Summer and Snowflake on Grass

Rain In Summer

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!
How it clatters along the roofs,
Like the tramp of hoofs!

How it gushes and struggles out
From the throat of the over-flowing spout!
Across the window pane
It pours and pours;
And swift and side,
With a muddy tide,
Like a river down the gutter roars
The rain, the welcome rain!

The Misuse Of Human Freedom

by John O'Donohue

Peace of Iona

Peace of Iona Lyrics
The Waterboys

Peace of the glancing dancing waves
Peace of the white sands
Peace of Iona

Peace of the singing wind
Peace of the stones
Peace of Iona

Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa

Peace of the crying gulls
Peace of the humming bees
Peace of the noon-time stillness

Peace of the dreaming hills
Peace of the breath of angels
Peace of Iona

Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa
Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa

Peace of the saints and seekers
Peace of the monks and Druids
Peace of the resting place of kings

Peace of the ruins
Peace of the doves in the bell tower
Peace of Iona

Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa
Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa

Peace of the rested mind
Peace of the glad heart
Peace of my lover's pots and potions

Peace of her healing hands
Peace of her lazy laughter
Peace of Iona

(4x)
Peace of the unseen
Peace of the spirit
Peace of Iona

Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa
Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa
Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa
Iiiiii oooooo nnnnnaaaaaa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The Waterboys are a Scottish band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a number of different styles, but their music is a mix of Celtic folk music with rock and roll. After ten years of recording and touring, they dissolved in 1993 and Scott pursued a solo career. They reformed in 2000, and continue to release albums and tour worldwide. Scott emphasizes a continuity between The Waterboys and his solo work, saying that "To me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."

The early Waterboys sound was dubbed "The Big Music" after a song on their second album, A Pagan Place. This musical style was described by Scott as "a metaphor for seeing God's signature in the world." It either influenced or was used to describe a number of other bands, including Simple Minds, The Alarm, In Tua Nua, Big Country, the Hothouse Flowers and World Party, the last of which was made up of former Waterboys members. In the late 1980s the band became significantly more folk influenced. The Waterboys eventually returned to rock and roll, and have released both rock and folk albums since reforming. Their songs, largely written by Scott, often contain literary references and are frequently concerned with spirituality. Both the group and its members' solo careers have received much praise from both rock and folk music critics, but The Waterboys as a band has never received the commercial success that some of its members have had independently. Aside from World Party, The Waterboys have also influenced musicians such as Eddie Vedder, Johnny Goudie, Colin Meloy of The Decemberists Grant Nicholas of Feeder and Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff; both Bono and The Edge from U2 are fans of the band.

Spirit of Scotland - Hebridean Prayer

The Gardyne Chamber Ensemble
William Jackson

Boars Head Pendant by The Rams Horn

Beauty is not a luxury

John O' Donohue on Beauty

Ash Trees

I love ash trees and have a few here on my wee farm. There is a massive one that stands by my driveway and I call it the mama as I think it has produced most of the other ash trees growing on our property. The four young ash trees below I call the four sisters and they stand at the upper side of our horse paddock. I have several ash walking sticks I have made and often use when hiking.

The Ash tree has always been given mystical import and character, frequently being associated with healing and enchantment. In Celtic literature, there are many references to the Ash tree, but in particular as associated with the Welsh Magician-God Gwyddion, who bears an Ash staff/wand, a symbol of healing and especially transformation and empowerment in matters of destiny. As such in the Mabinogion the magic of Gwydion is concerned with tricking Arianhrod to give the young Llew his arms which she had previous sworn never to do, having placed a Geis ( or conditional curse or fate ) upon him. Gwydion used his powers of enchantment and transformation, to create a Phantom army fleet of ships which then tricks Arianhrod into giving Llew his arms, and thus removing the Geis upon his destiny. Llew is later said in the myth to rest as an Eagle in an Ash Tree.

