The sled and traveller stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.
Come see the north wind's masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door.
Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild work
So fanciful, so savage, nought cares he
For number or proportion.
Mockingly,
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian wreaths;
A swan-like form invests the hidden thorn;
Fills up the farmer's lane from wall to wall,
Maugre the farmer's sighs; and, at the gate,
A tapering turret overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Leaves, when the sun appears, astonished Art
To mimic in slow structures, stone by stone,
Built in an age, the mad wind's night-work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Time for Sunday Stealing....
Bev will fill you in :
"Hi! I'm your host Bev
Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This
feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal
all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise
to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and
intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan,
Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!"
1. First things first, did you have a good year?
Yes. It was okay for the most part I think. Life is life. It has ups and downs.
2. If you traveled, where did you go?
No place at all! I haven't traveled in a long, long time.
3. Which fashion trends did you love?
I don't follow fashion really. I wear things I like no matter what the current fashion might be.
4. Which fashion trends did you hate?
I hate those ugly bootie shoes they are wearing now and especially the ones with the open toe. Just obscene looking on feet. Hate, hate, hate those things.
5. What was your favorite article of clothing this year?
my plaid shirts 6. What song sums up this year for you?
It's always one of these two songs no matter what the year:
7. What was your favorite movie of the year?
Did Christopher Robin happen this year? I liked that one very much.
8. Did an actor/actress catch your attention for the first time this year?
No. I don't bother with stuff like that really. Just no interest. Never been a "fan".
9. Favorite new TV show?
I don't watch television at all.
10. Did you make any big permanent changes this year?
No.
11. What was one nice thing you did for yourself?
I have absolutely no clue. I just can't think of anything.
12. Did you develop a new obsession?
I am never obsessed over anything really.
13. Did you vote?
This is private.
14. Did you move?
No
15. Did you get a job?
no
16. Did you get a pet?
No.
17. Do you regret not doing anything?
No.
18. Do you regret doing something?
No.
19. Have you done anything that scared you?
20. Did anyone/thing make you so mad it stayed with you for days?
There are things that will make a comeback a few times over a couple days but otherwise no.
21. Did you lose anyone close to you?
Yes.
22. Who was important to you this year but wasn’t important last year?
No one.
23. Who wasn’t as important to you this year as they were last year?
No one I can think of.
24. If you could have a do over on one thing you did, would you take it?
Probably yes if it wouldn't hurt anything.
25. What was the best moment of the year for you?
Nothing stands out that I can think of right now.
26. What was the worst?
Bad health of friends, family.
27. What are you most proud of accomplishing?
Keeping the house nice.
28. What have you learned about yourself this year that you didn’t know in the years prior?
I can do a lot more than I ever thought.
29. What do you wish for others for the coming year? peace
Saturday 9 is brought to us each week by Sam Winters.
From Sam: "Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!"
Our last Saturday 9 of 2019. Thank you for another great year, everyone!
1) Look back on 2019 and share a happy moment.
Thanksgiving Day was very nice. A great day for the family.
2) As 2019 ends, are you making any New Year's resolutions for 2020?
I have never made resolutions for New Year. From my point of view, making changes in your life is character development and that is not done best by making resolutions or promises but by just doing and seeking help from God for those changes. So you say, without vowing, I will do such and such, God willing. You can't resolve to so something. You can only try to do something with the help and by the will of heaven.
3) Tell us about an obstacle or challenge you faced in 2019.
A scary diagnosis for the Famous Anonymous. We are still up in the air over it.
4) Is it "cold as ice" outside where you are today?
It's in the 40s, so no.
5) Foreigner is this week's featured artist. The band formed in New York City. If you were to travel to New York City, what would you be sure to see?
I live close to NYC and been there very often. I guess if I go for something specific it would be to attend the opera. I like that :)
6) The band went by the name Trigger. They changed it because their prospective record label was already auditioning a different group named Trigger. They settled on Foreigner because half the members were foreign -- from England. If you received a free, round-trip airline ticket to any foreign country, where would you go?
I suppose I wouldn't mind going to Scotland.
7) In 1977, when this song was popular, Star Wars was breaking all box office records. The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond movie, was also a 1977 hit. Which film series do you prefer: Star Wars or James Bond?
James Bond. I watched Thunderball last night actually.
I never thought much of Star Wars.
8) In 1977, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple. Are you answering these 9 questions on an Apple product (PC, laptop, pad or phone)?
