Staunton, Discussion & John

Dee and I spent the weekend in Staunton, Virginia with friends. We all attended the Frontier Culture Foundation, “Beach Blanket Bingo” party. The band was Steve Ambrose and “The Original Rhondels.” It was a great evening! Steve is a good friend and we enjoyed the music, dancing and excellent food. There was even a screen setup that showed the old Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello movie.  

Our Gang

Steve Ambrose

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Bishop Robert Barron Q&A about the Sexual Abuse Crisis.

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“This talk is difficult for Fr. Mike to give, but sadly, it is also necessary. Since the Pennsylvania Report was released, practically every headline with the word “Catholic” in it has been about the report, which covers seventy years and gives accounts of three hundred priests who allegedly abused over one thousand minors over. Indignation is not the main message Fr. Mike wants to express here—although he feels that too. More than anything, he wants his viewers to know that now—more than ever—we need to live virtuous and holy lives and become the saints the Church needs.” 

From Ascension Presents, published on August 22, 2018.

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Bishop Robert Baron - Why Remain Catholic?

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I posted “The Reverend Arrives in Briartun” this week. There are photos of him and other villagers.

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“Our shared values define us more than our differences. And acknowledging those shared values can see us through our challenges today if we have the wisdom to trust in them again.”

John McCain - August 29, 1836 - August 25, 2018.

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Roger Miller - “Little Green Apples,” this is one of my favorites.

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

The Reverend Arrives in Briartun

I completed more Briartun villagers. This group is from Perry Miniatures, AW73. The castings are well done and had very little flash. I enjoyed painting them.

The first photo is in front of the Good Shepard Church of Briartun. The Reverend Thomas Longton with his beautiful wife Mary. The Reverend was assigned to Briartun to help bring the word of God to the wilderness. A kind and thoughtful man, he understands the needs of his congregation. 

The second photo shows Cesar Prince on the left. He's taking a small break from carrying sacks all morning.
Moving to the right is Samuel Dabney, son of Audrey Dabney who is the lady sweeping the front stoop.
Next is John Fitzhugh, son of Elynor Fitzhugh who was featured on another blog. He is too young for the local militia but continues to practice marching anyway.
Hannah Cullane is carrying her baby on her back and bringing some food over to her sister's home, Abigail Ware.
The last person is Jeremiah Carpenter, a local cooper, or barrel maker.  

A photo of all the villagers together.

Reading, Repair Work & Buddy

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Sunday’s Gospel reading (JN 6:51-58) is challenging. Jesus talks of eating his flesh and drinking his blood but does not explain how.  

“The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?”” 

There was no Eucharist, the ceremony of the Last Supper had not taken place yet. So what were those who were listening suppose to think? 

Perhaps a reference back to Proverbs 9:1-6 would have helped.

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My brother, Tee, came down on Wednesday and helped repair some siding work. It’s one of those projects that I put off for a long time. He is excellent at home repair and knows exactly what is required to complete a project. He loves going to Lowe's and spending my money.

In addition to the siding he repaired the side storm door. We enjoyed working together and sharing some "bubbly" after we finished. We opened a bottle of Lamarca, from Italy, that my good friend Tony gave me.

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Sometimes I face the same issues when writing.

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There was no rain yesterday or today. The ground is still soaked, extremely wet, saturated, and any other adjectives you may think of. Hopefully over the next few days the water will all settle deep into the ground.

Okay, maybe it isn't this bad ....

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I'm working on some Briartun civilians and should have them completed by next week. I also mounted the Church to a base and will post a photograph on everything together.

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“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.” 

Edgar Allan Poe

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Buddy Holly - “Peggy Sue”

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

Rides, Eldorado & Spartacus

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Dee and I, along with Stephen, Christina, Eryn and Hailey went to “Water Country USA” this week. It was my first visit, and if I stay in shape, it won’t be my last. 

The rides: Aquazoid, Big Daddy Falls, Colossal Curl, Hubba Hubba Highway, Jet Stream, Malibu Pipeline, Meltdown, Nitro Racer, Surfers Bay, Vanish Point, and Wild Thang. 

Dee and I went on all but the Colossal Curl and Vanish Point. 

There was a lot of “hooting and hollering,” laughing and family fun. We were tired at the end of the day but enjoyed every minute.

The Colossal Curl

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Eldorado

Gaily bedight, 

   A gallant knight, 

In sunshine and in shadow,   

   Had journeyed long,   

   Singing a song, 

In search of Eldorado. 

   But he grew old— 

   This knight so bold—   

And o’er his heart a shadow—   

   Fell as he found 

   No spot of ground 

That looked like Eldorado. 

   And, as his strength   

   Failed him at length, 

He met a pilgrim shadow—   

   ‘Shadow,’ said he,   

   ‘Where can it be— 

This land of Eldorado?’ 

   ‘Over the Mountains 

   Of the Moon, 

Down the Valley of the Shadow,   

   Ride, boldly ride,’ 

   The shade replied,— 

‘If you seek for Eldorado!’ 

Edgar Allan Poe

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The movie “Spartacus,” staring Kirt Douglas was a 1960’s movie that won four Academy Awards. It was, and still is, a great movie. My Dad took my brother Tom and I to see it when it first came out.

