Be A Voice For Darfur

Great article about the history of Darfur here.

You can send a postcard to President-elect Obama here.

Read more at savedarfur.org

Thanksgiving Wishes

I have two gifts for you...

One: This recipe for Pumpkin Scones with Berry Butter. You must have these for breakfast this weekend!!! Definitely with a steaming cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa (dark, not too sweet!) Really this is the best fall breakfast treat! Just had them for the first time. Mmmmm!!! So good!

Two: Eat your pumpkin scones and hot coffee/tea/cocoa while watching the 82nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!!! My gift to you is to remind you to watch, or tivo! I know this can easily get lost in the madness of feast preparations on Thanksgiving Day, but I think it's a MUST! I love these little historical facts I read about the parade, here. I'm hoping to someday be in New York with my kids to watch it on 34th street! Especially for this, the very best part...


the arrival of Santa to ring in the holiday season!
Hooray!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!!

Discover Bing Crosby and Friends!

Thinking Back

First year of college. 1993. The time of no worries.
This is what is on my mind this week.


So much of just this...a bunch of girls, from all different places, instant friends, complete trust and openness. Nothing else to do but devote all your time and energy into making best friends. Not a single care in the world! Never a thought about time. Of course, there was our studies, which is what we were there for. But I don't remember ever worrying about that! Wish I would have, a bit more.


We tasted complete freedom for the very first time, and it was THE BEST! We could run outside at 2 a.m. if we wanted. Just because! REBELS. Hee hee. So innocent!


No worries, just PLAY. Hi Angie!


The days of "unapologetic red lips", Olivia! :)


Getting ready together in the bathroom to go dancing.
100% in the moment, focused entirely on dance moves and boys, nothing else.


Hanging upside down in trees...in short shorts, socks, and loafers. These were the days!

Before time restrictions, mortgages, bills, work, STRESS, and worries! Worries about children, the world, waste, wars, Washington... Oh, those carefree days were so nice! It was a blast, while it lasted, and I'm so, so thankful for the memories.

A Citizen's Call To Action

The End of America: Letter Of Warning To A Young Patriot.

It's Common Sense for modern times. It has opened my eyes to how fragile our democracy really is. We take so many freedoms for granted. Even as I endorse this book, I'm deeply grateful that I have the freedom to do so without fear. Before this book, such gratitude would not have crossed my mind. I highly recommend this book to all! It's not about politics. It's about being informed so that we can hold our political leaders accountable.

Can't wait to read Naomi Wolf's latest: Give Me Liberty.



Thanks to Ann Marie for the book suggestions.

Favorite Holiday Musical

Thanks Chelle, for the fun Christmas post about your favorite holiday things! It got me thinking of one of my most favorite pre-holiday rituals. Meet Me In St. Louis.

Ever year, towards the end of fall, soon as the first snowfall hits, I'm ready to watch all of my favorite old movies, and some new ones, while I sit on my couch and crochet like an old lady. I LOVE it! Judy Garland movies were a favorite in our house growing up. Meet Me In St. Louis is one of the BEST.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was written for this musical, so Judy Garland was the first to ever sing it. I remember how much I loved her red, velvety, poofy-sleeved dress and ruby red lips. I'd put on red lipstick and look in the mirror and tell myself I looked just like her. This scene brings on the Christmas spirit every time. You can never call on it too early!

For Your Thoughts

A pretty image...


www.stevebulman.f9.co.uk/.../ireby_old.jpg

and two pretty poems and a song, for Ann Marie:

After I uploaded the picture and specifically noted the sweet little bell, I reached into my book to find A Light exists in spring, unable to think of a more suitable poem for an old church image. I lifted the bookmark from the page it had been left in, and about shuddered to see the words How still the bells..., underneath! I'd never read this one before. Strange coincidence, would you say?!

How still the bells in steeples stand,
Till, swollen with the sky,
They leap upon their silver feet
In frantic melody!


And of course, this too, because it's just guaranteed to make you gladd.

A LIGHT exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human nature feels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

-Emily Dickinson

Will We Ever Decide To Change?

A child's plea to the United Nations. 1992. Still we do not listen. WHY???


Perhaps our leaders will never, ever do this. It must start with us. Bottom-up change.

My friend Kalli is doing what she can by gathering donations for care packages to families in need this holiday season. She has inspired me and I vowed to do the same. I know many of us will do charitable things this holiday season, but I hope we remember to do it all through the year. It just takes one person like Kalli to actually start doing something, to spark a movement from others, which is exactly what is happening in her community. She is surprised by the enthusiasm coming even from strangers who wish to help.

