We've Moved to a New Location

Come one, Come all! The Knights are now....the Knights of Creation Spirit and Ale. We have just posted on our new site www.knightscsa.blogspot.com, where you can also find us on Facebook.

Please follow us on our new site.

Cheers!

Sir Hook of Warrick

Create or Die: The Art of Endeavoring to Engage Yourself

Sir Bowie shared this image with me yesterday from another blog he had visited. Just a few nights before we had shared new ideas over a "few" pints on the direction of KMSA...with input from Sir Dayvd of Oxfordshire.

In essence we have come to a crosswords, one that I have visited many times on my journey in life, where we had to create or die! So, as we approach the coming official holiday that kicks off summer and the fourth anniversary of my father's death, you will begin to see less and less on this blog while we give birth to our "new and improved" version of the Knights of ??????.

It's our summer sabbatical. I invite all of you to do the same...to create or die....it truly is the art of "endeavoring to engage yourself." It's a banquet where sacred cows become the evening steak, nourishing the soul, giving it the strength to move boldly in new and better ways.

All things become new... not just once...but many times. Like a snake shedding its skin...we'll look familiar on the outside, but being reborn as Knights and Ladies with more mystery, fun, and inspiration for an even broader audience to share.

To the Knights and Ladies who have been loyal avid readers of our blog, thank you for your continued support, and know that we will be back...we might even post a few on this site from time to time. We will also inform you to our new location.

To the Knights and Ladies who we have invited on numerous occasions to write and contribute, I challenge you to embrace our main tenant, which will not change, you are "free to create without judgement!" Don't let your fears of what others think block you from becoming what you know you want to become!

Create or Die! The choice is yours! Choose wisely!

Until we meet again....

Sir Hook of Warrick, Founding Father

“Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is in reality the ability to reach inside yourself and drag forth from your very soul an idea.” ~Lou Dorfsman

Rock the Vote!

My song "Traveling Down the Road" just got accepted in a MySpace music competition for a chance to win a MySpace Records contract and $10,000 in Fender gear.

OK, I know this is selfish promotion...but what are friends for?! So Knights and Ladies share the music and support Sir Hook! If I win, I'll throw one hell of a party!

Sir Hook the Shameless Promoter of Warrick (aka: dkWells)

Rockport II

Regarding yesterday's post by Lady Suzanne, the cabinet I worked one was actually one of Thomas Lincoln's (Abe's father). They moved to Indiana in 1816.

Anyway, I tore it apart and I rebuilt into something useful: A TV cabinet.

Okay, I really don't know that it was one of TL's (I sure hope not), but it does looks very similar to a hutch in the museum. SO.. it could have been -- that's my story and sticking to it.

Here Lady Suzanne and I are cooking breakfast for a couple of new "friends" from Rockport. (photo by Sir James of Taylor)

Here is a slide show of the event if anyone is interested:

http://ctghost.phanfare.com/4685721#imageID=100422316

Sir Bowie "Squire Kuhn" of Greenbriar (who consumed more than my share of homemade beverages of all sorts)

Rockport Pioneer Days

Sir Bowie with the wardrobe panels he put together to make a television/display case.

He began with a few pieces, built and stained the rest to match and created a beautiful and useful piece of furniture for the Rockport Pioneer Village museum.
more woodworking projects in the museum

"Squire Kuhn" and his pioneer wife, the schoolmarm...with the camp kitchen, storage box to contain coolers and food, and camp chairs (all designed and built by Sir B)

Traveled through the time warp of Southern Indiana this past weekend...

listening to Reba and driving past roads named
Two Story Road and Shady Lane,
past the county roads identified only by number, or family names...
past signs for the Misty Morn Safe Company out in the country surrounded by corn that's ankle high already...
A sign to Midway ( midway of what?)
a sign advertising O'Risky real estate
a country church marquee "God's suggestions for exercise:
knee bends"
a little white farmhouse with red roses climbing midst the Christmas lights strands
the volunteer firemen passing with bluelights flashing on their pick up trucks

Some of the highlights:
enjoying the delicious meals prepared by Sir B in dutch oven cooking over the open fire,
time with Sir James of Taylor and Lady Gwendolyn, a visit by Sir Cock of the Walk and Lady Melinda...
watching the sheep shearing, candle-making, tomahawk throwing, musket-shooting, having Sunday morning church service on puncheon benches in a log church...
portraying a schoolmarm in the pioneer schoolhouse, even had a frog come spend the day inside with me finding the coolness of the dirt floor, teaching children about the old ways of learning,
sitting around the campfire at night with friends old and new...sipping homemade wines and ales...making popcorn...star-gazing and wishing on falling stars...
crawling inside the tent for a good nights sleep to get up and do it all again the next day

and coming home on Sunday evening, sunburned and sweaty, tired and looking forward to air conditioning and showers...and talking about what we'll do in October when it's Pioneer Weekend again!

