#tempe artificial grass

[tempe-az-complex]

Artificial Turf Versus Grass

Turf and grass are two different types of ground coverings, each with its own characteristics and benefits. Grass requires significant ongoing maintenance, including regular mowing, watering, fertilizing, and weed control. It can be time-consuming and labor-intensive to maintain a healthy and attractive grass lawn. On the other hand, turf, especially artificial turf, requires less maintenance. Mowing, watering, or fertilizing are not necessary. However, some maintenance is still required, such as occasional cleaning and brushing to keep the turf looking its best. Check out Quality Turf AZ for your artificial turf Tempe AZ requirements. They provide a 10-year warranty on turf quality, which is trusted by millions of households worldwide.

Annual Events in Tempe, Arizona

Held in January, the P. F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon attracts runners from around the world. Participants can choose from a full marathon, half marathon, or 10K race, all accompanied by live music along the course. Taking place in the spring and fall, the renowned Tempe Festival of the Arts showcases works by local, national, and international artists. Visitors can explore various mediums, including painting, sculpture, jewelry, and ceramics while enjoying live music, food vendors, and activities for all ages. Tempe celebrates Independence Day with a grand fireworks display over Tempe Town Lake. The festival features live music, food vendors, family-friendly activities, and a festive atmosphere. In celebration of German culture, Tempe also hosts an Oktoberfest event in October. These are some of the city's celebrations.

Tempe Beach Park

Tempe Beach Park is situated on the southern shore of Tempe Town Lake, a scenic man-made reservoir created by damming a portion of the Salt River. The lake offers opportunities for various water activities, including kayaking, paddle boarding, rowing, and sailing, and is also a great spot for fishing. It features a sandy beach area, providing a place for visitors to relax, sunbathe, and enjoy the waterfront views. There are designated swimming areas where visitors can cool off and enjoy the water. The park has open green spaces for picnics, frisbee games, or simply lounging around, as well as an events pavilion and an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts, performances, and community gatherings.

Tempe Police Break Up Three Street Racing Crowds in One Night

Street racing significantly increases the risk of accidents. Participants often drive at extremely high speeds, which reduces their ability to maintain control of their vehicles and react to unexpected situations. The lack of proper safety measures and the presence of other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles on public roads further exacerbate the risk of collisions. Due to the inherent dangers and potential consequences, street racing is strongly discouraged and illegal in most jurisdictions and can result in severe legal consequences. It is important to prioritize safety and adhere to legal and regulated motorsports activities that take place in controlled environments with appropriate safety measures. Click here to read more.

Link to Map

Driving Direction

Tempe Beach Park

80 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States

Head west on W Rio Salado Pkwy

0.1 mi

At the traffic circle, take the 4th exit and stay on W Rio Salado Pkwy

2.8 mi

Turn right onto S River Dr

197 ft

Turn left

89 ft

Turn right

46 ft

Turn left

 Destination will be on the right

59 ft

Quality Turf AZ

127 S River Dr

Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

[gardenersatlas]

Avg. Temp - 16c Humidity - 80%

Golf came into existence not long after the landscape movement of the 18th century. Rolling vistas came from the ideal imaginations of the landscape painters of the time. Not unlike paintings influence on the garden design of Japan. A modern day golf course is as artificial as a video game - sometimes this artificiality has a soothing effect. Raking a bunker is maybe a second rate zen garden. Greenkeepers on golf courses these days are like technicians of grass, rising at 5am to swipe worm cast and keep the fairway to millimetre perfection.

[fallflowerarrangementsfrom]

A Look at the Beauty of Fall Flower Arrangements from Azelly Flowers

As the warm Arizona sun begins to set earlier and the desert starts to cool, the stunning colors of fall emerge, bringing a whole new palette for floral artistry. At Azelly Flowers, we love celebrating this seasonal transition by creating gorgeous, custom fall flower arrangements. Whether you're looking to brighten up your home, plan a stunning autumn wedding, or find the perfect centerpiece for a Thanksgiving feast in Mesa, Gilbert, or beyond, we’ve got you covered. Let's dive into the magic of fall florals and how we can help you showcase them!

Fall Flower Designs: A Burst of Seasonal Warmth Fall flower designs capture the essence of autumn with deep purples, fiery oranges, and rich reds paired with golden yellows. Some of our favorite fall flowers include chrysanthemums, dahlias, marigolds, and sunflowers—each bringing a burst of seasonal joy. At Azelly Flowers, we elevate these arrangements by adding unique seasonal accents like dried leaves, berries, and even small pumpkins, creating eye-catching displays that bring warmth to any setting.

Looking for something modern? We can incorporate candles, faux fruit, and earthy touches like burlap for a cozy yet chic look that transforms your space.

Fresh Ideas for Fall Flower Arrangements Incorporating different textures like eucalyptus, dried wheat, or pampas grass can take your fall arrangement to the next level. These elements add height, movement, and interest, making any design stand out. Want to go even bolder? Try using an empty pumpkin or rustic wooden box as a vase—perfect for a playful, seasonal touch.

We also love adding personal elements, like autumn leaves from your own backyard. Whether you're in Mesa, Tempe, or Chandler, we’ll help you create a fall arrangement that feels uniquely yours.

Artificial & Silk Flower Arrangements for Long-Lasting Beauty Looking for something that will last throughout the season? Our artificial fall flower arrangements or silk flower designs are perfect for those who want their autumn decor to look stunning day after day. These blooms look just like the real thing, and you can enjoy them year after year without worrying about care.

We stick to the same bold color palettes—deep oranges, reds, purples, and even grays—for a timeless, lasting beauty that adds a pop of fall magic to your home.

Fall Wedding Flower Arrangements Autumn weddings are simply enchanting, with cooler temperatures and colorful backdrops setting the stage. At Azelly Flowers, we specialize in designing fall wedding bouquets using flowers like roses, calla lilies, and dandelions. For a rustic or bohemian touch, we can incorporate elements like eucalyptus, dried wheat, or even mini pumpkins and pine-cones.

Whether you’re tying the knot in Scottsdale or hosting an intimate backyard ceremony in Queen Creek, we’ll create floral arrangements that match your style and make your big day unforgettable.

Dried Flowers for a Natural Fall Look Dried flowers are making a big comeback! Our dried flower arrangements feature elegant textures and a natural, earthy feel. With lavender, pampas grass, and seed pods, these long-lasting arrangements add a rustic touch to your fall decor. Perfect for home styling or special events, dried flowers are a beautiful and sustainable way to keep fall alive for months.

Fall Flower Arrangements for the Table or Church For those important gatherings, whether at home or in church, our fall table arrangements bring a warm, elegant touch. Low-profile designs ensure guests can enjoy each other’s company without the flowers stealing the show. You can even add lanterns, candles, or small pumpkins to make the setting extra special.

Need something grander for a church service or event? Our larger floral displays feature cascading arrangements with fall leaves, perfect for creating a peaceful, uplifting atmosphere.

Pro Tips for Fall Flower Arranging Want to try your hand at fall flower arranging? Here are a few tips:

Balance is key. In larger designs, mix statement blooms with smaller filler flowers and greenery. Layering is important. Start with a base of greenery, then add your focal flowers. Fill in any gaps with smaller flowers and leaves for texture. Height matters. Varying the height of your blooms adds depth and dimension to your arrangement.

Fall Inspiration from Pinterest & Beyond Looking for even more inspiration? Pinterest is a fantastic resource for fall flower arrangement ideas. Whether you’re dreaming of a cozy, rustic centerpiece or a modern, chic display for your home, there’s no shortage of creative ideas to get you started. At Azelly Flowers, we’re always here to help you bring those ideas to life with our custom designs.

Fall Flower Arrangements for Special Events Fall is a season of celebrations, and flowers make every gathering that much more special. For Thanksgiving, consider a centerpiece that includes seasonal fruits, candles, and of course, our expertly arranged fall flowers. From weddings to memorials, we can design the perfect floral arrangements that express beauty, warmth, and sincerity for any occasion.

