Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Romancing Christmas: Carriage Rides in the Snow
When I think of carriage rides, I picture Cinderella
stepping out of her magically transformed pumpkin with her dress flowing over
her glass slippers. I remember watching Lady Diana and Kate, the Duchess of
Cambridge, in their wedding carriages. There’s just something about the horses
clip-clopping through the park with the distinguished coachman sitting atop the
seat that sings romance.
One of the most romantic Christmas gifts I’ve ever received
from my husband was a carriage ride through a near-by city on a snowy December
evening. The Christmas lights glowed in the store windows as holiday music
floated through the streets. The horses seemed to clomp in time to the music,
and the driver treated us like royalty. As snowflakes floated in the air, we
snuggled to stay warm. His kind gesture
filled my heart with love.
Many village Christmas celebrations and the downtown city
areas offer carriage or sleigh rides. What a fine activity to share with your
Christmas sweetheart.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Romancing Christmas: That Romantic Glow
They walked hand in hand as snowflakes danced around the twinkling
lights on the low pines. Is there anything more romantic than sharing the
beauty of Christmas lights on a dark evening with the one you love? Maybe, but
it’s definitely in the top five.
The lights in our local park. |
In 1880, Thomas Edison hung the first string of electric lights
outside his laboratory in Menlo Park. Two years later, his friend and partner, Edward
H. Johnson, draped a string of electric colored lights around their indoor Christmas
tree in 1882. His family found delight in the colorful novelty. Although
electric lights were not the norm for several years, they did eventually catch
on and become more affordable.
Now we see extravagant light displays all over the country.
From Rockefeller center to small town parks, sparkling colors and white lights
twinkle in the night. My husband and I enjoy driving around the neighborhood to
admire our neighbors’ displays. We enjoy walking in the park and seeing the
decorated trees.
Romance + Lights =
· Stroll through a light display together
· Decorate the tree together
· Sit by the Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa
· Take an evening drive and view the lights
· Go to the town tree lighting ceremony together
Enjoy the glow of the season.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Merry Christmas to You by Sidewalk Prophets
“Lights, please. "And there were in the
same country shepherds abiding in the field…” Linus Van Pelt’s childlike voice
filled my car. And I loved it.
Sometime in early November, I listened to a radio
interview on K-Love with David Frey, the lead singer of Sidewalk Prophets. He talked about making their new album, Merry Christmas to You. They had wrapped up the music and thought they had
everything ready to go when the producers realized they needed to ask the voice
of Linus for permission to use the monologue. Unfortunately he had passed away.
But, at the last minute they reached his wife and added Linus’s voice to their
wonderful new Christmas album.
The music exudes
joy as it celebrates the season with fun and reverence. I’ve enjoyed the four
new songs the group composed as well as their renditions of familiar songs and
carols. This is a great CD for family time in the car or to decorate the tree
by. I liked it so much that I bought it for my daughters, and they all gave it a
thumbs up.
Link to the story behind Oh What a Glorious Night: http://www.sidewalkprophets.com/becauseitschristmas
Do you have a favorite Christmas Album or CD? Please share.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Silver Bells by Deborah Raney
In Silver Bells I took a peek into an era before technology took over the newspaper
business. Throughout the story Deb’s descriptions of the 1970s are right on.
From early microwave ovens to Little Golden books illustrated by Eloise Wilkin,
I revisited many of the joys of my youth. Yet under it all the turmoil of the
Vietnam War wrestled with everyday life.
Even though Michelle Penn had a very different
future in mind, she took a job at the local newspaper to make ends meet. She
never dreamed she’d meet up with Mr. Popular from high school, let alone
actually enjoy his company. In an era of women’s liberation, war, and a fight
for women’s freedom from domestic abuse, how does a hometown girl confront
reality and find love at the same time? What appears as a simple romance dives
into the importance of surrounding others with compassion that has no fear. Deb
Raney created a story of love and forgiveness that plays on the heart. I
enjoyed the love story between Michelle and Rob and the story of love they
shared for Becky, a young mom in need. I recommend Silver Bells as a
warm-hearted Christmas read that reveals the true spirit of the season.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
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