Dawes Point, artwork (Theme Day: Red)

 This is not an April Fools Day joke. This piece of artwork (above) in the middle of a roundabout is located in Hickson Road at Dawes Point. I thought this poor little red car crushed by a boulder was a perfect selection for the red theme day and I also managed to capture a red mini passing the roundabout. The artist, Jimmie Durham, created "Still Life With Stone and Car" in 2004. The work is only a 'stones throw' away from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Pier One. If you a closer look in the background you can see one of the yellow signs here that read "Artwork Ahead" and "End Artwork" (below), in the style of the signs around the city that usually say "Roadwork Ahead" and "End Roadwork". This is known as "Artwork", created by Richard Tipping in 2004.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this theme day

Nine killed by twin bombings in Russia's Dagestan

At least nine people, including a top regional police official, have been killed by two bombs in Russia's restive North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.

A car bomb was detonated at about 0830 (0430 GMT) outside the offices of the local interior ministry and the FSB security agency in the town of Kizlyar.

The second bomb went off about 35 minutes later on the same street.

Russia is on alert after double suicide bombings on the Moscow Metro on Monday morning, which killed 39 people.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called on security forces to "scrape from the sewers" those responsible. Investigators say they believe the bombers were linked to militants operating in the North Caucasus.

Last month, Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov threatened that "the zone of military operations will be extended to the territory of Russia... the war is coming to their cities".

Violence in Dagestan has escalated following a crackdown on militants in Chechnya. In June, its interior minister was shot dead.

Officials said the chief of police in Kizlyar, Col Vitaly Vedernikov, was killed in the second of Wednesday's blasts.

He was in a crowd gathered at the site of the car bomb, which a suicide bomber infiltrated before blowing himself up, they added.

Kizlyar is situated close to Dagestan's border with Chechnya.

Triduum

I'm off to direct a preached retreat this weekend, and on to Los Angeles for some work next week. I'm going to try and post from L.A. if I can -- we'll see.

But for the rest of the Triduum, I thought I'd post a series of images I've found online of different moments in the Passion. They're posted one after another below. Perhaps they can be little windows into these most holy of days. Take them slow, if you can; click on the photo to make it bigger and try to really soak in the moment being captured. Let your eyes wander over the details.

Also, if anyone's interested in an audio/visual Stations of the Cross, I see that the Pray As You Go website has a pretty cool arrangement.

A blessed Triduum to everyone! Walk with Christ!

The Washing of the Feet

Jesus Before Pilate

Judas' Betrayal

Simon Helps Jesus with the Cross

Peter Denies Jesus

Golgotha

Click on the photo for a bigger view.

The Crucifixion

Mary at the Foot of the Cross

Joseph of Arimathea

Taking Him off the Cross

Jesus Lies in the Tomb

Mary Holds Her Son

How Do I Arrange My Accessories?

I often receive calls from clients who don’t know how to arrange their accessories on tables, over kitchen cabinets, in bookcases and hutches, on top of entertainment centers or on plant shelves. Here are a few tips for creating well-balanced groupings.

First, if attempting to correct a grouping, remove all of the accessories and start fresh. If placing items on a table top or on top of kitchen cabinets, entertainment centers or hutches, place the largest items of the grouping either in the center or on the ends. Add in your other items keeping the smaller items in the front. You can use candles, pictures, books, ceramic vases, jugs, wrought iron pieces, greenery, and wicker baskets. You get the idea. Vary your textures and shapes to make the grouping more interesting. Also try to work in one of your main accent colors to integrate the grouping into your room. If your room is dark, think about adding an appropriately–sized mirror on a stand or easel. It will help reflect light.

Make sure to balance your items – you don’t want all of the big tall pieces on one side. If an item is too small, prop it on a book or two in your accent color to add height. Step back after adding a few pieces at a time to ensure that the area has color and object balance. Another good idea is to complement your grouping with some of the new vinyl wall graphics to a wall near your grouping. It just completes the look and should get you many compliments from neighbors and friends. I will be adding some shortly to an area over my kitchen cabinets and will feature it on my blog when completed.

Below are some pictures of groupings I have done for clients and myself.

When accessorizing shelves, it’s also important to vary texture, size, and shape of items used to create harmony and balance. Try to rhythm your accent color on your shelves without going overboard. Don’t crowd too many items on the shelves. Odd numbers of items work best if you can fit them. However, it’s ok to have one or two items on a shelf. If using books, stack some of them vertically and some horizontally. Arrange books vertically graduating from the largest book on the outside to the smallest on the inside. Intersperse greenery throughout your shelves without being excessive. If the back of your shelves is a dark color, place light-colored items on the shelf and vice versa. Below are some of my bookcases and hutches I have done for myself and clients.

