"Light the torch, Jeannette, Isabella"

 I'm a sucker for Christmas Lights. I have always been. Contrary to public belief, I am not old enough to remember candles burning in Christmas Trees (and starting fires.) My earliest Christmas memories are of watching my dad string electric lights, on the spindly trees that we bought every year from the same building where we purchased fresh watermelons, in the summer. The bulbs were multicolored and stuck up above their screw in sockets, about one inch. We used the same ones, every year, until I left home. They were always put away, along with each individual string of tinsel (actually tin, I think), to be reused the next year.

Light displays on houses, were a novelty, back in the 1950's and 60's. One of the newer (post war) subdivisions, had a few decorated houses. And, in our neighborhood, one particular family had an illuminated Nativity Scene and house lights! I believe their name was Lensky. 

Broadway, our main street, had strings of lights, tinsel garlands and lighted bells bells, strung across about five linear blocks of our downtown. Everyone had to go see those lights. It was the biggest thing that happened during the Holiday Season.

Kansas City is, in fact, famous for it's Plaza Lights. The Country Club Plaza sports 15 blocks of mainly white lights, outlining several hundred buildings. It's stunning. They have had this displays, like this,  since 1925. Today, people lament the elimination of the 9 Giant Holiday Crowns, that were hung over major intersections in Downtown KC, for years. They were kind of a nod to Hallmark Cards and their headquarters, in the downtown area. I think one remains, hanging in a bank lobby, somewhere.

Lights are a tradition of the Holiday Season. I prefer them, over the currently popular inflatable Santas, Rudolphs and snowmen. I really don't like how the deflated decorations create flat plastic puddles, in folks' yards, during the daylight hours.

'Tis the season. Get out there and enjoy the light displays, in neighborhoods, around your home. Let the Light of Christ shine. 

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 Pittsburg, Kansas, USA...........

"Just Whistle a Happy Tune"

 I will be the first to admit, that I spend a lot of time on the Internet. But, don't you agree, that there is so much to see?

For instance this morning, I watched a short video of a talking cat. Well, the cat did have on a cute hand-made elf hat (I'm thinking about making one for Apollo, our resident feline). Any way, the mewls from the feline sounded sort of like a whining human voice. It made me laugh. It probably was fake, but I enjoyed it, immensely.

Then, I watched a male comedian, whose face and name were unknown to me, tell his version of how the 50 states received their Postal Abbreviations. It was interesting and extremely funny. I mean, who hasn't puzzled over which two letter abbreviations are for Alaska and Alabama? Or for Missouri, Mississippi, Minnesota and Michigan? I have to look it up every time, I need to use one. There's no rhyme or reason to those abbreviations. Who was in charge of that?

Okay, did I hear you say? "Get a Hobby". Well, I do have one, and I can do it while I watch videos....and, it's not snacking!! Folks, I can crochet whilst I'm doing almost anything. Crocheting in front of a screen, is easy. Need a blanket, scarf, hat or sweater? Let me know. I'll have it done for you, ASAP....depending on what I find to view of the Web.

I like to keep occupied, i.e. doing something. I have a hard time just sitting still. My son says it's adult ADHD. Maybe so. But, I'm never bored. I don't think, I have ever been bored. I always have something to do, and it's usually a couple of things, at one time.

That's why my Blog Posts number 847. Got to keep busy!!!!!!!

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 Lord, I appreciate the gifts of others. We are all special in Your Kingdom. We thank You for our many blessings and we praise Your infinite wisdom.

 

"Any Day Now"

I'm sure you've heard, by now. Big news in Kansas City. It appears (my source is my Internet server), and you know what they say about the Internet? "Everything you read is true." Right?

The timing is perfect. We have waited long enough. The date has finally been set. I'm going to start checking my snail mail, because my "Save the Date" card, should make it's appearance "Any Day Now", There will be a lot of lucky Kansas City Folks, on the invite list. Surely, I'll be one of them.

Unfortunately, the venue isn't going to be, The Paris of the Plains. No Cowtown Party Place is going to be grand enough, for this event. And, it's probably a good thing. That very same weekend, the World Cup Fan Fest (25,000 fans expected) and the first of six major league soccer games, scheduled for Kansas City, are already on the calendar.

The date has been leaked, and it's common knowledge, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, have picked the day for their upcoming wedding. It's June 13, 2026. I'm going to start perusing Amazon, Costco and Walmart, to make sure I have an appropriate outfit ready, when I get my invitation. If it includes a plus one, I'll ask Rick to come along. If not, he'll just have to stay home.

Honestly, I actually haven't met, either the Bride or the Groom-to-be. However, the wedding day is about 6 months in the future, and who knows how close we could become in that amount of time. After all, they have a house, not far from here. We might strike up a conversation at Costco. Plans must be made. I won't be caught off-guard. I wonder if they have a Target Gift Registry?

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 Good God, Hope is a good thing. It is one of three, Theological Virtues. Hope often keeps us going when other thoughts have failed us. Keep us forever hopeful.

 

 

"Here Comes Suzy Snowflake"

 Our Christmas Tree, this year, will contain only 2 types of decorations....unusual "place" themed ornaments, collected and purchased in exotic worldly destinations and hand-crocheted snowflakes.

I've been crocheting snowflakes for years and I was excited to find another dozen more, stuffed in the bottom of an ornament box. Voila. A theme for the tree!

So, what do you know about snowflakes.  Being from the mid-west, I do not remember the first time I saw snow. Snowfalls occur every winter. But, I do remember attempting to cut my first paper snowflakes, in  Kindergarten, with round-tipped scissors. It's all in the fold, you know, and I wasn't very good at it. 

