text:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
104 comments:
- inspiredwon said...
Hey Karlee,
Congrats on the new property!! That sounds very exciting Karlee!! Hopefully you can get your dream house built soon!! I'm excited for you!!
- January 18, 2011 at 1:40 PM
- Got2BCrafting said...
Wow...how exciting for you Karlee! It will be so much fun designing your own home and making everything just the way YOU want it! I am so very happy for you! :)
- January 18, 2011 at 1:42 PM
- Erika Billedeaux said...
Squeeee! I am so excited for your family! I think the "dirt jar" is a great idea - I would be excited to see a jar of dirt if I knew it was mine! Congratulations and I'm glad you guys found a place!
- January 18, 2011 at 1:42 PM
- Denise G said...
so happy for you and your family. I don't think I could rent again. Just a matter of time and you will have your home built and ready to decorate.
- January 18, 2011 at 1:45 PM
- Kim said...
Yah! for you and your family!
Your dirt jar is the prettiest dirt jar I have ever seen! Of course I don't recall ever seeing one but if I did it must not have been as nice!!!
- January 18, 2011 at 1:49 PM
- Hungry Like a Hippo said...
What a cute idea!!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:06 PM
- Banner Market said...
Congrat! How exciting for all of you!!! Your jar is perfect! What a great idea. I think its great!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:12 PM
- Unknown said...
horray for you how exciting and i love the dirt idea
- January 18, 2011 at 2:18 PM
- Glora said...
Congratulations! That is VERY exciting.
- January 18, 2011 at 2:19 PM
- Isela said...
CONGRATS!!!! Nothing better than to own your own dirt!! (property) =) Your jar ir a GREAT idea and beautiful!! Congrats again to you and your family!! May GOD continue to bless you!!!
xoxo- isela
- January 18, 2011 at 2:23 PM
- kate said...
Very exciting! Congrats!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:27 PM
- craftymrs said...
Yay! We are in the very beginning stages of building too! We had surveyors out this past week looking at the lot.
- January 18, 2011 at 2:30 PM
- McBDesigns said...
Your jar is too cute - and totally something I would do! We have pictures of every stage along the way when we built a house. I stood in the same spots each time, so you could really see the progress from dirt to finished. We no longer own that house - but the experience is unforgettable!!
I'm really excited for you!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:31 PM
- Mrs.Debbie said...
How great Karlee Congrats I love the idea Our Dirt
- January 18, 2011 at 2:32 PM
- Dschrader said...
What an absolutely wonderful idea!!!!! Congrats on the property!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:32 PM
- Scrappin Crafter said...
This is such a clever idea! Congrats on your new endeavor! How exciting!!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:33 PM
- Nuts in a Tree said...
Yeah...dirt! We own dirt too...well lots of dirt and a house...you'll love it! lol I love this idea...and if DH thinks we are nuts then we are doing fine. :) Congrats on the dirt!
Rhonda :)
- January 18, 2011 at 2:35 PM
- Silvia said...
So happy for you!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:45 PM
- Angie said...
Congrats on your dirt and your new house to come Karlee! That is a true blessing isn't it? We basically did the same thing, but bought a small older home and remodeled it. Stayed there until we almost had it paid for and then started looking for a place. We wound up being able to buy a fairly good sized lot of land in a neighborhood we never thought we could build in and built our house the way we wanted. It took me almost a year to realize it was actually my home when we first moved in, seriously was like a dream come true. My dh is just as sentimental as I am and he brough two bricks from the remodel of our old home and had the brick layer place them in the front steps on our new house. Just something to remind of us of where we came from and what we accomplished! I hope you get that house built soon! :)
Hugs -
- January 18, 2011 at 2:46 PM
- Suzy said...
CONGRATULATIONS KARLEE! What a clever and cute idea of the dirt jar!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:46 PM
- JennyKozar said...
Congratulations! That is a moment worth remembering!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:49 PM
- Patty said...
Soooo happy for you, Karlee! I love your idea on showing off your DIRT! I think it is great! You are putting your dream right where everyone can see it. And when you look at it, you just know your dream is coming! Hugs!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:49 PM
- Unknown said...
Congratulations!!! Your husband may think it is weird but I don't!!! I have a rock that I picked up when we first found our property!! Maybe I should make a nice container for it!!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- Andrea said...
Hey, I would be excited about that kind of dirt too. Congratulations!
- January 18, 2011 at 2:56 PM
- Steve and Sarah Schmidt said...
Congratulations Karlee!! We just built our house 2 years ago and wouldn't do anything different. Have fun building!!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:10 PM
I am so excited for you all!! I love the Dirt Jar!! It is so cute!! :)
- January 18, 2011 at 3:10 PM
- Chrey said...
Congratulations Karlee! That is so exciting...and I LOVE the idea of bottling up the dirt from your lot! What a special way to remember this time in your family's life! Best of luck to you!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:13 PM
- Amy Vandiver said...
That is so exciting!! I think it is a neat idea!!
Amy V
- January 18, 2011 at 3:14 PM
- Sweet Dreams Quilting said...
Congratulations Karlee! That is so exciting.
- January 18, 2011 at 3:18 PM
- Kimberli said...
