The Mensch on the Bench partners with the Elf on the Shelf

Today, the Elf woke up to being squashed between two big books on the bookshelf.  Every morning Elf wakes up in a different location.  It’s a hard life, but an important one.  Every Advent, Elf keeps an eye on the children, until Christmas.  It is Elf’s job to report to Santa Claus how the children are behaving.  And with this family of eight, oh wait, baby Dominic is a new addition this year, this family of nine children, Elf is kept very busy.

Yikes!  Hannah is shoving a chocolate into the baby’s mouth.  Whew.  Abraham to the rescue, he’s the oldest and the most responsible of the children.

Last night, the children set up the crèche.  And Abraham gave me the baby Jesus to hide, until Christmas.  Jesus wasn’t born until Christmas, so he’s not put in the crib, until then.

 

Mary and Catherine are setting up the menorah. Tonight, Dad will light the first candle, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, at the time of the Maccabean Revolt.

It is interesting to observe this family celebrate both Christmas and Hanukah.  Dad is Jewish and Mom is Catholic.  Both religious traditions are observed in this family.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Oh NO!  Simon is making Judith and Aaron cry.  He’s a bit of a bully, but when Patrick comes to help Judith and Aaron, Simon back off.  Now, they all run off to supper.  Whatever happened, it’s over and forgotten.

The supper consists of potato latkes, which is a family favorite.  I also saw Mom working on a Buche de Noel, so I know what’s for dessert.  I just love this time of year.  It’s the first night of Hanukkah, so Dad will light the first candle.  Each child usually gets a little present for each day, but this year, I don’t have a clue what it is, and no one’s more observant than I.

Mmmm.  There is one present under the tree.  It could just possibly be one family present, like the year the first Hanukah gift was a toboggan for the family.  But this little-wrapped package is so small.  Maybe it’s a new dreidel?  But there’s nothing wrong with the old one.  Everyone loves playing with it.  I can’t wait for sundown and the first candle is lit.  The children are all excited.

Now the beautiful blessing is being prayed.  Dad lights the shamash and uses it to light the first candle.    I love it.  The children look so angelic and happy.  Did I tell you I love this stuff?

Ah!  It is that little present under the Christmas tree.  It’s … it’s what?  A funny teddy bear?  He’s wearing a prayer shawl, a beard, a soft black fedora, and a big, big smile.  He’s a mensch!

The children love him.  Dad explains that the Mensch is joining with me.  We both will be a team.  Now, I won’t be overworked and stressed.  I have a Mensch and he’s even winking at me. 

I don’t know what the kids think, but you know what I think?  I think Santa has given me an early Christmas present.  He’s given me a helper.  Together, Mensch and I have this family covered.                                                                                               Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah!

Sunday Snippets -- A Catholic Carnival

Yes, I know today's not Sunday.  I had company all weekend and I've been running around like a headless chicken, so I didn't have time to link up on the proper day, with my fellow bloggers who join together at R'Ann's, This And That And The Other Thing Blog.  Here's how I spend my week:

Monday -- You MUST talk to God.  That's called prayer.  Then listen.  You will soon be conversing and that's how you become friends. 

Tuesday --  Book review on a book by one of my "go to" authors, Cristelle Camby.

Wednesday -- Christmas Eve tradition from my mother's side of the family.

Thursday --  I wish I would win one of these raffles.

Friday -- One of my favorite religious nuts.

Saturday -- At least someone in the family appreciates my efforts.

I have company next weekend, too.  Hope to connect with you next Sunday.

Cat Nap

It took my thirty-seven years to complete a Christmas tree skirt.  I started it when my oldest was an infant but when she started crawling around and getting into things, I put my knitting away.  I know that when mothers have babies, is when they knit, but that's not me.  I focused on doing baby things.

Anyway, once I retired, I took up knitting again and I finished what I started thirty-seven years ago.  I'm proud to have finished, but no one seems impressed, except the cat.  She loves it.

Henry Suso's Good Christian Men Rejoice

Since I didn't sleep well, last night, I had the TV on.  I was surprised to see that my fellow Dominican, Henry Suso wrote the Christmas hymn, Good Christian Men Rejoice.  I had never heard that story before. Naturally, I googled Good Christian Men Rejoice.  I eventually did find some reference of him, but it wasn't easy.  Everything said the hymn came from Medieval times.  The hymn originated with the Rhineland mystics.  Both these references fit Henry Suso.  Only Wikipedia names Heinrich Seuse circa 1328.

 What I know of Suso, obviously, isn't much.   I consider him a religious nut.  One incident he did was tattoo himself with his pen point.  He wrote Jesus over his heart.  Additionally he gave himself some extreme penances, which finally did him in health wise.  Also, he affected the people he lived with by his crazy ideas.  He didn't bathe for 25 years!  He died in his thirties, so consider it his entire adulthood.  I guess he never heard the expression,"Cleanliness is next to Godliness."  Or, maybe it's because of Suso, the axiom originated.  That's why, I consider this image of Suso dancing with the angels, the opposite of what it's suppose to be portraying.  See Suso, in a mystical trance, envisioned this scene of angels dancing with joy.  Hence the inspiration for the hymn, Good Christian Men Rejoice.  However, that not what I see.  I see people running away from him, waving their hands,"Stay away. Stay away.  You stink!"

