Lizzie Borden

"Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks,
When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one".

This is supposedly the skipping rope rhyme that children said after a particularly gruesome murder trail in Fall River, Massachusetts in the year 1892.  (Can I just say that I hope children really did not say this, perhaps it was something that a newspaper wag wrote and put it in the mouths of children? Let's hope so anyway.)  Lizzie Borden was charged with the murders of her father and step-mother who were found dead in their own home after they had been brutally attacked with a hatchet.  Lizzie was put on trail but was found not guilty.  No one else was ever charged and Lizzie Borden lived the rest of her life in Fall River, Massachusetts.  If you ever visit there, the home itself has been turned into a Bed and Breakfast.  I am not kidding.

I have read three books about this case.  One book described Lizzie Borden committing the murders.  Another book implicated the Irish maid and the third book had Lizzie's sister, Emma as the guilty culprit!  There was an excellent TV movie in 1975, "The Legend of Lizzie Borden" with Elizabeth Montgomery (remember pretty Samantha from "Bewitched"?) playing the role of Lizzie Borden.  Oddly enough, Elizabeth Montgomery was distantly related to Lizzie Borden.  (She did not know this at the time of the filming. I wonder what she would have thought of this had she known?)
Now, there will be a new movie with Christina Ricci playing the role of Lizzie Borden which will be shown on Lifetime network here in the USA, on Saturday, Jan.25th at 8PM.  The movie will be entitled "Lizzie Borden Took An Axe".  (I have seen it spelled "axe" and "ax"...Richard says that axe is the British spelling but he thinks that ax is the American spelling.  I must admit, I don't write that word very often!)  Of course, I will be sure to watch the new movie next Saturday and I hope they stay close to the facts of the case.  Do I think she was guilty? I really don't know.  I am thinking that it is possible that she was innocent but then again, I just don't know, I still am not sure whether Lizzie Borden was guilty or not...

On a lighter note, I am thinking now, that a football (and for anyone else reading this from another country, I mean an AMERICAN football!) will look good on the front of the vest that I have crocheted!  So..I am off to TRY and crochet a football.  Wish me luck!

I crocheted something which was supposed to cover a coffee mug....but it was too big.  However, it was perfect for this candle holder and then, I did this little red flower and tied it around this gray crocheted piece.  It makes me happy when things work out that way!  (The white candle behind it, is from the Monastery!)  Hope you all have a good weekend. Richard told me he heard on the news that this weekend in Georgia is predicted to be the first completely DRY weekend we have had since November. YAY!)



Sweet Gum Trees/Vested Interest

This is the sweet gum tree at the Monastery. You walk beneath it on the walkway to the church. I have a picture of the church as my header photo just now. ( Tree photo taken in May of 2013, church photo is from Jan. 4th, 2014!) This may not be the largest sweet gum tree in the state but it is the biggest one I have ever seen!

 

Sweet gum tree in our front yard, in the Fall of 2012.

 Same sweet gum tree which is a different view, it is the view from our front door! Isn't it lovely! Do you notice there are bits of almost black leaves and some red ones, what amazing colors!  The sweet gum tree is a native tree to this area, but I notice that when we went on a nature hike at Panola Mountain State Park, the park ranger didn't give this tree much respect.  Can anyone tell me why that is?  My husband and I love this tree.  Of course, there are many who also don't like English ivy, but it is wonderful in a pot, it does really well as a hanging basket, especially if you remember to keep it watered. And you know that Richard always does!
Sorry, I have not been able to visit all of your wonderful blogs lately!  I have been trying to crochet a vest for a baby about to turn one year old! Since I couldn't find a vest pattern, I am making it up myself.  This is a very risky thing for me to do, about on a par with most people jumping out of an airplane.  Really!  Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday, Brayden! Hope the vest looks as cute on you as this cap I made for you as an infant!

Noah

Look at this list of movies that will be released this year:  "Son of God"  -  Feb. 28th,
"Noah" on March 28th , "Exodus" on Dec. 12th and "Unbroken" on Christmas Day, 2014.