Summer Wreath

I have been searching for a spring/summer wreath for my front door. I'm a bit picky, but finally found one I like. I got this wreath at Oops! in Tontitown for $30. It's really large too. I added a couple flowers, but I love the dried flower look.

Close up:

I'm struggling with which way to hang it.

Option #1:

Option #2:

Option #3:

Option #4:

Which way should it hang? Help!

Acne Women’s Summer 2010

Acne Women’s Summer 2010

Trend Fashion 2010

Circular Quay, Bennelong Apartments

A water taxi zooms past the Bennelong Apartments, located on Bennelong Point at East Circular Quay. The apartments were completed in 2003 and earned the nicknamed 'The Toaster' during construction due to their uninspiring design, likened to a kitchen appliance. The site was once home to wool and bond stores which were replaced by office buildings in the 1950s. The current apartment development was surrounded by a lot of controversy during planning and construction. Firstly because Sydneysiders preferred the views of Royal Botanical Gardens created when the office buildings were demolished and secondly because the new development blocked views of the Opera House from the ferry wharves and railway station at the quay. Some of the controversy has somewhat dissipated in recent years with the opening of the boutiques, shops, cinema, bars, indoor and outdoor restaurants, the colonnade and broad walkway along the shore from the quay to the opera house.

Click here to view all participants of Watery Wednesday

Trend 2010 | black under color

This is one of the trends for fall winter 2009 2010: black turtlenecks under color. This look adds drama and depth to outfits that might otherwise look flighty, out of season, or just too optimistic.

More 2010 fashion trends:

Fashion 2010 | fall winter 2009 2010 trend | Strategic Sparkles
Fall winter 2009 2010 Make-up Trend
Fashion trend fall winter 2009 2010 | monochromatic

US official doubts N.Korea role in warship sinking

South Korean navy ship ATS-28 Gwangyang searches for possible survivors
and bodies from a sunken warship

A senior US official on Monday doubted that North Korea was involved in the recent sinking of a South Korean warship, in which dozens of crewmen are missing.

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said that while South Korea was leading the investigation into Friday night's maritime explosion, he had heard nothing to implicate any other country.

"Obviously the full investigation needs to go forward. But to my knowledge, there's no reason to believe or to be concerned that that may have been the cause," Steinberg told reporters.

US naval forces are assisting South Korea in search, recovery and salvage efforts for the warship, 46 of whose crewmen remained missing.

South Korean officials said there was no evidence so far that Pyongyang attacked the 1,200-tonne Cheonan, which was torn in half in the Yellow Sea.

However, Defense Minister Kim Tae-Young said a drifting North Korean mine dating back to the 1950-53 war might have caused the blast, or the North might have intentionally sent a mine floating towards the ship.

Who is this Agnes?

Reader Beware: A little soapbox-y today.

Believe it or not, I never heard Latin sung at a Catholic Mass until I was in the Jesuits three years. 1994. I was 25. In the novitiate in St. Paul, all our liturgical prayer and music was in English. And growing up my parents' parish had a rich post-Vatican II liturgical music tradition. I can still remember the large choir leading the congregation in strong, evocative songs that invited people to sing.

I didn't pay much attention to any of this, being just a kid, but it certainly formed my sensibilities. So much so that when, while studying at Loyola Chicago, I heard for the first time the Agnus Dei, with its primitive rhythm and melody and Latin verses, it seemed like a prank. But it wasn't. In those three years, I'd hear that prayer sung again and again.

Over time I was just stunned that people would choose to sing such a flat and unattractive melody, a song so lacking in the spirit of the prayer, when there are such effusive and attractive English versions available.

And in part I felt as though there was some other agenda at work, that an assertion was being made as to what constituted "correct" liturgy. Latin having been the ancient language of the Church, it was only proper to include it in modern liturgies. It's a ridiculous argument, of course, and a selective one. Women were deacons in the ancient church, and yet the same people who embrace Latin do not generally seem interested in reinstating a women's diaconate, or many other of either the ancient or longstanding liturgical traditions of the Church.

Today I would not so readily cast aside all Latin hymns. Songs like the Ave Maria resonate deeply when sung well. Nor would I say that every time the Agnus Dei is sung in Latin, it's an act of liturgical aggression.

But I continue to challenge its use, not only because Latin is not, practically speaking, the language of the Church today (nor the language of any of its people), but because it remains such an unpleasant song. What are we doing at this point of the liturgy? We're asking Jesus to have mercy on us and to grant us peace. The words and tone of the music we sing here should reflect that desire, and they simply don't. As far as I can tell, we sing it simply because we used to sing it. And that's just not good enough.

