October: the tenth month of our calendar has Oct as the root. Oct means eight. History shows that calendar changes like map changes are political by nature.
For what October truely is includes the festivals honoring the harvest and the period when all beings sense the greater universe and choose to embrace or run from it. This is the time to deal with fear and scream or deal with fear and face it.
We see this played out time and time again as more horror stories, horror movies and the down right creepy come to the forefront of popular culture. This is the time of year when it's okay to talk about the world as a whole: the seen and the unseen, as clerics put it in their sermons.
Visiting graveyards and haunted tours abound. Why is that?
The vale between the seen and the unseen have an ebb and flow, as do all things in nature. If our ancestors were right about October and the Autumn, this is the time to honor our ancestors as they honored theirs. It's a time to reflect on our lives and know that soon we too will "give up the ghost" as they used to say. It a time to ponder the falling of the leaves and the meaning of life and death.
If you wonder if ghost are real...check out these sites...
http://www.hollowhill.com/nh/nh.htm
http://www.llanelli-history.i12.com/ghosts.htm
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Autumnal Equinox
Just a day after the autumnal equinox, the air feels different. The trees started migrating their sap to the depths of their roots away from their branches and leaves. The green lost its vibrant nature of even a week ago. Pumpkin Patches and Halloween celebrations promise happy times for the new seasonal year.
Simple Baked Pear
1 pear, smooth & very firm
Preheat oven 350F
Place upright in a baking dish.
45 minutes
Simple Baked Pear
1 pear, smooth & very firm
Preheat oven 350F
Place upright in a baking dish.
45 minutes
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Joy of the County Faire
Moving to a place where the county faire is a big deal can be as fun as quaint.
Fair Rides for the little ones whirl and twist, screams of joy, of fear, of nearly tossin' their cookies echo through the air.
Smells of cattle, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits surpise the senses of city and country folks alike.
The Bull Ring brings it's own version of entertainment. Will he or won't he get tossed this time? Who wins man or beast?
Talent Show kids throughout the county present themselves to the judges, guests and fair goers alike. WOW! That girl can sing!
But the best part of the fair, the part that few noticed or will remember came in the form of a little old lady, sitting in the corner. Each and every day she was just sitting there, smiling her little old lady smile as the men and women and children passed by... she served on the committee for the fair since the 1930s when she was "old enough to help". Some 70 years later, she's still helpin'. The things she's seen and the people that have come and gone, she mentioned and sighed. Things have changed. Things have stayed the same. The best part about her was she was as enthusiastic about every entry as if it were the only entry, the best entry and she encouraged every person that took time to talk with her to share their talents at the faire, to show the county what it has within it, and remember, she added, "do more for next year".
Women's Crafts are fewer each year. Who has time to knit? Crotchet? Who, in the next generation, will even know how? Who has time to bake for the faire? Who bakes for their family? Who can paint a portrait? Who can pose Photographs? Digital or Film? Who can make a Quilt? Who Gardens? Who carves? Who creates? Who has time? Who knows?
Examining the exhibits, the precious exhibits makes the county faire a one time event. Never again will this particular collection of items, crafts, art be exhibited again. It is a unique experience to be appreciated for the unique event that it is...
What will you show next year?
Fair Rides for the little ones whirl and twist, screams of joy, of fear, of nearly tossin' their cookies echo through the air.
Smells of cattle, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits surpise the senses of city and country folks alike.
The Bull Ring brings it's own version of entertainment. Will he or won't he get tossed this time? Who wins man or beast?
Talent Show kids throughout the county present themselves to the judges, guests and fair goers alike. WOW! That girl can sing!
But the best part of the fair, the part that few noticed or will remember came in the form of a little old lady, sitting in the corner. Each and every day she was just sitting there, smiling her little old lady smile as the men and women and children passed by... she served on the committee for the fair since the 1930s when she was "old enough to help". Some 70 years later, she's still helpin'. The things she's seen and the people that have come and gone, she mentioned and sighed. Things have changed. Things have stayed the same. The best part about her was she was as enthusiastic about every entry as if it were the only entry, the best entry and she encouraged every person that took time to talk with her to share their talents at the faire, to show the county what it has within it, and remember, she added, "do more for next year".
Women's Crafts are fewer each year. Who has time to knit? Crotchet? Who, in the next generation, will even know how? Who has time to bake for the faire? Who bakes for their family? Who can paint a portrait? Who can pose Photographs? Digital or Film? Who can make a Quilt? Who Gardens? Who carves? Who creates? Who has time? Who knows?
Examining the exhibits, the precious exhibits makes the county faire a one time event. Never again will this particular collection of items, crafts, art be exhibited again. It is a unique experience to be appreciated for the unique event that it is...