How exciting - congratulations on your land!! What a great idea, I'm sure the kids will love helping you fill it!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:18 PM
- terriennz said...
How exciting. Congratulations Karlee! And such a great idea.
Terrie Barroso
- January 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- Felicia - Scrapper in the Making said...
Congratulations! It's all about sacrifice for the greater good. I hope to be celebrating similar news myself either dirt or the new home. Love the jar idea. It's beautifully done. Smooches...
- January 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- JenBenLola said...
I think the Jar is super cute!! :o) If i ever get the chance to buy land and build a house, I will be scraplifting this idea!! Super adorable! Good luck with the building! Hope it goes well and you get exactly what you want!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:38 PM
- Court said...
woot woot Karlee!!! Did Robyn convince you to buy dirt in Oklahoma? Or are you still long distance friends? :)
- January 18, 2011 at 3:38 PM
- Josie0602 said...
How exciting! We did this about 6 years ago with wooded acreage and it was the best decision we ever made!!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:40 PM
- Scrappinbutterfly said...
awesome! dirt in our area is mud right now though. lol Congrats on getting property!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:42 PM
So happy for you and your family that you got so much dirt! Lol
- January 18, 2011 at 3:45 PM
- Ruth B. said...
very excited for you! congratulations! Make sure when you design your kitchen you put in pull out drawers on all the lower cabinets! They will save your back in years to come!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:46 PM
- Unknown said...
Congrats!!! Love to hear the story about your dirt. LOL Remember to plan a big SCRAP ROOM!!! That would be the first thing I would plan.
- January 18, 2011 at 3:47 PM
- Crafting Katie said...
You are too funny! Congrats on your dirt!!!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:48 PM
- Lisa's Memory Parlor said...
AWESOME~! How exciting for you and your family! Looking everyday at that beautiful jar filled with dirt, is going to be so neat! You are making memories for your kids too! Just think about years from now, you and the family can talk about the day you gathered the dirt, all the planning, the construction, all the decorating and then look at where you are today and reflect! I think that jar will be a mantle piece forever and just full of memories to share. Cool and clever idea! God Bless you and your family!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:50 PM
- CA Scrapper said...
That is great news Karlee!!! Congrats on the beginning of your new adventure!
- January 18, 2011 at 3:59 PM
Karlee, I think it's great that you celebrate everything and this is one step closer to your dream. So congratulations on your dirt (lot). How come there isn't any dirt in your pretty jar?
- January 18, 2011 at 4:03 PM
- Unknown said...
Karlee, that is so exciting! I love your dirt jar.
Simple Creations
- January 18, 2011 at 4:20 PM
- Kelly said...
I'm so happy for you Karly. Congratulations. I love the whole idea with the jar. That's a wonderful family thing to do. Your goal will be looking at you every day. I look forward to hearing more of your story. Please keep us all posted.
- January 18, 2011 at 4:31 PM
- Scrappymama Elaine said...
Congrats Karlee! How exciting for you and your family! Best wishes! Now the fun starts, designing what you want!
- January 18, 2011 at 4:53 PM
- LilGreenBug said...
Congratulations, Karlee and family!!! How exciting!!!! Please take us on the journey with you!!
Blessings and hugs!
- January 18, 2011 at 4:56 PM
- Unknown said...
Hey Karlee that is how we got our dream house. We started with the land than we built the house at our own pace. We just love it.
- January 18, 2011 at 4:57 PM
- Kimberly said...
Congratulations on your dirt!!!! That is so exciting :) Good luck with building your new home!
- January 18, 2011 at 4:58 PM
- abusybee - DoubleClick Connections said...
Congrats! That is so wonderful and your idea is precious!
- January 18, 2011 at 5:02 PM
- A Country Twinkle said...
Congratz on making the first step in building your home. I think the jar is a super cute idea! I bet the kids will love it.
- January 18, 2011 at 5:15 PM
- Sandy S. (CraftyCreations) said...
Congrats..... how exciting!
- January 18, 2011 at 5:20 PM
- 4kids4 said...
Who doesn't love a bit of dirt?? Your kids will love to do this! Great idea...and congrats to you and your husband...lots of fun to come! :-)
~Sharon C.
- January 18, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Oh Karlee, this is sooo cool. Congratulations!!! Enjoy your dirt =)
- January 18, 2011 at 6:08 PM
- ownhomedog said...
Congrats on the new property! what a cool idea to jar the dirt!
- January 18, 2011 at 6:15 PM
- Danelle said...
Congrats! Have fun building and tailoring your home to your needs!!
- January 18, 2011 at 6:31 PM
- Libby Beach said...
Well, your husband may think you're weird, but I think it's a fabulous idea! Very sentimental :)
Congratulations on the new property too!! :) We're currently looking for a house to buy so I totally understand your excitement and wanting to make this step a memorable one :)
- January 18, 2011 at 6:32 PM
- vikki said...
Yay....what a great idea! Love it...and congrats on your property purchase!
- January 18, 2011 at 6:51 PM
- Ken and Kathleen said...
Fantastic, maybe take it a step further and plant a tree seedling and watch it grown along with the house? A thought.
