Full Three Meatballs Moon
Full Three Meatballs Moon
August 7, 2017
The full moon rises as the sun sets Monday night (Sunday as well, though not as synchronous) and it should be a reason (two reasons) to celebrate. Shoots FM is always a good reason to celebrate. Did you say celebrate, act wild and crazy?...
From Riverwalking by Kathleen Dean Moore, the chapter entitled 'The Mclauren River':
"But somehow it's supposed to be different for humans. A person who is alternately calm
and agitated, shifting moods the way the moon shifts phases, is (by definition) a lunatic, fr. L.
luna, moon. By this measure, fertile women are lunatics, their moods ebbing and flowing with
the phases of the moon. And what about men who move to the rhythms of the world? What
about John Muir swaying wildly in the top of a tall spruce on a ridge in the high Sierras,
whipped by storm winds, "rocking and swirling in wild ecstasy" while members of the civilized
world, down in the little valley towns, closed their shutters against the wind. What
about Sigurd Olson, a young man in an Alberta night, flying on ice skates down a broad, frozen
river, while northern lights danced in tarantella in the glowing sky? "Suddenly I grew
conscious of the reflections from the ice itself...I was skating through a sea of changing color
caught between the streamers above and below. At that moment I was part of the aurora, part of
its light and of the great curtain that trembled above me". Are these men lunatics too, because
they are stirred by something outside themselves? If so, is that a defect? Or in some way that
we don't understand, do human lives, too, depend on their ability to respond to the natural
world?
"So why in the world call it Full Three Meatballs Moon, Possum?" you say...Well there must be a story in here somewhere...
So it seems, that when Paula left to go to care for our ailing daughter in law and her two teens and one tween in Aiea, Hawaii ( our son the submariner was deployed, "can't tell you where or when or I'd have to kill you!" he tells him Mom. She has to ask, she is his Mom!) my phone began ringing. My family calling to offer to feed me because this is what loving families do for each other. First Ollie and Vivian for lunch on Sunday, delicious spaghetti and meatballs. Then Monday evening, my elder child Rachel, spaghetti and a wonderful meat sauce with her family, and Tuesday I invited myself to eat at my middle sister Marci's ( we call her Gannie) home with her children and loud grandchildren, they call it wild game night, where she feeds waifs, singles, old people, friends, and other odd relatives and friends too. Maw Maw Langlinais, Bob's mom, cooked a fine meatball spaghetti sauce, fine, really good. All three were most excellent, but it was a humorous coincident and I have to admit that I was lonely and really enjoyed the interaction with my family and the most excellent food.
Arleen B. sends the "word for the day", gratefulness...AND a short Wendell Berry poem:
From Riverwalking by Kathleen Dean Moore, the chapter entitled 'The Mclauren River':
"But somehow it's supposed to be different for humans. A person who is alternately calm
and agitated, shifting moods the way the moon shifts phases, is (by definition) a lunatic, fr. L.
luna, moon. By this measure, fertile women are lunatics, their moods ebbing and flowing with
the phases of the moon. And what about men who move to the rhythms of the world? What
about John Muir swaying wildly in the top of a tall spruce on a ridge in the high Sierras,
whipped by storm winds, "rocking and swirling in wild ecstasy" while members of the civilized
world, down in the little valley towns, closed their shutters against the wind. What
about Sigurd Olson, a young man in an Alberta night, flying on ice skates down a broad, frozen
river, while northern lights danced in tarantella in the glowing sky? "Suddenly I grew
conscious of the reflections from the ice itself...I was skating through a sea of changing color
caught between the streamers above and below. At that moment I was part of the aurora, part of
its light and of the great curtain that trembled above me". Are these men lunatics too, because
they are stirred by something outside themselves? If so, is that a defect? Or in some way that
we don't understand, do human lives, too, depend on their ability to respond to the natural
world?
"So why in the world call it Full Three Meatballs Moon, Possum?" you say...Well there must be a story in here somewhere...