In Conclusion From weddings to church services, Thanksgiving tables to your own front door, Azelly Flowers in Mesa is your go-to florist for breathtaking fall flower arrangements. With the rich colors and textures of autumn, you can transform any space into a warm, inviting oasis. Whether you prefer real, artificial, or dried flowers, our expert florists will craft something unforgettable just for you. Ready to get started? Reach out to Azelly Flowers today!

[jacobgdavis-blog]

RECAP OF TRIP TO FRANCE

Thursday, May 23 thru 29, 2024

DAY 4 - Memorial Day roadtrip thru Normandy to the D-Day beaches

Today’s excursion was the whole point of the trip: A historical deep dive to appreciate and honor the sacrifices of Allied soldiers in-person at the place where it happened, the beaches of Normandy. All 6 of us had prepared by watching and rewatching HBO’s acclaimed miniseries, Band of Brothers, in the week leading up to the trip. This was my jam.

Grant and I left around 8:30am for a 30-minute walk thru Caen to pick up our rental, a nice 8-passenger van that comfortably fit all 6 of us. We picked up our crew at the hotel, a Best Western in the heart of Caen around 9:30, and we set out.

The Normandy countryside seemed frozen in time and lived up to the expectation of quaint little villages in between miles (kilometers in Europe) of rural farms land. Grey brick structures with red or thatched roofs dotted the countryside with the occasional dairy cows and small herds of sheep in the background. The grass was a green as Ireland. I drove toward the coast to a playlist I had curated in the weeks before, hopefully pleasing all music tastes. Lots of classic country along with some Neil Young and a few of my more modern favorites.

We began with a stop 40-minutes away in Arromanches-les-Bains, a quaint seaside village with an outlook point over the English Channel where the British D-Day landings on Gold Beach occurred 80 years prior. As there invasion occurred on 6/6/44 and the days and weeks afterwards, Allied engineers quickly built an artificial harbor there which was the gateway for 9 thousand tons per day of military equipment into Nazi-occupied France as the Allied push eastward toward Berlin began. Because of this connection, Arromanches was a very Brit-friendly place with as many Union Jacks lining the streets as French flags. We were there for a lunch with their intent of avoiding Memorial Day crowds at restaurants closer to the American-landing D-Day sites of Utah and Omaha Beaches. We sought out a lunch of fish and chips and found Sergeant Willie’s. A gentle off-and-on rain came down as we ate in open air under the awning of the restaurant across from some nice D-Day-themed souvenir shops. The meal came as combo with a voucher for free gelato at the ice cream shop next door which was served by a beautiful, friendly French woman. Always stracciatella for me (vanilla with chocolate shavings).

We then headed west for our first American-led D-Day stop at Pointe du Hoc, a promontory into the English Channel between Utah and Omaha Beaches. It was a great first historical stop. It’s as place where 225 American Army Rangers scaled the cliffs on rope ladders to overtake German machine gun bunkers and strongholds. Only 90 Rangers made it out alive or not wounded, and their bravery was heroic and sacrifices heartbreaking. 40 years prior on June 6, 1984, President Ronald Regan gave a commemorative speech at the Ranger Monument located right on the point. Crazy to think that was the halfway mark from now to D-Day back on June 6, 2024.

From there, we jumped back in the van and headed eastward for the Normandy American Cemetery just above Omaha Beach, the bloodiest American-led entry point onto mainland Europe for the western theater.

The cemetery was solemn but beautiful. The coastal temps were hovering around 60°F all day with partly cloudy skies. Just the visual of the blue and green ocean in the background of a perfectly manicured green lawn housing the white marble burial stones for over 11K American troops from WWII was enough to make someone tear up and wonder how such a beautiful place could have been the site of so much bloodshed and misery… but ultimately… the beginning of “VE,” victory In Europe.

Because of the upcoming milestone anniversary of D-Day at 80 years, with any remaining WWII veterans right at 100-years-old or over, this specific site will be the center of the universe in less than 2 weeks with some VVIPs (very VERY important people) with every living U.S. president expected to be on location, or at least invited to be there, with the exception of Jimmy Carter who is currently in hospice care. Temporary stages were under construction at the main memorial monument at the cemetery, and we weren’t able to walk among the marble gravestones on the grass, but the views were breathtaking nonetheless.

We then drove out top Omaha Beach 5 minutes away since the walking access down from the cemetery to the beach was roped off. We parked just east of the main D-Day landing sites and walked 1.7 miles barefoot along the beach, picking up seashells for our kids and grandkids and thinking about the blood that soaked into the sand 8 decades earlier. It was impossible not to think of the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan. Grant and I smoked some victory stogies on the beach which will always be a good memory for me.

By the time we walked all the way down from our parking spot to the abstract, metallic Les Braves monument which rose out of the sand nearly 2 miles east down the beach, my back was really hurting me. I’ve gained some of my weight back since my cancer diagnosis, but I lost so much muscle mass in my legs and core in the past 9 months, that I don’t have the typical Davis-athletic stamina that my bros, Dad, and uncle still have regardless of age. After a worthy but failed try at waking up a local Uber driver from their afternoon slumber (yes, Uber is available all over France), Danny and Grant heroically jogged all the way back to the car to come pick us up while Jed, Ben, and I grabbed some oysters and hard apple cider, a local specialty, at one of the few local pubs still open. My dad shopped for D-Day souvenirs at the Omaha Beach D-Day museum.

We arrived back out our Caen hotel for a a 2-hour respite after 4 straight full days of walking and seeing everything we could possibly see in the area. During that time, Jed found us a great spot at a French restaurant called Le Bistro Basque. We feasted on our first fine French cuisine of the trip with dinner orders ranging from escargot (Danny) to Jed’s medium rare (mostly rare) beef filet, to my lamb shanks, and Grant’s sea bass. We also had mollusks for apps and lemon meringue pie and ill-advised espressos (even if decaf) for dessert.

The night ended in the bar of our hotel with some very good, sometimes pointed and perhaps Bordeaux-fueled debate and deep conversation about the current state of the world and individual belief systems amid such interesting times as perceived and communicated by a couple of different generations represented on our trip (Gen-X and Millennials, my dad, probably the youngest possible Boomer, stayed upstairs to rest and unwind). We ended the night with heartfelt hugs and reassurances of mutual respect despite intergenerational differences in some of our worldviews. It was a bonding night, and we all retired exhausted after our fullest day of the trip thus far.

[legacygreenaz]

Artificial Grass Installation Tempe AZ - Luxury Artificial Grass

The Legacy team uses its golf experience to help design putting greens. Legacy implements over 40 years experience working with homeowners needs and wants to help create an attractive, as well as functional, landscape in Tempe AZ.

https://www.artificialgrasstempeaz.com/

[graciousgrace131]

Artificial Grass Installation Tempe AZ - Your entertainment hub

When it comes to design and professionalism we are incomparable. We offer the best artificial grass installation service in Tempe AZ. Call us now for a free quote.

http://www.artificialgrasstempeaz.com/

[gilbertartificialturf]

Business Name Gilbert Artificial Turf & Green

Street Address: 3094 E Marlene Dr

City: Gilbert

State: Arizona (AZ)

Zip Code: 85296

Country: United States

Business Phone: (480) 470-8771

Business Email Address: info@turfgilbert.com

Website: https://www.turfgilbert.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turfgilbert

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gilbertazturf

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gilbert-artificial-turf-green/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turfgilbert/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gilbertartificialturf/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/gilbertartificialturf

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7YJQkQUvhrBNDbiuH9xXg/about

Business Description: Gilbert Artificial Turf & Green is a top-rated artificial grass landscape company serving Arizona's East Valley. Are licensed for both commercial and residential landscaping. From backyard putting greens, to sports field installs, to artificial grass lawns. Free Estimates and a 15-year warranty on all of our installations.

