More Book reviews

Well, I'm back.  It has been a while since I posted on here.  I have had great intentions of posting more often - however, while the intentions were good, the carrying out was pretty awful.

I had lots of plans for posting some of the latest cards I had made over the last couple of months.  I think, though, that I need to improve my photography skills some more before I try that, as most of the photos were just a little too blurry to upload well.  So certainly a goal to look at for next year, I think.

So, I believe some book reviews are in order and with Christmas looming, what better than some of the Christmas classics?  Who could go past that perennial favourite (well, mine anyway!) 'The Night Before Christmas' by Clement Moore.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house'.....  this poem written by a clergyman in about 1820 something has pretty much defined the magic of Christmas for most of us.  I don't think there are many homes where it is not read on Christmas eve before the little ones head off to bed - I know I did when my angels were little and when the grandkids are around for that night, it comes out again.  (Along with making Magic reindeer food to be scattered on the lawn before bed so that the reindeer don't miss your place when making their rounds)

How about 'Twelve days of Christmas'?  Turtle Doves, golden rings and lords and ladies - what a wonderfully seasonal way to count in the festivities. There is supposedly another layer of meaning to this song however.  It was written as a way of teaching about Jesus to young people during a time when Catholics couldn't practice their faith openly. The two turtledoves stood for the Old and New testaments, the 3 French hens represented faith, hope and love, the four calling birds were the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and so on.  It doesn't change the fact that this book is one of the top classic stories of Christmas.

And then there are others: 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', along with Charles Dickens 'Christmas Carol'.  All of them way too good to be forgotten - so definitely time to share the magic all over again with a whole new generation.

As I will have all my kids and grandkids here this year to share Christmas with us, and to celebrate Wayne's 60th birthday on Boxing day, I doubt I will be posting again till next year so this is a good time to wish you all a wonderful Christmas with lots of family and friends around and time to enjoy them all.  Remember, in life, the little things always turn out to be the BIG things - so turn off the technology and really BE there.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Year - to paraphrase Clement Moore.