National Cupcake Day

Did you know that December 15th is celebrated as National Cupcake Day?  I wonder who makes decisions about food holidays.

      Since we're coming close to the Winter Solstice why not make snowmen cupcakes?

November 22

Saint Cecilia with an Angel

 Orazio Gentileschi,  around 1618 - 1621

Autumn Arrives

"Divinest autumn! who may paint thee best, forever changeful o'er the changeful globe?"

R. H.  Stoddard

(1825 - 1903)

Richard Henry Stoddard, a nineteenth century American critic and poet, originally trained as a blacksmith and later worked as an iron moulder.  In his leisure time he read poetry and he acquainted himself with other men interested in literature.  In 1853 Nathaniel Hawthorne helped him to secure a job as customs inspector for the Port of New York.  He held this job until 1870, making a living and also advancing his literary pursuits.  His poetry is elegant and erudite and his lyric poems, set to music, earned him a reputation as a writer of songs.

A Story in Pictures

Mommy Sparrow Delivers Breakfast

but there's a problem...  "I was expecting muffin crumbs or soft and chewy white bread crumbs and you brought me INSECTS to eat?!!!"

Seen on City Sidewalks

A juvenile House Sparrow or English Sparrow is begging to be fed.  Their chirps are heard all over city streets at this time of year.

Memorial Day and Poppies

Memorial Day was established in 1868 as a day of remembrance honoring those who have died in service to the United States of America.  It was first called Decoration Day for the practice of strewing flowers on the graves of veterans and draping homes and monuments with red, white, and blue.  Originally celebrated on May 30th the date has now been moved to the last Monday in May.

Moina Michaels is credited with creating the idea of wearing red poppies to honor veterans who died in service to their country.  She was inspired by and responded to John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields."  In 1915 she wrote her own poem about poppies.
           
            "We cherish too the poppy red
              That grows on fields where valor led.
              It seems to signal to the skies 
              That blood of heroes never dies."

  

In 1948 the United Post Office honored  Moina Michaels for her role in founding the National Poppy movement.  Today artificial poppies are manufactured by disabled veterans and worn as a symbol of respect and remembrance for our honored war dead.

"Vase with Red Poppies" by Vincent Van Gogh (1866)