"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Ira Bell's Farmhouse

The farmhouse has been completed. Ol' Ira was not happy at how long the project took to complete. However, the winter cold has not started and there is plenty of time for splitting wood.



The house is a lighter color than the barn, but follows the color guidelines that I used when painting my other buildings. I added some stone walls which are from TSC, which I don't believe are in business anymore. I believe the well is from Hovel miniatures.

The pig pen in the back is a "scratch build" I completed a couple of years ago. The pigs are Hovel miniatures. Donald Bates is guiding an Ox cart that I purchased from Hinchliffe.

That covers all my current buildings. I've been researching smithy's for Thom Gillman. The plan is to scratch build a small one. (In the meantime he will be using Ira's barn.) 

Friday, October 21, 2016

Pete, Mr. Regan and Randy



1. The Irish Lads continue to struggle. Perhaps the game against Miami will be the one that turns the season to a more positive outlook.
It’s always nice to win at “Homecoming.” The Richmond Spiders did that and now travel to North Carolina to take on the Elon Phoenix.

2. The Chalk Man, sent by my good friend Clark. I love these



3. This is “early” Pete Seeger singing “Turn, Turn, Turn.”



4. Calvin and Hobbes, swimming lessons.


5. Ronald Regan, on his 75th birthday; 
“I did turn 75 today - but remember, that's only 24 Celsius.”

6. Randy Travis is slowly recovering from his stroke. On Sunday he sang a few lines from “Amazing Grace.” The video.


7. Next week is the Central Virginia 491st Woman’s Cursillo weekend. Please pray for the team and the candidates.




Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum,” where Kelly is hosting more takes.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Fr Simoni, Prayers & Kermit



1. I've missed some weeks of "Takes." The passing of my close friends Rich and Kathy has kept me busy in other directions. Healing, praying and writing. Please see "In Remembrance of Rich and Kathy."

2. College football is still enjoyable to watch. It would be more fun if the Irish Lads were winning more. They sit at 2-4 as they prepare to face Stanford at home tomorrow.

3. The Richmond Spiders are moving along at a 5-1 record. Tomorrow they face Villanova, also at 5-1. It should be an exciting game. 

4. Anthony DeCristofaro posted the following on Tuesday of this week.

"Among the latest examples of the men who will wear the red cap of the rank of 
Cardinal in the Catholic Church is a man some call a living martyr who exemplifies living in the Spirit.  Fr Ernest Simoni who was condemned to death by the communist government in Albania and whose witness moved the Pope has been named Cardinal."

Take a moment to read the entire post.

5. “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love,
and the future to God’s providence.”
Saint Augustine of Hippo

6. Please pray for my friend Peter and his wife Brenda. Peter was rushed to the hospital this week.

7. Kermit the Frog - "Rainbow Connection."



Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum,” where Kelly is hosting more takes.

In Remembrance of Rich and Kathy



On Sunday, September 25, 2016, our close friends Rich and Kathy were killed in an airplane accident. They were flying with their club from Hamburg, N.Y. to ST. Mary’s, PA. A weekly breakfast excursion. A Mass of Christian Burial was held that Friday at SS Peter & Paul Church, Hamburg, New York. Dee and I attended along with our sons, friends and the family of Rich and Kathy. Please pray for their souls, for their daughter Carrie and family.

Carrie asked Dee, Dayna and I to stay with her at her parents home. We are blessed to have been able to spend the weekend with our Goddaughters. God was also there.

 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 
(Isaiah 41:10)


Rich and I went to high school together. He and Kathy were the first of our group to get married. They created the foundation of our group. We added more couples to our group, and as our friendship developed, Rich and Kathy were always the couple we focused on. Their example of marriage was one to strive for. “Where Rich was, there was Kathy.”

There were our “core couples.” Bill and Patti who were married next but then moved out of town. Then we met Sue and Tony and Walter and Sue. This was the group that maintained a close “family” connection. We shared, laughed and supported one another through the years. Dee and I moved to Richmond but we still visited and maintained our family relationship.

Now, more than ever we will continue to support and love one another. Each “coming together” will be a reminder of the bond that we all share.

“For everything there is an appointed
season, and a time for everything
under heaven

a time for sharing,
a time for caring,
a time for loving,
a time for giving,
a time for remembering,
a time for parting.

You have made everything
beautiful in its time for everything
you do remains forever.”

The following photos are some that I selected that start in 1992, jump to 2009 and end at 2012. They are memories of the good times we shared.


Rich and Me 1990
Me, Kathy, Rich and Dee 2009
Me, Walter and Rich 2009
Carrie, Me and Rich 2009
Kathy and Carrie 2009
Kathy, Me & Rich - Richmond, VA 2009
Kathy, Christina and Stephen 2012
Sue, Dee, Kathy and Sue 2003