Little Drummer Boy
“I have learned that to have a good
friend is the purest of all God's gifts,
for it is a love that has no exchange of payment.”
- Frances Farmer
(19 Sept 1914 - 01 Aug 1970)
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12/18/11 - NNHS Newsletter Little Drummer Boy
“I have learned that to have a good
friend is the purest of all God's gifts, - Frances Farmer |
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Dear Friends and Schoolmates,
This theme
is being revisited from 2007.
This song drove my late brother-in-law
Miles Nowitzky (Granby HS - '50)
(11 Jan 1930 - 07 May 2005)
crazy. He said it played all the time; if one person wasn't singing it,
another one was - as the dozen videos below will certainly bear witness. I
myself always loved it, because the Epworth Choir at
Trinity Methodist Church (some of
y'all were members of that choir - and you know who you were!) sang it every
year - and that was the very best version of all!
This one's for you, Milesy!
BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1fA59oH7Q - Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeon Chorale, 1958
BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7u0idCI1Z4 - Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Mathis
BONUS #3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3tAItDOAuI - Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash, 1970
BONUS #4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus - Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and David Bowie, 1977 - taped one month before Bing died
BONUS #5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzEbY2IJSHE - Little Drummer Boy - John Denver - Scenes from the original TV Classic
BONUS #6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPBvSBRaLfo - Little Drummer Boy - Boney M, 1981
BONUS #7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEcCGN7diwU - Little Drummer Boy - Celtic Woman
BONUS #8 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4GGENKTC9A - Little Drummer Boy - Josh Groban, 2007
BONUS #9 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVtNwLIjKJ4 - Little Drummer Boy - Faith Hill, November 8, 2008
BONUS #10 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKmHiGOv70 - Little Drummer Boy - Snare Drumline Encore Performance - Church of Southland, Anaheim CA, December 13, 2009
BONUS #11 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM - Little Drummer Boy - Sean Quigley, 2011
BONUS #12 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJWALnFUjIU - Little Drummer Boy - Flash Mob - the kids from Dance DImensions in Woodland Hills dancing to Justin Bieber's version, 2011
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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Drummer_Boy:
| "The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of
the Drum," is a popular
Christmas song written by the American classical music
composer/teacher
Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.[1]
It was recorded 1955 by
the Trapp Family Singers[2]
and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the
Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for
several years and the song has been recorded many times since.[3] In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for Him" and "He smiled at me". The song was originally titled "Carol of the Drum" and was published by Davis as based upon a traditional Czech carol.[4] Davis' interest was in producing material for amateur and girls' choirs: her manuscript is set as a chorale, the tune in the soprano with alto harmony, tenor and bass parts producing the "drum rhythm" and a keyboard accompaniment "for rehearsal only". It is headed "Czech Carol freely transcribed by K.K.D", these initials then deleted and replaced with "C.R.W. Robinson", a name under which Davis sometimes published.[5][6] Although Davis did search far and wide for suitable material, the Czech original has never been identified, though the style is comparable with the Czech "Rocking Carol", a lullaby collected in the early 20th century by a Miss Jacubickova as "Hajej, nynjej" and given English words by Percy Dearmer for The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. It appealed to the Austrian von Trapp singers, who first brought the song to wider prominence when they recorded the "Carol of the Drum" in 1955, shortly before they retired: their version was credited solely to Davis and published by Belwin-Mills.[7] In 1957 it was recorded, with a slightly altered arrangement, by The Jack Halloran Singers for a record to be released on Dot Records but the recording was not made in time for Christmas and was not released. Dot's Henry Onorati introduced the song to his friend Harry Simeone and the following year, when 20th Century Fox Records contracted him to make a Christmas album, Simeone, making further small changes to the Halloran arrangement[8] and retitling it "The Little Drummer Boy", recorded it with the Harry Simeone Chorale on the album Sing We Now of Christmas. Simeone and Onorati claimed joint composition credits with Davis.[3] The album and the song were an enormous success, the single scoring on the U.S. music charts from 1958 to 1962. In 1963 the album was reissued under the title The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival, capitalizing on the single's popularity. The following year the album was released in stereo. In 1988, The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival was released on CD by Casablanca Records,[3] and subsequently, on Island Records.[9] Harry Simeone, who in 1964 had signed with Kapp Records, recorded a new version of "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1965 for his album O' Bambino - The Little Drummer Boy.[3] The story depicted in the song is somewhat similar to a 12th century legend retold by Anatole France as Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (French: Our Lady's Juggler), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the statue, according to which version of the legend one reads, either smiles at him or throws him a rose (or both, as in the 1984 television film, The Juggler of Notre Dame.)...
