Walk to the Lake

Memorial Day was gloriously sunny so we headed down to the lake. The park was full of people, dogs, cyclists finishing the 7 Hills of Kirkland bike ride, music, and other activities. 

1 gelato - 2 spoons

Kirkland is a very happy place. We love living here. 

Memorial Day - Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow


Between the crosses, row on row,


That mark our place: and in the sky


The larks still bravely singing fly


Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,


We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,


Loved and were loved: and now we lie


In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe


To you, from failing hands, we throw


The torch: be yours to hold it high


If ye break faith with us who die,


We shall not sleep, though poppies grow


In Flanders fields.

By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

McCrae wrote this poem in 1915, the day after his friend was killed in battle. He looked at his friend's grave as he composed the poem during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium.

************************

I remember learning this poem in high school, probably in Miss Long's class. My heart and mind always return to it when I see poppies being sold by veteran's groups - or see the flowers growing in the wild. I wonder if Miss Long pointed out that many of our grandfathers probably fought in World War I, as both ours did? I don't recall Mom and Dad ever talking about their fathers' service in World War I. I don’t remember asking Grandpa or Poppie about it. Maybe they told us stories and I wasn't listening.  Now that I'm paying attention, I wish I'd asked more questions – or listened – or both.

Harry Floyd & Caryl Holton served in France in World War I

Memorial Day - Henry Floyd

Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who have died while serving our country. 

While we have many in our family who have served in the military*, I've been able to determine just one who died in service. 

Henry S. Floyd, from Eddington, Maine, was wounded and missed from his regiment June 25, 1864. His body was never found. This is according to his military pension records. 

"The History of the First Maine Cavalry, 1861-1865" states Henry was "Killed in action at Roanoke bridge, June 25, 1864." 

Click here for an account of what is probably the battle in which Henry died - Staunton River Bridge near Roanoke Station, Virginia. 

Henry's mother, widow Louisa Rowe Floyd**, eventually received a pension based on her 22 year old son's service and presumed death. This memorial stone is in the Floyd family plot in the Jonathan Eddy Cemetery, Eddington Cemetery, Eddington, Maine. 

*Click here to see a summary of our family's service in the military

**John and Louisa Floyd are the parents of Edmond Floyd, Harry Edmond Floyd's father. Harry is my mother's father. 

Serving Each Other

When we take on Christ's name and become His disciples, we follow His example by helping each other with the challenges of life here on earth. 

"...  as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, ..."  Mosiah 18: 7-9

Recently the women in the two congregations that meet in our meetinghouse got together to serve young men in a homeless shelter in our community. Everyone brought items and assembled shower kits so every young man could have his own personal items. 

 "... when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2: 17

We also learned about refugees in this area and service opportunity for people who have been displaced from their home countries. 

    "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25: 35-40

Book - A Higher Call

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

by Adam Makos with Larry Alexander

"Four days before Christmas 1943, a badly damaged American bomber struggled to fly over wartime Germany. At its controls was a 21-year-old pilot. Half his crew lay wounded or dead. It was their first mission. Suddenly, a sleek, dark shape pulled up on the bomber’s tail—a German Messerschmitt fighter. Worse, the German pilot was an ace, a man able to destroy the American bomber in the squeeze of a trigger. What happened next would defy imagination and later be called the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II."  (goodreads.com)

  

******

JHT’s comments – I became totally engrossed in this book. I wish I had asked Dad and his friends more about their involvement in World War II. The men were so very young. I can’t imagine what it felt like to be in countries that were being bombed. The descriptions of aerial fights are amazing.

The youth of the pilots, the feelings of some in the German Air Force about Hitler and his staff, the huge number of bombers in the air at one time after the United States joined the war, … This book gives insights into the feelings and experiences of those who were waging war from the air.

 Author’s website

 (image from worldcat.org)

Family Fun

Patrick was in Michigan for a visit before he came to see us. Jennie sent Vernor's Ginger Ale back for Joe. Vernor's is a Detroit tradition and isn't sold in this part of the country. (Although you can order it through amazon.com) Read more about Vernor's here.

Michael came over for lunch

We took Patrick to the recording of two shows for Imagination Theater, at the Kirkland Performance Center, just down the street from our place. 

from their website - "Mystery, drama, and laughter abound in America’s leading radio drama series regularly featuring Private Detective Harry Nile and tales of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Recorded live at KPC, America’s leading radio drama series is heard from coast to coast on over 50 radio stations in North America, including KIXI in Seattle."

We enjoy watching the sound effects guys (left in picture below). It's fun to see the actors interacting with each other - and seeing how they handle flubs (go back & say it again). In some of the recordings we've attended, people have set each other off and they have to stop until they recover their composure. All in all, it's a great experience. 

gelato break

birthday (May 13)

David arrived Wednesday. We're glad his & Patrick's visit overlapped one night.

Michael stopped by before Patrick left 

David & I went to the nearby Farmers' Market Saturday morning

another gelato break!

Thanks everyone!