So it seems, that when Paula left to go to care for our ailing daughter in law and her two teens and one tween in Aiea, Hawaii ( our son the submariner was deployed, "can't tell you where or when or I'd have to kill you!" he tells him Mom. She has to ask, she is his Mom!) my phone began ringing. My family calling to offer to feed me because this is what loving families do for each other. First Ollie and Vivian for lunch on Sunday, delicious spaghetti and meatballs. Then Monday evening, my elder child Rachel, spaghetti and a wonderful meat sauce with her family, and Tuesday I invited myself to eat at my middle sister Marci's ( we call her Gannie) home with her children and loud grandchildren, they call it wild game night, where she feeds waifs, singles, old people, friends, and other odd relatives and friends too. Maw Maw Langlinais, Bob's mom, cooked a fine meatball spaghetti sauce, fine, really good. All three were most excellent, but it was a humorous coincident and I have to admit that I was lonely and really enjoyed the interaction with my family and the most excellent food.
Sometimes the night wakes
the middle of me.
I can do nothing
but
become
the
moon
By Nayyirah Waheed
11-7-17 What a huge day! I awoke at 4 to bring my bride to the airport in Lafayette, worked a full day, came home to do the chores of two people and collapsed into my lonely bed. I truly am not too good at this already. It was an OK day and after all I do have the cats for company.
11-8-17 It was a great, wild, loud, wet, exciting rain and thunder storm this afternoon. After the clouds cleared I made the journey to Eddie B's home North of Loreauville. There after gathering up a bourbon on the rocks we, Eddie, I and Louis, his dog, walked out to the open lawn under the trees and waited for that gorgeous golden rock to rise in the east at 750. We enjoyed non-stop conversation and a really fine selection of recorded music. Louis is named Louis because of the Louisiana shaped black spot on his white side.
11-9-17 Spaghetti #I
11-10-17 Spaghetti #II
11-11-17 Spaghetti #III
11-12-17 Guys Night! Mimi is not around. I will gather them up this evening for steak and sweet potatoes and corn on the cob with watermelon for desert. Oh, and beer and wine and hot buttered french bread and Jeff's home-made sausage. Nothing green! I eat salads all week long. A guy needs a break from that every now and again, and besides it is Guy's Night!
This was a sacred gathering of brothers John and Jeff, my son Joey, our son-in-law Chuck, Father-in-law Ollie, aged 90 (his girlfriend is probably glad to have the night off so it was easy to get him over, plus Joey gave him a ride. So how cool is that?) also my bud Jon came. Then these wonderful men brought the wonderful young men in their lives, James, Ben, Josh and Rowan! A great gathering of men, so much love and laughter shared by all. Don't forget the great healing guy food, a wonderful meal!
11-9-17 Spaghetti #I
11-10-17 Spaghetti #II
11-11-17 Spaghetti #III
11-12-17 Guys Night! Mimi is not around. I will gather them up this evening for steak and sweet potatoes and corn on the cob with watermelon for desert. Oh, and beer and wine and hot buttered french bread and Jeff's home-made sausage. Nothing green! I eat salads all week long. A guy needs a break from that every now and again, and besides it is Guy's Night!
This was a sacred gathering of brothers John and Jeff, my son Joey, our son-in-law Chuck, Father-in-law Ollie, aged 90 (his girlfriend is probably glad to have the night off so it was easy to get him over, plus Joey gave him a ride. So how cool is that?) also my bud Jon came. Then these wonderful men brought the wonderful young men in their lives, James, Ben, Josh and Rowan! A great gathering of men, so much love and laughter shared by all. Don't forget the great healing guy food, a wonderful meal!
Arleen B. sends the "word for the day", gratefulness...AND a short Wendell Berry poem:
The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most
worthy, and after all, our most pleasing
responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to
foster its renewal is our only hope.
