One Wednesday night in church, a lady who works with a Christian school was talking about some of the prayers and comments of some of the little ones, and it reminded me of a few things.
**********************
When I was about 4 ½ years old and little sis Lil was about 2 ½, and baby brother Tommy was in the hospital struggling for his life, during our regular family prayer time, instead of saying the memorized prayer the smallest ones always said, she started praying in earnest for Tommy, and (I think, although my memory is not all that clear that far back) using some very adult sounding phrases. Us 3 older girls – myself, Mildred, and Leora, were irreverent enough to laugh at her, and she clammed right up. I believe we were later scolded severely for laughing.
**********************
Now, when the above mentioned brother Tommy was about 4, we were at Bible school, part of the Free Methodist camp meeting in Brookville, PA. All the children were together for the opening part of the session. Apropos of nothing, Tommy piped up, “I know how the devil got to be the devil.” The Bible School director asked him, “How?” His response was, “He wanted to be God, so God made him the Devil.”
**********************
Every Sunday morning, at the beginning of the worship service, our pastor has what he calls “Children’s Chat.” He has all the children who are willing to come to the front pew, and he has a little lesson for them. It’s always related to the topic of his sermon.
One Sunday morning he wanted to know if they would get excited if he promised to give one of them a dollar. Unfortunately, he had to bump it up to four dollars before any of them even became interested. He said, “Now, what do you have to do to get these four dollars?” He was, of course, trying to get them to say they just had to accept them (since he’d already promised).
He got all kinds of answers. “Do good things. Pray to get them.” One young fellow, about 3rd grade or so (who hadn’t come up to front pew, but was sitting back with his grandmother), said something about saying nice things. The pastor said, “OK, turn to your grandmother and tell her she looks nice.” He said, “You look nice that was against my will.” (all run together like that).
Finally one little guy, about kindergarten or first grade apparently came up with the right answer. I didn’t hear him, but the pastor said to him, “Come here.” He stood up. “Put out your hand.” He did so, and the pastor put the four dollars in his hand.
But the crowning point comes later. It’s necessary at this point to say that we have 12 people in our church who are going with a district team on a 2-week missions trip to Guatemala this summer. After the service, as people were leaving, I was just about to shake hands with the pastor, and this little fellow (the one who "accepted" the four dollars) came up. He handed the money to the pastor, saying, “This is for your Guatemala trip.”
**********************
Blogger's note: Brother Tommy mentioned above is the father of missionary Suzanne several blogs back.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Getting to Know Your Friends
Got this from one of my yahoo 360 friends
Welcome to the new 2008 edition of 'Getting to know your Friends!'
Okay here's what you're supposed to do: change all the answers so they apply to you. Have Fun!
1. What is your occupation: Retired
2. What color are your socks right now: Navy blue
3. What are you listening to right now: a ticking clock
4. What was the last thing you ate: a sandwich
5. Can you drive stick shift: learned on one (there weren't many of the other kind around then)
6. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone: a friend from church
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you: yes
8. How old are you: 72
9. What's your favorite soda: Dr. Pepper
10. What's your favorite sport: sitting in front of the computer
11. Have you ever dyed your hair: never, can't imagine wasting time & effort to do that
12. Do you have any pets: Dog, Bonnie; Cat, Nutmeg
13. Favorite dessert: Apple pie
14. What's the last movie you've seen: The Passion of Christ
15. What's your favorite day of the week? Nearly all the same to me
16. How do you prevent anger? Avoid anger making situations
17. What was your favorite toy when you were little: Sister Lil reminded me - a home-made stuffed toy called "Lucy Goosey." We affectionately called it the "gloose."
18. What's your favorite season: Spring - it means winter is over
19. Hugs or Kisses: both
20. Cherries or Blueberries: both
21. Will your friends e-mail you back: Usually
22. Who's most likely to respond: My Chinese friend
23. Who's least likely to respond: My daughter
24. Current living arrangement: house
25. When was the last time you cried: don't remember
26. What's on the floor of your closet: junk
27. Who is the friend that you've known longest and are sending it to: Whoever reads my blog - Dee, perhaps, and sister Lil
28. What did you do last night? Slept
29. Favorite smells: Lilac, Mock Orange
30. Who inspires you: My great-niece Kathryn
31. Who were you afraid of as a little kid: God
32. Do you prefer plain, cheese, or spicy hamburger: cheese
33. Favorite dog breed: whatever I have at the moment (right now, a blue heeler)
34. How many states have you lived in: 3
35. Favorite Holiday: Christmas
36. Most missed memory: My grandchildren visiting
37. Favorite Store: Best buy
38. Whom do you miss right now: My grandchildren & great-grandchildren
39. When was the last time you slipped on ice? This afternoon
40. If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be and why?: ???
Welcome to the new 2008 edition of 'Getting to know your Friends!'
Okay here's what you're supposed to do: change all the answers so they apply to you. Have Fun!
1. What is your occupation: Retired
2. What color are your socks right now: Navy blue
3. What are you listening to right now: a ticking clock
4. What was the last thing you ate: a sandwich
5. Can you drive stick shift: learned on one (there weren't many of the other kind around then)
6. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone: a friend from church
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you: yes
8. How old are you: 72
9. What's your favorite soda: Dr. Pepper
10. What's your favorite sport: sitting in front of the computer
11. Have you ever dyed your hair: never, can't imagine wasting time & effort to do that
12. Do you have any pets: Dog, Bonnie; Cat, Nutmeg
13. Favorite dessert: Apple pie
14. What's the last movie you've seen: The Passion of Christ
15. What's your favorite day of the week? Nearly all the same to me
16. How do you prevent anger? Avoid anger making situations
17. What was your favorite toy when you were little: Sister Lil reminded me - a home-made stuffed toy called "Lucy Goosey." We affectionately called it the "gloose."
18. What's your favorite season: Spring - it means winter is over
19. Hugs or Kisses: both
20. Cherries or Blueberries: both
21. Will your friends e-mail you back: Usually
22. Who's most likely to respond: My Chinese friend
23. Who's least likely to respond: My daughter
24. Current living arrangement: house
25. When was the last time you cried: don't remember
26. What's on the floor of your closet: junk
27. Who is the friend that you've known longest and are sending it to: Whoever reads my blog - Dee, perhaps, and sister Lil
28. What did you do last night? Slept
29. Favorite smells: Lilac, Mock Orange
30. Who inspires you: My great-niece Kathryn
31. Who were you afraid of as a little kid: God
32. Do you prefer plain, cheese, or spicy hamburger: cheese
33. Favorite dog breed: whatever I have at the moment (right now, a blue heeler)
34. How many states have you lived in: 3
35. Favorite Holiday: Christmas
36. Most missed memory: My grandchildren visiting
37. Favorite Store: Best buy
38. Whom do you miss right now: My grandchildren & great-grandchildren
39. When was the last time you slipped on ice? This afternoon
40. If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be and why?: ???
Friday, January 25, 2008
"Oh, Make Me Clean!"
This hymn was brought to my mind because I have been studying some books about the theology promoted by John Wesley, which, for ease of reference, bears his name, although it did not originate with him. This hymn itself probably (based on what I have read so far) does not reflect this theology as Wesley himself would have expounded it, but its terminology and usage is quite common in Wesleyan circles. Another point about this song – it was written by George W. Bennard, who is better known for having written a very well known hymn – “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Oh, Make Me Clean
1. With aching heart and spirit sore destressed,
I came to Thee, and Thou didst give me rest;
Now, Lord, I pray and long with deep desire
To be made clean by Thy refining fire.
Chorus – for vs. 1&2
Oh, make me clean, Oh, make me clean,
Mine eyes Thy holiness have seen.
Oh, send the burning, cleansing flame,
And make me clean in Jesus’ name.
2. I hate the sin which grieves Thy loving heart;
Speak, precious, Lord, and bid it all depart;
Thy temple cleanse, and make my heart Thy home;
Come, King of kings, and reign Thyself alone.
(Chorus – for vs. 1&2)
3. Dear Lamb of God, I yield my all to Thee.
Thine, wholly Thine, forevermore to be;
Now in my heart I feel the sacred flame,
He makes me clean, oh, glory to his name!
Chorus – v 3
He makes me clean, He makes me clean,
Mine eyes the glorious King have seen;
Just now I feel the sacred flame,
Oh, glory to His precious name!
I couldn’t find this anywhere on the internet, so I have no way to let you see or hear the music.
(Originally posted January 12, 2008)
Oh, Make Me Clean
1. With aching heart and spirit sore destressed,
I came to Thee, and Thou didst give me rest;
Now, Lord, I pray and long with deep desire
To be made clean by Thy refining fire.
Chorus – for vs. 1&2
Oh, make me clean, Oh, make me clean,
Mine eyes Thy holiness have seen.
Oh, send the burning, cleansing flame,
And make me clean in Jesus’ name.
2. I hate the sin which grieves Thy loving heart;
Speak, precious, Lord, and bid it all depart;
Thy temple cleanse, and make my heart Thy home;
Come, King of kings, and reign Thyself alone.
(Chorus – for vs. 1&2)
3. Dear Lamb of God, I yield my all to Thee.
Thine, wholly Thine, forevermore to be;
Now in my heart I feel the sacred flame,
He makes me clean, oh, glory to his name!
Chorus – v 3
He makes me clean, He makes me clean,
Mine eyes the glorious King have seen;
Just now I feel the sacred flame,
Oh, glory to His precious name!
I couldn’t find this anywhere on the internet, so I have no way to let you see or hear the music.
(Originally posted January 12, 2008)
Room at the Cross
This post was inspired by my friend Dee, when she told me about the big cross she sees when she looks across the street from her house. This song came immediately to mind. It appears in some modern hymnbooks, but I have verified that it is in Public Domain.
Room at The Cross
By Ira Stanphill
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.
Chorus
There's room at the cross for you
There's room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there's still room for one
Yes there's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it's too late.
(Chorus)
The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.
(Chorus)
Click on the link below to hear the music.
http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/room2.html
(Originally posted December 31, 2007)
Room at The Cross
By Ira Stanphill
The cross upon which Jesus died
Is a shelter in which we can hide
And its grace so free is sufficient for me
And deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.
Chorus
There's room at the cross for you
There's room at the cross for you
Though millions have come, there's still room for one
Yes there's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have found him a friend
And have turned from the sins they have sinned
The Savior still waits to open the gates
And welcome a sinner before it's too late.
(Chorus)
The hand of my Savior is strong
And the love of my Savior is long
Through sunshine or rain, through loss or in gain,
The blood flows from Calvary to cleanse every stain.
(Chorus)
Click on the link below to hear the music.
http://www.my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/room2.html
(Originally posted December 31, 2007)
Missionaries
Picture: New missionaries, my niece Suzanne and her husband Bob
I grew up hearing about – and hearing – missionaries. My mother had a real heart for missions, and it was her strong desire that at least one of her children become a missionary. I think it was probably that strong desire that caused 3 of her children to believe at one time that they were called to the mission field, but never went. I have no reason to believe that they were called, then reneged on their call. Perhaps they were “called” in a way, but not to a foreign field.
Of the 3, her oldest son suffered brain damage as a child, and as an adult, this affected his mental condition, and eventually he was unable to live independently.
The next son pursued the intent of being a missionary for much longer – it was not until after he was married (I believe) that he no longer held to his call to a foreign field. I cannot believe that he reneged on a genuine call – he has five children and many grandchildren, and all his family are serving the Lord today, so I cannot believe he has lived outside of God’s will.
