The Greedy Mouse

A greedy mouse saw a basket full of corn. He wanted to eat it. So he made a small hole in the basket. He squeezed in through the hole. He ate a lot of corn. He felt full and was very happy.

Now he wanted to come out. He tried to come out through the small hole. He could not. His belly was full. He tried again. But it was of no use.

The mouse started crying. A rabbit was passing by. It heard the mouse’s cry and asked, “Why are you crying, my friend?”

The mouse explained, “I made a small hole and came into the basket to eat the corn. Now I am not able to get out through that hole.”

The rabbit said, “It is because you ate too much. Wait till your belly shrinks.” The rabbit laughed and went away.

The mouse fell asleep in the basket. The next morning his belly had shrunk. But he wanted to eat some more corn. He forgot all about getting out of the basket. So he ate the corn and his belly was really big again.

After eating, the mouse remembered that he had to escape. But obviously, he could not. So he thought, “Oh! Now I will go out tomorrow.”

The cat was the next passerby. He smelt the mouse in the basket. He lifted its lid and ate the mouse.

Christmas Pudding - The Flaming Finish
The traditional Christmas pudding in the UK is a bit like a cannonball made of dried fruit, nuts, flour, eggs, suet or butter, spices and loads and loads of alcohol. It comes to the table sprigged with holly or winter cherries and flaming with brandy.

Rich and heavy, a little bit of Christmas pudding goes a long way. There is nothing quite like it as a base for the variety of accompaniments presented with it - brandy butter, hard sauce, poured custard, white cornstarch sauce and more recently whipped cream or ice cream.

A good Christmas pudding is started months before Christmas, steamed for several hours, then tightly wrapped and left to age. Whisky or brandy are used to plump up the dried fruit and are "fed" to the cooked pudding from time to time. On the day, the pudding is once again steamed for a few hours. Then hot brandy is poured over it and set alight.

Traditionally, a three-penny (thruppence) or six-penny (sixpence) coin, both long out of circulation, is baked in the pudding. Finding it is considered good luck. In some families, silver or porcelain charms are kept for this purpose.

Why the royal family doesn’t open presents on Christmas Day

The royal family exchanges their presents on Christmas Eve at tea time, instead of on Christmas morning. This royal family tradition started with King George (Queen Elizabeth II’s father), who is of German descent. In Germany, presents are opened on Christmas Eve.
Where does the royal family celebrate Christmas?

The royal family celebrates Christmas at the Queen’s residence in Sandringham. The queen arrives earlier than the rest of the family (on the 19th or 20th of December) to oversee preparations. The rest of the royal family arrives in the morning or early afternoon of Christmas Eve. This includes Queen Elizabeth’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as extended family members.
What does the royal family do on Christmas Eve?

Besides the exchanging of presents, the royal family enjoys the company of one another on Christmas Eve. It has been long withstanding that the holidays are a time for the royal family to be together without the weight of the world (or the United Kingdom, anyways) on their shoulders.
What does the royal family do on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day is busy for the royal family. After a hearty breakfast, they attend church service at St. Mary Magdelene in Sandringham. When service is over, they return home for a traditional feast.

Queen Elizabeth II gives her annual Christmas message to all of Britain and the Commonwealth Kingdoms, which is broadcast over the television. The rest of the royal family watches as she gives her speech. In the evening, everyone enjoys a buffet-style meal before retiring for the night.

What’s different this year?

Although the royal family (and Queen Elizabeth in particular) do not typically stray from tradition, this year promises to be a little different. Despite a strict “family only” policy at private holiday events, rumors have it that the queen extended an invitation to Meghan Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland.

Surprisingly, even Kate Middleton was not allowed to attend before her and Prince William were officially married. Last year, when she was only engaged to Prince Harry, Markle was invited – thus breaking tradition yet another time.

What other annual traditions does the royal family have?

The queen and her husband traditionally send over 750 Christmas cards and also purchase a special Christmas pudding for all members of their household (which number in the hundreds). The card features a family photo that we are delighted to inform everyone includes Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved (and adorable) corgis.

