Aspirations and Enhancements for 2019

Living Coral is 'Colour of theYear!

Pantone Evokes Sea Reefs and Sunsets in its 2019 Choice

Reporting from New York in The Associated Press, Leanne Italie writes:

It's the colour of underwater reefs hanging on for dear life. The sky is dusk. Pantone's vice-president considers this saturated orange base with a golden undertone, not only warm and welcoming, but versatile and life-affirming. It energizes with a softer edge than its pastel and neon colour cousins.

Marc Jacobs'spring 2019 collection showcased garments

in the Pantone 'colour of the year'!

Alone for the Holidays? There are Plenty of Ways to Find Joy!

In the Tampa Bay Times, Patti Ewald reported, “Holidays are always a time that helps bring loved ones and families together. But when those special people in one's life live at a distance or unable to be a part of the holidays, it can make celebration more difficult. Yet, many can find holiday joy celebrating

within their community. Some suggestions:

Make Merry! Do eat and watch what you want. Curl up on the couch to watch a favourite movie. Roast a Small Tturkey or share with friends for a post-holiday 'Friendship-giving'.

Start New Traditions! Do things you've never done before ~ take a walk or think about getting a dog. Start the day off with a mimosa instead of coffee and Christmas cookies instead of oatmeal.

Catch Up With Friends! Drop notes to them or video-chat.

Tackle a 'To do' or two! Be productive. Organize closet and drawers. Paint the kitchen a new colour

.

Volunteer! One of the best ways to feel joy, is to bring it to others. Help serve meals somewhere...be a visitor to someone in hospital or nursing home...a local pet shop may appreciate assistance.

Any of the above, will chase away 'the blues'.

Keeping a 'positive attitude' is key. Focus on the present and be grateful for what you have.

Eat Healthy...Keep Moving...Get Enough Sleep.

A Few Quotes from a 2018 Calendar

accompanied with 'mouth-painted scenes' by various artists.

Peaceful Dawn:“Life closes in the Twilight, but opens in the Dawn.” (Victor Hugo)

Gone Fishing: “Joy and looking and comprehending is Nature's most beautiful gift.” (Albert Einstein)

Summer Doorway: “In summer, the song sings itself.” (William Carlos Williams)

Enjoy the Ride: (illustrated with red and white 2-door car).

“One's real life is so often the life one does not lead,” (Oscar Wilde)

A Perfect Afternoon: “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” (Anne Frank)

Autumn's Bounty: “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Secluded Harbour: “I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

(Henry David Thoreau)

Spirit of the Season: (depicted with a Christmas sleigh). “Blessed is the season

which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” (Hamilton Wright Mabie)

“You will be exactly as happy as you decide to be.

Life is uncertain ~ eat dessert first! ” stated by Ernestine Ulmer)

“Stuck between “I'm proud of myself ~ and I gotta go a little harder!”

(Unknown Author)

“I pray what is coming is better than what is gone.

Seek respect, not attention; it lasts longer!”

DARE TO BE! Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

When a new day begins ~ DARE to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness ~ DARE to be the first light to shine it.
When there is injustice ~ DARE to be the first to condemn it.

When something is difficult ~ DARE to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down ~ DARE to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope ~ DARE to find some.

When you're feeling tired ~ DARE to keep going.

When times are tough ~ DARE to be tougher.

When love hurts you ~ DARE to love again.

When another is lost ~ DARE to help them find their way.

When a friendship fails ~ DARE to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another ~ DARE to make them smile.

When you feel great ~ DARE to help someone else to feel good.

When the day is ended ~ DARE to feel as you've done your best.

DARE T0 BE THE BEST YOU CAN ~

AT ALL TIMES ~ DARE TO BE!

(Author Unknown)

When all is said and done:

totday is another chance to get it right.

I am thankful for nights that turn into mornings...

friends that turned into family...

and dreams that turned into reality.

