Oh wow, I think I did it! Red-headed Woodpecker . . .

We were at South Park a couple of days ago and I did manage to get a few pictures but I couldn’t get the video to download on this crazy blog. Well, I think I’ve found a way. I’m working on the iPad now so I’ll just give it a try.

Quote:  The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize. _______Milnes

Trying to fix my Red-headed Woodpecker video . . .

 

Not the video I was trying to put here but it is still a good one! Puppy's Pop and the Peacock at South Park.

Quote: If I have done any deed worthy of remembrance, that deed will be my monument.  __If not, no monument can preserve my memory.      _______Agesilaus

It was an Eastern Bluebird kind of day . . .

 I did too much yesterday so today was just a plain, ordinary Louisiana Day for me. It started out cold but by afternoon we are in the 70's with clear blue skies, no clouds and dry air. Can't ask for anything better. Even my walk at South Park this morning found me dragging. Got a few photos and a pretty nice video of a Red-headed Woodpecker but it is too large to download here. I'll have to work on my editing skills. 

My UCONN HUSKIES, MEN and WOMEN are playing good basketball right now. I'd love to see them both go to the top of the National Championships. Not sure if this is the year for it but it'll be fun going along for the rides.

Quote:  A room hung with pictures, is a room hung with thoughts.  ___Sir Joshua Reynolds

It's never easy . . . not that it matters ! ! !

 

Lord, you can come up with some beautiful colors!

I miss this old birdbath.  Geez! The new one annoys me.

Very cold and rainy day but I did manage to get in my walk between the drops. Had to wear gloves, a toque and a good, old Connecticut jacket. When I got back I decided to check out some new cushions for Puppy's Pop's glider. Other than all new appliances  the furniture in our home came with us from the old homestead in Moosup. I believe that is the reason I feel so comfortable in Louisiana so far from our northern roots. I really don't like too many new furnishings and I certainly don't like spending money just to have new things when the old things are well made and comfortably worn. I never worry about anyone messing up the house because it's all used! That being said I must admit that Puppy's Pop's glider does need to be spruced up as it is no long comfortable. I've already had new cushions made for the glider in this little computer room and like them very much. I tried to reach the Newport Furniture store in Vermont but they sold their glider business to a company in Ohio and the Miller Cabinet Shop is not returning my call or email so we'll go to Watt's Furniture in Livingston tomorrow. I spoke with the manager and she said the best thing for me to do, since they don't deal with Newport Gliders, is to bring the cushions and pictures of the chair and ottoman to see what they can come up with to help me out. I'm looking forward to our expedition because I also need a new reading lamp. I have to have one available in every room where I might decide I'd like to sit and read. Yup, I need at least one more for the kitchen/dining area because overhead lighting isn't cozy for reading. I like to set my gliders near windows so I can feel as if I am out of doors at all times but this can be difficult lighting to read by when the days are rainy, grey and cold and the nights are, bien sur, dark with blinds closed.

Who knows I may even get Puppy's Pop to stop for lunch somewhere along the way.

Quote: 'Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, or carry smiles and sunshine in my face, when discontent sits heavy at my heart.  __________Addison

May have over done it . . .

To Be Desired

Yeah, I just may have overdone it today. I'm even going to skip my constitutional! We were up later than usual and decided to go to Frank's on Airline in Baton Rouge for breakfast and then hit the Hobby Shop. Breakfast was Stuffed French toast with fresh blueberries, strawberries and sliced banana. Always tasty but must admit that Frank's in Prairieville does a much better job. Puppy's Pop had his usual eggs over medium, hashbrowns, hash and the 'best biscuits' in the world. We were still too early for the Hobby Shop so we returned home; I decided I would get to my springtime work a little early. Puppy's Pop set up the power washer for me before he went to South Park. I took everything I could move off of the back porch and backed my truck onto the driveway because I decided I would also power wash the cement on the truckport! Oh my goodness. That is always harder than I believe it is going to be. What is wrong with me? I manage to get twisted up in the power cord or the garden hose or the washer hose and the wand or whatever you call it. You've got to hold on pretty tightly to it so it doesn't go bonkers on you. Well four hours later, having worked through lunch, I finally finished up. It had been threatening rain but instead we got a pretty strong wind and lots of pinky-grey clouds. I dragged all the chairs etc. back onto the porch even though I had planned to wash them also. I just couldn't do one bit more. I collapsed in my Vermont Rocker in the kitchen and finally had a snack around 2:30. I had made a pumpkin bread yesterday and it was perfect toasted along with some good hot chocolate. The temperature had dropped into the 60's so the hot chocolate was great and warmed me up as I had gotten rather wet!