Ash was often used for spear shafts or handles for weapons and hence also Ash can be also seen to be Checking the powers of peace as above in the Word Ogams of Morann Mac Main. In this sense, application of force to destiny may bring peace through resolution of a conflict - which would be seen as healing. The English name Ash may have been derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Asec which is the name for a ritualistic spear. The name Nuin or Nin, literally means letters in the Celtic languages.

Ash trees are trees of the family Oleaceae (Olive-tree like). They are medium-height to large trees. Some of them are evergreen, but most are deciduous. The seeds are commonly known as keys in English. They are a type of fruit known as samara. Ash wood is used to make various tools, handles, bows. It also makes very good firewood. Ash trees are also perfect material for old fashion shafts for bow and arrows.

In Norse Mythology, the World tree Yggdrasil is commonly thought to be an ash tree. The first man, Askr, was formed from an ash. The first woman was made from an alder.





The Ash Grove


The ash grove, how graceful, how plainly to speaking
The harp through it playing has language for me;
Whenever the light through its branches is breaking,
A host of kind faces is gazing on me,
The friends of my childhood again are before me.
Each step wakes a memory as freely I roam.
With soft whispers laden its leaves rustle o'er me,
The ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.

My lips smile no more; my heart loses its lightness,
No dream of the future my spirit can cheer.
I only can brood on the past and its brightness.
The dead I have mourned are again living here.
From every dark nook they press forward to meet me;
I lift up my eyes to the broad leafy dome,
And others are there, looking downward to greet me.
The ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.





The Ash Grove (Welsh: Llwyn Onn) is a traditional Welsh folk song whose melody has been set to numerous sets of lyrics.

The Lamb

Little Lamb, who make thee
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, wolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee;
Little Lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!


by William Blake

A Summer Wish

Live all thy sweet life through,
Sweet Rose, dew-sprent,
Drop down thine evening dew
To gather it anew
When day is bright:
I fancy thou wast meant
Chiefly to give delight.


Sing in the silent sky,
Glad soaring bird;
Sing out thy notes on high
To sunbeam straying by
Or passing cloud;
Heedless if thou art heard
Sing thy full song aloud.


Oh that it were with me
As with the flower;
Blooming on its own tree
For butterfly and bee
Its summer morns:
That I might bloom mine hour
A rose in spite of thorns.


Oh that my work were done
As birds' that soar
Rejoicing in the sun:
That when my time is run
And daylight too,
I so might rest once more
Cool with refreshing dew.

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

Ewe and Lamb

I must say a lamb in July is an unexpected pleasure. It was 98F the first full day of the lamb's life and she handled the heat very well. We finally received some rain over night. Thunderstorms moved through late last night and into this morning. It was not a moment too soon my gardens and pastures were almost finished. Lets hope we pick up more this coming week.

Lamb born out of season July 20, 2011

Old Church St Monans East Neuk of Fife Scotland July 14th

Auld Kirk of St Monans
St Monans Church which probably lies closer to the sea than any other church in Scotland is situated close to St Monans Shrine. It is uncertain whether St Monan, an Irish missionary ever really lived and preached here. According to some, St Monan lived in a nearby cave but according to others it was only his relics which were brought here. Whichever story is true, St Monans Church was erected on the site of the legend and is amongst the finest Medieval churches in Scotland.

A replacement of an earlier church here was erected in the 14th century by order of King David II (Robert the Bruce's son). This was an act of thanks for his survival. According to the legend, David II was wounded in the Battle of Neville's Cross. On his visit to St Monan's shrine his arrow wound mysteriously healed itself. Well, that's one story. Another relates how he landed here after his ship was wrecked in the Forth.

St Monans then is a church built upon and shrouded in mystery. Gothic in design, St Monans is built to a cruciform shape yet for some unknown reason the church was never finished. Subsequently, only 3 of the four arms of the cross were built giving the church a highly unusual and irregular shape.