- January 18, 2011 at 6:56 PM
- Unknown said...
how cute! love how that came out. Congrats on your dirt. Hope to be buying dirt soon too. :0
- January 18, 2011 at 7:34 PM
- MomGoneCra-Z said...
I think that is a neat idea. I like it!
- January 18, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Congrats Karlee. The dirt thing is a super idea. Hubby will appreciate. Wish I would have done that when we built. I have a great story about our House. When my "then" boyfriend asked me to go with him to look at a lot he wanted to build on....HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM...by the Lake at edge of our property. That was 10 years ago. Remember...your thoughts today will become Memories tomorrow. Congrats again. (Sorry so winded). Excited for you.
- January 18, 2011 at 8:47 PM
- Maria said...
Congratulations on the DIRT Karlee! I think your dirt in the jar is a great idea! It is a perfect reminder every day of your dreams :-)
- January 18, 2011 at 8:53 PM
COngratulations on your very own "dirt"! That is so exciting for you and your family! I love the idea of your "Dirt Jar"!
- January 18, 2011 at 9:33 PM
- EllenM said...
CONGRATS on the purchase. What an exciting time for you and your family!!! Best of luck with your "build".
- January 18, 2011 at 11:25 PM
- Scrappy Pink Corner said...
Yay, So excited for you. Congrats. Owning your own home is so fullfilling. No words could describe the wonderful feeling of a huge accomplishment.
Thanks for sharing and good luck with the process.
- January 19, 2011 at 4:09 AM
Congratulations! I'm so excited for you and your family! It is great when you can actually build your house to fit your needs! Have fun and Good Luck with all the planning!
- January 19, 2011 at 5:30 AM
- Kris -n- Bailey said...
Congrads...... how exciting. and for the record I don't think your weird..... I think its a great idea.
- January 19, 2011 at 6:08 AM
Yay I know exactly how you feel. we owned a home for 9 years and when we couldn't sale it we rented it out but now we are renting due to not wanting two mortgage payments. It is a very hard transition...So I know exactly how you feel. I will store this idea into the back of my mind for when we finally are rid of the home we aren't even living in lol!!
- January 19, 2011 at 10:30 AM
- motherto3girls said...
Congratulations Karlee, hope maybe you might show some progress pictures, without giving away your exact location. LOL
- January 19, 2011 at 11:09 AM
- barbara said...
Cute idea Karlee!
- January 19, 2011 at 12:02 PM
- Unknown said...
So excited for you!
- January 19, 2011 at 12:10 PM
So happy for you! It is such an awesome feeling knowing that it's going to be your forever and you're going to get to watch your kids grow up in your house. Congrats.
- January 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM
- Maura said...
Congragulations Karlee ! How exciting for you and your family.
- January 19, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Congrats Karlee. I am really excited for you. It is a lot of work but it will be so worth it in the end.
Do you know where we can order the wobbles. I only saw where you order through google but I can not order that way.
- January 19, 2011 at 2:26 PM
- CraftyShell said...
Congrats Karlee, nothing like having a place that belongs to you. Wonderful you get to build it and you pick what works for you and your family. Our friends did that took them awhile but there home is very pretty. And they took photos all the time of people working from foundation up. And she has a whole album of her home being built...lol
- January 19, 2011 at 3:19 PM
- Rhonda said...
Ohhh my that is awesome to hear and what a great idea to put your dirt in I think that is such a neat idea, congrats to you and your family.
- January 19, 2011 at 3:43 PM
How exciting! Best of luck.
- January 20, 2011 at 3:52 AM
- Snatertje said...
congrats on buying the DIRT, i do love the Jar, I think it is a great idea.
Have fun
- January 20, 2011 at 4:34 AM
- Kim. said...
Congrats on the dirt purchase although I think you should add the value of the dirt to the jar lol, that would certainly get a reaction from visitors.
Kim xXx
- January 20, 2011 at 7:52 AM
- Monica said...
Ahhhh congrats on your new dirt!!!
- January 20, 2011 at 8:52 AM
- Crafty Katy said...
I love that your kids are going to help fill the jar! This will be a wonderful keepsake!
- January 20, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Congrats! I am very excited for you. What a wonderful idea to celebrate this occasion. Thank you for sharing this with us.
- January 20, 2011 at 10:46 AM
- Heather R... mousemomma said...
Yay Karlee! I'm so happy for you. I love your dirt jar. What a great way to remember this day for years to come. Congratulations!
- January 20, 2011 at 1:08 PM
- Diana said...
Congrats Karlee!!!!! I hope you can soon have your ownhouse. Time fies so you will see soon you will making videos from your own craft room. Lots of luck.
- January 20, 2011 at 4:48 PM
- Julia said...
Congrats on the new dirt! It is a wonderful feeling!
I hope your new home will have a huge craft room in it!
By the way, my craft room is purple :D With white furniture and pink accents.
- January 20, 2011 at 9:52 PM
- Sanwanya said...
congrats that is so exciting! Cant wait to own my first home!
oh very cleaver idea!!
- January 21, 2011 at 5:57 AM
- Jess (aka Sparksgal) said...
- January 21, 2011 at 6:47 AM
- RAP said...
