Sunday, November 23, 2014

THANKSGIVING

Good Morning, Class of '64
Home to Thanksgiving - George Dunne
So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.

Arthur Guiterman
The First Thanksgiving
 
The First Thanksgiving - Jennie Brownescomb


 
Sundays with Larry
 

 

Thanksgiving


I’ve always wondered – when an atheist sees a beautiful spring morning with green grass, birds singing, and flowers blooming, who does he thank? Or a beautiful sunset? Or a child at play? And how does an atheist celebrate Thanksgiving? Or does he celebrate Thanksgiving? Just wondering.

We have been told many lies about Thanksgiving. We are told, and we teach in schools, that the founding fathers of the United States were deists at best. But most were Christians. They did not talk about their faith as much as most people do today. They believed that their faith, and feelings, were private and not to be worn on their sleeves.

When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they tried the one for all and all for one approach – from each according to his ability and to each according to his needs. That was in their original contract; they tried socialism. Fifty-one of 103 died that winter. Socialism did not work. It never has.

The next spring, Governor Bradford assigned parcels of land to each of them. They could keep what they raised, or they could trade it to others. The harvest was bountiful, more than enough for everyone. That is why they celebrated the first Thanksgiving. That first Thanksgiving is actually a monument to the power of capitalism and free enterprise.

They gathered to thank God. Here is the order from Governor Bradford:

“All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House on the hill…there to listen to the pastor, and render thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings.”

I love the food at Thanksgiving. I enjoy the football. I love being with family. I also take some time to thank God for His many blessings just as the Pilgrims did that first Thanksgiving.

Here’s a poem by Jimmy Dean, the “Big John” man and the sausage man that pretty much says it all about being thankful. Dean said it better than I ever could.

 
I’m Drinking from My Saucer
Jimmy Dean

I’ve never made a fortune,
and it’s probably too late now,

But I don’t worry about that much; 
I’m happy anyhow.
As I go along life’s journey, 
I’m reaping better than I’ve sowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer 
‘cause my cup has overflowed.

I don’t have a lot of riches, 
and sometime’s the going’s tough.
But I’ve got three kids that love me; 
that makes me rich enough.
And I remember times when things went wrong, 
and my faith got a little bit thin,
But then all at once the dark clouds broke 
and the sun peeped through again.

So, Lord, help me not to gripe 
about the tough rows that I’ve hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer 
‘cause my cup has overflowed.

And if God gives me strength and courage 
when the way grows steep and rough,
I’ll not ask for other blessings; 
I’m already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy 
to help another bear his load.
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer 
‘cause my cup has overflowed.

May you and yours have 
a blessed Thanksgiving!
 
Thanksgiving - Jessica Stuntz
 
Give thanks for unknown blessings 
already on their way. 
Native American Saying

Nothing is more honorable 
than a grateful heart. 
Seneca

All that we behold is 
full of blessings.
William Wordsworth

O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.

William Shakespeare

If you count all your assets, 
you always show a profit. 
Robert Quillen
 
Catching the Thanksgiving Turkey - Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma Moses"
 
Around the Thanksgiving holiday, when we were in "Grade School", we would have been coloring mimeographed pictures of squirrels with acorns and maybe some pumpkins and turkeys. There would have been some Pilgrim pictures in the mix and probably an Indian or two. 
 
We'd have been learning about the Mayflower bringing the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock, and the huge feast of thanksgiving they had with the Indians. They weren't called Native Americans, back then.
 
We learned that the Pilgrims had come to America for the freedom to practice their religion as they chose. We weren't taught that they were America's first terrorists as some schools are teaching these days. I know our customs and traditions are being upended for political purposes, but for the life of me I can't figure that one out.
 
Over the River and Through the Woods is the song we will all remember from those autumn days of long, long ago. Sitting at our desks with that year's songbook open to the page, we sang the best our small voices could sing. As we sang, we rode the sleigh through the snow covered wood and across the bridge to Grandma's house.
 
 
"The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day", also known as "Over the River and Through the Wood".
It is a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child.
 
Our modern Thanksgiving holiday is not always associated with snow, but New England in the early 19th century was enduring the Little Ice Age. It was very cold, and they had earlier winters.
 
Over the River and Through the Wood
Lydia Marie Child
Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandmother's house we go;
the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood,
to Grandfather's house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for 'tis Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood—
oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
as over the ground we go.
Over the river, and through the wood—
and straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
it is so hard to wait!
Over the river, and through the wood—
When Grandmother sees us come,
She will say, "O, dear, the children are here,
bring a pie for everyone."
Over the river, and through the wood—
now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
The following verses appear in a "long version":
Over the river, and through the wood,
with a clear blue winter sky,
The dogs do bark, and children hark,
as we go jingling by.
Over the river, and through the wood,
to have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding!",
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river, and through the wood,
no matter for winds that blow;
Or if we get the sleigh upset
into a bank of snow
Over the river, and through the wood,
to see little John and Ann;
We will kiss them all, and play snow-ball
and stay as long as we can.
Over the river, and through the wood,
trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound!
For 'tis Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood,
Old Jowler hears our bells.
He shakes his pow, with a loud bow-wow,
and thus the news he tells.
 
