Cleaning...where nobody sees

Well, if you know me, you know that cleaning has never been one of my stronger abilities. The older I get, the better I get at it. I do like things to look nice, so picking up is something I do a lot of. But when it comes to cleaning the places that nobody really sees...I confess I rarely do it. Now, this is probably human nature and common to everyone and yet I think some people are better "cleaners" than others. SO...I cleaned behind my fridge. (I'm patting my own back so hard, you can hear it). I'm not sure what inspired this out-of-character act, but boy, did it feel good. Cleaning does feel amazingly good. And I must add that one cannot deep clean these "invisible" places without thinking of the cleaning that is needed in one's soul in the places that nobody sees. In short, I highly recommend this little ritual. How does it get so dirty back there?

The Music of Christmas

I love the music of Christmas...it makes me worship every day in a different way than the rest of the year. There are so many ways to enjoy the music. Caroling, or singing carols in a group of people...playing a Christmas hymn or carol on an instrument. For me that is playing songs on the piano...and every year I pick out 2 or 3 different piano arrangements to practice and enjoy. This year it is: I Saw Three Ships arranged with Haydn's Allegro in F Major and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing arranged with Handel's Largo. Both are beautiful and I am greatly enriched by the playing and hearing of these. I always enjoy playing and singing our old favorite sheet music titles with the family too.











We always enjoy the music of Christmas to listen to: on the radio, in stores, on the CD or tape player, or at Church. I especially love the vintage recordings to listen to.
This year my insurance man, our daughter JoAnn and I have been practising and singing in our Church choir. I have not sung in choir for many years, and this has brought a special joy to the season. I have always loved choir music, either to play or to sing...and this year is no exception. We are doing a selection of 5 individual songs...and my favorite is 'Immanuel' by Paula Stefanovich. Some of the words are: "Immanuel...Immanuel, sons come worship and daughters sing. Immanuel...Immanuel, a virgin bears a King." Our daughter JoAnn has a beautiful voice and it is a rare privilege to stand next to her while we practise and sing.
Yes, the music of Christmas is the music of the Christian Church worshipping their Savior's birth....enjoy!

A Picture Postcard Winters Day

This is what it looks like out one of our windows. It was just a perfect day. It is cold and dry (around 3 degrees) but it snowed lightly all day and provided beautiful scenes. I worked on the last of my Christmas greetings, babysat because there was no school, built Tinkertoy designs and enjoyed the fact that we will definitely have a white Christmas this year.
Our garden bench will only have birds and squirrels on it for the next few months...

and our beautiful junipers and pines are arrayed in their winters decoration. I love the sights, colors and peace of winter.

Enjoying the decorating...

I'm never quite sure how I'm going to decorate the house each year, and I usually just go with my creative flow right then. After all is put up and we can then enjoy it for the rest of the season, it seems so cozy and festive and so worth the effort. I especially love the candlelight and firelight of winter evenings and snapped a couple of photos to remember this years decorations.

This is the same scene in daylight. It's nice too, but the candlelight just isn't the same. Our living room provides a warm spot to sit and think about Jesus...his birth, life, redemptive work, death and resurrection. During this arctic cold snap a fireplace is one of the blessings of our life.

"The dinner was served up in the great hall, where the squire always held his Christmas banquet. A blazing, crackling fire of logs had been heaped on to warm the spacious apartment, and the flame went sparkling and wreathing up the wide-mouthed chimney."

Washington Irving , "The Christmas Dinner"

Typical Saturday Morning....Lucky Me!

Most every Saturday morning is my insurance man's cooking time. He likes to cook and likes to eat breakfast food. I help out with the 'extra's'...

This morning it was a stack of whole grain pancakes, sausage patties and a fried egg, with hot chocolate. (Did I mention he likes a hearty breakfast?) This morning felt more like a holiday because he had Christmas music playing and we had new fallen snow outside with the sun shimmering on it. A great way to start the day!

Christmas Reading

Now that I'm kind-of down for the rest of the holiday season, I am hoping to read some of the great Christmas books I have collected over the years. The two above are fun and separated into short bits, perfect for a moment or two during busy days. The Christmas Treasury is a collection of 50 Yuletide stories and poems. I have found some treasures in there. Some of the authors included are: Charles Dickens, O. Henry, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, F. Van Wyck Mason, Odgen Nash, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Hans Christian Andersen and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Currently I am reading (and thoroughly enjoying) 'The Christmas Dinner' by Washington Irving. The blue book above is a collection of the stories behind the Christmas carols...who wrote them and when etc.
This little gem was in a library discard pile. It is a leather bound copy of this classic in a very Christmasy red.
My copy was published in London in the 1800's with the original hand-colored illustrations by John Leech. Dickens financed this book himself, due to conflicts with his publisher, and ordered it with lavish red binding and gilt edged leaves. He then proceeded to sell it for only 5 shillings so everyone could afford it. Mine has the gilt on three sides of the leaves, but it is mostly worn off now. My copy was published by Bradbury and Evans, Publishers, Whitebriars, London.

On the flyleaf is one of 4 of the hand colored illustrations, and the credits.
Mr. Dickens wrote the following preface:
"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it. Their faithful Friend and Servant, C.D." December, 1843


No one has wished to lay it, and it continues 150+ years later to haunt our houses quite pleasantly. Our granddaughter Kory was a very beautiful 'Ghost of Christmas Past' this week in yet another rendition of this favorite tale.

My New Companion

I went to the foot Dr. today and came home wearing this...it is now my companion for 6 weeks. I wish I could say that I had a skiing accident or something else kind of cool, but no such luck. My bunions have caused joint damage to some of my toes, resulting in inflammation and pain. So I need some therapy, icing of the joint, straps to bring the toes back into place and this beautiful new accessory.

In thinking through this sudden turn of events I could say that the timing was rather poor. However, I choose to think of it as God saying that it was time I slowed down for a bit. Instead of my usual decorating and baking I will now have my Christmas cards written, addressed and sent out in time. I will GET to watch Christmas movies and read my Bible. I will GET to finish up my crocheting project and relax before the fire and Christmas tree (glad it's up and decorated). I will GET to have my husband help me out for a while. I will GET to spend time reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ and what that means to me personally and to all the world.

It's looking more and more like a gift instead of a hindrance.

Thank you Father.