Sparkles of Now

Cozy Products, Gift Ideas

2014-05-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

Get cozy with these great custom products from zazzle.com

Geometric pattern in retro style throw pillow by trendzilla
Look at other Abstract Pillows at zazzle.com

"Let's Cuddle and Watch Old Movies" Sloth Pillows by goodnaturedbeast
Browse Zazzle for a different pillow.

but first, coffee. (right handed) coffee mug by Stark_Raving_Realist
Browse more Coffee Mugs

Moscow Botanical Garden in Spring

2014-05-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Tsytsin Main Moscow Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences was founded in April 1945. It covers a territory of approximately 3.61 km², bordering the All-Russian Exhibition Center, and contains a live exhibition of more than twenty thousand different species of plants coming from various parts of the world. The garden also has a scientific research laboratory and contains a rosarium with twenty thousand rose bushes, a dendrarium (arboretum), an oak forest with the average age of the trees exceeding 100 years, and a greenhouse of more than 5000 square meters.

wiki

Source: ruskoreng

Clouds

2011-08-31T14:45:00.000-07:00

clouds gifts

Lyrics

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
and feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way that you feel
as every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
and if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
from give and take, and still somehow
it's love's illusions that I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say "I love you" right out loud,
dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed.
Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
from win and lose, and still somehow
it's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

Yellow Lilies

2011-07-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Check http://www.zazzle.com/sparklesofnow* for products with my photo designs.

Yellow Roses 2

2011-07-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yellow Roses Soft Glow

Yellow Roses Bright Colors

Check http://www.zazzle.com/sparklesofnow* for products with these photo designs.

Red Roses

2011-07-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Red Roses Fantasy Night

Red Roses Mystic Flame

Products with these photos available at http://www.zazzle.com/sparklesofnow*

Ducks on an early spring walk

2011-04-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

Orton-ish

Black and White

Cross Process 1

Early Spring Trees

2011-03-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Spring has come, but trees are still naked...

Photo effects:

Lightning effect

Reflected animation

Early Spring Panorama

2011-03-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence,

but you still have to mow it.

- Anonymous

Birch Leaves

2011-03-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

In the Sky

2011-03-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Candies

2011-01-24T14:28:00.000-08:00

Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added. Candies come in numerous colors and varieties and have a long history in popular culture.

The Middle English word "candy" began to be used in the late 13th century, coming into English from the Old French çucre candi, derived in turn from Arabic qandi and Persian qand, "cane sugar." In North America, candy is a broad category that includes candy bars, chocolates, licorice, sour candies, salty candies, tart candies, hard candies, taffies, gumdrops, marshmallows, and more. Vegetables, fruit, or nuts which have been glazed and coated with sugar are said to be candied.

Outside North America, the generic English-language name for candy is sweets or confectionery (UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other Commonwealth countries). In Australia and New Zealand sweets are, in normal usage, further categorized as either chocolateor lollies (for all other non-chocolate candies).

In North America, the UK, and Australia, the word lollipop refers specifically to sugar candy with flavoring on a stick. While not used in the generic sense of North America, the term candy is used in the UK for specific types of foods such as candy floss (cotton candy in North America and fairy floss in Australia), and certain other sugar based products such as candied fruit.

Health aspects

Cavities

Candy generally contains sugar, which can be involved in tooth decay. Sugar is a food for several types of bacteria commonly found in the mouth, particularly Streptococcus mutans; when the bacteria metabolize the sugar they create acids in the mouth which demineralize the tooth enamel and can lead to dental caries. To help prevent this dentists recommend that individuals should brush their teeth regularly.

Glycemic index

Candy has a high glycemic index (GI), which means that it causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels after ingestion. This is chiefly a concern for people with diabetes, but could also be dangerous to the health of non-diabetics.

Source: wiki

Snowman

2011-01-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

Another cutie )
Photos of a snowman toy.

History

History failed to document the building of the first snowman. However, Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman documented snowmen from medieval times, by researching artistic depictions in European museums, art galleries, and libraries. The earliest documentation he found was a marginal illustration from a work titled Book of Hours from 1380, found in Koninklijke Bibliotheek, in The Hague.

wiki

Cute Little Santa

2011-01-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Yeah I know it's a bit childish but he is so cute! I just couldn't resist ^ ^

Presents

2011-01-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Some Christmas-tree Decorations

2011-01-16T09:39:00.000-08:00

New Year 2011 / Новый Год 2011

2011-01-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of a new year according to Julian Calendar.
Happy Old New Year!!!

The Old New Year (Russian: Старый Новый год) is a traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year (Новый год) by the Julian calendar (Юлианский календарь). In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Old New Year falls on January 13/14.

Although the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic officially adopted the Gregorian calendar (Григорианский календарь) in 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church (Русская православная церковь) continued to use the Julian calendar. The New Year became a holiday which is celebrated by both calendars.

As in most countries which use the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day in Russia is a public holiday celebrated on January 1. On that day, joyous entertainment, fireworks, elaborate and often large meals and other festivities are common.

The New Year by the Julian calendar is still informally observed, and the tradition of celebrating the coming of the New Year twice is widely enjoyed: January 1 (New New Year) and January 13 (Old New Year).