1544 was a bad year for St Monans. The English raided the village from the sea and sunk or bunt the fishermen's boats. St Monans Church was also set ablaze. By the 17th century, the transepts were in ruins but services were still held in the chancel. Some restoration was carried out but by 1793, it continued to be “a most uncomfortable place of worship”. Damp and cold, “its walls covered with green mould, and presenting altogether an aspect of chilling desolation.” (Gillies). This report infused a new life into the church. In 1822, a new bell rang out from the top of the steeple in replacement of an earlier bell that was hung from a tree in the cemetery (but superstitiously removed during herring season lest it frightened the fish away!). However, the rest of the restoration work carried out at the time left much to be desired. Sir David Leslie's remains were unearthed from the north transept and a vestibule was added while the floor was lowered by as much as four feet. The costs for this were partially rendered through seat rents, a practice which was continued till as late as the early 20th century.

St Monans was finally properly restored in the 1950's with money bequeathed for the purpose by a local. The floor was raised and the pulpit moved to the left. Having withstood the 'whips and arrows of outrageous fortune”, St Monans has also managed to retain its Gothic character. On your visit, you'll see aumbries, piscinas and sedilia or stone seats for priests in use before the Restoration. Rather unusually, you will also see a 19th century model of a Royal Navy Frigate suspended from the ceiling.

Record Heat

Record heat here today. 98F here in Stedman and 104F in Niagara Falls, NY. It was even hotter in Toronto and Syracuse. The ground has turned brown and I have no sheep pasture left.

Used for good or used for evil?

Religion is like money, it can be used for good or used for evil, its your choice.

This years apples

The apple tree in the front of my house is loaded but if we don't get rain they will start falling off soon. Its very dry here. The sheep pasture is all parched now.

Cristofaro Caresana (1640-1709) - La Veglia

Cristofaro or Cristoforo Caresana (ca. 1640-1709) was an Italian Baroque composer, organist and tenor. He was an early representative of the Neapolitan operatic school.

Born in Venice, his precise birthday is not known. After studying under Pietro Andrea Ziani (uncle of Marc'Antonio Ziani) in Venice, he moved to Naples late in his teens, where he joined the theatre company of Febi Armonici which produced early examples of melodrama. Later, in 1667, he became an organist and singer in the Chapel Royal and director of the Neapolitan Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio a Porta Capuana, a type of orphanage-cum-music school, until 1690. In 1699 he succeeded Francesco Provenzale as Master of the Treasury of San Gennaro. He wrote music for a number of other Neapolitan institutions until his death in 1709. Amongst others, the Spanish guitarist and composer Gaspar Sanz studied music theory under his tutelage.



He is remembered for his cantatas, especially for the Nativity season as well as instrumental interludes sometimes featuring spatially separated ensembles. His music continues to be played and recorded to the present day and stands testament to the quality of this Neapolitan baroque composer.

Friendship

I think awhile of Love, and while I think,
Love is to me a world,
Sole meat and sweetest drink,
And close connecting link
Tween heaven and earth.

I only know it is, not how or why,
My greatest happiness;
However hard I try,
Not if I were to die,
Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be,
But when the time arrives,
Then Love is more lovely
Than anything to me,
And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak,
But only thinks and does;
Though surely out 'twill leak
Without the help of Greek,
Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practise it,
Beauty he may admire,
And goodness not omit,
As much as may befit
To reverence.

But only when these three together meet,
As they always incline,
And make one soul the seat,
And favorite retreat,
Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates
And a kindred nature,
Proclaim us to be mates,
Exposed to equal fates
Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do,
Drawing Love's bands more tight,
Service he ne'er shall rue
While one and one make two,
And two are one;

In such case only doth man fully prove
Fully as man can do,
What power there is in Love
His inmost soul to move
Resistlessly.

______

Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side,
Withstand the winter's storm,
And spite of wind and tide,
Grow up the meadow's pride,
For both are strong

Above they barely touch, but undermined
Down to their deepest source,
Admiring you shall find
Their roots are intertwined
Insep'rably.

-Henry David Thoreau

Your joy may be full

Eli Jenkins' Prayer Dylan Thomas Under Milk Wood

Rev Eli Jenkins' Prayer - Dylan Thomas (from Under Milk Wood)

Every morning when I wake,
Dear Lord, a little prayer I make,
O please do keep Thy lovely eye
On all poor creatures born to die

And every evening at sun-down
I ask a blessing on the town,
For whether we last the night or no
I'm sure is always touch-and-go.

