Today when I arrived at school there was no down time to squeeze in that last swallow of coffee or check my mail. Excited middle school students were ready for the celebration to begin.The students in our middle school have kept our hall looking festive this holiday season. They decorated a tree that greeted us as we walked in each day in December. Today we had a Christmas party and during the gift exchange BZ got this great stuffed sled dog. Students then stuck on Santa hats and played basketball. Don't be fooled. It was bright and sunny, but also very cold. The thermometer read 11 degrees.When the party came to an end I had a moment of quiet reflection as I shut down the room for winter break. I thought about how much fun the students had together today. I loved the giving gestures I observed as students traded gifts that were more suited. They were planning get-togethers for break time, laughing, and wishing each other " Happy Holidays".
As I headed down the deserted hall to begin my break I felt blessed. I have a profession that provides unforgettable moments each day. Today those moments were joyous.
As I prepared goodie packages for family members tonight I noticed it was finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Since tomorrow is my last day of school before our holiday break, I think I can see Christmas looming in the near future now! The neighborhood has gotten in the holiday mood with signs and lights that brighten up my drive as I come and go.The indoor plants and the holly outside have helped surround us with holiday beauty. The animals are either watching it snow, taking a ride in the car, eating, watching, or resting. They love the heavenly smells as things bake. The cats are entertained with the pieces of ribbon and paper left around. The cats also keep waiting for lights to be hung around their cat door. The dogs can only hope a cookie or two will burn so they can " sample". Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Silver Valley Girl gave us our sibling assignment this week.
"One of my favorite Christmas carols is “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day”, based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Read or sing the words and write some reflections on the words of this poem/carol." You will find Raymond Pert'shere soon and Silver Valley Girl's here soon.
In sixth grade each month our teacher had us copy a poem, illustrate it, memorize it, then present it to the class. They were then hung up on the bulletin board. These were the type of assignments this sixth grade student liked. The poem she assigned for December was " I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". When I memorized the words and illustrated it I don't think I understood the meaning.
When I sang this carol in church what is vivid in my mind is the last line of each stanza "Peace on Earth Good Will to Men" . It had a traditional melody that stayed with me long after it had been sung. If my memory serves me right we have an old Christmas album at home that has this song on it. I remember hearing it often. I will have to check that out on Christmas Eve.
I didn't remember that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words. The original poem was called " Christmas Bells". Here are the words with the two extra stanzas that were dropped when John Calkin rearranged the words into the carol.
"Christmas Bells"
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words on Christmas, 1864. I thought it was another carol that had pulled the Christmas story from the one of the four gospels. He had used some New Testament verses, but he composed this while the Civil War was being fought. He had lost his wife in a tragic accident and his son was wounded in the war. After knowing the true reasons for his stanzas the words " Peace on earth, good-will to men" took on a different meaning. Longfellow through all his suffering saw hope.
One of the first albums I bought when I left home was a Carpenter's Christmas album. They do a beautiful arrangement of this song. The man that put together this video showed images he felt belonged with the lyrics while Karen Carpenter's unmistakable voice carries the melody.
I think it snowed most of the day at school. The official measurement by an eighth grade student about 2:45 was ten inches on the playground. Schools around us had sent their students home early. When I arrived home we had about eight inches in our front yard.JEJ captured this picture of the front gate and driveway earlier before we decided the fire was much more delightful.
Isabelle decided after being out for about five minutes while I was taking pictures that the top of the piano was so delightful.
Here is a fun Christmas meme that has been sighted on numerous blogs. Please feel free to participate if you have ten minutes of time between wrapping, mixing, entertaining and celebrating!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I switch it up. This year it is more wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or artificial? Now artificial. A wood stove and a dry tree just didn't mix.
3. When do you put up the tree? The first week of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? In February some time. I switch in January and do a whole winter theme with silver and blue decorations. I put out snowmen and snowflakes. It helps beat the winter blues.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes... and this year I tried a new vanilla spice nog that is very tasty.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first desk that I found under the tree Christmas morning.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I brought the one I received as a child with me when I left home. I still have it, but got another one a few years ago also. If I had more space to display I would love to collect Nativity scenes.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My husband's friend G.H.
