Christmas Angel

2006-11-30 Posted at 11:17:31 PM

THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL   At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time. "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line. "Certainly not!" A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock. "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case. "Set it down on the rug by the fire-place. I am going to look it over and burn up the rubbish this evening." She glanced once more at the letter in her hand, then with a sniff tossed it upon the fire. "Yes'm," said Norah, as she set down the box with a thump. She stooped once more to pick up something which had fallen out when the cover was jarred open. It was a pink papier-mâché angel, such as are often hung from the top of Christmas trees as a crowning symbol. Norah stood holding it between thumb and finger, staring amazedly. Who would think to find such a bit of frivolity in the house of Miss Terry! Her mistress looked up from the fire, where the bit of writing was writhing painfully, and caught the expression of Norah's face. "What have you there?" she asked, frowning, as she took the object into her own hands. "The Christmas Angel!" she exclaimed under her breath. "I had quite forgotten it." Then as if it burned her fingers she thrust the little image back into the box and turned to Norah brusquely. "There, that's all. You can go now, Norah," she said. "Yes'm," answered the maid. She hesitated. "If you please'm, it's Christmas Eve." "Well, I believe so," snapped Miss Terry, who seemed to be in a particularly bad humor this evening. "What do you want?" Norah flushed; but she was hardened to her mistress's manner. "Only to ask if I may go out for a little while to see the decorations and hear the singing." "Decorations? Singing? Fiddlestick!" retorted Miss Terry, poker in hand. "What decorations? What singing?" "Why, all the windows along the street are full of candles," answered Norah; "rows of candles in every house, to light the Christ Child on his way when he comes through the city to-night." "Fiddlestick!" again snarled her mistress. "And choir-boys are going about the streets, they say, singing carols in front of the lighted houses," continued Norah enthusiastically. "It must sound so pretty!" "They had much better be at home in bed. I believe people are losing their minds!" "Please'm, may I go?" asked Norah again. Norah had no puritanic traditions to her account. Moreover she was young and warm and enthusiastic. Sometimes the spell of Miss Terry's sombre house threatened her to the point of desperation. It was so this Christmas Eve; but she made her request with apparent calmness. "Yes, go along," assented her mistress ungraciously. "Thank you, 'm," said the servant demurely, but with a brightening of her blue eyes. And presently the area door banged behind her quick-retreating footsteps. "H'm! Didn't take her long to get ready!" muttered Miss Terry, giving the fire a vicious poke. She was alone in the house, on Christmas Eve, and not a man, woman, or child in the world cared. Well, it was what she wanted. It was of her own doing. If she had wished— She sat back in her chair, with thin, long hands lying along the arms of it, gazing into the fire. A bit of paper there was crumbling into ashes. Alone on Christmas Eve! Even Norah had some relation with the world outside. Was there not a stalwart officer waiting for her on the nearest corner? Even Norah could feel a simple childish pleasure in candles and carols and merriment, and the old, old superstition. "Stuff and nonsense!" mused Miss Terry scornfully. "What is our Christmas, anyway? A time for shopkeepers to sell and for foolish folks to kill themselves in buying. Christmas spirit? No! It is all humbug,—all selfishness, and worry; an unwholesome season of unnatural activities. I am glad I am out of it. I am glad no one expects anything of me,—nor I of any one. I am quite independent; blessedly independent of the whole foolish business. It is a good time to begin clearing up for the new year. I'm glad I thought of it. I've long threatened to get rid of the stuff that has been accumulating in that corner of the attic. Now I will begin." She tugged the packing-case an inch nearer the fire. It was like Miss Terry to insist upon that nearer inch. Then she raised the cover. It was a box full of children's battered toys, old-fashioned and quaint; the toys in vogue thirty—forty—fifty years earlier, when Miss Terry was a child. She gave a reminiscent sniff as she threw up the cover and saw on the under side of it a big label of pasteboard unevenly lettered.   "Humph!" she snorted. There was a great deal in that "humph." It meant: Yes, Tom's name had plenty of room, while poor little Angelina had to squeeze in as well as she could. How like Tom! This accounted for everything, even to his not being in his sister's house this very night. How unreasonable he had been! Miss Terry shrugged impatiently. Why think of Tom to-night? Years ago he had deliberately cut himself adrift from her interests. No need to think of him now. It was too late to appease her. But here were all these toys to be got rid of. The fire was hungry for them. Why not begin? Miss Terry stooped to poke over the contents of the box with lean, long fingers. In one corner thrust up a doll's arm; in another, an animal's tail pointed heavenward. She caught glimpses of glitter and tinsel, wheels and fragments of unidentifiable toys. "What rubbish!" she said. "Yes, I'll burn them all. They are good for nothing else. I suppose some folks would try to give them away, and bore a lot of people to death. They seem to think they are saving something, that way. Nonsense! I know better. It is all foolishness, this craze for giving. Most things are better destroyed as soon as you are done with them. Why, nobody wants such truck as this. Now, could any child ever have cared for so silly a thing?" She pulled out a faded jumping-jack, and regarded it scornfully. "Idiotic! Such toys are demoralizing for children—weaken their minds. It is a shame to think how every one seems bound to spoil children, especially at Christmas time. Well, no one can say that I have added to the shameful waste." Miss Terry tossed the poor jumping-jack on the fire, and eyed his last contortions with grim satisfaction. But as she watched, a quaint idea came to her. She was famous for eccentric ideas. "I will try an experiment," she said. "I will prove once for all my point about the 'Christmas spirit.' I will drop some of these old toys out on the sidewalk and see what happens. It may be interesting.".....     ...want to know what happens to Miss Terry and the toys??? For a $1.00 donation to my paypal account I will send you a beautifully illustrated pdf version. You may then freely give copies of this ebook away.   Order here: Order here:

