Good Charlotte ~ A Nature Walk

Wordless Wednesday

You Have Arrived....

Your eyes are closed tightly, and you hear the jangling of harness and gear on horses. They knicker and whiney to each other as they plod along. In the distance, the hollow thumping of the wagon wheels, as it lumbers heavily over the Georgia clay roads. The twitter of the birds awake before daylight. You open your eyes, and feel the chill of the early morning on your face, combined with the hot steam from your tin coffee mug wrapped snuggly in a scrap of wool as not to burn your hands. The sunlight filters through the thick overhang of tree branches woven together like an amazing tapestry worked by unseen hands. The blacksmith has just begun to heat his metal, and in a moment his hammer will ring with a clear resonance, like the bells of the town church. A young lad from the carpenter’s shop is sweeping out the last nights shavings, and carefully eyeing wooden blocks to be used for the day’s projects. The gunsmith’s shop is open and ready for business, the Mercantile already bustling with ladies looking for goods, and gentlemen sending letters, and discussing politics in hushed tones. The time would come….

Walk down the sandy lane towards the Farmhouse, and sneak around back to the porch. There are yellow grits, plain and unseasoned, in a large bowl. Mounds of white-shelled hard boiled eggs heaped nearby. Salt-cured ham sliced thickly, jams, jellies, fresh bread, creamy butter, and more hot coffee. Help yourself… we don’t mind!

After you’ve eaten, and jaw-jacked a bit with the locals, head up towards the impressive courthouse square. Although the local sheriff may or may not be around, chances are, he and his Deputy will take care of whatever comes up. Across the way, the schoolmaster, looking stern and knowledgeable, waits for the children to come slowly to their lessons. The young lads and lasses, some being bribed by a sweetmeat, reach the Door of Learning, and enter therein. All around, the town comes to life, bustling swiftly by, hither and yon, as quickly as a Southern town can care to mosey.

And the tavern? Over yonder, just on the edge of town, life stirs inside. One might not be so sure of that fact. Considering the doors closed at eleven last evening, it is a wonder that someone is up by mid-morning!

I come back around to my porch, in the clean swept yard, under the sparse trees. Just a few short steps from the porch, 2 heavy iron pots, filled with lye soap, and bees-candle wax are warming from the cedar wood fires underneath. The washtubs are brimming with cold fresh water, and a chunk of soft lye soap waits on the board nearby. That’s when the Sheriff arrives, and serves me with a summons to appear in Court in just a few short moments. Apparently, he’s been hunting me, while I’ve been hunting him to collect the prisoner’s laundry.

Welcome to Westville ----

Wordless Wednesday

Living Your History

Nothing says HISTORY, like attending a Living History Event. Other than reading a History book, how can you experience History as it was ages ago? Maybe watching a movie would bring History to life. But what about actually attending, and participating in a “Live” event?!

This weekend I will be portraying an unmarried, young Irish Washerwoman in an 1861town called Westville, located in Georgia.
http://www.westville.org/pre-civilwar.htm
Westville is an 1850’s town comprised of 28 buildings, all period, from around the country. Each building has its own function and story. The town will “come alive” in 1st person from 5pm Friday evening, until late afternoon Sunday.



People of all ages will have specific jobs, such as fishmonger, parson, blacksmith, school teacher, judge, and others. Some younger ones will even portray school students, and will attend lessons in the Stewart County Academy! Their lessons will consist of spelling words, reading aloud, reciting mathematic facts, poems, and catechism. Saturday afternoon, all eligible men will be recruited into the army, for the coming War.

There will be a large period correct BBQ that evening, and Sunday will bring a sermon at the church from a Parson of the era. Homeschooled families could easily get involved and make Real History lessons for ever age group.

http://www.westville.org/

http://www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar/WestvilleIndex.html

Color Blindness

Have you ever stepped back in Time, to a World where things are different than you expected them, or remembered them to be? People change. Languages change, customs, manners, surroundings – everything… Sometimes, Change is good. Sometimes, it’s not.

