#custom home builders in the memorial villages

[hannbuilt]

Luxury Custom Homes Building and Remodeling in Houston TX

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Contact Hannbuilt today and start the journey towards your dream home. Checkout our website https://www.hannbuilt.com/and for more info give us a call at 832-435-7792

[derrickjones]

Flagstones Patio DIY

To create interest or divide the outdoor living areas in your backyard, build a flagstone patio DIY or pathway yourself. Flagstone is a naturally occurring stone with a variety of colors and sizes. Installing a flagstone patio or pathway using mortar or the dry process allows you to add landscaping components such as sand, stone, mulch, grass, or ground cover to fill in the spaces between the flagstones. Flagstones can be heavy, so use caution when positioning them. It might be necessary to use a dolly to move the flagstones. Because flagstone has irregular shapes, make sure each section of your patio or pathway has the appropriate sizes and shapes by dry-fitting a few stones and laying them out on the grass.

We sells flagstone pavers in a variety of styles and hues. The finest pricing in Houston may be found on half-pallets, full pallets, and individual pieces of flagstone pavers. Customers can pick up at the Houston, Texas-based landscape supply store. You are welcome to come see us. Homeowners, landscaping firms, contractors, building firms, home builders, swimming pool companies, restaurants, schools, churches, HOAs, and other businesses are among our clientele. Additionally, we provide flagstone delivery services straight to your Houston and surrounding area home or business landscape project. Additionally, services for installing flagstone pavers are offered. Residential and business clients in Houston, Memorial, Bunker Hill, Piney Point Village, Bellaire, Meyerland, Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land, and the surrounding areas can take advantage of our landscape installation services.

We have a wide variety of driveway pavers and walkway stepping stones in various shapes, sizes, hues, and materials to enable you to construct a layout you'll like looking at and walking on every day. Flagstones require regular upkeep to prevent grass and weeds from spreading between them. Flagstone installation might be difficult without professional help. Flagstones can grow expensive depending on the size, shape, and color you choose. If smaller stones are required, mark the proper fracture point and then gently hammer the stone to a clean split. Alternatively, you might let the stone gently fall upon a hard surface and let it break naturally.

[onlinefoodorderingserviceusa]

Flagstone for pathway

Customer can transform their pathway with our premium flagstone tiles; flagstone for pathway is available in the form of pallets, half pallets, or by pieces. We provide Flagstones at the best price compared to another store in Houston. Customers can select the products from our landscape supply store in Houston, TX. Most of the clients are construction companies, home builders, pool companies, churches, schools, restaurants, and other businesses. We also offer landscape services for residential and commercial customers in Houston, Memorial, Bunker Hill, Piney Point Village, Bellaire, Richmond, Sugar Land, and surrounding areas.

[paversconcrete]

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The flagstone for pathway are available in pallets, half pallets, and by piece, we provide them at the best price in Houston. Most of our customers are homeowners, landscaping companies, contractors, contract companies, home builders, pool companies, and other businesses. We provide flagstone directly to the customer’s home or commercial landscape project through Houston and its surrounding areas like Memorial, Bunker Hill, Piney Point Village, Bellaire, Katy, Richmond, Sugar Land its surrounding areas. It is a natural stone perfect for laying on a pathway or walkway. These are available in natural patterns, shapes, and textures.

[peagravelusa]

Flagstone for pathway

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[marwoodconstruction1]

Memorial Area Custom Builder And Remodeler | General Contractors

Memorial area custom builders and remodelers play a vital role in contributing to keeping the Houston Texas Memorial area’s single family housing inventory up to date and relevant to the many homeowners that call it home.

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The general contractor services are known as general contracting services. These are the professional construction management services that Memorial area custom builders and remodelers provide to homeowners.

Memorial general contracting services are an essential part of all new home construction and house remodeling that occurs on an everyday basis in the Villages and West Houston subdivisions. The need for owners for Memorial general contracting depends on if they require a custom builder for new home construction or a remodeler for a home renovation or house addition. Read more…

[regardingseas]

Ttile: Echoed Vexations (Part One, part two linked)

Fandom: Hermitcraft

Rating: Teen and up audiences (violence warning)

AO3: here! (Full story at once)

•••

Plot Summary:

It's all too easy to turn a blind eye to the past-- to believe that because someone has been shielded from harm's way, they should no longer fear the wrath of their opponent's creed. They're safe now, after all, so why would they..?

Yes, Scar and Cub are certainly "safe", but they're still haunted by memories of the Vex and their deals all the same.

OR

An average afternoon during the HCB Base Swap is cut short when Mumbo accidentally digs up a remnant from Scar's Vex partnership days, and unfortunately for the town's mayor, the other Hermit is far from aware just how triggering the topic can truly be. Things only dissolve from there, and in the end, Grian lends a helping hand to console a friend.

•••

Additional Content Warnings:

Depictions of trauma disorders, panic attacks, flashbacks, paranoid thoughts/delusions, manipulation, gaslighting, threats, injury, and violence. Mentions of religious themes, unintentional self-harm, and non-permanent character death.

Do be careful, but otherwise, enjoy!

•••

The sun was still high in the sky even as Scar finished decorating the monument's support chains, sweltering rays beaming down and adding to the oppressive humidity of the jungle around him. With his usual jacket set aside to fight the heat, he wiped away the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead and grabbed a stray bucket from the sidelines. He'd nearly finished the waterfall aspect of the design-- crystal blue streams cascading over the edges of four white spanners, all joining together in the octagonal pool at the base's foundation. It was looking quite spectacular, if he were to say so himself, with the vine-coiled braces and additional water currents tying the otherwise juxtaposing themes together nicely.

Scar scooped up a fresh pail of water, filling it to the brim and hauling it towards the last pillar. He glanced down at the container as he carried it, catching a glimpse of his reflection from the liquid inside. His face shone red with effort, misplaced strands of hair having clung themselves to his tan skin.

Though unsurprised, he still couldn't help but laugh at the rippling image. "It's just my luck I'd swap with another jungle dwelling Hermit. I swear, I can never escape this climate for long. First the island last year, then all this."

With a shake of his head he returned his gaze upwards, continuing to muse aloud to the landscape before him, "You tropics are wonderful and all, but it sure would've been a nice change of pace to set up camp in somewhere like the mountains. Or pull total 180 and have landed in the tundras!"

Concepts for each design raced through his head, each idea fighting the others for dominance and tacking details onto itself, trying to land its place on the metaphorical pedestal of his imagination. A cottage with medieval influences? No, that would be far too typical, amp both of those components up. An entire village with a steampunk driven aesthetic, built into the mountainscape itself; no doubt with custom terraforming to integrate the buildings into the natural environment. That was more like it.

Scar could envision working windmills and waterwheels accompanying purposefully makeshift farmlands, historic blimps having reclaimed skies where they'd soar high overhead. Below them, eye-catching pops of colour, shining through as floating lanterns that hover above connective rope bridges.

