FINNERAN LANE

Horton Hears a WHU ----and I Do Too !!

Happy New Year , USA !! I love you- warts and all .... but the WHU does not.

 

In case you hadn't noticed , (and much as I hate injecting politics into this site) , one of my pet peeves is the WHU .

WHU : "We Hates United States -  !!!" ( "An' we sneers at U !" )

The WHU are  Academically Fashionable Radicals:  Leftists for the most part - but sometimes rooted in the Radical Right ; or nestled among the most militantly Anarchistic Libertarians

The WHU sometimes claim to be patriots (but more often deride the entire idea of patriotism) , and they have a "default response" to almost any situation involving a foreign government- no matter how despicable- and the United States : "The United States is at fault !!!"

(To prove this contention, they will often reach into past centuries : the Indian wars, Slavery, the conquest of the Phillipines, etc.. The hideous violence wreaked upon our early Countrymen and women -that was an integral part of the situation -  is almost never mentioned : it being politically incorrect to do so.)

Like it or not, we are all part of a Society : one we keep tinkering with, in hopes of removing some of the worst blemishes . You'll never hear the WHU admit it, but we've made huge strides in the last 50 years; and, having been alive to witness some of them, I don't think they should be ignored ---even by those who feel we should rip the world up by the roots and create a new social monstrosity.

(Does this mean we should be silent when we disagree ? Of course not ---BUT ---when OUR COUNTRY is ATTACKED, saying things like : " Well, Boo Hoo to you  ! We had it coming !!" are beyond the bounds of acceptable disagreement ....and, if you don't realize this, I can only wonder at the reasons.)

I say to the WHU : You're part of us too-by birthright, if nothing else -but- if you are not with us -and you are siding with our foes ---what the Hell good are you ?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!

South Jersey : Harvest Time

Hallowe'en is almost upon us, but Autumn has barely begun to tiptoe in. It  seems later than usual  - some blame global climate change-and it is a bit tentative, but it sneaks in here and there.

A lot of South Jersey is still farmland: not "country acres held for city gentlepersons " - but actual working farm land.

Crops are being gathered and readied for market ...

This crew has been picking red peppers, and getting them ready for a trip to the city.

Some of this fresh-harvested produce will find its way to roadside  stands - like the very popular Rosie's  in Mullica Hill.

South Jersey has no shortage of roadside produce stands : many of which sell food the owners themselves have grown - plus enough jams, jellies, bread, rolls,pickles, locally bottled wines,real creamery butter, etc. to save the roadside shopper a trip into town.

I have to admit to coming home with a bag of local goodies...

Doing my "walk-arounds" in the Autumn is always rewarding !

 

A Visit to Rosie's Farm Market

Out and about today, looking for Harvest themes and Fall colors . Happened on Rosie's Farm Market  317 Swedesboro Rd. (Route 322) Mullica Hill, NJ 08062.

Discovered, when I went inside to ask permission to take pictures, the market is owned and operated by good friends of the family !

 

Quite a selection of Autumn flowers !

It wouldn't be October without some fine pumpkins !

Plants to go !

Mmmm....! Jersey Tomatos !!!

...And, here's our good friend Lisa !!

I resisted "buying out the store"...but it was tough !

All in all, a pleasant way to spend a morning .

 

 

 

South Jersey - Mid October

I've been getting out and about again : not as frisky as before - but out there ! (Found this display right up the street !)

I'll let the pictures do the talking... starting with this Tuckahoe Rd. dude ranch that had some goats for sale.

 

As you can see, there is only a little "color" in the trees - probably because it has been fairly warm ;but Autumn is definitely upon us !

Chuck Costello - a 9/11 Remembrance

 

 

 

Dedicated to First Responders Everywhere

 

On the Eleventh of September
In the Year Two Thousand One
America lay wounded
In the smoke-filled morning sun.

 

It was a day of horror
To sear the very soul-
It was a day when Heroes
Like Todd Beamer cried : “ Let’s roll !”

 

 

In the blazing World Trade Towers
Where so many people died,
Some thirty thousand lives were spared
Because Heroes rushed inside.

 

A civilian, Chuck Costello
Was one who heard the Call:
He was not paid to risk his life,
But he bravely risked it all.

 

 

He rushed to the fierce inferno:
Pulled people out of Hell ;
And he went back – time and time again
Till the great South Tower fell.

 

Though he died an unsung Hero
May his memory live on-
Till the Great Clock chimes its final note
And the Human Race is gone !

