"As with any change, there are marvelous opportunities to be excited about as well as anxieties and fears that accompany anything new."

Then, the next paragraph said, "Here in our own community we are experiencing the addition of people from new cultures seeking to know us and wanting us to know them".

And, as I read those words, these thoughts came to my mind............'Oh, how I wished that the people from new cultures seeking to know us, and wanting us to know them, could have been at the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center at Sheridan Hall, FHSU Campus, last week Saturday evening to share in the music that the Hays High Plains Chapter of Barbershop Quartet Singers presented at their 42nd Annual Show so that they could share in the feelings that the people there, that evening, shared for their country, the United States of America'! It was 'wonderful'!

Those who appreciate the beauty of harmony were given a big treat!

It is like going to Graduation Exercises. If you are not an avid listener to the music of Sir Edward Elgar, and this be the only time of the year you hear his POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE MARCH NO. 1, because it is the middle of commencement season realizing that some students will receive their diploma, never again to open a book or sit in a classroom. This is the end of formal learning, whereas, for others, they will continue to study for advanced degrees or be involved in ongoing continuing education for the rest of their lives.

Well, going to a barbershop show has the same attributes. You may go one time, and never attend another. While on the other hand, you may enjoy the performances to such a degree that you, yourself, and especially if you enjoy music, have a fairly good voice and love to sing, may even consider becoming a part of the group that is performing on the stage, right before your very eyes! But, for sure, you will be sure to put the date on the calendar when the next annual event of the local barbershoppers is planned!

Filled to near capacity in the evening performance Saturday, (an afternoon performance was given as well), it was apparent that this annual performance is well received in this area. What a delightful evening!

The program consisted of various forms of music. Rock, jazz, old familiar songs, and yes, even comedy from the performers added to the resounding applause from the pleased audience as the various quartets and choirs gave forth their relaxed harmony pieces.

One of the highlights were over a dozen young men, guessing their ages from the age of nine or so, to young teenagers, performed! Such a joy to see the younger generation become involved sparking interest to others of this age group as well as signifying the continuation of this tradition, able to be handed down from generation to generation.

The program ended with the Armed Forces Medley where the younger performers, as the song from each branch of our armed forces was sung by the performers was heard, revealed the flag representing each branch. At this time, those in the audience who had served in that respective branch in the past, or were currently serving, were asked to stand and remain standing until all the branches were honored. (In the group which I accompanied, we had a mother, well into her 90's, who proudly rose from her seat, along with her son, as the words of ' Anchors Away', the U.S. Navy song was sounded).

After all branches were represented and honored, then the entire audience also rose from their seats, sounding a boisterous round of applause in honor of recognition to those standing.

As we stood, we knew we were honoring those personally attending that evening performance, but we also remembered the military men and women who died serving their country, naming fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins to ourselves in a prayerful manner. All of them chose to serve their country and protect their fellow citizens, knowing that they very well might lose their lives to the endeavor. They did so, leaving behind families and loved ones who prayed for their safe return, knowing that they might not see them again as they traveled to foreign shores to protect our own. Without a doubt, it was a very moving moment!

Resuming our seated positions, there was a slight pause, and then the beautiful blend of voices from the stage started with a very low, melodious harmony that brought everyone there to their feet................for the famous words of that beautiful song, by Irving Berlin................"GOD BLESS AMERICA"......sounded from below!

But, the momentious part of the entire evening was the participation by everyone there as they blended their very own, personal voices in the singing of that beautiful, beautiful, song as well!

'God Bless America! Land that we love. Stand beside us, and guide us...........'

Are YOU singing yet?

You know, the Chinese have a saying that goes like this...."When someone shares something with you that they love and value, you have an obligatiion to share it also with others".

That, yes that, is the reason why I asked you if YOU were singing yet!!!!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:
'Remember the old adage............SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE!'

God Bless America........and each of you!..... and have a good 'un. Nadene

Ordinarily, speaking, that is, when we hear that phrase, we attribute the originator of this phrase to be referring to more about LIFE. It is more like saying, [did you ever have a day when everything seemed to go wrong?].............Some call it 'Murphy's Law'........me, well, I call it a day in my life that I would rather pass me by, leaving me untouched, unscorched by its wrath.

You get a phone call from a friend in distress. Another friend, after going for annual check up, is told some distressing health news. Spouse of a dear friend passes away. Another dear friend, experiencing difficulty with walking. The news of the world some of the worst I have ever heard in my lifetime, even considering the era of the Second World War...... The list is endless. But, I am not alone!!!

So, when this happens, what do YOU do when you find yourself in this situation? Do you hide your head in the sand, ignore the situation, ignore the person or persons with those problems? Do you 'run away', hide yourself by a binge session of food or drinks? Do you get angry?

One of the most amazing aspects of the human race, I have found, is its ability to survive! By 'hook or by crook', each and everyone of us have our vey own, exquisite way of handling stressful situations.......which we all well know better as STRESS.

