tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59299722012-01-30T12:01:33.154-05:00A journal of fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter preparations and celebrations.Lindanoreply@blogger.comBlogger7651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-33038991995212032022012-01-25T06:55:00.001-05:002012-01-26T20:45:05.287-05:00

"Rudolph Day" is a way of keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long. You can read a Christmas book, work on a Christmas craft project, listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie.Here's a few Christmas blogs to get you going:Deck the Halls of Home With JoyKaren's Christmas Cottage BlogFor music fans: A Christmas YuleblogI learned last fall that the Guideposts people had published

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-51435659393293143152012-01-16T11:22:00.002-05:002012-01-16T12:06:30.416-05:00

I was still tidying up from this year's Christmas clean-up this morning. After breakfast I brought the vase with its vivid autumn leaves and flowers back upstairs to put in the hallway (where the Rudolph tree is at Christmas) and arranged the other little things around it: the little tray Andy Stokes brought me back from Italy on which I keep Mother's rosary, another little dish where I keep

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-46497584005308108172012-01-14T14:35:00.005-05:002012-01-14T15:30:34.507-05:00

I've managed to take the other decorations down in the past week, during lunch or after work—it's really surprising what you can get done in fifteen minutes at the time, as it's so much easier taking down than putting up! I packed up the manger last night and there was nothing left but to tackle the Christmas tree this afternoon. James was at work, and would have been at his club meeting had he

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-10239828412570413402012-01-08T17:25:00.003-05:002012-01-08T20:04:31.051-05:00

As they said on Remember WENN, "December without Christmas is like...January."And it's certainly January: a humid, warmish, rainy, grey day combined with post-holiday depression. Which will be followed by Monday. Oh. Joy.So we had the usual Sunday trip to the grocery stores: twofers at Publix and the rest at Kroger. The bananas were green in both places; I'll settle for applesauce. Really, what

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-2725350054230109292012-01-07T23:53:00.000-05:002012-01-08T17:25:19.111-05:00

Sometimes the final part of the party prep is the hardest. We were up at nine to go to Costco for the chicken wings and more mini egg-rolls. From there we came home, James started the gravy for the meatballs and then put them in the crock pot to get warm (they were straight from the freezer). Then he went off to the hobby shop for about an hour since he won't get to go next week due to work. I

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-56638180466311482912012-01-06T16:37:00.005-05:002012-01-06T17:16:08.692-05:00

The Bible tells us two versions of the Christmas story. One is the familiar version from St. Luke, which almost everyone knows from its being quoted by Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas. This contains the birth of Jesus, Mary's laying the Christ child in the manger, the angels and the shepherds.It is from St. Matthew that the other familiar part of the story comes to pass. Here are the Wise Men

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-1612283523467450612012-01-05T08:06:00.000-05:002012-01-06T16:27:08.332-05:00

There's a bit of a controversy on which day Twelfth Night actually is. Some state that Christmas Day is the First Day of Christmas, and thus Twelfth Night is January 5, leaving Epiphany as its very own holiday. Other philosophies state that Christmas is its very own day, with the twelve days starting on St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day), which makes Epiphany also Twelfth Night. I subscribe to the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-66206242671713438782012-01-01T23:18:00.003-05:002012-01-01T23:48:15.184-05:00

New Year's Day mornings on Sundays are always odd.It's been a tradition since its inception that the Tournament of Roses Parade is transferred to Monday, January 2, when the New Year is on a Sunday. So it seems a particularly empty morning for the first day of January.We'd planned to go to the movies this afternoon, but we had coupons at BJs that would run out on Tuesday, and several of the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-24859156733320787282012-01-01T11:29:00.003-05:002012-01-01T11:31:41.850-05:00

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-86334571300248264392011-12-31T18:20:00.003-05:002011-12-31T18:54:13.694-05:00

In reading Joanna Bogle's A Book of Feasts and Seasons, she mentions being in Germany on New Year's Eve and hearing no mention of that term. Instead, they greeted each other with "Happy Sylvester!"Sylvester was a Pope, and later became a Saint, and his Saint's day is December 31. Since I had a little budgie named Sylvester many years ago, I like the mention of the name.James and I have both been

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-38863220108601204452011-12-30T15:03:00.005-05:002011-12-31T18:20:15.139-05:00

Goodness! How two weeks has flown by!In the past two days I've been absorbing as much Christmas as possible, to armor myself against the constant horror of the coming summer. It's been cold and brisk, although a bit warmer today, alternately sunny and overcast. With Christmas music in the background, I've amused myself by listening to BBC radio—oh, such a blessing as the Internet to give me the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-22865742883393363762011-12-27T15:19:00.003-05:002011-12-27T15:44:54.106-05:00

Wish I could figure out what makes my phone turn on at night! It's a rude awakening indeed. Of course, I apparently missed the thunder.When I got up it was still drippy and grey outside, but the rain was clearing away nicely, leaving a chill, cloudy day in the 40s with a brisk wind. I dubbed off a couple of Christmas specials (the new Prep & Landing, the Ice Age story, and The Real Story of