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THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:
Happy Birthday today to
James Strickland ('57)!
Happy Birthday tomorrow to Durwood
Adams ('57)!
Happy Birthday this week to:
22 -
Kitty Norman Haskins ('57) of VA
AND
Dottie Pegram Daniels (NNHS /
George
Washington HS - '64) of WV
AND
Harry Barritt ('64) of VA AND
Dale Mueller ('64) of VA
AND
Bill Rash ('67) of VA;
23 -
Tom Flax ('64) of VA AND
Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA
AND
Holly Hill Campbell (Hampton Roads Academy - '72)
of VA;
24 -
James Gay ('57)
AND
Ann W. Hutcheson ('57)
AND
Sandye Jordan Murray ('67) of VA;
25 -
Patsy Bloxom Meider ('57) of NC
AND
Doug Dickinson ('69) of VA!
Many Happy Returns to You All!
http://www.nnhs65.com/Happy-Birthday.html
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TODAY IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES:
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From
http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/This%20Day/thisday1218.htm:
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Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1861 RUSSELL REVISES REDUCED REQUEST Yesterday it had seemed as though the British Empire was on the verge of a declaration of war against the United States of America. The cause of this fury was the oft-mentioned “Trent Affair”, in which the USS San Jacinto, Charles Wilkes, Captain, overhauled the British mail packet Trent outside of Bermuda waters and forced her crew to hand over the Confederate commissioners to Europe, Mason and Slidell. Today, however, the tone was softened considerably. Lord John Russell, British cabinet member, was assigned the task of writing the instructions on the matter to England’s ambassador in Washington, Lord Lyons. Lyons was instructed to request an explanation for the action, and an apology, on the assumption that Wilkes had been overzealous and not acting on specific instructions from his government. Thursday, Dec. 18, 1862 CONTINUAL CARPING CONSUMES CABINET As if Abraham Lincoln was not having quite enough troubles with his armies in the field against the forces of the Confederacy, the last few days had been taken up with infighting, backbiting, and overall hostilities within his own official “family” of the Presidential cabinet. Seemingly every department head had his own clique of allies in Congress, all of whom had entirely differing notions of how the war should be prosecuted, not to mention a cheerful willingness to bury the hatchet, so long as it was in the backs’ of their opponents. Yesterday a particular feud had come to a head with Sec. of State Seward feeling so unappreciated that he offered his resignation. Lincoln refused it, but in the follow-up today, supporters of Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, Seward’s arch-rival, came to the White House to demand Chase at least be given more decision-making authority. Lincoln’s political position was not so strong that he could afford to alienate either faction, so all had to be placated. Spleens were vented, and another meeting was scheduled for tomorrow. Several people would be surprised at that one. Friday, Dec. 18, 1863 MISSOURI MAULS MORE MILITARY MEN Aside from a few confusing months in early 1861, Missouri had always been a state firmly in Union hands. It had, however, in the time since, probably caused more defeats and debacles for Union military men than three openly Confederate states combined. The problem was politics: a Union general would be assigned to be military administrator of the district, and would then be plunged into the morass of backbiting and infighting that was Missouri--particularly St. Louis--power struggles. This was not a situation which could be solved with musketry, and none of the generals handled it well. The latest victim was Gen. John M. Schofield. Lincoln had been receiving a steady stream of complaints about his performance in St. Louis, and today wrote to Sec. of War Stanton that perhaps it was time for Schofield to be relieved. To spare Schofield’s feelings he would get a promotion to major general; the next sacrificial lamb, Lincoln proposed, perhaps should be the long-suffering Gen. Rosecrans. Sunday, Dec. 18, 1864 SHERMAN CITES SAVAGE STRATEGY Gen. William T. Sherman was at this time concentrating on refitting and resupplying his four corps’ with equipment and stores from the Union vessels standing offshore, and simply allowing them to rest after marching from Atlanta to the Sea. He had sent a demand to Hardee in Savannah, demanding the city’s surrender, but was not greatly distressed when it was refused. The city would fall as soon as he moved against it; his thoughts were of the course to take after that. He wrote to Grant a letter which shows that his tactic of stripping the countryside and taking civilian property was entirely calculated: “I estimate one hundred million dollars, at least 20 million of which inured to our advantage and the remainder is simple waste and destruction. This may seem a hard species of warfare, but it brings the sad realities of war home to those who have been...instrumental in involving us in its attendant calamities.” |
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From Ron Miller ('59) of NC -
12/17/11:
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... A very merry Christmas
to you and yours.
