Nan’s Table at Christmas and a wonderful Boxing Day Gathering!!

I have a great deal to be thankful for, both past and present.  In reflection, I have to say that I hold dear my visits to my grandmother and grandfather’s house at Christmas.  I especially liked it in the later years when we got to the age of being asked to the table for a spirited game of 120’s.  The game and fellowship was fantastic, the food, the drinks and atmosphere, I will always remember.  It is where I learned to hone my talents as a card player, my girlfriend at the time (and now my wife) was always in my Grandfathers favor.   If anyone else placed the wrong card, there would be a frown, but for Lisa? (Liser, as my pop would say)… she could do no wrong.

It was amusing to watch and listen to the banter in the kitchen that was always over-heated and freshly painted for the Christmas season.  Munching fruitcake and sipping a beverage as we watched Pop’s frustration from the cards that were laid. He always got up, walked around his chair, he would sit and his luck was changed (he hoped).  He also commented about little green angels (which my Grandmother found very amusing and gave her signature laugh).  Those evenings were always so cozy, secure and filled with laughter.  It was always a nice way to spend those days of Christmas without the hustle and bustle of the commercialism of today’s Christmas.

For those of you who are fortunate enough to have your moms, dads, grandparents still alive, sit back, inhale the air, take in the smells, the sounds and tastes.  Look to the right and left of you, wish them a Merry Christmas and remember them in the time that is present.

Boxing Day Gathering and the “Tablecloth of Family and Friends”

Boxing Day at our home is a gathering of family and friends.  The sounds of chatter and our children playing is welcomed as it is during all of our events.  It is the time of year we have the largest group of family and friends gathered together.

We started a new tradition during St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day).  It is a ” tablecloth of Family and Friends.”  We ask all who visit to sign the cloth.  They can just write a greeting, trace their hand or draw something that means a great deal to them. W e do ask for their signature and the date so all can remember accurately.

This year’s celebration had a great deal of family and friends visit, almost 50 persons visited our house.  Our niece and family came for a visit.  It was very special to have Abby, Chris and Nathan with us. Nathan was a charmer and everyone was enchanted with the new addition to the Noel (Bakogeorge) clan.

We were so blessed this year to have my best buddy’s sister home and her boyfriend (Wendy and Jamie Brooke).  They both feel part of our family as we have fond memories of past years (and partiers )with them.  They signed the table cloth and I will remember their presence at the Delaney table.

I would like to leave you with some pictures of the Boxing Day Party, including the Bay Roberts Christmas Carolers and Lisa’s dad.  He is the life of a party and still has the energy of a 30 year old.  The children and adults will always remember his zest to help make this amazing holiday special. I can only hope I can instill his love for family, friends and fun to those I love during this festive time of year.

Take care, God Bless and I hope you like the pictures.

Ron

Future Irish-Newfoundland Star

Christmas Sweaters, Christmas Cake, and Clingy

Mr. Noel Dancing

Bay Roberts Christmas Carolers

Tablecloth of Family & Friends

Getting ready for Christmas and my favorite Christmas Author (Press here to comment)

The smells of baking, the sounds on the radio, the new access to sights and stories of the Christmas season via the internet give us a sense of this wonderful time of year. I love the preparations, the anticipation that is associated with everyone getting all excited to celebrate the most holy but yet the most commercialized time of year. I look around rural Newfoundland and Labrador and see the lights, and I read of the programs and events that help promote each community. It is difficult to totally embrace this time of year sometimes because for the hectic lifestyles we all live. Over the years I have been in search of books, TV shows, music and magazines that help me keep Christmas close to me. I do think this blog helps me “center” my energy to celebrate this season. I do have a small story to tell you regarding my search to find and get ready for Christmas.

Christmas Joys - Susan Branch

I visited a book store a few years ago to look for a book filled with ideas of celebrating the season, there were many there of various shapes and sizes offering many ways to become embraced with this observance. I spied a small white book that for some reason I had to pick up, I think I liked the cover and the font it was so cute…(not sure if men can say cute, but I did *L*) after opening the publication called Christmas Joys by Susan Branch, I was captivated by the ideas of food and crafts, but I think the suggestions of how to make the holidays special your children had the greatest impact on me. I have been using the book for years but then lost it, I have to admit I missed it but thank God awhile back I found it again, (It was packed with the Children’s books!), I got reacquainted with it and thought I would try my luck so I googled to see if the author had a website. Well she do, it is just as informative as her books although I do like my hard copy. I e-mailed the site to ask if I could mention her in my blog, I was surprised to receive a reply so quickly, but the best surprise was that Susan herself contacted me. She agreed to let my link to the site and to mention her here. If you have a opportunity to visit the site www.susanbranch.com I think you too will be impressed as much as I was (Thanks Susan!!).

In keeping with the Christmas season I would like to introduce my first official Christmas Poll, please vote for your favorite Christmas Song from a Newfoundlander and Labradorean, pass it on to your friends and watch the results.

I hope all your Christmas preparations are going well and you take the time to really enjoy the real meaning of Christmas.
Ron

Newfoundland Friends

The year 2008 has had it ups and downs, apparently, some of our most watched friends have hit bumps and some have hit triumphs.

D’Arcy Broderick

He is a person who I call a friend and who just suffered a stroke, our thoughts and prayers are certainly with him. One of the most talented musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador AND! in my opinion, has the greatest voice ever in traditional music.

As a founding member of the Irish Descendants and backbone of the Fables, D’Arcy has already left his mark on Newfoundland and Labrador. I think I have everything he has ever recorded including some tracts I had the honor of recording with him. I wish his family well and my prayers are will the clan.

Danny Cleary

The comeback kid, some had the dude down and out, but I am sure all were on their seats cheering him on during last years Stanley Cup push and his amazing current season. I was FLOORED when I received the news his jaw was shattered in a game , for the love of Pete!!! I met his uncle Scott(my Riverhead friend) and Francie Reynolds in the Halifax Airport a few weeks ago when the unfortunate accident happened !!! He was and is having an amazing YEAR!!!!!!….I am sure his family and the River is so proud of him, I know I am. I am also so thankful he had the opportunity to prove his talent, 40 points is a major milestone and I feel confident that he will rise to this challenge and over come it. Now if I could only get a signed jersey for my office!!!

Good luck Danny

Gordon Pinsent

A wonderful actor with a list of acting credits as long as my arm!! I think I first seen him in the Beachcombers or maybe it was the Forest Rangers in the 70’s. For some reason, not even knowing he was from Grand Falls Newfoundland and Labrador his persona lured me to every character he portrayed. With the major success of the movie “Away From Her” it has placed the characters and of course Gordon in a place that I knew he was familiar with. Sarah Polley is a brilliant director ,most would know her from Canadian TV…Road to Avonlea but her credits are far reaching.

Good luck to Gordon and our Canadian counterparts for the up and coming Genies.

God Bless

Gene Simmons why!! Take Care BRITNEY!!

OK, I would like to go back to comments, and even a rant on some issues of the day.

This blog is called “Why Gene Simmons” and Take care Brittney”!!!! Yes, this is a major departure from the warm fuzzy feeling of the Christmas season, and well it was the reason I wished this “blog” to be constructed.

Say it isn’t so Gene baby

I watched in utter dismay a few nights ago when Donald Trump fired Gene, at first I was thinking this couldn’t be happening as he was so overpowering, confident a true business person and for the show so marketable, he made the show!!!! But after thinking it through, I do see that in my opinion, he wanted to leave, Trump was not in his class, and well the ties had to be cut. Trumps daughter was glum and tried to be as self righteous as her father, but had a face on her like a smacked arse (pretty but too intense), it seems as though they were surprised in Genes comments!! They knew full well what he was going to bring to the table, and was one of the reasons for the amazing ratings…. I really think he grew tired of the show and wanted to bail, it had to be the reason. Anyway in my eyes Gene is king, he did link with a Newfoundland lady. COME ON GENE BRING YOUR REALITY SHOW TO THE ROCK!!!! I will bring you around and we might even make money!! Just image!!! A Gene Simmons park in “DILDO!!!” I get shivers thinking about it everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor ole Britany

I will not spend a great deal of time on this BUT…. wow, this is getting crazy!!! If I had people chasing Me I am sure I could call some one and say, emmm hey, I am being stalked…. but for some reason it is cool to stalk Britany, I cringe when I see the papapoopie chase the lady down, this week one of which got arrested for following her. It is about time…I know they look for attention, and it fuels the industry, but do anyone care about human life, about her children? Our society is imploding, with the advent of groups taking out their anger with our southern friends and our Canadian troops giving their lives for the greater cause…and then we have to turn on the TV and watch the saga of a lady pushed to the brink? People, it is time to lay off, we are not on this earth long enough to allow this to happen, those children who have done nothing wrong, need to be given a break. I am not writing this to point fingers or take sides, but when I see the paper and people almost risking their lives for a pic? There is something wrong, someone needs to speak out. I guess I am trying to but I get 100 visits a day, so…I guess this will go unheard and we will have to watch what goes on the boob tube or do we…? How about the next time we see a story on her we turn off the TV, or not buy the tabloid, maybe that is what it is going to take to get these people to back off.

Gene, I look forward to watching and following your career, don’t forget to bring Shannon back to NL with your kids dude!!!!!!!! Brit….chicka, come to the rock, we will put you up at Woody Island Resort or the Klondyke Hotel so you can chill….although I am not sure you would like it….I would hope so….for your kids.

I would also like to wish my big bro Ken a happy Birthday!!!

Take Care,

 Ron