A Christmas Tale

Posted on by

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” Charles Dickens

A Christmas Tale or, “Can I have some Figgy Puddin’, please?”

The year was 1845. I was about ten years of age and working as a stable girl. Our family lived and worked in Lord Hamilton’s manor house. It was Christmas time and as a gift for the servants, the Lord arranged a feast for the staff and their families.

Mommy had the children dressed in their Sunday best. My two brothers were complaining about the stiffness of the shirts. Starch was itchy and could cause rash, especially if one scratched the itch.
I had my favourite dress on and my younger sister was a bit jealous of the red and green colouring. She was wearing a plain blue coloured hand me down.

After all the fuzz and hassle with the wardrobe, the whole family was finally set to go to the main house and start with the Christmas dinner. Us servants would be dining in the large kitchen. Several long tables were brought in with extra seats as well. This wasn’t a large household. With around fifteen servants and their families, well not all had children and spouses, all in all around sixty people in total crammed around the tables. The two cooks had had their hands full with the preparations and naturally every one that could had chipped in.

But now it was time for celebration. Everyone was finally sitting down and getting quiet. After grace the noise level rose again. Food containers were passed around and everyone was filling their respective plates. After all, it wasn’t often we got to eat in this manner and variety.

After a while, everyone had cleared their plates and it was time for dessert. My favourite was the Figgy Pudding. If possible I opted for seconds. As I got my plate of the delicious substance before me, I licked my lips and dug into it with gusto. It did not take too long for the food to disappear from my plate.

My mom looked at me with a smirk. I looked back at her and passing my bowl I asked: “Is there any Figgy Puddin’ left?”

I was smiling widely, feeling exhilarated, when the bowl was passed back to me with an other helping.

When the final bits were eaten, it was time for the traditional sing along. The farmhand brought out his accordion and after the first few tunes, we all joined in. The evening was spent singing, chatting and finally picking up the tables. We all went back to our dwellings, thanking the Lord for the special meal.

Merry Puddin’ and God bless Us Everyone!

Seasonal Spirits

Posted on by

“Greetings to one and all, holiday and seasonal cheer in tow” Gun Roswell

Seasonal Spirits

When this season is upon us once again with the realest of feel
And it is the time when the home becomes filled with smells and kind of a cheer
Maybe even catch a glimpse of the grumpiest of neighbours with leer
It is the time with colours and lights so bright, the X-mas Eve is sure to be near

The colours and lights of green and red
Filling each corner of this small homestead
No time for sleep, just jump out of bed
And get out now the holiday spirits to spread

But if you are not feeling this thing at all
Never, mind, not everyone can have it all
Just try to be cool and then, just stand tall
And maybe, for a beer, head out to the nearest mall

The odds and ends of nature

Posted on by

“There are things you see and others you find, in the vastness of nature, some more belonging there, than others ;)” Gun Roswell

The odds and ends of nature

Discovered, in the gorgeous scenic scenes in the lush green forest
The summer soon over and left behind but one leaf
Now discarded, on the side, on the pavement, of a busy street
The colours soon fading, but not until there is some staining
A reminder of nature, on the side of the slap of concrete

But then, also discovered, something totally odd and out of place
A shopping cart, right smack in the middle of a stack of leaves it lays
Was it the bears or elks, whom decided they needed to run a beer run instead?
Of drinking from the clear flowing creeks and some new experience to seek
Or maybe, some over the top squirrels, running amok in the shop, just for the thrills

Whomever it was, and whatever they did
The odds and ends of nature, never dull for one single bit!

