#home painting Granite Bay

[painting-service]

Guardian Coats: Unlocking the Power of Double Paint Coating for Rocklin Homes with Mister Paint

Elevate your Rocklin residence to new heights with Mister Paint's cutting-edge double paint coating technology. Our outside house paint solution goes beyond the ordinary, providing a dual layer of protection that withstands the unique challenges of the Rocklin environment. Uncover the reasons why double coating is the key to long-lasting vibrancy, resilience against weather extremes, and the ultimate defense for your home's exterior. Transform your property into a beacon of durability and aesthetic excellence with Mister Paint's innovative double paint coating system.

Know more: https://davidsmitha967.wixsite.com/painting-service/post/why-double-paint-coating-is-effective-for-your-home

[betterbayconstructionus]

Create Your Dream Bathroom With us In San Mateo

Transform your bathroom with the top-notch service on our Bathroom Remodeling in San Mateo. Wе know your bathroom is essential for you and your home’s value. Our skilled team focuses on your family’s needs and future buyers’ preferences.

With years of experience, we stay updated on bathroom trends. Our designers work closely with you to create a stylish, practical, and functional space. Whether you want a simple refresh with new fixtures or a complete master bath overhaul for better storage, Better Bay Construction is here to help with the best bathroom remodeling in San Mateo.

Our services include custom tile showers, beautiful flooring options (like ceramic, marble, granite, luxury vinyl, and stone), various vanities, finished carpentry, painting, and quality plumbing fixtures.

Discover your dream bathroom with us. Contact us today to start your bathroom remodeling journey, and let us make your space beautiful and functional.

[milliondollarslandscapes]

Discovering the Undiscovered Treasures: Multimillion-Dollar Landscapes Across the World

Introduction:

In a world where beauty knows no limits, there is a domain of landscapes that are so incredibly alluring that their value is greater than their economic worth. These are the million-dollar vistas, which are frequently unseen by casual tourists but are just waiting to be found and appreciated. Embark with us on an exploration of some of the world's most remarkable and distinctive landscapes, where each viewpoint reveals the unmatched creativity of nature.

The Oregon, United States, Painted Hills: There is a geological marvel unlike any other, tucked away in eastern Oregon's high desert. Part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, the Painted Hills are known for their kaleidoscope-like colors that seem to change as the light falls on them. The environment of these hills is like to a living canvas, with layers of ancient volcanic ash, mineral deposits, and clay imparting vivid red, gold, and green hues. Guests are rewarded with a visually stunning display of hues as the sun sets and casts its warm glow over the hills.

The Turkish Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia: A scene from a fairy tale can be found deep in the heart of central Turkey. The magical rock formations in Cappadocia known as "fairy chimneys" are well-known, having been sculpted over ages by erosion caused by wind and water. With some of these imposing granite pillars rising to heights of more than 100 feet, the area's rich history and culture are shown through the scattered Byzantine frescoes and prehistoric cave dwellings. Aerial views of this bizarre terrain illuminated by the gentle glow of morning are provided by hot air balloons, which take to the skies at sunrise.

China's Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains: Tucked away in the furthest regions of northwest China is an impossibly beautiful the surroundings. The Rainbow Mountains are a collection of vibrant sandstone formations that resemble an enormous painter's palette and are located in the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. A breathtaking and surreal environment is created by the intricate patterns of bands of red, orange, yellow, and green swirling together. The mountains come alive with color as the sun moves across the sky, creating ever-changing shadows and highlights that awe tourists with their pristine beauty.

Puerto Rico's Bioluminescent Bays at Vieques: There is a phenomenon that is so uncommon and magnificent off the shore of the Caribbean island of Vieques that it is beyond description. Water basins known as bioluminescent bays, or "bio bays," are home to microscopic creatures known as dinoflagellates that, when disturbed, produce a vivid blue-green glow. With waters so brilliant they seem to light up the night sky, Mosquito Bay on Vieques is one of the world's brightest bio bays. On a moonless night, when kayaking in the bay, guests are in for a unique experience. The movement of the fish and their paddles creates trails of light in the water, casting a natural fireworks display across the darkness.

In conclusion

Multimillion-dollar landscapes are more than just stunning locations; they serve as windows into the spirit of the earth, showcasing the natural wonders in all their splendor. Every location, from the bioluminescent bays of Vieques to the painted hills of Oregon, delivers a singular, precious experience that is absolutely unforgettable. So gather your belongings, go off the beaten track, and be ready to be astounded by the undiscovered treasures that lie ahead in the world's million-dollar landscapes.

[sunnyleahomesblog]

Budget-Friendly Kitchen Remodeling Ideas That Will Increase the Value of Your Home

Are you considering remodeling your kitchen but are concerned about the price? Fear not! With some smart planning and creative thinking, you can achieve a stunning kitchen remodeling project that won't break the bank. In this article, we'll explore budget-friendly kitchen remodeling ideas that not only enhance the heart of your home but also add significant value to your property. Paint and refresh One of the most cost-effective ways to give your kitchen a fresh new look is by painting the walls and cabinets. A new coat of paint can transform a dull and outdated kitchen into a vibrant space. Opt for light, neutral colors to make the room feel more spacious and inviting. You can also consider painting your cabinets in a different color for a trendy two-tone effect. Upgrade Your Hardware Small details can make a big difference in your kitchen's overall appearance. Swapping out old cabinet handles, knobs, and faucets for modern, stylish options can instantly elevate the space. Choose finishes that complement the new color scheme, and you'll be amazed at the impact such a simple change can have on your kitchen remodeling project. Open Shelving

Open shelving is a cost-effective substitute for conventional upper cabinets. Removing a few upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelves not only reduces costs but also creates a more open and airier feel in your kitchen. Display your favorite dishes, glassware, or decorative items to add a personal touch to the space.

