Thesaurus Thursday: Auld Lang Syne

Word of the day: Auld Lang Syne; Song of Farewell
Scottish translation: old long since

The "word of the day" is chosen by me and usually has something to do with my day. This is an "increase your vocabulary activity"




A Scottish poem believed to be written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294) information from Wikipedia

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Here's to you my bloggy friends--and all the days behind!

I appreciate so much the time we spend together

Happy New Year!



pick your poison--mine is cherry limeade :)

If I were to make resolutions they would look like this--post courtesy of Mary the Teach


my most viewed Thesaurus Thursday this year

Book Review: The Christmas Train

The Christmas Train


by


David Baldacci


About the Book
(Barnes and Noble)

Tom Langdon, a weary and cash-strapped journalist, is banned from flying when a particularly thorough airport security search causes him to lose his cool. Now, he must take the train if he has any chance of arriving in Los Angeles in time for Christmas with his girlfriend.

About the Author
(Barnes and Noble)

Washington, D.C.-based lawyer-turned-author, David Baldacci writes legal thrillers that are as tightly constructed as they are authoritative. Readers know his books, with their cinematic plots and colorful details, are sure to offer the sort of breathless entertainment that thrillers always promise but can’t always deliver.

In the tradition of John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, this holiday tale offers humor, romance, mystery, and a reminder of what Christmas is all about-by seven-time New York Times, bestselling author David Baldacci.

My Review:


The Christmas Train was a fun read. In 2007 I took an overnight trip on the Am Trak so as the author described things from the train I could see it all clearly. I had many a chuckle as he describe the unusual phenomenon that takes place as people travel together in such close quarters. It’s amazing how people let go of their inhibitions and make friends of total strangers.


This story was a delightful travelogue as well as a romance with a little mystery thrown in. It was a fun and entertaining holiday read.

my favorite quote from the book

"It's my experience that most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello."

this book is part of my e-library on my kindle








more January reviews can be found here

Wordless Wednesday: Still Snowing

the fence line and shed at my dad's house

photo by

more WW here

my most viewed Wordless Wednesday this year

Tuesday Tales: New Year's Eve

New Years Eve many years ago, my son and daughter celebrate

New Year's Eve

Play a thin tune

on a paper horn

Old is dying

New is born

Scatter confetti

over the floor

Sweep an old year

Out the door

Blow up a wish

in a bright balloon

Whisper dreams

To a midnight moon

Play a loud tune

on a paper horn

Old is dying

New is born

by Myra Cohn Livingson

my most viewed Tuesday Tale this year

Tuesday Teaser: The Christmas Train

The Christmas Train

by

David Baldacci

My name is Tom Langdon, I am a grandson of Mark Twain.  Did you know my grandfather began a book about his cross country travel aboard a train--he never finished it.  So my father, from his deathbed asked me to take a train ride, cross country and write the story our grandfather didn't.  So that's where I am; traveling across the United States via the Capitol Limited from Washington D.C. to Chicago and The Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA.

"It's my experience that most folk who ride trains could care less where they're going. For them it's the journey itself and the people they meet along the way. You see, at every stop this train makes, a little bit of America, a little bit of your country, gets on and says hello."

location 1783 in my e-book on my kindle


hosted by Miz B at Should be Reading

Monday Mission: Bumper Sticker/Vanity Plate

Today's Mission is to create a post in the form of a bumper sticker or a Vanity Plate

This one is for Sweetings who loves tea parties

hosted by the painted maypole

If you'd like to view my most viewed Monday Mission it's here

Monday Movies: Historical

Today's topic is . . . Historical Films

hosted by Molly at the Bumbles

I love historical films--I think this just might be my favorite genre.  My list could go on forever so I decided to focus on one historical figure who is my all time favorite--King Arthur

Excalibur--I thought this one was weird

First Knight--starring Sean Connery as King Arthur and Julie Ormond as Guinevere--a lovely May/December romance.  I wasn't thrilled with Richard Gere as Lancelot.

