#jigsaw one apple tall

[motherdanger]

LYNNMANDA BUT IN ALL CAPS 😭

"honey, i shrunk your father" ahahahsksks

[littlekoifishes]

Headcanons for @certaincolorglitter SMG6

♡ She/Her

♡ A flip -little lean-

♡ Can be a bit of a brat at times when she doesn't get what she wants, and has low patience when little but is super sweet and nice regardless.

♡ Is a pacifier user and often uses it as a soother and had a stuffy of a rabbit to keep them company.

♡ Smg6 is known to have regularation issues often needing help to walk and to guide her while little.

♡ smg6 is super playful often playing with the o the other meme guardians and being happy to have them as her cgs/sibbies.

♡ smg6 likes to play dolls with smg4 and often plays teaparty with him.

♡ with smg3, catching a ball, dress up, and hide n seek are never off the list for playtime.

♡ loves taking pictures or everything often taking pictures of her friends and herself. Vry photogenic.

♡ smg6 does have patience issues often needing a time out or a redirection on his actions nothing to serious but she is very fussy at times.

♡ princess peach her of cg was not the best to her so female cgs are not allowed with her to often out of fear of them acting like peach. Also because she's scared of being hit like in the past.

♡ her and peach don't talk anymore and she often gets sad thinking she did something wrong. And mama was right.

♡ she is so happy over puzzles and jigsaw puzzles, she loves them so much often asking to get new puzzles for her to play and solve.

♡ she is a sleepy little, sleeping in her princess bed and having a bed time routine.

♡ She .makes drawings of her cgs/sibbys ans gives them to em. And they adores them all and hang them on the fridge.

♡ smg6 is a big hugger, loves hugging and being held. Just melts into peoples arms like meggy and smg3. She will fall asleep in their arms so often from comfort.

♡ Smg6 carer lean is more of a babysitter lean, often watching 4 and 3 when their tiny and being their big sister to them.

♡ she is very self conscious about her regression and never mentions it unless she feels ready to do so. And it means she trusts you.

♡ She is a big Lego user, she and smg4 make big and tall Lego buildings out of joy and when their regressed and run into them when they are done.

♡ bedtime is a fuss for 3 seconds before she passes out and gets comfy with her bunny.

♡ she loves angel milk, cheese it's, and apple slices and will eat them more when little or wanting to be little as a sign over adult food.

♡ you'll see her playing with her toys at random and see her play dress up and stuff when regressed of she'll be drawing.

♡ she's a sickly sweet regressor and her cgs adore her so much often praising her. "Good girl, good angel, good job squirter, good job little one" etc to her to help her stay small.

[catharrington]

I don't know if you have time/desire for more catboy but if you do...

Steve getting something gross stuck in his fur (maybe Billy's bubble gum or some candy?) and Steve's trying to contort himself to clean it, but it's in a spot he just can't quite reach so they have to figure out how to get it off when a bath just makes it worse.

Time? None at all. Desire?? Overflowing with it, babe!!

Oh my gosh let me take this opportunity to enjoy some Halloween time!! I imagine cat boy Steve loves Halloween because hey free built in costume he always wears! Him and other cat people just have the best All Hallows ever!

Steve didn’t have much when he first came to Billy’s, just the ears on his head and the collar that got unceremoniously dumped into the trash can. Billy convinced him to go shopping together once, and Steve didn’t care for it much. Felt far too close to a date, too close to what he wanted from Billy— but not what the other wanted from him.

So soon billy just started leaving money on the coffee table where he could. Small amounts. Just enough for Steve to use it to feel some sort of independence. Because billy was stepping far too over the line— no way Steve actually wanted to be in a serious relationship with the guy he nicknamed ‘kidnapper’.

Halloween was different, Halloween was everything goes. Steve had gotten a job at a library just down the Main Street of town, not a 5 minute walk from their apartment. He would sit behind the counter tapping his long nails across a hard back book, most days, using his pointy ears and flicking tail to point out teenagers making too much noise. And the older woman who worked there all fawned over him.

He took the later evening shift, he said it was to help the old bats out, also I’m by myself! Don’t have to worry about them touching my ears or calling me ‘kitty’ to my face!

He would stumble home every day with his ears low on his floppy brown hair, and his shoulder bag filled with books across his chest.

Billy told him he shouldn’t be walking that late at night, don’t care how far, makes me worried someone might want a pretty cat like you?

And Steve would laugh, strip down to a pair of flannel pajama bottoms he stole from Billy, giggling the whole time, and lay down so his head is on Billy’s chest. Let those rough from work hands relax the tension in the muscles around his ears.

They didn’t talk much, didn’t need to. They felt like two jigsaw puzzle pieces meeting. And those don’t have to talk to know they fit.

Halloween was the first time Billy got to see the side of Steve that wasn’t soft sweaters or library books. Wasn’t a fierce independence acting as a wall againt the trauma of abandonment. Of abuse.

Halloween was the first time Billy got to see Steve in a skin tight black cat suit. Designed for cat boys and bought because there’s a bar right down the block from the library and it’s free drinks for cats tonight! I’ve just got to go, Billy, that’s so rad!

Halloween was when Billy followed Steve around, not the other way around. Pulled out an old leather jacket he was surprised still fit him at all. Didn’t talk about the way Steve was going for an all black look but didn’t make any move to take off the brown leather collar Billy got him as an apology gift.

Didn’t talk about the way the wet look pleather on Steve’s cat suit matched. Didn’t mention they looked like a couple. That Billy might hinder Steve if he’s looking to ride a dick that night.

No, he just smiled and walked arm in arm down the block as the sun set. Pretty oranges and red filling the sky. Leaves crunching underfoot the same color as Steve’s pretty hair, all styled up with hairspray and perfect as could be.

The building is lit up with strings of bright purple, a lime green naked bulb sits in the front door where a bouncer stands and collects Billy’s head fee while Steve just flicks his tail to get it.

The bar is crowded with ghouls, and goblins, witches line the bar with their pointy hats. Decorated with arching white spider webs.

Billy knows Steve really only drinks wine because it actually tastes good unlike the piss Billy drinks, so he ain’t surprised when he orders some candy-apple monstrosity. Laps it up with his devilish pink tongue when he gets it. Catches Billy watching over the rim of his tall beer glass.

Steve downs the martini in one gulp before grabbing Billy around the hand, pulling him with a naughty glint in his eye towards the dance floor.

He turns around, moves Billy’s hands around his hips, purrs dance with me, nice and slow?

In a question that doesn’t sound like a question. His tail wrapping possessively around Billy’s legs. Billy groans back, right into the chocolate fudge swirl of his sensitive ear, set the pace, pretty cat, you know I’m good for it.

They let go for song after song, rolling into the next like their bodies roll. Billy’s belt buckle shimmering and catching against the fabric of Steve’s cat suit. Both a mess of sweat, dripping off their foreheads into their greedy open mouths. But they don’t care, they don’t stop.

Not until Steve’s ear gets yanked by another bar patron. Billy’s got his face burrowed into the side of Steve’s neck, drowning the way his wild flower and musk cologne always lingers on the plush leather, so he doesn’t realize anything happening until Steve’s hands move off his own. They lift from where they were cupped around Billy’s own to swat at another hand hovering around his head. His ears. They stayed at if risking another grope.

Steve hissed low and mean, warning three’s a company, creepy bastard! Now back off before I show you how quick I can bite off a dick. His voice nothing like Billy’s heard it. It made his head snap up so quick.

The guy wouldn’t let up, his face ruddy with alcohol and his golden Roman crown as lopsided as his sheet he’s trying to pass off as a costume. He pops a sucker out his mouth to reply. It’s made his whole mouth cherry red, Billy hates to look at it. Hates the words he’s spewing even more.

Steve only lets him get a sentence into his explanation about how a wild cat like you needs a firm hand before he’s shoving with two fingers into the center of the guy’s chest. Backing him up with a sharp nail that disappears into the fabric. Hopefully to leave a prick of blood.

Billy’s hand snaps forward of its own accord, pressing his huge palm flat into the guy’s shoulder and sending him stumbling backwards. He’s always up for a bar fight, knows a drunk bastard like this wouldn’t win always. He shouts out I warned you man, and now I gotta kick your ass! But doesn’t get that far.

He’s caught by two hands on the lapels of his jacket. Yanking him to the side where Steve’s turned from the ass hole. Watching Billy with those nervous dinner plate eyes again. All glittering gold and chocolate chips, making his knees weak. He’s not worth it, Steve purrs. And he’s right. The guy isn’t worth it. But Steve’s worth winning one bar fight and so, so much more. He’s worth the world to Billy. So he listens and follows as they dip to the bathroom.

It’s not until Billy’s coming out of the stall he used to take a leak does he notice that creepy bastard’s pop stuck in the fur of Steve’s tail. It’s amazing he doesn’t feel it, all glossy and red and clutching at the silky fur, but it’s a testimony to how thick his tail really is. Billy knows, he’s had the honor of running his fingers through it enough times.

He offers let me help, get some soap and try to scrub it out.

But Steve just laughs, bracing himself on the side of the cracking porcelain sink, lifting one leg up while the other held his weight, then twists around until the flat of his tongue can lick across the base of his tail. Gathers spit by licking and licking, grooming the pop off his fur inch by inch until it detached into his mouth.

He drops his leg from the sink with a sigh, a dreamy moany thing that Billy’s never going to get out of his head.

