Why Was Stonehenge Built?

Many, many years of investigation, analysis and speculation has been accomplished thru the ages. We now know how old Stonehenge is, where the stones came from, and how it was constructed, but none of this tells us who built it.

Older theories involving Saxons, Danes, Romans, Phoenicians, and even the Druids are obviously ruled out by the date of the monument. None of these groups was around in the Neolithic or Bronze Age of Britain.

Not surprisingly, much of the ink spilled over Stonehenge in centuries of debate has been concerning its purpose. Early antiquarians tended to see Stonehenge as a “monument,” without any specific use, although they did usually believe that it commemorated a particular event, such as Geoffrey of Monthouth’s theory that it was built in memory of the Bristons slaughtered by the Saxons.

From Aubrey and Stukeley’s time the idea of Stonehenge as a Druid temple dominated the literature, but as the Druids slipped from the scene so did the identification as a temple. The axis of Stonehenge is clearly on the midsummer sunrise/midwinter sunset line, with the sun-rise occurring over the avenue, leading to the conclusion that this was probably the more important astronomical feature.

Professor Gerald Hawkins’ theory of astronomical alignments at Stonehenge

It took an American Astronomer, Dr. Gerald Hawkins of Boston University, to break the silence. He surveyed the possible alignments presented by the monument, then fed the results into a computer to see if they had any astronomical significance. Setting the computer to cross-check the lines against a map of the heavens set at a date of 1500 B.C., he came up with a whole pattern of solar and lunar alignments (but none for the planets or stars) that he decided could not possibly be the result of chance.

Archaeologists today have returned to ideas of Stonehenge as a ceremonial center. The early wooden phase seems to have involved circles of timbers at the middle of the monument, with access tightly controlled by a wooden passageway and fencing. Even the entrances through the ditch had a forest of posts set into them, making it difficult just to walk in.

The later stone circles and horseshoe continue in the same vein, with access restricted by the stones themselves, and visibility of events at the center of the monument obscured for thsoe outside. The avenue seems quite clearly to be a processional way, when its course is followed. This runs in an arc around Stonehenge, going down into a dip.

America’s Stonehenge, Salem, NH

Only after continuing for some time out of sight of the monument does its course begin to climb again, at which point visitors saw the stone circle standing out proud against the skyline. Inside the circular sacred area defined by the bank and ditch they would have seen a crowd of worshippers, and occasional glimpses of those directing ceremonies from the center of the stones.

For those privileged few looking out from the heart of the monument, the high point of the year must have been the moment when the Sun rose over the avenue on midsummer morning. So perhaps it is not too wide of the mark to see Stonehenge as a Sun temple.

Depiction of Druid Ceremony 1815

What’s Cooking?

We’re in the kitchen today making one of my favorite side dish recipes–Vegetable Pizza. (We don’t make a hot meal for Easter; we have ham sandwiches and plenty of side dishes and this is a family staple.)

Vegetable Pizza

Preheat oven to 350*. Unroll 2 packages of Pillsbury crescent rolls and press the dough into a ungreased cookie sheet, patting the dough seams together. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.

While the crust bakes, in a medium sized bowl, combine the following with a mixer:

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 package (dry) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix

1 cup cottage cheese (small curd)

3/4 cup mayo

chopped scallions to taste (i use a dash of onion powder instead)

Mix well and refrigerate for at least an hour. Then spread on cooled crust.

In a separate bowl mix the following diced vegetables:

1 cup cauliflower

1/2 cup green pepper

1 cup broccoli

2-3 medium tomatoes

Spread the diced vegetables over the cream cheese mixture covered crust. Refrigerate. Enjoy!

Till next time…Mangia!

7 Paranormal Sightings in the White House

America’s house is home to more than just presidents and their families.

Sure it’s been the site of intense diplomatic meetings, grand parties, and important declarations, but the White House is notoriously haunted by some very famous ghosts.

