Manzanita Speaks

It’s been another long, whirlwind of a quarter in CP’s Landscape Architecture department. I (and 16 classmates) spent 8 weeks working on a design for a tiny park near the train station in San Luis. The conceptual direction I headed into involved fusing old Victorian garden style together with Modernist sensibilities.

Ouch. It’s no wonder I cried a few times. Those two just don’t naturally come together harmoniously, but I finally boiled it down to a few components and went for it.

Here’s what I figured out in the end: Victorian = exotic, overflowing, colorful planters with obligatory areas of turf. Modern = organic, simple, geometric, and sometimes impractical forms. And, most importantly, my take home lesson: when designing (ANYTHING), you can never overuse simplicity. I approached an impasse (and near breakdown) as I tried adding everything but the kitchen sink to my design. But when I finally boiled things down to what was most important, pieces began to fit together and the garden became a composition instead of a mess of clashing styles.

Here’s a perspective montage I made in Photoshop of my design.

After browsing through Objective:Ministries' website (the source for that Atheist goat cartoon from a couple of posts ago) incredulously for like the 8th time in 2 days, I decided to do what any good sleuth would do: go to Wikipedia for answers.

To my RELIEF, it turns out that the site, comics, articles, anti-triclavianism and all, is a parody on Christian Fundamentalism. Joke's on us.

I realized, however, after being completely embarrassed at myself for falling for it, that these guys aren't completely off the mark with their silly parodies. This form of Christian Fundamentalism is out there (albeit, a tamer version), heaping heavy burdens of extra-Biblical tradition on people just like the Pharisees did 2000 years ago.

What a great reminder that God's grace still reigns supreme over man's dead works and traditions. And I for one, as a result, have been forced to examine myself for this kind of ridiculous judgementalism and self-righteousness.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:13-14

To the credit of all who, despite how outlandish the site was, thought it had to be legitimate (including myself), the anonymous people who run Objective: Ministries' site are pretty darn good at it. They cite real people (Kent Hovind), ministries (Way of the Master), and websites to make it all seem real, but most of the organizations on the site don't exist. For more info, click here, or here.

Last, I'm just SO glad that this is all a joke! Because this maternity shirt they have for sale can NOT be for real!!

ps: Check out what Objective: Ministries posted on their blog after the Wikipedia article was written. They don't miss a beat.

Due to popular demand (i.e., Daniel Foote), here’s the most ridiculous quote of the day, excerpted from the same website referenced yesterday.

"Portrayals of the post-Tribulation Christ with long straight hair are in error and may cause the ignorant who are left behind during the Rapture to mistakenly seek out and follow rock musicians aligned with the Anti-Christ."

You mean like this?

Ridiculous.

My pal Nadia stumbled across this comic meant for little kids today, and I just couldn’t resist sharing it. Charlie thought it was a joke at first, but after further investigation on the website this came from, we found these people are COMPLETELY SERIOUS. (UPDATE: they're NOT serious! It's just a REALLY well done parody site making fun of people who really are like this!)

I can’t believe someone would actually think generalizing someone’s world view to this extent is glorifying to God and adding to the cause of evangelism in America. It’s just silly.

Every so often I become obsessed with one particular item of home décor and decide I HAVE to have it. Generally, I must admit, it’s a piece of exterior home décor, i.e., plants, cool garden stands for potted plants, etc.

This time, however, it was actually something for my interior. I was flipping through a Pottery Barn mag a couple of weeks ago, and happened to notice a line of glass apothecary jars they’ve been carrying. These things not only spice up a boring bathroom, but I found you can also put certain plants inside and create mini-terrariums (a discovery I made on an internet hunt I proceeded onto for a cheaper set of jars).

I’ve since found and purchased a really beautiful, inexpensive set of apothecary jars at Linens n’ Things in San Luis, and now have a cute mini phalaenopsis orchid from Trader Joe’s happily living inside.

The other beauty of apothecary jars I’ve realized (brides, pay attention) is that they can be used for fantastic focal points and centerpieces for weddings, like East Coast floral designer Michelle Rago did here.

You can fill them with whatever suits your wedding concept and syle: from moss and ferns, to cranberries and fall leaves, stacks of citrus fruit, or a single tropical leaf – you are only limited to the extents of your imagination.

For info and tips on making your own apothecary jar into a plant terrarium click here

Click here to check out a cool message by Pastor Darrin Patrick on the Emergent Church. Patrick, pastor of The Journey Church in St. Louis, talks about the Emergent Church’s faulty roots, history, and inherent dangers.

The Emergent Church is proving to be a major adversary against Biblical Christianity, and continues to blur the line between truth and untruth. This is something worth being informed about; check it out, you’ll like it!

Click hereto check out the little article I wrote for BFStop today. It's all about Charlie and I's night in LA at Sigur Ros' (our favorite band) showing of their new film, Heima.

A must see for all you indie-rock kids.

In the interest of missing recently relocated friends (all to Bend, OR), I put together a little Ode to Kate Dungan.

1. Thursday night “Office” parties

2. Laughing at Taylor as she dances on the coffee table to Scissor Sisters

3. Having a friend around to watch dorky made for TV movies with (Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber with Jennifer Love Hewitt, a must see)

4. Being convinced that having a BBQ and hanging out on a weeknight is a much better use of my time than homework

5. Hearing one of her favorite conversational quips: “For SURE!”

6. Going to the movies and hearing her practically snort her soda and popcorn laughing (hello can we say BLADES OF GLORY?? Nicole, you are not exempt).

7. The random purchasing of extraordinarily scary Halloween costumes. Can we get a pic of the BK Mask?

8. Beads, necklaces, and pliers

9. Always having someone close by that will fight to the death for you if she feels that you have been wronged

10. Seeing Jayne and Taylor whenever I want!

In lieu of staying home with our lights off so trick-or-treaters won’t come, (ok, so the only reason I really do that is because my mom always did..I think it’s time for a change) Charlie and I decided to head out for a much needed date night on Halloween.

We went to Novo’s in San Luis, and I ordered their legendary Salmon Bisque. I couldn’t help but think of Megan Caston, a dear friend who moved to Bend, Oregon this summer, away from us all and away from that bisque (one of her favorites). Miss you Meg! Come back to AG for a visit and a bowl of salmon bisque!