Children can hit those notes.

 We will watch those "..... got talent" programs. The performers auditioning are singing, dancing, or something their hearts out. But the young performers steal the show and everything else.

                         

 

What can be said about such talented and precious these children are, except to sing their praises.  These are the ones to bring joy in music.

Honor and Allegiance

 

Gail Williams, a former blogger from "atthefarm" sent this to me:  "Our family, new friends, and my husband and I watched the Super Bowl yesterday and we moved to tears by the military as the National Anthem was played. So young, so proud.  Some of the players stood at attention as well, hand over heart."

 

When the Music Stopped

 

For those who are unaware:  Since before the 1960s, at all military base theaters all over the world, the National Anthem is played before a movie begins. What did the soldiers do? As observed by a chaplain:

I recently attended a showing of “Superman 3” here at LSA Ananconda.  We have a large auditorium that is used for movies as well as memorial services and other large gathering.

As is the custom at all military bases, we stood at attention when the National Anthem began before the movie began.

All was going well until three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem, the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-to-22-year-olds back in the States?  I imagine that there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, only if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here in Iraq, these 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.  The music started again, and the soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention, Again, though, at the same point, the music stopped.  What would you expect 1,000 soldiers standing at attention to do?

Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.

No!!  You could have heard a pin drop while every soldier continued to stand at attention.

Suddenly, there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the whole room was filled with voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off:

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq, and I wanted you to know what kind of U.S. Soldiers are serving you/us. Remember them as they fight for us.

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins, LSA Anaconda at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.

 

I do not know where this photo appeared. It scares me. My cousin and many young men from my small farming county left their homes in Vietnam and did not return.

Running through Corn Fields

 

 July is here and oh boy howdy. This is sweetcorn time of the year.  You cannot beat this.

In my home rural farm, our old house was surrounded by corn or wheat fields. The wheat was harvested first, and then corn appears. The stalks grow anywhere from 8 to 12 feet. 

Running through corn stalks is nasty. The blades/leafs can hide are as scratchy and they cut too well. 

 Even so, we played hide and seek, tag, and chasing. The photos below are me pointing to a cow patty.

This is me, learning to throw a cow patty.

                                         Yes, I am holding a cow patty. It is all dried and sanitized.

 My brother Don knows all the people and businesses here. The community loves and appreciates what Don and his son Jeremy do for special events like  

 

The Sweetcorn Festival of Chatham, Illinois 

This is a fundraiser for the use of someone in the community may have need.

Let me tell you this: Being with my brother Don is a gift, and the most interesting person. He organized the use of the pasture to collect cow manure, and then he gave me a quick tutorial of the throw.  Then Don drove us on places that were part of his life. Don is a reverend at Laomi Methodist Church.

So, that's all they wrote. Reliving part of our past, discovering what we didn't know---good times.

Holding God's Hand

There were two types of people crammed in an elevator heading to fifth floor: those who smiled, nodding; and those who huffed with condemnation.

Stuffed tightly as a  pickle jar , people were heading to the top where a conference on anger management was being held.  

 

A grandmother holding her grandson Jimmy's hand, was heading to the 4th floor to a book sale. 

 

The huffing group glared at her tattoo of an angel wrapping up her arm. Almost reaching out to touch the angel, Jimmy saw a wing move, just a little. He heard a gasp from the angry group.

In actuality, only a few from that fast ride in the elevator had much joy. Those to the 5th floor were a grouchy group. These going to the 4th floor, were quite happy.

 Grandma and Jimmy were meeting with their church group at the book sale. The elevator door opened, letting go a flood of people. Many were not happy.  Grandma held Jimmy's hand, smiling at him as they stepped out. He whispered, "Some people don't know their up from their down."

God were holding my hand, I would be dancing and singing.


The above underlined words were given as an encouragement to writers to take a leap at different genre who is now writing her own blog, and handing off the word challenge to other bloggers. A fellow blogger, Delores started the writers on a great path. 


The Wed Word meme was started by Delores who is now taking an hiatus, and handing off the word challenge to other bloggers. Currently, Elephant's Child is providing words to encourage writers to write; bloggers are will be surprised. Post your own Wed Word take in her comment section, or at your own site, or my site. inviting 

When this was written, I don't know for sure. 

 

 

Chocolate and Coffee

 

Chocolate: Say the word and watch the heads nod.  Coffee/caffeine: Would you like a cup of coffee? and heads will nod again.

Aroma and taste

 

Why is there such a connection to such appreciation?

Theobromine* is basically in both coffee and chocolate. It has something to do with taming the alkaloids.  Note the two differences in the molecular formula.

Theobromides in Chocolate

 

Chocolate= C7 H8 N4 O2  Caffeine= C8 H10 N4 O2

Chocolate and Caffeine are close cousins, if not siblings.  God created both. Both came from the New World. God meant for man to consume them. Go out now! Buy some. 

Now, for some tea, a gift from the Far East. 

Tea= C10 H12 O5 Ca N2 Na2 2H2O

How to make a perfect cup of English tea

 

I have NO idea what all the above means. Do not believe for one moment all these numbers and elements that I know how to read them. My husband can, but was not interested.

Note for tea drinkers: the molecular formula is much more complicated, as it contains so many variations, with unique and delightful stuff in it. All the variations make no sense to me either.

 

Coffee with Chocolate? Best food ever.

*Go to this site. It is about a 13 year student in England who worked this out.

This is a re-post of 2019. We were back from Switzerland, and ate a fair share of that heavenly food. We ate a lot of chocolate, lots of it.

 

Good Books on the Shelves

 

When Elephant’s Child wrote about her struggles with purging her bookshelves, overflowing with so many books, thoughts began as my own book purge began.  What determines a good book from an indifferent book?  How do I began?

Perhaps these guidelines will help:

A book is declared good when it moves from being a bathroom reading book to a book-by-the-recliner, in one flush.

A book from a garage sale box marked 25¢? It may look great, but it has never been read, with only the first five pages turned.  One will buy it, but it will eventually end up it one’s own 25¢ box.

When the reader resumes at page 147 and a few hours later, moves the bookmark to page 245: This reader wants to find out what happens next.

When a book works its way from the “high interest” shelf and works its way down to the bottom shelf where there is a stack of Kohl’s ads and some two year old magazines, the book did not pass muster.

And

When the book one is thinking of buying at the used book store, one notices pages are folded down in the upper corner many times by different people.  And, also, there are notes made in margins. A badge of honor marks this book as a winner.

It is hoped that these observations fill your mind.

 

To Dance with the Fairies

 

I’D LOVE TO BE A FAIRY’S CHILD

        

Children born of fairy stock

Never need for shirt or frock,

Never want for food or fire,

Always get their heart’s desire:

Jingle pockets full of gold,

Marry when they’re seven years old.

Every fairy child may keep

Two strong ponies and ten sheep;

All have houses, each his own,

Built of brick or granite stone;

They live on cherries, they run wild—

I’d love to be a Fairy’s child.

 Something, somewhere.  Somehow the start of something new, makes me feel like I should be somewhere else, doing something else. Something is not quite right--like I don't belong here.  I must be a fairy child.

 

William Blake is an amazing poet. Nothing is obvious at the first or second read through--- Good vs. evil, tiger/tyger stripes, burning bright. Good writer. Strong faith. Brilliant.

 

                            Performed by Tom O'Bedlam    

Do you hear the people sing?

 Sometimes we get lucky in our home movie watching. We may have wandered off to watch a bit of "A Team" or we wander on to this, Les Miserable, if we are lucky.

This is history, bloody and messy. The whole story is about surviving, being in love, fighting for beliefs, and having some tremendous music.

 

 Big scene, sets  up the conflict  and the students manning the barricade.  The   poverty of the poor is a shock for our sweet society.

 

 Of all the songs to watch, this one is a lynch pin.

As is expected, people will die tragically, lovers almost miss their window of love opportunity, the villain throws himself into water, the hero rescues the lovers. The music grabs a hold of the audience and will not let go until the curtain falls.

Victor Hugo was the author, THE author. There is so much that can be told about him and what he wrote.  

 

There are movies that are worth watching, several times.Okay, I could not leave this song, which every one in the music world enjoys. 

 

 

Colm Wilkingson is the famous performer that

set the whole tone of the musical.

This segment is 7 minutes long.

I know, long. But

Please

fast through bits.  

 

 So, there you go. I did not to make this a movie review, and is now. This is a review of how awesome the actors are and pure music.

 

Boys will be boys, in the Vienna Boys Choir.

 

Vienna was the world music capital for centuries.  What it was back then, what it became, how talented the singers are is beyond what we know.

Face it, I can give a brief but profound summary of this choir, or give you the address and let you read the story yourselves.  Generally that is usually better.

 YouTube : Vienna Boys Choir

 

In 1986, we took a 5 day journey to Vienna, and I can't tell you anything else, simply because it went by so fast. The memories are meshed together. Except for this one.