Hafiz and the Sun in Drag

Hafiz was a great Sufi poet born in Persia (modern day Iran) in the early 1300's and is one of the world’s most beloved poets. He is affectionately known as the “Tongue of the Invisible” and the great Poet-Seer Ralph Waldo Emerson himself remarked that “Hafiz is a poet for poets.”

The poems of Hafiz have a beautiful and musical quality, which also embody a great spontaneity. In a myriad of poetic ways, Hafiz expresses the spiritual experiences of a mystic, in love with his Beloved. Yet he achieves this in a playful and enchanting way, like other Sufi poets, Hafiz weaves themes of ambiguity into his poems. Often he will use secular images such as wine, drunkenness and human love, however these are just symbols for the divine experiences which Hafiz is alluding to.

I often go to Hafiz for inspiration and today would like to share his translated into modern English poem, The Sun In Drag:

You are the Sun in drag.

You are God hiding from yourself.

Remove all the "mine"-that is the veil.

Why ever worry about

Anything?

Listen to what your friend Hafiz

Knows for certain:

The appearance of this world

Is a Magi's brilliant trick, though its affairs are

Nothing into nothing.

You are a divine elephant with amnesia

Trying to live in an ant

Hole.

Sweetheart, O sweetheart

You are God in

Drag!

I pray that our modern day Persians remember how to live as Hafiz lived. I pray that we all learn how to live and express as Hafiz did.

Sir Hook the Sufi Poet of Warrick

Birth...Life...Death...

Today marks the end of the Founder's KMSA birthday season...having celebrated Sir Bowie's surprise 50th last month at our newest Sacred Watering Hole...Legends, Sir Dayvd's this past Friday...where unofficially we believe he celebrated with his good Mates in Liverpool...and today with this errant Knight.

Birth...Life...Death...the triune cycle we are pushed into...screaming naked while our buttocks are being slapped by strangers...holds many adventures, disappointments, lessons learned and lessons given.

I've often wondered what it would be like to actually remember the traumatic journey through the birth canal into this strange new world? I have heard of those who claim to do so. I guess it's possible?

On this day, my birthday, I seem to focus more on my mother's life and death, than my own day of birth. Today I turn 53...and I have lived 11 years longer than my mother did. See seemed so old and wise when she was 42 and I just 17. Now I realize how much life she missed and how hard it most of been to give up the ghost at such a young age.

So today, the best birthday present you could give, is to love your mother...if you're lucky enough to still have one. And if not, remember and cherish the woman who carried you inside her for 9 months (hopefully) and launched you towards your destiny!

Sir Hook the Life Cyclist of Warrick

Do Your Work & Step Back

From Zen Habits: The Tao of Productivity

Fill your bowl to the brim.....

and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife.....

and it will go blunt.

Chase after money and security.....

and your heart will never unclench.

Care about people's approval.....

and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back.

The only path to serenity.

Sir Hook Who's Still Practicing of Warrick

Another Long Lost Relative?

Yesterday's post on the old Kuhn Brewery in St. Louis led Sir Dayvd to send me a link to another possible long lost Kuhn relative: Dieter Kuhn, Brewmaster.

In a microbrewery in downtown Sylva, NC, German-born brewermaster Dieter Kuhn and his wife Sheryl Rudd are creating light and refreshing German beer made with wholesome grains, fresh hops & no preservatives. All beers are keg conditioned and non-filtered, making them smooth and lighter in body.

We specialize in altbeer — the style brewed in the warmer regions of Germany since the early days of brewing. ‘Alt,’ the German word for ‘old,’ is a synonym for the traditional, old way of brewing dark, top-fermented beer.

I love this image from their website:

What's a Heinzelmännchen?

Heinzelmännchen are gnome-like creatures found in the Black Forest of Germany. They are rarely seen, however always helpful to creatures and people alike.

According to German folklore, the Heinzelmännchen visit proprietors during the night to assist with chores, so when the proprietor awakes he has more time to give back to his community. They have been celebrated in poem and song for their cheerful and helpful attitude.
At the Brewery, they keep a watchful eye on the beer at night and take care of any unfinished jobs so Dieter and Sheryl can concentrate on brewing the best beer, keeping their customers happy, and helping their neighbors.

http://www.yourgnometownbrewery.com

Sir Bowie "already trying to get the Kuhn name discount" of Greenbrair

Sir Bowie "hoping there is a free beer for Kuhn sir name" of Greenbrair

Newburgh Wine Fest

Putting down my glass to take this




Sir Bowie of Greenbriar, Sir William of Kegglers,
Sir Cock of the Walk, Lady Melinda of Burgh

A good time had by all!

warm up for Illinois Wine Trip in June~