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 18, 2018

Comments appreciated: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gamail.com

Unexpected Pleasures

“The moments of pleasure we enjoy take us by surprise.

It is not that we seize them ~ but they seize us.” (Ashley Montagu)

In early October, 2001, my son calling from California (his place of employment), had a proposition for me. “I'll pay your flight here to San Jose ~ spend a week or 10 days here ~ on the weekends we'll tour the coastline vistas ~ and from travel businesses here, locate the immense trees whose trunks we can drive through. Knowing that you love to drive, I require you to drive my Honda Odyssey van back to Ontario for its emission test. You need to have this completed by November 15^th.

“Did I hear you correctly?” I asked. “Oh, Yes, Mom,” he replied.

In a few days, I propositioned him, that, “Yes, I'd do the drive ~ with my desire to visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon in Utah (and all its weird rock formations), then Arizona's Grand Canyon both north and south sides. ~ these sites prior to touring through Colorado's Rocky Mountains, northbound to access throughways eastward. He loaned me a CT from which to call him each evening en route.

We discussed events of the day...destination for the morrow...

then, he'd check on weather conditions for the next day or two.

Arizona's Grand Canyon: Impressed, mightily I was viewing Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in Utah! Then southbound a few miles to Arizona's Grand Canyon which is phenominal. Over-nighting at Jacob's Lake motel, the staff highly recommended, “You must drive to the canyon's North Rim to view it at sunrise!!!” As I drove through the forest, the sun arising in the sky and splaying its golden rays between tree trunks, I parked at the North Rim (1,000 feet higher than the South Rim), and marvelled at the cool morning's stillness with occasional bird tweets as they welcomed their day. And as the sun rose above the horizon casting its rays...and in the stillness of the morn...not e'en a leaf on the trees moved. Two gentlemen and I, standing on the high rim, noted that as the sun rose, the canyon walls became alit and travelled slowly down, down, down to the Colorado River as it snaked its path like a narrow coloured ribbon! So spiritual...so mesmerizing...beyond being supernatural...almost divine!

'Twas a sunrise spirited by Nature's gift to mankind!

Leaving the Rocky Mountains in Colorado: Driving eastbound, one morning, my son called ~ informing me, “I've made a reservation for you at a Hair Salon in Kearney, Nebraska. They are expecting you tomorrow morning...thought you'd enjoy this treat!” How thoughful and considerate, was this! What a pleasant surprise! The full staff warmly welcomed this Canadian woman driving from San Jose, California to Hamilton, Ontario.

I agree with Boris Pastemak who said,
“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.”

Spending my last night in Michigan, smiles came to my face upon hearing an airplane; glancing into the darkened sky, considering that he may be on that plane for a few hours (compared to my several

days of land travel ) spending time with family for his birthday, prior to returning to California.

What impressed me was that during those 11 or 12 days 'on the road'

I saw no accidents ~ until I crossed the border from Detroit intoWindsor:

and there at a stoplight, a transport truck had buckled the back fender of a sedan.

So many pleasures I've had in life, yet space here to highlight only a few ~

going back in time as my memory kicked in to recollect.

My Dad's Love of Cars: For my 1962 June wedding, he purchased a NEW Buick Skylark...blue with a white hard-top...to cap off his thrill of being 'Father of the Bride'! Unfortunately, in November of that year, a sudden heart attack snuffed out his life. Rather than leaving his beloved Buick parked in my mother's driveway over the winter months, I drove his Skylark to Hamilton where I was teaching. My mother promised that in the spring, she would take 'driving lessons' then learn to drive the Buick.

I finally drove my Dad's car!!!

She fulfilled her intention...and after 2 tries, passed her driving tests. She loved the Skylark...babied it...drove in only favourable weather...it became her Pride and Joy!

