MONKS MAKE, DONATE CASKET FOR YOUNGEST VICTIM IN ARIZONA SHOOTING

I found this story today on a blog called "Joan's Rome" linked to the EWTN website, and I thought I’d share it with you: “A group of Trappist monks in Iowa have donated a handmade casket to bury 9-year-old Christina Green, the youngest victim in the Saturday attack that killed six and wounded 13 others in Arizona.
“Sam Mulgrew, the general manager of Trappist Caskets in Peosta, Iowa, told CNN a family representative of the Greens reached out to the monks at New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque after her death. The custom-made casket arrived in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday morning. ‘We didn't want to send an adult coffin that would be too big, we wanted something just for her,’ said Mulgrew, who is not a monk but who manages the 11-year-old casket business that is part of the abbey.
“The casket, crafted from red oak, was made especially for 9-year-old Christina, Mulgrew said. She died after a gunman opened fire at a constituents event held by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in the shooting. Christina's funeral is scheduled for Thursday in Tucson. “The lid of the casket was inscribed with her name, date of birth and death, and a cross. The family also will receive five small keepsake crosses hewn from the same wood as the casket, Mulgrew said. Before the casket was sent from the monastery in Iowa to Arizona, the monks gave the casket a special blessing inside their chapel on Tuesday.
“The monks are Roman Catholic and are part of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. They make and sell custom caskets with "reverence for nature," according to the Trappist Caskets website." Along with prayer and study, our casket ministry is an extension of our sacred work. We labor quietly with our hands in support of our life of simplicity," says a statement on the website.
“Mulgrew said when a child dies it hits the monks particularly hard. He said they don't like to sell children's caskets; instead, a "child casket fund" they started often covers the costs.”

If you don't vote....

then you can't complain.  We've been blessed to have the right to vote.  Embrace it!!

This wonderful image of a vintage voting machine was taken from dreamstime.com.  Thank you!

Roar In The Mountains

In our small town when an event makes its way to it...Kurt and I have to check it out. So this past weekend we went to the 2009 Annual Roar In The Mountains. Actually...we're not bikers but we appreciate and like to experience anything we can. After all biking is a big industry and pastime for many people. Below are a few images I took of the event. The weather for it was picture perfect. A few cool nights though.

This is a custom made motorcycle hearse. Something huh?

Plenty of musical entertainment through out the event.

A lot of bikes...naturally.

I mentioned to Kurt...which by the way that is him having a cold one...that if I were to buy a bike this is the one I would like. A three wheel beauty!

...and then I saw this one! Oh... this would be the one. Look at the color and it has 3 wheels to boot!





Kurt loves pork barbecue and his favorite barbecue restaurant named 'Clems' was serving there. He was very happy!





It was nice seeing all of these bikes but personally if I had my choice...I'd rather be driving this vintage convertible mustang home. How about you...vintage mustang convertible or mortorcycle?

STAND UP TO CANCER

SPECIAL BROADCAST
Friday, September 5TH 2008
8/7c

STAND UP TO CANCER. Top stars from the worlds of entertainment, sports, science, and industry will come together for a very special night in an unprecedented campaign to stop the scourge of cancer. The commercial-free, one-hour program will air simultaneously on NBC, CBS, and ABC with the goal of raising significant contributions for research, awareness, and patient advocacy. Stand Up To Cancer is a unique collaboration between the American Association for Cancer Research and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. It was founded on the belief that there is now sufficient knowledge of the basic science behind cancer-–and that technologies are available now that can translate this knowledge into real advances in treatment and prevention.