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worldcakecakecake · 4 years

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The Angel of Venice

Ludwig is an archeologist who gets a big assignment of researching a recently discovered statue. As he is doing his usual inspection with his touches against the stone, he ends up breaking part of a curse that turns the statue human.

Feliciano was cursed long ago, why and how he does not know, continuing to suffer transformations from stone to skin. Ludwig intends to fix this and find answers. Together they will traverse Europe looking for clues, stories and even an adventure that would help them solve the mystery and break the full curse before it’s too late.

I apply here what I said about The Red Mask as well. So here we go!

Chapter 5

“Laura, I beg of you, to keep this a secret. I know it means meeting the artist of the sketchbook, something that will mean a lot to your group of research, but we don’t know how people will react, if they would misuse Feliciano. So please, help me and Roderich keep this as tight as possible and we’ll let you know whatever you want.” He had told lastly in a beg, reaching, going up the stairs of the building, Ludwig having the card key in his hand.

Laura rolled her eyes, but nodded, not seeing the harm in just…for now pretending this could be real, that this wasn’t all some elaborate prank. Maybe Ludwig and Roderich meant to celebrate something with her with a surprise.

When Ludwig held open the door for her, closing behind instantly as soon as she was fully inside, Laura didn’t find the cake, the confetti, guests or party favors she was expecting, instead…there was the lately famed statue of the Angel of Venice. Oh, it was indeed splendid, beautiful. She let herself awe for a moment, comfortable, forgetting what she thought the craziness of Ludwig’s words.

Roderich had been doing some work on his laptop, raising his eyes to them, Ludwig sending a sign that Laura had been told with a simple nod.

“Where’s Feliciano?” She asked, trying to look for the cute Italian in the room, but finding no presence. She thought maybe he was in another room, that was until a sudden rustling began on the floor, especially by the statue. The wind blew and reached, Laura looking around to see from what kind of contraption it could come from. She couldn’t question further as the light started enveloping, growing brighter and brighter, sparkling until the statue was all but gone, in it’s place…Feliciano. He was naked, seeming tired, testing his movements gallantly, ignorant to his bare state. That was until his eyes laid on Laura, sheepishly waving. “Ciao!”

Laura welcomed it in a scream.

Roderich had to stand up and join Ludwig in holding her down, trying to calm, to soothe her shouts. Luckily, Feliciano quickly dressed, in what were meant to be his pajamas, all in the hurry of wanting to help. He went to give her a glass of water, but once she noticed and came to mind that…a living statue was giving her a glass water, she screamed some more and even shattered the glass in her frenzy. Feliciano looked to the broken pieces and his wet hand almost heartbroken.

“Laura! Please! Will you be silent!” Ludwig shouted in turn. That was the last piece of his patience, fearful enough to get her to sit as she should, although still breathing heavily, her eyes pierced to an extend that made Feliciano worry if she had gotten blind. At least she wasn’t screaming or wailing her body. Roderich and Ludwig could take seats with deep sighs. She started staring at Feliciano, still as perturbed, Feliciano kneeling, smiling and hoping she would soon calm her breathing.

“Did…Ludwig tell you?” He dared ask.

“Ye-yeah…yeah…he did,” she managed her words, sitting straight again, now taking from a new glass of water Roderich got. “I didn’t…I didn’t think it was…real.”

“I…I understand. I’m…so sorry.” Feliciano wished he could do more to prove his apology than just sit so meekly. It was hard not to do so when he was showing himself to a new person, starting to be more aware and understanding of the oddity of it all.

“It…sounded so crazy, I just…it…it couldn’t be…how..how…how?” She demanded.

“That’s an answer we would love to learn ourselves,” Ludwig put.

“We’re still figuring it out,” Roderich added.

“I don’t know much about what’s going on myself,” Feliciano told.

“Yes…Ludwig didn’t mention it…how…you turned this way.” She was slowly becoming more confident, being able to stare at Feliciano with more of an awe.

“Mhm, and I also assume he told you everything we’ve find out.”

“Yes…he did.” She was recollecting everything, fitting it into truths. “Including that you’re…the artist of the sketchbook.” There was hesitance, a wondering like that of a child’s, one Feliciano found so beautiful he couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes… I am…”

And she smiled herself, glowing, jumping on her seat, not sure where to even put her hands that wanted to tremble all around her in excitement. “I have…so many questions to ask you, I don’t know where to start! I should focus! Okay, um-”

“Before we get into that, Laura, there are some dire questions we want to ask you instead,” Ludwig wanted to remind the point of her knowing.

Both her and Feliciano were slightly disappointed at this interruption, but there was a mission indeed, so they straightened and readied.

“You know well Feliciano’s sketchbook, right?”

“Yes, I’ve studied it well for many years.”

“I know you mentioned you haven’t found another style like it, but are you truly sure?”

“Well…not another style or technique like his…but…there is this one painting...”

The three men raised and gazed between themselves. “Are you serious?”

“Feliciano didn’t make it though.” She took a good look that moment, realizing something now with his image, something that should have reached her the moment she met him.

“It is very similar to his style… maybe a portrait someone made for him… nevertheless, there was something about it that had me thinking about your sketchbook and now…about yourself. I found it in one of my grandmother’s old basement in the Netherlands. I took it. It was exceptionally beautiful.”

“So, you have this painting then?” Ludwig raised as did Feliciano, ready to run off and see it that moment.

“Well…yes it is mine, but I don’t have it here with me. I didn’t want to risk it while I was moving.”

“Then where is it?”

“It’s with my brother in Amsterdam.”

Was this all some big test? Was it a curse? Perhaps karma? Ludwig kept thinking it through the night, eyes wide and staring to the ceiling. Occasionally, his eyes would fall on the readied luggage in the corner of the room, prepared for a train trip the coming morning, then on Feliciano…who lay peacefully asleep…right next to him. He breathed easy, splashed as he wanted, Ludwig wondering if he was even aware that he was on the bed as well. Well, at least he had his own space to sleep as he wanted…if he could even at the moment.

He had gotten exceptionally well with Tim Jansen long ago, in fact, he had met Laura through him. They had many agreements and similar interests, enjoying well their meetings with countless of topics to discuss. He was indifferent for when Ludwig and Laura dated, knowing well without even Ludwig wording it that he wasn’t really into the relationship as he had hoped. Still, this was indeed his little sister and so Ludwig had received his threats, ones that he was afraid to face after he had broken up with her in the famed family dinner, one Tim was present in…Ludwig hasn’t seen him since.

That was to change tomorrow, for Laura had helped them establish a meeting in his home in Amsterdam where he kept the painting and he was exceptionally scared as to how he would react. Sure, the events happened over two years ago, but he knew how the elder Jansen kept his grudges, especially when it involved his sister and he hadn’t been given a proper explanation as to Ludwig’s exact why afterwards. Tomorrow would be the first time he would take whatever reaction he decided to show, and he was terrified on how he could use it against him concerning this painting.

Then there was Feliciano…who already Laura had insinuated at something between them and depending on how Feliciano would act…it meant that Tim could be getting similar ideas. Many times during the nights he kept his breath even and tried to repeat to himself that everything would be fine. It was Laura’s painting and she had already decree to let them do what they wished with it. It was two years ago, she was completely fine and over it. And Feliciano? Ludwig was prepared to explain himself however times necessary to prove that it really wasn’t what everybody else was thinking.

After being on a car and flying a plane, Feliciano was relaxed riding his first train. Like a child, he couldn’t keep still, finding enjoyment in just walking down the corridor while it moved, sticking himself to the window and pointing to all the minimal beauties, as well as jumping on his seat and testing its fabric and feel. The three who joined found it endearing, answering well whatever his questions and of course being watchful.

They arrived to Amsterdam an early afternoon, a beautiful shinning day highlighted in colors and whimsical, wondering the more Feliciano, who kept running off their intended path to gaze at every beautiful hidden corner with structures and build. There was also the fact that he kept standing on the bike roads, not moving even at the insisting bells as he watched over bridges and to boats. After nearly being trampled over by an angered teenager, Ludwig settled with keeping a tight hold on Feliciano’s arm the rest of the way.

They reached a deep part of the city, less populated, a small canal settled well between large shadows of trees. Roderich could breathe in and already feel comfort, while Laura was happily skipping to the boat that was their destination, and Ludwig’s anxiety heightened.

Tim’s houseboat was large, clearly the longest one in the canal, space in the upper deck to make a dinner party, windows showcasing that it must have several cabins, clean, beautiful and surely the Dutch dream, with bikes and tulips to really make it clear.

“Tim!” Laura called, in her most annoying call surely to tease, yet excited, the only one to dare and run up the ramp of entrance. At her call, he was there, intimidatingly tall, blond hair standing vicious and green eyes piercing. Feliciano stopped and found himself worrying over Laura, but her older brother took her well in his arms, spinning and smiling like children. They spoke on excitedly in Dutch, while the other three remained by the street, albeit fearful to stand on the ramp.

“They’re standing there like gaping fishes,” Tim commented. What was supposed to be a welcoming entrance came as a glare in his expression. Feliciano waved trying to ease these sudden tensions.

“Is that…the boy?” There was impression in his eyes, noticing something, one that Ludwig and Roderich feared meant that he knew. Laura seemed to know what it was Tim really saw, but she waved off to the others to let them know she had not said a word to him about Feliciano being the statue.

“Well, get over here before you get run over. You’re taking up the street.” Tim went inside with an easy stride, his usual, not all pestered by the new visitors. Laura signaled them to come up and so with their luggage they made their entrance.

They were surprised at how spacious it was, with halls, each their own cabin for the nights they were meant to stay, large dinning hall with a full functional kitchen, exquisite lounging areas, everywhere hanged with flowers looking well kept, clean and offered quite luxuriously. With everyone well placed in their rooms, Tim offered some coffee, strawberry jam and croissants, presented on the table. He let them take as they pleased without a care, leaning down on his chair to light up his newest smoke. He kept a window open to breathe out, knowing how his sister disliked it.

“Your place is lovely,” Roderich commented, gladly taking from the coffee, insisting Feliciano took his own.

“Thanks. Now, what is it that you came here for?” He didn’t want to waste any more time.

“Tim!” Laura scolded.

“What? I’m sure they want to get it over with too.”

“Yes, if we may, please,” Ludwig finally worded and to his surprise, Tim didn’t react any differently, only inhaling more smoke to blow out the window in the usual.

Ludwig took a deep breath to begin well. “First, let me introduce you to Feliciano Valenti, a friend who is helping us with a very important project-”

“Yeah, Laura told me about him, get on with it.”

Ludwig sighed, “right. Laura told us you keep a painting she found which can help us with our search.”

“Which one?” This question Tim directed to his sister.

“You…know the one,” she spared a glance to Feliciano and in that way, Tim instantly knew which one it was.