Two grieving first ladies—Abigail Adams and Mary Todd Lincoln—held seances in the White House, hoping to speak with the spirits of their dead children. Opening that door to speak with the dead apparently allowed a sinister presence to take up residence in the presidential estate. Something has been tormenting presidents, their families, and their staff for more than 100 years.

Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams, the wife of the second president, John Adams, did her own laundry when she lived in the White House, and there’s apparently still plenty of washing to be done. White House staffers have seen her ghost floating around the East Room with her arms holding an invisible load of laundry. Sometimes, they smell wet clothes or even the scene of lavender in the area.

Abraham Lincoln

The ghost of Honest Abe just can’t seem to move on following his 1865 assassination. There are numerous stories of Lincoln’s bearded ghost appearing to White House residents, staff, and visitors. A nude Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister,once emerged from the bathroom to see Lincoln sitting in his room during a visit in the 1940s.

Lincoln is said to lurk around the Yellow Oval Room and the Lincoln bedroom. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt spent a lot of time working in the Lincoln bedroom, and she apparently saw him often. Calvin Coolidge’s wife, Grace, reportedly caught Lincoln looking out of a window in the Lincoln Bedroom. One night, Lady Bird Johnson was watching a documentary about Lincoln’s death when she said she felt his spirit nearby.

Ronald Reagan’s dog, Rex, is believed to have seen Lincoln’s ghost as well. Apparently the dog would regularly stand at the door to the Lincoln bedroom and bark, and the president believed Rex could see Lincoln.

Andrew Jackson

The nation’s seventh president apparently still spends time in his old bedroom where he can be heard laughing. Mary Todd Lincoln often said she heard Jackson stomping and swearing. Perhaps his ghost is reliving the raucous 1829 inauguration party in which the White House was effectively trashed by thousands of celebrants exploring the estate.

Harry Truman

Harry Truman once joked, “My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.” Was it Truman’s piano that the Bush twins, Barbara and Jenna, heard in their room after their father, George W. Bush, took office?

William Henry Harrison

Harrison, the ninth president, holds the record for holding the office of president for the least amount of time—just 31 days—but his ghost has been there way longer than that. Apparently, William Henry Harrison left something in the attic, and he’s still walking around up there and looking for it to this day.

Dolley Madison

The wife of President James Madison is very protective over the Rose Garden. When Woodrow Wilson was President, an effort to move the garden was abandoned when people began seeing Molley Madison’s ghost, according to the Washington, Post.

Bull Run Country Jamboree

One of the fun activities in which I used to participate when I lived in No. Virginia was the Bull Run Country Jamboree. It began in 1982 at Bull Run Park in Manassas, VA and was held for 2 days the first year – in the following years, it became a 1 day show. It was much like an old fashioned carnival, craft show and concert – hairiest legs contests, smoothest legs contests, greased pig contests, with all of the attendant food and beverage trucks – yes, beer was included Yummmm…..funnel cake!!!! This was HB giving my Mom a talking to that first year.

What was so wonderful about Bull Run was the attitude of the people who attended. The gates to the park usually opened at 6 am – people would line up in their vehicles the night before, and party while they waited. It was open-air lawn seating, except for the campground area, and it was important to get there early to get a good spot. What was so unusual was that you could stake out your spot, spread out your blankets and chairs, and then simply walk away to peruse all the other entertainment. Come back an hour later and NOTHING would be touched!!! Everyone looked out for everyone else!

We attended Bull Run every year until 1988, when we moved to NE for 2 years. Of course, it was during that period that Garth Brooks played there and I missed it!!! If you listen to his song, “The Old Stuff,” you will hear him talk about Bull Run……there was a thunderstorm that knocked out the power!

In 1986, I gathered up a bunch of family – brother, sister, Mom, ex-hubby – and friends and off we all went to Bull Run, setting up our lawn chairs next to our vehicles to sleep until the gates opened – or partied – depending on one’s choice.

