#Royal Mansion Gallery

[samanthamalay]

Ready-mixed, from the Blue Hobby collage series by Samantha Malay; reclaimed fabric, beeswax, 1954 hobby magazine ads

[beansbuilds]

Modern Royal Mansion

A huge regal mansion built on a 64x64 lot.  Includes 5 bedrooms, a dance/celebration hall, pool room, home theatre, office, laundry room, home gym and pool! Enjoy 💖

Early access download and full photo gallery here 💖

[chilling-seavey]

All the Time in the World (gr63)

↳ A/N It took me so long to formulate a solid idea to this ask from my 1.5k celebration - the song instilled a vision in my mind so clearly but the details took over a week to come to me. It felt like a relief to finally get this written out! Thank you to the anon who submitted this request!!

↳ Inspired By: 'We Have All the Time in the World' by Louis Armstrong

↳ Pairings: Wealthy!Dark!George x Fem!Reader (NO use of y/n)

↳ Word Count: 1120

↳ Warnings: Dark themes

The dainty sound of lone silverware clinking against china echoed through the spacious dining room, reaching to the peaks of the two-storey ceiling and each corner of the lavishly decorated walls. At the head of the lengthy hand-carved mahogany table, you kept your gaze downcast to your plate, carefully slicing through your steaming supper to spear a bitesize piece with your fork. The tick of the clock on the ornate mantle blanketed the room in the weight of the passage of time. The fire crackled beneath it. You still felt chilled.

“How is it?”

The buttery voice cutting through the eerily silent room had your eyes raising from your plate to gaze down the table to the man at the other end. George looked almost humorously small at such a distance; the two of you taking up a table that otherwise would be used for royal galas of a good few dozen people, you were sure. Over filled platters of whatever food you could possibly want, handmade by private chefs, stretching the length of the sizable table, you offered him a polite smile.

“Lovely. Thank you.”

“Is the roast cooked to your liking?”

“It’s perfect,” you assured him softly, “No complaints.”

George smiled back at you, a gentle smile that made his eyes sparkle in the candlelight.

He had kind eyes. That’s what you first noticed about him when you met. The kindest, sweetest gaze that almost had you weak in the knees. He was so handsome, so easy to trust.

He lifted his crystal wine glass to his lips and sent you a sultry wink over the rim. You turned your flushed gaze back to your plate, your heart racing.

You shared the expensive feast together at the expansive table by candlelight and the warmth of the fireplace. The diamonds on your designer bracelet glittered on your wrist with your every polite movement as you ate daintily, calmly. Yet another gift he had bought for you, doting on you like you were a princess. You couldn’t say no. He wouldn’t let you say no.

It was his way he showed you that he loved you. That you were safe with him. That you were his.

After dinner, George excused himself to the drawing room. He always disappeared there for a half-hour after dinner; having to collect his thoughts from the day and wind down a moment before the rest of the evening. On his way past you, he left a kiss to your head and gave your shoulder a firm squeeze before leaving you all alone in the vast dining room.

You took your time to fold your napkin and set it on the table, staring out at the barely touched serving platters that would be going to waste the moment you stood. Now with a non-existent appetite, you pushed your chair back and rose from the table. A better time than any to have a nightly walk through the never-ending hallways of the mansion before George would be expecting you to bed.

You walked across the marble floors of the vast mansion as the sun set, your red bottom heels clicking faintly, rhythmically, like a heartbeat. Crystal chandeliers hung above your head, glinting the orange fading sunlight that came in through the floor to ceiling French doors along the exterior wall of the corridor. Your home was that of Versailles; a jewel among the countryside, glittering in wealth and luxury. There was nothing you had to complain about.

George chose you. He brought you into his home. You were set for life.

At the end of the hallway, the space opened up into a music gallery. It seemed you were still managing to find new places to explore in the mansion. You had never heard George play or even speak about music so you figured the gallery was simply there for looks – and to host the impressive cream grand piano in the centre of the rounded room. Ghosting past it, you let your eyes linger on the pristine wood and details of the carvings along each edge and corner, each black and white key polished and untouched. It was almost a shame.

The mansion was dimmed to a hazy illumination as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the world in ink. You took a few cautious strides across the room to the set of French doors at the far end and you pulled them open to reveal yourself to the impending night. The crisp breeze ruffled through the trees that filled the acreage and blew through the body of your flowing dress in ripples like the ocean.

Stepping out onto the balcony, you breathed in the fresh air and shut your eyes to take in the moment. For a second, it truly felt like it was just you in the world; a chance at serenity.

Just as you lifted your hands towards the stone railing, someone grabbed your hand tightly, startling a yelp from your chest.

“Shh,” George stepped right up behind you, his other hand sliding around your middle to pull you back against his chest, “it’s just me, love.”

His velvety, grinning voice sent shivers down your spine, his fingers tightening around your hand.

“Where do you think you’re going, hm?”

You swallowed thickly, staring out across the perfectly manicured grounds as you answered him stagnantly, “Just getting a breath of fresh air before bed.”

“Mhm?” his lips ghosted across your jaw, reminding you in a firm but gentle tone, “You know I don’t like you going outside without me.”

“Sorry,” you exhaled.

“We need nothing more than our love, darling, you know that.” he pressed a slow kiss to your neck, his thumb gently caressing your waist as he held you firmly to his body, “We can just leave the world far, far behind us, and stay here in our sanctuary…together.”

You looked down at his hand holding yours, wincing slightly at the grip he held on you, your fingers squished together in his hand. He kissed your neck again and breathed you in deeply before resting his face against yours as you stared out at the gardens together under the starry sky.

“I love you, my darling.” he promised into the inky night, his voice sultry and provocative and so incredibly calm.

Down below the balcony, just a few yards out of the way, your eyes lingered on the black vintage Mercedes in which you had been bound and gagged by him only a few short weeks earlier, taken to this place to never be seen again.

You were sure there was no way out. You were going to be here, trapped with him, until the end of time.

“I love you too.”

"With the cares of the world far behind us, We have all the time in the world just for love, Nothing more, nothing less, only love..."

[pianokantzart]

The Super Mario Bros. Redux (Pt. 7)

What would happen if, in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, after Mario and Luigi are separated, Mario was the one who ended up in the clutches of Luigi’s eventual arch nemesis, while Luigi teamed up with some of his own close allies to go rescue him?

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 8 ________

Back in Evershade Valley, we return to a now far more quiet royal ballroom, where Mario's frozen portrait hangs on the wall over King Boos throne.

King Boo seems anxious, and when a lone boo approaches him his mood sours and he demands news on where is Boolossus.

The boo hesitantly explains that Luigi had captured Boolossus, and that word from the Birabuto Ghosthouse warns of an assembled Sarasaland army heading in their direction.

As the little boo talks, King Boo grows visibly angry, the magic of his crown flickering and distorting the room around them, but when the army is mentioned King Boo's mood shifts, and the room returns to normal.

"An army? You mean they're coming to us?" he cackles. "How stupid, but fine by me! Let's take a big boo breath, and blow them all away!"

We then go to the assembled army: a fleet of monoplanes of varying shapes and sizes, soaring through bright blue sky. Center of them all is a great winged airship where E. Gadd, Princess Daisy, and Luigi are congregated.

While Princess Daisy stands at the helm, steering the ship and giving orders to the surrounding fleet through the intercom, E. Gadd reviews the plan with Luigi:

The soldiers of Sarasaland will hunt down the missing pieces of the dark moon so that it can be re-assembled, thus returning the ghosts to their peaceful state. Then, while that mission serves as a distraction, Luigi will sneak into King Boo’s mansion, find the portrait gallery, and free all the hostages using a new attachment on The Poltergust.

After the professor finishes the debriefing he hands Luigi a piece of tech– one that looks like an exact copy of the hand-held device E. Gadd had used up to this point... the “Dual Scream”

Before E. Gadd can explain the purpose of the gift, the sky suddenly darkens with strange, unsettlingly familiar thunderclouds. From them emerge boos numbering in the hundreds.

The Professor is confused. He knew that the powers of King Boo were growing due to the gemstone in his crown, but he didn't think he was already strong enough to bring such a large army so far from their home.

Luckily, Sarasaland's monoplanes are well equipped to fight the phantoms. They flash bright lights to disorient, shoot bolts of ice magic, and move fast enough to outmaneuver the spirits.

However, the winged airship carrying Princess Daisy, E. Gadd, and Luigi isn't as speedy as the monoplanes. Though Daisy is a skilled pilot, and though the monoplanes form a barrier to keep the princess guarded, Luigi is still fighting desperately with The Poltergust to suck up the all the ghosts that get past their defenses.

Despite these setbacks, all seems to be going well until Princess Daisy spots a familiar figure in the distance. She alerts E. Gadd, who grows nervous upon seeing that King Boo himself has shown up to this fight.

"Princess, I'm afraid things are about to get really strange," he warns. "Tell your army to not trust their senses! They need to focus only on the boos and their fellow soldiers, anything else is an illusion!"

Princess Daisy hurriedly relays the announcement through the intercom, though it's clear that some pilots are already falling victim to King Boos tricks. A few planes fall out of formation, with one or two even crashing into allies in apparent panic.

Meanwhile, Luigi is also suffering the effects of the illusion magic. He loses track of the attacking spirits, distracted by images of mad dogs, clattering skeletons, and towering walls of purple fire that cause him to freeze up.

Professor E. Gadd can't make his way to Luigi's due to the boos swarming the deck between him and his apprentice, so he calls out at the top of his voice: "Luigi, my boy! Focus! Just keep sucking up the boos! Nothing else is real, I assure you!"

Luigi seems to heed the professors words. For a time he is snapped out of his paralyzed state and fighting back, until he sees something that causes him to stop listening completely: A portrait. A portrait of Mario, rigid and frightened, floating just out of reach.

Luigi tries to free his brother with The Pultergust to no effect. After a few failed tries, he puts away the nozzle and draws closer to the painting, reaching out to take hold of it...

Suddenly, the image of Mario attains a malicious smile, and the entire illusion disappears as Luigi feels the ground fall out from under him. A boo slams into his back, fully sending him hurtling over the edge of the airship and falling helplessly toward the mountains below.

Luigi can faintly hear Princess Daisy yelling his name as he plummets until the air whizzing past his ears and his own panicked screams drown out everything else. Flailing in utter helplessness, Luigi is unable to do anything other than brace himself as the ground rushes toward him.

Then, before he makes impact, something snatches him by the overalls and slows his descent.

He looks up, and there is Polterpup. The dog playfully drops him the final foot to the ground unharmed, where Luigi leaps up and wraps the dog in a grateful hug.

When he eventually releases Polterpup from the embrace, Luigi looks around to try and understand his surroundings. The land, while mountainous and rocky, is covered in flat landings of lush green grass. All around are blue warp pipes and square boulders carved with glowering faces that give Luigi a start when he first notices them. To his relief, they prove to be nothing but lifeless stone upon closer inspection.

Suddenly, the DS (Dual Scream) in his pocket rings and vibrates, once again startling poor Luigi. He clumsily pulls out the device and flicks it open to see E. Gadd's face on the upper screen, while data tracking surrounding spectral activity scrolls along the lower screen.

"Luigi! You're alive!?" E. Gadd's voice asks, crackly but audible despite the sounds of mayhem in the background. "I saw that your device survived the impact, but I didn't think you survived the impact too!" "Heh, yeah," Luigi answers with a smile, glancing down at a very proud looking Polterpup. "It's okey dokey. I-" "That was quite the leap you took! No parachute or tanooki leaf or anything! Sonny, how on earth are you alive!?"

Before Luigi can answer, the voice of Princess Daisy suddenly interjects. "No way!! Is that really him!? Is he okay!? Let me talk to him!" A flowery glove and a puffy orange sleeve slip into the view of the screen briefly before E. Gadd wriggles out of her grip. "Princess! Please! Focus on steering! We're still in the middle of a war zone!"

The princess could be heard saying something else, but she stays obediently at the ship's steering wheel while the professor continues. "Believe it or not Luigi, you couldn't have landed in a more perfect spot! Er... all your bones are still intact, correct?" "I think so?" "Perfect! Then I'm sending you coordinates to one of my labs. It just so happens that I've got a device in this very location that will make getting into King Boo's mansion easy! Even easier than if you hadn't gotten knocked off the ship, in fact!... if the device works, of course."

Luigi looks up at the sky. It is dotted with long smoke trails from damaged planes, and in the distance he can still see and hear the sounds of battle. "What about you?" he asks nervously. "And Princess Daisy? and-"

"Don't worry about it," E. Gadd assures. "Just focus on your side of the mission. This unexpected attack just means the army will have to split up earlier than expected to collect the pieces of the dark moon. Boos are stronger as a group after all, breaking them up will make them easier to deal with, and now that King Boo thinks you're dead and that The Poltergust is no longer a threat, we've got the element of surprise on our side!"

With that reassurance, the professor's face disappears from the screen, replaced with a map and little flashing arrows indicating which direction Luigi should go. Luigi, with little other choice, gives Polterpup a gentle smile as he starts heading in the assigned direction.

[sims4clutterchaos]

"Dark & Stormy" Kitchen & Pool

It's Oh So Goth!

I've had multiple requests to upload my latest two rooms in my Goth Mansion to the Gallery- the Kitchen and the Indoor Pool.

Both are now available as single rooms on the Gallery: Dark & Stormy Pool Dark & Stormy Kitchen My Gallery ID is: daniandnick

CC lists are below:

The Dark and Stormy Pool CC List:

Simsi45_Pillow_Galore_Collection_MERGED.package

Ingeli_WFSNostalgiaFloorPillow.package

Mutske_WindowPlanter_Ivy.package

Artifacts226_jennisims.package

LuminelfyFFXIVdragonIcon.package

TheJim07_TS4_Sculpture_TS3ColumnDarkLuxSpiral.package

KICHEN_Lovely_Lady_Bush.package

GROVE_Wall_Lantern.package

Minc Ostium Double Door B with Glass 2x4.package

SimenapuleSetKenai_Sofa.package

trinketsStatue06_jennisims.package

TheJim07_TS4_Sculpture_TS3ColumnDarkLuxSpiral-Medium.package

TheSense4_TW2_Simple_Pillows.package

[awingedllama] Boho Living CC Pack.package

[Severinka] TS4 Estrella livingroom - sofa pillow small.package

TheKalino_UrbanJunglePlants_Package.package

Florence_Arch_3tiles_Medium_Centre.package

Felixandre_FLORENCE_Set_Part2_MERGED.package

S4-Anachrosims-GargoylesHowlCorbelRecolors.package

NA_IvyBush.package

FAB_Daer_Recolours_WALL_FlowerCreepers3t4.package

SimenapuleSetKenai_Armchair.package

ShinoKCRS4FrenchQuarterCurtain.package

SYB_Teien_Lily_Pad2.package

Elfydrell_WoW_Valsharah_MERGED.package

Philo_Victorian Throw Pillows.package

[Severinka] TS4 Estrella livingroom - sofa pillow big.package

Felixandre_Gothic_Revival_Exterior.package

NA_OldCurtains.package

HStrionicdraperiesRec.package

[KingFalcon]-Fuvwara2-Wall_Floral_Basin_Fountain.package

Mutske_WondersOfIvy_17.package

Philo_Natacha Throw Pillows.package

AnYe_dawn_eaudetoilette.package

AnYe_dawn_eaudetoilette.package

KellyMarie69VitaSimsTruffleBedroomFloorPlant.package

simdertalia_acnhmushroomset_wickerbag.package

Colonial_sideboard.package

SYB_Dino_Ivy_bed_decor.package

Hel Studio Soho Spa Rolled Towels.package

PC-TS4-ParanormalAO-SmallerBotanicalArrangement.package

AnYe_spa_towels.package

SIXAMcc_BohoBedroom-Decorative-Plant-2.package

SYB_Teien_Water_lillies.package

StatueGriffenStone_jennisims.package

AnYe_dawn_rose.package

Destruam - marquis residence - flower # 4.package

MXIMS Curio Bedroom Plant Big.package

HYDRA Royal Kahala Lotus Blossom Mirror.package

Poseidon_jennisims.package

[Severinka] TS4 Antique set - chair pillow.package

Networksims - Elizabeth Window Seat - Cushion (2 Tiles, Patterned).package

CWB Minotti Pillow II.package

[novvvas] Holz Kitchen - Palm.package

Tudor_door_double_2x1.package

SYB_Maevane_Floor_pillow.package

RubyRed Wine Vibe-Decanter in crystal 2022.08.package

Networksims - Elizabeth Window Seat - Base (Hollow).package

Joolster_Overgrown_Ivy.package

(Symphony) Garden lavander.package

(Symphony) Garden lavander(1).package

[The Persimmon Fox] Victorian Ceiling 2.package

SSTS_Parquet_montaigu.package

S4-Anachrosims-May21Boiserie.package

The Dark & Stormy Kitchen CC List

CHATEAU_Basket.package

CHATEAU_Square_Container.package

CHATEAU_Veggie_Basket.package

CHATEAU_Pitcher.package

CHATEAU_Round_Container.package

om_Plant_HerbTeapot.package

CHATEAU_Plates_Jug.package

HARRIE_Coastal_Part_Three_MERGED.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_LeParfait_medium_packC.package

