Frances Lee Ila



















Oil on Canvas by Vera Holcombe, 1916
14 x 12 inches



I just love this portrait! And the story behind it is revealing.

As it goes, the artist is the older sister of the model. I have written about her paintings here and here. In this case, Frances Lee Ila aka *Peggy* refused to remove her red coat, even though the weather was warm.

The word *headstrong* comes to mind.

*Peggy* was my godmother, my maternal grandfather's office manager/nurse, shopping buddy/friend to my grandmother *Dee*, and second mother to my own mother. Her influence in our lives contributed to the naming of DD#4.

Frances Lee Ila (Holcombe) was the third daughter and her father had proposed the name *Peggy* for the first two, yet was *overrruled*. When *Peggy* was born, he again proposed the name. Again he was overruled. Finally, he retorted.

You can name her whatever you like, but I'm going to call her *Peggy*

I did not learn her real name until after she died.



Is there a special story behind a painting or photograph in your home?

Chili

This is posted at the request of DD#3, but also found here.

In a large stock pot, I brown 1 lb ground beef and drain it, leaving it in the colander while I prepare the other items in the same pot.

2 cans light kidney beans, undrained (15 oz)
2 cans dark kidney beans, undrained (15 oz)
28 oz can diced tomatoes
30 oz tomato sauce
8 oz V-8
2 pkgs chili seasoning (Kroger)

Stir together. Add browned meat.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 - 20 minutes.

Serves 6

Freezes well.

Happy 150th Birthday















Oil Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt, 1903

Artist John Singer Sargent painted Theodore Roosevelt in a pose worthy of the president’s bold manner. In 1901 President Roosevelt issued an executive order changing the official name of the Executive Mansion to the White House, and proceeded to redecorate it in 1902. While the original exterior of the White House was preserved, the interior layout changed dramatically. Roosevelt wanted the house to reflect its historical nature instead of a home filled with “modern” furniture.

Credit: White House Historical Association (White House Collection)



From a 2005 NYTimes article:

Mr. Allman, curator, then pointed to what is considered the best portrait in the
collection, a John Singer Sargent of a forceful, irritated Theodore Roosevelt
that hangs in an East Room corner. Sargent took up residence in the White House
in the winter of 1903 for portrait sittings, but soon drove the president to
distraction by chasing him around trying to decide on the right pose. The final
portrait captures Roosevelt in a particularly exasperated moment with the
artist. "I don't think the president wanted to share as much time as Mr. Sargent
was hoping to have," Mr. Allman said.

And from John Milton Hay (1838–1905) American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, a poem -


To Theodore Roosevelt


Son of a sire whose heart beat ever true
To God, to country, and the fireside love
To which returning, like a homing dove,
From each high duty done, he gladly flew,
Complete, yet touched by genius through and through,
The lofty qualities that made him great,
Loved in his home and priceless to the state,
By Heaven's grace are garnered up in you.
Be yours, we pray, the dauntless heart of youth,
The eye to see the humor of the game,
The scorn of lies, the large Batavian mirth;
And, past the happy, fruitful years of fame,
Of sport and work and battle for the truth,
A home not all unlike your home on earth.

Christmas Eve, 1902.

John Hay

Fall Favorites

Fresh Starts - new academic years are more invigorating to me than the beginning of the calendar year. This year we sent our fourth daughter to Hillsdale, freshly starting her collegiate experience.






Leaves - yellow patches showed up first in our backyard of trees. Blogging buddy, Carol, has an especially beautiful picture of yellow. Even before the temperatures got cooler the leaves began to manifest the change of the season. Right now the red leaves on our many dogwoods are the prettiest to me.


Football - a confession....I actually like watching football. Hubby and both brothers played highschool and one year of college ball. Professional teams do not interest me.


