Gingerbread House Day

When I was a wee young lass I was always in awe at the beautiful delicacies in the grand art of gingerbread houses.  Most look like what many of us would make, with graham crackers, some frosting, and a milk carton, or the new-fangled kit from the store.  Some are masterpieces requiring architectural know-how, an electrician's license, and Master's Degrees in Interior Design and Landscape Architecture.  These amazing pieces bring imagination to life in miniature form to different places and eras and even into animation at times.

All over the country, about this time of year, competitions are held to choose who is master of the gingerbread house.  The National Gingerbread House Competition 2012 was held in Asheville, North Carolina (a place I want to visit someday: hint to G).  If you'd like to see who won the coveted top spot this year head to this link:  Gingerbread Competion link

I decided to try it this year.  Alas, my kids were saddled with what seemed to me an intolerably infinite amount homework, thrust upon them and required to be completed before the day's end.  Sigh!  I was in luck, however, that my little nephew who is not yet in school needed a loving home to be for a few hours.  I bought one of those store kits...I don't have my Master's Degree yet.  He was more than just a little excited.  Here is the Pièce de résistance:


He was not happy I was interrupting his frosting "dessert."

To get a happier face...eating frosting he is.

He did about 80% of the decorating.  I put the frosting on...he embellished.  He did insist that P, my youngest, assist on a few.  I put a few on since he was a little slower than the speed at which the frosting was drying.  But he did a most fantastic job.  He was even more thrilled when he realized he would be taking it home.

At some point, my two boys, J and P will make theirs.  I will have to chat with some teachers about priorities.

Dewey Decimal System Day

Where would we ever be without Simon Dewey when we want a good book to read?  As much as I detested this section of study in just about every English/Language Arts class in school where you had to memorize (supposed to anyway) this system...it sure makes it easy to find what you're looking for.  I absolutely love to read and to learn.  While I have had less time the last few years, it is quite common to find me in a book (or on the internet to learn with today's modern technology).  This system has been quite helpful in many libraries in my life.

As a different side of this system, I thought you could get to know me a little better by knowing what I like to read.  As a reminder, there are ten sections starting with 000-099 and ending with 900-999.  You're giddy with excitement already, I know.  Are you ready?

I enjoy:
010-014 (selected works)
040-041
150-158
170-173, 177
220-228- should be one everyone loves (I really should spend more time with many in the 200's.)
300-307
320-328
342
443, 445- trying to spend more time here
800's (selected works)
900's (selected ones)

I have spent time throughout the 500's, 600,'s and 700's in my lifetime and likely will continue.

I hope that you have learned a little more about me through knowing what I like to read.  Go grab a book of your own in your favorite Dewey Decimal System section.

World Choral Day

Music is great!  For as long as I can remember my life has had a good healthy dose of harmony with family, hymns at church, musical instruments, and living vicariously through the radio.  Music has a way of reaching into your soul and pulling out pieces of you, all explored through poetic runs of notes, different tempos, and the artistic placements of pianissimo and fortissimo.

I never did choir in school, but my sisters and my daughter did.  I have participated in choir at church.  Some pieces were okay, but many left me in awe at the inspiration of the composer and, at times, whomever arranged the choral piece.

While in college, our ward (congregation) had a Christmas party with performances by various ward members.  My cousins (Shauna and Cynthia, and Michelle as pianist) and I decided to perform a harmonized piece called "Gesu Bambino."  We worked so diligently on it, practicing and practicing and practicing...our mother's would have been proud.  It was so beautiful when we finally performed.  I cannot listen to it today without going back in time to that blessed moment we finally shared the fruits of our attempt to make it perfect.  It was a perfect moment in my life.

A few years ago while at a Christmas concert for T's high school choir, I experienced an unexpected moment of joy.  The opening number was done in darkness with each member of all of the choirs holding candles and strategically positioned all around the room.  As they sang "O Come, Emmanuel" I was taken to a place that left me breathless, wanting the piece to continue much longer than it did.  It was one of those moments that I will treasure and lovingly enjoy each time I remember it.  The "light" from the words so beautifully chosen and the music carefully crafted so perfectly matched the visual light from each candle.  To me, it was another of those perfect moments.

In honor of World Choral Day, I would like to present three video presentations that I particularly enjoy.  Two were performed for the Christmas holiday.  One is a portion of a larger program and is about 28 minutes long, but WELL worth the time.  The other is about 5 minutes consisting of one very beautiful song.  The last is a piece by Alex Boye' and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Here is one of my favorite choral programs featuring Walter Cronkite, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and The Orchestra at Temple Square.
One Silet Night Concert link

A new one that I love is a collaboration between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and The Piano Guys.  It is a beautiful rendition of the Christmas carol "O Come, Emmanuel" with video of events in the Savior's life.
O Come, Emmanuel link

This last one could be played at Christmas time, but it is an amazing Spiritual...a style of music I love which originated from slaves.  I was moved the first time I saw this performed during a tour called "One Voice" by the choir.  It stirred me to the core of my soul and Alex performs it so well.
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me link