Donations are made by the queen to a variety of charities around Sandringham, and she also gives away a few Christmas trees. It is also the time of year for all of the royal family to show their appreciation to those who serve them during the rest of the year.

Christmas Cake - The Teatime Essential

Christmas cake in the UK is started months before the holiday. The rich fruit and nut cake is "fed" with brandy or whisky - a few spoonfuls at a time, every few days for weeks.

Before Christmas, the cake is enrobed in a rolled layer of marzipan and topped by a thick layer of rolled white icing. Then the whole thing is neatly wrapped in a red ribbon and topped with a holiday picture.

In effect, by wrapping the Christmas cake like a present it is sealed airtight in all that marzipan and icing. That, plus the amount of alcohol it has absorbed, should make it last a very long time. And, kept in a biscuit tin or a plastic food box with a sealable lid, Christmas cakes have been known to be edible for months, even years.

The Christmas cake is not usually part of Christmas dinner but is kept to be offered at tea time and for snacks during the holidays.

The Australian Shepherd, also known as Aussie, is a loving, brave, confident, smart and responsive dog.
These dogs are affectionate, friendly, good-natured and are willing to go out other their way to please their master.
The breed’s ears are of moderate size, triangular in shape, slightly rounded and are set high.

Wow! Winter snow canoe trip with pup leading the way

The Dead Grape-vine

YOU say, "Dig up this old vine and burn it; it is worthless." Did you but know the story of this gray stump and brittle branches, you would recall the last words, for what has once been of use and beauty can never be worthless. We do not speak so of dead great men, and a vine is an object of worth in its own sphere. Let me tell you the story of this old grape-vine, and learn whether it does not deserve your gentle respect.

To begin with, it has been quite a traveler, and came of a high family, in a lovely country you have never seen. Far away on the fairy-like coast of a tropical land, there flourished a vineyard more than a hundred years old, a vineyard that had outlived three kings, and had quietly pursued its appointed destiny, while countries waged war against each other, deluged fields with blood of horses and men, destroyed the grand works of years, and brought sorrow into hearts and homes by the thousand.

But from this vineyard, which escaped destruction, the choicest clusters were plucked for the tables of royalty. Often the peasants filling the baskets have tasted the lesser clusters (such fruit as you and I never tasted under this cold sky); and, oh, how sweet the air was there, how beautiful the scene from the terraces where these vines grew, and what melody rang through the long green rows by day, and the changeful voice of the nightingale when all others were silent ! Ah, the native associations of this dead grape-vine were beautiful indeed !

Then someone from our own free America brought away cuttings from those noble vines,* and whether all survived in this cold climate I cannot say, but this one, faithful to its ancient name, bore clusters of such fruit as few mortals taste.

He trained it around the porch of the home to which he brought his bride. Here they often sat in the moon- light, and, later, how often they lifted up the baby to catch at the tempting fruit !

How many a cluster has this vine yielded, carrying delight and refreshment to the fevered lips of the sick ! How rich have been the dried and pressed bunches in the long winter evenings ! and tiny glasses have spark- led with the rich coloring of their autumn yield.

Shade, food, and drink through many a year, a noble ancestry, beauty and usefulness all its life, these are what it has given you.

A dead grape-vine ! Who will write its epitaph, this vanished delight?

Christmas is a religious celebration that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Each country, village and home celebrates it in their own ways, according to culture, customs and traditions.

In the United States, Christmas celebrations start in November, right after Thanksgiving day, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of this month. The following Saturday, in New York, there's a big parade with Santa Claus, who welcomes the Christmas season.  would like to explain how Christmas is celebrated in the USA.

The arrival of Christmas season brings joy and happiness to every member of the family, especially the tiny tots. The kids have special love for this festival and it is always a refreshing idea to make them participate in the festivities.