“Ah…come with me,” he led them down the halls to one of the most backside rooms, opening a door to reveal a cabin working like a sort of basement, with countless of items that ranged from cleaning supplies, seasonal decorations, beers, tools, parts, knick knacks and of course different canvases with different painted themes, but the most important one, the one they came for stood well in the center back, rather large, with a beautiful golden framework to accompany the beauty that presented.

“That’s…” Ludwig pointed to the figure in it… a boy, dressed discreetly in a transparent and silk robe falling from his shoulders. He stood covered in the guard of a bush, decorated with the most beautifully painted flowers, some adorning the figure’s curly hair and with petals falling on his body and robe.

“It’s… Feliciano…” Roderich worded the recognition.

Feliciano came closer to it, the image like staring into a mirror, but he hoped for more clues, a memory, an idea, but the distinctive colors didn’t say anything else.

“Is he a… relative perhaps, of the model in this picture,” Tim wondered, still slightly shaken at meeting such a lively representation.

They kept silent not knowing how to answer without revealing too much.

“Um…it’s uh…uh…” Roderich tried to find any instant excuse.

“It-It’s…a coincidence!” Ludwig tried to defend.

“Feliciano was just trying to find something that look closely enough to himself,” Laura helped along.

“What for?”

“A school project!” Was the best Roderich could concoct.

“What kind of school project sends you to find paintings that look like yourself?”

“It’s all the rage in the young academic world!”

“Ah yes, the academic world making no sense as per usual. I don’t even know how in the hell this even relates to the statue.”

They went on discussing, Feliciano wishing he could block out all the noises, hoping it could better help him to read.

There had to be a code, a message. He looked for a signature, written: P.G. Grimaldo.

It was familiar. He knew that name surely, he had heard it once before…from someone close to him.

Grimaldo…Grimaldo…Grimaldo…

‘I have a dear friend, Pasqualino Grimaldo…’ he hadn’t heard it in the past, but read it, yet he could still hear the tone of that person. ‘He is eager to paint you…he has heard so many stories…’ the voice was dear… he missed it…he missed his father.

“Papa…” he suddenly said, interrupting well the words being swung behind him.

Feliciano brought a hand close, as if he could caress him through this painting.

“Your father? Did your father…make this?” Ludwig was the only to come close.

“No…no he didn’t, he… only commissioned it.”

“Commissioned? A painting for you? Feliciano, that was incredibly expensive to do in those times, and I understand that the reason your grandfather chose to avoid him was because he was of lower class. The documents themselves mentioned you had no relation to him,” Roderich reminded.

“My grandfather refused to have anything written about him in our family papers, but we were still close…I…remember playing with him and my brother in hidden valleys…Mamma smiling so sweetly. I remember when he sent me golden paint as a gift. I remember traveling to Venice often to see him…I remember why I had come to Brussels in the first place.”

“Wasn’t it a sketching trip?” Laura joined along, Tim standing incredibly confused in the background.

“Yes, yes, with my master…but he found out I was coming and came down from Amsterdam…he…was doing business here at the time…he…he was a trader.” He glowed, he smiled, lost in memories and Ludwig couldn’t help but smile knowing Feliciano had that comfort in such a long and sudden laying of far off memories.

“A really good one at that…sometimes I think Nonno was just jealous…” he remembered fights and separations, ones he preferred not to word, as to not ruin the elation that sparked.

“But…I had also come to Brussels to model for him, for Pasqualino Guerriero Grimaldo…”

“I…never knew that was his full name…and I had tried so hard to find that…” Laura bewildered.

“This…” Feliciano spread his fingers around the painting gently, not disturbing anything as to make Laura or Tim worry. “Was a gift I was supposed to get myself here…long ago, but I…never made it…I got the message and shortly after…”

“It happened to you,” Ludwig placed, hurt for his friend.

“Yes…” Feliciano let his hand fall, with it whatever wish to keep looking. It was reminding him of how he failed to reach and meet him. He wondered over what he could have thought, over what happened to him afterwards…did he think him dead? Did he try to search for him? He missed him dearly and wanted desperately a glimpse of him again, but despite the magic that was surrounding him, no such thing could occur to give him an assurance. The only comfort he got was feeling Ludwig’s proximity behind, nervous, sweet, surely wanting to do something to aid, and Feliciano smiled knowing that he simply had his reach.

“What happened to him?” Tim had to word out, lost clearly among this knowing crowd. “What…what is going on?” That’s when they had all noticed what they just let release completely, stuttering, glancing between themselves for any ideas. Feliciano had something, ready to turn and cover them all, but that’s when it started, the familiar light and spread.

“Oh no…” Roderich panicked, nothing near to cover and no words to use.

The light, the wind, the taking, pristine marble revealed and suddenly there was the statue of an angel, sinking the boat slightly more, Tim letting his pipe fall to ground, stupefied.

Air from the top deck, a new pipe, staring into the murky waters, an occasional passing boat, waving to the passengers as they hurried pass under the next bridge.

“Tim, say something!” Laura begged, the silence had been too long and Ludwig and Roderich were just as agitated.

“I’m still waiting to see if I wake up,” he admitted calmly.

“It’s. Not. A dream.” Laura punctuated.

“I think I’ll take a dive down there to really make sure,” he pointed with his pipe to the waters close.

“Oh god, no, not again. Do you have any idea how hard and even disgusting it is to get you out of there?”

It seemed like her older brother wasn’t even listening.

Laura suddenly stood, the other men wondering its purpose, but then she came back, a vase of water with her that she easily poured over the taller man, no reaction as he was drenched, only slight disappointment as this pipe’s smoke was gone.

“Fine, I know I’m awake now.” He had no other choice but to realize.

“Thanks,” Laura took sitting next to him, at least sure as this new silence reigned.

“So…this statue, comes to life…every now…and then, and you are all trying to figure out why this happens to him, about his life and I guess…how to stop it?”

“Yes, that’s the situation,” Roderich said.

“Interesting…” he could only omit, breathing, still getting into realization. “So…you have more information on his father now, we know whose in this painting…so…what’s the next step?” He truly wondered, trying to light up his next pipe.

Roderich and Laura shared the same question, looking over to Ludwig, hoping that he could perhaps hold the next clue.

“I…I…I really don’t know,” he admitted with a sigh.

“What?”

“Come on, Ludwig! Can’t we have a next heading at least?”

“I really don’t know. The only available choice is heading back to Munich and hoping we get more information from his returning memories.”

“The painting, the painting! There has to be something in the painting!” Roderich knew.

“It only got him to remember his father.”

“Think deeper about this,” Laura insisted.

“That Grimaldo fellow!”

“Just the painter,” Tim shrugged, seeming as given as Ludwig.

But then it alighted on Ludwig, looking up, finally with something. “Laura…do you happen to know anything about that painter?”

“Nothing much, just that he was a painter from Macerata who came to Belgium and the Netherlands with a group of traders.”

“Probably the very group Feliciano’s father came with.”

“I used to believe that he could have been someone related to the sketchbook artist, that is, Feliciano, maybe an apprentice, but now I realize that he must have been too old…or perhaps…” Laura suddenly took her phone, frantic in her search through files, pictures and messages, until she came with a definite folder, sitting between all so they could see the paintings. They were all of singular people, all so different, some dressed in Roman or Greek themes, others with important military uniforms of the time and others of the expectance and elegance and aristocracy of 16th and 17th century Italy.

“What about them?” Tim wondered.

“These are all paintings that I believe Grimaldo made.”

“But they all look so different.”

“Exactly! You see, my research group went and tried to find the figures of these paintings, and turns out they were all painters themselves, not recognizable ones, surely those who did it as pastime, but they were ranked and remarkable in other fields.” She searched through her phone, to another gallery, pointing and beginning to explain, “this is Gustavo Flaviano.” His sketches were simple ones of uniforms, helmets, beautifully crafted, surely for the paper and aesthetics, not all fit for battle.

“He was a designer, made all the uniforms for the infantries of Livorno in Tuscany. He was well known for on the night that an English and Dutch battle could reach their coast, he sent a warning sign by blowing one of their cannons, enough for not a single boat to come close. That single act saved the entire city and he was well celebrated.”

She then switched to one of an old man, dressed like a noble, with many pinks and bright colors. “Lorenzo Palerma, a mere candy maker. He owed the most well-known shop in Parma for having beautifully crafted sweets. Many children loved him, and he was well known for taking in abandoned children to live with him. Documents say that he had as much as seventeen children living with him, all taken care of and growing to be people of fortune.”

Another picture, a woman of nobility, surrounded by wine and showing it proudly. “Olga Lucchese, duchess of Amaroni in Catanzaro. Her family was of wine makers. She was taught to be a woman of the house, to be a wife and mother. The only one of these duties she liked was painting, but she secretly practiced battle statics as she truly wanted to become a soldier. On a night that another town was to invade them, with the help of her maids and even some nuns from their convent, they battled and expulsed them out of the town, causing news and words to spread. The town was left alone and no one dared to attack again.”

“Okay, so, what does this all have to do with Feliciano?” Tim was getting slightly annoyed.

“Don’t you get it! Grimaldo only painted hidden painters that held great stories! And he would then do their portraits based on their own styles!” Laura insisted, close to hitting all the men to make them understand as she had so easily done.

“So…if he painted Feliciano…that meant that he must have done something grand to have caught Grimaldo’s attention in the first place,” Ludwig understood.

“Didn’t his father commission it?” Roderich reminded.

“A lot of these paintings were also commissioned,” Laura added as she pointed to her phone.

“Then…what did Feliciano do?” Roderich now presented a new question to the list of the many they held.

Silence as each tried to get an idea from what they knew.

“A painter born in Venice…the youngest son of a forbidden romance between a Florentine noblewoman and a tradesman…that could be it…”

“No, there must be much more,” Tim released his pipe to tap it at his knees, joining all in the wondering.

“Like I said, we have no other choice than to wait,” Ludwig decreed them in their dead end, all slumping, sighing and having to accept this stillness.

“I assume we’ll be heading back to Munich tomorrow then,” Roderich suggested.

“Nonsense. Stay here a couple of days,” Time actually suggested, a glad air on him despite no such grin.

“Why should we? There’s really nothing else we can do for Feliciano here.”

“You can all relax,” he said with an imposing scold. “You all look exhausted and need some time to keep your mind off mysteries and old Italian stories. I prepared the boat for your visit, there’s enough food to last however long you wish to stay. There’s room, you can take a swim-” Laura grimaced, enough suggestion not to “-or take a smoke. I don’t really mind.” He stood, decided on starting lunch for now. “I am curious about Feliciano though…and I hope you don’t mind if I give him a tour of the city tomorrow. We can take a trip on my motorboat and I’ll pay whatever tickets we need.”

Ludwig was sure Feliciano would love it all and he couldn’t help but raise at the excitement tomorrow held.