No. Not an Apple product at all.
9) Random question: What was the last thing you thought of as you dozed off last night?
prayers
It's never the same twice. There are as many skies as their are days and nights since the beginning of time.
I am joining in for Skywatch Friday and Friday Photos.
“Aren't the clouds beautiful? They look like big balls of cotton...
I could just lie here all day, and watch them drift by...
If you use your imagination, you can see lots of things in the cloud formations...
What do you think you see, Linus?"
"Well, those clouds up there look like the map of the British Honduras on the Caribbean...
That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor... And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Stephen... I can see the apostle Paul standing there to one side..."
"Uh huh... That's very good...
What do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?"
"Well, I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsie, but I changed my mind!”
― Charles M. Schulz, The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 5: 1959-1960
This is what happens when you point the camera straight up during a snow fall.
December is just about over and winter is truly here.
I got to thinking about foods that are associated with winter and holidays.
Two favorites came to mind: Russian Tea Cakes or Butter Balls, and Potato Latkes.
They are part of winter holiday memories for me.
My mother baked cookies and a neighbor fried the latkes (potato pancakes). Then they were passed out around he neighborhood. Well, what was left after we kids got hold of them.
We would gobble up the cookies at my house then
we would head next door to the neighbors house where she was frying latkes. We
d go in the kitchen door and stand by the stove and shove them into our mouths as fast as they came off the frying pan.
Everyone ate them with sour cream and applesauce except me. Always the rebel I want ketchup!
We stuffed them into our mouths as fast as each batch hit the plate!
I don't think she ever got enough done for her family!
These cookies are also called Wedding cookies which shows how many ways people use them. Some call them Mexican Wedding cookies, Russian Wedding cookies, butter balls.. there are a dozen names for them but, whatever you call them they are good.
Here is my mother's recipe for this cookie she made each year.
(Use walnuts or pecans for the nuts) This post is really a re-write of a post from a few years ago.
See you tomorrow for Friday Photos and Skywatch Friday.
Happy 2nd day of Winter!
Joining in for Sunday Stealing..
Here's Bev:
"Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and
Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!"
1. Do you ever give things away to your friends? Yes , to friends and to relatives. I've given clothing, furniture, etc.
2. Does it make you uncomfortable when your parents talk about finding people attractive? If your parents don’t make comments like that, what sort of things can your family members say that do make you feel uncomfortable? I really can't think of anything other than my mother making me speak French in front of her friends. Ugh. I hated that.
3. Have you ever heard of an “alternative spring break”? Have you ever participated in one or known someone who has? Never heard of it and never participated in one either.
4. Is there anyone’s friendship or relationship, in particular, that makes you jealous? Ummm. not that I can think of no.
5. Is there a book series where you loved the first book, but for some reason the other books in the series just didn’t measure up? I suppose Anne of Green Gables. There were several in the series that were not that good.
6. Are you a registered voter? I don't talk about this.
7. Are there any stores/restaurants that you would like to shop/eat at, but there aren’t any located near enough to you? Sure. Bloomingdale's, Tiffany's, Saks 5th Avenue, most of the biggies in NYC.
8. How many people would you say you are close with? Who are they? Friends and family.. about 4
9. Do you ever have smell hallucinations? No. I have scent deja vu though.
10. Is there something that you did not used to take seriously, that you either now take seriously or wish that you had in the past (e.g., a relationship that you miss, your education, etc.)? Lots of things, sure. Sometimes you don't know how important things are until you are a lot older.
11. Are there any subjects that you are interested in so much that you would read whole books or academic journals about them? Yes. Anthropology, archaeology, religion.
12. Are you physically affectionate with your friends? Nope.
13. When you were in school, did you witness a lot of bullying? How did the teachers react to name-calling or violence? Some. There are always kids who make fun of other kids. A good hard punch in the mouth usually cures them though and any necessity for braces too. Bullying is as old as time and is done by people who feel inferior to others. No excuse though.
14. If there is a specific celebrity (or two, or three!) that you dislike, is it because of petty reasons or is it because they’ve done something absolutely damning in your mind? There are a lot of them who lead simply disgusting lives. I fthink Justin Beiber, who urinated into the cleaning bucket of a janitor, to be one of the most unlikable little jerks of all time. I'd have poured it over his head.
