Clever Quotes of the Duke of Wellington

Wellington was an unusual man, who led the English to victory at the Battle of Waterloo. Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1769. Died in England in 1852. You can't be a Regency enthusiast without knowing and loving the unique Duke of Wellington.

Here are a few of his quotes:      

·        All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavor to find out what you don't know by what you do; that's what I called 'guessing what was at the other side of the hill.'

·        Educate people without religion and you make them but clever devils.      

·        I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me.   

·       
The Lord's prayer contains the sum total of religion and morals.

   

To have the intelligence and vocabulary to spout such cleverness only means that he said a great many things. That is the beauty of the written word. It stays on the page and only changes with the readers' interpretation.  

     My writing is changing daily and that is what I need as an author. Stagnant and unchanging becomes tiresome. Growth is all I can strive for in my journey to becoming a published author.

     I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 39:29 

   

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New Year's Day in Colorado

The New Year has started and with it a renewed desire for me to work on writing. The mountains of Colorado refresh my soul. I hope the days of leisure only spur on the silent and hard work ahead. 

     If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. Proverbs 1:23 

What a great start to a New Year.

Christmas Eve

After baking 115 cinnamon rolls, 100's of cookies, fudge, Christmas bread and candy. 

Making button Christmas tree ornaments and my husband making spicy dill pickles, we were ready to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family. 

It is always such a wonderful time spending it  with the people you love. This year without my Dad made it hard. Not one of us was looking forward to Christmas Eve. But something interesting, something that 
can only be explained as supernatural happened. Being together somehow made it easier.             

Count it all joy, my brothers when you face trials of         various kinds. James 1:2   

Berkeley Square lined with plane trees

Berkeley Square houses a great many ancient plane trees. They actually line the square.

Not a native tree, it is very distinctive by its khaki camouflage-patterned bark.

It was first discovered in Vauxhall in the mid-17th century. Interestingly the plane tree is a mix of the American sycamore tree and the Oriental plane tree

These two trees making voyages from opposite sides of our earth came to England but at distinctly different times. The Oriental Plane arriving near or before the mid 1500's whereas the American Sycamore tree did not enter London until the late 1600's.

But the two trees planted side by side created the London plane tree. And now it accounts for over half of all trees in London.

   

Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.  1 Thessalonians 5:13

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Red Rocks Amphitheater 10 miles outside of Denver was opened in 1906 by a man named John Brisben Walker. It is a natural rock formation with perfect acoustics. From there the City of Denver bought it from him in 1927 for $54,133 which doesn't seem like much. But for the time it was close to what would be just under a million dollars. Using the Civilian Conservation Corps, the mayor at the time Benjamin Franklin Stapleton commissioned the new stage to be built over Walker's original stage. Building began in 1927 and finished in 1936. It was opened to the public in 1941.

My husband and I went up there this weekend. So much going on. Exercise groups. People working out. Friends and families walking the steps. Dogs and owners enjoying the sunshine.  

Just being outdoors helps me to focus on writing when we return.

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue 2 Peter 1:3

Kensington Palace

The Unicorn and Lion on the gates of Buckingham Palace 

Kensington Palace was first a Jacobean mansion built in 1605, then it became the home of  the 1st Earl of Nottingham and was known as Nottingham House. 

When William and Mary became joint monarchs in 1689 they searched for a home away from the Thames due to William's frail health and asthmatic condition. They bought Nottingham House from the 2nd Earl of Nottingham for 20,000 pounds and began renovations. Of course, Christopher Wren was the architect. 

Next Queen Anne lived there. Then King George I and George II took up residence there. Each monarch added wings and structural changes, paintings and remodeling. 

George III did not live at Kensington Palace but a few of his sons did. 

At the conclusion of the 19th century the Palace's State Rooms had been neglected. The brickwork held decay and the woodwork had infestations of dry rot. But Queen Victoria rallied Parliament in 1897 to pay for the restoration. The State Rooms were opened to the public in 1899. Thus began the dual role of the Palace of being a private residence and a public museum. 

During World War II the Blitz of 1940 took out the north side of Clock Court and damaged the Queen's Apartments. Repairs were not completed for many years and then the palace entered a neglectful time.

But in 1981 it became the home of the Prince of Wales, Charles and Princess Diana. Even after their divorce, Princess Diana and her sons Prince William and Prince Harry called Kensington Palace home. However, after her death the Palace lay vacant for ten years.

But in 2011 it was announced that Prince William and Princess Kate would make Kensington Palace their home. After renovations of 7.6 million dollars, it now has electricity, plumbing and all the modern conveniences. And now their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are growing up in Kensington Palace. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:2

Colorado is truly the best place to live

From the rivers to the reservoirs of Colorado, there is always a picture perfect moment.

If only I could capture the hearts of my readers with a picture of where my characters live, and who they are. That is the goal of every writer. Some can do it very well. And others of us try and try and try again.

 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14