Enter to Win

The United States Council of Catholic Bishops is having a raffle to promote the book, Catholic Households Blessings and Prayers.  It is perfect for families with young children, newlyweds, and grandparents like myself, who are active with their grandchildren.

If I can get you to enter (What have you got to lose?), I get another entry.  Just enter from http://woobox.com/pjdyns/cd8dsu  and I'll get a bonus entry.

• Learn essential prayers that Catholics need to know by memory
• Bless before games of sport
• Bless on the road
• Practice the simple form of the Liturgy of the Hours
• Celebrate the feasts and seasons of the Church year in ritual and prayer
• Bless the advent wreath, Christmas crèche, and Easter foods
• Lead grace before and after meals
• Pray for family members
• Bless the home before a move and in times of trouble

  And I'd add to bless yourself every time you pass a Catholic Church, to recognize the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.

Kalėdaitis

Shared by Creative Commons

Since I'm half Lithuanian, I try to carry on some of the traditions my mother had.  One of them was sharing the Christmas wafer, on Christmas Eve.  I purchase it in a Polish deli.  There it is called oplatek.  It's made up of the same ingredients as a communion wafer.  Of course, it's unconsecrated.  Think of it as a traditional sharing of goodwill.

The Christmas wafer will have a Christ related scene stamped on it, e.i., creche, holy angels, Mary with Jesus.  It will sit in the center of the table and will be the first thing people touch.  The father, or in my case me, (Hubby thinks I'm nuts.) will say a blessing before we eat and then I'll break off a piece of the wafer and pass it around for everyone to break off a piece and eat.

I like to think of it as wishing everyone health and good cheer.  Hubby says he'd rather clink wine glasses, but it's the same idea.  In my family, we do both--pass the wafer and toast.

Neve and Egan to the Rescue

Danse Macabre, Cristelle Camby’s latest mystery is the third in the Neve & Egan cases.  The other two are Russian Dolls and Ruby Heart.  Like the others, Danse Macabre is a good whodunit, solved by the unlikely, but successfully adept,  private investigators, Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan. One is a young lady, and the other is a blind man.  

The novel begins with a prologue to explain how Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan came to be private investigators.  Just the fact that Egan is blind, will want the reader to read on to see how this unlikely pair can function at all, never mind be successful.  That’s what intrigues me, in this mystery and in the entire series.  How can this team of handicapped investigators solve these crimes?  That’s what the reader wants to know.

Danse Macabre tells the story of a serial killer.  At first it’s a pianist, then a ballerina, and then a singer.  The story itself begins with a mother looking for her missing daughter.  The police think the 24-year-old ballerina has simply taken off, especially since she took money and clothes.  But this is uncharacteristic of her. 

Then, a singer was found dead.  The victim’s body was arranged in a grotesque position.  Plus her eyes were stitched open. The tension and suspense mount, as the reader realizes that the missing ballerina may meet the same fate.

There are enough plot twists to surprise you and keep you turning the pages.  Another missing person is reported.  When more young artists are missing, the public is starting to think,“serial killer.” Scarier too—he’s committing strange ritualistic torture on the young ladies.

The characters, Neve and Egan are drawn well.  Crombley drew the killer so well, you’re terrified.  The author also does a fine job of building suspense.  I think young adults, as well as adult readers who love suspenseful thrillers, will be the target audience.  Everyone who loves detective series will enjoy the Neve and Egan cases, especially Danse Macabre. 

 This was an honest review, which I agreed to write in exchange for the free book.

Prices/Formats: $2.99 ebook, $11.99 paperback
Genre: New Adult, Detective Mystery
Pages: 254
Release: October 2014
Publisher: self-published
ISBN: 9781502723772

Amazon buy link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFNABNE

Cristelle Comby's Web Site:
http://cristelle-comby.com/

Cristelle Comby's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Cristelle

Cristelle Comby's Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

Cristelle Comby's Instagram:
http://instagram.com/cristellec

Cristelle Comby's Newsletter:
http://cristelle-comby.com/?page_id=34

Danse Macabre Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23377890-danse-macabre

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Danse Macabre blog tour site:
http://dansemacabreblogtour.blogspot.com/

Danse Macabre Summary:

Private investigators Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan are hired to succeed where the police have failed, to safely return home a missing ballerina. With no lead to pursue and no idea who could be behind the young woman’s kidnapping, they soon find themselves at a loss as to what to do.

To make matters worse, the heart of England seems to be caught in the middle of a little Ice Age. With snow endlessly falling and Tube lines either too cramped up to use or out of service, it is a pain to do any legwork in the huge metropolis.

Oh, and because trouble never comes alone, there may also be a serial killer on the loose in the streets of East London...

Cristelle Comby's Bio: 

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.

Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent.

She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

Danse Macabre is her third new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

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