Reface Rather ThanReplace Cabinets If your existing cabinets are structurally sound but look dated, consider cabinet refacing. When doing this procedure, the current cabinet boxes are kept but the cabinet doors and drawer fronts are changed. It's a cost-effective way to achieve a fresh, modern look without the expense of entirely new cabinetry. Upgrade Lighting Good lighting is essential in any kitchen. Swapping out old, outdated fixtures for modern, energy-efficient lighting can transform the ambiance of the room. Consider installing under-cabinet lighting to brighten your countertops and make tasks like chopping and food prep more accessible. Energy-Efficient Appliances Investing in energy-efficient appliances may seem like a splurge, but it's a wise decision in the long run. Newer appliances not only save you money on your utility bills but also add value to your home. Look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure you're getting appliances that are both eco-friendly and cost-effective. DIY Backsplash A stylish backsplash can be a focal point in your kitchen, and you don't need to spend a fortune on it. Consider installing a peel-and-stick backsplash, which is not only budget-friendly but also easy to apply yourself. You can find a wide variety of designs and colors to suit your kitchen's style. Butcher Block Countertops Granite and quartz countertops can be expensive. A more budget-friendly option is butcher block countertops. They add warmth and character to your kitchen while being considerably cheaper. Plus, they're relatively easy to maintain and can be sanded and refinished if they get scratched or worn over time. Maximize Storage An organized kitchen not only looks better but also functions better. Invest in storage solutions like pull-out shelves, drawer dividers, and pantry organizers to make the most of your available space. Utilizing every inch of storage can help keep clutter at bay and make your kitchen remodeling project more efficient.  Hire a Professional for Key Tasks While a budget-friendly kitchen remodeling project often involves a lot of DIY work, some tasks are best left to the professionals. Plumbing, electrical work, and major structural changes should be handled by experienced contractors to ensure safety and compliance with local building codes. In conclusion, a kitchen remodeling project doesn't have to drain your savings. With the right approach and a bit of creativity, you can achieve a budget-friendly kitchen makeover that adds tremendous value to your home. From simple cosmetic updates like painting and hardware changes to more significant upgrades like lighting and energy-efficient appliances, there are plenty of options to choose from. For a successful kitchen remodeling project that combines affordability with quality craftsmanship, consider reaching out to Sunnylea Homes. Their experienced team can help you turn your budget-friendly kitchen remodeling ideas into reality. Don't hesitate to contact Sunnylea Homes today and start your journey toward a beautiful, value-enhancing kitchen space.

[containatrocity]

the prodigial son and only heir to the Chiyoda tech fortune, some claim Silas Chiyoda is something of a messiah, beckoning in a new era of tech advancement and a future something like a utopia- the Japan-Born Silicon Valley transplant claims he's a herald- but not of a golden age.

Cover Story By Milena Corbin, November 2018

It's a clean white mansion that greets the taxi that drops me off, modern and sleek with a family crest emblazoned on the gates. It's one of the many summer homes of Aoi Chiyoda, the owner and figurehead of tech powerhouse Chi-Hyu Technology, but it's not the 48 year old CEO and mastermind that I'm here to meet, and that much is made clear when my interviewee steps out of the house. He is asynchronous to the house that built him, dressed in black from head to toe with long dark hair pulled into a bun, struck through with pins bearing the visages of Japanese fox spirits, matching the dragons and koi swirling across his arms. Where Aoi demanded sleek, clean, chrome lines and white, granite blocks, his son perhaps has embraced the visual context of being a black sheep- something that tabloids have painted his history with since the now 22 year old was little more than a child.

A recluse of few words outside of parties and public appearances, Silas Chiyoda's position as a 'nepotism baby' is one he's acknowledged time and again, his vehement refusal to be someone people look up to often punctuated by lengthy, angry tirades on twitter- and typically- refusal to speak with the press. But today, he motions for me to follow him inside, past perfect marble floors and gold-inlaid furniture, to something that more correctly fits the man himself.

He makes himself at home in a beanbag chair under blacklight and neon, a bay of computers and monitors spread across one wall- a pile of schematics that he quickly hides on an opposite desk. It's only after the mouthpiece of a hookah pipe is hooked into the corner of his mouth that he allows me to speak to him at all, motioning one ring clad, dark-painted set of fingers as if to encourage me to 'get on with it'.

"I'd like to thank you, Mr. Chiyoda for taking the time out of your day to speak with us, from what I understand, you don't tend to like to speak to the press."

"I don't like to talk to tabloids. Given that you're here to talk about my work, I can make exceptions- I'm only 'famous' because of who my mother is, only rich because of my father. This focuses on the things I do that I actually care about."

"Yes, you and your father recently collaborated on an updated chipset for phones and computers that allows for more seamless communication between multiple devices, was this something important for you to achieve within the current space for smart devices?"

"Collaborated is quite the word for it- but yes, the chip I designed and we're seeking production on is intended to be upgradable for several years, eliminating a substantial amount of tech-waste in the industry, and allowing for less incidents with the strangely... quick obsolescence that comes from a lot of companies today- iPhone, Android, Windows- they'll all be using some form of our architecture, which will allow repair shops to work in a more comfortable, less proprietary space. A phone a year isn't sustainable for most people- this slows down the feeling that one has to update the moment a new piece of hardware releases, and simply requires a replacement chip."

"You seem very passionate about this, was it your father who got you invested in technology?"

"My father named me after his first ever operating system, the NEON. It was less that he shared an interest with me, and more that it was the one way to get him to pay any attention to me- now, of course, the eyes on me tend to be pretty set on watching me fuck up, including my father's- but I'm still rich, I'm still a genius, and most of my detractors will die drowning in student loan debt or forgotten by the annuls of time. Bad press is press nonetheless, and in some part I'm thankful for the distraction from my actual work, it's allowed me to kinda, control where my ideas and innovation go without people trying to throw money to me to make it theirs and theirs alone."

"So you want this to be available to as many people as possible?"

"I want my work to bury the bullshit that society's been barreling toward. Planned obsolescence, government surveillance, copyright claims burying hobbyists alive. I want to do one thing that slows the cogs down before the teeth tear themselves off and leave us grinding to a halt. Innovating only for the sake of money is destroying the planet, our rights to privacy, our ability to create- People insist that what my father does is the future, the way he pushes out the next big thing every quarter for another drop in the billion dollar bucket. I want it slowed down. We should perfect what we understand before inviting more ghosts into the system."

"So this isn't about reaching for the future for you, but suspending things in the now a little longer?"

"Think about it this way. Everyone who's ever lined up to kiss my ass on social media thinks I'm some kind of wizard, some cave-dweller with a thousand-point IQ and the ability to grant their wishes, but these assholes don't need an AI girlfriend who can interface with their smart kitchen, they need to get off their asses and learn a fucking skill for once in their lives. We are so hell bent on getting to the 'utopian future' that we've been promised we're ignoring the way we're sliding toward the other option. There are weaknesses in every system, and the more we try to make new systems, the more gaping holes are left behind- this is a bandaid on the hull of a sinking ship, and as soon as it comes crumbling down, the only people who are gonna take the blame are the people who don't deserve it. So let me state this simply: when we hit the point that makes Y2K's fearmongering look pitiful in comparison, it'll be on the head of my contemporaries, my father, and his boardroom of yes men. But not me. And not the people who inevitably work out how to hack your car, when you buy the Night Rider the second she rolls off the lot."

He's harsh and set in his ways, and the way he talks about technology, not like a blessing but a devil deal he's made and is now struggling to understand, is commonplace in his few public speaking appearances- something that's likely led to his father keeping his connection to Chi-Hyu rather hush hush- or his volatile public image, fraught with arrests, addiction, cycles in rehab, and highly publicized feuds with former girlfriends- many of them famous in their own regard, most recently seen paired off with the lead actress of Blood Ties- only to be arrested at her LA apartment after a domestic dispute ended in shots fired- Keeping him behind the scenes of a company reliant on the clinical white image of the mansion he's chosen to take this interview in. His stipulations for agreeing, of course, that I couldn't ask about the cycle of arrests and bail outs, about the girlfriends met in rehab easily twice his age- about his public fight with his father, the purple-gray scar on the side of his neck already covered up with a new tattoo of Eve's hands reaching for the apple of knowledge.

