Spirits of the Past

Yesterday morning I spotted a cardinal in some bushes in the alley behind my house.  I saw it while on my morning walk with Blade, my dog.  I didn't think much of it yesterday, but this morning the cardinal was now squawking at me.  Let me add, it was REALLY squawking, so much it caught my attention right away.   They say cardinals are angels.  They say a cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed.  When you see one, it means they are visiting you.   

I immediately thought of a friend of mine - Miriam - she loved cardinals, she passed a few years ago and then of thought of Shirley, another friend who passed a little over a year ago and suddenly I had a hole in heart from the loss of several friends over the years.

It's inevitable, as we get older, we start to loose friends and family.

As I continued walking, I was really sad, but then I thought of all the good things these friends brought to my life and I became filled with love; and suddenly the hole in my heart was filled. 

Death happens, it will happen to me one day.  But this morning I realized that life is full of love.  Loving memories, love of friends and family, the love of my dog and I would say the cat, but cats, I not so sure about.  The world doesn't need love, it has it - you just have to recognize it and share what you have with everyone else.  So that one day, when you depart this life to go on to the next one that you don't leave holes, but instead you leave love.

and with that it is another day in Catasauqua.

The Fourth in Catasauqua-Huzzah!

Declaring our Independence!

It seems that every year I write a post about the 4th of July in Catasauqua, and that is because BFF, Cathy and I always go to the George Taylor home for the festivities and the reading of the Declaration of Independence.  

Cathy and I were pleased to see that more and more people are attending the presentation.  This year it was an “interactive” reading of America’s Declaration of Independence – complete with patriots, loyalists, and muskets.  Huzzah!  

Original desk of David Thomas

The first couple of years Cathy and I went it was lightly attended, now you better get there early to get a good spot to watch;   oh, and listen to Gettysburg’s Antebellum Marine Band!

Jean in the Garden

Got to love the strains of the Patriotic music along with people strolling about in costume.  If you visit the George Taylor home at some later date, check out the garden that is taken care of by another BFF, Jean.  It is beautiful.


Cathy and I did something also different this year and so did the Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association, they celebrated the Froth of July with a exhibition of breweries, bottles and beer at the Beiry House Museum located at 8 Race Street in Catasauqua.  (Thanks Ben for showing off your collection)

Heads up (that was a beer pun) if you ever get the opportunity to tour through the Beiry house do it, it is beautiful! The house is decorated with original pieces.  Along with the art work  of local artist,  Bob LeFevre of the homes and businesses of Catasauqua. He collection is  breath taking, along with other artists,  the whole museum is a great experience.

 A visit to the upstairs is a must, but do not be alarmed by the headless women they are only mannequins (yes Cathy!)

Oh - and get this - The Biery House is available for special occasions.  Affordable elegance for small gatherings - such as - Birthday - Showers and special occasions. And here is what I want to do - but I might be too old, Fancy Dress-Up Tea Parties for the birthday girl!!!  Call 610-264-9716 for information.

I would like to end with this from the Declaration of Independence - 

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

...

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

...

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

....

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever."

("He"-is King George, just in case you didn't know there for a moment)

and that's Another day in Catasauqua ........

The Real Housewives of Catasauqua

Last week the ladies of "Keep me in Stitches", which is a crochet and knitting group at the Catasauqua Public Library, were having a conversation when one thing led to another in my mind, what would a Real Housewives of Catasauqua show be like?

We were talking about Dancing with the Stars and Erika Jayne.  Someone asked who she was.  I said I think she is from one of those Housewives shows; which led to the above question as to what would a Real Housewives of Catasauqua show be like?  (We had some answers that actually kept us in stitches)

Who would star in the "The Real Housewives of Catasauqua"?  

I found an article that explained the casting of the show as follows:

1) There is no such think as too much personality.

2)  A sense of humor is a must.

3)  Friends of the housewives are preferred.

4) A willingness to be open is essential.

5) You don't have to be a wife (that is just too funny)

It seems that BRAVO has redefined the term"housewife", being that most of the women on these shows have probably not done any actual domestic chores.  

Think of what our women could do in Catasauqua - they could brunch at the new Bridge Street Restaurant.  They could visit an Art Exhibit at Gallery 415 or take swing lessons at The Gas House Dance Hall.  THINK of all the possibilities!!!!   They could even drink too much at the Auquasat Lounge and enter rehab which is conveniently located across the street at the Malvern Institute.  Do you notice how I managed to do all that in basically a two block radius - imagine the infinite scenarios involving the whole town!  Maybe we could even include North Catasauqua in the show.  

