Dear friends sent the following to us. We pass it on to you:
Notes of Friendship
I treasure all my Christmas cards;
They mean so much to me,
Each one from someone special whom
I'd so much like to see.
Some come from friends I don't oft see ~
They live too far away ~
Their cards are like a friendly smile
That brightens Christmas Day.
The message each one brings to me
From friends on my own street,
Is like a gift that's wrapped with love,
Each one a yuletide treat.
I'm thankful for these lovely cards
That come to me each year ~
These precious notes of friendship with
Their greetings of good cheer.
And I wish for you this Christmas all
The joy the season brings;
Peace, good health, and lots of love ~
The best of everything.
by Lela Meredith
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Captivated by the plight of poor rejected Rudolph with few friends, Elizabeth asked her mother if Rudolph is real. This is an interesting ~ if not startling ~ query from a two-year old ~ just turning three. Elizabeth had noticed that in all her Christmas books Santa had eight reindeer with no evidence of the most famous reindeer of all! Grandpa saved the moment by pointing out that it was not until one foggy night that Rudolph leaped into action and led Santa's sleigh.
Even a two-year old understands the meaning of being accepted and having friends.
This much loved song was written by Johnny Marks in 1949.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen but do you recall the most famous rein-deer of all?
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games; Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say: "Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight;" Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee: "RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER, you'll go down in history."
Even a two-year old understands the meaning of being accepted and having friends.
This much loved song was written by Johnny Marks in 1949.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen but do you recall the most famous rein-deer of all?
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games; Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say: "Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight;" Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee: "RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REIN-DEER, you'll go down in history."
Tomorrow: The origin of Rudolph
Monday, December 21, 2009
Black Peter or Zwarte Piet
Gift-bringers vary around the world. In Canada, children wait expectantly for Santa Claus and his eight reindeer. In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Zwarte Piet, or Black Peter. Black Peter tosses candy to children but also threatens to stuff bad kids into his sack and take them back with him to Spain.
I met Black Peter one time. I was taking photos for a weekly newspaper. Children were climbing all over St. Nicholas assisted by Black Peter. As I focused for the perfect shot ~ everyone smile ~ nothing happened. Had Black Peter jinxed me? Not a battery to be found. Not in my camera. Not in my bag.
My three sons and their Dad had stolen the batteries for a batteries-not-included toy and left me to explain. I did get the picture after a quick trip to the store but I have never forgotten Black Peter who is said to stuff bad kids into his sack.
I met Black Peter one time. I was taking photos for a weekly newspaper. Children were climbing all over St. Nicholas assisted by Black Peter. As I focused for the perfect shot ~ everyone smile ~ nothing happened. Had Black Peter jinxed me? Not a battery to be found. Not in my camera. Not in my bag.
My three sons and their Dad had stolen the batteries for a batteries-not-included toy and left me to explain. I did get the picture after a quick trip to the store but I have never forgotten Black Peter who is said to stuff bad kids into his sack.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Caledonia Mill Light-Show
Multiple lights dancing, skipping, spinning ~ an amazing synchronization with music and the voices of two snowmen ~ tune in to 88.1 ~ the Christmas light-show at the old mill is worth the drive to Caledonia.
The work of Mike Montgomery and Adam Harrison, with the help of their "many elves," this is an impressive display sponsored by local businesses and community-minded individuals.
Show begins every evening at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. (Friday and Saturday 11:30 p.m.) Go to the historical Caledonia bridge on Hwy. #6. The 1800s mill can be viewed on the southwest bank of the Grand River. There is convenient parking. Turn out your lights.
Truly a tribute to the spirit of a town abandoned in many ways in recent years by all levels of government and law enforcement. Congratulations, Caledonia.
The work of Mike Montgomery and Adam Harrison, with the help of their "many elves," this is an impressive display sponsored by local businesses and community-minded individuals.
Show begins every evening at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. (Friday and Saturday 11:30 p.m.) Go to the historical Caledonia bridge on Hwy. #6. The 1800s mill can be viewed on the southwest bank of the Grand River. There is convenient parking. Turn out your lights.
Truly a tribute to the spirit of a town abandoned in many ways in recent years by all levels of government and law enforcement. Congratulations, Caledonia.
Photography by: St. Catharines', Joel Smith. For larger image, click on photo. We are indebted to Joel for sending to us the above photo. For more of Joel's work and a glimpse into the daily life of an amazing photographer, visit his website and blog at: http://www.joelsmithphotography.ca/
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men
"The best Christmas gift one can bestow on a child or friend is a happy memory. Money cannot buy it, but it may be procured by the poorest. It can be had by a draft upon patience or a check upon ill temper, which may be changed for the coin of kind words, each bearing the imprint, 'Peace on earth, good will to men.' "
From "The New York Times," December 23, 1894.
From "The New York Times," December 23, 1894.
Photo: Courtesy of J. Walker
Friday, December 18, 2009
Soldiers' Stories
Saturday, December 19,
10:30 - 1:00.
Retired O.P.P., author Kirk Du Guid, will be signing books at The Neat Little Bookshop.
In his most recent book, Soldiers' Stories, Du Guid tells the stories of twenty-five Canadian veterans most of whom are from the Town of Haldimand.
First Cold Case is a tale of true crime in which the author and his officer partner take on a horrific unsolved murder in small-town Ontario.
Photo: by Lorna. Click on for enlarged Image
Christmas Cards
"John Meagher had to engage a horse and wagon yesterday to deliver the mails in the city," so announced the Halifax Herald on December 27, 1898. Apparently the custom of sending Christmas cards began in the Victorian era in England in the 1840s around the time when Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree, and Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. The first cards were handmade but by the end of the 1840s they were being marketed publicly. The scenes generally featured mistletoe and yule logs.
Canadians started making their own Christmas cards around the 1870's and often the illustrations had nothing to do with Christmas such as outdoor scenes by artists Cornelius Krieghoff and William Barlett. Religious themes and Santa Claus seldom appeared. Sleigh scenes, winter sports, children in the snow, and above all snowshoeing were popular themes and Canada by name was commonly included for folks corresponding with the old country.
By the 1880s cards were popular enough to start overloading the post office. In December 1881, the Toronto letter-carriers were often toting forty pounds of mail at a time, and extra men had to be hired to handle the Christmas rush.
Source: Canadian Christmas Book by Caroline Carver
Tundra Books of Montreal/Collins Publishers, Toronto 1975
Canadians started making their own Christmas cards around the 1870's and often the illustrations had nothing to do with Christmas such as outdoor scenes by artists Cornelius Krieghoff and William Barlett. Religious themes and Santa Claus seldom appeared. Sleigh scenes, winter sports, children in the snow, and above all snowshoeing were popular themes and Canada by name was commonly included for folks corresponding with the old country.
By the 1880s cards were popular enough to start overloading the post office. In December 1881, the Toronto letter-carriers were often toting forty pounds of mail at a time, and extra men had to be hired to handle the Christmas rush.
Source: Canadian Christmas Book by Caroline Carver
Tundra Books of Montreal/Collins Publishers, Toronto 1975
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