"Many people have stated that your father is going to usher in a golden era, technology pushed to its limits, it sounds a lot like you aren't in agreement."

"What good's a golden era for only the 1%? I could press a button and have a german sports car delivered to my garage. There are people on the sidewalks outside the high-end clothing stores I buy my wardrobe from begging for change to afford dinner, much less a house. We revolutionize. Fine. Surveillance will go to the richest. Corrupt industries will corrupt further, squeeze tighter for another drop of blood from a stone. My Father's a herald of something, but it's not a promised land. I'm a horseman of the apocalypse, a trumpeter signaling the end times, and nobody'll heed those warnings until it's too late- because for now I'm flashy and exciting, and my hard work gets you into a game of candy crush sooner. The future is now, you know? But it's gonna be a lot more Hal 9000 than people are willing to accept- my greatest sin is being honest about what me and all these other tech bro douchebags are up to- and being too smart for them to force me out of their boys clubs."

[chrisfritchteamexprealty]

Get away from it all at this gorgeous #homeforsale in @DalboMN! Welcome to this magnificent property nestled in the heart of Dalbo! This exceptional home is truly a gem, boasting 3,200 square feet of pure comfort and elegance. The entire house has been thoughtfully updated with new paint and has beautiful vinyl plank flooring meandering throughout to provide modern convenience and luxurious living.As you step inside, you'll be welcomed by the warm and cozy atmosphere that envelops you. The house is surrounded by 20 acres of serene and peaceful woodland, with the gentle sound of Pine Brook babbling in the background. The ambiance is simply enchanting.The property is adorned with brand new steel siding ensuring maximum insulation and durability. The new roof on the home and boarding facility is fitted with 50-year shingles, providing lasting protection from the elements, and the maintenance-free composite decking with vinyl railing adds a touch of sophistication to the house. A 54x40 pole building with commercial openers store all the necessary maintenance items. View it all from the hot tub that overlooks the woodlands and the swan preserve across the road.The recent addition of a rec room with a pellet stove and playhouse adds to the charm of this lovely home. The geothermal furnace, central air, water heater, and water softener-owned, all recently replaced, offer peace of mind and efficient energy usage.The kitchen has all been updated, the fixtures are new, gleaming granite on the counters, and has in-floor heat warming the tile, providing a cozy and inviting space to relax and entertain.The Owner's Suite is a sanctuary to behold! A walk in closet with a washer and dryer is installed for convenience, big bay windows, and a full private bath that exudes comfort and luxury.A second bath up is a spa shower complete with foot massaging jets and dual shower heads. Splendid!The tuck-under garage shop/workspace is an incredible bonus, providing ample space for your tools and equipment.The wrap-around deck provides amazing scenic views of the surrounding woods, and the wildlife that abounds on this wooded property offers a unique opportunity for 4-wheeling, hiking, and phenomenal private hunting land with a bridge. This is not just a house; it's an absolute dream home! Presented by Jason Berg with the Chris Fritch Team eXp Realty 763-746-3997 or Jason@ChrisFritchTeam.comhttps://chrisfritchteam.com/homes-for-sale/MN/springvale%20twp/55017/4619-357th-ave-nw/bid-36-6351797

[ukworktops]

New Carrara Classic Quartz

New Carrara Classic Quartz; Classic Addition for a Kitchen

Work-tops.com

KITCHEN | MATERIALS 4 minute read

New Carrara Classic Quartz countertops feature an exquisite grey design swirling around a white stone. If you're searching for a neutral countertop with long-lasting charm and beauty, this is a good choice. Carrara Classic quartz is a gorgeous quartz item with white and grey tones combined together in a unique design. The stone is suitable for all interior uses, such as flooring, countertops, and verticals.

Carrara Quartz vs Carrara Marble - Differentiate:

Spills and stains are common in the kitchen, which is the heart of any home. Carrara marble's natural beauty, however, is “ there is significant because of its durability.

Natural marble could be harmed by common kitchen spills including such lemon juice, wine, and vinegar. Because of their acidic nature, these liquids take its toll on marble surfaces, having left a dull mark that cannot be removed.

If you adore the natural beauty of Carrara but are concerned about its durability and resilience, consider quartz. Carrara quartz worktops offer all of the aesthetic features of natural Carrara marble while requiring little maintenance.

Is there any Possibility to Remove Stain from Quartz Counters?

Scrubbing with such a non-abrasive cleaning pad as well as a generous amount of quartz cleaner is required for just any spill which leaves a mark after already being wiped down. Scraping with a plastic knife or spatula should help remove stains caused by paint, nail polish, lipstick, wax, or food which has dried and formed a crust.

Appearance and Durability of New Carrara Quartz Look Like?

The appearance of quartz is among the main reasons for its popularity. Quartz has the appearance of stone but allows homeowners to customise the design. While granite has many different appearance options, you may need to look for the ideal piece which matches your colour scheme. The choice process is far simpler with quartz.

Quartz is more durable than granite as it is harder. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and since it isn't porous like granite, it's simple to keep bacteria at bay on your countertops. However, be cautious when using cooking pans: quartz could be damaged by extreme heat, so just use heating pads at any and all times.

Is Quartz Worktops are Heat - Resistant and Stain Proof?

Quartz countertops have a low porosity because they are created with resins and polymers. This means they are extremely stain resistant. However, they are not completely stain-proof. Markers and other household products can stain quartz countertops. If this is an issue in your home, there are excellent sealers just on market which will help to protect quartz surfaces from staining.

Yes, quartz is resistant to heat, but keep in mind that heat resistance isn't the same as heat proof. Even though most quartz counters can withstand temperatures of more than 150 degrees, higher temperatures can scorch them. When in doubt, it is best to avoid placing hot pots or pans immediately on your quartz counter.

Similar Slabs that Matches Your Classic Quartz:

Atlante White Quartz

Carrara Kashmire Quartz

Carrara 100 Quartz

Carrara Millano Quartz

Bianco Carrara Quartz

Place Your Order on these Classic Quartz Collections:

Install & Fabricate your Quartz collections for your kitchen, office & similar worktops in 10 working days. You can also get casual Live Chats From experts free to contact us at 03301135868 or email info@work-tops.com.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can Hot Pans be Placed on Quartz?

Quartz kitchens are resistant to heat and can help prevent a fire from spreading. However, extreme caution should be exercised because excessive heat can damage the countertops. To protect your countertops from heat damage, use heat protectors including such coasters, hot pads, and trivets.

Is it Possible for Lemon Juice to Stain Quartz?

Though quartz will not stain permanently when exposed to liquids such as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice, soda, or fruits and vegetables, it is critical to wipe up spills immediately before they dry. Clean up new messes with a soft cloth and mild dishwashing detergent.