We have had a heckuva year
here, with 2 deaths in the family, including
Dad (Herb
Miller (29
June 1913 - 21 Feb 2011),
which you covered in the obits. I’ll try to get more active again on
the NNHS letter.
Take care,
Ron
Thank you
so much, Ronnie - for everything! I've missed you!
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From
Bill Lee (Warwick HS - '54) of NC -
12/17/11 - "The Story of Christmas Spiders":
For a number
of years, my wife,
Janie (Slack Lee - Warwick
HS - '54 - of NC) has handcrafted spiders for use as gifts, and
accompanies them with a slightly different and abbreviated version of
the Christmas Spider story you recently posted. |
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An old Gaelic folk tale relates the story of the busy housewife who scrubbed and polished her home for the arrival of the Christ Child.
On Christmas Eve all was in readiness and the happy family slept. The spiders came out of their hiding places and found no where to spin their webs, so they climbed into the Christmas tree and festooned it with a silvery web.
To this day, a silver spider on your Christmas tree means you are truly ready for Christmas. |
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Naturally, there's always one on our tree.. But, of course! How delightful! Thank you - and Janie - so much for sharing this with us, Bill!
Merry Christmas! |
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From Wayne Agee
('58) of FL -
12/17/11 - "TIPS...... for the lady........":
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For icy door steps in freezing temperatures
Get warm water and put Dawn dish washing liquid in it. Pour
it all over the steps. They won't refreeze. (Wish I had
known this for the last 40 years!).
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To remove old wax from a glass candle holder
Put it in the freezer for a few hours. Then take the candle
holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
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Crayon marks on walls?
This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking soda.
Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
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Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops
(like store receipt BLUE!) Scrub with rubbing alcohol on
paper towel.
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Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads
I immediately take a pair of scissors and cut each pad into
halves.
After years of having to throw away rusted and unused and
smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more
economical. Now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In
fact, I have noticed that the scissors get 'sharpened'' this
way!
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Blood stains on clothes?
Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a
cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works
every time! (Now, where to put the body?) LOL
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Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and
horizontal
For inside windows.
This way you can tell which side has the streaks.. Straight
vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash
windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will
probably streak.
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Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb
in any room to create a lovely a light scent in each room
when the light is turned on.
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Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers
and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to
come. You can also do this with towels and linen.
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Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer
for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
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To clean artificial flowers,
pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake
vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and
leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a
charm!
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To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet,
simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to
cover bottom of pan, and
bring to a
boil on stove
top.
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Spray your TUPPERWARE with
nonstick
cooking spray
before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any
stains.
I do this all the time and it works great!!
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Wrap celery in aluminum foil
when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
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When boiling corn on the cob,
add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural
sweetness.
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Cure for headaches
Take a lime, cut it in half, and rub it on your forehead.
The throbbing will go away.
(I prefer to soak the lime in
Gin and rub it on my tongue first)
AMEN!!!!
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Don't throw out all that leftover wine
Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and
sauces...Left over wine? What's that?
:)
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To get rid of itch from mosquito bites,
try applying soap on the area and you will experience
instant relief.
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Ants, ants, ants everywhere.
Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So, get
your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants
tend to march. See for yourself.
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Use air-freshener to clean mirrors.
It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell
to the shine.
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When you get a splinter,
reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a
needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and
then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters
painlessly and easily.
True!
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Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer...Clean
a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty
minutes, brush and flush.
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Clean a vase.
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet,
fill with water, and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
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Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and
immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
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Clean a thermos bottle.
Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer
tablets, and let soak for an hour (Or longer, if necessary).
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Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets
down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar.
Wait a few minutes, and then run the hot water.
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Do your friends a favor.
Pass this timely (and some not-so-timely) information on to
a friend! I know I just did.
Makes you wonder about ingesting Alka Seltzer, doesn't it? |
OOOH! Thanks so much, Wayne, I love tips!
