It Was One Of Those March Days

It was one of those March days

when the sun shines hot 

and the wind blows cold:

when it is summer in the light,

and winter in the shade.

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens' verse aptly describes the weather we had today, and it was scrumptious! It was the kind of day when you throw open the windows and hear a choir of songbirds outside no matter where you are in the house. After several months of on-again
off-again hot dusty Santa Ana winds, it was delightful to turn off the AC and feel a spring breeze drift through the kitchen. 
I've been reading through some old issues of       Birds and Blooms magazines and came across   a tip to help keep a birdbath clean.

You need to begin with a clean birdbath, of course. Ours gets pretty icky with slimy rust-colored algae which is difficult to remove. Some people use cider vinegar or bleach to remove the majority of the gunk, and then give the bath a scrubbing and good rinse with clean water. I've found that using pebbles works like a charm! You can also use a handful or two of sand. 
I put on an old garden glove then scour the bottom and sides of the birdbath with a handful of pebbles. Rub the pebbles all over the dirty surfaces and you'll be surprised how well it removes the algae. 

Did you know that copper is a natural algaecide? Once the bowl is clean, drop half a dozen pennies onto the bottom. Take note, however, that the pennies must be pre-1982 for them to be effective. Newer pennies don't contain the copper needed to do the job.

I need to add more coins but didn't have enough pre-1982
pennies. You can also use a small piece of copper pipe. 

One swallow does not make a summer

but one skein of geese, cleaving

the murk of March thaw,

is the Spring.

Aldo Leopold 

I'm happily anticipating the return of a pair of Orioles that frequent our backyard. It's time to put out some oranges for them. Are you doing something to welcome migrating birds? Have any tips to share?

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God Bless Us, Every One!

These porcelain dolls have yarn hair and stuffed bodies. See the gingerbread cookies in her apron pockets?

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious.

`What’s to-day.’ cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

`Eh.’ returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.

`What’s to-day, my fine fellow.’ said Scrooge.

`To-day.’ replied the boy. `Why, Christmas Day.’ 

`It’s Christmas Day.’ said Scrooge to himself. `I haven’t missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. 

Charles Dickens

...and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! 

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

One More Sleep til Christmas Day!

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."
Charles Dickens

Well, it is here! Christmas Eve. What will you be doing this evening? After dark we will set the paper bag luminarias outside along the curb and up the street. They give such a warm glow. As families nearby return from church or visit relatives I hope they catch a glimpse of our little 'lanterns'.

Although many people associate “luminarias” with the holiday lighting of candles placed in small, brown, sand-filled bags, luminarias first appear historically around the 16th century, as a Spanish tradition of lighting bonfires along the roads and churchyards to guide people to Midnight Mass on the final night of Las Posadas.
The night of Las Posadas (Spanish word meaning lodging or inn) is a festive celebration that was first introduced to the indigenous people of Mexico by European missionaries, and is a reenactment of the story of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. The tradition continued into modern times—with the decoration of rooftops, walls, sidewalks and driveways of individual homes—as a way of guiding travelers to their destination.
The candlelit brown paper bags are also called "farolitos," the Spanish word for little lanterns. In the early 19th century, U.S. settlers on the Santa Fe trail brought Chinese paper lanterns to hang from their portals and light their entranceways. They were beautiful but expensive, and eventually, the paper bag version became the tradition. Today, luminarias and farolitos have become an American holiday tradition and a southwestern tradition of welcome. As well as the traditional paper bags with candles, modern day versions also include the electric luminarias or farolitos. Whatever you choose to call them, honor the history of luminarias by setting some out this Christmas and adding a new tradition to your holidays regardless of where you live.

How to make your own candle luminarias:
1) Turn down the top 1" of brown or white paper lunch bags to make a sturdy rim.
2) Place about 1" of sand or cat litter in the bottom of the bag.
3) Place a votive candle in the center of the bag (or use battery run tealights)
4) Place luminarias on sidewalk and light candles.

These would also be nice for New Years Eve! Put them on the porch to greet guests. Inside the house are all our Advent calendars, old and new~ There is a wooden house...

and paper...

and two that stand up and have mini storybooks inside...

and one Santa!

Isn't this the cutest fabric? I think I will whip up a couple of quick pillowcases with it just in time for our last sleep before Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my Followers and visitors! I look forward to sharing teatimes and stories with you and reading the lovely comments you leave here. Wishing you...

And last, but not least, I saw this on Miss Kathy's  blog and wanted to share it with you. (below) Do visit her! You will love what she has there~

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