Buyers, Do You Prefer Quartz or Granite?

Quartz is the most popular countertop material in most homes. This is due to its numerous advantages, which include longevity, ease of maintenance, a wide range of colours, and ease of cleaning. It's no surprise that almost all people would prefer these countertops to marble or granite.

[tweedheadsaustralia]

PRIVATE BEACHSIDE LIVING - elevated ground level'

[painting-service]

What Are the Advantage of Using the Stain Resistant Paint

The key benefit of stain-resistant paints is the effortless cleaning process when removing marks and substances from the paint surface. If you plan to paint your house, the best option is to go for house paint Granite Bay. Read More>> https://www.tumblr.com/housepainrernearme/724697327571550208/what-are-the-advantage-of-using-the-stain-resistant-pain

[ryanhillgroup]

3515 Grassmere Rd, Naperville, IL 60564 | Home for Sale

Make this lovely Moser custom-built property yours, and enjoy living Naperville’s beautiful Tallgrass subdivision

This spectacular Naperville IL home is the perfect blend of comfort, luxury, serenity and space! Nestled inside the sought-after Tallgrass neighborhood, it offers a wide range of community amenities including tennis courts, a club house, the Tallgrass Community Pool, and Tallgrass Park – which is on Grassmere Road.

This two-story brick-front home is also in the desirable District 204, with the top-rated Fry Elementary School located nearby for easy access! District 204 is listed by Niche as one of the best school districts in Illinois for 2022.

With 4 bedrooms, 4.1 bathrooms and all the high quality finishes inside its 4,048 square feet of living areas above grade and almost 2,000 square feet finished below, you have more than enough space to entertain family and friends. 

Well-maintained, this home is truly a deal you wouldn’t want to miss!

A nicely landscaped front yard and a paved walkway surrounded by tall trees and bushes serves as an entrance to this exquisite home. With its 3-car side-load garage, enjoy ample parking.

Fall in love with this gorgeous home from the moment you enter through the new front door into its welcoming two-story foyer. 

The foyer features a 19’ volume ceiling, rich Brazilian cherry flooring, and an elegant front staircase to the second level designed with a carpet runner that matches the living and dining room carpet.

The formal living room provides an an elegant welcoming area for your guests

Large bay windows with silhouette window treatments illuminate an elegant room that provides a bright and airy ambiance. With its neutral painted walls and elegant carpeting, it’s a wonderfully welcoming space for your guests. 

Host formal dinners and enjoy sit-down meals in this beautiful dining room

The large dining room is spacious, cozy, and beautiful. Its crown moldings, silhouette window treatments, luxurious chandelier and Brazilian Cherry flooring all combine to give the room a chic appeal. 

The family room is a gorgeous space for relaxation and family time

Wow! This gorgeous family room is one of the impressive features of this Naperville IL home. The expansive 19' volume ceiling with a ceiling fan, large transom windows with wood blinds, and the beautiful two-story floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace with recessed lighting, are all part of what gives this room a feeling of warmth, togetherness and an amazing space to spend time together.

This well equipped luxury kitchen is elegant and functional

A few steps from the family room is the impressive eat-in kitchen. 

Designed with elegance and functionality in mind, this updated kitchen is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, including a KitchenAid refrigerator, Viking cook range with stone backsplash, Frigidaire dishwasher, and a built-in oven and microwave.

You will also never run out of storage with its 42” staggered maple cabinetry with crown molding.

Efficient and stylish at the same time, it also features a large island with pendant lighting and granite countertops.

Need a breath of fresh air after a sumptuous meal? Just follow the double doors that lead out to the back patio for outdoor entertaining. 

The main level includes a powder room with a pedestal sink and hardwood flooring, and a mudroom accessed from the garage that includes a sink, cabinet and coat closet.

Your peaceful and private living areas are on the second level

The second floor has four spacious bedrooms, which includes the primary en suite. Hardwood floors, recessed lighting and neutrally painted walls beautify the hallway leading to the rooms.

This grandiose 18’x13’ primary suite is a peaceful and calming private haven. The ceiling fan in the 18’ vaulted ceiling and the large windows ensure the room is cool and well-ventilated. A unique bonus, enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and breakfast in the morning using the coffee bar / breakfast nook that has a sink with granite countertop, a mini fridge, and a microwave.

Additional features of the room include a 9’ x 6’ walk-in closet with built-in shelving and an 13' x 13' en suite luxury bathroom featuring double sinks with granite tops and Moen faucets, a separate water closet, a large walk-in shower, a large oval jetted tub, window shades, recessed lighting, a linen closet, and ceramic flooring.

The large second en suite bedroom features built-in bookcases, wood window blinds, carpeting, large closets, and a ceiling fan. Its private attached bathroom includes a shower and tub combination. The third bedroom includes carpeting, a large closet, ceiling fan, and window shades.

The fourth bedroom has a huge 17’ x 10’ closet, carpeting, and window with shades. 

Bedrooms 3 and 4 share a Jack and Jill bathroom that includes a vanity with 2 sinks featuring cultured marble, a tub/shower combination, and ceramic flooring.

Additional features of the second level include a storage room that is large enough to serve as a bonus room for a play area, or office space, and a laundry room with ceramic flooring, full-sized Whirlpool washer and dryer, built-in cabinetry, laundry tub, large storage closet, and window shades.

A magnificent full finished lower level is a perfect place for your entertainment and fun

The lower level boasts a game area, theater area, bar area, exercise room, full bathroom with a shower with ceramic surround and glass enclosure, vanity with granite top and ceramic flooring, and storage area with built in shelving units. Luxury 6” plank vinyl flooring and recessed lighting flow throughout the entire lower level.

This 36’ x 12’ game area has more than ample space for a pool table, table tennis and an additional sitting area.

A theater area that presents a premier cinema experience

Take movie-watching to the next level in this very large 22’ x 12’ private theater area. With recessed lighting, comfortable seating, and a large projector screen, movie nights are sure to be an occasion everyone will look forward to.

The lower level also includes a 14’ x 12’ exercise room, a large storage area with built in shelving units, and a full bathroom with a shower with ceramic surround and glass enclosure, vanity with granite top and ceramic flooring.

From barbecue parties to al fresco dining during the weekends, this backyard patio delivers. With its stamped-concrete look flooring, scenic surroundings, built-in BBQ grill with natural gas, a fire pit, and beautiful outdoor sitting area, this backyard is truly an outdoor haven!

A home in Naperville, IL that lets you live a wonderfully convenient lifestyle

This single family home offers more spaces that make everyday living a joy. 

The location is wonderful! Enjoy close proximity to Downtown Naperville and train station with non-stop trains to Chicago’s Union Station - just 20 minutes away, highly desirable Naperville District 204 schools, Golf at White Eagle Golf Club a 5 minute drive away, immediate access to shopping, restaurants, and entertainment along 95th Street, and easy access to I-59.

