Parenting Pet Peeves


Cindy in her jolly, winsome way entreated us to join her in listing the things that really bother us about the parenting skills/methods of others.

Now I hestitated to comment on her post, but somehow Cindy has power over me and I did.




I agreed with her on everything :)

Actually, I didnt stick my neck out as far as I should/could because I thought *Surely you will offend people. And remember, Dana, there IS (read “IS” as defined by Mr. Clinton) more than one way to skin a cat. ha ha!*

But here I am, fragmenting myself from the group and obsessing over my own vocational skills, being the egotist that I am, and posting my comments on my own site. After all, negativity garners attention. It sells. Cindy says so! Think the Simpsons will get me some comments?

At any rate, here’s my list based on some vocabulary in Richard Weaver’s Ideas Have Consequences, which a few of us area reading together.

IDEAS - It really bugs me that most parent have no idea where they are going and what they are doing. Having no (or low) expectations of themselves, they cant possibly project positive expectations of their offspring.

CONSEQUENCES - Parents conveniently overlook the consequences of the actions of their children creating a never-ending ripple effect of (perhaps more serious) consequences for a single easily corrected action/idea.

SENTIMENT - Most parents today lack the correct sentiment. I’ll extrapolate Weaver’s cold logic and let you know exactly what I mean: many parents dont see themselves the way God sees them.

DISTINCTION - Distinction, differences, discrimination are all healthy skills that parents should teach their children. These all are easily identified within the family unit and can be modeled simply in every day life. Higher educational degrees are not required. It is common sense, as Cindy decries. I claim that we do our children a disservice when we dont make things perfectly clear.

HIERARCHY - Stopping short of addressing parents as His Highness and Her Highness, I believe in delineating the roles of male/female, mother/father, parent/child, teacher/student, et cetera with a clear authority structure. Whether parents like it or not, this is the way the world functions because God set it up that way.

FRAGMENTATION - Here I see a lack of emphasis on the family as a single unit taking precedence over the fragments (individual children). There are some (many) things which we do together as a family because we are a family. That means that not everyone gets to do what s/he wants all the time. And furthermore, there may be lots of things we choose not to do because it fragments the family. Like not worshipping together at the same church (or even divided services) or like the preppy trend to enroll a child in the school which suits him/her best, even if that means the mother is driving to several schools.


OBSESSION - Here the idea follows that the parent is so over involved in the details and micromanagement of a child’s life that s/he cannot see the bigger picture and make wise decisions. It’s just crazy. Quit racing forward, acting as if you are progressing. Take two or three steps backwards and assess the situation from a wider perspective that doesnt just focus on the needs of one child. Balance is Cindy’s word and moderation is Carmon’s, if I remember correctly.

EGOTISM - Oh.my.goodness. Aren’t we all so stuck on ourselves that we can’t see clearly. It’s even worse when we can’t see our children clearly, and therefore, can‘t be exemplary models. EGO, ID, whatever you want to call it, it’s just plain distasteful, especially in mothers who stroke this inner monster and stunt growth.

WORK - This word makes me think of mothers who do everything, unable to enforce her own rules and afraid to delegate tasks. She works hard, seven days a week, but for some reason this ethic is not transferable (or transferring) to her children. So much more could be said here, but I’ll leave you with a favorite phrase of mine: God said “Six days shall you labor and do all your work.” And that command is addressed to all His creatures.

ART - Aesthetics doesnt have to be high brow. Here I will simply refer my readers to one of my favorite books - The Hidden ART of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. She addresses the ways in which we overlook this area in every day living and makes valid suggestions for incorporating drawing, writing, and music into family life.


Let me know if you're looking for more specific information. I have more examples than you want to hear or than I should tell.

Art and Truth


We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth, at least the truth that is given to us to understand.

Pablo Picasso


Researching for my FAF entry, I stopped by Artcyclopedia for some details and noticed that topping the list of favorite searches is Mr. Picasso. Not one of my favorites at all, in fact I eschew him, today I highlight the phrase at the top of his Artcyclopedia page and entreat you to read a longer quote at the end of my entry.

While I might warm up to some of Picasso's art by visiting the museum in Madison, GA to see a signed print, I cannot seem to erase from my mind Picasso's political persuasions. I guess I should be glad I dont know too much about the backgrounds of other artists or I would like none.

As many of you know I'm reading (slowly) Ideas Have Consequences by Richard Weaver. It is very thought-provoking. It was published in 1948. The following Picasso quote dates from 1952. The two have a connection.

From the moment that art ceases to be food that feeds the best minds, the artist can use his talents to perform all the tricks of the intellectual charlatan. Most people can today no longer expect to receive consolation and exaltation from art. The refined, the rich, the professional 'do-nothings,' the distillers of quintessence desire only the peculiar, the sensational, the eccentric, the scandalous in today's art.

I myself since the advent of Cubism, have fed these fellows what they wanted and satisfied these critics with all the ridiculous ideas that have passed through my mind. The less they understood them, the more they admired me. Through amusing myself with all these absurd farces, I became celebrated, and very rapidly. For a painter, celebrity means sales and consequent affluence. Today, as you know, I am celebrated, I am rich. But when I am alone, I do not have the effrontery to consider myself an artist at all, not in the grand old meaning of the world: Giotto, Titian, Rembrandt, Goya were great painters.

I am only a public clown - a mountebank.


I have understood my time and have exploited the imbecility, the vanity, the greed of my contemporaries.

It is a bitter confession,

this confession of mine,

more painful than it may seem.
But at least and at last it does have the merit of being honest.

For sources-nazis like myself, this quote is clipped from the publisher's letter page of Plein Air magazine, Oct 2005 issue. The comments were titled "Weapon of Indifference."

Plant Identification















Still contemplating the beauty of nature seen on my Saturday hike and wonder if any readers recognize this plant and can identify it.

No prizes awarded for correct answers, like some bloggers do.

Although I might be persuaded to change my mind.

Fragmentation and Obsession

Here's where the synopsis of this chapter belongs.

Fall Hike















This photo is my favorite of the two dozen I took while hiking this past Saturday.

I took a *long explore in the woods* and enjoyed myself immensely. The drive there and back was beautiful as I think the leaves are at their peak right now in north Georgia.

Carter's Lake is only an hour's drive from my home and there are at least five more trails I could walk without repeating Amadahy's and Tumbling Water's. And those alone are worth multiple visits this year and in the future.

