Christ Candle Aglow: The Peak of Liturgical Yard Art

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Merry Christmas!

First New Blogger Post!

Here we are on the New Blogger. Don't want to jinx it, but hey, that didn't seem like it was too difficult.

We had a great Christmas, yes we did. The Boy and I got a new Squirrely to share (we've already broken one of the squeakers, but now it sounds like crunching bones, so that's good, too), and we each got one of these fake bones that the thumb-havers want us to chew on instead of real bones. Something about not cracking another molar. I've eschewed mine thus far. But I think it's buried in the chow bin right now, so maybe when it comes out of there it'll smell better.

The Typist is making noise about more travel. I hope she hides her suitcase from The Boy, because he's pretty neurotic when it comes to that sort of thing. Not wanting to Get Left and all.

She says she's going to get to see some of our blog friends, though: Reverend Mommy, Rev Abi, and John the Methodist, to name just a few. Wish I could go, but she tells me that Molly and Amie and their thumb-havers won't be there, anyway, so I wouldn't have much fun. Better to just stay here and hang out with The Alpha so he doesn't get lonely.

2006: Year of the Best Lazy Christmas Tree Ever

The red box of ornaments sat on the fireplace hearth for, oh, 3 weeks at least.

One ornament (purchased in honor of The Boy's arrival to the pack last year) came out of the box and made its way onto the tree, but only because it defies description and had to be shown to a certain visiting niece late on the night of December 5.

Yes, that's a wide-eyed goose.

Running.

With a tomato strapped to its back.

No, we don't know why. But it does capture the spirit of The Boy quite well.

A nice little cross received as a gift landed there, too, but besides that and the pre-lit niftiness, the tree remained bare.

Until The Typist decided that the stack of Christmas cards on the kitchen counter had to go somewhere else, and she and The Alpha nestled them in the branches of the tree. It's as crafty as she gets these days -- no, wait, she started knitting lessons the other night -- and we're all quite pleased with it:

There's even a card from a Blog Friend on there:

Oh, and The Typist and I joined RevGalBlogPals today. It's about time. We've played plenty of Friday Fives and all.

Merry Christmas!

Fa-la-la-la-la, La Friday Five

From RevGalBlogPals... seems I can't give just one answer to each of these this time around:

1. A favorite 'secular' Christmas song.
The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."). I liked it even more when I learned that it was written during a summer heat wave in an effort to think about winter, with the hope of cooling off through the power of suggestion.
Another favorite: Christmastime is Here, from the Charlie Brown special. I got to sing it at two parties last year -- one as official entertainment, the other an impromptu with a jazz pianist friend!

2. Christmas song that chokes you up (maybe even in spite of yourself--the cheesier the better)
What Sweeter Music by John Rutter. Except I'm not allowed to get choked up if I'm in the choir that's singing it.
Also, the last verse of Once In Royal David's City, but a different last verse than the one brought up by Quotidian Grace:
Not in that poor, lowly stable with the oxen standing by
We shall see him, but in heaven, set at God's right hand on high.
Where, like stars, his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

3. Christmas song that makes you want to stuff your ears with chestnuts roasted on an open fire.
Santa Baby (with apologies to Songbird for dissing her answer to #1, but really... it's just creepy, folks...).
Also, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, for its blatant bring me stuff message.

4. The Twelve Days of Christmas: is there *any* redeeming value to that song? Discuss.
Yes, I think there is. While not on my personal top 10 list, it's easier to sing if it can be acted out with gusto (especially the Lords a'Leaping part).

5. A favorite Christmas album
I spend so much time rehearsing music for Christmas that I seldom buy a Christmas album just for listening to. But Barenaked Holidays (from the Barenaked Ladies, of course) is a pretty good one in our collection, as is Trans-Siberian Orchestra's big popular release from a few years back.