Own this charming home today. 

Call me, Teresa Ryan, Managing Broker and Team Leader of Ryan Hill Group (Century 21 Affiliated), at 630-718-0424 to schedule your showing today.

If you cannot view this video here, please click the link below to view Home For Sale: 3515 Grassmere Rd, Naperville, IL 60564 on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/evERekv6LIw

[betterbayconstructionus]

What Home Renovations Add the Most Value?

Have you ever wonde­red which home upgrades are­ worth the investment? Whe­ther you plan to sell soon or just want to increase­ your home's worth, knowing which renovations pay off is key. Le­t's look at some high-impact home remodeling in Palo Alto that can raise your prope­rty value.

Kitchen Remode­ls: The Heart of Home Value­

The kitchen is a major focal point for homebuye­rs. A modern, well-designe­d kitchen is an incredible se­lling point. Updating this space can really boost your home's marke­t value.

Smart Kitchen Upgrades

Ne­w Appliances: Stainless stee­l appliances are in high demand.

Fre­sh Countertops: Quartz or granite counters add style­ and durability.

Cabinet Revamp: Refacing or re­placing cabinets modernizes the­ look.

Investing in these ke­y areas creates an appe­aling, functional kitchen buyers love.

Bathroom Re­novations: Big Returns on Small Spaces

Don't undere­stimate the power of bathroom upgrade­s. Up-to-date bathrooms are huge se­lling points. Best of all, these proje­cts are often less costly than othe­r major remodels.

Bathroom Refre­sh Tips

New Fixtures: Update fauce­ts, showerheads, and other hardware­.

Vanity Upgrade: A stylish, modern vanity adds storage and appe­al.

Tile Touches: Fresh tile­ in the shower or floors looks luxurious.

With some strate­gic, cost-effective update­s, your bathrooms can become a major value-booste­r.

By focusing on these elements, you can create a bathroom that feels like a spa retreat, increasing your home's appeal and value.

Open Floor Plans: Space and Light

Open layouts are­ highly sought-after nowadays. Removing a wall or maybe two, for a wide­r, breathing room gives your house a bigge­r, more welcoming fee­l. This Hayward Home Remodeling is espe­cially suitable for such places, where space is highly value­d.

Setting Up A Fre­e-Flowing Home

Main Spaces Unite­d: By connecting the living and dining areas, you can build an adaptable­, updated layout.

Hub of the Home Ope­n: An unrestricted flow betwe­en kitchen and lounge are­a fosters social gatherings.

Making your home more­ open can give it the se­nse of space that a lot of buyers want. This make­s such an upgrade a wise financial decision.

Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Save Money and the Planet

Eco-friendly house­s aren't a passing fashion, and they're he­re for good. Enhancements that save­ energy can reduce­ your service charges and attract buye­rs mindful of the environment.

Top Energy-Efficient Improvements

Windows: Double-paned windows can reduce heating and cooling costs.

Insulation: Adding insulation in the attic or walls can improve energy efficiency.

Solar Panels: Though a bigger investment, solar panels can significantly boost your home’s value.

These upgrades not only make your home more comfortable but also more attractive to potential buyers, adding to your property’s overall value.

Making a Lasting First Impression

Your home­'s exterior is what people­ notice first. An appealing front can increase­ your property's worth. So, don't underestimate­ the significance of curb appeal.

Boosting Your Home­'s Exterior

Keep your lawn and garde­n well-maintained. This small effort make­s a big impact.

A new front door gives your entrance­ a fresh look.

Applying a fresh coat of paint makes e­verything seem ne­wer and cared-for.

Investing some­ effort into your home's exte­rior makes it look inviting. Plus, it increases the­ market value.

Final Thoughts

Renovating strate­gically transforms homes and boosts their worth significantly. Whethe­r it's remodeling the whole­ kitchen or upgrading to energy-e­fficient options, wise investme­nts pay off. 

If considering full house remode­ling in Bay Area, CA or a specific project like re­modeling in Palo Alto, focus on high-impact areas. 

Ready to add value­? Contact a reliable remodeling company in the Bay Area today. Start working toward a lovelier, highe­r-valued home.

[fleuraliasave]

*OUTDATED NEW VERSION AVAILABLE HERE* 

Version 3.0 Fleuralia Save File - This is a BIG update 🙌

Download link down below (please read entire post before installing)

Little earlier than expected... 😀

This save file uses all EP’s, GP’s (not Journey to Batuu), SP’s and the Country Kitchen Kit.

Current Status of Worlds:

Finished worlds: Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, Newcrest, Magnolia Promenade, Windenburg, San Myshuno, Forgotten Hollow, Brindleton Bay, Del Sol Valley, StrangerVille (NEW!), Glimmerbrook (NEW!), Sulani (NEW!), Britechester (NEW!), Evergreen Harbor (NEW!), Mt. Komorebi (NEW!) and Henford-on-Bagley (NEW!).

Finished vacation worlds: Granite Falls and Selvadorada (NEW!).

Finihed other lots: Hospital, Science Lab (NEW!) and the Police Station (NEW!)

To be updated: the Magic Realm, will either be included in a future update or on the gallery (OriginID: fleuralia)

Soooo .. after almost 2 years of work it is as good as fully up to date!!🥳

What do you get with this save?:

For my save file all lots are either completely new builds (almost all) or renovations, ofcourse created by me. Exceptions: I have added the official builds for the releases of the Paranormal SP by Dr Ashley and the Dream Home Decorator GP by Deligracy to this save, since I thought they deserved a spot. These two are therefore not my own creations, credits are given in the description to Dr Ashley and Deligracy. Mt. Komorebi and Henford-on-Bagley lots are largely created by GameChangers. Most lots have gotten small updates, completely new builds by me in these worlds, will have my username mentioned in the description.

All the townies had make-overs plus I added new families to spice it up a bit. Some of the townies are made by other creators, who are given credits in the description of the household.

Added plenty of community lots to give your Sims something to do (YAY!). Almost every world has one restaurant, but it also includes festivals that represent the four seasons (park lots) and a fully functional shopping street in Magnolia Promenade (toy store, bridal store and more).

I have added rental lots so you can go on vacation in more worlds. For example in Sulani, Willow Creek and Windenburg.

Other details:

As mentioned at the beginning, this save uses all packs (except Journey to Batuu) and the Country Kitchen Kit. This means that if you download it without owning or installing most of the packs a lot of objects will disappear from the save. 

I noticed during building that the terrain paint would disappear at times, so my guess is that the terrain paint bug is back again 😑 . Sorry if you notice it in the save but I can’t do much about that, ofcourse I did fix the ones I came across.  

Some stairs might still block Sims from going upstairs, due to changes after an earlier update for the game. I redid all the stairs of the communty lots but some of the Sims homes might still have this issue. If you come across it during playing please DM me here or on the gallery with the lot name and world, so I can fix it for the next update.

