Indian summer 2008

The dam is visible behind the little island.

We have drought conditions. The water probably wouldn't be as high as the grass line in this photo but it would be where the reddish part begins. The pond is down by at least two vertical feet. It is fed by rain runoff only in our neighborhood - mostly the fields across the road. The fields are so dry that any rain we have - even an inch or so - soaks in.

The lake is pretty normal so far as it drains a large area to the north of us. Rain tends to go either north or south of us for some reason. It is easy to see on the weather maps. This year has been especially dry in our immediate vicinity. I am starting to have trouble with my well and hope it doesn't get worse.

More Friday cat blogging

PuddyTat waits for a protein supplement.

While Tim guards one of the two cat doors into the barn's cat house.

Friday cat blogging

Good afternoon. PuddyTat, Tim and Dudie. And my shadow on Halloween.

Friday shuffle

1. Cana de Azucar - Paco de Lucia
2. Lonesome River - James King
3. Come Softly to Me - Fleetwoods
4. Kicks - Paul Revere and the Raiders
5. Bach: Flute Sonata in E Major - Stephen Preston, Pinnock
6. You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving - Reba McEntire
7. Who's Sorry Now - Connie Francis
8. Holst: A Somerset Rhapsody - Davis, Toronto
9. Tennessee Rag/ Beaumont Rag Medley - Scruggs
10. Sametz: Gaudete - Princeton Singers

I had to pause and let Come Softly play to the end. sigh. I'm not used to the iPhone playing music without headphones. The Touch doesn't. The Reba song made me melancholy again. Then it was followed by Who's Sorry Now. Well, no harm done actually. So far.

Prop 8

Nobody from California reads my blog - that I'm aware of. Nevertheless, I'm willing to campaign against Prop 8 and all legislation that takes rights and privileges away from any legitimate US citizens. I pray Pennsylvania's very unChristian bigots will someday see the light, read what Jesus had to say about homosexuality, love and judgment and get rid of discriminatory legislation.

Your vote counts?

There is a very scary set of videos on Just Another Black Sheep.
Don't watch them just before bedtime.

Hockey Mama for Obama

Thanks to Chris in Pittsburgh.

World's Cutest Grandniece

Menu

A cannibal was walking through the jungle and came upon a restaurant
operated by a fellow cannibal.

Feeling somewhat hungry, he sat down and looked over the menu...

Tourist: ____________________________$5.00

Broiled Missionary: _________________$10.00

Fried Explorer: _____________________$15.00

Baked Democrat or Grilled Republican: _____________ $100.00

The cannibal called the cook over and asked, "Why such a price difference for the politicians?"

The cook replied, "Have you ever tried to clean one? They're so full of crap, it takes all morning."

Fame comes to an OCICBW regular

Georgianne Nienaber at the Huffington Post has written a feature article on one of my favorite people, Grandmère Mimi. She was one of the OCICBW folks who traveled to New York for our little get together a year ago. I was privileged to sit with her at supper.

Mimi's blog is The Wounded Bird. She is a much more serious blogger than I am. Sometimes. She is a perfect example of how growing old gracefully is a bunch of hogwash. She lives life to the fullest.

Thanks, Apple!

Apple announced it is donating $100,000 to the “No on 8” campaign, citing its history as one of the first California companies to offer equal benefits to its employees’ same-sex partners: “We strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights—including the right to marry—should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.”

Big grin from this all Apple techie. The story is here.

As seen on OCICBW, Preludium, The Wounded Bird and other blogs well worth following.

Friday shuffle

1. Amazing Grace - Judy Collins
2. El Condor Pasa - Zamfir
3. Beginnings - Chicago
4. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
5. Verdi: Ave Maria - Westminster Choir
6. Foggy Mountain Breakdown - Flatt & Scruggs
7. Chopin: Nocturne in G minor - Artur Rubenstein
8. Softly as in a Morning sunrise - Emily Remler
9. Brahms: Schicksalslied - Shaw/Atlanta
10. Bach: B minor Mass, Credo in Unum Deum - Rilling

Friday cat blogging

These are my grandnieces, feline variety, Charlotte and Besita.

If you look to the left of the metal bin, you can see Jellico, the object of Tommie's irritation.

Breakfast this morning. Dude is barely visible. Jellico is more interested in getting scritched than eating.

Cats for Obama

Check it out here.

Result of experience

I'm used to recognizing US cities in the backgrounds of news readers and reporters on TV. CNBC had a news item from Budapest this morning. I recognized a couple of the scenes they showed. That was fun.

Something is missing from the Gospels

A study by Baylor University should give Obama supporters pause as the polls give him the advantage.

"The more literally one reads the Bible, the less likely a white voter is willing to cast his or her ballot for a racial minority, according to a Baylor University survey of religious attitudes and practices."

Some people apparently either insert "Except clauses" or delete the verses about loving all people in what their Bibles say Jesus said.

There are some very interesting attitudes reflected in the study. Read it here.

World's Cutest Grandniece and Grandnephew

Nicked from Grandmère Mimi who is about the same age as my friends who will really enjoy and understand this..

St. John's Episcopal, Franklin, PA

St John's ordained and installed a new rector today. The church's website is here. It was a good opportunity to see friends I don't otherwise meet very often so I accompanied my friend who will be ordained to the deaconate in Erie in two weeks. Of course, it was also an excuse to once again see the glorious Tiffany windows adorning the church. Unfortunately these aren't the greatest photos because the sun was very bright making some of them almost blindingly bright. Also there were many folks milling around. But here they are.