7-14-17 Sunrise reflected off huge thunderheads parked over the northern gulf rim, this morning, again. During the last five days we have had a total of over 4" of rain, today is looking like it will be a repeat performance. I love rainy days and I really dislike mowing grass. So hey maybe that is why I am so upbeat of late.
7-18-17 I picked an exhausted P, ducked into Pop's for a quick early lunch, drove her home for a long nap. We were both tired, I took a nap as well, slept in our chairs, running a household alone is hard work, that division of labor thing is so sweet! oh, and traveling the "red-eye" is exhausting!
As we napped I heard rain, I was stretched back in my lounge chair with my head up against a north facing window, it was hot and sunny out. When I heard he rain I looked up and it was like it was raining diamonds, the huge drops falling through the hot sun filled air.
7-19-17 We are still feeling sleep deprived. But because Mags (at 14, is our rising star granddaughter) and her bud Sarahbeth are singing at the Artmosphere's Singer/Songwriter Night we must get out. These girls are the stars of the Asbury Methodist Church Youth Choir, using their sister voices to "praise the Lord". Tonight they will dip their pretty toes in the steamy pool of secular song performance.
We drive to Lafayette and arrive at 9 per instructions (9pm, y'all), actually 830 because we are older and to get a drink, for that 9pm performance time, only to find out that it actually begins at 930 with performers signing up for 15 minute time slots. Maggie and Sarahbeth signed up for the 1030 slot! Oh my, groan, did I tell you i am still tired?
Right out of the starting gate we had to endure Harmonica Someone or another, who is a self absorbed hollerer, short, round, hairy, tattooed AND who was not my granddaughter, oh and who played the harmonica almost not at all. Then we listened to several more performers who were pretty good, then it was time for our reason for being there, Sarahbeth and Mags! Our girls WOWED us all, they were even called back for an encore (inexperienced and unprepared for that, so they sang a church song! Haha!). So sweet. Oh, did I mention that Mags is my granddaughter? Our heads finally hit the pillow at midnight, UGH!
7-22-17 Late afternoon when a large RTH (Red Tailed Hawk) or GHO (Great Horned Owl), at a distance, on the far side of the Prairie Meadow behind the burn pile, lifts off of a possible kill. Hmmmmmm...
7-23-17 "Full" New Moon, no light showing around our reflective satellite.
7-24-17 RTH (same one?) in a tree on driveway, launches at my approach and flies West. I sense he is watching that yard full of ankle biter canines (9) my neighbor has collected for some unknown reason.
7-25-17 Mimi announced a few days ago that we should adopt a new kitten at the beginning of each summer from now on. Our new tuxedocat, Boots, is quite entertaining. I never knew that chasing you tail could be so much fun, for everyone!
Swallow Tailed Kite over US90 at WM in Broussard. These guys are larger than a MIKI, bold black and white birds with a V tail, beautiful fliers. Both kinds of Kite eat insects, catching many on the wing. The STK is known to pick prey off of the upper canopy of trees.
7-28-17 Last day of summer session class. WhooooooHoooooo! I turned in grades and we headed out to Navasota, Tx to spend the weekend with two of my sisters, their husbands, some of their children. If I tell you that it was hot, it was hot! As the sun went down we moved outside for the star show, quite nice.
7-29-17 The weekend home sits on a 100ac "ranch" on very hilly land at about 500' elevation. Notable was the distinct vegetation. Live Oak, Hackberry, Mulberry? or maybe Basswood (not sure), I did not get close, Winged Elm, Cedar Elm, a Native Plum, Ash, Pecan, Osage Elm, Pecan and a few others I did not recognize. No Gymnosperms, no Pines or Cypress or Juniper that I noticed. I assume this is prairie country and the soils that support prairie are different than the nearby pinelands. Did I tell you it is hot? Well it is dry too folks!
"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." Loren Eisley
7-30-17 I'm out on porch at 700am trying to beat the heat and see what was happening early. I had fun watching the numerous hawks dispersing from dense woods along the creek to hunting grounds/perches and the owls headed off to bed. P and I moved out by shortly after noon to arrive home before dark. Chores you know.
