edwin Murray is a great selection for the site's launch because it shows that Tilteed is coming to the t-shirt world in full force. The illustration itself is fun and I've always admired Dale's works on various t-shirt sites. I do not know why the pilot has a bone in his hand, but I figured that he is just trying to show that he's ready to bring on the pain. The design puts halftones to a good use and the color combination is one that many people can wear. Slate American Apparel tees look great on everyone! "Bombs Away!" will be around for pre-order until July 29, when the site truly launches. Pick yours up today and be a part of a new t-shirt community!
$12 (until launch) at Tilteed, available in Mens S-2XL and Womens S-XL
You can also get free shipping using the coupon code "LovingThisTee"! Happy shopping 🙂


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We've had guests over for dinner a couple of evenings. Between that, I've had to get my darling husband to show me the way to the new JLSM center. I have no idea how to get to Jalan Ipoh and it took three trips before I could find the place. *grin*
My dear friend Alice who moved to Japan permanently was back for about ten days and was facilitating an Obento class and we had scheduled to meet then. I really enjoyed her class and the company. It was fun meeting other 'students' passionate about cooking Japanese food.
I forgot my camera and had to use my hand phone camera. Obviously not a good option! I tried turning the picture around and saved it but it kept coming out on my post this way! Hmmmm...
Japanese vinegared egg yolk with crab stick and spinach
Strawberry and red bean roll
There was a second session in the afternoon but we were against time because some students arrived late. We were rushing and I forgot to take pictures. *sad face* Overall, both the sessions were interesting and new skills and tips were adopted.
Thank you Alice for the wonderful fellowship over lunch.
Below was lunch after my husband bought a bunch of petai from Pangkor Island. Yummy!


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Hohenberg v. Ferrero USA, Inc
Filing 77
Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Manual Exhibits by Ferrero USA, Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service)(Marquez, Edmundo) (ag).
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


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Eden's Lie discography
Original albums: Epiphany Season (2010); Eden's Lie (2006); Aligned (2003); Break the Surface (2001); EL3 (2001); Resurrection (1999); Listen (1998)
Other: Revealed Live (2008); Rat Pak Records Unleashed 3 (2007); Video Lies DVD (2005); All I Want For X-Mas (2003)
Visit www.edenslie.com
Owing to a sound glitch in the microphones, Eden's Lie is asked to perform their opening song a second time during a recent taping of Scorch's PFG-TV. Lead singer Jeff Richards nods to the show's producer and quickly counts off the band, which tears into it with a ferocity equal to the first run-through's.
Exactly as he did for the first pass, Richards waves his arms and yells for a studio audience packed with fans, friends and family, including his infant son wearing jumbo blue headphones and bouncing on his wife's hip. "We've waited long enough," Richards seems to be saying in his excited state. "What's one more take?"
The new Eden's Lie CD is set for release this weekend, after months of manufacturing delays. But the record began life more than two years earlier as a Richards solo project, at a time when the group was in a state of flux. Richards was writing songs and inviting different musicians, including the current lineup of guitarist Zander Carlson, drummer David White and bass player Rick Cote, to his home studio to flesh them out.
By the time they were ready to assemble the record, Epiphany Season, it had grown to 20 songs and two discs. "This guy doesn't know when to stop," Carlson said as the group sat down for an interview after their TV appearance. "It's like oh, I wrote another song, you've got to come over and play on it. I thought it was done. No, it's one more, then it's two more by the time I actually get over there to record my tracks. It's this guy had too much time on his hands."
Richards eagerly agrees: "We had a lot of down time in between switching the members and stuff like that. I had different people who were in the band at times come in and play and remix stuff. It's been over five years since we released anything, and I had all these songs."
This boundless energy helps explain why Eden's Lie is one of the longest-running acts in Manchester. Personnel have changed since the band formed in 1995. Richards began as the band's drummer and moved into the role of singer after meeting Carlson in 1997 during a hiatus.