Google My Business CID Link: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=12458083001381232477

Business Hours: Sunday 9AM-4PM Monday 7AM-5PM Tuesday 7AM-5PM Wednesday 7AM-5PM Thursday 7AM-5PM Friday 7AM-5PM Saturday 7AM-5PM

Payment Methods: Cash Check Visa Master Discover Amex Paypal Cash App

Services: Artificial Grass Lawn Installation, Backyard Putting Green Installation, Artificial Turf For Pets, Athletic Turf

Service Areas: Gilbert AZ, Mesa AZ, Chandler AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Tempe AZ, Queen Creek AZ

Keywords: artificial grass installer, artificial turf installer, backyard putting green, pet turf installation

Location:

Service Areas:

[turfscottsdale]

Business Name: Scottsdale Artificial Turf

Street Address 1: 6400 East Thomas Road

Street Address 2:

2008

City: Scottsdale

State: Arizona

Zip Code: 85251

Country: United States

Business Phone: (480) 405-3667

Business Email Address: info@scottsdaleturf.com

Website: https://www.scottsdaleturf.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scottsdale-Artificial-Turf-105984968944669/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TurfScottsdale

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scottsdale-artificial-turf/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottsdaleturf/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/scottsdaleazturf/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/turfscottsdale

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiQx5TKhIJzCU-b_NfKx8Kw

Business Description: Scottsdale Artificial Turf is a licensed landscape company, specializing in artificial grass. We install artificial turf putting greens, artificial grass lawns, pet turf, playground turf and more. We proudly serve Scottsdale AZ, and the entire East Valley. We offer free estimates on all artificial turf installations.

Google My Business CID Link: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1800335955141736589

Business Hours: Sunday 9:00AM-4:00PM Monday 7:00AM-6:00PM Tuesday 7:00AM-6:00PM Wednesday 7:00AM-6:00PM Thursday 7:00AM-6:00PM Friday 7:00AM-6:00PM Saturday 9:00AM-4:00PM

Payment Methods: Cash Check Visa Master Discover Amex

Services: Artificial grass installation, artificial grass lawns, pet friendly turf, artificial grass putting greens, artificial grass playgrounds

Service Areas: Scottsdale AZ, Tempe AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, Gilbert AZ, Chandler AZ

Keywords: artificial turf scottsdale, artificial grass installer, artificial turf scottsdale, backyard putting green scottsdale, putting green installer

Business/Company Establishment Date: 10-31-2012

Location:

Service Areas:

[teahaus-annarbor]

Monthly Brew: April Collection

Try our April monthly brew sampler for just $8.26, featuring samples of three different citrus teas; includes tasting notes. Price includes shipping when ordered now through April 7, 2021.*

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

(*Please note: Free shipping is valid for one online purchase—through April 7, 2021—of this $8.26 sampler collection only; if additional products are ordered, shipping charges will be added; free shipping within the U.S. only.)

Citrus is native to the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, in an area that comprises India’s eastern Assam region, China’s western Yunnan Province, and northern Myanmar. 

The plants and flowers were originally prized for their fragrance, but through evolution as well as both natural and artificial selection, their fruit eventually became a food source. The sweet orange was developed by the late 1400s—forever changing the importance of citrus in our lives!

* * * * * * * * * 

#960 PINK GRAPEFRUIT (green aroma) (photos below)

PREPARATION: 3 g tea (1 heaping tsp) per 8 oz filtered water, boiled & cooled to 70°C/158°F; brew 2 minutes

INGREDIENTS: Green tea, guava pieces, grapefruit peel, cornflower blossoms, pink pepper, and natural flavor

LEAF: Classic green leaves with pretty pink peppercorns and pieces of fruit

INFUSION: Greenish yellow

AROMA: Crisp with a bright citrus aroma

LIQUOR: Bolder than expected with an obvious grapefruit undertone

PAIRING: Terrific iced!

TIP: Be careful with the water temp when brewing

#964 ORANGE BLOSSOM (oolong aroma) (photos below)

PREPARATION: 3 g tea (1 heaping tsp) per 8 oz filtered boiling water; brew 2 minutes

INGREDIENTS: Oolong tea, orange peel, marigold blossoms, and natural flavor

LEAF: Dark brown with a scattering of milk chocolate-colored leaves and beautiful golden orange blossoms

INFUSION: Light golden brown

AROMA: Floral, with a hint of citrus

LIQUOR: The nuttiness of an oolong, a little woodsy but with a delicate floral and citrus balance

PAIRING: Bread and cheese

#1030 LEMON VANILLA (white aroma) (photos below)

PREPARATION: 3 g tea (2 heaping tsp) per 8 oz filtered water, boiled & cooled to 70°C/158°F; brew 2 minutes

INGREDIENTS: White tea, lemon grass, lemon verbena, vanilla pieces, and natural flavor

LEAF: Classic, minimally oxidized, large leaves—representative of most white teas—generously sprinkled with lemon grass pieces, along with vanilla bits

INFUSION: Pale bronze

AROMA: Lemon and vanilla are foremost

LIQUOR: The lemon and vanilla flavor gives way to the woody earthiness of the white tea

PAIRING: The flavors are enhanced when iced; nicely pairs with a buttery shortbread

HAPPY SPRING! These teas are all lovely iced for the warm days!

To read about the possible health benefits for adding citrus to tea, see our blog, It’s More Than Tea.

[ask-flip-frost]

Day 7: Gruesome

Nobody wanted the Winchester route. That much was a fact. When Flip had been setting up the schedules for the upcoming week, she knew that it was impossible not to put it on task, though. She was going to have to suck it up. Silt was getting too old to handle the energy output it would take, and Slope wasn't much use in their case because he was already partially Turned as it was. No chance at trusting a job like this to the temps. No matter how much the Sprite hemmed and hawed over the ramifications of letting them stew a little longer, it would always be difficult to steel herself for what it took to do a brain clearing of that magnitude. No sense in putting it off. For most Humans, even particularly disturbed ones, a Nightmare cleansing was no big thing to fuss over. Repeated dippings into billions of minds left an effect like a trickling water torture over time, but delving into the brains of creatures who held residence in Hell for extended periods was akin to being waterboarded with liquid rage and despair. Sam and Dean Winchester were buckets. They had need to be emptied periodically or they'd go mad and take a huge chunk of the world with them.

No avoiding it. With a resigned chirp, Flip closed her twinkling work ledger and opened a Portal for that evening's route to begin.

~

Dean Winchester snorted loudly, jolted from the deepest sleep he'd managed to curl up to in months by a light too bright to ignore. His personal quarters in the bunker had been flooded in the halo effect of an artificial bulb on his bedside table.

"Dammit, Sammy!" the man groused into his pillow. "I'm not goin' on a stupid jog. I told you. Go away."

"Did you know that butterflies can taste with their feet?" a very NOT Sam voice asked conversationally. "I thought that very odd, but THEN I found out that Humans can do it, too! Not with everything, but garlic can be rubbed on your foot, and because of the allicin in it, it gets into your bloodstream from the oil and water properties it has. Travels all the way to your mouth and nose. Incredible, ne?"

An annoyed glance was fired over Dean's shoulder at the Fairy on his nightstand, but the effect seemed lost on her. He'd met her very briefly before on sparse occasions, but someone who was barely an acquaintance had no business being in the Men of Letters bunker. No matter who she was bumping wings with.

"But that's not what we're here to talk about. Nay. Today, kids, we're talking about our FEELINGS, and how repressing can-"

"I'm fine, twinkle toes. Now get outta my room." Dean cut her off and scrubbed his palms over his tired eyes before reaching out blindly for the light switch. "Go peddle your emotional wack-a-doo shtick on someone else."

"Fine? That's a very abstract interpretation of what you are, I assure you. And I'm not in your room. You're in mine." Flip corrected, arms akimbo as she rocked on her heels knowingly.

"The hell are you talking about? My bed. My lamp. My-"

"Window?" Flip interrupted, gesturing to a medium box window with purple blackout curtains.

There were no windows in his real bedroom. A moment of slow growing denial passed before Dean rolled up off the bed, pillow gun at the ready, and jerked the curtains wide.

