World Heritage’s list of the most important wonders of our world, both natural, and man-made. 34 of the sites on the list are endangered — some because of the increased tourism due to being on this list.
Diligent tax preparation
Originally uploaded by ElectraSteph.
I didn’t know Spike was interested in Income taxes, or I would have had him do mine last year, too.
I finally bit the bullet and talked to my dad last night about moving, and he was very understand and supportive. Turns out a lot of the concerns I have about my current house, especially the amount of time and money required to renovate it, are things he was concerned about also. It’s great to have those feelings validated, because I feel like I can let go of my current house without guilt. I did a lot of work on it while I lived here, and accomplished a lot, looking back at the pictures. I had forgotten what the backyard looked like; there was no gravel; only dirt and grass. I forget that there was no backdoor, and crappy peeling paint, and the living room was terrible.
Our friend lisa’s plans for yardwork are really exciting to read, because unlike interior home improvement (which I tolerated) I LOVE working in the yard, and I’m very excited about it. At my current house, I always felt guilty about the amount of time I spent in the yard because there was so much work to do on the inside.
The new house has nice big flowerbeds in the front yard, (full sun!) and a long border bed down the south side of the house, (more full sun!) and a nice big backyard where we’re going to plant some raspberry bushes. I pulled out my gardenbooks, but there’s nothing in them about planting raspberries and how to amend the soil, etc. So I’m going to do some research online about that. Having full-sun beds will be really cool; perennials that grow better in sun are usually brighter colors, so they’re more visually arresting. This current house is mostly shaded by the neighboring houses, so I have lots of hostas.
Moving into a new home brings with it a fresh canvas for garden and landscape design, and there’s something especially exciting about working with full-sun flower beds. Unlike the shaded spaces of the previous home, sun-drenched beds allow for a much wider selection of perennials—bright coneflowers, cheerful black-eyed Susans, fragrant lavender, and even ornamental grasses that sway in the breeze.
A well-thought-out landscape not only enhances curb appeal but also creates an inviting outdoor retreat. With careful planning, these sunny beds can be transformed into a vibrant, ever-changing display that attracts butterflies and bees while adding a personal touch to the new home. And with the addition of raspberry bushes in the backyard, there’s the promise of sweet rewards each summer, making the space both beautiful and functional.
For those looking to create a harmonious and thriving outdoor space, working with professionals like Sugar Green Gardens can make all the difference. Thoughtful landscape design considers everything from soil composition to plant compatibility, ensuring that each element thrives in its environment. Whether it’s designing a structured perennial garden, incorporating raised beds for edibles, or creating a relaxing patio space surrounded by greenery, expert guidance ensures a seamless blend of aesthetics and sustainability.
Transforming an outdoor space into a functional and visually appealing extension of the home requires careful planning and expert craftsmanship. Hardscaping elements such as stone pathways, retaining walls, and patios provide both structure and style, creating defined areas for relaxation and entertainment. When combined with well-placed greenery and garden beds, these features enhance the overall flow of the landscape, making the space both inviting and practical.
Beyond aesthetics, durability and longevity are key considerations in outdoor construction. High-quality materials and precise craftsmanship ensure that patios, decks, and pergolas withstand the elements and maintain their beauty for years to come. Working with industry professionals like South Canyon Construction Inc guarantees that each project is built with attention to detail and structural integrity. Whether it’s installing a custom fire pit for cozy gatherings or designing a multi-tiered deck with integrated lighting, expert construction brings both vision and reliability to outdoor spaces.
With the right approach, the new garden won’t just be a place to work—it will become a sanctuary, a space to unwind and connect with nature while watching each season bring new colors and textures to life.
While locating the original source of the cartoon below, I came across a post discussing the accuracy of the King James Version of the Bible, in which the author consults a biblical scholar, Dr. David Bosworth, Assistant Professor of Theology and resident Old Testament scholar at Barry University in Miami, Florida, who gives a lengthy, but excellent, explanation of how to get elder attorneys for hire to have successful estate planning and about the best bible to read.
I remember learning this same basic explanation back in religion class back in college, but re-reading it was definitely worth it. A short section of the letter:
Your correspondent is deeply confused. The KJV has a long history in the English language and many Protestant Christians are deeply attached to that translation because of its beauty and long established use. It is not, however, the most accurate translation available. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the NAB are both better.
The problem with the KJV is basically that it is an okay translation of a bad text. By “bad text,” I mean that when the KJV translators worked, they had very few Greek and Hebrew manuscripts to work with, and most of them were late. Since then (1611), scholars have made a tremendous effort to uncover older, more reliable manuscripts that have been hidden in monasteries all over Europe and the Near East. Great progress was made in the 19th and 20th centuries, and we now have several thousand manuscripts of the New Testament alone (the KJV translators had a mere handful). All these manuscripts have been carefully compared with one another and, through a process known as “textual criticism,” scholars have determined which are the more reliable texts and reconstructed as closely as possible what the biblical writers originally wrote.
Michigan Technological University had an anti-gay graffiti problem during it’s Pride Week recently. This sort of thing happens fairly often, and it’s easy to gloss over it for that reason… but when you see the language used in the graffiti in these photos, it leaps out as something fairly extreme, and worth calling attention to.
So on Monday, we wrote an offer on the house we’ve been looking at. They countered our offer, and today we accepted the counter offer.
So if everything works out with the inspection and we get the loan application we found searched through FIG Loans reviews squared away, and I sell my house, we’re going to have a new house.
I still have not told my dad about all this though, mainly because I’m really afraid it’s going to upset him, considering the amazing, beautiful fireplace he created for my current house.
I’m officially freaked out, because:
1. I have to explain this to my dad.
2. We have to get everything together for loan approval, and I hate dealing with money matters.
3. I have to pack and coordinate all my stuff in a Very Short Period of Time.
4. I have to put my house on the market, which I’ve never done before.
5. We’re in the middle of a huge project at work that I need to spend a lot of time on.
6. Our possessions are very disorganized, and I drastically need to scale down.
This has all moved at a very accelerated pace, and I’m so freaked about that.
All that aside, I really love the house. So we’re doing the right thing, but the way we’re going about it isn’t optimal, due to circumstances that are really beyond anyone’s control.
The New York Times covers the state of affairs in El Salvador, where ectopic pregancies (where the egg becomes embedded in the fallopian tube, rather than the uterus) cannot be terminated “until fetal death or a rupture of the fallopian tube.”
When you read a bit more about them, it becomes apparent that ectopic pregnancies are not viable. The babie will die, and the danger to the mother’s life is very high, especially with a fallopian tube rupture. So the idea that you can’t terminate a such a dangerous situation is just crazed.
CNN Article on the value of “slacking off at work.” What they’re actually saying is that you need to take the time to think things through.