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Monday, December 1, 2008

In The Dark of December


"I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December."
- Oliver Herford

Keep warm and listen for the sweet sounds of the birds calling to us~~

Gail

This is my first ever Muse Day  post, please join CarolynGail for Muse Day!

71 comments:

  1. Good morning Gail, a wonderful thought, being nearer to spring. They are calling for snow here and it is quite cold! Winter!

    Frances

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  2. Lovely photo. We still hear birds here........just a little reminder.

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  3. I love your photo with this poem Gail. How funny, I just read Nancy's take of this poem. Happy Muse Day.

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  4. Frances,

    Snow is forecast here, too...but I suspect it will stay a day and then disappear! In the meantime I am going to run to the store for milk and bread with all the rest of the folks!

    Once we pass Dec 21 the days get longer~~
    Gail

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  5. Darla,

    Yep birds everywhere~~ I love them in the mornings and miss keeping the windows open to hear them! Have a good day and keep warm,

    Gail

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  6. Tee hee, I've just come over from Nancy's!

    The robin's have just started singing through the night here, so I'm hearing birdsong at all times of the day!

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  7. Lisa,

    I loved Nancy's post and wasn't surprised someone else would post the poem for December! Gail

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  8. Nancy,

    It was so very delightful to read your post and see your winter bird! It is a wonderful sentiment!

    Gail

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  9. VP,

    How lovely to hear them at night~~I wonder why they sing then, do you know? Isn't Nancy's post good!

    Gail

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  10. You & Nancy were on the same wavelength today Gail! ;) Lovely poem for the 1st of December.

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  11. Gail ~ What a lovely poem and yes with every day we are nearer spring. We just have some snow to trudge through yet though.
    I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!

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  12. Beautiful night pic. I love the poem. So lively, so informative to lift the spirits. All look for the renewal of Spring. The rebirth of all living things.

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  13. It sure feels like spring here today (weirdly warm - but I'm not complaining!) and very soon will be come the shift to longer days... It's almost summer! Happy December!

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  14. Birds! [heaving a sigh] How wonderful it's to see a bird! For the past week when I was at my aunt's, I saw sparrows twittering in her frontyard. They looked so cute. I hear that in front of my house too, but haven't seen them yet. Wonder if they ever come out...

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  15. A chilly morning start today! Nice photo! Flurries all around but none on the ground...

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  16. Racquel,

    We were weren't we! I love her image. She is good. This poem spoke to me and I hope it does to you!

    Gail

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  17. Dave,

    I haven't been outside yet, but it looks like it is warm and we are having mostly rain! I have to be out today taking the cat to the vet etc...I hope it doesn't ice!

    If it snows Dave, you and the girls will certainly have fun...your photos will be wonderful!

    Gail

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  18. Hi Gail, I love the poem!

    Had to laugh at the previous post. Deer aren't paying much attention to your letters? Guess they figure since you don't want to eat it, they may as well;) Why let a perfectly yummy garden go to waste?
    Marnie

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  19. Great photo and poem!

    My response to Ima Hunter is over on my post.

    I cannot revive my PC. I'm on my husband's Mac for a few minutes.

    Cameron

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  20. That is an AWESOME picture and poem Gail. You have a great day!

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  21. Intrigued by your comment, popped over from Nancy's to find another lovely Muse Day post ~ great minds think alike ;)

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  22. i love it! we are nearer to spring in the dark of december.
    i need to hear such things.
    we are getting snow here on and off,how bout you?
    love the image of the bird and tree's sillouette.

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. I just came from Nancy's post and saw your comment, LOL. It just shows that gardeners think along the same lines:)

    Great choice for your first Muse Day, and the photo of the solitary bird is perfect for the poem.

    I'm ready for spring already!

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  25. I just visited Cameron's blog to see her post on the deer; I loved your comment:) This could be an ongoing battle!

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  26. Beige, grey and rain today. Thank you for planting that lovely bright thought.

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  27. That is a perfect picture .. we hear a few bird songs but the weather is having a baffling affect now. Poor little ones. YES ! we are closer to Spring than we were in September .. I think I was still playing in the garden then too though ..
    Poem was a cute one : )

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  28. I've always like this poem. It's a great "glass is half full" take on the season. Happy Muse Day! I hope you have lots of the good de-icer.

