"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, May 30, 2018

Captured - The Briartun Archives - April 1755


Henry was pleased with the wheat field. The month of April was mild and there was sufficient rain to keep the ground moist for the seeds to germinate. He was thinking about the summer harvest when he heard the dog barking. As he turned and looked toward the barn, he saw two men. One was attacking Henry’s dog and the other was pointing his musket toward the house. Henry grabbed his musket and fired at them. He started running toward the barn when he heard a loud “crack” and felt something hit him in the side. He slowly sank to the ground, then everything went black. 

Cédric Frisque and Jean Pagel had scouted the farm looking for livestock and possible hostages. As they approached the barn a large dog started barking and lunged toward Jean who hit the dog with the butt of his musket. It required several strikes before the dog stopped moving. Cedric turned toward the field after hearing a musket shot ricochet off the barn door. He saw Henry running toward them, aimed his musket and fired. As he watched the man fall he turned to Jean and told him to head to the cabin. They grabbed Henry’s wife Susanna and his young son Jonas. Hostages were more important than live stock. They headed away from the farm as fast as they could. Cedric knew it wouldn’t take long for some of the local militia to assemble and follow them.

Jamis, and his Mohawk brother Khiatons, heard a musket shot and stopped where they were. It was possible that someone was hunting, but not likely. There was a second shot and then silence. They headed in the direction of the musket fire, moving cautiously through the woods. When they arrived at the Gifford farm, there was no one in site. 
They carefully searched the small cabin but it was empty. A couple of the chairs and the table were tipped over but there was no damage. Jamis figured that some type of altercation had occurred. The barn was the next place to search. Once again there was no one there. Nothing seemed to be damaged. They did find the remains of a large dog. Jamis and Khiatons split up and slowly headed into the wheat field. 

It did not take them long to find Henry. He had been shot in the side, unconscious but still alive. They carried him back to the cabin and cleaned the wound. Fortunately the musket ball had gone through his side, not damaging any vital organs. 

Henry slipped in and out of consciousness, babbling about his wife and son. They were able to gather enough information to figure out that both wife and son had been taken. Leaving Henry alone was not an option. Jamis went to the barn, harnessed the oxen to the wagon and pulled it in front of the cabin. Henry was then placed in the back and wrapped in blankets. Khiatons sat with him while Jamis drove. 

They headed to the village of Minetto and were soon met by a small group of Militia. Miles Clement, the apparent leader of the men, approached Jamis and asked for information on what had occurred at the farm. Jamis explained about hearing the musket fire and then finding Henry in the field. After updating Miles on Henry’s condition both men agreed that he needed medical attention. Miles assigned two of the men to take Henry to Doc Hamond. 

Miles, along with the remaining men, said they would join Jamis and Khiatons and move quickly to intercept the French raiders.




Cédric and Jean are Old Glory figures. I don’t know the manufacturer of the wife and son. I purchased them along with some other figures back when I was involved in the Anglo-Saxon period. Somehow they were put away and I rediscovered them.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Sometimes, June & Remember




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Sometimes I have to search to find things to write about. The writing doesn't always just happen.
So, perhaps a wee bit of an update on the season and some family things.

This is the last week of May and soon we will be starting the summer months. June brings high school graduation and a wedding for our family. The graduation is here in Virginia and the wedding is up in Lake View, New York. It would be nice to have pleasant weather for both. 

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"June burst forth with sunshine blest
Buds awakening on the stem of trees
Life awakens like a treasure chest
And butterflies flutter in the breeze.

Cygnets follow in line astern their mother, 
And other ducks swim along with pride
Ducklings bobbing in the water, one behind the other
In shimmering lakes and rivers country-wide.

Weeping willows gracefully kiss the water’s edge
Their leaves blowing gently in the wind
Gaggling geese chatting as they sit on the ledge
And the old man sitting on a bench just grinned.

