http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS4os5-V71A&feature=related

by Brenda Groelz, Kathy Rockbugs, Marilyn Root, Cindy Swafford

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The only one sleeping was Quilter's dear spouse.
The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed,
"Just a few stitches left," our sweet quilter repeated,

"Then I can hang them and head off to finish
the pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish
For something 'quilty' to put on her couch",
as she pricked her poor finger, our quilter yelled, "Ouch!"

When from out in the kitchen there arose such a crashing,
she sprang from her work, and she dropped all her sashing.
Away to the doorway she flew like a plane,
wondering just what was happening and who she could blame.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
but Old Mrs Claus and her bag of quilt-gear....
With her elves bearing gifts, through the kitchen she came,
she directed and pointed and called them by name.

"Now Elna, now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking,
the Hoffman and Mumm should be just to her liking.
To the sewing room - there, it's just back of the hall,
now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

"My Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called),
"There really is no need to worry at all.
Your projects will all be completed this night,
I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright.

Sit down. Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see.
My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee."
She thought she was dreaming, our Dear Quilter did,
In fact she quite feared that she'd near flipped her lid!

But the flash of the needles and twist of the thread
soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.
They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing.
How the work went so quickly she had no way of knowing.

The stitches, how tiny! The corners, how straight!
This Claus-woman's talent was awfully great.
They finished the pillows, then started a quilt.
Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!..

Now old Mrs. Claus, she knew quilters real well,
and she knew they'd need help on this night most of all
So she said to our quilter, "Just move over, dear,
I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear.

I told dear old Santa about what quilters do.
How they plan all these projects but have other work too.
So he taught me his magic for doing things fast.
There, that pillow's done. Now this is the last."

They tidied their thread snips, and picked up the scraps
and chased our dear quilters six cats from their laps.
They left behind gingerbread (just to be nice)
and the whole house smelled sweetly of Christmas and spice.

As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming
dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming.
"Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball!
Relax and enjoy. Happy Quilting to all!"

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

 I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
  
 I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
  
 I would have talked less and listened more.
  
 I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
  
 I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
  
 I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
  
 I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
  
 I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
  
 I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

 I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
  
 I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
  
 Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

 When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

 But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it. Live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

 Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Hoje perdi tudo que estava configurado aqui tentando mudar o template para algo mais descolado - patético vindo de uma trintona. Aí, lembro-me do que escrevi na minha conta de Orkut e a mesma não condiz mais, está por fora mesmo hoje: "I'm so 3008, you're so 2000 and late". hehehehehehehe

Você pode pensar que não tem nada a ver mas, o olhar de um terceiro muda tudo. Você já parou para refletir o quanto as coisas triviais são essenciais? Claro, passam tão despercebidas que só sentimos sua falta quando elas não estão mais presentes. Tão óbvio e ao mesmo tempo tão secreto... go figure! Imagino que eu talvez possa vir a sentir falta da minha rotina atual daqui há alguns anos. Ou não. Será que fará diferença? Não sei.
Minha biblioteca de toda a vida, por exemplo. Nunca vi beleza na tal, até outro enxergar possibilidades. Sempre gostei muito de ler e incorporei o hábito da leitura em minha vida para solucionar meus problems, dar-me tempo para raciocinar, e acalmar-me em tempos de mar revolto. Só após muito tempo aprendi que ler também pode fazer-me rir, chorar, sonhar, e desejar. Ainda assim beleza física não foi toda a interpretação da imagem que o terceiro vislumbrou, pelo menos e graças por isto, mas imagine ter lido todas aquelas páginas! E as demais, então, que há muito desapareceram? Uau, até eu me assustei... e depois lembrei-me de algo que por mim foi colado na porta superior direita há muitos anos atrás (sinceramente, da época que eu ainda lia revista Capricho): "The more you know, the less you need." - ditado aborígene australiano. Deparo-me com tal reflexão e certeza todos os dias da minha vida e espero que assim continue.

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough."

A.E. Housman

Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival from March 25 to April 20, 2008.

One day
de Melody Gardot
Álbum: Worrisome Heart


"One day you will be mine
The clouds will part the sun will shine
One day you will be mine
One day you will arise
To see the stars within my eyes
One day you will be mine"

Fiz esta receita e a mesma é simplismente irresistível!

Ingredientes

- 1 kg de chocolate meio amargo picado(s)
- 1 kg de chocolate ao leite picado(s)
- 1 lata(s) de creme de leite
- 1/2 tablete(s) de manteiga
- 3 colher(es) (sopa) de mel
- 2 colher(es) (sopa) de conhaque
- 300 gr de cereja picada(s)
- chocolate em pó para polvilhar
- canela-da-china em pó para polvilhar

Modo de Preparo

Leve ao fogo o creme de leite com soro até ferver por 3 minutos (fogo alto). Passe para o fogo baixo e acrescente a manteiga, o mel e o conhaque, mexa bem por 5 minutos. Desligue o fogo e acrescente o chocolate meio amargo picado grosseiramente, mexa até que dissolva completamente. Despeje em um pirex, pique as cerejas ou a fruta de sua preferência e mexa delicadamente. Deixe na geladeira de um dia para o outro. Antes de começar a modelar as trufas misture a massa novamente deixando a massa por igual. Derreta o chocolate ao leite em banho-maria, dê o choque térmico. Glaceie as trufas neste chocolate e logo em seguida polvilhe com o chocolate em pó e a canela em pó misturados entre si