NEW YEAR INTERLUDE, Regular posting starts again on January 6

Courtesy of Sybolism Wiki.

I salute you. I am your friend, and my love for you goes deep.  There is nothing I can give you which you have not. But there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant.
Take peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. There is radiance and glory in darkness, could we but see.  And to see, we have only to look. I beseech you to look!
Life is so generous a giver. But we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you.
Everything we call a trial, a sorrow or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there. The gift is there and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Your joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty beneath its covering, that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it; that is all! But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country home. Fra Giovanni Giocondo (1435-1515), Christmas Eve Letter (1513) to Countess Aldobrandeschi

VERY BEST WISHES

FOR 2011

BE THE PEACE!

CHRISTMAS INTERLUDE: A STORY-POEM FOR CHIRSTMAS EVE

Courtesy of Petr Kratochvil, Public Domain Pictures.net.

AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION ON THIS SITE WILL BE COMPLETE AND THERE WILL BE REGULAR FOOD POSTS. MEANWHILE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOREBEARANCE AND HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING IN HONOR OF THE HOLIDAY.

I received this poem in an email from Ellis Moore, poet-blogger and short-story writer (What's In My Head?) and thought it rather delightful for Christmas Eve. Enjoy! And check out Ellis' site. It's a fun one ...

Twas the night before Christmas and out on the ranch

The pond was froze over and so was the branch.

The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.

The kids were all home on vacation from school,

And happier young folks you never did see-

Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.

Then suddenly, some time around eight o'clock,

There came a surprise that gave them a shock!

The power went off, the TV went dead!

When Grandpa came in from out in the shed

With an armload of wood, the house was all dark.

"Just what I expected," they heard him remark.

"Them power line wires must be down from the snow.

Seems sorter like times on the ranch long ago."

"I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom.  "With their light,

And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right."

The teenagers all seemed enveloped in gloom.

Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,

Uncased his old fiddle and started to play

That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh.

Mom started to sing and first thing they knew

Both Pop & the kids were all singing it too.

They sang Christmas carols. They sang "Holy Night."

Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.

They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth,

And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.

They stayed up till midnight - and would you believe,

The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.

Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn;

And when the kids wakened, the power was on..

"The power company sure got the line repaired quick,"

Said Grandpa - and no one suspected his trick.

Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun,

He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun!

-anonymous-

♥ PEACE TO ALL ♥

May your days be joy-filled whether or not you celebrate!

HAPPY HANUKKAH

HAPPY HANUKKAH TO OUR JEWISH FRIENDS AND READERS.

1996 HANUKKAH STAMP JOINTLY ISSUES BY U.S. AND ISRAEL

NUTMEG, Product Recall, possible salmonella contamination

(November 30, 2010) - - In response to a recall commenced by its supplier (Mincing Overseas Spice Company, Dayton, New Jersey), Frontier Natural Products Co-op, is voluntarily recalling two products manufactured with non-organic nutmeg that were sold under the Frontier brand and under the Whole Foods Market brand listed below that contain nutmeg supplied by Mincing Overseas Spice Company. The nutmeg has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

"Consumption of products containing Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms) endocarditic and arthritis."

Recalled products were sold in all 50 states and in some parts of Canada to distributors, retailers and consumers. Below is the list of products containing the nutmeg:

		Frontier Bulk Product
Brand	Full Product Name	Size/Weight	UPC Code	Lot Code
Frontier Bulk	Nutmeg Ground	16.00 oz.	0-89836-00165-8	0306