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  29. Joy,

    We were all out there playing in the gardens...showing our fall colors off~~ look at us now, we are crossing off the days till spring on the calendars! it would be an oppressive world if we had winter and no birds or squirrels to entertain us! Have a glorious day! Gail

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  30. MMD,

    Yes, de-icer and ice scraper are going off the shelves faster then milk and bread! It is not freezing, it is not snowing, but they shut down the schools! Poor moms and dads.

    It is an optimistic take on the season! We needed it!

    Gail

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  31. Barbara,

    Your description of the NW weather is why we haven't relocated out there! It is gray enough too often here!
    We need to hang out at meems' blog...Hoe and Shovel all winter, she's in Florida.

    Gail

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  32. Rose,

    We have to make this fun or those darned deer win! I do think that my two visitors aren't anywhere near the problem that Cameron has in NC...but don't tell her I said that!

    Have a good day~~ is the snow gone, yet?

    gail

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  33. marmee,

    Right now the sun is shining! But there are clouds hovering, too. Did Williamson County schools cancel? Too funny, but then if your back roads freeze those school buses couldn't maneuver.

    I was so pleased with the bird photo...can you tell it's a Robin? Sometime we ger lucky.

    Have a sweet day and be safe.

    gail

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  34. Joey,

    I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Nancy's post last night! She always has the best quotes and Muse Day posts...so I feel like I am getting reflected glory.

    Gail

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  35. Tina,

    Thanks dear...you have a great day, too!

    gail

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  36. Cameron,

    Are we having fun yet? Sorry about the computer...did I say that here already or over at your blog? Don't you love Frances' comment!

    Gail

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  37. Marnie,

    Those darned deer are ignoring me! So far a few visits don't constitute too big a problem, but we can't have them getting too comfy! It is cozy in the wayback backyard!

    I am glad you liked the poem...do you have a muse day post up? I am going to make the blog-rounds in a few minutes!

    Keep warm;) Gail

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  38. Cindy,

    Are you keeping warm and having a good time with Lillian? Hugging a baby is a joy! Did you change your icon photo? I like the new one!

    Have a good day...I am ready for spring myself!

    Gail

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  39. lola,

    I'm with you and ready for the renewal to begin! Gosh and we aren't even into winter, yet! I am glad you like the photo...it was a beautiful robin and he was singing his heart out...

    Have a good day...hope you get time in your garden.

    Gail

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  40. Kris,

    If I lived further north I would wrap myself in the warmth of the days getting longer....and spend lots of time in the greenhouses! Keep warm and dry...my son says it is raining, raining, raining!

    gail

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  41. chandramouli,

    I do like the birds, too. I need to know they are there it helps make the wet winter days pass quickly. I do hope you get to see the sparrows...they must be shy!

    Gail

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  42. What a lovely first Muse Day:) Bird in the winter are what makes it enjoyable! I love listening to them and watching.

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  43. Brenda Jean,

    Thank you! I so need the birds in the winter, too!
    I am glad you came by!

    Gail

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  44. Gail, great muse day post. We should all be thinking 'closer to spring', but it's hard to do with blowing snow outside!

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  45. Oh how I loved that Gail....the very tonic I needed.....tku......

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  46. Great, encouraging post Gail!!! I like the reminder that we are nearer to spring. I can usually get thru December (because I love Christmas) but then January seems long and cold. Although with the lengthening days, I am always hopeful. Perfect photo to go with your quote.

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  47. We have lots of birds here too. Your pic is cool with the dark birds and sky background. Very clever indeed.

    I haven't looked at our forcast...it does look like snow and my sinuses are telling me the pressure has changed. I can predict the weather with my nose.

    I am doing my Christmas tree today. Woo hoo!!! That means January is coming and the gardening planning will be in full gear.

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  48. Welcome aboard, Gail. Great selection. Thanks for participating.