Mrs. Smith told us that each snowflake was unique (science isn't so sure about that particular fact, anymore) and most snowflakes have six sides or points. That same winter, I remember stepping outside holding "frozen" black construction paper to catch the image of quickly melting snowflake designs. I imagine that this very thoughtful teacher imagined that her students were absorbing the lessons of uniqueness and growing emotionally from the experience.

And, we were unique. Marilyn, blond little angel, Sandy always able to pay attention, Becky with the perfect "banana curls", and Nancy struggling to follow directions. Tall Robert, always on the back row, and serious Richard and Dennis. Ricky, always busy and Bobby, slightly goofy. A typical, yet unique blend of 24 personalities.

Kids love snow. They like to watch it fall and they love to build snowmen and sled. Grown-ups, not so much. We have to worry about travel, roads, and shoveling. But, whatever weather the holidays may bring, our home will be enjoying one unique and slightly quirky "snow flake" Christmas Tree.

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We thank you for long ago memories. We thank you for years of long-time friendships. Life is a journey. and it continues.

 

 

 

 

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

 T Day we soon be upon us. T Day is Thanksgiving Day, of course. But, in most of the households, with which I am acquainted, it could also be designated Turkey Day. Oven roasted turkey will be the main course, on our table that day, along with dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. I think I'll add cheesy corn, this year, and there will be a couple of dishes supplied by the guests. Dessert will be a couple of pies and maybe a cake, too. We'll have a regular feast.

 A feast, it will be. Not up to Martha Stewart's (she's having 13 side dishes), but a feast it will be! She might be deep frying her bird, or perhaps just turning it on a Barbeque Spit. But, I betcha, Martha's serving turkey!

In spite of what we like to imagine, none of our current "traditional" dishes were served at those first Thanksgiving meals. Certainly not turkey or cornbread dressing, etc. Maybe a partridge or hawk, but not a pampered and plump Butterball. And, historically speaking the new immigrants did not serve pumpkin anything. Squash of some kind, probably, but not pumpkin.

So all this bird talk, got me wondering. What is a bunch of turkeys called? Most times of the year, we have several of the odd looking birds wandering around our back yard. They are pretty much everywhere, here in the Kansas City area. So I asked Alexa, what a group of them were called? She told me that wild turkeys were called a flock, but the Butterball kind (domesticated) are designated a rafter.

Continuing, because I have a bit of OCD, a bunch of Flamingos, is called a Flamboyant. That's interesting, and oddly appropriate, considering their color and they way they strut around. 

Crows....a murder. Ravens....an unkindness. Very strange indeed............. 

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We give thanks for all that God has given us. We are blessed. 

 

Ditto

 Amongst the untruths, misspeaking and old news floating out there in Internet World, there are still absolute truths and learning/teaching moments. Yesterday, I happened upon a figure of speech, that was heretofore unknown to me. I've written, this concept, many times, and I use it in speech, often. However, I was unaware that it had a name. Pronounced "di-ak-o-pee", it's repetition, used to instruct, emphasize and for remembering.  And, at my age, I can use a whole bunch of that remembery-type help!!

"To be, or not to be" is an example of "diacope".  Another is, "Bond. James Bond". Or, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." All memorable quotes, due to diacope.

Diacope is the songwriters go-to. Think about the words to the Beatles' lyric "Help". Or how about "Kansas City. Kansas City, here I come."?

Prior to learning about diacope, I was worried about repeating myself. It's a concern for all of us aging folks, I suppose. Now, I find there is a word for this phenomena and it's okay, okay?

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 Thank you Lord for the gift of longevity. We are Your servants and our lives allow us to follow Your example, living and caring for others. We remember Your sacrifice and honor Your holy Name.

 

 

"Haul out the Holly"

I've become aware, recently, that the celebration of ADVENT has changed, drastically?  According to the dictionary the word advent, is defined as "the coming of" or "the arrival of". Think of "the advent of Spring". For Christians, the season of Advent begins four Sundays, before the 25th of December, and ends on Christmas Day. Advent Calendars, in some homes (particularly those with small children) mark the passing of the 25 or so days before the coming of the Christ Child. I used to buy one for my kids and each day was a tiny, calendar sized picture of something particular to the Holiday about to be celebrated. The kids would open one little door each day and see or read something having to do with Christmas.

Do you know what types of Advent Calendars are being offered to folks today???? Here are a few: The Whiskey Advent Calendar, The Gem Stone  Advent Calendar, the Magic Tricks Calendar and the Fishing Lures Calendar. There are Advent Calendars that depict popular movies, like "Frozen", "Harry Potter" and  "Wicked". The National Parks Advent Calendar even offers a 2 for 1, where you get a puzzle and a calendar, combined. There is even a Murder Mystery Advent Calendar.

I don't normally care about what kind of calendar folks display. (Well, now that I think about it, I once quit a job because my boss kept asking me in to his office.... that prominently displayed several calendars of naked women.) But, my over active mind keeps thinking about what would be behind the doors of the Murder Mystery Calendar, and how does that depict the Advent of anything? Okay....maybe there are 25 clues or individual murders and then a gigantic mass murder, on the 25th? Gruesome.

What's going on here? Or how about the WWII Aircraft Calendar? Do the planes depict a Baby Jesus in the cockpit, on the 25th? Bombs away, Jesus. And, does the "Star Wars" Advent Calendar, have the Millennium Falcon arriving at the stable on Christmas Morning? 

 

I think I should possibly just "Let It Go", and celebrate Advent, in my traditional way.

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 We will celebrate Advent, Lord. You are our Strength and Refuge.