Reading is good for the Soul

Welcome!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

‘A reader lives a thousand lives
before he dies.’

- George R.R. Martin 

Unknown artist; found on Pinterest

Apparently I am in a reading books mood!
I think the early nightfall contributes to this.

Cozy up with a soft blanket in front of the fireplace
and reading a good book -
Wonderful!

Artist Inge Look

 ‘Reading gives us someplace to go
when we have to stay
where we are.’

- Mason Cooley

In a bookstore, somewhere!

I love the poems in a dispenser idea!

This is a free library found in Larimer Tree Gardens,
Wiltshire, England

London, England Book Barge
‘word on the water’

C.S. Lewis quote

I hope you have been encouraged to go visit your local bookstore, and also your local library!

Bibliobarn’s Bibliobargains

Photo credit: yeksitra

(Anybody know where this can be found?)

Chicago South Side, IL, USA

This large library has an interesting story behind it.

In 2012 artist Theaster Gates purchased an abandoned bank building. The roof had fallen in, and it was a wreck.

He paid $1.00.

He is in the process of turning it into a huge 

Arts Center!

This photo is of the Johnson Publishing Archive,

at Stony Island Bank.

😲

So go find a book to read, already!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

Truth:

It works best if you take the lid off your tea kettle 

before attempting to fill.

(lessons from actual experience)

Silly Santas with a 2012 send-off

Happy New Year!

I know in some parts of the world, it is already a New Year!

'The Journey Begins' partial of painting by

Scott Gustafson,

one of my favorite painters!

I thought perhaps we all needed some silliness to end the old year,

and start off the New Year with a big bang smile!!

:0)

colorized vintage clip

and who better to chuckle with, than Santa Claus?!

shopping mall in Hong Kong, 2011 photo cred: Laurent Fievet

So, get your grin on, and let's have some

Santa Fun Around the World!!

Hurrah! Hurrah for the Christmas Ship!

c. 1914

vintage song sheet cover, courtesy of Indiana Music Library

Santa - Old and New!

Siam Ocean World in Bangkok, Santa swimming with leopard sharks

2012 photo cred: Sukree Sukplang

a vintage Christmas card

students in Chandigarh North India, 2012

photo cred: Ajay Verma

vintage clip, courtesy of Dover Books

Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2011

a Christmas card...

David Hasselhoff, 60yrs. old, Southport, England

photo  cred: Solent News/SplashNews

a vintage Christmas card

Santa Claus Fun Run for charities 2012,

Greenwich Park, London, Great Britain

photo cred: Suzanne Plunkett

vintage Santa clip

Yokohama, Japan 2011

Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Aquarium

cred:Itsuo Inouye

bookmakers, ltd.

Marineland Aquatic Park, Antibes, France 2012

photo cred: Eric Gaillard

courtesy Dover Books

Queen Victoria building, Sydney, Australia, 2011

photo cred: Greg Wood

vintage Christmas card

Volunteers of America Sidewalk Santa 109th March

Sidewalk Santa Parade, New York, 2011

vintage Christmas clip

www.bloggracefulgirlhood.blogspot.com

Santa feeding Khudsiah, a giant Blotched Fantail Ray,

Aquaria, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

'Up, Up and Away!" painting by Scott Gustafson

Scottsdale, Arizona USA Gun Club posing with Santa

photo cred: Joshua Lott

Paper Doll Fun, courtesy of OrigamiBears, 2012

Storkow, Germany, 2011

designer Didi Senft, photo cred: Thomas Peter

cropped graphics from vintage song sheet cover

"The Story Santa Claus Told"

courtesy of Indiana Music Libraries

Santa Speedo Run, Boston Massachusetts, USA

photo cred: Brian Snyder

vintage clip from www.karenswhimsy.com

Yongin, South Korea promotional event, 2011

photo cred: Jo Yong Hak

c. 1914 vintage song sheet cover, courtesy Indiana Music Libraries



and to all, a goodnight...

"Saint Nicholas in his study"

painting by Scott Gustafson

www.scottgustafson.com

Merry Christmas,

and a very Happy New Year!

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

costumes, central Beijing market, China, 2011

photo cred: David Gray

An International Merry Olde Christmas with quotes and pix

Vesele Vianoce a stastny Novy Rok

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in Slovakian

plate of traditional Slovak cookies

http://www.slovakcooking.com/

Well, it has been a bit of a rough week. Hence, no postings.

Sorry!

I hope you have all been busy decorating for a celebration

visiting friends and family

reaching out to neighbors

enjoying some special food and treats

and smiling a lot!

Santa Claus Academy trainees, 2011 Tokyo, Japan

photo credit Yoshikazu Tsuno

I find it so sad around holidays when people's tempers are short,

the driving is more aggressive

the kids whine more

the parents holler more

with lots of pushing and bustling and

well,

really,

doing everything OPPOSITE of what the season is all about!

vintage Christmas card

"It is not the magnitude of our actions

but the amount of love

that is put into them that matters."

- Mother Teresa

I'd like to share with you some photos of celebrations around the world.

Some celebrate Grandfather Frost,

some Father Christmas;

some celebrate Santa Claus,

some Kris Kringle.

Some will focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus,

and some will focus on the Christ child;

some will decorate with nativities and wise men,

and some will decorate with angels and harps.

There is glizty bling, and simple carved wood.

Candles, icicles, oranges, stockings and green trees -

no matter what your tradition or style,

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve mass

Surabaya, Indonesia

"Sharing and giving are the ways

of God."

- Sauk Indian proverb

Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, 2011  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

photo by Andre Durao

siblings checking out the new lawn decor

Brea, California, USA

photo courtesy of Mindy Schauer

"The Angel Blesses

Christmas Day

while little children

Play."

- vintage verse

Santa Claus in Jammu, India

nydailynews

French soldier, United Nations Interim Force in Deir Zifa, Lebanon

"Christmas waves a magic wand

over this world,

and behold,

everything is softer

and more beautiful."

- Norman Vincent Peale

Decorating at a shopping mall in Beijing, China

photo credit Andy Wong  2011

Harrods 26th parade with Father Christmas London, England 2011

photo credit Steve Finn

2010 Annual Half-naked Santa Run, Budapest, Hungary

photo credit Bernadett Szabo

"Like snowflakes,

my Christmas memories gather and dance -

each beautiful, unique

and too soon gone."

- Deborah Whipp, web designer

tree lighting in Tyn church, Old Town Square, Prague, Czechoslovakia

photo credit Michal Cizek  2011

Time for me to go do some things.

If you have a family tradition that you would like to share,

just leave a comment.

My comment section is easy to use, and you don't have to sign up for anything!

Upcoming -

how do the animals celebrate Christmas?

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/