Sunday, December 20, 2009

Friends - Snow Storm - and Glee

A lovely evening with good friends, Dale, Ashley (Sophie- which is what Skipp and I re-named her telling her that if we ever had a daughter she would be just like her and we would name her "Sophie"), sharing food and gifts with purpose and meaning, given from the heart, heart to heart.

This is 'my mate Dale, from Australia and in the back ground, 'Tina'.....beautiful, looks like Holly Hunter - Tina. Dale made us all different types of home-made sweet breads in beautiful ceramic Christmas baking pans and wrapped in gold meshing with cranberry bows. Mine is pumpkin which is my favorite. Both Tina and I gave her tea-pots. She loves her tea. :-) Dale is so sassy and wise and so strong and loving. She has four amazing children and two beautiful grandchildren. She is strong willed and intentional and cares deeply about those she loves and that love her. She s my "mate" from down under. :-)




Here is beautiful Tina - doesn't she look like Holly Hunter? Ashley and I both gave her long fancy scarves which she loves. And, she is a shoe collector so we gave her "shoe" decorations. I gave her a beautiful perfume bottle holder in the shape of a stiletto heeled shoe. Cool huh? Tina is 100% Italian and so full of family love, a mother of four beautiful children with a HUGE extended family. Tina is a straight shooter - no B S kinda gal that sees things realistically. She is grounding and strong and I adore her.





And this is my Ashley - (Sophie). Young and beautiful and SO funny. She is high energy and loyalty and love and the most amazing sense of humor and ability to impersonate I have ever seen!! :-) She is wearing the "Ali McGraw" french 'tam' hat I gave her - you can't see the silk flower on the side but it's there. I also gave her ice cubes that light up which she so loved the last time she was here and I completed the glasses set I began three years ago - she has the wine glasses, the champagne flutes and now the water goblets. She is getting married this coming October 1st to wonderful Pete whom Skipp and I re-named "Xander". She is our girl and we adore her.


This is the 'trifle' my mate Dale made for our dessert. I have just one word - "DECADENT" We had a most wonderful evening of friendship, sharing, food, gifts, hope and promise and support of each other as we all move in various directions we are forever bonded in a loving friendship, - a circle of beautiful women, honest and true forever.


Moving along......the 'nor-Easter' here are some pictures.



This is the snow covered pine bush right outside out front door and the woods just beyond. Beautiful, huh? The lights on the bush cannot be seen. If you enlarge the photo you can see the lights. Lovely.


This is our dining room window. See the Snow covered ivy attached to the window? I love the ivy growing wild on the side of the house and on the window too. :-)



And this is our back yard - looking out from our back slider to the woods beyond. SO beautiful.



I see these two events as major - with such meaning and purpose and promise. Our lovely friendship circle of beautiful women coming together to celebrate one another and give thanks and the powerful 'Nor-Easter' that has blanketed our world with white. I feel so truly blessed to have friends and I feel so excited and happy to be able to see and feel a snow storm. - Knowing I have a warm home and hot cocoa and the means to survive. When I think of people who cannot weather a storm, perhaps an emotional storm and or an environmental one - of nature, and people who are lonely, with no one to call friend'. I am humbled and honored to have such gifts as friendship and the ability to weather storms. I am gifted with love around me of family and friends, neighbors and community and of course, here in blog-land with all of you. :-)

Our home is humble and kind - where all our welcome so long as they enter in peace....I make no apologies for our "no violence", life style and none will be tolerated or allowed. I love that I believe in love - and it's power, and that we do all things with love as best we can. This Christmas and always I make that promise again - and so it is written. Amen.

I leave you with a song......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkc0tagdY8

please take the time to click on this URL or type it in to your address bar and experience this song. It is from the show "Glee" and it is the 'deaf-version' of the song "Imagine". It blocks me from copying the actual video so I can not post it here. If you can't access the song from here you can go to 'You Tube Search' and type in 'Glee - Imagine - Deaf Version' and experience it from there. It is SO worth your time and in some way I am sharing this as a gift this Christmas to all of you as the design of this version represents His life - what Jesus lived and died for. LOVE. "Merry CHristmas"



37 comments:

Diana said...

It sounds like a wonderful time Gail.
It is so good to have people that you love around you. I hope you have a wonderful and WARM Christmas.
Love Di

Eileen said...

Great post!
Beautiful visit with friends and love to surround you in your home!
I loved reading all about it.
And I liked hearing about the gifts to each other too!

I am Blessed to have friends like that too, just very comfortable, uplifting relationships, and that includes our village too!

Your snow pictures are so beautiful, ours are not very pretty at all as snow in the city does not look nice for very long at all.

I'll go to youtube to try and access that song.