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-46140794127698457422011-12-26T22:09:00.003-05:002011-12-26T22:36:13.683-05:00

James had today off, half of which we wasted by sleeping late. (We're just storing up sleep for the next day we have to work. ) Then we went over to MicroCenter. James has been toying with the idea of a new computer, and we had looked at some after Thanksgiving. He is rapidly running out of room on his hard drive, even though we have cleaned it off numerous times. The computer is also very slow,

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-22128903533924441152011-12-25T23:52:00.000-05:002011-12-26T00:54:01.244-05:00

The House Without a Christmas Tree ended just after midnight. By then I was about to burst.You see, I had wangled a special gift for James. When the Nook Color readers came out, there was particular interest from the Android community because the units can be hacked. (The salespeople in Barnes & Noble will even talk about it right out.) You could either root the unit itself to turn it into an

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-2650111889386768132011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-25T00:00:00.135-05:00

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-82911019570977455332011-12-24T22:54:00.006-05:002011-12-24T23:49:24.725-05:00

We did go to Grandmother's house (well, Schuyler and Willow's grandmother), but our sleigh looked more like a PT Cruiser. Felt like it, too. :-)We were up at nine, James walked Willow, we packed up the desserts we were taking, I gave Schuyler some millet and Willow some cookies to find. Ordinarily we take the truck down to Warner Robins, but since we had a big box of gifts we didn't want them

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-19429370207274383862011-12-24T07:57:00.001-05:002011-12-24T07:57:00.066-05:00

Well, of course you know who wrote what is commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas"! It was Clement C. Moore. After all, it's on all the books!But was it? Descendants of Henry Livingston Jr., who frequently wrote verse in the meter of the "visit," claim it was Livingston who wrote the poem. They cite the fact that Moore was a humorless theologian, and that he did not claim the poem as his

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-14702815896710495842011-12-23T22:29:00.005-05:002011-12-24T00:55:01.678-05:00

I decided this morning I'd been cooped up in the house all week and I'd go out for a while. I usually go downtown one day before Christmas, but I was a little low about my favorite antique store being closed. Perhaps they'll still have decorations up next week. I like the way they do it: a little bottle brush tree here, vintage ornaments in a bowl there, bits of greenery or tinsel garland tucked

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-10451459662230954052011-12-22T08:43:00.000-05:002011-12-22T12:46:54.800-05:00

WINTER SOLSTICEJourneying around the sun,at Yule, she turns furthest from the light.Here In the dark of the long night she is veiled,and here she comes to the fullness of her union with creation.To enter is to hold Death closest to our hearts.And as we do, Death has her sensuous way.Slowly, we come to a clearing, and the solstice.And in deep stillness, we enter.Our journey from the sun has come

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-89791156400431700602011-12-20T16:18:00.021-05:002011-12-20T18:13:36.036-05:00

Having been thwarted in my plan to bake cookies yesterday, I did so today. It was cloudy and chilly, and then rainy and almost warmish, so it was a perfect day for it.In the spirit of multitasking, I also washed two loads of clothes, played Christmas carols, and [mumble]. This rather affected my output, as I made a bit of a mistake with the first batch of cookies. They still taste fine, but they

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-79414430617901249592011-12-19T10:36:00.003-05:002011-12-19T12:18:57.852-05:00

Whew! The weekend whizzed past so quickly there was hardly time to take a breath, let alone a blog. I'm supposed to be baking cookies, but I've gotten a late start because of some unexpected chores, and am wondering if I should put it off until tomorrow. Unfortunately it's supposed to be an unseasonable 60s this week, so I don't want to bake late in the day when it's too warm. And so much is left

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-72186504026965152192011-12-18T00:18:00.004-05:002011-12-18T00:18:03.029-05:00

This was a unique Christmas special presented on PBS in 1977 and repeated for a few years afterward, then it disappeared. I found a videotape copy on e-Bay a couple of years ago. Together are stitched six animated segments and an introduction, all in different styles: limited animation, stills combined with animation, etc. Colleen Dewhurst introduces the program.The IntroductionFrom Moss Hart's

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-64280643407610711482011-12-13T11:05:00.000-05:002011-12-16T23:07:13.440-05:00

Santa LuciaChristmas in SwedenHow to Celebrate St. Lucia DayHappy Santa Lucia Day (the image here is from one of the saints' books I had as a child)

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32278967791018392732011-12-11T05:21:00.001-05:002011-12-11T05:21:00.852-05:00

Why this is not run on television yearly like the other Christmas classics is beyond me.The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 1The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 2The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 3The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 4The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 5The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 6The House Without a Christmas Tree, Part 7The House Without

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-8605467287246713062011-12-09T21:10:00.005-05:002011-12-09T23:12:45.730-05:00

I've been feeling a little blue lately.When I woke up this morning I was eager to decorate the Christmas tree, but feeling a bit down at the same time. I'm not sure what it is. I got dressed—and because I knew I'd be moving around a lot, despite the fact it was in the 30s out, I put on a t-shirt and shorts!—then I had breakfast, then got set up. I cleared off the coffee table, pushed it back

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-15895198446953648512011-12-06T12:05:00.000-05:002011-12-06T19:12:12.464-05:00

Depending on where you live, St. Nicholas comes on a horse or with a donkey, and with a companion. In Holland, this is Black Peter, his Moorish assistant; in other countries it might be Krampus or Pelznichol.Here are some news stories about St. Nicholas Day:Europeans celebrate St. Nicholas Day ActivitiesAround the World With Kris KringleMemories of St. Nicholas DayKicking Off the Christmas

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-45859158624340593492011-12-04T19:07:00.008-05:002011-12-04T20:47:19.447-05:00

On the weeks leading up to Christmas, we usually try to find something Christmassy to do each weekend. Since James admitted to me just recently that he actually hates going on the Marietta Tour of Homes, that was out, unless I wanted to go alone. Then I looked at the weather report and it was supposed to be sunny and going up to the mid-60s. The last thing I wanted to be doing on a Saturday was

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-2450970525933421542011-12-04T14:47:00.002-05:002011-12-04T14:49:59.407-05:00

...those slimy creeps who just post comments in your holiday blog just to link to their polluting factory sites in China or their site selling useless gifts for Christmas (like Lexus cars)?

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-46203759509077740942011-12-04T02:32:00.001-05:002011-12-04T14:51:49.231-05:00

In the 1960s and 1970s the Lutheran Church made several animated or "Claymation" type stories for children to illustrate Christian concepts. The most famous of these were the Davey and Goliath series (and its well-remembered Christmas episode, Christmas Lost and Found), but in the late 1960s-early 1970s kids were also treated to a brief cartoon series about Benji, an elementary-school age boy,

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-21668262069547918612011-12-02T23:15:00.012-05:002011-12-04T12:58:57.967-05:00

Well, the idea was to get a bit of Christmas decorating done during lunch hour while I was teleworking. Maybe I could even get up early and unpack a few things before starting.No dice. I had five new orders when I logged on Wednesday morning, and my Guam order was still ongoing because I can't even contact the hotel's events management people until 6 p.m. due to the time difference. My team lead

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-52018901571465140622011-11-29T18:18:00.004-05:002011-11-29T19:38:44.115-05:00

I slept a bit later (8 a.m.), then had a busy day, taking about 20 minutes to have some goat cheese with crackers for lunch, and another half hour break doing some hotel reviews for TripAdvisor. During the day I listened to Christmas CDs: Leroy Anderson, the King's College Choir, Perry Como, and finally the Partridge Family.I swept and then decorated the porch, including one string of lights so

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-18624977755335397532011-11-28T21:03:00.010-05:002011-11-28T22:38:01.225-05:00

In the past I have taken Thanksgiving week off, which has been nice. However, this year I thought I would get a leg up on the Christmas decorating by taking off Wednesday through Friday of Thanksgiving week and then today and tomorrow.It was a busy, busy day. I was up at 7:30, had breakfast, and was listening to BBC Radio 4X for the remainder of the day. I put away all the Thanksgiving items from

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-65474272501784248722011-11-27T19:49:00.002-05:002011-11-27T20:25:46.322-05:00

Here's a good primer on the Season of Advent in the Western church: The Season of Advent: Anticipation and Hope. There are links at the right for devotionals, including an Advent calendar in the shape of a Christmas tree with daily readings. Check out the essay about the word "Xmas," which infuriates some people.Advent is also the beginning of the Liturgical Year.If you have an Advent wreath it

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-1822725158131787312011-11-27T03:29:00.000-05:002011-11-27T03:29:00.109-05:00

Christmas Village Houses, History of Putzing and Toy Train Layouts

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-29279428766570009712011-11-26T01:51:00.000-05:002011-11-26T01:51:00.553-05:00

My favorite episode of All Creatures Great and Small ever:"Merry Gentlemen," Part 1"Merry Gentlemen," Part 2"Merry Gentlemen," Part 3"Merry Gentlemen," Part 4

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-30745186992843453592011-11-25T10:44:00.003-05:002011-11-25T12:57:00.984-05:00

Well, there's one good thing about Black Friday being almost half over: we won't have to listen to that loathsome earworm of a jingle that goes to the Kohl's commercial. Barf-o-matic.I was awakened this morning by my favorite alarm, "Miss Gladys Stevens, age 67, who lives in Omaha, and who makes her living recording voice reminder systems." (It's a sound clip from The Andromeda Strain.) I had all

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-70942212530193935662011-11-25T01:02:00.000-05:002011-11-25T01:02:00.486-05:00

The television commercials change!A classic: Hershey's Kisses "Bells"Kraft "Different Snack for Santa"Coca-Cola "Snow Globes" 2010 (warning: this is a bit loud)Coca-Cola Christmas "Trucks"(How did Coca-Cola get hooked to Santa Claus? No, it wasn't because Coke red and Santa suit red were the same color. Coca-Cola was once considered only a refreshing cold summer drink. They wanted folks to drink