Festivals - not being a crowd lover, I tend to shy away from attending festivals. Especially when my children were little, I hated taking them to festivals: too many temptations to overeat and spend money on unnecessary trinkets, or temporarily *losing* a child, which happened to me more than once :( Of late, I have gone to a couple....for historical interests :)

Cooler Temps - not only is the dropping mercury amenable for outdoor activities, but I also like covering up with lots of blankets and sleeping in a cool room. Update: as of 10/27 I still havent turned on the heat.

Sweaters - can be fashion statements, but I've yet to knit one. Do you wear seasonal sweaters?


Pumpkins - in addition to Jack-O-Lanterns, I love food made with fresh pumpkin, especially soup. Here's a link to my recipe.





Reformation Day - such a better holiday than the scary one on the 31st. One of my favorite books is Ladies of the Reformation by J. H. Alexander. I just finished reading about Marguerite de Valois.





Politics - it's in my blood, since I started knocking on doors for a candidate when I was a mere thirteen years old. LOTS of stories here.





Thanksgiving - food, family, and the signal that Christmas (winter) is just around the corner. I never tire of the ritual of gathering the family for special meals. Here's a link to last year's celebration. During Thanksgiving weekend, I refuse to decorate for Christmas and decline opportunites to shop at reduced prices. You may find me working on a list though :)

Lord Willing and the Creek Dont Rise

Massacre
Fort Mimms, AL
1813
Colored Engraving
19th Century





The phrase originated with Benjamin Hawkins (1754-1816), Creek Indian agent around the time of the War of 1812.

It should be correctly written as 'God willing and the Creek don't rise'.

Hawkins, college-educated and a well-written man would never have made a grammatical error, so the capitalization of Creek is the only way the phrase could make sense.

He wrote it in response to a request from the President to return to our Nation's Capital and the reference is not to a creek, but The Creek Indian Nation. If the Creek "rose," Hawkins would have had to be present to quell the rebellion.

Two Version's of The Knight, Death and The Devil















Engraving by Albrect Durer, 1513

Under the unreal helmet, the severe profile is cruel like the cruel sword waiting poised. Through the stripped forest rides the horseman unperturbed, clumsily, furtively. The obscene mob closes in on him: the devil with servile eyes, the labyrinthing reptile, and the ashen old man with the hour glass. Iron rider, whoever looks at you knows that in you neither the lie nor pale fear dwells. Your hard fate is to command and offend. You are the brave and you are certainly not unworthy, German, of the devil and death.

There are two roads - that of the man of iron and arrogance who rides firm in his faith through the doubtful woods of the world between the taunts and rigid dance of the devil with death. And the other, the short one, mine.

In what vanished, long-ago night or morning did my eyes discover the fantastic epic, the enduring dream of Durer: the hero and the mob with all its shadows, searching me out and catching me in ambush. It is me and not the paladin whom the hoary old man crowned with sinuous snakes as warning. The future's water clock measures my time not his eternal now. I am the one who will be ashes and darkness. I who set out later will have reached my mortal destination. You, who do not exist, you, rider of the raised sword and the rigid woods, your pace will keep on going as long as there are men: composed, imaginary, eternal.

by Luis Borges
Argentine writer
1899 - 1986



I transcribed this poem by listening to it on YouTube. I feel sure I have butchered the dynamics, but will come back to correct whenever I find it.

It was just too good to pass up.

Hey, Cindy! Do you know this poem?

Fashion on Fridays

The weather is cooler and calling for outerwear.

So, this weekend I'll be involved in the great *switcheroo*.




That is - putting away the summer and spring clothes and hauling out the fall and winter.

To give me some direction as I sort through my belongings, I'll be looking for ten items to undergird my wardrobe.

I'll build and coordinate around these.

1) Stitch Interest Sweater (seen above *new* with *old* T-shirt)
2) Purples
3) Unique Print Top (I use scarves here)
4) Vest
5) Crisp White Shirts (link to *how to iron a shirt*)
6) Animal Print
7) Jacket
8) The Suit (i.e. Sunday clothes)
9) Denim
10)Turtleneck

The real test for me this weekend will be how much of what I havent worn in the past three years I can actually part with. Goodwill has a store just around the corner. It is not out of my way to drop things off!

