Father's Day 2009

My daddy is the neatest. He is 81 years old and has so much love in his heart, along with being one of the most humble men I know. Here's to you, Daddy. I love you!

Tuesday, March 17, "Oh,no! Paula are you alright?!"

Well, what do you know? ! We get to sleep in a bit this morning. We don't have to be down for breakfast so early and will gather at 9:30 a.m. to strike out to take in Seville. As I mentioned in the last post, Paula and I are roomies at this stop, and we get along wonderfully. Although, I was so tired, I would have gotten along with most anyone.

We eat a casual breakfast, breads and jellies for me, along with juice. Violeta gathers us together to begin our day, which turns out to be a long one. We met our guide for the morning, Conchetta. She is charming and knows Seville in and out. Our first stop is at the bull ring, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. I wasn't too thrilled about going to a bull ring since I had had my turn at one when I was a child living in New Mexico. My family lived and worked with my grandparents there, and my mamaw made sure I got to visit every site there was in the west and in Mexico too. I don't remember a lot about going, but I do have this memory that it was not that much fun.

Entrance into the bull ring

Entrance of the Toreadors

However, the bull ring was interesting, and I did learn some things I did not know. FYI-The bulls were raised specifically for the bull fights and the meat from the slain bulls was sold or given to the people for food. How about that!!! Also, there was a small chapel where the toreadors went to pray before the fights. We visited the bullfighting museum where there were all kinds of fight costumes and recognition of Spain's outstanding toreadors. Conchetta told the story of Carmen and how her dealth by a jealous lover supposedly took place at this ring. The opera is based on this tragedy, and if you have never heard this story, you need to find an audio copy of Andy Griffith doing a comedy sketch of the story. It is great!

Debbie and me with the ring in the background

The chapel where the bullfighters pray

Entrance of the bulls

Bullfighter's costume

Portrait of well-known fighters

After the bull ring, we took a bus tour of the town. We saw some of the most interesting and unusual buildings that were built by various countries during the Expo of 1929. One of the most beautiful was the building and area known as the Plaza de Espana. Not only was it a large area, but the buildings and surrounding areas were covered with exquisite ceramics and mosaics.

The Golden Tower is one of two towers that guarded the Quadalquivir River entrance into the harbor of Seville. The other tower was destroyed at some point. In old times, a large chain was stretched across the river from tower to tower to prevent ships from moving about the river. It is called the Golden Tower because of the color of the tower at sunset.

Louise and I standing at the entrance to the Plaza de Espana

Ceramic bridge railing

John, MR, Me and Debbie

Mosaic walkway made from rock in the plaza

After our tour of the city, our bus let us out at the Parque de Maria Luisa. Then after our photo opt at the Gate of the Lion, we walked around the park and the Alcazar Garden and the old district of Santa Cruz.

The Gate of the Lion

A rubber tree in the garden area of Santa Cruz

The old city wall

Gardens in old town

Patio area of a home in the old city

Cross of the Locksmiths in the Plaza Santa Cruz

Our next point of interest was the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic church ever built and the largest Cathedral in the Christian world. At this cathedral there is a fusion of Islam and Christianity and of several types of architectural design, including the Arabic design of the Muslims, the Gothic of the Middle Ages, and Baroque and Renaissance influence. The cathedral still has the original minaret of the mosque. FYI-A minaret is a tall tower. This is 34 stories high and and the original tower was used by the Muslims to announce each of the five times of prayer during the day. The eman (I think) had the job to make the trek up the tower to ring the bells to signal time for prayer. Apparently, this up and down five times a day got old, so the steps were changed into a ramp that allowed for a donkey to be ridden up and down the tower. At some point the tower was destroyed in an earth quake and was rebuilt on the same spot. All I can say is thank goodness for the ramp, which we trudged up and then ambled down. The view from the top of Seville and the countryside was gorgeous.

The Minaret. Yep. I climbed all 34 stories of this tower!

Closer view of the top of the Minaret. On the top is a weather vane of bronze called the Giraldillo, which in Spanish means something close to "revolving" or "turning around." The statue represents the triumph of faith. Notice that the bell tower part of the minaret is Renaissance architecture while the minaret itself is of a Islamic influence.

The entrance that is used by the Pope when he comes to the cathedral. In front of the door is the tenebrae candelabra.

One of the ornate altars of the several in the cathedral

It is not known where the bones of Christopher Columbus truly rest since they were moved several times. However, it is believed that they came to rest in the cathedral in Seville. This is the front view of the tomb.

