dual personalities

Recently I acquired a small battered book entitled “First Baptist Church Centennial Celebration–in Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the church in Las Animas, Colorado 1874-1974”.

It includes a history of the church. Our great-great-grandmother is prominently featured.

She was, indeed, a founding member, trustee, superintendent of the Sunday School, and the organist. Her husband, John S. Hough, was not a member; he was a Quaker and remained so his entire life. My great-grandmother Anna Hough was a member; she was 10-years old in 1874. Her two older sisters, Ida and Susie, would have been members too, but they died in 1875 and 1876 and were not included, therefore, in the list of charter members.

The history goes on to tell us:

The original building was an adobe structure built on land owned by John Prowers. The bell on this church was known to be one of the first bells ever to ring in the Arkansas Valley.

I love that the “two little girls” Anna Hough and her cousin Katie raised the money to buy the bell. Gee, girls were empowered even back in the 19th century!

In other news, we will toast Ralph Waldo Emerson today on his 220th birthday (1803):

The world rolls round,—mistrust it not,—
Befalls again what once befell;
All things return, both sphere and mote,
And I shall hear my bluebird’s note,
And dream the dream of Auburn-dell.

Read the entire poem here.

And it’s time to start thinking about what movie(s) you will watch on Friday to celebrate John Wayne’s 116th birthday (1907)! Also keep in mind when making your selection that there may be multiple viewings of John Wayne movies over the upcoming Memorial Day three day-weekend! If you are in Fort Worth, go to the The John Wayne: An American Experience exhibit in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, TX for lots of special events!

You never know who you might run into.

And news flash, there was a bear sighting in Festus, Missouri, 35 miles south of us on Tuesday. It was a big bear! It was hit and killed by a car on I-55 later that night. Can you imagine hitting a bear while driving your car? Zut alors! We are going to have to be on the lookout when we go to our favorite winery!