As for the arctic concept? Something more grand would be ideal. In his fantasy, he'd created an absolute oxymoron of the words cabin and mansion jumbled together, and he adored it that way. A bottom floor made of bricked stone, the top made of logs and large windows to oversee the view. Accompanying them in the same manner would be a balcony, propped on columns that hugged the building and curved around its corners. The top deck would be open for clear days, and the space below it safe on harsher ones. Sloped roofs would be adorned with chimneys, and the interior warmed by cozy flames that were kept organized with inviting lofts. The living area could be split leveled, sinking down to create its own margin where guests could comfortably gather by the fireplace and--

There was a tug at his ankle, and next thing he knew, a bemused Scar went crashing to the ground, having been too caught up to notice the trailing plants blocking his footway. His hands shot out to catch himself, palms scraping against the concrete floor in a way similar to the childhood stunt of crashing and burning on the pavement. A stinging snapped up his arms, and the water bucket dropped from his grasp, clattering down with a metallic rumble before spilling its contents across the floor.

Scar pushed himself upright with a hiss of air through his teeth, shaking off his grazed palms and wiping them on his jeans. Pulling his foot free from the greenery and gathering himself up was no problem, what was a problem, however, was the troubling sight now before him.

The water had spilled all over one of Mumbo's redstone contraptions, causing the device to short circuit and emit a sort of maroon-grey smoke. The wires fashioned from the compacted dust had been all but washed away, any remaining pieces hanging on by threads and failing miserably whenever a signal attempted to fire; more so sizzling rather than surging alight with energy.

"Oh, crud!" he shouted, racing towards the machine and yanking on the shut-off switch to divert any further input from the broken setup.

It powered down, but Scar was still left swatting the coloured smoke from his face, coughing as the scent of burnt metallics filled his nostrils. When had he gotten so absorbed in possible building opportunities that he'd managed to miss the foliage in front of him? Why had he even been wondering so deeply about it, anyway? This event was about improving one another's bases by adding their own personal touches, not starting a new project entirely.

Scar sighed, he wasn't sure why his mind had begun drifting so far. He'd like to blame it on the wild imagination of a builder, but he had a feeling there was a little more to it. Sometimes, when the world wasn't too much to handle, it was too easy to let fall away. Maybe he spent too much time daydreaming-- he was sure there was a word for that, when trances became so all encompassing, so engrossing.

"But I don't have time to think about that right now," he reminded himself, "I really need to fix this. It doesn't look like most of this redstone is salvageable, I'll have to get new supplies to repair it. Maybe some of the circuits are okay..?"

Scar nudged a repeater with his shoe, the device making an unnatural sloshing noise in his attempt to change the feed-in. He scrunched up his nose, "Okay, nope, gonna need to replace that, too."

Running a hand through his hair in defeat, he glanced towards Mumbo's storage system before shaking his head. It wouldn't be right to use the other man's supplies without asking, let alone waste them on a mistake made due to Scar's own carelessness. He'd have to make his way back to his original base and gather the materials from there once more. When he dropped by initially, he figured he'd gotten everything he needed, but apparently hadn't accounted for dissociation-induced redstone mishaps.

"I guess we're making a trip back," Scar announced to no one, finally picking up the empty bucket to set it safely aside. He made his way over to his tent, temporarily discarding any excess materials and bidding adieu to Jellie before grabbing his elytra and setting off.

Taking to the skies, Scar squinted against the wind as it roared in his ears. His hair parted itself from where it had stuck, short locks brushed back by the flowing breeze. With arms extended for balance, and maybe a dash of amusement, he lit his rockets and propelled himself into the distance.

-----

It wasn't long before he encroached on his base again, allowing his faux wings to glide him downward where he kicked out his legs to come to a soft landing. Scar stopped before the massive drill site just on the outskirts of the forest, heading towards the agglomeration of crates and boxes he had haphazardly stowed aside. He was certain there had to be the necessary hardware in one of the many containers, though which that may be was lost on him. At least, thanks to Mumbo and his new storage system, the chest monster he'd created would soon be a thing of the past.

"I wonder how that's going for him..." Scar pondered, striding over to a random shulker and beginning his sure-to-be protracted search.

"Scar?" a familiar voice interrupted, making him peer ahead to see the moustached man himself rounding the corner. "Hello there! I see you've made yourself rather at home at my base," Mumbo teased.

He couldn't help but chuckle, "That I have. I just needed to stop by and pick up some redstone and iron. With all the ore this place has quarried up, I was sure there's bound to be more of that here than back at Larry."

Mumbo faked surprise with a hearty grin, "Getting into mechanics, are we? Have the inner workings of the temple really had that much influence on you after only a few days?"

"Now I wouldn't say that," Scar shook his head and closed the lid of the grey shulker, seeing no point in hiding the truth. "I took a tumble holding a bucket of water and it kinda spilled on one of the contraptions. I'm sorry for the trouble-- but don't worry! I came here to fix it right up. I just didn't wanna waste your materials fixing my silly error."

The suited man waved his hand dismissively, "Nonsense, it's no trouble. Have you seen the improvements you've made to that place? I mean, of course you've seen them, you built them, but rhetorically speaking--" Mumbo cleared his throat, "Just don't fret over it, I trust that you'll have it fixed right up in no time."

Scar smiled, "Thanks, dude. Now I just have to find where on Earth I put those ore…"

Mumbo gave another laugh, "You know, you can feel free to use some of my things if need be. I have no idea how you expect to find anything in this mess. I'm only trying to do a basic look through so I know where to begin when it comes to the item sorter, but even that doesn't seem to do much good. I swear, it's like trying to play a very intense game of memory, with thousands of nonsensical cards all scattered about."

Scar snickered sheepishly at the comparison, "Yeah, no kidding. But being able to use some resources without flying all the way over here would be great. Thanks again, Mumbo. I don't know if there's anything you'll need here while working, but hey, consider it free range. We're doing these things for each other in the long run, anyway."

"I'd say, 'unless we don't switch back our deeds', but in all honesty? I'm beginning to miss the ol' living monument already."

The two exchange a chuckle before returning to their previous tasks, both going back to digging through the pile of chests in preparation for their projects.

It took longer than Scar wanted to admit to finally find the crate stocked with valuables-- sighing in relief at the sight and immediately beginning to pile the items into his inventory. There were pre-smelted metals from an iron farm, so he didn't have to bother with the ore, and the redstone he'd gathered was already in dust from, meaning all he'd have to do was craft the items after returning.

"I wonder if it would've been easier to stop by the shopping district and buy these directly, instead of making them by hand..." he said, "Oh well, saves on diamonds, and these had to be used some time, I guess."

"Talking to yourself over there?" Mumbo asked.

"Just thinking aloud is all."

"I see," the moustached man nodded, pushing himself up from where he'd been examining the supplies. "I found something neat from last year! Do you wanna see?"

"Sure!" Scar agreed, setting aside his intent of flying back in favour of seeing what it was Mumbo had to show him.

He smiled and stepped over to Scar, holding out a faded piece of paper for them both to see, "I found it stuck to the bottom of a shulker box! Can you believe we used to be competition so recently?" He joked.

Scar could only stare at the advert before him, a steele blue page embellished with a vault-like ring in the center. It meant nothing to the untrained eye, but to him, all of the company's horrors were sealed underneath. ConCorp read bold text in half-connected lettering, the logo finalizing its signature with a black bow tie adorning the bottom.