The Lack of all Color is Black – the Mix of all Color is White. (This statement is in reference to Light, not Paint.) Are you Color Blind? What does it mean, to be Color Blind? And what does Color Blindness have to do with Change?

I should rather ask… Do you see separate Colors, and Groups, or are you “Blind” to that fact? Do you see Black, White, Red, Yellow all in separate sections? Or do you see them all together as One group, as God made them to be?



Simply stated: All Colors are alike – they work together, to make Light! A beautiful combination of a wonderful Masterpiece, made by God. You would not have this Stupendous World, if you did not have all the Colors that God created, in One Place.

This thought has NOTHING to do with the upcoming election, but rather what I see, day to day, in my classroom. I have a mixed one – Black, White, Mulatto, and Hispanic! I love my kids!!! They are each so different, and so special with amazing talents, strengths, and weaknesses too. Day to day, we discuss Biblical things, Cultural things, and Historical things. My children, in My Class, know that I am Color Blind; that I see them as 1 group, but each a special one, completely, without “Color”. They know I love them. They know how Jesus treated both the Jew and Gentile, and the mixed Samaritans. They also know the World in which they live is harsh and cruel.

90% of the Churches in my area are Straight and Strictly Black, or White, or Spanish, or Korean. Calvary Baptist Church is the only Independent, Fundamental, KJV, Bible believing Church in Montgomery that is of a 4-part Mix. I LOVE my church!!! They are a true Christian group of Believers who allow any and all, no matter the Color, or Class.

This is the New “Old” South, as I call it. In some part of the area, the Old Rules still apply, and you are treated according to what your Color is. For example: The other Day, I walked into a store in which I was the only White, besides the Manager. He was standing beside the Cashier at the register (who had a better tan than I did – which is my way of saying she was Black…) and instead of greeting the Person that she was waiting on, he looked past them, and spoke directly to me. After speaking to me, he dropped his head, and went back to working, without another word to anyone. It was at this Point that I looked and noticed WHY he spoke to only me…The Cashier lady barely spoke when I moved up, although I tried to engage her in Conversation. I felt horrible, knowing that because of my Skin Color, I was shown preference.

Jesus never did that. Why should I?

I choose to be Color Blind.

Health Warning for Children & Adults

Did you know that Turtles can cause not only Children, but also Adults, a severe allergy and illness? Last September, I purchased 2 small "Red-Eared Sliders" for our classroom. They enjoyed life in a large tank, dontated by a lovely friend. The creatures, aptly named Rick & Bubba, enjoyed life in the tank, being fed by the children, and "scooting out" once in a blue moon.
However, unbeknownst to me, their algae build up, small as it was, began a deadly virus in my system. The mold, which I was very allergic to, wracked my system for months, deadly, and invisible. Until one day, I collapsed. The doctors said I had a virus, and would need rest. They treated me for nausea, vomiting, and virtigo. Two weeks later, there was no change. Another doctor took an x-ray of my sinus cavities, and found that every crevise was filled completely. (Gross!!!) I had been sleeping 13 hours a day, and taking small naps also. Although my nose wasn't running, and I wasn't coughing, there was so much mucus built up inside. The muscles in my face began to freeze and lock, and my jaw was in complete pain.
My first doctor's trip was Dec, 02. It was not until mid-Feb that I realized what was wrong. The Turtles were given away immediately, and slowly things returned to "normal". I've started school again this year, with no creatures. Over Spring Break, and Summer Break, the illness continued to shed itself. The allergy is working it's way out of my body, and has reached my stomach lining. Because of the drainage irritating my stomach, there are many foods I cannot eat, and after eating, feel like throwing it all back up.
Turtles have slimy diseases, and parents are warned to "wash your hands after handling!", but I'm telling you, don't even get the things!!! It isn't worth the medical bills, and the soul-sucking sleep your child will be doing for the next 1/2 year or more.