Platitudes revolt

 

Karen growled and muttered an assortment of foul words in her car, driving over speed limit.  Her visit to Mom and Grandma had not provided the affirmation and comfort she had hoped it would.

Bill had packed up his stuff in the night and was gone before she woke up.  Note:  I’m outta here, bitch…and the last word was written in bold letters. Now, Karen needed to share her pain.

She had been in Mom’s kitchen, sipping on peach herbal tea.  Mom was kneading bread, taking loaf after loaf from the oven.  These would go to the homeless shelter.  Grandma was sitting quietly while knitting baby blankets for preemies at the local hospital.

Karen had been trying tell of her woes and ask for advice when the litany began.

“You know, honey, the darkest hour is just before the dawn. You’ll do fine.” This one came from Mom.

“Such is life,” Grandma added. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” She dropped a stitch, but caught it time.

Mouth open, Karen had looked from one face to the other, listening with disbelief.

“Yes, sweetie. God has a plan for you…you just don’t know it yet!...and then…It is what it is…Time heals all wounds…Life doesn’t give you things you can’t handle…It could be worse…It wasn’t meant to be…There are plenty more fish in the sea…Everything happens for a reason..

When Karen’s grandma said “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”…

Karen had leaped to her feet and raced to her car.  She skidded out the driveway, narrowly missed the mailbox.  This found her flying along the freeway with profanity tailing after her.  Her thoughts were not kind.  If she ever heard one more mindless platitude, she would vomit.

Source

The italicized and underlined phrase is from Wednesday Words, where bloggers can play and experiment with the words or prompt. This group is from April 2015. I would normally highlight other Wednesday Words and their contributors, but I screwed it all up. Sorry.

Aunt Till lying in state

The coffin of Great Aunt Tilly lay in state in the funeral home, surrounded by family, who mourned her passing.  Whispering between themselves, their depth of sorrow was on display.  

She was quite the grand personality…Well, she was one stingy b…When Tilly entered the room, who could ignore her?…she was evil, downright ev…she was the best mother…

No one could say with certainty when the door creaked open and a slow dense fog rolled in along the floor.  No one could describe how the temperature fluctuated between cold and colder.

Screaming, all stampeded from the funeral home to their cars and roared away.

Andrew Jones, the undertaker, and his son Richard were speechless at first. Then Richard cleared his throat, “Well, you don’t see that every day.”

This is a post from Dec. 2015. The underlined words come from Wednesday Words from that time.These were provided by River. The problem of using words from an old post  is that  they can be peculiar.  River-driftingthroughlife@blogspot.com, Elephant'sChild at  myjustsostory.@blogspot.com.often provide some great words.

Sir Nick Park and Claymation

 

 Claymation became a huge success in late 90s, finally hitting the market with "Chicken Run" in 2000. It seems it is a child movie, but no. Themes and characters are complicated  to grab parents this time. Children will still enjoy, but will miss the stuff that makes us giggle.

Claymation came about in the 1837, why or how I don't know. In 1937 when Disney was experimenting with it, Snow White. Then, the creator was Sir Nicholas Park with a long string of successful creations. Sir Park and his talented crew made some crazy good stuff.

 

Ray Harryhausen

                                                     

https://youtu.be/jVdlxwX6A7g

                                     Wallace and Grommet, Cheese on the Moon, about 3 minutes

Christmas movies got a big boost by the technology that was part of this. Frosty? Rudolph? Yes, those were the early years.

Get out some play doh or whatever clay, see what you can do.  Make a few to improve.  You can do this.

I recommend that you watch bits as each adds up to 3 minutes. I would personally watch them all, from frame to frame, because the art and talent are incredible. 

 

Listen to God

 Throughout my life, I have taken my own decisions and used them, instead of listening to and knowing that God was in charge of everything. It never went well. God protected me, keeping me safe through my ignorance.

Our body hurts as we grow older. Sometimes that pain is excruciating, sometimes because we will abuse our then young bodies. Oh, how stupid.

Basically, listen to..

multiple injuries

Your joints. We watch sports, some of which can be violently impacted and others are seemingly mild.   Have you watched how crazy some injuries are related to impact sports? Did you know that rodeo has the most horrible injuries? 

Probably the most dangerous sport ever

 Most people can't see the injuries of golf.  It is silent to enthusiasts, but do not see until a
player needs surgery on
every joint.

 

Your brain: There may be minor things, like your keys, but then that becomes bigger. It is so gradual until life shows that there is more going on. And then. Of the things of the list, this one I fear the most.