What a cute idea. It will encourage you at sometime along the way when things aren't going quite like you want that yes it is OUR dirt. The house will get there eventually.
- January 21, 2011 at 8:54 AM
Congratulations, let that jar be a reminder that you have a vision and it is in the process of being fulfilled. It will be a constant reminder.
esterperez73 at yahoo dot com
- January 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM
- Sanguinartears said...
Congrats on the dirt! Really, how exciting to be able to build your own home. I think the dirt jar is a great idea and sentiment.
- January 22, 2011 at 12:17 PM
- mema said...
I think that is a real sweet thing for your dirt..
- January 22, 2011 at 9:48 PM
- Diane Herr said...
What a super cool idea for your dirt, I love it..How exciting, so happy for you and your family.
- January 23, 2011 at 11:11 PM
- LaLa said...
Congrats on your "dirt" Karlee!!! That's awesome that you are on your way to making your ideal home! I think your jar is a cute idea, and it's probably something I would do as well!
- January 24, 2011 at 4:03 PM
- Debbie's Dooie's said...
Hope you had a totally awesome birthday. I know you are getting ready for CHA. Boy I wish I was able to go and meet Robyn and you . Love you both. Have fun.
- January 27, 2011 at 3:34 PM
- Soozaque said...
You are so creative! Love your blog.
Hope your birthday was amazing!!
- January 27, 2011 at 3:35 PM
- Chris said...
Happy Birthday, Karlee! Hope your day is wonderful!!!
- January 27, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Happy Birthday Karlee!
Hope that your day is great!
God Bless
- January 27, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Hope you have had a wonderful Birthday. Congrats on the dirt. It is an awesome feeling. We got ours about a year ago. Now live in our new home on the lake and we love it. I have used some of my knowledge with my cricut and done some wall designing. looks great. you will enjoy it alot.
Hope you get this message. having trouble getting them to post..
- January 27, 2011 at 4:32 PM
- Magen said...
you make some really cute stuff.. i like them..
- January 27, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Karlee, I just read that you have a birthday today! Have a super day celebrating you birth and life.
You've been fun to follow!
- January 28, 2011 at 4:55 AM
- Kristi said...
How exciting. I am sure you will keep us posted. Good luck.
- January 28, 2011 at 6:47 AM
- Lady Fair said...
Happy Birthday! What a great way to celebrate with your best friend at CHA. Can't wait to get the scoop from you and Robyn.
- January 28, 2011 at 3:44 PM
- TheScrapDiva said...
congrats on your dirt. That is great and so exciting. I love the idea of putting some of it in the jar and on the mantel. I don't think you are weird. LOL
- January 29, 2011 at 1:10 PM


text:
ROME – "SILENZIO!" says the sign just past the massive bronze doors marking the entrance to St. Mary and the Martyrs Catholic Church in Rome, one of the two or three most important churches in Christian history. The sign reminds all that this is a house of worship. Indeed, visitors from around the globe flock to the Piazza della Rotonda to see its austere, columned portico.
But the true beauty of the church is inside, where a geometrically perfect sphere could fit between ceiling and floor. A thick shaft of light flows into the space from a large circular hole – called an oculus ("eye") – at the apex of the domed roof. It's a design copied around the world. Two Italian kings and the artist Raphael are entombed along the walls.
Yet, if you got into a Roman cab and asked to go to the St. Mary and the Martyrs, you'd likely get a blank stare from the driver. No one uses the name of the church.
This is the Pantheon, and despite the altar at the back, it is revered not as a Catholic church, but as the great temple to all gods that was finished by the pagan Emperor Hadrian in 126 A.D. Though Hadrian put it up, Pope Boniface IV is the man who ensured that it wasn't taken down.
In the seventh century, Boniface ordered the temple cleansed of its "pagan filth" and consecrated as a church to Christian martyrs. The practical impact was to halt the stripping away (well, mostly) of the marble and stone, saving the Pantheon from the fate of hundreds of ancient treasures torn apart to build new churches, homes, shops and roads of the post-pagan Rome.
The newest pope, Francis, ruling from nearby Vatican City, won't hold the power of his predecessors in the Middle Ages. The pope is no longer the spiritual leader of a vast unified empire. Nor is he the temporal ruler of The Papal States that once stretched across much of northern Italy.
Though his voice is heard throughout the world, all Francis has to truly rule is the Holy See, based in Vatican City, one of the smallest countries in the world. It stretches a mere .2 square miles, entirely surrounded by Rome. With his predecessor, Benedict XVI, living in retirement there, the current joke in Rome goes that the Vatican has 5.9 popes per square mile.
But the legacy of the popes upon the Eternal City goes back nearly 2,000 years, to when St. Peter arrived from the Holy Land and became the first pope. Francis is believed to be the 266th Pontiff of the Catholic church. A remarkable lineage.
From the throne of St. Peter, the pope continues to wield great influence upon Rome, spiritual home of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
There is little in Rome that has not been influenced by popes. But for the visitor, here are some of the more interesting sites to visit. As a new era begins for the church, visitors can trace history by visiting places important to the men who have worn "The Shoes of the Fisherman."
