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To get anything to show up I needed a long exposure, so a little bit of movement (this was the best/clearest of the lot).Friday, December 22, 2006
Lighted House
To get anything to show up I needed a long exposure, so a little bit of movement (this was the best/clearest of the lot).
This Could Help things
COmmmentary from YouTube site:
Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.
In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.
As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.
In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person...
Festive Foods Friday Five
1. Favorite cookie/candy/baked good without which, it's just not Christmas. You mean besides the generic chocolate category (of course that goes for any day). Hmm, I didn't get them made this year but peppermint-chocolate pinwheelp cookines (taste great but a bit of a hassle to make)
2. Do you do a fancy dinner on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, both, or neither? (Optional: with whom will you gather around the table this year?) The 25th. And possibly on the 26th, depending on family connections. The plan this year is to join Patty's family for Christmas dinner, or at least we think that is the plan (details of the plan are a little sketchy thus far) but one daughter has a heavy cold already so that may change.
3. Evaluate one or more of the holiday beverage trifecta: hot chocolate, wassail, egg nog. Hot chocolate is greatr with a hint of peppermint. Never had wassail. ANd of course egg nog is best with a splash (or dollop) of rum and a sprinkling of nutmeg and a generous puff of whipped cream
4. Candy canes: do you like all the new-fangled flavors or are you a peppermint purist? NOt really a fan of the things in general. BUt they have to be peppermint you know.
5. Have you ever actually had figgy pudding? And is it really so good that people will refuse to leave until they are served it? DOes it even exist??????
Late add: Well, I am APPALLED with myself that I forgot to include a question about the crown prince of holiday foods--the fruitcake. Feel free to add your thoughts on this most polarizing holiday confection. fruitcake is a waste of perfectly good flour--not to mention the waste of booze used to season it.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
But How will we know?
CBC reports:
And that is all well and good. It is good to have confidence (even if it sometimes seems misplaced). But what are the signs of "victory"? How will we know when the war is won?
And I still take offence to the ongoing suggestion that overshopping and overconsuming is a patriotic duty (see the end of the article).
Monday, December 18, 2006
Letter Meme--N
PPB has this meme going:
1) Night--well anytime I get to sleep really.
2) neighbourliness -- the spirit of caring for each other
3) night sky -- on a clear night I love looking up at the expanse of stars. If I can be on a lakeshore with the water washing in it is even better.
4) novels--in my youth I was a bit of a voracious reader. Sadly I don't read nearly enough now. ANd rarely do I read a novel.
5) new snow--especially when it clings to all the tree branches with the suns rays dancing off it
6) neuroses--aren't we all a little neurotic in our own way? And isn't that what makes us individual and charming?
7) number games/patterns--sometimes when I can't sleep I play number games in my head. I know, I know, I am a geek (see #6)
8) northern lights -- seldom seen this far south but awe-inspiring. I remember being out in a canoe once (about 17 years ago) and the whole sky was full of the aurora, WOW!
9) noodles--pasta or egg noodles are my preferred starch source
10) New Creed--one of the UCCAn statements of faith. I especially love the closing In life, in death, in life beyond death God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
you get assigned a letter of the alphabet and have to come up with ten things you love based on that letter.I asked for a letter and was given N because I "asked so nicely".
1) Night--well anytime I get to sleep really.
2) neighbourliness -- the spirit of caring for each other
3) night sky -- on a clear night I love looking up at the expanse of stars. If I can be on a lakeshore with the water washing in it is even better.
4) novels--in my youth I was a bit of a voracious reader. Sadly I don't read nearly enough now. ANd rarely do I read a novel.
5) new snow--especially when it clings to all the tree branches with the suns rays dancing off it
6) neuroses--aren't we all a little neurotic in our own way? And isn't that what makes us individual and charming?
7) number games/patterns--sometimes when I can't sleep I play number games in my head. I know, I know, I am a geek (see #6)
8) northern lights -- seldom seen this far south but awe-inspiring. I remember being out in a canoe once (about 17 years ago) and the whole sky was full of the aurora, WOW!
9) noodles--pasta or egg noodles are my preferred starch source
10) New Creed--one of the UCCAn statements of faith. I especially love the closing In life, in death, in life beyond death God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Pageant Day
It was pageant day around here. This year we did a congregational pageant but still had to have the kids dress up as angels. All seemed quite happy with it. (more pictures will appear on the church blog today or tomorrow)
Friday, December 15, 2006
Yuletide Favourites
The RGBP Friday Five
1) It's a Wonderful Life--Is it? Do you remember seeing it for the first time? George has a great life, even if it is plagued by misfortune (remember the first time Phoebe [Friends] watches the movie--she refuses to watch after the first half). I first remember seeing it sometime in my teens.
2) Miracle on 34th Street--old version or new? The original is the only version worth watching -- and it has to be in B&W, no colourization needed or wanted.
3) Do you have a favorite incarnation of Mr. Scrooge? Micheal Caine and the Muppets. SEriously, what's A Christmas Carol without Kermit and Miss Piggy and Rizzo the rat?
4) Why should it be a problem for an elf to be a dentist? I've been watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for years now, and I still don't get it. I have never watched said special. But do elves need dentists? (being magical creatures and all) I didn't notice that Legolas or Elrond had fillings...
5) Who's the scariest character in Christmas specials/movies? Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life. OR the concept of Lucy in charge of a project (Charlie Brown Christmas).
BONUS: THe first time I was ever on stage was in Grade 5 when the school did A Christmas Carol--I was Scrooge. And tomorrow evening I am taking part in a reading of the story. I get to read the last section.
1) It's a Wonderful Life--Is it? Do you remember seeing it for the first time? George has a great life, even if it is plagued by misfortune (remember the first time Phoebe [Friends] watches the movie--she refuses to watch after the first half). I first remember seeing it sometime in my teens.