Your pain: Sounds odd, but it isn't. Diabetes, 
heart, kidneys, you name it. Watch those symptoms. Don't ignore them "Oh, it's just a twinge, just a pain, just a...And then. (Men are notorious for this.)

 

Merry Christmas, one and all.

  
We live in a community where all of the above are present. At a recent gathering, many elderly semi-joked about their entertainment is going from doctor to another, on the same day. "It's like a cheap date." Everyone nodded in understanding.

Brilliance shines and wanders

 Give Robin Williams, just some words,  just bits,and then wait for his creativity.. He was legendary and brilliant, and it is extremely difficult to even describe what his brain did.

 What  happens to different brains?  Robin Williams had some serious mental issues, as brilliant artists often have. Suicide was listed as the cause, but later it was proven that he suffered from "Lewy Body Dementia", a form of Alzheimer's. Robin Williams did not know what his body was doing to the brain.  

He must have been so frightened.

Time was not kind to him as parts of his talents eeked away. Our treatment options are minuscule and. we can all do is to recognize mental health struggles, and then be proactive in the recovery.

  

The Reality of Santa's Work

The year 1959 was a year of change for my family.  We moved onto a farm where we would live until 1995.  So many adventures and so many memories arise from that time.

Santa and Satan

But, here is one memory that we were fortunate to miss.  I never knew that side of Santa Claus’ life, which apparently originated from Mexico. “Santa Claus”, produced in 1959, and translated into English.  

 

Synopsis:

Santa is preparing for his yearly journey at his Toy Land Castle in space.  While children helpers from all over the world sing a variety of each country's carols, precious.

           

Santa plays the organ while leering at the screen collinwatchesmovies

Merlin the Wizard does a little hop-dance to check stuff out at his magical telescope, fitted with a creepy blue eye.

Santa and Merlin the Wizard

 

 

 

 

YouTube trailer

YouTube in its entirety. 1 hour and 34 min. 

The movie is thoroughly ridiculous, Santa Claus is totally creepy, to the level that it feels like someone should report him. You may watch the film in its entirety on YouTube if you are a glutton for punishment. Fast-forward would be essential here. Lots of creepy stuff is here for you to catch, creepy I tell you.

So why did I post this?

We saw this at the theater in RiffTrax presentation. Movies of this lack of quality are narrated by the three guys from Mystery Space Science 3000. They bring a level of satire to this movie. This is why I pulled this one out of my vault of Christmas movies.

 

Plus, Alex Cavanaugh recommended the RiffTrax movies generally because they are ludicrous.  I trust his judgment implicitly. 

P.S. On-screen text is narrated immediately before "The End": A sonorous voice speaks these meaningful words. Somehow it was disturbing.

Blessed are those who believe

For they shall see God...

PEACE ON EARTH...

GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Go figure.

I hope the joy of this story will delight you?

 

This is a re-post from 2019.  We laughed at this, which is what we need to do more often.

 I hope you recognize the humor (or hot) of this treat from Mexico.

Simplicity in St Catherine

 

 

A gentle breeze seemed simple to the town of Cork. There was a coming storm on its way, but it was nothing new to the church of St. Catherine. As such, the Ladies’ Auxiliary gathered baskets of clothing, linens, and canned food for the needy.

St. Catherine was an ordinary town, where St. Catherine’s had a reputation to maintain, one of gentility and generosity. The Ladies Auxiliary had been watching the stormy skies and setting up the tea tables for the coming rain. 

Voluntary spinsters swept the sanctuary and dusted benches. After all the work, the storm hit with a vicious vengeance. The Ladies raced about the sanctuary, gathering prayer cards, and locking the office windows.

“Well, ladies. It seems weather has taken our joy of worship. Let’s set and enjoy our worship with the cards.” Nuns do not scurry, as a rule. But some raced to the office, opening the cash box, and cards were dealt.

Money and heavy rains did not matter, as long as there was good strong English tea.

Wednesday Words have been part of bloggers' lives over a decade or more.  The words are to share  for any blogger who wants to mess around with words. 

Use the underlined words, any genre, and give them a whirl.Please post on the justmystory@gmail.com.  river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com  travelswithbirds.blogspot.com  

 

 

When Leaves drop

 

Every October, the blog world is bedazzled by posts with autumn photos taken by the blogger her/himself.  It makes me hunger for and a little bit jealous of the world “back where” there is such a thing as autumn.

Here in Wildfire season in California, the fall colors don’t exist, except for a sweet gum tree that also sheds little spike balls. What I do have are photos taken in late October 2009 on a walk with my brother, Don.  The photos taken were put into an album to give as a Christmas present for my mother who was in fading and failing health.