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-30772305959821771532011-11-24T21:45:00.004-05:002011-11-24T22:06:59.999-05:00

I skinned out of bed at quarter to nine to get a paper. While it struck me as slightly silly, as I could look through all the Black Friday ads online, I always like to get physical reference.As I looked through the paper I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Much fun as always, and a great bit from the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-26075098285054897082011-11-24T00:02:00.002-05:002011-11-24T00:08:19.735-05:00

Thought I'd try something a bit different in "Thanksgiving" poetry with a little Gerard Manley Hopkins:"Hurrahing in Harvest"SUMMER ends now; now, barbarous in beauty, the stooks arise    Around; up above, what wind-walks! what lovely behaviour    Of silk-sack clouds! has wilder, wilful-wavier Meal-drift moulded ever and melted across skies? I walk, I lift up, I lift up heart, eyes,   Down all

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-16562612547803270252011-11-22T22:09:00.003-05:002011-11-22T22:40:52.688-05:00

It wasn't a willing one, but at least part of it was pleasant!I took my Thanksgiving leave a little bit differently this year, so that I was at work today. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake, as many people take Wednesday off and leave early on Tuesday. The roads were already a wreck by two o'clock and by quitting time the traffic map online was turning colors not seen in nature. (Who

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-41036604616029697872011-11-15T08:26:00.001-05:002011-11-20T21:26:31.657-05:00

Did you know that at one time the season of Advent was as long as Lent?Where Lent was a preparation period for Easter, so Advent was for Christmas. For forty days, starting on November 15, you were to meditate on the idea of the son of God coming to earth as an ordinary baby, to grow as all men did. Not an omnipotent God from on high, but a regular man who needed physical sustenance to survive, a

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-8514840748978347552011-11-07T09:23:00.001-05:002011-11-07T09:25:23.693-05:00

It's just that, a myth.From Health.com: "Most people think the winter holidays are a risky time, but suicides are lowest in December and peak in the spring."

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-16876807868076301922011-11-01T01:50:00.000-04:002011-11-01T01:50:00.385-04:00

Just to get you in the mood:MetLife "Peanuts" CommercialMeijer "Grandma" CommercialPublix "Head of the Table"Publix "Leaves"and the classic:Publix "Salt and Pepper Shakers"

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-65742001646840346912011-10-31T01:17:00.000-04:002011-10-31T01:17:00.491-04:00

Fannie Stearns DavisI am almost afraid of the wind out there.The dead leaves skip on the porches bare,The windows clatter and whine.I sit here in the quiet house. low-lit.With the clock that ticks and the books that stand.Wise and silent, on every hand.I am almost afraid; though I know the nightLets no ghosts walk in the warm lamplight.Yet ghosts there are; and they blow, they blow,Out in the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-21231696923570604562011-10-11T18:30:00.005-04:002011-10-11T18:50:09.729-04:00

It rained today, mostly a drizzle which left everything damp and grey. The interstate traffic maps were a horror of warning colors, so I took surface streets home.The upside to this was that I wandered hither and yon through tree-filled neighborhoods and got a preview of peak color (or at least as peak as Georgia gets; we don't ordinarily get bright colors here—more muted tones). This area of the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-487860333447530772011-10-11T11:51:00.002-04:002011-10-11T11:56:17.757-04:00

Thank you to the folks at Family Christmas Online for rescuing this website:Antique Christmas LightsWonderful photos and information on the first electric light "outfits" for Christmas trees (replacing the so-flammable candles—except, as the site points out, some of the lights burned so hot that they were just as dangerous as candles), plus a page on vintage Christmas music taken from Edison

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-69946524552544638482011-09-29T21:58:00.001-04:002011-09-29T21:59:07.225-04:00

A classic ad:Pizza Hut (Leftover Christmas Turkey) 1986

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-60349973358090798472011-09-25T09:25:00.003-04:002011-09-25T09:25:00.670-04:00

Tis the Season TV by Joanna WilsonThis is a first, an exhaustive effort to chronicle every television special, movie, animated feature, and series episode from the advent of television to the present that has to do with December holidays (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) and Christmastide. If you are a lover of these specials and series episodes, this is the volume for you, although the recommendation

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-81880577160706693492011-09-20T12:07:00.003-04:002011-09-20T12:28:56.886-04:00

Unfortunately for me, my favorite season arrives just as our busiest season at work is winding down. Sometimes it seems that there's little time for me to lift my eyes from my monitor or from the myriad of things I must do on weekends to note the seasons slowly shifting gear.We could hardly credit it, but it seems Tropical Storm Lee, for all the damage it did other places, here "broke the back"

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-67610102646768318252011-08-25T08:49:00.000-04:002011-08-25T08:49:00.220-04:00

Part of the delight of preparing for Christmas is the wonderful autumn season that precedes Christmastide. It is a blessing to know that the intense heat of summer will fade into the pleasant temperatures of autumn, and then one day a frost will tip the grass and leaves with silver-white in preparation for winter. We call autumn our "social season." It starts before the simmering summer is over,