We had worked up a thirst, and hunger was setting in so several of us found a quaint restaurant at which to eat. My meal of Roma tomatoes drizzled in olive oil with basil, along with bread to dip in the olive oil, was wonderful. I even broke down and had two $4 cokes.

On our way to eat lunch, Violeta pointed out that the man in the sunglasses and leather jacket was a former, well-known bullfighter. Apparently several people recognized him.

With our bodies refueled, our group gathered, and we prepared to tour the Alcazar de Seville. FYI-Alcazar is another name for palace. The palace, like the cathedral, was added on to several times, showing the various styles of Mudejar (Islamic) art and other types of architecture of later periods. Surrounding the palace and within the grounds of the buildings are beautiful gardens.

We spent a large part of the afternoon at the Alcazar and even had a moment of fright. As we are all walking around looking up at the ceilings with their beautiful workmanship, Paula missteps on a ramp and falls, hitting her head on a flower pot. I mean really HITTING her head. Her pupils dilated and she turned pasty white. We thought we had lost her for a minute. She gave us a scare and herself a large lump on her head for the next several days.

Following are pictures of the Alcazar and the surrounding gardens. My pictures do not do the palace justice. It is beautiful.

Entrance into the Alcazar

Plaza that opens after passing through the entrance gate

This is the entrance where Paula fell

The ceiling or copula called the Cuadra de la Naranja del Salon de Embajadores

Betty, Debbie, Louise, Drew, Dianne

We walked the Serpentine Street one more time, stopping for ice cream and visiting the shops for those last few purchases. We returned to the hotel and gathered on the roof-top patio for an impromptu cocktail hour before dinner.

Several of us decided to return to the hotel after dinner via the river walk and then caught a taxi back to our hotel. We prepared to leave Seville the next morning, and I fell into the bed like a stone.

Puente (bridge) de Isabell II, the first permnent bridge in Seville

P. S. Before we entered the cathedral, I turned to look over my shoulder, and across the street was this building with an American flag hanging above the door. My heart did a flutter beat so I took a pic. It was good to see a piece of home so far away.

A Quiet Heart

I know I have been a way for a while but I'm back. I have been offered a new opportunity to share my faith and my musings on God's love and grace. I write a "little" piece for our church newsletter each month, so I thought I would share what I have been writing. You have already read two of the musings in earlier posts; this is the one I wrote in the June newsletter.

Musings . . .

The Lord your God is with you, . . . . He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17

Those who know me well know that one of my favorite things to do is to sit on my swing on our back patio. When I am not working, my morning routine includes getting my cup of coffee Lance has so graciously fixed for me and going to my swing to sit with no purpose in mind other than to just sit. I watch the birds that come to our feeders and bathe in the bird bath, splashing water in such a ceremonious way. Sometimes I get to watch the hummers hovering around the feeders getting their sugar fix for the day. I enjoy the plants around the yard and patio with their colorful blooms, and in the background are the soothing sounds of the water as it trickles in the fountain close to our patio.

After I have cleared my mind, I begin to think about my day. Before I begin it, I read my devotional and pray. I wish I could start every morning this way, but as most who know me also know I am not an early starter so a morning such as this is not an option on a day that I work. Yet, when I think about this time of peace I experience, it always brings to mind Psalm 46: 10a: “Be still, and know that I am God; . . .” As I sit in the swing, I know that I am blessed with God’s grace, a wonderful gift I know I have done nothing to merit, a gift I know I can sit in my swing and gratefully accept.

Several weeks ago, I heard someone explain that when translators were working on a translation of the Bible for a group of native South Americans who spoke an unusual dialect, there was no word for peace. The closest words translators could come up with were “quiet heart.” Isn’t it wonderful that that God’s grace can give us a quiet heart, a peace that allows us to wipe out all the previous day’s stress and a peace that allows us to start a new day in His glory?

I wish everyone had a swing that could do for them what my swing does for me. But, if not, I hope everyone can still take time to “be still” and find that quiet heart that is within all of us.

Love in Christ, D.K.

P.S. Stay tuned for more postings from the Spain trip.

Watch Out

“ . . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles . . .” (Hebrews 12:1).

The season of Lent is over, and we are now in the season of Easter. What a joy it is to know that we serve a risen Savior and have a marked time to reflect upon God’s gift to us. However, I want to share something about Lent. During the season of Lent, I chose something to give up in order to have the time mean more to me and follow the direction that Lent is suppose to leads us—identifying with the suffering of Christ. Although, there is really nothing we really can do that will ever equal the suffering of Christ and the ultimate sacrifice he made for us, I feel our trying does indicate our desire to identify with him.

