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A R C H I V E D...S U N D A Y...M O N T H L Y S
II's that time of year again... already... to bundle up in a warm car with holiday music and hot toddie-filled thermoses and enjoy a slow cruise around the neighborhood. Somersett, here, has an annual holiday decorating competition and I've never seen so many homes, side-by-side, street-by-street, going all-all-all out! Since we are a Dark Sky Community, the only other night lights we see are from the moon and stars. (Photo from 2023)
A ..D I F F E R E N T.. K I N D.. O F.. H O L I D A Y.. M O V I E
SlLENT NlGHT is a 2002 film - it's all about the story. Producton and razmataz is wantng - but that's okay. The begnnng mght be a lttle slow - and that's okay, too. Trust me... it's a story that you'll never forget.
lt takes place on Christmas Eve, 1944, in the Ardennes forests (the western front) during the Battle of the Bulge. A German mother, who lost her eldest son in the Battle of Stalingrad and her husband, also in the German Army, takes her younger son to their family's hunting cabin to seek refuge. Three American soldiers soon enter the cabin and then three German soldiers surprise them. The mother manages to convince the enemy soldiers to put their differences aside for one night and share a Christmas dinner.
I won't tell you what happens the rest of the evening or the next morning... but there are a few plot twists and surprises... and then another surprise. If you can find t, recommend t.
NOTE: There are dfferent movies with this name. The star of this one is Linda Hamilton. You can watch on Prime or YouTube or Tubi. lt was made for TV and not the best producton - but the story is worth your time.
H O L I D A Y.. G I F T.. I D E A
... for anyone planning a trip to
major cities in Italy...
I'm thrilled to recommend deeply insightful travel pocketbooks researched, experienced and written by Antonia Accili. With countless travel books on the market, how can I narrow down my recommendation to just Antonia's Italy? Because the author is a friend of mine and I've seen and heard with my own eyes and ears how passionate she is about guiding tourists to thee best places to visit in Florence, Rome and Bologna.
Toni's tips are not just about walking tours and museums (although she will tell you what not to miss) but the best spots to buy a scoop of gelato and a panini a wine bars, where to stay where to shop and how to avoid the crowds. This Caliifornia native, with Italian roots, studied at the Università di Gonzaga in the center of Florence - in the shadow of il Duomo and Davide - knows what she's writing about!
B R E A K I N G N E W S ! ! !
From personal experience, this is what I can say:
When it comes to fruit, apples included, it's the luck of the draw. Monday's sweet choice may be Friday's tart.
If you favor a sweet apple, you might opt for Honeycrisp or Kiku.
This news flash comes to you via a special friend of mine who told me of a shiny, new apple called the "Cosmic Crisp" - a hybrid of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp. It underwent over 20 years of research and development at Washington State University and hit the market this fall with a $10 million marketing launch.
I had no idea such time and money went into the creation of a new apple. Developers claim that the Cosmic Crisp is slow to brown after slicing, has a shelf life up to a year, and is so sweet that you can cut back on sugar when baking a pie.
H I S T O R Y O F A R C H I T E C T U R E ~ P A R T 5
G O T H I C
Gothic structures were soaring, spiky, and elaborate. They were grand and tall (closer to God) and meant to appeal to the emotions whether springing from faith or from civic pride.
Examples of Gothic architecture are the Milan Cathedral, West Minister Abbey and Notre Dame.
Gothic architecture evolved from the Romanesque style and originated in France in the 12th century. It lasted into the 16th century. Its most recognizable features are the pointed arch, ribbed vault, flying buttress, spire, large stained-glass windows, and ornate façade.
The gargoyle, typically a grotesque stone head of an animal or monster, was also multipurpose. It sometimes acted as a spout to run rainwater from a roof away from the side of a building. A fancy gutter you might say. Its formidable appearance also kept evil spirits from entering the building. In the 14th century, sculpture became an independent artistic form, separated from architecture. Works reflected human mannerisms and realism. The finest examples are found in cathedrals in Germany. At the end of the 14th century, many Flemish artists went to France where a Franco-Flemish style emerged showing elegance and interest in minute detail.
Their extreme height would not be possible without the invention of the flying buttress – a stone arch that extends from the top of an exterior wall to the ground. Flying buttresses take the weight off the walls and transfer the force to the ground. The pointed arch was another work horse as the point distributes the force of heavier ceilings and can support more weight than previous pillars.
Gargoyles and
Flying Buttresses