A few of these I
knew, but many I did not - especially that first one about the Dawn and
the icy steps! |
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From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 12/17/11 - "Jokes for Church":
| •*¨*•.¸ ¸ ..//^ ^ \\. (/(_•_) \)• •*•.¸
Two boys were walking
home from Sunday school
after hearing a strong preaching on the devil.
One said to the other,
'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?'
The other boy replied,
'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out.
It's probably just your dad.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother,
'Why is the bride
dressed in white?''
The mother replied,
'Because white is the color
of happiness, and
today is the happiest day of her life.'
The child thought
about this for a moment then said,
'So why is the groom
wearing black?'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running
as fast as she could,
trying not to be late for Bible class.
As she ran she prayed,
'Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!
Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!'
While she was running
and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell,
getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress.
She got up, brushed
herself off, and started running
again!
As she ran she once
again began to pray,
'Dear Lord, please
don't let me be late... But please don't shove me either!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.
The first boy says, 'My
dad scribbles a few words
on a piece of paper, he
calls it a poem, they give him $50.'
The second boy says,
'That's nothing. My dad scribbles a few words
on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.'
The third boy says, 'I
got you both beat. My dad scribbles a few words
on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!' ~~~~~~~~~~~~ An elderly woman died last month.
Having never married,
she requested no male
pallbearers.
In her handwritten
instructions for her memorial service,
she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive,
I don't want them to
take me out when I'm dead.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ A police recruit was asked during the exam,
'What would you do if
you had to arrest your own mother?'
He answered, 'Call for
backup.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Sunday School teacher asked her class why
Joseph and Mary took
Jesus with them to Jerusalem..
A small child replied,
'They couldn't get a baby-sitter.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the
commandment to 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' she asked,
'Is there a
commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?'
Without missing a
beat, one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.
Little Johnny seemed
especially intent when they told him
how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.
Later in the week his
mother noticed him lying down as though
he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?'
Little Johnny
responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a
wife.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Take heed and pass these along to people who need a laugh.
I thought you would
enjoy this.....times are tough right now...
for all of us...so we need something to make the day a happy place.
"They" haven't found
a way to tax you for laughing yet.
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CHRISTMAS
RECIPES:
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http://www.mrfood.com/Pie/Gooey-Amish-Caramel-Pie/ml/1 -
Gooey Amish Caramel Pie - "Got a sweet
tooth? If you do, then our Gooey Amish Caramel Pie may just satisfy your
cravings. The rich sweetness of the caramel mixed with the crunchy
pecans goes perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side." http://www.mrfood.com/Cakes/Eclair-Cake-2017/ml/1 - Éclair Cake - "Éclairs always look so beautiful in pastry shop windows. And they look like they'd be pretty complicated to make, too. Fortunately, one of our viewers shared a secret with us about how to get those same tastes in a light cake. Give it a whirl! " http://www.mrfood.com/Misc-Desserts/Cherry-Nut-Cobbler/ml/1 - Cherry Nut Cobbler - "Be ready for loads of compliments when you serve up this yummy Cherry Nut Cobbler. Lots of shortcuts make it easy for you, but they'll never know that you didn't really fuss!"
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1 box graham crackers
2 (3-oz.) pkgs. instant
French Vanilla pudding
9-oz. Cool Whip
3 cups milk
Butter a 9"x13" pan. Line
bottom of pan with graham crackers. Mix milk and pudding together, then
fold in whipped topping. Spread half of filling on crackers, add another
layer of crackers, then the rest of the filling mixture. Top with a layer
of crackers.
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TOPPING (OUTSTANDING!!!) |
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Bring to boil, cook one
minute, and remove from heat:
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
Add to mixture:
1/4 (1/2 stick) butter (NOT
margarine!)
1 tsp. vanilla
Pour over cake. Chill.