The second daughter actually tried to go to a mission field – Cuba – when she was 19 years old, but was not permitted to go by herself as a minor (the majority age was then 21). She continued in Bible school, but she did not pursue the foreign mission field again.
The youngest (5th daughter) went to high school at a Bible school. She was the “rebellious” daughter (no one would think that in this day and age!), but while she was in high school, she found the Lord, and returned home full of the intent to go to a foreign mission field, without the influence of Mom’s desire. She did go. She was in Mozambique at the time of the Communist revolution. She was later in Zaire (now the Republic of the Congo), then in Rwanda (before the outbreak of the fighting between the 2 factions). After her marriage (at the age of 47), she and her husband went on several short term missions trips to the Philippines, and they also spent some time in Brazil (where her husband grew up).
Now – my brother’s younger daughter is preparing, with her husband, to be a full-time missionary. They went on a short-term missions trip to the Czech Republic earlier this year, and as a result, they felt the Lord’s call to full-time missionary service. This month – starting the 15th – they are going to Kampala, Uganda for a 2-week “introductory” missions trip. They will be there over Christmas. Then some time next year they will go on a 4 to 6 month “exploratory” trip to the area. By the end of 2008, they plan to be there as full-time missionaries. My mother’s dream continues!
(Originally posted December 12, 2007)
Table Grace
I have been thinking a bit lately about the table grace that is often taught to children:
God is great, God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hand we all are led;
Give us now our daily bread.
I think that it is sometimes limited to just the first two lines, but I have been thinking only about the very first line – that is good theology, is it not? “God is great, God is good.”
To continue, I have also been thinking about the table grace I was taught as a child:
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
Let these gifts to us be blest.
This is a bit convoluted, but I thought about this because of my new Yahoo friend, Tori, who is from Germany. A few years ago, a lady from our church lent me a copy of a (very small) book about Christian doctrine, etc., written in German, and it contained a number of prayers (I copied some portions of this). There was one small section on table graces, and what do I first see but:
Komm, Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast
Und segne, was du uns bescheret hast.
There was another one that caught my eye:
Segne, Vater, diese Speise
Uns zur Kraft, und dir zum Preise.
I never thought much about the possibility that my father ever used memorized prayers, at the table, or elsewhere (except on the few occasions when the congregation in our church recited The Lord’s Prayer), but, invariably, when he said the table grace, included in it would be the words, “Father, bless this food to our strength and to your glory.”
(Originally posted November 16, 2007)
God is great, God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hand we all are led;
Give us now our daily bread.
I think that it is sometimes limited to just the first two lines, but I have been thinking only about the very first line – that is good theology, is it not? “God is great, God is good.”
To continue, I have also been thinking about the table grace I was taught as a child:
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
Let these gifts to us be blest.
This is a bit convoluted, but I thought about this because of my new Yahoo friend, Tori, who is from Germany. A few years ago, a lady from our church lent me a copy of a (very small) book about Christian doctrine, etc., written in German, and it contained a number of prayers (I copied some portions of this). There was one small section on table graces, and what do I first see but:
Komm, Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast
Und segne, was du uns bescheret hast.
There was another one that caught my eye:
Segne, Vater, diese Speise
Uns zur Kraft, und dir zum Preise.
I never thought much about the possibility that my father ever used memorized prayers, at the table, or elsewhere (except on the few occasions when the congregation in our church recited The Lord’s Prayer), but, invariably, when he said the table grace, included in it would be the words, “Father, bless this food to our strength and to your glory.”
(Originally posted November 16, 2007)
Death-bed Repentance
I had a pastor once who said, “I used to believe in death-bed repentances, but I don’t anymore, because people who are dying are often so doped up to relieve pain that they do not have the ability to think and reason about their condition.”
I wasn’t thinking on this line at that time, but don’t you think God is able to override the “dopiness” to make the person’s mind clear enough for long enough to repent? There was an article in our Sunday School paper some years ago about a woman with advanced Alzheimer’s. Her children were concerned that she had never repented of her sins and accepted the Lord. I can’t remember all the details, but I believe they called a pastor to come and pray with her, and try to lead her to the Lord. While he was there – or just before – she became quite lucid, and as the pastor dealt with her, she repented of her sins and accepted Christ as her Saviour. I think it was the next day, the pastor contacted her again and she gave a lucid testimony. After that, however, she reverted to the advanced Alzheimer’s, not understanding anything or recognizing anybody. If God could do that for an Alzheimer’s victim, he could surely do it for a person whose body & mind were drugged with pain killers.
I have been aware of at least two death-bed repentances of relatives of people in our church. The one was several years ago; I don’t believe the man ever went to church. I never met him. As he knew he was nearing death, he acknowledged that he needed to be saved, but kept saying he wasn’t ready yet to take the step. Then one day when the pastor was visiting him, he said, “It’s time, preacher.” “Time for what?” the pastor asked. “Time to pray,” he said, and then and there he made his peace with God. A few days later he was gone.
The second one happened less than a week ago. This man was the brother of a very dear friend of mine. I met him once. He was raised by a Christian mother. He had accepted the Lord in his 20’s or 30’s, but later, due to something that happened in the church he was attending, he turned his back on God, and professed to be an atheist. In fact, from that time on, he was paying $500 a year as dues to an Atheists’ club of some kind. He refused to listen if anyone wanted to talk to him about God, but he demanded that they listen to his atheistic views. I’m not sure how old he was, but I think he was in his eighties when he died. His sister said that about 3 weeks previous, the Lord had lifted from her the burden to pray for him. This sister is now living in the “independent living” section of the equivalent of the old “County Home.” Her daughter also works there. It became her daughter’s task to tell her that her brother had died, and she was loath to do it, knowing what she knew about her uncle. She has a friend who also works there on whom she often calls for prayer under difficult circumstances. She asked her friend to pray for her because, “I have to tell my mother that her brother died, and he’s not a Christian.” The friend went into the bathroom (where she would go to pray when she was on duty). After a while, she came out with a smile on her face. “The Lord said to tell your mother that her prayers were not in vain.” So she went and gave the message to her mother. Later on, she had another indication when talking to the man’s wife. Knowing her brother, she would have expected curse words on his lips up to the time he died. And indeed, he was his “old” self up until about 4 days before he died. Then he was unable to function at all. But, 2 days before he died, his wife, seeing his lips moving, leaned closer, and asked, “What did you say, Joe?” Joe repeated, “Sorry, God.” This story impressed me about the goodness and graciousness of God who will take in the rebellious one who repents even at the last minute.
What a far cry from another “Joe” (Josef Stalin) who spent his last moments shaking his fist at God! (This was witnessed by his daughter Svetlana).
(Originally posted November 2, 2007)
I wasn’t thinking on this line at that time, but don’t you think God is able to override the “dopiness” to make the person’s mind clear enough for long enough to repent? There was an article in our Sunday School paper some years ago about a woman with advanced Alzheimer’s. Her children were concerned that she had never repented of her sins and accepted the Lord. I can’t remember all the details, but I believe they called a pastor to come and pray with her, and try to lead her to the Lord. While he was there – or just before – she became quite lucid, and as the pastor dealt with her, she repented of her sins and accepted Christ as her Saviour. I think it was the next day, the pastor contacted her again and she gave a lucid testimony. After that, however, she reverted to the advanced Alzheimer’s, not understanding anything or recognizing anybody. If God could do that for an Alzheimer’s victim, he could surely do it for a person whose body & mind were drugged with pain killers.
I have been aware of at least two death-bed repentances of relatives of people in our church. The one was several years ago; I don’t believe the man ever went to church. I never met him. As he knew he was nearing death, he acknowledged that he needed to be saved, but kept saying he wasn’t ready yet to take the step. Then one day when the pastor was visiting him, he said, “It’s time, preacher.” “Time for what?” the pastor asked. “Time to pray,” he said, and then and there he made his peace with God. A few days later he was gone.
The second one happened less than a week ago. This man was the brother of a very dear friend of mine. I met him once. He was raised by a Christian mother. He had accepted the Lord in his 20’s or 30’s, but later, due to something that happened in the church he was attending, he turned his back on God, and professed to be an atheist. In fact, from that time on, he was paying $500 a year as dues to an Atheists’ club of some kind. He refused to listen if anyone wanted to talk to him about God, but he demanded that they listen to his atheistic views. I’m not sure how old he was, but I think he was in his eighties when he died. His sister said that about 3 weeks previous, the Lord had lifted from her the burden to pray for him. This sister is now living in the “independent living” section of the equivalent of the old “County Home.” Her daughter also works there. It became her daughter’s task to tell her that her brother had died, and she was loath to do it, knowing what she knew about her uncle. She has a friend who also works there on whom she often calls for prayer under difficult circumstances. She asked her friend to pray for her because, “I have to tell my mother that her brother died, and he’s not a Christian.” The friend went into the bathroom (where she would go to pray when she was on duty). After a while, she came out with a smile on her face. “The Lord said to tell your mother that her prayers were not in vain.” So she went and gave the message to her mother. Later on, she had another indication when talking to the man’s wife. Knowing her brother, she would have expected curse words on his lips up to the time he died. And indeed, he was his “old” self up until about 4 days before he died. Then he was unable to function at all. But, 2 days before he died, his wife, seeing his lips moving, leaned closer, and asked, “What did you say, Joe?” Joe repeated, “Sorry, God.” This story impressed me about the goodness and graciousness of God who will take in the rebellious one who repents even at the last minute.
What a far cry from another “Joe” (Josef Stalin) who spent his last moments shaking his fist at God! (This was witnessed by his daughter Svetlana).
(Originally posted November 2, 2007)
Snippets of Memories
I mentioned in a previous entry that big brother Paul figured in a lot of my earliest memories. I have a few bits and pieces of memories that don’t make up a whole incident. One of them was walking in the little bit of woods that we had on our property with Paul, Laurie, and Middy. I remember whining to Paul that I wanted to be carried. Apparently he had carried me quite a bit already, and was weary of it, and he refused to carry me any more. That’s all I remember of that incident. On another outing, we three girls with Paul, we were in the old Glenn Riggs property, and I fell in the run. That was a little more significant, because when we got back home, Mom was surprised that I had gone out, and laid down the law about it – because I had the measles at the time.
Another memory I have involved big sister Lois instead of Paul. A little background of this – which I don’t remember, but Lois related it to me later: when my little sister Lily was born, Lois was in one of the bedrooms upstairs, keeping an eye on the younger kids, while Mom was in a room downstairs, that had been temporarily converted to a bedroom, having the baby with a midwife in attendance. Lois said, “Well, that’ll be another little stinkpot to take care of.” Later on, at one point, I was heard to have said of Lily, “She’s a little stinkpot.” Mom related this later as an indication that I was jealous of Lily. Well, I may or may not have been jealous, but I don’t think that was my reason for saying that. In fact, when Mom related it, I told her, “I got that from Lois!” Mom kinda brushed that off, opining that no matter what, it indicated jealousy. Hey, I thought that was what she really was! After all, Lois called her that. And clearer memory comes in here – I was playing on the floor in the dining room, and Lois was sitting in the rocking chair, rocking the baby, singing to her. One of the “common” lullabies in our house was “Little birdie in a tree, in a tree, in a tree, little birdie in a tree, sing a song to me.” Only instead, Lois was singing “Little stinkpot in a tree . . .”