BTW Did you find any purple, mulberry, aubergine, or grape in your closet?

I've been wondering?

So has Emily Dickinson.

Purple — is fashionable twice —
This season of the year,
And when a soul perceives itself
To be an Emperor.

Soup, Sandwich, Supper, or Specialty


Sometimes the thought of eating leftovers leaves me cold (lol) and at other times sparks my creative juices and a fresh meal is born. Knowing that DD#1 has a freezer-full of leftover turkey and chicken, I have culled a few suggestions for planned-overs from my recipe box.

Soup: Turkey Noodle or Mexican Chicken

Sandwich: Turkey Salad or Hot Turkey

Supper: Turkey Tetrazzini or Chicken a la King

Specialty: Pizza with BBQ sauce as base or Pesto

Footwork

There is a

difference

between these legs

and the ones

posted in

Friday's entry.





Mine are (still) in the kitchen.


As previously stated, I was never planning to vote for Senator McCain and his choice of running mate didnt change my mind. It did, however, heighten my interest in a race that otherwise would not have been on my radar screen.

Hence, I watched the Vice Presidential debate and had a radically wonderful time live-bloggin' with friends at Dominion Family. I love sharing my opinion. Usually you dont have to ask :)

So, here's what I want to say:

Presidential elections are all hype - mainly rhetoric - much like Spirit Week preceeding Homecoming. The debates are like the pep rallies. And while those events serve their purposes, we all know that the practicing the football players perform during the season and the strength-training they grunt through during the off-season make all the difference in the world as far as outcomes go.

In my analogy, I see the in-season practices akin to the bi-annual congressional elections; and the off-season grunt work akin to the voting records of same legislators. That's where the real discipline takes place. That's where true information about political candidates is found.

I have campaigned, walked neighborhoods, made phone calls, stuffed envelopes. I have also worked on Capitol Hill for my congressman. I learned to vote for the candidate, not the party. And I learned that the elected official swears to uphold the Constitution, which does not necessarily mean that s/he will be voting the way his constituents would like. Furthermore, I learned that most politicians dont uphold that vow.

Look for the ones (shoes) who do.

Footwork comes in all sizes, styles, stations, and seasons.

Red heels are in.

Fashion on Fridays


Are you


bold enough


to wear red shoes


with a black suit?







I never would have thought of it, but I think it reflects positively on Governor Palin's personality.

I'm intrigued.

I do have some red croc pumps in the closet.

I think I'll wear them to church on Sunday.

Mad for the Lord

King David supposedly feigned madness before the king and secured release from his enemies. We may wonder whether he wrote Psalm 34 afterwards or actually spoke those alphabetic verses ad lib. But I know that when I hear someone *talking crazy*, I tend to distance myself. I would *let him go.*

Fortunately, the rest of the Bible proves that David was not crazy, but a God-fearing man. Does that make him *mad* (insane or demented)? Over and again David reminds us in his poetry that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is practically an injunction to fear God.

Today God-fearing men are rare.

Furthermore, God-fearing men are not noticebly welcome in the pulpit or the pew. I am thankful that our preacher will admonish us to fear the Lord. Here's a link to such.

Obviously, they are not found in the political arena.

Or in the government colleges and schools.

In fact, the main characteristic of the our society today is the post-Christian man (or woman) who admits no fear of God.

Did you learn in childhood that certain things exist which we ought to fear? Who taught you things like *it is a mark of manliness to hate what is abominable or to fear to commit evil.*

From Russell Kirk's essay -

A God-intoxicated man, knowing that divine love and divine wrath are but
different aspects of a unity, is sustained against the worst this world can do
to him;

while the good-natured unambitious man, lacking religion, fearing no
ultimate judgment, denying that he is made for eternity, has in him no iron to
maintain order and justice and freedom.

