Pangur Ban, a doodle in the margin

Pangur Ban

I and Pangur Ban my cat,
Tis a like task we are at:
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.


I came across this fun poem in the third book of Nancy Farmer's trilogy, The Sea of Trolls. Her footnote reads: "Written by an unknown eighth-century Irish monk in the margins of a manuscript, when he was supposed to be copying the Bible. Translated by Robin Flower in the Irish Tradition, Oxford University Press, London, 1947." I had to laugh at that. How human nature really has not changed much over the centuries. How many times have you been carried away on a whimsy of creation when you should have Been Working!! And, how many times has this whimsy led to some fun creative writing, a new concept discovered, a problem solved? Even Thomas Edison used naps for his problem solving! Hmmm, is there such a thing as creative avoidance...such as writing this post instead of starting my college paper?! Is it time for a nap??!! :D

What is your latest, creative, doodle in the margin? Will I catch you snoozing?

Photo credit

Thought for the Day: Grace

With the start of the New Year, I didn't really make any resolutions. If anything, I've just been moved to be thankful; and, think of the grace that has been given me: By God, by family and friends over the years. Perhaps that's a lesson in of itself, or the best resolution to be made, to be more 'grace' giving. Someone once said to me: 'Grace is getting what we don't deserve, Mercy is not getting what we deserve'.

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other”
-Reinhold Niebuhr (American theologian, 1892-1971)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone be found boasting. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
-Ephesians 2:8-10

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
-John Newton

What are you thankful for today?

You just gotta love their expressions

Happy New Year!

(This is still my favourite New Year's You Tube vid.)

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!!

Lang may yer lum reek!!!!

Silly String Stocking Stuffers and the Sensational Ensuing Stramash ( a noisy commotion, uproar)

My favourite part of Christmas has always been the Stocking stuffers. Even better than receiving, though, is the planning on what to put into the stockings for my husband and kiddies. Well, on one particular shopping hunt my eldest daughter and I laid eyes on a certain item that has been known to wreak havoc on any well laid party plans; and, certainly those of the most strict holiday fashion. And, they just happened to fit perfectly into a Christmas stocking....

As I'm working the Christmas holiday both eve and day this year....lotsa holiday babies tae swaddle....We decided to open the stockings early on my day off. I don't have any evidence, er, pictures of the madness that followed....but if you can imagine 5 people abandoned to insane fun, 5 cans of various coloured silly string, and one small sitting room. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. My husband only wanted to know which 'adult' sanctioned the purchase....my eldest and I just shared conspiratory smirks...
(and, I'm sure I'll be finding bits and pieces of string till Easter, but hey ho,... ho ho ho......)

"In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away"

- shing xiong

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

Is it Christmas already?? That's alright, I'm working anyway..the travails of a hospital nurse ;)

Last night was a fun 'holiday' night with a visit to a magical Christmas light extravaganza. If you can imagine a cul-de-sac of about 15 houses, all covered with lights and decorations in the Disneyland fashion. Then you follow the sidewalk that has become more of a lighted candle trail in the Mexican tradition-Luminarias; I didn't take a photo with my phone, but the borrowed one above might give you an idea. We walked around to the various houses where there were groups of carolers, and hundreds of people wishing each other well. There were camping style fires in (safety) pits at the various houses, a trombone/trumpet group, and for the finale was a small cadre from the local pipes and drums marching band.

Good friends, warm fires, coffee with Irish cream, and pipes and drums....A great evening with holiday spirit!

Tis the Season for Giving

Eight Gifts that Don't Cost a Cent!

This simple checklist can help measure how you are nurturing your relationships.

The Gift of Listening
But you must really listen. Don't interrupt, don't daydream, and don't plan your response. Just listen.

The Gift of Affection
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

The Gift of Laughter
Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

The Gift of Solitude
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone.
Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

The Gift of a Favor
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind. Good deeds are cool.

The Gift of a Written Note
It can be a simple "Thanks for your help" note, or a longer expression of your appreciation for that person being in your life. A brief handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime.

The Gift of a Compliment
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone.

These are eight important ways we can contribute toward whole and healthy relationships. They cost nothing, yet they may well be the most valuable gifts we can ever offer another person.

(received via email)