Lois said she could have told Mom that she was the initiator of the nickname when I protested that I got it from her, but she said she never would. She preferred to save her own hide in those days. After all, I was no more than a baby myself then and much could be overlooked, but she was a big girl (about 13), and responsible for her actions! I was 2 when Lily was born.
(Originally posted August 28, 2007)
Another memory I have involved big sister Lois instead of Paul. A little background of this – which I don’t remember, but Lois related it to me later: when my little sister Lily was born, Lois was in one of the bedrooms upstairs, keeping an eye on the younger kids, while Mom was in a room downstairs, that had been temporarily converted to a bedroom, having the baby with a midwife in attendance. Lois said, “Well, that’ll be another little stinkpot to take care of.” Later on, at one point, I was heard to have said of Lily, “She’s a little stinkpot.” Mom related this later as an indication that I was jealous of Lily. Well, I may or may not have been jealous, but I don’t think that was my reason for saying that. In fact, when Mom related it, I told her, “I got that from Lois!” Mom kinda brushed that off, opining that no matter what, it indicated jealousy. Hey, I thought that was what she really was! After all, Lois called her that. And clearer memory comes in here – I was playing on the floor in the dining room, and Lois was sitting in the rocking chair, rocking the baby, singing to her. One of the “common” lullabies in our house was “Little birdie in a tree, in a tree, in a tree, little birdie in a tree, sing a song to me.” Only instead, Lois was singing “Little stinkpot in a tree . . .”
Lois said she could have told Mom that she was the initiator of the nickname when I protested that I got it from her, but she said she never would. She preferred to save her own hide in those days. After all, I was no more than a baby myself then and much could be overlooked, but she was a big girl (about 13), and responsible for her actions! I was 2 when Lily was born.
(Originally posted August 28, 2007)
Not so old . . .
. . . but this is definitely in public domain. The composer/author of this died in 1959; the original copyright was 1918. The Refrain is printed in a double line so that the men & women's parts are clearly defined. This is done because the men's part has the melody in the first half of the refrain. Here is also a link to the music (click on the control when you get to the site):
www.avoiceinthewilderness.org/extol/hymn82.html
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
hymn and music by Haldor Lillenas
1. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
REFRAIN:
Wonderful the matchless grace, the matchless grace of Jesus
Wonderful the matchless grace of. . . . . . .Je - - - - - - - - - - sus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; the rolling sea
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea. . . . . . . . . . . .
Won - - - - - - - der - ful grace, . . . . . . . .all suf-
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
fi - - - - - - - - - - -cient for me, for even me
All sufficient grace for even me . . . . . . . . . ,
Broader than the scope of my transgressions . . . . . ;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions, sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
Greater far than all my sin and shame, my sin and shame.
Oh, magnify the precious name of Jesus, Praise His name!
Oh, magnify the precious name of Jesus, Praise His name!
2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
(Originally posted August 6, 2007)
www.avoiceinthewilderness.org/extol/hymn82.html
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
hymn and music by Haldor Lillenas
1. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
REFRAIN:
Wonderful the matchless grace, the matchless grace of Jesus
Wonderful the matchless grace of. . . . . . .Je - - - - - - - - - - sus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea; the rolling sea
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea. . . . . . . . . . . .
Won - - - - - - - der - ful grace, . . . . . . . .all suf-
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
fi - - - - - - - - - - -cient for me, for even me
All sufficient grace for even me . . . . . . . . . ,
Broader than the scope of my transgressions . . . . . ;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions, sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
Greater far than all my sin and shame, my sin and shame.
Oh, magnify the precious name of Jesus, Praise His name!
Oh, magnify the precious name of Jesus, Praise His name!
2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
(Originally posted August 6, 2007)
Some Other Oldies I Ran Across
The second verse of this one reminds me so much of my great-niece Katy. She has gone through so much pain & sickness in the past year.
When I Get to the End of the Way
The sands have been washed in the footprints
Of the Stranger on Galilee's shore -
And the voice that subdued the rough billows
Will be heard in Judea no more.
But the path of that lone Galilean
With joy I will follow today;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
There are so many hills to climb upward,
I often am longing for rest;
But He who appoints me my pathway,
Knows just what is needful and best.
I know in His Word He hath promised
That my strength "it shall be as my day;"
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
He loves me too well to forsake me,
Or give me a trial too much;
All His people have been dearly purchased,
And Satan can never claim such.
By and by I shall see Him and praise Him,
In the city of unending day;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way.
When the last feeble steps have been taken,
And the gates of that city appear,
And the beautiful songs of the angels*
Float out on my listening ear;
When all that now seems so mysterious
Will be bright and as clear as the day;
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
And another one - I don't think I've ever heard the 4th & 6th verses before:
Footsteps of Jesus
Sweetly, Lord have we heard Thee calling,
Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.
Chorus:
Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus where'er they go.
Though they lead o'er the cold dark mountain,
Seeking His sheep;
Or along by Siloam's fountains,
Helping the weak:
(Chorus)
If they lead through the temple holy,
Preaching the Word;
Or in homes of the poor and lowly,
Serving the Lord:
(Chorus)
Though, dear Lord, in Thy pathway keeping,
We follow Thee
Through the gloom of that place of weeping,
Gethsemane!
(Chorus)
If Thy way and its sorrows sharing,
We go again,
Up the slope of the slope of the hillside, bearing
Our cross of pain.
(Chorus)
By and by, through the shining portals
Turning our feet,
We shall walk, with the glad immortals,
Heav'n's golden street.
(Chorus)
Then at last, when on high He sees us,
Our journey done,
We will rest where the steps of Jesus
End at his throne.
(Chorus)
*On Katy's behalf, I'd like to change that to "children" - she tells of hearing a heavenly choir made up of millions of children.
Note: The book from the previous post was compiled in 1908.
(Originally posted August 3, 2007)
When I Get to the End of the Way
The sands have been washed in the footprints
Of the Stranger on Galilee's shore -
And the voice that subdued the rough billows
Will be heard in Judea no more.
But the path of that lone Galilean
With joy I will follow today;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
There are so many hills to climb upward,
I often am longing for rest;
But He who appoints me my pathway,
Knows just what is needful and best.
I know in His Word He hath promised
That my strength "it shall be as my day;"
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
He loves me too well to forsake me,
Or give me a trial too much;
All His people have been dearly purchased,
And Satan can never claim such.
By and by I shall see Him and praise Him,
In the city of unending day;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing
When I get to the end of the way.
When the last feeble steps have been taken,
And the gates of that city appear,
And the beautiful songs of the angels*
Float out on my listening ear;
When all that now seems so mysterious
Will be bright and as clear as the day;
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way;
Then the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.
And another one - I don't think I've ever heard the 4th & 6th verses before:
Footsteps of Jesus
Sweetly, Lord have we heard Thee calling,
Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.
Chorus:
Footprints of Jesus, that make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus where'er they go.
Though they lead o'er the cold dark mountain,
Seeking His sheep;
Or along by Siloam's fountains,
Helping the weak:
(Chorus)
If they lead through the temple holy,
Preaching the Word;
Or in homes of the poor and lowly,
Serving the Lord:
(Chorus)
Though, dear Lord, in Thy pathway keeping,
We follow Thee
Through the gloom of that place of weeping,
Gethsemane!
(Chorus)
If Thy way and its sorrows sharing,
We go again,
Up the slope of the slope of the hillside, bearing
Our cross of pain.
(Chorus)
By and by, through the shining portals
Turning our feet,
We shall walk, with the glad immortals,
Heav'n's golden street.
(Chorus)
Then at last, when on high He sees us,
Our journey done,
We will rest where the steps of Jesus
End at his throne.
(Chorus)
*On Katy's behalf, I'd like to change that to "children" - she tells of hearing a heavenly choir made up of millions of children.
Note: The book from the previous post was compiled in 1908.
(Originally posted August 3, 2007)
I hadn't thought of this in years
One of the reasons I started this blog was to try to keep track of some of the old hymns and songs I knew when I was a kid. I have a bunch of old hymn books, some which I got at a sale when the neighbor across the street died. I wished later that I had got all that she had. Well, in the past couple of weeks, I have been going through them, and all the others I have lately, to see just exactly what I have. One of them is really ancient, old-style soft-cover, and poor quality paper. It apparently wasn't used much, because, in spite of the discoloration and deterioration of the paper, it is in very good condition. As I was looking through it, I came across a hymn I hadn't even thought of in 50 or 60 years. I didn't recognize any part of it but the chorus, so that may have been all that I knew. The title is "Jesus, the Light of the World."
All ye saints of light proclaim,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Life and mercy in His name,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Chorus:
We'll walk in the light, beautiful light,
Come where the dew-drops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Hear the Savior's earnest call,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Send the gospel truth to all,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
Why not seek Him then today,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Go with truth the narrow way,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
Come, confess Him as your King,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Then the bells of heav'n will ring,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
(Originally posted July 31, 2007)
All ye saints of light proclaim,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Life and mercy in His name,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Chorus:
We'll walk in the light, beautiful light,
Come where the dew-drops of mercy are bright;
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
Hear the Savior's earnest call,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Send the gospel truth to all,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
Why not seek Him then today,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Go with truth the narrow way,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
Come, confess Him as your King,
Jesus, the Light of the world;
Then the bells of heav'n will ring,
Jesus, the Light of the world.
(Chorus)
(Originally posted July 31, 2007)
I Found It!
On one of my earlier blogs I mentioned that I was looking for a specific hymn and couldn't find it anywhere. Well, I've found it - and not on the internet. In a hymnbook that I own! It is the one mentioned early in the entry indicated in the link below, with the beginning "All the Saviour's glory mind can never measure" and the correct title is "Chiefest of Ten Thousand". It is probably in public domain, but since I'm not sure, I won't post the words here.
(Originally posted July 23, 2007)
(Originally posted July 23, 2007)
Smitty the Cop and the "Runaway"
Not really a runaway, just a youngster on a quest.
If you lived in Brookville, PA, in the ‘40’s – or spent a significant amount of time there - the name of “Smitty” the cop will be familiar to you. He was probably the most well-known and well-liked borough official of his time.
On this particular occasion, I was with my family at the Free Methodist camp ground at the top of the hill, just off Pickering Street. And once again, big brother Paul figures in this story, but only peripherally. We had just come out of the church, and the fire siren, just a couple of blocks away sounded. Paul said something about the fire, and I gathered from what he said that he was going to the location of the fire.
Hmm, I wanted to see the fire, too, so I started off. I guess I thought I was following Paul. I believe I was about 5 at the time. I don’t remember very much of my “journey,” but I had to have gone the whole way down Pickering Street, across the bridge, and then out Mabon Street. The only reason I know it was Mabon Street was that many years afterwards, I was able to recognize the house next to the Mabon Street bridge where I ended up. I don’t know how I came to stop there, but I do remember telling someone that I wanted to see the fire. They told me it was along way off. I remember tossing a ball back and forth with some older kids. I don’t remember Smitty the cop (I have to presume, of course, that adults in the house called the police) coming to get me, but I remember walking with him back to the campground, where, I believe, my parents were waiting for me, and to my surprise when I got there, Paul was still there! He had never gone anywhere!
(Originally posted July 19,2007)
If you lived in Brookville, PA, in the ‘40’s – or spent a significant amount of time there - the name of “Smitty” the cop will be familiar to you. He was probably the most well-known and well-liked borough official of his time.