Beginning of winter

Posted on by

“Some of the things in nature are still going strong” Gun Roswell

Beginning of winter

The feeling now so strong
When all but summer is gone
The winds a howling in the corners
Bringing in more storming
There is no where to hide
As the nature is getting bare and wide
But keep looking around you
There is still beauty to be found
In the pretty lonesome leaf
Holding on to it’s grip
To the might old oak tree
Just keeping on with a feel
It will come back again
But it won’t be until next spring
The leaf covered pavement
Hiding all that ugly coloured cement
The majestically barren tree tops
Make you want to stop and look up
Nature maybe slowly turning
But the fired within, are definitely burning

Sunshine in Autumn

Posted on by

“September and sunshine? Who would have thought!” Gun Roswell

Sunshine in Autumn

A totally odd effect
Took to the skies
After the dark clouds
Completely neglected

An odd ball of light
Shining, ever so bright
Making me want to smile
And forget about the vile

After all it is known
That when October is shown
There really is no turning back
The clock of winter’s brutal attack

Enjoying it while I can
As I here on the porch stand
My face lifted up facing
Towards the skies amazing

Autumn Lane

Posted on by

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer” Helen Hunt Jackson

Autumn Lane

The view from my window
Almost like a suburban meadow
Nature growing wild and free
Only a glimpse of the road I see
The pathway to our house
Narrow and more fitting for a mouse
Black asphalt with a touch of green
Surrounded by colours more gorgeous
Than I ever seen
Mirror mirror on the wall
Which of the seasons
Is the prettiest of them all
Why Autumn of course
Such a nature’s force

Autumn Leaves in Close-up

Posted on by

“All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard

close-up-5

Autumn Leaves in Close-up

When the nature has shed
Summer’s green
The colours of red
Is all that is seen
Leaves and berries
Even the cherries
Shining brightly
So tread lightly
When stepping into nature

close-up-12

Last days of summer

Posted on by

“Summer endings are such sad things“ Gun Roswell

Last days of summer

Before, it, the season, of joy, of fun, of sun, really started
Started, in a big flash of light, and then, it was, already over
Over, as the end, of the very long, bright, summer days
Days, which I wished had lasted, so, so much longer
Longer, than the cold dreary days, of the dark winter, which in, my bones I feel
Feel, so sad, so bad, so not wanting, ever again, to go back
Back, to the so called everyday, grey normal
Normal, is not, what I want, but only for, these summer’s days, to be


Be, exist, live, love, in the everlasting, long, warm, lightened days
Days, so much longer, than the cooler blue lit nights
Nights, never dark, never long, never scary and never, ever cold
Cold, like everything else, which is not, of summer
Summer, oh my dear, you are, my one and only saviour, in good and bad
Bad, is only the time, when you are gone
Gone, well, at least, until, the new year, the next year
Year, when I hope, you will finally stay, for so much more longer

Summer’s seat

Posted on by

“In the tiny garden I sit, until there is snow on the ground” Gun Roswell

Summer’s seat

When the first rays of the summer’s sun appeared
I knew immediately, I could sprint outside without fear
The bright white light burning my retinas at first
But, then I picked up my old fashion shades from dirt
Left them forgotten, discarded under a pile of dust
All through the winter months, since darkness, was a must
Noted the greening and growing grass under my bare feet
The blue skies and the flowers, yeah, I am truly glad to see
Spotting the tiny seat in the corner of the garden so small
Where it had been sitting all along, under the piles of snow
I don’t care if it’s splintered and slightly dirty
As long as I can sit in it without feeling angry
Because today is the first the of the summer life starting
This great time, mostly without bad weather and plowing
So I will be sitting here, spinning all kinds of thoughts in my mind
Until the day that the sun sets for good and it is time
To turn back into the winters dark cave
And sleep, the deep sleep, before another summer saves

Summer Rama

Posted on by

“A panoramic view, of the summer’s hue, how quaint!” Gun Roswell

Summer Rama

Sitting, in the perfect of places
Where the sunshine, and the long summer, always, stays
The temperature, always, perfectly warm but then, cool, at the same time
Which in itself, is a contradiction, but for me, it works really fine

My head, spinning and turning, like the exorcist chicks did, almost one three hundred and sixty degrees
Trying to get in, all the lovely scenery, but, at the same time, feel the warmth of the sun and the cooling breeze
A panoramic photograph, finally done ending up, in my own crocked mind
And then, a little while later, on the great wide web, for all the followers to find

Oh, the Summer Rama!
What would I ever do without ya?