"We were in different bands that played together a lot," says Zander. "He was sick of playing drums in his band [not Eden's Lie], and I was sick of not writing material with the guys I was with. So he said let's finish up these last few gigs together and start writing some music."
Since then, band members have come and gone, but the current configuration is the same as in the early days. Richards has come into his own as a songwriter; the latest release is the band's seventh album of original material (there's also a live album and a holiday disc).
Listening to Epiphany Season, it's hard to believe it wasn't made in a marquee studio. There's a classic rock feel to it, with layered harmonies reminiscent of Asia and Boston, along with big power chords and infectious choruses. When the band ran through the album's lead track, "Afraid," during the taping, show host Scorch tapped along to the rhythm. The power ballad title track soars, and "World's Apart" could be read as a spiritual meditation or an ode to family love. Countering the sweet moments are fire-breathing tracks like "This Time," "Hear of Aggression" and "Blame."
On many songs, Richards seems to be wrestling with personal demons, singing of betrayal and retribution. "I write lyrics to get through situations, things that happen in life," he says. "You could smash the room or someone's face, or write a song to get it out. I try to write as vaguely as possible so people can take it different ways."
He has a talent for taking someone else's story and shaping it into a song. "Comfortable With Tragedy," written 10 years ago, looks at a couple's aftermath of sorrow from both points of view — the one who wants to move on, and the one who can't forget. "Who hasn't felt like that?" says Richards. "We're in this together, but now I'm by myself, separated by feelings about what happened."
When the band performs live, they are able to stick mostly to original material, breaking out a cover as it suits them.
Eden's Lie's next big gig is Jan. 14 at Mad Bob's Saloon in Manchester, though they may have another local appearance prior to that. "I'm hoping to squeeze in a CD release party," says Richards. "But with the holidays, December is looking pretty full."


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Napa Valley - California, USA
750ml / 14.5% ABV
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc
|Foods to compliment this fantastic red blend is a rib roast with horseradish sauce, red wine-based short ribs, new york steak, grilled lamb chops, pancetta-wrapped lamb loin, blue cheese. Yum!
Montalcino, Tuscany - Italy 750ml |15% ABV Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) Critical Acclaim Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97 Points The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino is a gorgeous wine and one that I highly recommend if you...
Montalcino, Tuscany - Italy 750ml |15% ABV Grape Variety: 20% Sangiovese 80% Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Notes After ageing for 18 months in French oak tonneau and small barrels. This wine is then rested in bottle for a further 6 months before release....
Montalcino, Tuscany - Italy 750ml |14% ABV Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese (Brunello) Winemaker Notes After aging for 6-7 months in 54 hl barrels made of Allier oak this wine then rests for another 3 months in bottle before release. It is bright...


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Combat Rifle CETME:
Century International Arms CETME - Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales
History - These rifles were originally built on the basis of German WWII designs which culminated in the famous Heckler & Koch G3 rifles (known in the civilian world as HK-91s). The original G3 rifles were all select-fire, meaning optional full-auto mode. Indeed, the current Century Arms CETME has a position on the safety for full-auto mode that has a stamped-steel stop to prevent travel to that position. With a good bipod, and a heavier barrel, they might have been decent select-fire weapons for expedient duty as a light machine gun, but the overall design is all wrong for that role. They are surprisingly light weapons, and were built as an infantry battle rifle. Without the ability to easily change the barrel, they were almost never used as an automatic rifle in combat.
Original H&K receivers were forged aluminum alloy, and CETME rifles started off as cast steel and evolved to stamped stainless steel receivers to greatly cut production cost. Due to the closed-bolt roller-block design, there is no need for a full receiver forging. All of the pressure is contained inside the chamber.