On this particular occasion, I was with my family at the Free Methodist camp ground at the top of the hill, just off Pickering Street. And once again, big brother Paul figures in this story, but only peripherally. We had just come out of the church, and the fire siren, just a couple of blocks away sounded. Paul said something about the fire, and I gathered from what he said that he was going to the location of the fire.
Hmm, I wanted to see the fire, too, so I started off. I guess I thought I was following Paul. I believe I was about 5 at the time. I don’t remember very much of my “journey,” but I had to have gone the whole way down Pickering Street, across the bridge, and then out Mabon Street. The only reason I know it was Mabon Street was that many years afterwards, I was able to recognize the house next to the Mabon Street bridge where I ended up. I don’t know how I came to stop there, but I do remember telling someone that I wanted to see the fire. They told me it was along way off. I remember tossing a ball back and forth with some older kids. I don’t remember Smitty the cop (I have to presume, of course, that adults in the house called the police) coming to get me, but I remember walking with him back to the campground, where, I believe, my parents were waiting for me, and to my surprise when I got there, Paul was still there! He had never gone anywhere!
(Originally posted July 19,2007)
Great-Grandkids
This is the latest picture I have, and it is just about a year old. It was taken with my daughter's webcam: Left to right - great-grandaughter Briana, granddaugher Annie, great-grandson Gavin.
(Originally posted July 11, 2007)
New Great-Grandchild
No pictures yet; Keely Susanna was born May 29, 2007. I haven't seen her yet, nor even her older sister Briana.
(Originally posted June 13, 2007)
(Originally posted June 13, 2007)
Another Ancient memory!
Middy (Mildred) and I had the unique opportunity last Saturday to visit with a distant cousin we had never met before, and whose existence we had just learned of a few months ago. Her name is Beverly, and her great-grandmother, Sarah, was a sister of our grandfather (my father's father), James. After our meeting & conversation with her, we started talking about some things from our past - naturally, many of these came up during the conversation. The specific incident we were discussing once again involved me as a very small child, maybe as young as 2, and big brother Paul. Since Paul is our half-brother - from my mother's first husband - he is no relation to Beverly.
OK, this incident took place when Paul (perhaps as young as 11 then) built a little dam on the "run" that ran through our property, in order to fish (we never saw any fish of any size there). Once again, I personally remember very little, but Middy was there, and she remembered more of it. I remembered Paul scolding me for making too much noise, and scaring away the fish (Middy said I was stomping around!
) I had always thought that Paul had deliberately "ducked" me, because he kept threatening to, because I was scaring all the fish away, but Middy says he accidentally knocked me in the water. He made her give me her panties, and made Laurie give me her dress, "because I was soaking wet, and I was little." The other piece that I remember was when I arrived at the house crying, and told my mother, "Mom, Paul drownded me!"
(Originally posted April 4, 2007)
OK, this incident took place when Paul (perhaps as young as 11 then) built a little dam on the "run" that ran through our property, in order to fish (we never saw any fish of any size there). Once again, I personally remember very little, but Middy was there, and she remembered more of it. I remembered Paul scolding me for making too much noise, and scaring away the fish (Middy said I was stomping around!
) I had always thought that Paul had deliberately "ducked" me, because he kept threatening to, because I was scaring all the fish away, but Middy says he accidentally knocked me in the water. He made her give me her panties, and made Laurie give me her dress, "because I was soaking wet, and I was little." The other piece that I remember was when I arrived at the house crying, and told my mother, "Mom, Paul drownded me!"(Originally posted April 4, 2007)
Bye Bye Furnace Problems!
This week I had a brand new high efficiency furnace installed. The only maintenance it requires is the changing of the filter, and that slides in and out on the side of the furnace. No need to get behind the furnace, and if there were, there's far more space. We also have an additional supply register in an area where there was none before. We may add another air intake - I found out there had been one, but a previous owner had covered it up when he installed his wood-burning stove. We kept getting a whistling sound, particularly in the room where the wb stove is, and found where air is "leaking" into the air intake conduit. We've temporarily taken care of the the whistling, but will probably eventually put a return-air register there. This furnace is 92% efficient - the old one was no more than 53%, possibly as low as 40% efficient. Besides, just the pilot light alone was costing about $25/month in the summer time. We used to turn it off for the summer, but we had problems with the thermo-coupling, making it more & more difficult to relight, so we started leaving it on.
Oh, yes, and while we were at it, we had the ductwork cleaned. Since there was no evidence of access holes for the cleaning, the furnace people deducted that it had never been cleaned. We've owned the place 20 years, and the furnace was old when we bought it. It was not as bad as some places - I overheard one of the furnace guys talking on the phone to his supervisor, and he mentioned one place that had one duct completely blocked off.
Had I known how inexpensive a new furnace was, and how quickly it will pay for itself (3 to 4 years), I'd have done this long ago!
(Originally posted March 23, 2007)
Oh, yes, and while we were at it, we had the ductwork cleaned. Since there was no evidence of access holes for the cleaning, the furnace people deducted that it had never been cleaned. We've owned the place 20 years, and the furnace was old when we bought it. It was not as bad as some places - I overheard one of the furnace guys talking on the phone to his supervisor, and he mentioned one place that had one duct completely blocked off.
Had I known how inexpensive a new furnace was, and how quickly it will pay for itself (3 to 4 years), I'd have done this long ago!
(Originally posted March 23, 2007)
For St. Patrick's Day
An old song we used to have on 78rpm record (in the dark ages, when we had the old wind-up victrola):
A Little Bit of Heaven
Have you ever heard the story of how Ireland got its name?
Oh, let me tell the story of from whence old Ireland came.
No wonder why the angels love that land across the sea;
Oh, here's the way me dear old mother told the tale to me:
Sure a little bit of Heaven fell from out the skies one day;
It landed on the ocean and it sparkled all the way.
And when the angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair,
They said, suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there.
So they sprinkled it with stardust just to make the shamrocks grow;
'Tis the only place you'll find them no matter where you go.
And they studded it with silver to make its lakes so grand
And when they had it finished, sure they called it Ireland.
(Originally posted March 17, 2007)
A Little Bit of Heaven
Have you ever heard the story of how Ireland got its name?
Oh, let me tell the story of from whence old Ireland came.
No wonder why the angels love that land across the sea;
Oh, here's the way me dear old mother told the tale to me:
Sure a little bit of Heaven fell from out the skies one day;
It landed on the ocean and it sparkled all the way.
And when the angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair,
They said, suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there.
So they sprinkled it with stardust just to make the shamrocks grow;
'Tis the only place you'll find them no matter where you go.
And they studded it with silver to make its lakes so grand
And when they had it finished, sure they called it Ireland.
(Originally posted March 17, 2007)
More about Katy
Katy has been suffering from a great deal of pain for a long time. At one time, she was diagnosed with gall bladder problems, but the medical profession either thought that was a false symptom (due to the many GI problems that come with her disease), or that surgery was unwise at the time due other complications. A week ago, her pain was so intense, they took her to the Roanoke hospital where she underwent tests all night. Everything came out normal, except that one of the CT scans showed a slight thickening of the gall bladder wall. They discussed the matter with a couple of doctors who were familiar with Katy's case, and they decided that her gall bladder should come out. Because of her blood problems, the hematologist did not recommend surgery at this time. But, although they knew there were risks, they scheduled the surgery for (last) Saturday morning. Katy was given platelet transfusions in advance of the surgery; the surgery went smoothly, Katy returned home on Sunday, and is doing GREAT! She is also pain-free.
Addendum: Katy is in pain again - her entire body. They believe it to be some kind of reaction to the platelets she received.
Addendum 2: Katy's current pain seems to be due to the tapering off of the prednisone she has been on for several months. Two other sufferers of HPS have added credibility to this diagnosis, as they have suffered from the same type of pain for the same reason.
(Originally posted March 5, 2007)
Addendum: Katy is in pain again - her entire body. They believe it to be some kind of reaction to the platelets she received.
Addendum 2: Katy's current pain seems to be due to the tapering off of the prednisone she has been on for several months. Two other sufferers of HPS have added credibility to this diagnosis, as they have suffered from the same type of pain for the same reason.
(Originally posted March 5, 2007)
More Furnace Problems
The furnace motor we installed 38 days ago quit yesterday - and it had a 30-day warranty. Also the tech had to work late in order to get it done, and I got charged extra for his overtime. Monday I am having an estimate done for a new furnace. If I do replace it - which I probably will, because the old one is a dinosaur, ineffecient, and getting more & more difficult to fix - I will have to draw out possibly as much as 1/3 of my IRA to pay for it. Aaaaack! They will probably deduct part of the amount of the current repair, and possibly all of it from the price of a new furnace.
(Originally posted February 15, 2007)
(Originally posted February 15, 2007)
Frozen Water
These days of sub-normal/sub-zero temperatures have taken their toll. It goes without saying that our water line into the house from the well is frozen whenever the temperature approaches and/or drops below zero Fahrenheit. This happens in spite of the fact that the well access is filled with insulation. Several days in a row, we thawed the line using a hairdryer. The water line comes into the house from the well inside a large PVC pipe – about the size of a dryer vent pipe. On Monday morning (February 5), Mike set up the hairdryer to thaw the line; when he thought it should be thawed, he turned the pump back on – and water ran into the basement outside the water line.
So, we’re without water and the temperature is sub-zero. We called a neighbor who has done some plumbing for us. He didn’t have any power tools with him, and Mike didn’t have his cordless screwdriver batteries charged up, so we couldn’t remove the panel from the porch, through which we access the well. The guy who built our new porch several years ago screwed up royally, and only put the well access panel in as an afterthought, and it’s not squared with the well. Also, with the old porch, the top of the well access was flush with the bottom of the porch, so the cover was part of the porch floor. With the new one, we just have a makeshift cover that lies loosely on top of the well. Since we couldn’t get the panel off, and the temperature was just barely above zero, and nothing could really be done, the man said he’d come back Wednesday, when the temps were supposed to be up a little.
The temps were up a little – very little – on Wednesday and the man never showed up. I finally called him on Friday. He had got very busy and forgot he was supposed to come. He doesn’t do plumbing jobs for a living anymore; it’s just a sideline. He came over, got the panel off, pulled all the insulation out, found that the problem was relatively simple – the line into the house, which is actually a plastic hose, had just popped off the well inlet. But it was frozen solid, and it was still too cold to put an electrical device in the well to thaw it. So we wait until Monday, which will probably be the only day warm enough next week to work on it.
For our water needs during this time – we had several 5-gallon buckets of water in the basement, that we had saved from the dehumidifier in past summers; this water served for minimal washing, and for flushing the toilet (also minimal) for a few days. We filter all our drinking water, and we already had 3 or 4 gallons of that on hand. Fortunately, we had just run the dishwasher on Sunday, so we had a good supply of clean dishes. On Thursday, I got all the empty (clean) plastic milk jugs we had, and went & got water at a roadside spring. I also filled 2 5-quart picnic jugs. Those had to be used for washing, because, not having been used for a long time, they had developed a little mold in the bottom. For flushing the toilet, we melted snow. It takes 2 of those big buckets (slightly over 5 gal.) full of snow to melt down to enough water for a minimal toilet flush. It is amazing the amount of junk that is in that “nice, white snow.” Among other impurities, hemlock seeds float to the top.
On Saturday, I managed to wash my head, and took a spit bath. On Sunday, I loaded jugs and a bucket into the car with the thought of getting water from the church. But as I headed for church, I noticed that our neighbors across the road were home, and I knew we could get water from them if we needed it.
