Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Holidays

Flag Day 2025

About Flag Day

Flag Day is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on June 14th to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. The flag has a rich history and is a symbol of freedom and justice, with its design representing the 13 original colonies and the 50 states. The flag’s colors have specific meanings: red represents valor and bravery, white represents purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

The first flag of this design was carried into battle on September 11, 1777, during the Battle of Brandywine. Flag Day is not a federal holiday, but it is observed nationally, and Pennsylvania recognizes it as a state holiday. The largest Flag Day celebration in Michigan takes place in Three Oaks, which claims to be the nation’s largest Flag Day celebration.

Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, was born on June 14, 1946. This date coincidentally coincides with Flag Day, which is celebrated on June 14th to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag.

June 14 is also the 250th anniversary of the Commissioning of the United States Army. Hooah!

About our Flags

In the image above, we proudly fly the American Flag on most days of the year. The flag shown in the image was manufactured in the USA by Grace Alley Flags, a company that produces high quality flags available from their website or through Amazon. Their flags have embroidered stars and sewn stripes. No cheap printed colors.

We have recently procured another high-quality American Flag, also produced in the USA, from Alliance Flags, who produce the similar quality as the Alley flags, but cost about three times as much. As of this writing, Alliance is offering a 25% discount across their product line. You may have seen Alliance advertising on TV in recent weeks.

14 Jun 2025 by Holidays Notions Patriotism Something Shiny

Memorial Day 2025

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” – Ronald Reagan

Honoring the Fallen

As we observe Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy. Their ultimate act of service is a testament to the enduring spirit of patriotism and courage that defines our nation. From the Revolutionary War to the present day, American heroes have fought and died for our country, leaving behind families, friends, and communities forever changed by their loss.

Let us reverently remember them on this Memorial Day.

26 May 2025 by Holidays Military

Mothers Day 2025

We have no children or other descendants living close by, so we will be celebrating Mothers Day quietly while remembering our departed Mothers in Heaven as we prepare a nice Sunday Feast of smoked London Broil steak. The meat is marinating as I write this and will be put in the smoker soon.

Damsel is a Mother and Grandmother as well. We will celebrate her with a card and a gift from myself and the puppies for whom she does a good job of “mothering.”

Our three grandchildren living in California are now all Mothers since the birth of the latest (5th) great-grandchild in early March of this year. We will be wishing the young Mothers a very happy Mothers Day.

Mothers day falls in the spring when flowers from the various cacti are popping up. The (clickable) image above is of a saguaro cactus flower taken earlier on Saturday (05/10/2025), complete with some pollinators doing their thing.

So, we wish God’s Blessing on all the mothers out there, past, present and future. Happy Mothers Day!

11 May 2025 by Culture Flowers Holidays Home & Garden Notions

Beltane – Celtic Feast Event

Celtic Beltane Feast — Click to enlarge.

We celebrated this ancient feast today with a traditional meal usually associated with our Irish ancestry: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with Low-Carb Veggies. Very tasty and filling, indeed. Happy Beltane!

From the LEO AI:

The Celtic Beltane Feast, also known as Beltane, is a traditional spring celebration marking the beginning of summer in ancient Celtic culture. It typically takes place on May 1st or May 2nd, corresponding to the spring equinox. During this time, the Celts would light bonfires to purify and protect their homes, livestock, and people from evil spirits. They would also decorate their homes with flowers, leaves, and other natural elements to welcome the arrival of summer. The Beltane Feast was a joyous occasion, filled with music, dance, and feasting, as the Celts celebrated the fertility of the land and the return of warmth and light.

Disclaimer: Our celebration of the Feast of Beltane in no way shall disassociate us with our firm belief in Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith.

03 May 2025 by Food & Dining Holidays Notions

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

This date in history marks the 1564th anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick; the sixth-century icon who lives in perpetuity by virtue of his 30 years of activity in restoring the Christian Faith to the island of Ireland. The video below takes a serious look at how St. Patrick’s day came about. And no, it isn’t about getting drunk and engaging in gluttonous behavior on March 17th.

Dave Stotts takes a look at the history surrounding the life of St. Patrick in this video – watch time almost an hour. Damsel and I watched it and got a lot out of the actual reasons and history behind the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. There is a good amount of travelogue footage in the video as well. I recommend watching it on the You Tube full-screen and not in the <iframe> below.

And speaking of gluttony, we’re going to have a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner to celebrate, but not in the portions that would actually make us gluttons. We might celebrate with an Irish cocktail for dessert. Hope that y’all have a great day.

Near the end of the video, Dave, the host and narrator of the video, offers this rendition of a prayer attributed to St. Patrick:

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
– Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.

Amen, and and have a blessed St. Patrick’s Day!

17 Mar 2025 by Culture Holidays Notions Religion

Lincoln’s Birthday

Today, we celebrate the 216th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth. He was only 56 at the time of his death at the hands of an assassin. His memory lingers, however, and despite having his birthday celebration clumped in with other, lesser presidents on President’s Day, many of us still honor him as one of the greatest presidents.

The Formative Years Lincoln Penny (pictured above) shows Lincoln’s familiar portrait on the “heads” side of the coin, and the young Lincoln sitting on a log reading on the “tails” side. The 2009 Formative Years Lincoln cent design represents Lincoln’s life, when he was a rail splitter, from 1816-1830 in Indiana. This is the second of four different reverse designs issued in 2009 for the Lincoln cent coin on the bicentennial of his birth. Now that minting of pennies is to be discontinued, the collectors’ value of these coins will doubtlessly climb.

Click on the penny image to enlarge.

12 Feb 2025 by Holidays

Christmas 2024

Well, Merry Christmas, everybody! We hope that you all have a blessed Christmas Day and for the year to come, peace and prosperity. In the USA, we expect a much better year to come with the transition to the Trump/MAGA administration.

We are quietly spending Christmas Day here at our desert abode, just the two of us, since closest family is over 300 miles away. We will be talking and/or texting to some of them, however, via the various electronic and social media.

The gaudy animated message above is a product of my digging out some old graphics tools to generate the image. The background is a screenshot from one of those poor You-Tube videos with crappy-sounding Christmas Music, but it looked festive and I used it. The animated part comes from an old application I’ve had for over 20 years.

Notwithstanding the commercial-looking graphic, we still celebrate the Holiday keeping in mind the true meaning of the Nativity of Christ the King.

The Birth of Jesus From Luke 2

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

May the true Christmas spirit be with us today and always. Amen.

25 Dec 2024 by Holidays Religion Technobabble

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