tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22601083963493136122024-03-04T23:05:05.241-08:00Banging the DrumThe Incoherent ramblings of a woman and her drumTaphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-4185292256647026582011-09-19T07:35:00.000-07:002011-09-19T07:35:21.655-07:00Change is the Prelude to Growth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You can't change the world, but you can change the way you look at it.......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After watching and listening, just sit back and feel the message of this beautiful and insightful clip........ </span><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-59840080153778279302011-08-12T13:44:00.000-07:002011-08-12T13:44:05.832-07:00Grain Moon ~ Sturgeon Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_hxwr4o="182" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRHyd6JFqm3NyiOKynd_g814w1ZYPjpPhrC9BoTcezCInYI5O9IP0I3N0-y5efEY5lEZZGx7Q2j9AvlOkh2pDHcafy8T6ldfBxCkIYfSOYKCYyv5McajewQgW6WeoJI4J5agm5eFfIiw/s1600/Grain+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRHyd6JFqm3NyiOKynd_g814w1ZYPjpPhrC9BoTcezCInYI5O9IP0I3N0-y5efEY5lEZZGx7Q2j9AvlOkh2pDHcafy8T6ldfBxCkIYfSOYKCYyv5McajewQgW6WeoJI4J5agm5eFfIiw/s320/Grain+Moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_hxwr4o="224"><br />
</div><span closure_uid_nv4wm0="197" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span closure_uid_ahv4e5="181" closure_uid_hxwr4o="181" closure_uid_nv4wm0="215" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in August is called the Grain Moon, because this would be the month for harvesting the barley and wheat.</span><span closure_uid_nv4wm0="204" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div closure_uid_hxwr4o="226"><span closure_uid_nv4wm0="197" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span closure_uid_ahv4e5="186" closure_uid_nv4wm0="204" style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The fishing tribes of North America are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. </span></span></div><div closure_uid_hxwr4o="226"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_hxwr4o="249" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a closure_uid_hxwr4o="257" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFxW8RFXm5u41oKie9qCSrVFQPEkNqeR7_f1861IocTJvBngl4gl83gA2eRGu12LuzlzSj4vDJCDeUw21z6tw1dtjGmJwCKMHFyqdiKt3zDJIO4S-UFIl0VHBFGC4EYdjA9953FK_ZuI/s1600/full-sturgeon-moon-from-photobucket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFxW8RFXm5u41oKie9qCSrVFQPEkNqeR7_f1861IocTJvBngl4gl83gA2eRGu12LuzlzSj4vDJCDeUw21z6tw1dtjGmJwCKMHFyqdiKt3zDJIO4S-UFIl0VHBFGC4EYdjA9953FK_ZuI/s1600/full-sturgeon-moon-from-photobucket.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_hxwr4o="249" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Picture from Photobucket</em></span></div><div closure_uid_hxwr4o="226"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_hxwr4o="225"><span closure_uid_nv4wm0="197" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span closure_uid_ahv4e5="186" closure_uid_nv4wm0="204" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Other names for this Moon are, the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises it can appear reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, Dog Moon</span>.</span></span></div><div closure_uid_hxwr4o="225"><br />
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</div></div></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-52444451326604149312011-07-15T02:01:00.000-07:002011-07-15T02:01:18.039-07:00Hay Moon ~ Buck Moon<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-xvPXujrFj-rb1nXeQK8GoHEcH9h_hgOGKbMQSMFswTkyPqzv_RKlSM5m7_XUK3QYmBIVe43W6TWT3kaCfxvr9LryVy_6UwLS75clQw4zicvk42xeWPHU1o7vQWGGnSS3PbOHCwBfKQ/s1600/Haystacks_at_Giverny__1884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-xvPXujrFj-rb1nXeQK8GoHEcH9h_hgOGKbMQSMFswTkyPqzv_RKlSM5m7_XUK3QYmBIVe43W6TWT3kaCfxvr9LryVy_6UwLS75clQw4zicvk42xeWPHU1o7vQWGGnSS3PbOHCwBfKQ/s400/Haystacks_at_Giverny__1884.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in July is called the Hay Moon or Buck Moon as this is the time for harvesting the hay that will be used for feeding the horses and cattle throught the winter months. It is also when the new antlers of buck deer appear with their fuzzy coating of velvety fur. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">July's Moon was also called the Full Thunder Moon</span></span><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, due to the thunderstorms that</span></span><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> are frequent during this time. </span></span></span><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-18055777613204146352011-06-22T18:39:00.000-07:002011-06-22T18:42:43.455-07:00Summer Solstice Cloud Angel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYTz63YSayUdYlEpAULkl30UE7-J_MH8obTNAj-vVwA6Qfb6atgJ1xbISPEYyBVLeCechQaNqIh83YJu843rA15XTJ49XVak3HnGLteZnfVRJ1GXGDfMpAB3d6EVLI7T5d_s8DRwGd00/s1600/CIMG5276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYTz63YSayUdYlEpAULkl30UE7-J_MH8obTNAj-vVwA6Qfb6atgJ1xbISPEYyBVLeCechQaNqIh83YJu843rA15XTJ49XVak3HnGLteZnfVRJ1GXGDfMpAB3d6EVLI7T5d_s8DRwGd00/s400/CIMG5276.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The 21st of June was the Summer Solstice, which marks the longest day of the year and which has been celebrated for millenia. Whilst sitting in our garden and enjoying the long hours of daylight on that day, we happened to look up and noticed this beautiful cloud Angel overhead</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Blessed Be.....</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEkflhTP-RxwgWye7Ii-MLhUF_HLvT1ceyjKR0rLlBQldmQPOlk5j1MHoV-zk2oXiC1Y4i237rST0CkzlEDaKut9q57lP9ZFvIfzYQ06uDAnbGUXQhcMb_gHgPyoH97Q476A_WcEsKBw/s1600/rose+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEkflhTP-RxwgWye7Ii-MLhUF_HLvT1ceyjKR0rLlBQldmQPOlk5j1MHoV-zk2oXiC1Y4i237rST0CkzlEDaKut9q57lP9ZFvIfzYQ06uDAnbGUXQhcMb_gHgPyoH97Q476A_WcEsKBw/s1600/rose+moon.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Full Moon in June is called the Rose Moon or Flower Moon in Ancient England, but the name Strawberry Moon</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> was universal to every Algonquin tribe, because of the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries that comes during the month of June. </span></span></span><br />