Outside was a sulfurus landscape, parched and cracked with forlorn wishes of moisture. Great hairless beasts with gouged sockets snuffled the dust, blood and pus oozing from their disfigured maws. A symphony of screams echoed in the distance. Dean knew those screams. He'd lived them. He'd given and received them. They must have been on an outer rim of a torture circle, as you could not directly witness the seas of agony. A clap of deepest thunder triggered a jerking sense memory lurching in the recesses of his chest. Meat hooks and chains, whips and knives and whimpering taunts and burning and-

"Dean... close the curtains."

Brought back to the moment, Dean's white knuckle grip on the curtain fabric loosened. He tugged the window dressings shut, but didn't dare turn away, lest the horrid creatures crash in to take him by surprise. He was back. Had he died in his sleep? Was it that apnea thing he kept hearing about? Sam complained about him snoring sometimes, so... maybe? He didn't remember getting hurt or sick. What was going to happen when Sam found his body?

"You're not dead. Not today. You can come away from there, I promise they can't get in." Flip waved him closer. "We don't have a lot of time to talk, but it's important that we do."

Never one to take things at face value, the eldest Winchester kept his eyes locked on the window.

"Where am I?" he demanded.

"Right now, you and I are in a pretty little safe space in your dirty little mind."

"...I'm asleep. And you're brain-invading." Dean worked it out and lowered his gun. "Not cool."

"You're sleeping, I'm working. Usually I don't make myself known because it's a pain in my glittering ass to make a prolonged stop in anyone's mind, but yours takes some time to clear out anyway, so why not have a chat?" Flip shrugged. "A captive audience. All that."

Dean groaned and tucked his gun away. Why couldn't he even dream without being nagged? Too many people knew how to push into his thoughts, and it pissed him off to a special degree that he couldn't even have autonomy of his own brain to keep them out. Was he going to have to keep getting warding tatoos or bone carvings until his entire body was a graffiti wall just for a little time to himself?

"Fine. What do you want?"

Flip blinked. It wasn't obvious, she supposed. One little talon pointed to the window.

"Do you know what that is?" she returned a question with a question.

"Hell. A memory of Hell that I'm dreaming about, I dunno." Dean crossed his arms over his chest and looked up at the ceiling in annoyance. "You wanted to see what Hell looks like, is that it? That's why you're here?"

"I've seen it. I don't need to look at a memory for a reminder. So no. That," she pointed again. "Is trauma manifesting as a bad memory. Nightmares Creatures feed on good Dreams, and are drawn to people with an excess of Gloom. Gloom is a residue that can't be seen by the Human eye, and it's my job to scrub it out of people periodically. So what I want is for you to produce less of it. You have Hell roots in your brain. We've been trying for years to dig them out, but we can't. If we pull any deeper, you'll die. Best we can do is starve them by emptying your wells of upset from time to time and dry them out a little."

"Yeah, well. You do what I do for a living, you can't help but pick up the flavors of the road. You can't expect me to quit my job just because it complicates your job." Dean gave her a patronizing smirk, which was returned with an exasperated trill. "We done here?"

"I'm not asking you to quit your job, twat waffle. I'm asking you to work on your feelings. Your job shows you Bad Things, but your repressive nature is making it harder on you than it has to be, which in turn is making it harder on us." Flip retorted. "Me, and my coworkers when they have you on rotation. You're difficult."

"Cry me a river. It's not like I've got easy work, either."

"Of course not. Because the way you go about it is to work with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel." Flip deadpanned. "Why are you so against getting better?"

"Hey, I'm not against the whole feeling better thing, alright? It just doesn't happen. Think I want to be mad all the time?" Dean snapped. "Think I don't know it's screwing things up? Hurting people? I've got a lot riding on how I handle things and everybody I care about is still getting the raw end of the deal no matter what I do! It's not as easy as 'cheer up', okay? I can't."

Flip watched Dean pace around the room like a caged tiger, silently daring her to say anything to to contrary. Instead, she sat down on the nightstand and swung her little feet back and forth idly over the edge, just waiting. For what, he had no freaking clue.

"And it's-" he gestured around the room at nothing. "It's everything. It's getting caught at a red light. It's finding out Sammy made a decision without me. Realizing I went over 3,000 without getting an oil change. It's things that bug the living hell outta me, and I know they shouldn't, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Everything blows up."

"Trauma." Flip repeated.

"Yeah, I get it. You said that." Dean huffed.

"Your mind is used to constantly being in danger, being scared that people you care about will be tortured and killed. It's wired that way now, so that even little amounts of stress feel like huge threats, ne~" Flip pointed to the bed and waited for Dean to sit. "You block people out because you don't want to burden them, and then feel betrayed when they do the same. You're going straight to anger because it's familiar. Easier than being vulnerable and risking someone making fun or pitying you."

The man just glared. He hated accusations like this. Especially if they were right and stung his sense of pride.

"Easy for you to say, Tinkerbell. What do you have to lose? I have... I've got almost nobody. Wh- Are you smiling?"

"This is good, keep going." Flip flapped a hand.

"This funny to you?" Dean frowned.

"No. On the outside I'm pulling out a lot of grime from your brain, and you venting in here is loosening some of it. It's a good thing. Look out the window." she shook her head.

Dean grimaced uncertainly, but crossed to open the curtains just enough for a peek. The creatures were splintering apart, carried away on the wind like so many dust particles. The landscape had sparse patches of grass and the sky had begun to clear enough to bring shafts of light through, dancing with sun motes.

"You should talk. To your brother. To your friends. You might be surprised how much it helps."

"It's not gonna change anything." Dean replied, his voice far more hoarse than he expected it to be.

"If you do nothing, nothing changes. If you try trusting people not to throw you under a bus... it just might." Flip offered gently. "You're good at being angry. Try getting good at other emotions. It's an uphill walk, but you know there are at least a few people who want you to feel okay. Let them help you. Stop acting like you don't deserve it, and maybe one day you'll feel that you do."

He didn't, though. He didn't deserve to feel better. Not to his mind, anyway. He stared out the window and watched the outside world changing for the better in ways he knew he never could. Time kept marching, and he kept drinking and internalizing. He'd do it until the day he died. A forever death. Not a Winchester death.

"You're crying."

"What? Bullshit." Dean scoffed.

"Not in here. Outside." Flip amended.

"How do you know?"

"It's my job. I can't stay in your mind much longer before it starts being a detriment to your person. I'm almost done. The bucket is empty, so this is as good as it's going to get." Flip fluttered over to the window sill, not looking at Dean but straight ahead to a wispy field of oats. "Where are you, Dean?"

"...I'm fishing." Dean replied, swallowing. "Waiting on Sammy to get back with a six pack and some half decent snacks. Spicy jerky. Combos... the ones with the pretzel and cheese deals, you know. Gummy lifesavers. He likes the berry ones..." he trailed off, mind catching up with his body in shallow breaths and burning eyes. "What if something bad happens?"

"What if something good happens?" Flip patted his index finger.

Ah, there it was. Finally the man began to cry, hanging his head in shame. When he lifted it after a shuddering sob, she was gone and he was sitting in a folding chair on a pier with a large hand patting his shoulder.

"Catch anything yet?" Sam asked.

"No. Uh. No. Nibbles, but nothing good." Dean caught a bag of Combos tossed in his direction and cracked open a Budweiser.

~

When he sat up in bed, it was no surprise that his pillow was soaked, but he was still annoyed about it. The air smelled like bacon, though. That was nice. He shuffled out to the galley, yawning wide, and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"I was gonna come get you." Sam sat two plates on the table, piled high with waffles and bacon.

"Somebody woke up chipper." Dean rubbed his face, but couldn't refuse the siren call of the porcine perfection.

"Slept better than I have in a while, I guess..." Sam trailed off.

"Yeah. About that," Dean took a sip and sat down, drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "Can we, uh... can we talk? About... stuff?"

Sam passed the syrup to his brother and tried not to look too excited over the prospect of having a real meat and potatoes conversation.

"Yeah. I'd like that."

[legacygreenaz]

Artificial Grass Installation Tempe AZ - Luxury Artificial Grass

The Legacy team uses its golf experience to help design putting greens. Legacy implements over 40 years experience working with homeowners needs and wants to help create an attractive, as well as functional, landscape in Tempe AZ.

http://www.artificialgrasstempeaz.com/

[homosociallyyours]

5 song flash fic challenge

@hi-larrie-ous tagged me in a really fun and fascinating little game the other day, and I have been excited to play. Here we go!

