Saturday Poetry Corner: Golden Sun

 

 

 

 

Summer Lake Scene
 A painting by Vicki Wade
Image courtesy/Etsy

 

 

 Great, glorious, golden sun,

Shine down on me today!

You are the life of all this earth,

You and your magic ray.

You are the life of bird and plant,

All must depend on you.

Shine down, great sun, the whole day long!

Shine from the heaven's blue.

And I will welcome your golden rays,

For you mean life to me,

And you mean happiness and health,

Strength and energy.

Shine down, great sun, on flower and field,

And never say goodbye.

Forever and ever give us your light

From out of the wide blue sky.

 

"Golden Sun"
A poem by Lenore Hetrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full Sturgeon Moon Tonight

 

 

 August's Full Moon peaked earlier this morning-12:18 am to be exact-
in the midst of the partial lunar eclipse that began last night and ended
at 3:01 am EST.  I did get to see the beginning of the eclipse but the
moon was hazy with cloud cover and eventually the clouds won out.

  

Full Sturgeon Moon
August 2026
Image courtesy/Facebook

 

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the month of August is when the lake
sturgeon, which are the largest freshwater fish in North America, were caught in
the greatest number in the Great Lakes.  Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
can live more than a hundred years, top six feet in length and weigh in
at over 200 pounds, with a long armored body that makes them
 look more like a small dinosaur than a modern fish. 

To the Algonquian-speaking Indian tribes living in the area, August
 was the month when these fish could be easily caught in shallow
water due to the warmer temperature in the lakes.

.🌕 I hope the skies are clear where you are tonight! 🌕

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flashback Friday: Johnny Angel/Remembering Shelly Fabares

 

 

The entertainment industry lost another star earlier this week with the passing 
 of Golden Age of Television actress-singer Shelley Fabares on August 22, 2026.
 She was 82 years old.  May she rest in eternal peace.

 

 

Image courtesy/Spotify

 

Shelley is perhaps best remembered to a generation of fans as the oldest child
and perky teen-aged daughter of Dr. Alex and Donna Stone, (played by
Carl Betz and Donna Reed) on the family-oriented American sitcom,
"The Donna Reed Show" which aired on ABC  from 1958-1963. 

After the series ended, Shelly starred as the leading lady in three
movies opposite singer Elvis Presley,"Girl Happy" (1965) 
"Spinout" (1966) and "Clambake" (1967). 

In addition to playing Joy Piccolo in the 1971 movie, "Brian's Song"
opposite actor James Caan, she later played Francine Webster on
the 1970's sitcom, "One Day At A Time". Shelley guest- starred 
  on many TV shows in the 70's and 80's including, "Mannix" 
"Barnaby Jones" "Fantasy Island"  "The Incredible Hulk"
and "Murder, She Wrote."

  She also played Christine Armstrong, a news anchor and girlfriend,
 (later the wife ) of football coach Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) on the 
hit late 1980's-early 1990's ABC sitcom, "Coach".

  "I'm in heaven...I get carried away...
I dream of him and me, and how it's gonna be..."

In the fourth season episode of "The Donna Reed Show" notably called, 
"Donna's Prima Donna"  Mary Stone, now a college freshman, is seriously
thinking about quitting school to pursue a singing career, much to the
 chagrin of her skeptical mother-until she hears her daughter sing,
"Johnny Angel".  Not only was her mother impressed, but the song
became an overnight sensation in America after the episode
aired on February 1, 1962.

A sweet expression of a teen-aged girl's longing for a boy who doesn't
even know she exists, went all the way to the Number One spot on Billboard's
Hot 100 chart in April, 1962.  It also became the top-selling record on
  Cashbox's Top Best Seller's Chart that same month. 

 

Johnny Angel
(1962)
Shelly Fabares
Uploaded by Hans Snoek
(October 21, 2015)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Storm Aftermath

 

 I arrived home just in time yesterday before a severe thunderstorm swept
through my neighborhood with very heavy rain and damaging winds.

Only a little while before this, I was driving home after doing some errands 
and noticed the darkening skies to the west.  I thought the strange blue-green
clouds of the approaching storm were unusual, and reminded me of the
super cell thunderstorms that form tornadoes on the western prairies.
It also looked as if the storm was moving away from my area,
heading towards the northeast.

