CHRISTMAS CACTUS ABLOOM

My Christmas cactus bloomed beautifully this year. Last year, the plant produced only two anemic flowers, but it had been recently transplanted. The plant was a gift from my former and wonderful cleaning lady, along with orders that I was not to tend to the cactus - that she would do what needed to be done every two weeks when she came. Alas, she is now gone, so the care and feeding are left up to me, and I don't seem to have done badly by the little dear.

I included my pine needle baskets in the photo, because I believe they are lovely. The two covered baskets came from the World's Fair in in New Orleans in 1984 and were made by Native Americans, but I don't know which tribe.

The basket with the contrasting light and dark colors was woven by a Coushatta Indian tribesperson, but I don't have the weaver's name. The tray under the coffee table is especially beautiful, with its lacy design, and I know it was made by an African-American woman from this area, but I have no name. I wish now that I had more information on the baskets.

The baskets and tray are quite sturdy, as they have survived intact, despite handling and mishandling over the years by my grandchildren.

THE NUN & THE CABBIE

A cabbie picks up a Nun. She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her.

She asks him why he is staring. He replies: "I have a question to ask, but I don't want to offend you."

She answers, " My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."

"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."

She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic."

The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"

"OK" the nun says. "Pull into the next alley."

The nun fulfills his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.

But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.

"My dear child," said the nun, "Why are you crying?"

"Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess; I'm married and I'm Jewish."

The nun says, "That's OK. My name is Kevin and I'm going to a costume party."

Don't blame me. Blame Doug, but I can't blame him too much, because I burst out laughing when I read the joke. Perhaps the joke is an oldie that's been around the internet more than a few times, but I'd never heard it before. What treasures the intertubes offer!

PRAY FOR HAITI

From the Guardian:

Gunfire in the centre of Port-au-Prince has left at least one person dead as violent disputes over the conduct of the presidential election continue to grip Haiti.

Election officials attempted to calm the unrest, now in its fourth day, by promising a recount of the vote to settle which two of the three leading candidates go into a final round.

Supporters of Michel Martelly, a popular carnival artist, say he is being deprived of a place in the runoff through vote-rigging to favour Jude Celestin, the ruling Unity party's chosen candidate.

Several people suffered bullet wounds in the Champ de Mars, a park beside the national palace that has become a shantytown in the wake of January's devastating earthquake. Supporters of Martelly were detained (above) as police quelled the riots.

The presidential election has been widely criticised by UN, US and EU monitors for being poorly organised and riddled with fraud and intimidation of voters.

Trouble upon trouble for the people of Haiti. What next?

Meanwhile, the cholera epidemic continues to take its toll.

While containing the violence remains the Haitian authorities' priority, the cholera epidemic that has so far claimed 2,000 lives continues to sap energies and resources. New evidence emerged today that appeared to support suggestions the disease was introduced by UN peacekeeping forces from Asia.

Genetic tests carried out by a team of scientists in the US confirmed that the strain of cholera that has hit Haiti came from south Asia. It was a particularly dangerous mutation that resembled a strain found in Bangladesh.

Prayer for Haiti
By Josh Thomas at the The Daily Office.

O Father of the poor and Mother of the oppressed: Enfold in your arms the suffering people of Haiti. Comfort those in mourning; relieve those in pain; give shelter to the homeless and hope to those in despair. Feed your people, O God, with bread both earthly and divine, and give them your water and wine. Help them bury the dead, nurse the sick and wounded, and raise their faith and dignity, for they are some of your dearest children. Proclaim your truth that this vibrant, creative nation still shines as a beacon of freedom throughout the Americas. And help the people of Haiti, with the nations of the world, to rebuild their colorful land in the image of your Son Jesus Christ, who knows our suffering because he took our mortal pain into his body on the Cross, then rose again to live and reign with you and the Holy Comforter. Amen.

O God, we pray for your peace that passes understanding to fill the hearts of the people of Haiti that violence may cease, and that the people of the country may join together to work for the betterment of life for all in their country. We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

JESUS AS MOTHER

MAES, Nicolaes - "Christ Blessing the Children" - 1652-53
National Gallery, London

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

Anselm of Canterbury

From The Daily Office

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

GLASTONBURY THORN TREE VANDALIZED

From the Telegraph:

Vandals have destroyed a historic tree whose roots can be linked back to the origins of Christianity nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Holy Thorn tree on Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury, Somerset, is regarded as one of Britain’s most important symbols of Christendom, and is said to be derived from the original planted by Joseph of Arimathea.

