Moon Ceremonies for December and January

A Cold Moon Christmas and Midwinter Celebration: Iroquois and Kwakiutl

We often wonder how migration of human groups could occur across the world and across North America. Then we find some of the same traditions both in the Pacific Northwest and in the Northeastern United States. While the Iroquois of the United States and Canada have shared large portions of their culture and histories with us, those of the Pacific Northwest are still rather mysterious and very interesting.

Out of the Silence – A Journey Through Pacific Northwest Villages

Just after World War II, an artist traveled through the Pacific Northwest and Southern Alaska, painting pictures of villagers and village life among the Indigenous Peoples. During the turbulent 1960s, a team returned to these sites for a camera tour. Both journeys are fortunately maintained as among the fine arts in Canadian museums, waiting for visitors.

The Iroquoian In the Diaspora – Oldest Representative Democracy In the World

Did you know that the Cherokee are related to the Iroquois? Read all about this native Confederacy and where they are now.

Oil Boom in OHIO, NORTH DAKOTA

With a 50,000% increase in Jobs in northwestern North Dakota already in high gear, Ohio companies discovered as large an oil deposit in Eastern and Southern Ohio.

Ready for start-up in January 2012, Governor John Kasich as seen the striking of deals for business and jobs in the Ohio Oil Boom at an agreed upon $3,250,000,000. This is just the beginning of jobs and business in poverty-stricken areas of Ohio. It is an answer to prayer.

Meanwhile, North Dakota around Williston, New Town, and Bismarck need additional construction of living spaces in order to be able to fill about 3,000 jobs currently open in the northwest quadrant of the state.  Up to 500 new oil wells are expected by 2015.

• $3.25 Billion for Jobs – Top 10 Growing Oil and Gas Jobs and Companies in Eastern Ohio

• Where To Find Housing For the North Dakota Bakken Oil Field Jobs

• Where to Find Bakken Oil and Gas Jobs — 50,000% Increase in North Dakota Jobs Already

Christmas Fun – Deliciously Different

A lot of these recipes can be prepared for an ocean of special occasions and they sparkle up any holiday season with something fresh and different. You can be sure that every 10 years, homemaking magazines come up with only slightly different versions of the same recipes of the past decade, hoping to attract new cooks. However, the rest of us get tired of “same same same.” You will not get tired of these dishes!

• Peppermint Stardust Ice Cream; Champagne Cookies and a Stardust Martini – cinnamon and a taste of chocolate, with glitter! See the first three recipes at Peppermint Stardust Ice Cream, Champagne Cookies and a Stardust Martini
• Mostaccioli Cookies – possibly served on a banquet table with chocolate diamonds for anniversaries. These cookies can be formed into spheres, flat rounds, or rolled and cut into diamonds as well.
• My Favorite Christmas Ice Cream Recipes – Why not try a little more spice?
• Christmas and Holiday Sugar Dusted Spice Cake
• Best Brownie Recipes – Add Fruit!
• The Best French Christmas Recipes

.

Did you know that Christmas was once illegal in both the UK and the Thirteen Colonies? — The Irish and others used a code to celebrate anyway and we use it today.

• The Twelve Days of Christmas, An Irish Code and 12th Night

.

Have you lost loved ones close to Christmas, making it a sad time of year? You can turn all that arond with some moving tributes to help you remember them:

• Memories of Christmas Past Can Comfort Loss and Create Joy

.

Do you like Christmas Films? These are not the ones you’ve seen already 100 times, but they are funny, poignant, and memorable.

• The Meaning of Christmas on Film – A Gift of The Magi Christmas
• Best Books and Films of 2011 – We Bought a Zoo
• From the film critic - Top 8 Favorite Christmas Films of 2011

.

How about Christmas Travel? -

• Christmas in Antarctica

.

70 Year Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Ceremonies

Let’s take a few minutes on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 and honor our Pearl Harbor Survivors with a period of silence and thought as we thank them for serving in the US Military Services that day in Hawaii.

It is the 70th Anniversary of the attack on at least 7 places in the South Pacific; and Hawaii, though shocked, did not fall. Many of these warriors are in the late 80s and early 90s and still remember every minute of the Pearl Harbor attack at approximately 7:55am and that first 24 hours. They will never forget. Let us thank them and offer them kindnesses before they go on to the next life.

Local VFW Posts will likely be holding small special events and you may be able to attend. Some may be televised. VA Offices around the country will likely be doing something in remembrance as well.

World War I did not end all wars as promised. Neither did WWII, nor Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq or Afghanistan. We may hate war, but we support our military men and women and the civilians that go with them. Take a minute or two and thank one of them today if you see him or her.

God Bless  the USA and all the world.