In science, Nathanael is learning about our solar system. Today he had a cool project – to make a rocket! So here he is, with an increasing number of neighbourhood friends, and help from Mom, trying it out…
If the words “The Littlest Hobo” don’t mean anything to you, move along. Nothing to see here.
But for all you cultured (Canadian) folk, you might be familiar with this song:
Well, you haven’t heard the song until you’ve heard it in the original Klingon Spanish. Here it is:
Who knew?
(And yes, the text you see on the screen is French. Talk about a multicultural experience!)
Song available in English on iTunes – Terry Bush’s Maybe Tomorrow.
This week we went to Pastor MartÃn’s birthday party. And guess what showed up? You guessed it, a Mariachi band!
Since you weren’t able to come, I thought I’d share a clip of the music with you. Of course, I can’t send any of the delicious pozole that we ate – sorry. Why don’t you come visit? 🙂
Here’s another short clip from Rod Fry…
As I was driving around our neighbourhood yesterday, I noticed that there is a lot of interesting shrubbery. So I pulled out the camera.
The picture is below – click it to see a larger version.
Top left – is that a squirrel or a rooster?
Top right – see the candles? Festive!
Second row, right – what some people call “meatball trees”
Right side, third row – a bear and something – a rabbit?! – in a boat?
Bottom left – a shrine?
Back in 2011 we visited Ayrshire, a county in Scotland where a line of my family came from many years ago. Ayrshire is the birthplace of the “Bard of Ayrshire”, the famous poet Robert Burns.
Burns is the author of a song that many people will be singing or listening to tonight – Auld Lang Syne. It’s sing not only New Year’s Eve, but at funerals and graduations. It’s sung in Inuktitut in Canada’s north, in Chinese, in Thai, and yes, there are versions in Spanish!
One of the people who popularized the song as a New Year’s Song on this side of the pond was Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo. Here’s Lombardo’s band with one rendition.
Burns wrote the song in 1788, when my great great great great grandfather and great great great great grandmother (Andrew and Janet Armour) were living in Ayrshire with their growing family.
While in Ayrshire we visited the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. We have a picture of a painting based on his poem, A Cotter’s Saturday Night (a Cotter or Cottrill is someone who lives in or rents a small cottage) (see the painting here).
The Scots title Auld Lang Syne literally means old long since, and so for auld lang syne has been paraphrased for the sake of old times. The song pictures a couple of friends enjoying time together after a long time apart.
Here’s the first verse and chorus in his own handwriting from the museum:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo, [my dear]
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
It’s a wonderful time to spend with friends and family. A wonderful time to value the old as we look ahead to the new.
The Bible talks a lot about remembering and forgetting. Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. (Deuteronomy 32:7)
We remember that God freed us from our sin – something that humbles us and gives us hope and joy. We know that God won’t remember our sin if we belong to Christ – For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. (Hebrews 8:12)
As the old year ends and the new one begins, let’s remember to value our friends and family. Let’s take the time to be with them. And let’s remember the great things that God has done – in the past and in our past.
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
Yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
And meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known your might among the peoples.
(Psalm 77:11-14)
Ayr, South Ayrshire KA7, UK
