Fancy and Robbie

From a year ago, a post that never got posted. As I read it made me think of new life, new hopes.

What’s on your mind today?

 

 

“I was at the barn when I heard Fancy and Robbie alerting. At first I hope there must be hawks in the air. But looking I didn’t see anything. Fancy and Robbie continued alerting. I made my way to the front of Village House and there was Fancy standing guard duty. I looked around again and still saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Earlier in the day, the Sheriff had put the six 10-week-old chicks in with the geese. He does this so the chicks are in a much larger area but still safe. Drummer and the other geese will watch over them as they finish growing up. I thought perhaps that was why Fancy wouldn’t be quiet.”

Meet Anna Gary

To my family and friends, I want to take a moment to introduce you to Anna Gary.

Anna, a fellow Texan, has been and continues to be a tremendous blessing to me in that she makes my writing come alive with her artwork, allows me to pick her brain at any time of the day or night and doesn’t scream when I toss her head first into new or difficult situations.  

Before Barn Town, Anna was an abstract painter with a big heart, a great talent and a love for all of God’s majestic creation.  She has brought all of that drive, all of that enormous love and creativity to the residents of Barn Town.

God brought us together through a lovely lady and fellow author, Ann Jones, and I am extremely grateful.  My hope and prayer is that Anna and I have a long and prosperous career ahead of us and that you will learn to love Anna as I do.

 

Imagine if you will, a roasted eagle on your Thanksgiving table.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/american-myths-benjamin-franklins-turkey-and-the-presidential-seal-6623414/

American Myths: Benjamin Franklin’s Turkey and the Presidential Seal

How the New Yorker and the West Wing botched the history of the icon

Artist Anatole Kovarsky’s image from the cover from the November 24, 1962 issue of The New Yorker (Anatole Kovarsky via New Yorker cover archive)

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/american-myths-benjamin-franklins-turkey-and-the-presidential-seal-6623414/#e9UemHKM0xyue7Ut.99

By Jimmy Stamp

smithsonian.com
January 25, 2013

 

While researching our recent article about the Seal of the President of the United States, I came across a few myths about the National Emblem that required a little more investigation.

First up, the idea that Benjamin Franklin, in his infinite wisdom and wit, wanted the National Bird to be the turkey. According to the United States Diplomacy Center, this myth is completely false (though I’ll dive into the murkier parts of that myth in a moment). The center points to the fact that Franklin’s proposal for the Great Seal was devoid of birds completely and suggest that the idea was propagated, in part, by a 1962 illustration for the cover of the New Yorker by artist Anatole Kovarsky, who imagined what the Great Seal of the United States might look like if the turkey did become our national emblem (above image). However, while it’s hard to imagine that overstuffed, flightless bird on our currency and on the President’s lectern instead of on our dinner table, there is actually a bit of truth to this rumor.

The Franklin Institute, addressing what I’m sure is their favorite question about one of the most complex and interesting men to ever live in this country, excerpts a letter from Franklin to his daughter, in which he does in fact question the choice of the eagle, commenting that the selected design looks more like a turkey. Franklin then expounds on the respectability and morality of each bird, which really seems like such a Ben Franklin thing to do:

“For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharping & robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our country…

“I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”

The second myth I wanted to address is tied to the alterations President Truman made to the Presidential Seal. It’s sometimes said that the eagle on the Presidential Seal changes during times of war to face the arrows instead of the olive branch. This one is unquestionably false, although somewhat understandable. From 1916 to 1945 the eagle did indeed face the arrows –a version that can still be seen on the Resolute Desk– but this was changed when President Truman issued Executive Order 9646, modifying the seal so that the eagle faced the olive branch – a gesture symbolic of the post-war nation’s dedication to peace. While the changes to the seal, which always occurred around times of war, may explain the origin of the myth, its propagation is owed largely to popular culture. According to snopes.com, in both an episode of “The West Wing” and the Dan Brown novel Deception Point, the myth is incorrectly stated as fact. But perhaps the final word should come from Winston Churchill, a Franklinesque wit himself. When Truman showed him the changes that were made to seal, Churchill suggested that the eagle’s head should just be on a swivel.

