Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse 2010

It was a frigid but clear night for stargazing last night and perfect for viewing the lunar eclipse.  Here are a few key moments of it's 3 1/2 - hour progression, from what it looked like from my place on the earth.

At this point in time, around 3 a.m., when our moon was completely shadowed by our earth, and knowing I had 72 minutes before our shadow was to pass, I went inside to warm up.  No sooner did I step inside, when my friend from a mile down the road sent me a text, knowing I'd be up watching the eclipse.  She said she and her family were bundled up too, and watching the eclipse from their front porch.  With that, I packed up my gear and hopped into the car and drove that mile to join them!  I can't tell you how much we all enjoyed that spur-of-the-moment, wee-hour visit!  With the naked eye, the moon was still clearly visible, however through the lens of my camera, tree branches were obstructing the viewing clarity, but that's okay--the laughter and joy of our 30-year friendship was better than any phenomenon, and I thank my lucky stars for these friends!  After a while, I turned my camera toward them--the huddled mass that they were--and snapped a few pictures before heading back to my own yard.  The rest of the eclipse unfolded as follows:

                                                                 Happy winter, everybody!!


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The Reason for the Season - Conclusion - The Nativity

Plain and simple.

The Reason for the Season - Part IV - Ornamental Displays

                                                                        Old-fashioned.

                                                                    Christmas past.

                 In my travels I found a very pretty--simplistically beautiful--display of outdoor lights. 

                                                      Lights of remembrance line a driveway.

                                                                      
                                                                          A street decoration.

                                             And then there's CHRISTMAS OVERBOARD!!! 
(The next three photos are all at the same house, spanning across their front lawn.  For every person who might not find this appealing, I'm sure there are just as many who enjoy the whimsy, the outrageousness, the frivolity, etc.)

The Reason for the Season - Part III - Ding Dong! Merrily on High!

"Ding Dong! Merrily on High,

                     In heav'n the bells are ringing!"                   

The words to the traditional Christmas carol ring true tonight!
There's nothing quite as ap- 'peal' -ing to me, as the ringing of a bell! 
The sound brings instant joy to my heart!
Particularly during this season, bells seem to be ringing all around us!

(If you click on http://www.christmas-carols.net/ followed by "Ding Dong! Merrily on High", like I just did, you'll hear a joyful instrumental of the song playing repeatedly (with printed lyrics) to accompany this posting.  Go for it!  It's a match made in heaven!  That's what I like: a multi-sensory blog.)



                                      Bells on a front door welcome all who enter the home!

A familiar sight and sound this time of year is the ringing of the Salvation Army bell.  This representative had just set down her bell as I approached with my camera.

                                                               The bell of a church tower.

              

Let's not forget Santa's bells!  The sound most wished to hear on Christmas Eve.

I recently came across this mediaevil bell instrument called a carillon. It's impressive in weight and size, and you can imagine the sound!  Consisting of 48 tuned bronze bells, the peal resonates with great intensity.  The carillonneur uses his fists to bang out notes 'keyboard' style which are attached to each bell.  It's a quite fascinating instrument.  This same carillonneur can be found on youtube performing at several renaissance festivals.  He happened to be playing in a nearby town a few weeks ago!  In fact, if you're interested hearing and seeing this festive music being performed, he'll be returning to the area this Monday and Wednesday, each during a 5-hour span.  You can contact me personally to find out where this will happen.

Half-Mast

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Flags fly at half-mast in honor of a dear friend to many.





The Reason for the Season - Part II - The Other Side of Merriment

For many, the season that's upon us is anything but  merry.  In fact, sometimes we even dread this time of year.  How can people feel so merry, when I'm feeling so blue??  Perhpas they weren't touched by the painful experiences we were.  Perhaps they have, but have since reached a place we haven't--places of peace and resolution and acceptance.  Sometimes our painful experiences are so profound, such as the aching lonliness from the loss of dear ones or isolation or rejection from family or friends, that the tears that run down our faces and cling to our chins is reflected in everything we see.

And every step we take feels like trudging uphill through a foot of snow.....

And things just look and feel bleak and cold.

No matter how deep we may sink in our feelings, it's there, in that place and in our solitude--in our most quiet moments, that we should allow ourselves to embrace, rather than push away, feeling those things in our lives.  And it's okay!  We're justified and allowed to--and usually, once we're there, we then can recognize that there are forces from Above that can help us rise from that place.

It's there right before us......

And more easily in reach than we think.  We all know that in this season of giving, that act in itself somehow turns things around.  When we help another person in any way that's meaningful to them, it can let a little light shine into the crack of our door.  One small thing within our capability, when we share a bit of ourselves, we find we are bigger than we think.  Stronger than we feel.  And by lifting up someone else, we, too, become lifted up.

It's human nature to give.  We're also so conditioned to give.  And while the act of giving is vital to our existence and the existence of others, equally important is allowing ourselves  to be lifted up by someone or something else. That's a hard concept for some of us to embrace!  We must recognize our own needs and know it's okay to accept an extended hand when one is offered to us, thus allowing someone else  to shine in their  own act of kindness!  What we give, we get back, when or if we need it, as long as we're open to it.



May this season bring you hope and peace, comfort and joy.