I don't think I'll bother with today's Advocate. I'll just get peeved. Sitting down and working on the very colorful puzzle I received for Christmas from a young friend should make me slow down enough to get the kinks out of my old bones!

Quote:  Obstinacy and vehemency in opinion are the surest proofs of stupidity.   ____Barton

Just a little from Les Miserables . . .

 I am listening to the original French version of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I have found this free English translation in Gutenberg Press so I can pass on this passage to all and sundry. I believe it is devastating that man is still killing man to ensure his liberty yet not all people will consent to be free and live as free people. 

“Citizens,” said Enjolras, “what that man did is frightful, what I have done is horrible. He killed, therefore I killed him. I had to do it, because insurrection must have its discipline. Assassination is even more of a crime here than elsewhere; we are under the eyes of the Revolution, we are the priests of the Republic, we are the victims of duty, and must not be possible to slander our combat. I have, therefore, tried that man, and condemned him to death. As for myself, constrained as I am to do what I have done, and yet abhorring it, I have judged myself also, and you shall soon see to what I have condemned myself.”

Those who listened to him shuddered.

“We will share thy fate,” cried Combeferre.

“So be it,” replied Enjolras. “One word more. In executing this man, I have obeyed necessity; but necessity is a monster of the old world, necessity’s name is Fatality. Now, the law of progress is, that monsters shall disappear before the angels, and that Fatality shall vanish before Fraternity. It is a bad moment to pronounce the word love. No matter, I do pronounce it. And I glorify it. Love, the future is thine. Death, I make use of thee, but I hate thee. Citizens, in the future there will be neither darkness nor thunderbolts; neither ferocious ignorance, nor bloody retaliation. As there will be no more Satan, there will be no more Michael. In the future no one will kill any one else, the earth will beam with radiance, the human race will love. The day will come, citizens, when all will be concord, harmony, light, joy and life; it will come, and it is in order that it may come that we are about to die.” 

Man has never learned from the past and I don't believe he is capable of living in concord and harmony. The English translation misses the strength, beauty, truth and vigor of Victor Hugo's prose/poetry. But it is the best I can do. I do not like to read books in translation but of course I do because I can read English and French.  It seems to me that a book in translation is a very different book indeed. It must be a most difficult task to render someone else's thoughts into another language; it is impossible to do them justice.  I did try to translate Antoine de St. Exupery's Le Petit Prince into English as I hated the translations I've given to friends and family but I couldn't do it justice although I tried so hard to get it right it just wouldn't translate! I do recall taking French Lit in college and working with microfiche to translate literature from the middle ages into modern French. It was very difficult and wonderful to be able to read the works and understand them. But the translations were never poetic - never moved my soul as the original works did. I loved Tristan et Iseult in its beauty and power but translations fall flat - especially my own!

Quote:  Fully to understand a grand and beautiful thought requires, perhaps, as much time as to conceive it.   _____Joubert

Lots of Saturday cleaning . . . beautiful sunset . . . Snow Moon . . .

Last night

Ended up quite well for a grey, rather damp day. Plus both the MEN and WOMEN HUSKIES won today. We're on our way! The MEN beat  Marquette and the WOMEN beat Butler.

Quote:  He who has a firm will molds the world to himself.    ____Goethe