alskuefhaih
asoiefh

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas angels from the farm: photos and music

To my friends near and far, I've put together some photos of Christmas on the farm and linked them with jazz singer Abbey Lincoln singing "Christmas Cheer." I wish you Merry Christmas, and as Abbey sings, Here's to love . . . now . . . and throughout the year.

You'll see a couple of angels given to me by my mom, the first at 0:28, a woodland musician I treasure. Another is the colorful grosgrain one at about minute 3:45, who looks a little worn, but still cheerful. Christmas and my mother are linked, with memories of sitting at the piano with her while she played carols from the big blue book, and I sang songs like "The Holly and the Ivy," "Go Tell it on the Mountain," and "Good King Wenceslas." Toward the end you'll see a portrait of my small mom with Matroyshka dolls. After the video, I'm sharing a new angel who flew in from my brother Nelson this week, too late to include in this slideshow. She is holding a red bird like the cardinals in the video and seems to have just alighted from the meadow, so beautiful.

Have a happy weekend, quiet or loud, at home or in someone else's, with all your angels large and small.






-
-

55 comments:

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Beautiful!

Merry Christmas~
:)

Maureen said...

Wonderful, Ruth.

Wishing you a joy-filled and peaceful Christmas and much writing success in the coming new year.

erin said...

ruth! i will come back soon, so soon, two days more in this busy life before i have a field to sit in, and catch up with the wonder that is you, but until then, merry christmas to you and your family and so much love.

xo
erin

Shari said...

What a wonderful Christmas card. Merry Christmas to you!

The Solitary Walker said...

Just gorgeous! A Merry Christmas to you too, Ruth. We all fly with the angels and walk with the fallen ones.

Louise Gallagher said...

Such wonder and joy in what you present.

Thank you.

And a blessed Christmas to you and your family dear Ruth. So grateful you came upon my path and lead me with your light to this place of wonder.

namaste

George said...

Absolutely wonderful, Ruth! I could not have asked for a lovelier gift, the right music paired with images that remind me of what I am living for—beauty, kindness, joy, and the infinite possibilities of renewal. Take this smile of mine and hang it on your tree with the rest of the ornaments (and please save a piece of that delicious pastry, which appears to be some sort of Linzer Torte).

Miss Jane said...

Thank you, Ruth! This was lovely. Abbey has such a rich voice weighted with sorrow which makes this video so bittersweet. Loved all the birds in this. The sparrows on the fence, the one cardinal becoming many, . . . thank you for sharing.

Nelson said...

Ruthie,

So lovely, your marriage of pictures and music....

When that angel flew so naturally out of my hands into yours I could not have imagined how fitting it would be....shall we call it "the meadow angel?" I hadn't noticed 'til now that her color is indeed, we might say, "meadow."

xoxoxo

Marcie said...

This is beautiful!! And -a Merry Christmas to you and yours!

VioletSky said...

What a resonant voice to go with your lovely pictures. Everything is floating over me at the moment.
Merry Christmas to you and Don and the rest of your family.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Merry Christmas to you, and a wonderful 2012.

We had another earthquake yesterday. Lets pray ot os all finish.

Rosaria Williams said...

Ah, the times that connect us, and the objects that evoke all we have been. Merry Christmas!

Jane Lancaster said...

So cosy as always. Love the photo of the red birds at the feeder. Have a lovely time Ruth, happy christmas, Jane and Ron xo

ds said...

Beautiful. Merry, Merry Christmas Ruth, to you and all your family.
xo

PeterParis said...

What a wonderful collection of photos, giving the perfect Christmas feeling, accompanied by a for me unknown and different piece of music! A pure master piece you offered to all of us (and YouTube)!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!! ... and thanks for all your fascinating posts!

Helena said...

Merry Christmas! Beautiful photos!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Mimi, Merry Christmas!

Ruth said...

Maureen, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you for your wishes, and I wish you a wonderful year of writing as well!

Ruth said...

Hello, erin, I am happy for you in all your doings, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Shari, enjoy!

Ruth said...

Thanks, Robert! I'm happy to be walking with you!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Louise. And I am so grateful for you!

Ruth said...

George, thank you for the gift of your smile, which has lit the tree more beautifully—a star with your name on it. The pastry is a Gâteau Basque, which I made two Christmases ago: a shortbread type dessert with blackberry jam. We were looking for Christmas traditions, and heard Lynn Rosetta Kasper talk about it on NPR. :-)

Merry Christmas, my friend!

Ruth said...

