Five popular Christmas songs de-mystified

Elk ACEO...Relative of Rudolph?

It’s everywhere.  You go into the grocery store, Holiday music.  You are shopping at department stores, riding in elevators, listening to the radio, or just at the office and songs of the season are playing softly in the background.  Sometimes though, do you wonder where they came from, and what the heck some of them are even about?  I mean have you ever actually seen a partridge anywhere?

Well, a little research reveals a lot of interesting facts about the Holiday tunes that are just about everywhere right now.  From the religious to just plain fun, they span the gamut.  So just for giggles I have gathered some useless information that just may come in handy during a game of Trivial pursuit or at one of your Holiday parties.

“The twelve days of Christmas.”  Well, it just so happens that there really are twelve days of Christmas!  I’ll bet you didn’t know that. They are the festive days beginning on Dec. 25^th and ending on Jan. 5 (twelfth night) right before epiphany day on Jan. 6.  There also seems to be a whole lot of discussion and speculating about what exactly is the meaning of all those strange sounding gifts one’s true love gives. Some think it is a coded message created by persecuted Catholics to teach catechism, but most likely it was just a simple learning memory game for children.  Along the lines of Simple Simon, you must repeat all of the things or you lose and must pay the consequences. 

“Silent Night.”  This beautiful song started its life as a simple poem written in 1816 by Joseph Mohr and put to music by Franz Gruber. Since the organ in the local church was broken, a guitar stood in as substitute.  There are all sorts of dramatic stories about why the organ was on the blink but there is no way to substantiate any of them.  It just seems to me to be a perfect example of necessity being the mother of all invention.”

“Good King Wenceslas”  C’mon now, you really didn’t know who this dude was did you?  Well, it seems he was good…and a king…and a saint.  Wenceslas is a Czechoslovakian saint and the song is basically about his good deeds, which I am sure are numerous since he was sainted.

“Jingle Bell Rock” You know, you cannot go anywhere without hearing this song.  You might even catch yourself singing it in the shower. Joe Beal and Jim Boothe co-wrote the song and Bobby Helms recorded it way back in 1957. To date there have been more than 60 artists that have released versions of this song, now that’s popularity!

“Rudolph the red nosed reindeer” I’ll bet you didn’t know that Montgomery Ward Department store (no longer in business) published Rudolph the red nosed reindeer as a Christmas booklet in 1939. Names were tossed around and Rudolph was chosen.  It sure sounds better than the other choices of Rollo or Reginald don’t you think? Can you imagine Reginald the red nosed reindeer? It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Gene Autry, the cowboy singer, recorded it as a song in 1948 and the rest is history.   After all this time Rudolph’s nose is still in business and glowing every year at Christmas. 

Well, that’s all for now, folks, this is kind of fun so maybe more will come soon! 

J

A Crystal eye view of the best Christmas movies and TV…

Not a partridge in sight, just pears

 I love Christmas.  I admit it.  I decorate my house in every available nook and cranny.   As soon as I jump out of bed in the morning, I am unconsciously humming carols. I suppose I must be pretty annoying to anyone with an ounce of Ebenezer in them. So it goes to reason that right after Thanksgiving I start pulling out the Holiday movies and scan the TV listings for Holiday favorites and specials. 

I’m thinking that I’ve seen “The Grinch that stole Christmas" so often that I can narrate right along with Boris Karloff.  The scary thing is that I never get tired of them.  I have cried thousands of tears at the sappy moments and laughed myself silly at some of the funny ones.  So being the Christmas connoisseur that I am, I have compiled a list of my favorite Holiday entertainment.  

They are presented in no specific order because I could never presume to say which of them belongs at the top.

Andy Griffith Show (1960) Christmas Story – This episode never fails to make me tear up.  Look it up, it’s a good one that will fill you will holiday spirit.

“A Christmas Carol.”  Forget about all those remakes. The best one is the black and white version that stars Alastair Sim. 

“A Christmas Story.”  How can you not fall in love with Ralphie and his obsession with a BB gun?

“Babes in Toyland.”  This old 1934 movie is available colorized and stars Laurel and Hardy. An alternate title is “March of the wooden soldiers.” 

“A Charlie Brown Christmas.”  I always get choked up when Charlie’s scrawny little tree transforms into a thing of beauty

 “Christmas with the Kranks.”

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”   When I bring out the “Christmas Vacation movie, holiday has officially started for me.  Too large trees, light’s that won’t light, in-laws, presents, and bonuses, this movie has it all and then some.

“Elf.” Try not to laugh too hard when Will Ferrell's innocent man-child brags in reference to Santa, "I know him, I know him!"

“Four Christmases.” In this day and age, who hasn’t been in that situation?

“Home Alone.”  Forget about the sequels the first one is the best.  “Home Alone” Is every child’s dream…and nightmare.

“How the Grinch stole Christmas.”  Oh my, it’s the hairy green guy with the tiny heart!  Dr. Seuss was a genius in capturing the essence of Christmas.

“It’s a wonderful life.” I love this movie so much I have a large poster of it framed in my family room.

“Miracle on 34^th Street.”  Rare is the movie that causes you to remember the first time you saw it.  This is one of those.  Forget the remakes and opt for the original.

“Polar Express.”

“Prancer.”  Don’t miss this sentimental charmer.   It will make you remember what it was like when you were a child.

“Scrooged.”  Bill Murray stars in a modern day “Christmas Carol.” Just watch out for Carol Kane's wand!

“White Christmas” is simply classic.

“The Santa Clause.”  More holiday fun with Tim Allen.

Olivia, the perfect gift

Can you remember your favorite Christmas gift?  What was waiting for you under the tree on that memorable Christmas morning that was so unexpected it made you smile?  Was it from Santa?  Was it handmade from a child? 

Yesterday I came downstairs with a wrapped gift in my hands intending to put it under the tree.  I was thinking hard about every Christmas of the past and what to my wondering eyes would appear? (No, not the big guy in the red suit, silly!)  There, nestled so cozy on the tree skirt was a brown tabby cat snoozing away.  Yes, it appears that Olivia the cat has decided that under the tree is the perfect place to nap. 

How to Etch a glass ornament

Etching is an attractive way to make a one of a kind ornament and it is easier than you may think.  There are just a few little things you need to know before you start, however.  This project is NOT for kids.  Follow the instructions on the bottle of etching cream.  I Always work in a well ventilated area.  I always wear gloves and I’m careful not to get any of the etching cream in or around skin or eyes.  I always have water near by. Most importantly I always keep the etching cream out of reach of children and pets. In other words I am extremely careful while working with the etching cream.

You will need:

Armour etch (available at craft stores)

Old paintbrush (once I use it for the etching I don’t use it for anything else)

Clear contact paper to create your own stencils

Flat glass ornament blank

Exacto craft knife

Paper and pencil or marker

1.     Draw a simple a design for your etched silhouette.  A simple design is best with your first ornament.  It is a good idea to shade in your design to get an idea how it will look when it is etched onto the glass.  Experiment with your drawings till you are satisfied.

2.     Cover the glass piece with clear contact paper and make sure it is securely attached. 

3.     Place your design behind the contact paper covered glass.  Use an exacto knife to cut out the design and remove.   An exacto knife is sufficient for simple designs.  For a more intricate design I recommend a wood-burning tool.  You will need to be even more careful if you use a woodburner…the tip gets extremely hot!

4.     Brush a layer of the etching cream on to the cut out area of the glass and let it remain on the glass for five minutes.

5.     Wash all traces of the etching cream off with tap water.  Remove the rest of the contact paper.  Clean the glass with window cleaner.  Don’t be alarmed if the area you etched appears clear.  When it dries it will have etched the glass.  

S you V

The next SUV?  Airplane ACEO

Ever noticed how popular Sport utility vehicles have become?  And notice further how all the names appeal to those with high levels of testosterone?  They have become bigger and badder and seek to own the road. Just you try and see what is going on two car lengths in front while driving your smart car behind one of these monsters.  Americans lean towards these gargantuan modes of transportation and car makers continually come up with names that make even the geekiest driver feel like Davy Crockett, or even Indiana Jones.

Names like Safari, Yukon, Sequoia, all embody power.  In this post I am proposing some names for future models.  So if one day you come across these names, remember you heard it here first

1.     Kong

2.     77,747

3.     T-rex

4.     Borealis

5.     Enterprise-ing

6.     G series Zilla

7.     Waterloo

8.      Wham-u

9.      USS

10.  Tiny.  Now let me explain.  You go to a restaurant and the extremely tall Valet asks you for your keys to retrieve your car, you smile and say, “Hey Shorty, it’s the Black Tiny over there.”

Christmas past

The Black Friday mania is almost over.  The tents in front of the mall and big box stores are gone.  Those who participated are now home most likely sleeping.  Hopefully there were no brawls over certain currently hot items.  Hopefully everyone waited their turns and was polite and kind to others.  Personally I remember a much simpler time.  I remember when Christmas wasn’t such a commercially promoted thing…

December…a long, long time ago in a seemingly galaxy far, far away, a 10-year-old girl opened her Christmas present and saw a new doll. The doll’s name was Tammy and while she was similar in size to her Barbie, she looked, well younger.  She didn’t have heavy makeup painted on her face and she wore tennis shoes instead of stiletto high heels. This little girl hadn’t asked for Tammy and her parents didn’t go on a hunt for the hottest toy on the market.  They simply chose a doll.

As the years past the little girl put down her dolls and her family relocated.  Her dolls were somehow lost.  She didn’t mind at the time, she was a teenager then and her interests had changed.

The little girl grew up and had a daughter, and what do you think her daughter wanted for Christmas one year?  She wanted a Barbie. Oh yes, the mother went out and purchased a Barbie for her daughter, and she was happy on that Christmas morning. The woman saw her daughter smile and the memory of the past rose in her heart and she wondered if her doll was still out there somewhere.

In a moment of utter impulse, she perused Ebay and put a bid on a Tammy doll.  She won.  A few days later the package arrived and she took out the doll and the memories flooded back.  Memories of simpler times when we were happy with simple things and no one camped out in tents waiting for stores to open.  She breathed in that faint plastic smell that was once so potent.

She placed Tammy on a shelf in her bedroom.  Occasionally she takes her down and holds her in her hands, gently stroking her hair. Almost magically she becomes that 10-year-old girl once again.  She knows that this doll is most likely not her original doll, but she likes to think that maybe, just maybe its is.

So, to conclude, I wish you all find a wonderful, magical, but simple Christmas present under your tree, from Crystal, the grown up little girl.

J

Thankful thoughts

Thanksgiving is a time for thanks.  It isn’t supposed to be the precursor to Black Friday.  So what are you thankful for?  Thanks can be totally anatomical.  Yes that is what I said…so lets examine the anatomy of Thankfulness.

I am thankful for my eyes that can see all the beauty of this world.  They can read and educate my mind. My eyes can see the good but also the bad.  Because I see, I can enjoy the good and do my best to try to change the bad.

I am thankful for my hands that they may create.  They can create beauty with paint and brush. They can write.  Most of all they can create love with a simple hug, pat on the back or warm handshake.

I am thankful for my legs.  They can take me to places of wonder.

I am thankful for my sense of smell, without which I would not be able to enjoy the pine of the forest, the grass after the rain, the flowers in spring, the coffee in the morning, and the turkey in the oven.

I am thankful for my voice.  My voice can tell those most dear that I love them.  It can encourage someone who is without hope.  It can sing. 

I am thankful for my ears.  They can hear the soft murmurings of a baby as he sleeps.  They can hear the purr of a kitten, and they can hear laughter.  And just imagine a world without music.

I am thankful for my mind.  A mind can remember.  Those who are no longer with us in body are always with us in our memories.

I am thankful for my lungs that can breathe.  I can take in the fresh mountain air.  I can run and play and blow bubbles with children.

I am thankful for the pains I experience whether they are physical or mental.  They are what allow me to enjoy the times of no pain so much more.

I am thankful for my heart.  Even though it is only poetically I am so very thankful it allows me to love.

And finally….

I am thankful for those who even without these things I have mentioned have managed to soar above them and excel for they are the ones who are truly inspirational.

Happy Thanksgiving!  J

Shoe fever

Red Christmas shoes ACEO

My husband recently informed me that I have a disease.  It is not the infectious kind that causes worldwide epidemics.  The disease from which I suffer is only apparent when I am in the vicinity of a shoe store.  Yes, you read it right, I did say shoe store.

How many of you are shoe fanatics?  Don’t just sit there now raise that hand.  I know you’re out there.  I saw you when I was standing in the line at DSW waiting to pay for yet another pair…or two. 

Men just don’t understand red patent leather.  They don’t get the fact that the more uncomfortable the shoe, the more attractive it is.  They don’t suffer for vanity sake.  They wear docksiders.  They wear Nikes. 

I have just returned from yet another shoe expedition with two more pairs.  I am aware that I only have two feet, so why do I own shoes in the triple digits?

There are 365 days in the year, silly.   The real question is-- why do I have only one closet?

Quick and Easy to make Ornament Gift Card Holder

Its Wednesday, middle of the week and time for another quick and easy craft project J

The best value for gift-giving these days seems to be a simple gift card. It allows the recipient to go to a store they like and choose an item they actually want and can use.  As an added bonus most of the times after the holidays are over, many of the same items purchased a week previously are marked down.  The main drawback is the impersonal nature of the gift card itself.  Why not make an easy to create gift card holder that fits the person to whom the gift is intended? A gift card holder that is also an ornament is a gift in itself. This project is easy so why not make few with your children?  You can even put a small Holiday wish note in the pocket instead of a gift card if desired.

Gift Card Holder

You will need:

Felt in desired color, embossed felt is a nice touch.

