:: Scuff Productions ::

Yep, The Mormon worldwide conference is always the 1st of April, and KBYU will re-run those sessions on the Easter w/e. While scrolling through the channel list, I saw it on…..hit the button and heard one of the Hymns I always thought a little cheesy when sung by a local farming town congregation where half of those singing sound just a tiny bit like wailing, some can’t HIT the pitch, and some are ALWAYS angry unless a hymn being sung in church IS also an angry stern song.

(note: photo probably taken around 1950-1960…when I would have been humming this little tune)

So, I listened to the choir solemnly sing, and next thing you know, I’ve started humming, then singing on re-call 50 years old directly reflecting how catchy this little sunshine tune was.
Yep, the lyrics ARE a little cheesy, but if you’re going to read ’em, at least go to the link I show here first and HERE how the tune goes. They are a perfect match. It was NOT a pioneer song, but written in 1899, well after they were already well on the way to building ZION in Utah….and note, I don’t know WHY, the but Tab Choir sings it like it was a dirge:

YOU CAN MAKE THE PATHWAY BRIGHT

Now that you’ve “heard” the Mormon Choir sing it rather soulfully and completely muted, TRIPLE the page of the song, and sing along to these bright little sunshiny words:

You can make the pathway bright, Fill the soul with heaven’s light,
If there’s Sunshine in your heart;
Turning darkness into day, As the shadows fly away,
If there’s sunshine in your heart today.

(4)
You can live a happy life In this world of toil and strife,
If there’s …..(yes repeat, repeat)
And your soul will glow with love From the perfect light above,
If there’s …..(yes repeat, repeat).

(Chorus).

WELL? Whaddya’ think? Cheesy, OR………..are you now humming along and thinking a little brighter. That was always my “thing” with this hymn. I kind of hated it, but ended up humming it unable to get it out of my head for hours.

Next time maybe I’ll review my most HATED hymn from the old book.

Wahoo! Neighbors took me to lunch at a local fave, JOHN ST. CAFE where I couldn’t get ONE ounce of sympathy although Jamie & Marie were very kind about asking what had happened. They had no handicapped menu to give me, no special seat, I just had to order like everyone else. IT was a GREAT lunch, great food, and it cheered me up.

The water aerobics are working wonders.

TODAY, I get to go to lunch again with friends including Melanie’s Mom, Lesley, who is here from York, England. THIS WILL BE fun, and I think the BLUE OLIVE is the destination. Wahoo! I see the end coming for this boot.

TOMORROW night, we’re going out to meet with Elena & Emilio and discuss our June shared vacation in Spain & Italy, PLUS, I believe, discuss a few things in ITALIAN! We’re both at lesson 8 now. Eyo Capisco Italiano, Senore? Le voire Mangiarre ?? Molto Biene!!

I am wearing LEVI’s to today’s lunch. The FIRST pants I’ve had on that don’t have to stretch out over the boot. Although some would question my ability to do so, I’m beginning to feel normal.

WALK, young man? Get up and WALK! Hurray! IT IS time to be ON the trails. The Trilliums are in FULL bloom in Forest Park, a month late from cold temps, so there are now about a million of them.

Picture thousands of these scattered all over a hillside you’re staring at as you walk a nature trail in the forest:

I think this Iowa Senate Majority Leader must be a fabulous Dad. Here was his speech blocking the conservatives petition to reverse the Gay Marriage turn in Iowa. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, and true to FAMILY values. I hope you’ll share this (& Thanks, Kevin for finding it):

I hope you were inspired too…….HE has completely wiped out the argument that Gay Marriage will hurt others.

I have never been inclined to go to Iowa…. that has changed.

I wish I could write a piece of poetry that could adequately express my admiration and appreciation for a certain Nancy who brought us in 1996 into the world of watching the birds that come and go on this little hilltop. We’re still NO experts at all, but sharing our life with them has brought more depth to our own life, an appreciation of ALL life and a tender love of nature.

That’s not the ONLY thing we’ve learned from Nancy. Gardening tips, composting, making cement leaves, preserving fall leaves etc etc. She is a jewel of a person who shares generously everything she may have.

This one note to Nancy: WE NOW have almost gotten all our little birds back, and can firmly say, now that we wintered our Anna’s, that BOTH species are feeding here for the summer, Nancy! I am too thrilled. I am TOO thrilled to go out an have a mild-tempered Anna let me watch him/her feed. I am TOO thrilled when a tempered Rufous will buzz and fly at me if I come close to that feeder he’s guarding. No matter the size difference, he’s fearless. How can you not LOVE these little birds.

As science confirms so many bird species are declining in America (warming, habitat destruction, etc etc), it gives me some pleasure to know I’m helping if only a minute amount.

Especially when unexpectedly, a very cold front passes through and these tiny birds have few food sources this early. They seem to sign a “peace” treaty at dusk when it’s cool, sometimes (in the pic above you can see) sharing one port if all ports are busy.