CHATEAU_Bowls.package

CHATEAU_Gravy_Boat.package

CHATEAU_Basket_Open.package

CHATEAU_Hanging_Copperware_Medium.package

CHATEAU_Casserole.package

CHATEAU_Plates.package

Mutske_Ashmore_CornerShelf.package

CHATEAU_Basil.package

CHATEAU_Plates_Bowl.package

Martine_TS4_Deco_SpiceJar.package

CHATEAU_Pantry_Counters.package

CHATEAU_Copperware_Rack.package

SIMc-FormFunctionJar.package

Mutske_WindowPlanter_Ivy.package

dorosimfan1_SMP_LavendelKlein_BlumenladenDeko.package

SIMc-FormFunctionCookies.package

M-Geo_Classics of the genre_vase2.package

M-Geo_Classics of the genre_vase3.package

SIMc-FormFunctionPreserves.package

SV TS4 [Pancake set] Jar of honey.package

SIMc-FormFunctionPastaJar.package

kardofe_Modernist Dining_Vase.package

Hiuhiusims_BronzeTeapot.package

KICHEN_Chopping_Board.package

SYB_Alaferme_Eggs.package

KHD_Fleur Candle 01.package

CHATEAU_Kitchen_Counter.package

MXIMS Vitra Eames house Bird II.package

KHD_Lorrania_Pitcher01.package

CHATEAU_Kitchen_Island_Center.package

SYB_Country_kitchen_Potholder.package

SYB_Ratatouille_Clutter_Knife_rack.package

Felixandre_GROVE_Part2_MERGED.package

CHATEAU_Vase1.package

AnYe_Neomy_vaseswithgreenery.package

iyaS_TS4ScatteredSpices270219.package

SIXAMcc_GothicW-Decorative-Skull.package

KHD_Pastoral_StackedBooks.package

KHD_Tirisfal_Cauldron02.package

CWB Chic Antique Glass Vase.package

KHD_Fleur Candle 03.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_thyme_pot.package

KHD Autumnfell Pear Tray.package

NolanSimsxSimblreen_Herbalist'sHangsV2.package

iyaS_TS4Kira_Strawberries.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_Jar_tall_PackA_textures.package

AnYe_cozyfall_candles.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_basil_pot.package

Mods20160726_BS_Mila_Milkcan.package

20160726_BS_Mila_Milkcan.package

Minc GreenHouse Roof Middle 6Tiles.package

AggressiveKitty_Medieval_Decor_Farmer_Tankard.package

AnYe_sunday_parsley.package

[Syb] Industrial Coffee bag.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_Jar_small_packA_textures.package

AggressiveKitty_Medieval_Decor_Lord_Silver_Large_Cup.package

[rrtt] Witchs Atelier -Wood ash soap set - Soaps on cutting board.package

AnYe_Krestja_walllamp.package

KHD_Fleur Candle 02.package

SYB_Country_kitchen_Copper_clutter.package

ATS4_object_homemadecomsetics_soap.package

SIMc-Haciendaclutter4-herbs.package

KHD_Midinváerne_GoldenCandle02.package

Pilar Loft Tetera.package

eniosta -- ferme salt and pepper shakers.package

NolanSimsxSimblreen_Herbalist'sHangsV1.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_LeParfait_medium.package

KHD_Apothecarium_Plate.package

ShinoKCRS4FrenchQuarterGlass.package

Joolster_Potions.package

km99_SanoysimsPPGourmetKitchenSet1.package

[Moriel] Dishonored cigar box wood.package

Destruam - re2 rpd secret room - book # 8.package

[lilis-palace]_BUDAPEST-Door_GreenhouseDoor_4m.package

RubyRed Romantic Gazebo - Outdoor Wall Light.package

SIMc-TSR-IndustrialK-Sink.package

sforzinda_clutterEP12studystacks.package

[dreamteamsims] Spinach Salad.package

S4-Anachrosims-GG-FancyShelf.package

Mr_S_CannedFood_SlotOverride.package

Felixandre_FLORENCE_Set_Part4_MERGED.package

LC- Closed Bracelet Box.package

Winner9 - Dreams - Basket v1.package

[rrtt] Witchs Atelier -Home Remedy- Raw beeswax.package

KHD_Apothecarium_Candle.package

rrtt-Witchs Atelier.Metal Jug.package

[W] Flerovium Ceiling Plant.package

CHATEAU_Tea_Towels.package

iyaS_TS4ChiliPeppers270219.package

SIXAMcc_BohoBathroom-Decorative-Plant-9.package

SIMc-TSR-TimetoPasta-RollingPin.package

iyaS_TS4Eggs300417.package

20160720_BS_Mila_BottleOil.package

AnYe_dawn_rose.package

CHATEAU_Vase2.package

littledica.SP07.DeliciousKitchen.MERGED.package

DS_WizLab_DuoDraconis.package

[awingedllama] Boho Living CC Pack.package

AggressiveKitty_Shanghai_Glam_Diningware_Cutlery_Fork.package

[lilis-palace]_FOLKLORE-Deco_Firewood.package

PTS_bb_DecoAntiqueSeedBox_CG.package

SIMc-TSR-TimetoSalad-Carrot.package

ModsSIMc-TSR-TimetoSalad-Carrot.package

Destruam - marquis residence - flower # 5.package

Sundays - Umalas Cutting Boards.package

[W] Flerovium Plant.package

rrtt-Witchs Atelier.Metal Mortar.package

CWB Luxury Cheese Board.package

SIMc-TSR-TimetoSalad-WoodenServer.package

NA_Forest food bowl.package

KHD_Provence_Vases.package

[sim_man123]Margaery-MargaerysTome.package

ZxTa-TS4-SculptureTablePlatterServingTSM.package

Pilar Loft Saucepan.package

[Moriel] Dishonored makeup perfume.package

[Severinka] TS4 Monica bathroom - sink.package

CHATEAU_Book_Clutter_9.package

JARDANE.package

S4TinkFlintockPistolv1MESH.package

[Severinka] TS4 Palermo - casket.package

Hel Studio laurel leaf wreath.package

iyaS_TS4Britta_Steaks.package

Hiuhiusims_GlassJamJar.package

TheKalino_UrbanJunglePlants_Package.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_sage_pot.package

[sim_man123]Margaery-Goblet.package

[rrtt] Witchs Atelier -Home Remedy- Honey Lemon Ginger Cough Drop.package

CWB Glass Cup.package

littledica.H&B.AquaVortex.dishwasher.package

SIXAMcc_BohoBathroom-Decorative-Plant-6-Stool.package

CHATEAU_Kitchen_Accent_Counter.package

SIXAMcc_BohoBathroom-Decorative-Plant-7-ClassicPot.package

Minc GreenHouse Roof Side 6Tiles.package

Minc GreenHouse Window 1x4.package

FAYUN_Incense_Burner_NonFunctional.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_mint_pot.package

SIMc-TSR-TimetoPasta-Ingredients.package

HARRIE_Coastal_Part_Four_MERGED.package

simspaces_autumnpantry_copperbowls.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_Dishes.package

TheJim07_TS4_Plant_TS3SculptureGothicFlowerVase.package

SAROpantry oil.package

KHD_Midinváerne_Branch.package

RVSN_ShelfControl_Modular_Shelves_1_0_1.package

KHD_Apothecarium_Bottle01.package

SYB_Ohlala_Bottle_DrinkWithHonor.package

KHD_Origins_Vase.package

KHD_Artisan_Mixer.package

Hel Studio Mulled Wine Jug-Vase.package

pocci_ts4_dryLavender_walldecor.package

Destruam - re2 rpd secret room - book # 6.package

AnYe_tuscany_woodenboardsandveggies.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_parsley_pot.package

Destruam - holmes bedroom - fireplace accessories.package

Destruam - holmes bedroom - Merged.package

SYB_Karaoke_wallplant_2T.package

[novvvas] Boho Deco - AMPM Vase 1.package

AnYe_northsea_plant.package

myshunosun-2023-herbalist-kitchen-mushroom-basket.package

S4-Anachrosims-CampaignBoxOfMatches.package

SYB_Ohlala_Bottle_Hersley.package

Severinka TS4 FestiveFoodDecor Asparagus.package

SIMc-TSR-NaturalisPantry-BasketLidWoven.package

ATS4_object_kitchenherbs_rosemary_pot.package

SYB_Ohlala_Bottle_BrooklynEngine.package

KHD_Elsweyr_Pot_v1.package

Destruam - marquis residence - jug.package

SYB_Ohlala_Bottle_RoyalCrest.package

Severinka TS4 FestiveFoodDecor Baked Turkey.package

SYB_Ratatouille_Clutter_Bread_basket.package

iyaS_TS4Cauldron040918.package

SYB_Country_kitchen_Glass_dome.package

Kyoto_Bucket.package

[AV] Downey Plant.package

SIXAMcc_kessler-kitchen-plant.package

kardofe_Kitchen containers_Sealed canister.package

SYB_Alaferme_Wall_Bell.package

[lilis-palace]_BUDAPEST-Window_GreenhouseCurvedWindow_4m.package

ShinoKCRS4FrenchQuarterGlassVase.package

KHD_Pantry_Bread.package

[Sims4Nicole] 1k Followers Gift Honey.package

SYB_Karaoke_wallplant_1T.package

NA_Mondstadt rose vase.package

SIXAMcc_BohoBathroom-Decorative-Plant-3.package

[Severinka] TS4 Christmas 2022 - table fir branch.package

[lilis-palace]_FOLKLORE-Deco_SmallerButterChurn.package

Tudor_door_double_2x1.package

Felixandre_Gothic_Revival_Exterior.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_LeParfait_tall1.package

[Severinka] TS4 AlchemyLab - scull.package

CWB Rooster Hand Bell.package

Destruam - holmes bedroom - candle holder.package

CHATEAU_Kitchen_Island_Ending_2.package

padre_S4mesh Altanta orchids.package

KHD_Lorrania_Cookbook.package

iyaS_TS4SpoonWithSpices270219.package

CHATEAU_Shelf_Short.package

ShinoKCRS4FrenchQuarterGlassVase1.package

Joolster_Overgrown_Ivy.package

Pierisim_PANTRY_PARTY_Bowls.package

CHATEAU_Kitchen_Island_Ending_1.package

(Symphony) Garden lavander.package

smudgestickbasket_arsbotanica.package

JCTekkSims_Paneling14.package

Huge Love and Thank yous to the amazing Custom Content Creators that made this build possible- YOU are the reason that SIMS4 is so much fun!!