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CHRISTMAS
BONUS:
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From
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/inspirational-christmas-stories2.htm:
"The Little Match Girl" The weather was
frosty and cold. It was growing dark, and a heavy snow had begun to
fall. It was Christmas Eve. A little girl wandered in the darkening
streets. She wore ragged clothes, and she carried a bundle of
matches in her hand. |
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From
http://www.FlyLady.net
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12/17/11 - "My Husband Was Very Sick":
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Dear FlyLady, I've been swishing and swiping for almost 2 years and love having an always clean bathroom. But, the power of the Swish and Swipe was brought home one Saturday evening a couple of weeks ago. My husband was hit with vicious stomach troubles, possibly food poisoning. It got so bad, he gave up coming back to bed and just laid down on the bathroom floor. While I felt so sorry for him, I also felt good knowing that the bathroom floor had been mopped the day before during Weekly Home Blessing, and the toilet was clean thanks to Swish and Swipe. Before Flylady, there would have been a week's worth of ickyness in there. By morning, the worst had passed, and all it took was a quick swish and swipe and the bathroom was clean, disinfected, and sparkling again. Flying in Tennessee FlyLady here: No one wants to see themselves or a loved one in this situation. But if it happens, having a clean bathroom makes a really tough time easier. Cleaning the bathroom is really blessing yourself and your family... |
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From
http://www.FlyLady.net
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12/17/11 - "Starting Again at the Beginning":
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Dearest FlyLady, I had an epiphany the other night. You see, I used to FLY quite well in my last house. Everything had a place and with keeping up with my hot spots my house was always beautiful. Well, at the beginning of the summer we moved. Nothing like a move to ground you quickly! We did well at unpacking and finding places for 90% of the things right away. At this point, you see, I was in denial. I thought, "I am a very organized person, I don't have clutter and I know where everything is." The truth is, that is how it was in the old house. Not so in the new one. I didn't know where anything was and I would get very frustrated trying to find things that I should've known right where they were! Because we had built our last house, we had a lot of say in how things were laid out. Our new house is an older house and things were built differently 35 years ago. Different storage, etc. I finally realized that I needed to start FLYing again. I've been saying it for several months now. In the middle of November, my parents came to visit for Thanksgiving and my daughter's birthday. At the end of their trip, we all decided it would be great for them to stay another week so all in all they were here for a month. We completely enjoyed their visit, but there was a problem. Somewhere in the back of my mind I kept thinking, they are leaving December 6th, so that leaves me plenty of time to do Christmas cards, shop, etc. But when they extended their trip I didn't do the math in my head. So I was left feeling VERY crunched for time. On top of that my house was an absolute mess. The epiphany came when a cousin who was in town from Canada called and wanted to stop by that morning to visit before she went home. It was incredibly stressful. My house was a mess and I felt like I just didn't have time for this visit. Sad to think! My husband picked up a little bit but we had to apologize for the state of our home when she came. Later that day I kept feeling the weight of having to do my Christmas cards and do some other projects on the sewing machine and the computer. I kept telling myself I would clean over the weekend but I had to get this stuff done first. After several minutes of ranting and raving and not being able to find things or even a space to do my work, my lovely husband told me I had to clean first. He reasoned that if the house was at least a little cleaner (cleared off surfaces, things put away) I would be able to relax and focus on the other tasks. I of course moaned and complained while knowing he was right. I spent 15 minutes cleaning up and what a difference it made! My counters and tables were cleared off and I felt so much more peaceful and able to focus. I got my other projects done in no time. I was even able to write a personal note on each Christmas card which I never do. I always just sent a picture of the kids. Now I know and can finally admit that I suffer from CHAOS in our new home!! I am starting again at the beginning. I know our "new" home will be as organized and clean and peaceful as our old one. It will come. Thank you so much for all you do. It has been so helpful to know in the back of mind that when I finally did admit to myself I had a problem, I knew right where to turn to fix it! You are amazing. Love, Missa in UT FlyLady here: You want to have a home where you can visit with family and friends. You can create such a home one BabyStep at a time! You start flinging the CHAOS 15 minutes at a time. You can do this and see the difference, too! ... |
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From
http://www.FlyLady.net
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12/17/11 - "Testimonial: Did You Know This?":
