We got past some of the most recent rains with only another foot of water in our yard. We have had too much rain this fall, and many of our trees are in distress. This might be the downside to living in the tropics in the winter, but the mild 60 and 70 degree days may make up for the soggy grass.
The birds have been enjoying the sunflower seeds and the egrets and ibis are now a fixture in my flooded back yard. I suppose this is the upside; we have a whole new environment to feed the birds in. I know it’s winter; I heard the call of the sandhill cranes the other day as they flew over the house.
I am very thankful for this year and happy that I can see the birds and flowers outside the window as I work. May you and yours enjoy your holiday season.
Bracelets: I have gone charm bracelet crazy and have introduced bangle bracelets to the mix because they are fun. I am also working on designing new charms for sale.
Keyrings: 6 new key chains are now available!
Thimbles: Out of stock for the moment as I await my next shipment of blanks.
Hotrod magnets: I am finishing up the hotrod magnets, and I have a couple dozen done, but not featured in the shop.
Necklaces: Since I have gotten some techniques under control, my designing has taken a new direction. I am working on new necklace designs featuring my new charms.
Print Pieces: I am working on canvases and posters. I have been working on putting together the Scenes from a Car Show series into print.
They called it a derivative in 1862. Today, it might be called plagiarism. None the less, the copyright laws declare this carol a derivative work that is wholly owned by James Chadwick, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.
This carol is almost the exact same as it was in the 1800s. The words were written to the music of a French song titled Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes. The music is not only the same, the lyrics are a rather loose interpretation of the French to English. That is why this is considered a derivative work – there are too many similarities to let it stand on its own.
Chadwick made some changes to the work and gave it a new title, but that still does not make it totally a new, original work. A Scottish Gaelic has been made of a translation of the English translation of the French. Whee!
The carol is based around the Gospel of Luke’s telling of the Christmas story. It specifically speaks of the meeting between shepherds and angels.
It did not take long for this carol to become a favorite among the West Country faithful.
Today, the song is most commonly sung to the hymn tune Gloria arranged by Edward Shippen Barnes.
Here is our English version of
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be?
Which inspire your heavenly songs?
Gloria
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria
See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior's birth.
Gloria
Let me tell you why I chose REO Speedwagon
Growing up, I lived in a town where Dan Folgelberg’s dad was our band director. Ruth of RSS Designs in Fiber didn’t live too far from where I grew up, and she had a chance to watch Dan perform quite often. I digress.
My little town also had a recording studio called Golden Voice Recording Studio where our neighborhood kids took their bands to cut records, and EVERYONE had a garage band back then.
REO Speedwagon, Styx and John Prine were all standards at our 4-H fairs and such because they were local and we were cheap.
This rendition of Angels We Have Heard on High is the first thing I have heard from REO Speedwagon that has not been driven into the ground in my memory, so it’s good to share something from a group that figured prominently in my formative years. We just lost Gary Richwrath, REO founder, two years ago. It’s been a long time since the days of 4-H fairs. I think they did a great job with this carol, and I hope you enjoy it.
Now, let’s shop! We only have a couple more weeks and the Countdown to Christmas 2017 comes to an end. Time flies.
Today’s Christmas hymn is steeped in tradition and in history. Without going into the entire history, suffice it to say, this hymn was written for Advent and Christmas based upon Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, which is based upon the O Antiphons. These antiphons are used during the last few days of Advent and on the same days in Catholic Mass.
It was translated into English in 1861, as well as other languages such as German. The traditional singer, like Loreena McKennitt, uses the Latin version of this song, which gives it a majestic and sober sound. The version I chose of this song is by Enya, and even though she sings a combined version, she also gives it a very sober and reverent sound. Lyrics are interchanged among a number of English versions with a touch of Latin.
Latin
Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio,
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni o Jesse virgula!
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ, et antro barathri.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, veni o oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude coelica,
Fac iter Tutum superum,
Et claude vias Inferum.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.
Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In maiestate gloriae.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.
English
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Adonai, Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times didst give the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
As we head into the final weeks of the countdown, don’t forget that handmade sells fast, so if you see something you want for your stocking or want to give as a gift, now is the time to grab it.
Don’t see what you are looking for? Maybe you will find it in some of the following showcases or ask one of our talented artists to design something special for you. Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
