Fort Griffin, TX. Stars & Skies of Texas. Fort Griffin Fandangle on June 20, 21, 22 and June 27, 28, 29. Shackelford County. Amelia Earhart. Sally Ride.

 

For “Travel Tuesday”, Let’s visit Fort Griffin in the Texas Panhandle Plains region of TX:

“The Texas Panhandle Plains region offers visitors a wide variety of experiences from the breathtakingly beautiful canyon lands, to the Old West heritage that is still evident today. You can visit the birthplace of Buddy Holly and many other famous artists, explore a wide variety of museums & exhibits, or simply enjoy the wide open skies that have attracted visitors for generations. Discover the adventure of the Texas Panhandle Plains.”

 

FORT GRIFFIN, TX

“Though there is little left of old fort, and even less of the settlement that formed below the bluff, Fort Griffin was one of the wildest places in all of the Old West. Built on the rolling hills between the West Fork of the Trinity River and Clear Fork of the Brazos River, the area was a dangerous place as settlers made their way into Texas, conflicting with the Plains Indians who had long called the area their exclusive hunting grounds. Though Forts Belknap, Phantom Hill and Camp Cooper had already been built in the 1840’s, they were not enough to protect new settlers. However, the Civil War interrupted any additional fort building until it was over. Then, afterwards, the government began to build forts once again, including Forts Griffin and Richardson.

Work began on Fort Griffin in 1867 when Lieutenant Colonel Samuel arrived with four companies of the Sixth Cavalry on July 31st. The outpost, first designated as Camp Wilson.  The name was changed to Fort Griffin in honor of Gen. Charles Griffin, the commander of the Department of Texas, who had originally made the plans for building the new fort. Gen. Charles Griffin had died of yellow fever the previous September in an epidemic sweeping Galveston.  It was built upon a hill overlooking the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.

By the time it was finally complete, the fort would accommodate up to six companies of soldiers and included an administration building, a hospital, officers' quarters in eleven buildings, numerous barracks, a guardhouse, a bakery, a powder magazine, five storehouses, forage houses, four stables, a laundry, and a workshop.

Almost immediately after the fort was completed, a new settlement began at the bottom of the hill, first called "The Bottom,” "The Flat” or "Hidetown,” before it took on the name of the fort. In addition to the honest pioneers who settled the area for legitimate reasons of ranching,  agriculture, and commerce, in flooded a number of ruffians and outlaws.

When more and more people continued to arrive, the Indian attacks increased across northern Texas, keeping the soldiers busy in what was called the Red River Campaign, the battles of which continued until 1874, when the Texas Army defeated the Kiowas and Comanches at Palo Duro Canyon.

In the meantime, the settlement below the hill was bustling with buffalo hunters, business men, cowboys, outlaws, gamblers, gunfighters, and "painted ladies,” quickly gaining a reputation for lawlessness.

Some of these many people would later become well-known in the annals of history, including Doc Holliday, pictured, and Wyatt Earp, who first met in Fort Griffin. Also there were Big Nose Kate; famous lady gambler, Lottie Deno; lawman, Pat Garrett, and gunfighter, John Wesley Hardin.

"Marshaling” the lawless town was outlaw/lawman John M. Larn as sheriff, and his deputy, John Selman who, in the mid 1870’s, were working both sides of the law by controlling the vigilantes and rustling cattle. John Larn; however, would be killed by those same vigilantes inside his own jail in Fort Griffin. Selman, on the other hand, quickly disappeared and almost two decades later would kill John Wesley Hardin. During these lawless times, the settlement was so decadent that it was labeled "Babylon on the Brazos.”

It was at Shaunissy's Saloon in Fort Griffin that Wyatt Earp first met Doc Holliday. Today, the saloon has been recreated on top of its old foundation.

In fact, in 1874, the place was so bad that the commander of the fort placed the town under its control, declaring martial law and forcing many of the undesirable residents to leave. The town remained under the army’s control until Shackelford County was officially formed later in the year.

When the fort was built and the town below it sprang up, it was part of Jack County. However, at the same time that the town was boasting its bawdy ways in the extreme, there were also a number of law abiding citizens in the area that wanted to form a new county. Early in 1874, they petitioned the Jack County Court for permission to form their own county. In September, permission was granted and the new county was called Shackelford in honor of Dr. Jack Shackelford, a Texas revolutionary hero. Fort Griffin became the temporary county seat on October 12, 1874.

But those law abiding citizens weren’t satisfied with having Fort Griffin, with its immoral reputation, as their county seat. They quickly gathered together and proposed a brand new town in the center of the county to serve as the permanent county seat. On November 8, 1874, area residents voted to establish the new town of Albany to serve the people of the new county.

Buffalo Hunters by P.H. Kellogg

However, by the late 1870’s the buffalo on the plains were beginning to dwindle, reducing the many buffalo hunters that called the Fort Griffin home. Vital to the town’s economy, businesses began to suffer and soon packed up and moved to the new town of Albany.

In 1881, two events would spell the final death blows for the town of Fort Griffin. By this time, the Indians of the area had been pushed westward or placed on reservations and the soldiers of the fort were no longer needed. After 14 years of guarding the area population, the U.S. flag at the fort was lowered for the last time on May 31st.

That same year, the Texas Central Railroad was pushing through the region and Fort Griffin was working desperately to entice them through their city. However, the citizens of nearby Albany raised $50,000 to lure them through their town.

The small town survived for several years, gradually diminishing in size. By the 1940’s the school was consolidated with Albany’s and a short time later the post office closed.

Although it survived into the twentieth century as a rural community with a school and country store, virtually nothing remains of this once riotous, flourishing town.

Today, there are only a couple of original buildings left at the town site, but several "new” ones have been reconstructed over original foundations. What’s left of this once thriving town is situated on the Collins Creek Ranch, a wildlife habitat, working ranch, and commercial hunting property. Though privately owned, its owners do allow visitors on the property to view what’s left of this once lawless place.

The site is open daily year-round. Fort Griffin is located on the Texas Forts Trail on U. S. Highway 283, about 15 miles northeast of Albany, Texas.”  More at: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-fortgriffin.html

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Brief History of Fort Griffin.

“Although the original intention was for all buildings on the grounds to be permanent stone structures, they retained a temporary appearance throughout their existence. In the beginning, log houses called “picket” huts (built with vertical logs), tents and rough frame buildings with earth and canvas roofs were erected as provisional shelter. The scarcity of materials, shortage of funds and daily demands of military duty allowed for only six of the more than 90 structures of the garrison to be built wholly of stone.

Although Fort Griffin was known on the frontier to be a very tidy, disciplined place, it was an especially active fort and the troops were kept busy with protection and settlement of the frontier with little time for building construction or maintenance.

Reconstructed barracks huts

 

 

 

Ruins of the fort sutler's store

 

 

The historic Fort Griffin Mess Hall has been recreated.

 

 

The historic Fort Griffin Baker building has been restored.

 

 

 

 

Ruins of the fort’s administration building

 

 

 

Saloon and Jail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008

 

 

Fort Griffin State Historic Site, a Texas Historical Commission property, is located in the northeastern portion of Shackelford County, approximately 14 miles north of Albany, Texas. Open to the public since 1938, the site offers recreational opportunities for history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts, astronomers and families.

Set in the unspoiled natural environment of West Texas, Fort Griffin held command over the southern plains, as one in a line of frontier defensive forts from 1867 to 1881. Among the ruins today are a mess hall, barracks, first sergeant’s quarters, bakery, powder magazine and hand-dug well.

The site also includes a portion of the official Texas Longhorn herd, scenic campgrounds, nature trails and some of the biggest skies in Texas. Rock foundations, ruins and a few reconstructed buildings serve as a reminder of a once prominent 1800s fort.

The campgrounds, located on the banks of the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, provide visitors with an opportunity to relax under large shade trees, enjoy the playground, catch catfish in the river or hike nature trails connected to the campground.

Due to the vast ranches surrounding the property, Fort Griffin has minimal light pollution. The result is an astronomer’s oasis with great skies for viewing constellations, planets and galaxies at Fort Griffin’s monthly stargazing events.
Fort Griffin is a State Archeological Landmark and the post is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.”

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http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/tx/fortgriffen.html

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Guided Fort Tour

“Dates: 5/11/2013 - 9/7/2013 9:00 AM

Cost: $3 plus general admission, Location: Fort Griffin Visitors Center, 1701 N. US Hwy 283 Albany, Texas 76430

Get a taste of the Wild West!
Let us take you on a tour of the military fort one Saturday morning a month, as we share stories of outlaws, legends, and heroes from Fort Griffin and the Clear Fork country.

Scheduled program dates are as follows:

• May 11
• June 8
• July 6
• August 3
• September 7

Tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will last about an hour and a half. Golf carts are available for those who have limited mobility.

Please check the calendar or call ahead (325.762.3592) prior to arrival for possible cancellations.”

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Stars & Skies of Texas

“Monthly Star Gazing Party Dates: 7/6/2013 8:30 PM,  8/3/2013 8:30 PM  9/7/2013 8:00 PM. Cost: General Admission.  Location: Campground, Fort Griffin State Historic Site Albany, Texas 76430

In this photo you can see the milky way.

Join us for an out of this world star party at Fort Griffin! Local astronomers will bring large telescopes along with their knowledge of the night skies to share with anyone eager to learn and be amazed. Attendees will have the opportunity to view many different objects found in the night skies. Great for the entire family!

For specific questions about this event, please give us a call at 325.762.3592.”

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Guided Nature Hike

“Dates: 5/25/2013 - 9/21/2013 9:00 AM

Cost: General Admission, Location: Visitors Center Fort Griffin State Historic Site Albany, Texas 

Join us on a guided nature hike one Saturday morning a month throughout the summer to explore the local flora, fauna, and natural history of the Clear Fork region. It will be both a fun and educational opportunity for all ages.

Scheduled program dates are as follows:

• May 25
• June 22
• July 20
• August 17
• September 21

Hikes begin at 9 a.m. and last about an hour and a half to two hours. Be prepared to hike in rugged areas off the main hiking trails, where there may be taller vegetation, rocks, logs, snakes, and other potential hazards.
Please check the calendar or call ahead (325.762.3592) prior to arrival for possible cancellations.”

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Fort Griffin Fandangle

Welcome to the Fort Griffin Fandangle

“Come to help us Celebrate 75 Exciting years spent telling the Northwestern Texas Frontier Story.  Relive the days of the Indians who roamed the prairie, the Settlers who moved ever west with their herds of Longhorns, the Military who protected them all, and the Civilization they created.

Fandangle is Texas Oldest Outdoor Musical/Dramatic Show.  Presented in a large Prairie Theater with covered wagons, buggies, and a replica of the first Texas Central Train, there are galloping prairie fires, oversized rattlesnake, frontier town, and first oil discovery.  300 Albany performers authentically present the look and feel of the Old West told with fun and humor.

The Fandangle is performed every year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the last two weekends in June.

For 2013 the dates are June 20, 21, and 22 and June 27, 28 and 29.  Call 325-762-3838 or click here for more information and to purchase your tickets.”

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Fandangle History

“The Fort Griffin Fandangle is an outdoor production evolved from a 1938 Senior High School play called “Dr. Shackelford’s Paradise” written and directed by Robert Nail, Jr., an Albany, Texas, native and Phi Beta Kappa Graduate of Princeton University.  An immediate popular response caused the play to be renamed, enlarged, and produced as a community undertaking that same year. With the help of his childhood friend, artist and musician Alice Reynolds, a graduate of Baylor University, the show became entertainment of a quality and style never seen before in West Texas.

The big musical production is still directed and produced by the people of Albany in its own Prairie Theater 75 years after its creation and has been acclaimed a professional-caliber show by theater critics.  It is staged in an acre-sized amphitheater by over 300 citizens.

It is this history the Fandangle continues to relive through music– most of it original,– dancing, narration carrying the story line, and lots of action using wagons and horses, a stagecoach, and citizens of Albany as gamblers, can-can girls, settlers, Indians, soldiers, buffalo hunters, and real life cowboys.  Every Fandangle is different, however, according to Director Betsy Parsons’ story line.

Beginning at dusk, on each of the last two weekends in June–Thursday, Friday, and Saturday– a total of 10,000 people literally from across the nation and around the world come for Fandangle season, some return year after year to refresh memories and enjoy the surprises and fun.  It’s a proud history only the people of Albany can claim, and first time visitors often are amazed at the size and scope of the Fort Griffin Fandangle.”

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About Shackelford County

“Sixteen miles north of the Shackelford County Courthouse a thin band of water, the Clear Fork of the Brazos River running along the northern county boundary, cuts through the dry prairie. Although a scarcity of fresh water is common, the Clear Fork was responsible not only for the Native American presence of Athabascan Apaches and the Comanches who later supplanted them, but also for bringing settlers here and transforming the country into prime ranch land.

Documentation suggests that even prehistoric man appreciated the wide abundance of wildlife. Rumors of Spanish artifacts have not been documented to the extent that we can say with certainty that early Spanish explorers came through the county area. If they didn’t, they missed a special region of Northwest Texas.

The army abandoned Fort Griffin and Griffin melted away while Albany slowly took root.  The Texas Central Railroad arrived and with it the birth of a new county town, Hulltown, which later was renamed Moran, 15 miles to the southeast. A native limestone courthouse designed by James Flanders of Dallas replaced the rickety picket structure in 1883.

Shackelford County endured a severe drought in 1886-87, and with help from a local Presbyterian minister, John Brown, brought Clara Barton, (she was the founder of the American Red Cross), to Texas for the first time using Albany as her headquarters. She came to check on the suffering and lack of resources for small farming families who had been lured to the area in large numbers by zealous railroad promoters and newspaper editors.

Albany endured the droughts and remained a ranching and farming center until 1910, when the oil man arrived and discovered the first commercial gas well in this vast area of West Texas near Moran. Successful exploration continued with the shallow but prolific Cook Field in 1926. Monies from the field were given by W. I. and Dude Nail Cook (in memory of their daughter Jessie Cook Head who died in childbirth) for the creation of Cook Children’s Hospital in Ft. Worth.

The county’s population peaked in 1930 at 6,695. The county area is 887 square miles of rolling prairie land covered with mesquite, pecan, elm, and hackberry trees and intersected by ravines and creeks. It supports an abundance of white-tailed deer, rabbits, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, and other small mammals. Quail, white-winged and turtle doves, turkeys and roadrunners make their home amongst the songbirds, hawks and owls. Shallow layers of Permian limestone are overlain with 2 to 14 inches of “loamy clay topsoil” and provide excellent building stone.”

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On This Day:

Amelia Earhart is the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, Jun 18, 1928

“Aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She completed the flight from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours. (She was a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).

Earhart's entire life had a certain restless quality. By 1928, she had found a calling of sorts as a social worker in Boston who flew in her spare time. When New York publisher George Palmer Putnam asked if she wanted to be the first woman to fly the Atlantic, she readily agreed. The June 1928 flight from Newfoundland to Burry Port, Wales, made her an instant celebrity, although she was quick to note that she had been merely a passenger, 'a sack of potatoes,' who kept the log. When she soloed the Atlantic in 1932, another first for women, she proved to the world and, more important, to herself that 1928 had not been a fluke.

Her modest demeanor and short, tousled hair made her a perfect heroine for a media-conscious age. Her public career lasted less than a decade (from 1928 to 1937), but she used her fame to promote two causes dear to her: the advancement of commercial aviation and the advancement of women.

After that first trip across the ocean, which took more than 20 hours, Earhart became a celebrity: She won countless awards, got a ticker-tape parade down Broadway, wrote a best-selling book about her famous flight and became an editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1937, Earhart attempted to be the first female pilot to fly around the world, and the first pilot of any gender to circumnavigate the globe at its widest point, the Equator. Along with her navigator Fred Noonan, Earhart successfully hopscotched from Miami to Brazil, Africa, India and Australia. Six weeks after they began their journey, Earhart and Noonan left New Guinea for the U.S. territory of Howland Island, but they never arrived. No trace of Earhart, Noonan or their plane was ever found.”

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First American woman in space, Jun 18, 1983:

“From Cape Canaveral, Florida, the space shuttle Challenger is launched into space on its second mission. Aboard the shuttle was Dr. Sally Ride, who as a mission specialist became the first American woman to travel into space. During the six-day mission, Ride, an astrophysicist from Stanford University, operated the shuttle's robot arm, which she had helped design.

Her historic journey was preceded almost 20 years to the day by cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova of the Soviet Union, who on June 16, 1963, became the first woman ever to travel into space. The United States had screened a group of female pilots in 1959 and 1960 for possible astronaut training but later decided to restrict astronaut qualification to men. In 1978, NASA changed its policy and announced that it had approved six women to become the first female astronauts in the U.S. space program. The new astronauts were chosen out of some 3,000 original applicants. Among the six were Sally Ride and Shannon Lucid, who in 1996 set a new space endurance record for an American and a world endurance record for a woman during her 188-day sojourn on the Russian space station Mir.”

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went to get Jay, and had our walk down there.  Then Ray, Jay and I did something that would take all three of us.  

After unscrewing the lattice fence panels, we jacked two of the tall posts that were remaining from the old RVport, out of the ground. 

Some people wanted me to just cut off those tall posts, but I knew we would need them for my front porch roof extension, and posts that length are too long for me to carry in my van.

With those stored for future use, we inserted fence-height posts in their place and replaced the fence panels. This was so that Misty can still use her walkway into the backyard.  It took us just over an hour, way less than the cost of buying 16’ posts.  We even put treated 1x6”s lengthways to stop the new gravel from going through the lattice fence onto the walkway.  The third and last post will be done later, as that part of the fence will have to be rebuilt at the same time.  It is a tall board fence, as it was built to keep the cold north winds off my RV.

This is getting ready for the contractor who is supposed to be building my porch extension on Saturday.

Pet’s Herbicide Exposure. ‘Green’ Cleaner Toxic. Dogs Need Exercise. Adopt a Black Cat. 5 Reasons Cats Go To Shelters. Pee-mail. Drake Claims California. Statue of Liberty. Watergate.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

New Study Links Herbicide Exposure to Bladder Cancer in Dogs

“A new study to be published in July points to a link between garden and lawn chemicals and canine bladder cancer. The chemicals are common herbicides containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chloro-2- methylphenoxypropionic acid (MCPP) and/or dicamba.

Dogs are exposed to these chemicals through ingestion, inhalation, and through the skin. Breeds with a genetic predisposition to bladder cancer are at particularly high risk. These include Beagles, Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, West Highland White Terriers, and Wire Hair Fox Terriers.

In the study, urine samples were obtained from dogs in homes where herbicides were used, and from dogs in untreated homes. Chemicals were detected in the urine of dogs in 14 of 25 households before lawn treatment, in 19 of 25 households after lawn treatment, and in 4 of 8 untreated households.

Researchers discovered the presence of herbicide in untreated lawns, leading them to conclude the chemicals can “drift” from treated to untreated properties. This means dogs can potentially be exposed in their own yard even if the yard is untreated, and from other properties if they travel from yard to yard.

Dr. Becker recommends avoiding the use of herbicides in your own yard; being aware that chemicals from other properties have the potential to contaminate your yard; keeping your pet off treated lawns; and using detoxifying supplements, baths and/or foot soaks to decontaminate your dog if you suspect he’s been exposed to lawn and garden chemicals.” 

Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/06/05/herbicide-exposure.aspx

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Why Your Green Household Cleaners May Still Be Toxic to Your Pet

“Green household cleaners can still be dangerous and even deadly for pets … and you may not realize the risk before it’s too late.

Even if you’re confident the cleaners you use are safe for your pet, it’s a good idea to proceed with the same degree of caution you would when using chemical cleaners.

Keep your pet out of areas where you are cleaning. Don’t spray or apply cleansers on or near your pet. Don’t allow your pet to lick freshly cleaned surfaces or chew on sponges or cloths used for cleaning.

When caring for your pet’s bedding or soft toys, don’t use fabric softener sheets or soap or detergent that is heavily scented.

Bathe your pet with all-natural pet shampoos and conditioners, and if you use a professional groomer, insist he or she do the same.”   Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/29/green-household-cleaners.aspx?

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Which Household Cleaners Contain Toxins?

“Next time you walk down the cleaning product aisle at your local grocery store, take a closer look at those pretty labels wrapped around your favorite surface disinfectant. A new study out today reveals that numerous popular cleaner brands, including Glade, Clorox, Pine Sol, and the ostensibly eco-friendly Simple Green, contain chemicals that are known to cause hormone disruption, pregnancy complications, birth defects, and cancer, and can aggravate allergies. Women's Voices for the Earth (WVE), which published the report, commissioned an independent laboratory to test 20 popular household cleaning products. Turns out, none of the toxic chemicals detected were disclosed on the product labels.”  More at: http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/11/toxins-household-cleaners-tide-clorox-glade-pinesol-febreze-simplegreen

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Study Highlights Hidden Dangers In Everyday Products -- Even The "Green" Ones

“The study included both conventional products, such as Windex original glass cleaner and Irish Spring deodorant soap, as well as “alternative” products marketed as containing safer ingredients than their conventional counterparts, such as Seventh Generation Free and Clear natural glass and surface cleaner and Tom’s of Maine natural moisturizing body bar.”  More at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/amywestervelt/2012/03/08/study-highlights-hidden-dangers-in-everyday-products/

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Myth Debunked: A Big Backyard Does Not Equal a Well-Exercised Dog

“There is a common myth among dog owners with fenced-in backyards that their pets get all the exercise they need just going outside. This is simply not true. There are plenty of obese dogs living in homes with big backyards.

Studies show that solitary dogs rest about 80 percent of the time, and dogs who live with other dogs rest about 60 percent of the time. In other words, much like humans, dogs need a reason to be physically active.

The best way to insure your dog gets enough exercise is to provide her with companionship and motivation. If your dog isn’t provided regular opportunities to run, play and exercise aerobically, she is at much higher risk of developing arthritis and other debilitating conditions.

Your dog should be getting a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained, heart-thumping exercise three times a week. Thirty minutes is better than 20... and 6 or 7 days a week is better than three.

Simply walking your dog won’t get the job done, so it’s important to take power walks and/or find other activities that will deliver cardiovascular benefits and keep your pet’s body in good condition.”

Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/06/07/big-backyard-dog-myth.aspx

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Adopt a Black Cat Today!

“Did you know that Black Cats are the least likely to be adopted from animal shelters? Here are 10 reasons to adopt a Black Cat today!”

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5 Reasons Cats Are Given Up for Adoption — and How to Avoid These Problems

Cats are among the hardest animals to place in new homes.  Dr. Marty Becker looks at five reasons why cats wind up in shelters, and how to keep your kitty home with you.

“No matter what your issue, taking your cat to the shelter shouldn't be the first solution. "Many alternatives to giving up a cat are available for pet owners," notes Dr. DiGangi. For example, he says, "Most veterinary practices are well-equipped to assist with any medical or behavioral issues that are causing a pet owner to consider relinquishment."”  Article at:  http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/5-reasons-cats-are-given-up-for-adoption-and-how-to-avoid-these-problems

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10 Weird Pet Behaviors and What They Mean

“While we love our fuzzy companions unconditionally, let’s face it – they have some really weird behaviors! There’s all that doggy drool and tail chasing… and those dead creatures the cat drags home.

Here are answers to some common pet owner questions about the behavior of their furry companions. We think it’s important to view the world as your pet sees it once in awhile!”

Example # 7: Why does my dog sniff every blade of grass before deciding where to pee?

Dogs pick up a great deal of information with their noses. When a dog is sniffing around — especially outdoors — he’s discovering what other dogs have been in the area and a little about each of them. Imagine you receive an email that requires a response. This email is the end of a chain of emails on an important topic. Chances are you’ll read all the other emails in the chain before deciding how to respond. When your dog is outside sniffing, sniffing, sniffing for a potty spot, he’s simply reading his pee-mail before he “responds.” Read more at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/24/weird-pet-behaviors.aspx

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On This Day:

Drake claims California for England, Jun 17, 1579:

“During his circumnavigation of the world, English seaman Francis Drake anchors in a harbor just north of present-day San Francisco, California, and claims the territory for Queen Elizabeth I. Calling the land "Nova Albion," Drake remained on the California coast for a month to make repairs to his ship, the Golden Hind, and prepare for his westward crossing of the Pacific Ocean.

On December 13, 1577, Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World. After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only the Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship.

Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. In July, the expedition set off across the Pacific, visiting several islands before rounding Africa's Cape of Good Hope and returning to the Atlantic Ocean. On September 26, 1580, the Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, England, bearing its rich captured treasure and valuable information about the world's great oceans. In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake during a visit to his ship.”

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Statue of Liberty arrives, Jun 17, 1885:

“On this day in 1885, the dismantled State of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.”

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Watergate burglars arrested, Jun 17, 1972:

“Five men are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Senate investigations eventually revealed that President Richard Nixon had been personally involved in the subsequent cover-up of the break-in; additional investigation uncovered a related group of illegal activities that included political espionage and falsification of official documents, all sanctioned by the White House.

The Watergate affair had a far-ranging impact, both at home and abroad. In the United States, the scandal shook the faith of the American people in the presidency. In the final analysis though, the nation survived the constitutional crisis, thus reinforcing the system of checks and balances and proving that not even the president is above the law.

To avoid almost certain impeachment, Nixon resigned from office on August 9.”

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Yesterday:

Jay’s neighbor had asked me to go down there as he had a mess of tomatoes for me.  He waters the vegetable garden at the American Legion in town, and they had more tomatoes than they knew what to do with.  Then Jay invited me to have some of his percolator coffee, so Misty and I went down there.  She had a good walk-about down there, but it was mostly a sniffing expedition.  She acts like a little bloodhound and follows scent trails on the ground, then marks them to tell the world that ‘Misty was here’.  A blind dog has to have some hobbies.

Some of the tomatoes had to put on the table on my screen porch to finish ripening.  They will make a good old British dish, fried red tomatoes.  Not the way they are done here, green and with breading, just fried in coconut oil.  In England, fried red tomatoes are often served at breakfast time with bacon, eggs and toast or fried bread, but those are fried in the bacon grease.  I wonder why Brits don’t seem to have the same cholesterol problems that they do in the USA.

I had so many tomatoes that I made Spaghetti Bolognese sauce with them.  It has carrots and celery in it. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quick_pasta_bolognese.html   Tomatoes and carrots are two foods which have more nutrients when cooked.  Sometimes, I like tomatoes just raw as a salad.

The contractor is supposed to be here again on Wednesday evening to talk about doing the roof extension over my front porch.  So I was out there measuring where to put posts, and looking at porch designs on the internet.  I am hoping to find a design where my front porch and screen porch blend together, so that it doesn’t look like an add-on. 

The windows and doors are opened each morning when I get up, but sometimes it becomes humid, and I have to close them.  It was humid early, so it became an AC day.

Where Have All the Fathers Gone? Hey, Dad, Remember Me? Discern the Times. God is Calling: Will You Answer? A "House Divided". First Woman In Space.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”, and also Father’s Day:

Where Have All the Fathers Gone?

“A devastating epidemic is leaving a trail of broken hearts and broken dreams in its wake. What is this tragic outbreak? It’s the epidemic of disappearing fathers, who are sorely needed.

Source: Photos.com

“As soon as they heard the door open, the two young girls jumped up and began yelling, "Daddy's home, Daddy's home!" No longer quietly sitting with Mommy, their heartbeats were now racing and their eyes widened, anticipating playtime with their father.

Soon he was tossing them up and down, and they squealed with laughter when he acted like a big bear. Their mother sat by, watching with delight and amusement, ready to calm things down should the horsing around get too rough.

Who would've thought such a scene could be in danger of disappearing?

Disappearance of the intact family

Sadly, it's come to the point in many countries that fewer children than ever will have the opportunity to grow up in a home with both a father and a mother. According to the latest statistics, only a third of the children in the United States will reach age 18 with both biological parents living at home.

"Fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic trend of this generation," warns social historian David Blankenhorn. "It is the leading cause of declining child well-being in this society. It is also the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from crime to adolescent pregnancy to child sex abuse to domestic violence against women." (Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem, 1995, p. 1).

With U.S. divorce rates hovering just below 50 percent and the resultant single-parent households alarmingly on the rise, it's no wonder that only a minority of kids can count on living with both Mom and Dad. Usually, it's the father who doesn't stick around and leaves the mom to rear the kids by herself—which is a distinct disadvantage for the children. (See "What Happened to Dad?")

How important is the role of the father in child rearing? New studies have shown that dads, who normally are not given as much credit as moms in child rearing, actually play a vital role in the upbringing of children and their future success. Amazingly, this research reinforces the same principles written in the Bible thousands of years ago! Let's look at some of the evidence.

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 See All...).

The Bible describes the ideal father as actively and tenderly engaged in his children's rearing and education.

Yes, his masculine child-rearing tactics often include horseplay with the kids that can annoy and cause anxiety in Mom, the maintainer of domestic peace and order. Yet his rowdiness actually fulfills a vital role in the children's social, physical and intellectual skills in school and beyond.

"Children's social, physical, and intellectual development benefit greatly from the involvement of fathers," observes Yale child psychiatrist Kyle Pruett (quoted by Judsen Culbreth, "What Dads Are Made Of," Reader's Digest, June 2005, p. 72A). The intellectual gains are noticeable from the first year of life and continue on past high school.

"By eight weeks," Dr. Pruett explains, "infants can anticipate differences in maternal and paternal handling styles ... When infants were approached by their mother, they slowed and regulated their heart and respiratory rates, relaxed their shoulders, and lowered their eyelids (Ahh ... Mom). When the father approached, the infant's heart and respiratory rates quickened, shoulders hunched up, and eyes widened and brightened (Dad's here ... party time!)" ( Fatherneed: Why Father Care Is as Essential as Mother Care for Your Child, 2000, p. 25).

A father's playfulness helps his children develop motor skills, hand-eye coordination, balance and confidence. I remember teaching my four daughters at an early age to ride a bike, snow ski, roller-skate, snorkel and enjoy many other types of sports. Their favorite time as children was when we invented games like the helicopter ride, with me whirling them with my feet like the blades of a helicopter, and the volcano, where they would fall from my knees into the bed. Such activities created a lasting bond between us and helped them lose their fears about taking on new challenges.

Child studies show that this kind of rough-and-tumble play helps children develop social and emotional experiences that prepare them for school. For instance, they learn to be confident, to take turns and to become leaders. "Kids who learn these early social skills from their fathers do better with peers," says Dr. Ross Parke, professor of psychology and author of Fatherhood (quoted by Culbreth, p. 72B).

Conversely, the lack of a father figure tends to leave kids more passive and fearful. Child research indicates that it is the closeness felt by the child to the father that is most predictably associated with a positive life outcome 25 years later.

"Children who feel a closeness to their fathers are twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75 percent less likely to have a teen birth, 80 percent less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms" (Pruett, p. 38).

Researchers further found that "both sons and daughters of the dad-involved group [in the study] had higher levels of verbal skills," with the boys' IQ being "positively associated with their father's nurturing, (appropriate emotional and behavioral response to child's needs) and, interestingly, negatively associated with their father's disciplinary restrictiveness.

"Boys with nurturing fathers scored higher than the boys whose fathers were less involved unless the father was a strict, authoritarian disciplinarian" (pp. 43-44). So, although discipline has its place, when it becomes harsh and overbearing, as the Bible warns against, it yields negative results.

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding" (Proverbs 5:1 See All...).

Mothers normally give care and comfort while fathers focus more on teaching children about the world around them. Notice, for example, that when mothers pick up a baby, they usually have the infant face her—whereas fathers often pick up children so they can look outward, and explore what is in front of them. Dads are "wired" to play a very important role to separate children so they don't become too absorbed in their mother's world.

"It is in the toddler years, from 1 1/2 to about 3 1/2," says Dr. Pruett, "that fathers play one of the most critical roles they ever play in the life of their child: helping the child safely and securely separate from the intense maternal dependency of infancy.  Healthy thorough dependency on their mother is for children at the beginning of their life, they will not experience, let alone practice, their own competence and mastery skills if they do not strike off in search of their own physical and emotional autonomy. And in this world, you, the father, are the expert guide" (pp. 83-84).

Actively involved dads, who let their children explore the outside world and teach them about the marvels of nature, will help them develop curiosity and self-esteem. "Infants who have been well fathered during the first eighteen to twenty-four months of life are more secure than those who were not in exploring the world around them, and they do so with vigor and interest. They tend to be more curious and less hesitant or fearful, especially in the face of novel or unusual stimuli" (Pruett, p. 41).

Eventually these exploratory skills will become crucial in school and the workplace. People who are inquisitive, socially developed and not afraid to try different methods will have an easier time excelling as challenges arise. After all, Dad already taught them how to deal in the real world, how to overcome frustrations and figure things out for themselves.

"Fathers can affect how well their children progress in school, which subjects they prefer and even the kinds of occupations they choose," says Dr. Parke. "Whether a child prefers reading and hates math or aspires to be a physicist or an engineer rather than a book critic or a historian is affected by the father's attitudes, encouragement and other behavior" (Fatherhood, 1996, p. 156).

Studies done in the 1960s about the effect fathers had on their children surprised even the researchers. For example, they found the amount of time fathers spend reading with their children is a strong predictor for many intellectual abilities—in particular, of the daughters' verbal skills. Remarkably, the same study did not find mothers reading to children to have similar effects, indicating there was something unique in the father's role of reading to them.

For example, women who were high achievers, such as Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi, former prime ministers of Britain and India, respectively, mention they were highly influenced and encouraged by their fathers in their academic and political careers.

Another important role in which the father excels is teaching children about spiritual and moral values. When the father is a good role model of morality, children respect both of their parents more. If the father establishes rules that are fair and a level playing field in which the children can flourish, they tend to be more obedient. But when the mother sets the rules, children tend to defy them more.

"Sons of fathers who took more responsibility for limit setting, discipline, and helping their child with personal problems and schoolwork," adds Dr. Pruett, "had significantly higher empathy [having feelings of sympathy and compassion for others] scores ... Father deprivation is directly linked to difficulties in a child's self-control" (Pruett, pp. 48, 51).

"But did He not make [husbands and wives] one ...? And why one? He seeks godly offspring" (Malachi 2:15 See All...).

When God united Adam and Eve, the first two human beings, in marriage, He told them to multiply and fill the earth. God had carefully designed the family unit so children would be reared between two parents who would act as opposite (masculine and feminine) poles.

The child would then be in the middle of this union, receiving equal influence from both parents. An analogy would be of a metal ball suspended between two magnetic poles. Similarly, each parent exerts his or her unique influence so the child is reared to have a balanced and full personality.

Researchers have confirmed that actively involved male and female parents are ideal for bringing up balanced and mature children. Here are some of their findings:

• Children yearn deeply for dads and are born with a drive to find and connect with their fathers and not only with their mothers.

• Fathers have the internal capacity or instinct to respond to their child's desire to connect.

• Men and women do not differ in the depth of love toward their children.

• Each child is loved in a unique way by the father and the mother.

• The desire to feel emotionally connected to their children throughout life is the same for men and women, though it may find differing forms of expression.

• Fathers and mothers are equally able to interpret their child's behavioral cues.

• Fathers and mothers are equally anxious about leaving the child to the care of someone else.

• With the exception of lactation, there is no evidence women are biologically predisposed to be better parents than men.

• Men who become active fathers gain in their ability to understand themselves and others.

• A father who is deeply involved with his children experiences beneficial health results.

• A father present at childbirth is the single most important factor that protected against birth complications and further illness or trauma in the newborn.

• Parental love that overindulges a child usually results in selfishness.

One encouraging trend in Western society is the number of parents who now want to co-parent, or share in the physical and emotional care of their children as well as in the responsibilities and decision making. Instead of leaving it to Mom to basically rear the children, now more fathers want to become actively involved.

In a long-term survey of newly married couples who were asked to rank certain values in their marriage, co-parenting has moved from the 11th priority out of 15 in 1981 to the 2nd priority in 1997, a surprising shift in values in less than one generation.

"Men from Wall Street to homeless shelters," says Dr. Pruett, "speak with conviction about wanting to father their children more actively than they themselves were fathered. As a senior manager at the investment house Goldman Sachs puts it, 'I don't want my son to feel the same void in his heart where his father belongs that I do in mine'" (p. 1).

"And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6 See All...).

We see here that God is very concerned with preserving families. It's interesting that in the scripture above, it is the hearts of the fathers that must first turn to the children, before the children's hearts are then turned toward their fathers.

How can the hearts of fathers be turned to their children? An important way is taking an active role in their children's lives!

Simply reading to them has been shown to make a big difference in improving children's verbal skills. Playing with them, so that they feel the warmth, tenderness and masculine good humor of a father, goes a long way to establishing those bonds of closeness that have been shown to determine such positive outcomes in the future.

Taking children out for a walk and pointing out all the wondrous living things around them will arouse their curiosity and kindle their thirst for knowledge. Showing them how to overcome their fears by tackling physical challenges, such as how to ride a bike or take up a sport, helps create confidence, sociability, physical coordination and perseverance that are so valuable in school and the workplace.

Teaching them strong moral values is also another way fathers turn their hearts to the children. It's wonderful for sons or daughters to be able to turn to Dad for moral guidelines and see their father love their mother and become a role model for them.

Fathers are also ideally suited to develop logic skills in their children so they can understand not only what they should do in a given situation, but why they should do it. The Bible is a marvelous source in this regard, for not only does it reveal true moral and spiritual principles, but it also explains from God's point of view why they should be followed and what happens when they are and when they aren't.

On the other side, how can children's hearts be turned toward their fathers? Again, the best source to begin searching for the answer is the Bible, which says this turning of the heart begins with parents following God's example in His love for His children and by children honoring, obeying and loving their parents.

After all, the Fifth Commandment instructs a child to "honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land" (Exodus 20:12 See All...).  According to God, both parents should be involved in child rearing, and the children should show equal respect for both of them.

As research has confirmed, there's nothing better than God's original design of a loving father and mother, along with an extended family, rearing their children in His ways. Dr. Parke states it succinctly when he says that mothers and fathers are indeed different, "but their distinctive styles of caretaking complement each other perfectly to the advantage of children" (quoted by Culbreth, p. 72D).

It is a tragedy that society has come to the point of asking where all the fathers have gone—with so many leaving or abandoning their proper roles. If you are a father or will be at some point, you don't have to follow the trend. Instead, by following God's laws and true values, you can be the kind of father He wants you to be! And your children will be blessed.”  From: http://www.ucg.org/relationships/where-have-all-fathers-gone/   Article by Mario Seiglie 

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From me:  I can relate to this next article, as my mother left when I was 4 years old, and I hardly knew my father:

Hey, Dad, Remember Me?

Source: Photos.com

“The young mother sat in my office, tears slowly sliding down her face, her eyes swollen with years of frustration. I asked her, "What is one question you would like to ask your father?" Her sad reply spoke volumes: "Hey, Dad, remember me?"

That question burned deeply in the young woman's heart. And she didn't feel her prayers to a Father in heaven would connect. What can a person in this predicament do?

She tearfully explained that she and her father were never close, that he was distant at best. From time to time he made his presence known by raising his voice or asking for something around the house pertaining to his needs. But as this young women related, "He may have spoken only five sentences to me personally in my years of growing up."

Family relationship statistics are alarming today as more and more people talk about how the absence of their fathers in their lives has left a gaping hole they now seek to fill. Other relationships are impacted, including the most important one—that with God. The young mother explained her primary reason for counseling in these words: "How do I pray to my Father in heaven? I've never really talked to my physical father growing up. I can't connect."

If you've suffered from such a communication barrier, that relational challenge is a very difficult chasm to cross. Being disconnected from your human father—for whatever reasons—makes it harder to connect with God your Father in prayer. Yet Jesus taught His disciples, "In this manner, therefore, pray, 'Our Father in heaven . . .'” (Matthew 6:9 See All...). And God says that He is "a father of the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5 See All...). So if you've had a strained relationship or nonexistent one with your physical father, here are some thoughts to help you truly connect with your spiritual Father.

Talk to God the Father as to your friend

Go to Him in prayer and begin: "God, it's hard to talk to you as to a father since I've never really talked to my physical father before, but I want to be your friend. I know many times in your Word you mention being our Friend. You said that Abraham was your friend (Isaiah 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. See All...).   So could we please just talk?"

Start gradually. Good friends build relationships through communication.”  More at: http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/hey-dad-remember-me/  Article by Scott Hoefker

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Discern the Times. Friday, June 14, 2013

“As interesting as the NSA spying issue is, a deeper threat is coming from China.”

 

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/news-and-prophecy/discern-times

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This morning’s program on WGN TV:

God is Calling: Will You Answer?

“God may be calling you to become one of His children. How can you know for sure and what should you do about it?”

 

Transcript at:  http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/christian-living/god-calling-will-you-answer

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On This Day:

Lincoln warns that America is becoming a "house divided", Jun 16, 1858:

“On this day in 1858, newly nominated senatorial candidate Abraham Lincoln addresses the Illinois Republican Convention in Springfield and warns that the nation faces a crisis that could destroy the Union. Speaking to more than 1,000 delegates in an ominous tone, Lincoln paraphrased a passage from the New Testament: "a house divided against itself cannot stand."  *

The issue dividing the nation was slavery's place in the growing western territories and the extent of federal power over individual states' rights. Lincoln declared that only the federal government had the power to end slavery. While the southern states relied on an economy and lifestyle dependent upon the cheap labor provided by African-American slaves, the North opposed slavery on moral grounds. The northern states also considered industrialization and manufacturing the key to America's economic future, not farming. The entrance of new states into the Union, such as Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, brought to a head unresolved conflicts over which government entity–state or federal–should make the final decision regarding slavery. For his part, Lincoln firmly believed that slavery was immoral and was wholly incompatible with the principles of the Declaration of Independence embodied in the phrase "all men are created equal." However, Lincoln prioritized preserving the Union above all else.

After Lincoln's speech, several of his friends expressed dismay at its "radical" content. Leonard Swett, a lawyer and friend of Lincoln's, later wrote that Lincoln's talk of using federal power to end slavery was "unfortunate and inappropriate," although Swett admitted that in retrospect Lincoln was ultimately correct.  At the time, the people of Illinois ultimately agreed with Swett: Lincoln lost the close Senate race of 1858 to the more moderate Stephen Douglas, who advocated states' sovereignty. Lincoln's eloquent speech, though, earned him national attention and his strong showing in the polls encouraged the people to back his ultimately successful bid for the presidency in 1860.”

* (Matthew 12:25, King James Version) "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand".

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First woman in space, Jun 16, 1963:

“On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date.

The first American woman in space was astronaut and physicist Sally Ride, who served as mission specialist on a flight of the space shuttle Challenger in 1983.”

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Yesterday:

My daughter and I had our usual Saturday morning phone call, only this one was longer than most.  After several setbacks, caused by their title company, they have finally closed on the sale of their house, and are living permanently at their lake house at Somerville.  Now, they would just like to enjoy some quiet times there, even though my son-in-law is still working, and my grandson hasn’t gone into the Air Force yet.

Jay had already called to say he wasn’t going to church, as he didn’t feel well.  But he was well enough to drive up here on his ATV, phone me from my front door to get me out of the shower to look for something for him.  Another one of his harebrained ideas that wasn’t going to work on his neighbor’s gate.

A leisurely Sabbath, I don’t think so.  Each time I tried to get ready for church, other people came at different times interrupting me.  One wanted me to cut their dog’s nails, which I tried to do, but it was going to bite me, and I didn’t want to be bleeding in church.   I should have put a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on the front door! 

All these delays made me late, so I didn’t get to church.   I spent the time watching one of the Kingdom of God seminars on my computer, instead.   http://www.ucg.org/webcast-sabbath-services/kingdom-god/kingdom-god-bible-seminar-cincinnati-east-congregation-june-15-/  

It’s not the same as being there, but our local church videotapes the sermons, so it will be online in a few days.