Weekend Recap

I went to Fayetteville this weekend to see my family and friends. Kent-o went on a 4 day fishing trip and did not take one picture. How is that possible!??!

here is the non-glamarous recap of my weekend:

-Asked Stephanie to play tennis.
-Got to the tennis courts & told Steph I didn't know how to play & that she needed to teach me.
-By the end of my "lesson" I was able to serve into the opposite little square. [Only because I had such a good teacher!]
-Ate LOTS of yummy food.
-Took my brother's rottweiler, Roxie, for a walk. Turns out she walked me.
-Saw Amber's new HOUSE and it's gorgeous!
-Finally saw the Blind Side.
-Found out my Dad is the one usually playing me on Words, not my Mom. [it's her phone.]
-Got to see all 3 brothers. That in itself is a miracle!
-Made my mother's weekend by finally finding a Vera Bradley pattern I like. It is "Call Me Coral".
-Ran with my Dad.
-Came home and Captain Jack was still in the backyard. I was a little worried he wouldn't be...

Stay tuned for pictures. You won't want to miss these.

Egg-cellent Decorating Tips & Tricks

I know what you're thinking... everything you need for decorating your eggs is available in that little kit you buy at the store. While this may be true, there is also some great decorating tricks and tools available right in your own home. So in case you've forgotten to pick up your kit, or are just wanting to be more resourceful, this blog posting is for you.

First, you must prepare your eggs for the decorating process. This is most effectively done by hard-cooking your eggs. Follow these steps to ensure your eggs are cooked appropriately.

1. Place eggs in one layer in a saucepan and add water to at least an inch above the eggs. It is very important that the eggs are not stacked on top of one another, as heaping them increases the likelihood of cracking.

2. Cover the saucepan and heat just to boiling and then turn off and remove from heat. Eggs that are over-cooked are more susceptible to cracking and tend to form a harmless, but unattractive green ring around the egg's yolk.

3. Keep the eggs in the covered saucepan for 15 minutes for large eggs (a few minutes less for smaller eggs, a few minutes more for larger eggs).

4. Place the eggs in ice water or run under cold water until the eggs are completely cooled.

One of my family's tradition was to remove the contents of our eggs, so my mother could keep the eggs we decorated. It's a bit gooey, but the kids think it's fun and it is a nice keepsake even if they only stay in one piece through summer.

To empty out the eggs, simply do the following:

1. Insert a needle in the larger end of a raw egg. Carefully move the needle around until the hole is about a quarter inch across.

2. Then insert the needle in the opposite end of the egg. This hole does not need to be as large as the other one. Make sure the needle is inserted deep into the egg so that the yolk breaks.

3. Using your mouth, blow into the smaller hole so that the egg yolk and whites come out of the larger hole. Make sure to do this over a bowl to catch all the insides.

4. Once the egg is empty, run the eggshell under the faucet, shaking and rinsing it to make sure the inside of the egg is cleaned out.

Make-Your-Own Egg Dye

Combine 1/2 to 1 Tbsp. of food coloring with 2 tsp. of vinegar. Simply combine food coloring to create different colors. Remember, the longer the egg sits in the dye, the darker the color of the egg.

Egg Designs

The wax used to make crayons is actually resistant to dyes. Use a white crayon to decorate or write on undyed eggs. Once the eggs are dyed, the artwork or writing will show through on the dyed egg. This is a great way to write names on your eggs.

To create a striped effect on eggs, simply wrap rubber bands around the eggs before you dip them in the dye. Wait until dry and then remove the rubber bands. Simply use a small paint brush and food coloring or acrylic paint to color over the white stripes.

Take a household sponge and cut it into pieces. Dip the pieces into food coloring or acrylic paint. Apply the sponge to the egg's surface for a spotty, spongy design.

A Twist on the Traditional Egg Hunt

An Eckert team member mentioned that her dad use to not only hide eggs, but also her Easter basket! I asked around and no one else had done this, but I thought what a fun twist. It'd be a great way to add an extra element, and could even it out if you have younger and older kids. Maybe only hide the older kids' baskets to give the tots a head start!

Circular Quay, railway station and ferry wharves

A view of Circular Quay Railway Station and the Circular Quay Ferry Wharves. Circular Quay is a major Sydney transport hub, with a large ferry, rail and bus interchange. The railway station, built in 1956, is on the City Circle line servicing a number of City Rail services. The ferry wharves are a terminal for Sydney Ferries services. The Cahill Expressway runs above the railway platforms, linking the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the Eastern Distributor.

