saddles

It must be something in the air.

The execrable Jack Nicholson, Greg Kinnear classic "As Good as it Gets" was on the other night. There is absaposalutely no other reason to mention this other than watching it again reminded me how much I liked saddle shoes. I had forgotten this since the original 1996 release. Nicholson, spends much of the movie in a beat to hell pair that looked so right.

Mrs. T and I were out over the weekend and encountered a young woman in a brand spanking shiny new pair of brown and white saddles that in my heart looked awful, but I didn't let on. Few shoes look worse than out of the box saddles, not even bucks, not even white bucks. We told her, all the old people things, how good her shoes looked, how you rarely see a youngen wearing them, how we remember our last pair.

She politely listened and trumped by telling us how Tennessee Thomas has made them popular. As if we had any clue who Tennessee is. If you know, don't let on.



This pair, the photo liberated from Giuseppe of An Affordable Wardrobe is the last pair of saddles I have owned. They went with everything, just didn't fit well, so they were shipped off and now lead a happy and productive life in Boston.



To my mind's eye, for casual wear saddles work best in brown and white with the red rubber sole. Dressier choices exist.

Roberts is the place to go.

Toad

Amicus Canis

The British are known for their love of dogs. Sporting, working, pet, they don't care. The dog is an integral part of family life.



Dog art is also a strong part of the culture. In times past, the Lord of the Manor, found it cheaper to have a portrait of his dog or horse than wife. The stylish went for the dog's portrait.



While at the Dog Museum I came across a print of a collage by Peter Clark.



I love how each little pup comes to life in his work.



His work is available for sale here.
Toad

Dahl Month and Day

Lest we forget, September is Roald Dahl month.



My first encounter with the master occurred in the mid 1990's. Penguin at the time published a number of pocket sized collections of short stories and poems called Penguin 60's,to celebrate their 60th anniversary. On a whim, I picked up Dahl, Barrie, Marquez, and Thoreau. I'd never heard of Dahl before then.

As I recall my first thought was what kind of name was Roald? The back cover said "Roald Dahl was born in Glamorgan in 1916 of Norwegian parents." Glamorgan didn't offer me many clues at the time.



My find, "Lamb to the Slaughter" is a collection of macabre short stories. My mother when she saw it asked why I didn't read his children's works? You know, James and Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Twits?

I did and was hooked, and have been ever since.

The Roald Dahl Museum has proclaimed September Roald Dahl month,to be celebrated by extensive readings of Dahl's books.

If you happen to be near London, next Sunday, September 12th, the museum has many special events to celebrate Dahl Day. (Dalh's bd is the 13th)

At least, click on the link on the first line. Someone has built an incredibly entertaining web site.

Toad

Hidden in plain site

As I was saying, Mayberry has several treasures hidden in plain site. The stance amongst locals is to be dismissive and then defensive when mention is made of local attractions. Granted, many of our treasures may be weak compared to what's available in New York or Mumbai, but occasionally we can hold our own. Locals just don't care to admit it.



Hidden on the edge of a local park is the American Kennel Club's Museum of the Dog. A local industrialist, in the golden age, prior to the recent one, purchased a thousand acres of land on what was then the far end of the gravel road, miles past the last rail station, for use as a hunting ground.

He built a comfortable brick home (first photo) added stables, kennels and greenhouses to make his visitors welcome. Upon his death in his estate donated the house and land to the county for use as a park. For years the house sat empty, as a search for useful tenants was conducted. In 1985 it became home to the museum.



Over the years the AKC has thrown a bit of money at the house, expanded exhibit space and added conference and meeting rooms. Almost every dog trainer in town, uses the facility for classes. The cache of the name adds respectability.







Several years ago, we held my daughter's wedding reception there. The facilities are top drawer, the site is secluded yet readily accessible, there is room to spread out and an outside band doesn't disturb the neighbors.





If you are into dog art, memorabilia and books, this is the place.

Toad

What Mayberry lacks

Reliable internet service. I'll be back later, hopefully.

Toad

Soon its Gonna Rain

If you are in harms way this weekend, please be wary. I worry.

Toad

Don't they make a cute couple?

First stop

Our first stop is closest to home, a couple of hundred crow fly yards. It is also the most disappointing of our stops.

Mayberry is too young to have non-historic landmarks. Like many suburban tracts, until 35 years ago it was farmland. As a teen I used to hunt on the land where we are off to. Now it's built up, subdivided, paved and zoned. It's an office park, with its own built in sculpture garden.

Thirtyish years ago sculptor, J Seward Johnson created "The Awakening" a 100 foot long representation of man arising from the earth. The site chosen, a short distance from ADG's backyard, on Hain's Point in Washington DC, was perfect to catch the scale and magnificence of this work. It's one of my favorites.

In 2009 the work was sold to a local nabob, whose first intent was to pick it up lock stock and bring it to Mayberry. A hue and cry in DC put paid to that, so the nabob moved it near the Potomac onto property he owns. The nabob then commissioned Johnson to cast a copy. Times were tight, Johnson not being afraid of money did as asked.

