Silent Night, Holy Night

Daisy Lupin
has invited anyone to share a Christmas memory on her site. There are already some wonderful memories posted by others at http://catsinthekitchenflorainthegarden.blogspot.com/.

One of the most wonderful memories at Christmastime happened when we lived on a farm in Maine. We'd never lived on a farm and this one had an 1800's 2 story cape code house with a 30 foot shed attached from to back leading to a huge barn with an open center and hay lofts down either side.

My husband divided the areas under the hay lofts into 3 parts on each side. One for the rabbit cages, one for the cow and calf, one for the pigs on one side and on the other, chickens, pony, and milking goats. Because the temperatures would hover around zero during the coldest months, he had sliding openings from the center of the barns into each section.

Each time I would go into the barn on the day before Christmas there was an odd sense of expectancy. I went out late in the evening and opened the large sliding doors to watch the bright crisp clear moon.. There was such a hush in the barn.. when I looked around all the animals were at their openings quietly looking out toward the sky.

Nothing eventful happened, but I can still feel that overwhelming peace that filled that barn. God's word says that if no one praises Him, even the rocks will cry out. I wonder if in some way animals aren't aware of God as their maker. That was such a special, wonderful night. May that peace touch everyone during this time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

A Christmas Gift

Someone sent this to me -- As I'm flooded with invitations to join Medicare in a few months, this was very timely. Hopefully it will change my thinking and therefore how I fill my days. I don't want to wait till I'm in my 80's to enjoy this concept. JHopefully this mind change will be my Christmas gift to myself -- and to anyone else who needs it. There are some here who already live like this - and I so admire them -- and am grateful for their sharing their 'adventures' wiht all... so thank you

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - whatever you celebrate.

CHOCOLATE SINGS One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old "blue hair" about 80 years old, came along with them---All in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate." I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. " Along with heated apple pie," Mae added, completely unabashed. We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned. The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait. I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me. How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible? She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that's Possible. I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good. This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before." "So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead. There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again. So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired." With that, I called the waitress over.. "I've changed my mind," I said. "I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream!" This is my gift to you - Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy. Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS

Roads less traveled

Whenever we have to go places, I love the trips that avoid the huge, improved traffic filled highways. I love the two lane roads that wind through the woods with clumps of houses here and there. Its seldom more than a few minutes off the beaten path to find these wonderful roads. One road we take fairly often when we go to Clermont goes through the green swamp and through an area they call Rock Ridge. EVERYONE knows about Rock Ridge and that its not a place to get off the hard roads at night. We've never encountered problems, but the area is more enhanced by this mysterious warning I think.

One afternoon coming home we saw a man parasailing.. or is it hang gliding. He floated above us with what looked like a small lawn mower engine attached to his 'wings'. Soon he was joined by a lightweight. Beautiful blue sky with added interest. I love to go slowly through these areas - you can see deeper into the swamp in early spring and late fall when so many of the leaves have fallen. One time as we came home as evening was falling, a family of racoons went racing across the road and disappeared into the swamp.

Along one mile stretch of the road, is about a 4' high vein of soft rock. Real rock is very rare down here. We have some limestone deposits, but nothing like the boulders you find in more northern sections of the country. A joke where we used to live was that people learned to farm around the rocks - OR.. we'd all be rich if we could market them.

That's why so many of the New England farms and houses have wonderful old stone walls.

I hope everyone is enjoying the anticipation of upcoming Christmas. I found out tonight that my son in law is singing a solo at church this Christmas. He who said he couldn't sing. Sometimes I think God gives us grace to do things we ordinarily either couldn't or wouldn't to bless His children. He gave me the grace to play the organ one year at church. I'm certainly not a trained organist, but I know that He either enabled me to play, or He allowed people to hear something that was pleasing. LOL. I'm never sure which it was.