“We'd Better Get There First,” my father always said when I asked if could drive his car when out on a summer's day for a drive to Lake Erie's beach or a Sunday drive in the country. ( In summer I worked at his garage, earning money to pay for Teachers' College.) And on the return back home, his answer was always the same. After 3 years of teaching, I'd saved money to Own My First Car!

Movie Tickets or a Case of Gingerale: In High School days, I played softball on a farm girls team named the Burford Bluebirds. Occasionally my Dad took me to Brantford towatch the Red Sox of the International League play baseball. On one occsion, the lucky number in my program was called...so excited I was, winning 6 tickets for movies at the city's Capital Theatre and a case of gingerale. But being a devout Christian man, he had no use for 'the ills of Hollywood' so my winning prize was the gingerale!

Finding a Five-Dollar Bill: When in Grade 7, walking through the village of Burford on my home from school one day, I discovered a $5 bill lying on the sidewalk in front of the Printer's Shop. Entering the shop door I told told the owner about it. Stating that no buyer had returned to inquire about lost money, he said to me, “Finders, Keepers ~ my Dear ~ purchase something for yourself.” WOW! From my own petty savings and this $5, I bought a pair of white ice skates to replace a neighbour boy's scuffed-up-old brown skates, much too big for me. What a luxury! How elated I was!

Which Famous Painting Are You?

A few of my readers send articles of interest to me ~ as is this following of intnrigue! The intro read:“If you love art, then you've certainly come to the right place. Why? Because you're about to find out just what famous painting your spirit embodies. Do you think you're one of Leonado da Vinci's accurate sketches ~ or are you more of a kooky Picasso painting? Take this test and find out for yourself. This, I couldn't resist! Aghast I was, when told: You're Da Vinci's Mona Lisa....with a few mentioned attributes...conluding with...you'll be around for centuries. Great News for me!!!

Surprise and mystery is at the heart of creativity, said Julia Camen.

Her quote reminded me of a letter sent to me by my son

which was hand-printed by a primary school student (or possibly Grade 4) thanking a speaker

who came to their school to present a talk about weather.

Dear Mr. Ramon, thank you for comming to our school and teeching about weather. Some day when I become “Supreme-Ultra-Lord of the Universe, I will not make you a slave. You wil live in my 200 story castle where unicorn servants will feed you donuts off their horns. I will personally make you a throne that is half platinum and half solid gold and jewel encrested.

Thank you again for teeching us about meteoroligy; you're more awesome than a monkey waring a tuxedo made of bacon, riding a cyborg unicorn with a light saber for the horn on the tip of a space shuttle closing in on Mars while engulfed in flames. In case you didn't know, that's pretty dang sweet.

Sincerely, Flint. ( My Mom says to excoose my spelling errors.)

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 14, 2018

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Christmas Carols and Nativity Scene

The History of Christmas Carols

Christmas carols have been around for so long that everyone is completely aware of them. Many of the iconic and timeless carols you know, have a fascinating and surprising origin.

Carol of the Bells: This haunting holiday tune has popped up just about everywhere in the movies and in television series. It wasn't originally a Christmas song. Carol of the Bells started as a Ukrainian folk chant telling of the coming New Year, which pre-Christian Ukraine celebrated in April. The chant's meaning shifted in the 1930's when the American composer Peter J. Wilhousky gave the tune new lyrics and re-arranged its melody, enabling it to be performed by the NBC Symphony Orchstra and proved to be a canny change as the song became a Christmas Carol since he wrote new lyrics in 1936.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Originally composed as a Christmas Day hymn by Charles Wesley in 1739 (who wrote more than 6,000 hymns), it was initially given a rather bland name, Hymn for Christmas Day. The opening lyrics were different too: Hark how all the Welkin rings/ Glory to the Kings of Kings. Welkin is an old English term for the heavens. Evangelist George Whitefield tweaked the lyrics about 15 years later and renamed it “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Jingle Bells: This is likely one of the most familiar Christmas carols of all time. It was composed by organist James Pierpont at a Unitarian church in Savannah, Georgia. He copywrited the song in 1857 as One Horse Open Sleigh. The tune was then reprinted in 1859 with the title Jingle Bells or the One Horse Open Sleigh. The lyrics have generally stayed the same since then; however, the purpose of the song has significantly changed ~ Pierpont intended the song be sung at Thanksgiving, not Christmas.

