Winston Churchill was half American, did you know? His mother was American but really did not have much to do with his upbringing, that was left to his nanny. Winston was always grateful to his "Woomany" (which is what he called his nanny.) As Prime Minister, Winston Churchill is well known for rallying the British people during World War II. He also wrote many books and was a talented painter.
And we would do well to remember some of his quotes! Very often, they were inspiring, but I think he could have been a great stand-up comic!
Thought you might like to see another wonderful half English/half American...this is a photo of our son, Christopher! He does not have the top of his head here since I took the photo, but you can still see that wonderful smile and that is why I have it here for you! I have been listening to the CD that he made us for Christmas of his own music and it is wonderful! Wish him luck with his songs, would you? I hope he takes Winston's advice...NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!
Hope you all have a wonderful week ahead, with lots to inspire you AND to make you laugh.
Churchill was such an interesting and outspoken figure. I think his "never, never, never give-up" speech complete with the fist pounding is one of my all-time favorites.
ReplyDeleteBut if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth[5] last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour.
DeleteThis was the last part of his speech to the House of Commons on June 18, 1940. Like many of his speeches, I find this very moving.
I'm a big Churchill fan. I think he has more brilliant quotes than anyone, ever. Love the pic of your son. Happy, open face.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Nan! Of course, I admire Winston Churchill very much, it might not have come across in my post but I truly do!
DeleteHappy, open face! Yes, that is our boy, he has always had that big smile!
Wow, I like that painting very much! And is there anyone who doesn't like Churchill? :)
ReplyDeleteHave you been to the Churchill War Rooms in London? A very fascinating place.
I should hope that people like and admire Churchill! But not everyone knows England like WE do, Sue!!
DeleteSadly, I have never been to the War Rooms in London, although I have always wanted to see them I also want to see Chartwell in Kent, Churchill's home. So many places to see in England!
The painting is great; I knew bits about Mr. Churchill but not that he was such a talented artist. In his perfume collection, RJ also has the scent that was apparently created for Churchill. It is called Blenheim Bouquet and is very, very British :-)
ReplyDeleteIf talent was the measure of success, Christopher would already be a world-famous star with his music! But it also takes luck, and I wish him tons of that.
http://bleauog.blogspot.com/2012/01/penhaligons-blenheim-bouquet-churchills.html
DeleteMy goodness, to think that Winston Churchill had his own fragrance! I had no idea! I found an interesting post about it from that blog above! Richard didn't know about it either but now he does!
Thank you very much for your best wishes for Christopher! You are right, it takes luck and the right timing, so here's to both for him!
Thank you for the link! This is a blog I have to show RJ - but not when he's with me, or he will spend HOURS reading the posts instead of spending time with me :-)
DeleteKay, I am sure you had no idea when you penned this post, how apt it would be. Never, Never, Never give up. Read Graham's last blog and you will see what I mean.He always plays "the Glad Game" and I know he will not give up.
ReplyDeleteI wish your son all the luck in the world - tell him - Take a leaf out of Graham's book and don't give up.
P.S I have sent an email to you. Love Pat
Thanks, Pat. I know how good it is for Graham to have such good friends in you and your husband.
DeleteAnd I will tell C. how many are wishing him good luck!
Yes, Churchill really did tell her to pin it on her "white meat." He was quick witted and talented and i'm glad he didn't become a comedian, he was needed elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteYour son is so good looking, and i do pray his music takes him where he wants to go!
Of course, I was not implying that Churchill should have been a comedian, only that he COULD have been. He certainly was needed as Prime Minister when Great Britain was in need of strong leadership.
DeleteI hope our son does not read these comments and get TOO big a head! HA! Thanks for your well wishes.
Winston Churchill is quite a character! I bet he'd make a great dinner guest; he'd certainly liven up any event.
ReplyDeleteLots and lots of luck to your son! That is wonderful about the CD he made for you. You must be so proud.
Hey Martha!
DeleteImagine being at the same table as Winston Churchill! I wouldn't have been able to eat, I would just want to hear what he had to say!
You would really like the CD, Martha, I am sure you would! One of the songs, is one that he did in concert, but he did it in a very strong, drawled out Southern accent...it would be great on a country station!!
Haha, I will tell my Mom! I didn't know he could paint so well!
ReplyDeleteHey Rebecca! So happy to see your comment here! I loved this painting too!