 

Chuck Costello, of Old Bridge, NJ - a Navy veteran- was a family friend -best man at my daughter's wedding- and is still missed.

I received this comment from a relative:

"Chuck died the way he lived. So much of his life was spent doing good deeds that went unsung until he died. He should be an example to all of us by reminding us to help each other without expecting recognition. May he rest in peace and by his example live on in each of us. His widow's aunt and uncle, Pat and Don Schipf. Thanks for writing such a lovely poem. "

 

I've Been Biting My Tongue Too Long !!

Very recently, I joined the "No Labels" organization - which takes the heartening position we need to cut out the extreme political partisanship, start thinking of our country, and start making an honest effort to solve our problems.

I've been on this little crusade for quite some time - as evidenced by this "relatively ancient" blog entry:

http://genefinneran.typepad.com/finneran_lane/2009/06/politics-and-clocks.html

 

At least 3 times a week, I get forwarded e mails, containing the latest attack on the President - and- on checking the facts, I generally learn the story is (at best) an exaggeration, or (most often) a deliberate and malicious lie : in a word " disinformation" ; and I find myself wondering about the authors of such scrurrilous garbage.

Wouldn't the literary talents of the Wingnut Right be better used to unite us ?

I'm also at odds with the Wingnut portion of the Left - with its constant carping-(anyone who disagrees with OUR version of what is right for America is just a traitor !), and its never-ending "guilt" for the fact our country is trying to be a sucessful nation.It's all "big oil", and "the CIA, man !",and (especially on this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks)  vicious diatribes about how monstrous our country is.

I have friends in other countries who find it at once pathetic and hilarious that we spend so much time on this tiresome bit of academically-endorsed affectation.

This nation was founded in the expectation there would be political differences AND a spirit of compromise -so the business of government could be carried forward : NOT the present "dog-in-the-manger" attitude of "Country be damned ! Win at all costs !"

If you agree with me - don't tell ME : tell your Congress critters - and hope we can reach them on time !

http://nolabels.org/

ps: Pass this on to a friend. Let's see how many people we can reach !

 

 

 

 

 

An Alarming Morning

It's not unusual to see rabbits around our backyard - so,when one hopped into view yesterday morning, I was not surprised.

 
I called out a cheery "Good morning" ,but the rabbit just flicked her ears disdainfully and hopped over to the far edge of the swimming pool.

At first I had grave misgivings : was the pool about to be invaded ?

 
 

To my relief, instead of diving in, the rabbit simply vanished !! 

I went to the other side of the pool-and-after some diligent searching of the disappearance area, discovered a tiny burrow !

 

Closer examination disclosed a tiny white sign in front of the burrow.

It was VERY difficult to read: written in tiny Rabbit Cursive script; but I persisted----and this is what it said:

BUNNY  BIRTHING  CENTER

La Maze Classes , Rm. 203

Coaches and Midwives 24/7

Major Credit Cards Welcome.

 

(  Oh, boy ! Now I'm REALLY worried !!  )

 

 

 

 

Just So You Know....

I'm going in on Thursday, August 4th for another "staged intervention" : balloon angioplasty, and placement of an additional stent or two to hold back the night.

Had a similar procedure done July 14th. It stopped most of the angina---but did leave me shorter of breath than when I started. (I've been sticking pretty close to home as a result - that, and resting a lot.)

 

In September, the doctors want to have at me again....

It's a mite depressing, but I'll get over it---------------or not.

 

A Photo Worth Seeing !

 

What has been photographed - in the center of our own Milky Way galaxy- appears to be a "Mobius (Moebius) Strip" -which some have described as a two-dimensional artifact : a strip of pure energy - concentrated, and twisted upon itself - forming our symbol for Infinity.

It would be an excellent representation of the Deist concept of God.

 

How Great Thou Art

Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940
English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 –

New Stanza 3 – 2011 – EJ Finneran


O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The works Thy Hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout
The universe displayed;


Stanza 2:
When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;


Refrain:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!


Stanza 3:
When thou shall come,
With tender invitation,
To take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,

My God, how great thou art !

God's Love For Us Revealed (In humble fashion)

If you are a DEIST - like Thomas Paine,Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington,Abraham Lincoln, etc. , you believe God's truth is revealed in Nature far better than in the foamings and fulminations of so-called "prophets". and their "priestly" successors.

Consider this hideously intimidating insect :

Giant hornet ? No : it is a CICADA KILLER.

It hatches at the same time as the Cicada :
The Cicada is a hungry insect, which - unchecked- would devour every green plant in sight - but it has an enemy : The Cicada Killer.

