MONDAY, MAY 1, 2023 - MAY DAY

 MONDAY, MAY FIRST - MAY DAY!!!

MAY DAY!!

As a kid (prompted by our mother - of course), my sister and I could make May Baskets.  We took a regular sheet of paper (colored paper was best), made it into a cone shape, cut some flowers, or flowering branches, put the flowers in the cone, and left it on the neighbor's doors.

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According to Wikipedia:
This tradition was popular through the 19th and 20th centuries, especially with children or sweethearts. The custom was to knock on the door, yell “May basket!” and then run. If the recipient caught the giver, he or she was entitled to a kiss.

Louisa May Alcott wrote about May Basket Day in the late 1800s. In the 1920s, some bold schoolchildren hung a May basket on the White House door for First Lady Grace Coolidge.

The May Day basket is still a cherished tradition for some Americans, although it’s not well known today. To make a simple May basket, fold a piece of colored paper into the shape of a cone. Then fill with wildflowers! If you don’t have colored paper, roll up and secure (with tape or a staple) a paper plate. Draw on the plate with spring colors and fill it with flowers!”

Three years ago I made May Baskets for friends.  This year a few of my friends and neighbors will get (mock) May Baskets!!!

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The other traditional May Day event was to wrap the MayPole.  A pole was set up with fabric or streamers and then children or others wound the fabric around the MayPole 

For some Christians (mostly Catholics), Mary is honored in May as the Mother of Jesus and there might be decorating some statues of Mary with flowers.

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From the Musical Camelot, Guenieve sings “The Lusty Month of May”

Tra la! It's May!

The lusty month of May!

That lovely month when ev'ryone goes

Blissfully astray

Tra la! It's here!

That shocking time of year

When tons of wicked little thoughts

Merrily appear!

Well - Guenieve (at least in the musical) things May is “lusty”, that everyone is going “blissfully astray”, and that “tons of wicked little thought merrily appear”.  I’ll let each of you figure out what May is like for you!!!

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JOKES

I was relaxing in a Jacuzzi the other day when my wife pointed a finger at me and gave me a really angry look… … I knew I was in hot water.

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A friend suggested putting horse manure on my strawberries.  I’m not doing that again, I’m sticking with whipped cream

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Unfortunately, my obese parrot just died; but that’s a huge weight off my shoulders

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Me:  My memory is so bad.

Aggie:  How bad is it?

Me:  How bad is what?

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I lost my audiobook.  And, now, I’ll never hear the end of it!!

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My son didn’t cope well with going to jail.

He refused to eat or drink, he complained about everything.

So, we never played Monopoly again after that!!!

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My friend keeps saying “Cheer Up.  It could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water.  I know he means well.

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My wife thinks it’s weird when I stare at the window during a heavy rainstorm.

It would be a lot less weird if she would unlock the door and let me in.

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NATIONAL DAYS

May 1, TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - May 1-7, 2023 - National Today

I know some of you have been teachers or married to teachers.  (And, I was a teacher).  Show them some love this week!!!

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May 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2023

The Brushy Creek Brass Band and the Walburg Boys are playing at the Walburg Restaurant in Walburg Texas every Saturday evening in May - starting at 7:00 pm.  Definitely a fun time!!!

Our first set is German oompah band music - marches, polkas, waltzes, (get up and dance with us).  Our theme song is “In Heaven, there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here; and when we’re gone from here, our friends will be drinking all the beer”.

Then the house band (generally the Walburg Boys will play (always fun - yodeling, fiddle playing, and a great variety of fun music).

Our second set of music is Big Band music - and generally includes some action tunes - like YMCA, and the Chicken Dance. We end with God Bless America (and I might be out getting you to sing with us!!!)

You can buy beer, bratwurst (and other foods), sodas, water, and other foods and snacks. Or … don’t buy anything, just enjoy the music and the ambiance.  

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Have an awesome week!!!  

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

LOVE LIKES FUN MUSIC

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, MAY 2, 2023

SUNDAY FUNDAY - APRIL 20, 2023

 SUNDAY FUNDAY

APRIL 30, 2023

MEMORIES

I think we need a major memory every year that lodges itself firmly in your brain.  Maybe it is a cruise up the Amazon River. Maybe it might be a memory of losing a parent, a wedding, a graduation, or just something memorable.

Last week I was at Big Bend National Park.  I’ve never been there before, so I have some exploring to do.  I think this will be one of my major memories for 2023.  

Here are some pictures: 

Top left:  Santa Elena Canyon - The Rio Grande River ate a narrow canyon here.  The left side is Mexico, and the right is the United States

Top Right - a mountain.  I always liked mountains.  Psalm 121:1 “ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Middle left - a trail going to Boquillas Canyon -  another great hiking canyon. 

Middle right - another view of Santa Elena (if you look close you’ll see people).  I didn’t want to get wet, but a man crossed with his shoes off.

Much of the park was deserted, but there were some awesome places.  

Last year, I hiked three state high points, Black Mesa in Oklahoma, Mount Sunflower in Kansas, and Panorama Point in Nebraska

In 2021, I made a trip to Wisconsin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the West Grand High School class of 1971 (I was on my first job as a teacher). And, I did the state high points in Arkansas and Illinois.

I have major memories of most years - including 2017 with my major aorta surgery.  

Do you have such memories?  

SENIOR HUMOR:

A sweet lady telephoned St. David’s Hospital. She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?" The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?"

The lady said, Vickie Keith, Room 302." The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said,
"I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Vickie is doing well. Her
blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal and her Physician, Dr. O'Connell has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."

The lady said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good News."

The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Vickie your mother?"

The lady answered, "No, I'm Vickie Keith in Room 302. No one tells me anything."

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Married Four Times

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband's occupation.. "He's a funeral director," she answered. "Interesting," the newsman thought... He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, and a preacher when in her 60's, and now - in her 80's - a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go." And, two more pictures from the trip:

Left from Chisos Mountains

Right Sunset

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen White, April 30, 2023