MJ, yes, isn't this the saddest song of Christmas cheer? I am moved every time I hear it, for Christmas does bring sadness as well as joy. Thank you for watching and listening and for your kind words. Merry Christmas!

Ruth said...

Nelson, thank you. Her color is meadow . . . YES.

xoxoxo

Ruth said...

Thank you, Marcie! A very Merry Christmas to you!

Ruth said...

Violetski, thank you for listening and enjoying Abbey Lincoln. Merry Christmas to you way up there!

Ruth said...

Ann, thank you for coming by and for your greetings. I am so sorry to hear about another earthquake in NZ! I pray that it is over now and that all is well with you.

Ruth said...

Rosaria, yes, Christmas is much about memories. Merry Christmas to you!

Ruth said...

Hello and thank you, Jane, Happy Christmas to you and Ron! xo

Ruth said...

ds, thank you my dear friend. Merry Christmas to you and your family. I look forward to our year ahead together.

Ruth said...

Oh merci, Peter, I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'm happy you now know Abbey Lincoln. I only met her last year myself. I look forward to another year with you here in our blogs!

Ruth said...

Thank you, Helena! Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Unknown said...

Always, a joy. Have a very merry...!!

Jill of All Trades said...

Awwww, beautiful...Merry Christmas to you and yours. Carla

hedgewitch said...

Merry Christmas, Ruth. The cool jazz and the white winter with its solemn, orderly beauty go perfectly together.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Have a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas, Dear One.

Gentle hugs,
"Auntie"

Gwen Buchanan said...

oh my look at those brilliant cardinals.. we only have 1 pr. that stays in the entire village and that is only in the last few years.

My best wishes for a most joyful season... Thank you for your beautiful warm offering...

Amy @ Soul Dipper said...

Beautifully peaceful, Ruth...many thanks. My Eve is quiet and I've just decided to head for bed instead of going to a neighbour's gathering.

May your Season be filled with blessings and all the joy you can muster.

Thanks for all you share.

Arti said...

What a beautiful post, sights and sounds spreading cheers of the Season. Thank you Ruth for another year of visual ruminations and soulful music. A Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may the Season bring you joy and peace beyond comprehension. All the best!

sonia a. mascaro said...

So beautiful, Ruth! Thanks for this lovely post.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of peace, health and happiness!

Reena said...

Lovely! Merry Christmas!

California Girl said...

Merry Christmas Ruth!

Ginnie Hart said...

You know how much I loved your video, Ruthie. Your farm is an Angel Farm, me-thinks! :) How nice Nelson's angel could be included....

Dutchbaby said...

Oh how I loved this slideshow and music. All the images are wondrous but my favorites would have to be the ones with the cardinals. I hope you had a happy Christmas; we had a terrific one here on the left coast.

Stratoz said...

splendid! and thanks for introducing me to a new piece of music. May your holidays be filled with joy and love.

Brendan said...

Sorry I got to this so late -- consumed into the family vortex of the holiday -- what a sweet, beautiful, white - Christmas panoply ... It made me feel lush and still. Hope all went as the slideshow incanted. You are a wonderful photographer ... Brendan

steven said...

i arrived late - very late!!! thank goodness it wasn't a party!! i hope you're enjoying the small and large pieces of this time of year. steven

GailO said...

It may be a couple of days past Christmas but not too late to thoroughly enjoy this! I hope your Christmas was delightful and that your New Year is magical!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Dec. 27th

I hope you got that ..... thing-a-ma-bob-which-lets-your-computer- recognize-your-voice-and-saves-your-hands. :-)

Please do keep being very careful of the use of them. Those things need rest. Don't be afraid to take it.

Thank-you-much for liking the new look of my blog.

"...Wonderful white Winter! We must clap our hands at you: You are old, and we are cold, and there is nothing else to do. You and I are glad, when the snow comes flying down, And ice-drops fair leap out of the air to hang on the branches brown! Wonderful white Winter!

Margaret said...

Adirondack chairs covered with snow, red cardinals tucked into wintery bushes, the blue barn with lights, sledding, old ornaments, slippers hung by the chimney.... such images, wonderful, as only you can do. And the portrait of your mother with the dolls... very special. No need to respond... rest those hands. And hooray for voice recognition devices!

Babs-beetle said...

That was a beautiful video!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, full of peace ;)

J.G. said...

Truly lovely, and so "you."

Hoping you had a happy Christmas, and wishing you a New Year's celebration of the kind you like best.

Unknown said...

I'm going to watch this now and I'm going to cry aren't I ?
xoxoxo