The new casting came to Mayberry. Arks were necessary to view the early October 2009 unveiling. For many years The Awakening has lived in a beautiful setting, in Mayberry it lives in an office park. All sense of scale and grandeur is lost.

It's still worth seeing. Once.

Now, imagine though how much better it would look, in my front yard. I'd be willing to sacrifice a couple of trees to make it happen.

Or, even better, across the lake looking back at me.


Toad

Can you trump this?

Princess Diana's image is being used by a Chinese lingerie firm in advertisements on the 13th anniversary of her death. The ads have been splashed across giant billboards in shops and airports across southern China and feature a Diana lookalike.

Toad

little buildings

Much like the garage load of exotic cars I don't wish to own, but secretly wish were stored in my garage, I have always had a special something for little cottages, out buildings, dependencies and sheds. I love to see them, I enjoy spending time in them, I collect photos of them, I just don't necessarily care to have them cluttering up my yard.

The thought of traipsing out the back door, and around the bend to my tiny cottage office fills me with dread. Nothing would ever be accomplished.

Luckily, I'm unable to conjure up the discipline and organization required of writers, artists and creators, but literature teems with the writers cottage, where the anointed work in solitude creating new worlds for we, the undeserving. To my ears, it sounds too much like someone with management issues at home, or simply an out sized ego.


However, if you are of such an inclination, have outgrown the garret, and want a cozy space, which could do as guest space consider Lowes Katrina Cottages. Fairly inexpensive, especially if you can do some of the work.

Personally, I would prefer to have something like this building, found at MacBeth's Cawdor Castle at the end of the drive. I could rent it to hermits or elves who would act as gatekeepers. A tug at the forelock as I left the manse, would be good for the soul.

This has been a long walk to get to my point. Over the next several days, in preparation for the weekend holiday, I hope to share several of my favorite spots in Mayberry. Most are not grand, one is in fact horribly disappointing, but I enjoy it anyway, one or two are treasures, hidden in plain sight.

Till then,

Toad

#2 son

If you were paying attention last week, you would have figured out that today was #2 son's birthday, hence the 53 week part. Today's birthday boy is on the left.



He is bigger now, a forest fire fighter, this year in the Pacific Northwest. He has the job he has aspired to for a long time, a first responder, dropped off by helicopter as close as possible to a raging fire, followed by several very long hikes.

Madness.



Off season, he's a college student on the 10 year plan. Unfortunately, fire season and school terms overlap.

With school and fire work, I haven't seen him in a couple of years, and miss him terribly.

Happy Birthday Bunky

Toad

CORRECTION: I HAVEN'T SEEN BUNKY SINCE LAST SUMMER WHEN I GAVE HIM MY CAR!!!

Tonight Only

For one night only, New Orleans resident, Harry's Shearer's film, The Big Uneasy, which details the man made disaster of Hurricane Katrina, will be shown in theaters nationwide.

Tonight is that night.




Toad

Maybe-Maybe Not

I had been reading the NYT wedding section, amazed at the volume of non church weddings officiated by Aunt Marg who was granted a temporary license by the state for the day to marry anyone she may come into contact with when I came across this. Seemed fitting in a way.




True.

The certficate declares:
I ________ having been subjected to the Rite of Christian Baptism in infancy (before reaching an age of consent), hereby publicly revoke any implications of that Rite and renounce the Church that carried it out. In the name of human reason, I reject all its Creeds and all other such superstition in particular, the perfidious belief that any baby needs to be cleansed by Baptism of alleged ORIGINAL SIN, and the evil power of supposed demons. I wish to be excluded henceforth from enhanced claims of church membership numbers based on past baptismal statistics used, for example, for the purpose of securing legislative privilege.”


I found this on one of my favorite sites, The Ship of Fools, an unofficial Church of England site. Mail in 3 GBP and you're off the list. If you haven't any GBP's, drop me a fiver and I take care of the rest.

Sponsored by the National Secular Society, who have made a killing off the sales. Or click your heels 3 times and say.....

Toad

5 years on

Fairhope, Al.

New Orleans, La.

The Mothership

Mobile, Al

Home of the first Mardi Gras celebration in the US

Biloxi, Mississippi

You can kick Southerners, but you can't lick 'em.

Toad

women we could love, given time

A pox on Chico's, the women's fashion retailer.

First they reopen old wounds by dragging all American California girl Lauren Hutton back into the spotlight.



Now they include the beautiful French model and actress Magali Amadei in their catalogs for our edification.



I realize my eyes may be the next thing to go, but in a certain light, Magali looks like she could pass as Lauren's darker haired, better ivoried... what? Granddaughter?

God forgive me.

Toad

You may not toss

Mothers have a propensity to throw a boy's best stuff out, especially when he's not home to defend himself.



