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Cycling in Sydney
Cycling around Sydney is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the city - by the beach, along the harbour foreshore, with a tour group, or on your own.
Must Do
Cycling around Sydney
Head to the historic area of The Rocks where you can join Bikebuffs or Bonza Bike Tours taking in Sydney's iconic sights including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Alternatively hire a bike and explore the city at your own pace.
Just 10 minutes from the city, Centennial Parklands is an idyllic location for cycling, popular with locals and visitors alike enjoying the parkland and its easy circuits. Hire a bike through Centennial Park Cycles (last hire at 4pm).
Manly Beach is a great beachside location for riding with kids. Hire a bike or join Manly Bike Tours and discover secluded coves and beaches along 20 km of dedicated bike paths and off road trails.
Sydney Olympic Park offers more than 35 km of cycle ways to explore. Grab a Bike Safari Map and choose from the 5.5 km Parklands Circuit, 7.6 km Olympic Circuit, or the 11 km River Heritage Circuit. Young kids can safely ride the Children's Loop in Bicentennial Park. All circuits are close to facilities such as playgrounds, picnic areas, bubblers and toilets. Bike hire at Sydney Olympic Park is available daily (last hire at 4pm).


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I just relocated to the area and aquired a house with a "not so hot" lawn. Its about a quarter of an acre (front a back); a front yard with significant "dip" in the middle of it; tons of weeds. My in laws came in a helped clean it up a bit and applied Weed-n-feed (which I'm not too much of a fan of) this did kill a number of the weeds but their are still more.
Where should I start to have a respectable looking lawn ASAP then I will take the time to keep it great year around. What would you do? |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by nearandwest 7 (My Page) on Fri, May 20, 11 at 17:07
We'll start by gathering more information from you. Please answer the following questions: * Where are you located? * Do you know what type of grass is in the yard now? * What can you tell us about the "weed-n-feed" product that was applied by your in-laws? Name brand, any information from the bag. * Are there trees in the yard? If so, how many and how big or small are they? * What type of soil do you have? * Do you have a reliable source of water? Is there an irrigation system installed, or will it be a hose and sprinkler? * Can you provide us with pictures of your lawn? I will assume you have not done a soil test. Please provide us with as much detailed information as you can, and we will be glad to try and assist you. |
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subset: commoncrawl


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Triple Feature Night
Grand Italian Thursday
Mama Mia Spaghetti & other featured food specials. Wine & Peroni specials all night!!!
Check out our Grand Italian Thursday Specials
Boss Night
Bring your boss in with at least 4 co-workers from 4pm-9pm and EVERYONE a FREE beverage, 2lbs of wings to share and the boss gets a "Boss T-shirt". (please only 1 boss per party)
Girls Gone Wild Onion
Come in from 8pm – Close and receive:
- $5 Signature Martinis & Ladies Cosmos
- $2 OFF Glasses of Wine
- $2 Champagne
- $2.95 Bar Pours
- $3 Malibou Drinks
- $3.25 Domestic Bottles


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Siren!
Facts about Siren
- Breed: Calico
- Color: Calico Or Dilute Calico
- Age: Young
- Sex: Female
- Hair: Short
Siren's Info...
I am already spayed, up to date with shots, good with kids, not good with dogs, and good with cats.
Siren is the sole surviving daughter of her mother, Cleopatra. Siren and Cleopatra were rescued from a feral colony initially, and then were rescued when they survived an apartment complex fire that drove their foster family and kitties out of their home one night.
Other Pets at Our Lady of Mercy's Catnip Cottage
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Siren, a Summerville Calico cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Calico for sale in Summerville, or seeking a Calico cat from a breeder in Summerville.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Summerville already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Summerville breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Calico breeders who help with Calico rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Summerville paves the way for another one to be saved.


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Texas Christian Horned Frogs NCAA Youth 2 Tone Graph/TC 59FIFTY Cap
Made of 80% Polyester, Woven, 20% Wool, Woven
This 59FIFTY® fitted cap features an embroidered (raised) Texas Christian Horned Frogs team logo on the front, stitched New Era® flag at wearer''s left side, and embroidered secondary logo on the rear. Interior includes branded taping and a moisture absorbing sweatband.
- 20508138
- Color:
- Graphite/Purple
- Availability:
- In Stock - Ships 1 business day
International shipping not available to Canada - info