 

 

The Cicada Killer utilizes its powerful sting to immobilize its leaf-munching prey---so it can carry it off to its burrow, and dine at leisure.

 

This is but one tiny instance of the "balance" that has been built into our world by our Creator.

It is readily visible-and understandable-without benefit of Bell, Book, Candle, Incense, Oratory, or Incantations - no matter what the present generation of "High Priests" may proclaim.

Be.

Be still.

Be still and know.

Be still and know God speaks to you.

Neighborhood Flowers

 

The lady across the street likes flowers , I think. ( I'm not sure where I got such an idea.... ) Click on images for close-ups.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a lucky guess, I suppose !

 

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

 

 

 

 

 

ps: She and her husband host a pretty good barbecue, too !

On the Banks of the Delaware

Today I followed the roads west until I reached the Delaware River . West Deptford Township had built a beautiful park at River Winds Point.

 

Philadelphia was right across the river...

 

...as was Philadelphia International Airport.

 

A Swedish/Norwegian ship was passing through. A lookup suggests it was loaded with new cars shipped from Europe.

 

 

Some flowers-and a gazebo - improved the view.

I sat for a while and enjoyed the view : another "face" of South Jersey : a place I've grown very fond of.

A Visit to SHADOW Equestrian

I went fishing for a little while at nearby Franklinville Lake : excitement was quite controllable - one little "Calico Bass" - which I released-a number of hungry turtles, which proved rather adept at bait-stealing - and a loud, downright rude "Outa the way ! " from a gaggle of Geese.

 

Feeling a little bit miffed at the attitude of the Geese (surely they were from Northern New Jersey !) , I packed up; but, instead of going straight home, decided to meander down Monroeville Road .

Along the way, I saw some horses grazing in a pasture, and slowed down-debating a photo. Were horses being boarded here ? I noticed most of them seemed "quite experienced", and wondered if they had been "rescued" . (That would be worth checking out !)

 

I decided to check it out,and, a short while later was chatting with a Mr. Drissel, who got me a business card and a flyer, and who invited me to walk around,look at the stable and generally help myself.

 
This is the outdoor equestrian track, and the next picture shows the combination stable and indoor equestrian track.

 

From the Drissels, I learned the "SHADOW" in Shadow Equestrian stands for : Special Horses And Disabled Overcome Weakness.

SHADOW Equestrian provides low cost therapeutic riding instruction for children with physical,mental, and learning disabilities: relying on donations, sponsors, and volunteers; noting: Recreational Therapeutic Riding provides relaxation and stimulation of unused muscles and joints; improves posture,balance, and muscular strength;increases attention span and stimulates speech;improves self-esteem; and offers these children the chance to bond with one of the gentle old horses used in the program.

I'm finally getting the chance to stop off and enjoy some of the beautiful people and places I spent so many years hurrying past . Sometimes the beauty is physical - other times spiritual. Once in a rare while-like today-it is both.

ps: To learn more , I suggest visiting the SHADOW website at:

http://www.shadowequestrian.org 

 

 

 

 

HORSE FEATHERS FARM

After a (brief) fishing excursion at nearby Scotland Run, I decided to stop feeding the lake's turtles my worm supply , and go for a drive - turning off this time to explore Pitman - Downer Road.

Out near Mount Royal Road, I came upon the Brown family's "Horse Feathers Farm" , where a nice-looking pair of white Percherons were grazing in a field near an attractive house; and, on impulse decided to drive in, introduce myself, and ask permission to take a few pictures.

The owner and his wife were extremely gracious : even showed me a "bluebird nest" that had been taken over by a barn swallow.

 

Even the horses were friendly, and wasted no time in ambling over to meet me.

 

 

The Browns had a very attractive flower bed outside their home.

 

 

I said goodbye - a bit reluctantly - and traced my way back home on the Gloucester County roads : with a treasure trove of warm memories to ease me through the inevitability of winter.

ps: The remaining worms got a new lease on life in some freshly dug soil : safe - for now - from hungry panfish and turtles.

GREENSLEEVES BLUES

 
Oh you said I was un-cultured

Uncouth and un-refined-

So I signed up fer night school

To improve my backwoods mind;

But,while I was vettin' Latin

And a- sweatin' my degree

In Medieval Classics

You was steppin' out on me !!

(Chorus)

Alas, my love, you do me wrong-

( I was fixin' to spend a little time with you )

For I have love-ed you so long-

You up an' left me - what am I gonna do ?

