Madame Rosalie de la Val: A Character Sketch

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

MADAME ROSALIE BACLER de la VAL:

A Character Sketch

Since March is Women’s History Month, and March 8 was International (Working) Women’s Day, I developed a character sketch on Madame Rosalie Bacler, a French émigré who came to the United States during the French Revolution, and who was a “working” woman, a “noble” who planned a French refugee colony in the Massachusetts Territory of Maine. Whenever I “introduce” this historical female to people, they become fascinated. Madame is the main character in the historical romance novel that I am attempting to write.

     Madame Rosalie Bacler de la Val, a French émigré who came to the United States to escape the atrocities of the French revolution, was an independent land speculator/settler in what is known today as Hancock County, Maine. In the 1790s, this region it was the Maine Territory of the State of Massachusetts, part of the Penobscot Land Tract purchased from the State of Massachusetts by land speculators Henry Knox and William Duer.
     Only about ten percent of the post-American Revolution land speculators worked independently, outside a company. None, as far as I have encountered, were women—much less

Battling Squirrels at Bird Feeders III: Types of bird feeders

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BATTLING SQUIRRELS AT BIRD FEEDERS III:

Types of bird feeders

 

NOTE: In rural areas, summer bird feeders should not be hung until the natural food for the bear population has become plentiful, nor should they be out in October-November. If you choose to put them out, bring them in at night to prevent bear invasions.
To read articles on bears click on:

BEAR CONFRONTATIONS: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS  & BEAR STORIES ACROSS THE NATION &

BEAR CARNIVAL IN CONNELLSVILLE, PA.

Part III is the final installment of this post on squirrels at bird feeders. To read Part 1 on bird feeders click on Battling squirrels at bird feeders I: to fight or join them, and to read Part II click on Battling squirrels at bird feeders II: to fight or join them

     Another approach is the squirrel-proof or squirrel-resistant feeder. Savvy bird lovers know that these are not a true solution, since technology cannot compete with the Squodent’s intelligence. The new products are being introduced regularly can be quite costly and will limit the number of birds that can access the bird food.
     There are several types. Some have feeders encased in tubular or round wire mesh cage that allows small birds to enter and feed. To view photos click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3393612047/  &  http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3393531857/in/photostream/  ) Another style has a spring-weighted platform that

Battling squirrels at bird feeders II: to fight or join them

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BATTLING SQUIRRELS AT BIRD FEEDERS II:

Protecting the seed

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz…to feed the birds, becomes my biz!

NOTE: In rural areas, summer bird feeders should not be hung until the natural food for the bear population has become plentiful, nor should they be out in October-November. If you choose to put them out, bring them in at night to prevent bear invasions.
To read articles on bears click on:  To read Part 1 on bird feeders click on Battling squirrels at bird feeders I: to fight or join them
 To read the conclusion of BATTLING THE SQUIRRELS, click on: Battling Squirrels at Bird Feeders III: Types of bird feeders

    The use of feeders presents a problem for bird lovers: how to protect the food from a food predator, the squirrel. These crafty, agile critters can climb smooth poles, reach through small openings, and jump onto bird feeders from an object more than eight feet away, chasing away the birds and eating up to a pound of their seed in one morning.
     Squirrels are great problem solvers. You may think you have won the battle, but they continue the war. Whatever method(s) you use to defeat them, remember: it could take several attempts to get it right. Keep trying.
   To stack the cards on your side of the battle, you must understand

Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life: 5 The Beatitudes

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BASIC BIBLICAL TEACHINGS FOR THE

GODLY AND MORAL LIFE: 5

Guest writer Monte W. Holland

For some time, my husband, Monte, has been concerned about today’s young generation and the ethical behavior, which they are exposed to in today’s society. He sees the inconsistencies in what they experience in society and what is taught by Biblical Scripture, where lessons on “The Godly, Moral Life,” are presented.
As a step in counteracting society’s UnGodly, Immoral life lessons, he developed a series of six lessons, one for each week in Lent, beginning today, Ash Wednesday. Each lesson is divided into seven daily sections. Below is an introduction for the first week, and a link to its entire writings, hosted by the Open Hands Ministry site. Open Hands is a ministry of the United Methodist Churches in the Ligonier, PA, area, which provides layettes for WIC babies in Westmoreland County, and operates second-hand clothing and furnishings stores in Stahlstown and Jeannette.
Click on the same link   http://www.methodists-care.org/  for a Children and Youth version of this Lenten Study. Earlier segments of this study are also linked there.
AN ON-LINE STUDY GUIDE FOR THE LENTEN SEASON- “Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life”
LESSON 5  Wednesday March 25 –  Tuesday April 1, 2009
This week we look at the beginning portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, a section

Found: Flash Drive. What should I do?

