"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 29, 2018

Prom, Family & Outdoor Oven




**********

Dee and I didn’t know each other in high school, so I never had the opportunity to ask her to the “Prom.” Our God-daughter Carrie had a “Prom Party” last weekend so Dee and I posed for a “Prom Photo - 2018.”

Dee and Me
Me and Carrie

**********

The wedding of my nephew Matthew and Amber was excellent. A couple of photos below.

Me, Dee, Stephen and Eric

Me, Maureen Pierre and Aunt Beth


Highland Park is one of my favorite single malt scotch whiskeys. I receive monthly newsletters to keep me informed as to what is going on in Orkney. This month there is a chance to win a “Highland Park Serpent Head T-shirt.” My entry has been made so we’ll see if I win one. 



**********

Weather for Richmond, Virginia,

Thursday 90
Friday 93
Saturday 95
Sunday 97
Monday 98

It was so hot today I saw a robin dipping his worm in Nestea.

Johnny Carson

**********

Dee, Eric and I went over to cousin Dave's house for lunch. Dave has an excellent outdoor kitchen which was perfect. The sun was shinning and the temperature was in the mid 70's. Dave prepared some pizza's in his wood burning oven and various sausage patties on the grill. We were joined by cousin Carol, Aunt Mary and Aunt Rose. A beautiful luncheon with family. Thank you Dave.

Dave making pizzas.

Dave, Me and Eric toasting the day.
**********

I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.



US Independence Days

**********

Ricky Nelson - “Hello Mary Lou”



**********

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


Friday, June 22, 2018

Fathers, Novels & A Wedding




**********

To all the fathers, I pray that you enjoyed your Father’s Day.


**********


Terry Brooks announced the release of “The Skaar Invasion.” The continuation of the Shannara Series.



********** 

Another one of my favorite authors, Bernard Cornwell, will be releasing the next book in his "The Last Kingdom" series this fall.




**********

This is a photo of my high school buddy Rich and I. It was taken at my sister Kim’s 50th surprise birthday party in 2011. Thank you to our son Eric for sending it to me.

I miss you my friend

**********

My nephew Matthew is getting married this weekend to a beautiful young lady, Amber. To them I present Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. 
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

**********

I was introduced to “19 Crimes” wine and have been enjoying the Cabernet and the Red Blend. This week one of my Cursillo brothers, Jerry, called me to see how I was doing. (I pulled a lower back muscle on Sunday, but I’m doing fine now.) He told me about a new app, Living Wine Labels. Once you download the app, you scan the “19 Crimes” label and the “character” on the wine bottle tells you a short story. It is awesome and has interesting short stories about the bottle. Thank you Jerry.


**********

Bonnie Raitt & John Prine - “Angel From Montgomery”


**********

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

Friday, June 15, 2018

Chords, Models & Deacon Dan




**********

Learning to play a steel-string guitar is somewhat easier than learning to play the bagpipes. However, it still requires dedication to practice. I do my best and have been working on the three cords, A, E and D. It's still slow at changing from cord to cord, but eventually it will come together.

I have also been working on learning the notes on the strings. This has been a little easier but still requires practice. My current practice tunes are: “Ode To Joy,” “Aura Lee,” “Tom Dooley,” and “Amazing Grace.”

**********

Paul’s Bods has some Zombie Dogs that he completed. Thought I would share them, for those of you interested in Zombie games.


These are my wolves, well, actually they are Ral Partha “Hellhounds.” I picked them up at Historicon last year. They were in a “grab box of mixed figures.” I use them as wolves and they do an excellent job.


********** 


Flag Day at Wikipedia
**********

Philip Warren is a master modeler from Blandford, Dorset, England. He builds model ships using matchsticks. Read about his hobby and check out his collection. Very impressive. 


**********

“I can only please one person a day … 
Today is not your day & tomorrow isn’t looking good either.


**********

We are blessed with a “Summer Seminarian,” Deacon Dan Molochko. Last Sunday he gave a Homily that was relevant to the readings and our everyday lives. 
He shared his journey and his passion of the Church. 
The sermon was not given from the pulpit. As he spoke, he slowly strolled by each of the sections where the congregation was sitting. It seemed to bring him closer to each of us. Like sitting down across from a table. He utilized a little bit of humor and some reflective moments to reinforce his message.
I look forward to having him in our Church Community.

**********

Dave Loggins - “Please Come To Boston”


**********

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

Friday, June 8, 2018

Fr. John, Our Porch & Drive-In




**********

Deacon John Baab ordained June 2, 2018. Watch the “Ordination to the Priesthood.”

Photo from Trisha’s Facebook page. Fr. John’s “First Mass” at Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church.


**********

We have returned from the beach and now are back to work in the yard. It’s not as much fun, but relaxing on our porch afterwords is worth all the effort.





**********

"The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled at itself in the smoothly sparkling lake, the satin-green lawns rippled occasionally in a gentle breeze: June had arrived." 
―J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
**********

Calvin and Hobbes for Jun 8, 2018 Comic Strip

Go Comics

**********
On June 6, 1933 the first "drive-in" movie opened in Camden, New Jersey.
Some interesting information here

**********

The Capitals have won the Stanley Cup. I realize that this is old news, but the team deserves all the coverage they can get. Check out ESPN.
Congratulations to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals Team!


**********

Gordon Lightfoot - “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”


**********


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

Friday, June 1, 2018

Beach, Briartun & Big John



**********

We are sitting in Kill Devil Hills with rain in our forecast. There seems to be a good chance we’ll have sunshine at the end of the week. 

I’m not complaining and have always enjoyed being here no matter what the weather.
 “A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day at work.”

**********

I Am The Beach

“As we walked along the beach, crashing waves 
thundered in our ears and a light, salted mist, 
dampened our lips. 

The sun began to set and the voice of the beach, 
traveled across the ocean waves. 

'I am the beach, and here you shall find peace. 
I am the beach, here you shall find love. 

In this domain, my beach, the answers you 
search for, could very well be found here. 
For at this beach, there is much, 
that has been revealed. 

The sparkled, white grains of sand, that blanket 
this beach, has been a bed of comfort, to many. 

Pause, as you come upon this beach, and listen 
to the symphony of waves and the chorus of 
birds, singing their song, as they glide in the wind.

Feel the power of this beach, as it seems to 
renew your inner being. You need not question 
the beach and its mystical powers. For as 
millions before you have found, the beach... 
and its magical transference to one...have 
existed, since the beginning of time. 

Be not troubled, for the beach is close at 
hand. You need only to deliver your strife, 
to the tranquility of the beach and it shall 
be exercised from you. 

When you go from this beach...leave with 
the peace that you have found here.”


**********

This is a photo of Dee at the Blue Moon Beach Grill. We always enjoy having lunch here.


**********

Dee and Me, a selfie on the beach.


Dee in a hole on the beach, not a selfie.


**********

Robert E. Howard was a writer known for his tales of Conan the Barbarian. I was introduced to his writings back in the mid 1970’s by a close friend Gary. At the time I was involved with a great group of friends who collected, painted and played with miniature figures. Gary came up with an idea for a miniature’s campaign involving the character Conan and the world of the Hyborian Age. It turned out to be one of my favorite campaigns. We used the Conan series of 12 books written by Robert, L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter. (Lancer/Ace editions.) I still have the books and thought I would read them once again. This has turned out to be an excellent idea. An opportunity to rediscover the world of Conan. 

Illustration of Conan by Mark Schultz

**********

 I wrote a short article from The Briartun Archives. 
If you haven't read it, look here.

**********

Jimmy Dean - “Big Bad John”



**********

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