"HOW could I tell?" the innkeeper asked.
          "How could I have known 'twas He?
There were just a carpenter and his wife
   Come up from Galilee.
I would have bade them enter,
    And found them food and wine;
If only they'd explained to me,
If only there'd been a sign. . ."

~Author unknown

Here's wishing you ~
Peace for the pathway,
Wisdom for the work,
Friends for the fireside,
Love to the last.

~ Author unknown

Photo:  files lbw

THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY THORN

Cuttings of the original Glastonbury Thorn (which was destroyed by the Puritans, who did not approve of Christmas celebrations) were fortunately taken and planted elsewhere, and some of these are still alive today.  There is one in the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and another in Herefordshire.  More than once it has been recorded that these winter-flowering hawthorns have bloomed precisely at midnight of Old Christmas Eve.

~ The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book TAKE JOY!
 PHILOMEL BOOKS, 1966.
~ Illustration, Cover Leisure Arts, 1992.


Our best wishes for health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year ~
John & Lorna

"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

~ Richard Storrs Willis (1810 -1876) American composer and journalist.
Photo:  Greeting card circa 1980.

After the Storm ~

Author Brad Smith

Today in the bookshop ~

BRAD SMITH, author of the mystery series Crow's Landing, Red Means Run, Shoot the Dog ~ will be in The Neat L'l Bookshop at 1:00 p.m.

Hard cover, Shoot the Dog, Brad's 2013 release by Scribners $26 tax incl.  Put one under the christmas tree.
www.bradsmithbooks.com


[Photo:  Brad speaking at bookfair the Lighthouse Theatre, Port Dover.  lbw]