The apostle St. Peter was the first pope, a position that like so many in the first three centuries of Christianity led to his martyrdom. By the end of the fourth century, Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire and the popes sat atop the spiritual world of the West. All around them were the creations of the old empire, which met with a mixed fate.
It's known as the best-preserved ancient building in the world, a space that still captivates thousands of visitors a day. Originally built as a temple to "all gods" (pan theos), it's renowned for the perfect spherical dimensions of its interior. It was ordered shut, along with Rome's other pagan temples, in 356. The temple was saved by Pope Boniface's edict converting it to a church. This lucky intervention might have been based on the erroneous belief that the space had been used to torture and execute Christians.
Whatever the reason, the decision allows modern visitors to see the brilliance of classic Roman Empire design. Inside are the tombs of kings Victor Emmanuel II and III, along with that of the artist Raphael, whose decoration of the papal apartments in the Vatican is second only to Michelangelo's Pieta sculpture, the Vatican dome and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel as artistic treasures of the church in Rome.
Look for: A thunderstorm. There are few sights as dramatic as going to the Pantheon in heavy rain, the water flowing through the oculus onto the marble floor and down into the recessed drains. When lightning flashes, the walls are illuminated in blue light.
Unlike the Pantheon, there is little doubt that the Colosseum was the site of Christian martyrdom. Beginning in 80 A.D., the Colosseum was home to spectacles in which tens of thousands, including likely some Christians, were killed in games or public executions. But in the early Middle Ages, it was not considered a sacred Christian place, as evidenced by the large amount of masonry carted away for use on other projects. By the 16th century, though, popes had declared it the site of martyrdom and it was included on pilgrimage routes.
Today, the pope each year leads a "Way of the Cross" procession on Good Friday at the Colosseum. The site is remarkably well-preserved compared with the other great "bread and circuses" site, the Circus Maximus. The once-great racetrack (it's the site of the chariot race in "Ben-Hur") has been reduced over the centuries to little more than a grassy bowl.
The martyrdom of Christians at the Colosseum is commemorated by a large, plain cross on the first level of the stadium, as well as a plaque in Latin affixed above the main entrance commemorating it as a place where the faithful paid the ultimate price.
Look for: Missing marble. The Colosseum was once clad in travertine marble, giving it a white sheen. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the marble was used for other buildings. The front steps of St. Peter's Basilica include marble from the Colosseum.
The Christians liked to appropriate what Emperor Hadrian built. This was opened in 139 as a mausoleum for Hadrian and his family, but by medieval times Hadrian had been evicted and his cylindrical tomb towering over the Tiber River turned into a convenient fortress for pope-fleeing invaders descending on Rome or urban riots welling up within the city walls. An elevated walkway was built from the papal apartment in St. Peter's to Castel Sant'Angelo, allowing pontiffs to flee to a stronghold without having to set foot on city streets. Today, it is a museum with a popular rooftop café that's the perfect setting to gaze out at Rome on a warm day.
Look for: Pons Aelius. The second-century bridge that stretches from Castel Sant'Angelo across the Tiber to the old city of Rome. Known today at Ponte Sant'Angelo, it's a much simpler space than in the distant past.
Homes and a triumphal arch once stood on the bridge, until its foundations began to crack and the extra structures were stripped away in the 17th century. Today, it is a pedestrian-only space popular with artists and newlyweds.
For more than 1,500 years, the papacy wasn't just a spiritual power but a temporal one. It was the church of a great empire. By the late Middle Ages, the popes were rulers of the Papal States, which covered thousands of miles of land in and around Rome. With an estimated 800 churches in the city, as well as dozens of convents, schools, fountains, towers and other sites, there is little that was not touched by the papacy. It all changed in 1870 when the unification of Italy secularized all of the papal holdings except for the area immediately around St. Peter's. It would take another half-century and the intervention of a dictator to end the squabble between church and state.
Well outside the tourist areas of Rome is the most overlooked historic attraction in the Eternal City. It is the seat of the bishop of Rome, aka the pope, making it the official home church of the leader of Catholicism.
Built on the site of a palace from the time of Emperor Nero, the complex that included a palace and chapels was built over the decades to house the popes, most of whom lived here until the 14th century. A basilica has stood on the site since the fourth century, though the current baroque-style facade dates to 1735. The oldest element of the complex is the largest obelisk in the world – an Egyptian treasure dating to the 15th century B.C. that was taken to Rome and stood in the Circus Maximus until 1870.
The church was where popes were crowned. But with the occupation of Rome by Italian forces uniting the kingdom, popes refused to use the church – Pius XI refused to even leave the Vatican, claiming that he was a prisoner. An uneasy truce was maintained for 59 years until dictator Benito Mussolini hammered out the Lateran Treaty in 1929 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See. It created the Vatican State and exempted church holdings outside of the Vatican from taxes. Though much of the statesmanship of the Fascist era was later repealed, the Lateran Treaty remains in force and is the reason the Vatican has a nonvoting seat in the United Nations.
Look for: The bronze doors. These massive, second-century doors were taken from the ancient Roman Senate building, an example of the frequent "repurposing" of classic architectural and design elements onto new buildings.
