SPONSORED: Architectural Classics

Architectural Classics is a neat website specializing in period, decorative and classical pieces. They are located in Ireland and offer both salvage and reproductive pieces for the home. As owners of an old house, this site is worthy of a great deal of salivating. There’s a great deal of small touches that would look great in any older home, from door knobs and pulls to knockers, chandeliers, clocks and more.

They also offer letter plates and boxes. I am green with envy. One of my biggest disappointments about this house is that even though we live truly in town, we don’t get door delivery of our mail. I want a letter plate or box and a mailman to bring my mail closer! We do have a pretty ugly mailbox as it is.

If I had a lot of money, I would certainly buy several things for the home sweet home from AC. It looks like a top notch company. They also buy fixtures, if you have some in your attic or what have you that you are looking to unload, you can email them a picture and dimensions and they might make you an offer. Easier than ebay!

Architectural Classics recently began a informative blog where they discuss all things related to their products. And it’s powered by WordPress, so obviously, they are pretty cool. They also have a new forum where you can buy or sell fixtures and discuss lighting, doors and ask your online shopping questions. Overall, they are offering the public a great shop and more catered to people restoring old homes.

This post is a paid advertisement. I am giving Review Me a whirl. It seems like a good way to link advertisers and bloggers and it’s an easy $30 towards the camera I’m saving up for.

BAH

I’m sulking.

The Loveliest Things

I’ve been consuming beautiful things lately, like dark chocolate and good books.  We’ve hung out with some truly beautiful people.  I’ve been creating beauty too, smocking dresses for the most lovely children I know.  I need to beautify the lawn and garden a bit, because all of the lovely makes me happy.  And you know what else makes me happy?  Friends moving nearby :o)

Spring has Sprung

The weather has warmed and I have had the distinct pleasure of spending time outside with the girls, at the park and in the yard.  Kate likes to blow bubbles and Lexi likes to chase them.  When the wind is just right, I have watched a bubble float aloft across the street and over Mrs. B’s house and further and further, without bursting, until it is too small to make out.

When we are not hanging outside, it seems like we are having people over.  Today was the first day in a while no one came, but I did make baked ziti for community group and we had our elder interviews to join the church and… we’re in need of a bit of rest.  But spring break is coming soon.

4th Annual TCL Tournament Challenge

March Madness is upon us! I know the Heels won’t be resting upon their ACC Championship laurels for long, we’ve got some games to play.

Here’s the annual NCAA pool. The password is “tclhoops” ONE ENTRY per person.

Yahoo!s Bible Study Page

Yahoo! recently updated the My Yahoo! personalized homepage. It is now more AJAX-y and looks more web2.0 than their previous web1.0 browser.

On the interesting additions is the ability to share your pages (e.g., like netvibes) and it also offers pre-packaged pages. When I saw the ‘Bible Study’ page, I had to give it a shot.

It contains:
ESV One Year Bible Readings
Daily Bible Readings from KJV
Bible Study Reflections — looks like a daily devo.
Pastor Jon’s Blog
Christian Links:Bible
internetmonk.com
Christian Blogs

I found it interesting that Internetmonk.com made it onto Yahoo!’s radar, and that the ESV is the top module, set to get some major looks. I guess it helps me to feel more ‘mainstream’ in the Christian world.

Answers

Answers to the quiz follow the break. Continue reading

Besides, skim milk just tastes bad

A recent study shows full-fat milk and ice cream aids in fertility.  All fat is not created equal.  We’re a whole milk family, for the record.  We switched from 1% a while back.

Magic City News

So, we’ve been here about seven and a half months.  I’m still discovering the city and finding hidden gems…

Driving around a new city is always tough, but I went from Forest Park to 280 by the Summit by instinct through Mountain Brook this week and I felt good about it.  I’m mastering the roadways!

I finally discovered Rick & Bubba.  They are syndicated around the Southeast on FM radio stations and they giggle a lot, talk about the news and unabashedly about their faith.  The other day they were talking about whether one should tithe the net or the gross.  HELLO!  It’s amazing that they are so popular without compromising.  It’s good, clean morning fun.  You should see if they are on the air in your city.  (Richmonders!  They’re on 93.1)

Whole Foods opened yesterday.  We toured the place Tuesday and went for the grand opening.  I’m excited and trying to remember what 365 items are truly a bargain (milk, evoo and natural peanut butter for sure.)   Leave a comment and let me know what are your WFM must-buys if you ever shop there.

Because I think these sorts of things are fun…

CORRECTION: Rebecca P remembers my life better than I do, one of my questions was WRONG so Rebecca, Rebekah, Dawn M, the Smocklady and Wendy get an extra 7 points! oops!
 
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Silence by Shusaku Endo

Silence is a novel set in 17th century Japan.  The feudal system in Japan had welcomed missionaries for a few decades but had turned against the Christians, both foreign and Japanese, at that time.  The narrator is a missionary priest who sneaks into Japan during this time of persecution in search of a former teacher who was rumored to have apostacized.

For a translation, the prose is good.  It wasn’t difficult to read and captured my attention, two problems I’ve encountered with some modern translations.  The writing passes muster, but I wouldn’t read the book for it alone.  It’s worth reading because it deals in such a gripping and insightful way with the questions, “What is apostacy?” and “What does it mean to be a pastor?”  Every Christian ought to read it at some point in their lives.  It does contain accounts of violence, but they are not gratuitous, and it doesn’t dissuade me from recommending it, even for the faint at heart.  (10/10, borrowed from the library.)

Dook News

My husband sent me this dook news this weekend.  We’ll see how it plays out on Sunday.