15. Are any of your friends/relatives actually impressive artists or writers? Not impressive no.
Thoughts on Rambling:
There used to be a radio show called Rambling with Gambling on WOR It ran from 1925 until 2016 and hosted by 3 generations of men all named John Gambling!
There was a song called Rambling Rose made famous by Nat King Cole.
The Rambles is a part of Central Park in NY that can be quiet rugged and wild see photos below:
The Rambles is a 38 acre section of the park.
The Knickerbocker.. these falls are pretty tall.
The Gill (Scottish for stream) flows into the 20 acre lake called Azalea Pond.
I have gone off the reservation on this week's Saturday 9 and am doing an older one as I had no real answers for the Christmas one.
Saturday 9: High Noon (1952)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. (Frankie Laine version because I like it better.)
1) What will you be (or were you) doing at high noon on Saturday?
Drinking some coffee, taking it easy, listening to the sounds of Saturday which I love.
2) In this song, Tex Ritter sings he doesn't know what fate awaits him. How strong is your sense of intuition? Tell us about a time you knew what would happen before it occurred.
There have been a lot of times. I know when people are going to die. I have never been wrong.
At one point I knew the day, hour and reason.
3) This song was the theme of a hit movie western by the same name. It starred Gary Cooper as a small-town sheriff. When did you last interact with a member of law enforcement?
Probably a few years ago. I don't really recall when.
4) Grace Kelly co-starred as the "fair-haired beauty" mentioned in this song. Four years later, she gave up films to become Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco. Which job seems like more fun -- movie star or royal?
Of the two, movie star. Her life kind of ended when she left Hollywood.
5) Though he cultivated a "just plain folk" persona, this week's featured artist, Tex Ritter, was really cosmopolitan and highly educated, earning a degree in economics from the University of Texas before going on to study pre-law at Northwestern. Do you think the "real you" is consistent with the image you convey? That's a hard question. I think no one is consistent with the image others have of them.
6) Tex Ritter was the father of Emmy-winning comedic actor, John Ritter. John is remembered fondly
as the voice of Clifford, the Big Red Dog. Clifford appeals to children because he is "gentle, friendly, loyal, lovable and clumsy." Do any of those adjectives apply to you?
Yes, most of them and especially clumsy.
7) Tex is also the grandfather of Jason Ritter, star of ABC-TV's Kevin (Probably) Saves the World. If you followed one of your grandparents into their line of work, what would you be doing?
Building ships at John Brown's in Glasgow, Scotland. A long line of ship captains and ship builders.
John Brown's Shipyard
The Queen Mary built at John Brown's Shipyard.
8) In 1952, the year "High Noon" was popular, Stopette, the first antiperspirant deodorant spray, was introduced. Do you use a deodorant spray, stick or roll on?
I rarely use any at all. I just don't sweat much and rarely have a problem with body odor. In Japan no one wears it either as they don't have a problem with it either.
9) Random question: What's something you have always wanted to own, but never have?
“A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.” ― John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
the cove.. animated
summer sunset on the salt pond
fire in the sky over the bay
You can click the photos to see them enlarged.
Join in tomorrow for Saturday 9.
Almost winter! December 21st is the winter solstice.
"Winter" by Annie
“All Heaven and Earth
Flowered white obliterate...
Snow...unceasing snow”
— Haiku by Hashin
falling snow photo by Annie
"Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.”
―
Mary Oliver
Rain, rain, rain and more rain. It's a bit too much for my poor roof which is suffering a lot.
However, it is time for Sunday Stealing..
Let Bev explain:
"Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and
Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!"
1. If you saw a dog locked in a hot car, what would you do?
Various things depending on the situation. If no one is around, and the dog looks very bad I might well break a window or break into the car . I would call 911 and report the situation.
2. Is it easy for you to accept help when you need it?
Depends on the situation. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. 3. Have you ever been in a fashion show?
No. No fashion shows for me.
4. Would you like to be famous?
I don't think so. Seems like a lot of trouble frankly.
5. What is your most compulsive habit?
I don't think I have any that are compulsive.
6. What do you most strive for in your life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?
Accomplishment would be the end result of all the rest of the list. I would like most of those things in a moderate and appropriate form and amount except for excitement, that I can really do without.
7.How close and warm is your family?
My immediate family are close and relations with them are warm and loving I think. Extended outside family .. it varies and I don't have much relations in the USA.
8 Does that fact that you have never done a thing before increase or decrease its appeal to you?
Depends what it is but usually I am very low key about everything. I don't get excited about much.
