It's Time

It's Time


The time has come the people said
For us to change some things,

Like electing a president
Who won't act like a king,

Who will tell the truth, and
Treat lying like a sin,

Who has respect for everyone
Regardless of their skin,

Who can praise equality
And the rule of law, while

Planning for the common good
And create security for all.

Marion
September 2018

Natchez Trace

Friends of my son are planning a vacation trip to Tennessee in the next several weeks, and I asked if they were going to drive the Trace.  They had never heard of it.  Its an historic corridor of 444 miles, (710km), from Natchez Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee.  It links the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Mississippi rivers.  Its known as the Natchez Trace Parkway and Bridge.

Its an old forest trail that follows a geologic ridge line that prehistoric animals used as they grazed the dry ground going north to the salt licks of Tennessee.  Foraging bison, deer and other large animals created paths that native Americans used.  Indians blazed the trail still further and it became a well established path.

Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, met his death while traveling on the Trace.  In October, 1809, he stopped for overnight shelter.  He had been distraught over many issues, possibly caused by his use of opium, and its believed he committed suicide with a gun.  There is some question as to whether it was suicide.  His mother believed he had been murdered, and rumors circulated about possible killers, but Thomas Jefferson and William Clark accepted the report of suicide.  He was buried near an inn along the Trace. 

A monument honoring Lewis' life was erected in 1858.  On the bicentennial of Lewis' death,(2009), the first National  public memorial service honoring Lewis was held as the last event of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Today, the 444 mile Trace is enjoyed as a scenic drive, for camping, biking, hiking or horseback riding.  The path is commemorated by the Natchez Trace Parkway and Bridge.  Their web site gives information about the history and the current facilities available for visitors and vacationers.  Maps and current weather reports are also available. 

   

Traveling Tales by KimB

MrsB's post on My song of the week: Give Me Forty Acres reminded me of another song.

Traveling tales of misadventure are a common theme in traditional music. It seems that one writer is always trying to one-up another. One of my favorites is an Australian song: 5 Miles From Gundagai ¹.

While crossing The Outback,² not only does the driver have problems with his team of oxen;³ his dog doesn't help the situation much.⁴

Like all good songs there are lots of variations.

5 Miles From Gundagai
also known as 9 Miles From Gundagai

I'm used to punchin' bullock teams across the hills and plains.
I've teamed outback for forty years through bleedin' hail and rain.
I've lived a lot of troubles down, without a bloomin' lie,
But I can't forget what happened just five miles from Gundagai.

'Twas getting dark, the team got bored, the axle snapped in two.
I lost me matches and me pipe, so what was I to do?
The rain it was coming on, and hungry too was I,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.

Some blokes I know have stacks of luck, no matter where they fall,
But there was I, Lord love a duck, no bloody luck at all.
I couldn't heat a pot of tea or keep me trousers dry,
And me dog shat in me tucker-box five miles from Gundagai.

Now, I can forgive the bleedin' team, I can forgive the rain.
I can forgive the damp and cold and go through it again.
I can forgive the rotten luck, but 'ang me till I die,
I can't forgive that bloody dog, five miles from Gundagai.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundagai
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ox-wagon
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullocky
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_on_the_Tuckerbox



Maxwelton wool transported by Bullock Team pre 1908
Maxwelton Queensland Australia

How I Spent Labor Day

Back in my childhood days the first Monday in September was the beginning of the school year. Labor Day as a holiday didn't have much meaning other than getting ready for school. No more going barefoot and playing outdoors all day. The days of going to the swimming pool every morning until lunch and back again in the afternoon were gone until the next summer.

My brothers and sisters, and I had new school clothes and shoes; and dressing that morning was always chaotic. After we passed inspection, Mom drove the smaller ones to their school, but we older ones had to walk to our school buildings in another part of town. On the way we joined neighbor children going our way and chatted enthusiastically about the classes of our higher grade.

We looked forward to finding out who our new teachers were going to be, looking over the books being issued to us, and jostling for seats near our best friends. It was only a half day session, but when it was over, we were expected to be in the right class room, at the right time, with the right teacher the next morning.

It rained all day this Labor Day. I slept until 9:30am. Ate a light breakfast while watching TV. I checked the progress of my various knitting projects and decided I'd better get back to working on the afghan with the Saxon Braid motif. I had put it aside while I waited for the yarn I needed to come in the mail. These days when you run out of yarn, all you have to do is put in an order online and it's mailed to you. I had the yarn now but I was not in a hurry to start knitting. Counting the stitches in one row of the afghan is a lot of work.

So I watched TV and planned my origami crane tree.¹ I have been folding cranes and plan to make bonsai trees with them. I make tiny cranes and a few slightly larger ones in all colors. I like folding ninja stars, etc. but nothing really complex.

Today though, I spent the afternoon watching and learning how origami is used in the fields of physics and engineering. Until recently the folding a single sheet of paper with out cuts or tears into a particular shape has been rather simple with only 10 to possibly 30 steps. Now scientists are discovering that using math to make the folds they can involve tens, hundreds, and thousands of folds to achieve a goal.

NASA engineers are experimenting with origami to find ways of sending needed instruments into space. While touring various web sites, I came across one showing how to fold a Herringbone Tessellation.² Now I'm trying to make one. It looks easy watching someone in a tutorial but doing it is not so easy. I'll send reports on how I make out.

All in all, its been a nice Labor Day.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami_crane
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herringbone_pattern
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessellation