Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha'penny, God Bless You.

It's true, - Christmas is coming. Although Advent is dominant in our spiritual thoughts there are practical preparations that carry us forward to the Holy Day.

I have plans to make shortbread and light fruit cakes for a Christmas Tea and Bake Sale at the church next Saturday, and on Thursday there is a festive luncheon and party that calls for a little carol singing.

Today our Bell Choir did three concerts, starting at 9:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Church where we rang at the Eucharist service. We packed up and moved bells and tables to The Manor, an assisted living facility, - had a lovely Thai lunch at a local restaurant and then went on to Orchard Haven Care Home to ring our program once more. I have to say we did a passable job!

At one time I was pretty strict about reserving Christmas carols for the appropriate time, - one didn't sing Silent Night until Christmas Ever, or any of the Angel and Shepherd hymns, but now as I age I grow more tolerant - less arrogant about assuming what is pleasing to God.

I saw many different Christmas trees, - all lovely, from the smallest to the largest, - cheering the residents of these care homes and reminding them what Advent leads to.

Sometimes I think that the busyness of December causes us to lose sight of what it is about Advent that is so important to us - the awareness of who we are, and the mindfulness of our relationships with others and our true spirituality. But then it comes to me that this interaction with the outreach of Advent touches us in many ways inwardly, as well, and I just relax and enjoy it!!!!

Skywatch Friday

December 3rd, - at 7.16 a.m. the moon is setting in the West after a magnificent journey across the skies....



Whilst at the very same moment the sky is heralding the sun's imminent arrival in the East.



Amazing show!

Go here to see the world's fantastic skies.

ABC Wednesday

T is for TEDDY

We have the Teddy Bear....



A knitted one such as I made for the two little great grand babies last Christmas

And the ones who go picnicking in the woods....





And we have the alluring Teddy of bygone times, - a daring innovation in ladies' lingerie in the nineteen twenties and thirties...

The traditional teddy was a loose-fitting under garment designed for visual appeal and to show off the wearer's figure. Traditional teddies often used sheer or partially sheer material.



I think perhaps the 'teddies' of today are far more daring, revealing, seductive, etc.

And then there were the TEDDY BOYS......



From Wikipedia a few comments on the forerunner of the present day youth culture.

The British Teddy Boy subculture is typified by young men wearing clothes inspired by the styles of the Edwardian period, which Savile Row tailors had tried to re-introduce after World War II. The group got its name after a 1953 newspaper headline shortened Edward to Teddy and coined the term Teddy Boy (also known as Ted). The subculture started in London in the 1950s and rapidly spread across the UK, soon becoming strongly associated with American rock and roll music of the period. Although there had been youth groups with their own dress codes called "Scuttlers" in 19th century Manchester and Liverpool[1], Teddy Boys were the first youth group in England to differentiate themselves as teenagers, helping create a youth market.


And last, but certainly not least, I have heard of grumpy old men sometimes being referred to as 'just a soft, sweet teddy bear underneath it all' - presumably from those who know.



Over at ABC Wednesday there are lots of interesting posts featuring the letter T.