Comment and leave your email, if you want to see the album.

Carters Lake












Here's a sunset view of the lake I hope to circumambulate today. Thankfully, I located a trail which is not open to hunters, so I wont have to worry about getting shot. My faithful readers expressed their concern and I heeded their advice by looking for another site to explore.

Hope to post more pictures next week.

Blessings on your Saturday.

Fashion Find Friday

Orange

peach, cinnamon

and the like

qualify as

my favorite colors.









So, this jacket/scarf combination are perfect for my wardrobe.

It's hardly cold enough here in GA to wear this jacket routinely, but on the days when it is chilly, I am prepared. :) Furthermore, I get good use of it when I travel to Michigan, where three of my daughters are.

I may even wear it on my Saturday walk, since the trail I'm planning to explore requires *hunters orange*.

Think it will qualify?

Hierarchy and Distinction

Chapter Two of Richard's Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences is just too chock full of references unfamiliar to me to ignore. So, today I will reveal some of my ignorances and tell you what I have been researching.

First, my query at the end of my first post about Richard Hertz.

Mr. Hertz is the author of a book, Man on a Rock: Why the World is the Way It is - Resentment. It was published in 1946, by the UNC Press, Chapel Hill, NC and readily available for purchase (used copies) at A Libris. The author contends that universal resentment was the cause of the mid 20th century's barbarism and that the responsiblity for it was shared by the whole of Western Civilization. Remember our Weaver was North Carolina born.


Second, I was intrigued by the word *hierarchy* and read about Maslow's Hierarchy of Design. I have contended in comments section of our book club discussion that Weaver is reacting to scientific rationalism, so it was interesting to me (born after 1948) to find this image:















Today (11/23/07) I include a link to an Jay Adam's essay about being *overly critical* I was tickled to note his reference to Maslow's pyramid.

Third, the phrase *ladder to high design* was not one I used routinely, but I understand the meaning in the context of the chapter. Nevertheless, Weaver uses it so freely, I'm thinking where did he get that?

It is a quote of Ulysses' from Triolus and Cressida, in which the Hero explains the mishaps of the Greeks before Troy as resulting from their neglect of "order" in plan and attack.

O' when degree is shak'd
Which is the ladder of all high designs,
The enterprise is sick. How could communities,

There is more the that last sentence, but isnt that cool? There's our reference.

I've never read that story. Have you?

Last but not least (and not really the last one I investigated, but the last one I'll write about) is *The Thomas Jefferson Education*. Funny how this guy who penned the *all men are created equal* spent so much time and energy denying it in his educational methodology.

Do you own or have you read Oliver Van Demille's 2006 book?

Well, Cindy? Are we moving ahead to reviewing Chapter Three: Fragmentation and Obsession?

Set the date.

I'll be ready.

Pork Chop and Rice

In a very large roasting pan, spread out uncooked brown rice.

Use whatever amount of rice you need to complement the number of pork chops you're serving.

I used 2 cups uncooked.


This photo was taken before baking.







After having browned the chops in a frying pan, place each on top of rice. Then *decorate* each with 1)thinly sliced sweet onion, 2)green pepper ring, and 3)stewed tomato.

Pour piping hot beef bouillon over casserole. Cover tightly (very) with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 for one hour. Turn down to 200 for one hour. Remember that the baking time is governed by the thickness of the chops. Mine were thick. I left this pan in the oven while we were at church, having set the time bake function to warm the dish for 30 mins prior to our arrival.

There are all kinds of tricks to preparing this easy recipe ahead, from preparing and baking the day before and reheating to getting up earlier on Sunday morning. The total prep time for this dish is 30 mins.



More on this menu in the menu section of my Xanga

This picture was taken after baking, when I prepared the recipe on another day.

Hint: see that there are more chops in the dish :)

Ideas Have Consequences

Chapter Two: Distinction and Hierarchy

Offensive is the adjective I would use to describe Weaver’s message in this second chapter of his famous book, Ideas Have Consequences. By that I mean that many of the concepts he describes are repugnant to the average American, especially women, which explains the reason that this book no longer enjoys the popularity it once did. For example, its Amazon.com sales rank is #233,595.

"Uniformity and without distinction"

seems like a fitting title
to this picture of an
outdoor sculpture
found in Kansas City.







The phrase is taken from the Athanasius quote which opens the essay. The full quote can be found in Chapter One ("The Creation and the Fall") of The Incarnation of the Word of God.

Not only did the author deconstruct the idea that all men are created equal, but also he debunks the notion that the French Revolution (liberty, equality, fraternity) was a good thing. He actually discusses the positive aspects of “superior” and “inferior” roles in society. Do you read anyone else who does that?

Furthermore, Weaver points to the writings of America’s Founding Fathers to substantiate their reservations about democratic rule, placing his point of view squarely in opposition to just about every public school teacher today because most believe the United States is a democracy instead of a republic.

Now we are at the point of discovering the purpose for reading IHC. It’s education! And exercising one’s privilege to avoid (or refute) that misinformed public school teacher mentioned in the previous paragraph. Mr. Weaver states on pg 49,

It has been said countless times in this country that democracy cannot exist without education. The truth concealed in this observation is that only education can be depended on to bring men to see the hierarchy of values.

We are all in this boat called education. Some see it more realistically than others. Either way it is crucial. While there are many aspects to education, the best results are achieved with consistency in the application of the blueprints in all areas of construction (of the boat called *education*). This author is throwing you a life preserver.

Read this chapter again and again.

It is the best thing you can do today to help your child (student) tomorrow.



PS
There is an alternate definition of my summarizing adjective, “offensive,” and in tomorrow’s post I will try and list some applications of Weaver’s essays as they might manifest themselves in my family life where we live on the offensive, as opposed to the defensive.

PPS Did you figure out who Richard Hertz is?

