Happy Halloween!
rhapsody October 31st, 2007
Enjoy this
e-card from
The Pixie Pit,
where
Melodybleu & I
have been playing
Scrabble online
for years.
*****************
Archive for October, 2007
A Love Letter
rhapsody October 27th, 2007
from God to us,
posted by:
5Cooliocumble92
@
(Registration is free, & open
to everyone!)
New to my library
rhapsody October 27th, 2007
No Place for God,
by Moyra Doorly -
Which was recommended
to me by Joseph Pearce,
biographer & editor
of the Saint Austin Review -
(at the recent Chesterton
conference I was fortunate
enough to attend).
Am finding the book on
church architecture inter-
esting. I haven’t finished
it yet, but will say that while
I understand that recent
church architecture (unfor-
tunately) reflects the recent
age, we have to acknowledge
that, whether we like the
design or not, He’s still there.
Imo, like everything else made
by man throughout history, only
some are exceptional to behold.
This is my opinion. Beauty, practi-
cality & content aren’t always
found altogether. If today’s
churches do not seem reverent,
well – the content is still there.
The function is the same, even
if it’s not awe-inspiring to behold.
I vaguely remember altar railings -
but mostly attended Holy Mass
in the gymnasium/cafeteria of the
local Catholic school after the beauti-
ful church building was sold.
Grew tired of the guitar-strumming
minstrels with their sweet but simple
tunes.
Would read all the readings for
the day before Mass even started,
then sit staring at the incredible
Crucifix on the wall next to me,
where I’d always sit in the back.
And as mundane as it all seemed,
you could tell that He was there.
& the reverence, though expressed
somewhat differently, was still
there, too.
Couldn’t resist the book of
music – got the choir edition
which is helpful as I’m an alto
& need it for the parts.
Both from Ignatius Press.
The Complete “Father Brown” Series
rhapsody October 20th, 2007
by G. K. Chesterton ~
online…
Thanks to:
lak611
at: Catholic Answers Forums
for the great link, which is
now permanently linked to
the right. 
Enjoy!
Was married on
rhapsody October 20th, 2007
the grounds
here…
almost twenty-five
years ago.
Thanks to Carolina
Cannonball @
The Crescat
for the
neat photos!
The Magical Broom
rhapsody October 17th, 2007
By Ernestine Cobern Beyer
It was Halloween night when I noticed my broom
With which I had lately been sweeping my room.
Seeing it move, I remarked with surprise:
“I cannot and will not believe my own eyes!
A broom doesn’t move from its place by the shelf!
A broom is a broom!” I declared to myself.
Yet it struck me as strange when I noticed, my dears,
That the broomstick was growing a couple of ears;
And I have to admit that I turned rather pale
When all of a sudden it sprouted a tail.
Said I to myself: “I am dreaming, of course!
A broom doesn’t turn itself into a horse!”
Refusing to look at the broom any more,
I hurried away, and I opened the door.
But there I was stopped by a queer little sound.
I paused with a shiver, and glancing around,
I lectured myself in my sensible way:
“You’re hearing things, silly! A broom doesn’t neigh!”
Little I knew! ‘Twas uncanny, of course,
But the broom had become a complete little horse!
He pawed at the carpet and whinnied at me:
“Hop up!” he invited, as plain as could be.
So I climbed on his back as he wanted me to,
Then out of the window he happily flew!
Feeling as if I had saddled a breeze,
I clung to his mane as he hurdled the trees.
Gracefully rising, he headed for Mars,
And the street that he galloped was cobbled with stars!
Now suddenly witches appeared in the night
And followed behind like the tail of a kite.
Uttering horrible cackles and croaks,
They swooped all around in their fluttering cloaks.
Heavens to Betsy! A spooky parade—
But somehow or other, I wasn’t afraid!
