Sunday, December 31, 2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Nippy!


Friday, December 29, 2017

The Holy Father's Christmas Message

My thanks to Catreona for setting this to post for tonight, since I was AWOL!!!! ðŸ’™❤️💜



Today, as the winds of war are blowing in our world and an outdated model of development continues to produce human, societal and environmental decline, Christmas invites us to focus on the sign of the Child and to recognize him in the faces of little children, especially those for whom, like Jesus, “there is no place in the inn” (Lk 2:7).

Pope Francis’s Urbi et Orbi 2017 Christmas message: full text - from catholicherald.co.uk

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Oops! Sorry! (I'm still alive!)


We're expecting -12F tonight.
So far it's -14F.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Bearing Love


Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Boxing Day


Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas!


Sunday, December 24, 2017

Christmas Eve

It appears that Aslan has broken the White Witch's spell! 
Mind you, everything is still frozen, yet with her power in Narnia 
it was "always Winter, but never Christmas"
…and we have made it to Christmas!

Christmas Eve Day


Saturday, December 23, 2017

Carolers


Friday, December 22, 2017

Bon Fire


Thursday, December 21, 2017

Unicorn


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Covered Bridge


Monday, December 18, 2017

Got our tree...and made it into the Burlington (VT) Free Press...!


Below is the link to a Burlington Free Press article that shows us getting our tree onto Root*Center*Son's car!
There's this photo of Mah*Sweetie and VT*Grand. 
We are also in the video (he and me in the background at the 1 minute mark, 
then the 4 of us getting the tree onto the car from 1:21 onward). Enjoy!





Sunday, December 17, 2017

Tree 🎄

This is in my yard!

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Boston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops

I'm headed here tonight...

It's impressive that they can play despite all the colour and design changes and the LIGHTS.

This will be my view, as we're sitting somewhere in the Second Balcony. Ha!



Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Feast of St. Lucia


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Monday, December 11, 2017

Oops! Looks like I missed a day!

I had posts set through this weekend, and didn't catch that I missed the 11th.  Heh.



Sunday, December 10, 2017

Second Sunday of Advent


The LOVE candle is lighted, as well as last week's HOPE candle.


Saturday, December 09, 2017

Friday, December 08, 2017

Barn


Thursday, December 07, 2017

Snowflakes




Wednesday, December 06, 2017

The Feast of St Nicholas


In spite of his widespread fame, Saint Nicholas, from the historian's point of view, is hardly more than a name. He was born in the last years of the third century in Asia Minor. His uncle, the archbishop of Myra in Lycia, ordained him and appointed him abbot of a nearby monastery. At the death of the archbishop, Nicholas was chosen to fill the vacancy, and he served in this position until his death. About the time of the persecutions of Diocletian, he was imprisoned for preaching Christianity but was released during the reign of Emperor Constantine.

Popular legends have involved Saint Nicholas in a number of charming stories, one of which relates Nicholas' charity toward the poor. A man of Patara had lost his fortune, and finding himself unable to support his three maiden daughters, was planning to turn them into the streets as prostitutes. Nicholas heard of the man's intentions and secretly threw three bags of gold through a window into the home, thus providing dowries for the daughters. The three bags of gold mentioned in this story are said to be the origin of the three gold balls that form the emblem of pawnbrokers.
. . .
The story of Saint Nicholas came to America in distorted fashion. The Dutch Protestants carried a popularized version of the saint's life to New Amsterdam, portraying Nicholas as nothing more than a Nordic magician and wonder-worker. Our present-day conception of Santa Claus has grown from this version.

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-12-06

Tuesday, December 05, 2017

ACTION ITEM!

ACTION ITEM!!  Call these two Senators and ask WHY!  They need to hear from We the People!

I called them both. I was surprised that I was so emotional on the phone. I told them that my husband and I are nearing retirement and this and the Tax Bill are freaking us out. Both staffers who answered were appropriate and said their Senator felt that the 60 vote margin would be sufficient and that they voted no to be able to keep conversing with Republicans on the issue. 
So I said that the 50 vote thing has been really hard to take, and I'm not sure 60 will really stand. I asked the staffer to tell the Senator that we feel that we are being taxed twice, that SS & Medicare and Medicaid have been robbed and not replenished and that these are NOT part of the deficit but our money that has been taken out of our pockets. 
I closed by making a point of thanking the person who is answering the phones, thanking them for being there, sticking with it through these really hard days, and that We the People really need someone who can hear us and convey our concerns. Be sure to thank the staffer; it's a really hard job.

Earlier main post:

On the First Day of Advent, I got to hear Vermont's vocal ensemble Anima in person 
for the first time.  They were accompanied by Fyre and Lightning Consort 
on harp, recorder, lute, tin whistle, and even bagpipes!  
The woman who plays harp also plays various recorders 
and tin whistle, and sings sweet soprano with the ensemble as well.  
She is seen here, with long dark hair,  just above harp.
Oh my goodness!  Have a listen!  https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/anima72

Monday, December 04, 2017

Ready the Sleigh!


JOY


Sunday, December 03, 2017

Advent begins


On the first Sunday of Advent the HOPE candle is lighted.



Saturday, December 02, 2017

Here it Comes


Friday, December 01, 2017

Welcome December!

They can now put on their resume "I caught the Red Dot"!




Thursday, November 30, 2017

Goodbye November



Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Author Birthdays Today


Madeleine L'Engle  ðŸ“š  C.S. Lewis  ðŸ“–  Louisa May Alcott


And Tomorrow: ðŸŒˆ Lucy Maud Montgomery 


and Mark Twain