Christmas Poem 2011

For the last twenty years, along with the handpainted Christmas cards, we've done a Christmas poem to enclose, telling the events of our year in rhyming form.  Some verses flow easily, others are just murder to get anything that doesn't sound completely corny or trite.  And then there is the idea of meter - I try, I really do, but I seem to change horses midstream every verse or two.

 

Anyway before I ramble on any more, here is the offering for 2011:

Christmas time is nearing

The year has gone so fast

The deadline soon approaches

How quickly time has passed

You see from the front of the card

That we’ve opted for tradition

With twenty years behind us

Now here is the latest edition

Youngest started the year in drama

As the harlot of Godspell

A role that stretched her ability

But she did it so very well

Madame Dubonnet in the Boyfriend

Head mistress, she’s cast this fall

Complete with French accent

Accomplished, poised and tall

Miss Schmoo took up fitness with gusto

Working out, running and such

And carefully watching her diet

She’s trimmed up so very much

For her senior year in school

She’s on cross country team

Playing trumpet in stage band

Giving it all--her new theme.

And the final accomplishment

She passed her G2 license

Another legal driver we have

Dad sits there all nervous and tense.

Eldest finished first year away at school

And returned to us tired and beat

But a couple months restored her back

Having her home, quite a treat

But back to school again this fall

With renewed determination, grit

A change of venue somewhat

And bound to make the most of it.

She’s rooming with four other girls

Off campus, but just by the gates

And she seems to like her studies

And living with her mates.

She also joined the fitness fest

Running many lengthy jogs

And biking with the rest of us

Through early morning fogs

Driver’s Ed was taken

Another member at the wheel

The only issue that I note

Is a rather heavy heel.

Another summer at Days Inn

Cleaning rooms and breakfast cook

Oh the tales that she comes home with

Fodder for a future book

Now on to the Mother of the clan

Who’s now a slender  thing

She walked her daily limit

And measured everything.

But she didn’t walk alone

We took up hiking as a team

And ten to fourteen K a day

No longer was a dream

Of course we’ve slackened off a bit

With school and shortened days

But we still try to get out

To catch a few sun’s rays

Mom also taught art camp again

At home and St. Lawrence College

Filling students up with experience

And lots of artistic knowledge.

After ten years in her home

Time for Grandma to relocate

Lombard Manor treats her well

And her meals are never late

Three family weddings of nieces

And a grand-nephew joined the crew

And rumour has it next year

There’ll be twins amongst us too.

We sold our rental house

And shucked some major stress

Tired of being landlords

And dealing with the mess

To Renaissance Fair we ventured

With friends went to the States

A most rewarding weekend

When we entered through the gates

 A new kitten joined our home

Wesley the polydactyl cat

He’s made for lots of fun and games

And is quickly getting fat

Joseph’s Amazing Dreamcoat

Was a venture the three of us took

And now that it’s behind us

We’ll have time to read a book

So that pretty much leaves me

To summarize what I’ve done

Supply taught most days here and there

And some were even fun.

I had a couple LTO’s

That stands for longer stints

And when they book Grade seven

I still can’t help but wince

I’ve taken power novel writing

A college class this fall

And quickly learned my writing talent

Is really rather small

But that hasn’t kept me from it

As I write a daily log

You can access themusicalgardener

Online is my writing blog

A fun and challenging venture

I write of gardening stuff

A little bit of history, music

And other bits of fluff.

As well I sing a bit

Melodia Monday as a bass

And a friend joins me once a week

And jams here at our place

Just after Christmas imagine it

The family plan to cruise

Off to the Caribbean West

And that is our big news

A week of sun and frolicking

Should put us in the mood

To rest, sightsee and snorkel

And eat a lot of food

So I hope this finds you well

And enjoying life’s small pleasures

Enjoy the Christmas season

With its many little treasures.

All the best in the New Year

May you be truly blessed

From our house here in Brockville

We wish the very best.

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  a -1, b-2, c-3, d-4

Today's Puzzle:

Christmas Trivia:

When does the 12th day of Christmas fall?

 a) December 25th

 b) December 24th

 c) December 31st

 d) January 6th

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my contest - Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Christmas Birds

I have many nostalgic thoughts about Christmas in our old farmhouse, when I was a youngster.  One of my favourite memories was the Christmas tree. We had a set of antique glass blown birds.  I'm not certain of their origin, as they were much nicer than any of the other cheaper ornaments that we had on our tree.  Over time they met their demise until there were only three left.

