My Christmas Wish For You

What I think when I get a book shaped Christmas present.

Happy Christmas to you and those you love. I hope the gravy turns out and that you get lots of books!

The True Meaning of Crumbfest

This will be my last post until after Christmas. I wanted to share one of my favorite audio books with you as a thank you for stopping by my blog: The True Meaning of Crumbfest by David Weale. It would be a fantastic gift for anyone on your list from ages three to one hundred.

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From Rattling Press...

David Weale's Christmas classic charmingly rendered by a five year old narrator.

Eckhart, the hero of our story, is a tiny young mouse. He and his family have just moved inside for the winter. It's dark and cold in the walls of their farmhouse. But all of a sudden every year in late December their tummies are filled by a mysterious abundance of delicious crumbs. The mice celebrate with feasting and call it Crumbfest. No one knows why it happens until Eckhart solves the mystery.

In 2001 a five year old Antonia Francis performed Crumbfest for her Mom's community radio show. The irrepressible energy and charm of Antonia's narration made it a perennial favourite. This is the original radio broadcast, recording flaws and all. The roughness of the recording sets off brilliantly the perfection of Antonia's performance. Here is The True Meaning of Crumbfest, told as only a five year old Antonia Francis could tell it. An underground classic.

Click here for a sample. Keep in mind this is an old recording, once you get through the first ten seconds it clears up nicely.

Happy Holidays!

Feeling The Joy

I wrestled this out of the archives from a year ago. It was originally posted on December 15th, 2011. My blog was brand new then and only eight people read it, but I think the message bears repeating...even after a year.

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This time of year my wallet is full of lists—those crumpled up, half crossed off reminders that I still have things to do.

The best thing about lists is drawing a line through the last item. I feel entitled to celebrate by hanging out at the book store with a gingerbread latte, making fun of the titles by adding “in bed with no clothes on.”

Try it, it's funny. The Clockwork Prince In Bed With No Clothes On. See?

Lately though, when I peek into the vortex of disorganization that is my purse, I continually find unfinished lists, and that means no gingerbread latte for me. I begin to resent all the errands, which I now call 'things that get in the way of stuff I really want to do'.

I love the holidays...really I do, but sometimes the work involved in putting the Merry in Christmas leaves me exhausted and more bitter than Scrooge.

 

Alistair Sim, the best Scrooge!
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With baking, mailing packages, and making sure everyone knows their line (yes singular) for the Christmas play, I roam the Shopping Malls—otherwise known as the black hole of commercialism—and my holiday mojo gets sucked away.

 

I drag my parcels through the parking lot, getting my coat dirty from brushing up against the salt encrusted cars. Bah humbug is right, life would be so much more enjoyable without all the fuss.

Then, on Sunday, I listened while someone talked about feeling the joy.

Feeling the joy?

How can I feel the joy when I have all of these things to do? If I don't wrap the presents and make the cookies, who will? Like most profound moments of epiphany, their answer was simple—you feel the joy in everything you do.

One of the coolest chicks out there, Gwen Stefani, said it best, “What You Waiting For?”

And truly, why delay the happiness? I realized I have a choice. Instead of begrudging the baking and shopping, I can be thankful that I'm able to buy my groceries instead of having to depend on the food bank to feed my family. And that baking with my kids is a chance to make a memory, not another chore to be completed.

There is a tangible sense of freedom when you exercise the choice to be happy.

I'm putting off dusting/vacuuming to read Christmas books with my kids. Instead of madly decorating to make everything perfect for a family party, I'm laying out all my ornaments for my beautiful nieces to have a go at the tree.

Today, I suggest you make the choice and feel the joy. Don't wait until everything is crossed off, because guess what—there's always something you forgot. So sit back, get a gingerbread latte, and read How the Grinch Stole Christmas In Bed With No Clothes On.

Cheers! *holds up latte*

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Top Five Christmas Reads

Never mind rum and eggnog, thick hot gravy or the smell of a fresh fir tree. Okay, those are staples at my place every season, but what I cherish the most are my holiday books, fanned out on the coffee table.

And it doesn't matter if I down the whole story in one go or flip to a certain scene, a good Christmas read is as traditional as my awesome gravy (white wine is the secret). Here are my top five favorites. Drum roll...

1. How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.

A verse that begs to be read out loud! My Boris Karloff impression wins each year, hands down.

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

There are so many versions, but one of my favorites is an abridged version by Stephen Krensky. He entwines a subtle creepiness with the vulnerable side of humanity, making the characters flawed but likable. Dean Morrissey's wonderful illustrations give the book a Norman Rockwell aura as well.

3. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

         Just for the record, the bell still rings for me.

4. The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.

After the giant builds a high stone wall to keep the village children out of his flower garden, he faces the consequences of a continuous winter. Until one day, a small boy manages to push through a small hole.

5. The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth.

A World War II pilot gets lost in the fog on Christmas eve. The audio version by Alan Maitland is the best way to enjoy this holiday ghost story.

 

What are your favorite reads at Christmas?