A Haven for Vee

Friday, December 7, 2012

Star Carol


Every year at Christmas time, my mother would always make room in her budget for adding a new Christmas album. She would find them sitting in special displays at the old-time department stores: Woolworth's, Kresge's, Grants, Kings, The Mammoth Mart, The Fantastic Fair, and even at the local hardware store.

And in that way the voices of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Peggy Lee, and so many others became familiar to us. One year, Simon and Garfunkel came to us singing this sweet carol. Do you remember it? I'm so glad that it floated back to me on a wee memory. (Gosh, I love You Tube — so many things to be rediscovered.)



Just some Christmas images tossed in. I have done the "Christmas Lite" box again this year. It seems to be enough.

Last evening, I finally finished my tree. This is how it looks. Aren't I clever for switching to yet another new spot? I have had five or six different locations since the addition was built. Some years I have a rocking horse beneath the tree; this year I have a small table laden with children's Christmas books and a little chair.


I tried *last year's photography technique,* though I couldn't get it to work quite so well. 



My list is ticking right along. Breakfast out, supper out, hair done, house semi-decorated, music enjoyed, and on it goes...

Wishing you a sweet day and a lovely weekend.



39 comments:

  1. I say you are moving right along at just the right pace and taking time to enjoy the magic. Tree looks great. xo

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  2. Your Christmas tree is so pretty and I love the table and chair under it. Does Fiore ever want to climb it?
    Beautiful Christmas mosaic, too. I love Christmas music but I don't recall the one you mention by Simon and Garfunkel. I'll check it out...and I agree that You Tube is great!
    Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

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  3. I don't think I've ever heard this song sung by Simon and Garfunkel before. We're on the same track with a star carol today, though. When I say today I mean Friday even though I'm commenting on Thursday night on the west coast. Love your tree and manger scene...
    Have a great weekend!

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  4. VEE!!!!!

    Oh my gosh - this is the Lord's truth:

    We had ONE Christmas album in my family and we played and played and played it. It had Danny Kaye and Edie Gourmet and Sammy Davis Junior and all sorts of awesome singers back in that day....it was a freebie from Firestone Tire and Rubber (my father was an electrical engineer turned electrical panel parts sales owner) and used to call on all those businesses back then.

    Well THIS SONG was on that album, by a beautiful Italian lady named Maria someone, never heard of her then or even still - a crystal clear soprano and oh that was my favorite song on the album! Well years later my older brother FOUND that lp - said he had been looking for it for 30 years - and made CDS of it for all of us kids in the family!!!! Only I have such an old stereo it doesn't accept any handmade cds....so I listen to it in my car.

    I LOVE you know and love this song - so surprising that it hasn't been copied again and again, you know? I would love to hear a new version too! I never heard this S and G version, it's great but somehow in my head it should be female because that's what I know, haha.

    Thank you, made my night. Sorry this is so long.

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  5. DEE I FOUND IT!!!!

    Anna Maria Alberghetti!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPeG0fMqPvE

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    1. 2019-11-01

      After all these years, I finally looked it up and found that the video is no longer available. Bummer!

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  6. We just got back from seeing "White Christmas" at the theater and everyone clapped at the end. What a sweet night!
    I love your cute little table and chairs under the tree. Which reminds me, I need to get out my Christmas books too!

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  7. I grew up listening to all kinds of music but never heard this one! I like it very much!

    Your tree is nice too, it's in a good spot, I think.

    Deanna

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  8. Hi Vee!

    Well, you certainly stumped me on this song - I have never heard it, although I just adore Simon and Garfunkel. What a beautiful song!

    Christmastime just takes me back in time . . . I remember some of the oddest things, that I would never remember any other time of year. I remember being with my mother, at night, in the basement of a large department store, where the toys were, and where Santa sat in a large chair. I'm not sure why she only had me with her, as I had four other siblings. But, I do remember sitting on Santa's lap and telling him that all I wanted was a Barbie doll, didn't care if I got anything else, but I wanted a platinum blonde, Barbie . . . and I got her... ;o)

    Oh, by the way, we have a Kings, in my small town, it's only about two miles down the road from my house - one of the perks of living in the boonies!

    Your tree is gorgeous - looks like it's in the perfect spot!

    I love those audio books! Looks like John is having a great time. I'm sure it will make someone very happy!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  9. I see the stars! Cool technique. And thanks for the S and G song--I don't remember hearing it before but it's lovely. As is your home, and talk about cozy!

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  10. I used to buy a new Christmas CD every year. It soon became more than one each year. This year I promised myself NO new Christmas music. I have enough and I must get busy listening to what I have! I love Star Carol and your stars in the tree!

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  11. Hi Vee,

    I love how your tree turned out and I love how you always include your sweet hubby in the photo each year. I love Christmas music. I found some Frank Sinatra for my post today. I love all of the music that you mentioned, and some of those shops bring back my childhood memories too. Funny but we didn't have allot of money, but it always felt abundant in my home thanks to my mom. Mom's are like that. Hey we are moms too!

    Karen

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  12. I try to buy a new CD each year. Still, what I really want to find is the CD version of the albums my mom played every year on our old "hi fi". This post has motivated me to ask her if by any chance she still has those albums in a box in the attic or something.

    To me, music is such a HUGE part of Christmas.

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  13. Your tree is lovely! I like its new spot, and I love the children's table and chairs and books beneath it. I am just imagining your dear grands sitting at that table, or perhaps bringing a book to Nonni to read.

    "Star Carol" is new to me...at least I thought it was until I followed the link supplied by your commenter Michelle and saw that we had that very album..."Great Songs of Christmas." Fun stuff... :)

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  14. Yes, I grew up listening to these same singers from albums at home. I had not heard the Simon and Garfunkel song, though.

