Monday, November 30, 2009

Tea in Aspen



I am frantically packing - behind as usual due to workload - to be in Aspen tomorrow for Mr Toast and Jam's Tea.   It promises to be a wonderful occasion and I am so looking forward to it.  The drop in temperature is going to be a bit of a shock to my system I can tell you but once I'm settled,  I know all will be well. It's going to be interesting as there are many people attending that I haven't met before.

So presently am in the throes of literally throwing things into a suitcase. What do you think?

McCartney Wool

For starters I thought I'd pack these  Stella McCartney trousers as they're comfortable - in fact I may even travel in them.  I have a couple of tops to go with them.

I like this Donna Karen Cashmere Jersey Silk as it's so versatile.

Cashmere Siilk 1


DK 2

DK 4

And I like the way it falls at the back.

If I do travel in that outfit I can wear these Christian Louboutin ankle boots:






CL Slingback

I'm also packing:


DvF

which will go with a dressier pair of trousers and these shoes which are Miu Miu


MM



I am still thinking about a tea dress but I'm not lee keen as I find them all so twee.  It will probably be a cashmere dress with a cowl collar.  I'm sure I'll find a pair of shoes to go with it.

I was looking for an evening dress but decided I had better in my wardrobe so will take this one.  It has been worn but the people I'm meeting will not have seen it before.  I decided on some colour instead of my usual black.




    


I'm not a clumpy shoe lover so I think Jimmy Shoo will win out with these even thougth they're not as high as I would like. If I see anything in Aspen I may splurge.


JS 2



I have also managed to make a Stollen


Stollen009

and an Apple Strudel

Apple strudel

They look a bit alike but they're very different - we can always put them at opposite end of the table.

Also bringing my favourite Austrian chocolates: Mozart Kugler.


Mozart Kuglen

I have to finish packing!







Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving



 
A very Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends who celebrate.

May your day be filled with joy as you give thanks and may you be surrounded with love, peace and fulfillment on this special holiday.


Turkey Lamp


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Forgetter Be Forgotten?







Senior Moments 
aka 
Intellectual Interludes


My forgetter's getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

F
or when I'm 'here' I'm wondering
If I really should be 'there'
And, when I try to think it through,

I haven't got a prayer!

O
ft times I walk into a room,
Say 'what am I here for?'
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.


A
t times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
well generally,its me!

 
When shopping I may see someone,
Say 'Hi' and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, 'who the hell was that?


Y
es, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.



Unknown


CAN YOU RELATE???



Thursday, November 5, 2009

Lest We Forget






In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


Being an army brat, I have attended many, many Remembrance Sunday Parades wherever we were stationed.  My father was always on parade.  I am always struck by that two minute silence because no matter what or where, the traffic comes to a complete standstill, no one moves and it  always seems to me as though the world has stopped.




Old soldiers never die
They simply fade they say
Is that the price I ask myself
That soldiers have to pay?

Bugle notes and drum beats
Flash of sun on brass
He hears the call as comrades all
Tramp the long march past

Warrior fading quickly
Like a weak pale winter sun
Bowed and creeping slowly
Life's race is all but run.

The red poppy leaves are wrinkled
One by one they fall
Soldier, can you answer still?
When the bugle notes do call.

Play the music gently
No harsh notes sound, I ask
For the poppy leaves are falling
Glory days now past

Last petal now has fallen
Old soldiers gone away
Last post music calling
Old soldiers out to play.

 Last Post




Monday, November 2, 2009

Recruiting Drive!

pope_benedict_xvi_419025

Seems the Roman Catholic Church hit the headlines with a bang a couple of weeks ago.

Whilst the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams was busy worrying about global warning instead of some of his flock’s displeasure with the way in which their church was going, the Pope quietly muscled in leaving the head of the clergy of the Anglican church as they say in England, ‘gob smacked’. One headline in a UK newspaper read:

If our Archbishop spent less time fretting about climate change, he might notice the pope is about to mug him



Quite an embarrassment really even though ‘talks’ about giving disgruntled Anglicans a place in the Roman Catholic church had been going on for some time. But Williams was caught napping and although publicly very gracious about the ‘coup, he was by all accounts, not quite so cool behind closed doors.

There are groups of Anglicans in the UK (worldwide too) who are none happy with the ordination into the priesthood, of women. Neither are they happy with their gay clergy and the elevation to Bishop again of gay clergy. They probably have other issues too.

So in steps Benedict establishing a special structure ("personal ordinariates" ) for those Anglicans who wish to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church while preserving aspects of their Anglican spiritual and liturgical heritage. In establishing the new jurisdictions, Pope Benedict is responding to ‘many requests’ submitted by Anglican groups including Bishops who will not be able to retain their positions. Incoming married Anglican priests will be able to be ordained Roman Catholic priests and married lay Anglicans will be accepted for ordination. Where will that leave already ordained RC priests? And Roman Catholics who decide that a religious life is their calling but that they would quite like to get married too? Nowhere! The rules for those stay the same.

The announcement much to my amusement, caused a public outcry in the UK. We seem to have overnight, moved from being an atheist country to defender of the faith. Past articles on religion have evoked comments such as:

Religion is a fairy tale.
Talk about making up a story.
Get real. There is no God.
Enjoy life – there is nothing after this.
It’s a myth.
It’s outdated.
Stupid men in stupid dresses.

To: (and I quote)

“This is a Christian country. We are the Church of England.”

“That so many may take up the Pope's offer demonstrates the moral bankruptcy of the Church of England, not the "machinations" of the Holy Father.”

“The Anglican Church is a Church, sure, but it's also an established National Church - it might be good to have someone at the top who liked the country, its people, its history and its culture”.


“Remember god asked through his one begotten son to be united as Christians. This is why the Catholic (which means universal by the way) looks for unification of all Christians.”

“It is incorrect to describe this as an attempt to 'poach' members from the Church of England. The Pope is responding to approaches from various segments of the Anglican Communion for just such an arrangement as he has now approved.”
“The Church of England is failing because of its lack of moral conviction and guidance.”

“People are crying out for a strong lead and firm boundaries, not something that fluctuates with the tide of perceived public opinion and 'modern' values (the same may be said for many aspects of life today). In particular it needs churchmen who believe in the core message that they are supposed to promote and who communicate that belief loudly and clearly.”

“The rot probably set in with the ex Bishop of Durham and his dismissal of the Resurrection as a mere 'conjuring trick with a bag of bones'. He should have been summarily dismissed for that remark.”

“The Anglican church has become a parody of a Christian Church.”

“The Catholic church can certainly do no worse than the C of E in defending our Christian heritage and probably much better.”

Some people are talking about the heritage of the Anglican church. I wonder how many Britons actually know the origins of the Anglican church and that it is a schism! Had Henry VIIIth kept his hands to himself, stayed in Catherine’s bed and not lusted after Anne Boleyn there would not today be an Anglican church which some glibly dub, ‘as British as red telephone boxes and black cabs’!!!

I think it’s extremely gracious of the Pope to invite those who want to come home, to actually do so whilst retaining their traditions. It was done for disgruntled Episcopalians in the 80s but very, very quietly. There are also already married RC priests who were once Anglican priests, shepherding flocks in the UK. But now that it seems as a free for all – ‘all ye who want to, come home’ I believe that what is good for the homecoming Anglican is good for the tried and true Catholic. The celibacy of a Roman Catholic priest is a man made law and there are many arguments as to why this is so. From finance to not being able to manage pastoral care and family efficiently. I am aware that it is not as simple as that but is it time to rethink this part of Canon Law?

Methinks my church is on a major recruiting drive!!

sv_eastereggpope
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