tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post8976533560537539242..comments2024-03-28T17:44:17.403-07:00Comments on The Weaver of Grass: Christmas Cards versus Reality.The Weaver of Grasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-22526137579047744342009-12-23T03:07:39.526-08:002009-12-23T03:07:39.526-08:00Glad you enjoyed reading the post - no time to rep...Glad you enjoyed reading the post - no time to reply to you all today - so this is a block reply:<br /><br />A very happy Christmas to all my blog friends - enjoy whatever it is you have planned - look at your Christmas cards and savour the friendships they bring, whatever the picture on the front. And thank God that here in the Western world we have enough and to spare - are able to keep warm, well-fed and safe. And spare a thought for our boys in Afghanistan and for people living in appalling circumstances in other parts of the word - the people still suffering from the earthquake in Pakistan for instance. We tend to take our circumstances forgranted - it does us no harm at all to sometimes remember those less fortunate. HAPPY JOYOUS CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL 2010.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-29986175602783127262009-12-22T20:31:43.901-08:002009-12-22T20:31:43.901-08:00My fondest memories are of traditions celebrated r...My fondest memories are of traditions celebrated rather than gifts received . We've gotten very low key gifts - now we exchange family photographs from years gone by, which generates lots of stories passed along to the younger family members.Golden Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590087189810939432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-33132333313269026182009-12-22T19:56:23.358-08:002009-12-22T19:56:23.358-08:00I enjoyed a lot to read the prose, I sending you a...I enjoyed a lot to read the prose, I sending you a warm happy Christmas from India. Happy Christmas to You, You live log and we follow you and admire.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Dinesh ChandraDinesh chandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258082864099940181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-45646351429071796372009-12-22T19:48:28.924-08:002009-12-22T19:48:28.924-08:00Happy Christmas to YOU, Weaver
Aloha,
Comfor...Happy Christmas to YOU, Weaver<br /><br /><br /><br />Aloha, <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a>Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-77200545487005409762009-12-22T16:05:14.686-08:002009-12-22T16:05:14.686-08:00What a super post Weaver. I do know what you mean...What a super post Weaver. I do know what you mean about those cards. They do seem unrealistic. But fat robins? I took a photo of one yesterday and it looks as though it came straight from a Chrismas Card!!<br /><br />I do hope you received my collaged Christmas card, by the way. I loved yours with the farmer and the sheep.BThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16800917080090010655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-12345779317569090572009-12-22T14:38:52.244-08:002009-12-22T14:38:52.244-08:00Wonderful piece of social history, Weaver, and whe...Wonderful piece of social history, Weaver, and when you think of it, really not so very long ago.<br />The greatest divides are now geographical, perhaps, and here in the West our profligacy, particularly at this time of year, does make me stop and wonder, though possibly not for long enough.Titushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16380213493011623153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-70708275357441969892009-12-22T14:19:10.898-08:002009-12-22T14:19:10.898-08:00Interesting post. One of the details that really ...Interesting post. One of the details that really struck me was the content of the stockings -- very similar to what my grandmother (who grew up in Ft. Worth, TX during the Depression) remembers getting for Christmas. Just last night we were talking about HOW MUCH we all have, and remembering how my grandmother used to bemoan the Xmas that one of the other children stole her Christmas fruit.Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-67342682411024593482009-12-22T14:06:25.357-08:002009-12-22T14:06:25.357-08:00I'm glad you landed on a positive note. One o...I'm glad you landed on a positive note. One of the special things about festivals like Christmas is not that you receive what you need but a little bit more than you would at any other time of the year - whatever your starting point. Whether it's an apple or a whole sack of objects, it's the being given something which makes you feel glad, better off than you would have been otherwise, which brings a sense of joy and celebration. By the end of Christmas Day, you may still be very poor or you may be very rich - but Christmas isn't a utiliarian event. The contrast between the 'before' and 'after' is what brings the joy. On another day, the point might be to have all your needs fulfilled - but however nice it would be for that to happen at Christmas . . . that just isn't the point.