2) Miracle on 34th Street--old version or new? The original is the only version worth watching -- and it has to be in B&W, no colourization needed or wanted.
3) Do you have a favorite incarnation of Mr. Scrooge? Micheal Caine and the Muppets. SEriously, what's A Christmas Carol without Kermit and Miss Piggy and Rizzo the rat?
4) Why should it be a problem for an elf to be a dentist? I've been watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for years now, and I still don't get it. I have never watched said special. But do elves need dentists? (being magical creatures and all) I didn't notice that Legolas or Elrond had fillings...
5) Who's the scariest character in Christmas specials/movies? Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life. OR the concept of Lucy in charge of a project (Charlie Brown Christmas).
BONUS: THe first time I was ever on stage was in Grade 5 when the school did A Christmas Carol--I was Scrooge. And tomorrow evening I am taking part in a reading of the story. I get to read the last section.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Sam's Christmas Miracle
Sam squirmed awkwardly in the pew. Why did his mom make him do this every year? Didn’t she realize that he was almost 12? And on Christmas Eve at that! There were so many things Sam would like to be doing. Sitting on a hard wooden bench listening to some old man talk about angels and shepherds was most certainly not one of them.
Oh good, it was time to sing again. At least this way he could stand up and move around a bit, even if he refused to sing these songs. They were so boring! To pass the time Sam started trying to guess what that big box under the tree at home might have in it.
Up at the front the sermon was starting. Sam got as comfortable as possible and decided to have a little sleep. But something caught his attention. Way at the back he saw a young woman curled up on the floor sleeping. Her coat was torn and thin. Curled up beside her was a little girl, about 2 years old. The little girl looked bored, and like she was going to cry, so Sam quietly snuck out of his seat and crept to the back.
“Hi, my name is Sam,” he said, sitting down on the floor beside her. The girl smiled back at him but didn’t say anything. Sam sat there and played with her for the rest of the service. While they played he heard the minister drone on about the true meaning of Christmas. The minister said that the real importance of Christmas wasn’t necessarily about the Christmas story. He said it was about each of us trying to share the light of Christmas with the people we meet.
After the service Sam’s mother came and told him it was time to go. As they all walked out of the church the little girl broke out of her mother’s grasp and ran over to give Sam a great big hug and a kiss. Suddenly Sam felt a strange feeling of warmth wash over him. He bent down and gave her a hug too. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered. Suddenly the big box under the tree at home didn’t seem quite so important. Now he knew what the minister meant about sharing the love of Christmas with others. Smiling, Sam sang Christmas carols all the way home.
Oh good, it was time to sing again. At least this way he could stand up and move around a bit, even if he refused to sing these songs. They were so boring! To pass the time Sam started trying to guess what that big box under the tree at home might have in it.
Up at the front the sermon was starting. Sam got as comfortable as possible and decided to have a little sleep. But something caught his attention. Way at the back he saw a young woman curled up on the floor sleeping. Her coat was torn and thin. Curled up beside her was a little girl, about 2 years old. The little girl looked bored, and like she was going to cry, so Sam quietly snuck out of his seat and crept to the back.
“Hi, my name is Sam,” he said, sitting down on the floor beside her. The girl smiled back at him but didn’t say anything. Sam sat there and played with her for the rest of the service. While they played he heard the minister drone on about the true meaning of Christmas. The minister said that the real importance of Christmas wasn’t necessarily about the Christmas story. He said it was about each of us trying to share the light of Christmas with the people we meet.
After the service Sam’s mother came and told him it was time to go. As they all walked out of the church the little girl broke out of her mother’s grasp and ran over to give Sam a great big hug and a kiss. Suddenly Sam felt a strange feeling of warmth wash over him. He bent down and gave her a hug too. “Merry Christmas,” he whispered. Suddenly the big box under the tree at home didn’t seem quite so important. Now he knew what the minister meant about sharing the love of Christmas with others. Smiling, Sam sang Christmas carols all the way home.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Rumours Advent Quiz Answers:
HEre are the answers to the quiz posted on Sunday. The numbers are for the Anglican "Common Praise."
1. - #114 Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
2. - #89 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
3. - #116 "Your Kingdom Come"-On Bended Knee
4. - #100 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
5. - #110 "Sleepers, Wake!" A Voice Astounds Us
6. - #99 Break, Day of God, O Break
7. - #94 Wait for the Lord, Whose Day is Near
8. - #91 People Look East! The Time is Near
9. - #98 Hark the Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes
10 - #108 Hark, a Herald Voice is Sounding
11. - #88 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
12. - #96 Creator of the Stars of Night
13. - #106 There's A Voice in the Wilderness
14. - #103 On Jordan's Bank, the Baptist's Cry
15. - #95 O Come Divine Messiah
16. - #102 Prepare the Way O Zion
17. - #101 Hail to the Lord's Anointed
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
1. - #114 Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
2. - #89 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
3. - #116 "Your Kingdom Come"-On Bended Knee
4. - #100 Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
5. - #110 "Sleepers, Wake!" A Voice Astounds Us
6. - #99 Break, Day of God, O Break
7. - #94 Wait for the Lord, Whose Day is Near
8. - #91 People Look East! The Time is Near
9. - #98 Hark the Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes
10 - #108 Hark, a Herald Voice is Sounding
11. - #88 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
12. - #96 Creator of the Stars of Night
13. - #106 There's A Voice in the Wilderness
14. - #103 On Jordan's Bank, the Baptist's Cry
15. - #95 O Come Divine Messiah
16. - #102 Prepare the Way O Zion
17. - #101 Hail to the Lord's Anointed
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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