The News is In!

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Twas the eve before New Year's Eve, and all through the nation...wait a minute!  Is it going to be a  New Year everywhere?  YES!!!  As a matter of fact there is a web site showing the time left until year 2017 around the world.  It's called  timeanddate.com

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Here we are at the end of a year that brought about so many changes...some good, and, some not so good.  I believe we're going to be a stronger people for it.     

I came across some vintage New Year's Eve party photos to share with you tonight.  Boy, these folks took their New Year's Eve parties seriously!

~New York party celebrations, late 1930's

"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits!"

~author unknown

~ New York party

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves!"

~ Bill Vaughan (1915-1977) in The Kansas City Star

~ two cuties keeping time 

I came by tonight, with not a lot to say, but with best wishes for the New Year from my heart!

I hope you all will be careful on this New Year's holiday.  Be considerate of others, drive safely, sing and laugh a lot.  Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please drop in and say hello...I have an open door policy here at the KardKorner.

Thank you:

Google

Yahoo images

Blogger

giffy.com

~Burning the midnight oil!

photo by Suzanne

Hugs to you all * See you next time ♥

The Crib of Christ...in a Cave.

Hello, my dear blogmates!  What a fantastic month it is!  December sashayed into our lives a couple of weeks ago,  dropped some Christmas spirit on us, and, now it's beginning to draw down, and come to a close!   The New Year, 2017, is coming up fast and furiously!

My story begins with St. Francis of Assisi.  We know he was born into a wealthy family...I think he had six siblings, and his father was a silk merchant.   He was actually baptized as Giovanni, but, it seems as though  his father wanted a french name for him, and later started calling his son, Francesco. From my research, I detected some conflict in the original decision of his name when he was born.

At about the age of 20 or 21, Francis went off to a war, between Assisi and Perugia.  During that time he was taken prisoner, and upon being released, after his father paid a ransom, his life ventured in a new direction. Francis channeled his focus toward Christianity and God, preferring to live his life in poverty. However, Francis did need to earn some money, in order to pay his Father back for the ransom that freed him from prison.  He did eventually pay his back his Father, and even went so far as to strip down to bare necessities and give dad the clothes he was wearing!
  That was the last time he and his father spoke.

After Francis had visited the historical birthplace of Christ, he talked the Pope,  Honorious III, into allowing him to construct a manger with hay and the use of 2 live animals.  This was done somewhere around the year 1223, in a mountain cave above Greccio in Italy.  Francis would invite the villagers to come and view as he preached a special Mass, and told the story of the "Babe of Bethlehem".  It is not known for sure, but some sources say that live villagers would sit in and enact the Nativity scene as it was told.

Below is a photo that is said to be the first Nativity location in Italy.

  However, I cannot verify its authenticity.  

*the photo is available on Wikipedia and Yahoo images *

The Nativity became so popular, it soon spread to Europe, and, today, we have continued the custom of building and reconstructing this holy scene during the Christmas season, to celebrate the birth of Christ.  

Here are a few pictures of  Nativity scenes I have taken in my daily travels around town.  I hope you enjoy them.  I know...you're wondering where my Nativity scene is.  I don't have one for the yard, but hope to display one next Christmas.  I do have a small Nativity that I will set up soon near my Christmas tree.

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* St. George Catholic Church *  Fort Worth, TX * photo by Suzanne

* A neighborhood in Haltom City, TX * photo by Suzanne

* Grapevine Hwy * North Richland Hills, TX * photo by Suzanne

* Branson, Missouri * photo by Suzanne

And, who might this be?

Why it is the 'keeper of the grounds' himself, St. Francis of Assisi!

* photo by Suzanne * my back yard * Fort Worth, TX

During one of my trips back to Kansas City, oh around 1995, my mother sent me home with this wonderful statue of St. Francis.  He has watched over my yard and the critters that visit for many years.  He tolerates nature's moods, he has been knocked over, and, pummeled with mulberries and pecans.  Yet, he still stands tall, and remains devout in his purpose.

So, dear readers...that's it for today.  We'll be celebrating Christmas in a few short days, and, remembering the great story of the birth of Christ!  Until just a few years ago, I had no idea that St. Francis was so compelled to take on a project that would travel the world 'round, and be a lasting symbol for such a precious event.   I am grateful for St. Francis' devotion to all people and animals during his lifetime as a priest.

***  My appreciation goes out to:
Wikipedia
Google
Blogger
Yahoo images
smithsonianmag.com
The state of Texas
Branson, Missouri
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***  And, I wish to thank you all for coming by just a few days before Christmas and visiting my blog.  I just want to remind you to be safe on this important holiday, in your travels.  And, please don't overload your electrical sockets to keep the beautiful Christmas lights aglow!

I've already blown a fuse in my house by plugging in one too many items.  Thank goodness I thought to check the fuse box, or I would have no TV, and, no Christmas lights...go figure!





***  Please stop in and say hello if you get the chance!  And, have a very
Merry Christmas, from the family of KardKornerKrib! 

Love, health, and happiness to you all! ♥

The Great Log!

Christmas in America is made up of many holiday customs from foreign countries.  Bringing in the Yule is one of these customs.

The Yule log, Yule clog, or Christmas block is a log specially selected to be burned on a hearth as a Christmas tradition in a number of countries in Europe.   The origin of the folk custom is unclear.    Numerous scholars have observed that, like other traditions associated with Yule, such as the Yule boar, the custom may ultimately derive from Germanic paganism holiday customs from foreign countries.

In olden times, everyone had a fireplace.  It was the only source of heat.  At Christmas time it was the custom to bring in a "great log"...larger than any that would be burned during the year.  In the far north, the Scandanavian peninsula, the Christmas season was also known as the Yuletide, and, the great log burned for days.

Early colonists brought the custom to this country.  And, while the log burned, nobody worked...I don't know-can we get away with that today?  Sometimes the log would burn for about 12 days!  I guess that's why they would cut from the largest tree they could find in the forest!

But, just before the log would burn entirely away, the fire was put out, and the remainder of the log was saved for the next Yuletide.

I think we all feel warmth and joy from a lively, crackling fireplace.  They say a blazing hearth is the sign of a happy home.

Do outdoor fireplaces count?  I love to sit outside when it's cool weather and bask in the warmth of this little fireplace.   A nice hot cup of java, and my radio humming the old classic rock tunes is quite a treat.

~photo by Suzanne

Thank you so much for coming by today, on this first day of  December.  I'm already busy here at the KardKorner with plenty of Christmas projects.  I helped my mother compile a booklet of Christmas customs, including Christmas carols, for her Christmas party with the seniors at her church.  They will have a pianist playing the Christmas carols, and are inviting members from another church to join in on the fellowship.  It promises to be a wonderful program!

***

Here is my cute little mom, and my sister, Leta, on a recent trip we made to Branson, Missouri.  Mom turned 90 years old in July, and is still very active in her life.

~photo by Suzanne * November 16, 2016

Branson, Missouri

***  If you have the time, please step in (you don't have to knock), and say hello!  And, come back anytime!  

Thank you to:

wikipedia

google

yahoo images

Some of the information on the Yule log came from an old booklet that mom acquired in the late 1950's, and still has today. 

Have a safe and Happy December!  Be kind, laugh, and love!  

See you soon, my dear readers!♥ 

"There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward."

~Kahlil Gibran