Auld Lang Syne - Happy New Year!!!

Lily and daughter Smidge

Lily here tonight...Since we live in an area of the country that was settled mainly by Scotch-Irish folks we thought we would post about the origins of the New Years Eve song Auld Lang Syne.

The most commonly sung song for English-speakers on New Year's eve, "Auld Lang Syne" is an old Scottish song that was first published by the poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns transcribed it (and made some refinements to the lyrics) after he heard it sung by an old man from the Ayrshire area of Scotland, Burns's homeland. 

It is often remarked that "Auld Lang Syne" is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. "Auld Lang Syne" literally translates as "old long since" and means "times gone by." The song asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten and promises to remember people of the past with fondness, "For auld lang syne, we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet."

The lesser known verses continue this theme, lamenting how friends who once used to "run about the braes,/ And pou'd the gowans fine" (run about the hills and pulled up the daisies) and "paidl'd in the burn/Frae morning sun till dine" (paddled in the stream from morning to dusk) have become divided by time and distance—"seas between us braid hae roar'd" (broad seas have roared between us). Yet there is always time for old friends to get together—if not in person then in memory—and "tak a right guid-willie waught" (a good-will drink).(info from New Year Traditions)

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne.

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,

And surely I'll be mine,

And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou'd the gowans fine,

But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,

Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine,

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o thine,

And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,

For auld lang syne.

Happy New Year to all our friends  - May 2012 bring you nothing but happiness, prosperity and health!

Anybody Missing a Chicken?

Woody here today.  Mom went out to feed the whitesters in the cat house this morning and what do you think she saw?  A big white chicken in the back yard hanging around the bird feeders!  I say yes - a big bird for me!

When Mom tried to talk to him (?) he/she ran away into the woods but not before he got the interest of the whitesters.  Who knows who he belongs too?  Anybody know much about chickens?  Why would he be in our yard and eating the bird seed?  The neighbors across the street have chickens but smaller ones and all black.

Come to think of it Mom has noticed the platter she puts bird seed in by the raised garden bed has been on the ground and turned over for a few days this week.  Wonder how long the chicken has been visiting? We will try to find his home but in the meantime - this is fun chicken TV!

Camera Critters

A Sad Farewell to BB

 

Our dear friend Marg has lost another one of her very special cats - BB.  BB was Holly's daughter and looked just like her.  Holly also went to the Bridge a few weeks back so I am sure she was there to welcome her sweet BB home to the beautiful Rainbow Bridge.  Please stop by to offer words of comfort to Marg at her blog Marg's Pets.

Weep not for me though I am gone into that gentle night.

Grieve if you will, but not for long upon my soul's sweet flight.

I am at peace, my soul's at rest.

There is no need for tears.

For with your love I was so blessed.

For all those many years.

There is no pain, I suffer not,

The fear now all is gone. 

Put now these things out of your thoughts,

In your memory I live on.

Remember not my fight for breath

Remember not the strife.

Please do not dwell upon my death,

But celebrate my life.

~ Copyright 1992 Constance Jenkins,

Toesie Tuesday with Yoko

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We had a quiet one cuz Mom had to work.  Thank you all for all your cards, and holiday wishes! You guys are great!

I am the next to oldest at 18 and have BIG toesies for my size.  Since I have gotten older I have lost some weight but am still a big boned ladycat.  Mom thinks my feets are funny cuz the turn out  like this.  It is just how I am.

I still get around pretty good and easily hop on the sofa, counters (I know I am not supposed to go here)and bed.  I like to sneak on the bed after Pop falls asleep and cuddle next to Mom. I wake her up when I lick her face. I like to lick her a lot and it kinda drives her nuts.  I guess I like the salty skin.  This is just my way of telling her how much I love her!

Do you do anything that drives your beans nuts?

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's me Joey showing off all the Christmas cards us cats got this year from our dear blogging friends.  Waaaay more than Mom and Pop got!

Sweetpea checks out the gifts.

 The holiday season is one of many surprises...not just cards but gifts under the tree and some even with our names on them!

Whatcha doin' Mom?

Mom has that flashy box out all the time, surprising us when we least expect it!.  

 Mom please, some privacy!!!!

Every morning we surprise Mom by leaving ornaments on the floor under the tree.  We like to redecorate the tree daily!

Mamacita making sure no one opened her gift yet.

We hope your holiday is filled with lots of wonderful surprises.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  We will be taking a break for a few days.  See ya next week.

Photo Hunt - Surprise

Camera Critters

Early Christmas for the Whitesters!

Me, Two Spot

Two Spot here today. Our Aunt Sallie gave us a big cat tree a couple of years ago and we have torn that thing to shreds - Mom will have to recover it.  She left it in our catio as we love the perches on it.  So when Mom went by Brother Wolf Animal Rescue to drop off some dog food, she visited their thrift shop and found a big cat scratcher with a perch.  This is an early Christmas gift for us from her and Pop.