Towards the end of the concert, park staff would bring around trash bags and everyone cleaned up their own trash, with not a speck left once everyone was gone.

Most years, we had young children with us and those using intoxicants besides beer or wine generally congregated at the campsites. One of the few times I attended without HB, I went with a group of the young project officers from DHR, most of whom consumed MJ. 3 women, 2 guys. Since we weren’t camping, we would team up to visit the Port-O-Johns. One would go in first, do their thing, hit the bowl and set it on the side of the seat. The next person came in and repeated it, then everyone headed back to our spot.

It was my turn in the John…..I was unaware that outside, the police were trying to evict a drunk who insisted he just HAD to pee first! They bumped my friend from the line and placed the drunk there instead.

I did my thing, put the bowl on the side, against the wall, and opened the door! There stood 2 policemen on either side of the line, thankfully about 10 feet away…..I said, “Oh, excuse me, I left my wallet!” Grabbed that sucker and stuffed it in my pocket, and we walked away. That ended THAT activity for the day!!!!

The festival was moved to a new concert venue outside Haymarket, VA around 2007 or 2008. I attended one time and, frankly, it sucked!!!! No more open seating, no more food and beverage trucks, no more crafts. Never went again!!!! But, ah, the memories!!

First Love

Do you remember your first love? I do. It started when I was nine and my mom gave me my first sewing machine. It looked just like this one.

She began teaching me to sew by drawing shapes on fabric and had me sew around those shapes–learning how to maneuver fabric and control the machine.

When she was certain I could handle the machine, she finally allow me to choose fabrics from her scrap box. Mom was a skilled and proficient sewer–she had all sorts of fabric in there! And the colors!! I fell i love…with FABRIC!

I’ve worked with many different fabrics over the years: cotton, silk, wool, satin, fleece, flannel, denim, tulle. You name it and I’ve probably worked with it. I’ve made jackets from denim, fleece and corduroy; men’s suits out of wool; shirts out of flannel and blouses out of silk. And my wedding dress was satin, lace and tulle.

My favorite fabric though is cotton. It’s easy to work with and comes in soooo many colors and patterns.

And my favorite expression of my love of fabrics is quilts!

i made this for my granddaughter–minus the little maccas farm–and a green border…like grass

What was YOUR first love?

Deer Tales

Deer are amazing creatures to watch! During the fall, buck will stake out territory by scraping the ground, rubbing their antlers on small trees and leaving plentiful scent reminders.

In the spring, a pregnant doe will generally remain with her herd or family until she gets close to her delivery time. At that time, she will separate from the other deer and stake out her own territory to give birth. And there’s good reason for that. After birth is a very dangerous time for both the mother and fawn. The smell of the afterbirth is a powerful attractant to many predators in the woods—bear, fox, and others. So once a doe gives birth, she immediately cleans the young fawn as best she can, and then gets it moving. She needs to find a place to safely hide the fawn and will only return to feed it several times a day.

Once a doe finds an area she feels safe in, and can find food and water nearby, she generally returns to that spot to give birth year after year. We have several doe who use the area around our house as birthing areas. There is the pond and some grass, but mostly trees and brush so tiny deer can hide safely while the doe can eat and still be close enough to her baby should she sense danger.

After a few weeks, the doe will introduce her young to us. She’ll allow herself and her fawn to be seen in the open, giving the other fawns a chance to play and run together. Mostly they stay hidden until the does are around, but there are some that can’t wait to explore on their own.

Last spring, a few doe had twins and several of them loved to lay on the well hill in front of the garden fence basking in the sunshine.

It’s these 3 particular deer we’ve been watching all winter. We believe it’s them because they are not startled by seeing us. They watch, definitely, but they don’t run. They’ve adopted this as their home and us as part of it. The 3 are constantly together. Except for the last 2 days. The larger one is missing and we see her by herself down below the big pine tree. She comes out from the treeline…eats some grass or weeds, lays in the sun for a while and then retreats. Too early for her to give birth, but I believe she’s already claiming her spot!

