Sapphire Elizabeth Kouri

This is the whole reason for living...

Where Have All The Bloggers Gone...?

Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the bloggers gone?
Gone to sle-ep every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they e-ver learn?

Hey, you guys! Wake up! It's snowing like billy-o, Emi's about to produce, Soe and Colin are engaged, Kevin saved a couple of folk from their blazing home, Papa's been on Fox News oh my word, and Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat! Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you! For all you fine folk looking for a little prosperity in the new year, the Figgy pudding will be stirred on Monday...yes, I know it's 2 months late, but I'll compensate with an extra glug or two! We surely will miss the Banana this year. Now I know how my parents must have felt when I came to America in 1968. (Or maybe they raised the flag and had a huge celebration!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

GOD BLESS US ALL, EVERY ONE!

Advent

Advent refers to the 'coming' or 'arrival' of something or someone. Typically, we think of the birth of the Messiah, Who is Jesus, the Christ. This is one of my favourite times of the year, a time of expectation, of secrets, of staying up all night, creating, wrapping up those secrets. It is a time of greenery and tradition, making memories. I love the fact that Soe has her Ornament Making Party every year, reminding us of school days when school chums used to come to the house to make exquisite ornaments. My very favourite one was a tiny Christmas fairy, the details of which were extraordinary, and to whose front had been glued two beads of enormous proportion! (All modestly hidden under her paper dress!) One of the puppies, however, made short work of enjoying her for an Advent snack! This is the time when Christmas puddings are made, using the very best ingredients, and being careful not to be stingy with the orange brandy! Tradition tells us that all who stir the Christmas Pud will enjoy prosperity in the coming year! This would be the year, then, to come on over to my house on the Pudding Making Day, to put all your financial fears to rest!
This year is no exception to that presence of expectancy: somehow, there's a magic hush in the air. We are all anticipating the imminent birth of Emi and Kevin's first child, a miracle in the making! We're holding our breath, savouring each moment of each day. As a mother, I'm quietly following Emi's progression, and remembering...it truly is a miracle, with the birth of each new child.
Another memory is in the making: we, along with some of the family, shall all gather at Soe and Colin's new house to celebrate Christmas together. Sadly, Hannah will be unable to join us this year. Lucy and John shall come and join us, and maybe Baby Kouri will be here by then! Jerry and MariaLuisa may come too. What a time we'll all have! This is our first year without any parents/grandparents, so it'll be such a good thing to be together, to remember, to encourage.
Our little tree in the woods looks so beautiful, it seems to be heralding in this wonderful time of Advent, this time of mysteries and excitement..."How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!"

Big Kevin's Tree

I've come a dozen times or more in the last few weeks, and each time I've discovered that inspiration's running awry! I really love to write, and find it strange that my heart and brain have cramped up to such a degree. And so, though I have no idea as to content, I have made a promise that today, when I log in, I shall not log out until I have put pen to paper, or rather, fingers to keys!

We have recently spent a couple of days with dear friends and family up at Sugarbush, in Vermont, to celebrate family and friends and Thanksgiving. Apart from companionable conversation, delicious food, detailing our thankfulness and blessings, and generally enjoying each others' company, Big Kevin jazzed up the whole event by performing his (now!) famous Annual Christmas Tree in the Woods Lighting Ceremony! Despite Kristin's whining about why couldn't she watch it from the living room, why did she have to come outside?, he was not to be discouraged! And, of course, partly because of Kristin's groans and moans, he had to do an emergency oh-my-word-I-hope-it-works sort of a test, so he quickly plugged it in and immediately out just to make sure. When we were all crammed onto the porch, dogs and all, did we do a count-down? I can't remember! But on went the lights, and my heart soared! I have a feeling that a few in the party were merely humouring the light lighter, but it was clear to see what great pleasure he derived from this simple act of giving! When we came home, one of the very first things I did was to go into the woods with the dogs to find the perfect little Christmas tree, I clothed her with the prettiest little fairy lights attached to a very long green landscaping extension cord and turned her on, not with the attending crowd, just me and the dogs. It was one of those moments: quiet, peaceful, magic. I thought of Kevin and Liz, and how much they mean to us, and wished that, if it could be, they could be a part of that moment...only to realize, on contemplation, that they had! I shall try very hard to take a picture of this magic tree and post it here. I'm not sure that I can remember how to do it, but will try.

Philosophy and the Soul, a good choice!

Si vis studere philosophiae animoque, hoc studium non potest valere sine frugalitate. Haec frugalitas est paupertas voluntaria. Tolle, igitur, istas excusationes: "Nondum satis pecuniae habeo. Si quando illud 'satis' habebo, tum me totum philosophiae dabo." Incipe nunc philosophiae, non pecuniae, studere. Seneca, Epistulae 17:5

If you wish to devote yourself to philosophy and to the soul, this pursuit is not able to be strong without frugality. This frugality is voluntary poverty. Therefore, take away those excuses of yours: "I don't yet have enough money. If ever I shall have that 'enough', then I shall give my entire self to philosophy." Begin now, to devote yourself to philosophy, not to money.

Good advice! When philosophical thinking becomes passion, then finances will fall into the correct perspective!

Remembrance Day

A friend from Canada gave me a poppy on Sunday. My sister forwarded a pictoral message entitled "Lest We Forget". I am awed at the courage of these brave, patriotic soldiers, whose choice to go isn't an option, but a life's drive, a must go. No greater love be known, but the love that lays down his own life for another's sake. I remember a few here: Uncle Richard, Richard Madden, Jesse Strong, Helen's son, Tim's friends...and I'll remember the fields in France, to which poppies return each year to remember the blood that was spilled...so many to thank, to honour.

Teddy Bear's Picnic

If you go out on the lawn tonight
You'd better go in disguise!
If you go out on the lawn tonight
You'll never believe your eyes.
For Bruno Bear, as bold as you please,
Will come and dine, way down on his knees
On sunflower hearts I hung in the sun for birdies!