I’ve collected several cathedral bird cages. They are said to be mirrored after the “Sacre-Coeur " which means "Sacred Heart" in English, referring to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paris, France. Like the cathedrals my birdcages look a lot alike but have their own distinct features.
I had a trip to Ireland a few years ago. As we drove over the countryside of Ireland there were so many beautiful churches and cathedrals. Throughout our visit noticeable architectural styles of Gothic exteriors of the cathedrals were characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, allowing for taller, more light-filled structures.
European regions developed cathedral variations of the Gothic style with many following the basilica plan, an elongated design with multiple naves-the area for the congregation. The circular form of its dome is often associated with eternity and perfection, as circles have no beginning or end. It’s hemispherical, evokes the idea of the sky, the heavens, and the divine realm. The dome's upward orientation, reaching towards the apex, symbolizes the aspiration for spiritual growth and connection with the divine. It's how I feel about mine. I have added brass birds and additional architectural pieces inside them.
Black history is American History and today I’ve chosen to share
Virginia Black Church History since some of the first organized churches were
here in Viriginia.
The First Baptist Church, founded in 1774
in Lunenburg County relocated to Petersburg after a fire in 1820, is the first African-American Baptist
congregations in the United States, and one of the oldest black
churches in the nation. It established
one of the first local schools for black children in the nation.
First African Baptist Church of Richmond was founded in 1841. The
original congregation included both slaves and free Blacks. The church was
located on the site of the First Baptist Church of 1802.
First Baptist Church of
Williamsburg was founded in 1776 by free and enslaved Black people. The first building was a brush arbor at Green
Spring Plantation. The second building was a brick church built in 1856. The
current church is located at 727 Scotland Street.
Virginia law required the
Black church to retain white leadership which ended post-civil war. Black
churches often accepted financial help
from northern white organizations and became dominant forces for civil rights
activism, literacy education, and job training because these were the paths to
true freedom for meaningful
change and reform.
The historical church my family (many still do) and I attended in Alexandria, Virginia is Woodlawn Methodist Episcopal Church founded in 1866. The Woodlawn area, formerly part of George
Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, was home to African Americans who had been
free landowners before the Civil War, people recently emancipated from slavery,
and northern Quakers who had arrived in the 1840s. Woodlawn Methodist church was built on land
purchased from Quakers, housed a Freedmen’s Bureau school that became a public
school by 1871. The congregation established a cemetery and in 1888 built a new
sanctuary. When Fort Belvoir expanded during World War II, the church moved to
the historically black community of Gum Springs. The cemetery remains at Fort Belvoir with many of
my family members buried there including my grandparents and great-grandparents.
Refreshing a room can be easy. While some pillows have a greater purpose than others, they are very
useful to add color decoration and comfort. They are one of the most inexpensive ways to refresh a room and provide
a good night sleep.
Beds are adorned with multiple pillows to give a rich feel. Pillows may have to be removed each night and returned in the morning, but studies show a well made bed
promotes a good night sleep.
If your home doesn't get much snow in an area, you understand how below freezing tempaerature will allow it to linger. Our January snowfall has last for more than 20 days. That may not seem long for some geographical areas, but it's long for Northern Virginia. Watch to see what else it made me awareness of; fading from the sun.
Fading of wood can be corrected without complete sanding with a water-based wood rejuvenator unless it's very excessive.
Christmas decorations can be very
expensive. Taking proper care of them since
they are reused each year, is important. The secret to my abundance of ornament and decorations is after the
holiday liquidation sales.
Purchase clear containers for ease of
identifying my ornaments and decorations. If your containers are not see through or you keep them in boxes for storage, label them. Store them well and they can last a long time.
Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, celebrated January 6. It’s a Christian celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem and first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. They traveled a far distance to pay homage to Christ with fine gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three Kings Day marks the official 12th day of Christmas and concludes the Christmas season. It is celebrated in most Latin American and Caribbean countries. It is celebrated for days or weeks depending on the culture.