The rules: Put your music on shuffle. Write what comes to you as you listen to each song! It’s ok to edit/make small corrections, but there’s no need to make a full story, just let yourself be inspired and create 5 little flash ficlets!

No You Don’t Even Know (STS), The Butchies THIS SONG IS SO FUCKING SHORT!! 1 minute long!! I imagine this being a teen angsty punk Louis fic.  “You treat me like I’m seven,” Louis yelled. He slammed the door to his bedroom hard and threw himself on the bed, rolling over to stare at the ceiling. He’d kill for a fucking cigarette right now. 

Fidelity, Regina Spektor I love this song, and I thought about going literal with it but then didn’t. It’s actually quite nice for HL. 

The sky was so blue. Perfectly clear and wide and floating. Or maybe that was Harry. He’d been lying on the grass for the past hour (two? three?), just watching. Thinking: What would it be like if he and Louis hadn’t met? If they’d never spoken? If they weren’t there for each other, Louis’ blue sky eyes and Harry feeling like he was made out of ground. Earth and air and. Fuck, he was high as shit. 

But he was in love. That part was true. He closed his eyes and took a breath, inhaling the sound of the grass waving all around him, speaking to him in quiet tones. Sounding like Louis. 

“Baby,” the grass said. It was warm breath against his cheek. A hand on his chest. A kiss on his lips, so soft. He opened his eyes

Sandalwood, Lisa Loeb This is some deep lesbian pining shit and I’m not sorry

She tries to tell herself there’s nothing wrong with it. Nothing wrong with wanting someone like this when you know they can’t possibly want more. Just so long as you don’t put it onto them. 

But lying here in bed, it’s all Louis can think about: the way Harry smells, her loose curls falling into Louis’ face as she tries not to let her hand twitch against Harry’s side. The want. The need. The idea of what it would be like to have Harry want her back the same way. 

Earlier they’d held hands at the party. Louis can still feel the heat on her palm. 

Why, Annie Lennox Sad girl direction bullshit, soz actually 

The room is dark and artificially cold and Harry bundles herself under the hotel duvet that smells wrong and feels wrong against her skin. She looks at the light on her phone, flashing red with a message. Maybe a missed call. She wants to check it, but she can’t. Won’t? She doesn’t fucking know the answer. 

All she knows is that it feels like there are continents between her and Louis, gaps in space and time that she could never breach. Not with words. Not with apologies. Not with anything. 

Which is not even to say that the messages are from Louis. Because maybe they aren’t. She wouldn’t deserve them anyway. She wraps the blankets tighter and tries to shut her eyes against the night, squeezing them until tears start to fall. 

She aches.

This Year, The Mountain Goats Not sure what was going on here, but this is what happened. I don’t write in second person very much, but I like this one. If you need it to be fandom related, I think this is a Niall girl direction fic. 

You’ve never been the directed sort, and so it’s no surprise when the therapist gives you homework about finding yourself. Making lists or doing exercises, some shit you consider faking when she hands it over.

But then you get home and end up looking over it, lying on the couch in the silence and realizing that it’s more about telling stories than making lists. That what she wants is for you to use your past to work out what the present can look like. Or what you want it to look like anyway. 

You pull out a yellow legal pad, something you stole from a temp job you held for a few months a year or so ago, start scrawling out the story of the first time you ever drank too much. The first time you wanted to kiss a girl. You start to feel clean.

Once again, thank you for tagging me Tabby!! This was such a fun exercise!! Tagging @harryincamp, @gaycousinlarry, @tempolarriefix, @halosboat, @alienfuckeronmain, and anyone who thinks this challenge looks fun and wants to do it! Please tag me if/when you do this.

[jonhillturf-blog]

Jon Hill Turf | What are Alternatives to Care a Lawn in Warn Weather

Jon Hill Turf is an expert man to laying turf in the backyard and he loves his work. He is a supplier of artificial turf. According to Jon Hill Turf that the turf or grass need to very good weather to grow. The sunlight is also very important for the grass to be grown. Turf or grass has to be grown to be cut, if your grass is small that cannot be cut then we call it “Fine turf”. Warm and dry weather put a bad effect on the turf. It turns it green to yellow, which is not good for the turf and the grass.

If we are talking about the golf course and its turf, then with warm weather it goes yellow and it’s not that beautiful, which was awesome when it was green. The yellow and white patches come everywhere and it looks awful. So I and my team have a process to make it right and beautiful again.

There is a technique regarding long grass and my turf team works carefully to get the rough mowed as quickly as possible.  The combination of much rain and the continually high night time temps and humidity enhance the fungal sickness pressure. In specific, grey leaf spot are hard to control. We prevent, spraying fungicide on the rough that we can access with sprayers. We also decrease our mowing to only when the turf is dry so we are less likely to distribute the fungal spores of the disease. This process takes the team a minor longer into the week to get all the grass mowed, but we will continue to get it all mowed each week. We appreciate the patience as we continue to balance healthy rough and playable conditions.

  As we know that the latest machines and technology has changed the way to work with lawn turf and In a golf course turf. The main thing is turf or grass which feels us like we are near nature and we can feel the relaxation in our mind when we are walking on the green turf or grass. In a society or in a house, a lawn is required because it is necessary for beautification and also for good health. Human nature is to use nature and make it worse. As we use the natural stuff in our daily life, petrol and diesel is an example of that. We are spoiling our natural climate and we do not fully consider rebuilding it for the next generation. This is our task to give a clean and new environment for the next generation.

[hunterenough]

December 3

Notes: I’ve cheated a little with today’s advent calendar entry for @notfunnydean​‘s challenge. The prompt was “At the Christmas Bakery” but I’ve turned the bunker kitchen into a pro bakery instead. Of course, with Dean as our amazing pastry chef. The star of this is based on a real recipe (credit to: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/caramel-pecan-cinnamon-rolls/ ), and the modifications mentioned are valid in terms of baking substitutions, though your results may vary. I hope you enjoy. (Of course, I don’t own the characters, and I don’t have a beta, all mistakes are mine. Please tell me if I need to fix something.) :)

December 3

Dean couldn’t remember the last time that he had voluntarily both gone to bed early and gotten up at the ass crack of dawn if a case hadn’t been involved. He’d spent most of yesterday, the part that he hadn’t spent staring at Cas’ letter to “Santa,” driving to Grand Island to go grocery shopping. He knew for a fact that he’d never voluntarily spent two hours letting a store clerk fill his cart with organic, locally produced, grass-fed, free-range, single source, WHOLE food. He didn’t even want to think about the dent his hippy spending spree had made on this wallet. It would be worth it though, if his angel could enjoy his breakfast without tasting all of the stray molecules left behind by chemicals or machine processing.

He had stashed his haul in his room, glad for the cooler bag that the clerk had tossed in free of charge when he’d realized that Dean would have to drive nearly two hours to get home. A change of ice packs after dinner and again before bed had kept the food  safely at fridge temp.

He assembled the tools and ingredients on the counter carefully, double checking the recipe as he went. Mixing bowls, spoons, measuring cups, muffin tins, serving trays, saucepan, plates, forks, coffee cups, coffee, unbleached muslin, glass carafe, yeast, milk, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, flour, molasses, honey, maple syrup, pecans, and cinnamon. He’d gotten far more than he really needed, but he figured if this worked, maybe Cas would like to try more things.

Now for his fail-safe. If buying the most expensive staples in existence hadn’t rid the food of the flavors Cas disliked, this certainly should. Rowena had been surprisingly willing to help him with the spell when she learned what it was for. Her price, there’s always a price, was that she be invited to sample his baked goods sometime.

He laid the square of blue paper  down on the counter and read the spell again to ensure that he wouldn’t stumble. Rowena had assured him that a slight mispronunciation wasn’t going to blow anything up, but he wanted to be sure. He’d memorized it with all the times he had studied it.

