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November 11th 2011 12:53 pm
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Rememberance Day ..... the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month. Armistice Day.
My Grandad was a muleateer in WWI... survival time rated 1 week ....and survived the 5 nightmare years. My Dad was on long range penetration behind enemy lines in Burma for 4 out of the 5 years of WWII .. survival time reckoned at 2 weeks... he did 4 years.. Neither talked about the horror and the nightmares... they spoke of the comradeship and selflessness of others.
I like all of us grew up honouring the men and women who bought our freedom with their lives.. and their hopes... and their bravery. Many since have continued this sacrifice in more pointless wars.. and there have been over the centuries amazing acts of sacrifice in the name of Freedom.
Freedom isnt Free and a "Right" isnt a Right... is earned.. with a few exceptions..... and all of us.. combatant.. or non-combatant have a duty of responsibility to see these sacrifices arent in vain.
My beloved Dad died 10th November 1984 .. he was just short of his 63rd birthday ... there is always an extra bitter-sweet about this time of year.
At the going down of the Sun and in the morning......
We will Remember Them
For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
We will remember them
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In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
November 7th 2011 7:33 pm
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People have been p and e-mailing me... so this is the News !
Friday night we had another Quake.
We were 50 miles from the epicentre... Cleveland County... but we rattled and shook for around 10 seconds.
This is the earthquake fault that has been getting increasingly active for 2 yrs now.Its same one as we felt in Norman that October day last year (we have now moved to our own place as some of you know... peace and quiet.. no neighbours and 2 fenced acres!!) when I thought someone had smacked into the apartment building.
It was a real 10 second shaker Friday night... its a shallow fault.. so radiates fast been 14 plus aftershocks from it since then.... but it was doing 4.7s and many more all yesterday from early hours too. I had been following it on the USGS since early Thursday (when the 1st one hit).. and I submitted a report last night after to them. Its a record breaker for Oklahoma.. small as they go... but it can stay away if it likes !!
USGS
The dogs had been restive for 48 hrs.. !! Although its been quietly bumping away yesterday as well.. but we havent felt it.
Well... at 8.46pmCST tonight we had a small 3 second rattler of a 4.7 Nothing much... but showing the "last Hurrahs" arent over yet.
The dogs are becoming excellent Alerters !
All is Well...... Thankyou too to those asking.....
We have severe storms coming through tonight and are on a Tornado Watch ... may as well keep the adrenalin going I suppose !!
September 22nd 2011 2:50 pm
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Visitors ! John and Wesley came to see us again !
Its amazing.. 100 days of 100F plus and today....it rained !! BUT.. we need it and it made for a nicer cooler visit !
SO...... it was SO good to see John and Wes again. They are on their way to the Grand Canyon and beyond for hiking. Most of you know that Flicka has had some big problemns we have had to work through. Meeting new folk.. and new dogs is still very hard for him. That makes the day today even more of a triumph. All went well.. and we even managed a real meet for the dogs. That.. for those who know what its been like... was more than I could have dreamed 5 years ago.
It was a wonderful visit.. and Lucas (bless my Little Alien !) was able to really have fun too... he joyfully has never had problems.. and it was so good to see HIM being able to have fun too.
Safe Journeys my friends... see you again next time round .. and John.... BE SAFE... you know what I mean !! We will be following the Journey !
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