Christmas Skyping with Rosie

Warm Memories

Karen just sent these photos.  They were taken this past August at Karen's house. Lovely memories of Gus, Meara and Rosie's visit.  And look how warm it was!

Literary Coincidences

On December 16th I wrote a post about Jane Austen.  That day I was listening to the radio and I heard that the 16th of December was her birthday.  I hadn't read Jane Austen in maybe 20 years, but coincidentally I had just finished Northanger Abbey that day.

Just now I finished reading A Christmas Carol.  And, coincidentally, I just learned that it was first published 170 years ago this week.

As is almost always the case, reading this wonderful story, hearing it in Dickens' words, is so much more satisfying than any movie can be.  That said, this is simply a delightful story with a message that makes you smile no matter how it is delivered.   Countless movies have been made, some better than others.  But the story lives on and nothing can completely corrupt it ... not even Mister Magoo.  And still, I strongly recommend reading the book because no movie can describe the evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge better than the written words.

Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features ...

But after being visited by the three spirits :

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world. ... and it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

Happy Crossword Puzzling

Today is the 100th anniversary of the crossword puzzle.  

Christmas For The Birds

Quite a few years ago I stopped having a decorated tree in the house for Christmas.  In place of that tradition I started a new one, a Christmas tree for the birds.  I decorate the tree with seed bells and suet cakes (for the birds) and small lights (for me).  The tree stands just outside my kitchen window.  

We've had some snow since the tree was first put up.

 The treats on this tree seem especially attractive to the smaller birds.  Like this little Downy Woodpecker.

And lots of Juncos.  My personal favorites.

Jane Austen

Today when driving home from the Post Office I was listening to NPR and heard that Jane Austen was born 238 years ago, December 16, 1775.  For a very long time I read each of her six novels every year.  I loved them as much or more with each new reading.  It has been probably 20 years since I last read any of her books, but coincidentally I am reading "Northanger Abbey" right now.  I am once again loving Jane Austen.

I have a lovely Oxford Illustrated set of the novels.  Each novel is exactly as it was when originally published. "Northanger Abbey" was published posthumously in 1818.  Just before her death Jane wrote the following :
    

ADVERTISEMENT BY THE AUTHORESS, 

TO NORTHANGER ABBEY

THIS little work was finished in the year 1803, and intended for immediate publication. It was disposed of to a bookseller, it was even advertised, and why the business proceeded no farther, the author has never been able to learn. That any bookseller should think it worth-while to purchase what he did not think it worth-while to publish seems extraordinary. But with this, neither the author nor the public have any other concern than as some observation is necessary upon those parts of the work which thirteen years have made comparatively obsolete. The public are entreated to bear in mind that thirteen years have passed since it was finished, many more since it was begun, and that during that period, places, manners, books, and opinions have undergone considerable changes.                                                         

I love her concern for the reader that society has "undergone considerable changes" in the 13 years between writing and publishing her book.  I wish she could know that people are still reading her wonderful book 209 years later. Indeed "places, manners, books, and opinions have undergone considerable changes", but her writing, her novels are timeless.            

Happy Repeal Day!

Eighty years ago today Congress ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.  This repealed the 18th Amendment (of 1919) which started prohibition.  So raise a glass of your choice and toast Repeal Day!

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

There was a lot of happy silliness today, which involved lots of action, which made picture taking difficult.  But I have no complaints because we had a lot of fun.  In this picture Rosie is high in the air to show me how Hello Kitty, her favorite Thanksgiving Day balloon, flew through the air.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 1960 

I wish you all a Thanksgiving that is as much fun as sitting at the kids' table.

Sunday Skyping with a 2 Year Old

Just after this picture Rosie decided she was not so interested in Skyping.  As Gus said, I got a slice of life with a 2 year old.  Which is what I really love about Skyping -- being able to join in their life is so much more real than just a photograph can be.  That said, this is a wonderful picture of my boy and his girl.

Weekend Skyping with Rosie

Lots of talking and few pictures today.

Rosie being silly with her new Cheetah slippers. 

Rosie and I compared tongues.

Last week's letter at Rosie's preschool was 'J'.  Here she is showing me how the Jellyfish moves.