Et quod absque necessitate vel addita est accipere quod sit causa damnum. Revelare cubito verissimo essentia rei. Manente animi sanctitate nutrire possit.

He recited the translation for his peace of mind. Take out that which was added without need or which causes damage. Reveal the truest essence of the thing. May the purity remaining nourish the soul. He couldn’t find any fault in the words. He tucked the note back into his pocket.

There was no real ritual required with the spell. No funky blood sigils or potions. Rowena had simply told him that he should take several deep, cleansing breaths to “center himself” before reciting it. He did that now, taking the time to clear his mind as much as possible, keeping his eyes closed, but not squeezed tight.

The spell slid from his lips smoothly. Once he’d begun to recite the words, the rest seem to follow without effort. He took one more fortifying breath before he opened his eyes slowly. Honestly, nothing really looked different. The air seemed to smell better, he supposed, and that must be a good thing.

A sense of well being settled over him as he began to mix and measure. The scent of the yeast rising from the forming dough put him in mind of what home he should be. The feel of it pressing back against the heels of his hands as he gently kneaded it was soothing. He was almost disappointed when he had the greased up dough back in the bowl to rise. Almost. On with the good part!

Dean had spent hours reviewing recipes before he’d settled on this one. He’d spent more hours researching proper substitutes for corn syrup before settling on a slightly less than even mix of pure maple syrup and organic local honey, erring on the side of honey, and replacing the brown sugar with a mix of molasses and white sugar for a richer taste. He could feel the drool forming in his mouth already. He retrieved his monster (hah!) muffin pans and carefully buttered each cavity before he was again measuring and stirring, this time over the stove. When the golden sauce had bubbled gently for the required two minutes, he spooned it into the wells of the muffin pan. He took care that each had the same amount of the ambrosial stuff before scraping the pan with the back of a spatula. A single lick had him moaning quietly. This was certainly, hopefully, going to be worth the effort if the sauce was anything to go by. Finally, he added a generous sprinkle of (hand shelled and chopped) pecans to each well.

There was still a bit of time before the dough would be ready, so he used the time to clean up the dishes and put away his ingredients. He examined the butter that he’d set on the stove top to ensure that it had melted enough to spread.  At last, it appeared that the dough had “doubled in size.” He punched it down gently before turning it back out onto the lightly floured counter. He’d made sure that all of the remaining dough had been scraped up, and now the dough was sliding easily along the surface. He rolled the dough out, again gently, and brushed on the butter, sprinkled on the cinnamon and sugar he’d mixed, and gently shaped it into the signature jelly roll loaf. Twelve even slices, one placed into each muffin well, marking the top of the end pieces with a pecan to ensure that he put them on his own plate, another, shorter, rise and they were ready for the oven. He placed clean, but empty, plates in the Christmas crates, just in case the amazing smell drew either man to the kitchen before the rolls were out of the oven. He wiped down the cupboard again to remove the remaining flour before moving to his next feat of breakfast awesomeness. He’d made a pot of coffee for himself earlier of course, but this was special. Single origin, grade A Kona coffee. It was supposed to be the best. He’d put in more hours of research trying to determine if there was a best way to prepare it, but hadn’t been able to really nail anything down. Much of it seemed to be personal preference. So, he’d chosen the method that seemed least likely to introduce extra molecules into the rarefied beans: pour over using the unbleached muslin as a filter into the glass carafe.

About 20 minutes into the baking cycle, Cas leaned around the corner, eyes firmly closed, and cleared his throat. ���Dean, I’m not peeking, but the smells are quite enticing. May I join you?”

“Come on in Cas. Today’s present is still in the oven, but I kinda figured you guys might wander in before I was done. Hell, if it was me, I probably wouldn’t have waited this long.” He raised the flame under the water he’d been heating for the coffee. “I’m kinda glad you made it in before Sammy actually. I wanted to tell you that I really appreciated your letter, but you don’t have to thank me for being a part of our family. You...you just are. We wouldn’t be the same without you. I know. We’ve tried. And I don’t want you to think you’re an afterthought in this Christmas thing either. You and Sammy...well, you’re pretty much everything to me, ya know? It’s important to me that you get that man.” Dean could feel the heat of this blush all the way down his chest by the time he’d gotten it all out. He was a little surprised at himself for even acknowledging the letter, let alone feelings. He cleared his throat awkwardly in the ensuing silence and returned to the coffee preparations.

“Dean. I,” Whatever Cas was going to say was interrupted by Sam staggering into the kitchen.

“It smells like a freaking Christmas bakery in here! I really hope that’s breakfast.” He grinned widely at his brother.

“Sit down you giant child. Yes, that’s breakfast, but I gotta explain it first, and I should have just enough time before those things come out of the oven.” Sam sat obediently.

“I think you’ll both approve of today’s meal. Sammy, it isn’t rabbit food, but I’ve gone as hippy dippy on the grocery choices as Grand Island would let me. Full on organic and a million other green and wholesome adjectives. Not one speck of artificial flavor to be found. Cas, I did everything I could to reduce the ingredients, and the recipe, to the purest form I could. I’m hoping that I’ve eliminated at least some of the random extras that end up in food so that even if it tastes like molecules, they’re good molecules. Okay?”

Cas nodded seriously, and Sam just grinned.

“So this is today’s gift...the best, or well, hopefully the best breakfast ever.” The timer went off behind Dean. “These gotta rest for a minute before i can flip ‘em, but we can have coffee.”

He carefully tapped the top of one roll, judging the hollow sound as a sign of proper done-ness, and removed the trays from the oven to the wooden cutting board. The heavenly scent in the kitchen seemed to triple. He smiled in satisfaction and turned back to the carafe.

“Now, this ain’t just any coffee. This is ‘single-source, organically grown, grade A Kona coffee from Hawaii. It’s supposed to be awesome. I even brewed it this fancy way so it wouldn’t taste like paper or our normal sludge.” He delicately gathered and removed the muslin from the top of the carafe before bringing three mugs and the fresh coffee to the table. He poured two cups theatrically, presentation is key!, and settled one in front of each man before bustling back to the counter to finish the main attraction. After noting the position of the pecan marked “ends,” he quickly flipped each tin onto a waiting tray. He left the tins in place while he grabbed the two plates from the crates as well as his own. Tentatively, he lifted the corner of one of the pans, noting that the buns released cleanly, but the filling was being slow in its ooze out of the pan. Another minute then, that’s the best part!

He turned back to the table to see how the other men were enjoying the coffee and found them both staring at him, coffee untouched. Cas had his brows pinched together and his head tilted while Sammy simply looked dazed, his mouth hanging open slightly.

“What?”

Sammy’s mouth snapped shut and Cas righted his head.

“You made pour over coffee using unbleached muslin as a filter with single-origin beans from Hawaii…” Sam trailed off.

“Yes…?”

“And you baked...whatever that is...from scratch from the best ingredients you could get in Grand Island?”

“Yes…” It was Dean’s turn to trail off. He wasn’t sure where Sam was headed with this, and the attention was starting to make him feel a little squirmy.

It appeared that Sam wasn’t sure either. He looked at Cas for support.

The angel peered at him with a single corner of his mouth quirked up. “Dean. We are deeply appreciative of your obvious effort. We’re just…” He paused. “We’re just not accustomed to being treated like this. I’m certain that this is already ‘the best breakfast ever’ and I haven’t even tasted anything yet.”

The air quotes instantly brought a grin to Dean’s face, and he relaxed. “Well, you guys deserve to be treated.” He turned back to the task of plating breakfast. He gave it one final critical glance, that is fucking beautiful if I do say so myself, before presenting each man with a plate and fork. “Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls, hot from the oven. Enjoy fellas.”

Sam, still having not touched his coffee, tentatively cut off a piece of the pastry with his fork, bringing it to his mouth with equal hesitancy. Cas mirrored his actions.