Jimmy Stamp is a writer/researcher and recovering architect who writes for Smithsonian.com as a contributing writer for design.

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No room for me….

I was working on my laptop and had reached a spot where I could take a break. Turned around and saw my bed, which clearly said “no room for me”.  For some reason reminded me of a poem, but first the picture I took.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Eugene Field

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
   Sailed off in a wooden shoe,—
Sailed on a river of crystal light
   Into a sea of dew.
“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
   The old moon asked the three.
“We have come to fish for the herring-fish
   That live in this beautiful sea;
   Nets of silver and gold have we,"
            Said Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
   As they rocked in the wooden shoe;
And the wind that sped them all night long
   Ruffled the waves of dew;
The little stars were the herring-fish
   That lived in the beautiful sea.
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish,—
   Never afraid are we!”
   So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
   To the stars in the twinkling foam,—
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
   Bringing the fishermen home:
‘Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed
   As if it could not be;
And some folk thought ‘twas a dream they’d dreamed
   Of sailing that beautiful sea;
   But I shall name you the fishermen three:
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
   And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
   Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
   Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
   As you rock in the misty sea
   Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:—
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

Redeeming the unclean

I was doing a Bible Study this week and came across a comment that said a donkey was an unclean animal. I was puzzled as I didn’t remember hearing or reading this before. (Perhaps you already knew this. If so, please forgive my redundancy.) I remember Joseph and Mary traveling to Jerusalem for the birth of Jesus on a donkey. They fled to Egypt on a donkey and most importantly Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey for Passover.  So I did a little research. I am more than happy to admit I was wrong and increased my Bible knowledge.  Please read the following and share my new knowledge of Old Testament biblical law.

Sermon #3458

Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
Volume 61

Tell someone today how much you love Jesus Christ.

REDEEMING THE UNCLEAN

A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY,

MAY 13, 1915, DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON, On L’ORD’S-DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1868.

“And every first-born of a donkey you shall  redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck.”
Exodus 13:13.

WE read to you in the former part of the service the origination of the law of God by which the firstborn, both of man and beast, belonged to the Most High. That law seemed to be a very admirable memorial of what the Lord did, and also a very just requirement on the part of God that the first-born, whom He had so miraculous delivered, should be His through all time.
But the difficulty arose as to how some beasts, which were counted unclean by the law, could be offered to God at all. There were many animals necessary to man, useful for draught, and so forth, but not coming under the list of clean animals, such as divided the hoof and chewed the cud. Among the rest, the donkey, useful everywhere, but most of all in oriental countries, was counted unclean. How, then, could it be dedicated to God? How could the first-born of the donkey be given to Him? Our text solves the difficulty. An exchange was made. A lamb was offered instead, and then the donkey, of course, was redeemed. But if the owner did not sufficiently value it to give a lamb, instead, then the neck was broken and the animal destroyed.
The teaching of the text is just as follows. It is fourfold and I think we shall have to bring out each fold. Of course, it is typical of something to do with ourselves and Christ, and our standing before God.And the first observation is this, that—

I. AS THE DONKEY, BEING UNCLEAN, WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, EVEN SO,
UNRENEWED MAN, BEING UNCLEAN, IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE BEFORE THE MOST HIGH.

to read more … 

Visiting the Ark in Northern Kentucky

 

Christmas Thoughts

• Have you any old grudges you would like to pay,
• Any wrongs laid up from a bygone day?
  Gather them now and lay them away
  When Christmas comes.
  Hard thoughts are heavy to carry, my friend,
  And life is short from beginning to end;
  Be kind to yourself, leave nothing to mend
  When Christmas comes.
  – William Lytle (“When Christmas Comes”)