Do You Hear What I Hear? This song is one of the newest songs on the list. It was written during the height of the Cold War, as the Cuban Missile Crisis was unfolding. In the studio, the producer was listening to the radio to see if we had been obliterated. “En route to my home, I saw 2 mothers with their babies in strollers. The little angels were looking at each other and smiling,” says songwriter Noel Regney. And when you take into consideration the time it was written, the lines about 'ringing through the sky' take on a slightly more apocalyptic tone.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: This long-time favourite Christmas tune is said to have come about as a way for Catholics to practise catechism in a way that people would not understand. The 12 gifts are said to represent the 12 fruits of the Holy Ghost. However, there is not a lot of evidence for this theory and the song likely originated as a kind of memory game for kids. The best-known version was printed in 1780 in the children's book Mirth without Mischief. In 1909, the musical structure originated from a piece of sheet music by an English composer which makes the song easy and fun to sing.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: This song was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the Judy Garland musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Originally, the lyrics to this song were considered to be too sad, especially at a time when WW2 was unfolding: Have yourself a merry little Christmas /it may be your last / Next year we may be living in the past. According to Martin, Garland refused to sing it. She said, “If I sing that, little Margaret will cry and they'll think I'm a monster.” The lyrics were then quickly changed.

Joy to the World: This is undoubtedly the most-published Christmas hymn on the continent and is yet another song on the list that was never meant to be a Christmas song. Published in 1719, the English hymnist, Watts intended the song to be sung at Easter. His lyrics were referring to the 'second coming of Jesus'. The version we know today, comes from Lowell Mason's The National Psalmist from 1848, titled Antioch and attributed to Handel.

God RestYe Merry Gentlemen: This is one of the oldest carols commonly sung today. It dates back to the 16^th century and describes how Jesus has come to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.

Graciously, I thank Tom for the above submission)

It's December at The White House...

and Donald Trump orders his aides to put up a 'nativity scene' on the lawn.

They all grovel before him ~ and begin their task.

After working for a few hours to set one up, the aides step back to look at their work. “It looks pretty good,” says the first one.”Yeah, but I'm not sure the boss will like it,” says the second.

When questioned, he responds, “Well, look at these 3 wise men. Three wise men? That sounds like Ivy League elitists to me. Plus frankincense and myrrh? I bet these guys are Arabs. The President wouldn't like this at all.” the other aide agrees he has a point ~ so they take out the wise men ~ and chuck them over the fence.

“Do you think it's ready now?”says the first aide.

“Not really,” says the second one. Look at Mary and Joseph ~ they're refugees.

I bet they're bringing drugs and crime to Nazareth.!”

So they take out Mary and Joseph, too

“Oh, I think we're ready,” says the first one.

“Not yet,” says the second. “Look at the baby. His parents came from Egypt

just so he could be born in Nazareth? Sounds like an anchor baby to me.

So they chuck out Jesus, as well.

Proud of their work, they head back to the Oval Office to let the president know they've finished.

“Well?” he asks, “have you finished the most bigly tremendous decorations?

We're going to make Christmas great again!”

“Yes, Mister President. We're sure you'll be very happy with it.

We took out the wise men...Mary and Joseph...and Jesus.

“Well,” Trump asks, “what's left?”

“It's just the way we thought you'd like it, sir.

One jackass ~ and a whole bunch of sheep!”

Quotes from wise Government Minds

“Man is not what he thinks he is ~ he is what he hides.”

“You cannot extend the mastery of government over the daily life

of a people without somewhere making it master of people's souls and thoughts.”

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things.