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scarletgardensrpg · 4 years

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LIVING ♦ TWENTY-FOUR ♦ HOUSE OF EDEN

GABRIËL DE JAAGER is a Yellow Jacket affiliated with the House of Eden. The youngest son of the Netherlands’ Koninklijke Landmacht Commander, Gabriël defected early to the House of Eden and was instrumental in the organization and execution of the Oranje-Nassau massacre. Gabriël is one of the few non-Undead soldiers to serve in the House’s massive army, as well as a close adviser to Thalia. Although he is a formidable fighter and strategist, his notorious temper makes him difficult to work with.

BIOGRAPHY

tw: violence

Thalia Yamaguchi met his gaze, and after a brief moment, turned away to wave to the bartender for a second drink. Sifting through the din of the Moulin Rouge, Gabriël settled gingerly into the seat next to her, every nerve singing. When she swiveled around to face him again, he saw that her cat eyes sparkled like tahitian pearls, and her manicured hands were laced neatly underneath her chin. Smug. Neither spoke—for in coming to meet her, Gabriël had already said everything she needed to know. At last, the bartender brought out his drink, an oranjebitter, and Thalia nudged it smoothly toward him with a pale knuckle. Drink, young Gabriël, she purred, and he could have killed her there, three bullets to the head and a crushed windpipe under his foot. But to level his gun at Thalia was to level it at Luana and Maurice. She’d made sure of that. We have something to celebrate, then, in your coming, Thalia said, lifting her own drink. Aan de koningin.

To the Queen. Gabriël knew, she didn’t mean Catharina.

- ❀ -

He was born brawling. The birth was difficult, and after, so too were the years: an endless parade of trouble presenting itself to the de Jaager family in the form of one single boy, scowling and insolent. In some ways, it was understandable—with four older brothers ahead of Gabriël, there was nothing really left to prove, only that he, too, could bite and bruise. They were all the sons of the Generaal, held in the highest esteem and afforded great luxuries for their father’s service to the Netherlands: but where his older brothers were handsome, serious boys in white shirts and chinos, who played football at their private schools and brought home immaculate grades every quarter, Gabriël ran with wolves, himself a sharp-toothed terror. How many lips had split under his fists? How many fights broken up by weary principals, expulsions begrudgingly demoted to suspensions behind doors as a favor to the de Jaager name? Gabriël snarled, bright with fury, and it took all four of his brothers to wrench him off some misfortuned kid.

By fifteen, he boasted a disciplinary record riddled with bullet holes: backtalk, fighting, truancy, fighting, vandalism, fighting. All this violence; and from what place did it come? All this rage; and where could he put it all down? They said he was hanging around wrong folk by then—bubblegum bitches with switchblades under their latex skirts, penoze runners from the hidden alleys of De Wallen, street-racing boys with wolfish smiles who kept Gabriël out hours past curfew. They said he was marked—a winding dragon on his arm, inked in by De Dame’s very own consigliere, that frightening Yamaguchi girl. His family was, of course, at a loss. How were four brothers reared into soldierly perfection, only for the fifth to emerge like some fresh wound of a nightmare, teeth bared and knuckles bloody? Even Gabriël could not have put a name to his recklessness, his enduring love affair with adrenaline, his need to throw the first punch, always—only that he was certain the world would swallow him whole, if he were even a little softer. He had not thought it possible, ever, to be soft. De Jaagers were cold machinery, were war rampages—what nervy soul dared to ask gentleness of him?

In the end, there were two. The sun princess, who spotted him from across the expanse of a palace courtyard and, like a barnacle, attached herself henceforth to him with comedic determination—and the moon prince, sapphire-eyed and erudite, who had merely swept his gaze across the dragon tattoo with disinterest, before turning to go. Neither of them afraid. They had played together as children, once, and so now played together again, even as the Scarlet Death wreaked havoc from what felt like a million miles away: Gabriël grumbling in the gardens, dragged along by a glowing Luana to admire the daffodils; Gabriël mussing Maurice’s pale hair by the waterfront, telling him, I’d be good, for you; Gabriël driving his fist into the pretty jut of Thalia’s face after she’d given her sick ultimatum. I never knew you to be a fool, she’d laughed, almost maniacal, stumbling to her feet with a hand cradled to her cheek. You’ll help my men into the palace, or we’ll blow it up from the outside. I’m offering you a choice and a chance. Aren’t I merciful? Gabriël lunged again, but this time, she moved like quicksilver. Click.

Listen, kid, Thalia purred. One hand leveled the gun to his temple, steady as a heartbeat—the other dug its nails into his shoulder, where the dragon she’d inked into him sprawled.

Gabriël listened.

CONNECTIONS

LUANA & MAURICE – HIS SORROWS, HIS LOVES. Here are two truths, and a lie. Truth number one. He loves them. Truth number two. He is responsible for the blood. And the lie? He regrets it. There was, truly, no other alternative that would save them from the same fate their family suffered: seven years ago, they were, all three of them, teenagers helpless to the machinations of politicians and killers. Agostina was hungry for a power vacuum, Thalia was happy to create it—and the rest is bitter, bitter history. There is, of course, an abundance of history between he and the royal twins. He never did return Luana’s feelings perfectly, but grew to love her all the same for the kindnesses she showed him, and for the countless hours they spent together at her whimsical behest—indeed, it was difficult not to grow fond of someone so effortlessly charismatic. As for Maurice...that is more complicated. They resembled something closer to good, true friends: shared interests, shared silences, shared understanding of the uglier things in life. For Gabriël, he had seen in precocious, careful Maurice a future king—someone to swear loyalty to and serve, as his father served Catharina. Perhaps, they were standing at the precipice of something more than friends, too—but all that is gone, now. The twins, who have recently returned with hollow faces and hunted eyes, hate him for a treasonous crime he did commit. He will not attempt to argue otherwise.

THALIA – A THOUSAND DEBTS AND GRIEVANCES. In the beginning, they were friends. It was hard not to feel heady with power when Thalia Yamaguchi claimed she liked you: she was a striking woman, rumored to inherit the penoze someday and already possessing the cruelty and efficiency required to lead the Netherlands’ most powerful crime ring. She’d shown him every nook and cranny of Amsterdam that was worth exploring: secret passageways in and out of cartel territory, underground fighting pits, glittering clubs, smoky brothels, stretches of urban streets where initiates lounged against the brick like neon demons. When she’d offered to mark him, Gabriël had accepted with awe and pride. Now you’re tied to me forever, she’d mused, etching her tattoo into his shoulder—and he had laughed, not understanding she was serious. Gabriël may have been the instrumental turncoat, but Thalia was always the originating mastermind behind the massacre, understanding it would take nothing less than the annihilation of an ancient family line to ensure her good standing in Agostina’s new empire. Gabriël hates her for it, of course—but finds he can’t fully commit to his rage in this one regard. Thalia had offered an opportunity for Gabriël to save Luana and Maurice, promising she’d turn a blind eye if he could make arrangements for them to leave Amsterdam forever. It is not a kindness, exactly—but it was not something a completely heartless woman would have concerned herself with.

IVONNE – THE ACE. She’s the PYTHIA. Gabriël knows this because he had, painstakingly, traveled to London in the days leading up to the massacre in search of one Walpurga Albert—only to find her creation, Ivonne, instead: wrist-deep in carnage, lips stained in unspeakable sin, head cocked to the side as she regarded him with calm, intelligent eyes. He had asked of her what he couldn’t trust to ask of any other soul in Amsterdam: save the children. And this she accomplished, with a shaking of hands and exchanging of goods. You owe me a debt, now, Ivonne had said. Someday, I’ll call on you to repay it. Gabriël isn’t necessarily interested in whatever strange agenda she’s pursuing, but he feels she is someone to keep an eye out on. He’s upset with her for not ensuring the twins would never return, as this puts them back in danger—but finds there’s little he can do to ask for a second favor. He is already indebted to her, and this makes him uncomfortable. Debts are the currency of the PYTHIA; it feels uneasy to know she could call on him at any moment, and he would be likely forced to do her bidding.

OPEN ♦ FC: GERON MCKINLEY

#gabriel #l #o #house #all #lsrpg #lsrp

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alexsfictionaddiction · 4 years

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Alex Recommends: July Books

Well, I’ve certainly had a rollercoaster of a month. My stress levels have been all over the place and to be honest, it has been quite exhausting. I’ve been dealing with a lot of job rejections recently which is putting me under huge financial strain now, as I enter my eighth month of unemployment. I’m trying not to get too wrapped up in it, but it is understandably having a knock-on effect on my mental health. I have a couple of potential freelance leads though, so the light is slowly starting to come back on in that area of my life.

On a positive note, I am still living in Staffordshire with my boyfriend Mark and he has been the most incredible calming influence. We’re very much in a warm fuzzy bubble of love and in some ways, possibly the most important ways, I am the happiest and most relaxed I’ve ever been. Of course, I wish that I had the funds to treat him in the way he deserves and be more of an equal partner in that respect but he is so supportive and wonderful. I know exactly where I’d be without him and I’m so thankful that I’m not in that place.

Last week, I joined my parents for a week in the Lake District. Mark came for the first couple of days too and we had a really lovely time, going on long walks and taking in the scenery. It’s so peaceful up there, which did me a world of good and even sparked some inspiration for some possible future creative projects.

I have read a fair amount this month too, passing the 100 books read in 2020 mark. In a normal year, this is my grand total so it felt good to achieve it with five full months of the year to go. My target is 150 and I’m still well on target to smash it, so here’s hoping I hit at least one goal by the end of this weird, terrible year. -Love, Alex x

CONTEMPORARY FICTION: The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin

When travel blogger and photographer Fiona wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Tokyo, she isn’t prepared to be met at the airport by Gabe Burnett, the very man who broke her heart a decade ago. Japan has always been one of my bucket list destinations and this cute romance planted me right in the middle of a bustling, charming Tokyo. Wonderfully immersive and drenched in culture, it’s the perfect slice of escapism that we all need right now.

LITERARY FICTION: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.

Twins Stella and Desiree Vignes grew up in a small black community in the Louisiana village of Mallard but at the age of 16, they both run away to New Orleans to build their own lives. A decade later, the twins are not only separated by thousands of miles but by entirely different communities and identities that filter down into the following generation of Vignes women. Exploring race, classism, gender and motherhood, The Vanishing Half is highly addictive and thought-provoking with characters that burrow into your heart and a story full of empathy.

MIDDLE-GRADE: The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke.

Lotta, Egg, Fenna, Sem and their leader, the brave, tenacious Milou are considered the ‘unadoptable’ orphans of Little Tulip Orphanage, so when a mysterious man wants to adopt all five of them, suspicions are raised. Cue a heartwarming journey to find the true meaning of home and family. This whimsical tale takes place in 1890s Netherlands, which is a place and time that I’ve never been to before. Packed full of intrigue and mystery as well as characters that will touch your heart, it’s a beautifully illustrated adventure that you won’t be able to put down.

YA: You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson.

