Sunday, November 25, 2012

Magic Bean Buyer

 Have you been listening to The Nutcracker?  Bill was playing it when I got home from Jenny's last night AND he had a fire going, so we ate dinner in front the of the fire and later watched   Christmas Vacation.  Funny.  Birdie is the Sugar Plum Fairy in the front row (bow in hair).  This was a few years ago, but don't you love all that pink?
 Do you have the carols playing at your house?  

 Jenny was sick with a flu bug yesterday, so I went over to help so she could stay in bed.  Little Lizzy is such a snug little cuddle bug and Samantha was happily flitting about the house!

 Here's a little more Nutcracker loveliness!


St.  Lucy's Day is December 13.  That's my sister's birthday, too!  One year I made buns and I might do that again.  I like some of the little divergences from the norm during the holidays, do you?  Could we narrow some of the "to do's" down a bit?  Isolate a few of the simple joys?  Frances and Jody (Left-Handed Housewife and Gumbo Lily) are reading Little Women.  They have already begun.  Isn't that a great idea?  I like to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  I AM reading A Christmas Carol.  Dickens is good about now.  Kim (Farm Girl) is reading Bleak House.  Don't you find all of our differences inspiring?  I do.  Last night, before bed I was reading A Circle of Quiet again.   Madeleine L'Engle says that one cannot create while in the state of self consciousness.  If we are too aware of our self, we aren't free to create.  Is that what causes writer's block and painter's block and all the blocks?  What do you think?  What are you going to make this holiday season?

I finish with this lovely invitation from Shel Silverstein.
“If you are a dreamer come in.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
a hoper, a pray-er, a magic-bean-buyer,
if you're a pretender come sit by my fire.
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Come in! 
Come in!” 


32 comments:

Lisa Richards said...

Love all of this! I agree with Madeleine. Self-consciousness can cause a lot of blockages! :) Thanks for all the Christmas thoughts. I'm especially into simplicity at this time of year.
I'm reading "Surprised by Joy" by C.S. Lewis right now, but I have a hankering for a simple "story". I'll have to search my bookshelves and find something to enjoy during my school break.
Thanks for the pretty pictures! I may put the cute carolers on my FB profile!
Birdie is so cute in her pink tutu. I can remember the excitement of being a little perfomer in a play.
Stay cozy!
Hugs!

Farm Girl said...

Oh just lovely. You know when I read that Gumbo Lily read Little Woman I got out my copy and started right in. I do love that book so now I am reading both. Both of them cause me to sit and think.
I love your photos and your thoughts. I got that book for my daughter last year by Madeline L'Engel I love that quote and you know I think that is so true. I just never thought about it before. It is so nice you went to take care of sick Momma, nothing harder than being a sick Momma with a tiny baby.
Do you go back to school tomorrow?

I hope you have a lovely day. Such a treat to come and visit with you.

magsmcc said...

I am indeed listening to carols as we talk! Jo is making paper gingerbread men for the sleigh be made yesterday. I will be reading, as usual A Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaardner, but maybe not with the boys- I think they're old enough now for The Box of Delights- I just need to find a copy of it this week. Couldn't find it in the bookshop on Friday... Such insightful eyes in that wondrous child of yours.

M.K. said...

Yes, I'm listening to Christmas carols right now. Christmas music pretty much fills the house these days. I'm reading through Richard Wilbur's poetry, and when I opened the book, I remembered the Christmas poem I used to have my students memorize each year -- "A Christmas Hymn" by Wilbur. Such a lovely poem! We are slowly, lovingly, decorating our little home. Thanks for the lovely pics :)

Thistle Cove Farm said...

XM Radio is playing Christmas music; five stations worth and I've enjoyed those. I hung a few wreaths, may go to the mountain and cut a tree but not going all out as I'm saving my energy for chores and making gifts.

ann said...

Such sweet little ballerinas. I love The Nutcracker.

Pom Pom said...

Hi, Lisa! It's always so nice to hear from you, sweet friend!
I hope you get some long lazy afternoons when exams are over!

Pom Pom said...

You are so sweet, Kim! Yay for Little Women! Isn't it a wonderful story? Right up our alley, right?
The sick mama is better and I hope this granny doesn't get it!

Pom Pom said...

The pastor at church today spoke of the Advent Conspiracy. I thought of you!

Pom Pom said...

I'll look up Wilbur's poem, MK!
Our decorating will go slow, too!

Pom Pom said...

Good idea, Sandra! I must find a good Christmas music radio station! The CD player in my car has gone all wonky!
Do share about the gifts you are making!

Pom Pom said...

I do, too! It is such a timeless story. Our little ballerinas LOVE it very much!

Travel With Lulu said...

