The Horse & Idioms

There have been posts scattered throughout my blog with horse photos taken of these amazing animals.  Some folks object to the horse being referred to as an animal as many have formed an intuitive friendship that goes beyond the boundary of human experience with the noble horse.  I know some of these people who trust a four legged equine over a two legged humankind in the experience of friendship.  I love to take pictures of the horse but I am not a rider.  I appreciate their beauty from afar. I realized long ago that my trust factor was broken when I first got on a horse and immediately found myself laying in the dirt trying to catch my breath.  It not only knocked out my breath but any desire in perseverance to try to become a horse rider.  You either have it or you don't and a horse is smart enough to tell the difference.  

I thought about all the references to a horse through the use of idioms. The definition of an idiom are words, phrases or expressions that cannot be taken literally.  In other words, when used in everyday language, each has a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary.  There are many idioms mentioning the horse -  here are just a few examples, both in word and in photos....

- You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.  How true this is!  In other words, you can give someone the opportunity to do something but you cannot force him or her to do it if they do not want to.  This phrase dates from the 12th century and was in John Heywood's proverb collection of 1546. 

... depends on the thirst

- Straight from the horses' mouth.  Something heard directly from the person who said it and is regarded as trustworthy.  It is derived from the 1920's meaning in getting information directly from a person or place, direct from the source or origin.

... I'm telling you the way it is

- Horse sense.  Common sense, practical thinking to everyday problems in life situations.  People with horse sense are smart and practical and can be counted on to make good decisions.   It is a familiar phrase from the late 1800's and still often used today.

... I can help you with some advice

 - Lock the barn door after the horse is gone. Trying to prevent something that has already happened.  Precautions to do the right thing after it is too late.  This popular proverb was first used by the French in the 1100's and later appeared in English.

... you'll have to catch me first

- Horsing around.  Just playing and being active in a silly way.  This kind of play tends to be improvised and spontaneous and may be engaged in by people of all ages, from young children to mischievous adults.  The term "horseplay" was first used in the late 1500's and linked to the concept of young horses at play.

... I can jump higher than you

- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.  (Even if he does have icicle whiskers!)  To complain if a gift is not perfect.  It means that you should appreciate the thought and feeling behind it - don't judge a gift by the value of the item or the money put into it.  It is the thought that counts!  This idiom dates back to at least the 16th Century.

...I'm thinking of spring

These are just a few of the idioms regarding the horse.  I looked for a corresponding phrase that would fit the below photograph, but could not find a suitable idiom.  However, the essence of this picture speaks of peace, harmony and love - or a group hug as only horses can do!  I had to conclude today's post with this picture that reflects God's attitude on love, which brings about satisfaction and contentment.

... to know is to be

I wrote a post in April of 2013 entitled "Horse Magic, a Camera & Ray Hunt".  It has more information about horses and those who love them....
Link: http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-magic-of-horse-camera-ray-hunt.html


You are invited to come back and visit The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, July 7th.  See you then!

 

 

Mount Vernon - Part 2

Mt. Vernon is a town of many signs, it doesn't matter which side of the street you are on.  Yes, you are now at the intersection of Highways 26 and 395 that carries the distinction of having three megaloads make a turn at this particular crossroad.  I wrote a post in January entitled "The Megaload", including photos of this epic corner maneuver.
Link: http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-megaload.html

 

This particular intersection is a great showcase to introduce you to several unique  establishments. Mount Vernon is home to a great little restaurant 
called "The Silver Spur".  You not only get good meals but lively camaraderie is dished out as well!  If you remember the popular sit-com of the '80s and early '90s, Cheers, it has that familiar atmosphere of good humor and playful conversation exhibited in Cheers...only in a restaurant and not in a bar.  Dale Finley is owner and operator of this western style diner and she and her staff can serve up a tasty meal from a delicious hamburger to a steak and lobster cuisine delight.  Since word travels about where to go to for a good restaurant meal, The Silver Spur is on the list of motorcycle and bicycle enthusiasts, with tourists and locals alike who stop by and enjoy.

Mount Vernon also features David Hamilton Winery, an establishment specializing in fruit wine.  The winery is located near this same intersection on Oregon Scenic Byway, "Journey Through Time" on Highway 26.  David makes and bottles the wine on site and has a variety of flavors to choose from.  You can purchase fruit wines such as Cranberry, Huckleberry, Gravenstein Apple, Wild Plum, Kiwi, Elderberry, Pomegrante - to name a few.  My favorite is called "Rugosa Rose".   It is made from rose petals and tastes similar to an ice wine liqueur, simply exquisite!  
For a complete list of wines, check out his website at: http://davidhamiltonwinery.com/
The wine that David makes is processed from organic fruits and contain no sulfites.  The fruits are either hand-picked or obtained at organic fruit farms.  David told me that he began being tutored by his grandfather in the fine art of making fruit wine when he was 9 years old. 