Christmas Decorating

2006-11-30 Posted at 03:54:17 PM

Christmas Decoration Ideas for Kids

As a parent you already know just how much kids love the holidays.  One of the things they love is helping you decorate for Christmas.  Most children love to make their own handmade Christmas decorations, and there are a number of fun and exciting Christmas decorations that they can easily make.

There are a number of ways to make Christmas ornaments.  Christmas ornaments can be made from regular paper or any other type of material. In fact, you can purchase a number of Christmas ornament cutouts or guides from your local craft store. These ornament pieces are likely plain, but already shaped like something, such as a star, an angel, a Santa, or a cross, which the child can then paint. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is great for small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time.

 Your children can also easily make their own Christmas paintings or drawings, often with the supplies that can already be found inside your home. You can then put it on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere else or give it to a grandparent as a Christmas gift.  You can also have the child draw on a large sheet of paper or stamp it and use it as wrapping paper.  This makes a double gift.  This type of Christmas decoration craft project is ideal for children of any age and is a great way to save money since you likely already have all of the needed supplies.  Many newspaper offices will sell end rolls of blank newsprint which is ideal for making wrapping paper.

 Another fun Christmas project that your children could do is to make a centerpiece for your dining room table, or individual place cards.   Your children will be thrilled if you use that centerpiece for your Christmas dinner.  The children can create a somewhat elegant centerpiece, with artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, some Christmas balls, as well as other decorative items. Your children can easily arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dining room table. If your children are a little older, they may be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of an Angel, a Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper and a few other small supplies.

 Making a gingerbread house together is also fun.  It is important that the house be constructed the day before so that the icing will have a chance to harden, but the children can have a wonderful time decorating the gingerbread house.  It can even be used as a centerpiece for a Christmas display and then the children can eat it later. 

 Another similar idea is to take Social Tea Biscuits and make them into a small house, putting a ribbon between the seam of the roof top.  It takes 7 cookies to make a house, a little Royal Icing, a ribbon loop long enough to hang over a tree branch, and some imagination to decorate it.  These can be take home or eat gifts for children who visit your home around Christmas.  Hang several on the Christmas tree.

 There are a number of places online where you will be able to Christmas craft projects for kids.  You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard internet search.  Also, your local library will no doubt have some Christmas Craft books.  Your local book stores will also have a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as give detailed directions on how to make the Christmas decorations.  These decorations may include Christmas drawings or paintings, tree ornaments, table centerpieces, and much more. 

 Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if you participate as well.  For a child, there is nothing like seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree.

Make your own special Christmas memories this year.

Fran Watson

P.S.  For more Christmas ideas click here. 

Christmas Specials

2006-11-23 Posted at 03:32:18 PM

Doing your Christmas shopping?

Looking for that special item for that special someone?

Look no further.  Check out the sales on shoes and lingerie here.

Fran Watson

http:www.franwatson.ca

CHOICES

2006-11-22 Posted at 09:07:14 PM

My first public speaking debut was a disaster.  I was 9 years old, in Grade 6 and had to do a report on a famous person.  I chose Francis Bacon.  Why?  Because he and I shared the same first name and because I could get information on him from our Encyclopedia.  These were the days before internet!!

I was terrified!!

My legs shook, my mouth was dry and the sweat……..oh, my goodness, the sweat….it poured down my back like a waterfall.  I was sure that people would be able to hear the water hitting the floor.  My 5 minutes were over and I gratefully rushed to my chair vowing never to speak in front of people again…

Fast forward to 2005… I am President of two Toastmasters Clubs.

How did this happen? 

Well, it happened because of a number of choices made in my life.  Some that I made, and some that others (mainly my parents) made for me.

This is the intro to a book I am writing about my public speaking experiences.  I would like some comments.  Does this make you want to read more?  Does it make you a little curious?

Fran Watson

P.S.  All those who respond will receive a small gift for your time.

Left handed??

2006-11-21 Posted at 11:31:56 PM

Have you seen the new left-handed mugs?

Only £4.95 and sent in a protective polystyrene cube so it cannot get damaged and is easy to pack as a gift! Click here to order

Don't forget to add your free Left-Handers notepad and pencil set to your order - Click here or use the highlighted link in the shopping basket after adding your mug

Famous Golf Lefties

Check out this site for all kinds of information and specialty items for left-handed people.

Have a great week!

Fran Watson

P.S.  Did you sign up to get my free Christmas Memories book yet?  Lots of recipes, Christmas stories, Christmas carols, and some personal memories.  If not, go to this page.  I would love to hear back from you what you think about it.

Fabulous Video

2006-11-15 Posted at 11:43:51 AM

I just viewed the most fabulous video!  Take 3 minutes of your time and go and see this now.

http://www.awakentheauthorwithin.com/legacy_presentation.htm

It has a message for everyone.

Enjoy

Fran Watson

It's Ready

2006-11-13 Posted at 05:00:22 PM

It's ready, it's finally ready and I am so pleased with the results.

I have been working on this for months now, trying to cram as much as I possibly could into this e-book.

So, here it is.  My Christmas gift to you.  I am not collecting your email address, I am not asking for money, I am just giving it to you, and you have my permission to share it with others.

http://www.franwatson.ca/Memories.zip

I would like to hear from you after you read through it and you can post here on the blog, or you can email me from my site.

I hope you enjoy this gift.  I wanted to bring back the Memories of Christmases past, when things weren't so commercial.  My ebook contains Christmas Carols, recipes, easy to make gifts, stories and some special Christmas Memories.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

Fran Watson

http://www.franwatson.ca/Memories.zip

The Christmas Angel

2006-11-12 Posted at 02:50:37 PM

At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time. "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line. "Certainly not!"

A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.

"Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case. "Set it down on the rug by the fire-place. I am going to look it over and burn up the rubbish this evening."

She glanced once more at the letter in her hand, then with a sniff tossed it upon the fire.

"Yes'm," said Norah, as she set down the box with a thump. She stooped once more to pick up something which had fallen out when the cover was jarred open. It was a pink papier-mâché angel, such as are often hung from the top of Christmas trees as a crowning symbol. Norah stood holding it between thumb and finger, staring amazedly. Who would think to find such a bit of frivolity in the house of Miss Terry!

Her mistress looked up from the fire, where the bit of writing was writhing painfully, and caught the expression of Norah's face.

"What have you there?" she asked, frowning, as she took the object into her own hands. "The Christmas Angel!" she exclaimed under her breath. "I had quite forgotten it." Then as if it burned her fingers she thrust the little image back into the box and turned to Norah brusquely. "There, that's all. You can go now, Norah," she said.

"Yes'm," answered the maid. She hesitated. "If you please'm, it's Christmas Eve."

"Well, I believe so," snapped Miss Terry, who seemed to be in a particularly bad humor this evening. "What do you want?"

Norah flushed; but she was hardened to her mistress's manner. "Only to ask if I may go out for a little while to see the decorations and hear the singing."

"Decorations? Singing? Fiddlestick!" retorted Miss Terry, poker in hand. "What decorations? What singing?"

"Why, all the windows along the street are full of candles," answered Norah; "rows of candles in every house, to light the Christ Child on his way when he comes through the city to-night."

"Fiddlestick!" again snarled her mistress.

"And choir-boys are going about the streets, they say, singing carols in front of the lighted houses," continued Norah enthusiastically. "It must sound so pretty!"

"They had much better be at home in bed. I believe people are losing their minds!"

"Please'm, may I go?" asked Norah again.

Norah had no puritanic traditions to her account. Moreover she was young and warm and enthusiastic. Sometimes the spell of Miss Terry's sombre house threatened her to the point of desperation. It was so this Christmas Eve; but she made her request with apparent calmness.

"Yes, go along," assented her mistress ungraciously.

"Thank you, 'm," said the servant demurely, but with a brightening of her blue eyes. And presently the area door banged behind her quick-retreating footsteps.

"H'm! Didn't take her long to get ready!" muttered Miss Terry, giving the fire a vicious poke. She was alone in the house, on Christmas Eve, and not a man, woman, or child in the world cared. Well, it was what she wanted. It was of her own doing. If she had wished—

She sat back in her chair, with thin, long hands lying along the arms of it, gazing into the fire. A bit of paper there was crumbling into ashes. Alone on Christmas Eve! Even Norah had some relation with the world outside. Was there not a stalwart officer waiting for her on the nearest corner? Even Norah could feel a simple childish pleasure in candles and carols and merriment, and the old, old superstition.

"Stuff and nonsense!" mused Miss Terry scornfully. "What is our Christmas, anyway? A time for shopkeepers to sell and for foolish folks to kill themselves in buying. Christmas spirit? No! It is all humbug,—all selfishness, and worry; an unwholesome season of unnatural activities. I am glad I am out of it. I am glad no one expects anything of me,—nor I of any one. I am quite independent; blessedly independent of the whole foolish business. It is a good time to begin clearing up for the new year. I'm glad I thought of it. I've long threatened to get rid of the stuff that has been accumulating in that corner of the attic. Now I will begin."

She tugged the packing-case an inch nearer the fire. It was like Miss Terry to insist upon that nearer inch. Then she raised the cover. It was a box full of children's battered toys, old-fashioned and quaint; the toys in vogue thirty—forty—fifty years earlier, when Miss Terry was a child. She gave a reminiscent sniff as she threw up the cover and saw on the under side of it a big label of pasteboard unevenly lettered.

"Humph!" she snorted. There was a great deal in that "humph." It meant: Yes, Tom's name had plenty of room, while poor little Angelina had to squeeze in as well as she could. How like Tom! This accounted for everything, even to his not being in his sister's house this very night. How unreasonable he had been!

Miss Terry shrugged impatiently. Why think of Tom to-night? Years ago he had deliberately cut himself adrift from her interests. No need to think of him now. It was too late to appease her. But here were all these toys to be got rid of. The fire was hungry for them. Why not begin?

Miss Terry stooped to poke over the contents of the box with lean, long fingers. In one corner thrust up a doll's arm; in another, an animal's tail pointed heavenward. She caught glimpses of glitter and tinsel, wheels and fragments of unidentifiable toys.

"What rubbish!" she said. "Yes, I'll burn them all. They are good for nothing else. I suppose some folks would try to give them away, and bore a lot of people to death. They seem to think they are saving something, that way. Nonsense! I know better. It is all foolishness, this craze for giving. Most things are better destroyed as soon as you are done with them. Why, nobody wants such truck as this. Now, could any child ever have cared for so silly a thing?" She pulled out a faded jumping-jack, and regarded it scornfully. "Idiotic! Such toys are demoralizing for children—weaken their minds. It is a shame to think how every one seems bound to spoil children, especially at Christmas time. Well, no one can say that I have added to the shameful waste."

Miss Terry tossed the poor jumping-jack on the fire, and eyed his last contortions with grim satisfaction.

But as she watched, a quaint idea came to her. She was famous for eccentric ideas.

"I will try an experiment," she said. "I will prove once for all my point about the 'Christmas spirit.' I will drop some of these old toys out on the sidewalk and see what happens. It may be interesting."

...want to find out what happened to Miss Terry and the toys? ? ?

For a $1.00 donation I will send you a beautifully illustrated pdf version which you can freely give away. 

Order here

Fran Watson

P.S.  My Christmas Memories book will be available soon.  It is over 150 pages of beautiful illustrations, Christmas Carols, stories, recipes, gift ideas and more.  If you would like to receive a copy which you can give to others, please sign up here  Please note, this is a large file.  If you have dial up, please let me know and I will break it down for you.

Enough Already

2006-11-01 Posted at 06:18:44 AM

I went into the local bargain store two days ago to get something for my Hallowe'en costume and what met me when I walked in?  A wall full of Christmas cards.................Christmas Cards!!!!  For crying out loud, it's only October.  What happened to starting Christmas in mid November?  Christmas has just become way too commercialized!!!

This year I'm fighting back.  I'm not giving in to the lure of the cash register, the screaming ads that say "buy me, your loved ones will love you", I am going back to the past and creating something special for my family members.  I am putting together a Christmas Memories book with Christmas Carols, games, recipes, Christmas stories and some personal memories.  It's time to say "NO" to the merchants, to say "STOP bombarding us".  It's time to take back our Christmas and make it back into a family time!  It's time to stop overspending and then taking the rest of the year to pay off the credit cards!

Let's make this a Merry Christmas this year, not one we spend in dread knowing what will be coming in the spring..........the deadly bills.

Are you with me?  Would you like to see what I am creating?  Drop me a line and I'll send you a copy when I'm done.

Fran Watson

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