Pop and Thistle

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“Amores (III)” by e e cummings

Amores (III) there is a moon sole in the blue night amorous of waters tremulous, blinded with silence the undulous heaven yearns where in tense starlessness anoint with ardor the yellow lover stands in the dumb dark svelte and urgent (again love i slowly gather of thy languorous mouth the thrilling flower)

Tea Time: A Brief History of Tea

Like beer and wine, tea is an ancient beverage. Yet in some countries that are strongly associated with it, such as Great Britain, it was introduced only recently on the historical time scale. No one knows with certainty who first had the odd idea of taking leaves from the Camilla Sinensis plant and adding them …

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Pet Profile: The Tenacious American Staffordshire Terrier

Since the American Staffordshire Terrier is famous for its fighting ability, it is no wonder that this powerful breed has a muscular build. However, there is much more to this breed than its unfortunate heritage as an aggressive fighter. Many Staffordshire Terrier lovers praise this breed’s affectionate and loyal family nature. The Staffordshire Terrier was …

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Quotes for the New Year

Here are some of our favorite thoughts on renewal and beginnings to welcome 2022 and help get you ready for the new year. And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. -Rainer Maria Rilke For last year’s words belong to last year’s languageAnd next year’s words await another voice. …

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Classic Quotes from “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

The Peanuts characters have long been an integral part of the holidays for many Americans. Every year when the Charlie Brown specials would show on network television, families naturally gathered for the event.   The show “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted on CBS on December 9, 1965, and is still welcome in our living rooms year after year. Peanuts and …

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Holiday Dessert Recipes from Around the Globe

What better time than the winter holiday season to indulge your craving for a superb dessert? There are hundreds to choose from, but these international Christmas recipes can add a taste of something unique to your holiday festivities. Yuletide Gingerbread For a traditional American treat, bake some gingerbread. Ingredients: 2 eggs 1/4 cup molasses 1/2 …

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Christmas Plants Rooted in Centuries-old Histories and Traditions

Each Christmas decorated trees, twinkling lights and familiar carols take center stage in creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Certain plants play key roles as well: church altars banked with poinsettias, mistletoe hung over doorways, and holly adorning floral arrangements. Ironically, the histories of most Christmas plants have pagan roots (pardon the pun!), some dating back …

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Easy Sugar Cookie Cut-outs

Bake classic sugar cookies for your cookie swap A favourite holiday activity for many of us is baking, but between gift shopping and get-togethers, it’s hard to find the time. In fact, a recent survey by Becel found that one in two Canadians want to bake more during the holidays, and 77 percent would spontaneously …

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Giving Thanks: 10 Quotes on Gratitude

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. -Mark Twain Find the good and praise it. -Alex Haley If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. -Meister Eckhart Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot. -The Hausa of …

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Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pecans

With the holidays fast approaching it’s time to enjoy some of the season’s tastiest foods. Small twists can turn a traditional dish into a holiday classic. The good news is it’s simple to add a fresh twist to holiday favorites with easy additions like Fisher Nuts. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, an Iron Chef and expert on …

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