A friend and former college student recently gave me her grandfather’s western library, including the leatherbound set of the stories of Louis Lamour. Included in this box of beautiful books was The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard. These thirty stories, set almost entirely in Arizona and New Mexico Territories, brought to life  that region of the West.

The detailed sensory and detailed descriptions of the settilng and are amazing in Leonard’s writing. When I read, I have a habit of looking up every plant, animal, historical fact, geographical place, phrase or word that I am unfamiliar with. Thanks to the instant knowledge of the Internet, it is much easier to do that now than it used to be. We truly live in an age of instant knowledge. Leonard’s knowledge of the Apache culture, mindset, skills, chiefs, and wars especially stood out to me.

To sum up, if you are a western writer or reader,  strongly recommend these stories.  Leonard is a also a prolific screenwriter and novelist in crime and suspense. You can read more about Elmore Leonard (1925-2013)  HERE:

I can highly recommend this man for public office.

A Review of The Bayou Fairies by Cher Levis Hunt, Illustrated by Paula Merritt Windham. Ally-Gator Bookbites Publishing House. 2017.

This is one of the most captivating and beautifully llustrated children’s picture books I’ve read, and certainly a unique look at the fairy world. Cher Levis Hunt leads us into the enchanted fairy world of the bayou, and there the reader experiences a series of adventures where we meet the fairy folk, their forever friends, and other creatures there.  We learn how they came together in the bayou to form a swampy family, a community bonded together by their love for nature. Artist Paula Merritt Windham has created the perfect fairy world for the author’s story.

In the pages of this wonderful book we meet fascinating fairy characters like Queen Nolia; King Oak; Ivy, the Poison Ivy Fairy; Honey, the Honeysuckle Fairy;  Vivi, the Bayou Violet Fairy; Cy, the Cypress Fairy; Lily, the Lily Pad Fairy; and Bean, the Bogbean Fairy. As we read the stories and descriptions of each of these characters, we also see interesting facts about the plants of this fairy paradise!

Cher Hunt has worked magic in this book.  It is sure to be a Louisiana classic, a book that will educate and entertain our children, and a book that will make a fine read-aloud for school programs or family events. If you’re already fascinated by the faerie folk, this book will feed that dreamworld faeries lead us to.

In her dedication, the author says: “This book is dedicated to my ‘fairy grandmother.’ You planted the seed in my imagination that grew into a lifelong love of fairies.

”In loving memory of Ruth Marie Garrett, 1925-1990.”

You may order the book HERE:

Author, Cher Levis Hunt

https://youtu.be/BgMRUrdYhNY

Every year, I perform as a storyteller and musician (guitar /vocals) at Celtic Festivals. I also perform a Songs & Stories of Scotland and Ireland at many schools.  Usually each presentation is no more than 45 minutes.  If you are interested in creating your own program for schools to honor St. Patrick’s Day, Tartan Day, St. Andrews Day or other Celtic holidays, here are my suggestions as to how you can do that:

1. Start with flags. Each of the seven Celtic nations has a flag with its own rich story. You can see some of these flags on the school flyer I’ve attached. Flags make a beautiful visual display. You can use flagpoles, tack or tape them to walls, or hang them easily from bookshelves. You can buy 3 x 5 foot flags cheaply on Amazon.
2. Create your costume. I usually wear my kilt, though I may change that depending on weather, travel or other factors.
3. Obtain some good music. There’s so many great musicians and bands to choose from. One good program often on NPR stations is Thistle and Shamrock. I generally use a CD of fiddle music, one of bagpipes and drums, and one of the ballads (including my own, The Minstrel Boy by the Bard of the South. See it HERE🙂
4. Have a table with show-and-tell items. On my table, I have photos, toys, wooden weapons replicas (a targe, claymore, Roman sword, gallowglass sword, dirk, etc) historical items etc.
5. Costumes for the kids (little kilts, priest robes, various hats, folding fans and parasol for girls etc. Kids liked to dress up and it gives lots of photo moments,
6. Percussion instruments so a little band can play along wilth me on songs like “Molly Malone,” “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean etc. I have a bodhran, penny whistle, a harp (when I have room to bring it), maracas, tambourine and other percussion instruments.
7. Some good stories and legends. For example, I use the story of William Wallace, Loch Ness Monster, the tartans, the druids, stories of the Scottish and Irish Saints, etc.
8. I also have a dozen or so icons of Scottish, Irish, Welsh saints.

I will be happy to give more ideas or comment on yours if you’d care to share them.  Maybe this will get you started. Just write me at rickeyp at bayou.com. Good luck with your program.

Any thinking, observant person realizes that this age is in great turmoil. With the exception of the Visegrád, Europe is crumbling in the face of the invasion of foreigners. These invaders (mostly Muslim) devour resources, resist assimilation, reject Western and Christian values, assault and terrorize European citizens, and openly assert their intent to impose Sharia law on their new homelands. They are not far from victory. The elite leaders of the nations under attack are weak and seemingly indifferent to the need to respect and protect their citizens and rescue their nation from certain destruction. I’m beginning now to understand the Crusades and Crusaders of the past who also faced invading hordes of savage people who wanted to pillage and conquer the civilizations of Europe and the achievements of Christianity.