The tree is one of several Holy Thorns located around Glastonbury but is arguably the most significant because of its placing on the spot where Joseph visited.
....

Katherine Gorbing, director of Glastonbury Abbey, said: “The vandals have struck at the heart of Christianity. Like the whole town, we are shocked and appalled.

"The tree holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph of Arimathea, coming especially to see it.

This is the most important tree in Glastonbury and is of exceptional spiritual significance.

Below is a picture of the tree before it was destroyed.



From the website of Glastonbury Abbey:

Arriving at Glastonbury, which was then a series of island hills rising from the flooded Somerset Levels, it is believed that Joseph of Arimathea climbed Wearyall Hill to plant the staff which once belonged to Jesus (which came into his possession at the time of his nephew's death - Joseph being Jesus' last surviving male relative). As the staff was pushed into the fertile soil of Wearyall Hill, it is recorded that it magically took root and sprouted branches and leaves - ecoming Glastonbury's famous Holy Thorn tree.

I love the story, as did many others. How sad that the tree is destroyed.

H/T to Nicholas Knisely at The Lead.

UPDATE: From a suggestion in the comments, I found the Celtic Tree Lore website from which I copied the following quote:

At dawn on Beltane a young woman who wants to remain beautiful for the rest of the year, can go bathe in the dew of the Hawthorn tree while chanting this rhyme:

"The fair maid, who on the first of May,
Goes to the fields at the break of day,
And bathes in the dew from the hawthorn tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be".

What if the lady is not beautiful at the beginning of the year? Does the dew from the hawthorn tree make her beautiful?

FOR ALL MY CRACKED POT READERS

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck..

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full...

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water...

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do ha lf of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path! Send this to any or all of your Cracked Pot friends and don’t forget the Cracked Pot that sent it to you!!

Thanks to the Cracked Pot named Suzanne who sent the parable to me.

Picture from guy-sports.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to Ann for the link to Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" video. Here it is. "There is a crack - a crack in everything.. that's how the light gets in."

HALLELUJAH! IN THE FOOD COURT

Nearly every blogger I know has posted the wonderful video, so I'll take my turn. Thanks to all who sent me the link.

AMUSING EBAY ITEM

Genuine Roman Pottery Tile Fragment With Dog Footprint

The item is available until Dec. 11.

Thanks to Lapin.

NOT THE BRITS!

From The Huffington Post:

LONDON — In Britain's worst political violence in years, furious student protesters rained sticks and rocks on riot police, vandalized government buildings and attacked a car carrying Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, after lawmakers approved a controversial hike in university tuition fees.

Demonstrators set upon the heir to the throne's limousine as it drove through London's West End shopping and entertainment hub. Protesters who had been running amok and smashing shop windows kicked and threw paint at the car, which sped off.

Charles' office, Clarence House, confirmed the attack but said "their royal highnesses are unharmed."

Police said it was unclear whether the royals had been deliberately targeted, or were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The couple arrived looking composed at the London Palladium theater, where they were attending a Royal Variety Performance. Their Rolls Royce limousine was left with a badly cracked rear window and was spattered with paint.

Protesters erupted in anger after legislators in the House of Commons approved a plan to triple university fees to 9,000 pounds ($14,000) a year.
....

The controversy has highlighted regional educational differences in the United Kingdom.

The Welsh regional government has pledged to subsidize the higher fees for any student from Wales who enrolls at an English university. Student fees in Scotland are just 1,820 pounds per year, sparking fears of a future stampede of bargain-hunting students from England. Northern Ireland's fees are capped at 3,290 pounds a year.

Tripling the fees from £3000 to £9000 is a hefty increase - very worrying for students and their families. Protests are fine, but violence is wrong and counterproductive, in my opinion.

THE PHELPS GANG RIDES AGAIN

From Pink News:

Fred Phelps' gang will picket Elizabeth Edwards' funeral service, because:

She was a supporter of gay rights and in 2008, while her husband was running for the presidency, declared that she believed in legalising gay marriage.
....

The church...released a statement condemning her for having fertility treatment and for questioning her faith after her 16-year-old son Wade was killed in an accident.

Westboro Baptist Church needs a name-change to Westboro Church of Stony Hearts or Westboro Church of No Mercy.