"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra

To begin this year's Christmas Music Countdown, listen to this from Frank Sinatra!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, too!

November Autumn

I trust in Nature for the stable laws 

Of beauty and utility. 

Spring shall plant.  And Autumn garner to the end of time. 

- Robert Browning

Home

“I let it go. It's like swimming against the current. It exhausts you. After a while, whoever you are, you just have to let go, and the river brings you home.” 

― Joanne Harris, Five Quarters of the Orange

Unto Us A Child Was Born...

In those days a decree went out from Emperor 

Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

  

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David, 

a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign for you:  you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, " Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us,"  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made know what had been told them about the child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Bible, Luke 2:1-20

Santa Claus Is coming To Town

You better watch out, you better not cry

You better not pout, I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town

He's making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

Songwriters: COOTS, J. FRED/GILLESPIE, HAVEN

A Simple Christmas

Oh, the sweet joy of Christmas! 

What more could we want than family, friends, goodwill, and the peace and hope of Christ's birth to celebrate in our hearts? 

Not to worry, take a deep breath and simply enjoy a simple Christmas this year with your loved ones.  

Set realistic expectations, develop creative ideas, initiate 
a few new traditions, 
and you will overcome the holiday blues, 
while adding some sparkle and glitter to holiday decorations.  

A merry, merry Christmas!

Why Can't Every Day Be Like Christmas?

I hear the bells 
Saying christmas is near 
They ring out 
To tell the world 
That this 
Is the season of cheer 

I hear a choir 
Singing sweetly 
Somewhere 
And a glow 
Fills my heart 
I'm at peace 
With the world 
As the sound 
Of their singing 
Fills the air 

Oh 
Why can't every day 
Be like christmas 
Why can't that feeling 
Go on endlessly 
For if everyday 
Could be just 
Like christmas 
What a wonderful world 
This would be 

This would be 

I hear a child 
Telling Santa 
What to bring 
And the smile 
Upon his tiny face 
Is worth more to me 
Than anything

 If Every Day Was Like Christmas by Red West, lyrics © MICHAEL H GOLDSEN INC

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,

To kids from one to ninety-two,

Although its been said many times, many ways,

A very Merry Christmas to you 

from The Christmas Song, by Mel Torme and Bob Wells, Capitol Records

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh darling, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

Baby It's Cold Outside by Frank Loesser.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Town

The beauty and warmth of New England's small towns show up so well at Christmastime.

Chestnuts roasting by an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose...

Santa Claus

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes--how they twinkled--His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe be held tight in his teeth,

and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

--Clement Clarke Moore, Twas the Night Before Christmas

My Wish For You....

Christmas Wreaths and Plaid Blanket in the Snow

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  - Norman Vincent Peale

                                   Photo Credit:  Carolyn Aiken

Smithville Lake Meone and Festive Candles

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away.  - Eva Logue

Simple Christmas

I think it is one of the most beautiful Christmas trees I've ever seen.   - Laura Bush

One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it.  Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way.   - Vincent van Gogh

Holiday Berries Indoors and Out

Twas Christmas broach'd the mightiest ale;

Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;

A Christmas gambol oft could cheer

The poor man's heart through half the year.  

- Walter Scott

Snowy Woods

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. 

- Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

                                               Photo Credit:  Suze

Cardinal in the Snow

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.  It sings because it has a song.  

- Chinese Proverb

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
Our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
Our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane 

and made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 film "Meet Me in St. Louis". 

Deck The Halls and Snow

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

See the blazing Yule before us.

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

How long "Deck the Halls" has been around is unknown. The words of "Deck the Halls" are from the 19th century and American. The repeated Fa la la la la la la la la used to be popular in medieval ballads. The music is from a old Welsh melody. In the 1700's, Mozart once used the melody in a piano and violin duet.

Source:  http://www.christmas-lyrics.org/deck-the-halls-lyrics.html

Snow and Canal

Where thou art, that is home.  --Emily Dickinson

Never cut a tree down in the wintertime.  Never make a negative decision in the low time.  Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods.  Wait.  Be patient.  The storm will pass.  The spring will come.  - Robert H. Schuller

I'd much rather hang out in a cafe.  That's where things are really happening. 

 - Joe Sacco