Mists of Avalon--Loved the books and the movie.

Quest for Camelot--an animated film

The Sword and the Stone--Disney's version

King Arthur --A film that supposes Arthur was a Roman, I thought it interesting and I loved Keira Knightley's unique version of Guinevere

Camelot--my absolute favorite starring Richard Harris as King Arthur and Vanessa Redgrave as Guinevere.  The musical is perfection




Arthur and Guinevere

2010 Reading Challenges and 2009 reading wrap-up

I'm new to this having only participated in 2 reading challenges so far.  I've found it fun and interesting to look for books with the challenges in mind.  From looking at the "bookish" blogs it seems that I'm supposed to make a post at the beginning of the year indicating which challenges I'm participating in and then do a wrap up at the end of the year.  I'm a spontaneous reader--so I'm finding it difficult to pick what books I'll read, so I'll just pick the challenges now and the books as I go along.

I've chosen to participate in the following challenges"
2010 Fantasy Reading Challenge--this challenge ends in October so I will read 4 fantasy books
Bronte Challenge--this challenge ends in June so I will read 2 works I have not read yet; Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell and Juvenilia by Charlotte Bronte.
Buy a Book Challenge--only 1 book is required and as I've already purchased 2 Neil Gaimon books I think I will read these and add whatever other books I purchase
E-book Challenge--Since I purchased my Kindle most of my reading is in e-book form
Fairy Tale Reading Challenge--I've read many of these books based on Fairy Tales and really enjoyed them.  I'll set my goal for 2
Take Another Chance Challenge--There are 12 challenges so I'll try to complete 1/month
TBR Challenge--I like to do things in clusters so I have selected three months that I will read from my TBR list

I guess I'll wrap up 2009 in this post as well--I read 42 books, I'm happy with that.

Sunday Scripture: Rest

"And on the seventh day he rested" It's in Genises somewhere--I'm resting from Christmas :)

Yeah that's what it looked like--no wonder I need a rest!

If you'd like to view my most viewed Sunday Scripture of the year it's here

Photo Hunt: 12

12 piping hot, delicious dinner rolls

hosted by tn chick

Herbed dinner rolls

6 rounded tsps. active dry yeast

2 tsp. sugar

1/2c. warm water

combine, set yeast in a warm spot and let rise until double

Combine

1. cup milk

1 cup water

1/2 cup butter

heat until butter melts

Combine milk mixture

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

4 cups of the flour

add yeast

add 2 or 3 cups of flour until a ball of dough forms

Knead for 10 minutes

divide into two parts

let rest for 10 minutes

Roll balls into large rectangles approx 1/4" thick.

Spread with softened butter

sprinkle with garlic powder

sprinkle with dried mixed herbs of choice

(Italian or herbs de provence, or cajun depending on the meal)

sprinkle 4 Tablespoons of parmesan cheese per rectangle

roll rectangle up pinching seam and ends together

slice each rectangle into 12 sections

place slice into greased muffin tins

Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes

Pre-heat oven to 400*

Bake 15 minutes if pans are dark

all recipes.com Australia/New Zealand

Breadmaker herb dinner rolls

recipe by Lian W

hosted by Mary the teach

photo's by

posts with the most views this year--

 Photo hunt

Sepia Scenes

Virgina Woolf Reading Group

Details and sign-up for the reading challenge can be found at Kiss a Cloud. The posting and discussion schedule, and first few lines, as follows:

Mrs Dalloway. January 15 hosted by Sarah.
Mrs Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. For Lucy had her work cut out for her. The doors would be taken off their hinges; Rumpelmayer's men were coming. And then, thought Clarissa Dalloway, what a morning--fresh as if issued to children on a beach.

To the Lighthouse. January 29 hosted by Emily.
'Yes, of course, if it's fine to-morrow,' said Mrs Ramsay. 'But you'll have to be up with the lark,' she added.