@felixandresims @severinka, @pierisim @thejim07 @anachrosims @jennisims @kerriganhouse @harrie-cc @kardofe @pilarcr @ats4 @syboubou

[josefavomjaaga]

Marshal Soult and his Murillos

A curious thing that I have found so far on checking Google Books is that, in the earliest mentions of Soult’s Murillo paintings in British newspapers, there is no mention at all of the dubious way he may have acquired them. To the contrary, the tone is, considering it’s coming from »the enemy«, almost friendly. As the Spanish government had not allowed paintings of the Spanish school to leave the country before the French invasion, only very few works by Murillo had found their way to London, and the paintings Soult had in his possession simply astonished British visitors.

It seems like it’s only after 1822, 1823, when Soult’s collection started to become renowned, when it was clear that his Murillos were indeed much better than anything British collections had to offer and when a famous art trader named Buchanan loudly claimed he was about to buy the whole of Soult’s paintings in order to bring them to London – a deal that Soult in the end did not agree to, because he rather sold his country estate than his Murillos – that every mention of the collection had to include the description »looted in Spain«.

This article in the London Magazine, Volume 6, of 1822, about a visit to his gallery was written before that. And while Soult is described in a highly condescending (but funny) tone, he’s actually compared favourably to his countrymen, just as his Murillos are compared favourably to paintings of the French school. The whole article is much longer and to be found here. I’m merely quoting the part relating to Soult.

After having mused for a long while about contemporary art and music, the author continues;

But what has all this to do with Soult and his Murillos? - nothing, save that it occurred to me as I was crossing the Pont Royal on my way to his hotel, and so completely engrossed my attention, that I was nearly run over by a cabriolet. Having finished my exordium, and escaped the wheels, I proceeded to the Fauxbourg St. Germain, and turned into the courtyard of Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, in a corner of which were four stablemen, too busy in tossing up halfpence to bestow even a look upon the visitors. Probably, his Grace has often indulged in a similar recreation, but having tossed up his halfpence to better account, he has found his way into the saloon, and left his competitors in the stableyard. A groom of the chambers having conducted us through that indispensable appendage to every French mansion, a spacious billiard-room, led us to a small ante-chamber, where we were received with a plain frank courtesy by the Marshal, a middle-sized, though somewhat corpulent personage of from fifty to sixty years of age, whose dark curling hair rendered somewhat conspicuous the bald patch in the middle of his head, while his sun-burnt complexion accorded well with his dark intelligent eye. His black stock, plain dark coat, and loose blue trowsers, which, capacious as they were, could not hide his bow-legged form, obviously suggested the soldier rather than the courtier, the Marshal rather than the Duke; though if I had encountered such a figure in London, I should rather have guessed him to be an honest East or West India captain. A Frenchman entitled by birth to similar rank and fortune would have been forward, and vain, and loquacious, amid his unmerited distinctions, but methought upon Soult's countenance there sat an air of reserve, and even awkwardness, in doing the honours of his proud mansion, as if he felt conscious that he assimilated not well with its magnificence; I could fancy him saying to himself: Here I stand, a plain soldier of fortune, consenting to use splendidly the wealth which I have acquired, and the greatness which has been thrust upon me, but disdaining to adopt in my own person any of the fopperies of state.

[architectuul]

Europa Nostra - Most Endangered in 2023

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 7 Most Endangered Programme in 2023, Europa Nostra – the European Voice of Civil Society Committed to Cultural and Natural Heritage – and the European Investment Bank Institute have just announced the 11 most threatened heritage sites in Europe shortlisted for this year’s edition of the programme.

Among 11 most endangered monuments and heritage sites in Europe for 2023 are Kortrijk Railway Station (Belgium), Domain and Royal Museum of Mariemont in Moralwez (Belgium), Tchakcinij Fortress in Zugdidi (Georgia), Sister's House Ensemble - former Moravian settlement in Kleinwelka (Germany), Mansion Konaki of Gidas in Alexandria (Greece), Herman Otto Museum in Miskolc (Hungary), Memento Park in Budapest (Hungary), Cultural Landscape of Paštrovska Gora (Montenegro), Cultural Landscape of Sveti Štefan in Paštroviči (Montenegro), Watermills of Bistrica in Petrovac na Mlavi (Serbia), and the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) designed by Bogdan Bogdanović.

A view from the top of the cemetery before the latest conflicts.

The selection was made on the basis of the outstanding heritage significance and cultural value of each of the sites as well as on the basis of the serious danger that they are facing today. The level of engagement of local communities and the commitment of public and private stakeholders to saving these sites were considered as crucial added values. Another selection criterion was the potential of these sites to act as a catalyst for sustainable development and as a tool for promoting peace and dialogue within their localities and wider regions.

A view on the central fountain at the top of the site.

A sketch showing the path of the water flow.

The 11 endangered heritage sites were shortlisted by an international Advisory Panel, comprising experts in history, archaeology, architecture, conservation, project analysis and finance. Nominations for the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2023 were submitted by member organisations, associate organisations or individual members of Europa Nostra from all over Europe as well as by members of the European Heritage Alliance. For the Partisan Monument in Mostar a support was given among others also by Architectuul and DESSA Gallery from Ljubljana. 

A cross-section of the cemetery and its terraces.

The Partisan Memorial Cemetery was built in 1965 in the town of Mostar. It is one of the largest anti-fascist monuments and sites in the Balkans, with its 300-metre-long paved ceremonial pathway rising more than 20 metres up a hill. The cemetery, which features some 700 individual tombstones as grave markers of freedom fighters from the Yugoslav Partisan movement, is part of a series of monuments and sites built in the region in memory of the partisans who died during World War II.

It was designed by the famous Yugoslav architect Professor Bogdan Bogdanović from Belgrade. Skilled stonemasons built the monument over several years, using over 12,000 carved limestone pieces, rubble from the town’s destruction during the war, and traditional stone roof tiles recycled from Mostar houses. The monument was inaugurated in 1965 by the President of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Mostar from the Nazis and their local allies in 1945.

In front of the portal lies an a-centrically located gear-shaped fountain which used to develop a water stream that flowed down the terraces and emerged again in the dead end space at the bottom of the complex.

The Partisan Memorial Cemetery – with its memorial significance and relevance – has become a target for destruction, both in times of war and in times of peace. Although much damaged during the war in 1992-1995, the Partisan Memorial Cemetery suffered further damage in the period following the war. It is important to add that after the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia, many memorial sites built after World War II were neglected or even abandoned in the wider region, including the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar.

After the war, the first conservation and restoration works on the Partisan Memorial Cemetery were done in 2005 with the support of donor funds from the Government of The Netherlands and the Kingdom of Norway, and with co-financing from the City of Mostar and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The complex is a necropolis, 630 abstractly shaped stone markers testify the multiethnic army that fought together and is buried here with names belonging to Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Jews.

However, the Partisan Memorial Cemetery has been, and still is, one of the region’s contested heritage sites. This has resulted in repeated acts of vandalism up until the most recent destruction which happened in June of 2022. This was followed by numerous reactions from the Mayor, the City Council, the Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from anti-fascist activists and associations both at local and international level, and also the reaction from numerous organisations from the territory of former Yugoslavia, which condemned the vandalism of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery. Recently, the Agency “Old City” of the City of Mostar launched the public procurement for the revitalisation, rehabilitation and illumination of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery. However, the monument does not yet have a holistic plan for its conservation and maintenance with a corresponding funding. The whole process of its necessary restoration and revitalisation therefore remains precarious.

The partisan cemetery in Mostar is an integral part of the city and can be easily considered as an urban place.

The local community in Mostar has developed various campaigns for the legal protection of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery as a Monument of National Importance. Among other initiatives, they produced a documentary about the history of this memorial site and the threats and challenges it faces today.