As Lent approached, I tried to decide what to give up but was not coming up with anything. On Ash Wednesday, I came by the church early to get my ashes since I had to work that evening. Bro. Grover had agreed to meet me, and briefly we went through the liturgy together. One of the passages we read revealed during Lent we are to reflect through prayer, fasting, and meditation. There it was, what I was going to give up.
I decided I would fast one day a week during Lent. Until this point, I have never given up food intentionally unless I was sick. I got online, read about fasting, and made my plan to eliminate solid food but allowed myself liquids such as coffee, juice and diet drinks. With little prayers for help when my stomach wanted to know what was going on, I made it thought Lent fasting on Thursdays.

Scripture tells us that we are to fast and pray in private, not to do them for show or brag about what we are doing. It was, however, kind of hard not to say what I was doing when my mama wanted to know why I was not eating. Also, I want to relate something that happened and what I thought about. One of the Thursdays I was fasting, our grandsons were staying with Lance and me. As I helped Lance get their breakfast ready, I absentmindedly took a bite of a pig-in-the-blanket. After I realized what I had done, I spit the bite out. Later in the day at snack time, I ate a pretzel, again without paying attention to what I was doing. I didn’t put myself through a guilt trip, but I did think about my absentminded eating and how Satan works in our lives. He stands by waiting for a chance, and in our weak moments we absentmindedly allow him in. Before we realize it, we are not listening to the Holy Spirit and not following God’s will. We let the “little sins” find a place in our lives, and we selfishly “do our own thing,” not thinking of the consequences. These sins may not be egregious, but as spiritual writer Jerry Bridges reminds us, sin is sin. Bridges calls these sins “respectable sins.” I try to discipline myself daily to be on watch, but there is no way I can do it on my own. As I prayed when I got hungry, I pray daily for help. Let’s all be on guard for Satan and the sin he can introduce into our lives, those sins that keep us from God’s will, those little sins, those respectable sins.

Monday, March 16 The KKK! No Way!!!!!

Again. The phone rings but this time it is at 5:00 a.m. Yes, you read right, 5:00 a.m. Anyone who knows me knows that 5:00 a.m. is too early for me to even be awake much less get up and try to function. Natalie and Debbie and I stumble around each other as we get dressed and get our things together so we can get our luggage down to the lobby by the 6:45 deadline. Why all this early stuff? We are getting ready to make our way to the Barcelona train station for our first ride on the bullet train.

The hotel has fixed us a picnic breakfast of a sandwich, an apple, a chocolate bar, a fruit drink and a bottle of water. We grab our lunches and make our way to the bus to get our luggage on board and then find a seat. The bus begins our journey to the station. As I ride along there is this reoccurring thought in my mind about a train station bombing that took place in Madrid several months ago. Okay, Lord, I am in your hands.

Violeta gets us through the station and to our platform without any problems. We are an originating trip so we don't have to race to get on our train. FYI: The train travels at approximately 148 mph and is a common mode of travel in Spain as well as most parts of Europe. Our train is clean and modern and comfortable.

Betty and I getting off the train in Madrid for our layover.

I am fortunate to get face to face seating with a table with Louise, Debbie, and Betty. We pull out our picnic breakfast and I pick at mine. Not much appeals to me besides the apple. We ride for a while and then decide to play cards. Last year on our Italy trip Mrs. Mary Kat taught some of us how to play Hand and Foot. We play that game with the lead going back and forth until Betty begins to run the table. The first leg of our trip is 4 hours with a 2 hour layover in Madrid. We all claim our luggage and walk the platform to the main station and find a restaurant to eat lunch. We then load up again for 2 more hours of riding until we get to Seville. We arrive in Seville around 2:30 p.m. I could get use to traveling on a bullet train quite easily. I would love to jump the train at Inverness and make my way to Jackson in 15 minutes and return at the end of the day. Yeah, right!

Spanish countryside from the train window

A bus meets us at the station and takes us to La Macarena Hotel. Yep, again you read right Macarena, like the dance. We learn that the Spanish have never been able to understand why the song and dance took off in America since is considered to be a nonsense song in Spain. We are instructed to get settled in and meet in the lobby at 5:00 to head to the old area of town.