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITONS

FOUND: FLASH DRIVE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

     As my college friend Michael stood in my living room, preparing to leave following his first visit to my home after fifteen years, he pulled a blue flash drive from his pocket.
     “I found it in a parking lot,” he claimed about the electronic gadget that is so small it is easier to lose than to keep. Such a thing can slip out of a brief case, get misplaced in

The Red Tuque

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

THE RED TUQUE

The Rev. Monte W. Holland, Guest Writer

SCRIPTURE: Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. 2 Peter 1:5-8  (CEV)
DEVOTION: When I wore my red knit tuque (a knit hat—to view photo click http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3378357280/ ) on a visit to Dorothy, a church shut-in, she said it needed a tassel. The next time I stopped she presented me with a

Battling squirrels at bird feeders I: to fight or join them

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BATTLING SQUIRRELS AT BIRD FEEDERS I:

To Fight or to Join Them

WARNING: Bird feeders should not be put outside at night until the risk of bear danger is over, about mid-June, and should be removed before mid-October. Otherwise, not only is the bird seed threatened, but the bird feeders are at risk of being ruined. And who wants a bear looking in their window at three o’clock in the morning, while he enjoys a meal from the bird feeder? For further information on bears click on: BEAR STORIES ACROSS THE NATION & BEAR CONFRONTATIONS: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

     I watched quite a while as the squirrel sitting on the branch intensely studied the birdfeeder. It was hung by fishline well below the branch, well above the ground and a sufficient distance from the tree trunk to be difficult for a squirrel to reach.
     Suddenly, the squirrel, which I dubbed Squodent, dove headlong into the birdfeeder. Seed sprayed out, scattering on the ground below. Squodent raced

Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life: 4

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BASIC BIBLICAL TEACHINGS FOR THE

GODLY AND MORAL LIFE: 4

Guest writer Monte W. Holland

For some time, my husband, Monte, has been concerned about today’s young generation and the ethical behavior, which they are exposed to in today’s society. He sees the inconsistencies in what they experience in society and what is taught by Biblical Scripture, where lessons on “The Godly, Moral Life,” are presented.
As a step in counteracting society’s UnGodly, Immoral life lessons, he developed a series of six lessons, one for each week in Lent. Each lesson has seven daily sections. His entire work is posted by host site the Open Hands Ministry, a service of the United Methodist Churches in the Ligonier, PA, area. This organization provides layettes for WIC babies in Westmoreland County, and operates second-hand clothing and furnishings stores in Stahlstown and Jeannette.

AN ON-LINE STUDY GUIDE FOR THE LENTEN SEASON- “Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life”

Our goal this week is to become quite familiar with the Great Commandment, the Golden Rule, and the Love chapter.
LESSON 4   Wednesday March 18 – Tuesday March 24, 2009
In the preceding lessons we have seen that the Law as recorded in the Ten Commandments is basic to the Godly, moral life. Very specifically we are charged with obedience in our relationship to God and obedience in our relationship to others. We have looked in a little detail at the Ten Commandments, one by one.
Now we turn to the message that comes from Jesus as he was interacting with the Jewish elite of his time. We find that these leaders were jealous of the rapport Jesus had with (to continue reading this post and/or to see previous posts in this Lenten series, click on: http://www.methodists-care.org/ , then click on ONLINE STUDY).

ADDITIONAL READING:

Writer’s calls for submissions, competitions & events March 1, 2009

Kathy Kelly, of Voices of Wilderness: On Peace

KEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 1

KEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 2

I BELIEVE GOD INVENTED DANCING

Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life: 1

Basic Biblical Teachings for the Godly and Moral Life: 2

Ashes to Ashes: A Devotion for Ash Wednesday

A PASTOR’S ROLE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Part 2

CHILD ABUSE AND SCRIPTURE

ABRAHAM, SARAH, HAGAR and sons ISHMAEL and ISAAC

WHAT? MARRY A PROSTITUTE, HOSEA ASKED GOD

DRESSING FOR BLESSING: GOD AND FASHION Part 1

ARE YOU LIVING IMPAIRED?

BUSY—I’M SO BUSY!!! Lent Devotion #28

Online Sites for Caretakers & Families of Brain Injury Victims

SITE LINKS:

www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/

www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com

www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/

www.barbarapurbaugh.com

www.pennwriters.com

ellenspain.com

http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/

http://www.methodists-care.org/

 

The Old Rocker

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

THE OLD ROCKER

Monte W. Holland, Guest Writer

     It is old. It has been stripped of a lot of layers of paint. It is unfinished. It doesn’t have any padding. It is plain. One of its rockers has been replaced. One of its legs is slightly loose from the seat.
     It is a lonely seat in my bedroom. Hardly anybody sees it but me. Nobody sits on that old rocking chair but me.
     I love that old chair. Almost every night I get up at three, four or five o’clock in the morning to watch some late night TV and maybe do a Sudoku puzzle. There is my chair, by the bed, patiently anticipating an hour or so of quality time with me. (click here to view photo:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3357877639/  )

Hidden Transgressions: The Importance of Integrity

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

HIDDEN TRANSGRESSIONS

The importance of Integrity

 

SCRIPTURE: Job 31:33     I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom. (KJV)
Matthew 23:25     Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess!  (KJV)

DEVOTION: Our personable church organist was loyal to the church, a good worker and faithful in all ways. Who would believe he would become a convicted as child molester? His skill at leading a double life was truly honed.
     Isn’t this behavior similar to what Job is sharing? As Adam hid his