I hope the current financial disaster brings to consciousness a remnant of God-fearing men and women, a renewed knowledge of the source of wisdom. What raises up heroes and martyrs is this fear of God.

Yup, David was *mad* - intoxicated for the Lord.

I'm *mad*, too.

Taste and See



that

the Lord

is

Good!



Psalm 34:8

Fed at church by a rich sermon based on David's poetry written when he was *insane*, we came home to enjoy tasty flavors and good conversation too. Physical and spiritual nourishment on both fronts.

The psalm (34) is well-known to me, but was revitalized by the sincere preaching of our minister. I loved the personifications of the Lord in verses 15 - 17, when David talks about God's eyes, ears, and face. Furthermore, I plucked this week's memory verse (Jer 9:23-24) from an association with verse 2 about boasting in the Lord.

In the same way, the ingredients for our dinner were a motley melange taking up room in the refrigerator for almost too long :) Over the weekend, I was challenged not to use any gasoline due to the shortages we're experiencing as a result of the Texas refineries being damaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

All that to say that I determined to prepare Sunday's dinner without going to the grocery store.

The menu below went through several modifications over Saturday as I hunted through cupboards, tossed out spoiled foods, and used *mad* cooking skills. Not exactly insane, but as creative as David before Abimelech?

Italian Baked Chicken
Steamed Broccoli
Sauteed Peppers & Onions
Orzo with Parmesan
Pesto Rolls

Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream with
Homemade Chocolate Sauce and
Roasted Georgia Pecans

Iced Tea and Coffee


How are you showing your *madness* for the Lord?

Boasting in the Lord

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord,

who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness

on the earth,

for in these I delight,"


declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Fashion Find Friday


Purples & Gray

Mulberry

Aubergine

Grape

Charcoal



Fall is in the air and despite the tumbling prices on Wall Street, I'm looking forward to incorporating the latest fashion splash into my closet.

Purple has never been one of my favorite colors....but it is clearly taken the front seat in fashion. From overcoats to accessories, it's everywhere.

Here's a link to a scarf I wrote about last year. See the purple leaf?

Furthermore, there's a grape-colored wool skirt/jacket in the deep recesses of my closet. I think I bought it in 1993? Can you say packrat?

Time to revive that *old* outfit!

How are you updating your wardrobe for Fall?



Just tried on that grape skirt. Looks like I'm going to have to step up my exercise, if it's going to fit well :)

Writing the Government

Here's a copy of a letter I sent to my Congressman today. I think I was ten years old when I first started writing letters to members of Congress. When I was twenty years old, I worked on Capitol Hill for my Representative and kept track of letters and faxes like the one I mailed today.

Have you ever written to your Congressman or Senator?


From: (yours truly)


The Honorable Tom Price
424 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

VIA FAX 202 225 4656


Good Morning:

This letter is sent via fax in order to communicate my opinion on the upcoming legislation designed to save various financial institutions and prevent a crisis in the US economy.

I strongly oppose government intervention in this case.

It is time for Congress to put down its foot and reject the Administration’s proposal. Please just allow the bust to work itself out.

I am willing to suffer through this hangover to keep politicians from shielding CEOs and their companies from the consequences of their risky actions.

Feeling fleeced in GA, I am

Your constituent,

Women Civil Magistrates

Today's sermon was based on Isaiah 3 and used as a jumping off point to explain what the Bible has to say about Sarah Palin and her involvement in civil government.

Here's a link, if you want to listen to the full hour of preaching.

JCMIII carefully explains the importance of God's order in society: the family, the church, and the home. I understand and affirm those Scriptural positions as a Christian.

But since I was never planning to vote for Mr. McCain in the first place, I was not tempted to reconsider even after he selected his vice-presidential candidate. I will admit to paying more attention to the media coverage of the race because I thought adding Gov. Palin to the ticket was an ingenious idea. And I may even watch the debate scheduled for September 26th on the campus of Ole Miss.