The nomination of the cemetery to the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2023 was made by IDEAA Mostar with the endorsement of the Mayor of Mostar, the Galerija DESSA, Arcihtectuul and Europa Nostra Serbia. The nominator advocates for adequate legal protection of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery following its designation as a Monument of National Importance back in January 2006, for the European and international recognition of its outstanding historical and artistic values, as well as for the development of a sustainable rehabilitation, maintenance and management plan for this exceptional memorial site and the allocation of necessary funds – from local, national and European sources – for the quality implementation of such a comprehensive plan.

An abstract lion sculpture at the entrance of the complex.

The Advisory Panel of the 7 Most Endangered Programme commented: “The original design of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar deliberately avoids the use of political or religious symbolism but makes use of cosmological symbols reminiscent of pre-Columbian remains and perhaps also referencing similar elements present in medieval sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As such, it is an outstanding example of the high-quality commemorative culture rooted in anti-fascist ideals within SFR Yugoslavia. At the time when Europe seeks to assert and put a much stronger emphasis on the vital importance of the shared values which form the very basis of the entire European project, this significant place of memory located in the Western Balkans should be restored with the support of local, national and European funds and protected for present and future generations.”

On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, vandals carefully and cold-bloodedly destroyed all the commemorative plaques.

The Executive President of Europa Nostra, Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, stated: “This shortlist covers a wide variety of monuments and heritage sites which are facing different types of serious threats. The local communities and civil society organisations are deeply committed to preserving these remarkable examples of our shared heritage, but they need broader support. We therefore call on local, regional, national and European stakeholders, both public and private, to join forces with Europa Nostra and our network of members and partners to secure a viable future for these shortlisted sites.” 

The "cosmic portal" is centrally located on the wall that backs the uppermost terrace. This circular element seems to act as a door between the two worlds and tries to reconcile the different visions that various religions have developed about the afterlife.

The final list of 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2023 will be unveiled in April.

[scotianostra]

The distinguished architect John Burnett died on July 2nd 1938 at Colinton, Edinburgh.

Burnett designed buildings the length and breadth of the British Isles and on the continent of Europe and as far afield as South Africa.

John Burnet was born a soldier's son at Craighead House, Kirk O' Shotts, and trained initially as a carpenter. After becoming a Clerk of Works, he set up as an architect specializing in modest churches and houses in the Italianate and Classical styles, and large-scale commercial buildings and hospitals in the Italian Renaissance, Baronial and Gothic styles.

One of his first undertakings in Glasgow was the Royal Institute of the Fine Arts in Sauchiehall Street, which was won by competition. Other notable buildings there are the offices of the Clyde Trust, the Athenaeum, the Botanical Department and extension of the University, the Pathological Institute, the Barony Church.

In Edinburgh he designed the Professional and Civil Service Stores, George Street, the business premises of R. W. Forsyth in Princes Street, which later housed Burtons for many years, and in Scotland and England generally many public, ecclesiastical and domestic buildings. He was also architect for the Edinburgh International Exhibition of 1906.

Important commissions came to him from London and to London he devoted the latter part of his life, the firm, of which he was senior partner, being known as Sir John Burnet, Tait & Lorne. He had the honour in 1905 of being entrusted by the Government with the important additions to the British Museum, now known as the King Edward VII. Galleries.

Among his numerous London designs are the Institute of Chemistry in Russell Square, the Kodak building in Kingsway, Adelaide House and Vigo House, and the Second Church of Christ Scientist. He was the chief architect in Palestine and Gallipoli for the Imperial War Graves Commission.

The professional esteem with which Sir John was regarded in Britain may be expressed by the words used in connection with the conferring of the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1923, ‘‘ Few architects living can compare with him either in quantity or quality of output, and fewer still may be said to have had as pervasive an influence on the work of their own time.”

In France he had received both bronze and gold medals at the Salon and was a corresponding member of the Institute of France and of the Société central des Architectes Francais. He had the same relation with the American Institute of Architects.

Knighted in 1914, Sir John was a member of both the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Academy. He was an Honorary LL.D., of Glasgow and Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, of the Royal Society, Edinburgh, and of the Royal Society of Antiquaries.

Though he took fewer commissions personally, Burnet worked into his late seventies – he designed the famous Unilever building on London in 1933 - before he eventually retired, spending his final years at Colinton in Edinburgh. He died at home at the age of 81 on this day, 1938, he is buried at Warriston Cemetery.

Pics are Forsyths on Princes Street Edinburgh, Athenaeum Theatre, Buchanan Street, Glasgow and Charing Cross Mansions, Glasgow.

[kammartinez]

I work in a blue-chip gallery, and it’s not unusual that I’m asked if I grew up in Newport when I say that I’m from Rhode Island. It often feels like a loaded question, more social barometer than casual inquiry, and it’s clear that my response will either indicate our mutual class affiliation or amplify the differences that I already know exist between us. Sometimes I can see the flare of pleasure that people feel when they say “Newport,” the word conjuring, as it must, visions of sailboats and private beaches, country clubs and rocky cliffs thrashed by the waves of a restless Atlantic. I always sense that there’s a secret on the other side of the inquiry, but I guess I will never know exactly what it is; I grew up half an hour west of Bellevue Avenue in a modest split-level ranch that my father built. I’ve seen only small slices of those gated houses, the quick flashes of stone and shingle that are revealed through a break in the trees.

In high school I had a friend named Vanessa whose mother was a nurse at Newport Hospital. We would sometimes catch a ride with her and walk up and down Thames Street, where we shoplifted scented lotions from Crabtree & Evelyn and searched diners and parking lots for the town’s seemingly nonexistent boys. I don’t remember that we ever once considered spending an afternoon following Cliff Walk, the coastal path that wends its way past Newport’s eccentric archipelago of Gilded Age mansions. We liked looking at things we couldn’t afford, but only if we could fit them into our pockets, only if we could take them home with us to scrutinize within the privacy of our own bedrooms.

I briefly moved back to Rhode Island following the collapse of my first marriage. It was the summer before I turned twenty-seven, and I spent three months hiding away in my childhood bedroom, grief-damaged and humiliated by the task of trying to figure out who and how I was supposed to be. My husband and I had managed to stay married for only four years, the last of which I spent watching from the sidelines as he enjoyed an unexpectedly rapid and very public rise as an artist. His newly minted success introduced a host of newly minted problems, and I drifted through most of that winter and spring weeping in the utility closet at the boutique where I worked and asking him where I fit into his life so many times that I eventually didn’t fit into it at all. By that July, we were completely estranged. I was living with my parents when his art dealer sent me a copy of The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton’s 1920 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel that lays bare the punitive cruelties of a leisure class as expert at collecting things as it was at discarding people. Partially set in the Gilded Age Newport where Wharton herself had summered from the late 1870s through the turn of the century, the book lifts a curtain’s edge on what once happened inside those hedgerow-protected compounds. I never asked the art dealer if he was suggesting that I was a May Welland or an Ellen Olenska, but maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe he was telling me that all bad marriages are exactly the same, that it makes no difference where you live or what you have, because even glamour cannot temper the pain of being left.

I fell in love with Wharton during those lonesome months; I found fragments of myself in The Custom of the Country’s Undine Spragg, in The House of Mirth’s Lily Bart, in Summer’s Charity Royall, each one of them unable to foresee that folly follows when we expect too much. It wasn’t until many years later that I learned that the author who wrote with such precision about what transpires inside the unhappiest of homes had herself lived in a succession of them. Raised by a rigid society mother who was by turns remote and overbearing, Edith Newbold Jones was twenty-three when she married Teddy Wharton. The union helped her escape the control of a family that found her literary aspirations inconveniently vulgar, but so ill-matched were Teddy and Edith that Henry James once said that the marriage was, in retrospect, “an almost—or rather an utterly—inconceivable thing.” The young Mrs. Wharton soon realized that her new husband was a professional vacationer plagued by alcoholism and manic depression, a man who found his equilibrium indulging in the communal “watering hole amusements” that she went on to pillory with brutal accuracy in her novels and short stories. It was at Land’s End, the couple’s cliffside Rhode Island home, that Edith understood that she’d consigned herself to a new kind of domestic subjugation: a sexually and intellectually dissatisfying quasi-union that withered incrementally under the pall of Newport’s convivial excesses. “There are certain things one must possess in order not to be awed by them,” she wrote in 1900’s “The Line of Least Resistance,” a story, set in Newport, about a dissatisfied wife and her rich but gormless husband. One is left to wonder whether the line refers to objects or to women.

