The Christmas Guest - Grandpa Jones

I have loved this 'The Christmas Guest'since I was about nine or ten years old. Then it would give me goosebumps now I just cry. I don't know why but I have seemed to have gotten more weepy as the years have gone by. Oh well, it's a good release. Anyway, the song is by Grandpa ones and all I really know of him is that he was on the American television show 'Hee-Haw' with Buck Owens and Roy Clark and this is the only song I ever remember hearing from him. Anyway, the story of 'The Christmas Guest' is that of a man whose family has died and he is all alone on Christmas until the Lord speaks to him and tells the man to  expect Him as on Christmas. So the man tells his friends and makes his house ready for his special Christmas Guest. He waits all day and three times his door is knocked upon by strangers in need of help, in which the man does help them, but the Lord does not show up. At the end of the day the man kneels and asks the Lord why He did not visit like he had promised... I do not want to spoil the end of it for you so I'll let you watch the video. But you may have it already figured out. But just in case you haven't :

The Christmas Guest

It happened one day near December's end

two neighbors called on an old friend

And they found his shop so meager and lame

Made gay with a thousand bows of green

And Conrad was sitting eith his face ashined

When he suddenly stopped his stitch a twine

And he said "Oh friends at dawn today 

When the cock was crowin the night away

The Lord appeared in a dream to me

And said 'I'm comin' your guest to be.'

So I've been busy with my feet astir

And strewn my shop with branches of fir

The table is spread and the kettle is shined

And over the rafters the holly is twined

Now I'll wait for my Lord to appear

And listen closely so I will hear His step

As he nears my humble place

And I'll open the door and look on His face"

So his friends went home and left Conrad alone

For this was the happiest day he'd  known

For long since his family had passed away

And Conrad spent many a sad Christmas day

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest

This Christmas would be dearest and best

So he listened with only joy in his heart

And with every sound he would rise with a start

And look for the Lord to be at his door

Like the vision he'd had a few hours before

So he rant o the window after hearin' a sound

But all he could see on the snow-covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn

And all his clothes were ragged and worn

But Conrad was touched and went to the door

And he said "You know, your feet must be frozen and sore

I have some shoes in my shop for you

And a coat that'll keep you warmer too"

So with a grateful heart the man went away

But Conrad noticed the time of day

And wondeed what made the Lord so late

And wondered how much longer he'd have to wait

When he heard a knock he ran to the door

But it was only a stranger once more

A bent ol' lady with a shawl of black

With a bundle of kindlin' piled on her back

She asked only for a place to rest

But that was reserved for Conrad's great guest

But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away

Let me rest awhile on Christmas day"

So Conrad brewed her a steamin' cup

And told her to sit at the table and sup

But after she left he was filled with dismay

For he saw that the hours were slippin' away

And the Lord hadn't come as He said He would

And Conrad felt sure he'd misunderstood

When out of the stillness he heard a cry

"Please help me, and tell me whre am I!"

So again he opened his friendly door

And stood disappointed as twice before

It was only a child who'd wandered away

And was lost form her family on Christmas day

Again, Conrad's heart was heavy and sad

But he knew he should make the little girl glad

So he called her ina nd wiped her tears

And quieted all her childish fears

Then he led her back to her home once more

But as he entered his own darkened door 

He knew the Lord was not comin' today

For the hours of Christmas had passed away

So he went to his room and he knealt to pray

And said "Dear Lord why did You delay?

What kept You from callin' on me?

For I wanted so much Your face to see"

When soft in the silence, a voice he heard

"Lift up your head for I kept My word

Three times my shadow crossed your floor

And three times I came to your lonely door

I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet

And the woman you gave somethin' to eat

I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked and three times I came in

And each time I found the warmth of a friend

Of all the gifts love is the best

And I was honored to be your Christmas guest."

Nativity by Fra. Angelico

Merry Christmas

I  would just like to say that I appreciate everyone who has stopped by and read my blog, it is gratefully appreciated. So, here is wishing you and yours a Peaceful and a Happy Christmas.

Nativity by Italian Renaissance artist, Pietro Perugino, ca. 1504

A Soldier's Christmas Night Before Christmas by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt

Let us not forget those that will not be able to be here with us because of wars.

This is from the Disabled American Veterans. There is no title but I call it  'A Soldier's Night Before Christmas' and it was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt.

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

and to see just who in this house did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,just boots filled with sand,

and on the wall pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds.a sobering thought came to mind.

For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,

the home of a soldier, now I see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,

curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I just read?