Also at the intersection is a quilt shop, motel and post office.  The post office was established in 1877 and has undergone several renovations since that time.  Of course it is another gathering place for visiting... note the bench in front of the building to accommodate such socializing.  Mt. Vernon City Hall is located along Main Street on Highway 26, complete with the black stallion motif on the building.  
Because space is limited in today's post,  I can't feature all that Mount Vernon and surrounding area offers, but for a little town, you have all the amenities and then some.

 

About a mile east of Mount Vernon on Highway 26 is a lovely recreational site, called "Clyde Holliday State Park". Set up for campgrounds, it is excellent for Recreational Vehicles in beautiful tree-shaded scenery with barbeque pits.  What is unique are several tee-pees that can be reserved for a camp out.  The park has designated picnic areas, restrooms and a paved path close to the John Day River where you may take a walk and enjoy country solitude.

I hope you have enjoyed the 'tour' of Mount Vernon in Parts 1 and 2.  There is much more history to explore and more local talent to share but that will be at a future time.  

Join me in two weeks on Monday, June 23 for another adventure at The Turn-Up Patch.  Until then may your days be sweet and your burdens light.  Here is another great Irish Blessing, which I pass on to you....  

"May God in His Wisdom and infinite Love

Look down on you always from Heaven above.

May He send you good fortune, contentment and peace,

And may all your blessings forever increase."

 

Mount Vernon, A Stallion & Cinnabar - Part 1

Today's post is a little closer to home than Ireland, which I wrote about two weeks ago.  This time, we learn a little history about the town of Mount Vernon, which is located in the high desert country of Eastern Oregon.  Nestled in the John Day Valley, Mount Vernon is a city of  527 people, according to 2013 statistics.  Mount Vernon or Mt. Vernon,  is situated at the crossroads of Highways 26 and 395, in the heart of Grant County.  

Mount Vernon, Oregon

The town is uniquely named not after a mountain, but rather a black stallion.  A racing horse, Mount Vernon was considered so valuable that his owner built a stone fort or stable for him in 1879.  This was done to protect the stallion from marauding Indians, who were known to be on the lookout for good quality horse-flesh to sell or trade.  Aware of this, and not wanting to lose the prize-winning horse, two stonemasons were called upon to build the fort.  

With his excellent bloodline, Mount Vernon was prominently known as a high-class racing stallion.   His safety was assured with his high-class stone stable and he went on to live out 42 years in his retirement home.

Mount Vernon Fort

This fort is still standing on the north side of Highway 26 - about 3 miles east of Mount Vernon.  A fence was built around it to preserve the structure from elements of nature, which can include frequenting wild-life and grazing cattle.

Mount Vernon is situated in the scenic Aldrich Mountains that is part of the larger Blue Mountains range, one of which is called "Cinnabar Mountain".   Located close to the town, this mountain contained an ore called cinnabar which was used in mining.  It is a primary ore of mercury and utilized by placer miners in nearby Canyon City and vicinity in the gold rush of the 1860's in recovering gold from stream sediments.  Like several other red materials in nature, cinnabar was often known as "dragons blood" in earlier times because of its' vibrant red color. The mine has been abandoned for many years following the decline of gold-mining operations in the early 1900's.  

Cinnabar Mountain

Every year, Mount Vernon hosts a weekend event called the "Cinnabar Mountain Rendezvous", deriving its name from this particular mountain.  It is a community celebration complete with parade, competitive activities, potluck, dancing, even a toy duck race in the John Day River.  A patriotic city, it is held over Memorial weekend and is festive with displays of the American flag.  The two photos below were taken on Saturday, May 24...

Flag Raising

Cinnabar Mountain Rendezvous Parade

Be sure to 'tune in' to Part 2 of another segment on Mount Vernon.  We will explore more history including showcasing local talent from cuisine to wine and let's not forget the beautiful surrounding scenery!  Join me on Monday, June 9  for the rest of the story...

Mount Vernon Sunrise

Please Note
Since today is Memorial Day, check out this post that I wrote last year entitled, "The Rite of Remembrance" in honor of the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  The link is:
 http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html

"To Make Men Free" by Norman Rockwell

A lyric from "Taps"

Falling light... falling night...

Trumpet calls the sun sinks in flight

Sleep in peace, comrades dear...

God is near.

