Prayer for the Home

By Edgar Guest

Peace, unto this house, I pray,
Keep terror and despair away;
Shield it from evil and let sin
Never find lodging room within.
May never in these walls be heard
The hateful or accusing word.

Grant that its warm and mellow light
May be to all a beacon bright,
 A flaming symbol that shall stir
The beating pulse of him or her
Who finds this door and seems to say,
 "Here end the trials of the day."

 Hold us together, gentle Lord,
 Who sit about this humble board;
May we be spared the cruel fate
Of those whom hatreds separate;
 Here let love bind us fast, that we
May know the joys of unity.

 Lord, this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep.
Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
 Let Thy love and let Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place.

Stop the Madness.

It has been very warm

A just society

A just society is built on great and charitable institutions, education and it's fair administration of justice. Families, neighborhoods and communities where people hold themselves and each other accountable is what makes for a society that cares for all its members. That is what makes for a nation that is great.  The violent reaction by some Christians against any kind of government intervention to alleviate poverty and suffering speaks very loudly. We can serve but one master, God or money. The sheer outrage this topic produces in some people makes it rather clear which master is being served. Matthew 6:24 -“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Thank You Barack Obama

Day Song

Captain sailed the ship today
Old Love, she just sighed
Met his mother on the way
They stopped and cried

Cat on the sill
See the sad racehorse
Do as you will
I love you more than all

Old Love sailed the ship today
Captain he just sighed
Met her father on the way
They stopped and cried

Cat on the sill
See the sad racehorse
Do as you will
I love you more than all

Sing the song of sailin' away
Sing it from your heart
Sing the song of sailin' away
Even though we part




I am looking for male singer who recorded this and a want to hear it again.  I heard this in the late 70s and wish I could hear it again. If you know please write me?  The lyrics were sightly different in the version I knew it said "race horse " not rain fall.  Write me at :  corgijm@windstream.net

Kate Bush sings Army Dreamers

Kate Bush Army Dreamers 

"b.f.p.o.*" 
Army dreamers. 
"mammy's hero." 
"b.f.p.o." 
"mammy's hero." 

Our little army boy 
Is coming home from b.f.p.o. 
I've a bunch of purple flowers 
To decorate a mammy's hero. 

Mourning in the aerodrome, 
The weather warmer, he is colder. 
Four men in uniform 
To carry home my little soldier. 

"what could he do? 
Should have been a rock star." 
But he didn't have the money for a guitar. 
"what could he do? 
Should have been a politician." 
But he never had a proper education. 
"what could he do? 
Should have been a father." 
But he never even made it to his twenties. 
What a waste -- 
Army dreamers. 
Ooh, what a waste of 
Army dreamers. 

Tears o'er a tin box. 
Oh, jesus christ, he wasn't to know, 
Like a chicken with a fox, 
He couldn't win the war with ego. 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/kate+bush/army+dreamers_20077194.html ] 
Give the kid the pick of pips, 
And give him all your stripes and ribbons. 
Now he's sitting in his hole, 
He might as well have buttons and bows. 

"what could he do? 
Should have been a rock star." 
But he didn't have the money for a guitar. 
"what could he do? 
Should have been a politician." 
But he never had a proper education. 
"what could he do? 
Should have been a father." 
But he never even made it to his twenties. 
What a waste -- 
Army dreamers. 
Ooh, what a waste of 
Army dreamers. 
Ooh, what a waste of all that 
Army dreamers, 
Army dreamers, 
Army dreamers, oh... 

("b.f.p.o.") 
Did-n-did-n-did-n-dum... 
Army dreamers. 
Did-n-did-n-did-n-dum... 
("mammy's hero.") 
("b.f.p.o.") 
Army dreamers. 
("mammy's hero.") 
("b.f.p.o.") 
No harm heroes. 
("mammy's hero.") 
("b.f.p.o.") 
Army dreamers. 
("mammy's hero.") 
("b.f.p.o.") 
No harm heroes.