So, here are some memories of Autumn and a small town, Pleasant Hill in Illinois in 2009:

An old house next to the bank

Mom's neighbor.  Mom could tell me who they are, who their parents were...

Small rental apartments next to the train track.  This

used to be a veterinarian office when I was young. 

A house near the local funeral home

After my father retired from farming, he visited with at the John Deere

store almost every day.  Sometimes he drove to another John Deere store to pick

up parts.  These was pre-computer ordering.

The Methodist Church (which is in the sidebar).  Young couples 

would meet on benches (out of sight) and talk/kiss.

This log house was saved and then moved to this site.  It dates back to 1820 

and across from Stark Nursery, where the first Delicious apples were

created by someone who brought up a "scion" from Kentucky which

was grafted and cross-pollinated.

This house was restored and is now occupied by some very hard working 

people whom my mom knew.  Yes, she could cite their lineage. We

stopped and peeked in the windows while it was still

under construction.  Mom had no shame, and was friendly with everyone, who 

also knew her lineage.

Somewhere this road will come to an end, in Calhoun County

These are Autumn memories from a past shared by Mom, brother Don, and me.The roads roll ahead.

People who went before you

 The pillar is still readable, in its own way.  Who was there and what they were is still a possibility.This group was from the Shive family, from all sorts of places and people.

This was Janie C.--she traveled to Oregon in a covered wagon, hated it, came home. So I have been told. At one time, her father wanted her to win an election, so he handed a bunch of money for her to throw from the Ferris wheel. Did she win, probably not.

It is said that death bestows gifts upon all.  I won’t try to name them, but the one I like is: Death washes the past and gives sanctity to the dead.

Julia, Nora, Bessie, and ?

At least, so I thought.  Recently I visited my favorite and remaining Aunt Vada in Macon, Missouri.  It was the first week of October, with all the beauty of fall giving glimpses of what colors were to come.  We visited non-stop, words filling the air.  Aunt Vada is a gifted writer, with a way of placing words exactly where they need to be. 

 

James W. Shive, died at age 3 years, 3 months, and 16 days.

One of our days involved traveling to my mother’s hometown, across the Mississippi River into Pike County, Illinois. 

We visited Crescent Heights Cemetery high on the bluffs in Pleasant Hill, IL, where Mom’s parents and relatives were buried.  Each time I have been there, I vowed that this place has the most incredible view of any cemetery.  

It is also the only place I can get cell phone coverage in the whole of Pike County.

We stood silently over Grandma and Grandpa’s graves, and then examined a family pillar on which Grandma’s side of the family were recorded.  I have seen that thing hundreds of times over my life there, but I never knew.  I never knew the stories that Aunt Vada shared with me.

My grandparents

Oh. Really?  No, not back then…  Those were my words and reactions as she touched each name and told the highlights of some very rowdy, randy, and raunchy ancestors. 

 

Martin Van Buren Shive, patriarch with the names of his children carved on all sides of the monument.  Lots of children. He was a veteran of the Civil War. He came home after a few years, having been injured drastically.

 Moonshiners, fornicators, adulterers, underhanded politicians, swindlers—they broke every sin listed in the Bible. I heard the stories from my Grandma Cardiff. 

I tell you, check out your ancestors while you still have relatives who know the whole story about them.  And, it might be a good idea to look at your own life, since someday you’ll be the ancestor about whom stories will be told. 

 

 Posted in 2016. Grandpa Cardiff was born in 1892, Grandma was born in 1901.

 

 

 

Wash my hair

 

Photos from those in snowy frozen land are incredible. Beautiful, white, crystalline snow glistens in the early Winter season. 

 Winter is all good until February hits.(I personally feel that February is the hell of winter.). But, until then, this post is a reminder that at least Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen anticipated the joy of snow. Didn't happen (!), but it was something else later on.

Treasure Chest of Winter

Winter Winds, Chopin, Pentatonix

 

Last rays of sunset

Lace through bare trees.

As light fades, a chill wind

Swirls fallen crumbled leaves,

Once so bright and drifting

With a dancer’s flourish.

In darkness, the clouds roll back

As a scroll of gray and black. 

The reigns of summer and autumn

No longer tower and burn.

Midnight reveals

A treasure chest of winter:

Ice and snow prepared

To lay a frozen ruin to the land.

 

  https://youtu.be/pHlqEvAwdVc

 

Wednesday Words, from 2012. We bloggers are blessed. to be surrounded by so much talent.  The Wednesday Words were a writing challenge for bloggers to make a change with a different something.  

 

Snail 101

 

Snail posing 

 

His folks had forced Sam Snail to attend the class on snail safety, where posters covered the room:

“An Informed Snail is a Safe Snail!”       “It’s not dandruff, you idiot!  It’s salt!”

Source: Wikipedia

“A stupid snail becomes escargot!”

Mr. Goo

Mr. Goo, the oldest snail in the community, scanned the adolescent snails with his antennae.  “Listen up, you slimy slugs!”

The snails convulsed with laughter---the slug joke was an old one. Then all became quiet as the spectres of snails long gone before filled the room.

They whispered, “Grass is good.  Sidewalks are bad….” 

Then Mr. Goo shouted, “If you are ever besieged by a bunch of birds, then kiss your shells good-bye.”

Intervals of laughter and silence of doom broke up the rest of the day.  Finally, class was dismissed.

 

 

Mr. Goo watched them in silence, Poor dumb Molluscan Gastropods! Half of them won’t even make it home.

Some time ago, Delores provided participants of the "Wednesday Words" with a variety of six words with which to play:  write prose, short fiction, non-fiction, poetry...Each week there was always a challenge.  This was posted in 2018.
 

Delores has stepped back, and now a variety of Bloggers cover each month.  Check with /river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/, Elephant's story for other Wed. Word selections.

Children have a sense of humor.

 The best comedians in the world are small and sweet, without an agenda.

Pinterest

You got it.

Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

Okay, this could go on forever, so I will stop

.

Walls lead to home

 

Sunken Lane

 

Along paths of crusty walls 

and tangled brambles

Will time be soon left behind?

A path once of stones and dirt

Now displayed a row 

Of weeds, all now green and grown.

His footsteps had walked in mud,

Racing and laughing

Youth and friends hooting beside.

From his home, peat smoke once rose,

Fragrant over tall trees,

Brown bread baked on warm stone hearth.

Home now stones, long gone, hearth cold,

Gray rocks on his feet

Reminded him that green never leaves.

Nor will he.

The images from my mind as summer fades makes me long for green. I posted this 5 years ago. We are talking about going to Ireland next spring.

Really Unususal Foods

 

 Nuts

Lately my thoughts and blogs have circled around food, normal and a little off-market-type.  I wrote about the roasted hog head on the kitchen table sometime last year.

Life is not so much about what we have eaten, but it is more about the foods we have not yet eaten.  This topic all depends on the spirit of adventure, how much one possesses of that elusive spirit, and whether one responds positively to going with the spirit.

Let’s face it: how many traditional Thanksgiving meals can one take?  How many pot roasts?  How many gallons of homemade mashed potatoes?  Well, on the potatoes, I can still eat more of them.  But, as for other normal meals, don’t you ever get tired of them? 

I mean, what about…say…roast snapping turtle…fried frog legs :}…sautéed sweetmeats (calf brains)…venison chili?  This only covers the main entrée, not the side dishes or desserts.

 

 

What I would love to hear from anyone is a recipe they have tried or eaten, something that surprised them.  Please, please, share the recipe with this truly adventurous blogging community. 

If you are running dry on ideas for blog posts, this is like a free-bee! Call an elderly relative who most likely has access to some really interesting recipes.  Post it on your blog. 

I am just curious what you might come up with, if allowed to rumble and ransack through some old recipes.recipes 

 

  Mom could cook anything, including wild game.  In a way, I am relieved that I am not tempted to cook something. I am known for being feisty.

 

Warshing Day

 We are spoiled by technology and inventions that gradually led us to today.

Modern day washer!

My mother taught me how to use this when I was 10 years old. Darn hard work, too. The woman above seems really happy. She was a fool. Her big smile? Her shoes? Come on.

labor saving clothes washing

Step up to modern washer

1949 Whirlpool

But how did this all get a good start? This is how washing was done in my grandmother's era.

Grandma's instructions on how to wash clothes:

"Warshing Clothes Recipe" - imagine having a recipe for this ! ! !
Years ago a Texas grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe:
This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook, spelling errors and all.

 

WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.
Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work britches and rags.
To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.
Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.
Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.
Hang old rags on fence.
Spread tea towels on grass.
Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
(a requested re-post Aug. 2019 - CR)
.

 

Photo credit: Mrs. Bostain washing clothes, vicinity of Penland, N.C. ca. 1930. Bayard Morgan Wootten Photographic Collection, University of North Carolina.Pinterest.

"Warshing"--growing up in the Midwest? That's how it was said.

Never ever complain about laundry now. It coulda been worse.