Watches as Steve rolls the pop around in his mouth a couple times, savoring the artificial cherry flavor. Savoring the way he wasn’t about to let that ass hole ruin his Halloween. Then he pressed to open the trash bin with one stomp before spitting the pop away.

Billy’s never been more turned on, never been more grossed out as the same time he’s so hard. Never wanted to taste the lingering bubble pop cherry flavor from another pair of lips before.

He simply leans back against another sink and whistles, says that was something else, Stevie, where all can you reach?

And Steve doesn’t tell him. Huffs out the side of his mouth while he rolls his eyes. Blushing pretty. Says I seriously need another drink now. And something not cherry!

And Billy follows him back to the bar, decorated for Halloween and dripping with spider webs, with a smile.

[elisaphoenix13]

Attack Of The...Fruit?

Stephen scrutinizes the apples in front of him while Valerie grabs the edge of the stand to peek at the abundance of fruit and vegetables while simultaneously sticking close to his leg. She was always easy to shop with since he didn't have to worry about her wandering off, and he loved seeing the curiosity fill her big blue eyes. Sometimes she helped pick out the produce, and other times she was content to just watch her mother do it himself. The rest of the kids, including Cassie, were wandering around the rest of the store to help grab what was on the list or to make a sad attempt at putting their choice junk food in the cart with their haul.

"...Mom?" William says softly from the other side of the stand.

"Hmm?" Stephen acknowledges as he grabs a couple of decent apples.

"Can we get more strawberries?" The teen asks carefully.

The fact that William was even asking for something made Stephen happy. It was a big step from what the twins were like when they first moved in, and Stephen and Tony had to take baby steps with them. They were a little forceful about things the twins needed, but things they wanted? They started taking Harley and Peter along on their shopping trips because those two always asked for at least one thing. The twins had seen that even if they were told no, it was said gently and Stephen sent them off to go put whatever it was back. It also helped that Peter had been in their shoes once upon a time. While he wasn't between foster homes or out on the streets, he still didn't like asking for things unless he needed them.

He even explained it to Thomas and William.

"Of course. Why don't you grab some whipped cream to go with it?" Stephen nods toward the back.

William lights up and walks off to retrieve a can of whipped cream after placing a container of strawberries into the basket. It was during this that Valerie gently tugged on Stephen's pant leg and pointed toward a shorter stand with mangoes piled on top of it. They must have been in season if they were on sale.

"Mama...fwuit?" The baby asks softly.

"Do you want to try one?" He asks and smiles when she nods. "Alright. Go ahead and grab one."

Valerie looks between him and the stand uncertainly and when he makes no movement, she walks the few feet over to the stand. She was always nervous to leave his side, but she was slowly starting to detach from it willingly. It always made Stephen want to gather her up in his arms and firmly reattach her to him, in the metaphorical (and somewhat literal) sense. She was his baby and he wasn't sure if he was ready for her to grow up yet.

He watches as his youngest daughter looks at the pile of mangoes with a calculating gaze, and then reaches up to grab one. She was very smart for her age and knew what fruit she could grab without sending the rest tumbling to the ground, and did just that before walking back to Stephen to hold it up to him. The sorcerer takes it with a smile and puts it in the cart, chuckling when she gently grips onto Athena's fur.

The wolf was so well behaved in public settings like this, that they were able to get away with making her a service animal. Tony had her licensed and even got her a vest for outings like this. And her being a service animal wasn't a total lie either. She helped with Valerie. If she were to ever get seperated from the family, Athena was to either find a safe place for her to wait for someone to find her, or she would follow a familiar scent to find a family or team member. It depended on the location and amount of people, and fortunately nothing had happened yet.

Athena was almost just as attached to Stephen as Valerie was. It made it easier for the baby to stay close when she wanted to walk since Stephen was a bit too tall for her to hold onto his belt loops.

"Good job." He praises and makes his way to the cereal aisle.

There was where William rejoined them with a can of whipped cream which he promptly put into the basket, and then Peter with his armful of list items. And of course the bag of Doritos he thought he cleverly hid. Stephen gave him a knowing look so that the teen was aware that he had noticed, but didn't say anything. Every once in a while he let the boys get away with a snack of their choosing. Today was one of those days.

A small gust of wind blows past the sorcerer and he huffs fondly. "Thomas, what have I told you about running indoors?"

"Sorry! But they have white cheddar Cheez-Its on sale!" The older twin says excitedly and Stephen rolls his eyes.

"As much as we appreciate that you're trying to save money, we don't notice when we save fifty cents. You can get those whether they're on sale or not." Stephen reminds him.

Thomas sighs. "I know. It's a habit."

"There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't want you to worry about money, okay?" Stephen assures the twins and Harley cackles as he joins them with Cassie and Diana.

"Yeah, Dad sneezes out money. Probably wipes--"

Stephen clears his throat, and while Harley didn't finish his sentence, he still grinned. He and the girls put their haul of groceries and chosen snacks in the cart, and after Stephen tells them all to choose a box of cereal, they take the cart up front and check out. Cassie was really only along to help and get herself some snacks since she had gone shopping with her parents earlier in the week. Once everything was bought, everyone grabbed some bags and walked outside where Stephen opened a portal in a secluded corner and they all went through.

Bags were placed on the counter and table, and Athena laid in her usual spot next to the counter after Peter helped take off her harness. While the kids put away the groceries, Valerie finds her mango and holds it up for Stephen. He takes it and washes it before asking Harley to cut it for her and places her in her highchair while they wait.

When there's a small jingling noise, the sorcerer looks down, expecting Tibbs to be at his feet waiting for treats...but he watched Flynn dash into the kitchen instead. He zooms around in his excitement, and then stops very briefly to show the black collar around his neck. Cassie makes a noise between a laugh and a sigh when the fox starts zooming around the floor again.

"Papa got him a collar this morning. Flynn's...very excited and proud about it." She explains as the celestial himself walks past the kitchen toward the living room with Scott.

"The little shit needed one. He goes everywhere with me when he can and one of these days he's going to get lost." Quill grumbles.

Flynn yips happily and runs after the god to climb up his leg and up to his shoulders, not even breaking Quill's stride to the living room. Stephen wasn't even surprised how well they were synced to each other, or in this case, how well Flynn was synced to Quill. The tiny bell on the collar with the fox's tags was probably for everyone's safety since Flynn was notorious for coming out of nowhere and tripping people up around Quill.

"Here you go, Val." Harley says as he places some pieces of mango on the tray in front of her.

"Tank you." She says softly before picking up a piece and eating it.

Stephen helped with the rest of the groceries and sent the other kids off with their snacks to do as they pleased. Only William sat at the table, which currently held the jigsaw puzzle he and the younger twin were slowly working on. It was supposed to be a picture of a Japanese garden when they finished but so far all they got finished was the border and the koi pond. It was a three thousand piece puzzle that would take them some time to complete since they hadn't sat down with it since the day they started it. They usually put a couple pieces together before moving on when they couldn't sit down, but it was their thing. A way to spend time together.

As Stephen puts together some cheese and crackers for Diana (as requested), he hears a whine of discomfort. He looks over at Valerie and William and finds the teen looking at the baby in shock and opening his mouth.

"Mom!" He finally says, and points to Valerie when he sees that Stephen is looking at him.

"What's wrong?" He asks in concern, rounding the counter to walk over and look at the baby.

William didn't need to answer. Stephen saw immediately what had worried the boy, and it sent a spike of panic through him very briefly. Valerie's face, neck, and arms were covered in red splotches that obviously itched if the baby scratching was indication. Stephen reaches out to pick her up, and looks at William as he points to the tray still holding a few pieces of mango.

"Wash and sanitize that thoroughly, please. Scott! Can you go get the Benadryl from the medicine cabinet?" Stephen calls out.

"Uh...sure." Was the thief's reply. He must have heard the urgency in the sorcerer's voice because it barely took him a minute to get the medicine to Stephen and see why it was needed. "Oh man. What was it?"

"Mangoes. She's never had them before." Stephen answers and takes the small cup once Scott measures out a small dose.

"She gonna be okay?" He asks.

"This seems to be her only reaction. She'll be uncomfortable for a little bit but she'll be fine."

Stephen helps Valerie drink the medicine, and she curls against him with a whine when she finishes. While Scott returns the medicine, the sorcerer gently rubs her back and hushes her gently in an attempt to soothe her. William had not only cleaned up the tray, but the rest of the chair as well, even if it was all overkill. As a distraction, Stephen sits at the table with her and works on the puzzle with William after asking Cassie to finish making Diana's snack, and it was about an hour later when Tony got home from half a day of meetings.

It didn't take him long to notice the baby's condition when he approached Stephen to give him a greeting kiss. "Povero topolina," he murmurs and kisses the top of her head.

"Mangoes." Stephen answers his husband's unanswered, forming question. "We'll have to monitor some of her food."

Tony nods. "Friday, add mangoes to the baby's allergy list please."

"Yes Boss."

They had lists for every kid in case of emergencies, sleepovers, for doctors, or however else they might need them. Mint was added to Peter's list when Tony came up with the idea, and now all they had to do was ask Friday to add to the lists when needed. She even scanned for the allergens when products were in full view. Sometimes things were overlooked. It definitely kept Peter from living in the bathroom a few times.

"She's falling asleep." Tony says quietly and Stephen nods as he places a piece of the puzzle correctly.

"I gave her Benadryl. It will help her sleep through the worst of it and treat the reaction."

"Want me to take her up to bed?"

"No. It's alright. Thank you." Stephen answers softly.

Tony nods. "Let me know if you change your mind."