"Hardly," managed Scar, having just remembered he'd been asked a question, "But it wasn't that recent."

"It was practically yesterday if we're talking business," Mumbo snickered, "but we aren't. I'm not very good at business."

"Me neither, I prefer mayorship," he said in an attempt to change the subject.

Mumbo, however, didn't seem to notice, only turning to stare at Scar with eyes wide. "Are you kidding me? You were quite literally the richest Hermit of all last year! You're wonderful at business. Sahara was amazing, and I don't for a second doubt it was the most ambitious project of our group to date, but she had plenty of bugs, being the machine powered industry that she was. ConCorp, however? That was an utter monopoly! The thing lasted two bloody seasons!"

Scar chuckled awkwardly, "I know, I know, Cub and I worked very hard. But it wasn't all us, we couldn't have done it alone."

"Give yourself more credit," Mumbo insisted, "I'm more than convinced you could have gotten your business up and running even without the help of your Vex friends. Weren't they less prominent in your company last year, anyway? You did change your guy's name from ConVex to ConCorp, after all. I think that would imply less input on their part."

"Not really," he explained, though the tension building in his body was becoming harder to conceal. He had to keep his arms rigid so that they wouldn't shake, forcing in deep breaths to avoid the shaky ones that threatened to take their place. "We just thought it would be better for business, rebranding to something more gentlemanly and all."

Mumbo nodded, "Ah, that makes sense. Though I still don't understand how you managed to work with them to begin with. I likely wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes. I mean business partners with the Vex? Friends, even? How'd you do it? Not to mention why? With all due respect, what makes one seek that out?"

Scar blinked hard at the influx of questions, "Oh, it's- it's really complicated, you might not understand. Cub started it, though. I joined the team not long after, but I wasn't there when he first struck the deal with Them."

"Huh, some deal," Mumbo remarked thoughtfully, and Scar nodded.

He had no idea.

"So what made you leave that behind?" Mumbo continued.

"What?" he asked, finding his thoughts hazy. They were static nothingness, but somehow also crashing into his skull. He found himself having to dig his way through them, while at the same time trying to bury them once he passed. The last thing Scar wanted was to do was hark back to the Vex, to beckon forth Their memory with his own.

The other man simply chuckled, oblivious to Scar's inner turmoil. "ConCorp, the Vex. Did you two just get bored? Having done the same thing for too long?"

"In a sense, you could definitely say we were tired of it. It just- well, it wasn't what we wanted to do anymore. We wanted to move on to new things."

"That's fair enough. Do you blokes still get along? Or did they take the corporation's end like a sour breakup?"

This time, Scar couldn't contain his wince. "We're still friends!" he insisted, "Of course the Vex are my friends."

Mumbo finally quirked a brow, "Are you sure about that? You don't have to worry about hiding some burnt corporal bridges from me, I'm not here to judge."

"Oh yeah, I'm positive," he nodded eagerly, "I'm just- I'm gonna go work on fixing that contraption I damaged, best to get it fixed before we have to switch back."

"Buddy, are you sure everything's alright? I'm sorry if I upset you or anything."

"Nah, I'm just peachy!" Scar announced with far too much false enthusiasm, internally cringing at his failed masking abilities. Not allowing any more time for his ruse to be cracked, he uttered a quick goodbye before adjusting the straps on his elytra and dashing off, leaping into the air and back towards the ruins.

"Scar, wait!" Mumbo tried, but he was already gone.

------

The returning flight was far from the peaceful journey he'd made to the excitation site. His artificial wings beat frantically, struggling to keep up as he charged forward with excessive firepower. He paid no mind to the safety protocol regarding the rocket's cool-down period, simply heralding through the air as fast as his elytra would carry him. Scar arrived back to the monument in a trip overall much faster than when he'd left, but it seemed to drag on for an eternity. The entire excursion consisted of a battle with his own mind-- a war in which he knew he was bound to lose, but he had to hold down the fort until he was on solid ground.

Scar was lucky not to crash into the debris upon landing, frantically stumbling to the dirt and having to grasp onto a piece of wreckage to maintain his balance. His legs nearly buckled under his weight, form trembling in spite of the deep breaths he gave it his all to draw in.

He grasped hard to the rubble, trying to anchor his brain into focus. He couldn't let his thoughts spiral, he couldn't think about Them. He knew grounding techniques, and he tried to rush his way through them.

Five things you can see.

He could see the golden heart, plants, stone, the golden heart again-- the thing was too anatomically correct, he'd seen horrors too similar to it before. And the sound, it was too damn loud, too hard to ignore. Its unsteady rhythm hammering in his ears alongside his own faltering pulse.

Forget visuals, four different noises?

Scar squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to listen, focusing hard on the world around him. Still, he could only hear the heart. He could only hear it pounding, its once melodic notes like nails on a chalkboard. He could remember far too many times when he was left alone with nothing but his heartbeat and his pleas.

Tactile. Texture. What can you feel? Three things you can feel.

Internally, he screamed at his dulling senses to return. God, he didn't want to think about Them, it wasn't worth the risk. They'd been inside his head before, and the mere idea of having his thoughts broadcasted again made his stomach churn. Scar tried harder and harder to suppress the images bubbling to the surface, festering like maggots in an old wound. The more he tried to push them down, however, the fiercer they'd rise back up, and he choked down a sob in attempt to list the sensations he could currently identify.

He could feel the stone-- but he already said the stone, didn't he? He could also feel the sun. It was hot against his back. So hot. He was overheating.

The notes should have been a success, but the drops of sweat felt too akin to tricking blood. The sting of his hands felt too much like the friction burn of a rope. It felt too much like he was back with the Vex again, and as he finally sunk to the soil, he could no longer swim against the onslaught of memories crashing over him like a tidal wave.

They could still hear him, They could still hear him, They could still hear him, They could still get him--

------

The day he and Cub first found the courage to try and cut ties with the Vex had been a hellish one, and the two men weren't even successful in their attempt. Hence, of course, it being the first.

Still, it had taken ages for Scar to persuade Cub that it was even worth trying, the other man having believed it was impossible to sneak anything past the Vex on their own. Scar was persistent, however, and eventually convinced his friend they had a shot if they played their cards right, if they made the right proposal without their intentions being discovered.

They'd constructed their plans in secret for weeks; discussing them only inside of untold locations with hushed whispers, or in the form of coded scrawls they'd burn immediately after reading. They couldn't be too careful, that's what they'd tell themselves whenever they worried their precautionary measures may be over the top. Even so, when a so-called conference was put on the schedule --such events were far from any type of cordial meeting, despite having been assigned the title of one-- the men were hardly prepared for it.

Their conference room consisted of a needlessly grandiose suite, with floors of marble and walls carved from deep umber wood. The polished lumber was adorned with expensive paintings in aureate frames; antique laden shelves taking up the spaces they did not. Aesthetically pleasing decorative tactics were discarded in favour of showing off their riches in a possessive cluster, with the only average items being the table and its chairs sat in the dead center of the area. A chandelier of gemstone and gold swung from above, dangling by the same chains fated to one day bind their vassals.