***

Wharton’s writing frequently draws parallels between the claustrophobia of an overstuffed parlor and that of marital suffering, and it is often through a rejection of architectural convention that her heroines express their hunger for freedom. (Think of would-be divorcée Ellen Olenska setting up house in her bohemian West Twenty-Third Street apartment.) In the late 1890s, Wharton, fatigued by the disorganized ostentation that she felt was transforming Newport into a “Thermopylae of bad taste,” began examining the relationship between architecture and psychology, ultimately developing a philosophy that called for the union of symmetry, classical proportions, and elegant utility. She outlined this trifecta of principles in her 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses, and later realized them in the construction of the Mount, the Lenox, Massachusetts, compound she codesigned following the sale of Land’s End in 1901.

Lenox, which lies in the shadow of the Berkshire Mountains, had already established itself as a summer enclave for wealthy New Yorkers by the time the Whartons purchased their 113 acres of lakeside farmland, but for Wharton the area retained a vestige of “hideous, howling wilderness,” as one unnamed traveler had described it two centuries prior. The outskirts of the land were still populated, albeit sparsely, by insular pockets of the “Swamp Yankees”—local vernacular for New England mountain people—that haunt the pages of Summer and Ethan Frome.

Wharton found in the countryside a respite from New York’s surveillance, relief from Newport’s extravagance, the freedom to choose her own company, and material. It was on Hawthorne Street that Wharton’s friend Ethel Cram was fatally injured by a horse kick to the skull, an event that served as the impetus for her 1907 novel, The Fruit of the Tree. One can drive past the train station where Wharton received out-of-town visitors like Henry James and English novelist Howard Sturgis. The steep decline from the town square was the site of the deadly 1904 sledding accident that inspired Ethan Frome. Kate Spencer, an assistant librarian at the Lenox’s public library, was injured in the accident; visiting the library this past fall, I found myself imagining the hours Wharton must have spent quietly studying her young friend’s scarred face and limping gait, searching her for evidence of the distance between public and private pain.

“It was only at The Mount,” Wharton recalled in her 1934 memoir, A Backward Glance, “that I was really happy.” The two primary—and parallel—themes that run through its pages are the histories of her writing and of her homes, mutually informative and enmeshed passions that surface even in her earliest recollections. The Mount is presented as the site that allowed Wharton to consolidate her power as a novelist, a house on a hill from which she could regard, from a slight distance, the life she was born into yet was savagely critical of.

In 1980, nearly a half century after the memoir’s publication, a cache of three hundred letters written by Wharton to a protégé of Henry James’s named Morton Fullerton was brought to market by a Dutch bookseller. Dated between 1907 and 1915, the letters—long thought to have been destroyed—offer proof of an extramarital affair with Fullerton that began at the Mount when Wharton was forty-five. Though the painful longing and ecstatic satisfaction that ricochet through these private missives is predictably missing from the memoir, the experience clearly inflected her recollections of the house and shaped the novels she wrote there. “You told me once,” she wrote to Morton in 1908, “I should write better for this experience of loving.”

Regardless of the revelations borne out by the affair, it was only after discovering that Teddy had embezzled nearly fifty thousand dollars from her trust to fund a Boston apartment for his mistress and the pleasure of several chorus girls that Wharton brokered a deal for her escape. She let go of the Mount to let go of the marriage, leaving in 1911, after handing the deed to Teddy in exchange for her freedom. By the time her boat arrived in France, the house had been sold.

***

The Mount, a gleaming white H-shaped jewel dressed in candy-striped awnings and marble balustrades, is located two miles from Lenox, and accessed via a winding, wooded driveway. Incorporating elements of French, Italian, and English styles and built into the side of a large hill, the building is a master class in visual harmony. I visited this past fall with my second husband, my first time there since the eighties, and joined a late-afternoon tour group that convened under the golden light of a slowly dipping sun. Outside the house, our tour guide, a fifty-something woman with a no-nonsense bob, sensible shoes, and a large yellow service dog, pointed out Wharton’s devotion to symmetry, evident not only in the labyrinth of formal gardens that bloom in the summertime with phlox, lilies, hydrangea, and dahlias, but also on the building’s facade, which features a set of dummy windows that compensate for an architectural imbalance. I thought it an unusual gesture, though I soon realized it wasn’t so for Wharton; inside the house are false doors, decorative panels that feign access to nonexistent rooms, and strategically placed mirrors that offer the illusion of depth. I was reminded of Lily Bart’s fatal reliance on artifice and of my own desire, all those years ago, on reading the novel for the first time, to believe until the very end that she might actually survive in spite of it.

Our group of eight included two teenage boys, a woman nestling a small curly-headed poodle to her breast in a baby sling, an elderly couple, and a man who did not once remove a pair of wraparound sunglasses. We entered the house through a grotto-style front hall finished with stucco walls and a terra-cotta-tiled floor, and then went up a staircase to a vaulted-ceilinged gallery on the main floor, outfitted with a series of arched doors. From there the rooms unfold enfilade, redirecting traffic flow away from Edith’s private rooms, the places Henry James referred to as the Mount’s “penetralia.” In her lifetime, Wharton was frequently accused by both friends and critics of an impulse to reveal much about the lives of others while giving away very little about her own, and the latter is evident in the way she policed her personal spaces. “It shall be born in mind,” she once wrote, “that, while the main purpose of a door is to admit, its secondary purpose is to exclude.”

In Edith’s bedroom, the two young men in our tour group, who had at some point produced what looked like a photographer’s light meter, began running the device over the room’s bed, a vase of flowers, a mirror, an empty bureau, a disconnected telephone, and a small stack of books. I watched the lights on the device flicker anemically, emitting yellow and green flashes in short bursts that seemed to indicate nothing at all. “Is anyone here?” one of them asked. “Are you here?” They were not looking for Edith Wharton—just her ghost. “They shouldn’t do that!” I said to my husband, loud enough for everyone in the group to hear. “The House of Mirth was written in this room!” By this point my spoilers had begun to fatigue our guide, a nice woman whom I had unfortunately made an enemy of with my repeated interruptions and various usurpations, with my impulse to anticipate future turns in the tour’s script without concern for how it made either of us look. She didn’t seem to mind when my husband and I opted to linger in Wharton’s room so I could look out through the window at the forest and the lake, and no one said a word when we decided to break off from our group and head out on our own.

Walking the property’s grounds, I thought about what it means to be allowed entry into a stranger’s Eden, how impossible it is for the dead to protect themselves from the violence of our curiosity once we are allowed access to their private spaces. I thought of the hours I’d spent scouring passages from The Life Apart, the secret erotic diary the author kept for the duration of her affair with Morton Fullerton and the only place where the author was ever able to address her own carnal appetite. From the sentimental little hill of the family pet cemetery, I looked out to the mountains at the view that inspired Wharton to revisit a short story she’d written in French many years before. It was 1910, and the writer’s turbulent relationship with Fullerton had reached its inevitable conclusion. Provided with the distance to compare an unhappy marriage with the thrill of illicit erotic distraction, Wharton began to write Ethan Frome, coding herself as the title character, her husband as his infirm wife, and Fullerton as Mattie Silver, the servant with whom Ethan is in love. Wharton so often wrote about herself that we don’t need to pry to find all the things she never meant for us to see. There is a short passage in Ethan Frome that I return to, sometimes, when I feel my curiosity becoming caustic, when my fascination turns invasive, when I begin to run my ghost meter over someone’s life just because I can. “I had the feeling,” the narrator states, “that the deeper meaning of the story was in the gaps.”

[samanthamalay]

Invisible Re-weaving, from the Blue Hobby collage series by Samantha Malay; reclaimed fabric, beeswax, 1954 hobby magazine ads

New collage greeting cards will be available at Royal Mansion Gallery, weekends in the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall starting this Saturday, and during the October 12 Georgetown Art Attack.

Georgetown Trailer Park Mall 5805 Airport Way South Seattle, Washington 98108

[my-great-incredible-india]

Places to Visit in Udaipur: Top Udaipur Tourist Places

Udaipur, known as the "City of Lakes," is one of the most romantic and picturesque cities in India. With its stunning palaces, serene lakes, and rich cultural heritage, Udaipur offers a plethora of attractions that captivate every visitor. Here are some of the must-visit places to visit in Udaipurthat should be on your travel itinerary.

1. City Palace

The City Palace is one of the most iconic Udaipur tourist places. This magnificent palace complex, located on the banks of Lake Pichola, showcases a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The palace offers breathtaking views of the city and the lake, and its museums and galleries are filled with artifacts and artworks.

2. Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola is a man-made freshwater lake and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Udaipur. Take a boat ride on the lake to enjoy panoramic views of the City Palace, Jag Mandir, and the surrounding hills. The evening boat ride is especially enchanting as the city lights up.

3. Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a significant religious attraction in Udaipur. Built in 1651, this stunning temple is known for its intricate carvings, impressive architecture, and spiritual ambiance. It is one of the must-visit Udaipur tourist places for devotees and architecture enthusiasts.

4. Saheliyon Ki Bari

Saheliyon Ki Bari, also known as the Garden of the Maidens, is one of the most charming places to visit in Udaipur. This lush garden, adorned with fountains, lotus pools, marble pavilions, and statues, was built for the royal ladies. It offers a serene escape from the bustling city.