Among the greatest holy relics of the church, the Sacred Steps are believed by the faithful to be the marble stairs that Jesus climbed to see Pontius Pilate on his way to crucifixion. Helena, the mother of the first Christian emperor, Constantine, visited the Holy Land from 326 to 328 and returned with several relics, including the 28 steps.
Today, the steps are housed in a chapel used by the pope just across the street from the Lateran cathedral. They are covered in wood, except for small holes left to show spots believed to be the blood of Christ. The faithful climb the steps on their knees. At the top is the Sanctum Sanctorum, the personal chapel of the popes when they resided at the nearby Lateran Palace.
Look for: A warning. A sign at the bottom reminds penitents that it is not enough to simply make the journey to the top – confession to a priest is required for the full benefits of the arduous climb to be fulfilled.
Rome is roughly halfway down the peninsula of Italy. For most pilgrims and dignitaries, the city was entered from the north gate, via this imposing early 19th-century plaza, the last of a series of triumphant entryways to the city. The name has nothing to do with popes, but rather the poplar trees. Yet it was as important as any symbol of the power of the papacy.
On one side of the north gate were the villages and farms of rural Italy. On the other, a massive piazza with a 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk at its center, flanked by two large churches. Radiating out from the plaza were three roads, which led to the Vatican, the city center and the riverside of the Tiber. It was a place meant to startle those arriving with the power and majesty of the popes. Until 1826, it was the spot for public executions of criminals. Today, most visitors arrive in Rome via Leonardo da Vinci Airport to the south, essentially entering through the historical back door of Rome.
Look for: The quitting queen's door. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI was not the first to roil Rome. The north gate, or porta, of the city just off the Piazza del Popolo was grandly rebuilt by Pope Alexander VII as a welcoming present to Christina, the queen of Sweden who was forced to abdicate after she converted from Protestant to Catholic in 1654. She moved to Rome, where she was royally treated, including her interment in the grotto of the Vatican, usually reserved for popes.
Though the term "Rome" is still used to signify the Catholic Church, the modern center is in Vatican City, since 1929 a separate country from Italy. Just two-tenths of a square mile on the opposite side of the Tiber from most of the historic center of Rome, it nonetheless squeezes monumental symbols of power into a small space.
The term "Vatican" predates the papal period. The Ager Vaticanus was an area that included the Circus of Nero. Its importance to the church derives from being the site where St. Peter, the disciple of Jesus and first pope, was martyred. Peter was to be crucified but said he was unworthy to die as Jesus had and was nailed to the cross upside down.
Pope Francis was first seen as the new leader of the church from a balcony next to the cathedral in Vatican City. The earlier St. Peter's Basilica was in danger of falling down in the 15th century, when the Catholic Church embarked on creating the largest church in the world. Begun in 1506, it was an epic undertaking that would not be officially consecrated for more than a century, in 1626. It remains the largest church in the world – and is twice the size of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The square in front of the cathedral can hold more than 150,000 people, as it did during Pope Benedict XVI's final audience in February. Its greatest art treasure is the Pieta, the sculpture by Michelangelo of the Virgin Mary holding the dead Jesus after he was taken off the cross. The sculpture is behind a protective clear barrier after a crazed man attacked it with a hammer in 1972.
Look for: St. Peter's right foot. A 13th-century bronze statue of St. Peter is a popular pilgrimage spot for the faithful, who touch his extended right foot. The toll of so many hands over so many centuries has worn the foot smooth, so that the toes have all but disappeared.
The glorious chapel covered from wall to ceiling by frescoes created by Michelangelo was where the 115 cardinals met to select the new pope. The cardinals placed their votes in a chalice in front of "The Last Judgment." The frescoes, painted between 1508 and 1512, are one of the top attractions in Rome. It was off limits during the voting, but Vatican workers moved rapidly after the election of Francis to get it ready for visitors. Just in time for the lines of tourists waiting to gain entry for Holy Week, which began Sunday, March 24.
Look for: The small external chimney that expelled a torrent of white smoke March 13, signaling Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 266th pope.
Holy See:
Italian Tourism:
Gary A. Warner:

subset: commoncrawl


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Pardon the title, seems I've gotten really punny in English lately, I'm not sure what that's all about. Probably because since I'm not currently teaching*, the only English language use I seem to be getting is little blurbs on Twitter and of course chatting up my now 6 year-old (Gasp!).
Though I'm not Catholic, every year I give something up for Lent in memory of my dear, sweet Grams. This year I decided to give up baking (as I have the past few years), but also, coffee. Though my consumption habits have waned considerably in the past few years, I was still drinking a very strong "café italien" every morning, and often one after lunch. I thought it was the time to give that up for a little while, since I was finding myself needing the coffee, rather than enjoying it.
Before my Lenten baking-fast, however, I did give this cake a trial-run :
The cake, my go-to carrot cake recipe from 500 Vegan Recipes, was gussied up with some almond paste and a little creativity.
the only radishes my family will eat…
I suppose you could do the same thing with fondant, but since my local grocery store has all natural almond paste in green, pink and white, and they are natural colours, I opted for that. I'd seen the idea for the sculpted veggies in Marie Clare Idées, I think the February issue, but I don't remember.