"Concordats, greetings!" A Vex declared as the men were led through the doorway, hovering in the air at the opposing end of the surface.

"Greetings," parroted Cub minimally, Scar giving a plain nod beside him. Fewer words meant less chance at letting their guard down.

"We've been needing to speak with you," a different Vex chimed.

"Speak with you about the business," yet another visitant confirmed.

"We actually need to discuss similar matters with you all," Scar noted, voice and expression a façade of tranquility.

"You do?" the first asked, wide smile replaced with inquiry.

"Yes," managed Cub, "we want to make you an offer, one you can't refuse."

"I do like the sound of that!" the second snickered.

"We'll hear your offer," the Vex grinned, "we only have one question first!"

"Of course, what is it?" asked Scar, in mental awe of how well their exchange was going.

"Do you recognize these?" it asked, gesturing towards the white table where a blue light flashed, fading away to reveal a small pile of ash.

Cub and Scar glanced to one another in evident confusion, the latter of the two speaking once again, "Forgive me, but we're not sure what you're talking about."

"Oh, silly me!" the Vex giggled, another flash of luminesce encompassing the soot and leaving a stack of papers in its place. As if caught in a controlled gust, they blew from the surface and organized themselves midair; levitating in a cloud of magic.

All of their once burnt notes were lined up before them, cyphers needed to crack their messages included.

Still beaming with innocence, it continued, "How about now? Look familiar?"

The blood drained from their faces, and Scar could have sworn his heart was going to burst from his chest with how hard it was drumming. He wanted to wake up, because this had to be a nightmare.

"No, we have no idea what those are," he tried.

LAIR!

Overlapping voices screamed in his head, all sounding in haunting unison. Scar hastily clapped his hands over his ears, but it did nothing to silence the uproar emanating from within.

You try to break our contract then lie to our faces?

Foolish concordats.

Terrible secret keepers, terrible subjects.

Cub seized hold of Scar's arm and made a break for the door with the brunet in tow, reaching the exit and tugging desperately on the handles. They refused to turn under his grasp, and his eyes darted back towards the Vex; floating creatures growing ever closer to their imaginary bubble providing them with the illusion of safety.

More of Them were phasing in through walls, forms non-corporeal and having no need for the sealed entryway.

Apologize.

They all ordered, Scar flinching at the simultaneous projection. He lowered his hands and turned towards Them, watching Their unmoving grins with wide eyes.

Kneel before your gods and divulge your prayers, we may just show you mercy.

"I'm sorry-" Scar whimpered, but Cub was having none of it.

"No!" the man barked, "Screw this! This isn't worth it! None of this is worth it! He's right! The business, the money, the power, it-- it means nothing! Not when you treat us like this!"

They watched him step forward, his furious yells echoing through the expanse of the room, "We're done! And we mean it! You're going to get us go or else!"

An orchestra of shrill cackles filled the air.

Oooh, it's angry.

They're fighting back!

Teach them a lesson.

"You won't dare make another-" Cub's retaliation was cut short with a cry, the bearded man dropping to the ground in a swift crash.

"Cub!" Scar called, but his attempt to step towards his friend was met only with a searing pain through his legs and the subsequent buckling of his knees. He fell to the marble, limbs heavy as if they'd been weighted. It took considerable force to balance on his arms, appendages left shaking as he peered back up towards the Vex.

He regretted it instantly.

•••

(Part two)

[brcconstruct]

BRC Construction, Family-Owned & Operated General Contractor.

A home can make a difference in the life of an individual. A home can bring people together. The process of building a home is one of the great opportunities to enhance new techniques and advance your communication. Home construction might not be an easy and straightforward task, but it can significantly impact lives. An examination of home construction will demonstrate construction development, essential aspects, and construction management.  However, BRC Construction is here at your service to assure you with full satisfaction with the construction service.

Home addition Houston ,BRC Construction has been a professional contractor in the construction industry for more than ten years, located at 18127 Quarry Vale Drive Cypress, TX 77429. Our primary goal is to satisfy our client. Most of our clients are located at Cypress, Memorial, Galleria, Katy, Sugar Land, Woodlands, and Bellaire. Moreover, we are always delighted to offer our client a free consultation for custom house construction, remodeling home or home additions in Houston and surrounding areas, including Cypress, Woodlands TX, Memorial City, or Bunker Hill Village. However, we cover most of the areas of Houston. We treat all of our clients, considering them as a part of our BRC construction family.   And We pride ourselves on providing our clients with ultimate solutions to meet their needs, expectations, and budgets.  We are also careful about giving attention to detail and are committed to exceeding our clients’ expectations.

BRC Construction works collaboratively with our clients to understand their needs, budgets, and expectations and offers a flexible approach that ensures our projects meet deadlines and exceed expectations. Our experts have a broad range of knowledge and a can-do approach which, in turn, motivates, inspires, and encourages the rest of our team.

Home additions in Houston, When it comes to a remodel, custom home, every customer wants the same basic assurances– that the project will be completed at an affordable rate, at a specific time,  and a good outcome and never fail to fulfill the demand of their client. They also manage the construction process from pre-planning through final site clean-up. Along the way, we keep the project on track, manage subcontractors, anticipate obstacles and provide proactive solutions– all while giving regular updates to the client. BRC Construction has completed a wide variety of renovation and custom home projects, both large and small. We believe successful remodel, and new construction projects result from careful listening, detailed planning, and competent execution. Our only purpose is to meet and exceed client needs, increase project efficiencies within budget and schedule.

The services of BRC Construction include:

1.General Remodeling.

2.Kitchen Remodeling.

3.Bathroom Remodeling.

4.Home addition.

5.Second Story Addition.

6.Custom Houston.

Home addition Houston, Among all of our services for construction, home addition and remodeling are the best compared to others. We turn your vision into a reality using quality materials. BRC construction can assist you when you own a lot in Houston and surrounding areas. Our builders are pretty professional, dedicated, determined towards their work. We will support you each step of the way. We can custom build to your specifications. In Houston, we set the standard with quality craftsmanship. We ensure flexibility to work with or modify your ideal floor plan at your lot. Every person prefers to have a variety of options and possibilities. When it comes to a range of interior and exterior options, it draws more attention. Consider free to call us at (281) 407-4486 for a FREE lot evaluation. We are experienced in custom home construction, home renovation, and remodeling. We are here to help you always in Houston with our experience. For family home construction, we will encourage free consultation when you already own your property. We will arrange a free evaluation of your property. This is to determine the best possible building site and design for your new home. Nevertheless, BRC Construction is undoubtedly a good choice which you can trust to get your construction service.

[chicagocityofclans]

Fenrin Gustafsson → Austin Butler → Witch

→ Basic Information

Age: 575

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual 

Powers: Aquakinesis 

Birthday: March 14th

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Religion: Norse Paganism 

Mark: Unknown

Generation: Presumed 2nd Generation 

→ His Personality

Most of the time Fenrin is like the sea on a calm summer's day. That is to say that he is easy going, warm and friendly, spending most of his time just going with the flow. He’ll invite you to join him for coffee, even if you’ve never met before, and then insist you stay for cake two hours later when you say you should leave. His relaxed nature can also put people at ease when they’re around him. This often means he makes a good teacher and a good sailing partner. He doesn’t rattle easy, managing to stay calm even in the stormiest of waters when out sailing as well as in life. 