More times than not, we will find that the best way to bring ourselves out of a given difficult situation is to influence others in a variety of ways, which more often than not, is inspirational. Look what that does for us!

Attitiude, like much else, is and can be very contagious. Wouldn't you rather be with people and interests that inspire you, give you motivation to do something new, try something different? Don't you just dread being around a person who is always a 'downer', never has anything pleasant to say about anyone, does not know how to crack a joke, cannot laugh at themselves, never knows when to stop once they get started, and can never get motivated to start something new and different?????

People know if you are not really sincere. So, be genuine, tell it like it is, but be prepared for the outcome when you do this, Just show that you really care, no false words or actions.

Personally, when I find those clouds gathering, and I sense their approach, I try to find laughter in what I am doing. Like can be funny. Try to recollect a similiar situation that you are undergoing at the time, and remember the outcome. Amazing how you can find it easier to laugh 'AFTER" the fact.

I try to tell myself it will be ok. Sometimes I just have to share with a family member or friend, and I am usually richly rewarded by so doing. Amazing how much they really do care about us, about our feelings. But, unless we open up to them, we may never know the joy that is there to share.

Live for today, tomorrow will take care of itself and if I keep on being that 'chicken little', afraid that the sky is really falling, it will just add to the gloom of this day, of this time!

But top and foremost, is LOVE. Love others. Let them know you love them. Our immediate family has a tradition of saying 'Luv U', whether ending a phone conversation, the end of a letter or e-mail transmittal or accompanying a farewell hug. We never know when of IF that will be the last time we can say that to a loved one, so we try to not miss the 'special' moment.

So, what if today is a cloudy day..........the clouds are building up in the west, .......we can still let sunshine penetrate in our hearts and in those we love. We can overcome it!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

'Behind all clouds, there SHINES the SUN'.

I read a little quote one time, somewhere, that said "God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December"................well, looking out my dining room window, at the moment, and bear in mind, that tomorrow is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING........we are having SNOW! Well, God is sure giving us to think about today, for sure!

My mail box is covered with snow, the top of the bare planter that is awaiting warm enough weather to have some nice plants sparkling forth with a few colorful blossums to be planted in it, is covered with snow, my front porch carpet is adorned with white feathery flakes, yes, it is snowing. So, if we have memories to remember 'roses in December', guess I am going to have to recall memories about other First Day of Spring moments.

New research sows that acknowledging that special moments are fleeting helps you savor them.....and it did not state anything relating to A. G. E. either!

Special days, especially in Spring do come to mind. For instance, Good Friday. That was a special day in our household. Tho we did not usually have church services, we were all prepped for the coming following Sunday, which is Easter Sunday. We celebrated Maunday Thursday, which of course was the day before Good Friday, in our own special way. Maybe in a prayer at the supper table, or something like that, but Holy Week was always special in our household!

But Good Friday, well, memories of that are quite vivid, but not always the most enjoyable! Mainly, it was the Food! UGH! Now, my mother was a wonderful, wonderful cook, so I cannot say that how the food was prepared was the problem, the problem was........the SELECTION of food. For Good Friday meant we had Snitz Soup............UGH! No meat. Probably the only established 'no meat served' meal in our home all year. But, this was a costly soup, especially in todays market, for it consisted of all dried fruits. Dried apricots, raisins, prunes, apples and things like that. Mother prepared it, in a sweetened fashion.........floating in a base of sweet cream. To me, it was tasteless. It was not filling. It did not look good in the soup bowl. It was by far my least favorite meal, to be sure. However, however,........ the accompaniment was different, for with it, Mom always made 'Grebble'. Thank goodness it made up for the other tasteless stuff we had to endure that day! Now, this was a bread dough mixture, that was deep fat fried. Usually formed in strips, bore a striking resemblance to donuts, then was sprinkled with powdered sugar, sometimes with a little cinnamon. Thank goodness for 'Grebble', for that was the only fond memory of Good Friday, which fell many times, near to the First Day of Spring. OH, the other thing for Good Friday and Spring, was planting the summer crop of potatoes. Several weeks before the planting, the bins of 'seed potatoes' would appear in the grocery market. I do not recall the number of pounds of seed potatoes that were purchased, but then evening entertainment, until the potatoes were cut, readied for planting, occupied the families time for awhile. When the potatoes were cut into pieces, to be planted, to form the potato plant, we always were reminded that the potato piece had to have at least two 'eyes', for it was from the eyes that the sprouts started the plant for production of the crop. So Good Friday, whether or 'weather', we planted potatoes. Rain or shine. Cold or hot. We planted potatoes on Good Friday!

It is almost impossible to know when you are making a memory, but maybe if we can remember that it is never cloudy outside if the sun is shining in our hearts, maybe we could retain our positive attitudes.

My sis is the lucky one in the family who could be cited as having the 'luck of the draw', so maybe I need to give her a call and see if she can predict when our Spring will bring us more warm, sunny days like we had yesterday....... Believe it or not, it was in the 50's here yesterday...........Now, if they were giving a prize for the actual time and date, I bet she would win it! She is always lucky when it comes to a drawing and winning prizes!

