The Ciel Show

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Sunday, December 28, 2014

News...

I just heard from my sister a couple of hours ago that Mom died very quietly and easily on Wednesday night. Julie was with her, and she says Mom was aware of her being there, which eased one of her fears, that she would die alone. She has been wanting to go for several years, in constant pain and unable to do anything for herself. That was hard for her, a woman who never paid anyone to do anything she could do for herself. She was 92. She and Julie were a team for 70 years. She was my... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 2:46 PM | add or view comments (16) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Giving a little can mean a lot.

Here is another of my favorite places to send money when I can: http://gifts.rescue.org/product/education/year-school The International Rescue Committee offers a selection of specific items or actions that you can donate for relatively small amounts of money, that really make a significant difference even if it to only one child who needs protection from malaria mosquitoes, or a girl whose life will be changed by the opportunity to go to school, or a baby can get emergency care, or a pregnant... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 12:55 PM | add or view comments (4) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Friday, December 26, 2014

A few pictures of our Christmas decor

https://www.flickr.com/photos/therovingeye/ Of course, Violetta had to get in on the act! I see I have left out one picture: the tree in its Christmas Morning regalia. I will add that one in next time. Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 6:38 PM | add or view comments (7) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

The day is done

Our Christmas day, adjusted for necessity, started around 6am. We had our special breakfast of french toast--I used some of the black currant jam that we Santas had put in the big food basket, the thing we do now instead of stockings. Charlie's french toast is special because he actually toasts the bread before dipping it in the batter. Then we disturbed Violetta from her nest among the presents under the tree, and then disturbed the packaging. Charlie has some new respectable and yet fun shirts... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 7:17 AM | add or view comments (4) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

My eggplant just exploded.

Probably I should have stuck some holes in it. The recipe for baba ganouj starts with burning an eggplant (on a wood fire, ideally, or an oven at 500F) then mixing the innards with sesame tahini, olive oil and garlic. It's served warm or cold, with pita bread or on a salad or... however you like it! I always think middle-eastern food is a good Christmas feast tradition. We're planning to have a sandwich bar, kind of cross-cultural: excellent cold ham and swiss cheese on rye, chicken with avocado... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 3:53 PM | add or view comments (9) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, December 22, 2014

Someone has been looking at my pictures!

Usually, when I have posted new pictures, the stats page shows numbers maybe as high as the 300s. When I haven't, it's fewer than 100, usually. Sunday and Monday, the stats were 5428 and 3405. Kabu? Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 5:37 PM | add or view comments (11) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Friday, December 19, 2014

I'm giving my younger daughter an elephant for her birthday.

She's a young, orphaned Indian elephant named Jubilee, and will be the adoptive child of my daughter for a year. The adoption of various animals is available through The Born Free Foundation in England, originated by the people who brought Elsa the Lioness to us years ago, both the actual people, and the ones who starred in the movie. There is a US Born Free Foudation, too. I highly recommend this gift to anyone who loves animals and who doesn't need or want other stuff so much. It's a gift to... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 1:02 PM | add or view comments (14) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Up again at 5:30

There is a bit of snow this very early morning, and the thinnest of crescent moons among the tag-ends of clouds in the dark sky. The Christmas tree in the living room is all blue lights until I turn on the lamp, and the gold decorations suddenly are there, shining... When I wake up so early, before dawn, I am reluctant to commit to opening my eyes, to starting the day. Violetta insists, however, that she must have food now, or die... She used to regale me with the song of her people... Lately,... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 4:53 AM | add or view comments (10) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

We finally got the tree up...

And here it is, to wish you a happy season of solstice celebrations of every kind, and Christmas and Channukah: All these are celebrations of Light in dark times, of miracles and faith, of trust that whatever is happening to alarm us and worry us, in the end, all will be well. Whatever your beliefs, wherever you place your faith and trust, I hope this season of lights and miracles brings you your heart's desire. https://flic.kr/p/q9Y6Zv Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 7:02 PM | add or view comments (13) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Strange behaviors

There could be snow by tomorrow, They tell Us. It is for sure grey overhead in many places, with a few stripes of blue. Violetta seems to have a cold. She is coughing and sneezing very roughly every so often, and in other ways behaving a bit strangely. Usually, when I get up, she races me to the kitchen where she demands immediate dishing up of breakfast. Today, she didn't. I looked back, and there she was sitting on my bedside table, watching me. I put down food for her, and she just sat there,... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Ciel at 12:29 PM | add or view comments (7) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

May 2025
SMTWTFS
27282930123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567
Apr | Newest | Jun
About this Blog

I'm doubtful the events of my life will be of great general interest, but I'd like to share a little more of me to the several of you on Blogit I've come to feel are real friends, and the many I imagine are potentially real friends. We'll see how it works out. ______________________ all my words and images posted on Blogit are copyright 2005-present, all rights reserved.

Recent Entries
People
Blogs

Headlines (What is this?)