Weekend | dual personalities

October 15, 2019

Release one leaf at break of day

by chuckofish

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O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

–Robert Frost

I love October; it is my favorite month. But I feel that it is rushing by and that I am not able to savor its beauty. No long walks or day trips to mid-MO wine country. Well, c’est la vie. We do what we can.

This past weekend daughter #1 came for a short visit and we did get out on Saturday to a good estate sale where we did rather well. She got a chair and I got a Christmas present for someone. We also went out to lunch. And we met the wee babes at the local farmer’s market to watch them frolic on hay bales and in the corn box.

They also came over afterwards for pizza and more time with the dollhouse.

We were certainly living our best lives.

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The painting is Autumn Branches by Jan Schmuckal (found on Etsy.com).

3 Comments

October 11, 2019

This and that

by chuckofish

Well, when you least expect it, you get a surprise. And the Cardinals really surprised me. They won the NLCS in a remarkable game 5, scoring 10 runs in the first inning and winning 13-1.

Screen Shot 2019-10-10 at 9.16.21 AM.png Screen Shot 2019-10-10 at 9.08.54 AM.png In other news I went to the pumpkin patch at the local Methodist Church and met the wee babes there after school.

We picked out some pumpkins and they ran around.

A good time was had by all! And we got pumpkins.

History Fun Fact for the day: During a visit to St. Louis on this day in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt flew with pilot Arch Hoxsey, becoming the first U.S. president to fly. The former president must have been a pretty fearless guy–to go up in a plane with a 26-year old pilot! (A few years earlier he had startled the country by diving beneath the waters of Long Island Sound in a submarine.)

Screen Shot 2019-10-10 at 2.38.32 PM.png Sadly, the pilot died a few months later while trying to set a new altitude record. The Wright brothers paid for his funeral.

Yesterday was the start of Dolly Parton Week at the Opry where they are celebrating Dolly’s 50th Opry Member Anniversary. This week-long celebration of her impact on music and the Opry leads up to her 50th anniversary performance on the Opry stage on Saturday. How I wish I could be there Saturday night! I’d also like to see that, yes, truly “every sequin tells a story” at “Dolly: My Opry Memories”, a special limited-time exhibit at the Opry House. I want to “go back in time with wardrobe pieces Dolly has worn on the Opry and Ryman stages over her Opry career!”

Screen Shot 2019-10-10 at 4.03.21 PM.png Disappointing, indeed, but as usual, I’ll be hanging out at home having a quiet weekend. I hope to at least make it to an estate sale that looks promising. Maybe I’ll watch a Dolly movie this weekend. Anyone for Steel Magnolias (1989)?

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or Rhinestone (1984)?

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Well, we’ll see.

Have a good weekend!

O Lord, heavenly Father, in whom is the fullness of light and wisdom: Enlighten our minds by thy Holy Spirit, and give us grace to receive thy Word with reverence and humility, without which no man can understand thy truth; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

–John Calvin (1509-1564)

4 Comments

October 8, 2019

We are creatures, we are creatures of love*

by chuckofish

Over the weekend I put out some of my Halloween decorations…

Yes, fall has officially arrived, pumpkins and all.

I watched three Charlton Heston movies in honor of Chuck’s birthday: The Mountain Men (1980), The Buccaneer (1958) and Arrowhead (1953). Of the three I can recommend The Buccaneer, which co-stars Yul Brynner as the pirate Jean Lafitte.

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Heston plays Andrew Jackson.

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Historically speaking, I have no doubt that it is rife with error, but I enjoyed it.

Besides these Heston histrionics, it was a pretty quiet weekend. I puttered around and did some “desk work” and cleaned up my office.

The wee babes came over on Sunday night and the OM barbecued. Before they came over I had cleaned up daughter #2’s old LittleTikes dollhouse and put it out on our coffee table. Lottie ran in and exclaimed, “A dollhouse for Lottie!” The wee laddie was hot on her heels, though, and laid claim to the dollhouse as well. We had to assign the 2nd floor to Lottie and the first floor to the bud (to be used as a garage for his cars and trucks).

Anyway, a good time was had by all.

Here are some bonus pictures of the wee babes on an outing with their parents to the Eckert’s Fun Farm in Millstadt, IL on Saturday. They had a a super fun time and picked/ate a lot of apples.

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Life is good. Enjoy your Tuesday!