There are no easy answers to our modern day dilemma. Whatever cure we choose will be costly and painful. Whatever we decide to do will require men (knights) of sound ethical values, determination, and toughness. In the movie, the Kingdom of Heaven, a priest asks, “Does making a man a knight make him a better fighter?” Bailan answers that it does.  I suggest that a look at the Medieval Code of Chivalry still has value for us today. Those who live by such a code without a doubt will be better and will make the world a better place. I think the modern day application of these principles is obvious.  I’ve studied and condensed the main points of chivalry in this list:

1. Honor, defend, and love God, the king (leaders), one’s nation, and the church.
2. Respect for women.
3. Courage in battle
4. Truthfulness and self-control
5. Generosity.
6. Defend the helpless, fight against injustice and evil.
7. Make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy.

Hopefully, you can see how these qualities are missing today. As Crosby, Stills & Nash said in their song, let’s teach our children well.

About the Book:
Sheridan didn’t believe in witches, not in 1972, not until he met and fell in love with Bronwynn, a dark-haired beauty in North Dallas. Then, he learned more than he wanted about the sinister side of magic, witchcraft, and satanism hidden in the underbelly of the city. Follow Sheridan and other members of that Led Zeppelin generation as they self-destruct, create beautiful art, and crash against dark forces they don’t understand and are not ready to face.  Order the book HERE:

An Excerpt:  The Prologue

I expect my college students to memorize these words and phrases. I ask them to talk about family and friends. These are qualities, attitudes, and experiences that should be part of the college experience:

1. Ethics: moral principles that govern one’s behavior, standards of right and wrong. 

2. Self-discipline: Discipline is training, instruction, or correction that develops self-control, character or efficiency. 

3. Sacred cow: an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism. College should be the place where sacred cows come to die.

4. Serendipity: The unexpected discovery. 

5. Epiphany: The light bulb moment when you suddenly realize something you had missed or not known before. Sudden insight or understanding. 

6. Eureka: Literally Greek for “I have found it!”

7. Patriotism: Love and honor for our great nation, our culture and history, and our veterans. If you are a veteran, please let me know as I have something special to share with you. I believe college can and should cause students to be better citizens. 

8. Work ethic:  Belief that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward. A person with strong work ethics is driven to do one’s best,  to be reliable, to be honest and fair with one’s employer and the society he or she serves.

9. Integrity: Doing the right thing in a reliable way, being honest and fair.

10. Research: Systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

11. Objectivity: not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering, discussing, or representing facts.

12. Schedule: A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times.

I hope these words help you as they have helped me!

I was delighted when a friend introduced me to the music of Bo Peña, and since I’ve often performed my songs and stories in Laredo, I was excited to find this song. I’ve posted the lyrics and chords. His website is HERE, and I encourage you to listen to and order his great music.

“Hello Webb County” by Bo Pena

G                                                            D       G
I was born in San Anton but I never did pay it no mind.
G
Cause my parents moved down to a border town
D
where they ran into some troubled times
C                                 G        C                                   C
I never could call it paradise, but it surely was one of a kind,
G                  D                                                                 
Down in the Valley where the Whitetail run on the US Mexico Line.

CHORUS:
C               G                D      G
Hello Webb County, I’m coming home to you,
C                              G
Though it may be far from heaven,

D                        G
It’s the best that I can do.

Verse 2:

I met a girl in Austin, and I followed her to New Orleans
I ended up in New York City with nothin’ but a pair of jeans,
Then I made my way to the mountains west,
through the Rockies & the evergreens,
But I couldn’t shake these homesick blues
with the Rio flowing through my dreams

CHORUS:

Verse 3
When the winters get cold and lonely, it’ll take me to another time,
Before the bust, before the war, when everyone was getting by,
It’ll never quite feel like home again, but I’ll love it to the day I die,
And the sun goes down on that border town on the US Mexico line.

CHORUS:

What a great song! I’ve included the chords and lyrics and the video. Be sure and purchase Avery Michaels song on iTunes!

Louisiana Moon Avery Michaels

G C, G C.

G             D                             C

There’s a ring around the Louisiana Moon

G             D                             C

And the stars are shining bright for me and you

G             D                             C

The wind is blowing memories across my mind

G             D                             C

Reminding me of all those hot nights

CHORUS:

G                                             C         G

Louisiana Moon, shine down on me tonight

G                                 C                     D

Louisiana Moon, please help us keep it right

C

You were there when we started,

G                     EM

You’ll be there until the end,

AM7                           D                                 G.

Louisiana Moon, you will always be my closest friend.

Short Bridge: F/C

Verse 2:

You put a passion in the night with your soft glow

Like you’ve always done on those country roads

Send a message from your light for her to see,

When it glows against her skin, she’ll think of me.