City of Legends

Whether you "keep" Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Solstice, Saturnalia or any of a dozen or so other seasonal holidays.

Whether you think Dicken’s "A Christmas Carol" is brilliant literature, a life-affirming miracle, a thinly-veiled attack on Jewish merchants in London of that era who did not keep Christmas, or a secular humanist plot to keep a Christmas devoid of Christ.

Whether you are poor or rich.  Young or old.  Conservative or Liberal.  Pro-war, pro-life, pro-peace, pro-choice, pro-athlete or propelled by your own bile.  Vegan or going in for your fourth heart-bypass. 

Whether you live for the day or in the past or for tomorrow.  Whether you speak English, French, Russian, Bengali, Mandarin Chinese or Spanish. 

Peace be with you, if not at all times and on all days, at least for a time this season.  If we could but sustain the moment, the dream, the faith, the love, what a better world this would be.  Until then, let’s at least hold on to the moment.

To all of those who have made my year so rich and beautiful, and all of those who will be with me in future days and times.  To those I shall not see anymore this side of the veil.  To those I have loved, and those I have loved and liked as well.

…my true love gave to me…

…Twelve Eloquent Gestures…

(this one was tough, as I had several people close to me pulling me in various directions.  But, in the end, my puckish sense of humour and irony reeled me in to a photo by Russian photographer and model Jule, entitled "Lovely" that sums up what many of my "true loves" have invoked.  I have a sense of humour about it, though, and that’s what won the day over the works of several others whom I hope do not hold it against me (one in particular)).  By the way, Jule does sell prints of this shot, which might make a good gift…for the right person.

….my true love gave to me…

…11 hints of heaven…

Many, many thanks to the lovely Hilary Keller, and to the photographer, Alexia Nervosa (I am not kidding).  Now, I wonder what I have in store for January 5th, the 12th day of Christmas.  No, really, I am wondering.

Most of you who know me know I have the attention span of a….hey, what’s that?

Where was I?

Ah, yes, my little project for the Twelve Days of Christmas…with only two to go.  I am amazed I got this far, especially since I am getting a lot of the permissions on the fly as I find pictures I want to use or that inspire or that have something interesting to them.

I’m not trying to run down the classic Christmas song, heaven knows.  Most of you know me as a sober fellow when it comes to religion, well-educated on the topic and ordained.  My essays on the essentiality of free will in Christian philosophy and "God is not an American" have earned me more than one angry moron in my day.  Just having some fun (especially since most people seem unaware of the theological underpinnings of the song).

We’ll see if I get the last few permissions (if not, I have a fall back.  Mariya has given me carte blanche to use any of her works as I need to…I just do not want this to turn into a "Mariya and the others" project).

So hang on and give me 48 hours to finish…I’m interested to see how it turns out!

My true love gave to me…

10 Toasty Tootsies..

Those of you who hang out on my blogs know well the lovely and charming Armene, although I must admit it is usually other parts of her you see than her face and feet.  Thank you, my sweet friend, for so kindly letting me use this shot of you.

My true love gave to me…

9 perfect proteges…

Thanks to the Jazzy one herself, my prized and pretty protege who sometimes goes by the name "Nightblooming", for her contribution to this day.

My true love gave to me…

8 angels singing…

Thanks to my angel, Mariya, for her continued contribution in this whim of mine.  This photo of her, and subsequent photo manipulation, is one we have discussed using as a book cover.

…my true love gave to me…

Seven Pretty Primas…

Special thanks to Jean Fan, also known to her friends and fans as roseonthegrey, for permission to use this picture. By the way, if you want to check out her work at Deviant Art be aware that she is selling both prints of her works and hand-made tutus(!!!) to help with her college. Thank you, Jean.

…my true love gave to me…

Six Kittens Purring…

Thanks again to the lovely Mariya. And, of course, her cat.

…my true love gave to me…

five perfect words…

beauty

eloquence

legendary

lachrymose

quintessence

and if you need to know what I am talking about here, you don’t pay attention.  Thanks to the artists and photographers who are assisting with this project, including (so far) Anni Suvi, the delicious Liza Lorraine and, of course, Mariya Andriychuk.

…my true love gave to me

Four Spice Cookies…

Again, my thanks to Liza Lorraine, who not only snapped the shot, but tells me she baked and iced the cookie herself!  Yum!