We're in Tennessee!!

I recorded our stream to share the wonderful sound it makes. Mark mentions going to our cabin and how the sound of the stream and the sound of the rain hitting the roof was so soothing to sleep by.
(added 12/02/08: if you are here from doing a search for the song The Gift by Aselin Debison, scroll down for the words to the song the first line of which is- A poor orphan girl named Maria Was walking to market one day)

Santa Live!!

Santa Claus live
^Go to this link. It is so cool!! Click on inside cam. It is in Finland so it will be doing repeats at some point. You get to see people who go to visit Santa and get their picture taken with him. Santa may be on a break or may be done for the day when you click on it but come back to check once in a while. There is a schedule so you will know the hours.

This is a pretty song

The Gift

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for to rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For its feathers were covered with sand
And soon cleaned and wrapped it was traveling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time

Now the gift-giving service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolk brought presents
To lay by the manger that night

There were diamonds, incense and perfumes
And packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
"Maria, what brings you to me?
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door, let me see"

So she trembled, she did as he asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
For its beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

Sung by Aselin Debison in this one. They removed the video but I went ahead and left the lyrics.

Hot Cocoa Mustache

My children (especially Matthew) take after there Daddy ;-) (their Daddy has a mustache).

Another Award

Karen over at Karen's Korner gave this award to me. Ummm... what does it mean, is it good? Must be. I will have to go see what bodacious means....(looking it up)... Ok I'm going with remarkable. Thank you, Karen!!!

E-Bay time again

A friend is having me try to sell some sheet music she has.
shirley temple
In the cool, Cool, of the Evening
White Christmas
Sunday, Monday or Always

Did I say I love auctions?!

Here is a precious teddy bear I won (along with its friend, not pictured) at an auction last weekend. I love it but it will be finding a loving home in a couple weeks.

My Hidden Treasures

Here are the treasures that were in the song book also pictured here. The copyright of the song book is 1875.

Perry Como Once more

Perry Como Christmas in Austria 1976 Part 7 and Part 8

Just never know...

...what treasures you will find. I was flipping through one of the music books and look what was tucked between the pages.It is in awesome condition! I called the church in Ann Arbor and will be sending it in the mail shortly to them. Every time I look at these old books it's like going back in time.

In one song book (from 1875) that I am keeping there was a card that they got in their coffee as well as 2 little pictures of women in the dress of that time that was in with their cigarettes. I'm keeping these as well. They are in excellent condition from being between the pages of the book all these years. When I get the chance I will take some pictures of these. Needless to say I am being careful to flip through the pages of the books now. Oh, yeah, in between the pages of an old (1940's to 50's) coloring book I found sheet music with a picture of Bing Crosby, the song is "Now is the Hour". Cool, huh?!! In this lot of books and sheet music was also the little paper they handed out at the 1892 High School graduation in Greenville, Ohio. Eight people graduated that year. I will be taking this to the principle this week sometime. So excited!

Perry Como Again

Perry Como Christmas in Austria 1976 Part 5 and Part 6