All God’s Children

Welcome!

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired using the KaleidoCam app.

I have always loved folk costumes from around the world.

I love to learn about different countries,

with their unique cultures, languages,

crafts, food and so much more.

I thought today I would share some of my favorite 

people photos from around the world.

India

Oh, and let me mention that children

are absolutely the best representatives of their

individual countries.

With a child, pretty much what you see is
The Real Deal!

Japan

“When you learn something 
from people, or from culture,
you accept it as a gift,
and it is your lifelong commitment
to preserve it and build on it.”

- Yo-Yo Ma

First Communion, Bata,
Equatorial Guinea


“Culture opens the sense of beauty.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Turkey


“To travel 
is to discover
that everyone 
is wrong about
other 
countries.”

- Aldous Huxley

Hmong tribe, Vietnam


“Strength lies in differences,
not
in similarities.”

- Stephen R. Covey

Iowa, United States of America

“We become not a melting pot
but
a beautiful mosaic.
Different people,
Different beliefs,
Different yearnings,
Different hopes, 
Different dreams.”

- former President Jimmy Carter
USA

Borana Tribe, Kenya


“We live now in a global village
and we are in one single family.
It’s our responsibility 
to bring friendship and love
from all different places around the world
and to live together
in peace.”

- Jackie Chan

Guadalupe 

Saudi Arabia 

“Culture is the widening of
the mind 
and of the spirit.

- Jawaharlal Nehru

Cambodia
Photo credit: RURO


“Be a lover of the world,
it is the only way
to survive it.”

-Janosch

Russia

May today find your heart at peace,
No matter what circumstance.
Remember to teach the children
Peace and Joy.


‘Til next time,
inkspired

I collected quotes from many sources.
These are most of them:

www.wiseoldsayings.com
www.textappeal.com
www.goodreads.com
www.azquotes.com
www.ufic.ufl.edu

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/

Santa Claus around the World

Sung Tan Chuk Ha

(Merry Christmas in Korean)

decorating the Cheonggyecheon stream,

Seoul, South Korea

http://www.nydailynews.com/

I have had a little fun this morning checking out pictures of Christmas

and Santa Claus from around the world.

I found a very nice picture stream at

http://www.nydailynews.com/

Here is another fun picture from Seoul, South Korea

with 2 divers in the Coex Aquarium having a bit of Santa Fun -

yep, those are Santa scuba diver outfits!

Here is a die-hard water ski fanatic,

Maryland National Harbor, Maryland, USA

nydailynews

Evidently some people cannot celebrate Christmas

without getting extremely cold and/or wet!

(I do not count myself in their group! Give me a nice warm fire....)

These popsicles are in the frozen Oranke Lake, Berlin, Germany.

They belong to an ice swim club "Seehunde Berlin".

and yes....that looks like a Mrs. Claus bikini to me!

Another waterlogged Santa:

feeding a sea turtle in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Although it IS nice to remember God's creatures on the special event

of God's gift to us - Jesus Christ.

"Woodland Santa"

A wonderful painting by one of my absolute faves -

Scott Gustafson.

You can find his incredible paintings at http://www.scottgustafson.com/

Why not try your hand at drawing Santa Claus?

Thanks to Dover Publications for sharing!

I'm sure you all know that 'Santa Claus' is called many different names

throughout the world.

In many Eastern European countries,

he is called "Grandfather Frost"

and is accompanied by the "Snow Maiden".

Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz) and the Snow Maiden (Snegurochka)

Minsk, Belarus

a Russian Saint Nicholas

Here is a traditional (to the USA) Santa Claus,

enjoying some extreme skiing -

Tim Lawler dressed as Santa Claus

Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

That's close to my stomping grounds!

a Palestinian boy lights a candle at Christmas Eve mass,

Gaza City, Palestinian territories

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas,

When it’s mighty Founder was a child Himself.”

--Charles Dickens

Jirasartwitthay elementary school -

Ayutthaya, Thailand

I have enjoyed this bit of international Santa Claus

and I have much more to share, later!