Dog walkers with their pets strolling on the grass, 
Mum’s with babe’s in pushchairs following on behind, 
Joggers running round and round trying hard to pass.
All enjoying the June sunshine away from the daily grind." 


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The Washington Capitals defeated the Tampa Bay Lighting on Wednesday evening and are now in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This should make my brother very happy.

The Prince of Wales Trophy

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A month long history of the many places that miracles of Mary have taken place through our world. Presented by Kelly over at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

I didn’t realize how many miracles there were and how many shrines, churches and basilicas have been built in her honor. There is also a separate prayer to Mary for each day.

Please take the time to read, pray and explore.

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HHF Website


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Happy Hippo Banana Boat Song (Harry Belafonte)


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Kelly is not hosting this week. She has posted a link to "Seven Ways To Observer Memorial Day As A Catholic."

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Friday, May 18, 2018

A Test, Corinthians & Oreos




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My cousin Naomi shared this on Facebook.


I finished reading it in about 35 seconds.

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I was going to write something about rain, but it’s raining everywhere. So, here is a poem by Sidney Lanier entitled, “Souls And Rain-Drops.”

Light rain-drops fall and wrinkle the sea,
Then vanish, and die utterly.
One would not know that rain-drops fell
If the round sea-wrinkles did not tell.

So souls come down and wrinkle life
And vanish in the flesh-sea strife.
One might not know that souls had place
Were't not for the wrinkles in life's face.

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Last Friday Dee and I attended a Cursillo gathering at our Church. There was a witness given by Desi, one of the more recent men to attend a weekend. He read from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13:1-13. It brought chills as I listened to each line …

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated,

it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.

For we know partially and we prophesy partially,

but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

I read this at Rich and Kathy’s funeral. They are missed and will never be forgotten. 

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“Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”
Dr. Seuss
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Dee usually keeps the six pack Oreo cookies for snacks. This week while I was enjoying my Oreos, I noticed that two of the six had less cream fillings than the others. That means 1/3 of my Oreos were sub-standard. This could be a simple glitch, or Nabisco is cutting corners. So I’m requesting that Nabisco recheck their quality control and correct this issue, please.


There was an Oreo song that my friend Sally, wife of Deacon Danny, and I use to sing when we snacked on Oreo cookies.

"Girls are nice but oh what icing comes in Oreos. 
Oreos, the best because it's the grandest cookie that ever was. 
Little girls have pretty curls but I like Oreos; 
Oreos, the best because it's the grandest cookie that ever was..."

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The Central Virginia 511th Women’s Cursillo weekend started this week. Thursday 17, through Sunday 20.

Please pray for the team members and candidates.

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Kermit The Frog - “Rainbow Connection”



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



Friday, May 11, 2018

Allergies, Kathryn & Naomi





I have allergies, so sometimes it’s better for me to stay away from the trees, grasses and weeds this time of year. This is not an easy task. Yard and other outside work has to be completed.

Relief usually is a trip to the Outer Banks, near the end of this month. Dee keeps telling me that it’s not the beach, just the end of the allergy season. She hasn’t convinced me yet.
  
Sneezy

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Autism has increased “to 1 in every 59 births in the United States. ” The estimated “lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism is as great as $2.4 million.” Read more about this at the Autism Society website.

Please take the time to watch Kathryn talk about her experiences of being a mother with three autistic children. She is the daughter of my Cursillo brother Dave.

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“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and everything.”
Plato

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Last Saturday my cousin Naomi wrote about Diabetes. She knows me as Ron, because that was my nickname growing up. A name that my mother, Rose Marie, chose for me. Anyway, I believe the last time I saw Naomi was at a funeral in Plattsburgh, New York. It was for our grandmother (mémé). I’m glad we have been able to re-connect.
 I’m not a regular on Facebook so I didn’t respond until this week. 

Please read what she has written and pray for her and all those who are dealing with Diabetes.