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Sunday, February 28, 2010
New Free Pattern: Lacy, Beaded Hoop Earrings
I purchased the hoops (a set of five or six pairs on a card) at a 99 cent store. If they bother my ears (because I'm allergic to some metals) I can paint the posts with clear nail polish.
I know I need some practice at this and I need to figure out what blocking and fabric stiffener does but this was a fun project and like I said, I'm looking forward to practicing on making new ones. I am still getting the hang of things so don't give up on me yet, okay?
Here's the pattern, if there are any discrepancies let me know in the comments below this post.
Beaded Hoop Dangly Earrings
copyright 2010
This pattern is free. You may not sell this pattern but you can sell the item you crafted using this pattern.
Here is where you can go to download the PDF file (without tutorial at bottom of page)
small amount of bedspread-weight cotton crochet thread purple
12 small pearl beads that will string onto the crochet thread
two hoop earrings, 1 1/2" diameter;
steel crochet hook size 7
Special stitches:
Triple Picot: ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook three times, join altogether with sl st in beginning ch of first picot, pull tight to close together.
Beaded picot: ch 1, slide 1 bead into work for next ch, ch 1, join with sl st in third ch from hook (incl beaded ch)
Beaded triple picot: ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook, ch 1, add bead to next ch, ch 1, sl st to ch preceding beaded ch, ch 1; ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook, sl st in first chain of first picot
before beginning Row 1, thread all 12 beads onto the thread you have chosen to use (any color is fine, even two different colors)
Row 1:
Attach thread to one end of hoop with a sl st and keeping the hoop inside your stitches,
sc 42 around (if you need help with this, see photos at bottom of this post)
turn your work without a ch st.
Row 2:
sk first sc, sl st in next 8
sc in next, hdc in next, dc in next
Make beaded picot
(ch 1, add bead into ch st, ch 1, sl st in third ch from hook - including beaded ch - )
sk next st, hdc in next, sc in next, and then sl st in the following 3 sc of previous row.
sk sc, in next sc: hdc, then make a beaded picot, hdc in next sc, sk next sc, sl st in next
ch 4,
add bead in 5th ch, (keep stitches tight),
ch 4 more, sl st in st at base of ch 4 preceding the last beaded ch
(beaded loop made)
sl st in next sc, make beaded picot, hdc in next sc
sl st in following 3 sc of previous row
ch 1, make beaded picot, then hdc in next sc.
sk 1 sc. sl st in eight remaining sc
Fasten off row 2, and then proceed as follows:
Row 3 :
attach with a sc the same color or contrast color if you prefer of your choice for final round at ch st base (on side closest to middle of hoop) of first (hdc, beaded picot, hdc) cluster (Photo at bottom of this post points to the exact attachment point)
hdc in next sl st of previous row,
dc in next sl st, ch 3,
triple picot
dc into back loop of beaded ch st of the beaded picot of previous row
ch 2,
triple picot adding bead to middle ch of middle picot...
sk next beaded picot of previous row (middle one),
dc in a loop of the beaded ch st of next beaded picot in previous row
triple picot,
ch 3
1 dc in first of the three sl st from previous row, (preceding the last beaded picot in row 2 )
hdc in next,
sc in last sl st that precedes the last beaded picot of row 2
Finish off, weave in ends
Block and use fabric stiffener if necessary, to keep the frilly parts in place,
Note: I, of course, being the lazy butt that I am, did not block or starch my earrings. heh, heh.
Here are some photos showing positions of hook while sc onto the hoop (Row 1)
Photos showing sc onto hoop (Row 1)
How the hook is placed in sc onto hoop, the beginning of the sc
Yarning over to complete the sc onto hoop
This is what it looks like after Row 2 and fasten off.
Hook and finger pointing to stitch where Row 3 is attached and begins with sc
18 comments:
- Nancy said...
These are very pretty, thank you for sharing your pattern with us.
Nancy - March 05, 2010
I kind of like them before the last row was added, they look neat and simple without the last row...
- March 12, 2010
How pretty! Thank you so much for sharing!
- March 24, 2010
this is beautiful I will make several, thank you so very much for sharing it with us.
- June 02, 2010
- Cynthia said...
You're welcome!
- June 22, 2010
These earring are absolutly gorgeous. Thanks you for sharing, can't wait for future designs!
- July 31, 2010
I can do and understand everything EXCEPT about the beads. I do not understand where they go "on the thread" and how they are added to the item. I am an accomplished crocheter but do not understand this aspect. Your pictures did not show anything about the beads until after they were on the item. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! firstname.lastname@example.com
- September 10, 2010
The beads usually get added to the thread as the first step. You can find collapsing-eye needles in the jewelry making section of your craft store.
- September 10, 2010
These earrings are lovely, can hardly wait to make them! My favorite to use instead of beading needles are the DenTek floss threaders. They work great for threading beads. I bought a beaded scarf kit one time with the floss threader in it and it worked so well I had to go buy them.
- September 13, 2010
I still prefer a sugar and water stiffener. It doesn't yellow like the glue type stiffeners and can be washed later if needed. I have Christmas ornaments I've stiffened with sugar/water solution that have held up very well through the years.
- September 13, 2010
These earrings are absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I always thought crochet jewelry would be too difficult to make but you make it sound so do-able! Thanks! :)
@Sherry: How do you make the sugar water solution for stiffening? I'd really like to try it! - September 17, 2010
- Cynthia said...
@ Amanda, thank you for your very gracious comment! It's encouraging when I get to read comments like yours - otherwise how else would I know to post more patterns like this?
Secondly, I've been advised by many not to use a sugar based stiffener because it would attract bugs of many kinds. (yuck!) You can use fabric starch, a mixture of glue and water (50-50 or more) and I am pretty sure you can use a salt based stiffener. I'll find a link to a good stiffener options page asap! Good luck and let me know how your earrings turned out. =) - September 19, 2010
- Cynthia said...
@ Anonymous, I'm sorry you didn't leave your name and contact info, and I'm sorry I didn't see your comment until tonight. The beads are strung onto the thread before work is begun. You slide the bead up into the indicated stitch, leaving the others alone until another one is called for. I often wondered how the heck people got a crochet hook to go through a bead to work it into their project and it dawned on me one day that the beads were added beforehand. If you have any questions you can comment here or email me at email@example.com I hope this answered your questions about the beads.
- September 27, 2010
Thank you for the beautiful pattern these earings have - I will try this and will also see if I can incorporate this pattern into a Necklace and wrist band as well -thank you so much will let you know once I have made them - how they turned out... not sure what is meant by select profile - so I am just going to choose Anonymous - but my name is Norma
- October 19, 2010
- Cynthia said...
Thank you Norma. Your comments are very kind, I hope you enjoy making these. "Select profile" is asking you to sign in under one of the sites in a drop down menu. It just identifies who you are and what your web site is (or blog) or email. It's not necessary but it does allow me to visit your site or respond to your email. It will also allow follow up comments to be emailed to you. Thanks for introducing yourself, nice to meet you Norma.
Cyndi - October 20, 2010
- June Ledet said...
I Love those earrings.
- January 26, 2012
I had to check out this pattern - it was mentioned in the pattern for Beaded Crown Earrings. Now I don't know which pattern I want to make for my bridesmaids! I can't decide, they're both so pretty! I'll have to think about which ones would go with the dresses better and which would look better in the colors we're using for the wedding party. So many decisions to make!!! Thank you again and again! This is a perfect gift to give my bridesmaids for a girl on a tight budget who loves to crochet, I know they'll really appreciate these (when I finally decide which ones to make! ha ha.)!!! Lori S. soon to be Z.
- March 08, 2012
I would love to make these for myself - I'm being selfish here. I should make them for my friends but I think I would rather have them... They're so pretty, thank you for the pattern and the tutorial. The photos are a big help.
Carrie S Hollander - April 03, 2012


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We bought our first home just recently. It was ignorance on my part that I did not take the problem of road-noise associated with this home seriously. But after moving in, we have come to realize this is a much bigger problem than we thought it was, and it is driving us crazy at night.
Our current windows are dual-pane windows. They must be the original ones installed when the townhome complex was built in 1993 (i say that because most of the homes in the community have the very same windows). I tried to see if I can find the make and model, but there's nothing on these windows. But I do like to mention that structurally, they seem to be in good condition. It's only the sound insulation that is not sufficient. After some searching online, I found couple of options - Soundproofwindows.com, and Milgard Quite Line series. I would really appreciate any reviews for both these options or, more importantly, if there are better and cheaper options? I see that this forum here has really knowledgeable folks in this matter. I hope to find an answer for this soon, and finally get some good night's sleep. Thanks ! |
Follow-Up Postings:
Will your Homeowners Asso. allow you to change windows? Are your existing units Aluminum, Vinyl or Wood? Installing new units would be the Best choice. Milgard & other mfg. offer Laminated glass, which is good at slowing sound transmission. Also, you could change you existing glass with Laminated insulated glass. Be sure & upgrade your U-factor & SHGC at this time. All of this should make your home a lot more Sound & Energy Efficient. P.S. The least expensive option would be sleeping pills. |
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Bapco MobileMark 2012 1.5
Version and / or Patch Used: 2012 1.5
Developer Homepage: http://www.bapco.com
Test Homepage: http://www.bapco.com
MobileMark 2012 1.5 is an application-based benchmark that reflects usage patterns of business users in the areas of office productivity, media creation, and media consumption. Unlike benchmarks that only measure battery life, MobileMark 2012 measures battery life and performance simultaneously, showing how well a system design addresses the inherent tradeoffs between performance and power management.
The one area where Barefoot 3 is behind the competition is power. The Vertex 460 120GB draws nearly as much power as Vector 150, putting both towards the bottom of the battery life scale.


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The Darby Translation (DBY) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 And Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, | 1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, |
The Darby Translation is in the public domain. (The Darby Translation Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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This Week's Feature
What to Do When Your Child Has a Nosebleed
Nosebleeds can happen in an instant, and children are the ones most likely to get them. Here is how to handle them.
Also Inside
Visit our kids' and teens' health library of articles on the following topics:
Kids' and Teens' Conditions
- Acne
- Anorexia nervosa
- Asthma
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bulimia nervosa
- Chickenpox
- Cold
- Colic
Kids' and Teens' Conditions (Continued)
Therapeutic and Wellness Centers
Parents' Health Guide
Whether its colic, chicken pox, or shyness, look here information on a range of topics.