 

• Somehow, not only for Christmas,
  But all the long year through,
  The joy that you give to others,
  Is the joy that comes back to you.
  And the more you spend in blessing,
  The poor and lonely and sad,
  The more of your heart’s possessing,
  Returns to you glad.
  – John Greenleaf Whittier

 

• The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart. – Helen Keller

 

The history of Santa Claus:

7 interesting facts  – The Week Staff

Santa Claus’s jolly, rotund appearance and his ability to slide implausibly down chimneys are relatively recent additions to his mythology. Blue Lantern Studio/Corbis

December 23, 2011

As Christmas approaches, children around the world have Santa on the brain. They’re anxiously wondering if they’ve been overly naughty or sufficiently nice, and eagerly daydreaming about their potential gift hauls. But exactly how did the jolly, bearded North Pole resident evolve into the cultural icon we know today? Here, seven interesting facts about his evolution:

1. He wasreal… sort of

Folklore may have turned Santa Claus into a toy distributor who mans a sleigh led by eight flying reindeer, but he is actually based, loosely, on a real person. Born around the year 270, St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, a town in what is now Turkey. He earned a reputation as an anonymous gift giver, says MSNBC, by paying the dowries of impoverished girls and handing out treats and coins to children — often leaving them in their shoes, set out at night for that very purpose. Since his death, Nicholas has been canonized as the patron saint of children.

2. He’s only been ‘Santa Claus’ for 200 years

A Dutch tradition kept St. Nicholas’ story alive in the form of Sinterklaas, a bishop who traveled from house to house to deliver treats to children on the night of Dec. 5. The first anglicizing of the name to Santa Claus was in a story that appeared in a New York City newspaper in 1773.

3. Satire first sent Santa down a chimney

In his satiric 1809 book A History of New York, Washington Irving did away with the characterization of Santa Claus as a “lanky bishop,” says Whipps. Instead, Irving described Santa as a portly, bearded man who smokes a pipe. Irving’s story also marked the first time Santa slid down the chimney, says the U.K.’s Independent.

4. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” introduced the reindeer

Clement Moore’s 1822 poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas — which is now more commonly referred to as “Twas the Night Before Christmas” — was first published anonymously in the Troy, N.Y., Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823. The 56-line poem introduced and popularized many of Santa’s defining characteristics — chiefly, that he drove a sleigh guided by “eight tiny reindeer.”

 

5. Coca-Cola created the modern Mr. Claus

When Father Christmas first began showing up in illustrations, he wore many different colored robes: Green, purple, blue, and brown, among others. Beginning in the late 1800s, it became popular to outfit Santa in a red suit. Artist Louis Prang depicted him that way in a series of Christmas cards in 1885, and The New York Times reported on the red garments in 1927. But the modern image of Santa Claus as the jolly man in the red suit was seared into American pop culture in 1931, when artist Haddon Sundblom illustrated him that way for a widely-circulated campaign for Coca-Cola.

6. The department store Santa is a 120-year-old tradition

In 1890, Massachusetts businessman James Edgar became the first department store Santa, according to The Smoking Jacket. Edgar is credited with coming up with the idea of dressing up in a Santa Claus costume as a marketing tool. Children from all over the state dragged their parents to Edgar’s small dry goods store in Brockton, and a tradition was born.

7. Santa was a bachelor until the late 1800s

The first mention of a spouse for Santa was in the 1849 short story A Christmas Legend by James Rees. Over the next several years, the idea of Mrs. Claus found its way into several literary publications, like the Yale Literary Magazine and Harper’s Magazine. But it wasn’t until Katherine Lee Bates’ widely-circulated 1889 poem Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride that Santa’s wife was popularized. (“Goody” is short for “Goodwife,” or “Mrs.”)

Sources: Colour Lovers, Independent, MSNBC, The Smoking Jacket

Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest is all gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain.
So open wide the doorway-
Thanksgiving comes again!

Albuquerque Turkey

Tune of “Darling Clementine”

Albuquerque is a turkey
And he’s feathered and he’s fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles
and he’s absolutely mine.

He’s the best pet that you can get.
Better than a dog or cat.
He’s my Albuquerque turkey
And I’m awfully proud of that.

He once told me, very frankly
He preferred to be my pet,
Not the main course at my dinner,
And I told him not to fret.

And my Albuquerque turkey
Is so happy in his bed,
‘Cause for our Thanksgiving dinner..
We had egg foo yong instead.

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. — J. R. R. Tolkien

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”
― Orhan Pamuk, My Name is Red

“There is nothing truer in this world than the love of a good dog.”
― Mira Grant

Facts I have gathered about Great Pyrenees.  Yes, I must confess I love my G.P.’s.  To the point of silliness and saturation of the soul.  Hope you enjoy the video and the other facts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y_L5XSpAds

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http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Great_Pyrenees

Great Pyrenees History

Great Pyrenees have been guarding sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains (on the border between France and Spain) since 1800 B.C., but historians believe they originally came from Asia. Their excellent sense of smell and intelligence made them invaluable herders on the steep mountain slopes. Since the early 18th century, Great Pyrenees have won the hearts of many, proving themselves time and again as popular show dogs, farm dogs and companions.

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http://iheartdogs.com/the-10-most-loyal-dog-breeds/

The 10 Most Loyal Dog Breeds

Whether they are sitting by your side each day, saving you from harm’s way, defending your home, or protecting those that fight along side them, these breeds are known for being loyal to the point of risking their own lives for your safety.

#1 – Great Pyrenees

@Aiko via Flickr

It’s no surprise this breed is considered one of the most loyal dogs out there. A Supreme livestock guardian, they will protect their charges (whether it’s sheep or kids) at all costs.

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http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/102208565.asp

The Great Pyrenees is one of the oldest dog breeds of the canine world. Starting at roughly ninety pounds and moving well past the one hundred pound mark, its relation to the Mastiff explains the breed’s large stature. Despite their long history and their massive physique, the breed is actually quite sensitive. They dislike harsh reprimands; and though not physically weak in any way, their sensitive constitution has been known to react fatally to even the smallest doses of anesthesia. Plus, any changes in diet must be made in very small, very slow steps in order to not to upset their ultra-susceptible digestive system. As they tend to bond deeply with their original owner, it can take some time for the sensitive Pyr to accept change and bond with a new family.

In complete contradiction to their resounding bark, many Pyr owners have been astounded by the fact that such a large dog can move with such unbelievable stealth. In all reality, this comes from their days as guardians of livestock and the nighttime patroling of their property.
The Pyr is one that has been known to sneak food off of counters or rifle through trash with nary a sound. Their ability to quietly pad through the house is so good that the Pyr sometimes does not wait for the cover of darkness to move. They will simply wait until the owner’s back is momentarily turned. To know where their dog is at any given time, many Pyr owners will take to hanging a bell around the dog’s neck.

Along with guarding and herding, the Great Pyrenees was also used to pull small carts. Their massive size made them perfect for hauling tasks around the farm and it is not uncommon to now see them performing this duty at fairs and other like events. Dog carting has taken on a serious interest among Pyr owners as the Pyr is one that loves having a job to do. Specially made harnesses and carts are made just for this purpose and Pyr and dog carting enthusiasts often meet for annual dog carting events throughout the world. Dog carts pulled by Pyr’s are also used in certain camps and therapy programs for disabled children.

The Great Pyrenees is a breed of dog that has double dew claws on the back legs. This is not a fault. In fact, for dogs following the breed standard, a fault will be cited in those Pyr’s that do not have the double dew claw. For the most part, the double dew claw merely takes on the function of extra working toes. Though these toes may or may not have nails growing out of them, they should be maintained regularly when they do.

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My two new loves.