I Don't Care To

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Church had just let out and the parishioners were filing by shaking the preacher's hand. As one older lady came by, his wife standing close by asked her if she would be interested in going to a regional church meeting later that week with them.

Dad pastored a little country church in a southern Missouri town, called Cape Fair. We had just moved there a few months earlier, from a field assignment in western Kansas. Beth and Ira Wagner had answered the call to the ministry while still living in New York State. They attended a bible school graduating in 1957. From there they had first been placed in a western Kansas community before moving to Cape Fair. It was now 1958.

The lady answered cheerfully, "I wouldn't care to." Somewhere in the conversation one of them had told her the day and time they planned to go. Still learning Missouri, hillbilly colloquialisms, they weren't quite sure what she meant.

The day came and Beth and Ira were ready to head to the meeting, (probably an IFCA* meeting held in nearby Galena, MO.). Beth mentioned to Ira, "We better go by Erma's** house and just make sure whether she wants to go or not." [**I don't remember the lady's real name.]

They drove by her house, and into the driveway. Sure enough, she was ready and waiting to go, watching for them to arrive. They learned that day that her response meant, 'she wouldn't mind going, she would enjoy it.' Not that 'she cared nothing about the trip, whatsoever. '

That was a close call and a fast learned lesson of another Missouri colloquialism. They were glad they decided to stop and make sure what she wanted to do and not pull a faux pas and leave her behind!

***************

There's a lot of people I do remember from that country church, even though I was only in the 4th grade and part of the 5th.

Willie and Jaunita Withnall. He was a deacon and always wore overalls. They lived by a store which I think they ran.

Mr and Mrs Jorden who had fraternal twin boys. They didn't even look like brothers. One was tall and skinny, the other was shorter and not-so-skinny. For many years, I remembered their names, but can't recall them now.

Elderly Mrs. Smith who still came to church. She was a typical, sweet little-ole-lady, bun and all. Her husband who was in his upper 90's was unable to come anymore. (I want to say he was also blind, but I'm not sure). Mom and Dad visited with them frequently. They lived in a white clapboard house, right along the edge of the road about a mile or so 'from town.' We would sit in the quaint, homey living room while Dad read scripture to the gentleman and have prayer before we left, on every visit. (Religious pictures and crocheted art hung on the walls.)

On Sunday afternoons, we would go to Wooley Creek. A group of people met there in the school house for Sunday School whether they had any preachin' or not. So we would go out and Dad would do the preachin' for the folks. The Fosters and the Jones attended Wooley Creek.

The Jones were a fairly large but poor family. Their father was like Pa in Little House on the Prairie. Their Pa played the fiddle. The kids would sing, especially three of their girls. They would lean back in the dining room chairs around the pot bellied stove, swinging their bare feet while balancing on those back chair legs, singing their lungs out! Ah, those were the days.

These days folks have an annual singing at Wooley Creek, I learned last year. I need to go.

************

(*Independant Fundamental Church of America)

Pictures of Water

Earlier this year a friend and coworker asked me to write a poem about water, since our Summer Reading Program theme was "Water Your Mind." Later we presented this poem at a Poetry Reading, as a duet, each reading half a line. It was fun, and had a nice effect on the presentation. It was arranged a little differently than presented here, but I like the outline this arrangement gives.

PICTURES OF WATER (Set)

SUMMER:

Puddles. Pools.
Foam. Fun. Spray. Sun.
Tributaries. Sanctuaries.
Waves. Swells. Tides. Wells.
Drips. Drizzles. Drops. Frizzles.
Angry. Gentle. Blinding. Mental.
Flooding. Fury. Torrents. Hurry.
Moisture. Misty. Moody. Mystery.
Cleansing Shower. Energy. Power.
Rolling. Crashing. Pounding. Smashing.
Drowning. Dragging. Dripping. Nagging.
Cascades. Ocean Sprays. Everglades. Dreamy Days.
Embryonic Universe. Unexpected Lightening Burst.