Athanasian Creed

Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic faith.
Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally.
Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.
For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Spirit is still another.
But the deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, equal in glory, coeternal in majesty.
What the Father is, the Son is, and so is the Holy Spirit.
Uncreated is the Father; uncreated is the Son; uncreated is the Spirit.
The Father is infinite; the Son is infinite; the Holy Spirit is infinite.
Eternal is the Father; eternal is the Son; eternal is the Spirit:
And yet there are not three eternal beings, but one who is eternal;
as there are not three uncreated and unlimited beings, but one who is uncreated and unlimited.
Almighty is the Father; almighty is the Son; almighty is the Spirit:
And yet there are not three almighty beings, but one who is almighty.
Thus the Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God:
And yet there are not three gods, but one God.
Thus the Father is Lord; the Son is Lord; the Holy Spirit is Lord:
And yet there are not three lords, but one Lord.
As Christian truth compels us to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.
The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten;
the Son was neither made nor created, but was alone begotten of the Father;
the Spirit was neither made nor created, but is proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Thus there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three spirits.
And in this Trinity, no one is before or after, greater or less than the other;
but all three persons are in themselves, coeternal and coequal; and so we must worship the Trinity in unity and the one God in three persons.
Whoever wants to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.
It is necessary for eternal salvation that one also faithfully believe that our Lord Jesus Christ became flesh.
For this is the true faith that we believe and confess: That our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, is both God and man.
He is God, begotten before all worlds from the being of the Father, and he is man, born in the world from the being of his mother --
existing fully as God, and fully as man with a rational soul and a human body;
equal to the Father in divinity, subordinate to the Father in humanity.
Although he is God and man, he is not divided, but is one Christ.
He is united because God has taken humanity into himself; he does not transform deity into humanity.
He is completely one in the unity of his person, without confusing his natures.
For as the rational soul and body are one person, so the one Christ is God and man.
He suffered death for our salvation.
He descended into hell and rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
At his coming all people shall rise bodily to give an account of their own deeds.
Those who have done good will enter eternal life,
those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith.
One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully.

Birthday Celebration















The Menu

Baked Pork Chops w/Brown Rice
Turnip Greens
Butternut Squash

Bread Ring

Iced Tea

Banana Pudding

Margaret Ann






















Baby picture of my mother whose birthday is today.

I figured out how to scan the picture, but have run out of discretionary time as far as figuring out how to photoshop it.

Better call Donna for help.

Update: After treating DM to Sunday lunch, she kindly shared with me the secrets of cropping a scanned picture :)

History and Hope

A passage from the writings of Robert E Lee, first made public by Colonel Charles Marshall in 1887, in Southern Historical Papers published in 1889, and used as an example in Richard Weaver's essay on the Christian warrior, found in The Southern Tradition at Bay, pg 209.

My experience of men has neither disposed me to think worse of them, nor
indisposed me to serve them; nor, in spite of failures, which I lament, of
errors, which I now see and acknowledge, or, of the present state of affairs, do
I despair of the future.

The march of providence is so slow, and our desires so impatient, the work
of progress is so immense, and our means of aiding it so feeble, the life
of humanity is so long, and that of the individual so brief, that we often see
only the ebb of the advancing wave, and are thus discouraged.

It is history that teaches us to hope.

Happy Fall Y'all
















Cutest jack-o-lantern I have ever seen.

Such creativity! I never would have thought to use the stem for the nose. I probably wouldnt have even bought that pumpkin because it looks like it would not sit up straight. Oh well.

Kudos to the artist.

See some of her photography here.

Fall is an identifiable season in my neck of the woods and I always enjoy it: the colors, the leaves, the food. Except I don't like it when it gets dark really early. And so, that's why I think I'll say I like Spring better.

Halloween can put a damper on the season, too. Without being a total stick-in-the-mud, I tried assiduously to avoid celebrating this holiday. When my children were very small, they were truly frightened by the constant doorbell ringing and the people dressed up in costumes. Because they attended a Christian elementary school, we didnt have too much trouble avoiding trick or treating. There were Fall Festivals or Reformation Day Fairs which provided good alternate activities.

But in the neighborhood if we were at home, I would buy candy and hand it out to the few visitors who came by. Mostly I would try and schedule a night away from home. It became traditional to see a movie, nothing scary. And horror is totally off limits. Something historical like Luther or Cromwell.

Here's the whole pumpkin family...on Fall Break.

Ideas Have Consequences

Chapter One : The Unsentimental Sentiment

Quoting Scottish essayist, Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) at the outset, Mr. Weaver frames the ensuing essay with these words:

“the thing a man believes determines the rest.”

I distilled the 66-word quote from the book into the above eight-word one and not only does the title to the book become obvious, but also the treasure of chapter one. If you use this phrase as a filter when reading the wealth of information presented in this 15-page chapter, there will be less confusion.


Weaver launches immediately into a deductive-reasoning style of writing using “words as hard as canonballs” in order to prove his point. First, he defines sentiment, then unsentimental, discussing the pros and cons of both only to declare that the correct approach to all of life is espousing this catch-phrase “the unsentimental sentiment.”

Rational faculty will be in the service of a vision which can preserve sentiment from sentimentality. Pg 20

While Weaver never uses the term “presuppositional thinking,” it appears to me that that is what he is describing when he talks about the metaphysical dream binding man to the spiritual community. Neither does he use the currently popular word “worldview” but he plainly recognizes its value when he tells us that of paramount importance is “one’s attitude toward the world.”

Common answers to the “big” questions of life (religious or metaphysical) have the power to integrate and makes ones sentiments toward the world rational. Pg 22 This is called refinement, when our sentiments pass from feelings to illumined concepts (of what one ought to feel) and man is relieved to become “self-controlled” through this wisdom.

Weaver continues debating the pros and cons of his arguement by comparing and contrasting of the self-controlled man (man of correct sentiments last seen in the 18th century) with the barbarian or Philistine (exemplified in the American frontiersman). Finally, he laments that

“Today over the entire world there are dangerous signs that culture, as such, is marked for attack because its formal requirements stand in the way of expression of the natural man.” Pg 25

At so many things/objects am I (who is “cultural” in Weaver’s sense only by the grace of God) speechless and embarassed when forms and conventions are torn aside, trampled, and mocked by the emancipated libertines. Weaver explains to me with a quote from Burke (pg 27) why the French Revolution and its results are so indicting and incriminatory of our moderns.

Here is the crux of the matter and why I perceive that Cindy is so up in arms about the state of the world and desperate to rear/educate her children with the correct sentiment.

Weaver states:

No education is worthy of the name which fails to make the point that the world is best understood from a certain distance or that the most elementary understanding requires a degree of abstraction. “ pg 27

Only one who understands Burke’s comment on the French Revolution and Weaver's worldview can teach history properly. (You go, Cindy!) Never mind the fact that it is our privilege and duty before God to do so.

