The seventy-fifth Wildclickers' Migratory Stroll

ul, that is great news for you. A little snow and cold makes it much better for a couple to walk together, sometimes.....

Stradee, thank you for the absolutely grand scene of winters delights...

clicked.

We may have cooler weather here in NE TX next week - maybe down to the high 50's !!!

I remember the weather during the real 1950's - and it was not this warm !!!

aktbird57 - You and your 299 friends have supported 2,662,901.8 square feet!

Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 141,360.9 square feet.
You have supported: (0.0)
Your 299 friends have supported: (141,360.9)

American Prairie habitat supported: 58,476.3 square feet.
You have supported: (14,163.4)
Your 299 friends have supported: (44,312.8)

Rainforest habitat supported: 2,463,064.6 square feet.
You have supported: (176,386.9)
Your 299 friends have supported: (2,286,677.7)

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tonight's Channukah reading on the radio
marvellous

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1 Aktbird57 .. 61.130 acres

Still waiting for the snow- but there is hope.
Maybe a winter wonderland like in the picture you posted, Stradee.

ehBeth,

the illustrations are wonderful. There are so many beautiful books. My bookstore loves me.

The theme of this book has migrated too.
I found the story in Ireland, Russia, Corsica, Sardinia and Germany. The leading character is sometimes a soldier, or a monk.

ul and dan, just in case the weather doesn't cooperate....

A migrating White Christmas

Migrating from Italy is the Legend of La Befana, on of my favs. The best presents on the planet, next to a Mazaratti, is great literature.



http://village.fortunecity.com/radclyffe/541/SoulKitchen/Folklore/folklore.html

clicked this morn

I will migrate to bed now.

Stradee,

si, festa della Befana, 6th of January.
Right after New Year's Eve the befanas show up- all shops are decorated with witches- and people shop for sweets and little presents. In my friend's house these gifts are put into shoes or socks during the night. Always fun.
Your post reminded me of an opera I like to listen to with children. Unfortunately it hasn't been performed in Vienna for several years. The only recording I know of is in English. Too difficult for my little pupils to understand.

Amahl and the Nights Visitors by Menotti

Good morning, Dan.

Good morning, ul. I miss the holiday festive spirit that is in Europe. Here, in USA, that spirit seems more closely associated with our immediate families. No organized things like you have in downtown Vienna - ie. the Rathaus and Am Hof.

clicked

G'day all!

I hope it's been a marvellous earthturn. We are having record-breaking warm temperatures here. I took the dogs down to the lake for a walk yesterday - Cleo went into the lake for a little dip and swish It's December - that's not supposed to be dog-in-lake season here.

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aktbird57 - You and your 299 friends have supported 2,663,721.2 square feet!

Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 141,524.8 square feet.
You have supported: (0.0)
Your 299 friends have supported: (141,524.8)

American Prairie habitat supported: 58,476.3 square feet.
You have supported: (14,163.4)
Your 299 friends have supported: (44,312.8)

Rainforest habitat supported: 2,463,720.2 square feet.
You have supported: (176,433.7)
Your 299 friends have supported: (2,287,286.5)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 Aktbird57 .. 61.143 acres

Hm, pondering this. Christmas is a family thing here. And it is fun to look forward to a very special day. To listen closely to find out secret wishes and go with the traditions each family has.
The Christkind markets are so commercialized and advertised as "Romantic Get-Aways". Part of the business Christmas has become.


ehBeth,
dog-in-lake season

ul, researched but couldn't find the German version c.d. Perhaps you could call the University music department and ask if they can direct you.
Not quite the same as sitting in an Opera House, but the kids will hear the production in their own language.

Dan, was surprised finding small sacks of coal at the candy, toys, etc. Christmas display at the store. Big grin that tradition still lives, even in the boonies. January the 6th was called 'Little Christmas' when i was growing up, and i don't recall ever receiving coal, although there's a certainty the present was well deserved at times... {grin} that and the fact mom's birthday was the 9th of January.

Beth, the weather temps are cold enough for snow tap tap tap, but so far all we've gotten are no friz days {well that's not so bad} but when the herd opts for indoors and warm quilts instead of hanging out on the porch....brrr

Happy earthturn and bailey-in-the-lake-day!

"Dog in Lake Day" We must make it a holiday of sorts. Just wait a couple a days, ehBeth. The colder weather is coming your way. It is really warmer all around the earth, I think. I look at the temps in Fairbanks, AK and am surprised at how warm it is there.

Stradee, little bags of coal....haha I am sure in some cases there should be big bags of coal available to give a deserving little imp.

ul, I did not mean to say that European families don't have close family ties at Christmas time - the opposite is true - there is much closeness during the holidays where you are. It is rare here in USA to have places like in Europe to go. There is less festivity here outside of our homes.

Maybe we could get "Dog in Lake Day" to be national - for the entire NA continent of course.......I always think of Canada as another set of states in the united states.

This afternoon, we drove down to the Don Valley Brickworks ... click ... to take the dogs for a sashay. A lovely bright afternoon - lots of people, kids, dogs. Marvellous. Cleo had a nice dip and swish.

It was less green there today than in this photo

but lovely nonetheless ... click.

Hard to believe we're right in the middle of a large city (apparently the second most densely populated city in North America, according to something I heard on the CBC this morning).



