My Advent Calendar of Music – Day #1: Anticipation

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

Back in 2011, I got an idea for something to do for the days leading up to Christmas – I LOVE Christmas music, both sacred and secular, so I thought it might be nice to post some of my favorites. People seemed to like it, so I’m just re-posting what I did last year (which is why you may see comments from last year).

The thing is, I have LOTS of favorites – too many for just one post – so I decided to do a musical version of an Advent calendar, and count down the days until that most joyous day which celebrates Christ’s birth. Whenever possible, I have included links where you can purchase your own copy of each day’s selections.

I hope you enjoy my selections – some days there may be just one song; other days, I may do both a “church” and a popular song (both “classics” and contemporary); some days I may post different versions of the same song.  I’m just winging it, so bear with me!

Continue reading →

Posted in Advent/Christmas, Holidays, Music | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Angel Tree (a heartwarming Koch family Christmas tale)

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

.
.
Every family has their own “family lore” – stories handed down from generation to generation.  These are generally told around the campfire, on the front porch, or around the dining room table.  The good ones are side-splittingly funny; the really great ones are the ones which manage to embarass one or more family members.

Every year, Paul or I will drag out this old chestnut – it never fails to leave friends and family rolling in the aisles:

When Rebecca was a baby, Paul would oftentimes get Sarah and Michelle ready for school in the mornings.  Since they were ages 9 and 10 at the time, this consisted of waking them up. telling them to get dressed/ready, and driving them 3 blocks to the school.

Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Holidays, Humor, Messin' with my kids, Think about it | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Thanksgiving Classic

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

.
.

From 1978, this classic clip from the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” never fails to leave me in stitches:

.
.
Turkey Day’s comin’!
.

Posted in Holidays, Humor, Just Because | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

chicken and dumplings ladle
.
Yield: serves 4-6
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8.5 hours

Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Recipes | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Somewhere in Time” Theme – Maxsim Mrvica

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

Sometimes when you start exploring YouTube on a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon, you stumble across the most beautiful things:

.

The gentleman playing this gorgeous arrangement of the theme from one of my all-time favorite movies is a young man from Croatia named Maxsim Mrvica. I had never heard of him before yesterday, but I’m now his newest fan…

Posted in Broadway/TV/Film, Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Come Ye Thankful People”

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving

.
Whenever I think of Thanksgiving, this is the song that comes to mind – and this is a beautiful arrangement sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:
.

.

Posted in Family, Holiday/Patriotic, Holidays, Inspirational, Music | 3 Comments

The Gettysburg Address – 150 Years Later

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

Gettysburg Memorial.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of a most solemn occasion:

.
Continue reading →

Posted in I Love America, Inspirational, Think about it | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

President Obstructing Implementation of His Signature Legislation; Film at 11

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

Calm in any Crisis

Honestly, there is so much going on the past couple of days, it’s hard to keep up.   But I am having a blast watching all of the people who rubbed our noses in their arrogance 4 years ago finally having a “Come to Jesus” awakening.

Meanwhile, the president just sits in the middle of everything, completely unaware of the chaos which he himself is responsible for, wondering why things aren’t going the way he expected them to, and insisting that everyone else “fix it” for him – even though this entire debacle is completely unfixable.

It sure is fun watching the rats deserting the ship…..

Posted in A Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy, I Am Breitbart, I Love America, Just Because, Liberal Nonsense, Lying Lawyers, Obama Sucks, Technologically Challenged, Think about it | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

On Jonathan’s Birthday – “Autumn Leaves”

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

.
Today would have been my friend Becky’s oldest son’s 31st birthday.  Jonathan left us much too soon (a car accident in 2001), but he left lots of great memories behind for those who loved him best.

One of the things that his family ran across while looking for things to include in his memorial service was a poem that he had written in one of his classes about a leaf falling to the ground.  It gave them great comfort, and ever since then whenever Autumn rolls around I like to think that Jonathan is surrounding everyone who knew and loved him with his presence.

Every time I hear this song, I think about Jonathan and his family:

.
(“Autumn Leaves” sung by Eva Cassidy is available in CD and MP3 formats)
.

Posted in Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“When October Goes”

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Teresa in Fort Worth, TX

October Leaves.
Just ask my family – I’m one of the original “Fanilows“, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  I’ve been hooked ever since I heard “Mandy” on the radio in 1974 (what can I say?  Other girls my age went gaga for Donny Osmond – Barry’s always been “my” guy).

“When October Goes” is one of my absolute favorite Barry Manilow songs.  I first heard  this song on his amazing “2:00 A.M. Paradise Cafe” album*** – I managed to wear out the cassette tape from rewinding it to hear this song over and over and over…..

.

.
Have a great day –
.
***”When October Goes” is available in CD and MP3 formats – there are lots of good songs on the album (including duets with Sarah Vaughan and the “Velvet Fog”, Mel Torme).

Posted in Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment