Spirits in the Mist

 

Magical places truly exist, for I have seen them.
  

My children and I had explored forests in Ireland where ancient trees reached must have been a thousand feet up to the sky.   Rain fell as mists through thick branches upon uplifted faces and open mouths, children catching raindrops.  Fallen leaves renewed the earth beneath, turning into damp forest floors, churned about by my children's feet. 

Scents from long ago filtered up and around trees as if from between the worlds.

Light dappled through breaks where branches opened then closed, then it danced to another hidden patch of ground.  Light then dark.  Dark then light.  My children chased to hop on light circles as each appeared, "Mine!..No, mine!..."

Johnny discovered a flat stone table resting on three ragged granite stones.  He claimed this table with its stones and laid leaves and sticks upon it.  Mary and Erin danced around and around it, laughing and singing. Tossing leaves up into fresh air, they sang the Happy Birthday and Alphabet Songs.

As for me, a flat stone table had been kept steady with three jagged stone table legs hidden within ancient trees in a cleared round space, held bygone and mystic secrets. 

 

People whose feet pressed into the ground have faded away, leaving only stones from which blood had poured from a still body.  Hidden words through long dead lips whispered and swayed through the branches, and then disappeared in the mist.

 

Ocean Born Mary

 

My children raced away down an old path, calling each other names.  Me?

I wrapped my wool jacket close to my body, shivering and cold.  I did not race away, but I hurried with eyes on my feet, not turning my head to see the stones or hazy shapes manifest and then merge with shadows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praise be to God! Halloween is over!

 

 

 

Halloween is over…Praise be to God.

Starting at 6:00 pm, they came in waves:

 

                     low tide, heavy surf, high tide…

Little princesses, little super heroes with proud parents holding them…Shy, little first-timers are so shy.

Mixed in the low tide were toddlers and pre-school delights, walking uncertainly to the door.  “Tank you…”

 

The golden delights (eight to twelve yr. old) boldly stride to the door.  “Triggertree” they said, with their plastic pumpkins held out.  Parents waiting on the sidewalk talk and look at the watches.  “Thanks…” Parents smile and wave.  Some respond to a sign on the door. They gave to the Wounded Warriors.

Heavy surf.  

Teenagers charge the door, running from house to house.  Demand “Triggertree!”  No parents this time.  Should have been, but no.

Shock hits when they see the bold sign:  No Adults or Teens.  ‘But I’m…I’m…only …ten. Hands, feet, and teeth always tell the truth, and they walk away.

 

 

  . 

 High Tide

 

Huge vans pull up under the street lamps, offloading streams of parents and kids, all ages, people not from this community or even this town.  These  triggertreeders are out trolling for more candy.  Exhausted children are dragged along with these adults who expect to harvest the candy from their kids.

This neighborhood is mostly retirees, their lights were off. The cuteness factor of the low tide is what matters.

Oh-God-Please!-not these!  Time is 8:25, about 5 minutes to lights off. We had originally put up 8:30, just easing away from the door.

Hoards from other neighborhoods and/or towns hit the door, but then brake to read the signs: 

Candy is for children only; No Adults and Teens; and, Donate to Wounded Warriors (with a five-gallon water bottle, containing change and dollar bills).

Parents, dressed in tutus and ghostly sheets, are confused, walking away with evil eyes. Small kids step up “Triggertree”, holding out pillowcases, heavy with candy.  Most said Thanks.

Teens announced they are twelve—nice try.  One tall boy looks confused; he doesn't speak English.  ‘Say you’re twelve’ he is told, but he announces ‘diaz’. No.

Only one little boy asked about the signs.  “Candy is for children only…candy costs money…we can’t afford it…” he is told.

Finally 8:30 pm arrives.  Signs come down. Lights go off.

The water bottle holds more and more change.  From which wave?  It did not matter.  They donated to the veterans and smile.

We collected about $125.

The waves settled into calm water.  Praise be to God.

What do you think?  Check out these sites:

 Are adults too old to go trick or treating alone, without children?

Is there an age at which an adolescent should stop trick or treating?

Getting Down with Punkin' Chunkin'

 

                            This is the every-day type of punkin  chunkin.

                                              This is the super-sized punkin..,1 ton punkin.

                                            This is a 22 tonne cannon. It is crazy.

Just in case you thinkin' this is a worthless thing to do as entertainment goes, there is Mission Statement:

Here is an official statement from the WCPCA:

The World Championship Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA) is a trademark nonprofit that raises money for scholarships, as well as organizations that benefit youth and the local community. 

We host a signature pumpkin-launching event each year, fueling innovative engineering and science-based ideas that draw spectators from all over. 

We believe that Punkin Chunkin cultivates the odd, challenging, and competitive quest for distance that inspires creativity, ingenuity, teamwork, and passion. 

It is this very dedication that drives teams to compete using science and engineering skills and brings spectators to the gate which allows us  to continue our never ending thirst to support our scholarship and charitable programs.

 That wraps up my non-celebration of Halloween.

Ireland saves the world again.

 

Ireland has saved the world, many times over.  Can't mess with history.

Oíche Shamhna faoi mhaise

 

On Halloween night, there was a bonfire and the pagans danced around and ghosts were about. All Saints' Day was on Nov. 1st. Pagan to Saints? It could happen.

 

 

...then they do Monster Mash....

 

 
One knows that Halloween is at its end when all Halloween stuff has left Lowe's, and Christmas stuff is in its place.

So, as a last homage to Halloween, this is given to you:

To you and Halloween monsters knocking at your door, Happy Hallowed 'eve.

Walking in our woods in Ireland.

Drive leading from Glanmire up to the hotel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It occurred to me that our family's time in Ireland and our adventures had not been posted for current  bloggers to read.  

It was an amazing few years where our children attended Irish schools (scoil) and studied Gaelic, where we lived on 20 acres of ancient forests, where we owned and operated a hotel (built in 1769 as a hunting lodge for an English lord, converted to a hotel in early 1960s). We moved to Vienna Woods Hotel in 1985, moved back to California in 1988.
   

Vienna Woods Hotel had many uses, and the previous owner held many wedding, parties, company meetings.  When we bought it, we installed bathrooms in 19 of the rooms.  Had to do some repairs and decor changes.

Here are a few photos. Top is one of the three wedding rooms.  Johnny is in his wellies and cat Midnight. The black and white photo of the hotel was taken in mid-1980s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partial view of west side of hotel, 1985 It was built in 1769 by  Lord Barrymore who used it for a summer hunting lodge for the elites of society.

Three milk stools found buried beneath refuse dating to mid-1700s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photo below is of our town, Glanmire, in Co. Cork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\

 

 

Mary by one of the huge trees in the woods
Later, Fitzgerald bulldozed and covered this part of the woods.
Bungalows, instead, were built. Erin and John standing in front of the grotto, apparently built for deer for their food and water. The tree above is easily 200+ years old. An old oak tree on the property had to be removed, as its roots were threatening the hotel.  I spent about 30 min. counting the rings, getting to 225.

There were about 12 inches left to count.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children remember the adventures, as we do.  But we parents also remember all the work that it took to get to these adventures. All parents know that work they had to do in one way or another.  Good times!

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain Oysters, Yum!

 

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

Another food item was Rocky Mountain Oysters, also called nuts. This meant that the product was actually castrated testicles from steers and hogs. Information can be found at Castle Farm services

 

 This video is an in-depth explanation and demonstration of castration of hogs. Don't watch it, unless you have farm animal experience. I put this up for some bloggers to enjoy.

I know, it sounds brutal, but this method of sterilization takes the hormonal urges that a steer would experience. It keeps the breeding limited to the stud bull and boar.

On our hog farm, Dad did castrated pigs when they have "nuts". Once when I was 8, he wanted me to pick up the nuts after he cut and tossed them over his shoulder.  I was okay with the picking up, but the squealing really frightened me. 

At dinner time, Mom and I took those slimy bits, scrubbed them and rinsed in brine.  She breaded and then deep fat fried.  And they were delicious. When he cut the next bunch, I helped and then I discovered what those were, and that we were eating them. My delight in these quickly dissipated.

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, and pumpkin pie. But, as for other normal meals, don’t you ever get tired of them? 

 

 

A family friend had caught a snapping turtle, and knew Mom could cook about anything.  He cleaned it (nasty job, I tell you), and Mom made a stew. It was delicious, but I quietly noted that the bones were not beef bones. She gave me a look and a smile, as she served it up. My brothers, being dim even on good days, enjoyed it until the end when they could see that those bones were different.  Mom shrugged her shoulders, and I smiled.

 

Other unusual food products are:

 

Here are some bizarre foods that have made their way into people's plates you may have never heard of.

 

Fried Alligator on a Stick. ...Not available at that time.

Road Kill. ...not on my plate

Provel Cheese. ...St. Louis MO, product

Poop on a Shingle. ..This is ground beef or turkey on a roll, covered with gravy..
 

Frog Legs. ...bad texture, made me gag.

Fried Rattlesnake. ...had some in Phoenix, AZ. Over cooked, it was like eat balls of rubber.
 

Chocolate-Covered Grasshoppers. ...Who hasn't enjoyed this product??

Beef Tongue...Dad liked it, but I wasn't starving enough to try it.
 

Calf brains, also called "sweetbread"

What have you eaten or tried to eat? Go ahead, be bold. List those unusual foods!

God and God alone

 

                                                              
                                        God our Father, Giver of life,

We trust the United States of America
to Your Loving Care.

You are the Rock on which this nation
was founded.
You alone are the true source
of our cherished right to life,
Liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Reclaim this land for Your Glory,
and dwell among Your people.

Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts
Of our nation's leaders.

Open their minds to the great worth of
Human life,
And the responsibilities that
accompany human freedom.
Remind Your people that true happiness
Is rooted
in seeking and doing Your will.

Grant us the courage to reject
the "culture of death."
Lead us in to a new millennium
of life.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Unknown writer

Brenda walks on the wild side..

Oh, yeah.

Brenda leaned her head back as the wind caressed her streaked hair. At last, a convertible, my own convertible. A burgundy convertible. Laughter trailed after her.

Brenda knew she was hot, so totally hot. The women around her were hags compared to her.  The men who passed by gave her that look, confirming her thoughts. They waved and smiled, that kind of smile that said Hey, babe. Walk on the wild side...

She slammed her foot down on the gas, taking her convertible to its highest speed.  Take that, mustangs.

Brenda slowed just enough to hang the turn into the parking lot.  She skid into a space, one near the Atrium where cards slid across the felt and fortunes fell. Money burned in her red Louis Vuitton purse.

In moments, Brenda was through a door that opened for her.

Brenda eased her walker to an awaiting table. "Hey, ladies. You ready to put your money where your mouth is?" With that, she turned up her hearing aid and slapped down the maximum ante of $3.00. 

"Saw your new golf cart, Brenda!  Could see that you cranked it up to 20 mph this time. Speed will kill you every time. That and Alzheimer's." Hester smirked.

Those around her shook their heads and picked up their cards. Brenda laid her red Louis Vuitton purse on her walker. She had left her cane at home, since her last hip surgery.

Arthritis is a bitch.

Click here to see where Brenda gambles

A man of many talents

 

source

October 7th is Vladimir Putin's birthday, with many wishes of health and happiness to him. May God gift him with all that he deserves.

May God gift him, indeed, since Putin is a man with a variety of interesting personal qualities and activities.

Patriarch Krill of the Russian Orthodox church endorsed Putin's election.  He stated that Putin's terms were a "miracle of God" during the election of 2012.  Since collapse of USSR and lifted oppression of faithful believers, Patriarch Krill has joined an alliance with state.

Wikipedia

The Church even supported Putin's decision to move into Crimea and Ukraine.

Putin is apparently a believer with his religious awakening occurring after serious life-threatening event in his personal life in 1990s. In his early years, his mother had baptized him secretly when a baby and took him to services (held in secret). 

His mother gave him his baptismal cross before a trip to Israel, and asked him to have it blessed.  "I did as she said and then put the cross around my neck.  I have never taken it off since."

Did he proceed with his relationship with God?  Love one another...is a big thing.

Happy trails

  Putin's confessor (according to rumors) is Russian Orthodox Bishop Tikhoshevkunov.

Putin is also actively involved in protection of rare species as Chairman of Russian Geographical Society Board of Trustees.
  A kind soul.

Forget about Syria!  

Forget about Crimea and Ukraine!

Forget about Iran and his support of their nuclear program!

Greeting Iran's leader

Let us remember this precious man and his amazing accomplishment!

Dark clouds in my soul

 

 Storm over the farm

The dark cloud has hung over me from the day I recognized a deep black grit had filled me when it descended. I tried to reason it out, I was only eight years old.   

The black cloud hung over me forever it seemed, but it came and went as it pleased.

The blackness came to visit me often.  My heart was so heavy, my head was almost numb with the blackness. That was when I went to the window in my upstairs bedroom, sat on the ledge, swung my legs out, and then contemplated this action.

Then I looked down the road and saw Dad’s old truck rumbling up the gravel road from town. I swung my legs back in, collapsed on the bed, and wept.

Once I understood what the darkness did, and while I could not fight it, I could withstand it.  This was my life, deal with it.

I grew up with the dark cloud off in the distance, always there always threatening.  I went from 8 years old to 30 in a flash.

With three children watching TV with their father, I went into the half bathroom where there were no windows, closed the door and sat in the dark. There were rumblings of thoughts about the windowsill, and I wondered if it was that time again.  I stared into the corner of the room, where no light showed.  As I stared, a figure emerged slowly, growing with its own throbbing light surrounding

The figure grew and grew until it was the size of a doll. Frozen in fear and recognition, I knew this was Satan.  As sure as I write this, I was sure it was the evil the Bible spoke about. 

I heard my children playing, and that was when God gave the Lord’s Prayer to my brain and my mouth.

The moment, the very moment the words came from my mouth, Satan disappeared, in a flash.  The room was grey now, and I turn on the light.  Opening the door, there was a peace that surround me.

Has the darkness disappeared? No, but I see it in the distance and sought God immediately. God fills me daily while Satan hovers outside the door, watching for a break in my heart and mind.

I have never ever told anyone about this.  Depression is something that is not just a sadness. It is a destructive attack on one who is susceptible. But lately, there has beena door knocker waiting. Lately, that has been my struggle. 

Why? Age, health, pain, surgeries are big issues in my life.  I cannot quilt anymore, and playing the piano is almost impossible. At least, my words still come easily.

Pray for me and all who wrestle with this torture that appears without being called.

I went to see Dr. Shester, a psychiatrist,worked with me to see a light more than dark. I have been taking meds for the past 25 years and that has given me peace. Also a talented psychologist helped me work through the weight that depression has.