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On Sunday, March 31, Christians will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 3:16-17 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 5:8 states, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 states, "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." Jesus died a cruel death on a cross so that man's sin could be forgiven, and that all people could be declared justified and righteous by the saving work of Christ.
Man's responsibility is to realize our inability to save ourselves. In Mark 1:15, Jesus taught, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." The gospel is the good news of what Jesus has done for each of us. 1 John 1:9 states, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Romans 10:9-10 states, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Jesus died so that you and I could have life through Him. My prayer is that every person that has rejected Christ will turn to Him, and that every believer will realize who we are in Christ. May revival occur in the hearts of the church and a spiritual awakening occur in our land. This is not a message of hate, as some believe, but a message of hope and love. Find a place of worship that teaches the Bible as the absolute truth that it is and take your family there. God bless each of you and God bless the nations of this world.


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New Deal Posted Every Friday through June 30 at VisitOrlando.com/smile
ORLANDO, Fla., April 3 — Beginning today, the "Bundles of Free Smiles" campaign developed by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB) will get a new boost through June 30 with a weekly featured deal and a vacation giveaway contest in addition to the more than 130 free offers at VisitOrlando.com/Smile. The new "Deal of the Week" component begins today and offers enhanced savings at select Orlando resorts. With more than 130 accommodations, attractions and other venues already offering "free" components such as stay three nights get two free, the "Deal of Week" will provide a bonus savings of up to $100 in added value.
Visitors to VisitOrlando.com/smile will find a new "Deal of the Week" posted every Friday through June 30. However, to celebrate the inauguration of the program, this first deal offering more than $300 in savings will be featured for two weeks, ending April 17:


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Each year FareShare, Leader Community Newspapers and the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation encourage Melburnians to donate to The Feed Melbourne Appeal. All donations of $2 and more are tax deductible, and donations up to $225,000 will be matched by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation. Articles appear in all 33 Leader newspapers and events are held across Melbourne.
Every single dollar donated to the Feed Melbourne Appeal goes to a food charity.
The 2013 Feed Melbourne Appeal was supported by The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. His support raised $30,000 for the Appeal, and indirectly lead to many wonderful donations – including $80,000 from Sargents Charitable Pies Foundation.
See The Boss speak about the Feed Melbourne Appeal at the Rod Laver Arena (2013)!
Bruce is back in Melbourne again this year and will be supporting the 2014 Feed Melbourne Appeal once more!
During the Feed Melbourne Appeal we encourage local food charities to nominate for a grant. We ask them to complete an application form that involves describing what they do and how a grant of up to $15,000 would help them support people in their community.
All donations are banked by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation and at the end of the campaign the foundation advises how much money has been raised. Two thirds of all donations are available as grants for community-based charities, for fridges, freezers, pantries, etc. The remaining one third is allocated to Victorian food rescue charity FareShare.
Since 2009 the Feed Melbourne Appeal has given out almost $2 million to 85 community food programs. And boy, has it made a difference to them.
A special grants advisory committee – including FareShare, Foodbank Victoria and the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation – reviews the applications and decide how the funds should be distributed to have the greatest impact to food relief efforts in Victoria.
FareShare is a community group that operates Australia's largest charity kitchen. FareShare works with businesses to collect surplus nutritious food, then with the help of 6,000 volunteers a year, cooks this rescued food into one million meals per annum. These meals are given free to over 400 Victorian charities helping people in need. FareShare is a nor-for-profit charity which receives no annual government funding.


