family | dual personalities

October 10, 2017

Grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart*

by chuckofish

I was so busy this weekend that I never even had a phone conversation with my DP. I got a lot of exercise (walking), but I ate a lot of food. C’est la vie.

I went to the Best of Missouri Market and the Shaw Art Fair.

I like attending such fairs, but they also always make me feel a little guilty because I cannot buy something from all the artists in all the wonderful booths. Well, c’est la vie.

Daughter #1 and I went to three estate sales in the rain and got a few things–bargains–and a Christmas present for someone! We also went to HomeGoods and found a few more bargains.

We also finally sat down and went through the wedding pictures and narrowed down our “favorites,” getting pretty hysterical in the process, mostly at our own expense. The bride–daughter #2–looked beautiful,

Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 2.35.30 PM.png

Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 2.34.09 PM.png but the mother-of-the-bride and maid-of-honor, not so much.

Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 2.59.18 PM.png It was a big bouquet…Little Lottie displayed her ‘tude as well…

Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 5.17.01 PM.png Anyway, it was lovely to remember the beautiful day and the beautiful bride. And I do have a picture for our Christmas card now.

We also spent time with the wee babes on two occasions.

Screen Shot 2017-10-09 at 1.14.41 PM.png We got laughing pretty hard again at the sight of the little guy trying to move forward on my sisal rug on his hands and tippy toes, because crawling on the scratchy surface felt weird. It is hard to stop him in his tracks, but that sisal finally made him turn around.

We can’t wait ’til daughter #2 comes to visit in two weeks! Right, Lottie?

You betcha. Our dance card is full that weekend!

*BCP, Holy Eucharist, Rite II

4 Comments

October 9, 2017

In the pumpkin patch

by chuckofish

IMG_1563-1

Autumnal greetings from flyover country. I had a busy fall weekend full of pumpkins,

botanical vistas,

good friends,

estate sale-ing, church-going, good food, family, and babies.

I’ll have more tomorrow. Have a great Monday!

2 Comments

October 6, 2017

“God save our old McGill!”*

by chuckofish

Today is the birthday of James McGill (October 6, 1744 – December 19, 1813) who was born in Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow. Soon after graduating, McGill left for North America to explore the business opportunities there. By 1766, he was in Montreal where he entered the fur trade. As a fur trader and land owner, he further diversified his activities into land speculation and the timber trade. At his death in 1813, he was one of the richest men in Montreal, leaving an estate well in excess of £100,000.

440px-Statue_de_James_McGill,_fondateur_Université_McGill,_Montréal

Statue of James McGill at McGill University

He bequeathed much of his estate to the founding of McGill University.

The Arts Building, the oldest building at McGill

McGill University is important to us personally because our mother and father met there as graduate students in 1948-49 or thereabouts.

Convocation procession from Roddick Gates, circa 1945 (McGill University photo archive)

Redpath Library, 1891 (McGill University photo archive)

In those days McGill was a very “English” university and Montreal was a Commonwealth town. My parents enjoyed that and always liked all things English forever after.

Indeed, our father was always fond of Canada, which went back to his time at McGill. He even taught a class on Canadian History, which was rare back in the 1970s. My mother remembered McGill fondly and enjoyed being one of very few women in the mostly male History Department. She remembered Montreal as cold and bleak in the long winter and I recall her telling us how they would find a dead body or two every spring when the snow banks melted. Neither parent finished his/her degree–our father was called back to the Army–but something good came of their Canadian season–they were married in 1950. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Anyway, I am so ready for the weekend. I have plans for a fun outing with my friends, and daughter #1 is coming home for a quick visit on Saturday afternoon, so I am all set for a good time.

The wee babes had their 9-month check up and are doing really well, but you knew that!

Have a great weekend!

*God Save McGill by W.M. MacKeracher, Arts ’94

7 Comments

October 2, 2017

“To will and to work for his good pleasure”*

by chuckofish

I got to read both lessons in church on Sunday–I don’t know why–and that was super fun as they were good ones from Ezekiel and Philippians. I actually got to say, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”! This gave me great joy–it’s the little things, right?

The weather was beautiful, so I convinced the OM to accompany me on a little outing on Saturday, the aforementioned trek down to Jefferson Barracks and the Missouri Civil War Museum. I had heard that it was a good museum, but we were still pleasantly surprised to find a very professionally appointed museum with interesting displays.Upon arriving we watched the typical opening video describing how the organization was incorporated in 2002 for the sole purpose of saving the historic Jefferson Barracks 1905 Post Exchange Building and converting it into a Civil War museum, library, and educational center. We learned that since opening in June 2013, it has become one of the largest Civil War Museums in the nation and will be one of the largest Civil War research libraries in the nation as well. Its focus is entirely on Missouri’s role in the American Civil War.

Well done! I encourage you to support such small enterprises and to take your children to visit them. They survive on ticket sales and donor contributions. I know the boy would have loved this museum when he was a child. Hopefully, he will take the wee babes to visit when they are a little older. (BTW, two of their great-grandfathers are buried at Jefferson Barracks, so they could check that out as well.) Next on my list is the Museum of Missouri Military History in Jefferson City. They do not have a website, but they do have a very active Facebook page and it looks interesting!