When Ebay reared its commercial head at the turn of the century, I started checking to see if there were more such birds available to add to my meager collection.  Wonder of wonders, there were flocks of them, just awaiting my bidding fingers.  Below you can see the result of consumer greed.  I blush. Let me explain though, I bought a lot of groupings, most of which were in need of some repair.  Over time I've patched, painted, glued, and made composites out of parts and pieces.  The ones that were in decent shape, I've not tinkered with, as they do appear to have some reasonable monetary value, if intact and of obvious vintage.

With our new kitten investigating every nuance of Christmas decorating, I hesitated putting our birds up this year.  We usually hang garland around the big picture window and attach the birds all around.  However young Wesley could easily access such efforts, and birds live or otherwise do garner considerable juvenile feline attention.

I had pretty much made the decision to just leave them in the box for 2011, and then I saw a blog with a Charlie Brown style tree - deciduous not evergreen at  Magnon's Meaderings.  Thanks Cro. I was impressed and thought, hey, I could adapt this idea somehow - hang it from the ceiling and little Mister Wesley can only admire from the floor.

So out I went to the back forty - and found a nice bushy little thornapple shrub - the top came home with me and I screwed a hook-eye into the end and hung if from a hook in the ceiling.  Then I added the birds one by one.  Because it is not very large, I probably only put out about a third of the birds.  So we now have, well maybe not a partridge, but a whole lot of other colourful birds in bare tree.

The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  I'll take none of your guff, young man.  The rest are all pallindromes (they are spelled the same backward or forward.)

Today's Puzzle:

Mix & Match

Which word is defined by which definition?

 a) alphamegamia                     1) marriage between a young woman and an older man

 b) anopisthography                  2) practice of writing on one side of the paper

 c) apodyopsis                          3) the act of mentally undressing someone

 d) abderian                             4) given to incessant or idiotic laughter

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my contest - Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

The Monster In The Village

An update on my truck - she's all fixed up and it was nothing serious, just a pin came out in the linkage, but they had to take the whole steering column apart to fix it.  Thank goodness it was not the transmission -- that would have made for a merry Christmas, wouldn't it.

Wesley, or Wessers as he's affectionately become known round our home has discovered a new place to curl up for a nap.  I guess I shouldn't complain though if this is the worst havoc he wreaks on our Christmas season.

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  it's a human vertabrae

Today's Puzzle:

Who Does Not Belong?

Which sentence is unwelcome in the mix and why?

1) I'm a lasagna hog, go hang a salami.

2) I'll have none of your guff, young man out you go.

3) Ma is a madam, as I am.

4) Niagara, O roar again.

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Alpacas

I'm always fascinated by the alternative farming operations I see throughout the country.  One that caught my eye and my camera is an alpaca farm, just outside of Kemptville, Ontario.  I tried to get close enough to get some shots, without actually trespassing, but most of the prettier specimens tended to be the shrinking violets.  I had kind of intended to go and talk to the owners, but it hasn't happened yet.  Maybe I'll do that next summer and give my readers a more in-depth expose on Canadian alpaca ranching.  For now you'll have to settle for the few shots I did get.

If you type in their web address you will find quite a pleasant website advertising their products and lifestyle.  After checking it, I will definitely make it a must-see next spring, when the little ones are on the ground. 

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  d) Milton Berle

Today's Puzzle:

Silhouette:

What is this silhoutte of?

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Tin Lizzie, the Third

Do I expect too much from my beast of burden, my faithful old Dodge Dakota?  Well apparently last night she thought so.

I don't expect that much, just a few bags of leaves..

And I treat her with the greatest of respect (yep that's fresh poop)

It was our annual Christmas gala at the Arts Centre last night.  All the musical who's who, of our fair city were out, attired in their Christmas elegantry, performing their finest.  I was there, accompanying my friend Murray, on the piano.  As well I got rooked into singing in the grand finale - White Christmas.  We had a huge massed choir, with a full orchestra accompanying - quite an impressive deal.  So laden with a wonderful sense of accomplishment, dripping good cheer, I strode out to my truck to drive home.

Oh and before I forget, the Missus and I did a nine kilometer walk in the morning - from home to the local Tim Hortons establishment, for our bagel and orange juice (it's a bit of a tradition, don't question it).

When I parked my truck at the beginning of the evening, there was kind of a clunk, as I put it in park, but I really thought nothing more of it.  That is until I started the old girl up at 10:15 pm, and she flatly refused to shift into drive --the ominisity of that clunk suddenly became apparent.  Any thinking human, would have walked back to the Arts Center to see if there was anyone left going my direction.  Not the Musical Gardener.  I decided it was time for an adventure, translate into "let's hoofer for home". 

