Rare Blue Moon and Happy 2010!!!!

There will be a blue moon on Thursday as New Year's Eve revellers welcome in 2010 - the first time since 1990 that a blue moon has coincided with New Year's Eve.

A blue moon - the second full moon in a calendar month - occurs only every 2½ years on average. This month, full moons occur on December 2 and December 31.

An astronomer, David Reneke, from Australasian Science magazine, said it was rare for the event to land on New Year's Eve, and it would not happen again until 2028.

While everyone is celebrating, they should take a moment and look up into the night sky!

Though I have said it before, our prayer is worth repeating. It is our sincere prayer for all of you, for peace to reign in your hearts, for you to keep hope alive, for you to bear good fruit, for you to be healthy, for you to be rich in Spirit, for your joy to be full for therein lies your strength, and that your blessings spill over and over and over again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

What your son or daughters' college dorm room might look like...

Edward gives us a good indication..home for the Holidays..:)))

Mary Had a Baby....

'Following a star in the sky,

the Wise Men found Jesus,

and when they were come into the house,

they saw the child with Mary, His mother,

and fell down, and worshipped Him.'

Matthew 2:11

It is our sincere prayer for all of you, for peace to reign in your hearts, for you to keep hope alive, for you to bear good fruit, for you to be healthy, for you to be rich in Spirit, for your joy to be full for therein lies your strength, and that your blessings spill over and over and over again.

From Our House...

With our prayers for you all to have a blessed Holiday Season, from the Lilley house to yours...

Custom Vintage Razors, For the Guys!!

Alex Jacques specializes in making the finest straight razors that he can! All steps in making the custom razors are performed in his own shop from blade grinding to heat treating to final honing. Through detailed study and practice, Alex has come to pride himself on his design, artistic approach, and most importantly, function in terms of creating blades for daily use. This is a small sampling of his amazing portfolio. Hey Ladies, a great gift for your best Guy!!!

Check out Alex and his specialized blades here.

Wordless Wednesday...well, a couple...

Missing my oldest friend, Amy Pearson, affectionately know by me as 'Bigger'.

She passed away 6 years ago yesterday.
'You filled us with song and danced down the sunny side of the street, in our hearts you will always be'

Happy Chanukah!!!!!!!!

Here is the story of Chanukah:

About 2200 years ago, Greek kings, who reigned from Damascus, ruled over the land of Judea and the Jews living there. One Greco-Syrian King, Antiochus Epiphanes, forbade the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. Antiochus forced the Jews to worship the Greek gods. It is said that he placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression.

The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is one reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the enemy army and Judah tells them to have faith that God is on their side:

"But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them." (The First Book of Maccabees)

Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea. Hanukkah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit." Chapter 4:6

The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They cleaned the Temple, removing the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, the Temple was purified and rededicated. According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy Temple, they discovered that the Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used to Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified oil remained - enough for only one day. It would take the Jews a week to process more purified oil. Then a miracle occurred. The Maccabees lit the menorah and it burned for not one, but eight days, by which time the new, purified oil was ready. This is why the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash candle used to light the others) and one reason why Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days

Painting by, Yoram Raanan
Menorah: 'Purple With Stripes'
2002-2003

Wordless Wednesday

'My Palette'

'Dancing Petals'
'Inner Visions'

Lilleypics

Twice Told Tales

I have been selling my cards to stores...locally for right now. It doesn't get any more New England charming than our little Pawtuxet Village. I mentioned it's wonderful history in a previous post, 'Antique Haven'. Now, we have 'Twice Told Tales'!!. Karen Calkins, the owner, has squeezed more things in this space than seems humanly possible. She sells used, rare and out of print books, hence, the name of the store, (or is it in reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne's book of the same title?) but there is so much more! She sells cards galore, children's handmade clothes, sweaters, children's books, games of old, jewelry, women's clothes and handmade bags, papers, wrapping and otherwise, boxed stationary, handmade fudge, Christmas ornaments, candles, Rhode Island memorabilia. You get the picture. She bought all but 4 from my entire collection, and put out a few, for now. So enjoy my view of 'Twice Told Tales'. You can find Karen and her store at 2210 Broad Street, Warwick, RI. 401-785-9599

Ladies, THIS is a Sale!!

'CZ Stunner'
'Who Loves Rose?'
'Champagne Gold CZ'

We all love a great sale...and this, Ladies, is a good one!

Purchase any pair of earrings from my Etsy shop, Lilleypad, and get the second pair of equal or lesser value, for 50% off. No extra shipping charges. Just convo me through the shop to tell me which 2 pair you want, so that I may create a listing for you in 'reserve'. I have already reduced all the earrings by 10%, straight up until December 25th.
HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Wordless Wednesday

Big Kitty
from the archives