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-43287385384764509372011-07-25T00:13:00.000-04:002011-07-25T00:13:00.451-04:00

"Rudolph Day" is a way of keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long. You can read a Christmas book, work on a Christmas craft project, listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie.I'm already collecting Christmas books for reading this year. Some are holdovers from last year, as I had quite a few things on last year's pile.Santa, by Jeremy Seal, is a British book I heard about

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-83825725634142549242011-07-04T13:48:00.007-04:002011-07-04T14:41:11.108-04:00

Happy birthday to the United States of America! It's a day of picnics, gatherings, fireworks, and fun. It's also a day to think about our past and hope and work for the future.I included this next postcard because I was thinking of all those old children's books, like Eight Cousins and The Bobbsey Twins in the Country where the children get together and put on a little patriotic parade. The

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32046085127282577482011-06-25T19:45:00.002-04:002011-06-25T22:26:00.506-04:00

It's "LEON [NOEL spelt backward] Day!For my part, I'm already ready for summer to be over. It's been in the 90s for weeks now. Friends tell me fall frippery is appearing in Michaels and they've seen wreaths on the far wall of Hobby Lobby. I must go hug some autumn leaves soon! :-)Next weekend is Independence Day weekend, and it is two weeks until the Hallmark ornament premiere. Time's gone by

Lindanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-51554466841806977812011-06-25T12:36:00.002-04:002011-06-25T12:36:00.428-04:00

"Rudolph Day" is a way of keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long. You can read a Christmas book, work on a Christmas craft project, listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie.Another time machine post. Our subject: Vintage Video: Christmas in the 1950sNewsreel of Christmas 1950 Around the World1950s Christmas Photos Set to MusicQueen Elizabeth II's 1957 Christmas MessageColor

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-47943542640397675662011-05-25T12:20:00.002-04:002011-05-26T12:23:17.803-04:00

2011 Interactive Dream Book Keepsake Ornament CatalogThis year's ornament premiere weekend is July 16-17.Thankfully, I only saw a handful of things I "gotta" have: the mini cloisonne chickadee, the partridge, the Pongo ornament. James will want the airplane (a Culver Cadet), the Romulan Bird of Prey, and Han and Greedo (possibly one of the Trek figures or Indiana Jones).

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-2775102411128508812011-04-24T11:55:00.000-04:002011-04-24T11:56:03.251-04:00

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-76456862579450306702011-02-25T11:21:00.000-05:002011-02-25T23:38:05.469-05:00

"Rudolph Day" is a way of keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long. You can read a Christmas book, work on a Christmas craft project, listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie.For February we step into a time machine:Join Bob Hope and guests Raquel Welch, Elaine Dunn, Phil Crosby, Barbara McNair, Miss World, Madeleine Hartog Bell, and of course Les Brown and His Band of Renown

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-21433314139090729602011-02-14T10:13:00.003-05:002011-02-14T10:27:09.615-05:00

Wikipedia on Valentine's DayOne of my favorite legends about Valentine's Day is that it is supposedly the day the birds choose their mates, but here's a twist on that tale!And, of course, some Valentine quotes.

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-76830577814684313102011-01-25T05:54:00.000-05:002011-01-25T05:54:00.045-05:00

"Rudolph Day" is a way of keeping the Christmas spirit alive all year long. You can read a Christmas book, work on a Christmas craft project, listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie.Our January web entry is Christmas Village Houses, History of Putzing and Toy Train Layouts; wander about the site looking at these traditional village homes, but definitely check out these pages:A

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-17638096116156458682011-01-17T20:11:00.004-05:002011-01-17T23:06:08.923-05:00

Last week's "snow event" was an advantage in disguise. The Christmas decorations it had taken me three weeks to laboriously spread across the house came down in two days, although Wednesday's outing was a bit long for my liking. Work was spookily quiet, so this was possible. On Thursday I discovered that the easiest decorations to put away, the five pieces and the decorative soap in the hall

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-91241969230894542552011-01-12T23:04:00.001-05:002011-01-12T23:05:13.698-05:00

Christmas has gone to sleep till next year, all carefully closeted. Sleep well.

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-67823105413345123062011-01-09T17:36:00.003-05:002011-01-09T17:53:22.201-05:00

I had done most of our regular shopping yesterday, running into the mob that I hoped I might miss: nope, everyone was stocking up in case it snowed Sunday night. So when we went to Publix today it was only for incidentals: K cereal since it was on twofer, "spots" Bandaids because I haven't yet found a pair of glasses that doesn't hurt my nose, our favorite trail mix we keep in the vehicles, and a

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-48816311106438882332011-01-06T17:48:00.001-05:002011-01-06T18:31:33.978-05:00

Well, officially Christmas is over. It is the Feast of the Epiphany, when it is said that the Magi/Wise Men (not the three Wise Men, since the Bible never specifies how many there were; three has become traditional due to the three gifts named, gold, frankincense, and myrrh—some cultures say there were twelve Wise Men) reached the child Jesus to present gifts to him. (Again, the Bible does not

