a video Christmas card for you–please click on the link–THIS–(not the picture){can you hear the little one asking for his cookie?} Wishing you a lovely holiday. I’m taking this last week of the year off from writing, so I’ll see you in 2012! Read more
In Wednesday’s post, I attempted to echo Ellen’s post in saying that a fleshed-out Christmas–one with decorations! and presents! and lights! and music! and cookies!–is one good and fitting response to a holiday celebrating God’s Incarnation as a flesh-and-blood man in this smelly, fragrant, musical, discordant, delicious and disgusting world. Special gifts, special music, special food, special decorations are good things. Sure, they can be overdone. I remember taking a run (back when I used to run) around a suburb... Read more
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death–upon them hath the light shined.” Remember days like this? There as far away–and as close–as they’ve ever been. In this darkest, coldest season, we are creeping closer to the light– ” for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…” happy Solstice! Read more
(CC licensed. Original here) Last Sunday (Advent IV) I posted these lyrics to What Child is This?–lyrics that are absent from any of the hymnals I have. I noticed them, finally, on Sufjan Stevens’ beautiful Songs for Christmas: Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce him through, The Cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word... Read more
One of my favorite books of all time–a book I loved as a child and still love–is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods. And one of the best parts of that book is the chapter on Christmas–it’s the one where the cousins come and Laura receives her rag doll, Susan. {Charlotte! Not Susan! Susan was my rag doll. And the Ingalls’ cat.} But as in all the Little House books, Laura’s keenest memories seem to be about... Read more
Don’t read that wrong–sensual, not necessarily sexual. (Although it might be that, too.) sen*su*al |ˈsen sh oōəl| adjective of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical Last week I read (and really enjoyed Amy Frykholm’s) newest book, See Me Naked: Stories of Sexual Exile in American Christianity. One of the things that surprised me most about the book was how much Frykholm talked about food in a book about sexuality. (Perhaps I could’ve anticipated this, being as she’s one... Read more
Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear; for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce him through, The Cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word Made Flesh, The babe, the son of Mary!(CC Licensed for reuse) {Your hymnal might not have this different chorus. Mine doesn’t. Good thing Sufjan Stevens includes it on his Songs for Christmas.} Read more
This is what my mom and I will be baking this weekend, as the week ahead holds the traditional cookie-exchange parties and other standard church-lady get-togethers. It is a seriously yummy cookie–almost chewy-brownie-like, yet still a cookie–perfect with a glass of milk. It’s kind of like:+ (PLUS) + YUM. I brought some to the library (to thank them for their unending patience with my unending interlibrary loan piles) and to A.’s violin teacher (also a fount of unending patience.) Plus,... Read more
And here’s why. Graeme’s sick. And I don’t feel so hot, either. {By the way, that sippy cup? Best ever.} Hope you’re keeping well & warm in this season of cold & chill! Read more
So, my mom, being one of those responsible NPR listeners who contributes to her local NPR station as a way to say “thank you” for all the wonderful programming public radio provides, got a “thank you gift” from NPR in the form of a ScanCafe box. We’ve been going through old photographs and come across some real howlers. And for you, I’ve decided to post all the awkward (or at least silly, or cute) pictures we found that involve food... Read more
Rachel Marie Stone
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