5. Fateh Sagar Lake

Fateh Sagar Lake is another picturesque lake in Udaipur, surrounded by the Aravalli Hills. This artificial lake is one of the popular Udaipur tourist places for boating, picnicking, and enjoying the scenic beauty. The lake also features the Nehru Garden, which is accessible by boat.

6. Bagore Ki Haveli

Bagore Ki Haveli is a historic mansion located on the waterfront of Lake Pichola. This 18th-century haveli has been converted into a museum showcasing royal artifacts, costumes, and traditional Rajasthani crafts. The evening cultural performances at Bagore Ki Haveli are a highlight and one of the must-see attractions in Udaipur.

7. Sajjangarh Palace (Monsoon Palace)

Sajjangarh Palace, also known as the Monsoon Palace, is perched on a hilltop and offers panoramic views of Udaipur and its surroundings. This former royal residence is one of the top places to visit in Udaipur, especially for witnessing stunning sunsets.

8. Shilpgram

Shilpgram, located on the outskirts of Udaipur, is a rural arts and crafts complex that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. Visitors can explore traditional huts, watch artisans at work, and purchase handcrafted souvenirs. It is one of the most vibrant Udaipur tourist places for culture enthusiasts.

9. Jag Mandir

Jag Mandir, also known as the Lake Garden Palace, is situated on an island in Lake Pichola. This beautiful palace complex features exquisite marble carvings, courtyards, and gardens. A visit to Jag Mandir offers a unique experience and is one of the fascinating places to visit in Udaipur.

10. Eklingji Temple

Eklingji Temple, located about 22 km from Udaipur, is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple complex, with its splendid architecture and serene ambiance, is one of the significant Udaipur tourist places for spiritual seekers.

Conclusion

Udaipur is a city that enchants visitors with its royal heritage, serene lakes, and vibrant culture. From magnificent palaces and ancient temples to lush gardens and picturesque lakes, the places to visit in Udaipur offer a rich and diverse experience. So, plan your trip and immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of these Udaipur tourist places on your next vacation!

[lencra]

MODERN WEEK.

name: lenora lefford. nationality: british. hometown: london, england. current home: monaco. occupation: socialite/artist/wag. relationship: in a long-term relationship with percival templeton, but they are going through a rough patch currently. exes: dated jaehaerys targaryen on/off while in school and the time after graduation. dated owen stark after ending things with jaehaerys for good, they eventually broke up due to being from different worlds, but they remained friends. dated ravi martell for a short period of time, they are still friends to this day. situationship: flirting on/off with cedric tyrell throughout the years. archetype in school: the preppy kid. reputation: good. only controversy is a claim that she's a nepo baby whose art is only famous because of her boyfriend and the fact that she's the daughter of a princess. she is also known as the eternal bridesmaid, as she has been one in many high profile weddings. known for: cousin of the british royal family, girlfriend of the formula 1 world champion, semi-successful artist, owner of an art gallery in cannes.

𝓅𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 / 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉

she grew up part of the posh upper-class as the daughter of a princess, and she has only known that kind of lifestyle. she is a mix of old money and new money.

in school, lenora dressed in a preppy/posh style. she played tennis, danced ballet, and was part of the rowing club. she also painted and attended most of the parties. she was known among her peers for almost exclusively drinking champagne with a splash of gin at said parties.

due to a fan account named 'is lenora lefford finally going to be a bride?' which keeps daily track of whether she and percy have gotten engaged, lenora has recently stopped posting pictures of the two of them on social media. this has led to rumours among fans and gossip sites of a break-up.

a little less than a year ago, together with percy, she adopted a golden long-haired daschhund named lancelot.

beyond drawing and painting, she is also fond of designing landscapes and has designed the garden of the mansion she owns with percival. she has also designed multiple gardens for friends and family. she began the education of becoming a professional landscape architect, but she found the education too restricting (aka she got bored with it). lenora makes the garden pretty and let the professionals worry about the practicality.

her art style is a mix between realism and painterly, lenora likes that her brush strokes are visible in her paintings.

[shinykittenland]

Unique Places to Visit in Bangalore 

Nandi Hills: Nandi Hills, located 60 km from Bangalore, It is well known for its picturesque scenery and stunning sunrise views. It includes a historic Nandi temple and Tipu Sultan’s summer residence.

Innovative Film City: Theme park with replicas of Indian landmarks, a wax museum and film sets - Innovative Film City. It provides various entertainment options, such as a spooky residence.

Lalbagh Botanical Garden: Lalbagh Botanical Garden is a 240-acre park located in the heart of Bangalore, featuring a 19th-century glasshouse. Contains more than 1,000 uncommon plant types and holds flower exhibitions twice a year.

National Gallery of Modern Art: Located in a colonial mansion, showcasing modern and contemporary Indian art. Features rotating exhibitions and a sculpture garden.

Bangalore Palace: Tudor-style palace built in 1887 with intricate woodcarvings and gardens. Displays historical photographs and paintings, offering insight into Bangalore's royal past.

For a complete experience of various attractions in Bangalore, think about choosing a Tempo Traveller rent in Bangalore. This large and cozy vehicle choice is perfect for group sightseeing, making it easy for you to explore the city and surrounding areas. A Tempo Traveller is suitable for larger groups, making it a great choice for family outings or group trips with friends.

[anas123]

Exploring the Desert: Romantic Desert Getaways Near Delhi

For couples seeking a unique and memorable honeymoon experience, the desert landscapes near Delhi offer an enchanting and romantic setting. There are several breathtaking desert destinations that are perfect for newlyweds looking to explore the beauty and mystique of the arid lands. These honeymoon places near Delhi provide a blend of adventure, luxury, and tranquility, ensuring an unforgettable escape. Many of these destinations also offer specially curated honeymoon tour packages to make your romantic desert adventure seamless and enjoyable.

1. Jaisalmer: The Golden City

Jaisalmer, known as the "Golden City," is a stunning desert destination located about 770 kilometers from Delhi. Famed for its yellow sandstone architecture and majestic forts, Jaisalmer offers a magical experience. Couples can explore the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort, take a romantic camel safari across the Thar Desert, and enjoy a night under the stars in luxurious desert camps.

2. Bikaner: A Royal Desert Retreat

Located approximately 450 kilometers from Delhi, Bikaner is another exquisite desert destination. Known for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, Bikaner offers a royal experience. Couples can visit the Junagarh Fort, explore the intricate Karni Mata Temple, and indulge in the luxurious hospitality of heritage hotels. A camel safari in the expansive sand dunes is a must for a truly romantic experience.

3. Pushkar: The Spiritual Desert Oasis

Pushkar, situated around 415 kilometers from Delhi, is a unique blend of spirituality and desert charm. Famous for its sacred Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple, Pushkar offers a serene and mystical atmosphere. Couples can take a peaceful boat ride on the lake, explore the vibrant local markets, and witness the mesmerizing sunset over the sand dunes. Pushkar’s annual Camel Fair adds an extra layer of excitement for visitors.

4. Mandawa: The Open-Air Art Gallery

Mandawa, located about 250 kilometers from Delhi, is a charming town in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. Known for its beautifully painted havelis (mansions) and frescoes, Mandawa offers a romantic and artistic escape. Couples can stroll through the narrow lanes adorned with stunning murals, visit the Mandawa Fort, and stay in heritage hotels that exude old-world charm. The town's artistic ambiance provides a perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway.

5. Samsara Desert Camp and Resort: Luxury Amidst the Dunes

For couples seeking a luxurious desert experience, Samsara Desert Camp and Resort near Jodhpur, approximately 600 kilometers from Delhi, is an ideal choice. This resort offers opulent tents, gourmet dining, and a range of activities such as camel safaris, dune bashing, and cultural performances. The serene desert landscape and top-notch amenities ensure a romantic and indulgent stay.

6. Osian: The Oasis in the Thar Desert

Osian, located about 620 kilometers from Delhi, is an ancient town known for its exquisite temples and desert landscapes. Often referred to as the "Khajuraho of Rajasthan" due to its intricate temple carvings, Osian offers a blend of history and natural beauty. Couples can explore the ancient temples, take a camel safari into the dunes, and enjoy a night in a luxury desert camp, complete with traditional Rajasthani music and dance performances.

Conclusion

Exploring the desert landscapes near Delhi offers couples a unique and romantic honeymoon experience. Whether you choose the golden sands of Jaisalmer, the royal allure of Bikaner, or the artistic charm of Mandawa, these destinations promise an unforgettable escape filled with adventure, luxury, and tranquility. To ensure a seamless and memorable trip, consider opting for one of the many honeymoon tour packages available, designed to cater to your every need and make your desert getaway truly special.

[indiagoldentriangles]

Golden triangle tour with Udaipur by India Golden Triangles Company.

