Sunday, December 23, 2018

The Friendly Beasts


“The Friendly Beasts,” an English Christmas carol, has been a favorite of mine since a friend sent me—long ago—a Christmas card with a woodcut featuring the animals who sing in the carol.  

The version I’m sharing with you today has an extra verse featuring a cat. So how could I resist choosing this one from YouTube! I hope you enjoy it and that you, too, will experience the joy of Christmas as do these friendly beasts . . . and the feline. 

Peace as always from me and many purrs from Ellie, Maggie, and Matthew, the three felines with whom I share my life. 


25 comments:

  1. Not a carol I had ever heard. Thank you dear Dee, with hopes for Peace and purrs from this side of the world.

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    1. Dear Sue, I never realized that it's not a well-known carol until I posted it and got these comments. The woodcut on the Christmas card that I still post on my refrigerator each year is so lovely. Peace to you and purrs sent back to the far side of the world!

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  2. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you & the cats!!

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    1. Dear Fishducky, thank you and a happy Hanaukkah to you! Peace.

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  3. I loved the video, Dee. I am spending each night lately with the Bastet-Net felines and enjoying myself. Merry Christmas to one and all! :-)

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    1. Dear DJan, thanks so much for reading "The Gift of Nine Lives." It makes me happy that you are enjoying it. I surely enjoyed writing it! Peace.

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  4. This old carol has been a favorite of mine for many years.... A few years ago, the Mormon Tabernacle featured this one on one of their beautiful Christmas concerts.

    Merry Christmas.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Dear Betsy, when I looked for it on YouTube, I saw the Mormon Tabernacle rendition, but I so liked the puppets in this one that I chose it instead! Peace.

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  5. Just like a cat to be perched on the highest point of the stable. LOL

    Have a Merry Christmas, Dee.

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    1. Dear Jean, yes, cats always want to be a little higher than the rest of us mere mortals. Peace.

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  6. Very comforting song. Thank you, Dee.

    Happy Christmas!

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    1. Dear Bea, it does comfort doesn't it and it brings with it that sense of Oneness that unites us with all creatures great and small. Peace.

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  7. When I was growing up in Ireland each of the churches in town - all Catholic - had a manger scene at the back of the church at Christmas time. For me it was magical! I've heard this carol but I don't think it was one I knew back then but it brings back lovely memories of the magic of Christmas when I was a child. I hope you and your feline room mates have a Happy Christmas!

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    1. Dear Molly, like you, I so loved the manger scene in the Catholic Church that was part of my growing up--St. Mary's--established 1862--in Independence, Missouri. I suspect that both us stood in wonder before the stable and found ourselves back in Bethlehem centuries ago. Thank you for sharing your memories. And for the Christmas wish also. The cats so enjoy shredding the papers in which the gifts are wrapped! Peace.

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  8. This was new to me and delightful. Thank you so much for sharing and yes, the cat was a fine addition.
    Merry Christmas from me, Callie and Minnie--the cat.

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    1. Dear Patti, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and to those animal companions who have entrusted their lives to you as Ellie, Maggie, and Matthew have done with me! How fortunate we are. Peace.

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  9. Dear Jo-Anne, I'm glad! Peace.

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  10. I've never heard this song before. It is so simple and sweet. And has a donkey for me. I hope your Christmas was peaceful and nice.

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    1. Dear Inger, I had a lovely Christmas. I hope you spent some time with friends over the holidays. Sad news from Fran yesterday. Peace.

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  11. such a lovely ,sweet and delightful song dear Dee :)

    glad you shared it!

    hope and pray that your Christmas was great and peaceful!

    wishing you a happy new year filled with much more love ,health ,peace and prosperity my friend!

    please take great care and stay as happy s you are !
    hugs!

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    1. Dear Baili, thanks for stopping by. I hope the new year is being a healthy one for you. Peace.

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  12. We have not heard from you in such a long while and I am concerned. I hope all is well and whatever has stopped your writing is getting better.
    Arleen

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    1. Dear Arleen, thank you for checking on me. I been sick since New Year's Day. It started with a sinus infection then a head cold added to then, then a chest cold, then asthma kicked in with a quick run to Urgent Care for a breathing treatment then doctor appointments and two rounds of antibiotics and a steroidal thing to keep it all from morphing into pneumonia.

      Now we are into February. The sinuses are still draining but I am much better and hope that by mid-month I'll be starting to post and visit blogs again. I just keep chanting my mantra by Julian of Norwich: "And all shall be well; and all shall be well; and all manner of things shall be exceedingly well." Peace.

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  13. Hi Dee – For the last two years I was unable to visit blogs on account of taking care of my husband and now because I keep driving back and forth to Georgia. Feb 2 would have been his birthday so I spent a sad week-end. I decided that re-reading all the comments left on my blog would cheer me up and it did. I don’t have friends yet in Nashville so going to my blogging friends’ blogs has been a comfort. Thank you so much for coming to my blog when I was unable to visit. I saw that you have been sick and I hope that soon you'll feel well again and the rest of the year will be good to you. Take care, hugs.

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    1. Dear Vagabonde, you've had a hard two years. Grieving is so tiring. But so therapeutic as well. I believe the memories we have of a loved one are healing. They give us back the gift of the Beloved. Please be gracious to yourself this year. Peace.

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