Fifteen minutes later I was sitting at my kitchen table when it
suddenly grew very dark outside. A strong clap of thunder shook  
 the house as the wind came whipping across the yard. I went
to look out the back door to see what was happening.

 Then, before my eyes, all hell literally broke loose.

As I stood watching at the back door with my oldest son, the
large branch in the picture below suddenly snapped off the big tree
next to our home and came crashing down only a few feet away,
barely missing the roof!  My son then pointed out to me the
sudden shift in the direction of the wind, indicating that
there was rotation in the storm. 

Meanwhile, the deluge of rain pouring down from the skies was absolutely
incredible! I don't think I've ever seen it rain so hard in my life! In our area,
we received over 4 inches of rain in less than a hour.  Although thankfully,
 we did not see a tornado, there was a tornado warning issued
 for Salem County which is just south of my home.  

Today I am most grateful to the One Who rules the wind and water for
 keeping us safe in His love and mercy during this unexpectedly violent storm!

 

Summer Storm Damage
August 27, 2026
Image courtesy/Daniel Kelly

 

I am also thankful to God that although our area was one of the hardest hit
yesterday, I have not heard any reports of storm-related injuries or deaths.
There will, however, be some major road repair in the coming days! 

 

Severe Storms Cause Road To Buckle
In Gloucester County
FOX 29 Philadelphia
(August 28, 2026)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partial Lunar Eclipse Tonight

 

 

 

 The nearly full Sturgeon Moon will slip into Earth's shadow tonight, creating 
 a stunning"almost blood moon" effect as almost 100% of the lunar surface 
will disappear into the umbra, or the darkest part of our planet's shadow.

  According to Space.com, at maximum eclipse much of the moon may take on an eerie
 reddish hue as sunlight filtered through Earth's atmosphere is refracted into the shadow
 and onto the lunar surface. Only a thin sliver of moon will escape Earth's shadow, 
appearing as a bright arc against an otherwise dim, rusty-red lunar disc. 

 Beginning around 9:30 pm ET in the United States, the eclipse will be
 visible from both North and South America, as well as in Europe
 and in Africa-weather pending, of course. 

Due to cloud cover here in my neck of the woods, I am not sure 
I will get to see this spectacular celestial event tonight.

 But, I hope the skies are clear where you're at fellow sky watchers! 

 

Image courtesy/Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday's Thoughts: Make Me A Blessing Today

 

 

 

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people
 light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men,
 that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." 
(Matthew 5:14-16)

 

 

Image courtesy/Island in the Net

 

 

 Oh, softly the Spirit is whispering to me,

With tender compassion, with pitying plea;

I hear His beseeching, and earnestly pray

That Jesus will make me a blessing today. 

Lord, make me a blessing today,

A blessing to someone I pray;

In all that I do, in all that I say,

O make me a blessing today. 

Some heart may be longing, for only a word,

Whose love by the Spirit is quickened and stirred;

Now grant, blessed Savior, this service to me,

Of speaking a comforting message for Thee. 

Some soul may be plunged in the darkest despair,

Where shadows would melt in the sunlight of prayer;

O give me, dear Savior, I humbly implore,

The sweet consolation that soul to restore. 

Come all ye that labor, ye weary and worn,

Come ye who in sorrow or sinfulness mourn;

With me this petition to Jesus convey;

O make me a blessing, dear Savior, today.

Lord, make me a blessing today,

A blessing to someone I pray;

In all that I do, in all that I say,

O make me a blessing today. 

 

Fanny Crosby
Image courtesy/Cyber Hymnal

"Make Me A Blessing Today"
(1899)
 Frances Jane "Fanny" Crosby
(1820-1915)
American Christian evangelist 
 and prolific hymn writer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuppa Cuppa Cake: Dolly Parton's Recipe From Steel Magnolias

 

 

 

 

An easy recipe from the kitchen of Truvvy Jones, the kind-hearted neighborhood
  hair dresser played by Dolly Parton in the 1989 movie, "Steel Magnolia".

Thank you Becky for re-posting this recipe in her memory today.

 

 Cuppa Cuppa Cake
The Hillbilly Kitchen-Down Home Country Cooking
(August 26, 2026)