Click here to view all participants of My World Tuesday

Moscow metro blasts: female suicide bombers kill 35

Two female suicide bombers known as “black widows” blew themselves up in Moscow’s busy metro during morning rush hour killing at least 35 people, according to the Russian authorities.

A further 40 people were reported badly wounded.

Though no group has so far claimed responsibility for the atrocity, security sources said early indications suggested that the suicide bombers were from the volatile North Caucasus region that includes Chechnya.

The bombers struck two separate metro stations in central Moscow – Lubyanka and Park Kultyry - in a carefully coordinated attack.

At least 22 people were reported dead at the Lubyanka metro station, which is situated close to the headquarters of the FSB security service, the successor agency to the KGB.

Witnesses said an explosion tore through one of the carriages as the train was coming into the station killing commuters onboard as well as people standing on the platform. Dozens were reported wounded.

One witness, a policeman, said the bomb went off as the train’s doors opened and people poured out. Officials said the suicide bombers were wearing belts around their bodies packed with explosives. There were unconfirmed reports that they had set off the bombs using their mobile phones.

A second explosion at the busy Park Kultyry metro station located close to Moscow’s famous Gorky Park followed about forty minutes later.

It is not clear how many people that blast killed and wounded though some reports said up to fifteen people had lost their lives. Officials said the attacks had been conducted in identical fashion and that the overall death toll was likely to rise.

There were unconfirmed reports of a third blast at a third metro station, Prospekt Mira, but officials said they could not confirm whether that was true or not.

Traffic on the metro system, one of the world’s busiest, was disrupted as emergency service vehicles surrounded the stations affected. Police said sniffer dogs were checking for explosives before removing victims’ bodies. Mobile phone networks crashed as people scrambled to find out about their loved ones, long traffic jams formed, and emergency hotlines were set up.

Marc Jacobs Daisy In The Air: New Spring Fragrances for 2010

You might not have forgotten the feminine effect of Marc Jacobs Lola, which topped our list of best winter fragrances for Fall 2009. And this time also Marc Jacobs has made his way to our “Best New Spring 2010 Fragrances” list. Marc Jacobs tried in his way to freshen up you all this spring with his Daisy in the Air limited edition perfume. A delightful and fresh floral fragrance with vintage edge, Marc Jacobs Daisy In The Air features a fresh new bottle with cute little light blue daises decorated at the top. Read More>>

Palm Sunday Musings

Why is it that we read the entire Passion on Palm Sunday? It's certainly not befitting the occasion, which is the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. And we're going to hear the entire thing once again on Good Friday. What gives?

The answer, as it has been explained to me, is this: most Catholics do not attend the Easter Triduum. They come on Easter Sunday, and that's about it. And therefore if you want them to hear the Passion -- and we do want that -- it makes sense to read it on the prior Sunday.

Not a very elegant explanation, I know. But it is quite practical.

Another explanation might be, we read it twice so close together so that it has a real chance of sinking in and affecting us. Which I like, in fact St. Ignatius always praised repetitio as the way in which we really learn. But at the same time, the Passion is such a long reading, if it's not done really, really well, it lends itself to some serious daydreaming.


And also, some seriously bad readings. The narrator at the service I attended today had every line overwrought with a sort of URGENT INTENSITY; the lady reading Herod and the thieves spat her statements out with an almost comic venom. It made the Passion feel like a piece of propaganda rather than a dramatic narrative that's meant to draw us into the death of God. (If you're reading this weekend, remember, less is more.)

Listening to the Passion, the one piece that stood out to me was the last little bit about Joseph of Arimathea taking care of Jesus' body. It's just fantasy on my part, I know, but I found myself thinking, what if the gospel writers inserted this Joseph to sort of fill the hole that we feel because Jesus' Joseph, his step-father, is not there? That absence has troubled me a lot in recent years. We speculate that Joseph had already died, and maybe that's the historical fact. But it doesn't really seem fair -- you wonder, if he did die before Jesus' ministry began, what did he make of the whole raising God's son life he had been asked to lead? Where are the signs and wonders for him?

And then in the Passion we have this strange coincidence of another man named Joseph who sort of fills that fatherly role, washing the body of his son and finding a place for him. It's probably wishful thinking, but that's what struck me.

Circular Quay, Overseas Passenger Terminal

Views of the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, where many cruise ships dock in Sydney Harbour.

Ideal solution for people with diabetic feet.

We live in a big city that is highly polluted. It is very unhygienic for anyone to walk on the roads even in the early morning.

That is why my husband bought a treadmill so that he can walk on it for 45 minutes daily. Treadmills are great boon to people who have diabetic feet.

