Eyes And Ears

 Our senses are the greatest part of our body!  We have many opportunities to enhance those senses—for my eyes they are many great, interesting, teasing rewards—lately, these two books have taken center stage—

Jennifer Ryan has given us two different looks into the lives of WWII women.

“The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir”

The men are away fighting and the choir is void of men’s voices; the vicar has called a halt to the songs.  Women of  Chilbury Village decide to carry on the singing!

“The Kitchen Front” gives us an insight into cooking in a food rationed kitchen.  To offer some uplifting courage to housewives, BBC radio program, “The Home Front”, is holding a cooking contest.  What better way to earn some money to assist with their challenges?  A story that takes four women from different walks of life to a competition that might create conflict or togetherness. 

And boom!! I was back into WWII again.  There are way too many stories that we never heard about this war!  One night last week we watched “Greyhound”, a movie about a international convey of 37 ships on a mission across Atlantic Ocean to deliver soldiers and supplies to Allied forces.  Intense!  For me, an unknown story of remarkable bravery and lost souls fighting for freedom. 

My ears behold stories of mystery, intrigue, energy, stories of old, love and romance—

Two podcasts that will engage your hearing sense are:

Murder me on Monday—a mother/ son take of murder from days of old—this from UK. 

How about classic literature? 

Craftlit has recorded many classical books that are public domain—Jane Austin books, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.  

maybe books I wouldn’t read on my own but Cratlit gives us a chance to hear these tales along with some crafty news.  Up now is “The Three Musketeers”—

Come along and tantalize these two senses and maybe, you will use your other senses—taste, touch, smell! 

Z= THE END!

 I did It!  I made it to Z!  Not sure all my previous blogs are worth anything but to me, it's challenge, I completed. 

Challenges are goals we set to finish; at least, I try to achieve!  The month has flown by!  Our journey achieved many deadlines, accomplishments, sweeping goals and positive outcomes! 

We celebrated four birthdays; a successful walk with family and friends for CDH babies, the homecoming of our great grandson from NICU, where he resided since his birth on February 17.  Joyous occasions to celebrate!! 

We gazed at the dark sky as we sipped delicious wine; we even finished our taxes on time!!; the most blessed event was our family gathering to welcome another Easter Day. 

Indeed it was challenging April with many opportunities. 

Yesterday!

 Yesterday!   

X

• X marks the spot!
• X In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christos (Christ) begins with the letter "X," or chi.
• Thought to be the most powerful letter in the alphabet, the letter X is used in many areas of life, from astronomy and science to algebra and spirituality. 
• The skull and crossbones symbol has long been associated with danger and death, 
• is believed that the X can ward off evil spirits 
• a value that is not yet known
• included at the end of a message and means kisses.
• The twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet: from a western form of the Greek alphabet.
• What a letter to mean so many different things!

Walk To Save A Life

Recently, we organzied a walk through the neighborhood for a dear cause--Our great grandson,

JD, Jerry Duncan, was born with CDH  (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia)  He is doing well after his surgery and finally came home from NICU after two months and two days.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs in an unborn baby when there is a hole in, or incomplete formation of, the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs that is responsible for breathing). This hole allows the abdominal organs (eg. spleen, liver, intestines, stomach) to move into the chest, and prevents the lungs from developing normally because of the lack of space to grow. The defect can occur on the left side, right side, or both sides. The defect is usually discovered on ultrasound before the baby is born.

We had a nice turnout for this event and will likely do this every year to support all CDH babies.

Here is photo of our little CDH boy--JD!

 

Voodoo Queen

There is a great tale about the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau.

Visiting New Orleans, it is a must you go by Marie's tomb, located in Louis cemetery #1

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A little aside here--my brother visited us in NO, driving a brand new car, which he parked right outside the gates of cemetery.  As we walked through the tombstones and came to Marie's tomb.

The belief is that one must break off a piece of brick from another tomb, spin around three times, scrape three X's onto the tomb, and do some sort of knocking on the tomb. Then an offering should be left at the tomb and your wish will be granted. X's that are circled are said to mean that the wish had come true

My brother said " I don't believe in this" and he walked on; coming back to his new car--it wouldn't start!   He tried and tried--it still wouldn't start.  We said to him, "better go back to Marie's tomb, leave

 an offering, knock three times and place your X's, spin around 3 times

He did that!  Went back to the car and it started!  

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Read about Marie, she is an interesting person.

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Unusual People

Do you read books about unusual people and unusual topics? 

Of course, there have been movies made about the following people; somehow, reading the books are more enjoyable.  If you have ever visited Denver, you can tour the home of Margaret Brown--very interesting story tour.

 Margaret Brown, posthumously known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a passenger on the RMS Titanic which sank in 1912 and she unsuccessfully urged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field to look for survivors.  Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a passenger on the RMS Titanic which sank in 1912 and she unsuccessfully urged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field to look for survivors. 

Born: July 18, 1867, Hannibal, MO

Died: October 26, 1932, Barbizon Hotel, New York, NY

Children: Lawrence Brown, Catherine Ellen Brown

Spouse: James Joseph Brown (m. 1886–1909)

Siblings: Mary Ann Collins, Helen Tobin, Daniel Tobin, Catherine Bridget Tobin, William Tobin, Michael Tobin

Parents: Johanna Tobin, John Tobin

This book is so earth shaking!  It's hard to believe this fellow met so many obstacles during WWII.  There is also a movie.  Unbroken! 

Louis Silvie Zamperini was an American World War II veteran, an Olympic distance runner and a Christian Evangelist. He took up running in high school and qualified for the United States in the 5,000 m race for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing 8th while setting a new lap record in the process. 

Born: January 26, 1917, Olean, NY

Died: July 2, 2014, Los Angeles, CA

Spouse: Cynthia Applewhite (m. 1946–2001)

Siblings: Pete Zamperini, Sylvia Zamperini, Virginia Zamperini

Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead--  There are many books about this event

Isaac Tatem Hopper was an American abolitionist who was active in Philadelphia in the anti-slavery movement and protecting fugitive slaves and free blacks from slave kidnappers. 

• Born: December 3, 1771, Deptford Township, New Jersey, United States
• Died: May 7, 1852, New York City, New York, United States
• Spouse: Sarah Tatum Hopper
• Children: Abigail Hopper Gibbons