Patriotic Education

I came across this little geography text from 1846 and was reminded how students have always been at the mercy of the textbooks they are issued and that just because your textbook says something doesn't guarantee its accuracy. But many people cling to what they learned at their mother's knee or in grammar school, despite evidence to the contrary. 

 

When I hear people on the right yammering on about patriotic education and their fear that impressionable youth will be taught to hate the USA if given the historical facts about the slavery and genocide that accompanied the founding of our nation, my mind flashes to the tall black Pilgrim hats and feathered headdresses, both made of construction paper, that were my introduction to USA history. How wonderful that the invaders (Pilgrims) and invadees got along so nicely, down to sharing a Thanksgiving meal!

It's the folks in charge who write the histories, alas.

This little book covers the US and its territories exhaustively and moves on to the rest of the globe.  Including Asia, where "our first parents were created" and where appeared "the Savior" and the gospel "which is ultimately to bless all nations." The author is not afraid to characterize whole groups of people as ignorant or lazy or wicked. 

And while modern day texts aren't quite so blatant, I suspect many of us were taught some untruths that may still linger. I know I was taught that the Civil War wasn't about slavery (wrong) and that the Native Americans welcomed the White settlers. (Except when they didn't.)

I wonder what sort of man young Benjamin, whose book this was, became?  (I can't make out what his last name is or I'd look for him online.) 

He wrote:

 Benjamin _____ 

is my name with my pen 

I write the same the grass 

is green the rose is red

here lies my name when

I am dead and in my

grave and all my bones

are rotten when this you

see you will remember

me when I am quite

forgotten

And now we do.

 

Always the Same--Always Different

 

The Cathedral of All Souls

Built by George Vanderbilt to be the centerpiece of Biltmore Village, as well as a destination for his house guests on a Sunday morning, the Cathedral's roofline caught my eye as I was waiting at a red light. 

George's village church is a beauty--and worth a visit. More about the Cathedral HERE.

 

The Mother of Us All

                                                What a wonder she is--

                                  Be good to her every day.

School's Out!

Thursday night was the last meeting (via Zoom) of my 15 week critique workshop. Eight stalwart women were there for the long haul, sharing their fine writing and their excellent suggestions. 

We had a wonderful array of talent and genres--YA sci-fi, Southern fiction, some really excellent short stories and fascinating memoirs, as well as novels in progress--all of which I hope someday to see in bookstores and, better yet, read in totality.

It's funny--though the class only met for two and a half hours once a week, and my editing rarely took more than half a day, with the end of the class, I got that last-day-of-school feeling that all students and teachers know.

And it's kinda exhilarating. I found myself attacking long-postponed projects (bringing order to my potting bench was one) along with pulling weeds and enjoying the sunshine on a beautiful, slightly chilly day.  Then a tad of fooling around with watercolors. 

School's out and the weekend stretches before me!  

 

White Irises

 

Josie's Wednesday

Finally! Meema remembered to buy pumpkin so we could make pumpkin bread. I helped stir. It took almost an hour to cook which is like forever but at last Meema took it out and then we had to wait for it to cool a little.

Meema said she used to help her grandmother make banana bread and they cooled it on these very same racks. Meema's grandmother was named Ruby and she is my great-great grandmother.

I wanted to put chocolate chips in the batter but Meema was out of chocolate chips. "How does it taste?" she asked me.

"Two thumbs up!" I said,

Then I got busy in my workbook.

I am going to be so ready for pre-school. 

Then we went up to Meema's workroom. There is a poster on the way up of a picture by a kid named William. I love this picture. Up in the workroom, Meema did some ironing and I found some things that I could play with. Then I put them in a box and hid them. Meema had to try to find them but she couldn't. 

Meema says I am pillaging her stuff but really I'm just playing with it. I will give it back, most of it.

Later, down in The Room, I put on a tall soldier hat. Then I marched on the bed.

We also painted and read books and did a puppet show and took a good nap. Then I had more banana bread.

Ohmigosh, it was another good day!

 

More Spring Beauties

 

Giving Thanks

False Solomon's Seal

I've been so cheered by the many positive ratings and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and/or personal comments from folks who've read Crows.  It would be wiser, no doubt, simply never to look at reviews, as sometimes people can be ugly, but I can't resist and so far folks have been kind and even enthusiastic. 

Writing a book takes a lot of effort--something like birthing a child--and one wants that child to do well and for people to appreciate it.

And now, Crows has had more ratings (number of stars) and more reviews than any of my previous books. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who've taken the time to leave a rating and/or review for this child of mine.
 

Star of Bethlehem

So Many Things

Sunrise

Skink

Chilling with a snack

Rose Geranium

 

A Busy May Day

What a beautiful May Day it was! 

REMINDER: Get wet in the first rain of May for good health all year. (It's my family tradition and I interpret it loosely--get some rain on your hand and you're good.)

Josie and I made a start on Friday of moving stuff out of the greenhouse. There was a lot of potting soil on the floor and she helped by using a little trowel to scrape it up and put it in the bed. "This is the best day ever!" she said. She loves to help. And she loves being outside.

We lined up geraniums on the steps and did a bit of watering.

Yesterday I pulled weeds. It's particularly satisfying when I know the chickens (who are confined to the chicken yard for their own safety) will enjoy the greenery and reward us with deep orange yolks in their eggs.

The daffodils are all gone now but the iris are about to pop!

And the columbines! The original was a gift from my friend Candace many years ago and they have endured and spread--looking something like the flight of doves their name implies. (Columba is Latin for dove)

 

Black or Turkey? Vulture, That Is

Vultures are such majestic critters, patrolling the skies and riding the currents.  We have both the Black and the Turkey Vultures around here. It's easy to see the difference up close--the TV's head is featherless and red--like a turkey. 

But at this distance I can't see the red. Still, I think it's a Turkey Vulture rather than a Black --because of the shallow V of the wings, the 'fingers' at the wingtips, and the good- sized tail. What a beauty!

More about these birds HERE