♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Hark! The Herald Penguins sing:
Please don’t eat our little wings!
Eat a goose down to the bone,
But leave Penguins all alone.
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Baby ducks are very sweet,
Tastier than Penguin meat.
If we’re carried in your store,
Please don’t shop there anymore!
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
On a ranch in Bartonville, TX a 150-year-old pecan tree is the tableau for an annual spectacular light display every Christmas. The locals call it the “OMG Tree” – and with good reason!
It began as a suggestion back in 2005 from Bill Rathburn, owner of the Christmas Light Company in Dallas who the ranch owners, Barbara Nunneley and her partner, Jan Deatherage, had hired to outline the roof of their house with Christmas lights.
He noticed the huge, lone pecan tree out in their pasture and told them it’d make a spectacular light display. But at the time, Nunneley thought it was an extravagance that was a bit too expensive.
Her mind was changed two years later when her dad, who always said Christmas was his favorite time of year, was losing his battle to the terminal stage of prostate cancer. She decided the display would be an appropriate tribute to her father, so she called Rathburn and told him: “Let’s do it!”.
It takes a crew of up to eight workers from the Christmas Light Company about 20 hours to string the over 60,000 LED lights used to cover the tree. And because the pecan tree is so tall, they have to use a huge cherry picker in order to reach the top.
Nunnelly planned the inaugural lighting of the decked out old pecan tree as the featured event for the family’s annual Thanksgiving gathering at the ranch. But sadly, her father was not able to make the 70-mile drive from Nocona to Bartonville for the festivities. Sadly, he passed away the very next day.
Nunnelly said about the inaugural lighting: “It took my breath away.” And given the background for its inception she recalls: “It was a little spiritual, a little emotional.” But she philosophically adds: “My daddy did not ever see it from Earth, but I’m real sure he saw it,” casting her eyes skyward.
The tree brought them such joy they decided they would make it an annual tradition to honor her dad. And its notoriety has grown so that now folks from all over the South and Southwest travel to enjoy the light show.
So, let’s also join in for some of its mystical delight …
As its fame has grown, she notes that sunset is the most popular time for visitors to enjoy the light display.
And Nunnelly notes that over the years it’s become a favorite romantic setting for the younger folks in the area to stage their proposals – which is perfectly understandable …
Nunnelly admits she gets a kick out of the irony that over a dozen young men have asked her permission to “pop the question” under her pecan tree, in light of the fact that she’s a divorce lawyer. But adds she does have a personal rule that she’ll never take a case of someone who proposed under her tree.
If any of you folks in the area ever make it to the ranch, I’d enjoy hearing about your experience. Until then, I’ll just have to enjoy it vicariously …
RESOURCES:
GIFs are from CBS:
Pecan tree decorated for Christmas draws visitors from hundreds of miles away – CBS News
Story is largely from Texas Monthly:
An Old Pecan Tree Is a Beacon of Hope at the Holidays – Texas Monthly
https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/bartonville-pecan-tree-lights-holidays/
No matter how you say it (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish/Norwegian & Latin), I hope everyone is enjoying a delightful day.
Since my old tried and true Christmas routine was usurped by the cantankerous – but hilarious – TV sports reporter-cum-weatherman yesterday, I decided to trot out the old stuff today with just a few additions.
First, for all those traveling I wish you a safe trip with no unexpected misfortune (unlike some):
Music (for most) is an integral part of the Holidays – so feel free to delight in the old favorites. And be sure to enjoy new variations on a theme:
[Sung to the tune of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”]
“Hark!” the Herald Penguins sing:
“Please don’t eat our little wings!
Eat a goose down to the bone,
But leave Penguins all alone.”
“Baby ducks are very sweet,
Tastier than Penguin meat.
If it’s carried in your store
Please don’t shop there anymore!”
No doubt we’re all hoping that Special Counsel Jack Smith will be able to put out an album by next Christmas with lyrics like this:
He sees you when you’re grifting
He knows that you’re a fake
He knows that you’ve had bad intent
So prepare to serve upstate!
Truthfully, I think we’re hoping for an entire album:
There’s no doubt the present that we’re all hoping for is this:
And may all your Christmases be bright …
This year, once again, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday is appropriate to your beliefs. Since many of the Carols I’ve used in years past stopped working, I had to change the music I’m using to celebrate Christmas with you. Traditional Christmas Carols An hour of traditional Christmas carols sung by a church choir. 1. Silent Night 2. O Come All Ye Faithful 3. Away In A Manger 4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 5. Ding! Dong! Merrily On High 6. Joy To The World 7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 8. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear 9. Rocking 10. See Amid The Winter Snow 11. I Wonder As I Wander 12. De Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy 13. A Maiden Most Gentle 14. As With Gladness Men Of Old 15. The Shepherd’s Farewell 16. Past 3 O’Clock 17. A Child This Day Is Born 18. Deck The Halls 19. We Three Kings 20. White Christmas
Note that the last Carol is for our Republican friends, who we wish a hearty “Happy Holidays”. Finally I will restate last year’s warning, as our nation remains in dire peril, but not for long!
It’s a tired day here in the CatBox, and I’m going to spend the day resting, after I get my posting done. WWWendy is coming tomorrow and we will celebrate Christmas then. Santa says, Thank God it’s Friday!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:30 (average 5:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Take:
From YouTube (a blast of Celtic Woman): CHRISTMAS SONGS (NEW) BY CELTIC WOMAN
For me, it just isn’t Christmas without Celtic Woman. HUGS!!
I hope Santa was good to you this morning. He had a little difficulty in his travels last night …
And that was complicated by a mix-up with an order in the “Lord of the Rings” toy workshop section …
But that hasn’t kept our penguins from getting into the caroling spirit
“Hark!” the Herald Penguins sing:
“Please don’t eat our little wings!
