I went Christmas shopping downtown last week and was tickled by the window displays of my favorite store. My hometown has a population of about 154,000, and--don't judge--I think it's safe to say that this store always has the most impressive window displays in town. (Mostly because they have them; most stores are either in the mall and don't have outdoor window space or just display wares.)
The white rectangle at the bottom right reads "Rudolph's Crazy Dream," and in case the glare and reflections in the glass make it difficult to tell, yes, that is an inflatable Rudolph in a sleigh pulled by inflatable smiling Santas.
The bear's tongue goes in and out because he is licking stamps to stick on letters to Santa. His tongue moves quickly, and I wasn't able to capture a photo of it sticking out.
These bunnies shake their heads at a naughty list to the left of the stamp-licking bear. I'm not sure why the raccoon is using a cell phone.
Every Monday I post whatever song I can't get out of my head or just can't get enough of because Mondays can often be less than marvelous, and music is happy--even when it's sad. If you'd like to join the party, make your own Musical Monday post and leave a comment!
This week's songs are "Love Came Down at Christmas" by Jars of Clay and "Sleigh Ride" by Relient K. I was too busy to pick a song last week, and since this is the last Monday before Christmas, I am posting two songs to make up for lost Christmas music listening time.
I posted both of these songs last year, and I am posting them again because I like them. "Love Came Down at Christmas" is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, a Victorian poet. Rossetti is perhaps most well-known for her poem "Goblin Market," but she also wrote many devotional poems. I did some research on her this semester, and I believe her brother William Michael Rossetti calls her a "Puritan" among Victorian Anglo-Catholics (meaning a branch of the nineteenth century Anglican church that emphasized tradition and rituals) in his "Memoir" attached to The Poetical Works of Christina Georgina Rossetti. But I don't have the book in front of me. Rossetti's biography aside, the lyrics of this song articulate the meaning of Christmas beautifully, and Jars of Clay sets them to a catchy tune.
As for the second song, "Sleigh Ride" is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Also, I believe I've mentioned that Relient K is one of my favorite bands. Thus, I really like this song.
Merry (early) Christmas! What are your favorite Christmas songs?
1. Candy cane cream pie recipe at The Inky Kitchen. It looks beautiful and sounds delicious, but if I made it I'd probably take a shortcut and buy a premade oreo crust. I'd also probably use more cream cheese, and less heavy cream. But I guess it wouldn't be a cream pie anymore if I did that...
2. Lo and behold, a small pie shop chain called High 5 Pie exists, and is opening another location in Seattle. This is rather far away from my neck of the woods, but I remain optimistic about the spread of pie shops.
I heard about it at work this week. The basic plot includes a monkey and a donkey. The monkey has a book, and the donkey asks what it is. He wants to know if you can scroll up and down, access Wi-Fi or tweet with it. The monkey says, "No" each time, and at the end of the book the monkey says, "it's a book, jackass." Take a look at the book trailer:
I think it's a cute and clever concept, but I can understand why some adults in Massachusetts are against allowing a literacy group to donate copies of It's a Book to first graders. Charity is a thornier issue than library access to the book--in the case of a library, it is a parent's right to bar their child from checking out It's a Book and/or make sure their child does not hear it during storytime. But not allowing a group of well-meaning people to donate it in schools? Hmm. That's a tougher one.
What do you think?
(Further info on It's a Book can be found here and here at NPR, where it is recommended and discussed in relation to the e-reader explosion, respectively.)
Third, I was having difficulties completing my mother's Christmas present until I saw this rice pillow project at Wise Craft. I wanted to surprise her with something small, because I asked her point-blank what she wanted for Christmas, and . . . well, she won't be too surprised, since that's what I got for her. (And I wasn't very secretive about it.)
My mom used to have a cherry-pit pillow that she heated in the microwave, and this is a similar thing. It also looks super easy and nicely cheap--since I have a bin of suitable fabric scraps, I only need to run to the grocery store to buy rice to make this.
