We played and sang the traditional carol “The Friendly Beasts” at our church’s Christmas Eve service, and we hope you enjoy this video (3′24, 7.5 Mb).
Merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2006Asleighing we will go
December 22nd, 2006This is from last week when we were in Oregon:
Now. I’ll be the princess, you’ll be the unicorn, and Beren will be the knight. There will be a dragon, and Beren will have a BIG sled. And when the dragon comes he will HIT him with the sled and he will sleigh him…
—Lily
on seasonal ambitions
December 21st, 2006No animal, according to the rules of animal etiquette, is ever expected to do anything strenuous, or heroic, or even moderately active during the off-season of winter. All are sleepy—some actually asleep. All are weather-bound, more or less; and all are resting from arduous days and nights, during which every muscle in them has been severely tested, and every energy kept at full stretch.
“Very well then!” continued the Badger. “But, when once the year has really turned, and the nights are shorter, and half-way through them one rouses and feels fidgety and wanting to be up and doing by sunrise, if not before—you know!——”
Both animals nodded gravely. They knew!
“Well, then,” went on the Badger, “we—that is, you and me and our friend the Mole here—we’ll take Toad seriously in hand. We’ll stand no nonsense whatever. We’ll bring him back to reason, by force if need be. We’ll make him be a sensible Toad. We’ll—you’re asleep, Rat!”
“Not me!” said th Rat, waking up with a jerk.
“He’s been asleep two or three times since supper,” said the Mole, laughing.
—The Wind in the Willows, ch. 4
Yay solstice.
December 20th, 2006
THE FAIRBANKS CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TOMORROW
NORMAL RECORD YEAR
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) 2 41 1985
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) -16 -49 1961
SUNRISE AND SUNSET
DECEMBER 20 2006..........SUNRISE 1059 AM AST SUNSET 241 PM AST
DECEMBER 21 2006..........SUNRISE 1059 AM AST SUNSET 241 PM AST
&&
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AVAILABLE DAYLIGHT
AMOUNT OF DAYLIGHT TODAY (HOUR:MIN)........3:42
LOSS SINCE YESTERDAY........................1 MINUTE
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Source: Noaa.gov