The Mag 143

Verdun, 1917 by Felix Vallotton

February through December

 The earth was torn apart 

As people perished

 By each other hands.

  We learned nothing except 

More efficient ways to kill

How to war is not a talent

The artist shows it well.

The Earth cries

With the destruction

And humanity cries

For ones who do not return.

I make a habit of not researching anything on the picture or the artist until I have written my piece.  I read no others so my take will be my own.  Somewhere in my outdated hard drive of a brain Verdun said war and the picture backed me up.  It is a good artist who can represent the destruction and desolation of war in the strokes on his canvas.

Visit Magpie Tales  with Ms Tess Kincaid.  Read many talented writers contributing to her fabulous blog and join in the challenge.

Thank you, Tess, for remembering. 

Veteran's Day in America

Charles F. "Pete" Greenstreet

A thank you worthy of re-posting.

We honor those who have served and those who are serving now. War is hell but we serve our nation.
We have volunteer military forces. We may neither think it right nor noble to war, however, wrong or right, we do.

I was raised by a wonderful man who served the entirety of World War II. I was taught to love our nation, our flag, and our God.  Dad served in Okinawa, Hawaii, Santa Catalina and many places that were unnamed to him.  Dad did see combat. We have the metals, but he never spoke of it. I only heard the funny stories.

Dad came home but many did not. We honor those today.

We Honor the men and women who were able to return home.

We Honor the men and women who are serving now.

Dad, although you're not with us anymore, Thank you.  We love you.  I can feel you in the wind, in the trees, in the land...AT THE FARM!

Saturday Centus 133 Birth...

I look forward to MS Jenny's prompt each week.  One hundred four words exactly!  I've had this ditty written awhile but Blogger is doing the blue circle dance today and it has taken over an hour just to get these words on the page.  Join the fun and may you avoid the blue circle.

BIRTH

Seeing white, seeing red
Why am I tied like this?
My feet are wrong
Now I’m really pissed

Cylinders of gas
Unseen faces being cursed
Trying to throw things
Aiming for the nurse

Don’t tie me down
You know I can’t breath
This damn thing
Is truly killing me

The pain was excruciating
The doc didn’t help
When I grabbed poor Hubby
All he did was yelp

I bemoaned my condition
I swore never again
I swore off sex
and I swore off men.

Then I heard a simple word
“Push” was my command
Now that made it simple
And I held Hubby’s Hand.

How Not To Make A Checker Board Table...

I guess I have retired to be a full time home carpenter.  I know I am not good enough to hire but, by golly, I am getting a few things repaired.  The first of which was my now famous pink, uh, Plum room.  Done, finished.  Next room.  Cyber Green is the chosen color.  It is one of those almosta colors, almosta yellow, almosta green.  Anywayyyyy, I have all the furniture from the computer room shoved into the next room in preparation to tear out this sagging floor.  Chip board I loathe thee.

I understand now why Tractor Man avoided that plywood like the plague.  This is not a fun job, it is not a fast job but it an entertaining job that I do sidetrack from quite often.

Thus the ugly picture above.  This is an unwanted fiberboard shelf from the computer table I used in the Plum room.  These are some old table legs that I saved.  Put the two together you got a table.

I carried it outside, used my left over toolbox paint and camo'd the underside and the legs.  I not one for wasting much.  I was proud when my purple can was empty and it could be tossed.  One more thing that doesn't have to be handled again.

 I sanded the beautiful plastic wood veneer top so it would hold the paint.  I have sealed the under side.

 Meet Cyber Green...yep, this is my next room's color.  Plays off the pink, uh, Plum quite nicely.

Two coats are required to make a lovely finish and please keep in mind none of these beautiful photos have been Photo Shopped or Flicker Fixed.  This is my project right outta the camera.

 I taped.

I painted and sponge painted.

 I goofed!  Where's my checker board?

I taped again and yes, that is my lovely plum color.

Can't waste a thing!

I carried it outside.  After a few touch ups I sprayed the entire top with a clear shiny coat of polyurethane.  Meet my new Plum and Cyber Green game table.  It would have been easier to throw some things away! 

The Past Few Days...

 Jake prepared for the two day youth deer hunt.

No luck but there are more seasons ahead.

 I have a new bright spot in my room.

I recovered my ottoman.

 Trees downed from ice storms and tornadoes past
have been re-purposed

into fence posts.

 I saw many Turkey Buzzards in the air

 and on the ground.

Hubby informed me it was breeding season.

Always one to question I wondered

 how they could lay eggs this late in the year.

I'm just telling you what he said.

He said they "bond" now and breed

laying eggs early in the year. 

You'll have to take his word for it.

No way am I googling Buzzard Sex.

Fair warning...I have believed him many times

and he has fooled me.

 We crossed the great Norfork Lake at speeds too high for good photos.

Evan Zander became four.  I keep him every afternoon between Mom go-to-work time and Daddy come-home time.  How in the world did I ever have time to work at a paying job?