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  49. I shall check it out. Can't wait until the doors are in and I can watch the birds in winter from the warm indoors!
    Brenda

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  50. Beckie,

    I know, it is just now getting to be winter and here we are dreaming and wishing for spring! So the snow is still with you!

    gail

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  51. Carolyn Gail,

    Thank you! It was so much fun to find the poem to go with a photo!

    Gail

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  52. Brenda,

    Your doors are going to change your view on the world! It is wonderful to feel like you are in the garden while you are still inside the house.

    gail

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  53. Anna,

    I have to decide if I want a living tree! I think we will this year...they smell delightful and I just like them! I am so ready to work in the garden but the weather is not cooperating at all...so today I went to a sweet local store and bought Seeds of Change seeds...very exciting.

    I am glad you liked my lucky bird photo! Take care...we missed the snow here...how about you?

    Gail

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  54. Kathleen, Hello you! It is an encouraging poem. I am glad I read it; now I can hold that in my heart and know that we are closer to spring with each day! I do like the bid photo...he was singing this to me~~~'dig in the garden, and turn over the worms'~~

    Gail

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  55. Cheryl,

    I am glad...those of us with rainy cold gray winters need a lift!

    gail

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  56. That's the spirit! Getting closer to Spring, day by day! ;-)

    Don't you need time to put your feet up, so to speak? ha.

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  57. Shady,

    Put our feet up...I do that too much already! Do you like the winter break? Ours is just about the right length.

    Gail

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  58. I needed to read that tonigt. Our first snow came yesterday, and I am just not ready for winter.

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  59. Lovely Gail! I have some blackbirds in my garden which I love very much and they are always up first in the morning and last in the evening and I love there beautiful song. Do you have Turdus m. merula in your garden? / Tyra
    TYRA'S GARDEN

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  60. fourwinds,

    I know what you mean...it seems so early. But now we can hold onto spring being that much closer! Gail

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  61. Tyra,

    We don't have Blackbirds like Europe has, but we love the references to them...in Beattle song and childrens' nursery rhythms!

    Gail

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  62. I just came from Always Growing blog, and you both have the same poem! Two minds, one thought, one sweet message to us all. I do enjoy the candles and sitting in front of the fire place in December though. It's a kind of cosy darkness that has qualities you won't find in summer.

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  63. The sweetest birdsong I ever heard was in the dark of night in summer. It was the nightingale.

    Great pic Gail and i love that poem.

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  64. YE,

    I would love to hear a nightingale.

    Gail

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  65. camellia,

    Candles and fireplace are wonderful for raising the spirits on cold gray rainy winter days! It is a sweet poem! Glad you liked it.

    Gail

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  66. Yes, lots of fun comments on the deer.

    If my PC hadn't croaked, we'd probably still be lobbing those letters across the state line! :-) Great fun (you're a good sport).

    Getting back to a little bit of normalcy (is that the right word?). Kicking myself over not getting all of my backups done on time. I'm a danged retired IT manager... I STARTED the PC support department at SAS! duh.

    Cameron

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  67. Cameron,

    Well, you will certainly spur the rest of us on to get our photos and data backed up! Glad you had fun with the deer, I did.

    Gail

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  68. Hi Gail,
    Cool photo you got there! What kind of bird is that or could you tell? We saw a few wayward Robins on Thanksgiving and wondered why on earth they hadn't left yet. Now that there's snow on the ground (and more to come tomorrow), I expect we'll start seeing more Cardinals around... and as much as I hate the snow,they look so pretty in it.

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  69. Gail, I've not ever done Muse Day either. Not that I don't think it is a wonderful Meme. I do enjoy reading all the entries.

    I absolutely LOVE this photo... and the poem is very nice, too. You came into the muse day with a bang, Miss Gail! Well done.

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  70. IVG,

    Hi there! It's a robin, a stately, King of the garden robin~~our robins don't leave. The cardinals and even the blue jays look their best when it snows. We usually only get one small snow dusting and then it's gone. Do you think we're lucky or would you miss the snow?

    gail

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  71. Wow! 71 comments! I didn't read them, but want to add that I've been telling people I'm excited for the 21st, or whatever the day is, when the days will start getting longer instead of shorter. Your rhyme made me think of that.

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