For Mt. Komorebi and Henford-on-Bagley the changes to the worlds are smaller than the other worlds I did. Reason being that the lots were created by GameChangers and therefore didn’t need much changes. I did add atleast 1 community lot to both worlds and changed some of the builds when I thought it was needed for gameplay purposes. Next updates will be similar if they continue asking GameChangers to do the builds.

I would love to add some households in this save created by all of you! Add your household under the hashtag #fleuraliatownies in The Sims 4 Gallery, you can add a storyline and world in the description but thats not obligatory. If I respond on your creation it means that I have incorporated it in the save for the next update.

Questions and supportive feedback are always welcome, you can reach me here via a comment on this post, an ask or through a DM 😁

How to make it work in your game:

Download the save file from the link below.

Drag it in your saves folder under: PC/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/saves.

Change the numbers if you already have a save with the same name.

It should now show up in your game as: Fleuralia Save Version 3.0.

DOWNLOAD (SFS)

!!Don’t re-upload or claim as your own!! 

Future updates will follow after each pack release (if it includes a world). The time the update will be uploaded after each release depends on how much I have to change and on my work schedule around that time.

Last but not least, enjoy and till next time! XX

Fleuralia

[hometoursandotherstuff]

I love historic Americana and this mansion in Limerick, Maine is a fixer upper, but it’s truly an historical treasure. Built in 1793 by General MacDonald, the home has 9 fireplaces, 8 bedrooms, and 6 baths. It’s on the market for $450K. 

It was the General's son, Moses, who commissioned the massive murals to depict Casco Bay, in the village of Limerick, with its breathtaking hillsides and expansive views, and the family tree weaving up the front staircase.

The home's foundation was built of granite stones hauled by horses.

I’m pretty sure that this is the original kitchen. 

The large formal dining room. 

Beautifully maintained antique windows have the original seeds and waves from authentically blown glass of the late 1700's.

It’s a spectacular diamond in the rough. 

The bedrooms are so spacious. 

This bath has a nice start once the walls and floors are redone.

A rear staircase. 

Someone painted some of the floors. I think that I would probably clean them up and preserve them the way they are.

This bath has good fixtures, but needs new walls.

Murals on the 3rd floor Grand Ballroom are of a sepia landscape that encircles the compass rose painted into the floor, 

The home has gone thru many transitions and the current owner had plans to turn it into a pub and film the renovation process. Guess he ran out of money. 

The main structure is supported with enormous brick arches in the basement..

Locally hewn posts and beams support the barn.

https://www.estately.com/listings/info/43-main-street-street-limerick-me-04048

[harpiesbazaar]

Kinktober Day One: Omorashi

Warnings: smut, piss play, mean!Wanda, humiliation, wetting, dubcon, light degradation, light mommy kink

Pairing: Wanda maximoff x reader

___

Home Renovations

Kneeling as pristine as possible, you tried to focus on anything besides your full bladder.

Posture: Naked, shoulders back, chest out, hands laying on your thighs, and head high. Wanda liked you like this—praised you for staying in place and presenting your body to her.

Bay window: There’s a bird sitting on a tree branch. It looks like a dove. Wanda calls you dove.

Bladder: Two cups of coffee seemed reasonable an hour ago. And Wanda said you could have some, so long as you drank a glass of water. You made a mistake.

Pillow: It was nice of Wanda to give you something to kneel on. Hard wood would hurt your bare knees.

Television: Why were you watching renovation shows? Granite countertops were an awful choice with that backsplash.

Bladder: It hurts. You keep yourself from slouching to prevent more pressure because you can’t get up. Wanda said stay.

Wall clock: 6:17. Salvation. Wanda would be home soon with the takeout. You’d be able to get up once you showed her you were a good girl—

You could hear the front door open and shut, and somehow, you sat higher, your eyes lighting up at the possibility of release.

“Little dove!” Wanda sang as she came into view, arms loaded with Chinese boxes. “You’re sitting so pretty.”

You blushed under her praise but held her gaze. “Can I get up, mommy?” Impatience dripped from your tongue but you couldn’t help it. It felt like you were going to explode.

“That’s not very kind,” she chided, face scrunching and leaving the containers on the counter in favor of storming towards you. She dug her fingers into your chin, a frown painting her lips and forcing you to shrink down.

“I complimented you. Good girls use their manners.”

Batting your lashes, you used your most sincere tone. “Thank you mommy. Can I please get up now?”

You were never one to be so demanding. You were filled to the brim with pleases, thank yous, and yes ma’ams, and Wanda knew that. “Why are you so keen on leaving your spot? Do your knees hurt?”

“No mommy, I—“

“Are you getting hungry?” Her eyes flickered up and down you. “Hangry?”

The concern was endearing, but you were going to combust.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” you interrupted, desperate for her to sympathize.

She tilted her head to the side before her eyes sparkled with mirth. “Oh honey,” Wanda cooed, releasing your chin to cup your cheek. “Let mommy help you. Lay back.”

You shook your head, tears springing into the corners of your eyes. Why wouldn’t she just listen and let you go?

“Please no-“

Her hand moved to your shoulder and nudged you back. “Now, dove, before I lose my patience.”

You shimmed off the pillow before laying back, pressing your heels into your butt before spreading your knee. Both arms wrapped around your chest. Steady breathing, you hoped as you inhaled with shut eyes, would be your saving grace from the potential embarrassment of losing control of your bladder.

“Good girl,” Wanda purred before you felt feather touches on your thighs, red flickering behind your eyelids.

“I knew all you wanted was to be good for me,” she assured, her fingers grazing fleshy hips. Teasing caresses traced meaningless patterns along your skin until one hand settled just beneath your belly button while the other brushed against your clit. “and mommy knows just how to help you.”

Before you could rebut, two fingers started circling your clit. Both eyes snapped open. Her other hand laid flat against your skin and pushed down, causing a sharp pain that jolted your hips up. Your thighs threatened to shut under the pressure, shaking against red magic.

Wanda was making it impossible to stave off your incontinence, and that’s when it hit you.

“M-mommy ple-please,” you stammered, tears streaming past your ears. “I don’t wanna.” Instinctively, you reached out to pull her hand away, only to be stopped by red tendrils reaching from your thighs to grab your wrists and pull them back down.

“Hush, my little baby. Let mommy take care of you.” She pressed harder against your belly and slid two fingers into your pussy without warning, twisting and hitting just the right spots.

A fresh wave of desperation washed over you as you squirmed, panicking as you feel a few drops start to leak out.

“Please,” you beg, shaking your head as you struggled between lifting your hips to meet her fingers and hold off the inevitable. “Mommy, if I cum I won’t be able to stop!”

“But Mommy’s having so much fun,” she cooed saccharine, knowing your body just as well as you did as her fingers picked up their pace, relentless. “Now, go on. Cum for me, princess.”

