A is for Apple Hill!

Slowly, bear with me, I'll get caught up on what has been going on in my life. 

Like this, about a month ago a group of friends and I went to Apple Hill for the day.  There were 4, 7, 10 of us and it was a great time.

Can you guess what's in Apple Hill?  Yep, apples. 

e started off going to one of the apple farms, which was also very commercialized.  But that's ok.  After a quick lunch, walked around, ...

checked out the trout pond, ...

sampled some homemade fudge (yum!), enjoyed the shining sun, ...

some bought apples.

It was time to move on.  To the good stuff.  To the fermented stuff.  And, no, I'm not talking apple jack.  I'm talking Jack Russell Brewery.  The stipulation for getting to borrow my mom's car, I had to bring them back beer.  And I did.

I had the hard ginger pear cider.  It was good.  We enjoyed their outdoor seating and the wonderful weather. Then we moved on to a winery.  It was ok.  They had a tasting fee which was a big ridiculous.  But the scenery was pretty.  Here's a group shot (thank you handy dandy camera remote).

Had some other fun with the camera.  Like play paparazzi with Mitch...

Then he got right up in my face about it!

Such a lovely fall day...

filled with friends, old and new.  Hi Amie!

After dinner (picture of Amie was at a pub for dinner), we drove home.  I hung out with Chris and Mitch after everyone parted ways.  From about 9:30 to midnight.  Just talking.  It was nice.

It was a nice day.

The end.

Five Golden Rings...

That's my favorite line...  Fiiiivvvvveeeee golden rrrriiiiiinnngggssss....  But have you ever stopped to wonder what the meaning is behind the lines in The 12 Days of Christmas? 

Well, I have.  Therefore you get to find out what I found out.  And basically what I found out came in the monthly church bulletin from the church I grew up in.  So the source is unknown, unless you count the piece of white paper in the bulletin, then it's known.

As a white piece of paper with words on it...

Duh.

A Christmas Song Explained

There is one Christmas carol that has always been baffling to me.  What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans and especially the partirdge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.  Someone during that era wrone this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.  It has two levels of meaning.  The surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the members of their church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality that the children could remember.

• The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
• The two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.
• The three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
• The four calling birds were the four gospels:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
• The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
• The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
• The seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
• The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
• The nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
• The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
• The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
• The twelve drummers drumming symployized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there you have it.  Your history lesson for today.

I was just going to say, "May your Christmas season be filled with the nine ladies dancing," but that sounded kinda dirty.  So I'll ixnay that.

Merry Christmas!

Motivation Monday - Laziness

Days of December

December
1	Day Without Art Day
3	Special Kids Day
4	Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day
	National Dice Day
5	Bathtub Party Day
6	Miner's Day
	National Pawnbrokers Day
7	National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
	National Cotton Candy Day
9	Weary Willie Day
10	Human Rights Day
11	International Mountain Day
12	Poinsettia Day
13	International Shareware Day
	Day of the Horse
14	National Children's Memorial Day
15	Bill of Rights Day
	Cat Herders Day
16	National Chocolate-covered Anything Day
17	Clean Air Day
18	International Migrants Day
19	Underdog Day
20	Mudd Day
21	Winter Solstice
26	National Candy Cane Day
	National Whiner's Day
28	National Chocolate Day
29	Tick Tock Day
30	Falling Needles Family Fest Day
31	Make Up Your Mind Day
	No Interruptions Day

This Ain't My First Rodeo

I'm determined to make it through this holiday season with little to no weight gain. So I'm going into it with a plan. Starting today, the kick off to the glutton fest. I'm writing it down to be held accountable, therefore, you get to know what it is.

Don't you feel privy and special?

1. Drink LOTS of water. And I mean lots! (in between the glasses of red wine...)
2. Wear tight pants. That's right, no elastic, no expanding, no sweatpants. I'll know when I'm done when my waistband cuts off circulation to my lower half.
3. Fill half my plate with veggies. So what if my sweet potatoes and green beans are swimming in butter.
4. Go on a walk pre and post meal. Ok, fine, so the post meal walk is really to make room for dessert.
5. Dessert. Oh dear. Stick to desserts that contain fruit. Pumpkin pie, berry pie, apple pie. Pecans are a protein nut, so I'll allow pecan pie too. Oh, and 1/2 fat, slow churned ice creams are clear too.

- Posted from my iPhone

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Everyday we have much to be thankful for, but do you give thanks everyday?   In the craziness of the holiday season, and the slowness of the rest of the year, don't forget to turn to the one who gives you such things to be thankful for.

God,
We thank you for all the abundant blessings and gifts You have given us.  Please let the Light of Your love continue to burn bright in us today, as we thank You and celebrate You.  Keep showing us Your will and giving us the resources and strength to do what You want us to do.

Let us find the way to love one another by seeing You, God, in our family and neighbors.  As we go forward again this day, in this life, let us always remember You and Love You.
Amen.

I would so love to hear what your prayer, blessings, or grace is at your Thanksgiving table.  Feel free to comment below.

A Prayer of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!