Peck forage find food
Round head and tiny body
Cute and curious
Haiku by PamelaWLucas 12/11/17
Inspirational photo by Pixabay
Month: December 2017
Haiku: Tufted
Frequents bird feeders
Large black eyes bushy crescent
Tiny and active
Haiku by PamelaWLucas 12/11/17
Inspirational photo by Tara McLaughlin 12/10/17
Surveys suggest the Tufted Titmouse populations are increasing.
Haiku: Shelter
Baby birds have flown
Now need a snug winter spot
House becomes a home
Haiku by PamelaWLucas 12/10/17
Inspirational photo by PamelaWLucas 12/10/17
Birds seek a dry warm roost, so turn your birdhouse into a cozy, comfy home. My converted bluebird house hosted two Carolina wrens last night after the snow stopped. Build it and they will come!
Haiku: Red and white
Red puffy feathers
Grace the flakes that fall softly
A lovely image
Haiku poem by PamelaWLucas 12/9/17
Inspirational photo taken by Tara McLaughlin on this snowy day in Charlottesville, VA 12/9/17
History Nuggets: 1863 Santa Claus drawn political and choosing sides
The American Civil War began on April 12,1861… Christmas of 1863 has Thomas Nast…the early creator of political cartoons…drawing the epic sketches of Santa Claus during a continuing war-torn society and Santa clearly has chosen his side of the battle…and in some cases a very political Ho! Ho! Ho! Check out the puppet in Santa’s hands…the jolly old elf’s hanging a wooden effigy of Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Fascinating…
…If your interests crave additional information and historical cartoon sketches…there is so much more.
Thomas Nast’s cartoon “Santa Claus in Camp” Harper’s Weekly 1863 by Pinterest
History Nuggets: A dark 1862 Christmas in the Lincoln White House
When life becomes complicated…holidays and celebrations become difficult and thorny…for instance…Christmas during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
During these hard times, the Lincoln White House left no record of Christmas trees in the halls or parties, other than a family Christmas dinner in 1861 when they were all together. President Lincoln served the people, met his presidential responsibilities…attended to the needs of war…he and his First Lady directed their energies…spending countless hours in the military hospitals administering to the wounded…writing letters for injured soldiers to send home to loved ones…such unselfish devotion to a divided nation left little time for holiday festivities.
Additional sorrow and mourning entered the White House when third son, Willie, died in February 1862. Imagine…the White House doors and windows still shrouded in black, black arm bands…stark black attire during that Christmas combined with a civil war. Lincoln told Tad, his youngest son, “I want to give him all the toys I did not have and all the toys that I would have given the boy that went away”.… referring to 11 year old Willie and his short sweet life.
War deeply influences our lives and our cultural legacy…look for the next History Nugget: “1863 Santa Claus drawn political and choosing sides”
Inspiring photo of William Wallace Lincoln by Pinterest
History Nuggets: An orphan boy who never heard of Santa Claus became President
“On Christmas Eve in 1835, President Andrew Jackson and the White House children embarked upon a carriage ride, delivering gifts to former First Lady Dolly Madison and Vice President Martin Van Buren. During the ride one of the children asked the President if he thought Santa would visit the White House. Mr. Jackson replied that they would have to wait and see and told the children of a boy he once knew who had never heard of Christmas or Santa Claus and who had never owned a single toy. The boy, he told them, never knew his father and then his mother died. After her death, he had no friends and no place to live. Jackson and the children then visited an orphanage and delivered the remaining gifts in the carriage to its residents. Years later, one of the children, Mary Donelson, realized that the boy the president spoke of had been Jackson himself.” Jackson was a complicated man who came from lonely and troubled beginnings…who grew to cherish Christmas and share the joy of light and hope.
Inspirational photo by Pexels.
History Nuggets: First Christmas Cards, First Christmas Party in the White House and a nose bitten off?!
The second President of the United States, John Adams, held the first ever White House Christmas party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. History could also say that Adams invitations sent for this party were the very first White House Christmas cards from the Peoples’ House.
First Lady Abigail Adams, planned a successful party complete with dinner, cakes and punch, with a small orchestra that played festive music in a grand ballroom adorned with seasonal flora. When one of the younger guests accidentally broke one of the First granddaughter’s new doll dishes, granddaughter Adams enraged, promptly bit the nose off of one of the offending friend’s dolls. An amused Adams stepped in to make sure the incident didn’t take an even uglier turn. Seems a president’s job is never done.
Inspirational photo by Pinterest
History Nuggets: 1941 FDR and Winston share war and Christmas Eve dinner
As the United States celebrated Christmas for the first time as combatants in WWII (while still climbing out of the Great Depression), the dinner menu at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue reflected the country’s wartime sacrifice. FDR and guest of honor Winston Churchill, after lighting the White House Christmas Tree, dined on clear soup, thin toast, turkey and dressing, and beans, and Christmas plum pudding. Imagine their conversation…
Source: Mental Floss
History Nuggets: George Washington’s Boozy Christmas Eggnog
So recorded…by his own hand…George’s recipe for boozy eggnog that was quite the hit during the Christmas season at Mount Vernon…
George Washington’s Christmas Eggnog
“One quart cream, one quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry—mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well. Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.”
Inspirational photo by Pinterest
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