"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

Friday, June 27, 2014

My Slow Takes About Minions, Sitting Bull, Matt Maher and U.S. Soccer

1. I am still enjoying World Cup soccer. The games continue to be exciting and unpredictable. My wife Dee sent me this because she knows I love those little Minions.


2. June 25, 1876 the combined forces of the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe Native Americans defeated the U.S. 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Also know as Cuter’s last stand, it has become one of the most interesting battles within the United States. Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Chief Gall, opposed by George Custer, Frederick Benteen and Marcus Reno. The greatest victory for the Native Americans and the greatest defeat for the U.S. Army. Friends of The Little Bighorn Battlefield provides photos and information on the battle and those who fought.

My favorite movie about Custer was, “They Died with Their Boots On.” An excerpt from Encyclopedia of the Great Plains.

“The most famous celluloid Custer motion picture, Errol Flynn's starring vehicle They Died with Their Boots On (1941), was shot exclusively on the Warner Bros. Studio Ranch in Agoura, California, a scant twenty miles from Warner's main lot in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank. No film has had more influence on the public's perception of Custer than this epic, until the release of Little Big Man in 1970. If Errol Flynn's Custer is rambunctious and overzealous, he is also loyal and courageous, all traits that, whatever else his faults, the real Custer exhibited time and again. If the film is incredibly inaccurate history, the tone of Flynn's characterization still rings quite true of the real man.”

Errol Flynn as George Custer
3. Matt Maher's song “Remembrance.” Words that remind us that as we worship we are led to communion. 


4. Saturday was the first day of summer. We are now feeling the hot and humid days of summer here in Virginia. The grass is green and the flowers are blooming. We take our walks in the early morning enjoying the singing birds and light breeze. This morning we met a nice white puppy named “ghost.” He is a Husky mix and very friendly. 

5. My “Man cave” is in a transition period. I haven’t done any painting so I thought I would show some excellent Vikings from Christopher over at “Bunker Hill.”



6. Randy Booth, at “The Feast of Booths,” wrote a good article on sermons and congregation reactions. The cartoon below is from his blog and fits more than just his congregation.


7. The U.S. played well against Germany finishing with a 0-1 loss. I was impressed and happy. They advance to the knockout round on July 1. Their opponent is Brazil. Go USA!

U.S. Fans


Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.


Friday, June 20, 2014

My Slow Takes About Biking, Cooling Off, Bunker Hill and Harley-Davidson.

1. Dee’s brother Pat and his wife Judy visited us this week. We celebrated Father’s Day with Stephen and Todd’s family. Dee made her delicious pasta with sauce, meatballs and sausage. There was a “sinful” peanut-butter, chocolate cheese cake for desert. We enjoyed laughing, sharing family stories drinking wine and watching World Cup Soccer.

Pat, Dee & Me
2. Our friends Dan and Mary invited us to cruise the lake on their pontoon boat. The temperature was averaging the mid-90’s, so we cooled off in the water.

Pat, Judy, Dee & Mary. Dan in the background.
3. With the temperatures being as high as they were this week, I kept wondering what  Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett would do.



4. We took our granddaughters Eryn and Hailey to see the movie Maleficent. It was an excellent Disney movie. The girls loved it and so did Dee and I. Angelina Jolie portrayed the older fairy Maleficent. I was impressed with her performance. Her “side kick” was actor Sam Riley as the crow Diaval. They made an interesting team.


5. June 17, 1775 the British troops from Boston launched an attack against the colonial troops that had taken position on Breed’s and Bunker Hill. Known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, it was a costly lesson for the British. They underestimated the colonists and although they won, Boston was evacuated nine months later.



6. It’s still too early for me to pick a specific team for the World Cup. The United States is still young when it comes to this competition, so I don’t expect them to advance too far. There have been some exciting games and I know there are more on the way.

The 2014 US Soccer Team
7. Harley-Davidson is testing an electric motorcycle. It would be quieter and more environmental friendly, but it is not “your father’s motorcycle.” The Washington Post has an article on this new innovation.



Read other "Takes" at Team Whitaker.




Friday, June 13, 2014

My Slow Takes About Pentecost, Unique Art, Sandcastles and Patsy Cline.

1. Pentecost, the beginning of reaching out to the rest of the world and spreading the Gospel of Jesus. The Apostles were the first to become evangelists of the Catholic Church. Rev. Joe McCloskey, SJ wrote that “peace is what the Apostles received from Christ.” Through Piety, Study and Action, we can learn that “the more we share of Christ, the more Christ we will have to share.” Take a moment to read his message.

2. Yet another beach photo by Dee. Our son Stephen and me.

3. This is a unique photo showing what can be accomplished with photography. A pet that all fantasy fans would like.

4. Nikolaj Arndt, a.k.a. “the chalk guy.” His 3D artwork always amazes me.


5. The Cannon Beach, Oregon sandcastle contest is coming up this month. Here is one of the entries from 2013.


6. Patsy Cline was born in Winchester, Virginia on September 8, 1932. Her number one “Juke Box” hit was “Crazy.” 


7. Dee and me at the beach. Photo by Stephen.

  


Read other "Takes" at Team Whitaker, hosting for Conversion Diary.




Friday, June 6, 2014

My Slow Takes About the beach, Ray Charles, Apple WWDC and D-Day.



1. Dee and I were at the Outer Banks last week. The weather was hot and sunny at the beginning and then cooled down Thursday. Some clouds on Wednesday and Thursday but the sun came out for the rest of the week. Children do not let things like weather affect their time at the beach. We did shell gathering, jumping in the surf, a little beach soccer and volleyball. Our friends Pam and Tony were with us Sunday through Wednesday. Then our sons Todd and Stephen joined us with their families at the end of the week.  It was a time of sharing, laughing and story telling. Pam and Dee prepared some wonderful dinners and Tony and I drank wine.
Monday Morning
Wednesday Morning
2. Ray Charles once said that there are two kinds of music, good music and bad music. His music spanned both pop and country. On June 2, 1965 his rendition of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” made #1. It continued for five weeks and became his biggest pop hit. Willie Nelson once said of his friend, that he "did more for country music than any other living human being."

3. This week was Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. (WWDC) USA Today has a great article and video, “WDDC: Meet tomorrow’s tech stars.” 

4. The screened in porch has been cleaned from the spring pollen. We are now enjoying breakfast on the porch.
5. This photo, by Dee, was taken at the Outer Banks. Two of our sons, Stephen and Todd.

6. Claudia Puig, USA Today, writes about,  “5 great movies about D-Day, to remember June 6, 1944.” I have seen them all and agree with her critique. 

7. June 6, 1944, D-Day, also known as “Operation Overlord.” This was the largest amphibious operation ever undertaken. Over 150,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on the coast of Normandy, France. About 9,00 of those who landed were killed. 
This is the 70th Anniversary of that day and Brian Williams, of NBC News, provided special coverage of this momentous day.   



Read other "Takes" at Conversion Diary.