“Holy fuck Dean!” Sammy said with his mouth still full. Dean’s reaction, beyond a re-emerging blush, was still forming when Cas moaned. It was one of the most unholy and fucking hot sounds Dean had ever heard. Cas, when Dean met his eyes, seemed torn between ducking his head in embarrassment over his reaction and savoring his mouthful. Dean stood transfixed. He couldn’t drag his eyes away from the way that the angel wrapped his lips around his next bite, and the noise he made...some sinful cross between a whimper and a groan that had Dean’s entire body drawing tight. If it got this reaction, he’d bake for the angel with fancy bespelled ingredients at every fucking meal.

The sound of a throat being cleared made him whip is eyes to Sammy’s face. The shit-eating grin had him immediately turning to fix himself a plate and trying desperately to get himself under control. Real cool Winchester, pop a chub watching your best friend eating breakfast. Doesn’t get more humiliating than that...oh wait, your brother noticed… At least my angel is actually enjoying his food. With that thought firmly in his head as a success his embarrassment cleared, he grabbed his plate and sat down across from Cas.

Wicked grin still firmly in place, Sam met Dean’s eyes. “I think it’s safe to say that we are both really enjoying your efforts.” He took a loud slurp of his coffee and let out a muted groan of his own. “Seriously though Dean, this is fucking amazing. I knew you could cook, but this is really top-notch professional bakery level awesomeness. Soul food of the highest order cause we know how much work you put into this for us.”

Rather than respond, he stuffed a giant forkful of gooey perfection into his mouth. He head fell back and a porn worthy moan exploded from his own mouth before he could stifle it. Holy shit, they weren’t even just being nice. For once, he kept his mouth, and his eyes for that matter, shut as he slowly chewed his mouthful of heaven. When he opened his eyes, he was looking directly at Cas who was staring at him eyes wide and lips slightly parted. As Dean watched, the tip of his tongue flicked out to the corner of his mouth, catching a tiny bit of maple-honey sauce that had escaped. He was transfixed.

Sam slurped his coffee.

Dean snapped his attention back to his plate.

Cas cleared his throat.

The three men returned to enjoying their meal, sans sexy sounds.

The mood shifted back to their normal light banter when Sammy begged for seconds in his best impersonation of a little little brother. Dean scooped a second roll onto each of their plates, and relaxed back into his chair cradling his coffee and allowing himself to simply enjoy the easy domesticity of the moment.

“So, Cas, whaddaya think? Good molecules?” He teased the angel.

Cas, who had barely paused between bites to taste his own coffee, met Dean’s eyes.

“It… It wasn’t like other things I’ve tried. I tasted. I tasted honey and maple and cinnamon. I tasted it.” His gaze hadn’t wavered from Dean’s.

“Like for real? Like when you were…” Dean cut off the word human. “Like when you could actually taste things?”

“Yes. Dean, it was...divine. I tasted…”

They sat watching each other.