My Tequila Adventure

After making it through BT and AIT, I was one of two women selected for a special assignment to the Military District of Washington (MDW).

We settled into the brick WAC Shack at Ft. Myer, called that for obvious reasons, at Ft. Myer, VA – it was also called the Cat House because there were 2 black cats that hung out around the barracks. The women all fed and took care of them. And of course there’s that old double entendre again!

WAC Shack Black Cats

The common area on each floor contained couches, coffee tables, tables and chairs, several TVs, and vending machines for snacks. They also had vending machines with beer, sodas, juices and water. Just like a college dorm.

Carole and I were both finally assigned to a long-term program called the SDRP at the Pentagon and shared office space with 7-8 other people. That summer, the head guy asked his secretary, Sylvia, to plan an outing for everyone – a dinner cruise on the riverboat Dandy. Fancy meal, cruising down the river, gazing at the lights of DC, music playing, dancing, with the partner of our choice or none at all – I wasn’t seeing anyone at the time. Sounded delightful! But it was a BYOB – they couldn’t pay for alcohol.

I bought a bottle of Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila – I cracked it and had one shot, capped it and stashed it in my wall locker until the party – expensive shit for a lowly little PFC!! I promptly forgot about it – it was several weeks yet before the party. At some point in the next week or so, the 1st Sergeant called a surprise inspection of our wing of the barracks.

Late that morning, Sylvia waved me over and said in a low key voice…”You have a call from the CSM at MDW and he doesn’t sound happy!” Uh-oh! So I picked up the phone and the first thing I heard was, “PFC Atkins, please do NOT tell me you had a bottle of tequila in your wall locker!”

Uh…..”yes CSM.” “Were you not aware, PFC Atkins, that you are NOT allowed to have alcohol beverages in your wall locker?” “No, CSM.” Deep sigh….”PFC Atkins, report to the 1st Seargeant at Ft. Meyer no later than 4 pm today.” “Yes, CSM.”

I was scared to death – oh, fuck! I was in BIG trouble. One did NOT want to face the 1st SGT!!!! So, off I went on the bus from the Pentagon to Ft. Myer. I presented myself to his secretary and was ushered into his office. I marched over and stood at attention in front of his desk.

(Not me but that style of uniform)

He toyed with me – oh, man, did he EVER toy with me! Question after question after question, reading me the riot act. All the while, I was “Yes, 1st Sergeant’ing” continuously. After I explained, in detail, the cruise that Col. Miller had arranged for us, he then turned to the tequila.

Hmmm, he said, “Cuervo Gold – that’s good tequila!” “Yes, 1st SGT.” “That’s expensive tequila!” “Yes, 1st SGT.” “That bottle has barely been cracked!” “Yes, 1st SGT.” “Sure would be a shame to pour it out!” “YES, 1ST SGT!”

Meanwhile, he’s walking over to the sink (oh, shit!) and starts to uncap it and tip it over the sink. Watching me all the while. Azzwipe!!! He then stopped, capped the bottle, returned to his desk and told me never, ever to have liquor in my wall locker again. He was willing to turn the bottle over to a family member or friend from off-base who would keep it for me until the party.

The only acceptable person I knew was Sylvia, from the office. She graciously agreed to come with me on the bus to Ft. Meyer, collect the bottle directly from the 1st SGT, and hold it for me until the party.

We returned to the Pentagon – she took that bottle of tequila and stashed it in the safe behind her desk!!!! That is where it remained until the party.

SMDH – can’t have the danged thing in my wall locker but we COULD store it in the safe, with all of the classified documents, at the Pentagon!!!!!

WHO KNEW!!??!!??

