I know It's Not Enough..

"Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be." -- John Wayne

O'er the Land of the Free. . .

This is a photo of the actual flag that Francis Scott Key saw flying over Ft. McHenry. This flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes and originally measured 30x42 feet. Damage from the battle that Francis Scott Key witnessed reduced the flag to 30x34 feet. It has been kept since 1912 at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

It is a tradition that when a new flag is designed for use by the United States, it is first flown over Fort McHenry, over the same ramparts referred to in the National Anthem. Our anthem began as a poem entitled Defense of Fort McHenry, and was eventually set to music. The song quickly became accepted as our National Anthem. During the World Series of Baseball in 1917 it was sung in honor of our armed forces fighting in the Great War, and was so moving that it was repeated for every game thereafter. The Star Spangled Banner was officially declared our National Anthem in 1931.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

~Francis Scott Key~

Easter Eye-Candy

I was just hopping about the internet looking for some images to share with you all. Easter eye-candy, so to speak!


The Easter Bunny that comes to my home doesn't take the time to paint eggs like this. We do end up with some drips, however...








I don't know why these bunnies are taking these eggs for a boat ride, but I sure do like they egg-shell boat.









I love these hand painted eggs. This is one of those projects that I say I'd like to do someday. You never know. It could happen!








Easter Cows?! Really??? What have cows got to do with Easter Tide? They are looking rather adorable on this old card though, aren't they?




Pussy-willows, kittens and a chick...now that's more Easter-like than cows! Hey, that's a pretty big egg for such a small chick, and look at the size of the kittens compared to the chick.




Now here's what it's really all about...the Risen Christ.

Happy Easter everyone!

The Irish In Me . . . .

There's so much to like about St. Patrick's Day and the Irish in general. Here are some of my favorites.

Waterford crystal: it's just so darn beautiful, no?

Potatoes: fried, baked, mashed, soup, hash browns - you name a way to make it and I'll eat it!

The Limerick: NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN!!

There was a young fellow from Leeds
Who swallowed a packet of seeds.
Great tufts of grass
Sprouted out of his ass
And his balls were all covered with weeds!

Belleek porcelain: another bit of beauty.

Danny Boy: brings a tear to the eye every time...

Shamrocks: they are beautiful plants.

Jokes:

1) Two Irishmen, Patrick Murphy and Shawn O'Brian grew up together and were lifelong friends. But alas, Patrick developed cancer, and was dying. While on his deathbed, Patrick called to his buddy, Shawn, "O'Brian, come 'ere. I 'ave a request for ye." Shawn walks to his friend's bedside and kneels.

"Shawny ole boy, we've been friends all our lives, and now I'm leaving 'ere. I 'ave one last request fir ye to do."

O'Brian burst into tears, "Anything Patrick, anything ye wish. It's done."

"Well, under me bed is a box containing a bottle of the finest whiskey in all of Ireland. Bottled the year I was born it was. After I die, and they plant me in the ground, I want you to pour that fine whiskey over me grave so it might soak into me bones and I'll be able to enjoy it for all eternity."

O'Brian was overcome by the beauty of it and in the true Irish spirit of his friend's request, he asked, "Aye, tis a fine thing you ask of me, and I will pour the whiskey. But, might I strain it through me kidneys first?"

2) A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink.

"Why of course," comes the reply.

The first man then asks: "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Ireland," replies the second man.

The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Let's have another round to Ireland."
"Of Course," replies the second man.

Curious, the first man then asks: "Where in Ireland are you from?"
"Dublin," comes the reply.
"I can't believe it," says the first man.
"I'm from Dublin too! Let's have another drink to Dublin."
"Of course," replies the second man.

Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks:
"What school did you go to?"
"Saint Mary's," replies the second man.
"I graduated in '62."

"This is unbelievable!" the first man says.
"I went to Saint Mary's and I graduated in '62, too!"

About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar.
"What's been going on?" he asks the bartender.
"Nothing much," replies the bartender. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again."

Green: it's one of my favorite colors!

Corned beef: mmmmm, so delicious...

and:
Yes, it's an acquired taste, I admit, but I sure do enjoy me a guinness now and then. It'll cure what ails you!


Did I miss one of your favorites? Do tell!

Cherubs!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I really couldn't let the week pass without one final post about valentines, and nothing says Valentines Day like cherubs! Although, I'm not really sure just why naked, winged babies constitute the epitome of love. Hmmmm. Ok, having wings would be cool. Babies can be really cute and loveable. Going naked...well, that could be a good thing or a bad thing! But put it all togther and this is what you get:



Ok, so they aren't all naked...these little sweeties have on robes....and check out the musical ability!

















Butterfly wings - now that's stylish!
















And why settle for one cupid when you can have four to multiply the love?

Hey Valentine! Be Mine!

Today children all across the country will take valentines to school for their classmates. Many will include candy - especially the quintessential conversation hearts. No matter how valentines change over the years those pastel conversation hearts have remained a popular treat. Below you'll find some sweet treats for you, my readers:

Sweet Sentiments

I just love an old fashioned Valentine, don't you? The artwork, the sentiment, the beautiful lettering. Flowers and birds got a lot of use in these tried but true designs.













What's sweeter than a pair of doves, dropping their love notes into a heart shaped mailbox?













What about a flower be-decked car to take your loved one for a ride?











"Peony symbol of Happiness Sublime, Wilt thou be my Valentine?

Behold, the Courtly Troubadour

Valentine's Day is coming up so I thought I'd kick off the week by paying tribute to the Troubadour, for what's Valentine's Day without a love song?

If you're like me, you probably think of a troubadour as some love-struck, renaissance warbler. There's actually a bit more to it than that, as I've discovered and will now share with you. Troubadours actually had 'rules' that governed their writings and there were many genres of songs/poems that they wrote. For example there was the:

Alba: the song of a lover as dawn approaches, often with a watchman warning of the approach of a lady's jealous husband

Canso: a love song, usually consisting of five or six stanzas with an envoi - a short stanza expressing the poet's hope that the poem may bring them some benefit (the beloved's favors, increased patronage, and so on)

Comiat: a song renouncing a lover

Enuig: a poem expressing indignation or feelings of insult

Maldit: a song complaining about a lady's behavior and character

Pastorela: the tale of the love request of a knight to a shepherdess

Salut d'amor: a love letter addressed to another, not always one's lover

Serena: the song of a lover waiting impatiently for the evening (to consummate his love)

Torneyamen: a poetical debate between three or more persons, often with a judge (like a tournament)

The song/poem could be written with religious significance, or as a political attack. The maldit and the comiat were often connected as a maldit-comiat and they could be used to attack and renounce a figure other than a lady or a lover.

Troubadours often performed at court where songs could be used not only as entertainment but also as propaganda, praising a patron, mocking enemies, encouraging wars, teaching ethics and etiquette, and maintaining religious unity.

Of course the more romantic image of a troubadour is of a young man, such as the one above, singing below the balcony of his beloved. Now here's a fellow befitting a valentine!