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</div></div></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-38804593514904853252011-05-25T17:40:00.000-07:002011-05-25T17:40:18.828-07:00Blue Medicine Buddha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26wXGtKf6nE29Zevcw8on_rJxSaCOLf9sMqjZR528LfkzapmlROmqqTVHlj5Stcn_4UT6CpKdyzq_kSHurXOxRq7GYN4rLhhdv8ufP6bfEtDmQRCyVMoSR6G2j8uOFOBH2NZ7xztnrh8/s1600/Blue+Buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26wXGtKf6nE29Zevcw8on_rJxSaCOLf9sMqjZR528LfkzapmlROmqqTVHlj5Stcn_4UT6CpKdyzq_kSHurXOxRq7GYN4rLhhdv8ufP6bfEtDmQRCyVMoSR6G2j8uOFOBH2NZ7xztnrh8/s400/Blue+Buddha.jpg" t8="true" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Buddha Akshobhya, known as the Medicine Buddha is a very important part of Tibetan Medicine. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tibetans believe the Medicine Buddha is so powerful, that the mention of his name or seeing an image of him has profound beneficial effects. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tibetan doctors will start their day by chanting the medicine Buddha prayer or mantra over their medicines or patients. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Medicine Buddha is acknowledged as an Enlightened being, with unbiased compassion for all living things. He protects against injury and illness and has the power to help eradicate Dis-ease. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He also is seen to represent the healing energy within ourselves and the universe as merging together in unity.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Simply ask the Medicine Buddha to assistance you with healing whenever you need that extra energy.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Apple Garamond Light"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Namaste. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-cdq7I24hbWRjI-AN78hcDEDGXlhMbvmQA6ulQdlPwOmtfMy_ahFVM1BC6Nn9LFbCsfi1PxgYnE2Tvhyphenhyphen9hzRN0MbRQ6e6t3D887bFDcx-Bo_dUqbS_Lne6MuThxRfxKLbN9Ls03y340/s1600/tibetanbuddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-cdq7I24hbWRjI-AN78hcDEDGXlhMbvmQA6ulQdlPwOmtfMy_ahFVM1BC6Nn9LFbCsfi1PxgYnE2Tvhyphenhyphen9hzRN0MbRQ6e6t3D887bFDcx-Bo_dUqbS_Lne6MuThxRfxKLbN9Ls03y340/s400/tibetanbuddha.jpg" t8="true" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-6217971953045497332011-05-17T12:59:00.000-07:002011-05-17T12:59:44.886-07:00Milk Moon ~ Flower Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQA9vxYcdvSFr4-3taTgt3m-XI2pWkRzZr6nmfUZjcfOinnAjfKLvAMkZ8alX2dYKlrUexdewgeP97Zg0jc1WUktfmefaJszZcf10V99tm8VVFstTx1xEkeyaN8-KtMO_nI_vcACmm1Q/s1600/moon-with-flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQA9vxYcdvSFr4-3taTgt3m-XI2pWkRzZr6nmfUZjcfOinnAjfKLvAMkZ8alX2dYKlrUexdewgeP97Zg0jc1WUktfmefaJszZcf10V99tm8VVFstTx1xEkeyaN8-KtMO_nI_vcACmm1Q/s400/moon-with-flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in May is called the Milk Moon, so called because of the abundance of milk after the livestock have given birth to their young. Also called the Full Flower Moon as plants begin to bloom in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere at this time. Oth</span></span><span style="font-family: "Maiandra GD", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">er names include the Full Corn Planting Moon</span>.</span></span></span><br />
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</div></div></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-2297002999820419842011-05-03T08:50:00.000-07:002011-05-03T08:50:57.687-07:00Gnomes<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEji724Z0jUc94sX69Ffq5LK25y4dcB-oxyUfQVIFAqZZO1GnOh2BU9e1MEgWp-7IimRmf3lTI46p0q26K7RfRf6JqPmrhnUBTrIp1NhuZ54fG23hz18gZzftT-sXO1lu90cirupmPZ8/s1600/CIMG4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEji724Z0jUc94sX69Ffq5LK25y4dcB-oxyUfQVIFAqZZO1GnOh2BU9e1MEgWp-7IimRmf3lTI46p0q26K7RfRf6JqPmrhnUBTrIp1NhuZ54fG23hz18gZzftT-sXO1lu90cirupmPZ8/s640/CIMG4176.JPG" width="440" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">May I introduce you to the Gnomes in my new blog entitled: <a href="http://wheregnomesgo.blogspot.com/"><strong>Where Gnomes Go...</strong></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have always had a deep fondness for Gnomes ever since I was a child, when I first encountered them in my Grandmothers garden.</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Then quite a few years ago when I first watched 'Amelie' ~ which is now one of my favourite films ~ I thought the idea of a Globe~trotting Gnome, who sent photos of his travels to Amelie's Father ~ was an inspirational idea.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I wanted to adopt the notion and have some Gnomes comes and travel with me ~ or is it, that I am really travelling with them. Sadly, I never got round to doing it ~ and to whom would I share and send our pictures to in any case.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Has it really taken me all this time to realise that a blog of their very own would be the ideal solution.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So here they are, I realise they look similar, so I shall describe who is who by their coloured jackets: Ernest is in blue, Bernard is in Grey and Alan is in orange.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They have all been named after my Father~in~laws, who are sadly no longer with us. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I do hope you will follow our new blog and enjoy it as much as we will in writing it. </span></div><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-54222693760838561232011-04-27T02:28:00.000-07:002011-04-27T02:28:41.435-07:00Easter Egg Hunting<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the weekend we took our grandaughter who is five, on her first Easter Egg Hunt. </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You begin by getting your facepainted, a disguise is essential for creeping up on unsuspecting Easter eggs....</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wearing your brand new clothes, you scramble under bushes and shin up some trees,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Find a stinging nettle patch to step into and kick up as much dust as you can. </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Roll down a few steep inclines and dip the toes of those white canvas shoes into the lake, then kick up some more dust for good measure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Please do NOT pick the flowers </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">~ <em>but these are for you Nanny....</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">No wonder those terrified Eggs are hiding ?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was so much fun, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">can we do it again next year <em>please?</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-85589238082761098862011-04-21T11:32:00.000-07:002011-04-21T11:32:32.840-07:00Egg Moon ~ Pink Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in April is known as the Egg Moon, so called because it is now that the days grow longer, that the hens begin to lay more eggs. Other birds are also nest building and getting ready for the 'Stork to Arrive'.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Pink Moon in April gets it's name from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.</span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-45757421669489637462011-03-19T07:06:00.000-07:002011-03-19T07:11:22.928-07:00Super Moon and The Moon Gazing Hare<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A 'Super moon' tonight will reach it's closest point to the Earth for almost 20 years.