Our new perch/scratcher

Nip makes me happy!

We love our new perch - Mom sprinkled some catnip on it to make sure everyone will come see it and sure enough we did.  I was the first one to try it out and the others came out from their hidy spots.  Mom drapes blankets over our chairs to give is warm snuggle spots in the winter to nap.  I am a big fan of nip - can you tell?

Al checks it out.

 

Al found it and everyone left - they are afraid of Al as he can be a bully sometimes.  He really get crazy over nip! Have you gotten any early gifts yet? 

Thank you for all your Christmas cards - both email and snail mail.  Mom will post about them and put the rest of them on the blog this week - promise!! 

The Joy of Cats

Sweetpea watching for introoders....

 
With all the sadness on CB this past week or more, it really makes Mom appreciate the time she has with us cats all the more.  We try to keep Mom and Pop amused with our silliness, loved and comforted with our companionship and they in turn take extra special care of each and every one of us.  No effort is too much in our care cuz  Mom tells us we bring joy into her life every single day!

Two Spot being his silly self....

A poem about cats that says it all... The Magician by Arlene Gay Levine

Then my best friend

on all the Earth

sits upon my lap 

not to be comforted

but to soothe.

Wizard of the heart,

my cat,

when the world fails

 or the day weighs,

with a wave of the tail

or soulful glance

makes the Universe

shine once more.

Darby looking cute and oh so cuddly...

Hug your dog or cat today...their time with us is so precious and short. We are joining Camera Critters and Photo Hunt - Joy today!  Do join too. Happy Weekend.

Beautiful Minnie is our Peacekeeper.

How Many Ways Can a Cat Use a Snuggle Bag?

Wordless Wednesday

Farewell Peepers

Marg of Marg's Pets has lost her lovely goat Peepers.  She had not been well for a couple of weeks and Marg knew it was time to let her go.  We got to meet Peepers when we visited Marg recently and she was a lovely goat.  She preferred the company of her two donkey friends, Joe and Smoke.  Farewell Peepers.  Please do stop by Marg's to offer condolences.  She has lost three animals recently..

We would like to dedicate this poem in her memory....

In the Loss of Your Pet

There must be a heaven

for the animal friends we love.

They are not human,

yet they bring out

our own humanity. . .

sometimes in ways

that other people cannot.

They do not worry

about fame or fortune. . .

instead, they bring our hearts

nearer to the joy of simple things.

Each day they teach us

little lessons in trust

and steadfast affection.

Whatever heaven may be,

there's surely a place in it

for friends as good as these.

~Author Unknown

Our Ham-Micks!

Mom bought us two Ham-Micks months ago but never even gave them to us!!!! Finally she did this fall and just now is getting around to showing you how much fun there are!

Minnie tries it out while Chica snoopervises.

"This is nice and firm like I like it" says Minnie.

Minnie and Chica were the first to check them out of the inside cats.  This older crowd was more subdued in their first Ham-Mick try-out.

This one is mine - all mine!

Out side with the younger cats it was a whole other story!  Al just hopped on and claimed it as his own.  Poor Two Spot had to just wait his turn!

 I fit just right in it too!

Time for a nap!

Uh oh...here comes Two Spot. I'm not moving!!!

 

"I will snooze right here and wait for my turn" says Two Spot.

We give these Ham-Micks 80 paws up!!! They are sturdy and comfy!  If you would like your own Ham-Mick just go visit Forty Paws blog and order one or two!

Camera Critters

Tree Trimming Tips from Minnie

Our purrfect tree.

Mom and Pop went to the Christmas tree farm this weekend to get our tree.  We gave them specific instruction - we want our tree to be purrfect!

Pop helping the tree guy cut the tree.

When we got home, me, Minnie,  took charge of snoopervising the trimming.  I had to inspect all of the boxes and bags to make sure I approved.  We went with the sparkly look this year with lots of festive colors!

First put the lights on.  we chose white this year.  Then the ornaments and finally the garland.  Mom won't use tinsel or icicles on account of we will play with them and eat them.  They look so fun and yummy!  I let Yoko help - she is old so we let her do whatever she wants.  I can't wait to be old and get all that special treatment.

Yoko checking out the trim.

This one is from Mom's Grandma.

Mom's ornaments are old..some are from her grandmother and others from her Mom.  She gets a new one or two every year to add to the collection.  She has so many, she creates a new theme every year - sometimes just blue and white, or mainly red or just white. I think the tree came out very nice this year?  What kinds of decorations do you have on your tree?

Another real old ornament.

Our tree all trimmed.

 

I like this one best!

If you would like a Christmas card from us (Mom is emailing them but you don't have to wait on her)  just help yourself to the card over on the sidebar.  Hope you have as much fun trimming your tree as we did.