Sunday, December 17, 2006

Power Outage

This Thursday we had a power outage during a howling storm. We hardly ever loose our power here, so you know it must have been quite a storm.


Dinner came out of the oven just before the power went out, so we feasted in candle light. After dinner we decided to break out a special treat...mini marshmallows! :9 After eating a few "raw", we thought we'd try roasting them with tooth picks over the candles! It was loads of fun.


After that we listened to the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show all together on the couch. We all went to bed at 8 o'clock except Mom, who went to bed at 7:30. :o)
George Burns & Gracie Allen

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

St. Lucia Day

St. Lucia
~~~

Night goes with silent steps


Round house and cottage.


O'er the earth the sun forgot


Dark shadows linger.


Then in the threshold stands


White-clad, in candlelight,


Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
~~~
St. Lucia's Day is a Sweedish tradition and primaily a home festival, celebrated by the rich and poor in every part of the country.
Saint Lucia is always represented by a young girl who wears a white dress and crimson sash and stockings. She has a lingon, or whortleberry leaf crown, into which lighted candles are inserted. She announces Yuletide at dawn by stopping at the bedside of each member of the family witha a tray of coffee and treats, such as saffron buns. This custom goes back to the legend of Saint Lucia, who was condemned to death in 304 during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Diocletian.
Early missionaries carried the Lucia story to Sweeden. There the legend of the young martyr took deep root in popular imagination. Now her day stands for hospitality at home and in the community. She wore white robes and a crown of light, as she glided across the icy lakes and snow-covered hills with food and drink for the parish poor.
This probably accounts for this modern custom:
In the home the oldest daughter enacts the role. (That would be me!!)
She wears a long white dress offering ginger cookies or saffron buns baked in the shape of a letter X. Originally the form probably stood for the Greek letter chi, which looks like an X and begins the name of Christ.
St. Lucia's Day is a happy occasion not only because of the traditional refreshments and fun, but because the day supposedly marks the completion of the busiest holiday chores. Young people have finished their Christmas gifts. The farmer has threshed and put his barns and storerooms to rights. As for the housewife, she not only had made the tallow dips, scoured the copper, and scrubbed the floor, but has also started to prepare the lutfisk, or stockfish. This fish, traditional to the Cristmas Day dinner and the most important item on the menu, requires a full three weeks of soaking, cleaning, and scrubbing before it is ready to cook.
~From 46 Days of Christmas; A Cycle of Old World Songs, Ledgends, and Customs By Dorothy Spicer
This morning I got up at 5:30 to get ready for my rounds as St. Lucia. I brewed the coffee and warmed up the buns, which I had made the night before. I also made some hot cocoa for the rest of us who don't drink coffee.
I did wear a white dress, but I omited the candles and wreath...I didn't think it was too safe. What if my hair caught on fire and how was I going to get that dripping wax out of my hair?
I pinned two ribbon roses in my hair instead.
Everyone enjoyed receiving their treats in bed, there was about just as much anticipation as there is on Christmas morning.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Old Fashioned Winter Dance


Our Old Fashioned Winter Dance was a success! We had a very good turn out and everyone caught on wonderfully. It was so homey with the candles burning and the Christmas music playing.
It was suppose to be from 2-4, but we couldn't stop! :o) We ended up dancing until 6p.m. We sang "Joy to the World" together before we left.
Believe it or not, my throat is not sore (yet) from yelling out all of the dance steps.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Pearl Harbor

December 7th, 1941


Today, sixty-five years ago, our nation was upheaved with great shock at the news of a horrible catastrophe at a U.S. Naval Base in Hawii. The Japanese Imperal Army bomed Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans: 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians also hitting 17 warships and destroying 188 aricraft.

I feel so inadequate writing about this. How do I know what I'm talking about? I wasn't there. I can't possibly imagine what it must have been like, how it must have felt. Peace was over, America was in WWII. I didn't have a father, brother, or husband in the war. I never had to receive a dreaded telegram from the War Department. How could I dare to act like I know what I'm talking about! But that's not why I'm writing this. This is the least I can do, but praise the Lord I can do it! I can remember this day, this war, those men & women-- my great-grandparents-- I can glean from their successes, thier mistakes, I can learn from history. May this generation look back...just pause for one instant...from this busy life of today, and hear the people talking from down the corridors of time. Hear them laughing & crying, singing & and moaning and listen to what they have to say. What they have learned and what we can learn from them. May we ever draw near to God and He will draw near to us. May America bless God as God blesses America.

Here's to the men & women I never met and to the ones I have. Although I may never have known them, I feel as if we've always been friends. I am greatful for what they have done for me, for America.





USSCalifornia sinking



The forward magazines of the USS Arizona exploded after it was hit by a bomb dropped by Tadashi Kusumi.



USS Pennsylvania, behind the wreckage of the USS Downes and the USS Cassin


Memorial Service for men killed during the Japanese attack on NAS Kaneohe.


My great-grandparents.