I started wrapping Christmas presents tonight. I love making them look all pretty and seeing how cleverly I can disguise gifts with boxes, tissue paper, and wrapping paper. Enthusiasm doesn't make me good with wrapping paper, though. I still wrap presents as clumsily as I did when I was in elementary school. I like to think it makes my gifts look more endearing. (Endearing sounds better than sloppy.)
Here's a video from Jackson Pearce on how to wrap a gift correctly. I might pay closer attention to it next year.
I know it's after Christmas, but this popped up in my work e-mail last week at the library, and it's too cute not to share:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Library Style by Lisë Chlebanowski (with help from Clement Clarke Moore)
'Twas the night before Christmas, not a book to be found Not a textbook, a paperback or tome, spiral bound. The stockings were hung from the chimney with care In hopes that the Librarian soon would be there.
The children were gathered, bored silly in their beds For no books could be found out loud to be read! There were toys and games and puzzles and maps But nothing to read - might as well take a nap!
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter! We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter Then, what we saw - what was that? Rats? No! A miniature bookcart led by eight tiny cats.
With a gorgeous driver, by the name of Marian, I knew in a moment it must be the Librarian! Faster than speed reading, the cats flew with perfect aim And Marian whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
Now Gatsby! Now Holden! Now Lorax & Grinch! On Rhett! On Scarlett! On Atticus & Finch! The cats echoed their names to one and to all. They flew to the roof and they flew to the wall!
And then, from the roof I heard tiny paws The prancing and preening of kitty cat claws As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Marian came with a bound.
She was dressed in her work clothes, from her head to her foot The bundle of books she carried was covered in soot, She had come straight from the library where books are free.
To patrons with cards it's a book potpourri!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head, She distributed books and left nothing unread!
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work, And filled all the stockings; She was more than a clerk!
Then she sprang to her bookcart, to her team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard her exclaim, as she drove out of sight, "Season's Readings to all, and to all a good-night."
Every Monday I post whatever song I can't get out of my head or just can't get enough of because Mondays can often be less than marvelous, and music is happy--even when it's sad. If you'd like to join the party, just make your own Musical Monday post and leave a comment!
A massive snow storm hit the Midwest over Christmas weekend, cancelling family celebrations and church services for days--I still have two grandparents to visit and many aunts, uncles, and cousins to see. Christmas may be over on the calendar, but it's not over for me, and that means I'm posting one more Christmas song. And I'm making it a cheesy one.
This week's song features House of Heroes covering Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You". I've been wanting to post it all month but only just found a Youtube version with clear audio a few days ago. It's bouncy and fun and I hope you enjoy it!
Wishing you an even Merrier Monday than last week,
Every Monday I post whatever song I can't get out of my head or just can't get enough of because Mondays can often be less than marvelous, and music is happy--even when it's sad. If you'd like to join the party, just make your own Musical Monday post and leave a comment!
I've been giving trumpet lessons to a sixth grader this fall and it's a blast. (I play the trumpet. In case your coffee hasn't kicked in yet and you didn't get that.) At the end of every lesson I ask my student if there's anything he wants to play, and he usually shakes his head no. The week of Halloween, however, he looked at me and said "Jingle Bells." So we played "Jingle Bells" unseasonably early and liked it, even though playing Christmas music early always brings a little guilt and fear that someone is going to be annoyed.
Now that Thanksgiving is over (and yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent) I've decided that it's officially okay to listen to Christmas music until my ears fall off in protest. (It's probably going to take awhile.)
In light of that decision there are two songs this week: "Poison and Wine" by The Civil Wars and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey--a classic that always gives me a grin. The Civil Wars were featured on Musical Monday (3) in August, and I was excited to hear this single show up on a recent episode of Grey's Anatomy. They sound great. (And if you like what you hear, The Civil Wars are offering a free download of their live album on their website. I recommend it.)
Enjoy!
Wishing you a Mini Monday (cute and manageable like small vehicles and tiny dogs),
