THANK YOU FOR VISITING "MUSINGS". HOPE YOU WILL SIGN MY GUESTBOOK AND FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON ANY INDIVIDUAL POST. COMMENTS OPTION IS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH POST. I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR VISIT AND RETURN OFTEN!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
MEMORIES...
Dedicated to newlyweds Stacey & Brandon, Marcia & Gary and to two old folks who think they are newlyweds...Arlene & Tom!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
THE FLOWER...A BIT OF HISTORY...
During his stint as US ambassador to Mexico (the 1st, by Pres. Madison) Joel R. Poinsett came across a plant, native to Southern Mexico, with an incredibly beautiful red bloom. 
His love of botany and the "coincidence" of having a greenhouse in South Carolina, he sent plants back home where he shared the plants with friends and botanical gardens. The sap(known today as latex) has been used to treat fevers. The bracts of the plant provided purple dye. Montezuma loved them and had them brought into Mexico City by the "caravan loads." Some have claimed this plant is dangerous. Most recent info says it is not. Historian and horticulturist William Prescott was asked to give the plant a name. Having just finished a book about the Conquest of Mexico, he was familiar with the fact that Joel Poinsett had introduced this plant to the U.S. Thus, we have the Poinsettia.
His love of botany and the "coincidence" of having a greenhouse in South Carolina, he sent plants back home where he shared the plants with friends and botanical gardens. The sap(known today as latex) has been used to treat fevers. The bracts of the plant provided purple dye. Montezuma loved them and had them brought into Mexico City by the "caravan loads." Some have claimed this plant is dangerous. Most recent info says it is not. Historian and horticulturist William Prescott was asked to give the plant a name. Having just finished a book about the Conquest of Mexico, he was familiar with the fact that Joel Poinsett had introduced this plant to the U.S. Thus, we have the Poinsettia.Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A CHRISTMAS REMINDER...
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?"VIRGINIA O'HANLON."115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.
"VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus.
The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.
Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A REMINDER FOR US ALL...
At Christmas play and make good cheer
For Christmas comes but once a year.
~Thomas Tusser
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
STRETCHING THE SEASON...
As we begin the Christmas season let's begin by giving ourselves two gifts. We can continue our tradition of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day by beginning a Gratitude Journal. Reminding ourselves throughout the year of all our many gifts and blessings will help keep us healthy and happy. Our second gift is to create a plan that provides us with multiple opportunities to make giving a year round activity. May I make a suggestion? To help feed homeless animals go to: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/ and at no cost to you provide six bowls of food for a needy animal. Let us know about your favorite way to give and we will help!Thanks Tom for the heads up about this site.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A BIT OF HISTORY ON THIS HOLIDAY...
Mary Chilton Winslow was 12 years old and on her way to the New World...America. Legend has it that she raced John Alden to the front of the launch that was bringing the Mayflower passengers ashore. She won! and thus became the first woman to set foot on Plymouth Rock. Does that mean that she was also the first person?...history is not clear on this ... strongly suggesting to me that perhaps it was a woman who first set foot in the New World...Perhaps herstory would be different than history!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
When autumn wind goes running
It does some magic things.
It gives the shadows dancing shoes
It gives the bright leaves wings
When autumn wind goes running
It curls the bonfire's tail of smoke
And shares a little whispered joke
With cornstalks who delight to prattle
It turns a seed pod into a rattle
When autumn wind goes running
~Unknown
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
A BIT OF HERSTORY...
During the 1500-1600's, 100,000 Europeans lost their lives from being found guilty of witchcraft. 19 people died in Salem Village, Mass. in the 1690's for the same charges. Bridget Bishop was the first woman in Salem to be put to death for witchcraft...she was the owner of two successful Taverns in Salem, she dressed a bit too flashy for some folks, spoke her mind too openly, and took orders from no one...never performed any magic, didn't even own a cat...but deemed a witch, she was. She proclaimed her innocence till death: "I am no witch, I am innocent, I know nothing of it." 8 days after her trial began she was found guilty and was hanged...18 more would die before the towns people finally came to their senses,
hysteria lost its fervor, ending the witch hunts and killings...not one of the prouder moments in our his/herstory!
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