clennell on sat 23 dec 06
Dear Clayart:
Friday was supposed to be the busiest shopping day of 2006. We've had a good
year and a busy fall and I dressed up for full day of retail yesterday. It
was the slowest day we've had this fall. I went to our little Dollar Store
and she said it was her slowest day in 3 weeks. I went to the little
Florists down the road and she said the big box stores had floral dept's and
she couldn't buy the flowers for what they were selling them for. My
favourite winery was the next stop where I was the only one which is most
unusual. Next off to Tim Horton's for a coffee where I met our realtor that
told me he was closing up his little independent store and joining the big
Re-Max Group.
Sheila and I have found that the week before Christmas we can not stop
people from going to the malls. They do it all under one roof. Thoughtful
people have already been to the pottery. Today, we may have a few pickup
trucks with guys that have been told where to go. Sheila will make their
package look like they spent more than they did. After Christmas we usually
have a good Jan since many people that got money for Xmas come to buy what
they have wanted but didn't buy for themselves.
I have to be in the pottery anyway, so today I will make that dinnerware set
that is promised for New Years. If it does get busy so be it at least I
won't drive myself to drink sitting there waiting.
Tomorrow we close at noon. Off to spoil the grandchild.
Planning to bisque on Boxing Day. One more glaze before New Years.
Cheers,
Tony
P.S Still amazed that Lee baked a birthday cake on Christmas Day for a
birthday in April.
Jeanette Harris on sun 24 dec 06
I avoid mass market shopping at all costs during this time of year.
Especially the shopping malls.
Or should that be Shopping Mauls.
Jeanette
who would be perfectly happy with the address: 2583347984 End of the World St.
or mebbie not. It's just all this peripheral hoo ha that
makes me feel that way.
--
Jeanette Harris
Poulsbo WA
Lee Love on sun 24 dec 06
On 12/23/06, clennell wrote:
Hi Tony,
The big thing Japanese understand about Christmas is shopping.
They have it down to an art form. Christmas music started in the
stores in October!
A neighbor farmer lady brought us a big sack of potatoes
yesterday. She is in her 70s or 80s like most of the farmers in my
neighborhood. The sack was so heavy, she wheeled them over in her
old wheel barrow. I gave her a loaf of honey cinnamon bread in a
Christmas decorated bag Jean had leftover from her presents she gave
her students at Kaisei girls Catholic school. I am sure our
neighbor knew foreigners like potatoes. It is nice to cut out the
middleman. We exchanged Christmas gifts we both made. No shopping
involved.
> P.S Still amazed that Lee baked a birthday cake on Christmas Day for a
> birthday in April.
No surprise. Rome's Charlemagne moved the birthday in 754
C.E. to quell the heathen solstice celebrations. Winter solstice is
the birthday for several Sun related deities: Attis, Frey, Thor,
Dionysus, Osiris, Adonis, Mithra, Tammuz and Cernunnos . One of the
most pertinent ones is Mithra (born to a virgin ascended to heaven
after teaching for 36 years, 208 years before Jesus), and his birthday
is celebrated on December 25th (it was actually the 21st, but how the
Romans screwed that up is another story.) Solstice is the chosen
birth date for its symbolic, not literal and historic meaning.
Interesting note: the Western ritual of shaking hands upon
meeting comes from the Mithric tradition. It was a warrior tradition
banned by Charlemagne. Almost totally extinct even in its home
Persia, since it was also banned by the Ayatollahs.
There is nothing I enjoy more than discussing the origins
of mythology and the world's great traditions. Marek, Tony. If you
come to kick arse, come loaded for bear. ;^)
Happy Birthday Jesus!
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
"When we all do better. We ALL do better." -Paul Wellstone
Lee Love on mon 25 dec 06
Peace On Earth, To All Men Of Good Will!
On 12/25/06, Jeanette Harris wrote:
> I avoid mass market shopping at all costs during this time of year.
> Especially the shopping malls.
Jean went to Mooka to shop for Christmas dinner. She found
pumpkin pie filling! She says the supermarket was packed.
She got us a whole chicken for stuffing (they are usually
sold in pieces here) imported from Brazil and it says it was processed
according to Islamic practices.
We live in a diverse and wonderful world!
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
"When we all do better. We ALL do better." -Paul Wellstone
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