Most people, I think, really want to help but don't know what to do or where to start. If you have an idea or something you feel passionate about, DO IT! Chances are there are many, many people who feel the same but have needed a leader to get it started! I feel guilty because all I seem to do is write on my little blog, while Kalli who never says a thing, simply goes out and starts DOING. I'm guilty of too much talking and not enough walking! But I will follow Kalli's example and start moving!

No Time For Grieving

Is that because there is a giant snowman above you? Chiquitita is my new favorite ABBA song of the week, so I just thought I'd you tube the video. First time watching it. I didn't even notice Mr. Frosty in the beginning at all, just so caught up in the words, "your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on..." and suddenly, a snowman surprise! I'm beyond, BEYOND in love with them now. This has made my day! I hope it makes yours too.

Artie + Utah= Happy Me!

I feel so happy and thankful for my friends who come to visit me! Artie was here this past weekend, and of course it was non-stop fun and laughs! Here we are posing for Sydney, my 5 year old who was taking the picture, after we took her and Jack to Madagascar 2. Crackalacka cracked me up. I'm five!





We played in the leaves, saw THREE movies at the theatre, at home watched Pete's Dragon, Gilmore Girls, The Up Series (next time Darby O'Gill and the Little People for sure), had an ABBA sing-a-long, ate at Salt Lake Pizza and Pasta, Citris Grill, Porcupine Grill, cruised to ABBA (I now own every ABBA song in the universe!), and went to my favorite places in Salt Lake: "Stars Hollow", Emigration Market (for the bran muffins which are THE BEST), and favorite neighborhoods on 9th and 9th, and 15 and 15 where the King's English book shop is. Picked up a couple of books there, and stayed for two hours talking and picture shooting. I got to play photographer all weekend...took lots of photos! My favorite thing we did, was talk and LAUGH. I think several times I laughed so hard that I thought I'd never be able to breathe again.

Artie, this one's for you and I'm gonna practice my singing for next time:



Agnetha has a rabbit on her dress.

THANKS FOR ALL THE FUN!

No More Limitations

OH SHERRY! Day after the election...

It's Been A Long Time Coming

I want to share a song that makes me feel more peaceful than any other. It's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Makes me so very GLADD.

I love the haunting, gorgeous melody. I love the circular theme of death being a new beginning. Peace and beauty in death, the soul marching onward as always to something new, and better.

It reminds me of my favorite Whitman passage:

"The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And if ever there was it led forward life....

All goes onward and outward....and nothing collapses,
And do die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier."

The lyrics:

It's been a long time coming
But I know you are the one
Here at home at last the days have ceased

It's been a long time coming
And I know we've just begun
All the pain has passed and there is peace

If the breath was warm and tender
Now the breath becomes a yawn
And I've been returned to sender
And I'm better since I'm gone...

It's been a long time coming
But I know you are the one
Here with time erased I'm at my best

It's been a long time coming
And I know we've just begun
Without a pretty face I can just rest

But the march is still ongoing
I can hear the drummers' roll
And it can't show signs of slowing
It is true, dear, it's my soul...

It's been a long time coming
But I know you are the one
Here at home at last the days have ceased

It's been a long time coming
And I know we've just begun
All the pain has passed and there is peace.

This morning we woke up to snow. Winter has come. Winter reminds me of death, which is really just the beginning of Spring. And when I heard Obama say "it's been a long time coming" in his speech, I immediately heard this song playing in my head. All the years of pain and suffering of African Americans in their long quest for equality has given birth to what was witnessed last night. Their sacrifices have made possible this day. I am filled with so much joy, I don't know where to put it.


Quaking Aspen in winter (Image credit: darkmatter [flickr])

May the hope for peace march on forever.

YES!

If you missed this last night, you missed something beautiful and inspired. HISTORY! A Milestone. My heart is filled to the max with happiness for many reasons but mostly, for African Americans who have waited for this day, for so very long. HOORAY! I also loved the joy on all those faces in Kenya villages who had been watching via satellite all night. He actually addressed them in his speech too! OH HAPPY JOY JOY!

Here it is! There are three parts. You can get to the last two through this first one.

GONNA BE ALRIGHT?

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

When all is said and done, it's gonna be alright! Right?

Here's a fun little fact I learned from a historian on t.v. the other night. Attack politics have always been around, and worse even in the day of Thomas Jefferson. During his campaign, his opponent's campaign cry was that Thomas Jefferson was "a howling Atheist" and "confirmed infidel". SO FUNNY! Read here.

And in honor of this day, a song that makes me feel SO patriotic!