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Hotels and Beach Resorts Online Hotel Reservation Center with up to 76%
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WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN PALESTINE The climate of Palestine for the greater part of the year is pleasant. Winter lasts for three months, from mid-December to mid-March, and can be severe. During the remainder of the year, the climate is temperate, with the hottest weather in the months of July and August. The Middle Eastern summer is eased by breezes coming from the Mediterranean Sea. Summer although hot in the daytime, is fairly cool at night requiring a sweater. The atmosphere of Palestine is clear and its air is pure. Summer temperatures reach 35° centigrade and in the winter temperature may drop to Zero. Bethlehem receives an average of 700 mm of rainfall annually. The inconsistency of rainfall throughout the months and years requires that most vegetable cultivation be supplemented with irrigation to ensure normal growth. The rainy season starts in the second half of autumn (mid-October) and continues until the end of April. Heavy rain is, however, limited to fewer than 50 days, with around 70% of the rain falling during November to February. The town is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea breeze that comes around mid-day. However, the town is affected by annual waves of hot, dry, sandy and dust Khamaseen winds which originate from the Arabian desert during the months of April, May and mid-June. Palestine receives an average of seven hours of sunshine a day during the winter and thirteen hours during the summer. As a consequence, Bethlehemites use rooftop solar collectors extensively, to capture the solar energy and to replace limited and expensive available energy resources. The average annual relative humidity is 60% and reaches its highest rates during the months of January and February. In May, however, humidity levels are at their lowest. Night dew may occur in up to 180 days per year. Visitors are therefore advised to dress warmly in winter, while in summer, they are advised to bring light clothes and sweaters for the evening. In addition a head cover and sun block are essential for protection against sunstroke and sunburn.
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The Path of Tea
Popular Teas from The Path of Tea
See All 25 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
Another SoccerMom Tea, YAY!
Pre-Infusion Smell/Dry Loose Leaf:
Smells like Vanilla, Apricot, and a hint of chocolate…which is interesting because I don't think 2 out of those 3 are even in there! But it smells really nice! I also sniff a slight cookie or pastry speck of something in there as well! YUM!
While it's infusing I can smell a little caramel, a little vanilla, a little grenadine, and of course, black tea aroma.
After infusing the wet leaves smell like a candied-wood if you can imagine that. The liquid itself – grenadine and black tea.
It's a handsome medium-dark brown color.
Much of the actual ingredients seem to play nice with each other and there isn't another that seems to be too over the top…altho I can taste the grenadine a bit more than the others, but it's sweet and juicy and a great contribution to the flavor instead of being distracting.
I really like this one. Since I was very low on black and flavored black teas – this is going to be PERFECT for mornings and mid-mornings when I am looking for my black and black flavors! YAY! A great tasting cup! It's been a wonderful tea day thus far!!!!
I received a package of teas from SoccerMom today! Thanks SoccerMom! YOU ROCK!!!!
This is the first one from the package I am trying. It smells awesome! Almost like Orange Cookies or Danish or something. It 'brews up' VERY dark brown.
Yes, I can taste both the orange and the ginger but they play nice with the Pu-erh. If other Pu-erh's were as pleasant as this…I think more people would attempt to try them.
However, if you are of the Pu-erh Fans who like that solid bold Pu-erh taste…this may be lacking on that over-the-top Pu-Erh Boldness.
Still…it gets an "E" for effort from me for sure!
So, I just got this in the mail (thanks SoccerMom!) and wanted to try some out. I knew I should try it straight first, but could resist tossing a little of Adagio's Cream into the mix, and they do indeed go very well together. Prepared on the stovetop with equal parts water and whole milk, this I used 2tsp chai and 1tsp Cream for what ended up being ~22oz prepared liquid.
This is a tasty chai drink that I would certainly have again; spicy more than sweet, very peppery, maybe a little too much pepper for my taste, but the milk and Cream tea (which really taste more like maple, but that's another note) smooth it out nicely. A dash of honey improves it too. Since the spices are so strong, I think I'll continue adding some extra black tea into this.
I really love this one – now that I've been out of Fujian Baroque for a couple of months, this is reminding me of it, so I think there must be some Fujian in the blend. In any case, it's delicious, and I will be sad when it's gone.
Oh this is tasty. I think I might have oversteeped it a little, but that's my error. It's.. sweet, and savory, and just much more complex and flavorful than I expected somehow. A Chinese black, clearly, but I'm not sure what region this is from, and don't have quite enough experience to guess. Yunnan, maybe? Lovely little golden tips in with the black leaves, anyway; I'll enjoy playing with this one
TeaBird, According to Thia the Tea Master at The Path of Tea this tea won black tea of the year. Wish I could give you more details but I couldn't find the info on her website but she had all the information in shop when I made the purchase (a couple months ago).
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer – not all the way full just enough to cover the tea
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: I can see golden raisins, and smell hibiscus and currents?
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus (inhales deeply) and spice
Flavor: hibiscus, spice
Body: Full
Aftertaste: tangy
Liquor: opaque deep red
Thank you for the sample SoccerMom!
I love hibiscus, but if you've been following my posts long you know this.
DELICIOUS, but all the other flavors get stomped, that is the one thing holding this back from greatness. If the spice was more prominent, or other flavors also strongly present with the hibiscus I would be in love with the lover's kiss.
I will take this as is though. I think if I had more I'd try some honey or sugar or perhaps try it iced.
Resteep: oh woe is me little tea, at 7 minutes you were a very pretty pink, but watery drink
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/path-of-tea-loose-leaf-herbal-tea.html
Okay so I have had this in my cupboard for about 2 months and I have had it twice. I honestly haven't tried many "chai's" but I keep reading all of the chai reviews on here and some of the sweet concoctions you all come up with had me in an experimental mood and today I am going to do something about it.
One heaping teaspoon of Organic Masala Chai the chai is full of spices and smells mostly peppery so I add it to about 6 ozs of hot water, steeped about 4 minutes tasted it and it's okay not something delicious like what I imagine when I read some of the other chai reviews so seems this maybe my chance to do my experiment here goes my experiment/sweet concoction.
So yesterday I'm at the grocery store and I pass the creamer section and think hmmm… from time to time I hear my fellow steepsters add some creamer to there tea so I look through the 30 plus creamer flavors and brands and settle on Coffemate's Vanilla Chai and so I think I AM going to add some creamer to my chai. I know people normally steep chai in milk but I am out of milk as usual (teenager still at home) and so I add a tablespoon and half of creamer and it tastes okay nothing to write home about or anything just okay. Then I think what the heck I've already added the creamer what could really sweeten the deal!? I do a quick sweep of the fridge and see that Mrs. Richardson Butterscotch Caramel Topping so I decided to give it a shot. I pop the the bottle of B.C. into the microwave and ding ding it's soft enough to add a tablespoon to my chai. At worst I'm thinking could be a sugary sweet mess at best I could have created something that should go on a Starbucks menu I'm hoping for the latter but who knows? Well the final result is neither :(
It's a milky, butterscotchy (butterscotchy? there's something I never heard myself say) chai mix not something worthy of resale :)) but not something that I really want to pour down the drain either. It is what it is……..whatever that maybe. Definently don't see myself trying it again.
If anyone else has any tea recipe ideas for me so that I can try to find away to use up my Vanilla Chai creamer I would definently appreciate it.
One of my best friends makes cold chai w/ caramel ice cream topping- butter scotch would be amazing! I love the vanilla chai creamer as well.
Cofftea, how does she make the base with water or milk? I am trying to find something kinda in the realm of a bubble tea/Chai that I can make for my son. Oddly enough I hadn't thought of putting it in the fridge but that may change the whole scenario!
She steeps in less water than the total quantity she wants then adds milk to make up the difference after it cools to room temp.
When I smelled it in the shop I thought I have to try this tea, but I was already sipping on a pot of Holiday Blend so I thought I better take a couple ozs. home or I'll have to make the 45 minute trek back up here next weekend because I won't be able to stop thinking about how good it smelled.
It smells like raisins, rosepetals black tea and currants if you can imagine those mixed together. It makes a beautiful reddish pinkish brew it's a okay cup a little strong on the currants making it a tad bitter for my taste but I will finish it probably won't purchase it again though. Too many teas too little time, to be drinking only "okay" teas.
I stopped drinking sodas/colas because I can get my caffeine fix from tea! So I decided to stock up on some black teas to get me up and going in the morning that's when I discovered Organic China Mist a really nice cup of black tea without the harsh aftertaste of some black teas. It has a soft smoky flavor. Not a bad way to start your day!
Nice puerh when I first purchased the tea I found it to be a little too fishy it felt like I was about to experience and asian ginger fish dinner! But after sticking with it, I have come to enjoy it more and more especially the second steeping it is quite good when I am working and hungry but don't have time to eat when I am working on the computer it hits the spot!
Usually I can go either way with jasmine tea. This one is really good. The pearls are lovely and they unfurl nicely as the tea steeps. The scent is amazing, and the flavor is definitely distinctly jasmine without tasting soap-like. As someone who's not always a jasmine tea fan, I'm pretty impressed by this one.
To be honest I was a bit worried that I'd hate this one. I'm pretty picky about citrusy flavors in hot tea and I don't usually like rooibos all that much. The smell was quite strong, to the point that I was afraid it might have an artificial taste. It was actually much milder than I was expecting. I'm not going to be a rooibos convert after this tea, but I think for someone who likes rooibos more than I do, this would be a nice cup.
One of my Christmas presents from my sister was a box of three tea tins from The Path of Tea, an organic tea house in Houston. In addition to the fact that the blue magnetic-closure box the teas came in is pretty cute, this chai is very good. The website doesn't list all the ingredients, but I can see green cardamom pods, cloves, and cinnamon. There is a discernible pepper taste, but it's not so strong as to be unpleasant to milder chai fans. Mixed with warm soy milk and honey, it tastes very similar to the yogi tea at Sunlight Cafe in Seattle.


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The 14th Annual High Peaks Art Festival is a friendly outdoor, juried exhibition of fine arts and crafts in the beautiful mountain setting of Nederland, Colorado. The Festival is complemented by live music and food booths.
The 2014 Festival includes nearly 45 artistswith artwork in all media including painting,photography, jewelry, fiber, glass,metal, wood and mixed media fine craft. All art is juried and only the highest caliber of artwork is accepted. The Festival has garnered many positive accolades in the art community including FestivalNet which rates the show as 5-stars and its show director as 5-stars out of a possible 5-star rating.
FESTIVAL HOURS: Saturday, June 28th: 10am-5pm Sunday, June 29th: 10am-4pm |
Featured Non-Profit
TEENS,Inc. has been selected as our Featured Non-Profit; visit their booth for art and educational activities.


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Story Submitted
Rick Bitner, Chief Executive Officer of Farm Credit of Northwest Florida, announces Sue Dierdorff has joined the Association as Senior Loan Processor. Dierdorff brings with her over 10 years of experience in the mortgage industry.
Dierdorff will be responsible for processing and preparing loan closings packages for the Country Mortgages Division. Additionally, Sue will be cross-trained on the credit desk to assist in the review and analysis of financial information for Country Mortgages.
"Mrs. Dierdorff brings extensive knowledge of the home mortgage industry that will enhance and grow our rural home loan portfolio; her knowledge and skills will help our association continue to serve our clients," said Kris Lee, Credit Desk Underwriting Supervisor.
Dierdorff resides in Tallahassee with her husband, John and her granddaughter Chloe. They attend Christ Presbyterian Church on Bannerman Road. Sue and John have three sons and five grandchildren. She enjoys baking, sewing and attending Red Hills High School Equestrian Team Competitions.
Farm Credit of Northwest Florida is a locally owned and controlled agriculture financial cooperative headquartered in Marianna and owned by its member‐borrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock, production and rural home mortgages. Farm Credit of Northwest Florida is part of the National Farm Credit system established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. For more information, visit www.farmcredit-fl.com.