Faithful to his logical approach in an effort to persuade others, Weaver does not blatantly mention God, but that is what is meant by “understood from a distance” or “requiring a degree of abstraction”. These are phrases which signify a worldview or a lens or presuppositions which we (Christians) know must be applied consistently to the teaching of our offspring in order to achieve the most profitable results.

Weaver winds down his pummeling by giving four examples of the ravages of the barbarians (those seeking immediacy, i.e. the “real thing”) on our current society (1948):

1) the failure of the modern mind to recognize obscenity;
2) the deterioration of human relationships;
3) the decline of the belief in the hero;
4) and the growth of commericalism.

These obviously hold true for today, 2007.

By the way, I cant help but draw attention to Weaver's implicit plug for the teaching of vocabulary, derivations, and ancient theater when he intends the original sense of the word *obscenity* to make his point. As Magsitramater would say, "I get the reference."

In conclusion, Weaver pleads with us to reclaim the dream or vision that will save us from the sins/consequences of sentimentality and brutality.

He proposes “restraint imposed by idea.”

Ideas Have Consequences

The Introduction

Broadly painted brushstrokes paint the introductory canvas to Richard Weaver's masterpiece, Ideas Have Consequences, as the author/artist jumps feet first into the cold water of post war society. He readily states that he wants to talk about the decline of the West and propose a solution.


Sounds depressing as looks this 1966 Renee Radell painting, The Tide.

Weaver rapidly covers the philosophical landscapes of six centuries by describing nominalism (14th), then the new doctrine of nature (science vs unintelligibility); then rationalism (deism and materialism); Darwinism; pyschological behaviorism; and finally the abysmality of the 20th century. To wit, he lists the various the methods of education where logic was grammaticized (from vere loqui to recte loqui); definitions (denotations) were assaulted; and the Renaissance pattern was developed, adapting the course of study to produce a successful man. With amazing insight Weaver covers the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th century educational disciplines and cites the dominant type of leader from each of these epochs as proofs of the changes.

Declaring that there is a split in the 20th century camps, Mr Weaver labels one sentimental humanitarians and the other remorseless theorists.

"Nothing is more disturbing to modern men of the West than the logical clarity with which the Communists face all problems."

Yet Mr Weaver feels that it is extremely difficult to get people in any number to admit that our society is decadent.

Yet my blogging buddy Cindy is ready to tackle the world's problems and that's why we're all reading IHC.

Modern man has fallen prey to hysterical optimism, becoming insensible and apathetic. Stuck in that position until ready to distinguish between good and evil again, society will continue to spiral downward.

Nevertheless Richard Weaver plods along


laying the groundwork for his argument,

indicting society, making comments,

asking questions, and demanding answers.






He's searching for intellectual integrity.


Name his companion with the lantern.

Ideas Have Consequences

By the time I was 17 yrs old I had a solid grip on what I believed about the world/people/things because my parents had done a good job. I understood even then that I was *philosophically-driven*, but I wasnt good at explaining to others why I believed what I did. Somehow the explanation *that's what my father says* didnt seem like the proper way to defend my positions. Pursuing a college degree filled in those gaps for me.



At Hillsdale College I was exposed to leaders/thinkers/writers who explained the reasons behind what my parents had taught me to be true and right. I read their books, listened to their lectures, and conversed personally with movers and shakers of Conservatism. That was my first introduction to Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences and a host of other authors and their books. Weaver had had an enormous influence on the post-war Intellectual Right and Hillsdale was a bastion of those young conservative intellectuals who were trying to champion freedom and tradition.



The edition of IHC in my library was printed in 1971, and published by The University of Chicago Press. I probably bought it at Hillsdale College (bookstore), where I attended from 1975 to 1978, graduating with a BA in History with French and German minors.

This morning I've re-read the Forward which Mr Weaver wrote over a decade after the initial publication in 1948. He does not feel compelled to make revisions, which I think is a good sign. I find it interesting that Mr Weaver was an English professor since the book is classified as *philosophy.* He does not feel that it is such.

It is an intuition of a situation.

He intended to challenge the forces which threaten civilization.

Sounds revolutionary, huh?

For those of you who are following our internet discussion, I post the Table of Contents. And because it's something I pay attention to.

Introduction (never, ever skip reading the introduction, forward, preface, or such)
I. The Unsentimental Sentiment
II. Distinction and Hierarchy
III. Fragmentation and Obession
IV. Egotism in Work and Art
V. The Great Steropticon
VI. The Spoiled-Child Psychology
VII. The Last Metaphysical Right
VIII.The Power of the Word
IX. Piety and Justice
Acknowledgments

How do you know about Ideas Have Consequences?

Richard Weaver













1910-1963

This is what Kirk says about Weaver whom he knew well.

According to Ambrose of Milan, it has not pleased God that man should be saved through logic. Richard Weaver would have assented to this, knowing as he did the nature of the average sensual man and the limits of pure rationality. Yet with a high logical power, Weaver undertook an intellectual defense of culture and did what he might to rescue order, justice, and freedom from the perverters of language



Among philosophers, Plato was Weaver's mentor; and among statesmen Lincoln. (Although a declared Southerner, in politics Weaver was a conservative Republican.)



Some of his closer Chicago friends - their number was not legion - might not see him during the course of an entire year. He never travelled; he endured stoically the ferocious Chicago winters, often wearing two overcoats, one over the other. Once a year he attended a church, and then a high Episcopalian service; the solemnity and mystery of the ritual, strongly though he was attracted by them, overwhelmed his soul: such a feast would last for months. The frugality woven into his character extended even to his very private religion.

pg 39-40
The Essential Russell Kirk

Addendum on 10/24/07

I emailed Mrs. Kirk to inquire about the details of Mr. Weaver's death at such a young age. She referred me to one of ISI's (Intercollegiate Studies Institute) managing directors. Mr. Vella's email indicated that while no official autopsy had been performed, Weaver's sister (whose husband was Weaver's literary executor) believes he died of a cerebral hemmorhage.

Ten Exemplary Conservatives

1) Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman orator

2) Marcus Aurelius Antonius, Roman emperor

3) Samuel Johnson, English moralist

4) Sir Walter Scott, Scottish romancer

5) John Randolphe, Virginia politician

6) Nathaniel Hawthorne, New England novelist, short story writer

7) Theodore Roosevelt, American President, writer and fighter

8) Joseph Conrad, Polish sea captain novelist

9) Richard Weaver, college professor and recluse

10)Freya Stark, English wanderer in antique lands

This list is from Russell Kirk's essay,"Ten Exemplary Conservatives", originally published in his The Politics of Prudence (1993), but which I have from The Essential Kirk, George Panichas, editor.

