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Satin & Sand

~ Reflections on Beauty

Satin & Sand

Tag Archives: Christmas

Reindeer ready…

24 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by Satin & Sand in Photography

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Christmas, Clement C. Moore, High Park Zoo, Michael Bublé, Photography, Reindeer, Toronto

© James Currie – High Park Zoo, Toronto

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
with a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen!
“On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixem!

“To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
“Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew…
from Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

I remember the giddiness and sheer thrill that Santa would be visiting my home on Christmas Eve! I knew exactly what doll he would be bringing me as I had sent a letter to the North Pole weeks earlier begging for one and had been especially good so I couldn’t conceive of any other outcome – especially not the lump of coal reserved for naughty children!

I chose the best-decorated sugar cookies for Santa and placed them along with a glass of milk by the fireplace. The obligatory carrots were set out for the reindeer. Rudolph was my favorite, of course!

My Mother did a wonderful recitation of Twas the Night before Christmas and then it was off to bed. I listened for Santa’s sleigh for what seemed like hours, determined to see him, but alas, I fell right to sleep and never did.

I wish children everywhere, St. Nick believers or not, the Christmas of their dreams!

Twas the Night Before Christmas narrated by Michael Buble´

Home for Christmas…

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Design, Photography

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Christmas, Humber River, I'll be Home for Christmas, Michael Bublé, Old Mill Bridge, Toronto

© David Dodds – Old Mill Bridge, Toronto

I am dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it’s a long road back
I promise you 

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.
from I’ll be Home for Christmas by Gannon, Kent, and Ram
sung here by Michael Bublé 

Best wishes to those who have been in lockdown and have perhaps spent too much time at home this year.
And Godspeed to those finding their way home in time for Christmas.

Christmas in reflection…

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Satin & Sand in Crafts, Photography, Reflections, Relationships

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A Child's Christmas in Wales, Christmas, Christmas Day, Dylan Thomas

Lauren in Vancouver at Christmas

Lauren DiMarco in Vancouver © Joan Currie

One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now
and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights
when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six.
from A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (YouTube reading by the author)

I will have no trouble remembering this wonderful Christmas day!

Christmas time-out…

25 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by Satin & Sand in Design, Fashion, Photography, Reflections

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Bacca da Silva, Christmas, Fashion, Gladys Taber, Lauren DiMarco, Photography

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© Bacca da Silva

But in this season it is well to reassert that the hope of mankind rests in Faith. As man thinketh, so he is. Nothing much happens unless you believe in it, and believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it. 
Gladys Taber

Taking some time to appreciate all the happy moments from today…

Model: Lauren DiMarco

More white lights…

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Satin & Sand in Design, Photography, Reflections, Relationships

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Christmas, Christmas tree, Roy L. Smith

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© Lauren DiMarco

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree.
Roy L. Smith

 I hope there will be a special place in our hearts for those who have lost loved ones too, too soon…

Nutcracker…

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Design, Photography, Reflections

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Art, Christmas, Design, Nutcracker, Nutcracker ballet, postaweek 2011, Tchaikovsky, watercolor

© Joan Currie - Watercolor

Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven’s gifts to humanity wandering in the darkness. Alone it calms, enlightens, and stills our souls. – Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky’s score for the Nutcracker ballet is my favorite music of the holiday along with a dozen classic carols.

Gingerbread House…

18 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Design, Food, Photography, Reflections

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A Holly Jolly Christmas, Art, Baking, beautiful, Christmas, Christmas baking, Crafts, Gingerbread House, Michael Bublé, Norman Vincent Peale, postaweek 2011

Have a holly, jolly Christmas,
It’s the best time of the year,
I don’t know if there’ll be snow,
But have a cup of cheer.
A Holly Jolly Christmas by Johnny Marks – sung by Michael Bublé

Voilà – this year’s gingerbread house thanks to very thick royal frosting!

Photo: James Currie

Angels…

18 Saturday Dec 2010

Posted by stanfordblog in Art, Fashion, Photography, Reflections

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Angels, Christmas, Fashion, Gabriela Camerotti, John Milton, Memoir, Photography

© Gabriela Camerotti - http://www.gabrielacamerotti.com

O welcome, pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope,
Thou hovering angel, girt with golden wings!
John Milton (Comus)

I remember fashioning angel wings from wire and tulle fabric, and decorating them with soft down feathers, and gold and silver glitter for my daughters’ Christmas pageants in elementary school.

Glittery Gifts: Earrings…

14 Tuesday Dec 2010

Posted by stanfordblog in Fashion, Photography

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Beauty, Christmas, Christmas gift, Earrings, Fashion, Photography, Shay Jones

© Joan Currie

Diamonds are radiant white,
They shine like starts in the night.

Shay Jones

What a delight to receive sparkly jewelry at Christmas! I wear these rhinestone earrings at least once every holiday season.

Home for the Holidays…

13 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by stanfordblog in Art, Reflections

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Christmas, Lawren Harris

© Lawren Harris

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
Buck Ram

As I gazed at my friend’s Christmas tree laden with presents last night, a wave of sentimentality swept over me.

When I lived in Boston, my parents campaigned vigorously each year for my young family to visit at Christmas. The ten-hour drive to Toronto was always fraught with danger in December, particularly around Buffalo, where we often encountered terrible snowstorms. Despite our protestations to stay in the safety and comfort of our own home, my parents, then in their fifties, would tag on our heartstrings by saying, “this may be our last Christmas,” followed by some grizzly tale about a friend or relative who had met with an untimely death just months earlier.

We always resolved to have Christmas in our own home, but caved at the last minute and made the drive to celebrate with them. This modus operandi continued for over two decades, and for my children, Christmases have been associated with their grandparents’ hearth and home.

For the first time, we are not going to be spending Christmas with my parents as they moved into an independent living facility this week after months and months of deliberation and heartbreak. Christmas, as life, will go on – just a little differently this year.

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