He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.” (Ronald Reagan)

“Do not pray for easy lives ~ pray to be stronger men.” John (F. Kennedy)

“We did not come to fear the future ~ we came here to shape it.” (Barack Obama)

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 16, 2018

To respond: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Santa's Dilemmas

SANTA'S DILEMMAS

When four of Santa's elves got sick,

the 'trainee elves' did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones

and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her mother was coming to visit

which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer

he found that three of them were about to give birth

and two others had jumped the fence and were out ~

Heaven knows where!

When he began to load the sleigh,

two of the floorboards cracked ~

the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a glass of cider and a shot of rum.

When he went to the cupboard, he discovered

the elves had drunk most of the cider and hidden the rum.

In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug

and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces

all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found mice had eaten all the straw

off the end of the broom.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

An irritated Santa marched to the door...yanked it open...

and there stood a little angel with a big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, Merry Christmas, Santa

Isn't this a lovely day?

I have a beautiful tree for you ~ where would you like me to place it?

And so began the tradition

of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Season's Challenges to Humans

Is it the food we are enticed to eat...and 'pig out' on the sumptuous turkey, trimming and decadent desserts? Is it the snow we yearn to see, then find the roads slippery and slidey? Is it the shopping frenzy and finding parking lots overflownig with umpteen vehicles? Or is it those humans with CT's and Smart Phones, walking and talking on their ever-so-necessary constant 'companions'?

Sadly, technology is over-riding our today's society.

Pavlov's Smartphone: (an editorial run in the Charlottetown Guardian)

“Christmas is a hectic time: bedevilled by great expectations...limited time...and plenty to get done; many are girding for the three busiest weeks of the year ~ followed immediately by the inevitable post-holiday-letdown. But it's also the special time for a little test that might startle you.

“If you're in a line at the mall with arms full of potential purchases,

find a way to reach your cellphone...take it out...hold it obviously in front of you

(you don't even have to turn it on) and look at the people around you.

As people see you holding your phone, you'll see them take theirs out too.

The little blue glowing masters of our lives will have their due ~

even if there are no new messages...no tweets...no emails...

nor Instagram messages to be found.

“We're 'conditioned! We're eroding our ability to concentrate on anything but the shortest of personal communications.We've created a monster of constant contact. Your cellphone addiction is just one thing that will ramp up stress of the holiday season.

“ So, maybe, instead of letting your phone wind you up,

try putting it down. It's not easy ~ anyone who spends time with a smartphone

knows that you get an almost visceral urge to check the darn thing ~

as if its contents are so important that something like the 'meaning of life'

might be hiding in there. And, maybe, when we actually reach the real Christmas season,

youl'll be able to find the strength to send a few Christmas messages ~

or put the thing aside altogether.”

Holiday Season Celebrations

Hanukkah (beginning December 2 at sundown) is the Hebrew word for Dedication ~ honouring the victory of the Jews over the Greek Syrians in 165 BC. Hanukkah is observed over 8 days.

Winter Solstice, the beginning of Winter, is the shortest day of the year. Because of the Earth's tilt, the Northern Hemisphere is far away from the sun as it can be...falling this year on December 21.

Christmas Day (December 25) is a Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus Christ (although no one knows the exact date of his birth) but in the 4^th century.

Boxing Day (December 26) is believed to have started in the Middle Ages, possibly with the 'giving of Christmas boxes' placed in churches for charity throughout the Christmas season.

Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) means first fruit of the harvest in Swahali, focusing on the traditional African values of family ~ celebrating African-American heritage.

New Year's Eve (December 31) is the oldest of all holidays ~ first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. In 153 BC, the Roman Senate declared January 1 the beginning of the new year.

My Taxi Home

(submitted to me from Tom)

“With Christmas close upon us, I share this personal experience about 'drinking and driving'.