Kirk chose these ten because they influenced his opinions. Burke and Eliot are not listed because even though they both greatly influenced Kirk's perspective, he has written extensively about them elsewhere.

I am posting the list because I am embarking upon the reading of Ideas Have Consequences AND Richard Weaver is on the list.

Booga Bag


















Perfect Fall colors, right?

Discovered in the mailbox last Friday, I opened the package carefully with scissors. In it was this fun pocketbook from my sister! Hand-knit and felted by her from leftover yarns.

I feel special.

Thank you, Noel!

Movies

Choosing movies to watch is a task I usually leave up to DH. He does it well. I enjoy watching what he chooses. When he's not around, I don't usually watch movies. Too much else to do.

But in this case, two of my blogging buddies had recommended this film and I had some free time over the weekend. It was delightfully well-spent viewing this charming film. The story is a testimony to many things - the obvious being the power of love. However, the most remarkable to me was the power of non-verbal communication.

Have you seen Sweet Land?


Here's a link to a Minnesota Monthly article.

Slow Roasted Turkey















Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This takes at least ten minutes.

In the meantime, remove neck and innards from defrosted turkey. Run cold water over bird and rinse inside cavity. Pat dry. Place on a rack in a large roasting pan, breast side down.

Place in preheated oven for one hour. Set a timer :)

At the end of the first hour, without opening the door to the oven, reduce the heat to 190 degrees (warm on my thermostat dial) and continuing roasting for the same number of hours as the weight of the turkey in pounds. I mean if the turkey weighs 13 lbs, roast the turkey for 13 hours, AFTER the first hour.

The nicest thing about this method is the fact that the turkey can roast all night, when you dont usually need the oven. Or for smaller roasts, during the day while you are at work or running errands.

The down side is lack of oven space for baking other things, if you you have only one oven. I have taken my turkey out at noon, for example, pulled it apart and arranged it on a platter; covered it with wax paper; and not served dinner until 5 o'clock.

For detailed instructions about slow roasting, I refer to Adelle Davis's book, Let's Cook it Right.

I have successfuly slow-roasted beef roasts, legs of lamb, pork (fresh hams), and chicken. I do not recommend this method for small, boneless cuts of meat, although it works well for the Boston Butt cut of pork.

Assurance

Assurance of my salvation is not something that I have struggled with, but I did hear a phrase in this past week's sermon that would be good to use when explaining assurance to someone else. We're studying Thessalonians.

In the spirit of foreknowledge or predestination, which is so offensive to many, I know that God chose me. And while it did reduce me to tears when I realized this and queried *Why me?*, it was not the moment that I was saved. The two were years apart. He was continuing to draw me. John 3:44

At any rate, if I were to explain assurance to another I would focus on the fact that God made the decision to save me. I did not decide to save myself.

Because God is great, all-powerful, all-knowing, immutable (all those perfections), He does not made bad decisions. And He does not change His mind. He chose me once at for all. Two thousand years ago, Christ knew my name. Long before I was born physically on earth.

That means I dont have to worry.

It also means that I am His bond-servant.

May I be faithful witness.

Garlicky Spinach

2 - 20 oz bags Spinach
1 Tbs Oil
2 Tbs Butter
2 cloves garlic, pressed

In large frying pan or deep stock pot, melt butter with oil and saute garlic until the flavors blend (approx 1 min). Add spinach and cover. Steam until tender, stirring occasionally. This takes less than five minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 6.

Company Menu

Grilled Rib-Eyes
Garlicky Spinach
Mushroom-Onion Saute
Baked Potato

Cabernet
Iced Tea

Brownie Pie w/
Coffee Ice Cream



Posting this in an effort to get my shopping list in order. There will be six adults for a Saturday evening dinner party. After 20 years of faithful service, the downstairs A/C is defunct....but only because we're having company.

Was there a mishap at your last dinner party?

Docent of Glory

Witnessing for Christ isnt as difficult as I make it out to be, as indicated in this well-written article by T M Moore, Can I Get A Witness. The imagery, language, and Scriptural references are powerful. I commend it to your attention.

A few weeks ago, Carmon entreated us to talk about our faith and I embarked upon an entry entitled Testimony on Tuesdays. But I quickly got bogged down because I didnt want to talk about myself.

This article stimulates my perspective.

I can picture myself as a *docent of glory*.

My homework is to reflect on His Glory and come up with some testimony for next week's Witness on Wednesday.

Penne Pasta with Shrimp

24 oz Shrimp (medium, frozen, no shell, deveined)
16 oz penne pasta, cooked and drained

1 large clove garlic, pressed
1 large red onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped

1 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup sweet red wine
2/3 cup heavy cream


In a large frying pan, melt one tablespoon butter with one tablespoon safflower oil over high heat. Add shrimp stirring constantly to cook quickly without overcooking. This takes only minutes. Remove from pan to large serving bowl.

Then in the same pan over medium high flame, melt another tablespoon butter with one tablespoon safflower oil. Add garlic and stir, add onion and stir, then green pepper. Saute veggies until tender.

Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 2 mins over medium heat. Add wine and cook a few minutes in order to blend flavors. Slowly add heavy cream, stirring constantly over medium heat. It's probably safer to remove 1 cup of sauce from the pan, and add the cream to that. Then return mixture to the pan. This will avoid the mishap of curdling the (cool) cream by adding it to a hot mixture.

Finally, add the cooked shrimp to veggie sauce. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Then toss together with penne pasta. Return to large serving bowl.

Serves eight.

Enjoy!

Proof Positive

Here I am at the end of my two day hike.

I had a wonderful time.

Here are a few things I want to remember.

1) Boots would have been better. The soil was very rocky and tree roots were exposed, making it easy to trip over them.

2) Take an long-acting antihistamine BEFORE you leave. I remembered the Ibruprofen :)

3) Study the map more, especially ahead of time.

It's not that I didnt know where I was going, although that may be true. We did not get lost. I dont quite grasp abstractly the topographical differences. In the end, it was perfectly clear that I was going up, up, and up. And only then on the way out did I go down, down, down. Even then going down takes a lot of muscle control. Going up takes good lung capacity. Can you say aerobic?

4) Eat a snack and drink water on the trail whether you think you are hungry/thirsty or not.

