Faith, Folklore, and Friends

A little madness in the Spring Is wholesome even for the King, But God be with the Clown — Who ponders this tremendous scene — This whole Experiment of Green -- As if it were his own! Emily Dickinson Photos by WSR But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me: my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3

May we never have to live without modern pharmaceuticals.  The following home remedies are from Culpepper's Complete Herbal , which was first printed in 1623. My copy is a "modern" version, printed in 1814, with improvements. Parts of Living Creatures, and Excrement's. The brain of sparrows being eaten, provokes lust exceedingly. The brain of a hare being roasted, helps trembling, it makes children breed teeth easily, their gums being rubbed with it, it also helps scald heads, and falling off of hair, the head being anointed with it. Crab eyes break the stone, and open stoppings of the bowels. The lungs of a fox, well dried, (but not burned) is an admirable strengthener to the lungs. The liver of a duck, stops fluxes, and strengthens the liver exceedingly. The liver of a frog, being dried and eaten, helps quartan agues, or as the vulgar call them, third-day agues. A sheep's or goat's bladder being burnt, and the ashes given inwardly, helps ...

Photo by Mike Segar, Reuters This Saturday, we will have a Super moon--an event where the moon appears about sixteen times larger and brighter than normal. The moon will be closer to the earth than any other time this year at the same time it is entering the full moon phase.   It should be spectacular both Friday and Saturday nights. For local folks, the UNA Planetarium will be open Friday night with a program about the moon by Dr. Mel Blake.  You will also have a chance to observe the moon through the telescope there.  It may possibly be the best $3 you will ever spend.

When I left the house to go to work one morning last week, this is what I saw among the jasmine vines climbing up the ironwork.  I had not seen it the day before, so this mother must have worked quickly to get her house ready for her babies.   And aren't most mothers like that? Yesterday morning, it looked like this.  Standing guard, but she has nothing to fear from us.  I am a little concerned about the neighborhood cat that visits sometimes.  I hope they make it, and that you will see more pictures here when they hatch!

They are ripe now, these succulent mulberries. Unfortunately, I won't get any. The mulberry tree near the house is full of berries. It is also full of squirrels. They get them before we can, and the birds get what the squirrels leave. I can remember how good they were when we picked them right off the tree and ate a 'bait' of them. Some battles, you just can't win.  I have my memories.

A perfect day in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Some new friends working on old crafts. . . Homemade bass with an amazing sound.  Look closely at the back. My friend, Matt Downer, fiddling away.  Matt and I wrote a song together in 2004 that is still sung when certain people gather.  And it is always a good time. :) The beautiful Bluegrass Queen Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage,  was there.  She never disappoints. You never know who might show up.  With his bullet. We were warned not to litter. There was lots and lots of cornbread:  pizza cornbread, raspberry cornbread, confetti cornbread, and a sweet one with pecans. There are many festivals in the spring that are close enough for a day trip.  This is one of my favorites.

But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 As you are waiting (serving) this Saturday, kind friend, breathe in the abundance of God and be thankful. This day won't come again.