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19 12, 2013

Christmas in Texas

By judythemorgan|2021-12-03T06:44:12-06:00December 19th, 2013|Holidays, one word Wednesday|0 Comments

Celebrating Christmas in Texas is different. No snow, no cold, and a few other traditions unique to the Lone Star State.

We’re excited to be where we have both snow and cold this year, but memories of our Texas Christmases linger.

A Christmas classic story to read was The Night Before Christmas in Texas, That Is by Leon A. Harris, Based on the well-known “Night Before Christmas,” this tale with a definite Texas spin has entertained audiences for more than forty years.

From the inside cover flap: A Western Santa Claus-decked out in Levis, a ten-gallon Stetson, a cowboy vest, and with a bandana around his neck-makes his Christmas journey on a buckboard piled high with presents. Swooping in over the prairie to the amazement of sleepy residents and jackrabbits alike, a plump, jovial Santa parks his buckboard outside a peaceful ranch house. From boot-stuffing gifts to the faithful “hosses” pulling his “sleigh,” this is a Christmas tale rich in Texas tradition.

Gene Autry recorded the poem for Columbia Records in the 1940s or 50s. I have a copy of the original 78 record.

Take a listen to a later release:

These are some other Texas Christmas traditions we’ve brought to Colorado with us:

Hanging a pickle on the Christmas tree

Lining our sidewalk with Luminaries

Eating tamales on Christmas Eve

Christmas is next week. I’ll be taking a break to enjoy my family and friends.

Before I go, though…

You can take the gal out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the gal.

While I’ll be celebrating Christ’s birth in the snowy woods of SW Colorado this year, I’ll be singing…

And that’s my wish for all of you — MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y’ALL! See you next year.

16 12, 2013

Christmas Customs & Traditions – Christmas Tree

By judythemorgan|2013-12-16T06:00:30-06:00December 16th, 2013|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

The Christmas tree tradition as we know it today began in Germany in the 16th century. Added lighting began with Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, who was awed brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens, wired tree branches to recapture the scene.

The custom was slow to gain popularity in American. Remember, the colonies were founded by Puritans who held to a strict sacred observation of Christmas. In fact, in 1659, hanging decorations brought fines for breaking a law that made any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense.

Our tribute to our German ancestry.

As the numbers of German and Irish immigrants grew, the Puritan legacy lessened. Still, as late as 1840, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

That view began to change when a sketch of Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, standing with their children around a Christmas tree, appeared in the Illustrated London News. By 1846, the custom of setting up a Christmas tree arrived on the east coast.

Early Americans decorated with homemade ornaments, fruits, and garland of popcorn or cranberries. Electricity brought lighted trees. Perhaps the most famous lighted tree is the one in Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree displayed for the first time in 1931.

Christmas trees play an important role in decorating for us. Even if we’re not at home we decorate a tree. That’s our grandson Michael decorating the tiny artificial tree we used the year we went to Frisco, CO, to have ourselves a white Christmas.

When we lived in Texas, we had trees in every room. Each tree was special. A tree with Texas state capitol ornaments graced a corner of the dining room.

Two trees with White House collectible ornaments sat on the dining table.

Upstairs in the loft, we set up a Victorian tree with our vintage ornaments surrounded by children’s toys…a tribute to Albert and Victoria.

Some years we had creative trees like this one done by our grandson Matthew from giant TinkerToys.

On the kitchen table, you’d find a gumdrop tree. A tradition started by my Irish grandmother.

This year we’re in our new home in Colorado in the middle of adding a garage addition with a bedroom and studies above.

All our Christmas decorations are in storage awaiting the new space. :-(

But Christmas will not be Christmas without a tree so we bought a small living tree that we’ll replant when we do landscaping in the spring.

Looks a bit like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.

Soon, our daughter and her family will arrive, and we’ll go into the woods and cut a real tree.

Then it’ll really feel like Christmas around here.

YOUR TURN:

Is a Christmas tree part of your holiday tradition?

13 12, 2013

Miller Farm Friday: You Know it is Thanksgiving When…

By judythemorgan|2013-12-13T06:00:29-06:00December 13th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Guest Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The driveway looks like a parking lot – five people, five cars.

The living room looks like a dormitory.

It was great to have the girls home for the long Thanksgiving weekend.

We went shopping and I could actually ask if what I was trying on looked good together. Teenage boys aren’t much help with that.

We did have a problem, though.

We went through more toilet paper and milk than normal. (I wonder if there is a relationship there.)

I also ended up with a pair of denim capri pants that no one is claiming.