How Is Christmas Celebrated In the USA

Steps to follow:
1

Christmas was first celebrated in the USA in the mid 17th century by puritans in the northern states of New England and Pennsylvania who celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. On the 25th of December the birth of Jesus Christ is still celebrated, at least this is its origin and the reason for celebrating Christmas.

Given the multi-cultural nature of the people living in the United States, Christmas is celebrated in different ways and traditions.

2

Santa Claus in the USA is the equivalent to Saint Nicholas in some European countries, the saint that gave presents to poor children during winter. In the USA, Santa Claus is represented as an old man, with a long,white beard and a red dress. A happy and smiley man who travels on a sleigh pulled by 8 reindeer and goes around the world on the night before Christmas giving out presents for all children. The figure of Santa Claus and the tradition of giving presents was incorporated in the nineteenth century in the USA by mixing both the idea of Germany's Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Germany in early December), and Sinter Klaas, that came from the Dutch tradition.

Although there are still some religious traditions, Christmas is a celebration based on consumerism and shopping. The streets are decorated incredibly well, as are their shops, offering special products too. It is generally a consumerist celebration.

3

But how is Christmas celebrated in the USA? The night of the 24th and the 25th are celebrated with family. The family members get together to have dinner, supper, drink and enjoy being together with their loved ones. They generally bring a present, sweet or something to accompany the evening. The most religious Catholic families attend Midnight mass at twelve o'clock at night too.

On Christmas morning, it's time for children to open the presents that Santa Claus has brought. The traditional meal for families that has Western origins is, Christmas dinner, and typically includes turkey or stuffed chicken. Families with other origins prepare different dishes: Italians might prepare lasagne while families with Polish origins might cook keilbasi, a type of sausage.

As a Christmas dessert, they don't have as many traditional dishes as the British do with Mince Pies and Christmas pudding, but can have Christmas cookies, Panettone if they have Italian heritage or other sweet treats such as Bundt cake or pies.

4

It's very typical to send Christmas cards during these dates to friends and loved ones, wishing them a happy holiday, love and peace. A detail that makes Christmas special and fills homes with joy and good intentions, as each Christmas card is usually displayed around the home.

5

Decorations in the United States are an accessory that is part of the Christmas celebrations. The streets, shops, public spaces and private are full of Christmas joy which we can see in locals and tourists. People in America also like to decorate the outside of their houses. It is very typical to see houses on the street full of lights. Sometimes families also include figures of Santa Claus, Reindeer and snowmen in the front garden of their houses.

One of the highlights of Christmas decorations is mistletoe. Tradition says that you should kiss if you meet a person under the mistletoe, though it was originally added to decorations as it was believed to boost fertility and life.

6

One of the most famous Christmas lights in the USA are the ones in the Rockefeller Center in New York. The building is famous for having a huge Christmas tree full of lights and a public ice skating ring in front of it. The lighting of this tree is the event that marks the beginning of Christmas in the USA. The tree is lit on the 30th November and is on until the 7th January.

7

Eggnog is a very traditional drink for Christmas time in the USA. Eggnog is a beverage made out of milk, sugar, cream, whipped eggs and brandy, rum or bourbon. It is usually served in a large punch bowl, from which people take cups of it. Americans add sprinkles of cinnamon or nutmeg on it for the final touches.

8

In the USA, children hang up their stockings on the fireplace on Christmas Eve though contemporary traditions also add a Christmas Eve box too. On that night they go to bed early and wait until next morning to discover what Santa Claus has left them inside. They also gather around the Christmas tree and unwrap the presents.

9

New Year's Eve is a party that is usually celebrated with friends. During the whole week bars and pubs receive hundreds of people and groups of friends that celebrate the last days of the year with love, joy and wanting to start the new year even better. On the 31st of December, when the new year begins, fireworks fill the sky with color in the United States and everyone celebrates it in their own way, always with a party and lots of fun.

The fact that this festivity comes after Thanksgiving, makes the festive season in the USA extend from the third Tuesday of November to the New Year.

Snoopy loves winter!