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-80124756552979434072011-01-05T10:37:00.006-05:002011-01-05T17:03:50.567-05:00

...my good friends brought to me,all their good wishes,gifts for one and all,some mistletoe,a guardian angel,gold and silver tinsel,candles a-glowing,little silver bells,a shining star...four colored lights,three boughs of holly,two candy canes,and a song for the Christmas tree.These are the gifts as enumerated in the Andy Williams alternative to the song. I quite enjoy this version, and the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-80244634918485297472011-01-04T16:25:00.000-05:002011-01-05T17:02:34.751-05:00

Great Joy, Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram IbatoullineThis is a sweet picture book about a young girl named Frances who worries about an Italian organ grinder and his monkey whom she sees nightly sleeping on the street. Her mother tells her he's probably fine, but Frances remains concerned about him. Besides the story's theme of care for others, the 40s-era (there are subtle hints that

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-35173896399654466662011-01-01T21:04:00.001-05:002011-01-04T10:57:48.876-05:00

I can't say it's been the most auspicious New Year's Day ever. Frankly depressing in parts, to be honest. James had to be up early and go to work. I didn't sleep well last night because it was so warm, even with two fans on me, so I woke later a bit headachy. Outside it was a bleak grey. I took Willow outside, then had the usual oatmeal and yogurt breakfast, then wandered around the house

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-16945173329813692582010-12-31T23:54:00.002-05:002011-01-01T00:40:15.175-05:00

I always like that New Year's Eve is St. Sylvester's. I used to have the cutest little budgie named Sylvester, blue with a yellow face...he used to sit on my knee and say "Birds can't talk"...I remember one time I was sick, I fixed him a little spot on my blanket, sitting on a Kleenex, and we both took a nap together. Every once in a while I would open one eye to check on him and I would see him

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32441973029522641382010-12-30T23:56:00.000-05:002010-12-31T17:43:21.285-05:00

A partially busy and partially relaxing day. I did some cleaning and stripped the bed. I also went to Borders and scored the new "Yankee" plus some bargain books, including The Best Mystery Stories of 2008, which has a story by Rupert Holmes in it. I then went over to Love Street to use my birthday coupon. I bought some vintage looking Christmas decorations and a gift for next year, and then

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32840728601229720112010-12-29T21:12:00.005-05:002010-12-29T22:58:59.506-05:00

Ah, there's the alarm! I shut it off, lay in bed a few minutes, then got up and......wake up in bed? Oh, bother. I only dreamed I got up. It's not like I really overslept; it was only 8:18.Did some vacuuming and washed two loads of clothes. Between drying one and washing another I went to BJs. I wanted to get ham for New Year's dinner, and I needed Prilosec, and we needed loretadine and Mandarin

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-58948695113433702312010-12-28T20:43:00.004-05:002011-01-04T11:03:10.885-05:00

This is the day on which King Herod ordered all the male children of two years and younger to be murdered, in order to kill the Messiah. It is considered bad luck to start a project on this day, so I ended one instead.In the past my bank has sent numerous additional check cards to our house, some in James' name, because his name is on my checking account. Mine is on his, too, for emergencies, but

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-26314397386200787712010-12-27T21:02:00.007-05:002011-01-04T11:05:22.991-05:00

Otherwise after-Christmas shopping day. I have some business to transact this week at the bank and a donation to leave at the library, but I'll deal with it later. Today was crisp, cold, and just made for a ride up to Acworth. The sky was overcast when I started out, but by the time I arrived, the sky was breaking through the clouds and was a mesmerizing electric blue—just glorious!I'd stopped by

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-54974528350879999132010-12-26T20:54:00.000-05:002010-12-26T20:55:05.125-05:00

Despite the dire predictions on the weather, we woke to find only a breezy, chilly day; the wind crept under your coat and down your neck with iced fingers. The snow gave everything a nice frosty look, but even the side roads were dry and clear. We drove to Kroger in an off-and-on swirl of flurries that were leaving small, perfect flakes on windshield and car sides. Plus Radio Classics still had

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-61072345369751436182010-12-25T23:51:00.003-05:002010-12-26T00:46:47.183-05:00

We were up so late that we slept in this morning. Despite yesterday's wonderful news, I slept restlessly with disturbing dreams. I finally got up and, for a further Christmas gift for James, walked Willow and fed her.I had looked for cinnamon waffles at the supermarket, but only found blueberry, etc., and had to get "cinnamon toast" Eggo waffles instead. These are thin and James found they worked

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-19836663724579700462010-12-24T23:50:00.000-05:002010-12-25T01:04:14.132-05:00

Well, not when the alarm went off, though. Ah, well. :-)This year I had a list, so we had everything when we got in the truck at 9 a.m. At least everything after I looked at the list and ran back upstairs for the couple of things we had forgotten. We were off to Warner Robins to see James' mom and sister and niece, both very wary of the Christmas Eve shoppers, enough that we circumvented

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-39605098076776318312010-12-24T03:30:00.000-05:002010-12-24T03:30:00.149-05:00