<br /><br />For some reason, it's very difficult for me to get onto your blog and even harder to get your comments box to load. Took about ten goes to arrive here today - but I did want to say 'Happy Christmas'!<br /><br />LucyLucy Corranderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13743561298706555813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-26196946525756577162009-12-22T13:03:35.010-08:002009-12-22T13:03:35.010-08:00Yes, truly those Victorian genre scenes are pretti...Yes, truly those Victorian genre scenes are prettified to bits because most people's lives were pretty bleak.<br />I think of those ubiqitous American holiday letters telling of people's astounding family triumphs....<br />they went to Vegas/ they got raise/ their children got into Yale etc.<br /><br />Very easy to spoof indeed.....<br />some people so boastful and appalling<br /><br />But I think people send cards meaning to cheer us up and be kind.<br />MERRY CHRISTMASElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03964291132366262298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-73943573630942896802009-12-22T13:01:54.104-08:002009-12-22T13:01:54.104-08:00I loved reading this post as well!! The bed warmin...I loved reading this post as well!! The bed warming board was very enterprising.alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603861640418668005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-46732945648726126592009-12-22T12:39:42.964-08:002009-12-22T12:39:42.964-08:00hello weaver, the distance between the romantic ch...hello weaver, the distance between the romantic christmas and the christmas of today is vast. but i think that there is something good and right in retaining our sense of the magical, whimsical christmas that accompanied the christmases of our (for some of us) less fortunate childhoods. have a lovely day in the dale. stevenstevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132104804524716898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-2916412397198306782009-12-22T12:17:19.573-08:002009-12-22T12:17:19.573-08:00A wonderful post Pat, one that gives us all pause ...A wonderful post Pat, one that gives us all pause I think! Of course the whole thing is even more ludicrous here in the sub tropics where we still give cards to all and sundry with fabulous snowy winter traditional christmas scenes. The reality is we are dripping in sweat and usually headed to a beach as sooon as possible! Some of the readers comments here were very interesting. Enjoy your christmas festivities whatever they may be!Kim Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00020977100640715191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-34333509831353067322009-12-22T12:05:18.306-08:002009-12-22T12:05:18.306-08:00Thank you for sharing your memories.
I had never h...Thank you for sharing your memories.<br />I had never heard the verse in the original hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful" <br />It gives us a real insight of the past.<br />Beautiful winter landscape pictures.<br />Merry Christmas.xMichala Gyetvai (Kayla coo)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05120726257649689149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-83437418679421001482009-12-22T11:58:24.794-08:002009-12-22T11:58:24.794-08:00My parents both came from large families and had t...My parents both came from large families and had to share presents. The boys would have one toy and the girls another. Many of my early Christmas presents were homemade but I thought they were wonderful. The Victorian fantasy would be alright as long as you were a lady and had servants to do all the horrid unpleasant chores for you.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-62258848655677194342009-12-22T11:54:27.974-08:002009-12-22T11:54:27.974-08:00Wouldn't it be funny to do a series of "t...Wouldn't it be funny to do a series of "the reality of Christmas" cards. I immediately thought of the woman I saw walking home today. Loaded down with parcels, she had her purse over one arm, was talking on her mobile and was shuffling along because of the slippery pavement. <br /><br />My grandmother told me they used to get an apple at Christmas. She polished her apple until it almost glowed. And then her little brother stole her apple, only ate half of it and left the rest in the street.<br /><br />Wonderful post. It made me remember.PurestGreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-42387453427889464592009-12-22T11:53:46.827-08:002009-12-22T11:53:46.827-08:00Really enjoyed reading this, Weaver! I've been...Really enjoyed reading this, Weaver! I've been too busy to blog recently so it's a treat to catch up! <br /><br />(BTW I love the enormous majestic tree with the many trunks in your previous post).<br /><br />I have very fond recollections of my childhood christmases - and though I received many nice toys, some of my happies memories are of playing in the boxes they sometimes came in! And the peacefulness of sitting under the Christmas tree enjoying the scent of the foliage and just dreaming.