Nevertheless I am dismayed at the way Christians are using Mrs. Palin. There are women involved in local, state, and federal governments everywhere we turn. I propose that if churchmen are truly concerned about reversing God's judgment on society that they challenge the legitimacy of the ones right in their own counties and churches.

In a recent Xanga post, I recorded how many women hold public office in my area. Not so many, because I live in a *conservative* state.

But wanting to end on a positive note, I leave you with my selections for Goethe's quotidien duty of *hearing a little song, reading a good poem, seeing a fine painting, and speaking, if possible, a few reasonable words*:


SONG

Over my morning coffee, I hear the songs of the birds who come to my feeders.

POEM
penned by John H. Gurney, 1838 and sung as our closing hymn (#621 Trinity)

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,
While at Thy feet we fall,
And humbly with united cry
To Thee for mercy call;
The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine,
O turn us not away;
But hear us from Thy lofty throne,
And help us when we pray.

Our fathers’ sins were manifold,
And ours no less we own,
Yet wondrously from age to age
Thy goodness has been shown;
When dangers, like a stormy sea,
Beset our country round,
To Thee we looked, to Thee we cried,
And help in Thee was found.

With one consent we meekly bow
Beneath Thy chastening hand,
And, pouring forth confession meet,
Mourn with our mourning land;
With pitying eye behold our need,
As thus we lift our prayer;
Correct us with Thy judgments, Lord,
Then let Thy mercy spare.

FINE PAINTING

See Tissot's above.

REASONABLE WORDS

After church I spoke a few reasonable words with a fellow member, who was present at a Palin/Schlafly meeting.

Fashion on Friday

September is a hot month in GA and so I have yet to put away this favorite summer outfit.

I got a lot of mileage out of this *old* skirt by updating it with a new french blue blouse.

Notice that my favorite yellow sandals made a perfect compliment.

By this time of the summer tho' I am ready for a change, even if the weather is not.

In anticipation of Autumn, I tend to wear the navy blue or olive green T-shirt with the summer suit instead of the white or pale-colored one.

Also, I've read that purple and gray are the fashionable colors for Fall. To date, all I have is some purplish lipstick and some gray pants in the closet.

Since I've actually spent more time looking at Presidential Fashion rather than shopping that's how I know that the lipstick is important. (giggle) Or maybe a brooch.

Check out the galleries at this link. In case it doesnt work, search for the Entertainment Section of the LA Times. Their photo galleries have some fun pictures of Cindy, Sarah, and Michelle's outfits.

Last, but not least, the wedding pictures are up.

Leave a comment with your email address and I will send you the password.



Fine Art Friday entries have been on Sabbatical, but I suppose this entry could qualify. In the background is a pencil drawing by DD#1. For a while she took lessons, one of the first of which was to copy this Harnett.

Where we you?

On this fateful day seven years ago, I was visiting my father-in-law in the hospital.

He'd had a stroke on August 25th, and was still on the ventilator.

I was talking to him and watching the image on the television at the same time.

When I saw the blackness and smoke, it was difficult to decipher what I was seeing and what was going on.

The newscaster's voice relayed the message: an airplane had flown into the World Trade Center.

I scurried on over to the office where I told the others of the news.

We were able to work *normally* that day, but only because we werent grasping the real issues.

Psalm 128

This *wedding psalm* was the basis of the sermon delivered by Reverend Joseph Morecraft, III at the marriage of our daughter,



Margaret, to Patrick McCarthy on Saturday, August, 30, 2008.

1)Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2)For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3)Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4)Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5)The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6)Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.




Complete audio version will be available soon at Sermonaudio.com

Here's the link.

Walk Aerobics

When I'm desperate for a walk and it's raining, I call Leslie.

I have other walking buddies, but this one never says she's busy :)










Tropical Storm Fay hit Florida last Monday and she finally made it to Atlanta this Monday. Last week was a tad cooler (90 instead of 95) because the wind blew constantly. Today was cooler still. The rain started yesterday; we lost power for an hour; and the weatherman predicts Thursday for clear skies.