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Clear skies will reveal a 'Super Moon' phenomenon tonight as the moon reaches its closest point to the Earth for almost two decades. The moon will appear bigger and brighter than normal as it reaches the closest point to the Earth since 1992. It is the first time since 19 January 1992 that the moon has come into such close proximity to the Earth. This type of full moon tends to bring a range of higher and lower tides than usual.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My Moon Grazing Hare is getting ready for the Big Close~Up</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The myth of the Moon gazing hare reflects ancient beliefs. Pagans believed that seeing a moon gazing hare would bring growth, re-birth, abundance, new beginnings and good fortune. The hare is known to be sacred to the goddess Eostre and eventually became known as the Easter bunny. In some countries, it is customary to eat hot cross buns around the time of Easter and Christmas; the cross on the bun is said to represent the four quarters of the moon. These buns were originally pagan offerings and were often hung from rafters to scare off evil that lurked in houses.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d;"></span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-15215359327235767782011-03-16T15:48:00.000-07:002011-03-16T15:52:02.092-07:00Lenten Moon ~ Worm Moon ~ Crow Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in March sees the earth re~awakening, the ground softens and warms and earthworms begin to leave their castings as they process the soil. Other creatures begin their own Spring rites: the cawing of Crows herald ~ the Crow Moon. The Icy crust of snow that has formed from the repeated thawings and freezings ~ the Crust Moon. And the time of tapping the maple trees for their sweet sap ~ the Sap Moon. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Old English name, was the Lenten Moon and was considered as the last moon of winter. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The name for this moon is taken from this period of time known as Lent. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are traditionally forty days in Lent, which marks a time of fasting from foods and abstinance from festivities along with other acts of penance.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> The three traditional practices to be acted upon with zeal during the period of Lent, are Prayer: representing justice towards God ~ Fasting: representing justice towards the self. Almsgiving: representing justice towards those less fortunate.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In modern times, the quitting of a vice, is seen as something that will bring them closer to God, and the time or money that it would have consumed, would be donated to a charitable purpose instead.</span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-25481584858560427062011-02-18T00:58:00.000-08:002011-02-18T00:58:50.612-08:00The House in the Clouds<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sun was shining and snowdrops were poking their heads through the soil, Spring is surely on it's way. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNAGnaHCI_ZbBKpUPAiTSYJzuHCh17_EBhevHE18EtEA418jb2t3vdHjRFLdWO0czMNTu1x0v9A6ERTn3MOwERF13_3e19R-cq4E1OtIlnagDeJ5GR24G-ZHgq1wh3wftcdwvrbW82zE/s1600/CIMG3719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNAGnaHCI_ZbBKpUPAiTSYJzuHCh17_EBhevHE18EtEA418jb2t3vdHjRFLdWO0czMNTu1x0v9A6ERTn3MOwERF13_3e19R-cq4E1OtIlnagDeJ5GR24G-ZHgq1wh3wftcdwvrbW82zE/s320/CIMG3719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We travelled from Aldeburgh to Southwold on the Suffolk coast and passed by The House in the Clouds along the way in Thorpeness.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now here is a Room with a View........ </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzsBX8NbE9GeVBiGxRbvPnetk1hpo8kUVeLjiPM8X601Z_2oZrbPXrojs-RK71u9NUHMd1G-aSTqzN6hKj61WWWbdOSkXrBKxWQtSMng1HEl4DVj4oLFQ0Vw1NhEZoy4RhpT1lsABvi4/s1600/houseintheclouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzsBX8NbE9GeVBiGxRbvPnetk1hpo8kUVeLjiPM8X601Z_2oZrbPXrojs-RK71u9NUHMd1G-aSTqzN6hKj61WWWbdOSkXrBKxWQtSMng1HEl4DVj4oLFQ0Vw1NhEZoy4RhpT1lsABvi4/s400/houseintheclouds.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfO-vGkNUnEDNR5Ug9RviU9Lq-BF0gvW6oevtyTeCFMBFyyUKNBE2R485oaPuHpR9b3qenS7IINxwrpQYJBwfNX_Zx6E0AxBO6EStKp5sbd1VAGpnMJUb_JDJx4G8gBgA4Y9-lk5NvVk/s1600/The_House_in_the_Clouds_Thorpeness_Suffolk_England_1280x960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfO-vGkNUnEDNR5Ug9RviU9Lq-BF0gvW6oevtyTeCFMBFyyUKNBE2R485oaPuHpR9b3qenS7IINxwrpQYJBwfNX_Zx6E0AxBO6EStKp5sbd1VAGpnMJUb_JDJx4G8gBgA4Y9-lk5NvVk/s400/The_House_in_the_Clouds_Thorpeness_Suffolk_England_1280x960.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How do they clean all those windows ?</span></div><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-15545617067071750922011-02-16T00:53:00.000-08:002011-02-16T00:53:07.571-08:00Snow Moon ~ Wolf Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bdi136TZefgqysLOlrTcqiVH7K0XqzsBFsWmmZDTsV5k-l19m59mNFZKRMM-JXWmgkmz42ruqbO9odMkTw1RS8tr24gQJbXPydknDUbI4pWXYhANTWxoHyZsrcI1fZO3xvDX-tLuwV8/s1600/snow-moon_1787585i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Bdi136TZefgqysLOlrTcqiVH7K0XqzsBFsWmmZDTsV5k-l19m59mNFZKRMM-JXWmgkmz42ruqbO9odMkTw1RS8tr24gQJbXPydknDUbI4pWXYhANTWxoHyZsrcI1fZO3xvDX-tLuwV8/s400/snow-moon_1787585i.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Full Moon in February was know as the Snow Moon to the Algonquins and other First Nation tribes of the North and East of America, since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month. Other tribes also referred to this Moon as the Hunger Moon, since harsh weather conditions in their areas made hunting very difficult.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To the Old English it was known as the Wolf Moon. This is likely to be for the very same reasons that the Algonquin Indians had given the moon the same name in January instead. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Perhaps the large herds of deer that roamed the length of the British Isles sustained the wolves for longer than their North American cousins.</span><br />
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</span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-10589967719817298542011-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:002011-01-17T08:29:52.848-08:00The Old Moon - Wolf Moon<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The traditional Old English title for the Full moon in January is The Old Moon. To the Algonquin Indians, this moon is known as The Wolf Moon.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9CQOQCR0j29oYduuyZe2m2z-tgqLiPBGVxuDRvLzTN7VeuNc8nmg1dlRF9Cpr7tgcbKwygp_uzWIA7q77tAorZwCjssVkhPwBRuhd8rmmXCtnvW4skMhBuQkQvjOUfK4Si1mK9iKaUk/s1600/3wolfmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9CQOQCR0j29oYduuyZe2m2z-tgqLiPBGVxuDRvLzTN7VeuNc8nmg1dlRF9Cpr7tgcbKwygp_uzWIA7q77tAorZwCjssVkhPwBRuhd8rmmXCtnvW4skMhBuQkQvjOUfK4Si1mK9iKaUk/s400/3wolfmoon.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For now would be a dangerous time of year when hunger would drive the wolves out of the forests and into the villages to scavenge for food.</span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-51110330312107910782011-01-01T11:28:00.000-08:002011-01-01T12:08:58.103-08:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNa0Kin7A6GFvvw10MYx3Pqgp_L_YpgJWvHjEwl871HAGbGCkK-udoJgk9B5BheWXKpHKPzpv-1YzmjlcHaE3eJXjHZqzugQIyv1BAQ65UOAMj3W0Yp4mKhurMLlHlxUpuMze6xE-hMI/s1600/Happy-New-Year-2011_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNa0Kin7A6GFvvw10MYx3Pqgp_L_YpgJWvHjEwl871HAGbGCkK-udoJgk9B5BheWXKpHKPzpv-1YzmjlcHaE3eJXjHZqzugQIyv1BAQ65UOAMj3W0Yp4mKhurMLlHlxUpuMze6xE-hMI/s400/Happy-New-Year-2011_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the ancient Roman calendar, New Year fell on March 1st where there had been just ten months and March was the first month of the year. The calendar originated from the cycles of the moon, beginning in spring and ending with autumn planting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar officially declared January 1st to be a New Year in 46 B.C. and </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">January was established as the first month of the year on the Roman Julian Calender.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQkEQAKs9iYcOGgwRZJ_oI7Uv3OYvGryYQLOrNkLr5hNyRE2jjrVH4Jv1eHJRguMBDVZvLqi0P0EZ7NI0gFKKtNO2l_-svaK89_xMKyOOKJwtgs1C8_1NUfhj1csQdz7kvmf89hx2QDk/s1600/janushv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQkEQAKs9iYcOGgwRZJ_oI7Uv3OYvGryYQLOrNkLr5hNyRE2jjrVH4Jv1eHJRguMBDVZvLqi0P0EZ7NI0gFKKtNO2l_-svaK89_xMKyOOKJwtgs1C8_1NUfhj1csQdz7kvmf89hx2QDk/s1600/janushv.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was named after the god Janus ( which meant 'Door' in Latin ) he was therefore the guardian of doors and gateways ( the space that leads from one place to another ) and his two faces allowed him to look forward to the future and backward to the past.</span> <br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The Anglo Saxons had called this 'Wolf Monath' as this was the time of year that wolves would be driven by hunger to enter the villages in search of food.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pope Gregory XIII abolished the old Julian calendar and introduced the Gregorian calendar which comprised of a leap year every four years to maintain balance between seasons and calendar. Finally, in 1582, the Gregorian calendar was set to celebrate New Year on the first day of January. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HNJYz3Qlkgaw_WOs0uU3rrGfMbx3wOLpMfW0aHKVkr2jG255T4OpwALWC6d0Ln70f8PJBLU64O1PtfPyLJsCVlB6TWUyjWoHHiPMo6ABkIJDwF08k8nb9mi1ZuOhjEU5E-CLING2aRQ/s1600/auld-lang-syne-590x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HNJYz3Qlkgaw_WOs0uU3rrGfMbx3wOLpMfW0aHKVkr2jG255T4OpwALWC6d0Ln70f8PJBLU64O1PtfPyLJsCVlB6TWUyjWoHHiPMo6ABkIJDwF08k8nb9mi1ZuOhjEU5E-CLING2aRQ/s400/auld-lang-syne-590x350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">On New Years Eve - December 31st - also called Hogmanay in Scotland, celebrations to welcome in the new year begin, with singing and dancing and on the stroke of midnight, people join hands and sing a traditional Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 called <em>'Auld Lang Syne'</em> which translates as meaning <em>'Old Long Since'</em>, or more generally <em>'For ( the sake of ) Old Times'</em>.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sd3l-ObkHUKvZUBVtbFBheIAcqSV0JhEmVLXPT_Yeb9qmtCwUXnp45GRZ3VCLP4hcVt10FIcRgoJ8QW68vt4qSiZVWrJhMD7VvATI8Z6nzO8gGDy5MZ6GwWkpe-fAKpuarnPwUASl3Q/s1600/auld_landg_syne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sd3l-ObkHUKvZUBVtbFBheIAcqSV0JhEmVLXPT_Yeb9qmtCwUXnp45GRZ3VCLP4hcVt10FIcRgoJ8QW68vt4qSiZVWrJhMD7VvATI8Z6nzO8gGDy5MZ6GwWkpe-fAKpuarnPwUASl3Q/s320/auld_landg_syne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Should old acquaintance be forgot,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and never brought to mind ?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Should old acquaintance be forgot,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and old lang syne ?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>CHORUS:</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>For auld lang syne, my dear,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>for auld lang syne,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>we'll take a cup of kindness yet,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>for auld lang syne.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and surely I’ll buy mine !</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">for auld lang syne.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>CHORUS</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We two have run about the slopes,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and picked the daisies fine ;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">since auld lang syne.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>CHORUS</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We two have paddled in the stream,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">from morning sun till dine†;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But seas between us broad have roared</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">since auld lang syne.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>CHORUS</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And there’s a hand my trusty friend !</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And give us a hand o’ thine !</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And we’ll take a right good-will draught,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">for auld lang syne.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>CHORUS</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The New Year starts with a Pagan tradition called 'First Footing', where a tall dark haired man - preferably a stranger would knock at the door and be the first one to step over the threshold of the house, bringing with him a gift of coal and bread, ensuring that the Luck of the household would continue and that it remained warm and with enough food until the summer arrived.<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> People wished one another <em>'Lang May Your Lum Reek'</em> ( hope your chimney will smoke for a long time ).</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When the visitor left, he took a pan of ashes from the hearth with him, signifying the departure of the Old Year.</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-31233122210348506972010-12-24T04:36:00.000-08:002010-12-24T04:36:00.523-08:00All the Shopping is Done.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Don't you just love this time of year when you enter into the <em>Annual Seasonal Sport</em> ( check out what those initials spell and you get a general idea ) of 'Shop 'til you Drop'.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Loaded up like a Sherpa with bags of totally non-essential items, risking frost-bitten fingers and toes, trudging through the snow in temperatures that could freeze brass monkeys...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Yes, it's all part of the pleasure of having friends and family come round at this time of year to celebrate with you and all you need to do is ensure that you have ALL those seasonal goodies, just in case they do turn up and demand them....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-32294477517924525712010-12-23T06:21:00.000-08:002010-12-23T08:51:16.056-08:00The Holly and the Ivy - and Mistletoe too...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGKJQTHQNMYg6hHyImLldc4oV600CVtKLivBdotQa217k78vk3BRMjLSHHJyHal4MYLV_QX3GlexXQNzLy95Y-hJ267h9ZYjODq5co_F-Hu6ryT86MTyapEH7913iQWKGi_B9L_3CN5I/s1600/holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGKJQTHQNMYg6hHyImLldc4oV600CVtKLivBdotQa217k78vk3BRMjLSHHJyHal4MYLV_QX3GlexXQNzLy95Y-hJ267h9ZYjODq5co_F-Hu6ryT86MTyapEH7913iQWKGi_B9L_3CN5I/s400/holly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Holly is commonly used all over the world as a Christmas decoration, a custom derived from the early Romans who sent boughs of Holly to friends during Saturnalia, the Roman festival of Saturn held around the 17th of December in celebration of the Winter Solstice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">An old Christian legend says that Holly sprung up under the footsteps of Christ as he trod the earth, the spines of the leaves became symbolic of 'Crown of Thorns', with the red berries representing the drops of blood associated with his suffering.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From this symbology the Holly tree became known as 'Christ's Thorn' or the 'Holy Tree'.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPngtIkRp7KiaCkU1vyt3ACJkXtTsPej9I-_mUk5P-KmgnlxlY4E9nWGlAZqOG2lfsQrfNu8vB4xkITK_SqaMzR1l7G2jYfbuD9KrKuvrzqxSqGC9Jy6Xmpq5XYHGsQC9JJMkTAHkfzgM/s1600/Holly+Wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPngtIkRp7KiaCkU1vyt3ACJkXtTsPej9I-_mUk5P-KmgnlxlY4E9nWGlAZqOG2lfsQrfNu8vB4xkITK_SqaMzR1l7G2jYfbuD9KrKuvrzqxSqGC9Jy6Xmpq5XYHGsQC9JJMkTAHkfzgM/s1600/Holly+Wreath.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In pagan folklore the Holly tree is associated with the spirit of vegetation and the waning forces of nature, which are personified as a mythical figure called the Holly King. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Holly King is often depicted as an old man dressed in winter clothing wearing a Holly wreath on his head and walking with the aid of a staff made from a Holly branch.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As nature rests during the darkest time of the year, it will be after the Winter Solstice and celebration of Yule, that the days begin to lengthen again and the re-birth of the new light of the Celtic Sun God encourages fresh growth during the coming new year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">As with most other tree legends, the Holly was revered for its protective qualities. When planted around the home it protects the inhabitants and guards against lightening, poisoning and mischievous spirits and witchcraft. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Carrying a piece of Holly promoted good luck, especially for men, as Holly is considered a male plant - even though there are male and female Holly plants, those with red berries and those without. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In winter, the Druids advised people to take Holly into their homes to shelter the elves and fairies who could join mortals at this time without causing them harm. But it must be completely removed before the eve of Imbolc - 1st-2nd Februaury -first day of Spring, -for even if one leaf remained in the house, it would cause misfortune.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Old Scottish traditions says that Holly branches should only be pulled and not cut from the tree, a method considered more fitting for a sacred tree. It was also considered unlucky to fell a Holly tree or burn its green skinned branches. Yet luck was increased if a small branch was kept and hung outside of the house, there it would continue to protect against lightning.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Holly water was sprinkled on newborn babies to protect them and it is said to help the bereaved to cope with death, and to ease their sleep with peaceful dreams. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The wood of the Holly tree burns very hot and so it was used by Blacksmiths to forge weapons and tools necessary for survival and protection. Smithies were revered for their ability to use the elements of fire and earth to create these items and it is for this reason the Druids associated Holly with the element of fire. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Holly is used to attract the powers needed for: Protection, Consecration, Healing, Peace, Goodwill, Luck and anything to do with the element Fire.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ivy was held in high esteem among the ancients and its leaves formed the poet's crown. Ivy was dedicated to the Roman god Bacchus -the Greek god Dionysus - the God of Intoxication who is often depicted wearing a wreath of ivy and grapevines. He is also depicted holding a chalice and carrying a thyrsus (a wand) which was also entwined with ivy and vine leaves.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ivy leaves were thought to prevent intoxication and the binding of the brow with ivy was seen to balance the effects of the vine. It was believed that if a handful of ivy leaves are bruised and gently boiled in wine and drunk, it would prevent intoxication. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Old English taverns bore a sign of an ivy bush over their doors, this was to indicate the excellence of the liquor supplied within, hence the old saying 'A good wine needs no bush'.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Throughout the ages ivy has been regarded as the emblem of fidelity, and Greek priests would present a wreath of ivy to newly married persons. Today the ivy is still commonly associated with weddings, and is carried or worn by bridesmaids.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If a women carried Ivy, it was said to aid fertility and general good luck. It was also said to ensure fidelity and from this came the custom of brides carrying Ivy. Ivy wherever it is grown or proliferates, guards against negativity and disaster. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">At one time, the custom of decorating houses and churches with Ivy at Christmas was once forbidden by the Christian Church, on account of its pagan associations.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mistletoe grows in trees and in European legends is a symbol of fertility ( kissing under the mistletoe is still a tradition to bring people together ) and eternal life, perhaps because it remains green all winter. Many cultures have believed it to be heavenly or supernatural, because unlike most plants, mistletoe thrives without being rooted in soil and actually is a parasitic plant that lives off it's host tree.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mistletoe has also been said to offer protection from sorcery and evil spells. The Druids believed that mistletoe had great healing properties, especially if it was gathered without the use of a knife and never allowed to touch the ground. Some Africans compare the mistletoe on a tree to the soul in the body, and they believe that </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">mistletoe in a house brings good luck.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In Norse mythology, mistletoe was sacred to the beloved god Balder, but the evil god Loki used trickery to kill Balder with a stalk of mistletoe fashioned into a dart.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-92220755199545811812010-12-21T09:55:00.000-08:002010-12-23T08:49:53.667-08:00A Merry Yule and Winter Solstice to you...<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yule, the Midwinter Solstice -21st-22nd December is the time of year when we experience our shortest day and longest night. With the sun being at its lowest point in the sky at noon. Yule means 'wheel' and is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yule is the celebration of the re-birth of the Sun god and the return of Light to the land. As the days begin to lengthen once more, the darkness of the winter spirits flee. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The winter solstice is believed to be a mysterious and powerful time, for it is at this point, that the sun begins to make the return journey across our skies. After the longest night of the year the sun is seen as growing stronger and the beginning of the return of the warmer season is welcomed - the concept of rebirth became strongly associated with the Winter Solstice. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Three days after Yule many people exchange gifts and celebrate Christmas - the 'birth' of Jesus, as our ancestors celebrated the return of light and the sun growing in strength. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The well-known figure of Father Christmas may have derived from the Pagan god, Herne the Hunter - Cernunnos in Celtic tradition - who was the guardian of the beasts and primal forests and who also appeared as a fertility god.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yule is celebrated with bonfires that encourage the ascent of the sun, and brightly lit houses are decorated with evergreens to simulate summer. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is a time to look on the past year's achievements, as the days begin to grow longer up to the mid summer solstice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In Alton Barnes in Wiltshire the winter solstice is still celebrated by the lighting up of the white horse that is carved in the chalky hillside there. Tea lights are placed in jars, so that the horse glows with candlelight</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yule Traditions </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During medieval times, the Yule Log was decorated and ceremoniously carried into the home on Christmas Eve and placed in the fireplace. Traditionally the Yule log was lit with the saved stump of last year's log, and then it was burnt over the twelve days of the winter celebration, and its ashes and stump were kept until the following year to sprinkle on the new log, so that the fortune would be passed on from year to year.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC4G6tJKk7QpFNDJdqjTbVHAH11mL5eK0wVKv4Op1Bx2odY9HhA1mMURDRQICxw0uQD2jyMh6ZIy9sVJDgGdY2gvD5894xhduv99r8voyOhUq5GA-03hPXsA4Pcbdy1BW34fXrYWm2eg/s1600/yulelog06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC4G6tJKk7QpFNDJdqjTbVHAH11mL5eK0wVKv4Op1Bx2odY9HhA1mMURDRQICxw0uQD2jyMh6ZIy9sVJDgGdY2gvD5894xhduv99r8voyOhUq5GA-03hPXsA4Pcbdy1BW34fXrYWm2eg/s400/yulelog06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In France and Germany ashes from the Yule log were mixed with the cattle feed to ensure their health and in other regions the ash was sprinkled around fruit trees to increase their yield of fruit.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a9H6bSiSABtaRoBFOSj3yYEN_9az1nTYROF9jZYzhWR2T8jWtrmXllDU_flZYfn-KNrY_Bl3JZQtFXCJLgwgZpGI2VSaA3JOLdP5bqMDS4TAeUm0ZaiqNpElDFzgMZntB4uYv6FQdn8/s1600/p_hollyandivy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a9H6bSiSABtaRoBFOSj3yYEN_9az1nTYROF9jZYzhWR2T8jWtrmXllDU_flZYfn-KNrY_Bl3JZQtFXCJLgwgZpGI2VSaA3JOLdP5bqMDS4TAeUm0ZaiqNpElDFzgMZntB4uYv6FQdn8/s320/p_hollyandivy.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yule wreaths were traditionally made of evergreens and holly and ivy. Holly represents the male and ivy the female and the wreath's circle symbolizes the wheel of the year. Both holly and ivy were used as protection in the home against unwanted spirits.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">In the eleventh-century, the Danish rule over England brought the Scandinavian term for Christmas - Yule. Yuletide was the time to bring out the wassail bowl or cup. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">The leader of the celebrations would call 'Wassail', from the old Anglo Saxon 'Was Hal' meaning be of good health, which was Old English for 'your health', and the answer was 'Drinkhail', at which the bowl was passed round so everyone took a drink and handed it on with a kiss.</span></span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the middle ages, the celebration was transfered from the drinker to the tree. It usually takes place on Old Christmas Eve - January 5th, Twelfth night - January 6th or Old Twelfth night - January 17th. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wassailing took place, and was originally held around the oldest tree in the apple orchard. The first cider crop was poured on the roots of the apple tree to thank the tree spirits for the crop and to ensure a good harvest next year.</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Drumming and banging of pots and pans and sticks would re-awaken the tree spirits and beat away any demons, wassailing was performed to protect the trees from evil spirits until their apples appeared the following year. Then the wassail cup would be passed around. Toast dipped in cider would then be hung on the oldest tree, as an offering to the tree spirits. Christians moulded this other pagan practise, into the singing of Christmas hymns and the Singing of Carols was developed to replace it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh apple tree, we'll wassail thee </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And hoping thou wilt bear</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the Lord does know where we may go</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To be merry another year</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To grow well and to bear well</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And so merrily let us be</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Let every man drink up his glass</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And a health to the old apple tree</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Brave boys, and a health to the old apple tree"</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">'A Merry Yule and Wassail to you all...........'</span></div><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"></span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-66027016637121863762010-12-21T03:36:00.000-08:002010-12-21T03:39:29.018-08:00Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a4l47sK5PMv4LYo-h_LtUfnYALBH4p0of8ZHBGk7JPZKi_X87LA-7bCGd6Fmx7we3JymmWANyfWdhjYEr0tpPPKc5SJHoTUZBaOpgyL9aE6AGuPMKiNhsEvDkNUVle5gcaW76HayO5I/s1600/12_21_2010_lunar_eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a4l47sK5PMv4LYo-h_LtUfnYALBH4p0of8ZHBGk7JPZKi_X87LA-7bCGd6Fmx7we3JymmWANyfWdhjYEr0tpPPKc5SJHoTUZBaOpgyL9aE6AGuPMKiNhsEvDkNUVle5gcaW76HayO5I/s320/12_21_2010_lunar_eclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This morning's lunar eclipse occured at approximately 7.40am when the moon passed behind the earth so that the earth blocked the sun's rays from striking the moon and giving it a rosy glow. This occurs only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly ( or almost so ) with the Earth in the middle. There is always a full moon on the night of a lunar eclipse and today's eclipse was of particular signifigance as it is also the Midwinter Solstice. It is the first total lunar eclipse in three years and the first to fall on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - in nearly 500 years and the next one is 84 years time.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_ducHh-i6axCE754O79mzSPLrijzjkLbJRK1soWJxwpiFhIefB5IJfeHarS84YKc3MIZ4xuYB-J2oei87sayKMBX9l_EIZryxMSSqdNTgIMrvKwDZLJcVWn1Vh9xoK3dBDZakndYMzo/s1600/lunar_eclipse_diagram.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_ducHh-i6axCE754O79mzSPLrijzjkLbJRK1soWJxwpiFhIefB5IJfeHarS84YKc3MIZ4xuYB-J2oei87sayKMBX9l_EIZryxMSSqdNTgIMrvKwDZLJcVWn1Vh9xoK3dBDZakndYMzo/s400/lunar_eclipse_diagram.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A lunar eclipse lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place. Some lunar eclipses have been associated with important historical events.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"></span></span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-89530785961708068772010-12-18T14:46:00.000-08:002010-12-18T14:46:19.549-08:00Oak Moon<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Decembers Full Moon is known as the Oak Moon and to the Algonquin Indians it is known as the Cold Moon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Oak was sacred to the Druids, who revered it for it's strength, endurance and permanance as it solidly weathers the harshness of winter. </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Oak has a habit of being struck by lightning during storms and so it is frequently associated with the various Gods of thunder and lightening, including Zeus, Thor, Jupiter, and the Lithuanian God, Perkunas, where they are</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> often depicted holding bolts of lightning and their hands.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xYxmbr6TNG6S0_AfOEzrd0BzHQ9xBFTFQYHo0zUehwUEoKnVqnqo669V9bolqDVPWju7op9sP0VX3PG4x8c7els89YyUO7-8y6SApcx4w_cLb6oGhdVwfB5hDivlv_Mxu8P654EtY8o/s1600/Jupiter.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xYxmbr6TNG6S0_AfOEzrd0BzHQ9xBFTFQYHo0zUehwUEoKnVqnqo669V9bolqDVPWju7op9sP0VX3PG4x8c7els89YyUO7-8y6SApcx4w_cLb6oGhdVwfB5hDivlv_Mxu8P654EtY8o/s1600/Jupiter.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Oak was believed to protect those who sheltered beneath it, from being struck by lightning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oak Trees have also been associated with Herne of the Wild Hunt, in England, and Wodin, in Germany. </span></div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">King Arthur's Round Table was reputedly made from a single slab from a giant Oak Tree. </span> <br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"></span></span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-55617937614803537672010-12-07T17:42:00.000-08:002010-12-07T17:42:58.423-08:00Naughty or Nice ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9Yy80KVKMGOdBoHDxq8arI6Y8Q2RcGxQ6GBSSSq0YRXdIsSLTnjyR54xaasX9394EjpAxj5wa83443v4vqSuwgw4hv0fdKeeft6hTWLHr5c4nfE74R46yC__VziByej0kRWlut3-Gxc/s1600/st.nicholas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9Yy80KVKMGOdBoHDxq8arI6Y8Q2RcGxQ6GBSSSq0YRXdIsSLTnjyR54xaasX9394EjpAxj5wa83443v4vqSuwgw4hv0fdKeeft6hTWLHr5c4nfE74R46yC__VziByej0kRWlut3-Gxc/s400/st.nicholas1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">December 6th was the feast day of St. Nicholas, who </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">was</span> the Bishop of Myra in Turkey during the 4th Century. He was known for his kindness and many legends are told of him. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">He is said to have saved three girls from prostitution and provided them with dowries, then rescued three men from the gallows after being wrongly accused, he is also said to have saved three sailors from drowning. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">But he is most popular for his are his gentle love of children.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">In the European folklore of Holland, Belgium and Germany, he is associated with giving rewards on his feast day, to those children who have been good throughout the year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">On the eve of the 6th, children leave their shoes on the doorstep, to be filled with presents.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">And in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy, it is believed that St. Nicholas is accompanied by a mythical creature known as Krampus a demon like figure</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">. Krampus is a warning to naughty children, whom he punishes for their bad ways.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_vHD_3E3mI-Pe4QA45EgOeBVQ2H6JUgxywfyiTqEqalEUXmnehHygQ55TMS8H5XtWy2E90ynMLsRY3vz8Kh4Tl3pEbzuFX4IATQWiBtjfi8pmd-0eIbGw6qakisoPOw0wqYHnO4SsAc/s1600/St.+Nicolaus+%2526+Krampus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_vHD_3E3mI-Pe4QA45EgOeBVQ2H6JUgxywfyiTqEqalEUXmnehHygQ55TMS8H5XtWy2E90ynMLsRY3vz8Kh4Tl3pEbzuFX4IATQWiBtjfi8pmd-0eIbGw6qakisoPOw0wqYHnO4SsAc/s400/St.+Nicolaus+%2526+Krampus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The word Krampus originates from the old German word for claw - Krampen. In the Alpine regions, traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus on the evening of 5 December, and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Images of Krampus usually show him with a basket on his back used to carry away bad children and dump them into the pits of Hell.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1PHy6pRSHTnucMciRmVknQtpg-kGRV_ELg_vXL8LNi8fYdU8G_D263YeMqxt94S_u3IfFTxmyYBRpfb-qhZwAxVEfr2bNmMKVWjfTw29L_u3eK4VfLDV8Ea_q6PO-V7JCeTG-ALIWCo/s1600/krampus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1PHy6pRSHTnucMciRmVknQtpg-kGRV_ELg_vXL8LNi8fYdU8G_D263YeMqxt94S_u3IfFTxmyYBRpfb-qhZwAxVEfr2bNmMKVWjfTw29L_u3eK4VfLDV8Ea_q6PO-V7JCeTG-ALIWCo/s320/krampus2.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-47683882960001952402010-12-01T04:08:00.000-08:002010-12-01T04:08:35.380-08:00Winter Lights<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well it looks like winter has arrived, with recent snow falls and temperatures well into the minuses. I have tried to cheer up these darker earlier evenings by putting up little lights on the lifeless gazebo frame, so I can see them from the kitchen window. It makes the darkened garden look rather jolly and far more pleasant than the deep inky blackness that it becomes at this time of year.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hooray for Fairy Lights, you can never own too many sets of them......... </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QywNn1HjyNFL7bkChrQwXYzhaooxMP-wTkH5Hoo6Xyjb7l_ebmueKbMXiQifHgvtGvznZaCiq69QJ9HrEN1ZBbs8wAp6c9Oa8WTGhGk2DdtCCggMm3afM1n0fFsVwwjbnV4FD4P5_qg/s1600/tree+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QywNn1HjyNFL7bkChrQwXYzhaooxMP-wTkH5Hoo6Xyjb7l_ebmueKbMXiQifHgvtGvznZaCiq69QJ9HrEN1ZBbs8wAp6c9Oa8WTGhGk2DdtCCggMm3afM1n0fFsVwwjbnV4FD4P5_qg/s400/tree+lights.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And No, it doesn't look quite like this, but you get the general idea</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-41711397060959479692010-11-20T10:17:00.000-08:002010-11-20T10:17:17.695-08:00Blue Moon<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When ever there are four Full Moons in a quarter, as there will be this Autumn - the third Full Moon ( the one at the moment ) in that period is known as a Blue Moon.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3O6jElRRBaB7RwUjmcwO6Q-G-EdFQJsAFbG-dWMBFalItWQzhYcL9J_VqUDBxbPxl1FPGkVqZtIW2YdX9vCNRlQMlb5J3zKFar7iORKyERvciTfk6EHpkbIkCNL5XrQw6sTP4bTZEfU/s1600/blue-moon-wolf-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3O6jElRRBaB7RwUjmcwO6Q-G-EdFQJsAFbG-dWMBFalItWQzhYcL9J_VqUDBxbPxl1FPGkVqZtIW2YdX9vCNRlQMlb5J3zKFar7iORKyERvciTfk6EHpkbIkCNL5XrQw6sTP4bTZEfU/s400/blue-moon-wolf-full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The phrase: Once in a Blue Moon, relates to the rarity of an event or of something happening. When in actual fact, a blue moon occurs once annually, in about two out of every three years. There will be no Blue Moon in 2011, so this will be the last chance to actually do something 'Once in a Blue Moon' until 2012. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Algonquian Indian name for the November Moon, is the </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beaver Moon :</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.</span></span><br />
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</div>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260108396349313612.post-72572866963315483522010-11-18T14:03:00.000-08:002010-11-18T14:03:13.305-08:00Going Dutch<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We have just come back from a lovely short break, spent on a houseboat in Amsterdam and the thing that impressed me the most, was the friendliness and easy going nature of the Dutch people we met there. Ready smiles, gentle humour and common courtsey were the order of the day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am not a great lover of Cities or Towns, where people seem in such a rush, dashing from one thing to another as quickly as possible. Whilst I appreciate that our life time spent in this world is a precious thing and chores need to be done, we should also remember that life spent in the fast lane can become nothing more than a passing blur at times, as it flashes by at high speed. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the seventeenth century, the Dutch and British were enemies. Both wanted maritime superiority for economic reasons, especially control of the sea routes from the rich spice islands of the East Indies. The two countries fought three wars at sea between the years 1652 and 1674. At the lowest point of the struggle, in May 1667, the Dutch sailed up the Medway, sank a lot of ships, and blockaded the Thames.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Dutch were powerful, and they were the enemy so their name was taken in vain at every opportunity.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">During this period the English portrayed the Dutchman as someone who was stolid, miserly and bad-tempered. These associations, especially the stinginess, were linked to several phrases.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Examples from the time of the Dutch wars include:</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Dutch reckoning: a bill that is presented without any details, and which only gets bigger if you question it.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the same spirit, but recorded later are: </span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Dutch auction, one in which the prices go down instead of up.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was considered that <em>Dutch courage: was temporary bravery induced by alcohol. </em>And that something made from <em>Dutch metal: was an alloy of copper and zinc used as a substitute for gold foil.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><em>A Dutch uncle: was someone who criticises or rebukes you with the frankness of a relative.</em> And a<em> Dutch treat: was one in which those invited, had to pay for themselves.</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PJGIImauGwg8PbInYEMB3BKHoOqzBbKHSPj4VgZCFdZiiXRC1hRZeWLbfn3uoGvn9OVCJBF0fiC-_sryCkYzuRCCqLwOelCjsmuQYfmOHgRvj0pHB845IhsPR0OUeKIE9Ir0tNguGBk/s1600/dutch+vase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PJGIImauGwg8PbInYEMB3BKHoOqzBbKHSPj4VgZCFdZiiXRC1hRZeWLbfn3uoGvn9OVCJBF0fiC-_sryCkYzuRCCqLwOelCjsmuQYfmOHgRvj0pHB845IhsPR0OUeKIE9Ir0tNguGBk/s200/dutch+vase.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So for now, I feel that the term Going Dutch, really means that life does not have to be like a roller coaster ride, hurtling from one drama to another crisis. Because it simply makes a lot more sense to give yourself some time and space to collect your thoughts and a chance to review things first, allowing you to begin and finish from a point of calmness. Because how you feel on the inside, will be displayed on the outside too. And those around you will pick up on this relaxed energy and eventually match it with their own.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So just like the laid-back Netherlanders, I'm going to go Dutch too.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrQpBYiQpGE1fwAj7CIbqvUcan2PXFLZmIhpOZmUXAx2543kUrJMADPGJgi-ZJ59LP0pc7ODm_pOH5-s8e_aQ4g3s2tG_sodstOo42hwqq22ppvGR75DOSuFqPupL_UzOaIZBnOxq2zY/s1600/DutchWindmills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrQpBYiQpGE1fwAj7CIbqvUcan2PXFLZmIhpOZmUXAx2543kUrJMADPGJgi-ZJ59LP0pc7ODm_pOH5-s8e_aQ4g3s2tG_sodstOo42hwqq22ppvGR75DOSuFqPupL_UzOaIZBnOxq2zY/s400/DutchWindmills.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</em>Taphophilia Catafalquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09475395812088013309noreply@blogger.com0