My Mom

My Mom died November 11th, 2003.  Ten years ago today and still there are moments and days I recall with complete clarity.  Last year I posted photos of Mom at Cossayuna Lake where our family spent every July for many years.  We all loved it but I think maybe Mom loved it best of all. It was the one place where she completely relaxed.  And that is how I like to remember her.  I've decided to post them again this year, and perhaps I always will on this sad anniversary, because these are my most cherished memories.  This year I am adding a favorite picture of me with Mom when I was 6.  

July 1959.  Mom could float for hours - it was like her secret power.

July 1962

July 1966

I'm sure there is a lake in Mom's part of Heaven.

Weekend Skyping with Rosie

     

Snow White and the One Dwarf

Rosie was Snow White for Halloween.  Meara was the Evil Queen.  And Gus was a very convincing Grumpy.

(I have to note that Meara made Rosie's amazing Snow White dress.)

The Voices of Women : Linda Ronstadt

I have always loved Linda Ronstadt, though it is likely her name would not have come to mind when asked to list my favorite singers.  But for the last year or so I have been listening to my iPod almost every day. First I realized how many songs I have of hers, and then I realized how really wonderful she is.  She sings every song as if it is her own experience and she is letting you in on her deepest, most secret feelings. 

Recently she announced that she has Parkinson's disease and she can no longer sing.  For her to lose her voice is devastating for her, and for us. Already she is dealing with it bravely and gracefully.  And I will be putting more of her music on my iPod.

I could select any of her songs and be happy to listen.  But this, Long Long Time (written by Gary B. White), is most definitely my favorite.        

Love will abide, take things in stride
Sounds like good advice but there's no one at my side
And time washes clean love's wounds unseen
That's what someone told me but I don't know what it means.

Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you for a long long time

Caught in my fears
Blinking back the tears
I can't say you hurt me when you never let me near
And I never drew one response from you
All the while you fell all over girls you never knew
Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think it's gonna hurt me for a long long time

Wait for the day
You'll go away
Knowing that you warned me of the price I'd have to pay
And life's full of flaws
Who knows the cause?
Living in the memory of a love that never was
Cause I've done everything I know to try and change your mind
and I think I'm gonna miss you for a long long time
Cause I've done everything I know to try and make you mine
And I think I'm gonna love you for a long long time.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie wanted to show me a lot of things today so we Skyped upstairs and downstairs.  There were only a few opportunities for pictures but check out Rosie's hair -- it took a while to get started but it sure is growing fast now.

Alice Munro

Today Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize in Literature.  I can think of no living author who deserves this more.  She is now 82 and sadly she recently declared that her 14th book (Dear Life) would be her last.  I discovered Alice late in my reading life.  A friend gave me one of her books (The Love of a Good Woman) and assured me that I would love her.  And I do.  I am often conflicted by her stories and I do not particularly like many of her protagonists but I am always drawn to each one. Her writing and her storytelling are seductive.  So I am actually lucky to have only found her now, because there are so many stories I have yet to read.

There is an additional reason to be happy for this recognition.  Alice Munro is Canadian and this is the first time the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to a Canadian.  When I started reading Alice I considered how many wonderful authors are Canadian.  Certainly there is my favorite Robertson Davies, as well as Margaret Atwood, Carol Shields, Yann Martel, Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)...
Update : Since writing this today I have learned that Saul Bellow won this prize in 1976.  He was born in Canada but his family moved to Chicago while he was still a boy.  He is known as being an American writer but he was indeed Canadian by birth.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie Resumes

After Gus, Meara and Rosie visited New York in August, Gus started a new year at school and Rosie started going to preschool every day.  So September was pretty busy and there have been no opportunities to Skype until today.  I can't believe how much Rosie has changed in the month since I last saw her.  Look at all that hair (finally) coming in -- she can't wait for a pony tail.

She read me the book 'No Dogs Allowed!'.  She's really good about showing me the pictures as she reads.

Rosie and her Dad are taking swimming lessons.  Here she is showing me how she swims.

She jumped and she danced with her Mom and she blew me a kiss goodbye.  Yay for Skyping!