*Talking Heads

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October 4, 2019

Friday movie pick(s)

by chuckofish

Today we toast Charlton Heston (1923-2008), actor and Episcopalian, on his birthday. Since I was a child, I always liked Charlton, in everything from The Big Country (1958)

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to Secret of the Incas (1954)

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to 55 Days at Peking (1963)

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to Planet of the Apes (1968)…

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He never disappointed. And he made a lot of good movies besides Ben Hur.

Tonight I will watch one of them. Maybe two.

It is also the birthday of Frederick Remington (1861-1909), artist and Episcopalian, who would have enjoyed painting/sculpting Charlton Heston I think.

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Besides this I have no big plans for the weekend. Some puttering maybe, between naps. The weather has (finally) cooled off and I wish I could take a walk, but I’ll have to settle for sitting on the patio and maybe trimming some ivy.

I’m not complaining. It’s all good.

3 Comments

October 1, 2019

Walking along in the changing-time

by chuckofish

Last Sunday was the Pedal the Cause bicycle event which the boy participated in for the third year, riding 20 miles in the PTC Classic. It was very hot.

I did not go this year, because there is a little too much walking involved, but I was thinking of him and proud of him per usual.

My weekend was quiet. Daughter #1 was home and accompanied me to my chemo treatment, along with the boy who comes with me every Friday. I am very grateful to have such support! We stopped at Chik-fil-a on the way home. Then the boy went to work and daughter #1 went to Ikea and I went to bed.

I read a lot of Longmire.

I hung up a new wreath (from Etsy) because fall is here.

I have always loved those “Chinese Lanterns,” don’t you? One of these days I’m gong to try growing my own.

News flash: not only is fall here, but it is October! Zut alors!

“When they turned off, it was still early in the pink and green fields. The fumes of morning, sweet and bitter, sprang up where they walked. The insects ticked softly, their strength in reserve; butterflies chopped the air, going to the east, and the birds flew carelessly and sang by fits.

They went down again and soon the smell of the river spread over the woods, cool and secret. Every step they took among the great walls of vines and among the passion-flowers started up a little life, a little flight.

‘We’re walking along in the changing-time,’ said Doc. ‘Any day now the change will come. It’s going to turn from hot to cold, and we can kill the hog that’s ripe and have fresh meat to eat. Come one of these nights and we can wander down here and tree a nice possum. Old Jack Frost will be pinching things up. Old Mr. Winter will be standing in the door. Hickory tree there will be yellow. Sweet-gum red, hickory yellow, dogwood red, sycamore yellow.’ He went along rapping the tree trunks with his knuckle. ‘Magnolia and live-oak never die. Remember that. Persimmons will all get fit to eat, and the nuts will be dropping like rain all through the woods here. And run, little quail, run, for we’ll be after you too.’

They went on and suddenly the woods opened upon light, and they had reached the river. Everyone stopped, but Doc talked on ahead as though nothing had happened. ‘Only today,’ he said, ‘today, in October sun, it’s all gold—sky and tree and water. Everything just before it changes looks to be made of gold.’

“The Wide Net”
― Eudora Welty

Have a golden week.

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September 24, 2019

“If There Ain’t There Ought’a Be”*

by chuckofish

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Well, the fall term has started at my flyover institute, so we are really cooking now. Phew. Fall is here and the temperatures have finally dropped accordingly. The Cards clinched a play-off spot over the weekend and word is that Mike Matheny may be the new manager of the Kansas City Royals. Hmmm. I may have to start liking the Royals.

My quiet weekend turned very exciting when I found out that our friend Gary and his band, Colonel Ford, was opening for Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives at the Sheldon on Sunday night! Gary had extra tickets so I got to go and daughter #1 drove in from mid-MO on Sunday to accompany Becky and me. I took a long nap on Sunday afternoon so that I could stay up after my bedtime.

Colonel Ford did themselves proud…

Screen Shot 2019-09-23 at 5.49.49 PM.png …and Marty, along with Professor Scruggs, Cousin Kenny and Handsome Harry Stinson, were, of course, superlative…

Screen Shot 2019-09-23 at 8.38.45 PM.png We did not get to hang out in the Green Room–it was a school night after all–but it was a pleasure to see Marty again. He always puts on quite a show. And it was fun to get out and about for the first time in months!

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P.S. I’m thinking young Marty had a real DN vibe going, right?

*Marty Stuart

6 Comments

September 20, 2019

“Scars make better stories than tattoos”*

by chuckofish

So another week comes to an end. It’s Fri-yay!

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I will be taking it easy this weekend, finishing Land of Wolves by Craig Johnson. Walt Longmire is back in Wyoming (where he belongs) and all the old characters are there with him. 👍 I am enjoying it very much and trying not to read it too fast.

