Saturday, January 2, 2016

The Ninth Day of Christmas

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Thee French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.





The process for making these paper collages is rather complicated to get any detail, but I rather enjoy the making.
These get augmented with markers and gel pens, then are assembled. The face and hands pieces get drawn in colored pencil, then all parts are mounted on the background sheet over a lightbox.

Berchtoldstag Today

The Second of January is an ancient Alemannic holiday still celebrated in certain German-speaking areas of Switzerland and southern Germany and Lichtenstein. It is not a saint's name day, but is said to come from the old verb "berchten" - "to walk around asking for food." In modern times people visit and meet at pubs, and some areas have parades of masked revelers. In Switzerland a few Cantons have public holidays, and quite a number of German-speaking Canton's have public buildings and businesses closed, including in Zürich.We could ask Maria about the colorful old customs in her town in Appenzell.

A wet, rainy day today

After

I have been thinking about what to do about this blog. It served its purpose in Advent - from my end - to keep me on track to get the preparations done for Christmas, that I likely would not have managed otherwise. That was good, and I heard some nice words from numbers of people about those preparations. Thank you.

On the other hand, I most certainly don't need a blog to blab about myself, nor do I have a business to promote, nor is a blog much use for social communication; and I think most everyone is awash in blogs and social media already without adding more, so I have considered dropping this after Epiphany, and maybe revive it next Advent.

I have, however, had to learn some new things about computers, so in that sense it is helpful to me to do this.  Stefan said just to leave it and whoever wants to can use it sporadically, which could be O.K., but I'd guess that even fewer people look at sporadic blogs than regular blogs. So this is just a heads up, that I am thinking. Comments welcome, of course.

On the front porch - a gift from guests with thoughts on spring. The garden catalogues will come in the mail soon.

6 comments:

  1. Here's what I think. Keeping a blog going is not "blabbing about yourself" so much as it is keeping a connection with those who are far away from you and who are interested in the goings-on of your life. I know you don't want to put family and personal stuff here, but I know that you are creative ALL year, not just during Advent and Christmas. I would certainly be interested and inspired to see other things that you create. The rest of us could continue to post our occasional creative endeavors as well. Also, we would enjoy seeing photos of your travels, adventures, festivals and other interesting things that wouldn't quite be personal details.

    As for the problem of not seeing when there is a new post if we are not checking every day or you are not posting every day, there is an option to subscribe to a blog so that anyone who wanted to read could be notified by email when something is posted here.

    Just my $.02. :-)

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  2. Here's what I think. Keeping a blog going is not "blabbing about yourself" so much as it is keeping a connection with those who are far away from you and who are interested in the goings-on of your life. I know you don't want to put family and personal stuff here, but I know that you are creative ALL year, not just during Advent and Christmas. I would certainly be interested and inspired to see other things that you create. The rest of us could continue to post our occasional creative endeavors as well. Also, we would enjoy seeing photos of your travels, adventures, festivals and other interesting things that wouldn't quite be personal details.

    As for the problem of not seeing when there is a new post if we are not checking every day or you are not posting every day, there is an option to subscribe to a blog so that anyone who wanted to read could be notified by email when something is posted here.

    Just my $.02. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bächtelistag isn't that big a festival here in Urnäsch - it's just useful to recover from the Neue Silvester celebrations on December 31st. On that day at 0500 the lights are turned off and groups of "Kläuse," carrying huge cowbells or what look like oversized jinglebells on a harness appear out of all the little side streets and assemble in the town square, where they ring their bells and "zäuerle" (a slow harmonic chant) for about twenty minutes. Then they disappear back into the alleyways.
    Once it's light out, the Kläuse, now dressed in their fancy outfits made of evergreen branches, furs, pelts, straw or wood shavings, or elaborate traditional dress, all with covered faces and most with large, heavy hats depicting local scenes, return to town. Groups of them walk from point to point, these points being restaurants or private homes where they ring their bells and are rewarded with liquid sustenance. The costumes are usually worn until 1 p.m. or so, but the seeing off of the old year lasts until the old year is good and gone.

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  4. I agree with Katie! "...nor is a blog much use for social communication..." Not true! Maybe I don't understand your meaning but it seems we've had more social communication here in a month than we have had all year elsewhere.


    I had a blog for several years and so did Katie. I miss them but for both of us it became too much commitment for content. Sharing one like this really takes care of that problem. As Katie said, if we are creative all year long, there will be things to share as well as travels and customs, etc. I've become somewhat attached to checking in here every day and will miss it if you quit.

    Maria, I'd love to see some photos of those characters.

    And regarding that gorgeous basket- you should take it inside where you can enjoy its beauty more! It is grown in a greenhouse so isn't used to the outdoor cold. My understanding is that the forced early bulbs are intended for indoor enjoyment in winter; I always force some to have beauties to get me through until spring,

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    Replies
    1. Pam, if you Google images of "Silvester Urnaesch" you'll find much better photos of the costumes than I could ever take. They're really very neat, and no two are alike.

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  5. Dear Peoples, thanks for your two cents worth and more. Good comments. No time to ponder, but I'll comment in return tomorrow - thanks.
    Pam, the basket is only outside for sunshine - it's dark inside - then it comes in.
    Too pretty to ignore.
    Maria, thanks for the clarifications.

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