“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Auld Lang Syne





Remember this old gem of a song? This tune is familiar to most of us and I'm sure you faked your way through the lyrics quite a few times. There are several versions of the song and I found a bit more about it on the somewhat accurate Wikipedia site. Read on.....

Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, "The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man."  Some of the lyrics were indeed "collected" rather than composed by the poet; the ballad "Old Long Syne" printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and the chorus to Burns' later poem, and is almost certainly derived from the same "old song".
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On Old long syne.
CHORUS:
On Old long syne my Jo,
On Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
On Old long syne.


        This is the version we generally sing here.


         

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
for days of auld lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo (friend),
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for days of auld lang syne.

source 



I've included a few favorite versions of the song on my SoundCloud playlist on the top right, scroll down if you'd like to hear other versions.



from Music Through the Year
Ring out the old, Ring in the New!






from Music Through the Year

Old Father Annum

Old Father Annum on New Year's Day
Picked up his bag of months and years,
Thrust in his hand in a careless way,
And pulled a wee fellow out by the ears.

"There you are," said he to the waiting crowd,
"He's as good as any I have in my pack,
I never can tell, but I hope to be proud
Of the little rascal when I come back."

~ Leroy F. Jackson









Happy New Year to All!

However you celebrate, I hope it is Merry and Safe!
See you all soon!
~~Diane~~




Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Keeping Christmas















































Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!


 Thank you for visiting throughout this year!
I look forward to reading your blogs in the New Year
and hope you'll enjoy mine too!


I'll be seeing you on New Years Eve! 
Blessings and Joy to all of you! ~~ Diane


**image source
**Quote



Sunday, December 21, 2014

Christmas is Coming

*♫ *♫ **✫¸.•*♫ *♫ *°*”˜˜”*°•✫ ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★  *♫ *♫ * 。
* °♥ ˚ • ★       ..✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.✫ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★ 
*✫*♫ *♫ *¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫*ღ˛*♫ *♫ *° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★
*♫ *♫ **✫¸.•°*”˜♥★


 

 Christmas will be here in just a few days! I hope you have had time for some fun outdoor activities.  Maybe you've shared making snowmen, sledding, skating or just a quick walk in the snow with 
someone close to you!





   
Or perhaps you've been busy in the kitchen making cookies and other goodies for the upcoming Christmas dinner.


Hopefully you've had time to donate to your favorite charity too. As familiar as the song above is to most of us of a certain age, I hate to think that in my senior years I will have to resort to what the old man above is doing! 

 
Maybe you've been decorating the house, hanging the garland, dressing the tree with pretty keepsakes .... whatever you've been doing I hope you are enjoying the season. It seems to come and go so quickly, it's sometimes hard to take it all in. 

I've closed my etsy shop until after Christmas so I can enjoy the holiday! All of my orders have arrived at the customers homes so no more worries! I can finally relax and enjoy that eggnog!











We can all enjoy the beauty and festivity of the season, whatever our customs. 
It is truly a remarkable and lovely time of the year.





Santa is almost ready and has all those toys wrapped and ready to go. 
The reindeer have been doubling up on their feed for extra energy 
and Santa is now checking his list! 
I hope you are on the nice one!






 Image source: Music Through the Year, Illustrated by Robert J Lee










Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Magical Deer


The magical deer arrived silently, not a sound was made. Two adorable little fawns, wearing their wooly coats. Looking as sweet as can be. It was late afternoon, just before five o'clock. The light was fading, 
it was turning to dusk.








Guy was looking out the window, I glanced out to see what he was looking at, and there they were.  I grabbed my camera and through the basement window captured the twins eating birdseed out of the platform feeder.  It was a cold day and I had just refilled the tray earlier in the afternoon.  It was full of sunflower seeds, corn and nuts.







They are looking at each other as if to say,
 "This is so good, we are very lucky little deer! Mmmmm!"











And then there were Three......  this one a larger doe.






And then there were Four .... another doe. 
They all took their turns eating, and they ate every bit of the seed.














When all the seed was gone, they left as silently as they came.


Peace and Joy to All! 
Enjoy the magic that is all around you.

~~~Diane~~~





Monday, December 8, 2014

Christmas Elephants

Many animals come to mind when thinking about Christmas, but usually not Elephants! Sure we think about the Christmas story and the donkey Mary rode to Bethlehem on.  We remember the sheep, camels and other animals around the stable that complete our own Nativity scenes. They even have their own song for goodness sake!




Then there is Santa and those reindeer and the one with the red nose, Rudy! Again, his own song!  There are Christmas stories about cats, dogs, a kangaroo and even a hippopotamus (also has a song)! No where have I seen a book about an Elephant and his Christmas, until now. This guy doesn't even have a name, he's just called Little Elephant and this is his Christmas story!


The images are from a charming book entitled "Little Elephant's Christmas", written by Heluiz Washburne and illustrated by Jean McConnell. This is from an original 1944 Edition published by Albert Whitman and Company. Little Elephant helps his family prepare for Christmas by baking, decorating the tree and opening gifts!




Little Elephant was all excited.  In a few days it would be Christmas.



I picked up this book last year and it sold the other day. The book was in somewhat poor condition, but it was still holding together and I just couldn't tear it apart to sell the individual pages, even though I would have probably easily quadrupled my money!  I will leave that up to the party that purchased the book, maybe they will take out some of the pages and frame them. It really was a delightful thing to see.  I want to share a few of my favorite images from the book.


Little Elephant Wraps a Present.


Little Elephant was so excited because in a few days it would be Christmas! The postman had been delivering presents and Little Elephant could hardly wait to open them.  He spent some time helping his mother make the plum pudding and then he decorated the tree.  He also wrapped presents for Grandpa and Grandma Elephant.






Little Elephant Decorates the Tree.






Little Elephant Hangs His Stocking.




Finally Christmas morning arrives and Little Elephant gets to open his presents! His favorites are a horn! Which I think is pretty funny, considering elephants already make trumpeting noises! He also receives a wrist watch, because Elephants want to be on time!





Little Elephant Toots His Horn!





Little Elephant Admires His New Watch!


Father and Mother Elephant open their gifts too! Father received a painting set so he could paint his tusks!


Father Elephant Painting His Tusks!

Mother Elephant (below) wearing her present, the lace collar! Little Elephant not a fan of his vegetable soup!



Mother Elephant and Little Elephant Eating Christmas Dinner.



After all the decorating, wrapping and then opening presents, they all settle down for a lovely Christmas dinner of green veggie soup and something with drumsticks? Didn't know elephants ate that sort of think, but who knew they also decorated Christmas trees and hung stockings?







As often happens with a huge celebratory meal, Little Elephant was stuffed! He had to get up and run around the table a few times to settle his meal so he had room for the plum pudding that Mother Elephant had prepared. Kind of sounds familiar doesn't it?

After celebrating with his parents and with Grandma and Grandpa Elephant, Little elephant was pretty tired and as with most kids, he kept his favorite Christmas gifts close that night.






I hope you enjoyed this time with Little Elephant.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and observations about the art, the book etc.  Do you remember your favorite holiday gift?

Let's all have a Holly Jolly week!
~~ Diane ~~