I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked up the front walk, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation.. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two…
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16-year-old artist Shania McDonagh
Shania McDonagh is a young artist from County Mayo in Ireland, who has a big, brightly lit future ahead of her. She’s still in her teens, but she’s certainly making a name for herself across the seas with her incredibly detailed, hyper-realistic drawings using graphite pencils. Growing up, Shania was “always making things” using paper and pencils that were in the house. For the last few years, she’s been honing her craft and proving that hard work spawns successful result, winning first prize in her age category in the long-running Texaco Children’s Art Competition multiple times. figure of 100 hours so directly, without any hint of alarm. Similarly, she comes…
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Melancholy
This is what grief is.A hole ripped through the very fabric of your being.The hole eventually heals along the jagged edges that remain. It may even shrink in size.But that hole will always be there.A piece of you always missing.For where there is deep grief, there was great love.Don’t be ashamed of your grief.Don’t judge it.Don’t suppress it.Don’t rush it.Rather, acknowledge it.Lean into it.Listen to it.Feel it.Sit with it.Sit with the pain. And remember the love.This is where the healing will begin.It is hard to talk about negative feelings anger, disgust, fear, but the feelings I find most difficult to stomach are grief and sadness. The experience of emotions is…
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The Abandoned von Zobeltitz Palace
The Baroque Pałac Glinka was built in the 18th century by the Zobeltitz family. The building and landscaped parkland were expanded during the nineteenth century, and despite heavy fighting in the area it survived World War II relatively intact. In the post-war period, as with many such palaces it became State-owned and was put to a variety of uses, including a farm, kindergarten, offices, and canteen. The palace fell into disuse after the liquidation of State farms and in 2003 was leased for ten years to a private tenant, who failed to comply with his obligations to conserve the property and allowed it to continue into rapid decline. The State…
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Astronomical Clock
The legend of the clock of Prague Town HallSuch is the beauty of the astronomical clock that an interesting legend revolves around the person who created it. According to the Czech writer Alois Jirásek, it is said that Prague’s town councillors blinded the master clockmaker, known as Hanus, who rebuilt the original clock in 1490 and made the sophisticated mechanism of Prague’s clock tower. Why? So that he wouldn’t be able to create such a beautiful clock again. Nevertheless, the master’s assistant, Jakub Cech, took revenge for the affront by putting his hand into the mechanism, disabling the clock. He mustn’t have minded being left one-handed. Incidences in the life…
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The most beautiful Christmas Tree formed by the frozen waters of a water fall, in Iceland
The once-frozen waterfall was some 700km from Beijing, southeast of the town of Linzhou in Henan Province (36°06’N, 113°49’E). Together with photographer Lie Feng, the climbers scoured the Taihang Range to the north and west of Linzhou but found no solidly frozen icefalls, due to the warm winter temperatures and the haze covering the east and center of China. However, during their drive back to Beijing, they found a 110m icefall that they climbed at WI4, and then, close to Beijing, a 100m mixed route, which they graded M8 WI5+ On January 26 a picture of the Christmas-tree icefall appeared once again on Wechat, along with a message that two…
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Natures perfect Geometry
Peacocks are known and loved for their brilliant, ornamental plumage, but not all are as colorful. White peafowl display an ethereal bleached version of the classic peacock aesthetic, and it’s arguably just as remarkable. These birds are usually not albino, as they’re sometimes called, but rather leucistic, meaning they’re born with a genetic condition that strips them—or parts of them—of pigment. Discover more about white peafowl, including how rare they are, why there are so many in captivity, and what they symbolize. White Peafowl Have a Genetic MutationWhite peafowl are often called albino, but albinism is a specific condition that causes red eyes and extremely pale skin. Albinism in peafowl…
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In Switzerland, there are movie theaters where you can book a double bed instead of a seat
A cinema in Switzerland is blurring the line between at-home comfort and a night out at the theatre with the introduction of a new auditorium equipped with beds instead of seats. Pathe Switzerland, launched three special “VIP” theatres earlier this month in the small city of Spreitenbach, located northwest of Zurich. In one of the new theatres, movie-goers will be able to lie back in double beds complete with adjustable headrests, pillows, and bedsheets. Oh, and a free pair of comfy slippers is also included for VIP ticket holders. A VIP ticket costs 49 francs (around $48.50) and includes free food and a drink, while regular tickets cost 19.50 francs…
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CHRISTMAS TRENDS 2022
NATURAL TONES White & Green DecorationsThis eco-first festive vision was growing in popularity last year. And it is sure to be a key trend for Christmas 2022. Light greens add colour to a predominantly white palette. Accents of woody brown, terracotta and gold add warmth to designs. The resulting fresh, natural aesthetic contrasts fabulously with the time of year. Or for an even more natural ambience, ease off the lighter tones and embrace a variety of shades of green (and greenery!) against darker earthy brown tones. Finish with accents of matt black and gold for a modern take on cosy rustic. Popular natural textures such as stone, linen, wood and…
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Appreciating Wood for Warmth and Beauty
…And after a long time the boy came back again. “I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you- My apples are gone.” “My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy. “My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them-“ “I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy. “My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb-“ “I am too tired to climb,” said the boy. “I am sorry,” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am an old stump. I am sorry…” “I don’t…
