April Love 1855-6
By Arthur Hughes
1832-1915
Oil on canvas painting

This is Hughes’s best-known work. It was exhibited in 1856, accompanied by a quotation from Tennyson’s poem The Millers’ Daughter, whose theme is the frailty of young love. The picture is not a direct illustration of the poem, but echoes its theme, the fallen rose petals symbolizing love’s transience. The ivy, however, as a symbol of eternal life, may indicate the possibilities of salvation in the next world whatever the trials and tribulations of earthly existence. John Ruskin, the great champion of Pre-Raphaelitism of which Hughes was a leading exponent, was deeply impressed by the picture, and sought to acquire it. However, it was bought instead by William Morris.

THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER
By: Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

T is the miller's daughter,
And she is grown so dear, so dear,
That I would be the jewel
That trembles in her ear:
For hid in ringlets day and night,
I'd touch her neck so warm and white.
And I would be the girdle
About her dainty dainty waist,
And her heart would beat against me,
In sorrow and in rest:
And I should know if it beat right,
I'd clasp it round so close and tight.
And I would be the necklace,
And all day long to fall and rise
Upon her balmy bosom,
With her laughter or her sighs:
And I would lie so light, so light,
I scarce should be unclasp'd at night.

~~~~~~

Candy Land 1949
image source:

While Eleanor Abbott of San Diego, California was recuperating from polio in the 1940s, she occupied herself with devising games and activities for youngsters who had polio. One of her inventions was called "Candy Land." Her young friends liked the game so much; she submitted it to Milton Bradley Company where it was immediately accepted. Since then, Candy Land has been recognized internationally as a "child's first game."

Fast Facts;

• The original 1949 edition of Candy Land only had locations (Molasses Swamp, Gumdrop Mountains, etc.) and no characters. Mr. Mint, Gramma Nutt, and the rest showed up in later versions.
• The 2002 edition of Candy Land replaced the classic Molasses Swamp with Chocolate Swamp. The theory behind this change is that children are more familiar with chocolate than molasses.
• The Give Kids the World: Village edition of Candy Land was produced by Hasbro especially for the Give Kids the World Village. The GKTW Village is a nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. In this version, traditional Candy Land characters and locations were replaced with the venues and characters of the Village. Characters like Mayor Clayton, Ms. Merry, and others are represented on the board.

~~~~~~

I hope all of you are having a great weekend. Now I am off in search of a personal lollipop ;0)

Labels: Art, Poetry

N Posted by Rain at 4/21/2007 09:02:00 PM

4 comments from:  tomshideaway,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  jules,

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The Man of the House

~~~~~~~~

The husband had just finished reading a new book entitled, "YOU CAN BE THE MAN OF YOUR HOUSE".

He stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, "From now on, you need to know that I am the man of this house and my word is Law. You will prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, you will serve me a sumptuous dessert. After dinner, you are going to go upstairs with me and we will have the kind of sex that I want. Afterwards, you are going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You will wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then, you will massage my feet and hands. Then tomorrow, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

The wife replied, "The fuckin' funeral director would be my first guess."

~~~~~~~

A good thing...

I am getting 477 miles to a tank of gas in my new car! Yay!

A not so good thing...

My German Shepherd puppy Pepper is in heat and my male dog Rascal who is fixed, knows he should be doing something other than being Peppers bitch. =0)

A wonderful thing...

Stuccoman competely painted my livingroom in designer colors and I love it! I may post some pictures after I put everything back on the walls. He painted one wall an accent color that is called cherry cola and it is gorgeous!

A not so wonderful thing...

I forgot to ask stuccoman to put a drop of vanilla into the paint so we have all been high on paint fumes for the last two days! =0)

~~~~~~

Our hearts and prayers are still with those victims and their families at Virginia Tech. Such a sad and senseless tragedy.

Please remember that Cho Seung-Hui does not represent all Koreans. He was one man who was mentally ill and should not be held as the poster child for all of Korea's culture, morals and values. I'm just sayin..

I hope your week is going well, take care everyone! Comments are always appreicated.

Labels: misc., YouTube

N Posted by Rain at 4/19/2007 10:53:00 PM

7 comments from:  Karin W.,  Anonymous,  jules,  cube,  Anonymous,  Rain,  Hale McKay,

Monday, April 16, 2007

A Senseless Tragedy

If Tomorrow Starts Without Me

If tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see,

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today,

while thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say.

I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you,

and each time that you think of me I know you’ll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,

that an angel came and called my nameand took me by the hand,

and said my place was ready in heaven far above,

and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,

for all life, I’d always thought I didn’t want to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do.

It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,

I’d say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized that this could never be,

for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things that I’d miss come tomorrow.

I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through Heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity and all I’ve promised you,

today your life on earth is past but here its starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last.

And since each day’s the same, there’s no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true.

Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn’t do.

And you have been forgiven and now at last you’re free.

So won’t you come and take my hand and share my life with me?"

So if tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart,

for every time you think of me, please know I’m in your heart.

Author Unknown

~~~~~~~

My heart and prayers go out to the victims and their families of Virgina Tech.

Labels: Tragedy

N Posted by Rain at 4/16/2007 09:44:00 PM

5 comments from:  choochoo,  Rain,  mikster,  tomshideaway,  Anonymous,