A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-19-06 .... Finest Christmas Poetry and Poetry

12-19-06 | JustAmy and Mama_Bear

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

Christmastime Is Friendship Time

At Christmastime our hearts reach out
To friends we think of dearly
And checking through our friendship lists,
As all of us do yearly,

We stop awhile to reminisce
And to pleasantly review
Happy little happenings
And things we used to do,

And though we've been too busy
To keep in touch all year,
We send a Christmas greeting
At this season of good cheer.

So Christmas is a lovely link
Between old years and new
That keeps the bond of friendship
Forever unbroken and true.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Roast Pork with Cranberry Glaze

INGREDIENTS
2 (16 ounce) cans jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
4 pounds pork roast
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
salt to taste

DIRECTIONS
Mash cranberry sauce with a fork or a potato masher. Stir in sugar, cranberry juice, mustard, and cloves.
Place pork roast in a large, roasting pan. Pour cranberry sauce mixture over the roast.
Cook at 275 degree F (135 degrees C) for 6 to 8 hours, or until meat is tender. Remove roast, and keep warm.
With a metal spoon, skim the fat from the liquid in the roasting pan. Pour 2 cups of the remaining roasting liquid (add water to fill out the measure if necessary) into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Blend cornstarch and cold water to make a paste; stir gradually into boiling liquid. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Add salt to taste. Serve with the roast.

Decorations in the Air

Gaily bedecked, only slightly henpecked, we have triumphed in spite of the storm.
Now even our house, and a put-upon spouse, can rest easy and be safe and warm.
Yuletide treasures decorate, from the start to the end of the hall,
And each little one will be finding a gift, for we haven’t forgotten at all,

That the littlest ones are believers, and they know that the best gift by far,
Was a seemingly helpless child of God, in a package adorned by a star.
We’ll celebrate giving to others, and receiving with thanks and a prayer,
All the miriad ways of our blessings, at a time when there’s frost in the air.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . December 14, 2004

Christmas Lights
By Marie Irish

Bright Christmas stars shine on high,
Golden stars in the wint'ry sky;
Christmas candles in windows bright
Send a greeting into the night;
While in our hearts the Christmas flame,
Glows with a love like His who came,
The infant Christ of lowly birth,
To bring good will and peace to earth.






Bring Us Home Again

He slowly came awake today
and he lumbered to his feet,
for it was just two hours
before that he faded off to sleep.

He donned the day's attire and
grabbed his M-16.
He headed off to breakfast to keep
him strong and lean.

As he walked down to the chow line
he kept a watchful eye.
He didn't want the enemy
to take him by surprise.

As the chaplin said a special prayer
on this very special day,
he kept thinking of his family
that is oh so far away.

He rubbed his left breast pocket
where he keeps a picture of his wife
and a letter from his daughter that
he reads most every night.

He fought back a single tear
as he stared out at the sand,
wishing he could be back home
with his family close at hand.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts
and then be on his way.
He's defending our great country
and has little time to play.

When he got out to the fence line,
his buddy by his side,
he exchanged a "Merry Christmas"
followed by a tired sigh.

He climbed upon the watchtower,
his mouth a tiny grin.
He said, "Merry Christmas to the world"
and "God, please, bring us home again".

~Bradley A. Peraino~

God bless our troops





you see a fat man ...
Who's jolly and cute,
wearing a beard
and a red flannel suit,
and if he is chuckling
and laughing away,
while flying around
in a miniature sleigh
with eight tiny reindeer
to pull him along,
then lets face it...

Your eggnog's too strong!

Author Unknown








Apricot Baked Ham

INGREDIENTS
1 (5 pound) fully-cooked, bone-in ham
20 whole cloves
1/2 cup apricot preserves
3 tablespoons dry mustard
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

DIRECTIONS
Score the surface of the ham with shallow diamond-shaped cuts. Combine preserves and mustard; spread over ham. Pat brown sugar over apricot mixture. Place ham on a rack in a roasting pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes per pound or until ham is heated through and thermometer reads 140 degrees F.

Christmas For Cowboys

Tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,
Drivin' the cattle on the snow-covered plains.
All of the good gifts given today;
Ours is the sky and the wide open range.

Back in the cities, they have diff'rent ways,
Football and eggnog and Christmas parades.
I'll take the blanket; I'll take the reins;
Christmas for cowboys and wide open plains.

A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night;
The stars overhead are the Christmas-tree lights,
The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray;
Christmas for cowboys and the wide open range.

It's tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,
Drivin' the cattle on the snow-covered plains.
So many gifts have been opened today;
Ours is the sky and the wide open range,
It's Christmas for cowboys and wide open plains.
~Steve Weisberg

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-18-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[JustAmy]

Beautiful, Luv, thank you.

A Merry Christmas wish for you and yours.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks, Mama_Bear. Does the sound link work on your computer?

[La Enchiladita]

Very, very beautiful and appropriate, Mrs. Nooseman dear.
Best Christmas wishes to our troops:

[Mama_Bear]

It sure does. I am listening as I type. :-)

[ConorMacNessa]

Love the pic, Mama_Bear!

[Mama_Bear]

[La Enchiladita]

Weellll.... I don't want to weep alone.

:)

Love you too.

[La Enchiladita]

Prayer for Peace
Pope John Paul II

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.

[Majie Purple]

I remember the Ice Castles Thread! Billieutiful(beautiful) one, too, tis!

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks very much for that prayer, Dita.

[La Enchiladita]

Hi Purple. I get around doing tables by posting a graphic or two and then coloring/jazzing up the font.

[Majie Purple]

Love Post # 5! So very much!

[La Enchiladita]

Inspired by your presentation, of course.

*The Messiah*

[beachn4fun]

(((DITA)))

How are ya?


Merry Christmas to you as well.

[La Enchiladita]

How I would love to see snow falling outside my window too... chances: very slim to nil.

*Wry grin*

[La Enchiladita]

Right now, I'm bundled up and cozy, enjoying our little Christmas get-together here. I didn't ping you to the Christmas story, cuz I already e-mailed it to you...LoL.

I trust you are well...

Our low temp last night reportedly 42F.. currently 55F. Sun shining in a clear sky.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Maj.

It was my pleasure to post the poem by Wallace Honley, my cousin. :)

Thank you, Wallace, for sending it to me.

[Majie Purple]

Thanks ever so for Your pings too!
& CMac I gotta say...I'm a lovin' those purple mounains in Yours!
;oD

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Dolly.
Thank you for the pretty table and the music.

Have yourself a Merry Christmas!