**
Tonight is my husband's '__th' class reunion, so
I thought it a good time to post this poem:
THE CLASS REUNION (Author Unknown)
Every ten years, as summertime nears,
An announcement arrives in the mail.
"A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand,
Make plans to attend without fail!"
I'll never forget the first time we met,
We tried so hard to impress.
We drove fancy cars, smoked big cigars,
And wore our most elegant dress.
It was quite an affair; the whole class was there.
It was held at a fancy hotel.
We wined, and we dined, and we acted refined,
And everyone thought it was swell.
The men all conversed about who had been first
To achieve great fortune and fame.
Meanwhile, their spouses described their fine houses
And how beautiful their children became.
The homecoming queen, who once had been lean,
Now weighed in at one-ninety-six.
The jocks who were there had all lost their hair,
And the cheerleaders could no longer do kicks.
No one had heard about the class nerd
Who'd guided a spacecraft to the moon;
Or poor little Jane, who'd always been plain,
She married a shipping tycoon.
The boy we'd decreed "most apt to succeed"
Was serving ten years in the pen,
While the one voted "least" now was a priest;
Just shows you can be wrong now and then.
They awarded a prize to one of the guys
Who seemed to have aged the least.
Another was given to the grad who had driven
The farthest to attend the feast.
They took a class picture, a curious mixture
Of beehives, crew cuts and wide ties.
Tall, short, or skinny, the style was the mini,
You never saw so many thighs.
At our next get-together, no one cared whether
They impressed their classmates or not.
The mood was informal, a whole lot more normal,
By this time, we'd all gone to pot.
It was held out-of-doors, at the lake shores,
We ate hamburgers, coleslaw and beans.
Then most of us lay around in the shade,
In our comfortable T-shirts and jeans.
By the fortieth year, it was abundantly clear,
We were definitely over the hill.
Those who weren't dead had to crawl out of bed,
And be home in time for their pill.
And now I can't wait--they've set the date,
Our fiftieth is coming, I'm told.
It should be a ball, they've rented a hall
At the Shady Rest Home for the old.
Repairs have been made on my hearing aid,
My pacemaker's been turned up on high.
My wheelchair is oiled, and my teeth have been boiled,
And I've bought a new wig and glass eye.
I'm feeling quite hearty, and I'm ready to party,
I'm gonna dance 'til dawn's early light.
It'll be lots of fun, but I just hope that there's one
Other person who can make it that night!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARGEE!
**
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARGEE!
"MISS OKRA"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARGEE!
"MISS OKRA"
Today is my sister Margee's birthday.
See how creative she was, even then!
POSTCARDS
***
This past Friday, we attended a postcard show in Atlanta. It's always alot of fun to look through boxes and boxes of postcards from various dealers. Below are pictured some of the 'finds'.
With our current crazy unpredictable economy, this card may be one we'll want to make several copies of & send out in lieu of gifts this year. Hmmmm...
Artist: Grace Wiederseim (and later, Grace Drayton), best known for the Campbell's Soup Kids, & early Dolly Dimples paper dolls.
A lovely old undivided-back postcard, printed in Germany. This card is unsigned, but attributed to renowned artist, Ellen Clapsaddle.
This is only one of a whole set of 'I wonder...'cards drawn by Phyllis Purser.
Another humorous example of Grace Wiederseim's work.
No info on this one, but an interesting verse....
'Over the Hills and Far Away!' A little girl who doesn't have a care in the world! You've got to love this card! Artist is Margaret Tarrant.
One last card, & it's by Mabel Lucie Attwell...ever the optimist!
Good advice!
This past Friday, we attended a postcard show in Atlanta. It's always alot of fun to look through boxes and boxes of postcards from various dealers. Below are pictured some of the 'finds'.
With our current crazy unpredictable economy, this card may be one we'll want to make several copies of & send out in lieu of gifts this year. Hmmmm...
Artist: Grace Wiederseim (and later, Grace Drayton), best known for the Campbell's Soup Kids, & early Dolly Dimples paper dolls.
