~ A Child's View of Thunderstorms ~

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school. She also feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school.  As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.  More lightning followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile

When the mother drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called, "What are you doing?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture."

  

May God bless you today and every day as you face the storms that come your way

HUGE GIVEAWAY being posted on 9/4 with (6) ladies participating.

~ Calling All Angels A Plea ~ Love Is...

 

A VERY IMPORTANT PLEA!

Hi Marydon,

There is an article online about Jack (my maternal 1st cousin) at www.mdsbeacon.com. Just put his name, Jack Grubb, in the search box.  Unfortunately, the donor referred to in the article, has backed out, like I said. Jack and BJ just came back from Washington, DC, where they met with their congressfolks to talk about this illness.
This is really a clock-ticking-down situation. He will die from this, plain and simple.
Thank you for your interest, Marydon. I've campaigned to get family members young enough to sign up on "BetheMatch", (have to be under 6o), and several have come forward to get on the register, but again, as I said, no matches.
Love you,
Melody (your cousin)

Excerpt of the story ~

Jack Grubb and his wife BJ were enjoying life as retirees in Etna, California, when they found out about Jack’s myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis in 2009 after an annual physical exam. He was 67 years old at the time and felt very fit.
“My doctor noticed that my blood counts were low,” explained Jack.  “He decided we needed to see a specialist in Medford, Oregon.”
The specialist performed a bone marrow biopsy right away and informed Jack that he had myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with refractory anemia (low red blood cell counts that do not respond to treatment) and excess blasts (immature bone marrow cells).  The blast count was 10 percent at the time, and Jack was on his way to developing acute myeloid leukemia......

*** I implore you each to pass this information on ... maybe it won't help Jack but it may help another in desperate medical need.

~ Birds & Blooms ~

 There's an old Chinese proverb that if practiced each day

 Would change the whole world in a wonderful way.

 Its truth is so simple,

 it's easy to do,

 And it works every time & successfully, too.

 For you can't do a kindness without a reward ~

 Not in silver nor gold but in joy from the Lord.

 You can't light a candle to show others the way

 Without feeling the warmth of that bright little ray,

 And you can't pluck a rose all fragrant with dew

 Without part of its fragrance remaining with you.
(Helen Steiner Rice)

 ~ All these pictures are from my garden & bird feeders ... enjoy ~

 ~ A HUGE GIVEAWAY with several ladies participating will be coming on 9/4 ~

                                                   ~ Enjoy your day ~

 When the hummingbird sinks its face into the trumpet vine, into the funnels

of the blossoms and the tongue leaps out and throbs

I am scorched to realize once again how many small, available things are in this world that aren’t  pieces of gold or power------- that nobody owns

or could but even for a hillside of money----- that just float in the world,
or drift over the fields, or into the gardens, and into the tents of the vines,
and now here I am spending my time,

 as the saying goes, watching until the watching turns into feeling, so that I feel I am myself a small bird with a terrible hunger, with a thin beak probing and dipping and a heart that races so fast

 it is only a heart beat ahead of breaking------ and I am the hunger and the assuagement,

 and also I am the leaves and the blossoms, and, like them, I am full of delight, and shaking. (Emily Dickson)

~ Rock A Bye Baby ... A Wee Bit Of History~

Our newbie, Abigail ... isn't she just the most!!!  Wish she lived closer to just snuggle love to pieces ...

DID YOU KNOW ~
Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in American history
The words and lyrics to the "Rock a bye baby" rhyme are reputed to reflect the observations of a young pilgrim boy in America who had seen Native Indian mothers suspend a birch bark cradle from the branches of a tree. Thus enabling the wind to rock the cradle and the child to sleep! This rhyme is also known as "Hush a bye baby" which is the correct title. The confusion regarding these lyrics occurred due to the popularity of the old Al Jolson classic song "Rock a bye my baby with a Dixie melody!".

Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in English history
dating back to the 1700's

The story of the Nursery Rhyme relates to a family who lived in a tree house which was formed within a massive Yew tree. The Yew Tree concerned was believed to be nearly 2000 years old. The family were charcoal burners who lived in Shining Cliff Woods, Ambergate, Derbyshire in the 1700's. The ancient occupation of Charcoal Burning would be conducted by people who actually lived in the woods. Just like like this family. Their names were Kate and Luke Kennyon and they lived in what was locally called the 'Betty Kenny Tree' - a colloquialism for Kate Kenyon. The Kenyons had 8 children and a tree bough was hollowed out to act as a cradle for their children! Shining Cliff Woods was owned at the time by the Hurt family. The Kenyons were favoured by the Hurts who commissioned the artist James Ward of the Royal Academy to paint their portraits. The Yew tree still exists but was severely fire damaged by vandals in the 1930s. More information may be located on the Amber Valley Borough Council website.

