Your word for 2012

Dog Looking at and Listening to a Phonograph, "His Master's Voice", The Original RCA Music Puppy Dog Logo Symbol for Advertising
Originally uploaded by Beverly & Pack

Are you going to choose a word for 2012?
Last year I chose "shine" and for 2012 I choose "listen".
This dog is listening intently. My word will remind me to listen to friends and family, and to listen when I pray.
I know God often whispers and I want to hear His whispers.
Molly at birdiebluesky.blogspot.com will be choosing a word too.
I got this quote from her blog:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a new beginning." T.S. Eliot
I find it fascinating to read what other people choose as their word; somehow we each find the perfect word for ourself.

Wordless Wednesday

Peacock
Originally uploaded by Arizona Parrot

Well, close to wordless Wednesday. I adore the beauty of peacocks so this photo is a change of pace after Christmas.

Birthday of Jesus

Close-up of baby jesus
Originally uploaded by wrenoud

I looked for an empty manger photo and found this beauty showing the Holy Babe, Jesus.
His light is shining, do you agree?

Amaryllis in Full Splendor

I promised photos of my Razzle Dazzle Amaryllis when it fully opened, and here they are. The name suits the plant as it dazzles and razzles :)
I bought a big fat bulb at a garden center about a month ago, planted it in a small pot, watered it occasionally and it gives back a lot of beauty.
In the second photo is a Christmas cactus that is three years old, and a new miniature rose my stepmom sent to me from Jackson and Perkins. Some of its flowers are white and some are pink; I think it may be two plants in one container.
Merry Christmas to All as the Holy Day draws near.

Pork chops roasted with fresh rosemary

We love to use our cooking stone to cook one inch thick pork chops with plenty of fresh rosemary branches from our garden. We spray the stone with oil, then set the pork chops and rosemary on it, and cook pork chops and rosemary for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.
If you do not have a cooking stone do not fear! This works well in a glass pyrex oven proof rectangular dish.
Bake potatoes in the oven, starting them 15 minutes early for a total of one hour for the potatoes, and prepare a salad. Soon the feast will begin.
The top photo is of the cooked pork chops and rosemary and the second photo show the meat and rosemary before popping it in the oven.
A big plus is that the rosemary perfumes the entire house. Delicious.

Amaryllis, Razzle Dazzle

Hi Friends,
The first photo I took today of my Razzle Dazzle Amaryllis which will have red and white flowers. It fits the Advent season as it gets ready to open, and I wait impatiently to see its full beauty, just as we await Christmas Day. 
Do you see the pretty Christmas cactus in the background? I included the two bottles of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Juice to show the height of the Amaryllis, and also just cuz the cider is delicious.
The second two photos are of my all red Amaryllis and were taken last Christmas.
I am thrilled to see that Razzle Dazzle has the buds for FOUR blooms.
When it blooms fully I will post a photo here to share with y'all.

Quiet Christmas Moments

-201 : a very sir tom christmas
Originally uploaded by kitkatherine

This is a busy season, duh!
That is why I savor quiet moments interspersed among the gift buying, wrapping, mailing, decorating and other bustling about.
Things I savor include:
A good book, like ones by Jan Karon.
Tea or coffee. Constant Comment tea has a clove Christmasy scent.
Keep a roll of quarters in your car so your kids can put quarters in the Salvation Army kettles.
Enjoy eating a candy cane.
Enjoy the moment like this guinea pig looks like it is doing.

I am interviewed about my Christmas book and writing life

Morgen Bailey is a wonderful blogger who posted an interview with me today, about my writing life.
She lives in the UK and interviews many writers on her blog, and I am very honored to be on her blog (on Dec. 10, 2011).
She is booked in advance for interviews on her blog, and was kind to squeeze me in since my first book's subject is the timely one of celebrating Christmas.
Here is the link  http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com
Morgen usually interviews authors, but recently also interviewed a publisher and an agent.
I would love if you stop by her blog and leave a comment to say hi!
I am Terra Hangen, for you who are new here. My book's title is "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" and it is available on http://www.amazon.com.

A Spot of Sunshine

Fly me to the ... sun
Originally uploaded by Paco CT

A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart. Therefore, "Give others the sunshine, tell Jesus the rest."
L.B. Cowman wrote this in "Streams in the Desert.".
I hope these words sing to your heart, as they do to mine.
Happy Christmas season to all!

Christmas Ornament

Christmas Ornament in HDR
Originally uploaded by FrAnthony

Now this is a gorgeous ornament I would like to have for our tree.
Do you have a theme for your tree?
Ours is eclectic, with lots of angels, birds, other animals, hearts, Santas on mountain bikes and on motorcycles, and shiny ornaments large and small.
Oh, and handmade flour dough ornaments my husband and I made early in our marriage. Flour, salt and water, and painted with the paint you use for painting plastic cars and planes, which makes the ornaments last forever.

Christmas is on its way

back alley christmas
Originally uploaded by Darwin Bell

Wordless Saturday, almost :)

Emily Dickinson's Birthday Dec. 10

I know, I know, today is not Dec. 10 but on that day I will post about being interviewed about my writing life, by a blogger in the UK, so I am moving up this celebration of Emily Dickinson. I am sure Emily won't mind. 


On December 10, we celebrate the birthday of Emily Dickinson, and here is one of her charming poems. Ms. Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 and lived until May 15, 1886.
Born so long ago yet she seems like a fresh, kindred spirit, as revealed in her writing.
Here is one of her poems I have long admired.

I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.


I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

Another short quote from her that I like is "To see the summer sky is poetry, though never in a book it lie - true poems flee.
And a quote of hers that I love as I age:
We turn not older with years,
But newer every day.

Happy birthday early, Emily Dickinson.