Universal Soldier

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Songwriter: Buffy Sainte Marie

Sung here by Donovan

He’s 5 foot 2 and he’s 6 feet 4
He fights with missiles and with spears
He’s all of 31 and he’s only 17.
He’s been a soldier for a thousand years

He’s a catholic, a Hindu, an atheist, a Jain
A Buddhist, and a Baptist and Jew.
And he knows he shouldn’t kill
And he knows he always will kill
You’ll for me my friend and me for you

And He’s fighting for Canada.
He’s fighting for France.
He’s fighting for the USA.
And he’s fighting for the Russians.
And he’s fighting for Japan
And he thinks we’ll put an end to war this way.

And He’s fighting for democracy,
He’s fighting for the reds
He says it’s for the peace of all.
He’s the one, who must decide,
who’s to live and who’s to die.
And he never sees the writing on the wall.

But without him,
how would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone
He’s the one who gives his body
as a weapon of the war.
And without him all this killing can’t go on

He’s the universal soldier
And he really is the blame
His orders comes from
far away no more.

They come from him.
And you and me.
And brothers can’t you see.
This is not the way we put an end to war

Masters of War by Bob Dylan

Masters of War by Bob Dylan live at Brandeis University 1963.


"Masters Of War"

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.

War - Edwin Starr

War by Edwin Starr

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing

Conscientious Objector

I shall die, but
that is all that I shall do for Death.
I hear him leading his horse out of the stall;
I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.
He is in haste; he has business in Cuba,
business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.
But I will not hold the bridle
while he clinches the girth.
And he may mount by himself:
I will not give him a leg up.

Though he flick my shoulders with his whip,
I will not tell him which way the fox ran.
With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where
the black boy hides in the swamp.
I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death;
I am not on his pay-roll.

I will not tell him the whereabout of my friends
nor of my enemies either.
Though he promise me much,
I will not map him the route to any man's door.
Am I a spy in the land of the living,
that I should deliver men to Death?
Brother, the password and the plans of our city
are safe with me; never through me Shall you be overcome.

by Edna St. Vincent Millay 

For meditation and prayer

For meditation and prayer on this day of great sadness for the east coast of the USA.

A Change and a Wether.

This is the Shetland wether I got in a trade in Sept.  I sold all my crossbred ewes and have only a core of six purebred sheep now.  I have four Scottish Blackface ewes and a Blackface ram and this handsome wether who is a Shetland.  He has a wonderful sort of whole wheat bred colored fleece. My husband named him Rory.

Blogging

I am sorry I have not been blogging much, my heart has been so heavy since Mike died in late May.  He followed this blog every day and shared it with his wife so it has made it hard to want to be on the blog it still smarts but I hope to get back to it soon.

Wise words from Germany

This is what my Dentist friend in Germany wrote to me today:

Dear Beth, I follow here from far away the campaignes for the next coming president. Looks that a big lot of dirty laundry is washed there. And too much money burnt for nonsens.
For me it is hard to understand the deep hate in the republicans against Obama. If I don't like a politician I don't vote him anymore but I wouldn't spill such a shit over his head. This is discrimination pure.
I myself don't trust any politician and I do not believe anymore the politicians but I have the choice to vote the smaller or more sympathetic evil. That's what I do. But I do not run berserk against the "bigger evil" and don't throw dirt.

Obama is put in the corner of socialism and communism. I think such people do not know what socialism or communism is. Let them go for one year to Kuba or better to North Korea and they would LOVE to live under Obama in USA.

The American vote-shows are too much just shows. Very little substance, few arguments only and just persons.
Do you trust a person going into politic who refuses to make open his personal/ financial pocket? 

In my opinion it was a GREAT PLUS for the voters to see his candidate like glass - transparent and open.
It is a pity that here in Germany this is not the case. Here this is called privacy and so I do not know, who the guys I vote really serve. The people or the banks !!!

Okay, thats it. Just some hot air and a sign of life.
Hope you are doing well. Take care!

Warm regards, 
_________

What a difference gum wall tires make!