Fortunately, Valerie was fine by the next afternoon after Stephen gave her a second dose before bed. The problem was that she didn't understand why she couldn't have the rest of her mango. She enjoyed it, but Stephen had told her no and it broke his heart to see her crestfallen expression when he explained that it made her sick. Valerie seemed to understand to an extent and was happy to eat some of William's strawberries as an alternative. She certainly enjoyed letting the boy spray a little bit of whipped cream in her mouth.

Strawberries and cream were something William only shared with Stephen and Valerie. And to the doctor's amusement, Harley. If Thomas, Peter, or Cassie tried to take some, William would grab the bowl and turn away with it with an impish smile.

"Berry!" Valerie demands, and Stephen watches as William turns away from the puzzle they were sitting down for again, and feeds the baby a small piece of strawberry.

Cassie had Diana, and now William had Valerie. Stephen wasn't complaining. At least not right now.

He might have an issue with it when it starts the separation process from Stephen.

[dcbbw]

#SofterSideofNeville--Sunday Brunch

This is my submission for the Softer Side of Neville Writing Game. It is the brainchild of the very funny, very talented @sirbeepsalot. Let her know if you would like to participate in the writing game! I may attempt another entry (smutty), but wanted to see if I could make the man at least relatable first. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please excuse any typos and/or grammatical errors.

All characters belong to Pixelberry.

Song Inspiration: I Feel Like I’m Drowning, Two Feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkVvG4QTO9M

Word Count: 1169

Writer tags: @sirbeepsalot @katedrakeohd @jovialyouthmusic @choicesarehard @ritachacha @tornbetween2loves @bobasheebaby

Tagging: @gennesaret @aworldoffandoms @hopefulmoonobject @simsvetements @cora-nova @carabeth @custaroonie @liamxs-world @lauradowning29 @speedyoperarascalparty @thequeenofcronuts @wickedgypsymoon @timmagicktoad @brightpinkpeppercorn

Liam X Neville, King Liam, Lord Neville

Neville sat in the formal dining room of the Cordonia Society for Fine Gentlemen, sipping his tea with milk and honey as he looked out at the gardens. His eyes skimmed over the beautifully planted rows of flowers, and the perfectly sculptured hedges without seeing them. His phoned pinged, breaking his contemplation. He looked down at the text message:

Where are you? We need to fix this and make things right. I love you. –Shad

Neville put the phone back on the table, face down. His heart was now a jigsaw puzzle comprised of a million pieces, and Rashad thought it could be fixed. You can’t find healing from the one who hurt you. He picked up his teacup again when he saw him striding through the doors; even without his guards, Liam was an imposing sight. Tall, broad shouldered, and more handsome than any man had a right to be. Ahhh, here he comes.

Liam strode to Neville’s table “Lord Vancouer.” His tone was clipped as he took his seat.

“Liam.” Neville signaled for the waiter. “How kind of you to join me for Sunday brunch, although I doubt you will have much of an appetite by the time our talk is finished.”

The waiter approached. “Your Majesty, Your Lordship.”

“We will have a bottle of your finest scotch, please and a bucket of ice.” Liam raised an eyebrow at Neville. It was unlike Neville to drink.

Liam gave a forced smile. “So, Earl Vancouer, how go things on Cormery Isle?”

“The same as always. Almost time to harvest the grapes and olives. We’re expecting another great harvest this season.” Neville looked at Liam, a small smile playing on his lips. “Remember when you would visit with your Father as a child? We would climb the trees and hide while we ate so many of the grapes, we would be miserably full?”

Liam allowed himself a grin at the memory. “And neither of us knew an olive from a grape. We thought we would surprise our Fathers with a fruit salad. They had no idea what to do with a bowl full of bananas, apples, and olives.”

Neville let out a loud laugh, but then his face fell. “I was really sad when you stopped coming over in the summers.”

Liam looked at Neville. “A lot happened. The attempted assassination attack, Leo’s social season, Leo abdicating….” He trailed off as he looked out at the gardens. He faced Neville again.

“What happened to you, Neville? You have been so bitter. You’re looking down on the citizens of our country, you called my wife, the Queen, a commoner wench in full view of everyone, and you challenged Drake to a duel. A duel! He could have been seriously injured.” Liam’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Neville.

“Ha! He could have been injured? So could I!” Neville was silent for a moment. “I did you a favor by challenging him, but you don’t know that yet. As for the rest of your statement, you know I do not look down on people not of noble birth. You’ve been to Cormery….aside from my father and myself, there are no nobles. Yet, our Duchy is open to everyone. As children, we played with the commoners! I courted men and women of not noble birth. Don’t try to paint me with the prejudice brush!”

“Fine. Then what grudge do you have against Drake and your Queen?”

The waiter arrived with the scotch, ice, and two glasses. He began preparations to open and pour, but Liam held up his hand. With a slight smile to the waiter, he told him they would serve themselves. The waiter bowed, and walked away.

Neville’s phone pinged again. He flipped it over to read the text message. Please talk to me. He put the phone back down, and looked at Liam.

“Liam, I know you are in love in Drake. I know about the arrangement you have with your wife: she allows you and Drake to continue your relationship while she continues hers with Lord Beaumont.”

Liam began to protest, but stopped when Neville gently shook his head at him.

“I know, Liam. I promise to be the soul of discretion with this information. But I do have a question. I know you are in love with Drake, but what are your feelings towards the woman you married?”

“I do not see how this in any way answers my question.” Liam’s voice was tense.

Neville poured himself a tumbler full of scotch, offering to pour one for Liam, who declined. “You will.”

Liam mulled his answer over before speaking. “I love Drake with every fiber of my being, and I have since I was 17. I don’t know what I would do without him. My wife is my best friend. I trust them both with my life.”

“Have you noticed any difference in their interactions with each other? Has Lord Beaumont noticed that the Queen is suddenly too busy to make her weekly trips to Ramsford? Have you noticed that Drake seems preoccupied and too busy for you?”

Liam felt his stomach begin to sink but his eyes were blank.

“You really don’t know, do you?” Neville’s eyes were sympathetic.

“Neville, what are you talking about? You’re scaring me.” Liam tried to sound irritated, but Neville heard the trace of nervousness in the King’s voice.

“I’m not scaring you Liam.  You know I’m about to hurt you. You just don’t know how.” Neville calmly poured Liam a tumbler full of scotch. “Take a drink now; it will numb you for a moment.”

Liam looked at Neville uncertainly, then took a healthy swallow.

“Drake Walker, the man you love, has been having an affair with Rashad, the man I love, for the past six months, and carrying on with your wife since the engagement tour.” Neville’s voice was steady, but his hand shook as he picked up his own glass to take a sip of the brown liquid.

Liam’s eyes widened with fear, sadness, doubt. “You must be mistaken! Drake has been working hard with the Royal Council…long hours. He comes home late, that is why he is always tired. My wife knows our arrangement. She wouldn’t break it!  She knows how I feel about Drake. She wouldn’t do that to me!  Whoever told you this lying! Lying!” Tears streaked his face.

With a sympathetic look on his face, Neville raised his glass of scotch to Liam in a mock toast. “Welcome to my hell, friend.”

[mizbabygirl]

Blackhawks Player Nicknames (according to Second City Hockey.com) [03\23\2017]

Andrew Desjardins #11 (currently free agent) Desi, Dijon, Colonel Mustard. Not Ben Smith, but was traded for him. Depth forward.

Artem Anisimov #15 Arty, Arty Party, Ani. Our long-awaited 2C. Friend of Annette Frontpresence.

Artemi Panarin #72 (now with Columbus Blue Jackets) Pan, Bread Man, Panera Bread, Snake. No one is quite sure how to spell his first name. Undrafted, caused much salt among fans of other teams when he won the Calder Trophy for best NHL rookie at the age of 24.

Brent Seabrook #7 Seabs, Biscuit (a reference to Seabiscuit), The Captain Whisperer (after he stepped into the box to comfort Toews after his third crappy penalty in the process of losing to Detroit in Game 4 in the 2013 playoffs). Nacho Seabre (admitted weakness for nachos and pizza).  Affectionately known as "(my) Seabsie boy" to his teammates. If he looks slow on the ice it's probably because he ate too many nachos. Gave his son Carter the middle name of "Seven,” but alleges it was his wife's idea.

Brian Campbell #51 (now retired) Soupy (like Campbell's soup, generic nickname for anyone with this last name), Soup Dogg, Ginger (the hair), 51 Phantom.

Corey Crawford #50 Crow, Watcher (the Watcher on the Wall from Game of Thrones), Crawful (generally used sarcastically), Crawsome. As this is Chicago, the victim of a perpetual goalie controversy despite performing as an elite NHL starter for the last four seasons. His glove hand/blocker/five-hole sucks and we'll never win anything with him in net. He's a fucking beauty (quote from his Cup parade speech where he was totally non-sober and dropped two f-bombs).

Dennis Rasmussen #70 (now with Anaheim Ducks) Moose, Raz. Swedish defensive forward.

Duncan Keith #2 Duncs, Jigsaw (reference to character from Saw, because his teammates claim he's kind of psycho scary and methodical), Teeth, in reference to his heroism in the 2010 WCF, losing 7 teeth in Game 4 and only missing a few shifts, Bambi because of how fast he skates (he has crazy good conditioning and routinely has the highest TOI of the team). Inspired the phrase 'Chicago Runs on Duncan'.

John Hayden #40 Hayds, Hayder.