That photo is so sweet! The Nutcracker is not a tradition in England, and interestingly it is impossible to find a single nutcracker to buy for our collection. I've been looking for three years! Go figure.

What is a tradition is to see a local Panto, which is silly theatre of classics. This year we'll see Aladdin, last years it's been Cinderella and Peter Pan. We have nothing like it in the US, but it is a fun family holiday tradition.

Anonymous said...

What a sweet pic of the ballerinas! Sorry to hear Jenny is poorly, I hope she gets better soon. Interesting about losing creativity when self-absorbed....food for thought. xxxx

Pom Pom said...

Hi Laura! Wow! No Nutcracker? That's so interesting! I like reading about your traditions and how your are adapting them in the UK. Thank you for coming by!

Pom Pom said...

It's so hard not to be self absorbed, isn't it? It seems I am always bobbing around in my thoughts, hogging all the space!
Jenny is better. Poor lamb. Thank you for caring, dear Tina.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

The Best Christmas Pageant ever is one of my favorites...this summer was Madeline L'Engle summer...how she spoke to me...and I unpacked all my Christmas books last night for us to begin our reading. You have spurred me on.

Gumbo Lily said...

You're such a good granny to take care of those Littles while their mommy is ill. I'm sure they love having your pottering around the house.

I've really been enjoying Little Women and am so happy I started it. I've got some embroidery in the hoop for stitching in between reading times. I love the book Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I always cry at the end.

Have you tried making a "Christmas station" on Pandora on the computer? It's fun. I'm not listening to Xmas music yet, but I will. I especially like the Vince Guaraldi music for Charlie Brown.

Pom Pom said...

You're spurring me on, Janette! I am going to go downstairs and look through my pile of Christmas books, too!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Jody! As I was reading your comment on my phone (while finishing up with a band of boys who stayed for homework club) I was actually playing Pandora for them! Weird, huh? I don't do it every day, but happened to think of it today!

Kit said...

Oh your book reading has me smiling! I need to go and find my copy of The Christmas Carol. I have started decorating and I can feel the old excitement building. Have a great week! Kit

Pom Pom said...

Hi Kit! I look forward to seeing the decorations at your house!

Attic Clutter said...

Oh so cute the girls.......and Jenny (:)
Love the post the invitation etc.. Yes yes Christmas is almost all up at my house..such fun (:)
Hugs..p

Pom Pom said...

Hi Patty! We'll get it all soon, but I'm going to go lighter this year and take my time. Thank you so much for stopping by. It's always nice to "see" you!

Catherine said...

Part of my keeping things simple is no Christmas music just yet...it would do my head in too early. Definitely celebrating our differences! I am making Christmas fruit mince..I love stirring it & adding more orange juice & having a little taste & seeing how the flavours develop over time. I was thinking that I need to get out my fav Chicken Soup Christmas stories & share them again. It's so good to share things & do things that touch people's hearts at this time of year & that's often the simple things isn't it. Love x0x0x

Anonymous said...

Hello lovely Pom pom,thankyou for My birthday wishes :) I've missed You lots and have lots of catching up to do...
Your little darling looks so beautiful in the picture. I love to watch Little Women on DVD and have done a couple of times lately,I havent got the book though and am going to look out for a copy as I'm sure its the perfect time to read. I hope Jenny is on the mend?I've started a little decorating and am hoping hubby will get the rest of the decorations down this weekend :) Just in time for My daughters birthday next week. Take care DeAR Friend,xxxxx

Nancy McCarroll said...

Some Christmas cello music from iTunes is on in the background as I am reading your post.

As far as the "to do"...I felt like a crumb bum yesterday when I said no to a request to host a party. It just did not seem right. So instead of chastising myself, I'll just go with selfishly guarding my time this Christmas season.

Bleak House does not seem like something I will do this season, but you are right in pulling out Dickens. Good idea. Will look for a library download now! Christmas stars to you and yours, Nancy

Pom Pom said...

Yes, it is so good to share JOY! You are good at that, dear GK!
I like thinking about you stirring mince, tasting, tweaking and I'd like to take a big long distance sniff of all that goodness! LOVE!

Pom Pom said...

Hello precious Julie! Yay for more birthdays! Fun! Love love love Little Women and I'm so glad all my sweet friends do, too!

Pom Pom said...

Yay, Nancy! I'm glad you are carving out precious time to quiet your soul in this holy season. Parties, shmarties. Have your own little party every night with your hubby! Sending you holiday wishes across the Rockies, friend!

Attic Clutter said...

HI Pom..(:)
thanks on my snowmen (:)
hugs ..patty

Pom Pom said...

Hi Patty! You have such cute things in your house! Every picture is amazing!

Followers