A lovely old undivided-back postcard, printed in Germany. This card is unsigned, but attributed to renowned artist, Ellen Clapsaddle.
This is only one of a whole set of 'I wonder...'cards drawn by Phyllis Purser.
Another humorous example of Grace Wiederseim's work.
No info on this one, but an interesting verse....
'Over the Hills and Far Away!' A little girl who doesn't have a care in the world! You've got to love this card! Artist is Margaret Tarrant.
One last card, & it's by Mabel Lucie Attwell...ever the optimist!
MAXINE MONDAY
***
Okay, if that's me, you have to pretend the critter on the skateboard is a chipmunk!
That 40's-50's chair is a dead giveaway! In fact, there's a rusting green one just like it on the little platform in front of our potting shed that I rescued from my childhood home. I used to sit in it on our front porch as a preteen & sketch 'fashion designs'. (Shhhh,.... TMI)
Okay, if that's me, you have to pretend the critter on the skateboard is a chipmunk!
That 40's-50's chair is a dead giveaway! In fact, there's a rusting green one just like it on the little platform in front of our potting shed that I rescued from my childhood home. I used to sit in it on our front porch as a preteen & sketch 'fashion designs'. (Shhhh,.... TMI)
SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY
Branches chopped off from their life source won't live very long.
Christ is the Vine (our Life source). Apart from Him, we are nothing.
TOP TEN
***
TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW IT'S A REDNECK CHURCH:
10. Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.
9. The choir robes were donated by (and embroidered
with the logo from) Billy Bob's Barbecue.
8. They think 'rapture' is what you get when you
lift something too heavy.
7. The collection plates are hub caps from a '56 Chevy.
6. Opening day of deer season is recognized as an
official church holiday.
5. The choir is known as the 'O K Chorale'.
4. In a congregation of 500 members, there are only
seven last names in the church directory.
3. A member requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive
truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't
get out of."
2. The finance committee refuses to provide funds for the
purchase of a chandelier because none of the members
knows how to play one.
1. When the pastor says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help
take up the offering," five guys stand up.
TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW IT'S A REDNECK CHURCH:
10. Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.
9. The choir robes were donated by (and embroidered
with the logo from) Billy Bob's Barbecue.
8. They think 'rapture' is what you get when you
lift something too heavy.
7. The collection plates are hub caps from a '56 Chevy.
6. Opening day of deer season is recognized as an
official church holiday.
5. The choir is known as the 'O K Chorale'.
4. In a congregation of 500 members, there are only
seven last names in the church directory.
3. A member requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive
truck because "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't
get out of."
2. The finance committee refuses to provide funds for the
purchase of a chandelier because none of the members
knows how to play one.
1. When the pastor says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help
take up the offering," five guys stand up.
SOLFEGGIETTO
***
This is 6-year-old Emily Bear playing Solfeggietto (a short solo piece composed by C.P.E. Bach, son of Johann Sebastian Bach). It requires well-trained, dextrous fingers, and much practice. As a former piano teacher, I can tell you that this is a favorite among accomplished students. It is alot of fun to play, and there is a great temptation to let the fingers fly at a lightning pace. Emily plays it in 59 seconds. Some have zipped through it in a mere 40 seconds, if you can believe that!
This little girl is quite amazing! Most children are just beginning to put five little fingers on the five keys of C position at age six or seven.
Please click top left button to mute sound on Playlist before watching video.
This is 6-year-old Emily Bear playing Solfeggietto (a short solo piece composed by C.P.E. Bach, son of Johann Sebastian Bach). It requires well-trained, dextrous fingers, and much practice. As a former piano teacher, I can tell you that this is a favorite among accomplished students. It is alot of fun to play, and there is a great temptation to let the fingers fly at a lightning pace. Emily plays it in 59 seconds. Some have zipped through it in a mere 40 seconds, if you can believe that!
This little girl is quite amazing! Most children are just beginning to put five little fingers on the five keys of C position at age six or seven.
Please click top left button to mute sound on Playlist before watching video.