When shy awkward Liz Lighty misses out on the scholarship of her dreams, there’s still a way for her to get it -becoming prom queen in her prom-obsessed town. She didn’t plan on cute, funny, new girl Mack showing up though. Managing to be both fluffy and heart-achingly real, You Should See Me In A Crown is the perfect queer YA rom-com to snuggle up with after a stressful day. Liz is an absolute darling and you’ll cheer for her the entire way through.

HORROR: Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis.

When horror film director Nolan Nox is viciously attacked in his flat, his teenage daughter Lola is sent to live with a grandmother who she has never met in the small town of Harrow Lake, where Nolan’s most famous film, Nightjar, was set. Submerged in a 1980s horror pool, Harrow Lake is dripping in local urban legend terror and a coldness that seeps its way through the pages. The small town setting, hugely unsettling atmosphere and chilling slow reveals resemble a Stephen King novel, so I’d say it’s a great introduction to supernatural horror for YA readers.

#book recommendations #recommended #recommendations #july #books #bookworm

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theheartofpenelope · 5 years

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SIMPLE THINGS - Chapter five

Chapter five - excerpt : Granted, the subsequent sexual encounter might have been quite imaginary, it dìd prove to Charlotte she was still alive inside. It reminded her of her youth, her possibilities and – let’s be honest - her needs. And upon returning home Charlotte had deemed herself finally ready to gently ease herself back into the dating game, much to her best friend Elisabeth’s joy. The ‘Lizzie’ to her ‘Charlie’. Ever understanding, ever supportive, but ever impatient as well.

Tag list: @winterisakiller, @devikafernando, @scorpionchild81, @messy-insomniac-bookgirl, @smutsausage, @hiddlesbitch1 @noplacelikehome77 @wolfsmom1 @meh1217 @dina-bln @lilaeye39 @tinchentitri @fairlightswiftly @nonsensicalobsessions @wolfsmom1

Author’s Notes/Warnings: tags will follow later on -also : the lay-out of the text-conversation is so much cleaner on AO3. But here on Tumblr it’s a bit of a mess as those specific html-outlining- inserts don’t work *perfectionistic groan* So it’s not looking ‘perfect’ here on Tumblr, I had to manually try to outline it - but I did the best I could... Anyway thank you in advance for feedback - would love to know what you think…

Also on AO3 through this link Bonus: click here for the pinterest moodboard (always updated)

Chapter five Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Amsterdam did not hold many secrets for Charlotte anymore. She had visited the scenic city many times before and so the site had somehow become a familiarity to her. She would never have realised that if Tom hadn’t requested her to send him some pictures of the Netherlands’ capital.

Yes. Tom.

His first message came as quite a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. And Charlotte gladly obliged to the kind wish of this man who had kept his word and sent her some not-so-touristy addresses she ought to visit while in Hamburg and Berlin - her next destinations.

Charlotte’s phone shots mostly consisted of her favourite sights such as the bridges over the breath-taking canals, boats, strings of light bulbs lighting up pop-up summer bars in the park and the beautiful restored architecture that took her breath away as if it were the first time she’d laid eyes upon it. Thank you Tom for reminding me of this.

The Convention didn’t take up much of her time for a change. Charlotte gladly took the opportunity to stop by the floating flower market for some fresh flowers, and browse through one of her favourite flea markets where she picked up a few books before boarding the intercity train home later that afternoon.

With her new acquisitions all packed up, Charlotte strolled down to the Central Station. Upon entering the building, that felt more like the ‘arrivals and departures’- scene at any given airport, she walked passed some colourful shops. She hopped in one to get herself a refreshing drink for the ride home and upon queueing at the cash register, her eyes scanned over the headlines of the international press that was presented there. One specific title in big bold letters called out to her. A tabloid read out in bold red print : ‘Tom Hiddleston spotted with mystery woman’.

Charlotte laughed a little louder than planned as she detected the picture showcased in fact his publicist’s intern. She shook her head in amusement; was this the man she was currently sending touristy pictures to? Felt a bit silly really…

Charlotte couldn’t deny that over the start of the summer her life had somehow taken an unexpected and bizarre turn. While her professional life had continued to overshadow her private life, she did seem to have found a somewhat manageable and unique balance between the two.

In the sense that she would combine her professional obligations at conferences abroad with some extra me-time. She would try to extend her stay as far as time or reason allowed, so she could go and explore the cities and come to herself before starting all over again somewhere else.

In her head her plan seemed picture perfect, in reality she came to realise she really ought to prepare these kinds of visits just a little bit more. Tom’s tips came in more than handy here… She caught her lips curving into a smile.

Stop it! Silly girl...

Up until now Charlotte had managed to keep her head on straight, regardless of her hectic schedule. She was tired but ambitious, worn-out at times but always remained curious and anxious for what came next. And then came London... the visit that shook her up a bit. It felt as if the carpet had suddenly been pulled out from under her feet. Metaphorically she’d stumbled at first, taken quite the fall nevertheless but then got up again, feeling quite unsure and apprehensive. It had been a dizzying 72 hours, but equally exhilarating nonetheless.

Granted, the subsequent sexual encounter might have been quite imaginary, it dìd prove to Charlotte she was still alive inside. It reminded her of her youth, her possibilities and – let’s be honest - her needs. And upon returning home Charlotte had deemed herself finally ready to gently ease herself back into the dating game, much to her best friend Elisabeth’s joy. The ‘Lizzie’ to her ‘Charlie’. Ever understanding, ever supportive, but ever impatient as well. So before Charlotte was good and well aware ‘Lizzie’ had her all set up for a blind date later that night.

Charlotte did her best not to take any offence in Lizzie’s sudden matchmaking extravaganza - lord knows how long she’d been pushing the matter - but decided to ‘just go with it’.

Charlotte switched her phone into flight mode as she boarded the train. She had a thing with flight mode. The thrill of being able to cut out all outside intrusions was one she often indulged in. And right now she had opted to treat herself to some lounge music while reading. With two hours to kill, it seems the perfect getaway from reality.

She settled in her seat, earphones plugged in, loungy music on and one of her new acquirements resting in her hands. She admired the mysterious cover for a while. It was a book Tom had highly recommended to her. Intrigued, she curiously delved in.

WIthin no less than a dozen pages, to her greatest surprise, the words struck home to both Charlotte and her wounded heart.

“Even though I complain sometimes it (his heart) said, it’s because I am the heart of a person, and people’s hearts are that way. People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams because they feel they don’t deserve them, or that they won’t be able to achieve them.

Many years ago Charlotte had lost her heart to a man. Well, a boy still when they’d first met. And she’d treasured him just as much as he had treasured her. They had gone through so much together; they left the university-benches together and dived headfirst into their professional lives. And while they took their time to search where their respective professional futures lay, they wasted no time on their personal future and got married. She’d truly followed her heart.

Fairly soon he was on his road to success, while Charlotte struggled. They bought a flat with a breath-taking view over the park but by then the marriage was already in heavy weather...

Charlotte’s stomach turned into a knot as the narrative in the book went on.

"We, their hearts, become fearful just thinking of loved ones who go away, or of moments that could have been good, but weren’t, or treasures that might have been found but were forever hidden in the sands. Because when these things happen we suffer terribly.”

You see; back then, in her professional life Charlotte had only faced glass ceilings and struggled with the balance between professional and private life. A struggle her husband had failed to see or recognize.

Evidently work demanded they would started moving in different circles, networking, meeting new people, investing. He had to put in crazy hours, there was no energy left for other struggles. And Charlotte definitely felt like a struggle he wanted to do without. Or one he could do without.

It astounded her really. After all, they had overcome so much together; she always thought their relationship had a solid foundation that could resist any type of storm. But somehow, in this phase of their lives, she felt as if their marriage was built on nothing more than a children’s floaty. Whimsical, terrifyingly unpredictable. To make matters worse, in his opinion there was only room for one career in a marriage. Charlotte begged to differ but for the sake of her marriage she gave up trying to pursue more , thinking it would make her happier and by result him as well. Only it didn’t.

She wasn’t suffering though, not anymore , Charlotte thought. With pain in her heart, she had to accept the crumbling of their relationship, their understanding and ultimately their love. She had fought and sacrificed, alas it takes two to tango and their paths lay so far apart now. Closing the door on her marriage, she closed off the door to love in general. Although the divorce was ultimately somehow a mutual decision; that didn’t mean it hurt any less. He had been a part of her past and present, but sadly no longer held her future and that insight hurt. Those who say infidelity hurts the most, meet ‘indifference’; the very close runner up!

"My heart is afraid it will have to suffer,” said the boy.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams because every second of the search is an encounter with God….”

Charlotte had turned her focus now solely on her professional life where all of a sudden – to her a delight - a glass ceiling started showing subtle cracks. She grasped the opportunity with both hands, diving into work and research at full speed, ignoring all else.

Her wings had been clipped in the past, she felt she owed it to herself to open them up now and fly. Far, far away. And she dreaded the day (or the person) who would even try to confine her again.

It caused her an occasional lecture from her best friend Lizzie, but was it clear to outsiders as well that she had closed herself off like this? Or was Tom’s recommendation of this particular book just a happy – albeit freakishly strange - coincidence?

Cracking open the door to my heart wasn’t enough; must you take down the entire façade as well?

Realising the answer to this question was irrelevant she immediately engrossed herself further in the book. Charlotte felt tears stinging as the chapter went on. Before she knew it, she was halfway along the book when the train halted at her destination. She left the train with a heavy heart, an emotional wound but a regained insight. She shook her head and tucked her new favourite book in her purse.

2. It had to be said : Charlotte was pleasantly surprised that she was greeted with a very charming man that evening.

Well done Lizzie!

He was tall and dressed to the nines, with dark hair, piercing green eyes and a handsome smile to match. She had an inkling he knèw he had charm, but she was not yet sure if he played that card.

He turned out to be both charismatic and intelligent. Charlotte had to fight her inner cynic who immediately wanted to find out what was ‘wrong’ with him in order for him to be single, temporarily forgetting he might as well have the same reservations towards her.

They shared appetizers while talking about the current heat wave, the local news, bits and bobs. It was mildly entertaining, at least as far as anxious blind dates can go. It would seem a lovely dinner would ensue.

The man was athletic, which made him easy on the eye however not on the mind. It started when dinner was ordered and gluten was off limits. “Not allergic,” he elaborated, “but bad for my physique.” Charlotte however gladly indulged in a homemade Sicilian pasta stew. It wasn’t meant as a rebellious act, she was simply a not-so-secret foodie.

We’re on the fence here, ladies and gentlemen, but let us not jump to conclusions…

When the topic of interest came up, it was clear they could not have been more divers and while in her mind that thrilled her, she found he held no remote interest in her hobbies. In fact; he was quite opinionated. She may have been as well, but isn’t there some sort of grey zone? Or the illusion of politeness for starters?

Strike 1.

He considered art as overrated and too pricey. While Charlotte could agree on the financial matter, but ‘overrated’? Seriously? He considered literature old and stuffy, and commented along the lines of “honestly who reads these days.”