As you know, some of us have been known to have brushes with authorities, often on the way home after a social event with family or friends. Two weeks ago this happened to me. I was out for an evening with friends and had more than several beers ~ followed by a couple bottles of rather nice red wine and vodka shots. Alhough, relaxed, I still had common sense to know I was slightly over the limit. That's when I did something I've never done before. I took a taxi home!

“Sure enough, there was a police block, but since it was a TAXI, they waved it past ~ and I arrived home safely without incident. This was a real surprise to me, because I had never driven a taxi before. I don't know where I got it ~ and now that it sits in my garage, I don't know what to do with it!

So, anyway, if you want to borrow it ~ give me a call”.

Merry Christmas...Happy New Year...and be Safe out there!

Compiled by Merle Baird-Kerr...December 15, 2018

To remark: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

Rein and Deer Christmas

Christmas arrives in about 4 months

and soon we'll be envisioning tree decor...bells and holly...

carols...busy elves...Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

And it behooves me to introduce REIN and DEER

whom we have forever loved.

ANI (my mammal journalist) and CANGO (from Canada Goose Travel) also believe it is timely for them to pay homage to Santa's renowned antlered reindeer residing at the North Pole.

Off to Canada North, Siberia and Norway ~ ANI and CANGO flew!

In their research, elk, moose and wapiti also belong to the deer family ~ all having long legs, hooves and antlers; their tails are very short and blunt. Reindeer, also called caribou, are native to North America and inhabited by populations of wild reindeer ~ and also by domesticated animals. Scientists believe that the reindeer were first tamed at least 2,000 years ago. Many Arctic societies still rely on this animal for food, clothing and materials for shelter.

ANI and CANGO, in Canada's North, discovered REIN and DEER

on Arctic tundra before their yearly nomadic migration.

Overnight had been blizzardly cold, yet ANI, clad in boots and furs, met an inquisitive 'cow' with snow-covered nose ~ and flakes of cold white stuff on her face, ears and antlers of brown.

ANI asked DEER about her herd.

DEER: Living in arctic and sub-arctic regions, we are hardy and ruggedly built. There are numerous sub-species with variations in size, colour and antler appearance.

ANI: Your huge spread of antlers impress me! What can you tell me about them?

DEER: We are the only species of deer in which the females have antlers; and for body-mass, have the largest set of antlers. Our males have larger racks of antlers which they use 'in combat' to fight with other males for the rite to mate with females in the herd ~ then shed them in early winter.

We females shed our antlers much later

which means that Santa's sleigh is likely powered by a group of she-deer!

CANGO: Of interest to me, REIN, is your mass migrations. What can you tell me?

REIN: Not all reindeer migrate ~ but those who do, can travel farther than other migrating terrrestrial mammals. Some North American reindeer travel over 3,000 miles per year ~ going an average of 23 miles a day. The source for food is the basis for our migrations where we'll spend a few months. This absence provides new growth opportunity for our present feeding areas.

CANGO: How are your feet affected on these long, arduous treks?

REIN: You must understand that in summer, our foot pads become 'sponge-like' providing extra traction for the soft tundra. In winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the hoof rim, which cuts into the ice and snow ~ and allows our feet to dig as well, when necessary to locate food.

CANGO: One last question, REIN, I ask about your diet.

REIN: We reindeer are the only mammals in the world, specially adapted to eat 'lichen' ~ a spongy moss that grows on rocks during the harsh winter months. Known as 'reindeer-moss' it is broken down in our stomachs by an enzyme which is completely unique to the reindeer.

When on the move, searching for food, we cross lakes and rivers en masse ~ often swimming at speeds up to 4 to 6 miles per hour. We can leap gullies and other obstacles with ease.

CANGO: My last comment to you, REIN is that you must have amazingly large hearts that carry you further in harsher environments, than any other land animal! You Reindeer are marathon athletes!

I read that your springtime migration is an enormous event

with multiple herds coming together in groups of as many as 400,000 animals!

ANI: Can you tell me, DEER about your personal life?