TAKE A LOOK
*****
Take a look at these lovely gifts and treasures sent by Elizabeth, Kato and Margit:
(How special and thoughtful of all of you!)
Pictured below are wonderful Szamos Marzipan from Budapest.
Would you believe there is actually a Marzipan Museum just outside of Budapest where many masterpieces of confectionery can be seen? (such as a fantastic model of their Parliament building). Bill brought home a hand-picked selection of these delicious goodies.
Take a look at these lovely gifts and treasures sent by Elizabeth, Kato and Margit:
(How special and thoughtful of all of you!)
Pictured below are wonderful Szamos Marzipan from Budapest.
Would you believe there is actually a Marzipan Museum just outside of Budapest where many masterpieces of confectionery can be seen? (such as a fantastic model of their Parliament building). Bill brought home a hand-picked selection of these delicious goodies.
He also brought a box of Neuhaus chocolates. Yum! They're scrumptious!
Oh yes, and one more thing he brought.................
Oh yes, and one more thing he brought.................
WELCOME HOME!
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B I L L Yea! He's back home from Slovakia!
He arrived home safely after smooth flights all the way.
A great big 'THANK YOU' to Kato, Monika,
Kristina, Elizabeth, Margit, Katerina,
Judit, Milan, Adela, Lajos,
Susanna, Edna,
and all of the family in Kosice and
Velke Kapusany for treating Bill so well!
He really enjoyed his time with you!
God bless you all!
Many hugs & kisses from Susan
SEPTEMBER 22nd - FALL IS HERE!
Whoo-Hoo! It's Fall, ya'll! This has always been my favorite season of the year. Especially growing up in sunny Florida, when fall signaled the anticipation of cooler temperatures after a long, hot summer!
Fall was a time of football games, hayrides, bonfires, making new friends, etc.
Can you remember the days when we put away all white and pastel clothes when fall arrived, ...and you wouldn't think of being
seen wearing white shoes after summer was over? Now, anything goes.
One of the special things about living here in the mountains of North Carolina is the change of seasons. Before long, the leaves will begin to turn shades of bright yellow, gold, orange and red. It is a sight to behold! God has created such breathtaking beauty for us to enjoy!
*****
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.....
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done
from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, & 11
SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY
My Life Is In You, Lord
(written by Daniel Gardner; sung by Joseph Garlington)
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
--Psalm 33:18-22
(written by Daniel Gardner; sung by Joseph Garlington)
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him,
on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
--Psalm 33:18-22
ENCOURAGEMENT
The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
TUESDAY TRIP
Today, Bill, Kristina & Monika took a trip up to the
High Tatras on the cable train.
A mountain lake in the High Tatras...
This is where they had lunch...
Bill & Kristina, 'The interpreter'...
Bill & Monika...
BILL in SLOVAKIA
L to R: Lewis, Monika, Kato and Bill, getting ready to enjoy a delicious Hungarian breakfast.
HE'S THERE!
Charlotte airport....
Prague airport....
Kosice, Slovakia airport....
Bill had good flights all the way. No lost luggage this time! Hurray!
Frankfurt airport....
Prague airport....
Kosice, Slovakia airport....
Bill had good flights all the way. No lost luggage this time! Hurray!"HELLO!" to everyone in Slovakia!
Sziasztok, családomnak a Szlovákiaban! Hogy vagytok? Mindenkit üdvözlök, sokat gondolok rátok. -From Jami
*****
The Lord is my strength and my song
He has become my salvation.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
--Psalm 118 14 & 24
LAST LAUGH
He who laughs LAST laughs BEST.......
Or, is it...
He who laughs LAST laughs LONGEST......
Or, could it be...
He who laughs LAST........
thinks SLOWEST.?
You decide.
WISDOM for WEDNESDAY
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
The most special hymns and choruses are the ones that sing the very Word of God.
'Seek Ye First' is an example, and each of the three verses reflects words from Matthew:
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 6:33)
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 4:4)
Ask, and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 7:7 & 8)
and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
The most special hymns and choruses are the ones that sing the very Word of God.