An animated presentation about how Clement C. Moore came to write the famous poem.The Night Before Christmas (1968) Pt 1The Night Before Christmas (1968) Pt 2The Night Before Christmas (1968) Pt 3

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-28505530879136702002010-12-23T20:52:00.002-05:002010-12-23T23:16:03.247-05:00

Best-laid plans: I had intended to get up early this morning and go to Trader Joe's, and maybe stop at Harry's for some last-minute Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, I was still suffering from yesterday's burger and was still ambivalent about how I was feeling until late morning.So I went to Kroger right before noon instead, wandering around their bakery and holiday decor area. Found something easy

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-91521759422309015522010-12-22T19:33:00.004-05:002010-12-22T22:07:45.614-05:00

Goodness, it was warm when I got up this morning; I thought I had been suddenly transported to Florida during the night (now there's a nightmare for you). When I looked at the temperature it said it was 60°F!After breakfast, it was time to get to work. I put on Holiday Pops, lit the "Christmas Wreath" Yankee Candle, and did my chores; washed a load of towels and a load of clothes, vacuumed

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-48231014917298319212010-12-21T22:05:00.003-05:002010-12-21T23:10:55.075-05:00

Since James worked on Saturday, today was his compensatory day off. We slept late because we stayed up last night hoping to see the lunar eclipse. This one was notable because it was taking place at the same time as the winter solstice. By the time it started, I was walking around with my eyes half-open, but nevertheless went out on the deck with a camera to try my luck, luck because light clouds

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-75135168747067794312010-12-20T21:55:00.004-05:002010-12-21T00:47:51.499-05:00

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without an emergency run to the grocery store for forgotten baking supplies.But that happened later, after I woke up with a "broken motivator." :-)Trouble is, there were about three things I wanted to do, all of them important. Since one should always start at the beginning, I started with breakfast. :-) Then I finally did something about those wretched coupons

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-82794266170051207462010-12-19T21:41:00.001-05:002010-12-19T22:02:00.992-05:00

Yesterday was a bit busy. I went out to the post office, and then stopped at the library to put in two interlibrary loan requests. I hope they can get the books. I have read eight of the ten "Camp Fire" series by Hildegard Frey and would like to read the remaining ones. One tells how Katherine joined the group and the other is a Christmas story. Stopped at Sam's Club as well, and bought gasoline

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-30550874456541597402010-12-19T09:21:00.001-05:002010-12-19T09:21:00.223-05:00

Some Christmas history:Festive features from "BBC History Magazine."Bob Hope's Vietnam Christmas Tours

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-35827393784570018742010-12-17T22:24:00.003-05:002010-12-17T23:13:46.850-05:00

Will you tell me why people are such all-fired rude snots when they are out Christmas shopping? I intended just to take a usual trip up to Town Center to check if the Barnes & Noble had that Christmas "BBC History Magazine" (not only didn't they have it, but they still had the November issue—phooey).I actually went to JoAnn first, since I was also looking for the new issue of Mary Hickmott's "New

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-26139291313124512562010-12-16T22:10:00.004-05:002010-12-16T23:30:06.054-05:00

My last day of work before a nice break until January 3!Listened to the two new Revels albums that James bought me for my birthday. "Christmas Through the Years" by the Portland Revels was mostly medieval holy music. "Welcome Yule!" is the anniversary album, with familiar favorites like "Lord of the Dance" as well as new offerings. Later I listened to some Rick Steves' Christmas podcasts, but

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-71205703011304712272010-12-15T20:17:00.007-05:002010-12-16T11:19:55.352-05:00

Weird yellow streaks in one photo and some purplish cast on any others were caused by the scanner.* * * * * * * * * * *Mom and Dad at Papà's house in 1952. Mom was evidently feeding Dad well back then! Check out the suspenders!My first Christmas, 1955, with Dad holding me in front of the tree. I'm about two weeks old here. Dig the 50s wallpaper, the print curtains, and that big metal radiator

Lindanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-25830860722374032662010-12-15T12:53:00.009-05:002010-12-15T23:04:28.078-05:00

The Christmas Book, edited by Harry Ballam and Phyllis Digby MortonThis is one of my finds from last March's library book sale; it was one I took out almost every year. A 1990 reproduction by Omni publishers of a 1947 British volume, this is a collection of half essays/half stories with liberal illustration and even some photographs in black-and-white of Christmas from a British perspective.

