We have been marvelling at the creativity that adds magic to this time of year…
This needle-felted animation has spread a lot of joy with its painstaking attention to detail, its cosy atmosphere and, of course, its happy ending.
We have been trying to hear the angels sing
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!Edmund Hamilton Sears from It came upon the Midnight Clear, a poem written in 1849 as a response to the dire state of the world at that time.
Busby says, “Try as I might, I simply cannot hear any angels – if only those men of strife out there would just hush their noise a bit, we might all be able to enjoy a message of peace and goodwill. Sigh.”
Don’t worry, Busby. It’s true that we can’t change the world, but even small dogs can make the world around them a bit better. I think that every time we do something kind, creative or cheering we add to the goodwill chorus and that these acts ripple outwards. You need to watch It’s a Wonderful Life!
Did you know that the study of angels is called angelology? Children can read more about angels, here: https://kids.kiddle.co/Angel
Older readers might like to read about kindness as a way to improve the world around them, here: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/about-us
There’s a great calendar, here, with a prompt for each day of the year, here:https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/home/calendars/2024/2024_RAK_kindness_calendar.pdf
Persian Angel, 1555 – public domain
I have been trying to read this carol as the poem it was originally intended to be -it is surprisingly difficult.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold;
“Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heaven’s all-gracious King” –
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel-sounds
The blessed angels sing.
But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring; –
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing; –
Oh, rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When Peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
— The images above are by Tim Jonke, from the children’s book A Night the Stars Danced for Joy by Bob Hartman. See further below.
We have been listening to this captivating version of the carol by Busby’s favourite duo, The Hound and the Fox.
Here is the version most often heard in Britain/ the Commonwealth: https://youtu.be/jjvLBEk1UfU
We have been reading…
this children’s Christmas story which focuses on the viewpoint of the shepherds. Sadly, it is out of print, but is available preloved from online booksellers. You can also find online readings.
As you know, we like a good mandala or origami idea – you can find some angel themed creativity, here: https://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/christmas-mandala-with-angels and a children’s version, here: http://www.leehansen.com/coloring/Holidays/Christmas/pages/angels-mandala-coloring.html#.VIhU1THF8g0
Origami angels are here, https://youtu.be/O1ZU-0exYcE
We have been appreciating a bit of seasonal reindeer humour…
Reindeer Report
by U. A. Fanthorpe
Chimneys: colder.
Flightpaths: busier.
Driver: Christmas (F)
Still baffled by postcodes.
Children: more
And stay up later.
Presents: heavier.
Pay: frozen.
Mission in spite
Of all this
Accomplished –
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
You can view the original cartoon by Fiona Katauskas, below. It is child-friendly, but the link is to a newspaper with reporting of current affairs. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2023/dec/26/around-the-world-in-24-hours-what-santa-did-next Older readers might like to see more of her work, here:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/gallery/2023/dec/29/the-best-of-fiona-katauskas-cartoons-2023
One of us has been thinking about…
next year’s one word theme, 24 for 24 list and 2024 challenge. The other one is quite happy as he is, thank you.
If you want to find out more about these goals, all will become clear, here:https://gretchenrubin.com/getting-started-the-24-for-2024-trifecta/
This takes a bit of thought, so better to take your time and start when you are ready rather than rush for the 1st January.
And finally – Happy New Year, everyone!
Thank you…
everyone who has signed up to follow this blog. Every time we see a new name, I feel great and Busby feels (p)awesome.
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