This cute cake was supposed to be my last baked treat for 50 days, but I went and volunteered to bake treats for Guppy's school bake sale. They asked for cookies, and of course because as the only person around who has actually eaten an authentic chocolate chip cookie I was urged to make chocolate chippers. Figures.
They turned out a little less-than-authentic because while not paying attention to what I was purchasing I bought a bag of chocolate chips mixed with shredded coconut – and I wasn't about to go back to the store for plain chips. They were extra delicious (made from Isa's perfect recipe in VCIYCJ) and no one complained, and they were bought up in no time at all. And yes, I did eat one. Or four.
Giving up coffee was awful, as most anyone who has ever detoxed from the stuff will tell you. The first two days were actually ok, with me just feeling a little too smug about how easy it was. Then, the headaches started, or rather, the headache started. It lasted for about 8 days straight, and nothing really seemed to help ease the pain. I was also a little bit (very) cranky on days 3 and 4, weepy-cranky actually, but then it was over. I allowed myself all the tea I wanted, but psychologically it's not the same deal at all.
The positives of this coffee-free existence were really surprising to me, mostly because I didn't think that I was drinking enough for there to be a negative impact on my life.
1) More Energy : I found myself full of energy, more than usual. There was no early-afternoon "I want a nap" feeling which really surprised me, and I actually found that I needed less sleep at night – about 30 minutes less.
2) Faster Recovery & Lower RHR : From a runner's point of view, I'd always seen coffee as my friend, a silent partner in my training. I've read a fair amount of literature on the matter and felt pretty good about my relationship with coffee, especially my pre-morning run cup. Turns out, coffee wasn't such a great friend after all (words I never though I'd type dear readers). I didn't make the connection initially, but my RHR (resting heart rate) seemed to be dropping though my training was increasing. I initially and oh-so-modestly chalked that up to my being in rocking shape. Then, I noticed that my training HRs were also slightly lower, and began paying even more attention. It wasn't until bringing coffee back into my life that I noticed my RHR sneaking up by about 8 bpm.
3) Better Concentration : After the detox stage, I found I was better able to concentrate on any/all things throughout the day. The mental clarity that accompanied my coffee-free life was a real surprise, especially because I thought coffee actually helped improve concentration.
The negatives of giving up "Joe" were mostly social – everyone seems to get edgy call and even feel judged when faced with questioning their own habits. The reactions of other people – friends and family members – reminded me of those I see when there are discussions of veganism in the air. For most folks it's not big deal, they just shrug their shoulders and move on to the next thing, but for others, there was a bit of defensiveness and disapproval and comments like "well, you can't give everything up" start flying…
Yes, I did bring coffee back into my life, though I admit it was rather anti-climatic. I had misty-eyed memories of cafination, the aroma, the "glow" if you will, of my morning cup, but in reality I found myself with an extremely elevated HR and feeling jittery. I was also frustrated by the return of the afternoon sleepies and mental dullness that seem to accompany them in the early afternoon. I'm drinking less, and though I do still love coffee, I think I'm much more careful about just how much I consume per day.
Have you ever given up coffee?
*That being said, I am looking for some part-time work kids, so if you need any translation, editorial writing or French/English lessons, do let me know, please?


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Corporal Daniel da Cruz is 31 and a member of Rio de Janeiro's military police. I met him on Sunday afternoon at a funeral in western Rio. He was burying two of his friends.
Marcos Macedo and Edney de Oliveira had died the previous day, when drug traffickers from one of Rio's 1,000-odd favelas shot down their helicopter during a violent turf-war that has made headlines across the globe and raised questions about Rio's ability to host a safe summer Olympics in 2016. A tough-looking father of one, Corporal Cruz stood next to his friends' graves and wept.
I asked Cruz what inspired him to go on working as a policeman, in a city where nearly 90 of his colleagues have been killed this year.
"My daughter is six. One day I'll die but she'll stay here, living in Rio de Janeiro. So I want a Rio of peace," he replied. "I want a Rio of peace so that you guys who come from overseas don't think that all we have in Rio de Janeiro is pornography and violence. This isn't true."
He's right, of course: this isn't true. Rio is one of the most culturally exciting cities on earth and one of the most physically beautiful. Rio is home to a resurgent film and television industry and the base of Petrobras, one of the world's fastest growing oil companies, which has just discovered huge oil resources off the south-eastern coast of Brazil.
Last Friday night, as all hell was breaking loose in one small corner of northern Rio – exactly 0.7 per cent of the city, according to one Brazilian news channel – I was just a few kilometres away at a samba club, blissfully unaware of the gun-battle that was raging between rival traffickers. I spent the evening talking to Isnard Manso, a talented Brazilian choreographer and the owner of the Centro Cultural Carioca, one of Rio's best music clubs, about his excitement at the investment and attention Rio's Olympic victory would bring the city.
But when the military police helicopter was shot down on Saturday morning, just two weeks after Rio was handed the 2016 Olympics, so too was the idea that Rio represented anything but death and destruction. Rio – apparently the whole city if you believed some commentators – was transformed into a war zone.
"Brazil violence ignites Olympic security fears," claimed one Associated Press headline. "Rio hunts chopper attackers, fearful for Olympic image," reported AFP.