Ireland - Duiske Abby & Graignamanagh

I wrote about "Ireland and St. Patrick" on March 17 of this year... the first of a series that I will publish about my travels in Ireland.  Today, we revisit Ireland to an unspoiled haven of Craignamanagh, known as 'the Village of the Monks' and also 'the Valley of the Holy Savior'.  It is a medieval village in County Kilkenny in Barrow valley. They call it Ireland's best kept secret because of its' treasure in scenery and ancient buildings. 

One such ancient building is Duiske Abby, which was founded in 1204 by monks from England and was completed 40 years later.  The largest Cistercian Abbey in Ireland accommodated 60 monks and some hundreds of lay brothers and served as a hostel, hospital, school and farm.  The monks were suppressed at the time of the reformation in 1536, its' community dispersed and later went into ruin.  In 1728, a thatched "Mass House" was erected and in 1812, converted to parish status.  In 1974, a major restoration was commenced and six years later, the Abby church was rededicated.

Duiske Abbey - Roman Catholic

Walled portion of Duiske Abby

Processional Door

 It is always an amazement to me to be in in such places of ancient history.  If only the grounds and structures could talk!  What stories they would tell.  One such story that is incomplete is about the Knight of Duiske found in the Abbey.  This figure is a cross-legged, sword-seizing knight on a limestone base and dates from about 1300 and is one of the finest medieval effigies in Ireland.  Carved in Ireland from local stone, it reflects a style of profound knowledge of contemporary English fashion according to history "trivia".

Knight of Duiske

Who is he, this Knight of Duiske?  No one knows.  What is certain is that he was a 13th century knight of stature and most likely a benefactor, since benefactors were often buried inside the church.  The effigy is known locally as the "Crusader".

Duiske Abbey is also home to exquisite stained glass windows.  Since I am a fan of stained glass windows, my camera was always 'set to go' whenever the opportunity came about to take photos of these wonders in transparent color.  The following photos are a just a few that show off the artistic beauty, which leaves the viewer in awe of designs in a colored spectrum that floods the sanctuary and inspires the soul...  (click on the photos for enlargement to see greater detail)

Duiske Abby Altar

It is interesting to note that at the time of dispersion in 1536,  Abbot Charles O'Kavanagh sent some of his younger monks to the Celtic monastery of Regensburg in Germany.  There they perpetuated the Irish traditional form of singing "Gregorian Chant".   The Craignamanagh people, after the struggle of successive generations, have determined to maintain the continuity of worship in the Abbey bequeathed to them over the centuries by their fore-bearers in the faith.

We will return to Ireland in a future post about more of my travels in discovery of the history and timeless beauty in this ancient land.  

Until we meet again (Monday, May 26).... here's a bit of Irish wisdom, "May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far."

Valley View, Caregivers & Baby Chicks!

Spring keeps unfolding its beauty in varied forms of apple and lilac blossoms, trees showing off their new foliage and hills and pastures vibrant in carpets of green.  The smell of fresh rain refreshes and exhilarates the senses in welcoming a new day.

Petals

Lilacs & Lace

As spring can be a season in our natural lives, so is winter.  I would like to introduce to you, my readers, touching photos of some wonderful folks who are in the winter of their lives.  These particular ones share a common thread, living out their days being cared for and nurtured by those who are known as caregivers.  No longer able to stay in their own homes for a variety of reasons and out of concern for their well-being, many go to a facility or a private home for assistance by a professional or family member. 

Valley View Assisted Living is one such facility resource. We have come to know it well, since our Doris lives there in supervised care. I am grateful for the diligent attention administered to Doris and others.  Jim and I are in close communication not only with his mother, but with the caregivers and those who oversee in this particular facility. Since we became a part of this phase in Doris's life, in the process we have made new friends with those in the senior community.  It has become a treasured and valuable experience to participate in the winter of Doris's life and to support her during this season of her journey and meet special people along the way.

As family to Doris, we take responsibility to see that she gets the best care possible in a loving environment.  This means... being active and involved.  This means... frequent visits.  This means... a constant eye out for her health and welfare.  This means... watch guarding for proper facility care. In our experience with Doris, I have nothing but praise for the caregivers and to their immediate supervisors at Valley View, who work hard to give the residents a quality of life with dignity and loving assistance in meeting their individual needs.

Mary Lou

The above photo was taken by Kim Ausland including all the pictures used in the below video.  Kim is the activity director at Valley View and is very creative with ideas to stimulate and encourage fun interaction with the residents. One day before Easter, Kim brought some of her baby chicks for the enjoyment of the residents. She captured some poignant moments transpiring between a human heart and a fuzzy, feathery chick through her photography.  Her photos show the comfort and tenderness that even a little chick can bring. With Kim's permission to use her pictures, I created the following PhotoShow called "Valley View Chicks".  Please take time to view each picture and you will truly be blessed to see an emotion in every one.  Each human heart shown has a name and he or she is truly a star who has lived a long life.  They carry a wealth of personal history in the road-map of their lives and often, just need recognition that they too, still matter. 

