Friday, December 26, 2008

Merry Christmas Redux


The Brits have Boxing Day. The Germans have their Zweiter Weihnachtstag (second Christmas Day).

Here? The dang markets are open and so my poor little sister, who works for a major mutual fund company, has to go to work. That just seems wrong! I love the idea of a second Christmas Day and I think no one should have to go to work unless they provide a life-sustaining service. Heck, I'm in favor of all twelve days, even if that song really gnaws on my nerves.

So here's wishing you a very merry Second Christmas Day. In its honor, I give you two of my favorite holiday things: music (at least those songs that don't make me want to shoot someone) and cut-out cookies.

Thanks to my computer's built-in mike, the sound is pretty reminiscent of a music box. And the beginning sounds pretty wooden, since I was watching to see if the technology was cooperating, which only enhances the music-box effect. Otherwise it's a flawless performance (ha!) of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song," arranged for piano by Philip Keveren. Listen at your own peril.



I can't claim the cookies are in any better taste. Still, the frosting does taste good (thanks to a generous splash of almond flavoring). There's probably enough dyes in them to preserve us for the next 80 years.


The Tiger, who made this one, hearts Christmas almost as much as he hearts sugar.


What's Christmas without a festive cat?


Or two?


And then there's the traditional Christmas rooster.


This guy might slide through as the Ghost of Christmas Past.


Apparently the Blue Man show has gone to the North Pole.


Here's our homage to Charlie Brown's tree.

I'd close by quoting Mel Torme's last line - "May all your Christmases be white" - but darn it, a thunderstorm just rolled into town. So instead, I'll just wish you love, kindness, joy, peace, compassion - and a glimpse of the holiday spirit where you might not expect it, whether in a torrential rainfall or a purple tree.

4 comments:

Sugarmag said...

Hi Sungold, that is so funny that you guys made ghosts. My kids like to cut out sugar cookies and they did a few ghosts, too. Merry Christmas.

Sungold said...

Oh, we've got some dinosaurs and Basset hounds, too. Not to mention pumpkins and bunnies and sundry other icons from other holidays. Merry Christmas to you and your kids, too!

Radar1961 said...

Aloha Sungold,

The home-made music was pure perfection! Thank you for posting. And thanks for posting lovely cut-out cookies you made with your children. It's very heartwarming.

Happy Holiday and CHEERS to a new year!

^_^

Sungold said...

Aloha Radar! Thanks so much for your kind words. Much of my life takes place in this domestic vein.

I hope you're having an enjoyable holiday season!