third sunday of advent

song 3rd by an old shepherd

when silver snow decks sylvio's clothes,

and jewel hangs at shepherd's nose,

we can abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

whilst virtue is our walking-staff,

and truth a lantern to our path,

we can abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

blow, boisterous wind, stern winter frown,

innocence is a winter's gown,

so clad, we'll abide life's pelting storm,

that makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.

by william blake (1757 - 1827)

 we celebrated the third sunday of advent at breakfast this morning before chanda ran off to her old ballet school's holiday dance performance at la guardia community college in queens.

 greg and i prepared the room for the christmas tree which we'll get tomorrow. we moved his desk by the bookcase, and moved the big chair next to it . .

 madeline adapted well to its new position . . 

 she loves being top cat.

afterwards, greg and i ran several errands (separately) in the heavy rain. it was not the best day for outdoors, being wet, rainy and cold. chanda met me at trader joe's to help carry home groceries and an evergreen wreath . . but then we left the evergreen wreath at the container store when we stopped for a few wrapping and food storage supplies . . so i went back for the wreath while she went home with the bags and reheated leftovers for dinner.

 leftover chicken with sweet potato fries and broccoli . . 

 and panettone from trader joe's!

 all set for the tree . . 

 we just needed to make fresh bread, french chocolates, moon cookies and hot chocolate mix for the picnic at the tree farm. i did the bread, chocolates and cookies while chanda grated the baking chocolate (it gets mixed with cocoa powder and sugar). my job may sound like a lot, but her's was the more difficult one. next time we'll try a blender, though the chocolate often melts with the heat of the blades.

ah well . . we got the job done though it wasn't easy.