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Sunday, June 1, 2008
Today @ the Marcus Center - 2:30 p.m.
Munich-born guest conductor Jun Markl oversees the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's latest program, From Germany to Russia, which features violinist Hilary Hahn. The program kicks off with a timely performance of Schumann's Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, "Spring," and concludes with Tchaikovsky's striking . . .


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Text Version
Books & Music Career Computers Education Family Food & Wine Health & Fitness Hobbies & Crafts Home & Garden Money News & Politics Relationships Religion & Spirituality Sports Travel & Culture TV & Movies
Baseball 101 The RosterDavid Landry wrote this in 2007. I have refreshed it. There are 40 active players on each MLB teams roster. Of those 40 players, only 25 players are on the active roster at the completion of spring training. The remaining 15 players are typically reassigned to a teams minor league affiliates. In September the active roster expands to 40 players. This provides top prospects with an opportunity to play at a major league level. Players who appear in one or two games in September and who never return are said to have had a cup of coffee in the majors. The classic example of this is Moonlight Graham from Field of Dreams. He appeared in one game for the NY Giants and had no at bats. The Line-up Prior to each game, the manager provides the umpire with a line-up card that names the players at every position and lays out the batting order. In the National League, there are nine players on the line-up the pitcher, catcher, four infielders (first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop), and three outfielders (left fielder, center fielder and right fielder). In the American League, the pitcher does not bat, so there is a tenth player, the designated hitter. The remainder of the 25 player roster varies slightly by team, but typically consists of four more starting pitchers, five to seven relief pitchers, one or two back-up catchers, two back-up infielders and two back-up outfielders. Substitution If a player is replaced in the field or in their place in the batting order, they cannot return to the game. A batter brought in solely for the purpose of batting for another player is referred to as a pinch hitter. Players who substitute at more than one infield position are called utility infielders. Similarly, there are utility outfielders. Pitchers who come into the game after a starting pitcher are called relief pitchers. A closer is a relief pitcher that specializes in coming into games in the ninth inning when his team is leading. His job is to close down the other team. The Disabled List If a player on the 25 player roster is injured and officially placed on the disabled list, that player is unavailable to the team for a minimum of 15 days while recovering from that injury. There is a 15 day disabled list and a 60 day disabled list for more seriously injured players. Injured players are sometimes listed as day-to-day. This happens when the team does not want to lose the player for 15 days. The start date can be made retroactive if the injury is determined to be longer term after a player has been day-to-day. The Rule 5 Draft Players who are not on a team's 40 player roster who have at least three years of service as of November 20th can be drafted by other teams for a fee of $50,000. This prevents teams from stockpiling prospects. If a player is drafted under Rule 5, they must appear on the drafting teams 25 player roster for the next year. If that player is not kept on the 25 player roster, the original team can draft him back for $25,000. This draft has yielded excellent players in the past, including Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana. Shoeless Joe Since I mentioned Moonlight Graham above, I want to recommend the book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. It served as the basis for Field of Dreams and is very well written. Any book with baseball and J.D. Salinger is worth reading.
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#10241 of 0 points
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Matix MJ Stretch Cord Pant - Men's
Great pants, minimal problems
Ordered this pants on Black Friday, when they finally came, they were great.
-Great material.
-Not too hot.
-Wine-like color
-Fits great (not too skinny or too baggy)
-The front is lower than the back, my nuts didn't agree when I tried to pull it up.
-I like my pants skinny, not TOO skinny, but I'm a skinny person, so this pants were a little loose for me; luckily, my mom fixed it for me.
About the problem some people were having about the lenght:
I was scared of that, but when they got here, they fitted a tiny little bit shorter than my other pants, but they were great! Don't worry about that, I'm 1.75m and ordered a 28 and the lenght is good. If you grow more, or the pants shrink at anytime, you can easily change them into shorts.
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Jul 2, 2014 11:51 AM by ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES (AP) - An actor best known from the 1960s sitcom "McHale's Navy," has died. Bob Hastings was 89.
Allison Knowles says her grandfather died Monday in his Burbank, California, home.
Hastings won fans on "McHale's Navy" as Lt. Carpenter, a bumbling yes-man. Other memorable roles were on "All in the Family" and "General Hospital."
The Brooklyn-born Hastings began his career at age 11 on radio dramas. He branched into TV in its infancy, snagging a role on "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" in 1949.
Other early acting jobs included a recurring role on the military comedy "The Phil Silvers Show."
Later TV appearances included "Ironside," ''The Dukes of Hazzard," ''Major Dad" and "Murder, She Wrote."
His voiceover work continued as recently as the 2010 video game "Mafia II."
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.
Thank you! KSBY.com
9 hours ago


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Tue, Jan 11, 05 at 0:14
Hey just wanted to recommend this site to everyone. http://www.ehitched.com It has been great in planning my wedding. They have great planning tools like wedding checklist, wedding web page, and budget calculator. It also has tons of local vendors for all of the different wedding planning categories. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by Sweet_Pea10 (My Page) on Tue, Jan 11, 05 at 21:52
I believe I saw this same post on another site just a short time ago. Please don't post ads in the forums. Thank you. |
I believe she was just trying to be helpful to those out there that are planning their weddings. I seriously doubt she was advertising in the way I think you're implying. |
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Interesting Things
- We've set up a Pivotal Rubyforge Project! Keep an eye out for code from us.
error deep in the rails framework…" We 'fixed' this with a variation of this patch: http://dev.rubyonrails.org/ticket/6199abort()
method will terminates the request in the browser and prevents any callbacks from being invoked. But, your server might still be chugging away on the requested action.RentalCarCompany.find_by_cars_and_truck_ids
because the _and_
is reserved for methods such as find_by_name_and_address.If you are missing the Rspec gem, you specs will fail silently. It's a good way waste a few hours trying to figure out what's wrong.
can really slow down tests. Plus, some feel it's a bit hacky to set up your test's preconditions by nuking all of the existing data.One project has been importing large amounts of pre-formatted text out of a 3rd-party database and wanted to display it on a site with as little effort as possible. The best solution was to display it as pre-formatted with the

tag, but also tell the browser to word-wrap it so it doesn't all display as one big line:
pre {
white-space: -moz-pre-wrap;
word-wrap: break-word;
font: 12px verdana;
The tubes are clogged! We are doing a lot of remote pairing with Skype, TightVNC, and Adobe Acrobat Connect, all of which really sloooooooooooooow down your network.
:dependent => :destroy
to cascade deletes, make sure you test them well! This really saved our bacon during a major rafactoring.<%= link_to_function('Link Name', "$('form_id').submit()") %>
Latest news from the "cool new stuff" front:
, and there seems to be very little documentation for 1.8.6. # Project structure app/ views/ users/ account.rhtml # will be rendered by default account.rjs profile.rhtml # will be rendered by default profile.rjs
Both "account" and "profile" have RHTML and RJS templates. The following code will dictate which is rendered.
 class UsersController def account # account.rhtml will be rendered by default end def profile # explicitly render the render the RJS template render :template => "users/profile.rjs" end end