Strike 2.

Also, he left his smartphone on the table during the entire dinner and wasn’t too shy to check it at times. Hel-lo?

Strike 3.

Charlotte had learned long ago to be honest about her desires and so by the end of dinner, after the coffee and the dessert, when he suggested drinks at a wine & lounge bar, she politely refused. She was knackered and the foresight of spending more time going through pointless conversation frustrated her.

She kindly bid her farewell and at his attempt to a ‘let’s do this again maybe’ Charlotte carefully added she did not see any point in that. Kind as he might have been. She was met with a surprised reaction. Apparently he did not expect an answer as honest as this, even though he did feel the same.

Was it not ok to just step forward and say things like this, then?

Clearly he wasn’t a feminist either. Or was she just high maintenance?

You’re out!

On her walk home, Charlotte unmuted her smartphone. At least shé had the common sense to zone out outside distractions during her date. As expected Lizzie had already dropped several lines to her. And Charlotte was about to – and very gingerly so – elaborate on the horror-date, “ 3 hours down the drain, did I rush home for this ?” when she made another, more pleasant, discovery.

Tom had replied to her Amsterdam snapshots. It instantly lifted her mood to read her pictures had brought ‘joy to his heart’ before going on to share an equally amusing as eloquent anecdote on his day. Clearly a man who reads , the devil on her shoulder fired back to her long-gone date.

After London, Charlotte had adjusted his name on her contact list to the more fitting ‘Instigator Tom’. She grinned as they exchanged some messages back and forth. As it appeared Charlotte wasn’t the only one who had suffered a lousy end to a promising evening; Tom had gone through a crappy day as well. In an attempt to lighten the mood, she carefully informed him :

I started reading ‘The Alchemist’<<

>>And? Your thoughts so far?

There was this quote that I cannot shake…<< ”You will never be able to escape from your heart.<< So it's better to listen to what it has to say”<< So tonight, I listened to it.<<

Tom’s lips curved into a smile while he tapped on his phone that that was undoubtedly a very wise decision on her behalf. Although he did sympathise for her date gone wrong. He chuckled out loud when Charlotte swiftly countered with a “you should be, it’s all your fault really - recommending that book and all…” And he gladly and sincerely apologized to her.

To his surprise her date turned out to be a blind date, and before he was well aware he had sent out :

>> So, it was a ‘blind’ date? Forgive me for saying, but you don’t strike me as the type who would need a set-up?

I’ll take the compliment ;-) <<

So Charlotte had went on a date, a blind one at that. While Tom wanted to think 'good for her', his mind fixated on 'single'. Truly, he wanted nothing more than to bond with her on the difficulties of dating but found himself lacking for any decent answer in that department because he simply did not date. Not anymore.

Long gone were the days were he would (or could) just go out and strike up a conversation with a woman and see where it went. He wasn’t around long enough to let anything flourish, let alone bloom. Not at all. When he wasn’t working, his days or evenings were filled with press tours, interviews, premiers, gala's. Maybe an occasional party. But the essence of it all was always exactly the same. Someone would pull on his sleeve, demanding him to ' come and meet someone' . Someone in his line of work, someone up and coming, someone he should definitely rub shoulders with. Meet so and so. Talk, discuss, network. At times it really wàs lovely and interesting. But the horrible truth of the matter remained that Tom was living by his work schedule and not by his heart. A very conscious decision he’d made many years ago, that had somehow turned into a grueling reality these days.

So he replied to Charlotte in the only way he could, by truthfully confiding in her and sharing the loneliness of the ‘picture perfect actors’ behind the spotlights.

Thank you for saying that. However, I find this very doubtful… <<

>> It is the truth though, I’m afraid.

He hesitated for a moment, before daring to question her :

>> You’ve not been dating long?

No. Just easing into it again. (Peer pressure)<< It’s been a while…<<

Tom unknowingly bit his lower lip, subsequently running his tongue over it while he wondered how he could diplomatically find out more without seeming crass or rude. Did she suffer from a bad break-up? To his surprise she very easily and clearly admitted that the only thing she ‘suffered from’ was a lonely divorce.

A divorce?

Charlotte chuckled and shook her head when Tom apologized via text - as if he had anything to do with her marital status… A short text of his followed asking her what had happened and then a third one; another apology because he reasoned his asking was ‘probably rather indiscrete’.

She was unaware that a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she delved deep into her thoughts before typing out:

That’s all right. I guess ‘life’ happened?<< Feels like failure though.<<

Or the death slot on the goose board. Back to square one.<<

(can’t believe I just said that)<<

Goes to show, I’m damaged goods. Steer clear ;-)<<

Her answer came out in a series of separate texts. The obvious proof her mind was still processing somewhat. Tom’s benevolent reply that she shouldn’t be too hard on herself, warmed her heard. After all, he reasoned “Sometimes it’s nice to start over? Or heal.”

So they say… <<

Dot. End of the line.

Charlotte kept silent after this. Nothing more was to be said on the matter, was there? In London, Tom thought long and hard about a decent reply… In his heart he felt he could not end this conversation on those last words of her.

>> If memory serves me well, the book also says : “Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.”

Charlotte smiled to herself as a text followed in which he reasoned “we’re not meant nor made to be alone” and that her peer pressuring friends are right in pushing her forward after nearly a year on the bench. “Someone to talk to late at night, Someone to cuddle, … not to be underestimated!”

He shook his head to himself when he caught himself typing that the end of a marriage isn’t the be all - end all. And while he fervently dreamed he would never have to experience a divorce first-hand, sometimes it was simply the right thing to do. If only you handled it well. In which case he referred to his parents and the toll it could possibly take on the young children involved. But Charlotte had no children, she was young enough to start over. And there is no harm in that.

Now this is some very cheap therapy , a mirthless grin at his own expense.

>> Not all storms come to disrupt your life, Charlotte, some come to clear your path.

A pause.

>> Besides, there’s always the prison-slot. Just a time-out until someone sets you free.

… isn’t that a Sting song?<<

>> Avoiding the point Charlotte..

:-) << Thank you for recommending the book to me though.. <<

>> I hold it close to my heart. I had a feeling you might appreciate it as well.

Charlotte heaved a content sigh and confessed that, indeed, all she wanted to to was to get home and finish the book. To her surprise he correctly guessed she would and should just do that in her garden. Good memory, young man. Bonus points for you.

She agreed with him and shared her intent of making a fresh mint tea first. Because when you read in the garden at night, this was the only way to do it right. He chuckled to himself and confessed how much he could relate to that.

Their conversation ended with wishing the other a good night and the promise of more book recommendations.

Placing his smart phone away, Tom reminisced on the sneak-peak he’d gotten of her heart and it was not what he had imagined it to be. In his eyes she was intelligent, beautiful and carefree. He never considered her broken hearted. Goes to show everybody hides behind a façade, he realised. It made him like her just a little bit more.

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston x ofc #simple-things

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marianflorcita · 6 years

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What a grey week so far! Nevermind... we have color inside 😊 Kids are on "carnaval vacations" so besides lounging and watching movies, we are going to try to be a tiny bit productive by... baking and eating 😁 and also going out to get muddy in the woods. This beauty in the photo (without the frame) is listed on my etsy shop waiting to go bring color and good vibes to a new home (link on my bio). Have a good Tuesday! . . #walldecor #originalartworks #originalartworks #painting #whimsical #whimsicalart #creativewomen #curvetimeoutforart #etsyshop #artforsale #colour #artstagram #artistsoninstagram #wallart #tuesday #mindful #zen #florcitasart #flower #intuitivepainting #intuitiveart #interiordesign (at Limburg, Netherlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bun0gEpgvOZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dm7qfemaog98

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hometoursandotherstuff · 11 months

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And, here we have house #2, the home on the right. It also has 3bds & 1.1ba. This one is priced lower than the one on the left: €659,000 / $698K. (Apparently, they were owned by a mother and daughter.)

This home is just as colorful and whimsical, too. So, the buyer has a choice.

I think that I would choose the less expensive one b/c it's just as colorful- love that chandelier.

It also has glass pocket doors.

This home has a more open layout. I wish they would've showed the kitchen, but they don't.

Oooh, it has a French wood burning stove. Love that.

Beautiful window going up the stairs.

Here's a nice little home office.

Apparently, they're not using all of the bedrooms, so this is a little hangout space.

The primary bedroom.

Modernized bath has laundry space, too.

The attic is finished, but used for storage.

Beautiful patio.

If I had money, I'd buy both of them.

Beautiful neighborhood.

#colorful home netherlands #whimsical home netherlands #houses netherlands #houses #house tours #home tour

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allmyloveavery · 7 years

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Juniper, Palilalia, Whimsical, Quaint, Insomnia, Kaleidoscope, Honeysuckle, Galaxy, Marine, Aesthetic and Nocturnal (ive sent you a whole encyclopaedia, hope you enjoy!!) 💫

juniper: have you ever laid in a field of flowers? I’ve stood in a field of tulips but I’ve never laid in one tbh like as far as lying down goes it was in the grass at vondelpark bc there’s lots of daisies.

palilalia: what word do you have trouble saying? okay so I don’t have trouble saying this but I just have to mention it: whY is Arkansas pronounced the way it is???? it makes nO sense bc you have Arkansas and it’s weird that it’s pronounced differently. also I find it hard to pronounce my own damn name in english bc it’s said differently than here in the Netherlands and there’s too many ways to say it so it confuses me lmao

whimsical: favorite fairy tale?probably rapunzel or alice in wonderland (also idk if this one counts as a fairy tale but king arthur and his knights of the round table!!!!)

quaint: do you prefer the city or the country?I may be biased bc there’s nothing to do in my tiny town and it smells like cow shit in spring when they’re harvesting buT imma have to say the city (mainly bc I love being in amsterdam, like it’s basically my second home I’m there every single day lmao)

insomnia: what’s the longest amount of time you’ve stayed awake?uhm probably like all night at sleep overs until we went home and I’d sleep lmao but since I’m not sure how long that is imma say that time jenn and I stayed up to talk about jack in yellow until sunrise

kaleidoscope: favorite color?okay so I don’t really have a favorite color atm but I really like red/ burgundy, soft blue colors and warm yellows!!

honeysuckle: do you ever go barefoot when you’re outside? not really, like maybe on my socks to lock the back door or turn off the lights (but we got grass in our yard recently so I probably will this summer)

galaxy: are aliens real?I refuse to believe we’re the only living beings in this universe. like we’ve only discovered 5% of our oceans let alone the never ending universe, so yes aliens are real.

marine: favorite sea animal?hmmm I really like seals and sea turtles!

aesthetic: favorite word? it’s actually a spanish word and it’s “alucinante” it means something like wonderful, fantastic, mind blowing, amazing (u can use it in various ways)

nocturnal: night or day?I’m always up late so I’m gonna say night (also the moon and stars are out so that’s even more of a plus) thank you for these angel, I love u 💖

#these were fun thank u

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xnxadultstore · 5 years

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Top 30+ Christmas Coloring Books for Adults

The snow is falling and the Christmas lights are beginning to go up so, after all, we have to have some Christmas Coloring Books to maintain us calm earlier than throughout and after Black Friday insanity.