On the flip side he can be quite impulsive. One minute its calm waters, the next a torrent of activity. When he decides to do something he doesn’t give it much thought, he just does it. But whatever he does he tries to do well; putting his all into every detail. This goes for people too. He lets people in easily and once he’s decided you're a friend you can expect him to be there for you whenever you need him for the rest of your life. 

→ His Personal Facts

Occupation: Boat Builder and Sailing Instructor 

Scars: One of his right foot, One on his left arm, A few small ones on his hands

Tattoos: Old, slightly faded ones across his chest, arms and back

Two Likes: Being Outdoors and Lingonberry Juice 

Two Dislikes: Electronics and Fastfood

Two Fears: The Desert and Bleeding Out

Two Hobbies: Sailing and Wood Carving 

Three Positive Traits: Relaxed, Hospitable, Loving

Three Negative Traits: Impulsive, Flippant, Meticulous 

→ His Connections

Parent Names:

Gustaf Henriksson (Father/deceased): he doesn’t remember much of his father as he was killed when Fenrin was still just a boy, but he does remember he was caring but strict with his children. 

Aslaug Ivarsdotter (Mother/deceased): Fenrin has fond memories of his mother. She was a gentle and kind woman. His twin sister reminds him a lot of her, which is likely why she is still so clear in his memory.

Sibling Names:

Jonna Gustafsdotter (Twin sister): As is often the case with twins, Fenrin and Jonna have always been close. Where he can be changeable like the sea, she is constant like the earth. She has often stopped him from making impulsive and reckless decisions.

Ingrid Gustasdotter (Sister): Ingrid was always more independent than the rest of the family but they still share a close bond. 

Children Names:

None

Romantic Connections:

Birgitta Olafsdotter (wife/deceased): She was a human he met in his youth and instantly fell in love with. Though she aged whilst he did not, he stayed with her. Their relationship changed over the years, becoming less romantic but he cared for her till the end of her life. 

Platonic Connections:

Judson Cleirigh (Friend): Judson and Fenrin first met whilst surfing years ago. When they bumped into each other again in Chicago a friendship formed between them. Judson is currently using Fenrin as a lab rat for potions to help battle dehydration. Fenrin is happy to help, both as a favour for a friend and because he wouldn’t mind having such a potion. 

Raul Santiago (Friend): They met last summer at the mariner one sunny day. Fenrin was preparing his boat for a trip and Raul came over to ask him about it. They got chatting and easily became friends from there. 

Simon Lee Weyden (Friendly): Simon has recently reached out to Fenrin with regards to his interest in genetics and is now trying to connect Fenrin’s mark to that of others from the Norse countries. Whilst it started as Fenrin simply being a research project in Simon’s training as a Mark Keeper, they have found they get along quite well.

Simone Campbell (Friendly): Fenrin met Simone a few months ago at Anonymous where she works. They clicked pretty quickly, especially after he mentioned his love of the water and she expressed her love of swimming. After a few chats they exchanged information and have started to become friends.

Arianna Torres (Student/Friend): Ari is one of Fenrin’s sailing students but one he has come to think of as more of a friend than a student. He always looks forward to their lessons.

Vladimir Draga (Good Friend): Vlad and Fenrin have known each other for many years. They met not long after Fenrin arrived in Chicago. At first their shared histories on the high seas drew them together but a more solid friendship has grown out of that over the years. 

Ezra Scultz (Friendly): Fenrin met Ezra at a local woodworkers group one of his students had told him about. As one of the only other supernaturals in the group he’d made a point of introducing himself and found that they get along quite well.

Mason Harley (Friendly): As with Ezra, Fenrin met Mason at a local group for woodworkers. As one of the only other supernaturals in the group he’d made a point of introducing himself and found that they get along quite well.

Eric Lasiter (Friend): At first Eric and Fenrin met because of business. With Eric being a master of craftsmanship and Fenrin being a master boat builder, they teamed up to make an unsinkable boat for a client. They’ve worked together since then and have formed a friendship through their time together. 

Hostile Connections:

Harry Reeves (Cautious Of): A few years ago Harry electrocuted Fenrin. He’s sure it was an accident but he’s been wary of him since. 

Pets:

None but he’s considering getting a dog  

→ History Fenrin was born a few minutes after his twin sister, Jonna, in the northern reaches of Sweden. Both his parents were elemental witches - his mother a viking from Norway and his father a slightly younger witch native to Sweden. When they found she was pregnant they decided to travel back to his village to raise their children. Sadly Fenrin didn’t have the chance to truly get to know his father as he died shortly after Fenrin’s younger sister, Ingrid, was born. Like Fenrin, he had the gift of aquakinesis and was prone to dehydration. It was in this weakened state he was caught unaware by a bear and killed. 

Growing up in their village they were always viewed as a slightly odd family, likely because his mother still hung onto many of the ways she had known in her own youth. She still took them to the small local church when the preacher visited so that they weren’t completely ostracised from their community but at home it was different. They weren’t raised to belief in one God or the Bible but instead to worship Odin, Thor, Freya and the rest of the Norse gods. It is something that Fenrin has never stopped believing in. Once they were of age she also encouraged them to get tattoos as was the custom for her people. Over the years that followed Fenrin built up a collection that spanned his arms, chest and back. The ink has faded a little over the centuries but they are still clearly visible today.

Their village was on a vast lake and before he died Fenrin’s father had been a boatbuilder. As Fenrin grew older one of his father's friends, a human, offered to teach the young witch the same trade. Wanting to be closer to the memory of his father Fenrin accepted the offer and began his training that spring. When he wasn’t working or getting some fundamental magic training from his mother, young Fenrin could be found at the lake or falling in love with a girl who lived on the other side of it. His mother warned him against falling for a human but he couldn’t help it. A few months into his courting of Birgitta an old enemy caught up with his mother. She was a powerful witch but he was stronger and she didn’t survive the fight. Fenrin would have likely killed the man himself if it weren’t for someone else getting the before him. The three siblings were naturally heart broken, the loss pulling them even closer together. They decided to leave their home in search of a mentor that might take them on and when they left Fenrin asked Birgitta to marry him, and come with them. She said yes far more quickly than he’d expected. 

They married under the midnight sun on Midsummer and left for the south a week later. It was their thinking they’d have a better chance of finding others like themselves in one of the bigger cities. They were right. Fenrin and Jonna found a witch who was willing to take them both on and Ingrid found a warlock to mentor her too. The four of them, the three siblings and Fenrin’s wife, lived very happily for many decades but then things started to change. Fenrin had stopped ageing in his twenties but of course Birgitta, being human, had not. Eventually a decision was made. Jonna and Ingrid would stay with their mentors in the city whilst Fenrin and Birgitta went back to their village. By that time their relationship had changed. They still loved each other very much but it had shifted from something passionately romantic to something more platonic. Given that no one in their village knew what Fenrin was they decided to lie and say that Fenrin was in fact not himself but their son. They village brought the lie easily and they were able to stay there in peace until Birgitta passed on of old age. 

