Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Today is July 31. What a month July has been! It has been full to bursting. . . . *Celebrating our freedom, which never gets old, and I pray never will. *Teaching a full course at UNA in little more than three weeks: intense but successful. *Lightning striking our house during an afternoon thunderstorm, melting the computer while I sat right in front of it, burning a streak from top to bottom of the huge poplar right off the deck, knocking off part of the deck in its anger, running through copper pipes in the house until it burned an exit, spending its energy in a second that seemed like an eternity. *Cucumbers and squash perishing in the record heat. The tomatoes dug in and continue to fill out biscuits and salads. *Sharing hurt and losses and joy and music with dear friends. *Finding a new connection group full of strength and kindness. *Watching granddaughters grow brown and tall as they soak up the summer. *Enjoying music at Handy Fest, tapping our f...

SOME keep the Sabbath going to church; I keep it staying at home, With a bobolink for a chorister, And an orchard for a dome. Some keep the Sabbath in surplice; I just wear my wings, And instead of tolling the bell for church, Our little sexton sings. God preaches,—a noted clergyman,— And the sermon is never long; So instead of getting to heaven at last, I ’m going all along! Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10

Celebrate this holiday Saturday by enjoying the beautiful campus of the University of North Alabama.

Remember the old songs? We sang "Skip to my Lou" when I was a child. If we didn't know or forgot the words, we just made up our own. We sang it as we joined hands in circles and marched around. Here's one version of the lyrics: I lost my partner,What'll I do?I lost my partner,What'll I do?I lost my partner,What'll I do?Skip to my lou, my darlin'. Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Skip to my Lou, my darlin'. I'll find another onePrettier than you,I'll find another onePrettier than you,I'll find another onePrettier than you,Skip to my Lou, my darlin' Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou,Skip to my Lou, my darling. Fly's in the buttermilk,Shoo, fly, shoo,Fly's in the buttermilk,Shoo, fly, shoo,Fly's in the buttermilk,Shoo, fly, shoo,Skip to my Lou, my darlin'. Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,Sk...