5) DH's walking stick was indispensible, as was the rainjacket he gave me as a parting gift.

Ok, who's going with me next time?

Manners on Monday Update:

Link to Trail Etiquette on Emily Post Institute Website :)

Hike-Inn


Ready?

Set.


Go!!












In just a few short hours, I will set out on this trail and walk five miles to reach a cabin/lodge in the woods. Read more about the Len Foot Hike-Inn at this link.

I expect to see vistas like this one and take lots of pictures.

The weather is beautiful here.


See ya later!

Personal Commitment

40 Days for Life, an anti-abortion campaign starts today and I'm committed to supporting it in my area through 1) prayer and fasting and 2) community support (crisis pregnancy center in my county).

Check out their website.

Here are links to groups I support.

Hope Center, Woodstock GA
Whispering Hope, Cumming GA
Cherokee Co Chpt, GA Right to Life

Customer Service







Manila,

The

Phillipines





For the record Intuit technical support receives a *ten* for excellent customer service. After five hours of polite, patient, and persistent help, the technician successfully solved the problem and guided me through the steps to correct the corruptions.

I mention this as an update to my whine about my weekend computer woes and to bolster our collective opinions about customer *no-service* (Clark Howard's favorite term).

Remember Donna's personal service from her plumber? Scroll down in this entry.

Furthermore, in my reading (and blogging) of Lynne Truss's Talk to the Hand, I am reminded of the rarity of this type of dedicated customer service. Hence I desire to draw attention to a shining example.

And it didnt cost anything (extra).

Computer Woes and Apples

Averting a crisis is a lack luster job and that's what I've spent most of my weekend doing....

Starting with last Thursday when I cleaned off my 9.5 yds of desk space to this morning call's to technical support, I have been setting up a new desktop computer system. And no, I didnt want a new computer. But the ten-year old one is freezing often enough that I would be blind not to recognize that a crash is imminent.

At any rate, this kept me from the local apple festival, because I needed to stay at home in order to finish the laundry AND run back and forth to the computer to click *next* during the long installation and transfer process. It did afford me way too much time to read blogs (and comment) and start three new books. I have particularly enjoyed Sherry of Semicolon's focus on apples this month.

Thankfully there is still time to pick apples, enjoy the weather, and get Quickbooks up and running before the buzzer goes off.

What did you accomplish this weekend?

Walking River Green


Kudos to me!!

I'm just back from four mile morning walk through a new subdivision not too far from my own neighborhood.

See the map I found. Neat, huh?

I finished in 65 minutes or 16 minutes per mile.

I'm happy with that pace.

This jaunt is part of my effort to keep my exercising routine fresh.


There are miles more of streets for me to cover, so I think I will be returning to this area.


Recently I wrote about finding the end of the sidewalk and I did in this new development as well. Hopefully, I wont bring home a blister like I did last time.

Neither knees nor hips bother me during/after walking. It's my feet I have to baby by rotating shoes, using orthotics, and stretching ligaments. That last one is fun (Not!) and is accomplished by rolling one's foot back and forth over cold *Coke* cans.

Now for Saturday chores.

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Scarves

Fashion this Friday is all about
color and accessorizing!




















The weather is changing and the temperatures are dropping. So, just like last week I am highlighting a piece of clothing I rediscovered while unpacking my Fall and Winter clothes. This hand-me-down wool scarf is so large that it covers the entire image.

But look what I did with it.





Kind of goofy

hanging there

on the door

but it surely

did brighten

these browns.





And I got lots of compliments.

Do you wear scarves?

Book Lists

BuriedTreasureBooks is one of my favorite websites and every morning I check in to see what Carmon is pondering. Recently she posted about reading lists and gave us several links.

With all the books choices and reading opportunities that exist, I agree with Samuel Johnson's quote about books (like friends) needing to be well-chosen. Early in my parenting was I convicted of my obligation to supply our children with worthy reading material as well as supplement their assigned (school) reading. See my xanga entry on Parker Hudson's books.

But the real thrust of this entry is to comply with a request from Carmon. It relates to my references to Carolyn Custis James's book, When Life and Beliefs Collide, mentioned here, here, and here.

Carmon asked that I share Mrs. James's Recommended Reading List found in the back of this book.

The Bible

This heads the list of the books we need to read says Mrs. James on page 237 where she challenges her audience to read and study the Bible PLUS read it to (your) children. While she recommends Marian Schoolland's Leading Little Ones to God (which I own), she also recommends The New Living Bible (Tyndale House) which I do NOT recommend or own. She mentions Dr. Tremper Longman's Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind for an overview. In this category, I own Eugenia Price's Beloved World and Karen Lee-Thorp's Story of Stories.

Mrs. James does recommend owning a set of commentaries. In our home library are Matthew Henry's and John Calvin's. For further resources she recommends Wayne Grudem's theological textbook, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. We refer to R J Rushdoony's.

"Knowing God is not a private matter," states Mrs. James on pg 242, where she begins her list of books to help us get to know God better. "Historically, Christians have always explored AND interacted with the Scriptures within the context of the church;" and so, she refers us to godly leaders from previous generations by recommending Augustine's Confessions; Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, and J I Packer's A Quest for Godliness. She has already highly recommended Packer's Knowing God.

Then a list of Books to Help us Know God Better.

Allender's The Cry of the Soul: How our emotions reveal our deepest Questions about God.

Bridges' Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts

Piper's The Pleasures of God

Sproul's The Holiness of God

Tada's A Step Further and When God Weeps: Why our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty

Carson's How Long, Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil

Books to Help Us Know God in Our Relationships

Allender's Intimate Allies

Tripp's, P D Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
________ War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles

Tripp's, T Shepherding a Child's Heart


In conclusion, Mrs. James challenges us to become thoughtful readers (p.245) in the spirit of Acts 17:11 where Paul's listeners "received the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what he said was true." Some of the books she recommends contain views with which she personally takes issue. But overall, the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses.

That is how I feel about the book, When Life and Beliefs Collide.

Let me know if you've read it.

Sing Lustily and With Good Courage

For safe keeping, I'm posting the Sleeve Notes from my newest favorite CD, Sing Lustily and With Good Courage by Maddy Prior with The Carnival Band,



which I also crooned about on my xanga site.

Several years ago I ran across an article at the Academy of Poets' website about Emily Dickinson and Isaac Watts.

It mentioned that people walked out of church services when his hymns were played.