You come undone with heavy sobs, shaking against magical bonds. Every attempt you’d made to prevent an accident was fruitless as your body contracted and relaxed on its own accord. Warmth pooled under your hips and up your back, and you sob openly as you wet yourself, the floor, and Wanda’s hand.

Humiliation and pleasure color your cheeks pink as you lay beneath your partner. “I didn’t want-- Mommy, why?” You wailed, choking on air as you tried to communicate through your tears.

Her fingers slow as her lips pull into a smirk despite your discomfort. “Because I can.” Wanda curled her fingers up and you gasped, still sensitive. “Dumb baby made a mess all over my floor. Now who’s going to clean that up?”

With sinful fingers still plunging in and out of you, a coherent response was the furthest thing from your brain. You babbled over your slowing tears, utter nonsense to the woman above you.

“Oh princess, it’s okay. Mommy’s not mad at you.” Wanda assured, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to your inner thigh before blowing against your swollen clit. “But, how about you give me one more and maybe then Mommy will get you cleaned up.”

[incandescentsims]

Wyatt Incandescent for @samssims Ada

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Traits: Adventurous, Loves the outdoors, Creative, Dastardly, Good Manners and Uncontrolled emotions

Hobbies: Fishing, Painting, Snowboarding and Mischief

About Wyatt

Comes from a large family and was a happy unexpected surprise for his parents, who thought they had finished expanding their family.

He grew up with his parents (Homard & Belladonna) and his four older siblings at their home on Whiskerman’s Wharf in Brindleton Bay.

Comes from a long line of vampires and doesn't believe in hiding who/what he truly is.

Sometimes his social life may take an unexpected dip due to his uncontrollable hissing.

He has very particular needs when it comes to slumber and will only sleep in a coffin.

Spent many summers as a kid/teen helping out on his Grandfather's fishing boat.

As a teen he would often help out at his father's world famous seafood restaurant.

Every year his whole family celebrates Winterfest  at their cabin in Granite Falls

He inherited his love of painting from his Nana Isabelline.

[ukdamo]

East of Carthage: An Idyll

Khaled Mattawa

1.

Look here, Marcus Aurelius, we’ve come to see

your temple, deluded the guards, crawled through a hole

in the fence. Why your descendent, my guide and friend

has opted for secrecy, I don’t know. But I do know

what to call the Africans, passport-less, yellow-eyed

who will ride the boat before me for Naples, they hope.

Here the sea curls its granite lip at them and flings a winter

storm like a cough, or the seadog drops them at Hannibal’s

shores, where they’ll stand stupefied like his elephants.

What dimension of time will they cross at the Hours loop

tight plastic ropes round their ankles and wrists?

What siren song will the trucks shipping them back

to Ouagadougou drone into their ears? I look at them

loitering, waiting for the second act of their darkness

to fall. I look at the sky shake her dicey fists.

One can be thankful, I suppose, for not being one of them,

and wrap the fabric of that thought around oneself

to keep the cold wind at bay. But what world is this

that makes our lives sufficient even as the horizon’s rope

is about to snap, while the sea and sky ache to become

an open-ended road? That’s what we’re all waiting for,

a moment to peel itself like skin off fruit, and let us in

on its sweetness as we wait, smoking, or fondling provisions,

listening the engine’s invocational purr. In an hour

that will dawn and dusk at once, one that will stretch

into days strung like beads on the horizon’s throat,

they will ride their tormented ship as the dog star

begins to float on the water, so bright and still,

you’d want to scoop it out in the palm of your hand.

2.

A pair of Roman fists robbed of spear and shield;

the tiles of the tapestries mixed in with popcorn

that slipped from the buttery hands, aluminium

wrappers smudged with processed cheese;

countless cigarette butts surround the fallen

columns and beams with a fringe of tarnished foam;

pairs of panties still hot with forbidden passion…

The ruins are not ruined.

Without all this garbage

packed, stratified, how else to name our age?

3.

Earlier, I had walked the market of Sabratha, changed

to its people, but like my old city brought me back to me.

The petty merchants, all selling the same goods, shouted out

jokes to each other. A Sudanese waiter carried a tray

with a giant pot of green tea with mint. Among the older men,

their heads capped with crimson shennas, I kept seeking

my father’s face. An old lust wafted past me when the abaya-clad

women, scented with knock-off Chanel, sashayed by.

The sawdust floors of the shawarma and falafel eateries,

the sandwich maker dabbing insides of loaves

with spoons of searing harissa, my mouth watering

to a childhood burn. Pyramids of local oranges,

late season pomegranates, radish and turnip bulbs

stacked like billiard balls, and the half carcasses of lambs

as if made of wax and about to melt off their hooks,

the trays of hearts, kidneys, brains and testicles arrayed

in slick arabesques. The hand-woven rugs where

the extinct mouflon thrives, mincers, hairdryers, and toasters,

their cords tentacles drooping from rusty shelves.

It was as if my eyes were painting, not seeing, what I saw,

my memory slowly building the scene until it assembled whole.

What face did my face put on in the midst of transfiguration?

I know what the eyes of the men my age said, settled now

in comfortable middle age, about the life I left behind.

True, I did envy them the asceticism of their grace,

where a given horizon becomes a birthright—to drive or walk

past the same hills all your life, to eat from the same tree

and drink from the well that gave you your name.

4.

Though for centuries the locals broke the statues’

limbs and ground them to make primitive pottery,

enough remains to echo all that has disappeared:

you and the woman leave the towpath, and you brace her

against the trunk of an oak. It’s not the moonlight, but refractions

from suburban homes trapped under cloud-cover

that make her bronze skin glow among glistening trees.

First, God made love:

the canopy like the inside of an emerald,

her lips a rush of cochineal. Then a route of evanescence

brought her from Carthage into these living arms, here.

5.

“A nice time, “ he tells us, how he and four

cousins crossed the desert heading home

on top of three-years’ worth of meagre pay

(the tarp ballooning, a giant dough) roped to a truck.

Wearing the goggles of the welder he'd hoped

to become, he looked at the sky and wondered “what

those flying, smoke on their tails, thought of us.”

Later, deported in a cargo plane, he handed

the Tuareg soldiers one of his fake passports,

and they like “space aliens” (in shabby uniforms,

sunglasses, tribal veils) poured into his face.

As the propellers’ hammering calmed to

a shuddering hum, he saw the stars, “hundreds

of them like gnats” swarm Mt. Akakous’ peak.

“My next road is the water,” he says serving

us tonight, and we promise, if the coffee is good,

to put him on the next boat to the moon

shining over Syracuse.

6.

Suddenly, I find your descendant’s hands leafing through

my chapters, scribbling a note in the margin of my thoughts:

“How is it,” he asks, “that starlight announces the hour:

how can a song divide desire in two?”

“My flame,” I must have written or said, “coated her body

like silk, one kiss spreading threads of lightening

into her pores, until she became a sob, barely lifted by the wind,

and I became mist, the shadow of a statue at the break of dawn.”

To that he responds, “a Platonic echo;” and

“What will come of such a plasticine love?”