So, I ask you, fellow Catasauqians, who would star in The Real Housewives of Catasauqua?

and with that .. it's another day in Catasauqua.

What a weekend in Catasauqua

My weekend started last night as usual - food shopping.  But, when we came home my mom had said "there was a man here to see me."  What man, what was his name; my mother, of course, did not ask.  The gentleman did, however, show up after 8 o'clock and what a fantastic story.  He tracked me down, by this blog!  It was kind of exciting hearing the man say to Parke, "I am a looking for Beverly Werner, she writes a blog called "Another Day in Catasauqua"  ooooooo!  That's me!!! "I am a private detective."  ooooo! That's not me! "Don't worry you are not in trouble" Okay - it's me then.

It was very interesting -we talked about a 2014 story that I wrote - I just happened to take a picture that helped him in a case he was working on, unfortunately I could not be of more help to him, but  it was still the most exciting thing that has happened to me lately.

The Sweets

Then this morning it was to church for a fundraiser called Soup, Salad and Sweets.  My laughs started with my BFF, Tammy, who had Hallmark hair.  If you watch as many Hallmark movies as Tammy, Cathy or I do, you know what I mean.  It is that kind of hair you have when you meet Mr. Right, but of course, you dislike each other at first, perhaps you met in a fender bender in the parking lot or you spilled soup all over him, but by the end of the movie or this blog whichever happens first, you kiss and inevitably live happily ever after.

But, maybe the best laughs came later with the arrival of BFF's Jaime and Rami. You see, they have been remodeling their bathroom and Rami's new pride and perhaps joy is the bidet.  Yes, a bidet, which has a heated seat and lights up in the dark; which I may try in the future.  If I do, watch for my blog, "Another bidet in Catasauqua"  it is sure to be one that captivates your imagination.

Of course, Rami, who is eating for two can't understand the complaints of pregnant women, since he is not experiencing any morning sickness and I heard laughter coming from the table, since he was surrounded by women.

You know what--
isn't that a great thing.  To sit with friends, to make new friends and to eat great desserts (okay threw that one in because I ate some of the best desserts today) and to laugh.  I feel so happy today I just had to share it with you, my readers.

Yup this is my weekend so far, who knows it isn't over yet, maybe some more craziness will happen.  BUT that's the great thing, you never know what is going to happen next, Hallmark hair, baby daddy's (Dale and Rami) and bidets, you know what I call that ........Another day in Catasauqua.

He had a Dream, I am Not sure What I am having

As I start to write this blog post I can't even think of a title for it.  Which is unusual.  But the fact is, as I look at the next four years, I don't know what to expect.

On my drive into work this morning I was reflecting on the fact that today is Martin Luther King. Jr. Day.  Martin Luther King Jr., was a great man and a great speaker.  Today his words spoke even louder to me than they ever did.

As our nations embarks on a new political era, I could not help but think that if we are scared by what one man can do, can't we, the American people stand united and stay united instead of being divided by hate.

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an an enemy into a friend" is just one quote of MLK that comes to mind.  He talked greatly of love and how love can drive the hate away.   "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

In looking back to our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson said; "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is Liberty."  Here is where I think the problem lies, does the government fear us.  I think not.  Are they working for us or for themselves?   Thomas Jefferson also said "Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny."  Are President-Elect Trump's threats, warnings and tweets just the tip of a iceberg that I pray doesn't meltdown into more hate and more division in this nation?

James Madison said "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be under the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." Hmmm, makes you wonder if that is ISIS?  Ronald Reagan said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."  Trump says build one.  History is funny that way.  It makes me wonder in 50 years how our next 4 years will read.  Maybe there are enough checks and balances out there in our government that nothing terrible will happen and it will read as a small chapter of some successes and some losses and our biggest problem was which reality star we were electing into office next.

For me at this time I prefer to think of this quote by MLK - "I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear."

I prefer to agree with Dr. King when he said "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

Maybe it is not by accident that we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the inauguration.
Let it help us not take a giant step back when it comes to equality, let's not let hatred take the forefront and be what America is about.  Let's not fear but love.  Let's join hands and remember we can make a difference.

I leave you with this quote of Ben Franklin's - "It is the first responsibility of ever citizen to question authority."

and with that... it's another day in Catasauqua.