"Son of God" is really from a TV movie about the story of Jesus, with some added footage.  I have seen bits of it and no offense to the actor portraying Jesus, but to me, he lacks the proper...what am I searching for here..the right authority for the role. (Yes, I know it is a very tall order to have an actor to try and play the role of Jesus but Robert Powell did a very good job in "Jesus of Nazareth"!)  Still, I think I would still like to see this movie, even if I have criticism of the actors, if it is about Jesus, that's a good movie for me!

"Noah" will have the role of Noah being played by...are you ready for it...Russell Crowe! Now, before you say that sounds very unlikely, I must say that of these three Biblical movies, this is the one that looks the most promising!  Look at the trailer for "Noah" and see what you think.  Please notice that Noah's Grandfather (Methuselah) will be played by one of my favorite actors, Anthony Hopkins.  By the way, you should know that name from the Bible. At one time, people used to say that someone was as "old as Methuselah", since he lived the longest of anyone mentioned in the Bible.  How long did he live? The answer is 969 years...now, you know that fact, it will be filed away in your brain for all time.)

That third movie, "Exodus" is the story of Moses and that role will be filled by Christian Bale.  Now, I don't know, but once again, the movie has already been done and done very well by Charlton Heston in "The Ten Commandments" filmed in 1956!  You remember that one, don't you? With Yul Brynner as the pharoah Ramses? Brilliant performances! (Besides, the new movie's director is Ridley Scott, the same director of "Prometheus", and I thought that movie was horrid!)

It's always best to read books that the movies are based on...in the first three movies, that means you should go to the Bible! If you don't have a Bible handy, you can always look at a great website called Bible Gateway...you may find it here.  (You may look at any number of versions...King James, The Message, New International...you choose which one you want to see, and it supplies the chosen version. It's a brilliant site.  If you want to look something up, perhaps you only can remember a fragment of a verse, you type that fragment in and it will take you straight to the verse. Wonderful!)

I have already written of my great respect for Louie Zamperini who I wrote to and he was kind enough to write me back! I am truly looking forward to "Unbroken".  I wrote about Mr. Zamperini exactly two years ago today, you may find that post just here!  (I wonder what actor will play Jesse Owens, who was Mr. Zamperini's room mate in the 1936 Olympics?) 

For any of these movies, I just hope that they do a good job and don't HOLLYWOOD them up, if you know what I mean!

Hey! Some folks have fancy Christmas trees, not me.  Here is my little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But guess what, it is a real tree, it is in a pot, I just wrapped that red felt around the base of it, just like Charlie Brown did with Linus' blanket!  I can take it outside after all this cold weather and enjoy it on our deck! 

The Manger Throne/What Child Is This? (William Chatterton Dix)

"What Child Is This" was originally a poem by William Chatterton Dix entitled "The Manger Throne".    The words were paired with "Greensleeves". a very old English tune from the 15th century.

1. What child is this who, laid to rest,
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary.

2. Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
(Refrain)

3. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
come, peasant, king, to own him;
the King of kings salvation brings,
let loving hearts enthrone him.
(Refrain)

Born in Bristol, England, William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)  was the manager of a marine insurance company in Glasgow, Scotland but I wonder if he really considered that his life's work was in writing his beautiful words of poetry for worship.  He wrote more than forty hymns, among them "Alleluia, Sing To Jesus". He died in 1898 and is buried at his parish church in Cheddar in Somerset, England.  If only I could write hymns like this hymn writer!  They say simply and to the point exactly what the hymn writer is trying to convey but in such wondrous words! "The babe, the son of Mary"..."  "Not as orphans are we left in sorrow"...  "Shall our hearts forget his promise".  "Intercessor, friend of sinners, plead for me".

 I found this hymn on YouTube.  Turn it up and let the words and music wash over you and fill your spirit!  You can sing along if you like. 

 

Alleluia! sing to Jesus!