In 1999, a small firm in Arizona began making clones of the German HK-91 using surplus German and Pakistani parts. Shortly after that, a small company called Special Weapons was contracted by Century Arms of Vermont to use their steel casting techniques to produce parts and receivers to be mated with surplus Spanish and various African military rifle parts to produce new rifles. The first production rifles were pretty rough (I saw them at gun shows and they looked like steel versions of dog poop), but being less than half the cost of a decent HK-91 clone and not even close to the cost of a Genuine HK-91, they snagged a good portion of the U.S. market share and had an early reputation of being a "not half bad" clone. It was only a matter of time before the HK-91 clones built with parts from surplus German H&K G3 rifles would evolve into Spanish CETME clones, built on the very similar but cheaper CETME rifles. Interestingly, it was the CETME that came first, and they really don't "cost" any less to produce, just that the bulk of international surplus stock was obtained at lower prices.
Spare magazines for the CETME are so inexpensive that one can consider them disposable when purchased in quantities of ten or more (I bought a bunch for $3 each). Spare parts can be obtained by purchasing a de-mil parts kit from any one of a number of suppliers for well under $80. Note that many of the parts kits being sold online contain full auto parts that I would not even recommend trying to purchase if you had a CETME rifle. Even if you wanted to risk the scrutiny, you would need to do some modification to some parts for them to lawfully be used in a semi-auto CETME. I wouldn't even want to touch that issue, let alone own parts that the ATF could consider Class 3 parts with a rifle. This rifle is useless as a full-auto rifle anyway's, so don't even dance that dance.
Faced with respectable, but not extraordinary sales, the people at Century Arms and probably Special Weapons homed in on what was one of the bigger problems with the re-engineered rifles. That being the cast stainless steel receiver. Original specifications called for a formed sheet metal receiver. A decent functional formed sheet metal receiver came out in mid year of 2002 along with a hefty price reduction in the rifles. Low cost and cheap (really cheap) accessories make the .308 caliber CETME a readily available choice for anyone who is looking for a multipurpose utility rifle that will get banged around on an ATV or behind the seat in a pickup truck.
Century Arms Cetme Info - All CETME rifles, like the H&K G3, are a roller lock, delay blow back, design with fluted chambers for reliable functioning even in the worst conditions. These are built using a precision cast, 17-4 stainless steel receiver. This receiver is produced using the latest vacuum cast technology by one of the leading aerospace casting firms in the U.S.A. Each casting is hot straightened to ensure flawless functioning and heat treated to 42-47 RC for superior strength and wear resistance. The rifle is finished with a baked on gray/black paint just like the H&K process.
Original H&K G3 and Model 91 rifles come with H&K designed 20-round steel magazines, which were later modified to the same specs but made out of aluminum. Spain made a different magazine for their CETME version that has a different set of external ramps for feeding and magazine engagement, and also sports a visible forward banana-bend compared to the straight 90-degree G3/HK91 mags
Magazines - Century Arms provided one original Spanish CETME 20-round steel magazine, and one G3 20-round steel magazine. I bought a slew of H&K 20-round aluminum magazines. Not all of them will properly fit of feed, but they are cheap enough to just find out which ones are good and then just toss the ones that don't.
Both G3 and CETME mags are decent enough to get the first ten rounds into, and then they are a little difficult after that. Strong fingers and lots of scar tissue near fingernails is desired. They both have really strong magazine springs, and if you mis-load a round, you really need to show it who is boss. H&K G3 mag was more fun to work with. Surprisingly, it fit together in the mag-well of the CETME better than the CETME magazine, too.
Firing - The bolt is engaged externally on the top left of the barrel. Not the best place for either a "lefty" or a "righty" actually. As a "righty," I held the pistol grip and reached out and racked the bolt with my left hand. Nice and crisp retraction of the bolt, and I could see that a round was stripped from the magazine when I let the bolt go home.
The first round was let off with a classic 2-stage military trigger. It took about 2 lbs. on the first stage to take up the slack, and then a pretty crude 7-lb. trigger break on the second stage. About what I expected, actually. The CETME/G3 trigger can be refined, and I will send all the fire control pieces into the garbage and buy a new set made of steel alloy parts that can be honed to a better trigger break. That will cost about $100.