DEER: We live in herds as few as 10 to as many as 1,000. We are not referred to as 'bucks, does and fawns'. Our family is composed of 'Bulls, Cows and Calves.

ANI” Have you raised a family here on the arctic tundra?

DEER: Yes. We females usually birth one calf (on rare occasions, maybe 2); a newborn baby reindeer is on its feet in minutes and can run as fast as an Olympic sprinter within 30 minutes ~ and can keep up with the herd at full speed. The Golden Eagle is the number one predator of our babies and can actually carry a newborn calf away in their talons.

ANI: What do you feed your babies, when born?

DEER; Our reindeer milk is the richest and most nutritious (of all terrestrial mammals) with 22 % butterfat and 10 % protein. We raise the young calf, but the whole herd is protective.

Young female reindeer stay with their mothers and sisters within the herd their entire lives.

The young males usually leave to join a 'bachelor herd'.

ANI: In severe weather (white-outs and blizzards) experienced in this arctic world, how does your herd stay together with visibility so limited?

DEER: The joints of our knees make clicking sounds as we walk ~ ensuring we are still with the herd.

We also have long hairy coats ~ each hair is hollow (with no bone), allowing it to trap air which provides the cosy isolation to keep us warm in this frigid environment.

In 1823, with publication “A Visit from St. Nicholas” readers were introduced to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (these names translated from Swiss and German). Rudolf (which means 'wolf') was not introduced until 1939 when a children's book was written for Montgomery Ward 's daughter titled “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” which earned the ruby-nosed, muzzled mammal a firm place in Reindeer history.

Santa's reindeer were described in a famous poem as “Eight Tiny Reindeer.” The smallest sub-species of reindeer known is the Svalbard. Like shetland ponies, these reindeer live on an island off Norway and may have 'island dwarfism' as they are about 30 % smaller than any other reindeer species.

Once upon a time,

the Reindeer took a running leap

and jumped over the Northern Lights.

But, he jumped too far

and the long fur of his beautiful flowing tail

got singed

by the rainbow fires of the aurora.

To this day, the reindeer has almost no tail.

But he is too busy pulling the

Important Sleigh

to notice that it is almost completely lost.

And he certainly doesn't complain.

(Vera Nazarian)

Author: Merle Baird-kerr...August 26, 2018

(with thanks to ANI and CANGO)

To comment: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com

God Only Knows...

what possessed Bill Bryson, a reluctant adventurer,

if ever there was one, to hike the gruelling 2,000-mile

Appalachian Trail.

Perhaps it was a just a long-held ambition to lose weight and get fit.

Perhaps it was a brief bout of masochistic insanity.

Whatever his motives, the tale of his travels through fourteen states

on the longest continuous footpath in the world

is a hilarious romp full of moonshine, shotguns and bears.

Already a classic, “A Walk in the Woods” will make you long for the great outdoors ~

or at least a comfortable chair in which to sit and read.

(published by The Washington Post )

The New York Times states:

Short of doing it yourself, the best way of escaping into nature

is to read a book like “A Walk in the Woods”!

This book describes the author's experience while walking

The Appalachian Trail and reflects his opinions relating to those experiences.

This writing, he dedicates to Katz.

A Walk in the Woods ~ Rediscovering America on The Appalachian Trail

Described by Jesse Greenspan as “America's Long Distance Footpath.”

In selecting a book from our in-house-library, I discovered: “A Walk in the Woods” with a brown bear's face afront his green forest” written by Bill Bryson who experienced the Trail in its full length...and intrigued by the back cover info, I've now read it and gained much insight about which I knew little. From his experiences, I've gained much knowledge

and share with you a few significant facts which he imparts.

“Rich plant life naturally brings rich animal life. The Smokies are home to 67 varieties of mammal...

over 2,000 types of birds...and 80 species of reptile and amphibian ...all larger numbers than are found in comparable sized areas almost anywhere else in the temperate world.