---

Alleluia! sing to Jesus!
His the scepter, his the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph,
his the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation
hath redeemed us by his blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us,
faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received him
when the forty days were o'er
shall our hearts forget his promise,
'I am with you evermore'?

Alleluia! bread of heaven,
here on earth our food and stay!
Alleluia! here the sinful
flee to thee from day to day.
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
earth's Redeemer, plead for me.
Where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal,
thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary,
earth thy footstool,
heaven thy throne.
Thou within the veil hast entered,
robed in flesh, our great High Priest.
Thou on earth both Priest and Victim
in the Eucharistic Feast.

 I am feeling better now...I am ready for Christmas and New Year's...What? I missed it!?  Oh well! :-)

The Children's Blizzard

Did anyone else see this photo which was photographed from space?  It is the Polar Vortex over the United States, a frigid mass of cold air that I hope we never see the likes of again!  We are lucky that we were so well warned of the sub-zero temperatures.
 Do you know of the deadly blizzard from March of 1888?   It was an unexpected storm that occurred in the Great Plains of the USA. Affecting Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho...only two of them were states at the time, the rest were territories. Because it caught so many children as they were walking home from school, it became known as "The Children's Blizzard" or "The Schoolhouse Blizzard".  Two hundred and thirty five people died, many of them children.  This story is told about in a book by David Laskin called, "The Children's Blizzard".  Please note that if you click on the link that I gave you, it goes into great detail about the details of how the blizzard developed and David Laskin has all the meteorological facts  too, but the most important thing for me is that we need to remember the children.  All of the families who lost loved ones...it is simply heartbreaking to read about it.

 

A few months later, in March of 1888, a blizzard hit the East coast of the United States and was called "The Great Blizzard".  Four hundred died in that storm.  Nan from her blog letters from a hill farm recommended a book by Jim Murphy, "Blizzard!" which is a young adult book about this storm. 

I hope you get the chance to read about these blizzards.  True stories about real people.  That's what I really care about!

This is a photo of a beautiful sunrise in front of our home.  Sunsets are gorgeous but the sun rising is such a welcome sight!

 

Zombies!

Hey!  Anybody want to see a really funny movie?  It is "Cockneys Vs Zombies" and it is hilarious! The Eastenders from London taking on the Zombies.  I loved it since it showed folks from a nursing home in a very positive way, albeit very silly!  Check it out, if you have the chance!
 It is NOT for children!  There is bad language and lots of violence, so no children around while you watch it, okay?  A very nice touch, the song at the end is by Chas & Dave, the singers I have talked about before!  Okay, you Muppets, hope you enjoy!  (Now, why do they call people "muppets" in England? I have noticed this before on the TV shows from over there. Hmmm, I wonder if Jim Henson would approve?  I hope he wouldn't mind!)

Crochet! So fun to make things for people who appreciate them!  I made a warm cap for my nephew, Kyle and he said I could put his photo on here!  Thanks, Kyle for modeling for me!  Thrilled that you like your cap! His sister, Katy liked it so much, she asked me to make one for her too! And you know that I did (the same gray color but trimmed in pink!)
 I made star ornaments for my Christmas tree too, that was fun. I can't remember where I got the pattern, but was quite happy crocheting these little bits for my tree... Wait, it was from Lucy from  Attic 24  If you crochet, you must look at her blog.  She shares the most wonderful patterns and well, she is an artist really, it shows in her photographs and her writing besides her most creative works of crochet.  (She blocked these out, which makes them more star-like, but I wasn't able to do it as well, so mine are more flower shaped.  Oh well, I like them anyway!)

My funny husband called an illness that we once had, the "Zombie" flu.  This was years ago, before the zombie craze that is going on TV and the movies.  I am getting better but wow, the energy level is way low, and I am moving like one of those slow zombies.  And we are having a very cold winter, even here in Georgia.  The low on Tuesday morning is supposed to be NINE degrees!!!  Man, talk about moving like a Zombie!  This weather won't help me much!  Stay warm everyone!   And let me know if you see that funny movie!  If you see other funny movies, let me know!  I am in need of a good laugh!