Fenrin spent another year up in the north grieving her loss before he moved back to be with his sisters and resume his training. They stayed there a long time before deciding it was time to seek new mentors. At first they stayed in Sweden, moving even further south, then to Norway, then onto Scotland. It was after a while here that the three siblings went their separate ways for a time. Jonna headed south into Wales, whilst Ingrid chose to stay in Scotland. As for Fenrin, he took to the place that had been tugging at his soul since he was born - the sea. He sailed for a while on a merchant ship before bumping into a rather eccentric old warlock whilst in port. This particular warlock shared Fenrin’s abilities and spent their life permanently sailing the seven seas on their own boat. They offered for Fenrin to come with them and to mentor him whilst they sailed around the world. Fenrin stayed with them for a little over two centuries, with a few breaks in between to visit his sisters. Over those centuries he started to learn to truly master his abilities and collected a treasure chest worth of stories from the places he’d been and the things he’d done. 

If he could have, he would have stayed with them longer but in the interest of learning more it eventually came time for him to find a new mentor. This meant returning to land but he made sure that he was still on the coast. Here he mentored with a witch his twin had started mentoring with a few years before. Though he missed being at sea he truly loved getting to spend time with his twin again. Once their training was declared complete at the age of 500 the twins travelled to stay with their sister for a time. Where she was though, was somewhere landlocked and eventually the river that ran through it just wasn’t enough for Fenrin. So he decided to move on but not too far, somewhere he could still easily visit his sisters. He settled on Chicago. With no training to do he set himself up as a boat builder and after a while took up teaching sailing lessons too. 

→ The Present Fenrin is hoping that with time he can convince his sisters to settle in Chicago as he has but for now he’s just happy he can see them regularly. He’s started to let himself really put down roots in the city. Along with setting up his business, he’s also joined a local woodworking group and has been rekindling old friendships, as well as developing new ones. Now that he’s feeling settled he’s starting to think about becoming a mentor himself and taking on a student or two. On a slightly smaller scale he’s also considering getting a dog. 

At present Fenrin lives on his boat and he doesn’t much see any reason to change that. He’s managed to make it very comfortable and knows plenty of tricks for keeping it cosy through the cold winters.

[satoshi-mochida]

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is coming to PC via Steam on December 10 for $59.99, publisher Square Enix announced.

The PC version will include all of the downloadable content previously released via the Season Pass for the PlayStation 4 and Switch versions, including new content, recipes, hairstyles, clothing, and new areas to explore. This includes the “Hotto Stuff Pack,” “Aquarium Pack,” and “Moderninst Pack” add-ons.

Users who pre-purchase the game ahead of release will receive the following in-game bonus content:

Ornamental Medicinal Herb Recipe

Dragon Quest Logo Recipe

Ornamental Chimaera Wing Recipe

Five Sigil Block Recipes for building decorative blocks with sun, stars, moon, water, and soul motifs

Legendary Line Art Recipe

Lo-Res Luminary Recipes

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the critically acclaimed block-building RPG from Dragon Quest series creators Yuji Horii, character designer Akira Toriyama, and composer Koichi Sugiyama—now for Steam players!

The Steam version includes all the Season Pass content previously released on console versions: Hotto Stuff Pack, Modernist Pack, Aquarium Pack, Designer’s Sunglasses, Legendary Builder Outfit, Dragonlord’s Throne, and more!

Don’t let the name fool you, despite the 2, this is a completely standalone experience featuring new characters, an expansive world, unlimited building combinations, and a storyline that’s sure to satisfy long-time fans and newcomers alike!

Embark on an epic journey and became the master Builder! Customized your character and set off to revive a forsaken world alongside a mysterious companion named Malroth. Then, take your builder online and join your friends to collaborate and create something truly magnificent.

Story

The evil Children of Hargon are determined to eradicate all creators and have outlawed the building, cooking, and creation of all things. To spread their destructive dogma, the calamitous cult captures the builders of the world. All hope seems to be lost until you, a young apprentice builder, manage to escape from the clutches of evil.

After washing up on the shores of the deserted Isle of Awakening, you encounter the spirited Malroth, a mysterious youth with no memory of his past. With the help of your fearless new friend, you embark on a grand adventure to gather the skills required to become a full-fledged builder, but the road you build is paved with peril. Only you can defeat the Children of Hargon, uncover the secrets of Malroth’s past, and unravel the riddles of this mysterious land.

Key Features

Block-building RPG – Prove yourself as a Builder and a Warrior, help the people of the realm to rebuild their destroyed lands. The more you help the more you’ll receive hearts and recognition. Prepare for a cure of creativity and friendliness!

Creative open-world – Construct big structures in this fantasy block world with a large variety of options.

Explore, gather, and craft – Each island contains its own set of unique materials to help you grow, craft, and cook new creations. Along the way you’ll improve your skills and grow as a builder as you learn new recipes and blueprints.

Battle fearsome foes alongside your partner – Accompanying you on your quest is the mysterious Malroth, an aggressive amnesiac with a fondness for fighting foes. His powerful attacks and skills on the battlefield are truly indispensable!

Dash, swim, and glide across an expansive world – Run across open fields and explore charming villages, treacherous mines, and spectacular castles. Dive into the watery depths to discover hidden treasures, climb the highest mountain to catch the sunset, and glide home to rest up for your next day of adventure.

Plant, water, and grow! – Work together with your villagers to till soil, plants seeds, and raise a multitude of crops. Be sure to customize the way you build your fields to support the kind of crops you’re growing. Harvest anything from the humble cabbage to sweet sugar canes!

Design and Build with Friends Online – Big projects require big help! Up to 4 players can team up online to build anything you can imagine on the sandbox Isle of Awakening.

Watch the PC announcement trailer below.

[hannbuilt]

Affordable and Luxury Custom Home Building Service in Bellaire

Are you searching for the best home remodeling service for your home? If yes, look no further than Hann Builders. We offer high-end home remodeling services including Award-winning Houston Luxury Home Builders, Custom Home Design, Design and Build, High-End Home Remodeling Services, Luxury Bathroom Remodeling, New Construction, Master Bedroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling in Houston, Leading New Home Builders in Houston.

We at Hann Builders specialize in high-end residential construction in Houston, TX. Our expert team delivers luxurious custom homes to provide top-notch quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail for homeowners in the Houston area. We are dedicated to providing the best custom home remodeling service to our clients and customers.

At Hann Built, we understand the importance of this decision and strive to be among the top new home builders in Houston. With over 300 projects completed in more than 30 years, our reputation speaks for itself. Hann Built stands out due to our extensive experience and commitment to quality. We are proud to be one of the leading top home builders in Houston, providing personalized solutions to meet the needs of each client.