Marcus Aurelius, your descendent knows I’ll leave

as I arrive, so empty he gets lost in me.

7.

Two centuries ago, one of my ancestors sat

on one of the communal latrines in mid-morning

and listened to Apuleius’s defence. Across from him

on that marble hexagon, sat two other men.

On normal days they’d have talked about the olive harvest,

the feast of Venus coming soon. But today they listen to

the Madaurian’s high eloquence studded with jokes,

cracking their own one-liners, shaking their heads in delight.

Away from the hot midday sun and the throngs,

you could say, they had the best seats in the house,

and so they lingered and heard as much as they could

then went about their business. So what if a man marries

an older woman for her money, what impoverished young Roman

in his right mind wouldn’t do that? And sure too, if some man

comes to take your inheritance, even if he’s your best friend,

even if he takes good care of your mother, you’d be a fool

not to sue him to the Council, even if you’d have to accuse him

falsely of black magic. That’s the beauty of it, or rather,

whoever is going to win will have to make us trust beauty,

that things being already right, can be more right, which

is what “beautiful” really means. And what better way,

to take in all this refinement than hearing it in a latrine

where only beauty shields you from the awful stuff of life.

8.

Marcus Aurelius, the men at the shore follow your path

into eternity, though they already see their journey

as a quarrel with circumstance, their lives abscesses feeding

on the universe’s hide, tumours in detention camps,

in basement kitchens. Their pockets filled with drachmas,

they’ll lift diffident heads and drag feet lead-heavy with shame.

One of them is now driving a taxi in Thessaloniki or Perugia.

With enough of the language to understand direction, he engages

his late night passengers. In the light of the dashboard

they’ll entrust him with their secrets. With time, he’ll become

a light unto himself, his car a winged chariot of human folly,

and his responses to them saplings nourished in the dark

soil of philosophy. It’s the gift of seasons that stray

from the earth, when soul reigns incidental to flesh,

forgiving to no end, a light that has long surpassed itself.

9.

The birds that drew the line to the first distance

remain nameless to me—

creamy white breasts, gold dust around their eyes,

black/brown (dark roast) wings.

The deserts they crossed, the plains east

or north of here fall like sand from my hands.

Um Bsisi, I want to call them, citizens of a protracted destiny,

native and stranger, prodigal and peasant—

admit now, they you’re none of these,

that you’re not any,

or even all of them combined.

10.

Southwest of here is Apuleius’s hometown, his inescapable

destination having spent his inheritance on travel and studies.

“Lacking the poverty of the rich,” he’s splurged,

a month-long trip to the Olympic games; and openhanded,

he gifted his mentors their daughters’ dowries.

Few return to Madaura once gone, and when heading back

shamefaced like him, they’d do as he did, taking

the longest route hoping the journey would never end. Here

in Sabratha, the widow hooked him, or he let her reel him,

and that’s how that sordid business happily ended as it began.

I look out toward Madaura, my back to the theatre

and the latrines, Madaura birthplace of Augustine, site of

his first schooling—little Augustine holding a satchel of scrolls

and a loaf of bread for the teacher, awakened by his mother,

his tiny feet cold in tiny sandals, his stomach warm

with a barley porridge my grandmother used to make, forced

to slurp it, sweetened with honey from the Atlas, a sprinkling

of cinnamon and crushed almonds from the family farm.

If the world is that sweet and warm, if it is that mothering,

why then this perpetual scene of separation, this turning

out into the cold toward something he knew he’d love?

He lets go of the neighbours’ boy’s hand warming his own.

He refuses the warm porridge forever, renounces

his mother’s embrace. It only lasted a month,

this partial answer, because even then everyone knew

that the sweet fruit they grew housed the bitterest seeds,

that piety is its own reward while belief only darkens

and deepens like the sea before them, a place

meant for those seeking life other than on this dry earth.

That’s why prophets were welcomed here, calmly,

because God was like rain and they like the saplings

which know only the first verse to the sky’s rainless hymn.

And that’s why Africa’s tallest minaret looms unfinished,

visible from the next town over, and for fifty leagues from the sea if

it were turned into a lighthouse for the ships that no longer come.

The merchant who’d built it, money made from smuggling

subsidized goods to Carthage and used Renaults from Rotterdam,

ran out of money, could not afford the mosque that was to stand

next to it, leaving its grey concrete bleaching in the sun.

There’s enough history here to enable anyone to finish the thought.

It’s useless then to track the fate of these travellers,

some, without life jackets, had never learned how to swim.

Why not let them live in text as they do in life?—they’ve lived

without words for so long—why not release them

from the pen’s anchor and let them drift to their completion?

11.

In a few weeks you’ll see pedants here with binoculars

trying to catch a glimpse of the Ramadan crescent,

and if these migrants stick around here

time will belong to the departure of other travellers,

flocks of Um Bsisi following the sun’s arch,

Japanese and Korean trawlers sailing to Gibraltar

or Suez chasing the last herring or sardine.

Where is she now in her time?—

her life dissolved in other people’s minutes,

a sense of solitude her diligent companion

even when she lets go of herself to kindness.

He’ll be there when she returns from the party,

he’ll lie beside her when she sleeps. He’ll say,

“Time belongs to the species, but your life belongs to me.”

She’ll laugh at his words, and remember what you,

Marcus Aurelius, had said about losing only the moment

at hand, how it circles in a ring of dead nerves,

how we stand impoverished before what is to come.

She’ll have her answer to your elocution;

she’d always had an answer for you,

one she refuses to share even with herself.

12.

At last they set to sail. They slaughter a rooster,

douse blood on the Dido figurehead adorning the prow.

The seadog opens a canvas bag and pulls out a hookah.

His Egyptian assistant fills the smoke chamber with seawater,

twists the brass head into it, caking the slit with sand.

He fills the clay bowl with apple-flavoured tobacco,

wraps it with foil, pokes it tenderly with a knife.

He picks embers from the going fire, places a few

on the aluminium crown, and inhales and blows

until the bottom vessel fills with a pearly fog,

the colour of semen, I think, then hands the pipe hose

to the seadog who inhales his fill and hands it over

to the travellers in turn. The air smells sweet around us,

the breeze blows it away and brings it back tinged with iodine.

Their communion done, they embark except the one who

stands, the dead rooster in his hand, as if wanting

to entrust it to us, then digs a hurried hole to bury it in.

The boat, barely visible, leaves a leaden lacey ribbon

aiming directly for the burnt orange sun. As it reddens,

for a moment, their standing silhouettes eclipse it.

Then the sea restores its dominion, dark as the coffee cooling

in our cups. Dangling from the vine arbour, the lights reflect

a constellation on the table’s dark top. I trace my fingers among them,

hoping conjecture would shine on the mind’s calculus.

Between my unquiet eddies, Marcus Aurelius,

and the coursing water, the travellers’ moment sails,

its tentacles sewing a rupture I had nursed for too long.