Now that Coloring Books for Adults are an establishment, there are a complete lot of Christmas coloring books accessible together with Christmas Coloring Cards this yr. We have searched for essentially the most stunning selections for you. Please let me know within the feedback or on social media if I’ve neglected your favourite.

My Picks for Christmas Coloring Books for Adults 2019

My best choice this yr is the Queen of Colorings’ Christmas providing….

#1 JOHANNA’S CHRISTMAS by Johanna Basford

Something relatively particular for the festive season! Johanna’s Christmas is accessible NOW!

This e-book options 40 collectible, perforated pull-out prints, ultimate for framing or giving as presents. The excellent Christmas current for coloring followers. The illustrations are printed on one aspect of the ivory paper solely, to help you take away your murals with out sacrificing the picture on the reverse.

Delicate tangles of holly and ivy, bauble-laden Christmas timber and mountains of exquisitely wrapped presents are all ready to be dropped at life on this new assortment of pull-out prints. From flurries of delicate snowflakes to deliciously embellished gingerbread homes and reindeer-led sleighs, Johanna’s Christmas is a celebration of this excellent vacation season that invitations you to select up your pens and pencils to paint, full or embellish every of the festive artworks. Hidden on this e-book are a flock of elusive little robins – can you notice all of them?

US, UK & Canada Amazon Order Link or Book Depository (Free Shipping)

At Book Depository you may also snag the UK model which is a little bit totally different.

#2 Masja’s Christmas

Masja van den Berg is an artist within the Netherlands promoting her books on Etsy. Her pictures are magical and her books are all stunning hand-drawn and printed on single-sided on thick environment-friendly paper. If you buy $35 price of merchandise from her your transport to the US is free. If you enroll for her mailing record you’ll get the obtain of this cowl picture for free to paint. I’ve seen dozens of her pictures coloured on Instagram and have fallen in love. This is a model new e-book for 2019.

Click to Order on Etsy

#three Escape to Christmas Past by Good Wives & Warriors

If you haven’t but found the Good Wives & Warriors design workforce you’re in for a deal with. I’m completely in love with the 5 books (plus one on pre-order) that I’ve acquired and coloured in. They are all two-sided coloring books with good paper for numerous mixing, layering and shading for coloured pencil followers and they’re smaller sq. books that help you end up a mission in a day or two of TV watching coloring.

Escape to Christmas Past is an homage to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Evocative Christmas scenes and characters from Charles Dickens’ well-known story of Ebenezer Scrooge and Marley’s ghost, threaded with imaginative, delicate patterns all clearly outlined in pen and ink, make ultimate compositions to paint. Pivotal extracts from the story are scattered all through for inspiration, and there are areas left inside a number of the compositions for particular person design and embellishment. I promise you’ll adore this e-book.

Escape to Christmas Past Amazon US UK Canada Worldwide at Book Depository

#four Christmas to Color by Mary Tanana isn’t a brand new e-book however it was my favourite of 2015.

It has the proper mixture of conventional and eccentric, all hand-drawn with stunning thick white paper.

Order Christmas to Color on Amazon US, UK or Canada or Book Depository

#5 Sherri Baldy My-Besties Winter Snowmen Coloring Book

Sherri Baldy’s My Besties “Winter Snowman” Coloring Book is the primary time she has created vacation illustrations. Her enjoyable big-eyed snow folks besties are nice coloring for all ages, adults, and kids too. You get 50 coloring pages 2 of every picture is printed single~sided so you possibly can body or give away your colourful Bestie creations. This is a less complicated e-book than you’re used to with simply the lovable woman on the web page, so should you like them extra complicated, this isn’t the e-book for you, however such as you see within the image above it does offer you numerous area to play with background results, chalk, and stencils.

Order Christmas to Color on Amazon US, UK or Canada or Book Depository

#6 All Is Bright: A Devotional Journey to Color Your Way to Christmas

I simply acquired this beautiful coloring e-book from the writer Tyndale House and fully fell in love with it. It’s an Advent coloring count-down, prayer journal, bible examine, household exercise e-book all rolled into one. The illustrations by Lizzie Preston are simply stunning depicting totally different scenes concerning the season and accompanying commentaries by Nancy Guthrie lead you from December 1 – December 31. The again pages even include kid-friendly coloring pages alongside the identical theme because the e-book. Now let’s discuss concerning the paper, it’s wonderful! The good thick paper all of us love to paint on, the dimensions is the usual massive sq. 9.7 x 9.6. Check the YouTube channel for my flip by means of too.

Order All is Bright on Amazon US, UK or Canada Or Book Depository

#7 Mein Winterspaziergang

English translation is My Winter Walk, making this coloring e-book not particularly Christmas however it has numerous Christmas in addition to all through the winter climate scenes to paint. Rita Berman’s illustration fashion is sort of iconic and I’ll be you’ll develop into a fan and need all of her seasonal books. This e-book has 80 pages with a web page measurement smaller than the usual Johanna Basford measuring eight″ x eight″.

This German coloring e-book is new to the US coloring viewers this yr though it’s been accessible on Book Depository.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada or Worldwide at Book Depository

#eight Mounts 5 Christmas Coloring Book by Olya Goloveshkina

The e-book is crammed with 24 one-sided distinctive and fantasy detailed driving animals of artwork by artist Olya Goloveshkina. You can see a coloured model of this gorgeous chook in our Facebook group right here.

Click to order Amazon US, UK or Canada or Book Depository

#9 25 Days of Christmas by Jane F. Hankins

A stunning spiral certain coloring e-book with skilled paper depicting the 12 Days of Christmas, scenes from a Children’s Nativity, Sugar Plum Fairy and Santa’s Workshop on artists paper.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK & Canada

10. Nice Little Town Christmas 2 by Tatiana Bogema

Tatiana’s second e-book is crammed along with her unbelievably lovable mice within the setting of her iconic “Nice Little Town” all dressed up for Christmas.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada or Digital Download on Etsy

#11 Home for the Holidays: A Hand-Crafted Adult Coloring Book for Christmas – Illustrator Galadriel A. L. Thompson

Home for the Holidays: Travel Edition

#12 Christmas Coloring Book (Coloring is Fun by Thaneeya McArdle)

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada

#13 A Christmas Carol – A Coloring Classic

This e-book is simply GORGEOUS! 80 pages with a sewn binding, thick white paper printed on either side. Click to order A Christmas Carol Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon Canada

#14 A Million Christmas Cats by John Bigwood

CLICK TO ORDER AMAZON US, UK OR CANADA

This is a smaller format than many of the books on this record however simply fabulous! Cats in all kinds of vacation and winter scenes, whimsical and enjoyable. It’s printed on either side with medium-thick paper, some with black backgrounds. I notably favored the cat’s ice-fishing web page.

#15 The Night Before Christmas Coloring Book

The solely gray-scale coloring e-book I’ve discovered with Christmas pictures and this one is simply GORGEOUS! Highly detailed web page by web page retelling of the well-known poem of the vacation season. If you will have by no means coloured in a gray-scale e-book they are surely fairly magical and you could find some recommendations and tutorials right here. This is a Dover e-book so the paper received’t be spectacular however you possibly can at all times copy the pictures to cardstock for presents or to border.

The Night Before Christmas is accessible on Amazon US – UK – Canada & Book Depository

#16 Santa’s Cats

By the illustrator of the favored “Cats & Quilts” coloring e-book, “Santa’s Cats” is a Christmas coloring e-book that comprises twenty-four timeless, distinctive illustrations of cats and kittens stepping into bother, serving to Santa and his elves as they put together for the large day, and cuddling up with Jolly Old St Nick after an exhausting day within the workshop on the North Pole.

Each image is printed on one aspect of 60 lb pure white paper to reduce scoring and bleed-through and seems in two sizes: massive and half-size (four″x6″), each appropriate for framing when accomplished.

Santa’s Cats is accessible on Amazon US UK Canada and Book Depository

17. Color by Number Christmas Coloring by George Toufexis

George’s e-book is crammed with conventional Christmas vacation scenes and is secular in nature with issues like Santa, Christmas Trees, Stockings by the Fire and Winter Nature scenes. Images are printed on one aspect of the web page and are perforated. These 46 pictures are designed for skilled colorists.

CLICK TO ORDER AMAZON US, UK OR CANADA

18. Christmas Magic Coloring Book by Deborah Muller

Deborah’s e-book has Fairies, Mermaids, Unicorns, Snowmen and Magic all wrapped up in vacation enjoyable.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada Deborah additionally has one other Christmas e-book known as Fairy Merry Christmas that you simply may need to see.

19. The Magical Christmas – A Colouring Book“

The Magical Christmas – A Colouring Book for Adults Illustrator Lizzie Mary Cullen This e-book may be very well-liked nevertheless I had a very exhausting time coloring in it because the illustrations are SO busy and detailed and drive you to paint just about each inch of the paper. Many of the pages have sections the place you aren’t certain what it’s you’re coloring or the place it stops and begins. I might advocate this solely for very skilled colorists who don’t frustrate simply.

Order Magical Christmas on Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Canada or Book Depository

20. Whimsical Winter Wonderland by Molly Harrison

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada or on Etsy right here

21. Christmas Coloring Book by Jade Summer

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada

22. Merry & Bright

A Festive Christmas Coloring Wonderland of Snowmen, Ice Skates, and Quirky Critters on High-Quality Perforated Pages that Resist Bleed Through from numerous artists at Design Originals

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada

23. Snowflake Mandalas By Marty Nobel

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada

24. Christmas Designs by Peter Pauper Press

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada

25. Christmas Joy

Christmas Joy is a coloring e-book crammed with 24 pages of great, cute pictures within the theme of Christmas hand-drawn by Swedish artist Sabine van Ee.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK or Canada or on Etsy Here

#26 Another of my favourite illustrators created a Christmas Coloring e-book “The Gift” unique title or “Night Voyage” for the English market

“The Night Voyage: A Magical Adventure and Coloring Book”

The Gift or All Gifts of the World or the Night Voyage are all alternate names for Daria Song’s Christmas e-book.

The tabby cat you see on this picture is all through the e-book for you cat lovers which might be additionally Daria Song followers. Her Christmas e-book follows the little woman on a brand new nighttime journey when the conductor of her toy practice involves life and helps her distribute presents the world over

This beautiful Christmas e-book is accessible to Order from Amazon US – UK – Canada or Book Depository Worldwide.