What will you show next year?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Book Review: Reading The Man
Reading The Man: Portrait of Robert E Lee through his private letters
by Elizabeth Brown Pryor
Friday afternoon, I sat, the youngest in the room, a member of the local book club, ready to give my first book review to the group of 20 or so women; all of whom are well read, articulate, and formidable. Was I nervous? You bet I was...
Quietly they sat as I told about the story Elizabeth Brown Pryor crafted about the amazing life of Robert E Lee. The book truly moved me to tears as I read. In the retelling, I did indeed get choked up more than a time.
The War of Northern Aggression began and ended as a war against Lee and his family by his former West Point school mates, as well as by former military brethren, who showed no mercy for a man they called traitor.
The Civil War was crushing to the common people on both sides. Few, if any families weren't touched deeply to the heart by the bloodshed of the war. Burn and starve tactics are always a way for war to show it's ugly face against civilians, in spite of what any General might say. The North sought to crush the families of the South.
What interests me about history are the details about life in another time and place. I wonder how can their lessons teach me about people, about that time and this, about life...
My interest in this particular story was the story of Mrs. Lee, her life, the children of this most famous or infamous man... what did they endure... how did they live... what legacy was left to the family of this much-loved, much-lived, much-hated man?
Mrs. Lee was the grand-daughter of Martha Washington. In her care were the Washington artifacts, legacy to her family but also, and she was quite well aware, legacy of the country. The Lee family of Virginia honored their ancestory of great Rebels of the Revolution, including Light-Horse Harry.
By the end of my report, some of the ladies also had tears in their eyes... it was a great story to tell... and the ladies were so kind to me afterwards, I felt honored to be part of their group.
by Elizabeth Brown Pryor
Friday afternoon, I sat, the youngest in the room, a member of the local book club, ready to give my first book review to the group of 20 or so women; all of whom are well read, articulate, and formidable. Was I nervous? You bet I was...
Quietly they sat as I told about the story Elizabeth Brown Pryor crafted about the amazing life of Robert E Lee. The book truly moved me to tears as I read. In the retelling, I did indeed get choked up more than a time.
The War of Northern Aggression began and ended as a war against Lee and his family by his former West Point school mates, as well as by former military brethren, who showed no mercy for a man they called traitor.
The Civil War was crushing to the common people on both sides. Few, if any families weren't touched deeply to the heart by the bloodshed of the war. Burn and starve tactics are always a way for war to show it's ugly face against civilians, in spite of what any General might say. The North sought to crush the families of the South.
What interests me about history are the details about life in another time and place. I wonder how can their lessons teach me about people, about that time and this, about life...
My interest in this particular story was the story of Mrs. Lee, her life, the children of this most famous or infamous man... what did they endure... how did they live... what legacy was left to the family of this much-loved, much-lived, much-hated man?
Mrs. Lee was the grand-daughter of Martha Washington. In her care were the Washington artifacts, legacy to her family but also, and she was quite well aware, legacy of the country. The Lee family of Virginia honored their ancestory of great Rebels of the Revolution, including Light-Horse Harry.
By the end of my report, some of the ladies also had tears in their eyes... it was a great story to tell... and the ladies were so kind to me afterwards, I felt honored to be part of their group.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Rain Rain
Plus and Minus to any situation, the yin yang as the Chinese refer to it, manages confirm itself in all things. It is for mere humans to recognize it.
Case in point: Rain
One requirement for life is water. Fresh water for mammals and plants is essential, we need it. Too much water, then, we drown. Storms and floods destroy much, kill many. Some curse the very thing that we need to survive because it came in abundance.
Children sing:
Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Some Other Day
Or this one:
It's raining
It's pouring
The old man is snoring
Went to bed
Bumped his head
Couldn't get up in the morning
Adults speak of the Rainmakers and Flood breakers…
The Weather Channel fills your head with fear and dread of storms and floods that don’t materialize, after you’ve completed your storm proofing purchases for the day. Yet, there are those victims of storms who Weathermen declare are caught unaware because no one can really predict the weather.
Beatles:
When the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
When the rain comes
Makes ya think, don’t it??
Case in point: Rain
One requirement for life is water. Fresh water for mammals and plants is essential, we need it. Too much water, then, we drown. Storms and floods destroy much, kill many. Some curse the very thing that we need to survive because it came in abundance.
Children sing:
Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Some Other Day
Or this one:
It's raining
It's pouring
The old man is snoring
Went to bed
Bumped his head
Couldn't get up in the morning
Adults speak of the Rainmakers and Flood breakers…
The Weather Channel fills your head with fear and dread of storms and floods that don’t materialize, after you’ve completed your storm proofing purchases for the day. Yet, there are those victims of storms who Weathermen declare are caught unaware because no one can really predict the weather.
Beatles:
When the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
When the rain comes
Makes ya think, don’t it??
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