BCF Vancouver 2008

Just uploaded Berkshire Choral Festival 2008 Vancouver photos to Picasa. Some are mine. Some are Beth's. If you read my old blog, you've probably seen all of them.

BCF Austria 2008

Just uploaded Berkshire Choral Festival 2008 Austria photos to Picasa. If you read my blog, you've probably seen most of them.

Friday cat blogging

Tim

Pymatuning State Park

This is our road.

Friday shuffle

1. Montana Cowboy - Dickens and Gerrard
2. Elgar: The Fountain - Finzi Singers
3. Persichetti: Celebrations, I sing the body - Bach Choir Pittsburgh
4. Britten: A Boy was Born, Noel - The Sixteen
5. Ives: Psalm 90 - Westminster Choir
6. Sleepy Eyed John/Tom and Jerry - Lewis and Rozum
7. Hard Hearted - Jim and Jessee
8. Daniel - Elton John
9. Mendelssohn: Paulus, Steinigung des Stephanus - Gächinger Kantorei
10. PDQ Bach: 1712 Overture

Well, a little heavy on classical and blue grass until Elton John and PDQ Bach.

More fall fotos

We haven't had clear days or this would be a better picture. By the time this clears up the leaves will be gone. The rain is downing them quickly.

This is the road I take to go east. It connects our road with 322E.

Pre-Friday cat blogging

PuddyTat partakes of some milk while Jellico watches. Tim's tail is visible as she is at the dry food trough. One thing good about cold weather is the lack of bugs when I open the kitchen window to pet and feed the cats. The electric cord will be connected to the heated water dish when the temperature falls below freezing. I need to make some repairs to the plastic covering the "roof" but not when it is raining as it was today. Should probably put the lexan cover back since the stock market is making further house modifications a distant dream. I'd hoped to have a greenhouse or conservatory around the back door by now. sigh. someday...

Joe the Plumber

is not a licensed plumber, has no plans to buy a business, has a lien for unpaid taxes and is named Sam. Hmmm.

No to Prop 8

I've contributed to the effort to defeat Prop 8 in California but I haven't said anything about it on my Northwestern Pennsylvania blog. I just have to post this parody of Apple's ads however. If prejudice against one group of people can be written into the state constitution, prejudice can be institutionalized against you and me for other reasons over which we have no control. The anti-LGBTs are unChristian and unAmerican. They refuse to accept the teaching of Jesus in the Bible they worship. They cannot accept people who don't agree with them. They arrogantly believe they and only they possess all true knowledge of right and wrong. Our God will have mercy on them. Will theirs?

Prayers for the Diocese of Pittsburgh

Tonight the Episcopalians in the Diocese of Pittsburgh will gather at the cathedral to hear and discuss the reorganization of the diocese now that Duncan and his associates have left TEC. At least 19 parishes have remained in the diocese. Information about the meeting is here.

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh website is here. Yes, it looks amazingly like the one referenced above which is a subset. The blog of the new president, The Rev. James Simons is Three Rivers Episcopal and is an excellent source of good news about TEC as well as diocesan news updates.

Our prayers are with all involved in this effort including those who are so convinced of their infallibility that they must tear the body of Christ apart to get their way.

Cats are like people

Earlier this morning, Dude, Tommie and PuddyTat were waiting to be fed. Tim came as soon as she heard the door. Jellico appeared eventually. The girls ate, bathed then went about their cat business. Jellico jumped up on the "roof" to contest whatever was there with Tom who sang his displeasure many times. There was no physical assault but lots of noise. Dude came to the edge of his shelf to watch and participate if necessary. Eventually Jellico retreated. The boys are still hanging around threatening each other from their chosen positions. Men!

Help needed

Of Course I Could Be Wrong is a blog which has introduced many of us to each other via the intertubes and in person. MadPriest is the English vicar who keeps us together. Unfortunately his Mac Mini has died and he needs to repair or replace it. If you have a few extra sheckles to contribute to the remedy of this disastrous situation, please go to his blog and Donate!

If you can't donate, please say lots of prayers for MP and his situation. The computer is the least of his problems.

No, that is not MP. That is Laika, the patron saint of OCICBW.

Rachel Maddow Show

I'm so happy that MSNBC put Rachel Maddow on after Keith Olbermann on weekday evenings. I'm lazy and don't like to change the channel until necessary - like the local news.

Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of people who object to her on a variety of bases. She's a she and a strong (read "threatening"), intelligent (Rhodes scholar) woman at that. She isn't blond. In fact she is a strong, intelligent lesbian. And she is, um, liberal. Horrors!

If you can deal with a strong, intelligent, female liberal who is articulate and has a strong sense of humor and irony, check her out on MSNBC weeknights at 9 and 11, Eastern time.

Chattanooga Times Free Press

More fall 08

The snowmobilers came thru with a plow and levelled out some of the moguls on the "tracks". The worst was here by the beaver dam. For years I have wished the railbed would wash out completely requiring a bridge here. Doubt it will happen in my lifetime. This year they did major repairs and put up stakes to warn the people that the side is soft. Phooey. I've always wished the noisy stinky bikes, atvs and snow vehicles would fall into the lake and drown. Not the people, mind you, tho I have little respect for them either, especially when they roar up and down at 2 am. I know. I'm old and grouchy. And I understand that some people, like sharecropper, enjoy roaring around on these things. If they were quiet and respectful of the people living in the neighborhood, I might change my mind. Ugh.

Fall 08