A bit of American Revolutionary thinking from 1776

"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason."
Thomas Paine
Common Sense

Limelight

Kathie Holly, my companion on the Bookmobile, gave me this hydrangea as a living memorial for Daddy. It is named Limelight, because the flowers are a light green all summer, then turn to pink in the fall. The bush is about three feet tall now and should grow to about six feet tall and six feet around eventually. This photo shows it after Tom got it in the ground, and so you see the garden hose there.


We decided to position the hydrangea at my end of the house, where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade, down far enough to be visible from the deck in back ...


and partly visible from the front drive as you pull in and then fully from the sidewalk as you walk to the front door. That spot of red up there is Tom's truck on the pad outside the garage, so you get an idea of where this is in relation to the house. (Sundance had to get in the picture.) These two pictures were taken when the plant was still in its pot. Now it is in the ground and Tom is already building up a bit of garden around it, featuring wild roses, of which we have an abundance, and some other things. Next year I will try to get a picture of the whole arrangement in situ.

Thanks to Kathie for this thoughtful gift and reminder.

Daddy

I just got back from Texas this evening. My father died peacefully in his sleep last Tuesday morning, August 9. The obituary notice is below. The photo was taken in December 2009.
Everything went well, and I think my mother and the rest of us are doing well. Thanks to those of you who were aware of this and sent messages of condolence. The family is grateful for your prayers and thoughts at this time.

Tom, ever generous, filled in at the library while I was away so that things there were as little disrupted as possible. As my mother said, he is a great friend.

My good friend in the Carmelites, Fr.Steven Payne, lost his father Larry to lymphoma two days after my father died. I commend his family to your prayers, too.

James Byron Dodd

Funeral services for James Byron Dodd, 89, of Whitehouse are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, at Whitehouse Church of Christ with J.C. Tate officiating.

Following the service Mr. Dodd will be laid to rest in Whitehouse Cemetery under direction of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Directors.

Mr. Dodd was born Sept. 17, 1921, in Hoschton, Ga. Byron served his country while in the United States Navy during World War II and retired as a teacher with Windham Independent School District. Mr. Dodd was a member of Whitehouse Church of Christ and lived in Whitehouse the past 15 years. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ray Dodd and Weldon Dodd; and sisters, Peggy Ray and Tacky Mitchum.

Byron is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Roxie Mitchum Dodd of Whitehouse; sons, Michael Scott Dodd of Wisconsin Dells, Wis., and Ted Byron and wife Cynthia Dodd of Borger; brother, George Talmadge and wife Ann Dodd; brother-in-law, Rayburn Mitchum; sisters-in-law, Bobbie Mitchum Stevens and Florence Dodd; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Randy Arnold, Vincent Broccolo, Justin Dodd, Billy Ray Duren, Acker Hanks and Jason Kirk. Honorary pallbearers will be The "42" Gang.

Will you have one slump, or two?