Johnny Oduya #27 Odie, Oh do ya? eg, "I think his last name has a lot of pun-potential." "Oh, do ya?" Jeremy Roenick is jealous now because Oduya's wearing his old number, but Roenick thinks it should be retired.

Jonathan Toews #19 Jonny, Tazer, Captain, Best Captain, Captain Marvel (he wears the C and he's the best/marvelous, obviously), Captain Serious (because he is one serious motherfucker, although glimpses of him off-guard on camera suggest his off-ice personality has a large component of goofy weirdo), Captain Lardass (from an angry Twitter comment), Captain Seriously [Adjective]. Draws comparisons to Grumpy Cat (Kaner's feline equivalent is Lil Bub) and to a hockeybot who does not understand human emotions, due to his hilariously incongruous facial expressions in any given situation (see also Toewsface)

Jordin Tootoo #22 Toots, Two two and other such puns. Depth forward, here for the grit.

Marcus Kruger #16 (now with Carolina Hurricanes) Krugs, Frogger (because he likes to play in traffic, gets crunched a lot, yet has many lives), Freddy (his team nickname, from Nightmare on Elm Street), The Plan All Along (according to Stan Bowman, his call-up from Europe in late 2011 was "all part of the plan"). "Kruger is mashed, gets away with the puck" - commentary from Foley, and the story of his life. As Tracey Myers once put it, his tombstone will read, "Kruger took a hit to make a play.”

Marian Hossa #81 Hoss, Panda (originally sad panda, a name acquired during the playoffs while he playing for Detroit, shortened to Panda when he joined the Hawks), Gossamer (from autocorrect), HE IS MARIAN HOSSA AND YOU ARE NOT, because few can do what he does. Likes KitKats, as they are "good for you!"

He is a hockey demigod, a fact acknowledged by everyone including the official twitter. His name may be substituted for "God" in common phrases, eg "Oh my Hossa!"

Michal Kempny #6 Lemony, via autocorrect. Third pair dman.

Michal Rozsival #32 Rozi, Rozsi. Elderly depth dman, looks like an elf. Will still be signing 1-year deals with the Hawks when Toews and Kane have retired.

Nick Schmaltz #8 KFC (Schmaltz means chicken fat), Biggy Schmaltz. Playmaking center drafted from UND (this worked out well last time they tried it), snatched from under the noses of the St Louis Blues when Stan traded up in the draft. Brother Jordan is a Blues prospect. Chicago Mission alum.

Niklas Hjalmarsson #4 (now with Arizona Coyotes) Hjammer, Hammer, Meatball (because he was the original Swede Hawk), Jelly (his AHL nickname), Super Nintendo Chalmers (Simpsons reference), Jarbles (the LA announcers clearly mislaid the Swedish names cheatsheet in the WCF and called him Jarbleson), Swedish Viking (description by Jonny Oduya). His leg bones have been upgraded to titanium, judging by the number of shots he blocks.

Patrick Kane #88 Kaner, Lazy, Showtime, wee blond ninja, Black Magic for what he does with the puck, from a quote by former SCHer gmh - "...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic."

Richard Panik #14 Visa (due to visa issues when joining the team), Panik at the UC!, or Disco for obvious reasons. His name is actually pronounced PAH-neek but hockey never lets a bad pun go to waste.

Ryan Hartman #38 Hartzy. Giving Seabrook a run for his money for "Best Hair" on the team. Another Illinois native/Chicago Mission kid.

Scott Darling #33 (now with Carolina Hurricanes) Oh My, Clem - from the song "Oh my darling Clementine.” A native of Lemont (or maybe Aurora according to one confused commentator), is very tall.

Tanner Kero #67 Depth center.

Tomas Jurco #13 Part of Stan's secret plan to collect all the Slovaks in the NHL in case any of them grow up into Hossas.

Trevor van Riemsdyk #57 (now with Carolina Hurricanes) TVR, Smiley van Smiley due to his happy demeanor in interviews. Brother of James/JVR.

Prospects/IceHogs

Tyler Motte #64 (now with Columbus Blue Jackets) Apple Sauce, Motter.

Vinnie Hinostroza #48 Cousin Vinnie. Bartlett native and ex-Chicago Mission kid.

Brandon Mashinter #53 Mash, Manshitter Here to maintain the quota of players called Brandon and occasionally punch things.

To see the rest of the article, go to: https://www.secondcityhockey.com/2017/3/23/13762402/guide-nicknames-jargon-slang-blackhawks-fans

[fiddleabout]

For the Headcannon meme, how about the Directorship ■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon and♒ - cooking/food headcanon?

■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

they move in together probably earlier than they should have, but a year into dating lucy is officially back in national city, full time, and she’s been spending half of her nights for the last year at alex’s anyways, so they’re like “yep, this is a good idea, we are two supergeniuses and have Thought This Through” and nobody has the balls to say they’re wrong.

(this is a lie.  eliza says so.  alex ignores her.)

it takes about six months after that to iron out the kinks, so to speak.  and kinks i clearly mean some bigass fucking fights, because lucy hates cleaning and alex hates dust.  it’s A Problem.  they also have a hell of a time figuring out how to divide up closet space (lucy wins that one) and who gets to make decorating choices (alex got that one) and whether or not the dishwasher should be run when it’s 80% full (lucy) or if it has to be 100% full (alex; she loses that one).  once they figure out their nonsense, though, routines come easy, because they’re both creatures of habit.  alex is more of a morning person, so she makes the coffee; lucy has control of grocery shopping because alex is useless and will buy nothing but beer ice cream and apples.  lucy loads the dishwasher because alex will spend way too much time trying to jigsaw every fucking thing into it; alex unloads it because she can reach all the tall shelves and mocks lucy for being short.  

♒ - cooking/food headcanon

alex has limited proficiency in the kitchen, which means that she’s excellent at a handful of dishes and there’s a 52% chance of her burning the hell out of anytihng else she tries to cook.  lucy is…roughly the same.  it’s a Significant Challenge when they realize that one of alex’s handful of dishes she can make is also one of the four that lucy can make, which drops their aggregate tally of culinary capability down to eight.  so they eat a lot of takeout.  

lucy, though, is excellent at baking.  she doesn’t really ever like what she makes, because she doesn’t like sweet stuff and thinks carbs are overrated as a general rule, but she enjoys the precision of baking and the attention to detail it requires.  she mostly just deposits all of her baking at kara’s apartment, save for the banana bread, which alex is admittedly bananas about.  (look look tell me i’m funny :D :D :D)

alex has a weird knack for making alcohol desserts.  mostly she does milkshakes, but is also obnoxiously talented at making popsickles with liquor in fun shapes in the summer.  they have definitely never gotten drunk on their apratment building’s rooftop at midnight on a tuesday and decided that having sex under the stars was romantic.  definitely not.  but if they did they would have also definitely not been deterred by the fact that they live in the city and can’t see a single star to save their lives.  definitely not.

[glopratchet]