Have a great day,

and buy a small present for someone you don't usually give a gift to!

inkspired

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

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

A mahout with his elephant at

Countries, Miss Universe 2011 and a little honey

tere paevast

(Estonian for 'good day')

Miss Estonia - Madli Vilsar

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

As I am continuing to feature the 46 countries that have viewed different pages on my blog*, I thought I might also add in some photos of the same countries'

Miss Universe 2011 Pageant contestants.

*since around April, 2011

Just for fun, you know!

I am quite aware of all the controversy that has swirled around this pageant,

 and all beauty pageants since they began.

And yes, I have opinions.

But for today, we will just show some photos of some beautiful women,

with oh-my-gosh-great-fun earrings and necklaces.

Truly, they are quite outstanding.

Also, in some of the photos you get a peek at the incredibly fancy beadwork, embroidery and lace on the dresses they are wearing.

Miss Ireland - Aoife Hannon

Miss Universe 2011 pageant contestant

Another thing I love especially about the International competition is the costumes.

Wow.

They have a section where the different contestants come out in a costume that represents their country.

It truly is amazing.

Of course, the Miss USA is decked out in some form of red, white and blue.

But think sequins, spangles, and outrageous!

I still remember Miss Puerto Rico's costume from a past year.

Miss USA - Alyssa Campanella 

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

The United States has made the most page views of my blog.

That is only normal, since it is an English language blog,

and I live in the US.

Thanks!

Miss Canada - Chelsae Durocher

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

But every other country that looks at my pages is just a delight to me!

Canada is pretty much always in the top 4 countries that look at pages every day.

I am looking forward to returning to Canada someday.

When I was in my teens my family made a road trip

from Arizona to British Columbia, Canada.

I have (somewhere) a picture of our dog playing in the snow in Canada.

Rare treat for a dog that spent the last couple of years in Phoenix, AZ!

Miss Great Britain - Chloe-Beth Morgan

Miss Universe 2011 contest

My page views list The United Kingdom as one country,

but every so often, at the whim of that great blogspotter poo-bah,

I will get views from Ireland, Wales and Scotland!

I need to brush up on just what the United Kingdom represents.

For another day.

Today I am sending a BIG THANK YOU to

Sri Lanka -

Miss Sri Lanka - Stephanie Siriwardhana

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

and

Finland -

Miss Finland - Pia Pakarinen

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

and to

Croatia -

Miss Croatia - Natalija Prica

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I have already featured Brazil, the Czech Republic and Japan in previous blogs.

But today, I would like to recognize them, and say

THANKS for reading and sharing my blog.

Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Czech Republic - Jitka Novackova

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Japan - Maria Kamiyama

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I have previously featured paperdolls that were from these countries; they have also viewed my blog -

THANKS

Miss Netherlands - Kelly Weekers

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Denmark - Sandra Amer

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Germany - Valeria Bystritskaia

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Turkey - Melisa Asli Pamuk

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

I will be featuring paper dolls from other countries in future blogs.

Here are some of the countries, who have also checked out my blog!

Miss France - Laury Thilleman

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Argentina - Natalia Rodriguez

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Sweden - Ronnia Fornstedt

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss Spain - Paula Guillo

Miss Universe 2011 competitor

Up next, a big THANK YOU to Australia and to New Zealand for checking out my blog on a regular basis!

Miss Australia - Scherri-Lee Biggs

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

Miss New Zealand - Priyani Puketapu

Miss Universe 2011 contestant

  

Well, I have run out of blogging time.

I have a room to paint with Michael. I picked a really nice, fairly bright yellow color, for 1 or 2 walls. I like it. I hope I like it as well when it is up on the walls!

I have had 46 different countries check out my blog,

so you know I have a few still to feature and say

a big thanks to.

I had hoped to fit in a little about

September is National Honey Month

But that will have to wait for another day!

Have a wonderful weekend.

I will take pictures of the finished room,

but don't expect it tomorrow!!

:0)

inkspired

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

dominoes@myinkspired.com