We are not wholly bad or good
Who live our lives under Milk Wood,
And Thou, I know, wilt be the first
To see our best side, not our worst.

O let us see another day!
Bless us all this night, I pray,
And to the sun we all will bow
And say, good-bye - but just for now!*


Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, later adapted for the stage. A film version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972.

An all-seeing narrator invites the audience to listen to the dreams and innermost thoughts of the inhabitants of an imaginary small Welsh village, Llareggub (which is bugger all spelt backwards).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Milk_Wood

A Green Cornfield

The earth was green, the sky was blue:
I saw and heard one sunny morn
A skylark hang betweent he two,
A singing speck above the corn;

A stage below, in gay accord,
White butterflies danced on the wing,
And still the singing skylark soared,
And silent sank and soared to sing.

The cornfield stretched a tender green
To right and left beside my walks;
I knew he had a nest unseen
Somewhere among the million stalks.

And as I paused to hear his song
While swift the sunny moments slid,
Perhaps his mate sat listening long,
And listened longer than I did.

by Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894

Hurt No Living Thing

by Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894

Hurt no living thing:
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.

Summer Days

Summer Days, by Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894

Winter is cold-hearted;
Spring is yea and nay;
Autumn is a weathercock;
Blown every way:
Summer days for me
When every leaf is on its tree,

When Robin's not a beggar,
And Jenny Wren's a bride,
And Larks hang, singing, singing, singing,
Over the wheat-fields wide,
And anchored lilies ride,
And the pendulum spider,
Swings from side to side,

And blue-black beetles transact business,
And gnats fly in a host,
And furry caterpillars hasten
That no time be lost,
And moths grow fat and thrive,
And lady birds arrive.

Before green apples blush,
Before green nuts embrown,
Why one day in the country
Is worth a month in town--
Is worth a day and a year
Of the dusty, musty, lag-last fashion
That days drone elsewhere.

Gazing balls

Gazing balls originated in 13th century Venice where they were hand-blown by skilled Italian craftsmen.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig, adorned his Herrenchiemsee palace with lawn balls. Thereafter, they became a fixture of European gardens and are associated with Victorian era English gardens in particular. yard globe, also known as a gazing ball, lawn ball, garden ball, gazing globe, mirror ball, or chrome ball, is a mirrored sphere typically displayed atop a conical ceramic or wrought iron stand as a lawn ornament. Its size ranges from 2 to 22 inches in diameter, with the most popular gazing ball being about 12 inches (33 cm). Gazing balls were glass but can now be stainless steel, ceramic, or stained glass.

Unlike hanging friendship balls or witch balls that have a loop, gazing balls have a stem so they can securely sit in a stand. Larger sizes can be made, but may be difficult due to the weight of the blown glass.

Chipmonk in my rock garden

This was taken though the very old, wavy-glass window in my dining room thus the odd distortion of the shot.

Nicola Porpora (1686-1768) - Sonata V in sol minore per violino

This is just so wonderful!

Alexander Agricola (1446-1506) Salve Regina a 4

Huelgas Ensemble, Paul van Nevel

Delight thyself

Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

In Salutation to the Eternal Peace

by Sarojini Naidu

Men say the world is full of fear and hate,
And all life's ripening harvest-fields await
The restless sickle of relentless fate.

But I, sweet Soul, rejoice that I was born,
When from the climbing terraces of corn
I watch the golden orioles of Thy morn.

What care I for the world's desire and pride,
Who know the silver wings that gleam and glide,
The homing pigeons of Thine eventide?

What care I for the world's loud weariness,
Who dream in twilight granaries Thou dost bless
With delicate sheaves of mellow silences?

Say, shall I heed dull presages of doom,
Or dread the rumoured loneliness and gloom,
The mute and mythic terror of the tomb?

For my glad heart is drunk and drenched with Thee,
O inmost wind of living ecstasy!
O intimate essence of eternity!

