August | 2026 | dual personalities

Count your blessings

by chuckofish

Yesterday my copy of The Sing! Hymnal–a Treasury of 200 Hymns for Worship & Reflection–came in the mail.

It is a lovely book, small and compact. It includes all of my favorites–I am amazed that I know almost all 200 of them.

A perfect book for one’s bedside table.

Yesterday I also went down to the Link Auction House to pick up three chairs I rescued for a pittance. Two are ebonized, stencil-backed, cane-seated chairs which daughter #1 will be able to use with her Hitchcock dining set. The third is a small antique Hitchcock rocking chair which I will keep or give to daughter #2.

They are always so nice at the auction house, good-naturedly helping to fit everything into the speedwagon. This kind of service is not always the case these days and I appreciate it!

It is also interesting to drive down to the Central West End and see the slow progress being made on the mansions along Lindell Blvd which were heavily damaged in the tornado on May 16, 2025. So many tile roofs to replace! Millions of dollars! Progress is slow.

They have planted a lot of trees in Forest Park, but there are so many massive stumps!

It is always a shock to see the tornadic devastation wrought in the blink of an eye.

Well, have a nice weekend! Sing a hymn (or read one), watch an old movie, pet a nice dog.

(Mr. Smith is a big fan of The Mentalist.)

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August 13, 2026

School is where they grind the grain of thought

by chuckofish

Yes, it’s back-to-school time on the prairie! Can you believe it? Well, time like an ever-rolling stream and all that.

The twins don’t go back until the week after next. They will be in fourth grade! They have a few more days to wreck havoc before they have to buckle down.

I was always ready to go back to school (after Labor Day) after a long, hot, boring summer. I actually liked school.

…I know, nerd alert.

Well, here is a poem I like by Howard Nemerov, my old neighbor, about the first day of school.

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August 12, 2026

Kindling the inner fire

by chuckofish

Yesterday was another day of “extreme heat” so I stayed inside and worked on my counted cross-stitch project while listening to Ligonier conference Q&A sessions wherein complex theological concepts are discussed and explained. Unfortunately, after about 45 minutes I realized I had made a mistake and I had to tear out all my stitching! I guess I got too caught up in the fascinating repartee of the panel members. Truly, though, stitching can drive one mad.

So keep your cool and your focus…

LORD JESUS,

I am blind, be thou my light,

ignorant, be thou my wisdom,

self-willed, be thou my mind.

Open my ear to grasp quickly thy Spirit’s voice,

and delightfully run after his beckoning hand;

Melt my conscience that no hardness remain,

make it alive to evil’s slightest touch;

When Satan approaches may I flee to thy wounds,

and there cease to tremble at all alarms.

Be my good shepherd to lead me into the green pastures of thy Word,

and cause me to lie down beside the rivers of its comforts.

Fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales

may ruffle the calm surface of my soul.

Thy cross was upraised to be my refuge,

Thy blood streamed forth to wash me clean,

Thy death occurred to give me a surety,

Thy name is my property to save me,

By thee all heaven is poured into my heart,

but it is too narrow to comprehend thy love.

I was a stranger, an outcast, a slave, a rebel,

but thy cross has brought me near,

has softened my heart,

has made me thy Father’s child,

has admitted me to thy family,

has made me joint-heir with thyself.

O that I may love thee as thou lovest me,

that I may walk worthy of thee, my Lord,

that I may reflect the image of heaven’s first-born.

May I always see thy beauty with the clear eye of faith,

and feel the power of thy Spirit in my heart,

for unless he move mightily in me

no inward fire will be kindled.

–Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, Banner of Truth Trust

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August 11, 2026

“Look what TJ Maxx dragged in”

by chuckofish

We are going through another of those “heat advisory” periods where, yes, it’s hot–but nothing unusual for St. Louis in August. The weather people just love to be so dramatic. But staying inside and watching a movie is not a bad idea.

So yesterday I went to my friend-with-the-really-big-television’s house to watch The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026). Unfortunately I thought it was pretty lame.

Twenty years (!) after the original, “Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing.” There is a lot of talk about journalism and the inference is that we should care about journalism. And should we care about high fashion and really rich people acting badly? Not if they’re not even funny. Meryl Streep is very good as usual, but she is playing a terrible person and that joke gets old. There was really no one for me to like. Also it dragged. The other ladies in attendance at this viewing thought “it was cute”, but, sorry to be a grouch, I didn’t.

You’re much better off checking out TCM and their Summer Under the Stars schedule. Here’s the schedule for the rest of this week:

Watch an old movie! You’ll be glad you did.

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August 10, 2026

Glad when Thy gracious smile we see

by chuckofish

I had a very quiet weekend–which I needed after a very busy month of July and first week of August. I watched an online auction and went to one estate sale where the basement was like a time capsule–red linoleum floor, pine paneling and glass block bar–where, I have no doubt, many good times were had back in the day. I hope they don’t tear down the house, but that is the current modus operandi.

On Sunday I went to church, but I didn’t stay for adult ed because I was feeling like I was in a DayQuil funk. (Yes, I have been fighting off a summer cold.) I went home and took a nap.

I caught up with daughter #2 on the phone. I did a little stitching…

…I read a little…

I am ready to face the week ahead.

Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
where’er our changeful lot is cast;
glad when Thy gracious smile we see,
blest when our faith can hold Thee fast.

–Bernard of Clairvaux, c. 1150 (tr. Ray Palmer, 1858)

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August 7, 2026

Life barrels on like a runaway train

by chuckofish

Another week has come to an end–it’s Friday! I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday to get some Aida cloth and they have everything out for Thanksgiving and Christmas! The year is barreling by as usual. Time to take a deep breathe and consider…

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

–Psalm 118:2

I am catching up after my wonderful interlude with the prairie fam. It has been dark and rainy, but I am crossing things off my to-do list. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend.

And I am always in the mood for this hymn. Here’s another terrific version:

Pray for the day ahead and that I might bring Glory to God, in word, thought and deed. I thank God that his mercies are new to me every morning. I thank God that his grace is sufficient for all situations that I may encounter.

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August 6, 2026

In any careless combination they delight

by chuckofish

This has been a banner year for garden flowers in our neck of the woods. I have no Zinnias, but I have friends who do! Here are Don’s:

…and here are Carla’s:

I mean, Wow.

And here’s a poem by Mona Van Duyn, who taught at my flyover university for many years

Also, don’t forget that August is the Summer Under the Stars month on TCM when 31 stars are featured over 31 days. Today is Diane Keaton, followed by Basil Rathbone tomorrow and Steve McQueen on Saturday!

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