El Hotel Macarena

View from the patio atop our hotel

The ladies of the trip before our night out: Irene, DK, Dianne, Debbie, Betty, Louise, Paula, Natalie, Susan, and MR

We are on our own tonight until we are to go to a Flamenco performance. Violeta gathers us at the head of Serpentine Street, so named for its winding nature. It is lined with all kinds of shops, from expensive to the kitchy souvenir stores. She gives us information about the area, and we all head in as many directions, knowing we are to meet at this spot at 8:00 p.m.

Street marker

 

Before our stroll down the street

One of the first stores we pass by is a toy store that is lined with dolls of all types in one of the windows. My eyes are glued to the window with my mouth hanging open. I can hardly say, "Come here" to the others as I stand in amazement at what I see. There are Klu Klux Klan dolls, dressed in green, and purple, and red, and blue, and white robes along with the pointy hats, lining the shelves of the window. Yep, you read right again! Klu Klux Klan dolls. Violeta begins to explain to us what we are seeing. FYI: The various areas of the town have their Catholic churches that have a color that is synonymous with that church. During Semana Santa, the church will march through the streets caring an elaborate statue of Christ that can weigh well over 800 lbs. They are followed by a band playing music with a beat by which to walk. Those who are carrying the Christ statue are dressed in the colorful KKK robes. I explain to Violeta why we are so enthralled with the dolls. She says she has never heard of such.

The Klan dolls

John, MR, Natalie, Debbie Natalie, Louise, Betty, Paula and I check out the rest of the shops, make a few purchases, and begin our hunt for a place to eat. This is the first evening that we haven't had a planned meal so we are on our own. Although we did not adjust our eating schedule to much during the trip, if we had followed the Spanish schedule of eating we would have been nowhere near eating at this point. It is way too early, 6:45. Several restaurants turn us down since it is too early to eat. We finally are directed to a sidewalk restaurant Las Robles, which turns out to be well-known in Seville. We dine al fresco and enjoy a wonderful dinner. I have a steamed vegetable dish of eggplant, tomatoes, squash, onions, and carrots. I understand the veggies are steamed, mixed with olive oil, poured into a terra cotta dish, and broiled until the top is crispy and brown. I also have Iberian cured ham in which the pig was fed on acorns. I complement the ham and vegetables with  a selection of olives, and a sparkling Lambrusco rose (my new favorite wine. I really don't have an old favorite since I am not much of a wine drinker, but this one was nice. Thank you John for introducing it to me). The meal is not quite as good as the lobster in Barcelona, but it is close. Now, Paula is another matter. I know she had to have lost weight on this trip. All she ever ate was bread and more bread. She missed out on some great eating. She did have hot chocolate whenever she could.

Enjoying our evening meal

After our meal we stroll back down Serpentine Street and meet with our group to attend a flamenco performance at La Casa da la Carmen. We walk to our destination, and get settled to watch the performance and enjoy a glass of sangria. Mine is strong so John finishes it for me.

The performance is great. There is a guitarist who entertains first. He is joined by a male dancer who can snap his fingers louder than any finger snapping I have ever heard. He has the most developed muscles in his hands. No castanets for him. After what seems to be an exhausting dance for him, a female dancer appears to dance her number. The male dancer and the guitarist accompany her with music, snaps, and singing. I would have fallen out from exhaustion I if had danced her dance. But she just smiles and bows after her performance. She very well could have been from the south. She had a moist glow all over her skin, no sweating for her. Next, the two dance together, and they are wonderful, also.

Ole

With the evening coming to a close, we grab taxis and head back to the hotel. For our two nights in Seville, Paula and I room together. We had claimed our beds earlier and have worked out our routine. I go down stairs to try to get on the Internet to no avail, so I decide to give up and go to bed. As a lay my head on the pillow I see it is 1:30.

Hummingbird Sighting

I was standing outside yesterday talking to my friend Sara Ann when she pointed to a hummingbird that was at the feeder. I am so excited; it was my first sighting. We usually have close to 20 that "hang" out around our feeders during the summer. I am looking forward to them all coming back.

It Was a Happy Easter!

Not much to say that the pics can't tell you. We went to Chase and Laura's for the week-end and had a great time, visiting, hunting eggs, eating, and worshiping. Hope you all had a great Easter. Praise God. He Is Risen!!

William is so proud of his watch. Never mind he can't tell time!

Wes looks for the wind that is blowing the pinwheels.

#1 and #2 playing around

Checking out the fire truck before hunting eggs

Who is this?!

I found one.

I found one, too!

What did the Easter Bunny bring?

Next year we will get to do it all over again with one more added.