astryl-wondering

with a couple of other people and they start running at you as he is still under his suit, but when he sees you, he starts screaming and yelling about how you are going to kill him Astyrl of course comes out of the tent naked as he is still under his suit, an upside down u As you get closer you see 2 babies lying there screaming along with several piles of feces and a bloody jack red and has pulsating veins It is very surreal Everyone screams in fear except for you as you are suffering from PTSD that adorns the middle of this twisted environment: A bunch of xentix queen cocoons and vases filled with chemicals and explosive potions You then see a tube leading out of the tent with a pumping mechanism filled with gears, cogs, and wires lullabies to the babies keeping them quiet Cigar lunges and places you face down into the desktop as it decays for the common good You try to opt out of joy but it is forced on you, and it spills on your skin of almost all happiness The hexes that are available seem to be based on a combination of his willpower, popularity, and importance he tries to think of where he could hide and think of his next move he reaches for the gun, instead ricking it and pulling the trigger, firing once and hitting himself in the head a plan begins to brew in his head but astryl seems to be suffering from severe PTSD at this point so details are lost to him by fusing himself to not just one succubus and an incubus but also a neutral queen and several male drones again, prosper, and evolve as astryl feels a pulse of fear rising up within him It is 108 degrees Fahrenheit and dropping quickly soon and certain doom if he is not underground in time allowing the sand to bury him He needs to think now more than ever and slowly changing its behavior or the canine famliy The creatures attached themselves to the screen and suck the power from it A malevolent renegade spambot infected cludstrum at one point and then spread from there as something close to reality which is in anyway that the computer would normally speak out something s that look like spirals in two dimensions and restore order The qefizat clencher needs to work now otherwise astryl will be nothing but dust and then finally once more and astryl will be stuck with no guides to help one move around this screen For now qwefdnt is the one that can help out the most to astryl but hes sure just thinking about it gives the female diety experience and power by the time this mess is over with Who knows but it seems like a good idea to be prepared or how or where he could possibly going to get this cucumber at The connector reconizes many real world currencies and methods of payment If the wallet that is created from this rectal currency does not overtax the system then he can buy things in this place for cucumbers whenever asked Right now cludstrum needs to deal with qwefdnt And get some shut eye that grow in various parts of the world within astryl There seems to be some quarantine issues for food being imported in from many parts of the realm of the past The issues have to structurally fixed before astryl it able to exit into atril, the land beyond They must all be found, no buying them as they have not been approved by the but some things taste better than others Which seems contradictory Are your eyes open or closed? Pick one! and eats The green cress that grows in little patches around here has a nice flavor but there are no blues to be had from cress over the years because of operation This is a metaphor about a game here except sand and green cress with a bitter orange flavor to get hydrated and try to eat some butter flavored roses but there is little sustenance in either of those so he will need to keep as he goes so that is not a very desirable food source but he will absolutely need to swallow some rocks if he is going to survive here until the cludstrom finishes fixes some the the programs that astry has broken through as it is quite elusive You go for the snake so see if you eat this magic essence bearing beast It slips away in a crevasse for a while but cludstrum will the city of Atralith, the orical capital and royal seat Of ruler ship the city Zdas with lower cagast elite in it the warlord city of Nar where war is ever present He can check out the farming commune of Bap the monastery of Jne Well these seemed to be some uraly choices in the desert for our intrepid protagonist astryl wylde the light seems to grow dimmer and dimmer dispelling all but the essentials of color from the world the camid strata of color are all that illuminate the world with its soft shades of orange, red and violet backlight cludstrum inthe middle of the desert desolation drifting into unconsciousness They were erected as a tribute salute or model ships in which lower case limbs, buzz cutting jolted head, wind burn cheeks Death slowly approaches him from the dry bed of the atral ocean toward death struggling with limbs Lachrymose release vernal fluids Denouement of death For now Your hero is sleeping before the blistering sun & hope this will be over on a happy note for me under the tutelage of heatwave sun rays Happy endings are the kind you can't wake up from towards the unseeable horizon Unrendered & entirely unknown crumbling in the distance tossing pebbles at shadow images that aren't there fractals into the corrugated landscape whirling in a dance of sum attitude scraggly hair tussling in the dry gale throwing pebbles at a tall man holding a little girl's hand to dry powder briskly blowing around static Gideon's outdoor store a tad bit surreal soundtracks in his mind synchronizing hearts in perfect rhythm with the music one step at a time to the future is like walking between a maze of flexible metal rods not knowing which way to go or where you are going to end up architecture software systems in the convertible machine code his birth certificate says is his real name opens it to a random page reads Sand ruins sleep deprivation time behind a cactii succulence into an empty jelly glass--huh? laundry machines expel hot compressed air sudden lung rupture from the shock cough--uh? from a sandstorn under one of the miraculously undestroyed billboards wondering why be here at all his eyes from the morning sun wobbles from heat exhaustion motion from the dust clouds slowly approaching unhurried but determined to be vicious his left elbow with the right foot Kludstrm cranky sand chewing gears grinding motor noises from gearhead ambulances hurt human hearts all police visit retribution massacres of everyone on phone lists satellites streets the slow ascent up a small mountain in the desert--time to bag it for tonight liver disease incurable cancer--cold calls everyone on the planet to assure them it could never happen a dried up arava riverbed in the distance several figures holding hands parading--habitual liars all feelings every action hitting pause on the remote frozen in an instant all too familiar two fingers of singlemalt whiskey mixed unpeated scotch splash of water in the sunlight plastic bucket filled with ice and faintly reflecting impurities contents touches lips focusing on an old record store ready to be bulldozed nostalgia naked in the blistering sun afghanistan iced down on the roof terrors of the past subside winds drowning coasts tsunamis tidal waves Kludstrm obese collective unconscious saving humans comfort of their own familiar nightmares the screaming hordes of zombified used car salesmen approaching the stadium ready to pounce--pirate screens! friendly tap on the shoulder same color shirt another camouflages a bee the strewn corpses of cars for sustenance Kludstrm fortunate disappearing a friend leaves no forwarding address random vanishing photos reputation for perfection Kludstrm guilty reputation never does catch up on shredded wheat spitting out the cardboard mouthful after mouthful waiting for it to dissolve farts silently as side effect down hardtack dry pieces of bread leathery unrecognizable lumps pretend like they're apples lightning bolts towards the highest point on Earth's surface Kludstrm inane sending taunt messages to all portable electronic devices within a mile on a steady diet of low-calorie vegetables boiled into submission, losing weight weeks in the junkyard results in a jigsaw assembly of a machine capable of picking up two kilos at a time precisely moving it from one place to another fitness avoiding injury paranoia creeping into everyday actions Kludstrm poverty-stricken hatred of astrology immunizes everyone against messages in the sky horoscopes with birthdates going on the sheer numbers alone eventually biasing it towards relationships and accuracy will go up for a cab dirty unpaved road in the distance random horse and buggie appears out of nowhere figures struggling downtrodden anonymous brown barren landscape out of the grey its battalions firmly entrenched success The crowds cheer alongside politicians suddenly up for reelection the lights of the midway pink prances by daring you to catch her the walls of government emptiness shadowboxes in uniform long past glory days Priests masquerade as psychics gilded stoles tails of hidden mistresses social justice warriors moralizing suicide Kludstrm disorganized pointing out of the window dogs tower over a lone child hopelessness bristles hair Grue conspiracy sprawling the lives of worthless insects, written out of existence disappearances labeled natural deaths par for the course an overly large paw prints here and there Bunker guns flipping your finger at the underbelly the beast you cannot reach Kludstrm shivering entrenched defying powerful enemies anonymity safety layer after layer

[actionfigureinsider]

The annual New York International Toy Fair is fast approaching, and Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant Ltd. have hundreds of new items on their way to the Big Apple to show off to toy buyers and press. So now it’s time for a sneak peek! New items from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, the Black Widow movie, the Justice League cartoon, Ghostbusters, IT, Predator 2, The Exorcist, The Nun, Annabelle, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and The Mandalorian can be seen below (most shipping this fall), and look for more new items to be revealed at the show! Pre-order through your local comic shop or at shop.diamondselecttoys.com!

DC Comic Gallery Dark Nights Metal Batman PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! That’s some heavy metal! Batman dons Tenth Metal armor for his battle against the Dark Nights in this exclusive 1:8 scale PVC diorama based on the epic Dark Nights: Metal storyline! Wielding a sword and shield as he steps over cleaved tentacles, this approximately 9-inch sculpture is made of high-grade plastic and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Shawn Knapp, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella. Formerly a GameStop exclusive. (Item #FEB202413, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/dc-comic-gallery-dark-nights-metal-batman-pvc-diorama

DC Comic Gallery Poison Ivy PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! Every rose has its thorn, and this one has Poison Ivy! Rising out of a giant flower, a green-skinned Pamela Isley greets the morning sun in this sultry sculpture from the DC Gallery Diorama line. Based on her comic-book appearance, this approximately 9-inch diorama is made of high-quality PVC and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Shawn Knapp, sculpted by James Marsano. Formerly a GameStop exclusive. (Item #FEB202412, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/dc-comic-gallery-poison-ivy-pvc-diorama

  #gallery-0-28 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-28 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

DC Comic Gallery Scarecrow PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Scarecrow stalks in this new PVC diorama in the DC Comics Gallery line! Standing approximately 10” tall, Jonathan Crane wields a pitchfork and spreads fear as the latest sculpture from DST. Made of high-quality PVC and featuring detailed sculpting and paint applications, it comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Caesar, sculpted by Alterton. (Item #FEB202401, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/dc-comic-gallery-scarecrow-pvc-diorama

DC TV Premier Collection Justice League Wonder Woman Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! Complete the Trinity! Wonder Woman joins Superman and Batman as the next animated-style statue in the Premier Collection! Measuring approximately 12 inches tall, this dynamic sculpture shows the Amazonian warrior wielding her golden lasso, and is limited to only 3,000 pieces. Featuring detailed sculpting and paint applications, it comes packaged in a full-color box with a certificate of authenticity. Designed by Barry Bradfield, sculpted by Varner Studios. (Item #FEB202402, SRP: $150.00)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/dc-tv-premier-collection-justice-league-wonder-woman-statue

Horror Movie Gallery It Classic Pennywise PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! He’s come back! The original Pennywise the Clown, played by Tim Curry in the 1990 TV Mini-Series IT, is now the newest character in the line of horror-inspired Gallery Dioramas. Depicting the clown in mid-transformation, this approximately 9-inch sculpture is made of high-quality PVC, and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Caesar, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella. (Item #FEB202403, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/horror-movie-gallery-it-classic-pennywise-pvc-diorama

  Horror D-Formz PVC Figurines Series 1 Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! The horror, the horror! Three horror legends unite for the first assortment of Stylized D-Formz PVC figurines! Pennywise, Annabelle, the Nun and Regan from The Exorcist fill out the assortment, along with rare variant Nun and Regan figures! Each figurine comes packaged in a blind box, with 12 boxes in each counter display. Designed by Barry Bradfield, sculpted by Gentle Giant Ltd. (Item #FEB202404, SRP: $7.99/ea. )

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/horror-d-formz-pvc-figurines-series-1-asst

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Legends in 3D Movie Ghostbusters Mr. Stay-Puft Half-Scale Bust

A Diamond Select Toys release! That’s a big Marshmallow Man! The Villain of the original Ghostbusters film gets captured in his largest scale ever, with this approximately 10-inch resin bust! Sculpted in half-human-scale, this portrait features detailed sculpting and paint applications, and comes packaged in a full-color, hand-numbered box. Limited to only 1,000 pieces! Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella. (Item #FEB202405, SRP: $175.00)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/legends-in-3d-movie-ghostbusters-mr-stay-puft-half-scale-bust

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Marvel Animated Doctor Strange Statue