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-63405434899094500842010-12-14T22:57:00.002-05:002010-12-14T22:59:00.430-05:00

We had a Christmas luncheon at work today. In the past, we have gone out to eat "somewhere nice," but this year we decided to have folks bring food and people could donate what they would have spent on lunch and it would be given to a charity. I liked that idea very much—I'd rather give to someone who needs it than stuff myself. The main course was ham, and there was also jerk chicken and oxtail,

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-67265464086219185272010-12-12T01:05:00.001-05:002010-12-18T21:28:33.354-05:00

Read some classic and copyright-free Christmas stories: Christmas (Bookshelf) - Gutenberg

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-74854903766520067162010-12-10T21:40:00.003-05:002010-12-12T16:14:39.043-05:00

And I finally have the Christmas tree up!I started at ten and finished at four, and even pushed the tree into the corner, which James usually does. (And I'm paying for it now, being all achy...) But I wanted to finish vacuuming—the floor was a wreck, with artificial needles and tinsel everywhere—and put the manger set up, and that couldn't be done until the tree was in place.So I put on Christmas

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-25882961841812387872010-12-08T20:57:00.008-05:002010-12-15T14:08:51.546-05:00

It was a fairly busy day while I made certain some things were caught up, and finished an order.Nevertheless, there was lunch and after work to get things done.I managed to get about thirteen gifts wrapped. It's a mixed bag, one gift for one person in one family, two in another family, and all of James' as well, until I ran out of time.I also took the little "peppermint tree," which is a small

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-25183712378983826162010-12-06T21:44:00.006-05:002010-12-15T14:09:35.788-05:00

Work of one sort during the day, a short interruption for a doctor's appointment and getting the car inspected, and then it was to "work" I like better. In short order I had the library tree decorated and in its place. The library looks swell with the glider rocker. Right now you can sit in the rocker and read by the light of the Christmas tree.After supper I ironed all the cover cloths: the

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32227227172418931002010-12-06T21:38:00.001-05:002010-12-06T21:39:49.086-05:00

A Subway Trip Back in TimeWith a tip of the hat to the Facebook page of "Richard Castle."

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-9801187073379194392010-12-06T17:20:00.003-05:002010-12-06T17:30:42.471-05:00

A vintage (19th century) account of St. Nicholas Day in Germany.Short article from Long Island Press.Blog entry about St. Nicholas Day in Holland.Observing St. Nicholas Day in a New York town.A memory of St. Nicholas Day on USCatholic.com.And it has nothing to do with St. Nicholas Day besides the fact it was named after the children's saint, but I can't resist putting in a plug for St. Nicholas

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-8085265432916566222010-12-05T01:49:00.000-05:002010-12-05T01:49:00.789-05:00

A Child's Christmas in Wales--Dylan Thomas (1914-1953)

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-87143115276831468492010-12-04T22:55:00.002-05:002010-12-09T11:23:40.474-05:00

Oh, goodness! I hated that alarm clock this morning! We didn't go to bed until two. But I tiptoed out of bed and got dressed and started wrapping gifts that needed to be mailed out. I was going at such a clip I could hear the background music from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol when Scrooge and Dick are cleaning out Fezziwig's counting house going in my head. (I was also checking out the Scotch tape

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-32235930030113694602010-12-03T23:54:00.000-05:002010-12-04T01:05:10.260-05:00

Thursday was mostly devoted to work, and I was quite happy to get two orders done on the new Virtual Desktop. We couldn't do it previously because macros were not enabled in Word. I was told by IT to enable all macros because it was a secure environment; previously we had been forbidden to do so due to viruses. So, yay!During lunch I got the foyer decorated; at least the lights on the miniatures

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-7852528237703133712010-12-01T20:03:00.006-05:002010-12-15T14:10:32.884-05:00

I'd like to say "decorating is going apace," but work takes priority; still, there is lunchtime and after work hours. I started with the kitchen and the dining room, but ran into a snag immediately: the top shelf of the ceppo had come unglued—no idea how. So I had to fix that up and start something else. So both rooms are done, feather trees, sparkly bits, reindeer, and lots and lots of

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-66417273126127331592010-11-28T17:14:00.002-05:002010-11-28T17:47:45.308-05:00

I am always on the lookout for new Thanksgiving books.Your typical Thanksgiving book for adults is a cookbook, whether of traditional foods or new twists, like using other ethnic foods for "spice." The book may also have tips on decorating: "tablescaping" and other ideas of how to set a pretty table.However, very few adult books ever talk about the holiday itself. Those are mostly reserved for

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-868384537879032232010-11-28T00:43:00.003-05:002010-11-28T15:36:16.055-05:00

Some classic religious Christmas cartoons:"The Candlemaker" (1957)"The Christmas Visitor""The Little Lamb"

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-71282015869893745392010-11-27T23:57:00.003-05:002010-12-15T14:11:05.336-05:00

The Mischief of the Mistletoe, Lauren WilligWhile this is the seventh of Willig's "Pink Carnation" novels, it actually takes place concurrently with part of the fifth book, Temptation of the Night Jasmine. Poor but proud Arabella Dempsey (childhood friends with the great Jane Austen), the daughter of an impoverished vicar, takes a position as a junior instructor at a school for wealthy girls. She

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929972.post-2520410469979576812010-11-27T13:51:00.013-05:002010-11-27T23:58:49.813-05:00

It was a busy Thanksgiving-before-and-after and it's good to be able to sit down and write about it.Wednesday involved Willow's type of "hunting," for food, that is! I was off to get elements of the feast.Note to self: Food Depot does not sell Oven Fry (needed for the top of James' corn casserole), nor newspapers any longer. So i wouldn't try there tomorrow. I did find Oven Fry and some useful

Lindanoreply@blogger.com0