Naomi Reel - Facebook 5-2-18

“I can't say this will be my last post for a while, but maybe the last of many.... love you all! Certainly, in the most difficult moments of life you realize who are true friends or people who really appreciate you. Unfortunately, some friends will click "like" but they don't really take time to read your status if they see it's long. I have decided to publish this message to make people aware of the horrific byproducts of diabetes. The disease ruins your cardiovascular and renal systems.... And the drugs, like metformin, that are prescribed, may encourage the onset of dementia. Now I'm looking for those who will have time to read this post to the end. Diabetes is very invasive and destructive to our body, even after treatment, and medications your body is still struggling with yourself trying to regulate the spiking and dropping of insulin . It's a very long process.
Please, in honor of a family members or friend who has died, or continue to fight diabetes or even have diabetes but have healed; copy and paste (not share) on your page.
So I'm gonna find out who reads my posts. Please write "done" in the comments.”

My response 5-9-18

You are not alone and are in my daily prayers. Our oldest son Eric also has diabetes so we are familiar with the disease. Your message will be read by many who know and love you. There will also be those who don't know you but will add you to their prayers. Please don't judge the love that is out there by how many paste and share your story. 
Love, cousin Ron

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This is from Proverbs 31:25-31.

A Blessed Mother’s Day to all you beautiful ladies.


"She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and laughs at the days to come.

She opens her mouth in wisdom;
kindly instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over* the affairs of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband, too, praises her:

“Many are the women of proven worth,
but you have excelled them all.”

Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.*

Acclaim her for the work of her hands,
and let her deeds praise her at the city gates."

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Creedence Clearwater - “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?”



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



Friday, May 4, 2018

Musketeers, Value & Suet




I have always been a fan of the “Three Musketeers.” My favorite movie version(s) were the the 1973 and 1974 films with Oliver Reed (Athos), Richard Chamberlain (Aramis) and Frank Finlay (Porthos.) Michael York (d’Artagnan) added to the cast and so far there hasn’t been a better movie production since then. I still enjoy watching them today.

On Monday “Paul’s Bods” presented some 1/72 characters from The Three Musketeers.”
MiLady de Winter, Queen Anne and Constance Bonacieux. Excellent figures, as always.


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Beth DeCristofaro presented some excellent thoughts on values of friends and family.

“What do you value in a friend or family member?  I appreciate a good belly laugh, the phone call answered and help arriving in the middle of the night, those encircling arms when tears just won’t stop, the honest stop-me-in-my-tracks word of critique that I most need to hear.  I also value comrades who aren’t nearby but are available and able to “listen” to the hardest of news without dispensing trite, fix-it advice.  I value the sister with whom I can share photos of the season’s first hummingbird and the brother who will again answer a computer question for the umpteenth time.  I honor friends who reciprocate anow d are willing to ask me for help too.” 
I work hard at forgiveness, understanding, listening and loving. And it works, although it wasn’t always that way. I have had to learn that I am not alone, that God is with me. It is a process that has required me to open my heart, to pray and accept that I am a “work-in-progress.”

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There is a good chance that I have been successful in the squirrel and the suet. Bought some anti-squirrel suet that birds still enjoy. It contains cayenne pepper, which squirrels don’t like.

Now I’m working against the black birds which like to pick the suet feeder off the pole. I put a black zip tie above the suet feeder so that it can’t be removed from the pole. So far it is working. Watched one of the birds play with it for a good five minutes then flew away.

Paul 2
Squirrel 0
Black bird 0


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“In the marvelous month of May when all the buds were bursting,
then in my heart did love arise. 
In the marvelous month of May when all the birds were singing, 
then did I reveal to her my yearning and longing.”
Heinrich Heine

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There are times when everything is going good and I feel like dancing.

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My brother Jack, from my other mother, and I at the Outer Banks.

Guess who is the youngest. Hint: He's wearing glasses.
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Janis Joplin - "Me and Bobby McGee"


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