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About the Sacraments
Sacraments are celebrations of special moments of encounter between God and human beings. They are not, obviously, the only occasions when human beings consciously respond to God who is forever offering His love and friendship, but they are times when, the Catholic Church teaches, a person's relationship with God is assuredly initiated or deepened or strengthened or healed.
The following sections will introduce you to the Catholic Church's teaching on the seven sacraments. The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1113) Sacraments are "powers that come forth" from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are "the masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1116). The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen and express it (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1123).
(Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist)
"The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212).
:: top of page
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults involves preparation for and celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, which reveal the intimate relation of these sacraments to one another. The Rite is designed primarily for the initiation of unbaptized adults. The Rite also provides for the initiation of unbaptized children of catechetical age (approximately 7 to 14 years of age), as well as for welcoming baptized Catholics and non-Catholics into full communion with the Catholic Church.
R.C.I.A. consists of four distinct periods of formation: Period of Inquiry; Period of the Catechumenate; Period of Enlightenment and Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis (mystagogy).
In June, 1996, the Archdiocese of Toronto issued a revised Pastoral Guide for the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children in the Archdiocese. The document contains the following information:
principles of Christian Initiation how to implement the Rite with adults (the various ministries, responsibilities) how to handle special circumstances a suggested initial interview format a suggested pre-admission inquiry form marriage situations that need to be referred to the Chancellor for Spiritual Affairs before a person may begin the initiation process a suggested ritual for celebrating the convalidation ("blessing") of a marriage within a celebration of the Word of God
a registration form for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children.
If you wish a copy of this publication, telephone the Catholic Office of Religious Education: 416-934-0606 ext. 507 or 510 or fax: 416-934-3444.
If you are interested in becoming a Catholic, contact your local Catholic parish.
Baptism is the first of the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic church. It makes us adopted children of God, incorporates us into Christ, pardons all our sin, and forms us into God's people. It confers a permanent relationship ("character") with Christ and his Church which lasts even should one cease to be an active member of the Catholic community. For this reason a validly baptized Christian is never re-baptized and has the right to a Christian funeral.
Bishops, priests and deacons are the ordinary ministers of baptism, although anyone with the right intention may administer the sacrament in case of imminent death. The words for conferring baptism in the Latin Church are: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
Baptism of infants takes place within the first few weeks after birth in the parish Church. It is highly desirable that baptisms take place during Sunday Eucharist when the parish community is assembled for worship. Otherwise, baptisms are scheduled by the parish staff, as required. It is important to recall that this sacrament is a church and not a family celebration, that the parents must have the intention of raising the child in the Catholic faith and that both parents and godparents are to be instructed on the serious responsibility they take upon themselves when they present their children for baptism.
"... by the Sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1285).
All baptized persons who have not been confirmed and only they are capable of being confirmed. It is required, if the person has the use of reason, that he/she be suitably instructed, properly disposed and able to renew his/her baptismal promises (canon 889).
In the Archdiocese of Toronto, the Cardinal Archbishop has recently delegated authority to pastors to confirm their parishioners due to the large size of the diocese and to enable young people to be Confirmed on or close to the Feast of Pentecost.
Sponsors for this sacrament are ideally, the same persons who served as one's baptismal sponsors. They are intended to be models of faith and so must be Confirmed themselves, be practising their faith, and be mature enough (usually sixteen years or older) to carry out the role of sponsor. A sponsor can be either male or female. Parents cannot be sponsors for their own children (canons 874 and 893).
Young people in the Archdiocese of Toronto are ordinarily Confirmed in their grade eight year. This applies as well to children of catechetical age (7 to 14 years) who were not baptized as infants but as young children.
"The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1322).
"The Eucharist is the 'source and summit of the Christian life'. The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324)
If from the beginning Christians have celebrated the Eucharist and in a form whose substance has not changed despite the great diversity of times and liturgies, it is because we know ourselves to be bound by the command the Lord gave on the eve of his Passion: "Do this in remembrance of me."
We carry out this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have become the body and blood of Christ. Christ is thus really and mysteriously made present.
We must therefore consider the Eucharist as:
thanksgiving and praise to the Father;the sacrificial memorial of Christand his Body;
the presence of Christ by the power of his word and of his Spirit.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1356, 1357, 1358).
The decision concerning an individual child's readiness to receive First Communion rests in the first place with the child's parents in consultation with the child's parish priest and teacher(s). However, it is the duty of the parish priest to see to it that children who have not yet reached the use of reason, or whom he has judged to be insufficiently prepared, do not come to Holy Communion (canon 914).
Adequate preparation (in the Archdiocese of Toronto) is understood to be the successful completion of the initial preparation for this sacrament (either in a Catholic school or in a parish) and of the immediate preparation provided by the parish for all First Communion candidates (e.g. enrolment of all candidates for First Eucharist and, where these exist, additional classes). (Norms for Sacramental Preparation, Archdiocese of Toronto, 76)
See "Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick".
The Eucharistic Fast
The regulation for fasting is considered a means of spiritual preparation for receiving the Eucharist and a symbol of reverence for the sacrament. The Eucharistic Fast is limited to one hour before actually receiving the Eucharist. It pertains to all solid food and all drinks, except water. Taking medicine does not break the fast. The fast applies to priests who celebrate the Mass and to the faithful, regardless of what time of day the Mass is celebrated and Communion is received. Those who are sick, in hospitals - even if not confined to bed - and those caring for the sick, may receive communion even if they have taken food during the previous hour.
(Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick)
"The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health (Cf. Mk 2:1-12), has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1421)
"According to the Church's Command, after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1457)
However, the Church encourages Catholics to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance at least monthly throughout our lifetime so that we can benefit from the graces obtained through reception of this sacrament.
This sacrament reconciles us with God and joins us to him in intimate friendship. It also reconciles us with the Church and revitalizes her life which we have weakened by our sin.
Children must be prepared simultaneously for the two sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist since the opportunity of receiving both according to the designated order begins at the same time. The universal law of the Church states that First Communion is to be preceded by sacramental confession (canon 914). Given that a child who has the idea of God, which is necessary for First Communion, could also grasp the concept of sin, priests, parents and catechists may not determine without proper consultation whether or not children may receive First Communion before First Reconciliation.
The basis for this preparation is not so much the state of sin in which a child may be but rather the formative and pastoral aim to educate to the true Christian spirit of penance and conversion, to growth in self-knowledge and self-control, to the sense of sin, to the necessity of asking for pardon from God and above all to a loving and confident abandonment to the mercy of the Lord. (Norms for Sacramental Preparation, Archdiocese of Toronto, 78, 80)
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, those who are preparing for surgery, and the elderly. This sacrament of healing is meant to heal the whole person, spiritually and physically while at the same time reassuring the person of God's love and mercy. The preferred place for celebrating this sacrament is in the church with family and members of the church community present. Celebrating the sacrament before entering the hospital means the ill person can better appreciate the prayers and symbols of the rite.