9.Easiest person to buy for? my sister
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got some earring and a choker a few years ago... the earrings laid down on my shoulders and the choker did what is was supposed to do... it choked me.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try to pick up stuff throughout the year, but mostly between October and early December.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes... and they were well received.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's spritz, fruitcake and Nuts and Bolts.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel, White Christmas, and Grown-Up Christmas List
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to visit family in Idaho.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Believe me, I sang that song so much in music class in elementary school I could recite them in my sleep.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A springer spaniel angel in honor of my first dog Nikki.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When stores are out of things everyone needs like ornament hooks, candles, and blue candy canes ( a request from my students).
23. What I love most about Christmas? I love the music, the gathering with family to prepare meals and celebrate together, hearing from old friends, and singing Christmas carols in my little church.
At holiday time each year I do baking as gifts for family, friends, and neighbors. Some years I do a variety of cookies. Other years I mix it up and do breads and candies. This week-end I did holiday breads. The biggest reason I chose the following breads is because I still had a bumper crop of rhubarb and zucchini waiting in the freezer to be used. I love being able not only to give people homemade bread, but also home grown produce!I started with a recipe I haven't used very often. After JEJ did a taste test he decided it was a keeper. These Fresh Rhubarb Loaves combine tart rhubarb, the fragrance of nutmeg and other yummy ingredients to create a loaf that can be served at breakfast, brunch, or as a snack.
Fresh Rhubarb Loaves 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ( I use a bit more nutmeg from the spice bottle) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/3 cups finely diced rhubarb 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and beat until well blended. To the flour add the soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. With the mixer on low, combine the four mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Blend in the vanilla. By hand stir in the nuts and lastly the rhubarb.
Pour batter into two greased and floured 9x5x2 inch bread pans. Sprinkle the mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top of unbaked loaves. ( I skipped this and just sprinkled them with white sparkling sugar when I took them out.) Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before removing from pans.
I also made Zucchini Bread Plus which is posted here. The delicious Pumpkin-Chip Bread was the third recipe I mixed up and it can be found here. All three of these recipes are found in the Best of Friends, Etc. Cookbook by Darlene Glantz Skees.
Today when I arrived at school there was no down time to squeeze in that last swallow of coffee or check my mail. Excited middle school students were ready for the celebration to begin.
The students in our middle school have kept our hall looking festive this holiday season.
They decorated a tree that greeted us as we walked in each day in December.
Today we had a Christmas party and during the gift exchange BZ got this great stuffed sled dog.
Students then stuck on Santa hats and played basketball. Don't be fooled. It was bright and sunny, but also very cold. The thermometer read 11 degrees.
When the party came to an end I had a moment of quiet reflection as I shut down the room for winter break. I thought about how much fun the students had together today. I loved the giving gestures I observed as students traded gifts that were more suited. They were planning get-togethers for break time, laughing, and wishing each other " Happy Holidays".
As I headed down the deserted hall to begin my break I felt blessed. I have a profession that provides unforgettable moments each day. Today those moments were joyous.
The indoor plants and the holly outside have helped surround us with holiday beauty. 
The animals are either watching it snow, taking a ride in the car, eating, watching, or resting. They love the heavenly smells as things bake. The cats are entertained with the pieces of ribbon and paper left around. The cats also keep waiting for lights to be hung around their cat door. The dogs can only hope a cookie or two will burn so they can " sample".
JEJ captured this picture of the front gate and driveway earlier before we decided the fire was much more delightful.
At holiday time each year I do baking as gifts for family, friends, and neighbors. Some years I do a variety of cookies. Other years I mix it up and do breads and candies. This week-end I did holiday breads. The biggest reason I chose the following breads is because I still had a bumper crop of rhubarb and zucchini waiting in the freezer to be used. I love being able not only to give people homemade bread, but also home grown produce!
I started with a recipe I haven't used very often. After JEJ did a taste test he decided it was a keeper. These Fresh Rhubarb Loaves combine tart rhubarb, the fragrance of nutmeg and other yummy ingredients to create a loaf that can be served at breakfast, brunch, or as a snack.