“Above all, the Smokies are famous for bears. Ranging from 400 to 600 pounds, they are a chronic problem because so many of them have lost their fear of humans. More than 9 million people a year come to the Smokies ~ many of them to picnic ~ so bears have learned to associate people with food. Indeed, to them, people are overweight creatures in baseball caps who spread lots and lots of food out on picnic tables...and then shriek a ittle...and then wander off to get their video-cameras. When Old Mr. Bear comes along and climbs onto their picnic to start eating their potato salad and chocolate cake, they shoot a photo of him.

 There is one instance of a woman smearing honey on her toddler's fingers, 

so that the bear would lick it off, for the video camera...
 the bear even ate the baby's hand.

The true creature of the Smokies is the reclusive and little-appreciated salamander. There are 250 varieties, more than anywhere else on Earth. They are the oldest of all land vertebrates, When these creatures first crawled from the seas, this is what came up and they haven't changed a great deal since. Some of these salamanders haven't even evolved lungs (they breathe through their skin).

Even more varied and under-appreciated than the salamander is the fresh-water mussel.

A third of the world's total, dwell in the Smokies.

Today, nearly one-half of Smokies mussels are 'endangered'

and 12 species of them are believed to be extinct.

On the Trail: “For every 20 minutes on the Appalachian Trail, Katz and I walked farther than the average American walks in a week. For 93% of all trips outside the home, Americans now get in the car...drive the car to the office...from office to the car...around the Supermarket and shopping malls...adds up to 1.4 miles a week (only 350 yards a day).

“Katz and I walked the ever-so-tough 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail

in eastern United States from Georgia to Maine.”

Fascinating Facts About the Appalachian Trail

Thru'-hikers (those who do the complete Trail from beginning to end)

state: After taking those 5 million steps, can you recall

many incredibly-minute-factoids about where you spent 6 months of your life ~

or is everything some sort of 'green blur'?

• The Appalachian Trail is a nearly 2,200 hiking miles-trail through eastern United States.
• It is the longest 'hiking trail only' footpath in the world! It is also among the the largest continuously marked trails ~ marked with approximately 165,000 2”x6” white blazes along the trail, guiding hikers all 2,186 miles.
• The Trail travels through 14 different states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachussetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine...and connecting to Canada's continuation of the Appalachian Trail.
• It is the longest and largest-running-volunteer-conservation project in the world.
• The elevation gain/loss of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 16 times!!!
• Civilization (along 'the Trail' is not as far away as you might think ~ displaying a photo of Hot Springs, North Carolina...with mountain-top vista of settled communities a-slope.
  

  • On average, the Trail crosses road every 4 miles.

  Less than 115,000 persons have completed a successful thru-hike` from beginning to end of the Appalachian Trail in the American section.
  

  • The wild zones of Virginia s Grayson Highlands State Park are not really all that wild.

  It is estimated that that about 99% of the entire Trail has either been `relocated` or `rebuilt` since its earlier completion.
  

  • `Springer Mountain`` is not the original southern terminus of the Trail. Originally, it was Mount Oglethorpe...Springer Mountain did not receive the title until 1956.

  
  The Appalachian Trail cuts through the oldest mountain range on the planet.
  It is believed that this range predates the creation of the North American Continent. 
  However, tradition can be traced back to the fact that the first 2 persons (Earl Shaffer & Gene Espy) to ever' thru-hike' the entire Trail, hiked it north-bound.
  

   Most hikers today travel it southbound.
  Of the 14 states the Trail passes through, it will only take travellers within a hikeable distance of 7 states' high-point peaks ranging from 1,803 feet to 6,444 feet.
  
  
  
  The idea for the Appalachian Trail was conceived atop Stratton Mountain in Virginia, 1931.
  .
  Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...November 29, 2018.
  To comment:  mbairdkerr@bell.net  or  inezkate@gmail.com