WINTER:

Peaks. Poles.
Peace. Place. Slow Pace.
Sleet. Slush. Snow. Mush.
Conversation. Transportation.
Crystals. Falling. Quiet. Calling.
Freezing. Chilling. Bone-drilling.
Avalanches. Landscape Blanches.
Crushing. Crafty. Blanket. Drafty.
Glaciers Thawing. Gouging. Clawing.
Farm pond Skating. Snowman Making.
Ice Blocks. Icebergs. Snow Peaks. Snow Birds.
Snowflakes. Snowfalls. Snowdrifts. Snowballs.

~ ~

Peace. Strife. Death. Life.

Quietly Laughing. Blubbering. Gaffing.
Boisterously Bawling. Lazily Crawling.

Deep and moving. Roving at will.
Limpid and languishing. Shallow and still.

Renewing. Life-giving. Refreshing the living.
Death, Strife; Peace, Life.

-by Suzanne Guinn. 16 February 2010

Fern Isabel Coppedge

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I just learned of this American painter, on Antiques Roadshow. I have never heard of her before, but I LOVE her artwork. It is impressionistic, yet primitive, soft yet bold, homey and avant garde at the same time, especially in her day for the paintwork itself but also because the painter was a woman.

Here are some examples.
The Delaware Valley

Hillside Village

New Hope

Mountain Creek

Unlike most of her artist friends, she was a "plein air" artist - painting on location, year around. It has been said that she could be found painting from the back of her car until her fingers were stiff, in the winter. She was part of a group of women painters called the "Pennsylvania Ten" who lived in New Hope, Pa. I hope you enjoy these. If you want to see more, just type in her name in Google or other search engine. I think I found about 80 distinct pictures on line.

Reader's request

I received a request from someone I don't know who read my poem, "My Favorite Season" that I posted in November. She wants to use it in a (church) service. Surprising, but pleased it is being a blessing to others beyond my 'world.' This shows what an impact the Internet has on the world. When you put something "outthere" - you never know who's going to read it. "Oh, be careful little fingers what you type" - to paraphrase a children's SS song.

Another song to memorialize our soldiers

Brothers in Arms
Sung by Celtic Thunder
written by Mark Knopfler

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arm

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Memorial Day remembrances - The Green Fields of France

One of my new favorite music groups is Celtic Thunder. One of the songs they record is "The Green Fields of France." It is perfect for remembering all those who have died for their country and for others. Below is lyrics of their version of the song.

In researching the lyrics to make sure the words below were correct, I found a website, posted at the end, that tells about the man who wrote the song. In looking at the website, I discovered that there is another verse to the song that CT does not sing, as well as some adjustment to the words. I hope you enjoy this ballad, and take the time to visit the website that tells of the writer and the song. (Link at the end of this post.)

This Memorial Day, take time to remember those who have died on your behalf: Those who died for your freedom and The One who died for your soul.

The Green Fields of France

1. Well how do you do, young Willie McBride?
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
And rest for awhile `neath the warm, summer sun.
I’ve been walking all day and I’m nearly done.

I see by your gravestone you were only 19,
When you joined the great fallen in 1916.
Well I hope that you died quick and I hope you died clean.
Oh Willie McBride was it slow and obscene?

Chorus--
Did they beat the drums slowly?
Did the play the fife lowly?
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?
Did the band play the Last Post and chorus”?
Did the pipes play the “Flowers of the Forest”?

2. Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?
In some faithful part, is your memory in shrine?
And though you died back in 1916,
In that faithful heart, you’re forever 19.

Or, Are you a stranger without even a name,
Enclosed forever behind a glass pane?
In an old photograph torn, and battered and stained,
Faded to yellow in a brown leather frame?

3. Now Willie McBride, I can’t help wondering why,
Do those who lie here know why they died?
Did they really believe when they answered the cause?
Did they really believe that this war would end wars?

But the sorrow, the suffering, the glory, the pain,
The killing and dying, where all done in vain.
But to Willie McBride it all happened again
And again and again and again and again.

Check out this website regarding the song and who wrote it: Aftermath.

Happy Memorial Day.
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Bloggers' Delimma

What does a blogger blog about if there isn't a specific theme, like their profession, or dedicated topic (faith, politics...), or other specialized blog? If it's just a general type blog what do you blog about?

