Monday, December 19, 2011

See, Amid the winter's snow

This week I need to marshall all my creative juices for baking and craft projects and everything I should have done a month ago. So I'll be leaning on the creative genius of others by sharing some Christmas songs that 
get less air time than 'Do They Know it's Christmas', Have a Holly Jolly Christmas' or the ubiquitous 'Do You Hear What I Hear?'


Today, enjoy  'See, amid the winter's snow'
lyrics by by Edward Caswall. I wish I knew how to share the music, composed Sir John Goss.


See, amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies:
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.

Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
What your joyful news today?
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?

"As we watched at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing, peace on earth,
Told us of the Saviour's birth."

Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble thee,
In thy sweet humility.




Friday, December 16, 2011

It's Christmastime in the City

Our series of photographic studies on Chicago ends today with
'It's Christmastime in the City'.
Thank you Jay Livingston and Ray Evans for composing the song 'Silver Bells' from which the Prude so shamelessly took this title.
Thank you Chicago, for the lavish lights and loveliness.
Thank you all, for taking time to peruse The Prude's photographic obsession.









Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Loop of Life






Survival in Chicago is not really so different from Survival on the Savannah.
Let the Circle of Life in any ecosystem draw you in, and you will thrive.



On the Savannah the Circle involves eating, being killed, and then getting recycled into something everyone else can eat.














In Chicago, the Circle consists of 
Viewing, Eating, Walking, and Repeating.

Today's entry in the series ‘Chicago: A Study’ demonstrates the truth of this thesis.

View


Eat


Walk


View

Eat

Walk


Etc.

Etc.

Etc.


My friends, don't be afraid to plunge into the Chicago Loop of Life.
You'll be glad you did.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Don't Blink Chicago

The Prude decided to name the series of photos this week
'Chicago: A Study'

If you remember, Monday was 'Sunrise Over Chicago',
Tuesday showcased 'You Don't Have to be Rich to Stay in Chicago if it's Only for a Few Minutes'

Today let's peer into 'Set in Stone: The Face of Chicago'.


Look carefully at the grizzly bear. You will see two faces smashed into his palms. The Prude thinks she has had several nightmares about this.


The name of this Ptolemaic-Roman period statue is 'Man With a Wrinkled Brow'
The Prude couldn't have done better herself.


The ancient version (above) and the modern (below)

Hmmmm. Does he remind you of anyone?

This is Jack Brickhouse. He was the announcer for the Chicago Cubs years ago. He was dearly beloved.

Got snow? Get happy!


The Family Prude 'views' Marilyn.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Silver and Gold. Gotta Get Me More Silver and Gold

(The Prude forgot to indicate that the theme of yesterday's series of photographs was 
'Sunrise Over Chicago')


Today we have a series of studies titled
'You Don't Have to be Rich to Stay in Chicago if it's Only for a Few Minutes'


The first photo in this series is missing. It was a closeup of several
jars filled with a year's worth of loose change. $119. 43. It was lovely.
The next 2 photos show what 365 days of scrimping and saving paid for.

Parking at this museum:
and this hotel

We would have needed to double or triple that change to cover tips required for every bellhop, valet parking attendant, luggage guard and maid, not to mention the higher-than-your-I.Q. sales tax.

Chicago may know that the rest of the nation is muddling through a recession. It just chooses rise above it.
The higher the menu prices at a restaurant, the longer the waiting list to be seated.

Every store bulges with shoppers. Occasionally you  see one fly out  the revolving doors because the strain is too great. But, with all the courage and fortitude of a Midwestern Consumer, the popped-out shopper will brush itself off, grasp its credit card and charge back in.


Yup, there's gold in them thar hillocks.

Sometimes it is hidden. The Prude's husband requested a photo, not of the upscale vehicle residing on this wheel, but the pricey, prestigious Bosch caliper nestled behind the rim.

Silver and gold. It's everywhere in Chicago.




Except in The Prude's pocket. She and her family have done their bit to keep Chicago sailing atop the economic slump.
We'll be expecting a thank you card.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Golden Hour

This week will showcase Photography ala Prude.
She was in Chicago this weekend and saw all kinds of series of artistic displays.
Being a plagiarist at her essence she gives the idea a whirl.

She likes to call this first set 'Sunrise Over Chicago'
Unoriginal, yes. But who can think of a new term for a sun that has been rising from time out of mind?