This and that

Friday, - coming to the end of the week....

As I drifted off to sleep last night I thought,

 'yes, Friday.  Nothing to do all day long.

 A great day to get out the vacumn. the mop and the duster'.

Alas, when I woke all thoughts of housecleaning had fled in the night.

I remembered what a mess I had made of adding to my Family Tree
 some exciting genealogy news about my third great grandfather
and how I had failed to straighten things out so that
everybody was in the right place
when I printed out a report,
including his two wives.

And I was glum,  and not the least bit energetic

Yesterday the sun made a brief and glorious appearance.

That will account for the housecleaning thoughts
that sent me off into a virtuous sleep.

Callie thought it was pretty special too.

She has been Confined to Barracks (along

with me, because of slippery streets) and

would dearly love to have the cat-door opened

so she can investigate what has been going

on under the snow, and which cats

have been visiting lately.

Here is something that has been going on under the snow!

I put on some mittens and scraped away an inch or so of snow
to see if the Hellebores were awake!

Once we are past Robbie Burns' Birthday it is all downhill

and we are sliding into spring!!

The hyacinth I brought home from the grocery store sprang up about three inches

overnight, and promises a lovely bloom when I get up tomorrow morning...

A little blue sky outside, - time for lunch

and a little session with the ukulele...

my repertoire is getting slightly longer.

Come and sing Bye Bye Blackbird with me!

Robbie Burns

ABC Wednesday
January 20
The letter is B for Robbie Burns

The anniversary of his Birthdate being January 25th.

                                      Barbara Philips - an African painting

Known as the Bard of Ayrshire (and various other names and epithets) he was widely acclaimed and is still regarded as the national poet of Scotland.  A pioneer of the Romantic movement and a source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, he was a 'cultural icon'  in Scotland, - and indeed wherever in the world Scots have emigrated his birthday is celebrated with great honour and tradition; and there is a plethora of statues, especially throughout Scotland

Those who have been fortunate to have gone to one of the many Burns Night Dinners 

which are held wherever Scots gather, will surely attest to the great passion that accompanies the Address to the Haggis, whether or not it appeals to one's palate!!

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) in 2015 at Victoria, B.C.
The Address to the Haggis by 2Lt Drew Shaw of B Company

See what you're missing!!!

Really what the Address is saying is that eating haggis is delicious, it 

is warm and rich and will make you strong and braw;

and that it has a great advantage over French cooking, -

and indeed, that of any other nation. 

I leave you with what some call the Greatest Love Poem of all time, which

will remind you of Robbie Burns' silver tongue and his great fondness

for the ladies...

A Red, Red Rose

O, my luve is like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June;

O, my luve is like a melodie

That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun

And I will luve thee still, my dear.

While the sand o' life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only luve!

And fare thee well awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Tho' it were ten thousand Mile !

Robert Burns

For more interesting Bs visit here at ABC Wednesday

with thanks to Roger, Denise and all

brave and bonny helpers.