The sink is piled with dishes. The dirty clothes baskets are full. 2 weeks worth of laundry is waiting, since the day the line broke is my normal laundry day. And as for the minimal flushing of the toilet – I hate even to think of the cleaning job I will have there.
Monday afternoon: the water is running again! The plumber is going to get a heat tape for it, so that I won’t have to worry about it any more. Hope he gets back with it before the bottom drops out again.
Mike has had a shower and has gone out to pick up a pizza. The toilet cleaner is soaking in the bowl, and the dishwasher is running. I can’t do laundry & dishes at the same time, the well doesn’t recover fast enough for that much water usage. It will probably take me all week to get the laundry done.
(Originally posted February 12, 2007)
So, we’re without water and the temperature is sub-zero. We called a neighbor who has done some plumbing for us. He didn’t have any power tools with him, and Mike didn’t have his cordless screwdriver batteries charged up, so we couldn’t remove the panel from the porch, through which we access the well. The guy who built our new porch several years ago screwed up royally, and only put the well access panel in as an afterthought, and it’s not squared with the well. Also, with the old porch, the top of the well access was flush with the bottom of the porch, so the cover was part of the porch floor. With the new one, we just have a makeshift cover that lies loosely on top of the well. Since we couldn’t get the panel off, and the temperature was just barely above zero, and nothing could really be done, the man said he’d come back Wednesday, when the temps were supposed to be up a little.
The temps were up a little – very little – on Wednesday and the man never showed up. I finally called him on Friday. He had got very busy and forgot he was supposed to come. He doesn’t do plumbing jobs for a living anymore; it’s just a sideline. He came over, got the panel off, pulled all the insulation out, found that the problem was relatively simple – the line into the house, which is actually a plastic hose, had just popped off the well inlet. But it was frozen solid, and it was still too cold to put an electrical device in the well to thaw it. So we wait until Monday, which will probably be the only day warm enough next week to work on it.
For our water needs during this time – we had several 5-gallon buckets of water in the basement, that we had saved from the dehumidifier in past summers; this water served for minimal washing, and for flushing the toilet (also minimal) for a few days. We filter all our drinking water, and we already had 3 or 4 gallons of that on hand. Fortunately, we had just run the dishwasher on Sunday, so we had a good supply of clean dishes. On Thursday, I got all the empty (clean) plastic milk jugs we had, and went & got water at a roadside spring. I also filled 2 5-quart picnic jugs. Those had to be used for washing, because, not having been used for a long time, they had developed a little mold in the bottom. For flushing the toilet, we melted snow. It takes 2 of those big buckets (slightly over 5 gal.) full of snow to melt down to enough water for a minimal toilet flush. It is amazing the amount of junk that is in that “nice, white snow.” Among other impurities, hemlock seeds float to the top.
On Saturday, I managed to wash my head, and took a spit bath. On Sunday, I loaded jugs and a bucket into the car with the thought of getting water from the church. But as I headed for church, I noticed that our neighbors across the road were home, and I knew we could get water from them if we needed it.
The sink is piled with dishes. The dirty clothes baskets are full. 2 weeks worth of laundry is waiting, since the day the line broke is my normal laundry day. And as for the minimal flushing of the toilet – I hate even to think of the cleaning job I will have there.
Monday afternoon: the water is running again! The plumber is going to get a heat tape for it, so that I won’t have to worry about it any more. Hope he gets back with it before the bottom drops out again.
Mike has had a shower and has gone out to pick up a pizza. The toilet cleaner is soaking in the bowl, and the dishwasher is running. I can’t do laundry & dishes at the same time, the well doesn’t recover fast enough for that much water usage. It will probably take me all week to get the laundry done.
(Originally posted February 12, 2007)
Memories
Lily and I were discussing setting up a web site for family memories. The idea was ignited from the Wensley web site, which was started when Mary Ellen's cancer became advanced, and they wanted to provide memories for and about her. We're not sure how many of the family would be willing/able to contribute; some don't have internet access, and others are limited with their computer literacy (or lack thereof).
Anyway, I thought I'd share a memory from my way-background. I've talked about this with Middy (Mildred), and she thinks I'm only remembering what people told me. But I'm remembering what nobody else even knew about this incident. I must have been about 3 years old at the time, when I wandered off, probably about 1/2 mile, stopped at at neighbor's house, went in and lay down on the sofa and took a nap. That part I didn't remember, nor, as the family told me, that I had taken off my panties! Nor did I remember, when my big half-brother Paul came to get me, saying, "Paul, the dog peeked out." I do remember walking home with Paul, holding his finger. And what nobody else knew was the reason for my little escapade. I was standing up against the wall near my mother, who was sitting down and working at something. I was singing, "Bring Them In." My mother said to me, "You'll have to sing that for Aunt Nan." I took her very literally, and set off toward Aunt Nan's home, so I could sing for her. I was on the right track, but apparently the distance was far too much for a 3-year-old!
(Originally posted January 29, 2007)
Anyway, I thought I'd share a memory from my way-background. I've talked about this with Middy (Mildred), and she thinks I'm only remembering what people told me. But I'm remembering what nobody else even knew about this incident. I must have been about 3 years old at the time, when I wandered off, probably about 1/2 mile, stopped at at neighbor's house, went in and lay down on the sofa and took a nap. That part I didn't remember, nor, as the family told me, that I had taken off my panties! Nor did I remember, when my big half-brother Paul came to get me, saying, "Paul, the dog peeked out." I do remember walking home with Paul, holding his finger. And what nobody else knew was the reason for my little escapade. I was standing up against the wall near my mother, who was sitting down and working at something. I was singing, "Bring Them In." My mother said to me, "You'll have to sing that for Aunt Nan." I took her very literally, and set off toward Aunt Nan's home, so I could sing for her. I was on the right track, but apparently the distance was far too much for a 3-year-old!
(Originally posted January 29, 2007)
And More Songs!
Lily requested a few other songs:
A Toad Went a Courtin'
A toad went a courtin', he did ride
A sword and a pistol by his side;
He knocked on Lady Mouse's door
And he said "Lady Mouse, are you within?" Mm-hmm.
Oh, he took Lady Mouse upon his knee
And he said, "Lady Mouse, will you marry me?"
He said, "Lady Mouse, will you marry me?" Mm-hmm.
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she;
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she;
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she. Mm-hmm.
Oh, Uncle Rat laughed till he shook his fat sides
Saying Lady Mouse must be his bride;
Saying Lady Mouse must be his bride. Mm-hmm.
Oh, where shall the wedding supper be?
Where shall the wedding supper be?
'Way down yonder in a hollow tree. Mm-hmm.
And this one (Mom sang it to us just once, and we never forgot it, to her regret; she thought it was disrespectful.):
The Old Man Died and Was Laid in His Grave
The old man died and was laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave, laid in his grave.
The old man died and was laid in his grave,
Laid, laid, laid in his grave, grave, grave.
There grew an old apple tree out of his grave,
Out of his grave, out of his grave.
There grew an old apple tree out of his grave,
Out, out, out of his grave, grave, grave.
The apples got ripe and began to fall down,
Began to fall down, began to fall down.
The apples got ripe and began to fall down,
Began, 'gan, 'gan to fall down, down, down.
There came an old woman a pickin' them up,
Pickin' them up, pickin' them up.
There came an old woman a pickin' them up,
A pick, pick, pickin' them up, up, up.
The old man arose and he hit her a clout,
Hit her a clout, hit her a clout.
The old man arose and he hit her a clout,
Hit, hit, hit her a clout, clout, clout.
This made the old woman go flipperty-flop,
Flipperty-flop, flipperty-flop.
This made the old woman go flipperty-flop,
Flip, flip, fliperty-flop, flop, flop.
I'm not really sure of all the words, I originally thought some of them were different, but I presented them here as my oldest sister Laurie (Leora) remembered them.
And the piéce de resistance - this is not quite so old, a novelty song sung by Gordon MacRae in the early '50's*. We had an old 78rpm record of it that was a gift to Lily, but she got so tired of hearing it that she hid it, and it was never found. I know where she hid it, she told me, but no one will ever find it now, because the house it was in has fallen down, and it is not only buried in rubble, but probably deteriorated to nothing (some of the words might not be exactly accurate, and don't press me for the correct spelling of the nonsense words):
The Tongi Islands
I sailed from port one summer day
And to the south I made my way,
But I got wrecked in Boski Bay
Down in the Tongi Islands.
At last I landed on the shore,
Where I found pearls and maids galore
I vowed I'd live there evermore
And never leave the Islands.
Refrain:
Hongi Tongi, hokey pokey,
Hingledy, jingledy, pokey mokey,
Hongi Tongi, hingledy gee
In the Tongi Islands.
The king was Tunci Winci Wangle
Flipsy Flopsy Whiskey Bang
And he could fling the boomerang
Around the Tongi Islands.
I said I'd be his son-in-law
And wed his daughter Wisky Wau
And we'd live in a hut of straw
Right in the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
My wife was kind as she could be,
And we both lived in harmony
Till all the natives envied me
Throughout the Tongi Islands;
They said my marriage they would break
And then they'd burn me at the stake;
I swore that they would never take
Me in the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
I knew that I could never stay
And so, when dawn turned into day,
I stole away from Boski Bay
And left the Tongi Islands.
And now at last I'm safe and sound
Once more upon me native ground
And nevermore will I be found
In the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
*This may have been in the '40's yet, but I was thinking it was after we got our first electric radio/record player (which happened late 1950), as opposed to our hand-cranked victrola.
(Oringally posted January 18, 2007)
A Toad Went a Courtin'
A toad went a courtin', he did ride
A sword and a pistol by his side;
He knocked on Lady Mouse's door
And he said "Lady Mouse, are you within?" Mm-hmm.
Oh, he took Lady Mouse upon his knee
And he said, "Lady Mouse, will you marry me?"
He said, "Lady Mouse, will you marry me?" Mm-hmm.
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she;
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she;
"You'll have to ask Uncle Rat," said she. Mm-hmm.
Oh, Uncle Rat laughed till he shook his fat sides
Saying Lady Mouse must be his bride;
Saying Lady Mouse must be his bride. Mm-hmm.
Oh, where shall the wedding supper be?
Where shall the wedding supper be?
'Way down yonder in a hollow tree. Mm-hmm.
And this one (Mom sang it to us just once, and we never forgot it, to her regret; she thought it was disrespectful.):
The Old Man Died and Was Laid in His Grave
The old man died and was laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave, laid in his grave.
The old man died and was laid in his grave,
Laid, laid, laid in his grave, grave, grave.
There grew an old apple tree out of his grave,
Out of his grave, out of his grave.
There grew an old apple tree out of his grave,
Out, out, out of his grave, grave, grave.
The apples got ripe and began to fall down,
Began to fall down, began to fall down.
The apples got ripe and began to fall down,
Began, 'gan, 'gan to fall down, down, down.
There came an old woman a pickin' them up,
Pickin' them up, pickin' them up.
There came an old woman a pickin' them up,
A pick, pick, pickin' them up, up, up.
The old man arose and he hit her a clout,
Hit her a clout, hit her a clout.
The old man arose and he hit her a clout,
Hit, hit, hit her a clout, clout, clout.
This made the old woman go flipperty-flop,
Flipperty-flop, flipperty-flop.
This made the old woman go flipperty-flop,
Flip, flip, fliperty-flop, flop, flop.
