Happy New Year

Happy New Year from The Old Granite Step!

Auld Lang Syne 

Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796

 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
     And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
     And auld lang syne!

     Chorus: 
     For auld lang syne, my dear,
     For auld lang syne.
     We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
     For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
     And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
     For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
     And pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
     Sin’ auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
     Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
     Sin’ auld lang syne.
     
And there’s a hand, my trusty fere!
     And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught,
     For auld lang syne.

   

A Christmas walk at the shore; Sachuest Point, Rhode Island

We took the same walk on last Christmas Day; the snowy owl was here.  He left several weeks ago this year, perhaps due to the impending warm weather.  Snowy owl or not, there is a lot to see here and with the temperature just shy of 60 degrees, it was a wonderful afternoon for a Christmas walk.  Located in Middletown, Rhode Island, Sachuest Point is a National Wildlife Refuge.  There is no charge to enter the park.

Make sure you check the hours if you'd like to go into the Visitor Center.

There's a lot to learn here!

We were here in the late afternoon and the changes in the light were beautiful.

Solar panels sit behind the visitor center.  A nice sustainable touch.

A pine tree rests on the waters edge.

The rain on Christmas Eve day left it's mark on the trail. 

The deer were grazing quietly while keeping an eye on us at the same time.

Many others took advantage of the gorgeous weather.

A very scenic spot to fish.

The light was quickly changing.

Sakonnet Point Lighthouse can be seen in the distance.

As dusk came upon us it cooled off a bit.

The moon became visible.  Serene.

Two visitors on the observation deck.

Looking back towards Middletown and Newport.

We couldn't have asked for a better sunset.

Take a walk this Christmas weekend; the fresh air feels great!

1965....It was an Easy Bake Oven Christmas!

That's me in the red dress and yes; that's my Easy Bake Oven.  We used to celebrate Christmas Eve with my maternal grandparents and all of the aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was the age when everyone dressed up for the holidays; little girls wore velvet and little boys wore ties!  It brings back many wonderful memories.....

As for that Easy Bake Oven box, it was part of the family long after the actual oven was gone.  It held Christmas ornaments for many, many years!

The Old Granite Step wishes you and yours a very 

Merry Christmas!

The Winter Solstice

Solstice

noun

1.  Astronomy.

1. either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator: about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point.
   
   
2. either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.

2.  a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.

This photo was taken on a wintery December day about fifty years ago, in a small Connecticut shoreline town.  The solstice causes me to reflect on the buildings in the photo which are all, unfortunately, gone now.  The peace emitted by this lone image is strong.  We can only imagine the stillness that inspired the photographer to snap the photo.  So at this time of the Winter Solstice, take a moment to enjoy the tranquility of a winter's night that will only be a memory tomorrow.

A Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe from my Mom

This is a good old-fashioned, tried and true sugar cookie recipe.  It's a great project for the kids on a snowy (or even rainy) afternoon.  You're never too old to make cookies! 

A view of the Quabbin Resevoir

Several weeks ago, before the snow started to fly, we took a short hike through the Federation of Womens Clubs State Forest so that we could enjoy the view of the Quabbin Resevoir.  From this vantage point, the view is absolutely stunning. 

A vintage portrait; decorating the Christmas tree in 1965

 

Having looked everywhere locally this past weekend for replacement bulbs for our Christmas tree, I long for the good old-fashioned bulbs.  LED bulbs aren't the same as far as I'm concerned!  Do children still make paper chains in school?  And of course the tinsel in 1965 was a lead hazard.  Surely there must be a wonderful substitute.  In any event, it is a wonderful memory!