 

Silly, I know. But, we arranged to sit in the balcony of a rehearsal by the Vienna Boys Choir.  We had no expectations. They were just a group of boys, of all ages, sizes, and voices. They would sing and fit together. But, they were boys.  Boys.

 

What it is about boys? Put them within 6 feet difference, and things happen. Think back about your behavior choices. Boy or Girl, it doesn't matter. Each has a different approach to early childhood, whether it is throwing spit balls, push and tickle, giggling, kicking each other. Then there are the girls. Girls have a different  group of behaviors, but a little/lot more catty, less kind. (Girls formed their own choir 2004). Boys pick their noses.

 

So much to see in Vienna, Austria.  We were there in January, during a blizzard moving in from Siberia, 1986. The snow was like an extra gift, coming from the heat in Mojave desert, when we  were young parent-hood.

Wednesday Words: hurley-burley

 

 

The decades of living in their chaotic home revealed much about the three sisters. Being kept in confined spaces, their atmosphere was dank, the air was blue with trenchant yelling, turmoil, and cursing. 

Beatrice, Grace, and Marilyn lived far away on the grid that was their village. Even more, the three were blind. Desperate people climbed the rocks to get help. All they needed, just this one thing, was the eye. The all important eye held answers.

At night, villagers shivered as the sisters sang the same dang song:  Cackling, was the big number through the night, harmonizing hag-songs of their past. Grace complained, “We sang that one yesterday”. 

That was when hell broke loose. The cauldron in which the eye floated was kicked over by Beatrice, sending the eye cascading. The three sisters screeched : “When the hurley-burley begins, love ends". Marilyn crooned the sonorous loudest, so she took off with the harmonies.

The village went to bed in silence. thankful for their existence. But was there any peace, quiet, safety?  What do think? Are they safe?  

 

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Wednesday Words  are provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. With Elephant's Child  and other blogger volunteers, like  Mother Owl's , //river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/, we will find the challenges. Underlined words are of the words available. Let yourself go.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind. My difficulty is using words that were just released. Grant me some forgiveness, greatness cannot be hurried.

 

 

 

I meant this, no, that

                                                     **All of these gems are real

I will try not to scream too loudly. I promise I will not throw hard surfaced items at media sources. However, this is harder and harder to do.  

It is insanity that is driving me crazy. That, with a lack of spelling skills.**

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps it is the brazen lack of a proof reader. Or is it the careless lack of concern? Why?

I blame this attack on language on two things: Who gives a damn and the computer.

The "give a damn" is our society's view on education, perhaps the most frustrating, being a retired teacher.  That can be worked out. But the computer?

Word/spelling Check? Once thought to be a great help has been a curse to most people. 

Mutation or Masturbation? Dessert or desert? What does it matter (except for the dessert one)?

 

 

 

Windmill in wind

  Danny burst through his apartment door, staggering and dripping from rain.  He stripped down naked, and he wanted to be cold, so cold that every part of his body shivered. Freezing cold.

Danny had flown headfirst into a relationship with Kerry, lovely lovely Kerry. Then he quickly discovered Kerry was superb at creating an intricate windmill of lies. 

These were so preposterous, linked together with a weaver's skill. Each lie was more elaborate than previous ones. Only Kerry could make her deception an art form.

Yes, Danny wanted to shiver, freeze to escape Kerry's windmill.
 

This is a Wed.Words challenge from Sept. 22, 2013

Thumbing through previous posts shows me where my writing was going. Mostly I re-read the pages, and wonder "What was I thinking?" 

 

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. With Elephant's Child  and other blogger volunteers, Mother Owl's and will find the challenges. Underlined words are of the words available when first posted. Let yourself go.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind. My difficulty is using words that were just released. Grant me some forgiveness, greatness cannot be hurried.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words. Head on over to play with words

 

Stumbling Stones frozen

 
Throughout the decades of our life together, we had always said Let's go to Rome someday. Our answers were When the kids are older.

Then as time went by and our progeny left home, we said again, Let's go to Rome someday. Our answers were We have to save up for retirement. AND we can't get off from work.

Then after these excuses we eliminated, Let's go to Rome now. Does May sound good to you? Retirement with wise investments and inheritance from our mothers allowed us to do that.

We took the leap, found ourselves on a bus tour with 40 other retirees, having an awesome time. 

Leading to Sistine Chapel

On two days we were on our own explorations.  Everywhere we turned along old winding streets, we were amazed to see local churches. Small churches were tucked in at corners and looked unimpressive.