On the way to the main highway we stop at Fairview Cemetery located just down the road from the ranch. Our nephew Nick is buried there. This cemetery is located on a beautiful rural hilltop. Within it's confines is an older pioneer cemetery, the McAlpine Cemetery where early settlers to the region know then as Wallace's Prairie are buried.
"Allow for space. Its as important as playing the note." George Porter, Jr. referencing
music (in landscape design as well).
As P and I raced back to the house (those of you who know me know I race not, but in Texas you better go faster or you get run over) I began thinking about how the vegetative cover of this land was changing. P was sleeping so I had time to converse with the voices in my head. West of the Trinity River moving East the landscape began like that of the ranch soon started to host a few pines then denser East Texas/West Louisiana looking mixed forest, some with palmetto, then East of the Trinity there was typical East Texas pinelands (was I in the Big Thicket?) mixed pine forest with lots of vines, Yaupon, Sweet Gum, exotic invasives, privet and Chinese tallow. Very interesting...probably signaled a significant soil change as well.
"From the angle of one's eyes to the focus of one's mind, one can never
have enough ways of seeing. And no matter how hard we look, however
much we see, there is inevitably much that goes unseen."
David M. Carroll, Following the Water, a hydromancer's notebook
7-31-17 Thanks to David Lee for suggesting that I read 3 Brian Doyle books. I read The Plover, Mink River and Martin Martin, reading Martin Martin last as recommended by David. Thanks friend.
"The life of the mind is not the rotation of a machine
through a cycle of fixed phases, but the flow of a torrent
through its mountain-bed, scattering itself in spray as it
plunges over a precipice and pausing in the deep
transparency of a rockpool." R. G. Collingwood
OK y'all it is off to work for me, finally. Thanks for listening! I'm planning on walking out Mondy night with my lady, three cats and a bottle of tart red to toast the moon and you my buds. I hope you do the same. Take the kids and old folks. Share it all, stories, jokes, giggle together, listen, love on one another, touch each other, oh, and go unplugged, you might even have a good time without that distraction.
peace love possumhugs
BT
As we napped I heard rain, I was stretched back in my lounge chair with my head up against a north facing window, it was hot and sunny out. When I heard he rain I looked up and it was like it was raining diamonds, the huge drops falling through the hot sun filled air.
7-19-17 We are still feeling sleep deprived. But because Mags (at 14, is our rising star granddaughter) and her bud Sarahbeth are singing at the Artmosphere's Singer/Songwriter Night we must get out. These girls are the stars of the Asbury Methodist Church Youth Choir, using their sister voices to "praise the Lord". Tonight they will dip their pretty toes in the steamy pool of secular song performance.
We drive to Lafayette and arrive at 9 per instructions (9pm, y'all), actually 830 because we are older and to get a drink, for that 9pm performance time, only to find out that it actually begins at 930 with performers signing up for 15 minute time slots. Maggie and Sarahbeth signed up for the 1030 slot! Oh my, groan, did I tell you i am still tired?
Right out of the starting gate we had to endure Harmonica Someone or another, who is a self absorbed hollerer, short, round, hairy, tattooed AND who was not my granddaughter, oh and who played the harmonica almost not at all. Then we listened to several more performers who were pretty good, then it was time for our reason for being there, Sarahbeth and Mags! Our girls WOWED us all, they were even called back for an encore (inexperienced and unprepared for that, so they sang a church song! Haha!). So sweet. Oh, did I mention that Mags is my granddaughter? Our heads finally hit the pillow at midnight, UGH!
7-22-17 Late afternoon when a large RTH (Red Tailed Hawk) or GHO (Great Horned Owl), at a distance, on the far side of the Prairie Meadow behind the burn pile, lifts off of a possible kill. Hmmmmmm...