Breaking In
First Magazine (20 rds): After one round that chambered, I had about a 1:5 ratio of successful rounds fired to rounds that I had to eject with their firing pins dented and I threw them off the range.
Second Magazine: about 1 round fired per 4 rounds attempted. The tolerances between the receiver and the locking lugs was rather tight. This was okay. I put some expedient synthetic grease on the sides of the bolt behind the receiver rails.
Third Magazine: about 1 round fired per 3 rounds attempted. The bolt is finding its place in the receiver.
Fourth Magazine: bang, bang, bang, bang, --stovepipe-- ejection failure.
Fifth Magazine: bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang...etc...
Sixth Magazine: no more malfunctions, the bolt has found the groove in the receiver and the locking lugs.
I shot this rifle from 50 yards out to 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 yards. The sights are combat-adequate and are right on the money. Not all of the Century Arms rifles have sights that work out of the box. Apparently it is a crap shoot whether you get a good one or not.
This is a seriously nice knock-off of a true $1500 HK91 rifle. Break it in properly first before you ever plan on using one for serious work, and make sure it feeds okay with the magazines you have. Note that standard CETME mags as well as HK G3 mags both need a solid "rap" to seat properly in these rifles. Don't be shy about smacking the mag home. Failure to seat a mag properly will result in a bolt riding right over the next round and a "click" on the trigger. Not a good thing if you need to be firing. Sights are adequate for medium-range combat. Don't even think of putting an optical sight on this rifle. It wasn't intended to use one, and isn't designed to accept one unless you monkey around with strange aftermarket scope mounts. This is a true combat battle rifle designed for medium range (200 to 600 yards) firepower chambered with NATO FMJ ammunition that will defeat light-to-medium cover materials and still kill an enemy behind that cover. It is a highly accurate rifle by combat standards, and will relatively shoot the same ballistics whether the rifle is shot cold or hot. A "sniper" rifle it is not, and adding an optical sight just hinders this lightweight rifle and makes it unusually heavy.
Bang For The Buck: Extremely High. Buy one of them now, while they are still inexpensive. I
Combatrifle.net CETME
Out of the box the internals of these rifles are very dirty, sticky and possibly filled with metal chips left behind from the machining process. This rifle must be broken down completely and thoroughly cleaned. In fact many shooters who have a CETME that doesn't function properly most likely didn't give the rifle the initial cleaning it requires. These rifles perform better the more you shoot them.
CETME Operators Manual
Download here.
CETME Links
Contact us for more info


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Maccabi Junior Carnival reached its conclusion for 2016 with a frenetic last day filled with sport and festivities. We began bright and early as participants headed to their indoor sports, which comprised of rock climbing, basketball, futsal, volleyball and ten pin bowling.
Whilst a number of sports have been played in a purely social capacity throughout the week, this was certainly not the case at boys futsal. Amongst some unbelievable showings of individual skill on the pitch, there were also some wonderful team efforts. The Victorian side that were crowned champions in the year 8/9 category did so through teamwork and co-operation rather than individual brilliance.
More highlights came as a handpicked all-star team of participants faced off against a side comprising of the best footballers in the ranks of both youth leaders and management. In a closely fought match the leaders managed to defeat the participants with the score line at full-time reading 4-1.
Following a hearty lunch, participants returned to their various sports. The futsal arena now welcomed the year 6 and 7's which saw a New South Wales side overcome a hard-fighting group of Victorians to claim the title.
At the conclusion of sport came the formal aspect of the afternoon as carnival participants, leadership and important Maccabi figures gathered at All Sorts Alexandria for the official Carnival closing ceremony. Speeches from Carnival manager Justin Shelton, NSW team leader Joel Weiner, President of Maccabi Australia Barry Smorgon OAM and an intimidating haka from team NZ ensured Carnival was finished in style. Awards were handed out to a participant or two from each state before representatives from team WA promoted Maccabi Junior Carnival 2017 which is to be held in Perth.