Well, we love em. Only here a few short months, it’s a real pleasure be cooking up not just the Quart every 2-3 weeks in winter, but now the 3-4 quarts at least every week. By the time the first chicks are fledges, we’ll probably max out at 6 quarts a week just for a tiny bit before some begin leaving us.
Oh well.
THANKS, Nancy for starting us on this life love of Hummingbirds and their migrations.

On a lighter note……………………some chicken humor…..Well, it was funny yesterday………………….

I AM SO HAPPY to be semi hobbling around in a boot w/o crutches. Out 3 hours yesterday, I’m a bit sore today………but THAT is progress.

Now, ON to prepare to get outside. Hey. It’s almost 70. You do NOT sit in here when it’s 70 in Portland on April 5.

I was waching Democracy Now this morning. Just above that channel on our channel “list” is the Mormon Media Channel KBYU – – – and Yes, they were having the “Young Women’s Conference Session”…………… I just got reminded…The Mormon Worldwide semi-annual Conference SPRING sessions are always the first weekend in April, timed with the coming of Easter. I noted the current show as “Young Women’s Conference Session”.

I tuned in, just to see what that Perky BLONDE woman, deeply tan, and Hair SO STIFF, I’m sure an entire CAN of Hair Spray went into creating the coiffure was “saying”…………………. Would I remember any of the “catch-phrases” ??

Believe me, in the 5 minutes I watched her I think I got ‘em all in her speech………….it took me back to sitting in those meetings and hearing these phrases every every week (or DAY if you were in seminary):

Cling to the Iron Rod
Stay on the Straight and Narrow Path
Stay away from the “Mists of Darkness”
Satan wants women confused about Chastity (I think a lot of Men want women confused too, not to mention a bit submissive)
Listen to your “Latter Day Prophets”
There is strength in Youth. Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?
The Fruit of the Tree of Life is in your loins
Stand in Holy Places not on soiled ground
Remain Virtuous
Turn off your TV, your Computer, and P/U the Book of MORMON!
3 daily habits to pursue: 1) Pray morning & nite, 2) read the Book of Mormon EVERY day, 3) Smile. This way you can avoid Satan
The Holy Ghost must be Your constant Companion
Listen to your Priesthood Leaders
Build your Spiritual Temple stone by stone
You CAN repent
I BEAR you this Testimony…………….in the name of
Arise and RETURN to Virtue!
Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel!

It reminded of the last lovely term I well remember from my lessons:
Outer Darkness………………..
**My own brother was excommunicated years ago for admitting he didn’t believe the dogma. The people who are excommunicated for these reasons are told by the “committee” that kicks ’em out that they will be banished for eternity from any salvation, they have NO chance for any redemption, they will be scorned, etc etc etc. Pretty scary stuff. That’s why MANY, I’m sure, NEVER dare question “authority”. Ah, the plan works then, doesn’t it.

I was a bit surprised. Somehow I thought they would have new words of wisdom for these women, since their demographic is completely different than it was then. But no. I know if I asked one of “them”, the answer would be, “But the Truths we teach are constant.”

OH well…………..a little trip down memory lane for me, and I kind of enjoyed it looking from my new viewpoint. I’m certainly happy in my new religion: The LOVE of Nature.

By the way.. . . . Remember the Mormon Missionaries who created the “shirtless” calendar. This was the guy who created it:

He was excommunicated for making the calendar. So I guess he’ll be going to outer darkness. I also guess he’ll be singing to himself there: “Oh, What a Lonely Boy, what’ll I do?”

I’m quite happy there is no room for a God that could possibly create heavens and earth but still have some most primitive capacity to kick people in the ass so crudely. With that, I have borne my testimony!

We loved this. As Glenn Beck continues to reveal just how insane he is, asking for a revolution by citizens to overthrow the new Presidency, others are standing up to him. THIS is funny:

Really…watch this. It’s important to see what these right wing unstable conservatives are Preaching on Rupert Murdoch’s FOX Networks. It’s not just on FOX who gives voice to: Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Beck and many more. Consider the Republicans IN congress or the senate that are insane: (R) Minn Michelle Bachman. (R) KY Mitch McConnell, (R) AZ Jon Kyl, (R), (R) OH John Boehner, (R) TN Zach Wamp, and many more. Consider the leader of the Republican Party: Mr. Steele. Listen to a speech or two of his. You don’t have to go far to find Sarah Palin still ranting and whining that the Media isn’t fair to her, even THOUGH they often simply just play her own speeches in her own words. Whew!

I have SO enjoyed watching Mr. Obama quietly silence his screaming foes. The LONG list of those who continue to claim he can’t rise to the level of politics required to lead this country while he simply walks through, over and beyond them. The WORLD leaders continue to welcome him wherever he appears and Dick Cheney continues to growl, spew, and attempt to still believe HE still is the dictator of the world.