Oh well, I’ll just consider the capri pants payment for a weekend at home.

11 12, 2013

Claymation Christmas Celebration – One Word Wednesday

By judythemorgan|2013-12-11T06:00:35-06:00December 11th, 2013|Holidays, one word Wednesday|0 Comments

If you’re not familiar with A Claymation Christmas Celebration, you’ve missed a real treat.

The television special won a 1988 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program following its original broadcast on the CBS TV in 1987.

It was my youngest daughter’s favorite holiday television special. Still is.

We watched the show live and then for years afterward on VHS to kick-start the holiday at our house. She’s now sharing with her children.

Producer and director Will Vinton used stop motion clay animation to create awesome animation that equals some of today’s high tech productions.

So what’s the story about?

Two prehistoric dinosaurs one named Rex, an intellectual tyrannosaurus, and the other Herb, a dimwitted, bespectacled styracosaurus with a voracious appetite, are the main characters.

The pair guides you along a typical small town’s Christmas choral celebration with various Christmas carols preformed. The California Raisins are special guest stars.

Throughout the story, Rex tries to explain the true pronunciation and meaning of the term wassail. Different groups sing their rendition, all of which are lyrically incorrect.

Finally, a large truck loaded with elfin, cider-swilling townsfolk arrives, singing the correct version. When one of the townies explains wassailing means going around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols and getting treats and cordials, Rex’s theories are validated, much to his delight.

My favorite carol from the show is “We Three Kings.”

The Walrus ice-skating to “Angels We Have Heard on High” is a very close second.

If you want, you can watch the full thirty-minute show on YouTube here.

For repeated viewing, you can purchase your own VHS video from Amazon or a DVD with Will Vinton’s Claymation productions for Easter and Halloween.

9 12, 2013

Christmas Customs and Traditions – Carols and Caroling

By judythemorgan|2021-12-11T10:44:25-06:00December 9th, 2013|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Every year, the holidays bring Christmas music playing non-stop through store speakers and on every radio station. Satellite radio devotes entire channels to holiday songs. Cable networks have channels exclusively for holiday music and shows.

Christmas carols show up at the same time every year and their annual appearance signals the descent of the Christmas spirit.

According to blogger Nathan Heller, “A December without them would be strange and slightly lonely, yet the prospect of their absence tends to be, by one week in, a reason in itself to look forward to the New Year.”

The word carol or carole is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin, meaning a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. A carol, by broad definition, means a song of joy.

Yuletide songbooks overflow. Church hymnals devoted whole sections to Christmas songs.

Probably the most popular Christmas song is Jingle Bells, a song written by James Lord Pierpont, not for Christmas, but for the sleigh races held in his New England hometown.

Johnny Marks, a Jew who specialized in Christmas songs, gave us “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer“,”Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree“, and “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.” There’s a complete list of his songs here.

I still dig out my copy of the original Rudolph sheet music every year.

But the tunes I think of as Christmas carols date back to the 14^th century and the medieval English songs written with alternating verse and refrain, at times blending two languages such as English and Latin.

Songs sung around the themes of the Christ child or the Virgin Mary.

The carols bring to mind the Victorian era and Christmas caroling with ladies with muffs and men in top hats.

And, family times around the piano on Christmas Eve singing carols from the church hymnal.

A tradition our family carries from generation to generation.

Every year new versions of these old songs, secular and traditional, emerge.

The popularity of flash mob caroling found in the video below confirms the impact Christmas carols and caroling can have.

People stop what they are doing. They listen. They join in.

Whether you lean toward secular songs or Christmas hymns or newer contemporary songs, carols and caroling bring a Christmas spirit that speaks to the continuity of Christmas past and a hope of Christmas future.

YOUR TURN: Do you have a favorite Christmas tune?

2 12, 2013

Christmas Traditions and Customs – Advent Wreath

By judythemorgan|2013-12-02T06:00:19-06:00December 2nd, 2013|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the spirit of giving and love that abounds. All the traditions and customs fascinate me. This month, I’ll be sharing stories about different Christmas traditions and customs.

Today I want to talk about the advent wreath with one caveat: I’m not a theologian or a preacher. For theology questions, I highly recommend this website, Notbyworks.org

I’ll be offering “Just the facts,” as fictional Dragnet detective Joe Friday always said – and, of course, an opinion, or two.

Yesterday, December 1, marked the beginning of advent season for this year.

Not familiar with Advent or Advent Wreaths? Let me share the facts.

The word advent comes from the Latin adventus meaning arrival or coming, particularly of something having great importance. For Christians, Advent is the spiritual preparation for Christ’s birth on Christmas.

Christians in the following denominations observe Advent:

• Catholic

• Orthodox

• Anglican / Episcopalian

• Lutheran

• Methodist

• Presbyterian

The observation of advent begins on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas Day, or the Sunday, which falls closest to November 30, and lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24.

Advent also happens to mark the beginning of the Christian church calendar.

The origins of advent began sometime after the 4th century as a time of preparation for Epiphany, and not in anticipation of Christmas. In the 6th century, St. Gregory the Great associated the season with the Second Coming of Christ.

By the Middle Ages, the church had extended the celebration of advent to include the coming of Christ through his birth in Bethlehem, his future coming at the end of time, and his presence among us through the promised Holy Spirit.

Modern-day church advent services include symbolic customs related to all three “advents” of Christ, depending upon the denomination.

Some people incorporate advent activities into their family holiday traditions if their church does not formally recognize a season of Advent.

Using an advent wreath can help diminish the commercialism of Christmas and constructing an advent wreath can be a fun Christmas project.

The wreath contains three purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle set on a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. The wreath itself symbolizes the coming of the light of Christ into the world.

In churches, the candles are lit on successive Sundays during the worship service

The Prophecy Candle is first. Many churches use blue to distinguish Advent from the observation of Lent.

Second Sunday another purple candle is lit. This time the Bethlehem candle. Third Sunday candle is the pink Shepherd candle. Fourth Sunday is the last purple candle called the Angel Candle. The White Candle or Christ Candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

Here’s another version of the candles’ symbolism:

Read more about the symbolism of the advent wreath, candles, and colors here.

YOUR TURN: Is an advent wreath part of your Christmas season?

29 11, 2013

Disturbances on the Farm – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2013-11-29T06:00:32-06:00November 29th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A guest blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

This has been a very disturbing two weeks on Miller Farm.

Last Wednesday morning I discovered a dead quail in the cage in the chicken coop. This would not have been so bad except the quail was half-eaten.

I thought perhaps I had forgotten to feed them on Tuesday and their cannibalistic instincts surfaced. I gave them plenty of food and went on about my day.

Thursday morning I discovered another dead, half-eaten quail. This was not a welcome addition to my morning routine.

I looked all around the coop for evidence of the savage beast that was destroying my quail, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

On Friday morning, I discovered not one, but two dead, half-eaten quail.

I was running late and didn’t have time to dispose of them before heading to school to play piano for chapel. When I returned, I removed the two dead quail bodies.

Then I decided to move the two remaining live quail to a different cage. Whatever was getting into the cage was certain to return. The quail were somewhat distressed at their new accommodations, but I thought it was better for them to be somewhat disturbed than very dead.

Saturday evening when I went to close up the chickens, I could not find one of the bantam hens. I thought perhaps she had flown to the larger bird side and was in the big coop.

When I let the chickens out on Sunday, she was not there. I did find a bunch of white feathers leading me to believe a hawk was the culprit.

Later that afternoon, a gray bantam disappeared leaving only a pile of feathers.

This was extremely upsetting. Was it possible whatever had eaten the quail was now moving up to the bantams? Would it then turn on the larger birds?

A more pertinent question was – could I convince the predator to carry off some of the overpopulation of roosters instead of the quail and bantams?

The following Tuesday, I saw a flurry of activity in the chicken yard. I figured one of the large hens had gotten into the bantam side and was trying to return.

Upon closer examination, I realized it was not a hen, but a hawk who had invaded the bantam pen.

One of the larger roosters was fighting it off through the fence between the bantam and large chicken yards.

I ran out into the yard, but the hawk flew off. I quickly took stock of the bantams and found none missing. I scanned the trees for the murderous hawk, but there was none.

Returning to the kitchen, I watched like a hawk for the hawk (is that redundant?).

Brian showed me how to use the pellet gun should the hawk return. I’ll teach that hawk to mess with Chicken Wrangler Sara!

Tonight when I went to close the chickens, I discovered a giant possum under the bantam coop. I screamed and headed to the house to get Possum Wrangler Brian.

He grabbed the pellet gun and went after the possum. It was harder than I imagined.

Finally the deed was done. Brian thinks it could have been the possum getting the quail. Not anymore.

Now if we could just get the hawk, all would be calm on Miller Farm – at least in the chicken yard.

27 11, 2013

OVER THE RIVER through the woods– One Word Wednesday

By judythemorgan|2013-11-27T08:00:20-06:00November 27th, 2013|Holidays, one word Wednesday|0 Comments

Thanksgiving brings to mind a very old song first written as poem titled “A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day.”