Carnival had officially come to an end but the final social event of the schedule still remained. Attractivity, a new arcade-style facility located in Alexandria, welcomed Carnival with open arms and allowed unlimited use of their extensive premises. Laser tag, bowling, arcade games, dodgem cars, a ropes course and a 4D rollercoaster style game kept participants entertained all evening long.
As parents arrived to collect their children, it slowly became clear to participants that Carnival was over and the waterworks began. It was great to see how much the friendships developed on Carnival meant to these kids – hopefully they will last a lifetime.
Participants had a wide variety of perspectives on the week that was – the following is a selection of just a few:
"Carni was great. The parties were my favourite part. It was great being able to make new friends and share some awesome experiences with them." - Ben Becker (NSW)
"It was amazing. My highlight was white night. The entertainment was cool and being able to meet new people was really fun. We think we have made some friendships that will last a lifetime" - Lorri Gunn & Chloe Pamamull (VIC)
"It was amazing. My highlight was soccer. I enjoyed it being competitive and the functions were really good as well. On community day I went to friendship circle and it was great having that feeling of helping someone who really needs it. It felt good." - Nicholas Descy (QLD)
"It was really fun having people from all different states down in Sydney and being able to show them our lifestyle. Having been to Carni last year it's been awesome seeing all the people I formed friendships with last year and also making strong new relationships." - Sabrina Staub (NSW)
"I only met my 3 billets on carnival and we have quickly become one big family. I'm sure we'll stay friends for years to come " - Felix Moses (NSW)
This carnival we welcomed two all abilities members to our team of youth leaders, both named Michael. They proved excellent assets to the team – Mikey Sarif shared his thoughts on his experiences leading on Carnival.
"I've loved Carnival and I love looking after these kids. It's been really challenging but also very rewarding. I've always wanted to do this but I never got a chance to do it as a kid - it's kind of like a dream come true."
It's been a fantastic week for everyone involved in Maccabi Junior Carnival 2016 and a huge thank you must go the way of Carnival manager Justin Shelton and his organising committee. We hope everyone enjoyed their time on Carni and will be back to join us next year in Perth!
Thanks for reading!
By Jake Rosengarten


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Continue to create value and give your target market exactly what they want. Don't be afraid to send survey's to your list asking for their input. Market yourself first before you pitch your products.
If you are like me, I'm sure it took you many hours, weeks, months, or maybe years of education and training before you had the knowledge to do your job.
Passive/residual income will provide cash flow even after you stop working. Unlike someone who is self employed and only earns money if they work, larger business owners and investors earn income whether they work or not. Robert Kiyosaki says that you've built a successful business when it runs just as well, if not better, when you're not there. Kiyosaki uses his four-quadrant model to explain and adjust the financial mindset of folks and help them down the path toward financial independence. It is well recognized that owning you own business is the best method to establishing financial independence. What type of business is very subjective. There are an unlimited number of product and service business that one can operate.
With the world's financial markets in disarray, one common thread among many folks has been to save money. Having enough cash on hand to cover short term expenses and emergencies is important. One primary goal is to have 4-6 months cash readily accessible. After that, cash in the bank is a losing proposition. Cash, in general, is a depreciating asset.
Infomercials also get a bad reputation for their customer service. I have actually heard horror stories about absurd shipping and handling charges getting snuck in. They love to throw in a 2nd free product if you merely pay shipping and handling which are usually overpriced. Their customer service could be even worse when trying to return a product. This might not be the fault of the product however of the company offering them.
Last but not the least, custom shirts are also popular as promotional giveaways. For one, who does not want free stuff, right? Every potential customer would like to be given freebies from a company. When you do that, you will make a good impression to them.
Data storage is the answer. Large-scale, large-scale data storage. If you're reading this article, there is a great chance that you already know the data collection is too large. The proof of the pudding. Sweet that no one reads that.