Hann Builders is your trusted custom Home Builder and Designer in Houston, TX, that designs and builds beautiful homes. With a passion for design and quality construction, we bring your dream home to life with expertise and creativity

Hann Builders is a reputable Luxury Custom Builder in Houston, TX who designs and constructs stunning houses. With a passion for design and quality construction, we expertly and creatively bring your ideal house to life. At Hann Builders, we know how to transform four walls into an extravagant safe haven that not only allows you to relax but makes you look forward to starting your day within it. Our design team will work with you to ensure that every detail contributes to the result you desire. We can make your dreams come true by giving your bedroom a luxury update. 

If you want to make your home that reflects your personality so call at 832-435-7792 and for more information visit our website https://www.hannbuilt.com/  

[mrkitchenpune]

Your Kitchen is a Mirror to Your Lifestyle

Our homes define us, more than we think. We, at Mr Kitchen, being the best interior designers in Pune understand this completely. The kitchen is often said to be the heart of any house and we relate to that. It is in this space that the wholesome meals and memories stem from a household. It is thus of no surprise that a lot of what defines a house is dependent on what defines the kitchen. We as Indians have a unique ability to mold anything we learn and see it as one of a kind experience for ourselves. Given how much effort we put into ensuring our homes and lives are personalized, there is no missing the point that we would love the same for our kitchens. Here is where the need for an Indian style kitchen designer in Pune is bound to be felt by some of you. We want you to know we are there for this very purpose. Be it a festival adapted from the West or from our own villages, we have constructed our city life for us to make time for one and all. In this fast-paced environment where our homes are our sanctuary and our abode to catch our breath and be at peace, we look to curate space that fits into your unique blend of original and adapted taste. Modular kitchens come in handy in such situations and Mr. Kitchen is the best modular kitchen designer in Pune are here to help you in the same. We may love the designs we see in magazines or when we visited a particular house or resort. That said, the design we did see is fixed for buy and while we did like it, we would love to make some changes in it for our own needs. If this is how you have often felt, we are here for you to help you find the best solution tailored to your need. A modular kitchen is the answer to your prayers. We will work employing our best technology, resources and experience to give you that desi style modern kitchen you've been thinking of. With state of the art factory and DCBA approach, Mr. Kitchen promises you what you seek within the budget you have in mind. Another unique aspect of us being us as Indians is that we can roam the world and while some of us may enjoy that a lot, all of us have an emotional connection to our homes. Our homes are more than brick and tiles to us. Keeping that in mind, it is not just preferred but necessary that those designing your home's and kitchens understand this emotion and adequately address it while coming up with design ideas for you.The days of standard looks and designs are a thing of the past. Today, if you are staying in your own house you would not want it to be suited to the needs of the past owner or the builder. While we cannot affect the structure of the house per say, being the best modular kitchen and interior designers in Pune, we can ensure that you have a chance to make your house look just the way you like.

We know the special feeling your own customized kitchen can give you and we want you to experience in at its finest. Your home is the place you live, love, cry, laugh and work at and we are certain you want all this and more to show in this place. The place must be modern but should certainly feel like "you" and thus be as unique as you are. This is the reason why we know you cannot just buy a one size fits all kitchen and the reason why we are here to make sure there is nothing that can describe you as closely as your own house does. That is a guarantee we, at Mr. Kitchen, would love to give you.

For More details contact us: +91 7447 447 906

[istanbuldaybg]

Historical value of Rome

There are three elements wherein the historical value of Rome surpasses that of any extant city: first, the enormous continuity of its history; next, the diversity of that interest; and lastly, the cosmopolitan range of its associations. These hill-crests beside the Tiber have been the home of a disciplined people (we must now believe) for some three thousand years, and it may well be much more; and during the whole of that vast period there has been no absolute or prolonged break.

Athens, Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Alexandria, Syracuse, Marseilles, and York, whatever they may once have been, whatever they may have recently become, fell out of the vision of history for long centuries together, like some variable star out of heaven, and sank into insignificance and oblivion. To very many the city of David and of the Passion has absorbing interests, such as no other spot on earth can approach; just as to the scholar the scene from the Pnyx at Athens calls up a sum of memories of unique intensity and delight. But the four transcendent centuries, when Athens was the eye of Greece, the eye of the thinking world, were followed by a thousand years when Athens was an obscure village; and if the ancient history of Jerusalem was longer than that of Athens, it has been followed by a still more overwhelming fall customized tour bulgaria.

Alexandria and Marseilles

All other famous cities of the ancient world have waned and fallen, in some cases, as with Athens, Alexandria, and Marseilles, to rise again out of a sleep of ages. Or if, like Paris and London, they are growing still, it is during some four or five centuries only that they have been the foremost cities of the world. But for two thousand years Rome has enjoyed an unbroken pre-eminence, for five centuries as the temporal mistress of the civilised world, and for some fifteen centuries as the spiritual head of the Catholic world. This dominant place in human evolution, prolonged over such immense periods of time in unbroken continuity, makes Rome the spot on earth where the story of civilisation can be locally centred and visibly recorded.

This is the real power and the true lesson of Rome; and in a dim way, it was felt by our ancestors who in the olden days made the ‘grand tour’ to enrich their galleries and to confer with virtuosi, or who in a later age followed the footsteps of Corinne, Goethe, and Byron. Something of the kind remained down to the time of Pio Nono. There was still a certain unity of effect in Rome; and even the more frivolous tourists had some sense of that over-mastering human destiny which caused Byron to break forth — ‘ O Rome, my country, city of the soul! ’

But all that has happened in the last twenty years has destroyed that visual impression. The sudden swelling forth of the city into a modern busy town three or four times larger than the old sleepy city of the popes, the suppression of the convents and the external ceremonial, and the sullen withdrawal of the Papacy, the deadly war between modern democracy and ultramontane ecclesiasticism, the flooding of the old city with the triumphs of the modern builder, and the Haussmannisation of the most romantic of European cities — all this has made it an effort of the abstract mind to look on Rome as the historic capital; and as to the ‘ city of the soui,’ one might as easily imagine it at Lyons, Milan, or indeed Chicago.

[istanbularge]

Historical value of Rome

There are three elements wherein the historical value of Rome surpasses that of any extant city: first, the enormous continuity of its history; next, the diversity of that interest; and lastly, the cosmopolitan range of its associations. These hill-crests beside the Tiber have been the home of a disciplined people (we must now believe) for some three thousand years, and it may well be much more; and during the whole of that vast period there has been no absolute or prolonged break.

Athens, Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Alexandria, Syracuse, Marseilles, and York, whatever they may once have been, whatever they may have recently become, fell out of the vision of history for long centuries together, like some variable star out of heaven, and sank into insignificance and oblivion. To very many the city of David and of the Passion has absorbing interests, such as no other spot on earth can approach; just as to the scholar the scene from the Pnyx at Athens calls up a sum of memories of unique intensity and delight. But the four transcendent centuries, when Athens was the eye of Greece, the eye of the thinking world, were followed by a thousand years when Athens was an obscure village; and if the ancient history of Jerusalem was longer than that of Athens, it has been followed by a still more overwhelming fall customized tour bulgaria.