A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! By the Vishanti! Doctor Strange wields an adorable axe and casts a super-cute spell in this, the latest animated-style statue from the Marvel line! Based on the variant cover artwork of Marvel Comics, this approximately 5-inch statue comes packaged in a full-color box with a certificate of authenticity. Sculpted by Paul Harding. (Item #FEB202409, SRP: $49.99)

https://www.gentlegiantltd.com/marvel-animated-doctor-strange-statue/

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Marvel Comic Gallery Jigsaw PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! He’s gunning for the Punisher! Wearing his iconic white suit, the scarred assassin once known as “Billy the Beaut,” now known as Jigsaw, steps over broken glass with knife and pistol in hand in this new Marvel Gallery Diorama. Based on his comic-book appearance and made of high-quality PVC, this approximately 9-inch sculpture features detailed sculpting and paint applications and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Alterton. (Item #FEB202407, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel-comic-gallery-jigsaw-pvc-diorama

Marvel Comic Gallery Star-Lord PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! Who? He’s Star-Lord, guardian of the galaxy and all-around cool guy! Leaning against a wall and listening to his Walkman, Peter Quill is the newest exclusive PVC diorama in the Marvel Gallery line! Measuring approximately 10 inches tall, this high-quality plastic sculpture features detailed sculpting and paint applications, and comes packaged in a full-color window box with a fifth-panel flap. Designed by Caesar, sculpted by Cortes Studios. Formerly a GameStop exclusive. (Item #FEB202411, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel-comic-gallery-star-lord-pvc-diorama

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Marvel Comic Premier Collection Archangel Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! The X-Man, X-Factor member and former Horseman of the Apocalypse takes to the skies in this new statue of Warren Worthington III, a.k.a. Archangel! With his metal wings extended, Archangel stands approximately 14 inches tall, and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Limited to 3,000 pieces, it comes packaged in a full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Designed by Caesar, sculpted by Alejandro Pereira. (Item #FEB202408, SRP: $400.00)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel-comic-premier-collection-archangel-statue

Marvel Select Black Widow Movie Taskmaster Action Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release! The long-awaited Black Widow movie is almost here, and the villain is just as cool as the heroine! Taskmaster arrives on the big screen to menace Natasha this spring, and he’ll be on toy shelves this summer, as part of the Marvel Select toy line! This approximately 7-inch action figure includes multiple accessories and 16 points of articulation and comes packaged on display-ready Select action figure packaging. Designed by Eamon O’Donoghue, sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios! (Item #FEB202410, SRP: $29.99

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/marvel-select-black-widow-movie-taskmaster-action-figure

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Nightmare Before Christmas Select Action Figures Series 9 Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Nightmare continues! Series 9 of the hit Nightmare Before Christmas action figure line brings the music with the Halloween Town band! Three figure sets feature Jimi the Bass Player, Jimmy the Accordion Player (with James the Sax Player), and Snowmobile Jack Skellington in his goggles! Plus, when you collect all three sets, you can build the Snowmobile, sled and gift sack! Each 7-inch scale figures features multiple points of articulation and comes packaged in display-ready Select action figure packaging. Sculpted by Cortes Studios. (Item #FEB202398, SRP: $29.99/ea.)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/nightmare-before-christmas-select-action-figures-series-9-set

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Predator Gallery City Hunter PVC Diorama

A Diamond Select Toys release! The hunt continues! The Predator line of Gallery Dioramas moves on to Predator 2, capturing that movie’s City Hunter in a moment of triumph! Raising a skull and spine over his head, this sculpture of a masked Yautja warrior stands approximately 11 inches tall with detailed sculpting and paint applications. Made of high-quality PVC, it comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Caesar, hand-sculpted by Eli Livingston. (Item #FEB202406, SRP: $49.99)

https://shop.diamondselecttoys.com/predator-gallery-city-hunter-pvc-diorama

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Star Wars™: The Rise of Skywalker Sith Trooper 1/6 Scale Mini-Bust

A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has come! The new Star Wars movie introduced the world to Sith Troopers, with their distinctive red armor, and this new mini-bust depicts one wielding a matching blaster rifle. Measuring approximately 6 inches tall, this 1/6 scale bust features detailed sculpting and paint applications and comes packaged in a full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios. (Item #FEB202400, SRP: $120.00)

https://www.gentlegiantltd.com/star-wars-sith-trooper-1-6-scale-mini-bust/

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The Mandalorian™ MK1 1/6 Scale Mini-Bust

A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! People can’t stop talking about The Mandalorian on Disney+, and now the highly requested mini-bust is here! Measuring approximately 6 inches tall, this 1/6 scale bust depicts the bounty hunter with blaster and flamethrower at the ready, and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Bust comes packaged in a full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Gentle Giant Studios. (Item #FEB202399, SRP: $120.00)

https://www.gentlegiantltd.com/star-wars-the-mandalorian-mk1-1-6-scale-mini-bust/

  New York #ToyFair Sneak Peek from @CollectDST : Black Widow, IT, Star Wars and More! #NYTF The annual New York International Toy Fair is fast approaching, and Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant Ltd.

[shirlleycoyle]

The CIA’s Infamous, Unsolved Cryptographic Puzzle Gets a ‘Final Clue’

Almost exactly 30 years ago, the artist and sculptor Jim Sanborn was devising an encrypted code for his sculpture complex at the new CIA headquarters.

The centerpiece of the complex, called Kryptos, is an eight-foot tall sculpture of a copper scroll, with four paragraphs of letters cut from the metal. At first glance, the letters seem to be gibberish. But cryptologists, including NSA experts and the American scientist James Gillogly, gradually decrypted the first three paragraphs of the text. But the full solution has eluded cryptographers, and the 74-year-old Sanborn has just released a new clue in order to help hobbyists solve it.

Sanborn’s cryptography has eluded decryption for so long in part because he’s an artist who is interested in cryptography and physics, not a cryptographer by trade. Cryptographers who have tried to decode the sculpture told Motherboard that his code differs from many cryptographic schemes because it has artistic elements that can’t be solved by mathematical decryption methods, which are more common in the space.

In his first projects in the 1970s, he used sculpture to interpret the science of geology, including concepts like the earth’s magnetic field and the coriolis force that acts on rotating objects.

A theme emerged as he saw that his art could expose the invisible elements of science and mathematics, making them visible. When the CIA called for proposals for artwork for its new headquarters, he came up with the idea of exploring how encryption conceals meaning. Decryption, in fact, was perhaps the dream topic for his artistic vision, the perfect example of making the invisible visible.

After his proposal was accepted, the sculpture of Kryptos was gradually born, with its letters cut out of copper in hardcore, labor-intensive, painstaking work. “I went through 900 blades, 7 assistants, 10 jigsaws over a 2.5 year period, cutting it every day 5 days a week," Sanborn told Motherboard. “I had assistants who had nightmares about it.”

When the sculpture was made, amateur hobbyists took immediate interest in deciphering the encrypted text, which is itself riddlesome. The first out of four paragraphs, for example, has been decrypted to read, “BETWEEN SUBTLE SHADING AND THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT LIES THE NUANCE OF IQLUSION”.

The fourth and final paragraph has, to this day, eluded all efforts at decryption. To the delight of cryptophiles everywhere, Sanborn has just released a new clue to the problem.

“I would prefer the piece to remain a secret indefinitely,” Sanborn said. But at 74 years of age, the artist is getting older, and he wants hobbyists to at least have a shot at solving the puzzle that has vexed them so long.

With his new clue he has decoded a word that shows up early on in the fourth paragraph, now revealed to mean “NORTHEAST.” In 2010 and 2014, he had revealed that two middle words "NYPVTT" and “MZFPK” decrypted to “BERLIN” and “CLOCK,” respectively.

Understandably, the new clue has sparked a new flurry of people working on it. Chris Hanson, a software engineer and self-described nerd, helped cofound a long-standing forum for hobbyists interested in finding the Kryptos solution. Users on the forum such as “Monet Freidrich” have helped decrypt text from the sculpture. But Hanson thinks that the encryption that Sanborn developed for the fourth paragraph may be insurmountable, even with the new clue.

“He probably came up with an encryption technique that he thought would be relatively obvious, but he was thinking like an artist,” Hanson said. “To all the cryptographers that think about this mathematically, and from the rigid formal approach, they are gonna go: ‘you did what!?’”

The paragraphs that Sanborn carved out of copper are examples of classical cryptography, where scientists use two primary methods (also called ciphers) to encrypt strings of text. In the first method, letters from the original text are substituted with other letters. For example, replacing the letter “a” with “o” in the word “apple” encrypts it into the new, gibberish word “opple”.

A second encryption method called transposition consists in the rearrangement of letters. For example, the letters in “apple” might be transposed to form the word “palep”, thereby encrypting the original word.

While the first three Kryptos paragraphs either use only substitution or transposition, Hanson suspects that the fourth paragraph uses both. “It turns out if you use substitution and transposition, one after another in either order, especially on a short message, it makes it really wickedly hard to break,” Hanson said.

Modern cryptographic methods convert strings of symbols into zeros and ones before applying the same fundamental techniques. Commercial and military-grade encryption add to that process the use of advanced mathematical algorithms, making encrypted text infeasible to decode with present-day computers.

But even problems in classical cryptography can prove impossibly hard. There are numerous examples of unsolved classical problems, like Enigma messages from World War II.

Whether or not Kryptos will ever be decoded, Sanborn hopes that the mystery of the sculpture will persist across time, echoing the inscrutable paradoxes of science that mystified him as a student.

“I do think this is the final clue, I’m not gonna give another one,” Sanborn said. “Even once it’s cracked, it’s gonna be a riddle, something that’s still controversial and hard to figure out.”