For those who are about to die, the Church, in addition to the Anointing of the Sick, offers the Eucharist as viaticum - food for their journey home.
(Matrimony and Holy Orders)
"Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1534)
"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601).
In the Latin Rite the celebration of marriage between two Catholics normally takes place during Mass because of the connection of all the sacraments with the death and resurrection of Christ.
The parties to a marriage covenant are a baptized man and woman, free to contract marriage, who freely express their consent. The Church holds "the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the indispensable element that 'makes the marriage'" (Catechism,1626). If there is no true consent, there is no marriage.
A couple wishing to marry should contact their parish priest one year prior to the anticipated date of the wedding. Couples are required to engage in a marriage preparation process provided or arranged by the parish. Such preparation allows the couple to come to a deeper knowledge of each other and of the sacrament they will receive, including the reasons for its indissolubility.
Your Wedding Music
During this time of preparation for your joyous celebration of the sacrament of marriage, we wish to help you to plan the music for your wedding liturgy. Like all of the Church's sacramental celebrations, the wedding liturgy directs our hearts and minds to the praise and glory of God. The music must thus be chosen with care, according to sound liturgical principles. The guidelines that we use to select music for marriage are the same as those that we use for the Sunday Eucharist. This pamphlet provides the preliminary guidelines for choosing music for your wedding liturgy.
We recommend that you discuss music with your parish priest when you first meet with him about your wedding. He can answer your initial questions and inform you of any parish policy regarding wedding music and the use of musicians other than your parish music leaders. He can also give you the name(s) of parish music leaders who will help you to choose the music for your wedding, as they are familiar with both the policies and the musical repertoire of your own parish. They will also assist you in securing musicians and a cantor.
Music is one of the finest expressions of joy that comes from the heart. It speaks a language that is understood by all cultures and traditions. Music:
Unites a people of faith in praise and thanksgiving to God, who touches our lives in so many wonderful ways. Fosters the ecclesial dimension of a celebration, bonding individuals into a community, heightening their sense of worshipping as a people, the people of God. Unity of voices brings about unity of hearts. Helps people to express with more meaning and conviction the words of the liturgy especially the acclamations such as 'Alleluia' or 'Amen'.
Gives deeper meaning to prayer: to sing well is to pray twice.
By choosing to be married in the Church, you are expressing your desire for a sacred and sacramental celebration of your vows of mutual and lasting fidelity. The music that you choose should lift the congregation's hearts in praise and thanksgiving for this joyful and holy beginning of your lives together.
It is important to keep in mind that your wedding music is first and foremost prayer; it is worship of God. For this reason, secular music, however expressive of love, is not used in Catholic wedding liturgies. A document published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops notes:
"There are very deeply religious songs which have a "secular" origin, and many so called "religious" songs are trashy and sentimental. What is being brought to expression in a wedding liturgy is the mystery of human love as a covenant relationship…Songs which express the religious dimension of love explicitly, of course, have pride of choice. Songs which imply this religious dimension are also suitable. But a song which denies this dimension either explicitly or implicitly must be avoided at all costs, for it belies the mystery: it is a falsehood in liturgy." (1)
(1) Music at your Wedding, edited by the National Liturgical Office, published by the C.C.C.B. (Ottawa: Concacan, Inc. 1980). This document is now out of print.
If you are unsure of the origin or context of a particular piece of music, your parish music leader(s) will be able to help you. Secondly, the selection and arrangements of music in the wedding liturgy should respect the role of the assembly as full, active participants in the liturgy. The music chosen should enable the believing community to express the faith of the universal Church. Your parish music leaders will help you to select music that will foster this expression. The music chosen for the wedding liturgy should be familiar to the people of the church where the celebration takes place, and familiar to those attending the wedding. Be sure to inform your music leader if your wedding involves another religion or Christian denomination so that music may be chosen from a common repertoire. The primary resource for your wedding music is normally your parish hymnal; if you choose something that is not in the hymnal, a music programme should be provided so that the assembly will be able to participate.
There are several places in the wedding liturgy where music is appropriate. Your parish music leader(s) or priest will help you to choose music in some or all of the following parts of the liturgy, especially the parts in bold print:
Processional Gathering Hymn Lord, have mercy/Glory to God Responsorial Psalm Gospel Acclamation Music during the preparation of the gifts: * Holy, Holy * Memorial Acclamation * Great Amen * Lord's Prayer * Lamb of God * Communion song (during the communion procession) * Hymn of praise after communion Music during the signing of the register Closing Hymn/Recessional
(*) Indicates places in the wedding liturgy where there may be music when the Rite of Marriage is celebrated with the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Mass)
"Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time; thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate <bishops>, presbyterate <priests> and diaconate <deacons> (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536)
The essential rite of this sacrament for all three degrees consists in the bishop's imposition of hands on the head of the ordained and his specific consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained. It is desirable that the ceremony take place within the Eucharistic liturgy and that as many of the faithful as possible take part.
If you wish more information on the priesthood or assistance with discerning whether or not God is calling you to this vocation, contact Father Chris Lemieux, Rector, Serra House, 226A St. George St., Toronto, Ont., M5R 2N5. Phone: 416-968-0997.
If you wish information concerning the permanent diaconate, contact Steven Pitre, Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1155 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont., M4T 1W2. Phone: 416-934-0606, ext. 304.
In 1996, the Archdiocese issued the Norms for Sacramental Preparation in our Archdiocese for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. The norms attempt to respect the fundamental principle that parents are the primary educators of their children.In his introductory letter, Cardinal Ambrozic expressed his hope that "priests who serve in our parishes and the teachers and principals in our Catholic schools will work closely together to prepare our children to meet the risen Lord in the sacraments".In 2002, the Norms were modified and up-dated in light of the experience in parishes and schools of implementing the 1996 Norms. Cardinal Ambrozic, in his covering letter, acknowledged the crucial role of our Catholic teachers and principals in the faith formation of our children. "Parents are the primary religious educators of their children. At the same time, our Catholic schools continue to take on much of the responsibility for the religious education of our young people. By their instruction and by their example of Catholic Christian living, our teachers are crucially involved in the overall faith formation of our children and particularly in their preparation for First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation. The Catholic community is very grateful to our Catholic schools for their ongoing efforts to teach the faith to our children, to form them as Catholics and to assist in their sacramental initiation".
If you wish a copy of the Norms or further information concerning them or policies regarding the celebration of the sacraments in the Archdiocese of Toronto, contact the Catholic Office of Religious Education: 416-934-0606, ext. 510, fax: 416-934-3444.
First Reconciliation
Parent information meeting in the child's parish of worship. Registration in the child's parish of worship. Collection of baptismal certificates in the child's parish of worship. Six to eight weeks of catechesis, either by parents at home, using a parish resource or provided for a group by a catechist or catechists in the parish of worship. A family gathering or parish-centered activity (optional) in the parish of worship.
Celebration of the sacrament in the parish of worship during an evening or on a Saturday (outside regular school hours).
First Eucharist
Parent information meeting in the child's parish of worship. Catechetical session for parents in the parish of worship. Enrolment ceremony during a Sunday liturgy. Six to eight weeks of catechesis, either by parents at home, using a parish resource or provided for a group by a catechist or catechists in the parish of worship. Family gathering for parents and children in the parish of worship (optional).