'Seek Ye First' is an example, and each of the three verses reflects words from Matthew:
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 6:33)
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 4:4)
Ask, and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Hallelu, Hallelujah! (Matt. 7:7 & 8)
THIS IS FUNNY!
My sister, Margee, sent me this.
I just have to pass it on.............
You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on..
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. . I want to buy one.
ABBOTT : Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows.. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Window's.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle o f money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.
I just have to pass it on.............
You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on..
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. . I want to buy one.
ABBOTT : Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows.. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Window's.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle o f money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.
GRANDPARENTS' DAY
For Grandparents' Day, my daughter, Jami, wanted to lovingly remember her Grandad, William Beserock, Sr., (who was affectionately known as 'Tadela').
This photo of the two of them was taken quite a few years ago, and before his difficult battle with advanced Type I diabetes. Sadly, he left us much too soon.
He was loved by all who knew him. Music was in his soul, and he could whistle like nothing you've ever heard! (I've always said that whistling comes from a happy heart!). He could also sing beautifully and play the guitar. The song on the playlist, 'My Special Angel' is one he used to sing to Jami.
As the father of five sons (but no daughters), his grandaughters were the joy of his life. I don't think I ever saw him when he didn't have a treat in his shirt pocket for them.
I couldn't find the music to the song he used to always sing to Lisa, but here are the words:
Let the Rest of the World Go By
(words & music by J. Keirn Brennan & Ernest R. Ball, 1919)
With someone like you, a pal so good and true
I'd like to leave it all behind, and go and find
A place that's known to God alone...
Just a spot to call our own.
We'll find perfect peace where joys never cease
Out there beneath the kindly sky.
We'll build a sweet little nest, somewhere in the west
(By the way, 'The Shadow of Your Smile' is one he knew I liked, & would sing for me).
And let the rest of the world go by.
(By the way, 'The Shadow of Your Smile' is one he knew I liked, & would sing for me).
What a special man he was!
WHAT A VOICE!
Even though I posted a silly version of this song just the other day, couldn't help sharing little miss Connie Talbot's singing of 'I Will Always Love You'.
She is from the UK, and is seven years old.
It isn't a video, but a slide show of still photos of the most remarkable little singer you'll ever hear!
She is from the UK, and is seven years old.
It isn't a video, but a slide show of still photos of the most remarkable little singer you'll ever hear!
DOXOLOGY
*****
Every Sunday morning, in the Baptist church I attended as a child, we would stand and sing the 'Doxology' as the ushers proceeded to the front after taking up the offering. I have to confess that there were times I sang the words more from habit than an expression of the heart. Years later, in another church, in another town, I found they sang the same words to a different melody. The meaning is the same: Everything we have is a gift from God, and we offer up our praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
*****
The words were written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, a priest in the Church of England. It was written at a time when the established church sang only Scripture (such as the Psalms) as hymns. It was thought to be sinful and blasphemous to write new lyrics for church music. For this reason, Ken's music was first written to be sung at Winchester College. The boys attending this school were given strict instructions to sing the words only in their rooms or for private devotions.
The music, also known as 'Old 100th', Genevan Psalter, 1551, is attributed to Louis Bourgeois.
The words, though simply written, speak volumes, and I am reminded of a verse in James:
'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.' James 1:17
*****
SEPTEMBER 1...BACK TO PLAY!
WELCOME, September! After a long absence, it's time to get back to PLAY! I started to say 'work', but for me, mosaics is pure enjoyment. Already, I have at least six or seven new projects in mind.It's also time to resume blogging. Daily posting is too restrictive for me, so the plan is to maintain random posting by titles, but hopefully it will work out to be something new almost every day.
ALSO, a new blog 'GALLERY' is in the works for posting photos of our crafts group's assorted art works. As soon as it's up and running, I'll add the link so you all can check it out.
My daughter, Jami, was here for the weekend, and helped install my new background and clock. I'm hoping to design my own header, but that's for another day.
By the way, your comments and suggestions are always welcome!
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