    Your Christmas tree looks beautiful Vee. It sounds like you are having a wonderful Christmas season.
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  15. Your tree is very pretty and I like the idea of the chair with books underneath it. Very clever!!
    No, I don't remember that song though I did like Simon and Garfunkel.

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  16. Good morning! Your tree is soo pretty, and the idea of the table and chair and books beneath it is brilliant! love it....My hubby is a BIG Simon and Garfunkel fan and he LOVES this song...brought back some memories. Enjoy your week-end!

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  17. Congratulations on completing so many things on your list already. Isn't it fun to check things off that list?!

    Your tree is lovely and you make such interesting settings for your pictures. That's the creative art teacher showing through!!

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  18. PBS has been showing the old Andy Williams Christmas specials as part of their two weeks of gaining new subscriber specials.

    I LOVED those shows each year.

    I still enjoy those old classic crooners, too. A few years ago I started listening to the old English Christmas music sung by church choirs in... England. ;)

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  19. I love remembering the special sound of Christmas records on the 'stereo'! I'm adding 'write Christmas cards' today! Sweet holiday hugs!

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  20. Oh how beautiful and warm and cozy and inviting!!!! And THAT my Dear, is purrrrrrrrrfect in my book.

    :-)))))))))))))))

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  21. Just lovely. Looks all warm and cozy!

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  22. Hello Vee
    Pretty cool way to photograph your tree; even more twinkle! I am lacking in the under the tree department, something needs to be arranged and I'll work on this.
    I grew up listening to Bing Crosby's Christmas album and I have it on a CD. Hubby's a little tired of hearing it though so I crank up the volume when he's out of the house! :-)
    Your retirement schedule sounds much like ours, out for lunch and out for lunch. Fine by me, that means I don't have to make dinner on those days. We rarely go out for breakie or dinner, just a big lunch.
    Judith

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  23. Ah yes, good old Mammoth Mart. Your home looks warm and inviting. Is John taking a nap? Does he know he's part of your blog material? Thanks for sharing your pretty tree. Mine is up with lights but no decorations yet. ~ Abby

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  24. Whoa... I just saw a bird ornament made from sheet music in your collage. Did you make it? I think I saw something similar on Sandy's blog - A Quill Cottage Christmas. Will go take a look. Love it!! ~ Abby

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  25. Hi Vee! Your tree is so pretty! I love the small table with children's books. How perfect! I love the Christmas song by Bing, and Frank and Dean and Tony and Perry .... to me they are so much more sincere than the one's most modern artists record. I love the song you have shared. You can find so many wonderful things hidden on YouTube!
    Have a great weekend!

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  26. Thank heavens I am back and have access to the blog again - I was having withdrawal symptoms. I think ti had to do with something re the blog address changing to wherever I was. But who cares. I am back! I love your tree, Vee, and your mosaic is stunning.

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  27. Hi Vee! I have never heard that Christmas song before but it was beautifully done by Simon and Garfunkel. I love their harmony. Your tree is so pretty. I love the mosaic you did of the ornaments. The table and chairs beneath the tree are a great idea for when the grands come to visit. It's looking very cozy there and John seems to be quite relaxed and enjoying the lights. Enjoy the weekend!

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  28. What a great Christmas Carol by Simon Garfunkel! I have never heard that before. Love S & G!

    Glad you are ticking right along that list:) It's looking mighty cozy in there...with John snuggled in his chair! Have a great weekend.

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  29. Dec. 7th...

    Better late than never. I didn't have time to listen to John read that story yesterday. But I listened today. He does have a GREAT *accent.* Love it!!!!

    Do you drop your 'r's' too??? :-)

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  30. Your tree looks lovely, and I really like that fact that you included John in the photo. I'm over in Judy's Front Porch territory today, visiting my parents. It's pouring rain, but cozy indoors.

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  31. ROFL! I can SEE the metal strainer! You goof-ball! Did I not tell you the trick last year? Put your camera on aperture priority, set the f-stop to 22, and put the camera on a tripod. (Your shutter will be open a couple of seconds at f/22, so that's the reason for the tripod.) Sha-zam, you'll get starry lights in your image.

    Your tree looks pretty (in the 1st photo, LOL)! And you did a lovely mosaic! Now take a bow and put away the metal strainer!

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    1. You don't think that I didn't know I was showing the tea strainer, do you? Ha! No, it was my nod to the tea strainer in case anyone remembered. The first photo was also taken through the strainer. My camera was on the tripod; not sure about the f/22.

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  32. Vee,
    I was just thinking about the photo technique from last year! I don't think you are a goofball! Maybe I am...cause nothing that Donna explains above makes sense to me, I'm a point and shoot kind of gal!

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  33. Wonderful memories and that's what Christmas is all about - remember past Christmases when we were children and making new memories with our children and grandchildren. Love the photos !

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  34. I just bought a new CD today--"This Christmas" and can't wait to play it while I work away getting the house ready. I love remembering past Christmases and telling stories; something my grandchildren are starting to appreciate. XOXO

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  35. Oh everything looks lovely! I've done nothing! Well, not entirely true . . . I put up our tree at the cottage today! We're celebrating my husband's birthday weekend! Tomorrow's the actual day!

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  36. Love it, Vee! I especially love the little chair and books by your tree. It's for the kiddos anyway! I think your snowy basket picture looks great! Guess I need to skip on over to PicMonkey and see what's up. Only I don't have decorations up yet - About to wind up this saw-blade painting. I worked on it for 6 hrs straight yesterday and my back is REALLY complaining today!
    Have a good un! And tell John hi from us!

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  37. LOL, oh yes, I knew you were having a chuckle with yourself about the tea strainer!

    Try the f/22 setting trick on the tree and you'll love the results. Come in a big closer than the first photo and you'll really see the effect in the final results.

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