I'm not really sure of all the words, I originally thought some of them were different, but I presented them here as my oldest sister Laurie (Leora) remembered them.
And the piéce de resistance - this is not quite so old, a novelty song sung by Gordon MacRae in the early '50's*. We had an old 78rpm record of it that was a gift to Lily, but she got so tired of hearing it that she hid it, and it was never found. I know where she hid it, she told me, but no one will ever find it now, because the house it was in has fallen down, and it is not only buried in rubble, but probably deteriorated to nothing (some of the words might not be exactly accurate, and don't press me for the correct spelling of the nonsense words):
The Tongi Islands
I sailed from port one summer day
And to the south I made my way,
But I got wrecked in Boski Bay
Down in the Tongi Islands.
At last I landed on the shore,
Where I found pearls and maids galore
I vowed I'd live there evermore
And never leave the Islands.
Refrain:
Hongi Tongi, hokey pokey,
Hingledy, jingledy, pokey mokey,
Hongi Tongi, hingledy gee
In the Tongi Islands.
The king was Tunci Winci Wangle
Flipsy Flopsy Whiskey Bang
And he could fling the boomerang
Around the Tongi Islands.
I said I'd be his son-in-law
And wed his daughter Wisky Wau
And we'd live in a hut of straw
Right in the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
My wife was kind as she could be,
And we both lived in harmony
Till all the natives envied me
Throughout the Tongi Islands;
They said my marriage they would break
And then they'd burn me at the stake;
I swore that they would never take
Me in the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
I knew that I could never stay
And so, when dawn turned into day,
I stole away from Boski Bay
And left the Tongi Islands.
And now at last I'm safe and sound
Once more upon me native ground
And nevermore will I be found
In the Tongi Islands.
(Refrain)
*This may have been in the '40's yet, but I was thinking it was after we got our first electric radio/record player (which happened late 1950), as opposed to our hand-cranked victrola.
(Oringally posted January 18, 2007)
A Few More Songs
My li'l sis Lil wanted to see some more songs. I've already posted some of those she asked about. Another one was, I think, from the music book my mother used when she was teaching school (grades 1-8).
The Robin and the Brooklet
Oh, the robin and the brooklet are singing
Such a very, very merry song.
They are telling us that summer is coming,
That the chill days of winter are gone.
Tra la la la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la
Hear the robin and the brooklet;
Join in the robin's song.
Another old one got me into trouble on an internet message board (not really, just that the admin was still fighting the civil war, and bore an extreme hatred for "Yankees" - and he was the only one that got nasty about it). It was one my father used to sing, and I believe it was intended to be to the tune of "Wait for the Wagon," although that was not exactly how my father sang it.
Jeff Davis built a wagon
And on it put his name.
Old Beauregard was driver
Of Secession's ugly frame.
Oh, the horses, they got hungry
As most of horses do,
And they had to draw the collar tight
To keep from pulling through.
Oh, bully for your wagon!
Your new secession wagon!
Oh, Beaure, hold your nag in
And we'll all take a ride.
I think that some of the songs my father used to sing were slave songs, like "My Pretty Quadroon" and "Dearest Mae." I think we are too politically correct in this day and age to recognize that even black slaves were able to love and be loved, or else we want to pretend that people never owned other people in this country.
(Originally posted January 17, 2007)
The Robin and the Brooklet
Oh, the robin and the brooklet are singing
Such a very, very merry song.
They are telling us that summer is coming,
That the chill days of winter are gone.
Tra la la la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la la
Hear the robin and the brooklet;
Join in the robin's song.
Another old one got me into trouble on an internet message board (not really, just that the admin was still fighting the civil war, and bore an extreme hatred for "Yankees" - and he was the only one that got nasty about it). It was one my father used to sing, and I believe it was intended to be to the tune of "Wait for the Wagon," although that was not exactly how my father sang it.
Jeff Davis built a wagon
And on it put his name.
Old Beauregard was driver
Of Secession's ugly frame.
Oh, the horses, they got hungry
As most of horses do,
And they had to draw the collar tight
To keep from pulling through.
Oh, bully for your wagon!
Your new secession wagon!
Oh, Beaure, hold your nag in
And we'll all take a ride.
I think that some of the songs my father used to sing were slave songs, like "My Pretty Quadroon" and "Dearest Mae." I think we are too politically correct in this day and age to recognize that even black slaves were able to love and be loved, or else we want to pretend that people never owned other people in this country.
(Originally posted January 17, 2007)
Flat Tires and Furnaces
On my way home from church Sunday, I noticed I had a very low tire. I aired it up before driving the rest of the way home. On Tuesday my son & I went out for supper (our power was out), a round trip of about 30 miles. On Wednesday, I was getting ready to go to the Wednesday night prayer service, and my son said he'd noticed the tire was low. He drove to the nearest station (about 8 miles one way), and aired the tire up. It was so low, I decided I didn't want to drive into church at night, so I just planned to go to the shop on Thursday morning to get it fixed.
On Wednesday evening, our furnace blower decided to stop. Mike & I went downstairs, and I held the flashlight while he pumped in the oil. Flipped the switch, and the blower kicked right in. About 11:00 pm, it quit again. Mike pulled the motor, and decided we must have a bad bearing. He couldn't fix it, wanted me to get parts.
I went to the auto shop and got my tire fixed. It had a horseshoe nail in it. Then I went to my sister's and she & her husband recommended a heating & cooling shop. My brother-in-law thought that the motor was shot, and I operated on that premise and bought a new motor. I had also to buy a new pulley, because Mike bent the other one when pulling it off. Got it home, Mike installed it, and it was turning the blower in the wrong direction. The instructions seemed to indicate that switching the incoming wires would switch the polarity of the motor, and that was verified when we called the shop. He switched the wires. It still ran backwards. I called the shop and said, "Send us a technician." He said he had a man working not too far from us, and would send him out. Later he called and said there was something else we could do. Mike, based on what he had seen when installing the motor, wasn't quite sure what he was talking about, and besides, he was already stressed out - his health is not very good - and said just to send the tech on out. It seemed that there were wires inside the motor housing that were reversed, and of course, we didn't see them. The tech got it fixed up, and now we have heat. The tech's services cost more than the motor & pulley together.
End of another looooong day.
(Originally posted January 4, 2007)
On Wednesday evening, our furnace blower decided to stop. Mike & I went downstairs, and I held the flashlight while he pumped in the oil. Flipped the switch, and the blower kicked right in. About 11:00 pm, it quit again. Mike pulled the motor, and decided we must have a bad bearing. He couldn't fix it, wanted me to get parts.
I went to the auto shop and got my tire fixed. It had a horseshoe nail in it. Then I went to my sister's and she & her husband recommended a heating & cooling shop. My brother-in-law thought that the motor was shot, and I operated on that premise and bought a new motor. I had also to buy a new pulley, because Mike bent the other one when pulling it off. Got it home, Mike installed it, and it was turning the blower in the wrong direction. The instructions seemed to indicate that switching the incoming wires would switch the polarity of the motor, and that was verified when we called the shop. He switched the wires. It still ran backwards. I called the shop and said, "Send us a technician." He said he had a man working not too far from us, and would send him out. Later he called and said there was something else we could do. Mike, based on what he had seen when installing the motor, wasn't quite sure what he was talking about, and besides, he was already stressed out - his health is not very good - and said just to send the tech on out. It seemed that there were wires inside the motor housing that were reversed, and of course, we didn't see them. The tech got it fixed up, and now we have heat. The tech's services cost more than the motor & pulley together.
End of another looooong day.
(Originally posted January 4, 2007)
Same Old War Songs
I can't seem to find an authentic version of "I'm Glad My Wife's in Europe," although I have seen it for sale on a CD made to sound like the original 78rpm recording. I did find another "casual" version of the words - and according to this version, the man was eating "cream on peas." And there is far more to it than anything I've found.
Oh, yes, and I found an actual 78 record on eBay - the exact same one we had, with "I'm Going Back to Louisiana" on the other side.
As for "Watch, Hope, and Wait, Little Girl" - I found a copy of old sheet music on the internet, and got the words from that. It shows 2 verses; I only remember one on our old record. What I posted previously was the chorus only. But the first verse goes like this:
Had a little time today
So I write these lines to say
I am feeling fine
Soldier life for mine
Hard work and some play
Underneath the pale moonlight
Thinking of you every night
Have no fear
Sweetheart, dear,
And while I'm over here
Chorus:
Watch, little girl, and hope, little girl,
And wait, little girl for me.
Pray, little girl, every day, little girl,
While I'm across the sea;
Give my love to Ma;
Say "hello" to Pa;
And you know I'm longing, dear,
To know just how you are;
So write, little girl, every night, little girl,
And promise you'll be true.
And I'll fight, little girl,
With all my might, little girl,
'Till I come back to you.
(Originally posted November 27, 2006)
Oh, yes, and I found an actual 78 record on eBay - the exact same one we had, with "I'm Going Back to Louisiana" on the other side.
As for "Watch, Hope, and Wait, Little Girl" - I found a copy of old sheet music on the internet, and got the words from that. It shows 2 verses; I only remember one on our old record. What I posted previously was the chorus only. But the first verse goes like this:
Had a little time today
So I write these lines to say
I am feeling fine
Soldier life for mine
Hard work and some play
Underneath the pale moonlight
Thinking of you every night
Have no fear
Sweetheart, dear,
And while I'm over here
Chorus:
Watch, little girl, and hope, little girl,
And wait, little girl for me.
Pray, little girl, every day, little girl,
While I'm across the sea;
Give my love to Ma;
Say "hello" to Pa;
And you know I'm longing, dear,
To know just how you are;
So write, little girl, every night, little girl,
And promise you'll be true.
And I'll fight, little girl,
With all my might, little girl,
'Till I come back to you.
(Originally posted November 27, 2006)
More Old War Songs
Ah, and talking about war songs!
My father once bought an old Victrola at an auction - one of those you had to wind up - with loads of records - the old 78 rpms. There were a couple of old war songs, probably from World War I. The first one I remember is "Watch, Hope, and Wait, Little Girl" - well, I don't remember the whole thing, and what I do remember is not very clear. It's a soldier, writing home to his sweetheart.
What I remember goes something like this:
Watch, little girl, and hope, little girl,
And wait, little girl, for me.
Pray, little girl, every day, little girl,
While I'm across the sea.
Give my love to Ma;
Say "Hello" to Pa;
And you know I'm longing,dear,
To know just how you are.
So write, little girl, every night, little girl,
And promise you'll be true.
And I'll fight, little girl, with all my might, little girl,
Till I come back to you.
And then there was the one my mother wouldn't let us play - but we sneaked it in once in a while when she wasn't around - or when we thought she wasn't around. I don't remember the terminology she used, but essentially, she told us that the sentiments expressed therein were inappropriate - which was true enough, but we thought it was funny - in fact, I still kinda think it's funny. Eventually she caught us playing it one time too many, and she scratched up the record so we couldn't play it any more. She didn't break it, because the one on the reverse side was acceptable. Just the title will tell you what's wrong with the sentiment - "I'm Glad My Wife's in Europe." I can't remember it all too well, but here is the chorus, as best I can remember it. Maybe one of my brothers or sisters can remember it, and give me corrections.
I'm glad my wife's in Europe
And she can't get back;
She can't get back;
While I'm eating ham and cheese*
She's eating beans with a refugee;
The only way she can reach me
Is to swim across the sea.
I'm sorry that there should be war;
I don't know what they're fighting for,
But I'm glad my wife's in Europe
And she can't get back to me.