I saw a report of someone bemoaning bloggers and people on social networking site who talk about going shopping, or going to work/coming home or other mundane activities of life. 'Who cares if you just got up or heading to bed?' was the complaint. Why would you want to announce to the world the minutia of life? Remember that anybody can read your blog. (Well some are subscribers only, but not all.) Do you really want the whole world to know you just got up???

So, do you use it as a soapbox to let off steam? Or do you use it as a creative writing outlet, like your latest poem (guilty!) Or should a personal blog be used to vent about what is going on in politics, entertainment or the front page, complain about ______________? You fill in the blank. Or is it your e-diary?

I don't blog (obviously) very frequently on this blog because of some of the reasons given above. Many thoughts and ideas go through my mind - especially when I'm not sitting at the computer, - of things that might be good to post. But life gets busy and time goes by without getting them posted. I don't even always have time to read all my email - partly because I get so many forwards, or email from places of business that now have my email address. I probably delete more than I read. By the time I check my email, the news and FB, I don't have the time to think about what to blog.

Well today, I do have something I want to post. And believe it or not, it came from an email forward. But I thought I would put it here and not take the time to forward it on to others. If you read this and want to look into it, you may. If you don't want to, that's fine. And you will not have to worry about forwarding it on to someone else.

This is thinking outside the box! Whoever is the marketer for this Dutch business has a good imagination. Here it is. Enjoy.

Now, here's my poem 'for the day.' Actually the pastor mentioned the first three lines in his sermon today. I just added the 4th, as this is what I could 'hear' in my head as he was speaking - as if it was going to be the next thing he said. It wasn't:

When life is overwhelming,
When life seems to be unfair,
When life has taken your joy and peace,
Remember that God is there.

"by Ron Fields/Suzanne Guinn"

Well, good night folks. I'm going to bed. (well, soon anyway.)
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Rogers Art Guild update

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I know, you want to know how the judging turned out. So, no, I didn't win anything. But I really didn't think I would. The judge is an art teacher from MO. She was very helpful and gives suggestions how to make your picture even better. :-) She gave me some very good suggestions for mine.

The Best in Show was also my favorite of all the paintings. It was of an Amish girl and her dog - a very good display of atmosphere, feeling as well as compositon, values etc. She was standing in the shade of a tree, facing her dog and he to her. You could almost "hear" her talking to him.

The judge discussed several of the paintings to the members. It was very instructive to hear the comments she made. Congratulations to all the winners! Job well done.

Here's my favorite of my three. It is called The Potted Plant:



This next one is called The Grocery List. Have you ever just 'scribbled' all over the page, overlapping lines and circles, then colored in the spaces? This piece it taken after that idea.




This last one is a result of cataloging too many science fiction at the library. All three of these piece are outside of my usual style, but especially this one. It is a little on the weird side. Whoever saw green water with yellow foam, or red rain??? It is called What is Reality.





ENJOY!

Rogers Art Guild

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Last year I joined RAG, (Rogers Art Guild), partly because I need to get back into my art and this will be a way to motivate me. I really don't have a lot of time to devote to it, and I can't even attend most of the meetings. But with one Monday off a month, once in awhile it falls on the meeting day. So I have been able to attend 2 meetings now since last fall.

Their Annual Spring Show (which is juried) is in May. I had experimented with some abstract art and some "science fiction" type pictures - very uncharacteristic for me - this past year. So I framed three items and submitted them. We'll see what happens. I don't expect any awards, there are a lot of very good artists in the guild. Judging is May 3rd.

If I could figure out how to post pictures on the blog, I'd post pics here. I'll see what I can do.

Earthquake in NW Arkansas

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A 2.5 earthquake occured in Centerton, AR a few days ago, on Thursday, (Apr 29th) I believe. The quake actually was several hundred miles below the surface. But there were reports around the area. One person heard a loud boom, someone else noticed the lights at work swinging and wondering why, others saw other things moving, too. But overall it was so minor that it wasn't noticed by most and no damage was reported.

Centerton is about 12 or so miles n.w. of Rogers where we live. And, no, I didn't know about it till it was reported.