Alexandria and Marseilles

All other famous cities of the ancient world have waned and fallen, in some cases, as with Athens, Alexandria, and Marseilles, to rise again out of a sleep of ages. Or if, like Paris and London, they are growing still, it is during some four or five centuries only that they have been the foremost cities of the world. But for two thousand years Rome has enjoyed an unbroken pre-eminence, for five centuries as the temporal mistress of the civilised world, and for some fifteen centuries as the spiritual head of the Catholic world. This dominant place in human evolution, prolonged over such immense periods of time in unbroken continuity, makes Rome the spot on earth where the story of civilisation can be locally centred and visibly recorded.

This is the real power and the true lesson of Rome; and in a dim way, it was felt by our ancestors who in the olden days made the ‘grand tour’ to enrich their galleries and to confer with virtuosi, or who in a later age followed the footsteps of Corinne, Goethe, and Byron. Something of the kind remained down to the time of Pio Nono. There was still a certain unity of effect in Rome; and even the more frivolous tourists had some sense of that over-mastering human destiny which caused Byron to break forth — ‘ O Rome, my country, city of the soul! ’

But all that has happened in the last twenty years has destroyed that visual impression. The sudden swelling forth of the city into a modern busy town three or four times larger than the old sleepy city of the popes, the suppression of the convents and the external ceremonial, and the sullen withdrawal of the Papacy, the deadly war between modern democracy and ultramontane ecclesiasticism, the flooding of the old city with the triumphs of the modern builder, and the Haussmannisation of the most romantic of European cities — all this has made it an effort of the abstract mind to look on Rome as the historic capital; and as to the ‘ city of the soui,’ one might as easily imagine it at Lyons, Milan, or indeed Chicago.

[travelistanbul]

Historical value of Rome

There are three elements wherein the historical value of Rome surpasses that of any extant city: first, the enormous continuity of its history; next, the diversity of that interest; and lastly, the cosmopolitan range of its associations. These hill-crests beside the Tiber have been the home of a disciplined people (we must now believe) for some three thousand years, and it may well be much more; and during the whole of that vast period there has been no absolute or prolonged break.

Athens, Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Alexandria, Syracuse, Marseilles, and York, whatever they may once have been, whatever they may have recently become, fell out of the vision of history for long centuries together, like some variable star out of heaven, and sank into insignificance and oblivion. To very many the city of David and of the Passion has absorbing interests, such as no other spot on earth can approach; just as to the scholar the scene from the Pnyx at Athens calls up a sum of memories of unique intensity and delight. But the four transcendent centuries, when Athens was the eye of Greece, the eye of the thinking world, were followed by a thousand years when Athens was an obscure village; and if the ancient history of Jerusalem was longer than that of Athens, it has been followed by a still more overwhelming fall customized tour bulgaria.

Alexandria and Marseilles

All other famous cities of the ancient world have waned and fallen, in some cases, as with Athens, Alexandria, and Marseilles, to rise again out of a sleep of ages. Or if, like Paris and London, they are growing still, it is during some four or five centuries only that they have been the foremost cities of the world. But for two thousand years Rome has enjoyed an unbroken pre-eminence, for five centuries as the temporal mistress of the civilised world, and for some fifteen centuries as the spiritual head of the Catholic world. This dominant place in human evolution, prolonged over such immense periods of time in unbroken continuity, makes Rome the spot on earth where the story of civilisation can be locally centred and visibly recorded.

This is the real power and the true lesson of Rome; and in a dim way, it was felt by our ancestors who in the olden days made the ‘grand tour’ to enrich their galleries and to confer with virtuosi, or who in a later age followed the footsteps of Corinne, Goethe, and Byron. Something of the kind remained down to the time of Pio Nono. There was still a certain unity of effect in Rome; and even the more frivolous tourists had some sense of that over-mastering human destiny which caused Byron to break forth — ‘ O Rome, my country, city of the soul! ’

But all that has happened in the last twenty years has destroyed that visual impression. The sudden swelling forth of the city into a modern busy town three or four times larger than the old sleepy city of the popes, the suppression of the convents and the external ceremonial, and the sullen withdrawal of the Papacy, the deadly war between modern democracy and ultramontane ecclesiasticism, the flooding of the old city with the triumphs of the modern builder, and the Haussmannisation of the most romantic of European cities — all this has made it an effort of the abstract mind to look on Rome as the historic capital; and as to the ‘ city of the soui,’ one might as easily imagine it at Lyons, Milan, or indeed Chicago.

[istanbulmosque]

Historical value of Rome

There are three elements wherein the historical value of Rome surpasses that of any extant city: first, the enormous continuity of its history; next, the diversity of that interest; and lastly, the cosmopolitan range of its associations. These hill-crests beside the Tiber have been the home of a disciplined people (we must now believe) for some three thousand years, and it may well be much more; and during the whole of that vast period there has been no absolute or prolonged break.

Athens, Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Alexandria, Syracuse, Marseilles, and York, whatever they may once have been, whatever they may have recently become, fell out of the vision of history for long centuries together, like some variable star out of heaven, and sank into insignificance and oblivion. To very many the city of David and of the Passion has absorbing interests, such as no other spot on earth can approach; just as to the scholar the scene from the Pnyx at Athens calls up a sum of memories of unique intensity and delight. But the four transcendent centuries, when Athens was the eye of Greece, the eye of the thinking world, were followed by a thousand years when Athens was an obscure village; and if the ancient history of Jerusalem was longer than that of Athens, it has been followed by a still more overwhelming fall customized tour bulgaria.

Alexandria and Marseilles

All other famous cities of the ancient world have waned and fallen, in some cases, as with Athens, Alexandria, and Marseilles, to rise again out of a sleep of ages. Or if, like Paris and London, they are growing still, it is during some four or five centuries only that they have been the foremost cities of the world. But for two thousand years Rome has enjoyed an unbroken pre-eminence, for five centuries as the temporal mistress of the civilised world, and for some fifteen centuries as the spiritual head of the Catholic world. This dominant place in human evolution, prolonged over such immense periods of time in unbroken continuity, makes Rome the spot on earth where the story of civilisation can be locally centred and visibly recorded.

This is the real power and the true lesson of Rome; and in a dim way, it was felt by our ancestors who in the olden days made the ‘grand tour’ to enrich their galleries and to confer with virtuosi, or who in a later age followed the footsteps of Corinne, Goethe, and Byron. Something of the kind remained down to the time of Pio Nono. There was still a certain unity of effect in Rome; and even the more frivolous tourists had some sense of that over-mastering human destiny which caused Byron to break forth — ‘ O Rome, my country, city of the soul! ’

But all that has happened in the last twenty years has destroyed that visual impression. The sudden swelling forth of the city into a modern busy town three or four times larger than the old sleepy city of the popes, the suppression of the convents and the external ceremonial, and the sullen withdrawal of the Papacy, the deadly war between modern democracy and ultramontane ecclesiasticism, the flooding of the old city with the triumphs of the modern builder, and the Haussmannisation of the most romantic of European cities — all this has made it an effort of the abstract mind to look on Rome as the historic capital; and as to the ‘ city of the soui,’ one might as easily imagine it at Lyons, Milan, or indeed Chicago.