*I really don't remember what he was eating.
Note on edit: I found a version on the 'net, said he was eating "lamb and cheese."
Note - (Jan 13, 2007) - Middy says the victrola was given to us. What do I know, I was just a little kid then.
(Originally posted November 21, 2006)
My father once bought an old Victrola at an auction - one of those you had to wind up - with loads of records - the old 78 rpms. There were a couple of old war songs, probably from World War I. The first one I remember is "Watch, Hope, and Wait, Little Girl" - well, I don't remember the whole thing, and what I do remember is not very clear. It's a soldier, writing home to his sweetheart.
What I remember goes something like this:
Watch, little girl, and hope, little girl,
And wait, little girl, for me.
Pray, little girl, every day, little girl,
While I'm across the sea.
Give my love to Ma;
Say "Hello" to Pa;
And you know I'm longing,dear,
To know just how you are.
So write, little girl, every night, little girl,
And promise you'll be true.
And I'll fight, little girl, with all my might, little girl,
Till I come back to you.
And then there was the one my mother wouldn't let us play - but we sneaked it in once in a while when she wasn't around - or when we thought she wasn't around. I don't remember the terminology she used, but essentially, she told us that the sentiments expressed therein were inappropriate - which was true enough, but we thought it was funny - in fact, I still kinda think it's funny. Eventually she caught us playing it one time too many, and she scratched up the record so we couldn't play it any more. She didn't break it, because the one on the reverse side was acceptable. Just the title will tell you what's wrong with the sentiment - "I'm Glad My Wife's in Europe." I can't remember it all too well, but here is the chorus, as best I can remember it. Maybe one of my brothers or sisters can remember it, and give me corrections.
I'm glad my wife's in Europe
And she can't get back;
She can't get back;
While I'm eating ham and cheese*
She's eating beans with a refugee;
The only way she can reach me
Is to swim across the sea.
I'm sorry that there should be war;
I don't know what they're fighting for,
But I'm glad my wife's in Europe
And she can't get back to me.
*I really don't remember what he was eating.
Note on edit: I found a version on the 'net, said he was eating "lamb and cheese."
Note - (Jan 13, 2007) - Middy says the victrola was given to us. What do I know, I was just a little kid then.
(Originally posted November 21, 2006)
More Old Songs
Something came to my mind just today that I hadn’t remembered for probably 60 years. But to introduce it, I have to go back even further. This song has a tune that many are probably familiar with due to Sunday School songs.
Apparently the tune was original with this old Civil War Song. As written here, there is a note in the book I have that the chorus was changed slightly from the original, but since then it has remained unchanged. However, the version I learned of it is somewhat different, and I will present that later:
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!
On the battle front we stand, ‘neath the flag that made us free,
Ever ready for the words to do and dare;
Tho’ we’re twice a million strong, still they’re coming from the sea,
We can hear the tread like thunder in the air.
Chorus:
Tramp, tramp, tramp! the boys are marching!
Cheer, brave comrades, they will come;
Every heart is in the fight
For the cause of Truth and Right
And the freedom of our own beloved land!
They are coming from the West, you can hear the mighty roar,
As they tramp the earth and sing a battle song;
There are millions in the fight, and as many millions more
Only wait the Nation’s call to come along.
There’s a God in glory still, and His Word is on the sky,
Blazing letters for the dastard foe to read:
Ye are traitors to the truth and as traitors ye shall die,
Tho' a world be made to suffer and to bleed.
The original version I learned is probably from World War I. My mother was a school teacher near the end of that war, and she probably learned it in her teacher’s training school (called “Normal School” back then). I know only one verse to this version, but it’s the only version I ever heard when I was young. It is written as a prisoner of war writing home to his mother.
In my prison cell I sit, thinking, mother, dear, of you
And our sweet and happy home so far away;
And the tears they fill my eyes, ‘spite of all that I can do,
Though I try to cheer my comrades and be brave.
Tramp, tramp, tramp! the boys are marching!
Cheer up, comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag
shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved home.
Now this tune has been used for a couple of Sunday School songs, with which you may be familiar: “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and “Jesus Died for All the Children.”
And this brings me to my original thought. My mother once used to sing a song that was based on the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. I think there was much more to it, but I remember only the chorus – and, as I said above, I hadn’t heard it or even thought about it in many years:
Pray again, my good Elijah!
Prayer will bring abundant rain.
By His grace and mighty power*
May the Lord our hearts inspire
‘Til we get down on our knees and pray again.
*This term may actually be “holy fire,” I’m not sure.
(Originally posted November 20, 2006)
Apparently the tune was original with this old Civil War Song. As written here, there is a note in the book I have that the chorus was changed slightly from the original, but since then it has remained unchanged. However, the version I learned of it is somewhat different, and I will present that later:
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!
On the battle front we stand, ‘neath the flag that made us free,
Ever ready for the words to do and dare;
Tho’ we’re twice a million strong, still they’re coming from the sea,
We can hear the tread like thunder in the air.
Chorus:
Tramp, tramp, tramp! the boys are marching!
Cheer, brave comrades, they will come;
Every heart is in the fight
For the cause of Truth and Right
And the freedom of our own beloved land!
They are coming from the West, you can hear the mighty roar,
As they tramp the earth and sing a battle song;
There are millions in the fight, and as many millions more
Only wait the Nation’s call to come along.
There’s a God in glory still, and His Word is on the sky,
Blazing letters for the dastard foe to read:
Ye are traitors to the truth and as traitors ye shall die,
Tho' a world be made to suffer and to bleed.
The original version I learned is probably from World War I. My mother was a school teacher near the end of that war, and she probably learned it in her teacher’s training school (called “Normal School” back then). I know only one verse to this version, but it’s the only version I ever heard when I was young. It is written as a prisoner of war writing home to his mother.
In my prison cell I sit, thinking, mother, dear, of you
And our sweet and happy home so far away;
And the tears they fill my eyes, ‘spite of all that I can do,
Though I try to cheer my comrades and be brave.
Tramp, tramp, tramp! the boys are marching!
Cheer up, comrades, they will come
And beneath the starry flag
shall breathe the air again
Of the free land in our own beloved home.
Now this tune has been used for a couple of Sunday School songs, with which you may be familiar: “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and “Jesus Died for All the Children.”
And this brings me to my original thought. My mother once used to sing a song that was based on the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. I think there was much more to it, but I remember only the chorus – and, as I said above, I hadn’t heard it or even thought about it in many years:
Pray again, my good Elijah!
Prayer will bring abundant rain.
By His grace and mighty power*
May the Lord our hearts inspire
‘Til we get down on our knees and pray again.
*This term may actually be “holy fire,” I’m not sure.
(Originally posted November 20, 2006)
Katy
Katy is my great niece. She was born in India in September of 1984, and was adopted by my nephew Paul and his wife Dawn when she was 4 years old. This summer, she became violently ill and was subsequently diagnosed with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. She had been improving drastically for a while, but when taken off a very strong medication for pain, she soon started deteriorating again. A couple of days ago she returned to the hospital. She is an amazing young lady; I have never met her myself, but I feel I have come to know her through reading the blog her uncle set up to track her progress. Click on the link and meet Katy and her family!
http://www.katysblog.com (site name has been changed)
(Originally posted October 12, 2006)
Blogger's note - since this was originally published, a new blog has been created, and the posts are being gradually moved to http://www.campbellfamilyjournal.com. The section called Katy's Musings is being/has been transferred to http://www.kathrynskeepsakes.com.
http://www.katysblog.com (site name has been changed)
(Originally posted October 12, 2006)
Blogger's note - since this was originally published, a new blog has been created, and the posts are being gradually moved to http://www.campbellfamilyjournal.com. The section called Katy's Musings is being/has been transferred to http://www.kathrynskeepsakes.com.
Trash and Turkeys
We have a very inconsistent trash pickup service. When we first got it, we were supposed to have our trash at the curb 6:30 Monday morning. Well, they got so they weren't picking it up until 11:00 or so, often 1:00 or 2:00, and sometimes as late as 4:00. They almost always pick it up late (that is, not on Tuesday) after Monday holidays. After Labor Day this year, they didn't pick it up until late Thursday. The following Monday, they picked it up at 7:30, and we weren't even up yet. The next week, Mike put it out Sunday evening while I was at church (we hate to put it out overnight, because of the wild life around here - racoons & bears have been known to savage plastic garbage cans). The next week, we forgot, and we were hurriedly getting the trash together when the truck went by. I told Mike, sometimes they pick it up coming down the hill instead of going up, so we put it out anyway - and they did. Last night we got it out - remembered last thing before going to bed. They didn't show up until 8:30. I thought I heard the truck, and peeked out the front window. Sure enough, they were picking it up. But there were also about a dozen wild turkeys in our front yard at the time. It's about 2 weeks (I think) until turkey season. A hunting license is too expensive for just turkeys, and when the time comes, I doubt that they'll be around.
(Originally posted October 2, 2006)
(Originally posted October 2, 2006)
Old Hymns and Songs (Part III)
I don’t even know the title of this one:
Down in the meadow, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses, hiding low,
There’s where the dear little violets grow.
Up in the alder tree, tree, tree,
Peek and a tiny nest you will see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro;
There’s where the dear little birdies grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat,
I hear the sound of wee, wee feet;
Sweet little voices chirp and crow;
There’s where the dear little babies grow.
I may add to this title later, if I can get some more songs from my sisters. They may remember ones that I don’t.
(Orignally posted September 4, 2006)
Down in the meadow, deep, deep, deep,
Where little sunbeams wink and peep,
Under the grasses, hiding low,
There’s where the dear little violets grow.
Up in the alder tree, tree, tree,
Peek and a tiny nest you will see,
Swung by the breezes to and fro;
There’s where the dear little birdies grow.
Up in the nursery, neat, neat, neat,
I hear the sound of wee, wee feet;
Sweet little voices chirp and crow;
There’s where the dear little babies grow.
I may add to this title later, if I can get some more songs from my sisters. They may remember ones that I don’t.
(Orignally posted September 4, 2006)
Old Hymns and Songs (Part II - Children's Songs)
This is an old one my mother taught us. She used to be a school teacher (grades 1-8). I was fortunate enough to find this one on the internet, as I couldn’t remember all the words. And a few of the words are slightly different from what I remember them:
Twenty Froggies
Twenty froggies went to school,
Down beside a rushy pool...
Twenty little coats of green,
Twenty vests all white and clean.
"We must be on time", said they.
"First we study, then we play.
That is how we keep the rule
When we froggies go to school."
Master BullFrog, brave and stern,
Called the classes in their turn,
Taught them how to nobly strive,
Likewise how to leap and dive.
From his seat upon the log,
Taught them how to say "Ker-chog"
Also how to dodge the blow
From the sticks that bad boys throw.
Twenty froggies grew up fast,
BullFrogs they became at last.
Now they sit on other logs,
Teaching other little frogs.
These I think came from my father’s repertoire:
Chooka of the Stack
How I love to watch the local winding up around the hill
In the sunlight of the morning when the autumn air is still
And the smoke-like loosen tresses seem to float along her back
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
Refrain:
Winding up around the track
With the chooka of the stack;
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
How I love to hear the music of the whistle and the bell
And the drumming of the furnace more than any tongue can tell;
And the mighty massive mogul always seems to call me back
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
(Refrain)
It’s Morning on the Farm
On the farm in the morning
Many birds awake
In the pastures and meadows
The sweetest music make.