Consider The Lilies Of The Field

Matthew 6:25-31

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?


’

by Christina Rossetti


Flowers preach to us if we will hear:—
The rose saith in the dewy morn,
I am most fair;
Yet all my loveliness is born
Upon a thorn.
The poppy saith amid the corn:
Let but my scarlet head appear
And I am held in scorn;
Yet juice of subtle virtue lies
Within my cup of curious dyes.
The lilies say: Behold how we
Preach without words of purity.
The violets whisper from the shade
Which their own leaves have made:
Men scent our fragrance on the air,
Yet take no heed
Of humble lessons we would read.

But not alone the fairest flowers:
The merest grass
Along the roadside where we pass,
Lichen and moss and sturdy weed,
Tell of His love who sends the dew,
The rain and sunshine too,
To nourish one small seed.

Consider The Lilies - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

A lovely horse....

A lovely horse is always an experience.... It is an emotional experience of the kind that is spoiled by words. ~Beryl Markham

My purple watch or witch ball

Witch balls are hollow glass orbs that hang in the windows of homes to ward off evil spirits or negative energy. They have been around in one form or another for more than 600 years. They were used even in medieval times. See my full entry earlier on witch balls for more. While a witch ball seems to be called by its name because of its perceived power with witches, it probably comes from the term "watch ball." This was because the ball was watching and guarding the house. Today they are often called friendship balls too. They make wonderful house warming gifts.

Gold-Felberich / Yellow Loosestrife

Garden Loosestrife
Lysimachia punctata

• Family: Primrose (Primulaceae)
• Habitat: roadsides, thickets
• Height: 2-3 feet
• Flower size: 1/2 inch across
• Flower color: yellow
• Flowering time: June to July
• Origin: Europe



COMMON NAMES
Garden Loosestrife
Golden Loosestrife
Loosestrife
Yellow Loosestrife
Yellow Rocket

Yellow loosestrife - a perennial herb reaching up to 5 feet in height, yellow loosestrife produces stolons (runners) that send up erect, branched stems. Narrowly oval, pointed leaves grow in clusters of three or in opposite pairs and are almost stalk less. The yellow flowers (June-September) are borne in long-stalked clusters from the upper leaf axils.

The golden yellow flowering clusters of yellow loosestrife are a common summer sight along roadsides and in marshes and other wet places throughout much of eastern North America. The herb is a native of the Old World, however, and has been part of European herbal medicine for some 2,000 years or more. The first-century A.D. Greek medical writer Dioscorides reported that the juice of the leaves administered as a drink or an enema was an effective treatment for persons who had dysentery or were vomiting blood. He also called loosestrife "a wound herb and stancher of blood," recommending it both for cases of heavy menstrual bleeding and for nosebleed. When the herb is burned, it gives off sharp smelling fumes that Dioscorides said would drive off snakes and kill flies.

Pliny (AD 23-79) recorded that lysimachia, the plant's Latin name, was a tribute to King Lysimachus of Sicily, who was the first to discover its medicinal benefits. The name "loosestrife" refers to the plant's reputed power to prevent conflict, particularly between animals, and to repel insects.

In present -day herbal tradition infusions, or teas, of the whole dried herb are still recommended for bleeding in the mouth and nose, to help heal cuts, and as a gargle for sore throat. The concentrated extract yellow loosestrife sometimes serves as a hair bleach.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.
USES

An astringent herb, yellow loosestrife is principally used to treat gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea and dysentery, to stop internal and external bleeding, and to cleanse wounds. Yellow loosestrife makes a serviceable mouthwash for sore gums and canker sores, and may be used to treat nosebleeds. Yellow loosestrife has also been taken as an expectorant.
HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Europe, yellow loosestrife commonly grows along roadsides and near water. Yellow loosestrife is also cultivated as a garden plant. Yellow loosestrife is gathered when in flower in summer.

CONSTITUENTS

Yellow loosestrife contains a benzoquinone, saponins, flavonoids, and tannins.


botanical plate by by THOMAS ROBINS JR.