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Room information
Located in the newest building of the property, this air-conditioned room features free WiFi and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The bathroom is equipped with a shower cabin, free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Room facilities: Telephone, Cable Channels, Flat-screen TV, Safety Deposit Box, Air Conditioning, Desk,Heating, Hardwood/Parquet floors, Wardrobe/Closet, Shower cabin, Hairdryer, Bathrobe, Free toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Wake-up service, Towels and Free WiFi is available in all rooms.
Available rooms of this type: 6
Bed Size: 1 large double bed
Please take a look at Complex Arbanashki Han Policies.


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The search found 1 result in 0.025 seconds.
Americans love crime. The criminal justice system is fetishized in popular culture and news media. We watch the news and scour the Internet to assess our own moral compass, take cues from others' digressions, and bear witness to justice and punishment. Historically, we learned about crime through news media and fiction. The Internet has dramatically changed this landscape: for the first time, mug shots and jailhouse rosters are available with a click.


text:
Branding 101
Designing a brand for your business product or service.
A distinctive brand impresses customers and instantly lifts your credibility and professional look.
But branding is more than just a snappy logo (although that helps). It is about presenting your business and all that it stands for consistently and attractively, at every opportunity.
"Brand is the sum total of how someone perceives a particular organization. Branding is about shaping that perception. "
Ashley Friedlein
If branding is about shaping perception about your business that it should have relevance and resonance with your business. We steer you through a fast track process of gathering the vital information about your business that will make up your brand and shape public perception about your business.
Program Aims
- Show you what a brand is and why branding is important
- How to research your ideal customers to give your brand communication power
- How to define your brand
- How to design your logo
- How to integrate branding across your business.
Who Is This Program For?
- Entrepreneurs
- Business owners and managers
- Marketing managers & assistants
- Anyone who wants to give their business a unique and meaningful identity
What You'll Learn
PLUS additional modules, info-sheets, checklists, worksheets, references and forum access.
Training is delivered online in a secure, private environment. Training materials are provided variously as text, video and audio files and PDF and spreadsheet downloadables (not all programs include all media formats). Access is available 24/7 for 6 months and can be extended if required. Personal coaching to guide you through the program and address your specific business situation is optionally available at signup and anytime during the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this program for?
Small business owner, managers and staff who want to create a meaningful and effective brand that will communicate quality and value to customers and underpin traditional and digital marketing activities.
What existing skills are required?
Strong belief in your business offer and the desire to communicate business goals and values to your marketplace efficiently and effectively. An interest in marketing and business communication.
What will it cost to implement what I learn in this program?
The new knowledge and understanding obtained in the program open the doors to many new activities to help your business. You will choose those that suit your business and your resources, including your time and budget. Every module includes activities that cost nothing in dollars. All activities need some input from you to give it your stamp and an investment of some time.
What if I find the learning curve too steep?
Branding development and design follows follows a sequential path. Complete each lesson one at a time and don't be concerned if the big picture does not snap into focus in the early stages. It will before too long. Use the forum to ask questions and get answers from fellow students and your trainer. You can always get optional coaching for specific help if you need to.
What happens when I sign up?
When you click the "Get Started" button you will be taken to our e-store. During the order process you will be given the opportunity to bundle in coaching options. When the transaction is complete your access accounts will be setup and you will receive your program welcome and login details by email.
What if I decide this program is not for me?
Let us know withing 14 days for a 100% refund. Online training is not for everyone. We understand that and we're not about to charge you for something you will not benefit from. Some programs are offered in bootcamp (webinar series) format and other interactive formats.We also offer a "done for you" service to implement all or part of what's presented in this program without any effort on your part. Just tell us your preference.
Guaranteed to deliver information, capability, confidence and results beyond your expectations, provided you put in some time and effort to turn learning into action. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied we'll gladly refund your money.


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Here is the complete list of CSGO ranks for Counter Strike Global Offensive. The CSGO ranks are split into three main groups: Silver, Gold Nova/Master Guardian, and with the highest rank tier featuring Master Guardian Elite through the much coveted Global Elite rank. Due to game balance changes, the true skill level of CSGO ranks changes over time. In recent years players have found themselves deranking with a shift moving towards the lower ranks.