I’ll probably watch some baseball–the Cards are playing the Cubs. Everyone here in STL is sort of cautiously optimistic as the Cards are still in first place as the playoffs approach. We’ll hope for the best.

Since today is the birthday of Sophia Loren (she’s 85!), we will toast her and watch one of her movies, my favorites being Houseboat (1958) with Cary Grant

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and Legend of the Lost (1957) with John Wayne

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…which both feature worthy co-stars.

And who can forget when she shared the joy with Roberto Benigni when Life is Beautiful won Best Foreign Film at the Oscars in 1999?

A great moment indeed.

And here is some wee babe goodness to tide you over…

Have a good weekend!

*Craig Johnson

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September 17, 2019

“I simply gotta march/ My heart’s a drummer”*

by chuckofish

We had a beautiful day for our local Greentree Parade on Saturday.

Vrooom, vrooom!

The wee laddie got quite a kick out of all the army trucks and tractors etc…

And Lottiebelle made the round of laps…

After the parade we went home for Episcopal soufflé and Prosecco. Daughter #1 didn’t want birthday cake so we had donuts… IMG_3241 2.JPG The wee laddie approved.

Daughter #1 liked her presents especially this one…

It was a fun day and a fun weekend and on Sunday I even managed to go to a couple of estate sales with daughter #1. I rescued a needlepoint pillow!

The good news for today is that the 15th Walt Longmire novel is being released and I should get it in the mail today!

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Whoopi-ti-yay!

See you on the trail.

*Bob Merrill/Jule Styne

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September 13, 2019

“Oh but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now”*

by chuckofish

Always the most glamorous member of the family, even in middle school.

Daughter #1’s birthday was Wednesday, but we will be celebrating it this Saturday. We are going to our flyover town’s annual Greentree Parade where we will sit in folding chairs and watch the local high school bands and elementary school floats go by. The wee babes are coming along and it should be a good ol’ time.

There will be presents, although nothing as cool as a new bike…

Mary on Bike.jpeg There will be cake…

…and we will toast the birthday girl once, twice…thrice!

I will also note that today, besides being Friday the 13th, is the harvest moon. It is the harvest moon because it occurs during the harvest and near the autumnal equinox (which this year falls on September 23). So be sure to check it out tonight.

And here’s a little Bobby D, always appropriate for the occasion:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
-Romans 15:13

*Bob Dylan, “My Back Pages”

4 Comments

September 10, 2019

The slow-drawn wagon

by chuckofish

I had a very quiet weekend. In fact I never left my house! The wee babes came over on Sunday for dinner and shook things up for a wee bit, but they weren’t too…rowdy…

They are always so good at entertaining themselves with the same old toys and books while the grownups talk.

Speaking of books, I read one I picked up on the giveaway table at work–This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash.

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It was pretty good, but I can’t say it lived up to the cover hype that it was a cross between Harper Lee and Elmore Leonard. There were two children in the book, but they weren’t exactly Jem and Scout, and, yes, it took place in the South. Comparisons are odious and sometimes downright embarrassing.

I also watched a couple of good movies–Rooster Cogburn (1975) with John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn…

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and Wagon Master (1950) directed by John Ford and starring Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr.

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Rooster Cogburn is worth watching to see the two great stars (both 67 at the time) so obviously enjoying themselves. Clearly they liked each other and were having a fine time. Who cares if the plot is a bit shopworn? The scenery is beautiful and the music rousing.

Wagon Master, on the other hand, is a real masterpiece…and there is nary a star in sight. Ben Johnson and Harry Carey, Jr., usually supporting players, are called upon to carry the action, along with Ward Bond, and they do just fine. It is a beautiful movie filmed in black and white by Bert Glennon in Moab, Utah. The story, which follows a group of Mormon pioneers going West, is a solid one and, as usual in Ford movies, is populated with realistic characters.

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Yes, that’s Russell Simpson as a Mormon elder next to Jane Darwell.

So I recommend both movies.

Now it is back to a busy week at work. I am also looking for something to read!

The big doors of the country barn stand open and ready,
The dried grass of the harvest-time loads the slow-drawn wagon,
The clear light plays on the brown gray and green intertinged,
The armfuls are pack'd to the sagging mow.

I am there, I help, I came stretch'd atop of the load,
I felt its soft jolts, one leg reclined on the other,
I jump from the cross-beams and seize the clover and timothy,
And roll head over heels and tangle my hair full of wisps.

--Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 9

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