This was a surprise to me since I love these *old*, traditionally-styled hymns. I prefer them over the newer *praise/worship* music. But it got me thinking about how Watt's music and lyrics must have been *new* at one time.

Futhermore, if you read no further than this paragraph, do read or re-read Mrs. Schaeffer's chapter on Music in her book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking. There is a dear story about an opera singer who used her talent to sing with those less talented than she.

At any rate, here is the information about congregational singing long ago....or the lack thereof. Note the sentence *Gradually children and women were admitted....*

From John Wesley's instructions for singing, 1761:

I. Learn these tunes before you learn any others ...

II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here without altering or mending them at all ...

III. Sing All. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can ...

IV. Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength ...

V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony ...

VI. Sing in Time. Whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it ... and take care not to sing too slow ...

VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself or any other creature ...

Read more here at John Mark Ministries.

Coffee

Here's my

coffee maker.


Not what

you expected?



Huh?







In the contraption is 1 lb. of freshly ground coffee beans and 2 qts. cold water. The mixture sits overnight (10-12 hrs) and is drained through a filter.

Read more about this cold water brewing system at the Toddy website.

Since I was thirteen I've been drinking coffee and it's my favorite morning beverage. Black, please.



The results is about a quart of concentrated coffee, which I dilute with boiling water.





Join me for a cup?



We have lots to talk about.

Feast on Monday


Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?

My last visit to a hospital was in February '07 to see a friend's mother, who was enduring her final illness. She complained up being *hot.* So, standing at the foot of her bed, I carefully lifted the sheet, removed her booties and rubbed her feet. She smiled.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?

I've been neutralized.....or zero :(

Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)

For ever enjoy Truth.

Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?

I keep thinking about hostessing an group called *HiddenArt* where we would covered the various chapters in Mrs. Schaeffer's book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking. The topics she addresses are wide and varied which I think would keep the group dynamics fresh. It might work better on a monthly schedule though.

Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?

Salmon/peach......but it's 20 years old and faded into beige in some places. If I had the chance to replace it, I would go with a similar color 'cause I still like it.

Fashion Find Friday






















No purchase in the fashion world this week. Just the discovery of a forgotten sweater vest that will add *umph* to my fall wardrobe. I love the large buttons.

Yup. It's that time of year when the temperatures are dropping and I'm tired of wearing summer colors. The scarf is a Vera Bradley pattern, Medallion, and was a Mother's Day gift this past Spring from DD#1. I think it brightens this combination and will also go with burnt oranges/cinnamons....some of my favorite Autumn colors.

How are you updating your Fall Wardrobe?

Senior Photo















Posting this highschool picture of myself as requested by my friend, Donna at QuietLife. She's expanding her photographic skills by taking *Senior Photos* and challenged us to post our own.

Alas, I dont have one :(

I left high school a year early and headed off to college.

No velvet drapes and pearls on me......just this sporty one taken in the Fall of 1974 when I was a junior.

Random Facts

About me :) Hmmmmm...

Earlier this week, Donna at Quiet Life tagged me with the task of posting eight random facts about me. In my haste, I linked to two *About Me* posts in her comment box, but realized later that I ignored the adjective *random* which qualified the challenge. So, here I correct myself.

1) I have attended 36 Parents Nights at my children's schools over the past 20 years. Last night was the last one! Hip Hip Hooray!

2) I had a root canal on a lower incisor when I was ten years old. It hurt.

3) I lived at 111 Elm Street, Mtn Home AFB, ID when I was five.

4) I met Princess Grace and her family when I was fifteen.

5) It is easier for me to remember birthdays and addresses than the words to songs or the names of actors/actresses.

6) I try to use both sides of a piece of paper.

7) I am a *morning* person.

8) I prefer salty over sweet :)

Bonus Fact: I have two blogs.


If you stumble across this game, consider yourself tagged!

Leave me a link to your list of 8 random facts.

Apple Salad

1 head green leaf lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite-sized pieces
(I love my salad spinner)
1-2 apples, washed, cored, diced (each apple yields 32 pieces)
(Use different colored ones (unpeeled) for pretty color)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup raisins
1 stalk celery, washed and sliced thinly on the diagonal
2 Tbs sunflower seeds, dry roasted

Toss with your favorite dressing. Serve in chilled bowls.

Vinagrette Recipe

1/2 cup safflower oil
1/4 cup wine vinegar
2 Tbs prepared mustard (stone ground)
1 Tbs dried parsley
2 Tbs cold water

Whirl in the blender. Store in cruet in 'fridge.

Unsolicited suggestion:
Chill the bowl in which you plan to toss your salad. It makes a difference.


Sherry over at Semicolonblog.com is soliciting apple recipes and that's what made me post this one. I've been enjoying this salad combination for years, although nowadays it is seen served more often with feta cheese.

Have you ever tried the Grilled Chicken dinner salad at Red Lobster?

It has apples in it.

Molasses Cookies

1 1/2 Cups butter
2 Cups sugar
Cream those two in an electric mixer with wire whisk.

Add
1/2 Cup molasses
2 eggs (one at the time)

Sift together the following six ingredients and then add to *wet* mixture:
4 Cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cloves
2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Stir until well blended. Chill the dough before rolling it into small balls.

Bake at 375 degrees on ungreased cookie sheets for 10-12 mins, depending on the size of the ball :)

Makes 7 dozen?

Sermon Synopsis

Three sermons into the the second chapter of I Thessalonians, I continue to ponder these first century Christians and their response to Paul's testimony. I wonder if they were really that much different than I. It is clear to me that I accept the Word of God as authentic only by His Sovereign Grace as did they.

See I Thess 2:13

JCM concluded with an illustrative quote from Spurgeon which I will turn into my personal prayer.

Heavenly Father, bless me this week by teaching me through the power of your Holy Spirit to eat into the very soul of the Bible. Nourish me so deeply there that my language will be more Scriptural than last week; that my words be more flavored with the Lord's than ever before; and that my blood be Bible-colored so that the very essence of these Holy Writings will flow through and out of me into the lives of others.

And we were given John Piper's mnemonic device for boldly accepting/believing the Bible. Treat it a precious, pleasant, and practical by memorizing it, meditating upon it, making music with it, ministering with it, and minding it.

Hymn 267 from the Trinity Hymnal (O Word of God Incarnate) concluded our service. The words fit perfectly.