The author Lydia Maria Francis Child (1802-1880) was a teacher, a writer, abolitionist, women’s rights activist, opponent of American expansionism, Indian rights activist, novelist, and journalist. A busy woman for her day. She’s best known for her Thanksgiving poem written in 1844.

The poem celebrates her childhood memories of going to her grandparents’ home. You might recognize the first verse from “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” The Peanuts gang sings the first verse.

Modern Thanksgivings aren’t normally associated with snow, but in the early 19th century, New England experienced colder winters during a Little Ice Age.

Sorta like travelers today will be braving tomorrow.

I offer the poem, set to music, for you to sing as you travel.

25 11, 2013

Counting Thanksgiving Treasures

By judythemorgan|2023-11-19T12:48:08-06:00November 25th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday, Thanksgiving|0 Comments

It’s three days until Turkey Day.

Time for family reunions, food, fun,

travel, football games, Black Friday

and being thankful.

Not necessarily in that order.

Family reunions may be iffy this year with a major storm wreaking havoc over the entire U.S.

Off-topic here, but I found this interesting blog about a similar weather pattern fifty years ago. Read November 1963 vs November 2013. Is Weather History Repeating Itself? for the full comparison of weather history.

Even Black Friday shopping will be difficult. I do worry about all those people camped outside stores to be first in line for the extra savings items. It’s got to be cold and wet in their tents. Are the savings really worth all the effort and discomfort?

This year things are different than they were for that first Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast. What hasn’t changed is the basis for Thanksgiving.

The celebration became an annual tradition with Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation of a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

As early as 1607, the inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Virginia held Thanksgiving services. Celebrations rooted in their religious beliefs and to show gratitude to their Heavenly Father.

Pilgrims were Puritan Separatists. Their journey to America began with a desire to escape religious persecution under Elizabeth I and the Church of England or Anglican Church.

Personally, I believe being thankful shouldn’t be limited to one holiday. An attitude of gratitude should be an everyday occurrence. Check my blog.

Because it is the season, I want to acknowledge my Thanksgiving treasures today:

my loving husband (who’s the hero model for my novels)

my family and friends (far and near)

my pets (who brighten every day)

my church (which is my anchor)

and

most especially you, my readers.

As you go about the preparations for your celebration, spend some time thinking about the origins of the holiday and say a special thank you for your Thanksgiving treasures.

And, if you are traveling, Godspeed.

22 11, 2013

Chicken Feed Famine on the Farm – Miller Farm Friday

By judythemorgan|2013-11-22T05:00:52-06:00November 22nd, 2013|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A guest blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Around the Miller Farm feeding the chickens is a multi-step process.

First, I go to the feed store and buy 50-pound sacks of lay pellets.

Then I bring the sacks home and move them into 5-gallon buckets. This prevents non-chickens (i.e. rats) from getting into the food in the shed. Most of the buckets have lids that snap on and are difficult to remove. Beekeeper Brian was kind enough to purchase special screw-top lids to make life easier for me.

I fill two screw top buckets with feed and the rest goes into regular buckets. I move the feed from bucket to bucket as needed. It is all quite efficient when I am paying attention.

Monday I was not paying attention. I went out to move feed from a regular bucket to an empty screw top bucket.

The regular bucket was empty.

In fact, all the buckets were empty. The poor chickens had no food. Their feeder was empty.

It was a chicken feed famine on Miller Farm.

So I closed up the shed and headed to the feed store. I went up to the counter and asked for two sacks of lay pellets.

The woman behind the counter informed me they were out of lay pellets. She said they’d run out about an hour ago before I arrived.

I was speechless.

She asked if I had enough to make it until their delivery arrived on Tuesday. I was embarrassed to admit we had no lay pellets at all.

She offered to sell me a 10-pound sack to get me through. Since I knew Tuesday would be a busy day, I bought a second 10-pound sacks to last until Wednesday when I could make another trip to the feed store and purchased a 50-pound bag.

On Wednesday, when I returned from the feed store, the chickens obviously recognized the larger sack and anxiously waited the arrival of feed in their feeder. I scattered some around the yard and filled the feeder.

The remainder I put into the appropriate buckets thus ending the famine on Miller Farm.

Last week I learned that 30 chickens are not the same as 46 chickens. This week I learned that 10-pounds of feed does not go as far as 50 pounds.

Even the chickens recognized the larger feed bag.

Math is a very useful subject.

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