DeleteAnd be sure and tell your Mom that I climbed Stone Mountain yesterday, and I wore the little Teddy Bear pin that she made! So, your Mom's pretty creation was on one of the monadnocks that I love!!
Yes, Churchill was a great wit. Very quick on his feet. And may 2014 bring great things to Christopher and his music!
ReplyDeleteA keen and sharp mind seems hard to find these days.
DeleteI will tell Christopher to make sure that you have front row seats for you and your rare one when he does his Canada tour!
Great words. NEVER GIVE UP. It says a lot.
ReplyDeleteRick, your latest follower.
Hello, Rick! And thank you very much for becoming a new follower.
DeleteYou have made my day, truly you have. Thank you!
Your son is a handsome guy!
ReplyDeleteC. was a cute baby, an adorable little boy, and now, he is a handsome young man!
DeleteI did know that Churchill had an American mother. I can't imagine raising a child mostly through a nanny. Best wishes to your son and his music, what a lovely talent to have.
ReplyDeleteI know that was the way the upper classes reared their children but it doesn't make it right to me either. I am glad that Winston Churchill got the mother's love that he needed from his Nanny. God bless her!
DeleteThanks for the best wishes for Christopher. He can write music and lyrics AND sing and play the guitar. He is brilliant, I just hope he realizes that talent like that needs to be shared with the world! xx
I gave up half way through that....
ReplyDeleteWell, you should NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!
DeleteIf you had read all of it, you would know that.
Your grandson is a good-looking lad, Kay. Much better looking than Winston, I might add.
ReplyDeleteI wish Christopher well with his music...may he fulfill his dreams. :)
C. did look a bit like Winston as an infant, but only just a BIT! HA!!
DeleteNow, I do have cousins who had children when they were teenagers but that is not me! Christopher is my son, not my grandson!
Thank you for your good wishes for him, much appreciated.
Hi Kay! I hope you had a lovely Easter! I've been enjoying all your recent posts! But the best of all is your son's smile. Your love for him comes shining through every time you write about him! Your photos of the butterfly hike on Panola Mountain were beautiful. I felt like I was there! And thanks for sharing the story of the dogwood flower. I had never heard it before ~ perfect for Easter. I enjoyed the Churchill quotes. My mother told me about listening to him over the radio during WW2 and how inspiring he was. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteHey Louise!
DeleteThanks very much for your comment! I hope you have a great week too!
I didn't know Churchill had been such a fine artist. He certainly had many talents and a quick wit. Best wishes to your son, talent (and smiles) like his should always be shared.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has such a way with words AND can create great art is someone that I truly admire! And dare I say this, but my son is one of those who can do so! :-)
DeleteOne of the best things about blog reading is that I learn new things all the time. Thanks for the info on Mr. churchill and the anecdotes s were especially funny. Good luck to your Christopher with his music career and he DOES have a wonderful smile.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked my little post on Churchill! I will pass the good wishes on to C. and I thank you!
DeleteWinston Churchill spoke his mind. I like that in a person. I hope your son feels better and that he has his whole head back now. Good luck to him with his music.
ReplyDeleteHA HA! Yes, I am the worst photographer ever, truly I am. I do that all the time, I focus so closely on a dear face that I love that I will either cut a top of a head off or else have a tree out the side of their head!
DeleteThanks for your well wishes!
Wonderful post. My husband is always quoting Churchill's witticisms. You and I have something in common by the way, a handsome son who sings and plays guitar, I wish yours all the luck in the world.
ReplyDeleteCait,
DeleteThank you very much! My husband and I also quote Churchill to each other! You know, I wish YOUR son all the luck in the world with his music!
:-)
What a great post....I'm another Churchill fan. He certainly had talents in many directions and lived in very "interesting times". Have you read any of Susan Elia MacNeal's books which begin with The Prime Minister's Secret Agent? I have really enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristi! I bet those books are really good since you like them, and I know that you have good taste, but I hardly ever read fiction anymore. I can't say why that is, maybe one day I will again! :-)
DeleteWishing your son every success with his music. I like Churchill's advice to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP. Thank for a great post.
ReplyDeleteDear Mairead,
DeleteThanks very much for your well wishes for Christopher! And I am glad you liked this little post about Churchill, the great man deserved better, but this is what he got! :-)
I learned a lot about Churchill from your post. I wish your son the best luck.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
~John M
Hey John,
DeleteI only touched on a bit about Churchill, he truly was a fascinating, brilliant man! Thanks for your well wishes for C., much appreciated.
Happy Spring to you!