Tatiana is thought for her “Little Town” collection and this Christmas coloring e-book has a few of these lovable mouse home, little city kind illustrations however it additionally has different pictures and the one which received me over was the lovable gnome colorings I noticed a couple of occasions on Instagram. I contact the artist on Etsy and he or she answered me nearly instantly that I may discover that picture on this her first Christmas e-book. Honestly, at this value level and for the flexibility to immediately obtain and coloration I’ve already received it printed and also you’ll be seeing it posted on my social channels very quickly. I believe I additionally may shrink it down and make it into present tags. I could also be a little bit bit behind the occasions however Christmas gnomes are making me actually completely happy this yr.

Click to order the Instant Download right here. Only $four.99

#28 Entangled Christmas Coloring Book

Angela Porter’s work is actually enjoyable to paint in. It has simply sufficient element to make it fascinating however not so tiny that you simply get fatigued with a web page. This is a Creative Haven e-book so pictures are printed on one aspect of the paper and are a vivid white good high quality paper.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK & Canada

29. Sticker by Number Christmas

Something a little bit totally different, if these coloring fingers are getting drained, attempt your hand at Coloring by Sticker.

Click to Order Sticker By Number Christmas Amazon US, UK or Canada

Christmas Creative Haven Coloring Books

There are fairly a couple of Christmas Creative Haven & Dover Coloring Books which were round for some time so we’ll be including these titles as time permits.

Christmas Around the World -Joan O’Brien is the illustrator. This e-book is extra elementary than a number of the others however has some pretty conventional vacation pictures

Nativity Stained Glass Coloring Book – Illustrator Marty Noble Christmas Mandalas – Illustrator Marty Noble Vintage Christmas Greetings Illustrator Marty Noble Winter Scenes – Illustrator Marty Noble Christmas Trees by Barbara Lanza Merry & Bright – Design Originals Illustrators An Old-Fashioned Christmas Coloring Book – Creative Haven My Besties Christmas Cottage Coloring Book – Sherri Baldy Ugly Holiday Sweaters – Creative Haven Winter Scapes Creative Haven Color Christmas Portable Book (Mini measurement) by Thaneeya McArdle Winter Wonderland with Love – Sherri Baldy Snowflake Mandalas – Marty Noble Night Before Christmas – Sherri Baldy Hebrew Illuminations Coloring Book: A Coloring Journey Through the Jewish Holy Days Adult Christmas Coloring Book: Magic Christmas: for Relaxation Meditation Blessing Nice Little Christmas Town by Tatiana Bogema Winter Magic: Beautiful Holiday Patterns Coloring Book for Adults Winter Wonderland – A Creative Haven e-book seems prefer it has some good winter scenes which might rejoice the vacations properly.

The Fart Before Christmas – A model new humorous coloring e-book that may be nice for school-age youngsters in addition to adults. This new coloring e-book is sort of intelligent and humorous. If you will have a school-aged kiddo or grandkid you understand that something to do with farting is at all times massively hilarious.

Click to Order Amazon US, UK & Canada

Johanna Basford’s Holiday Freebies

Johanna Basford has a number of Christmas and Holiday pictures on her web site which you can obtain for free and we count on her to do one thing enjoyable and particular once more in 2016. Here is her beautiful Christmas Star. Johanna knew she wanted to get the phrase out about her work a couple of years in the past and arrange a enjoyable twitter mission the place she tweeted a chunk of an introduction calendar every day on twitter. Luckily for you, it’s now all on this web page the place you possibly can click on on and print every picture to paint in at dwelling. My plan is to print these on good high quality paper, coloration and use them to make handcrafted Christmas playing cards.

Stocking Stuffer Favorites for the Holidays

Not certain how one can get began with Adult Coloring Books? Check right here for Where to Start with Adult Colouring and Top 13 Tips for New Colorists. Best Coloring Pencils, Gel Pens & Markers to make use of in Adult Coloring Books.

Check Book Depository for any which might be out of inventory on Amazon

If you understand of any others please contact me and let me know. If you’re an illustrator with a vacation mission for the 2019 or 2020 holidays please ship me a duplicate to evaluation so I can add it to my curated lists.

Check out Christmas Cards to Color right here, Christmas Coloring Instant Downloads on Etsy, and Jewish Holiday Books right here.

Join the enjoyable in our Christmas Coloring Contest from Jane F. Hankins 2019.

The post Top 30+ Christmas Coloring Books for Adults appeared first on XNX Adult Store.

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bethestaryouareradio · 5 years

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Benvenuto a Butchart Gardens

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for October https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1316/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-October-Benvenuto-to-Butchart-Gardens.html

Benvenuto to Butchart Gardens by Cynthia Brian

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

O Canada!

After a hot summer of weeding, pruning, mowing, cleaning, composting, and tidying my plots, traveling to Victoria in British Columbia was a welcome respite. Despite the cold and inclement weather on Vancouver Island, we set out to explore the extraordinary National Historic Site of Canada in Brentwood Bay known as The Butchart Gardens.

In 1904, the Butchart family built their home amongst sheltered Tod Inlet surrounded by forests and fields in an area where there were limestone deposits, the perfect conditions for establishing a cement plant. They named the location, “Benvenuto”, meaning “welcome” in Italian. Mr. Butchart’s first barge-load of cement sailed from the inlet in 1905 for sale to Canadian cities. As rocks were gathered and piled in select locations and soil was brought in by the wagonloads, the quarry soon metamorphosed into the show-stopping sunken gardens. Every site for planting was meticulously chosen and a lake was created from the deepest part of the quarry, fed by a waterfall and stream.

Still owned and maintained by the Butchart family, the 55 acres of gardens continue to evolve, expand, and attract. Over a million visitors a year flock to this oasis of calm and beauty. Today separate gardens include the Rose, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, and Sunken Garden. Numerous waterscapes abound. There are boat tours at Butchart Cove, fireworks in the evening, restaurants, tea time, and even a Carousel with thirty hand-carved animals that delight children and kids-at-heart alike.

Although I was enamored by the entire landscape, it was the Sunken Garden that captured my imagination. As an avid and very diligent gardener, I can only imagine the amount of labor that was involved in creating a lush and elegant horticultural masterpiece from a rough, grim, grey quarry of jagged rocks. As I meandered around the paths admiring the handiwork of years of devotion from hundreds of talented plant smiths, I was thrilled to see that the gorgeous flowers blooming in the beds and cascading over the stone banks, were plants that I grow in my California garden. Dahlias, roses, begonias, New Guinea impatiens, cannas, camellias, salvias, rhododendrons, geraniums, petunias, hydrangeas, alliums, acanthus, astilbes, arums, snapdragons, zinnias, euphorbias, fuchsias, heliotropes, hostas, lantanas, marigolds, and even an entire swatch of deep green shamrocks, also known as oxalis, blanketed this serene environment. It was such fun to pass a grouping and be able to answer my husband’s constant question: “What is this called?”

But one plant truly stumped me. I had never seen it before and although the entrance ticket includes a small flower and plant guide to the most popular species in the garden, I didn’t know what this plant was. Thankfully, The Butchart Gardens has a Plant Identification Center with knowledgeable plant people. I snapped a photo and showed it to the expert. “This is a tropical plant that we will soon put in the greenhouse to overwinter. It’s called a “Popcorn Plant” because it smells like buttered popcorn.” How marvelous to learn something new every day!

The camellias and rhododendrons were budding but not in bloom and I can only imagine how sensational the grounds must be when they burst into flower. Every season brings new annuals and bulbs. Spring is filled with tulips, crocus, and daffodils reflecting a love for the Netherlands. There are over 900 bedding plant varieties, 26 greenhouses, and 50 full-time gardeners.

A forest of trees including maples, madrones, dogwoods, magnolias, flowering cherry, weeping sequoias, poplars, beeches, and Golden chain trees anchor the scene. There were two unusual and unique trees encased in a rock-walled garden, the Monkey Puzzle Tree, definitely a conifer, but not one I’d seen before.

Wherever I travel, I seek out gardens that will inspire and instruct me to be a better steward of our earth. Butchart Gardens is exquisitely and elegantly designed. With a plethora of water features including streams, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, I was transported to a place of sheer joy and tranquility. Totem poles, bronzes, statuary, and whimsical moss-covered wire sculptures offer a nod to the artistic value of landscaping. To walk in the footsteps of those who lived a hundred years ago knowing that they lavished love on this land, preserving it for posterity as well as the enjoyment and education of the general public was simultaneously humbling and enlightening.

Life was created in a garden. A garden is life unfolding. I returned to my California countryside as October beckons with the changing of the foliage wardrobe and, motivated by my sojourn, immediately got to work with a spark of a new beginning for digging deeper. Although my property will unlikely ever be a Butchart or Giverny, it is my personalized refuge of sweet repose.

O Canada, thank you. Benvenuto October.

Cynthia Brian’s Garden Guide for October

CONTINUE watering your yard. Your plants need the moisture now more than ever. VISIT a public garden for inspiration and ideas. REFRIGERATE your spring bulbs for the next six weeks. RAKE falling leaves to add to your compost pile. PRUNE fruit trees after the harvest. FERTILIZE begonias and roses to prolong the blooming period. READ a garden book. May I suggest, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, available at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store TAKE a break. The tough landscaping projects start in two weeks!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Photos and article: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1316/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-October-Benvenuto-to-Butchart-Gardens.html

Press Pass Photos: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2019/10/02/butchart-gardens/

Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, raised in the vineyards of Napa County, is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show and order her books at www.StarStyleRadio.com

. Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store.

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. [email protected]

www.GoddessGardener.com

_____________________________________________________________

keywords: #ButchartGardens, #begonias,#impatiens,#waterfalls,#ferngrottos,#giverny, #monet, #autumn,#fall, #Canada, ,#gardening, #cynthiabrian, #starstyle, #goddessGardener, #growingwiththegoddessgardener, #lamorindaweekly

#ButchartGardens begoniasimpatienswaterfallsferngrottosgiverny monet autumnfall Canada gardening cynthiabrian starstyle goddessGardener growi

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goddessgardener · 5 years

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Benvenuto a Butchart Gardens

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for October https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1316/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-October-Benvenuto-to-Butchart-Gardens.html

Benvenuto to Butchart Gardens by Cynthia Brian

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

O Canada!

O Canada, thank you. Benvenuto October.

Cynthia Brian’s Garden Guide for October

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.

Photos and article: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1316/Cynthia-Brians-Gardening-Guide-for-October-Benvenuto-to-Butchart-Gardens.html

Press Pass Photos: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/2019/10/02/butchart-gardens/

. Buy a copy of her new books, Growing with the Goddess Gardener and Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers at www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store.

Hire Cynthia for projects, consults, and lectures. [email protected]

www.GoddessGardener.com

_____________________________________________________________

#ButchartGardens begoniasimpatienswaterfallsferngrottosgiverny monet autumnfall Canada gardening cynthiabrian starstyle goddessGardener growi

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ririthephotographerx · 7 years

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To Rainbow Canals - Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2016

Taken on the absolute first day of studying in Amsterdam, yards away from where the apartment my friend called her new home. To see a sight like this as soon as you wake up must be both inspiring and peaceful. I say ‘must’ because unfortunately such a morning view was not something I was graced with as frequently, having to make a 20 minute cycling commute to my campus, and a further 10 minutes would need to be cycled in order to see whimsical views like this. It was indeed a treat, and maybe a little bit of a blessing.