Out grateful thanks go to James Hamilton for providing us with the lead to the English origins to 'Rock a Bye Baby'.


Thank you Cass.

~ Having Fun ~ Love Is...

 

And ice cream we had! along with cookies & sodas & donuts & cupcakes & popcorn ... oops! & Cheetos!

It was a stifling week.

 We had the kid-lings last week & what a week we had. They so enjoyed the pool next door ... Alyssa on ladder (close to in the pool as she gets), Ansel & Tatiana.  Mackenzie & I played on the deck ...

 Then we were off to 6 Flags for a day of screaming fun ... oh, what fun those roller coaster rides.  I did one trip & was done ... about tore up my arthritic spine ... boo-hoo! I so love these rides. Poppy came home battered & aching, tho ...

 A leisurely ride on the train to cool off that horribly hot day ...

 There's Poppy & the kid-lings on the rear car waving ...

 And what a way to cool off ... it was blistering hot that day!!!

 Right in the front car are Tatiana & Ansel

 And this roller coaster ride was awesome ...

 Mackenzie Paige was with us for 2 days of the kids being home with us ... what a kick & great time they had playing with our dumpling ...

Pop over to visit Anne for our Love Is... Monday.

Stay in touch for the BIG giveaway in the next 2 weeks ... many ladies participating with me.

Have a beautiful week, my friends. I am keeping up with you as I can.

~ Historic Alexander's at Buckeystown, MD. ~

Moments to remember back in June, Tanza & Donna (mom), came to visit Moi & hubby.

 

One of the most beautiful places to visit is 

the graceful charm & scenic beauty of historic Buckeystown, Md. & the comfortable, relaxed setting for Alexander's at Buckeystown. 

If/when you are in our area, this restaurant is a must to visit.

Chef  Smallwood is fabulous. His southern down home cooking is out of the world.

Fried green tomatoes, pimento scalloped potatoes, pot roast, fried chicken, black eyed peas, peach cobbler, sweet potato biscuits, sweet iced tea ... yum! The aromas filled the rooms, that are punch full of antiques & beautiful linen fresh tables.

 ~~~~~~~~~~

The area was a hotbed of activity during the Antietam Campaign of the Civil War in 1862. Confederate soldiers camped in Buckeystown on Sept. 6 of that year and, according to a sign at Buckeystown Park, they must have been quite hungry.

The Confederates stopped the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad & about 1,000 barrels of flour sat in a warehouse at the Delaplaine Mill, which is now Michael's Mill. Guards were posted at the mill to prevent "pilfering," the sign says.

Still, the railroad agent allowed the troops into the warehouse & told them he & his wife would have their slaves bake as much bread as they could to feed them. According to the sign, the slaves baked day & night.  The Federals raided the orchards.

Buckeystown is named for George Buckey, a tanner, & his brother, John Buckey, a blacksmith & tavern owner. Buckeystown is on the U.S National Register of Historic Places & the Maryland Civil War Trail due to its rich history a & beautiful examples of Queen Anne & Victorian style houses, along with a small commercial center. Each historic home has a plaque indicating the year built, the earliest being circa 1780. There are also several historical information plaques installed along the main street.

The land Buckeystown now sits on was once called "Good Luck." It began as a 400-acre parcel given to Meredith Davis by the King of England in 1731. Over time, more land was added to the original tract. A road that stretched from Pennsylvania to Florida bisected the town & sealed the area's fate: it was the perfect place for enterprising families to settle. The town grew due to the prosperity of several businesses which took advantage of the natural resources the location provided. Two mills were located along the Monocacy River, which runs behind the southside of town, the tannery & an ice creamery utilized a natural spring, & a brickworks used the naturally occurring lime.


Buckeystown enjoyed 100 years of prosperity from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Several wealthy families began to dominate the town's social scene. These families built the lavish mansions & proud stone homes which still grace the main streets today. Buckeystown's early industrial center gradually faded, leaving a well-preserved residential district with a particular emphasis on the 1870-1910 period.



The main thoroughfare, currently known as Buckeystown Pike or Maryland State Highway 85, was used during both the Revolutionary War & the Civil War. Soldiers marched through town towards decisive battles, following brave leaders including Stonewall Jackson & General Robert E. Lee.

Please view this ink of gorgeous photos of historic settings & history, also.....

 http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=1737

ign says.

~ Who Knew ~ Info You Need ...

Did you know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately-without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers? Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns? Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly-even though the product was never advertised for this use.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes... cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine Mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Easy eyeglass protection... to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... if menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Smart splinter remover: Just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure.. cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato Paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

Balm for broken blisters... to disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine, a powerful antiseptic.

Vinegar to heal bruises... soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.