Counter Strike Global Offensive is a multiplayer FPS Video Game developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and Valve with an initial release date of August 21, 2012.


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Bye Bye Roses :(
17 comments:
- Privet and Holly said...
Oh Lauren, that is so sad. And to think, if it weren't for the ladies in the bloggerhood, you would still be sailing along with infected roses in your yard. Who knew???? Maybe for Mother's Day you should go out and pick out some new {and hardy} rose bushes! xx P&H
- May 7, 2010 at 2:21 PM
- Connie in Hartwood said...
I am SO sorry to have been the bearer of such depressing news. Whenever I do consultations for people and I find Rose Rosette, I feel like the Grim Reaper.
- May 7, 2010 at 2:26 PM
- Mothership said...
Ohh, how sad! I hope you can at least slow the outbreak. There is nothing so sad to me as a sick yard. Good luck with your hacking (and scratched forearms).
- May 7, 2010 at 2:37 PM
- Living It At Home said...
It is always something! Maybe you will get a rose climber for Mother's Day...hint...hint!
Happy Mother's Day Lauren. Wishing you joy and happiness on that day with your little ones~
- May 7, 2010 at 2:51 PM
- Jennifer said...
oh no!! at least you got to enjoy them for a little while? they sure are pretty. have a lovely mother's day weekend, Lauren! hope you get lots of snuggles and kisses from your boys.
- May 7, 2010 at 3:21 PM
- Kathysue said...
Oh No, there is nothing you can put in the ground systemically? You actually have to hack away? You poor thing and you were so happy with your glorious roses. I feel sad for you!! I guess we all have to live and learn sometimes don't we.Poor little Christian, I wonder what was going through his mind? Good luck sweet lady,Kathysue
- May 7, 2010 at 3:34 PM
- Annie Wilcox Designs said...
At least you caught it somewhat early I hope. Tough though, I know.
- May 7, 2010 at 7:48 PM
- foleydog said...
But I do love that console table. Reclaimed hardwood? Natural or something I could buy. I'm in the market for just a console like that.
- May 7, 2010 at 8:26 PM
- lisaroy said...
oh! what a disappointment! so sad! Hopefully you can find a good replacement! ; )
- May 7, 2010 at 11:42 PM
- AnneHH said...
So sorry to hear about your roses!! I am sure that you will be able to keep it at bay--good for you for trying.
But stay out of the poison ivy/oak/sumac!! Just back myself from the docs to treat some nastiness on my arms and legs-- such misery. Hope yours is better. Happy Mother's Day!!
- May 8, 2010 at 2:57 PM
- DecRenew Interiors said...
Big disappointment but gives you a reason to plant some more and blog about it! Yippee!
- May 8, 2010 at 5:12 PM
- Lorna said...
Ooh, that sounds hard work! But at least it will stop it spreading to the others.
I'm just in from weeding the veg in the raised beds :-)
- May 8, 2010 at 5:17 PM
- JT said...
never liked roses : ) Great post!
french country kitchen
country french kitchen
expensive wine
- May 9, 2010 at 5:08 AM
- Willow Decor said...
Oh no! I am so sorry for you! I love wild roses, too. Have a wonderful Mother's Day Lauren!!
- May 9, 2010 at 7:49 AM
- MFAMB said...
happy mother's day lauren!
- May 9, 2010 at 10:45 AM
- Sanity Fair said...
Poor roses! I used to raise these, but I've never heard of this particular disease. Hope you can beat it! They're so beautiful!
-Sanity Fair
- May 9, 2010 at 10:16 PM
- Windlost said...
Oh dear, so sorry for your roses. It is so sad to see your beautiful garden blighted by disease, but it seems to be in the nature of gardens...like last year when I cut some beautiful flowers late in the year and noticed they were....crawling with aphids!!!!! Ugh. Beauty gone fast.
Happy belated Mother's day! Hope all is well there, xo Terri
- May 10, 2010 at 12:04 AM