My husband suffers a lot while walking on uneven roads and he cries out in pain. However, treadmills that are fitted with soft mats are easier to walk on.

Another biggest advantage of having a treadmill is the ability to use it irrespective of weather conditions.

These treadmill displays help us to monitor the distance walked and the calories burnt. This is a huge advantage when compared to walking on the roads or on exclusive jogging tracks in parks.

My husband says that his 45 minutes stint on the treadmill helps him a lot in keeping his blood sugar under control.

I am quoted in Indian Express.

Well, the excitement of Chennai Blogger Meet has subsided. I am still reading the reviews of the event by various bloggers who attended the meeting. One of my blog readers informed me that he has read an article in the Indian Express, a leading daily newspaper.

Since I don't buy it, I have been asking around whether anyone buys Indian Express. Just when I was about to give up, the article is very much mentioned in the 'Reviews' section in indiblogger.in

Yes, there it was about me. It goes like this:"R Badri, who is now a fulltime professional blogger managing 18 blogs says, “There is great opportunity for avid writers with the New Media. Small IT concerns have several openings for aspirants who have good writing skills,” he says."

Now I remember the journalist who talked to me during the tea break. She introduced herself as Mailini.

I thank her for quoting me.

New Dining Room Table

I finally bought a dining room table! I'm really excited. Our formal dining room has been EMPTY since we moved in to our house in August. I really wanted to buy what I wanted in this house and not settle for hand-me-downs or a flea market find. So I saved my pennies. It took a little while (since we decided to pay cash for all purchases like this), but on Friday I took the plunge.

The above table is the one I purchased. It is 72 inches across. I had the hardest time finding a ROUND table that stayed round. Most round tables have a leaf that make them in to an oval. No thank you!

I did not get the chairs in the picture. I got these chairs: the "camel" colored parsons chairs with the tufted upholstery. I'm excited to see it all together when everything gets delivered in 4-6 weeks....

5 Secrets You Should Keep From Buyers While Selling Your Home

Home buying and selling are emotional processes for all parties involved. There are reasons why you are selling and reasons why someone is buying. However, as a seller, it is important to keep the upper hand when it comes to getting the most profit from the sale of your home. How can you lose the upper hand if you‘ve priced your home right, it shows great and you have an interested buyer? Think of it as a game of poker and everyone wants to win big. But your house is giving your hand away for you! Yikes, you’ve already started to lose. How? Your house is giving away your secrets. You’d be surprised just how much your house is saying about you and the secrets you’d rather keep.

Here are 5 of the most revealing secrets your house may be giving away:

1. How much money you make or what you owe through pay stubs and other financial     information frequently found in home offices;

2. Your physical or medical conditions or that of other family members with medical   equipment  of any kind left out;

3. The medicines you take for what ails you through prescription medications found in the usual places. People are also aware of the medicines prescribed for certain illnesses. Remember buyers may look in your medicine cabinets as they walk through your home;

4. The state of your emotional well-being through self-help books or other reading materials on bedside tables and bookshelves. From divorce recovery, depression to addiction, books you read reveal a lot to your buyers;

5. The fact that you may already have bought a new home or have your hopes set on one with photos or documents of the new place on display.

Can you see how potentially all of these common household items can reveal something about you that you may not want a buyer to know? Buyers will ask themselves:

• “Are they desperate to sell?”

• “In a hurry to get out?”

• “Paying two mortgages?”

• “Dealing with issues or loss?”


• “Sick?”

Easter Doughnuts

Sunshine had an Easter party today so we decided to make Easter Doughnuts.

I know it sounds scary but it is really simple.

Supplies: Canned Biscuits, Oil, Powdered Sugar, Sprinkles, Paper Towels, Food Coloring, Cooling Rack, Little Milk, Sugar and a Water Bottle Cap.

 You need to set up a Hole making station

Cut away making holes in the biscuits.

Looking good Now on to the frying station!

A wooden dowel or skewer works well for flipping and removing from the oil.

Fry till golden brown.

I use a slotted spoon for the holes.

YUMMY!!  Don't they look good!

colored sugar for the holes.  Just use regular sugar and add a couple drops of your choice of food coloring and mix!  It is that easy.

I use a bag and toss to coat.

Then for the glaze on the doughnuts.

I mix Powdered sugar a teaspoon of milk and food coloring.

Dip, Swirl, and Flip over to the wire cooling rack.

I do this in batches of about 4-5 doughnuts then sprinkle with sprinkles.

Sprinkle while still wet so they stick.

This is why you have paper towels under the cooling rack!

Woo Hoo!  Doughnuts Done!!!

Happy Crafting!