<br /><br />Wishing you a beautiful Christmas dear Weaver - thank you for your lovely bloggy friendship through the year!Raph G. Neckmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02468502742144495020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-45806697020484282832009-12-22T11:22:48.115-08:002009-12-22T11:22:48.115-08:00Nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy! Have a lovely...Nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy! Have a lovely christmas.Maggihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04479533794674357334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-51558485007911043362009-12-22T10:57:41.690-08:002009-12-22T10:57:41.690-08:00Dear Weaver of Grass ( Weaver of Ice needles now! ...Dear Weaver of Grass ( Weaver of Ice needles now! ) thank you very much for yor comment on "Tales", more poems will come on memories...<br /><br />Here in Northern Italy we have spent three days in a Russian, Moscow atmoshere, with temperatures from minus fifteeen to minus nine...my beard was frosted simply while walking and I flew on the snow, actually took off, not seeing there was marble under it, near Venice railways station... the painful, very painful hard reality was, after the flight, the fall!Tommaso Gervasuttihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137499390434949734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-39415618294413691752009-12-22T09:32:03.062-08:002009-12-22T09:32:03.062-08:00Dearest Weaver, I must disagree with you. The best...Dearest Weaver, I must disagree with you. The best Christmasses I remember from my childhood and my mother's tales of her, also Victorian childhood as a foster child, were the ones when we were poorest. Presents were few but for that very reason, truly treasured. The expectant hush, the cudgelling of conscience and trepidation whether Father Christmas would give you a present or take out his switch and give you a spanking instead. Like water to a parched man, any present when you have nothing, is increased in value.<br />In today's consumer society where people give and receive mountains of expensive things few remember the gift or the giver.<br />To this day I remember what I got for Christmas when I was 4 and days after my father was arrested and shipped to Siberia.<br /><br />Happy Christmas to you my dear, I know you cannot have the one thing you really want, yet I hope you will be well content.Arijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720793296992474762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-81344625677197996742009-12-22T09:07:32.016-08:002009-12-22T09:07:32.016-08:00I'm only half awake. I meant to say less fortu...I'm only half awake. I meant to say less fortunate. What a doofus I am!<br />Merry Christmas.Cenyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14995723033134976164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-59740508630128457942009-12-22T09:05:56.759-08:002009-12-22T09:05:56.759-08:00Sadly, although we don't have the classes to t...Sadly, although we don't have the classes to the excess that they were in the Victorian era, we do still have classes. I recently got an e-mail with a picture of a shiek with a PLATINUM Rolls Royce. How incredibly rediculous is that! And there are children going to bed hungry, even in "developed" countries, yet celebrities feel they have to spend a milion dollars on their weddings. <br />I'm for the simple life. I don't think I could bare the shame of being so greedy.<br />Let's count our blessings and give to the less unfortunate this Holiday.Cenyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14995723033134976164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-23984335505542307332009-12-22T08:48:29.588-08:002009-12-22T08:48:29.588-08:00I think Alice Maud raised an exceptionally wise da...I think Alice Maud raised an exceptionally wise daughter. May your Christmas be merry and bright dear Weaver of Grass.Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00282469017360136275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-34190552987859105532009-12-22T08:40:03.228-08:002009-12-22T08:40:03.228-08:00Hello Weaver,
Yes, the 'good old days' we...Hello Weaver,<br /><br />Yes, the 'good old days' were only for the few, who of course are the ones depicted on your card. Whatever the era, it would always have been preferable to belong to the wealthier classes - and that could well still apply today. We all need to dream a little and be grateful. A Merry Christmas to you and the farmer too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861397533660827678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-41334440085977234522009-12-22T08:27:52.420-08:002009-12-22T08:27:52.420-08:00It is important to tell the truth. I love the imag...It is important to tell the truth. I love the image of your mom snorting! I do when I see such cards!Jenn Jilkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05259681360456905055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-75796744412574912002009-12-22T08:24:44.244-08:002009-12-22T08:24:44.244-08:00I enjoyed reading your post - very true. we all im...I enjoyed reading your post - very true. we all imagine how romantic times gone by were, but the reality for most was very different.<br /><br />JayneCountry Cottage Chichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09183233483232008162noreply@blogger.com