Sam didn’t bother to interrupt this time. His belly was pleasantly full. Dean could sit staring longingly at the angel all morning as far as he was concerned. He was going to take a nap.

~~~~~

Cas couldn’t look away. Dean’s soul was alight. His soul was always unusually bright, the intensity of it made him feel short of breath, though he had no need to actually breathe. The physical sensations alone generally made the angel avoid studying it when there was a chance he would be observed. He couldn’t really control his reactions.

Today, however, it was different. More. His soul seemed to be undulating with ecstatic colors. The same sensations of happy, love, home, safe that he’d observed yesterday had returned, but bright bursts of warmth seemed to shoot outward sporadically as well. They were so brief in duration that he was having difficulty getting a read on their significance. Truly, he had never observed such a fantastic thing. It made his mouth dry, his breath quicken, and his pulse race. Arousal. I am aroused by the site of Dean’s soul.

Being aroused by Dean was not a new phenomenon for the angel. The man was a perfect specimen of male aesthetics. Generally, however, studying his soul did not result in such a base reaction.

“I’m glad.” Dean’s sudden continuation of their conversation caused Cas to startle to attention.

“Yes. I am surprised that these more ‘wholesome’ ingredients had such an impact on the flavor of the food. There wasn’t a single impurity to distract from the true flavors. Although, I do believe that knowledge of your effort positively impacted my perception of the tastes as well. You have given me a gift I could never have expected Dean, and I am very grateful.”

“Well, I did have a little help, and not just with the shopping.” His hunter’s gaze drifted away from his own. “I was worried that even the best ingredients would still have impurities from being packaged or acid rain or whatever. So I used a spell to remove the impurities. I figured if I started with the best, and then used the blessing, I’d get the biggest bang for my buck. Rowena helped me.”

“You spelled the food?” He kept his tone carefully neutral. “What was the spell? It seems to have worked perfectly.”

“Rowena helped me with it. I was a little worried since she said she only wanted me to bring her some leftovers in return, so I researched it myself before I used it. I couldn’t find anything about it that would cause ill effect.” Dean pulled the blue square from his pocket and passed it to Cas. She’s coming by later for her rolls. I’d better box them up. I guess I really owe her for how well this worked out.” The last was accompanied by a smile an another bright flare of happiness from his soul.

Take out that which was added without need or which causes damage. Reveal the truest essence of the thing. May the purity remaining nourish the soul. He translated without thinking, then studied the paper for a moment longer, admiring the man’s angular scrawl, so different from his own.

“You are correct, there should be no ill effects. It truly is designed to be a blessing. I do find the last line interesting. May the purity remaining nourish the soul. I would have thought it would been a more physical thing… restore the body or man would have been the more traditional conclusion. In spells, nourishment of the soul generally involves worthy effort or sacrifice. Although, in this case I suppose both were offered…” He was starting to think that there may be more significance to the changes that he’d observed in the man’s soul than his unusually good mood. He’d have to have a chat with the witch.

[kensingtonbooks]

A Case for Space, and Mars by John Andrew Karr

The following is a guest blog by MARS WARS: DETONATION EVENT’s author @johnandrewkarr.

People of Earth. 

You know the phrase. 

Unless you totally eschew science fiction or science fantasy in all its forms, you know the phrase. If you have disdain for the mind-expanding genres, then you probably fall into the space and Mars haters club despite indulging in space-related technologies, i.e. satellites, portable computers, computer mice, artificial limbs, camera phones. There’s a bunch more that can be found by searching, but this link has a good starter list: https://go.nasa.gov/2Gbxecu

As for the famous Tang—for those of us in our fifth century of existence, or beyond—it was not developed for space travel, but the moon missions made it a big star.  

If you’re less seasoned, send a mindtext to your favorite search engine on the galaxynet.  

No access to galaxynet?

That’s okay—thirty years ago only a few innovators had access to linked servers that would someday grow to become the internet. 

Galaxynet is internet for the solar system. It will have satellite boosts between Earth and Mars, Earth and Jupiter’s moons, and any place we deploy large-scale space stations such as the Mars Orbiters in my Mars Wars series, part of the Rebel Base imprint from Kensington Books. 

The timeframe for Mars Wars is near-future, approximately two hundred years from now. MOS-1 and MOS-2 are host to workers and vacationers of around ten thousand people, and serve as forward operating bases to colonization. Self-sufficient, they manufacture air, water, food, clothing, energy pellets, and hydrogen propellant for its nuclear fusion engines and those of the planetary shuttles. The latter are used to fly missions to the Martian surface, or back to Lunar One or Earth. 

No story is entertaining without some form of conflict.

The conflict in Mars Wars involves two parties. Those people who want all resources for the Earth, and those who are space and Mars colonization proponents. Such a scenario will hopefully remain fiction, but glimpses can be had on a . . . less dangerous . . . scale in human societies now.   Back to current day, liberty has been taken to toss the internet into space-related tech. Mostly because Elon Musk’s Space X are creating a satellite internet that may ultimately lead to WiFi availability in the most remote crack of Earth’s continental crust. Others have also started in on similar ventures. More later on billionaires making a play for serious and profitable expansion beyond Earth.

People of Earth.  

If you’ve ever had even a slight taste of science fiction, you know the phrase. Usually its uttered by some alien who’s come to our beautiful blue planet for war, to pilfer our resources, or simply snatch a few dozen of us to make people patties, under the guise of a beneficial meet-and-greet. 

Cunning aliens. 

Isn’t it enough to reduce our scientific and engineering advances to stone tool status in comparison with alien tech?   

The Peeps of Earth phrase can also be extrapolated to encompass all humans, ever, throughout time. That’s every human born, ever. All who inhaled air, drank water, felt the planet’s mass beneath their feet, gazed up the glorious sun and stars and someday later, died. Of these billions, every single one lived their lives bound to the Earth.

Question: Besides the same relative arm strength, what do Tyrannosaurus rex and Homo sapiens have in common?

Answer: Extinction impotence. 

Even non-sci-fi types know how vulnerable we are as a species, and there’s not a damn thing we can do about it. 

By the way, the latest thinking for T-Rex is that it could actually rip a human’s arm off in an arm wrestling match, provided it could move its teeny arms side-to-side. So don’t go up to one and call it an arm-wuss or something.   

Let’s go ahead and summon one of the first things that come to mind whenever dinosaurs are evoked: asteroid. One big enough to eject millions of tons of ash and dust into the atmosphere, all but blocking out the sun and creating a perpetual ‘asteroid winter.’ A certain percentage of the population might be able to survive the apocalypse for a while, but it could take hundreds or even thousands of years for the skies to clear. 

Humans, along a huge percentage of other terrestrial and aquatic life, would most likely perish from famine, disease, and war. There’s a good chance asphyxiation has a role; immediate dispersion of breathable air erupting through the magnetosphere and lost to space. Darkness then  withers plant life en masse, along with their oxygen-creating capabilities.

Maybe it won’t be an asteroid for humans. Maybe it will be the very real threat of nuclear war, standard war, or disease. Dinosaurs as a species lasted millions of years. Humans have come far in a blip of comparative time, but we’re also prone to war.    

Regardless of method, both species met or will meet their ultimate end on Earth.

Is it of any consolation that astronomers will likely be able to track the instrument of our demise through space as it hurls toward us?

Question: How much does Earth care about the life that clings to it?

Answer: Every bit as much as any other rock in the universe.

Snark aside, only life cares about life. 

Obvious, yet worthy of a moment of reflection. Despite radioactive cores that provide a magnetosphere to prevent the escape of air and water to space, Earth and every other planet, moon, asteroid, comet, and yes, even the stars, are not alive. None of the aforementioned are thinkers. They have zero intelligence capability. They do not feel anything. The earth is a fantastic and sometimes terrible host of abundant life, but it lacks the capacity to acknowledge anything, and therefore has no care whether life exists or not. 

It has no care whether it exists or not.   

Grass has more regard for its life than a planet has self-awareness. The roots will grow toward moisture, the blade toward the sun.   

The life forms of Earth care—at least on some fundamental level—but not the planet itself.

Question: What is the only life form that could prevent a total extinction event? Answer: Look in the mirror.

Probably not you specifically, or me, or anyone alive right now. But perhaps our descendants, unseen over our shoulders in generation after generation on an extended scale, reaching centuries into the future. They could have some contribution toward preserving our species, or the next iteration of it.  

The obvious difference between humans and all of the extinct, single-planet-dwelling species that have come before us is that we can build upon current technologies to at least try and thwart the inevitable catastrophe.  

Humans alone—unless cockroaches or some other species survive our warring nature and evolve to our current levels—have the means to bump our potential survival rate by 100% by colonizing another planet.  

For that, the red planet is a beacon in the night sky. As with any venture into space, the mission is fraught with danger. But Mars as a cold and rocky planet is still preferable to an ice-encrusted moon of Jupiter. 

If we ever do figure out a way to kick-start the Martian cores into creating a magnetosphere, as I write of in Mars Wars, or thicken the Martian atmosphere enough to hold air and water, the potential for agriculture is there because of soil. We may need to scrape off the solar wind-pounded surface material and turn it over, but ice, with Jupiter as a backdrop, isn’t going to be kind to the roots of space tomatoes. 

Perhaps we’d even import some of the massive sandworms from Frank Herbert’s Dune to help fertilize. Everyone knows Dune is easier to reach from Mars than it is from Earth.  

To perform more space outreach, we’ve got to go faster at a sustained clip. Warp drive would be incredibly convenient, but we’ve got a huge knowledge gap between chemical rockets and light speed. If I had to choose a single category to improve immediately, it would be propulsion. It takes us too long to reach anything, and that’s just in our own backyard. 

In Mars Wars, planetary shuttles and remote orbiters make use of nuclear fusion for propulsion. It is a cleaner, more sustainable burn that can use hydrogen as a propellant. They can reach Mars in a month, as opposed to nine. Not warp speed or hyper-drive, but a big step in the right direction.

Think how far we’ve come in the preceding two centuries. Who knows where we’ll be two centuries from today, if we make concerted efforts. 

But what to do once there? Live forever inside enclosures, or take steps to terraform Mars so it is not immediately hostile to life? 

Some space advocates want to keep Mars as a planetary park, unchanged by human hands.

There is no reason to keep Mars in its current state of death. Billions of years ago, Mars once held water and therefore some form of air. There are many reasons to resurrect it. 

As seen in Mars Wars, Mars has threats beyond the frigid temps and lack of air and water. What we might find in the soil could be positive or negative, for instance. Click here: http://bit.ly/2GblvKU

Question: What about caring for the earth? Answer: The two are not mutually exclusive.

Of course we should care for the mother planet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t expand into space and Mars at the same time. Resource drainage from Earth can be limited, and life on Earth can improve with technological advances. 

Space expeditions must be commercially viable, or at least self-sustaining. NASA and other government agencies have done great pioneering work, but taxes alone cannot continually fund space exploration. We're already seeing private ventures from billionaire visionaries like Musk and Bezos and Branson attempting to bring the space flight industry into a more “mainstream” focus. Bringing rare metals back to Earth could lead to more technology bursts.

Harvesting resources from asteroids would be easier from Mars, since it’s closer to the Asteroid Belt, the farmer’s market of asteroids. A dwarf planet in the belt is blasting water vapor into space for some reason, and it may hold more water than Earth. Amazing. And available for harvesting. Asteroids can be encased in water ice. Others have ammonia ice that could be beneficial in thickening the Martian atmosphere. 

It’s a process, but water can be harvested from minerals on asteroids. Comets would take less processing time, but they’re free spirits and not clustered nicely in a band like their rocky counter parts. Formed outside our solar system, comets that can provide immediate water ice are not subject to the same relative orbiting plane as the planets and Asteroid Belt. These may be more attainable from Mars due to readiness more than location.

A couple of fun informative links to check out:

http://bit.ly/2Gbn4bK

http://bit.ly/2GbFrgH

Mars itself may have tons of water trapped in its crust, as was recently postulated in a finding on Earth. 

This has touched on a few hints about transforming Mars—terraforming it—into a habitable planet. It could take centuries, or less, or never work at all and we end up creating subterranean cities or honeycomb surface ones encapsulated in redundant plexiglass bubbles threaded with titanium strands. 

(That last part is a glimpse of the Lunar One base on the moon in Mars Wars.)    

Mars needs heat, water, and air, and we’ll move in. 

It’s not been tried by humans, but the powers of the solar system have done it. It may be possible to crash asteroids into Mars, set off a bunch of thermonuclear bombs, create vast mirror farms to reflect more sunlight, or use other methods to greenhouse the atmosphere so it can hold air and water and heat. 

There may be enough nitrates on the red planet to use for breathable air, since oxygen is the lesser component. Or maybe there’s some rip asteroids to mine for it. 

A lot to cover there, for another time. 

If Mars does become viable as a self-sustaining colony, and then network of colonies, and then perhaps the entire planet, wouldn’t it also provide relief to overpopulation on Earth?

For those who want to focus solely on Earth until the extinction event(s) strike, don’t we have a duty to future generations to begin the process of increasing survival odds? 

The universe is mind-blowingly vast. Where is the spirit to attain knowledge? To push the boundaries of what viable life can be had beyond Earth. Exploring has dangers, but it can also lead to the betterment of Homo sapiens.

Pre-Order/Buy MARS WARS: DETONATION EVENT here→ http://bit.ly/2GbEWmN

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