7-23-17 "Full" New Moon, no light showing around our reflective satellite.
7-24-17 RTH (same one?) in a tree on driveway, launches at my approach and flies West. I sense he is watching that yard full of ankle biter canines (9) my neighbor has collected for some unknown reason.
7-25-17 Mimi announced a few days ago that we should adopt a new kitten at the beginning of each summer from now on. Our new tuxedocat, Boots, is quite entertaining. I never knew that chasing you tail could be so much fun, for everyone!
Swallow Tailed Kite over US90 at WM in Broussard. These guys are larger than a MIKI, bold black and white birds with a V tail, beautiful fliers. Both kinds of Kite eat insects, catching many on the wing. The STK is known to pick prey off of the upper canopy of trees.
7-28-17 Last day of summer session class. WhooooooHoooooo! I turned in grades and we headed out to Navasota, Tx to spend the weekend with two of my sisters, their husbands, some of their children. If I tell you that it was hot, it was hot! As the sun went down we moved outside for the star show, quite nice.
7-29-17 The weekend home sits on a 100ac "ranch" on very hilly land at about 500' elevation. Notable was the distinct vegetation. Live Oak, Hackberry, Mulberry? or maybe Basswood (not sure), I did not get close, Winged Elm, Cedar Elm, a Native Plum, Ash, Pecan, Osage Elm, Pecan and a few others I did not recognize. No Gymnosperms, no Pines or Cypress or Juniper that I noticed. I assume this is prairie country and the soils that support prairie are different than the nearby pinelands. Did I tell you it is hot? Well it is dry too folks!
"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." Loren Eisley
7-30-17 I'm out on porch at 700am trying to beat the heat and see what was happening early. I had fun watching the numerous hawks dispersing from dense woods along the creek to hunting grounds/perches and the owls headed off to bed. P and I moved out by shortly after noon to arrive home before dark. Chores you know.
On the way to the main highway we stop at Fairview Cemetery located just down the road from the ranch. Our nephew Nick is buried there. This cemetery is located on a beautiful rural hilltop. Within it's confines is an older pioneer cemetery, the McAlpine Cemetery where early settlers to the region know then as Wallace's Prairie are buried.
"Allow for space. Its as important as playing the note." George Porter, Jr. referencing
music (in landscape design as well).
As P and I raced back to the house (those of you who know me know I race not, but in Texas you better go faster or you get run over) I began thinking about how the vegetative cover of this land was changing. P was sleeping so I had time to converse with the voices in my head. West of the Trinity River moving East the landscape began like that of the ranch soon started to host a few pines then denser East Texas/West Louisiana looking mixed forest, some with palmetto, then East of the Trinity there was typical East Texas pinelands (was I in the Big Thicket?) mixed pine forest with lots of vines, Yaupon, Sweet Gum, exotic invasives, privet and Chinese tallow. Very interesting...probably signaled a significant soil change as well.
"From the angle of one's eyes to the focus of one's mind, one can never
have enough ways of seeing. And no matter how hard we look, however
much we see, there is inevitably much that goes unseen."
David M. Carroll, Following the Water, a hydromancer's notebook
7-31-17 Thanks to David Lee for suggesting that I read 3 Brian Doyle books. I read The Plover, Mink River and Martin Martin, reading Martin Martin last as recommended by David. Thanks friend.
"The life of the mind is not the rotation of a machine
through a cycle of fixed phases, but the flow of a torrent
through its mountain-bed, scattering itself in spray as it
plunges over a precipice and pausing in the deep
transparency of a rockpool." R. G. Collingwood
OK y'all it is off to work for me, finally. Thanks for listening! I'm planning on walking out Mondy night with my lady, three cats and a bottle of tart red to toast the moon and you my buds. I hope you do the same. Take the kids and old folks. Share it all, stories, jokes, giggle together, listen, love on one another, touch each other, oh, and go unplugged, you might even have a good time without that distraction.
peace love possumhugs
BT
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