Seven Days in India's Golden Triangle Tour with Udaipur Golden Triangles Enterprises A peaceful blend of Rajasthan's lake city's tranquil beauty, architectural wonders, and cultural legacy may be seen on the Golden Triangle Tour that includes Udaipur. The all-encompassing and enriching 7-day itinerary offered by India Golden Triangles Company incorporates the allure of Udaipur within the traditional Golden Triangle itinerary, which consists of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

Day 1: Delhi arrival When you arrive in Delhi in the morning or afternoon, an India Golden Triangles Company representative will help with your transfer to the hotel. After your travels, check in and unwind. Afternoon: Start your tour of Delhi's ancient attractions in the afternoon by going to Humayun's Tomb, India Gate, and Qutub Minar. You should pass the Parliament House and the President's House. Evening: Take a tour of Connaught Place and savor regional cuisine. Remain in Delhi for the night. Day 2: Cairo to Agra Morning: After breakfast, take a three to four-hour trip to Agra. When you go to your hotel, check in. Visit the Taj Mahal, a work of architectural art and a representation of unending love, in the afternoon. Visit the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, later on. Evening: Unstructured time to visit nearby markets. Remain overnight in Agra. Day 3: Travel from Agra via Fatehpur Sikri to Jaipur Morning: Journey to Jaipur, making a stop at Fatehpur Sikri en way (a total of 5–6 hours of driving). Renowned for its magnificent architecture, Fatehpur Sikri is an abandoned Mughal city. See Panch Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Buland Darwaza. Drive on to Jaipur in the afternoon. When you go to your hotel, check in. Evening: Take it easy at your hotel or visit Jaipur's bustling bazaars. Remain overnight in Jaipur. Day 4: Sightseeing in Jaipur In the morning, go to the high Amber Fort. To reach the fort and tour its expansive courtyards and palaces, take an elephant or jeep ride. Visit the City Palace, a royal mansion and museums displaying treasures from Rajasthan's royal past, in the afternoon. Discover Jantar Mantar, an observatory dedicated to astronomy. Afternoon: Pass by the Palace of Winds, or Hawa Mahal, then stop by Jal Mahal, or the Water Palace. Remain overnight in Jaipur. Days 5 and 6: Jaipur and Udaipur In the morning, take a six to seven-hour drive to Udaipur. Once you're there, settle into your hotel and unwind. Evening: Take a leisurely boat trip on Lake Pichola, where you can take in breathtaking views of the hills surrounding the city, Jag Mandir, and City Palace. Remain overnight in Udaipur. Day 6: Go sightseeing in Udaipur Morning: Start your day by seeing the City Palace, an opulent complex of palaces, museums, and courtyards with expansive views of Lake Pichola. See the unusual collection of crystal artifacts on display at the Crystal Gallery. In the afternoon, take a tour of Saheliyon Ki Bari, also known as the Garden of the Maidens. It's a lovely garden with lotus pools, fountains, kiosks, and marble elephants. After that, have a look around the Jagdish Temple, a prominent Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. Evening: Wander through the historic district, stopping at the markets to take in the lively ambiance. Remain overnight in Udaipur. Flight from Udaipur to Delhi on Day 7 Morning: Free time for last-minute sightseeing or unwinding. Afternoon: Go to the airport in Udaipur to catch your flight back to Delhi. Evening: Complete your Golden Triangle Tour with Udaipur by arriving in Delhi and being transferred to the airport or your desired place for your next trip. Crucial Items Accommodations: Cozy stays in luxurious hotels. Transport: A professional driver will drive an air-conditioned vehicle during the entire excursion. Tours with knowledgeable local guides at each location: guided tours. Meals: Breakfast is served, and you can have other meals whenever you'd like. Entrance fees apply to all of the itinerary's major monuments and locations. Flights: Udaipur to Delhi domestic flight. India Golden Triangles Company: Why Opt for Us? The well thought-out itineraries, knowledgeable guides, and individualized service provided by India Golden Triangles Company guarantee a smooth and rewarding vacation experience. With the extra allure of Udaipur, they are a reliable option for discovering the Golden Triangle because of their dedication to excellence and client delight.

You can make priceless memories by selecting this 7-day Golden Triangle Tour with Udaipur, which will allow you to take in the highlights of India's rich cultural history, breathtaking architecture, and tranquil beauty of Udaipur.

ALSO READ-

A distinct position in culinary traditions worldwide is devoted to buttermilk, a dairy product. Buttermilk is a sour, slightly acidic liquid that is left over after churning butter from cream, despite its name suggesting otherwise. An extensive summary of buttermilk's applications, advantages, and cultural importance is provided below:

What is Buttermilk? Traditionally, milk is fermented with lactic acid bacteria to produce buttermilk. Buttermilk's distinctively sour flavor and thicker consistency above ordinary milk are the result of this process. Buttermilk comes in two main varieties:

The liquid left behind after churning cream into butter is known as traditional buttermilk. It tastes tart and is naturally low in fat.

Lactic acid bacteria are added to pasteurized milk to create cultured buttermilk, which is the majority of buttermilk sold in stores nowadays. The natural fermentation that gives buttermilk its flavor and texture is replicated in this technique.

Applies to Cooking A flexible ingredient, buttermilk can be employed in many different culinary ways.

Cakes, biscuits, muffins, pancakes, and other baked foods all contain this essential element. Lighter, fluffier baked items are produced when baking soda and buttermilk's acidity combine to produce carbon dioxide bubbles.

Marinades and Brines: When used in marinades, the acidity of buttermilk tenderizes meats like pig and poultry. It also helps preserve moisture and provides flavor.

Dressings for Salads and Dips: It can serve as a foundation for creamy salad dressings and dips, bringing a zesty taste and smooth consistency.

Drink: Buttermilk is drunk as a beverage unadulterated in certain cultures, or blended with spices and herbs to enhance flavor.

Advantages for Nutrition Buttermilk has a number of nutritional advantages:

Protein: It's a solid source of the macronutrient required for both muscle growth and repair.

Calcium: Calcium, which is necessary for healthy bones and nerve function, is found in buttermilk.

Probiotics: Good bacteria called probiotics, which aid with digestion and intestinal health, are present in cultured buttermilk.

Low in Fat: When it comes to fat content, traditional buttermilk is lighter than whole milk.

Meaning in Culture Global Cuisine: Buttermilk is a staple in many cuisines across the world, from Turkish ayran to Indian lassi and biscuits from the Southern United States.

Traditional Medicine: Buttermilk has long been used in home remedies since it is thought to help with digestion and chill the body in some cultures.

In conclusion With its tart taste and many uses, buttermilk is still a mainstay in kitchens all around the world. Buttermilk is still loved for its distinct flavor and health advantages, whether it is used in baking, cooking, or just consumed on its own.

As a result of its unique combination of gastronomic variety, health advantages, and cultural importance, buttermilk is a highly valued ingredient in kitchens across Asia.

[rajasthanipassenger]

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, rich history, and majestic landscapes of Rajasthan? Look no further! Rajasthani Passenger invites you on an unforgettable journey with our exclusive tour packages starting from just Rs. 10,999. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a culture buff, or simply seeking a relaxing getaway, our diverse range of packages ensures there’s something for everyone.

1. Jaipur Delights — The Pink City Experience Experience the royal charm of Jaipur with visits to iconic landmarks like the Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, and City Palace. Dive into local culture at the bustling bazaars and indulge in authentic Rajasthani cuisine.

2. Udaipur — The City of Lakes Discover the romantic city of Udaipur with its serene lakes and stunning palaces. Visit the City Palace, Jag Mandir, and enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola for a magical experience.

3. Jaisalmer — The Golden City Explore the golden sands of Jaisalmer with a camel safari in the Thar Desert, visit the Jaisalmer Fort, and witness the mesmerizing sunset over the dunes.

4. Pushkar — The Holy City Immerse yourself in spirituality at Pushkar with a visit to the Brahma Temple and take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake. Don’t miss the vibrant Pushkar Camel Fair if you’re visiting in November.

5. Ranthambore — Wildlife Adventure Embark on an exciting wildlife safari at Ranthambore National Park and spot majestic tigers, leopards, and other wildlife amidst picturesque landscapes.

6. Mount Abu — Hill Station Retreat Escape to the only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu. Explore the Dilwara Temples, Nakki Lake, and enjoy the pleasant weather and scenic views.

7. Bikaner — The Desert Gem Experience the rustic charm of Bikaner with a visit to Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata Temple (Rat Temple), and taste the famous Bikaneri bhujia.

8. Ajmer — The Spiritual Hub Visit the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah, explore the tranquil Ana Sagar Lake, and delve into history at the Taragarh Fort.

9. Shekhawati — The Open-Air Art Gallery Marvel at the beautifully painted havelis (mansions) of Shekhawati in towns like Mandawa and Nawalgarh, showcasing exquisite frescoes and Rajput architecture.

10. Chittorgarh — The Fortified Citadel Discover the historic Chittorgarh Fort, the largest fort in India, and delve into tales of Rajput valor and sacrifice.