In the meantime, guess I will just have to resort to accepting this change in the weather, much like I have to do with life.......accept it as gracefully as possible. Go ahead and make decisions today and don't look back at what could have been and above all not putting off until tomorrow what I should be doing today..................and that is to bake a cake to take to friends funeral dinner tomorrow at church!

Challenge of the Week:

'Try to be satisified with your lot in life, even if you don't have a lot'!

....And hope you are enjoying a much better First Day of Spring then the 'folks' in Kansas are!

In case you have forgotten, or do not know what the definition of PATTERNS to this generation is......but, just in case.....it is this.......When we wanted to make a new dress, we went to the store, usually JC Penney's or McDonalds, or the Dime Stores, whereever sewing notions were available and selected the style of dress we wanted from the selection of Patterns in the Pattern bin, bought the color and type of material to fit the occasion and the pattern, matching thread and headed home to add a new edition to our wardrobe. OR if we decided that we wanted to embrodiery a new tablecloth for the festive dining room table or the kitchen table, or a set of sparkling new teatowels or maybe a baby's bib for the newest addition to the family, or a baby quilt.........the first thing you had to have.......was a PATTERN, unless of course, you were talented as my mother was, and could make her own patterns, out of newspapers, no less. I marveled at her expertise in this area!

Several companies of patterns were available. The most familiar ones that Mother used were from McCall's or Advance Pattern companies.

As a matter of fact, the subject of patterns came up this very week at a luncheon with friends who asked if we had any extra patterns to make teatowels with, as she was having trouble finding them. Basically, I would say that auctions would produce the best product in this era, but evidentally she has been unsucessful in finding them.......so, for you readers, if you have any patterns, might have a home for them!

But getting back to the subject at hand, and in response to Rod's e-mail of just a minute or two ago......YES, I remember Aprons. AND I remember having to make them in Home Ec when I started to High school. That was the first sewing project every Freshman girl starting Home Ec, had to make. An Apron. A pattern then, would cost about $.25. You read correctly. Twenty-five cents. Today patterns range from $7.00 to $10.00 per pattern! Next, of course was checking the needed yardage to make the apron to fit you.......Small, Medium, Large or X-Large. Then, selection of the material, and in my day, was usually a gingham, followed by matching thread. AND, we were graded on the finished product, which by the way, we were sure to have to model in the Spring Fashion Show for the Home Ec classes! Were our stitches even? Were the patterns of the material matched as should be? Did we finish all the edges of the material? Just a few of the items a good Home Ec teacher taught her students.

It goes without saying that an Apron was used to protect the dress underneath. Remember that was the day before automatic washers and dryers, a 'house dress' may have to last from one wash day to another, and in order to be clean, changing aprons was much easier then having to iron a whole new dress.

I have visions of my mother, heading to the kitchen to cook a meal, making a stop first, at the hanger in the hallway, selecting from a choice of several aprons, tying the ties into a knot behind her waist, then the pans in the kitchen would start to rattle!

The little blurp that Rod sent said that an apron had many other uses........drying childrens tears, cleaning out dirty ears (must have had company coming)....to wrap your arms in when you got cold.... wipe a perspering brow as the kitchen became overheated.... possibly carry in the bounty just gathered from the beautiful garden producing tomatoes, cukes, beans, peas and the like.........maybe even used as a dusting cloth when unexpected company knocked at the door, (that is what they used to say, giving it 'a lick and a promise') or even use it to wave to a friend or neighbor passing by, to attract their attention.....or maybe a neat place for a shy child to hide behind when a stranger approached.

Do I have an apron? Yes, I do. It is hanging in my pantry, in the kitchen, tho seldom used. But the one thing that I do remember about all the aprons I have made in the past........they had to have a pocket! Where else could you appropriately carry your 'hankie' or kleenex! Hanging also in the closet is the apron that my daughter made in her Home Ec class.....Fancier then mine. She has a monogram of her initials on hers, but am thinking of putting it in her 'box' of take home items for her next visit!

Also, in my cedar chest, is a hand crotcheted apron my mother made. Now, this apron was not used for every day use. It was used only for special occasions. Like company for dinner on Sunday. Or to the church when helping serve Funeral or Wedding dinners. This apron requires special attention, because when it is washed, it has to be properly starched, then spread out on the bed, pinned into place to keep it in proper shape for use the next time. As you have probably guessed, it is more for 'looks' than for 'use'.

On this cold, rainy, dreary March day, the warm memories of yesteryear is being carried from my keyboard to your home! May these memories warm your heart as you, too, recall "Aprons" and its many uses from your childhood days......and not only the Aprons, but the 'wearers' as well!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"May your TROUBLES be less ......
Your BLESSINGS be more.......

and nothing but HAPPINESS
COME THRU YOUR DOOR!"

Have a good 'un............Nadene