Larry Groce 
and the
Disneyland Children's 
Sing-Along Chorus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Groce
Larry Groce lives in West Virginia and since 1983 has served as the host and artistic director of Mountain Stage, a two-hour live music program produced by West Virginia Public Radio and distributed by NPR. You might remember him for his 1976 novelty song "Junk Food Junkie". It became a Top Ten hit.
 
But see, in our open clearings, 
how golden the melons lie;
Enrich them with sweets and spices, 
and give us the pumpkin-pie!
Margaret Junkin Preston
 
I suppose I will die never knowing 
what pumpkin pie tastes like 
when you have room for it. 
Robert Brault
rbrault.blogspot.com
 
An optimist is a person who starts 
a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.
Irv Kupcinet
Over the River to Grandma's House - Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma Moses"
 
I awoke this morning with devout
thanksgiving for my friends,
the old and the new.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
Thanksgiving
Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
 
 
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
 
  

Saturday, November 15, 2014

ANNA'S AWESOME ADVENTURE PART 2

Good Morning, Class of '64
 
Anna and her husband, Brent,
 are in Rosamond, California 
waiting for a better ride.
 
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring
 
Rosamond, California with Soledad Mountain in the distance
Rosamond, California
Rosamond, a city in Kern County, is situated in the Mojave Desert at the northern end of the Antelope Valley. It was established in 1877 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The name 'Rosamond' comes from the daughter of one of the railroad officials. It is one of the cities in Kern County where the county seat is Bakersfield.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosamond,_California
 
Freight Train in Rosamond, California
Rosamond, California Photo Tour
 
 
Rosamond, Ca. 93560
The Unofficial Website
 
Abandoned Gold Mine in Rosamond, California
 Streets of Bakersfield
Buck Owens

Bakersfield is the county seat of
Kern County in California 
where Rosamond is located 
 
November 6 at 12:30pm 

Okay, when Brent and I limped into Springerville, AZ over a week ago, we did not know if the RV was blowing a motor or if we had an exhaust leak in the head. We stayed there for 8 days and then started the same limp to here in Rosamond, CA to exchange our RV for one that is 2 years newer. 

No extra money and a lot better layout than the one we have. It was supposed to be ready when we got here last Sunday but of course, was not. It left yesterday for Los Angles to get everything on Brent's and my list fixed.

We are staying for free at a Race Track called Willow Springs where Bobby Cee who is our host is a teacher of new race car drivers. Quite a place! He seems to be an exceptional person and has a clean and exceptional place here in Rosamond.

Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, California
My corner-by-corner guide
to Willow Springs Raceway

Drivers' guide to Willow Springs Raceway
in Rosamond, California


On the way here we stayed over night at a place called Boron where they have the largest Boron Mine in the world. Great piles of what looks like salt but is not. They had a big write up in the newspaper, I read it and then because we are getting ready to move to another HOME, I mistakenly threw out the paper.


 Boron, California


Am not looking forward to exchanging everything from one Motor home to another but at least this next one should not nickle and dime us to death. Larger kitchen and I sure am looking forward to that. California was not on our list of states to make but could not turn this opportunity down.

Cannot wait to get out of here. Pure desert and it is all sand and different as can be from the rest of the deserts that we have seen and been through. The peaks in the distance have snow on them and it is cool at night but beautiful in the daytime.

It Never Rains in Southern California
Albert Hammond
1973
 
If our plans work out we are going to Death Valley and then the Alien Highway when we leave here. For some odd reason that Alien Highway keeps calling us and that should tell you a lot about Brent and I. lol Hopefully they will not keep us both. Then it is back through AZ to New Mexico and hopefully finding our home base.
 
We would like to have the home base by Thanksgiving but I think that will be impossible for right now. We want to go back to SC get my stuff out of storage and his stuff out of storage in Coeur D'Alene and have it all in one place. It will be like Christmas to put all of our things together and see what we make out of all of it. The Lord has been so good to us and we keep depending on him for everything and he has not let us down yet.

One of the worst sights I have seen was as we entered this part of the state where they have thousands of wind mill farms. It sure blights the landscape and from what I have learned, costs more money to run then any other type of power. I still can't believe anything is better than our good ole coal from WV. It is more dangerous to the workers but it is not the demon that all the environmentalist make it out to be.

Southern California Windmills
When we get our home base, our travels are not over by any means. It will mean that if we get tired we have a place to go rest up for awhile. We want a couple of horses and a yard for the dogs. The house, shop or whatever does not mean much for our Motor home will still be our basic home. To much to see and not enough time to see it all. Keep us in your prayers as we do you. Love to you all! Will try and get pictures soon but will have to send them to Patricia Ware by phone so it will take awhile.


Edwards Air Force Base
East of Rosamond, California
Home of the Air Force Test Center
  Home to NASA's Dryden Research Center
Operates the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
 
 
...there ain't no journey 
what don't change you some.
David Mitchell
Cloud Atlas