Thanks for sharing!
Love to you,
Eileen

Gail said...

HI EILEEN-

Thank you so much for your kind and loving words to me. Friends are such a blessing. :-) I hope you can hear/see the you tube video of the Glee deaf version of Imagine. Takes my breath away.

Love to you and yours
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI DIANA-
Oh my, you are amazing. I feel so honored that you stopped by. I pray for you every day as you experience Christmas this year..I know you are surrounded by love too - bathe in it.
Holding you close
Love Gail
peace

Bernie said...

Gail you are blessed but your biggest blessing is knowing and appreciating all the love and beauty in your life....wonderful friends, beautiful pristine snow and love all around you...Merry Christmas Gail to you and your family, Big Hugs from Canada...:-)

Comrade Kevin said...

How much did you guys get? We got 18-20 inches around here.

Gail said...

Hi Kevin-

We got about 15 inches, and my sister and Mom, just two towns away got about 22 inches - so a lot of snow for us too!!

Love Gail
peace...

Gail said...

Hi Bernie-
Oh yes, I am so humbly aware of how truly blessed I am. :-) Merry, Merry Christmas to you.

Love Gail
peace......

Jackie said...

Gail...The "Imagine" song Deaf Version grabbed my heart...and anyone who listens to it without a tear isn't really 'listening'...What a beautiful and most touching gift from you to your blogging friends.
Thank you, Gail.
You certainly had a Nor-easter...but how beautiful the photographs of the snow on the lights, the lawn...the ivy...just beautiful.
I LOVE the Ali McGraw headband!!
Thank you again for sharing the video link...very touching.
Love,
Jackie

Gail said...

HI JACKIE-

I am SO glad you followed over to that version of Imagine. I was so moved by it, my husband and I both were crying and we applauded after.

And yes, the snow is so pretty. :-) And about Ashley's hat, hmmmmm, the picture doesn't quite show it off against her black hair. It is a beret with a big silk flower on the side, if you click on her picture to enlarge you will see it better. And again I am SO glad you were touched by the video.

Love Gail
peace.....

Eileen said...

I listened to the version of Imagine from Glee, I remember now hearing that it was a big controversy. A lot of groups were upset with the fact that the 'Glee' choir had to jump in and sing too, and there was some controversy about how a deaf teacher or choir leader was portrayed. I don't watch the show so I can't weigh in on the argument. I've just heard and read that many people feel this show is somewhat racist, and others say that argument is really just an unfair attack against FOX TV.

In any event, I did enjoy the Glee Deaf version, I hope I'm not hurting anybody's feelings by saying that. And I hope no one thinks that I am promoting a stereotypical view, as I said, I do not watch the show so I'm not sure how the episode was portrayed.

Love to you,
Eileen

Cindy said...

Hello my friend, so glad you have had such a wonderful time lately, wonderful friends, sophie, so nice the connection you have with her, I think you have more snow than us now. Have an awesome holiday , will visit more after all the holiday visiting is over. Take care, Merry Christmas.

Anne said...

Hi Gail,
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. It is good to have the ones you love with you at this time of year. The snow pictures are so beautiful.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas to you and your famiily.
Take care.

Gail said...

HI CINNER-

Merry Christmas to you......and yes, the gatherings have been so loving and generous.

Love Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI EILEEN_

I missed the controversy about the song and the show itself. If I were to define it or explain it with a label I would use the word "classist". There is a divide between the "haves and the "have-nots". In regards to the song - we just were so moved by how they came together and performed as 'one', they crossed all divides, all lines when the Glee choir "jumped in and sang" and honored all differences. I can see how you could have heard that people could spun it a different way. I think that is so sad.
Phew. okay.

Thanks for listening to the song and I am so glad you enjoyed it.

Love Gail'
peace.....

Mark said...

Thank-you for sharing your wonderful friends. You are blessed in so many ways!

Gail said...

HI MARK-

"thank you" for visiting and for your kind words.

Love to you and "Merry Christmas"
Gail
peace.....

Lola said...

Ciao Gail,
Buon Natale -as we say in Italian- to you.
Thank you for stopping by :)

I love the video.

Wondering Soul said...

Dear Gail,

The song is so moving. Thank you so much for encouraging us to check it out.

I've loved reading about your fantastic friends. They look and sound like truely amazing women and I can see how yo would fit into that circle just fine.

What really comes across as I read, is your incredible capacity for fun and joy and depth.
You love with a loyalty and consitency and passion that is striking.
The way you see your friends, their strengths and their beauty... Well... I was as moved by that as I was by Imagine.

Just wanted you to know really.

x

Gail said...

HI WONDERINGSOUL ( still hoping to know your name!! :-) ).....