The Meaning of Man

The Meaning of Man

By Clifford Bax  (b. 1886-1962)

Take courage; for the race of man is divine. The Golden Verses. DEAR and fair as Earth may be
Not from out her womb are we,—
Like an elder sister only, like a foster-mother, she,
For we come of heavenly lineage, of a pure undying race,
We who took the poppied potion of our life, and quaffing deep	5
Move enchanted now forever in the shadow world of sleep,
In the vast and lovely vision that is wrought of time and space.
Overhead the sun and moon
Shining at the gates of birth
Give to each a common boon,—	10
All the joy of earth;
Mountains lit with moving light,
Forest, cavern, cloud and river,
Ebb and flow of day and night
Around the world forever.	15
These and all the works of man may he who will behold,
Mighty shapes of bygone beauty, songs of beaten gold,
Starlike thoughts that once, in ages gone, were found by seër-sages,
All the throng’d and murmuring Past, the life men loved of old.
Yet sometimes at the birth of night when hours of heat and splendour	20
Melt away in darkness, and the flaming sun has set
Across the brooding soul will sweep, like music sad and tender,
Sudden waves of almost passionate regret,
For then the hills and meadowlands, the trees and flowerful grasses,
All the world of wonder that our eyes have gazed upon,	25
Seems remote and mournful, as a rainbow when it passes
Leaves the heart lamenting for the beauty come and gone,
And in the deep that is the soul there surges up a cry
‘Whence are all the starry legions traversing the sky?
Whence the olden planets and the sun and moon and earth?	30
Out of what came all of these and out of what came I?’
And far away within the same unfathomable deep
Comes an answer rolling ‘Earth and moon and sun,
All that is, that has been, or that ever time shall reap,
Is but moving home again, with mighty labours done,	35
The Many to the Everlasting One.’
And this is the meaning of man,
The task of the soul,
The labour of worlds, and the plan
That is set for the whole,	40
For the spark of the spirit imprisoned within it,
In all things one and the same,
Aeon by aeon and minute by minute,
Is longing to leap into flame,
To shatter the limits of life and be lost in a glory intense and profound	45
As the soul with a cry goes out into music and seeks to be one with the sound.
For as those that are sunken deep
In the green dim ocean of sleep,
In a thousand shapes for a thousand ages the one great Spirit is bound.
The air we inhale and the sea,	50
The warm brown earth and the sun,
Came forth at the Word of the One
From the same First Mother as we,
And now, as of old when the world began
The stars of the night are the kindred of man,	55
For all things move to a single goal,
The giant sun or the thinking soul.
Ah what though the Tree whose rise and fall
Of sap is fed from the Spirit of All,
With suns for blossoms and planets for leaves,	60
Be vaster yet than the mind conceives?
Earth is a leaf on the boundless Tree,
And the unborn soul of the earth are we.
O man is a hungering exiled people, a host in an unknown land,
A wandering mass in the vast with only a black horizon to face,	65
Yet still, though we toil for a time in the heat over measureless deserts of sand
The longing for beauty that shines in the soul is the guiding-star of the race.
It is this that alone may redeem
A world ignoble with strife,
This only bring all that we dream	70
From the shattered chaos of life.
And this that forever shall spur us and lead us from peak unto peak on the way
Till body and spirit be welded in one and the long Night fall on the Day,
And all the sonorous music of time, the hills and the woods and the wind and the sea,
The one great song of the whole creation, of all that is and that yet shall be,	75
Chanted aloud as a paean of joy by the Being whose home is the vast
Shall tremble away in silence, and all be gone at the last,
Save only afar in the Heart of the Singer of whom it was chanted and heard
Remembrance left of the music as a sunset-fire in the west,
Remembrance left of the mighty Enchanted Palace that rose at His Word,	80
This, and a joy everlasting, an immense inviolate rest.

1955 Reliance Bike Before and After

Our collection of old Bikes

Shepherds after my own heart

Columbia Bicycle made in 1972

Hate

I am deeply concerned about all the hate towards Obama on Facebook and other places on line. He has done nothing to deserve this vitriolic hate. This kind of hate is evil and someone is going to try to shoot Barack Obama or Mrs. Obama because of this frenzy of hate. I am horrified by some of what I read these days. I have no problem if someone wants to vote against him but hate is not acceptable under any guise. Obama is president he was elected fairly.

A Blue Robin Hood Bicycle

Sunset in Stedman

The New Decals.