The Yellow Loosestrife, which is in no way related to the Purple Loosestrife, has often been known as the Yellow Willow Herb, Herb Willow, or Willow Wort, as if it belonged to the true Willow Herbs (which are quite a different family - Onagraceae). There is a superficial resemblance between them, especially with regard to the leaves. The Yellow Loosestrife belongs, however, to the same family as the Primrose and the Pimpernel.

The Purple Loosestrife, on the other hand, is more nearly allied to the Willow herbs.

Happy Independence Day!

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me.
I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
While all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
A voice was chanting, As the fog was lifting,
This land was made for you and me.
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.


by Woody Guthrie

You're a Grand Old Flag - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

You're a Grand Old Flag - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Music and lyrics by George M. Cohan


Simple Version

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.

Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.


Complete Version
You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag,
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'Neath the Red, White and Blue.
Where there's never a boast or a brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eyes on the grand old flag!

There's a feeling comes a-stealing,
And it sets my brain a-reeling,
When I'm listening to the music of a military band.
Any tune like "Yankee Doodle"
Simply sets me off my noodle,
It's that patriotic something that no one can understand.

"Way down South, in the land of cotton",
Melody untiring,
Ain't that inspiring?
Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll join the Jubilee!
And that's going some,
For the Yankees, by gum!
Red, white and blue, I am for you!
Honest, you're a grand old flag!

You're a Grand Old Flag
You're a high flying flag
And forever, in peace, may you wave!
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave!

Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White, and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag!

I'm a cranky hanky panky,
I'm a dead square, honest Yankee,
And I'm mighty proud of that old flag
That flies for Uncle Sam.

Though I don't believe in raving
Ev'ry time I see it waving,
There's a chill runs up my back that makes me glad I'm what I am.

Here's a land with a million soldiers,
That's if we should need 'em,
We'll fight for freedom!

Hurrah! Hurrah! For every Yankee tar
And old G.A.R.
Ev'ry stripe, ev'ry star.
Red, white and blue,
Hats off to you
Honest, you're a grand old flag!

You're a Grand Old Flag
You're a High Flying Flag
And forever, in peace, may you wave!
You're the emblem of the land I love,
The home of the free and the brave!

Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White, and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
But should auld acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag!

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

George Michael Cohan (pronounced Coe-han; July 3, 1878 – November 5, 1942), known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer.

Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in vaudeville as one of the "The Four Cohans." Before long, he was writing songs and sketches, and he went on to write some 500 songs during his lifetime. He also wrote, produced, and starred in many Broadway musicals. Cohan's many popular songs include "Over There", "Give My Regards to Broadway", "The Yankee Doodle Boy", and "You're a Grand Old Flag". Beginning with Little Johnny Jones in 1904, he wrote and appeared in more than three dozen shows that were produced on Broadway. He displayed remarkable theatrical longevity, continuing to perform as a headline artist until 1940. Cohan also appeared in films, including The Phantom President in 1932. Off stage, he was one of the founders of ASCAP.

Known in the decade before World War I as "the man who owned Broadway," he is considered the father of American musical comedy. His life and music were depicted in the Academy Award-winning film Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) and the 1968 musical George M!. A statue of Cohan is in Times Square in New York City.

All mysteries and all knowledge...

1 Corinthians 13:2

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Frank Cadogan Cowper
English artist
born 1877- died 1958

Frank Cadogen Cowper
by Paul Ripley

The last of the Pre-Raphaelites. Cowper was born in Northamptonshire.

He studied at the St John's Wood Art School, and the Royal Academy Schools, after which he went to Italy. In the early part of the 20th century, some of his pictures were quite extraordinarily beautiful. Cowper became ARA in 1907, and a full RA in 1934, when his Diploma work was a painting called 'Vanity,' painted in 1907. I saw this picture at an exhibition at The Djangoly Gallery at Nottingham University in 1994. The exhibition was called 'Heaven on Earth, The Religion of Beauty in Late Victorian Art.

But ask the animals...

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?"

Job 12:7-9