A Thought on Resolutions ~

"He who breaks a resolution is a weakling;
He who makes one is a fool."

~ Frederick Lawrence Knowles (1869 - 1905) American Poet,  A Cheerful Year Book.



Angel Reading Book



"I want all my senses engaged.  Let me absorb the world's variety and uniqueness."

~ Maya Angelou (b. April 4, 1928)  American author, poet.  At Presidential Inauguration, 1993, recited her poem, "On The Pulse of Morning."

Angel Snowed In



THE SNOW

by Emily Dickinson

It sifts from leaden sieves,

It powders all the wood,

It fills with alabaster wool

The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face

Of mountain and of plain, ~

Unbroken forehead from the east

Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,

It wraps it, rail by rail,

Till it is lost in fleeces;

It flings a crystal veil.

On stump and stack and stem, ~

The summer's empty room,

Acres of seams where harvests were,

Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,

As ankles of a queen,~

Then stills its artisans like ghosts,

Denying they have been.

E.D. From a daguerreotype ~ Wikipedia

~ Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 - May 15, 1886) American poet.  It was not until 1890 after Emily's death that her poetry was published.  It was not until 1955 that it was published complete and unedited. ~ Wikipedia.

The Neat L'l Bookshop is Closed between Christmas and New Year's.  We will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd.

(Photo:  Ouse Street, around the corner from the bookshop.  Thursday, December 27 ~ lbw)

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

~ Leo Buscaglia (1924 - 1998) American author, motivational speaker known as "Dr. Love."

[Can you imagine a better way to start each day than with this Leo Buscaglia quote? Thank you to my friend who gave me this beautiful 2013 Date Book ~lbw]

In the Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy walks up to Charlie Brown and his sister, Sally, giving them a great big hug.  Charlie says to Sally, "You can always tell when he's been listening to his Leo Buscaglia tapes." ~ Wikipedia.

Idea Writers ~

"With our revolutionary background in every activity we've ever touched ~ electricity, communication, flying ~ we've revolutionized just about everything in the history of the world, and it's interesting to me that we Americans are not interested in paradox more, and in ideas.  The literature we read up until the early sixties has been almost bankrupt of ideas.  A man like Hemingway hardly had an idea in his life.  It was always one idea:  the male situation.  It's good stuff, I love it, but he was not an idea man.  Neither was Steinbeck or Faulkner.  Fitzgerald came closer to being a kind of idea writer;  he had wonderful insights into human personality and foibles, his notebooks are full of ideas."

~ Ray Bradbury (b. Aug. 22, 1920, d. June 5, 2012) American Fantasy, Sci-Fi writer.

[Photo:  St. Thomas, Ontario Air Show, lbw]

"What can I give Him, Poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;  If I were a wise man, I would do my part, Yet what can I give him? Give my heart."~ Christina Rossetti, 1872, "In the Bleak Midwinter."

"...and a Merry Christmas to All."

Thank you to All Who Helped Make the Cayuga Village Green Festive and Fun.

Bristish poet, Christina Rossetti, wrote the devotional verses, "Love came down at Christmas."

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus ~

What shall be our sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,

Love be yours and love be mine;

Love to God and neighbor,

Love for prayer and gift and sign.

~ Christina Rossetti (b. Dec. 5, 1830.  d. Dec. 29, 1894) British poet.  Also wrote "In the Bleak Midwinter."  Both poems were eventually set to music as Christmas carols.

A Very Merry Christmas ~ a safe and happy holiday.  The bookshop will be closed between Christmas and New Year's.