We saw a beaver lodge on our walk, as well as evidence of a beaver taking down a tree.

Life in the city.

Not so bad some days.

That is very interesting, ehBeth. The park must be close to your workplace. It appears to be close to downtown. During the late 1800's there was a brickwork here in Atlanta, TX. All the bricks were imprinted with the name Atlanta, Texas - - however, one style of brick has the S and N reversed...... It's pathetic, I have no idea why they did that. I'll have to take a pic and show you.

clk'd (my impression of fast talk)

Stradee, just what I thought- listening to the opera in German. But now, no recording.
There will be another Christmas season.

Brickworks, now that looks interesting. My husband loves to explore old factories, mines, railroads... and if you can bike there even better. Another point to concider Canada.

Dan,
I guess you have seen the bricks in Vienna- with the eagle stamp and the letters from the manufactors. Bricks were once sold in Ziegelhaus at the Hohe Markt. There is even a Ziegelmuseum (Brick Museum) in Vienna.
Next time?

Kind of a dog- put- a- paw- in -the -water- day here.

Dan, you must call the German Embassy for ul! Ok, you musn't but it sure would be nice if we could find a c.d of the opera, sung in German, for ul and her kids!

ehBeth, great photos! There isn't a brickworks historic site in Northern CA, that survived. The gold rush though, sported many lovely brick buildings, where they got the supplies is anyones guess. Probably local masonry companies i'd guess.

The Missions though, with architecture of brick and adobe materials were probably produced on site. One of the lovliest Missions is located in the Carmel Valley.



At the top of the page is a listing of California missions with links. Beautiful architecture, the missions were all restored.
http://www.pbase.com/mjfelipe/carmel_mission

Danon - the brickworks are about a five minute drive from my house and another eight to ten minutes to the office. The city sort of grew up and around them. It's simply amazing to have that resource. The city and province have been fairly good about saving examples of Toronto's industrial history.

ul, there are biking trails all over this city. They are currently talking about developing a simpler rental/lease system for tourists to have access to bicycles. One of our A2K'rs, BoGoWo, is involved in that 'movement'. There are quite a few old rail-lines that have been made into walking/biking/skiiing trail systems. One goes from where the hamburgers live, up the Ottawa Valley, to Ottawa. There is a biking/walking trail that runs through Toronto that should eventually make it all the way to the hamburgers - there are still some gaps in it, but the parts that are complete are marvellous - almost all running along the northern edge of Lake Ontario.

Nice link, stradee! Thanks.

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Class ran a bit long tonight, but the clicks are done. I just signed about for another two classes a week at Hannan's studio. Ongoing Beginner and Egyptian Folkdance. I'm looking forward to it - even as every muscle aches.

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You and your 299 friends have supported 2,664,212.9 square feet!
Marine Wetlands habitat supported: 141,688.7 square feet.
You have supported: (0.0)
Your 299 friends have supported: (141,688.7)
American Prairie habitat supported: 58,546.5 square feet.
You have supported: (14,163.4)
Your 299 friends have supported: (44,383.1)
Rainforest habitat supported: 2,463,977.7 square feet.
You have supported: (176,480.5)
Your 299 friends have supported: (2,287,497.2)[/color]

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1 Aktbird57 .. 61.158 acres

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Bricks. There used to be a brick factory somewhere in Massachusetts in the early part of the 20th Century known as the Stiles Brickworks. Every brick that came out of that plant was prominently stamped with the name Stiles. When I was a young cadet at the Massachusetts Military Academy at Camp Curtis Guilde, MA, I noticed a small pile of these bricks lying near the parade ground. I soon found out what they were used for. For a minor military infraction (e.g. having a uniform pocket unbuttoned or falling out of step while marching), the brick was used as a form of punishment. The OIC (that's Officer-in-Charge for you non-military folk) would hand you a brick and you had to carry it everywhere with you for a prescribed period of time, usually a half an hour. Then, if an officer stopped you and asked you what you were carrying, the only acceptable reply was, "Sir, this is Cadet Stiles. He's my room-mate."

Stradee- for this you will certainly get a special from La Befana.

ehBeth-
tempting, very tempting- the bike routes I mean.
[size=7]can't dance[/size]

Nice story, Merry Andrew.

Heard the first carol today- Dreaming of a white Christmas-

ehBeth, what a neat trail! There's a pretty good walk to town, about a mile, along the main road. During the morning hours, people walk to town to pick up mail from the Post Office. There isn't a bike trail to speak of, most of the land behind the road is forest, but people ride their bikes on the road due to lack of heavy traffic. Another trail not far from the house leads to the forest and canyons where there is an abundance of wildlife - puma, deer, bears, and other forest critters. Hikers that are brave enough venture past the trails. Quite a lovely area for photos also. Thanks for all the neat information!

Today, the weathers quite nice, the kittens sunning on the porch, deer munching treats and pellets, and viewing the deer with amazement, was my daughter who couldn't believe the animals walked right past her, then crossed the lawns and stood under the eaves of the porch munching deer treats. Was a perfect day spent with family and animal friends.

I love Christmas songs! Sung by Elf - "Baby Its Cold Outside" that even with the hectic holiday preparation, brings smiles. Very sweet.

Thanks Dan!

Merry, great story