How many kids go off to college, only to come home for the holidays to find their mother "cleaned" their room, tossed Farah Fawcett's wall art, and most of their really good stuff? My children's grandfather went to his grave bemoaning the treasures his mother tossed while he was defending his country. It ain't fair.

Boys of a certain age, were great collectors of the Wes Wilson designed Fillmore Auditorium posters in the mid '60's. I lived 2000 miles from San Francisco, and had a bunch. Every head shop in the US sold them for a buck or so. Tickets to the shows were less than $5. Ticketmaster wasn't even a dream. Gone, every last one, without even get a chance to say goodbye.

Today, original posters will sell for thousands. Copies near $50.

So mommas, a little respect. Clean their space if you must, but box it up, save it with the same love it was collected. Don't toss a lifetimes treasures. No toy soldiers, no toy cars, bikes, buttons or medals, especially stuff you don't like. Do and your kids will hate you.

Toad

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

Imagine, the Lord Chamberlain drops you note.

"His Majesty has commanded me to invite you to a formal party

at which he intends waving a scimitar across your brow

after which you will become forever, and evermore

known as Baronet

Would Friday next, say 1PM, be convenient?"

Written in pencil on the obverse is the following note:

Seems we are light on Barons in the Kingdom, and the King wants you to become one.

Ring up the College of Arms, see what they can do for a name and coat of arms.

Let me know.

If the recipient of said note had been a clothes guy, he couldn't have picked a better title.

Ist Baron Tweedsmuir.

John Buchan, today's birthday boy, was honored by his King for long and valued service to the Crown and Kingdom, as soldier, barrister, Minister of Parliament and Diplomat. He was about to appointed Governor General of Canada, and Betty's father had no intention of being represented by a commoner. Australia maybe, but not in Canada for god's sake.

That's why he had his people get in touch.

Were that all he was, he would have been forgotten years ago. John was also a very good mystery writer. It's how he earned his living.

His best known work, The Thirty Nine Steps, was broadcast on Masterpiece, this year.

Written in 1915, posed as a look behind the causes of the First World War, it's the story of a plot to have Russia declare war on Germany. The plot hinges on a cabal to assassinate the Greek Prime Minister, and a German secret society set up to overthrow the British government. Depending upon which printing you select it may or may not have had antisemitic undertones. Subsequent print editions and all movie versions have omitted that part.

Alfred Hitchcock filmed a version in 1935. Two remakes have been released as well.

My favorite Buchan series is John Macnab.

"Three high-flying men who suffer from boredom concoct a plan to cure it. They inform 3 Scottish estates that they will poach from each two stags and a salmon. They sign collectively as 'John McNab' and await the responses."

Thirty Nine Steps will be easy to find. Other Buchan stories are often located in collections of short stories. Give them a try.

Toad

Winton's Children

This is from Gives me Hope. It's a story I was unaware of, and as great as the story is, the video trumps. Let me know if you watch it with dry eyes.

GMH #50245

from Gives Me Hope

100+ people liked this

In 1938, Nicholas Winton helped 669 Jewish kids escape certain death from the Nazis. He never told anyone that he did this.

While on ski trip in Switzerland, Winton took a detour in Czechoslovakia to help the children of refugees. Nazi Germany had recently annexed a large part of Czechoslovakia and the news of Kristallnacht, a violent attack on Jews in Germany and Austria, had just reached Prague.

Winton set up a rescue operation for the children, filling out the required paperwork for them to be sent to homes in Sweden and Great Britain. He had to raise money to fund foster homes for all of them, and then he sent 669 children away from Czechoslovakia on trains before the Nazis closed down the borders.

Winton told no one that he did this, not even his wife. In 1988, his wife found a scrapbook full of pictures of the children and letters from parents in their attic. She arranged to have Winton's story appear in newspapers.

Many of the children Winton saved went on the BBC television program, That's Life, to meet him for the first time since the war. They refer to themselves as "Winton's children".

Winton is now 101 years old and has received awards from Israel and the Czech Republic as well as Knighthood from the Queen of England in 1993.Popout

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Friends Help Please

Friends I need help please.

I received this email today

"My bosses mother is losing a battle with leukemia, and to make things worse the hospital has lost her favorite robe. She is wondering if maybe you can help.

Looking for a women's Seer Sucker robe. The color pattern alternates pink, white, blue, white, pink, etc… It had faux buttons that were actually snaps. She has no clue where or even when she got it. Can you help?"

Anyone?

A thousand thanks

Toad

#1 son

My sons are Irish twins, almost. They are 53 weeks apart.

Today is the first's birthday, #1 son, aka Paige's dad.

It has been an exciting year for him, work has treated him well, his beautiful family is magnificent, they bought their first home.

I am incredibly proud of him, for all his accomplishments.

Most of my truly odd posts are at his suggestion. He is a unique character.

Happy Birthday #1, I love you bunches.

Toad

for Mom on the Run

Ever read Abnormally Normal? You should.




Toad