Also, I finished Jan Karon’s To Be Where You Are, which I loved, and Jennifer Worth’s Call the Midwife. Now I am back to asking the old question, “What to read now?”

I watched the under-rated Tom Horn (1979) which I enjoyed very much.

It is Steve McQueen’s final movie, so it is also sad to watch, but well worth it. Richard Farnsworth, another favorite of mine, has a big supporting role.

I went to one estate sale and rescued a needlepoint pillow.

Screen Shot 2017-10-01 at 2.16.04 PM.png I trimmed the ivy on the patio and tidied the inside of my house. I did what my Aunt Susanne used to call “desk work.” And I got ready for a Sunday night visit from the wee babes and their parents.

Have a good week!

*Philippians 2:13

3 Comments

September 25, 2017

Snapshots of the weekend

by chuckofish

Well, the weekend flew by as usual when daughter #1 is in town. Friday night she went out with her BFF Liz who was in town from Denver, so the OM and I had a quiet night at home watching an Elvis movie which I had DVR’d. Elvis never disappoints, even in a pretty terrible movie like Roustabout (1964)!

1964-ELVIS-PRESLEYs-16th-movie-Roustabout-is-released-by-Paramount.jpg On Saturday after some errands and a spin class–daughter #1, not moi–the wee babes came over with their parents to celebrate their Aunt Mary’s birthday.

Screen Shot 2017-09-24 at 3.31.09 PM.png

Screen Shot 2017-09-24 at 3.31.24 PM.png We had guacamole, but forgot the cake. Oh well, she had lots of presents to open and we had a mini-dance party.

On Sunday daughter #1 and I skipped church and instead headed out to the Pedal The Cause bicycle event in Chesterfield to cheer on the boy who was riding in the PTC Classic.

This was the 20-mile event and he finished with a smile on his face.

He got a medal and he deserved it. We are really proud of him to say the least. Ultimate Lacrosse supported #UltimateWheeler and raised $2500 for the cause.

It was only a year ago that he was recovering from his second big surgery. Praise the Lord, the boy has done great and we are grateful every day.

The little bud tried to eat his sign, of course

IMG_1616.JPG 2.jpeg

IMG_1622.JPG.jpeg Daughter #1 headed home later in the afternoon and we went back to our normal level of activity, hunkering down at home. I did some laundry. I was pretty tired from all the fun and outdoor activity, but not as pooped as this little guy.

IMG_1639.JPG.jpeg

Today is a big day at work. Have a good week!

5 Comments

September 22, 2017

Set me free

by chuckofish

Yesterday I went to the dentist first thing to have a crown replaced which felt like two hours of torture. Then I went to work and got a flu shot. Then I had two meetings in the afternoon and a small event at church after work. Some days, right?

Boy, am I ready for the weekend!

Daughter #1 is coming home later today to celebrate her birthday (belatedly).

Screen Shot 2017-09-19 at 8.41.05 PM.png

The wee babes will help us party like it’s 1999.

You know, maybe I’ll stay up ’til 10 o’clock and have a second glass of wine.

Meanwhile, the boy,

who is a cancer survivor, is riding in Pedal for the Cause, which raises money to provide funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital through their annual cycling challenge.

Yes, it will be a busy weekend and a hot one.

Screen Shot 2017-09-21 at 2.40.04 PM.png

But it’s all good. Have a great day and a fun weekend!

5 Comments

September 18, 2017

“If we live, we live to the Lord”*

by chuckofish

Well, we got our act together on Saturday morning and daughter #3 came over loaded down with gear and the wee babes. We walked the few blocks to the Greentree Parade and set up our camp chairs along the perimeter in our favorite spot for 20 years.

IMG_1502.JPG.jpeg The active little bud actually sat on my lap for an hour and a half watching the parade. I refused to share. Lottie slept in the stroller

IMG_1503.JPG 2.jpeg and then sat on a quilt with her mommy until the OM finally grew impatient and secured her on his lap.

IMG_1533.JPG.jpeg She was okay with that. A schmoozing RC priest on the sidelines asked if the OM was her great-grandfather. Zut alors! How to win friends, right?

At church on Sunday, the scripture lessons were all about forgiveness. Our “Rector Emeritus” gave the sermon and it was rather weak I thought. He never mentioned the great first lesson from Genesis, which tells the story of the wonderful Joseph forgiving his terrible brothers, and only touched on the gospel (Matthew 18:21-35–“seventy-seven times”!) Ministers never want to touch the end of this story with a ten-foot pole and it is frequently left out altogether.

“…Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother and sister from your heart.

Yikes, forgiveness is a hard thing! But Jesus makes it clear that it is important and necessary and not optional.

Our rector reminded us to read and then pray the Prayer for the Oppressed (#36 in Prayers and Thanksgivings, BCP) this week in view of the protests that are going on in our flyover city.

Screen Shot 2017-09-17 at 1.16.46 PM.png

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I intend to do this. I was glad that he pointed to the Book of Common Prayer as a resource in times of trouble.