But each one was filled will their own grandeur, well-used by parishioners. The kneeling rails showed decades of prayers. We were utterly humbled.

 

A small church tucked in a tiny street. I slipped
down a step, but only my
pride hurt.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, this post is not about all the crazy amazing historical splendid sites that could merit days and days of exploration all by themselves.    

This post is about the little things.

 

 

 

 

This is from the Jewish Ghetto.

Now, instead of looking up at the gilded and amazing ceiling paintings, I found myself gazing down.  Looking down at the cobblestones, I discovered shiny gold bronze plaques embedded within a sea of gray. Looking closer, bending over, I gasped as I read the engraved names and dates.

The left one reads (with difficulty, given its wear and probably misspelled): 

Qui Abitava

Dora Fiatelli

Nata 1887

Arrestata 15.3.1943

Auschwitz

Morta 1.7.1944

Can you read them? Enlarge and see these "stumbling stones" as they are called.

These can be found throughout Europe.

Life is about the big and the little bits throughout history.  It is easy to see the big grandeur and  amazing epic bits.

But for me, turning a stone over and finding the magnificent there, this is the way I am.  Looking down, as well as up, grants a picture of time and people. Sadly this all that remains of those people.

Our someday has become someday we will return and learn more.

 ****

 

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. With Elephant's Child  and other blogger volunteers, Mother Owl's we will find the challenges. Underlined words are of the words available. Let yourself go.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind. My difficulty is using words that were just released. Grant me some forgiveness, greatness cannot be hurried.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words. Head on over to play with words

 

 

The Elite and the Gentry

***

  The sight of Marchioness Hermione of Brampton plunging through the mass of titled gentry would remain an indelible memory in her daughter’s mind. Her elegant grace and steely gaze ran interference for the daughter, brushing aside lesser baronesses and viscounts as she made straight for Duke’s son. She would slice him to pieces. 

“Clement!” she addressed him with a curtsy. It was a matter of form, and he responded, “Marchioness” with a deep bow.

Clement grew pale when the Lady Emilia emerged into view.  Curtsy, bow, smile.

“Clement,” the Marchioness addressed him with cold eyes.  “It has been said that your father has been and is now a magnanimous man.” 

 

Hermione stepped in closely to the now shivering man.  “You have stolen two valuable possessions of great worth from the Marquess of Brampton. How do you propose to make reparations for each?”

 

Clement staggered with the knowledge that his father the Duke and the Marquess were going to do some very bad and fully deserved things to him. As his future was now decided.

While all the elite gasped, Clement took off on the fastest, saddled horse and headed as far and as fast he could go. 

What had Clement done? What would the Duke and the Marchioness do about this?

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. With Elephant's Child  and other blogger volunteers, Mother Owl's we will find the challenges. Underlined words are of the words available. Let yourself go.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind. My difficulty is using words that were just released. Grant me some forgiveness, greatness cannot be hurried.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words. Head on over to play with words

This is a post from March 22.

Weddings to be Remembered

 

 .

Generally, at one time or another everyone manages to attend one or more weddings.  Pretty generic most of the time, but sometimes amazing things happen at weddings.  Not just the expensive wedding gown, flowers, etc. But surprising and memorable things.

At my own wedding, my-almost-husband fainted, dropped down like a sack of feed.  Down.  Out cold.  He was okay, we ended up married, so all was well.  However, my small town of 427 had years of stories like that. Our wedding, now 50 years past, is still remember.

Then there are the melting cakes.  

I personally have been at three family weddings where the heat and humidity caused the cakes to droop with icing cascading down the layers. 

My sister’s cake—the layers nearly slid off each other, onto the table.

  

My sis-in-law’s wedding in Chicago, mid-July, the icing was sagging and turning into a puddle.  

Same thing with another sis-in-law--pure sugar water fall. 

Some weddings are sunny mornings with the tent all set up, tables with tablecloths, with crowning wedding cake in the center of dance floor.  

Then a storm whips up, winds sweep, and all disappear into the manicured grass. Awesome. Have been in some storm reception in that.

 

Source

But, the best part is the wedding cake.  I love eating wedding cake.  Skip the chicken and broccoli, let’s move on to the wedding cake.

Those weddings are the best—when something goes wrong and people have to problem solve.   

 

Those are the great.

 

Of course, the cake would be interesting, esp. when it is falling to the ground. I've been there.Saw it all. 

 

It didn't go well.