51 YEARS

       Our 51st wedding anniversary was yesterday, June 8th, and Micki and I went to Bentonville, Arkansas, the hometown of Walmart, to celebrate.  We had a great time at the Sam Walton Museum (and 5&10), seeing (and buying) toys we had enjoyed when we were children, and enjoying the fascinating Museum.  Then we went to gaze at the paintings in the On the Square Art exhibit.  On the way back we saw the tremendous Beaver Lake for the first time and crossed the wonderful Beaver Lake Bridge, then winded our way through Hobbs State Park, seeing a gorgeous view of the valley, coming upon a big snapping turtle crossing the road (and getting out to take its picture), and crossing the one-lane wood bridge at War Eagle (where you have to be careful to keep your wheels on the wood boards).  It was a fun adventure!

       We got home to find that our kids had brought us gifts and flowers and even champagne.  

       

Micki got neat stuff, too, and we bought toys for our grandchildren, but here's what I bought at Walton's 5&10:

Beaver Lake Bridge

 

The big snapping turtle in Hobbs State Park

War Eagle bridge

 

Now we can settle down to some serious business through this next year. 

ON JUNE 11th U.S. BISHOPS WILL CONSECRATE THE USA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

 

From VATICAN NEWS

 By Devin Watkins

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will hold its 2026 Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, on June 10-12.

As part of their assembly, the Bishops will concelebrate Mass and consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The act of consecration will take place on Thursday, June 11, and the Bishops will hear reflections on the Sacred Heart ahead of the Mass.

The consecration comes as the US celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

The initiative hopes to encourage broader Catholic participation in the commemoration, and will be livestreamed on the USCCB YouTube channel.

Parishes and individual Catholics are being invited to take part through 250 Hours of Adoration and/or 250 Works of Mercy to prepare for the consecration.

In 2024, the late Pope Francis released his encyclical Dilexit nos (He loved us) on the human and divine love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, highlighting the devotion as an antidote to modern superficiality

 

 

 

 

PROOF THAT MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS ON MARS

Photo by NASA's Perseverance Rover:

Photo by Mary Mac Photography:

 

TELL COTTEN'S LANDON SAGA

 Author Tell Cotten causes me more grief! The problem is that his books end!

 

 These books are downright fun to read, hard to put down, and the reader can actually watch the action as he reads it. And Tell Cotten is authentic--a seventh-generation Texas rancher--and knows what he's writing about. Although each of his books can stand alone, this is a continuing saga and so it's recommended we begin with Confessions of a Gunfighter. Even if you don't like westerns, read these. Then you'll like westerns.

POLITICAL MEMES