Orlando. February 12 hosted by Frances.
He--for there could be no doubt of his sex, though the fashion of the time did something to disguise it--was in the act of slicing a Moor which swung from the rafters. It was the colour of an old football, and more or less the shape of one, save for the sunken cheeks and a strand or two of coarse, dry hair, like the hair on a cocoanut.

The Waves. February 26 hosted by Claire.
The sun had not yet risen. The sea was indistinguishable from the sky, except that the sea was slightly creased as if a cloth had wrinkles in it.

Read more about Virginia Woolf here
and here

Merry Christmas

We are enjoying Christmas Day--Hope you are too!



read more about it here

Thesaurus Thursday: Feast

Word of the day: Feast; a rich or abundant meal

The "word of the day" is chosen by me and usually has something to do with my day. This is an "increase your vocabulary activity"


Play the game like this: Open up a thesaurus on-line. Type the word of the day in the search bar. Using the generated words write a sentence, paragraph, poem, story; anything you choose using at least one of the generated words.

My dad enjoyed food; he felt it was a treat. The more exotic the more he liked it. As a result Christmas Eve dinner became a night when our family dined on a diversity of foods. This tradition carried on into our grown-up years as my siblings and I would bring our little ones home to Dad and Mom’s on Christmas Eve to enjoy the Christmas Eve banquet. As time progressed siblings moved to distant places, children became too difficult to travel with and the tradition was abandoned. I adopted this tradition as my own and for the last 24 years have enjoyed hosting a cultural festival each Christmas Eve. I wrote a poem last year mentioning some of the cultures we have learned about and the foods we have indulged in (read it here). This year Honey, my granddaughter wanted to learn about Australia, so some research was done, a menu was planned as well as some games for the children to play. I’ll be creating this meal the entire day—as I finish each dish I’ll post a picture. I hope you’ll enjoy peeking at our festivities. Merry Christmas to you all!

1:45 p.m.--Australian Damper Bread cooked in the Dutch Oven

2:30 pm--Herb dinner rolls (really good)

3:30 pm--Australian Sausage Rolls

4:30 pm--Traditional Aussie Leg of Lamb

5:00 pm--roasted vegetables

5:00 pm--green salad, Pavlova without the cream and fruit

brownies and raisen filled cookies

Honey tells us all about Australia

Excuse me while I eat the Christmas Eve Feast with my family.

Hope you all have a fun evening as well!

this post is doubling for

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Virtual Advent Tour: Day 23

All month long I've been following along with the 2009 virtual advent tour.  I've really enjoyed reading about all the participants Christmas traditions.  I've gotten some good ideas for gifts and activities as well as enjoying some touching and emotional stories.  Thanks to all those who have taken the time to share.

I love being a grandmother; it's one of life's greatest blessings.  So I decided I needed a Christmas tree just for my grandchildren (view here). We began this tradition just three years ago and it has quickly become one of the top 5 favorite traditions at our house.  Back in 2006 my two oldest grandchildren painted wooden ornaments for the tree.  Each ornament has a round cutout where a picture of the child can be inserted.  Each year at Thanksgiving I take a new picture of each grandchild and place it in the ornament.  The previous year's picture goes into a scrapbook so we can see how the children have grown from Christmas to Christmas. 

I love this tradition, my children love this tradition and the grandchildren also love this tradition.  I think it will be really fun in 20 years looking back at all the pictures.

Little Bear looking at the Christmas Ornament Scrapbook

(and yes, he did spill his cup of water all over the couch while he was looking at the book and silly grandma was taking pictures)

Tomorrow I will be featuring our #1 favorite Christmas tradition.  Each Christmas Eve we cook a dinner featuring a country or culture we want to learn about.  This year we are cooking Australian!  So come back tomorrow and see what's on the menu!

thanks for stopping by

and Merry Christmas!

Virtual Advent Tour Home Page
today's participants
Tania at Lot's of Books Reviews
Amanda at Opinions of a Wolf
Miss Moppet at Misadventures of Moppet