I still wish this could be my morning view.

#amsterdam #amsterdam canals #amsterdam netherlands #the netherlands #city #holland #this view definitely saved me in more ways then one #the calmness was soothing

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muellerewald-blog · 5 years

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We love a good city break. Not only can they be really affordable and accessible, you can often experience the beating heart of a country. From capital cities like Madrid and Berlin, to the whimsical charm of Krakow and Prague, city breaks come with all of the exploring, arts and culture, nights out and sightseeing you could wish for.

If you’re wondering where to go next, take a look through our list of 20 best city breaks for couples and get planning the rest of your 2019.

Reykjavik

Why go? Reykjavik is one of the most popular destinations in Europe – if not the world – right now. What makes it among the best city breaks for couples is a vibrant nightlife scene combined with stunning scenery – Reykjavik is surrounded by volcanic terrain and when skies are clear the sunsets are spectacular. It’s a compact city so most areas are within walking distance. Head for the main street of Laugavegur which is packed with shops and bars, and for accommodation, we can highly recommend the Reykjavik Centrum Hotel for couples planning a visit to the city.

Paris

Why go? No shortlist of the best city break for couples would surely be complete without the inclusion of Paris. The French capital carries an air of romance which is fully deserved and still authentic. Yes, of course you’ll encounter plenty of tourists at the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe – definitely still musts to visit if you haven’t been before – but there’s history and culture down every street in Paris. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, parks and boutique shops, so sample as many as you can! The Montmarte has amazing views over the city, The Louvre is one of the world’s finest and largest museums, and the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont spreads over 25 acres.

Amsterdam

Why go? With a flight time from the UK that can be as short as 45 minutes, there’s no excuse not to hop on a plane and spend a long weekend in Amsterdam. Its renowned nightlife makes it one of the best city breaks for young couples, but the capital city of the Netherlands is far more than party central. It has a wonderful laidback and friendly atmosphere, winding cobbled streets filled with bars and shops, and striking architecture too. Around the city is a network of canals, best explored by taking one of the many boat trips on offer. Amsterdam doesn’t really do cars as such, by the way – you’ll find many people cycling around or travelling by tram.

London

Why go? For many people living outside the UK, London is arguably right at the top of their wishlist – however, when it’s right on your doorstep it can be easy to take for granted. But if you want a city break on home turf, London has everything. Shop in Oxford Street, watch a show in the West End, visit the city’s excellent museums and take a trip on the London Eye – there is enough to do to fill several weekends over. For a change of pace, spend some time in Shoreditch and Camden, exploring the street markets.

Rome

Why go? Chaotic, bustling and completely fascinating, Rome is a city like no other and an obvious nomination as one of the best city breaks for couples. This is the beating heart of Italy, home to the Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St Peter’s Basilica, Borghese Gallery, Palatine Hill and countless other ancient ruins and architectural masterpieces. There’s so much to see and experience that you’ll need regular refueling; fortunately, Rome does food extremely well! You might find the best restaurants – and prices – outside of the busy tourist areas. After a heavy and indulgent lunch, stretch your legs in one of the city’s beautiful parks and gardens.

Venice

Why go? Sticking with Italy, travel around 350 miles further north and you’ll reach Venice, right on the east of the country. This is a city that simply must be visited at least once in a lifetime. It’s a magical place where cars are replaced by gondolas and waterbuses, and though it unsurprisingly gets busy at peak times, late winter and early spring is generally much quieter. Obviously, a gondola ride is a must but you should also try to catch an opera at La Fenice as well as visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, the modern art museum located on the Grand Canal. The romance in the Venetian air makes it among the best city breaks for young couples.

Krakow

Why go? This Polish city has a charming, historic location which is growing in popularity as one of the best city breaks for couples as well as groups of friends. The 14th century Royal Wawel Castle and the Barbican fortress are among Krakow’s notable landmarks, while much of the modern day action takes place around Rynek Glowny, the central Grand Square in the Old Town. At 200sqm, it’s the largest medieval town square in Europe, fringed by beautiful townhouses and lots of cafes and bars. It’s a great place to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

Florence

Why go? Italy has so many memorable cities for those searching for best city breaks for couples, and Florence is yet another that is well worth a visit. Considered the capital of the wonderful Tuscan region, Florence is famed for its Renaissance period art and architecture; masterpieces from the likes of Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli are housed in the Uffizi Gallery. In early spring, the weather is warming up, so enjoy open-air drinks in cafes and bars. The Oltrarno district is a delight too, and it’s been recently regenerated with quaint restaurants, artisan workshops and craft stores.

Dublin

Why go? Dublin is right on the doorstep for UK travellers, and a fantastic choice for a city break. The famed nightlife and entertainment of this Irish city focuses primarily around the Temple Bar area, which is full of not only pubs, but galleries, boutique shops and cafes too. Of course, Dublin has more to offer than just top-class Guinness. Merrion Square showcases the best of Georgian Dublin, Francis Street boasts fine art and antiques and St Stephen’s Green is the city’s public park. The DART train line allows visitors to explore the Dublin coastline, taking in scenic villages like Howth and Killiney.

Edinburgh

Why go? Edinburgh really is a top destination, ideal for a city break. The Old Town has winding streets and lots of traditional pubs and cafes, perfect to wile away a lazy afternoon whilst shoppers will adore Princes Street and Multrees Walk and its range of designer stores. For sightseers, Edinburgh Castle is located right in the centre of the city. The Real Mary King’s Close offers something completely different – a network of streets located underground and dating back some 400 years. It’s Edinburgh’s deepest secret!

Barcelona

Why go? Barcelona is a superb location, a magnificent combination of city break and beach holiday. The streets of this Spanish city – officially part of Catalonia – are full of tapas bars, cafes, and eye-catching buildings bearing the influence of the visionary architect Antoni Gaudi. The stunning Roman Catholic Church Sagrada Familia is definitely not to be missed! Barcelona also has several excellent beaches and botanical gardens, a Gothic Quarter, a picturesque marina in the shape of Port Olimpic and arguably the world’s most famous football club. No wonder it’s considered one of the best city breaks for couples!

Madrid

Why go? Following Barcelona is another great destination in Spain. Madrid doesn’t have beaches but in all other ways the capital city is one of the best city breaks for couples. The climate is usually warm – rising to hot in the peak of summer – and there are numerous museums, galleries, parks, squares and shops to enjoy, many of them off Gran Via. The Palacio Real – Royal Palace – and Museo del Prado are also recommended landmarks. Food and drink is central to life in Madrid, and visitors will be spoiled for choice when it comes to wining and dining. Take a seat outside one of the many tapas bars and restaurants and watch the city go by.

Brussels

Why go? Brussels might not seem an obvious choice as a city break – but it should be. The Belgium capital is fast rising in popularity as an excellent location, with a gastronomic scene to rival Paris in terms of restaurants and fine dining and a reputation as a venue for lovers of classical music and jazz. The Grand-Place is a large cobbled market square in the middle of Brussels, with the Hotel de Ville – the City Hall – the outstanding architectural highlight. Take some time in both the Lower Town and Upper Town – areas which divide Brussels. The Lower Town is crammed and bustling, the Upper Town rather more grand. It really is like visiting two different cities.

Berlin

Why go? The former capital of East Germany, Berlin has a fascinating story to tell in terms of its history and culture – but its modern and forward-thinking image is making it one of the best city breaks for young couples and travellers. The city has a buzzing nightlife with numerous bars and clubs and a late night can often mean very late as some establishments don’t shut until the last guest leaves! Possibly the best drink anywhere is the Berlin TV Tower, which is 203m above the city. Notable attractions to see include the Brandenburg Gate, built in 1791, Museum Island – an UNESCO world heritage site – and the Gendarmenmarkt, which has French and German cathedrals.

Lisbon

Why go? There are many reasons to visit Lisbon, and it’s fast becoming one of the best city breaks for couples. Portugal’s capital city has hardly been a secret but it seems only recently that it’s true attraction was realised by many. For starters, it is the sunniest capital city in Europe, and located just 30 minutes or so away from several beaches. Well, that’s if you want to escape the city – but with an increasing number of restaurants winning Michelin stars, buildings decorated with colourful street art and murals and wooden trams rattling around narrow streets, why would you need to leave Lisbon?

Athens

Why go? Athens is a city break that will feel like a summer holiday, even in early spring when the temperature is still warm. The city was built around the Acropolis, the most visited ancient attraction in Athens, and as such the landmark is visible from just about anywhere. That’s a must-see, but it’s also recommended that you catch an outdoor theatre show too – try the open-air Roman Herodus Atticus Odeon. Of course, there’s a modern side to Athens as well with a plethora of lively bars, glitzy restaurants and clubs. The Psirri district is considered a top spot for a night out.

Prague

Why go? Prague seems to have acquired a reputation as a haunt for stag parties but this is doing the city a huge injustice. Yes, there are plenty of bars and pubs to please larger groups but also a truly charming and beautiful side to Prague which warrants closer inspection. The capital of the Czech Republic has the largest ancient castle in the world, a number of churches and cathedrals and the Charles Bridge – the magnificent 14th century stone bridge linking the Old Town to the Little Quarter or Lesser Town. Wenceslas Square is at the hub of Prague, the perfect starting point for a visit.

New York

Why go? A trip to New York might be considered as the king of all city breaks, though it’s best to spend a few days here rather than a couple of weekend nights – there’s so much to see and do that you’ll need every minute of your holiday. Do the tourist thing and tick off the list of iconic landmarks – Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, the Rockefeller Building and the Empire State Building – but also take some time to relax in Central Park and enjoy a cruise on the Hudson River. Don’t forget to shop on Fifth Avenue, and eat and drink to your heart’s content. You’ll be busy, but also totally inspired!

Las Vegas

Why go? There’s no place quite like Las Vegas – it’s a once in a lifetime destination. An oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert, Vegas is a full-on, 24/7 party venue; shamelessly bold, glitzy and glamorous, it’s surely unrivalled in terms of entertainment and just sheer, brilliant fun! It’s not just about casinos, there’s loads to see too – including the Bellagio Hotel’s famous fountain show, the Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium and the themed hotels imitating Paris, New York, Caesar’s Palace, Venice and Egypt. Set aside a week and just go with it. If you can, squeeze in a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon too.

Marrakech

Why go? Marrakech in Morocco s a place for adventure, exploration and a bit of luxury. There are attractive buildings to admire – don’t miss El Bahia Palace, a sumptuous 19th century masterpiece – and exciting new dishes to eat, whether that be from street food stalls or restaurants. The souks provide an opportunity to browse goods of almost every kind, and you can barter on price to grab a bargain. Don’t forget to round off your city break with a well earned visit to a Marrakech spa.

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