Shades of White

The 4th Sunday in Advent

 

 

Preparation Time: Advent

 

 

Chopped, hauled, split, and stacked--

ready for the cold days of winter.

Pine boughs, hanging low, cut off and placed...

 

On the lamp post.

 

Advent

 

Advent: the period

beginning four Sundays

before Christmas, observed

in commemoration of the coming

of Christ into the world. 

(dictionary.com)

 

Today is the 1st Sunday in Advent.

I love this time of year--

A time of preparation,

A time of celebration,

A time of family together.

 

Barren Lamppost

 

On Candlemas,

the snow was too deep

to remove the Christmas lights

from the lamppost.

I said I'd take them off

when the snow melted.

The lights finally came down--today.

All signs of Christmas

are now gone.

But I do have

my Lenten candle burning.

(Well, it is not burning today

since it is Sunday

and therefore

not one of the 40 days of lent.)

 

It really was time to remove the lights and concentrate on Lent...

but I miss them.

 

Candlemas 2 February 2011

How shall we celebrate Candlemas?

Celebrating Jesus as the light of the world, we light our candles.

 

 

Today is a good day to take the old and make them into new.

Normally I cut the old candle apart,

place the wax into a jar,

and the jar into a pan with a rack and water.

Today's candle needed to be melted in a double-boiler

and the wood removed

before putting into the jars.

 

 

I love the wooden wicks

They can be inserted when the candle just begins to harden.

 

 

This is also the day when, traditionally, the greens are taken down

and I put away the creche.

 

Um. On the other hand, maybe the greens

can remain on the lamppost

a few more days.

But we can serve a traditional meal: crepes or pancakes

...or maybe not.

The other option is to go to bed with a stomach virus

and let the family fend for themselves in the kitchen.

 

But we can enjoy the Bible reading for the day!

         The time came for Joseph and Mary to perform the ceremony of purification, as the Law of Moses commanded. So they took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord:
         Every first-born male is to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the law of the Lord.

         At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's promised Messiah. Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God:

Now, Lord, you have kept your promise,
 and you may let your servant go in peace.
With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles
 and bring glory to your people Israel.

         The child's father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother,
         This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.

         There was a very old prophet, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple; day and night she worshiped God, fasting and praying. That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.

Luke 2:22-38 (Good News Bible)

Blessed Candlemas!

Epiphany: The End of Another Christmas

Once more we must say good-bye to the Christmas season.

Last night we read the Bible story of the Magi and moved the Wise Men closer to our creche.

I know, the Wise Men did not likely visit the baby Jesus when he was still in the stable--even though lore tells the story that way. Even so, on January 6th we move the Magi next to the stable to celebrate the coming of the Wise Men with gifts for the King.

And then the boys helped me take down the Christmas tree.

Afterwards I found a few signs of Christmas around the house--my wreath on the door, bells hanging in the window, a ceramic Santa Aunt Alice made for us sitting next to a photo. It will take a while to get them all put away.

And then there is the puzzle. I did not get it put together this year. My daughter always helped me work on it, but now I am left to putting it together by myself since the menfolk are not much for puzzles. I've not decided if I will slip it back into the box now or wait a while.

We also went to our 2-year check-up at Shriner's hospital yesterday. My son's spinal fusion is everything it was suppose to be. We are thankful for good doctors and a caring group of people.

Blessings to you all!

On the 11th Day of Christmas...

...we wish our guests godspeed.

 

Tomorrow I will put the games

back into storage,

straighten the piles,

polish the kitchen,

put away,

clean up,

sweep,

and organize.

 

But today I will play card games

and chatter with cousins

and enjoy them,

for who knows

when they will come again?

The 2nd Sunday After Christmas: The 9th Day of Christmas

 

We sang this in church today. It is lovely. Merry Christmas!

New Year's Eve

Orion by the door that leads into the straw-filled window well for the kitties.

Tell me--how will you celebrate the coming of the new year?

We often have family over in the evening, but they always go home before midnight.

This year we will watch a video, enjoy some snacks, and, perhaps, stay up until midnight...and then again, maybe not. :)

The 5th Day of Christmas 2010

The snow and below zero temperatures that we normally get in January arrived in December this year. I wonder if we will continue to have cold and snow, or if the rest of the winter will be mild.

I chuckle at people who stand in front of me in sandals or barely-there pumps, bare legs, cute wool jackets (you know, the ones that don't cut any wind), and nothing on their heads and then have the chutzpa to tell me they hate the cold and the snow!

Winter Gear

Flannel-lined jeans or khakis (LLBean's jeans are wonderful!)

Or long underwear (silk fits under your clothing without bulk)

Turtlenecks and big bulky sweaters or sweatshirts

Down

Shoes or slippers around the house. Never tight-fitted. Never just socks or bare feet.

Coats that fall below the knee (can I repeat, down?)

Dry socks. Changed often. Ones made to wick moisture away are the best. Damp feet are cold feet.

Warm hats.

Foot warmers. Hand warmers. Toe warmers. (http://www.warmers.com)

Boots. Dress boots at the least. If spending time outside, I wear ones with a rating of -40. This with foot warmers makes life good.

Mittens. Much warmer than gloves. Holds hand warmers nicely.

Wood stoves go along with these nicely, too, if you have that option.

Oh--there are great things for winter wear! They are cuddly and warm and comfy.

 

But I need to be off. The birds need to be fed, and I am going to put out some grain for the Ring-necked Pheasant along with some fruit scraps.

By the way, have you noticed Venus is out as the morning star right now? It rises in the north east before dawn, looking like a star on steroids. Look at it with a pair of binoculars, steadied on a railing or against a window. You will see a small disk that looks like a miniature half-moon hanging in the sky.

Merry 5th day of Christmas!

The 4th Day of Christmas 2010

Someone new came to visit my birdfeeder yesterday.

A beautiful female Ring-necked Pheasant.

 

She dug through the snow around my birdfeeder, looking for scattered seeds and then wander off around the corner of the house and down along the pines.

I hope she comes back.

The 3rd Day of Christmas 2010

My sister is coming today! I've made lefsa and meatballs. And the world is a snow covered wonderland! Merry Christmas to you all!

Bethany and Brian

My daughter was married in June, and we are still waiting for the photos! But here is one that a friend gave me. 

Congratulations, you two! Love you!

This week I Am...

Getting ready for my daughter's wedding--less than a month away now!

Going to the dentist for a root canal--1/2 this week and 1/2 done next week. Oh, joy.

Attending a Civil Air Patrol meeting in the evening AFTER the root canal. Um. Right.

Giving my son a practice drive in the town where he will be taking his driving test--and hopefully get a back massage while there--the tension in my neck is OUCH!

Celebrate that I found a great mother-of-the-bride dress yesterday--I left home at 9:00 and returned by 4:30. Any reason for tension in the neck?

Finishing my spring cleaning.

Star partying on Memorial Day weekend!

Trying to get outside to walk/run each day

Oh...and doing a few hundred more items like laundry and meals.

If I skip a few days on this blog, you know why. LOL!

Happy Mother's Day!