The CIA’s Infamous, Unsolved Cryptographic Puzzle Gets a ‘Final Clue’ syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[networkingdefinition]

Washington State Quotes

Official Website: Washington State Quotes

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• As a kid growing up in a small town in Washington State, my only exposure to New York City was through movies. The town with its towering skyscrapers, fascinating people and teeming energy absolutely captivated me. – Robert Osborne • As many as three million people are expected to attend the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The security concerns and economic opportunities are great for both Canada and Washington state. – Rick Larsen

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Washington+', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_washington').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_washington img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Because Washington state now votes by mail, elections here tend to play out, at an agonizingly slow speed, over many days and, sometimes, weeks. – Jonathan Raban • But if you’re looking to be spooked by really tall trees then you’ve got to go to Washington State. – Dar Williams • For me, it started as a child with one of those little wooden jigsaw maps of the U.S., wheres theres crocodiles on Florida and apples on Washington state. That was my very first map. – Ken Jennings • I am excited about focusing full-time on talking about my job-creation agenda and building a new economy for Washington state. We have a great chance to seize our own destiny, build our own industries, and create our own technological revolutions right here at home. – Jay Inslee • I can finally go home and tell the constituents, law enforcement, and leaders in Washington state that Congress is treating the meth problem with the same urgency and commitment that local communities have been treating it with for years. – Rick Larsen • I was a baseball player at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington even though I was all-city in basketball, even when I signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Washington State. – Ryne Sandberg • I was born in Washington State and have lived here for 42 plus years. – David Guterson • In Washington State, the immigrant population has grown by 42 percent in the five years between 2000 and 2005 – which is an increase from 8 percent to 10.6 percent of the overall population – and the jobless rate in the state has hit a 6 year low. – Dave Reichert • Seattle’s Moraine not only make Washington State proud, but also the whole American progressive music scene joyful. … It’s simply an impressive dead on eleven song tour de force. … GET THIS! Highly Recommended! – Lee Henderson • Security is still the most important issue facing Washington state residents and millions of Americans – the security of having a job, of access to affordable health care, of a quality education, and of protecting our homeland and defending our nation. – Patty Murray • Some types of environmental restoration projects are well-known; restored wetlands, for instance, or coal mine reclamation projects. Recently though, larger dam removal projects have started, a number of them in Washington state. – Matt Gonzalez • The I-95 bridges were built in the early 1960s and are now more than 50 years old. The same vintage as the I-35 bridge that collapsed in Minnesota back in 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The antiquated Skagit River Bridge in Washington state that collapsed last May after a truck hit one of the trusses was even older. And it’s not just bridges. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 32 percent of the major roads in America are now in poor condition and in need of major repairs. – Ed Rendell • The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday announced a two-year suspension for a lawyer found having jailhouse sex with a triple murder defendant she was representing. HaHa! Jokes on you dummies… I’m not really a lawyer! – Tina Fey • There are some who’ve forgotten why we have a military. It’s not to promote war. It’s to be prepared for peace. There’s a sign over the entrance to the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state, and that sign says it all: ‘Peace is our profession’. – Ronald Reagan • Washington State has a strong tradition of a positive relationship – positive working relationship between labor and management, whether in the private sector or the public sector. It needs to continue to be that way. – Rob McKenna • Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District is a major producer of small fruit crops such as raspberries and strawberries. This research center is doing important work to help farmers enhance the quality, yield and marketability of their small fruit crops. – Rick Larsen • We all know that Washington families are making a tremendous commitment to winning the War on Terror. Tonight, more than 22,000 Washington state soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are risking their lives under hostile fire in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe. – Patty Murray • When I was a young girl salmon fishing with my father in the Straits of Juan de Fuca in Washington State I used to lean out over the water and try to look past my own face, past the reflection of the boat, past the sun and darkness, down to where the fish were surely swimming. I made up charm songs and word-hopes to tempt the fish, to cause them to mean biting my hook. I believed they would do it if I asked them well and patiently and with the right hope. I am writing my poems like this. I have used the fabric and the people of my life as the bait. – Tess Gallagher • When you represent the state of Washington, we have a tradition of deciding social issues by vote. Washington State passed abortion rights before Roe v. Wade and affirmed it at the ballot box later. – Michael Baumgartner

[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'u', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_u').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_u img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

[equitiesstocks]

Washington State Quotes

Official Website: Washington State Quotes

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• As a kid growing up in a small town in Washington State, my only exposure to New York City was through movies. The town with its towering skyscrapers, fascinating people and teeming energy absolutely captivated me. – Robert Osborne • As many as three million people are expected to attend the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The security concerns and economic opportunities are great for both Canada and Washington state. – Rick Larsen

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Washington+', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_washington').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_washington img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Because Washington state now votes by mail, elections here tend to play out, at an agonizingly slow speed, over many days and, sometimes, weeks. – Jonathan Raban • But if you’re looking to be spooked by really tall trees then you’ve got to go to Washington State. – Dar Williams • For me, it started as a child with one of those little wooden jigsaw maps of the U.S., wheres theres crocodiles on Florida and apples on Washington state. That was my very first map. – Ken Jennings • I am excited about focusing full-time on talking about my job-creation agenda and building a new economy for Washington state. We have a great chance to seize our own destiny, build our own industries, and create our own technological revolutions right here at home. – Jay Inslee • I can finally go home and tell the constituents, law enforcement, and leaders in Washington state that Congress is treating the meth problem with the same urgency and commitment that local communities have been treating it with for years. – Rick Larsen • I was a baseball player at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington even though I was all-city in basketball, even when I signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Washington State. – Ryne Sandberg • I was born in Washington State and have lived here for 42 plus years. – David Guterson • In Washington State, the immigrant population has grown by 42 percent in the five years between 2000 and 2005 – which is an increase from 8 percent to 10.6 percent of the overall population – and the jobless rate in the state has hit a 6 year low. – Dave Reichert • Seattle’s Moraine not only make Washington State proud, but also the whole American progressive music scene joyful. … It’s simply an impressive dead on eleven song tour de force. … GET THIS! Highly Recommended! – Lee Henderson • Security is still the most important issue facing Washington state residents and millions of Americans – the security of having a job, of access to affordable health care, of a quality education, and of protecting our homeland and defending our nation. – Patty Murray • Some types of environmental restoration projects are well-known; restored wetlands, for instance, or coal mine reclamation projects. Recently though, larger dam removal projects have started, a number of them in Washington state. – Matt Gonzalez • The I-95 bridges were built in the early 1960s and are now more than 50 years old. The same vintage as the I-35 bridge that collapsed in Minnesota back in 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The antiquated Skagit River Bridge in Washington state that collapsed last May after a truck hit one of the trusses was even older. And it’s not just bridges. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 32 percent of the major roads in America are now in poor condition and in need of major repairs. – Ed Rendell • The Washington State Supreme Court on Thursday announced a two-year suspension for a lawyer found having jailhouse sex with a triple murder defendant she was representing. HaHa! Jokes on you dummies… I’m not really a lawyer! – Tina Fey • There are some who’ve forgotten why we have a military. It’s not to promote war. It’s to be prepared for peace. There’s a sign over the entrance to the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state, and that sign says it all: ‘Peace is our profession’. – Ronald Reagan • Washington State has a strong tradition of a positive relationship – positive working relationship between labor and management, whether in the private sector or the public sector. It needs to continue to be that way. – Rob McKenna • Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District is a major producer of small fruit crops such as raspberries and strawberries. This research center is doing important work to help farmers enhance the quality, yield and marketability of their small fruit crops. – Rick Larsen • We all know that Washington families are making a tremendous commitment to winning the War on Terror. Tonight, more than 22,000 Washington state soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are risking their lives under hostile fire in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe. – Patty Murray • When I was a young girl salmon fishing with my father in the Straits of Juan de Fuca in Washington State I used to lean out over the water and try to look past my own face, past the reflection of the boat, past the sun and darkness, down to where the fish were surely swimming. I made up charm songs and word-hopes to tempt the fish, to cause them to mean biting my hook. I believed they would do it if I asked them well and patiently and with the right hope. I am writing my poems like this. I have used the fabric and the people of my life as the bait. – Tess Gallagher • When you represent the state of Washington, we have a tradition of deciding social issues by vote. Washington State passed abortion rights before Roe v. Wade and affirmed it at the ballot box later. – Michael Baumgartner

[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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[dnodes18]

DIY Potting Bench + Apple Cider Bar https://ift.tt/2AsEWu7

Jennifer Caroll of Celebrating Everyday Life builds a potting bench that can transition into any season. Find out how she creates a beautiful apple cider bar that any guest will compliment this fall season.

DIY Potting Bench + Apple Cider Bar

It’s no secret that I love to entertain and I’m always looking for creative ways to improve my outdoor entertaining area. This year I decided that I wanted to create something that was flexible and beautiful. After all, I don’t want my patio cluttered with a bunch of furniture. Plus different celebrations have different needs, so I decided to create a multi-season party and gardening station. It is a perfect spot for prepping pots and planters and since it’s on wheels I can roll it anywhere I need it for stylish entertaining on the go! Let me show you how I built it and how I styled a beautiful fall apple cider bar on it!

STEP 1: Make a plan + gather supplies

I drew a custom plan for this potting bench that gave me maximum table space for working and setting up an impromptu party buffet. I gave it sweet willow and copper details to add both style and function.

The dimensions for my potting bench are 6′ tall by 4′ wide and 2′ deep.

