The Nutcracker ~

The nutcracker phenomenon began life in 1816 as a story by the German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822).  Entitled "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," it was a rather grim tale of an unhappy girl named Marie whose only love is a nutcracker doll.  The story was adapted in 1845 by famed French novelist Alexandre Dumas, who made it more suitable for children.  In 1891 the cheerier version was chosen as the basis of a Russian ballet.
One curious consequence of the ballet's popularity has been to stimulate interest in the collection of nutcrackers.  Though many types of metal and wood nutcrackers were made through the centuries, the commercial production of the popular wooden toy nutcracker dates only from the 1870s in Germany.  The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington State exhibits over 3,000 of these implements from around the world.
~THE WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTMAS, Gerry Bowler, McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2000



Eyes of Wonder

Photo Files:  Courtesy Michaye Walker

"...the best portion of a good man's life
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and of Love."

~ William Wordsworth, English Romantic Poet.  (1770 - 1850) "Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey." 1798.

Thank you to the follower who sent us this Thought for Today.

She smiled back reluctantly when I smiled at her.  It is unlikely that I will ever know her name or whether she has family or friends.  Her personal circumstances will remain unknown to me. Her painfully slow movements were not appropriate for the busy cashier's booth that she occupied.

She appeared to be oblivious to the growing line of Christmas shoppers showing the strain.  With an air of boredom she honoured so-called "Price Matching."  Without a word she examined and returned worn competitors' flyers to customers and adjusted prices.  Not a word of greeting.  No expression of thanks.  Customer after customer.

With growing impatience and stoic silence customers filed through her aisle and finally whisked out the door relieved.  Then I ~ silently like the others ~ stood in front of this lady.  She slowly, painstakingly scanned each item in triple-slow motion.

Whatever is she doing? I asked myself.  It is unlikely that I will ever know or understand.  What I do know is that when I looked into her face and without a word, I smiled at her, she completed the transaction and for the first time in three-quarters of an hour ~ most likely an eight hour shift ~ she uttered the words "Merry Christmas.  Have a good day."


~ lbw

Random Acts of Kindness ~

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."
~ Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997) Abanian nun, won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.

"T'was her thinking of others that made you think of her."
~ Elizabeth Browning (1806 - 1861) English poet.

"If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."
~ William Penn (1644 - 1718) English writer, philosopher.


"When I give I give myself."
~ Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892) "Father of Free Verse," American poet, essayist, journalist.

"The quality of mercy is not strained;
it dropeth as the gentle rain from heaven'
upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed;
it blesseth him that giveth and him that takes."
~ Wm Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) English playwright.

"My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness."
~ The Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader.

"We do not remember days, we remember moments."
~ Cesare Pavese (1908 - 1950) Italian poet, writer.

"Let us be kinder to one another."
~ Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963) English writer.

First Attempt at Bread-Machine Baking

Read recently in a vintage cookbook: "There is nothing worse than a wife who can cook but who won't, unless it is a wife who loves to cook but can't!"

Plant a Lemon Pit

This tiny plant is the beginning of a lemon tree.  Popular at Christmas are attractively packaged bulbs to be given as gifts,  Nurtured throughout the dull winter months, these can bring pleasure to anyone.  Amaryllis and paper whites are easily grown indoors.  The blooms brighten a room.

Add a lemon tree to your window-sill gardening.  It is inexpensive, fun to watch, requires only sunshine and water ~ but start early.  This little lemon tree is a year old.

(The adventurous hollyhock is a bonus.)
lbw