On Favorite Ornaments

Every year as people take out their ornaments and put them on the tree, there are those special few that bring greater delight as they hang among the others. For some, these favorites are more traditional, while others choose those that stand out as being curious, unique, or one of a kind. Among personal favorites can be found…

A cuckoo clock

A little blue house  

A clown

An elf in a tiny box

 And a pine cone bird

(no salt on its tail--presumably it’s not a tattle tale)

Whatever they may be, though, one's favorites are sure to be looked upon fondly as they grace the branches of one’s tree. Merry Christmas! ♥

On Fruit Cake

Ever associated with the holiday season is the gift of the traditional fruit cake. While some fruit cakes are good, there are many that are not and it is due to them that the rest have gained their negative reputation. The ingredients are a primary, if not the most important, factor in determining whether or not the fruit cake can be deemed edible. If the fruits are not compatible when they are not baked into something, chances are that the recipient is not going to think much of them when they are baked into a cake. It is also dependant on these ingredients as to whether or not your fruit cake will last just a season or will last a decade or so.

Another factor is the appearance of the cake. There is great importance in one remembering that for an individual to have any desire to eat something that it absolutely must look edible. The look of a moldy sponge or that of an object having been coated in shellac is likely to bring neither admirers nor a wiliness to taste. Unfortunately, if these standards are not met the recipient often begins to look into other options for use of the cake as when deemed non-edible the purpose of the fruit cake can become numerous. Consider, as ever so many people have pointed out over the years, it can make a lovely door stop. And another option is a festive center piece to be used year after year in remembrance of jolly Christmas’ past. Or one might even turn it into a nice candle holder.

So, in conclusion, whether you are pretending to be some minor character with no name from a Dickens or Austen story while you eat your fruit cake or you have chosen to avoid it all together, have a very merry time as you celebrate this Christmas Eve! ♥

On Assembling an Artificial Tree

With Christmas drawing near, people everywhere are thinking about decorating and with thoughts of decorating come thoughts of Christmas trees. While some people purchase or chop down their own tree, those who are unable to do so or have chosen not to have a real tree have the task of assembling one.

Dependent on the tree, this process can go in several directions. For example, if it is a pre-lit tree, chance are all you have to do is take the multiple sections out of the box, assemble them in the stand and arrange the branches to your liking, completing the task with a minimal, and possibly less time consuming, work. If it is not a pre-lit tree, then the arduous job begins! First, one must locate the stand and the center poles, which have hopefully been placed somewhere near the top of the box to avoid the strewing of pieces hither and thither in search of them. At this time it is also a good idea to determine the location you will be placing the tree if this has not been decided already. By doing this early on in the assembly disastrous attempts to move the completely assembled tree can be averted. Then comes the sorting of the branches. Before sorting begins, however, it is often helpful to remind oneself or others who are assisting that while the branches may offer the perfect opportunity for pretending that you have a wand or provide something to poke or swat someone with, this is not their intended use and one should refrain from using them for these purposes. Failure to do so may result in injury to persons and/or objects within waving and poking distance. With that in mind, branches should be sorted as the directions direct, by letter, color, or whatever such thing they have decided to use. Once that is complete the placing of the branches in the slots may commence, in which great effort must be taken to avoid poking an eye out and eating fake pine needles. After this has been done, one should position and shape the branches. A few bruises and bandages later and if the assembler(s) have not given up halfway through, a beautiful fake tree should grace whatever room it was assembled in. And if one is not too exhausted, the tree is now ready to be dressed in decorations! For those who failed to make it to the end, some options consist of buying a small table top tree, finding a tinsel tree, or using a Christmas cake tree, such as that used by R. Godden's Plantaganet family. ♥

On Scarf Peculiarities

As cold weather descends upon us, thoughts of a scarf become more prevalent in the selection of daily wear whether you be a cat, invisible, a doll, a member of Victorian society, or living in a world reached through a wardrobe.

As with other things, a scarf has its peculiarities and when wearing one there are several things to keep in mind. One is that you are in charge of the scarf; it is not in charge of you. The trouble with scarves is that they often have a mind of their own. While you may want to go one way, it decides it would much rather stay by catching itself on the nearest object within reach. This gives you a sudden jolt and, if it decides to release you after this or you have given it a good tug, quite possibly gives you the opportunity to clean up a mess you did not intend to make. Then there is the putting on of a scarf and arranging it around your neck which can also be an ordeal, the trick being to prevent it from strangling you, while at the same time making sure it will not suddenly fall off. In some cases, the scarf cannot get close enough to your mouth eagerly providing you with a mouthful of fuzz, at which it will decide to stay firmly around your neck as you claw at it in attempt to get away, whereas in other cases nothing you do will cause it to stay on. And finally, unraveling is yet another activity in which scarves love to engage. Usually it will decide at the most inopportune time to do this such as when you are in a hurry and suddenly look behind you only to realize you’ve left a trail and have now been trapped in the room until you can untangle what was once what you referred to as a scarf. ♥

On Conversing With Cats

On some occasion you just may find yourself in the position to converse with a cat. There are numerous types of conversations you can have, but for now we shall look at two.

First, let us look at the three in the morning conversation, in which the cat appears at the window or near their person’s bed:   

Cat: Mew. Mew.

(Translation: Hello, I’m awake. What are you doing?)
Person: Mmmm…..no, go away cat.
Cat: Miaow. (followed by some poking at the person or scratching at the window screen)
(Translation: Oh good, you’re up!)
Miaow. MIAOW!
(Translation: You must not have heard me. I said, oh good, you’re up!)
Person: No, I’m not getting up. Stop it.

This may continue for awhile in a similar manner until the cat comes to the conclusion the time has come to resort to a more direct action.

Cat: Miaow. Miaow. Miaow.

(Translation: You aren’t responding very well. Let me help you wake up.)

 *SCRATCH/RIP/CRASH*

Person: (now out of bed) NO! Stop! What are you doing?

Cat: Miaow. Purrrr. Miaow.
(Translation: Oh, that? It was an accident. See, you really did want to get out of bed and now that you’re up you can talk to me.)

Most people do not favor this cat conversation.

Second, there is the conversation you might have with a cat who has perched on a place higher than you resulting in the feeling that you are part of the Tenniel illustration of Alice and the Cheshire Cat. In this sort of conversation the person is generally requesting the cat come down. Of course, the cat may have other ideas about this.

Person: Here kitty, kitty. Come down off the roof.

Cat: Miaow.
(Translation: Hello. The top of your head is lovely. Have you any fish down there?)
Person: Come on, come down.
Cat: Miaow.
(Translation: No? How about some chicken?)
Person: Come down and get some food.
Cat: Miaow. Miaow.
(Translation: I smell nothing. Prove it.)   

At this point the conversation can go in several directions, some examples being: 1) Person gets food to bribe cat with, cat comes down, conversation ends. 2) Person does not bring food and decides cat will come down when hungry, conversation ends. 3) Person panics, gets a ladder, gets up on roof or in tree, and then finds that during the process the cat has already gotten down. Cat meows a bit, questioning why you’re up on the roof when it isn’t.

And thus, you are well on your way to conversing with cats. ♥

On Sealing-Wax

Sealing-wax is a delightful item which has been used for hundreds of years and was frequently used during the Middle Ages.

The all important quest to use the sealing-wax begins with the need for several basic things: a seal, something to melt the wax, something to seal or to place a seal on, and, most importantly, the sealing-wax itself. Once these items have been obtained, most likely after a brief search through drawers and cupboards, the sealing-wax bearer may begin the process of sealing. First is the determination of where the wax needs to be placed, something easily decided upon in most cases. Following this is the hazardous step of melting the wax with some sort of flame and may involve burnt fingers and shrieking if not done properly. The melted wax is then to be dripped in the area where the seal should go and the seal, carefully checked to insure it will not be upside-down, is then to be pressed into the very tiny puddle of dripped the wax. Upon removal you will have an impression of the seal, whatever it may be, and the recipient will now be able to know who the letter is from, as well as if some snoop (who, very clearly, is not minding their own beeswax) has been tampering with the letter if they find the seal broken upon reception. However, if you have a particularly crafty messenger or a messenger in league with a particularly crafty person with knowledge of opening letters without them appearing opened, then your seal is for not.

While not as regular a practice as in the past, using sealing-wax can be a lovely way to send off your letter and, of course, if for nothing else, it gives a walrus something to talk to oysters about. ♥     

On Ships

Many a fine person has set sail on a ship and many a fine person has been shipwrecked. And then there have been many a fine person who has become sick on a ship, causing them to wish they had not set foot on one.

The ancient Mariner would have been considerably better off had he not been on a ship, but in that case he would have been the ancient Landlubber. This would have therefore resulted in Coleridge having to have titled his poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Landlubber’, which, as all will probably agree, does not sound nearly so nice, showing how important the ship in the poem is. However, despite the problems faced by the ancient Mariner, ships have proven to be quite beneficial for others. For example, there are numerous explorers who without their ships would never have discovered countries far from their homeland, because, of course, they would not have been able to successfully make it across the sea and then there are the pirates who would not have been nearly as intimating had they only had row boats. Furthermore, on a smaller scale, ships may provide a hobby for people who like building things in bottles. So, on that note, ships can be as equally beneficial as they are problematic. ♥     

On Shoes

There are many uses for shoes. They can be used as protection for your feet, as a fashion statement, or, as something with which to crush a bug or finger. If you’ve ignored them long enough, you might discover that they serve as a home to a spider or mouse, which in turn will provide you with a need to go shopping. Stories also provide fascinating insights as to the importance and danger of shoes. They might divulge how you have spent your night dancing away, can be used to reveal your identity should you choose to leave a ball early, provide work for helpful elves, or provide an incentive to spending your time arranging ice blocks in attempt to spell something. In the extreme case, they even show the danger of becoming obsessed with shoes and how they may develop a life of their own. Yes, while only listing some, it can be seen that shoes have many a use and purpose in our lives.♥      

On This Blog

“The Time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
                  -Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’

As the Walrus has stated ‘the time has come to talk of many things’ and thus begins this blog in which I will be writing on many things, such as shoes and ships and sealing-wax.♥