Wednesday, January 07, 2009

You really must take the time to hear and see these two things.

Many, many, many years ago on a Christmas Eve morning Clay and I awoke to our radio alarm clock which was and is always set to the local NPR station. The voice that woke us up that particular morning was that of an older man. His voice was low and smooth with a slight country twang. Instead of rolling over and punching the snooze button for just ten more minutes of sleep, Clay and I were instantly mesmerized by the the man's story and we lay quietly on our sides smiling into each other's faces with the delight of being awake in the quiet morning and having the sweet moment of hearing this story. That was at least 12 years ago.

Now, every year around Christmas we search for John Henry Faulk's Christmas Story to play for our children. It's more delightful every year. I hope you can take the time to read it, or listen to it even though Christmas has passed. I will forever call candy canes, stripedy candy.

My next recommendation is that every person on the face of the planet must go right now and watch all four episodes of Wives and Daughters. If you've already had the privilege of partaking in this beautiful work, then go watch it again. During my recent barf fest I laid in bed and took in the wonderfulness of this period piece. It was so incredibly sweet and honorable and well, it was just perfect. Please put it on your must watch list today, this instant.

That's it for now, I really need to get my butt moving today and catch up on laundry and educate that very cute 1st grader of mine.

17 comments:

Rechelle said...

April - Do you realize that you just posted like five days in a row? What is happening to you? Are you suffering from feverish barf induced delusions where you believe yourself to be a daily blogger and not a monthly blogger? Call me! I need to see if you are really my sister or if your body has been taken over by aliens.

Leila said...

April, if you liked Wives and Daughters you SIMPLY MUST see North and South. The story is even better and only Richard Armitage as John Thornton can cure a girl of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

Even if you have to get sick again, you must see this! With your daughter, of course...

...and soon I will try to remember to post about MY chicken tractor, and why it is a bunny hutch now. But I can't keep up with your posts.

Unknown said...

I have been meaning to see Mothers and Daughters for a while now. I guess I will stop procrastinating!

Woolysheep said...

April,

Thank you so much for posting that link to "The Chistmas Story". I hadn't heard that in a few years.

Thanks

Lucy said...

The Christmas story was simply delightful and made me think of my Daddy who passed away a few years ago. Thanks for posting it.

Rhea said...

I think Rechelle is on to something...definitely taken over by aliens. That always my favorite theory.

FranP said...

April,

Hope you are feeling better. If you have to be sick, Wives and Daughters is definitely one way to get through it! Do watch North and South. Also, have you seen the latest Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson? If you can get past Ruth Wilson's 'duck lips', you finally get the heat between Jane and Mr. Rochester!!! Loved John Henry Faulk's Christmas story. Thanks for sharing! Gotta love NPR!!!

Jenni said...

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check out both of those.

I love listening to (as my mom likes to call it) that liberal pinko commie station--unless Moon Glow with Gaston or a piece by Daniel Schorr is on. Then I've gotta switch stations. Science Friday and The Thistle and Shamrock are two of my faves, and I love the "This I Believe" segments.

Leila said...

By the way, why do you want a chicken tractor, other than it's fun to say it and it's fun to give hubby a cute project?

I mean, you have plenty of room for them to roam, right? Even more cute than a little structure is a bunch of chickens racing around the yard.

Unless they get up on the deck...that was my problem, and the raccoons got them before I could solve it.

Jenni said...

Thank you for sharing that link to the christmas story, April. I'm going to have to save the link to that. What a beautiful, beautiful story. Now to shake out my keyboard and dry off the desk... Good grief but I'm a cry baby!

Jen W said...

Oh, dear. You made me well up! What a nice recording. Another vote for North & South--loved that one. Thanks for the recco on Wives & Daughters--another opportunity to make my husband's eyes glaze over!

Nina Diane said...

Thanks for posting that April....a very beautiful Christmas story and thanks for making me cry while at work.......haha! I love reading your blog

Sally-Ann said...

Hope that you are feeling better and thank you for the 2 recommendations!

April said...

Leila,
I want to get meat birds and raise them in the chicken tractor. We have coyotes out here that have feasted on my chickens when they free range. Having 8-12 chickens roaming around our place is okay, but I think 25-50 would be a bit crazy.

Lisa S. said...

I hate to say that I have never heard "The Christmas Story" or even seen "Wives & Daughters". I did listen to the link and felt like I moved back in time, because I am from Texas and actually have family members that talk that way to this day, and our Christmas times together used to be about homemade gifts and lots of food with pretty candies. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

"Wives and Daughters" is a wonderful movie! I love it! Have you seen "North and South"?? If you like "W & D" you'll LOVE "North and South".
My mom and I just finished watching "Cranford" as well and fell totally in love with it! :-)
Hope you're feeling better!

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