Contemplating Death

Sickness

is a place...

where

there's no company,

where nobody

can follow.

Flannery O'Connor





Camille's Deathbed by Claude Monet
Oil on canvas


This painting is one of the subjects covered in Susan Vreeland's Life Studies, an interesting book which I have picked up and down several times over the past few years. The chapter is entitled "Winter of Abandon" and offers some interesting insight into Claude and Camille's relationship. Furthermore, I learned that Monet painted this canvas immediately upon her passing, shewing everyone out of the room.

Creepy?

Or *One Time Chance to catch the light in this situation?*

At any rate, I thought it an appropriate illustration to highlight some current thoughts I have had on *death*. The first is a quote from Polycarp, that great Christian martyr:

"The business of the Christian is in one sense nothing else than to be ever preparing for death."

Now have you ever thought of that? I mean what steps have you taken, either mental or physical, in preparation for your death?

Hmmmm

I think too much.........

Update:

Recent deaths of high profile individuals:
9/1 = 1983 Larry McDonald, US Congressman

9/5/07 = D. James Kennedy
9/6/07 = Luciano Pavarotti
9/6/07 = Madeline L'Engle

Theology on Thursdays

Interesting conversation with a Christian young lady over the summer prompted me to pick up again Carolyn Custis James's book, When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference. On my xanga site I have written a review of the book, but here I want to mention a couple of thoughts.

Lamenting that "in the Bible there are just not enough women to talk about", the aforementioned lady continued to say that it was difficult to find enough information about the women that are mentioned and to make those stories interesting and educational to middle-school aged girls.

Keeping up my end of the conversation, I mentioned several women along with their Biblical character traits, never really seeming to make any headway with my friend. I really was trying to be encouraging by offering the names of a variety of females mentioned in Scripture.

Even now I continue to feel like I was not a good witness because I think my comments frustrated rather than encouraged the Christian younger than I. Questions came to mind: What type of Titus 2 model was I? How could I have been more persuasive in my choice of words and tone of voice? Was I a good theologian?

In search of answers, not only did I review the Bible for examples of Godly women, I began to re-read When Life and Beliefs Collide. In there Mrs. James challenges her audience: "Our task is not simply to know God more deeply ourselves but to lead our daughters to pursue a deeper relationship with him too." Pg 14

I think I failed to lead.

Either way, the Bible IS full of examples of women: old and young, married and unmarried, Godly and ungodly. It speaks to and about women.

I pray my friend found them.

Professionalism

For safekeeping I am posting this inspirational definition of professionalism taken from a commencement speech entitled "Heroism in War and Peace" delivered by Elbert Parr Tuttle in 1957, at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Learn about Judge Tuttle at the New Georgia Encyclopedia, or from the History of the Court of Appeals, or Life at the Bar, or Jack Bass's book, Unlikely Heroes.

The professional man is in essence one who provides service. But the service he
renders is something more than that of the laborer, even the skilled laborer. It
is a service that wells up from the entire complex of his personality. True,
some specialized and highly developed techniques may be included, but their mode
of expression is given its deepest meaning by the personality of the
practitioner. In a very real sense his professional service cannot be separate
from his personal being. He has no goods to sell, no land to till. His only
asset is himself. It turns out that there is no right price for service, for
what is a share of a man worth? If he does not contain the quality of integrity,
he is worthless. If he does, he is priceless. The value is either nothing or it
is infinite.So do not try to set a price on yourselves. Do not measure out your
professional services on an apothecaries’ scale and say, “Only this for so
much.” Do not debase yourselves by equating your souls to what they will bring
in the market. Do not be a miser, hoarding your talents and abilities and
knowledge, either among yourselves or in your dealings with your clients . .
.Rather be reckless and spendthrift, pouring out your talent to all to whom it
can be of service! Throw it away, waste it, and in the spending it will be
increased. Do not keep a watchful eye lest you slip, and give away a little bit
of what you might have sold. Do not censor your thoughts to gain a wide
audience. Like love, talent is only useful in its expenditure, and it is never
exhausted. Certain it is that man must eat; so set what price you must on your
service. But never confuse the performance, which is great, with the
compensation, be it money, power, or fame, which is trivial.. . . The job is
there, you will see it, and your strength is such, as you graduate . . . that
you need not consider what the task will cost you. It is not enough that you do
your duty. The richness of life lies in the performance which is above and
beyond the call of duty.

Now I can read and re-read these fine words and be encouraged that anyone can be a professional.

Everyone should be.

It's a virtue.

Exercise

I

set out

to find

where

the sidewalk

ends.







Walking with purpose is what I had in mind when I left home. In my mind's eye I had charted the journey to maximize my safety, avoiding the busier, curvy road. About two miles from my subdivision is a newly constructed multi-use development packed with new homes and a shopping center. And although walking alone can be lonesome, I purposefully left behind the earphones and audio files. It would be important to hear and pay attention to my surroundings. I was investigating. Over the course of the next two hours, I covered about six miles of new territory, found the end of that particular sidewalk, and made it back home safely.

Only Shel Silverstein says it better -

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

Shel Silverstein

Manners on Mondays

Funny story………

When our eldest was five, I signed her up for an Etiquette Class. It was being taught after school where she attended half-day Kindergarten. The teacher was a well-respected socialite in our community. The curriculum was cute and based on the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Not only do I not remember all the details but I also wont bore you with the ones I do.

The point is the way the lessons backfired.

I ended up with a five-year-old reminding everyone ELSE to mind their manners!

Broccoli Salad


2 bunches broccoli
washed and trimmed
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 can water chestnuts, sliced
1 can black olives, sliced
Salad Dressing




Steam broccoli only slightly about 4-5 mins in the microwave. I cover tightly the glass dish with saran and release it immediately after cooking, so that the flowerettes dont get smashed. I suppose it is possible to skip this step.

Evenly distribute the water chestnuts, tomatoes, and black olives on top of the lightly steamed broccoli. Pour salad dressing (Paul Newman's is my substitute when there's no homemade) over veggies. Refrigerate.

Voila!














We eat broccoli several times a week. Mainly steamed. No cheese sauce or butter. A little freshly squeezed lemon is acceptable. But it's easier to count calories, if one learns to eat food without sauces/gravies/toppings.

At any rate, I also prepare the broccoli/raisin salad which is popular and more rarely one with swiss cheese/bacon/onion. Yum - but caloric!


What's your favorite broccoli recipe?