Christmas Fancies

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, 

We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago.

And etched on vacant places, 

Are half forgotten faces

Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know –

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow.

Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near, 

We see, with strange emotion that is not free from fear, 

That continent Elysian

Long vanished from our vision, 

Youth’s lovely lost Atlantis, so mourned for and so dear, 

Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near.

When gloomy gray Decembers are roused to Christmas mirth, 

The dullest life remembers there once was joy on earth, 

And draws from youth’s recesses

Some memory it possesses, 

And, gazing through the lens of time, exaggerates its worth, 

When gloomy gray December is roused to Christmas mirth.

When hanging up the holly or mistletoe, I wis

Each heart recalls some folly that lit the world with bliss.

Not all the seers and sages

With wisdom of the ages

Can give the mind such pleasure as memories of that kiss

When hanging up the holly or mistletoe, I wis.

For life was made for loving, and love alone repays, 

As passing years are proving for all of Time’s sad ways.

There lies a sting in pleasure, 

And fame gives shallow measure, 

And wealth is but a phantom that mocks the restless days, 

For life was made for loving, and only loving pays.

When Christmas bells are pelting the air with silver chimes, 

And silences are melting to soft, melodious rhymes, 

Let Love, the worlds beginning, 

End fear and hate and sinning; 

Let Love, the God Eternal, be worshipped in all climes

When Christmas bells are pelting the air with silver chimes.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Was at the new place yesterday.  You ladies are so right.  I went to so many stores yesterday, and regular curtains are not made for my windows, so once I am settled and the holidays done, I'll have to try my hand at sewing.  Been a good many years for me.  The bedroom and living room drapes fit perfect and are lovely.  It's the bathroom and kitchen window that I am having problems with.  Normal bathroom windows are actually quite small so the normal 54 inch bathroom curtains are fine, but mine needs 63 inches, so it was time to get creative.  For now, we'll hang two tiers of curtains.  And, the kitchen, alas, is about one inch short.  For now, there is so much else to be done, that this will have to do.

My youngest came last night and took away a carload of books and old dishes.  It's his garbage day tomorrow, so he'll put them out front.  Spoke with my landlady, as well.  It seems that her dad is in from Florida and went into the basement today.  Turns out the guy upstairs has his washing machine and dryer hooked on my line.  I knew my bill was too high.  I am furious, but there's not much to be done about it now with only four days to go.  I just want peace for now.  All I can say is, "What goes around, comes around." 

I've been finding some serenity watching Phoebe, the hummingbird.  She's already too young ones in the nest.  The miracle of nature makes one realize how blessed we are, and how much we can learn from the  miracles of everyday life, the miraculous events we casually refer to as nature.  In case anyone is interested, you can watch the young ones grow 'live' on the following site.  The young ones are Bob, named after the hosts father because it hatched on his 94th birthday and Rose, perhaps because the nest is in a rose bush.  From an egg the size of a tic tac, watching them grow  is truly a miracle to behold...http://phoebeallens.com/