Christmas at Riversleigh (2009)

As usual, the Christmas cheer and activities at Riversleigh Manor have been a delight to observe.  Residents have been busy posting, with Lori and Anita leading the way.  I started a Christmas project (the Great 2009 Christmas movie marathon; see below) and it’s wrapping up tomorrow.  Next week, I’ll review my notes.  I’ve enjoyed it, but I probably won’t do the same thing again next year.  Maybe-once-every five years.  I’m considering making a Christmas blog though.  Just thinking about it…you know.  In between my tv viewing (or as a result of?), I met with the “Ghosts of Riversleigh Christmases Past” and wrote three postings (Memories of Riversleigh 2006,  2007,  and 2008).  It was a pleasant haunting until I reviewed 2009.  When I really noticed how much other circumstances (personal and external) in 2009 had demanded my attention.  As a consequence, I had very little time or energy to spare for creative activities, compared to previous years.  I don’t feel guilty or have regrets about 2009.  The things I did were necessary.  But I do feel tired, with a definite–longing for the Muse.  Where is my Muse?  Other Soulfood residents had discussed Muse issues at the 101 Night blog in early December.  Where is my Muse?  I identify with some of the trees outside in a local park—which are bare of leaves.  (No postings for most of 2009.)  No juicy sap runnning in my veins.  I finally realized that my Muse is currently—a’snooze and dreaming.  And I am experiencing winter.  A time to be quiet and allow my well to refill naturally.  The winter doldrums will pass.  Not next week, nor even next month I sense, but eventually.  My Muse is just sleeping, resting, dreaming.  So I will wait patiently.  Without panic or despair.  Then, when next the Muse whispers, “I had such a wonderous dream! Can I tell you about it?”  I will be able to listen.  In the meantime, 2010 is fast approaching.  2010.   My fourth year at Soulfood!  A good reason to celebrate the New Year.

The Great 2009 Christmas Movie Marathon

Dec 1:     Christmas Vacation (National Lampoon)
Dec 2:     Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Dec 3:     Silent Night
Dec 4:     The Muppets: Letters to Santa
Dec 5:     Home Alone
Dec 6:     The Santa Clause
Dec 7:     Elf
Dec 8:     Charlie Brown’s Christmas
Dec 9:     Shrek The Halls
Dec 10:   Nightmare Before Christmas
Dec 11:    Yes, Virginia and Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Dec 12:    It’s A Wonderful Life
Dec 13:    Santa Baby
Dec 14:    The Christmas Card
Dec 15:    A Christmas Carol (musical version)
Dec 16:    The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Joyeux Noel
Dec 17:    Miracle on 34th Street
Dec 18:    Jingle All The Way
Dec 19:    Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and Prep and Landing
Dec 20:    Prancer
Dec 21:    One Magic Christmas
Dec 22:    The Ultimate Christmas Present
Dec 23:    Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
Dec 24:    White Christmas
Dec 25:    A Christmas Story
Dec 26:    Secret of the Nutcracker
Dec 27:    PBS Great Performances
Dec 28:    Straight, No Chaser
Dec 29:    The Christmas Truce and Holiday on Ice
Dec 30:    Crazy Christmas Lights and Invasion of the Christmas Lights
Dec 31:    Mr Monk and the Secret Santa

photo by Cheshire D and animated gif courtesy of animationplayhouse.com

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the second day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

(His teenage daughters may not appreciate this video now, but I’m sure they will when they are older and have their own children!)

On the third day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the fourth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the fifth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the sixth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the seventh day of Christmas, my evil twin showed me this:

WARNING!   Not appropriate for young children.  Slightly scary images.

For Anita!    I understand your sense of humor.  I really do.

On the eighth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

(The real reason the Grinch hates Christmas??)

On the ninth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the tenth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the eleventh day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

On the twelveth day of Christmas, RB showed me this:

                                                                                                                                         HAPPY HOLIDAYS! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

                                                                                                                                             From Cheshire D and DJ!

Memories of Riversleigh (2007)

Christmas 2007.  Time for my second journey down Memory Lane at Riversleigh!  It was indeed a busy season, especially at Riversleigh.  I’m surprised the roof of the Manor wasn’t blown away by all the creative energy being displayed.  There was so much happening!  The festivities at Riversleigh (see dates below) and another marvelous Advent Calendar.  Priscilla made her big debut in October 2007 and she used the calendar to navigate her way around Web 2.0 (as well as around the world in 2007 and 2008!  But that’s her story to tell.  So I suggest you get the scoop directly from the source.)  Meanwhile, back at Riversleigh, in December 2007, snowfall came to the Murmuring Woods.  Then a flurry of excitement gripped residents when Enchanteur announced a new journey would commence in Jan 2008.  The preparations began (A Song For The Journey).  To read more about the 2008 journey, go in this direction.  Some of my posts can be found here.  For more current information about what is happening at Soulfood, climb aboard the train and contact Heather for your passport to Lemuria.

Please join me next week for another trip down Memory Lane.
 

Cheshire D

 2007 Riversleigh Manor Festivities 
(December 1-5,  December 5-13, December 13-18, December 19-22, and December 22-31)

Memories of Riversleigh (2006)

I had noticed Soulfood Cafe early in 2006 and vowed to return when I had time to further explore.  By sheer coincidence, that time was Dec 2006 and what drew me in was, of course, the 2006 Advent Calendar.  I was familiar with the web and had been browsing around for years (since the mid-1990s) but Soulfood Cafe wasn’t like anything I had seen before on the net.  I knew I had to get involved.  Being a writer, I chose a suitable pen name (Cheshire D) and promptly jumped down the proverbial rabbit hole into Heather’s wonderland.  My first landing was a place called Riversleigh Manor.  And I arrived on the last day of December 2006.  Like the White Rabbit, a little late.   To read a journal entry about my arrival, go here.   Adjacent to Riversleigh Manor is the enchanted and enchanting Murmuring Woods.   It didn’t take a lot of encouragement to get me interested in exploring the woods.  (See journal entry.)  My initial impressions bloomed later that year into a piece of writing that I’m still rather fond of.  (Said The Tree To The Writer)   Mother Nature has a lot to say. Take the time to listen.  You’ll not regret it.   Although I had missed the Christmas festivities at Riversleigh Manor, I was in time for the New Year celebrations at Taverna di Muse.  The perfect place for writers to congregate and conjugate.  As to the wild rumors of table-top dancing  at the Taverna…  You didn’t hear it from me… 
By mid-spring of 2007, my busy life style was catching up with me and I realized that I needed to go on a personal retreat.  I was fortunate indeed to be granted a room at The Lemurian Hermitage.  Where I spent two weeks in a very healing solitude.   See Rambles At The Hermitage (Part One) and  (Part Two).   I returned to Riversleigh Manor feeling quite refreshed and eager to enjoy the creative opportunities which are so abundantly offered to Soulfood Cafe visitors and Riversleigh residents.  Thank you, Heather.

Next week I will post comments about Christmas 2007. 

May your holiday season be full of blessings.

                            Cheshire D