"thank you" so much for your kind words to me. and about me. Wow, I am so humbled by your expressed view. And I am SO happy you were moved by the 'Imagine" video. SO happy. And I am glad we found each other - YOU re very important.

Love to you this Christmas and always.
Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI LOLA_

Oh I love the Italian language. My Mom speaks it and I love the sound and flow.
"Merry Christmas " to you Lola and I amn SO glad you liked the video.

Love Gail
peace.....

Stephanie said...

Gail-you must live near me! We got the storm too. I posted pictures of the storm on my blog too.
It's been a wonderful year getting to know you, Gail.
Bless you this holiday season and all year through.
xo

Gail said...

Hi Stephanie-

Oh yes. it has been a wonderful year getting to know you as well. :-) I hope you and your family know all the blessings this Christmas season promises. And I live in Guilford, CT - you?
Love Gail'
peace.....

cordieb said...

What lovely friends you have, Gail. That storm was something else..I'm glad you were able to enjoy its beauty! The lights look so beautiful against the snow. We got some snow too, but not like that. It was quite a bit for this part of the country (Virginia) however. Blessings to you and yours throughout the holiday and always. Merry Christmas!!!

Peace, Light and Love, C.

Wanda..... said...

It is nice to have a circle of beautiful friends Gail...ones to share life's experiences. Your snow storm just added to the celebration of gathering friends. Being part of the village is wonderful too...I know you will agree. I can remember seeing your warm comments at Riverdaze months ago and coming to visit your blog. Glad I did, it has been nice getting to know you. Have a Joyful Christmas with your family, Gail.

Luv,
Wanda

Sniffles and Smiles said...

What a beautiful evening you had together!!! I'm so thrilled for you that you could share such lovely memories and happy times together!!! Sophie (Ashley) ;-) is indeed beautiful!!! And you've expressed such lovely thoughts and have me thinking all about the importance of love, family, friends, compassion and kindness! Inspiring! Thank you! Have a very Merry Christmas!! Love to you and yours, Janine XO

Gail said...

HI JANINE-
So nice to see you. And "thank you" for your kind words to me. It really weas a lovely and loving and delicious evning. Merrry CHristmas to you and your family.

HI WANDA-
Oh my, I didn't realize we met through the Grizz-man, Wow. I am so glad you came over and that we found each other - I love your nature-land SO much- walking with you all those times refreshed me and inspired me. IMerry Christmas to you and your family.

HI CORDIE-
Good to see you and Merry Christmas to you and yours. Enjoy every blessed moment


Love to you all
Gail
peace.....

TheChicGeek said...

What beautiful friends you have, Gail and what a fun celebration! The trifle....Ohmigosh...looks to die for :)
Your snow covered yard is so pretty too.
I came to wish you a Merry Christmas filled with love and fun and everything delightful! You are a beautiful person and I'm so glad we have met through the internet this year. I'm looking forward to traveling on this life journey in 2010!

Merry Christmas, Gail to you and Yours!
Love,
Kelly

Gail said...

HI KELLY-

So happy you came by. :-) And I am so glad we found each other too. "Merry Christmas" to my favorite California girl.

Love Gail
peace,,,,,

Andy said...

Nice link, Gail. Thanks.

Have a great Christmas.

With lots of Italian love.

xxx

Jackie D. Rockwell said...

Hi Gail! Merry Christmas! I was watching the History Channel with my daughter.. then she decided to go to bed. My mom's visiting and she's got my living room occupied. She's been sick and I got her $50 cough prescription yesterday. It only hurt for a moment. And OTC stuff wasn't helping. I think that's the most I've ever spent on meds. Her insurance wouldn't cover this one!

Anyway.. Today was nice. After my daughter ditched me... I was lonesome. I thought about you. For some reason. I decided to log on and drop you this line. Hope you don't mind.

Hope your day was wonderful!

Many blessings,
Jackie
P.S. You might have heard, but we got some snow today! Check for photos. :o)

Gail said...

HI JACKIE'S MAGIC -
I am so glad you came by. And that you thought of me to 'escape' your world for a few moments. :-)
I will go over to your place and se your snow.
Love Gail
peace.....

Gail said...

HI ANDY-

I LOVE Italian love....... :-)

Love Gail
peace...

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Hi, Gail!!! Hope you had a WONDERFUL Christmas!!! Sending you much love!! Janine XO

Gail said...

HI JANINE-

Thank you so much - Christmas was wonderful, blessed and filled with love.

Love toyou
Gail
peace...

Sniffles and Smiles said...

And here I am AGAIN!!!! This time to wish my new wonderful friend a Happy New Year!!! ~Janine XO

Gail said...

HI JANINE-

And a "Happy-Healthy New Year to YOU my new and loving friend.

Love Gail
peace....