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw that night,

owed their lives to these soldiers who are willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed their freedom each month of the year,

because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone,

on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more.

my life is my God, my country, my corps." 

The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,

I couldn't control it, I started to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,

and we both shivered from the cold evening's chill.

I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night,

this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,

whispered, "Carry on Santa it's Christmas day, all is secure."

One look at my watch, and I knew he ws right.

"Merry Christmas my friends and to all a good night."

_______________________________________

I hope I'm not the only one crying my eyes out.

More Horrible Than the Pelicans

  If you have been following, even in slight passing, the NBA and the New Orleans Hornets then you know that New Orleans is willing to give up the name 'Hornet'. Which in turns leaves them looking for a new team name. The one that first came out was the Pelicans, which is really lame and for three weeks it has been thought by some of us that was the name that the team was going to be stuck with forever. Today, however, news has come out that the New Orleans Hornets has, in fact, registered five trademarks for the new team name. The proposed team name is as follows: Lame and Lamer. Alright, just kidding, even though true. The real proposed names are:

 New Orleans Pelicans

 New Orleans Bullsharks

 New Orleans Rougarou

New Orleans Swamp Dogs 

New Orleans Mosquitoes 

  Now really...these choices are ridiculous. I mean come on get some names with balls. Something fearful, Mosquitoes just don't cut it. I'm from Louisiana and I have never heard of a Rougarou. Loup garou yes but not rougarou. I had to go and look it up and it turns out that loup garou and rougarou are one in the same thing...a werewolf. It just depends on where you live in Louisiana and what you call a werewolf. So to me that is just jumping on the werewolf craze bandwagon. Now if Joe Manganiello is the new mascot for the team I am for calling them the New Orleans Rougarou.

  As for Swamp Dogs and Bullsharks. Swamp Dogs are alligators and bullsharks have been found as far north as Alton, Illinois in 1937. So yes they can be scary but Louisiana and New Orleans do not have exclusive rights to the bull shark. 

  So what's in a name, apparently a lot if you are a fan of basketball and in particularly the New Orleans Hornets.

Well, I have a Christmas tree but the problem getting it decorated are as follows: the base of the tree is too big for the stand no matter how much is shaved away with a hatchet and then one of the stand's legs got bent out of joint and the whole tree now has fallen over. The upside is that the tree is not decorated. Now up in the attic I keep thinking that there is another tree stand. At least I hope so. If not, I'm in a real pickle because I went to look for one at Walmart and Kmart and they have nothing. Kmart I don't know why but Walmart I suspect put them back up in storage and just tell people they  don't have any tree stands. With their reputation that sounds like something they would do. But never fear tomorrow is another day...and it won't end.


  I guess that's what happens when one doesn't have Christmas spirit and for some reason this year I don't have it.

Waking up With Led 12-16-12

  Sunday Morning on CBS had Anthony Mason conduct an interview with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin: John Paul Jones,Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

Fashioin Friday Photo - Liv Tyler at the New York Premiere of The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey

  Liv Tyler wears this elegant and classy shortened jumpsuit ( some may call it a playsuit, but I thought only babies wore those) with a tuxedo suit jacket and Tabitha Simmons Ruby pumps, which I myself have fallen in love with, at the Ziegfeld Theater premier of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New York City on December 6,2012.

And the newest love of my life, Tabitha Simmons 'Ruby' Pump:

Marchesa Fall/Winter 2012

The Marchesa Fall 2012 line.

Marchesa Fall/Winter 2012 line, gold and silver seem to be their favorite color this year.
So I must start with red, my post favorite color.

How can the following dress even be considered for fall and winter. Unless of course you live in Miami, Hawaii, or some place like that, because otherwise you'll be freezing off your tuchus and some other parts.

Backstage at Marchesa:

Tempura Batter Recipe

This just a quick and easy nothing to it recipe. Well, at least it's easy after certain someone (yes me) has done a few dozen hundred times. I got this from an old cookbook that my Mom had and now I feel comfortable enough to share it with y'all.

Tempura Batter 

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 Cup of ice cold water or if you have cold water in the fridge that will work too

1/2 Cup of all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of sugar

Blend until dry ingredients  are moistened. Then use to coat shrimp, fish, squash fried green tomatoes or whatever you want to fry.

35 Years without Lynard Skynard

  On a flight on October 20,1977 after a concert in Greenville, South Carolina the great Southern rock band Lynard Skynard, became a legend. For this is when their chartered Convair CV-300 ran out of fuel and despite the valiant efforts of the pilots to make an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane went down in Gilsburg, Mississippi in Amite ( pronounced A-mitt) County, 10 minutes from the next  Lynard Skynard tour stop,Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Just three days after the release of the band's fifth studio album Street Survivors and five days into their most successful headlining tour. Lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant was killed on impact when a piece luggage flew out of the above head compartment and struck him snapping his neck. Also killed in the crash was guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister backup singer Cassie Gaines as was assistant road manager Dean Kirkpatrick, pilot William McCreary and co-pilot William Gray; the other band members Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell,Artimus,Pyle and background singer Leslie Hawkins and road crew suffered serious injuries.

Following the crash and the immediate press, Street Survivors became the band's last album to have original members of Lynard Skynard, Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins on it and is also the only studio recording to have Steve Gaines on it. It is also the second platinum album for the band reaching number5 on the U.S. album charts. With the single "What's Your Name" reaching number 13 on the singles charts in January of 1978. The original cover of Street Survivors had flames in the background but because of the death of band members and pilots the flames were discontinued and a black background was put in its place behind the band.

What's Your Name 

Well, it's 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho

I'll find my limo driver 

Mister, take us to the show

I done made some plans for later on tonight;

 I'll find a little queen

And I know I can treat her right.

What's your name, little girl?

What's your name?

Shootin' you straight, little girl?

Won't you do the same?

Back at the hotel, Lord, we got such a mess

It seems that one of the crew had ago with one of the guest, oh yes.

Well the police said we can't drink in the bar

What a shame

Won't you come upstairs girl

and have a drink of champagne

What's your name, little girl?

What's your name? 

Shootin' you straight, little girl?

For there ain't no shame

What's your name, little girl?

What's your name?

Shootin' you straight, little girl?

Won't you do the same?

What's your name, little girl?

What;s your name?

Shootin' you straight, little girl? 

Won't you do the same?

9 o'clock the next day

And I'm ready to go

I got six hundred miles to ride

To do one more show, oh no

Can I get you a taxi home

It sure was grand

When I come back here next year

I wanna see you again

What's your name, little girl?

What's your name?

Shootin' you straight, little girl?

Well, there ain't no shame

What's your name, litle girl?

What's your name?

 Shootin' you straight, little girl?

Won't you do the same?

Lynard Skynard disbanded after the crash, reuniting just once in January of 1979 to perform an instrumental version of "Free Bird" at Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam V. Collins, Rossington, Pyle and Powell performed the song with Charlie Daniels and members of his band. Even though he was still undergoing physical therapy for his left arm, Leon Wilkeson was at the performance as was Ronnie Van Zant's widow, Judy; Chris Gaines' widow, Teresa; JoJo Billingsley, backing vocalist for the band and Leslie Hawkins.

Even though the end of the original band is tragic as were some times for the survivors after it Lynard Skynard has survived the years of break-ups, replacements, deaths to finally getting it right with again with Ronnie's kid brother, Johnny Van Zant. 

On May 2, 2012 Lynard Skynard the upcoming release of a studio album entitled Last of a Dyin' Breed along with a North American and European concert tours. On August 21,2012 Last of a Dyin' Breed was released. To celebrate the album's release, the band had four autograph signing tour throughout the southeast.

On September 9, 2012 while on the Piers Morgan show on CNN the band stated that it had discontinued the use of the Confederate flag in their concerts because they did not want to be associated with racist who had adopted the flag. After fans protested they revised the decision, noting that it is part of Southern heritage and states rights.

 MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

Fashion Friday Photo: Givenchy Hat,1957

  This Fashion Friday photo is a travel back in time with a Givenchy hat worn for the former French magazine Jardin des Modes in 1957 and the picture was taken by renowned photographer, Frank Horvat.

Fashion Friday Photo - Vera Wang Spring 2013

  I love Vera Wang wedding gowns/bridal dresses and this dress is no exception...but the model. Oh my gosh the model has her hair in a double ponytail and looks very depressed. Like she doesn't really like the groom as much as she thought, but that she has to marry him because she's pregnant and her father has a shotgun. Hence the term "Shotgun Wedding".

Now if the hair was maybe piled on her head with maybe some soft tendrils around her face and maybe a hint of a smile and some life in her eyes, maybe the dress would have more attention instead of a depressed model.

Follies by Carl Sandburg

Follies  

by

Carl Sandburg

Shaken,

The blossom of lilac,

And shattered,

The atoms of purple.

Green dip the leaves,

Darker the bark,

Longer the shadows.

Sheer lines of poplar

Shimmer with masses of silver

And down in a garden  old with years

And broken walls of ruin and story,

Roses rise with red rain - memories.

May!

In the open world

The sun comes and finds your face,

Remembering all.

2012 Emmy's

The predictable wins and Jimmy Kimmel's help made the 2012 Emmy's a bore fest.Okay 'Homeland' is new but there's something about it's wins that makes it feel old. Of course I was rooting for the Brits. Granted Damian Lewis did win an Emmy for Best Actor in a Drama, but it was for 'Homeland' so it doesn't really count. Of course, I was rooting for 'Downton Abbey' and Brendan Coyle and company but that only worked out for Dame Maggie Smith. Which is great because at least 'Downton' didn't end up like 'Mad Men' with 17 nominations and 0, zilch, a big ol' goose egg of wins. That, dear folks, made Emmy history. And John Hamm is the Susan Lucci of the Emmys, the regular Emmys not the Daytime Emmys that is.

 Some of the fashions made the stars look blah like Zoe Deschanel and Heidi Klum but, I will hopefully have further comments somewhere else in this posts. So with that being said here are some of the fashions :

The "Yellow Dress Brigade" also known as "Pukesville". Claire Danes, Julianne Moore and Julie Bowen are absolutely hideous in this color which is actually more chartreuse than yellow, especially Julie Bowen's dress. Looks like they all like the color of baby puke. ICK!

Eric Stonestreet, Best Actor in a Comedy winner for 'Modern Family'

Nicole Kidman in a lovely white with blue detailed embellishment by Antonio Berardi

Love! Love! Love! This Louis Vuitton dress on Michelle Dockery.Okay. Yes, it's mainly the color. The top I like but this dress should not have pockets because it makes the bottom part look all wrinkled. And is she wearing a bustle? More than likely not but it just looks like it through her left arm.

Michelle Dockery,Lady Mary of Downton Abbey,wearing a cobalt blue Louis Vuitton

Dame Maggie Smith,winner of Best Actress in a Drama for 'Downton Abbey'. She may not have been physically present but she was there in spirit.

Not to certain about this shade of...red?...orange? Not a good shade, of whatever color Giniffer Goodwin's dress is, on Ginnifer.

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhuillier

Kiernan Shipka looks very lady like and age appropriate for a 14 year old and not like a hootchie-mamma wannabe.

Kiernan Shipka ofMad Men

Giuliana Rancic cutting her maternity leave short to host the Emmy's Red Carpet on E!

Add caption

Tina Fey in a stunning strapless eggplant with gold embroidered embellishment number from Vivienne Westwood.

Is this Amy Pohler's "eat your heart out soon-to-be ex" dress? To me it is. She has a Judith Lieber clutch but not in these photos. I think it's absolutely adorable that she wore a $2 ring from one of her sons toy box. I guess he was mommy's date in spirit.

Gown by Stella McCartney, earrings are by Penny Preville

'Mad Men' January Jones in Zac Posen

Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi. Ellen looks good. Portia... WHAT THE HELL?

As promised Zoe Deschanel in a custom-made Reem Acra gown. Kind of fairyish and maybe a bit Alice in Wonderland, but with dark hair. The color is a pale blue and is just boring to me.

Hello Va-va-Voom! Yes it's Heid Klum in her " eat your  heart out soon - to - be - ex" Seal .In a seafoam goddess dress with a slit clear up to THERE. Love where she was going with the idea but it seemed more appropriate for dinner on the beach or a yacht, not the Emmys.

'Modern Family's Ariel Winter looking cute ( yes I know a 14 year old doe not want to hear "cute") this Katherine Kidd floral print dress and racer back. Another age appropriate dress for a 14 year old. I just hope she or no one else tripped over her train.

The men of Downton Abbey: Hugh Bonneville (Earl of  Gratham), Jim Carter ( Mr. Carson) and Brendan Coyle ( Mr. Bates)

 'Modern Family' Sofia Vegara wore a teal Zuhair Murad hand-beaded gown. For the most part I love Zuhair Murad but last night I just wasn't feeling Sofia's gown and I could NOT, for the life of me, figure out why until now... she looks like a mermaid. Hear me out. The color of the dress is the color of the ocean in some parts of the world, the bottom part has the illusion of a giant fin( of course she has her knee stuck out a bit so that's probably the cause of it and the top of her dress reminds me of sea shells mermaids are supposed to wear. And it also V's just below the waist and to me that adds to the illusion of being a fishtail. 

And let's not forget Sofia's wardrobe malfunction 20 minutes before 'Modern Family'  won Best Comedy.