Celebration of the sacrament in the parish of worship during a regularly scheduled Sunday liturgy.
Parent information meeting in the parish of worship. Registration. Collection of baptismal certificates by the parish of worship. Enrolment ceremony in the parish of worship. Four catechetical sessions (generally in the season of Lent-Easter) arranged by the parish of worship and two sessions after the celebration of the sacrament. Retreat day provided by the parish of worship.
Celebration of the sacrament.
Teach the Born of The Spirit programme relating to the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. This is the key instructional element in the students' preparation for these sacraments (Norms 5, 16). Witness to the children, by word and example, the meaning of Christian discipleship (Norm 5).
Emphasize repeatedly with children and parents the importance of Sunday Eucharist and its connection with the other sacraments (Norms 5, 34).
Meet with pastor or his delegate in May or June of the preceding school year to coordinate parish and school dates, in order to avoid conflicts for parents (Norms 7, 8, 11). Place notices from the parish(es) in your school newsletter regarding parish meetings etc. pertaining to preparation for all children regardless of where they attend school, as requested by the pastor(s). It may be necessary to do this for more than one parish if your students come from other parishes of worship (Norms 18, 20). Reinforce with parents that their child receives immediate preparation for the sacraments and celebrates the sacraments in his/her parish of worship (Norm 18). Stress, in word and action, to children and parents that the school and parish work closely together in the preparation for and celebration of the sacraments (Norm 7). Conduct the retreat for those preparing for Confirmation if there are special circumstances making it impossible for the parish to do this (Norm 28). Co-operate in making school facilities available for parish sessions if the parish does not have suitable facilities for these (Norm 8). Work especially closely with the parish in the preparation of special needs children. You are the experts! (Norm 16).
Be involved in enrolment ceremonies, parent sessions and the celebration of the sacraments, as requested by the pastor (Norms 2,17, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 36, 39, 40).
The Purpose of Sacramentals
The sanctification of: 1. Certain ministries of the Church 2. Certain states of life 3. A variety of circumstances of Christian life
The Elements of a Sacramental 1. There is always a prayer (see CCC #1672).
Blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) first of all: Some with a lasting importance, like consecrations of persons (such as abbots/abbesses, professed religious, and liturgical ministers), places (such as churches and shrines), and things (such as altars, oils, vessels, and vestments).
Exorcisms (see CCC#1673): Public, authoritative requests in Jesus' name that a person or object be protected against and/or withdrawn from the dominion of the power of the evil one.
2. There is often a specific sign such as
Holy Oils
Used in the sacraments which impart a sacramental character (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders), in the Sacrament of Healing (Anointing of the Sick), and in the blessing of various objects. In 1970 it was allowed that, if necessary, holy oils may be from any plant, not only from olives. The blessing of oils has traditionally been done on Holy Thursday by a bishop at a cathedral. The supply distributed to local churches is kept in the ambry.
Used in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, as well as blessing tower bells and baptismal water and for consecrating churches, altars, chalices, and patens. Only chrism among the holy oils includes balsam, or balm, giving it an unmistakable fragrance, alluding to Paul's "odor of life" or "aroma of holiness" metaphor in 2 Corinthians 15-16.
Oil of Catechumens
Also known as the oil of the saints (O.S., Oleum Sanctorum), it is used during the prayer of exorcism and anointing when a catechumen is initiated.
Oil of the Sick
Used in the Anointing of the Sick.
Frankincense, boswellia carterii, is the main ingredient in the incense used in today's liturgies. A resin produced by a family of desert trees that grow in southern Arabia, it is derived from a sap that dries, forming crystalline lumps of an amber/gold color. For Christians, it has a rich prayer and purification symbolism. From earliest Christian days, it has been associated with Christ, beginning with the magi gift (Matthew 2:10-11). Even before that, the Jews regarded its rich spicy scent as a pure offering, pleasing to God. Even beyond Judeo-Christian circles, frankincense was prized for centuries in Palestine, Egypt, Greece, and Rome not only as a way to honor the gods, but as a medicine and as a base for perfume.
Veneration is shown by incensing, as in the incensation of the altar, the book of the Gospels, the gifts of bread and wine, the assembly, and the body of the deceased during a funeral. Five grains of it can be deposited in the Paschal candle at the Easter Vigil, representing Christi's five wounds. The old blessing of incense included the prayer, "Be blessed by him in whose honor you will burn."
1. Its burning represents zeal and fervor. 2. Its fragrance represents virtue. 3. Its rising smoke represents acceptable prayer, as noted in Psalm 141:2.
The Christ (Paschal) candle A prime Christ/Easter symbol, it remains lit from its enthronement during the Easter Vigil, throughout the Great Feast (the fifty days of Easter), until it is extinguished and transferred to the baptistry on Pentecost. Thereafter, it is used for its resurrection symbolism at Baptisms and funerals. Formerly, there was a "triple candle" used at the Easter Vigil, lit by the deacon chanting Lumen Christi (Latin: Light of Christ) while the choir answered Deo gratias (Thanks be to God). From this the Paschal candle was then lit. Today the Paschal candle is lit directly from the new fire. It is still an optional part of the Easter Vigil to stress the Christ candle's dignity and significance by decorating it with a cross ("Christ yesterday and today / the beginning and the end"), the Greek alpha and omega, and the numerals of the current year ("All time belongs to him / and all the ages / to him be glory and power / through every age for ever. Amen"), and then inserting five grains of incense in the cross ("By his holy / and glorious wounds / may Christ our Lord / guard us / and keep us. Amen").
Baptism Candles
Their lighting (from the Christ candle) and presentation are part of Christian initiation, with the exhortation to keep the flame of faith burning brightly. One custom is to light one's baptismal candle each year on the anniversary of one's baptism.
Sanctuary candle This sanctuary lamp or light signals the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Altar candles Express "devotion or the degree of festivity" according to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, on or around the altar (formerly, at least 51 percent beeswax).
Vigil lights Candles are common in church; associated with a donation. Representing the prayerful vigilance of expectant faith, they are often either the large, six-day bottle candle or a smaller version in an often red, blue, or amber votive cup.
Blessed candles Often blessed on Candlemas Day, candles for home use borrow symbolism from all the candles used in church and liturgy and bring it into the domestic Church of the home. Faith in things unseen can be bolstered by things seen - such as a burning candle. Especially during a storm (including those within), forgetfulness of the guardian threatens heart and home. And so popular piety would light a candle - blessed at Candlemas, of course - for protection, it not from the storm, then at least from the thunder and lightning of fear itself. Several centuries ago in Ireland, during the suppression of Catholicism by the English persecution, priests were driven to visiting homes in secret, where the Eucharist could be celebrated at night. At Christmas time, the Catholic families would leave their doors unlocked and put candles in the windows to guide priests to their homes. Any soldiers noticing the open doors and lit candles were simply told that it was to welcome Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve. The signal remained, as the soldiers dismissed the story as harmless superstition.
Palms Received and used on Palm Sunday as a prayerful reminder of Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his death and resurrection. After Palm Sunday, it has become tradition to display the palms, often in some artistic form (braided, woven, crosswise), often with a crucifix or sacred picture. For the following Ash Wednesday they may be burned, with the ashes then used for the beginning of Lent.
Ashes Used principally for Ash Wednesday markings, the consecration of an altar, and the dedication of a church.
Crucifixes A cross bearing the figure of the crucified Christ (corpus). The sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist, "the unbloody sacrifice of Calvary", is emphasized where the crucifix is prominent above the altar.
Medals To commemorate, memorialize, and inspire; typically of or about the Lord, the Blessed Mother, or other saints.
Holy Water "Water which is blessed by a priest and used by the clergy as a sacramental for blessings, the Rite of Sprinkling at Sunday Mass, and for baptismal renewal (by dipping one's fingers in the holy water and making the sign of the cross) upon entering a church. Besides ordinary holy water, there are also baptismal holy water (used with chrism in the administration of baptism) and Easter water, which is blessed for use in the paschal season.