You can also view this clip at:  http://www.photoshow.com/watch/xx8qr8XA
It is best to view from a computer rather than an IPhone, IPad or Android.  Unfortunately, there are some "glitches" that exist preventing background music and special effects to appear on these devices as originally produced in the video.   Ahh! These days of high tech can be a challenge!

Doris is now 92 years old and you can read about her on a post that I did entitled, "Rose the Riveter and Doris"...  http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/rosie-riveter-and-doris.html
There is also a piece called "Aging in the Dance of Life"...
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html

I refer to the above links since this story is inter-related with them. 

Until we meet again (Monday, May 12),  have wonderful spring days ahead.  I leave you with this thoughtful quote by John Maxwell... "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

New Life

I'd like to introduce you to the latest addition.... the first colt born this spring on the Clark Ranch.  Surprise! Surprise! This little filly awaited us early Saturday morning.  The photo below shows proud mama with her baby and proud papa standing in the background.  

Spring has a way of introducing us with new life, just as the spiritual season this time of year. As we enter Holy Week, with the celebration of Palm Sunday, we consider an Act of Love which changed the dynamics from darkness into light in Resurrection Life.  Holy Week offers Christians a chance to celebrate their faith in honor of Christ this week in special remembrance.  It is an intense time in reflecting this journey of Jesus beginning with his entrance into Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey, and people proclaiming Hosanna!  We recall the Last Supper, washing of the disciples' feet, the agony in the garden, the consequent betrayal and arrest of Jesus which led to His torture and death on the Cross.  This end was only the beginning culminating in a risen Lord who impacted the world in influence and effect on history.

Who is Jesus... really?   The following passage is taken from this same written article:
"Throughout history the influence Jesus had on the lives of people has never been surpassed.  No other great leader has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers.  People who encounter the risen Christ are totally transformed.  Their outlook on life is altered forever.  Staying true to their faith, they do not hesitate to face hardship, persecution and even death.  Many devote their lives to serving others, minimizing their own needs and desires."
The below link will take you to this website which has wonderful information to reflect on...
 http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/english/impact.htm

 "I will rise... I will rise... as Christ was raised to life

Now in Him... now in Him... I live"

The above video is presented by xGilliam.  The song is Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)  by Hillsong.  You can also watch it at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruIAH7VenOI

 Have a blessed Easter

Meet me at the Turn-Up Patch on Monday, April 28.  "See" you then!

 

 

Time & Eternity

In my last post (March 16), I referred to an Irish proverb which states:  "Time is a great story teller".  How true this is.  Time marks the seasons of our lives as well as God's creativity in nature.  Time is a treasure which encapsulates our past, our present and our future.  Time does not determine but rather is the conduit through which our lives flow.  Time is a witness...

- to yesterday's history 

- to the current moments of our today 

- to the movement into tomorrow's future

In the course of time, the season of spring is evident in the beautiful blossoms exploding on barren trees in nature's rhythm of life.  I recently traveled into the western region of Oregon as trees and foliage are being resurrected from winter's dormancy into a living panorama of color and beauty.

Time has a way of revealing the birth and death that lies within the cycles of season.  And so it is with our lives.  We were created to be eternal, where no time exists in the Divine and yet our humanity is subject to time and to its limits.

As we are in the spiritual season of Lent, time honors  a Savior born nearly 2000 years ago and whose human life was cut short at the age of 33 and went on to experience the power of resurrection.   In the Christian community, the Lenten season can mean many things to many people of denominational faith.  Some use the passage of Lent as reconciling to God, some use it as a time of fasting and prayer, some use it as a time of reflection in consideration of the Cross of Christ.  Jesus said himself... "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25). 

As these photos show the glory of blossoms... a tree "birthing anew" in expression of life, so it is with us as we change through seasons, passing through the conduit of time, carrying within us God's own eternal life.  As we give attention and consider the beauty of the blossoms of a tree, it seems reasonable to give attention and consider the glory of the Lord within our hearts.  Our spiritual eyes are lifted to something beyond our humanity into the living presence of God and we experience life in His wholeness. 

This time of Lent in my personal conviction, is not about penance but rather gratitude to One who so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..... 

"Allegory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"

Artist - Patrick Devonas

Join me at the Turn-Up Patch on Monday, April 14.  "See" you then!