Happy Birthday Dad

May 27, 1923

For pictures of Dad in the 1920s, click here

The following photos are from the 1930s

ca 1930 - Bill & Richard

1930 Bill, Anna Sconce Cathcart (Celia's mother) & Richard

ca 1937-38? Bill, David & Richard

at East First Street; Central Building (our elementary school) in background

Check out the shoes

ca 1937-38 - Richard, David, Celia, Bill

front steps of East First Street

ca 1939 - Richard, Bill & David

ca 1939

Richard & Bill

Beauty

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

....

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Hymn

************

Rhododendron are abundant in this area. The colors are spectacular. 

We are indeed grateful for the beauty around us. 

Joe & Max

Max is always happy to see Joe come to home teach his person J. 

Home teachers provide watch care including a visit at least monthly with "a message of spiritual instruction that is adapted to meet the needs and concerns of the individuals or families. Home teachers also make sure the temporal needs of the members are taken care of." (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Newsroom)

Long Relationship

I remember the first time I had a Biscoff cookie. I was flying somewhere on Delta airline. They were handed out to the passengers. I liked the cookie so much I did some preInternet research to find out how to access this deliciousness. Periodically over the years I'd order the cookies. Then came the Internet which made it easier to find and order the cookies. Then the cookies were in the grocery stories every once in a while. I found these at Costco! 

This tidbit is stuck in my memory for some reason. 

You Say Kumato?

Have you ever heard of brown tomatoes? We hadn't until we read the Trader Joe's flyer. We decided to try kumatoes. They really are brown. They really are very sweet - and delicious. 

This type of tomato was discovered and then cultivated in Spain in the 1970s. Its color and flavor result from receiving less water than its redder cousins. They have a higher fructose level than other tomatoes. The cultivation and distribution are highly controlled by the owner of the patent. Read more here, here, and here. 

Joe - Little Known Fact

Joe’s reward for himself after doctor’s appointments is a McDonald’s Sausage Egg McMuffin. He was a very happy camper when McDonald’s started serving breakfast all day so he could get these no matter when his doctor’s appointment is.

Street Running

I was processing photos recently and came across these images. 

I vividly remembered the occasion - hard to forget a time you see a train go down the main street, just feet away from the buildings. 

I even remembered Joe's meal at the restaurant. "Heart attack on a plate," I thought at the time.  This is a Hot Brown, a traditional Louisville, Kentucky dish that goes back to his mother's time in Louisville and her partying at the Brown Hotel in Louisville.  

But I couldn't remember the town. 

A bit of searching revealed that we were in LaGrange, Kentucky. 

Click here for a video of the train "street running," train lingo for running on a city street. This September 2014 news report said the train comes through town up to 30 times a day!

Cut the Mustard?

People use the phrase "cut the mustard" when talking about filling expectations or meeting a standard. The origin of the phrase seems a bit muddled.

Sources indicate it could mean
- Cutting the mustard plant
- Corruption of military phrase to "pass muster"
- Knife not sharp enough to cut the crust off the top of mustard in a barrel
- Diluting mustard with vinegar

Read more here, here, here, here, and here

After reading all the above references, it seems that the origin isn't really known.

Mustard plants

image Wikipedia

Be Still & Connect

Sometimes life gets very hectic and I feel a great desire to feel even more connected to God. Sometimes it's hard to feel the Spirit because of the busyness, complexity, and noise of all that's swirling around us. At times like this I am very grateful for nature and the way beauty can connect me with the Divine. 

Recently I was walking and pondering all that's going on in our lives. I noticed this gorgeous rhododendron blooming in an obscure corner of a building. 

Then came to my mind and heart

"Be still and know that God IS REAL!"

Sharing the Journey

My sister told me about this beautiful hymn. It has a powerful message about helping each other in this journey here on earth.  

*********

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard

....

We are pilgrims on the journey

We are brothers on the road

We are here to help each other

Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ light for you

In the night time of your fear

I will hold my hand out to you

Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping

When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you

I will share your joy and sorrow

Till we’ve seen this journey through.

............

Hear the hymn here 

Book - People of the Book

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

"A fictionalized account of the turbulent history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, an illuminated manuscript which has survived into the twentieth century thanks to people of various faiths who risked their lives to safeguard it. Hanna Heath, a manuscript conservator hired to restore the manuscript in 1996 Sarajevo, finds and pursues clues to crucial moments in the book's history." summary & image

****************

Coming from a family that loves books, I can relate to the people who safeguarded this 14th century book through hundreds of years. When I hold family Bibles that are several hundred years old, I can feel the love people have had for the books throughout the generations. 

In Brooks' book - I am interested in the interactions between people of different faiths and how they stepped up to protect each other, and the book. The setting of the book involves parts of the world that are still in turmoil. 

Read more about the actual manuscript here, here, and here.  The story of the genuine Sarajevo Haggadah is just as interesting as Brooks' "People of the Book," maybe mores. I hope it is still being protected.

Author's website