After church I bought a copy of the the Rector Emeritus’s new book–My Life Under the Big Top, Reflections of a Comic, Clown and Priest. I’ll add it to my stack of books at home.

Meanwhile I am reading Call the Midwife, which has been kicking around at home since I brought it home from the giveaway basket at work. It is really good! It is the memoir of a young English women who moves into a convent (Anglican nuns) and trains to become a midwife in post-war London’s East End slums. I am learning a lot.

The boy was unable to attend the parade with us because he was working in his store. But we got a bonus visit from the boy and his wee family on Sunday night. It was good to see our hard-working son and feed him tacos! (Check out my instagram for a video of the bud’s latest talent discovery.)

Have a good week!

*Romans 14:8

6 Comments

September 15, 2017

FRIYAY

by chuckofish

This has been a busy week at work with a Big Event and a few smaller events.

I m ready for a quiet weekend.

However, this weekend is our town’s annual Greentree Festival, complete with a parade on Saturday. In recent years I have been content to watch from the sidelines by myself, but I am hoping that the wee babes and their parents will be able to join me on the parade route. What do you think, bud?

Speaking of parades, I read that on September 27 the city of Cincinnati will honor home town girl Doris Day at City Hall. Rumor has it that a street may be named in her honor, there will be a screening of “Pillow Talk” at the Esquire Theater, and a fundraiser for her Doris Day Animal Foundation. Truly I can’t believe they haven’t named a street after her already. She is certainly one of the best things to come out of that town.

Screen Shot 2017-09-14 at 5.05.51 PM.png

Meanwhile I am still looking for something good to read after finishing all the Longmire books.

Screen Shot 2017-09-05 at 3.00.29 PM.png For a change of pace, daughter #2 suggested I read Chapters From a Life by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (an early 19th century American writer) and I went online and checked it out from my flyover university library, but it takes a few days to get a book that way. So I must be patient.

After reading this article, I ordered The Stand by Stephen King, so we’ll see how that goes. I have read several SK novels–I liked The Green Mile. They do vary, but I have to admit he is a good writer.

Well, anyway, I’ll find something…

I got books…Have a terrific weekend!

6 Comments

September 11, 2017

Let us conduct ourselves becomingly

by chuckofish

⁸Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ¹¹Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; ¹²the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; ¹³let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

(Romans 13:8-14)

On Sunday I read the second lesson in church. This made me very happy, because it was a great passage, especially that line about “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand.”

In other news I went to the auction as planned on Saturday and made a few purchases. I rescued a little drypoint etching by Ernst Oppler (1867-1929) which no one wanted, but which I really like.

I also bid on and won an English Pembroke table with drop leaves which is quite nice. There were other nice things, but I restrained myself. I loaded up the amazing Mini Cooper and trundled home.

I spent the rest of the weekend puttering around the old manse, doing laundry, vacuuming, dusting, and reading the newest Longmire out in the Florida room. I finished it and now will have to wait ’til the next installment which should come out in about a year! It was quite a cliffhanger too…

The OM left for a conference in Philadelphia on Sunday, so I had to make dinner for the boy and daughter #3. I managed to throw something together (toasted ravioli); the babes had some orange food.

I must also note that today is daughter #1’s birthday! We won’t be able to celebrate together until two weeks from now, but we’ll toast her tonight for sure!

You’ve come a long way, baby!

Here’s to a wonderful year! (And a good week!)

And, oh, what’s that you say? The Cards are only 2 games back from first place?

Screen Shot 2017-09-10 at 8.10.18 PM.png

Of course, they are. Screen Shot 2017-09-10 at 8.16.25 PM.png

6 Comments

September 8, 2017

“To perfect eyesight and a full head of hair”*

by chuckofish

The end of a short week–Huzzah! I hope the weather holds out through the weekend, because it has been beautiful here in flyover country. No, nothing to complain about here.

For lack of anything else to do the other night, I watched Star Trek Beyond (2016) on Prime, and I have to say, I enjoyed it very much. It held my interest (staying awake on a week night is no small feat!) and the CG action was riveting. It is the thirteenth film in the Star Trek film franchise and the third installment in the reboot series. Chris Pine is a worthy successor to William Shatner as James T. Kirk. I really like him.

The rest of the crew, especially Karl Urban as Bones, is good too and so likable. Indeed, the makers of these reboot movies have not forgotten how important all the characters are and they have retained the light touch so important to the series. There are a lot of clever references, such as the motorcycle in this film being referred to as a “Hilts PX70”. According to Simon Pegg (who, in addition to starring as Scottie in this film, is also one of its screenwriters), it is named after Steve McQueen’s character in The Great Escape (1963). Of course it is.

As you know, I am not a big fan of sci fi/CG movies. But I do like these rebooted Star Trek flicks. And this little lady is awesome.

So that is my Friday movie pick.

As far as plans this weekend, I don’t have many. I’m going to the Fall Gallery Auction at Link Auction Galleries on Saturday. You never know when you might find that Art Nouveau brass fish bowl stand you’ve always been looking for, right?