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Dear FlyLady, I had to write to you to tell you something AMAZING that I just learned. Did you know that when there are some crumbs accumulated in the silverware organizer in the kitchen drawer - that you don't have to completely empty the drawer, carry the vacuum up from the basement, vacuum the drawer out, wipe it down with soapy water, rinse the soap left behind with a clean wet dishrag, dry it with yet another, and put all silverware in the dishwasher just in case there are some stray crumbs on them - only to have a big job of putting it all back later? Also, you don't have to then decide that the job isn't really done until you repeat this process with all drawers and cabinets in the kitchen - which would then keep you up all night, therefore you don't start on the crumbs at all, and let them sit there for months and months and even let company see them when they reach for a fork or knife. Did you KNOW this?! Of course you did! Because you don't let perfectionism paralyze you! But, I didn't know it, even after following you on and off for years! Well, I was having friends from out of town this past weekend stay at the house, and although I have improved immensely since finding you and their arrival did not require a crisis cleaning, I still had filthy crumbs in my silverware drawer that made it look awful and dirty whenever I grabbed for a fork. This would bring me down and make me feel like I would never get around to doing a fully perfect cleaning of my kitchen. Then the other day, as I opened the drawer, I heard your voice telling me that just simply wiping out the crumbs would bless my house. That it would be better to just do this simple task than wait until I had time to do the job perfectly - and that my company would then not have to see the yucky accumulation of crumbs. Well, I did it, I just wet a paper towel, picked up the forks and wiped under them. I put them back, and did the same thing under the spoons, then the knives. That was it! The crumbs were gone, and the drawer looks clean! How did I never know this!? My kitchen then looked so much cleaner to my company when they went to get a spoon for their tea in the morning. Ahhh. If ONLY I had realized this about 20 years ago! Thank you once again, I'm a slow learner, but I'm getting there! Flying on the Chesapeake FlyLady here: Fling your perfectionism and tackle a task in BabySteps! Fling the all or nothing mind set to blessing your home! ... |
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From
http://www.FlyLady.net
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12/17/11 - "Holiday Crisis Cleaning":
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Dear Friends, I can hear the panic in your voices. "In a few days, we have a ton of company coming, what am I to do?" If you want a crash marathon cleaning session, I can help you, but be warned, without the routines, your home will be trashed again in a day. So you have to listen closely. 1. GO GET DRESSED ALL THE WAY TO SHOES, HAIR FIXED AND FACE MOISTURIZED OR MAKEUP PUT ON. DON'T QUESTION ME ON THIS. JUST DO IT NOW. Put on some good working music. Not too fast, just slow and steady; peppy, but not aerobic. Light a candle that has a good scent or put on some spices on to boil on a very low heat. We are going to start in our kitchens. As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house. 2. Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in the kitchen. If your sink is not clean and shiny, then shine it first, then you can fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the left and right counters. Empty the dishwasher. When the timer goes off, stop what you are doing and go to the living room. 3. Set the timer again and do 15 minutes cleaning off the coffee tables or picking up toys or newspapers. Concentrate on one thing. Not all of it. When the timer goes off, then go back to the kitchen. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the living room in the basket. Take a garbage bag with you too. Start throwing away the trash. Don't get caught up in the guilt we have about recycling this stuff. Just bag it up for now. 20 pounds of trash in a landfill is not going to kill you. So get over this perfectionism attitude. As you get your home in order there will be plenty of time to recycle. For now we are focusing on getting the home presentable. You can't do this if you are hyper-focusing on sorting and recycling. 4. In the kitchen set the time for 15 more minutes, continue to work on clearing the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND WANT TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING. 5. Now take a break and walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 45 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you love and just relax. When the timer goes off. You are back in work mode for 15 more minutes. 6. This 15 minute session is in the bathroom. Do you have this! Clean the sink in here first, then pick up towel and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY. I MEAN THIS. LAUNDRY WILL COME LATER! 7. When the timer goes off, you are back in the kitchen. For 15 more minutes. We can do anything in 15 minutes. Keep working till the timer goes off. Then you go to the Living room once again. 8. In the living room, continue to pick up and put away. 9. Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break. Adapt this schedule to fit your physical limitations and children's needs. But you get the picture. Stay focused on one job for 15 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a days time. My timer is my best Friend. You can do this. Now turn off the computer and get to work! Let's FLY through this Crisis Cleaning, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your guests, FlyLady |
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From
http://www.FlyLady.net
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12/17/11 - "Pampering #16":
