Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The "Eyes" have it

Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou


I can’t believe that I have eyes. I wonder if they will be blue, brown, or green. I guess we will have to wait to find out. I am beginning to think about what color I want my gown. I will ponder that and let you know next week. Till then, here’s another interesting fact.

1939 Copywriter Robert L. May of the Montgomery Ward Company created a poem about Rudolph, the ninth reindeer. May had been "often taunted as a child for being shy, small and slight." He created an ostracized reindeer with a shiny red nose who became a hero one foggy Christmas eve. Santa was part-way through deliveries when the visibility started to degenerate. Santa added Rudolph to his team of reindeer to help illuminate the path. A copy of the poem was given free to Montgomery Ward customers.



1949: Johnny Marks wrote the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Rudolph was relocated to the North Pole where he was initially rejected by the other reindeer that wouldn't let him play in their reindeer games because of his strange looking nose. The song was recorded by Gene Autry and became his all-time best seller. Next to "White Christmas" it is the most popular song of all time.






Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Say it in Inuit!

Inuit - Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo! (Merry Christmas!)

I thought this was cool since everyone is familiar with the whole North Pole thing. Tom is still using sand paper to get my surface smooth enough for the hand finish that will be used. He uses different grits of sandpaper. He starts with a rough sand paper called 120. He then uses smoother sandpaper until he gets to one called 400 grit. This gets me ready for the next step. He now begins to add details to my gown. These may be flowers, stars or various images carved or burned into the wood. Until next time, here are some Christmas gift suggestions:


To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold






Tuesday, June 15, 2010

"Finishing School" - Part 1

Hello. Merry Christmas. I have decided to begin the rest of my post with how to say Merry Christmas in other languages. We are all familiar with how it is said in English but other languages are also beautiful. Tom and I are now in the process of getting me ready for the intricate detail that will be necessary for me to have my eyes. A secret solution (actually Tom says it is lacquer thinner and DEFT wood sealer) is applied to my face, beard, hair and any other areas that will need additional strength. After the solution dries, Tom can carve the small lines that will become my eyes. I can’t wait. I found another game that my friends and I love to play. Hope you enjoy it.

Nick

Are your friends a small, quiet group who prefer less demonstrative games? Why not pack up a bag for Santa? The game starts when you say, "I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks." The next player goes on to say, "I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks and books." As each player continues they include all the listed items and add their own item. When you miss an item on the list, you are out of the game.





Tuesday, June 8, 2010

"Sandy" Claus and Friends


Hello. I hope you had a great week. This has been an interesting couple of days. Tom has been working on many of my friends and we are all in different stages. It is hard to recognize some of the newer guys but I remember what it was like to be in their shoes. The Carver, oops I mean Tom, is still working every night and I can see that he loves his work. He is sanding me this week. He will have to use four different grits of sandpaper to get me to look just right. I think this is a good look for me. I promised the answers to the song quiz, so here they are. How many did you know? Have fun and talk to you later.

1) Nutcracker Suite

2) Little Drummer Boy

3) Deck The Halls

4) Silent Night

5) Noel

6) All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

7) It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

8) Joy to the World

9) 12 Days of Christmas

10) Do You Hear What I Hear?

11) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

12) Up On The House Top

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Perfecting my beard - and a word game



I hope this post finds everyone doing well. The Carver was in the school house a lot this week. I can tell he really enjoys working with us. I’ve noticed that he sometimes listens to Christmas music as he works. This week’s project was my beard. Tom, I don’t think he will mind if I call him by name, uses several different chisels and bits to make my beard look this way. It may take him hours to get it just right but I think my beard is wonderful. How about you? Here is a fun game to begin to get us into the Christmas mood. Can you name the Christmas Carols from these clues? I will post the answers next week.

1. The apartment of 2 psychiatrists.

2. The lad is a diminutive percussionist.

3. Decorate the entry-ways.

4. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis.

5. A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

6. Present me naught but dual incisors for this festive Yuletide.

7. The smog-less bewitching hour arrived.

8. Exuberation to this orb.

9. 288 Yuletide hours.

10. Do you perceive the same longitudinal pressure which stimulates my auditory sense organs?

11. The red-suited pa is due in this burg.

12. Stepping on the pad cover.