The Missus was home, snug in bed, so I determined I would walk to the Walmart and see if I could call from there.  I got to Walmart, and it seemed a shame to drag someone out of bed, just to come and get me for the sake of another four kilometers.  So home I trudged, frost collecting in prodigious icicles on my mustache and goatee.  I figure 17 k is not a bad day for an old geezer, especially since the last eight were in suit and dress shoes (again no cause for alarm, heavy overcoat, gloves and toque -- in in varying night shades on a darkened road - I was the perfect target for a hit and run).  Only saving grace was that all the sensible drivers were home asleep in their beds by that hour, and the taxies ferrying inebriated, Christmas revelers home, seemed to veer carefully around me - no doubt thinking that I should have flagging them down in my obvious soused state.

One never knows what their day may bring.  Today I'm planning on not walking as much.  Now to get a tow truck and determine how I've offended my trusty mode of transport.

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  Sinterklass(Dutch), Hagios Nikolaos (Greek), Black Peter (Moroccan), Babbo Natale (Italian)

Today's Puzzle:

Who Said It?

Do you want to feel insecure?  Count the number of Christmas cards you sent out and then count those you've received.

 

a) Dave Berry

b) Johnny Carson

c) Jay Leno

d) Milton Berle

I chose that quote because, we sent 80, have got 23 back and 5 of those were from folks we did not send to - what to do, what to do?!

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Santa, Are You Listening?

I toyed briefly with the idea of going and getting my Kindergarten specialist credentials this fall, because it is being touted as one of the few entrance ways into a teaching contract, with full-day, every-day Kindergarten becoming a reality in the fall of 2012.

Yesterday I was booked for a full day Kindergarten.  The teacher forewarned me the last day I was at this school, that the class 'could be a bit challenging.'  Well that was a bit like saying Hitler could be a little aggressive.  Wow!  I came home deadbeat.  They spun in circles, screamed loudly,  fought over glue sticks, and listened to nothing.  Well maybe that is a bit harsh -- they actually did listen to story time reasonably well, although 'criss-cross applesauce' meant stretched out flat, kicking your neighbour.

I tried singing with the little darlings, that lasted for one song and then the minds and fingers started drifting -- and you know where five year old boy's fingers drift -- I don't have to draw a picture do I?

For a brief moment allow your mind to imagine Julie Andrews singing My Favourite Things, but change the lyrics slightly, Musical Gardener style.

Snotdrops on noses, snow suits not quite fittens

Grubby we paws tucked in wet woolen mittens
Mittens that dangle attached to yarn strings
Are not on the list of my favorite things
 

Cheese stringy packages, shmushed fruit cut in cubes
Goldfish crackers, yoghurt squished from long tubes

These are the lunches that each small child brings
And then try to argue 'but they're healthy things'

When a child pees

And there's head fleas
When I'm getting mad

I simply remember, I'm just a supply
And then I don't feel so bad

(My apologies to whomever wrote the original lyrics) 

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  carol, wreath, angel, nativity

Today's Puzzle:

Mix & Match

Match the correct letter and number for Santa Clause in various cultures:

 

a) Sinterklaas                                   1) Moroccan

b) Hagios Nikolaos                          2) Italian

c) Black Peter                                  3) Dutch

d) Babbo Natale                              4) Greek

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.

Christmas Candy Canes With Grade Ones

I had the pleasure of teaching Grade one last week.  The teacher gave me free rein to do an art project with them and here is what we came up with.  The class painted straight lines of red and green across the back of a template sheet (canes were drawn on the back) and then turned them over and cut the canes out.  Then they transferred them to a sheet of construction paper.  Kiddies had a lot of fun and it filled in a good portion of the day.  As well they learned about complimentary colours and practiced their fine motor skills.  That pretty much covers the curriculum for Grade one Art, so all in all a fine day.

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The Daily Quest

This is a daily feature on The Musical Gardener blog. Below is a question, or puzzle that will change day by day. Do not use the comment section of the blog for your answer.

Answer to Yesterday's Puzzle:  a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Today's Puzzle:

Descramblers

Let's pick a Christmas theme.  What words are represented by the following scramble-ups?

rolac   hertaw   lange ytvianti

Please respond with your answer to the email below. I apologize but you will have to type my email address in manually (I'm attempting to avoid spammers).

Don't forget my Musical Gardener Contest
 
And that is about all I have to say for today.

Musings and meanderings from the Musical Gardener.