Usually not as festive as the New New Year, for many this is a nostalgic family holiday ending the New Year holiday cycle with traditional large meals.

via wiki, ruslovo.blogspot.com

Храм Троицы Живоначальной в Воронцове

2011-01-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Храм Тро́ицы Живонача́льной в Воронцо́ве — православный храм в Обручевском районе (ЮЗАО) Москвы. Расположен на территории Воронцовского парка. Относится к Андреевскому благочинию. Престолы: главный — Троицы Живоначальной, придел — прп. Сергия Радонежского.

При храме действуют воскресная, хоровая и иконописная школы, открыта небольшая библиотека. Рядом с храмом установлен поклонный крест в память о жертвах Чернобыля.

История

Здание Троицкого храма — самое старое в комплексе имения Воронцовых, выстроено в середине XVIII века. Исследователи 1920-х годов полагали, что храм был устроен в 1807 в садовом восьмигранном павильоне. Однако реставрация 1990-х гг. вскрыла, что все существующие части здания, в том числе выходящие за пределы восьмигранника крылья, ранее полагаемые перестройками XIX века — выложены из одинакового кирпича, в одно время; тогда же появился и баро́чный декор. Предположительно, здание было изначально «зимним», отапливаемым гостевым домиком, тогда как сама усадьба XVIII века была летней резиденцией, не приспособленной для круглогодичного проживания. По форме оно вполне традиционно для парковой архитектуры XVIII века, необычна лишь скруглённая западная стена, в которой устроен главный вход в храм.

Здание используется как приходская церковь как минимум с 1807 (им датирована самая ранняя документально подтверждённая перестройка имения в целом). В 1838 к храму были пристроены двухъярусная колокольня (вероятно, на месте более ранней). После 1928 храм закрыли; колокольня была разрушена, кладбище, окружавшее храм, уничтожено, и на его месте разбит парк. К 1980-м гг. храм был превращен в руины, полностью утратив купол.

В результате реставрации, начавшейся зимой 1990, храм был возрождён. Богослужения возобновлены 23 мая 1990, первая после длительного перерыва Божественная Литургия прошла 1 октября 1991.

Информация о приходе

Святыни
- местночтимая икона Божией Матери «Умиление».

Духовенство

настоятель (с 12 февраля 1990) — протоиерей Сергий Поляков
иерей Тимофей Бойко (с августа 2007)
иерей Роман Марков (выпускник факультета журналистики МГУ, 1997) — до 2007

Богослужение

Литургия в 9-00. Всенощное бдение накануне праздников и в субботу — в 17.00.

Хор при храме возглавляет регент Татьяна Шувалова.

Окормляемые учреждения

Российская детская клиническая больница, отделение педиатрии
Северодвинская школа-интернат для детей-сирот и детей, оставшихся без попечения родителей
Школа-интернат № 62 для детей-сирот специальная коррекционная 8-го вида
Следственный изолятор № 5 (ИЗ-77/5)

Расположение

Адрес: 117393, Москва, ул. Академика Пилюгина, д. 1.
Телефон: (499) 120-33-87.
Проезд: метро Новые Черёмушки либо Проспект Вернадского, далее автобусом 616, 721.
Остановка: «ул. Академика Пилюгина» или «Воронцовский парк».
Расстояние от метро: Новые Черёмушки ~ 1,2 км; Калужская ~ 1,5 км; Проспект Вернадского ~ 2 км; Профсоюзная ~ 2,1 км.

Источник: wiki

Icy Birch

2010-12-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

Freezing rain turned Moscow streets into skating rink and trees into ice sculptures.

Below are the photos of an icebound birch tree near my house.

Недавний дождь превратил московские улицы в каток, а деревья - в ледяные скульптуры.
На фото - заледеневшая береза рядом с моим домом.

Winter Fire

2010-12-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Three Red Roses

2010-12-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

Quotes about roses

2010-12-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.
- John Boyle O’Reilly

Oh, my luve’s like a red, red rose,

That ’s newly sprung in June;
Oh, my luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
- Robert Burns

God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
- J. M. Barrie

Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time.
- Edmund Spenser

The rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,
And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears.
- Sir Walter Scott

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still aflying,
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
- Robert Herrick

The rose that lives its little hour
Is prized beyond the sculptured flower.
- Bryant

Against the wall

2010-12-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

Garden Flowers

2010-12-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Yellow Roses

2010-11-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

Yellow roses were discovered around the 18th century. They were growing naturally in parts of the Middle East.
Afterwards new rose cross-breeding and hybridization techniques were being developed and innovated. These experiments would play an important role in the evolution of the yellow rose.

The meanings related to yellow roses also changed over the years. In many Eastern cultures, for example, the color yellow represents joy, wisdom and power. However, in Europe at the time of the introduction of these roses, the color yellow carried much more negative overtones. Consequently, yellow roses were long used as a symbol for jealousy and dying or rejected love. As time went on, however, the more universal meanings connected with the color yellow have come to prevail and entwine themselves with the yellow rose. Today yellow roses are more commonly associated with joy, friendship and devotion.

Info: proflowers.com