APRIL’S FOOLS

In honor of the holiday named for politicians (April Fools, I made that up), I am proposing a simple game. Try to determine which of the following statements are true or made up. Sounds simple, right? Ready?

The original London Bridge is currently in Arizona.

2. You can purchase alien abduction insurance in Florida.

3. KFC produced edible nail polish in Hong Kong in the flavors Original and Hot & Spicy.

4. There’s a church–The United Church of Bacon–whose mission statement is “Hail Piggy, full of grease, the Lard is with thee.”

5. There was a program in NYC & Washington,DC called Joints for Jabs which provided a rolled joint upon proof of vaccination.

So what do you think? Got these figured out?

Take your time…I can wait…

Okay…here we go…

The original London Bridge IS in Arizona.

Where is the London Bridge in Arizona? The London Bridge is in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, at the northern and western edges of the Sonoran Desert. It was originally located in London, England, where it spanned the River Thames for over 130 years. There have actually been several different bridges called the London Bridge in the same location along the Thames over the past 2,000 years. This London Bridge was built to replace the Old London Bridge in 1831, which had been in place for over 600 years. The old bridge was too narrow to support the volume of traffic crossing each day, and its narrow arches blocked boat traffic on the river.

Robert McCulloch, an American business owner and millionaire who was building Lake Havasu City at the time, saw the bridge sale as an opportunity to attract tourists and residents to his new Arizona city. He put in a bid of $2.4 million for the bridge, doubling how much it would cost the city of London to dismantle the bridge, and adding $60,000 – $1,000 for each year of his age when the bridge was reconstructed in Lake Havasu City. His bid was accepted, and work began to dismantle the bridge and transport it across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.

https://study.com/learn/lesson/london-bridge-in-arizona.html

2. You CAN purchase alien abduction insurance in Florida.

UFO Abduction Insurance Company

This Florida insurer has been writing alien abduction insurance policies since 1987. Located in Altamonte Springs, the company says its policies are perfect “for anyone who thinks they have everything covered.”

You can purchase $10 million in alien abduction insurance for a single lifetime premium of $19.95. You’ll receive a “gold bordered” policy claim form and a frequent flyer endorsement, according to the company’s website.

Policyholders can claim the $10 million if they can prove they were taken by “aliens not from this planet” and then returned. Of course, they will need one of the aliens on the ship to sign the claim form. Once a claim is approved, the beneficiary will be distributed $1 a year for 10 million years, or until their passing.

This payout doubles to $20 million if the aliens insist on conjugal visits, if the encounter results in any offspring, or if the aliens refer to the abductee as a nutritional food source.

https://www.homeinsured.org/article/all-about-alien-abduction-insurance

3. KFC DID release edible nail polish in those flavors in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG (CBS) — This really gives “Finger Lickin’ Good” a whole new meaning.

KFC has made edible nail polish – in Original and Hot & Spicy flavors – to promote its fast food restaurants in Hong Kong.

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/05/05/kfc-edible-nail-polish-hong-kong-original-hot

4. There IS a church in Las Vegas called The United Church of Bacon. Their mission statement is “Hail Piggy, full of grease. The Lard is with thee.”

The church’s clergy members — who have the authority to officiate weddings and conduct baptisms and funerals — are called friars. The opening lines of “Hail Piggy: A Prayer for Bacon,” a play on Catholicism’s “Hail Mary,” are a medley of porky puns, such as, “Hail Piggy, full of grease, the Lard is with thee.” Clearly, some flavorful strategy has been put into the congregation’s principles.

5. There WAS a program in NYC and Washington DC called “Joints for Jabs” giving every person who had at least I cv shot a free joint.

Authorities in the US capital have been working around the clock to open up the state, as seen by the relaxing of its prior restrictions against breweries, pubs, salons, restaurants and so on – where some of these now even give out a free appetiser, drink or cup of coffee for proof of vaccination. Others were even authorised to arrange prize giveaways and free tickets to landmark sports events. However, their most daring venture yet just saw them setting up the ‘Joints for Jabs’ program, which aims to incentivise the vaccine rollout by giving out a free ‘blunt’ to each successful recipient of the vaccine – yes, you heard me, free weed for anyone who gets vaccinated!

https://cbdreviewstoday.com/joints-for-jabs/

Are you keeping score? That’s right…ALL of them are true…wait for it…

APRIL FOOLS

Rolling like a REDNECK

These days it seems the current administration wants to jam electric vehicles down our throats! They complain that fossil fuels are damaging the planet but completely ignore the damage done in mining the earth for the components of electric car batteries. And not a peep about the enormous cost to replace those batteries!

But I think redneck vehicles offer very competitive options in these tough economic times. The first such option is hybrids…rednecks wrote the book on hybrids!

switching to natural energy? not a problem!

And these vehicles offer many of the same popular standard options just like other cars…bench seating for instance…

power windows…

anti theft devices…

But the biggest selling point might have to be affordable repairs.

And let’s not forget STYLE! You’re gonna turn heads in these babies…no doubt! No assembly line, boring, everyone’s got the same car for you!

So roll on in style…REDNECK style!!

Shooting at Transformers

One of the entertainments in and around our small towns in the summer was shooting at transformers on the county roads. No, it’s certainly not anything I ever tried but these were friends of one of the elite young men of Norfolk who could get away with anything he damned well pleased so……except this little escapade ended up killing him and two other kids!

I am using full names because these people are either dead or somewhere in another part of the country and this occurred when I was 16 in 1969!

Four teenagers headed out mid-afternoon on a Saturday, roaming the back roads, and drinking beer – a given! The driver was the older sister of two with whom my sister and I were close friends, Carolyn & Holly; I also went to parochial and high school with Holly. Carolyn was dating the bad boy in town, Miles Amen whose dad was the Postmaster in Norfolk. MY Father worked for him!

In the back seat of the 2 – door car sat a very popular HS football player, Donnie Straight, and Kristi Love, a female friend. Among my close group of friends was Donnie’s GF, Judi Upton, of Indian (US) heritage. She had been invited on the outing but had another commitment.

Of course, Miles had brought his rifle – IDR whether it was a shotgun or a 20/20 or what. They pulled over to the side of the deserted gravel road near a transformer – Miles opened the car door and balanced the weapon on the top of the door. He took a few shots and missed – he tried one more time and hit the wire, which promptly whipped around and landed across the hood of the car.

Miles was electrocuted immediately! As Carolyn reached out her hand from the driver’s seat to touch him as he fell into the car, literal spurts of fire raced up her arm. Donnie quickly realized the position they were in, while Kristi was screaming her head off, frantic to get out – Miles’ body was blocking the seat back – he couldn’t push it far enough forward to get clear enough to jump.

He realized he MUST avoid touching the ground and the car at the same time. He tried to swing out of the door but the seat back accidentally flipped back and knocked him off-balance. He fell and died immediately.

Somehow…..even she can’t remember exactly how…..Kristi grabbed the seatbelt hanging from the ceiling, rolled the window down on her side, and climbed as far out as she could. At that point, she passed out and remembers nothing else until she woke up in a heap on the gravel road, next to the car. These were her recollections.

For my part….it was a particularly bad time for me at home and I had only recently been accepted and welcomed into this group of friends. Judi and I also shared first names and had been on an escapade or two together – we were close! She desperately needed to be with her and Donnie’s friends at that moment and that was US!

I begged my parents to let me take the Black Orchid (Dad’s car) to pick her up. Nope – not your business, she needs to be with her family now! What they refused to accept was that her family never approved of Donnie and she needed to get away from them.

Finally, they did agree to let me go with another friend, Joyce, who picked me up. We spent hours just driving around with Judi……it truly was a heart breaking time! Indeed, the entire town of Norfolk mourned!