“Eat a goose down to the bone,
“But leave Penguins all alone.
“Baby ducks are very sweet,
“Tastier than Penguin meat.
“If it’s carried in your store
“Please don’t shop there anymore!”
And I would encourage everyone to visit JD’s standard stellar Video Thread 12/24/2020 – and please, don’t miss the spectacular “A Christmas Light Show at A Home in Leggiuno, Italy”! I was blown away by how tastefully done it was. And the peacocks fanning their tales … just amazing!
So in this abbreviated yuletide Friday Fun, I wish you all a
It’s a tired day, here in the CatBox. I overslept this morning, so I’m running a bit late. It’s Christmas Eve, and if you live in a red state, you need to beware. I trust that you understand that Republicans have invented a fake version of Jesus, Republican Supply-side Jesus. He uses Jesus’ name to spread the Nazi Republican pseudo-gospel of war, hate and greed. Republican Supply-side Jesus is the exact opposite of the real Jesus. The reason red state residents need to beware is that there is also a Republican Supply-side Santa. Like the real Santa, he comes down the chimney on Christmas eve, but instead of bringing presents, he steals the presents from poor and middle-class red state children, sells them, and uses the proceeds to buy presents for Republican billionaires, like new sheets and hoods to replace the ones Republicans have worn out through excessive use. So if you live in a red state, build a big fire in the fireplace, put flash-bangs in the stockings and replacer the cookies with turds. Merry Christmas Eve to you all, and SantaCat knows who’s been naughty and nice.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:43 (average 8:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Tracking Santa:
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Ever-shameless, Donald Trump is now using the pardon power to promote outright corruption. In a slew of pardons tonight, Trump used the power to sabotage convictions of private-contractor war criminals, an array of Republican elected officials caught using their office to engage in crimes, and two of Trump’s own allies who pled guilty to lying to federal law enforcement officials in an effort to block special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of communications between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 campaign.
Receiving pardons tonight—and surely, there will be many more coming—are George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan, who both pled guilty to lying to federal investigators probing Russian hacking and propaganda efforts on behalf of Trump. They join the previously pardoned Flynn, who pled guilty to lying as part of the same cover-up.
Also receiving pardons are three Republican congressmen caught committing crimes in office. California ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter stole donated campaign funds for his own personal use. New York ex-Rep. Chris Collins pled guilty to lying to the FBI and to attempting to commit securities fraud after being caught engaging in insider trading. Texas ex-Rep. Steve Stockman was convicted of money laundering. All three were unquestionably guilty of corruption in office; in pardoning each of the disgraced House Republicans, Trump is clearly signaling his contempt for those that would attempt to hold his political allies to account.
For good measure, and as reminder that aside from personal fealty of allies there are few things as seemingly dear to Trump’s heart as torturing or killing the innocent, Trump has also pardoned four Blackwater private contractors responsible for killing 17 civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square, an act that fomented terrorism against U.S. forces for years afterwards.
There’s no subtlety to these pardons, and its almost certain that they are the prelude to a host of even more egregious ones.
When I think of the egregious losses, grief and suffering these bastards caused to victims and their loved ones, I want to scream! RESIST!!
From Crooks and Liars: Holy smokes! It looks like Diaper Don was correct with his complaints of faulty election results in at least two states. But he probably doesn’t really want to draw too much attention to them.
In Delaware County, Pennsylvania,, there was a confirmed incident of voter fraud:
In the weeks leading up to the presidential election, Elizabeth Bartman and Elizabeth Weihman registered to vote as Republicans in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County officials said Monday. There was one problem: Both women had been dead for several years.
The man behind those applications, Bruce Bartman, now faces two felony counts of perjury, as well as one count of unlawful voting for successfully casting an absentee ballot for President Donald Trump in the name of Elizabeth Bartman, his long-dead mother.
Bartman was arraigned Friday and released on $100,000 unsecured bail.
His lawyer, Samuel Stretton, said the 70-year-old takes full responsibility for the crimes, and will cooperate with investigators
“In his political frustration, he chose to do something stupid,” Stretton said. “And for that he is very sorry.”.
Bartman used his deceased mother’s driver’s license to register her to vote absentee and successfully cast a ballot for Trump in her name. He tried to do the same thing for his dead mother-in-law. But in that incident, he used her Social Security number, which triggered an alert in the state’s system. Even though Bartman signed a letter confirming that she was alive, he never tried to vote for her.
How many times have I said that, when isolated instances of voter fraud do occur, the perpetrators are virtually always Republican? RESIST!!
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Trump Vetoes Defense Spending Bill Setting Up Showdown With Congress
The disrespect this shoes to our men and women in uniform is totally disgusting! To Trump* and the Republican Reich, our troops matter only as cannon fodder. I have no doubt the veto will be overturned. RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Silent Night arranged by Dan Forrest from Beckenhorst Press
Whether or not you are one who you believes in the deity of Jesus Christ, may the celebration of his birth, albeit poorly timed, bring you peace, love, comfort and joy. This year our nation is about to be given another chance. HUGS!!
It’s a busy tired day here in the CatBox. Yesterday afternoon, two neighbors, both women, got into a fight in the hallway outside my door, waking me up. One had a dog that started barking and snarling. One woman and the dog screamed. The other woman had pulled the wall mount fire extinguisher and sprayed the other woman and the dog with it, filling the hallway with white powder. The fire alarm went off. It was two hours before it stopped and I could return to bed. They finished cleaning up the mess late last night. WWWendy is here, and we are busy. I’ll be back in the saddle tomorrow. Happy Hump Day!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:09 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Take:
From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): What Child Is This, English Carol arr. Molly Ijames
Beautiful, or what? HUGS!!