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Dear FlyLady! I'm a single stay at home mom of a 18 month old boy. Needless to say I have very limited time and money. But every Sunday I pamper myself by celebrating we made it through another week, relax and do something good for my skin at the same time When my boy is in bed I get a little bottle (0.2 liters) of sparkling wine out of the fridge. I buy them in a pack of 3 for 2.19 Euro, so they really don't cost the world. After taking off my make up and cleaning my face with soap, I pour about one sip of the sparkling wine on a dish. Then I take a cotton pad, soak it in the wine and rub it over my face, making sure I get every inch. Basically I just use it instead of my toner. It's so cool, refreshing and it helps detoxifying the skin. Also using sparkling wine on your skin really makes you feel like a diva. At last I light some candles, sit down with a good book and enjoy the rest of the sparkling wine. Hugs from Germany! Claudia Kelly here: Our habit this month is pampering. This is a busy time of year, but it is very important that you take a little time each day just for yourself. I am so proud of you. |
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FINALLY:
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From http://www.ajokeaday.com - 12/17/11:
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DATES TO REMEMBER:
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1. Thursday, January 5, 2012 - The NNHS Class of 1955 holds Lunch Bunch
gatherings on the first Thursday of every month at Steve & John's Steak House on
Jefferson Avenue just above Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News at 11:00 AM. The
luncheon is not limited to just the Class of '55; if you have friends in that
year, go visit with them. 2. Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 11:00 AM - The NNHS Breakfast Bunch will host a Breakfast Bunch Brunch at the Warwick Restaurant, 12306 Warwick Boulevard, (across from CNU) Newport News, Virginia 23606. "Please come join them for a Dutch Treat Brunch featuring a lot of 'War Stories' and maybe a lie or two. Everyone is welcome so bring your wife, husband, boy friend, girl friend, class mate, school friend or whomever you choose." Please RSVP to Bill Roady at duckbill1@verizon.net or call him at 757-595-0716 so they have a head count. 3. Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - The NNHS Class of June 1942 meets at noon on the second Wednesday of every other month for a Dutch treat lunch at the James River Country Club, 1500 Country Club Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few years makes no difference. Good conversation, food and atmosphere. For details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for reservations. 4. Friday and Saturday, October 5 and 6, 2012 - Class of 1962 - 50-Year Reunion - Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hampton on the Water. More information after the Holidays. Meetings are second Tuesday of each month. CONTACT: Brenda Amos Williams at typhoonmom@juno.com |
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PRAYER ROLL: http://www.nnhs65.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 10/22/11 |
BLOG: http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 03/13/11 |
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Please find a few minutes of your busy
schedule to support
Thank you so much!
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Carol Buckley Harty 7020 Lure Court Fayetteville, NC 28311-9309 915-780-3048 |
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1. Visit the main page (http://www.nnhs65.com), scroll halfway down, and click on the Pay Pal Donate Button (nnhs65@gmail.com); 2. Go to www.PayPal.com, log in, select "Send Money (Services) to nnhs65@gmail.com; or
3.
Just mail it directly to my home. Thanks!
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Little Drummer Boy
The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958. The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum' - a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist! However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists. The most notable rendition was created by the most unlikely combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This version of Little Drummer Boy was a massive hit for the artists and was in fact Bing Crosby's most successful recording since the legendary White Christmas.
- Words and Music by Katherine K. Davis; Arranged by Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone, 1958
Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
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"Little Drummer Boy" midi courtesy of http://www.catholic.net/christmas_songs/template_channel.phtml?channel_id=17 - 12/18/07
"Little Drummer Boy" lyrics and (slightly distorted) history courtesy of http://www.carols.org.uk/little_drummer_boy.htm - 12/18/07
Image of Little Drummer Boy
courtesy
of
http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Fairs-in-Connecticut-festivals/deep_river_ancient_muster/index.html
- 12/18/07
Animated Army Flag clip art courtesy of http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/KevsGifsGalore/Patriotic.html - 06/18/03
Little Drummer Boy clip art used to
form Divider Lines courtesy
of
http://www.godslamb.net/wonder/drumboy.html
- 12/18/07
Animated Tiny
Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of
Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of
VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!
Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06 (still
missing...)
Thanks, Al!
Replaced by Norm Covert ('61) of MD - 02/09/09
Thanks, Norm!
Animated
Laughing Kitty courtesy of Tom Flax ('64) of VA - 06/03/06
Thanks, Tom!
Animated Ringing Christmas Bell clip art (designed by Art Holden) courtesy of http://www.animationfactory.com - 12/08/05
John Marshall High School's Justice Scale clip art courtesy of
Cheryl White Wilson (JMHS - '64) of VA - 10/13/05 (replaced 02/23/09)
Thanks, Cheryl!
NNHS65 Home Page Banner created by
my #5 Son, Nathaniel Harty (Hillsboro HS, IL - '97) of IL - 06/06/02
Thanks, Nathaniel!