Cheree, cheree, cheree!
The birds are singing in the tree.
Cheree, cheree, cheree!
It’s morning on the farm.
Who wakes first in the morning?
Now I wonder who?
Listen and he will tell you:
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
The rooster gets up early, too.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
It’s morning on the Farm.
More later.
(Originally posted August 17, 2006)
Twenty Froggies
Twenty froggies went to school,
Down beside a rushy pool...
Twenty little coats of green,
Twenty vests all white and clean.
"We must be on time", said they.
"First we study, then we play.
That is how we keep the rule
When we froggies go to school."
Master BullFrog, brave and stern,
Called the classes in their turn,
Taught them how to nobly strive,
Likewise how to leap and dive.
From his seat upon the log,
Taught them how to say "Ker-chog"
Also how to dodge the blow
From the sticks that bad boys throw.
Twenty froggies grew up fast,
BullFrogs they became at last.
Now they sit on other logs,
Teaching other little frogs.
These I think came from my father’s repertoire:
Chooka of the Stack
How I love to watch the local winding up around the hill
In the sunlight of the morning when the autumn air is still
And the smoke-like loosen tresses seem to float along her back
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
Refrain:
Winding up around the track
With the chooka of the stack;
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
How I love to hear the music of the whistle and the bell
And the drumming of the furnace more than any tongue can tell;
And the mighty massive mogul always seems to call me back
With the chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka of the stack.
(Refrain)
It’s Morning on the Farm
On the farm in the morning
Many birds awake
In the pastures and meadows
The sweetest music make.
Cheree, cheree, cheree!
The birds are singing in the tree.
Cheree, cheree, cheree!
It’s morning on the farm.
Who wakes first in the morning?
Now I wonder who?
Listen and he will tell you:
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
The rooster gets up early, too.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
It’s morning on the Farm.
More later.
(Originally posted August 17, 2006)
Old Hymns and Songs (Part I)
I have been unable to find on the internet the words to a number of songs & hymns I heard long ago. I’d kind-of like to see an exchange of such things; I’m sure someone somewhere knows some of them. I was trying unsuccessfully to find one for my sister last week. The song begins something like this: “All the Savior’s glory mind can never measure Nor the tongue of man define” and the chorus is made up of stuff like “Fairer than the morning, brighter than the noonday” and “sweeter than the bird’s song, lovelier than the sunset.” I tried all of these phrases in a search and could not locate the song. Another song I couldn’t find – although I know most of the words to it, and did find snatches of it embedded in sermons was “The Old-Fashioned Meeting.”
An Easter song that “No one knows but us” according to my sister couldn’t be found on the internet, but fortunately, I have access to both words and music. The title is “Jesus, the Crucified, Reigns”.
It goes as follows:
Gone is the night of repining,
Vanished forever its gloom;
Hope’s blessed sunlight is shining
Through the dark shades of the tomb.
Refrain:
Send out the wonderful tidings
Over the mountains and plains!
Jesus, the Lord, is triumphant!
Jesus, the Crucified, reigns!
Death he has robbed of its terror,
Banished the gloom of the grave;
Vanquished the kindom of error,
Risen all nations to save.
(Refrain)
Mountains his praises are voicing;
Valleys triumphantly ring;
Millions of souls, with rejoicing,
Crown him their Savior and King!
(Refrain)
Does anyone who is reading this blog know of any old, not well known, songs or hymns? Let’s hear about them! Later I will post some children’s songs that I learned from my parents.
(Originally posted August 8, 2006)
An Easter song that “No one knows but us” according to my sister couldn’t be found on the internet, but fortunately, I have access to both words and music. The title is “Jesus, the Crucified, Reigns”.
It goes as follows:
Gone is the night of repining,
Vanished forever its gloom;
Hope’s blessed sunlight is shining
Through the dark shades of the tomb.
Refrain:
Send out the wonderful tidings
Over the mountains and plains!
Jesus, the Lord, is triumphant!
Jesus, the Crucified, reigns!
Death he has robbed of its terror,
Banished the gloom of the grave;
Vanquished the kindom of error,
Risen all nations to save.
(Refrain)
Mountains his praises are voicing;
Valleys triumphantly ring;
Millions of souls, with rejoicing,
Crown him their Savior and King!
(Refrain)
Does anyone who is reading this blog know of any old, not well known, songs or hymns? Let’s hear about them! Later I will post some children’s songs that I learned from my parents.
(Originally posted August 8, 2006)
The Last Weekend of July
On Saturday:
Family members met together at my sister’s home about 15 miles away. There were 24 of us. Locally, my sister Mildred at whose home we met, and her husband Phil; also, their oldest daughter Melody who lives not far away, with her daughter Kitiara. Their younger daughter Liz (not sure where she lives, somewhere in Indiana, I think) with her husband Jeff and daughter Cheyenne. Then, my son Mike & me.
Then, my oldest sister Leora came from Arkansas with her younger son Ben.
Everyone else came from Michigan – my “young” brother Tommy, his wife Pat, and their younger daughter Suzanne with her husband Bob. My “baby” brother Gale (he’s only 64!) and his wife Carol, his older daughter Jenny with her 2 daughters Katie & Emily, who are “clones” of her; and his younger daughter Amy with her husband Rene and twin babies Alex and Anna.
Some of these I hadn’t seen in years; others I had never seen. It was a good get together, although hectic, because the original purpose for scheduling the get-together was a communty gathering near our old family home.
On Sunday:
Many went to church, or at least to Sunday School before heading off to Munderf. I met old acquaintances I hadn’t seen since I was a kid; there quite a few that I hadn’t seen for some time. I even met relatives that I didn’t know existed!
The high point for me was when the grandson of a cousin of mine said the blessing before we started to eat. The reason this touched me so much is that he looks so much like his father who, as far as I know, never darkened the door of a church.
Many of us will probably never meet on this earth again. There were a number of people in their mid-seventies, some who had come a long distance. And then there were the younger people, like Jenny’s girls & Amy & Rene’s twins. The twins will be a year old this month.
(Originally posted August 7, 2006)
Family members met together at my sister’s home about 15 miles away. There were 24 of us. Locally, my sister Mildred at whose home we met, and her husband Phil; also, their oldest daughter Melody who lives not far away, with her daughter Kitiara. Their younger daughter Liz (not sure where she lives, somewhere in Indiana, I think) with her husband Jeff and daughter Cheyenne. Then, my son Mike & me.
Then, my oldest sister Leora came from Arkansas with her younger son Ben.
Everyone else came from Michigan – my “young” brother Tommy, his wife Pat, and their younger daughter Suzanne with her husband Bob. My “baby” brother Gale (he’s only 64!) and his wife Carol, his older daughter Jenny with her 2 daughters Katie & Emily, who are “clones” of her; and his younger daughter Amy with her husband Rene and twin babies Alex and Anna.
Some of these I hadn’t seen in years; others I had never seen. It was a good get together, although hectic, because the original purpose for scheduling the get-together was a communty gathering near our old family home.
On Sunday:
Many went to church, or at least to Sunday School before heading off to Munderf. I met old acquaintances I hadn’t seen since I was a kid; there quite a few that I hadn’t seen for some time. I even met relatives that I didn’t know existed!
The high point for me was when the grandson of a cousin of mine said the blessing before we started to eat. The reason this touched me so much is that he looks so much like his father who, as far as I know, never darkened the door of a church.
Many of us will probably never meet on this earth again. There were a number of people in their mid-seventies, some who had come a long distance. And then there were the younger people, like Jenny’s girls & Amy & Rene’s twins. The twins will be a year old this month.
(Originally posted August 7, 2006)
Bits and pieces
I wanted to do a 4th of July blog, but I was just too tired to think, too tired to do the research that should be done on such a topic. So, this is just a little ramble on my mundane life.
I needed new brakes for my car. It was also due for oil change and inspection. And it had a slow leak in one tire that the garage had not been able to find in 2 tries. I had an appointment Wednesday morning. The brakes needed new pads. The rotors needed to be milled, and there was another vehicle there that had first dibs on the milling. Mine were badly pitted, and it took a number of passes. I sat in the shop nearly all morning. But one of the first things that happened was that the shop owner held up a tiny little screw that was found in my tire. Hopefully no more air loss!
Then I had to go to the notary to take care of my registration, and found I didn’t have my current insurance card. Since the same company handled my insurance, I went over to the insurance office, and they typed me up a new card. Next, to the gas station to fill up the tank. It was around 12:30 or so when I got home. I had left just shortly after 7:30 that morning.
(Originally posted July 6, 2006)
I needed new brakes for my car. It was also due for oil change and inspection. And it had a slow leak in one tire that the garage had not been able to find in 2 tries. I had an appointment Wednesday morning. The brakes needed new pads. The rotors needed to be milled, and there was another vehicle there that had first dibs on the milling. Mine were badly pitted, and it took a number of passes. I sat in the shop nearly all morning. But one of the first things that happened was that the shop owner held up a tiny little screw that was found in my tire. Hopefully no more air loss!
Then I had to go to the notary to take care of my registration, and found I didn’t have my current insurance card. Since the same company handled my insurance, I went over to the insurance office, and they typed me up a new card. Next, to the gas station to fill up the tank. It was around 12:30 or so when I got home. I had left just shortly after 7:30 that morning.
(Originally posted July 6, 2006)
Sunday, July 2
Wow, what a Sunday Service! Since it was near the Fourth of July, we had somewhat of a patriotic theme. But before the service really got started, the director of our teens’ program stood up and said they had been “instructed” (by the district director, I believe) to interrupt the service at this point. They had just returned from teen camp. There had been 5 of our teens to the camp, but one of them wasn’t there. They went to the platform, and did a song with motions that they had learned at camp, then 3 of the four gave their testimony. One of these teens was the adopted son of the director. He was adopted just recently, and had spent most of his life in “the system.”
I’m not writing this very well, but we were all blessed by this “interlude.” Then, after the teens were finished, we sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” I’ve sung that many times, but I don’t know when I was ever so touched by it. The pastor’s sermon was based on the scripture “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”
We have been blessed with a great bunch of teens and kids in our church, and I intend to back them with prayer, and whatever else God leads me to do.
(Originally posted July 3, 2006)
I’m not writing this very well, but we were all blessed by this “interlude.” Then, after the teens were finished, we sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” I’ve sung that many times, but I don’t know when I was ever so touched by it. The pastor’s sermon was based on the scripture “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”
We have been blessed with a great bunch of teens and kids in our church, and I intend to back them with prayer, and whatever else God leads me to do.
(Originally posted July 3, 2006)
My very last motorcycle ride
Last summer, we went out for ice cream twice, with me on the back of my son's motorcycle. The first time, to the tourist trap about a mile down the hill, later, to one about 6 or 8 miles away. Tonight we went again, to the one down the hill. Mike had to drive the motorcycle up to the porch step for me to get on, and when we got down there, he kept leaning the bike further & further over for me to get off. The ice cream place is almost next to the post office, and along the drive out of the post office, there is a stone curb. Mike drove over there for me to get back on, and when we got back home, up next to the porch step to get off. At one point, I nearly fell, then managed to grasp the hand railing which was closer to his end of the bike, and I managed to get off safely. We both agreed - this is the last time! I know my arthritis has been getting worse, but I didn't realize it was that bad. Last year I was able to get on the bike with relative ease.
(Originally posted June 30, 2006)
(Originally posted June 30, 2006)
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