(two-three-four)

Greensleeves Greensleeves was  * my delight

But I couldn't keep her home at night -

Now I can quote from Shakespeare

(Or Chaucer if you choose)

But that don't seem to help none

With these Greensleeves Blues !

South Jersey Solar Power

South Jersey tends to be pretty conservative -politically and socially - but solar power is catching on with one of the most conservative segments of the population : the farmers.

 
This impressive array powers a busy winery.

 

 This array is an important part of an apple orchard.

Driving through this part of the state, I've seen many similar installations - including one that powers a roadside diner in Atlantic County.

I've been fascinated with solar power since I was a kid: we had an outdoor shower behind a chicken coop ,that used summer sunlight to heat water. The shower was a godsend-after hours of "haying": what a delight to sluice the sweat and itchy hayseeds off our skins !

There are those who insist we should ignore alternative technologies -such as solar-because they don't offer the instant gratification of petroleum-based energy.(Some of these same people look on wars in the Middle East as "a good thing"; some are financially invested in petroleum; and some apparently just want to be in step with the movers and shakers.)

All I can say is: Some day the wells will run dry.Then what ???

 

 

Thank You For Your Support, Mr. Hurff !!

 

 

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. John Hurff this weekend . Mr. Hurff is a working farmer -(you'll notice it when you shake hands)- and has succeeded his Dad-the late Myron Hurff as President of William Shober & Sons, Inc. (Orchards and Farm Market) 1125 Monroeville Rd., Monroeville, NJ 08343.  

I asked permission to take pictures, after seeing his "Thank You Veterans" display along the country roadside.

I learned from Mr. Hurff he hosts a special Veterans' Day celebration, in which any Veteran who shows up receives a "thank-you" gift of apples and cider.

Mr. Hurff thanked me for my (humble) service. I'd like to thank him for his consistent support.

 I've noticed a quiet patriotism here - due,in no small part to the large numbers of South Jersey residents who have volunteered to serve their country - and the substantial number of those who sacrificed all to do so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying to Resolve Exasperating Problem

Recent change to Internet Explorer 9 made it difficult to post in this space. Uploading of photos was completely stalled.

I've tried a suggested "workaround" . Text now seems okay.

Now: How about those pictures ?

 

 

 

Hey !!!

Problem seems to be solved !

 

Yaaay !!

Thanks for the workaround !!

 

SOUTH JERSEY JOURNAL - Scotland Run Park

 
 

Not far from where I live is a pleasant little recreation area called Scotland Run Park. For those not familiar with local parlance, a "run" is the same as a "creek". (This picture was taken from the spillway of Wilson Lake - (Top photo)-which seems to be the headwaters of the run.)

Here, just outside the Pinelands, runs often have the "tea" color you'll probably notice in the picture. Some call this "cedar water"; but I've read elsewhere the color is due to dissolved "Bog Iron". Just a few miles north of here, in Burlington County, bog iron was extracted and refined back in colonial days; and there was an important forge (since reconstructed) at Batsto.

 

As might be imagined, Wilson Lake is a popular "family fishing" destination - and ,since I don't need a license at my age , and since there is a nearby sporting goods store/bait shop (Sportsmans Outpost),I decided to do a little fishing- with one important caveat: Unless there is someone nearby who wants fish for the family table, I plan to do strictly "catch and release".

I'm more than happy to leave some for the next person ! 

South Jersey Journal - Woodstown Area

 
Woodstown, NJ is home to the well-known  Cowtown Rodeo . I snapped a couple of pictures , but there wasn't much to see : the Rodeo doesn't open until Memorial Day weekend.

The Woodstown area is also home to a number of very large, and very well - maintained farms ; set on the rolling hills that characterize this section of the NJ/Pennsylvania/Delaware borderlands.

 

This was one of the farms that caught my eye. I took a couple of shots from the roadway - but wanted to get closer; so I drove up the long paved driveway : planning to ask permission for some more detailed photos.

Didn't see anyone around, so I got out of the car . As I did so, I noticed a "Beware of Dog" sign on one of the sheds facing the driveway. Sure enough, a deep chested bark sounded,and a dog that looked somewhat like this German Shorthaired Pointer came forward to challenge me.

 

Fortunately, I speak "Dog" pretty well. I whistled to him, chatted a bit , and petted him when he came forward. He liked that, and trotted off to find his "fetch toy", which he offered me.

I tossed it for him once or twice-to his obvious joy.

I rang the farm house doorbell, but got no answer; so, I said farewell to my new friend, and left.

Just another "non-adventure" in South Jersey.