Peachy Keen 2014

Well, I hope


Hey, everyone!  I had this post as a draft with just those three words above.  I wonder what I was going to say? Who knows?! I have been a bit OUT of it, so to speak. Made it to the doctor today so I hope my body is heading in the right direction!  Hoo boy, the prescribed medications have a long list of side effects...dizziness, jerky movements, excessive sweating, confusion, etc.  I am a woman of a certain age, how will I tell the difference?

My Dad cooked a wonderful meal for New Year's Day. I was able to make it there and in between coughing, had a great dinner!  Anyone else would have just sipped chicken soup, but that's not my style!   Daddy is the best cook.  (He stayed up very late the night before and watched the college football game between Texas A & M and Florida, with Texas A&M winning a close game, which must have finished just at midnight, so he saw the New Year in.) THEN, he got up early on New Year's Day and cooked the following:

Fried Chicken    (I have to tell you he makes the BEST fried chicken.  He fries it in the blackest iron
                              skillet you have ever seen.  All his iron skillets are very old, well seasoned and are
                              the BEST for frying.  His chicken is perfectly cooked, moist with the most tender
                              crust and NEVER greasy!)

Baked Chicken    (Ditto, for the moistness.  I was able to bring some of this home for Richard...gluten
                              free, don't you know.)

TWO kinds of cornbread...one with cracklings and onions, and one without.

Fluffiest, lightest biscuits in the world!  With a big bowl of gravy!

His big round bowl of macaroni & cheese.    (His secret for this dish...LOTS of cheese! This is the
                                                                          Grandkids' favorite. Very often, with no leftovers!)

Turnip Greens *
Collard Greens*
Turnips*
Rutabagas*
Black eye peas*
Carrots

All of the STARRED items were from his own garden!  He cooked the turnips and the rutabagas together (the turnips were white and the rutabagas were golden.) and along with a piece of cornbread was my FAVORITE.  No, wait, I had to eat a small piece of the fried chicken, that was my favorite...No, wait, I had to have 1/2 a biscuit with gravy over it! The greens! The peas! And that MAC & CHEESE!! ! @$%%$$$  Hey, I didn't mean to hit those keys, but you know I am having jerky movments!
We had our dinner at 1:00 and with so much food that was all I could eat for the whole day! What a feast, it was wonderful.  (With so much food, he wants everyone to take home lots of the leftovers...isn't that great?) 

That meal seems like so much work to me, but he gets so much JOY from cooking.  Who are we to stop him?  Right?  We have tried to ask him if he would prefer not to cook so much, but he enjoys it!
And doggone it, he really is a good cook.  He can do anything really.  When he told me that he found some good chickens to cook for our New Year's Day Dinner, I asked him were they whole chickens and did he have to cut them up.  I was on the phone when I asked him this and there was a slight pause, and he said, "Why, I can cut up a chicken with my eyes closed."

Now, that's not funny to anyone else, I am sure, but it made me laugh!  So funny, just his delivery... always with such perfect timing, he can just turn a simple statement into something that makes me howl with laughter!

Have I showed you this photo of Daddy from the Sunflower Festival this past June?  He walked quite a ways to get to this...they were just pieces of wood nailed together with a wheel, to look like a toy tractor...it was set up for the children.  Good thing they had it there for the biggest kid there!  "Get a picture of me, Kay!"   And you know I did!   

 Well, I hope...  that all of you who read this know how much I love my Dad and how much I wish that great energy and joie de vivre is something that I could bottle and send to each one of you.  I appreciate my friends!  (If you click on that link to joie de vivre, you will see a painting of Falstaff.  I think my Dad could pose for a similar painting!)  Oh! And Daddy is 86 by the way.

Happy 2014.  Well, I hope it WILL BE Peachy Keen!

  I have one of my Dad's favorite singers, Bobby Bare with his great song, "Dropkick Me Jesus".  Enjoy!