9. If your friends start belittling a common acquaintance, would you defend that person?
Usually yes. Belittling is cruel and ugly. Criticism can be helpful sometimes but not belittling.
10. Do you make a special effort to thank someone who does you a favor How do you react when you aren’t thanked for going out of your way for someone?
I try to make sure I thank people. I don't react at all. People today are just a bit entitled and aren't in the thanking mode. Things will change after a while when the pendulum swings back the other way.
11. Since adolescence, in what 3-year period do you feel you experienced the most personal growth and change?
I would have to think a long time to figure this one out. I just am not really sure.
12. When you do something ridiculous, how much does it bother you to have other people notice it and laugh at you?
No, because I would hope that usually the laughing is good-natured.
13. Do you believe in capital punishment?
Over all, no. It denies suture repentance. Any view on capital punishment is iffy since most of us are not involved with the death of someone so our opinion is in the realm of make believe or what we "think" we want.
"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." ... Now where does this end? Someone kills.. you kill them, they someone kills you..etc. ad infinitum. God handles it all. There is a reckoning,karma and the guilty will pay. In the story of the adulterous woman in the Christian faith, she was told to go and not sin anymore. Now adultery was a capital crime but the phrase used was Let the person without any sin throw the first stone... powerful words. But even life in prison can be too much and prisons don't do rehabilitation at all, which they should. In the end I don't quite know. As I said, easy to say someone should die but do you want to do it? Everything sounds okay until you have a personal hand in the end result. And especially iffy are convictions done with nothing more than circumstantial evidence. which to me is no evidence at all.
14. Do you find it so hard to say “no” that you regularly do favors you do not want to do?
No. I have no trouble telling people no.
15. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
The death of a person.
A holiday time of year.. Chanukah and Christmas.
Time for Saturday 9 called The Christmas Song
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
Yet another popular song written by Mel Torme, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants.
Click the logo below to visit Saturday 9
1) The lyrics mention "chestnuts roasting on an open fire." Do you often eat chestnuts?
I used to in the city (in New Jersey we refer to New York City as just "the city" and Philadelphia as "Philly". In this small state we are close to both cities )
how to behave after stealing
There used to be hot chestnut vendors on the streets in winter,, not sure if they are still around and bunches of violets were sold in spring. And, I actually just bought a bag of roasted chestnuts for cooking and stole one to eat the other day!
2) There's a reference to Jack Frost, too. Does cold weather help you get into the holiday spirit? Yes it does! Very much so. It's one reason I love colder weather in fall and winter.
3) Nat sings that turkey helps to make the season bright. We just had it last month for Thanksgiving. Do you enjoy turkey all year around? Or do you consider it primarily a holiday dish? I had turkey burger for dinner tonight and a turkey meatloaf the other day. I buy the ground turkey often. But whole turkeys are for Thanksgiving.
4) This song was published as "The Christmas Song," but people often refer to it as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "Merry Christmas to You." When you think of this song, which title comes to mind? The Chestnuts title seems to fit very well.
5) Nat King Cole had a big hit in the 1950s with "Mona Lisa." The ballad compares an enigmatic woman to the da Vinci painting, which hangs in the Louvre. The Mona Lisa has been called the most instantly identifiable painting in the world. Can you think of another famous painting that you recognize on sight? (Extra points if you include a picture!)
"Yoo Hoo.. Mrs. Bloom"
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer. Vermeer reminds me of Gertrude Berg (Molly Goldberg Show) who said in trying to make her son get married,"The girl has a face like a Vermeer!" Here are pictures of the painting and Gertrude. You guess which is which!
6) Best remembered today as a singer, Cole was also an accomplished composer and jazz pianist. Do you like jazz? I like jazz very, very much. Yup, yes, sure do.
7) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her dentist. She never sees Dr. Douglas socially. In fact, she hasn't seen him since her annual check-up last March. Have you received many cards this year? Yes. I signed up on a card exchange on Facebook and am getting a flood of them. So far I've sent cards to Russia, Bosnia Herzegovina, England, Scotland and all across the USA.
8) When did/will you start holiday shopping this year: Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Halloween? Earlier than that? I haven't done any holiday shopping at all.
9) This time of year is big for charitable fundraising. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you. I am a big fan of St. Jude's because of the work they do for children.
Tomorrow is Sunday Stealing.
Will you be by to visit?
Come see the north wind's masonry.
Mockingly,
Mockingly,