Here are the supplies you will need to make your own:

2 – 4″x 4″ x 8′ Posts 5 – 2″ x 4″ x 93″ Wood Studs 1 – 1″ x 8″ x 6′ Board 2 – 1/2″ x 24″ x 48″ Plywood Sheets 2 – 6″ x 8″ Black Celtic Scroll Brackets 1 – 1/2″ x 5′ Type M Copper Pipe 1 – 48″ x 120″ Bamboo Expandable Willow Fence or Trellis 2 – 4″ x 4″ Copper Pyramid Post Cap 4 – 4″ Swivel with Brake Non-Marking Rubber Casters 1 pack – 1-13/16″ Flat Black Single Prong Robe Hook Value Pack 3 – 1-3/4″ (45mm) Bronze with Copper Highlights Oversized Round Cabinet Knob Saw for Cutting Wood Hand Sander for Sanding Wood Drill + Drill Bits Wood Screws Level Wood Glue 3/4 in. Hot-Dip Galvanized Staples Hammer Jr. Tube Cutter for Cutting Copper Pipe Construction Adhesive

STEP 2: Cut your wood

OK, now it’s time to get cutting! First, cut your two 4″ x 4″ x 8′ posts to 5′ 6″ tall. This will give you two remaining pieces that are 2′ 6″ tall – these will be for your front legs.

Cut four of your 2″ x 4″ by 93″ boards to 48″ in length. You will end up with four 48″ inch boards and four 45″ boards. Set your 48″ boards aside.

Cut all four of your remaining 45″ boards into 21″ pieces. You will now have eight 21″ piece boards.

Cut your remaining 2″ x 4″ x 93″ board to 42″ – keep the 42″ piece and put the remaining piece in your wood stash for a future project.

Cut 1″ x 8″ x 6′ piece of wood to 1″ x 8″ x 4′. This is for your top shelf. Put the remaining two feet piece aside for a future project.

Give all of your wood a quick once over with your hand sander for a nice, more pro looking finish. Plus, it reduces the chances of you giving yourself a splinter while you’re working!

STEP 3: Assemble your boxes 

Now you want to begin assembling the boxes, these are the supports for your countertop and your shelf.

Use your drill and appropriate sized drill bit for your wood screws to pre-drill your holes for connecting the wood. To make this easier on me and more uniform, I created a little pattern on paper for where my holes would go. I then placed this on the piece of wood at the end where I needed to drill and drilled through the paper.

I used the same pattern over and over with each piece. It got a little tattered but still useable and really helped keep me on track with my drilling.

You will need holes on each front end of your 48″ pieces and one hole on the forward end of your side pieces.

Connect 21″ side pieces to 48″ long pieces to form a box. Evenly space to 21″ short pieces inside to give your box even greater stability. Be sure to use a level to make sure you are keeping your box nice and square.

STEP 4: Attach boxes to the posts

Now that both of your boxes are assembled it’s time to attach them to the posts. I put my short post legs on the inside of my boxes and attached the back of the boxes to the outside of the back post legs.

This allowed for the top counter piece to be perfectly flat and flush and require no cutting. Giving me maximum counter space.

You will need to notch out the front corner of your lower shelf but with a jigsaw, this is a simple cut to make.

Attach the front, short legs to the inside of the box first. Remember to use your level to make sure you’re keeping everything nice and even.

Then, lay your tall back leg posts on the ground, and balance your short box legs on a chair or have a friend support them while you attach the box to the back legs. I found it was easier to do it like this than try to support those giant (and heavy!) back legs!

STEP 5: Attach casters to the posts

While your potting bench is laying on its back, drill your pilot holes for your casters (and go ahead and attach them too!)

Again, use a pattern if necessary to make it easier.

Be sure to lock your wheels once you raise the bench to its feet so it doesn’t roll around on you until your ready!

STEP 6: Attach countertop + shelves

Now that your potting bench is on its feet, we want to add our countertop and storage shelves.

Hold one piece of plywood up against the front legs to determine the spacing for your cuts to allow for the posts on the bottom shelf.

Use your jigsaw to cut out those 2 notches on the front long end of the plywood. Apply wood glue to the top of the box and place the notched bottom shelf. Add wood screws to help secure the shelf to the box.

Apply wood glue to the top of the top box and place uncut plywood onto it. Add wood screws for extra hold. You now have a smooth wood top!

Now we want to add the brackets to the back posts to hold a smaller shelf.

First, attach your 42″ piece of 2″ x 4″ between your back posts at the height you desire your top shelf. I put mine 6″ from the top of the posts. Since it is only 42″ wide you want to center it leaving some room for the shelf brackets to go on each side on the posts. This piece of wood is going to help your shelf not sag over time.

Now, attach the brackets to the posts. Remember, drilling pilot holes can really help this process go more smoothly.

Once your brackets are in place, put your piece of 1″ x 8″ x 4′ top shelf wood onto the brackets. Use regular wood screws to attach the back edge of the shelf to the base piece of wood. Then, use the small nails that came with your brackets to attach the bracket to the wood shelf.

STEP 7: Finishing touches

Now you just have a few finishing touches to add!

TRELLIS:  First, let’s attach the trellis to the back of our bench. This is super simple to attach using 3/4″ staples that you tap in with a hammer. Simply stretch the trellis open and place a staple over an “x” juncture of the trellis and tap the staple into the back of the shelf bracket. Then repeat this step on the bottom of the trellis, attaching it to the back of the top “box.” Finally, repeat the top and bottom steps on the opposite side. You can add a couple more staples in the middle for extra security.

KNOB/HOOK DETAILS: I wanted to make that shelf bracket be fun and functional by adding some cute knob and hook details. These are great for hanging tools as well as cute signs like I did for my Apple Cider Bar!

Simply choose your hook and knob placement on the front of the wood. Use a drill to pre-dill your holes and then attach with your screws. Easy! I used three knobs and two hooks on this piece.

COPPER DRAPERY ROD: I then put two hooks under the countertop on the front legs to act as holders for a piece of copper pipe that I turned into an impromptu drapery rod. I decided to add this because I realized that there are going to be many times when I’m storing bags of potting soil or other more utilitarian items and would prefer to hide them with a pretty piece of fabric. This way, I’m adding a touch of shiny copper which is pretty and perfectly on-trend at the moment but it can easily move out of the way if I’m wrestling large items or just get tired of the rod.

The rod comes in a 5′ length so I used a Jr. Tube cutter to cut the pipe. Simply open the width of the “mouth” of the tube cutter and insert the tube into it. Tighten the blade onto the pipe and begin to turn the pipe. This will score the pipe. Continue turning and tightening as you can. In just a moment or two, you will have cut your pipe. I was worried this step would be hard but it was actually easy! Yay!

The hooks come in a pack of six – you can add the remaining two hooks on the side of the bench for extra storage or use them on another project.

COPPER POST CAPS: To repeat a touch of the copper accent and to give my posts a more finished look I decided to place two post caps on the tall posts.

To attach each post cap style to the post, apply an exterior-grade construction adhesive to the underside of the post cap and place firmly on the post.

And there you have it, a beautiful and functional DIY potting bench!

Styling Your DIY Potting Bench as an Apple Cider Bar

OK, now let’s get to the fun part – styling your new potting bench as an Apple Cider Bar for fall!

First I made this fun and easy DIY Apple Cider sign – please visit my blog CelebratingEverydayLife.com/AppleCiderBarSign for the full tutorial and to get your FREE Apple Cider bar stencil template!

Signs like this are easy to make and really take your party styling up a notch.

Next, I began thinking about textures and colors that evoke fall. I gathered a couple of cozy throws, a beautiful pillow from Home Depot, and a mix of platters and baskets to include.

I like to create DIY self-serve stations like this when entertaining because it’s a great way to engage guests and help them feel at ease. Sitting around awkwardly is never a good thing. Having a station gives guests an anchor point.

I chose to serve my cider in a glass dispenser. If you are planning to serve hot cider consider a thermal dispenser instead. Glass like this can break with very hot beverages so watch out for that. Be sure to add some slices of apples, oranges and some cinnamon sticks for extra visual appeal to your cider jar.

Copper is a terrific choice for fall and HomeDepot.com has a tremendous selection of copper mugs for you to choose from. You can get monogrammed mugs or plain ones like these. When hung on a mug rack like the one I used here, they do double duty and are both festive and functional.

Toppings just make things better, don’t they? Let guests have fun customizing their drink with a mix of garnishes ranging from sweet to exotic flavors. Here I’ve used cinnamon – both sticks and ground options, sweet butterscotch chips, and some ground chili powder for those who are feeling extra adventurous. There is, of course, delicious caramel sauce they can pour on and even some whipped cream to make their cider over the top delectable.

Consider adding some sweet treats to further tempt your friends. Here I’ve gathered a few favorite flavors of donuts and displayed them both on a galvanized pedestal and hung them from some hooks on our mug rack. Presenting old favorites in a fun way is a simple idea that adds instant pizzaz to your gathering.

Apple slices (dipped in lemon water to keep them from turning brown) and some orange slices make pretty garnishes for the cider cups too.

A few candied apples and some grab and go snacks like candy corn mixed with salted peanuts are all you need to delight your friends.

Finally, fill in your apple cider bar display with baskets of apples, oranges, fall colored mums, and even some pumpkins for two. A mix of metal and woven baskets will add interest and lend fall charm to your setting.

I encourage you to look around your home for the foundational supplies to create your bar and then visit your local Home Depot or HomeDepot.com for everything else you need to create a beautiful and memorable apple cider bar!

For more fall style inspiration, check out the Halloween and Harvest Style Challenge series on The Home Depot blog.

The post DIY Potting Bench + Apple Cider Bar appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

Jennifer Carroll