As my broom and I traveled that shimmering land,
The Man in the Moon waved a glimmering hand
And cheerfully hailed me, inviting me, please,
To stop for a bite of delicious green cheese;
But before I could answer a yes or a no,
We were sliding the sky to the valley below.
I was back in my own little cottage again.
I looked at my broom very sternly, and then
Said I: “I have never been out of this room!
It couldn’t have happened! A broom is a broom!
And untangling a cloud from its bristles—-once more,
I stood it aslant in its place by the door.
***************************
‘Tis the season for
rhapsody October 13th, 2007
Luke the Duke
By Ernestine Cobern Beyer
Luke was a ghost who had been a grand duke
In satin knee-britches and powdered peruke.
Now a ghost, as you know, is supposed to be scary,
But Luke was a phantom both timid and wary.
In fact, he knew well he was woefully wanting;
He hadn’t the ghost of a talent for haunting.
Sighing, he thought: “I’m a shame and disgrace
To every respectable ghost in the place!”
So to boost his morale, he began then and there,
To hunt for some promising mortal to scare.
Well, floating along in his usual way,
Whom should he meet but young Donald O’Shay?
Luke studied the lad and decided that Don
Was an excellent prospect for practicing on.
By all ghostly rules, as he certainly knew,
He should mutter at once a lugubrious “Boo-oo!”
But would you believe it, before he could do it,
A funny thing happened—-young Don beat him to it!
“Boo, you old ghost!” shouted Donny O’Shay.
“You don’t scare me a bit. Now get out of my way!”
Recoiling from Donald in terror complete,
Nervous old Luke nearly leapt from his sheet.
Instead of depriving his victim of breath,
And properly scaring him nearly to death,
The lad turned the tables (some feat to contrive!)
And frightened the timorous phantom alive!
Home hurried Donald—-a hero, gadzook,
While dressed in knee-britches and powdered peruke,
Went lively old Luke, once again a grand duke.
Thank you again to
Barbara Beyer Malley.
*K*
************************
A Question from an email
rhapsody October 13th, 2007
from Barbara Beyer Malley:
“These comments make me
very, very happy. I have been
feeling sad because for some
reason, my new activity book,
Read Me a Rhyme, Please, has
not done well since publication
a year ago. It may be because
it is much longer than the first
two and therefore much more
expensive. But the publisher
kept saying, “The longer the
better.” I would appreciate
feedback. I know the poems
are wonderful. Could it be
that the illustrations are off-
putting because some are too
much like cartoons? Thank you
dear people for lifting my spirits.
Jeeves, Jr.”
Well, in my opinion $19.95 is not
an outrageous price for an activity
book of this quality – an excellent
teaching tool that can be used over
& over again for instruction, & for
the introduction of both reader &
listener to the ever-enchanting
verse of Ernestine Cobern Beyer.
Barbara has, for quite a while now,
allowed me to publish her mother’s
work on this blog. For the month
of October, ’spooky’ poems will once
again be featured.
For anyone interested, search this
blog for the poetry of Ernestine
Cobern Beyer – & please comment
if you find yourself enchanted by
the work of this woman, who sang
with Enrico Caruso before giving up
singing to raise her family, provided
additional income by her published
verse, & received an award from
the National League of American
Penwomen in the early seventies,
before she passed away…
& are as confused as I am as to why
she has remained a virtually unknown
American treasure.
I thank you again for taking the time
to be delighted by her delightful work,
which will continue to be posted here,
so long as I’m a-bloggin’!
************************
October marches on
rhapsody October 13th, 2007
Time to listen to & vote for
our favorite weekly podcast,
Episode #100 of:
Christus Vincit ANYWHERE!
Follow the link to vote at
Podcast Alley -
Email verification required.
& congrats to BMP for a job
very well done!
PS:Anybody else having a
difficult time connecting
to the podcast?
Excellent coverage
rhapsody October 11th, 2007
of this past weekend’s
Chesterton conference
over at:
Chesterton and Friends,
by
View from the choir’s
Lee Strong.
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