The News from Lake Wobegon

WWLD ?

Aguas de março

The Waters of March. A masterpiece and my delight to mark this month. I have loved this song for many years. Antonio Carlos Jobim. Brazilian. The song was written in Portuguese. Watch him sing it with Elis Regina. Click on the title Aguas de marco.
the rhythm of the Bossa Nova (he also wrote The Girl from Ipanema
Now the words: the magical collage.
http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/waters.html
A stick, a stone
It's the end of the road,
It's the rest of a stump,
It's a little alone

the words tumble down like debris from a rain-swelled stream, seemingly unrelated, yet all rushing towards their final destination. It's the speaking of the words that makes the magic. I might write my own river images! I think I will.

and the riverbank talks
of the waters of March
It's the promise of life
in your heart, in your heart

Would You Marry This Man?

I am currently fascinated by King Henry VIII. It all began in choir practice when we learned a beautiful anthem by John Joubert called O Lorde, the maker of al thing. Surprisingly, the words to this prayerful song are written by King Henry VIII. It was a side of him I had never experienced and prompted me to find out more. If you click on the title to this post called Would You Marry This Man? you will find the BBC series on Henry.

There I discovered a Henry who carried a prayer roll with him at all times as well as a psalter. This king was also an accomplished musician who played several instruments and composed music as well. More research took me to the British Library exhibition in honor of the 500 year anniversary of Henry's ascenion to the throne and an album of his music which I ordered.

Next, I listened to an amazing historical biography called The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson told from the viewpoint of Katherine Parr. I now have in my possession the biography of Henry entitled The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir.

Meet the wives: (Catherine of Aragon, Anne Bolelyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Kathyrn Howard, Katherine Parr)

Merry Christmas from the American Girls

Addy, Kirsten, Samantha, the modern girl (Emma) and Felicity gathered around the tree this year.

Here's Our Boy!

One year since I posted a photo of Adam - now 15 months old. This taken with Andrea a very cold
day in October when they came to a cross-country meet. Cutest ever! Emma too.

Boxing Day

Click on the title Boxing Day to explore a fascinating English custom. This dates to Victorian times when servants and tradesmen were presented with a box containing gifts or money on December 26th or St. Stephen's Day. It also was the day the "alms box" at the church was opened and distributed to the poor. Alms or donations were collected during the Christmas season for this purpose. To this day the custom is followed in England. Since the 26th falls on a Saturday, the official Boxing Day will take place this coming Monday. The English are so cozy and quaint, don't you agree? I can't believe this website is from a "junior school" (ages 7-11). I have bookmarked it as a favorite, as a devoted anglophile!

Snow Walk

How funny that my last post was a walk in the summer. Same message only substitute "winter morning." With only 3 days left to prepare for Christmas what am I doing outside at 7:30 a.m. in a falling snow? Just meeting the day. This was magic. The birds and I shared this quiet experience. And at the last minute I decided I had to wear my Williamsburg cape! Oh, yes, picture this - a lone green hooded figure making her way along the snowy paths. Now I'm ready for Christmas: bring it on.