One Rio de Janeiro newspaper went even further, stamping the headline "Rio at War" onto its front page, alongside pictures of the burning helicopter in which Corporal Cruz's friends had died.
Journalists here do wear bullet-proof vests while working in the favelas, many of which are controlled by heavily armed and deeply angry young drug traffickers. Members of Rio's police force are now so scared of assassination that they cruise around the city in their cars with 9mm pistols perched on their laps, safety catches off. Each year Rio's police kill around 1,000 people "resisting arrest". There are around 6,000 homicides each year in Rio state and certain parts of town can, occasionally, feel like war zones with the sound of automatic gun-fire crackling through the air.
But will this prevent Rio from holding a peaceful Olympics? Almost certainly not. Apart from the fact that most of the violence is sporadic and largely restricted to the city's slums, Rio de Janeiro has already proved it can handle major sporting events without tourists finding themselves caught up in night-long gun-battles.
The last big such event was the 2007 Pan-American Games. Thousands of members of a national security force were deployed in the city's more problematic areas and, apart from the odd brush with a pick-pocket or mugger, most visitors left utterly unmolested.
Should we be shocked that at least 21 lives have been lost in one weekend and that two of those men reportedly had their ears chopped off by drug traffickers? Of course. But should we be so scared that we deprive Rio de Janeiro of an opportunity to bring in a much-needed dose of investment and attention? Absolutely not.


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Reflections and Reports on Open Access Published in the New Issue of Cultural Anthropology (@culanth)
The new, May 2014 issue of Cultural Anthropology is out now. It is the second issue of the journal to be made freely available online, which means anyone with internet access can read it. (Hurray.) In support of the journal's commitment to understanding and pursuing open access approaches to scholarly communication, the new issue has a dedicated section of peer-reviewed contributions focused on open access in the journal publishing realm.
I am happy be one of the contributors to this section. Ryan Anderson and I revised and updated an earlier interview on open access that we did together. We calibrated the new version to contemporary circumstances, included specific discussions of the Cultural Anthropology case, and sketched a critical anthropology of contemporary scholarly communications practices. It was exciting not only to revise the interview but to improve it on the basis of appreciated peer-review. We think of the piece as an experiment in genre too, as the interview was a textual co-construction in which we revised and altered each others' words with the goal of creating the most useful resource that we could. It began as a true interview, but did not end there. (In this, its inspiration was an earlier Cultural Anthropology piece on open access "Cultural Anthropology of/in Circulation.") The interview's primary function among the other pieces is as an introduction to open access practices. We hope that it is useful in this role. We appreciate everyone who has already expressed kind appreciation for the piece.
There are many great pieces in the open access section (see list below). I am only now reading the other articles in the issue. Charles' Briggs's "Dear Dr. Freud" is compelling.
A key thing about the way that the Society for Cultural Anthropology is doing its journal and website is that the site is a rich hub for content both in support of the journal and extending well beyond it. Articles are often richly supplemented with interviews, images, and media and there are also opinion pieces, shorter works, photo galleries and much additional content. While Chris Kelty is present in the open access section of the journal, I want to call attention to his even newer opinion piece, which was published today. In it, he makes a strong case for the adoption of Creative Commons licenses for Cultural Anthropology going forward. I share his views.
There is lots to read in the new issue. Here are the open access pieces.
- Editors' Introduction by Anne Allison and Charles Piot
- Beyond Copyright and Technology: What Open Access Can Tell Us about Precarity, Authority, Innovation, and Automation in the University Today by Christopher Kelty
- Reason, Risk, and Reward: Models for Libraries and Other Stakeholders in an Evolving Scholarly Publishing Ecosystem by Kevin Smith and Paolo Mangiafico
- Anthropology and Open Access by Ryan Anderson and Jason Jackson
- Designing Digital Infrastructure: Four Considerations for Scholarly Publishing Projects by Ali Kenner
- Cultural Anthropology and the Infrastructure of Publishing by Timothy W. Elfenbein
- Glossary of Open Access Terms by Cultural Anthropology
I really like the Glossary. It allowed me to get a definition of FUD into the pages of Cultural Anthropology! (Learning the term was the only good thing about the PRISM fiasco, an episode that seems so long ago now.)
The issue is receiving a good bit of discussion on Twitter but, as so often happens, there will probably be only a tiny amount of commenting on the journal site–even though there is great infrastructure in place to allow for it. I invite everyone to prove me wrong. Be brave and leave a comment on any of the papers.
Thank you to @culanth editors Anne Allison and Charles Piot for their hard work and for including the piece that Ryan and I did. Thanks as well to @culanth Managing Editor Tim Elfenbein for his hard work on the issue.


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I think it was about one year ago, when I wrote the first time with Tobi from Ego vs. Emo. Now, they released their first album 'Ego vs. Emo' on September 20 2013.
Ego vs. Emo: Ego vs. Emo
Genre: Electro, Balkan, Fusion
Ego vs. Emo is a german electro, balkan and fusion band from Göttingen. The three musicians are playing a live violin, saxophone and drums and are completed by a soundman on stage. Their music is a really interesting mix from balkan to electro through deep melodies and harmful sounds. Continue reading "Ego vs. Emo – Ego vs. Emo"