Card stock, in white or a coordinated color

9 inches of thin gold cord

Tacky glue ( I recommend tacky glue since it has a thicker consistency and does not bleed through the felt)

Scissors

Ruler

Small jingle bell or button for closure

Decorative buttons, felt or foam shapes or miniature trinkets (This is the area to personalize for the recipient.)

1.     Cut the card stock into a 6-inch by 8-inch rectangle.

2.     Fold the cardstock in half meeting end to end.

3.     Rotate and fold in half again. (See photo)

Fold

Turn and fold again

4.     Open the folded piece of cardstock.  Fold up the lower right hand corner using the fold line as a guide. (See photo)  Refold the card.  You have formed a little pocket.  Put a dab of glue at the lower corner to secure the pocket.

5.     Cut a piece of felt for the cover 6-inches by 4-inches.

6.     Cut two pieces of gold cord, 5 inch for the hanging cord and 4 inch for the closure.

7.     Turn the folded cardstock over and put a dab of glue on the back center fold.  Make sure the pocket opening is facing up on the left side. Make a loop with the 5-inch gold cord and glue to the top.

8.     Continuing on the back of the card, measure two inches down from the left side, make a loop with the 4-inch gold cord and attach. This will be the closure loop. Check to make sure the pocket is positioned correctly.

9.     Spread a generous amount of tacky glue onto the entire back and attach the felt.  Let dry.

10. Glue a button or small jingle bell onto the front of the card holder to correspond with the gold closure cord and let dry. 

11. Decorate the front of the holder.  Using the tacky glue attach buttons, felt or foam shapes or any miniature trinkets as desired.  

GIFT IDEAS FOR HORSE LOVERS...OR OWNERS

Horse in Barn ACEO

Recently, I posted a list of gift ideas for young horse lovers. I don’t, however, want to leave out horse lovers/owners who are older than twelve. So what follows are items in all price ranges for all ages.  Some of the following ideas are for those on your list who own a horse or two, or three…

Gift ideas for Horse Lovers/owners

Many of these items may be purchased at Tack Shop’s or online

1.      Horse themed apparel is always a good choice.  Sweaters, sweatshirts or tees are items to consider and are found almost everywhere.

2.     Horse Treats.

3.     Horse jewelry. Jewelry items are found in almost any price range, from Sterling Silver to gold.  A good stock pin is a nice gift for someone who shows. 

4.     Pajamas in a horse print.  Search online or peruse catalogs.

5.     Frame a photo of their horse.  Or commission an artist to do an original painting.

6.     Horse Calendars. Bookstores like Borders stock a wide variety of calendars.

7.     If you know the recipient’s size, a pair of paddock boots or rubber boots is always welcome around a barn.

8.     Horse figurines.

9.     Halter and matching lead line.  Make sure you know the correct size.  They are Lg. Horse, standard horse, cobb, pony, and yearling.    Many barns have certain color schemes they follow so be sure to buy the appropriate color. 

10.  Books on Horse training.  There are many books published on the care and training of horses.  Check local Tack Shops, bookstores,  and Amazon.com for ideas.

11. Horse related DVD’s. 

12. For a horse owner a personalized Halter plate, saddle plate or stall plate is a much-appreciated gift.  Most tack shops do the engraving or send it out for you.  You can also get these done online.

13. Riding gloves in leather or cotton are a wonderful and useful gift.  You may even purchase ones that are lined in fleece for winter use.

14. Leather punch, a necessity around any barn.

15. Leather cleaner and supplies.

16. If your intended recipient is a trail rider then you cannot go wrong with saddlebags, cantle bag, or a drink holder that attaches with a snap.

17. Colorful horse themed socks or boot socks for use with field or dress boots.

18. Helmet cover.  These covers come in colorful fabrics or in velvet like fabrics that make your schooling helmet look just like a show helmet.

19.  Throw with a horse theme that can be used in any room for a bit of extra warmth.

20. Half-chaps or schooling chaps.  You will have to know an approximate size.  These are usually sized in xsm-xl

21. Flat back buckets are a basic item and as an added bonus you can even use it as a container to give your gift!

22. Note cards.  Leaning Tree cards are available in tack shops and gift shops.

23. A magazine subscription to a horse magazine, like Equus, Horse Illustrated, Horse and rider, Dressage, etc.

24. If you just cannot come up with anything that you think will be right, you just cannot go wrong with a gift card from a local Tack shop

25. Saddle cover, helmet case or bridle bag.  These items will protect the owner’s valuable riding equipment.

Extras:  For a thoughtful little stocking stuffer I don’t know any horse person that doesn’t need hardware like Chicago screws for fixing bridles, double end snaps, and trigger snaps.  It would look really cute presented in a mason jar with a bow on top. 

J