Fashion on Friday:Denim and Linen

Desperate for a wardrobe change by this time of year, I remind myself to check the weather report hoping for cooler temperatures and a soaking rain.


But yesterday, the first full day of Fall, the thermometer registered 91 degrees.

Hence, the sleeveless denim shirt.

While I consider denim a year-round fabric choice, I stop wearing linen at the end of September.  Sienna brown is a favorite color, unlike the chocolate truffle color (which seems to have a touch of purple in it) on this season's report.

This multi-colored linen skirt has been in my closet for six seasons and always rejuvenates the attitude during these weeks of transitional weather.

And that's the basis of my Fashion Friday ~ no new purchase.....

What did you find in your closet this past week that added a bit a flair to your style?





Bonus FAF (Fine Art Friday)
(in the background)

Head Study After Bouguereau
Oil on Canvas
by Margaret Jago 2003

Top Ten: Walking Routes

Mark Fenton's book is the one which helped me establish a walking program.

Truth be known ~ after purchase, it sat on the shelf for a couple of years.

And then I took his simple advice.

I hopped got out of the car (waiting in carpool line) and walked five minutes in one direction, turned around, and walked the five minutes back to the car.

Quickly I built up steam and stamina.  However, it always takes a bit of mental discipline to get up and going.

Here's a short list of my favorite ordinary routes with links a one-time blog entry.


1)  Larkwood
2)  Heritage Park
3)  Boling Park
4)  Canton Loop
5)  Canton Stretch
6)  Canton Historic
7)  Canton Bluffs
8)  River Green
9)  Prominence Point
10)The Basement


Early on, I determined that I didnt want to train for competition (racewalking), but for health and pleasure. 

Learning the local history and trying to keep in shape are motivators enough.

But I think I may work through this PBS series on walking to help me stay on task.

And remember J M Barrie's* sound advice ~

 Make your feet your friend.

Where do you like to walk?




*Author of Peter Pan

Fashion Friday:Fall Colors

Autumn officially begins next week.

Wednesday, September 22, at 11:09pm to be exact.

I'm not ready.

It's still hot here.

90 degrees today...



But blogging buddy Carol's wonderful words are urging me on...

Out with the decaying petunias in pots; hello you gorgeous gerberas.

Out with the pathetic wispy plants that always look so good in May; welcome merry mums!

See ya' summer salads; gotta fix some soup and bake some sweet potatoes!

See ya later 8 o'clock twilight; greetings to reading by lamplight!

Who doesn't love autumn?



After reading these words, I promptly bought some hardy chrysanthemums at the grocery store.

I think they qualify as *Golden Glow*.













What do you think?

Genealogy:William Ferguson Smith

My maternal great-great grandfather was born on this date, September 16, one hundred forty five years ago (1845).

As you can see from the photo of the dust jacket, he is the author of of The Rival Lovers: a story of The War Between the States.

It is an authentic and original tale of a solider, citizen and public servant written in 1877, originally published in serial form in the Butts County Argus.


Even more interesting are the second and third parts of the book which contain first a biographical sketch entitled William, The Man; and then Essays: Other Writings of William Ferguson Smith.


He is mentioned in the New Georgia Encyclopedia as a *mover and shaker* of 19th century Butts County because of his overall leadership, most notably as editor of the newspaper and president of the railroad.

In his remarks when he took charge of the Flovilla and Indian Springs Railroad (1888?), he challenged his listeners to act their parts as patriots and save the Republic.

Now I leave you with his actual words which continue to be appropriate in the perennial task of cultural renewal.

Can we - will we - perpetuate this Republic for the benefit of the children of both races?  Or will we allow race prejudice and sectional hatred to rob us of reason, smother our patriotism, and engage us in factional strife, while our great Republic goes down under the grasp of financial despotism?

I present these questions for the thoughtful, prayerful consideration of the great middle class of the American people to consider, with the hope, the prayerful desire, and the sincere belief, that the great responsive heart will answer in the affirmative.

Take heart over these issues.

Remember our great Constitution, as tomorrow is Constitution Day.

Preserving that permanent thing...

maintains liberty and justice for all.




Many thanks to my cousin, Harriet Ann Stovall Kelley (Editor) who discovered WFS papers and took the time to preserve them for posterity.  Read one of her poems here.

Privilege of Corporate Worship

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,






where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O Lord of Hosts,
my King and my God.

Psalm 84 was written by the Sons of Korah for the express purpose of singing the prayer in the temple.  Thousands of year later I am blessed to be able to read it, understand it, and perform the noble exercise of praise and thanksgiving so described.

Dont miss the opportunity to be a doorkeeper in the house of God.

Then sing about it!





For further study ~

Listen to a sermon expositing Psalm 84: A Bird's Nest in God's House.

Issac Watts's hymn Lord of the worlds above is based on this psalm.

US Constitution Day

"Great states with good constitutions develop when most people think of their duties and restrain their appetites.


"Great states sink toward their dissolution when most people think of their privileges and indulge their appetites freely. . . .







"And no matter how admirable a constitution may look upon paper, it will be ineffectual unless the written constitution, the web of custom and convention, affirms an enduring moral order of obligations and personal responsibility."


Quoting Russell Kirk's Rights and Duties: Reflections on Our Conservative Constitution, I'm reminding myself (and you) of the upcoming Constitution Day celebration.  Some begin as early as September 16th and continue through Saturday, the 18th, framing the actual signing date of September 17, 1787.

Read ~

First Principles, ISI's web journal,  houses a host of fine articles addressing constitutional liberty.

Brad Birzer's review of Kirk's Rights and Duties.

Then act ~

Contact your representative and learn how s/he feels about voting in line with the principles he swore to uphold.

Protect the future ~

Join in the fight to restore our Republic.

Final Summer Roses

WHEN roses cease to bloom, dear,

And violets are done,

When bumble-bees in solemn flight

Have passed beyond the sun,



The hand that paused to gather 

Upon this summer’s day

Will idle lie, in Auburn,—

Then take my flower, pray!

 
 
 
 
 
Thinking of those we lost over the summer.....

Miss Dickinson supplies the words.

Here's a link to Emily's lexicon where I learned that Auburn is the name of a cemetery which boasts an impressive list of residents.

The Thinking Conservative

The Thinker (Le Penseur) is an easily recognizable icon for intellectual activity and that's how I'm using it today.

Most schools and colleges are back in session which means that many of us have abandoned our summertime routines in favor of more rigorous schedules involving academics.

I followed suit by listening to George Grant challenge a crowd to don their thinking caps.




The enthusiasm is catching!

Which in turn made me ponder the characteristics and convictions of the citizens who would ideally comprise civilized society.

And one of my favorite authors, Russell Kirk, neatly defined the model with this short list of ten principles.


From this essay found at The Kirk Center

1)   The conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.

2)   The conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity.

3)   Conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.

4)   Conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.

5)   Conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.

6)   Conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability.

7)   Conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.

8)   Conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as the oppose involuntary collectivism.

9)  The conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.

10)The thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.

One of my favorite conservatives was Larry McDonald.  I always think of him in September because that's when he died and that's when Constitution Day is celebrated.

What about you?

Do you have a favorite conservative?