This is one of my favorite scenes.

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Old words and phrases that are not used any more were posted by my buddy Phil. Thought I would share a few. Did a wee bit of research to gather info on each one. I don’t know how accurate they are, but “gee whillikers,” I did my best.

“Heavens To Murgatroyd”

This was used by a cartoon character named “Snagglepuss,” who was a regular on the Yogi Bear Show.

“Heavens to Betsy”

“The origins of this expression are unclear. It may have originated sometime between the years 1850 and 1914.

Heavens to Betsy is another variation of the phrase for Heaven’s sake, which began as a euphemism for what some considered the blasphemous for God’s sake and for Christ’s sake.”

Jumping Jehoshaphat!

“On consulting the Oxford English Dictionary and the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, it seems clear that the name of the king of Judah (which also occurs in several other spellings, most commonly Jehosaphat) was used in the United States around the middle of the nineteenth century as a mild oath, a euphemism for Jehovah or Jesus. The phrase Jumping Jehoshaphat is first recorded from Mayne Reid’s Headless Horseman of 1866, but is probably older.”

 Holy moley!

“There is solid evidence that this] was in was already widely in use in the late 1920s as a jocular euphemism for “Holy Moses,” an oath that, at that time, might well have been offensive to some people. The writers of Captain Marvel simply picked it up and ran with it.”

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Our grandson Justin has a list of books for his summer reading requirement at school. One of the books is "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has been some time since I read it and have decided to pick it up and read it again. Perhaps Justin and I could start some dialogue and learn a few things about Middle Earth and the story of "There and Back Again."

School Work Helper

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“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.” 

 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Charley Pride - “Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger” - This is a really great song. Listen to the words...

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

Mushrooms, Humidity and VBS

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In addition to helping the lawn and flowers, the rain and high humidity have helped add mushrooms near my shed. “Mushrooms grow well at relative humidity levels of around 95–100%, and substrate moisture levels of 50 to 75%.” So I was not surprised when I found these mushrooms growing out back.

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“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Vincent Van Gogh

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Eight things you didn’t know about humidity.

Brought to you by PBS

1. 50% humidity is a sponge half full.

2. Dew occurs when the relative humidity reaches 100%.

3. Saudi Arabia has the highest recorded dew point temperature.

4. Thanks to humidity, New York City stinks in the summer.

5. Humidity brought us tonal language.

6. Once upon a time, humidity was measured with hair curls.

7. With exercise and humidity, don’t “over dew” it.

8. Humidity is for the bugs, especially the moths.

Read the details about these things here.

http://www.ac-heatingconnect.com/homeowners/cold-weather-home-humidity/

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I’m sitting in the Library at the Church of the Epiphany. Friday is the last day of Vacation Bible School. The theme is “Shipwrecked, Jesus always come to the rescue.”

Dee is the photographer and today we met with Laura to review the slide presentation for Friday. I was brought in as the IT consultant, but my presence was not required. Dee and Laura had everything set and ready to go. 

A photo of the photographer.

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Jesus can be confusing to me when it comes to His parables and discussions with the 

disciples. In today’s Gospel, John 12:24-26, He tells the disciples: 

“Whoever loves his life loses it,

and whoever hates his life in this world

will preserve it for eternal life.”

Bishop Robert Barron, in his “Daily Gospel Reflections,” provides a better understanding of what Jesus is saying.

“To understand what all this means, we should go back to the grain of wheat that falls to the earth. A seed’s life is inside, yes, but it’s a life that grows by being given away and mixing with the soil around it. It has to crack open, be destroyed.”

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Josh Turner & Randy Travis - “Your Man”

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

Plans, Shane and WIne

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This is from Bishop Barron’s Gospel reflection for Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

“Friends, today Jesus offers two parables about the kingdom of heaven. Let's focus on the first one: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again."

Sometimes God’s love is found that way. There’s a saying: "Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans." Sometimes in the course of our everyday lives, something happens that vividly and surprisingly summons us to union with God. We realize, in a flash, what it’s all about. We weren’t particularly looking for it, but it found us.

That's what Jesus is getting at today. As you walk through the fields of life, be open to the inrushing of grace when you least expect it. And when it comes, give up anything that holds it back.”

I try not to plan to much on my own because I’m always trying to figure out what God’s plan is. Perhaps I should consider just being open to His grace.

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This is a link to my latest Briartun miniatures. (Just in case you missed it.)

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On August 1, 1953 the movie western, "Shane" was released by Paramount Pictures. It starred Alan Ladd. An excellent western and one that everyone, cowboy or not, should see.

Brandon de Wilde (Joey Starrett), Jean Arthur (Marion Starrett), Van Heflin (Joe Starrett),  Shane (Alan Ladd)

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“There are two ways of spreading light:

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

Edith Wharton

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On Sunday, Dee and I traveled to the New Kent Winery. We met up with friends and enjoyed some wine tasting, a farmer’s market and some music. 

My favorite wine was a red blend named Meritage. "A Bordeaux-style blended wine containing Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot." 

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Our son Todd spent an overnight this week. He brought a bottle of wine labeled "Intrinsic." It is a red blend that contains Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was an excellent wine.

Dr. Todd heading out to work.

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The Drifters - “There Goes My Baby”

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